I'll just start by saying how awesome it is for Michigan to be back in the big dance. Sure the announcement isn't until tomorrow, but we are in - there is no doubt, and it's been a long time coming. We deserve this after all the crap we've been through with knucklehead players taking money under the not-very-watchful eyes of Steve Fisher and Brian Ellerbe, and a couple of near-misses by good guy and good coach Tommy Amaker trying to rebuild under tough circumstances. Coach Beilein has come in and established a new culture and new work ethic, and now we've got a fast growing program which is growing the right way. I'm so proud to have a team like this representing the maize and blue. Can't wait for the Big Dance!!!
I'm still struggling with Sirius/XM. Sometimes it's great and sometimes it sucks. The commercial free element is great, but the DJs still suck and talk over the beginning of songs just like cheesy terrestrial radio DJs, stations repeat songs - sometimes repeating what is obviously a programmed playlist up to three times in a 6 hour span, and they pull crap like playing the "Who Are You" radio edit on the 70's station where the track is chopped up and massacred - something you would think you had left behind when you paid to sign up for satellite.
On the plus side I also heard some great stuff today on Sirius. The original 1974 REO Speedwagon studio version of "Ridin' The Storm Out" with Mike Murphy on vocals after Kevin Cronin had been kicked out of the band - but before he had eventually rejoined the band for their eventual arena rock domination... Kevin Cronin actually was REO's second and fourth lead singer. You may think I'm kidding but Gary Richrath was a badass lead guitarist in his prime - one of the more underrated guitarists. Not sure how REO found their way into my blog for a full paragraph but some of their stuff including a few of their power ballads ("Time For Me To Fly", "Take It On The Run", "Keep On Loving You") are still guilty pleasures for me.... Check out this allmusic review of Hi Infidelity - I couldn't have said it better myself. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:d9fyxqt5ld0e
Also heard an abundance of Deep Purple which only served to remind me that they are woefully underrepresented in my catalogue. I'm familiar with a good deal of their stuff but nowhere near enough. I heard "Hush", "Highway Star", "Burn" and Dream Theater's cover of "Perfect Strangers" which I didn't know existed - that was a rush. Perfect Strangers was one of the great true reunion albums of all time and the title track is one of the coolest and downright heaviest Deep Purple tracks ever. I own that album on vinyl only and probably haven't listened to the whole thing in 20 years. I have 1972's mandatory Machine Head which is the obvious masterpiece and the place to start if you've made the mistake of overlooking the mighty Purple, Burn - a great 1974 album from the Glenn Hughes/David Coverdale era, and Nothing's Perfect - a decent live release from the 1987 tour right before the original lineup imploded again... I've got a lot of catching up to do. According to allmusic.com their last few (yes they are still releasing albums) are damn good. Sure there is no Ritchie Blackmore or Jon Lord, but the one consistent thing about Deep Purple from day one is great material from multiple eras with inconsistent lineups, so as long as Ian Gillan, Roger Glover, and Ian Paice are involved for example, I'm interested.
Also heard "Hey Jude" in the car on the way to Perry, MI for my daughter's Odyssey Of The Mind regionals today which prompted the two of us to gleefully sing the "Naaaa naa naa na na na naaaa, na na na naaaa Hey Jude" part the whole way through. Got me thinking about a list of my top singalongs - with a couple exceptions they are mostly the "na na nas" or the "la la las" with a few "woo woo woos" and even a "bam bam bam" combined with a couple "doo doo doos"
1. "Hey Jude" The Beatles then you can start to make it better better better better better better ahhh....
2. "(Don't You) Forget About Me" Simple Minds ...sir could you describe the ruckus? (okay not from the song but I couldn't resist)
3. "Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'" Journey now it's your turn girl to cry...
4. "40" U2 how long?
5. "Silver" Echo and The Bunnymen you're living proof at my fingertips...
6. "Miss You" The Rolling Stones sometimes I say to - to myself - sometimes I say...
7. "Temptation" New Order oh you've got green eyes...
8. "Second Hand News" Fleetwood Mac won't you lay me down in the tall grass and let me do my stuff...
9. "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes" Crosby Stills and Nash I am yours you are mine you are what you are...
10. "Lola" The Kinks girls will be boys and boys will be girls...
Honorable mention goes to "Day Old Blues" by Kings of Leon - kids love to sing this one...
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