Obscure movie songs, Part 1

Going to start a little series of postings here, obscure songs from movies and movie soundtracks. Today, I'm going to use a song from one of my favorite movies, the very underrated Girl Next Door. Now the premise of a porn star moving next door to a geek screams "Guy Movie" and it is, especially in the Unrated Version. But it is also a tried and true "Chick Flick." Starring Emile Hirsch (Into the Wild, Milk, Lords of Dogtown) and Elisha Cuthbert (heaven itself ;)), the movie is funny, warm, and endearing. It also holds up over multiple watchings which isn't easy for a comedy like this. But the song I am choosing comes near the end of the movie. It is called "Hail Atlantis" by Donovan. It's a funny little folk song musing on the Atlantean Legend. Something I started to do myself way back when with a poem and when I had the idea of writing a big budget Atlantis movie that I was going to adapt from the lesser known Shakesperean play of Coriolanus. But that's beside the point because the poem was never finished, and the screenplay was never started. Anyways, if you want to hear the song itself, you can check out this Youtube link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuodiumBgGw

Enjoy the song, and if you haven't seen The Girl Next Door, it is definitely worth seeing.

Higher, and Higher Straight Up We'll Climb

Last night, thanks to shotty fielding the good guys lost. No not my softball game, which was a 20-5 victory. I am talking about my beloved Red Sox. They came in with an 11 game winning streak, but committed 3 errors to blow the game to the Indians. What does this have to do with the song of the day??? Well, one song reminds me of my first Red Sox game ever at Fenway Park. It was part of our fall orientation at the College of Communication of Boston University. And it just happened to be the game where the Red Sox clinched the American League East Championship. Not bad for a first game on the Fens. Little did I know that I would come to love the Sox and become a full fledged member of Red Sox Nation. But what was the moment that sticks in my mind the most from that game, it was rotund Mo Vaughn perched on top of a horse during the postgame celebration. The horse looked like his back was going to give out under the weight of the large and in-charge first baseman. And what song was playing at the time, well, it was "Dreams" by Van Halen. A great choice for song of the day:

"World turns black and white
Pictures in an empty room
Your love starts fallin' down
Better change your tune
Yeah, you reach for the golden ring
Reach for the sky
Baby, just spread your wings

We'll get higher and higher
Straight up we'll climb
We'll get higher and higher
Leave it all behind

Run, run, run away
Like a train runnin' off the track
Got the truth bein' left behind
Falls between the cracks
Standin' on broken dreams
Never losin' sight, ah
Well just spread your wings

We'll get higher and higher
Straight up we'll climb
We'll get higher and higher
Leave it all behind
So baby dry your eyes
Save all the tears you've cried
Oh, that's what dreams are made of'
Cause we belong in a world that must be strong
Oh, that's what dreams are made of

Yeah, we'll get higher and higherS
traight up we'll climb
Higher and higher
Leave it all behind
Oh, we'll get higher and higher
Who knows what we'll find?
So baby dry your eyes
Save all the tears you've cried
Oh, that's what dreams are made of

Oh baby, we belong in a world that must be strong
Oh, that's what dreams are made of
And in the end on dreams we will depend
'Cause that's what love is made of"

Touch em all

So after two consecutive rainouts to start the season, my company's softball team will take the field tonight. Of course it is over 90 degrees out today and basically taken 10 swings all spring. But nuthing like getting into game shape in an actual game. So today's song is "Centerfield" by John Fogerty.

"Well, beat the drum and hold the phone
- the sun came out today!
We’re born again, there’s new grass on the field.
A-roundin’ third, and headed for home,
it’s a brown-eyed handsome man;
Anyone can understand the way I feel.

Oh, put me in, coach - I’m ready to play today;
Put me in, coach - I’m ready to play today;
Look at me, I can be centerfield.

Well, I spent some time in the mudville nine,
watchin’ it from the bench;
You know I took some lumps when the mighty casey struck out.
So say hey willie, tell ty cobb and joe dimaggio;
Don’t say "it ain’t so", you know the time is now.

Oh, put me in, coach - I’m ready to play today;
Put me in, coach - I’m ready to play today;
Look at me, I can be centerfield.
Yeah! I got it, I got it!

Got a beat-up glove, a homemade bat,
and brand-new pair of shoes;
You know I think it’s time to give this game a ride.
Just to hit the ball and touch ’em all -
a moment in the sun;
(pop) it’s gone and you can tell that one goodbye!

Oh, put me in, coach - I’m ready to play today;
Put me in, coach - I’m ready to play today;
Look at me, I can be centerfield.

Oh, put me in, coach - I’m ready to play today;
Put me in, coach - I’m ready to play today;
Look at me, I can be centerfield.

Yeah!"

Spring is in the air

Well, this weekend it will feel more like summer. Expected temperatures are around 90 degrees. It's not even May yet, let alone June. But for me, it means sunblock and a hat. No need for any moles to come back. I did go to the dermatologist this weekend and they offered a free skin cancer screening. So I figured what the hell, and took it. Thankfully, I am clean. No small feat considering the levels of sunburn I have had in my near 32 years. We're talking blisters, and basically resembling a resident of Hiroshima. But I learned my lesson. So in honor of the glorious day today, and expected perfection of the weekend, I am choosing "Sunshine," by Aerosmith. A newer song from the Beantown Boys, but like the rest of their newer stuff, it is overlooked.

"I sold my soul for a one night stand
I followed Alice into wonder land
I ate the mushroom and I dance with the queen
Yeah we dancing in between all the lines

I followed daylight right into the dark
Took to the hatter like a walk in the park
But then I met her yeah she felt so right
No child of the night yeah was she

They call her sunshine
The kind that everybody knows
Yeah yeah
Sunshine
She's finer than a painted rose
yeah yeah
Sunshine
Yeah

Her kind of love is what I adore
What kind of trouble am I in for
My kind of heaven lies in hells back door
And I got more than I need

Cause I need sunshine
The kind that everybody knows
Yeah yeah
My sunshine she's finer than a painted rose
Yeah yeah sunshine yeah

I got the karma but it don't come free
I chased that rabbit up her bodi tree
That caterpillar's tryin to cop a plea
But the smoke ain't got nothing on me

I got to have my sunshine
The kind that everybody knows
Yeah yeah
My Sunshine
She's finer than a painted rose
Sunshine the kind that everybody knows

My sunshine she's finer than a painted rose
yeah yeah
Sunshine
Sunshine yeah"

Reminiscing

So I was on the phone with a prospective author who may contribute to a book I am working on getting off the ground. It would focus on Stadium and venue design since my company is very good in that realm. I have had this idea in my head for a little while and to finally see it start to gain some momentum is very gratifying. But the gentleman I was talking to today got me reminiscing. No, I am not using "Reminiscing" by the Little River Band as my song of the day. The guy I was talking to was calling from London. And it got me thinking about my trip across the pond 2 years ago. I remember being so dead from the overnight flight to gatwick, but not caring. The city energized me completely and it was fun to just grab a map and explore on my own. So today, I am using one of my favorite songs, "Werewolves of London," as my song of the day by Warren Zevon.

"I saw a werewolf with a Chinese menu in his hand

Walking through the streets of Soho in the rain

He was looking for a place called Lee Ho Fook's

Going to get himself a big dish of beef chow mein

Werewolves of London

If you hear him howling around your kitchen door

Better not let him in

Little old lady got mutilated late last night

Werewolves of London again

Werewolves of London

He's the hairy-handed gent who ran amuck in Kent

Lately he's been overheard in Mayfair

Better stay away from him

He'll rip your lungs out, Jim

I'd like to meet his tailor

Werewolves of London

Well, I saw Lon Chaney walking with the Queen

Doing the werewolves of London

I saw Lon Chaney, Jr. walking with the Queen

Doing the werewolves of london

I saw a werewolf drinking a pina colada at Trader Vic's

His hair was perfect

Werewolves of London

Draw blood"

Here are some pics:

Yes, my name is Jeff and I am a disco addict

Last night, was "Disco Night" on American Idol. So after my admission of being a disco addict, I guess I should admit that I am an Idol watcher as well. So watching the disco songs, some good, some bad, it did bring back a lot of memories. Going to school in Boston and then living there for 7 years after school was fun. And the place I had the best time was Polly Esthers down by the Garden. If I had back all the money I dropped in that place, I'd be a rich man. I wish I had some pictures of me there. But then somebody had to go and murder the manager of the place and it was shut down for a long time. It reopened as the Dance Plex. But it was never the same. I now think it is a Coyote Ugly actually. So in honor of Polly Esther's and Disco Night on Idol. I am going to use a disco song as my song of the day. But what to choose? I thought of using "Born to Be Alive," by Patrick Hernandez. A great, lesser known disco anthem. But in the process of remembering my times there at PE's, I remembered bringing in my Definitive Disco Compilation for the DJ, so he could play one song. And that song is, "Everlasting Love" by Carl Carlton. Not the horrendous Gloria Estefan rendition, or the passable U2 edition. Here we go, get the disco ball rollin:

"Hearts go astray

Leaving hurt when they go

I went away

Just when you needed me so

Filled with regret

I come back begging you

Forgive, forget

Where's the love we once knew

Open up your eyes

Then you'll realize

Here I stand with my

Everlasting Love

Need you by my side

Girl to be my bride

You'll never be denied

Everlasting Love

From the very start

Open up your heart

Be a lasting part of

Everlasting Love

Where life's river flows

No-one really knows

'Till someone's there to

Show the way to

Everlasting Love

Like the sun it shines

Endlessly it shines

You always will be mine

It's eternal love

Whenever loves are gone

Ours will be strong

We'd have our very own

Everlasting Love

Open up your eyes

Then you'll realize

Here I stand with my

Everlasting Love

Need you by my side

Girl to be my bride

You'll never be denied

Everlasting Love"

Doing it all for my babies

There is nothing in my life that brings me more joy than my two kids. Becoming a dad is a daunting task. They say that anyone can be a father, but not everyone can be a dad. Now I know what that means. It means that anyone can biologically produce a baby, but it takes a real man to be a dad and love and care for your children unconditionally. My experiences as a dad have had a profound effect on me. There is nothing I wouldn't do for them. I'd starve so they could eat, I'd take a bullet so they could live. So today's song goes out to my two lovely children. It's a song called "Kama" by the Sammy Hagar.

"Today, love takes on a whole new meaning

In a face, I know I've seen somewhere before

Somehow, the mystery is over

Yet, just begun

To see the most perfect thing

Together, we've ever done

So what do we call this miracle we've made

And how can I find one word to say it

When all I'm feeling, here and now, is love

So that will always be you

Kama

Today, I just wrote a song about you

The words, they flow just like the air I breathe

The closest I've ever been

To truly understanding

The closest we'll ever be

To the meaning of life so sacred

So what do we call this miracle we've made

And how can I find one word to say it

When all I'm feeling, here and now, is love

So that will always be you

Kama

And every language has a word

But the meaning is always the same

Love is all you've got, to start out in the world

And love is all that remains

Oh yeah

So what do we call this miracle we've made

And how can I find one word to say it

When all I'm feeling, here and now, is love

So that will always be you

Kama"

Whatever happened to????

So I was driving to work today and playing music on my phone, windows down because it is finally warm and "Kiss Me I'm Shitfaced" by the Dropkick Murphy's comes on. I got it blasting and then it occurred to me. The kids aren't in the car, so I can turn it up even louder, and well, I can actually listen to it. And it made me think, remember the day when I could play whatever music I wanted to at home? Like when I was a teenager and blasted Aerosmith, Van Halen, or even during my rap phase (what can you say, I grew up near Detroit!). Well, nowadays I find myself singing the Backyardigans or Little Einsteins songs. Or any of the songs they play on Noggin. Yes, I know that you're going to say, "Wait, your daughter laughed for the first time to Eminem, you blogged about it." And yes that is true, but she is also in the repeating phase now and though has yet to drop an F-bomb yet, she has said crap a few times. So today, in honor of my little munchkins and in mourning of my own stereo that no longer blasts rock and roll. I am choosing "Willy Was a Whale" by somebody named Justin Roberts (thank you internet) as my song of the day. And I even have the video for you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJhskPNNjSI

"Willy was a whale and he walked on the water
And he tried to be wough and he tried to be tough
But Willy wasn’t weally wough he wasn’t wough at all
He was a willy white whale and he walked on the water, oh yeah
One day Willy went a walking on the water
Well he wasn’t weally walking, yes he was, yes he was
He went walking all the way down to Weno, Nevada
And he walked into the desert and that’s where he sat-a
Then he watched, then he waited, then he wondered, then he was

CHORUS
Willy why you want to walk awound Nevada
Well he wasn’t weally walking, yes he was, yes he was
And Willy why you want to wive all awone in the desert
When Willy the fact is you’re a whale not a cactus

Willy why you want to waste away in Weno, Nevada
When all your underwater friends are wondering where you’re at-a
Then he watched, then he waited, then he wondered, then he was
CHORUS

The underwater singers:
Ooo, wah, wah, ooo, wah wah
Ooo, wah, wah, ooo, wah wah
The underwater singers feeling kinda silly
Didn’t want to dilly dally sang to willy wally
And willy heard a sound, so willy stepped out
And he dove on in, and he swam on out
And he swam all night to the bottom of the sea
And that’s where willy sang
Once I was a whale and I walked on the water
And I tried to be wough and I tried to be tough
But Willy wasn’t weally wough he wasn’t wough at all
He was a willy white whale and he walked on the water, oh yeah"

Bowing to the sports god's for a dose of Humble Pie

There comes a time where you get humbled so badly, that you take a step back, and just eat your slice of humble pie. This happened to me in the worst way over the weekend.

My alma mater, the Boston University Terriers were playing for the National Championship in hockey. And anyone who knows me knows that any sport would be better, if it was hockey. But I digress. So I broke out my home white BU jersey, put it on the entire day and by the time I had the chance to sit down in front of the TV, a family member HDTV no less, the game was about 10 minutes in. Score, 0-0, hadn't missed much. I sat there in awe of the HD glory and beer in hand, started reliving my college years. BU goes up 1-0, feeling good. Miami of Ohio ties it up, still confident. Third period starts tied 1-1, beginning to get antsy. Dinner is being served, screw it, I'm watching the game. Miami scores. With 3 minutes remaining they score again. Damn, they blew it. The TV goes off. Is there any food left? Here is where the gods threw me on the ground and stomped on my groin, but I didn't know it till the next day when a text comes in from a college buddy. I run back to the hotel and turn on ESPN for confirmation, because I still didn't believe it. One minute remaining. Scrum in front of the net, backhander to the short side, 3-2. Just 20 seconds left in the game. Cross ice pass, one timer. BEDLAM ON THE BEANTOWN BENCH. A miracle comeback. Then in overtime. Was there anyway they lose this game after a comeback like that? Of course not. Shot from the point. Defenseman goes to down to block it, hits him in the leg, pops in the air over the goalie and into the net. DO YOU BELIEVE IN MIRACLES? Ok, maybe it is not on par with the '80 Olympic team, after all, BU was the clear favorite. But two goals in the final minute??? As I sat down with my plate of food after everyone else was finished, I distinctly said, "It'll take a miracle for them to come back. The game's over." And I witnessed the miracle a day later from a text, to the score on the ESPN crawl, to highlights. Thank you sports gods for my taste of humble pie. SO in honor of my beloved Terriers, I am choosing "Atomic Dog" as my song of the day.

"Bow-wow-yippie-yo-yippie-yeah

Bow-wow-wow-yippie-yo-yippie-yeah

Bow-wow-yippie-yo-yippie-yeah

Just walkin' the dog

Oh, atomic dog

Futuristic bow-wow

Ruff

Leader of the pack

Wild dog

Why must I feel like that

Why must I chase the cat

Just the dog in me

Nothin' but the dog in me"

The true sense of the economic crisis

The downturn hit Bo and Luke hard!

"Just two good old boys, never meanin' no harm....

Beats all you never saw, been in trouble with the law

Since the day they was born.

Straightenin' the curves, flattenin' the hills....

Someday the mountain might get 'em but the law never will.

Makin' their way, the only way they know how...

That's just a little bit more than the law will allow.

Just two good ol' boys, wouldn't change if they could,

Fightin' the system like two modern-day Robin Hoods..."