Another Day #7: Friday the 13th

Sometimes I'm spoiled for choice with this feature.

Today is L. Ron Hubbard Day... so I hope you're all practicing some scientology in his honour.

What if you're wrong

But then so am I?

And what really happens when we die?

And what if L. Ron Hubbard, he was right?

Well, that would bum me out

Jill Sobule - The Rapture

It's also Smart & Sexy Day... "a special moment to recognize and embrace the diverse intelligence and talents that flourish within each of us."

Whatever.

Rod Stewart - Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?

Give yourself a good laugh and watch that video if you've not seen it in awhile. Kenny Everett springs to mind.

Not only that, but it's National Coconut Torte Day. A day to contemplate sit in the dessert which "sits in that delicious gray area between cake and pastry: rich like a cake, structured like a layer dessert, and often dressed up enough to look like it belongs in a bakery window."

I don't think I've ever eaten a coconut torte. Have I been missing out.

Harry Nilsson - Coconut

It's National Jewel Day too - I did my quiz about jewels this week, but it wasn't a particularly interesting subject so I won't bother you guys with it.

Prince & The New Power Generation - Diamonds And Pearls 

It's also (no, I'm not making any of these up): National Earmuff Day, International Riesling Day, National Open An Umbrella Indoors Day (on Friday the 13th... are you mad!?!), National Freelancers Day and World Sleep Day.

The Smiths - Asleep

But all of these wonderful celebrations are trumped (I don't like using that verb any more, even in terms of metaphorical card games) by the aforementioned Bad Luck Friday... our second in a row, thanks to February's insistence on being exactly four weeks long (most of the time). 

Good luck getting through it!

Que Sunryse - Friday The Thirteenth

Atomic Rooster - Friday 13th

The Misfits - Friday 13th

Actually, there are surprisingly few decent songs about Friday 13th. Thank god then for little Bob Smith, who's clearly having another Bad Hair Day in this video... no change there then.

My Top Ten She Songs

Ten great songs called "She"... and nothing else.

Interestingly, there are absolutely NO songs in my music library just called "He".


10. Edie Brickell & The New Bohemians - She

Edie Brickell knows where her head is at.

9. The Misfits - She

1 minute and 19 seconds long and it sounds like it was recorded on the back of a fag packet. That's proper punk for you.

Apparently this particular She was Patty Hearst.

8. Suede - She

No education, it's the arse of the nation

Must be one of my students.

7. Laura Mvula - She

One of this year's best new female voices. Keep an ear out for her.

6. Wicked Lester - She

Before Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley became Kiss, they were Wicked Lester. They recorded one album in 1971 that wasn't ever officially released. This track was later re-recorded by Kiss themselves with more guitars and less flute, but I quite like the folkier original.

5. The Sundays - She

Remember your old school discos? Harriet Wheeler does...

Just to be one of a crowd
Feet scuttling across the floor
Spinning lights round and round
And it’s adolescent war
Shoes grind kick like crazy
And arms tangling up with hair
Shaking them up and down again
And hearts pounding everywhere

Ah, Harriet. Isn't it about time for a Sundays reunion?

4. Green Day - She

From the days when Green Day looked like spoilt brat 12 year olds. Forgotten how much I loved this album...

Are you locked up in a world
That's been planned out for you?
Are you feeling like a social tool without a use?

3.  Gram Parsons - She

Get out your dictionary. Look up the word "mellow". This song is playing.

Hallelujah.

2. The Monkees / The Colourfield - She

Normally if there's more than one version of a song, I can choose the best. But Mickey Dolenz vs. Terry Hall? That's too tough to call. Although the Phil Spector kettle drum and the ironic video almost tip it in Terry's favour.

1. Elvis Costello - She

On the other hand, with all due respect to Charles Aznovoice (and even though it comes from a sucky Richard Curtis film), nobody sings this one quite like Elvis.




So - how was it for you? She... or sheeeeit?