The Current Music Blog: April 9, 2009 Archive

Today in Music History: See That Girl, Watch That Scene

Posted at 7:13 AM on April 9, 2009 by Steve Seel (1 Comments)

1932 - Carl Perkins was born.
1974 - Terry Jacks was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Seasons In The Sun.
1980 - Albert Hammond Jr. (guitar, The Strokes) was born.
1989 - Rolling Stone Bill Wyman announced his forthcoming marriage to 19-year old Mandy Smith. He revealed the couple had been dating for six years. That's right, since she was 13.
1991 - Record producer Martin Hannett died. He worked with many Manchester groups including The Smiths, New Order, Joy Division, Happy Mondays, Magazine as well as U2 and The Psychedelic Furs.

It was on this day in 1977, ABBA went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Dancing Queen', the group's 7th US Top 40 hit and first No.1. It was also a No.1 in the UK in 1976. Surely the band couldn't have imagined what kind of lasting impact their lilttle disco ditty would have, but this is definitely a song that has endured. There are a couple of choice factoids from the song's Wikipedia entry worth highlighting:

- "During the sessions, Benny Andersson brought a tape home with the backing track on it and played it to his fiance, singer Anni-Frid Lyngstad, who apparently started crying when listening. 'I found the song so beautiful,' she said".
- "In 2000, "Dancing Queen" came fourth in a Channel 4 television poll of "The 100 Best Number Ones" in 2001. It was chosen as number 148 as part of the 365 Songs of the Century list. It was also was ranked #171 on Rolling Stone's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, the only ABBA song on the list."
- "In 2008 readers of the Australian LGBT website SameSame voted "Dancing Queen" "The Gayest Song of All Time."
- "U.S. presidential candidate John McCain named 'Dancing Queen' as his favorite song in a top 10 list submitted to Blender Magazine in August 2008."

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Canadian super-scenester gives away a free tune before coming to town...

Posted at 9:43 AM on April 9, 2009 by Barb Abney

The Canadian artist, Reg Vermue has worked with an impressive amount of folks; The Hidden Cameras, Broken Social Scene, Sufjan Stevens and Final Fantasy to name a few. These days he's mostly known for his work as Gentleman Reg. His latest record, Jet Black is his first studio album to be officially released in the U.S.

Today on our Song Of The Day Podcast we're featuring the Gentleman Reg tune "How We Exit." Get this tune, as well as new songs from Amadou and Mariam, The Honeydogs, Wavves and The Thermals for free! when you subscribe to our Song Of The Day Podcast. Wanna be featured on the upcoming Arts & Crafts 2009 Summer Sampler? Get in on the Gentleman Reg remix contest.

You can catch Gentleman Reg at a couple of upcoming dates. First at a headlining show at 7th Street Entry on May 3rd. Then they're opening for A-Camp at The Fine Line Music Cafe on June 4th.
More on Gentleman Reg...

Be like a tree and join this 3-song set...

Posted at 12:00 PM on April 9, 2009 by Barb Abney

Paul Tokar from Edina picked today's My 3 Songs set because..

"3 nice songs of which the titles all revolve around trees (which should hopefully bear leaves soon!). A little hopeful spring mix. "

Robbers On High Street - "Beneath the Trees"
Radiohead - "Fake Plastic Trees"
Bright Eyes - "Poison Oak"

I couldn't help but remind you to mark your calenders for Arbor Day on the 24th.

Make your "My 3 Songs" requests here.

Man, There Are a Lot of Moon Songs!

Posted at 1:29 PM on April 9, 2009 by Steve Seel (1 Comments)

Didja see that moon last night, or this morning? As MPR News' Cathy Wurzer put it, it was like "nature's night-light." I love when the sky is clear and we get to enjoy one of those.

So in honor of the waxing full moon (officially full tomorrow), we asked you for "moon songs" for today's 9:30 Coffee Break. Garsh, there are a TON. The final cut:

1) Nick Drake, "Pink Moon"
2) Frank Sinatra, "Fly Me To The Moon"
3) Television, "Marquee Moon"

By the way, thanks to the couple of listeners who helped out with identifying the fact that we are in a "waxing gibbous," which I had wondered aloud about.

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