Station Break: A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving

Posted by: dgoldring on Nov 28 2008 - 30 views

Until now, most of our Station Break installments have focused on music, but today’s media players can handle so much more than that, I thought it was time to mention one of the videos I have been enjoying lately.  And what better video to highlight right now than A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving.

Most people who know me know that Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays.  yet, more and more it gets increasingly overlooked by many people.  It is just that day we get off from school or work which falls pretty much midway between dressing up for Halloween and trimming the tree for Christmas.  Lately, it seems like as soon as the jack-o-lanterns come down, the Christmas trees come out.  My favorite turkeys are lost in that crazy two month shuffle.

But I digress.  the point here is that while there are a plethora of Halloween and Christmas specials on TV, there is really only one Thanksgiving special worth watching, and that is the one starring Charlie Brown and all of his friends.

If you have never seen it, you really should spend the half hour you will need to sit down and watch it.  Your Thanksgiving feast will never feel the same after you witness Snoopy hosting his own Thanksgiving, with courses such as jellybeans, popcorn, and buttered toast.  Everyone should have such treats at their Thanksgiving.

So, check out this hilarious and fun Thanksgiving holiday special.  And I hope you all had a fantastic Thanksgiving this week.  I certainly did!

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Station Break: Jam On Revenge

Posted by: dgoldring on Nov 07 2008 - 11 views

 

Back when I was in about 5th or 6th grade, and up through probably eight grade, the big craze (and I mean huge) was breakdancing.  Everyone loved it, cool kids and otherwise.  And all of you 30-somethings out there, don’t try to deny it.  I know many of you probably have the same reaction I do when you see a cardboard mat.  And the answer is, no, if you are at all like me, then you never could do a headspin, and would probably risk serious injury if you tried it now.

Anyway, the point of this post is to remember one of my favorite breakdancing bands, Newcleus…particularly their signature song, Jam On Revenge.  With lyrics which can be reminiscent of, “The Devil Went Down To Georgia,” by The Charlie Daniels Band, Newcleus famously sang:

(Say Superman had came to town to see who he could rock)
(He blew away every crew he faced until he reached our block)
(His speakers were three stories high, with woofers made of steel)
(And when we brought our set outside, he said “Hah, be for real!”)
He said, I’m faster than a speedin’ bullet when I’m on the set
I don’t need no fan to cool my amps, I just use my super breath
I could fly three times around the world without missin’ a beat
I socialize with X-ray eyes, and the ladies think it’s sweet
(And then he turned his power on and the ground began to move)
(And all the buildings for miles around were swayin’ to the groove)
(And just when he had pulled the crowd and swore he’d won the fight)
We rocked his butt with a 12 inch cut called “Disco Kryptonite”

 

Can I get a “Wiki-Wiki?” 

You can check out Jam On Revenge, and all of Newcleus’ classic hip-hop and electro-rock hits on their website.

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Station Break: Big Rock Candy Mountain

Posted by: Heather on Oct 24 2008 - 26 views

Harry McClintock.  Who you ask?  Harry McClintock was a folk/country singer who was the first person to record Big Rock Candy Mountain.  He originally recorded it back in 1928.  Most people would recognize it from the movie “O Brother, Where Art Thou?”.  I know what you are thinking, “Gee, thanks for the Jeopardy trivia, but what does this have to do with anything?”  Well, Big Rock Candy Mountain happens to be one of my favorite songs on my 4GB Zune!!!  Its easily top 5.  To go with this statement, I also have to say that I’m not a fan of folk or country music.  So, why do I love this song?  The song has an excellent story talking about a hobo’s utopia.  When work is getting you down, and you just want to escape, I think of Big Rock Candy Mountain.  I can honestly say I listen to it 5 or 6 times in a row all the time.  Its got a very catchy tune that sticks in your head, and its easy to sing along to.  No matter what mood I am in, I can listen to this song.  Everyone should have this on their mp3 player.  Here is a sample of some of my favorite lyrics:

“There’s a lake of stew
And of whiskey too
You can paddle all around it
In a big canoe
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains”

Who doesn’t want to paddle around in a lake of whiskey and of stew.  Plus, earlier in the song, he mentions “the lemonade springs”, which is perfect for mixing with the whiskey.  What’s the weather like at the Big Rock Candy Mountain?  I am so glad you asked.

 ”And the sun shines every day…

Oh I’m bound to go
Where there ain’t no snow
Where the rain don’t fall
The winds don’t blow
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains.”

I bet your also wondering what kind of jobs they have at Big Rock Candy Mountain?  Well, that is the best part!!!

“There ain’t no short-handled shovels,
No axes, saws nor picks,
I’m bound to stay
Where you sleep all day,
Where they hung the jerk
That invented work
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains.”

 Who wouldn’t want to live in Big Rock Candy Mountain?  So, if anyone finds its exact location, please contact me.  In the meantime, check out the song.

Complete lyrics to Big Rock Candy Mountain

Purchase Big Rock Candy Mountain by Harry McClintock (aka Haywire Mac) from Amazon for $0.99

 

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Station Break: Love and Rockets “So Alive”

Posted by: dgoldring on Oct 10 2008 - 14 views

 

I suspect if I took a poll of our readers, most of you would have what I call, “a bad mood song.”  This is a song you listen to when everything has you down.  It just takes you away from your problems.  For me, that song is “So Alive” by Love and Rockets.

This is something of a bizarre pick me up song.  Love and Rockets are mostly a punk-style alternative rock band, and their stuff is not usually particularly uplifting.  But there it is.  When I really listen to the words, they just take me out of my head.   It has such an effect on me that I try to avoid it on my iPod unless I really need a release.  Then, I dial it in, close my eyes and listen:

Don’t know what color your eyes are, baby
But your hair is long and brown
Your legs are strong, and you’re so, so long
And you don’t come from this town
My head is full of magic, baby
And I can share this with you
I feel I’m on top again, baby
That’s got everything to do with you

Just reading those lyrics makes me smile and instantly puts me in a much better frame of mind.  Check it out at Amazon.com or on itunes.

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StationBreak: El Ten Eleven

Posted by: dgoldring on Sep 12 2008 - 28 views

Not long ago, through the magic of Facebook, I managed to reconnect with a group of people with whom I went to elementary school and high school.  It has really has been much more fun than I expected reconnecting with all of these people from my past.

One of the people I have been emailing with is a woman I first met in elementary school, Amanda Fogarty (nee Holloway).  By far, Amanda has the most interesting story of any of my childhood friends.  She is now married to the drummer of a rock duo called "El Ten Eleven." 

I am always interested in helping support a friend’s art, so I decided to check them out.  I downloaded all three of El Ten Eleven’s albums from iTunes, and was thoroughly impressed.  They are not the headbanging style of rock from the 1980’s or the grunge wail of the 1990’s.  Instead, they offer what I can only describe as a mellow-upbeat sound.   They are very heavy on rhythm and guitar, which is exactly the music I enjoy.

So far, Amanda reports that she has not appeared on any of El Ten Eleven’s recordings, but from what I understand she is a pretty mean guitar player in her own right, so I am hoping to hear her soon.

Check out El Ten Eleven on their website, Amazon, or on itunes.

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Station Break: New Kids on the Block

Posted by: Heather on Sep 05 2008 - 77 views

Yes, I proudly admit that I have New Kids on the Block (NKOTB) on my Zune.  I was the perfect age, 12 -13,  when the New Kids were in their days of glory,  I had all the gear:  t-shirts, posters, buttons, cassettes, and VHS tapes.  (For those who don’t know what VHS or cassettes are, please check Wikipedia.)  With their re-emergence on the music scene, I was feeling a little bit nostalgic.  So, I downloaded some of my favorite songs from Amazon:  Hangin’ Tough, I’ll Be Loving You, You Got It (Right Stuff), Step by Step, Please Don’t Go Girl.  I loved hearing all of those songs again.  They have a good beat, and is just fun music.  Plus, it takes me back to a time when there were no mortgage payments or car payments, just hanging out with friends.  NKOTB released a new album on Sept. 2 called The Block.  One of the songs off that CD is called Summertime. I would definitely recommend it.  I am sure most people have heard it on the radio.  Now, I know a lot of people would be embarrassed to admit that they are listening to NKOTB.  We all have our own guilty pleasures, so enjoy the music.  I promise I won’t tell.  Its not like you have to post what you’re listening too on the internet.

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