One Week

Chickity China the Chinese chicken, you have a drumstick and your brain stops tickin'.

~ The Barenaked Ladies

Coming back from Boston, my companion and I decided that we were up for a little adventure; so instead of driving back through New York along the I-90, we veered North early and drove along the I-91 through Vermont and then up through Quebec. The scenery was breathtaking, as we drove the hilly and winding roads lined with fir trees and rock cliffs. Part of the experience of road tripping is to find fun music, play it loudly and sing it badly... so that's what we did! Our radio station of choice was XM satellite radio's 90's on 9 (although it wasn't our exclusive station as we cycled through the 40's, - 90's) 90's music is the music of our youth and many of the songs were recognizable and singable. The video below shows me rockin' out to The Barenaked Ladies' One Week. This song reminds me of when I was working in a record shop during my high school years; the Canadian band, Barenaked Ladies, were at the height of their career, gaining global popularity, when One Week was released. I remember Stephen Page, their front man at the time, being interviewed and telling a story of meeting Oasis - Liam Gallagher allegedly turned to his brother and said "Hey, this is the 'Chickity China' band!" How's that for recognition?!

The only problem is that the lead singer sings so quickly at times that I don't know what all of the words are! So, I'm going to make it my mission to find out. Today's question is: what are the lyrics to The Barenaked Ladies' One Week?

A:

One Week was released in 1998 and was the group's best performing single in both the United States and the United Kingdom. It reached number 1 on Billboard's top 100 and made it to number 5 on the UK Singles chart. Apparently, I'm not the only one who couldn't keep up with the lyrics, the song was featured in an advert for the Mitsubishi Lancer which featured a group of young people in the car seeming to sing along until they could not keep up with the rapid-fire lyrics.

"One Week"

It's been one week since you looked at me
Cocked your head to the side and said "I'm angry"
Five days since you laughed at me saying
"Get that together come back and see me"
Three days since the living room
I realized it's all my fault, but couldn't tell you
Yesterday you'd forgiven me
but it'll still be two days till I say I'm sorry

Hold it now and watch the hoodwink
As I make you stop, think
You'll think you're looking at Aquaman
I summon fish to the dish, although I like the Chalet Swiss
I like the sushi
'cause it's never touched a frying pan
Hot like wasabe when I bust rhymes
Big like LeAnn Rimes
Because I'm all about value
Bert Kaempfert's got the mad hits
You try to match wits, you try to hold me but I bust through
Gonna make a break and take a fake
I'd like a stinkin achin shake
I like vanilla, it's the finest of the flavours
Gotta see the show, cause then you'll know
The vertigo is gonna grow
Cause it's so dangerous,
you'll have to sign a waiver

How can I help it if I think you're funny when you're mad
Trying hard not to smile though I feel bad
I'm the kind of guy who laughs at a funeral
Can't understand what I mean?
Well, you soon will
I have a tendency to wear my mind on my sleeve
I have a history of taking off my shirt

It's been one week since you looked at me
Threw your arms in the air
and said "You're crazy"
Five days since you tackled me
I've still got the rug burns on both my knees
It's been three days since the afternoon
You realized it's not my fault
not a moment too soon
Yesterday you'd forgiven me
And now I sit back and wait til you say you're sorry

Chickity China the Chinese chicken
You have a drumstick and your brain stops tickin'
Watchin' X-Files with no lights on
We're dans la maison
I hope the Smoking Man's in this one
Like Harrison Ford I'm getting frantic
Like Sting I'm tantric
Like Snickers, guaranteed to satisfy

Like Kurasawa I make mad films
Okay, I don't make films
But if I did they'd have a Samurai
Gonna get a set a' better clubs
Gonna find the kind with tiny nubs
Just so my irons aren't always flying off the back-swing
Gotta get in tune with Sailor Moon
'Cause the cartoon has got the boom anime babes
That make me think the wrong thing

How can I help it if I think you're funny when you're mad
Tryin' hard not to smile though I feel bad
I'm the kind of guy who laughs at a funeral
Can't understand what I mean?
Well, you soon will
I have a tendency to wear my mind on my sleeve
I have a history of losing my shirt

It's been one week since you looked at me
Dropped your arms to your sides
and said "I'm sorry"
Five days since I laughed at you and said
"You just did just what I thought you were gonna do"
Three days since the living room
We realized we're both to blame,
but what could we do?
Yesterday you just smiled at me
Cause it'll still be two days till we say we're sorry

It'll still be two days till we say we're sorry
It'll still be two days till we say we're sorry
Birchmount Stadium, home of the Robbie

I leave you with the official video:

http://youtu.be/fC_q9KPczAg

Sources:

azlyrics: One Week

Wikipedia: One Week (song)

Heartbreakers

March 14, 2010

While hanging out with Diana Catherine at her CMW gig, we learnt that they would have an extended set because one of the other bands in the showcase didn’t show. I made a request that they sing Mary Jane’s Last Dance by Tom Petty – because I just love the way she and her band make it sound! She agreed! So, I got to listen to it at the Cadillac Lounge after drinking many gin and tonics – which is my idea of a night in heaven. Today’s question is: Is Mary Jane’s Last Dance about drugs?

A:
Tom Petty has never confirmed what the song is about, but there are 2 common interpretations. It could be about Petty's divorce from his wife Jane, which happened a year before this was recorded in 1993. Another possibility is that it is about marijuana, as "Mary Jane" is slang for pot and the lyrics refer to killing the pain, which the drug is known for. Mike Campbell, The Heartbreaker’s guitarist, offered this explanation: "My take on it is it can be whatever you want it to be. A lot of people think it's a drug reference, and if that's what you want to think, it very well could be, but it could also just be a goodbye love song."

The break-up theory can be justified by the music video in which Tom played a mortician who takes home a corpse played by Kim Basinger. When he gets her home, he puts her in a wedding dress and dances with her. Petty is then shown carrying her to a rocky shore and gently releasing her into the sea. At the end of the video, Basinger is seen floating in the water with her eyes open. It won Best Male Video at the 1994 MTV Video Music Awards. It was later revealed that Basinger was not the first choice for the video, and Petty wanted Sharon Stone, but she didn't answer his request.

In any case, whether about breaking-up, smoking a joint or being a necrophiliac, I still really love the song!

Sources:
Song Facts
Wikipedia: Mary Jane’s Last Dance

CMW

March 13, 2010

My sincerist apologies to my regular readers, I have fallen far behind on my regular blogging, but I can assure you that I will be picking it up again! Thankfully, I have kept track of most of my past exploits and can still ask a relevant question to the events of the day!

Back in March, a couple of friends of mine were participating in Canadian Music Week. Both Andrea Ramolo and Diana Catherine and the Thrusty Tweeters played on consecutive nights to eager audiences. I have attended some CMW in previous years and enjoy hearing local talent. So, today’s question is: when did Canadian Music Week Begin?

A:
Canadian Music Week is not just a showcase of Canadian music, it also is a conference for musicians and musical professionals held in various venues throughout Toronto.

Canadian Music Week began in 1981, and has grown to become one of Canada’s largest and most influential media and music conferences. It draws top industry professionals to participate in a four-day program of activities. Designed to stimulate the exchange of market intelligence, increase dialogue and provide networking opportunities, Canadian Music Week continues to present the ideal platform for more than 2,000 national and international delegates.

Source:
Canadian Music Week

Spread the Love

February 6, 2010

Today is the late, great Bob Marley's birthday. I saw an interview with his wife this past week, as she was promoting a fundraising event called One Love to benefit the Haitian earthquake victims. As a tribute to a gifted musical artist and curiosity about how much love Bob actaully spread. Today's question is: how many children did Bob Marley have?

A: There is some controversy as to how many children are Bob actualy fathered. However, here are the details of those listed on the official Bob Marley website:

Sharon, born November 23, 1964 (Rita Marley)

Cedella, born August 23, 1967 (Rita Marley)
David "Ziggy", born October 17, 1968 (Rita Marle)
Stephen, born April 20, 1972 (Rita Marley)
Robert "Robbie", born May 16, 1972 (Pat Williams)
Rohan, born May 19, 1972 (Janet Hunt)
Karen, born 1973 (Janet Bowen )
Stephanie, born August 17, 1974 (Rita Marley)
Julian, born June 4, 1975 (Lucy Pounder )
Ky-Mani, born February 26, 1976 (Anita Belnavis)
Damian, born July 21, 1978 (Cindy Breakspeare)



It has been confirmed that Sharon Marley is not Bob's biological child, however is acknowledged as his own. There is also some speculation that Stephanie Marley was a product of an affair that Rita had with another man, however this has never been confirmed so Stephanie remains a Marley.



There are two additional names that some people feel should be on the list. The first is Imani Carole, born May 22, 1963 to Cheryl Murray. The other is Makeda, born on May 30, 1981, to Yvette Crichton, after Marley's death.

Rent

January 24, 2010

This evening, I met up with my friend to watch the musical Rent at the Cannon Theatre. I did not have any background or knowledge of the story, but went to be entertained by the music and the dancing. For those that don’t know, the story centres around a group of bohemians in Greenwich Village, New York facing the health and social issues of the 1980s. I loved it, especially the grittiness of it all. We did have a few comments including the disjointedness of the story, and the fact that the first act had a timeline of one week while the second documented the events of an entire year. But despite all of that, I walked away having really enjoyed myself. Today’s question is: what was the inspiration for Rent?

A: Rent began as a collaboration between Billy Aronson, a playwright, and Jonathan Larson, a composer, based on Giacomo Puccini’s opera La Bohème. Larson began working on Rent and agreed with Aronson that if it Rent made it to Broadway, they would split the proceeds. Larson’s vision was to create a modern-rock opera.

In 1994, Rent was debuted for a three-week run at the New York Theatre Workshop and continued to be rehearsed and work shopped in preparation for its off-Broadway debut in 1996. One day before its official opening, Jonathan Larson died of an undiagnosed aortic aneurysm.

Rent has gone on to critical acclaim and went on to win a number of awards, including the Tony for Best Musical. Additionally, the Broadway show ran for 12 years and became the 8th longest running show in Broadway history. It grossed almost $300 million. Rent was turned into a movie in 2005 featuring the likes of Anthony Rapp, Adam Pascal, Rosario Dawson and Taye Diggs (who is a beautiful, beautiful man!).

Sources:
Rent Musical
Rent the Broadway Tour
Wikipedia: Rent (Musical)