So once again my brain universe (brain universe?) is colliding. Things that are on my mind that keep coming together and popping up randomly. The list: A sudden rekindling of my love for Ben Folds (with or without the Five,) wanting Bug to love The Muppet Show as much as I did as a kid, Jim Henson's (would-have-been) 76th birthday this week, and the below video. Does stuff like this ever just really freak you out? Well, it does me. And while this song does show off B.F.'s mad piano skills, it doesn't highlight his many varied choices in cover song material, our shared love of Nick Hornby, or his uncanny ability look super smooth (for a nerdy white guy) while rapping. But the fact that it's been brought to my attention several times this week makes it a tune I can't blog bypass (blogpass? blypass? blass?) So love him or hate him, the man plays music with Fraggles. Props should be given.
If only the Doozers had been invited to the party. Random side note: I have a plant (actually a succession of plants) that have been named Madam Trash Heap for the past six years. Yes, I name plants.
And one last side note: even if you HATE Ben Folds, even if you didn't have the energy to click on any of the other links above, CLICK ON THIS ONE. I'm so serious, y'all.
So the version of this song that's actually stuck in my head is the one I hate. Typical. Manfred Mann's cover of Blinded by the Light. I change the station every time it comes on. And on my last remaining classic rock station (because Atlanta is systematically destroying all of its best radio stations and turning them into 24/7 sports talk) it's on the rotation A LOT. So F you, Manfred Mann, no I will not sign up for your newsletter or read your stories. Oh, you're touring? WHO CARES?!? And what the hell kind of name is Manfred Mann's Earth Band anyway? Seriously. Manfred? Your parents maybe didn't like you so much. Just a thought.
No the real deal will always be Bruce even though M.M. was the band that hit #1 with it (Bruce's only #1, bee tee dubs.) And there's truly no one who can talk about this song better than The Boss himself, so I will shut up now. But I highly recommend watching the video below (you have to do a little work here and fast forward to about 8:59 to get to this song...or watch the whole thing cause it's effing Bruce, people.) And he's kind of a genius.
Somehow listening to Black Sabbath's Changes doesn't conjure images of bat head-biting for me, especially the version that I have stuck in my ear this morning with Kelly and Ozzy singing a sweet duet to each other on some MTV awards show several years ago. I know I've said this before, but I am literally fascinated by the random s**t my brain conjures up sometimes. Trying to figure out why these earoworms surface is half the fun! The other half is walking around humming (read "singing very loudly") and annoying family, friends and coworkers. Anyway, I have an educated guess that this particular worm stemmed from me seeing an episode of Fashion Police (which a purple-haired Kelly Osbourne is currently on) recently and somehow my brain dredged up this moment in TV history from 2003. Why I would have even been watching MTV in 2003 will remain a mystery, and why I particularly remember this song is even mysteriouser (?) But I digress. The re-worked lyrics (by Kelly) and the way she smiles at him and the cute little smooch at the end (awe...) really make it a nice little moment. And apparently when the song was released it hit #1 in the UK. Way to ride those coat tails, girl!
Fun Friday factoid: Sir Elton John settled the debate between father and offspring about whether or not to include the choir in the background while they were visiting him in the south of France (as you do with Sir Elton.) Elton and Ozzy liked it, so the choir stayed. I like it too, so I'm glad. Sorry Kells. Elton also apparently gave Kelly food poisoning (yes, MTV deems this newsworthy information,) so she lost on multiple fronts. Her life must really suck. Oh wait.
I have become obsessed. Seriously, I can't stop. I am an addict! And I probably need some sort of rehab. I have gotten no work done in at least 24 hours because of this. Bad Lip Reading. It's effing genius! So, why is this site showing up on a blog about earworms? Well, because Hubby and I both woke up singing the only singable line from the More Mitt video. A little ditty that goes something like this:
Tap it, tap it in that's a zinger,
And tell me how to poke it on Tuesday.
Clearly this makes absolutely no sense, but it's had us totally cracking up for two days now. There's really not anything clever or witty that I can add here, you just have to watch it. And if you don't shed a few salty tears of laughter, you are obviously dead inside. Everybody, sing along!
My name is Big Strong Greg, and I approve this message.
So here's some news. The Outfield are still around and they put out a new record last year. And (it isn't my favorite, but) it doesn't suck. I know, amazing, right? This song is kind of like the Beach Boys and Duran Duran had a one night stand that resulted in an illegitimate child who grew up to be a sitar player in a pop band. Agreed? But Your Love is still the only song of theirs that I actually know and thanks to an (over) abundance of classic-rock-radio-listening on my part, it has been stuck in my head for a couple of days. It's one of those songs that I definitely sing REALLY LOUDLY to when I'm driving. Air drums. There are always air drums. Unless of course your listening to the cover version by Bon Iver. Which is actually kind of awesome (if you like that kind of melancholy make-over of an 80s classic,) but definitely not conducive to air drumming.
Anywho, fun factoid for Friday: The Outfield originally played under the name The Baseball Boys because they were obsessed with America's favorite pastime despite being from London's East End. And now you can take that gripping piece of music history with you anywhere you go! It's like a mobile app. Or something. Ugh, is it the weekend yet?
Does anyone else suspect this girl of also being in Ah-Ha's Take on Me video? Time to bust out my mad research skills, yo!
