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Song of the Day #958: ‘Not Alone Anymore’ – Traveling Wilburys

In 1988, five musical legends (and good friends) joined forces to create what remains the finest “supergroup” ever formed.

That band was the Traveling Wilburys, comprised of Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne, Roy Orbison and George Harrison. Their self-titled debut album, the only one they recorded with the full lineup, outshines much of the solo work released by the individual members.

The album is a mix of countrified folk rock that manages to play to the strengths of each Wilbury without lapsing into a series of solo performances. They sound throughout the record like a true band, supporting and enhancing each other’s turn at center stage.

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Song of the Day #957: ‘Englishman in New York’ – Sting

In the battle of the head vs. the gut, the gut always wins.

Something about Sting rubs me the wrong way. It’s not even something I can articulate, though Sting rubs a lot of people the wrong way and I could probably compile a list of reasons others have given. But those reasons wouldn’t necessarily ring true for me.

For example, here’s a guy who wrote a list of ‘101 Reasons to Hate Sting‘ and I disagree with most of them. For example, he claims Sting murdered Jimi Hendrix’s ‘Little Wing,’ while I think Sting’s version of that song is quite lovely.

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The Kids Are All Right

If Annette Bening upsets Natalie Portman on Sunday night and finally lands the Best Actress Oscar that has long eluded her, she’ll have Joni Mitchell to thank.

Bening is stellar throughout The Kids Are All Right, playing a lesbian mother of two whose life is turned upside down after her kids track down their sperm donor, but she crosses over to transcendent during a dinner-table scene a little more than halfway through the film.

She’s making a good effort to befriend the donor (played with rakish charm by Mark Ruffalo) and is struck by the Joni Mitchell records in his vinyl collection. Tipsy on a little too much wine (as she is during much of the film), she launches into a full-throated rendition of ‘All I Want’ from Mitchell’s Blue.

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Song of the Day #956: ‘Gumboots’ – Paul Simon

If somebody were to ask me to name the great songs on Paul Simon’s Graceland, I’d quickly run off a string of titles: ‘Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes,’ ‘Under African Skies,’ ‘Crazy Love Vol. 2,’ ‘Graceland.’

Then I’d take a breath and keep going with ‘The Boy in the Bubble,’ ‘You Can Call Me Al,’ ‘That Was Your Mother,’ ‘Homeless,’ ‘I Know What I Know,’ ‘All Around the World.’

The last song I’d mention, and one I might even forget it if put on the spot, is ‘Gumboots.’ And ‘Gumboots’ is a freaking amazing song.

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Song of the Day #955: ‘What the Hell’ – Avril Lavigne

I was trolling around YouTube looking for music clips recently when I came across a new song by Avril Lavigne. It’s titled ‘What the Hell’ and is the lead single from her upcoming album Goodbye Lullaby.

The preceding paragraph is the most I’ve ever typed or thought about Avril Lavigne in my life, so it’s a testament to whatever YouTube marketing she’s doing that I somehow happened upon her video, watched it and am now featuring it on my blog.

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