R.I.P. Dani

(Old Rock Scholar Post) I've been a fan of the Red Hot Chili Peppers since their breakout album Mother's Milk, and I've really enjoyed the last two albums Californication and By The Way. It's great to see an old school alternative act age so gracefully. I have yet to experience the full two hours of Stadium Arcadium, but if the awesome "Dani California" is any indication of the rest of the album, I'm definitely ready to check it out. (***Update - Stadium Arcadium is AWESOME!!! - Tied with John Mayer's Continuum for my 2007 Album of the Year) After watching the new video on VH1 I saw an interview with Anthony Kiedis explaining that "Dani California" is just the last chapter in the story of a girl that started in "Californication" and continued in "By The Way." Anthony explains, "When this funky groove came up it struck me as a perfect place to actually tell a story. It sort of revealed itself to me that it's been the same character, just kind of developing. At first I didn't realize that I was writing about the same girl." She's been quit a muse, as all three of the songs that she is in are hits.As mentioned, Dani first appears in 1999's "Californication," but she is not referred to by name. I'll just quote the parts of the songs that directly tell the story of Dani.Marry me girl be my fairy to the world Be my very own constellation A teenage bride with a baby inside Getting high on information I'm glad she chose information to get high on.It's safe for the baby and should be the high of choice for all pregnant women. In 2002 "By The Way" finds Dani at a show, she must have left the little one with a babysitter. Standing in line To see the show tonight And there's a light on Heavy glow By the way I tried to say I'd be there... waiting for Dani the girl is singing songs to me Beneath the marquee... overload/of her soulFinally in 2006, the song "Dani California" finds our friend robbing banks, leading to her ultimate demise at the hands of North Dakota law enforcement. I really hope she left the kid at the sitter for this one! Again, I'll just quote the story of Dani.Gettin' born in the state of MississippiPoppa was a copper and her momma was a hippieIn Alabama she would swing a hammerPrice you gotta pay when you break the panoramaShe never knew that there was anything more than poorWhat in the world does your company take me for?Black bandana, sweet LouisianaRobbin' on a bank in the state of IndianaShe's a runner, rebel and a stunnerOn her merry way saying baby what you gonnaLookin' down the barrel of a hot metal .45Just another way to surviveShe's a lover, baby and a fighterShould've seen her coming when it got a little brighterWith a name like Dani CaliforniaDay was gonna come when I was gonna mourn yaA little loaded she was stealing another breathI love my baby to deathPush the fader, gifted animatorOne for the now and eleven for the laterNever made it, Up to MinnessotaNorth Dakota man was a gunnin' for the quotaDown in the badlands she was saving the best for lastit only hurts when I laughGone too fastCalifornia rest in peaceSimultaneous releaseCalifornia show your teethShe's my priestess, I'm your priestYeah, yeah

- Uncle Mitch

Every Time I Hear Your Name - Keith Anderson

My first stab at this, thought a track off of Three Chord Country And American Rock & Roll would be a good place to start. This is a great song, enjoy!Capo 1st Fret
C F maj7 C F maj7 C
Finally got over that song of oursStopped chasin' little red sports cars
F maj7To check the license platesAnd I quit drivin' by your place
CBack makin' the rounds at our old hauntsHonky-tonks, restaurants
F maj7Seein' some of our old friendsFeels good to dance again
GAnd I can finally smell your perfume
F maj7And not look around the room for you
G F maj7
And I can walk right by your picture in frame
GAnd not feel a thing but when I hear your name
CI feel rainFallin' right outta the blue sky
F maj7And it's the 5th of MayAnd I'm right there starin' in your eyes
Am G
And nothin's changed and we're still the same
CAnd I get lost in the innocence of a first kiss
F maj7And I'm hangin' on to every word rollin' off your lips
Am G
That's all it takes and I'm in that place
C Every time I hear your name
C Got someone special in my life
Everyone thinks she'd make a great wife
F maj7Dad says he thinks she's the one Reminds him of mom when she was young
CBut it's way too soon to be talkin' about ringsDon't want to rush into anything
F maj7She's getting over someone tooKinda like me and you
GShe talks about him every once in a while
F maj7And I just nod my head and smile
G'Cause I know exactly what she's goin' through
F maj7Yeah, I've been there too
GWhen the conversation turns to you
CI get caught in a that you were the only one for me
F maj7Kinda thought and your face is all that I see
Am G
I know can't go back but I still go back
CAnd there we are parked down by the riverside
F maj7And I'm in your arms about to make love for the first time
Am G
That's all it takes and I'm in that place
CEvery time I hear your name
F maj7 C
I start thinking 'bout the words I left unsaid
F maj7 C
I start tryin' to change the things I can't change
F maj7In my heart I know you're gone
GBut in my head
CI feel rainFallin' right outta the blue sky
F maj7And it's the 5th of MayAnd I'm right there starin' in your eyes
Am G
And that's all it takes and I'm in that place
CThere we are parked down by the riverside
F maj7And I'm in your arms about to make love for the first time
Am G
And I can't explain but I'm in that place
CEvery time I hear your name
Fmaj7 C

- Uncle Mitch

Superman Songs

(Old Rock Scholar post) I just saw Superman Returns and although I really did enjoy it, it was a little disappointing after the superb Batman Begins, X-Men, and Spider-Man movies and the standard set by the late Christopher Reeve (not counting Superman IV of course). To be fair Brandon Routh did a good job, there is great potential for a franchise, and it was kind of hard to concentrate with somebody's cell phone ringing (mine) and someone's kid screaming (mine). But it's not like this is Movie Scholar, do yourself a favor and check out FilmAffinity where you rate the movies you like and it gives you accurate recommendations based on the picks of your "Movie Soulmates". I have obsessively rated over 2000 movies there and will not watch anything unless my Soulmates recommend it. Anyway, back to the matter at hand - here is my top five favorite Superman songs. Only the most relevant lyrics are included, and the songs are listed in no particular order.

Here's a hit by an excellent band that should have had more.Big Head Todd And The Monsters"Resignation Superman"

He'll come flying out of this townA resignation supermanAnd today the bad guys win'Cause he turned his cape inNow, he saysAnd I'll turn my back on this worldYes, I'll turn my eyes from this worldOh well ... Yes, he's tired of fighting in this townAll the suffering and viceHe wants to fall in love Maybe settle in and live a lifeAnd he keeps an eye upon this townThe resignation supermanHe'll keep himself amusedWith the evening newsOh my ...

Forget Nickelback, these Canadian's rock.Our Lady Peace"Superman's Dead"

Alone I'm thinkingWhy is superman deadIs it in my headWe'll just laugh instead

Glad to see these guys back with the groovy new single "Nice Talking To Me".Spin Doctors"Jimmy Olson's Blues"

Well, I don't think I can handle thisA cloudy day in MetropolisI think I'll talk to my analystI got it so bad for this little journalistIt drives me up the wall and through the roofLois and Clark in a telephone boothI think I'm going out of my brainI got it so bad for little miss Lois LaneLois Lane please put me in your planYeah, Lois Lane you don't need no SupermanCome on downtown and stay with me tonightI got a pocket full of kryptoniteHe's leaping buildings in a single boundI'm reading Shakespeare at my place downtownCome on downtown and make love to meI'm Jimmy Olsen not a titan, you seeHe's faster than a bullet, stronger than a trainHe's the one who got lucky got his cape around miss Lois LaneI can't believe my dilemma is realI'm competing with the Man of Steel

A true Hip-Hop classic from the pioneers of Rap.Sugarhill Gang"Rapper's Delight"

I said by the way baby what's your nameSaid I go by the name of Lois LaneAnd you could be my boyfriend you surely canJust let me quit my boyfriend called SupermanI said he's a fairy I do supposeFlyin through the air in pantyhoseHe may be very sexy or even cuteBut he looks like a sucker in a blue and red suitI said you need a man who's got finesse And his whole name across his chest He may be able to fly all through the night But can he rock a party 'til the early light

This song was in heavy rotation during the summer of 2000, but it never got old.Three Doors Down"Kryptonite"

If I go crazy then will you still call me Superman?If I am alive and well will you be there holding my hand?I'll keep you by my side with my superhuman mightKryptonite

- Uncle Mitch

Board Game Renaissance

Every year our family gets a board game for Christmas, but this year Tamara and I couldn't find anything we wanted or didn't have. I found this website www.boardgamegeek.com where I saw that classics like Risk ranked 3520 and Monopoly ranked 4316. The site introduced me to a whole new world of board games that Wal-Mart just didn't offer. So we thought we'd would try these games out and they have been a hit with our family and friends. It's been fun to try something different and I really like the strategy involved with the games we have tried. Our new favorite games so far are:

Ticket to Ride (play for free at www.daysofwonder.com)

Carcassonne (Place tiles to create a city and score points)

Settlers of Zarahemla (LDS version of the popular Settlers of Cattan)

Sceneit? Sqabble (Great to play with couples for guys vs gals)