Nicki Minaj - "Monster" (forgotten song)

"You could be the King but watch the Queen conquer"

Ok, technically "Monster" is a single by Kanye West, featuring Jay-Z, Rick Ross, Nicki Minaj, and Justin Vernon of Bon Iver.  And no disrespect to Kanye and the others, but Nicki's verse is what Danette loves and is thus the reason why I'm choosing it for her tenth (!) installment of birthday songs.

While neither of us are necessarily fans of Kanye, and he's recently lost his way, we do respect him and I can build a pretty good argument that he's a hip-hop version of Brian Eno.  From his fifth (2010) LP,  "Monster" is one of many tracks where he conjures intriguing soundscapes that push the boundaries of the genre.    

Danette likes Nicki because she's fabulous, larger-than-life, and feminist AF (even if she hedges a bit, she's the embodiment of it).  Danette's the same, and as her career has hit new heights she's ran afoul of all kinds of misogynistic haters: her group's work "isn't that impressive", there are people that "wouldn't work for her for a million dollars", and one even accusing her and her colleague of plagiarism.   Only one of those things are true, and her detractors have since all been "driven before her".

I've already established that these birthday songs are ones that make me think of Danette and not necessarily songs that she likes, but in this case it is both.   Nicki is fierce in a male-dominated space, and so is Danette.  NASA doesn't really support using walk-up music for meetings and presentations, but if they did, she'd alternate between "Bad Reputation" and Nicki's verse in "Monster".

"I think big, get cash, make 'em blink fast
Now look at what you just saw, this is what you live for
Aaahhh, I'm a motherfucking monster!"

"Monster" - Nicki Minaj's verse only (live 2015)
"Monster" - full song
Bonus link: "Monster" - Adele's version in Carpool Karaoke

Happy birthday Danette!

Previous birthday songs:

2018: Bear Hands - "Giants"
2017: Alvvays - "Archie, Marry Me"
2016: Molly Hatchet - "Flirtin' With Disaster"
2015: Avett Brothers - "Kick Drum Heart"
2014: Ani DiFranco - "32 Flavors"
2013: The Green Pajamas - "Kim the Waitress"
2012: The Cure - "High"
2011: Blink 182 - "Josie"
2010:  Dead Milkmen - "Punk Rock Girl"

Eddie Money - "Shakin'" (forgotten song)

Eddie Money died this week.  A continuing staple of classic rock radio, I often wondered why he was famous.  I like his songs, always sang along when they come on the radio, etc.  But as this Rolling Stone article points out, he always seemed an unlikely rock star.  Why did he make it and not any of the hundreds of artists that toil in anonymity that are at least as good if not better?

After his death was announced, I put this question to my friends and Terry and Scott pointed to at least a partial answer: after he moved to San Francisco, he caught the attention of promoter extraordinaire Bill Graham.  Scott also revealed that he had a personal connection with Eddie Money (his wife's cousin married Money's niece). 

One of my first LPs was 1982's "No Control", which featured my favorite song of his, "Shakin'".  Many of his other songs remain more popular (e.g., "Two Tickets to Paradise"), but this one is arguably his heaviest, featuring great work from guitarist Jimmy Lyon.  I also fondly recall the cheesy video, which features drag racing and a pre-Purple Rain Apollonia (I did not realize that until this week).  The modish lyrics reflect an archaic attitude to drunken driving (see also: "Trashed"), but *he* didn't steal or drive the car, *Roseanne* did, so at least there's a feminist angle.  Right?  Regardless, it's still a fun song, and I'll still enjoy his other songs as well even though he'll always be an unlikely rock star.

Eddie Money - "Shakin'"

Scott, Eddie, Ro, 2013.

Daniel Johnston - "Speeding Motorcyle" (forgotten song)

Daniel Johnston died this week, and although his passing was marked by many major outlets (for example, NPR and Pitchfork), most people won't recognize his name.  I know him because Yo La Tengo covered "Speeding Motorcycle" on their 1990 "Fakebook" LP, but other people might know him from Kurt Cobain wearing a "Hi, How Are You" t-shirt, or Pearl Jam covering "Walking the Cow".  Combine that with the list of artists who contributed to his 2004 tribute LP "The Late Great Daniel Johnston: Discovered Covered" and you'll get an idea of how he was a songwriter's songwriter. 

Although for a while he had a deal with a major label, most of his early discography were home recorded tapes that he distributed in Austin and other places.  "Speeding Motorcycle" came from his 1983 LP "Yip/Jump Music", his fifth self-released LP and is one of his more "popular" songs due to Yo La Tengo's cover.

His child-like wonderment made him an icon in the lo-fi, DIY scene, similar to another Kurt Cobain favorite, Calvin Johnson/Beat Happening/K Records.  Although they don't explicitly claim an influence, the appeal of Johnston comes from the same lo-fi / garage source that makes "American Weekend" and "Dancer Equired!" mesmerizing to me.

Daniel Johnston - "Speeding Motorcycle"
Yo La Tengo - "Speeding Motorcycle"
Daniel Johnston & Yo La Tengo - "Speeding Motorcycle", 1990*


* Johnston sings over the phone from a mental institution in West Virginia while accompanied by YLT in a radio studio; from Jay Lustig: "Yo La Tengo had just recorded its own version of “Speeding Motorcycle” for its Fakebook album, and WFMU DJ Nick Hill arranged for the collaboration. So Johnston sang over the phone, Yo La Tengo played in the studio, and the results were pretty magical."  Johnston drew the cover art for the resulting single.