Here Come the Swans

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Friday, June 30, 2006

YouTube Urgh, part deux and That Petrol Emotion

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The other half and I are trying to come up with wedding music. I never realized until now--or maybe I did realize it but it's been accentuated recently--how much depressing music I listen to. Any suggestions for happy, lubby-dubby music that doesn't suck? We're also trying to pander to the masses in a way. Most of the people who will be there have "normal" taste in music, so we do want to play some stuff to appeal to them.
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Since the 999 Urgh! clip was taken off YT (:(), here is the video:
999, "Homicide"


The Au Pairs, "Come Again"
One of the most underrated bands from the 1980s, The Au Pairs, led by the militant Lesley Woods, released two albums before splitting way too soon. I discovered them though Urgh! and was frustrated to find their music hard to find. Circa 1993, Playing with a Different Sex was re-released by RPM. It didn't disappoint.
Note: This video has a warning ahead of it. Nothing objectionable in the video, but the song is about faking orgasms.


Oingo Boingo, "Ain't This the Life?"
Pre-soundtrack go-to-guy Danny Elfman fronts his SoCal band. Crowd goes wild.


Echo and the Bunnymen, "The Puppet"
E&theB were in Charlotte last week. Because of our currently busy lives, the other half and I didn't go. I'll solace myself with this clip. I like the brief London punk girl montage at the beginning.


Athletico Spizz 80, "Where's Captain Kirk?"
One of the odder Urgh! moments, the singer of even odder-named Athletico Spizz 80 (one of their many monikers actually) sings about Star Trek and sprays foam stuff on the everyone.


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Here's a bonus video:
That Petrol Emotion's "Keen"
"Big Decision" was on my 80s list. That video isn't on Urgh! (yet?), but this rarity is. This one's never been released on CD (yet?)...Great song!

Friday, June 23, 2006

YouTube videos of the week...Urgh! A Music War!, Part I

Hello all. Sorry for the lack of updates. *hangs head in shame*
Those who know me know how much I adore Urgh! A Music War. If there was a movie that cries out for one of those super-duper deluxe DVD releases, this is it. Apparently, that's not going to happen anytime soon probably because of music copyright issues, so used copies go for bank on eBay.
Now here is where YouTube saves the day. Here is some of the hits from a search of "urgh war." I'll make this a multi-part entry. :)

Klaus Nomi, "Total Eclipse"

(There was something I always loved about the girl who says "Welcome to the Ritz" at the start of Klaus's one of a kind performance.)

999, "Homicide"
Video removed from YT. :(
(Shares its name with the best TV show of all time, and it's a kick ass song.)

Gary Numan, "Down in the Park"

(I just love that little chair contraption.)

Gang of Four, "He'd Send in the Army"

(Every time I see this, I want to kick myself for not seeing them live last year.)

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#24--"A Month of Sundays" -- The Church

Year: 1984
Official Site
Lyrics
The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Church, written by John Bergstrom and found on the amazing jefitoblog

Here's another song that I never actually heard in the 1980s. Like many children of the MTV era, I was most familiar with the Church's song, "Under the Milky Way," which I liked the first few times I heard it but then grew terribly sick of it. Later on, I dated a guy who was a huge fan, but I still never got into them. Then one day, a few years back, I had the TV on with one of those digital cable music channels (kinda like a radio station on your TV). I think it may have been this one: Retroactive. Anyway, I was struck by the beauty of this song, which pre-dated "Under the Milky Way" by four years, an embodiment of ethereality, a melody that floats. At the risk of sounding melodramatic, it makes me want to cry. The jefitoblog link above contained an MP3 of the song, but the link has since expired, and there is no YouTube video. :( Soooooo...I'm toying with the idea of putting up a YouSendIt link. We'll see.