Songs of the Week, April 30 edition

Well okay so maybe Songs of the Week may be overstating it a bit. But I've been busy, and also quite a bit busy trying to figure out where I want this blog to go and whom/what I want to associate it with in the future. I've had offers, but I also want to know what the others are saying and approving of, too. Ahh, the lunacy of the need to have total control.

This 'week' then features some oldies but goodies: a practically unheard of band from the 1980s called David & David and the decades-strong supernova that was otherwise known as Queen.

In true 80's style, with the limited guitar solo, bad hair, and lighting that would have made Michael Mann in his "Miami Vice" days particularly proud, David & David made a one-hit wonder that I am always singing to whenever I hear it (and it's rarely played, even on the 80's stations). To the best of my knowledge, unfortunately this is the only song they ever 'made it' with entitled, ironically enough: "Welcome to the Boomtown". Shame, really, they had the hook and knew how to 'paint' an image, too. This was the stuff Don Henley and Glenn Frey (both post-Eagles and in full solo careers by then) were trying to do. This song is so LA, even twenty years on from when it was first released.

Lyrics:

"WELCOME TO THE BOOMTOWN"
by David & David

Ms. Cristina drives a nine four four
Satisfaction oozes from her pores
She keeps rings on her fingers
Marble on her floor
Cocaine on her dresser
Bars on her doors
She keeps her back against the wall
She keeps her back against the wall

So I say
I say welcome, welcome to the boomtown
Pick a habit
We got plenty to go around
Welcome, welcome to the boomtown
All that money makes such a succulent sound
Welcome to the boomtown

Handsome Kevin got a little off track

Took a year off from college

And he never went back

Now he smokes too much
He's got a permanent hack
Deals dope out of Denny's
Keeps a table in the back
He always listens to the ground
Always listens to the ground

So I say
I say welcome, welcome to the boomtown
Pick a habit
We got plenty to go around
Welcome, welcome to the boomtown
All that money makes such a succulent sound
Welcome to the boomtown

Well the ambulance arrived too late
I guess she didn't want to wait

VH1 has a very brief biography on them here.

David Baerwald's website (well, a fan web site anyways as this guy is still unknown, and the duo split up almost as soon as they had the one hit single) is here.

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Now compare that unknown ditty to the lunacy of megastardom Queen, at least when the late and great Freddie Mercury still ruled the planet. Thanks to 'Ready Freddie's' stratospheric vocal skills and the superb instrumentation of the three backing musicians (who essentially, even at '11'...think Spinal Tap here, folks, for the joke...could never hope to hold a candle to Freddie), Queen commanded huge throngs of fans the world over. People forget how great they were until you see taped concerts of them performing live. Despite all the hoopla at the time, Live Aid (the original in 1985) was Queen and then everybody else...I dare you to remain unmoved by Queen's performance at Wembley Stadium. Freddie had everyone in the crowd and those watching via TV eating from his hand...and for good reason. Queen may not be the best rock n' roll band, but Freddie (regardless of his death, affairs, or sexual persuasion) certainly was one of the best, if not the best, rock n' roll showman. May he rest in peace...especially now that his former glory-riding band now appears on "American Idol" on TV and, worse yet, has descerated the memory of Freddie by replacing him with the awful Paul Rodgers (formerly of Bad Company). Some greatness should just be left the hell alone.

The video below is a favourite of mine, from the songs Queen did for the movie (which then became a successful TV series) "Highlander". This is "Princes of the Universe". So powerful, so over the top, so machismo, so electric, so abso-fucking-lutely Queen. Enjoy the majesty that was Freddie.

Lyrics:

"PRINCES OF THE UNIVERSE"
by Queen

Here we are, born to be kings

We're the princes of the universe
Here we belong
Fighting to survive in a world with the darkest powers

And here we are, we're the princes of the universe
Here we belong, fighting for survival
We've come to be the rulers of your world
I am immortal, I have inside me blood of kings
I have no rival, no man can be my equal
Take me to the future of your world

Born to be kings, Princes of the universe
Fighting and free, got your world in my hand
I'm here for your love and I'll make my stand
We were born to be princes of the universe

No man could understand

my power is in my own hand
Oooh, oooh, oooh, oooh
People talk about you

People say you've had your day
I'm a man that will go far

Fly the moon and reach for the stars
With my sword and head held high
Got to pass the test first time - yeah
I know that people talk about me I hear it every day
But I can prove you wrong cos' I'm right first time

Yeah, Yeah, Alright, Watch this man fly
Bring on the girls

Here we are, Born to be kings

We're the princes of the universe
Here we belong...
Born to be kings, Princes of the universe

Fighting and free
Got the world in my hands
I'm here for your love, and I'll make my stand

We were born to be princes of the universe

The official Queen website here.

And a very thorough Wikipedia entry can be found here about their magnificent success.