My 7 Best Cover Songs

Recently I was listening to UB40's cover of Elvis Presleys Can't Help Falling In Love. I started thinking back to my favorite covers, because sometimes a cover can be better then the original or just as equally good. Now when I do lists like this I always make it 7, not to sure why, but just how it is. It was very hard to limit it to 7, I had to leave off some great covers like Memphis by Johnny Rivers, Mack The Knife by Bobby Darin, Since I Don't Have you by Guns N' Roses. It's very hard, but I think, in my opinion, these are the best of the best, so here goes.

1. "Twist And Shout" - The Beatles. What an awesome cover that, at the time, blew so many people away, because "People couldn't believe a white English boy could sing a black mans song so well." Johns vocal work on this screamed classic rock n' roll, and I believe they did in one or two takes. Johns throat was very sore after recording this but was well worth it. The Beatles have a few great covers, "Anna (Go To Him)", "You Really Got A Hold On Me", "Money", but this one by far takes the cake.

2. "Cara Mia" - Jay and the Americans. What vocals! Jay Black hitting those notes he hits send shivers down my back. I really wish I had a voice like his, it was amazing. Now they do have another good cover, "This Magic Moment" which is incredible as well, but this one is just beautiful.

3. "Unchained Melody" - The Righteous Brothers. Sure I know, when people hear this song now, they think of making out and scoring while making pottery or someones dead boyfriend uses a fotrune tellers body to touch his girlfriend again. But before that, the song was known for just being beautiful, with great vocals. And to me, is one of the greatest love songs of all top, top 5 for sure.

4. "Tainted Love" - Soft Cell. Yeah most people don't know this is a cover, a disco song from the 70's. It's two covers in one, cause after singing Tainted Love he goes into a great cover, a song I don't even like except for when they do it, of Baby, Baby Where Did Our Love Go? ( not sure if that's even what it's called.)

5. "Can't Help Falling In Love" - UB40. The song that inspired this list. UB40 seems to be the master at covers, the good, "Red Red Wine", and the bad "I Got You Babe". This one is very good, very upbeat, and has a great video that I watched a lot as a child. 

6.  "Man Who Sold The World" - Nirvana. What a freaking awesome cover, Nirvana doing David Bowie. The guitar is awesome, the violins a nice touch (and different for Nirvana), and one of Kurts best vocal jobs I think. Always wonder, what could have become of Nirvana had Kurt not left so soon.

7. "Billie Jean" - Chris Cornell. With all due respects to MJs, this one did not bore me. Cornell shows so much pasion singing this, you feel like this happened to him. I never felt that this song was powerful until Cornell did it, and he really kicks ass on it.

My Favorite Burton

After waiting a while, I finally got to see Tim Burtons Alice In Wonderland this weekend. I was not happy at all with what I saw. It lacked Burton touch and feel, and just simply bored me. Johnny Depp could not save it, and Anne Hathaway just annoyed the hell out of me, I really don't see why everyone thinks she's so pretty, playing the white princess I guess. She was way over the top and just annoying. So I decided today to put down my 7 favorite Tim Burton films in order of most to least favorite. I have yet to see Big Fish or Sweeney Todd, so they may be on here one day.

1. "Ed Wood" (1994) I love everything about this film. It's not your typical Tim Burton film, from the set, to the style, to great script. It reminds me a lot of the Hollywood era from the 30s to 50s. And unlike most of Burtons movies, keeps the story flowing.

2. "Beetlejuice" (1988) One of the funniest movies of the 80's and a great comedic effort by Michael Keaton. Has a legendary dinner scene, who else thinks of this movie whenever they hear Day-O?, and features Keaton ad libbing throughout most of the movie.

3. "Batman Returns" (1992) I know most people rank his first "Batman" higher then this one, but like Burton, I felt the first one got boring at times. This is one of the best examples of Burtons unique style and also features him making a statement about how he feels being in hollywood. Not to mention the great chemistry between Batman and Catwoman, that was far better then Vicki Vale.

4. "Sleepy Hollow" (1999) Excellent adaption from the book, with great effects, story, set and a very funny and charming Johnny Depp.

5. "Batman" (1989) Keaton=awesome Nicholson=awesome add those up together, and you have the first great superhero movie. (sorry Superman) Yes it can get really slow sometimes, but Nicholson was way over the top and it worked.Not to mention the great line "Ever dance with the devil in the pail moonlight?"

6. "Pee Wee's Big Adventure" (1983) I know, I know, Pee Wee? Burtons first full length feature film. Burton was right for Pee Wee and Pee Wee was right for him. Together they made a very funny very underrated comedy and made the song "Tequila" popular again, how awesome is that?

7. "Mars Attacks" (1996) This is one funny, funny movie. I've never seen Burton do something this funny and he never takes it serious. It's like he just told a whole bunch of big time stars to go out there and have fun and I'm gonna record it all. The aliens kill all the big stars but one, and the heroes are the nobodies.

I Thought

I thought I known everything, but I never knew

I thought I saw beautiful, but then I saw you

I thought I felt peace of mind

But that's hard to find

I thought I could rule the world, but I'm just not cruel

I thought I'd walk a fine line, but I'm just not a fool

I thought I'd love the spotlight

But it just wouldn't fit right

I thought I'd play a perfect role, but you can't fight resistance

I thought I'd be top notch, but I can't fight your defense

I thought I'd be the perfect knight

But my battle plan was a poor sight

And here I am picking up in the battle again

Bury the past that clings to my mind and defeat the pain
And I'm stronger this way, the farther from yesterday
I'll build up again, as long as I keep my plan

Here

Here's the road that I follow.

It's bumpy, shaky, and not much of a show.

Here are the tears I am hiding.

Painful, deep, unwinding.

Here are the walls that shield me.

I'll break them down and you'll see.

My thoughts are warm, my feelings pure.

Thrown away, but will be recovered I'm sure.

Here is the smile I am sharing.

Light, kind, no doubt it's caring.

No need to yell, just keep it straight.

On my emotions I fell, but keep distance from hate.

Here I am, naked now.

Stripped, all is out, and take a bow.

Alone, on this road, the rain is strong

Alone, on this road, but not for long.

Things That Make Me Go Argh!!!!!

So today as I am going to work. I noticed to msyelf, every day I'm able to see something that just really annoys me that people do. And almost every day I seem to see it. So I've decided today to describe 7 things that people that really drive me nuts.

1. The Cell Phone Music Players. You know it's bad enough I have to hear your conversations, and I don't want to. Now I have to hear whatever crap you like to listen to, and it always seems to be rap. Seriously, have some consideration for the other people on the train.

2. The People Who Can't Walk Up or Down Escalators. Really I don't understand how you can have nobody in front of you, yet you just stand there. Worse yet, people who stand there and won't give you the option to walk by them. I know the stairs move, but that doesn't mean you don't have to. Work those legs, get some exercise, believe me it will not kill you.

3. The Handicap Door Users. Really, you're not handicapped nor do you have a hand truck or stroller. Why do you have to push that button rather then using the rotating doors? Seriously, you will not break anything pushing a door.

4. The Quick Umbrella Users. I really hate it when you get off the train and you're still underground, and right at the bottom of the steps someone has to open their umbrella."Oh sorry you missed taking out my eye by a few inches." It will not hurt you to get a little wet.

5. The Smokers. Keeping with the same tune as number 4, people who light up their smokes as soon as they get off the train. Are you that excited to give yourself cancer?

6. Non Flushers. So what you don't remember to flush at home? Why do guys not flush public toilets, that's nasty.

7. Screaming Conversation. Nothing is more annoying then being on a train when two people, who are sitting right next to each other, and have to scream their whole conversation like the other person is across the world.

No Oscar Love

For some odd reason I started thinking about actors who I feel should have an oscar by now but don't. That's what's happens when I get bored. Well, I was thinking about that and also writting a really good Halloween movie to make up for all them after the original Halloween in 1978. (I feel I actually have a really good idea that can also be true to the 78 one) But anyway here are 7 actors, sometime soon I will do actesses as well.

1. Johnny Depp. If anyone knows me, then they know how much I love this guy. Great actor who has only had 2 nominations. I know I have a friend, lets just say Xuxanna, who thinks he's weird and doesn't get him. But he is a great talent who I think should have won an oscar for The Libertine. (Strange movie but he was great)

2. Steve Buscemi. This guy can do pretty much everything and just seems to always look cool. Sad to say, I think what hurts him is that he does too many Adam Sandler movies. Every time I'm in a diner I think about the whole leaving a tip thing.

3. Brad Pitt. I have to say, for a while I didn't like the guy. But he is one damn good actor. Like Depp with only 2 nominations and I wonder why. Sadly though, I think he'll get one before Depp.

4. Kevin Bacon. We have yet to see this guy cut foot loose on the oscar stage. Wonderful actor who takes on some challenging roles. And he always seems to just be kick ass.

5. Leonardo DiCaprio. What a talent. Wonderful actor. I still see him as the little kid from Growing Pains and say to myself "who would have thought he was going to be the one to make it." It's a shame Basketball Diaries wasn't a movie that he could have been nominated for an oscar, because he would have won for sure.

6. Robert Downey Jr. Great to seem him clean and sober and kicking ass again. Always had such great talent but troubled life. Should have been nominated for Less Than Zero and should have won for Chaplin.

7. Mel Gibson. Ok yeah I know. Pretty well hated right now and those recordings are scary. But a great actor who won for directing.

Honorable Mentions: Ray Liotta, Will Smith, Bruce Willis, John Cusak, James Woods, and Tim Roth.

The Times They Are A Changing.

I was thinking last night, about how I used to be able to go to the video store and rent movies for Halloween. Or how every friday I'd be able to go to West Coast Video and rent a movie. And then it got me thinking, those days are pretty much gone. Video stores are practically gone. Sure some of the big ones are left hanging around on life support. But the good old fashioned small neighborhood video stores are dead. So I started thinking of 7 things that I had growing up that are pretty much either extinct or close to it. Here they are.

1. Cassette Tapes. Ahh those days of listening to the radio. Waiting for your favorite song at the moment to come. Blank tape inside the radio, with pause and record held down, and then quickly un pausing it hoping you got the start of your favorite song on tape. Or having to fix the tape that was just eaten by your radio.

2. VHS Tapes. Keeping with the same tune as number 1. Having to actually fast forward through previews and scenes you didn't want to see. No skipping to the next chapter, none of that. Hey I still have some VHS tapes.

3. CDs. Yup they are still in stores. Their prices have dropped. (I can get some of my old favorites for 5 dollars now a days) But they are going going gone. Now that we can download music, cds are a dying brand. You don't need to go out and buy them, just download the song. Hell you can even sample the whole album and just buy what you want. Or download for fee :)

4. Floppy Disk. They don't even give you that option with your computer, unless you still have Windows 95. Kids in school today probably don't even know what they are. I remember if you didn't look at a floppy or save something to it in a certain amount of time it was no good.

5. Home Telephone. Let's face it, nobody has a home phone no more. E.T. is phoning home with a cell phone now, maybe even texting home. So many people are dropping the home phone for their camera, I mean music player, I mean computer, I mean cell phone. I mean really, even using a phone for calling is almost becoming extinct.

6. Satruday Morning Cartoons. And for that matter, waiting for your show to come on. Times have changed. You used to have to set your vcr to record your show or wait for reruns if you couldn't catch. Now just go on demand and boom you got it. It's sad that kids don't get Saturday morning cartoons any more. They were the best, and of course every generation will claim that theirs were the best. This generation can't argue that because they don't have them.

7. The Local Video Store. Ahh the small local video store. Everyone knew each other. Hearing that tape bounce up as you opened that huge case. Making sure you get to the store in time to drop it off. Wondering why the adults were going through those bar room doors at the "adult section."