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Walk Like An Egyptian is one of those songs that you probably like in spite of yourself. It’s one of those insidious tunes that worms it’s way into your brain and sets up shop there. Still, you enjoy the ride. It’s got a great rhythm and a great melody, and it’s just fun.

From Wikipedia:

Liam Sternberg wrote the song after seeing people on a ferry walking awkwardly to keep their balance, which reminded him of figures in Ancient Egyptian reliefs. The opening lyrics state, “All the old paintings on the tombs/They do the sand dance don’t you know”. The reference to the sand dance possibly refers to a music hall routine performed by Wilson, Keppel and Betty where Wilson and Keppel danced around in the postures portrayed on the reliefs wearing the fez while Betty watched. The music video for “Walk Like an Egyptian” similarly featured people dancing in such a pose.

Here’s a link to the video

And of course, the lyrics:

All the old paintings on the tomb
They do the sand dance doncha know
If they move too quick (oh whey oh)
They’re falling down like a domino

All the cops in the donut shop say
Ay oh whey oh, ay oh whey oh
Walk like an Egyptian
Walk like an Egyptian

Turning Japanese is one of the most misunderstood songs of all time…or is it?

The meaning of the song is questionable. What is not questionable is what a great song this is. You hear it and it just lifts your spirits, makes you feel perky.

As far as the meaning, from Wikipedia

In the US, the song was believed to euphemistically refer to masturbation, specifically referencing certain facial distortions that may resemble the stereotypical image of a Japanese person. In fact, some US media outlets claimed that the phrase “turning Japanese” was a popular euphemism in the UK for masturbation; in reality, however, it has only become such a euphemism subsequent to the release of the song. Dave Fenton would alternately confirm and deny this suggestion in interviews, but admitted the phrase “turning Japanese” just popped into his head one morning when he woke up, and he viewed it as a love song when writing it. The song can be viewed as a love song or the ramblings of a man in a one sided relationship ostracized by society.

But from SongFacts

One of the more misinterpreted songs of all time, word was that “Turning Japanese” refers to the Oriental facial features people get at the moment of climax during masturbation. In a VH1 True Spin special, they asked The Vapors about this song, and they explained that it is a love song about someone who lost their girlfriend and was going slowly crazy. Lead singer Dave Fenton said: “Turning Japanese is all the clichés about angst and youth and turning into something you didn’t expect to.” It was inspired by Fenton’s relationship problems.

Personally, I dunno, but I always thought it was similar to the Who’s Pictures Of Lily, except a much better song.

Here’s a link to the video

And of course, the lyrics:

I’ve got your picture of me and you
You wrote “I love you” I wrote “me too”
I sit there staring and there’s nothing else to do
Oh it’s in color
Your hair is brown
Your eyes are hazel
And soft as clouds
I often kiss you when there’s no one else around

I really think so
I’m turning Japanese
I think I’m turning Japanese
I really think so
Turning Japanese
I think I’m turning Japanese
I really think so, think so, think so
I’m turning Japanese
I think I’m turning Japanese
I really think so

I first heard this song about 3-6 months after Bust A Move hit, and I was impressed then. Later, I saw one of those Showtime at the Apollo type shows, this one featuring performances by East coast and West Coast rappers. This was during the beginning of the silly “East Coast/West Coast” rap feud, as well as also the feud between pop rappers and so-called gangsta rappers.

Young MC hit the stage and started performing this song. At the beginning, as a West Coast based pop rapper, he was booed soundly by the crowd. By the end of the song, he got a standing ovation. It’s that good a song–you enjoy it in spite of yourself, at least if that’s part of your thought process. It’s got a great bass line and rhythm, a nice chord progression, and it’s just a cool song.

Here’s a link to the video

And of course, the lyrics:

aah na-na, na-na

I come off. Yo baby, I come off. Here we go

This is another one of those songs that I really enjoyed from the first time I heard it. It’s a pretty basic song about finding and losing love, but what I’ve really always loved about it was Graham Maby’s bass. He’s a criminally underrated bass player, faster than lightning, and it shows on this track. It’s got a great beat, you can dance to it, or you can just sit and listen to the music. To me, that’s a great song.

You can listen to the song below:

And of course, the lyrics:

We walked out one autumn evening
Someone up there made a fair appear
Coloured light that caught our eyes
And reggae music caught our ears
We laughed as they played all the songs
We wanted least of all to hear
I guess that’s when I knew
That we’d be more than just good friends
It happened just by chance

Someone up there - someone up there makes the sun and sea
Someone up there - someone up there brought my girl to me
Someone up there - someone up there makes the wind and rain
Someone up there - someone up there took her back again
And just for once
You can’t fight back
No messing with the hand of fate
Oh no

In my opinion, this is a fairly classic pop song about a not so classic subject, that of a couple who live on the edge knowing that burnout–or total self destruction–is inevitable. Maybe next week, maybe years from now, but sooner or later it will all catch up.

I like the song because it’s really a nice tune, very melodic, great hooks, and while I love a fun song, I also love thoughtful ones too.

Here’s a link to the video

And of course, the lyrics:

She said “I’m fine, I’m okay”
cover up your trembling hands
There’s indecision when you
Know you ain’t got nothing left
when the good times never stay
And the cheap thrills always
seem to fade away

For the last time conscience calls
For a good friend I was never there at all
When will we fall down

Yes, I’m a Falco fan. Wanna make something of it?

I think the reason I’ve always enjoyed Falco is that A) I thought his music was pretty good, B) he brought an over-the-top sense of bombast to many of his songs and C) he just seemed to be having so much fun. This song is no different.

The Sound Of Muzik is a nice celebration of what a cool thing music is, and also it’s unifying aspects as well. The song is fun, the video is fun, it’s all just F-U-N.

Here’s a link to the video

And of course the lyrics:

Es beginnt in einem Wald, alle Rechte sind bezahlt
Es es endet doch daheim.
Meine Häende sind so kalt, denn die Zeit die ging ins Land
Meine Seele ist so rein.
Die Rose kennt den Duft
Meine Stimme braucht die Luft
Denn der Wind ist so heiß wie nie
Sei es Rock, Punk, Heavy Metal, Politics, or Classical
It’s all to Musik to me

Hear the James Brown song, hear the church choir sing
It’s the people’s voice they’re gonna bring up that bell and ring
It’s Otis Redding, he’s sitting on the dock of the bay
Give the children what they want, hear the children do the boogie
Do the bang-bang, do the boogie-bang
Hu-la-la-hu-la-la-e
E-oh

New Frontier is one of those cool songs that you’re supposed to like–but I like it anywhere.

I personally think it’s just a cool sounding song. Like many, I enjoyed Steely Dan, and this isn’t too far removed. I like the feel, the story behind the song, and the music.

Speaking of the story behind the song, from SongFacts:

On The Charlie Gillett Show on London’s Capital Radio in 1988, Fagen said: “You’ll hear a little blues guitar played by Larry Carlton, and it’s kind of a track reflecting the spirit of the times. The storyline is basically about a bunch of kids who have a party in a fall-out shelter while their parents are away for the weekend.” (thanks, Edward Pearce - Ashford, Kent, England)

Here’s a link to the video

And of course, the lyrics:

Yes we’re gonna have a wingding
A summer smoker underground
It’s just a dugout that my dad built
In case the reds decide to push the button down
We’ve got provisions and lots of beer
The key word is survival on the new frontier

Well I can’t wait ’til I move to the city
‘Til I finally make up my mind
To learn design and study overseas
Let’s pretend that it’s the real thing
And stay together all night long
And when I really get to know you
We’ll open up the doors and climb into the dawn
Confess your passion your secret fear
Prepare to meet the challenge of the new frontier

—————-
Now playing: Sublime - Doin’ Time
via FoxyTunes

This song has one of those melodies that sort of worms it’s way into your brain sideways and lurks just under the surface, surfacing every now and then to remind you, “this is a kick-ass song.”

It does have a great guitar melody, and better than average lyrics as well. Despite the metaphors, the song’s meaning is fairly easy to discern, most likely about someone who has been burned by a fickle partner. Plus, it’s a fun rocking song. There’s not much going wrong with this one.

Here’s a link to the video

And of course, the lyrics:

Got a set of wings that I couldn’t use
Bought them in a store on the avenue
Didn’t mean to spend all the cash I had
The second that I saw them, I wanted them bad

Climbed up the mountain, observed the view
But angel wouldn’t say what I had to do
Then angel flew away and left me standing there
I knew I couldn’t fly, but I didn’t care

—————-
Now playing: Cypress Hill - When the Shit Goes Down
via FoxyTunes

Could You Be The One? is a great pop song. A fairly simple chord progression, a simple vocal, a subject that pretty much anyone can sympathize with (the fear of falling in love), and it just plain sounds good. It’s a really nice, really catchy song, which sneaks in a nice melody under it’s veneer of punk.

Here’s a link to the video

And of course, the lyrics:

Could you be the one they talk about?
Hiding inside, behind another door?
Is it only happiness you want?
Does wanting a feeling matter any more?

Don’t even know what I’m hiding for
Don’t even know what I’m crying for
Don’t even know, could you be the only
Broken hearted one

—————-
Now playing: Atari Teenage Riot - No Success
via FoxyTunes

This Charming Man is a high energy, terribly catchy pop song, with some of Morrissey’s best vocals. It’s a great pop song, with a great beat and fun to dance to, not to mention the great sound of Johnny Marr’s guitars. From Wikipedia:

I’ll try any trick. With the Smiths, I’d take this really loud Telecaster of mine, lay it on top of a Fender Twin Reverb with the vibrato on, and tune it to an open chord. Then I’d drop a knife with a metal handle on it, hitting random strings. I used it on “This Charming Man”, buried beneath about 15 tracks of guitar … [it] was the first record where I used those highlife-sounding runs in 3rds. I’m tuned up to F# and I finger it in G, so it comes out in A. There are about 15 tracks of guitar. People thought the main guitar part was a Rickenbacker, but it’s really a ‘54 Tele. There are three tracks of acoustic, a backwards guitar with a really long reverb, and the effect of dropping knives on the guitar – that comes in at the end of the chorus.

It’s also a great song about–well, love, or at the very least the feeling of being overwhelmed by emotion.

Feeling detached from and unable to relate to the early 1980s mainstream gay culture, Morrissey wrote “This Charming Man” to evoke an older, more coded and self-aware underground scene. The singer explained of the song’s lyrics, “I really like the idea of the male voice being quite vulnerable, of it being taken and slightly manipulated, rather than there being always this heavy machismo thing that just bores everybody.”

The song itself is about an encounter between a young man whose bicycle has broken down, and the handsome stranger who picks him up and seeminglyl seduces him. The lyrics are provocative, heartfelt and just very nicely written.

Here’s a link to the video

And of course, the lyrics:

A punctured bicycle
On a hillside desolate
Will nature make a man of me yet?

A jumped up pantry boy
Who never knew his place
He said “return the ring”
He knows so much about these things
He knows so much about these things
He knows so much about these things