Throwback Tracks -- June 1, 2017
David R. Smith
Happy Thursday to you all! It's hot and muggy here in Calgary, and I've been confined to my desk at work, without windows. Which is frustrating. To make matters worse, I have Foreigner's Hot Blooded stuck in my head. So I was going to use that to kick off this week's TBT but Shaun used it a year ago. So I can't.
But it's still in my head. And because of that, all I can picture is Homer Simpson with a hair dryer, covered in popcorn kernels, singing the song and popping the corn.
Which leads us into this week's theme. All songs on this week's TBT are songs that Homer Simpson has either parodied, sang outright, or sang along to. There are some very good songs this week. I hope you like them.
The Guys From do not hold the rights to any of these songs, it is more our hope to expose our readers to new (*cough*) and different retro music, or re-expose them to things they may have forgotten about.
At the top of each section, will be the song name, followed by the artists' name linked to their website (if possible...which is totally hit and miss with oldies), so you can fall down the rabbit hole, finding and supporting what you dig.
Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head - BJ Thomas
This song. It's so good. The first time I heard it was part of the Forrest Gump soundtrack (arguably the best soundtrack of all-time, if you don't count the Ninja Turtles soundtrack.) I loved it immediately. It's got such a nice sound to it. The ukulele (a rather underrated instrument in my opinion) is a nice way to start the song. It's just so good!
I don't remember where in Forrest Gump the song actually plays. There are so many songs (so much so, that the soundtrack didn't include all the songs in the movie) that it's hard to keep track of what songs happen when.
But you know where I do remember this song happening in a movie? Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid... Go ahead. Watch it. I'll wait. Great scene, right? And what's even better is that it's emulated at the end of the Simpsons when Marge and Homer for a bike ride.
...minus the bull...
Love Shack - The B-52s
Glove slap, baby, glove slap!
Full disclosure; I have a love-hate relationship with this song. I hear that opening drum riff and think to myself, "Ugh. This song again?" But generally I'm not in a position to change it. Usually, if it comes on, I'm working in the theatre and it's on a Google Play list and to skip it would mean abandoning my task, going to the booth, and skipping it there. It's not worth it. And that actually bodes well for me, because by the end of the song, I really actually don't mind it. It's funny how songs like that go, hey?
I do tend to have a soft spot for it because of its use on the Simpsons, and because the B-52s actually came on and recorded a new version of this song to help get the point across. No pretension there. I dig that.
On top of the Simpsons, we featured this song in one of the 80s shows we did at Stage West and I had a soft spot for one of the girls singing it. So how can you go wrong, am I right?
Rosie - Jackson Browne
This is the weirdest video for this song. But the song is the right version, so I'm sticking with it. It's just a means to hear the song, anyway, right?
I love this song. The entire album, Running On Empty, is spectacular and definitely worth a listen. What is really interesting, is that when I was growing up (and even well through my adult years) I never knew what this song was actually about. Until I read the truth and then it all made sense. And definitely gives a different twist to the song.
But that doesn't stop Homer from singing it to Marge, but with his own lyrics and his own personal touch to it. It's actually less creepy when he sings it to her.
Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows - Lesley Gore
I love this song for so many reasons. For one, it's just hard to be in a bad mood when it's playing. Go on. I dare you! Put this song on loud, and try, just TRY to get angry. You can't! It's a physical impossibility. And if you did succeed, well I'm not sure you're the person I want to be reading this column. (Kidding!)
Reason number 2 why I like this song? Because last season, we did a show at Lunchbox that used this song. The show was a feather in the collective caps of everybody who worked on it, but it was also fun to see the dance number that came along with this song. Even now I can picture the dance moves and it makes me giggle.
Final reason why I like this song? Well...
Two Tickets To Paradise - Eddie Money
Wrapping up this week's list is just a great, great song. Years ago, my cousin claimed that this was his favourite song of all time. Now; I'm not so sure about that. I'm pretty sure that even he would tell you it's nowhere near his top songs anymore. But at the time, he was adamant. And why not, really? It's very good!
And the scene in which Homer sings it is also good. And he's right! It IS an excellent guitar riff. Plus, not to worry: Homer got to go to the big game with Flanders anyway. AND he sings Nacho nacho man, which is a spoof of The Village People's Macho Man, which damn near made this list! Funny how that works!!
Typically we'd have the May playlist ready for you, but Shaun is away and I'm not sure he can manage it from where he is. Just know that it'll be ready next week. If you really want to listen to those songs this soon, just go back through and make a playlist of your own! You have the technology. In the meantime, here are all the other TBT playlists for you to enjoy.
Throwback Playlist for Dec 16/Jan 17
October 2016 Throwback Playlist,
September 2016 Throwback Playlist
-D (@davidronn)