The Seven Song Itch - Transitional Musicological Synergy

Didya ever have one of those days when you don’t know what you really want to listen to?  Do you channel surf and find strange combinations of songs that don’t really fit into a particular genre, but you find yourself listening to them anyway?  Well, I had one of those days recently and wondered if I could connect some random songs together, kind of like the seven degrees of separation ala the Kevin Bacon game, and blend it all back.  Well, it didn’t work the way I wanted, but I think the list of songs that I came up with have a certain sense of randomness.  See if you can connect some of your favorite songs in some kind of random order, kinda like Pandora Radio does.

Playlist for TransitionalMusicological Synergy

1. Against Me! & Joan Jett cover The Replacement's – “Androgynous”(Org. 1991, Cover 2012)

The song was covered by Crash Test Dummies and released as the third and final single from their 1991 debut album “The Ghosts That Haunt Me.” Joan Jett also covered the song on her 2006 album “Sinner,” but it’s this version, featuring Laura Jane Grace (born Thomas James Gabel, of Against Me!) that really speaks to the lyrics.  Laura is currently in transition from Male to Female and is still continuing with her recording career.  This is the first major musical artist that is being public about their transition. 

2. Against Me! (Feat. Sara Quin) – “Borne On The FM Waves Of The Heart”(2008)

A few years back, when Laura Jane Grace was still Thomas James Gable, he did this song (Featuring Tegan Quin of Tegan and Sara) on the album “New Wave.” The blend of vocal styles really hits the mark about a troubled relationship and that the message of the song, “You don’t have to fight to stay in control of the situation.” It’s not about asserting control, but keeping the relationship from spiraling out of control.

3. Jonathan Coulton w/ Sara Quin and Dorit Chrysler (theremin) – “Still Alive”(2011)

Sara (of Tegan and Sara) appeared on Jonathan Coulton's 2011 album “Artificial Heart,” providing vocals for the album's remake of this song Coulton wrote for Valve's game Portal, “Still Alive.” For me, this is the definitive version as Coulton has had several guest vocalists over the years during his performances.

4. Jonathan Coulton (feat. Suzanne Vega) – “Now I Am An Arsonist”(2011)

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This song, featuring vocals by Suzanne Vega, has a simple beauty that reminds me of the novel “Jonathan Livingston Seagull,” by Richard Bach.  It’s about a person’s transition from flying though the air, like an acrobat, toward fiery passion. 

5. Suzanne Vega – “Left Of Center”(1986)

Suzanne collaborated with Joe Jackson (Piano on the track) on the song from the “Pretty in Pink” soundtrack for the movie.  This was my mantra during high school since it addressed the issue of being ostracized from the “in-crowd” because of my appearance.  Several years before this song, she had attained great success with her song, “Luka,” and several years after she hit big again with a remix by the British group DNA of her song, “Tom’s Diner”(1990) from the same album “Solitude Standing.”(1987) She just keeps reinventing herself and has become a cultural icon in music.

6. William Shatner In Concert (with Ben Folds & Joe Jackson) – “Common People”(2004)

This song is about a cultural clash between a female socialite and a common man—it’s one of my favorite Brit Pop songs.  This video is a promotion for a live concert that I really wanted to see.  “Captain Kirk” is performing on stage with Joe Jackson and Ben Folds in support of his album, “Has Been.”  The album is mostly original music composed with Ben (Henry Rollins and Brad Paisley also contribute on two tracks), but it’s this version of the Blur song that really gets out of control.

7. Ben Folds, Nick Hornby, & Pomplamoose – “Things You Think”(2010)

Composed by Ben Folds with Pomplamoose (music duo consisting of multi-instrumentalists Jack Conte and Nataly Dawn) and additional lyrics by Nick Hornby (British Author: “High Fidelity,” “About a Boy,” and “Fever Pitch”), this cornucopia collaboration has many layers.  There is the spoken word by Nick, background vocals by Nataly, and a vocal chorus by Ben.  The video is one of Pomplamoose’s fortes, in that it’s multi-layered and complex.  It’s really a joy watching the video.