Carl

Yes! These are great. There will be some crossover in the category of "songs about people who committed crimes," but that one mostly deals with songs about real (often notorious) people.

We recently posted Greg's interview with Biff Byford of Saxon, who talked about a song called "Strong Arm Of The Law," which is about one of their many run-ins with the local police. Wondering if there are enough songs like this to form a category. Rock Stars and arrests are not uncommon. Rappers too - "99 Problems" by Jay-Z fits this category.

Donovan, perhaps? I was going to guess Dave Matthews, but he doesn't wear shoes.

Cat Stevens - "Hard Headed Woman"

Don't sweat the lyrics Shawna. They're just there to support the beat. Back in the day, you could loop a Chic sample for 6-minutes or so and tell a real story in a rap song, but now the beats are so dense that it's all about shouting inane words on top of them.

And here's the piece: Answering Machine Songs

It's almost time for that Presidents of the United States of America revival.

Our humble state is once again home to the men's and women's basketball champions. :happybanana:

Very interesting stuff. This music seems to be a soundtrack for a spiritual journey. If you are in the mindset for enlightenment and expansion, it could hit just the right part of your amygdala. There is a science to this stuff. The repetition and rhythms do certain things to your brain waves if you let them. Interesting that enlightenment/new age music was most vibrant in the '60s, got watered down in the '80s and re-emerged in other forms in the '90s. Just like rock.

Some Jamenglish funk: Cymande - "Bra"

I recently had to explain to someone that the George's answering machine song was a real song. I then found myself trying to explain the concept of the TV show The Greatest American Hero, which sounds really ridiculous when you say it out loud: Aliens give this guy a suit that has superpowers, but there's no instruction manual, so he doesn't know how to use it. He can fly, but just short distances and awkward - like a turkey.

Dan interviewed Chris Squire this week, who is the only member of Yes to be part of every band lineup since they formed in 1968. I knew Yes was still going strong, but had no idea how much they tour. They've been on the road since March, 2013 and won't stop until June of this year. They'll take a month off, then head right back out. Somewhere in there, they had time to make an album, which is due this summer. Their original lead singer Jon Anderson left the group about 10 years ago, in part because the touring was too much for him. I spoke with him last year, but didn't grasp the contrast at the time between the path he chose and that of the current band. Jon lives out in the country and makes time with nature a priority. He has a studio that you have to walk through a garden to get to. Music is still very much a part of his life - he still tours, but sparingly, typically acoustic shows at small venues. When Dan called Chris Squire, the bassman was on the Canadian leg of their tour. Chris was in a hotel room, having finished a workout on a treadmill. The current version of Yes are some heavy hitters: Steve Howe, Alan White and Geoff Downes are part of this incarnation. They are packing venues and getting rave reviews. I can see the appeal of both lifestyles: Chris gets to do what he loves night after night by performing to the band's most appreciative and argent fans. Jon gets to explore his spiritual side and enjoy more unstructured time. These guys made amazing music when their lifestyles converged. Realizing how different they are, I'm glad we had them together as long as we did.

I'm in.

At the risk of sounding obvious, could it be "The Story" by Brandi Carlisle? Lea will always be in our hearts.

There was a time when the answering machine was a very important part of our lives - if you grew up in that era, you certainly remember some messages that changed your life forever. What are some songs that mention an answering machine interaction? The most obvious one I can think of is "Name and Number by Curiosity Killed the Cat," but I vaguely remember more, including at least one where we even hear the beep. Any ideas?

He even looks like he's whistling on the album cover.

It just occurred to me that people were celebrating St. Patrick's Day all weekend, which is the upshot of having it on a Monday.

Bands - Faceless

Do you mean the Calendar widget?

An empty hotel as a metaphor for the struggles of the heart. Well done.

Happy Birthday (belated) Ray. Here's my offering from Canada: http://www.songfacts.com/blog/interviews/terry_jacks_seasons_in_the_sun_/

I thought my mind was playing tricks on me when Travolta introduced her, and by that point in the show I was too fatigued to rewind. Wonder if someone loaded the Teleprompter wrong.

Looked like the Oscar band screwed Idina Menzel by playing a strangely uptempo version of "Let It Go." Glad the song won, but she deserved better.

Best Picture (25 points): Gravity Best Actor (15 points): Bruce Dern (Nebraska) Best Actress (15 points): Cate Blanchett (Blue Jasmine) Best Supporting Actor (10 points): Jared Leto (Dallas Buyers Club) Best Supporting Actress (10 points): Lupita Nyong'o (12 Years a Slave) Best Director (15 points): Gravity (Alfonso Cuarón) Best Original Score (15 points): The Book Thief (John Williams) Best Original Song (25 points): "Let It Go" (Frozen)

Sir Mix-a-Lot was often labeled a misogynist, but in his big hit, he says things you would tell your daughter if she was struggling with body-image issues: So Cosmo says you're fat Well I ain't down with that He was also one of the few rappers to take a stand against domestic violence in his lyrics: I won't cuss or hit ya From "Posse On Broadway": I never liked a punk who beat up on his girl If you don't have game, then let her leave your world Remember, this was a time when "slappin' the ho" was a stock line in Hip-Hop.