Five Songs I Love That Didn't Make the Transfer from Studio to Live

Have you ever loved a song so much that you were so damn excited when the band/musician came to town, you were intrigued and almost too giddy to hear what it sounded like live? Yeah, I know that feeling. Thank God a few songs I love did make the leap from studio creation to fantastic live performance. Unfortunately  not all of them did. And boy did it hurt. You wanted to shield your ears from the sacrilege and run to the nearest bathroom to cry. Here are five songs that made me want to do just that.

(I only could think of five songs, though I'm sure I can think of more over time.)

5. "Me and Sarah Jane" by Genesis
For some reason, the live performance lacks a certain fullness that the studio version had. It doesn't seem as melancholic yet bouncy. The live version makes it sound like a half-assed love song.

4. "Go Insane" by Lindsey Buckingham
Mr. Buckingham, I have only one request for you. No, I won't ask you to play "Soul Drifter", that ain't ever gonna happen. Instead, I beg you, play this song not as some wimpy acoustic solo thingy, the song is angry and loud. Make its legacy be that, not some toned-down goofiness.

3. "Is it Any Wonder?" by Keane
Oh man, when I saw this earlier this year, when it came time for this song, it hurt so much to hear the keyboard effects just tumble all over the place. After that, it wasn't as bad. But still, man, sometimes this is why I hate it when musicians use fancy effects on the studio recordings 'cause the live version ain't ever gonna be like the original.

2. "Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On)" by Talking Heads
Damn, did this one suffer a nasty journey to the stage. It lacks the whomp of the studio performance. It's seems almost, in a strange way, too muted and mellow. This song is not f***ing mellow. It's the bust-down-your-door intro to its native album!

1. "Little Lies" by Fleetwood Mac
Yep, my all-time favorite song did not make the leap from studio to stage without suffering big time. The performance is so anemic that it makes me want to send it a local blood bank. And who's the joker thinking he could sing Lindsey Buckingham's part? And my God, whose genius idea was to have them damn backup singers? 'Bout ruined it just by themselves.

~

What songs broke your heart when you heard 'em live? Post it below and we'll have a cry!

Top 5 on Friday

Once again, the blogmistress at Music Memoirs asks the readers their top five. This time, concerning, "live" CDs (official or bootleg). Let's get rolling, this is an easy one!

1. Talking Heads, live at Sun Palace, Tokyo, Japan (1981)
2. Talking Heads, live at Montreux Jazz Festival, Montreux, Switzerland (1982)
3. Fleetwood Mac's The Dance (1997)
4. Jerry Harrison, live at Town & Country Club, London, England (1988)
5. Talking Heads' The Name of This Band is Talking Heads (1982)

Guess which ones are official! XD

Book ninja!

My plans for World Book Night changed drastically when the day had dawned upon me. Originally I was set on having some helpers (my sister and her boyfriend), but that didn't work out. Then the weather in town was getting a little icky. I was also concerned about being accused of soliciting and a little bit anxious approaching people in general. The "well dammit" that changed it was the first park I went, there was hardly anyone there.

Instead, I became the Batman of literature, a book ninja if you will. I slipped copies of the book into four neighbors' mailboxes (with little handwritten notes), dropped off five copies each at my doctor's and dentist's offices while they were all on lunch, gave one to the Sonic employee who delivered my drink, and went to my former job at the non-profit and gave them two. I now have three left and I'm saving those for two co-workers and a manager.

So my story isn't exactly as awesome as some will be having today, but it went better than expected (yea meme).

Will do this again next year, but two rules will apply: 1) do it with other people and 2) go to a women's shelter instead of hitting the parks.

I am the terror that flaps in the night, I am the book light for your nocturnal reading needs... I am the book ninja!

*disappears in a cloud of smoke*

Brief update

Hello everyone! Didn't want to post anything yet, give a few days from the tragedy at the Boston Marathon to pass (didn't seem appropriate to post on that day). Before I begin, please keep everyone in the city in your thoughts/prayers during this time. If you live there, do what you can to help out for those harmed or looking into the crimes. May justice be served to the a**hole(s) that did it.

~

Alrighty then, not too much going on otherwise. Still a bit ill, been taking to naps more than I like. It's a good thing I don't open at work tomorrow, I would be SOL. Took a three-hour nap. In fact, on the day of the Boston Marathon tragedy, I was napping and woke up to the news. The last time I woke up to bad news was when the Space Shuttle Columbia went down.

Got my World Book Night books and goodies. I'm eager to see how it will work out. May even post about it here! Not sure, will have to see as the day gets closer.

Not much else here. Will keep posting, as usual.

An update with sniffles

Well, thought I would get out of the cold/flu season without illness, but it got me last week. But it's been very mild (I'm crediting my new healthy eating regime for this), and had no need to take anything other than ibuprofen*. Doesn't mean it still doesn't suck. Had to call in sick on Saturday, but am going back to work and doing my hardest not to spread it to my co-workers. The worst is likely over, so the hard part is done.

Been reading and catching up with my TV shows (what very few I watch), and finishing BioShock: Infinite (game of the year!) enjoying some of the down time before I begin to tackle other writing projects and preparing for San Francisco.

I'll try to post more. Hope you are all well and doing good.


*As per usual with anything you hear on the Internet regarding human health, talk with your doctor or GP before doing anything.

A note regarding LOLs and pictures

After hearing stories of copyright issues regarding pictures found on the Internet (to get an idea of what I mean, check out this Lifehacker article), I think I'm gonna tone down on the funny gifs and pictures here. I was gonna go kinda overboard with that, since it often adds a little zing to the entry, but it's better to err on the side of caution. I know I'm not making any money on this blog, but again, better safe than sorry.

Also, gif usage tends not to be too friendly for those with epilepsy and related ailments.

If I created the gifs and/or took the pictures myself, then I'll use them. You will know this by the notes in the entries and the tag "my pictures let me show you them".

If I used anything on this blog o' mine that happens to infringe on a copyright, do not hesitate to let me know and I'll happily remove it.

Thanks for letting me do a little housekeeping 'round here.