I'm off today, doing some errands, chilling out, basically setting the blue print for the next few days.
It's also Isolation Friday and this week I'm sharing a song I love, just because I feel like it.
I hope you enjoy this wonderful song by Blondie, "Atomic." During the pandemic, I've been revisiting songs from my youth and have discovered that I still love some of them, just exactly the same amount that I did when I heard them for the first time. This is certainly one of those simply great songs. You can find it on Blondie's fourth studio album, 1979's "Eat To The Beat." It was released as a single in February 1980.
Hope you all have fun this weekend. Well, as much fun as you can safely have, under a stay at home order. Take care and stay safe kittens xo
Thursday feels like Friday today. I'm so ready for the long weekend. You truly have NO idea how good I'm feeling right now, to be facing a four day holiday weekend.
It won't the typical "May 24" weekend of olden days, goodness knows. No cottage parties or any socializing for that matter. I do have some overdue yard work that's been calling my name so I suppose I'll get out and work on that. Hopefully the weather will cooperate. Kingston weather can be wonky at times. I blame the lake.
Anyway, speaking of Thursday and Kingston... for Cancon Thursday this week, I'm sharing a song by a Kingston band, Kasador. For me, this is one of those songs that gets into my head (in such a good way) and then I find myself wanting to listen to it over and over again. I let this happen when I'm in the mood and it's always a good thing. Hope you enjoy it too. It's called "Never Alone" and was released on their 2016 self-titled EP.
Stay safe kittens xo
Lightning strikes twice
Once in the summer time
She grew up knowing that the sky could always be her light
Can you even prove that you were a teenager during the 1980's if there isn't a copy of the 1982 album, "Upstairs At Eric's" by Yazoo/Yaz in your record collection?
I can and there is.
For Way Back Wednesday, I'm sharing the oh so very 80's video of "Only You" by Yazoo. Vince Clarke and Alison Moyet, what a pair. INSANE talent!
That's all I'll say for now. Hope your week is going okay. Stay safe and well and please be kind to each other xo
I'm sure I'm not the only one out there who loves a long weekend but isn't such a fan of trying to get 5 days worth of work done in 4 days. Not complaining, it's a lovely problem to have. As you know, I work at Queen's University and our wonderful Principal, Patrick Deane gave us all Friday off so we get a four day weekend (woo hoo!!). We also have two 4-day weeks, back to back so while it's worth the extra work to get a nice break like that, it's a bit hairy for me at the moment. Again, never ever going to complain about this, just saying!!
So, as it's Tuesday, I'm sharing a cover with you fine folks. Today's cover is a fantastic version of the 1985 Katrina and the Waves tune, "Do You Want Crying" (written by the insanely talented Vince de la Cruz) as performed by The Dahlmanns. From Norway, the Dahlmanns featuring Andre Dahlmanns (of the Yum Yums) on guitar and vocals and his wife Cecile Dahlmann on lead vocals.
This is a great cover of a terrific song. I hope you enjoy it. Have a good weeks kiddos xo
Happy Birthday to ME!! That's right, it's my birthday and today, this Centennial baby is turning 54. It's my second COVID birthday and I'll be spending it alone. I did see my parents for a visit on Mother's Day so I did celebrate it with them and I have a piece of yummy dump cake in my fridge which I can break out today. Yee Haw!
In honour of my birthday, I'm sharing a song I really love. It was the first song I played on the stereo of my new car when I picked it up in September. This song is so great that I keep it on most of my playlists. I'm not sure if I have shared it here before and honestly, I don't care because IT'S MY BIRTHDAY!!
So here it is, from her recently released, amazing album, Total Freedom (one of my favourite records from last year), a lovely live performance by Kathleen Edwards of her song, "Glenfern."
Enjoy it kiddos xo
I was so lucky to be under your wing
But I think I went and outgrew 'em
Now when I find myself looking back
I think of all the cool shit that happened
Like, we had a tour bus with a bed in the back
We bought a rock and roll dream, it was total crap
It's Way Back Wednesday today. I'm going to take us back to the summer of 1999. It doesn't feel like that long ago but it was almost 22 years ago now. My favourite Wilco album was released that year and I spent the best part of the summer listening to "Summerteeth" almost all summer. When I wasn't listening to that, I had "Utopia Parkway" by Fountains of Wayne in my hears but that's for another day.
Over the past couple of days I've been thinking about all of the misinformation that's being spread about the AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine. It's a bunch of crap and there is a risk of huge numbers of doses being lost or destroyed because of bad information and unnecessary fear. I got the AZ vaccine, almost 2 weeks ago. Other than being a bit fatigued and having a slightly tender arm (which always happens to me whenever I receive a vaccination) I had no horrible, life-threatening side-effects. I'd take the second dose today if I could. As it sits, I'm scheduled to receive it in August.
In my opinion, and in the opinion of most health care providers, the best vaccine is the one that's in your arm. Speaking of that, while I've been reading all of this conflicting and stupid news, I've had a song from "Summerteeth" stuck in my head, "A Shot in the Arm." So, that's what I'm sharing for Way Back Wednesday today. It's a super sweet live version, recorded for KEXP. Hope you enjoy it and I hope you're either vaccinated or on the list to get a jab. Stay home, stay safe, be kind to each other xo
How is May going for you? So far, this month, because of the stay at home order, I've not had a lot of newsworthy things happening in my life. I did get my first shot of the AZ Vaccine and that was very exciting, in pandemic life anyway, that is what passes for excitement. Also, I was able to visit with my mum and dad on Mother's Day. We looked through some old photo albums and caught up on family news. It was a lovely treat to be outside of my own home for a little while.
Because it's Tuesday, I'm once again sharing a cool cover with you. Today's feature song is along time favourite of mine, originally recorded by Nick Lowe, "Cruel To Be Kind." I'm pretty sure I was in either grade 7 or 8 the first time I heard it and it's just stuck with me all of those since in between. It's always featured on any playlists I'm making for myself and I very rarely can resist the urge to sing along.
Kurt Baker's version of "Cruel To Be Kind" is fantastic. Released in 2010 on his "Got It Covered" EP (which you can pick up from his bandcamp page), it's a fantastic cover of a perfect pop song. If you like the original, I think you'll really enjoy this one. The rest of his catalogue is also worth checking out. He's a great pop songwriter and I really like his sound.
So, I hope you like this. Have a good day, stay safe, stay home, wash your hands, wear your mask, be kind to each other xo
Well I do my best to understand dear
But you still mystify and I want to know why
I pick myself up off the ground
To have you knock me back down, again and again
And when I ask you to explain, you say
You've gotta be cruel to be kind, in the right measure
Maybe because we're under a stay at home order, I've been really amused by today's song. The idea of going to where the action is, well there is no action to go to, is there? Or at least if you're playing by the rules there isn't.
So, today, for isolation Friday, I'm sharing a song that is so beyond catchy, I guarantee that you'll get it stuck in your head and you'll be incapable of controlling your urge to dance. Released in 1965 by Freddy "Boom Boom" Cannon, "Action" was recorded for Dick Clark's "Where The Action Is" TV show. He recorded it with a bunch of session guys, Leon Russell, James Burton, Glen Campbell, and David Gates. Holy crap! Hope you enjoy this as much as I do.
I'm going to keep this one quick today. Hope you don't mind.
Today's Cancon Thurdsay tune is "Dirty Water" by Rock and Hyde. This particular "Dirty Water" is nothing like the one by the Standells (which I shared yesterday). It pales in comparison but, in the late 80's, I always enjoyed hearing this and watching the goofy bathtub themed video. It was made for Much Music. I seem to recall that Much Music gave it a lot of airplay at the time.
Rock and Hyde, for those of you too young to remember much (or any) of the 1980's, were Bob Rock and Paul Hyde, formerly of the Payolas. We all know that Bob Rock became thee Bob Rock, of mega successful rock record producing fame. Paul Hyde, well, I have no idea what happened to that guy.
I hope you enjoy this bouncy tune with it's goofy but fun video. Stay safe kiddos xo
Mid-week, hump day, whatever you like to call this day, I call it "Way Back Wednesday." I always share an oldie but a goodie song on Wednesdays. Today's vintage tune is by the Standells, "Dirty Water" is an amazing song. Makes me tap my toes and normally gets stuck in my head for a while after I hear it. Unlike some ear worms, I never ever mind having "Dirty Water" play on repeat in my head.
The Standells released their "tribute" to the (at the time) super polluted waters of Boston Harbour and the Charles River in 1965. FYI, they aren't from Boston, they were formed in Los Angeles. Not a big deal, just saying. I love this song and hope you enjoy it too. Stay safe kittens xo
Today, I'd like to start this post by wishing those of you who celebrate, a very happy Star Wars day. May the fourth be with you!!
As it's Tuesday, I'm sharing a cover song today. This particular song has be covered countless times since it was originally released in 1961 on the soundtrack to my mum's favourite Elvis movie, Blue Hawaii. "Can't help falling in love" is a classic love song with broad appeal, hence the many versions of it that are around.
Forever, I'll associate this song with the movie Blue Hawaii. When I hear it, I'm immediately transported back to my childhood home, on the sofa with my mum, watching what is essentially, a beautifully shot promotional film for tourism Hawaii. Oh yeah, also, Elvis was in it, singing his dialog. Not the greatest film in the world but it sure is pretty!
My mum prefers the Elvis version I know. My preferred version is performed by Dead Moon. It was released on their 1988 "In the Graveyard" album. Here is a great live recording of their take on "Can't Help Falling in Love." Enjoy xo
