Friday Music

Good one this week, in my humble estimation.

First off — long-time readers will recall that I introduced many of you to “Crazy” by Gnarls Barkley, months before it hit the airwaves, and then was stunned when it became a radio hit. Well, I’ve got a treat for you: the lead single from their follow-up album, The Odd Couple, which won’t be released until April. It’s just as brilliant, although whether the fickle radio-listening public will react, or whether Gnarls Barkley will be enshrined as a “one-hit wonder” remains to be seen. But DAMN — listen to this: Gnarls Barkley – “Run.”

At the Sharon Jones show this week, the between-acts DJ played a bunch of soul, including an instrumental version of this track, which reminded me how much I like it. I’ve always preferred this grittier, darker version, over Dionne Warwick’s more famous and far more sugary take. Isaac Hayes – “Walk on By.”

One of the best bits of news for a New Yorker like me: Rudy Giuliani, the fascist thug once described by Jimmy Breslin as “a small man in search of a balcony,” failed to convince voters that he was “America’s Mayor” and dropped out of the presidential race. In honor of this joyous news: The Specials – “A Message To You, Rudy.”

Speaking of New York, I’m quite pleased that I managed to track this down. and I heard this track when it was used on a fourth-season episode of Rescue Me, and I’ve been looking for it ever since. Finally found it: Superthriller – “New York.”

At the request of The Minion, here is the song that Apple is using in the ads for their new MacBook Air. Yael Naim is an Israeli singer-songwriter, and this particular track is quite sweet. Yael Naim – “New Soul.”

I know that I’ve already posted this one, but it’s been a couple of years. One of my favorite tracks from Rufus Wainwright, both for its lyrical content, and for it’s blending in of Ravelle’s “Bolero”: Rufus Wainwright – “Oh What A World.”

Lastly — time to share the pain. From the god-awful soundtrack to the cringeworthy mid-80s film Dragnet, a song that Tom Hanks would probably like to see stricken from the cosmic record, but which contains one of my favorite lyrics of all time: “We just like to dance in our GOAT-SKIN PANTS, around this ancient ruin!” Dan Aykroyd & Tom Hanks – “City of Crime.”

Ouch.