Cheating And It Sounds So Good

Sleep. I haven't slept well decently in three days, and it's one of those nights where I will probably nod off in the middle of writing this post. Started doing what I should have writing earlier, and got to the point where to continue would take more brain power than I currently have on reserve.

So here I am ready to do another Tuesday Twisted MixTape for Miss Jen over at My Skewed View. I liked this week's theme: Cheating Songs. Yeah, time to get down and dirty. So let's not waste any more brain power, here are my picks for the week.


When all else fails, throw on a little Marvin Gaye.

"Heard It Through The Grapevine"

Second choice is quite probably a song based on reality. Way back before she was Mrs. Bruce Springsteen, Patti Scialfa was just a singer in his rock & roll band. He was married (what was he thinking when he married a definitely-not Jersey girl) and she was there when his wife was not. So you do the math on where the inspiration for this song came from.

"Come Tomorrow"

Flat out call it what it is. Lying and cheating. The Eagles laid it all out there. Because I couldn't find a live video from back before Glen Frey looked like a banker, and I can't watch videos with him looking like a banker, so here's the studio track.

"Lying Eyes"

Dark and dirty. yeah. If the theme works, it's fair game to bring in some friends. From Survivor, calling it what it is.

"Backstreet Love Affair"

I think this is probably my favorite cheating song, though mostly because I love the guitar, the tempo, the vocal, the lyrics. "I know her love is true, but it's so damn easy making love to you." hell yeah, that's cheating. But it's so good. Bryan Adams...

"Run To You"

Now don't go doing anything.... oh hell, do whatever you want.

Doubling Down for Tuesday's Twisted MixTape

Last week I was able to squeeze in Jen's MixTape Tuesday blog hop and this week, I'm gonna do it again. This week the theme is Duos or Duets, and for once, I had a flood of possibilities right off the bat. I've decided not to mix and match, but to just go with Duets.

One of the greatest duets ever, and don't argue with me on this, was Marvin Gaye and Tammi Tyrell. Not only did they have great songs to work with, their voices paired perfectly. They had several hits together, and because I can't choose between my two favorites, I'm posting two of the best duets.... ever.

"Ain't No Mountain High Enough"

"You're All I Need To Get By"

One of the most enduring duets, and one which both singer-songwriters still sing, both solo and when they do shows together, was written by Carole King and included in her album Tapestry. James Taylor also recorded it for his album Mud Slide Slim. But the song really comes alive when they sing it together.

"You've Got A Friend"

The album Raising Sand was a brilliant collaboration between Robert Plant and Alison Krauss. It was actually the first time Plant had shared the vocals with anyone. My favorite off the album...

"Killing The Blues"

Whether it's the title, the lyrics or the vocal give and take, when Don Henley and Stevie Nicks got together, it was perfect. This is an early demo version.

"Leather And Lace"

Tina Turner has done several duets over the years. She always knocks them out of the park. For this exercise, I'll go with her duet with Bryan Adams, from his off-the-charts successful album Reckless.

"It's Only Love"

One of the first, if not the first duet I ever remember was from a husband and wife team, Who could have imagined where this song would lead. Is there anyone who doesn't like it, know the words, and sing along every time you hear it? Sonny & Cher.

"I Got You Babe"

This was fun and for me, a real easy list. Thanks Jen, for always putting out the welcome mat.

Please Forgive Me...Just One Song Today

There is no denying Bryan Adams can write/co-write/sing a great love song. And the ballads..."Heaven," "Everything I Do," "Do I Have To Say The Words," all beautiful, each an anthem to love.

Today we are going to taste one in particular, my favorite ballad by Bryan Adams..."Please Forgive Me."

In an interview with Carl Wiser on Songfacts, Adams said this about the song:

"We needed a song for the greatest hits album, which was entitled "So Far So Good." Mutt Lange came up with the idea for the song and we wrote it while working in France in 1993. it was the first time we had recorded with a whole band in the studio, some of the musicians I'd never worked with before like David Paich on piano. Before this band session, we had recorded the album "Waking Up The Neighbours" instrument by instrument. It was good to be back with a band.

Yes it was one of the first songs I agreed to use a modulation in as I never liked modulations in songs unless you were modulating from verse to chorus like I did on "One Night Love Affair." I don't do the modulation in "Please Forgive Me" when I sing it live."

Take a listen and read the lyrics...

"Please Forgive Me", the song starts by looking back...

"It still feels like our first night together

Feels like the first kiss

It's getting better baby

No one can better this

Still holding on

You're still the one

First time our eyes met

Same feeling I get

Only feels much stronger

I want to love you longer

You still turn the fire on"

A strong chorus starting with reassurance and moving into the real guts of the message.

"So if you're feeling lonely, don't

You're the only one I'll ever want

I only want to make it good

So if I love you, a little more than I should

Please forgive me, I know not what I do

Please forgive me, I can't stop loving you

Don't deny me, this pain I'm going through

Please forgive me, if I need you like I do

Please believe me, every word I say is true

Please forgive me, I can't stop loving you"

Second verse starts with re-enforcing the feelings..

"Still feels like our best times are together

Feels like the first touch

We're still getting closer baby

Can't get close enough

Still holding on

You're still number one"

And here's where it gets real...

"I remember the smell of your skin

I remember everything

I remember all your moves

I remember you yeah

I remember the nights, you know I still do"

I remember the smell of your skin...just the thought of a man thinking back and whispering that line to a woman, well it just knocks my socks off. Seven words with incredible impact.

"So if you're feeling lonely, don't

You're the only one I'll ever want

I only want to make it good

So if I love you a little more than I should

Please forgive me, I know not what I do

Please forgive me, I can't stop loving you

Don't deny me, this pain I'm going through

Please forgive me, if I need you like I do

Please believe me, every word I say is true

Please forgive me, I can't stop loving you"

Strength...

"The one thing I'm sure of

Is the way we make love

The one thing I depend on

Is for us to stay strong

With every word and every breath I'm praying

That's why I'm saying,

Please forgive me, I know not what I do

Please forgive me, I can't stop loving you

Don't deny me, this pain I'm going through

Please forgive me, if I need you like I do

Babe believe it, every word I say is true

Please forgive me, if I can't stop loving you

No, believe me, I don't know what I do

Please forgive me, I can't stop loving you"

Please forgive me, I can't stop loving you...It's hard to find fault in that line, in that feeling, or in the song. Beautifully written, beautifully sung. 

On The Soapbox Again: School Funding

Well it's that time of the year again. School is almost out for the summer and school boards across the country are starting to grumble about funding.

Not enough money for this, we need to make cuts in that. And what is the first to go...the Arts. Bullshit I say. Why does this country always attack the very things which give us our humanity.

Music and Art. Let's take one at a time.

Art.
I have no artistic ability. What I do have is an appreciation for the gift of others to create something which makes your eyes grow wide and never want to erase the image from your mind. Example, I love the artist Georgia O' Keefe. I have several prints, posters, notecards etc. of her art. It's must be 20 years ago, there was a major exhibition of her work at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC. I was so moved by seeing the art in person; it is still one of my most treasured memories all these years later.

Music.
I have no musical ability. What I do have is a heart that has exploded more times than I can remember, when hearing a song that both makes me smile and brings tears to my eyes...at the same time. I have been lucky enough to enjoy live concerts from almost every music genre. From Blues to Rock, from Classical to Reggae...there is nothing that can take the place of a live performance.

What's my point?
Without the Arts in the schools, kids are void of the stimulation needed to "scratch the itch" and develop their abilities. A generation growing up without the humanities...aren't we all becoming too computerized already?

So, I thank one of my friends from Twitter for bringing up this ongoing issue and hope you all will do what is necessary to fight for that which makes us feel alive...the Arts.

Let's have some fight songs:

Twisted Sister  "We're Not Gonna Take It"
Bob Marley  "Get Up Stand Up"
Bryan Adams "Kids Wanna Rock"

and if you need a little more inspiration...
Survivor "Eye of the Tiger"

Feel it. Do it.

.