November 22nd, 2005 3:31pm
Broadcast “Michael Agrammar” - My name...
My Feet Are Dancing So Much
Broadcast “Michael Agrammar” - My name is not Michael, but it’s very common for people to think that it is. It’s not far off from Matthew, I suppose, and it’s a nice enough name, so I’m never very offended. (I mean, if people were accidentally calling me Mike or Mikey or Mickey, I might take some issue.) The only time I ever wish that my name was actually Michael is when I hear this song. Trish Keenan sings the name with a quiet grace and gentle authority - Michael could just as well be her child as it as a lover, a brother, or a best friend. Lyrically as well as musically, the track is intimate and woozy, like a disjointed half-asleep late night conversation set to song. (Click here to buy it from Insound.)
Judy Henske & Jerry Yester “Farewell Aldebaran” - How square are people now that any busker with a stupid beard gets to be called “freak folk” without having to actually sound as bizarre as this late 60s head-scratcher? The song begins as an urgent, theatrical lo-fi prog-folk thing (you could probably trick someone into believing that it’s Guided By Voices at first), but halfway through, the vocals are put through some kind of extreme processing that makes it sound like the mic has been passed to an opera-loving Dalek. (Click here to buy it from Amazon.)
11/22/05 3:46 pm
Was that a dig at Devandra?
11/22/05 3:46 pm
Was that a dig at Devandra?
11/22/05 4:22 pm
There’s been a few Michael themed songs, as of late. If you have a friend named Michael (which I do), you might be tempted to sing them at them in lieu of a regular greeting, like “Hi”. Try: obviously this Broadcast song. Franz Ferdinand’s “Michael. AND! Changing XTC’s lyrics to “we’re always making plans… for Michael”.
11/22/05 4:22 pm
There’s been a few Michael themed songs, as of late. If you have a friend named Michael (which I do), you might be tempted to sing them at them in lieu of a regular greeting, like “Hi”. Try: obviously this Broadcast song. Franz Ferdinand’s “Michael. AND! Changing XTC’s lyrics to “we’re always making plans… for Michael”.
11/22/05 5:41 pm
jerry yester! was in the modern folk quartet, and also later produced both tim buckley and tom waits. awesome.
when i was a kid, people often thought my name was frank, which i hated, despite my affinity for sinatra. this weekend, at panera, the guy taking my name thought it was frank, and i corrected him, and he called me “frankie.”
his name was steve-o.
11/22/05 5:41 pm
jerry yester! was in the modern folk quartet, and also later produced both tim buckley and tom waits. awesome.
when i was a kid, people often thought my name was frank, which i hated, despite my affinity for sinatra. this weekend, at panera, the guy taking my name thought it was frank, and i corrected him, and he called me “frankie.”
his name was steve-o.
11/22/05 6:01 pm
As opposed to Dalek the freaky hip-hop guy, right?
11/22/05 6:01 pm
As opposed to Dalek the freaky hip-hop guy, right?
11/22/05 6:09 pm
Of course. EX-TERM-IN-ATE and all that.
11/22/05 6:09 pm
Of course. EX-TERM-IN-ATE and all that.
11/23/05 12:59 am
‘chelmsley wood’, as mentioned in the song, is a rough part of birmingham (uk), full of council estates & teenage mums, near where i used to live. broadcast reprazent.
11/23/05 12:59 am
‘chelmsley wood’, as mentioned in the song, is a rough part of birmingham (uk), full of council estates & teenage mums, near where i used to live. broadcast reprazent.
11/23/05 3:46 am
“square”…. as opposed to “all the hep cats”?
11/23/05 3:46 am
“square”…. as opposed to “all the hep cats”?
11/26/05 7:04 pm
yes, devendra is quite fond of judy. there is more than one good album of her. I highly recommend the self titled judy henske. she is joking (black humour in fact) between the songs and performs classics like wade in the water.
11/26/05 7:04 pm
yes, devendra is quite fond of judy. there is more than one good album of her. I highly recommend the self titled judy henske. she is joking (black humour in fact) between the songs and performs classics like wade in the water.
11/26/05 8:39 pm
Yeah “Michael A Grammar” is a fantastic tune.. sort of does make me wish my name was Michael! Heh. Not my favorite from Tender Buttons (that would probably be “Corporeal..” or “Tears In the Typing Pool..” or “Black Cat”.. hell, the whole thing is perfect, it’s my #1 for the year), but awesome nonetheless.
11/26/05 8:39 pm
Yeah “Michael A Grammar” is a fantastic tune.. sort of does make me wish my name was Michael! Heh. Not my favorite from Tender Buttons (that would probably be “Corporeal..” or “Tears In the Typing Pool..” or “Black Cat”.. hell, the whole thing is perfect, it’s my #1 for the year), but awesome nonetheless.
11/28/05 3:58 am
I can’t remember anyone accidentally calling me Mathew, but if they did, I wouldn’t be offended either.
11/28/05 3:58 am
I can’t remember anyone accidentally calling me Mathew, but if they did, I wouldn’t be offended either.
11/28/05 3:01 pm
Ah, you stumbled into my actual pet peeve - people spelling Matthew as Mathew! Almost no one actually spells the name with one t!
11/28/05 3:01 pm
Ah, you stumbled into my actual pet peeve - people spelling Matthew as Mathew! Almost no one actually spells the name with one t!
11/29/05 5:18 am
The Broadcast tune is definitely one of the best Michael songs ever. I think it’s such a common name it rarely gets used in songs, and it’s even rarer that it’s a good song.
11/29/05 5:18 am
The Broadcast tune is definitely one of the best Michael songs ever. I think it’s such a common name it rarely gets used in songs, and it’s even rarer that it’s a good song.
11/29/05 5:57 am
You know, my entire life, I never even noticed that it was spelled with two t’s.
I actually looked in the Bible, and sure enough, the Book of Matthew.
I guess that explains the shortened “Matt” that some people use.
Anyway, what Shakespeare said about a name.
11/29/05 5:57 am
You know, my entire life, I never even noticed that it was spelled with two t’s.
I actually looked in the Bible, and sure enough, the Book of Matthew.
I guess that explains the shortened “Matt” that some people use.
Anyway, what Shakespeare said about a name.
11/30/05 10:33 pm
i am so in love with broadcast & this song is simply wonderful. in fact, i put it up on my blog today without looking here first. ah well. just goes to show — excellent tastes all around!
11/30/05 10:33 pm
i am so in love with broadcast & this song is simply wonderful. in fact, i put it up on my blog today without looking here first. ah well. just goes to show — excellent tastes all around!
12/1/05 8:25 pm
You never noticed that? And you’re an adult? With a bible? Who reads this blog? Oh the things your girlfriend must get past you, Michal!
12/1/05 8:25 pm
You never noticed that? And you’re an adult? With a bible? Who reads this blog? Oh the things your girlfriend must get past you, Michal!