Archive for the 'The Beatles' Category
WANT TOP SONGS ON iTUNES? JUST DIE.
Well I took a few weeks off from posting and the inventor of modern pop music went and died on us. If I wasn’t paying attention, I might assume that the late king of pop had staged a comeback. Nothing makes people appreciate you like a little bit o’ death.
As of July 1, 2009, Michael Jackson currently has four songs in iTunes Top 10 Songs, four albums in Top 10 Albums, and eight music videos in Top 10 Music Videos. iTunes is the number one seller of music on the planet, so one must deduct that Michael Jackson has four Top 10 albums right now - and he’s dead.
It’s nice to see a gem like “Man in the Mirror” at the #2 spot in the world. That song, along with just about every song released on 1982’s Thriller and 1979’s Off the Wall are better than any pop song since recorded.
One must hope that it didn’t take a death to get people excited about Michael Jackson again. Yes, the man was insane, but does his lack of sanity distract from the fact that “Dirty Diana” and “Billie Jean” are outstanding pieces of music?
The American obsession with personal life often exceeds absurdity. If Michael Jackson’s death is what prompted you to finally have his music on your iPod, then shame on you. Don’t be the one who waits for Paul McCartney to die before you start actively listening to The Beatles either.
McCARTNEY AND STARR SHARE THE STAGE
The Beatles are the best recording artists that have ever and will ever exist. That is a fact, and is not arguable. No band even comes close to the quality of music that these four geniuses released over the span of 8 years. Yes, roughly 8 years. The Beatles didn’t record a song together outside of the 1960s decade.
What John, Paul, Ringo, and George did in just under 10 years, is better than anything The Rolling Stones have tried to do in 45 years. Lightning in a bottle, to say the least. If you ask someone their top 5 bands of all time, and The Beatles aren’t mentioned, you probably shouldn’t hang out with them anymore - because they’re boring, and probably think that Coldplay is the best British rock band of all time. Negative. “Did you get the new Nickelback album?!”
The only living members of The Beatles, Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney, hit the stage Saturday night for the first time since 2002 at New York City’s Radio City Music Hall. As you can see in the video, Paul McCartney calls Ringo to the stage using his highly controversial Sgt. Pepper stage name, Billy Shears (the name of the guy whom people believe replaced Paul McCartney after his unofficial death, a.k.a. the “Paul is Dead” theory).
Paul and Ringo sing-a-long to the song “A Little Help From My Friends” from 1967’s Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. I recommend that you queue up your record player/iTunes/CD player, because Ringo’s voice isn’t exactly what it used to be, and you’re going to want to hear the original.
If Paul McCartney even looked at me, I’d have a brain aneurysm. I wouldn’t want to meet him for fear of death.
1 comment
WEEKLY POP CULTURE UPDATE (01.07.09)
FACEBOOK HATES NIPPLES
You read that right. Social networking giant, Facebook, is cracking down on one of the best parts of the human anatomy: the nipple. Facebook apparently has taken a disliking to pregnant women breast feeding their young and posting the pictures to their online Facebook profile. The maternal act’s censorship has caused outraged among borderline insane women who feel it necessary to post pictures of an infant sucking on their exposed nipple. Who the hell are you posting these pictures for? I don’t give a shit if it’s outlawed or not, it will always be socially taboo.
WORST. LIST. EVER
Blender magazine has released their “Top 50 Worst Songs Ever” list and as a music enthusiast, I am baffled by the idiocy used to create this list. First of all, 50 songs is entirely too long of a list. 20 songs would suffice, dudes.
I can’t express to you how much this attempt at a music history opinion by a major publication pisses me off. These people are getting paid to make a list of the worst songs of all-time and they included a song by The Beatles. That’s basically saying that every song Evanescence has ever recorded is better than “Ob-la-di, Ob-la-da” by The Beatles. It’s mind-boggling.
These assholes put the following respectable songs on the list (preceded by their ranking):
48. THE BEATLES - “OB-LA-DI, OB-LA-DA”
42. SIMON & GARFUNKEL - “SOUND OF SILENCE”
41. BILLY JOEL - “WE DIDN’T START THE FIRE”
21. SPIN DOCTORS - “TWO PRINCES”
15. THE REMBRANDTS - “I’LL BE THERE FOR YOU”
7. BOBBY MCFERRIN - “DON’T WORRY BE HAPPY”
I don’t care if Paul McCartney and John Lennon put a microphone in the room during a colonoscopy and released it as a single, it’d still be better than half the songs ever written. The guy who did this list doesn’t even deserve to wipe William Joel’s ass.
Here’s the list.
BEST COMMERCIAL EVER
I can’t remember if I have posted this on TSF previously. It doesn’t matter, this is the best commercial you’ll ever see. Trust me.
SEX OR INTERNET ACCESS?
“…Nearly half of the women questioned by Harris Interactive said they’d be willing to forgo sex for two weeks, rather than give up their Internet access, according to a study released Monday.
While 46 percent of the women surveyed were willing to engage in abstinence verses losing their Internet, only 30 percent of the men surveyed were willing to do likewise.
While 46 percent of the women surveyed were willing to engage in abstinence verses losing their Internet, only 30 percent of the men surveyed were willing to do likewise.
The U.S. survey, which queried 2,119 adults last month, found that the gap grew even wider for both men and woman who were 18 to 34 years old. For woman, the percentage of those willing to skip the sheets in favor of the Web rose to 49 percent, while it climbed to 39 percent for men…”
Here’s the best part:
“Of course when it comes to TV, perhaps size matters, at least according to a different survey earlier this year of Britons conducted by electronics retailer Comet. Almost half of the men polled said they would give up sex for six months in return for a 50-inch plasma TV…”
[read more at CNET]
This poll sucks because they should have included the trade for all sexual activity. Which reminds me of one of the best television episodes in the history of moving picture:
FREE DIGITAL BEATLES MUSIC
I love that The Beatles are relevant and haven’t released a song in 39 years. A blog titled after a Lindsay Lohan movie is talking about a band in which two of the members are dead and the other two are over 60.
For those who are unaware, The Beatles entire catalog has never been available digitally … until now. Every single Beatles song will played via a legally published podcast, allowing the songs to be sold individually on the internet. [read more here]
PAULA SOBBING VIDEO OF THE WEEK
Paula Abdul crying over nothing is always a good time.
THEY HAVE CROCS STORES?! QUICK…
GET THE CAMERA, BETTY. TAKE A
PICTURE OF ME POINTIN’ AT THE SIGN
LINDSAY HAS NO HIPS BIKINI PIC OF THE WEEK
TOP 10 NON-GUITAR SOLOS IN ROCK HISTORY
Look, this list could have gone many ways depending on your age and how you were raised. I am sure there are a lot of songs I left off the list, but this is a list of not only the best Non-Guitar solos of all time, but some of the best songs of all time, period. The main criteria was finding solos that fit the song and made the song better. A solo that captures the essence of the song and would feel empty if removed.
10. The Zombies - “She’s Not There”
Electric Piano | performed by Rod Argent
One of the best songs of the 60s and features one of the greatest electric piano solos of all time. A very underrated and under appreciated band - and sometimes often overlooked band - from arguably the best decade of music.
9. AC/DC - “It’s A Long Way To The Top (If You Wanna Rock ‘N Roll)”
Bagpipes | performed by Bon Scott.
I hate to say it, but this solo made it not only because it’s amazing - but it’s ironic. Bagpipes in rock ‘n roll? Crazy Australians. Pretty cool if you ask me. If you’ve never heard this song before and you hear those bagpipes for the first time, it’s impossible not to smile.
8. Lynyrd Skynyrd - “Tuesday’s Gone”
Piano | performed by Billy Powell
One of the best rock songs of all time - no doubt there. This song also has one of the best piano solos of all time. Without the piano solo in this song it would feel empty. It’s perfection.
7. Toto - “Africa”
Keyboard/Synthesizer | performed by David Paich
It’s hard for me to put this song above the piano solo in “Tuesday’s Gone” … but I did it anyways. This song is just an incredible pop song. A lot of people like to mock Toto - I embrace Toto. Don’t even try to sit there and pretentiously scoff at the placing of Toto on a “top solos” list. The keyboard solo in this song kicks ass and you know it.
6. The Allman Brothers Band - “Jessica”
Electric Piano | performed Chuck Leavell
The quintessential southern rock song. This song could be played from huge PA speakers on every southern highway in America on repeat and no one would get tired of it. The electric piano solo does not disappoint and is outstanding.
5. Paul Simon - “Me and Julio Down By The Schoolyard”
Whistling | performed by Paul Simon
It may not be earth shattering, groundbreaking, or thrilling, but the whistle solo in “Me and Julio Down By The Schoolyard” captures the essence of this Paul Simon hit. It fits perfectly and anyone who knows this song loves to whistle along.
4. The Beatles - “In My Life”
Piano | performed by George Martin
Interesting fact: This piano solo was played by the Beatles’ audio engineer, George Martin, on piano and then sped up to a faster tempo. Because it is sped up, it sounds like an electric piano. This is one of my favorite Beatles songs and the randomness of the solo is awesome.
3. Bruce Springsteen - “Born To Run”
Saxophone | performed by Clarence Clemons
The best saxophone solo of all time. Hands down. No questions asked. Clarence Clemens rocks your face off in this song and leaves you asking for more. It’s a short solo - but a necessity. It makes the song for me.
2. Pink Floyd - “Great Gig In The Sky”
Vocals | performed by Clare Torry
The best vocal solo in rock history. Phenomenal and moving - fits the essence of the song perfectly. Clare Torry was quoted saying that she was “trying to make her solo sound like an instrument.” Well, damn good job to you.
1. Billy Joel - “Scenes From An Italian Restaurant”
Piano | performed by Billy Joel, Saxophone | performed by Richie Cannata
THE BEST SONG OF ALL TIME. Yes, you read that right. The best song in Popular Music History. At over 7 minutes long this song is incredible every single second it radiates your ear drums. Impeccable musicianship and instrumentation. Perfect in every way possible. Great solos, too.
Honorable Mention:
The Beatles - “Martha My Dear”
