mona_mothma's Last.fm Journal

Furry Happy Monsters

Fri, 22 Aug 2008 14:39:58 +0000

More than 15 years of obsession with, erm, I mean interest in R.E.M.and I've never seen this video before.
R.E.M. and Muppets?!? A collaboration waiting to happen, I know. And what song could possibly be better suited for this collaboration than Shiny Happy People?
I'm beginning to see why the band never play the song live any more. But it's fun to watch nevertheless. Although, looking at Peter in the video, it was apparently not as much fun to shoot. Still, he makes a brave attempt at not running from the set screaming. ;) And note how Mike fascinatedly keeps watching the puppeteers instead of the puppets.
"Come on, monsters. You don't have to cry. We can be happy!" - Watching this? You bet we can!

Singin' In the Rain

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 12:10:31 +0000

Di., 19. Aug. – R.E.M., Elbow

No idea how they do it, but R.E.M. seem to get better with every live gig I go to. Stuttgart last night was just outright amazing. It was definitely worth every single raindrop at least five times over. And there was a lot of rain last night on the Schlossplatz.

R.E.M. were supported by Mancunian band Elbow who are a very good live band, although most of their slower songs are a bit overly dramatic for my taste. But Guy Garvey's voice is probably even better live than it is in the studio recordings. I for sure had shivers running down my spine several times during their performance, and not just because of the rain. I don't know their songs too well, so I'd be glad if someone could post a setlist for their peformance.

Shortly before R.E.M. came on stage, the rain finally stopped (for a short while) and we were rewarded with a spectacular sunset behind us and a beautiful rainbow in front of us which exactly framed the stage. It even followed the curve of the stage roof from where I stood. Hope the band saw it too. In any case, it was a near magical moment for us.

Then, finally, R.E.M. crashed onto the stage with a thundering Supernatural Superserious and it only got better after that. Once they were there it was like: Rain? Dunno what that is. Don't care either. This is an R.E.M. gig, and this is what they do.

A couple of songs into the gig, Michael announced that the weather wasn't their fault ("I didn't bring the rain!" - Yeah, right. ;) ) and we were treated by a beautiful performance of So. Central Rain (nice touch, that). Unfortunately, the rain obviously took this as a cue and began emptying buckets over our heads again right after the song ended.

The rest of the set was a nice mix of brand new and older songs, some very old (Auctioneer (Another Engine)!) interspersed with several innuendos about the wet and dampness "down there" (thanks, Michael) and an inside joke that was too inside even for the band. (Okay, what IS it about those wings looking like a moustache?) Pretty Persuasion was nice to hear as well as Fall On Me with Mike's little vocal solo.

There were two main highlights for me. One was the accoustic version of Monster's Let Me In. Why exactly the entire band had to retreat to the back of the stage and turn their backs on the audience for it escapes me. But hey, if that's what it takes to get that kind of musical performance, I'm not complaining. The other highlight was the surprise performance of Sweetness Follows. That song just never gets old.

I was thrilled to hear a whole load of my other favourites, too. Especially Ignoreland, So Fast, So Numb, Orange Crush, and Living Well Is the Best Revenge rocked big time. Electrolite, Drive, Welcome to the Occupation, and Losing My Religion (encore opener) were a treat down memory lane. Peter looked like he was bored out of his skull during LMR. But I think they've played it at every tour gig since Out of Time, so that's understandable. Or maybe he urgently had to discuss tour plans for The Minus Five in Europe with Scott (McCaughey). (Well, I'm allowed to dream, aren't I?)

Audience favourites seem to have been Bad Day and It's The End Of The World (naturally), as well as The Great Beyond, Imitation Of Life, and Man on the Moon (the final song). In the end, the band left us longing for more (as always) and I was floating home on a cloud of post-spectacularly-uplifting-gig happiness, hair dripping and shoes squelching with rain water.

So, thanks guys for a great night out in rainy Stuttgart. Hope you had as good a time as we had. Take care. And please come back. We'll Take the Rain. Again.

The week in music

Fri, 1 Aug 2008 11:36:46 +0000

Two great songs for every day of the week:

Monday Morning 5.19 - Rialto
Monday Monday - The Mamas & the Papas

Ruby Tuesday - Melanie
Tuesday - Reamonn

Just Wednesday - Inspiral Carpets
Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M. - Simon & Garfunkel

Thursday's Child - David Bowie
Jersey Thursday - Donovan

Friday, I'm in Love - The Cure
She Left Me on Friday - Shed Seven

Saturday - Kaiser Chiefs
Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting - Elton John

Seven Sundays - Extreme
Lazing on a Sunday Afternoon - Queen
Sunny Sunday - Joni Mitchell

Lyrics game #3

Thu, 13 Mar 2008 02:23:42 +0000

Yes, well, here goes another round. I'm just having too much fun doing these games. And it makes me aware of how little I usually actually listen to the lyrics. It's a rather wild mixture this time.

You know the rules. Have fun.

1. On top of the world you get nothing done

2. Some days I see only evil in the world, some days I see everything

3. You wake up in the morning and fall out of your bed

4. I sit around and watch the tube but nothing's on
Longview - Green Day

5. One night, one night is never enough with you

6. Did you never call? I waited for your call

7. Space monkey in the place to be, riding in a rocket to the planet of sound
Space Monkey - Placebo

8. I could tell from the minute I woke up it was gonna be a lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely day

9. Together alone, above and beneath, we were as close as anyone can be
Together Alone - Crowded House

10. How cruel is the golden rule?
Golden - Fall Out Boy

11. Well, c'mon everybody and let's get together tonight

12. If I know what I know, then no one will watch over you
A Modern Way Of Letting Go - Idlewild

13. Are you hanging up your stocking on the wall

14. I see a bad moon rising, I see trouble on the way
Bad Moon Rising - Creedence Clearwater Revival

15. Don't be shy, just let your feelings roll on by
Don't Be Shy - Cat Stevens

16. Turn around, look at what you see in her face, the mirror of your dream
Never Ending Story - Limahl

17. Run with me baby, let your hair down

18. Stop your looking miserable, don't be bothered getting up today
Negative - Mansun

19. Touched. You say that I am too. So much of what you say is true.
Touched - VAST

20. Time waits for nobody, time waits for no one
Time - Freddie Mercury

21. Hope is beauty personified, at her feet the world hypnotized.

22. You better run, you better run, you better not wait too long

23. My oh my, I'm seeing the potential, let's just see what we can do

24. "They’re going wild," the call came in at early morning pre-dawn

25. I can't see me in this empty place, just another lonely face

26. How dare you say that my behavior is unacceptable
Harder to Breathe - Maroon 5

27. The world is a vampire, sent to drain
Bullet With Butterfly Wings - Smashing Pumpkins

28. Am Anfang lebte der Mensch am Baum, verändert hat er sich seit damals kaum.

29. Guinevere of the royal court of Arthur, draped in white velvet, silk and lace
Guinevere - Donovan

30. Love is forever as I lie awake beside you

31. Life's ambition occupies my time, priorities confuse the mind
Hole Hearted - Extreme

32. Every time you crave for me I'm here, and anything you hunger for I'll share

33. We roll tonight to the guitar bite. Stand up and be counted for what you are about to receive
For Those About to Rock (We Salute You) - AC/DC

34. We all came out to Montreux on the Lake Geneva shoreline
Smoke on the Water - Deep Purple

35. You got accepted for Cambridge Uni, fell in love with a long-haired loony

36.. Des enfants qui s'élancent une même apparence

37. The day you move I'm probably gonna explode

38. Love, love is a verb, love is a doing word, fearless on my breath
Teardrop - Massive Attack

39. I know you love the song but not the singer

40. The mission is clear, I'm going over there, I'm going to do the mission
Break-In City (Storm the Gate!) - Tenacious D

List of featured bands/artists:
Bryan Adams
a-ha
Apocalyptica
Eddie Cochran
The Cooper Temple Clause 2x
EAV
Eels
The Hussy's
Inspiral Carpets
Patricia Kaas
Madrugada
Phantom Planet
Placebo 2x
R.E.M. 3x
Slade
Suede
We Are Scientists

Hymns 2007

Wed, 16 Jan 2008 01:08:10 +0000

Here's a list of songs that had a special meaning for me in the past year. It's either because they fit some of what happened in the past year, or just because they got stuck in my head for days on end: Fall Out Boy anyone?

So, here they are, my personal Hymns 2007:
Helena - My Chemical Romance
A very beautiful song. You just gotta love the line about "we'll meet again when both our cars collide". It's kind of romantic, in a twisted way. And the video is fantastic, too. Pure music video perfection. Great stuff.

This Ain't A Scene, It's An Arms Race -
Fall Out Boy
Okay. All CDs containing this song should definitely come with a warning sticker: "Caution! Mental health hazard!" I got this piece stuck in my head for freakin' three weeks! Day and night! Not funny. This Ain't a song, it's ear rape. But somehow, I love it.

Head - The Cooper Temple Clause
I first heard this song on TCTS's homepage. I listened to it every night for hours there. then I finally went and bought the album Make This Your Own, and listened to the whole thing for some more weeks on repeat. Great song, great album, great band. A real shame they broke up this year. :(
My favourite line: "It's just a state of mind, and mine is in a state of incomprehension, a lack of meaning a lack of attention." Oh yes.

Let It Grow - Eric Clapton
I discovered this song this year on a CD I've had for ages. Seems I always listened to Layle and Cocaine only. But not any more. This one's a real treasure.

Genena- Phantasia
Another discovery on a CD I've had for several years. I found this one on a freebie with 70s psychedelic stuff. Not my cup of tea, usually, but I thought I'd listen to the thing once before throwing it out. So I found this little gem on there. If anyone knows how I can get my hands on more stuff by Phantasia, please let me know.

Cambodia -Apoptygma Berzerk
I re-discovered this one on LastFM. An old, but forgotten favourite. Nice little noisy tune.

Maestro - Kaizers Orchestra
This band was recommended by someone in the "European music in European languages"-group. And I can't thank that person enough. I SO LOVE this band by now. They certainly have their very own style: Balkan-style music with original Norwegian lyrics. Great combination. And I finally found a reason to brush up my Norwegian. Kaizers rule!

Vom Selben Stern - ICH & ICH
Lovely song in German. Perfect for those down-times, when you're not feeling too peachy. And it works very nice as a love song too, not too corny. Very very nice.

If You Want to Sing Out - Cat Stevens
A very dear friend of mine lent me her "Hsrold & Maude"-DVD. I fell in love with that movie instantly. And this song from the soundtrack sums it up for me, what the movie is about. If you want to sing out, sing out. And if you want to be free, be free. There's a million things to be.

Lied 2 - Kopf Hoch, Tanzen - Herbert Grönemeyer
Another song that's not usually my style. But they played this one on the radio when I was on my way to my final exam, when I was sick with nerves, stressed out and panicky. Schalt den Kopf aus, und komm tanzen. The best advice I ever got. Danke, Herbie!

Fuck You I'm Free - Mondo Generator
And this is the song I listened to after that final exam was over. And I played it loud. VERY loud.

So, that was the past year. 2008 has its first hymn already. But that list will have to wait another 12 months.

In any case, have a great, musical year!

don't you just love lyrics games?

Tue, 30 Oct 2007 05:29:55 +0000

Well, I do. So, here's another one for you folks out there. I guess you know by now how it works. So, dig right in and enjoy.

1. Oh the drums are so mournful, Marie, oh my love
As my thoughts they are turning your way

2. I'm always there for you, if you need someone to talk to.
You were blessed by mother nature, doesn't matter what clothes you wear.

3. You woke me up in the middle of my life,
you shook me gently to make sure I was alive.

4. Baby, seasons change but people don't.
And I'll always be waiting in the back room.
The Take Over, The Break's Over - Fall Out Boy

5. You are the One
You are my love
You send the rain and bring the sun

6. I've been so alone for so long,
Forgotten by the world, forgotten to myself

7. Come on aboard, I promise you you won't hurt the horse
We treat him well, we feed him well
Bandwagon - R.E.M.

8. Angel, can you see the sun shine on you today?
Love is here to stay.

9. Woman driving, man sleeping.
Wear the suitcase on the rack.
Woman Driving, Man Sleeping - Eels

10. As he sits on the moor
with his new found friend
who had shown him the way
to bow out at the end
Murder Song - The Cooper Temple Clause

11. Birdie in the hand for life's rich demand
The insurgency began and you missed it
Begin The Begin - R.E.M.

12. This one goes out to the one I love
This one goes out to the one I left behind
The One I Love - R.E.M.

13. I'm gonna make you bend and break
Say your prayers, but let the good times roll
In case god doesnt show
Thnks fr th Mmrs - Fall Out Boy

14. Air, water, energy.
There is ebb and flow. There is give and take.
But there is only one world, so there is only one way.

15. Someone's gone out fishing
Someone's high and dry
Someone's on a mission to the lonely Loreley

16. Here I sit alone
Ride through the Motor City
Crying inside
I'm dying inside

17. Watching the people get lairy
Is not very pretty I tell thee
I Predict A Riot - Kaiser Chiefs

18. What good is the dawn
That grows into day
The sunset at night
Or living this way

19. Nowhere to run to, baby, nowhere to hide
Got nowhere to run to, baby, nowhere to hide
Nowhere To Run - Martha Reeves & The Vandellas

20. I do not need (he does not need)
A microphone (a microphone)
My voice is fucking (fucking) Powerful!
Master Exploder - Tenacious D

21. St. Jimmy's comin' down across the alleyway
Up on the boulevard like a zip code on parade
St. Jimmy - Green Day

22. Sitting in today, watching traffic buzzing by, and faces closing in
A victim of regret, it glitters and it fades away, like silver turning grey
Yesterday Went Too Soon - Feeder

23. Stand back!
'said stand back!
What are those dogs doing sniffing at my feet?

24. Komm mal ans Fenster komm her zu mir
Siehst du da drüben gleich da hinterm Wellblechzaun
Da drüben auf dem Platz vor Aldi haben sie
unser Abbild in Stein gehaun
Denkmal - Wir sind Helden

25. Oh, well imagine, as I'm pacing the pews in a church corridor,
and I can't help but to hear, no I can't help but to hear an exchanging of words
I Write Sins Not Tragedies - Panic! At the Disco

26. Of all the boys I've known, and I've known some
Until I first met you, I was lonesome.
Bei mir bist Du schön - The Andrews Sisters

27. The word is about, there's something evolving
Whatever may come, the world keeps revolving
History Repeating - Propellerheads

28. Spaceman, I always wanted you to go into space, man
(Intergalactic Christ)
Spaceman - Babylon Zoo

29. Dirty old river, must you keep rolling
Flowing into the night
People so busy, makes me feel dizzy
Taxi light shines so bright
Waterloo Sunset - The Kinks

30. Such a lonely day
And it's mine
The most loneliest day of my life
Lonely Day - System of a Down

31. Fader eg må be om unskyldning
Det er min feil at Tony er pakkt inn i presenning
Bak et halleluja - Kaizers Orchestra

list of featured artists (not yet guessed):
The Beach Boys
Sam Brown 2x
Donovan
Dodgy
Peter Gabriel
George Harrison
Jam & Spoon
Paul McCartney
Mondo Generator
Stabbing Westward

Britpop favourites

Sun, 26 Aug 2007 11:37:50 +0000

Yesterday, I discovered a CD with a collection of Britpop songs. I must have done that selection in the late 90s. I don't remember doing it, but I still love every single song on that CD.

So here's my personal selection of best Britpop songs ever:

Step Into My World - Hurricane #1
Still sends shivers down my spine from the first note. This is definitely a nominee for the favourite song award. Shame the rest of the band's stuff wasn't up to that standard.

Wide Open Space - Mansun
Probably not the best song by Mansun, but among the top ten. It's the first song by them that I ever heard. I've loved the band ever since, so this song has a special place in my musical heart.

Someone Somewhere - The Wannadies
Used to be my favourite Wannadies song at the time. I still like the frequent changes in pace during the song. Makes dancing to it rather interesting.

Someone Always Gets There First - Bennet
"Sometimes when he touches you, I wish upon him instant death." Still a classic line. Not very positive outlook with a happy-smiley-playschooly melody. Nice one.

Song 2 - Blur 2
The most exhausting 2 minutes you can have at a Britpop party. I sitll have no idea what those lyrics are about (or what exactly Damon sings in the first place). But it's the best jumparound song there is.

Not If You Were The Last Junkie On Earth - The Dandy Warhols
A rather mellow breather after Song 2. Nice, catchy song. "Heroin is so passé." Someone should play that song to Pete Doherty, I guess.

Ain't No Longer Asking - Dodgy
I LOVE this song. LOVE it. Someone who hears this song and does not want to dance and jump through the room is either deaf or has no musical instinct whatsoever. For me, this is dancing around a campfire on a warm summer night put into music. Great song by a great band.

Columbia - Oasis
My favourite Oasis song. It's the driving rhythm, I guess. And that it's not so obviously a Beatles rip-off like most of the others. You can dance yourself into a trance with that one. "This is peculiar, we don't want to fool ya."

Plutoman - Inspiral Carpets
Beautiful song. It's mostly just the bass line with the vocals with an occasional phrase by another instrument. Very poetic lyrics. A song like a dream.

F.E.E.L.I.N.G.C.A.L.L.E.D.L.O.V.E - Pulp
One of the if not THE sexiest song ever. This isn't chocolate boxes and roses. No way.

Speak To Me Someone - Gene
Beautiful love ballad to an unknown(?) lover. Bordering on being cheesy, but still on the safe side. I love the dream-part in the middle especially.

Temporary Wings - Geneva
Andrew's angelic voice at its "rocking" best. Sad song with a guitar-driven tune. Lovely song, but nothing to listen to if you feel like suicide.

Never Again - Dodgy
Fits the mood of the preceding Geneva song and counterbalances it a little. A nice little ballad off the second album. "I'm getting on with my life, so easy to say."

Putting Out Fires - The Bluetones
A rather sad love ballad. "Losing a lover, gaining a friend." I love the guitar solo towards the end of the middle part especially.

Smile - The Supernaturals
Yes, well, The Supernaturals. Happy music. "You better smile, cause that's all that you've got left." If we have nothing left to lose, we might as well be happy. Nice attitude, nice music. And they're from Scotland too.

Sugar Coated Iceberg - The Lightning Seeds
Catchy, dancy tune, that one. Still one of the band's best songs. "I should forget you, but I won't be told." Neither do I.

Stupid Girl - Garbage
The first Garbage song I ever heard. Another driving rhythm. "Don't believe in love. Don't believe in hate. Don't believe in anything that you can't waste" One of those angry-girl songs.

Mr Robinson's Quango - Blur
One of Blur's cynic city-dweller songs on "The Great Escape" album. But unlike some, this one has the slightly off key quality that I like in Blur songs. The guitar is also a bit darker than in the other songs on the album. Great, strange song.

That's it for now. As I've just realised, there are some very important songs/bands missing. So I'll probably do a second part some time. Suggestions are welcome.

Take care and listen to some more good music.

another shuffle game oracle

Fri, 24 Aug 2007 08:48:45 +0000

And here goes another one. These things are just too much fun to do and try to figure out the meaning. But this time I took my lastfm-playlist and another set of questions.

Here come the words of the oracle:

How does the world see me?
Song: Maybe I Was Wrong
Artist: Julian Lennon
Comment: LMAO! I've heard that before, that people had to rethink their first impression of me after they got to know me.

Will I have a happy life?
Song: Broken Boy Soldier
Artist: The Raconteurs
Comment: That sounds like a no to me. Happy is boring.

What do my friends really think of me?
Song: Bachelorette
Artist: Björk
Comment: Lol. They're right.

Do people secretly lust after me?
Song: 3 Small Words
Artist: Josie and the Pussycats
Comment: I take that as a yes. cool! Who is it?

How can I make myself happy?
Song: Denkmal
Artist: Wir sind Helden
Comment: Take a sledgehammer and destroy my own monument? Hmm. I actually have to think about that. Ich denk mal drüber nach. Sorry for the pun.

What should I do with my life?
Song: Guinevere
Artist: Donovan
Comment: That's a hard one. Drape myself in white velvet, silk and lace? Marry King Arthur? Run off with Lancelot? Sit in a silent castle and be bored to death? Thinking about it, the Lancelot option sounds best.

Why should life be full of so much pain?
Song: Long before Rock & Roll
Artist: Mando Diao
Comment: Aha. No idea why, but it's been like that since long before rock'n roll. Not really a comfort, though.

How can I maximize my pleasure during sex?
Song: I Hate Everything About You
Artist: Three Days Grace
Comment: I should have sex with someone I hate? Ah, no. I don't think so.

When will I find some love?
Song: Babylon
Artist: Don McLean
Comment: Not at all then. I'll have to stick with past memories and weep for them. Great. Someone hand me the tissues, please!

Will I ever have children?
Song: Die Katze
Artist: Annett Louisan
Comment: Hm, doesn't say. But if I do, they'll be rather stubborn and unruly like a cat. No surprise there.

Will I die happy?
Song: Shine On
Title: Apoptygma Berzerk (I think they're spelled that way)
Comment: I won't die at all? Okay. I'll better start thinking about some really good pension plan, I guess. Or maybe it means that I'll do a Daniel and ascend to a higher plane of being. Yep, that would be nice. (Or maybe I've just watched too much Stargate SG-1.)

What is some good advice for me?
Song: In My Life
Artist: The Beatles
Comment: I'm supposed to think about my past? "but these memories lose their meaning when I think of love as something new." That means bless and let go, I guess.

What is happiness?
Song: I Write Sins Not Tragedies
Artist: Panic! At the Disco
Comment: Sins are happiness? Hm, depends on the sin, I guess.

What is my favorite fetish?
Song: Starlight
Artist: Muse
Comment: Making love under the starlight is my fetish? Oops, I'm found out. ;)

What should I try?
Song: Lullaby Of Birdland
Artist: Ella Fitzgerald
Comment: Lullaby. Hm. I should try to get some sleep? Good idea!

Is the Divine Being on my side?
Song: Resistansen
Artist: Kaizers Orchestra
Comment: I'm playing russian roulette? Well, I've survived so far, so I guess this means a yes.

How will I be remembered?
Song: Fire Dance
Artist: John Barry
Comment: Drums, rhythm, dancing and fire. There're worse ways to be remembered.

What philosophy describes me?
Song: Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me
Artist: U2
Comment: Nuff said.

What philosophy should I use?
Song: Cosmopolitan
Artist: Nine Black Alps
Comment: Live like there's no tomorrow. Okay.

What do I need more of?
Song: Forget About Tomorrow
Artist: Feeder
Comment: See comment above. Confirms that. ;)

What type of guy should I look for?
Song: Brighton Rock
Artist: Queen
Comment: A rock guy from Brighton? Alright. Off to Brighton, then.

Amazing harmonica-playing youth

Fri, 17 Aug 2007 00:18:13 +0000

Right. YouTube again. I'm usually not a fan of all thöse superstar talent shows. But this kid with the harmonica on America's Got Talent is just flaming amazing! The whole band are very good, but what that twelve-year-old gets out of his harmonica.... Wow!!
You have to see and especially hear this! Check out The Millers:

And their final appearance on the show:

If anywone hears if they have some music published, let me know please.

Enjoy. Great music.

Some links for guys I think might like this stuff:

Blues Traveler
John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
John Lee Hooker Joe Cocker
Eric Clapton
Howlin' Wolf
Joe Cocker

Dodgy '07 on YouTube

Tue, 14 Aug 2007 04:03:04 +0000

Dodgy have rejoined forces for an upcoming tour of UK in November. You might already know that.

So, here's three vids on YouTube with the three of them jamming away in preparation of that tour. Just found them. Great music, funny stuff. Enjoy.

First Part:
Big Brown Moon and Staying Out For The Summer

Second Part:
In A Room and some goofing about (especially on Matthew's part)

Third Part: Answering "fan" questions (the Dodgy way), Is It Me.
I didn't recognise that last song Nigel is playing. Any help?

Take care and enjoy. Wish it were November already.