Random 10 for October 22, 2008
1. The Flaming Lips, “Waitin’ For a Superman.” Wayne’s greatest and most personal song is accompanied by a deeply emotional video, most of which was shot within one mile of my house. A classic — part of the Staticblog canon.
2. Lindsey Buckingham, “Show You How.”
3. Electric Light Orchestra, “Mr. Blue Sky.”
4. Brookville, “Beautiful View.”
5. The School, “Let It Slip.” A Norwegian ultra-twee band with prominent girl group echoes. The band released its latest disc last month, Destructive Sounds.
6. Dean and Britta, “Indian Summer.”
7. Nina Simone, “Why? (The King of Love Is Dead).”
8. The Rosebuds, “Blue Bird.”
9. Goldfrapp, “Eat Yourself.”
10. Utopia, “Crybaby.” This is one terrible video: some claptrap about a scientist finding a — duh! — utopian community where people wear modified togas and argue while playing some vague geometrically diverse card game. They should have just kept the performance clip running on the one TV they have in Rundgren’s civilization. I do have to say that Willie Wilcox had the most ridiculous and amazing drum kit ever. As for the song, it’s the kind of arena rock that makes you grudgingly give arena rock its props, but by 1984, Utopia would have had to play a wee arena.
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Comments
I’d say that while “Do You Realize” will go down as their quintessential song, “Superman” is probably the only time that the Lips achieved true poignancy in their music. Grandeur is one thing, and they can do that in spades, but real eloquence is hard to come by. “Superman” has spoken to me in many hard times, not the least of which being the insane dread that came in the wake of 9/11.
For me it’s an amazing marriage of mood, melody, and lyrics, and hits an emotional note that few songs have ever attempted. I don’t think Wayne has ever written a song that good, and probably won’t ever again.
I’m sorry, Kevin, but you’re wrong, and that’s all there is to it.
As for eloquence, I think “Love Yer Brain” and “Mountainside” are also astoundingly heartfelt.
I’ve got to say, as much as I love the Lips, I don’t have the affinity for that song that you do. Coyne has called “Do You Realize” his best composition to date, and I would have to agree. Not that “Waitin’ for a Superman” isn’t a killer song (but I think I even prefer “Race for the Prize” from “Soft Bulletin”) …
Anyhoo.
1. Toby Keith, “If I Was Jesus” [Yes, I am totally embarrassed]
2. Al Green & Al B. Sure, “As Long As We’re Together”
3. Manu Dibango, “Soul Makossa”
4. Tampa Red, “Turpetine Blues”
5. Husker Du, “Celebrated Summer”
6. Outkast, “Da Art of Storytellin’ (Part II)”
7. Oliver Nelson, “Stolen Moments”
8. The Bangs, “Getting Out of Hand”
9. New Order, “Ruined in a Day”
10. Elvis Costello & the Attractions, “Crimes of Paris”