Car Commercial Discoveries

Have you ever seen a commercial on TV and wondered, "what is that song in the background?" That's kinda what happened to me while watching this commercial for the new KIA Cadenza. When I first saw it I thought I was hearing things. Next time I thought it was too good to be true. The third time I saw it I accepted what it had to be. It was a remix of David Bowie's "Let's Dance." The original song was released March 17, 1983 and reached #1 on the Canadian Singles, Dutch Singles, Irish SIngles, New Zealand SIngles, Norwegian Singles, Swedish Singles, Swiss Singles, UK Singles, US Billboard Hot 100, and the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play charts. Not too shabby, right? It was only a matter of time before someone remixed it. InFiction got a hold of it, and did it right. They took it and gave it an entirely new, modern feel. Check it out: Until next time, roll the Mellow Dice and hope for Midnight.

I Leave You With This...

Gonna blast to the past tonight with the band Chicago. The song is called Color My World. It was released as a b-side to the single Make Me Smile in 1970, and the single Beginnings in 1971. The piano seems to been inspired in some way by Moonlight Sonata. The major seventh chord that begins the song has been called, "the most famous major seventh in the history of music." Check out the song here:
Until next time, roll the Mellow Dice and hope fr Midnight.

A Coined Title

It was only a Matter of Time until I did a Killers song. Yes, I did just make a Killers pun. What better song to do, than the one that has gradually become my favorite Killers song: Spaceman. The lead singer, Brandon Flowers, said in an interview that he wanted a mixture of Space Oddity by David Bowie and Rocket Man by Elton John in this song. Ironically, if you put those two song titles together you get Spaceman. Or Oddity Rocket, but that's another song entirely. It's hit #2 on the U.S Billboard Hot Dance Club Play charts, and #6 on the Israeli Singles chart. Check it out here:

Until next time, roll the Mellow Dice and hope for Midnight.

The Ocean of Sand

Paintings inspire in many ways. They use beauty of colors to inspire us to be more and do more. Sometimes they inspire us to...write music? That's what happened with America. Not the continent, the band. While the band was in the studio they saw a painting by Salvador Dali of a desert. They decided to capture the look of heat in the painting by writing the song A Horse With No Name. Some have speculated that the song is actually about drugs, but that theory was shot down by the band. It reached #1 on the Canada and the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 charts, and #3 on the UK and the U.S. Billboard Easy Listening charts. Check it out here: Until next time, roll the Mellow Dice and hope for Midnight.

Take the High Ground

A song about giving someone a second chance, and then actually giving someone a second chance in real life. That what happened with Stevie Wonder and his song Higher Ground. The song is about being given a second chance and making the most of it. Three months later a log truck lost control and slammed into a car that Wonder was riding in, causing him to go into a coma. The song was played in Wonder's ear while in the coma and he started to tap his fingers to the beat. When he finally woke up, he accepted the truck driver's apology and acted like it's something that happens everyday. Talk about giving someone a second chance. This song hit #1 on the U.S. Billboard R&B Singles, and #4 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. Check it out here: Until next time, roll the Mellow Dice and hope for Midnight.

I Leave You With This...

There's no doubt as to what this song is about. It's a lonely singing a love song. What is it? All I Want by Kodaline. Kodaline made it's public debut when their song Give Me a Minute hit the Irish Singles Chart. Back then they were called 21 Demands and didn't change their name until 2011. All I Want has been selected on BBC Radio 1 as the Record of the Week, appeared Grey's Anatomy, and was the background music for Google's 2012: Year in Review video. Check out the song here:  Until next time, roll the Mellow Dice and hope for Midnight.

The Inevitable Return

Where did they go? Why did they leave? Did they ever actually break up? These are questions you may have heard about Fall Out Boy back in 2010 when the members started their solo careers. It had seemed like they were gone forever.  Not a chance. Fall Out Boy has recently come out of the shadows with their new song My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark. It was released back in February of this year as a digital download, and eventually as a part of the album Save Rock and Roll. This marked the return of Fall Out Boy. The song lyrics is a compilation of random lyrics from a 2007 jam session, so they don't really have any meaning. That doesn't matter because this song is insanely catchy. Check it out: Until next time, roll the Mellow Dice and hope for Midnight.

Drugs or No Drugs?

It's time for a battle of opinions. The subject: Smokin' by Boston. This song was a b-side to the song More Than a Feeling in 1976 and is covered by the band Anthrax. So where's the controversy? It's all about what the song is about. The first opinion is that they're talking about playing music and having a good time. This argument is supported with lyrics like, "Everybody jumpin, dancin to the boogie tonight. Clap your hands, move your feet, if you dont you know it wont seem right" The other side, takes the title more seriously. They think its about smokin'...marijuana. This side is supported by the line, "Smokin', smokin'. Were cookin tonight, just keep on tokin'. Smokin', smokin'. I feel alright, mamma I'm not jokin', yeah." So which is it? Maybe both? You decide: Until next time, roll the Mellow Dice and hope for Midnight.

Happiest Song Ever?

I don't know about you, but whenever I hear What a Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong, I can't help but crack a smile. If you don't, then try this: fake a smile and do your best Louis Armstrong impression while singing the song. You may find that your smile is authentic. This is something that Larry Newton should have tried. Larry Newton was the head to ABC records, and he didn't like the song at all. That's why when it was originally released, it sold less than 1,000 copies. Over in the UK, they had a different perspective. They loved the song so much that it made #1 on the UK Singles Chart in 1967. As of today, this song has been sold millions of times and has been used in various movies and TV shows. Check it out, and have a nice day. Until next time, roll the Mellow Dice and hope for Midnight.

I Leave You With This...

We've had one central theme today: drums. This last post is no exception. The song is called 21st Century Schizoid Man by King Crimson. Yes, it's 7 minutes long but believe me it's worth it. Just listen to the drums...don't they ever stop? What's the song about? It's literally a bunch of disjointed phrases that create various images and scenes. There are a few references to the Vietnam War, but that's about it. Check it out if you've got the time: Until next time, roll the Mellow Dice and hope for Midnight.

Fun All Around

Neil Peart, Geddy Lee, and Alex Lifeson walk into an airport. No, this isn't a joke, it's an origin story. It's how Rush got the name, and the rhythm for the song YYZ. YYZ is the airport identification code for Toronto Pearson National Airport in Mississauga, Canada. Neil Peart said that, "It's always a happy day when YYZ appears on our luggage tags." Also, the beginning of the song is morse code for the letter YYZ. Besides the fun origin story, what's so special about the song? It is so much fun to play. The guitar is legendary, the bass is too much fun, and the drums...are hypnotizing. Just listen to those short, but amazing drum solos he's dishing out in there. Check it out and enjoy:

Until next time, roll the Mellow Dice and hope for Midnight.

The Never Ending Drums!!

This next song's deceiving. It starts off with a very catchy guitar riff, and has several mini guitar solos throughout, but this is not known for its guitar. It's the drum solo that really catches your attention Moby Dick by Led Zeppelin has one of the greatest drum solos of all time. It was created after the guitarist, Jimmy Page, caught the drummer, John Bonham, jamming out on his own. Page would record it, and eventually he pieced it all together into one awesome drum solo. There's one thing about this solo, though. It's really short. Let me explain: The solo on the album is approximately 3 minutes long. That's the shortened version. The full solo is about 6-30 minutes long. The rest of the band would often play the opening riff, and then walk off stage and take a break while Bonham played the solo. Bonham would often break his drumsticks, throw them into the audience, and continue playing the solo with his hands. Sometimes he would play so hard his hand actually started bleeding. You can check it the awesome song, and especially the solo, here: Until next time, roll the Mellow Dice and hope for Midnight.

Iconic Drum Solo

You're sitting around minding your own business, In the Air Tonight by Phil Collins comes on, and you can't help but jam out when the drums do that amazing drum solo. You don't know why, but there's something about that solo that makes you want to act it out and look like a complete maniac. This was Phil Collins' first single as a solo artist, and he really outdid himself here. This song was literally built off of the drum track. Collins said in an interview that, "'In the Air Tonight' was just a drum machine pattern that I took off that CR78 drum machine. You could eliminate certain sounds and program bass drums and snare drums, so I programmed a bass drum part into it, but basically the rest of it was already on there." Check it out and jam out: Until next time, roll the Mellow Dice and hope for Midnight.

Hurt soooooo Good

You can imagine what song I'm gonna give you a link to in just a few minutes. So before that let's just talk about this amazing song. What is so intriguing about this song. Maybe cause the artist's middle name is Cougar. Well that's definitely a major contributor to it. It also is very catchy like most Mellencamp songs. It is a love song but it's not like most love songs. We all know the phrase "love hurts" and "All you need is love." If this was all you knew about love then you might come to the conclusion that all you need is pain. Well both statements are true but who says all hurt is bad. There is a kinda hurt that feels good. That true love hurt. This song was stuck in my head all day and lucky for me it played on the radio today and I heard it. I blared my speakers so loud my ears started to ache, but it's ok because it hurt so good. Check out the song here and try not to sing along. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTdxMXKT4So

I Hate Waiting

Jared why do you like only bands that are dead and gone? Well that's not entirely true. The answer to that question though is that I'm incredibly impatient. If a band has already stopped making music I don't have to wait on new albums to be released; I can listen to all of their music now. Well I'm a huge Jack Johnson fan and it feels like ten years since he released his last album. Well he finally releases his album in the next few months and I'm having a hard time just waiting. I'm not used to waiting cause I prefer old time Rock N Roll. Anyhow Jack Johnson has already released a song off his new album. The song is a classic Johnson tune. Acoustic and relaxing vocals. Maybe this new album will be a lot like his most famous album In Between Dreams. Either way I'm excited for the album and I'm glad he made the waiting process easier by releasing this single "I Got You"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBWFUVq85gs

A Story With No Words

Some songs have a message or a story that impacts the world with its lyrics. They can inspire a generation to be something greater than they are. Sometimes the lyrics teach us about life and death. Sometimes the lyrics...are nonexistent. That's the way it is with Pink Floyd's Great Gig in the Sky. The song begins with a recording of Gerry O'Driscoll: "And I am not frightened of dying, any time will do, I don't mind. Why should I be frightened of dying? There's no reason for it, you've gotta go sometime." This short quote gives the meaning to the song: Death. After this quote Clare Torry begins singing, but there are no words. There are no lyrics in the entire song. Why is that? According to keyboard player Rick Wright, this song is about life descending into death. The reason there are no lyrics is because it's not so much a message that's being conveyed, but an emotion. The first half is more rough and angry sounding because of a person's unwillingness to give up on life. The second half is tender and easy symbolizing the person's acceptance and release into that sleep known as death. This also happens to be the end of CD 1 of the Dark Side of the Moon which further gives a feeling of death at the end of the song. Check it out:

Until next time, roll the Mellow Dice and hope for Midnight.

Enjoy the Moment

When you think of Pearl Jam, what comes to mind? Love songs isn't usually the first response to that question. They aren't known for their love songs but that doesn't mean they don't have any. Take Just Breathe for example. Lead singer Eddie Vedder once said in an interview that it was, "as close to a love song as we've ever gotten." I really love the message behind it. I know, the message is love, but there's something deeper than that. It's saying to just relax, breathe, and love each other. This song hit #1 on the U.S. Billboard Triple A Songs and the Polish Singles charts. Check it out:

Until next time, roll the Mellow Dice and hope for Midnight.

I Leave You With This...

It's summer time, it's hot, and everyone's going to the plage. If you don't speak French, "plage" is the french word for beach. It's also a song by the Crystal Fighters. It was released in August of 2011 as the eighth single off of their album Star of Love. It's reached #4 on the 3FM Mega Top 50 Charts, and #9 on the Dutch Download Top 50 and the single top 100. Check it out:

Until next time, roll the Mellow Dice and hope for Midnight.

My Best Friend

The Red Hot Chili Peppers. Funk rock at its finest with one of the greatest bassists of all time, a drummer who has way too much fun, a guitarist with amazing skill, and a singer who is...lonely? That's the message he conveyed in their song Under the Bridge. For three years he had abstained from alcohol and that made him feel lonely because he was excluded from the other band members "drinking parties." In his depression he remembered back when he was dating Lone Skye and instead of spending time with her, he was was under a bridge doing drugs with gangsters. He said that at this point he felt like the only friend he had was his home city of Los Angeles and that's why he wrote Under the Bridge. The song is a bit different than their usual style, and that's what worried Kiedis the most. To his surprise, when it was introduced to the band, they immediately picked up their instruments and started working on the chords and rhythm. Check it out:      Until next time, roll the Mellow Dice and hope for Midnight.

Just a White Room

Ever listen to the lyrics of a song and your just kinda like where did this guy come from. What possessed him to make lyrics as cool as "yellow tigers crouched in jungles in her dark eyes." Well there is hardly a genre of music that has more creative lyrics than Psychedelic Rock. The band Cream was one of the most popular bands in the late sixties. The 3 man band really helped boost the career of Eric Clapton. Anyhow this is one of my favorite 3 man bands along with Rush and the Police. I hope you enjoy this song it's basically about the worst trip of all time. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VR90gQ-SIaY

Changing Controversy

When speaking of life and the universe the Greek philosopher Heraclitus said that "the only constant is change." That's true in many ways including music. Just look at the differences in popular music over the past 20-30 years. Of course not all change takes that long, especially for bands that like to experiment. Take My Chemical Romance for example. For 9 years they were one of the most popular punk emo bands that existed. They were dark and gritty and just what any punk rocker would want. In 2010 they came out with Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys. The controversy was enormous. MCR had come out with an album that was something completely new to them: Alternative Pop Punk. Some fans enjoyed the fact that they were experimenting and created something new. Others thought it was heresy. Whatever it was, Danger Days became one of the most popular MCR albums, if not the most popular one. Check out the second single from the album, "Sing" Until next time, roll the Mellow Dice and hope for Midnight.

I Leave You With This...

I haven't done this in a while and I almost forgot how much fun it is. I get to find great music and share it with you; how fun is that? Tonight I'm gonna close out with a song called Way to Fall by Starsailor. It's off of their 2001 album Love is Here which hit #2 on the UK Album Charts. There's a lot of speculation about what the song is actually about. The one that fits the best is that the lyrics are from the perspective of a depressed father who drowns his depression in alcohol and he's trying to tell his son about how unfair life is. Check it out: Until next time, roll the Mellow Dice and hope for Midnight.

Not Really a "Slow Hand"

Eric Clapton. One of the most acclaimed guitarists of all time. An amazing guitarist in the recording studio or live and outstanding skill playing either electric or acoustic. Even with his fame and his talent there was one thing I never understood before now: Why did people call him "Slow Hand"? What I discovered was absolutely fascinating. When a guitarist plays with such skill as Clapton, it is common for the guitarist to break a string on stage. When this happens, a stage hand will usually give the guitarist a different guitar, take the guitar with the broken string, restring it, re-tune it, and have it ready for the next set. That's not how Clapton did things. Whenever he broke a string he would walk off stage, grab a new string, and restring in front of the audience. They were so impressed by his guitar playing that one time when he broke a string, the audience gave him a slow clap as he restrung his instrument. This became so popular that it's done every time Clapton replaces a string. Clapton came up with the nickname himself coining the words, "slow handclap." Which makes sense because if you've ever heard him play, you know he has anything but a "slow hand." Check him out here with his amazing Acoustic version of Layla: Until next time, roll the Mellow Dice and hope for Midnight.

It's Not Over

A great song about missing someone and saying, "I'm not over you." No, this isn't the song by Gavin Degraw. It's by a band called Carolina Liar and the song is called I'm Not Over. Carolina Liar...doesn't really make sense. They started back in 2006 in South Carolina. They are based in South Carolina, and they are an American band, but they're not America. Well, not all of them. The lead singer Chad Wolf is from Charleston, North Carolina, but that's the minority. The other three members, Rickard Göransson; Johan Carlsson; and Peter Carlsson, are from Sweden. They have two albums out: Coming to Terms, and Wild Blessed Freedom. I'm Not Over is from the first album Coming to terms. The song hit #3 on the US Alternative Charts. Check it out: Until next time, roll the Mellow Dice and hope for Midnight.

Tumblin' Mellow Dice

Dice is our mascot here at Mellow Dice as you can imagine. Well I was thinking about what song should I post about and I thought why not a song about dice. What song am I talking about? Oh you know it's Tumbling Dice by the Rolling Stones. The first time I heard this song I immediately knew it was a stone's song. Maybe it's because the song sounded amazing and I loved it immediately before I got to the halfway mark. It's a classic Stones song so I hope you enjoy it. Make sure you tell your friends to check out Mellow Dice so we can keep rolling. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6U8JlcB_BzA

De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da

I didn't really know what to post today. Not sure what words to use or say. Great thing there's a song for that. De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da is about not being able to find the right words to say. Enjoy this upbeat love song by The Police. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jix7XcbVA4w

What is a Breezeblock?

The past few days a song had been stuck in my head. A song that I heard for the first time three days ago. It's called Breezeblocks by Alt+J. First question: What is a Breezeblock? A Breezeblock is a building block made from random materials bonded by cement. You've probably seen one before; it looks like the picture below.
Second question: What happens when you press Alt+J on the keyboard? If you use a PC then it does absolutely nothing.
On a Mac it makes the symbol ∆ which is the uppercase Greek letter Delta. If you think that's interesting, wait till you hear what the song is about. Breezeblocks was inspired mainly by the book, "Where the Wild Thing Are." More specifically it's from the end where the wild things say, "Oh, please don't go! We'll eat you whole! We love you so!" The song is about someone who is in love so much that they would be willing to do anything for that love. Even if it involves hurting themselves or the other person. The song was released on May of last year and reached #6 on the UK Indie Charts. You can check it out here:


Until next time, roll the Mellow Dice and hope for Midnight.

Oh Monday's

Monday is always slow and terrible. I had one good Monday pretty much my whole life. However, there are things that make Monday better. Mine is my favorite snack Tabasco Cheese-its. God gave man Tabasco Cheese-its to make Mondays simply outstanding. At least that's how I feel about them. Anyway throughout history Monday's have been slow going and just downright  bad. Just ask the Allman Brothers they made an amazing cover of T-Bone Walker's Stormy Monday. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gDhR1R3S0s

Sing a Song

Time to hit shuffle on the Mellow Dice radio. This time we come up with a song called Sing by Travis. This song was released back in May of 2001 as the lead single off of Travis' third studio album: The Invisible Band. The B-Side to the song is a cover of Queen's Killer Queen (which we might review later). Sing hit #1 on the UK Airplay charts, and #2 on the French Singles chart. If you don't have Spotify you can check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7yO6l57og8

Until next time, roll the Mellow Dice and hope for Midnight.

Tv Theme Songs

You can't deny it. Everyone loves and watches TV. Whether you're actually watching TV shows, watching movies or just playing video games this box is a part of our life. We all have favorite TV shows and we watch them religiously, but what makes a great TV show. Well the acting and the writers play the biggest role in making the TV show a hit. However, when you're not quoting the show word for word that theme song gets stuck in your head. Yes the theme song. You can get a song stuck in your head for days maybe even weeks that way you constantly think  about the show. Every time I hear a Who song now I think of CSI. You may even notice that you're favorite show is one of your favorite theme songs. Some TV shows take the theme song seriously and they get really good ones. One I always have in mind as the best theme song of all time is from Magnum PI. Magnum Pi is one of my favorite TV shows. It was a crime show set in paradise. Every time I hear this theme song I want to be out driving a Ferrari around Hawaii and solving crimes. Well I guess I'm always up for the Ferrari bit. Anyhow check out this awesome theme song. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIi9iTsbhtg

The Most Disgusting Thing Ever

Time to hit shuffle on the Mellow Dice radio!! What did we come up with this time? It's a song called Cough Syrup by Young the Giant. The song was released before the band called themselves Young the Giant. They called themselves the Jakes until December of 2009. The song was released on their 2008 debut album called Young the Giant. You probably guessed it, but this is the album that they renamed themselves after. The song was written at a time when they weren't well known and didn't get a lot of money. The song is about reaching for something bigger and better than what you have. Check it out here if you don't have Spotify: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7ym0-UImuA


Until next time, roll the Mellow Dice and hope for Midnight.

About time to run :p

It's amazing how much weight you can put on during the holidays. Apparently baked beans, pork, and soda is not that good for me. Another thing that's amazing is when your'e a kid you can eat whatever you want and not get fat. Well those days are slowly passing by and the chances of having a beer gut are more probable. Well it's time for a long run to get back in the mix of things. At least I can do something I love and despise at the same time, running and listening to music. Anyway this song isn't about running the title is deceptive. It's only a metaphorical run guys. You can find this song on the eagles 2nd volume of greatest hits. Enjoy the song. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edKq2tQcC_c

Mick You're so Reassuring.

Guitar Center is probably one of the best places in this world. Unfortunately, I live an hour away from one so I can't go as often as I like, which is everyday. Today I got the opportunity to go and I was stoked. The smell of fresh cut wood and endless amounts of guitars hanging on the wall is my kinda paradise. Unfortunately sometimes life throws you a curve ball and you can't go to Guitar Center. Then you cry for a little bit and rethink you're life. Ok maybe that's only me. Anyhow when things go wrong there is always one song that cheers me up. "You Can't Always Get What You Want." When you're parents say that your immediate reaction is like ahhhhhhhhhh shadddduppppp, but when Mick Jagger says it your'e like "yes my king!" I don't know what it is about this song that makes me so happy but it makes me forget all the bad things that have happened to me.  I guess Mick has a way with moves and words. Anyhow this is one of the best Stones songs ever, so give it a listen to relieve stress or to just be happy. Also remember this Needs > Wants. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7leQB_Oe_k 

The Saddest Song in the World?

Some songs are just so incredibly sad that you want to break down and cry. Some songs actually make you cry. And some songs...cause people to commit suicide? That's what some people believe with the song Gloomy Sunday by Rezso Seress. It was written in 1932 during the time of the Great Depression. The lyrics to the song are a rebuking mankind for their evil, and a prayer to God to be merciful to the evil ones. The original song was written in Hungarian and the title was, "Vége a világnak" which literally translates "the End of the World." He eventually changed it to, "Szomorú vasárnap" which is the Gloomy Sunday title we're familiar with. It's a very sad song for sure, but what does that have to do with suicide? Back in 1932 there were 19 deaths in Hungary and the United States that were somehow related to this song. Maybe they happened after the song was played on the radio, or someone was singing and decided to kill themselves, nobody knows what the reasoning is. Whatever the reason, the song was banned from radio stations across the world. Surely it's not that sad, is it? Check it out here and decide for yourself: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Kkxbw3s2pM
Until next time, roll the Mellow Dice and hope for Midnight.

A Landslide Without an Earthquake

I know it's been a few days since I last did this, but it's time once again to hit shuffle on the Mellow Dice radio!! Today we've got a classic from Fleetwood Mac called Landslide. The song was created by Stevie Nicks who was considering going back to school instead of continuing with the band. She was in Aspen, Colorado when she wrote which inspired the line, "looking out at the Rocky Mountains pondering the avalanche of everything that had come crashing down on us." The song hit #10 on the Adult Contemporary charts when performed by Fleetwood Mac. There were covers of the song by Smashing Pumpkins and the Dixie Chicks that were more popular on the charts, but the original is impossible to replicate. If you don'y have Spotify you can check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X30NY6E3fA8 Until next time, roll the Mellow Dice and hope for Midnight.

Two Salutes to America

I have two different "salutes" to give to Americans. The first is definitely the most important. Among other things, Independence Day is a day to remember those who have served, and are serving our country. These men and women have either given their lives, or are willing to put themselves in situations that could possibly take their lives. They fight, ultimately, for our freedom. To all those who have or are serving in any faction of the military this first song is for you. It's called Soldiers by Otherwise.It may not be your traditional song to dedicate to soldiers, but the lyrics symbolize what could be going through their minds as they carry out their orders. If you don't have Spotify you can check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMbXnSwAQWQ
The next isn't nearly as important, but I thought I would throw it in here. It's a song for those who listen to rock. Whether you're a long time fan, just introduced, or you haven't heard a rock song in your life; this one's for you. You probably guessed what it is if you're a fan of rock. So..For Those About to Rock...We Salute You: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKhTk0IynHM  Until next time, roll the Mellow Dice and hope for Midnight.

A National Anthem of the Ages

We're all familiar with the National Anthem: The Star Spangled Banner. We all know the words (even though we may forget them in the middle of performing singing it). It's easily one of the most famous songs in the United States. So let's take that song, add one of the most well known guitarists of all time, and finish with one of the most famous concerts ever. I am, of course, talking about Jimi Hendrix at Woodstock 1969. Hendrix did a version of the Star Spangled Banner that might be called disrespectful, or nontraditional. Some may say he butchered it to the point where it was unrecognizable. To put it simply, they're wrong about that. Hendrix did what anyone would do when they cover a song: he made it his own. If everyone did the exact same thing when covering the National Anthem, it would be the most boring song in the country. Instead, Hendrix took it and made a guitar solo that's both patriotic and classic. Check it out here if you don't have Spotify: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wt3cYpFLJiM Until next time, roll the Mellow Dice and hope for Midnight.

History Lesson

The 4th of July is full of history. Not just American history, though. 1826 We get classical as Stephen Foster is born and grows up to write on of the sweetest songs known to man: Beautiful Dreamer. 1832 America (My Country Tis of Thee) was performed for the first time in Boston. Later everyone realized that it was actually a plagiarized version of "God Save the Queen." 1895 A poem called "America the Beautiful" is written by Katherine Lee Bates. Yes, it's the same one as the song.  1938 Bill Withers is born. You're probably familiar with his most famous song: Ain't no Sunshine. 1964 The Rolling Stones show true rebellion a they appear on the BBC and start cutting up, looking bored, and smashing the records that were going to be reviewed. 1966 The Beatles play in Manila and eventually get kicked out of the city because they didn't show up for a meeting with the first family. The President denounces them only to find out that they had never received the invitation in the first place. They never played there again. 1969 We go to Hampton, Georgia for a two day concert featuring Led Zeppelin, Janis Joplin, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Chuck Berry, Chicago, Canned Heat, Joe Cocker, Blood Sweat & Tears, Johnny Winter, Delaney and Bonnie, Spirit, and Paul Butterfield. Flashback to 1964 where this song was #1 on the charts. A classic summer anthem, it's I Get Around by the Beach Boys Check it out here if you don't have Spotify: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WP2exZurfc Until next time, roll the Mellow Dice and hope for Midnight.

Let's Get Patriotic

Happy Independence Day everyone!! I thought it would be great to start off the day with something that may not be traditional for this day, but it sure is patriotic!! It's an orchestral piece called Fanfare for the Common Man by Aaron Copland. It was written back 1942 after Vice President Henry A.Wallace made a speech where he talked about the, "Century of the Common Man." Just how epic is this song? It has been used by bands such as the Rolling Stones, Styx, Asia, Bob Dylan, and Mannheim Steamroller. Deep Purple wrote a song back in April that was inspired by Fanfare of the Common Man called Uncommon Man. July 19, 2011 the shuttle crew of the 135th and final mission of the American Space Shuttle program woke up to this song. You want to experience how amazing this song is? Check it out here if you don't have Spotify: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NjssV8UuVA   Until next time, roll the Mellow Dice and hope for Midnight.

Independence Pie Anyone?

Happy Independence Day everyone! A day where we show our pride and celebrate our freedom as Americans. Today is also a day of remembrance of all veterans who made sacrifices to make America a better place. Today is a day of just enjoying what you love and sharing what you love. We truly are blessed. Well unfortunately I can't make speeches like Bill Pullman off "Independence Day" or speeches like Abraham Lincoln. The best way for me to speak is through song. Even though it's not my song; music is something we all love, share, and enjoy. So here at Melodious Euphoria we give you what you love and that's music. Whenever I need to remember the power of music I listen to this song and realize how bad the world would be without music. Bye Bye Miss American Pie. Here in America you don't take our freedom and you don't take our music. Let us have our Pie. Let us have what makes us great. I wish you all a happy Independence Day.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAsV5-Hv-7U

The Turks Have Fun Names

Did you know that music can sometimes educate you better than school? For example: did you know that Istanbul was once called Constantinople? Well you're about to. The Four Lads, a swing group from the '50s, came out with in 1953 called Istanbul (not Constantinople) which was about the name changing of the city of Constantinople. If you've heard the song you probably haven't heard the Four Lads version. Why? Because a band called They Might Be Giants did a cover which is much more well known. Their version is a lot of fun just to listen to, and even more fun to sing along with. If you don't have Spotify, you can check out the Four Lads version here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YPnXBWl9Tk And They Might Be Giants version here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsRuurcTTSk



Until next time, roll the Mellow Dice and hope for Midnight.

The Dead is the Best Live!

The Grateful Dead is just one of those bands you have to listen to before you die. Their songwriting was truly unique and they always sounded great live. In matter of fact sometimes live recordings are better than studio versions. The Grateful Dead were just good that's all there is to it. One of my favorite songs by them is Dire Wolf. The song is about a prehistoric wolf going around killing people. They beg the wolf not to kill them especially after one of them beats him at cards after realizing all the cards were the Queen of Spades. I guess I like the song because it's unique and it's ironic that the Dead would be begging not to be murdered. The first time I heard the song it was a live version. A few months later I finally heard the studio recording and didn't like it nearly as much as the live. Give both songs a listen and see which version you like better. After watching these videos look up your favorite song and see if you like it better live or in the studio. Sorry for Dead fans out there that like the studio version better, just "please don't murder me."http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hhqyg_dTaTg live version. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaStAAOUao8 studio version.

Danger Zone!

So today I spent the day at Pensacola's, most impressive, Naval air museum. Other than seeing hundreds of aircraft one of the best parts was seeing a movie about the Blue Angels on the I-max screen. Being there brought back a lot of memories of me as a kid. I had a great time. As I watched the movie on the Blue Angels I wondered what music they would listen to before their flight to get them pumped up, if they even needed music. Then it hit me. This is the ultimate song for anything you do that is epic and involves heavy machinery. HIGHWAY TO THE DANGER ZOOOOOOOOONNNNEEE! Having that stuck in my head the whole time there made it that much more awesome. Danger zone is written by Kenny Loggins. You may recognize it as the opening song in Top Gun. Enjoy this amazing song. Do yourself a favor and watch Top Gun too. A trip to the Naval Air Museum wouldn't hurt either.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yK0P1Bk8Cx4

Under Cover of Blankets

So I admit there may be a few things wrong with me. Maybe I use too many music puns in my posts. Perhaps, but they aren't corny puns. I think most of them are alright. You were probably expect me to make a Korn pun there but I didn't, are you proud? One thing that is weird is that I rarely listen to slow, soothing music when I go to sleep. I prefer more upbeat music and of course Rock n' Roll before I go to bed. Whatever 2,000 things may be wrong with me, liking the Strokes is not one of them. Check out this great song by the Strokes called Under Cover of Darkness. The song is actually about a long distance relationship brought about when one of them joins the army. Although it sounds sad it's actually a happy upbeat song. Anyway enjoy the song and enjoy the Strokes. Until next time keep Rolling the Mellow Dice.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwxcQvB_vcQ

Good Ole Freedom

Well it's 4th of July weekend so how about a song about freedom? Although it's one of Hendrix's underrated tunes its grown on me and is now one of my favorites. However, the song is not about freedom from oppressive government, or politicians, what Hendrix really wants is freedom from being used. Although Freedom gives you a lot of great things it doesn't guarantee you fair treatment from everyone. In the song Hendrix's woman is cheating on him and also his kids are being mistreated. The Freedom Jimi really needs is freedom from being used by a woman just for his money and fame. Hendrix never did escape the limelight but at least we have the freedom to enjoy his music and share his legacy to other generations to come. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6VXVIjbeTc

Everyday I'm Shufflin'

It's been a slow weekend on the blog due to my moving into a new house, but now I'm back!! Now, it's time to hit shuffle on the Mellow Dice radio once again. This time I came up with the song Is There A Ghost by Band of Horses. Is There a Ghost was the first single off of their second album, Cease to Begin, which was released on August of 2007. Even though there is only one line repeated throughout the song, the instruments make a very effective impact on the listener. Rolling Stone put the song at #93 for the Best Songs of 2007. If you don't have Spotify you can check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QremHCvOG-I
Until next time, roll the Mellow Dice and hope for Midnight

Mexico Would Be Good Right About Now

Well Summer is about half way through and all we can really think about is taking a big vacation off work. How about Mexico? Beautiful beaches, great food, Mariachi music, nice people. Well if you can't take a trip to Mexico just listen to this awesome James Taylor song. Don't worry the song doesn't require you to take off work or risk traveling by Carnival Cruise. Enjoy it! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SoOC3ISvhfw