Sia - "Some people have real problems"

For those who don't know, Sia is an amazing Australian singer. I first discover her upon listening to Zero7's debut album "Simple Things" where Sia sung on a few tracks, including "Destiny" which I was immediately taken by.

I sought out and found her album "Colour the small one" which was even more amazing - Breathe Me and Sunday are exceptionally beautiful songs, the former having made it onto my Top 50 Songs list. She also recently released a great cover of Radiohead's Paranoid Android.

So it was with great anticipation that I got her latest album.

So far I would say it doesn't quite have the emotional core that "Colour" has, but some of the songs are still beautiful and her voice is still amazing. My favourite song at the moment is Academia which has some amazing lyrics and rhythms.:

the mean of our heights is divided by the nights
which is times'd by the daggers and the route of all our fights

and if i am a number i'm infinity plus one
and if you are five words you are afraid to be the one
and if you are a number you're infinity plus one
and if i am four words then i am needing of your love

Her voice is amazing - altering between weak and fragile to strong and bold and has this beautiful husky quality.

I once saw her on The Glasshouse and she seems like an absolute nutter - but she makes great music (like most nutters do!)

Amanda Palmer

Monday Night Tegan and I went and saw Amanda Palmer (from the Dresden Dolls) at the Spiegeltent.

We went because Tegan's friend Peta was part of the "Danger Ensemble" that perform with her.

I hadn't heard very much of her music before, but I was very impressed, particularly with the song "Ampersand". The Danger Ensemble 'performed' during various songs throughout the night which involved moving around the tent in a sombre mood or doing strange interpretive dance. It really added to the theatrical nature of the show, but I may have been biased because I knew one of them. Not to say that they weren't good, but I was eager to see them come on, whereas such shenanigans could be seen as a distraction from the main performer for others, however I think they complemented Amanda's show perfectly.

The Spiegeltent is a beautiful venue, very intimate and theatrical, which really suited this show.

The finale was an incredible lip sync version of Umbrella (see below, Peta is the blond).

If you get the chance, I recommend catching this show!

Top 50 Songs

Once again I have set down my Top 50 Songs (old list here)

I have noted the previous position of songs and there relative movement for people to study and consider.
(The number in brackets after the artist name is how many songs that artist has in the Top 50)

Rank Song / Artist / Change / Previous

1 Imagine / John Lennon / Beatles (6) / ◄ / 1
2 Bad / U2 (9) / ◄ / 2
3 Beautiful Day / U2 (9) / ▲1 / 4
4 One / U2 (9) / ▲2 / 6
5 Paranoid Android / Radiohead (7) / ◄ / 5
6 Two Shots Of Happy, One Shot Of Sad / U2 (9) / ▼3 / 3
7 Lose Yourself / Eminem (3) / ▲4 / 11
8 Last Goodbye / Jeff Buckley (2) / ▲1 / 9
9 October / U2 (9) / ▲1 / 10
10 God / John Lennon / Beatles (6) / ▼3 / 7
11 Exit Music (For A Film) / Radiohead (7) / ▲29 / 40
12 Hallelujah / Jeff Buckley (2) / ◄ / 12
13 With Or Without You / U2 (9) / ▲9 / 22
14 Bohemian Rhapsody / Queen / ▼6 / 8
15 All I Want Is You / U2 (9) / ▲4 / 19
16 Stairway To Heaven / Led Zeppelin / ▼2 / 14
17 Where The Streets Have No Name / U2 (9) / ▲18 / 35
18 Shady Lane / Pavement / ▲3 / 21
19 Bittersweet Symphony / The Verve / ▼2 / 17
20 Seven Nation Army / The White Stripes / ▲3 / 23
21 Tribute / Tenacious D / ▲4 / 24
22 You And Me Song / The Wannadies / ▲5 / 27
23 Heroin / The Velvet Underground / ▲14 / 37
24 Street Spirit (Fade Out) / Radiohead (7) / ▲12 / 36
25 Wish You Were Here / Pink Floyd / ▲8 / 33
26 Strawberry Fields Forever / John Lennon / Beatles (6) / ▼13 / 13
27 Island Home / Christine Anu / ▼1 / 26
28 Kill You / Eminem (3) / ▲1 / 29
29 Hurt / Johnny Cash / ☼ /
30 Real Love / Regina Spektor / ☼ /
31 You've Got To Hide Your Love Away / John Lennon / Beatles (6) / ▼15 / 16
32 Under The Bridge / Red Hot Chili Peppers / ◄ / 32
33 Just / Radiohead (7) / ▼5 / 28
34 Falling At Your Feet / U2 (9) / ▼19 / 15
35 Breathe Me / Sia / ☼ /
36 Creep / Radiohead (7) / ▲5 / 31
37 Kim / Eminem (3) / ▲1 / 38
38 Smells Like Teen Spirit / Nirvana / ▼4 / 34
39 Working Class Hero / John Lennon / Beatles (6) / ▼21 / 18
40 Space Oddity / David Bowie / ▼15 / 25
41 The Tracks Of My Tears / Smokey Robinson & The Miracles / ▲1 / 42
42 Every Time I Try / Spain / ▼12 / 30
43 A Day In The Life / John Lennon / Beatles (6) / ▼23 / 20
44 Yesterday / The Beatles / ▼5 / 39
45 Karma Police / Radiohead (7) / ▼1 / 44
46 Wake Up / The Arcade Fire / ☼ /
47 No Suprises / Radiohead (7) / ☼ /
48 Good Riddance / Green Day / ▼1 / 47
49 Today / Smashing Pumpkins / ▼1 / 48
50 Song 2 / Blur / ▼4 / 46
x Like A Rolling Stone / Bob Dylan / ▼>1 / 50
x In My Life / John Lennon / Beatles / ▼>9 / 41
x Norwegian Wood / John Lennon / Beatles / ▼>1 / 49
x What A Wonderful World / Louis Armstrong / ▼>7 / 43
x Space Moth / Stereolab / ▼>5 / 45

Survivor Fiji

Survivor Fiji just had its finale here is Aus the other night.

It was an awesome season.

The hidden immunity idols were an awesome addition, especially the fact that the had to be played BEFORE the votes were read out.

Dreamz deal with Yao was obviously the big story of the season.

I think Yao should NOT have made Dreamz decide to give up the idol or not. He should have struck a deal with him to boot out Earl or Cassandra. It would have made him look much better to the Jury (as compared to taking his idol then booting him out) and he at least still would have been around to face the Jury!

I am not a fan of the 9 person Jury, 3 finalists. I hate the idea that there could actually be a draw (3,3,3 or 4,4,1). What would they do then???

I think that when they get down to 3, the next peron voted off DOESN'T become part of the jury.

I am glad Earl won, it seems that recently the good people have actually been winning!

Anyway, Survivor China looks really good, hopefully Nine puts it on at a reasonable hour!

Numbers 1 to 10

Once again I have spent too much time organising playlists on my iPod.

So here are the best songs ever featuring the Numbers 1 to 10:

1: One - U2
2: Two Shots Of Happy, One Shot Of Sad - U2
3: Three Marlenas - The Wallflowers
4: Four Seasons In One Day - Crowded House
5: 2+2=5 - Radiohead
6: 6th Avenue Heartache - The Wallflowers
7: Seven Nation Army - The White Stripes
8: Eight Days A Week - The Beatles
9: Revolution 9 - The Beatles
10: Ten Days - Missy Higgins

Yes, some of them have more than 1 number in the title.

Suggestions for better songs with numbers in the title are welcome.

People Like Us

I was watching People Like Us on DVD today.

It's still hilarious

One of my favourite lines is from 'The Managing Director' episode:

Woman: "It's a pretty young staff here. I must be one of the longest serving now. I came here straight from school."

Roy: "Did you imagine staying here this long?"

Woman: "No I really have, really."

Gold.

My favourite all time episode was The Airline Pilot, which was on Season 2. Unfortunately, now that presenter Chris Langtham has been charged with child pornography, it seems unlikely that Season 2 will come out on DVD. But he denies all charges and hasn't been found guilty yet, so I guess you just have to assume he is innocent until proven guilty.

Anyway, besides that ugliness, it is a great show. Worthy of writing out all the scripts, if I ever get the chance.

Best Cover Versions Ever

The other day I tried to make a list on my iPod of all the cover versions I had (because that's what I do with my iPod).

It was quite a surprising process - there were lots of songs I discovered were covers that I didn't know about, like; Dazed and Confused (Led Zepplin), Cocaine (Cream) and It's My Life (No Doubt)

I tried to pick out my Top 10 covers - based on how good the song was and also how much the new artist had succeeded in making the song their own.

My Top 10 are:

10. Nothing Compares 2 U, Sinéad O'Connor (Prince)
9. You've Got to Hide Your Love Away, Eddie Vedder (The Beatles)
8. With A Little Help From My Friends, Joe Cocker (The Beatles)
7. I Will Survive, Cake (Gloria Gaynor)
6. Easy, Faith No More (Lionel Richie)
5. Hurt, Johnny Cash (NIN)
4. Respect, Aretha Franklin (Otis Redding)
3. All Along The Watchtower, Jimi Hendrix (Bob Dylan)
2. One, Johnny Cash (U2)

And the best cover of all time is:

1. Hallelujah, Jeff Buckley (Leonard Cohen)

It really is beautiful - and it's much better than the original!

I still haven't heard the John Cale (of the Velvet Underground) version but apparently his version inspired Jeff's version.

Check out another covers list here.