Music review: Blind Melon - No Rain

blindmelon.jpgArtist: Blind Melon Members: Shannon Hoon (vocals), Brad Smith (bass), Rogers Stevens (guitar), Christopher Thorn (guitar), Glen Graham (drums) Album: Blind Melon Release date: 9/22/92 Video link: Via YouTube

Lyrics: All I can say is that my life is pretty plain I like watchin' the puddles gather rain And all I can do is just pour some tea for two and speak my point of view But it's not sane, It's not sane

I just want some one to say to me I'll always be there when you wake Ya know I'd like to keep my cheeks dry today So stay with me and I'll have it made

And I don't understand why I sleep all day And I start to complain that there's no rain And all I can do is read a book to stay awake And it rips my life away, but it's a great escape escape......escape......escape......

All I can say is that my life is pretty plain ya don't like my point of view ya think I'm insane Its not sane......it's not sane.

About the song: Most people know this song from the infamous Bee Girl video. There's nothing particularly wonderful about No Rain other than having a catchy tune. I have to admit that Blind Melon is one of those bands that make me wonder what they could have been if they weren't involved with drugs. Would they have been more successful? Supposedly the band didn't start using until they started touring for the Blind Melon album. While it's too late for them now (beyond their current reunion with a new singer, which just isn't the same), I wish I could have known what would have been if things were different.

Music review: BoA - Searching For Truth

Artist: BoAAlbum: Shine We Are! Release date: 12/4/03

Lyrics: * Show me angel, Where are you? (Right) Show me angel, Where are you? (Here) Show me angel, Where are you callin' from? (Waiting for you)

* repeat

Sarang hahn da neun ma leun Noo goo la do sohk sak ee gaet ji mahn Mal ha neun guht mahn eu rohn ma eum ee juhn hae jyuh o ji ah nah Bah la mahn bo ki bo dan nuh ei moh deen gul neu kki go shi puh Nae ga bah lan ee saeng gak dee leun nae yohk shim in ga yo

So eul nae mil uh bwah do da ji ah nah yo Geu juh geu gae kkum il ji la do Na ei sahng eun dan hahn buhn ppoon il tahn ni Na reul ki da ri neun gun Ah peum ee duh la do doo ryuh wuh mal go Ji geum ei neu kkim eul ah nah bo go shi puh yo

** Searching for truth Geu dae neun ji geum uh de ae ees na yo nal bo na yo Searching for truth Geu dae reul whi hae sae sahng ae tae uh na jyo

* repeat

Mahn nam gwah ee byul deel ee Nae gae o buhn ee na ji na ga ya Na reul whi hahn oon myung ei geu dae reul Mahn nal soo ees neun gun ji Cho buhn ei mi soh deel gwah Ddo neun geu ee sahng ei noon moor deel ee Bi rohk nae gae neun ah peum ee la do ki da ril soo ees jyo

Ji geum geu dae reul hyang hae dahl ri go ees jyo Sul reh ee myuh buhk chah o reu neun Na ei ma eum eul neu kkil soo ees na yo Bi rohk kkum eul kkoo deus ee Hwan sahng il ji la do mid go shi puh yo Na ae gae geu dae ga da ga o go ees da go

Searching for truth soom gyuh jin bi mil Juh hyuh jin nal gae neun nae mahm sohk ae Geu dae ga ees jyo bah ro nae kyu tae Ji geum nan ahl soo ees jyo

** repeat

Searching for truth Shin bi hahn bi mil Juh hyuh jin nal gae neun nae mahm sohk ae Searching for truth Geu dae neun ji geum nae nal gae ga dwi uht jyo

Livin\' inside of my heart

* repeat * repeat About the song: This is one of BoA's Korean songs. (She sings in Japanese, Korean and English.) To me, a lot of her songs sound the same. This isn't any different. Don't get me wrong, it's a decent enough song. BoA's voice is strong, as always, and the music rocks. It just sounds like the rest of her songs. I usually end up picking a couple of BoA songs to listen to and this one doesn't make that list.

Music review: Ken Hirai - Miracles

kenhirai.jpgArtist: Ken Hirai Album: gaining through losing Release date: 7/4/01

English translation: Ah I love the whispered voice right by my ear mmmmh... You cast a spell on the overlapping lips

It always starts in a dream and the fear of the light coming in It's as though you'd disappear when I open my eyes

If I hold you, the more I do so this heart is about to tear apart I want to hold you Hold me longer until this pain subsides

I feel miracle when I see you when I kiss you (feel miracle) My spirit will go when I touch you when I hold you (when I kiss you baby) There's no miracle when I miss you when I lose you You're my miracle

If I hold you, the more I do so this heart is about to tear apart I want to hold you Hold me stronger so that this miracle can last longer

If I hold you, the more I do so this heart... I want to hold you Hold me longer until this pain...

You're my miracle About the song: When I first started listening to Ken Hirai, I didn't like anything other than POP STAR. However, his songs have grown on me. Miracles is the type of song that you would make love to. Ken's voice is silky and smooth while the music wraps you up in loving feelings. He may be a little odd in concert but his music definitely makes up for it.

Music review: Barenaked Ladies - Alternative Girlfriend

maybe.gifArtist: Barenaked Ladies Members: Steven Page, Ed Robertson, Jim Creegan, Tyler Stewart, Andy Creegan Album: Maybe You Should Drive Release date: 8/16/94 Video link: Via YouTube

Lyrics: You're in an all-girl band Your futon's second hand Your parents understand but you don't care

I have a job in a shop I'm an undercover cop I make sure the customers aren't thieves

Old at being young Young at being old Everything's on hold within our evolution

Chorus:

You're my alternative girlfriend I love you, and now you cannot pretend There's nothing left that won't cross over

Last night we slept on the lawn you woke up and I was gone Back to the dream I dream to leave My life with her is a bore

A worn-out metaphor No more surprises up its sleeve We're old at being young Young at being old Everything's been sold to other's revolutions

Chorus

You live above your dad's four-car garage With your vinyl and imaginary entourage if I pull up in a U-Haul, pack up quick So we can get out of this town 'cause it makes me sick

Chorus About the song: I fully admit that I am pretty biased toward Barenaked Ladies songs. They have so many great songs. This is another one. Alternative Girlfriend is fairly straight-forward lyrically. It's a song about a young couple who have grown bored of each other. I think it's the background music that really makes this song. There isn't anything 'new' or 'fresh' about it but that's the point. It sounds like a whole lot of other 'alternative' songs from that time period which points out the fact that while you may think you are different, you're pretty much the same as everyone else.

Music review: Five for Fighting - 100 Years

fiveforfighting.jpgArtist: Five For Fighting Album: Battle For Everything Release date: 2/3/04 Video link: Via YouTube

Lyrics: I'm 15 for a moment Caught in between 10 and 20 And I'm just dreaming Counting the ways to where you are I'm 22 for a moment She feels better than ever And we're on fire Making our way back from Mars 15 there's still time for you Time to buy and time to lose 15, there's never a wish better than this When you only got 100 years to live I'm 33 for a moment Still the man, but you see I'm a they A kid on the way A family on my mind I'm 45 for a moment The sea is high And I'm heading into a crisis Chasing the years of my life 15 there's still time for you Time to buy, Time to lose yourself Within a morning star 15 I'm all right with you 15, there's never a wish better than this When you only got 100 years to live Half time goes by Suddenly you’re wise Another blink of an eye 67 is gone The sun is getting high We're moving on... I'm 99 for a moment Dying for just another moment And I'm just dreaming Counting the ways to where you are 15 there's still time for you 22 I feel her too 33 you’re on your way Every day's a new day... 15 there's still time for you Time to buy and time to choose Hey 15, there's never a wish better than this When you only got 100 years to live About the song: Such a sweet song. It's a story about a couple of kids that fall in love and spend their entire lives together. Yet that time goes back so quickly. This is one of those songs that I liked the melody but never listened to the words because it was always in the background of some commercial or TV show I was watching. That's probably a good thing since the lyrics bring a tear to my eye.

Favorite.....Friday?

Since my birthday fell on Friday and I decided I wasn't going to do any work at all, I completely missed Favorite Friday. Instead, I will give you this week's Favorite Friday video on Saturday. Barenaked Ladies is one of my very favorite bands. It's extremely difficult for me to pick just one video to post for you. This is from Ed's "Bathroom Sessions," a series of performances from his newly remastered bathroom. I chose this particular song because Ed (the one with the guitar) and Steve (the one without the guitar) have such a wonderful time singing this song. I hope you take a moment to go through the rest of the Bathroom Sessions performances.

Music review: Lauryn Hill - Doo Wop (That Thing)

laurynhill.jpgArtist: Lauryn Hill Album: The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill Release date: 8/25/98 Video link: on You Tube

Lyrics: It's been three weeks since you've been looking for your friend The one you let hit it and never called you again 'Member when he told you he was 'bout the Benjamins You act like you ain't hear him then gave him a little trim To begin, how you think you really gon' pretend Like you wasn't down then you called him again Plus when you give it up so easy you ain't even fooling him If you did it then, then you probably fuck again Talking out your neck sayin' you're a Christian A Muslim sleeping with the gin Now that was the sin that did Jezebel in Who you gon' tell when the repercussions spin Showing off your ass 'cause you're thinking it's a trend Girlfriend, let me break it down for you again You know I only say it 'cause I'm truly genuine Don't be a hardrock when you're really a gem Babygirl, respect is just a minimum Niggas fucked up and you still defending them Now Lauryn is only human Don't think I haven't been through the same predicament Let it sit inside your head like a million women in Philly, Penn. It's silly when girls sell their soul because it's in Look at where you be in hair weaves like Europeans Fake nails done by Koreans Come again Come again, come again, come again, come again

Guys you know you better watch out Some girls, some girls are only about That thing, that thing, that thing

The second verse is dedicated to the men More concerned with his rims and his Timbs than his women Him and his men come in the club like hooligans Don't care who they offend popping yang like you got yen Let's not pretend, they wanna pack pistol by they waist men Cristal by the case men, still in they mother's basement The pretty face, men claiming that they did a bid men Need to take care of their three and four kids men They facing a court case when the child's support late Money taking, heart breaking now you wonder why women hate men The sneaky silent men the punk domestic violence men The quick to shoot the semen stop acting like boys and be men How you gon' win when you ain't right within How you gon' win when you ain't right within How you gon' win when you ain't right within Come again Come again, come again, come again, come again

Girls you know you better watch out Some guys, some guys are only about That thing, that thing, that thing About the song: I love the video to this song. For those of you that don't remember, the entire video is a split screen of two concerts. One is 1968 Lauryn and one is 1998 Lauryn. It really goes well with the song's lyrics and overall sound.

This should probably be the theme song to Bill Cosby's "Don't Be Stupid Black People" rants. It's a warning to not sleep around and stop paying attention to trivial things like sneakers and bling and money. Take care of yourself and your family and be a good person. It's a message that needs to get out to more people. Too bad most of those people probably don't listen to Lauryn Hill songs, which is a shame.

Music review: Barenaked Ladies - Shoe Box

Artist: Barenaked Ladies Members: Steven Page (vocals), Ed Robertson (guitar), Tyler Stewart (drums), Jim Creegan (bass) Album: Born on a Pirate Ship Release date: 3/19/96 Video link: on YouTube

Lyrics: A key in the door, a step on the floor A note on the table, and a meal in the micro Note says "I'm in bed, please make sure that you're fed if you're taking a shower, you can borrow my bathrobe When I'm asleep I dream you move in next week" I crumple the note and save it to put inside

Chorus:

My shoe box Shoe box of lies Shoe box Shoe box of lies

it's under my bed, it's never been read it's in with my school stuff and my mom never cleans there From my first little fib, when I still wore a bib To my latest attempt at pretending I'm someone Who's not seventeen, doesn't know what you mean When talk turns to single malts, or stilton, or

Chorus

Did somebody tell you This is how it's supposed to be? Or did you just find it And you don't want any more from me?

Chorus

Was it something I said, or was it something you read That's making me think that I should never have come here I can offer you lies, I can tell you good-bye. I can tell you I'm sorry, But I can't tell you the truth, dear And what if I could -- would it do any good? You'll still never get to see the contents of

Chorus

You're so nineteen-ninety And it's nineteen-ninety-four Leave this world behind me 'Cause you don't want me anymore. About the song: Shoe Box was a track on the first soundtrack for the tv series Friends. As such, it was added to BoaPS at the last minute. It's a rather cute song about the secrets and lies we all have.

Born on a Pirate Ship is an interesting album in the BNL library. When it was recorded, the band only had four members. Andy Creegan, who played a variety of instruments, left the band before the album was recorded. His replacement, Kevin Hearn, was invited to join them on the album's tour. This also makes the music video for Shoe Box a little weird. While Kevin isn't on the actual recording of the song, he is in the video for it.

Music review: They Might Be Giants - Hearing Aid

Artist: They Might Be Giants Members: John Linnell and John Flansburgh Album: Flood Release date: 1/5/90

Lyrics: Frosty the supervisor Lives by himself Sometimes I feel sorry for him Usually I can't

I've turned off my hearing aid Don't say the electric chair's not good enough For king-lazy-bones like myself

More coffee for me boss 'Cause I'm not as messed up as I want to be

I've turned off my hearing aid Don't say the electric chair's not good enough For king-lazy-bones like myself

Because Because About the song: Flood is one of my favorite albums. All of the songs on it are catchy and completely insane. So we have Hearing Aid. It's a very basic song about a worker (most likely an office worker) who hates his job and his boss so he just stops trying. The music for it is rather repetitive and the lyrics are sung in an almost bored voice. This isn't a great song. It isn't even the best song on the album but it is still an interesting song.