Tag Archives: you

My iPod #284: The Kinks – Do You Remember Walter?

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This is the second track from The Kinks’ 1968 album “The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society“, a collection of fifteen songs about living in the country, nostalgia, and general English culture. Without listening to the albums that came before it, I have come to the conclusion that the album was the group’s last best one. I’ve heard “Arthur” and “Muswell Hillbillies” but they were such a drag to listen to. The only song on “Village Green” that I can’t really listen to casually is “Last of the Steam-Powered Trains”, but the rest are light-hearted, carefree, sometimes tragic but still upbeat. “Walter” fits in with those last two adjectives.

Did you have a friend in primary school who you felt was like a brother to you? Were you inseparable? You thought you could take on the world together when you were grown ups? (Or at least keep in touch with each other every day at the start of Year Seven?) That’s nice. I had one of those friends…. We haven’t kept in touch so much. I actually haven’t spoken to him in about three years. He’s got new friends; I have mine. But the memories of our times in school stay strong.

That’s essentially what “Walter” is all about. I’m sure a lot of you will be able to relate to it.

There are more songs to talk about from this album. Their time will come. Have fun with this one for the time being.

My iPod #283: OK Go – Do What You Want

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This song has three official videos for it. Why, you might ask? I’m not particularly sure myself. But the one above isn’t the one I wanted up. This is the version I saw on the TV first so it has that extra sentimental value or whatever. The ‘tour’ version will have to do.
This is “Do What You Want”, a song by OK Go released as a single from their second album “Oh No” released in 2005. What a track this one is too. After seeing “A Million Ways” and being captivated by the band’s creative dance routine, I didn’t see anything from the band for a few months until this unexpectedly popped up in a random music chart on MTV2. It may have been in a “New Music” segment thing, but the memory’s a bit fuzzy.
I’ve never cared to think about what the song’s about. Not in a bad way; I’ve always liked the way it sounded. Really bright, with a clunky guitar riff and a smooth and deep bass line. Along with a nice positive message of doing what you want. It’s something to play at those parties where all you play is indie tunes. It’s bound to get some people on their feet. I’ve never been to any of those kinds of parties, so I wouldn’t know. Then the song was part of the soundtrack of Burnout Revenge, and it buried itself into my head that much more. Something about racing down the street and taking out cars at high speeds caused a proper adrenaline rush. This song, as well as the many others, made the experience so worthwhile. I should play that game again, I haven’t even completed it.
Enjoy the song.

My iPod #159: The Offspring – (Can’t Get My) Head Around You

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There’s not much I can say about “Head Around You”. I remember trying to watch the video on Windows Media Player from the band’s official website circa 2004. It was in terrible quality, which made the multi-camera concept much worse.

It’s a short but sharp song – only two and a bit minutes long – but it always feels a lot longer when I listen to it. I don’t know what it is about it that makes me feel that way. It’s probably the riff, it virtually plays throughout the whole thing bar two times. It is a simple punk rock song, that’s what it is.

I do also like the wah-wah effect during the instrumental break, that gets a special mention.

The song was released as the second single from the band’s 2003 album “Splinter“.

Jamie.

My iPod #121: The Dandy Warhols – Bohemian Like You

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WARNING: INCLUDES SCENES OF NUDITY. It’s only a few shots. But still.

I have heard more songs by The Dandy Warhols. Don’t worry. I’m not that kind of person who’s like “Ah, I listen to [insert band here] all the time” and only know the lyrics to their signature song. No, no. That’s not me. I have two more songs ony my iPod by the band, so :p.

I don’t need to prove anything. I don’t listen to The Dandy Warhols anyway. I didn’t know they were still together until I searched it up whilst typing this sentence. They are though, and that’s all right.

I think I’m correct in saying that The Dandy Warhols are much more popular in the US than here in the United Kingdom. I think the only reason people here know of them is due to the Vodafone advert this song was on in the early noughties. I can’t remember it at all, seeing as I was about six at the time. But thanks to that advert, the song reached number five on the charts. That wasn’t really significant to me either.

In general, “Bohemian Like You” is one of those songs that you know you’ve heard before. Somewhere in someplace at sometime. The problem is you can’t remember what the name of the artist was. Well, if you’re in that situation, here you go. Problem solved.

The nude scenes were censored when they played on MTV2, so being the eager beaver I searched up the uncensored version. I was just curious that’s all. Seeing the guy’s private parts wasn’t so great. That was years ago though. I’m much more mature now.

Until tomorrow.

Jamie.

My iPod #93: be your own PET – Bicycle, Bicycle, You Are My Bicycle

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Ah… the joys of riding a bicycle. Something I can’t relate to seeing as I’ve never owned one. However, it’s an activity that be your own PET profoundly express their fondness in this song, and in just over two minutes.

The band are a force that ought to be recognised according to the track. The sky will turn brown, they’ll change the eye colour of every lady (which could only suggest that some violence may occur), the sleepyheads will wake up due to their presence, they’ll fuck shit up too! All this because they are on their bicycles, because cars are for idiots.

I didn’t even make that paragraph up, those are all lyrics in the song. These are backed up with a very aggressively shouted vocal by lead singer Jemina Pearl and the rest of the band, and a rapid guitar riff capturing the urgency of theme. The instrumental break fools you for a bit, starting off slow like a train pulling out of a station but it then gradually becomes faster and faster before returning back to its normal velocity and in regards to the song, the final verse and chorus.

They’re on two wheels, baby.

Until tomorrow.

Jamie.