Obscure Singles Heard at CVS

#onethread about the latter track

The song gained renewed attention during the campaign for the 2016 United States presidential election. Republican candidate Donald Trump read its lyrics at several campaign rallies to illustrate his position on illegal immigration, claiming that the decision to allow people claiming refugee status to enter the United States would "come back to bite us", as happened to the woman who took in the snake in the song. Oscar Brown's work has been described as "a celebration of black culture and a repudiation of racism". Two of Brown's seven children asked Trump to stop using their late father's song, telling the media: "He's perversely using 'The Snake' to demonize immigrants" and that Brown "never had anything against immigrants". Despite a cease and desist letter, Trump has continued reciting the lyrics at rallies including in June 2021, and in September and December 2023. At a rally in Ohio March 16, 2024, Trump again read "The Snake," calling it "a very accurate metaphor, and it's about our border, it's about the people we have coming in, and don't be surprised when bad things happen, because bad things will happen."

Rolling Stones: "Rock And A Hard Place" at Denny's

“Break It Down Again,” by Tears for Fears, at an Italian restaurant in Guatemala City.

CSNY's "Carry On" at the coffee shop--likely the first time I've ever heard that in a public setting--followed by Fleetwood Mac's "Gold Dust Woman." I'm wondering if the shop is just a front for a cocaine operation.

Ariana Grande album cut “Daydreamin’,” at a Pollo Campero in Panajachel, Guatemala (…following up a tropical remix of Taylor Swift’s “Paper Rings”).

Slim Chickens (last week, note on phone):

Animals: "Dimples"
The Band: "Rag Mama Rag"
SRV: "I'm Cryin'"
Drive-by Truckers: "Surrender Under Protest"
Albert King: "Searching For A Woman"

UPS Store

The Smithereens: "A Girl Like You"
Melissa Etheridge: "Similar Features"

(last week, note on phone)

lol

Can’t remember which grocery store, maybe QFC: R Dean Taylor - “Indiana Wants Me”

Always liked that one, such great cheesy melodrama. Though it's now forever linked to this post:

Without the siren, you'd think that maybe Indiana wants to give him a basketball scholarship.

― Heidy- Ho, Sunday, April 10, 2005 12:54 AM bookmarkflaglink

17 - Ladytron, at Pröst brewery

No umlaut

Clemenza doesn't live here anymore: "All the Way from Memphis" playing at the coffee shop. (Sorry for the Bo Jackson/Bob Dole flourish.)

Followed by Foghat's "Slow Ride," which at least makes sense on a calendar, but in so many ways not.

Rolling Stones: "Mona" at Tacos A Go Go

Coffee shop: "California Man." I think it was Cheap Trick, but the volume's low and I'm not by a speaker, so possibly it was the Move--that would be even more impressible.

Uh, impressive.

If it's big guitars and rocking, it's Cheap Trick

If it's big honking horns and pounding pianos (all rocking), it's The Move.

It was low and on the other side of the room...I'm going to assume Cheap Trick, because even on the greatest satellite radio feed or whatever, the Move are close to entirely forgotten. (Plus, the next three songs were "Lola," "Sweet Child O' Mine," and "What I Like About You.")

https://i.imgur.com/UJW8CCC.jpeg

Coffee shop: "I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight" (preceded by "Every Picture Tells a Story," which I've noted here before).

Ultravox's "Lament" (?!)

Fastball "Fire Escape" at the grocery store

Ok it's Portland but today I was surprised at hearing "Sports Men" by Haruomi Hosono at Lucky Labrador pub.

Rod Stewart: "The Motown Song" at CVS.

Seems like this one has existed only on in-store audio networks since like 1994.

I hear that execrable thing in the wild more than any post-1980 Rod besides "Forever Young."

Don Henley: "Driving With Your Eyes Closed" at Which Wich

I used to love Which Wich. They’ve all moved out of Minnesota now.

Covid really did a number on them. Most of the ones here didn't make it into 2021. I was up in the extreme northern suburbs for an event today, and one of the few remaining ones was nearby. Tasty!

In other news:

Siouxsie & The Banshees: "Spellbound" at BIG LOT'S

WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK?

Sniff'n'the Tears - "Driver's Seat" at Whole Foods

Floyd Gondoli or the Colonel anywhere nearby?

Freedom 90 george michael at prost.

hey it’s obscure _now_ imo

Don Henley: "Driving With Your Eyes Closed" at Which Wich

― Charlie Hair (C. Grisso/McCain

Weird -- I heard "You Can't Make Love" this morning

Building The Perfect Beast turns 40 in November.

Timely bump as I got a Which Wich coupon and found the nearest one to me today. Ended up hanging out for a bit to stay out of the heat. I heard:

Tremeloes: "Here Comes My Baby"
Rolling Stones: "Angry" (too soon? I see this one having legs with In-store Audio Networks)
Bruce Hornsby: "Across The River"
Talking Heads: "Stay Up Late"
Ramones: "Sheena Is A Punk Rocker" (45 version)

When I was looking up that Bruce Hornsby song on his singles wiki, I noticed he's got a number of (well, three or four) big at the time songs I've only ever heard in stores.

otm. I heard "Across the River" last month at Publix

Burger place with Beatles/'60s Pandora:

Janis Joplin: "Try (Just A Little Bit Harder)"
Jimi Hendrix: "Can You See Me"
Dave Berry: "My Baby Left Me"
Mose Allison: "If You Live"

how is "freedom 90" obscure 'now' when it has actually endured on radio and in the public consciousness in general much better than other songs of his that were bigger hits at the time

lol i dont even own a radio or a consciousness

Just remembered that "Sunday Morning" by the VU was also heard this afternoon, and it fit in seamlessly next to the Peter & Gordon and mellow Beatles sides.

was also heard

reported, banned

how is "freedom 90" obscure 'now' when it has actually endured on radio and in the public consciousness in general much better than other songs of his that were bigger hits at the time

― dyl, Saturday, September 28, 2024

Still amazed it peaked at no. 28 in the UK. Must have been an 'inside job' at Sony

“Uncontrollable Urge” by Devo, so low volume as to be almost indiscernible, in the veterinarian’s office this afternoon.

"There's a Ghost in My House" by R. Dean Taylor heard at Goodwill
(fantastic record)

^^Nice. Halloween Muzak? I wonder if that one got a little bump from Last Night In Soho?

Ah maybe Halloween yeah. I didn't notice what else they were playing... the distinctive guitar riff on that is what caught my attention.

Peter Murphy - Cuts You Up

The other day I went to the local big box liquor store to buy beer. I was surprised to hear the PA playing a mix of classic '60s ska and rocksteady, which brought a smile to my face. I grab my beer, go the checkout and am greeted by a scowling person at the register. "Rough day?" I say, and she smiles, rolls her eyes and waves her hand around, as if that answers anything. "What do you mean?" I ask. She lowers he voice and leans in. "All day it's been like this," she says. "It started with jazz and now it's ... this." "You mean the music?" I ask. She nods and leans in again. "I need something to wake me up, something with words, not ... this." "I don't know," I say. "This sounds pretty upbeat." "I'm just tired of all this jazz," she whispers. "Well, try to enjoy it," I suggest. "It sounds pretty good to me."

I wish every place played old school Jamaican music.

Elastica's "Connection" at physio this morning--that was weird. Faint in the background, couldn't remember the title ("Stutter"'s my favourite).