I have nothing against cover songs. I play songs by other artists as well as my own. But there are some covers which have been done to death and/or done so awfully that I can't enjoy the original anymore.

• Send Me an Angel by Real Life - This has been covered so much, that I went from liking this song to cringing whenever I hear anyone's version, including the original. Back when MySpace was everyone's addiction, I'd see a bulletin from a different band every week announcing that they'd just recorded their version of it. Please stop. Wikipedia has a list of artists which covered it, but there are even more.
  • A 1986 cover by Netzwerk
  • A 1995 cover by The Quakes
  • A 1999 cover/remix by Mythos 'N DJ Cosmo
  • A 2001 cover by Zeromancer
  • A 2005 cover by Thrice
  • A 2005 cover/remix by Paul Oakenfold
  • A 2006 cover by Patty Ryan
  • A 2006 cover by Novaspace
  • A 2006 cover by Gregorian, Masters of Chant Chapter V
  • A 2008 cover by Missing Hours
  • A 2008 cover by Atrocity
  • A 2008 cover by The Dreaming

• Big Yellow Taxi by Joni Mitchell - Amy Grant did her version in the 90s and Janet sampled it. The Counting Crows had a version with annoying "oooh bop bop" background vox provided by Vanessa Carlton. Just stop, stop, stop.

• How Soon Is Now by The Smiths - Love Spit Love did a version which was on "The Craft" soundtrack and then became the theme song for "Charmed". (Why did this song become linked to witches? Am I missing something?) Snake River Conspiracy and t.A.T.U. (I'm fans of both artists) recorded their own versions that lacked the feel and emotion.

• Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen - Many people I know seem to think this was originally recorded by Jeff Buckley, but it wasn't. He did what a lot of people consider the best version of it and popularized it to younger generations. I do really like his version, as well as Rufus Wainwright's rendition. But the problem is that talents like Buckley and Wainwright are rare. The others covering it haven't come close. Some d-bag reality show contestants like to throw this in for dramatic effect. I really do like Justin Timberlake (and I like when artists support good causes) but I was disappointed and annoyed when I heard him perform it last month with Matt Morris for the Haiti relief telethon. I don't feel like he did such a great job of it. He's a talented musician but couldn't pull off this song. 

• Mad World by Tears for Fears - Gary Jules did a great job covering it. It's very different from the original but still very good. I like both versions equally and may relate to one more than the other on a certain day, depending on my mood. However, this, like Hallelujah, seems to be a favorite of reality show contestants. Based on the way they cover it, they seem to think Jules was the originator of the song and so they're basically doing a cover of a cover. I think part of the added aggression is the association with Donnie Darko. Much to the chagrin of my friends, I think that movie was overrated and I was sick of hearing about it a few years ago.
  • French artist Nicola Sirkis, frontman of the new wave band Indochine, on his solo album Dans La Lune... (1992).
  • American industrial rock band Kill Switch...Klick, on the Cleopatra Records compilation New Wave Goes To Hell (1998).
  • German DJ Pulsedriver's popular remix of Nu Romantix's cover, on the compilation album Dos Or Die Fresh Cuts (2001)
  • American alternative rock band Finch, on their EP Rolling Stone Acoustic Session (2002).
  • British singer-songwriter Alex Parks, on her debut album, Introduction (2003).
  • American industrial act Brainclaw, (2004).
  • American metalcore band Evergreen Terrace, on their album Writer's Block (2004).
  • German punk rock band Die Toten Hosen, on their live DVD Rock am Ring 2004 (2004).
  • Polish gothic rock band Closterkeller, on their EP Reghina (2004).
  • Australian art rock band The Red Paintings, on their EP Walls (2005).
  • German DJ Jan Wayne, on his single Mad World (2005).
  • American singer-songwriter Sara Hickman, on her double album Motherlode (2006).
  • Canadian rock bassist Ken Tizzard, on his album Quiet Storey House... An Introduction (2006).
  • German a cappella group Wise Guys, on their album Radio (2006).
  • American dark cabaret duo The Dresden Dolls featuring Trash McSweeney, on their live DVD Live at the Roundhouse (2007).
  • Canadian folk-singer Tara MacLean, on her EP Signs of Life (2007) and her album Wake (2008).
  • German vocal band Gregorian, on their album Masters of Chant Chapter VI (2007).
  • Italian dark wave band SPECTRA*paris, a side project of Kirlian Camera, on their album Dead Models Society (2007).
  • Canadian jazz singer Shannon Butcher, on her album Words We Both Could Say (2008).
  • Israeli actress/singer Melanie Peres, on the soundtrack to the movie Lost Islands (2008).
  • Norwegian singer Erlend Bratland, on his debut album True Colors (2008).
  • Swedish blackened death metal band Zonaria, on their second album The Cancer Empire (2008).
  • Italian singer-songwriter Elisa, on her sixth album Heart (2009).
  • American singer-songwriter/rapper NOVEL as a tribute to slain teen Oscar Grant (2009)

• You Spin Me Right Round (Like a Record) by Dead or Alive - I was borderline obsessed with this song before a seemingly endless amount of cover versions were dumped into society. Dope, Jessica Simpson, Thalia, and Eiffel 65 are just a few artists who did it. This was another one of those MySpace band favorites to cover. But most unforgivable of all is Flo Rida using the song in the chorus but changing the lyrics. It is such an obnoxious song. 

• Imagine (with the "no religion" part changed) by John Lennon - Certain bands like to cover this and change "imagine no religion" to something along the lines of: "imagine one religion", "imagine our religion", etc. You are missing the point and message of the song. Please please please don't cover it if you're going to change those important lyrics. If you want to sing about your religion, then please just write your own new song with your own lyrics. kthanks.

• Anarchy in the U.K. by The Sex Pistols - This usually involves substituting the location from the UK to some other place, such as "the U.S.A." or "Bedrock". We get it. You're such a rebel and you want it where you live.

I bet that now that I've added this, I'll eventually end up joining a band who already covers one of these songs live or they'll decide to cover it and I'll be outvoted. And then I'll be laughed at. But that's okay. :)

This is pretty cool.



For the record, I don't literally believe in any type of zodiac or in using a lunar calendar. It's a cultural thing. It's sort of the same way many non-religious friends of mine still celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, and other December holidays.

I've noticed that Obama has made a conscious effort to reach out to minority groups and I think that's pretty cool. I could be wrong, but I don't remember any other President going out of his way to wish us Happy Lunar New Year. I also give him credit for saying lunar and not Chinese.

The Moral and Constitutional Case for a Right to Gay Marriage | Robert A. Levy | Cato Institute: Commentary

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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Here is a Facebook ad which should not have a "Like" button on it.

I'm a big fan of some children's music that has emerged over the past few years. You have Yo Gabba Gabba, which was created by the singer of the Aquabats and features some awesome indie artists singing songs to help educate children and stimulate their imagination. There's Milkshake, who paid their dues in other bands in the Baltimore music scene before forming this band. And They Might Be Giants, who have been around since the 1980s, but did not start out as a children's band.

I purchased the Powerpuff Girls soundtrack that came out roughly ten years ago and I still listen to it sometimes. It's not really educational, but it's still good for children on a creative and imaginative level.

I like the way these recent songs have been written and performed. They don't insult a child's intelligence. Many adults enjoy these songs as well. The music is well-done. It's catchy enough for kids to like, but it's not dumbed down.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2K6w8hVv4Ko


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cCC8a6HMz4


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDG0c3saE4

I could not find any music videos online for Milkshake, but here is their website: http://milkshakemusic.com

Ray Comfort (better known as "The Banana Man") has a ministry called Way of the Master and started Living Water Publications. He, along with Kirk Cameron ("The Crocoduck") and others, like to go around preaching that you will spend an eternity in hell if you have not accepted Jesus as your savior and if you have ever been blasphemous. They are also Young Earth Creationists who believe the literal word of the book of Genesis. He does not believe in evolution. I could go on and on about how wrong he is and how the actions of groups like these hinder social and scientific progress, but you can read more about him yourself by going to WayOfTheMaster's channel on YouTube or by doing a google search.

His groups are scheduled to be on campuses across the United States tomorrow, November 19, and in various campuses in Canada on November 24. November 24 is the 150th anniversary of the first publication of Dawin's On the Origin of Species. I guess Comfort and Cameron see this anniversary as a threat to their religious beliefs, so they are handing out their version of how they think the book should be. And, based on their evangelical beliefs, I won't be surprised if they try to "save" some students. Rather than celebrate all the progress and advances that have been made because of this publication, they are threatened at how it contradicts their religion.

Now, I am aware that they have the right to do this. They have free speech. That doesn't mean I have to like what they say. And that doesn't mean that if you disagree, you should just stay silent and take it, if you want to stand up for things you believe. You can cause a scene, if you like. But if that's not your style, you can do this: http://www.dontdissdarwin.com/resources.php

I would love to go there and pass out the flyers. I don't attend JHU but I do live close. But I have work all day and school, so my schedule won't permit me go there. I am hoping, especially since JHU is filled with very intelligent persons, that the students will make me proud and take a stand on their own.

For a list of schools that are scheduled to be visited by Comfort's team, go here: http://www.dontdissdarwin.com/schools.php

A lot of people are freaking out at the "news" that Obama doesn't write his own tweets. Did everyone really think he did? And you know what, I want to be Obama's social networking czar. I'd be good at it, too! lol.

I had a cold and decided to stay in this weekend. I ended up catching Taylor Swift hosting SNL. I'm not a big fan of her music. I don't hate it, either. I think she's talented but her music just isn't my cup of tea. And I think she's a lot better than most current country stars.

But she was a great host. I really liked her. There's just something about her that is likeable. She seems like an awesome person and she appears to have acting abilities. I'm not in the acting business, so I'm probably not the best person to ask. But I do think she did a better job as host than a lot of other people with more acting experience, such as Megan Fox. Taylor looks great as a brunette, by the way. I get the feeling that this is beginning of things to come for Taylor and I wouldn't be surprised that as time goes by, her music might evolve into something that I would like.

This year, Hello Kitty turned 35, so Happy Birthday! I have had more HK and other Sanrio items than I can count.

In honor of this, I dressed as her for Halloween.


I'm also a big fan of Badtz-Maru (the cynical DJ penguin) and Keroppi (the happy frog).

I have no idea who is dressed up as these characters. I found this on Google. It looks like it was taken at the Baltimore Convention Center, so I'd guess that this was from Comic Con (or maybe Otakon). But I don't really know, especially since I'd think it would be more crowded. Anyway, it's cute!

Here is the trailer to the movie I did earlier this year. I'm only in it for a split second (shortly before the 1 min mark). But hey, it's not about me. Look how good the movie looks for an indie film on a shoe string budget. ;)



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjL1WXPw8QI

Dave Nenner - a musician whom a lot of people in the Baltimore scene would know from Truth Be Told (and was formerly in To A Science and Cylix) - has a new solo side project. I am excited to be working on new songs with him.

Here is the ReverbNation profile: http://www.reverbnation.com/davenenner
There will be some demos posted in the near future.

I think I just puked in my mouth a little. It appears that the UK has a singer who is about as credible as Avril Lavigne:


From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Wish_I_Was_a_Punk_Rocker_(With_Flowers_in_My_Hair):


Not only are there some major inaccuracies in her song, but apparently there was a fake grass roots story that was created by her record label to promote her as a musician. Sort of goes against the things she's complaining about in her song, doesn't it?
Supposing ... Sandi Thom is the musical antichrist

Here is a video tribute of Bryan Burken. It has pictures of him, along with his photography.



The video is also on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCvtM7WKoUQ

I posted some photographs of Bryan in a previous blog entry. I've added 3 more pictures since I originally posted it. You can view that here.

Here is an email I received from okcupid a few weeks ago. It's funny that some of the places where I've been considering moving are the places where I have the best matches.

On August 22nd, Bryan B passed away. He was a close friend of mine and he positively changed my life in many different ways. He was certainly taken from this world far too soon. I miss him terribly. I will never meet anyone else like him.



There is also a video tribute to Bryan here: Video in Memory of Bryan Burken

To those of you in Baltimore, please come out to Recher Theater on August 21. I will be making a special guest appearance on a couple songs with my former band mates in Skitzo Calypso. Candace from Another Lincoln will be appearing on a song as well!