Hi-Fi Heart

Top Ten Springsteen Covers.

After seeing Bruce Springsteen at Bonnaroo, I felt compelled to make a mix of "boss" covers (sorry, had to). When will someone cover "Brilliant Disguise"?

Josh Ritter - The River (live)
The Avett Brothers - Glory Days (live)
Jose Gonzalez & Junip - Ghost of Tom Joad
The Format - For You
Catherine Feeny - I'm On Fire
Camera Obscura - Tougher Than the Rest (live)
The Band - Atlantic City
Patty Griffin - Stolen Car
Hem - Valentine's Day
Tegan & Sara - Dancing in the Dark

If you are itching for more Bruce covers, visit Hangin' On E Street.

Songs in Commercials, Petra Haden edition

This one deserves its own post. After searching for a few weeks, it looks like we finally have a full-length version of the Petra Haden's cover of "Let Your Love Flow" from the Prius commercials (original by the Bellamy Brothers, who haven't had this much hoopla since they looked like this). And better yet, Toyota is offering it as a free download on their myspace site. The commercial itself is worth posting. From a press release issued by Toyota's ad agency:

They employ a cinematic technique to depict the harmony between man, nature and machine. A utopian landscape is made entirely out of people - the sun, clouds and even blades of grass are depicted by people moving in unison.

How cool is that? I should be feeling like such a sucker for the marketing man right now but this commercial is so good that I don't feel bad for liking it.

Petra Haden - Let Your Love Flow

Bonus! Here's the original, too.

The Bellamy Brothers - Let Your Love Flow

A mix of 10 cover songs for the start of summer.

The Avett Brothers - Glory Days (Bruce Springsteen cover)
Laura Marling - The Wrote and the Writ (Johnny Flynn cover)
Dragonette - Sharp Dressed Man (ZZ Top cover)
Jay Jay Pistolet - Paper Planes (M.I.A. cover)
Sara Watkins - Pony (Tom Waits cover)
Metric - Don't Think Twice, It's All Right (Bob Dylan cover)
Sarah Borges & The Broken Singles - Being With You (Smokey Robinson cover)
Lay Low - The Reason Why My Heart's In Misery (Lefty Frizzell cover)
Ben Sollee - Extraordinary Machine (Fiona Apple cover)
Noah & The Whale - Devil Town (Daniel Johnston cover)

Sliimy

I've become obsessed with French pop artist Sliimy. Apparently, he received some press a while back for his cover of "Womanizer" but I must have missed it. I don't really know how to describe Sliimy. The first word that comes to mind is "FAB-ulous".

Sliimy - Wake Up (The video is equally amazing)
Sliimy - Womanizer (Britney Spears cover)

RIYL: Alphabeat, Kate Nash, Phoenix, Mika

Top Ten Prince Covers.

Nothing beats the real thing but these come pretty darn close. In my search for the best Prince covers, I have a newfound love for the underappreciated gem from Sign O' the Times -- "I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man".

Richard Swift - I Would Die 4 U
Ben Taylor - Nothing Compares 2 U
Susanna - Dance On
The Be Good Tanyas - When Doves Cry
Martin Sexton - Purple Rain
Duke Special - I Feel for You
Robyn - Jack U Off
Dent May & His Magnificent Ukulele - When You Were Mine
El Presidente - Raspberry Beret
Eels - I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man

American Idol - Motown Night

I'm a bit late on 'Motown Night". But last week was one of the better ones I think (last night, however, was enough to make me quit watching this season entirely). I was terrified when they said Adam would sing "Tracks of my Tears". It is one of my favorite songs of all time, and the thought of him singing it was definitely cringe-worthy. To my surprise, I actually liked his version. Doesn't match the original or some of the more popular cover versions, but still not half bad.

The Miracles - Tracks of my Tears
Patty Griffin & Billy Mann (live) - Tracks of my Tears

Songs in Commercials, Tenth Installment

Is it just me, or are these marketing folks just getting savvier lately? Maybe they are realizing that they can seem more hip AND save money on licensing fees at the same time, by using these songs by newer artists? Either way, I am constantly hearing more songs that catch my ear during commercial breaks.

Katie Herzig - Two Hearts Are Better Than One (used in Frito-Lay commercial)
The Mostar Diving Club - The Honey Tree (used in Honda Insight commercial)
Dan Deacon - Pink Batman (used in Crayola commercial)
Jupiter One - Countdown (used in Payless Shoe Source commercial)
Leon Jean-Marie - East End Blues (used in Frito-Lay commercial)

American Idol - Grand Ole Opry Night

I wasn't too impressed with anyone this week but kind of loved hearing one of my favorite songs -- "Wild Angels" -- sound so radically different. Not to mention, you KNOW Scott had to work really hard on the arrangement. All of the rest of the contestants are blatantly stealing the arrangement from somewhere else. Had high hopes for Megan with "Walkin' After Midnight" but it was just "eh" (although she did have the flu... So I'll make an allowance there.) Too bad Alexis got sent home on this song... I didn't think she was that bad! I thought it would be Sarver for sure, but sadly it was not.

Dolly Parton - Jolene
Mindy Smith - Jolene

American Idol - Michael Jackson Night

Yes, I am one of those people. I realize I am way too old to be watching American Idol (actually, I was too old even when the first season aired)... But somehow it always ends up sucking me in. I'm not even really impressed by anyone this season, but what I realized is that the show usually reminds me of some song I had long forgotten about. Last night reminded me how much I love Michael Jackson. And I know a lot of hipsters out there only like Off the Wall and/or Thriller era MJ, but I love it all up to 1991. I can't tell you how many times I listened to Dangerous back in middle school.

My goal is to post the original and my favorite cover version of one song from each episode. We'll see if I can keep it up.

Michael Jackson - Human Nature
David Mead - Human Nature

Songs in Commercials, Ninth Installment

Another batch... enjoy!

Stereo Total - I Love You, Ono (used in Dell Studio commercial)
Estelle - Star (used in Crystal Light commercial)
Thao Nguyen & the Get Down Stay Down - Bag of Hammers (used in Clorox commercial)
Ivy - Edge of the Ocean (used in Office Max commercial)
Tim Myers - The Lucky Ones (used in Lays commercial)

Karima Francis

The album is not out until March 23rd, but you can listen to it in full on last.fm at the moment. I urge you to do so. Each song has the potential to make you weep. Her voice is so raw and has so much emotion and so much sadness. Goosebumps appear with the first note. It makes me want to close my eyes and just sit. And listen. And do nothing else.

Karima Francis - Chasing the Morning Light

Songs in Commercials, Eighth Installment

Three of these are from JC Penney ads. I don't think I've been in a JC Penney in at least 5+ years, but I might have to check it out now. And, the Hindi Zahra track is not the one I wanted to post, but this one was in a UK commercial and is still excellent. Anyone know where I could find the song ("Stand Up") from the Western Union commercial?

The Sleepy Rebels - Unbelievable (used in JC Penney commercial)
Emiliana Torrini - Jungle Drum (used in JC Penney commercial)
The Mystery Jets - Two Doors Down (used in JC Penney commercial)
Slow Club - Thinking, Drinking, Sinking, Feeling (used in Lays commercial)
Hindi Zahra - Beautiful Tango (used in NFU Mutual commercial)

Hi-Fi Heart's Favorite Songs of 2008

Better late than never, right?

(Guilty pleasures included too.)

Adele - Chasing Pavements
Alphabeat - Fascination
Anathallo - Noni's Field
Ane Brun - The Treehouse Song
Ben Sollee - Panning for Gold
Beyonce - Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)
Blitzen Trapper - Furr
Bon Iver - Skinny Love
Brooke Waggoner - Daylover
Chairlift - Bruises
Coldplay - Viva la Vida
CSS - Left Behind
Duffy - Warwick Avenue
Estelle - American Boy - Feat. Kanye West
Fleet Foxes - Ragged Wood
Florence And The Machine - Kiss With A Fist
Guillemots - Falling Out of Reach
Hercules and Love Affair - Blind
I Was A Cub Scout - Pink Squares
Ida Maria - I Like You So Much Better When You're Naked
James Morrison - Nothing Ever Hurt Like You
Jamie Lidell - Another Day
Johnny Flynn - The Box
Kings of Leon - Sex On Fire
Laura Marling - Ghosts
Lykke Li - Dance, Dance, Dance
M83 - Kim & Jessie
Marching Band - For Your Love
MGMT - Electric Feel
My Morning Jacket - Thank You Too
Noah and the Whale - 5 Years Time
Paramore - I Caught Myself
Passion Pit - Sleepyhead
Rachel Yamagata and Ray Lamontagne - Duet
Sam Amidon - Saro
Sam Sparro - Black and Gold
Santogold - L.E.S. Artistes
She & Him - You Really Gotta Hold On Me
Sigur Rós - Inní mér syngur vitleysingur.mp3
Slow Club - Let's Fall Back In Love
The Avett Brothers - Tear Down The House
The Black Kids - Look at Me (When I Rock Wichoo)
The Bridges - All the Words
The Cab - I'll Run
The Courteeners - Not Nineteen Forever
The Frightened Rabbit - The Modern Leper
The Raconteurs - Old Enough [featuring Ricky Skaggs and Ashley Monroe]
The Submarines - You, Me, & The Bourgeoisie
The Wave Pictures - I Love You Like A Madman
Tobias Froberg - Blissful

UPDATE: So, looks like Blogger and Box.net don't like this post very much, so I took the links down. Sorry!

Songs in Commercials, Seventh Installment

It's been awhile... My TiVo keeps me from watching too many commercials, thank goodness!!!

The Silver Seas - Imaginary Girl (used in Kenmore commercial)
Emilie Mover - Ordinary Day (used in Bounce commercial)
Ryan Lindsey - Let's Go Out (used in Payless Shoe Source commercial)
Chairlift - Bruises (used in iPod commercial)
The Blue Van - Silly Boy (used in Samsung commercial)

Thanksgiving Mix

Despite having a mini-freakout upon realizing that Kraft stopped making the "Garlic Cheese Roll" which I have always used to make my Cheese Grits Casserole... Thanksgiving is looking to be a lovely, relaxing time in our household (if you're wondering, Velveeta & garlic powder did the trick... still, not the same! Come on, Kraft!)... Although I am vowing yet AGAIN never to go to Kroger on the afternoon of the day before Thanksgiving.

But, I figured, why not use any excuse I can to make a mix! Being that Thanksgiving is all about family, that's the theme I chose for this group of songs. Some are happy family songs and some are extremely dysfunctional. Enjoy! And Happy Turkey Day!

Cold War Kids - We Used to Vacation
Dar Williams - Family
The Format - On Your Porch
Great Lake Swimmers - I am a Part of a Large Family
Jenny Lewis & The Watson Twins - Rabbit Fur Coat
Johnny Cash - Daddy Sang Bass
The Judds - Grandpa (Tell Me 'Bout the Good Old Days)
Loretta Lynn - Coal Miner's Daughter
The Louvin Brothers - The Family Who Prays
Patty Griffin - Sweet Lorraine
Sparks - In My Family

Madi Diaz

I took about a year off from blogging (on a regular basis, at least). I just haven't had much time to search out new music, much less write about it. But tonight, I am inspired to make time for it. Thanks to Let Me Like It, I discovered the most amazing Madi Diaz. I feel a bit foolish, because she is a resident of Nashville and plays locally fairly often. Tonight, I've been listening to her songs and feeling my heart break just a little, and in the best possible way... It's so rare to find music that makes you feel something. Her newer stuff is much more poppy, less confessional singer-songwriter. But even when the music shimmers & shines... her voice is still there, and it's still breaking your heart.

Love You Now
Side

RIYL: Catherine Feeny, Kathleen Edwards, Tift Merritt, Everybodyfields

Baby Mix!

So, last weekend I threw a baby shower for Amy J., one of my oldest, bestest friends. And, because I will take any excuse I can get to make a themed mix, I made a CD full of songs with baby in the title. I left off some of the cheesier ones like "Baby, Baby" by Amy Grant. I don't think any of these songs have anything to do with "baby" in the "newborn" sense, but they are still fun nonetheless!

Marvin Gaye - Too Busy Thinking About My Baby
James Taylor - Sweet Baby James
Jackson Browne - Somebody's Baby
Chuck Berry - Oh Baby Doll
Nina Simone - My Baby Just Cares For Me
Buddy Holly - Maybe Baby
Dinah Washington - Is You Is, Or Is You Ain't My Baby?
Barbara Lewis - Baby, I'm Yours
The Supremes - Baby Love
The Shirelles - Baby, It's You