Category Archive: 9:30 Coffee Break
9:30 Coffee Break: Extraterrestrial Visitor Day
Posted at 8:30 AM on February 9, 2012
by Jade
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What is Extraterrestrial Visitor day exactly? Let's take this directly from their website:
"A day 'to celebrate and honor all past, present and future extraterrestrial visitors in ways to enhance relationships among all citizens of the cosmos, known and unknown.' Passed as a memorial (not law) by the New Mexico state legislature in acknowledgment that ever since the Roswell UFO incident of 1947, New Mexico is recognized worldwide as a nexus of sightings and unexplained mysteries. Annually, the second Thursday of February."
For today's 9:30 Coffee Break we're looking for songs that reference "citizens of the cosmos, known and unknown." The song can mention someone from a planet far away, or someone more local that seems unknown.
Songs played:
David Bowie "Starman"
Klaatu "Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft"
Ash "Girl From Mars"
Radiohead "Subterranean Homesick Alien"
9:30 Coffee Break: Landscape Songs
Posted at 8:39 AM on February 10, 2012
by Jade
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Photo Credit: www.warinthenorth.com
Where do you go when you're day dreaming in February? A tropical beach? A dew covered meadow? Snow-capped mountain ranges? Let's take a musical vacation for today's 9:30 Coffee Break with songs that paint a picture and describe a landscape.
Songs played: Otis Redding "Sittin on the Dock of the Bay" Innocence Mission "Lakes of Canada" Talking Heads "Take me to the River" John Denver "Rocky Mountain High"
9:30 Coffee Break: Songs That Will Earn You A Merit Badge
Posted at 8:33 AM on February 8, 2012
by Jade
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Today is national Boy Scout day, so for all you former boy/girl scouts, time to reminise about the "good ol' days."
For everyone else, you can visit the official scouting website and check out the list of Merit Badges today's scouts can earn (Dentistry? Welding?). Look at the list and come up with a song that could earn you one of the badges listed for todays 9:30 Coffee Break.
Songs played:
Space Exploration: David Bowie "Space Oddity"
Athletics Badge: Belle and Sebastian "Stars of Track and Field"
Snow Sports: The Replacements "Buck Hill"
Welding: Michael Sembello "Maniac"
Coin Collecting: Iron & Wine "Boy with a Coin"
Indian Lore: Paul Revere & The Raiders "Indian Reservation"
9:30 Coffee Break: Super Bowl Songs
Posted at 8:38 AM on February 6, 2012
by Jade
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Photo credit: AP Photo/Charlie Riedel
Even if you didn't watch the Super Bowl yesterday, the commercials are something you can't avoid. You'll probably be hearing about them, or talking about them at work today. And, from what we noticed many of the ads this year had recognizable songs featured in them.
Today for the 9:30 Coffee Break we want you to name the songs and the Super Bowl ad that they appear in.
Songs played:
Echo and the Bunnymen "The Killing Moon" Audi Vampire Commercial
Yello "Oh Yeah" Ferris Bueller Honda commercial
The Cult "She Sells Sanctuary" Budweiser's "Eternal Optimism" commercial
Fun (feat. Janelle Monae) "We are Young" Chevy Sonic "Stunt Anthem" commercial
The Darkness "I Believe in a Thing Called Love" Samsung Galaxy Note commercial
9:30 Coffee Break: Whät Is Thiş Thĭñg?
Posted at 8:38 AM on February 7, 2012
by Jade
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In the "Now You Know" section of the 9:30 Coffee Break we're asking, what the heck is that thing on Poliça's name? I'm glad you asked.
A diacritic ( /daɪ.əˈkrɪtɨk/; also diacritical mark, diacritical point, diacritical sign) is a glyph added to a letter, or basic glyph. The term derives from the Greek διακριτικός (diakritikós, "distinguishing"). Diacritic is both an adjective and a noun, whereas diacritical is only an adjective. Some diacritical marks, such as the acute ( ´ ) and grave ( ` ) are often called accents. Diacritical marks may appear above or below a letter, or in some other position such as within the letter or between two letters.
Now that we have that out of the way, let's think of some bands that have a diacritical mark in their name for the 9:30 Coffee Break.
9:30 Coffee Break: Animated Bands
Posted at 8:33 AM on February 3, 2012
by Jade
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Wilco's video above is the perfect combination of a band we love and a nostalgic look back at the things that made us happiest as children. Cartoons. Who doesn't wish they could be animated into their favorite cartoon?
Well, it seems like there have been plenty of bands that have jumped onto the animation (band) wagon. Today's 9:30 Coffee Break is all about bands or musicians being turned into cartoon characters.
*Note that we will not be accepting any bands that have only appeared on The Simpsons. Too easy, let's think outside of the box.
Songs played:
Jackson 5 "Never Can Say Goodbye"
Gorillaz "Feel Good Inc"
The Archies "Sugar Sugar"
Mama Cass "Dream a Little Dream"
The Beatles "Yellow Submarine"
Wilco "Dawned on Me"
9:30 Coffee Break: Drums Starting It Off
Posted at 8:17 AM on February 2, 2012
by Jade
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It sets the rhythm of the song into motion and gets you tapping your feet. So today for the 9:30 Coffe Break we're looking for songs that start with a solo drum beat and then the rest of the song kicks in. It can be any sort of drumming, but the song has to start with the drums being the only instrument played.
Photo credit: MPR Photo/Elizabeth Baier
Songs played: The Go Go's "We Got the Beat" U2 "Bullet the Blue Sky" Rural Alberta Advantage "Don't Haunt This Place" Elvis Costello "Lipstick Vogue" White Stripes "My Doorbell" The Ronettes "Be My Baby"
9:30 Coffee Break: Black History Month
Posted at 8:40 AM on February 1, 2012
by Jade
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Picket lines and picket signs / Don't punish me with brutality / Talk to me, so you can see / Oh, what's going on / What's going on...
Marvin Gaye may have written those words over 40 years ago, but with our current social and political climate it resonates today.
Today is February 1st and we're kicking off Black History Month with a coffee break. Elsewhere on The Current we'll be focusing on artists that you voted on: Marvin Gaye, A Tribe Called Quest, Billie Holiday and Prince. What songs should we play to celebrate these four artists to kick off Black History Month on the 9:30 Coffee Break?
Songs played:
Marvin Gaye "What's Going on"
Prince "Chelsea Rodgers"
Billie Holiday "God Bless the Child"
A Tribe Called Quest "Left My Wallet in El Segundo"
9:30 Coffee Break: S-P-E-L-L It Out
Posted at 8:47 AM on January 31, 2012
by Jade
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We're working on our spelling today at The Current's Morning show. The spelling can be in the title of the song or appear during the song at any moment.
Give us your songs with spelling for today's 9:30 Coffee Break.
Songs played:
Aretha Franklin "Respect"
Men Without Hats "Safety Dance"
Them "Gloria"
Hall and Oates "The Method of Modern Love"
Tammy Wynette "D-I-V-O-R-C-E"
Bay City Rollers "Saturday Night"
9:30 Coffee Break: Phone Sounds
Posted at 8:35 AM on January 30, 2012
by Jade
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Today is National Inane Answering Machine Message day. Do you have multiple people greeting the people that call you? Do you sing a song or speak in rhyming couplets? Do you leave too long of a pause so that people are unsure if your phone has started recording? If so, you can proudly know that there is a day dedicated entirely to you. So, while you are busy changing your outgoing message into something truely ridiculous, we'll focus on phones for the Coffee Break.
We're looking for songs that have phone sounds in them. It can be a dial tone, ringing, or button key noises. Give us your best for todays 9:30 Coffee Break.
Songs played:
Electric Light Orchestra "Telephone Line"
Dee Lite "Call Me"
Cake "Never There"
Penguin Café Orchestra "Telephone and Rubberband"
Blondie "Hanging on the Telephone"
9:30 Coffee Break: Birthday Bands Part 2
Posted at 8:40 AM on January 27, 2012
by Jade
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We're really just getting excited about The Current's Birthday Bash and want to bask in that glow for a bit. So for today and tomorrow for the coffee break, we're looking at the bands that will be playing Friday and Saturday night.
Here are the bands, you let us know what song you want to hear from them:
Friday, January 27:
8 p.m. - Night Moves
9 p.m. - Low
10 p.m. - Dead Man Winter
11 p.m. - Tapes 'n Tapes
Saturday, January 28:
6 p.m. - Haley Bonar
7 p.m. - Sims
8 p.m. - Suicide Commandos
9 p.m. - Polica
Songs Played Yesterday:
Polica "Wandering Star"
Sims "Hey You"
Tapes 'n Tapes "Freak Out"
Night Moves "Headlights"
Songs Played Friday:
Haley Bonar "Raggedy Man"
Dead Man Winter "Wasteland"
Low "Silver Rider"
Suicide Commandos "Mosquito Crucifixion"
9:30 Coffee Break: Birthday Bands
Posted at 8:40 AM on January 26, 2012
by Jade
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We're really just getting excited about The Current's Birthday Bash and want to bask in that glow for a bit. So for today and tomorrow for the coffee break, we're looking at the bands that will be playing Friday and Saturday night.
Here are the bands, you let us know what song you want to hear from them:
Friday, January 27:
8 p.m. - Night Moves
9 p.m. - Low
10 p.m. - Dead Man Winter
11 p.m. - Tapes 'n Tapes
Saturday, January 28:
6 p.m. - Haley Bonar
7 p.m. - Sims
8 p.m. - Suicide Commandos
9 p.m. - Polica
Songs played:
Polica "Wandering Star"
Sims "Hey You"
Tapes 'n Tapes "Freak Out"
Night Moves "Headlights"
9:30 Coffee Break: 7
Posted at 8:30 AM on January 24, 2012
by Jade
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We may be throwing the Birthday party this weekend, but today is officially the anniversary of the day we pressed the button for the first song on 89.3 The Current seven years ago.
Thanks to everyone for sticking with us for seven great years! And now, let's crank out some songs featuring the number seven.
Songs played:
The Clash "Magnificent Seven"
The White Stripes "Seven Nation Army"
Love "7 and 7 Is"
Prince "7"
9:30 Coffee Break: Relax and De-stress
Posted at 8:40 AM on January 25, 2012
by Jade
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It may be nearing the end of January, but we're still working on our New Years Resolutions. It's one that's been in the news lately as well: the benefits of meditation and relaxation. I think we could all use a little time to just chill out before we start our day, so let's do it.
What are the songs that come to mind for relaxing, something to sooth you or calm you down.
Songs played:
Telepopmusik "Breathe"
Frankie Goes to Hollywood "Relax"
Bob Marley and the Wailers "Three Little Birds"
The Beatles "Within You Without You"
Radiohead "There There"
9:30 Coffee Break: It's National Pie Day
Posted at 7:58 AM on January 23, 2012
by Jade
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Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break, Morning Show
Heavy Table photo/Becca Dilley
Today's Coffee Break comes to us courtesy of Bunkie, of Milwaukee, WI, who reminded us that,
"Monday, January 23rd, is National Pie Day. Guess pie is easy as 1-2-3, but personally I would have chosen March 14th. I have no idea how many pie-related songs there are, but "Honey Pie" jumped into my head so you have your obligatory Beatle song for Steve, who I would hope listens at home during his leave. Info on Pie Day can be found at the American Pie Council (who thinks of these things?)."
Great call, Bunkie...and now I'm hungry.
Songs played:
The Four Tops "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)"
Golden Smog "Pecan Pie"
Bob Dylan "Country Pie"
Led Zeppelin "Custard Pie"
The Beatles "Honey Pie"
Jay and the Techniques "Apple, Peaches, Pumpkin Pie"
The Jayhawks "Cherry Pie"
Rhymefest "Devil's Pie"
9:30 Coffee Break: Animal Appreciation
Posted at 8:50 AM on January 20, 2012
by Jade
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Here at the Current Morning Show we like to keep on top of things for you. Giving you the heads up on important information, such as: Penquin Awareness Day (Jan. 20) and National Squirrel Appreciation Day (Jan. 21).
How best to celebrate? Well, it sounds like a great excuse to play some animal songs.
Songs played:
Pixies "Monkey's Gone to Heaven"
Nick Drake "Black Eyed Dog"
The Stooges "I Wanna Be Your Dog"
Primus "Wynona's Big Brown Beaver"
The Suburbs "Cows"
9:30 Coffee Break: Farewell, Gary Eichten
Posted at 8:50 AM on January 19, 2012
by Jade
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After dedicating a large percent of his life to public radio, 91.1's Gary Eichten is getting ready to walk off into the sunset tomorrow by recording his last midday show.
So let's send him off right. What are your picks for songs about moving on, retiring, or ending something.
And check out the songs that Gary picked when we had him take over the airwaves for a Theft of the Dial.
Songs played:
Frank Sinatra "My Way"
Jackson 5 "Never Can Say Goodbye"
Carbon/Silicon "The News"
Devotchka "We're Leaving"
Jeff Buckley "Last Goodbye"
9:30 Coffee Break: Left in the Dark
Posted at 8:39 AM on January 18, 2012
by Jade
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When #factswithoutwiki is trending on Twitter, you know we might have an issue. Hopefully you didn't leave any important to research paper to today to finish, because your usual source of knowledge is intentionally turning itself off today.
According to AP, "The online encyclopedia's English language website is down until
midnight. The 24-hour blackout is to protest anti-piracy
legislation under consideration in Congress. The Stop Online Piracy Act and the Protect Intellectual Property Act are designed to crack down on sales of pirated U.S. products
overseas. Several online communities such as Reddit, Boing Boing and
others have announced plans to go dark in protest as well."
We'll have to come up with this Coffee Break the old-fashioned way, so give us some ideas about being left in the dark, searching for knowledge, or even technology.
Songs played:
Devo "Freedom of Choice"
Kraftwerk "Computer World"
The Rolling Stones "Paint it Black"
Radiohead "Paranoid Android"
Talking Heads "Don't Worry About the Government"
U2 "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For"
9:30 Coffee Break: Criminal Instinct
Posted at 8:43 AM on January 17, 2012
by Jade
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On this day in 1950, 11 men steal more than $2 million from the Brinks Armored Car depot in Boston, Massachusetts. It was the perfect crime--almost--as the culprits weren't caught until January 1956, just days before the statute of limitations for the theft expired.
Too bad for them, but it got us thinking about songs that mention crimes, criminals or doing something that could get you arrested.
Songs played:
Jeremy Messersmith "John Dillinger's Eyes"
Serge Gainsbourg "Bonnie and Clyde"
Johnny Cash "Folsom Prison Blues"
Pavement "Brinx Job"
Judas Priest "Breaking the Law"
Bobby Fuller "I Fought the Law"
9:30 Coffee Break: Viernes No Ingles
Posted at 8:30 AM on January 13, 2012
by Jill Riley
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Each weekday morning, The Current Morning Show creates a 9:30 Coffee Break theme. It's then up to you, the listener, to make your request.
For today's 9:30 Coffee Break, it's the triumphant return of Viernes No Ingles - No English Friday! Suggest songs sung in any language but English.
Songs played:
Elis Regina and Tom Jobeme "Aquas De Marco"
Sigur Ros "Gobbledigook"
Nena "99 Luftballoons"
Manu Chao "Me Gustas Tu"
Plastic Bertrand "Ca Plane Pour Moi"
9:30 Coffee Break: Instrumentals Part 2
Posted at 9:00 AM on January 12, 2012
by Jill Riley
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"Instrumentals" was such a popular topic yesterday, that we're bringing to back today. It's a "no-vocal Thursday" ... for today's 9:30 Coffee Break, we want your suggestions for great instrumentals.
Songs played Wednesday:
Vince Guaraldi Trio "Linus and Lucy"
Medeski Martin and Wood "New Planet"
M83 "*"
Pavement "5-4=Unity"
Beastie Boys "Off the Grid"
Rodrigo Y Gabriela "Buster Voodoo"
Mason Williams "Classical Gas"
Thursday:
Henry Mancini "Peter Gunn"
RJDJ "Ghostwriter"
Hugh Masekela "Grazin in the Grass"
Dosh "My Girl's Ex-car"
Dick Dale and His Del-tones "Misirlou"
9:30 Coffee Break: Instrumentals
Posted at 8:50 AM on January 11, 2012
by Jill Riley
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It's a "no-vocal Wednesday" ... for today's 9:30 Coffee Break, we want your suggestions for great instrumentals. It's been a few years since we've covered this topic and since Jill promised it for the Coffee Break today, we'll take your suggestions!
Songs played:
Vince Guaraldi Trio "Linus and Lucy"
Medeski Martin and Wood "New Planet"
M83 "*"
Pavement "5-4=Unity"
Beastie Boys "Off the Grid"
Rodrigo Y Gabriela "Buster Voodoo"
Mason Williams "Classical Gas"
9:30 Coffee Break: Peculiar People Day
Posted at 9:03 AM on January 10, 2012
by Jade
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Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break, Morning Show
Let your freak flag fly today people.
So people think you're weird, so what. Today is the day to show just how weird/strange/different/unique you really are. Today is the one day of the year that honors Peculiar People. You may be may need to celebrate today if anyone has ever referred to you as any of the following: unusual, strange, odd, uncommon, intriguing, different, abnormal, and/or quirky.
If you are peculiar, this is your day to be honored and appreciated. Chances are, you will find something peculiar about yourself, if you look hard enough. If you can't find anything peculiar about yourself, then give some recognition and appreciation to your quirky friends and family.
So let's appreciate the weirdoes of the world with songs about people being strange, unique individuals or maybe just a musician whose quirks you've always admired.
Songs played:
Chic "Le Freak"
Marvin Gaye "Ain't That Peculiar"
Echo and the Bunnymen "People Are Strange"
Kermit the Frog "Bein' Green"
The Flaming Lips "She Don't Use Jelly"
9:30 Coffee Break: Springtime?
Posted at 8:40 AM on January 9, 2012
by Jill Riley
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We've been experiencing some unusual January weather in Minnesota. It certainly isn't the norm around here to experience such a long streak of highs in the 40's or 50's. In fact, many Minnesotans are wondering how long this unseasonable, Spring-like weather will last and asking questions like: why are my bulbs coming up? Why did I bother buying this down-filled, winter coat? What does this all mean??
For today's 9:30 Coffee Break, help up put together a set of songs for Spring.
Songs played:
The Lemon Drops "I Live in the Springtime"
The Suburbs "Spring Came"
Arcade Fire "Month of May"
Astrud Gilberto and Stan Getz "It Might as Well Be Spring"
The Brass Kings "When the Springtime Comes"
9:30 Coffee Break: Dreams
Posted at 8:49 AM on January 6, 2012
by Jill Riley
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Today's topic for the 9:30 Coffee Break is "dreams." John Munson had a vivid and somewhat strange dream last night, which inspired today's theme.
Songs about dreams or dream in the title. Go!
Songs played:
Tom Waits "Innocent When You Dream"
Roy Orbison "In Dreams"
Patsy Cline "Sweet Dreams (Of You)"
Aerosmith "Dream On"
Gary Wright "Dream Weaver"
9:30 Coffee Break: National Bird Day
Posted at 8:50 AM on January 5, 2012
by Jill Riley
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Today is National Bird Day, a day we're observing for the third time on The Current Morning Show . You can celebrate by watching birds, studying them, or even adopting a pet bird - although be warned: according to Wikipedia, many bird enthusiasts take the opportunity of the day to "educate future bird owners about the special issues involved with taking care of birds, including their 'screaming, biting, constant cleanups, the need for daily interaction and a varied diet'."
Your assignment is to create a set of music with "bird" songs. Let the creativity begin!
Songs played:
The Trashmen "Surfin Bird"
The Trashmen "Bird Dance Beat"
The Police "Canary in a Coalmine"
The Beatles "Blackbird"
Nirvana "Polly"
9:30 Coffee Break: Women Who Rock
Posted at 8:53 AM on January 4, 2012
by Jill Riley
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Today's 9:30 Coffee Break will showcase women who rock. At 6:45am throughout the month of January, John Munson will feature some of his favorite women in music. We'll tie that in with today's Coffee Break. Who are some of your favorite females in music?
Songs played:
tUnEyArDs "Gansta"
Liz Phair "Never Said"
Haley Bonar "Raggedy Man"
Janis Joplin "Get it While You Can"
Heart "Barracuda"
Yeah Yeah Yeahs "Gold Lion"
The Pretenders "Kid"
9:30 Coffee Break: Fresh Start for the New Year
Posted at 8:56 AM on January 3, 2012
by Jade
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It's a new year and as everyone is trying to live up to their ridiculous New Years resolutions, we decided to focus on the idea of the clean slate. Today, for the 9:30 Coffee Break we're looking towards this new year and the possibilities it holds. So, what songs do you suggest for a new beginning or fresh start to the year?
ARTISTS/SONGS PLAYED TUESDAY:
Husker Du / New Day Rising
DEVO / Fresh
The Mountain Goats / This Year
The Jam / Start
Bright Eyes / First Day of My Life
Eels / Fresh Feeling
9:30 Coffee Break: 2011 Rock 'n' Roll Heaven Part 2 of 2
Posted at 8:40 AM on December 30, 2011
by Jill Riley
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For Friday's 9:30 Coffee Break we'll continue to reflect on singers, musicians, songwriters and music producers who passed away in 2011. Leave your suggestions for artists to feature on the air and your personal thoughts in the comments section.
Artists/songs played Thursday:
Charlie Louvin of The Louvin Brothers
The Louvin Brothers "While You're Cheating on Me"
Amy Winehouse "You Know I'm No Good"
Gil Scott-Heron "The Revolution Will Not be Televised"
Jerry Lieber of the Lieber and Stoller songwriting duo
Carl Gardner, singer in The Coasters
The Coasters "Yakety Yak" (Lieber and Stoller penned song)
Clarence Clemons, tenor saxophone and longtime member of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band
Bruce Springsteen "Born to Run"
Trish Keenan, lead singer of Broadcast
Broadcast "Goodbye Girls"
Gerard Smith of TV of the Radio
TV on the Radio "Hours"
Artists/songs played Friday:
Gerry Rafferty
Stealers Wheel "Stuck in the Middle with You"\
Marshall Grant (bassist in The Tennessee Two)
Johnny Cash "I Walk the Line"
Mikey Welsh (Weezer, played on the Green Album)
Weezer "Island in the Sun"
Nate Dogg
Warren G feat. Nate Dogg "Regulate"
Don Kirshner (The Man With the Golden Ear)
The Archies "Sugar, Sugar"
Poly Styrene
X Ray Spex "Germ Free Adolescence"
Andrea True (Disco Singer)
Andrea True Connection "More, More, More pt. 1"
9:30 Coffee Break: 2011 Rock 'n' Roll Heaven Part 1 of 2
Posted at 8:20 AM on December 29, 2011
by Jill Riley
(7 Comments)
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Thursday and Friday's 9:30 Coffee Break will be a reflection on singers, musicians, songwriters and music producers who passed away in 2011. Leave your suggestions for artists to feature on the air and your personal thoughts in the comments section.
Songs played:
Charlie Louvin of The Louvin Brothers
The Louvin Brothers "While You're Cheating on Me"
Amy Winehouse "You Know I'm No Good"
Gil Scott-Heron "The Revolution Will Not be Televised"
Jerry Lieber of the Lieber and Stoller songwriting duo
Carl Gardner, singer in The Coasters
The Coasters "Yakety Yak"
Clarence Clemons, tenor saxophone and longtime member of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band
Bruce Springsteen "Born to Run"
Trish Keenan, lead singer of Broadcast
Broadcast "Goodbye Girls"
Gerard Smith of TV of the Radio
TV on the Radio "Hours"
9:30 Coffee Break: Pop/Rock Musicians Cover Standards
Posted at 8:15 AM on December 28, 2011
by Jill Riley
(43 Comments)
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Great Coffee Break topic suggestion from Virginia in Mendota Heights:
With John Munson (The New Standards, The Twilight Hours, Semisonic, Trip Shakespeare) as your upcoming guest host next week, how about a Coffee Break of old standards covered by contemporary (or relatively contemporary) artists?
Sounds like a fantastic topic to cover for the 9:30 Coffee Break. How many rock/pop artists can you think of that have covered an old standard tune? They can new artists or artists that reach back to the 60's.
Songs played:
Nilsson "As Time Goes By"
Devotchka "Somethin' Stupid"
Cowboy Junkies "Blue Moon (Song for Elvis)
Bryan Ferry "A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall"
Martina Topley-Bird "I Only Have Eyes for You"
9:30 Coffee Break: It's a Lazy Week
Posted at 8:15 AM on December 27, 2011
by Jill Riley
(30 Comments)
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It's that time of year again: the week between Christmas and New Years, when practically nobody gets anything done at work. Lots of people take the whole week off, in fact; it makes you wonder, why don't we all? Does anybody really expect any productivity this week? Jill is so lazy that she's recycling this Coffee Break topic from last year.
This morning for the 9:30 Coffee Break, it's all about being lazy. Let's put together songs about laziness and time wasting.
Songs played:
Arcade Fire "Wasted Hours"
The Lovin' Spoonful "Daydream"
Jeremy Messersmith "Lazy Bones"
Otis Redding "(Sittin on) The Dock of the Bay"
Soul Coughing "Lazybones"
The Byrds "Nothing Was Delivered"
Friday Coffee Break: Jesus Rocks
Posted at 8:50 AM on December 23, 2011
by Steve Seel
(52 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
We did this one a couple of years back on Christmas Eve for the 9:30 Coffee Break, and we thought we'd return to it today (here's the original blog post). As we put it back then:
For today's 9:30 Coffee Break, Jill and I had a slightly different idea for a Christmas-oriented theme. Since the holiday is about, you know, that guy who got born in a manger and inspired 2000 years subsequent devotion, consternation and, not least of all, art - howabout some songs demonstrating some of that historical impact? It's quite an understatement to say that Jesus has made his way into the poetry of rock from it's beginning. So that's our topic today. Jesus in rock!
Songs played:
The Vaselines "Jesus Wants Me for A Sunbeam"
Johnny Cash "Personal Jesus"
Jim White "If Jesus Drove a Motor Home"
Ministry "Jesus Built My Hotrod"
Tom Waits "Chocolate Jesus"
Wilco "Jesus, ect"
Thursday Coffee Break: Bands With "Holiday-Esque" Names
Posted at 8:52 AM on December 22, 2011
by Steve Seel
(49 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
We're inundated with holiday images every year beginning even before Halloween these days - by now we're up to our necks in reindeer, Santa and stockings practically everywhere, from department stores to streetlights. Can you think of any bands with names that contain any of that holiday imagery? For example, a band called "The Reindeer" would qualify, if there was such a band (there may be for all I know). We'll bet you can think of a few real ones. That's today's assignment for the 9:30 Coffee Break.
Wednesday Coffee Break: No Sleep ...
Posted at 9:11 AM on December 21, 2011
by Steve Seel
(43 Comments)
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This morning we talked about Steve's new baby - a preemie born last month but who was just sprung from the NICU on Monday - and how Steve's doing with his new adventures in sleep deprivation. So, that's our topic for today's 9:30 Coffee Break is any song that has to do with fatigue, sleeplessness, or any general lack of slumber.
Songs played:
The Beatles "I'm So Tired"
Talking Heads "Up All Night"
Low "Try To Sleep"
Warren Zevon "I'll Sleep When I'm Dead"
Boomtown Rats "Up All Night"
Tuesday Coffee Break: It's A Miracle!
Posted at 8:47 AM on December 20, 2011
by Steve Seel
(29 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Tonight is the first night of Hanukkah, and given that the holiday celebrates the miracle of the candle oil that was supposed to have only been enough for one night but instead burned for eight, we'll turn to the subject of miracles for today's 9:30 Coffee Break. What are some of your favorite songs about miracles?
Songs played:
Elvis Costello "Miracle Man"
Jeremy Messersmith "Miracles"
Krisoff Krane "Miracle"
Grateful Dead "I Need a Miracle"
Hot Chocolate "You Sexy Thing"
Monday Coffee Break: Lucky Seven
Posted at 8:36 AM on December 19, 2011
by Steve Seel
(30 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today we're unveiling the artists who will be playing The Current's Seventh Birthday Bash, taking place over two nights at First Avenue on January 27th and 28th. Seven years. Holy cats, can you believe that? Seems like just yesterday we were launching the station with a handful of CDs, running on backup generators during a power-outage in downtown St. Paul.
As we look forward to that exciting seventh anniversary this morning, we thought we'd put together a 9:30 Coffee Break featuring songs containing the number seven in the title.
Songs played:
The White Stripes "Seven Nation Army"
The Clash "The Magnificent Seven"
Echo and the Bunnymen "Seven Seas"
Love "7 and 7 is"
Prince "Seven"
Friday Coffee Break: The Pep Rally From Hell
Posted at 8:52 AM on December 16, 2011
by Steve Seel
(33 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
By now you've probably heard about this story: a Minnesota high school principal is
apologizing for pep rally prank earlier this month in which blindfolded students were surprised to find they had kissed their parents in front of hundreds of classmates. We won't embed the video here, but here's a link (we're too grossed out). From the AP:
"In an interview Thursday, Rosemount High School Principal John Wollersheim says the event was organized by the high school staff, but he was accountable. A one-minute video of the smooches has gone viral on YouTube. In the video, the captains of several winter sports teams were lined up along a wall of the gym opposite another line of students. The captains were blindfolded and told they had to guess which student kissed them. However, the students were swapped out for the parents of the athletes."
So. How do we intend to make a 9:30 Coffee Break out of this? Well, we'll leave that to you; help us build a set of tunes that bring together the various elements of this thing. Keywords to consider: pep rally, gross, sick, parents, prank ...
Songs played:
Mudhoney "Touch me I'm sick"
Fountains of Wayne "Stacy's Mom Has Got it Going On"
Prince "Kiss"
Gary Glitter "Rock and Roll Part Two"
Beck "Nausea"
The Bee Gees "I Started a Joke"
Thursday Coffee Break: The Eyes Have It
Posted at 8:46 AM on December 15, 2011
by Steve Seel
(51 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
The eye is the window to the soul, right? Well, eyes have certainly inspired art throughout the millennia. Do you know how many eye songs there are out there? Only about a kazillion-jillion.
What are your favorite songs about eyes? Let's put together a set today for the 9:30 Coffee Break.
Songs played:
The Guess Who "These Eyes"
Peter Gabriel "In Your Eyes"
The Flamingos "I Only Have Eyes for You"
The Streets "Dry Your Eyes"
Kate Bush "The Man with the Child in His Eyes"
Billy Idol "Eyes Without a Face"
Wednesday Coffee Break: Psychedelic Soul
Posted at 8:53 AM on December 14, 2011
by Steve Seel
(28 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
We got onto the subject of psychedelic soul this morning after playing Marvin Gaye's version of "I Heard It Through The Grapevine," often cited as one of the earliest examples of the genre. What is psychedelic soul? Wikipedia defines it as combining "the characteristics of soul with psychedelic rock. It came to prominence in the late 1960s and continued into the 1970s, playing a major role in the development of funk music and disco." Artists in the genre include such performers as Sly and The Family Stone, Stevie Wonder, Parliament-Funkadelic, and many others - occasionally Jimi Hendrix is even considered a purveyor of psychedelic soul. Today's 9:30 Coffee Break will be a cross-section of psych-soul artists and if you've got favorites you'd like to hear, let us know.
Tuesday Coffee Break: It's All Relative
Posted at 8:48 AM on December 13, 2011
by Steve Seel
(56 Comments)
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'Tis the season for hanging out with the relatives, from your parents to the members of your extended family that you sometimes see only once a year. Do you have favorite cousins you fondly remember playing hide-and-seek with as a kid? Uncles and Aunts that creeped you out who you dreaded seeing at the Thanksgiving table?
Today's 9:30 Coffee Break topic comes in from listener Bob Hicks, who suggests a set of songs titled for the various relatives: from fathers and mothers to uncles, aunts, cousins and so forth.
Songs played:
James Brown "Papa's got a Brand New Bag, pt 1"
The Monkees "Your Auntie Grizelda"
Spoon "Sister Jack"
Ernie K-Doe "Mother-in-law"
Paul McCartney "Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey"
Golden Smog "Red-Headed Stepchild"
Monday Coffee Break: Bands Named For Fictional Characters
Posted at 8:47 AM on December 12, 2011
by Steve Seel
(26 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
This morning our Random Vinyl selection was from the band The Mugwumps, named for the fictional character from William Burroughs' Naked Lunch. That'll provide a handy segue to today's 9:30 Coffee Break topic: we're looking for bands who take their names from fictional characters.
Songs played:
The Mugwumps "Everybody's Been Talkin'"
Belle & Sebastian "The Blues Are Still Blue"
Veruca Salt "Seether"
Augie March "Mother Greer"
Duran Duran "Girls on Film"
Friday Coffee Break: Yes!
Posted at 9:15 AM on December 9, 2011
by Steve Seel
(13 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
A few weeks ago, we did a Coffee Break set of "no" songs ... and it occured to us that we never came back around and offered the appropriate yang to that yin, as it were. So today, we're looking for songs with the word yes in the title for today's 9:30 Coffee Break.
Songs played:
Beck "Hell Yes"
Louis Prima "Yes! We Have No Bananas"
Morphine "Yes"
The Twilight Hours "Yes"
Wednesday Coffee Break: Rock n' Roll Inductees
Posted at 9:21 AM on December 7, 2011
by Steve Seel
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
The 2012 inductees for the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame were announced yesterday, and a certain band who has been waiting for some time for their proper recognition are finally getting it: Guns n' Roses heads up the 2012 class, who will be inducted in a ceremony on April 14th. Joining Axl and crew are the Beastie Boys; the Red Hot Chili Peppers; the late singer/songwriter Laura Nyro; Donovan; and The Small Faces/The Faces, which included Rod Stewart and Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood. So we honored the inductees this morning with a 9:30 Coffee Break of some of their songs.
Songs played:
Guns N' Roses "Welcome to the Jungle"
The Faces "Stay with Me"
Beastie Boys "Sure Shot"
Donovan "Mellow Yellow"
Red Hot Chili Peppers "Behind the Sun"
Tuesday Coffee Break: Planet Music
Posted at 8:52 AM on December 6, 2011
by Steve Seel
(40 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
At this point you've probably heard about Kepler 22-b, the recently-discovered planet 600 light-years away from Earth that is remarkably Earth-like. Speculations have begun about the possibility of life there. Since it's larger than Earth, Jill is convinced it's an exact copy of Earth just with versions of all of us twice the size we are, or larger.
We're looking for planet songs today for the 9:30 Coffee Break: tunes with "planet" in the title.
Songs played:
The Only Ones "Another Girl, Another Planet"
They Might Be Giants "How Many Planets?"
Afrika Bambaataa "Planet Rock"
The Flaming Lips "Watching the Planets"
B-52's "Planet Claire"
Monday Coffee Break: Ford Autos In Song
Posted at 8:50 AM on December 5, 2011
by Steve Seel
(38 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
As St. Paul's Ford Plant prepares for to shut its doors in just a few days after nearly a century in operation, the Twin Cities is losing a major employer - not to mention a landmark and simply familiar community presence in the St. Paul neighborhood of Highland Park. For today's 9:30 Coffee Break, we're looking for songs that mention Ford automobiles - either specifically in their title or prominently in the lyrics - or perhaps even Mr. Ford himself.
Songs played:
Chuck Berry "Maybelline"
Serge Gainsburg "Ford Mustang"
Elastica "Car Song"
The Beach Boys "Little Deuce Coupe"
Jerry Reed "Lord, Mr. Ford"
9:30 Coffee Break: Herman Cain Has Some Explaining To Do
Posted at 8:44 AM on December 2, 2011
by Jill Riley
(58 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Hermain Cain has a long weekend ahead of him.
The GOP presidential hopeful is set to meet with his wife, Gloria, for the first time since another woman claimed she had a 13-year affair with him and other women have made claims of alleged sexual advances. Because of the allegations surrounding Mr. Cain, he also has to decide whether or not it's worth it to continue his bid for the Republican nomination.
Today's Coffee Break is for Herman Cain and the not so relaxing weekend coming up. Be creative!
Songs played:
The Who "My Wife"
Them "Gloria"
The Clash "Should I Stay or Should I Go"
Bob Dylan "It Ain't Me Babe"
Love "Can't Explain"
Husker Du "I Apologize"
9:30 Coffee Break: Best Alternative Album Nominees 2011
Posted at 9:37 AM on December 1, 2011
by Jill Riley
(1 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
For today's 9:30 Coffee Break, we'll highlight the records up for Best Alternative Music Album last night during the Grammy Nominations.
Best Alternative Music Album:
Bon Iver
Bon Iver
[Jagjaguwar]
Torches
Foster The People
[Star Time Intl./ Columbia]
The King Of Limbs
Radiohead
[XL/ TBD Records]
Circuital
My Morning Jacket
[ATO Records]
Codes And Keys
Death Cab For Cutie
[Atlantic/ Barsuk]
Songs played:
Bon Iver "Perth"
Foster the People "Pumped up Kicks"
Radiohead "Little By Little"
My Morning Jacket "Circuital"
Death Cab For Cutie "Stay Young, Go Dancing"
Wednesday Coffee Break: Shake It!
Posted at 8:52 AM on November 30, 2011
by Steve Seel
(36 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
For today's 9:30 Coffee Break, we want you to shake it. You may pick whatever it is you'd like to shake, but the point is, we want songs that encourage or command you to shake something. Ready? Shake!
Songs played:
Johnny Kidd and the Pirates "Shakin All Over"
Outkast "Hey Ya"
Ray Charles "Shake Your Tailfeather"
Otis Redding "Shake"
The Rolling Stones "Shake Your Hips"
Jerry Lee Lewis "Whole Lot of Shakin Going On"
The Subways "Shake! Shake!
KC and the Sunshine Band "(Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty"
Tuesday Coffee Break: Songs For Everybody
Posted at 8:56 AM on November 29, 2011
by Steve Seel
(38 Comments)
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It's another topic suggested by our intrepid topic-maven Loran for today's 9:30 Coffee Break:songs addressed to everybody. We're looking for the word "everybody" in the song title, or prominently in the lyrics.
Songs played:
Nilsson "Everybody's Talkin"
Tears for Fears "Everybody Wants to Rule the World"
Buzzcocks "Everybody's Happy Nowadays"
The Beatles "Everybody's Got Something to Hide Except Me and my Monkey"
R.E.M. "Everybody Hurts"
Van Halen "Everybody Wants Some"
Monday Coffee Break: Shopping Songs
Posted at 8:01 AM on November 28, 2011
by Steve Seel
(33 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Did you participate in the retail insanity of Black Friday? Or perhaps you're planning to slyly do some online shopping today at your desk for "Cyber Monday" while the boss isn't looking. Either way, it's the biggest shopping weekend of the year, and so we're looking for shopping songs today for the 9:30 Coffee Break: songs about any kind of shopping or buying experience.
Songs played:
Smokey Robinson & the Miracles "Shop Around"
The Replacements "Customer"
M.I.A. "$10"
The Beatles "Can't Buy me Love"
The Kinks "Dedicated Follower of Fashion"
Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers "Rockin' Shopping Center"
Wednesday Coffee Break: A Little Traveling Music
Posted at 8:54 AM on November 23, 2011
by Steve Seel
(65 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
The day before Thanksgiving is traditionally the busiest travel day of the year, and so we're looking for traveling songs of any kind today for the 9:30 Coffee Break. Travel in general, or going home ...
Songs played:
Willie Nelson "On The Road Again"
Creedence Clearwater Revival "Travelin' Band"
Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes "Home"
Tom Waits "Long Way Home"
Roger Miller "King of the Road"
Ozzy Osbourne "Mama I'm Coming Home"
Tuesday Coffee Break: Songs About Cosmetics
Posted at 9:00 AM on November 22, 2011
by Steve Seel
(41 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Here's one of those topics that's somewhat out of left field, but Jill had an "a-ha" moment yesterday when she realized how many songs there seem to be about cosmetic-related items. Makeup or beauty products, or perhaps things we use to smell pretty ... that's today's topic for the 9:30 Coffee Break.
Monday Coffee Break: Hello!
Posted at 8:35 AM on November 21, 2011
by Steve Seel
(34 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Every week, there's a surprising number of "holidays" that you might not be aware of. Practically every day there's some kind of observance of something-or-other ... today, as it turns out, is World Hello Day. According to the holiday's remarkably 1996-ish looking website (an Earthlink site!), "Anyone can participate in World Hello Day simply by greeting ten people. This demonstrates the importance of personal communication for preserving peace."
Let's celebrate dumb, artificial, crap holidays today! (Okay, this one has a nice sentiment behind it we suppose). Help us put together a set of songs containing the word "hello" in the title for today's 9:30 Coffee Break.
Songs played:
Conway Twitty "Hello Darlin"
Cheap Trick "Hello There"
Poe "Hello"
The Beatles "Hello, Goodbye"
Todd Rundgren "Hello, It's Me"
The White Stripes "Hello Operator"
Friday Coffee Break: Double Negatives
Posted at 8:55 AM on November 18, 2011
by Steve Seel
(28 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today's 9:30 Coffee Break is another topic suggested by our trusty topic-maven Loren, who is in a grammatic frame of mind this morning. Loren suggests a set of songs containing double negatives. You probably recall being scolded for using the double negative as a younster: phrases such as "ain't got nothing" where the negative-ness of "ain't" is negated by "nothing." There are tons of examples in pop music, as you might imagine.
Songs played:
The Rolling Stones "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction"
Marvin Gaye "Ain't No Mountain High Enough"
Oasis "Ain't Got Nothin'"
Hank Williams "Nobody's Lonesome for Me"
James Brown "Papa Don't Take No Mess pt 1"
David Lee Roth "Just a Gigalo/I Ain't Got Nobody"
Thursday Coffee Break: Songs For The Smoke-Out
Posted at 8:58 AM on November 17, 2011
by Steve Seel
(40 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today is the 36th annual Great American Smoke Out, encouraging smokers everywhere to kick the habit (and former smokers to provide plenty of encouragement and support). For today's 9:30 Coffee Break, can you think of any songs appropriate for the occasion? Use your creativity and imagination.
Songs played:
Oingo Boingo "Nasty Habits"
Dramarama "Last Cigarette"
Nick Drake "Been Smokin' To Long"
Joe Cocker "With a Little Help from My Friends"
Jerry Reed "Another Puff"
Wednesday Coffee Break: Give Me Somethin'
Posted at 8:55 AM on November 16, 2011
by Steve Seel
(47 Comments)
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Minnesota prides itself on being a pretty philanthropic state. Today is Give To The Max Day, when you're encouraged to give to your favorite non-profit organization and support a "culture of giving" throughout Minnesota. (There's more info on Give To The Max day at minnesotapublicradio.org).
Our tie in for today's 9:30 Coffee Break: we're looking for songs with "give" in the title or lyrics (or a close variation, like "gimme" etc.).
Songs played:
Rick James "Give it to me Baby"
Spinal Tap "Gimme Some Money"
John Lennon "Give Peace a Chance"
The Ramones "Gimme Gimme Shock Treatment"
Red Hot Chili Peppers "Give it Away Now"
Average White Band "Cut the Cake"
Tuesday Coffee Break: Songs That Mention The Beatles
Posted at 8:51 AM on November 15, 2011
by Steve Seel
(36 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today we premiered a couple of tracks from the brand new Minnesota Beatle Project Vol. 3, and that's our point of departure for this morning's 9:30 Coffee Break. If you're familiar with the Coffee Break you know our long-standing question, "Is today's topic Beatle-proof?" Well, longtime Morning Show listener Lou suggests a topic that he insists is - as far as we can tell - unable to be filled with any songs by the Beatles, and that is songs that mention The Beatles by name. (We don't think there are any Beatles songs where they say "Beatles").
Songs played:
The Clash "London Calling"
The House of Love "Beatles and Stones"
The Police "Born in the 50's"
Nilsson "You Can't Do That"
Mott The Hoople "All the Young Dudes"
Metric "Gimme Sympathy"
Monday Coffee Break: Breakups That Didn't Kill The Band
Posted at 8:39 AM on November 14, 2011
by Steve Seel
(25 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today's 9:30 Coffee Break is inspired by one of the items in our Music History segment: musical couples who's creative relationships continued on even after the dissolution of their romantic relationship. (Our example earlier this morning was Sonny and Cher - who continued witht a CBS variety show even after their divorce). The obvious other example would be The White Stripes; what other examples can you think of?
9:30 Coffee Break: Be My Baby
Posted at 8:30 AM on November 9, 2011
by Jill Riley
(58 Comments)
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We got the call early this morning that Steve Seel and his lovely wife welcomed their new baby boy into the world! Huge congratulations to our friend, colleague and new dad, Steve. Today's 9:30 Coffee Break topic is simple. Songs with the word baby or babies prominantly featured in the lyrics or hook.
Songs played:
Talking Heads "Stay Up Late"
Wanda Jackson "Rock Your Baby"
The White Stripes "Baby Brother"
David Bazan "Please, Baby, Please"
The Beach Boys "Don't Worry Baby"
Devo "I Can't Get No Satisfaction"
The Ronettes "Baby, I Love You"
Tuedsay Coffee Break: Back To The Future, 1971
Posted at 9:10 AM on November 8, 2011
by Steve Seel
(29 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Continuing on a theme we discussed last hour with our guest Chuck Klosterman, today's 9:30 Coffee Break will be filled with nostalgia. And, since today is the 40th anniversary of the release of Led Zeppelin IV (which was this morning's History Highlight), we're making today's edition of the Back To The Future Coffee Break the year 1971. What's some of your favorite music from that year? Feel free to use the Google.
Songs played:
T. Rex "Mambo Sun"
Nilsson "Jump Into The Fire"
Marvin Gaye "Mercy Mercy Me"
Cher "Gypsys, Tramps and Thieves"
John Lennon "Imagine"
The Kinks "Oklahoma, USA"
Monday Coffee Break: Kiss-Offs To The Music Industry
Posted at 8:49 AM on November 7, 2011
by Steve Seel
(59 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
It's a long-standing rock n' roll tradition to bite the hand that feeds you. Today's 9:30 Coffee Break is devoted to songs where the singer expresses his or her frustration, disgust, or general annoyance with the very business they're working in: the music industry. It is, after all, a world filled with greed, lies, and overall skeevy-ness.
Songs played:
Elvis Costello "Radio Radio"
Pink Floyd "Have a Cigar"
XTC "Funk Pop a Roll"
The Rezillos "Top of the Pops"
Aimee Mann "Put Me on Top"
The Sex Pistols "EMI"
Friday Coffee Break: Cruise Music!
Posted at 8:50 AM on November 4, 2011
by Steve Seel
(38 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
As you know, our contest to win a pair of tickets to the Weezer Cruise is in full swing (and your next chance to win a copy of Weezer's Hurley and qualify for the cruise grand-prize drawing is coming up later today during Barb Abney's show). We thought today for the 9:30 Coffee Break we could draw on some of that excitement and put together a set of tunes that suggest the "feeling" of a cruise. It can either be something that deals specifically with such subject matter or that simply sounds or feels like how you might feel on a cruise ship.
Songs played:
Yeasayer "O.N.E."
Lionel Richie "All Night Long (All Night)"
Frankie Ford "Sea Cruise"
Beck "Nausea"
The Hues Corporation "Rock the Boat"
Jack Jones "The Love Boat" theme song
Thursday Coffee Break: Great Moustaches Of Movember
Posted at 8:22 AM on November 3, 2011
by Steve Seel
(46 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today's 9:30 Coffee Break idea comes in from listener Dylan of Atlanta GA, who proposes a set in honor of Movember - the annual moustache-growing month that started a few years ago that helps raise awareness of men's health issues. Dylan writes, "After being treated for testicular cancer, my friend has started a "Movember" team" which Dylan is participating in. We think Movember is a great fun way to draw attention to an important topic, so we're going to honor some of the great 'staches in popular music this morning with you help. Who possesses, or possessed, some of your favorites?
Songs played:
Frank Zappa "Muffin Man"
Little Richard "Tutti Frutti"
Spinal Tap "Big Bottom" (Derek Smalls)
The Beatles "Getting Better" (John, Paul, George and Ringo all sported some pretty sweet 'staches during the Sgt. Pepper era)
Queen "Another One Bites the Dust" (Freddie Mercury)
Wednesday Coffee Break: Games
Posted at 8:49 AM on November 2, 2011
by Steve Seel
(68 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today's 9:30 Coffee Break idea comes to us from listener Heather, who suggests "songs about games" (the example she cites is "Pinball Wizard"). What sort of games? Any kind. Games played inside, outside, on a court, on the grass, at a table (card games), children's games ... up to you.
Songs played:
The Who "Pinball Wizard"
Imogen Heap "Hide and Seek"
Kurtis Blow "Basketball"
John Lennon "Mind Games"
Devo "Peek-a-Boo"
Van Morrison "Domino"
Tuesday Coffee Break: Born To Rock
Posted at 8:51 AM on November 1, 2011
by Steve Seel
(50 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
With the news this week that world population has now passed the seven billion mark - yikes - we've been given a handy topic for today's 9:30 Coffee Break. No, not songs about overpopulation and bloody wars over increasingly scarce resoureces, even though that would probably be appropriate. We'll keep it a bit lighter today and ask you to help us put together a set of songs that make references to being born, either literally or metaphorically. So: songs with "born" or "birth" in the title!
Songs played:
Bruce Springsteen "Born to Run"
Cloud Cult "You Were Born"
The Police "Born in the 50's"
The Beatles "Birthday"
The Sugarcubes "Birthday"
Monday Coffee Break: Halloween Pt. 3, "Blood" Songs
Posted at 8:47 AM on October 31, 2011
by Steve Seel
(42 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
It's Day 3 of our Halloween Weekend extravaganza today for the 9:30 Coffee Break (Thursday was "costumes", Friday was "things that go bump in the night"), and today we're going with blood. So: what are some songs that mention blood or bleeding in the title or prominently in the lyrics? (Note: we've already played "Sunday Bloody Sunday" by U2 and "D.O.A." by Bloodrock today - but we're sure you'll still have tons to pick from).
Songs played:
Eels "Fresh Blood'
The National "Bloodbuzz Ohio"
The Pixies "I Bleed"
Ken Nordine "Crimson"
Rain Machine "Give Blood"
The Smithereens "Blood and Roses"
Friday Coffee Break: Things That Go Bump In The Night
Posted at 8:43 AM on October 28, 2011
by Steve Seel
(61 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Yesterday's 9:30 Coffee Break was about costumes and disguises, and today, we're going to stick with the actual subject matter of Halloween itself: help us put together a set of songs pertaining to ghosts, goblins, monsters, the dead and undead, and all that sort of thing. Happy Halloween!
Songs played:
The White Stripes "Little Ghost"
Warren Zevon "Werewolves of London"
Electric Six "Devil Nights"
Black Sabbath "Black Sabbath"
Michael Jackson "Thriller"
DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince "Nightmare on My Street"
Thursday Coffee Break: Costumes and Disguises
Posted at 8:52 AM on October 27, 2011
by Steve Seel
(21 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Jill and I have been talking about our ideas for Halloween costumes this morning; she's thinking about being Thing 1 (with a miniature mutant Thing 2 attached to her body somehow), and I was actually thinking of reprising my role as Dwight Schrute. Sadly, I make a really good Dwight Schrute.
Thus, today's 9:30 Coffee Break's topic: costumes and disguises.
Songs played:
The Flying Burrito Brothers "Christine's Tune (Devil in Disguise)"
John Fred and his Playboy Band "Judy in Disguise (with Glasses)"
Donovan "Season of the Witch"
Sunny Day Real Estate "Faces in Disguise"
Elvis Presley "Devil in Disguise"
Wednesday Coffee Break: Models Of Cars
Posted at 8:33 AM on October 26, 2011
by Steve Seel
(66 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
We've been talking this morning about the world premiere of the new single by the Black Keys that we're rolling out just after 9am, "Lonely Boy." The forthcoming album is called "El Camino," which spurred some discussion about the Chevy vehicle by that name (Jill and I wondered, why didn't they put a picture of an actual El Camino on the album cover instead of a Chrysler min-van? A listener pointed out that "el camino" is Spanish for "the road"). We love learning stuff!
So, staying on that thread, we want to put together a set for today's 9:30 Coffee Break featuring songs that are actually named for specific car models.
Songs played:
Southern Culture on the Skids "69 El Camino"
Ronny and the Daytonas "GTO"
The Modern Lovers "Roadrunner"
The Presidents of the United States of America "Mach Five"
Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen "Hot Rod Lincoln"
The Clash "Brand New Cadillac"
Tuesday Coffee Break: Musical Put-Downs
Posted at 8:53 AM on October 25, 2011
by Steve Seel
(46 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Sometimes, you just wanna come up with a really good insult - and pop music is often a great place to go for inspiration. There have been tons of artful put-downs in pop over its long history (Bob Dylan himself wrote several of rock's best-known kiss-offs), and for today's 9:30 Coffee Break, we want to feature some of music's best.
Songs played:
The Sex Pistols "God Save the Queen"
Rufus Thomas "Bear Cat"
John Lennon "How do You Sleep?"
Lily Allen "Not Fair"
The Replacements "Waitress in the Sky"
Monday Coffee Break: National Food Day
Posted at 8:35 AM on October 24, 2011
by Steve Seel
(52 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today is the first ever observation of National Food Day - described as a nationwide celebration of healthy, affordable, and sustainably grown food and a grassroots mobilization for improved food policies. Naturally, we thought that'd make a fine segue into a 9:30 Coffee Break. Songs about food - particularly (in keeping with the spirit of the day), simple, basic food items (for example, references to "potatoes" will be preferred over "Big Macs", etc.).
Songs played:
Michael Franti and Spearhead "Red Beans and Rice"
Beastie Boys "Eggman"
Neutral Milk Hotel "King of Carrot Flowers"
Booker T & the MG's "Green Onions"
Nilsson "Coconut"
The Beatles "Strawberry Fields Forever"
Friday Coffee Break: Music For The End
Posted at 9:10 AM on October 21, 2011
by Steve Seel
(15 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
It's the end of the drive, and, if you believe the stories about the rapture occuring today, the end of everything else as well. Howabout "music for the end" today for the 9:30 Coffee Break? How about upbeat songs on that theme? (I bet you can think of at least one).
Songs played:
The Sundays "Here's Where the Story Ends"
Prince "1999"
R.E.M. "End of the World as we Know it"
Elvis Costello "Waiting for the End of the World"
Thursday Coffee Break: NOW!
Posted at 9:11 AM on October 20, 2011
by Steve Seel
(25 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
To help provide a little additional inspiration for supporting The Current today - and wrapping up this membership drive with us! - today's 9:30 Coffee Break is songs with the word "now" in it. Let's hear from you now with a membership contribution, and make a suggestion for a "now" song!
Songs played:
Elvis Presley "It's Now or Never"
Fat Boy Slim "Right Here, Right Now"
The Beatles "All Together Now"
Tuesday Coffee Break: Couples In Music
Posted at 8:59 AM on October 18, 2011
by Steve Seel
(28 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore and Kim Gordon announced yesterday that they were splitting up as a couple, even though the band would stay together for at least the immediate touring future. Another hit for romance in rock.
Today for the 9:30 Coffee Break, help us put together a set of bands featuring romantically-joined couples - whether they stayed intact or eventually severed their relationship.
Songs played:
Sonic Youth "My Friend Goo"
X "The New World"
Johnny Cash and June Carter "Jackson"
Mates of State "Get Better"
Low "Just Stand Back"
Monday Coffee Break: Musical Artists From Norway
Posted at 8:51 AM on October 17, 2011
by Steve Seel
(13 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today is the last day the King and Queen of Norway are in Minnesota - King Harald and Queen Sonja have been in Minnesota for a few days and today they are visiting Duluth. In their honor, today's 9:30 Coffee Break will feature music of their homeland (and, of course, the ancestral home of one of the largest ethnic groups in Minnesota). Artists from Norway, today on the Coffee Break.
Songs played:
Sondre Lerche "Say it All"
Kings of Convenience "I Don't Know What I Can Save You From"
Ida Maria "I Like You So Much Better When You're Naked"
A-ha "Take on Me"
Friday Coffee Break: Viernes No Ingles!
Posted at 9:14 AM on October 14, 2011
by Steve Seel
(42 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
For today's 9:30 Coffee Break, t's the return of Viernes No Ingles - No English Friday! Suggest songs sung in any language but English.
Thursday Coffee Break: Action Songs
Posted at 9:11 AM on October 13, 2011
by Steve Seel
(39 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today's 9:30 Coffee Break, in honor of the Fall Membership Campaign, is about taking action. We're looking for songs with action words: run, jump, move, dance, leap ...
Songs played:
Harry Belafonte "Jump in the Line"
Phoenix "Run, Run, Run"
Junior Senior "Move Your Feet"
Tegan and Sara "Walking With a Ghost"
Wednesday Coffee Break: Double Handclaps
Posted at 9:08 AM on October 12, 2011
by Steve Seel
(39 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today's 9:30 Coffee Break is a celebration of the double handclap. It's better than a song with single handclap - the double handclap makes a song even poppier!
Songs played:
The Cars "Best Friend's Girl"
Weezer "Photograph"
Cults "Abducted"
Lush "Ladykillers"
The Pipettes "Your Kisses Are Wasted on Me"
The Beatles "Eight Days a Week"
Tuesday Coffee Break: Bands That Broke Up In 2011
Posted at 8:15 AM on October 11, 2011
by Steve Seel
(24 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
With the announcement a couple weeks ago that R.E.M. was bringing an end to their 30+ year career, we got to thinking about all the other bands that called it quits in 2011. (Yes, we're a bit early for a look-back at 2011, but we are of course hoping we won't have many more bands to add to this list by the end of December). It's been a big year for breakups; help us pay tribute to some of the great bands that threw in the towel this year for today's 9:30 Coffee Break.
Songs played:
Rilo Kiley "Breakin Up"
The White Stripes "My Doorbell"
Von Bondies "C'mon C'mon"
Roma Di Luna "These Tears Ain't Mine"
LCD Soundsystem "Daft Punk is Playing at My House"
R.E.M. "Fall on Me"
Monday Coffee Break: Songs About Toys
Posted at 9:13 AM on October 10, 2011
by Steve Seel
(44 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
That's it - very simple! Songs about any kind of toy for today's 9:30 Coffee Break. Go!
Songs played:
Haley Bonar "Raggedy Man"
Nilsson "Cuddly Toy"
The Cyrkle "Red Rubber Ball"
REM "Toys in the Attic"
Kelly Hogan "Rubber Ducky"
Friday Coffee Break: Feelin' Wistful
Posted at 8:56 AM on October 7, 2011
by Steve Seel
(66 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Do you enjoy autumn? If you do, then you might be sympathetic to the vibe we're going for on today's 9:30 Coffee Break. Jacquie brought up the word "wistful" - defined by Merriam Webster as "full of yearning or desire tinged with melancholy." It's kind of like nostalgia, but with a ineffable sense of longing in there too. And with the fall colors in full force, leaves filling up the ground, and a bit of a chill in the air (well, at least two out of three of those at the moment), it's seems like a good time for a fall coffee break that celebrates that wistful feeling. Send us your favorite fall songs!
9:30 Coffee Break: Innovators of Modern Rock
Posted at 9:03 AM on October 6, 2011
by Jacquie Fuller
(36 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Yesterday, the world lost a visionary with the death of Steve Jobs, founder and two-time CEO of Apple. To honor Jobs, let's hear songs from innovators ... in music. Nominate an artist or band from the last thirty or so years who broke new ground - and give us a few words why you think they're worthy of recognition. (Let's skip the obvious pioneers from the early years of rock and roll for this one - and focus on artists 1975 to the present.)
Songs played:
Talking Heads, "Once In A Lifetime"
Bjork, "Venus As A Boy"
Prince, "1999"
Radiohead, "All I Need"
Devo, "Jocko Homo"
Wednesday Coffee Break: Jailbirds
Posted at 9:13 AM on October 5, 2011
by Steve Seel
(33 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today for our Music News segment, Jim had two news items about musicians who have gotten in trouble with the law this week: Tone-Loc (domestic violence and gun possession) and Pete Doherty, who gets in trouble practically once a week. It got us thinking: how about a 9:30 Coffee Break of songs by musicians who have spent time in jail? At least one night in the slammer qualifies.
Songs played:
Johnny Cash, "Folsom Prison Blues"
James Brown, "Cold Sweat Pt.1"
Mark Ronson w/ Amy Winehouse, "Valerie"
Paul McCartney and Wings, "Band On The Run"
Leadbelly, "Midnight Special"
Tuesday Coffee Break: Catchy, Catchy, Catchy Songs
Posted at 9:13 AM on October 4, 2011
by Steve Seel
(42 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Here's a news story from today: scientists in England have come up with a list of the "catchiest songs of all time" - according, of course, to Science. Here's the article of how this all worked, including the Scientifically Determined top 10 catchiest songs.
What makes a catchy song? What are some examples of tunes work their way into your head and stay there - in a good way? (Let's avoid those "ear worms" that burrow into your brain and make you want to kill yourself). Super catchy songs, for today's 9:30 Coffee Break.
Songs played:
The Beatles, "Can't Buy Me Love"
Outkast, "Hey Ya!"
The Fratellis, "Chelsea Dagger"
Queen, "We Are The Champions"
Europe, "The Final Countdown"
The La's, "There She Goes"
Monday Coffee Break: Metals
Posted at 8:54 AM on October 3, 2011
by Steve Seel
(63 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
This week's CD of the Week here at The Current is Feist's new release, Metals. Always looking for a segue, we decided that word would make for some good fodder for today's 9:30 Coffee Break. So: what are some songs with some kind of metal named in their title, or prominently in their lyrics? Some examples: gold, silver, copper, brass, steel, bronze, lead, platinum ...
Songs played:
The Beatles, "Maxwell's Silver Hammer"
The Pretenders, "Brass In Pocket"
Rilo Kiley, "Silver Lining"
Black Sabbath, "Iron Man"
Yeah Yeah Yeahs, "Gold Lion"
Friday Coffee Break: Songs About Commitment
Posted at 8:43 AM on September 30, 2011
by Steve Seel
(49 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Earlier this morning, Jacquie Fuller and I were discussing a new proposal in Mexico that would allow couples to sign a marriage contract that is only two years long (and then renewable, should the couple so choose), rather than "til death do us part". Unsurprisingly, many who favor traditional marriage are up in arms about this, but those proposing the measure see it as a possibly solution to the alarmingly high divorce rate in Mexico.
For today's 9:30 Coffee Break, we're looking for songs about commitment: what are some tunes where the singer proclaims his or her intention (or desire) to remain in a relationship permanently?
Thursday Coffee Break: Songs That Mention Other Bands
Posted at 8:55 AM on September 29, 2011
by Steve Seel
(77 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today's 9:30 Coffee Break suggested by Leah from Minneapolis, who writes, "I don't know if you've done this before: songs that mention other bands" in their title or lyrics. Well Leah, we have in fact done that topic, but it's a fun topic, so let's do it again!
Wedensday Coffee Break: Ask A Stupid Question Day
Posted at 9:12 AM on September 28, 2011
by Steve Seel
(44 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Yes, that's apparently what it is today: Ask A Stupid Question Day, the day when students in classrooms across the country are encouraged to ask questions that they'd ordinarily be afraid to ask. Naturally, this provides us with a nice seque to today's 9:30 Coffee Break: we're looking for some of your favorite songs that ask questions in the title. Extra points if that question actually qualifies as a stupid question!
Songs played:
The Beatles "Why Don't We Do It In the Road?"
The Clash "Should I Stay or Should I Go"
Dinah Washington "Is You Is, Or Is You Ain't My Baby (Remix)"
The Pixies "Where is My Mind"
Creedence Clearwater Revival "Have You Ever Seen the Rain?"
Tuesday Coffee Break: 80s Synth-Pop
Posted at 8:45 AM on September 27, 2011
by Steve Seel
(41 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Did you head to First Avenue last night to catch Orchestral Maneuvers In The Dark? A lot of people are buzzing about the show this morning (and later today we'll even welcome the band into our studio to play some songs and talk with Mark Wheat!). Jim McGuinn went to the show and is practically high on last night's steady infusion of synth-pop into his veins, and so we thought we'd devote today 9:30 Coffee Break to the genre. Let us know what some of your favorite tunes are from the heyday of 80s synth-pop, and we'll put together a set with your suggestions today.
Monday Coffee Break: No No No
Posted at 8:54 AM on September 26, 2011
by Steve Seel
(55 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today's 9:30 Coffee Break topic is, we think, a simple one: songs with multiple, consecutive "no's" in the lyrics. A single "no" won't do; it needs to be at least two in a row. Ready? Go.
Songs played:
Ringo Starr "The No No Song"
The Human Beinz "Nobody But Me"
The Flaming Lips "Yeah Yeah Yeah Song"
The Beatles "Can't Buy Me Love"
Amy Winehouse "Rehab"
The Zombies "Tell Her No"
9:30 Coffee Break: Birthday Blowout
Posted at 8:30 AM on September 23, 2011
by Jill Riley
(16 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
September 23rd was/is a great day to be born. If your birthday is today, you share it with some pretty amazing musicians. We'll play six songs, from six artists (some not with us anymore) for today's 9:30 Coffee Break: Birthday Blowout. Your assignment is to make requests for your favorite songs!
Bruce Springsteen is 62.
Ray Charles was born on this day in 1930. He died June 11, 2004 in Los Angeles.
Ani Difranco is 41
John Coltrane was born in 1926 in Hamlet, North Carolina. Died in 1967.
Ben E. King is 73. (We were just informed that Ben E. King's birthday is actually Sept 28th, so we'll send him an early birthday wish)
Jerry Corbetta is 64. (Singer and keyboardist for hit '70s rock band Sugarloaf)
Songs played:
Bruce Springsteen "State Trooper"
Ray Charles "I've Got a Woman"
Ani Difranco "32 Flavors"
John Coltrane "Giants Steps"
Ben E. King "Spanish Harlem"
Sugarloaf "Green-Eyed Lady"
9:30 Coffee Break: The Wrecking Crew
Posted at 8:17 AM on September 22, 2011
by Jill Riley
(14 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Beginning in the late 1950s and continuing throughout the 60s, many of the biggest hits in popular music that were recorded on the West Coast featured the same group of session musicians. 1st call players like Carol Kaye, Tommy Tedesco, Glen Campbell, Leon Russell and legendary drummer Hal Blaine were the one's who played on hit after hit for artists like The Beach Boys, The Monkees, Bing Crosby, The Carpenters, The Byrds, The Mamas & the Papas and Simon & Garfunkle. Now referred to as The Wrecking Crew, this fantastic group of musicians never received proper credit for their outstanding performances even though they've played on some of the most famous songs ever recorded. For the coffee break today, we'll shine a little light on The Wrecking Crew and their amazing contributions to popular music.
Also, check out the Wrecking Crew story from Minnesota Public Radio News.
Songs played:
The Beach Boys "Good Vibrations"
The Ronettes "Be My Baby"
The Markettes "Batman Theme"
The Fifth Dimension "Up-Up and Away"
The Byrds "Mr. Tambourine Man"
Nancy Sinatra "Lies"
The Monkees "Last Train To Clarksville"
9:30 Coffee Break: Back to the Future, 2003
Posted at 8:40 AM on September 21, 2011
by Jill Riley
(52 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
It's time once again for us to fire up the way-back machine for the 9:30 Coffee Break and enjoy another edition of Back To The Future. This time, we're heading back just a few years, back to 2003. What are some of your favorite songs of 2003? (Feel free to enlist Google to help jog your memory)
Songs played:
Outkast "Hey Ya!"
The Postal Service "Such Great Heights"
The Shins "Kissing the Lipless"
Yeah Yeah Yeahs "Maps"
Jet "Are You Gonna Be My Girl"
Atmosphere "Always Coming Back Home to You"
The Darkness "I Believe in a Thing Called Love"
The White Stripes "Seven Nation Army"
9:30 Coffee Break: Bands Who Changed Their Name
Posted at 8:31 AM on September 20, 2011
by Jill Riley
(47 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today's 9:30 Coffee Break topic: Bands who have been through at least one name change in their history. Maybe the style of the band changed or perhaps the band came up with something more creative (or less stupid). Time for a music history lesson today.
Songs played:
The Golliwogs "Fight Fire" (Blue Velvets to The Golliwogs to Creedence Clearwater Revival)
Semisonic "Sculpture Garden" (Semisonic started as Pleasure)
Green Day "She" (Before they were Green Day, they were Sweet Children)
The Cult "She Sells Sanctuary" (Southern Death Cult to Death Cult to The Cult)
Radiohead "Anyone Can Play Guitar" (Originally On a Friday)
9:30 Coffee Break: Home Economics
Posted at 8:54 AM on September 19, 2011
by Jacquie Fuller
(41 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
This morning's 9:30 Coffee Break is for anyone who spent some part of their weekend taking care of business at home - doing the laundry, buying groceries, mowing the lawn, etc. Let's compile a list of songs that are about, or feature, household chores.
Songs played:
Wilco, "Hate it Here"
B-52's, "Housework"
The Coasters, "Yakity Yak"
The Flaming Lips, "Suddenly Everything Has Changed (Death anxiety caused by moments of boredom)"
The Beatles, "Fixing a Hole"
The Clash, "Lost in the Supermarket"
9:30 Coffee Break: ¡Viva Mexico!
Posted at 8:26 AM on September 16, 2011
by Jacquie Fuller
(36 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today is my Mexican-American mom's birthday, so as a gift to mom, I'm proving that her cultural lessons weren't lost on me. On this day in 1944, Ma was born, but if we go back even further - 134 years, to be exact - Mexico declared its independence from Spain. In the famous speech known as the Grito de Dolores, the priest who led the revolution, Father Hidalgo, kicked off a war that would last 11 years. Diez y Seis de Septiembre is recognized as the most important holiday in Mexico - bigger, even, than Cinco de Mayo - and is celebrated with an awful lot of partying. We're having a fiesta of our own this morning with a 9:30 Coffee Break celebrating both Mexican and Mexican-American artists.
Songs played:
Sam the Sham and The Pharaohs "Wooly Bully"
Rodrigo Y Gabriela "Buster Voodoo"
Alejandro Escovedo "Always a Friend"
Los Lobos "Come On, Let's Go"
Ximena Sarinana "Different"
? and the Mysterians "96 Tears"
9:30 Coffee Break: Ch-Ch-Changes
Posted at 8:43 AM on September 15, 2011
by Jill Riley
(50 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Fall may not officially be upon us (according to the calendar), but this morning in the Twin Cities it was totally sweater and jacket weather. It was 38 degrees in Saint Paul when the Morning Show crew rolled in. The change in weather and reminder that Autumn is just around the corner inspired today's 9:30 Coffee Break. Songs about a "change."
Songs played:
David Bowie "Changes"
Bob Dylan "The Times They Are a Changin"
Sugar "Change"
Otis Redding "Change Gonna Come"
Tears for Fears "Change"
The Byrds "Turn! Turn! Turn (To Everything There is a Season)"
9:30 Coffee Break: Songs That Namecheck Celebrities
Posted at 8:50 AM on September 14, 2011
by Jill Riley
(63 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Yesterday Jill met her number one celebrity crush, Emilio Estevez. In honor of the best day in her entire life, today's coffee break is all about songs that name check celebrities. Bonus points and priority awarded to suggestions accompanied by stalking stories.
Songs played:
LCD Soundsystem "Losing My Edge"
Hot Chip and Peter Gabriel "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa"
Low "Witches"
Mika "Grace Kelly"
Weezer "Buddy Holly"
9:30 Coffee Break: Happy music from Dark places
Posted at 8:31 AM on September 13, 2011
by Jim McGuinn
(142 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today we were talking about how Foster The People's "Pumped Up Kicks" has managed to be one of the biggest songs of the year, despite lyrics like "all the other kids with the pumped up kicks / you'd better run better run, faster than my bullet." For both Jill and myself it took months of listening to that song before actually 'hearing' the words. Non-hiphop songs that evoke images of Columbine, or at least some X Box shoot-'em-up fantasy rarely make the Top 40, but most songs also aren't so darn catchy as FTP's jam. So it got us thinking about today's Coffee Break theme - sunny music, dark words.
Songs played:
Warren Zevon "Excitable Boy"
The Decemberists "The Rake's Song"
The Buzzcocks "Everybody's Happy Nowadays"
The Violent Femmes "Country Death Song"
The Buoys "Timothy"
The Beatles "Maxwell's Silver Hammer"
The Ramones "Beat on the Brat"
9:30 Coffee Break: Song about, But Not By, The Police
Posted at 8:35 AM on September 12, 2011
by Jill Riley
(49 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
A few recent incidents have led both Jill and DC to believe that they've made a transformation. Getting old, settling down, growing up, etc. Call it what you want. Specifically, it's transition from being the person that people called the cops on, to being the one who calls the police on others.
The mischievous youth gives way to the uptight, old fogey and the boys in blue (who were once "the man"), are now a solution to any neighborhood problem that you just don't want to deal with. In celebration of this metamorphosis, today's coffee break is all about your communities' finest.
Songs about, but not by, the police.
Songs played:
Bobby Fuller Four "I Fought the Law"
Drive-By Truckers "Used to be a Cop"
Judas Priest "Breakin the Law"
Inner Circle "Bad Boys"
Gomez "Get Myself Arrested"
Cheap Trick "The Dream Police"
Friday Coffee Break: Jobs, Jobs, Jobs
Posted at 8:56 AM on September 9, 2011
by Steve Seel
(47 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Last night's speech to congress by President Obama about his jobs plan provides our fodder for today's 9:30 Coffee Break. Help us put together a set of songs about jobs or employment - or, perhaps, the lack of it.
Songs played:
Drive-by Truckers "Working This Job"
Alex Chilton "Lost My Job"
Jeremy Messersmith "Day Job"
Buck Owens "Waitin' in Your Welfare Line"
Modern Lovers "Government Center"
The Clash "Career Opportunities"
Thursday Coffee Break: International Literacy Day
Posted at 8:58 AM on September 8, 2011
by Steve Seel
(50 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today is International Literacy Day, an annual observance of the importance of literacy around the world. Of course, we immediately hear a 9:30 Coffee Break in there. So for today's coffee break, help us build a set of songs relating to reading, writing, and/or books.
Songs played:
Elvis Costello "Everyday I Write the Book"
Talking Heads "The Book I Read"
Spoon "The Book I Write"
The Beatles "Paperback Writer"
Madeleine Peyroux "I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter"
The Box Tops "The Letter"
Wednesday Coffee Break: Sweet Songs
Posted at 8:59 AM on September 7, 2011
by Steve Seel
(43 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
After our foodie Dara Moskowitz-Grumdahl loaded us both up with candy this morning, Jill and I have quite the sugar-rush going. We thought we'd continue the theme with today's 9:30 Coffee Break: we're looking for songs with sweet in the title.
Songs played:
Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell "How Sweet it is (To be Love by You)"
Black Sabbath "Sweet Leaf"
Electric Light Orchestra "Sweet Talkin' Woman"
Sweet, "Sweet F.A."
The Velvet Underground, "Sweet Jane"
Tuesday Coffee Break: Freddie Mercury's 65th
Posted at 8:03 AM on September 6, 2011
by Steve Seel
(22 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Yesterday was the 65th anniversary of the birth of Freddie Mercury, which you were reminded of if you went anywhere near Google's home page yesterday (you might want to check out the amazing Google doodle while you still can - they've left it up there a little longer for those of us who missed it). Since the Morning Show was off yesterday, we thought we'd take today to have a little celebration of Freddie's life and career.
Born Farrokh Bulsara in the British protectorate of Zanzibar, Mercury lived in India through his teens (during which time he began to call himself "Freddy") before his family moved in England. In 1970, he formed Queen with Brian May, Roger Taylor and John Deacon, changing his last name to Mercury. Queen would evolve into one of the most significant and celebrated bands in rock, known for it's elaborate compositions and Mercury's virtuosic, practically operatic vocals (spanning a four-octave range) and flamboyant stage persona. Mercury died of pneumonia brought on by AIDS on November 24th, 1991, only one day after publicly acknowledging he had the disease.
Help us celebrate the life and legacy of Freddie Mercury today with a 9:30 Coffee Break showcasing his music today.
Songs played:
Queen "Bohemian Rhapsody"
Queen "Fat Bottomed Girls"
Queen "Another One Bites the Dust"
Queen "Don't Stop Me Now"
Queen "You're My Best Friend"
Queen "Somebody to Love"
Friday Coffee Break: The Five Senses
Posted at 8:18 AM on September 2, 2011
by Steve Seel
(53 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
It's Friday, it's rainy, it's the end of the week, we all need a low-brain-power concept for today's 9:30 Coffee Break, wouldn't you say? Here's what we got: songs that cover the five senses. So, one song each about sight, smell, sound, taste, and touch. (And if we have time, we'll accept creative suggestions for a "sixth sense" song).
Songs played:
Touch: Joan Jett "Do You Want to Touch Me (Oh Yeah)"
Sound: Marvin Gaye "Heard it Through the Grapevine"
Smell: The Ramones "Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue"
Sight: The Beatles "Saw Her Standing There"
Taste: Red Hot Chili Peppers "Taste the Pain"
Sixth Sense: The White Stripes "Little Ghost"
Thursday Coffee Break: September Songs
Posted at 9:13 AM on September 1, 2011
by Steve Seel
(32 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today's 9:30 Coffee Break is suggested by our faithful listener Lou, who proposes September songs. Turns out there are quite a few of them. How many can you think of?
Songs played:
Big Star "September Gurls"
Neil Diamond "September Morn'"
Earth, Wind and Fire "September"
The Happenings "See You in September"
Frank Sinatra "September Song"
Wednesday Coffee Break: All Hail Girl Drummers!
Posted at 9:01 AM on August 31, 2011
by Steve Seel
(64 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
On the occasion of the birthday of Gina Schock, drummer for the Go-Go's, today's 9:30 Coffee Break is a celebration of many of the awesome ladies who pound the drumkit. Help us put together a set of bands with female drummers today.
Songs played:
The Go Go's "We Got the Beat" Gina Schock
Babes in Toyland "Bruise Violet" Lori Barbaro
The Velvet Underground "Rock N Roll" Maureen Tucker
The Runaways "Cherry Bomb" Sandy West
Sleater-Kinney "Turn it On" Janet Weiss
The White Stripes "Icky Thump" Meg White
Tuesday Coffee Break: Nap Time
Posted at 8:57 AM on August 30, 2011
by Steve Seel
(57 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Overcast days make for tough days to get up and get going. Jill and I seem to be a little groggier than usual today, and we're thinking that might be at least a little to do with the weather; perhaps you can relate. So for today's 9:30 Coffee Break, we're thinking about songs that have to do with sleep - whether you're inclined to sleep in today or take a little nap in the afternoon.
Songs played:
The Beatles "I'm only Sleeping"
Belle and Sebastian "We are the Sleepyheads"
The Postal Service "Sleeping In"
Low "Try to Sleep"
Semisonic "Singing in my Sleep"
The Beatles "Good Night"
Monday Coffee Break: Back To School
Posted at 8:50 AM on August 29, 2011
by Steve Seel
(36 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
It's back to school today for thousands of students around the Twin Cities, so naturally that's going to segue into our topic for today's 9:30 Coffee Break. Help us put together a set of songs about school, and all the many things it entails.
Songs played:
The Ramones "Rock 'N' Roll High School"
The Waitresses "Square Pegs"
The White Stripes "We're Going to Be Friends"
The Smiths "Headmaster Ritual"
They Might be Giants "Why Does the Sun Shine?"
Chuck Berry "School Days"
Friday Coffee Break: Mmm, Chicken
Posted at 8:44 AM on August 26, 2011
by Steve Seel
(62 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Obviously, some topic we choose for the 9:30 Coffee Break are a bit more off-the-cuff than others. Today's is rather silly, we admit. But hey, it's Minnesota State Fair time, and two of the things that make the fair what it is - animals and tasty food - are certainly appropriate topics. And today, we've got one of those particular animals on our minds: whether you prefer to think of our friend the chicken as a fine friend who produces eggs or makes a tasty meal, you can't deny that chickens are awesome.
We told you, we're in a silly mood today. Songs about chicken, today for the Coffee Break.
Songs played:
A Band of Bees "Chicken Payback"
Rosco Gordan "The Chicken Dance With You"
Southern Culture on the Skids "Eight Piece Box"
Loose Fur "Hey Chicken"
Magnetic Fields "Chicken With It's Head Cut Off"
Thursday Coffee Break: Music From Apple Commercials
Posted at 8:45 AM on August 25, 2011
by Steve Seel
(28 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
The news of Steve Jobs' retirement from CEO of Apple yesterday made big headlines; even though Jobs was absent from the company for much of the 90s, it's hard to imagine Apple without his vision and guidance (indeed, the company's time without him was their most rudderless era). We have Jobs to thank for iTunes, the iPod and iPhone, and so much more.
But Jobs of course has been more than a CEO: he embodies the whole Apple mindset and sensibility, and over the years, that sensibility has been communicated quite a lot through Apple's TV commercials. Right now, we've got a forum going on here on our website where we want you to weigh in on some of your favorite tunes used in iPod commercials; for today's 9:30 Coffee Break, we'll open up those suggestions to your favorite songs that have been used in TV commercials for any Apple product: iPod, iPad, or heck, just their plain ol' computers.
Songs played:
The Rolling Stones "She's a Rainbow" 1999 Apple iMac Colors commercial
Yael Naem "New Soul" Apple MacBook Air commercials
The Fratelli's "Flathead" iPod+iTunes Commercial "Party"
Kermit the Frog "Bein Green" 2000 Apple iMac "Sage" Commerical
Chairlift "Bruises" Apple iPod nano 4G nano-chromatic commercial "Paint"
Feist "1 2 3 4" iPod nano 3G commercial "Stacks"
Wednesday Coffee Break: Number Bands
Posted at 9:00 AM on August 24, 2011
by Steve Seel
(54 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today's 9:30 Coffee Break topic was another listener idea, which we always love. After playing some Ben Folds Five yesterday, a listener suggested we assemble a set of songs by bands who's names end in numbers, exactly like Ben Folds Five (yes, we know, that band was only a trio and the band's name was a joke. Beside the point.). Another example: the Jackson 5. Help us come up with some bands that follow this formula (and ideally contain numbers that aren't five). Note: the number has to come at the end.
Songs played:
Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five "The Message"
Dillinger Four "File Under Urban Contemporary"
Electric 6 "Rock and Rock Evacuation"
Dave Clark 5 "Glad All Over"
Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two "Guess Things Happen That Way"
Jurassic 5 "Quality Control"
Tuesday Coffee Break: Honoring Jerry Leiber and Nickolas Ashford
Posted at 8:12 AM on August 23, 2011
by Steve Seel
(8 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
This morning, the music world mourns the loss of two great songwriters who also happened to be members of significant songwriting duos: Jerry Leiber, half of the team of Leiber and Stoller along with Mike Stoller, and Nickolas Ashford, who teamed with Valerie Simpson for not just a great writing partnership but also as the succesful recording duo Ashford and Simpson.
Leiber and Stoller enjoyed their heyday in the 1950s, penning such hits as Elvis' "Hound Dog" and "Jailhouse Rock," as well as "Poison Ivy," "Love Potion #9," and "Stand By Me" along with Ben E. King. Ashford and Simpson started their songwriting career in the mid 60s, earning hits with songs such as "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" and "Ain't Nothin' Like The Real Thing" for Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell.
For today's 9:30 Coffee Break, we'll pay tribute to Jerry Leiber and Nickolas Ashford by showcasing several of the songs they co-wrote during their careers.
Jerry Leiber:
Elvis Presley "Hound Dog"
The Coasters "Yakety Yak"
The Clovers "Love Potion #9"
Peggy Lee "I'm a Woman"
Nickolas Ashford:
Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell "Ain't Nothin Like the Real Thing"
Chaka Khan "I'm Every Woman"
Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell "Ain't No Mountain High Enough"
Monday Coffee Break: Things
Posted at 8:50 AM on August 22, 2011
by Steve Seel
(63 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Once again, our trusty listener and topic-suggester Loran has stepped forward with a clever topic for the 9:30 Coffee Break: songs about things. Songs with thing or things in the title. However: we will not accept songs with "nothing" as the word. Got it? Ready, set, go.
Songs played:
Sonic Youth, "Kool Thing"
James Brown, "Get Up Offa That Thing"
Babes in Toyland, "He's My Thing"
The Wonders, "That Thing You Do!"
The Isley Brothers, "It's Your Thing"
Electric Light Orchestra, "Livin' Thing"
Friday Coffee Break: Camping
Posted at 8:42 AM on August 19, 2011
by Steve Seel
(46 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
This weekend is the big Soundtown Music and Camping Festival in Somerset WI, and a whole bunch of folks from The Current are heading down to enjoy two days of great music from the likes of The Flaming Lips, The New Pornographers, DeVotchKa, Okkervil River, and about 30 awesome local bands as well. Jill will be among the troupe heading down to enjoy the great music by day and pitch a tent under the stars by night. The weekend weather looks great, so it should be an awesome time.
For today's 9:30 Coffee Break, let's do set of songs that deal with things you might encounter while camping: fire, bugs, beautiful skies ... what else?
Songs played:
Nina Simone, "Funkier Than A Mosquito's Tweeter"
The Coasters, "Poison Ivy"
Jimi Hendrix, "Fire"
The Lemonheads, "The Outdoor Type"
The Get-Up Kids, "Campfire Kansas"
Electric Light Orchestra, "Mr. Blue Sky"
Thursday Coffee Break: Food Bands
Posted at 8:30 AM on August 18, 2011
by Steve Seel
(64 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today's 9:30 Coffee Break topic comes to us via Twitter: listener Cerebrotoxin suggests "musicians and bands with food in their names, such as The Cranberries and Martha and The Muffins." True enough, there are a number of bands with some kind of food item in their name; help us put together a set today for the Coffee Break.
Songs played:
Cake "The Distance"
Strawberry Alarm Clock "Incense and Peppermints"
Martha and the Muffins "Echo Beach"
Flying Burrito Brothers "Christine's Tune (Devil in Disguise)"
Raspberries "Go All the Way"
Meat Puppets "Up on the Sun"
Wednesday Coffee Break: Tell The Truth
Posted at 8:42 AM on August 17, 2011
by Steve Seel
(37 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today's 9:30 Coffee Break topic bounces off of a news story Jill and I discussed this morning, where a Minnesota dad who was feeling the pull of his moral fiber opted to out his twin sons who had committed a small act of fraud in order to win a $50,000 prize. It got us thinking about truth as a topic. Let's put together a set of tunes all about truth - either "truth" or "true" in the song title.
Songs played:
Brother Ali "Truth Is"
John Lennon "Gimme Truth"
The Police "Truth Hits Everybody
Spandau Ballet "True"
Depeche Mode "Policy of Truth"
Tuesday Coffee Break: I Forget
Posted at 8:31 AM on August 16, 2011
by Steve Seel
(39 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Last night, I suffered from quite the case of forgetfulness. Jill and I spun the tunes and emceed at Music and Movies in Loring Park, and when it came time to introduce Dean Otto, Associate Curator of the Walker Art Center, I forgot his first name. Then, I forgot to return Jill's headphones that I had borrowed, and when I got home, she texted me: "I'll just get my headphones from you tomorrow." She was pulling my chain - she'd actually picked them up - but I kicked myself all night that I'd forgotten them there (even ordering a new pair for her online before coming in this morning).
Looks like we have a topic for this morning's 9:30 Coffee Break then, wouldn't you say? Songs about forgetting, or with "forget" or "forgot" in the title.
Songs played:
Simple Minds "Don't You (Forget About Me)"
Nat King Cole "Unforgettable"
Pixies "Where is my Mind"
Elvis Presley "I Forgot to Remember to Forget"
Tribe Called Quest "I Left my Wallet in El Segundo"
Monday Coffee Break: Songs That Mention Presidents
Posted at 8:44 AM on August 15, 2011
by Steve Seel
(84 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
So President Obama is in Minnesota today, that provides us for our idea for today's 9:30 Coffee Break: songs that mention the names of presidents. We did a little research and it looks like Nixon is running away with by far the most mentions of any president in rock n' roll (no surprise, we suppose), but there are others ... what presidential mentions can you think of in songs?
Songs played:
Common "The People" (Barack Obama)
David Bowie "Young Americans" (Richard Nixon)
The Postal Service "Sleeping In" (John F. Kennedy)
They Might Be Giants "James K. Polk" (James K. Polk)
Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young "Ohio" (Richard Nixon)
Friday Coffee Break: Songs For Cliques
Posted at 8:45 AM on August 12, 2011
by Steve Seel
(73 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
There are many reasons John Hughes' movies were so successful back in the '80s, but one of them was how well he understood the whole thing about high school cliques. It's a cliche' but it's true: we all know there have always been the jocks, the nerds, the burnouts, and so forth.
As school is about to start up in a couple weeks, our faithful listener Loran suggests an appropriate topic: a set that devotes one song each to a common high school clique. So, we want:
1) One song dealing with sports, for the jocks;
2) One song dealing with nerdiness, for the geeks;
3) One song that, in some way, salutes the cheerleaders;
4) One song that, in some way, salutes the stoners;
5) One song about braininess, for the brains;
6) Anything else for any other clique that comes to mind.
Songs played:
Jocks: Nada Surf "Popular"
Geeks: They Might be Giants "Science is Real"
Cheerleaders: The Go! Team "Huddle Formation"
Stoners: Bob Dylan "Rainy Day Woman #12 & 35"
Brains: Inara George "Genius"
Punks: The Ramones "Sheena is a Punk Rocker"
Thursday Coffee Break: Flower Songs
Posted at 8:43 AM on August 11, 2011
by Steve Seel
(80 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today's 9:30 Coffee Break topic comes to us from Jen from St. Paul, who suggests songs about different types of flowers. So: roses, poppies, gardenias, all in the title of the song. (Note: we're looking for songs about flowers today, not bands named for flowers - we'll do that one another time).
Songs played:
The White Stripes "Blue Orchid"
The Foundations "Build Me Up Buttercup"
Elvis Costello "Good Year for the Roses"
Stephen Malkmus "Gardenia"
The Rolling Stones "Dandelion"
Oasis "Morning Glory"
Wednesday Coffee Break: Chocolate Songs
Posted at 9:05 AM on August 10, 2011
by Steve Seel
(34 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Our faithful listener Lou dropped us a line noting that today is the anniversary of the birth of Henri Nestle, who was born on this day in 1814. So why not "songs with 'chocolate' in the title?" Why not indeed, Lou? Great idea. Chocolate songs, for today's 9:30 Coffee Break.
Songs played:
Parliament "Chocolate City"
Rufus Wainwright "Cigarettes and Chocolate"
Guy Davis "Chocolate Man"
Tom Waits "Chocolate Jesus"
Art Brut "DC Comics and Chocolate Milkshake"
Tuesday Coffee Break: Songs That Remind You Of A Movie
Posted at 8:27 AM on August 9, 2011
by Steve Seel
(123 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today's 9:30 Coffee Break topic comes to us from listener Dave Gangler, who suggests: "Songs where you can't help but think of a specific movie when you hear them. For example: 'Don't You Forget About Me' by Simple Minds. You can't hear that and not think about The Breakfast Club." That's a fine suggestion, Dave - thanks!
Songs played:
Peter Gabriel "In Your Eyes" Say Anything
Nilsson "Everybody's Talkin" Midnight Cowboy
Dick Dale and Del-Tones "Misirlou" Pulp Fiction
Van Halen "Everybody Wants Some" Better off Dead
The Champs "Tequila" Pee Wee's Big Adventure
Roy Orbison "In Dreams" Blue Velvet
Monday Coffee Break: Days Of The Week Songs
Posted at 8:16 AM on August 8, 2011
by Steve Seel
(47 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Your assignment today for the 9:30 Coffee Break is a simple one (which is how we like to roll on a Monday). We want to play one song each for each day of the week. So: one "Monday" song, one "Tuesday" song, and so forth. We'll either do only weekdays or throw in a Saturday song if we have time (Sunday, however, is the day of rest, so we'll skip that one).
Songs played:
Boomtown Rats "I Don't Like Mondays"
The Rolling Stones "Ruby Tuesday"
Tori Amos "Wednesday"
Morphine "Thursday"
Jens Lekman "Friday Night at the Drive-In Bingo"
Bay City Rollers "Saturday Night"
Friday Coffee Break: International Beer Day!
Posted at 8:10 AM on August 5, 2011
by Steve Seel
(56 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
It's here again! International Beer Day, when we're all encouraged to enjoy a frosty beverage of our choice (responsibly, of course). You can find out what local watering holes are participating here, although you can certainly celebrate wherever you choose, even from the comfort of your own domicile.
Today for the 9:30 Coffee Break, we'll once again tie-in to this festive annual celebration by asking you to request songs that are beer or pub related in subject matter.
Songs played:
The Replacements "Beer for Breakfast"
Har Mar Superstar "Tall Boy"
Jerry Lee Lewis "What's Made Milwaukee Famous"
Splodgenessabounds "2 Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps"
Willie Nelson "Bubbles in my Beer"
Tom Waits "The Piano Has Been Drinking"
The Fiery Furnaces "Restorative Beer"
Thursday: Acronym Artists
Posted at 8:46 AM on August 4, 2011
by Steve Seel
(106 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today's 9:30 Coffee Break topic is suggested by trusty topic-provider Bob Hicks: bands or artists whose names are acronyms (or contain an acronym as part of their name). What's an acronym? A series of letters that stand for words (such as IBM, for "International Business Machines").
Update: We've now had it pointed out to us that "acronym" is not the proper word we want here, since an acronym is actually an abbreviation that forms a new word that you actually pronounce (such as "NATO," or "laser," or "sonar"). The word we want is "initialism," or simply abbreviation. Thanks, and we stand corrected. Now carry on.
Acronym
Abba (Anni-Frid, Bjorn, Benny, Agnetha) "Dancing Queen"
Initialisms
R.E.M. (Rapid Eye Movement)
P.O.S. (Pissed off Stef, Product of Society, Product of Stress, or Piece of S&*%)
O.M.D. (Orchestral Movements in the Dark)
E.L.O. (Electric Light Orchestra)
C.C.R. (Creedance Clearwater Revival)
Wednesday Coffee Break: Clothes For Summer
Posted at 8:49 AM on August 3, 2011
by Steve Seel
(44 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
We may be getting a slight break from the oppressive heat today, but that only means that we can enjoy our favorite summertime clothing without soaking them with sweat. Today for the 9:30 Coffee Break, we want your help in putting together a set of songs about different items of clothing you would wear in the summer: skirts, shorts, t-shirts, sandals ... or perhaps your birthday suit. Summertime clothes, today for the Coffee Break.
Songs played:
Benji Hughes "Tight Tee Shirt"
Sia "Little Black Sandals"
James Brown "Hot Pants pt 1"
Combustible Edison and Esquivel "Miniskirt"
Iron & Wine "Naked as We Came"
Animal Collective "Summertime Clothes"
Tuesday Coffee Break: National Night Out
Posted at 8:45 AM on August 2, 2011
by Steve Seel
(32 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Assuming the weather cooperates with us tonight (the rain is supposed to be done with by evening ... we'll see), neighbors will be closing off their block to traffic, hauling the grills into the street, and doing the "getting to know you"-thing, as it's National Night Out tonight. For today's 9:30 Coffee Break, we thought we'd throw the topic out to you once again and let you get creative. What songs cover the various aspects of National Night Out in all of it's block-party, meet-the-neighbors, grill-up-some-hotdogs goodness?
Songs played:
The Flaming Lips "Buggin"
Sly and the Family Stone "Hot Fun in the Summertime"
The Beatles "Come Together"
Big Star "In the Street"
Martha and the Vandellas "Dancing in the Streets"
Atmosphere "Shhh"
Monday Coffee Break: 30th Anniversary of MTV's Launch
Posted at 8:37 AM on August 1, 2011
by Steve Seel
(31 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Thirty years ago today, a little cable channel called MTV launched. It's hard to comprehend today how exciting it was for a generation of kids who first stumbled upon a channel that played "music videos" - a term for promotional film-clip that had practically just been coined - 24-frickin'-hours-a-day (and, at that time, with no commercials). To actually be able to see a steady stream of (mostly) interesting artists, plus a whole bunch of unfamiliar ones, was practically stimulation-overload at the time. Within fifteen years, MTV's formula of videos round-the-clock would cede to a roster of increasingly non-music-related shows that would set the format for what it is today.
For today's 9:30 Coffee Break, we want to play some of the tunes who's videos were aired on that first day of MTV's existence.
Songs played:
Talking Heads "Once in a Lifetime"
Pretenders "Brass in Pocket"
Robert Palmer "Johnny and Mary"
Fleetwood Mac "Tusk"
Nick Lowe "Cruel to be Kind"
Spilt Enz "I Got You"
Friday Coffee Break: Back To The Future, 1982
Posted at 8:51 AM on July 29, 2011
by Steve Seel
(52 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
It's time once again for us to fire up the way-back machine for the 9:30 Coffee Break and enjoy another edition of Back To The Future. This time, we're heading back to the dangerous musical year of 1982 - it's a mine-field of cheese and frighteningly bad hairstyles and clothes, yes, but there are also tons of gems to enjoy. What are some of your 1982 musical memories? (Feel free to enlist Google to help jog your memory).
Songs played:
The Jam "Town Called Malice"
Romeo Void "Never Say Never"
Michael Jackson "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)
The Suburbs "Waiting"
Psychedelic Furs "Love My Way"
The Clash "Know Your Rights"
Thursday Coffee Break: You Call That Singing?
Posted at 8:46 AM on July 28, 2011
by Steve Seel
(110 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today's 9:30 Coffee Break topic was suggested on The Morning Show's Facebook page by listener Tara, who writes, "I'm at my desk grooving to Lou Reed and thinking how some singers are brilliant, but aren't really trying or, when you get down to it, not even very good singers. Maybe you should do a Coffee Break about that?" A fine suggestion, Tara. Who are some "singers" who are recognized as significant artists, but who's "singing voices" are hardly awesome?
Songs played:
Lou Reed "Peggy Sue"
Marianne Faithful "In the Factory"
The Smashing Pumpkins "Today"
Bob Dylan "Beyond Here Lies Nothin"
Liz Phair "Never Said"
The Flaming Lips "A Spoonful Weighs a Ton"
Wednesday Coffee Break: Voyeuristic Songs?
Posted at 8:53 AM on July 27, 2011
by Steve Seel
(50 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
It was one of the topics that Dara Moskowitz-Grumdahl talked about this morning on Dining With Dara: restaurants around the Twin Cities where there is some kind of voyeuristic component (it's hard to explain - if you missed the segment, just check out the blog entry for some clarity). Nevertheless, that got us thinking about the concept of voyeurism in general, for the 9:30 Coffee Break. What are some songs that deal with watching, peeping, or being watched (or perhaps just feeling like you're being watched)?
Songs played:
Rockwell "Somebody's Watching Me"
Suzanne Vega "Tom's Diner"
Detroit Cobras "Hot Dog (Watch Me Eat)"
Trailer Trash "Santa's a Spy"
Devo "Peek-a-Boo"
Tuesday Coffee Break: 1,2, 1-2-3-4!!!
Posted at 8:48 AM on July 26, 2011
by Steve Seel
(57 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today's 9:30 Coffee Break is all about the count-off: 1-2-3-4! What are some songs that feature a healthy count-off, in whatever form, at the beginning?
Monday Coffee Break: The Saddest Club Of All
Posted at 8:37 AM on July 25, 2011
by Steve Seel
(33 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
The tragic death of Amy Winehouse this past weekend had another sadly ironic aspect to it: the fact that she died at the age of 27. Oddly, this is an age that a surprising number of music icons through time lost their lives: Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, The Rolling Stones' Brian Jones, Jim Morrison, and Kurt Cobain are all members of the so-called "27 Club". The list goes on from there, though, with more names than you might realize. Today for the 9:30 Coffee Break, we're paying tribute to some of those artist who died at the too-young age of 27.
Songs played:
Amy Winehouse "Back to Black"
Nirvana "On a Plain" (Kurt Cobain)
Robert Johnson "Crossroads"
Janis Joplin "Cry Baby"
Badfinger "No Matter What" (Pete Ham)
Jimi Hendrix "Castles Made of Sand"
9:30 Coffee Break: Oh, Fer Cute!
Posted at 8:49 AM on July 22, 2011
by Jacquie Fuller
(91 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
I ran into a friend yesterday at the grocery store. She said, "I heard you and Jill on the radio this morning - you two sounded cute!" Cute? She meant it as a compliment, but I've always tended to recoil from the term (it's something the boys in high school would tell you when they liked you, but didn't want to date you - right up there with "nice personality.") Nevetheless, Jill and I have decided it's time to be at peace with cuteness - especially since we both have a secret soft spot for sugary pop songs. For today's 9:30 Coffee Break - get out the toy instruments! We're celebrating all songs cute, twee, and precious. Or as Jill says, "Songs cute enough to eat." Submit your suggestions below.
Songs Played:
Belle and Sebastian - Dear Catastrophe Waitress
Rilo Kiley - Portions for Foxes
Let's Go Sailing - Icicles
Regina Spektor - The Calculation
Mates of State - For the Actor
9:30 Coffee Break: Let's Be Friends
Posted at 8:47 AM on July 21, 2011
by Jacquie Fuller
(71 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Jacquie Fuller here, filling in for a vacationing Steve Seel, and I have to say that hanging out with Jill Riley feels a lot like an early-morning slumber party. All that's missing is some popcorn, toenail-painting, and a John Cusack DVD. That said, how about some songs about friendship? You pick the songs, and Jill and I will play them (in between weaving friendship bracelets and participating in blood-exchange rituals.)
Songs played:
The White Stripes - We're Going to Be Friends
Morrissey - We Hate it When Our Friends Become Successful
Queen - You're My Best Friend
The Dresden Dolls - My Alcoholic Friends
The Sights - Waiting on a Friend
The Cars - My Best Friend's Girl
9:30 Coffee Break: Start it Up!
Posted at 8:45 AM on July 20, 2011
by Jill Riley
(43 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
The Minnesota state legislature adjourned just before 4 o'clock this morning, after passing a dozen bills to fund state government. The bills close a five billion dollar budget gap projected for the state over the next two years. The GOP controlled legislature and DFL governor Mark Dayton opted to solve the problem with a mix of borrowing, cuts and accounting shifts. Once Dayton signs off, it will be time to start up state government services after being shutdown for 20 days.
Sounds like a topic we need to recognize for the 9:30 Coffee Break. Songs about re-starting, going back to work, relief, frustration, and whatever way you choose to address this topic.
Songs played:
Elvis Costello "Welcome to the Working Week"
Stevie Wonder "Signed, Sealed, Delivered"
Modest Mouse "Fire it Up"
Prince "Let's Work"
Talking Heads "Don't Worry About the Government"
Rush "Working Man"
Tuesday Coffee Break: The Tropical Heatwave
Posted at 8:44 AM on July 19, 2011
by Jill Riley
(59 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Sick of this humid heatwave yet? An excessive heat warning remains in effect until Wednesday for most of Minnesota. So, how about a Coffee Break to address the heat? Be creative! Hot, sweat, ways to cool off, ect.
Songs played:
Martha and the Vandellas "Heat Wave"
Nelly "Hot in Here"
Prince "Black Sweat"
James Brown "Hot Pants, Pt. 1"
Violent Femmes "Blister in the Sun"
Third World "96 Degrees in the Shade"
Bananarama "Cruel Summer"
9:30 Coffee Break: Wedding First Dance Song
Posted at 8:30 AM on July 18, 2011
by Jill Riley
(142 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today's 9:30 Coffee Break was suggested by MPR Marketing Specialist Matt Perkins who recently tied the knot. As we enter the absolute thick of the wedding season, we want to know what you'd choose - or what you you chose - as the music for the first dance at your wedding. Were you traditional? Did you get creative?
Wow! Huge response today.
Songs played:
The Beatles "When I'm Sixty-Four"
Magnetic Fields "The Book of Love"
Ween "Stay Forever"
Bright Eyes "First Day of my Life"
Nina Simone "My Baby Just Cares for Me"
The Stooges "I Wanna Be Your Dog"
Etta James "At Last"
Friday Coffee Break: Magic Songs
Posted at 8:28 AM on July 15, 2011
by Steve Seel
(53 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
The day has arrived: Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows, Pt. 2, the final installment of the billion-dollar Harry Potter franchise, opened at midnight this morning. Are you planning to go this weekend? (If for no other reason, it would be a great way to get out of the heat that's forecast for the next several days).
For today's 9:30 Coffee Break, put on your invisbility cloak, grab your wand, and help us put together a set of songs with magic in the title.
Songs played:
Pilot "It's Magic"
The Police "Every Little Thing She Does is Magic"
The Lovin' Spoonful "Do You Believe in Magic"
The Who "Magic Bus"
Electric Light Orchestra "Strange Magic"
Olivia Newton John "Magic"
Thursday Coffee Break: Band Members Who Do Next To Nothing
Posted at 8:57 AM on July 14, 2011
by Steve Seel
(69 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today's 9:30 Coffee Break topic was suggested by Chris of Rapid City SD, who says, "What about a set featuring bands that have members that don't really sing of play an instrument." We thought this was hilarious and very insightful; every now and then, you'll see a band in a live setting that contains at least one member who appears to do very little - perhaps just play maracas or tambourine, and not much else. (We'll allow people who do actually sing backup vocals, though).
Songs played:
Happy Mondays "24 Hour Party People" (Mark "Bez" Berry, the member of the band who plays maracas and dances on stage)
The Mighty Mighty Bosstones "Where'd You Go" (Ben Carr, manager and stage dancer)
Public Enemy "Bring the Noise" (How much did Flava Flav REALLY do?)
Cloud Cult "Story of the Grandson of Jesus" (stage painters contribute to the live performance)
The Brian Jonestown Massacre "Servo" (Joel Gion, tambourine/percussion)
Parliament "Flashlight" (lots of members on stage during live shows not doing much, but dancing around)
Wednesday Coffee Break: Mary Songs
Posted at 8:55 AM on July 13, 2011
by Steve Seel
(69 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Is there any more popular name in music than Mary? We think not. Today for the 9:30 Coffee Break, we want to do Mary songs (and specifically Mary: there are plenty of those to avoid spilling over into Maria or combo-names like Mary Anne).
Songs played:
Ike and Tina Turner "Proud Mary"
Soul Coughing "Soundtrack to Mary"
Morphine "Mary Won't You Call My Name"
Run DMC "Mary, Mary"
Jimi Hendrix "The Wind Cries Mary"
The 757's "Mary Lucia"
Tuesday Coffee Break: Bands In Movies
Posted at 8:41 AM on July 12, 2011
by Steve Seel
(126 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Ever notice how, when a movie has a scene that calls for a "rock group" to be playing, that band is almost invariably awful? Or more accurately, just really fake and silly looking? (St. Elmo's Fire anyone?).
Sometimes, movies feature real musicans, actually playing themselves. This morning's 9:30 Coffee Break is about those musicians who have had cameos in movies, not playing in some fictional band, but actually appearing as themselves as part of the drama. How many can you think of?
Songs played:
Morris Day and the Time "Jungle Love" (Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back)
Oingo Boingo "Dead Man's Party" (Back to School)
Digital Underground "Same Song" (Nothing But Trouble)
The Mighty Mighty Bosstones "Someday I Suppose" (Clueless)
Strawberry Alarm Clock "Inncense and Peppermints" (Beyond the Valley of the Dolls)
Monday Coffee Break: Triple Albums
Posted at 9:01 AM on July 11, 2011
by Steve Seel
(19 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Our conversation about triple albums grew out of today's Music History segment, when we got into discussing the release of the Woodstock soundtrack album. We wondered: what are some other triple albums? Well, The Clash's Sandinista ... um, what else? (Note: anthologies and bootlegs don't count). We thought of a couple, but we want your input. Songs from triple albums: that's the topic for today's 9:30 Coffee Break.
Songs played:
Smashing Pumpkins "1979" Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness
George Harrison "My Sweet Lord" All Things Must Pass
Magnetic Fields "Yeah, Oh Yeah" 69 Love Songs
The Clash "Junco Partner" Sandinista
Tom Waits "Bend Down the Branches" Orphans: Brawler, Bawlers and Bastards
Friday 9:30 Coffee Break: Countdown to Atlantis Liftoff!
Posted at 9:00 AM on July 8, 2011
by Jill Riley
(48 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Space shuttle Atlantis is all fueled up and ready for liftoff this morning for the final flight of the 30-year program, even though the forecast for stormy weather is threatening to delay the launch. So hey, since this will be "all she wrote" for the shuttle program, this morning is a great opportunity to have a 9:30 Coffee Break theme around space exploration. It might be awhile before this topic comes around again. Yes, I'll have the David Bowie cued up.
Songs played:
Donovan "Atlantis"
Nilsson "Spaceman"
Beastie Boys "Intergalactic"
David Bowie "Space Oddity"
Carl Sagan "A Glorious Dawn"
Listen to Midmorning on 91.1 KNOW or online at mprnews.org for live coverage of the launch of the final space shuttle mission. Atlantis is set to blast off at just before 10:30 CT. Hear that launch live plus a discussion of the future of the U-S manned space program.
Thursday Coffee Break: Midnight
Posted at 8:43 AM on July 7, 2011
by Steve Seel
(37 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Times of day seem to be a popular topic for songwriters; there are lots of songs about morning, afternoon, and evening ... but today we want to focus specifically on songs that mention midnight for the 9:30 Coffee Break.
Songs played:
Wilson Pickett "In the Midnight Hour"
Patsy Cline "Walkin' After Midnight"
Leadbelly "Midnight Special"
The Jimi Hendrix Experience "Burning of the Midnight Lamp"
Gladys Knight and the Pips "Midnight Train to Georgia"
B.B. King "Blues at Midnight"
Wednesday Coffee Break: Gone Fishin'
Posted at 8:21 AM on July 6, 2011
by Steve Seel
(56 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Jill was lamenting this morning her inability to renew her fishing license, on account of the state government shutdown. (She's also still soliciting your suggestions for convenient, quality fishing spots in the Twin Cities). Since we're already on a fish thread, we thought we'd make that the topic of today's 9:30 Coffee Break. What are some songs that deal with fish or fishing?
Songs played:
Sharon Jones and Dap Kings "Fish in the Dish"
The Replacements "All He Wants to do is Fish"
The Waterboys "Fisherman's Blues"
Tom Waits "Swordfishtrombones"
Sun Kil Moon "Four Fingered Fisherman"
The Jayhawks "Poor Little Fish"
Tuesday Coffee Break: Go Jump In A Lake
Posted at 8:28 AM on July 5, 2011
by Steve Seel
(42 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today's 9:30 Coffee Break topic comes to us once again from our trusty listener Bob Hicks, who is always full of good topic ideas. Bob writes, "With summer arriving in a big way, the closest pool or beach is where the action is. So, how about a cooling coffee break focused on swimming, beach life, etc?" (We would also add lakes to the list of possiblities).
Songs played:
Wavves "King of the Beach"
R.E.M. "Nightswimming"
The Ramones "Rockaway Beach"
Innocence Mission "Lakes of Canada"
The B-52's "Rock Lobster"
Friday Coffee Break: Shut Down And Locked Up
Posted at 9:02 AM on July 1, 2011
by Steve Seel
(40 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
For today's 9:30 Coffee Break, we're going to ask for your musical take on the Minnesota state government shutdown. It's serious and un-fun business for a lot of people, of course - especially all the state workers who have been laid off until the budget impasse is resolved. But today, we want you to express either your frustration or your humorous take on the situation with musical suggestions.
Songs played:
Semisonic "Closing Time"
The Beach Boys "Shut Down"
Alex Chilton "Lost my Job"
Built to Spill "The Wait"
Wednesday Coffee Break: Booty Songs
Posted at 8:25 AM on June 29, 2011
by Steve Seel
(47 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Merriam-Webster defines booty as "Plunder taken (as in war); especially: plunder taken on land as distinguished from prizes taken at sea." Well, that's not helpful, is it? Sure, that's the "original" use of the word, but hasn't the other one surpassed it by now in popular parlance?
Today's 9:30 Coffee Break will be a showcase of some of the songs that have celebrated the derrierre, the hindquarters, the rump, with that awesome word. Booty songs, today on the Coffee Break.
Songs played:
Beastie Boys "Professor Booty"
Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears "Booty City"
Sly and the Family Stone "Loose Booty"
KC and the Sunshine Band "(Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty"
Queen "Fat Bottomed Girls" (DJ Z-Trip remix)
Tuesday Coffee Break: Drum And Drummer
Posted at 8:56 AM on June 28, 2011
by Steve Seel
(60 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today's 9:30 Coffee Break topic is suggested by listener Bob Hicks, who writes: "If a coffee break is meant to give us a little jolt to keep going for the rest of the a.m., what's more fitting than some tunes about beat-keepers and bashing the ol' kit? (This category could of course be expanded to include percussion/percussionists, such as tambourines or gongs)." And so, songs about drummers and/or playing the drums (or other percussion instruments) today.
Songs played:
Nickodemus "Give the Drummer Some"
Wilco "Heavy Metal Drummer"
Dan and Matt Wilson "Drummer Like Me"
T. Rex "Bang a Gong Get it On"
The Avett Brothers "Kick Drum Heart"
The Stone Roses "She Bangs the Drums"
Monday Coffee Break: Vocabulary Test
Posted at 8:52 AM on June 27, 2011
by Steve Seel
(56 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today's 9:30 Coffee Break is all about big words: songs titled with words that not everyone knows the meaning of. Now, naturally, it's very possible that we'll get some suggestions featuring words that you yourself know very well, but keep in mind, we're allowing for words that you might find on a high school vocabulary test for example - and if you know them, that's because you're simply more learned that somebody else. (We're even going to include a song with a title Steve didn't know the meaning of, and he was subsequently shamed by the artist performing it for not knowing the definition).
Songs played:
James Blake "Lindisfarne"
The Replacements "Androgynous"
Andrew Bird "Nomenclature"
Dessa "The Chaccone"
The Morning Show Coffee Break
Posted at 8:13 AM on June 28, 2011
by The Current
(2 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
How do you take your coffee? Cream? Sugar? Messersmith?
For June's Coffee Break Road Trip - when we travel to one lucky local business to provide coffee and treats from Gigi's Cafe and Bakery - we chose the offices of Community Involvement Programs in Minneapolis. But this time, we had an extra special surprise in store.
When we contacted Kelly Burt, the employee who had submitted the entry, she was extremely excited that we'd picked her company, but she also joked in passing: "Do you think you could bring Jeremy Messersmith along?" She's a huge fan, and that got Jill thinking: "Hmmm, we wonder if Jeremy is busy that morning."
Kelly had told us we'd have "special, labeled parking" outside when we arrived (and indeed, there was a sign by the first space that read "Parking For Steve Seel and Jill Riley"), and she was so enthusiastic in her communication with us that we feared she might meet us in the parking lot and see Jeremy in the van - thus spoiling the surprise. So, we dropped him off a block away (this was his idea, you should know), and told him we'd text him the signal to come down after everybody was settled in with their coffee and treats (the insane notion of Jeremy Messersmith walking down Broadway by himself with his guitar case in hand wasn't lost on any of us). When the time came, I went outside and ushered him in - and the two of us had to stoop under the office's windows like ninjas as we snuck in, so they wouldn't see him ahead of time. When he came in, the office went crazy, and Kelly shreiked in delight. Jeremy played three songs, practically singing right to her.
Jeremy was an incredible sport and told us he had a great time. We could not possibly be more appreciative that he would do this for us and for some unsuspecting fans!
Friday Coffee Break: Makes Of Cars
Posted at 8:51 AM on June 24, 2011
by Steve Seel
(92 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
After MPR's Movie Maven Stephanie Curtis joined us this morning to talk bout Cars 2 (she liked it, by the way), we've got a topic idea for today's 9:30 Coffee Break: songs that mention specific models of cars. Not just songs about cars in general, but tunes that actually name check specific cars: GTO's, Mustangs, Corvettes ...
Songs played:
Commander Cody, "Hot Rod Lincoln"
Serge Gainsbourg, "Ford Mustang"
The Clash, "Brand New Cadillac"
Prince, "Little Red Corvette"
Bob Dylan, "From A Buick 6"
Janis Joplin, "Mercedes Benz"
Thursday Coffee Break: Music For the Budget Showdown
Posted at 8:48 AM on June 23, 2011
by Steve Seel
(73 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today's 9:30 Coffee Break is going to call quite a bit on your creativity. With the budget showdown going on at the state capitol, we want you to help us put together a set of songs that address the topic in an entertaining way ... and we're not just talking about songs about money. Key ideas: working out problems, deadlines, making compromises, agreeing and disagreeing ...
Songs played:
The Beatles "We Can Work it Out"
Stealers Wheel "Stuck in the Middle With You"
The Youngbloods "Get Together"
War "Why Can't We Be Friends"
The Rolling Stones "You Can't Always Get What You Want"
Wednesday Coffee Break: Thunder And Lightning
Posted at 8:45 AM on June 22, 2011
by Steve Seel
(59 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
There was some pretty good thunder and lightning last night - and we're probably not done with it, since there are thunderstorms in the forecast all week long. Why, there's a 9:30 Coffee Break topic, wouldn't you say? Today we'll take your suggestions for songs with the words thunder or lightning in the title.
Songs played:
Bruce Springsteen "Thunder Road"
George Jones "White Lightning"
Arctic Monkeys "Crying Lighting"
Wanda Jackson "Thunder on the Mountain"
Howlin' Wolf "Smokestack Lightning"
Oasis "The Shock of the Lightning"
The 9:30 Cocktail Hour
Posted at 8:18 AM on June 21, 2011
by Steve Seel
(67 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Listener Daniel Schmidt makes today's 9:30 Coffee Break suggestion: songs about different kinds of alcoholic beverages and/or cocktails. So, you're proposing a 9:30 Cocktail Break, Daniel? Awesome, sign us up! We didn't really feel like being productive at work today anyway.
Songs played:
Tony Tribe "Red, Red Wine"
Ron Sexsmith "Brandy Alexander"
Thin Lizzy "Whiskey in the Jar"
The Champs "Tequila"
Beastie Boys "Brass Monkey"
Kiss "Cold Gin"
Monday Coffee Break: Sick Day
Posted at 8:49 AM on June 20, 2011
by Steve Seel
(35 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today's 9:30 Coffee Break suggestion comes in, at least partly, from listener Bob Hicks. Bob wrote us a few days ago, when the sun was shining brightly before the weekend inclement weather kicked in, and said, "On a nice day like today, calling in sick might be a good idea." Of course, Steve is also thinking about illness, since he just recovered from the flu from hell which also seems to be going around the office this month. So, we've got sickness in general on the brain this morning. How about a set of songs having to do with sickness or infirmity? Keywords: sick, fever, ill ... you get the picture.
Songs played:
Mudhoney "Touch me I'm Sick"
Peggy Lee "Fever"
Frank Black "Headache"
Matthew Sweet "Sick of Myself"
Cake "Sick of You"
Run DMC "You be Illin"
Friday Coffee Break: What's Up Daddy-O
Posted at 8:50 AM on June 17, 2011
by Steve Seel
(60 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
With Father's Day coming up on Sunday, it's time for us to do another dad edition of the 9:30 Coffee Break today. So, let's have your suggestions for songs about dads, or with dad, daddy, father, or papa in the title.
Songs played:
Paul Westerberg "My Dad"
The Violent Femmes "Gone Daddy Gone"
James Brown "Papas Got a Brand New Bag"
The Temptations "Papa Was a Rolling Stone"
Magnetic Fields "Papa Was a Rodeo"
Thursday Coffee Break: Double Negatives
Posted at 8:48 AM on June 16, 2011
by Steve Seel
(31 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Rock n' roll is no place for proper grammar. We've talked many times about how Bo Diddley singing "Whom Do You Love?" would be the most ridiculous thing imaginable. Today for the 9:30 Coffee Break, we want to focus on one particular bit of bad grammar that is especially common: the double negative. There are a lot of songs that use it in their title or in a main part of the lyrics.
Songs played:
Bill Withers "Ain't no Sunshine"
Devo "I Can't Get No Satisfaction"
Mason Jennings "Ain't No Friend of Mine"
Pink Floyd "Another Brick in the Wall pt 2"
Liz Phair "Never Said"
Johnny Cash "Ain't No Grave"
Wednesday Coffee Break: More For Nilsson's 70th
Posted at 8:54 AM on June 15, 2011
by Steve Seel
(19 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
As we mentioned in our Music History segment earlier this morning, today would have been Harry Nilsson's 70th birthday. One of the late 60's/early '70s quirkiest, most original artists, we had a pretty hard time settling on which song to play to try to encapsulate Nilsson's career - you can't do it, of course. (We picked "I Guess The Lord Must Be In New York City"). But since there are so many other great ones left, we thought we'd devote the 9:30 Coffee Break to Nilsson this morning, honoring a short but brilliant career.
Songs played:
"One"
"Cococut"
"Spaceman"
"As Time Goes By"
"Jump into the Fire"
"Me and my Arrow"
Tuesday Coffee Break: Bromance!
Posted at 8:50 AM on June 14, 2011
by Steve Seel
(79 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today's 9:30 Coffee Break topic once again comes from Loran, Morning Show listener and trusty supplier of clever topics, who suggests: bromance. Songs about platonic man-love! This could be songs about simple male friendship or maybe even gang activity (hint hint). Share whatcha got.
Songs played:
Paul Simon "Me and Julio Down by the School Yard"
The Lemonheads "My Drug Buddy"
The Beatles "With a Little Help from my Friends"
Thin Lizzy "The Boys Are Back in Town"
The Rolling Stones "Waiting on a Friend"
Black Flag "TV Party"
Monday Coffee Break: The First Line Is The Title
Posted at 8:45 AM on June 13, 2011
by Steve Seel
(71 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today's 9:30 Coffee Break topic was suggested by Morning Show listener Brooksy: songs in which the title is the first line of the lyrics. Great suggestion Brooksy! You'll have to use your memory for this one, because this topic seems to be un-Google-able. How many can you think of?
Songs played:
The Beatles "Here Comes the Sun"
Belle and Sebastian "Dear Catastrophe Waitress"
Sex Pistols "God Save the Queen"
David Bowie "Let's Dance"
The Police "Roxanne"
The White Stripes "Fell in Love with a Girl"
Friday Coffee Break: For The Kitties
Posted at 8:40 AM on June 10, 2011
by Steve Seel
(53 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
It's that time of year again, when First Avenue presents it's annual tribute to David Bowie, Rebel Rebel - a benefit for Feline Rescue, a no-kill cat shelter. Our own Mary Lucia is the organizer and creative force behind this yearly glam-o-rama for a good cause. We thought of doing a Bowie set for today's 9:30 Coffee Break, but we opted for the charity topic instead. So, howabout a set of songs about cats? There just might be a few of those out there.
Songs played:
David Bowie "Cat People (Putting Out the Fire)"
Rufus Thomas "Bear Cat"
Tom Jones "What's New Pussycat"
The Cure "Love Cats"
Squeeze "Cool for Cats"
The Stray Cats "Stray Cat Strut"
Thursday Coffee Break: It's Bike-Walk To Work Day
Posted at 8:48 AM on June 9, 2011
by Steve Seel
(54 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today's 9:30 Coffee Break topic comes suggested by listner Amber, who reminds us that today is "Bike-Walk To Work Day," part of Bike Walk Week Twin Cities, when Twin Citians are encouraged to opt for two wheels (or two feet) instead of driving. Today is the big day when you're specifically encouraged to ride your bike or walk to work, and because of that, Amber suggests that we make today's coffee break songs about bikes or bicycling.
Songs played:
Pink Floyd "Bike"
Trip Shakespeare "Two Wheeler"
Kraftwerk "Tour de France"
The Johnson Twins "Bicycle"
Be Your Own Pet "Bicycle Bicycle, You Are My Bicycle"
Queen "Bicycle Race"
Wednesday Coffee Break: Strawberries!
Posted at 8:48 AM on June 8, 2011
by Steve Seel
(43 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Morning Show listener Tenessa suggests this morning's 9:30 Coffee Break theme: strawberry songs. Well, that seems like a fine summertime topic, doesn't it? And she's got a point: there do indeed seem to be a few songs out there with strawberries in their title. Help us think of a few today.
Songs played:
Ron Sexsmith "Strawberry Blonde"
The Beatles "Strawberry Fields Forever"
Caesars "Strawberry Weed"
The Strawberry Alarm Clock "Strawberries Mean Love"
The Brothers Johnson "Strawberry Letter 23"
Tuesday Coffee Break: Lies And The Lying Liars Who Tell Them
Posted at 8:54 AM on June 7, 2011
by Steve Seel
(55 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Weinergate. There, we said it! We've been good, for the past couple of weeks, avoiding that word. But now with NY Representative Anthony Weiner's tearful public confession that he did in fact, yes, send those suggestive photos of himself via Twitter to some woman somewhere and then tell all kinds of lies about his Twitter account being "hacked" and blah blah blah, we have this month's fresh case of a polititian doing something both stupid and sexual and then lying his underpants off about it.
In honor of the inexplicable strain of making-dumb-choices-followed-by-hapless-lying that seems to infect so many politicians everywhere, today's 9:30 Coffee Break will be songs about lies and lying.
Songs played:
Thompson Twins "Lies"
The Castaways "Liar, Liar"
Henry Rollins "Liar"
Nancy Sinatra "Lies"
Big Star "Don't Lie to Me"
Monday Coffee Break: Rabbits In The Garden
Posted at 8:16 AM on June 6, 2011
by Steve Seel
(56 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
If you've recently planted anything in your garden for spring, you know the challenges of keeping your newly sprouting beans and berries from being eaten by rabbits. Our cotton-tailed friends are with us all year long of course, but it's springtime when their presence actually becomes, well, problematic at times. Since we've never done it before, today's topic for the 9:30 Coffee Break will be songs that mention rabbits or bunnies in their title or lyrics.
Songs played:
The La's "Son of a Gun"
Magnetic Fields "Let's Pretend We're Bunny Rabbits"
Jefferson Airplane "White Rabbit"
Florence and the Machine "Rabbit Heart (Raise it Up)"
Paul Westerberg "Mr. Rabbit"
Friday Coffee Break: It's Gonna Be A Hot One
Posted at 8:55 AM on June 3, 2011
by Steve Seel
(50 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
We're told that today is going to be a pretty hot one here in the Twin Cities, with temperatures skirting 90 degrees. You know what that means: today's 9:30 Coffee Break is going to have to be songs with "hot" or "heat" in the title. We think there might be a couple of those. However, if you suggest anything by Glen Frey, be forewarned: we will find you and have you reported to the authorities.
Songs played:
Sly and the Family Stone "Hot Fun in the Summertime"
Nick Gilder "Hot Child in the City"
Martha and the Vandellas "Heat Wave"
The Beatles "Happiness is a Warm Gun"
The Lovin' Spoonful "Summer in the City"
Van Halen "Hot for Teacher"
9:30 Coffee Break: Bad (Poor?) Grammar and Bad Spelling
Posted at 8:48 AM on June 2, 2011
by Jill Riley
(51 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
This morning for our Random Vinyl pick, Jill brought it a record from The Mugwumps called "An Historic Recording." The title of the record started a big grammar discussion and debate on whether it's actually "An Historic Recording" or "A Historic Recording." We've concluded (from listener feedback) that both versions are acceptable. But, the debate continues on...
So, your job is to come up with a set of music with poor grammar or misspelled words in the title. Grammar and spelling in rock music? This is soooo public radio!
Songs played:
Bob Dylan "Lay Lady Lay"
Iron and Wine "Me and Lazarus"
Slade "Mama Weer All Crazee Now"
The Rolling Stones "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction"
Dinah Washington "Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby (Rae and Christian Remix)"
Sly and the Family Stone "Thank You Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin"
9:30 Coffee Break: Pick a City! Today is Seattle
Posted at 8:56 AM on June 1, 2011
by Jill Riley
(26 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Jill just got back from the Sasquatch Music Festival out in Washington. After spending some time in and around Seattle, she realized there's more to Seattle music than "grunge." So, today it's a Seattle set. Help us out with your "non-grunge" requests.
Songs played:
Cold, Bold and Together "Somebody's Gonna Burn Ya"
Sir Mix-a-Lot "Baby Got Back"
The Sonics "Psycho"
Jimi Hendrix "Little Wing"
The Head and the Heart "Lost in my Mind"
The Presidents of the United States of America "Lump"
Coffee break: Solo (career) disasters
Posted at 8:59 AM on May 31, 2011
by Jim McGuinn
(29 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today I had the honor of filling in for both Steve and Jill, as Jill was travelling back from the Sasquatch Festival, and Steve became sick and it was too late to come up to come up with other options... thus, the solo morning show today! Couple that with a few computer, um, issues, and I'd have to say the 6am hour was well, not the most brilliant in the history of the Current. But we got thru - and now I'm thinking a fun topic for the Coffee Break might be Solo Disasters - you know, those artists that left a good thing, but probably should have stayed with the band that got them to the dance. Hit me with your best below and we'll put together a fun Coffee Break for the last day of May, 2011.
Friday Coffee Break: Gerunds
Posted at 8:42 AM on May 27, 2011
by Steve Seel
(55 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today's 9:30 Coffee Break touches on one of those terms from english class you'll remember: gerunds. You know - verbs that are turned into nouns by adding "ing" to the end: swimming, running, calling, looking ... there are thousands of songs that have gerunds in the title. Help us out with our gerund set today.
Thursday Coffee Break: Musical Royalty
Posted at 8:25 AM on May 26, 2011
by Steve Seel
(44 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
There are a lot of artists who have some kind of royal title in their names - either solo artists or bands. You know, like Prince, or Queens Of the Stone Age. What are some more? We want to put together a royal set for today's 9:30 Coffee Break and we could use your suggestions.
Wedesday Coffee Break: Hats Off To Memphis
Posted at 8:58 AM on May 25, 2011
by Steve Seel
(36 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
With all the trials and tribulations the city of Memphis has been going through with the recent storms, we thought we'd honor that historic southern city this morning for the 9:30 Coffee Break. Help us put together a set of songs with Memphis in the title.
Songs played:
Johnny Rivers "Memphis"
Mason Jennings "Memphis, Tennessee"
Mott The Hoople "All The Way From Memphis"
The Hold Steady "Sequestered in Memphis"
Bob Dylan "Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again"
Rufus Thomas "Memphis Train"
Tuesday Coffee Break: Great Dylan Covers
Posted at 8:08 AM on May 24, 2011
by Steve Seel
(74 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Bob Dylan turns 70 today, and we continue our Dylan-tastic programming this week with today's 9:30 Coffee Break topic. We've been playing tons of Dylan since the weekend, but today we're going to focus strictly on Dylan covers. The man is, of course, a writer of tons of songs that hold up when practically anyone covers them, and many of those are considered some of the greatest and most classic popular songs ever written. What are some of your favorite cover performances?
Songs played:
Beck "Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat"
The Byrds "Mr. Tambourine Man"
Rage Against the Machine "Maggie's Farm"
Nancy Sinatra "It Ain't Me Babe"
Jimi Hendrix "All Along the Watchtower"
Neko Case "Buckets of Rain"
Monday Coffee Break: Rapture FAIL
Posted at 8:30 AM on May 23, 2011
by Steve Seel
(43 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Well, it seems The Rapture didn't happen. Unless it did and nobody got saved. Or unless we all got saved and we're all living in some alternate dimension right now. Or something.
So, since we asked you to help us create a "Rapture set" on Friday, it only seems appropriate to ask you to help us create an "Oops, The Rapture didn't happen" set today for the 9:30 Coffee Break. We're open to whatever creative suggestions you might have. Whatcha got?
Songs played:
The Beatles "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da"
Paul Westerberg "Best Thing That Never Happened"
Run DMC "Don't Believe The Hype"
Ian Ball "Failure"
Ben Lee "Nothing Much Happens"
Friday Coffee Break: It's The Rapture Again
Posted at 8:50 AM on May 20, 2011
by Steve Seel
(40 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
We would be remiss if we didn't to today's 9:30 Coffee Break today for the Rapture. As you've no doubt heard, according to Christian radio broadcaster Harold Camping, the Rapture is scheduled for 9pm Eastern time tomorrow night. My how time flies!
We are certainly aware of some very famous end-of-the-world songs, and we'll obviously take those requests here ... but if you've got some more creative suggestions specifically for the Rapture itself (remember: tomorrow isn't the end of the world, it's the beginning of the end of the world - big difference!), we'd love to hear them.
Songs Played:
R.E.M., "It's The End Of The World As We Know It"
Johnny Cash, "God's Gonna Cut You Down"
Time Zone, "World Destruction"
David Bowie, "Five Years"
Blondie, "Rapture"
Thursday Coffee Break: Oops, I Accidentally Cheated On My Wife And Had A Son 10 Years Ago And Forgot To Tell Her
Posted at 8:15 AM on May 19, 2011
by Steve Seel
(45 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
In case you hadn't guessed, today's 9:30 Coffee Break is all about the sad story of Arnold Schwarzenegger and his really, really bad judgement. We thought we'd simply build a set of songs about cheating, and we suppose that's what we'll mostly do, but if you've got any other commentary to offer in the form of clever song suggestions, we'd love to hear them.
Songs played:
Loretta Lynn "Fist City"
Billy Paul "Me and Mrs. Jones"
Louvin Brothers "While You're Cheating on Me"
The Supremes "Love Child"
Hank Williams "Your Cheatin' Heart"
Mama and the Papas "I Saw Her Again Last Night"
Wednesday Coffee Break: Know Your Shapes
Posted at 8:56 AM on May 18, 2011
by Steve Seel
(76 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today's 9:30 Coffee Break topic was suggested by Teenage Kicks host Jacquie Fuller: songs about shapes. Circles, squares, triangles ... can you think of any oval or parallelogram songs? We can't, but it you can, we'd love to hear your ideas.
Songs played:
Soul Coughing "Circles"
The Waitresses "Square Pegs"
New Order "Bizarre Love Triangle"
The Cyrkle "Red Rubber Ball"
Weezer "Pink Triangle"
Black Diamonds "Black Diamonds and Pearls"
Tuesday Coffee Break: Let's Go
Posted at 8:11 AM on May 17, 2011
by Steve Seel
(20 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Tonight's First Avenue show with The Cars is long sold out, but whether or not you got tickets, we still want to celebrate the band that practically stands for New Wave in the imagination of music fans worldwide. Band leader Ric Ocasek promised that The Cars would never reunite, but this year's reunion and first new album in 22 years proves the old adage that you should never say never.
So for today's 9:30 Coffee Break, don your skinny tie and leather pants and help us put together a set of some of your favorite songs by The Cars.
Songs played:
The Cars "Let's Go"
The Cars "My Best Friend's Girl"
The Cars "Moving in Stereo"
The Cars "Candy-O"
The Cars "Dangerous Type"
Monday Coffee Break: Men's Monikers
Posted at 8:40 AM on May 16, 2011
by Steve Seel
(47 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Morning Show listener Bob Hicks writes, "There's lots of songs in which women's names figure prominently, but not so many when it comes to mens' monikers (though there are certainly enough dude-centric songs to build a coffee break around...) So, how about it?" Sounds good to us, Bob. So we're looking for songs with guys' names in the title for today's 9:30 Coffee Break.
Songs played:
The Lemonheads "It's a Shame about Ray"
The Bird and the Bee "Diamond Dave"
The Replacements "Tommy Gets His Tonsils Out"
Tortoise and Bonnie Prince Billy "Daniel"
Primus "Making Plans for Nigel"
Johnny Cash "A Boy Named Sue"
Friday Coffee Break: Big Finish!
Posted at 8:59 AM on May 13, 2011
by Steve Seel
(37 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
As we look forward to wrapping up our "in-overtime" membership campaign today, we have a 9:30 Coffee Break theme to make things fun: great album closers. What are some of the great "last songs" on great records?
Thursday Coffee Break: Happy Happy Joy Joy
Posted at 9:07 AM on May 12, 2011
by Steve Seel
(31 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today's 9:30 Coffee Break is a simple one: it's about the feeling we will all be feeling when we wind up this membership drive, hopefully today: extremely, proudly, deleriously happy. Songs with "happy" in the title today.
Songs played:
The Turtles "Happy Together"
Garbage "Only Happy When It Rains"
The Rolling Stones "Happy"
Partridge Family "Come on Get Happy"
Wednesday Coffee Break: Two Minutes Is All It Takes
Posted at 9:09 AM on May 11, 2011
by Steve Seel
(41 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
During these membership drives, we like to remind you that it only takes a couple of minutes of your time to become a member, either on line at thecurrent.org or on the phone at 1-800-227-2811. Two minutes! It's so easy!
For today's 9:30 Coffee Break, help us drive that point home by putting together a set of tunes that are two minutes or less in length.
Songs played:
Blur "Song 2"
Minutemen "This Ain't No Picnic"
The Beatles "From Me To You"
The Suburbs "Chemistry Set"
Buddy Holly "Rave On"
All "Dot"
Janis Joplin "Mercedes Benz"
The Ramones "Do You Wanna Dance?"
Tuesday Coffee Break: Tree Day!
Posted at 8:46 AM on May 10, 2011
by Steve Seel
(23 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today, for every contribution made to The Current during our Spring Membership Campaign, we'll plant a tree in Minnesota Forests in partnership with The Nature Conservancy. Any contribution, any amount, new or renewing membership!
So naturally, we can't pass up the opportunity to do a tree set today for the 9:30 Coffee Break: songs with tree in the title.
Songs played:
Guided by Voices "I am a Tree"
U2 "One Tree Hill"
Radiohead "Fake Plastic Trees"
Belly "Feed the Tree"
Monday Coffee Break: Eye Color
Posted at 9:04 AM on May 9, 2011
by Steve Seel
(66 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Loren the super Coffee Break topic-suggesting-madman has another one for us today: songs that describe a particular eye color in their title. He's got a point: there are quite a few. So what are some eye color songs for today's 9:30 Coffee Break?
Songs played:
The Velvet Underground "Pale Blue Eyes"
Neko Case "Brown-Eyed Handsome Man"
The Fall "Green Eyed Locoman"
Willie Nelson 'Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain"
Friday Coffee Break: Everybody Has a DJ In Them
Posted at 8:50 AM on May 6, 2011
by Steve Seel
(37 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
This morning it occured to us we don't remember every doing a set about DJ's for the 9:30 Coffee Break. There are lots of songs out there that honor the intrepid club-spinner or radio jock; and since the Coffee Break is all about you helping us out by being a "long-distance DJ" yourself with your suggestions, we thought we'd make songs about DJ's the topic today.
Songs played:
Gram Parsons "Drug Store Truck Drivin' Man"
David Bowie "DJ"
They Might be Giants "Hey Mr. DJ, I Thought You Said We Had a Deal"
The Smiths "Panic"
Thursday Coffee Break: Cinco de Mayo!
Posted at 8:47 AM on May 5, 2011
by Steve Seel
(25 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today is Cinco de Mayo - the Fifth of May - the annual celebration of Mexican heritage and pride, observed nationwide in the United States by Mexican-Americans and regionally in Mexico. Obviously, it's the clear choice for today's topic for the 9:30 Coffee Break. What would you like to hear in observance of Cinco de Mayo?
Tuesday Coffee Break: Boyfriends And Girlfriends
Posted at 8:34 AM on May 3, 2011
by Steve Seel
(54 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today's 9:30 Coffee Break topic once again comes to us from our trusty listener Loran, who suggests: boyfriends and girlfriends. It's pretty self-explanatory: songs with either the word boyfriend or girlfriend in the title. Note: the words "husband" and "wife" would be the wrong answers today. This is rock n' roll! As much as we respect the institution of marriage, rock is much more about the pre-marriage romance, wouldn't you say?
Songs played:
The Smiths "Girlfriend in a Coma"
Prince "If I was Your Girlfriend"
Matthew Sweet "Girlfriend"
The Angels "My Boyfriend's Back"
Best Coast "Boyfriend"
The Ramones "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend"
Monday Coffee Break: What's The Right Song?
Posted at 8:10 AM on May 2, 2011
by Steve Seel
(75 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
On a morning like this, it's beyond hard to know what the right music is to play. Across America, there is a sense of relief and thanks to our military and intelligence agencies for bringing a ten-year manhunt to an end; some Americans celebrate openly while others are quietly reflective. So rather than coming up with a specific topic for today's 9:30 Coffee Break, we'll simply put the question to you: what song or songs would you like to hear? We might play one, we might play a handful. What's the vibe in your head and heart this morning?
Songs played:
U2 "One"
Elvis Costello "(What's so Funny 'Bout) Peace Love and Understanding"
Neil Young "Rockin' in the Free World"
Oasis "Let There Be Love"
Friday Coffee Break: English Accents? We Got 'Em
Posted at 8:43 AM on April 29, 2011
by Steve Seel
(67 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
If you've watched any of the royal wedding this morning, you've already enjoyed plenty of that lovely, high-falutin' English accent. Of course, we have to do something royal wedding-related for today's 9:30 Coffee Break ... so, we thought, "How about airing a fuller range of English accents? Like, some of the more "common" ones in particular?" So that's our goal today: songs featuring performers with thick, heavy English accents, but not exactly the kind that one would hear echoing inside Westminster Abbey.
Songs played:
The Streets "Fit But You Know It"
Jamie T "If You've Got the Money"
Billy Bragg "Waiting for the Great Leap Forward"
Lady Sovereign "So Human"
Lily Allen "Not Fair"
Thursday Coffee Break: Superheroes
Posted at 8:58 AM on April 28, 2011
by Steve Seel
(55 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Who doesn't like superheroes? There have been a number of songs over the ages devoted to various caped and un-caped crusaders. Help us put together a set today for the 9:30 Coffee Break.
Songs played:
R.E.M. "I am Superman"
Black Sabbath "Iron Man"
"Mighty Mouse Theme"
XTC "That's Really Super, Supergirl"
The Ramones "Spider-man"
The Kinks "Catch Me Now I'm Falling"
Wednesday Coffee Break: North, South, East and West
Posted at 8:54 AM on April 27, 2011
by Steve Seel
(50 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today's 9:30 Coffee Break topic was suggested by faithful listener Loran, who actually sent us a big long list of possible topics a few days ago - and many of them were quite excellent. Thanks Loran!
Loran suggests the topic of compass points: songs that mention either north, south, east, or west in the title.
Songs played:
LCD Soundsystem "North American Scum"
R.E.M. "So. Central Rain"
Jerry Reed "East Bound and Down"
Tom Waits "Goin' Out West"
Johnny Horton "North to Alaska"
The Church "North, South, East and West"
Tuesday Coffee Break: Get Up, Get Movin'
Posted at 8:56 AM on April 26, 2011
by Steve Seel
(56 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
More bad news for those of us who have desk jobs: according to a new study, even if you excersise daily you can be much more likely to suffer heart disease if you lead a sedentary existence the rest of the day. Just getting your heart moving at the beginning or end of your day isn't good enough. Yippee! So apparently, it's suggested that we do things to get our pulse up at regular intervals all day long.
So your assignment for today's 9:30 Coffee Break is pretty simple: let's put together a set of songs that will help you get up and get movin'.
Songs played:
The Beatles "Twist and Shout"
Junior Senior "Move Your Feet"
James Brown "Get Up Offa That Thing"
House of Pain "Jump Around"
David Bowie "Let's Dance"
Monday Coffee Break: I Got Nuthin'
Posted at 8:55 AM on April 25, 2011
by Steve Seel
(31 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
It's Monday, and as is often the case on Mondays, we're operating at less than 100% here on The Morning Show. We imagine you can sometimes relate to the feeling. So as we've done before (probably on a Monday), we're going to do an "I Got Nuthin'" set for today's 9:30 Coffee Break. We're looking for songs that feature the word "nothing" or "nothin'" in the title.
Songs played:
Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing"
Mason Jennings "Nothing"
James Brown "Talkin' Loud and Sayin' Nothing pt 1"
Wilco "Nothing'severgonnastandinmyway(again)"
The Smiths "William it was Really Nothing"
Billy Preston "Nothing from Nothing"
Friday Coffee Break: Earth Day
Posted at 8:48 AM on April 22, 2011
by Steve Seel
(51 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today is Earth Day (of course, as Jill likes to remind us, every days is Earth Day ... or, as she sang in her made-up song in 5th grade, "Don't cut down our trees, our I'll cut off your knees"). We'd like to put together a set for Earth Day today for the 9:30 Coffee Break. Use your creativity and help us select a diverse set of songs that fit the day.
Songs played:
Belly "Feed the Tree"
The Beatles "Mother Nature's Son"
REM "Gardening at Night"
Neko Case "Never Turn Your Back on Mother Earth"
Talking Heads "Nothing (But Flowers)"
Thursday Coffee Break: Driving Distractions
Posted at 8:42 AM on April 21, 2011
by Steve Seel
(42 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Perhaps you've heard about the police crackdown on distracted driving going on in Minnesota today. The State Patrol and 400 other law enforcement agencies will be paying extra close attention to drivers who are texting, surfing the internet, or performing other distracting tasks including eating, shaving, or simply talking on their phones. They'll be ticketing those caught texting or web-surfing.
To help the awareness effort today, our 9:30 Coffee Break will feature songs about different activities that, if you did them while you were driving, would qualify as distracting (and if you can actually come up with a song about texting itself, you get extra brownie points from us).
Songs play:
The Specials "Message to you Rudy"
Replacements "Little Mascara"
Blondie "Hanging on the Telephone"
Sims "Too Much"
The Beach Boys "Surfin USA"
Ray Charles "Just a Little Lovin"
Wednesday Coffee Break: Product Placement
Posted at 8:58 AM on April 20, 2011
by Steve Seel
(35 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Recently, Jill and I did a 9:30 Coffee Break about songs that mention Coca-Cola. Today, we're opening up the topic to any kind of brand name you can think of mentioned in a song. It's easily the most blatantly commercial coffee break we've ever done (only we're not getting a dime ourselves in the process). Product placement on today's 9:30 Coffee Break.
Songs played:
Run DMC "My Adidas"
Suicidal Tendencies "Institutionalized"
The Stray Cats "Look at that Cadillac"
Paul Simon "Kodachrome"
R.E.M. "Orange Crush"
Weezer "Pork and Beans"
Tuesday Coffee Break: A Polite Set
Posted at 8:30 AM on April 19, 2011
by Steve Seel
(56 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Your mom always taught you to be polite and say "please" and "thank you." For today's 9:30 Coffee Break, we want to create a set that would make mom proud, and put together some songs that use "please" or "thank you" in their titles.
Songs played:
Muddy Waters "Baby Please Don't Go"
The Smiths "Please Please, Please Let me Get What I Want"
The Beatles "Please Please Me"
Wayne Newton "Danke Shoen"
Sly and the Family Stone "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)"
Big Star "Thank You Friends"
Monday Coffee Break: Fictional Places
Posted at 8:13 AM on April 18, 2011
by Steve Seel
(56 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today's 9:30 Coffee Break was suggested by listener Tara, who said "I think you guys should do a coffee break around fictional towns/places, like 'Fist City' or 'Suffragette City.'" Great suggestion Tara. We can certainly play those tracks; can you help us think of some others?
Songs played:
Lipps, Inc "Funkytown"
David Bowie "Suffragette City"
Loretta Lynn "Fist City"
Parliament "Chocolate City"
Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears "Booty City"
Guns N' Roses "Paradise City"
Friday Coffee Break: Songs For Fashion Week
Posted at 8:57 AM on April 15, 2011
by Steve Seel
(50 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Minnesota Fashion Week wraps up tonight with the annual Voltage: Fashion Amplified show and party at First Avenue. For today's 9:30 Coffee Break, we thought we'd get in the fashion spirit with appropriate songs. So today's topic: songs focused on particular articles of clothing (or, accessories, if you like as well).
Songs played:
David Bowie "The Jean Genie"
Benji Hughes "Tight Tee Shirt"
Nancy Sinatra "These Boots Were Made for Walkin"
Donovan "I Love my Shirt"
Ween "Fancypants"
The Smiths "Vicar in a Tutu"
Thursday Coffee Break: Great Ol' Local Bands
Posted at 9:08 AM on April 14, 2011
by Steve Seel
(31 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
We're so exited about the lanch today of Local Current, our brand new 24/7 all-local music stream. For today's 9:30 Coffee Break, we want to showcase some of the local bands who are no longer together, but who nevertheless demonstrate just how awesome our local scene has been over the years. It's just one of the things Local Current is going to do a great job of showcasing.
Songs played:
Hypstrz "66-5-4-3-2-1"
The Hang ups "The Entry"
The Soviettes "The Land of Clear Blue Radio"
The Castaways "Liar, Liar"
Faux Jean "Kiss Life on the Lips"
12 Rods "The Time is Right (To Be Wrong)"
Wednesday Coffee Break: House Arrest
Posted at 8:31 AM on April 13, 2011
by Steve Seel
(64 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
It happens: sometimes, you come out on the wrong side of the law. We make mistakes, and we're then given our chance to pay our debt to society, as they say. Jill told the story this morning of an acquaintance of hers who is currently under house arrest - can't leave the house except to go to work or get groceries - until July 4th. A lousy experience? You bet. But, always on the lookout for a segue, it gave us our idea for this morning's 9:30 Coffee Break: songs about getting arrested.
Now obviously, there aren't too many songs actually about house arrest specifically. So, we're going to open it up to the incarceration experience as a whole. We're sure there's plenty you can do with that ...
Songs played:
Gomez "Get Myself Arrested"
Webb Pierce "In the Jailhouse Now"
The Clash "I Fought the Law "
Johnny Cash "Folsom Prison Blues"
Jane's Addiction "Been Caught Stealing"
Tuesday Coffee Break: Nonsense Lyrics
Posted at 8:34 AM on April 12, 2011
by Steve Seel
(73 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Rock n' roll lyrics often don't make sense. It's not that they're complicated poetry or anything; they're just plain silly. But what about when a lyric writer doesn't even use real words - settling for pure gibberish instead? That's been a common choice in pop songs through the ages that songwriters often employ. Classic example: "Wop bob-a-lu-bop, a wop-bam-boom, tutti frutti oh Rudy!"
Nonsense lyrics - no matter how brief in a song - are our topic today for the 9:30 Coffee Break.
Songs played:
Little Richard "Tutti Frutti"
The Ramones "Pinhead"
The Trashmen "Surfin Bird"
The Beatles "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da"
Cocteau Twins "Carolyn's Fingers"
The Police "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da"
Monday Coffee Break: Famous Frames
Posted at 8:22 AM on April 11, 2011
by Steve Seel
(53 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
For today's 9:30 Coffee Break, we're focusing on musicians who are known for a particular fashion accessory: their glasses (yes, we know, they wear those glasses because they need them - but the point is, the frames became part of their persona in the process, to the point where you can't visualize them without them on their face).
Songs played:
Buddy Holly "Peggy Sue"
Weezer "Buddy Holly"
John Lennon "Mind Games"
Roy Orbison "Only the Lonely"
Elton John "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road"
Elvis Costello "Pump it Up"
Friday Coffee Break: Back To The Future 1999
Posted at 8:51 AM on April 8, 2011
by Steve Seel
(42 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Time to hop in the Delorean and fire up the flux capacitor once again - we're going back in time for another Back To the Future Coffee Break. This time, we're heading all the way back to the year 1999. It was the dawn of Pokemon, Harry Potter and the dot-com explosion, the end of the era of grunge and rap metal, and things were beginning to look up for indie music once again in a big way. Feel free to use the Google to your heart's content today to help remind you of stuff that came out in that year. 1999, for today's 9:30 Coffee Break.
Songs played:
Wilco "I'm Always in Love"
Moby "Bodyrock"
Travis "Why Does it Always Rain on Me"
Fiona Apple "Fast as You Can"
The Flaming Lips "Race for the Prize"
Fountains of Wayne "Red Dragon Tattoo"
Thursday Coffee Break: When The Kids Are The Muse
Posted at 8:02 AM on April 7, 2011
by Steve Seel
(67 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today's 9:30 Coffee Break topic was suggested by listener Brenna, who writes, "I just recently became the mother of a gorgeous baby boy - wow. Total life changer in so many ways, but it got me thinking about artists who have written songs about - or for - their children." Great suggestion Brenna! And congratulations, by the way. So there's our topic!
Songs played:
Stevie Wonder "Isn't She Lovely?" (Wonder's daughter, Aisha)
John Lennon "Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy)" (Lennon's son, Sean Lennon)
Lauren Hill "To Zion" (son, Zion)
David Bowie "Kooks" (son, Duncan "Zowie Bowie" Jones)
The Beatles "Hey Jude" (Paul McCartney wrote for John Lennon's son, Julian Lennon)
Wednesday Coffee Break: What's Your Vice?
Posted at 8:45 AM on April 6, 2011
by Steve Seel
(51 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
For today's 9:30 Coffee Break, we're looking for songs about vices. The negative stuff you're not supposed to do that aren't necessarily sins, just bad habits: smoking, drinking, gambling ... basically, most of the addictions, compulsions, or just "no-no behaviors." It's the vices coffee break today.
Songs played:
Beck "Nicotine and Gravy"
Ray Charles "Blackjack"
Oasis 'Cigarettes and Alcohol"
Ringo Starr "No No Song"
Ian Dury "Sex and Drugs and Rock N Roll"
Tuesday Coffee Break: Dance Dance Revolution
Posted at 8:37 AM on April 5, 2011
by Steve Seel
(94 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today we've got dancing on the brain. Perhaps it's a hold-over from our outburst of Spring fever yesterday; who knows. But today for the 9:30 Coffee Break, we're specifically thinking about dance moves, and when they get name-dropped in song. What are some songs named for dances?
Songs played:
Digital Underground "The Humpty Dance"
Ray Charles "Shake a Tailfeather"
The B-52's "Dance This Mess Around"
Roxy Music "Do The Strand"
Imperial Teen "Shim Sham"
Wilson Pickett "Land of 1000 Dances"
Monday Coffee Break: It's Growing Green!
Posted at 8:50 AM on April 4, 2011
by Steve Seel
(31 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Green things are finally, finally starting to sprout up around Minnesota as the temperatures rise heading into April. Anything popping up in your yard? Steve was fairly ecstatic to welcome this little sprouty thing next to his house on Saturday:
For today's 9:30 Coffee Break, let's celebrate Spring by putting together a set of songs about green: and ideally, tunes that are actually about the green found in nature.
Songs played:
The Kinks "The Village Green Preservation Society"
Tom Jones "Green, Green Grass of Home"
Booker T. and the M.G.'s "Green Onions"
Ken Nordine "Chartreuse"
R.E.M. "Green Grow the Rushes"
Kermit the Frog "Bein' Green"
Friday Coffee Break: Fa-Fa-Fa-Foolin'
Posted at 8:42 AM on April 1, 2011
by Steve Seel
(36 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
We're hopeful that you haven't been too badly punked so far today on this April Fool's Day - and conversely, that whatever pranks you're planning go off without a hitch. We're not planning on punking you today, oh no ... not your buds here at the Morning Show. We just want you to help us put together a 9:30 Coffee Break on a general April Fools theme - songs with "fool", "trick", "joke" etc. in the title.
Songs played:
Aretha Franklin "Chain of Fools"
Run DMC "It's Tricky"
The Beatles "Fool on the Hill"
The Bee Gee's "I Started a Joke"
Rufus Wainwright "April Fools"
Thursday Coffee Break: Burnin'
Posted at 8:53 AM on March 31, 2011
by Steve Seel
(54 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Have you seen the Google doodle today? It's a diagram of the operation of a Bunsen burner (and if you have the right browser, it's actually animated). It's celebrating the anniversary of the birth of Robert Bunsen, inventor of the popular device used in laboratories (and high school chemistry classes) the world over.
So, can you guess the 9:30 Coffee Break topic as a result of this? That's right, songs with "burn" in the title, or prominently in the lyrics.
Songs played:
Talking Heads "Burning Down the House"
Elvis Presley "Burnin' Love"
The Trammps "Disco Inferno"
X "Burning House of Love"
Blue Oyster Cult "Burnin' For You"
Wednesday Coffee Break: Is There A Doctor In The House?
Posted at 8:50 AM on March 30, 2011
by Steve Seel
(40 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today is National Doctor's Day - so be sure to take a moment to pause and appreciate what your medical professional does for you. In observance, help us put together a set of doctor songs for today's 9:30 Coffee Break.
Songs played:
Nilsson "Coconut"
Robert Palmer "Bad Case of Loving You (Doctor, Doctor)"
The Beatles "Doctor Robert"
The Rolling Stones "Dear Doctor"
Aretha Frankin "Dr. Feelgood (Love is a Serious Business)
Kiss "Calling Dr. Love"
Tuesday Coffee Break: The Royal Hono(u)rs
Posted at 8:52 AM on March 29, 2011
by Steve Seel
(26 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
This morning in our Music History segment, we noted that it's the anniversary of Bono receiving his honorary knighthood by the British Empire. Not being a British citizen, he's technically not allowed to be called "Sir," but he can still claim to be a "Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire," or KBE. That is excellent.
For today's 9:30 Coffee Break, who are some other pop musicians who have received honors from the British Empire?
Songs played:
Sir Elton John "Saturday's Alright for Fighting"
Dame Shirley Bassey "Goldfinger"
Sir Paul McCartney "Uncle Albert/Admirel Halsey"
Mary Isobel Catherine Bernadette O'Brien, OBE (Dusty Springfield) "Son of a Preacher Man"
Man"Bob Geldof, KBE -- Boomtown Rats "She's so Modern"
Monday Coffee Break: Acronym Song Titles
Posted at 8:54 AM on March 28, 2011
by Steve Seel
(66 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Bouncing off our discussion earlier about acronyms that have just been added to the new edition of the Oxford English Dictionary - LOL, IMHO and BFF have made it into the latest version - we're wondering how many song titles are made up of acronyms for today's 9:30 Coffee Break. Can you think of any?
Songs played:
OK GO "WTF"
Interpol "PDA"
Michael Jackson "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)"
Wilco "ELT"
Semisonic "F.N.T"
The Flaming Lips "The W.A.N.D."
Friday Coffee Break: Big Plans For The Weekend?
Posted at 8:41 AM on March 25, 2011
by Steve Seel
(41 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
This morning my guest co-host Jacquie Fuller and I got into a protracted discussion about hair salons, and specifically, the various stock questions that most stylists seem to ask during the course of cutting your hair: "So, do you live around here?" "Are you done working for the day?" "Where do you work?" "Any big plans for the weekend?" We wondered if they teach these questions in cosmotology school as universal "conversation stimulators." Even if that were the case, we want to stress that would be okay - since you gotta start a conversation somewhere.
Anyway, always looking for a segue into the 9:30 Coffee Break, we pose the question, how many songs are there that have to do with haircutting? That's your assignment today.
Songs played:
Morrissey, "Hairdresser On Fire"
Pavement, "Cut Your Hair"
Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, "Almost Cut My Hair"
Jens Lekman, "Shirin"
Beck, "Devil's Haircut"
Thursday Coffee Break: Mystery Set!
Posted at 9:35 AM on March 24, 2011
by Steve Seel
(3 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Did you guess the theme of today's Reverse 9:30 Coffee Break? Jacquie and I were initially afraid it would be too difficult to figure out - or just not worth the effort. But we were proven wrong when Elena from Minneapolis guessed the topic just two songs in: The Seven Deadly Sins!
Here are the songs we chose to represent each sin:
Sloth: "Lazy Bones" by Jeremy Messersmith
Pride: "Heretic Pride" by The Mountain Goats
Greed: "Money" by The Beatles
Anger: "Look Back In Anger" by David Bowie
Envy: "Jealousy" by Spoon
Lust: "Desire" by U2
Wednesday Coffee Break: A Day For Public Transportation
Posted at 8:56 AM on March 23, 2011
by Steve Seel
(51 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
We've had many people reporting this morning on how awful it is out there on the roads. Dara Moskowitz-Grumdahl remarked on how she almost turned back and went home; one of our co-workers posted on Facebook about how he actually had to help dig his bus out of a snow bank this morning.
Let's do a 9:30 Coffee Break today about making the morning commute any other way but by car. We're looking for songs about either busses or trains - heck, if you can think of a song about car pooling, we'd gladly accept it.
Songs played:
Tom Waits, "Downtown Train"
The Replacements, "Kiss Me On The Bus"
Jeremy Messersmith, "Light Rail"
The Hollies, "Bus Stop"
The Jam, "Down In The Tube Station At Midnight"
The Who, "Magic Bus"
Tuesday Coffee Break: Pick-Me-Up Songs
Posted at 8:46 AM on March 22, 2011
by Steve Seel
(105 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Some people love grey days. Usually, Steve is one of those people. Today however, he's got a serious case of the blahs (this pathetic weather isn't helping any of us, after all), and he needs you to help him get out of his crappy head-space. So, what's your go-to song to elevate your mood? For today's 9:30 Coffee Break, let's put together a set of songs you listen to when you need to overcome your own blues ... and we'll all feel better in the process!
Songs played:
The La's, "There She Goes"
Wilco, "Outasight Outa Mind"
Bob Marley and The Wailers, "Three Little Birds"
The Pogues, "Sunny Side Of the Stree"
Monday Coffee Break: Songs About Guitars
Posted at 8:44 AM on March 21, 2011
by Steve Seel
(33 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
As we noted below, today is the twentieth anniversary of the passing of Leo Fender, the gentleman responsible for two of the most iconic instruments in rock n' roll, the Telecaster and Stratocaster guitars. We already played Jonathan Richman's "Fender Stratocaster" earlier today; for today's 9:30 Coffee Break, we want to broaden things out a bit. Help us put together a set of songs that are about guitars in general.
Songs played:
Johnny Cash, "Tennessee Flat Top Box"
Frank Zappa, "My Guitar Wants To Kill Your Mama"
The Beatles, "While My Guitar Gently Weeps"
Trip Shakespeare, "Toolmaster Of Brainerd"
Talking Heads, "Electric Guitar"
Prince, "Guitar"
Friday Coffee Break: Teen Songs Aren't Always Absurd
Posted at 8:44 AM on March 18, 2011
by Steve Seel
(37 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
This morning we examined the unique curiosities - or horrors, depending on your point of view - of the new TeenBop viral video making the rounds, Rebecca Black's "Friday."
It's been said this song, and it's video, will "haunt your nightmares." But this got us into a discussion about music by "teen acts" in general; obviously, Justin Bieber is the uber-act of our own era teen-wise, and we're sure you have your own opinions on his relative merits. But what about songs by teen musicians that are universally accepted as good? There's been quality out there through the decades, and we're sure you can help us come up with a set of great examples.
Songs played:
Jackson 5 "ABC"
The Runaways "Cherry Bomb"
The Box Tops "Cry Like a Baby"
Kate Bush "The Man with the Child in His Eyes"
Stevie Wonder "Uptight (Everything's Alright)"
Adele "Chasing Pavements"
Thursday Coffee Break: A St. Paddy's Day Set
Posted at 8:46 AM on March 17, 2011
by Steve Seel
(39 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
I mean, what else could we possibly do today? For the 9:30 Coffee Break, help us put together a set of some of your favorite Irish artists. Sláinte!
Songs played:
The Pogues "A Pair of Brown Eyes"
Van Morrison "Domino"
U2 "Red Hill Mining Town"
Thin Lizzy "Whiskey in the Jar"
Stiff Little Fingers "Alternative Ulster"
Wednesday Coffee Break: I've Fallen And I Can't Get Up
Posted at 8:52 AM on March 16, 2011
by Steve Seel
(36 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
It's melty season, and of course, that means sidewalks and streets are basically ice rinks in the morning when you walk to your car. I myself hit the ground hard this morning. Ow.
What do you say we do a 9:30 Coffee Break with songs about falling, in honor of this season when many of us are busting our butts, heads, and elbows on the pavement?
Songs played:
Elvis Costello "I Can't Stand Up (For Falling Down)"
Patsy Cline "I Fall to Pieces"
Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova "Falling Slowly"
Billy Idol "Catch My Fall"
Atmosphere "Freefallin"
Tuesday Coffee Break: Back To The Future, 1979
Posted at 8:29 AM on March 15, 2011
by Steve Seel
(40 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today it's another installment of the Back To The Future Coffee Break, when we hop in the Delorean, fire up the flux capacitor, and head back to a specific year in history and revisit what it felt like to go to a record store in that year. Today, we're setting the way-back machine to 1979. It was the year of the Iran hostage crisis, Rocky II and The Village People, The Love Boat and Mork and Mindy were the big TV shows, and Jimmy Carter was in his last year as president. As you stroll into the record store, what do you see? Feel free to use the Google and help us put together a 1979 set today for the 9:30 Coffee Break.
Songs played:
The Clash "Train in Vain"
Prince "I Wanna Be Your Lover"
David Bowie "Boys Keep Swinging"
Blondie "Atomic"
Sugarhill Gang "Rapper's Delight"
Monday Coffee Break: What Do You Mean, "Write A Letter"?
Posted at 8:35 AM on March 14, 2011
by Steve Seel
(55 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Nobody does it anymore - except those over the age of 65, probably: write a letter. You know, the kind you put a stamp on and send through the mail. What an utterly weird concept in this day and age. Still, the postal service has been around a lot longer than the internet and cell phones, and so there are many decades worth of songs that sing of that now-almost-extinct practice of sealing your thoughts in an envelope and sending them on their way. Today for the 9:30 Coffee Break, help us put together a set of songs about letters.
Songs played:
The Box Tops "The Letter"
Martin DeVaney "Nobody Writes Letters Anymore"
Elvis Presley "Return to Sender"
Shuggie Otis "Strawberry Letter 23"
The Hang Ups "Sign the Letter"
The Marvelettes "Mr. Postman"
Friday Coffee Break: Medleys
Posted at 8:48 AM on March 11, 2011
by Steve Seel
(31 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
We started thinking about medleys this morning after we played The Fifth Dimension's "Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In" today for our music history segment. What are some other notable songs that are actually made up of two or more separate parts to form a medley? That's what we're looking for today for the 9:30 Coffee Break.
Medleys played:
The Beatles "You Never Give Your Money/Sun King/Mean Mr. Mustard/Polythene Pam/She Came in Through the Bathroom Window"
Mitch Ryder "Devil with a Blue Dress/Good Golly Miss Molly"
Paul Nero "This is Soul/Soul Finger/Soul Man"
The Circle Jerks "Jerks on 45: Along Comes Mary/Close To You/Afternoon Delight/Havin My Baby/Love Will Keep Us Together/D-I-V-O-R-C-E/"
Thursday Coffee Break: It's Sunday On Thursday
Posted at 8:14 AM on March 10, 2011
by Steve Seel
(44 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Earlier today, Jill and I were discussing how much we enjoy Sundays - and the joy of, say, eating a late breakfast and then going back to bed until dinner time. Sundays are great here on The Current: there's Bill DeVille's United States of Americana and Mac Wilson in the afternoon, not to mention the award-winning Local Show with Dave Campbell. But since Jill and I are never here (not that we're complaining), we thought we'd bring a little Sunday to Thursday today for the 9:30 Coffee Break. What are some good songs about Sunday?
Songs played:
The Monkees "Pleasant Valley Sunday"
Morrissey "Everyday is Like Sunday"
Johnny Cash "Sunday Morning Coming Down"
Spanky and our Gang "Sunday Will Never Be the Same"
Beck "Sunday Morning"
The Lonely Island "Lazy Sunday"
Wednesday Coffee Break: No Minnesota Songs? Really?
Posted at 8:18 AM on March 9, 2011
by Steve Seel
(54 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Listener Gray K. writes this morning, "I just watched a clip from last night's Daily Show where Jon Stewart made fun of Tim Pawlenty for trying to apply a song about New York to Minnesota." Stewart then ribbed Pawlenty for not being able to come up with a Minnesota song - being the former governor, after all - but then he couldn't come up with any himself. "Sounds like a perfect opportunity for a 9:30 Coffee Break theme. Surely we could come up with a few Minnesota songs for him, right?"
Songs played:
The Replacements "Skyway"
Dandy Warhols "Minnesoter"
Prince "Uptown"
Kid Dakota "Ten Thousand Lakes"
Atmosphere "Shhh"
Tuesday Coffee Break: Fat Tuesday!
Posted at 7:34 AM on March 8, 2011
by Steve Seel
(50 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today is Fat Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday when New Orleans becomes the world epicenter of partying, parades, and overall debauchery. So help us put together a little New Orleans-themed set today for the 9:30 Coffee Break. We'll take your suggestions for tunes about New Orleans, performed by New Orleans musicians, or just about things commonly associated with the Big Easy.
Songs played:
Professor Longhair "Mardi Gras in New Orleans"
Hank Williams "Jambalaya"
Spearhead "Red Beans and Rice"
The Bamboos "Voodoo Doll"
Ween "Voodoo Lady"
Muddy Waters "Baby Please Don't Go"
Monday Coffee Break: Barbie Bails Out Of China
Posted at 8:39 AM on March 7, 2011
by Steve Seel
(27 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
This story caught our attention this morning: "Barbie Closes Down Shop In Shanghai." Apparently, a six-story store selling all things Barbie didn't exactly go over very well in China, where it seems the populace just didn't quite take to - or even really get - the whole Barbie thing (apparently, a lot of the Barbie clothes for sale were sexier than what young Shanghai girls aspired to; they're more into "cute", a la Hello Kitty).
For today's 9:30 Coffee Break, we thought we'd have a duel-topic set: either songs mentioning dolls or doll-related topics, or referencing China. If you can tie together both, you get an automatic A+.
Friday Coffee Break: Facing Our Phobias
Posted at 8:48 AM on March 4, 2011
by Steve Seel
(69 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Somehow, Jill and I got to discussing some of our phobias yesterday, and Jill said, "Hey, let's build a 9:30 Coffee Break around this. We'll both name one of our own unique phobias, and then ask listeners to help us face them by suggesting songs that are about those topics." I was game. So, what phobias would we confront? For Jill, it was easy: "I am creeped out by the sound of children singing in unison." Okay, so we'll ask listeners to come up with three songs containing that very thing. It took me a little longer, but I then remembered how freaked out I am by bad plastic surgery. So who are some recording artists who have had implants, lifts, nips or tucks go particularly wrong? Come up with some suggestions and we'll pick three for my half of the therapy session set.
Jill's set:
Justice "D.A.N.C.E."
Pink Floyd "Another Brick in the Wall part 2"
The Decemberists "The Hazards of Love 3 (Revenge!)"
Steve's set:
Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton "Islands in the Stream"
Kiss "Detroit Rock City"
Michael Jackson "Rock With You"
Thursday Coffee Break: The Tip Of The Hat
Posted at 8:52 AM on March 3, 2011
by Steve Seel
(69 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
For today's 9:30 Coffee Break (suggested by listener Victoria Mucha), we're looking for songs where artists pay tribute to another artist: a hat-tip, so to speak, to that artist. It doesn't necessarily have to be a clear statement of the performing artist's fandom or praise for the band named in the tune, but it's at least clear from the lyrics that the singer is expressing an appreciation of some sort. Our example we're citing - and yes, we will play this one - is LCD Soundsystem's "Daft Punk Is Playing At My House."
Songs played:
The Replacements "Alex Chilton"
Art Brut "The Replacements"
Benji Hughes, "Went With Some Friends To See The Flaming Lips"
The Dandy Warhols "Cool as Kim Deal"
The House of Love "Beatles and the Stones"
LCD Soundsystem "Daft Punk is Playing at my House"
Wednesday Coffee Break: A Mystery Set!
Posted at 9:36 AM on March 2, 2011
by Steve Seel
(2 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
We haven't done one in a while, and recently, a few listeners are written in saying how much they enjoy intentionally "skipping" the announced theme of the 9:30 Coffee Break so they can figure out what the theme is themselves. So, we thought it was time to do another "reverse coffee break," where we play the songs first and you tell us what the theme is.
The answer: Danger Mouse! All the songs today were either records produced by, or featuring contributions from, Danger Mouse.
Gnarls Barkley "Crazy"
Danger Doom "A.T.H.F"
The Good, The Bad and the Queen "Herculean"
Broken Bells "Vaporize"
Gorillaz "Feel Good Inc"
Congratulations to Matthew Ayers who was the first to answer correctly today.
Tuesday Coffee Break: It's National Pig Day!
Posted at 8:06 AM on March 1, 2011
by Steve Seel
(36 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
You read that right. March 1st is the day we observe National Pig Day (not the day of the "national pig," although that would be cool if we had one) - it's a holiday founded by two sisters in North Carolina "to accord the pig its rightful, though generally unrecognized, place as one of man's most intellectual and domesticated animals." As Wikipedia notes, however, "The question of whether the holiday is a time to honor pigs by 'giving them a break' or to appreciate their offerings (spare ribs, bacon and ham) is an open question."
How could we resist such a topic for the 9:30 Coffee Break? Help us put together a set of songs today that have waxed poetic about this fine animal.
Songs played:
Weezer "Pork and Beans"
Pink Floyd "Pigs on the Wing, Pt. 2"
The Beatles "Piggies"
Black Sabbath "War Pigs"
Morrissey "Life is a Pigsty"
Monday Coffee Break: Songs Fit For A King
Posted at 7:49 AM on February 28, 2011
by Steve Seel
(30 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
In honor of The King's Speech, last night's biggest winner at the Academy Awards (with Oscars for Best Picture, Actor, and Director), we're thinking kingly tunes for this morning's 9:30 Coffee Break. What are some songs with "king" in the title?
Songs played:
Run DMC "King of Rock"
Adam Ant "Kings of the Wild Frontier"
Wavves "King of the Beach"
Neutral Milk Hotel "King of Carrot Flowers Pt One"
Gogol Bordello "Wonderlust King"
Roger Miller "King of the Road"
Friday Coffee Break: Movie Stars In Song
Posted at 8:05 AM on February 25, 2011
by Steve Seel
(62 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
With the Academy Awards coming up this Sunday night, it's time for another edition of songs that mention the names of actors and/or actresses for the 9:30 Coffee Break. It's been a popular topic before, but there are a lot of song possibilities, so we thought we'd revisit it again. (Note: this topic is not "movie stars who think they can make pop records," so no, we won't be bringing out the Bruce Willis record this morning).
Songs Played:
Billy Bragg and Wilco: "Ingrid Bergman"
Bauhas: "Bela Lugosi's Dead"
The Clash: "The Right Profile"
Cake: "Frank Sinatra"
Thursday Coffee Break: It's Alright
Posted at 8:48 AM on February 24, 2011
by Steve Seel
(54 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
It's all gonna be alright, isn't it? I mean, ultimately?
For today's 9:30 Coffee Break, we want to play some of the hundreds (thousands?) or examples of reassurances in pop music that "it's alright." Because who doesn't need a little reassurance now and then?
Songs played:
Supergrass "Alright"
Stevie Wonder "Uptight Everything's Alright"
Ween "It's Gonna Be (Alright)
Bob Dylan "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right"
U2 "Mysterious Ways"
Wednesday Coffee Break: Some Dirty Sax
Posted at 8:45 AM on February 23, 2011
by Steve Seel
(38 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today's 9:30 Coffee Break theme comes suggested by Bob Hicks of St. Paul, who writes: "First, what's not to like about the double entendre nature of the theme? Secondly, there's nothing like a little dirty sax to get the blood flowing." So help us put together a set featuring some sweet, wailin' saxophone this morning.
Songs played:
Madness "One Step Beyond"
Morphine "Honey White"
Deerhunter "Coronado"
The Waitresses "I Know What Boys Like"
Beck "New Pollution"
The Champs "Tequila"
Tuesday Coffee Break: Dig It
Posted at 8:48 AM on February 22, 2011
by Steve Seel
(47 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today's 9:30 Coffee Break theme is inpsired by the activity that so many of us found ourselves doing over the weekend: digging out. There are lots of songs about digging in its various forms. Let's put together a good "digging set" today.
Songs played:
Superchunk 'Digging for Something"
The Beatles "Dig It"
The Beatles "Dig a Pony"
The Friends of Distinction "Grazing in the Grass"
Southern Culture on the Skids "Ditch Diggin"
Pixies "Dig for Fire"
Friday Coffee Break: Quality Footwear
Posted at 8:46 AM on February 18, 2011
by Steve Seel
(37 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today's 9:30 Coffee Break: songs about shoes, boots, sneakers, high heels ... basically it's a footwear set.
Songs played:
Nancy Sinatra "These Boots Were Made for Walking"
Run DMC "My Adidas"
The Beatles "Old Brown Shoe"
Elvis Costello "(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes"
KC and the Sunshine Band "Boogie Shoes"
Thursday Coffee Break: The Fruit Section
Posted at 8:59 AM on February 17, 2011
by Steve Seel
(45 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today's 9:30 Coffee Break is both a completely silly one and a healthy one: we're looking to build a set featuring bands who are named after fruit. Think about it: there are lots! Which ones would you like to hear?
Songs played:
The Raspberries "I Wanna Be With You"
Fiona Apple "Better Version of Me"
Moby Grape "Omaha"
The Moldy Peaches "Anyone Else But You"
Wednesday Coffee Break: Female Drummers
Posted at 8:49 AM on February 16, 2011
by Steve Seel
(41 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Here's a fresh topic we've never done before on the 9:30 Coffee Break: bands with female drummers. The added twist we want to do today is bands where the ONLY female member is the drummer. We can think of at least three ... can you?
Songs played:
The Velvet Underground "Rock and Roll" (Maureen Tucker)
Yo La Tengo "Little Eyes" (Georgia Hubley)
Low "Just Stand Back" (Mimi Parker)
The White Stripes "Conquest" (Meg White)
Tuesday Coffee Break: Revolution Music
Posted at 7:56 AM on February 15, 2011
by Steve Seel
(26 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
We are in the middle of an incredible moment in history: revolution in Egypt (which was itself inspired by revolution in Tunisia) has now spurned a chain reaction accross the Middle East, including the desert nation of Bahrain and even protests in Iran. And the most incredible thing, as has been much discussed, is how, despite isolated incidents of violence, the demonstrations have (so far at least) been mostly without bloodshed or loss of life.
It's a revolution set today for the 9:30 Coffee Break. We're putting together a set of some of our favorite songs that feature the "r" word.
Songs played:
The Beatles "Revolution"
The Clash "Revolution Rock"
Gil Scott-Heron "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised"
Steve Earle "The Revolution Starts..."
Monday Coffee Break: Gifts For Your Sweetie
Posted at 7:11 AM on February 14, 2011
by Steve Seel
(27 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
What kind of gift do you give your sweetheart for Valentine's Day? Dinner and a movie? Chocolates? Diamonds? Flowers? Lacy undergarments? For today's 9:30 Coffee Break, help us put together a set of songs that touch on some of the classic Valentine's gifts like those.
Songs played:
Nirvana "Heart Shaped Box"
Bessie Smith "Need a Little Sugar in my Bowl"
Parliament "Chocolate City"
The Big Bopper "Chantilly Lace"
Friday Coffee Break: Viernes No Ingles!
Posted at 8:19 AM on February 11, 2011
by Steve Seel
(61 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
It's time once again for a long-standing favorite topic on the 9:30 Coffee Break: No English Friday! We'll take suggestions for practically anything today so long as it's not sung in English (and, despite what the topic title suggests, it doesn't have to be in Spanish ... it can be German, Portugese, Japanese, anything). Hit us up with your suggestions.
Songs played:
Peter Gabriel "Shock Den Affen"
Zebda "Du Soleil A La Toque"
Sergio Mendes "Mas Que Nada"
Panjabi MC "Beware of the Boys"
Wednesday Coffee Break: Totally Nude
Posted at 9:04 AM on February 9, 2011
by Steve Seel
(26 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
We're getting naked today. Not actually, of course (althought how would you know?), but thematically: the topic for today's 9:30 Coffee Break, songs about nudity. Let's disrobe, musically. It'll be good clean fun.
Songs played:
Paul Westerberg "Silver Naked Ladies"
The Wallets "Totally Nude"
Jackie Wilson "No Pity (In the Naked City)
Iron & Wine "Naked as We Came"
Thursday Coffee Break: Animal Sounds
Posted at 8:52 AM on February 10, 2011
by Steve Seel
(52 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Woof ... tweet ... growl ... for today's 9:30 Coffee Break we're looking for examples of songs with sound effects of animals. Fairly simple!
Songs played:
Jane's Addiction "Been Caught Stealing"
New Order "The Perfect Kiss"
The Beatles "Good Morning, Good Morning"
New York Dolls "Dance Like a Monkey"
Tuesday Coffee Break: Get A Brain, Morans
Posted at 8:06 AM on February 8, 2011
by Steve Seel
(51 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
For whatever reason, Jill and I are feeling besieged by large amounts of the stupid this morning. The woman who put the dog in the box and mailed it? Just feels like the latest example of civilization slipping into the abyss of brain-dead-ness. What is wrong with humanity?
Let's make some lemonade out of our frustration this morning by coming up with a set of songs about "smart-fail" for the 9:30 Coffee Break today. Keywords: dumb, fool, stupid. We'll call it the "9:30 Derp" today.
UPDATE: Judging from the comments below, the "morans" reference I made in the title was a bit too obscure. Here's the origin of the joke (i.e. joke fail, obviously).
Songs played:
DeVotchka "Somethin' Stupid"
Nirvana "Dumb"
Lupe Fiasco "Dumb it Down"
Aretha Franklin "Chain of Fools"
Joe Jackson "Fools in Love"
Monday Coffee Break: Bands From Wisconsin
Posted at 8:42 AM on February 7, 2011
by Steve Seel
(38 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
As Packer Nation celebrates its big victory this morning, Wisconsin is enjoying it's victory lap in general on this post-Superbowl Monday. Being the good sports that we are, Jill and I thought we'd pay our respects to the land of The Fonz by putting together a 9:30 Coffee Break showcasting bands from Wisconsin. Who are some of your favorites?
Songs played:
Violent Femmes "Kiss Off"
Garbage "Special"
Bon Iver "Beach Baby"
Kings Go Forth "One Day"
Megafaun "The Fade"
Les Paul and Mary Ford "Prisoner of Love"
Friday Coffee Break: Beer Is Good For You
Posted at 8:10 AM on February 4, 2011
by Steve Seel
(52 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
On the heels of our visit this morning from Omar Ansari, owner of Surly Brewing Company (thanks for the Surly Coffee Bender, Omar), we picked the only topic that seemed appropriate for today's 9:30 Coffee Break: beer songs. Songs that mention beer in some way or another. Happy Friday!
Songs played:
The Replacements, "Beer For Breakfast"
Tom Waits, "Warm Beer and Cold Women"
The Clash, "Rudie Can't Fail"
Beck, "Beercan"
Roger Miller, "Chug-A-Lug"
Thursday Coffee Break: Six Degrees Of White Stripes
Posted at 8:52 AM on February 3, 2011
by Steve Seel
(18 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
This morning we're talking about the announcement made yesterday by The White Stripes that they are no more. Their labe, Warner Bros., announced in a statement that "the reason is not due to artistic differences or lack of wanting to continue, nor any health issues as both Meg and Jack are feeling fine and in good health. It is for a myriad of reasons, but mostly to preserve what is beautiful and special about the band and have it stay that way."
Today for the 9:30 Coffee Break, we want to build a set that pays tribute to the White Stripes - not just their own music, but a celebration of the massive contributions Jack and Meg have made on rock music over the past 10 years, such as through Jack's various side-projects and even a certain tribute to the under-heralded Meg herself, which we'll be playing.
Songs played:
The White Stripes, "Hello, Operator"
Loretta Lynn, "Portland, Oregon"
The White Stripes, "Rag And Bone"
Ray LaMontagne, "Meg White"
The Raconteurs, "Hands"
The Dead Weather, "Hang You Up From The Heavens"
Wednesday Coffee Break: Cabin Fever, Continued
Posted at 8:57 AM on February 2, 2011
by Steve Seel
(25 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Our topic today on Dining With Dara was restaurants you can visit to help you beat your case of cabin fever. This got us thinking about cabin fever as a possible topic for the 9:30 Coffee Break, and so we want you to join us in riffing on songs about fever - or, perhaps, losing your marbles.
Songs played:
Bon Iver, "Flume" (recorded in a cabin in the middle of the woods in winter)
The Animals, "We Gotta Get Out Of This Place"
Peggy Lee, "Fever"
Bjork, "It's Oh So Quiet"
Joy Division, "Isolation"
The Kills, "U.R.A. Fever"
Tuesday Coffee Break: Spy Songs
Posted at 8:15 AM on February 1, 2011
by Steve Seel
(51 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
The music world mourned the passing of one of the giants of the soundtrack score this week: English composer John Barry died on Saturday at the age of 77. Barry wrote the scores to tons of classic films, from Out Of Africa to Dances With Wolves, but he's perhaps best known as the guy who scored nearly all of the James Bond movies. Now, did he write the James Bond theme? There's some dispute about the actual melody - Barry claims he did, although composer and arranger Monty Norman also claimed authorship - but it's Barry who basically created the whole style and sound of everything we associate with James Bond music.
John Barry's career being so closely associated with the sound we know and love as "spy music" - swinging,'60s-'70s glamorous, and laced with very sexy danger - we want to do a set of spy songs today for the 9:30 Coffee Break. What are some songs that talk about spies? Agents? International intrigue?
Songs played:
Shirley Bassey, "Goldfinger"
Guided By Voices, "Teenage FBI"
Elvis Costello, "Watching The Detectives"
St. Vincent, "All My Start Aligned"
Johnny Rivers, "Secret Agent Man"
The Bird and The Bee, "Private Eyes"
Monday Coffee Break: Heavy Breathing
Posted at 8:37 AM on January 31, 2011
by Steve Seel
(32 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
We've done "whispering" as a topic before on the 9:30 Coffee Break, but we're not sure if we've ever put together a set of songs featuring heavy breathing. It occured to us this morning that there seem to be a number of songs out there that feature panting and breathing - often in time with the beat of the song, although not always. Can you think of any? That's your assignment for the Coffee Break today.
Songs played:
Prince, "Let's Go Crazy"
Rilo Kiley, "Portions For Foxes"
Communist Daugher, "Not The Kid"
Tone Loc, "Funky Cold Medina"
Kraftwerk, "Elektro- Kardiogramm"
Friday Coffee Break: Songs About Music
Posted at 8:49 AM on January 28, 2011
by Steve Seel
(71 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Could that be simple enough for you? Well, we'll see. Today's topic for the 9:30 Coffee Break is songs that are about music itself - just mentioning "music" in their title, or some form or style of music (funk, soul, etc.). How many can you come up with?
Songs played:
Wild Cherry "Play That Funky Music"
The Replacements "I Hate Music"
G Love "Blues Music"
Sly and the Family Stone "Dance to the Music"
Ian Dury "Sex and Drugs and Rock 'n Roll"
Thursday Coffee Break: Apocalyptic Tunage
Posted at 8:46 AM on January 27, 2011
by Steve Seel
(59 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Did you know that George Lucas actually believes the whole Mayan calendar thing about the world ending in 2012? Let us say that again: he actually believes it.
We suppose this could illicit two major reactions: it's either continued proof that Lucas is a grossly disappointing character, intent on destroying the dreams and losing the respect of millions, or "holy cow, it's George Lucas. What does he know that we don't know?" (And does he have his own spaceship ready to go?)
So, that's our topic for today's 9:30 Coffee Break: songs about the end of the world. Yes, a certain R.E.M. song fits into today's theme. What else can you think of?
Songs played:
Tom Waits "Earth Died Screaming"
U2 "Until the End of the World"
David Bowie "Five Years"
Skeeter Davis "End of the World"
REM "It's the End of the World as We know it (and I Feel Fine)"
UPDATE: At the end of today's Coffee Break, we were alterted by a listener that George Lucas has now said he didn't really mean it. Oh well - thanks for a great Coffee Break anyway, George!
Wednesday Coffee Break: Australia Day
Posted at 7:40 AM on January 26, 2011
by Steve Seel
(36 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today is Australia Day, the country's official national holiday. We couldn't let the day pass without recognizing some of the musical talent that has come out of Australia over the past few decades, so we're asking you to help us put together a list of some of your favorites for today's 9:30 Coffee Break.
Songs played:
The Vines "Don't Listen to the Radio"
The Church "Tristesse"
Xavier Rudd "Energy Song"
The Go-Betweens "Cattle and Cane"
Midnight Oil "Read About It"
AC/DC "Problem Child"
Tuesday Coffee Break: Writers In Song
Posted at 7:35 AM on January 25, 2011
by Steve Seel
(44 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
We've got all things literary on the brain this morning, as we're expecting John Moe, host of Minnesota Public Radio's live show Wits to join us in the 9am hour to tell us about the show's upcoming 2011 season at the Fitzgerald Theater. Wits brings together writers, humorists and all around sharp funny-people to shed light on a different topic every month. So, for today's 9:30 Coffee Break, we're setting the atmosphere by putting together a set of songs that mention authors or take quotes from the writings of famous scribes. Help us come up with a few examples today for the 9:30 Coffee Break. It can be a reference to a character, a setting, song titles that are book titles, ect. Just make sure you provide the explanation behind your request!
Songs played:
"Le Pastie De La Bourgeoisie" by Belle & Sebastian-
(Lyrics mention Kerouac, Judy Blume and Catcher In The Rye)
Ryan Adams "Sylvia Plath"
The Hold Steady "Stuck Between Stations"
(quotes Jack Kerouac and also references John Berryman, Minnesota poet)
The Smiths "Cemetry Gates"
(Lyrics mention poets John Keats, Williams Butler Yeats, Oscar Wilde)
Billy Bragg and Wilco "Walt Whitman's Niece"
Monday Coffee Break: A Set For Jack LaLanne
Posted at 8:26 AM on January 24, 2011
by Steve Seel
(42 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Fitness guru Jack LaLanne passed away over the weekend at the age of 96. Known for getting America to embrace fitness and exercise (not to mention being a maniac athelete capable of incredible feats of strength and endurance) and host of America's longest-running fitness television program (from 1951 to 1985), LaLanne was a passionate advocate for his cause:
We'll salute Jack LaLanne today on the 9:30 Coffee Break with a "fitness set": songs that mention jumping, running, swimming, or any other kind of exercise.
Songs played:
House of Pain "Jump Around"
Frightened Rabbit "Swim Until You Can't See Land"
Prince "Black Sweat"
The Streets "Fit But You Know It"
The Rolling Stones "Jumpin Jack Flash"
Friday Coffee Break: Punk Babies
Posted at 8:30 AM on January 21, 2011
by Steve Seel
(27 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today's suggestion for the 9:30 Coffee Break comes in from listener Christi. She writes:
"You know when punk has babies with other types of music - Folk Punk (the Pogues, etc.); Celtic Punk (Flogging Molly; Dropkick Murphys); Cow Punk (Reverend Horton Heat); Afro Punk (Fishbone), et cetera?" She suggests today's coffee break theme be "Punk Babies," which we found to be an awesome suggestion.
We'll pick from those bands she listed ... but we'd love to have your ideas too if you have them. Can you think of any other punk-hybrids?
Songs played:
Flogging Molly: Devil's Dance Floor
Fishbone: Party At Ground Zero
Reverend Horton Heat: Baddest Of the Bad
Gogol Bordello: Wonderlust King
The Pogues: If I Should Fall From Grace With God
Thursday Coffee Break: Lake Songs
Posted at 8:55 AM on January 20, 2011
by Steve Seel
(44 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Free-associating as we often do for the 9:30 Coffee Break, we're thinking about lakes this morning. (Our arts correspondent Marianne Combs paid us her usual visit for the Weekend Arts Roundup, and she mentioned an artist who does impressionistic paintings of of her memories swimming in the lake at night in the summertime when she was a child). Instant topic: lake songs!
Extra points this morning if you can come up with a "winter" lake song."
Songs played:
Kid Dakota "10,000 Lakes"
Innocense Mission "The Lakes of Canada"
Granddaddy "The Crystal Lake"
Kate Bush "Under Ice"
Nirvana "Lake of Fire"
REM "Nightswimming"
Wednesday Coffee Break: Don Kirshner, 1934 - 2011
Posted at 7:50 AM on January 19, 2011
by Steve Seel
(4 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Sad news came last night that Don Kirshner, rock producer and impresario, had passed away at the age of 76. Making his name early on by fostering the careers of many of the Brill Building songwriters like Carole King and Gerry Goffin, not to mention creating the semi-fictitious bands The Monkees and The Archies. But it was his role as the monotoned, leisure-suited host and producer of Don Kirshner's Rock Concert, which aired in syndication from 1973 through 1981, that many knew him best. Kirshner brought footage of real concert performances - as opposed to the lip-synched, TV-studio pantomime that was the standard of the day on shows like American Bandstand - to late night TV. And he hosted the shows sounding as if he barely knew what he was talking about, althought that was just his weird, awkward speaking style.
We honor Don Kirshner today for the 9:30 Coffee Break with a mix of the artists who he helped introduce to the world, and also feature on his show.
Songs played:
The Monkees "Last Train to Clarksville"
The Ramones "Judy is a Punk"
Alice Cooper "School's Out"
Blue Oyster Cult "The Marshall Plan"
The Archies "Sugar, Sugar"
Tuesday Coffee Break: Shhh, Be Vewy Qwiet
Posted at 8:32 AM on January 18, 2011
by Steve Seel
(39 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
No, we're not hunting wabbits today - but we're still going to do quite a bit of whispering. For today's 9:30 Coffee Break, we want you to help us put together a set of songs that feature whispering in them. Tiptoe over to the website or give us a call to participate.
Songs played:
Donovan "Mellow Yellow"
The Ramones "We the Airwaves"
John Lennon "Beautiful Boy"
PJ Harvey "Down By the Water"
Serge Gainsbourg "je taime... moi non plus"
Friday Coffee Break: You Are Not Getting Sleepy
Posted at 8:53 AM on January 14, 2011
by Steve Seel
(23 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
We've seen a lot of stories recently about birds falling from the sky. Yesterday, however, Jill noticed something else: a sudden glut in Facebook posts from friends who were suddenly experiencing insomnia. What's up with that? Is this part of the apocalypse too?
Either way, it's an opportunity to put together a set of songs about sleeplessness: that's your assignment for today's 9:30 Coffee Break!
Songs played:
The Faders "No Sleep Tonight"
The Cure "Sleep When I'm Dead"
The Shins "Sleeping Lessons"
She & Him "If You Can't sleep"
Boomtown Rats "Up All Night"
Thursday Coffee Break: When I Was Young ...
Posted at 8:43 AM on January 13, 2011
by Steve Seel
(46 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today's theme for the 9:30 Coffee Break: we're looking for songs that make reference to the songwriter's childhood. Specifically, lyrics that actually mention details about the artist's youth: places they grew up, details they recall from their days as a kid, et cetera.
Songs played:
Loretta Lynn "Coal Miner's Daughter"
Communist Daughter "Not the Kid"
The Beatles "In My Life"
Van Morrison "And it Stoned Me"
Ike and Tina Turner "Nutbush City Limits"
The Hold Steady "Massive Night"
Wednesday Coffee Break: All In The (Extended) Family
Posted at 8:48 AM on January 12, 2011
by Steve Seel
(57 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
We've had 9:30 Coffee Breaks where we compile songs about brothers and/or sisters. But aren't their at least a few tunes out there about members of the extended family? Aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews? Your assignment today is to help us think of songs for everybody in the family, not only the "nuclear" one.
Songs played:
The Undertones "My Perfect Cousins"
Syd Barrett "Gigolo Aunt"
Elvis Presley "Little Sister"
Willie Nelson "I'm My Own Grandpa"
Paul Westerberg "My Dad"
Ben Folds Five "Uncle Walter"
Tuesday Coffee Break: Siren Songs
Posted at 8:43 AM on January 11, 2011
by Steve Seel
(43 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today's 9:30 Coffee Break topic is suggested by William Blackman of St. Paul. William writes:
"Every now and then a song comes on while I'm driving that makes me constantly turn and check if there's a cop or ambulance behind me because the song has at least a siren in the background. I thing it would be kind of fun to mess with everyone who is driving at about 9:30 (usually myself) by playing a half hour of songs with sirens."
Interesting suggestion, William! There actually seem to be a few such examples of songs with sirens out there ... let's see how many we can compile.
Song played:
Ohio Players "Fire"
Manu Chao "Rainin' in Paradise"
Sweet "Blockbuster"
Dizzee Rascal "Sirens"
The Flaming Lips "Mr. Ambulance Driver"
Thin Lizzy "Jailbreak"
Monday Coffee Break: The Run-On Title
Posted at 8:10 AM on January 10, 2011
by Steve Seel
(64 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
You've heard of the run-on sentence ... well this morning for the 9:30 Coffee Break, our topic is the "run-on song title." We're putting together a set of songs that contain longer than usual titles; let's say a minimum of seven words, but obviously, the longer you can come up with, the better.
Songs played:
Sufjan Stevens "The Black Hawk War, or, How to Demolish an Entire Civilization and Still Feel Good About Yourself in the Morning, or, We Apologize for the Inconvenience but You're Going to Have to Leave Now, or, 'I Have Fought the Big Knives and Will Continue to Fight Them Until They Are Off Our Lands!'"
The Beatles "Everyone's Got Something to Hide Except for me and my Monkey"
Black Kids "I'm Not Going to Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance with You"
American Music Club "What Godzilla Said to God When His Name Wasn't Found in the Book of Life"
The Arctic Monkeys "You Probably Couldn't See for the Lights but You Were Looking Straight at Me"
The Flaming Lips ""My Cosmic Autumn Rebellion (The Inner Life as Blazing Shield of Defiance and Optimism as Celestial Spear of Action)"
Friday Coffee Break: Cry Me A River
Posted at 8:47 AM on January 7, 2011
by Steve Seel
(41 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
We've got crying on our minds this morning. First of all, we're sure you've heard plenty about incoming House Speaker John Boehner, who's noted for his propensity for tearing up rather easily. And now this morning, there's an interesting new study out: apparently, there seems to be something in women's tears that can decrease sexual arousal in males.
Let's put together a set of songs about crying this morning for the 9:30 Coffee Break.
Songs played:
The Stranglers "96 Tears"
The Cure "Boys Don't Cry"
The Box Tops "Cry Like a Baby"
Johnny Cash "Cry! Cry! Cry!"
Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings "I'm Not Gonna Cry"
Roy Orbison "Crying"
Thursday Coffee Break: You're My Best Friend
Posted at 7:59 AM on January 6, 2011
by Steve Seel
(49 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Did you see this one? Touching, and being touched, makes you feel better. Common sense no? But now there's at least some science behind it. Whether it's the squeeze of the hand, a back rub, or a hug, touching releases endorphines and can actually make us physically healthier. But here's the photo that accompanied the CNN story linked to above:
Photo: CNN
If you're a dog or cat owner, you already know how much petting your pet is right up there as one of the most calming, good-karma-producing things you can participate in. So, always look for a segue for the 9:30 Coffee Break ...
... we've done cat songs before on the Coffee Break, but never dog songs. There's the topic for today!
Songs played:
Elvis Presley "Hound Dog"
The B-52's "Quiche Lorraine"
The Beatles "Bulldog"
Guided By Voices "Bulldog Skin"
The Stooges "I Wanna Be Your Dog"
Matthew Sweet "Scooby-Doo, What are You"
Wednesday Coffee Break: Bird Artists
Posted at 8:49 AM on January 5, 2011
by Steve Seel
(50 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
We're still talking about the odd, inexplicable birds falling from the sky story today - but, as fate would have it, today is also National Bird Day. You can celebrate by watching birds, studying them, or even adopting a pet bird - although be warned: according to Wikipedia, many bird enthusiasts take the opportunity of the day to "educate future bird owners about the special issues involved with taking care of birds, including their 'screaming, biting, constant cleanups, the need for daily interaction and a varied diet'."
We've done bird songs before on the 9:30 Coffee Break - howabout artists who's name contains a kind of bird (or even the word bird itself?)
Songs played:
The Byrds "Mr. Tamberine Man"
Andrew Bird "Fiery Crash"
The Jayhawks "I'd Run Away
The Partridge Family "Come on Get Happy"
The Bird and the Bee "Again and Again"
Eagles of Death Metal "Heart On"
The Yardbirds "For Your Love"
Tuesday Coffee Break: A Hot Cuppa' Rock
Posted at 8:12 AM on January 4, 2011
by Steve Seel
(47 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
How is that we've never done a 9:30 Coffee Break about songs about rock n' roll? After all, rock has two favorite subjects - sex, and itself. So, help us assemble a block of tunes today that celebrate rock in all its radio-blasting, parents-hating, speed-limit-exceeding glory.
Songs played:
Prince "Rock 'N' Roll Is Alive! (And It Lives In Minneapolis)"
Led Zeppelin "Rock and Roll"
Ian Dury and the Blockheads "Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll"
Frank Black "That Burnt Out Rock and Roll" (instudio)
The Velvet Underground "Rock and Roll"
Monday Coffee Break: Promises, Promises
Posted at 8:45 AM on January 3, 2011
by Steve Seel
(24 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Ah, New Years' resolutions. For millions, it's a yearly ritual, and perhaps right about now you're faced with the prospect of packing that healthy lunch you need to pack in order to stick with your new glycemic-index diet ... but you forgot to go health food shopping over the weekend. Oops, looks like Jimmy Johns today. Just for today ...
For today's 9:30 Coffee Break, we're playing songs that express some sort of promise. Titles (or prominent lyrics) that say things like, "I'm gonna ..." or "I will ...".
Songs played:
Barry White "I'm Gonna Love You Just a Little More Baby"
Roma Di Luna "I Will"
Sharon Jones "Not Gonna Cry"
Death Cab For Cutie "I Will Possess Your Heart"
Jackson 5 "I'll Be There"
Thursday Coffee Break: The Year In Weird, Pt. II
Posted at 8:49 AM on December 30, 2010
by Steve Seel
(24 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Yesterday, our 9:30 Coffee Break focused on choosing some of the year's more notable news stories (mostly, the funnier, dumber or weirder ones) and then picking a song for each one to represent them. We realized while we were in the process of doing it that we didn't want to rule out more serious stories (like, say, the repeal of "don't ask, don't tell"), but obviously, earthquakes and other disasters aren't exactly fun Coffee Break topics ... so use your common sense here. Songs for the year in weird, part II!
Songs played:
The Animals "We Gotta Get Out of This Place" (Ex-flight attendant/folk hero Steven Slater)
Donovan "Season of the Witch" (Christine O'Donnell "I'm Not a Witch... I'm You" ad campaign)
Elliott Smith "Bottle Up and Explode!" (Another Mel Gibson meltdown)
Duke Ellington Orchestra "Beginning to See the Light" (Chilean Miners)
The Beatles "I'll Be Back" (Conan O'Brien's exit from The Tonight Show on NBC and return to TV with Conan on TBS)
Wednesday Coffee Break: The Year In Weird
Posted at 8:17 AM on December 29, 2010
by Steve Seel
(33 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
For today's 9:30 Coffee Break, Jill and I are relflecting on some of the events in pop culture that caught our attention in 2010. What were the stories - and non-stories - that clogged up our media highways, and our brains, in the past 12 months? What weird happenings or dumb spectacles ate up space on Gawker and TMZ for a bit too long?
Here's what we want to do. Pick a story - say, for example, Bristol Palin's odd, briefly succesful run on Dancing With the Stars - and then choose a song that addresses the topic (in this example, you might choose Arctic Monkey's "I Bet You Look Good On the Dance Floor"). Only you can do better than that particular example, we're sure.
Ready? Go!
Songs played:
Black Sabbath "Paranoid" (Randy Quaid flees the country in fear being assassinated)
Joe Jackson "You're My Meat" (Lady Gaga's meat dress)
St. Vincent "Actor out of Work" (The Joaquin Phoenix mockumentary I'm Still Here)
The Flaming Lips "Buggin" (New York City bed bugs)
Mason Jennings "Keepin it Real" (The Palin's enter the nonreality of reality with "Sarah Palin's Alaska")
Gang of Four "I Love a Man in Uniform" (Repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell)
Tuesday Coffee Break: Autobiographical Songs
Posted at 8:27 AM on December 28, 2010
by Steve Seel
(47 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today's 9:30 Coffee Break is devoted to autobiographical songs - tunes that specifically and clearly speak in the artist in question's voice and refer unmistakably to their lives. In other words, not just a lyric that says "I" something-or-other, but rather, "here's the story of my career and/or my band."
Songs played:
The Mamas and the Papas "Creeque Alley"
Brother Ali "Fresh Air"
The Beatles "Ballad of John and Yoko"
Boston "Rock and Roll Band"
Johnny Cash "Man in Black"
Monday Coffee Break: Let's Get Lazy
Posted at 8:28 AM on December 27, 2010
by Steve Seel
(24 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
It's that time of year again: the week between Christmas and New Years, when practically nobody gets anything done at work. Lots of people take the whole week off, in fact; it makes you wonder, why don't we all? Does anybody really expect any productivity this week?
This morning for the 9:30 Coffee Break, it's all about being lazy. Let's put together songs about laziness and loafing today.
Songs played:
Soul Coughing "Lazybones"
John Lennon "Watching the Wheels"
Low "Lazy"
Jeremy Messersmith "Lazy Bones"
The Kinks "Sunny Afternoon"
Thursday Coffee Break: Let the Festivus Miracles Begin!
Posted at 8:46 AM on December 23, 2010
by Jill Riley
(31 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today is Festivus, a holiday for the restivus! So gather around the Festivus Pole to air your grievances, enjoy your ham loaf, and demonstrate your feats of strength.
For the 9:30 Coffee Break today, we'll focus specifically on the grievances. What songs communicate the singer's gripe or complaint in a particularly sharp way? Submit your suggestions here or below. And while you're at it, feel free to air your grievances with us - we just might air yours on the radio. Send 'em to jriley@thecurrent.org.
Songs played:
Bob Dylan "Positively 4th Street"
Cee-Lo "Forget You"
Tom Waits and Crystal Gayle "Picking Up After You"
Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty "You're the Reason Our Kids Are Ugly"
Lily Allen "It's Not Fair"
The Smiths "Panic"
Of Montreal "Famine Affair"
Wednesday Coffee Break: Gone, But Not Forgotten
Posted at 8:10 AM on December 22, 2010
by Jill Riley
(14 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
For the 9:30 Coffee Break this morning, we'd like to remember and honor musicians who passed on to "Rock n' Roll Heaven" in 2010. Feel free to make suggestions for who you think we should include in the set and feel free to share memories of those artists that are now gone, but not forgotten.
Songs played:
Big Star "In the Street"
Soloman Burke "Cry to Me"
Sparklehorse "Shade and Honey"
Eyedea & Abilities "Now"
The Flamin' Oh's "Days of Summer"
Jay Reatard "Before I was Caught"
Rainbow "Man on the Silver Mountain"
Tuesday Coffee Break: The Solstice With The Molstice
Posted at 8:48 AM on December 21, 2010
by Steve Seel
(36 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Of the two solstices and their correspoinding two equinoxes, it sometimes seems that it's the winter solstice that gets the most attention and/or celebration. The day when the earth's axial tilt is farthest away from the sun marks both the official first day of winter and the shortest day of sunlight of the year.
Why is the winter solstice so closely observed? Maybe because it occurs during a season when glistening lights and festive cheer are already all around us; maybe it's because in winter, we need things to celebrate a little bit more than we do in the summer time. Or maybe it's just feels that way, because of all of those New Age CDs. Either way, let's put together some winter songs today for the 9:30 Coffee Break, in honor of the official first day of winter.
Songs played:
Simon and Garfunkel "A Hazy Shade of Winter"
Darlene Love "Winter Wonderland"
Mumford and Sons "Winter Winds"
Fleet Foxes "White Winter Hymnal"
Tori Amos "Winter"
Monday Coffee Break: Moon Songs
Posted at 9:10 AM on December 20, 2010
by Steve Seel
(38 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Total eclipse of the moon tonight! That means it's time for some moon songs today for the 9:30 Coffee Break.
Songs played:
Nick Drake "Pink Moon"
The Police "Walking on the Moon"
Ozzy Osbourne "Bark at the Moon"
Neil Young "Harvest Moon"
Feist "My Moon My Man"
Friday Coffee Break: Workin' Hard
Posted at 8:51 AM on December 17, 2010
by Steve Seel
(26 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today's 9:30 Coffee Break is both in honor of this month's Coffee Break winner - recipient of a personal workplace visit from Jill and myself, bearing coffee and pastries from Peace Coffee and the Birchwood Cafe' (the winner is ArcStone Technologies in Minneapolis - congrats guys!), but also just an ode to jobs. Do you love your job? Hate it? Give us some suggestions.
Songs played:
Rose Royce "Car Wash"
Belle and Sebastian "Write About Love"
Rinocerose "Cubicle"
Drive-By Truckers "Working This Job"
Devo "Working In a Coal Mine"
Thursday Coffee Break: Get Yer Arse In Gear
Posted at 8:53 AM on December 16, 2010
by Steve Seel
(26 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
As the Christmas shopping season winds down (nine shopping days left!), there's already a sense of "time crunch" in the air for many of us. But now, there's another situation that screams "let's move it": the urgent need to get the snow-covered, winterized, ice-laden TCF Bank Stadium ready for the big Vikings-Bears game scheduled for Monday Night Football. (You might have heard about that other stadium's roof collapsing last weekend). In fact, you can now watch to progress of the snow removal on a live webcam here.
Today's 9:30 Coffee Break is all about "songs of sonic encouragement": music to help the workers at TCF Stadium get motivated, get up, get and get the job done.
Songs played:
James Brown "Get up, Get Into it, Get Involved"
Elvis Costello "Pump It Up"
Prince "Let's Work"
Devo "Whip It"
Daft Punk "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger"
Wednesday Coffee Break: Duets
Posted at 8:34 AM on December 15, 2010
by Steve Seel
(29 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Bouncing off the whole Bowie n' Bing thing, as Jill posted below, we thought we'd focus on duets today for the 9:30 Coffee Break. That was certainly one of history's weirdest - although, arguably, it still worked somehow.
What are some of your favorite duets? Let's put together a set of good ones today, and we'll award extra points for performances that seem like weird ones in principle, but which still work in execution.
Songs played:
Loretta Lynn and Jack White "Portland, Oregon"
PJ Harvey and Thom Yorke "This Mess we're in"
Iggy Pop and Kate Pierson "Candy"
Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan "Girl From the North Country"
Run DMC/Aerosmith "Walk This Way"
Tuesday Coffee Break: School Subjects
Posted at 8:54 AM on December 14, 2010
by Steve Seel
(35 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
So it's another snow day for many schools in both St. Paul and Minneapolis. Ah, the joy of hearing Mom peek her head in the door and whisper, "No school today!"
While we've put together plenty of sets about snow and snow days (and our Trip Shakespeare appreciation is duly noted), today's 9:30 Coffee Break is going to be about all those things that the kids are lucky enough to get to avoid today, but will (presumably) be getting back to tomorrow: school subjects. Math, language, social studies, physical education, science ... let's have your suggestions.
Songs played:
Spoon "My Mathematical Mind"
They Might Be Giants "Meet the Elements"
Jackson 5 "ABC"
The Suburbs "Chemistry Set"
Sam Cooke "Wonderful World"
Monday Coffee Break: The Roof Is Falling
Posted at 8:38 AM on December 13, 2010
by Steve Seel
(24 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
The big picture that America has of Minneapoilis this morning, everywhere from CNN to the New York Times, is of the collapsed roof on the Metrodome. Awesome! Don't you love it when the stadium nobody wants now has to be fixed? It's like replacing a timing belt on a rusted out '89 Geo.
But for now, we're still stuck with the ol' Metrodome, love it or hate it. Your assignment today for the 9:30 Coffee Break: come up with an ode to the hapless dome's roof. Songs about falling? Collapsing? Epic fails? Your creativity is assumed, as always.
Songs played:
Parliament "Give Up The Funk (Tear The Roof Off the Sucker)
R.E.M. "Fall on Me"
Ian Ball "Failure"
Glen Hansard "Falling Slowly"
Doves "Sky Starts Falling"
9:30 Coffee Break: Funky Friday
Posted at 8:44 AM on December 10, 2010
by Jill Riley
(27 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Coming to you live, directly from the mothership ... Friday feels best when it's funky. Help us throw together a set of your favorite funk and soul tunes for the 9:30 Coffee Break.
Songs played:
Billy Preston "Outa-Space"
Rufus "Tell Me Something Good"
Curtis Mayfield and The Impressions "Freddie's Dead"
James Brown "Soulful Christmas"
Parliament "Mothership Connection (Star Child)"
9:30 Coffee Break: Tis' the Season for Lutefisk
Posted at 8:40 AM on December 9, 2010
by Jill Riley
(34 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today is Anna's Day, a Swedish name day, celebrating all people named Anna and marks the day to start the preparation process of the lutefisk to be consumed on Christmas Eve.
The idea of eating whitefish soaked in lye seems more like a dare (or deathwish) than a delicious holiday treat. But, since we're in Minnesota and known for our lutefisk consumption, it's only appropriate to make Coffee Break out of this fishy treat.
Help us come up with a set of Anna, Anne, Annie songs for the 9:30 Coffee Break.
Songs played:
They Might Be Giants "Ana Ng"
The Beatles "Anna"
Ben Folds "Annie Waits"
The Band "The Weight"
Squeeze "Annie Get Your Gun"
9:30 Coffee Break: Sample Day
Posted at 8:47 AM on December 8, 2010
by Jill Riley
(20 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Yesterday in Pittsburgh, it was offically "Gregg Gillis Day". Don't know that name? You probably know him as DJ Girl Talk. He specializes in the art of the sample and the mashup.
Help us create a set of songs containing samples for the 9:30 Coffee Break.
Songs played:
Girl Talk "Jump on Stage"
Beastie Boys "Eggman"
Moby "Honey"
Sugarhill Gang "Rapper's Delight"
9:30 Coffee Break: Edible Animals
Posted at 8:34 AM on December 7, 2010
by Jill Riley
(39 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
This morning we had a story about how a new lizard species was discovered. Turns out they were discovered at a diner in southern Vietnam. On the menu. Naturally, that led to a discussion of weird and unusual things we've eaten. Which led to a discussion about squirrel cuisine.
So today's topic is not exactly for the faint of heart, or those without a sense of humor. Send us your suggestions for the "edible animals" 9:30 Coffee Break.
Songs played:
The Walkmen "The Rat"
Uncle Dave Macon "Carve That Possum"
The Beatles "Rocky Raccoon"
The Pixies "Caribou"
Primus "Wynona's Big Brown Beaver"
The Suburbs "Cows"
Squirrel Nut Zippers "Hell"
9:30 Coffee Break: Reach Out and Touch Someone in Analog
Posted at 9:02 AM on December 6, 2010
by Jill Riley
(33 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Since many were left stranded on their own little islands without the internet yesterday, we thought we'd dedicate today's 9:30 Coffee Break to pre-internet forms of communication. Songs about calling someone on the telephone. Songs about writing letters. Songs about sending a fax? You get the idea.
Songs played:
Blondie "Hanging on the Telephone"
T. Rex "Telegram Sam"
Tony Orlando "Knock Three Times"
The Police "Message in a Bottle"
Shuggie Otis "Strawberry Letter 23"
The Box Tops "The Letter"
Friday Coffee Break: Broke
Posted at 8:19 AM on December 3, 2010
by Steve Seel
(30 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today in the news, Jill and I talked about some of the various government budget problems that surround us these days. Minnesota's deficit problems are currently the source of much debate here in St. Paul, and a bipartisan commission will decide today in Washington whether to send Congress its controversial plan for slashing the federal deficit.
Not fun topics, to be sure - but here at the Morning Show, we know how to make fun out of practically anything. So today for the 9:30 Coffee Break: songs about being broke!
Songs played:
Ray Charles "Busted"
Mason Jennings "Sorry Signs on Cash Machines"
Roger Miller "King of the Road"
Roma Di Luna "I Can't Afford to Be Broke"
Spoon "Got Nuffin"
Thursday Coffee Break: Grammy Nominees!
Posted at 8:49 AM on December 2, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
The 2011 Grammy Nominees were announced yesterday, and there's a bunch of cool stuff in the running this year. Yes, there's plenty of the usual big name, pop culture stuff (10 nominations for Eminem, don't ya know), but also a lot of artists heard here on the Current too. For today's 9:30 Coffee Break, we brought you a sampling of some of the artists and songs up for awards.
Songs played:
Arcade Fire "Modern Man"
Arcade Fire album "The Suburbs" nominated for a number of Grammys, including Album of the Year and Best Alternative Music Album.
Mumford and Sons "Little Lion Man"
Mumford and Sons up for Best New Artist and Best Rock Song for "Little Lion Man"
Cee Lo "Forget You"
Nominated for Song of the Year and Record of the Year
Janelle Monae "Cold War"(89.3 The Current instudio version)
Her record "The ArchAndroid"is up for Best Contemporary R&B Album
Ray LaMontagne "Beg, Steal or Borrow"
Nominated for Song of the Year
Wednesday Coffee Break: Radio, Medium For the Ages
Posted at 8:25 AM on December 1, 2010
by Steve Seel
(31 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Is radio an old-fashioned medium? That's what people are always saying; that it's going to fizzle out, to be overtaken by streaming and Pandora and all that stuff. Funny ... here's an interesting article in the New York Review of Books by esteemed writer Bill McKibben that argues that public radio may be the core of what's not only sustaining radio as a medium, but actually taking it into the future as a vital, growing, thriving thing.
Let's put together a set of songs about radio for today's 9:30 Coffee Break!
Songs played:
The Ramones "Do You Remember Rock N' Roll Radio?"
Regina Spektor "On The Radio"
LL Cool J "I Can't Live Without My Radio"
Queen "Radio Ga Ga"
Tuesday Coffee Break: Classic Debut Albums
Posted at 8:50 AM on November 30, 2010
by Steve Seel
(32 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Some artists come right out of the gate with debut records that set the tone for their career - albums so good that sometimes they're hard to follow up. What are some artists whose debut albums were classics? That's the topic for today's 9:30 Coffee Break. Tell us the artist, album, and song you think is a particularly good selection off of the record, and we'll construct a set of your best suggestions.
Song played:
Sex Pistols, "Holidays in the Sun" Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols
Arcade Fire, "Neighborhood 1 (Tunnels)" Funeral
Bon Iver, "For Emma" For Emma, Forever Ago
Jimi Hendrix, Experience "Fire" Are You Experienced
Elvis Costello, "Mystery Dance" My Aim is True
Weezer, "Buddy Holly" Weezer (The Blue Album)
9:30 Coffee Break: Public Meltdowns
Posted at 8:17 AM on November 29, 2010
by Jill Riley
(22 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
"Newly reformed" Kanye West is at it again. A 10 minute rant last Wednesday night at The Bowery Ballroom during a performance of his new album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy included the rapper's thoughts on the Taylor Swift incident, Matt Lauer, physical abuse, the psyche of the blogger, and of course his most infamous comment about former president George W. Bush. This has got us thinking about some of the music world's most fantastic public meltdowns.
Help us create a set of music featuring artists who lost the plot in public.
Songs played:
Kanye West (feat. Justin Vernon) "Lost in the World"
Wavves "King of the Beach"
George Jones "White Lightning"
Bjork "Army of Me"
Ryam Adams "Magick"
9:30 Coffee Break: Giving Thanks
Posted at 8:59 AM on November 24, 2010
by Jill Riley
(20 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Being it's Thankgiving tomorrow, we thought we'd take this opportunity to give thanks today. Sure, most of us think of Thanksgiving as a time for family, football and stuffing ourselves with turkey dinners... but do we stop and remember to give thanks for the good things in life?
Help us create a set of music of "thanks" and get in the Thanksgiving mood!
Songs played:
Sam and Dave "I Thank You"
My Morning Jacket "Thank You Too"
Led Zeppelin "Thank You "
Sly and the Family Stone "Thank You Falettinme Be Myself Again"
Big Star "Thank You Friends"
The Redwalls "Thank You"
Tuesday Coffee Break: Ode To Brad Childress
Posted at 8:17 AM on November 23, 2010
by Steve Seel
(37 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
We heard the news yesterday, oh boy: Brad Childress was fired from his job as head coach of the Minnesota Vikings, after a season that reached its nadir with Sunday's drubbing at the hands of the Green Bay Packers. Defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier will take up the job effective immediately.
We're putting together a set for Brad Childress today for the 9:30 Coffee Break. Let your creativity roam. What songs would be appropriate? (Note: you're allowed to say nice things too if you're so inclined).
Songs played:
Alex Chilton "Lost My Job"
Steam "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye"
The Beatles "Loser"
Eels "Prizefighter"
Prince "Purple Rain"
Monday Coffee Break: Lots Of Touching Going On
Posted at 8:17 AM on November 22, 2010
by Steve Seel
(41 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
There seems to be only one topic we could do this morning for today's 9:30 Coffee Break, what with the increased hubbub over the past several days about the increasingly invasive screening happening these days at the airport, not to mention this on Saturday Night Live this past Saturday:
That's right. Today's topic is songs about touching.
Songs played:
Willie Nelson "Touch Me"
The Black Keys "Your Touch"
The Buzzcocks "Why Can't I Touch It?"
The Darkness "I Believe in a Thing Called Love"
Gary Glitter "Do You Want to Touch (Oh Yeah)"
Friday Coffee Break: First Avenue, Going Strong
Posted at 8:46 AM on November 19, 2010
by Steve Seel
(19 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today is the sixth anniversary of the reopening of First Avenue, after a scary week or so back in 2004 when the club suddenly locked its doors and seemed like it might be finished. After some financial and organizational matters were squared away, the club reopened to a huge, collective sigh of relief - and has been going strong ever since.
There's no arguing that First Avenue has been at the center of the Twin Cities' musical life since its beginning in 1970. In fact, touring bands to this day continue to remark how its one of the most awesome clubs in the country. Today for the 9:30 Coffee Break, we're going to put together a set containing music from some of the bands who have been significant along the 40-year timeline of the club's history. (Cool feature: City Pages has put together a nice little graphic containing some of those highlights here).
Songs played:
Joe Cocker "With a Little Help From My Friends"
The Replacements "I Hate Music"
Husker Du "Celebrated Summer"
Prince "Let's Go Crazy"
Lucinda Williams "Real Love"
Thursday Coffee Break: Back To The Gravel Pit
Posted at 7:52 AM on November 18, 2010
by Steve Seel
(44 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
In a showing of solidarity with good ol' Jill, who is back at work this morning but who continues to suffer a brutal case of clogged lungs and sandpaper voice, we're heading back to a favorite topic for today's 9:30 Coffee Break: singers with gravelly voices. It's the world where hoarse-ness is an asset, not a liability.
Songs played:
Marianne Faithfull "Down From Dover"
Tom Waits "Singapore"
The Faces "Cindy Incidentally"
Bob Dylan "Beyond Here Lies Nothing"
Janis Joplin "Mercedes Benz"
Brother Ali "Fresh Air (Live Current Volume 6)"
Wednesday Coffee Break: A Little Vino Would Be Keen-O
Posted at 8:49 AM on November 17, 2010
by Steve Seel
(35 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
SInce today's topic on Dining WIth Dara was Nouveau Beujolais (and the fact that Dara actually brought in some amazing Beujolais for me and Jim McGuinn to taste), we thought we'd assemble some wine songs for today's 9:30 Coffee Break (wine break?). As Jim and I continue to enjoy our little coffee mugs of wine here in the studio, help us put together a set of songs about wine today ... and don't forget to check out Dara's recommendations for events marking Beaujolais day around the Twin Cities.
Songs Played:
Eric Burdon and War, "Spill the Wine"
Jeff Buckley, "Lilac Wine"
Fountains of Wayne, "Mexican Wine"
The Replacements, "Red Red Wine"
Stick McGhee, "Drinkin' Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee"
Neil Diamond, "Red Red Wine"
Tuesday Coffee Break: Train Songs For The Northstar
Posted at 8:43 AM on November 16, 2010
by Steve Seel
(46 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today is the one year anniversary of the North Star Commuter Rail. Today for the 9:30 Coffee Break, help us put together a set of tunes about trains, or that talk about trains prominently in their lyrics.
Songs played:
James Brown "Night Train"
Eels "Railroad Man"
The Beatles "One After 909"
The O'Jays "Love Train"
Monkees "Last Train to Clarksville"
Cure "Jumping Someone Else's Train"
Monday Coffeee Break: Sharp Dressed Men
Posted at 8:46 AM on November 15, 2010
by Steve Seel
(30 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
We didn't mean to be sexist in in the choice of today's topic - we were going to make it just "great dressers" - but then we couldn't have used that great title, above. Today's 9:30 Coffee Break will feature songs by some of the most well-dressed, or dapper if you like, men in music.
Songs played:
Leonard Cohen, "Bird On A Wire"
Roxy Music, "Angel Eyes"
Prince, "Sticky Like Glue"
The Hives, "Mad Man"
David Bowie, "Fashion"
Friday Coffee Break: I'm Tired
Posted at 8:42 AM on November 12, 2010
by Steve Seel
(22 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
We have to admit it, this morning's 9:30 Coffee Break is totally autobiographical. Jill and I haven't had very much sleep over the past several days - what with our Current Road Trip to Mankato yesterday (which was, don't get us wrong, awesome) and all. So today, help us put together a set of songs about being tired. It's a fatigue set today.
Songs played:
Cowboy Curtis "Tired"
The Beatles "I'm so Tired"
Belle and Sebastian "We Are The Sleepyheads"
Santo and Johnny "Sleepwalk"
Nirvana "Pennyroyal Tea"
Thursday Coffee Break: Music For Heroes
Posted at 8:44 AM on November 11, 2010
by Steve Seel
(37 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
In observance of Veterans' Day, today on the 9:30 Coffee Break we're going to put together a set of songs that honor, in one way or another, heroes, courage and bravery. Help us shape a set that fits the mood of the day today.
Songs played:
Johnny Cash "The Ballad of Ira Hayes"
David Bowie "Heroes"
The Pogues "The Band Played Waltzing Matilda"
The Foo Fighters "My Hero"
Wednesday Coffee Break: Menacing Maritime Music
Posted at 8:57 AM on November 10, 2010
by Steve Seel
(53 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today is the 35th anniversary of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald. Other than planning to play Gordon Lightfoot's epic folk song detailing the tragedy, is there any other way we might mark this occasion this morning on the 9:30 Coffee Break? Well of course, we're just the folks to try it, and you're the listeners to help us - put together a set of tunes about precarious maritime situations. Unstable boats? Rough storms? Leaky hulls? Sinking ships? We can do this.
Songs played:
Gordan Lightfoot "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald"
Split Enz "Six Months in a Leaky Boat"
The Beach Boys "Sloop John B"
Modest Mouse "Missed the Boat"
Tragically Hip "Nautical Disaster"
Tuesday Coffee Break: Movember
Posted at 8:46 AM on November 9, 2010
by Steve Seel
(35 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Yesterday on the Coffee Break, we celebrated great beards in the "beard rock" phenomenon of the past decade. In the course of putting together that set, our listeners reminded us that November is also Movember - when men are encouraged to grow a moustache (or "mo") to help raise awareness for health concerns that affect men, llke prostate cancer.
In honor of Movember, we're inviting you to suggest songs by some of the great moustaches in rock history today for the 9:30 Coffee Break.
Songs played:
Queen "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" (Freddie Mercury)
Frank Zappa "Muffin Man"
Eagles of Death Metal I Want You So Hard (Boy's Bad News)" (Jesse Hughes)
Husker Du "Makes No Sense At All" (Greg Norton)
The Hold Steady "Stuck Between Stations" (Franz Nicolay)
The Beatles "Fixing a Hole" (Paul, John, George and Ringo)
Monday Coffee Break: Great Beards In Beard Rock
Posted at 9:05 AM on November 8, 2010
by Steve Seel
(19 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
You may have heard that it's Movember, when guys are encouraged to grow a moustache to raise awareness for men's health issues. We will probably get to a "moustache set" at some point this month to honor Movember, but today, it's all about beard rock.
Beard rock is a genre that only recently got its name; as you may have noticed, indie rock has seen a tremendous resurgence of the beard in the last several years. Big, long, bushy beards. Wanna help us cite some examples for the 9:30 Coffee Break.
(By the way, here's Steve making maximum use of his beard this Halloween ... ladies and gentlemen, Joaquin Seel):
Songs played:
Band of Horses, "Weed Party" (Ben Bridwell)
Iron and Wine, "Love Song of the Buzzard" (Sam Beam)
Eels, "Prizefighter" (Mark Everett)
Peaches, "Search and Destroy (Iggy Pop cover)" (this is in reference to this)
Benji Hughes, "I Went With Some Friends To See The Flaming Lips"
Devendra Banhart, "At The Hop"
Friday Coffee Break: Laugh Off
Posted at 8:47 AM on November 5, 2010
by Jacquie Fuller
(60 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Maybe it's the copious amounts of coffee we've consumed, or maybe it's just a case of the Fridays, but Seel and I have been a little giggle-prone this morning. Which got him thinking about songs with laughter. Not laughter in the title or lyrics, but actual giggling and guffawing in the song. For today's 9:30 Coffee Break, let's have a laugh. Give us your songs with laughing in them.
Songs played:
Spoon - "Back to the Life"
Ninian Hawick - "Scottish Rite Temple Stomp"
Bob Dylan - "Rainy Day Woman 12 and 35"
Antonio Carlos Jobim and Elis Regina - "Waters of March"
Gorillaz - "Feel Good Inc."
Janis Joplin - "Mercedez Benz"
Thursday Coffee Break: Bald Guys In Rock
Posted at 8:41 AM on November 4, 2010
by Steve Seel
(36 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
We're celebrating the chrome-dome today for the 9:30 Coffee Break. For no particular reason, we're putting together a set saluting the musicians who rock the bald head with confidence.
Oh, and we'd accept bald gals too.
Songs played:
Moby "Next is the E"
Midnight Oil "Dreamworld" (Peter Garrett)
Smashing Pumpkins "1979" (Billy Corgan)
Brother Ali "Pedigree"
R.E.M. "Supernatural Superserious" (Michael Stipe)
Wednesday Coffee Break: Groundhog Day
Posted at 8:53 AM on November 3, 2010
by Steve Seel
(19 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
It's a deja vu morning here in Minnesota, a sense of "we've been here before," just like the movie Groundhog Day. Once again, the state faces a major recount after a election. Last time it was the senatorial race between Norm Coleman and Al Franken; this time, it's the governor's race, between Democrat Mark Dayton and Republican Tom Emmer.
Today for the 9:30 Coffee Break, let's put together a set that riffs on that sense of deja vu. Repeating, returning, and anything that touches on the feeling we're feeling as Minnesotans this morning.
Songs played:
OK Go "Here it Goes Again"
Sonny and Cher "I Got You Babe"
The Smiths "Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before"
Crosby, Stills, Nash, Young "Déjà vu"
The Bird and the Bee "Again and Again"
Tuesday Coffee Break: Let's Get Political
Posted at 8:12 AM on November 2, 2010
by Steve Seel
(38 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today's 9:30 Coffee Break is going to be a collection of songs that use political terms: "governor," "vote," "election," and anything else you can think of using terms that are germane to the day. We'll keep it non-partisan, but have some fun as we help spread the reminder to vote.
Songs played:
Devo "Freedom of Choice"
Alice Cooper "Elected"
Radiohead "Electioneering"
The Byrds "I Wanna Grow Up to Be a Politician"
Dylan Hicks "Governor of Fun"
Cream "Politician
Monday Coffee Break: Leftover Candy
Posted at 8:00 AM on November 1, 2010
by Steve Seel
(39 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
So you were afraid you might run out of candy last night for the Trick or Treaters. And this morning, you're left with a big bowl of candy, that somebody has to eat. "We'll just have one piece a day," you tell yourself. Yup. That's how it works. Welcome to the official beginning of the fall holiday weight-gaining season.
Today for the 9:30 Coffee Break, let's do candy songs; songs with some kind of candy in the title.
Songs played:
Iggy Pop "Candy"
The Cars "Candy-O"
Nina Simone "I Want a Little Sugar in my Bowl"
Bow Wow Wow "I Want Candy"
Sonic Youth "Sugar Cane"
9:30 Coffee Break: Devil Songs!
Posted at 8:41 AM on October 29, 2010
by Jill Riley
(38 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
It's Halloween Eve Eve (or something like that)... so we have to go with a Halloween themed coffee break! Satan is kind of a scary guy, so we'll take your suggestions for devil songs for today's 9:30 Coffee Break.
Songs played:
The Charlie Daniels Band "Devil Went Down to Georgia"
Electric Six "Devil Nights"
INXS "Devil Inside"
Gil-Scott Heron "Me and The Devil"
Suzi Quatro "Devil Gate Drive"
The Beatles "Devil in Her Heart"
9:30 Coffee Break: Biblical References in Pop Music
Posted at 9:00 AM on October 28, 2010
by Jill Riley
(51 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
This morning we were reading an article about Alabama becoming the first state in the U.S. to approve a textbook for a course about the Bible in its public schools. Sounds controversial, huh? Only problem is, no one showed up the hearing to contest it. The Bible and It's Influence isn't a new book, and it's not the first time it's been used in the classroom. What makes this newsworthy is the fact that a state has never offically endorsed the text for the classroom. The text itself examines The Bible's influence on culture.
Biblical references are found in a number of places, even pop music. Help us create a 9:30 Coffee Break with songs including one or more biblical references.
Songs played:
Johnny Cash "The Man Comes Around"
Regina Spektor "Samson"
The Byrds "Turn, Turn, Turn"
Jeff Buckley "Hallejuiah"
St. Vincent "Marry Me"
Wednesday Coffee Break: Vegas Baby, Vegas!
Posted at 8:05 AM on October 27, 2010
by Steve Seel
(37 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Good ol' Sin City has had it's tributes in lots of songs through the years. Today, for the 9:30 Coffee Break, we want to put together a set of songs that honor Las Vegas - not just the town, but perhaps some of the gambling activities that take place there, too.
Motorhead "Ace of Spades"
Gram Parsons "Oh Las Vegas"
Elvis Presley "Viva Las Vegas"
Wilco "Casino Queen"
The Clash "The Card Cheat"
Frank Sinatra "Luck Be A Lady"
Tuesday Coffee Break: Bed Makers V. Non Bed Makers
Posted at 8:47 AM on October 26, 2010
by Steve Seel
(34 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Out of the blue, this has become our topic of discussion for the morning: do you make your bed in the morning? Jill and I started talking about the subject, and then began a poll. Now, we've got an idea for today's 9:30 Coffee Break: to ask the question, "What musical artists do you think make their bed, and which one's don't?" Here's how we'll do it. Nominate an artist whom you think does or doesn't, and then provide your reasoning for why you think they do or don't. We'll play three songs from your nominated bed-makers, and then three from the non-makers.
Non-makers:
The Rolling Stones "Happy" (We believe that Mick Jagger makes his bed, but it's impossible to think that Keith Richards does)
Amy Winehouse "Wake Up Alone" (Make the bed? We can't even picture Amy sleeping on more than an old, crusty mattress)
The Ramones "Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue" (Did those guys even own beds??)
Bed-makers:
Prince "I Wanna Be Your Lover" (No explanation needed for this one)
Tori Amos "Tear in Your Hand" (Her bed seems like it would be a majestic and beautiful den, with satin sheets and at least 50 decorative pillows)
Weezer "In the Garage" (Current listeners seem to think Rivers Cuomo is the kind of guy who makes his bed in the morning)
Monday Coffee Break: Foggy Songs
Posted at 8:52 AM on October 25, 2010
by Steve Seel
(33 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
It's a foggy, misty, grey morning here in the Twin Cities. Howabout some songs that name-check fog, mist, or general grey-ness for today's 9:30 Coffee Break? We're all about going with the prevailing atmosphere here on The Morning Show.
Songs played:
The Pogues "Misty Morning, Albert Bridge"
Tom Waits "On a Foggy Night"
Ken Nordine "Grey"
Velvet Underground "Foggy Notion"
Mamas and the Papas "California Dreamin"
Thursday Coffee Break: It Take Two Minutes
Posted at 9:17 AM on October 21, 2010
by Steve Seel
(10 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
During these membership drives, we always say "it only takes two minutes to become a member of The Current. Well today, we want to demonstrate exactly how long that is, in music. Our topic today for the 9:30 Coffee Break: songs that are two minutes long, or therabouts.
Songs played:
The Minutemen "This Ain't No Picnic"
Ween "Hey There Fancypants"
Inara George "Genius"
The Replacements "Run It"
James Brown "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag"
Blur "Song 2"
Wednesday Coffee Break: Let's Do It!
Posted at 8:53 AM on October 20, 2010
by Steve Seel
(25 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
As we work to summon as much energy and urgency as we can in our fall membership campaign, we have a simple message for today's 9:30 Coffee Break: do it! We're putting together a set of tunes that contain that phrase anywhere in the title ... to have a little fun as we encourage you to overcome your procrastination and support the Current if you haven't already. Do it!!!
Songs played:
Chooglin "Do It To It"
Sloan "If It Feels Good Do It"
Echo and the Bunnymen "Do It Clean"
BT Express "Do it Till Your Satisfied"
Tuesday Coffee Break: Losing Our Minds
Posted at 8:50 AM on October 19, 2010
by Steve Seel
(29 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Sometimes, when we fall behind during our on-air membership campaigns here at MPR, the stress and anxiety of trying to catch back up makes us feel like we're losing our minds a bit. So, in order to at least have a little fun with that feeling this morning, we thought we'd do today's 9:30 Coffee Break about insanity or losing one's mind.
Songs played:
Talking Heads "Psycho Killer"
The Ramones "Psycho Therapy"
Magnetic Fields "You Must Be Out of Your Mind"
The Pixies "Where is My Mind"
Monday Coffee Break: Top "Side One, Track One" Songs
Posted at 8:21 AM on October 18, 2010
by Steve Seel
(26 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
It was a famous bit in High Fidelity (John Cusack's and Jack Black's character sparred about it). Favorite side one, track one songs. We started thinking about it after Random Vinyl this morning, when Jill played "Know Your Rights" from The Clash's Combat Rock.
There are millions of possibilities of course, but send us your favorites today and we'll put together a short, subjective and totally random selection from your requests.
Songs played:
Weezer, "My Name Is Jonas" (The "Blue" Album)
The Smiths, "The Headmaster Ritual" (Meat Is Murder)
The Beach Boys, "Wouldn't It Be Nice" (Pet Sounds)
Friday Coffee Break: All Hail the Harmonica
Posted at 8:18 AM on October 15, 2010
by Steve Seel
(19 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today's 9:30 Coffee Break is a salute to the mouth organ, otherwise known as the harmonica. We're putting together a broad cross-section of tunes showcasing the world's favorite pocket-sized instrument.
Songs played:
The The Dogs of Lust
Stevie Wonder "Fingertips pt 2"
Bob Dylan "Subterranean Homesick Blues"
The Beatles "I Should've Known Better"
Thursday Coffee Break: Witches and Spells
Posted at 12:13 PM on October 14, 2010
by Steve Seel
(1 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
For the onset of the Halloween season, today's 9:30 Coffee Break featured a set of songs based around witches and spells. (Note: our apologies for not getting a blog post up earlier about the coffee break; in the midst of the first-day hustle and bustle, things were a bit crazier than usual in Morning Show Central).
Songs played:
Matt Costa, "Witchcraft"
Donovan, "Season of the Witch"
Screamin' Jay Hawkins, "I Put A Spell On You"
Wednesday Coffee Break: Songs For the Miner Rescue
Posted at 8:49 AM on October 13, 2010
by Steve Seel
(44 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
It's a wonderful day today as a scary story begins to come to a happy ending, with the Chilean miners slowly being pulled to the surface after weeks and weeks trapped underground. Today for the 9:30 Coffee Break, help us put together a set of songs that celebrate the miners' rescue in any way that feels appropriate and creative to you.
Songs played:
U2 "Beautiful Day"
Fontella Bass "Rescue Me"
Guided By Voices "Hold on Hope"
Loretta Lynn "Coal Miner's Daughter"
The Rolling Stones "I'm Free"
Queen "I Want to Break Free"
Tuesday Coffee Break: The 12-String Guitar
Posted at 8:52 AM on October 12, 2010
by Steve Seel
(30 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
This morning on the 9:30 Coffee Break, we're saluting a truly beautiful musical instrument: the 12-string guitar. Make suggestions for specific songs that contain the 12-string.
Songs played:
Sufjan Stevens "Heirloom"
REM "So. Central Rain"
Roger McGuinn "My Back Pages" (recorded live at The Current)
Pink Floyd "Wish You Were Here"
The Church "Under The Milky Way"
The Beatles "Ticket To Ride"
9:30 Coffee Break: Live Cuts
Posted at 8:30 AM on October 11, 2010
by Jill Riley
(35 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
What makes a live recording memorable? What makes a live cut a classic? Is it the musicianship, the freedom to be spontaneous, or the fuel of the audience? Should producers be allowed to tweak live recordings in post production?
Feel free to discuss these questions and request your favorite live recordings for today's 9:30 Coffee Break.
Songs played:
Talking Heads "Psycho Killer" (Stop Making Sense)
Cheap Trick "Surrender" (At Budokan)
Mama's and the Papa's "Straight Shooter" (Monterey Pop Festival)
Johnny Cash "Cocaine Blues" (Live From Folsom Prison)
James Brown "Medley: I Found Someone, Why Do You Want Me, I Want You So Bad (Live at the Apollo)
The White Stripes "Jolene" (Under Great White Northern Lights)
Peter Frampton "Show Me the Way" (Frampton Comes Alive!)
9:30 Coffee Break: Brains! We Want Brains!
Posted at 8:29 AM on October 8, 2010
by Jill Riley
(39 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Tomorrow is the 6th annual Zombie Pub Crawl! Don't be alarmed if you encounter thousands of zombies roaming the West Bank area of Minneapolis this weekend. OK, so they're not really dead, but decked out in full makeup. The annual event has grown from about 100 participants to somewhere around 8,000! Zombie bar crawls, similar to the Zombie Pub Crawl in Minneapolis, are even popping up all over the country.
Don't forget the zombie rallying cry...
"What do we want? Brains!
When do we want them? BRAINS!"
Help us create a set of music to "awake" everyone's zombie appetite for brains.
Songs played:
The Zombies "Time of the Season"
Oingo Boingo "Dead Man's Party"
Eels "Fresh Blood"
Roky Erickson "I Walked With a Zombie"
Michael Jackson "Thriller"
L7 "Pretend We're Dead"
Thursday Coffee Break: Got To Find A City To Live In
Posted at 7:51 AM on October 7, 2010
by Steve Seel
(70 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Tonight, Steve hosts another in The Current's Policy and a Pint series, this time in Rochester. The topic is how Rochester is on the verge of a job explosion in the next few years, and Steve and his guests will explore what characteristics a city needs to attract and retain new talent.
For today's 9:30 Coffee Break, we want to put together a set of songs about cities. Give us your odes to any city in the US (except New York - there are plenty of songs about the Big Apple, thanks).
Songs played:
Neko Case and Her Boyfriends "Thrice All American"
Johnny Cash and June Carter "Jackson"
Sufjan Stevens "Chicago"
Talking Heads "Cities"
Elvis Presley "Viva Las Vegas"
Atmosphere "Shh"
Wednesday Coffee Break: The Playoffs!
Posted at 7:15 AM on October 6, 2010
by Steve Seel
(13 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
As you probably know, tonight is the first game of the playoffs of the American League Division Series, between our beloved Twins and the New York Yankees. Historically, the Twins haven't done fabulously well against the Yankees in the playoffs, but precedents are made to be broken, right? So as excitement and anticipation runs high today, we've got a 9:30 Coffee Break planned for you honoring the Twins that we think you'll enjoy. Feel free to make suggestions too if you like. Go Twins!
Songs played:
Solid Gold "Take Me Out To the Ballgame"
The Cars "Let's Go"
The Whipkey Three "Thome at the Plate"
The Decemberists "O Valencia"
Beastie Boys "Sabotage"
The Baseball Project featuring Craig Finn of The Hold Steady "Don't Call Them Twinkies"
Tuesday Coffee Break: Teenagers
Posted at 7:48 AM on October 5, 2010
by Steve Seel
(50 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Rock n' roll was originally invented as music for teenagers, right? Well, howabout a 9:30 Coffee Break featuring songs that are specifically about teenagers? Get as creative as you like. Teenager songs today on the coffee break.
Songs played:
Johnny Cash "Ballad of a Teenage Queen"
The Ramones "Teenage Lobotomy"
The Heavy "Sixteen"
Big Star "Thirteen"
The Undertones "Teenage Kicks"
DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince "Parents Just Don't Understand"
X Ray Spex "Germ Free Adolescence"
The Monday Beer Break
Posted at 8:39 AM on October 4, 2010
by Steve Seel
(31 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
We've got beer on the brain for a couple of reasons this morning. First, as you may have heard, Wally the Beer Man got busted at Target Field for selling a beer to a minor (it's his first infraction ever in 40 years of selling beer at Twins games). Wally regrets his mistake of course, and we just hope we can all get past this to get him back on his home turf again.
Also, of course, October means the observation of Oktoberfest all around the world, and so in honor of that time-honored annual celebration of all things beer oriented, let's do songs about beer (or prominently mentioning beer) for today's 9:30 Coffee Break.
Songs played:
Har Mar Superstar "Tall Boy"
The Fiery Furnaces "Restorative Beer"
Willie Nelson "Bubbles in my Beer"
G. Love and Special Sauce "Cold Beverage"
Hank Williams "There's a Tear in my Beer"
Cream "Strange Brew"
Friday Coffee Break: Songs About Robots
Posted at 6:13 AM on October 1, 2010
by Steve Seel
(37 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today's 9:30 Coffee Break is suggested by listener Loran P.: songs about robots. Some come to mind more immediately than others; help us put together a fun Friday coffee break with some songs about robots, cyborgs, androids, and the like.
Songs played:
Kraftwerk "The Robots"
Radiohead "Paranoid Android"
The Flaming Lips "Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots" (Live)
Styx "Mr. Roboto"
Thursday Coffee Break: Torch Singers
Posted at 8:50 AM on September 30, 2010
by Steve Seel
(37 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Yesterday on the 9:30 Coffee Break, our topic was crooners. We got into a discussion with listeners about the nature of crooning, and whether or not it's primarily an idea associated with male singers. One listener suggested that the female equivalent is torch singing. Strictly speaking, torch singing is defined as lamenting a lost love - "holding a torch" - but it can just mean the style or sound usually associated with those sorts of classic songs too. So who are some classic torch singers, and some contemporary ones?
Edith Piaf "La Vie En Rose"
Fiona Apple "Slow Like Honey"
Peggy "Fever"
Lissie "Wedding Bells"
Billie Holiday "The Man I Love"
Wednesday Coffee Break: Crooners
Posted at 8:48 AM on September 29, 2010
by Steve Seel
(52 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
What does it mean "to croon"? Websters defines it as, "to sing or speak in a gentle murmuring manner; especially: to sing in a soft intimate manner adapted to amplifying systems." Crooning is a style of singing that couldn't exist before microphes; for millennia, if you wanted your audience to hear you, you had to bellow with your whole body in such a way as to project all the way to the back row (see "opera"). But with amplifying, a whole world of intimacy opened up. Some credit Frank Sinatra as being the first major superstar crooner; others, Bing Crosby, Elvis, or Perry Como.
We want to celebrate some of the other qualities of crooning this morning: the style of singing that the word implies. Sensuality, suave-ness ... crooners on today's 9:30 Coffee Break.
Devotchka "Something Stupid"
Frank Sintra "Pennies From Heaven"
Morrissey "I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris"
Dean Martin "Ain't That a Kick in The Head
Rufus Wainwright "Going To a Town"
Tuesday Coffee Break: Street Names
Posted at 9:01 AM on September 28, 2010
by Steve Seel
(48 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
We're returning to this topic again for the 9:30 Coffee Break, since there are tons and tons of possible examples: songs about streets (no, not songs by The Streets). _____ Street, _____ Avenue, _____ Road, et cetera.
Songs played:
Jeremy Messersmith "Franklin Avenue"
Simon and Garfunkel "59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)"
Atmosphere "66th Street"
The Drifters "On Broadway"
Pavement "Shady Lane"
The Beatles "Penny Lane"
Monday Coffee Break: Anatomy Lesson
Posted at 8:55 AM on September 27, 2010
by Steve Seel
(57 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today's assignment for the 9:30 Coffee Break: help us put together a set of songs that mention body parts in their titles, or prominently in their lyrics. Feet, hands, lungs, brains ... anything but 1) hearts, because that's too easy and too common, and 2) naughty bits, because let's keep it clean.
Songs played:
James Brown "Get on the Good Foot"
The Vaselines "Molly's Lips"
The Rolling Stones "Under my Thumb"
Julian Cope "World Shut Your Mouth"
The Guess Who "These Eyes"
The Shins "Phantom Limb"
Friday Coffee Break: Music For a Car Chase
Posted at 8:47 AM on September 24, 2010
by Steve Seel
(48 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
This being the anniversary of James Brown's infamous car chase across state lines in 1988 (which was also our music history highlight earlier this morning), listener Andy S. recommended that we do songs for a high-speed chase this morning for the 9:30 Coffee Break. What exactly does that mean? You get to decide. Songs that would go with a car chase scene (as music in a movie or TV show, perhaps), or something you'd listen to as you yourself were speeding away like Steve McQueen in your Mustang in Bullit.
Songs played:
Beastie Boys "Sabotage"
Waylen Jennings "Dukes of Hazzard Theme"
The Go! Team "Junior Kickstart"
Judas Priest "Breaking the Law"
Jerry Reed "East Bound and Down"
Thursday Coffee Break: Favorite Springsteen Covers
Posted at 7:38 AM on September 23, 2010
by Steve Seel
(39 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
The Boss is 61 today, and for his birthday, we want to celebrate on the 9:30 Coffee Break by playing some of our, and your, favorite Springsteen covers. (We've already taken note of Manfred Mann's "Blinded By the Light" - yes, we love it too ...). Let's hear 'em.
Songs played:
Tortoise and Bonnie Prince Billy "Thunder Road"
Bat For Lashes "I'm on Fire"
The Hold Steady "Atlantic City"
Halloween, Alaska "State Trooper"
Frankie Goes to Hollywood "Born to Run"
Wednesday Coffee Break: First Day of Fall
Posted at 8:52 AM on September 22, 2010
by Steve Seel
(45 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
It's the first day of fall! Are you stoked? Bummed? Oh, c'mon. Fall is awesome, and always worth celebrating. So let's put together a set today for the 9:30 Coffee Break that touches on fall.
Songs played:
Big Star "September Gurls"
Yo La Tengo "Autumn Sweater"
The Flaming Lips "My Cosmic Autumn Rebellion"
The White Stripes "Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground"
Neil Young "Harvest Moon"
Tuesday Coffee Break: Meat Is Music
Posted at 8:19 AM on September 21, 2010
by Steve Seel
(57 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Or, according to Lady Gaga, meat is freedom. Wha? Well, she gave a speech in Portland Maine yesterday arguing against the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy toward homosexuals by saying, amongst other things, that "equality is the prime rib of America" and that by repealing the law, everyone would be able to share in "the greatest cut of meat that my country has to offer" (Military service? Freedom? The ability to make bizarre and inappropriate metaphors?)
While we take Lady Gaga's earnestness in her politial message and personal convictions seriously, ya gotta wonder about the wisdom of her metaphorical choices. Was this just because she hooked up with a conceptual artist who outfitted her in a meat dress for the MTV VMA's? Who knows. Anyway, since Gaga's choice of subject matter seems fairly randomly chosen in the grand scheme of things, we figured we'd get in on the action for today's 9:30 Coffee Break. So today: songs about different kinds of meat. Why not ...
Songs played:
The Suburbs "Cows"
Weezer "Pork and Beans"
Southern Culture on the Skids "8 Piece Box"
The Smiths "Meat is Murder"
Band of Bees "Chicken Payback"
Monday Coffee Break: A Visit To the Doctor
Posted at 8:09 AM on September 20, 2010
by Steve Seel
(56 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
The arrival of fall also means the arrival of cold and flu season. Signs for "flu shots" are starting to pop up. Today's 9:30 Coffee Break is all about "a visit to the doctor": songs mentioning ailments, medicines, remedies or doctors themselves.
Songs played:
The Replacements "Tommy Gets His Tonsils Out"
Nilsson "Coconut"
A.C. Newman "Miracle Drug"
The Beatles "Doctor Robert"
The White Stripes "Girl, You Have No Faith in Medicine"
Jeremy Messersmith "Novocain"
The Rolling Stones "Dear Doctor"
Thursday Coffee Break: The Mexican Bicentennial!
Posted at 7:59 AM on September 16, 2010
by Steve Seel
(43 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
On this day in 1810, an impassioned speech by a Mexican priest launched the Mexican War of Independence against Spain. It's Mexico's Independence Day, known as "Diez y Seis de Septiembre," as well as the kick off to Mexico's bicentennial. Back here in Saint Paul, we're celebrating with a South-of-the-Border Coffee Break (Pausa de Cafe'?): songs by artists or bands of Mexican descent (i.e., they don't have to be from Mexico ... Mexican-American counts, too).
Songs played:
Richie Valenz, "Donna"
Ozomatli, "Street Signs"
Alejandro Escovedo, "Rosalie"
? and The Mysterians, "96 Tears"
Kinky, "Sol (Batacuda)"
Los Lobos, "Evangeline"
Wednesday Coffee Break: Insults and Put-Downs
Posted at 8:21 AM on September 15, 2010
by Steve Seel
(46 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Rock n' roll is rarely polite. It's rebellious and rude, and often a great vehicle for your insult or put-down message of choice. That's what we want to highlight today for the 9:30 Coffee Break: songs that deliver that creative knife-twist of an insult, either directly or implied.
Songs played:
Bob Dylan, "Positively 4th Street"
Garbage, "Stupid Girl"
Loretta Lynn, "You Ain't Woman Enough (To Take My Man)"
The Streets, "Fit But You Know It"
The Kinks, "Dedicated Follower Of Fashion"
The Replacements, "Waitress In the Sky"
Tuesday Coffee Break: Speeding Tunes
Posted at 8:18 AM on September 14, 2010
by Steve Seel
(77 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
As Jacquie was speeding to work this morning, running a wee bit late for our 6am start, she became slightly self-conscious of the bumper sticker on the back of her car, "Drive Easy - Conserve." She didn't feel like she was practicing what she preaches all that much.
But since she's already in the fast-drivin' mood, we thought we'd do songs about cars and drivin' fast for today's 9:30 Coffee Break.
Songs played:
Yo La Tengo, "Little Honda"
Commander Cody and The Lost Planet Airmen, "Hot Rod Lincoln"
The Replacements, "Run It"
Tom Waits, "Hang On St. Christopher"
Cake, "The Distance"
Deep Purple, "Highway Star"
Monday Coffee Break: I Got Nuthin'
Posted at 8:12 AM on September 13, 2010
by Steve Seel
(64 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
You know how it goes: often, Monday comes and you spend half the day just trying to get back into the swing of being at work. That's how Jacquie and I are feeling this morning on The Morning Show. The synapses don't all fire at once. So when trying to think of today's topic for the 9:30 Coffee Break, we thought "I got nuthin'." Then, since Jacquie is a genius, her next thought was, "why don't we do a Coffee Break about nothing?" Kind of like Seinfeld.
So today's topic: songs with "nothing" in the title.
Songs played:
Spoon, "Got Nuffin"
Elliott Smith, "Ballad of Big Nothing"
Sergio Mendes and Brasil '66, "Mas Que Nada"
Mason Jennings, "Nothing"
The Smiths, "William It Was Really Nothing"
Heiruspecs, "Something For Nothing"
Friday Coffee Break: Songs That Make Up A Band
Posted at 8:08 AM on September 10, 2010
by Steve Seel
(68 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today for the coffee break, your assigment, if you choose to accept it, is to help us "put together a band with song titles." What does that mean? Well, what instruments make up a band? You've got a guitar, a bass, some drums, a singer, maybe a keyboard, maybe a tamborine or something ... so, we need one song with "guitar" in the title, one with "bass" in the title ... and so forth.
It's a little brain-teaser group exercise this morning for the 9:30 Coffee Break.
Songs played:
Dan Wilson and Matt Wilson "Drummer Like Me"
The Byrds "Mr. Tambourine Man"
Tom Waits "The Piano Has Been Drinking (Not Me)"
The Beatles "While My Guitar Gently Weeps"
Beck "Where It's At"
Thursday Coffee Break: Lies And the Lying Liars Who Sing About Them
Posted at 8:19 AM on September 9, 2010
by Steve Seel
(54 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
It was one year ago: Repulbican Representative Joe Wilson of South Carolina shouted "You Lie" at President Obama when the president said illegal immigrants would not benefit from his proposals. Wilson, later apologized, but then kinda recanted that apology. We could do a 9:30 Coffee Break about being rude or obnoxious, but we thought we'd stick with the concept far more popular and powerful in music: lying itself. It's almost as popular as love, isn't it?
Songs played:
Violent Femmes "Lies"
Henry Rollins "Liar"
Castaways "Liar, Liar"
Build to Spill "Liar"
Big Star "Don't Lie to Me"
Wednesday Coffee Break: Maybe You Should Keep Your Mouth Shut
Posted at 8:46 AM on September 8, 2010
by Steve Seel
(31 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Rock stars say some clumsy things. They same some ignorant things. They say some really, really dumb things. Today for the 9:30 Coffee Break, it's all about artists who have gotten themselves in trouble by speaking when they really should have kept their mouth shut, because the thing they chose to say was ill-considered, insensitive, offensive, or just plain stupid. Some musicians are greater offenders than others.
Artists featured:
Morrissey
Has said several ill-advised things, the linked quote above is but the latest.
Kanye West
What hasn't he said?
Courtney Love
"Being a rock widow is not my job, so I would hire people to do it for me."
"Being a rock star is like being a cult leader - you really have to be in your own religion."
"I don't mean to be a diva, but some days you wake up and you're Barbara Streisand."
Bryan Ferry
Speaking to German magazine Welt am Sonntag, Ferry said: "My dear gentlemen, the Nazis knew how to put themselves in the limelight and present themselves. Leni Riefenstahl's movies and Albert Speer's buildings and the mass parades and the flags - just amazing. Really beautiful." He even let slip that he had named his recording studio "fuhrerbunker". He later apologized vigorously.
David Bowie
Cocaine crazed and paranoid, David Bowie also professed his admiration for the Third Reich in a 1976 Playboy interview and pointed out that Hitler was the first rock star and compared him favourably to Mick Jagger no less. He also hinted in a later interview that Britain needed a fascist leader and that maybe he, Bowie, would fit that bill . At the time Bowie was somewhat obsessed with the artistic aspects of Nazi Germany, like Ferry.
Tuesday Coffee Break: Degrees In Rock!
Posted at 8:39 AM on September 7, 2010
by Steve Seel
(46 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today's 9:30 Coffee Break was suggested by faithful listener Charlie Rohwer (PhD): "how about a coffee break that includes musicians who hold higher degrees?" He notes that this would be a fine way to mark the first day of classes at the U of M (and many other institutions of learning as well today). You'd be surprised to know how many musicians hold at least a bachelor's degree, and many hold master's and PhD's as well. If you're aware of any and want to make a suggestion, pitch in today for the coffee break.
Songs played:
Rage Against The Machine "People of the Sun" (Tom Morello Political Science Degree)
Weezer "In the Garage" (Rivers Cuomo English Degree)
Simon & Garfunkel "Hazy Shade of Winter" (In 1962, Garfunkel earned a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in art history, followed by a Master's degree in mathematics, and also studied Mathematics Education at Teachers College, Columbia University)
Queen "Killer Queen" (Brian May PhD in Astrophysics)
Andrew Bird "Fiery Crash" (Andrew Bird graduated from Northwestern University with a Bachelor's degree in violin performance in 1996)
Friday Coffee Break: Conan! And Other One-Named Wonders
Posted at 8:41 AM on September 3, 2010
by Steve Seel
(38 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Maybe you've seen Conan O'Brien's "important message" announcing the name of his new show on TBS, coming in November.
That's right, it's "Conaw" "Conan"! As he says, he dropped the "O'Brien" to try to "distance himself from that whole Irish thing." Kidding. But what if he did drop his last name? Everybody already refers to him simply as Conan anyway.
Ah well. This is our segue to today's 9:30 Coffee Break: performers who go by one name only. There or oh so many ... help us put together a good set today.
Songs played:
Nilsson "Everybody's Talkin"
Beck "The New Pollution"
Prince "Sign O' the Times"
Falco "Der Kommissar"
Moby "I Love to Move In Here"
Feist "My Moon, My Man"
Thursday Coffee Break: Some Guys Have All The Luck
Posted at 8:45 AM on September 2, 2010
by Steve Seel
(42 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today in our music history segment, we noted that this is the anniversary of the marriage of Cars frontman Ric Ocasek to supermodel Paulina Porizkova. Afterward, listener Matthew e-mailed us, "well, there's your 9:30 Coffee Break topic: rock singers who clearly 'outpunted their coverage' (as the saying goes) when marrying."
So howabout it? Who are some other guys who never would have married the women they did if, rather than being rock stars, they'd been fry cooks or assistant managers in Kohl's?
Songs played:
The Rolling Stones "The Last Time" (Mick Jagger and Jerry Hall)
Death Cab for Cutie "The Sound of Settling" (Ben Gibbard and Zooey Deshanel)
Sonny and Cher "I Got You Babe" (Sonny Bono and Cher)
Kiss "Calling Dr. Love" (Gene Simmons and Shannon Tweed)
Ryan Adams "Fix It" (Ryan Adams and Mandy Moore)
The White Stripes "Blue Orchid" (Jack White and Karen Elson)
Wednesday Coffee Break: Car Names That Are Also Song Titles
Posted at 8:09 AM on September 1, 2010
by Steve Seel
(61 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Here's a chance to get really creative for today's 9:30 Coffee Break. LIstener Charlie Rowher suggested yesterday that we do a set of "songs about cars that aren't about cars." Such as? Well, "Barracuda was a car made by Plymouth." Ah, we see! The song title, whatever it is, also happens to be the name of a car, too, even though the song in question does not have to be about that car itself. Got it?
Songs played:
Heart "Barracuda"
The Modern Runners "Roadrunner"
The Clash "Brand New Cadillac"
The Ventures "Caravan"
Alex Chilton "Volare"
Tuesday Coffee Break: Under The Sea
Posted at 8:48 AM on August 31, 2010
by Steve Seel
(73 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
For no particular reason, today's topic for the 9:30 Coffee Break is songs about creatures of the sea (not creatures that live by or near the sea, but specifically under the water).
Songs played:
The Beatles "Octopus's Garden"
Ween "The Mollusk"
Radiohead "Weird Fishes"
The Monkees "Porpoise Song (Theme From Head)"
The B-52's "Rock Lobster"
Monday Coffee Break: !!!
Posted at 8:04 AM on August 30, 2010
by Steve Seel
(27 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
This morning we aired "Oh Yoko!" by John Lennon and suddenly a 9:30 Coffee Break theme occured to us: let's do a set of songs with titles that contain exclamation points. (Not band names, but song titles). We like to keep things simple for a Mondays ...
Songs played:
The Hold Steady "Chips Ahoy!"
The Beatles "Oh! Darling"
Bow Wow Wow "C30 C60 C90, Go!"
Jenny Lewis and The Watson Twins "Rise Up With Fists!!"
Sufjan Stevens "Decatur, or, Round of Applause for Your Stepmother!"
The Decemberists "O Valencia"
Friday Coffee Break: Get Your Prog On!
Posted at 8:46 AM on August 27, 2010
by Steve Seel
(29 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
We've got not one but two reasons to honor Rush today: first is, of course, Rush's appearance at the State Fair tonight, where they're promising to play their 1982 album Moving Pictures in its entirety. The second is that it's guitarist Alex Lifeson's 57th birthday today. Happy birthday Alex!
So you know what we have to do today for the 9:30 Coffee Break - because somebody has to do it and Jill and I are simply the people for the job (along with you, that is). That's devote the whole set to some of the giants of prog rock. Let's do this.
Songs played:
Rush, "Vital Signs"
Yes, "Long Distance Runaround / The Fish"
King Crimson, "Cat Food"
Genesis, "I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe)"
Thursday Coffee Break: Long Live the Moog
Posted at 8:18 AM on August 26, 2010
by Steve Seel
(38 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
When it first appeared in the 1960's nobody had heard anything like it. They'd also never seen anything quite like it: the original synthesizer keyboard, designed by Robert Moog, was practically as big as a small pickup truck.
It's tempting to pronounce it as it's written (with an "oo" sound), but it's actually pronounced "MOE-g," like Moe from the Three Stooges (or The Simpsons). The Moog synthesiser became a staple in 70s music for artists looking for an unearthly sound to spice-up their songs. We're paying tribute to the Moog today for the 9:30 Coffee Break.
Songs played:
Kraftwerk "Autobahn"
Donna Summer "I Feel Love"
The Beatles "Here Comes the Sun"
Emerson, Lake and Palmer "Lucky Man"
Parliament "Flashlight"
Wednesday Coffee Break: Fictitious Places
Posted at 8:45 AM on August 25, 2010
by Steve Seel
(49 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Regular Morning Show listener Loren suggests today's topic for the 9:30 Coffee Break: songs that are about, or that mention, fictitious places. Know any songs about Narnia? Or Atlantis? Or any other fictional or imaginary place (perhaps one created by the artist or band themselves)? Make your suggestion and we'll put together a set for the Coffee Break.
Songs played:
Roxy Music, "Avalon"
The B-52's, "Planet Claire"
Led Zeppelin, "Ramble On" (mentions Mordor)
Donovan, "Atlantis"
Electric Light Orchestra, "Xanadu"
Tuesday Coffee Break: Shuttle Wake-Up Songs
Posted at 7:19 AM on August 24, 2010
by Steve Seel
(95 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Would it be nicer to wake up the Space Shuttle crew with the sweet sounds of John Lennon singing "Imagine," or to blast them out of bed with Metallica's "Enter Sandman"? NASA wants you to choose the two songs that will wake up the Endeavour crew for the last two shuttle missions in February. They include "Good Day Sunshine" by The Beatles, "Drops of Jupiter" by Train, "Magic Carpet Ride" by Steppenwolf, Elton John's "Rocket Man," Foo Fighters' "Learn To Fly" and "She Blinded Me With Science" by Thomas Dolby. But this morning we were wondering, Is that really the best possible list? Could you come up with something better? Today for the 9:30 Coffee Break, we want you to help us come up with some songs that should have been on the list - and would make great final wake-up-calls for the Endeavor astronauts.
Songs played:
Arcade Fire "Wake Up"
The Beatles "Here Comes The Sun"
Motorhead "Ace of Spades"
James Brown "Get Up Offa That Thang"
Jimi Hendrix "Star Spangled Banner"
Monday Coffee Break: Is That A Band Or A Person?
Posted at 8:30 AM on August 23, 2010
by Steve Seel
(30 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
This morning's airing of the new track by Maximum Balloon - the name of TV On the Radio guy Dave Sitek's new project - got us thinking about solo musicians who, rather than releasing music under their own name, creater a moniker for themselves. If you didn't know otherwise, you'd think that person was an entire band.
What are some other examples of people who use monikers for themselves? That'll be the topic of today's 9:30 Coffee Break.
Songs played:
Iron & Wine "Naked As We Came" (Sam Beam)
The Streets "Could Well Be In" (Mike Skinner)
Cat Power "Free" (Chan Marshall)
Coconut Records "West Coast" (Jason Schwartzman)
My Brightest Diamond "Dragonfly" (Shara Worden)
LCD Soundsystem "North American Scum" (James Murphy)
Friday Coffee Break: The Beatles Come To Town!
Posted at 8:45 AM on August 20, 2010
by Steve Seel
(10 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
45 years ago this weekend, The Beatles played their only concert in the Twin Cites. Today at 11, Minnesota Public Radio News will present an hour of Beatlemania on Midday (KNOW, 91.1 in the Twin Cities), hosted by Marianne Combs and featuring Star Tribune music critic Jon Bream and The Current's Program Director Jim McGuinn to discuss the Beatles' lasting influence on music and culture (and even on local music in particular). You can even join in on MPR News' question of the day, "What's your favorite Beatles song?"
Today on the 9:30 Coffee Break, tune in to hear selections from the Beatles' set list at that concert, 45 years ago this weekend.
Thursday Coffee Break: "Restraining Order" Music
Posted at 8:00 AM on August 19, 2010
by Steve Seel
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At what point does romantic devotion become obsession, and then become stalking?
Just as (to quote Spinal Tap) there's "a fine line between stupid and clever," there's a pretty fine line between being deeply infatuated with someone and being unhealthily obsessed with them. That's why there are so many songs in popular music that seem to expressing the latter. Today for the 9:30 Coffee Break, we're playing songs that cross the line from expressing love to expressing something potentially more menacing: stalker songs today (or songs that could be interpreted as such). They can be either from the point of view of the stalker or the stalked.
Songs played:
Blondie, "One Way Or Another"
Screamin' Jay Hawkins, "I Put A Spell On You"
The Beatles, "Run For Your Life"
Elvis Costello, "I Want You"
Death Cab For Cutie, "I Will Possess Your Heart"
Wednesday Coffee Break: 1992, The Year In Music
Posted at 7:52 AM on August 18, 2010
by Steve Seel
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Every year around this time, Beloit College in Beloit, Wisconsin comes out with what they call their "Mindset List." It's a list of things that describe the perceptual orientation of that fall's incoming freshmen, intended as a guide to college professors so that they can better understand the world in which their new students have always known (and how it's very different from their own world). Some examples: For the class of 2014,
- Korean cars have always been a staple on American highways
- Fergie is a pop singer, not a princess
- They have never worried about a Russian missile strike on the U.S.
- Nirvana is on the "classic rock" station
That last one might be a tough one to take for a lot of people. In 1992, the year the class of 2014 was born, Nirvana was a phenomenon - in what was overall an awesome year for music. This morning for the 9:30 Coffee Break, we salute 1992 with a set of some of the great stuff that came out that year. Only yesterday, right?
Tuesday Coffee Break: I'm Outa Here
Posted at 8:50 AM on August 17, 2010
by Steve Seel
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The Star Tribune reports this morning that divorce rates are up again ... possibly because with the economy on the mend, couples who had been staying together strictly for financial and security reasons are now feeling stable enough to end their unhappy marriages.
Sounds like it's time for a set of some of your favorite break-up songs on today's 9:30 Coffee Break.
Songs played:
Bob Dylan "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue"
Peter Bjorn and John "Let's Call The Whole Thing Off"
Tammy Wynette "D-I-V-O-R-C-E"
Jerry Reed "She Got The Goldmine (I Got The Shaft)"
Mayer Hawthorne "Just Ain't Gonna Work Out"
Jeff Buckley "Last Goodbye"
Monday Coffee Break: Fictional Characters In the Title
Posted at 7:50 AM on August 16, 2010
by Steve Seel
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Last week, we learned that the new album from Weezer is going to be called Hurley. And you guessed it - it's named after that guy from Lost. Why? Rivers Cuomo: "I met and took a photo with Jorge Garcia who was Hurley from Lost; he just has this amazing vibe and his expression in that photo seemed so right, so we just called it Hurley." There you have it.
For today's 9:30 Coffee Break, we thought about coming up with other albums that are named for fictional characters, but we're not sure there are very many. But there are a few songs. So that's our set for today: songs with the names of fictional characters in their title.
Songs played:
R.E.M "Superman"
Supernova "Chewbacca"
Sam the Sham and The Pharoahs "Little Red Riding Hood"
Queen "Flash's Theme"
The Selecter "James Bond"
The Replacements "Cruella DeVille"
Friday Coffee Break: Scandalous Album Covers
Posted at 8:01 AM on August 13, 2010
by Steve Seel
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If you know the movie This Is Spinal Tap, you probably remember the bit about the proposed artwork for the band's album Smell the Glove being so offensive that their record company wouldn't use it. In the movie, Fran Drescher's character describes the artwork, but we the audience never get to see it. Well, this weekend at CO Exhibitions in Minneapolis, you'll get to see a group of artists' attempts at actually realizing that art. Will they depitct is as described? Will they turn it on its head? You'll have to go to the exhibit to find out.
Today for the 9:30 Coffee Break, we want to honor the scandalous album cover. What are some tunes from records which, when they were released, featured cover artwork that shocked the public - or at least the record companies, who either withdrew them for different covers or never released them in the first place?
Thursday Coffee Break: Gods and Deities and Saints, Oh My
Posted at 8:04 AM on August 12, 2010
by Steve Seel
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They say rock n' roll is the devil's music, but it sure produces a lot of songs on religious topics. For today's 9:30 Coffee Break, we want to put together a set of tunes that mention religious figures: God, gods, saints, prophets ... not limited to Judeo-Christian ones, of course.
Songs played:
Neko Case, "John Saw That Number"
The Sugarcubes, "Deus"
Tom Waits, "Hang On St. Christopher"
Depeche Mode, "Personal Jesus"
Mason Jennings, "I Love You and Buddha Too"
George Harrison, "My Sweet Lord"
Wednesday Coffee Break: UFOs Are Always News!
Posted at 8:19 AM on August 11, 2010
by Steve Seel
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Apparently, there were UFOs in the sky over St. Paul Monday night. Here's some video. Funny, we've got political primaries, oil spills, all kinds of things in the news ... but when the sky has flashy lights, we're transfixed. Of course, those lights were kinda odd and ... symmetrical.
So, looks like it's time for another UFO set for the 9:30 Coffee Break. Space people, spaceships, all that stuff ... there's no shortage of music on this topic.
Tuesday Coffee Break: This Job Is Killing My Soul
Posted at 8:33 AM on August 10, 2010
by Steve Seel
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Have you heard about the flight attendant who made the news yesterday for the, uh, rather dramatic way in which he quit his job? Steven Slater had an altercation with a passenger moments after his Jet Blue flight landed at JFK Airport in New York - an altercation which featured, among other things, loud swearing and Slater allegedly getting accidentally bonked in the head with one of the passenger's pieces of luggage. Deciding he'd had enough, Slater went to the plane's public address system and cursed out the dude woman over the speakers, then opened an emergency exit, deploying the plane's inflatable slide, slid down it, and walked on the tarmac off into the sunset. An obviously hysterical overreaction ... and the kind of thing that makes you a folk hero (several "fan" groups have already popped up on Facebook, for example).
Slater was primed, obviously, by the fact that he'd clearly had it with the conditions of his job to begin with. Let's put together a set of songs that speak to the lousier aspect of employment this morning for the 9:30 Coffee Break; everybody knows Johnny Paycheck's "Take This Job And Shove It," but what are some other songs?
Songs played:
Drive-By Truckers, "Working This Job"
The Smiths, "Frankly Mr. Shankly"
They Might Be Giants, "Minimum Wage"
The Clash, "Career Opportunities"
Beck, "Soul Sucking Jerk"
The Flaming Lips, "Bad Day"
Monday Coffee Break: Un-Banning The Banned
Posted at 8:39 AM on August 9, 2010
by Steve Seel
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Today is Frank Zappa Day in Baltimore, as proclaimed by Mayor Sheila Dixon. Frank Zappa was born in Baltimore in 1940, and the Mayor's proclamation, to be presented at the concert reads, in part, "The City of Baltimore is proud of its rich musical heritage, and is honored to claim the prolific composer, musician, author, and film director Frank Zappa as a native of our fair city."
Among so many other things Frank was, he was also a fierce critic of censorship in all its forms. Most famously, in his testimony before congress in 1985 against "record ratings":
Frank Zappa Addresses Congress (1985)
leonsd | MySpace Video
For today's 9:30 Coffee Break, we thought we'd put together a group of songs that were, at one time or another, censored or banned from radio for one reason or another.
Songs played:
Frankie Goes to Hollywood, "Relax"
The Kingsmen, "Louie Louie"
The Sex Pistols, "God Save the Queen"
Billie Holliday, "Strange Fruit"
The Rolling Stones, "Street Fighting Man"
John Denver, "Rocky Mountain High"
Friday Coffee Break: My Brother Is a Bass-Head
Posted at 8:00 AM on August 6, 2010
by Steve Seel
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In this case, "brother" we refer to is Michael Wells, who for the past 5 1/2 years has been the designer, curator, and creative force behind The Current's website, and today marks his last day at MPR as he heads out into the world for new adventures. We wish him well as we cry (sob, really) in our coffee this morning.
In addition to being a computer god, Michael is a bassist and fan of all things four-string. Let's honor this fine gentleman today and the tremendous work he's done for The Current's online presence since 2005 with a set of great bassists for the 9:30 Coffee Break.
Songs played:
Red Hot Chili Peppers "Higher Ground"
Soul Coughing "Soft Serve"
Fugazi "Waiting Room"
Jaco Pastorius "Donna Lee"
Mission of Burma "Academy Fight Song"
Primus "Tommy the Cat"
Thursday Coffee Break: Tunes From the Farmers Market
Posted at 8:46 AM on August 5, 2010
by Steve Seel
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As we noted in the news this morning, Minnesota is making impressive gains in its number of farmers' markets: we've grown 61 percent compared to last year, ranking us number two in the nation with regards to growth, just after Missouri with a 77 percent gain. Awesome for local farming!
Let's put together a set of songs referencing fruits or vegetables in their titles or lyrics today for the 9:30 Coffee Break to celebrate.
Songs played:
Booker T and the MGs "Green Onions"
The Presidents of the United States of America "Peaches"
Neutral Milk Hotel "King of Carrot Flowers Pt 1"
The Beach Boys "Vegetables"
Prince "Raspberry Beret"
Nilsson "Coconut"
Wednesday Coffee Break: Indecision Blues
Posted at 8:53 AM on August 4, 2010
by Steve Seel
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Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(updated below)
So first it seemed Bret Farve wasn't coming back to the Vikings. Now there's all kinds of back-and-forth today saying this announcement of his non-return was premature. Then, have your heard the one about Bristol Palin calling off her engagement to Levi Johnston again? It seems there's a lot of flip-flopping in the air this week.
Looks like it's a good morning to do a 9:30 Coffee Break about indecision. Should I or shouldn't I? Can I change my mind? (and yes, we've done this topic before. Last time, it was all about Farve's indecision as well. If a lot of the same songs get requested, that probably wouldn't be inappropriate, given the deja vu aspect of all of this to begin with...)
Update: Yup, we had quite the "where have I heard this set before" experience, with only a few modifications:
1) The Clash, "Should I Stay Or Should I Go"
2) The Lovin' Spoonful, "Did You Ever Have To Make Up Your Mind?"
3) Sugar, "If I Can't Change Your Mind"
4) Bucks Fizz, "Makin' Your Mind Up"
5) Raspberries, "If You Change Your Mind"
6) Devo, "Freedom Of Choice"
Tuesday Coffee Break: National Night Out
Posted at 8:20 AM on August 3, 2010
by Steve Seel
(28 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
It's that time of year again: neighbors will be closing off their block to traffic, hauling the grills into the street, and doing the "getting to know you" thing, as it's National Night Out tonight. For today's 9:30 Coffee Break, we thought we'd throw the topic out to you and let you get creative; what songs cover the various aspects of National Night Out in all of it's block-party, meet-the-neighbors, family-friendly goodness?
Songs played:
Big Star "In The Street"
Billy Bragg "You Woke Up My Neighbourhood"
Detroit Cobras "Hot Dog (Watch Me Eat)"
The Sundays "Summertime"
The Monkees "Pleasant Valley Sunday"
Martha and the Vandellas "Dancing in the Street"
Monday Coffee Break: Songs With Teeth
Posted at 8:26 AM on August 2, 2010
by Steve Seel
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So Steve spent the weekend - and contines to deal with the reality of living - without one of his front teeth. Both of his front teeth are crowns, and one of them broke off in his hand on Saturday morning. Few things make you want to hide your head in shame more than walking around looking like a jack-o-lantern.
So for today's 9:30 Coffee Break, let's put together some songs with teeth: songs about teeth or anything else you can think of that might speak directly or obliquely to Steve's situation.
(By the way, the dentist called, and they have an opening at 11am).
Songs played:
Kimya Dawson "Wiggle My Tooth"
Death Cab for Cutie "Crooked Teeth"
Wilco "Summer Teeth"
Eric Weissberg and Steve Mandell "Dueling Banjos"
Pixies "Broken Face"
The The "Uncertain Smile"
Friday Coffee Break: Let's Get Naked
Posted at 8:21 AM on July 30, 2010
by Steve Seel
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It's Friday, and we need a theme for today's 9:30 Coffee Break. What's fun? What says "it's the weekend"? Well, it occured to us that we've never done a set about one of humankind's favorite fun activities: getting naked.
For today's set, help us assemble some songs about getting, or being, naked ... nude ...in the buff.
Songs played:
The Wallets "Totally Nude"
Ida Maria "I Like You So Much Better When You're Naked"
Iron and Wine "Naked As We Came"
Lloyd Cole "Undressed"
The Donnas "Take it Off"
Adam Ant "Strip"
Thursday Coffee Break: The Amazing Neil Young
Posted at 8:40 AM on July 29, 2010
by Steve Seel
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Neil Young performs at Northrup Auditorium tonight, and you never know quite what to expect from one of the 20th century's must fiercely independent musicians. An innovator, a free thinker, and eternally a rebel, we want to pay tribute to Neil today on the 9:30 Coffee Break with an ecclectic set showcasing a broad swath of his diverse output over the years. What would make for a good set?
Songs played:
"Down By The River"
"Cinnamon Girl"
"Harvest Moon"
"Piece of Crap"
"Ohio"
"Rocking In The Free World"
Wednesday Coffee Break: Let's Make A List
Posted at 8:53 AM on July 28, 2010
by Steve Seel
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Everyday for the 9:30 Coffee Break, we ask you to help us put together a list of songs that adhere to a different specific topic. Today, we want to make a list of lists: songs that contain a listing of items in their lyrics. Need an example?
Songs played:
Johnny Cash "I've Been Everywhere"
Pixies "Monkey Gone To Heaven"
Fishbone "? (Modern Industry)"
Violent Femmes "Kiss Off"
Mylo "Destroy Rock and Roll"
Bob Dylan "Subterranean Homesick Blues"
Tuesday Coffee Break: When A Date Goes Bad
Posted at 9:16 AM on July 27, 2010
by Steve Seel
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This morning's trivia match concept with Sean McPherson of Trivia Mafia was about "dates," so we got to thinking: What are the qualities of a bad date? When you're bored, or your date is dumb or offensive, when you get stood up, when you get too drunk or even sick ... these are the things that make for a date gone bad.
We're wondering what some songs are that collect some of those ideas into a set for today's 9:30 Coffee Break.
Songs played:
Iggy Pop "I'm Bored"
The Kinks "Lola"
Ben Folds "You Don't Know Me" featuring Regina Spektor
The Kinks "Lola"
The Black Keys "Psychotic Girl"
Aretha Franklin "Chain of Fools"
Garbage "Stupid Girl"
Monday Coffee Break: Use Your Indoor Voice
Posted at 8:54 AM on July 26, 2010
by Steve Seel
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Today's 9:30 Coffee Break is a showcase for singers whose vocal arsenal includes at least two seperate and distinct singing voices. It can be someone who has a distinct whisper and howl, someone who goes between falsetto and non-falsetto regularly, or someone who actually sound like they could be two seperate people.
Songs played:
Bjork "It's Oh So Quiet"
Guns N Roses "Knockin On Heaven's Door"
Prince "Kiss"
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers "Here Comes My Girl"
Tom Waits "Somewhere (from West Side Story)"
9:30 Coffee Break: Mad Men Madness
Posted at 8:31 AM on July 23, 2010
by Jill Riley
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It's the season four premiere of Mad Men this Sunday on AMC. Set in the 1960's, the show centers around the lives of those working for the advertising firm Sterling Cooper. The show's popularity has really blown up in the past couple years. The season three finale left us wondering about quite a few things: Will Betty leave Don Draper for good? Will the new advertising firm Sterling Cooper, Draper, Pryce be a success? Will Joanie leave her husband?
So whether you're having a viewing party at your house, or putting on your best vintage wear and heading out to the big Mad Men viewing party at Jax Cafe in Minneapolis, today's coffee break will help get you pumped.
And if you're not a fan or regular viewer of the show, sit back and enjoy the 1960's Mad Men theme.
Great suggestions today! Here's what we played (wish we could've had time for more):
Amy Winehouse "You Know I'm No Good"
Bob Dylan "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right"
Marilyn Monroe "Happy Birthday"
Astrud Gilberto "Agua de Bebe"
The Beatles "Do You Want to Know A Secret"
Bobby Darin "Beyond the Sea"
The Tornados "Telstar"
Roy Orbison "Shahdaroba"
9:30 Coffee Break: Revenge Is a Dish Best Served With Flute Accompaniment
Posted at 8:56 AM on July 22, 2010
by Jill Riley
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In celebration of Ratcatcher's Day (celebrated today according to poet Robert Browning), which commemorates the myth of the Pied Piper of Hamelin, today we are looking for songs about revenge.
Songs played:
Crispian St. Peters "The Pied Piper"
James Brown "The Payback"
The Walkmen "The Rat"
The Decemberists "The Mariner's Revenge Song"
9:30 Coffee Break: Songs Inspired By Literature
Posted at 8:50 AM on July 21, 2010
by Jill Riley
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Ernest Hemingway, American writer and journalist, was born on this day in 1899. How does his birth relate to music? Well, we started thinking about important authors and how their work has influenced many a musician.
For the coffee break, what are some songs inspired by a piece of literature? It can be a reference to a character, a setting, song titles that are book titles, ect. Just make sure you provide the explanation behind your request!
Songs played:
The Decemberists "Billy Liar" (Billy Liar by Keith Waterhouse)
Kate Bush "Wuthering Heights" (Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte)
Led Zeppelin "Ramble On" (The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien)
Jay Farrar and Ben Gibbard "These Roads Don't Move" (Big Sur by Jack Kerouac)
The Police "Don't Stand So Close To Me" (Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov)
9:30 Coffee Break: One Small Step For Man
Posted at 8:44 AM on July 20, 2010
by Jill Riley
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Today is the 41rst anniversay of Apollo 11 landing on the moon. Not only was it a huge step forward for human space exploration, but considered a victory for the United States in the space race with The Soviet Union.
So, today's coffee break theme: songs about the moon, space, rockets, ect.
Songs played:
White Stripes "White Moon"
Feist "My Moon, My Man"
The Beatles "Mr. Moonlight"
David Bowie "Space Oddity (Demo version)"
Plastic Bertrand "Major Tom"
Pink Floyd "Brain Damage"
Pink Floyd "Eclipse"
9:30 Coffee Break: Sweet Tooth
Posted at 9:02 AM on July 19, 2010
by Jill Riley
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In honor of Sheela Namakkal's (Cake Eater Bakery) visit to The Current studios this morning and the mountain of cupcakes that she's left behind, today's Coffee Break is all about the sweet stuff. Songs that reference sugar, cookies, candy, soda pop, caramels, etc. Yum!
Songs played:
The Strangeloves "I Want Candy"
White Stripes "Little Cream Soda"
Mississippi John Hurt "Candy Man"
Van Morrison "Sweet Thing"
New Edition "Candy Girl"
9:30 Coffee Break: Let's Get It On!
Posted at 8:29 AM on July 16, 2010
by Jill Riley
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Now that we've all collectively healed and moved on from what ever awful and unworkable relationship situation that we we're fumbling around in (yesterday's Coffee Break topic), it's time to prepare for the future. In doing so, consider what you might include in a playlist for you next uhhhh ... you know ... ummmmm ... encounter. What songs get you in the mood for love? And by love we mean lovin'.
9:30 Coffee Break: See Ya Later, Bye!
Posted at 8:43 AM on July 15, 2010
by Jill Riley
(79 Comments)
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Sometimes the hardest part of a break up is moving on and letting go. In times like these a good "you suck, I'm awesome" song can go a long way toward facing impending independence with strength and dignity. Sure, villanizing your ex is wrong, but how can it be when it feels sooooo right!
Send us your favorite empowering break up song. It's time to move on!
Songs played:
Gloria Gaynor "I Will Survive"
Magnetic Fields "You Must Be Out Of Your Mind"
Diana Ross "I'm Coming Out"
Ray Charles "Hit The Road Jack"
Rilo Kiley "Breakin Up"
Fleetwood Mac "Go Your Own Way"
9:30 Coffee Break: Songs About Girls
Posted at 8:45 AM on July 14, 2010
by Jill Riley
(58 Comments)
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Since this is the last day of Jill Riley and Jacquie Fuller co-hosting together on The Current's Morning Show (which we've dubbed "Est-fest 2010"), we'd like your suggestions for songs about girls. Bad girls, good girls, sad girls, ect. Not so much songs with a girls name, but just girls in general.
Songs Played:
The Smiths "Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others"
LCD Soundsystem "Drunk Girls"
Big Star "September Gurls"
The Hold Steady "Southtown Girls"
Cyndi Lauper "Girls Just Want To Have Fun"
Guided By Voices "Glad Girls"
9:30 Coffee Break: Attack of the Earwigs!
Posted at 8:16 AM on July 13, 2010
by Jill Riley
(43 Comments)
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Jacquie Fuller, host of Teenage Kicks (Saturdays, 8-10am on The Current), is filling in for a few days while Steve is on vacation. She has been having an issue with earwigs lately. The little bugs are taking over her home. And from what we could tell from all the emails this morning, earwigs seem to be a problem everywhere...
Listenter email:
Just wanted to represent St. Paul in your morning discussion as I found an earwig in my coffee grounds the other day. I opened up the top of the coffee maker to dump out the grounds and it crawled out at me. I screamed and got my boyfriend to get rid of it. SO GROSS!!
I've only seen one other one since then, which my dog attacked, but I'm really hoping I don't see anymore. Ew. I'm in an apartment building on the 4th floor, I have no idea how they're getting in!
Have a good rest of the morning!
Giesla in Saint Paul
Gross! How about a bug themed coffee break? Songs for the creepy, crawly beings with which we share our living space.
Songs played:
The Cure "Lullaby"
Magnetic Fields "100,000 Fireflies"
Flaming Lips "Spiderbite Song"
Curtis Mayfield "Superfly"
Adam Ant "Antmusic"
9:30 Coffee Break: Apparel Choices
Posted at 8:31 AM on July 12, 2010
by Jill Riley
(37 Comments)
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In the spirit of the new unofficial Current Morning Show dress code (at least while Dave Campbell is filling in) of slippers, sunglasses and sweatpants, today's coffee break will consist of songs about clothing. Give us your suggestions for great songs about gear (pants, socks, shoes, ect).
Songs we played:
The Hold Steady "Charlemayne in Sweatpants"
Brian Hyland "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini"
Ween "Hey There Fancypants"
Run DMC "My Adidas"
Judas Priest "Hell Bent For Leather"
Benji Hughes "Tight Tee Shirt"
Weezer "(Undone) The Sweater Song"
Friday Coffee Break: Tall, Taller and Tallest
Posted at 8:16 AM on July 9, 2010
by Steve Seel
(59 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(updated below)
We wondered what kind of tie-in to do this morning with all of the LeBron James hoopla ... songs about being a traitor? Tunes played on Miami Vice? We finally came upon an idea we were surprised we'd never done before, asking the general question: who are some musicians who wouldn't be out of place on a basketball court? We're looking at playing some songs featuring musicians who hover around the 6-foot mark for today's 9:30 Coffee Break.
Update: Many, many fine suggestions today (as you can see in comments). We went with:
1) Michael Franti and Spearhead, "Sound of Sunshine"
2) The Ramones (Joey Ramone), "Do You Wanna Dance"
3) Imogen Heap, "Loose Ends"
4) The Cars (Ric Ocasek), "You're All I've Got Tonight"
5) Sonic Youth (Thurston Moore), "Poison Arrow"
Thursday Coffee Break: I Can't Believe That Was 16 Years Ago
Posted at 8:55 AM on July 8, 2010
by Steve Seel
(38 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(updated below)
As mentioned below, today is Beck's 40th birthday. Beck's first hit, "Loser," came out in 1994. That got us thinking: what were some other major tunes from that year? Would it be shocking to revisit the year in music and realize, "holy cow, I can't believe that song came out that long ago"? So help us assemble (and feel free to use as much Google as you like) a set of quality tunes from that fine year in music, 1994, for today's 9:30 Coffee Break. We'll all feel a whole lot older as a result. Yay!
Update: Lots of sentimental reflections today about a fine year for music. Your suggestions that we chose:
1) Weezer, "Buddy Holly"
2) Portishead, "Sour Times"
3) Hole, "Violet"
4) Veruca Salt, "Seether"
5) Blur, "Girls and Boys"
6) Pavement, "Cut Your Hair"
Wednesday Coffee Break: Peace and Love
Posted at 8:33 AM on July 7, 2010
by Steve Seel
(23 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(updated below)
As noted earlier, Ringo Starr isn't asking for much for his 70th birthday today: just world peace. Short of that, Ringo has asked us all to do one thing at today at noon (no matter where you are in the world): raise the two-fingered peace sign and say "peace and love."
We're continuing to honor Ringo throughout the morning by playing some of his performances, both with The Beatles and solo. But for today's 9:30 Coffee Break, we'd like to honor his request of us with songs of peace and love. What are some of your favorite songs that mention peace in the title, or prominently in the lyrics?
Update: Your suggestions we played:
1) Elvis Costello, "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding?"
2) Fountains of Wayne, "Peace and Love"
3) Cat Stevens, "Peace Train"
4) Curtis Mayfield, "We Got To Have Peace"
5) Plastic Ono Band, "Give Peace A Chance"
Tuesday Coffee Break: Tip Your Server
Posted at 8:32 AM on July 6, 2010
by Steve Seel
(36 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(updated below)
As we've been discussing this morning, Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer made a comment that got some notice over the weekend. After stopping at
the Eagle Street Grille in St. Paul and learning that that some waiters there apparently make $100,000 a year, Emmer proposed cutting minimum wage for employees "making a lot of money." (in many states other than Minnesota, it's legal for restaurants to pay servers who earn tips below minimum wage). Emmer says tying base pay to tips will "level playing field so the employers can continue to exist, survive and thrive."
Wherever you come down on the issue, Emmer's comments are sure to stir up the dust in the table-waiting community (of which both Jill and Steve are graduates). Seems like a good day to honor servers for today's 9:30 Coffee Break. What are some songs that mention waitresses, waiters, or a restaurant environment in general?
Update: Your suggestions that we chose:
1) Suzanne Vega, "Tom's Diner (DNA Mix)"
2) Loudon Wainwright III, "Tip That Waitress"
3) Belle and Sebastian, "Dear Catastrophe Waitress"
4) Martin Devaney, "Theme For An Anonymous Waitress"
5) The Replacements, "Waitress In The Sky"
6) Atmosphere, "The Waitress"
Friday Coffee Break: Music For a Cookout
Posted at 8:42 AM on July 2, 2010
by Steve Seel
(30 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(updated below)
Fourth of July weekend means many things: celebrating independence of course, but also enjoying airborne explosives, taking trips to see the family, and naturally, cookin' up lots of food on the grill and chowin' down outside. So for today's 9:30 Coffee Break, we want to put together a set of songs that all pertain to aspects of barbecueing or picnic-ing: hot dogs, chicken, beer, and anything else you can think of that fits.
Update: Well, we served up two hot dogs, two cold beverages, and two desserts:
1) Detroit Cobras, "(Watch Me Eat A) Hot Dog"
2) Led Zeppelin, "Hot Dog"
3) Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers, "Ice Cream Man"
4) Fiery Furnaces, "Restorative Beer"
5) Golden Smog, "Pecan Pie"
6) G. Love and Special Sauce, "Cold Beverage"
Thursday Coffee Break: Villains
Posted at 8:50 AM on July 1, 2010
by Steve Seel
(27 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(updated below)
Our arts reporter Marianne Combs pointed out this morning that this year's theme at the annual sci-fi and fantasy convention Convergence is villains. Clearly, this means one will definitely see plenty of Klingons, stromtroopers, and Darth Vaders, but certainly many more obscure sci-fi villains than Jill and I are familiar with to be able to post here. Anyway, how about a set about villains today for the 9:30 Coffee Break?
Update I:
Here's our conversation with John Olson, Director of Membership and Revenue for Convergence.
Update II: Your suggestions we went with:
1) The Flaming Lips, "Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots"
2) The Decemberists, "The Rake's Song"
3) Talking Heads, "Psycho Killer"
4) Edgar Winter Group, "Frankenstein" (okay, more a monster than a villain, but seriously - rawk)
5) Electric Light Orchestra, "Evil Woman"
Wednesday Coffee Break: No Tattoo For You
Posted at 8:45 AM on June 30, 2010
by Steve Seel
(36 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(updated below)
Tomorrow (Thursday), a new Minnesota law goes into effect that prohibits tattoos and certain kinds of piercings for minors under the age of 18. It makes you wonder exactly what kinds of things happened that spurred the law into existence - Hannah Montana tattoos on 13 year olds? Regardless, we want to put together a set of songs that mention tattoos or related subject matter today for the 9:30 Coffee Break. Help us out.
Update: Some fine suggestions today:
1) Fountains of Wayne, "Red Dragon Tattoo"
2) Frank Sinatra, "I've Got You Under My Skin"
3) Pretenders, "Tattooed Love Boys"
4) The Who, "Tattoo"
5) Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, "Beat the Devil's Tattoo"
Tuesday Coffee Break: Alternative Transportation
Posted at 8:03 AM on June 29, 2010
by Steve Seel
(55 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(updated below)
We got a rather helpful heads-up from the City of Minneapolis yesterday alterting us to the fact that traffic is expected to be, quite frankly, hell in downtown Mpls both tonight and Thursday night. Why? Both nights will host big events at both Target Field and Target Center simultaneously. Tonight it's a Twins Game plus Justin Beiber at Target Center; Thursday it's another Twins game, but this time it's Styx, Foreigner and Kansas at Target Center. Wow.
So, howabout we focus on alternative transportation today for the 9:30 Coffee Break? Songs about commuting in any other fashion than driving your own car: bicycling, walking, taking a taxi, riding the light rail, riding the bus ... you get the idea.
Update: We played:
1) Fats Domino, "I'm Walkin'"
2) Jeremy Messersmith, "Light Rail"
3) The Who, "Magic Bus"
4) Modest Mouse, "Convenient Parking"
5) Arcade Fire, "No Cars Go"
Monday Coffee Break: Foreign Phrases
Posted at 9:07 AM on June 28, 2010
by Steve Seel
(26 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(Updated below)
Are there any foreign phrases that you first learned through a song? That's what we're looking for today for the 9:30 Coffee Break. Make your suggestions here on the blog, or through the submission form. Merci boucoup!
Update: We aim to please, and so it was hard to avoid the final two very, very popular suggestions.
1) Talking Heads, "Psycho Killer"
2) The Beatles, "Michelle"
3) Nat King Cole, "Besame Mucho"
4) LaBelle, "Lady Marmalade"
5) Styx, "Mr. Roboto"
Friday Coffee Break: Gravel Pit
Posted at 9:01 AM on June 25, 2010
by Steve Seel
(20 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(Updated below)
Today's 9:30 Coffee Break is a tribute to some of the great gravelly voices in music. Who are some singers who don't "technically" have great, clear voices, but who are totally powerful singers anyway? Help us put together a good set showcasing some today.
Update: A fine field of froggy-throats were suggested today. We played:
1) Louis Armstrong, "Takes Two To Tango"
2) Lucinda Williams, "Real Love"
3) Tom Waits, "Big In Japan"
4) Howlin' Wolf, "Evil"
5) Janis Joplin, "Get It While You Can"
Thursday Coffee Break: Hurry Up And Wait
Posted at 8:04 AM on June 24, 2010
by Steve Seel
(48 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(Updated below)
Driving in this morning, Steve passed a long line of folks camped out on Hennepin Avenue in Minneapolis, stretching more than a block in their camping chairs and sleeping bags, leading straight to the front door of the new Apple Store. That's right: today the new iPhone 4 goes on sale.
In honor of those dedicated and patient campers this morning, we're doing a set of waiting songs for the 9:30 Coffee Break. Songs about waiting, or with "wait" or "waiting" in the lyrics.
Update: Your suggestions we played:
1) The Replacements, "Can't Hardly Wait"
2) Fugazi, "Waiting Room"
3) The Suburbs, "Waiting"
4) Matthew Sweet, "I've Been Waiting"
5) Built To Spill, "The Wait"
6) Velvet Underground, "I'm Waiting For the Man"
Wednesday Coffee Break: Please Be Aware of the Lightning
Posted at 8:48 AM on June 23, 2010
by Steve Seel
(22 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(Updated below)
Did you know that this is Lightning Safety Week? We didn't either until today, so sadly that means we have only three more days to celebrate observe it (we assume one doesn't "celebrate" lightning safety unless one has very, very little else to do). It's the season for lightning after all, so anything we can do to draw your attention to the hazards of lightning is a good thing. So, howabout lightning songs today on the 9:30 Coffee Break?
Update: We played:
1) Howlin' Wolf, "Smoke Stack Lightning"
2) Arctic Monkeys, "Crying Lightning"
3) George Jones, "White Lightning"
4) Joseph Arthur, "Electrical Storm"
5) Oasis, "The Shock Of the Lightning"
Tuesday Coffee Break: Yeah!
Posted at 8:13 AM on June 22, 2010
by Steve Seel
(34 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(Updated below)
What would be the most "used" words in popular music? "Baby" is certainly up there, and "love" is undoubtedly at the top too. But what about "yeah"? Easily in the top five, too. Today, let's build a set for the 9:30 Coffee Break featuring songs that have "yeah" in the title or very prominently in the lyrics.
Update: Listeners said yeah to the following songs:
1) Devo, "Uncontrollable Urge"
2) The Flaming Lips, "Yeah Yeah Yeah Song"
3) The Magnetic Fields, "Yeah! Oh Yeah!"
4) The Wedding Present, "Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah"
5) Gary Glitter, "Do You Want To Touch Me?"
Monday Coffee Break: Props To Dad
Posted at 8:19 AM on June 21, 2010
by Steve Seel
(20 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(Updated below)
It's never too late to honor dear old Dad, so we'll continue Father's Day for just a few more hours this morning with a dad set on the 9:30 Coffee Break. Help us assemble a set of tunes that have "dad" or "daddy" in the title, or predominently featured in the lyrics.
Update: Your suggestions we played:
1) The Temptations, "Papa Was A Rolling Stone"
2) Weezer, "I'm Your Daddy"
3) Gnarls Barkley, "Gone Daddy Gone" (Violent Femmes cover)
4) Jackson 5, "Sugar Daddy"
5) Jane's Addiction, "Had A Dad"
Friday Coffee Break: Get Ready To Rock The Garden
Posted at 8:42 AM on June 18, 2010
by Steve Seel
(18 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today's 9:30 Coffee Break will be a set of songs by the four bands playing tomorrow's Rock the Garden festival at the Walker Art Center: MGMT, OKgo, Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, and Retribution Gospel Choir. We'd like your input on which songs to play!
Thursday Coffee Break: The Tempo Change
Posted at 8:07 AM on June 17, 2010
by Steve Seel
(53 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today's topic for the 9:30 Coffee Break: songs that contain a tempo change. That is to say, songs that change tempo from fast to slow or slow to fast at at least one point during the song (it could happen more than once too). One of rock's greatest examples of this, of course, is Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" - with it's multi-part and multi-tempo structure - but there aren't going to be many rock-symphonies out there quite like that, and we aren't expecting you to come up with any. Just a basic tempo change or two will do. Help us put together a tempo-shifting coffee break today.
Wednesday Coffee Break: Put Up Yer Dukes
Posted at 8:20 AM on June 16, 2010
by Steve Seel
(47 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Last night, President Obama addressed the nation about the gulf oil spill, and today he meets with BP execs on his own turf - The White House - for what's being talked up as a possible showdown between him and the oil giant as to how reparations are going to be made for the mess.
What would be some songs about showdowns, fights, duels, dust-ups or other confrontations today for the 9:30 Coffee Break?
Tuesday Coffee Break: Cat Party
Posted at 8:39 AM on June 15, 2010
by Steve Seel
(37 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
As Jacquie and I were just talking about Devo's gimmick today of having a day-long online listening party for their new album, Something For Everybody ... but it's a listening party for cats. Of course, you can listen too, but the video feed will be of 20 cats in a room listening as well.
Always looking for a segue, we thought we'd make cat songs our topic for today's 9:30 Coffee Break.
Update: Here's the (non-Devo) cat-paddling YouTube video Steve was talking about.
Monday Coffee Break: I'm Freaking Out
Posted at 8:26 AM on June 14, 2010
by Steve Seel
(34 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Steve is feeling a particular amount of anxiety this week: there's his Policy and a Pint w/ David Byrne and R.T. Rybak plus a separate interview with Byrne Thursday afternoon ... Jill had quite a brush with stress on Friday night at Bonnaroo when the audio feed from the Flaming Lips' stage was lost for about 15 minutes, forcing her to ad-lib that entire time ... our own Mac Wilson had his own stressful night that night for different reasons ... with our final preparations for Rock The Garden coming together this week and so much more happening, we're thiking about stress as a topic for today's 9:30 Coffee Break. Songs about panic, pressure, freaking out, and those such things.
Friday Coffee Break: Hooligans and Ruffians
Posted at 8:57 AM on June 11, 2010
by Jacquie Fuller
(24 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
The World Cup kicks off today, and when Steve and I think "soccer," we think "hooligans." (Note: this is likely due to the fact that Steve and I know very little about sports.) In honor of this, today's 9:30 Coffee Break is all about hooligans, ruffians, thugs, roustabouts, and all manner of ne'er-do-wells. Bring us your goons, your hood rats, your hoodlums!
Thursday Coffee Break: Give Blood
Posted at 8:42 AM on June 10, 2010
by Steve Seel
(40 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
The big news story of the day is of course that it's day the Minnesota nurses' strike. We wondered if there was some way, in the 9:30 Coffee Break, we could honor some of the things nurses do (a celebration of nurses regardless of which side of the strike debate you come down on). It runs the risk of oversimplification of course, but a lot of the thing nurses handle have to do with blood: drawing it, and checking the pressure of it. So: what are some songs mentioning blood in the title or lyrics? That's today's topic.
Wednesday Coffee Break: Get Your Skates On
Posted at 8:18 AM on June 9, 2010
by Steve Seel
(38 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
It's now biking weather, picnicking weather, grilling weather ... what can we add to that? Skating weather, of course. What songs would make up a skating set - songs about, or that would go well with, roller skating or roller blading? That's your assignment for today's 9:30 Coffee Break.
Tuesday Coffee Break: My Old School
Posted at 8:41 AM on June 8, 2010
by Steve Seel
(21 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
School's out for most kids accross the land at this point ... it's probably about time we do a school or school's out set on the 9:30 Coffee Break. Help us put together a clever set of songs that touch on this topic today.
Monday Coffee Break: Aliens?
Posted at 8:50 AM on June 7, 2010
by Steve Seel
(42 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
It's a bit hard to understand why this hasn't been a bigger news story over the past few days: scientists think there probably is, or at least has been at some point, life on Saturn's moon Titan. Alien life, people. That's huge news, isn't it? Well, maybe not in today's age of trivia-and-fluff as news. Alien life isn't as sexy as the latest celebrity crackup, apparently.
Nevertheless, the possibility of life on another nearby planet, for Pete's sake, seems interesting to us - so we're going to make aliens the subject of today's 9:30 Coffee Break. Songs about aliens or people (or creatures) from outer space.
Friday Coffee Break: Grand Old Day
Posted at 8:42 AM on June 4, 2010
by Steve Seel
(7 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today's 9:30 Coffee Break is a tribute to the bands who are playing Grand Old Day in St. Paul on Sunday afternoon. There will 20 local bands, so we can't get to them all ... but we're going to play a handful of them. What songs by the likes of Heiruspecs, Mark Mallman, Red Pens and others should we play?
Thursday Coffee Break: Power Pop
Posted at 9:09 AM on June 3, 2010
by Steve Seel
(26 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
It's a gorgeous day today, and we wanna play some glorious pop sugar to go with it. Let's do power pop set today for the 9:30 Coffee Break. What is power pop? Wikipedia:
"Power pop is a popular musical genre that draws its inspiration from 1960s British and American pop and rock music. It typically incorporates a combination of musical devices such as strong melodies, crisp vocal harmonies, economical arrangements, and prominent guitar riffs."
Wednesday Coffee Break: The Kiss
Posted at 8:07 AM on June 2, 2010
by Steve Seel
(27 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Now that Al and Tipper are splitting up, naturally we're all being foreced to revisit this weird moment in political history:
It's The Kiss that Grossed Out America! Sure, it was odd and uncomfortable, but not grossest or weirdest public kiss ever, as Salon points out. Anyway, since everybody is sick of thinking about the oil spill, things like The Kiss are a welcome preoccupation we suppose. So, howabout a kissing set today for the 9:30 Coffee Break? Songs with "kiss" in the title or prominently in the lyrics.
Photo: Al Gore Support Center
Tuesday Coffee Break: TV and Radio Sounds
Posted at 9:02 AM on June 1, 2010
by Steve Seel
(16 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today's topic for the 9:30 Coffee Break: songs that feature broadcasting sounds. Perhaps chatter from a radio broadcast; maybe samples from tv commercials; or something else entirely. If it's a sample that's drawn from some other kind of broadcasting media, it qualifies.
Friday Coffee Break: The Unofficial Start To Summer
Posted at 8:02 AM on May 28, 2010
by Steve Seel
(45 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Everybody knows Memorial Day is usually considered the unofficial start to summer. With some of the weather we've been having, it's tempting to just say "summer's here" and be done with it. Nevertheless, let's put together a summery set for today's 9:30 Coffee Break; nothing high concept here, just songs that go with hot weather, backyard barbecue, buzzing bugs and blue skies. Say hello to summer, for today's 9:30 Coffee Break.
Thursday Coffee Break: The Pigtails Are Gone!
Posted at 7:46 AM on May 27, 2010
by Steve Seel
(43 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Can you believe it? Willie Nelson cut off his pigtails! Say it ain't so! Alas, it is, and here's the first photographic evidence. He says "there's a lot of maintenance involved" in those things. OK, we guess so.
Anyway, as we lament the loss of the better part of Willie's locks this morning, let's put together set of songs that pay tribute to tresses. Songs about hair, for today's 9:30 Coffee Break.
Wednesday Coffee Break: Mystery Set
Posted at 10:06 AM on May 26, 2010
by Steve Seel
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today was another Mystery Set for the 9:30 Coffee Break, where we choose the tunes and you tell us what the common theme is between the songs. After two songs, Beth Gusenius of Minneapolis guessed that the theme was songs produced by the infamous Phil Spector. Way to go Beth!
We played:
1) Ike and Tina Turner, "River Deep, Mountain High"
2) John Lennon, "Jealous Guy"
3) Starsailor, "Silence Is Easy"
4) Darlene Love, "Today I Met The Boy I'm Gonna Marry"
Tuesday Coffee Break: Geek Pride Day
Posted at 8:30 AM on May 25, 2010
by Steve Seel
(36 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Have you heard? May 25th is International Geek Pride Day; the day for all geeks to be proud of their geekdom and proclaim it far and wide. Talk about science fiction and fantasy movies, dress unfashionably, feel liberated from the need to engage in sports (or even talking about them), and enjoy lots of jokes at the expense of those less intelligent than you.
Let's make a geek set today for the 9:30 Coffee Break. Songs by geeks or about geeky subjects, or both.
Monday Coffee Break: Musical Fauna
Posted at 8:05 AM on May 24, 2010
by Steve Seel
(37 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Summer is coming into full bloom, and with it come a lot of its own sounds: chirping birds, croaking frogs, and other sounds. There are a number of songs that contain animal noises as sound effects; help us put together a set today for the 9:30 Coffee Break that showcases some of them.
Friday Coffee Break: Man the Marimbas!
Posted at 8:20 AM on May 21, 2010
by Steve Seel
(22 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
The White Stripes are offering up a marimba to help flood victims; the red-and-white Ludwig Musser marimba that was custom-made for The White Stripes on their 2005-06 tour is being auctioned on eBay.
This, naturally, got us wondering exactly how often marimbas are used in pop songs. Jazz, sure; classical, from time to time. But rock?
Today's 9:30 Coffee Break will feature a handful that do. We know this is a tough topic, so we've done our homework on it already ... but if you've got suggestions, send them our way! Meanwhile, here's a '70s gem for you that has a righteous marima solo.
Thursday Coffee Break: Product Placement
Posted at 8:48 AM on May 20, 2010
by Steve Seel
(42 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
A few weeks ago, we did a "mystery set" (we play the songs and you tell us what they have in common) where the connection was lyrics that contain references to Coca Cola. That got us thinking about all the songs that make mention of other commercial products in their lyrics; their are tons. Let's put together a 9:30 Coffee Break today featuring some good examples.
Wednesday Coffee Break: The Rock Opera
Posted at 8:01 AM on May 19, 2010
by Steve Seel
(28 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
As we pay tribute to Pete Townshend, leader of The Who on the occasion of his 65th birthday today, we thought we'd honor the musical form that Pete is credited with inventing: the rock opera. Not just a concept album, it's a story with distinct characters, often "played" by the musicians onstage, Townsend is largely responsible for inspiring both some of the most awesome and most silly and overblown music in rock (depending on your point of view). So what are some great song moments from rock operas of the past 40 years? There are fewer from recent history than from years ago, as the rock opera has fallen out of favor a bit since its inception ... but there have been a couple notable ones. Help us put together today's 9:30 Coffee Break.
Tuesday Coffee Break: In the Weeds
Posted at 8:43 AM on May 18, 2010
by Steve Seel
(41 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
As you probably know if you're a homeowner with a lawn, this year is a pretty crazy weed-pulling year for the dandelions alone around Minnesota. Steve has been out pulling weeds like a madman, and Jill is going the Roundup route. Have you been waging the weed war in your own yard? Then join us for the 9:30 Coffee Break today - we're putting together a weed set. Songs mentioning different kinds of weeds, or the word "weed" itself.
Monday Coffee Break: RIP Ronnie James Dio
Posted at 8:51 AM on May 17, 2010
by Steve Seel
(5 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
We got sad news today that Ronnie James Dio, heavy metal giant and singer with bands from Rainbow to Black Sabbath to his own band Dio, has died of stomatch cancer at the age of 67.
"Cancer? I'll kick the hell out of you," declared Dio declared in March in an interview with
a Houston TV station, where he was being treated for the disease. "I refuse to be beaten in any shape or form so I'm going to beat you, too." But on Sunday he succumbed to the illness.
Today's 9:30 Coffee Break is a tribute to Ronnie James, and his vocal style that had a tremendous influcence on a generation of rock vocalists to follow him, from heavy metal to grunge and beyond.
Friday Coffee Break: The Fishing Opener
Posted at 8:02 AM on May 14, 2010
by Steve Seel
(61 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
It's the fishing opener tomorrow! Even the guv'ner is participating, despite criticism that he's leaving to go fishing up near the Canadian border when there's lots of unfinished state business on the table. Yes, the fishing opener is a great Minnesota tradition, as ingrained in our seasonal cycle as the first ice-related traffic pile up of the winter.
So, it's songs that allude to fish or fishing today (or any of the circumstances surrounding fishing - lakes, rivers, boats etc.) for the 9:30 Coffee Break.
Thursday Espresso Break!
Posted at 8:11 AM on May 13, 2010
by Steve Seel
(28 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
It's the last day of our member campaign today on The Current, and we need your support to make these sizeable remaining goals. Needless to say, we're kinda bouncing off the walls with excitement, nervousness, and anticipation today ... and that's compounded by the generous amount of caffeine we're imgesting to keep up the energy. So, why not make today's 9:30 Coffee Break the 9:30 Espresso Break? Let's build a set of songs that are short and energized - two minutes or less in length and filled with plenty of caffeine.
Wednesday Coffee Break: Show Your Good Taste In Tunes
Posted at 8:53 AM on May 12, 2010
by Steve Seel
(17 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
We've got a special fun challenge this morning for the 9:30 Coffee Break: help us put together songs that address the four tastes: sweet, sour, bitter, and salty. Four songs, one with one taste sensation each in the title, lyrics, or subject matter. Go to it!
Tuesday Coffee Break: Let's Do the Numbers
Posted at 8:26 AM on May 11, 2010
by Steve Seel
(32 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
As we tally the numbers this week during our spring membership campaign, we've got lots of facts and figures on our minds. It's all part of the process of making sure we can balance the books and keep the music playing here on The Current.
Let's play some songs featuring numbers today: either actual numbers in the title (or that feature counting), or titles that contain the word "number." That'll be the topic for today's 9:30 Coffee Break.
Monday Coffee Break: False Beginnings
Posted at 8:35 AM on May 10, 2010
by Steve Seel
(18 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Last week on the coffee break, we did a set of songs that feature false endings - that is, songs that you think are over and then they surprise you with something extra. Today, we want to turn that around and do a set of songs featuring false beginnings: songs that start off in a way that turns out to be a red herring ... a trick. We've got a couple ideas, but we invite you to pitch in yours too for the 9:30 Coffee Break.
Friday Coffee Break: M Is For the Many Things She Gave Me
Posted at 6:54 AM on May 7, 2010
by Steve Seel
(28 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(updated below)
Sunday is Mother's Day, and so naturally, we want to play some mom songs today for the 9:30 Coffee Break. Songs with "mother" in the title, or that sing odes to mom in one way or another.
Update: Okay, so this first one is an odd choice. But, maybe it's an appropriate ode to Mom in the context of just how much grief actually gave our mothers when we were growing up.
1) The Rolling Stones, "Mother's Little Helper"
2) Suzi Quatro, "Mama's Boy"
3) LL Cool J, "Mama Said Knock You Out"
4) Tracy Bonham, "Mother Mother"
Thursday Coffee Break: False Endings
Posted at 9:17 AM on May 6, 2010
by Steve Seel
(13 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(updated below)
You think they're over, and then there's one more cymbal crash, or guitar strum ... or two, or three. Or the songs starts up all over again. It's the false ending, and that's our topic for today's 9:30 Coffee Break. Help us put together a set with some good examples!
Update: We played:
1) Matthew Sweet, "Sick Of Myself"
2) Eagles of Death Metal, "I Only Want You"
3) Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, "The Mighty Sparrow"
Wednesday Coffee Break: Cinco de Mayo!
Posted at 9:17 AM on May 5, 2010
by Steve Seel
(11 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(updated below)
It's songs sung in spanish today for the 9:30 Coffee Break, in honor of Cinco de Mayo. Send your requests to the link above, or post them in comments here.
Update: We played:
1) Calexico, "Inspiracion"
2) The Sandpipers, "Enamorado"
3) Los Lobos, "Chuco's Cumbia"
Tuesday Coffee Break: With Strings
Posted at 8:48 AM on May 4, 2010
by Steve Seel
(35 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(updated below)
We were so blown away by Jeremy Messersmith's performance this morning and how lovely it sounded with its full string section that we felt like keeping that vibe going. Howabout songs featuring a string arrangement for this morning's 9:30 Coffee Break? Not necessarily a violin solo, but several strings playing together to give the song that lush, romantic sound.
Update: We played:
1) Sufjan Stevens, "Chicago"
2) The Beach Boys, "God Only Knows"
3) Elbow, "One Day Like This"
4) The Rolling Stones, "She's A Rainbow"
5) The Verve, "Bitter Sweet Symphony"
Monday Coffee Break: A Mystery Set
Posted at 8:47 AM on May 3, 2010
by Steve Seel
(11 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(updated below)
No, it's not a set of songs by the band Mystery, the all-girl group from the Justine Bateman vehicle Satisfaction. It's a set containing a mystery, also known as a "reverse coffee break": we play you the songs, and you tell us what the connections are between them. The connection can literally be anything, so pay close attention to 'em. If you think you have the answer, call us on the studio line at 651-989-4893, and the first person to get it right will be showered with our affection and respect on the air at the end of the set.
Update: That's right, the answer was songs featuring references to Coca Cola or Coke (sorry to the two people who guessed "bands that start with the word 'the'," but nice try). We played:
1) The Beatles, "Come Together"
2) The National, "Baby We'll Be Fine"
3) The Clash, "Straight To Hell"
4) The Kinks, "Lola"
Friday Coffee Break: Viernes No Ingles is Back!
Posted at 8:59 AM on April 30, 2010
by Steve Seel
(45 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
It's time once again for one of our favorite features on the 9:30 Coffee Break: Viernes No Ingles, or No English Friday ... when we take your requests for songs that are sung in any language but english. Very, very simple instructions, very fun results. Allons-y!
Thursday Coffee Break: Ratiug Sdrawkcab
Posted at 9:12 AM on April 29, 2010
by Steve Seel
(16 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
It's a technique that was invented in the 60s - possibly accidentally, if you cite its appearance in a certain Beatles song as its first use in a song. It's backwards guitar: the process of recording a guitar on a tape that's been loaded backwards on the tape deck, and then when you play it back, the song goes forward but the guitar part you just recorded goes in reverse. Its effect is heavily spacey and disorienting, and it became a staple of psychedelic music. It's still used today by musicians going for that trippy effect. What are some examples? That's the topic for today's 9:30 Coffee Break.
Wednesday Coffee Break: A Well Balanced Breakfast
Posted at 8:57 AM on April 28, 2010
by Steve Seel
(52 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
After Dara Moskowitz-Grumdahl's chat with us this morning about the various new cupcake establishments that have popped up around the Twin Cities over the past year, we're hungry. We'd love some cupcakes, but we'd probably be better off making them "part of a balanced breakfast," as they say. So for today's 9:30 Coffee Break, help us put together a set of songs that mention breakfast items ... eggs, coffee, buscuits ... we'll take your order now.
Tuesday Coffee Break: Say Please
Posted at 9:01 AM on April 27, 2010
by Steve Seel
(26 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
For today's 9:30 Coffee Break, we're going to piggy back on the topic for this morning's monthly trivia segment that we played with Sean McPherson of Trivia Mafia: permission songs. What are some songs whose lyrics ask permission in some way or another? "May I," "can I," "will you", "please" ... and so on. Please help us put together a good set.
Monday Coffee Break: Stage Names
Posted at 8:47 AM on April 26, 2010
by Steve Seel
(30 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today for the 9:30 Coffee Break, we want to pay tribute to some of the more creative stage names in music; names that you immediately know couldn't possibly have been that particular musician's birth name. That is, unless his or her parents were certifiably weird and/or cruel. You know, like Buckethead.
Friday Coffee Break: What is "Beatle-esque"?
Posted at 7:31 AM on April 23, 2010
by Steve Seel
(52 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
A hat-tip goes out to our friend Adam Levy of The Honeydogs today, who initiated a conversation recently about songs that aren't by The Beatles, but nevertheless sound like they could have been. You hear the term all the time, but what exactly does it mean to sound "Beatle-esque"? Presumably, there's some pretty huge melodic hooks, possibly some guitar jangle, and (depending on the Beatles era), maybe some psychedelia too. But by and large, it's a "you-know-it-when-you-hear-it" quality. So, for today's 9:30 Coffee Break: What are some songs that sound like they could have been Beatle songs, but were written and performed by somebody else?
Thursday Coffee Break: An Earth Day Serenade
Posted at 7:50 AM on April 22, 2010
by Steve Seel
(44 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Recently on the Coffee Break, we've hit upon a number of topics that are nature-related: trees yesterday, gardening last week, and we even played Cloud Cult a few days ago in honor of Bob Ross and his love of "happy little clouds." So, rather than whittle things down to a particular angle today, we thought we'd leave the creativity to you. What are some songs that would come together into an all-around appropriate set for Earth Day? Pass along your suggestions and we'll put assemble them for the 9:30 Coffee Break.
Wednesday Coffee Break: Plant A Tree
Posted at 8:05 AM on April 21, 2010
by Steve Seel
(29 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Once again, we've got a special deal going on with American Forests: when you become a sustaining member right now of The Current, we'll plant a tree (one for every sustaining membership we get!). And as always, with every 2000 sustaining memberships we get, we'll cut a day off of our upcoming member drive.
So how about a little musical tree-hugging this morning? Let's showcase songs about trees this morning for the 9:30 Coffee Break.
Tuesday Coffee Break: Can You Use That In A Sentence?
Posted at 8:45 AM on April 20, 2010
by Steve Seel
(41 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
This last Saturday night, Steve was one of the guest judges for Trivia Mafia's "Drinkin' Spelling Bee" at the 331 Club in Northeast Mpls. One of the players, Robert (who identified himself in his e-mail by his word - "internecine") suggested today's 9:30 Coffee Break be a showcase for songs featuring words that get spelled out. A fine suggestion, Robert. Let's all R-O-C-K in the U-S-A!
Songs played:
Bay City Rollers "Saturday Night"
Hot Chip "Over and Over"
Aretha Franklin "Respect"
They Might Be Giants "S-E-X-X-Y"
Them "Gloria"
Justice "D.A.N.C.E."
Monday Coffee Break: Redeeming Iceland
Posted at 8:43 AM on April 19, 2010
by Steve Seel
(14 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Poor Iceland. Volcano Eyjafjallajökull (you try and say it) has messed up air travel for days for an entire part of the world over there, and a lot of stranded international air travellers have been muttering curses at the gods. One imagines that some have been directing their curses directly at Iceland, but it's not really that tiny country's fault that it has a giant, active volcano on it, belching atmosphere-choking dust and ash for thousands of miles, blocking the sun, destroying the breatheable air, and threatening to clog and shut down jet engines and rain death down upon cities, is it?
Let's redeem Iceland today with some music from some of Iceland's finest musicians. That's the topic for today's 9:30 Coffee Break.
Friday Coffee Break: Record Stores In Movies!
Posted at 7:27 AM on April 16, 2010
by Steve Seel
(24 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(updated below)
A couple big things are happening this weekend: first, it's National Record Store Day, a celebration of independent record shops nationwide. Second, the Minneappolis St. Paul International Film Festival is going on, bigger and better than ever. So how to combine these two events for one 9:30 Coffee Break? A set containing songs played in record stores in the movies!
If you're scratching your head, just think about it for a second. There have been some classic cinematic scenes over the years set in record shops. What have been some songs that have been a key part of those scenes, played over the store's sound system, and perhaps even worked into the subject matter of the scene itself? You can start, of course, with High Fidelity, and branch out from there with a few other choice bits of audiophile cinema ...
Update: Well, there are really three big, obvious choices here (not counting "Walking On Sunshine" from High Fidelity). We played:
1) Otis Redding, "Try A Little Tenderness" (Pretty In Pink)
2) The Buggles, "Video Killed the Radio Star" (Empire Records)
3) The Beta Band, "Dry the Rain" (High Fidelity)
Thursday Coffee Break: Tax Day
Posted at 8:24 AM on April 15, 2010
by Steve Seel
(32 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(updated below)
So there is the general sense that tax day in America is annoying because ... why, that's when you have to pay your taxes, of course. But for a lot of folks, that's not the only (or even the real) frustration. First of all, you might be getting a refund. Perhaps tax day is a pain for you because it simply have to get your ass in gear and complete your forms - and that's challenging enough for many of us (ahem).
So today, we want to put together a well-rounded 9:30 Coffee Break with songs for tax day. And of course, if you're having to write a check and are feeling the fresh sting of that, please feel free to request one of the traditional song selections ...
Update: You came through with some pretty nice suggestions. We played, starting with the obvious choice:
1) The Beatles, "Taxman"
2) Kraftwerk, "Pocket Calculator"
3) Cake, "Long Line of Cars" (at the post office, that is)
4) Willie Nelson, "Funny How Time Slips Away"
5) The Kinks, "Sunny Afternoon"
6) The Jam, "Pretty Green"
Wednesday Coffee Break: Cultivatin' Some Tunes
Posted at 8:52 AM on April 14, 2010
by Steve Seel
(44 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(updated below)
Gardening season is here, no doubt about it. Jill has plunged in head-first with an ambitious weeding of a raspberry patch gone fallow in her back yard, and now that she has resolved to replace it with a new garden of her own design, she needs some musical inspiration. How about some gardening-oriented songs for today's 9:30 Coffee Break? Planting, flowers, vegetables ... you name it.
Update: Your requests we went with:
1) The White Stripes, "Blue Orchid"
2) R.E.M., "Gardening At Night"
3) Ween, "Roses Are Free"
4) Black Sabbath, "Sweet Leaf" (*cough cough*)
5) Neutral Milk Hotel, "The King of Carrot Flowers, Pt. 1"
6) The Beatles, "Strawberry Fields Forever"
Tuesday Coffee Break: Thunder and Lightning
Posted at 8:14 AM on April 13, 2010
by Steve Seel
(47 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(updated below)
You might have been awakened early this morning by the sound of thunder - the first big thunderstorm of the year hit the Twin Cities in the wee hours of Tuesday with some pretty loud booms. Driving in, the sky was afire with quite a light show for Jill and me. Today's forecast calls for this weather to continue most of the day. So, for today's 9:30 Coffee Break: songs that mention thunder and/or lightning ... or even just storms. And even better if those words are in the title.
Update: Your requests we played:
1) Bruce Springteen, "Thunder Road"
2) Gnarls Barkley, "Storm Coming"
3) Arctic Monkeys, "Crying Lightning"
4) Electric Light Orchestra, "Summer and Lightening"
5) Amii Stewart, "Knock On Wood"
Monday Coffee Break: Famous People's At-Bat Songs
Posted at 9:00 AM on April 12, 2010
by Steve Seel
(32 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(updated below)
Today's the Twins home opener at Target Field, and so we've got baseball on our minds. For the 9:30 Coffee Break, we have a fun little game for you. You know the "at-bat" songs that are played over the ballpark's sound system when individual players step up to the plate (songs that in some way or another "portray" the player in music)? Well, we want to give you a list of five famous people today and ask you what would they're at-bat songs be, if they were baseball players.
Here are the five folks we want you to come with at-bat songs for:
1) Amy Winehouse
2) Tiger Woods
3) Evolutionary biologist and renound atheist Richard Dawkins
4) Sarah Palin
5) "The Joy of Painting" artist Bob Ross
(update): Too many hilarious suggestions to get to today. Thanks for all your ideas. We went with:
1) Amy Winehouse: Gnarls Barkley, "Crazy"
2) Tiger Woods: Mercury Rev, "Holes"
3) Richard Dawkins: XTC, "Dear God"
4) Sarah Palin: The Beatles, "Happiness Is A Warm Gun"
5) Bob Ross: Cloud Cult, "Everybody Here Is A Cloud"
Thursday Coffee Break: Nonproliferation Music
Posted at 8:48 AM on April 8, 2010
by Steve Seel
(33 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
It's official: the US and Russia have today signed a new nuclear arms pact that would trim the two powers' strategic nuclear arsenals to their lowest levels in half a century. Presidents Obama and Dmitri Medvedev signed the pact in Prague this morning.
Wanna put together a set marking this momentous occasion? We're letting you get completely creative this morning for the 9:30 Coffee Break: songs for nuclear non-proliferation treaties. This is where we look to the cleverness of our listeners to make some more-than-clever radio.
9:30 Coffee Break: Get On Your Bikes and Ride!
Posted at 9:08 AM on April 7, 2010
by Jill Riley
(27 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Minneapolis has been named by Bicycle Magazine as America's most bike friendly city. Help us create a coffee break of bike songs!
Also, this rules:
Also, local band City On The Make:
Songs played:
Queen "Bicycle Race"
Dance Band "Pedal Power"
The Sugarcubes "Motor Crash"
Tomorrow "My White Bicycle"
City on the Make "Chicks On Bikes"
Kraftwerk "Tour De France"
9:30 Coffee Break: Dennis Hopper
Posted at 8:39 AM on April 6, 2010
by Jill Riley
(20 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Doctors are more than likely telling Dennis Hopper to take it easy while he battles prostate cancer. It's not easy to rest comfortably when he's in court in a divorce battle and now ordered to pay his estranged wife $12,000 a month. Dennis Hopper, fighting until the bitter end. Let's create a set of music around his situation, his films, ect.
Songs played:
Roy Orbison "In Dreams"
The Clash "Charlie Don't Surf"
Tammy Wynette "D-I-V-O-R-C-E"
Gorillaz "Fire Coming Out of a Monkey's Head"
The Byrds "Ballad of Easy Rider"
Monday Coffee Break: Naked Rock Stars
Posted at 8:41 AM on April 5, 2010
by Steve Seel
(21 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(updated below)
Did you hear the one about Erykah Badu getting naked in Dallas last week during her video shoot? That's right, she stripped completely down, and the police weren't happy about that.
Musicians have a long history of getting naked in public, not just at shows - althought certainly at shows in particular. Today's 9:30 Coffee Break set: music by artists who have paraded around in their birthday suits at one point or another.
Update: Lots of nakedness today. We went with:
1) Erykah Badu, "On and On" (see above)
2) John Lennon, "Oh Yoko!" (the Two Virgins album cover, plus cover of Rolling Stone not once but twice)
3) The Flaming Lips, "Watching the Planets" (Wayne, and about 4,000 other people, appear naked in the video)
4) The Dandy Warhols, "Down Like Disco" (band member Zia had appeared topless onstage)
5) Janis Joplin, "Mercedes Benz" (there's a famous poster of Janis topless)
Friday Coffee Break: All Hail the Melodica!
Posted at 8:30 AM on April 2, 2010
by Steve Seel
(17 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(updated below)
It's not a harmonica, although it sounds vaguely like one. It's got keys, like a piano, but you blow through it. It's the melodica!
Sometimes called a "blow-organ," but who likes that name? Melodica is so much cooler. Originally developed for music education in schools, it soon got picked up as a legitimate instrument by musicians looking for unique sounds. However, its "school" association still remains to a large degree - and that's why the melodica retains a bit of a childlike quality to it.
Today, we'll salute the melodica on the 9:30 Coffee Break with a set of songs that feature it. Got any you'd like to suggest?
Update: Your suggestions we played:
1) New Order, "Love Vigilantes"
2) Money Mark, "Three O'Clock"
3) Bauhaus, "She's In Parties"
4) Depeche Mode, "Everything Counts"
5) Gorillaz, "Clint Eastwood"
Thursday Coffee Break: Fool Me Once, Shame on Me. Fool Me Twice, Uh, Uh ...
Posted at 8:51 AM on April 1, 2010
by Steve Seel
(37 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(updated below)
Obviously, the 9:30 Coffee Break had to do with April Fool's Day in some way today. But we're going to keep it simple: we want to put together a set of songs about fools (or being made a fool of). Lyrics about getting tricked, punked, hoodwinked ... or perpetrating said acts on another person. Creativity reigns supreme today.
Update: Your suggestions we played:
1) The Kinks, "Lola"
2) The Magnetic Fields, "I Don't Believe You"
3) Rufus Wainwright, "April Fools"
4) Joe Jackson, "Fools In Love"
5) The Beatles, "Fool On the Hill"
Wednesday Coffee Break: Motorcycles
Posted at 8:58 AM on March 31, 2010
by Steve Seel
(31 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(updated below)
It's 75 degrees. No rain forecasted until the weekend. Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines - your motorcycle engines.
Let's put together a 9:30 Coffee Break set today featuring songs about motorcycles, or which mention them in their lyrics.
Update: We played:
1) The Shangri-Las, "Leader of the Pack"
2) The Hopefuls, "Motobike"
3) Neil Young, "Motorcycle Mama"
4) Yo La Tengo, "Speeding Motorcycle"
5) Steppenwolf, "Born To Be Wild"
Tuesday Coffee Break: Where's The Bass?
Posted at 8:15 AM on March 30, 2010
by Steve Seel
(29 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(updated below)
Does a band need a bass? Certainly most bassists would argue yes, if we're talking a band that otherwise features guitars and drums (as opposed to strictly electronic music). But there are a few bands out there who have done without the bass, some from days gone by and several from the present. At the risk of alienating all our four-string playing friends this morning, help us put together a little tribute to the bands who have figured out a way to make do without the time-honored method of covering the low notes. That's today's 9:30 Coffee Break.
Update: Your suggestions we went with:
1) Yeah Yeah Yeahs, "Kiss Kiss"
2) The Doors, "Break On Through"
3) Sleater-Kinney, "Good Things"
4) The Black Keys, "Your Touch"
5) The White Stripes, "Icky Thump"
Monday Coffee Break: Home Is Where the Song Is
Posted at 8:50 AM on March 29, 2010
by Steve Seel
(34 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(updated below)
Today's topic for the 9:30 Coffee Break: songs where the artist sings about his or her hometown, home city, home suburb, or some beloved aspect (street, park, etc.) of one of those. (Songs that simply sing about "home" don't count; the tune has to contain references to a specific place in the lyrics).
Updated: Your suggestions we played:
1) The Hold Steady, "Take Me Out To the Twins Game"
2) The Beatles, "Penny Lane"
3) Neko Case and Her Boyfriends, "Thrice All American"
4) The Standells, "Dirty Water"
5) Jeremy Messersmith, "Franklin Avenue"
6) Atmosphere, "Shhh..."
Friday Coffee Break: Animal Songs
Posted at 8:21 AM on March 26, 2010
by Steve Seel
(70 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(updated below)
If you heard our conversation with MPR's Movie Maven Stephanie Curtis this morning, you might know why we're talking animals for today's 9:30 Coffee Break. In short, the phrase "bear sex" was uttered. Never mind why. Anyway, always appreciative of a good conceptual segue, we're making songs about animals our topic for today's coffee break. What are some songs with some kind of animal in the title? (Not the word "animal," but actual examples - bird, dog, wolf, elephant ...). Let the stampede begin.
Update: Tough choices today. We could have built a whole set around just Beatles songs about animals. We went with:
1) Pixies: "Monkey Gone to Heaven"
2) The Beatles: "I Am the Walrus"
3) Neko Case: "The Tigers Have Spoken"
4) Rufus Thomas: "Bear Cat"
5) Yeah Yeah Yeahs: "Gold Lion"
6) The Stooges, "I Wanna Be Your Dog"
Thursday Coffee Break: Loafin' Around
Posted at 8:04 AM on March 25, 2010
by Steve Seel
(48 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(updated below)
So, you've heard about the great St. Paul Public Works loafing scandal of 2010, we presume? Earlier this week, KSTP-TV reported on a host of city workers - pothole repairers - who were caught on camera spending much, much more of their 8-hour day loafing around (taking two-hour lunches, for example, or hour-long breaks at the Holiday station) than actually filling potholes. St. Paul mayor Chris Coleman reportedly "exploded" when he saw the report.
You know where this is going, of course. Today's 9:30 Coffee Break: songs about laziness, goofing off, and wasting time. Take a well-deserved, long break from your morning work and help us coming up with a fun set.
Update: Too much fun had with this one today. The first song was the most hilarious suggestion we got, and at the moment, one really can't play too much Alex Chilton anyway.
1) Big Star, "In the Street"
2) Soul Coughing, "Lazybones"
3) John Lennon, "Watching the Wheels"
4) Black Flag, "T.V. Party"
5) The Kinks, "Sunny Afternoon"
6) The Lovin' Spoonful, "Daydream"
Wednesday Coffee Break: And Now for the Big Finish
Posted at 8:47 AM on March 24, 2010
by Steve Seel
(64 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(updated below)
Yesterday on the 9:30 Coffee Break, we did great album openers (a la High Fidelity - "top five side one track one tracks"). Today, as promised, our topic is great closers: the last song on a record that seems specifically put there for greatest effect. Let's hear 'em.
Update: We'll have to do this one again too, since the great suggestions were many. We went with:
1) The Replacements, "Can't Hardly Wait" (Pleased to Meet Me)
2) The Beatles, "A Day In the Life" (Sgt. Pepper)
3) The Clash, "Train In Vain" (London Calling - originally a hidden track, but we accepted it)
4) Neil Young, "Hey Hey My My (Into the Black)" (Rust Never Sleeps)
5) Wilco, "The Late Greats" (A Ghost Is Born)
6) The Rolling Stones, "You Can't Always Get What You Want" (Let It Bleed)
Tuesday Coffee Break: Hitting the Ground Running
Posted at 8:39 AM on March 23, 2010
by Steve Seel
(55 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(updated below)
It was one of the "Top 5" topics in High Fidelity: best "side one track one" songs on a record. This is a topic that has so many great answers that we're quite sure we'll have to come back to it many times for the 9:30 Coffee Break. Let's put together a nice cross-section of examples this morning. Awesome album openers!
(P.S. - Tomorrow we'll be doing "great album closers").
Update: Holy cow, we'll have to do this topic many, many times. Today we went with:
1) The Beatles, "A Hard Day's Night" (A Hard Day's Night)
2) Radiohead, "Airbag" (O.K. Computer)
3) Weezer, "My Name Is Jonas" (Weezer, The Blue Album)
4) Guns N' Roses, "Welcome To The Jungle" (Appetite For Destruction)
5) Neutral Milk Hotel, "King Of Carrot Flowers Pt. 1" (In the Aeroplane Over the Sea)
6) The Clash, "London Calling" (London Calling)
Monday Coffee Break: Sounds Like Spring
Posted at 8:18 AM on March 22, 2010
by Steve Seel
(17 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(updated below)
We got through the weekend without any real flurries to speak of, and this week, the forecast calls for highs in the 50s all week long. While we know we're never officially off the hook for winter untiil April has come and gone, it's nice to have the first day of spring (this past Saturday) behind us. So: let's put together a Spring Set today for the 9:30 Coffee Break. Songs about spring, or that sound like spring, or deal with spring topics.
Update: Thanks for the fine suggestions. We went with:
1) Belle and Sebastian, "Legal Man"
2) The Suburbs, "Spring Came"
3) The Beatles, "Here Comes the Sun"
4) Nirvana, "In Bloom"
5) The Zombies, "Time of the Season"
6) Travis, "Flowers in the Window"
Friday Coffee Break: A Texas Toast
Posted at 8:26 AM on March 19, 2010
by Steve Seel
(35 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
This week, half the entire music industry (and pretty much all of the indie music industry), not to mention a contingent of staffers from The Current are down in Austin TX for the big SXSW Music Conference. So that's got Texas on our minds, but we thought we'd bring a little Texas to the airwaves in a different way this morning too for the 9:30 Coffee Break (and especially since my guest co-host this morning, Jacquie Fuller, is a Texas native): a celebration of all things musically Texan today. Artists and bands from the Lone Star State, which, as Jacquie reminds us, is about as diverse musically as you can get.
Thursday Coffee Break: An Alex Chilton Tribute
Posted at 8:09 AM on March 18, 2010
by Steve Seel
(14 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
As we've been noting, the music world - and the indie music world in particular - is reeling this morning with the news of Alex Chilton's death. Since Mark Wheat first announced the sad news last night, we've been playing tunes by Alex and his ever-beloved band, Big Star. But this morning, we want to turn the airwaves over to you during the 9:30 Coffee Break and honor your requests for all things Alex Chilton. Let's put together a ringing toast to the man who is, to many people, the godfather of indie rock.
Wednesday Coffee Break: Those Guys Are Irish?
Posted at 8:56 AM on March 17, 2010
by Steve Seel
(20 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Everybody knows the big Irish musical acts - U2, Van Morrison, The Pogues - but today for the 9:30 Coffee Break, we thought an interesting topic might be "bands that you didn't know were Irish, or that you think most people would be surprised to find out were Irish." It can be whole bands, solo artists, or just band members or frontpersons.
Tuesday Coffee Break: The Vibra-Slap!
Posted at 7:59 AM on March 16, 2010
by Steve Seel
(21 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Yesterday on the 9:30 Coffee Break, we honored the unusual keyboard instrument known as the Mellotron. It's one of those things you may not know that name of, but you know the sound when you hear it. Today, a tribute to a much, much simpler instrument - one who's sound you'll also recognize when you hear it - but you may not know it's name either: the vibra-slap. If you are familiar with it and want to help us assemble our set, please do! Otherwise, stick around and here our tribute coming up at 9:30.
Monday Coffee Break: Mellotron!
Posted at 8:48 AM on March 15, 2010
by Steve Seel
(14 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(updated below)
What the heck is a Mellotron? Well, if you're a fan of '60s and '70s rock that was in any way experimental you've heard the sound. From the Beatles to Bowie to the prog-rock pioneers, this amazingly clunky yet heavenly-sounding keyboard instrument was regularly used to provide the sound of strings, brass, and choirs. It was like an early "sampling" keyboard - except, since sampling hadn't been invented yet, the various acoustic instrument sounds were contained on tape loops spinning inside the keyboards's giant housing. As you can imagine, it broke down - a lot.
Still, musicians loved using it, because it didn't really sound like any of the instruments it was imitating; it sounded like it's own instrument. Even today, a few bands use it to create unearthly keyboard effects.
Today, we want to pay tribute to this bizarre and beautifu keyboard instrument, and we're putting together a set. Meanwhile, know any songs that feature it? We'd love to have your input too.
Update: Thanks for the terrific suggestions; we got a couple of ideas that definitely hadn't occured to us (specifically,#4 and #5). We played:
1) The Beatles, "Strawberry Fields Forever"
2) Wilco, "She's A Jar"
3) David Bowie, "Space Oddity"
4) The Flaming Lips, "Race For the Prize"
5) Fiery Furnaces, "Duplexes of the Dead"
Friday Coffee Break: Definitive Versions
Posted at 8:08 AM on March 12, 2010
by Steve Seel
(65 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(updated below)
This Sunday evening, Barb Abney takes her daily "Cover to Cover" feature and expands it to an hour for Under the Covers, part of our Sunday night The Current Presents series. In celebration of the cover song (and Barb's special) this morning, we thought we'd return to the topic for the 9:30 Coffee Break. Today's angle: covers that most people would agree are the definitive versions of the song - in some cases, more well known than the originals.
Update: Arguments can always be made about what "definitive" means, but I think your suggestions were pretty right on:
1) Soft Cell, "Tainted Love" (originally by Gloria Jones)
2) The Byrds, "Mr. Tambourine Man" (originally by Bob Dylan)
3) Talking Heads, "Take Me To the River" (originally by Al Green)
4) Aretha Franklin, "Respect" (originally by Otis Redding)
5) The White Stripes, "Conquest" (originally by Patti Page)
6) Sinead O'Connor, "Nothing Compares 2 U" (written by Prince for the band The Family)
Thursday Coffee Break: Getting Creative With Rain
Posted at 8:47 AM on March 11, 2010
by Steve Seel
(41 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(updated below)
Rainy day - er, rainy week - here in Minnesota. It's the first real stretch of multiple rainy days we've had this spring, and while it's awesome that it's helping to wash away all the mucky-muck out there, it's also a bit drowsiness-inducing. So to help have some fun, we've decided to have another go at rain songs today for the 9:30 Coffee Break. Your assignment: help us mix it up between the obvious choices and some more obscure ones.
Update: We truly had no idea, when we were talking and joking about it, that we'd actually find #4 in our library.
1) The Cowsills, "The Rain, the Park and Other Things"
2) The White Stripes, "Red Rain"
3) The Beta Band, "Dry the Rain"
4) Oran "Juice" Jones, "Walking In the Rain"
You're just a squirrel tryin' to get a nut.
Wednesday Coffee Break: Bands Named for OTHER Bands' Songs
Posted at 8:45 AM on March 10, 2010
by Steve Seel
(17 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(updated below)
Yesterday on the 9:30 Coffee Break, we covered bands who have songs that are also their band's name. Today, we want to explore the phenomenon of bands naming themselves after other artsts' songs. (There's one big example you might pick - it's a band who's been seen over the years as the prime rival to The Beatles ... okay, as you can see, we're accepting suggestions that aren't exact, word-for-word copies of song titles).
Update: We played:
1) Spoon (song by Can), "Written In Reverse"
2) The Rolling Stones (song "Rollin' Stone by Muddy Waters), "Get Off of My Cloud"
3) Ladytron (song by Roxy Music), "Destroy Everything You Touch"
4) Pretty Girls Make Graves (song by The Smiths), "Pyrite Pedestal"
5) Radiohead (song by Talking Heads), "The Bends"
6) Death Cab for Cutie (song by the Bonzo Doo-Dah Dog Band), "The Sound of Settling"
9:30 Coffee Break: Song Title=Band Name
Posted at 8:45 AM on March 9, 2010
by Jill Riley
(22 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
What came first? The band name or the song title? Help us create a set a music where the band/artist name is the same as one of their own songs.
For example, Black Sabbath "Black Sabbath."
Songs we played:
Free Energy "Free Energy"
Bo Diddley "Bo Diddley"
M.I.A. "M.I.A."
Wilco, "Wilco (The Song)"
Talk Talk "Talk Talk"
Big Country "In a Big Country"
9:30 Coffee Break: Songs For "The Dude"
Posted at 8:43 AM on March 8, 2010
by Jill Riley
(17 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Jeff Bridges took home an Academy Award last night for his role as Bad Blake in the film Crazy Heart. Let's celebrate with a set of music for Jeff Bridges. Think Starman, TRON, The Big Lebowski, ect.
Songs we played:
David Bowie "Starman"
Creedance Clearwater Revival "Run Through The Jungle"
Mott The Hoople "All the Young Dudes"
Kenny Rogers & First Edition "Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Is In)"
Bob Dylan "The Man in Me"
Friday Coffee Break: Parade of Stars
Posted at 9:00 AM on March 5, 2010
by Steve Seel
(32 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(updated below)
With the Oscars coming up this Sunday night, let's build a set today featuring songs that are named for movie stars. (The requirement today is that the name has to be in the title - there are lots of songs that reference actors or actresses in their lyrics, and while we'd love to play Fountains of Wayne's "Hackensack" with it's line about Christopher Walken, we gotta narrow things down somehow).
Update: We played:
1) Billy Bragg and Wilco, "Ingrid Bergman"
2) Mika, "Grace Kelly"
3) Gorillaz, "Clint Eastwood"
4) The Postal Service, "Clark Gable"
5) Blue Oyster Cult, "Joan Crawford"
Thursday Coffee Break: Female Artists With One Name
Posted at 8:48 AM on March 4, 2010
by Steve Seel
(41 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(updated below)
With all the hubbub around here over the past week about Prince and his new song that we world-premiered last Friday, we thought we'd give some equal time this morning to female artists who have only one name. Already duly noted: Madonna, Fergie, Shakira, Beyonce', Rhianna, and Pink ... who are some others? That's today's topic for the 9:30 Coffee Break.
Update: Your suggestions we chose:
1) Feist, "My Moon My Man"
2) Cher, "Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)"
3) Bjork, "Venus As a Boy"
4) Dessa, "The Chaconne"
5) Nico (w/ The Velvet Underground), "All Tomorrow's Parties"
6) Adele, "Right As Rain"
Wednesday Coffee Break: Land of 10,000 Potholes
Posted at 8:32 AM on March 3, 2010
by Steve Seel
(29 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(Updated below)
Apparently, there's hope on the horizon for all who drive the Twin Cities: the thousands of potholes that plague the area will soon begin to be be patched, because the mystery-mix formula that's used to fill them (who knew it was so hard to come by?) has finally arrived, and MnDOT will start patching the wretched things sometime soon.
What are some songs that we could put together for a "pothole" set today for the 9:30 Coffee Break? We invite you to get creative on this, obviously ...
Update:
MPR has created a map of the region's worst potholes, and you can share your own too. See the map here.
Update II: Here are your suggestions we chose:
1) The Beatles, "Fixing A Hole"
2) Kanye West, "Drive Slow"
3) Hole, "Violet"
4) Arcade Fire, "No Cars Go"
5) AC/DC, "Highway to Hell"
Tuesday Coffee Break: A Subject, Verb, and Object
Posted at 8:16 AM on March 2, 2010
by Steve Seel
(49 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(updated below)
As we learned in school, those things are the elements of a sentence. But increasingly, they're also the elements of many band names. It's a uniquely modern phenomenon; can you imagine a band called "We Were Promised Jetpacks" back in 1969?
So, in conjuction with Alec Ounsworth's in-studio appearance with us here this morning (he of Clap Your Hands Say Yeah), we thought we'd explore the world of band names that are full sentences for today's 9:30 Coffee Break. Ready? OK Go.
Update: Tons of suggestions today ... here's what we went with:
1) They Might Be Giants, "Ana Ng"
2) Rage Against the Machine, "People Of the Sun"
3) Yo La Tengo*, "Little Eyes"
4) Kill the Vultures, "Where the Cuttroats Stay"
5) Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin, "Think I Wanna Die"
6) Pretty Girls Make Graves, "This Is Our Emergency"
* Spanish for "I got it!", as in a pop-fly you're about to catch.
Monday Coffee Break: Oh C'Mon, Canada
Posted at 8:47 AM on March 1, 2010
by Steve Seel
(21 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(updated below)
If you caught the closing ceremonies of the Olympics last night, then you witnessed another odd spectacle of all things Canadian: dancing mounties, floating human maple leaves, and of course (quoth Bob Costas), the "ever popular giant inflatable beaver." Then came the music: Avril Lavigne, Alannis Morissette, and Nickelback. Nickelback. Canada's finest?
We think not, of course. For today's 9:30 Coffee Break, let's round up some artists that you think are better examples of Canada's fertile musical soil - artists that, if the Olympic committee and closing ceremonies producers had been a little more fearless, the world might have seen and been a bit more impressed by than what they got.
Update: Canada rocks.
1) Broken Social Scene, "7/4 Shoreline"
2) The Tragically Hip, "New Orleans Is Sinking"
3) Stars, "Take Me To the Riot"
4) Tegan and Sara, "The Con"
5) Handsome Furs, "What We Had"
6) Rufus Wainwright, "California"
Friday Coffee Break: Thank You, Merci, Grazie, Muchas Gracias
Posted at 8:39 AM on February 26, 2010
by Steve Seel
(15 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Our 9:30 Coffee Break today is our gift to you: thank you for your amazing, generous support during our winter membership campaign, which wrapped up last night with 13,589 new and renewing members chiming in with their financial contributions. If you were one of them, thank you. Seriously. We'll play "thank you" songs today, and if you want to pitch in with your suggestion, we'd love to have it as always.
Thursday Coffee Break: Time's A Wastin'
Posted at 8:24 AM on February 25, 2010
by Steve Seel
(15 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today being the last day of the membership drive, time is running out for you to contribute and help us make these goals we gotta meet ... you can do it right now here. While you're here on the website, why not help us out with our 9:30 Coffe Break topic: time. Time is of the essence! Time's running out! Time is ... on our side? Time songs today. Tick tock tick tock ...
Wednesday Coffee Break: Uniforms
Posted at 8:54 AM on February 24, 2010
by Steve Seel
(20 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
The re-appearance of Devo on the scene at this year's olympics has got us thinking about uniforms. Once upon a time, bands used to wear matching outfits onstage (think The Beatles ... or The Monkees, for that matter). These days, though, when bands wear matching clothes, it's usually a little more toungue in cheek. For today's 9:30 Coffee Break, help us think of some bands that wear coordinating getups.
Tuesday Coffee Break: Is That What You're Gonna Wear?
Posted at 8:18 AM on February 23, 2010
by Steve Seel
(20 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
We've all been enjoying watching the olympics for the past couple weeks, and many folks have been following the figure skating and ice dancing with a particular fervor. But part of the fun has been gasping at those horrible outfits. Why on earth do they have to be so bad? It seems to be a requirement.
Well, bad or good, they certain are, uh, flashy. Let's celebrate some of the most gaudily dressed in music today. They don't have to be in leotards and glitter, but if they are, so much the better.
Monday Coffee Break: Darlin', You Know I Love You ...
Posted at 9:05 AM on February 22, 2010
by Steve Seel
(10 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today's 9:30 Coffee Break theme: songs with talking in them. Oh, how we love tunes with those little monologues in the middle ... "Sweetheart, it's been so long since I've told you ..." Sure, there's a ton of country songs that have spoken interludes in them, but we'll accept any song with speaking in it today, just to make it interesting. Whatcha got?
Friday Coffee Break: Do The Infidelity
Posted at 8:09 AM on February 19, 2010
by Steve Seel
(35 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(updated below)
Today is the day Tiger Woods comes out of hiding and gives his "no questions please" press conference, the first real appearance since his Thanksgiving private-life meltdown. Will he say "I'm sorry?" Will he explain exactly what the deal was with that super slow-speed crash? Why do we care so much?
Anyway, infidelity has long been fertile inspiration for art, and music in particular. Shall we play some cheating songs for Tiger today? Make your suggestions for the 9:30 Coffee Break.
Update: Thanks for your great requests. We began with our favorite suggestion:
1) Loretta Lynn, "You Ain't Woman Enough"
2) Glasvegas, "It's My Own Cheating Heart That Makes Me Cry"
3) Leadbelly, "Where Did You Sleep Last Night"
4) Hank Williams Sr., "Your Cheatin' Heart"
5) Martha Wainwright, "You Cheated Me"
Thursday Coffee Break: Lindsey Vonn Rocks
Posted at 8:39 AM on February 18, 2010
by Steve Seel
(23 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(updated below)
Everybody's happy today for Lindsey Vonn, local girl made good yesterday at the Olympics. We seriously think we should devote today's 9:30 Coffee Break to her in some way ... how would you salute Lindsey? What songs would make up an appropriate and fun 'yay Lindsey' set? That's what we want you to help us with today.
Update: Here's the fairly random, goofy set we put together with your help:
1) The Shins, "Kissing the Lipless" (obviously, we played this just for the band name)
2) The Suburbs, "Goggles"
3) The Replacements, "Buck Hill" (naturally)
4) Chairlift, "Bruises" (that's a twofer right there)
Wednesday Coffee Break: King Tut!
Posted at 8:24 AM on February 17, 2010
by Steve Seel
(15 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(updated below)
Perhaps you've seen it in the news: King Tut was not murdered! He met his end because of malaria and an injury. There's a news story that literally has been a few thousand years in the making.
Perhaps you also remember the King Tut "mania" that briefly swept the country back in the 70's, when the big exhibition of Tutankhamun's remains and treasures first toured America. We want to bring just a small amount of that mania back this morning. Your assignment: any song that ties in with Egypt, pharoahs, pyramids ... anything with a possible Tut tangent. A purely silly 9:30 Coffee Break for the first day of the membership drive today.
Update: The resulting set here is no surprise, we're sure.
1) Steve Martin, "King Tut"
2) The Coasters, "Little Egypt"
3) Sam the Sham and the Pharoahs, "Pharoah a Go-Go"
Tuesday Coffee Break: New Orleans Medley
Posted at 8:59 AM on February 16, 2010
by Steve Seel
(19 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(updated below)
It's Fat Tuesday! As good a reason as any to put together a little New Orleans rhapsody today for the 9:30 Coffee Break. We'll take your suggestions for tunes about New Orleans, performed by New Orleans musicians, or about things associated with the Big Easy (bourbon? dirty rice? houses of ill repute?).
Update: I think we covered a number of facets of New Orleans with these tunes:
1) The Animals, "House of the Rising Sun"
2) Tom Waits, "Jockey Full of Bourbon"
3) Fats Domino, "Walking to New Orleans"
4) Billly Bragg and Wilco, "Hoodoo Voodoo"
5) Dirty Dozen Brass Band, "Feet Don't Fail Me Now"
6) Muddy Waters, "Baby Please Don't Go"
Friday Coffee Break: The Great White North
Posted at 8:32 AM on February 12, 2010
by Steve Seel
(46 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Tonight begins the 2010 Winter Olympics, with the opening ceremonies taking place in Vancouver (the actual games get under way tomorrow). For today's 9:30 Coffee Break, we thought we'd do a salute to Canadian musicians. Admitedly, however, that's a bit broad of a topic. So how to narrow it down? Here's our assignment: to play one band from each of the provinces. Now, there are ten provinces, so we wouldn't be able to get to them all anyway - but that may be just as well, since it's not likely that there are too many bands from Prince Edward Island or Newfoundland and Labrador, but we could be wrong. Give it your best shot!
Meanwhile, here's a little inspiration for you:
Thursday Coffee Break: Freedom
Posted at 8:12 AM on February 11, 2010
by Steve Seel
(35 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
It was 20 years ago today that Nelson Mandela, held for 27 years in prison for being an anti-apartheid activist, finally walked out into the light of day after the South African government realized the scorn they had long engendered from much of the civilized world was no longer tenable - causing much celebration and hastening the end of the apartheid system in the country. It seems that songs of freedom is an appropriate topic for today's 9:30 Coffee Break. Help us craft a set that celebrates freedom in all its glorious manifestations, and if you can come up with a song that reasonates with Mandela's (and South Africa's) story in particular, so much the better.
Photo: anc.org.za
Wednesday Coffee Break: (Parenthetically speaking)
Posted at 8:46 AM on February 10, 2010
by Jim McGuinn
(46 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Ealrier today we came across two songs in a row on the morning show that used parenthesis in their titles: Alec Ounsworth's Modern Girl (... with Scissors)," and Talking Heads' "Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On)." And voila - a grammatical Coffee Break topic was launched (for you to add your suggestions below)! We can't wait to hear what you suggest (provided you follow the rules, that each song contain parenthesis). This should be an interesting Coffee Break (not that they aren't always interesting). Thanks for listening to the Current (and reading the blog, and submitting suggestions).
Tuesday Coffee Break: Technically Bad, Emotionally Awesome
Posted at 8:31 AM on February 9, 2010
by Steve Seel
(51 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Time was - many decades ago - to be a good singer, one had to conform to certain basic rules. Sure you had to convey emotion and conviction, but you also had to hit all the notes. Ever notice how today that's not always necessary for a singer to be deemed a good, or even great, vocalist? American Idol is one thing of course - where singing is almost more of a sporting competition than a musical one. But outside of that realm - and especially in rock n' roll - having vocal chops is hardly a prerequisite these days to conveying soul. In fact, sometimes, many great vocalists are appreciated for style that incorporates a certain roughness or sloppiness. Who are some examples? That's our theme for today's 9:30 Coffee Break: technically less-than-perfect, but emotionally awesome singers.
Monday Coffee Break: Indie Rock Super Bowl
Posted at 9:00 AM on February 8, 2010
by Steve Seel
(4 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
It's funny thinking about the acts who have played the Superbowl over the years; they represent, of course, the mainstream of the mainstream, like The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen and Michael Jackson. But what if the Superbowl's halftime acts were culled from the artists played on The Current? Who would make a perfect stadium-rocking band?
Friday Coffee Break: Get Out of Town
Posted at 8:44 AM on February 5, 2010
by Steve Seel
(35 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Jill is taking a much deserved vacation next week (DON'T LEAVE ME HERE JILL), and so she's of course got travellin' music on her mind (PLEASE TAKE ME WITH YOU) ... and since getting out of town is be something you might be fantasizing about right about now too (YOU BETTER COME BACK, JILL), we thought we'd take your suggestions for a few songs about vacations, travellin', or just hitting the road. That's the topic for today's 9:30 Coffee Break.
Thursday Coffee Break: Makin' The Laws
Posted at 7:57 AM on February 4, 2010
by Steve Seel
(34 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today is the beginning of the legislative session at the State Capitol, and with all that law makin' going on, we want to put together a law set for today's 9:30 Coffee Break. Songs about all things legal, or maybe even government related. (And let's keep it neutral and non-partisan today, thanks).
Wednesday Coffee Break: Songs We Wish Johnny Cash Had Lived To Cover
Posted at 7:51 AM on February 3, 2010
by Steve Seel
(55 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
The Man in Black recorded a lot of great covers over the course of his lifetime, and many younger listeners are especially familiar with some of the late covers from his American series of recordings, like Depeche Mode's "Personal Jesus" and Nine Inch Nails' "Hurt." Cash proved just what a master of reinterpretation he was with songs like these.
With the upcoming release of Cash's American VI: Ain't No Grave, we got to thinking about Johnny's amazing cover talents again. Today's question for the 9:30 Coffee Break: what are some songs you wish Johnny had lived to cover? Let your mind run wild and help us come up with some tunes you can only imagine would have been awesome in his voice.
Tuesday Coffee Break: A Cast of Thousands
Posted at 8:07 AM on February 2, 2010
by Steve Seel
(47 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today's 9:30 Coffee Break is all about bands that have a lot of people in them ... potentially too many. You know; those bands that, when you see them live, you think, "Do they really need all those people up there on stage?"
There's no set threshold number of people that needs to be surpassed in order for your suggested band to qualify today; just bands that have rosters with a lot of folks on them.
Monday Coffee Break: I Can Tell We're Gonna Be Friends
Posted at 7:44 AM on February 1, 2010
by Steve Seel
(40 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
For past 9:30 Coffee Breaks, we've done musical couples, and we've done musical siblings. It occured to us that we've never put together a set of just plain ol' duos, who aren't related and aren't/weren't romantically involved.
Who are some of the great strictly professional duos of rock/soul/R&B/country/etc? Help us put together a set for today's 9:30 Coffee Break.
Thursday Coffee Break: Saluting the Wah-Wah
Posted at 9:01 AM on January 28, 2010
by Steve Seel
(10 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(updated below)
For today's 9:30 Coffee Break, help us build a set honoring that most awesome of guitar effects pedals, the wah-wah. It's use, it's over-use, perhaps even it's abuse ... all's fair game.
Update: Like I said on the air, there's no way this could even be close to a "top five" favorite wah-wah songs, so we just attempted to create a nice cross-section from your requests. We went with:
1) Isaac Hayes, "Theme from Shaft"
2) U2, "Mysterious Ways"
3) Jimi Hendrix, "Voodoo Child"
4) Rufus, "Tell Me Something Good"
5) Rodrigo y Gabriela, "Buster Voodoo"
What's the deal with wah-wah and voodoo?
Wednesday Coffee Break: Hold On To Your Ego
Posted at 8:40 AM on January 27, 2010
by Steve Seel
(26 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(updated below)
So it was just announced that Avatar is now the biggest grossing film in history, surpassing Titanic. What do these two films have in common? Director James Cameron - who's exclamation that he was "king of the world!" while accepting the best picture Oscar for Titanic not only echoed Leo DiCaprio's line in the movie, but also succinctly communicated how Cameron actually feels about himself. The man is known for having one of the larger egos in Hollywood, which is quite an achievement.
We thought about doing a Coffee Break set today showcasing some of music's more modest and humble personalities (to offer a kind of cosmic balance to this news), but the nature of egomania means that it's the egotists who get all the noteriety. So who are some of music's biggest ego's? That's the 9:30 Coffee Break topic today.
Update: Too many big egos to fit into one Coffee Break today; we didn't quite have enough room for Sting, Billy Corghan or Axl Rose (even Elvis Costello got a couple of votes), but here are the artists who pushed themselves to the front of the pack:
1) Oasis, "Live Forever" ("bigger than the Beatles"? Really?)
2) Frank Sinatra, "I've Got You Under My Skin"
3) Prince, "Baby I'm a Star"
4) KISS, "Calling Dr. Love" (Gene Simmons: possibly the biggest ego in the history of all music?)
5) Hole, "Violet" (Courtney Love was suggested by someone who suspected our set would otherwise be rather male-centric)
Tuesday Coffee Break: A Musical Bus Ride
Posted at 8:30 AM on January 26, 2010
by Steve Seel
(45 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(updated below)
It's about this time every morning that certain friends of mine tend to post Facebook updates regarding their particular experience at the moment on the bus (or at the bus stop). I always look forward to their posts. For example, this morning one friend posted, "The man on the bus just informed all of us that he might pass out. And that he loves birthdays." Riding the bus is such a fun way to start your day, isn't it? (Earlier, another noted, "First at the bus stop, first on the bus. It's the unspoken rule").
Howabout some "bus songs" today for our 9:30 Coffee Break topic?
Update: Lots of common responses today. We played the big favorites, but also the clever suggestions like the Simon & Garfunkel tune and the Hang-Ups' lovely, underrated little gem.
1) Soul Coughing, "Bus to Beelzebub"
2) The Hollies, "Bus Stop"
3) The Replacements, "Kiss Me On the Bus"
4) Simon & Garfunkel, "America"
5) The Hang-Ups, "Greyhound Bus"
6) The Who, "Magic Bus"
Monday Coffee Break: A Wailin' Sax
Posted at 8:59 AM on January 25, 2010
by Steve Seel
(6 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
We could do a coffee break this morning about heartbreak or disgust over the Vikings' loss yesterday, but we decided to find some way to be cheerful instead. So a little unironic saxophone seemed in order. You know you love the thing. Or maybe you don't; we'll also take requests for songs that are otherwise great but nearly ruined by the presence of a sax solo. That's today's 9:30 Coffee Break.
Dear Conan: Please Say "I'll Be Right Back"
Posted at 7:47 AM on January 22, 2010
by Steve Seel
(45 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
So tonight is Conan O'Brien's last night as host of The Tonight Show. For a lot of folks (myself and Jill included), that's a drag. Make all the arguments that you like for or against NBC's move, it's still hard not to feel like Conan got a severely raw deal (well, aside from that 45 million dollar severance package, of course).
We eagerly look forward to seeing what Conan has in store for his final show this evening, but in the meantime, got anything you'd like to say to Conan in song? Let's put together a set for Conan this morning for the 9:30 Coffee Break. Songs that might be appropriate as we bid farewell, and hopefully, "see you again real soon" - like perhaps on another network?
Thursday Coffee Break: Dances With Wolfman
Posted at 7:46 AM on January 21, 2010
by Steve Seel
(47 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
As noted in our Music History post below, today is the anniversary of the birth in 1938 of Wolfman Jack (born Robert Weston Smith), the '60s-era deejay, actor, and entertainer. First coming to prominence on high-powered California and Texas/Mexican border AM radio stations, he became known to a wider audience as the DJ in the film American Grafitti, then as host of the NBC music performance show Midnight Special in the '70s.
We want to pay tribute to the Wolfman in music this morning, with some wolf tunes on the 9:30 Coffee Break. Everybody knows Warren Zevon's "Werewolves of London;" what are some others?
Wednesday Coffee Break: It's A Carnival
Posted at 7:54 AM on January 20, 2010
by Steve Seel
(64 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(updated below)
If only because it's freezing outside and our midwinter insanity is starting to seriously kick in, we're thinking about ... carnival rides.
Okay, we actually got the notion from this morning's Random Vinyl pick, The Young Rascals' "How Can I Be Sure," which had that carnival midway vibe to it. Howabout a set where we play tunes that either contain "carnival sounds" (suprisingly, there are a few out there), or touch on carnival/midway/amusement park subjects? That's your assigment for today's 9:30 Coffee Break.
Update: The first three requests we played were clearly evocative of the atmosphere of a midway or amusement park; and the last two touched upon the subject matter (although metaphorically, natch).
1) Queen, "Brighton Rock" (awesome carnival sound-effects at the beginning!)
2) The Beatles, "Being For the Benefit of Mr. Kite"
3) Tom Waits, "Innocent When You Dream (Bar Room version)"
4) Ohio Players, "Love Rollercoaster"
5) The Hollies, "On a Carousel"
Tuesday Coffee Break: Oh, Now I Get It
Posted at 8:55 AM on January 19, 2010
by Steve Seel
(36 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(updated below)
Remember those songs you listened to when you were younger that you thought were about one thing, but when you got a little older, you realized they were about something else? They could be double entendre songs - like, oh, Warrant's "Cherry Pie" - or tunes that simply couched their naughty sentiments in innocent-sounding clothing, like Extreme's "More Than Words" ("that's just a nice love song, isn't it?"). Well, we want you to give us some examples today of songs that suddenly revealed a different meaning to your ears once you got a little older (or perhaps had a knowing friend clue you in). That's the topic for today's 9:30 Coffee Break.
Update: Funny how most of these kinds of songs end up being sexual in nature. I'm not quite sure why that's so surprising. Nevertheless, here are our selections from your requests, and we apologize for not getting to "Afternoon Delight."
1) Cyndi Lauper, "She Bop"
2) The Kinks, "Lola"
3) The Who, "Squeeze Box"
4) Bessie Smith, "A Little Sugar In My Bowl"
5) Frankie Goes to Hollywood, "Relax"
6) The Rolling Stones, "Mother's Little Helper"
Well there you go - five sex songs and one about valium. Rock n' roll!
Friday Coffee Break: Fictional Musicians
Posted at 8:46 AM on January 15, 2010
by Steve Seel
(49 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(updated below)
Since we were talking this morning with MPR's Movie Maven Stephanie Curtis about Crazy Heart, the new film starring Jeff Bridges as a country music star who's career is nearing its end, we got to thinking about fictional musicians - artists or bands depicted in movies or TV shows who aren't real. You know, like Stillwater, or Crucial Taunt. We bet you can think of a couple additional examples. Get creative and help us put together a set for today's 9:30 Coffee Break.
Update: This was a tough assignment we set up for ourselves (regarding how easily we'd be able to track things down, that is), but here's what we came up with from your requests:
1) The Sleaze Sisters (from Times Square), "Damn Dog"
2) Spinal Tap, "Stonehenge"
3) The Monkees, "Mary Mary"
4) The Carrie Nations (from Beyond the Valley of the Dolls) "Sweet Talkin' Candy Man"
5) The Partridge Family, "I Think I Love You"
Thursday Coffee Break: Rock n' Roll Heaven
Posted at 7:36 AM on January 14, 2010
by Steve Seel
(47 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Rock n' roll lyrics sure contain a lot of references to heaven to be the devil's music, as proclaimed by so many fundamentalist preachers over the decades. Help us make a heavenly set for today's 9:30 Coffee Break: songs with heaven in the title or prominently in the lyrics.
Wednesday Coffee Break: Cabin Fever
Posted at 8:10 AM on January 13, 2010
by Steve Seel
(27 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
If you're like us, you've been suffering from some serious cabin fever, with these ridiculously sub-arctic temeratures we've had over the past several weeks. And now, with the temperatures rising into the 30s (!!!) for the forseeable short term future, people are practically delerious with joy.
Got any songs that express the cabin fever we've all been experiencing? Tunes about being shut in, about isolation, about being cut off from the outside world? That's the topic for today's 9:30 Coffee Break.
Tuesday Coffee Break: Checkin' the Stars
Posted at 8:11 AM on January 12, 2010
by Steve Seel
(25 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
This morning on our Random Vinyl feature, Jill brought in this awesomely bizarre relic. It's Discover Yourself Through Astrology, a late 60s spoken-word-with-jazz-orchestra-backing record featuring tracks that individually profile the different signs of the zodiac. Trippy. Anyway, it's got us thinking about horoscopes. What's some other music that touches on and/or refers to horoscopes and the zodiac?
Monday Coffee Break: Always Look On the Bright Side of Life
Posted at 8:54 AM on January 11, 2010
by Steve Seel
(32 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Jill and I had a pretty crappy Sunday - she had an exploding food vessel on her stove that burned half of her kitchen floor and countertop, and my car was totalled by a hit-and-run driver. Hooray! So this morning, we're trying to look on the bright side and find things to be positive about, like the fact that nobody died in all of this melee. For today's 9:30 Coffee Break, we're looking to build an optimistic set. Songs for looking on the bright side, or affirming that things are turning around for the better. Help us out!
Friday Coffee Break: Soundtrack To An Imaginary Romantic Comedy
Posted at 8:40 AM on January 8, 2010
by Steve Seel
(74 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
This morning, we welcomed MPR's Movie Maven Stephanie Curtis to chat about this year's lead contender in the January "romantic comedy" follies that Hollywood unleashes every year precisely at this time (we had no idea they do this so systematically, but we were hardly surpsied), and we got talking about the standard formula for romantic comedies. Here's a funny article that addresses some of those cliches you see an awful lot of the time.
So we got to thinking: what kind of music screams "romantic comedy soundtrack"? (The article above touches on this a bit). You know: songs that, genre-wise, just always seem to show up in trailers for (or montages in) for wacky boy-meets-girl star vehicles?
That's your assignment today: help us generate a soundtrack for an imaginary romantic comedy. High concept, yes, but we know you're up to the challenge.
The 9:30 Prison Break!
Posted at 8:46 AM on January 7, 2010
by Steve Seel
(39 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(updated below)
It's not the 9:30 Coffee Break today, it's the Prison Break. Prison songs! Why? No particular reason except we've never done it before and there are a lot that would work. The jail, the cage, the big house ... let's have your suggestions.
Update: As expected, a couple of songs came in ahead of most of the others; that would be selections #1 and #4.
1) Thin Lizzy, "Jailbreak"
2) M. Ward, "Jailbird"
3) XTC, "Ball and Chain"
4) Johnny Cash, "Folsom Prison Blues"
5) Social Distortion, "Prison Bound"
Wednesday Coffee Break: Baby Baby Baby
Posted at 8:04 AM on January 6, 2010
by Steve Seel
(38 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(updated below)
We announced all the details about Rock the Cradle this morning, our annual event "for kids and their grown ups" at the Minneapolis Institute for the Arts and Childrens Theater Company. If you've never been before with your little one(s), you don't know what a day of fun and musically hip bonding you're missing.
Anyway, here's our seque to the 9:30 Coffee Break this morning: howabout songs with "baby" in the title, or figuring prominently into the lyrics? There seem to be a few of those in popular music. Make your suggestions in comments, or here.
Update: We ended up with five songs with baby in the title and one (the final one) that simply has a whole lot of baby's in it.
1) The White Stripes, "Baby Brother"
2) Wanda Jackson, "Rock Your Baby"
3) Big Star, "When My Baby's Beside Me"
4) The Beach Boys, "Don't Worry Baby"
5) Yo La Tengo, "Here Comes My Baby" (Cat Stevens cover)
6) James Brown, "I Got The Feelin'"
Tuesday Coffee Break: Flute Rock!
Posted at 7:39 AM on January 5, 2010
by Steve Seel
(40 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(Updated below)
Earlier this morning, we played some Jethro Tull for our "Random Vinyl" pick. It got us thinking about the flute in rock n' roll. Everybody thinks of Tull first when it comes to flute rock; but what are some more rock tunes that use the flute? There are probably a couple other prog-y things out there, but what else? Flute rock is the topic for today's 9:30 Coffee Break.
Submit your suggestions in comments, or here.
Update: Yes, we played Men at Work. We got a bunch of requests for them! No, we didn't construct this coffee break just so we could play that song. Anyway, give the people what they want.
1) Love and Rockets, "No New Tale To Tell"
2) Donovan, "There Is a Mountain"
3) Atmosphere, "The Waitress"
4) Men at Work, "Down Under"
5) Wolfmother, "Witchcraft"
6) The Mamas and the Papas, "California Dreamin'"
Monday Coffee Break: Time To Trim Down?
Posted at 8:10 AM on January 4, 2010
by Steve Seel
(27 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
As we know, the #1 New Year's resolution many people is to lose weight. So if that's a topic that's on your mind today (admittedly, it's on ours too), then help us put together a set for the 9:30 Coffee Break on a fitness theme. We've got some ideas and bet you can come up with some too. Bodies, sweating, "fat-ness" or "thin-ness" ... Drop 'em in comments, or here.
Thursday Coffee Break: Songs For New Beginnings
Posted at 8:09 AM on December 31, 2009
by Steve Seel
(20 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(updated below)
In honor of the New Year (whether or not you agree that it's a new decade), we want your help in building a 9:30 Coffee Break set that revolves around those New Year qualities of new beginnings, changes, and fresh starts ... perhaps even resolutions. Submit your ideas in comments, or here.
Update: Your suggestions that we chose:
1) John Lennon, "Just Like Starting Over"
2) Azure Ray, "New Resolution"
3) David Bowie, "Changes"
4) The Rolling Stones, "The Last Time"
5) Cloud Cult, "Start New"
Happy New Year everyone!
Wednesday Coffee Break: Ones and Zeroes
Posted at 7:57 AM on December 30, 2009
by Steve Seel
(60 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
What the hell was this decade called anyway? Many have opted for "the Oughts," while some have suggested "the Two-Thousands." Then there's the "Naughts," the "Oopses," or just "the decade from hell." Then there's the whole debate over when a decade - or century, or millenium - actually begins. On the "zero" year, or the "one" year? Jill and I are of the mind that a decade begins with the changing second-place digit, and a zero in last place (you know - "the 60's.")
Any way you slice it, we've got zeroes and ones on the brain today. Let's play some songs with either "one" or "zero" in the title. We're tired from all the debating on this topic, so getting creative is your job!
Monday Coffee Break: A Remembrance, Pt. 1
Posted at 8:51 AM on December 28, 2009
by Steve Seel
(16 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(Updated below)
For the 9:30 Coffee Break over the next couple of days, Jill and I will be paying tribute to some of the great musicians the world lost in 2009. If you've got a suggestion for who we shoud make sure we squeeze onto the list, feel free to chip in in comments or here.
Update: Today's musicians whom we honored:
1) The Ronettes (featuring Estelle Bennet, and written by Ellie Greenwich), "Be My Baby"
2) Jeff Hanson, "I Just Don't Believe You"
3) The Suburbs (feat. guitarist Bruce Allen), "Chemistry Set"
4) The Stooges (feat. guitarst Ron Asheton), "I Wanna Be Your Dog"
5) Michael Jackson, "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'"
Thursday Coffee Break: Jesus In Secular Music
Posted at 8:38 AM on December 24, 2009
by Steve Seel
(6 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
For today's 9:30 Coffee Break, Jill and I had a slightly different idea for a Christmas-oriented theme. Since the holiday is about, you know, that guy who got born in a manger and inspired 2000 years subsequent devotion, consternation and, not least of all, art - howabout some songs demonstrating some of that historical impact? It's quite an understatement to say that Jesus has made his way into the poetry of rock from it's beginning. So that's our topic today. Jesus in rock! Exhibits A thru E:
1) Johnny Cash, "Personal Jesus"
2) Wilco, "Jesus, Etc."
3) The Vaselines, "Jesus Wants Me For a Sunbeam"
4) Tom Waits, "Chocolate Jesus"
5) Cloud Cult, "Story of the Grandson of Jesus"
Wednesday Coffee Break: Festivus!
Posted at 7:59 AM on December 23, 2009
by Steve Seel
(38 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today is Festivus, a holiday for the restivus! So gather around the Festivus Pole to air your grievances, enjoy your ham loaf, and demonstrate your feats of strength.
For the 9:30 Coffee Break today, we'll focus specifically on the grievances. What songs communicate the singer's gripe or complaint in a particularly sharp way? Submit your suggestions here or below. And while you're at it, feel free to air your grievances with us - we just might air yours on the radio. Send 'em to sseel@thecurrent.org or jriley@thecurrent.org.
Tuesday Coffee Break: Product Of The Year
Posted at 7:38 AM on December 22, 2009
by Steve Seel
(19 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(updated below)
No, it wasn't the iPhone, or the cheap GPS device. You know what it was. The Snuggie. Need more proof? The Village Voice has compiled this handy timeline to track the saturation the damn thing has managed in popular culture over the past 12-plus months. Then of course, there's this:
So in honor of the cultural stranglehold that the, uh, sleeved fleece blanket had over us this past year, howabout a 9:30 Coffee Break set in the Snuggie's honor? Here's your chance to really get creative with your song choices. Knock yourself out.
Update: Sue us that we ended up going with a few "sweater" songs; until there are "snuggie" songs, that's pretty much the locus of "cozy garment" tunes out there. So, three sweaters and a blanket:
1) Weezer, "Undone (The Sweater Song)"
2) Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong, "Under A Blanket of Blue"
3) Terry Reid, "Sweater"
4) Yo La Tengo, "Autumn Sweater"
Monday Coffee Break: The Winter Solstice
Posted at 8:13 AM on December 21, 2009
by Steve Seel
(28 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
"Winter," for all practical purposes, has of course been with us for some time now, but it gets its official start today with the onset of the Winter Solstice. We're embracing winter this morning for the 9:30 Coffee Break: we want your requests for tunes that reflect the ambiance and atmosphere of the season, or songs that make reference to the season in their lyrics. Winter songs, today on the coffee break. Submit them here or below.
Mickey Leigh: I Slept With Joey Ramone
Posted at 8:52 AM on December 18, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Jill and I were joined this morning by Mickey Leigh, brother of Joey Ramone of the Ramones, and author Legs McNeil, founder of Punk magazine and former editor at Spin, to talk about their new book, I Slept With Joey Ramone. The two of them are appearing tonight at Nick and Eddie's in Minneapolis to read from the book and talk about their relationships with Joey, and give their account of one of the greatest punk bands in history. The event begins at nine.
Here's the audio from the interview:
Friday Coffee Break: Miracle Songs
Posted at 8:05 AM on December 18, 2009
by Steve Seel
(11 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
With Hanukkah coming to a close, we have miracles on our minds - the miracle of the lamp staying lit for eight nights. What are some songs about miracles? That's the theme for today's 9:30 Coffee Break. Drop em' off below, or here.
Thursday Coffee Break: Is Your Shopping Done?
Posted at 8:34 AM on December 17, 2009
by Steve Seel
(32 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Mine sure isn't. Jill's isn't either. In fact, it's the same story every year for me: "uh oh, do I even still have time to ship anything?" And so, into the retail breach I go, to join the melee of consumerist insanity that we all participate in every year around this time. So howabout some songs that deal with the retail exerpience, positive, negative, or otherwise today for the 9:30 Coffee Break? Shopping songs. We'll take your favorites below, or here.
Wednesday Coffee Break: Wants and Needs
Posted at 8:09 AM on December 16, 2009
by Steve Seel
(54 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(update below)
"Daddy, I WANT a new Xbox for Christmas." "Mom, I NEED a new pair of Nikes; mine aren't perfectly white anymore." We all have "wants and needs" for the holidays, whether we're 5 or 50. Right now, you might be getting an earful from the kids, relatives and friends in your life; it's amazing to think of all the things we think we need, but perhaps could do without in the final analysis. Anyway, that's our jumping-off point for the 9:30 Coffee Break today: songs with "want" or "need" in the title. Toss your suggestions in the comments below, or here.
Update: It's no surprise that this was a popular topic since there are so many awesome possibilities. Of all the stuff you recommended, here's what I went with.
1) Jackson 5, "I Want You Back"
2) Radiohead, "All I Need"
3) The Smiths, "Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want"
4) Fountains Of Wayne, "I Want An Alien For Christmas"
5) Bessie Smith, "I Need A Little Sugar In My Bowl"
6) Cheap Trick, "I Want You To Want Me"
Tuesday Coffee Break: What Day Is This?
Posted at 8:23 AM on December 15, 2009
by Steve Seel
(19 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Since Jill and I obviously weren't sure ourselves earlier this morning - at least for a few minutes - we thought we'd put together a set to help remind us that it's not quite as far into the week as we both thought it was. So, it's Tuesday songs today for the 9:30 Coffee Break - songs with "Tuesday" in the title. Yes, there are some obvious choices. I imagine we'll play them, and happily take your suggestions for things that are a little more clever. Since, you know, we're clearly depending on you for the intelligence today.
Monday Coffee Break: Sectional Songs
Posted at 8:42 AM on December 14, 2009
by Steve Seel
(40 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(update below)
Today's 9:30 Coffee Break pays tribute to the multi-part song. You know, kinda like "Bohemian Rhapsody," which has it's slow ballad beginning, the operatic middle, the head-banging third section, and the slow finale. Help us put together a set of tunes that go in two, three, four or more directions before they're over. Make your requests below, or here.
Update: Clearly, this is a topic with way too many good answers, judging from all the suggestions we got, many of which you can see below. So, we'll definitely do this one again soon! The requests we went with today:
1) Paul McCartney & Wings, "Band On the Run"
2) Radiohead, "Paranoid Android"
3) Franz Ferdinadn, "Take Me Out"
4) Weezer, "Dreamin'"
Friday Coffee Break: The Festival Of Lights
Posted at 8:39 AM on December 11, 2009
by Steve Seel
(35 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(Updated below)
WIth tonight being the first night of Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, let's put together a set of songs for the 9:30 Coffee Break today that have "light" or "lights" in the title. Today's set will have a definite festive glow. Make your requests below, or right here.
Update: Thanks for the requests everybody. Your glowing requests we played:
1) Wilco, "What Light"
2) Bob Mould, "See A Little Light"
3) The Rolling Stones, "Shine A Light"
4) The Flaming Lips, "What Is The Light?"
5) The Jayhawks, "Real Light"
Happy Hanukkah!
Thursday Coffee Break: Brrr ...
Posted at 8:39 AM on December 10, 2009
by Steve Seel
(27 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
It's true that we're goin' for the obvious this week, but again, sometimes the obvious is the best. It's cold outside. So let's do "cold" songs today for the 9:30 Coffee Break. Songs with "cold" (or a word that's a variation on the concept) in the title.
Wednesday Coffee Break: Snow Day
Posted at 8:18 AM on December 9, 2009
by Steve Seel
(31 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(updated below)
Okay, let's do this.
It's a snowy day. It's a snow day. You know you want to hear some snow songs, so for today's 9:30 Coffee Break, go ahead and request 'em. (We originally thought, "let's do 'wind songs' in honor of the windy conditions" ... but then we thought, "ah hell, sometimes the obvious choice is the best"). Offer your suggestions in the comments below, or here.
Update: Your requests we selected:
1) Jeremy Messersmith, "Snow Day"
2) Galaxie 500, "Listen, The Snow is Falling"
3) Clearlake, "Wonder If The Snow Will Settle"
4) Trip Shakespeare, "Snow Days"
Tuesday Coffee Break: Lennon Forever
Posted at 7:56 AM on December 8, 2009
by Steve Seel
(16 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(updated below)
December 8th has become one of music's international days of mourning, as it's the day John Lennon was shot and killed in 1980. In the intervening years, however, it's also become a day when Lennon's music is celebrated - both his contributions to The Beatles and his solo work as well.
Tonight at First Avenue, it's the annual Curtiss A John Lennon Tribute that happens every year on December 8th, but this year the event also serves as the CD release party for the Minnesota Beatle Project, a new compilation of Beatle covers by local bands that raises funds for Minnesota Music Educators Association and Art Educators Minnesota (it also happens to be our CD of the Week here at The Current).
So for today's 9:30 Coffee Break, let's take your suggestions for Lennon music - either with The Beatles or solo.
Update: Your requests that we played:
1) John Lennon, "Instant Karma"
2) The Beatles, "Norwegian Wood"
3) John Lennon, "Oh Yoko!"
4) The Beatles, "I Am The Walrus"
5) John Lennon, "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)"
Monday Coffee Break: Great Instrumentals
Posted at 8:53 AM on December 7, 2009
by Steve Seel
(14 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(updated below)
It's a "no-vocal Monday" ... for today's 9:30 Coffee Break, we want your suggestions for great instrumentals. The trick for you is going to be helping us find things that aren't just classic rock (although we plan to play a healthy share of those).
Update: Your requests that we played:
1) Vince Guaraldi, "Linus and Lucy"
2) The Go! Team, "Junior Kickstart"
3) Booker T. and the MG's, "Green Onions"
4) Ween, "Fiesta"
5) Beastie Boys, "B For My Name"
6) Santo and Johnny, "Sleepwalk"
Wow, that version of "Linus and Lucy" was not good. It's not the familiar version, which appears on A Charlie Brown Christmas; this one is a different performance that came off of the Vince Guaraldi LP Oh Good Grief. I think I'll skip that version next time.
Friday 9:30 Coffee Break: More Cowbell!
Posted at 9:03 AM on December 4, 2009
by Jill Riley
(25 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Help us fill our prescription for more cowbell!
Oh, and if you're cowbell skills are rusty, take a look at this video:
Songs played:
The Rolling Stones "Honky Tonk Woman"
Beastie Boys "Hey Ladies"
War "Low Rider"
Nazareth "Hair of the Dog"
Blue Oyster Cult "Don't Fear the Reaper"
There were WAY too many songs to pack into the 9:30 Coffee Break today! We'll have to revisit this theme soon...
Thursday 9:30 Coffee Break: Let It Snow
Posted at 7:37 AM on December 3, 2009
by Jill Riley
(34 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today's forecast:
Cloudy with scattered snow showers. Highs 25 to 30. Northwest winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation 40 percent.
Tonight
Cloudy. Scattered flurries. Lows around 15. Northwest winds 10 to 15 mph.
Tomorrow:
Cloudy. Scattered flurries. Highs around 25. West winds 10 to 15 mph.
In that case, I would say today's coffee break theme calls for snow songs. Or songs appropriate for the season. Tis the coffee break for the snow songs, fa la la la la, la la, la la.
9:30 Coffee Break: Street Names
Posted at 8:42 AM on December 2, 2009
by Jill Riley
(41 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today we're looking for songs with a street name in the title. _____ Street, _____ Road, _____ Avenue... you get the picture.
Tuesday 9:30 Coffee Break: A Coffee Break About... Coffee.
Posted at 8:39 AM on December 1, 2009
by Jill Riley
(46 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Not only do we get song requests for the 9:30 Coffee Break, but sometimes we get requests for themes. A few folks have suggested the topic of coffee. Seems to make sense, right? 9:30 Coffee Break about... coffee.
9:30 Coffee Break: Surf's Up!
Posted at 8:17 AM on November 30, 2009
by Jill Riley
(24 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
We know, we know... we have a long winter ahead of us. The cool morning temps lately are plenty of inspiration to warm up with some surf music. Got any good suggestions?
Wedneday Coffee Break: Honor Thy Turkey
Posted at 7:58 AM on November 25, 2009
by Jill Riley
(22 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
It's the day before Thanksgiving. Some of us are prepping our stomachs for mass quantities of turkey (and the tryptophan coma that follows shortly after), while some are planning a shopping binge this Friday. Help us honor our favorite Thanksgiving menu item with some bird songs for the 9:30 Coffee Break.
Thanks for all the requests!
We played:
The Beatles "And Your Bird Can Sing"
Theresa Andersson "Birds Fly Away"
The Trashmen "Surfin Bird"
A Band of Bees "Chicken Payback"
Everly Brothers "Bird Dog"
Prince "When Doves Cry"
Tuesday Coffee Break: Planes, Trains and Automobiles
Posted at 8:19 AM on November 24, 2009
by Steve Seel
(27 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(updated below)
A little travelin' music is in order today, as we get ready for one of the biggest travel days of the year tomorrow (which is shaping up to be delightful: good chance of snow mixed with rain for the Twin Cities and surrounding area - yay!). So let's have your songs about travel for today's 9:30 Coffee Break. Offer 'em up below, or right here.
Update: Here are you fine suggestions we played:
1) Creedence Clearwater Revival, "Travellin' Band"
2) Talking Heads, "Road To Nowhere"
3) The Beatles, "Back In The U.S.S.R."
4) The Monkees, "Last Train To Clarksville"
5) Imogen Heap, "First Train Home"
Travel safely, everybody.
Monday Coffee Break: Short and Sweet
Posted at 8:16 AM on November 23, 2009
by Steve Seel
(24 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(updated below)
In honor of the short week this week (for many folks, that is - our hearts go out to those working in service or retail who will be on the clock Thursday and/or Friday), the topic for today's 9:30 Coffee Break is "short and sweet"; songs that are over practically before they've even gotten rolling. As usual, make your requests below, or here.
Update: Given the topic, we had the time to play plenty of songs. Your requests that we went with:
1) The White Stripes, "Fell In Love With A Girl"
2) Elvis Presley, "A Little Less Conversation"
3) Minutemen, "Political Song For Michael Jackson To Sing"
4) The Beatles, "Maggie Mae"
5) The Bees, "Voices Green And Purple"
6) The Pixies, "Allison"
7) They Might Be Giants, "Minimum Wage"
8) The Replacements, "Run It"
9) Neutral Milk Hotel, "A Baby For Pree"
10) Guided By Voices, "Teenage FBI"
11) Magnetic Fields, "Asolutely Cuckoo"
12) Ramones, "Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue"
13) Tom Waits, "Bend Down The Branches"
Friday Coffee Break: Viernes No Ingles!
Posted at 7:37 AM on November 20, 2009
by Steve Seel
(36 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Time again for our periodic Friday feature, Viernes No Ingles - when we take your requests for songs sung in any language but English. It's just that simple. Jot 'em down below, or here.
Thursday Coffee Break: Second At The Mic
Posted at 7:56 AM on November 19, 2009
by Steve Seel
(37 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
For today's 9:30 Coffee Break, here's an idea: songs sung by the person who served as the secondary lead singer in the band. Some props to the backup guy or gal who took the mic every now and then and fully held his or her own with the regular frontperson. Offer up your suggestions below, or here.
Wednesday Coffee Break: To Friend or Un-Friend?
Posted at 8:59 AM on November 18, 2009
by Steve Seel
(33 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Perhaps you've heard about new the "word of the year" - the Oxford American Dictionary chooses a new word each year as a summation of the year's zeitgeist. This year, it's one you may have used yourself - or at least hear others use: "unfriend." If you're on Facebook, that's a concept you've likely been exposed to (and hopefully, not been the victim of yourself).
So in honor of the word of the year, we gotta do breakup songs for today's 9:30 Coffee Break.
Tuesday Coffee Break: Sky Songs
Posted at 8:41 AM on November 17, 2009
by Steve Seel
(22 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Did you look up in the sky in the early hours of this morning to check out the Leonid meteor shower? Did you opt to forgo experiencing one of the wonders of the natural world to get a couple extra hours of sleep? (The latter was the popular option here on the morning program). Either way, we're turning our eyes skyward for today's 9:30 Coffee Break as we take your suggestions for "sky songs" - songs with "sky" in the title. Leave 'em below, or over here.
Monday Coffee Break: Off To China
Posted at 8:58 AM on November 16, 2009
by Steve Seel
(20 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
With President Obama in China, we've got the all things Chinese on our minds today for the 9:30 Coffee Break. Make your suggestions for songs with the words china or chinese in the title below or here.
Friday Coffee Break: Movies Named For Songs
Posted at 8:30 AM on November 13, 2009
by Steve Seel
(28 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
It's been a popular source for movie names over the decades: song titles. It seems like it became a particularly common method of naming movies in the '80s, but there are fine examples from other eras too. What are some good ones? Help us think of some and we'll put together a set for today's 9:30 Coffee Break.
Thursday Coffee Break: Key Change!
Posted at 8:49 AM on November 12, 2009
by Steve Seel
(35 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
What ever happened to the mid-song key change? You just don't seem to hear them like you used to. Is it because rock musicians these days don't quite know their music theory like musicians of previous generations did, and only learn their parts to songs chord by chord? Whatever the reason, it's just rare to hear anymore. So help us put together a solid set featuring key changes today for the 9:30 Coffee Break.
Wednesday Coffe Break: Veterans Day
Posted at 8:41 AM on November 11, 2009
by Steve Seel
(14 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
For the 9:30 Coffee Break, help us put together a diverse mix honoring vets today. It doesn't even have to be a song specifically about veterans; if it feels appropriate for the day, let us know what it is and we'll weave together a good set with your help.
Tuesday Coffee Break: Hats Off To Sesame Street!
Posted at 8:39 AM on November 10, 2009
by Steve Seel
(32 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Sesame Street is 40 years old today, an anniversary you're probably aware of if you've been over to the Google lately. So in honor of this fine program that taught us, among other things, to count, we're doing counting songs for today's 9:30 Coffee Break. Specifically, songs that have counting in them (as opposed to just "count-offs" at the beginning). One, two, three ... go! Suggest 'em below, or here.
Monday Coffee Break: Break It Down, Mr. Gorbachev
Posted at 7:59 AM on November 9, 2009
by Steve Seel
(16 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
And guess what? He did. It was 20 years ago today that the Berlin Wall fell.
Today for the 9:30 Coffee Break, there's only one topic that seems appropriate: freedom. Obviously, that's a broad topic and there are a lot of directions we can go with this. But as always, we're leaving the creativity to you. Suggest songs about freedom in general, or tunes that feel relevant to this specific historical event in particular. Leave your suggestions below, or here.
Friday Coffee Break: Hidden Tracks
Posted at 8:44 AM on November 6, 2009
by Steve Seel
(36 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(updated below)
Step right up and lend us your requests for today's topic: hidden tracks is the subject of today's 9:30 Coffee Break. Examples can include CD or vinyl, or even tracks that became so popular that they became "un-hidden" on subsequent pressings of the album. Leave your suggestings below, or here.
Update: Thanks for your suggestions, which covered a wide variey of hidden track types:
1) The Clash, "Train In Vain"
2) The Beatles, "Her Majesty"
3) R.E.M., "Superman"
4) The Rolling Stones, "Untitled (from Her Majesty's Satanic Request)
5) Green Day, "All By Myself"
6) Atmosphere, "Say Shhh..."
Thursday Coffee Break: Bands That Survived A Change Of Lead Singer
Posted at 8:50 AM on November 5, 2009
by Steve Seel
(26 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
That's the topic for today's 9:30 Coffee Break. Notice that all we said was survived (we didn't say that they necessarily prospered). Of course, there are tons of classic rock examples (Journey, anyone?), but we need your help to come up with a broad swath of choices here today. Chime in below, or here. Can't wait for your suggestions.
Wednesay Coffee Break: By The Way, Which One's Pink?
Posted at 8:20 AM on November 4, 2009
by Steve Seel
(46 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(updated below)
Why would you name your band after a person who's not actually in the band? Because it's clever, confusing, and therefore fun. Not to mention ironic, which is always good too. Today's 9:30 Coffee Break is all about such bands, like Jethro Tull or Lynyrd Skynyrd (both were real people, incidentally - just not in the band, since the former was an 18th-century British agriculturalist and the latter a guy actually named Leonard Skinner who was a gym teacher the guys in the band had in high school). Naturally, we'd like you to help us think of some others (not that we'd never play either of those ... don't tempt us).
Update: Here are our six selections from your over 150 awesome suggestions:
1) Walt Mink, "Miss Happiness"
2) Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes, "40 Day Dream"
3) Fujiya & Miyagi, "Transparent Things"
4) Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin, "Think I Wanna Die"
5) Bettie Serveert, "Tomboy"
6) Belle & Sebastian, "Dear Catastrophe Waitress"
Tuesday Coffee Break: Cast Your Votes
Posted at 8:00 AM on November 3, 2009
by Steve Seel
(16 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
In light of election day in Minnesota today, it's time for another round of election, voting or democracy themed songs for today's 9:30 Coffee Break. Democracy is serious business of course, but that doesn't mean the Coffee Break has to be. Make some fun song suggestions and then do your duty and head to the polls! Submit your suggestions below or right here.
(Now for the serious part: to find your polling place, click here).
Friday Coffee Break: Get Yer Ghost
Posted at 8:50 AM on October 30, 2009
by Steve Seel
(28 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Time for the official Halloween installment of the 9:30 Coffee Break today: ghost songs. We're looking for songs with the word "ghost" in the title, or at least featured prominently in the lyrics.
Thursday Coffee Break: Let's Do It!
Posted at 8:34 AM on October 29, 2009
by Steve Seel
(25 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
It's the last day of The Current's Fall Member Drive, and we can use some extra musical motivation. What's a good phrase to get us pumped?
How about "do it"? That's pretty immediate!
Le'ts hear your suggestions for song titles that contain the words "do it" in the title. That'll be the topic for today's 9:30 Coffee Break.
Wednesday Coffee Break: Tell Us A Story
Posted at 8:35 AM on October 28, 2009
by Steve Seel
(26 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
It's story time today for the 9:30 Coffee Break: we want your suggestions for songs that tell a story. Happy tales, sad tales, funny ones ... in three to four minutes and rhythmic. Go!
Tuesday Coffee Break: Science!
Posted at 8:57 AM on October 27, 2009
by Steve Seel
(18 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Get our your test tubes, beakers, and quadratic formula today - we're taking your requests for songs touching on science for the 9:30 Coffee Break. The song title can have "science" in it, or the theme of the song can be scientific in nature. Give us what ya got ...
Monday Coffee Break: Your Requests In Da House
Posted at 8:25 AM on October 26, 2009
by Steve Seel
(18 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(updated below)
A house, a home, a crib or a domicile ... we're looking for "house" or "home" songs today for the 9:30 Coffee Break. We're feelin' your love in our house this morning, since you helped us meet our membership challenge from Best Buy. (Today's coffee break is also in honor of Jill closing on her house this afternoon; welcome to domesticity Jill).
Update: Your requests we played:
1) Commodores, "Brick House"
2) Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, "Our House"
3) Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, "Home"
4) LCD Soundsystem, "Daft Punk Is Playing At My House"
Friday Coffee Break: Viernes No Ingles, Membership Edition
Posted at 8:29 AM on October 23, 2009
by Steve Seel
(27 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
It's time for another edition of Viernes No Ingles, or No English Friday for the 9:30 Coffee Break! Request your favorite song in any language other than English, and we'll put together a set!
Here are the sets we played last time
and the time before that.
Thursday Coffee Break: Phone Songs!
Posted at 8:46 AM on October 22, 2009
by Steve Seel
(20 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(updated below)
It's the first day of the Member Drive, with the constant din of phone number recitation hanging in the air, we thought we'd defer to the traditiional first-day topic for the 9:30 Coffee Break: songs about telephones! Make your comment to the blog below, or submit your request here.
Update: Well, it was two big favorites and one very special oddball "ringer" (sorry) today:
1) Electric Light Orchestra, "Telephone Line"
2) Leroy Van Dyke, "If A Woman Answers (Hang Up The Phone)"
3) Cake, "Never There"
Thanks everyone!
Wednesday Coffee Break: Get Your Spy Vibe On
Posted at 8:51 AM on October 21, 2009
by Steve Seel
(16 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(updated below)
Let's get out the shades, the pressed suit, the cool ride (government issue or not), and help us go out and fight some crime today with the right music. That's the topic for the 9:30 Coffee Break today: spy sounds!
Update: Wow, I think this was one of my favorite coffee breaks ever. We had great suggestions - a combination of songs actually written for spy and/or crime dramas paired with tunes that utilize the elements of that sonic language (it's a fascinating study in how a certain combination of sounds can come together to signify something as specific as "spy music"). Your requests we played:
1) Johnny Rivers, "Secret Agent Man"
2) Bitter:Sweet, "Trouble"
3) Shirley Bassey, "Goldfinger"
4) The Go! Team, "Junior Kickstart"
5) Quincy Jones and His Orchestra, "Soul Bossa Nova"
(Why the last track? If you don't know it by title, you'll recognize it when you hear it as Austin Powers music).
Tuesday Coffee Break: The Simpsons Still Rock
Posted at 8:03 AM on October 20, 2009
by Steve Seel
(25 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(updated below)
For the upcoming 20th anniversary (!) of The Simpsons, the show is looking for suggestions for a new character, who will appear on the anniversary episode which will also include Coldplay. It was the Coldplay angle got NME thinking about the awesome history of the show's cameos by famous musicians - like Red Hot Chili Peppers, Paul McCartney, Sonic Youth and others (check out NME's slideshow here).
We're highlighting favorite band moments from the show's history for this morning's 9:30 Coffee Break, and we'd love to take your suggestions if you've got your own favorite.
Update: Here are your request we played, after beginning with a short sample from the show itself (The Ramones playing "Happy Birthday" to Mr. Burns):
1) The Rolling Stones, "It's Only Rock N' Roll"
2) Smashing Pumpkins, "Zero"
3) The White Stripes, "The Hardest Button To Button"
Monday Coffee Break: Let The Wild Rumpus Begin!
Posted at 8:21 AM on October 19, 2009
by Steve Seel
(23 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(updated below)
Do you catch Where The Wild Things Are this weekend? The reviews have certainly been all over the place; the New York Times beamed, while writers such as Stephanie Zacharek in Salon savaged it (her argument being that it was clearly for adults, not for kids ... duh?). Anyway, let's have a wild rumpus today and create a beastly set for the 9:30 Coffee Break. Songs about monsters, beasts, and, uh, (cough) wild things ...
Update: Your requests we played (special props to the clever person who supplied the last request):
1) David Bowie, "Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps)"
2) Supernova, "Chewbacca"
3) X, "Wild Thing"
4) Sheb Wooley, "The Purple People Eater"
5) KC and The Sunshine Band, "I'm Your Boogie Man"
Friday Coffee Break: The Return of Viernes No Ingles
Posted at 8:05 AM on October 16, 2009
by Jill Riley
(28 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
It's time for another edition of No English Friday. Make your requests for songs sung in anything but English today for the 9:30 Coffee Break.
Here's what we played. Thanks again for your suggestions for this popular topic!
Seu Jorge "Rebel Rebel" (Bowie song in Portugese)
David Bowie "Heroes" (in German)
Dungen "Panda" (Sweden)
Falco "Der Kommissar" (Austria)
Prototypes "Je Ne Te Connais Pas" (France)
Colomach "Cotocun Gba Gounke" (African psychedelic rock!)
Thursday Coffee Break: Paying Homage in a Song Title
Posted at 7:08 AM on October 15, 2009
by Jill Riley
(37 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Every now and then a band/musician will write a song about someone famous. Actors, politicians, singers, models, etc. For the 9:30 Coffee Break, help us put together a set of tunes with a famous name in the title.
Here are few ideas to trigger the brainstorming:
David Bowie "Andy Warhol"
Kim Carnes "Bette Davis Eyes"
Bauhous "Bela Lugosi's Dead"
Mason Jennings "Ballad of Paul & Sheila"
With your help, here's what we went with for the 9:30 Coffee Break set:
The Replacements "Alex Chilton"
Billy Bragg "Levi Stubb's Tears"
Weezer "Buddy Holly"
Van Morrison "Jackie Wilson Said (I'm in Heaven)
Cake "Frank Sinatra"
The Decemberists "Valerie Plame"
Wednesday Coffee Break: Mystery Set #2
Posted at 7:59 AM on October 14, 2009
by Jill Riley
(1 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today for the 9:30 Coffee Break, it's another edition of the mystery set. We pick the songs, and then you figure out what the theme is and tell us. There's no prize, but you'll feel some pride for knowing the right answer.
So, if you think you know what the songs have in common, give us a call at 651-989-4893.
Coffee Break Set:
Persephone's Bees "Nice Day"
The Mighty Mighty Bosstones "Where'd You Go"
The Shangri-Las "Leader of the Pack"
The Answer:
All the songs in the coffee break had motorcycle sound effects. Congrats to Naomi, listening in River Falls, WI. She was able to pick it out!
9:30 Coffee Break: Goin' Solo
Posted at 8:11 AM on October 13, 2009
by Jill Riley
(14 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Two former members of Husker Du are performing shows this week. Bob Mould is at First Avenue tonight in Minneapolis and Grant Hart has a show right next door at The Entry Thursday night. Mould's latest record "Life and Times" was released this past April and Hart has a brand new release called "Hot Wax."
Today's 9:30 Coffee Break topic is all about musicians who've gone solo. For the sake of making good radio, what solo projects have worked?
*UPDATE*
Bjork "Human Behavior" (The Sugarcubes)
Morrissey "First of the Gang to Die" (The Smiths)
Joan Jett "Bad Reputation" (The Runaways)
Justin Timberlake "Rock Your Body" (NSYNC)
Jenny Lewis "The Big Guns" (Rilo Kiley)
9:30 Coffee Break: Bring on the Nintendo Rock!
Posted at 9:07 AM on October 12, 2009
by Jill Riley
(9 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
I like to call it Nintendo Rock, but I suppose the correct terminology, or genre name, would be 8-bit rock. Is there a correct term for music made with gamer equipment? Give us your 2 cents, err, 8 bits for this set.
--updated--
Here's what we played:
Beck "Bad Cartridge (E-Pro remixed by Paza)"
Caly McMorrow "The Rain Came"
Unicorn Dream Attack "Alone"
Glomag "Pocket Calculator" (This came from a compilation called "8-Bit Operators: The Music of Kraftwerk")
Friday Coffee Break: Songs For A Girl
Posted at 8:37 AM on October 9, 2009
by Steve Seel
(66 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(updated below)
You know, there are a few songs in existence who's titles are female names. Just a few.
Brian's list: "Rosanna, Roxanne, Michelle, Allison, Sarah, Angie, Brandi, Mandy, Gloria, Cecelia, Maggie May, Jessica, Nancy, Barbara Anne, Billie Jean, Layla, Lola, Polly, Helena, Jenny From the Block, Sherry, Laura, Wendy, Maria, Peggy Sue, Minnie the Moocher, Tracy, Jean, Jane, Maryanne, Eleanor Rigby."
So here's your assisgnment for today: help us come up with some examples that Brian doesn't name in this clip. That'll be our mission for today's 9:30 Coffee Break!
Update: Holy Barbara Anne, Batman! 60-plus comments and over 100 requests via the online submission form, plus countless phone calls? Jill and I will definitely be doing this one again. Here are your requests we selected:
1) Dolly Parton, "Jolene"
2) Mark Ronson feat. Amy Winehouse, "Valerie"
3) The Four Seasons, "Dawn (Go Away)"
4) They Might Be Giants, "Ana Ng"
5) Donovan, "Jennifer Juniper"
6) Glasvegas, "Geraldine"
THANKS everybody! Great job.
Thursday Coffee Break: Guiro Hero!
Posted at 8:15 AM on October 8, 2009
by Steve Seel
(9 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Do you know the guiro? You probably know it when you hear it, if you don't necessarily know the name, or the sound it makes just by looking at it. Here's a little video aid:
Now you know it, right? Well, we'd like to put together a little set of tunes featuring the guiro today. Just think of where you've heard this sound, and you can do it. The guiro is the topic for today's 9:30 Coffee Break.
In the meantime, here's a fun little gag we enjoyed:
Wednesday Coffee Break: Good Vibes For The Twins
Posted at 8:35 AM on October 7, 2009
by Steve Seel
(12 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(updated below)
Got any tunes you'd like to play for the Twins today as they gear up for the game tonight against the Yankees? We're putting together a set for the 9:30 Coffee Break and we'd love to take your suggestions. Respond below or here.
Update: Some of your requests we were more than happy to play:
1) A & R, "Joe Mauer '09" (Joe Mauer's "at bat song")
2) Elvis Costello, "Pump It Up"
3) Black Flag, "Rise Above"
4) The Baseball Project*, "Pastime"
5) The Hold Steady, "Take Me Out To The Twins Game"
6) The Hold Steady, "Stay Positive"
*The Baseball Project is a collaboration from last year between Steve Wynn, Peter Buck, Scott McCaughey and Linda Pittmon - it's a CD of songs all about baseball. This particular song was requested by Kevin the Twins Music Manager; thanks Kevin!
Tuesday Coffee Break: Covers That Are Better Than The Original
Posted at 8:48 AM on October 6, 2009
by Steve Seel
(35 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(updated below)
We won't give you any hints or suggestions, because we want to hear your ideas. But there might be some examples of covers that are better than the originals that we can all agree on; there also might be a whole bunch of examples Jill and I have never thought of, and those are the ones we really want to hear. Get your suggestions in for today's 9:30 Coffee Break.
Update: Let's repeat: subjective is obviously the word of the day. One person's improvement is another's sacrilege and another's "it's just different, not better or worse." But these were the standout requests:
1) Jimi Hendrix, "All Along The Watchtower" (Dylan)
2) Jeff Buckley, "Hallelujah" (Leonard Cohen)
3) Ike and Tina Turner, "Proud Mary" (Creedence Clearwater Revival)
4) Elvis Costello and The Attractions, "What's So Funny About Peace Love and Understanding?" (Nick Lowe)
Thanks everyone! And thanks to Vanessa for suggesting today's Coffee Break topic.
Monday Coffee Break: Side Projects
Posted at 8:11 AM on October 5, 2009
by Steve Seel
(3 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
There's a lot of buzz about Thom Yorke's new band right now (they don't have a name yet): the band is made up of Yorke, drummer Joey Waronker (R.E.M. Beck, Walt Mink), Radiohead/Beck producer Nigel Godrich, and Flea. It's got us thinking about side projects today. What are some projects by members of significant and/or successful bands which have been succesful or at least interesting in their own right? That's the topic for today's 9:30 Coffee Break.
Friday Coffee Break: The Giants of Production
Posted at 7:47 AM on October 2, 2009
by Steve Seel
(15 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
In honor of our interview feature this morning with Brian Eno - one of modern music's most distinctive and sought-after producers - we thought we'd honor some of rock's other celebrity producers ... folks who's names are often just as big as the bands they produce. Give us some good examples and we'll play songs from some of their notable projects today for the 9:30 Coffee Break.
Thursday Coffee Break: Mystery Set
Posted at 8:43 AM on October 1, 2009
by Steve Seel
(12 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today for the 9:30 Coffee Break, it's the first of a periodic feature: we pick the songs, and then you figure out what the theme is and tell us.
Sorry, there's no prize. Other than our love, and a tender pat on the head. But this should still be fun.
Here's one hint: all the tunes relate to a band who was fond in one way or another of the songs and/or bands we'll play.
Wednesday Coffee Break: Home To Austin
Posted at 8:44 AM on September 30, 2009
by Steve Seel
(18 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
This weekend is the annual Austin City Limits Festival in Austin, TX, this year featuring such giant name marquee acts as Pearl Jam, Kings of Leon and Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and indie faves like Andrew Bird, The Avett Brothers and Blitzen Trapper.
For today's 9:30 Coffee Break, though, we thought we'd pay tribute to this very, very musical town from another angle: by taking your requests for bands that actually hail from this fair city.
Tuesday Coffee Break: Sweet Dreams or Nightmares?
Posted at 8:35 AM on September 29, 2009
by Steve Seel
(22 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Your assignment today, should you choose to accept it, is to help us mine the rich vein of songs that deal with dreams. Song with "dream" in the title. We'll pass on Heart and Aerosmith ... you can help us dig deeper (or at least get sillier). That's the 9:30 Coffee Break today.
Monday Coffee Break: God Save The King
Posted at 8:54 AM on September 28, 2009
by Steve Seel
(18 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
With Kings of Leon performing at the Target Center tonight, we got to thinking: there are a lot of performers with "king" in their name. We'd like to put together a set with some examples, with your help. That's today's topic for the 9:30 Coffee Break.
Friday Coffee Break: He's Neither Heavy Nor My Brother
Posted at 7:48 AM on September 25, 2009
by Steve Seel
(18 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(updated below)
Yesterday's topic for the 9:30 Coffee Break was musical siblings. During the course of taking your requests, though, some folks made suggestions for fictional siblings - and we thought, "hey - there's Friday's topic." So there you go: bands who's members have the same last names, although they're not really related. This is a tricky one, but we know you can do it.
Update: You did it!
1) The Ramones, "Rockaway Beach"
2) Ween, "Transdermal Celebration"
3) The Blues Brothers, "Rawhide"
4) The Fratellis, "Chelsea Dagger"
5) The Partridge Family, "C'Mon Get Happy"
6) The White Stripes, "Hotel Yorba"
Thursday Coffee Break: Sibling Harmony
Posted at 8:15 AM on September 24, 2009
by Steve Seel
(18 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(updated below)
You've got your Hansons, your Jonas Brothers ... but let's delve a little deeper into the world of brotherly and sisterly music-making today. What are some duos, trios, quartets et cetera who rock the common surname? Siblings: that's our topic today for the 9:30 Coffee Break.
Update: your suggestions we played:
1) Tegan and Sara, "You Wouldn't Like Me"
2) The Kinks, "Victoria"
3) The Magic Numbers, "Forever Lost"
4) The National, "Brainy"
5) The Five Stairsteps, "Ooh Child"
6) The Fiery Furnaces, "Tropical Iceland"
Wednesday Coffee Break: Falsetto!
Posted at 8:16 AM on September 23, 2009
by Steve Seel
(27 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(updated below)
Let's hit those high notes today! The really high ones! Help us put together a set of tunes featuring those crystal clear highs achieved with the help of a little falsetto for the 9:30 Coffee Break.
Update: WOW ... great response, folks! We had way too many awesome suggestions, so Jill and I decided we would do this topic again soon. Some of your requests we played today, starting with the top vote-getter both online and on the phone:
1) The Darkness, "I Believe In A Thing Called Love"
2) Prince, "I Wanna Be Your Lover"
3) Bon Iver, "Beach Baby"
4) The Castaways, "Liar Liar"
5) Radiohead, "Reckoner"
And with that, we ran out of time. But for your viewing pleasure today, since it registered s high on the enthusiasm scale:
Tuesday Coffee Break: Musical Matrimony
Posted at 8:19 AM on September 22, 2009
by Steve Seel
(18 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(updated below)
Death Cab's Ben Gibbard and singer/actress Zooey Deschanel tied the knot over the weekend.
Photo: Frazer Harrison/ Getty Images
Those happy wedding bells have left us with "musical matrimony" on the brain this morning. Who are some other notable couples in music? We'll go first and get John and Yoko out of the way ... who else?
Update: Some of your fine suggestions we selected:
1) Johnny and June Carter Cash, "Jackson"
2) Mates of State, "Goods (All In Your Head)"
3) Low, "Starfire"
4) Sonny and Cher, "I Got You Babe"
5) Sonic Youth, "My Friend Goo"
By the way, there was one thing we would have loved to play, but alas, it's an extremely hard-to-find, long out-of-print relic (Rolling Stone famously called the album "worthless" upon it's release, and gave it zero stars). But dig this cover:
Monday Coffee Break: With Strings
Posted at 8:49 AM on September 21, 2009
by Steve Seel
(12 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(updated below)
Who says strings don't rock? Not The Beatles, not The Stones, not any band who's ever found that a little string-section action couldn't punch up a song and make it that much more romantic/wistful/powerful.
What are some of your favorite rock, soul, hip hop or r&b tunes that benefit from a healthy does of violins, violas and cellos backing up the band? That's the topic for today's 9:30 Coffee Break.
Update: Nice suggestions, folks! Here's what we played (beginning with the crowd favorite):
1) The Verve, "Bittersweet Symphony"
2) Lloyd Cole and the Commotions, "Rattlesnakes"
3) Sufjan Stevens, "Chicago"
4) Camera Obscura, "Let's Get Out Of This Country"
Friday Coffee Break: Wowee Zowee!
Posted at 8:48 AM on September 18, 2009
by Steve Seel
(3 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(updated below)
Start spreadin' the news: Pavement is reuniting for a series of shows in 2010. As far as news goes in the indie rock world, that's pretty big. Pavement's label Matador makes it official here.
The band's first official scheduled show will be in Central Park in September of 2010. There's a ticket presale beginning today. The password is "zowee" (the link to the presale is contained in the link above).
What are some of your favorite Pavement songs? Tunes that they must cover in their forthcoming shows? Let me know today and I'll put 'em together in a set for today's 9:30 Coffee Break.
Update: here were some of the top vote getters that I played:
1) "Gold Soundz"
2) "Spit On A Stranger"
3) "Shady Lane"
4) "Cut Your Hair"
Thursday Coffee Break: Best Backup Vocals
Posted at 8:13 AM on September 17, 2009
by Steve Seel
(21 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
It's all in the vocal arrangement today: what are some background vocals that truly make the song? They can be credited (i.e. anything from Gladys Knight and the Pips to The Beatles) or uncredited studio singers. Help us put together a fun set!
Wednesday Coffee Break: Out Of Breath
Posted at 8:38 AM on September 16, 2009
by Steve Seel
(12 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
We know what rock n' roll is about, right? (Dancing and cars ... ba-dump-bump). The term was coined, after all, as a descriptor for, well, uh, lovin'. And so it's not surprising that as rock became more, er, emotive, moving through the 60's to the sexy 70's to the explicit 80's to the downright obscene 90's and beyond, that heavy breathing should become a prominent vocal effect. So what are some examples? That's our topic today for the 9:30 Coffee Break. Oh boy, this could go lots of ways ...
Tuesday Coffee Break: Call And Response
Posted at 7:16 AM on September 15, 2009
by Steve Seel
(13 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
We're looking for tunes that contain call-and-response today: either between vocals, or vocals and instruments (like, say, a harmonica, in a great blues song). An example that we might use: The Zombies' "Time of the Season" and its "What's you name (what's your name?) Who's your daddy (who's your daddy)?" Or, a tune who's response is literally that -answers to the questions posed in the first part of the line. Put your thinking cap on and help us put together a good set.
Monday Coffee Break: That 80s Drum Sound
Posted at 8:54 AM on September 14, 2009
by Steve Seel
(10 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(updated below)
You know it, you love it. It's ridiculous. The sound of 80s electronic drums, and specifically, those tom fills. Think every other song from the Top Gun soundtrack.
Well that cheesy percussive sound is what we're celebrating today on the 9:30 Coffee Break. Do-da-doom-doom-doom ...
Update: Today's set wound up being by no means a definitive set. But the tracks we played, culled from your requests:
1) Datarock, "Give It Up" (an example of a new song with that 80s drum sound)
2) Orchestral Maneuvers In the Dark, "Tesla Girls"
3) Jan Hammer, "Miami Vice Theme"
4) Cocteau Twins, "Lorelei"
The Coffee Break: Color-Full Friday
Posted at 8:12 AM on September 11, 2009
by Steve Seel
(49 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
It's a no-brainer subject today, 'cause it's the end of the week. Let's do Primary Color Colorful Friday: yer reds, blues, yellows. greens, oranges, and purples. Happy shiny colors as we look toward the weekend.
Thursday Coffee Break: La's, Na's, Da's, and Ba's
Posted at 8:12 AM on September 10, 2009
by Steve Seel
(26 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Song-filler? And excuse to not finish writing the lyrics? Nonsense. La la's and na na's are all part of the rock n' roll song canon (despite the fact that Mark Wheat is on record saying their overuse drives him crazy). So this morning for the 9:30 Coffee Break, your assigment is to put together a set with some of the finer la's and na's, da da da's and ba ba ba's in pop.
Wednesday Coffee Break: Songs *About* The Beatles
Posted at 8:48 AM on September 9, 2009
by Steve Seel
(16 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(updated below)
Beatles month is here on The Current, as you can clearly see from all the stuff going on elsewhere here on the website, and can hear on our airwaves as well. We'll be playing a lot of Beatles tunes themselves, so today for the 9:30 Coffee Break, Jill and I thought we'd spin it a little differently: what are songs that reference The Beatles in their lyrics?
Update: Nice choices, folks:
1) Metric, "Gimme Sympathy"
2) David Bowie, "Young Americans"
3) The Clash, "London Calling"
4) Oasis, "Don't Look Back In Anger"
5) Daniel Johnston, "Lennon Song"
6) Mott the Hoople, "All The Young Dudes"
Tuesday Coffee Break: Back To School
Posted at 8:51 AM on September 8, 2009
by Steve Seel
(11 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(updated below)
As much as we'd enjoy playing you that school-themed Replacements song you'd love to hear this morning, the FCC would smack our butts with a $350,000 fine quicker than Sister Mary Madeline would ruler-whip your hands for passing notes. So, other than that tune, got any suggestions for school songs for today's 9:30 Coffee Break? We've heard a few over the years. Let us know which ones you'd like to hear this morning.
Update: Some of your fine requests that we played:
1) The Ramones, "Rock n' Roll High School"
2) The Smiths, "The Headmaster Ritual"
3) The Jackson 5, "ABC"
4) The Suburbs, "Chemistry Set"
5) Louis XIV, "Hey Teacher"
6) The Beach Boys, "Be True To Your School"
Friday Coffee Break: Summer's Final Fling
Posted at 8:37 AM on September 4, 2009
by Steve Seel
(18 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(updated below)
Everybody knows that despite the fact that summer doesn't "officially" end until the 21st, Labor Day is the accepted end of the season. Labor Day is America's weekend of bidding adieu to summer, with one final three-day fling.
So, it's goodbye summer today on the 9:30 Coffee Break.
Update: Cool suggestions, folks. We appreciated the mix of hues - looking back to summer, and forward to the change of seasons. Your requests we selected:
1) The Beach Boys, "All Summer Long"
2) Death Cab For Cutie, "Summer Skin"
3) Sly and the Family Stone, "Hot Fun In the Summer Time"
4) The White Stripes, "We're Going To Be Friends"
5) The Decemberists, "Summersong"
6) The Kinks, "Waterloo Sunset"
Thursday Coffee Break: All Things Psychedelic
Posted at 8:55 AM on September 3, 2009
by Steve Seel
(11 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(updated below)
WIth the Beatles Rock Band trailers making their way around the internets right now (not to mention the 40th anniversary of Woodstock), there's a lot of psychedelic imagery being (re-)introduced into popular consciousness. We'll certainly have our share of Beatles hype going on throught the month of September, so why not just celebrate musical psychedelia in general this morning? That's our topic for the 9:30 Coffee Break.
Update: We enjoyed taking requests for psychedelia both old and new - classic and "revivial" (and evene local in the case of First Communion Afterparty). A handful of your awesome requests that we played:
1) Strawberry Alarm Clock, "Incense and Peppermints"
2) Kim Fowley, "The Trip"
3) The Black Angels, "Black Grease"
4) First Communion Afterparty, "2CB"
5) Jefferson Airplane, "White Rabbit"
6) Electric Prunes, "I Had Too Much To Dream Last Night"
Update II: Jill and I also had some fun getting ridiculous with sound effects this morning. In case you missed it ...
Wednesday Coffee Break: You Performed with Who???
Posted at 7:58 AM on September 2, 2009
by Steve Seel
(21 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(updated below)
So this morning we played the Grizzly Bear tune "While You Wait For the Others" featuring Michael McDonald on the lead vocals, the version that Bill DeVille blogged about yesterday. It's truly a thing of beauty - gob-smackingly surreal and (intentionally?) hilarious as it may be.
So, howabout odd and/or unusual collaborations for this morning's 9:30 Coffee Break? We bet you can think of a few down through the years.
Update: Boy-o, thanks for all the awesome requests, people! The handful that we played:
1) Bing Crosby and David Bowie, "Peace On Earth/Little Drummer Boy"
2) Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, "Killing The Blues"
3) Hindu Love Gods (Warren Zevon backed by R.E.M. without Micahel Stipe), "Raspberry Beret"
4) Tom Jones w/ The Cardigans, "Burning Down The House"
5) Loretta Lynn w/ Jack White, "Portland Oregon"
Tuesday Coffee Break: Theramin Lives!
Posted at 8:19 AM on September 1, 2009
by Steve Seel
(11 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(updated below)
You might not know the electronica artist Moldover, but his profile is starting to rise considerably at the moment thanks to one of the more ingenious marketing gimmicks in recent memory. Just when fewer and fewer people are buying physical CDs themselves, Moldover has given you reason to buy one: he's put a real, working theremin inside the jewel box of his new release.
That's way cool, and it's got us thinking about theremins in general. What are some rock tunes that feature it? We're putting a set together, and would love your input too if you've got some favorites.
Update: Some of your requests we played:
1) The Pixies, "Velouria"
2) Mercury Rev, "Holes"
3) The Beach Boys, "Good Vibrations"
Now, imagine how we felt when we started listening closely to the Mercury Rev tune and thought, "Wait a minute ... is that a theremin or a musical saw?" Turns out it's the latter. Ah well; thanks to those who requested it, it's still an awesome song and we love playing it.
Monday Coffee Break: I Hate Your Guts, Let's Write a Song
Posted at 8:10 AM on August 31, 2009
by Steve Seel
(2 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(updated below)
With this weekend's announcement (via the band's blog) by Noel Gallagher that he had quit Oasis - citing the fact that he "couldn't go on working with Liam a day longer" - the band's future is in doubt at the moment. Was this just another outburst of brotherly hate? Will they reconcile, or is this really the end?
We can be forgiven for not being sure, given the Gallaghers' long history of strife and pugilism. I think we can also chalk up some of our dubiousness, though, to the fact that so many significant bands throughout rock history have been comprised of members who, at one time or another, couldn't stand each other. And yet, they persevered, and even made great music (at least for a while, for some of them).
So, for today's 9:30 Coffee Break: let's play some bands made up of folks who had (or still have) more than their share of animosity between their members.
Update: Some of your requests we played:
1) The Beatles, "We Can Work It Out" (John vs. Paul, at the end)
2) Talking Heads, "Artists Only" (David Byrne, resented by the others but especially Tina Weymouth)
3) Simon and Garfunkel, "I Am A Rock"
4) The Police, "Driven To Tears" (Sting vs. Stewart Copeland, fist fights and all)
5) Van Halen, "Everybody Wants Some!" (Diamond Dave, hated universally)
Friday Coffee Break: Viernes No Ingles
Posted at 8:32 AM on August 28, 2009
by Steve Seel
(48 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(updated below with your requests)
It's No English Friday! Make your requests for songs sung in anything but English today for the 9:30 Coffee Break. Why? Why not?
Update:
Wow!!! What a response. Of course, I guess that's not surprising when you come up with a topic as broad and fun as this one. Clearly, we will have to make this one a regular feature - and also narrow down the topic to a different language each time.
Just a handful of your requests (as usual, we only had room for our maximum of six):
1) The Sandpipers, "Enamorado" (Spanish)
2) The Beatles, "Sie Leibt Dich" ("She Loves You" in German)
3) Nena, "99 Luftballoons" (German)
4) Sigur Ros, "Gobbldigook" ("Hopelandic" - a combination of Icelandic and gibberish)
5) Serge Gainsbourg, "Bonnie and Clyde" (French)
6) Bossocucanova feat. Zuco 103, "Samba Da Minha Terra" (Portugese)
Thursday Coffee Break: What Does the State Fair Sound Like?
Posted at 7:54 AM on August 27, 2009
by Steve Seel
(22 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(updated below with your requests)
Being that it's the first day of the Minnesota State Fair, we of course have all things Fair-related on our minds - like the food (click on "View" next to the various vendors to read some of their insane-and-insaner offerings this year). Also, we'll of course be broadcasting from the fair every day -get all of the details of what happens when right here. Today, Mary Lucia welcomes Haley Bonar live onstage at 4pm.
For the 9:30 Coffee Break, we want you to request some songs that set the mood for the fair - or any fair or carnival. Rides? Clowns? Food? Scary people? Kiosks selling feathered roach clips? Make your requests right here, or below.
Update: Your requests that we played:
1) The Suburbs, "Cows"
2) Freddy Cannon, "Palisades Park"
3) White Light Riot, "Midway Souvenirs"
4) The Hollies, "On A Carousel"
5) The Beatles, "Piggies"
6) The Breeders, "Saints"
If You're Happy And You Know It ...
Posted at 8:23 AM on August 26, 2009
by Steve Seel
(26 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(updated below with your requests)
Today's 9:30 Coffee Break is very simple. Hand claps. That's it. Happy, bouncy hand claps that make a song even happier. It's certainly the cheapest production technique to fill out your pop song with just the right sound; even cheaper than a tamborine or a pair of maraccas, and often even more effective. Jill and I were amazed that we've apparently never done this as a topic.
Get your hand claps on today!
Update: Wow, a happy deluge of requests this morning. Tons of great suggestions. We played:
1) The Cars, "My Best Friend's Girl"
2) The Hopefuls, "Virgin Wood"
3) Beck, "Where It's At"
4) The Cure, "Close To Me"
5) The Bird and the Bee, "My Love"
Thanks everyone!
Tuesday Coffee Break: Gene Simmons is 60
Posted at 8:42 AM on August 25, 2009
by Steve Seel
(5 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(updated below with your requests)
Love him or hate him, you can't ignore him - and he wouldn't have it any other way. Gene Simmons of Kiss is 60 years old today.
He's said incredibly offensive things. He's proven a master entertainer, promoter, and marketer. He claims to have never taken drugs, drank or smoked in his entire life. He's socially very liberal but strongly supported the military objectives of the Bush administration. He has achieved exactly what he set out to do as a young man: become a multi-millionare rock star, by knowing exactly how to manipulate the message and the medium. He's really quite gross, but that's all part of the marketing strategy, isn't it?
So help us wish Gene Simmons a happy birthday today, with a set of songs that communicate your own special fondness or antipathy toward the guy. Whatever you say, we're sure he'll take it as a compliment.
Update: your requests we played:
1) Carly Simon, "You're So Vain"
2) The Beach Boys, "Hold On To Your Ego"
3) The Who, "You Better You Bet" (why? Because of this - explained in the first entry under "Controversies")
4) KISS, "Ladies Room" (so chosen because It's a classically offensive KISS title, and Gene sings it)
Monday Coffee Break: End Of An Era For The Uptown?
Posted at 8:51 AM on August 24, 2009
by Steve Seel
(22 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(updated below with your requests)
Is the Uptown Bar closing? That's the word that started to dribble in over the last few days. Recently, the patio was demolished, and now news comes through the grapevine that the club itself - which hosted countless significant indie rock shows to generations of hipsters over the past few decades - might be leveled as well, to make way for new retail space.
As this story develops, we thought we'd still reflect on the history of the place and what it means to countless Twin Citians who have had significant musical experiences there. What are some meaningful shows you've caught at the Uptown over the years?
(update: your requests that we played):
1) The Flaming Lips, "She Don't Use Jelly"
2) Guided By Voices, "Motor Away"
3) The Replacements, "Customer"
4) Nirvana, "About A Girl"
5) Uncle Tupelo, "Chickamauga"
6) Pavement, "Perfume-V"
Friday Coffee Break: The Hometown Team
Posted at 7:40 AM on August 21, 2009
by Steve Seel
(16 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(updated below with your requests)
The Onion A.V. Club is giving the hometown some props with an article called "Songs of the 612": an inventory of tunes that mention and/or pay tribute to Minneapolis. Naturally there's The Hold Steady, plus the expected contingent of local acts that have penned famous local odes (Atmosphere, The Replacements), but there's also mention of some of our favorite Mini-apple tunes by the likes of Tom Waits and Lucinda WIlliams.
Let's chime in today on the 9:30 Coffee Break with a little home town fest of our own, to dovetail with the Onion's tribute. What Twin Cities songs would you like to hear? (or heck, even Minnesota songs, if you're so inclined)?
Update: your requests that we played:
1) Johnny Cash, "Big River" (mentions St. Paul)
2) Jeremy Messersmith, "Franklin Avenue" (one of many local odes by Mr. Messersmith)
3) That Dog, "Minneapolis" (is this about Alan Sparhawk? Discuss)
4) Tom Waits, "Christmas Card From A Hooker In Minneapolis" (maybe, or maybe not, actually about Minneapolis ... "Euclid Avenue"? Okay, there's a Euclid close to Lake of the Isles, but it would never have been in the vicinity of a "dirty bookstore")
5) The Dandy Warhols, "Minnesoter" (we'd invited you to request songs about "greater Minnesota" too)
6) Atmosphere, "Shhh..." (The be all, end all)
Thanks as always, everybody.
The Coffee Break: Stormy Wednesday
Posted at 7:18 AM on August 20, 2009
by Steve Seel
(6 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(updated below with your requests)
You better believe we got ambushed by Mother Nature yesterday, when a tornado (or possible tornados, plural) touched down around the Twin Cities, surprising even the most stalwart meteorologists. You may have seen some damage in your own neighborhood, and even our beloved landmark The Electric Fetus got slammed. Fortunately, no one was seriously hurt as far as we know.
So, it's a no brainer: gotta play your storm songs today for the 9:30 Coffee Break!
Update: Your requests we played ...
1) Pixies: "Stormy Weather" (We certainly could have played the jazz standard, but when you figure the total times this song has been played in the history of the world compared to that one, the choice seems obvious)
2) Parliament/Funkadelic: "Tear The Roof Off The Sucker" (and, brain surgeon that I am, I played the short version that doesn't actually contain the title of the song anywhere in the lyric, making this to official obscure tune of the day. I can only imagine a number of people thinking, "What does 'we want the funk' have to do with storms?" My bad).
3) Cloud Cult: "Everybody Here Is A Cloud" (from Feel Good Ghosts Tea Partying Through Tornadoes, no less)
4) Neko Case: "This Tornado Loves You" (the popular favorite today)
5) The Kills: "Last Day Of Magic" (you know: "my little tornado... my little hurricane-o..."
Thanks everyone!
Wednesday Coffee Break: Makin' Up Your Mind
Posted at 7:54 AM on August 19, 2009
by Steve Seel
(9 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(updated below)
So he finally decided: Brett Favre, that is. Number four is now a Viking. Of course, if you hadn't heard that yet, welcome back from your trip to Greenland.
The story of Favre's maybe-I-will-no-I-won't-ok-I-will has been amply recounted elsewhere. This morning, we're really just concerned with one thing: the whole concept of waffling. Not being able to make up your mind ... changing it, being indecisive, finally deciding. That's today's theme for the 9:30 Coffee Break.
Update: Your requests we played ...
1) The Clash, "Should I Stay Or Should I Go"
2) The Lovin' Spoonful, "Did You Ever Have To Make Up Your Mind"
3) Bucks Fizz, "Making Up Your Mind"
4) Raspberries, "If You Change Your Mind"
5) Devo, "Freedom Of Choice"
Who are Bucks Fizz, by the way? Oh, my my. Ready for some cheese? Some severely caucasian cheese?
Bucks Fizz were a kind of Britsh ABBA, back circa 1980. This was their major hit, and it was a finalist in the Eurovision Song Contest.
Tuesday Coffee Break: I Scream, You Scream ...
Posted at 8:06 AM on August 18, 2009
by Steve Seel
(8 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(updated with your requests, below)
What's your favorite scream in rock n' roll?
A few months ago, a record started circulating around New York, featuring nothing but notable screams in popular music. Not songs containing screams, but just the screams. A limited-edition, 500-pressing record called Favorite Recorded Screams, it contains familiar blurts and yelps from the likes of James Brown, The Pixies, Bjork, and a bunch of others. The record and it's creator, LeRoy Stevens, is profiled in yesterday's New York Times online.
Seemed like a pretty fun topic for the 9:30 Coffee Break. Request some of your favorite screams today!
Update: Your requests that we played:
1) The Beatles, "Revolution"
2) The Sonics, "Psycho"
3) James Brown, "The Payback"
4) Screamin' Jay Hawkins, "I Put A Spell On You"
5) Creedence Clearwater Revival, "Travelin' Band"
6) The Who, "We Won't Get Fooled Again"
That last tune, by the way, turned out to be an imperative; we got so many requests for it that we thought we might cause an online riot if we didn't comply. You gotta admit, Roger Daltrey's vocal explosion before the last verse probably is the most famous recorded scream in rock history.
Monday Coffee Break: A Jim Dickinson Tribute
Posted at 11:14 AM on August 17, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
As Bill DeVille noted yesterday, legendary Memphis session man and producer Jim Dickinson died over the weekend at the age of 67. Dickinson lent his keyboard talents, arranging, and producing to a surprisingly wide array of projects over the years, and we dediced to pay tribute today on the 9:30 Coffee Break. The tunes we played:
1) The Rolling Stones, "Wild Horses" (piano)
2) Big Star, "Thank You Friends" (producer, Third/Sister Lovers)
3) Aretha Franklin, "Spirit In The Dark" (piano)
4) The Replacements, "Alex Chilton" (producer, Pleased To Meet Me)
Friday Coffee Break: A Les Paul Custom
Posted at 2:16 PM on August 14, 2009
by Steve Seel
(1 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
The music world has been continuing to mourn the passing of a true legend and innovator with the death of Les Paul on Thursday at the age of 94. Paul's invention of the solid-body electric guitar - in essence, an innovation that made the sound of rock n' roll possible - can not in any way be underestimated.
Barb Abney began our tributes yesterday afternoon after we first got the news of Paul's death by playing a set featuring guitarists who have been visible players of the iconic Gibson guitar that bears Les Paul's name. This morning for the 9:30 Coffe Break, Jill and I continued that salute with your input. We also began by playing a little Les Paul himself, along with his wife Mary Ford.
1) Les Paul and Mary Ford, "How High The Moon"
2) Led Zeppelin (Jimmy Page - '58 and '59 Standard Sunburst), "Dancing Days"
3) Green Day (Billy Joe Armstrong - Les Paul "Junior"), "Know Your Enemy"
4) Guns N' Roses (Slash - Standard Sunburst), "Sweet Child O' Mine"
5) KISS, (Ace Frehley, Les Paul Custom) "Shout It Out Loud"
6) Neil Young ('56 Goldtop painted black), "Hey Hey My My"
Thursday Coffee Break: Tom Waits as The Devil?
Posted at 7:54 AM on August 13, 2009
by Steve Seel
(1 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
(updated below)
If you could cast anyone as the Devil, who would you pick? Ever consider Tom Waits?
Filmmaker Terry Gilliam thought Waits would be the ideal actor to portray Satan for his new film The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus. Now that's something we can't wait to see. Only, according the Movieline, we may have some trouble actually seeing it - because the film has yet to find a US distributor. This despite the fact that it's apparently Heath Ledger's last film. Well then, the film must be awful, right? Uh, no - check out the praise-filled blurbs in the trailer below (lifted from credible review soureces like GQ, the LA Times and the Daily Mail - not exactly hacks from small-market TV stations). Unbelievable, eh?
So today for the 9:30 Coffee Break, we asked for some of your favorite devilish songs by Tom Waits.
(Updated): Your requests that we played:
1) "What's He Buiding?"
2) "Goin' Out West"
3) "Singapore"
4) "How's It Gonna End"
Tuesday Coffee Break: Abbey Road Cover Turns 40
Posted at 3:04 PM on August 11, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Jill and I thought it might be fun to bring you a special edition of the 9:30 Coffee Break today: to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Beatles' Abbey Road cover photo session - which was this past Saturday - we decided to play the complete side two medley.
Abbey Road is both Jill's and my favorite Beatles album. For me, it was the core Beatles record of my youth, thanks to my music mentor sister who put it front-and-center in my consciousness. And the Side 2 medley - comprised of a host of never-finished songs the band strung together in a kind of "get 'em all on the last record finished or not" free-for-all, is almost an accidental masterpiece because of the almost stream-of-consciousness nature of the pastiche. It's brilliant. Let's play it on the radio, we thought, since you rarely hear the whole thing all the way from "You Never Give Me Your Money" to "Her Majesty."
9:30 Coffee Break: the Travellin' Blues
Posted at 9:32 AM on August 10, 2009
by Jim McGuinn
(1 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
The weather is clear. It's a short direct flight home, right? How about mechanical failure and a 30-hour delay, including more than doubling the distance travelled in order to get home? That's what my weekend turned out to be. Arriving at the airport in Albany on Saturday afternoon to get home from a vacation week in Vermont, I knew something was up when I saw them unloading the luggage from our plane at the exact time we should have been boarding. After cancelling the flight due to mechanical issues, my wife, 3-year old son and I entered that specifically Kafka-esque zone when this happens. Sure, the airline got us a room (just what you always wanted - Saturday night at a horrid hotel in a non-descript chain store part of town!), but it ended up costing us over $100 in unwanted food expenditures (although it was fascinating to make our first ever trip to an Outback!). Returning to the airport the next day, there were no problems, but it's always a drag when your simple direct flight is switched to a rather non-direct detour thru... Atlanta, which last time I checked was nowhere near the most logical path from New York state to Minnesota.
Thanks for the suggestions and commiseration today, although after reading this story in NewsCut, I feel positively lucky to have arrived back home at 1am this morning.
1) Beach Boys - Sloop John B ("I wanna go home")
2) Built to Spill - The Wait ("you wait" repeat 50x)
3) Tom Petty - The Waiting (well, it is the hardest part)
If you've got a great tale of travel woe, feel free to share below...
9:30 Coffee Break: A John Hughes Tribute
Posted at 9:50 AM on August 7, 2009
by Steve Seel
(3 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
A bittersweet morning today, with very sad news that director John Hughes died yesterday of a heart attack at the age of 59. Why bittersweet, you ask? Because Hughes' death has brought forth so many memories for so many people - quoting their favorite Hughes-movie lines, talking about their favorite scenes ... and recalling the music. John Hughes ushered in an era where pop music was used in the score in a way it hadn't been before; he really gets the credit for this. And the reasonance he created with his use of music truly shows to this day, both in modern film and in the way those original movies created indelible memories in the people who saw them. Indeed, the music was at least as important as the the story and the actors in many John Huges films.
So today for the 9:30 Coffee Break, I asked what some of your favorite tunes were from John Hughes movies, and the response was overwhelming. I wish I could have played them all, but in 30 minutes, I only got to about a quarter of them. So here's a sampling - including, naturally, the biggest hits, and a couple of the more obscure ones.
1) Simple Minds, "Don't You Forget About Me" (The Breakfast Club)
2) The Smiths, "Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want" (Pretty In Pink and Ferris Bueller's Day Off)
3) The Beatles, "Twist And Shout" (Ferris Bueller's Day Off)
4) Kate Bush, "This Woman's Work" (She's Having A Baby)
5) The Psychedelic Furs, "Pretty In Pink" (Pretty In Pink)
6) The Jesus And Mary Chain, "The Hardest Walk" (Some Kind Of Wonderful)
Oh my, there are so, so many more. We might have to extend this into next week. I didn't even get to Sixteen Candles! Then there's Planes Trains and Automobiles, Uncle Buck, the Nation Lampoon Vacation movies (which he wrote), and others (did you know he wrote Mr. Mom? I didn't either. Beer? Scotch?)
Rest in peace, Mr. Hughes. If anybody messes with the bull in heaven, you tell 'em they'll get the horns.
Block Party, Anyone?
Posted at 10:38 AM on August 4, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
This evening is National Night Out 2009; so are you planning to hold a block party of your own? Maybe to attend one held by one of your neighbors? It seemed to me like a fine opportunity to base the 9:30 Coffee Break around songs to help us get in the mood to socialize with our fellow neighborhoodies tonight, in a safe and family-friendly kind of way. Your requests that I played:
1) Marvin Gaye, "Got To Give It Up Pt. 1"
2) Creedence Clearwater Revival, "Down On The Corner"
3) Martha and The Vandellas, "Dancin' In The Street"
4) Chemical Brothers, "Block Rockin' Beats"
5) Bob Marley, "Jammin'"
Have fun tonight, and be safe!
What Are Some More Bands Who Have Never "Jumped the Shark"?
Posted at 11:42 AM on July 31, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
It all started back when Thurston and Lee from Sonic Youth visited our studios last week: we got to talking around the office about bands, such as Sonic Youth, who have never "jumped the shark." (You know the phrase, right? If not, here's a primer). Who are some other artists who have never made an ill-advised record or career decision, precipitaing their artistic decline? First, the discussion got going on Musicheads, where Bill DeVille and company talked about The Cure and Beck as fitting the criteria in their opinion (you can join in on that discussion here as well). But today, I put it to you for the 9:30 Coffee Break, so we could actually play some of your suggestions for such bands on the radio. The top vote getters, with selected songs:
1) Radiohead, "All I Need"
2) Yo La Tengo, "Little Eyes"
3) Bjork, "Earth Intruders"
4) Ween, "Shamemaker"
5) The Flaming Lips, "The W.A.N.D."
Where Does That Highway Go To?
Posted at 12:57 PM on July 29, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Whatever your opinion on the notorious Hell's Angels, their arrival in the Duluth area for the annual USA Summer Ride (including the requisite stop in Sturgis) provided the grist for today's 9:30 Coffee Break: songs for hitting the open road. We went with:
1) Bob Dylan, "Highway 61 Revisited" (ironic, given Bob's entry in "Today in Music History", below)
2) Red Hot Chili Peppers, "Road Trippin'"
3) Roger Miller, "King Of The Road"
4) Sufjan Stevens, "Chicago"
5) Yo La Tengo, "Speeding Motorcycle"
Phat Horns Please!
Posted at 10:29 AM on July 27, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
We thought you might benefit from a Monday pick-me-up today, and Jill and I decided bands with phat horn sections were just the right topic for the 9:30 Coffee Break. Your requests that we went with:
1) Sam and Dave (w/ the legendary Stax Horns), "Hold On I'm Comin'"
2) Average White Band, "Pick Up The Pieces"
3) Antibalas Arfobeat Orchestra, "Go Je Je"
4) Tower of Power, "What Is Hip?"
5) The JB's, "Pass the Peas"
So You Think You Can Act?
Posted at 10:28 AM on July 24, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
It's been a question before on our Musicheads program, and today for the 9:30 Coffee Break, we put it to you on the air: who are some musical performers who have successfully made the transition to acting? (Actors who have made the transition to being a musician will have to be a topic another day ... as Jill pointed out, that seems to be the much more difficult task). Your suggestions we went with:
1) Tom Waits, "Jockey Full of Bourbon"
2) Cher, "Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)"
3) Red Hot Chili Peppers, "Higher Ground"
4) Frank Sinatra, "I Get A Kick Out Of You"
5) David Bowie, "Fashion"
Cher, Bowie and Sinatra should be obvious to most ... fewer people might be aware of Tom Waits' movie career, but it's been an extremely distinguished one: from Jim Jarmusch's Down By Law to Francis Ford Coppola's Dracula to Robert Altman's Short Cuts, and tons more. But what about the Chili Peppers? Well, Flea has actually had a number of bit parts over the years, such as in The Big Lebowski and the 2nd and 3rd Back to the Future movies. But it's in Point Break that you get to see Keanu Reaves beat both him and Anthony Kiedis at basketball. Ridiculous.
Breathe Deeply, Count To Ten ...
Posted at 10:47 AM on July 23, 2009
by Steve Seel
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today being the one-year anniversary of Kid Rock's sentencing for starting a fight at an Atlanta Waffle House (see Today In Music History, below), we made other rock stars who could benefit from anger management counseling today's topic on the 9:30 Coffee Break. Your requests that we chose:
1) Oasis, "Don't Look Back In Anger" (you get two band members for the price of one here!)
2) Bjork, "Army of Me" (see video, below)
3) Ryan Adams, "Nuclear" (don't call him "Bryan")
4) Amy Winehouse, "You Know I'm No Good"
Everyone listed above has become notorious for an explosive temper, but only one of the four is the subject of some specific and oft-viewed video evidence.
The Doctor Is In
Posted at 1:46 PM on July 22, 2009
by Steve Seel
(2 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
In honor of President Obama's press conference tonight concerning his plans for health care reform, we took your requests for songs related to health for the 9:30 Coffee Break. Never let it be said that we don't go the distance for our listeners to play your requests, especially regarding the first song here.
1) Motley Crue, "Dr. Feelgood"
2) Peggy Lee, "Fever"
3) Nilsson, "Coconut"
4) Morphine, "Cure For Pain"
Everything Is Wonderful In The World of Magic
Posted at 10:46 AM on July 17, 2009
by Steve Seel
(1 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Ah, nothing like quoting Doug Henning every now and then. Anyway, since this week saw the premiere of Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince, we've got magic on our minds today, so all things magical was the topic for today's 9:30 Coffee Break. Hoo boy ... happy Friday.
1) The Flaming Lips, "The W.A.N.D"
2) Pilot, "It's Magic"
3) The Kills, "Last Day of Magic"
4) Focus, "Hocus Pocus"
That's right, "Hocus Pocus." C'mon! You know you love it. Besides, Doug Henning himself looks like he could have been in this band.
Everybody's Talkin... Supremely Senatorial
Posted at 2:02 PM on June 1, 2009
by Jim McGuinn
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break
Today lawyers for both Norm Coleman and Al Franken had their day in court - the MN Supreme Court. As the non-election rolls into month 7, depending on their ruling, this could be the end of the line (maybe) for Coleman campaign, or not. So the theme today was arguments and lawyers... and to quote Radiohead's "Electioneering" -
I will stop, I will stop at nothing.
Say the right things when electioneering
I trust I can rely on your vote.
When I go forwards you go backwards
and somewhere we will meet.
When I go forwards you go backwards
and somewhere we will meet.
Ha ha ha
Songs played: Warren Zevon "Lawyers, Guns, and Money
The Clash "I Fought the Law"
The O' Jays "992 Arguments"
My favorite "song that shouldn't but totally does fit" was a request for Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" -
Will not let you go-let me go
Will not let you go-let me go
No,no,no,no,no,no,no-
Mama mia,mama mia,mama mia let me go-
Beelzebub has a devil put aside for me...
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