Ridiculous

Nellie McKay’s got a sweet  voice, and this tune has chimes! — a nice contrast to the song’s meaning.

rara ridiculous
haha you’re hopelessly naive
to believe in a world that exists
lala we’re having fun
wawa disaster capitalists
& the system’s not broken it’s fixed

Deja Vu (All Over Again)

John Fogerty sings a simple protest song, comparing a war in 2004 with an earlier conflict.

It begins plaintively, but soon settles into familiar Fogerty rhythms while the words keep carrying the message.

“Did you hear ’em talkin’ ’bout it on the radio.
Did you try to read the writing on the wall.
Did that voice inside you say I’ve heard it all before.
It’s like Deja Vu all over again.”

Benjamin

Tori Amos stings with this cryptic little tune.

Now there is no avoiding
Necessity resurrecting herself
And her daughters
Who will never be bought
Not by the gods
Not by the men on the hill

Long-Haired Radical Socialist Jew

Here’s a spin on Jesus with a bite, perfect for a Christmas reflection, courtesy of Hugh Blemenfeld.
‘Twould make a great Sunday sing-along.

Independence Day

I did not know the story behind Martina McBride’s tune.
Now I do.

It’s clear that this country song illuninates a different sort of independence day. Hard to believe that it can be misconstrued.

 

Hometown

One thing I love about country (now mostly country pop) is that the artists often wear their hearts on their sleeves. Here, Brandon Stansell, sings an aching coming-out country ballad, one that many gay folks will be able to relate to, and one that my get to the heartstrings of others.

“Cause now I finally know who I really am
And I’m made from my hometown.”

The Last DJ

You hope that music can change the world. The late Tom Petty had a word about that.

Well the top brass don’t like him talking so much.

And he won’t play what they say to play
And he don’t wanna change what don’t need to change

And there goes the last DJ
Who plays what he wants to play
And says what he wants to say

The Charade

D’Angelo and the Vanguard sing one from Black Messia, delivered in a smooth groove.

All we wanted was a chance to talk
‘Stead we only got outlined in chalk
All we wanted was a chance to talk
Revealing at the end of the day, the charade

Who Is This America?

This Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra treatise sprawls across 12 minutes and explores through the medium of music a basic question that has yet to be answered satisfactorily.

I must ask again as i grow more and more confuse-o
Who is this america dem speak of today-o?
Who is this america dem speak of today?

Orphans

An infectious tune,

an imaginative view,

And,

Coldplay sings of those left without families after a “the missile monsoon,” of lives cut short and the beauty of what was destroyed.