But, soft! what cacophony doth yonder eardum break? Yes, this week Contrast Podcast features actors who got a bit beyond themselves and decided to turn their hand to making music. But for the mirth and merriment their attempts have provoked, I think we'd all agree they should have stuck to their scripts. So, if you dare, you can download the podcast directly here or subscribe using this direct feed: http://feeds.feedburner.com/ContrastPodcast.
And so, without further ado, lights, camera, and a one-two-three-four:
Playlist:
(00:00) Orson Welles - I know what it is to be young (but you don’t know what it is to be old)
Tim from the face of today
(05:25) Isabelle Adjani - Le bonheur c’est malheureux
ZB from So the wind won’t blow it all away
(08:44) John Goodman - People like us
Jarrod from Living in fear is no good to anyone
(13:30) Dogstar (Keanu Reeves) - Cornerstore
Andy from Circles of Concrete
(18:20) 30 seconds to Mars (Jared Leto) - Capricorn
Waffles from Waffles radio
(22:29) Leonard Nimoy - The ballad of Bilbo Baggins
FiL from Pogoagogo
(25:51) William Shatner - In love
Marcy from Lost in your inbox
(30:49) Jennifer Love-Hewitt - Me and Bobby McGee
Natalie from Mini-Obs
(34:49) Nick Cave and Kylie Minogue - Where the wild roses grow
Tutu Vicar from The world won’t listen
(38:49) Vincent Gallo - Laura
Ross from Just Gimme Indie Rock
(42:47) Julie Delpy - A waltz for the night
Crash from Pretending life is like a song
Yep, the tuneless Mr Spock Leonard Nimoy was the Screamer Of The Week for me, and I've been waiting for a chance to unload that 'Bilbo Baggins' tune on you poor (but still Dear) unfortunates for some time now. Apparently some record exec in the late sixties saw Nimoy as the next teenage heartthrob, and thought 'Bilbo' would be the tune to break him. There was even a video of sorts recorded for some hip, kids show of the time. With only the highest in production values, it really must be seen to be believed. And lo, via the magic of YouTube, I can give you the experience right here.
However, there were two other contenders, both as egregious as Leonard Baggins, but truth be told I did not want to dwell on the choice too long as I feared I might actually start liking these songs. Actually, consider yourselves lucky, as I nearly foisted David Hasselhoff on you. Yes, that hunk of cheese, he of Knightrider and Baywatch fame, went and got himself a singing 'career' in the late eighties. Truth be told, the Germans love him and his jaw-dropping schmaltz-o-pop. Indeed, the title track of his his first album, 'Looking For Freedom,' became an anthem of unification and stayed at number one for eight weeks. Hey, 82 million Teutons can't be wrong - or can they?? I offer up evidence that they most certainly can in the form of The Hoffmeister's 1997 cover of Jonathan King's 1971 cover of (are you still with me?) B.J. Thomas's 1969 hit, 'Hooked on a Feeling.' Exhibit A: the indescribable video. Exhibit B: the song itself, reproduced below in full 128 kbps glory. Altogether now: OOGA CHAKKA!!
David Hasselhoff - Hooked on a Feeling (buy here, but don't tell anyone that you did)
The other contender was Eddie Murphy's 1985 hit 'Party All The Time.' No use begging folks, I'm on a roll here and will not stop. Produced and written by Rick "Superfreak" James, it boasts Eddie putting on a formidable falsetto. Oh, alright, seeing as you're now all threatening to slash your wrists, I'll end it here. Just be grateful I didn't go for 'Boogie In Your Butt.' But you can't resist clicking the link below, can you??
Eddie Murphy - Party All the Time (buy here)
Next week's theme, suggested by Dearest Tristesse of And Before the First Kiss, is 'X-Rated.' I'm counting on all of you to flood Tim's inbox with filth and smut galore - and I'm sure you are all up to the task! To find out how you can participate in the debauchery, just follow these easy steps.
For those of you forward thinkers, in two weeks time Contrast Podcast will be featuring 'My Favourite 45.' The idea is to submit your favourite single, preferably recorded directly from a much-loved, 7-inch circle of vinyl. So get cracking! Oh, and for all you kidz born with silver compact discs in your mouths: the hiss, crackle, and pops are all part of the experience.
For some time I've had Dearest Father-In-Law's antediluvian Dual 1210 turntable sitting next to the PC, and the '45' theme finally prompted me to try hooking it up and generating some sound. So, after much tinkering and some creative engineering to make the knackered stylus work, I managed to rip my first piece of vinyl. Yaaay! And the track I chose? The frantic, shouty, metallic 'Amok' by German industrial dance nutter Ledernacken. Think of him as the anti-Hasselhoff. And speaking of x-rated, well, my German is very rusty, but trust me when I say the lyrics ain't no nursery rhyme. For many, many years this 12-inch single lay unplayed, and I was unable to source a CD version anywhere. So though the sound quality isn't perfect, I'm thrilled to finally have it digitized and to be able to share it with you, Dearest Friends. Get your hobnailed jackboots on and dance, dance, dance!
Ledernacken - Amok (try finding it on eBay)
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5 comments:
I can't believe that we forgot the Hoff .. and the Nimoy video is truly something special. I might save it as an example of how not to make a music video!
Well done getting the turntable plugged up Mr FiL. Now you can happily go and rummage at the flea markets like the rest of us!
I can't believe that we forgot the Hoff .. and the Nimoy video is truly something special. I might save it as an example of how not to make a music video!
Well done getting the turntable plugged up Mr FiL. Now you can happily go and rummage at the flea markets like the rest of us!
fil, i don't know whether to be honored or scared that we were both on the same wave length for this week's pod. that nimoy song is priceless! i can't wait to play it for my son, who is a huge lord of the rings fan. he will die. : ) loved your intro, too. you might be in the wrong profession, you know. ;-)
I can't figure out how to hook up my turntable (A Technics circa 1981) to my computer to rip the vinyl. I think that's down the road for me, though, as I have some old gems that just can't be heard on CD. I did find a cd with my favorite 45, though, so I ripped the song, but it will be sans poppage and crackage. You know, the infernal skipping cd sounds worse than a popping record, does it not?
I remember that Bilbo Baggins song from long ago, but I don't recall Nimoy ever being featured in my Tiger Beat mag as a teen idol! THANK GOODNESS!
Dearest Tim: Yes, I too was surprised at his absence. A German colleague of mine at work has since pointed me to another Hoff classic on YouTube, 'Get Out Of My Car.' Truly cringeworthy!
Dearest Marcy: Well, I was both honoured AND scared. Maybe we could form our own starship crew...
Dearest Nats: My father-in-law has just bought a USB turntable. I think he was intrigued by the idea of ripping vinyl, and he has yards of folky record he wants to convert. So it'll soon get a lot easier. But do shout if you want some advice on how to do the hookup.
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