Here's a classic from not so far back...2006 to be precise...as Gnarls Barkley, a very creative duo made up of Cee Lo Green and Danger Mouse, busted out of nowhere with this fantabulous tune that we can all relate to time and again. It made me a fan of the Gnarls, who's two albums, St. Elsehwere (2006) and The Odd Couple (2008) have both given me hours upon hours of pleasure. Oh I so wish they would do something together again. (Cee Lo, Danger, are ya listening?) Anyway, enjoy...
I miss Gnarls Barkley! Even though they only put out two albums, they've got a ton of good songs, like this one. If you don't know it, click play....ya just might like it!
I remember when I remember, I remember When I lost my mind There was something so pleasant about that place...
Oh yeah, it's been a long, long time since I've even listened to Gnarls Barkley. I tell ya, Mr. Cee Lo was waaaayyyy better when he was doing Gnarls than he is on his own. There's just something about their stuff, the topics, the lyrics, the music...oh so good, and this was one of their best. And that's partially because it's something we can all identify with livin in this world, no?
I don't know what matters to you at this moment But that's all that matters to me
How are you? (How are you?)
Knock on wood
Well I'm not doin so good
It's been a long time since I've posted a Gnarls Barkley song on here. For some reason nothing's been coming to me lately, so I decided to peruse the library to see if I could find something good for today and when I came across this one, I knew I had one!
And I don't understand how I'm so understandin I guess that that's all I can be
How are you? (How are you?)
I think I can help
But I can't help myself
I'm sorry, but Cee Lo is way better when he's a part of Gnarls! Though I absolutely loved "F**k You," the rest of Green's solo album didn't do nearly as much for me as either of the Gnarls Barkley records, and this song is a typical example.
Oh can't you see, oh can't you see If I help somebody, baby there's mercy for me Ahhh charity!
This song is the first on Gnarls Barkley's second album, "The Odd Couple," and that very hypnotic beat gets you going from the very beginning. And then there are the lyrics...
Now all apologies baby but I'm bleedin too Are you needin me like I'm needin you Even my shadow leaves me all alone at night Guess I need to start to take my own advice
I don't know about you, but there's something just as hypnotic and masterful in the lyrics for me as there is in the music, and this is true of many Gnarls' songs on both this album and the first, "St.Elsewhere." Remember their first hit, "Crazy." The things I say about "Charity Case" all apply to that one, and many others in Gnarls' repertoire.
Oh can't you see, oh can't you see Somebody's a liar who ever set free what was free Ahhh charity!
So if you've ever dug the great lyrics and cool melodies and rhythms of a Gnarls Barkley song like "Who's Gonna Save My Soul," "Gone, Daddy, Gone," or "Going On," please check out "Charity Case." You might just become a fan if you aren't already!
I guess I’ve been experiencing one of those down times lately and there’s not really one thing I can point to to say what exactly it is that’s making me feel this way. It’s probably just a combination of things that have put me once again in a bad place and I just hope that once the school year is over I can get back to where I had been going…up!
Poor thing, she is so tired! As I said in my earlier post, she’s Arnoldo’s angel, totally devoted to comforting him and expending her own energy to do so. She told me about another young girl who is on Arnoldo’s floor that graduated a year after him from the same school, my school. The girl is suffering from the same type of lupus that Arnoldo has and Jill says she’s alone most of the time, with few visitors. The girl stopped in to say hi, and she brought some magazines and DVD’s for Arnoldo to keep himself from being too bored. I recognized her from school, though I never really knew her. What a sweet kid! Now she’s another person I need to pray for…so sad!
Anyway, Arnoldo was getting a procedure done when I got to his room, so he wasn’t even there. Within about 15 minutes or so, they wheeled him in and he simply looked terrible, both from whatever’s ailing him and his obvious tiredness at being in the hospital for so long. On Friday, he will have been there exactly four weeks. That’s way too long for anybody, especially a 24 year old.
All I can say at this point is that I will keep hoping and praying that somehow he pulls through this. If you’re reading this and whether or not you know Arnoldo, please join me in keeping him in your thoughts and prayers!
Guys stink!
Without getting into too much, I’m really starting to get sick of guys again, already. In the past three days alone, I’ve had no less than three guys just get all weird on me and shoot off into the sunset. Now I’m no slouch…I’m not looking for a serious relationship and God knows that won’t come for awhile, but I wouldn’t mind having someone to just hang around a little bit, who doesn’t want all or nothing.
I’m finding out all too fast that most men stink. Either they want you for just sex, a little too much love too fast, or they’re just plain fickle. I finally made a date with that guy I met on Fire Island Memorial Day Weekend for coffee on Sunday afternoon. Now, our connection had been tenuous at best since that night, and by Saturday I had kind of forgotten about him. That afternoon, however, he shot me a text and we chatted for awhile, agreeing to meet the next day for a cup of coffee.
The encounter was just about as uncomfortable as it could get. I could sense immediately that he wasn’t interested the moment we met out in front of Starbucks. He was friendly enough, but he spent at least half the time looking around at the people around us, distracted from our conversation. I knew there was nothing there, even on my part, yet the uncomfortable conversation and awkward goodbye made me wish I hadn’t even agreed to the meeting.
The two other guys are different stories. I met them both online and have been talking to each of them for awhile. One of them lives far away, in Pennsylvania, but has friends who live on Long Island and we were/are planning to meet in the not so distant future. We’ve been chatting for weeks and have had a really good rapport, but every once in awhile he just stops communicating for a few days and it’s just disappointing. He’s very guarded about himself and hasn’t even tried to contact me in a few days. I’m not going to contact him again. Ugh!
The third dude I had a really good, friendly relationship with. I’d first met him months ago and we’ve talked intermittently ever since. In recent weeks, our conversations have gotten more often and it seemed like we were really getting to a good place and then bam, he disappeared, profile deleted and not responding to voicemail or text. WTF???
It all just makes me frustrated. Why are these guys so f’ed up? A few months ago, I thought I’d found somebody who I was really compatible with, and we know how that turned out. So I find myself sadly single again and slowly but surely getting back into the swing of things only to find all this crap. I tell ya, I just may want to give it up altogether and join the priesthood. I didn’t even go out last weekend for the first time in a very long time. I think I’m becoming man-phobic!
Grrrrrr!!!!
Between Arnoldo’s situation and these jerks, it’s really no wonder I’m in a bad place. Throw in the fact that there are still 7 more days of school and each day feels like a new mountain to climb. Regents’ exams started today and my poor guys took six and a half hours to do theirs today. My job hunt has stalled…I’ve responded to no less than seven ads for upcoming jobs and haven’t gotten one phone call for an interview. I’m guessing that a recent college grad would come in much cheaper than I, and so I guess saving money trumps experience. I could go on and on, but one of my other frustrations, having so little time, keeps me from continuing.
It's not often that I post a "Song of the Day" that doesn't have a video to it, and for this one I really tried to find one that would work. Unfortunately this song by favorite group Gnarls Barkley never had a video and the only things I could find on the net were a couple of anime homemades that I wasn't crazy about and a few live performances of this song, 'Surprise.' Since I really wanted to share the album version without the anime, I simply chose a non-video video of it.
This song is off of Gnarls' last, most-fabulous album, 'The Odd Couple,' and it's perfect for the days leading up to the unofficial start of summer. As I've spoken about earlier, Gnarls Barkley is a duo made up of 'F**k You' singer, Cee Lo Green and his partner, Danger Mouse. Together, they put out two albums of innovative, enjoyable and deep stuff.
'The Odd Couple' is full of great tunes including this fun, 'surf's up' kinda song, very reminscent of what a Beach Boys or a Mammas and Pappas tune would sound like if it were made today. The "la, la, la's" permeating the tune scream 1960's California fun-in-the-sun and make this a perfect choice for impending days at the beach. So please, if you were ever going to try a song on this blog that ya didn't know, this might just be the one that catches your ear. Enjoy 'Surprise'!
Well the roller coaster just keeps going downhill! Without getting into too much, the tax man had some pretty grim news for me today and I think I’ve completely lost it. The news came as a shock and now I have a lot of lot of thinking to do…
This works out just great with all of the other things that have been going on in my life lately and I find myself in the lowest of places. Once again I've turned to music to seek comfort in my desolation through the words of others.
At the moment I’m listening to Gnarls Barkley, a group whose music I’ve been a fan of for a long time. When I first discovered them, after their song “Crazy” became so popular, I found the lyrical content of the majority of their stuff dark and attractive. Many of these songs spoke to me in one way or another, and they telll me that I'm not always alone in the way I'm feeling.
Though afterwards I learned to like their more up tempo stuff just as much, the darker songs are ones which I can identify with during times like these. Here’s some of what I’m talking about:
Crazy
I remember when, I remember, I remember when I lost my mind There was something so pleasant about that place. Even your emotions had an echo In so much space
And when you're out there Without care, Yeah, I was out of touch But it wasn't because I didn't know enough I just knew too much
Does that make me crazy?
This song has always been a work of pure genius to me. I think we all think we're a little crazy sometimes and as long as we accept that, we're ok!
Just a Thought
Here’s one that got me the first time I ever heard it. The song’s called “Just a Thought”, and it’s about something I think we all go through in our minds when things aren't looking so good. Read on and take a listen below:
All I want is your understanding As in the small act of affection "Why is this my life?" Is almost everybody's question
And I've tried Everything but suicide But it's crossed my mind
I prefer peace Wouldn't have to have one worldly possession But essentially I'm an animal So just what do I do with all the aggression?
Well I've tried Everything but suicide But it's crossed my mind
Life is a one-way street, and if you could paint it I'd draw myself going in the right direction So I go all the way - like I really really know - But the truth is I'm only guessin'
Well I've tried Everything but suicide But it's crossed my mind
It's even dark in the daytime It's not just good - it's +Great Depression+ When I was lost I even found myself Looking in the gun's direction
Well I've tried Everything but suicide But it's crossed my mind
This is some powerful and dark stuff, huh? I couldn’t help but hear it in my head as I left the tax man’s office today, as this newest bad news hit me like a ton of bricks. “What else can happen to me?” I think to myself, and yes, the chorus runs through my head over and over. But like they say in the song, it’s “just a thought.”
Who’s Gonna Save My Soul
Woof! I just saw this video for the first time and I couldn’t help but relate to it big time. Though the video pokes fun at breakups, the song itself is soulful, deep, and very sad. I think it just may make it to my “Favorite Slow Songs” list, although I'd better not listen to it too often if you know what I mean. Check out the lyrics and the video below:
I got some bad news this morning Which in turn made my day When this someone spoke I listened All of a sudden, has less and less to say Ohhhhhh how could this be? All this time, I've lived vicariously Who's gonna save my soul now? Who's gonna save my soul now? How will my story ever be told now? How will my story be told now?
Made me feel like somebody Hmmm, like somebody else Although he was imitated often It felt like I was bein myself Is it a shame that someone else's song Was totally and completely dependent on Who's gonna save my soul now? Who's gonna save my soul now? I wonder if I'll live to grow old now Gettin high cause I feel so low down
And maybe it's a little selfish All I have is the memory Yet I never stopped to wonder-ahhhhh Was it possible you were hurtin worse than me Still my hunger turns to greeeeed Cause what about what I neeeeeed?! And OHHHH~! Who's gonna save my soul now? Who's gonna save my soul now? Ohhhh I know I'm out of control now Oooh-oooh, tired enough to lay my own soul down
These are just a few of the Gnarls Barkley songs that have spoken to me in times of sorrow and worry. There are others, but for me these three songs tell the story of my life in the present, and so these are all I’ll share for now. If you don’t know the music of Gnarls Barkley, then you’re really missing out on something. Though they’ve never been too mainstream, other than the smash “Crazy”, I think their music is relevant, poignant, and somehow strangely comforting.
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