"Sleepwalker" by The Wallflowers - Song Of The Week
After a week off, Rizzo Music continues with the 2 week tradition of "Song Of The Week". This week we examine a classic, "Sleepwalker" by The Wallflowers. This gem is a single off of their third studio album, Breach. This was the last single from the Wallflowers to break into the top 40 on either the Mainstream or Modern Rock Chart.
I have always been a fan of this song but recently I came across a great acoustic version that I would like to share with you. It can be found on Imeem, or you can listen to it by clicking here. It is not often that I prefer a revision of an original song but this is one of them. While the original is still solid, Jakob Dylan brings the song to a different level in this version.
You get that live feel to the song without sacrificing the sound quality. You can sense that there is a lot of emotion in the lyrics that he sings: a sense that is lost in the single version. It loses the pop rock feel as well as the clapping, and what is left is a raw look at a great song.
I also included the original song and music video below just in case you do in fact prefer it.
In any case, it is one of my favorites from The Wallflowers, a band that I was lucky enough to see live about a year ago. They put on a great show.
Currently, they are not on tour while Jacob does his thing on his own. He is touring Europe right now, promoting his solo album.
That's it for this week. Be sure to subscribe to my RSS feed if you want to be updated when new articles are posted.
"Non Dairy Creamer" by Third Eye Blind - Song Of The Week
This is a brand new one from one of my favorite bands, Third Eye Blind. It is called, "Non Dairy Creamer" and it currently being used as part of a new contest for fans. Third Eye Blind is urging fans to log on to indabamusic.com and create a mix or remix of their new songs. Currently only "Non Dairy Creamer" is available, but other new songs are sure to follow. They are planning on picking the best mixes and creating a fan made album. I am going to try my best to create an entry in the weeks to come. If you end up submitting an entry, be sure to make a comment or email us at web at rizzomusic.com and I'll try my best to give it a listen. You can start mixing today just by creating an account at www.indabamusic.com and then by entering the contest here.
The song itself is very catchy and while it has some more politically charged lyrics than Third Eye Blind fans are used to, it is hard to not like this song. While I hope that this song is not the first single of "Ursa Major" due to its polarizing lyrics, it is a great musical arrangement. I would have personally preferred Mr. Jenkins to stay away from politics on this album, but can understand his need for his voice to be heard and he has earned the right to speak his mind on all subjects. I have always considered him to be a lyrical genius and I don't envision the new album changing my mind.
I will try to keep you updated on the contest and the new album as more details are revealed. You can listen to the studio version of the song on their Facebook page here and you can listen to all of the contest entries here.
That is all for this week's song.
For those interested in the lyrics,
here is how I heard them when listening to the song:
Lyrics
"They call it KFC,
Cause its not really chicken.
Hot Cheetos for breakfast,
Make a young student sickened.
Did you ever think someones tricking you?
And the guy in the pulpit,
Is a bigot and a liar,
Some kid walks into my school,
And opens fire.
Heard any good jokes lately?
Cause we sure do need them.
My punk band's called Operation Iraqi Freedom.
So whats it going to be?
Are you real to me?
Or are you nondairy creamer?
A new love,
Is burning up in me,
Cause one in four American girls has an STD.
And you can buy yourself some implants,
But you can't buy soul threat level orange.
With your chest pumped out,
What are you so afraid about?
With your chest pumped out,
What are you so afraid about?
What are you so afraid of?
What are you so afraid of?
Whats it going to be?
Are you real to me?
Or are you nondairy creamer?
And two gay guys got married,
Brought the family to its knees.
How did they blow us to smithereens?
Just a couple of queens.
How did they do it?
I'm telling you now,
Brought marriage to an end,
And I found myself some culprits,
It's two young gay republicans.
Young gay republicans.
Young gay republicans.
Young gay republicans.
So what's it going to be?
Are you real to me?
Or are you nondairy creamer?
So what's it going to be?
Are you real to me?
Or are you nondairy creamer?
Mission Accomplished.
Mission Accomplished.
Mission Accomplished.
Some, someone we let murder,
Some, some we let go.
Some, someone we let murder,
Some, some we let go.
(not real sure on this stanza)
I sincerely want to thank you all for listening,
I thank you all."
Edit: Lyrics Updated November 21st.
If you have any changes to these lyrics, feel free to make a comment below.
Thanks for listening.
"Simple Song" by Better Than Ezra - Song Of The Week
Today, Rizzo Music introduces a new featured article, "Song Of The Week". Here we will showcase a song of exceptional quality and tell why it is deserving of such a phenomenal distinction. My plan is to write this type of article every Sunday so make sure to look back here often for your "Song Of The Week" fix.
Now for one of my new favorite songs, "Simple Song" by Better Than Ezra. This is unreleased song from the trio from New Orleans. Better Than Ezra is, of course, famous for their two hit singles, "Good" and "Desperately Wanting" but as I have learned in the last few years, their catalog of songs is outstanding and this song is no different.
Now that front man Kevin Griffin is trying out his solo career, he has revamped his myspace page and put up a few songs for your listening pleasure. One of them is "Simple Song", a song filled with some of the best lyrics I've heard in a while.
"Simple Song" itself is a simple song but it has some powerful lyrics. You can either go to his myspace page here, or watch the live version below.
Love or hate this week's song or have an idea for next week's "Song Of The Week", please feel free to make a comment below.