Videos and a Few Words on Madge

Among some of my friends, the Madonna mania has started – a few of them who have never watched the Super Bowl tuned in this year to see Madge perform. Let’s give credit where it is due: a pop career spanning thirty-years (no other pop artist has ever stayed relevant for that long), the bragging rights of being the most spectacular live pop performer, currently the fourth most selling artist of all time, and the solo artist with the highest grossing tour ever, she has set the mark very high for any artist to replace her as the Queen of Pop. And when I heard her latest single, the bubble-gum “Give Me All Your Luvin’,” I immediately had to laugh … a good laugh though.

Let me say right off that the coverage of her Super Bowl performance was sexist; when she had a misstep, the first thing that it was accredited to was her age. But does anyone mention Keith Richard’s or Paul McCartney’s age if they make an error? Or Robert Smith’s when he screws up his own lyrics live? All artists make mistakes. The evidence that this veteran’s age is not an issue is the fact that the misstep did not deride her performance. She immediately recuperated from it and did not miss a beat in the rest of the choreography that followed. As the years goes on, her ability to concentrate during a performance (which have gotten longer and longer) has only gotten better. And if that is enough to her credit, remember at least we did not see her boobs.

As for “Give Me All Your Luvin’,” Madonna has usurped and incorporated just about everything into her music and live performances, so it is no surprise that Madonna has usurped the 80s revival. At the heart of it all, “Give Me All Your Luvin’” is a new wave song, and I find it interesting how fans of new wave and 80s revival roll their eyes when they hear this song … would they do that if it were another artist performing the song? This song is so 80s that she is even sporting a big, gaudy cross again and not to mention those wedding dresses in the video, a nice reference to “Like a Virgin,” and of course all the less than subtle references to the “Material Girl” video. (Why would she reference anyone else? She does have an ego the size of Montana … no, Canada.) I for one have to admit that this is her best single since “Hung Up” and a perfect example of what makes her distinct from other pop artists. First, she can incorporate just about any element in her music and make it seem natural, just a matter of fact. Second, she can just write a song that is (on the surface) not trying to be more than what it actually is – a pop song. Unlike other artists (nameless), not every single has to be some kind of commentary or something more bombast than what came before it. Not everything is about making a statement, sometimes it is just a friggin’ song. This one just happens to be all new wavish and gets two thumbs up. (Of course, I wonder what was going through her mind when she wrote, “Every record sounds the same…” (those nameless artists?).)

Enjoy the videos!

Madonna’s “Give Me All Your Luvin’” (featuring M.I.A. and Nicki Minaj) form the madonna YouTuve Channel.



SBTRKT’s “Hold On – Sisi Bakbak Rmx” from the youngturksrecords YouTube Channel.



Scissor Sisters vs. Krystal Pepsy’s “Shady Love” from the scissorsisterstv YouTube Channel.



The Japanese Popstars’ “Shell of Silver” from TheJapanesePopstVEVO YouTube Channel.



Austra’s “Spellwork” from the DominoRecords YouTube Channel.



Lightships’ “Sweetness In Her Spark” from the DominoRecords YouTube Channel.



Band of Skulls’ “Sweet Sour” from the vagrantrecords YouTube Channel.



Saint Etienne’s “Tonight” from the SaintEtienneVEVO YouTube Channel.

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First Round of Videos

Welcome to 2011 … I am back in form, so I know that over the next few weeks I have some severe catching up to do (including Alphafalls, Clara Engels, an Italian band, Femme Fatale, and a French band, Van Diamonds … not to mention a little post on darkwave and a few interviews.) And I am starting to feel giddy about the upcoming releases: Wire, White Lies, The Joy Formidable, Social Distortion, Esben and the Witches, Cut Copy, Mogwai, and PJ Harvey! And of course, I promised myself to get to more shows this year… perhaps I will be crazy enough to get out to Bestival (I wonder why?)!. Below are a few videos and clips to kick off the year – including some video catching up, White Lie’s latest single, a live version of “Personal Jesus,” and two covers (Hello Operator’s “Come Undone” and The Kooks’ “Head Over Heels” – more of a clip than a video). So, to quote Mr. Robert Smith, “ONWARD!” and Enjoy…

White Lies’ “Bigger Than Us” from the WhiteLiesVEVO YouTube Channel.



Hello Operator’s cover of Duran Duran’s “Come Undone” from their YouTube Channel: hellooperatortv.



The Kooks cover Tears For Fears’ “Head Over Heels” from their YouTube Channel: thekooksofficial.



Scissor Sisters’ “Invisible Light” (featureing Sir Ian Murray McKellen) from the ScissorSistersVEVO YouTube Channel.



Depeche Mode’s “Personal Jesus” live from Barcelona, from their YouTube Channel: dmdotcom.



Hooverphonic’s “The Night Before” from the HooverphonicVEVO YouTube Channel.



Wilder’s “Skyful of Rainbows” from the RoughTradeRecordsUK YouTube Channel.



Bag Raiders’ “Sunlight” from the modularpeople YouTube Channel.



Smith Westerns’ “Weekend” from the elpossum Youtube Channel.

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Videos

I hate allowing a Tuesday pass by without something being posted. I will be returning later this week with a review, and have been working on a post on “darkwave” (hint: been listening to my favorite Dutch band!). Also, counting down to post 300 and no clue what to do for that landmark… still considering my options, but been listening to “Ashes to Ashes” as well and may be turning into something.

I also wanted to share something brilliant with all of you. Check out Discographies on Twitter. Essentially complete discographies of bands, with a twist, in under 140 characters.

Enjoy the videos (I threw in a classic for fun; Domino Records is about to release a boxset of Orange Juice).

The ABC Club’s “43” from their YouTube Channel: theabcclub.



Scissor Sisters’ “Any Which Way” from the ScissorSistersVEVO Channel.



Orange Juice’s “Rip It Up” from the DominoRecords YouTube Channel.



Marina and the Diamonds’ “Shampain” from their YouTube Channel: Marinaandthediamonds.



David’s Lyre’s “Tear Them Down” from their YouTube Channel: ThisIsDavidsLyre.



Antony and The Johnsons’ “Thank You For Your Love”” from the RoughTradeRecordsUK YouTube Channel.



Villagers’ “That Day” from the DominoRecords YouTube Channel.



Karen Elson’s “Truth Is In The Dirt” from the XLRecordings YouTube Channel.



Stornoway’s “Watching Birds” from the 4ADRecords YouTube Channel.



The Disco Biscuit’s “Widgets” from their YouTube Channel: TheDiscoBiscuitsVids.



Hurts’ “Wonderful Life” from their MySpace Videos page.


HURTS - Wonderful Life (Official Video)

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Scissor Sisters: "Night Work"

Been away for a bit, and as I always find myself saying… life, life, life…. Hopefully things have calmed down a bit and I will be able to focus on the blog once again (I pray). And what a great album to come back to write about; it’s one of those summer albums that you know is going to get played in the iPod over and over again.

I was instantly hooked the first time I heard Scissor Sisters’ cover of Pink Flyod’s “Comfortably Numb”; what followed, when listening to the self-tilted debut album (2004), were campy, tongue-in-cheek numbers of sexual decadence to mixed metaphors of crystal meth and Oz. Full of Elton John and disco revival references, the same trend would follow on the second album, “Ta-Dah” (2006). And though enjoyable and fun, making us to dance to a song about not wanting to dance, how many such albums could a band make before leaving you wanting for something different? Well, teaming up with producer Stuart Price [member of Zoot Woman and producer to such acts as Frankmusik, Keane, Killers, Madonna, Missy Eilliott, and New Order], out goes the Elton John references, in comes savvy euro-disco and electronic references, tongue-in-cheek, but no camp, and still sensually/sexually loaded, “Night Work” (28 June 2010) opens up a new era for Scissor Sisters and will prove that this New York City band has quite a few new tricks up their sleeves.

The irony of the band is that they are named after a lesbian sexual position (use your imagination!), and yet the band has no lesbians in it – though the fold does include three gay men and a female-female impersonator. But that is the thing about the band – they are a study in contradiction. It is a world where hedonism truly equates with personal agency, where sexual escapades challenge social norms, and where humor (whether campy or not) is the lens to see and criticize the world. Nothing has changed. Opening with the titular track, the old tongue-in-cheek welcomes you in: “When I was a young boy, I pretended I had a job; my daddy said, “Pretty woman, Mama married into the mob.”” And you are left to wonder just what kind of “Night Work” is going on that needs a midnight train. But what is different is the music; closer to earlier track “Electroblix,” it is a straightforward electronic number with a glam guitar rift. Soon after, you come across the lead single, “Fire With Fire.” Starting as a non-Elton John piano ballet, this song immediately finds its rhythm and electronic elements. A sort of anthem, to fight “Fire with fire, through desire, desire, sire, desire, through your desire,” this is arguably the best single that Scissor Sisters have released to date. Of course the naysayers will say, “Where’s the camp? Where’s the double entendres?” Well, bands grow up and mature, and as a result so does their music and lyrics; that does not mean that those early lyrical hooks are not there; they are, just more intelligently: “Love was just something you found to add to your collection…”

Jake Shears’ falsetto is better than ever, while Babydaddy’s bass playing and arrangements are even cleverer. Del Marquis’ guitar playing as distinct as ever, and Ana Matronic, well, is Ana Matronic, the secret weapon of the band, that adds a sensual, sexually charged element that the band really capitalized this time around. Though we are sorry to see Paddy Boom leave the fold, Randy Real brings a new sense of percussion and drum arrangements that breathe new life into their music. Under the guidance of their new producer, the band is able to unfurl in new directions, that are not so distinct from what they have done before in their distant past, but are done with more sophistication and snazzier than before.

So why should you listen to Scissor Sisters’ “Night Work?” One, they are New York – that sophisticated surface that is sensual and alluring once the surface is scratched. Two, they are one of the few New York City bands that continue to place New York as a center of creative musical scenes. Three, you shouldn’t be a homophobe and should be able to get a kick out of their lyrical antics. And four, the album kicks ass. And of course, this is the main reason you should give “Night Work” a listen. This is a no-brainer: summer time demands fun music, and not the dreary gloom of winter and fall. Throw on a pair of shorts or something slutty for a club, listen to “Night Work,” boogy your ass off to it, and realize that deep down inside, we are all Scissor Sisters.



Track Listing:
1. Night Work
2. Whole New Way
3. Fire With Fire
4. Any Which Way
5. Harder You Get
6. Running Out
7. Something Like This
8. Skin This Cat
9. Skin Tight
10. Sex and Violence
11. Night Life
12. Invisible Light

Keep up with Scissor Sisters at their homepage, MySpace, Facebook, and Twitter.

Here is their video for “Fire With Fire” from the ScissorSistersVEVO YouTube Channel.

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