You Wanna Rumble In My Jungle?

Back in 1997 I was totally smitten with what to me at the time was a faceless Swede behind my favorite song, "Do You Know (What It Takes)." It helped that she shared a name (and, more importantly, a spelling of said name) with my godsister and close friend Robyn, and perhaps that was the reason that despite never hearing anything from the artist again over the next twelve years, I still felt a fondness for her. Thankfully, a friend of mine with her Europop radar much stronger than my own, introduced me earlier this year to the bonafide masterpiece of a self-titled pop album Robyn put out in 2005 (in Sweden), 2007 (Europe and Australia), and 2008 (US, kind of). Robyn is an embarassment of pop riches, but for the final day of 2009 I think I want most to be rocking to this sweetly foul-mouthed joy.

Konichiwa Bitches - Robyn

"Konichiwa Bitches"

Robyn

Robyn

Konichiwa Records, 2007

Trivia: The reason I hadn't heard anything from this fantastic artist for so long was that poor Robyn has gone through the messiest of quagmires with her former labels, before finally getting fed up, buying herself out of her contract, starting her own label, and sending Robyn out into the world in bits and pieces however she can. Multiple tracks from the album appear on Pitchfork's notoriously indie rock-centric Top Singles lists, including their Top 500 Tracks of the 2000s megalist, and Robyn receives almost unanimous praise from any US critic who manages to come across her recent work. But even if all that weren't true, I'd still adore this woman for the brilliant video that accompanies this surprisingly raunchy track...but it gets better. Once after one of my repeated viewings I felt inclined to express my approval via Twitter, jokingly asking where I might get a similar killer bee outfit. I almost died when I received a reply from Robyn herself: "it´s in my attic babes locked up saving it for a rainy day."

DEFINITELY get the fantastic self-titled pop opus by Robyn.

New Year's Eve Favorites (Part 2)

New Year's Eve Favorites (Part 1)

Well, the final day of 2009 is upon us! That leaves me with under 24 hours to figure out what I want to be doing at midnight! ACK!

Dirty Hands I Demand

Everyone knows (or should know) the Australian pop diva Kylie Minogue, but at least stateside there is far less awareness about the other Minogue in the dance-pop biz with an even stranger first name. Dannii Minogue has enjoyed considerable success in the UK and elsewhere in Europe, but so far only one track from Kylie's little sis has made any headway into the US, and even then its play was limited mainly to the dance club circuit. This was fortunately happening just around the time I was an 18 year old freshly out gay boy in L.A. getting my elementary homo education via the 18+ dance club Tigerheat, and now I pass it on to you.

Put The Needle On It (Radio Ve...

"Put the Needle On It"

Dannii Minogue

Neon Nights

London Records, Warner Music UK, Ultra Records, 2002

Trivia: Minogue currently serves as a judge on The X Factor, the British reality singing competition show created by Simon Cowell, best known on this end of the Atlantic as the crotchety hardass judge on American Idol, on which The X Factor is based and which is itself based on another British reality singing competition show called Pop Idol, which ran for two seasons before giving way to its American cousin and later to the new British incarnation that brought us Leona Lewis. In her Assassin comedy tour and its live DVD recording, Margaret Cho lets off a zinger about how then-president George W. Bush "sent Jeb Bush to aid the [Hurricane] Katrina victims...which is like sending Dannii Minogue."

Hoodie and Pecs

Chain Chain Chaaaaain

Rhythm. You Have It Or You Don't? That's a Fallacy

I don't pretend to fully understand the concept of the Gorillaz. I know that it (they?) is (are?) a fictional, or as some call it, "virtual" band of animated musicians, and that at least three notable singles from said creation have made decent dents in the American pop music consciousness over the last decade. But beyond that it's a bit metaphysical for me. So much so that until very recently I was unaware that these digital dynamos were behind a 2001 song that creeped the snot out of me.

Clint Eastwood (Explicit) - Go...

"Clint Eastwood"

Gorillaz

Gorillaz

Parlophone, 2001

Trivia: Gorillaz are the creation of musician Damon Albarn (of the band Blur) and Jamie Hewlett, the co-creator of the Tank Girl comic book (which was also developed into a movie whose trailer creeped the snot out of me). The "band members" are named 2D (vocals and keyboard), Noodle (lead guitar), Murdoc (bass guitar), and Russel (drums). And before you write them off as imaginary, don't forget that these virtual creatures have won more Grammy awards than you have (2006 Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals for "Feel Good Inc.," which was also nominated for Record of the Year). Take that as you will.


Get Gorillaz' 2005 sophomore album Demon Days, which features "Feel Good Inc." and "DARE."

Another Window in Black and White

Whoa, once again I swear I didn't plan that...

By the Window

Now I'm Wishing That I Didn't Wear These Shoes

You may have seen the Black Eyed Peas around somewhere over the past year, I imagine...at least if you weren't comatose or hiding out with bin Laden in his apparently un-findable cave, seeing as they were EVERY. WHERE. But hopefully no one is too burnt out with the edgy rap-pop group to reminisce about the summer a few years back when the fabulous female and lead singer Pea, Fergie, stomped onto the charts with her solo debut, starting with this classic bit of lyrical genius. OH SHIT!

London Bridge (Album Version (...

"London Bridge"

Fergie

The Dutchess

A&M Records, 2006

Trivia: Although The Dutchess is generally considered to have been only a moderate success at best, three of its singles hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100, including "London Bridge." Though I personally hold Fergie in rather high esteem, I can't help but be amused at some of the more egregious goofs contained in this album and its offspring. To begin with, the album title is misspelled and no reasonable evidence it was intentional; indeed, on the track "Fergalicious," guest backup singer and fellow Pea Will.I.Am spells out how delicious and tasty Fergie is, except that he misspells the latter T-A-S-T-E-Y. The chorus to "Big Girls Don't Cry" has a grammatical error so glaring that I subconsciously correct it any time I sing along; and then there's the fantastic fact that the supposedly titular bridge that appears throughout the video for "London Bridge" is in fact the Tower Bridge, a common mistake among those who've never been to London, which Fergie clearly had. But what can you do?

Since you've likely memorized The Dutchess by now, why not check out that album the Black Eyed Peas have been hawking all year that you haven't bothered to listen to because you're so sick of "I Gotta Feeling?" (Trust me, I know how you feel.) Because surprise surprise, it's really good.

Don't Bother With the Shirt

Another Blonde...With a Tattoo

Plastic Cups for Rum and Punch

Before the Grammy Awards were drooling with typical Brit fetishism over Amy Winehouse and Adele, the charming singer/songwriter Corinne Bailey Rae found herself in the running for top prizes two years in a row for tracks from her self-titled debut album. "Put Your Records On" and "Like a Star," the two tracks that brought Rae her Grammy noms (but sadly no wins) in 2007 and 2008, respectively, are certainly lovely, but it's this track she contributed to the soundtrack of He's Just Not That Into You that I find I enjoy the most.

I'd Like To - Corinne Bailey R...

"I'd Like To"
Corinne Bailey Rae
Corinne Bailey Rae
EMI Records, 2007


Trivia: Although she garnered a sizeable fan base after the success of her debut album, Rae went on a nearly two-year hiatus from performing or recording in 2008 after her husband, musician Jason Rae, was found dead from a drug overdose. After some uncertainty as to whether she would return to music at all, Rae's sophomore album, The Sea, is set to be released in February 2010.




Get Corinne Bailey Rae's smooth, groovy and competent debut album.

Snowmobile Chic

I Heart Blondes

What's Love Gotta Do With a Little Ménage?

For the second day of Christmas, I had something else for you, but those damn doves flew away and escaped. Instead, here's another little throwback courtesy of two names I bet you haven't heard in a while: Fat Joe and Ashanti.

What's Luv? (Featuring Ja-Rule...

"What's Luv?"

Fat Joe feat. Ashanti

Jealous Ones Still Envy (J.O.S.E.)

Atlantic Records/Murder Inc., 2002

Trivia: "What's Luv" has the somewhat dubious honor of belonging to the "#2 Club," having spent five consecutive weeks in the second spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 2002 but never quite making it all the way to the peak. That may have only been a bummer for one of the two collaborators, however: the pesky single whose two-month reign atop the chart prevented "What's Luv" from claiming the crown was "Foolish," the smash hit of 2002 by none other than Ashanti.

Similar Pose...Odd

I swear I didn't plan that.

Under Armed

The Only Place You'll Wanna Be (Is Underneath Her Christmas Tree)

Now, don't look too much into the fact that the first of what I assure you will be many times the incomparable Lady Gaga shows up on this blog: just look at the date. Of the scores of opportunistic holiday-themed products created over the years by typically new to new-ish pop stars or wannabes, most of which I wouldn't wish on prisoners at Guantanamo, I challenge you to find one that's more joyous and true to the spirit of the season than this.

Christmas Tree - Lady GaGa

"Christmas Tree"

Lady Gaga feat. Space Cowboy

Streamline, Kon Live, Interscope, Cherrytree Records, 2008 (Digital Download)

Trivia: Although it garnered significantly more attention this holiday season, this satirical pop Christmas carol was released as a digital download during the winter of 2008, when, if you can imagine, Gaga's debut single "Just Dance," which had been out since that April and had been inching its way largely unnoticed up the Billboard Hot 100. In fact, "Just Dance" didn't hit the top spot on the chart until January 10 of this year. Gaga's subsequent four top ten singles (including a second #1 with "Poker Face" and a current #3 for "Bad Romance"), six Grammy noms, fascinatingly bizarre televised performances, two headlining tours and intense critical adoration make it easy to forget how little the industry cared about her a year ago.


Get Lady Gaga's amazing debut album as rereleased as The Fame Monster, featuring eight new and incredible tracks.

Ho Ho Ho

 

Merry Xmas

Praise You Like I Should

Since it's the day before the biggest Christian holy day, I thought it might be appropriate to feign some sort of piety here. So if you feel the need to assume the subject of this Fatboy Slim track from a decade ago is the Big Guy Upstairs, I think today that ought to count.

Praise You - Fatboy Slim

"Praise You"

Fatboy Slim

You've Come a Long Way, Baby

Astralwerks/Skint Records, 1999

Trivia: The somewhat infamous video for "Praise You" (below) was directed by Spike Jonze (Where the Wild Things Are), who used the pseudonym Richard Koufey. It featured a Jonze (as Koufey) and a fictional dance troupe called the Torrance Community Dance Group, and was shot outside a movie theatre in Westwood, CA in front of an unforewarned crowd of amused passersby. It won three MTV Video Music Awards, including "Breakthrough Video" and "Best Direction."

On the Lookout

Time to Get Out?

'Cause I Love The Way You Call Me Baby

If you haven't already added this to your own collection, you may recognize this fantastic, precious little number from winter Old Navy commercials a couple years ago. And isn't "I'd buy you Rogaine when you start losing all your hair" the most adorably romantic promise?

The Way I Am - Ingrid Michaels...

"The Way I Am"

Ingrid Michaelson

Girls and Boys

Cabin 24 Records, 2006

Trivia: After becoming known following the 2007 Old Navy campaign as well as when several of her songs were featured on Grey's Anatomy, Scrubs, and One Tree Hill, Michaelson toured as the opening act for Jason Mraz on the European leg of his 2008 world tour. She embarked on her first headlining tour in 2009.

Get Ingrid Michaelson's latest album, Everybody.

Oh Look, Aida's Playing

Barrel of Yum

Take a Chance You Stupid Ho

Since it came up yesterday, how about a little more Linda Perry-penned pop goodness with Gwen Stefani's solo debut single, "What You Waiting For?"

What You Waiting For? - Gwen S...

"What You Waiting For?"

Gwen Stefani

Love. Angel. Music. Baby.

Interscope, 2004

Trivia: Indie rock band Franz Ferdinandperformed this song in their appearance on BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge, where it is traditional for well-known artists and bands to perform a cover of a popular recent hit by another artist, often one of quite a different style. I have a recording of that as well that I may put up sometime if requested (or it's also on the first Live Lounge compilation album, along with quite a few other awesome covers I'd recommend: follow the link to check out new/used prices on Amazon).

 

Get Gwen Stefani's awesome debut album Love. Angel. Music. Baby.

Another Hat

Dressed for the Weather

Why Donate?

I've created this blog to bring the joys from my two main projects together, those being The Adonis Complex Blogs and my pop music blog Vertigo Shtick, in a way people might uniquely enjoy. And I enjoy it too!

Each track/song that I make available on Songs and Studs for you to enjoy for free is there because I've paid for the right to post it. It's not much, but it does add up, as do the hours of research that (believe it or not) go into this as well as Vertigo Shtick.

Though there is no obligation whatsoever to do so, any amount you may feel compelled to contribute to the ongoing upkeep of this blog and its parent blogs will be received with the utmost gratitude, whether that be 50 cents, $1, $5 or anything beyond or between. And if you are so moved, please feel free to make any requests in exchange for your generosity!

Thank you!

I'm Comin' Up, So...

What better way to get the party started than with a little semi-old school Pink?

Get The Party Started - P!nk, ...

"Get the Party Started"

Pink 

M!ssundaztood

Arista Records, 2001

Trivia: "Get This Party Started" was written by Linda Perry (of 4 Non Blondes), as were a ton of other pop hits you wouldn't have guessed. Other smashes written or co-written by Perry include "Beautiful" (Song of the Year Grammy nominee), "Candyman," "Hurt" and "Keeps Gettin' Better" for Christina Aguilera*; "What You Waiting For?"with Gwen Stefani; "Superwoman"for Alicia Keys**, and most of the stuff Courtney Love has sung recently.

*The latter three were co-written by Aguilera.
** Co-written by Keys and Steve Mostyn


Get Pink's latest album, Funhouse.