The Buggles - Video Killed the Radio Star

Music Appreciation (A Retrospect)

Robert Pittman introduced Music Television to the teens and tweens of the 1980s.  MTV became the outlet that connected musicians to music lovers to each other.  The cable channel also provided a new way to introduce fashion trends quicker than magazines and movies.  Soon, kids dressed like Madonna or Michael Jackson one day and Jon Bon Jovi and Debbie Gibson another. 

MTV changed the world, and this was the first music video played on August 1, 1981, 30 years ago.

Covered by The Presidents of the United States of America in 2000.

Source: Wikipedia

Crowded House - Don't Dream it's Over

I was about 10 years old when I first watched the surreal music video for Crowded House's Don't Dream It's Over. The dream-like video shows singer Neil Finn walking through rooms with clips of dishes breaking and reels un-reeling over the music video.  Back then the effects were cool and added visual emotion to the song.

The song is about perseverance through obsticles in a relationship.  Although, it wasn't until 2003 when Sixpence None the Richer covered the song that I was able to decipher half the lyrics. [See below for Sixpence's music video for Don't Dream It's Over.]

Formed in Melbourne, Australia, Neil and Tim Finn's Crowded House hit the international billboard charts in 1986 with Don't Dream It's Over. They received several awards for the song and video including MTV Video Music Award for Best New Artist and an ARIA Music Award for Song of the Year.

Source: Wikipedia

Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit

Music Appreciation

I was in high school when I first watched Smells Like Teen Spirit. It was terrifying, yet sexy and wonderful. I couldn't pull away my eyes from the TV screen. Nor could I resist listening to the guitar riff and power chords of the song. I soon found myself engulfed with inner anger and rebellion.

GQ article on the "grudgy dudes" from Seattle: http://www.gq.com/entertainment/music/201106/nirvana-20-years-later#slide=1.

Source: Wikipedia

Maná - Oye Mi Amor

Music Appreciation

On March 10, 1999, Mexican rock band Maná, performed in Miami, Florida for MTV Unplugged. 

The pop rock group from Guadalajara, Mexico, have sold more than 25 million albums worldwide. 

They have won nine Billboard Latin Music Awards, three Grammys and two World Music Awards, to name a few.

I was first introduced to Maná from a friend in college we called Tibu, short for tiburon (Spanish for shark).  I remember watching him and another good friend of ours, Rocky, dance on the bed of Tibu's black Ram truck to Mana at South Padre Island.

Since then I became a fan of Maná and made several purchases of their albums.  For me, the best time to listen to Maná is during hot summer months; preferable at a beach sipping a cold beer or margarita. 

Source: Wikipedia

Beach tunes favorites

Below is a list of songs and music that I think should be part of your summer beach playlist. 

Feel free to send me your suggestions too.

Jake Shimabukuro - Peace Love Ukulele (Album)

The Surfaris - Wipe Out

Dick Dale - Misirlou

The Beach Boys - Surfer Girl

The Beach Boys - Surfin' USA

The Rivieras - California Sun

The Embers - I Love Beach Music

Jeff Buckley - Hallelujah

Jimmy Buffett - Come Monday

Jimmy Buffett - Margaritaville

Garth Brooks - Two Pina Coladas

The O'Kaysions - Girl Watcher

Bryan Hyland - Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini

The Catalinas - Summertime's Calling Me


The Beatles - In My Life

Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs - Stay

Ramones - Rockaway Beach

Kenny Chesney - When the Sun Goes Down

Ziggy Marley - Beach in Hawaii

Bob Marley - Could You Be Loved

Source: United Hemispheres, December 2010, http://www.nutsie.com/top100sradio/Top%20100%20Beach%20Music%20Songs/2638735, http://www.theboot.com/2011/06/24/beach-songs/, http://www.popculturemadness.com/Music/Summer.html

The Cure - Pictures of You

Music Appreciation

I first remember listening to Pictures of You during a morning bus ride to my high school.  Chris, a high school friend of mine, would bring his boombox and play The Cure's Mixed Up CD.  We started our morning drive to Mercedes from McAllen listening to all the songs on that CD. 

Perhaps one of the most memorable mornings was when Kristalee, wearing a short little black dress and dark stalkings, sat next to me on our way to school. I was terrified and didn't move.  I probably had many opportunities to say something.  Maybe I could have told her how much I liked her wavy hair.  Maybe I could have mentioned that she looked so much like Julia Roberts.   So many maybes.  Sadly, I didn't.   

Instead I wrote her a Valentine's note sharing my feelings.   I ignored her after that.  I didn't want to confront the questions or even her response.  Yes, pitiful. 

Eventually, one of the girls got tired of the CD.  Chris stopped the music and changed it to the local station.  We didn't hear The Cure on the bus ever again, but I did go out and spend my a $20 allowance to get the CD.

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