Saturday, November 28, 2009

Song Stuck In My Head This Week - 28th November '09 - Rihanna - Stupid In Love

Born in 1988 and making her musical mark with 'Pon De Replay' in 2005, Rihanna has risen to become one of the biggest music artists around.

Over the last 12 months, however, the publicity surrounding the violence she suffered at the hands of her then boyfriend, Chris Brown, have over-shadowed her musical success. However this week saw the release of her new album 'Rated R' which I have found to be fantastically edgy and, as someone who's been through a similar situation to hers, seems to be an album performed by a young woman who is reclaiming her identity, self-belief and inner strength from everyone, whether it be her ex or the media or the public at large, and then showing them that it's hers again and no one else’s.

The song that stuck in my head most from this album was 'Stupid In Love'. Possibly because it touched a nerve with me from my own personal experiences, but also because I know from my experience how honest the song is about how it feels when you're in the middle of that kind of situation. Though she didn't have any lyrical input on this track, I know how hard it is to write about these things when you've been in the situation. To talk about it is easier than writing about it as the words you stay are said and gone but written on paper makes it seem 'real' and that kind of thing is something you'd rather pretend to yourself was just a bad dream that will go away. Also, though the lyrics are written in a way that means they can suit other relationship circumstances, as someone who has an idea of where she's 'been', I can see how the words will speak volumes to anyone who's been in an abusive relationship very loudly.

So here's the song for you. Catch you all next week!


Rihanna - Stupid In Love

Stupid in love
Oh
Stupid in love

Let me tell you something
Never have I ever
Been a size 10
In my whole life
I left the engine running
I just came to see
What you would do if I
Gave you a chance
To make things right

So I made it
Even though Katy
Told me this would be nothing
But a waste of time
And she was right

Dont understand it
Blood on your hands
And still you insist
On repeatedly trying
To tell me lies
And I just dont know why

This is stupid
Im not stupid
Dont talk to me
Like Im stupid
I still love you
But I just cant do this
I may be dumb but
Im not stupid

My new nickname
Is you idiot
(Such an idiot)
Thats what my friends
Are calling me when
They see me yelling
Into my
Phone

They tell me let go
He is not the one
I thought I saw your potential
Guess thats what made me dumb
He dont want it
Not like you want it
Scheming and cheating
Oh girl, why do you
Waste your time
You know he aint right

Telling me this
I dont wanna listen
But you insist
On repeatedly trying
To tell me lies
And I just dont know why

This is stupid
Im not stupid
Dont talk to me
Like Im stupid
I still love you
But I just cant do this
I may be dumb but
Im not stupid

Trying to make this work
But you act like a jerk
Silly of me to keep
Holding on
But the dunce cap is off
You dont know what you lost
And you wont realize
Till Im gone, gone, gone
That I was the one
Which one of us
Is really done

Ooh
No
No
No
Im not stupid in love

This is stupid
Im not stupid
Dont talk to me
Like Im stupid
I still love you
But I just cant do this
I may be dumb but
Im not stupid

I may be dumb but
Im not stupid
In love


Saturday, November 21, 2009

Song Stuck In My Head This Week - 21st November '09 - David Cassidy - Point Me In The Direction Of Albuquerque

David Cassidy is probably seen as totally cheesy and, in some cases, I'd agree. However, this song I've always loved a lot. It has such a nice storyline to it and you can imagine the images being described to you with such ease.

David Cassidy was first launched to fame on the tv show 'The Partridge Family' and the set-up was similar to the one on 'The Monkees' where they had songs on the show that were then released to chart success. They had some great songwriters working for them and therefore the songs certainly were, in my opinion, at the higher end of quality for that genre. They had fun pop songs that are infectious and you can't help but enjoy.

I hope you enjoy this week's little ditty!!

David Cassidy - Point Me In The Direction Of Albuquerque

Window walkin' downtown,
Feelin' mighty good
And I noticed from the corner
How all alone she stood
Underneath the lamplight, an angel in disguise
Lonely little runaway with teardrops in her eyes

Crazy little ragdoll,
Her hair was wild and tossed
And I put my arm around her,
'Cause I knew that she was lost
She didn't seem to notice that anyone was near
'Till suddenly she turned to me and whispered in my ear

Point me in the direction of Albuquerque
I want to go home, and help me get home
Point me in the direction of Albuquerque
I need to get home, need to get home

Showed me a ticket for a Greyhound bus,
Her head was lost in time
She didn't know who or where she was
"And anyone that helps me is a real good friend of mine"
Real good friend of mine

Point me in the direction of Albuquerque
And help me get home, help me get home

Walked her to the station
And kissed away the tears
Knowing I'd remember
Through all the coming years
Ragdoll on that Greyhound who waved with all her might
Weeped against the window as the bus rolled out of sight

Point me in the direction of Albuquerque
I want to go home, and help me get home
Point me in the direction of Albuquerque
I need to get home, need to get home

Point me in the direction of Albuquerque
I want to go home, and help me get home
Point me in the direction of Albuquerque
I need to get home, need to get home

Saturday, November 14, 2009

Song Stuck In My Head This Week - 14th November '09 - The Bee Gees - Massachusetts

When you say 'The Bee Gees' it almost inevitably will conger up thoughts of falsetto vocals and disco tunes performed by the three Gibb brothers, Robin, Barry and their late brother Maurice. You wouldn't be wrong in thinking about just that era as it was certainly one of the significant parts of their career, however their early music is always worth a listen.

Back in the late 60s they were actually a five-piece band with Vince Melouney on lead guitar and Colin Petersen on drums to help fill out the brothers sound (Barry played the rhythm guitar and Maurice played the bass in addition to backing up Robin who did the bulk of the vocals) and the band had a lot of early support from the Beatles manager, Brian Epstein.

This week's song was a track that Epstein had told Maurice Gibb would be a hit mere days before he (Epstein) died....and he wasn't wrong as it was their first UK number one single.

This song is beautiful and Robin's vocals are just great for this song. I hope you all enjoy it!!


The Bee Gees - Massachusetts

Feel I'm goin' back to Massachusetts,
Something's telling me I must go home.
And the lights all went down in Massachusetts
The day I left her standing on her own.

Tried to hitch a ride to San Francisco,
Gotta do the things I wanna do.
And the lights all went down in Massachusetts
They brought me back to see my way with you.

Talk about the life in Massachusetts,
Speak about the people I have seen,
And the lights all went down in Massachusetts
And Massachusetts is one place I have seen.

I will remember Massachusetts...

Saturday, November 7, 2009

Song Stuck In My Head This Week - 07th November '09 - Tim Curry - I'm Going Home

Musicals are, generally speaking, based on high quality songs (though I'm sure there's bound to be the odd musical that bucks this notion!!). One of my favourites is 'The Rocky Horror Picture Show'. With catchy songs like 'The Timewarp' that have stuck in people's heads for almost 35 years now, It has all the essentials of a good, traditional musical but with a contemporary setting that appeals to those who may not be so keen on other musicals.

I have always loved 'I'm Going Home' above all other songs from Rocky Horror as it's a song that can mean a lot in any context and not just within the setting of Rocky Horror. It's such a beautiful song and always reminds me of where I want to be and how much I miss it.

Hope you all enjoy it (especially those of you who may not have heard it before cos I'm sure Rocky Horror must've passed someone by out there in 'net land!)

Tim Curry - I'm Going Home

On the day I went away... goodbye...
Was all I had to say... now I...
I want to come again and stay... Oh my my...
Smile, and that will mean that I may

Cause I've seen blue skies, through the tears
In my eyes
And I realise.. I'm going home.

Everywhere it's been the same... feeling...
Like I'm outside in the rain... wheeling...
Free, to try and find a game... dealing...
Cards for sorrow, cards for pain

Cause I've seen blue skies through the tears
In my eyes
And I realise.. I'm going home.

I'm going home, I'm going home.