Wake Me Up.... With My "Alive Inside" Music Playlist

It must have been a couple of years ago when I watched a fascinating documentary called Alive Inside: A Story of Music and Memory. The film examined the effect of music on people, mostly elderly, suffering from Alzheimers and other forms of dementia. You'd think this would be a very depressing story, but it's not, because of the efforts of social worker Dan Cohen. He brought music players and headphones into special care residences and encouraged the residents to listen to their favourite songs. The transformation from nearly catatonic to joyous and lucid is amazing. Folks with failing memory, unhappy mood and antisocial behaviour appeared to make instantaneous changes upon listening to music of their youth. They spoke and smiled, sang and swayed... and some even danced a little, and recalled details from good times in their younger years. Even the ones who had been unresponsive to any other stimuli during treatments. 

The music obviously awakened parts of the mind (and soul?) that had laid dormant for years. The link between music and memory was clear to see. The healing power of music really must be put to more widespread use, to help bring those suffering and dwindling needlessly in isolation back to their happy and more lively selves. Cohen assembled personalized playlists of songs that would resonate with each person by first interviewing their families to learn what sort of music they grew up with. I highly recommend Alive Inside... it's unlike anything you've ever seen before. 

After watching this inspirational and emotional film, I felt I should assemble my own "Alive Inside" playlist, one that would be most likely to draw me back to the land of the living... should I ever need such a thing. So extremely nostalgic and meaningful songs are of the first order. Music that meant a lot to me when I was young and still strikes a chord with me today. 

I think that my personal playlist would consist mostly of music from my teenage years, with the odd song from my twenties and later. And there are even a couple of tunes from my pre-teens, like the Monkees and Beatles. 

In no particular order, here is my Alive Inside Playlist:

Daydream Believer, The Monkees
Roll Over Beethoven, The Beatles
Ninth Symphony, Beethoven
Sister Moonshine, Supertramp
Nobody Does It Better, Carly Simon
Shout it out Loud, Kiss
Second Hand News, Fleetwood Mac
Philadelphia Freedom, Elton John
Gravity, Max Webster
Main Title/Rebel Blockade Runner, Star Wars: A New Hope movie soundtrack
Lady Evil, Black Sabbath
You're My Best Friend, Queen
Don't Stop Believing, Journey
Lady, Styx
Closer to the Heart, Rush
Surrender, Cheap Trick
Patio Lanterns, Kim Mitchell
Boys of Summer, Don Henley
I Turn to You, Melanie C
I Believe in You, Kylie Minogue
I'm an Errand Girl for Rhythm, Diana Krall
He Is, Ghost
Emmylou, First Aid Kit

And here's a small sampling of the songs that 'ought to jog my memory:

Cool Band Names

Today, I'm looking at cool band names. There are some great ones out there, some bad ones, weird ones, and boring ones. Think about it: many of the bands with the greatest music of all time have dull names: The Doors, The Beatles, The Who, The Eagles, Queen, and The Band.

And I'm not thinking of the just plain ridiculous or funny, like The Butthole Surfers, Alabama Thunderpussy, W.A.S.P. (We Are Sexual Perverts), or Bunch of Fucking Goofs. A band name that you'd be proud of, one you'd like to be associated with. 

There's the truly weird, like Throbbing Gristle and the Meat Puppets. No. Or the vaguely odd, like Dead Can Dance, Mott the Hoople, or Echo And The Bunnymen... or definitely odd like Dead Kennedys, Suicidal Tendencies, and Sex Pistols. Some of those are darkly evocative, conjuring up unpleasant imagery, which I'm sure was intentional. But simply "controversial" names aren't what I'm aiming for in this case. Especially the shocking yet ludicrous ones, like Dayglo Abortions. And if a name is too goofy, forget it... like Insane Clown Posse, Goo Goo Dolls, and Barenaked Ladies. Even the Red Hot Chili Peppers fall into that category for me.

I'm on the fence with The Talking Heads. Hey, I love 'em, love their music... and the name is certainly unique and memorable, but it's not fun, sexy, or even remotely cool. In fact, the name says it all... boring, just like talking heads on TV. Blah blah blah. 

These are in no particular order, though I've arranged a bunch of my favourites near the top of the list. Mind you, I love an awful lot of these equally. Enjoy!

Van Halen (yes, it's a proper name... courtesy of Eddie and Alex, but it is perfection)
Tokyo Police Club (right?)
Screamin Cheetah Wheelies (who can't love this one?)
Death Cab For Cutie (cool in a cryptic way, but go look up the origin of the name - even cooler!)
Blue Öyster Cult (one of the best band names of all time)
Led Zeppelin (duh!)
Iron Maiden (again... duh, even if you don't know the origin of the term)
Tygers of Pan Tang (strange but oh, so perfect for a metal band)
They Might Be Giants (I've always liked this one)
Dillinger Escape Plan (one of the most imaginative names I've ever heard)
Parliament Funkadelic
Marillion
Dream Theater
Black Sabbath
Judas Priest
Motörhead
Stone Temple Pilots

Some more:

Black Flag
Killer Dwarfs
Steppenwolf (a given... and go read up on the origin of the word to make it even cooler)
The Velvet Underground
Public Enemy
Propellerheads
Apollo 440
A Tribe Called Quest
Godspeed You! Black Emperor (poor punctuation aside, it's strange, dark and evocative)
Darkthrone
Mercyful Fate
Queens of the Stone Age
Thin Lizzy
Pink Floyd
Soundgarden
Aerosmith
Def Leppard 
Massive Attack
The Art of Noise
Earth, Wind & Fire
Manowar
Angel Witch
Mastodon
Opeth (strangely evocative, enigmatic, and ominous... just like their music)
Fear Factory


Honourable Mentions: 

Strapping Young Lad (I acknowledge it sounds pretty nifty, if not a winner)
Supertramp (I can't decide if this deserves full honours or a complete dismissal)
Type O Negative
Bad Religion
Blind Guardian
Smashing Pumpkins
Monster Magnet

Fugazi

Cheap Trick

Cowboy Junkies

Avenged Sevenfold

Rage Against the Machine

Five Finger Death Punch (I might knock this up to the main list)

Nine Inch Nails

Slipknot

Spooky Tooth

The Strawberry Alarm Clock

Pearl Jam

The Grateful Dead

Depeche Mode

Corrosion of Conformity

Slayer
Metallica

Between The Covers - Part IV

It's time to pull back the covers. Today, I'm going to begin with one of my favourite cover songs, one that I think improves upon the original by leaps and bounds. Can you guess it? How about You Really Got Me, originally written and recorded by English rock group The Kinks way back in 1964. 

The song hit number one in the UK, and made the Top 10 in the U.S.A. - an international hit. This early example of distorted guitar worked its magic through the use of power chords and riffs that would influence later genres such as heavy metal and punk. I've never been much of a Kinks fan, but I do like this song, and strangely because of the piano hammering away behind the thick guitars and vocals. That roots-of-rock'n'roll sound appeals to me the same way The Who used it to perfection in their music. Just a dash of 50's Fats Domino thrown in there as the 60's bands pushed the boundaries of rock. 

Then more than a decade later, along came a debut album by a quartet from Pasadena, California - Van Halen. Yes, I'm sure you saw that coming. Between Eddie's fiery guitar licks and Diamond Dave's party-time hollering, the song was transformed into a heavy metal (or hard rock, if you prefer) classic. Van Halen gave You Really Got Me a new lease on life, and it shot into the Top 40 in 1978. 

In addition to Van Halen's technique and polish, there is a roaring surge of energy that we sure don't hear on the relatively staid Kinks version of the song. Say what you will about Roth's glam aspirations... he provides the outlandish showmanship that launches this song into the stratosphere, with no disrespect for Eddie's fretboard talents. And guitarmanship aside, Ed and especially bassist Mike Anthony provide some of the finest backup vocals in the rock biz. 

Next up, Helter Skelter by the lads from Liverpool, The Beatles. Even these guys played a hand in the development of heavy metal. Helter Skelter is by far the heaviest of all their songs, with the catchier Hey Bulldog (with piano!) not far behind. This 1968 head-basher, as far as I know, must have been the heaviest tune around at the time... so take that, Blue Cheer! It sounds like Ringo is demolishing his drums and cymbals... and it sounds like he's got a 20-piece kit.

McCartney, on a departure from his usual ballads, pop ditties, and moderate rock, absolutely tears it up on Helter Skelter with throat-razing vocals. An interesting false ending gives way to another blast of instrumental mayhem. 

Then Pat Benatar put her own version of Helter Skelter to vinyl in 1981. Her rendition is very faithful to the original, thanks to her skilled crew of musicians, and of course, her powerhouse vocal delivery. This and the Beatles' takes on the song are so similar that it's hard to select a favourite. Pat's is trimmer without the false ending and extended noise, and I may prefer her cleaner feminine singing voice to McCartney's raspier yelling style. Still, the original holds a certain violence, urgency, and danger that is missing in the Benatar track.

The 1966 Simon and Garfunkle song Hazy Shade of Winter was a modest hit with its light and lively vibe. It's a short and catchy ditty, and I guess I can't diss it in any way since it's Simon and Garfunkle, after all. I've just never really gotten into the duo's music, though I can enjoy a handful of their best songs. The acoustic guitar and electric piano create a pleasant sound and mood, though the overactive drumming feels out of place. But that's just me.

The Bangles brought their own treatment of Hazy Shade of Winter to the world in 1987. This is a more rocking version, with cooler keyboards, an electric guitar twang, and their silky girl-band vocal harmonies. For me, The Bangles win out. For one thing, this pumped-up version of the song is the only one I've even known until recent years, so the lightweight 60's original sort of pales in comparison. 

Great Canadian Cinema

It's been a longstanding joke: oh, it's a Canadian movie... snore! So sad. I guess there was some truth in that at one time, but looking back over the past forty or fifty years, I'd say there are many examples of classic cinema. Yes, there will be Canadian subject matter in many of them, but even if not, there may simply be a particular sense of humour or visual style. In some cases,the picture is an American production, but directed by a Canadian. I figure if there is that strong a Canadian connection, it qualifies.

This is not a "Top 25" list. My knowledge of Canuck movies is not so extensive that I could compile such a thing. But I have seen my share of home-grown flicks and can at least present a set of titles that might get you thinking... and maybe consider tracking some down. I believe some of these are available on Youtube, and if not, perhaps Netflix or iTunes would be good spots to check. 

I skimmed a few "all time greatest" lists on the web just to jog my memory of what I'd seen in the way of Can-content. Here are what are considered among the best, or at least notable, Canadian films. I've seen nearly all of them, and the few that I haven't, I am interested in watching someday. Some of my favourites are the Atom Egoyan movies (very moody and artistic), the Cronenbergs (we all know his dark and disturbing style), director Vallée's C.R.A.Z.Y., Beyond the Black Rainbow (mind-bending without a Hollywood filter), Bon Cop, Bad Cop (a big hit - and very funny), A Christmas Story (now considered a seasonal classic, with loads of nostalgic humour), Les Triplettes de Belleville (a clever and funny animated tale), and Thirty-two Short Films About Glenn Gould (an impressive revealing documentary about the oddball yet genius classical pianist). 

You don't have to be an artsy-fartsy type to appreciate most of these movies. Many are very down to earth and relatable, even mainstream, or close to it. I encourage newbies to Canadian film history to try a few of these to begin with... maybe the goofy comedy Strange Brew (starring Canadian TV's two most famous comic characters, beer-drinking Bob and Doug McKenzie). If that works for you, then try some creepy sci-fi with Cube or crime-comedy with Bon Cop, Bad Cop. David Cronenberg's The Dead Zone feels about as American as you can get; it is a dark thriller based on a Stephen King novel... it's my fave by this legendary director. 

I have included on my list the name of the film and its movie director. This really helps when you find a real gem and want to track down more work by that creative mind. 

When you are feeling more adventurous and want to tackle something more esoteric, try The Red Violin, and Egoyan's films. I was impressed with these back in the 90's, and I plan to revisit them soon. Enjoy!

... in no particular order....

Turbo Kid - Anouk Whissell, Francois Simard, Yoann-Karl Whissell
The Sweet Hereafter, Exotica - Atom Egoyan
The Dead Zone, Videodrome, Naked Lunch, The Fly, & many more - David Cronenberg
PIN (a satisfying weird and creepy horror) - Sandor Stern
The Changeling (among the best ghost stories ever)- Peter Medak
Tucker & Dale vs Evil (a silly and funny horror romp)- Eli Craig
Goin' Down the Road (essential Canadiana) - Don Shebib
C.R.A.Z.Y., Café de Flore, Dallas Buyers Club - Jean-Marc Vallée
Mon oncle Antoine - Claude Jutra
Jesus of Montreal, The Barbarian Invasions - Denis Arcand
The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz - Ted Kotcheff
Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner - Zacharius Kunuk
Strange Brew - Rick Moranis, Dave Thomas
My American Cousin - Sandy Wilson
I've Heard the Mermaids Singing - Patricia Rozema
Highway 61, Hard Core Logo - Bruce McDonald
Beyond the Black Rainbow (trippy science fiction)- Panos Cosmatos
Bon Cop, Bad Cop - Eric Canuel
A Christmas Story, and horror slasher classic Black Christmas - Bob Clark (Canadian dir.)
Cube (a surprisingly good sci-fi/horror thriller) - Vincenzo Natali
Les Triplettes de Belleville, The Illusionist - Sylvain Chomet
Thirty-two Short Films About Glenn Gould, The Red Violin - Francois Girard
My Winnipeg - Guy Maddin
Quest for Fire - Jean-Jacques Annaud

Have A Wild Party... Kim Mitchell

Happy birthday to Kim Mitchell, on July 10th! The music of Canada's favourite son really holds up well after all these years, including Mitchell's very first recording, the debut Max Webster album. One of the coolest songs on there is Here Among The Cats, a track that I love to sing along with.... and even run through my head when there's no music playing. I know it that well.

Mitchell proved to his fans... and the rest of 'em... that he could rock the house down and he could also write successful pop songs. As much as I love the guitar-heavy Webster and early Kim raves, I also have a soft spot for his lighter radio-friendly tunes, stuff like Let Go the Line, Max's first hit on the Canadian charts back in '79, then later Alan Loves Me, Patio Lanterns, and Easy to Tame, all off his Shakin' Like a Human Being album of '86. And despite a "heart incident" last year, ol' Kim just keeps on rolling into the 2010's. A great Canadian institution.

Here's a little playlist of my favourite Kim Mitchell and Max Webster songs:





Tracklist:

Here Among The Cats - with Max
Gravity - with Max
Lip Service - with Max
Rascal Houdi - with Max
Lager and Ale
Tennessee Water
That's The Hold
Rock'n'Roll Duty
World's Such a Wonder
Stand