pop – that Jason Pace

I was first introduced to the band No More Kings because of a funny video for a song of theirs.Â The song was “Sweep The Leg” and the video is…

The infectious groove of that song immediately had me hooked.Â Shortly after discovering the song, I found out the band was coming through Atlanta and playing a gig down at Smith’s Olde Bar.Â We went, and there I heard more of Pete Mitchell’s music.Â I bought the CD and it has remained a staple of my changer.

Not too long ago, No More Kings put out a second album, which I pre-ordered and it has joined the first in remaining a staple of my CD changer.Â One of the best parts of Pete and company’s style is that while many of their songs are littered with and about pop culture (or specifically 80’s pop culture) like the song in the video above they never really come out and beat you over the head with it.Â The song is called “Sweep The Leg” and not “The Karate Kid song”.Â For another example, take the following lyrics:

there’s no reason to look under the hood
a slight malfunction, doesn’t mean i’m no good
i won’t be shut down, i’m not ready to die
i said that i was sorry, but robots don’t cry

hold on
the very thought of losing out now is making me tremble
hold on
i am alive, i am alive, i am alive
hold on
please just gimme a chance now, no disassemble
hold on
i am alive, i am alive

there’s no reason to take me apart
extension cords and circuit boards don’t mean there’s no heart
i can tell somehow you relate
we’re indifferent to the difference between program and fate

now i know i’m alive
can’t you see i’m alive

i finally know i’m alive
i wanna show i’ve arrived
i wanna stay up all night
set all circuits to jive
i wanna prove i’m alive
do so much more than survive
i’m gonna reach for the sky
and give the world a hi-five
i wanna shout it out, i know what life is about
i wanna laugh wanna scream wanna cry out loud

You might need to read through it a couple of times if it doesn’t jump out at you, but this song is called “Robots Don’t Cry” and is about Johnny 5, the star of the film Short Circuit.Â Many of their songs are like this, although they also do a number of fully original tunes that are not about movies and TV shows.

One cut off the second album called “Obey The Groove” is available for free from the band’s website. And you can go to Amazon and listen to samples of everything on both albums, No More Kings and And The Flying Boombox.Â I highly recommend checking them out, but then, I’m a fan.Â No More Kings has made my list of must buys.

Enjoy!

Continuing our Valentine’s Day tradition, the wife and I made our way down to the local megaplex and saw a film. Previous outings have included Under the Tuscan Sun and Finding Neverland. This year was Music and Lyrics.

Music and Lyrics stars Hugh Grant as Alex Fletcher a former 80’s pop star who has done nothing of importance since. As a fan of the 80’s I immediately recognized his character as Andrew Ridgeley of WHAM! Of course, in the film the bad is called POP!, but its close enough. Alex writes music, but he’s no good at lyrics, and he’s been asked by a new pop sensation, Cora (think a mix of Shakira and Britney), to write a new song for the two of them to perform. Luckily, Alex finds Drew Barrymore as Sophie Fisher, who is taking over for a friend watering Alex’s plants, and she happens to be a natural lyricist.

Sparks fly, comedy ensues and love blooms. To be honest, its formulaic and there isn’t much in the way of surprises… but that doesn’t mean its not a good movie. Its hilarious, its romantics, heart warming and funny. It is a fantastic date flick, and if you love the cheese of 80’s music its just that much better.

Yeah… I recommend this movie. Go see it with someone special.