Good Wintertime song

Snow falling outside and its a nice winter night. Despite summer and falls comfortability, I think that I like the winter most. I've always thought that people who don't understand the beauty of snow and a crisp cold night lack character. But, all things in moderation I suppose. Anyway, a podcast I listen to (All songs considered) had a feature this weekend about breakup songs in honour of Valentine's Day. Most of the songs weren't for me but one stood out. Sarah Siskind's Lovin's for Fools. Last year I was really into Bon Iver and they do a cover of this song as well. I thought I'd post the original in this space though. Sad songs always work best in the cold.

Classic

For me, John Lennon has always been one of the few people who inspire genuine inspiration. He is the classic iconoclast and I think I've always been drawn to that type of public figure. The man who knows himself and is blessed with talent beyond his peers, but who rejects the complacency of adoration and celebrity. After proving his mastery of popular culture he charted his own course. I love that in the face of complete domination (bigger than Jesus?) of the public spotlight, he remained thoughtful and reflective. In addition to his song God, this song is such an awesome example of his unique genius. I was reminded of it after seeing it featured in the credits to the movie Funny People a few months ago. This kind of authenticity is so rare to tap into...enjoy



WATCHING THE WHEELS
People say I'm crazy doing what I'm doing
Well they give me all kinds of warnings to save me from ruin
When I say that I'm o.k. well they look at me kind of strange
Surely you're not happy now you no longer play the game

People say I'm lazy dreaming my life away
Well they give me all kinds of advice designed to enlighten me
When I tell them that I'm doing fine watching shadows on the wall
Don't you miss the big time boy you're no longer on the ball

I'm just sitting here watching the wheels go round and round
I really love to watch them roll
No longer riding on the merry-go-round
I just had to let it go

Ah, people asking questions lost in confusion
Well I tell them there's no problem, only solutions
Well they shake their heads and they look at me as if I've lost my mind
I tell them there's no hurry
I'm just sitting here doing time

I'm just sitting here watching the wheels go round and round
I really love to watch them roll
No longer riding on the merry-go-round
I just had to let it go
I just had to let it go
I just had to let it go

SEQUINS!!!

Time for a new comedian update. Alongside Ricky Gervais (see below), Aziz Ansari is on my short list of favourite comedians from the past several years. I think his enthusiasm and cadence are hilarious. Also, I like that he is just straight-up funny without having to play up the minority angle too much. I love fellow Canadian Russell Peters for example but at some point it feels like he's just taking the obvious route. So far, Aziz has been hilarious but hilarious on his own merits. In addition to his ridiculously good role in Funny People, Aziz is on Parks and Rec right now. Though it took me nearly a full season to warm to it, this show now has me hooked and is probably the best comedy show on television.

Check out his website:
http://azizisbored.tumblr.com/

New Song Pick

New Vampire Weekend.

The new Vampire Weekend record is out and I'm liking it a lot. It sounds like a slightly more mellow version of the debut album. The first record was one of my favourites and so I was hoping for more of the same and thats mostly what I got with this new record. The debut single is Horchata but so far Diplomat's Son is what I keep coming back to. Its got a background loop that I think is M.I.A. I think this track and this record as a whole will keep growing on me and will hopefully peak during Spring/Summer when music like this is best enjoyed.

Could only dig up a live version:


It’s not right but it’s now or never
And if I wait could I ever forgive myself?

On a night when the moon glows yellow in the riptide
With the light from the TVs buzzing in the house

Cuz I’m gonna cut it where I can
And then I’m gonna duck out behind them
If I ever had a chance it’s now then
But I never had the feeling I could offer that to you

To offer it to you would be cruel
When all I want to do is use, use you

He was a diplomat’s son
It was ‘81

Dressed in white with my car keys hidden in the kitchen
I could sleep wherever I lay my head

And the sight of your two shoes sitting in the bathtub
Let me know that I shouldn’t give up just yet

Cuz I’m gonna take it from Simon
And then I’m gonna duck out behind them
If I ever had a chance it’s now then
But I never had the feeling I could offer that to you

To offer it to you would be cruel
When all I want to do is use, use you

He was a diplomat’s son
It was ‘81

I know, you’ll say
I’m not doing it right
But this is how I want it

I can’t go back
To how I felt before—

That night I smoked a joint
With my best friend
We found ourselves in bed
When I woke up he was gone

He was the diplomat’s son
It was ‘81

Looking out at the ice-cold water all around me
I can’t feel any traces of that other place

In the dark when the wind comes racing off the river
There’s a car all black with diplomatic plates

A Head Like a F*!#@ Orange!

For anybody who is a fan of Ricky Gervais (of Office and Extras fame) you will absolutely love Karl Pilkington. He was a radio producer who worked with Ricky and his collaborator Stephen Merchant. Eventually the three of them began a series of radio programs together. I think that with the prevalance of iPods, the radio format for comedy is back in full swing. These guys have been putting out podcasts for years and are the best in the game. They've most recently done a series of 'instructional' audiobooks. I listen to them religiously and honestly find myself laughing out loud on my walk to work. I work as a resident in a hospital. While on call yesterday and walking from my reading room to one of the wards, I had my headphones in and was absolutely doubled over in laughter.

You can learn about new shows at www.rickygervais.com For a little introduction to the un-initiated check out the video below. Its on the long end but if you watch the first 2min30s, you should either be hooked or not. If not, it will be hard for us to be friends.



For the literary, below are some Karl quotations:

Karl's diary - "Woke up at 9.55am. Soon as I woke up, I looked at Suzanne and she looked at me. I said, "Did I tell you about the immune system?" Suzanne starting laughing, I said it's amazing. She said, "Not now."

"[Jellyfish] are 97% water or something, so how much are they doing? Just give them another 3% and make them water. It's more useful."

"If you live in a glass house, don't be chucking stuff about." - Karl interprets the phrase "Those who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones".

"Yeh I know but, I remember one on our estate, right. And she was a bit... what's the word that you can use cos I don't want to offend anyone? I'd say mental... but sort of mental homeless, is that a term?"

New song pick

Will try to put up a new song as frequently as possible. To qualify, it will have to be whatever is catching my ear at the time. I like this song for so many reasons and find myself singing it at work all the time. The lyrics aren't the most profound thing but they feel genuine to me. They remind me that there are other people out there who also have their head in the clouds and like to embrace that side of themselves. As far as a favourite moment goes, I'd pick the lyric "with gems and rhinestones". During that line, Eddie Vedder paints me a picture of a man howling at the moon. Anyway, without further adieu...


Pearl Jam - Unknown Thought



All the thoughts,... You never see,... You’re always thinking,...
Brain is wired,... Brain is deep,... Oh are you sinking?,...

Feel the path of every day,... Which road you taking?,...
Breathing hard,... & Making hay,... Yeh this is living,...

Look for love & evidence,... That you’re worth keeping,...
Swallowed whole in negatives,... It's so sad & sickening,...

Feel the air up above,... A pool of blue sky,...
Fill the air up with love,... Black w/starlight,...

Feel the sky blanket you,... w/gems & rhinestones,...
See the path cut by the moon,... For you to walk on,...
For you to walk on,...

Nothing left,... Nothing left,...
Nothing there,... Nothing left,...

See the path cut by the moon,... For you to walk on,...
See the waves on distant shores,... Awaiting your arrival,...

Dream the dreams of other men,... You’ll be no ones rival,...
Dream the dreams of others then,... You will be no ones rival,...
You will be no ones rival,...

A distant time,... A distant space,... That’s where we’re living ..
A distant time,... A distant place,... So what you giving?,...
What you giving?

It started with...

A whimper? There is no set idealogy or undercurrent here. Rather, this is my self-interested forum for expression. Digital vanity. I plan to use this space to write about songs, humour, ideas, television, people and whatever else is subject to my latest obsession.