Insurmountable Opportunities

Back in 1982, when I saw the movie “Summer Lovers” at Paul Swangard’s house, there were two songs that I determined, at the time, to be awesome.  “Ça plane pour moi” was one, and “Just Can’t Get Enough” from Depeche Mode’s first record (before Vince Clarke left to form Yazoo) was the other.  That one of these totally awesome songs has turned out to be a cynical media fabrication does, I admit, sadden me ever so slightly.  Fortunately,though, it’s also the one that turns out to actually be a crappy song.

Apparently Plastic Bertrand (who is not actually Plastic Bertrand anyway) did not really sing “Ça plane pour moi.”  Shocking.  Nor did he sing any of the songs on “his” four albums.  Wait…he had albums?

I wanted to put both videos in here, but Depeche Mode is now also a cynical media fabrication and doesn’t allow embedding the video.  Instead, here is the original video for “Don’t Go” by Yazoo.  It sounds a lot like it could have been on that first Depeche Mode record.  It’s impressive, really, that they survived the departure of Clarke who wrote nearly all the songs on that first DM record.

This Pitchform article has all the gory details about the Plastic Bertrand affair.

Ça plane pour moi (English Translation)

“Wham! Bam! my cat Splash
lies on my bed with his tongue puffed out
by drinking all my whisky.
As for me, not enough sleep, drained, persecuted,
I had to sleep in the gutter
where I had a flash
Oooo-ooo-ooo-ooo!
in four colours

Allez-oop! One morning
a darling came to my home,
a cellophane puppet with Chinese hair,
a  plaster, a hangover,
drank my beer in a large rubber glass
Oooo-ooo-ooo-ooo!
like an Indian in his igloo

This works for me, this works for me
This works for me me me me me
This work for me
Oooo-ooo-ooo-ooo!
This works for me

Allez-oop! The chick***, what a gas!
what a vibration!
to be sent on the door mat
filed, ruined, drained, filled
You are the King of the divan!
she says to me in passing
Oooo-ooo-ooo-ooo!
I am the King of the divan

This works for me, this works for me
This works for me me me me me
This workss for me
Oooo-ooo-ooo-ooo!
This works for me

Allez-oop! Don’t mind, don’t worry
Don’t affect me
It’s not today
that the sky will fall on my head
and I’ll be without glue
Oooo-ooo-ooo-ooo!
This life’s  for me

Allez-oop! my chick has gone away,
flew away, finally had enough, to break
the sink, the bar, leaving me alone
like a complete jerk
Oooo-ooo-ooo-ooo!
I’ve put my foot in it

This works for me, this works for me
This works for me me me me me
This workss for me
Oooo-ooo-ooo-ooo!
This works for me
This workss for me, this works for me
This works for me me me me me”

Music, Pop Culture, Video

There is absolutely nothing wrong with wearing your Springsteen on your sleeve. Unless you don’t mean it., or else -- as with And these guys -- REALLY FUCKING MEAN IT. Oh yeah, and they are managed by South Eugene H.S. alum Anna Jacobson-Leong so you know they’re legit.

Music, Video

I’m not sure what this song has to do with Pelicans cause I just don’t listen to lyrics all that often, but the emotion that comes through the song may be something akin to how Pelicans in the Gulf of Mexico feel right now.

Music, Video

I’m trying to fix something on my blog, so here’s another video immediately on the heels of the last. Stick around…there will likely be another shortly. Lightning Dust is a side project of some folks from Black Mountain, whom I’ve not heard.

Music, Video

Not much else to say. Arcade Fire performing Neon Bible in an elevator. I especially like the use of a magazine as percussion instrument.

Music, Video

If you’re not at least tapping your foot by a minute or so in to this song, well, I just don’t know you as well as I thought I did.

Music, Video

I played this for the kids and they liked it. I bought the record and they haven’t stopped listening to it for weeks and weeks. Oh, and I like it too. She also made an iPhone app that is pretty cool. A song loops and responds to the motion of the iPhone. Shake it around and the song gets upbeat. Hold it still and the beat drops out and it gets very mellow and atmospheric. All the while, the app samples sounds from around you to include in the music. Never the same thing twice. Neat!

Listening Party, Music, Video

Photo

The Hold Steady
Metric
Arcade Fire
Minor Threat
Lupe Fiasco
The Cardigans
Magnetic Fields
Die Kreuzen
The Selecter
TV on the Radio
Earth Wind and Fire
Tegan and Sara
Dead Kennedys
M.I.A.
Bad Brains
Atmosphere
Pink Floyd
Massive Attack
Wipers
X
The Specials
Metallica
The Who
Little Boots
Elvis Costello and the Attractions
Devo
Pink
AC/DC
Sluglords
Okkervil River
NoMeansNo
Fishbone
Public Enemy
The Thermals
ELO
The Clash
Lightning Dust
Hunters and Collectors

Music

Northwest Branch Creek. Willow has learned to like LOVE the water. Leaping and dashing.

Personal

Big dog. Teeny bed.

Personal

I’m all tingly. What better way to spend your next ten minutes that by listening to Tim Gunn discuss his fashion takes on various superhero costumes? By the time he finishes talking about Spiderman, I’m breathless.

Geek Stuff, Pop Culture

Ah, youth! Operator Please – You Don’t Always Get What You Want:

Music, Video

One or another member of the Finn family has been informing my pop sensibilities since I bought Waiata by “Split Enz” in 1981 after seeing the video for “One Step Ahead.”

I wasn’t a huge Crowded House fan, but they had some really great songs that I still love today.

Now, here comes Liam, Neil’s son to carry on with a bit of a different take on pop from his dad and uncle.

Music, Video

Dear Senator Reid,

While I appreciate your efforts, and honestly believe that you have the best interests in Americans at heart, I can’t believe how thoroughly you allowed the Health (Insurance) Care Bill to be compromised. I actually felt a glimmer of hope when the public option failed and the prospect of Medicare expansion returned to the fore (where it never should have left), but now all I feel is despair.

Whatever bill you eventually pass will do no good for those of us who have seen our rates skyrocket in the last few years. I guess if you weren’t getting the health care that you are, you’d understand the situation the rest of us are in, but as it stands, I guess you don’t.

Why, after all of his betrayals, you have allowed Joe Lieberman to insert himself as the sole gatekeeper of this process is beyond me. Either you didn’t see this coming, or didn’t think he would single-handedly derail the bill. It doesn’t really matter which it is.

Shame on you and the rest of the Senate to have squandered what may be your only opportunity to actually change the welfare of Americans for the better. I wish I could vote for someone other than a Republican or a Democrat. Republicans are counter to everything I hold dear, and Democrats seem unable, or unwilling, to accomplish anything.

Don’t bother passing the bill. It won’t do us any good out here in the cold. And boy, I sure hope I don’t get sick.

Disappointed (but not surprised),
Tim

Politics