Category Archives: Music

My iPod #166: They Might Be Giants – The Cap’m

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“The Cap’m” is the second most popular They Might Be Giants song from “The Else” according to TMBW, coming in at #40 on the overall song rating chart. Why is this? Well, I can’t speak for all of the fans who rated it. What I can tell you is why I like it though. That is probably what you expect, as that is what I have done for every song on my iPod since February.

What is probably the most interesting aspect of the song is the incongruous relationship between the lyrics and everything about the music. The music itself sounds very uplifting, from the chord progressions to the vocals. But the lyrics are from the point of view of a pretentious and egoistic narrator. Almost like “And Your Bird Can Sing” by The Beatles…. That’s another song I like. Maybe, more bands should go with that formula, because the two songs I know of that use it have done no wrong.

Jamie.

My iPod #165: They Might Be Giants – Canajoharie

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“Canajoharie” was one of the first songs from “Join Us” to be performed live by the band. The first time being in September 2010, months before the album was actually released.

This performance at the Kennedy Center in Washington was the first time I’d ever heard the song. Not because I was there, but because it was the first option that came up when I searched “They Might Be Giants – Canajoharie” on YouTube. Thinking about it now, I remember not being to overwhelmed by it. The verses were carried along by a steady boom-boom-clap back-beat and Linnell started blaring out the song title in the chorus. But back then, the lyrics had still not been deciphered yet. So I didn’t know what else to make of the song.

That all changed when the album actually came out in 2011. I was on holiday in the US after finishing my GCSEs, and listened to the album in full. There was just something about the studio version of “Canajoharie” that made me like it a lot more. Now I could understand what Linnell was singing about, and everything just sounded a lot tighter. “Canajoharie” is a real place too, which surprised me a bit. The band have a tendency to sing about weird things so I just thought it would be a made up word. It’s not.

Jamie.

My iPod #164: Red Hot Chili Peppers – Can’t Stop

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I used to always become bored before the song started when I saw the video on Kerrang! After seconds of wondering and waiting to see what would be at the end of the yellow tube, just to see Anthony’s face was very disappointing. I would change the channel just as the guitar began to play.

That changed when I finally gave in and decided to watch what followed. A lot of random, surrealistic events occur. Flea plays the bass whilst wearing a fake hippo head, Chad balances a huge container on his finger. It’s all very fascinating. Watch it for yourselves.

“Can’t Stop” was the third single from “By the Way”. The combination of the funky, rap driven verses, reminiscent of the band’s earlier work, and the melodic, sweet choruses which the band had been focusing on for their more recent albums of that time established the song as a favourite for many of their dedicated fans. Including me. I truly enjoy this song too.

Jamie

My iPod #163: The Libertines – Can’t Stand Me Now

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A “hate you but I love you” type of song at its very finest.

Pete Doherty and Carl Barât were not getting along with one another as they did in the years before 2004. Pete was doing drugs, Carl did not like it, they argued and the band split up later.

But what better way to express their feelings to one another than through song? With memorable call and response verses, the two lead vocalists express their feelings to each other. No metaphors or other literary devices are used which may try to place ambiguity on any lines… it’s just pure emotion. Not like soppy emotion. But the truth. Straight from the heart.

The song is the lead track from the band’s last album. It almost got to number one in the charts. It peaked at number two. It got beaten by this.

Jamie.

My iPod #162: The Offspring – Can’t Repeat

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The Offspring, again? Okay…

“Can’t Repeat” was the new song recorded for the band’s compilation released in 2005. The days were counting down to the end of my final year of primary school, and this song hit me hard during that time. Lots of references about time, and getting older and looking onwards to tomorrow did not help. I didn’t want to go to secondary school…. but I had to. So this taught me to make the most of every minute of the present, something I still try and live by to this day.

The video also played on MTV2 a lot. It’s a simple one. No concept. Just the band performing in a dimly lit room, which is fine. More videos should be like that, we never just see a performance video anymore. There is an alternate version of the video with actors looking at photographs and reflecting on memories. But I prefer the one above.

Jamie.