« Ennemi juré lundi » (Archenemy Mondays!)

On this early Monday morning, we travel to France for our music choice.

 In the '60s, France Gall was a huge pop star, and a collaboration with singer-songwriter Serge Gainsbourg, made her widely known in her home country, France.

Soon after participating in the 1965 Eurovision Song Contest with "Poupée de Cire, Poupée de Son," her fame grew exponentially and she toured Europe that summer. The late sixties would soon pose a challenge for young Gall, whose songs (written by Gainsbourg) contained double-meanings and after singing "Les Sucettes," cut off her ties with Gainsbourg after learning the song's lyrics referred to oral sex.

For your enjoyment, is "Poupée de Cire, Poupée de Son," "Les Sucettes," "Toi Que Je Voux," written by Serge Gainsbourg (except for "Toi... Voux" written by David Whitaker), sung by France Gall.

Teen Edge

This morning, I was on the IHeartRadio app scanning around when I heard this song on a local alternative rock station. Instead of saying "XBOX, scan!" I stayed and listened to it, much to the chagrin of my brother.

The second song was the same as above... although I enjoyed it a bit more than the first.

For today's teen edge, Wheatus' "Teenage Dirtbag" and Harvey Danger's "Flagpole Sitta."
You really got to love the late '90s and early 2000s.

They Long To Be...!

In a moment of self-discovery, I remembered this song, sung by brother-sister duo The Carpenters in the early '70s. Reading up on them, I learned the sister, Karen Carpenter, died of heart failure in 1983 due to complications from anorexia nervosa. 

Since I first heard this song, I've always wanted to learn it, and now, I'll try. And while I sort-out left-right hand movements...

Enjoy "(They Long To Be) Close To You" written by Burt Bacharach, sung by Karen Carpenter, performed by The Carpenters.

Those Indie Tracks

In music terms, indie means independent, groups not associated with a record label. For this entry, I refer to musicians or bands associated with small record labels-- this usage being around since the mid-2000s.

I found all three songs (and artista) in a music sampler on Amazon's MP3 website (U.S. only) and didn't pay much attention to it the first time around. Lately though, while listening to music in my animation class, I heard these  and they got stuck in my head... enough so that I actually sang them in the shower.

If it gets to that point-- it's well established.

For your listening enjoyment today, is Sea Wolf's "Turn the Dirt Over," the Sensation Junkies', "Olalla," and Part Time's "Cassie (Won't You Be My Doll)."

"At last!"

This afternoon, I went on CNN's website to read that singer Etta James (b. 1938) was terminally-ill with leukemia, a cancer affecting the blood. Well, I looked her up and found out she was a very accomplished blues, R&B, and jazz singer. And she sang "At last" which I guess we've heard at some time.

So for you listening pleasure, 

"At last" written by Mack Gordon, Harry Warren, sung by Etta James.

Nostalgia!

About two weeks, during my vacation here, I found this song somehow, sung in both its English and Russian languages. I found out it was a Russian folk song and that it was arranged for the West in the 60's. Here is a little culture for you people.

In three languages, we have the Russian folk song titled "Those Were the Days" in English, "悲しき天使" in Japanese and  "Дорогой длинною (By the Long Road)" in Russian. Singers are Mary Hopkin (English), Niizuma Seiko (Japanese), and the Red Army Choir, sung by soloist Ivan Stolyar.

Enjoy! Наслаждайтесь! お楽しみください！

Last Christmas...!

Last Christmas, I didn't give you my heart... but I gave you my dislike... and hatred as well.
*cries into maroon sweater*

From their 1986 album Music from the Edge of Heaven, here is "Last Christmas" from the English pop-duo Wham!

Yes, sir!

As I posted on main blog, I'm going to take the next week from posting anything.
Hope you all have a great week filled with lots of wonderful music!

- Ed.

"I Say Go Go GO!"

Here comes another steaming helping of the British!

From 1967... of their album Magical Mystery Tour, The Beatles' "Hello Goodbye."

"I just wanna [....] today!"

Not sure what this says about me today.
Maybe I'll read a lot into it.

From Ingrid Michaelson's 2008 album Be Ok, "Be Ok."

"It's a Fool who Plays it Cool"

It was going to come to this eventually.

We all knew it... seriously!

From a 1968 broadcast, The Beatles' "Hey Jude."

What Do You Have...? / A What Girl?

I've been steadying out after I had a buzz this afternoon (not from drinking of course) and I've been listening to music on YouTube for maybe the past twenty minutes. This a real interesting song off a German television programme called "Musikladen" from 1983... and another from the same programme in 1977. 

I really do love that television programme.

For your enjoyment... OMD's "Telegraph" and Hall & Oates' "Rich Girl."

Look at that man shake it! Ha-ha-ha!

"La Di Da Di Da Di Di Di Da!"

I'm not sure what this video really states... but it was 2005. And George Bush was in office. And  something... something... France was still sexy as hell.


It's now 2011.

From 2005, The Decemberists "16 Military Wives."

"You're No Good"

Shock Treatment was the "sequel" to The Rocky Horror Picture Show, released six years later in 1981. 

You have to watch RHPS to understand Shock Treatment and so... if you don't get this...

it's alright. 

For you're listening pleasure, from the soundtrack of Shock Treatment:

"And just a little bit of steam!" (ESF)

This entry is located on my main blog.

CLICK HERE TO SEE IT

Thanks, Eddie.

"No no no!"

I saw this on my Facebook news feed. That's all.

From her 2006 album Back to Black, Amy Winehouse's "Rehab."

"She's Got Deep Brown Eyes"

I'd like to say that this song is courtesy of a good friend of mine... the spouse* of The Archenemy. She led me to this song about a year ago while I was doing Pre-Calculus homework. Let's just say, it stuck... and then getting it free from Amazon MP3 cemented it in place. Smooth British sounds.

For your pleasure, England-based Noah & the Whale's "L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N."

P.S. I don't know if anyone's noticed... but that lead singer reminds me of Edward of Twilight. Just sayin'.

"Comfortably Numb"

If you've read my main blog (or even if you haven't), I bet that you've wondered why this blog's name is The Archenemy. It's named after a former friend of mine after we had a big argument. Anyway, in February, I began to call him archnemesis, which soon evolved to Archenemy in June 'cause it rolled off the tongue better (and because spell check wasn't all over my ass about it).

Anyway, around December of last year, I found this song posted on someone's wall and I knew that my former friend liked Pink Floyd, I listened to this song and actually liked it.

Surprising how former friends can influence others, huh?

Enough of my life story. Let's get THIS one underway.

For your listening pleasure, off of Pink Floyd's 1979 album The Wall, is

"Comfortably Numb."

"Lay Down Your Arms"

I always like to say where I was when I hear a particular song, so I'll try to be truthful with this one. I was in the bathroom, clipping my toe nails when this came on. I started clipping my toenails to the beat of this song which, to be honest, surprised me that was played by Green Day, a California-based punk rock band formed in 1987.* Anyway, on with the show.

Here is Green Day's 2009 hit, "21 Guns."

"Koochie-koo!"

If anybody remembers the late '70s (I doubt you do) or if you've watched "Saturday Night Fever," disco was a big part of mainstream culture at the time. I guess it was the same in Europe, where duo Baccara sung the days away with disco hits to boot.

(Click here to see OTHER Baccara songs)

For your enjoyment, here is Baccara's 1977's hit "Koochie-Koo."

"La ilusión" (The Illusion)

I've never really listen to Spanish artists, mainly because that I don't like the genre of music they play in. But I've always found ballads in Spanish really fantastic, and with Emmanuel, it's no exception. He's has a great voice that, in my opinion, can blow the pants off anyone.

For your listening pleasure, Emmanuel's "Al Final (In the End)."

"She Can't Shoot Whiskey"

I can remember hearing this on the radio while in the bathroom. I actually heard it twice in one day and found myself singing it in the car. Angelic voice! Anyway, after scuttling my way through the lyrics and after finding out the name from this past Sunday's telecast of "Family Guy," I'm proud to present this song for your enjoyment.

Here's Carrie Underwood's "Before He Cheats."

Don't Worry...!

I was in the shower this morning (1:25 AM CDT to be exact), and while listening to an alternative rock station here where I live, I was brushing (my teeth) when I heard a really catchy song play. I literally stood there for a minute, waiting for the song to end before I rinsed. 

I just spent the last 15 minutes searching for the song on the radio station's website, and I do believe I found it, since this one sounded the most similar. 

Here for your enjoyment is Modest Mouse's "Float On."

Ooh.. the Sixties!

I'm always a stickler for things old, especially when it comes to music or television shows. I especially like shows that pushed the envelope during the first few decades of television broadcasts. In that nature, here are a few clips from a few shows and artists, including The Smothers Brothers and Tom Lehrer. Enjoy.

I'll apologize upfront for the qualities of some of these clips. I do have higher resolution clips... but I figure it's copyright infringement... or something stuff like that.

Blast from the (recent) Past!

I posted "Life is complicated. Ha-ha" on Facebook earlier and someone left this as a comment. So, to you...

Avril Lavigne's 2003 hit, "Complicated."

Gettin' Work Done!

When I have some work to do on the computer, it always helps to listen to something while I type... or do whatever it is that I have to do. Tonight, while working in Adobe Flash (the software), I was listening to this. I found it interesting that I listened to the music rather than the lyrics... but that's how I am. 

For your listening pleasure, here is Mexico's leading singer Emmanuel with his song "El Día Que Puedas."

Notice

In order to keep loading times low (and browsers up), you'll have to click "CLICK HERE..." to hear/see the music videos because those flash movies really take a beating on the loading times.

The Management

I Gotta Go

This song has helped write and draw a many blog entries and drawings. 

Here's Robert Earl Keen's "I Gotta Go."

Life on Mars

Last week, I watched the ending of Life on Mars, a BBC show about a police officer who gets run over in 2006 and wakes up in 1973. After waking up and returning to "regular" life, he returns to his job as a police officer. When he discovers that he cannot feel (he had cut his hand), he goes up to the roof of the police station. At this point, David Bowie's "Life on Mars?" (on which the show's title is based on), begins to play. And then he jumps.

That whole ending got to me and here it is, for your listening pleasure, "Life on Mars?"

"Hello!"

A few days ago, I posted that I had planned to establish this blog. Well, here it is folks! It's been here for a few days now... but I've been contemplating what to do with it. Should I post sex, drugs, or homoerotic dreams I've had about me and the old enemy? As you can see... quite a predicament! 

Well, after much thought (and legal debate), I decided to make it a music blog. Yes... music blog. Whatever I find interesting on a certain day or moment will be here. And I hope you will too. 

So to kick off the inaugural moment of my blog... and this new feature in the ESF blog family... here is 

Martin Solveig & Dragonette's "Hello."