All I Do Is Win is an incredible hype song. I once saw the Ducks walk out onto the field at Autzen Stadium while that was playing, and it was electric.
Aug 8Liked by Kevin Alexander, Christopher Bradley
I love this idea, and love both of your 5 selections and stories!!
Kevin- I recently wrote about This Must Be the Place and links it under one of your comments above lol! And love Blue Monday! It made me go check to be sure it was Bizarre Love Triangle that was used in the movie Married to the Mob - I believe it was a scene of clips of the FBI guy (Matthew Modine) in different disguises and coming in doors. I’m going to have to scour YouTube to see if I can find it! So, for those reasons, I’m going to have to say Bizarre Love Triangle is my #1! It’s definitely a song I would like to be playing when I enter a place.
#2 would be Teenage Dirtbag by Wheetus. A couple of months ago, I saw Wheetus was going to be playing at a small venue here, and was talking with my friends about it one night at the brewery. They weren’t as excited as I was. But, I LOVE the song! I was super excited- even though I knew nothing from the rest of their catalog (aside from an Erasure cover that was on the same album). A couple of weeks later, I was vending outside at an event at the brewery, and one of my friends was DJing from inside. The second I heard the song start - I RAN into the building, so I could dance and sing loudly in my appreciation for him playing the song! I would love this song to be played every time I walk into a place. Side note: it was last night Wheetus was here, and I didn’t go. It was solo and acoustic. If money wouldn’t have been an issue, and if I could have found just one friend to go with me, I would have been there!
I’m going to have to come back in a bit with my #3-5
BLT was definitely in Mrried to the Mob. I still have the CD somewhere, I think?? I can’t remember all the tracks, but w/o looking, I seem to remember it being full of artists we like. I think Sinead O’Connor’s “Jump in the River” is on there… maybe the Tom Tom Club, tpo?
I just checked the soundtrack listing on IMDb - some great stuff!! And so hilarious because just a few days ago, a friend sent me a clip from the movie Clerks where Jay is dancing to a song, wanting to know what the song was - immediately I knew it was the song from Silence of the Lambs: Goodbye Horses by Q Lazarus- literally the next day, a different friend posted a meme that had a picture of Buffalo Bill from the start of that scene - so I had to post a link to the song, which is on this soundtrack as well!! So, I’ve encountered that song a ton in the past week! LOL
#3 Youth by Daughter. An association of actually walking into a place and hearing one of my favorite songs of that time. I had become completely obsessed with Daughter! Youth was one of my top favorites. A friend had booked a singer who had won one of the singing competition shows (a lot of the details are escaping me - I don’t remember her name - maybe Joey?? She had an incredible voice and was a bit weird)… anyway, when I walked into the show she was just starting a cover of Youth, so of course I screamed with glee!! After she finished, she asked if anyone knew the song, and I think I was the only one to raise my hand.
#4 Seether by Veruca Salt (to get back to more of a commanding entrance type of song). I love Veruca Salt and love the energy of this song! I just listened to American Thighs last week because a friend had played Volcano Girls on touchtunes at a brewery - which isn’t on American Thighs, but it reminded me how perfect American Thighs is. Also, yesterday, when I was at a brewery and talking about Wheetus and Teenage Dirtbag (lamenting about not going and instead signing up to spin a vinyl set there that night) the bartended wasn’t familiar with Teenage Dirtbag, and since they had just opened and there were just a couple of people there, she played Teenage Dirtbag, and Seether came on next and she got excited, so left it play - even though the brewery is associated with metal and plays exclusively metal (aside from vinyl nights on Wednesdays or yacht rock one Sunday a month).
My mind immediately went to Moment of Weakness by Bif Naked. No idea why. I’ve been trying to come up with a better one, more “on-task” ever since! I mean there’s so many good ones. But, I think my mind settled on Bif Naked. Probably because I was still obsessively listening to Veruca Salt’s American Thighs four years later when Bif Naked came out with this one…
Ran across the name of the girl that sang the cover of Youth (an advertisement for the show was in my Facebook memories today!) Her name was Joey Cook, and got 7th place on American Idol 14th season.
Nice maiden voyage, Chris.....and, great list o' songs, Kevin! The first "when you walk in the room" song I thought of was "When You Walk in the Room" by Jackie DeShannon in 1963 (I was 8, you whippersnappers)! Covers abound (well over 100), and it's a song that so perfectly lends itself to a Spector-ish arrangement and production (and many have, including Dick Glasser on Jackie's original!), as well as dusting off an army of Rickenbackers and given a gorgeous power pop run-through (as many have)!
That'll do.....looks like I unwittingly devolved into an "Inside Tracks," Chris'n'Kevin, rather than a Top 5! Oh well, Top 5 next week, Chris, and Kevin, thanks for setting a fine template for Chris's new lane!
Aug 9Liked by Kevin Alexander, Christopher Bradley
I love this idea because each of your lists are, to say the least, eclectic. Not the run-of-the-mill list of favorite songs of all time or songs you want on a desert island. I am going to have to think about this. I'll be back.
Aug 11Liked by Kevin Alexander, Christopher Bradley
I'm back.
I started out thinking of songs that bang from the top. But then I though "Wait a minute, I am walking into a room not a stadium." So I switched to songs that catch your ear in the first four bars, but don't blow your head off. When I play the following songs in my head, I can picture them starting exactly when the door swings open, then walking into the room with the song in control of my strut.
Jumpin' Jack Flash (Stones, 1968)
Spirit in the Sky (Norman Greenbaum, 1969)
Use Me (Bill Withers, 1972)
Psycho Killer (Talking Heads, 1977)
Beautiful Day (U2, 2000)
"Use Me", in particular, is a great room entry song. It loosens me up and gives my the funk.
Thank you again for having me here!
… and for tolerating me in the fantasy league. Lol. Sure is a lot of fun,though! 😀
I talked about This Must be the Place in my last newsletter lol https://open.substack.com/pub/kristinwritesmuch/p/letting-the-days-go-by?r=1iil3&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
All I Do Is Win is an incredible hype song. I once saw the Ducks walk out onto the field at Autzen Stadium while that was playing, and it was electric.
I do like a good entry.....
My War - Black Flag
The Way I Walk - The Cramps
Alright - Red Aunts
Wild About You - The Saints
Death Valley 69 - Sonic Youth
this one is a winner
I love this idea, and love both of your 5 selections and stories!!
Kevin- I recently wrote about This Must Be the Place and links it under one of your comments above lol! And love Blue Monday! It made me go check to be sure it was Bizarre Love Triangle that was used in the movie Married to the Mob - I believe it was a scene of clips of the FBI guy (Matthew Modine) in different disguises and coming in doors. I’m going to have to scour YouTube to see if I can find it! So, for those reasons, I’m going to have to say Bizarre Love Triangle is my #1! It’s definitely a song I would like to be playing when I enter a place.
#2 would be Teenage Dirtbag by Wheetus. A couple of months ago, I saw Wheetus was going to be playing at a small venue here, and was talking with my friends about it one night at the brewery. They weren’t as excited as I was. But, I LOVE the song! I was super excited- even though I knew nothing from the rest of their catalog (aside from an Erasure cover that was on the same album). A couple of weeks later, I was vending outside at an event at the brewery, and one of my friends was DJing from inside. The second I heard the song start - I RAN into the building, so I could dance and sing loudly in my appreciation for him playing the song! I would love this song to be played every time I walk into a place. Side note: it was last night Wheetus was here, and I didn’t go. It was solo and acoustic. If money wouldn’t have been an issue, and if I could have found just one friend to go with me, I would have been there!
I’m going to have to come back in a bit with my #3-5
BLT was definitely in Mrried to the Mob. I still have the CD somewhere, I think?? I can’t remember all the tracks, but w/o looking, I seem to remember it being full of artists we like. I think Sinead O’Connor’s “Jump in the River” is on there… maybe the Tom Tom Club, tpo?
Brb. Off to Google. Lol.
Yes!! I had forgotten about Jump in the River! I’m sure I either have the soundtrack on cassette, or had it on vinyl at some point!
I just checked the soundtrack listing on IMDb - some great stuff!! And so hilarious because just a few days ago, a friend sent me a clip from the movie Clerks where Jay is dancing to a song, wanting to know what the song was - immediately I knew it was the song from Silence of the Lambs: Goodbye Horses by Q Lazarus- literally the next day, a different friend posted a meme that had a picture of Buffalo Bill from the start of that scene - so I had to post a link to the song, which is on this soundtrack as well!! So, I’ve encountered that song a ton in the past week! LOL
Only five?
1. Bad Company - Bad Company
2. I am Evil - Diamond Head
3. English Civil War - The Clash
4. Swords and Tequila - Riot
5. Not Fragile - BTO
Punk Version
1. I want to Conquer the World - Bad Religion
2. Society - Pennywise
3. Bigger than Kiss - Teenage Bottle Rockets
4. Don't Drag me Down - Social Distortions
5. Your a better man than I - Sham 69
This is delightful! If I were going to make a top five along these lines...lightning round:
AC/DC - Back In Black (power chords, obvs)
Grace Jones - Use Me (Bill Withers + Sly & Robbie x Grace = rhythmic perfection!)
Public Enemy - Black Steel In the Hour Of Chaos (killer Isaac Hayes sample...and Chuck D!)
Led Zeppelin - Kashmir (move through the door in a sandstorm of your own imagination)
Steely Dan - Black Cow (put a glide in your stride and a dip in your hip...)
The live RATM cover of Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos is excellent too!
These are awesome, Jeremy!
Use Me! Great call but I prefer the original Bill Withers version.
Man this is tough but fun to complicate! Going through my Top Ten lists, these are the songs I think I'd most like to have played when I enter:
Don't Rain on My Parade - Barbra Streisand
Top of the World- Carpenters
Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' - Michael Jackson
Come Fly With Me - Michael Buble
The Man - The Killers
These are probably attitudes I'd like to have and project or just cool beats I'd love to hear when I enter someplace!
Love this list with one caveat--Come Fly With Me has gotta be the Frank Sinatra version!
Well, I’ve never been a Sinatra fan but I do love interpretations of some of his work.
Love this list!
I love it!
#3 Youth by Daughter. An association of actually walking into a place and hearing one of my favorite songs of that time. I had become completely obsessed with Daughter! Youth was one of my top favorites. A friend had booked a singer who had won one of the singing competition shows (a lot of the details are escaping me - I don’t remember her name - maybe Joey?? She had an incredible voice and was a bit weird)… anyway, when I walked into the show she was just starting a cover of Youth, so of course I screamed with glee!! After she finished, she asked if anyone knew the song, and I think I was the only one to raise my hand.
#4 Seether by Veruca Salt (to get back to more of a commanding entrance type of song). I love Veruca Salt and love the energy of this song! I just listened to American Thighs last week because a friend had played Volcano Girls on touchtunes at a brewery - which isn’t on American Thighs, but it reminded me how perfect American Thighs is. Also, yesterday, when I was at a brewery and talking about Wheetus and Teenage Dirtbag (lamenting about not going and instead signing up to spin a vinyl set there that night) the bartended wasn’t familiar with Teenage Dirtbag, and since they had just opened and there were just a couple of people there, she played Teenage Dirtbag, and Seether came on next and she got excited, so left it play - even though the brewery is associated with metal and plays exclusively metal (aside from vinyl nights on Wednesdays or yacht rock one Sunday a month).
Still thinking about #5 hahaha
I think you broke me. 🤣🤣🤣
My mind immediately went to Moment of Weakness by Bif Naked. No idea why. I’ve been trying to come up with a better one, more “on-task” ever since! I mean there’s so many good ones. But, I think my mind settled on Bif Naked. Probably because I was still obsessively listening to Veruca Salt’s American Thighs four years later when Bif Naked came out with this one…
Ran across the name of the girl that sang the cover of Youth (an advertisement for the show was in my Facebook memories today!) Her name was Joey Cook, and got 7th place on American Idol 14th season.
Nice maiden voyage, Chris.....and, great list o' songs, Kevin! The first "when you walk in the room" song I thought of was "When You Walk in the Room" by Jackie DeShannon in 1963 (I was 8, you whippersnappers)! Covers abound (well over 100), and it's a song that so perfectly lends itself to a Spector-ish arrangement and production (and many have, including Dick Glasser on Jackie's original!), as well as dusting off an army of Rickenbackers and given a gorgeous power pop run-through (as many have)!
Here's Jackie lip-synching (and botching her intro, but recovering nicely) on TV's "Hollywood a Go Go" in the '60s: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVCBSIn_1j0
The Searchers in '64, with the quintessential power pop template to follow: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcVc4HU-eGk
The great Paul Carrack marries both approaches in '87 (he includes a majestic modulation that few have thought of!): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4IgTVRQhCI
That'll do.....looks like I unwittingly devolved into an "Inside Tracks," Chris'n'Kevin, rather than a Top 5! Oh well, Top 5 next week, Chris, and Kevin, thanks for setting a fine template for Chris's new lane!
Great stuff, dudes. This was super fun.
Double points to Kevin for the Hemingway reference hidden in the Cars section.
I was hoping someone would see that!
I was asked this on a podcast a while back and the 2 I settled on were Ben Folds - Always Someone Cooler Than You and of course Beyonces Single Ladies
Oingo Boingo: Just Another Day
Ride of the Valkyries: Richard Wagner
Eminence Front: Who
Crazy: Seal
Synchronicity II: The Police
Excellent theme! Might need to make an entire playlist based on this.
Here are my picks.
#1 Peaches - Boys Wanna Be Her
#2 Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Let The Day Begin
#3 Jimi Hendrix - Gypsy Eyes
#4 No Doubt - Hella Good
#5 David Bowie - Let's Dance
Great list! I used to have a roommate that would sing "Hella Good" a lot. He was not...good at all. lol.
I love this idea because each of your lists are, to say the least, eclectic. Not the run-of-the-mill list of favorite songs of all time or songs you want on a desert island. I am going to have to think about this. I'll be back.
I'm back.
I started out thinking of songs that bang from the top. But then I though "Wait a minute, I am walking into a room not a stadium." So I switched to songs that catch your ear in the first four bars, but don't blow your head off. When I play the following songs in my head, I can picture them starting exactly when the door swings open, then walking into the room with the song in control of my strut.
Jumpin' Jack Flash (Stones, 1968)
Spirit in the Sky (Norman Greenbaum, 1969)
Use Me (Bill Withers, 1972)
Psycho Killer (Talking Heads, 1977)
Beautiful Day (U2, 2000)
"Use Me", in particular, is a great room entry song. It loosens me up and gives my the funk.
Spirit in the Sky is a song I want played at my funeral--which will be both an exit and entrance of sorts, I suppose.
What a cool idea! My picks:
"Five O'Clock World" by The Vogues
"Fortunate Son" by Creedence Clearwater Revival
"Born with a Tail" by Supersuckers
"Who Was in My Room Last Night?" by Butthole Surfers
"Highway Star" by Deep Purple
Born with a Tail! Hell yeah.
Hello Again is a great choice!