The Early 1980’s and the dawn of MTV gave us some of the best music of the decade and some of the weirdest named groups in music history….case in point….

A Flock of Seagulls

The group launched onto the music scene in 1982 with their hit single “I RAN”…a catchy song with one of the dumbest and cheapest videos ever made…..You remember….nothing but mirrors and a rotating camera that just continually circles the band as they all lip-synch…..badly…to the song.

To think, someone in a position of authority, charged with making a music video, actually pitched the idea of “I see mirrors….Lot’s of mirrors!!…” and “Spinning”…and we will wrap the camera in tin foil…lots of foil…and we will have 2 hideous looking gals stroll into the video!”….and other morons actually said…”hey that’s a great idea! Let’s film it!!”

Even today, when the song plays and my 12yr old asks what the bands name is….he can’t help but break down hysterically laughing at what he says is the dumbest name in musical history…

I guess I can’t argue much with him…..though there are alot of other groups with stupid names I will be profiling in later posts.

A Flock of Seagulls stayed together from 1979-1986. In the US, they charted 3 top-40 singles, “I Ran”, “Wishing”, and “Space Age Love Song”.

Thank God, for society’s sake, the hairdo sported by the lead singer never really took off with the youth of the 80’s……truly a minor miracle…..

Whenever I make a casserole, I always have a vague feeling that I’m cooking something that is hopelessly unfashionable. There’s no proof of this except that I don’t find many other food bloggers banging away at descriptions of luscious and indulgent casseroles. And, other than Deborah Madison, who seems to have a real affection for them, few print-based food writers pay them much attention either.

There are good reasons for this, I suppose. Casseroles don’t photograph very well, a serious drawback in this visual age. They don’t demand any particular culinary skills, being closer to assembling than proper cooking. They don’t often showcase ingredients in their best lights.

And then there are the negative associations. I hear the word “casserole” and immediately envision some grey-green, lumpy thing made from Stovetop Stuffing mix, Campbell’s cream of mushroom soup, and frozen spinach: something that I might have eaten back in 1982, maybe while listening to A Flock of Seagulls. And while that particular casserole had it charms (strange, but true), it isn’t something that I or very many other people want to cook in this more enlightened era.

However, it is useful to have one or two recipes for casseroles in the culinary repertoire and this doesn’t mean that we have to reconcile ourselves to using matchstick onions or Velveeta cheese. One of my favorite casseroles features spaghetti squash, that most mysterious member of the squash family, topped with a simple tomato sauce.

I’m not sure if using spaghetti squash renders this recipe utterly unfashionable or entirely cool. The point is that the resulting casserole tastes good, is easy to make, and is terribly nutritious. Besides, raking the squash into spaghetti-like strands fascinates small children and adults alike, something that is certainly cool.

So, say it loud and say it proud:

Spaghetti Squash Casserole (sort of Greek)

1 large or two small spaghetti squashes (2 pounds or so)

2 tbs. olive oil, divided

5 cloves of garlic, minced, divided

1 large onion, diced

1 28 oz. can of crushed tomatoes

2 tbs. dry red wine (or beer, which is all I had on hand when I made it)

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. allspice

1 tsp. Greek oregano

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. Aleppo pepper (or crushed red pepper)

1/2 cup feta cheese

1/4 cup pitted Kalamata olives, chopped

Kasseri cheese, grated, for the top of the casserole

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Pierce the squash all around and place it into the hot oven on top of a rimmed cookie sheet. Cook for about one hour (or until the squash is fork-tender).

Meanwhile, in a sauce pan, heat up 1 tbs. olive oil on medium high heat. Sauté the onions until just soft (about 5 minutes); add 2/3 of the minced garlic and stir for one additional minute; and the spices and sauté for one more minute, stirring constantly. Add the tomatoes, wine and water (if necessary). Simmer for 20-30 minutes. Adjust the seasonings; remove from heat and cool.

When the squash is fork-tender, remove from the oven. Carefully slice the squash into two halves lengthwise. There is a lot of steam inside–be careful not to burn yourself. Allow to cook for a few minutes. Remove the seeds and pulp. Do not turn off the oven.

Now the fun begins; rake the squash lengthwise with a fork. The strands should lift out of the spaghetti squash carcass fairly easily. Place forkfuls of them into a glass baking dish. I used a 9×7x2 dish made by Pyrex.

Toss squash with remaining olive oil, garlic, olives, feta, and salt & pepper to taste. Top with the tomato sauce. Grate kasseri cheese over the top. Bake, covered with aluminum foil, for 30 minutes. Remove foil & continue baking for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until the casserole is nice and bubbly and the cheese is golden brown.

Gel up your hair and enjoy.

]]> http://teddy97.wordpress.com/2009/11/16/mixed-tape-092009/ Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:33:45 +0000 Herr Teddy http://teddy97.wordpress.com/2009/11/16/mixed-tape-092009/

Meine TopTitel vom September 2009:

1. The Rolling Stones – As Tears go by (1966)
2. Jay & The Techniques – Apples, Peaches, Pumpkin Pie (1967)
3. The Kinks – Apeman (1970)
4. Tubeway Army – Are ‘Friends’ Electric? (1979)
5. U2 – Another Time Another Place (1980)
6. David Bowie – Ashes to Ashes (1980)
7. Siouxsie and The Banshees – Arabian Knights (1981)
8. Jean-Michel Jarre – Arpegiator (1982)
9. A Flock of Seagulls – (It’s not me) Talking (1983)
10. Sandra – Around my Heart (1989)
11. The Cure – Apart (1992)
12. Kyuss – Apothecaries’ Weight (1992)
13. Rammstein – Asche zu Asche (1995)
14. Phillip Boa & The Voodooclub – Animalize me (1996)
15. Roger Sanchez – Another Chance (2001)
16. The Tear Garden – Ascension Day (2001)
17. Moby – Another Woman (2002)
18. Jet – Are you gonna be my girl (2003)
19. Apparat – Arcadia (2007)

There is, after all, one song that can be played, following onfrom the posts below. Kate, this one’s for you.

And this one’s for Andy.

Frank Maudsley, Brit bassist with A Flock of Seagulls

I am sorry for my lack of posts and the epic Halloween end but life (real life) has been so busy and tedious that I…lied to you. I’m sorry. It won’t happen again. So, I will rock an awesome one from the post vault on my admin page, full of pictures like when I recently went to a redneck bar and witnessed a guy putting most of a salt shaker full of salt on his salad. Oh, and besides that hilarity, they had a free salad bar. They had a free salad bar at a smoke -filled redneck bar. Holy Spakoly!

But before all that, I am in a confused state on which song is this week’s favorite.

Fuck! See? Two great bands and two kick ass songs. I can’t decide. But then again I might be the only person on this planet that is chosing to decide between A Flock Of Seagulls and Iron Maiden. This is coming from a guy that just ordered a cheese burger at a Chinese restaurant. Sometimes it’s not all about the Kung Pao. POW!

Well, 1983 is probably as far back as my musical memory goes and I’m looking forward to seeing what songs they pick for the series.

A lot of the soundtrack so far has been fairly mainstream or rock, and definitely guitar based, which I suppose is reflective of the nation’s tastes back then. As I was 7 in 1983, pop is what I remember most. There are some great soul tracks from that year but I don’t expect they’ll feature.

Still, having looked for tracks from 1983 in my iTunes, this is what I bet they can’t resist using and a few I wish they would use:

Bananarama – Robert De Niro’s waiting

Billy Joel – The longest time / An innocent man

Bobby Caldwell – Open your eyes

Culture Club – Church of the poison mind

Debarge – Stay with me

Elton John – I guess that’s why they call it the blues

Fiction Factory – Feels like heaven

A Flock of Seagulls – Wishing

Grandmaster Flash – The message

Gwen Guthrie – Padlock

Kurtis Blow – If i ruled the world

Level 42 – Sun goes down

Madonna – Lucky star

Mary Jane Girls – In my house

New Order – Blue Monday

Orange Juice – Rip it up

Pat Benatar – Love is a battlefield

Police – Every breath you take

Prince – When doves cry / 17 days / Purple rain

Slave – You meet my approval

System – You are in my system

Tears for Fears – Mad world

UB40 – If it happens again

Yazoo – Situation

I have a random screen saver on my computer which picks photographs from my picture file which must have over a thousand pictures in it, this morning it chose the above picture which was taken EXACTLY a year ago today.

Maybe the title of the posting is not as far fetched after all.

“Every Picture Tells A Story” – Rod Stewart

To buy the music of Road Stewart click HERE

A Flock of Seagulls, back in the day when New Wave was in and America hadn’t been hit by New Coke yet.

Yes, that same eighties one-hit wonder band that you thought had long since been disbanded is still alive and performing.

Notice that we didn’t say “alive and well”. That’s because the only original band member of the oceanic birds has been the lead singer and keyboardist, Mike Score, a former hairdresser whose wavy, oversized avarian hairstyle became the band’s trademark.

The band is perhaps best known for its 1982 hit “I Ran (So Far Away)”. Over the years, band members have come and gone, but the U.K. band still travels and performs.

In fact, they’re scheduled to perform a concert October 10 at the auditorium of San Antonio East Central High School. Ponderings From Pluto has obtained a set list of what A Flock of Seagulls will perform in their concert:

1. Tuning instruments while lead singer Score tells a funny story told to him by Prince Charles’ personal dentist

2. Thanking the crowd for attending and encouraging them to download “I Ran”, even if it’s through Limewire or an illegal site.

3. I Ran

4. Guitar solo

5. I Ran — acoustic version

6. Keyboard solo

7. I Ran — bluegrass version

8. I Ran — death metal version

9. Bass solo

10. I Ran — opera version

11. I Ran — tejano version with Spanish lyrics (“Weird Al” Yankovic is rumored to make a guest appearance with his accordion)

12. Drum solo

13. I Ran — techno version

14. Restroom break for band

Encore — “I Ran” sang to the tune of KISS’s song “Rock and Roll All Nite”

As for the Seagulls’ concert rider, we learn they have some extremely strict backstage demands:

1. Running water

2. Ritz crackers

3. Bathrooms that have been cleaned in the past two weeks

4. Three 12-packs of toilet paper, store brand’s ok

5. A microwave

6. Assortment of Swanson frozen TV dinners

7. Three loaves of Wonder bread

8. A tin of biscuits (NOTE: biscuits are what you Americans refer to as COOKIES)

9. Assorted disposable drinking and eating utensils.

10. Two bottles each of red and white wine. If it’s not asking too much, we prefer Corbet Canyon wine (we don’t know if it’s good, but the commercials are kind of cool)

11. Napkins

12. Two rooms at a nearby Motel 6 (we’ll also use those as dressing rooms)

In case you were wondering about the song, here it is for your viewing pleasure

Richard Zowie runs several blogs besides this one and sometimes even posts here using the pseudonym C.F. Twob. Send comments to ponderingsfrompluto@gmail.com.

Zugegeben, ich bin ein großer Fan der Musikrichtung New Wave, auch wenn ich nicht wirklich damit aufgewachsen bin, sondern erst Anfang der 90er Jahre, also über zehn Jahre später damit in Berührung kam. Und nicht selten wird der kreative New Wave mit dem SynthiePop der 80er Jahre in einen Topf geworfen. Also Gary Numan zusammen mit Duran Duran und A-ha. Für Metaller ist das alles der gleiche Mist, für mich natürlich nicht. Obwohl Duran Duran fast zeitgleich mit A Flock of Seagulls bekannt wurden, sind erstere der New-Romantic-Bewegung zuzurechnen. A Flock of Seagulls begannen 1982 mit New Wave, obwohl er zu diesem Zeitpunkt fast schon wieder tot war.

Vorliegendes Album “Listen” stammt aus dem Jahre 1983 und liegt mittig in der erfolgreichen Popularität von A Flock of Seagulls. 1982 hatten sie einen großen Hit mit “I ran”, 1984 bereits schon wieder ihren letzten Hit mit “The more I live, the more you love”. Da waren die New Wave-Zeiten aber nun wirklich endgültig vorbei. Dazwischen war “Wishing (If I had a photograph of you)” vom Album “Listen”, welches auch ihr erfolgreichstes war (Platz 16 in UK).

Für mich persönlich ist das Vorgängeralbum deutlich besser, auf “Listen” gefallen mir fast nur die Singles “Wishing”, “Nightmares” (der beste Song auf dem Album), “Transfer Affection” (wunderschöne Midtempo-Ballade) und “(It’s not me) Talking”. Die anderen Songs sind handwerklich gut gemachte Songs, die ihre Daseinsberechtigung haben und damals – wir reden hier von 25 Jahren – sicherlich bei den jungen Zuhörern zündeten. Heute findet man allerdings nur noch die Samples interessant. Von mir zwei Sterne als Wertung.

Unten stehende Tracklist ist von der MC-Version, die sich wesentlich von der LP- und CD-Version unterscheidet, weil hier zwei Bonustracks vorhanden sind: “Rosenmontag” und “The last flight of Yuri Gargarin”.

Tracklist (MC):

1. Wishing (If I had a Photograph of You)
2. Nightmares
3. Transfer Affection
4. What Am I Supposed To Do
5. The Fall
6. Rosenmontag
7. Electrics
8. The Traveller
9. 2:30
10. Over The Border
11. (It’s Not Me) Talking
12. Quicksand
13. The Last Flight Of Yuri Gagarin

This is Elly's world, we just live in it

It’s been a little while since I’ve found a group worthy of breaking the 10th Yuppie Commandment (thou shalt not pump up bands that make others jealous of your awesome taste in music), but here’s another one:  La Roux. The electropop group, again from Britain, is like the lovechild of A Flock of Seagulls and Freezepop (which reminds me, far too few groups use keytars anymore by the way).  This duo, the pairing of 19-year-old front woman Eleanor “Elly” Jackson and co-writer and producer Ben Langmaid, dropped their self titled album in mid-march of this year, meaning they qualify to be one of this year’s hottest acts.  Jackson is a ghostly pale ginger, but she works it pretty well, somehow turning her redheaded affliction into a trademark hairdo that young girls in London are emulating.  Like Florence + The Machine, La Roux is up for the Mercury Prize, to be awarded in a few weeks, and they stand a damn good chance of winning, which means you’d be even further behind the 8-ball.

You see where A Flock of Seagulls comes in?

Three singles off the album have all got legs.  It’s only a matter of time before they make their way here.  In fact, let me help them out.  Have a listen to these tracks.  Check out the video too.  It is like Tron meets Q-Bert meets those awesome commercials from Lincoln Tech demonstrating how you too can fulfill your dream of becoming a graphic designer!  Anyway, enjoy, and stay tuned for the upcoming wrap-up when the Mercury Prize is finally awarded.

… The more you love….

Linda música do A Flock of Seagulls.

Correria, sem muito o que escrever.

Enfim… ENJOY!

Bjs e abraços

Hace rato que estaba esperando tener el pelo lo suficientemente largo como para hacer un tributo a una de las bandas de los 80s que más me gusta (en realidad me encanta un tema solo, pero con la mayoría de las bandas de esa época me pasa lo mismo), A Flock of Seagulls. Dado que hoy no se me caía ni una idea a la fuerza, me pareció ok intentar hacer el tributo hoy.

Para los que no conocen la banda, mi tema favorito es I Ran. Lo único que tiene ese tema es que en esa época todavía no usaban los peinados tan raros como el que me hice yo, para ver esa clase de peinados deberían ver este video. Seguramente para lograr ese peinado usaban montones de spray para pelo, pero como yo no tengo (y supera el gasto que me permito para el 356), usé la alternativa más punk que es jabón en pan.

Lo malo de las fotos más producidas es que siempre me tengo que bañar después, ya sea para sacarme el maquillaje excesivo o para sacarme el pegote del pelo, como en este caso.

Paul Reynolds, British musician

Amigos,

Hoje estarei discotecando na festa Let’s Rock dos DJs Humberto Luminati e Felipe Manso na Toy Lounge .

Conto com a presença de todos vocês.

ENJOY!

Bjs e Abraços

Random Access
“the Next Wave
of Modern Rock”

July 21, 2009

Secret Agent Man – Devo – The Essentials
No Secrets – Missing Persons – The Best Of Missing Persons
Secret – Heart – Essential Heart
Secret Sharer – Fred Schneider - Just Fred
Don’t Tell Me – Avril Lavigne – Don’t Tell Me – Single
-
Cartoon Heroes – Aqua – Aquarius
Hero Worship – The B-52’s – The B-52’s
Heroes – Blondie – Eat To The Beat [Bonus Tracks]
When Heroes Go Down – Suzanne Vega – 99.9 F
Barackberry – Capitol Steps – Obama Mia!
Hangin’ On The Telephone – Mephisto Walz – Platinum Girl – A Tribute To Blondie
Telephone Line - Electric Light Orchestra – Greatest Hits
–
Close But No Cigar – Weird Al Yankovic – Straight Outta Lynwood
Close But No Cigar – Thomas Dolby – The Best Of Thomas Dolby: Retrospectacle
I Ran (So Far Away) - A Flock Of Seagulls – Just Can’t Get Enough: New Wave Hits Of The 80’s, Vol. 5
So Far Away – Dire Straits – Brothers In Arms
You are Gonna Go Far, Kid – Offspring - Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace
Safety Dance - Tainted Love – Hits of the 80s volume 1
Neutron Dance – The Pointer Sisters – Only Dance: 1985-1989
-
Friends Never Say Goodbye – Elton John - Top Hits 549
I Love You Goodbye – Thomas Dolby - The Best Of Thomas Dolby – Retrospectacle
Goodbye To The Circus – Aqua – Aquarius
Long Goodbye – The Thompson Twins – Close To The Bone
Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye – Bananarama – The Essentials: Bananarama
Say Hello Wave Goodbye ‘91 - Soft Cell - Memorabilia: The Singles
Hello, I Love You – Missing Persons - The Best Of Missing Persons

“När snön gick bort, och det blev sommar, breddes ett eldsken över Dalälven, som bred och mörk forsade under hängbjörkarna”

01. Kim Wilde – Never trust a stranger
02. The Jacksons – Torture
03. Echo & The Bunnymen – Bring on the dancing horses
04. Kate Bush – Wow
05. A flock of seagulls – Space age love song
06. Donna Summer – Cold love
07. Johan Kinde – Valona
08. Scott Walker – Rawhide
09. Modern English – A viable commercial
10. Dusty Springfield – Nothing has been proved
11. St. Christopher – All of a tremble

Den Begriff Mixed Tape (oder auch Mixtape) hab ich mal wikipediert und hab das gefunden:

“Mixtapes spiegeln für gewöhnlich den Musikgeschmack des Erstellers wider. Sie können dabei von einer eher beiläufig ausgewählten Liste an Lieblingsliedern, über einen konzeptuellen Mix an themen- und stimmungsgebunden Musikstücken, bis zu höchst persönlichen, auf den Empfänger der Kassette zugeschnittenen Aussagen reichen.”

Nach langer Zeit hab ich mal wieder so ein Mixtape zusammen gestellt. Nachfolgend die Playlist mit meinen Lieblingssongs vom Juni.

1. Black Sabbath – After Forever (1971)
2. Nick Straker – A walk in the park (1979)
3. The Cure – All Cats are Grey (1981)
4. A Flock of Seagulls – Telecommunication (1982)
5. Alphaville – A Victory of Love (1984)
6. Cyndi Lauper – All Through the Night (1984)
7. Simple Minds – Alive and Kicking (1985)
8. Wire – Ahead (1987)
9. Nine Inch Nails – A warm place (1994)
10. Nirvana – All Apologies (1994)
11. Air – All I need (1998)
12. Thievery Corporation – Air Batucada (2000)
13. The Human League – All I ever wanted (2001)
14. The Tear Garden – A Ship Named ‘Despair’ (2001)
15. Shout Out Louds – A Track and a Train (2005)
16. De/Vision – Addict (2006)
17. ATB – Alcarda (2007)
18. Keane – Again and Again (2008)

It seems that California always has the best real life officer chase scenes. Who can forget this classic set to a song by one Sea-Fever’s favorite bands, A Flock of Seagulls?

YouTube – O.J. Runs So Far Away

As only California can do, here’s another recent chase caught on camera.

YouTube – sea lion on patrol craft 2009 06 17

This bad boy may have been on a joy ride looking for fish and CHPs (California Highway Patrol) but ended up finding the ever vigilant Orange County Sheriff’s Department instead.

Chock another one up for high seas law and order!

Report via Sea-Fever Twittersphere Correspondent Mia Chambers.

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