Saturday 10 December 2011

Chris Isaak Wicked Game

The world was on fire and no one could save me but you. It's strange what desire will make foolish people do


Sappy Song Department

“Wicked Game” by Chris Isaac (1989)

Chris got his break when an Atlanta radio station host, obsessed with David Lynch movies started playing the vocal track of “Wicked Game” from the soundtrack of “Wild at Heart”. I remember seeing the movie and not being very impressed. Slowly the requests built for the song and by early 1991 it was a top-ten hit.

In 1991 a compilation of previous songs was put out to capitalize on Chris new found success. It included the mournful “Blue Spanish Sky”, “Wrong to Love You”, and of course “Wicked Game”.

There is a twang of country and rockabilly on his albums and that continued with 1993’s “San Francisco Days”.  This band often reminds me of Canada’s ‘Blue Rodeo’, but with flamenco flair.

Wednesday 7 December 2011

A ha - Take On Me

We're talking away. I don't know what I'm to say. I'll say it anyway. Today's another day to find you.


Quick Hit

“Take on Me” by A-ha (1985)

O.K. so I draw my inspiration this week from a chat a work where the question was raised: “What was that really cool video that transitions between cartoon and real life in the early ‘80’s?”  The answer of course is A-ha’s period piece called “Take on Me”. The reason I call it a ‘period piece’ is because it sounds so typically ‘80’s. The weird thing with this one is that when I went to look it up, I discovered I don’t have a digital copy of it; I only have it on good ‘ol fashioned vinyl. Go figure? I remember I got it one Saturday down at Hot Wax records in Kensington. Huh. Just as well; sounds great still.

 A-ha is I think the most successful band to come out of Norway. It formed in Oslo in 1982, with vocalist Morten Harkel, Magne Furuhulem (keyboard) and guitarist Pal Waaktaar. My experience with Norwegians is very limited, and based mostly on my maternal grandmother – they live forever and they are tough, no-nonsense kind of people. I digress.......

Sunday 4 December 2011

Soundtrack Sunday.......

10 Things I Hate About You

Detroit Rock City

Now and Then

The Commitments