"Old Time Rock and Roll"-Bob Seger

Is it just me, or are songs that are about "rock and roll" some of the most boring songs on the planet?

Exhibits A, B, and C:

1. "Old Time Rock and Roll"-Bob Seger
2. "I Love Rock 'n Roll"-Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
3. "It's Only Rock 'n Roll (But I Like It)"-The Rolling Stones

If you have to state your case for rock, you're already overstating it. Suck, suck, and more suck.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6UJZtCz1-c

"We Weren't Crazy"-Josh Gracin

Not to be beating on my country music drum all the time, but I feel I have to make a point about country songs because no one else seems to be doing it.

I've been driving around town a lot lately listening to radio, and I will admit that a number of the songs that come on the country station are totally sucky and I have to change the channel after like thirty seconds. An example of this is "Cowboy Casanova," by Carrie Underwood, which is a big old mouse poop of a song. Like, for real, it is the worst.

However, today I was washing dishes and heard "We Weren't Crazy" by Josh Gracin. As with a lot of these songs, sometimes the verses are neutral---as in, they're not really good or bad, and it's only in the context of the chorus that you can decide whether to be into them or not. But once that chorus came crashing in, I was heading for my laptop to find out what it was called so that I could buy it.

The concept of this song is a simple one: they were young, they were wild, they were restless, but they weren't crazy. People thought they would never make it, but then they did. And now they have babies and and are sticking their tongues out at everyone like, "nanny nanny boo boo."

I know what you're thinking, and I agree that this could all add up to a very bad, very stupid thing. But it's the chorus that saves it, by having that rhythmically seductive hook that winds around itself like the best country choruses do. It's fast, and you can yell it, but it pushes against the chord changes in just the right way. Especially the melodic choices on "We were lovin' blind / borderline reckless," and the way "lovin' blind" internally rhymes with "borderline." I mean, I just cannot say enough good things about this hook. As with vegetarian chicken patties, you have to try it to believe it.

Plus the whole concept is kind of romantic---"We had a lot of fun, didn't we? And we still do."

In conclusion, the best country songs are the ones that come in halfway through and hit me in the back of the head and make me cry a little bit, even when I'm not about to get my period.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0AOQTZpi8Y

"Challengers"-The New Pornographers

I was doing "song a day" but it seems like if I can start shooting for "song a month," that will be a good goal.

This is the best song about forbidden love EVARRRR plus it has the banjo in it which makes it even hotter.

The music video showcases these elements (banjo + forbidden love) plus Neko Case drinking some radioactive soda out of a plastic cup.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHWWWa8EvzI