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B-Movie is a really cool sounding song from the Get Happy! album, punctuated by some excellent bass work by Bruce Thomas. The song seems to be about a short-term affair that gets a little more serious than the singer intended, as he develops feelings for the girl.

Here’s a link to a fan video

And of course, the lyrics:

I found America hiding in the corner of my wallet
It’s a well kept secret, thought that I had better swallow it
Before they make me spit out the truth
Before they find you’re lying about your youth

Turn out the lights
I’m thinking that I want to go to sleep now
Just give me a promise that I’m supposed to keep now
I don’t want some fool asking me why
When I find you’re finally making me cry

For those of you that think that rap music is all about thugs, drugs and violence, I’d like to present Heavy D and the Boyz to you. Positive, upbeat, funky, and just plain fun, both visually and verbally (Heavy D is one of the smoothest, most articulate rappers out there, not to mention that the group were very good dancers as well), they really just kept it all upbeat and fun.

Here’s a link to the video

And of course, the lyrics:

Everybody, shake your body, we don’t ill, we chill at party
Keep a groove that’s sensual, three-dimensional, unquestionable
The lover is professional
Got a category, my own and I’m the president
With my particular style, particular, extracurricular, smoother and
trickier
Throwing on lyrics like you throw up a flapjack
You’re a Chicen McNugget and I’m a Big Mac
Brainstorm soloist, have a Coca-colaist, doing very well
Because it took the right road to this
Path, make the undertake, the recordbreaker
Get up on the floor and do the Heavy D shake
Started with a pow and I’m going to end with a bang
We’ve got our own thang
Picture the set, girlies wet with sweat
In the corner people sitting down
They’ve had as much as they could possibly get
Here while I’m lamping
Feeling like a champ and push up on a cutie
Phone digits I’m stamping
The place was packed though, stuffed like an Oreo
Everybody broke for a Heavy D video
Pumping in stereo, people said, “Here we go,”
A cutie down in front said, “Heavy you’re my hero”
Understand this, before you make a comment
Because there’s always a meaning in a Heavy D statement
In this life, I strive for improvement
Be your own guide, follow your own movement
Loving is a legend
Me, I’m legendary at it
Living on the mike makes me a rapping acrobat
Don’t try to swing, because you couldn’t even hang
We’ve got our own thang
We’ve got our own thang
Original, smooth criminal, dance a lot, dance a little, shuffle to the
middle
Don’t clock anybody, let them all clock you
Don’t be down with anybody, let them all be down with you
Stay self-managed, self-kept, self-taught
Be your own man, don’t be borrowed, don’t be bought
Started with a pow and I’m going to end it with a bang
We’ve got our own thang
We’ve got our own thang

Strawberry Letter 23 is a cool, funky song that I’ve always loved, even back in the days when I completely despised anything R&B. It’s got a great guitar solo, some really funky bass playing, and some awesome lyrics. From Wikipedia:

“Strawberry Letter 23″ is a song written by Shuggie Otis, although known most prominently by the version done by The Brothers Johnson. Otis wrote the song for a girlfriend, who used strawberry-scented paper in letters to him. George Johnson of The Brothers Johnson was dating one of Otis’ cousins when he came across Freedom Flight, Otis’ 1972 album that featured the song. The group would later record it for their 1977 album Right On Time, under legendary producer Quincy Jones. The album would go platinum. “Strawberry Letter 23″, as recorded by The Brothers Johnson, in a funkier, more dance oriented vein than the original Otis version, hit the Hot 100 #5 and R&B #1 in 1977. The famous solo in this song was originally recorded by Shuggie Otis. Studio guitar player Lee Ritenour later recreated Shuggie Otis original solo for the Brothers Johnson 1977 album.

The song’s title appears to be a misnomer, the actual lyrics reading in part: “…a present from you, Strawberry Letter 22.” This however is not true. Otis wrote it for his girlfriend, who liked to send him letters written on strawberry scented paper. The song describes the feelings evoked by “Strawberry Letter 22,” the title indicating the hopes of another letter. Another explanation is that the song is a reply to strawberry letter 22 and the title refers to the song being like a “strawberry letter 23″

The Brothers Johnson version of the song featured prominently in the penultimate “Ecotone” episode of the HBO series Six Feet Under when main character Nate Fisher and his brother David experienced a shared dream which included their deceased father.

It was used in Quentin Tarantino’s Jackie Brown. It was featured in the second episode of the third season of Nip/Tuck. It was also included in the Collector’s Edition of the Pulp Fiction soundtrack. It was also featured in a commercial for Special K Red Berries breakfast cereal. In addition, the song’s melody was sampled for the verses on Beyoncé’s “Be With You” from her 2003 debut solo album, Dangerously In Love .

Here’s a link to a fan video

And of course, the lyrics:

Hello, my love
I heard a kiss from you
Red magic satin playing near, too

Ooh…ooh…ooh…ooh…ooh…

Someone Else’s Bell is just another in a long line of great songs by Squeeze. A sad tale of a couple who are cheating on one another, it’s got a nice mid-60’s R&B sound and sounds really good. There’s really not a whole lot else to say about the song, except that it’s extremely well-crafted.

And of course, the lyrics:

We talk about each other
On our wrap around couch,
And live out all the romance
In our little town house.
I never fit the shower
And she never sews the threads,
And so we find our feelings
In other people’s beds.

Our eyes don’t seem to contact
Never much to say,
Except perhaps excuse me
Or pass me the ashtray.
I see him waiting for you
As you go off to work,
I’m left to draw conclusions
While I button up my shirt.

When I first heard Talking Heads’ Moon Rocks, I thought it would be a huge hit song, but apparently not. It wasn’t even included in Stop Making Sense–not that I’m complaining, but it would have been cool, because this song just has a great beat and it’s easy to dance to.

What’s it about? I really don’t know. It could be about taking drugs and hallucinating (I ate a rock from the moon) or about a crackpot inventor (You might think I’m wasting time) or even a wild revivalist preaching. It’s very hard to say–please feel free to offer your own interpretations.

And of course, the lyrics:

Flying saucers, levitation
Yo! I could do that
Get ready, for heavy duty
Go on, give it a chance
Give it a chance, give it a chance
I saw your hair start to curl
So get up, write it down
You better wait for a while

I don’t mind - let me go
Sounds inside - I don’t know
Let me be - why not stay
I feel numb - let me play

I totally love this song. Completely and utterly. It is the one song guaranteed to get me up and shaking my butt, dancing around the room like a spastic maniac. I love the drums, the backing vocals, the video–it’s all good.

I found some historical information on Wikipedia:

“He Was Really Sayin’ Somethin’ is a soul song written by Motown Records songwriters Norman Whitfield, William “Mickey” Stevenson, and Edward Holland, Jr. in 1964 (see 1964 in music), notable in both a 1964 version by American Motown girl group The Velvelettes, and a 1982 hit version (with the title altered to “Really Saying Something”) by British girl group Bananarama.

There’s more there, but I thought that was interesting.

Here’s a link to the video

And of course, the lyrics:

Hey yeah yeah

(chorus ad lib)

I personally don’t think Louis Jordan has ever gotten the respect he deserves for pretty much pioneering rock and roll. Yes, I know he’s in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Still, it seems his name never comes up when discussing the pioneers of rock and roll. I like Chuck Berry and Little Richard and Bill Haley and Carl Perkins and Buddy Holly and all the others, but Louis did so much before them. You can read more about his accomplishments here.

You’re My Meat is fairly typical of the sort of recordings Jordan used to put out. Usually comic in tone, but rarely mean-spirited, and just plain fun.

And of course, the lyrics:

Outside in and inside out you’re my meat
Fat and forty but lordy you’re my meat
From your feet to your head you knock me dead, you’re my meat
I got you covered but baby, you’re my meat

Fat and forty but lordy lordy . . . you’re my meat

I wasn’t a huge fan of the “Madchester” sound, but I have to admit that there were some good tunes that came out of the movement, this being one of them.

This is a grooving tune that just gets under your skin, owing much to the UK’s (highly warranted) fascination with 1960’s R&B music. It’s got a nice bass line; one of those songs you can just nod your head to and anyone else in hearing range will know why.

I’m not 100% sure what the song is about, although it sounds like a justification of a life of petty crime and poor behavior.

And of course, the lyrics:

Kiss me for old times sake Kiss me for making you wait Kiss me for old times sake Kiss me for making you wait Kiss me for screwing everything in site Kiss me for never getting it right Kiss me…..goodnight I’ve got to pick out whats in the pocket So I can leave these pockets clean I’ve got to pick out whats in the pocket So I can leave that pocket clean An’ I know that I will always want you But there’s not much that I can do Im sweet, will always have to do Rewind and give me a good clue An’ I know how your mind works Open your eyes and watch the roadworks Come on out It cant get much worse Sit right down Quench your big thirst Im tied down with stinkin thinkin Stinkin thinkin gets you nowhere Im weighed down with stinkin thinkin Stinkin thinkin comes from somewhere Is that really what you really what hey?

Would you like to see me living that way The living dead don’t get a holiday Open your eyes, see the real world Come on down, cant get much worse Come right down Quench your big thirst Lie right down drink your nightnurse Kiss me for old times sake Kiss me for making a big mistake Kiss me for always being late Kiss me for making you wait Kiss me for screwing everything in site Kiss me for getting it not right Kiss me…..goodnight Im tied down Im weighed down with stinking thinkin Stinkin thinkin gets me nowhere Im tied down with stinkin thinkin Stinkin thinkin comes from somewhere Steady job in a small town Guaranteed to bring me right down Guaranteed to take me nowhere Guaranteed to make me lose my hair

I first saw the video for this song in the mid-Eighties on MTV. Once more, and I rushed out to buy the 45.

There’s nothing deep about this one, just a doggoned good pop song. Very hummable, very listenable, and as far as I’m concerned, it still stands up well today.

Here’s a link to the video (love the spray painting of the boots)

And of course, the lyrics:

That’s what my heart yearns for now - love and pride.
That’s what my heart yearns for now - love and pride.

I’m taking it round the world - some love and pride.
That’s what my heart yearns for now - love and pride. . . .
That’s what my heart yeanis for now - love and pride. . . .

I like Joan Armatrading, but I wouldn’t call this her best song. However, it is one of her more infamous ones.

The fact of the matter is that at the time this was released (around 1986, if I recall correctly), there simply weren’t that many songs about S&M. Really. No fooling.

Anyway, it’s kind of a cute song, and a little bit of fun. It’s also my understanding that it’s fairly well known in the BDSM community.

I couldn’t find a link to the video (no great loss…it wasn’t anything special), but there is a video of Joan integrating Van Morrison’s Moondance into the song, which should be quite interesting.

And of course, the lyrics:

I just wanna see you at night
Don’t come round my house in the day
I love it when we start up a fight
And I love it when the fight ends your way
I love it when you call me names
I can’t wait to see you again
I know you’re gonna slap my face
you beat me up then beat me again
and over and over and over and over
And over and over
I love it when you call me names
Big woman
And a short short man
And he loves it
When she beats his brains out
He’s pecked to death
But he loves the pain
And he loves it
When she calls him names
She’s wearing heavy leather with lace
He dresses up in cowboy taste
They punish then they think up a crime
It’s their way of loving not mine
I love it when you call me names