Friday Featured Track for May 14, 2010: Wade Bowen, “If We Ever Make It Home”
The song that has been on my brain the most this week:
“If We Ever Make It Home,” Wade Bowen, from the 2008 album of the same name.
It’s been an incredibly tough week here in Oklahoma, with devastating tornadoes, hail and straight-line winds wreaking destruction in communities all across the state. People have lost their homes, workplaces and, most tragically, their lives in the chaos.
This week, I reviewed Texas singer-songwriter Wade Bowen’s new live double-album “Live at Billy Bob’s Texas,” and the new release includes this song, the title track from Bowen’s last studio album. The live rendition reminded me of just how powerful and hopeful this anthem is, without being overblown or overwrought. It’s brought me some solace this week, and I hope it does the same for anyone else facing trials and tribulations, whether related to this week’s severe weather or other life circumstances.
Here is the chorus:
If we ever make it home
There’ll be peace like we’ve never known
Nobody’s gonna to walk alone
We’ll be leaning on each other
Loving one another
Every wall that we’ve built up high
Is gonna fall right before our eyes
Love will surely conquer hate
If we ever make it home
To read my review of Bowen’s “Live at Billy Bob’s Texas,” click here.
-BAM
Friday Featured Track for May 7, 2010: Taylor Swift’s “Change”
The song that has been on my brain the most this week:
- “Change,” Taylor Swift, from her 2008 album “Fearless.”
It’s been a rough week around the BAM household, and sometimes you just need an uplifting anthem to help you get through. Swift’s “Change” helped me power my way through the week’s hardships.
Of course, my troubles don’t even come close to the problems this week in Swift’s adopted hometown of Nashville, Tenn. Music City was beset last weekend by violent storms that dumped more than 13 inches of rain in 48 hours, causing devastating floods that killed 20 Tennesseans, damaged thousands of homes and some of the city’s most treasured landmarks and destroyed the gear of many top country stars. Cleanup and repair are expected to cost more than $1 billion, according to the Associated Press.
Swift is donating $500,000 to various flood relief organizations helping out in Nashville, the AP reported. The announcement was made on Thursday night’s “Flood Relief with Vince Gill and Friends,” a telethon held on local station WSMV and live streamed online. Gill, an Oklahoma native who likely lost most of his big guitar collection in the flood, volunteered to host the telethon and interviewed and played with several of country music’s top stars. Keith Urban played the show with a borrowed guitar since his gear was destroyed by the flood.
Gill announced Swift’s generous gift after the 20-year-old hitmaker finished an interview from her tour stop in Des Moines, Iowa. Swift moved to Nashville when she was 14.
“Being at home during the storm, I honestly could not believe what was happening to the city and the people I love so dearly,” Swift told the AP in an e-mail. “Nashville is my home, and the reason why I get to do what I love. I have always been proud to be a Nashvillian, but especially now, seeing the love that runs through this city when there are people in crisis.”
Country music cable network GAC also announced Thursday it will air a telethon on May 16 that will include Brad Paisley, Lady Antebellum, Dierks Bentley, Rodney Atkins and other stars live from the Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium.
Permit me to echo the sentiments of many country stars who have encouraged fans to donate to the Red Cross or another reputable charity’s relief efforts in the waterlogged South.
-BAM
Friday Featured Track for April 30, 2010: Thunderstruck!
The song that has been on my brain the most this week:
- “Thunderstruck,” AC/DC, from the 1990 album “Razor’s Edge.”
In honor of the valiant dogfight the Oklahoma City Thunder is waging tonight against the defending NBA champion L.A. Lakers at the Ford Center, I’m getting “Thunderstruck” here on BAM’s Blog.
If you’re not watching Game 6 of the Thunder-Lakers first-round playoff series on ESPN tonight, well, you should be. It’s a must-win game for the Thunder, and if you’re an Oklahoman – or someone who just can appreciate rooting on an awesome, hard-working young team – then it’s a must-watch.
And if you need another reason to listen to AC/DC on a Friday night – and really, why should you? – the hotly anticipated sequel “Iron Man 2″ opens in theaters next week. AC/DC is providing the soundtrack for the film.
-BAM
Friday Featured Track for April 16, 2010: New Hanson
Thinking 'Bout Somethin'
HANSON | MySpace Music Videos
The song that has been on my brain the most this week:
- “Thinking ‘Bout Somethin’,” Hanson, from the upcoming album “Shout It Out.”
Tulsa band of brothers Hanson are releasing their new album “Shout It Out” June 1, and if the super-catchy throwback track “Thinking ‘Bout Somethin’” is any indication, get ready for some great, fun summertime music from Taylor, Zac and Isaac.
The song is so bright and bouncy, I just can’t wait to play it in the car with the windows rolled down.
Hanson debuted the music video to “Thinking ‘Bout Somethin’” Thursday on MySpace, and the song has been stuck in my head since the first viewing. The video absolutely captures the band’s sense of fun: The trio pays homage to the Ray Charles “Shake a Tail Feather” sequence of the 1980 cinema classic “The Blues Brothers.”
The tribute puts Taylor at the piano in the Ray Charles role, with Zac and Isaac singing and dancing as the Blues Brothers, though they also turn up in the band. Hanson buddy Weird Al Yankovic enthusiastically plays tambourine, and a whole company of dancers shake it to “Thinking ‘Bout Somethin’.”
“We all watched that movie over and over again as kids. I think I’ve probably seen it 1,000 times by now,” Taylor Hanson told MTV News today. “And, what’s great about it is, sure, you can sit around with a bunch of guys and watch it again and again because you want to see the car chases. But that’s only part of it. We all loved it because it captures a certain renegade spirit and the kind of blind optimism that goes with making music. Being in a band is reckless and kind of messy, and the film definitely captures that reckless nature.”
From the sounds of the MTV interview, the lead-off track is indicative of the type of music the brothers have created for “Shout It Out.”
“We wanted to announce that this record is sort of an unapologetic, bright, melodic thing, and so we — since we love this movie so much — we all watched one particular scene, with Ray Charles and the Blues Brothers band and we realized that if you played our song with the scene, it almost looks like they were playing ours,” Taylor said. “I mean, it was crazy. The tempo is perfect. It hit every music-geek button for us, and we absolutely couldn’t have predicted it. So we figured, now’s as good a time as any to make a video.”
Now is as good a time as any to check out “Thinking ‘Bout Somethin’,” and while you’re at it, watch the “Blues Brothers” clip, too. The synchronicity is indeed uncanny.
-BAM
Friday Featured Track for April 9, 2010: The Runaways’ “Cherry Bomb”
The song that has been going through my head the most this week:
- “Cherry Bomb,” The Runaways, from the all-girl rock band’s 1976 self-titled debut album.
With all the hype surrounding Floria Sigismondi’s biopic of the seminal all-girl teen rock band, how could I keep the raucous opening track from The Runaways’ self-titled debut out of my head? I just couldn’t! It cherry-bombed my brain, but I’m cool with that.
“The Runaways,” starring “Twilight” actresses Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning, opens in theaters today. Entertainment editor Gene Triplett recently talked to Runaways singer Cherie Currie, who is played by Fanning, about her emotional reaction to visiting the set of the film. Click here to read his interview.
To read my colleague George Lang’s unfortunately lukewarm review of the film, click here.
-BAM
Friday Featured Track for April 2, 2010: Happy birthday to me
The song that has been on my brain the most this week:
- “Happy Birthday,” Steppenwolf, from the 1969 album “At Your Birthday Party.”
Saturday is my birthday, and I know I will be hearing this song. That’s because every year for my birthday, my dad plays this lovely, soulful song for me, either in person or over the phone.
He’s been playing it for me on my birthday since before I can even remember, making it even more a part of my turning one year older than cake, presents or greeting cards.
Even if the calendar reads April 3, it just isn’t my birthday until I hear John Kay crooning, “Happy birthday, sweet, sweet baby.”
Happy birthday to all the April babies out there. I recommend you play this for your sweet baby whenever his or her big day comes up on the calendar.
-BAM
Friday Featured Track for March 26, 2010: All-American Rejects
The song that has been on my brain the most this week:
- “Swing, Swing,” All-American Rejects, from the Stillwater band’s 2003 self-titled debut album.
This super-catchy pop hit tends to get stuck in my head whenever I hear it. The Rejects performed “Swing, Swing” and “Gives You Hell” Monday night on “Jimmy Kimmel Live.”
Frankly, I’ve heard the Rejects give much better performances of both songs, particularly “Swing, Swing,” but that didn’t stop the song from wedging itself in my gray matter. That’s that insidiously catchy.
-BAM
Friday Featured Track for March 19, 2010: Shiny Toy Guns’ “Rocketship 2010″
The song that has been in my head the most this week:
- “Rocketship 2010,” Shiny Toy Guns, from the 2009 remix album “Girls Le Disko.”
The pulsating indie rock/electronica of Shiny Toy Guns has a tendency to stay wedged in the back of my head for days on end. The Los Angeles band, which has Oklahoma roots, recently released this third version of its “Rocketship” as the second single from “Girls Le Disko.” The infectious beat has been buzzing in my ears for the past few days, giving me a little extra energy to propel me through a tough week.
In my opinion, this song features a particularly fine vocal performance from singer/guitarist Chad Petree, who grew up in Shawnee with the Shinys’ keyboardist/bassist Jeremy Dawson.
-BAM
Friday Featured Track for March 12, 2010: She & Him “In the Sun”
The song that has been on my brain the most this week:
- “In the Sun,” She & Him, from the upcoming album “Volume 2.”
For the second week in a row, I’m spotlighting the sunshiney indie-pop on duo She & Him. I can’t help it; the music just makes me feel good.
The music video from “In the Sun,” a track from the upcoming album “Volume 2,” was released this week and has been bopping good-naturedly through my head for days.
She & Him’s “Volume 2″ comes out March 23.
-BAM
Friday Featured Track for March 5, 2010: She & Him
The song that has been on my brain the most this week:
- “Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?,” She & Him, from the duo’s 2008 debut album “Volume One.”
Perhaps its the song’s irresistible bounce, maybe its Zooey Deschanel’s crystalline vocals, or maybe its sheer anticipation, but I’ve had this song pleasantly looping through my head for the past few days.
The anticipation comes in knowing that She & Him, the indie folk duo of Deschanel (vocals, piano, banjo) and M. Ward (guitar, production), is releasing its sophomore album, appropriately titled “Volume Two,” on March 23. Excitement!
- BAM
