PAULA WHYMAN

Okay, okay. I know I should lay off "poor" Christine O'Donnell, but when someone makes themselves such an obvious target for ridicule... Well, I'm not sure why I should have to stand back and watch other people have all the fun. YOU stop. No, you first...

The funniest bit I've seen mocking O'Donnell's positions (a word I fully intend in all its possible meanings) is The Borowitz Report's Million Masturbator March.

In addition, I'm pleased to report that I've found an appropriate campaign song for Ms. O'Donnell. I was thinking about the first Clinton campaign, and how the song he used, Fleetwood Mac's "Don't Stop," took on such interesting connotations in light of subsequent events (okay, mainly the title, but that's enough for me). Songs can be merely descriptive--Most people probably don't remember that Ross Perot campaigned to the tune of Patsy Cline's "Crazy"... Or, they can be flagrant image-projection, like Ronald Reagan's scuttled attempt to use Springsteen's "Born in the USA."

Anyway, I thank XM radio for reminding me of The Divinyls song, I Touch Myself, which Ms. O'Donnell's supporters would no doubt read as a cautionary tale, referencing their candidate's former shameful ways. So have at it, Ms. O'Donnell! I'm pretty sure no one else is using that one.

On the other hand, I don't thank XM radio for that little blast from the past known as Undercover Angel which, heard on the morning commute, infected my insufficiently caffeinated brain with the following poetry:

I said Whut? She said Hoo-hoo-hoo-wee!
I said, All right! She said Lovemelovemeloveme!

That was actually going to be John Edwards' campaign song, once upon a time. But, you know, it didn't work out.

Lazy blogging today, as I'm freshly back from vacation and not-so-freshly overwhelmed with minutiae, as well as, let's see, what's the word for lots of stuff that's actually not minutiae? Plus there is a pile of school forms sitting on my desk already...and two lists of school supplies and, how did this happen?? no camp this week or next? (What was I thinking?)

Anyway...seeing as how I'm blogging about the suburbs (at Semi-Charmed Life) and mocking it...gently...(at Bethesda World News), I thought I'd provide a few songs from my own personal suburban playlist for your listening pleasure.

Here, to start, Ben Folds says it all:

Ben Folds, Rocking the Suburbs

Next, since my draft novel is set in 1980, I'm going to prescribe some Foreigner to help you capture the suburban "white-boy" faux-angst that Folds is talking about, but 1980-style. I suggest Double Vision and Hot-Blooded.

When you've worked yourself into a self-righteous froth, you're going to need to spend some of that energy, and what better way than with a little Eddie Van Halen air guitar: Try Running With the Devil and Jamie's Crying.

And now that you've perfected your Eddie guitar-face, you'll need a Van Halen antidote to bring you back down. I recommend Van Halen, by Nerf Herder.

That should do it for now.

Next time: Fleetwood Mac with a Violent Femmes chaser...

Reading heavy metal lyrics is never a good idea.

The lover of life's not a sinner;
The ending is just a beginner.
The closer you get to the meaning,
The sooner you'll know that you're dreaming.*
[from Heaven & Hell]

Um, yeah.

Anyway, it sounds good when Dio sings it.

For those of you who might not be aware, there has been a debate raging among many heavy metal fans for, oh, about 30 years now, regarding which Black Sabbath performer is superior, Ozzy or Ronnie. Ronnie Dio replaced Ozzy Osbourne as lead singer beginning in 1980, with the band's album, Heaven and Hell, widely regarded as one of the best heavy metal albums ever made. Well, I don't think I can speak personally to the subtleties of the form. I think both men do what they do rather well, but Dio has a better singing voice. There I said it. Except, now Ozzy has outlived him. So, who wins?

Are you as disappointed as I have been by the absence of Fungus 53 on XM Radio? Do you miss Flogging Molly, Pennywise, and Social Distortion? Now there's a petition to sign, as well as a Facebook page for you! (more…)

Uncle.



Okay, I said it. On the best day, I can listen to four songs by AC/DC, the four good songs. But somehow XM has managed a month (or more? it seems like more...) of 24/7 AC/DC on channel 53. I get it, there's a new album. Now please bring back Fungus 53. I miss Pennywise. (more…)

XM Channel 53 is running all AC/DC, all the time. I think it goes through at least the end of the month (who knew there WAS this much AC/DC??), and it will include their new album, Black Ice.

And, with Channel 51 still running Metallica 24/7, that's like, whoa. (more…)

Heard these three songs last night on my way home from Back-to-School Night:

Andy Kim - Rock Me, Gently

Social Distortion - Ring of Fire

Green Day - Hitchin' a Ride

Why they are great:

Andy Kim because I'm seriously enjoying the 1970s music resurgence, and it's why I watch the extremely bad show Swingtown, even though (more…)