I was planning on posting one more Star Wars LP, an audio story called Rebel Mission To Ord Mantell. However, it turns out you can get that right here. Why don’t you just do that instead if you’re interested in Star Wars? I’m more interested in posting some bloody music tonight.
Winter. It sucks doesn’t it? If you live in the Midwest (which is reason enough to be depressed), tonight you’re probably bracing for your first big winter storm. That’s never fun.
And I don’t know about you, but I’ve been reading a lot of super-depressive news stories as of late. Probably has something to do with the fact that the Republicans are in the news. They usually take away the fun for everyone.
But fuck that weak shit! Let’s get back into happy fun times! If you download all the music in tonight’s post and don’t smile at least once, call a crisis center, you probably need serious medical help. Or maybe drink some whiskey. That usually helps me.
The B-52s
Good Stuff (12″ Remix)
Good Stuff (Remix Edit)
I listen to a lot of remixes. Seriously. A lot. Â As of right now, I have exactly 53,361 songs in my iTunes library. Of them, 2,357 are remixes. That means that nearly one out of every 20 songs in my library is a remix of some sort.
Now, with that in mind, the 12″ remix of Good Stuff might be my favorite remix of all time. And if it’s not the best, it’s certainly the most fun.
It’s amazing what a few layers of synthesizers and a pumped up beat can do. While the original version of “Good Stuff” is beyond great, I think it’s held back as a dance song because it’s still trying to be a bit of a rock song. This version says fuck that, and rips out nearly all the guitars and replaces them with synthesizers, horns and synthesizers that sound like horns. Then it takes the beat and bass and makes them about twice as loud. It may not seem like much, but the end result is a brilliant explosion of feel good vibes and happy times for all. It’s so upbeat and full of energy that scientists should take samples of it and study it for use as a possible fuel source.
You need this song in your life. Today.
Oh, and the edited version is good too, if you need a concentrated blast of awesome instead of an extended mix version.
Cyndi Lauper
Girls Just Wanna Have Fun (Extended Version)
Girls Just Wanna Have Fun (Instrumental Version)
I’m shocked that this extended version isn’t in print somewhere. Doesn’t everyone in the world love this song? Who wouldn’t want more of it? I’ll tell you who! Republicans! They don’t want anyone to have fun, especially women. Let’s dance party them to death. I’ll bring this song. You bring the Red Bull. It’ll be a long dance party, I think we’ll need the energy drinks until those scientists figure out a way to turn “Good Stuff” into a snortable drug that’ll make cocaine seem like rock candy.
Haysi Fantayzee
John Wayne Is Big Leggy (Groovy Long Version)Â
I never heard of Haysi Fantayzee or this song until I bought this 12″ single. I don’t even know what motivated me to make the purchase, probably the song title, because what the fuck does that even mean?
I don’t purport this song to be…well…good, but I bet you’ve never heard anything remotely like it. And its certainly energetic and fun, and sometimes those are more important qualities for a song to have than being well-constructed or full of artistic merit. I’ll certainly listen to this song more than I will the latest Bon Iver album, that’s for sure.
As for what the song is actually about? Well, on YouTube, there’s a video of Haysi Fantaysee performing poorly lip-syncing on Top of The Pops. At one point a trivia track scrolls across the bottom of the screen and simply says “Don’t Ask. It’s bound to upset the John Wayne Estate.”
I’m going to defer to that. It’s probably best if we don’t know.
I only know Haysi Fantayzee for Shiny Shiny, which is a better song than the one here. You should check it out.
Haysi Fantayzee at their best…Shiny Shiny was ok but how can you beat all that is going on in “John Wayne”? Answer…You can’t!
I have the original 7″ single (Shorter I think)
Cheers
Check out Busby Marou for a killer version of the Cyndi classic “Girls….”
Here in Australia we have a Radio Station called Triple J (JJJ) and they invite guests on to record cover versions of songs. Usually live in the Radio Studio. It all started with a Madonna cover (many of which have since been attempted) so the series is called…wait for it…”Like A Version” (Very good). These recordings have resulted in albums being released. The Busby Marou track is on “Like A Version: Vol 7” whic also has a cool cover version of the old Madonna “Burning Up” track by Adalita. Really check these Albums out.
I remember Haysi when they first started and bought all (3) singles and the album (Battle Hymns for Children Singing).
The album was re-released in the UK a couple of years ago as The Best of HF, and it included most of the 12″ single tracks, including this one.
As to what a Big Leggy is: if you look at some of the lyrics it might make sense (I remember no one understood it in the 80’s either – and after the one time on Top Of The Pops the band and video were banned by the BBC.
There’s the lyric I was talking about:
John Wayne in lovers lane – making whoopee with his squaw.
But his bullet belt keeps a-gettin’ in the way
It’s making his life a bore.
So she says to him – Take off that thing . . .
It’s getting right between us.
Now listen honey
I can’t do that no even for you
my sweetness.
Now Big John
if that’s a fact then how d’you propose we do our act?
If that’s the way it’s gonna be get the hell out of my tepee.
Now speckled hen
you stop your squawkin’
Big Bad Rooster’s doin’ the talking.
I know a trick we ought to try tune right over – you’ll know why.
I have been a huge fan of that B-52’s 12″ remix ever since it came out. I thought I was the only one! Love it. Also love the Moby remixes of “Revolution Earth” from the same era. Thanks for an always entertaining blog!
Haysi….what a two non-hit wonder. I agree with the other poster, Shiny Shiny is much better but I am a bit prejudiced because I collect music about the cold war and an argument could be made that Shiny Shiny falls into that genre. JWIBL is just great new wave ear candy and I am surprised it doesn’t show up on more 80’s comps. Thanks for the post, my mp3 that I made was a piece of junk that I made when I didn’t know better about bit rates. BTW, the album the two singles are taken from is awful, if you like these two that’s pretty much all there is by this outfit, the parent album is otherwise foul.
I’m a Republican and I love the Cyndi Lauper track. It’s one of the finest pop songs ever recorded.
I see you delete comments from people who disagree with your comments about Republicans, lest you be shown to be ignorant.
I guess it’s OK to be a bigot if you’re left-leaning, huh? Jackass.
My first comment hadn’t been approved yet. I apologize for my second comment. My first comment hadn’t been moderated yet, but it appeared to me that it had been deleted. So, that’s kinda embarrassing. Sorry.
Yeah, maybe think for a second before you open your mouth next time.
Stepping into the fray here….the reference to Republicans does have some roots in 1980’s history with efforts at music censorship, although if I am not mistaken the PMRC was led by Tipper Gore. ”Darling Nikki” was the song that got Tipper’s knickers all twisted and at the time I recall not ”Girls Just Want to Have Fun” as pishing off the PMRC but ”She-Bop.”
To this day I am surprised no one has ever made a movie out of this whole sorry chapter in American music. The musicians who showed up to defend the music industry in hearings were Frank Zappa, Dee Snyder and John Denver.
A better quality (wav??) version of Rebel Mission To Ord Mantell would be fantastic – thanks. Searched the net at great lengths for a quality rip.
Republicans suck !
You really need THAT in an uncompressed form? Can’t help you dude. My copy is from a vinyl that was heavily used, it sounds way worse than the link i just gave you.
I’m not a big fan of politicians on either side, but for the record Tipper Gore was the wife of Al Gore, a lifelong Democrat.
@Glenn
Agree with you altogether, Tipper, though, has always looked, er, shall we say a bit frigid.
Wasn’t at all a shock that she blew an o-ring over a song or that she and Al got divorce.