Target’s marketing group has become nearly famous for running a unique commercial every month featuring a song from a usually obscure artist. It’s amazing how each commercial will actually fuel the sales of that particular song for a few months afterwards. If you watch on iTunes, you’ll see said song jump to that artist’s “top songs” list in very short time.
This month’s commercial features Dolly Parton’s “More Where That Came From,” which I just love. (Sue me.)
While most of the commercials are nothing more than an exercise in gluttonous exposure with overly ambiguous messaging, I just love this particular one because the song is just perfect for the message of the commercial. Plus, the big dog just kicks ass (he’s at the very beginning of the commercial) and I laugh at it every time. What can I say, except that I’m easily amused.
Maybe you’ve heard that Apple is making some sort of announcement today. Rumor suggests (and I sincerely hope) the announcement will be about the iPod line.
Currently the Apple store is down, which makes me think new product is going up (and we will know what that product is very soon).
The thing I love about Apple is that more often than not when new product is announced, I can go to the Apple store and buy it same day. That means that after a long day of hard work at RD2, my run tonight might be extra gratifying as I listen to The New Pornographers, Deerhoof, and The Go! Team on the latest portable music device.
Music is something that has always been a huge part of my life. One of the first memories I have is of my Dad picking me up from kindergarten after he was called due to my haphazardness involving the sharp corner of a table, and the introduction it had with my chin. You learn at a young age never to run with scissors, but I was never told not to run and jump towards tables. What this has to do with my early love of music is that I can distinctly remember the entire drive to the hospital, my dad horribly singing along to The Rolling Stones song, Satisfaction. I absolutely fell in love with classic rock from a young age, always interested in my Dad’s vast knowledge about the bands and the stories he would tell me of concerts he had been a part of.
I was lucky that my parents let me go to shows from an early age and this routine of seeing bands live has never stopped. My latest experience at the Cat Power show at the Granada will give an explanation as to why. Cat Power aka Chan Marshall, pronounced “shawn,” is a folk and blues inspired singer-songwriter. I had bought my tickets to the show a couple months in advance and when I arrived I was awe struck by the amount of people that had come to see her. I know her music is magnificent, that unique almost ethereal voice, low and raspy at times, struck me from my first listen, but to see this? The unique emotion emanating from everyone was unique and incredible. I could make out certain conversations among the clamoring crowd that gave me hints as to what I was about to experience. “Nothing else like it,” “Just wait, you are going to be blown away,” “She is so beautiful” to name a few. I waited with bated breath, the opening act a torturous delay of “satisfaction.”
When she made her way onto the stage the crowd ignited, no time was wasted as she immediately went into her first song. What I noticed from the start was her absolute happiness at being up there. Many bands have amazing showmanship, but there was something different about Chan, in her eyes you could clearly tell she was happy to be up there singing and performing, she was enjoying herself. The songs evolved from the static state they previously held on the records and became so much more. She pranced around, dancing and floating across the stage, the crowd smiled and laughed at times from her antics, focused intently on the free spirit in front of them. Before I knew what was happening, I heard a certain set of unforgettable blues chords kick in. Her voice low and dramatic she let out the first words to the song, “I can’t get no, satisfaction.” Boyhood memories of listening to Mick Jagger sing those famous words all came at me, her rendition scarily close to overturning the originals place in my mind. Shivers went down my spine at the beauty of the whole experience and when the show came to a close I couldn’t have been more satisfied. She explained that she was actually recording a live album there tonight, and due to her well documented perfectionist behavior wanted to replay a number of songs till she got them right. I was not surprised at all when I noticed nearly everyone stayed put to watch and listen again.
These experiences deserve to be passed down, so if you ever see Cat Power show up in your area, go!
Hi.
Art of the week has been changed temporarily to Artist of the Week in dedication to Drew Goren. I just found out about this guy, his work, and his family. His work as well as the photos of he and his daughter really touched me.
What a life! Cheers to your legacy, Drew.
Photo Blog
Portfolio
Memorial
This friday (January 19th) I will have the pleasure of joining Deadman at Bend Studio. We will be opening up for Sorta. If you haven’t had the pleasure of hearing either of these two bands, you are in for a real treat! (I just hope I can learn the set in time. ha!….yikes) Get your tickets soon!
Event and ticket information can be found at www.bendstudio.com. See you Friday!
To be laser focused, the right tunes are essential. My lists of favorite artists are from Bob Dylan to Skinny Puppy. For getting serious work done though, I need less words and minimal beats. In my Sennheisers tonight:
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We started the RD2 Christmas music listening yesterday. The general feeling is that, cynics be damned, six days out (five now) is fair game for a little community Christmas spirit-bringing through music.
I, personally, quite enjoy some good holiday music. Notice the word choice: good holiday music. Sappy songs about saving up to buy your poor mother shoes need not apply.
Great Christmas albums I’ve been listening to this season:
Recommendations? I have no doubt there are strong opinions out there.
