Wow! I’ve just found my next favorite song of the moment. It’s called “Junk of the Heart (Happy)” by The Kooks. I’d never heard of these guys before, but this song (and some of their other stuff) is excellent. When I first listened to it on the radio, the positive lyrics were surprising. I mean,
When I was a kid, I loved the song, “Our House” by the British band, Madness. In fact, it’s still a great song … with classic lyrics about a young family growing up. The tune has a Beatles’ “Penny Lane” flavor. And an upbeat melody that paints a happy picture of a good childhood. There
For all you ladies out there, if you had to choose a rock-and-roll name for yourself, which one would you pick? The radio is full of songs, tributes, ballads, and odes to special women. So there are plenty of options for you. Some of them are edgy … like “Roxanne” (by The Police). While others
You know, nothing says “summer” like the song “Great Balls of Fire” by Jerry Lee Lewis. It’s a great melody, but the video might be even better. I can’t explain the sudden mood lighting … or the reason Lewis keeps looking at the ceiling. But, hey, that doesn’t matter:
The moon is fairly well-known. You’ve probably seen it most nights—it’s hard to miss. Why is the moon so interesting? Is it because it’s so big? Maybe people like it because it’s really bright. Or maybe it’s just because it is a GIANT stone floating in the sky. Anyway, in my opinion, the moon is
In music, primary chords are so popular it’s almost a cliché. In fact, a lot of musicians live on a simple diet of just those three chords—the tonic (I), subdominant (IV), and dominant (V). Like a nice plate of rice and beans, we can serve these three triads up in a variety of ways … and
Have you ever been performing on stage when someone in the audience shouts out a special request? It can be a tense moment if you don’t know how to play a particular song. We can’t possibly learn every song on the planet, of course … but there is one song that’s always to good know.
Is it just me, or does anyone else prefer a little peace and quiet while they eat? There might not be anything else in the world that’s more distracting than a restaurant crooner. You know who I’m talking about … lounge-type singers who serenade you while you’re stooped over a piping-hot plate of spaghetti. Maybe
Just the other night, my wife started singing something that I’d never heard before. It was a song called “Mother-in-law.” The melody was pretty catchy … so, of course, I had to look it up. And my friend, Google, tells me it was written in 1961 by a guy named “Ernie K-Doe.” Here’s a picture
With a little bit of practice, we’ll be rocking out in no time. We just have to get our hands working together. And for most people, that means sitting still at the keyboard … and staying focused on which notes to play. After all, every music teacher in the world will tell you to sit still