I got my freak on for my birthday this year, Brooklyn-style, in a run-down warehouse studio with my music-man, two cuzzins, one roach, whiskey, earplugs and a psychedelic-new-wave-funk-punk jam that had me bashing drums and dancing until my feet bled. Sing!
Don’t get me started on the Klezmer band that formed at our last bash, or the dripping dance marathons that engrave our oak floors, or those starry nights with my in-house composer and an upright bass.
I don’t play well, but brothers and sisters, I love music, I live to sing and dance and I’ll bet my legendary LP collection, you feel the same. Here are five tracks burning up my playlist this week. Let me know what ignites you…
Q.U.E.E.N. / Janelle Monae, featuring Erykah Badu
Will you sleep or will you preach?
This is what the high-priestess and most awesome android of the 21st century asks, nay dares at the end of this riveting audio-visual funk-off to the plasticized stupor of manufacturing consent that is much of pop music today. I know my answer. Janelle Monae wakes me out of the coma of the corporation, and with the help of the ever-righteous Queen Erykah Badu, makes me feel the heat of mortality and the tenor of my soul. While you’re selling dope, we’re gonna keep selling hope. Sing!
WHOLE LOTTA HELTER SKELTER/Led Zeppelin and the Beatles
After a two-ton meal with friends on a cold winter night, my in-house DJ kicked our sloth, threw Soundhog’s monumental mash-up on our wifi boom-box and blew the frigging roof off the house. As groaning bodies hit the floor in time, two of the greatest bands ever stormed back from the dead to play together, the snow fell through our living room and the stars above aligned.
ICKY THUMP/The White Stripes
Jack White boils my blood. I first saw him and Meg on SNL and couldn’t believe only two people could make such sublime noise. It shot directly into my veins and I haven’t been the same since ‘cause that’s what the arts aim to do. Icky Thump is the title track of the Stripes, sob, last album, and its animal wail and pounding beat perfectly capture the kind of heart attack that can save your life.
DO IT WITH A ROCKSTAR/Amanda Palmer and the Grand Theft Orchestra
Amanda Fucking Palmer is rock royalty. Her video-film Do it with a Rockstar from her latest album Theatre is Evil is a master-class of the genre and reminds us that hardcore music lays us bare to the pleasure and pain of our inner beast. Speaking of class, Amanda gives one of the most inspired and uplifting TED talks I have ever seen- on how to make a living as an artist, called, The Art of Asking. Rock it, and offer your hand.
Warning: NSFW (Not safe for work)
KISS/Prince & the Revolution
My love will be your food.
Prince Rogers Nelson is the Dictator of Funk, the merciless Despot of Soul and the Lion King of Dirty Talk. He has worldwide domination of the bedroom through the dance floor. If you want to get your freak on, Prince will take you by the hand. He may make you beg for it, but he will never let you down. I’ll never forget the first time I heard his classic Kiss. I’ll leave what happened to your imagination. My lips are sealed.
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Show some love to Montreal’s online arts & culture rag, The Rover, who asked me to write this post.
For more Burns the Fire on music: Feel the Love and Music is Healing.
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23 Responses to 5 Songs to Get Yer Freak On
Brenda,
Little known fact #78: Amanda Fucking Palmer sings for Le Clown. Always.
Le Clown
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Le Clown,
We all sing for you.
xx
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Brenda,
I’m adding one, because it’s fucking awesome. And it’s Friday. And I’m on my way to meet you.
Le Clown
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Holy!
I think you’re freaky and I like you A LOT.
A toute suite.
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Love it! That AP track is a revelation.
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Don’t forget to check out Amanda’s TED talk, the book-end to Do It With A Rockstar. Swoon.
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Amanda Fucking Palmer is my fucking idol!!!!
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Sing it, Renee, loud and proud!
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You know it girl! I might even kiss a girl. Giggle, snort!
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Great post! Had not seen the Zepplin/Beatles mix-wow! But now I really need to know about the Klemzer band…
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Thanks, NJ, glad you liked it. The band was, as followed: three professional musicians; trumpet, piano and upright bass. Only one had ever played Klezmer, but when you know your shit, anything goes.
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Muse – Knights Of Cydonia
Stevie Wonder – Superstition
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Ohhhhhhh, how I wanna come over to your house and listen to the Al Green and dance to some tunes…. On the rockin’ side of things, this one is a fave –
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But a little better for dancing up a storm –
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Dancing. Storms. Yes.
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Was in a store today and a cover of Summertime came on the radio and I was reminded of my fave version of it and wanted to share… (the video is whatever, but if you leave it playing in the background on a hot day…)
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Gorgeous version.. playing now.. sinking my toes into the sand…
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Brenda, after your comment on my BBW post I HAD to check out your blog. Lo and behold…. AMANDA FUCKING PALMER!!! You go girl. I’m a 9 year veteran Burner (www.burningman.com) and our fearless leader, Admiral Painjoy, counts among his many distinctions… making out with my idol Amanda.
When she married Gaiman I almost came. Talk about a perfect couple.
I have Dresden Dolls on my late night camp playlist.along with Iggy. If you ever make it out to the playa and Burn, look me up. You can’t miss Spanky’s Wine Bar; ask for Piano Wench. That’s my playa name, and I’m the only theme camp bar manager who will be drinking a club soda as opposed to a cocktail. Oh, bring a cup or expect a flogging. We take our music, partying and fun seriously.
You will fit right in!
Love your writing, dig your taste. Damned glad to meetcha!
~Miss R
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Rachael, your post on Black Box Warnings blew my socks off. I have long dreamt of making it to Burning Man, so I may just find you there one day!
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I loved the videos (especially the second one). You completely rock!
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Thanks, Mumu.I love to share the wealth.
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[…] thousands of years, the Genus Quercus dazzles an open field and covers my winding staircase and dancing floors. I was having trouble finding a baby tree until early one morning while feeding the sheep, my […]
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Love this. Nothing like music to get right to my core and let go!
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