Friday, May 5, 2023

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with STEVIE WONDER!

WTF Johnny, TEN songs tonight?! Yes friends, Johnny just felt like clearing the decks if you will. This will be the last Music Series for a while (If things go wrong with surgery a very long while) and so he thought he'd go all John Cusack in High Fidelity and make a list of his favorite ten musical acts. 

Johnny will be checking into the hospital next Friday evening for a double bypass Monday the 15th. If you'd like an update the quickest update will come when Johnny can get his phone out and post to Twitter. Johnny only uses his home computer to post here and he won't have access to the Oscoda City Desk computer for a couple weeks. 

Like Johnny will text his friends, should things go poorly he doesn't want any memorial or day everyone has to show up and feel sad and waste a day. He thinks a far better use of time could be to play this song, one of Johnny's absolute favorites from one of the favorite artists. When you hear, 'As' by Stevie Wonder go ahead and think about Johnny and maybe some of the music you may have enjoyed here on the blog or maybe a snarky post or two. Johnny just didn't want to not have another Music Series without going all in on this one. 

Without further ado, 'As'

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with THE CLASH!

This song, '(White Man) In Hammersmith Palais' was voted by Rolling Stone as one of the top 100 songs of all-time. Johnny cannot argue with that logic. 

The new groups are not concerned
With what there is to be learned
They got Burton suits, ha, you think it's funny
Turning rebellion into money

All over people changing their votes
Along with their overcoats
If Adolf Hitler flew in today
They'd send a limousine anyway

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with ELVIS COSTELLO!

Did you know then, this song, 'Watching the Detectives' was written after Mr. Costello had the Clash's first album on repeat and had listened to a few times. Inspiration comes from everywhere.

Friday night MULTIMEdIA EXTRAVAGANZA with THE ROLLING STONES!

Johnny's love of the Rolling Stones is well known if you've ever spent any time round these here parts. Of course they'd be in the top half of his 10 favorite acts of all-time. 'Tumbling Dice' for your singing needs.

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with NEKO CASE!

My true love drowned in a dirty old pan of oil

That had run from the block

Of a Falcon sedan 1969

The paper said '75

There were no survivors

None found alive

Who even writes songs like this anymore? One of the absolute best singer/songwriters Johnny's ever heard. 'Star Witness' classing up the joint tonight.

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with THE PRETENDERS!

Johnny has been propositioned by exactly one rock star. Chrissie Hynde. Of course she invited every guy under age 40 backstage one Valentine's Day night in Ann Arbor but hey, Johnny was a month under 40 so it counts. Mrs. Johnny told Johnny by all means go for it. We had a celebrity clause in our wedding vows you see. 

Offer or not, Johnny's not gonna cheat while his wife waits in the lobby for him to finish up. Kind of a rule he has. 'Tattooed Love Boys' keeping the party hot.

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with THE SUPREMES!

You don't think Johnny grew up in the Detroit music radio market and didn't pay any attention did you? The Supremes with 'You Can't Hurry Love'

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with TALKING HEADS!

Everyone hears what they hear but the beginning of this song will forever be the unofficial MTV bumper music from back in the day. 'Love For Sale' moving us along on this extra special Music Series.

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with THE WHO!

Take one of Johnny's favorite all-time songwriters in Pete Townshend, the best drummer ever in Keith Moon and write a lot about teenage angst and you're really onto something in Johnny's world. 'I Can't Explain' up next.

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with BLONDIE!

Last but certainly not least, Johnny's fave-o-rite NYC singer. He's seen her with Blondie and twice solo, once Johnny was front row at the Café Carlyle. Taking us out tonight here's 'Union City Blue'

If it sounds like Bruce Springsteen's guitar on this track there's a good reason for it. Chris Stein borrowed Bruce's guitar for this as he was visiting the studio.