MUSIC OF THE DAY
Every day, or at least every few days, I try to bring in and play different music in class during the day, as our work allows. I enjoy a wide range of musical genres, so I try to play styles or artists that my students will enjoy, even if they've never heard them before. Here are some examples from recent selections.
NOTE: ROOM 405's "DEFAULT" MUSIC OF THE DAY IS CLASSICAL FROM 91.5 KUSC
NOTE: ROOM 405's "DEFAULT" MUSIC OF THE DAY IS CLASSICAL FROM 91.5 KUSC
Here are some songs & artists who have been featured in class as "Music of the Day."
The info above the song tells a little bit about the "who" and "why" of the choices.
Some spooky classical for Halloween (or any time, really) |
The Lumineers:A great new band, part of the "old-timey" music revival |
A great Italian pop song, featured in one of my favorite movies of all time, the original Pink Panther! |
A classic "kids" song. Originally recorded by a French pop singer in the '60s. This version is by one of my all-time favorite bands, CAKE.
|
Leftover Cuties: another LA-based band of "old-timey" revivalists. I read about them in the LA Times. Who says newspapers are "dead?" |
"Red Barchetta" by Rush: this is a song one of the bands I play in had considered learning. Then we tried playing it. Let's just say there's a reason they're in the Hall of Fame! |
Here's another song from a PHISH concert I attended 2 summers ago at the Hollywood Bowl. It's something I just keep coming back to, so I figured I'd share it.
|
Here's a version of the same PHISH song, but done by in a "bluegrass" style by a group of musicians/PHISH heads. Very different, but you can still tell it's the same song and melody.
|
Here's another PHISH song, that, for some reason, has been one of my favorites as of late. One thing's for sure, you'll never forget the words. But then, it's not always about the words, is it?
|
"Things Have Changed"
by Curtis Stigers. This is actually a Bob Dylan song, originally written forthe soundtrack of the movie Wonder Boys, starring Michael Douglas. I heard it on the radio, 88.1 KKJZ (listener-supported public radio jazz & blues station). Great tune, great moody version, with just a bit of darkness to it. I plan on doing it with one of the bands I play in. |
"Stealing Time From the Faulty Plan"
by Phish. As you can tell, I'm something of a "Phish Head." But anyway, here's a song from one of their 2009 studio album Joy. I highly recommend the whole album, but this is one of my favorites from that disc. It's got a great guitar riff, oddly poignant lyrics, and a catchy chorus. What more do you want in a rock song? |
"The Golden State"
by John Doe Doe was a member of the influential LA punk/roots band x. Now, he's like one of the "godfathers" of of the roots-rock scene. Go figure. But, thank goodness for artists like Doe. Without him, there'd be no folk revivalists like The Lumineers, Mumford & Sons, and all that "new" craze in music. Everything old is new again, eh? |
The '80s are Back! At least in my mind, anyway . . .Ladies and Gentlemen, Echo and the Bunnymen!Maybe it's spending time with middle-school aged kids, but lately I've been flashing back to my Jr. High (as it was called way back when) days. Here's a great '80s tune from the New Wave British Invasion. I dare you to not at least secretly like it . . .
|
Here's another great '80s tune from Echo and the Bunnymen. It's funny, I liked their stuff OK back then, but they weren't necessarily one of my favorites. Now, though, I appreciate them a lot more, for their sound, their musicianship, and their lyrics and style.
"Experience is the teacher of all things," said Julius Caesar. I guess he knows a thing or two. As we get older, we often see things more completely, and for more than we noticed before. This one can really grow on you. |
Dylan's lyrics + Pearl Jam's heart? Spine-tingling!"Masters of War" is one of my favorite early Bob Dylan tunes; it's one of my favorites, period.
Yes, we have to defend ourselves; all nations and people have that right. That doesn't mean, however, that constant warfare somewhere in the world is necessary. And the people who profit from it, and in some ways hope for and encourage it? Well, listen . . . |