Single Review: Million Dollar Bill

Requester: The all powerful and generally idiotic Clive Davis. AKA nobody. Just this guy again.

Well, Whitney has an official single once again. Apparently I Didn’t Know My Own Strength is not the lead single from her upcoming release, I Look to You. THANK GOD! The good news here is that her official single, Million Dollar Bill, is considerably better than that strength cliché song. It has the potential to succeed on the radio. Also, restores my once shattered faith in her next CD. The bad news is that it’s not nearly as perfect as I would have hoped. I think expectations were dauntingly high, but with a seven year hiatus, one would think that something a little more substantial would come out of the Houston hits factory.

I think the best part is that her voice, albeit not as technically stunning as it used to be, finally has something she originally lacked: soul. Her singing is full of grit and character and I feel much more connected to her voice than I ever have before. Granted, she can’t hold notes quite as long, nor is her tone as strikingly pristine as it used to be, but I think the pros outweigh the cons. Furthermore, she’s still one of the best singers in popular music.

The flip side is that the song is sort of ordinary. I do think the chorus is incredibly catchy, but the verses and the bridge are unmemorable. Also, the song feels very short. Perhaps it’s a compliment to say it felt like it ended too soon, but in this case I feel like the writer’s just got lazy.

Overall, I recommend the song. It’s fun, upbeat, and is unmistakably Whitney. However, with seven years to work, she could have really knocked it out of the park.

Rating: 3/5 stars

Movie Review: Ponyo

Requester: Just me. I went to a kid’s movie alone. Put down the haterade.

I have a confession. I missed the first few minutes of this film. I caught only about twenty seconds of the first scene before the opening credits began. However, those twenty seconds were enough to convince me that I was in for a visually stunning and emotionally satisfying experience. Ponyo is a great movie for both young children and cynical adults because it taps into human emotion more honestly and purely than most American movies today. I’m a snarky old dude, and even I couldn’t resist this movie’s charms.

So, go see this movie. There are several compelling reasons you should do so. If the plethora of quality voice actors does not convince you this film is special, I don’t know what will. Characters in the film are voiced by Tina Fey, Matt Damon, Cate Blanchett, Liam Neesen, Betty White, and Lily Tomlin (to name a few). It would be a miracle to get such a group together for a live action film, let alone the dubbing of a Japanese family movie. Granted, this is a Hayao Miyazaki feature. For the uneducated, Miyazaki is one of the most beloved filmmakers in Japan. He has helmed My Neighbor Totoro (who’s bigger than Mickey Mouse in Japan), Princess Mononoke, Kiki’s Delivery Service, and the Academy Award winning Spirited Away. I think Miyazaki was enough of a draw for Fey and company.

However, even if this movie were voiced by crack addicts behind a McDonalds, I think it would still be worth seeing. As with the Miyazaki movies I’ve seen, the movie is driven more by human emotions and experiences than an intricate plot. Without saying too much about the story (you all should know how I hate that by now), know that Ponyo is a fish that wants to become a human because she has fallen in love with a boy named Sosuke. Most of the really beautiful sequences involve Ponyo discovering the joys of living on land or Sosuke interacting with his parents and the local elderly. There’s a particularly funny and touching scene where Sosuke talks to his father using Morse code. You really have to experience it to appreciate it.

The animation is gorgeous. There’s a very impressive storm sequence and the introduction of Ponyo’s mother, Granmammare, is stunning. It’s really easy see that every frame was lovingly constructed. My only small gripe comes from what I assume is a cultural difference. I found the pacing of the movie to be a bit uneven and the ending seemed a bit rushed. After some thought, however, I realized that perhaps the plot did not require a thorough conclusion. As an American audience member, I think I expect every detail to be explained and that all questions need to be answered by the time the credits roll. By rushing the ending and drawing out the development, Miyazaki spent most of the film focusing on the things I enjoyed the most (the aforementioned interactions). So, maybe Miyazaki’s priorities are better than mine. I’m willing to admit that.

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Top 100 Songs: 1-10

Well faithful reader, this is the end of our musical journey. The final installment of my Top 100 songs list. I’ve had a very good time making this list and I hope you’ve enjoyed reading it. More importantly, I hope you’ve found at least one new song to enjoy. That would make this whole endeavor worthwhile.

10. Antologia-Shakira

This is my favorite song about love. Somehow it manages to capture the intensity, joy, and heartbreak of a relationship that has run its course. Even more impressive, Shakira was only 17 when she wrote this song. I shudder to think that an English version might exist, because the poetry of the Spanish in the original song would be completely lost in translation.

Favorite Lyric: “Pero olvidaste una final instrucción por que aún no sé como vivir sin tu amor.”

Almost Picked: Ojos Así.

9. I Want You Back-The Jackson 5

Technically Prince isn’t the only artist to hold two spots on this list. MJ also clocks in with The Jackson 5 and their first and (in my opinion) greatest single. You can dance to this song. You can belt along in your car. It’s extremely versatile. It’s extremely fun.

Favorite Lyric: Nothing stands out, but that is actually a compliment in this case.

8. Born to Run-Bruce Springsteen

There’s no song more perfect for running. More generally, there’s no song more perfect for describing my feelings about where I’m currently located and where I want to go in life. Perhaps the specifics of the song’s story don’t apply, but the theme and the message of Born to Run capture my thoughts so well that I’m willing to overlook the details.

Favorite Lyric: “We gotta get out while we’re young because tramps like us, baby we were born to run.”

7. Over the Rainbow-Eva Cassidy

Aesthetically, this is the most beautiful arrangement of one of the most beautiful songs of all time.

Favorite Lyric: “If happy little bluebirds fly above the rainbow then why oh why can’t I?”

6. A Change is Gonna Come-Sam Cooke

If Over the Rainbow is the most aesthetically beautiful song I’ve heard, then this is the most meaningful song I’ve ever heard. Knowing the whole story behind the song makes it that much sadder and more powerful.

Favorite Lyric: “And I go to my brother and I say brother help me please/But he ends up knocking me back down on my knees.”

5. Biology-Girls Aloud

In my review of the album, Chemistry, I said, “it contained an eclectic mash-up of synth, 50’s bass lines, stitched together choruses, and odd song structure. Oh sorry, I was just referring to the song Biology.” It takes balls to reference Muddy Waters and disco in the same breath, yet somehow these girls manage to pull it off. I still maintain that Girls Aloud are the greatest musical act never to hit the United States. This is their magnum opus.

Favorite Lyric: “You can’t mistake my biology.”

4. …Baby One More Time-Britney Spears

The single greatest and most influential pop song of my lifetime. Brilliantly produced. Brilliantly marketed. You can be as snobby as you want, but there’s still no resisting those first three notes.

Favorite Lyric: Obviously “Hit me baby one more time.”

3. Nothing Compares 2 U-Sinead O’Connor

It doesn’t get much more intense than this. This song is essentially undiluted heartbreak for five minutes. Plus, it’s a Prince cover so it’s obviously well-written.

Favorite Lyric: “I know that living with you baby was sometimes hard but I’m willing to give it another try.”

2. Proud Mary-Tina Turner

So, this song means several things to me. To me, Tina Turner is the most inspiring artist in the music industry because of her escape from physical and sexual abuse at the hands of Ike Turner. She has one of the rawest, most powerful voices in music and she's not afraid to use it. This song is the standard for iconic choreography, even before music videos existed. This song exhilarates me in a way no other song can. Yet it’s only about a riverboat. Go figure.

Favorite Lyric: “You see, we never do anything nice and easy. We always do it nice…and rough.”

1. Purple Rain-Prince

I promised you two Prince songs and here’s the other. Wow. My number one song. If you’ve been reading carefully, this should be an obvious choice. It hits so many of my musical hot buttons. It’s about love. It’s about loss. It’s layered. It’s melodic. It crescendos. It’s instrumental. It’s genius. One report says that Prince wrote the song based on a woman’s near-death experience. She said she saw purple rain in heaven. I think that adds an allegorical level to the song and, like many other songs on this list, makes me think of my tattoo. I lose myself in this song more than any other. That’s all there is to it.

Favorite Lyric: “I never wanted to be your weekend lover/I only wanted to be some kind of friend.”

Top 100 Songs: 11-20

We’re down to the wire, people! Only a few songs left, and (clearly) the best are yet to come.

20. Bachelorette-Bjork

Bjork is weird. Understatement of my life, but she’s a strange creature. For me, sometimes she just sounds like a hot mess. Other times, however, she manages to create moods that other artists cannot even hope to achieve. To me, this is her at her most expressive, creative, and exotic.

Favorite Lyric: “I’m a fountain of blood in the shape of a girl/You’re the bird on the brim hypnotized by the whirl.”

Almost Picked: Human Behaviour.

19. The Rose-Bette Midler

Simple. Beautiful. Layered. I just love this song. Way to go Bette, especially since I find most of her music to be adult contemporary bull crap.

Favorite Lyric: “And the soul afraid of dying that never learns to live.”

18. Crazy Ex-Girlfriend-Miranda Lambert

If Coat of Many Colors was my objective favorite, then this song is my subjective favorite. Think of this as a version of Before He Cheats with actual emotion and believability. Sorry Underwood, you’re too much of a robot with your personality to sell vengeful spite like Lambert.

Favorite Lyric: "Somebody tell that girl to step up to the plate I'm gonna pitch. Little bitch."

17. Like a Rolling Stone-Bob Dylan

I wrote a paper on this song. The prompt was, “If you could send one song to be discovered by alien life that would most accurately encompass American music, what would you choose and why.” I think that justifies its placement here. This song completely and utterly revolutionized popular music.

Favorite Lyric: “Now you don’t seem so proud about having to be scrounging for your next meal.”

16. Falling Slowly-Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova

I said Broadway/musical songs were ineligible before. This song technically counts because it appeared on The Frames 2006 album, The Swell Season, before the movie Once was released. Take that, self-imposed rules!

Favorite Lyric: “I don’t know you but I want you all the more for that.”

15. Hallelujah-Jeff Buckley

Buckley’s version is the best version of this song. I dare you to debate that. Spiritual, haunting, and powerful.

Favorite Lyric: “She tied you to her kitchen chair/she broke your throne and she cut your hair/And from your lips she drew the hallelujah.”

14. Can’t Help Falling in Love-Elvis Presley

This is my favorite love song of all time, bar none. This shouldn’t be confused with my favorite song about love. Very different subjects, I’ll have you know.

Favorite Lyric: “Wise men say only fools rush in but I can’t help falling in love with you.”

13. Y Yo Sigo Aquí-Paulina Rubio

Una de mis canciones favoritas por su uso de insinuación sexual. Y que Paulina es una diosa. Sorry if my rusty Spanish is jank.

Letra favorita: “Si a ti te gusta morder el mango bien madurito”

12. Don’t Stop Believin’-Journey

Best sing along song of all time. It’s epic, really. It’s also the first song that kicked off my huge 80s craze many years ago.

Favorite Lyric: “Paying anything to roll the dice just one more time.”

11. Will You Be There-Michael Jackson

Yes, it’s the Free Willy song. Yes, I could have picked a million other MJ songs. Yes, it’s a tad sappy. None of these things matter to me, because this song pierces my heart in about twenty seconds. Also, it has a boat-load of key changes. Awesome.

Favorite Lyric: “But they told me a man should be faithful and walk when not able and fight ‘til the end but I’m only human.”

Top 100 Songs: 21-30

30. You Can’t Hurry Love-The Supremes

Perhaps the most perfect piece of Motown fluff to come from Motor City. Although the song may seem deceptively simple, the chorus/verse structure is completely flipped—something unheard of at the time. Did I mention this is another universal truth song?

Favorite Lyric: “How long must I wait/How much more can I take.”

Almost Picked: Come See About Me

29. Love Is a Losing Game-Amy Winehouse

I love Amy’s voice and her retro vibe. This song has perfect lyrics and arrangement. Allegedly an advanced degree program at Oxford used the lyrics of this song as a part of a poetry final. I can see why.

Favorite Lyric: “And now the final frame/Love is a losing game.”

28. Up to the Mountain-Kelly Clarkson

This was another toughie. Since U Been Gone, My Life Would Suck Without You, Breakaway, and Gone were all considered for Kelly’s spot. Yet, when push came to shove, I went with a live cover she performed only once (well, not counting her tours). Apparently her label wanted her to perform Never Again, since it was her single at the time, as a part of the Idol Gives Back concert. Kelly found that too crass and performed this instead. We are all better off, thanks to Miss Independent.

Favorite Lyric: “Lord telling me softly you love me so.”

Almost Picked: Gone

27. I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)-Whitney Houston

When it comes to dancing and the 80s, this is my top pick. EPIC KEY CHANGE!! Plus I maintain that Whitney (at one time) had the most powerful voice in pop music. Granted, it wasn’t the most soulful or emotive, but girl could hold a note.

Favorite Lyric: “Somebody who, somebody who-who.” Obviously for how she sings it.

26. No Woman No Cry-Bob Marley and the Wailers

No matter how sad I am, this song cheers me up. Granted, the subject matter (war and violence) is a bit heavy, but when Bob tells me that everything is going to be alright, I believe him.

Favorite Lyric: The aforementioned, “Everything’s gonna be alright.”

25. Paper Planes-M.I.A.

The wackiest pop song to hit mainstream radio in recent history. The chorus is gunshots. GUNSHOTS! Who does that? I mean, that question has a really obvious answer. But still! Plus the song tackles U.S. treatment of immigrants with a sarcastic and clever point-of-view. Well done.

Favorite Lyric: “M.I.A. third world democracy/Yeah I’ve got more records than the KGB, so, uh, no funny business.”

24. He Stopped Loving Her Today-George Jones

This song is almost too sad. I can’t really say too much about it except that it has one of the most gut-wrenching lyrical twists of all time. Pay very close attention while listening so you catch all of the nuances.

Favorite Lyric: I would ruin the listening experience if I said something here

23. Bleeding Love-Leona Lewis

If I hadn’t reset my iTunes play count, this would be my most played song ever. Say what you’d like. WORDS CAN’T BRING ME DOWN!

Favorite Lyric: “Time starts to pass before you know it you’re frozen.”

22. Coat of Many Colors-Dolly Parton

Ah, Coat of Many Colors. So simple in its honesty and beauty. To me, the most defining characteristic of country music is its ability to tell stories. With that in mind, this is what I would objectively consider the best country song of all time. My word selection indicates there's a more subjective country song on the horizon.

Favorite Lyric: “And I couldn’t understand it for I felt I was rich”

21. Unchained Melody-The Righteous Brothers

This song makes me melt on the inside. When it comes to pure love songs, this one is second best. Number uno is on the docket.

Favorite Lyric: “I-I-I NEEEEED your love.” You know the part, with that crazy high note.

Top 100 Songs: 31-40

40. Wide Open Spaces-The Dixie Chicks

I think this song hit me at just the right time in my life. I was making an important transition and, although I had heard this song before, something about the way it spoke to the fear and thrill of the unknown really got to me.

Favorite Lyric: “Who doesn’t know what I’m talking about/Who’s never left home, who’s never struck out?”

39. Together Again-Janet Jackson

Tattoo take three. I really think this is the last time I’ll be cryptic, I promise

Favorite Lyric: “I can see your star shining down on me”

38. Come On Over Baby (All I Want is You)-Christina Aguilera

Ahh, Ms. Aguilera. Although I respect how she constantly redefines herself, I like her first incarnation the best. Aka the teen pop one. Aka the one that makes me feel like a thirteen year old girl. I have maturity issues. Short sentences. Great song.

Favorite Lyric: “I’m not just talking about your sexuality.”

Almost Picked: Beautiful

37. Dancing Queen-ABBA

I would like to cite my justification for Cher’s Believe at this juncture. Gay man. It’s sort of Pavlovian, really.

Favorite Lyric: “Anybody could be that guy/The night is young and the music’s high.”

36. Make You Feel My Love-Adele

Although there are a million versions of this song, originally recorded by Bob Dylan, I prefer Adele’s rendition. I think the song was written as a love song, but Adele manages to capture a hidden sorrow. A (you guessed it) sense of unrequited love that other versions seem to miss.

Favorite Lyric: “I’d go crawling down the avenue/No there’s nothing that I wouldn’t do to make you feel my love.”

35. Have a Little Faith in Me-John Hiatt

This song is both very sad and very comforting at the same time. I think it’s the way it (much like the previous song) toes the line between a love song and a plea. Unlike the Adele song, this one manages to work both ways at the same time.

Favorite Lyric: “When the tears you cry are all you can believe”

34. Like You’ll Never See Me Again-Alicia Keys

Alicia Keys has perhaps one of the best voices in the music industry today. Additionally, she writes her own songs and plays the piano. She’s one effing talented lady. I feel like I’ve gotten to a point with this list where I can just name songs and you all can tell me why I like them. Any guesses?

Favorite Lyric: “Love me like you’ll never see me again.”

33. Gold Digger-Kanye West

This is the most highly ranked rap song on the list and probably one of the most commercially successful rap songs of all time. It’s also a lot of fun.

Favorite Lyric: “If you ain’t no punk, holla WE WANT PRE-NUP!”

32. Who Knew-P!nk

RECURRING THEMES GALORE!! And I’m done with the cap locks. Sorry, people annoyed by upper case letters. To date this remains P!nk’s most emotional and honest performance. Remember when I said no more tattoo references? Well, I lied. I guess I forgot how many songs make me think of that.

Favorite Lyric: “I wish I could touch you again/I wish I could still call you a friend.”

31. Cry Baby-Janis Joplin

Janis Joplin might have my favorite voice of all time. It’s so authentic and powerful that I almost can’t deal with it. This song is a great showcase for such a tremendous instrument.

Favorite Lyric: The chorus! “CRY CRY BABYYYYYY.”

Album Review: Wilco (The Album)

Requester: EAN

I am such an overachiever! I promised my review of Wilco (The Album) tomorrow, but you’re getting it today! Let’s ignore the part where it took me about a month to actually get around to this. Now, I’m spoiling you all with this review because I’m going to actually use italics to differentiate the album title from the band name. I don’t really use italics in my posts because I find it unnecessary, but since the artist and album in this review share a name, I suppose I’ll use italics to make this post clear and simple.

Clear and simple you say? Why, that’s practically a segue into this review. Indeed, I would describe Wilco (The Album) as an exercise in elegant simplicity. Most of the tracks on this disc have a minimalistic arrangement. Long-time fans of the band might be a bit put off since the sound on this disc might not be as outwardly experimental and dissonant as previous efforts. However, I found the simplicity engaging. By stripping down the songs, Wilco has made it easy to tap into basic human emotions, in some cases on a surprisingly powerful level.

You and I is a lovely duet between lead singer Jeff Tweedy and Feist, which details two lovers trying to keep their relationship alive. It’s very basic in its construction, but the two singers give very honest vocal performances that elevate the material. Solitaire is probably the mellowest song on the CD, yet it manages to create a mood that reminds me of the very excellent Bon Iver CD from last year. As Tweedy sings, “It took too long to see I was wrong to believe in me,” the simple sorrow of the track washes over you.

All that being said, there are some more adventurous tunes on the disc. Bull Black Nova has a pulsating beat that reminds me of the song Psycho Killer, by The Talking Heads. Fitting, considering Bull Black Nova is a song about a guy who kills his girlfriend. Deeper Down also takes things in a more electronic direction, which evokes the feeling of Radiohead’s most recent CD. However, in describing these songs, I think I’ve highlighted my biggest criticism of the album. The influences are too obvious. Most of the time I feel like I’m listening to a knock-off of a better artist. Granted, almost all of the songs are top-notch. Yet, I can’t shake that nagging feeling that originality is lacking on Wilco (The Album). Ironic, given the title.

The bottom line is that Wilco (The Album) is full of lovely, emotional songs that occasionally push for a more experimental vibe. However, when Wilco tries for something new, they tend to sound more like something old. My suggestion: Work harder on the ballads, because they seem more authentic.. Simple, no?

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Savage Songs: You and I, Bull Black Nova, and Solitaire