Category: Music

Lou Reed Inducting Dion Into Rock Hall

In early 1989, Lou Reed inducted Dion into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with a short poetic introduction, followed by Dion’s short funny recollections.

Dion Rock Hall

On January 18, 1989, one great singer-songwriter associated with New York inducted another great singer-songwriter also associated with the city into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  Lou Reed, injecting poetic words as only he could do, inducted Dion DiMucci into the Rock Hall.

In the video below, listen to Reed describing the influence of Dion and his music, “Bronx Soul.”  Reed does it with language only he would use, all while reading from a sheet of paper that those of us who were around in 1989 recognize as continuous computer paper with holes on the side, printed from a dot matrix printer.

Then, a happy Dion takes the stage to accept with a short funny speech.

The “Phil” that Dion mentions is legendary producer Phil Spector, including a reference to Spector’s production of Dion’s 1975 album Born to Be with You and the producer’s notorious reclusiveness.  Subsequently, Spector’s strange behavior would lead to him being convicted of murder in 2009 and going to prison where he died from complications due to Covid in January 2020. The “Bruce” he mentions is, of course, Bruce Springsteen. Check it out.

The 1989 induction ceremony was one for the ages. Other performers inducted in addition to Dion included The Rolling Stones, Stevie Wonder, and Otis Redding.

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    John Legend: Bring Me Love This Christmas

    Legendary Christmas

    We wish everyone a very merry Christmas. This year, one of the best new Christmas songs comes from John Legend. In the upbeat song “Bring Me Love,” from Legend’s A Legendary Christmas album, Legend asks for one thing for Christmas.

    Bring me love this Christmas,
    ‘Cause I deserve you here;
    Bring me love this Christmas,
    ‘Cause I’ve been good this year.

    Here’s wishing you are surrounded by love this holiday season.

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    Video of the Day: Brandi Carlile’s “Party of One”

    Party of One

    Brandi Carlile’s new song “Party of One” is a rare treat, taking an adult look at relationships, getting beyond dreamy love or angry hate.
    The singer has been through arguments with a lover and has survived hostilities, “You should always let the sun go down on your anger /
    Let it burn you to sleep.” But at the end of the day, through all of the fighting, the singer knows they will remain together

    Oh your constant overthinking and your secretive drinking,
    Are making you more and more alone;
    And girl, you can slam the door behind you,
    It ain’t ever gonna close;
    Because when you’re home, you’re already home.

    At the end, the singer repeats “I am yours” over and over again. Real relationships have fights, but hopefully the two can still find a way to come together.

    The official video for “Party of One” features Elisabeth Moss and Nicole Disson. Carlile specifically sought out Moss, the star of The Handmaid’s Tale, for the video.  And Moss also ended up producing and serving as creative director.

    Carlile originally wrote the song about the domestic pressures on same-sex relationships. And putting the song with the visuals of two women lovers in the video further reinforces the inclusiveness and universality of the message. Check it out.

    “Party of One” is the closing track of Brandi Carlile‘s album, By The Way, I Forgive You (2018).

    Leave your two cents in the comments.

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    Song of the Day: “Me & My Dog” by boygenius

    Me & My Dog

    Earlier in 2018, Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers, and Lucy Dacus joined together as boygenius to create a self-titled EP. The three, who have had some success separately as singers and songwriters, joined together as a group after booking a tour together. Now, they are receiving rave reviews for their collaboration.

    One of the tracks on the EP is “My & My Dog,” written by Bridgers, who sings the verses before being joined by Baker and Dacus on the chorus. The recording illustrates the wonderful blend of voices that the three create. The song itself is not really about a dog, but about love and the loss of a relationship.

    I wanna hear one song without thinking of you;
    I wish I was on a spaceship,
    Just me and my dog and an impossible view.

    Check out boygenius performing “Me & My Dog” live at the WFUV studios from November 2018.



    Leave your two cents in the comments.

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    “Last Train to Clarksville” as a Protest Song?

    The Monkees

    One of the biggest hits recorded by The Monkees is “Last Train to Clarksville,” which was released in 1966.  Many of us grew up singing along to the song without realizing it was written as a protest against the Vietnam War.

    Take the last train to Clarksville
    And I’ll meet you at the station,
    You can be here by four-thirty,
    ‘Cause I’ve made your reservation, don’t be slow,
    Oh, no, no, no,
    Oh, no, no, no.

    If you listen closely to the lyrics sung by Micky Dolenz, you can hear that The Monkees’ “Last Train to Clarksville” is actually in the voice of someone frightened about going off to war.

    Now I must hang up the phone,
    I can’t hear you in this noisy railroad station,
    All alone, I’m feeling low.
    Oh, no, no, no,
    Oh, no, no, no,
    And I don’t know if I’m ever coming home.

    The song does not specifically mention the war, but songwriters Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart explained that they kind of “snuck in” the Viet Nam references.  They noted, “We couldn’t be too direct with the Monkees.”

    And that is the story behind the song.

    What is your favorite song about the Vietnam War or about trains? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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