Thursday, September 19, 2013

Throwback Thursday: Covering Wes Welker and the "Polo Bowl"

Throwback Thursday Time! I covered the "Polo Bowl" (Casady vs. Heritage Hall) a few times back in the 90s for The Oklahoman. Graham Colton, now a singer-songwriter, was Heritage Hall's quarterback. And look at the pic. That's a very young Wes Welker, now an NFL star with the Broncos. He looks like he's 12 in that shot.
at No comments:

Fast Four on iOS 7

Four sentences about iOS 7


I like the new design and don't get all the angst about the new color scheme. 


The new notifications and control center offer a lot of powerful features that help me get more info from my phone without having to bury my face in it for too long. 


Some of those features straddle the line of junking up the phone's interface. 


I am concerned about battery life with iOS 7.



at No comments:

Friday, March 29, 2013

Friday Five: Alt Edge Women


After my last blog failed to bring meaningful sunshine to my home in the Hoosier State (it snowed often last week while I was traveling in Ohio and then snowed nine inches here in Indy on Monday), I missed a Friday.

But, the Friday Five (which is sometimes posted early Saturday morning) will soldier on.

Friday Five Category: Women Of The Alternative Edge

 I worked for an Oklahoma City Christian Top-40/Rock radio station back in the 90s called 91 FM. At night, we played Christian Alternative Rock as the Alternative Edge. I thought it would be good to feature some of the ladies from that era. This is by no means a comprehensive list. I can think of a bunch of artists and girl fronted-bands I'll leave out, but it's the Friday Five not the Friday 36.

1. Miss Angie - Hands (1997)

I could pick many songs of Angie Turner's first album for this list. The album was pretty hard, aggressive for the time, some described it as "retro-eclectic." I'm not sure the music style was her fave, though. But, the worshipful tone of the lyrics was undeniable.

LYRIC SNAPSHOT: 



It's a mess!
It's a mess!
Some say my brain's a mess
For laying down my life for the One
They say is crazy

I lift my eyes up
I lift my eyes up
I lift my eyes up
You feel so real
You feel so real

LISTEN: http://youtu.be/VyH3zQcxZsM




2. Viva Voce - Fear Of Flying (1998)


Viva Voce was only on the Christian scene for a short time, but this album (and their version of "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen") made quite an impact for the short lived Cadence Records label. This band is still around, based out of Portland. They've gone in a more indie, mainstream direction, however.

LYRIC SNAPSHOT: 

You sounded perfect like an angel
You sounded perfect on a stage
You looked so perfect, just a picture
You'd look so perfect in a frame

Turn my world around
Turn it around

You're just afraid to fly, anyway
You're still afraid to try


3. Broomtree - Flower In The Mud (1997)

From Rustproof Records, Broomtree was a pop-ish, alt-rock band. Hailing from Ohio, they put out a couple of albums and sort of faded into obscurity. There's been talk of a reunion and new music, but I haven't seen much lately.

LYRICS SNAPSHOT: 

Everytime You're near me I feel a peace inside me
Your loving hand to guide me
Your peaceful way to show me



4. Dakoda Motor Company- Sondancer (1993)


Many compared Broomtree to this mid-90s band. Great lyrics, great song.

LYRICS SNAPSHOT: 


Rain comes down on everyone
Sondancer's eyes are on the Son
Someone's eyes are set on the pain
The Son will bring You through the rain



5. Plumb - Concrete (1997)

We know "Plumb" (aka Tiffany Arbuckle) as a singer, but back in the early days "Plumb" was the name of a band. Her "band" days were really good with songs becoming popular on both the Christian Top-40 and Rock charts. She changed her style a bit in the 2000s (even releasing a song or two targeted towards mainstream audiences).

By the way, the guy singing background vocals during the chorus is Dan Haseltine from Jars of Clay.

LYRICS SNAPSHOT:

Do you feel all alone
Faith has alway kept you strong
If you could see my fear
Should I believe or should I doubt

BUY: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/damaged/id309227479?i=309227506

HONORABLE MENTION:
Fleming and John -- Not Afraid
Sixpence None The Richer -- Love, Salvation and the Fear of Death

at No comments:
Labels:

Friday, March 15, 2013

Friday Five: We Bring The Sunshine


It's been a long winter. It takes awhile for an Oklahoma boy to get used to a Hoosier winter. Sure, Kansas wasn't tropical (I nicknamed the state Kansarctica) and Kansas City got a couple of massive storms after we moved to Indy.
But the constant winter weather up here wears on you. It snows in some or fashion every week. It's also thrown my running schedule out the window and I've had to run on treadmills (not a fan).

So, let's think about spring, summer and sunshine.

Friday Five Category: Songs With The Words Spring, Sun or Sunshine

1. Between Thieves - Spring (1998)

This is off the band's second album (as Between Thieves, they were called Judah before). This album wasn't quite as good as their first BT disc, but it was still a fave of mine when I was a DJ at 91FM in OKC.

LYRIC SNAPSHOT: 

I fall into the spring that heals the wounds
Quench the thirst with heavenly glory
Feel the water rushing over me
Reveal the scars that tell the story
2. Colbie Caillat - Brighter Than The Sun (2006)

This was quite the departure from the ballads I played from Ms.Caillat on the radio in the past. It's just a feel good, catchy song that makes you smile.

LYRIC SNAPSHOT: 

Ooooh this is how it starts
Lightning strikes the heart
It goes off like a gun
Brighter than the sun
Ooooh we could be the stars
Fallin' from the sky
Shining how we want
Brighter than the sun


3. Smash Mouth - Walking On the Sun (1997)
At KISS-FM in Oklahoma City, we had a version of this song (on cart no less) with clips saying how hot it is (some from local station KOCO-TV 5).

They had witty lyrics, but I never really figured out what they were singing about, except for some lines about hippies in the 60s. Oh well, it's a great song to turn up.

LYRICS SNAPSHOT: 


So don't delay act now supplies are running out
Allow if you're still alive six to eight years to arrive
And if you follow there may be a tomorrow
But if the offer's shunned you might as well be walkin' on the sun



4. Donovan - Sunshine Superman (1966)

Speaking of the 60s, let's check out a psychedelic pop song with an awesome bass line from Spike Heatley (which would later be sampled in Imani Coppola's "Legend of a Cowgirl" in 1997).

Ironically, sunshine isn't even in the chorus. Oh well . . . dude! :-)

LYRICS SNAPSHOT: 

Sunshine came softly through my a-window today
Could've tripped out easy a-but I've a-changed my ways
It'll take time, I know it but in a while
You're gonna be mine, I know it, we'll do it in style
'Cause I made my mind up you're going to be mine

I also love this line.
Superman or Green Lantern ain't got a-nothin' on me


5. The Almost - Southern Weather (2007)

It's warmer in the south, right? That brings us to an awesome song (from an awesome album) by Christian Rock band The Almost. This song isn't as good as "Say This Sooner" but I love the main riff.

LYRICS SNAPSHOT:

Blame it on this southern weather
Blame it on anything
It's not like you to ask small favors
You can blame me for everything

BUY: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/southern-weather/id378112181

 HONORABLE MENTION: Len - Steal My Sunshine (1999)
No stealing here. I'm a law-abiding citizen.

at No comments:
Labels:

Friday, March 08, 2013

Friday Five: What Do Lesley Gore and Lecrae Have In Common?

Is Joel actually blogging? Whaa?
Yup. I'm going to start a feature where I touch on five things every Friday. Most likely, they will be songs, but who knows? Maybe, I'll discuss five important aspects of the "city of license" requirement with the FCC. Or maybe five reasons why the baseball team in Oklahoma City should be called the 89ers and not the Redhawks?
We'll see how it goes.

Friday Five Category: Songs

1. Lesley Gore - Maybe I Know (1964)
Little known fact: My dad loves Lesley Gore from back in his youth. No kidding. I can't blame him. She was cute and this is sugary sweet pop from a great time in top-40 music.
While "It's My Party" is a tad whiny, this song is catchy and of course, deals with the angst of teenage boy/girl angst.
By the way, she should dump him.

LYRIC SNAPSHOT: 
I hear them whispering when I walk by
He's gonna break her heart and make her cry
I know it's me they're talking about
I bet they all think I'll never find out



2. Lecrae f/Trip Lee- Jesus Muzik (2006)


Switching gears, we catch up with the first song I ever heard from Christian hip-hop artist, Lecrae. At the time it came out, this song was really fresh. It sounds dated now, compared to his newer stuff and I think that shows how he's grown as an artist.
LYRIC SNAPSHOT: 
We don't wanna hear about dimes and dope (nope) 
We don't wanna hear about nines and smoke 
We don't wanna hear about movin packs and foolish cats 
Who lie and boast 
We do wanna hear about Christ the king 
Do wanna hear how lives is changed 
We do wanna hear how God is pleased 
And theology of the Bible mayn 
(Ironically, I used to think he didn't want to hear about moving "picks," a basketball term. Maybe, he refs AAU games on the side?)


3. Poor Old Lu - Ring True (1994)
This song came to mind after being stuck in Chicago traffic yesterday. This song came on my iPhone and I sat in my rental car, "singing" this song at the top of my lungs. Great lyrics, just a great 90s alt rock song. The lyrics in the snapshot are words that sometimes define my life.
LYRICS SNAPSHOT: 
My strength is dead
I hope instead
In what will be
In what we'll see

My strength is dead
I hope instead
On every word He's said


4. Fun. - Some Nights (2012)
When I first I heard this song on the radio, I was confused. This song was stylistically different from everything else on top-40 radio at the time. It seemed out of place at first. But I warmed up to the song. Besides the incredibly catchy tune, the lyrics are amazing. They probably weren't written for this reason, but this song challenges me in growing my faith every time. What do I stand for? Add in the snippet about the protagonist's sister and a supposed deadbeat dad (if you interpret it that way), it's rich in thought provoking lyrics.
By the way, I did not like "We Are Young."

LYRICS SNAPSHOT: 
Well, some nights I wish that this all would end
'Cause I could use some friends for a change.
And some nights I'm scared you'll forget me again
Some nights I always win, I always win...


5. Nicki Minaj - Starships (2012)
Normally, I despise Nicki Minaj's antics. Most of her songs annoy me. However, I am sucker for well-done dance pop songs. The bridge is usually cranked up loud in my Saturn Ion. Too bad, the bridge is actually explicit. Thank goodness for radio edits.
So, props to RedOne, Yacoub and Falk for producing an incredibly catchy song.

LYRICS SNAPSHOT:
Nothing to see here.

at No comments:
Labels:
Location: Lafayette, IN, USA
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)