Scavenger Hunt CD Post: 15 of 15 This song sounds familiar or Beatles covers

We all know how I feel about the Beatles. They are sacred. For years, during my silly adolescent i-know-everything years, I even refused to acknowledge the significance of a Beatles cover... until I finally realized a lot of their early stuff... were covers.

So, if imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, as the Gallagher brothers have often reminded us, here are some bona fide compliments.

DEAR PRUDENCE: Souxie and the Banshees
Stuart
Katherine
Aunt Christy

HAPPINESS IS A WARM GUN: the Breeders
Nikki G
Jenn O

ACROSS THE UNIVERSE: Rufus Wainwright
Erica
Chuck

ACROSS THE UNIVERSE: Fiona Apple
Kyle

HIDE YOUR LOVE AWAY: Eddie Vedder
Amanda

HIDE YOUR LOVE AWAY: E'nuff Z'nuff
Megan
-incidentally, this may be one of the first covers i ever fell in love with

ELEANOR RIGBY: BB Seaton
Thomas

GOLDEN SLUMBERS: Ben Folds
Liz
-maybe my favorite Beatles cover ever.

LONG LONG LONG: Elliott Smith
Scot
-and maybe my favorite artist who covered the Beatles. his "Because" is my second favorite of all time. CHILLS!

I'M ONLY SLEEPING: the Vines
Erin O (disc 1)

WITHIN YOU, WITHOUT YOU: Sonic Youth
Blake
-a cover of a George song!

BLACKBIRD: Foo Fighters
Crickett
-a cover of my favorite Paul song

HELLO, GOODBYE: the cast of "Glee"
Joe

AND YOUR BIRD CAN SING: Guadalcanal Diary
Rory
-reminds me of middle school

I SAW HER STANDING THERE: the Smithereens
Misty

EIGHT DAYS A WEEK: Dandy Warhols
Erin O (disc 2)

YOU REALLY GOT A HOLD ON ME: She & Him
Aly
- my mom's favorite Beatles song

BACK IN THE USSR - Billy Joel
Sarah

And that, kids, concludes this edition of the Scavenger Hunt CD posts. We'll start all over again if you guys are game, in July!

Scavenger Hunt CD Post: 14 KTO? Quien? Songs sung by Continental (or just non-English) Europeans

They come from all over the continent - or thereabouts - to sing their songs. From the northern reaches of Scandinavia, to the far ocean reaches of Iceland, and back to the monstrosity of a country that produced my favorite liquor - and my favorite husband.

Here are you English-singing (mostly), non-English speaking (mostly) offerings...

SWEDEN
CROSSES: Jose Gonzalez
Nikki G

CRUCIFIED: Army of Lovers
Megan
-hmmm, already a theme here with the swedes

THE OPPOSITE OF HALLELUJAH: Jens Lekman
Chuck
-still a theme...

SYMPHONY OF DESTRUCTION - Hellsongs
Thomas
- um, this is getting really odddddd

DRY AND DUSTY - Fever Ray
Jenn O
-could still refer to fire and brimstone or hell or something...

NORWAY
MODERN NATURE: Sondre Lerche
Erin O (disc 2)

1517: Whitest Boy Alive
Stuart
- though they are technically also from...


GERMANY
READY. SET. GO. : Tokio Hotel
Aunt Christy

DU HAAST: Rammstein
Kyle
-the quintessential German metal band, not to be confused with...


AUSTRIA
ROCK ME AMADEUS: Falco
Misty
-oh beloved song of our childhood




FRANCE
JE NE REGRETTE RIEN: Edith Piaf
Katherine
-it should be noted that she chose this long before seeing Inception

TAKE IT ALL: Marion Cotillard
Joe
- eep, following Edith is the woman who won an Oscar playing her, and who was in Inception

Y'A PAS D'ARRANGEMENT: Zebda
Sarah

DANS MON DOS: Benjamin Biolay
Liz

RAPHAEL: Carla Bruni
Aly
-though technically she is French and Italian, I suppose


FROM THE LAND OF MY IN-LAWS, RUSSIA

SUMMER WILL END: KINO
Blake

ALCOHOLIC: Leningrad
Scot


FROM THE COUNTRY THAT IS STEALING MY BEST FRIEND FOR TWO YEARS, UKRAINE

START WEARING PURPLE: Gogol Bordello
Amanda
-hoped this would show up. also hope katherine meets eugene hutz, but i am not holding my breath.



FROM THE ISLANDS, ICELAND

GOBBLEDIGOOK: Sigur Ros
Erica
-girl love her some Jonsi!



AND ONE PART OF U.K. THAT ISN'T ENGLAND, SCOTLAND
SPECIAL: Garbage
Erin O (disc 1)

MY FRIEND JOHN: the Fratellis
Rory

WAITING FOR MY REAL LIFE TO BEGIN: Colin Hay
Crickett
- yes, Men at Work were from Oz, but Colin was born and raised a Scot

Scavenger Hunt CD Post: 13 Building me up while you're shooting me down or Upbeat songs with downbeat lyrics

In making a recent mix cd for a friend, I discovered that this particular category might just be my favorite sub-genre of music in general, as I made a 17-track cd comprised almost entirely of perky songs with dread-filled lyrics. Even my favorite song of all time, Squeeze's "Tempted" is a ridiculously bouncy song about a someone fucking up, figuratively and literally.

Much like category 12, there is a clear master of this particular craft. I am surprised to report that Erica, known Morrissey-phile, was not amongst the four who chose a pairing of his lyrics with Mr. Marr's melodies, but then again, she was certainly not remiss in including them elsewhere.

THERE IS A LIGHT THAT NEVER GOES OUT: the Smiths
Rory
Aly
- may i never forget the night we were at Karaoke Melody belting this one out when Jenn's Mr. O said "FUCK, THAT SONG IS DEPRESSING!" (not verbatim)

DEATH AT ONE'S ELBOW: the Smiths
Scot
-even the title gives you fair warning

WHAT SHE SAID: the Smiths
Nikki G

EVERYTHING COUNTS: Depeche Mode
Erica
-seems a reasonable follow up to the Smiths

BEST FRIEND: the Drums
SKIPPIN' TOWN: the Drums
Erin O
-perhaps the new purveyors of depressed pop

LIKE THE WEATHER: 10,000 Maniacs
Blake
-if you're wondering where the sun is, it's finally in Atlanta today

MAD WORLD: Tears for Fears
Jenn O
-also masters of this art in their own right

WHEN THE SUN GOES DOWN: Arctic Monkeys
Amanda
- misery to you can get down to

LESSONS LEARNED: Matt & Kim
Chuck
-makes me bounce in my seat at work in spite of itself

TOJO: Hoodoo Gurus
Katherine
-knew these guys would pop up sometime

ONE ANGRY DWARF: Ben Folds Five
Joe
-so delighted with the Ben Folds occurrences!

FREAKSHOW: Gothic Archies
Megan
- does Stephen Merritt write happy songs?

TODAY: Smashing Pumpkins
Crickett
-one of the last songs by these guys that i actually liked

ONLY HAPPY WHEN IT RAINS: Garbage
Kyle
-pour your misery down on me, indeed

YOU HAVE PLACED A CHILL IN MY HEART: Eurythmics
Stuart
-i really really miss Eurythmics. can i just say that?

CADENCE OF HER LAST BREATH: Nightwish
Liz
-this inclusion did my husband proud. also, reminds me of the time Casey, Nikki G, & i saw that cut out at the coffee shop register - "10 Metal Bands Whose Names Sound Like Flavors of Tea: 1. Nightwish, 2. Moonspell..."

...and some classics...

ELEANOR RIGBY: the Beatles
Misty
-well, the downbeat part assuredly

ALL YOU GET FROM LOVE IS A LOVE SONG: the Carpenters
Sarah
- this and "Superstar" help me to understand my mother's love for the Carpenters

GLORY DAYS: Bruce Springsteen
Aunt Christy
- this very well could have been my life. thank gawwwwd it is not.

LAVENDER COFFIN: Joe Thomas
Thomas
- this one is brand new to me

Scavenger Hunt CD Post: 12 What's this thing called again? or Songs whose title is not reflected in the lyrics

With this category, I am reminded of how I miss Tuesday night music trivia at the Angel with my girls... and how much of a pin in the ass songs like this were when we go them. We KNEW the song, KNEW the artist, but damn! What's that weird title? What? What the hell does "Selling the Drama" mean anyway.

As it turns out (thankfully) no one chose that one. Instead, I do believe we can crown Misters Sumner and Hook as the joint kings of random titles. And we all know how I love New Order. They only pop up twice here, but I am pretty sure they still reign supreme.

TRUE FAITH: New Order
Misty
- i actually just included this on Scot's own SH CD as my "song i hated when i was young and stupid, but love now" track. well, that's not how he worded it, just my interpretation

SUBCULTURE: New Order
Stuart
-followed by...

THE HEADMASTER RITUAL: the Smiths
Erica
- the namesake of a certain dj i know

PARANOID ANDROID: Radiohead
Blake

WRAITH PINNED TO THE MIST AND OTHER GAMES: Of Montreal
Joe
-wait. isn't this called the Outback song? ;)

POLITE DANCE SONG: the Bird & the Bee
Thomas

CLINT EASTWOOD: Gorillaz
Jenn O

CLOUDS UP: Air
Aly

A CAUTIONARY TALE: the Decemberists
Erin O (disc 1)

THIS IS WHY YOU LOVE ME: Brian Jonestown Massacre
Erin O (disc 2)

SANS SOLEIL: Miike Snow
Katherine

DUTCH WONDERLAND: Josh Joplin Group
Aunt Christy
- appropriately, as she introduced me to JJG, who i consequently loved for many many years after

CARE OF CELL 44: the Zombies
Scot
- i always forget how much i love the Zombies

COLD DAYS FROM THE BIRDHOUSE: the Twilight Sad
Amanda

IOU: Metric
Nikki G

UNCHAINED MELODY: John Cowan
Crickett

POP ROCKS AND COKE: Green Day
Rory

SHADOW STABBING: Cake
Sarah

3 LIBRAS: A Perfect Circle
Kyle
- what you may or may not know about me - kyle knows it, clearly - is that Maynard Kenan is in possession of maybe my favorite and most coveted singing voice in all of rock. at least of people who are still living.

D'YER MAKER: Led Zeppelin
Megan
- another bit of trivia: Houses of the Holy, the first Zeppelin cd i ever bought with my own money

CAPE COD KWASSA KWASSA: Hot Chip & Peter Gabriel
Chuck
- it's almost like this song was created JUST to make me happy

TOO FAMOUS TO GET FULLY DRESSED: Butch Walker
Liz
- I shoulda guessed this guy was gonna show up on liz's cd eventually :)

Scavenger Hunt CD Post: 11 Your Hits Just Keep on Comin'

This one's for you, folks. Your favorite songs - now or ever.

Today, at Erin O's suggestion, I - and she - started the 30 Day Song Challenge. Appropriately enough, day 1 is "your favorite song. " Coincidence, mayyyybe.

So, we all know what mine is (or you will if you click on that very dated photo). Now - here are yours...

CIGARETTES & CHOCOLATE MILK: Rufus Wainwright
Aly
- he shows up on these discs an awful lot

STAR WITNESS: Neko Case
Amanda
- Neko Case could turn me. i swear.

I'M NOT YOUR TOY - La Roux
Blake
- i'm guessing this a favorite song right now, being as it is not by REM or the Dead Milkmen, Blake

DON'T COME AROUND HERE NO MORE: Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers
Aunt Christy
-it's a Travelin' Wilbury!

DANCIN' ON MY OWN: Robyn
Chuck
- you boys love this Robyn chick.

GIRL OF THE NORTH COUNTRY: Sam Bush
Crickett
-i'd have never guessed this one

THE GLOBE: Big Audio Dynamite
Erica
- good god, this might be one of mine too now.

THE ONLY LIVING BOY IN NEW YORK: Simon & Garfunkel
I SUMMON YOU: Spoon
Erin O
-note: neither of these are by anyone involved in the film DIG! so I don't know that i believe ;)

YOU'VE GOT THE LOVE: Florence + the Machine (XX Remix)
Jenn O
- reminds me of being in a foreign place, and i love it

L'HOMME DES MARIAS: Les Negresses Vertes
Katherine
- this speaks volumes

ICKY THUMP: the White Stripes
Kyle
-perhaps one of my favorite lines in a rock song ever:
white Americans, what?
nothing better to do?
why don't you kick yourself out
you're an immigrant too.

SHINE ON YOU CRAZY DIAMOND: Pink Floyd
Liz
-maybe one of my favorite Floyd songs, too

EFFINGTON: Ben Folds
Joe
-we used to try and spot Ben in Nashville when i would visit Nikki G

IF YOU WANT ME TO STAY: Sly and the Family Stone
Megan
- somehow i didn't know this was her favorite. and yet, somehow i am not surprised...

EVERYBODY WANTS TO RULE THE WORLD: Tears for Fears
Misty
-reminds me of a loss of innocence. a timeless song if ever there was one.

MANY MOONS: Janelle Monae
Nikki G
-this was the first time i had ever heard this!

THE GIRL WHO BECAME A MACHINE: Len Price 3
Rory
-this was the first time i had ever heard this, either!

THE BOOK OF LOVE: Peter Gabriel
Sarah
- a piece of my heart belongs to Peter Gabriel for writing "Games without Frontiers" and "Salisbury Hill"

LIKE AN ANGEL PASSING THROUGH MY ROOM: ABBA
Scot
-when i was wee, we had a next door neighbor who adored my parents and me. when he moved out he left me tins and tins of old 45's, the majority of which were ABBA records. this is what this reminds me of...

COUNTERPOINT: Delphie
Stuart
- also brand new to me somehow

DILLY: Band of Horses
Thomas
-i shouldn't like BoH - but lord, i cannot help but do

Scavenger Hunt CD Post: 10 Songs from the year of our birth 1977

1977. A good year...

A year that gave us Star Wars. The rise and fall of the Sex Pistols, followed by a an American punk scene. The inauguration of Jimmy Carter. A song called "Melissa" by the Allman Bros. and one little girl whose Daddy loved that song so much that it's my middle name.

I was meant to be a rock child. So here are the offerings from the year of my birth - and many of yours...

HARD LUCK WOMAN: KISS
Erin O (disc 2)
-appropriately, the first piece of rock n roll to be pinned up on my bedroom wall? a picture of Peter Criss when i was 4.

BARRACUDA:
Katherine
Stuart
-some day i will sing at Metalsome Monday. and this will be my song.

COLD AS ICE: Foreigner
Rory
Misty
- it's funny to me to think that Rory was probably rocking out to this as a kid when it came out, while Misty was probably still incubating in the womb.

ROCKAWAY BEACH: the Ramones
Nikki G
YOU SHOULD HAVE NEVER OPENED THAT DOOR: the Ramones
Aly
SHEENA IS A PUNK ROCKER
Amanda
-i love that i can claim to be born they same year as american punk['s popularity]

NO MORE HEROES: the Stranglers
Thomas
- the STRANGLERS! two appearances in one Scavenger Hunt series. hoooo-ray

HEROES: David Bowie
Liz
-keeping the balance with my ultimate sugar daddy

WE WILL ROCK YOU/WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS: Queen
Erica
-as a small child i was so terrified of the cover art for News of the World that i honestly thought this song was from the point of view of a robot monster coming to crush me in his hands. it delights me to no end to think of how i love both of these tracks now.

CA PLANE POUR MOI: Plastic Bastards
Scot
-i can't listen to this song in the car. i am dancing driver and this song make me toooo bouncy!

DON'T WORRY ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT: Talking Heads
Blake
-i cannot fathom that there were Talking Heads before there was me

SHE'S ALWAYS A WOMAN: Billy Joel
Joe
-the line about cutting you and laughing while you're bleeding has always haunted me, but oddly, that's always made this my favorite Billy Joel song

AMERICAN GIRL: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Crickett
- makes me inappropriately think about Fast Times at Ridgemont High

CARRY ON MY WAYWARD SON: Kansas
Kyle
-still one of my favorite classic rock tracks ever

YOU MAKE ME FEEL LIKE DANCING: Leo Sayer
Sarah
-from what i understand, in 1977, you couldn't escape this song if you tried

DON'T LEAVE ME THIS WAY: Thelma Houston
Chuck
Jenn O
-i wonder if she's responsible for Whitney?

SIR DUKE: Stevie Wonder
Erin O (disc 1)
- my favorite R&B song ever

GOT TO GIVE IT UP: Marvin Gaye
Megan
-and this might be my second favorite

CAR WASH: Rose Royce
Aunt Christy
- makes me weary for the summer to hurry up and get here, until i remember where i am and to be careful what i wish for

Scavenger Hunt CD Post: 09 Songs about the animal kingdom, or 'This one is for the birds!'

Track 9: songs from the animal kingdom. I erroneously thought that this one would be trickier, but it seems there are a plethora of great songs, and especially BIRDSONGS! We run the gamete of domesticated critters, with a few genuine wildlife thrown in to keep the balance.

So, up up and away...


BIRDHOUSE IN YOUR SOUL: They Might Be Giants
Erica
-this song never ceases to make my gray skies blue light the canary in the outlet by the light switch, even if only for the three minutes or so it may last. btw, should anyone need a gift idea for me anytime in the future, go here

LITTLE BIRD: Robert Rounseville
Sarah
-brand new to me. i do love surprises!

BIRD SONG: Florence + the Machine
Nikki G
-given Florence's Grammy dress, i think this is delightfully appropriate. lots of Florence appearances in these past and future posts.

TWO BIRDS: Regina Spektor
Joe
-if you make me like a Regina Spektor song, you win a prize, sir.

AN OWL WITH KNEES: the Books
Jenn O
-another pleasant surprise. the backing vocals on this lull me away.

RIDE A WHITE SWAN: T Rex
Liz
- Ms. H, you are a girl after my own little glam rock heart.

MAYFLY: Belle & Sebastian
Scot
-ok, not a bird, but a wing-ed creature and on my list of ever favorite voices

...and from the scratch-post...

LOVE CATS: the Cure
Stuart
-perhaps my most beloved song about animals in the whole universe, it's so wonderfully,
wonderfully, wonderfully, wonderfully pretty. and who's surprised that stuart picked a cat song???

CAT PEOPLE (PUTTING OUT FIRE): David Bowie
Erin O (disc 1)
-that scene in Inglorious Bastards where Melanie Laurent is getting dolled up for destruction? that will forever play in my head when i hear this song.

...and from the dog park...

DOG: Ben Folds
Erin O (disc 2)
-dog, dog!

I WANNA BE YOUR DOG: the Stooges
Megan
-this song makes me crazy in the good way. i guess it's kinda supposed to.

HOUND DOG: Elvis Presley
Aunt Christy
- we all know how i feel about "the King." but nevertheless, Aunt C made an excellent choice.

WOLVES, LOWER: REM
Blake
- somehow, i have managed to get through life and college in Georgia in the late 90's without ever having heard this song before. i was missin' out, y'all.

... bunnies!

RABBIT'S EAR: The Late BP Helium
Aly
- girl, where do you find this stuff?

RED RABBITS: the Shins
Amanda
- mr. mercer, another voice that can sing me to sleep any time he'd like, even if it's not a lullaby

... and rounding out the pet store...

HAVE YOU FED THE FISH TODAY? : Badly Drawn Boy
Katherine
-he's such a moody performer, but i love him all the same.

On the farm...

SHEEP: the Housemartins
Thomas
-baaaaaahhhhhdass

BUFFALO STANCE: Neneh Cherry
Misty
-smells like adolescence and 80's night. love it.

Welcome to the jungle... or maybe the zoo

RIGHT IN TWO: Tool
Kyle
- we are all monkeys. "Silly monkeys give them thumbs..."

ONCE I WAS A MONKEY: Dayroom
Crickett
- it's like an evolution lesson!

NELLIE THE ELEPHANT: Toy Dolls
Rory
- packing her trunk and leaving the circus. you go, nellie!

...and to sum it all up...

ANIMAL: Miike Snow
Chuck
-i'm still, i'm still an an-i-mal

Scavenger Hunt CD Post: 08 Double threats, or singing actors/acting singers

Sometimes it's a disaster. Sometimes it's just better this way. And sometimes, just sometimes, you find that an actor tor truly does carry enough talent around to be a respectable musician as well. We didn't limit our choices to this latter option in selecting our offerings for track 8 on the Scavenger Hunt cd, but that's ok. Listening to Don Johnson's career going down in a synthesized flame was amusing if not truly enjoyable.

Note to Jared Leto, I do not mean you, and James Franco please don't get any ideas. Jason Schwartzman, however, you may continue.

HEARTBEAT: Don Johnson
Misty
- she said it herself, as he should have said to the world when this song was released, "sorry."

NIGHT TIMIN': Coconut Records
Aly
WEST COAST: Coconut Records
Erin O (cd2)
- like I said, Schwartzman, however, you may continue.

MY BODY'S A ZOMBIE FOR YOU: Dead Man's Bones
Erin O (cd 1)
PA PA POWER: Dead Man's Bones
Stuart
- Mr. Gosling, you too, please.

COMMON PEOPLE: William Shatner with Joe Jackson (and Ben Folds)
Megan
Amanda
- i think at two particular points in my life you could have caught me and either of these respective roommates of mine clearing the common room floor to dance around frantically to this little gem

TRIBUTE: Tenacious D
Kyle
WONDERBOY: Tenacious D
Aunt Christy
- when Jack Black does movies like Tropic Thunder or The Holiday... ok I guess THEN he counts as an actor

COVERED: Uh Huh Her
Liz
- that chick from "The L Word"!

BREAKIN' UP: Rilo Kiley
Thomas
-little Jenny all grown up and transitioned beautifully into a Indie Rock Princess

JUMP INTO MY CAR: David Hasselhoff
- oh, the Hoff! oh, the cheese!

SHE'S LIKE THE WIND: Patrick Swayze
Katherine
- this list would not be complete without it.

...as for those who were singers first...

LIKE A PRAYER: Madonna
Blake
- i guess she's an actress. she has acted in movies, sometimes even convincingly

GOOD VIBRATIONS: Marky Mark & the Funky Bunch
Jenn O
-who'da thunk that guy would get an Oscar nomination so many years later?

LET LOVE RULE: Lenny Kravitz
Erica
-almost unidentifiable in Precious

...and from some bona fide soundtrack work...

FRANK MILLS: the cast of HAIR
Scot
-the epitome of a song sung by actors

THE ORIGIN OF LOVE: Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Chuck
-if only all actors could sing like this

I'M ALIVE: the cast of Next to Normal
Joe
-someone please tell me why i haven't seen this show yet.

POP! GOES MY HEART: Hugh Grant
Rory
-from that one movie, i think, where he was in Take That or something?

HINDI SAD DIAMONDS: Nicole Kidman & the cast of Moulin Rouge
Nikki G
TANGO DE ROXANNE: Ewan McGregor, Jose Feliciano & the cast of Moulin Rouge
Sarah
- what can i say? MOULIN ROUGE!

Scavenger Hunt CD Post: 07 Shake dat azzz

No clever (or unclever, as the case may be) commentary on these offerings of the dance off ass variety. Suffice it to say that once my ass looked as it does in this photo. Hopefully, with the help of these tracks, I can get it there again.

Hit it, DJ...

DARE - Gorillaz
Kyle
Jenn O

BIZARRE LOVE TRIANGLE: New Order
Blake

THE GREAT COMMANDMENT: Camouflage
Rory

HANDS IN THE AIR: Girl Talk
Erin O (cd 1)

WONDERFUL PEOPLE: Q not U
Nikki G

SHUDDER/KING OF SNAKE: Underworld
Stuart

PLEASANTLY SURPRISED: Soup Dragons
Thomas

UNDERGROUND: Ben Folds Five
Erin O (disc 2)

TELL 'EM: Sleigh Bells
Erica

HOOT: Girls Generation
Aly

ROCK THE CASBAH: the Clash
Liz

MILLION DOLLAR BILL: Whitney Houston
Katherine

SHUTTERBUG: Big Boi
Megan

EL SALAM: Hakim
Joe

SWEET DREAMS (ARE MADE OF THIS): Eurythmics
Misty

TAMBOURINE: Eve
Chuck

BILLIE JEAN: Michael Jackson
Crickett

RASPUTIN: Boney M
Scot

PLAY THAT FUNKY MUSIC: Wild Cherry
Aunt Christy

WATERLOO: ABBA
Sarah

GET UP (FEEL LIKE A SEX MACHINE): James Brown
Amanda

Let the ass shakin' commence!

Scavenger Hunt CD Post: 06 Persistance of the Bard

If Shakespeare hadn't been such a master of writing about the human condition, and if his work had not been so enduring, I probably would not have my job and a lot of lyricists would be lacking in source material. That especially goes for - it seems according to the offering in this category - one particular love story he penned and even one particular Penn brother...

So from Stratford with love... Shakespeare references.

NO MYTH: Michael Penn
Nikki G
Stuart
Blake
Misty
-Since 1989, when this song made its first appearance, as did my love affair with Mr. Aimee Mann's music, it has been one of my favorite songs ever. To this day, I seek it out in karaoke books and roll up my windows every time it pops up on the radio so that I might not subject the rest the world to my singing at the top of my lungs, "What if I were Romeo in black jeans?"


ROMEO & JULIET: Dire Straits
Megan
-"You and me, babe. How about it?"

ROMEO & JULIET: Indigo Girls
Erica
- the beloved cover of the Dire Straits version, as opposed to the much loathed version I last heard performed by a Charleston busker.

I BET THAT YOU LOOK GOOD ON THE DANCE FLOOR: Arctic Monkeys
Jenn O
Rory
-they make you look for it, "Oh, there ain't no love, no Montagues or Capulets/ Just banging tunes and DJ sets..."

RUN ROMEO RUN - Dean Bradfield
Thomas
-"Run run, Romeo run,/Leave the demons behind."

DON'T FEAR THE REAPER: Blue Oyster Cult
Crickett
- "Romeo and Juliet are together in eternity" such a good song to be so damned creepy. I am convinced that it's the inspiration for Death Cab's (awful) ballad "I'll Follow You Into the Dark"

JULIETTE: SHINee
Aly
-self-explanatory, as our heroine's name is the only thing I understand ;)

CHERISH: Madonna
Chuck
-"Romeo and Juliet, they never felt this way I bet"

and also a number of songs about the great dane...

HAMLET WENT SWIMMING: Michelle Malone
Scot
- but only after his love Ophelia did first

CRY OPHELIA - Adam Cohen
Joe
-before you go swimming, of course

CRUEL TO BE KIND: Nick Lowe
Erin O (disc 1)
- coined by the Bard himself in the longest play in the universe and spoken by Hamlet himself (if I recall correctly)

WHAT A PIECE OF WORK IS MAN: cast of Hair
Liz
- spoken by Hamlet to Rosencrantz... or Guildenstern? or Rosencrantz?

and then perhaps Shakespeare's most famous quote ever...

LIMELIGHT: Rush
Amanda
-when my dad and I saw Rush last September, I posted as my status something along the lines of "thousands of rednecks are quoting Shakespeare right now. wonder how many of them realize it?" I love Rush. I love this song, I love the "All the world's a stage soliloquy from As You Like It

... and for some broader general references

IT WAS A LOVER AND HIS LASS: Three Quarter Ale
Sarah
- a sonnet!

RENEGADE: Eminem and Jay Z
Kyle
- "See I'm a poet to some, a regular modern day Shakespeare"

PLAYHOUSE BLUES: the Lost Boyz
Aunt Christy
- I think this the Abridged Complete Works set to music

and finally...

TURTLEDOVE: Trip Shakespeare
Katherine
- who would later become Semisonic

SHAKESPEARE'S SISTER: the Smiths
Erin O (disc 2)
-great minds, as they say...

Scavenger Hunt CD Post: 05 BRITPOP!!!!!!

Britpop in adulthood is to me what hair metal was in my adolescence... a staple of of good music and pool of men for me to fawn over. The gang's all here, from the grandfathers of Britpop, to the true originators, to the second generation - which encompasses even the later projects of the originators (read: GORILLAZ!)

I am reminded of the time the ladies and I were at Music trivia and the category was Britpop... we had to promptly correct the substitute hostess when we realized that she had clearly mistaken Britpop with pop music by British people. Had any of you put the Spice Girls on this disc as she would have, I may have had to disown you ;)

So god save Damon, and here we go.

ALL DAY AND ALL OF THE NIGHT:The Kinks
Aunt Christy
-the real original Britpop. reminds me to seek out the beautiful cover of the Kinks' "Waterloo Sunset" that is a duet between Damon Albarn and Ray Davies.

THE MAYOR OF SIMPLETON: XTC
Erica
-did you know Andy Partridge was a producer on an early Blur cd? watch me make all of this about Damon. PS - Swindon, England (home of XTC to this day) is an armpit, but I love XTC nonetheless

NEIL JUNG: Teenage Fan Club
Amanda
- darn. i can make no connection here, though I am certain one exists. oh, well. this reminds me of sitting up late on Sunday nights and my love affair with "120 Minutes"

THE ONLY ONE I KNOW: The Charlatans
Erin O (disc 1)
-not to be confused with "the Charlatans UK" - OH WAIT!

GIRLS AND BOYS: Blur
Blake
- perhaps THE Britpop song to end all Britpop songs, if you love Mr. Albarn as I do...

CONNECTION: Elastica
Megan
-unless you count the one by Damon's ex-girlfriend...

METAL MICKEY: Suede
Rory
- or the one by HER ex-boyfriend...

MARRIED WITH CHILDREN: Oasis
Erin O (disc 2)
- or any one by Blur's big Britpop rivals...

DISCO 2000: Pulp
Chuck
- or the one by the guys who slept with all their girlfriends. Oh wait - this isn't "Common People"

TASTE: Ride
Scot
- not to mention the ones we really never got to hear that much on this side of the pond...

INBETWEENER: Sleeper
Nikki G
- or the ones I didn't even know existed until the Trainspotting soundtrack came out...

ONLY LOVE CAN BREAK YOUR HEART: Saint Etienne
Jenn O
- or the ones it took me forever to even realize were Britpop

START ALL OVER: Kula Shaker
Thomas
- these guys hold a special place in my heart, as it was their shining moment when I fully accepted Britpop in my heart

SONNET: The Verve
Misty
- Richard Ashcroft is neither a nice nor nice looking man. but he has a voice made for singing love songs

CREEP: Radiohead
Kyle
Crickett
- and hopefully you all realize that my end-all, be-all, get outta jail free card, #1 famous guy/English "husband" had to show up at least once... my dear, Colin, in another life, perhaps ;)

MAYBE TOMORROW: Stereophonics
Joe
-the 'phonics are a touchy subject in Britpop, but i LOVE them, and i LOOOOVE this track... and a bonus

GIRL-SHAPED LOVE DRUG: Gomez
Joe

TAKE ME OUT: Franz Ferninand
Stuart
- yes. Scottishmen are - no matter how they may protest it - Brits. and this song is perhaps one of the greatest examples of the current incarnation of Britpop

THE RACING RATS: Editors
Katherine
- as is this, and such a fantastic reminder of Britpop past. yes, he sounds like Ian Curtis. no, not so much that it makes me mad. in fact, just enough to make me love it.

MODERN ART: Art Brut
Aly
- what can I say? I (heart) Art Brut.

THAT'S NOT MY NAME: The Ting Tings
Liz
- super current incarnation

ON MELANCHOLY HILL: Gorillaz
Sarah
- see how it all comes back to Damon? see?

Scavenger Hunt CD Post: 04 Songs from the Mooooovies

The three things I love most in the world that aren't human beings: music, theatre, film. The following offerings encompass at least two of these at any given time, and in the case of a certain German ex-pat transsexual, possibly all three.

Surprisingly, only one film made multiple appearances, though will completely different tracks all around. Fortunately, it is the quintessential film of my golden year and the reason I will always have room in my heart for Ewen McGregor... who will actually show up singing on one of these cd's later on.

Ladies and gentlemen, we'll begin with Trainspotting...


ATOMIC: Sleeper
Stuart

LUST FOR LIFE: Iggy Pop
Chuck

BORN SLIPPY: Underworld
Erica

TEMPTATION: New Order
Jenn O
-it should be noted that this is one of my favorite songs in the world, and I always hear Kelly MacDonald singing the bridge when i listen to it

...and some other films I adore...

NEEDLE IN THE CAMEL'S EYE: Brian Eno
from Velvet Goldmine
Aly

WISE UP: Aimee Mann
from Magnolia
Liz

GOLDEN BROWN: the Stranglers
from Snatch
Amanda

NEW SLANG: the Shins
from Garden State
Erin O (1st disc)

GOING OUT WEST: Tom Waits
from Fight Club
Kyle

I WANT CANDY: Bow Wow Wow
from Marie Antionette
Nikki
-incidentally, you may recall that my choice for this track was from the same film. this whole soundtrack was executed so incredibly...

CAN'T TAKE IT IN: Imogen Heap
from The Chronicles of Narnia: the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
Joe
-with bonus track

LET GO: Frou Frou (Imogen Heap)
from Garden State
Joe

THIS TIME TOMORROW: the Kinks
from The Darjeeling Ltd
Scot

DON'T YOU FORGET ABOUT ME: Simple Minds
from The Breakfast Club
Misty

DESTINATION ANYWHERE: The Commitments
Aunt Christy

...and some recent gems...

TREE HUGGER: Kimya Dawson & Antsy Pants
from Juno
Crickett

MY HANDS ARE SHAKIN': Sondre Lerche
from Dan in Real Life
Katherine

DEAR LAUGHING DOUBTERS: Sondre Lerche
from Dinner for Schmucks
Erin O (disc 2)

MARRIED LIFE: Michael Giacchino
from UP
Sarah

SHE'S GOT YOU HIGH: Mumm-Ra
from 500 Days of Summer
Rory

I WAS SEARCHING (ISKALA): Zemfira
from Brother 2 (BRAT 2)
Blake

PICKING UP AFTER YOU: Tom Waits & Crystal Gayle
from One from the Heart
Thomas

and
FEELING GOOD: Nina Simone
from Point of No Return
Megan

This category may have to have a recurring role on the birthday scavenger hunt cd!

Scavenger Hunt CD Post:03 songs i might not know, but should

no major commentary on these, but you should all know that i am seriously contemplating making another cd of JUST these songs to jam out to in the car. also, forgive me if i get anything wrong here. i don't know this stuff!

of note: of 21 cds, i only knew two of these songs, and only knew half of the artists ...


DOWN THE LINE: Jose Gonzalez
Katherine
i think i have a swedish husband

SING THE CHANGES: The Firemen (half of whom are BEATLES!)
Erica

CAN THE TOWER: Sondre Lerche
THE COFFEE AND TEA WRECKS: The Dandy Warhols
Erin O

TORTURE: John Spencer Blues Explosion
Amanda

WE WANT TO DANCE - Кино́
Blake

SPLITTING THE ATOM: Massive Attack, etc
Jen O

INNOCENT BOY: the Soft Boys
Scot

NOTORIOUS: the Lost Continentals
Aunt Christy

YOU DON'T KNOW ME: UGA's co-ed a cappella ensemble, With Someone Else's Money
Aly

BEAUTIFUL DRIVE: Jeremy Aggers
Sarah

BEAUTIFUL LIFE: Gui Borratto
Chuck

IN ONE EAR: Cage the Elephant
Kyle

THE DIFFICULT KIND: Sheryl Crow
Misty

I THINK SHE LIKE S ME: Treat Her Right w/ Mark Sandham
Thomas

WE DON'T WANT YOUR BODY: Stars
Megan

HOPE THERE'S SOMEONE: Antony + the Johnsons
Liz

AYN: the Ocean Blue
Rory

TALLER CHILDREN: Elizabeth and the Catapult
Joe
-with bonus...

FAR AWAY: Ingrid Michaelson
Joe

END IT TONIGHT: Teenagers in Tokyo
Stuart

YES OR NO: Venus Hum
Nikki G

BRAND NEW COLONY: the Postal Service
Crickett
one of the greatest love songs ever written!

Scavenger Hunt CD Post:02 Songs with banjos & others

i love non-rock instruments in rock songs. the banjo is my favorite.

however, the scavenger hunt list did permit other non-guitar, stringed instruments... mandolins, ukes, violins, etc. and there are a few represented. and while there's only one doubled up track, there are quite a few artists that make recurring appearances... I'm looking at you, Peters Buck and Townsend.

SING - Travis
Stuart
i think it is actually Travis that lead to my love of banjo in rock songs. and not just because Andy Dunlop is my Scottish husband... (see - he even has his arm around me)

SATIN IN A COFFIN - Modest Mouse
Nikki G and Kyle
appropriately, I first saw MM with Miss G. we still make inside jokes about it.

BUKOWSKI - Modest Mouse
Aly
the only track doubles up is also one of the artists doubled up. btw, this is my second favorite Modest Mouse song, second only to "Dramamine."

LOSING MY RELIGION - REM
Misty
the mandolin to show up.

I BELIEVE - REM
Blake
whodda thunk Blake would choose REM? (wink)

CHOCOLATE JESUS - Tom Waits
Jen O
reminding me how damned charming I often find Mr. Waits to be

SQUEEZE BOX - The Who
Megan
how i learned about double entendres

I AM THE SEA/I'VE HAD ENOUGH - the Who
Thomas
i didn't learn to love the Who until my 20's. thank goodness i finally came around

OLD MAN - Neil Young
Erica
Neil Young is in a category he shares only with Dylan. love his music. but usually only if someone else is singing it. this song is one exception.

THE MERCY SEAT - Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Katherine
orchestral instruments make their appearance. like Blake with REM, i am am shocked that kat would choose nick cave - oh, wait.

14TH STREET - Rufus Wainwright
Chuck
and that chuck would pick rufus - oh, wait. maybe my favorite rufus song. and not his last appearance in this series by a long shot.

SEXX LAWS - Beck
Amanda
another "husband" makes it on the list

DECATUR (OR A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR YOUR STEPMOTHER) - Sufjan Stevens
Erin O, pt 1
speaking of Sufjan, i may have to revamp my own list to include "Chicago"

EACH COMING NIGHT - Iron & Wine
Erin O, pt 2

READY TO RUN - Dixie Chicks
Aunt Christy
you knew they'd have to show up some time, right? ;)

TAKE IT EASY - The Eagles
Sarah
reminds me of home, strangely. also one of the only glen frye eagles songs i like. i was raised a don henley girl.

and a few things that while perhaps not brand new, were brand new to me:

LIL KING OF EVERYTHING - Los Lobos
Rory O

MONK TIME - The Monks
Scot

YOU AND I: Ingrid Michaelson
Joe
- UKELELE! the choice instrument of my favorite Beatle.

IF IT HADN'T BEEN FOR LOVE - Steeldrivers
Crickett

AS TALL AS CLIFFS - Margot and the Nuclear So and So's
Liz

Scavenger Hunt CD Post:01 BEATLES favorites

Remember like 6 months ago when I was supposed to share track lists with you guys for this? Well, I got my final disc this weekend, so if I ever want anyone to participate in this ever again - and there WILL be a list for this year's birthday #34 - then I better get steppin'

So as I stated ohsolongago - I will list by track, not by cd. Starting with everyone's favorite Beatles song.

Some notes: It does not surprise me that that a lot of my friends have the same favorite Beatles song. It did - and I don't know why - surprise me that so very many of you chose "Norwegian Wood." I also made a half-hearted joke that we would see whether the majority of the favorites were Lennon/McCartney or McCartney/Lennon (wink wink). Turns out they are almost split right down the middle since I - even the great Beatle enthusiast that I am - refuse to designate "A Day in the Life" as a primary effort on either of their parts... and no argument will sway me on that, not even from Maccers himself.

So without further ado - and in no truly particular order:

NORWEGIAN WOOD:
Amanda, Scot, Erin O, and Jen O
-the most popular though I expected to see, like, HEY JUDE. it appears my friends are even cooler than i give them credit for

YESTERDAY:
Joe
-totally shocked to only see this once

A DAY IN THE LIFE:
Stuart and Blake
-while IN MY LIFE is my all-time favorite, I think this is the quintessential late-era Beatles song. it's like the grandfather of all progressive rock (not prog rock)

HIDE YOUR LOVE AWAY:
Katherine and Megan
- conveniently chosen by both my wedding minister/best friend and my maid of honor. this also appears on my version of the original scavenger hunt cd that we did in the category of "song that reminds you a first date"

SHE'S LEAVING HOME:
Crickett
- as a little girl this was one of the first songs to ever move me to tears; it will always have a special place in my heart, just like C.

A HARD DAY'S NIGHT:
Kyle
- the theme song to my all-time favorite movie comedy. "he's very clean isn't he?"

ALL MY LOVIN':
Misty
-i knew Misty would pick some early Beatles as her favorite, however as a bonus, one of her later tracks happens to be...

ELEANOR RIGBY:
Nikki G
- njg's is also the title of a book by my favorite author, who is also - if i am not mistaken - a favorite author of nikki's and also of rory's... hmmmmm

TICKET TO RIDE:
Rory O
- this was the ringtone on my first cell phone

I'M LOOKING THROUGH YOU:
Erin O
- yep. she made two cd's. so she gets two favorite Beatles songs. she must just love me - or them - that much.

WHEN I'M 64:
Sarah
- containing my all time favorite Paul McCartney vocalization "you'lllll be ol-der toooooo"

I CALL YOUR NAME:
Erica
-i leave it to Erica, who may love the Beatles even more than me, to choose a song even I totally forgot about

WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS:
Aunt Christy
- Ringo makes his debut.

and finally, the George songs. Happy belated birthday to the late Mr. Harrison, my favorite Beatle and perhaps favorite musician to ever walk this world.

IF I NEEDED SOMEONE:
Thomas
-the first great George track

WHILE MY GUITAR GENTLY WEEPS:
Liz
-the middle great George track

SOMETHING:
Aly-son
-the last great George (Beatles) track

HERE COMES THE SUN:
Chuck
-the GREATEST George track (IMHO)