30 Days to Getting Over the Dork You USED to Call a Boyfriend

2008-01-28T20:03:00.000-08:00

Dent May and His Magnificent Ukelele :: When You Were Mine

When you were mine
I gave you all of my money
Time after time
You done me wrong

Dent May and His Magnificent Ukelele, "When You Were Mine"

Yes. this is the Prince song and yes, Dent May plays a magnificent ukelele, that is no euphemism. I know, too many covers can be cloying, but this one is both sweet and sad, lovely and lilting. I like his achy-break-y voice. And I believe Dent May is heartbroken over the girl. I'm not sure, in spite of a whole lot of emotion, that Prince is in fact all that shook up. I mean, he's Prince. He may be short, but he is potent if you get my drift. The man gots all the ladies. But anyway, I don't mean to slag Prince. His original version, from Dirty Mine, is flipping gorgeous. Okay then. So Dent is from Mississippi. And I still have to do that little spelling thing m-i-ss-i-ss-i-pp-i thing to spell it. He likes John Waters and Tab. So I like him. There have been plenty of other covers, I could do a whole week of just this song: Cyndi Lauper. Tegan & Sara. Mitch Ryder. Casiotone for the Painfully Alone. Ani DiFranco. Crooked Fingers (I need to track that one down!!)

On a related note to my book (but not to this post) I recently was a guest on more than a dozen radio programs promoting 30 DAYS TO GETTING OVER THE DORK YOU USED TO CALL YOUR BOYFRIEND. A few were fun, some were embarrassing, one was truly embarrassing. Wanna hear me on Dr. Alvin Augustus Jones "Eternity in Your Heart" family radio programming in Virginia? Go ahead. Okay you probably really don't want to. It's um, painful.

On an un-related note... did you see my very own brother posted a note on my site. I just noticed. Yipee! I love my brother.

More about Dent May :: More about my brother!

2008-01-15T12:42:00.000-08:00

Eagle Seagull :: I'm Sorry But I'm Beginning To Hate Your Face

Don't give a damn who lead who on
It's of no concern to me
If you could tell the new man, please
To hang up my shirt
As he takes it off your shoulders
It's the least he could do
If we're going to share you

Eagle Seagull, "I'm Sorry, But I'm Beginning To Hate Your Face"

Oh, snap. Ok I have never written or uttered those words together, but Oh how I do live the snarkiness and sharpness of those lyrics. The song goes on to recount how she isn't the same person anymore, how they don't talk, all the things that lead to the heart-breaking end of a relationship. This Lincoln, Nebraska based band is big in Germany. And Austria. And why they aren't big here I don't know. I like Eli Mardock's breathy, pained voice. I really, really do.

More about Eagle Seagull.

2008-01-14T07:42:00.000-08:00

A Smile And A Ribbon :: The Boy I Wish I Never Met

The boy-oy I wish I never met
The boy-oy I wish I never met

A Smile And A Ribbon, "The Boy I Wish I Never Met"

Okay so I don't know the lyrics, exactly. This is another Swedish band, this one comprised of Rebecca Melhman and Martin Lindqvist. Their MySpace page mentions that they basically took Rebecca's failed relationship and set it to music. Sounds perfect for this here blog, no? This song starts off slow, soft and fuzzy and then at about a minute and ten seconds in the drums and guitar kick in and it's a lovely low-fi pop gem that you can pogo round the house to singing "The boy-oy that I wish I never met..." It's still a little fuzzy and soft 'round the edges and that's just a-ok in my book. Their song "Book Cover" is equally fine for this mix tape and frankly, so is the rest of their tunes. Lovely!

More about A Smile And a Ribbon can be found here.

2008-01-09T09:06:00.000-08:00

The Boy Least Likely To: Faith

Oh but I need some time off from that emotion
Time to pick my heart up off the floor
And when that love comes down without devotion
Well it takes a strong man baby but I'm showing you the door

The Boy Least Likely To, "Faith"

I have posted this one before as well, but hopefully there are many new folks to these pages now in this, the SECOND DAY OF MY BOOK BEING AVAILABLE. And well, you can never go wrong with hand claps or George Michael covers.

Oh how I love the Boy Least Likely To! This English duo (with a handful of other musicians playing things like recorders and glockenspiels) have been releasing singles and EPs since 2003. They have one full length, The Best Party Ever and it's a delightful confection, so sugar coco pop with sing along choruses and beautiful instrumentation, the stand-outs being "Be Gentle With Me" and "I'm Glad I Hitched My Apple Wagon to Your Star."

And here they cover the George Michael Dear John letter of a song, "Faith." Oh the inner turmoil and angst George wrote about, wanting his lover so but knowing he was better off without. And this is one of those kiss-off songs that is too much fun NOT to sing along with. So put it on loud and dance around your room in your jammies. This track is from their website and if you go there, link below, you can download even more tunes.

More about The Boy Least Likely To :: Full lyrics to "Faith"

2008-01-08T08:30:00.000-08:00

Donovan Woods : I Ain't Saying She's Better Than You

And all of the things you showed to me
That lead me to this solemn decree
I ain't sayin' she's better than you, you see
She's just better, than you, for me

Donovan Woods, "I Ain't Saying She's Better Than You"

It's true, I posted this long ago. If you've been with me, you know. But I had to, on this, THE DAY MY BOOK COMES OUT, pick the best break-up song, possibly, ever.

Break-up songs don't get any more truthful and forthcoming than this. This may be difficult to hear, this song. But I think it's worth it. Not just for the beauty of the music, or his wistful voice or delicate guitar, but the incredibly succinct sentiments here that I suspect are behind many, many break-ups.

There are lessons here gals, there are lessons.

Here is a guy opening up and being honest, he found someone better. Not a better person, just better for him.

Now, not to be overt or blunt here but hey, it is a blog for a book and that book comes out TODAY!!!! So head on over to Amazon.com, if you feel like it of course, and check it out, purchase it, tell your friends, you know the rest. It does make a great gift!!!!!! xox

You can BUY IT HERE (how was that for blunt?)

Donovan's MySpace Page :: More Songs By Donovan

2008-01-04T09:00:00.000-08:00

Julie Feeney :: You Bring Me Down

I need to catch the bee in your bonnet
Turn it inside out with you on it

Julie Feeney, "You Bring Me Down"

Julie Feeney is an Irish singer songwriter who used to perform (as a singer, not a dancer) with Riverdance. But don't hold that against her. She's actually got a very quirky and loverly sound. She's also an elementary school teacher, or at least she went to school and graduated as one. Cute, no? This song is such a kiss-off. This is from her CD 13 Songs which finds her playing eleven instruments on, including the toy-like tinklings of the recorder, harmonium and accordian.

More about Julie?

2008-01-03T09:58:00.000-08:00

April McLean:: Rock, Paper Scissors

I don’t know why I should care
I’m always looking for something in you that’s not there
And it doesn’t seem fair but it’s all that we’ve got
Because the truth is you can’t be someone that you’re not

April McLean, "Rock Paper Scissors"

This is a very catchy song about a crappy relationship that is dissolving, or should be. April sounds a little like Aimee Mann and Sam Phillips (the voice of the Gilmore Girls) and even a little Marti Jones (so 90s!) Songs from her first CD were on the show Felicity. Oh I loved Felicity. I need to get that on DVD. But I digress, this is a pop nugget ideal for a break-up mix.

Read more about April

2008-01-02T10:08:00.000-08:00

Anna Terneheim :: To Be Gone

Leave the body leave the mind
Leave the body leave the mind
Every promise every place behind
I just happen to feel so alone
For today for all days to come

Anna Ternheim, "To Be Gone"

You know I love the Swedes. Anna is Swedish and she's won a few Swedish Grammys and October 07 saw the US release of her second CD. This is from her first though. This song isn't clearly about a break-up, but it's so melancholy and delicately dark and, if you'd decided to sulk for an afternoon in your misery (something I think is ok as long as we are in fact talking about an afternoon and not an abundance of afternoons) well this would be really gorgeous and well, effective on that soundtrack. I like Anna, check out her new CD.

More about Anna.

2007-12-13T09:18:00.000-08:00

The Gossip :: Careless Whisper

I'm never gonna dance again
guilty feet have got no rhythm
though it's easy to pretend
I know you're not a fool

The Gossip, "Careless Whisper"

It's George Michael week here at the blog. Beth Ditto is as formidable a character as Rufus (see yesterday) and she tackles this song with her own brand of ruthless dancability. It's a whole new song! And yet, still an homage to the bad behavior that lurks in all night dance clubs. Yip yip yippee!

Wanna know more Gossip huh?

2007-12-12T11:23:00.000-08:00

Ben Folds and Rufus Wainwright :: Careless Whisper

I'm never gonna dance again
guilty feet have got no rhythm
though it's easy to pretend
I know you're not a fool

Should've known better than to cheat a friend
and waste the chance that I've been given
so I'm never gonna dance again
the way I danced with you

Ben Folds and Rufus Wainwright, "Careless Whisper"

This is a much covered song and rightfully so... the drama! Especially in the hands of Rufus, who delivers his lines with the same cabaret stylings that have made his Judy Garland show infamous. Oh George Micheal how ye have written so many great heartbreaking odes to bad choices! Tomorrow, someone else will tackle this tune!

If you're looking for more on Ben Folds or Rufus Wainwright, you can start at any of these places.

2007-11-10T11:24:00.000-08:00

Of Montreal :: Voltaic Crusher/undrum To Musted Da

Everything is in the trash, and it's my fault
I've destroyed us, I know, it's unrecoverable
If there's a God he will repair your heart
If there's a God, send her an angel
Make him handsome and clever and not crazy
And you notice something wonderful
Someone to love her volcanically

Of Montreal, "Voltaic Crusher/undrum To Musted Da"

Whoa how I love the lyrics to Of Montreal songs. They are whack. While this song isn't from the latest release, "Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer?" it's so wonderfully weird and peppy and dark all at the same time. This is a song, a gloriously poppy song sing from the point of view of a real jerk who knows he is a real jerk and who knows he's treated his gal horribly and has remorse but knows he cannot change. How's this for a line?

You gave me your hand, I gave you a fist, Please don't lose any sleep over me, baby, I hardly exist.

Yowsa.

Wanna know more about Of Montreal? Or would you like to see a random and bizarre video?

2007-11-01T11:23:00.000-07:00

Rick Springfield :: Jessie's Girl

You know I feel so dirty
when they start talking cute
I want to tell her I love her,
but the point is probably moot

Rick Springfield, "Jessie's Girl"

A classic 80s unrequited love song with a hammering back beat. Back when this song came out I thought, "Who wouldn't want Rick Springfield? He's so hot! I'd pick him over Jessie!" I'm old. You got to love how straightforward the lyrics were in pop songs in the 80s. There was no art to it. No subtlety. Just rhymes. It was just enough to work the word "moot" in.

Where is Rick Springfield now?

2007-10-15T10:53:00.001-07:00

Rilo Kiley :: Breakin Up

Here's to all the pretty words
We will never speak
Here's to all the pretty girls
You're gonna meet

Rilo Kiley, "Break' Up"

This is a wacky Rilo Kiley song. I mean, lyrically it sure it is fitting for this blog. Heck, it's titled "Breakin' Up" but musically it's very Seventies with plenty of Yvonne Elliman-esque oohs and echoes. After multiple listens I'm not sure how I feel about those. Not like the sly and sassy quirky LA rock of Execution. But I do like the twist in the lyrics where she says she "feels good to be free." Kiss. Off. And it's not like I'm wholly against Under the Blacklight. I like much of that record. "Silver Lining" for instance. And that song is appropriate for this blog, too. But how can I ignore a song called "Breakin' Up"?

More about Rilo Kiley; Rilo Kiley in Concert on NPR

2007-08-06T10:53:00.000-07:00

Hal :: My Eyes Are Sore

My eyes are sore
Too many tears gone and fall over you my girl
And happiness isn't for sure
Once you get what you're looking for

Hal, "My Eyes Are Sore"

Hal is a band, not a person. Just want to get that out of the way. This was definitely one of my favorite CDs of 2005 (I think it was 2005?) Super Beatles-esque Brit band that has the full blown wall of sound thing down. All the songs are gorgeous pop orchestrations that sound amazing on headphones. This song's lyrics are simple and sad, but the way they are executed is uplifting and makes me want to dance all flitty up the walls like a little fairy girl. This song isn't even one of my faves from the CD which is chock full of gems. I love the song "Coming Right Over" and when I am down, if I put it on loud and then louder still, it will always cheer me up. A highly recommended CD if you like your pop British, sugar pop sweet and lush like a snow white angora rabbit in a purple velvet coat.

More about Hal

And I apologize, I totally stole that picture of Hal from this flicker account.

2007-08-05T16:30:00.000-07:00

Maria McKee :: Drinkin' In My Sunday Dress

The telephone is by the bottle, which is always by my bed
From time to time I give it a rattle to make sure it is not dead
I will wait here for your call till I run out of cigarettes
I love to play the part of the damsel in distress
Flicking ashes in my coffee, drinking in my Sunday dress

Maria McKee, "Drinking In My Sunday Dress"

I'm back. Took a little leave to work on the follow up to the Dork book (I know, this one isn't even out yet) and to fiddle with some other projects. So back to sad songs and lost love laments. I fell madly and passionately in love with Lone Justice when that first record came out. Maria McKee, the lead singer of that long defunct band, has the most adorable spitfire voice, it cackles and spits at you but it's also so sweet which is why this song from her solo career is so awesome. My favorite part is at the end where she just starts yelling and freaking out and cussing and you know when she was recording this she was twisting and turning and kicking. There is venom in this here song full of every vice in the world. A great singalong for sad, sassy days. Maria McKee is making the rounds currently touring and she's still a spitfire.

More about: Maria McKee

2007-06-12T10:14:00.001-07:00

Old 97s :: Book of Poems

Well it's bad luck and it's a hard luck story
And I'm sorry I ain't sticking around
I got a real bad feeling that a book of poems ain't enough

Old 97s, "Book of Poems"

No, a book of poems probably isn't enough, Rhett. I also like the line, "It seems like years ago, it was yesterday." How often has that happened? You have a day that feels like a year and when it's over and done for you feel like you've walked through coals from here to New Zealand. I like this one because it's from the perspective of a cool guy who has made a few mistakes and he's realizing he can't talk his way out of this one. From their CD Satellite Rides. Click on the link below because they just completed a new podcast and are apparently functioning as a band still in spite of Rhett's so-so solo career.

More about the Old 97s

2007-05-02T20:24:00.000-07:00

Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin :: House Fire

We did what we could
To save this house from falling
But it burns because it's wood
And now you’ll never call me darling

Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin, "House Fire"

There was a lot of hype about this band and in all honesty, I ignored it because I assumed from their name that they were either one of those bands that boys like that I just don't get or that they were electronica which you know I have a yearly quota for and anything over that just sounds the same and bored me to tears but see, I was wrong, as I often am, on both counts. They're very much a touchy-feely band with songs about love and lost love and turns out, according to one interview I read, were mostly owritten for one of the guy's exes. So there you go. I was way wrong. This song is pretty in an indie rock, we're on the OC sort of way. I have an annual quota for those types of songs too, but I haven't filled it just yet.

SSLYBY on Daytrotter :: More about SSLYBY

2007-04-25T09:39:00.000-07:00

Jarvis Cocker :: Don't Let Him Waste Your Time

Well, you can stay all night if you want to
You can hang out with all of his friends
You can go and meet his mother and father
Hmm, you better make sure that's where it ends

Jarvis Cocker, "Don't Let Him Waste Your Time"

Okay so here is the thread-- the British Jarvis Cocker wrote some of the lyrics on Charlotte Gainsbourg's latest CD, 5:55 (see yesterday's post) as well as contributing to Air's most recent CD, Pocket Symphony. And, he was on the Monseiur Gainsbourg Revisited CD that was a reworking of some of Charlotte's dad's songs. This here song was originally written for Nancy Sinatra (of "These Boots Were Made for Walking" fame) in 2004. He released it last year. It starts out earnest enough, but then gets a bit snotty along the way, maintaining a solid swagger throughout and I like it. In case you didn't know, Jarvis Cocker was the lead singer of Pulp. And, perhaps more importantly, he was in the Weird Sisters, the fictional wizard band from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire!

Jarvis Cocker's MySpace page :: More about Pulp

2007-04-24T09:29:00.000-07:00

Charlotte Gainsbourg :: Everything I Cannot See

You're my life, you're my hope
You're the chain, you're the rope
You're my god, you're my hell
You're the sky, you're myself
You're the reason I'm living
You're all that I have to discover

Charlotte Gainsbourg, "Everything I Cannot See"

Did you ever see her in Jane Eyre with William Hurt? The Franco Zefferelli directed movie? Ohh-wee, it was good. I had wanted to see it -- I LOVE that book -- but had missed it and kept forgetting at the video store (still no Netflix for me, alas) and then when I was down and out and sick and home and in bed and in need of something, anything to watch, there it was, right from the beginning and everything. Charlotte was a great Jane, plain enough, but with this air, this majesty that made you understand how Mr. Rochester falls in love with her. Anywho, you may already know that her Dad was Serge Gainsbourg (if you know who Serge is, I'm sure you know this is her daughter) but in any case, he was a famous oft-controversial French musician. And her mom is chanteuse and actress Jane Birkin. But wait, I've not told you of this bizarre song. This is typical of her lineage-- it's a boozy, hazy, whispered lament of love and it's backed, as is the whole album this is from, 5:55, by the French band Air.

More about Charlotte Gainsbourg :: More about Air

2007-04-16T21:24:00.000-07:00

Maia Hirasawa :: And I Found This Boy

We talked about life
We talked about time
We talked about me
While he was looking around
He was searching for something new and exciting
While I was standing there right in front of him - hello!

Maia Hirasawa, "And I Found This Boy"

Don't say I'm desperate, I'm not! The best line - but unfortunately I have no idea what she's saying before or after that line so I didn't lead in with it. In fact, I'm guessing about all the lyrics to this song, she just has a few mouthfuls, a couple of complicated turns-of-phrases and with the slight accent (she's from Sweden, and is in Hello Saferide, too), well it's all too adorable. I love the back-up singers on this track too. It reminds me of Esthero's "Everyday Is a Holiday (With You)" although that one is all about rainbows and unicorns and love and how wonderful life is and well it's not, by any stretch of the imagination, a break-up song. Quite the opposite. So this song is, I think, about how she's looking for someone, even for one night (that part of the lyrics, I got) and she finds this boy, but not only does he have a girlfriend but he knows all about her exes. Am I right? I dunno. It's hard to follow, but I love this song, it's so filled with life and vigor and energy and girlish charm, and even though the video is her and a guy in a giant rat suit in a men's bathroom, I still envision a whole Singing in the Rain dance number on some wet foreign street - with canes!- when I hear it. This CD will most definitely end up on my top ten of 2007, and I can say that with confidence even though it's only April. It's all good!

More about Maia Hirasawa :: More About Hello Saferide :: Buy this CD!

2007-04-13T11:08:00.000-07:00

Pelle Carlberg :: Clever Girls Like Clever Boys Much More Than Clever Boys Like Clever Girls

You should have listened to what Momma said
And walked away with someone else instead
You should have listened to what Grandma said
And married someone more like Fred

Pelle Carlberg, "Clever Girls Like Clever Boys Much More Than Clever Boys Like Clever Girls"

Yesterday French, today Swedish. Pelle Carlberg makes delightful pop music, I hear he's quite well known and popular in his country and I get it. Everyone sights early Belle and Sebastian when speaking of him. Who cares, it's not like B&S created the concept of lush pop songs, they only perfected them. And frankly, Mr. Carlberg (he looks like a Mister, no?) writes exquisite lyrics and zinger song titles. "I Love You, You Imbecile" and "Go To Hell, Miss Rydell" and "How I Broke My Foot and Met Jesus" to name just a few.

This starts with those shakers and hand claps - ohh wee! I can't say enough about hand claps. Now the sentiment is a bit, well, daggy, I mean, clever boys like clever girls don't they? Of course they do. But not with the frequency as us smart girls, sadly. And certainly not in their early years. Oh those painful early years!

Pelle Carlberg's Website :: Labrador, his label

2007-04-11T19:37:00.000-07:00

Soko: I'll Kill Her

I would have met your friends
We would have had a drink or two
They would have liked me
Because sometimes I'm funny

Soko, "I'll Kill Her"

If no one has ever told you not to take the advice of pop songs, let me be the first. Still, some folks find it fun to exercise their imaginations and plot wildly horrible acts, in song. This songs for you! This band is French, the gal sings in English with a heavy accent which makes the chorus, "I'll kill her" just sound so darn cute! The song is an ex-girlfriend's angry (but peppy and insane) threat to take out the new girl and a longing for what could have been. Okay it's more than a longing, it's a bit psychotic. The blog Another Form of Relief suggested the narrator was never even in a relationship to break-up from and that it's more a stalker-perspective ditty. I agree. Either way, it's perfect for this blog.

Soko's My Space Page

2007-03-23T11:01:00.000-07:00

Bon Jovi :: You Give Love A Bad Name

You're a loaded gun
There's nowhere to run
No one can save me
The damage is done

Bon Jovi, "You Give Love A Bad Name"

Tee hee. I can't say anything really, this song must rest on the laurels of it's brilliant lyrical content and Jon's equally brilliant hair don't. Have a great weekend...

2007-03-21T10:30:00.000-07:00

Let's Go Sailing :: Icicles

But I know one day the sun will come
And the icicles will have no choice but to melt
And I'll forget how this felt

Let's Go Sailing, "Icicles"

Doesn't sound like such a sad song, does it? I mean the purty strumming and there is a hopefulness to the music. I believe this band has members in common with Silverspun Pickups, and I like that band well enough but they don't sound like this. This is Pop Music, capital P. And one of the Haden triplets is a part of this outfit too-- is it Tanya? Man, I should have gotten my facts on them straight before writing about them. Let's see, they're going to be on KCRW live in studio on Morning Becomes Eclectic this week. Maybe even today?!

More About Let's Go Sailing ::

2007-03-20T20:20:00.000-07:00

Libbie Schrader :: Wish You Were The Woman

Where do we go from here
I don't think I can sleep this off
You've already made yourself clear
You think I would have had enough
But I wish you were the woman
I wish I was the man
When a man loves a woman the way I love you
He'll get her in the end

Libbie Schrader, "Wish You Were The Woman"

Schrader was in a band Think of England, that won all sort of Pantene-sponsored and Jewel (the singer) sponsored contests. Now she's a solo artist and she's still winning crap. She was a finalist in some International Songwriting Contest. You know I don't care about that stuff, I just like this song. It's pretty simple. And more importantly, it's fairly clever and I like clever.

I found this at the super-duper blog The Late Greats.

More about Libbie Schrader :: And even more