singer-songwriter

Music Trivia: This Day in Music History June 23. Muppets, Blondie and More.

Published June 23rd, 2009 by Karen

ABOVE: Which singer calls “Rainbow Connection” one of his favorite songs? Made famous by the Muppet Movie, the unusual version above is a duet between Kermit the Frog and Debbie Harry of Blondie.

Think you’re a music expert? Time to test your music trivia knowledge!

Today’s music trivia quiz is all about an unusual singer-songwriter known for tongue-twisting lyrics and a positive attitude.

Take a look at the clues, then check out the answer below. Good luck!

1. When not making music, this Grammy-winning star runs an avocado farm.

2. This singer calls “Rainbow Connection” one of his favorite songs, because it proves that playing the banjo is easy.

3. Although recognized as a songwriter, this singer’s 2002 breakthrough hit was actually co-written with the Matrix, the professional songwriters responsible for hits by Korn, Avril Lavigne, Liz Phair and Ashley Tisdale, among others.

4. In 2009, after releasing only three albums, this young singer-songwriter was honored by the Songwriters’ Hall of Fame.

ANSWER: Continue reading »

"Paolo Nutini is amazing and Candy is the best song of his i have heard.. to me anyway."
  Marxist Girl

Worst Songs Ever: Paolo Nutini “Candy,” Sickly Sweet Scottish Rock

Published June 17th, 2009 by Karen

ABOVE: Worse lyrics than Black Eyed Peas? Yeah, maybe. Paolo Nutini’s sickly sweet “Candy.”

Remember when rock songs used to be about girls and drugs and partying and dragons and fast cars and politics and rebellion and stuff? Well, those days are gone.

“Give me some candy after my hug,” sings Paolo Nutini, on his new hit single, “Candy,” his weirdly nasal, never-gonna-be-Dylan voice emphasizing the awkward lameness of each word as it struggles out of his throat. We’re not sure how he managed to sing this stuff without laughing, but the song is apparently a hit (particularly in Europe, so maybe we can forgive any non-English-speaking listeners. Maybe).

In 2006, Nutini managed to sell a million copies of his debut album thanks to a MySpace push and the bubbly TV-jingle catchiness of his single, “New Shoes.” It was bad, but in an inoffensive, easy to ignore Jason Mraz/Jack Johnson kind of way. Needless to say, Nutini has gotten worse.

Now, with his 2009 album, Sunny Side Up, the Scottish singer-songwriter has concocted one of the worst songs in recent memory–the Black Eye Peas’ horrendous,  spelling-challenged, brain-dead dance anthems notwithstanding.

Obviously, we needed to make you listen to this monstrosity, so you can share our pain. (It’s kind of like when you think the milk has gone bad, but you ask someone else to taste it just to be sure).

What’s the worst song you’ve heard recently?

"[...] a more accessible collection, Johansson’s new album, Break Up, is a set of duets with…Pete Yorn. (A singer we kinda love/hate based..."
  Scarlett Johansson, Pete Yorn “Break Up” on Record | Music Vixen Blog

NYC: Free Pete Yorn Concert, New Album and Scarlett Johansson Duet

Published June 16th, 2009 by Karen

ABOVE: “If you want a burrito/You can have another bite of mine.” Pete Yorn’s ode to love, burritos and frugality.

After last week’s successful in-store performance by alt-rock legends Sonic Youth, New York’s Apple Store in SoHo is ready to host another, slightly more low-key show tonight (Tuesday June 16) when singer-songwriter Pete Yorn drops by.

Known for hits such as “Strange Condition” and “Life on a Chain,” New Jersey-born Yorn will reportedly be performing songs from his latest album Back and Fouth. Guess that means we won’t get to hear him sing “Burrito”? Bummer. You can still watch the video above and laugh at the lyrics anyway.

In the past, the radio-friendly acoustic-rocker has recorded with producers normally associated with Avril Lavigne and Smashing Pumpkins, but his new disc finds him hitting the studio with the more credible Mike Mogis (Bright Eyes, Rilo Kiley).

Yorn’s other upcoming project, Break Up, pairs him with love her/hate her actress/singer Scarlett Johansson (listen to the lead single “Relator“)

This is a free show, details and ticket info at the Apple events page.

2009 Jonathan Richman Tour Dates: Dinosaurs, Heartbreaks and Lesbian Bars

Published June 15th, 2009 by Karen

ABOVE: Jonathan Richman shows the world how dinosaurs dance.

Long before audiences knew him as the troubadour in There’s Something About Mary, Massachusetts singer/songwriter Jonathan Richman was spreading his poppy proto-punk with the Modern Lovers. The influential group’s 1976 debut album remains a classic, and Richman has gone on to have an enduring career as a solo artist. His music is by turns clever, funny and heartbreaking, but regardless of whether he’s singing silly songs about airplanes (”I’m a Little Airplane“), “Dancing in a Lesbian Bar” or having his heart broken (”Let Her Go into the Darkness“), Richman’s knack for writing a fun, memorable melody remains constant.

Richman is currently on tour with Athens, GA singer/songwriter Vic Chestnutt, a musician whose film resume includes an appearance in Billy Bob Thornton’s Sling Blade, oddly enough. Thankfully, his music is much better than Thornton’s.

Tuesday and Wednesday the duo play NYC’s Bowery Ballroom, and additional tour dates are scheduled throughout the summer. Full Jonathan Richman Tour Dates below: Continue reading »