All that bad singing has given me a sore throat....

...so I cleaned my apartment.

Ambrosia, "How Much I Feel"
On: Life Beyond L.A. (1978)
What the song is about: A relationship in which the parties are better off apart, but being hung up on it well after it's over.
Why I played it as I was dusting: I know it's lame, but I love 70s and 80s soft rock-- Journey, Foreigner, Hall ad Oats...yes, these groups are usually considered to be super saccharine, but I enjoy killer pop hooks and lead singers with beastly voices. Ambrosia probably isn't considered the biggest and baddest of these pop/rock arena bands (that honor would go to Steve Perry & Co.) but they have always been my favorite. Their music is a little less cheese-tastic than that of their peers; I don't feel so embarrassed when someone looks through my ipod and sees "How Much I Feel" versus "I Wanna Know What Love Is".
My favorite lyrics... I've always appreciated the frankness of "How Much I Feel". A lot of times songs about relationships are 1) saddled with metaphors or 2) describe what is going on in an overblown way. In this song, the love has died, no one is happy, and there is no need to dress it up: "Well you try to stay in the middle/ And the you cry just a little/ And then you both realize just how foolish you've been/ And you try to make amends/ But you're better off as friends."
....But my favorite part of the song is always: Whenever David Pack belts, "THAT'S HOWWWWWW MUUUUCCCCCHHHH!!!!"

More Lemonheads, yes?

The Lemonheads, "My Drug Buddy"

On: It's a Shame About Ray (1992)

What the song is about: self-explanatory

Why I keep listening to it: I like to listen to it as I play along on my guitar. I love a song with only four chords. Also, the music masks my terrible singing.

My favorite lyric: "I'm too much with myself/I wanna be someone else"

I'm not at work today.

Some of the background noise in my apartment...

The Lemonheads, "Confetti"
On: It's a Shame About Ray (1992)
What the song is about: A guy who could love his girlfriend...but eh, why bother?
It's in my truck stereo because: I saw the album at Half Priced Books for $1. Also, J Hatfield is on bass.
Best Lyric: "He kinda shoulda sorta woulda loved her if he could've/He'd rather be alone than pretend." Admirable or assholish?


Marie 'Queenie' Lyons, "Snake in the Grass"
On: Soul Fever (1970)
What the song is about: Pretty obvious metaphor...her husband is a liar...and a cheat...and she don't want him no more (cue Angela Basset/Katherine Jackson impression)
Why I'm listening to it: I actually bought this album on a shopping trip with the guy who turned out to be as worthless as the fictitious husband Queenie is talking about. How fitting.
Best lyric: The lyrics don't get me as much as how she sings them. As she starts describing her husband's transition from charmer to jerk, her voice starts to strain and get tense. By the time she gets to the chorus ("Snake in the grass! A poison flower! He smiles when he lies!), she's damn near screaming.



David Bowie, "Rock 'n' Roll Suicide"
On: David Live (1974)
What the song is about: The fall of Ziggy Stardust.
Why I looooooove this song: This track serves as the climax of the ZS album, and Bowie uses it to close this wonderful live set as well. Like a lot of the other songs in the set list, he slows "Suicide" down for heightened drama and gives a more R&B feel...He even sings the song an octave higher than that studio version (and throws in some extra 'Ooohs' and 'Ahhs' for good measure).
Best lyric: I LIVE for the last 90 seconds of this song...Bowie really digs deep to deliver his affirmations (You're not alone! All you have to do is...OOOOOH...Give me your hand! Cause your wonderful, wonderful, wonderful...OOOH!) and he soars in his delivery.

Let's keep it going, shall we?....Don't date him, girl! pt 2

Juliana Hatfield, "My Baby"
On: How to Walk Away (2008)
What the song is about: Ahhh...the moment you realize someone doesn't love/want you anymore. Priceless.
Why I love it: I have a really, really, really, soft spot for Juliana Hatfield. Until Lauryn Hill lost her damn mind, JH was my second favorite female singer/songwriter, but now she firmly holds the No. 1 spot. I pretty much adore anything she writes. "My Baby" is the best track on a really spectacular break-up album...It's so pretty that you almost forget how sad of a song it is.
Best lyric: "He used to look in my eyes and talk to me/But now we just have sex and watch TV." Damn. Ouch. Been there.


Elton John, "I've Seen That Movie Too"
On: Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973)
What the song is about: This song always reminded me of "Hello It's Me"...It's very much about how insincere people can be when trying to end a relationship. EJ likens the canned routine he is being fed while being dumped to a bad scene in a B film...it's snarky and it works.
Why I love it: It plays in my head every time I smell bullshit on a guy.
Best lyric: ALL OF THEM. This song should be required listening for all women.


Ann Peebles, "I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down"
On: I Can't Stand the Rain (1973)
What the song is about: First off I would just like to say the AP is criminally underappreciated. Her voice is so gritty! Her songs are so hardcore! She is never, ever passive in her lyrics or her vocal delivery. And this one is a stellar example....a classic track about finding your man cheating and deciding to take action.
Why I love the song: I love the steady pace of this track and the strength/control of her voice....like I can just picture AP fucking this dude's shit up and then going home and making herself some tea.
Best lyric: "I'm gonna tear your playhouse down/Pretty soon/I'm gonna tear your playhouse down/ Room by room" She really burns the words when she says "room by room". I wish I was that hard!

Don't date him, girl!

I love all kinds of music on all types of subject, but my sweet stars I really love break-up songs. I don't think that there is anything easier to write or sing about than relationship-induced misery.

Amy Winehouse, "Wake Up Alone"

On: Black to Black (2007)

What the the song is about: The story has become infamous....Amy was dating Blaaaaaake. Blaaaaaake left her. She was trying to deal.

Why I've been listening to it lately: I was dating someone...I think...He left me...I'm trying to deal.

Best lyric: "I stay up, clean the house, at least I'm not drinking/ Run around enough so I don't have to think about thinking." Recently, I spent four hours of my afternoon shopping for cookie cutters, and then I came home and took my keyboard apart so I could clean it. Amy, I understand your pain.

Todd Rundgren, "Hello It's Me"

On: Something/Anything (1972)

What the song is about: Being dumped coldly and abruptly...I think TR has actually said the song was written about being dumped over the phone. To me the song is a textbook example of the bullshit people tell you when the break your heart in an attempt to save face...basically, this is the theme song to any asshole who has ever used the line, "It's not you, it's me" or "Let's just be friends."

Why I've been listening to it lately: Because the same guy who left me handed me some similar lines of poetry right before telling me he was getting back together with his ex.

Best lyric: "Think of me/ You know that I'd be with you if I could/I'll come around to see you once and awhile/Or if I ever need a reason to smile/ And spend the night if you think I should."

Actually, maybe that's the worst lyric...

Prince, "Anotherloverholenyohead"
On: Parade (1986)
What the song is about: Some b!tch who wasn't grateful for the Purple One's sweet, sweet lovin' and left him.

Why I've been listening to it lately: Honestly, I was listening to this a lot before I got dumped...I just think Prince is a sexy motherfucker. Also, I admire his disdain of modern-day spelling and grammar rules.
Best lyric: Go straight to the chorus--"You need another lover like you need a hole in your head/You know there aint no other who can do the duty in your bed."

Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, "Carry On"

On: Deja Vu (1970)....but I like Alana Davis' cover that she recorded for that random ass Sony commercial (2003)

What the song is about: Put simply, love has been lost, but love will be found again.

Why I've been listening to it lately: It's so damn hopeful. Like, these dudes honestly and truly believe that "love is coming to us all"....It's so hippie-dippy that you can't help but sing along.

Best lyric: "One morning I woke up, and I knew you were really gone/A new day, a new way, and I knew I should see it along." Holy shit, closure and hope in ten seconds. I love it.