Damn Fine Cup of Coffee

While I was only two years old when the show debuted, I've had no excuse for not watching "Twin Peaks" via DVD or online years ago.

I only watched the pilot two days ago and I'm already hooked! I mean, I like David Lynch's films "Mulholland Driver" and "Blue Velvet" but I've never been one of his dedicated fans. "Twin Peaks" however, may be turning me into one.

Things I like about it:

-- Black coffee mentioned several times per episode
-- Kyle Maclachlan's acting
-- The pretty Asian woman
-- Noiseless shades
-- Mary Janes
-- Fresh-faced Lara Flynn Boyle

Also, when I used to work at Dorney Park during Halloweekends, they always played this one song I could never recognize, then a few years later I was sitting at my favorite Philadelphia coffee house and the song came on. I asked the mustachioed barista what it was and he said it was...

Laura Palmer's Theme

Truly a great song that I love even more after hearing it several times per episode.

Anyways, go and watch this show if you have yet to see it! I wish I could find the SNL parody clip of it from 1991 that was ALWAYS on TV when Comedy Central repeated SNL into oblivion.

I Never Said I Wasn't Gonna Tell Nobody

Okay. "Two of Hearts" has got to be one of the greatest songs ever (it was 98 on Vh1's 100 Greatest One Hit Wonders).

The song has been a crucial soundtrack throughout my life.

Age 5: Played every time I was dragged to my mother's aerobics class on Tuesdays.

Age 10: I saw the Facts of Life episode where Tootie tries to perform this song.

Age 16: Watched Party Monster where this was also featured.

Age 19: First time I went to the Barbary this song played just as we were about to leave. Naturally we stayed.

Anyways. Here is Tootie's experience with Stacey Q:



How bad does that make you want to play it on the piano?? Anyone? Also, Stacey Q is obscenely skinny!

Party Monster:



Of course the original:



Of course a Kelly Osbourne cover:



And for being such patient blog readers, here are some mp3's:

A new cover by Purple Crush.

A cover by Junk Mag and nightlife photographer Brad Walsh.

And of course, the original.

Enjoy your cheesy 80's music.

Five Favorite Covers with Five Favorite Covers

Covers and covers for everyone!

I am featuring my five favorite covers with my five favorite covers.

Act fast!

Click the images to go to Ikea's website and the links to get the songs.

José González' cover of the Knife's "Heartbeats"

From parties to pregnancies, surprises are fun! And this cover-cover combo is FULL of surprises. First, we'll start with the cover. It has simple geometric pattern in grey and white BUT on the under side it's only vertical lines. I also like the splat of orange stitchery. As for the cover, it's a surprising cover of one of my all time favorite songs. Like most things, I like the original but this is a restaurant-friendly mellow version.

Nouvelle Vague's cover of Echo and the Bunnymen's "The Killing Moon"

Of all the hundreds of covers that Nouvelle Vague does, "The Killing Moon" is by far my favorite. It's a refreshing take on the 80's new-wave classic. The Ikea quilt cover is a refreshing departure from Ikea's more modern stuff. I like how you can buy zany things there but they also have some classy stuff too.

Dr. Dog's cover of Architecture in Helsinki's "Heart it Races"

Some songs have barely leaked onto the internet before they are covered and this cover is basically a good example. The single from Architecture in Helsinki's newest album has already been covered by Dr. Dog and it is a grand version. Also this comforter is NUTS. Spill paint all over me.

Peter Bjorn and John's cover of Paul Simon's "Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard"

This quilt cover looks like an updated version of something that my mom might have had growing up so it is only fitting that I paired it with an updated version of a song she did in fact love growing up. Apple doesn't fall far from the tree! This cover has silly whistling and PB&J's signature drum sounds. Also fun anecdote: I couldn't decide which quilt cover I wonder so my mom told me to just get BOTH. This was one of them and the other one that is currently on my bed is the next cover:

Dawn Landes' cover Peter Bjorn and John's "Young Folks"

These two covers are my favorite covers. One is on my bed right now and the other is playing right now. How fun! I cannot deny my bluegrass roots (PA deutsch family farm anyone?!) therefore I really really love this cover. Also, I like going to be at night and covering myself up with thousands and thousands of tiny cyclones and what not.

Enjoy!

Coldie Oldies

Five songs to warm your toes during this cold, awful, terrible weather:

1. Christmas Time -- Vince Guaraldi

Best Christmas song EVER. Whether eating a butterscotch sundae (The Royal Tenenbaums) or making peppermint mochas (my life at the moment) this song is fantastic cold weather background music.

2. In the Cold Cold Night -- The White Stripes

For some reason this song makes it on to almost all of my iTunes playlists. Apart from 80's Dance Party and my HPV playlist which consists of Gravy Train and VIP.

3. The Chills -- Peter Bjorn and John

This song also made me think of coldness even in the summertime which is strange because the song is not even that brisk.

4. Who Loves the Sun -- The Velvet Underground

This was my ultimate favorite song for a really long time. Still is fantastic.

5. Two Way Monologue -- Sondre Lerche

This song is on the list because the first time I heard it was right after a big snowstorm on campus. Dani just played song after song for me while we were snowed in my room.

Paris, je t'aime.

In honor of me procrastinating a French composition, I decided to give you un petit cadeau (small gift): Five of my favorite songs in French!

Voila! Hurry before they are no longer available.

1. Tous Les Garcons et Les Filles -- Francoise Hardy

Ahh, the quintessential French sixties pop song (also known as yé-yé). I played this song over and over as dinner music at the restaurant. I believe it's about being alone and not having a significant other. Good times! Expect to see more about Francoise Hardy from time to time on here.

2. Les Champs-Elysées -- Joe Dassin

If you're a fan of Wes Anderson, this song is probably familiar to you. It was used for the end credits music of "The Darjeeling Limited". It's a nice upbeat song and is usually playing when I am doing homework or something that requires ATTENTION.

3. Boum! -- Charles Trenet

Another song you might have heard, this one is featured in an ad for Absolut vodka. It apparently makes light of the violent protests popular in France! I don't know what it has to do with alcohol really, BUT it's a classic French song from 1938.

4. C'est les Temps des Vacances -- Pierre Lalonde

Sixties French music was very popular in the restaurant. People were always commenting on how much they liked. This song was popular and while it's a bit too summery-sounding for right now, I really like the catchy / campy vibe.

5. Si Tu N'étais pas La -- Frehel

In one of my favorite scenes from Amèlie, this song is played in le métropolitain on an old gramophone record player. Basically, I've been listening to it ever since and was another song that received comments in the restaurant.

Remember, this songs are just for samplin'! I suggest you go out and buy the artists' music and support them! These songs are only available for a very short amount of time. HURRY.

I hope you enjoy these chansons françaises as much as I enjoyed not writing about Albert Camus' L'étranger.