We Don't Walk Slow

Bands and Songs

Top 10 Singles Nov 11th, 1982

I plan to make this a weekly post because a person’s opinion of songs that were popular decades ago should prove amusing. I have some working knowledge of the songs and artists which will show in the comentary.

1. Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes – Up Where We Belong – I’m aware of Joe Cocker with his popular covers of Beatles Tunes “With a Little Help From My Friends” and “Come Together.” I’ve never heard of Jennifer Warnes. This is a slow duet that I don’t think would have a chance to top a list in 2012.
2. Lionel Richie – Truly – I know Lionel for “All Night Long”, “Dancing on the Ceiling” and “Hello”. This song is a slow number that I’ve never even heard before and wouldn’t have a chance of being popular 30 years later.
3. Olivia Newton-John – Heart Attack – I assume this is coming off of the success of Grease and the Physical album. This song basically just plain sucks. It repeats “Heart Attack” like 25 times.
4. Laura Branigan – Gloria – I think I know Laura Branigan from the song Self Control that I always turn off when it comes on the radio. Gloria sounds exactly like Olivia Newton John’s Physical but is a better song. This was the first song on this list I can say I liked.
5. Neil Diamond – Heartlight – I have hardly listened to any Neil Diamond aside from Sweet Caroline and this song isn’t going to make me start. This is a slow, solo, crooning session from Diamond.
6. Men at Work – Who Can It Be Now? – The first song I’ve actively listened to in my life. Probably the 2nd best Men at Work song. This has been a staple of my 80’s playlists. I only prefer Overkill to this song.
7. John Couger – Jack and Diane – Before the Mellencamp was added? Everyone has heard this song and I’m actually surprised it isn’t higher. I’m not a huge Mellencamp fan but this song has a nice story behind it and is easy listening.
8. America – You Can Do Magic – Never heard of this song. I know America from Sister Golden Hair, Ventura Highway and Horse with No Name. I like them all. I listened to this song and will add this to my expanding database of music I like but no one else would ever listen to.
9. Michael McDonald – I Keep Forgettin (Every Time You’re Near) – The bass line of this song was ripped off by Dr.Dre and Warren G in the song Regulators. The dreaminess of Michael McDonald’s voice will put you to sleep. Quality song.
10. Diana Ross – Muscles – Diana Ross wants muscles. This song isn’t worth listening to.

By Tom Stortz|2012-11-23T10:54:10-05:00November 23rd, 2012|Music|0 Comments

Carly Rose Sonenclar – My Heart Will Go On

Now that were rolling full swing with reader interaction, I’ve been introduced to a video where a 13 year old sings Celine Dion’s My Heart Will Go On. Although I’m sure the person who sent me this video, the Shee, would prefer to remain nameless rather than be exposed for his love of X-Factor, this girl is obviously talented. At 13 I’m pretty sure I was marginally retarded with the capabilities of tying my shoe and finding my way to the bus stop so it hurts to see far you can come in such a short time. This isn’t a voice that comes out of a 13 year old’s body. I sort of get the feeling that her voice just comes naturally and she’s just dominating this contest without the understanding of what she’s doing. Just to comment on the video, was Demi Lavoto retarded in her critique of the song?

By Tom Stortz|2012-11-15T23:24:36-05:00November 15th, 2012|Music|0 Comments

Thanksgiving by Nicole Westbrook

2012, what the hell is happening. I found this on barstool and spent 3:38 watching the above video and we can all agree it is reminiscent of Friday by Rebecca Black. This video is an example of the trashiest music to date. Using autotuned 13 year old girls, pop beats, and the stupidest topic for a song are reasons why this makes me cringe. Plus the producer or creepy black guy who is hanging around this video is really, really, really pedophile-ish. Here are some sample lyrics:
December was Christmas
January was New Years
April was Easter
and the 4th of July but now is Thanksgiving

I will say though that a turkey leg as a microphone is original. I think this is a sad example of using children. What happened to days when kids were kids and used their own talents and ability. This is an example of a producer who is manipulating the idea of turning kids into pop stars for his own personal gain. I wouldn’t have a problem with this if the end result was something, for lack of a better word, good. Do you know how difficult it is to get a million views on youtube? This video is actually successful. That’s where I have a problem because it’s bad beyond comprehension. At least when Britney did Hit Me Baby One More Time it was like a real song. Not some two bit operation production youtube company exploiting children. This is bad people, real bad.

By Tom Stortz|2012-11-10T11:00:04-05:00November 10th, 2012|Music|2 Comments

Hurricane Sandy in Philly

I’m happy to say that I suffered no negative effects from Sandy aside from UPS not picking up our packages going out the door yesterday and today. The power stayed on all last night and the 200 year old building on Vine St had virtually no damage except for a single pane of plexi-glass falling out of a window. Comparing this to the horrendous disaster that New Jersey and New York saw, I was very lucky. For all the hype of Sandy, I saw no action and it seemed ridiculously weak. Some businesses were closed today but that was about it.

Since I have nothing left to write about the hurricane, I’m going to note some albums I’ve been listening to on Spotify. Recent releases (within the last few months) that I’ve been listening to are Mumford and Sons, Imagine Dragons, Anberlin, The Killers and Passion Pit. I still can’t figure out why more people aren’t using Spotify but I’m going to let that one go in this post. These albums are all decent but certainly not off the charts. The Killers would win in terms of listenability but I haven’t really spent enough time hearing them all. Still, I wanted to share what I’ve been listening to for anyone interested. Oh, and I’ve been listening to this Kesha song a lot…

By Tom Stortz|2012-10-30T17:48:28-04:00October 30th, 2012|Music|0 Comments

Ahead of the Music Curve

So you can see my tweet in the upper right which is the basis of this post. Here’s the validation of my opinion on the band A Silent Film. I’m saying that I have impeccable taste in music and deserve the credit for pointing out good songs before they become mainstream. Now this is a skill that virtually everyone thinks they have but mostly don’t. By the time the song hits the radio it is already mainstream. To really prove this skill you have to buy the CD (or spotify) the first day it comes out, listen to it all the way through, and then give an opinion of songs on the album. For this particular example, I technically said every song on the album was great which is cheating a bit but I’m still counting it. I’ve also listened to the Killers album, Battleborn, about 7 times or so and think that more than half the songs have potential of hitting the airwaves. Once again not saying much by pointing good songs out. To actually prove this talent, you should download spotify and follow my list “alt nation” to hear my recommended songs. If you aren’t using spotify to listen to music you are so far behind the curve that you don’t deserve to know my music. Use this post as your starting point. Find me, follow my music, and then share your taste in music with me. It can be a game. I can jam your playlist while Jeff and I play ping pong and you can jam mine while you are doing whatever it is you do.

I wrote a post about being the first of your friends to hear a song and then declaring this “your song” and anyone else who knows about it after you is listening to old music. After thinking about this I’ve taken the stance that you actually want everyone to hear your song. It’s better when top notch material is heard by everyone. You should feel happy when other people discover songs that you knew were worth listening to. Sharing is caring.

I’m going to make one last plea for you to listen to spotify which absolutely blows away Pandora. It has newer music and you can choose your music and share your music. This is a similar backing I’ve done with Sirius for all these years and can’t understand how so many people still put up with AM/FM. It can’t seriously be about monthly fee? You spend your life in your car listening to commercials. WAKE THE FUCK UP!!!!!! I can’t comment on their rap or Country stations but I know their rock music is far superior than any Philly bs you are listening to. Never listen to a commercial again. Download Spotify immediately and share your music with me. I’ll be sure to mention great new songs by great new people who share.

By Tom Stortz|2012-09-27T22:24:20-04:00September 27th, 2012|Music|0 Comments

Seeking a Soulmate

So I found something of extreme interest (at least to me) last night. I was listening to channel 32 the Bridge on Sirius / XM which is a station that generally plays soft rock. The first song I heard was Time in a Bottle by Jim Croce. I recalled that this was the song that Chou was singing in the elevator with Alan which made me laugh a bit. The very next song that The Bridge played was Allentown by Billy Joel. This should ring a bell that this was the song that inspired Stu as he wrote AlanTown for the Hangover 2. After coming to this realization and that there is no way that this could be a coincidence, I wondered how many other people in the world made this connection and how the DJ’s on the Bridge are probably hysterical. After some calculations of listening to the Bridge at that exact moment, having seen the Hangover 2, and then making that oddball connection, it must be single digits, if not me being the only one. This got me thinking that another person in this world who made this connection could be my soul mate. This sort of crazy, screwball logic is what I’m looking for in a female. Someone who can hear back to back songs, on the Bridge mind you, and realize that they were the two songs in the Hangover 2. Forget everything else, that’s my criteria. Finding the obscure among movies and songs and the intricate details that make things awesome.

In further note, Sam made the connection that Shine on You Crazy Diamond by Pink Floyd was the background music for the Romanian gymnast Sandra Izbasa. At the time I thought this was a pretty good find but as it turns out, tons of other people made the connection as well. The more obscure, the better.

By Tom Stortz|2012-08-08T09:02:48-04:00August 8th, 2012|Music|0 Comments

Never Famous

I’m sure Sam will post something about this movie but I was watching it with him and took two quotes that I really like.

“The only true currency in this bankrupt world is what we share with someone else when we’re uncool.” – I really like the bankrupt world aspect of this because most people believe the idea that currency is money and that having money makes you rich. By saying the only TRUE currency essentially dismisses any other superficial means like dollars. The idea of sharing your thoughts and ideas with other people is what makes you, you. Which is hopefully what I try to accomplish at times with this blog. The final statement of when we’re uncool is how most “real” people feel. Staying in and doing nothing seems to be the how you are in your realest form. You are yourself.

“Be honest, and unmerciful.” – This was the advice from Lester Bangs to William in how to write his article about the band. I think audiences want this more than any other fabricated piece of crap. Whether it be a blog, a newspaper article, or the cover of the Rolling Stone, unmerciful truth is the most compelling part. I’m going to really start to try to take this advice when writing these posts in the future.

By Tom Stortz|2012-08-07T00:06:42-04:00August 7th, 2012|Music|0 Comments

4 More Song Theives

This was actually a really good entry I wrote a while ago that got zero interest. I always find it neat when I hear a song and know that I thought it was by someone else only to find out it’s a rip off. For some reason, once I know the song isn’t an original, it sort of brings it down in my book. Or it just brings the original up that much more. Aside from the REM version of Superman, that’s way better.

Steely Dan – Black Cow vs. Lord Tariq & Peter Gunz – Deja Vu

I Wish by Stevie Wonder vs. Wild Wild West by Will Smith

The Clique – Superman vs. REM – Superman

Lori Lieberman – Killing Me Softly With His Song vs The Fugees

By Tom Stortz|2012-07-24T08:34:21-04:00July 24th, 2012|Music|0 Comments

Mr Rogers Remixed

By Tom Stortz|2016-11-01T23:19:14-04:00July 16th, 2012|Music|0 Comments

A Silent Film – Sand & Snow

You can listen to the entire album on Spotify and there’s absolutely no reason not to. This band is completely overlooked. With past hits as You Will Leave a Mark & Driven By A Beaten Heart, they absolutely knock this album out of the park. I’ve wrote about Danny, Dakota & the Wishing Well which was their first single off this album (and can be listened to below). Let Them Feel Your Heartbeat is a terrific song as well. I sat there listening to their entire album and didn’t have the feeling “oh I have to turn this song off because it sucks at any point.” Re-read that last line because that is the key to a good album. Groups that have one or two good songs don’t necessarily make them good. Being able to listen to an entire album and enjoy it (ala Foster the People) is when I know I can back a group. This is only my review after one listen through and I will listen through it again and again.

By Tom Stortz|2012-06-08T09:34:04-04:00June 8th, 2012|Music|0 Comments