Yesterday was the last day of E Street Radio on Sirius. For months I’ve been sitting at my computer listening to Bruce – and only Bruce – all day. The best part of the station was that somehow the Springsteen Powers That Be decided it was okay for Sirius to play “fan-based recordings” which means bootlegs. This is remarkable in that the SPTB have always been very, very ANTI-bootleg. Guess they were more against the money being made from the bootlegs as opposed to the creative control aspect of bootlegs. Anyway, it was great listening for the last three months and I thank Bruce, Sirius and my dad for letting me tap into his account. It’s small consolation, but I found this today. Rock on!
Cordelia tagged me for a music meme, even though she says I don’t do memes. Not true exactly – I’m never tagged! Maybe like two or three times, which isn’t a lot considering the amount of these things floating around. And given that I’m sad about E-Street Radio going off the air, I thought I’d answer it:
List seven songs you are into right now. No matter what the genre, whether they have words, or even if they’re any good, but they must be songs you’re really enjoying now. Post these instructions in your blog along with your seven songs. Then tag seven other people to see what they’re listening to.
While we were away I got to listen to G’s mp3 player (he’s very anti-IPOD – don’t ask). I think his is from Creative. Anyway, I’ve been listening to what he’s got going on and I thought I’d share a few of the songs we both enjoy. I’ll leave out the Bruce – even though it’s on there. Well, maybe one Bruce, but he only sings back up.
1. Lovely Day. Bill Withers. I’m reprinting the lyrics because this song has saved my life many a time.
When I wake up in the morning, love
And the sunlight hurts my eyes
And something without warning, love
Bears heavy on my mindThen I look at you
And the world’s alright with me
Just one look at you
And I know it’s gonna be
A lovely day
… lovely day, lovely day, lovely day …When the day that lies ahead of me
Seems impossible to face
When someone else instead of me
Always seems to know the wayThen I look at you
And the world’s alright with me
Just one look at you
And I know it’s gonna be
A lovely day…..When the day that lies ahead of me
Seems impossible to face
When someone else instead of me
Always seems to know the wayThen I look at you
And the world’s alright with me
Just one look at you
And I know it’s gonna be
A lovely day…
2. Cry Love. John Hiatt. I love this song. I like to play it really loud with head phones on so it fills my head and my heart.
3. Ride Wit Me. Nelly. When Max was a baby we used to dance with him all the time to this song. He loved it. This and Pacific Coast Party. We used to laugh that a time would come when he would be too old (and therefore too young) for these lyrics. Sadly, that time is now.
3. Valentine. Nils Lofgren. (with Bruce Springsteen) I love the mix of Nils’s and Bruce’s voices on this. It’s a very nice song.
[TWO THREES? Can’t count for shit.]
4. Me and Julio Down By the Schoolyard. Paul Simon. This song has me jumping and dancing and whistling and when I saw S&G in concert a couple of winter’s ago I screamed Julio throughout the whole show. They didn’t play it.
5. Come and Get Your Love. Redbone. G’s also got the Real McCoy’s version – I like the original better.
6. New York Groove. Ace Frehley. C L A S S I C. ‘Nuff said.
7. This Woman’s Work. Kate Bush. This song always makes me cry. And think of Kevin Bacon. But that’s not necessarily why it makes me cry.
Fuck it. I’m going for TEN.
8. A Girl Like You. Edwyn Collins. G and I first heard this in Milan in Nov. ’96. Always makes me think of that trip. We thought it was David Bowie.
9. The Secret Garden. Quincy Jones. Featuring Al B. Sure, Barry White,
El DeBarge and James Ingram, this was one of our dating songs. You know, the ones I’d listen to late into the night on the days when we DIDN’T have a date. Do I need to spell it out for you?
10. Got to Give It Up. Thin Lizzy. Live Version. R.I.P. Phil Lynott.
Hey you. YES. YOU. Over there. Consider yourself tagged.
That’s an awesome song list, Cara. I don’t know the Bill Withers song but the lyrics are beautiful. And This Woman’s Work always makes me think of Kevin Bacon, too. And, just so you know, next meme I do, I’m tagging YOU!
Such a great list, Cara. And I completely agree that Nils and Bruce together are quite a pair. I saw them together at a Southside Johnny show a few years back. It was their 20th (or 25th) anniversary show at the Stone Pony. Completely awesome!
ok, Love the Kate Bush song, but seriously don’t get the Kevin Bacon connection. Seriously seriously. Maybe I just have to listen to it again to figure it out?
How can Carole NOT know the Bill Withers song? It will be in my head all day!
Damn you have Secret Garden, New York Groove and Me & Julio…know I get why I like you.
Your taste is impeccable.
That’s an AWESOME list, dude!
Ok, I’m going to have to check out the songs I’m not as familiar with because I LOVE some of the ones you listed. I’m a HUGE Bill Withers fan and Lovely Day is probably my favorite of his. And me and Paul Simon go WAY back! My friend actually named her cat “Julio” after that song, which I thought was awesome! I also had no idea the Springsteen channel on Sirius was only temporary – I get it on Dish Network. The Elvis channel is permanent, why shouldn’t the Bruce one be permanent?
Great list. I, too, think of Bacon with This Woman’s Work – Maxwell has a version of that song, but no one has that effect on you like Kate Bush.
Huge John Hiatt fans here! I love Cry Love. Funny, I was just thinking earlier today that I have to burn those cds to my iPod. You have put me over the edge.
Cool! I love the variety. And once again, it’s all new — I only know the Kate Bush song! Do you know anything else by her? My college friends adored her & would play her over & over.
Thanks for playing! This is really fun!
Thanks for another meme. I’m addicted.
I always get teary or outright cry when I hear This Woman’s Work, too.
You tagged us ALL??
you ..
you..
wicked wench you!
Hmph.
FINE
Okay, I’ll bite…
I just love Bill Withers. His voice is just so smooth. Most of these songs are some of my favorites. And I kind of just went and bought the rest on itunes.
I’ll meme in a bit.
Great list. I looove “A Girl Like You” by Edwyn Collins. I thought it sounded like a song from the 80s when I first heard it.
Cara,
I have been lurking at your blog for a while and I truly enjoy it. I have loved your comments about the Frey debacle on Oprah; I am actually reading the book and am annoyed by it, but only for a reader/English teacher/librarian type would be: it is so derivative and self-conscious. It is Charles Bukowski+Dave Eggers. Not in a good way. I mean, what has James Frey done to deserve the right to play with the form of the English language? Indent your paragraphs, man! You are not James Joyce!!!! Argh!!!
The other reason I commented was your love of Lovely Day by Bill Withers. Let’s just say that that song is my love song to my son. Love it.
And I finally bought STR based on your wonderful FOs and Jaywalkers, so anyway, I thought I would finally comment. Love your blog and just started one of my own with some friends.
Cheers,
Liz