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Pop Rock Nation

Category: Videos

  • Missing The Muppets…

    Sometimes, when I get into a funk, I starting missing the Muppets…

    You know, The Muppet Show? It originally aired from 1976 until 1981. When I was growing up, I was a big fan of Jim Henson’s Muppets and their corresponding guest stars. I saw most of the movies and even watched Muppets Tonight when it was on in the mid 1990s. Granted, Muppets Tonight wasn’t nearly as funny and entertaining as the original show was, even though it featured guest stars like Prince (then going by The Artist Formerly Known As Prince), Coolio, and Paula Abdul.

    Paula Abdul guests on Muppets Tonight…

    Coolio performs on Muppets Tonight…

    Of course, in my day, the original Muppet Show was on and it exposed me to some great 70s era stars like Elton John, Linda Ronstadt, John Denver, Paul Simon, Diana Ross, and even Raquel Welch!

    Elton John guests on The Muppet Show…

    I should probably break down and buy the DVDs of this show. There’s nothing really like it on TV anymore. Of course, the 1970s was the era for variety shows. That was the decade that brought us Donny & Marie, Sonny & Cher, and even The Brady Bunch Hour, which I am convinced was invented under the heavy influence of some kind of hallucinogenic drug. Donny & Marie had ice skaters and The Bradys had synchronized swimmers. Sonny and Cher had each other and it seems the Osmonds were making the rounds on all the shows, though I don’t remember seeing them on The Muppet Show.

    More than just entertaining family style fun, The Muppet Show and Sesame Street also brought us some timeless, beautiful songs. Consider the lovely ballad, “Bein’ Green”, which was sung by Kermit the Frog and then covered by some very notable musical worthies like Van Morrison, Sophie Milman, and Ray Charles. Yesterday, I was feeling a little depressed over the prospect of the crown I have to get tomorrow and went to YouTube to listen to Ray Charles sing…

    Here Ray Charles knocks “Bein’ Green” out of the park with his perfectly glorious rendition of this Muppets classic on Sesame Street…

    There’s something about the way Ray Charles sings this song that just radiates empathy. I feel better every time I hear it. It gives me goosebumps. It simultaneously gives me a lump in my throat while it makes me smile.

    The lovely Russian jazz singer Sophie Milman found comfort in “Bein’ Green”, too…

    Van Morrison performs “Bein’ Green” live in 1973. Listening to this reminds me it’s time to see if I can hunt down the album this came from. It rocks! Don Henley also took a crack at “Bein’ Green” on the Muppets Unpigged album.

    The Rainbow Connection covered three ways…

    Another special Muppets song that comes to mind is “Rainbow Connection”, again sung by Kermit the Frog and covered by a diverse host of talented singers ranging from Willie Nelson to Debbie Harry to Kenny Loggins to Karen Carpenter.

    There’s something very touching about the way Willie Nelson sings this song. I was so moved by Willie’s rendition that I used it in a memorial video I made for my much loved dog, MacGregor, who died last December after we found an inoperable tumor near his spine. There’s something about this song and the way Willie sings it that suited MacGregor. Even today, when I listen to it, it makes me emotional.

    The Carpenters’ version of “The Rainbow Connection” is very different, of course. It’s very clear and pristine, a little schmaltzy, and yet somehow touching.

    And here, Debbie Harry and Kermit the Frog team up to sing “The Rainbow Connection” on The Muppet Show. I never knew her voice went that high! This is a charming side of the lead singer of Blondie I’ve never seen.

    I often find that when I’m in a crummy mood, I get a lot of joy out of singing. And sometimes I sing songs from The Muppet Show. I recorded my own version of “Bein’ Green” yesterday…

    and I felt better afterwards, even though I still dread getting a crown. On the other hand, I suppose I dread the alternative even more. Tomorrow might be a good day to pull out my favorite Muppets CD.

    I can’t stay sad when I hear this song. Incidentally, I happen to own a copy of the CD linked below. It’s well worth the money if you are a Muppets fan!

  • Friday the 13th songs…

    It’s that day again… Time for a few Friday the 13th songs!

    Whenever the 13th day of the month happens to fall on a Friday, a lot of people become superstitious. This week, we not only had Friday the 13th, we also had the twelfth anniversary of September 11th. I happened to schedule a last minute dentist appointment that day because one of my molars was doing odd things. I found out the molar is cracked and now, at the very least, needs a crown. Darn the luck!

    Having grown up in the 1970s and 80s, I always thought Friday the 13th superstitions started with the string of horror movies bearing the same name and featuring a chainsaw toting masked man named Jason. As it turns out, superstitions surrounding Friday the 13th have been around at least since the 19th century. In fact, there are even people out there who have a phobia of Friday the 13th; paraskevidekatriaphobics have an irrational fear of the unluckiest date. In fact, in 2013, there are two incidences of Friday the 13th exactly 13 weeks apart. How’s that for creepy?

    I thought it would be fun to have a look at a few songs that fit in with Friday the 13th. Maybe I’ll get lucky and find a few good ones.

    Stevie Wonder and “Superstition”

    Here’s Stevie Wonder singing his classic hit on Sesame Street. I couldn’t resist this clip because it’s so old school. What a great song to hear first thing in the morning.

    Here’s Stevie Wonder and Stevie Ray Vaughan (RIP) playing a super funkified version of “Superstition”. Note Jody Watley jamming along with the two Stevies!

    And here is Stevie in Paris, playing his iconic song with Prince!

    And here, Stevie Wonder plays with guitar wizard, Jeff Beck. I think “Superstition” is the ultimate Friday the 13th song, which is why I added four versions to this post. Stevie Wonder is the kind of guy who can collaborate with everyone.

    Ray Charles and Jimmy Lewis “If It Wasn’t For Bad Luck”

    Blues songs really lend themselves to songs that are perfect for Friday the 13th. Here’s a song about two guys one upping each other with stories about how if they didn’t have bad luck, they’d have no luck at all. I suspect these two would do well to stay home on Friday the 13th.

    Albert King and “Born Under a Bad Sign”

    Albert King sings a classic song about being born under a “bad sign”. I couldn’t resist posting another clip with Stevie Ray Vaughan playing. Maybe Albert King is unlucky, but we’re lucky to have videos with him jamming. It makes Friday the 13th a little less daunting.

    Paul Thorn and “It’s a Great Day to Whup Somebody’s Ass

    This may not be the ultimate Friday the 13th song, but it’s definitely a song about bad luck. If you have a day like this on Friday the 13th, you might develop a phobia.

    Magic Slim & The Teardrops “Hard Luck Blues”

    Here’s a cover of “Hard Luck Blues” by Magic Slim & The Teardrops. If you’re feeling unlucky today, this is a song that you can relate to.

    Weird Wilbur and “Fucked Up, Fucked Over, and Hungry”

    This is a song about a man’s bad luck trying to get into the music business. It’s obviously not work or kid safe, but it’s definitely a hard luck song.

    I’ve never felt particularly unlucky on Friday the 13th, though as I sit here worrying about my tooth and what will be done to it next week, I’m not feeling particularly fortunate today. On the other hand, things could be worse. I could be sitting out in the middle of the desert with no way to get to a dentist and no money to pay for one even if I could. I don’t enjoy dental treatment, but it’s better than not having it, right?

    I hope you have a good Friday the 13th and an even better weekend!

  • Boobs a Lot

    Boobs a Lot

    You gotta like “Boobs a Lot”…

    Ever get a song stuck in your head you haven’t heard in years? That’s happening to me this morning. When I was growing up, I liked listening to morning radio shows, which usually featured silly songs. One song I used to hear all the time on morning radio shows back in the late 80s was called “Boobs a Lot”.

    I had forgotten all about “Boobs a Lot” until one day a few months ago when it popped into my head and wouldn’t leave. I didn’t know who sang the song or when it was originally unleashed on the public. I went searching for it and soon found out that “Boobs a Lot” is older than I am, having been recorded by The Holy Modal Rounders in 1971. I was immediately surprised, since I thought in the early 70s, people were more conservative about such things.

    The song “Boobs a Lot”…

    I ended up downloading the album this song came from and learning more about this band, which seemed very obscure to me. I mean, I had heard the song a lot as a teenager, but never knew who sang the song. The Holy Modal Rounders has been around a long time. The folk duo, consisting of Peter Stampfel and Steve Weber, got its start in New York City in the early 1960s. Lots of people were into this group and, in fact, American actor and playwright Sam Shepard was featured in the band for awhile. Over the years, the Holy Modal Rollers put out quite a few albums and had a cult following. There was even a documentary made about them in 2006 entitled The Holy Modal Rollers: Bound to Lose.

    So why hadn’t I heard of them before “Boobs a Lot”? And why haven’t I heard their other songs? Okay, so I have heard the songs on their 1971 album, Good Taste Is Timeless, which does sound a little dated, but is actually very appealing in a goofy sort of way. The music is like an odd mix of folk, bluegrass, psychedelia, and silliness.

    The Holy Modal Rounders on Laugh In back in 1968

    Check out the flashy silver pants on Peter Stampfel. He comments on YouTube that they were his girlfriend Antonia’s idea and that he pre-dated glam rock by a few years. I see on YouTube that someone managed to interview Peter Stampfel in 2010 and he offers tips for musicians.

    Peter Stampfel offers some handy tips for musicians.

    Here’s a little more silliness for a Tuesday morning. The Holy Modal Rounders sing “Low Down Dog”.

    Listening to this song, I can sort of see why this band had such a cult following. Their music is fun and quirky and it sounds like they enjoy playing together. Obviously, Peter Stampfel and his bandmates took his good advice about getting along and not being “pissy”.

    Peter Stampfel plays “Stick Your Ass In The Air”.

    Looks like Peter Stampfel still plays an entertaining show. And he still sings goofy songs about body parts. We should all take his advice and stick our asses in the air. That’s harder for some of us to do than others. Frankly, I appreciate “Boobs a Lot” a lot, not just because it introduced me to such a fun band with a long history, but because I happen to have big boobs that my husband loves. Long live comedic radio shows in the morning!