The Rundown for Tuesday

Filed under: The Best Song In The World Today

You will be assimilated.

Win Rosenfeld

3:46 PM ET | 05-12-2008 | permalink | comments (4) | e-mail post

The Lesson in Operation Ivy's 'Knowledge'

Filed under: The Best Song In The World Today

I'm second from the left.

When I was 14, growing up in New York City, my favorite band was Operation Ivy. They were a California punk band, famous for their simple, driving power-chord riffs and rabid distrust of all things establishment. In a way, maybe it isn't so curious that they spoke so strongly to an East Coast, middle-class, turtle-necked nerd like me.

After all, music has long inspired teenage boys to experience their hormones in a powerful way, and I was no exception.

Operation Ivy gave me a way to feel like a bad-ass without having to commit to metal spikes and mohawks. But it was more than that for me, too. Listening to that album helped me get through fights with my parents, stress at school and many a bad pimple. I'd put that disc in, and it would pump me up to go out and blow off some steam -- in my own deeply non-rebellious way.

At 14, though, blowing off steam in Manhattan presented its own problems. We couldn't get into bars or clubs, and sitting in the middle of a pre-Giuliani Central Park wasn't wise unless you were packing mace.

So when my friends and I found out that a "club for kids" had opened up on the Upper East Side, we were thrilled. It was a big townhouse filled with pool tables, Dr. Pepper and moody lighting, designed to be a safe place for teens to hang out in a drug- and alcohol-free environment.

One Saturday evening, a few of my buddies and I drenched ourselves in Drakkar Noir and headed over. I put on my Operation Ivy and steeled myself for what was to be a night filled with teenage excitement. Of course that didn't happen.

The party itself was pretty anti-climactic, and we spoke to no one, except each other. After an hour of pounding silver cans of Nestea, we decided to call it a night.

We set off around the corner to get bagels with cream cheese and jelly. But we never got that far.

That night, I was in for robbery, police chases and the end of my love affair with Operation Ivy.

Win Rosenfeld

1:29 PM ET | 05- 9-2008 | permalink | comments (1) | e-mail post

Radio Sweetheart Loves Big Star's "El Goodo"

Filed under: The Best Song In The World Today

Kerry Crawford and Matthew Trisler

Courtesy of Radio Sweethearts

 

Matthew Trisler and Kerry Crawford run Radio Sweethearts, a website (and Twitter account) that grew out of their suspicion that one NPR host has a crush on another one. Specifically, they think On the Media's Bob Garfield is sweet on Brooke Gladstone.

Meanwhile, Trisler picked Big Star's "The Ballad of El Goodo" as the Best Song in the World Today. He tells about it for the show today.

After the jump, Matthew Trisler's explains (plus: a cool pic).

Continue reading "Radio Sweetheart Loves Big Star's "El Goodo"" »

Jacob Ganz

7:17 AM ET | 04-18-2008 | permalink | comments (2) | e-mail post

A Senegalese Song That Gives Thanks

Filed under: The Best Song In The World Today

Happy April 4th! It's Senegalese Independence Day.

The country's first president was Leopold Sedar Senghor, a poet. I read his work in French class, years ago and it got me interested in visiting his West African country.

Last year I landed at the airport named for him at Senegal's capital city of Dakar. That was just the beginning of three months of my Senegalese immersion -- gathering around shared platters of fish and rice on the floor, spending afternoons drinking the requisite three cups of progressively sweetened, home-brewed tea called atayaa, learning the traditional rounds of greetings in Wolof, which translate roughly to: How are you? How is your family? How is your house? How is your work?

I never quite learned to dance as well as Coumba Gawlo Seck, but I was able to understand many of the words of her song, "Dieuredjeff," but that's because it's basically a thank you to her fans and a lot of the lyrics are their names.

Have a listen and a look and let us know what you think and what you're thankful for.

Laura Silver

12:13 PM ET | 04- 4-2008 | permalink | comments (2) | e-mail post

Best Song in the World Today: Fascination

Filed under: The Best Song In The World Today

Every once in a while someone here at the BPP latches on to a song and just can't let go.

It could be the melody, the lyrics. It could be the memories the song evokes. It could be old or new. It could sound bad but mean something good. It could be almost anything, but one thing that it surely is: The Best Song in the World Today.

My best song today is "Fascination" by Alphabeat. Before you click through to a link for the song, a little back story. I first heard this song on BBC's Radio 1 -- I listen to it a lot, I record the morning show -- or breakfast show as they say -- and listen to it on the iPod after work. And I listen in the evening on Sirius. I did a little digging and found out a bit about Alphabeat: They're Danish, they speak great English, their song "Fascination" was a huge hit in Denmark last summer and their record was just released in the UK.

Radio 1 started playing this song a couple of weeks ago. When I first heard it I was immediately transported to my childhood home. Specifically I get that after school feeling -- coming home, having a snack, watching MTV -- or whatever cartoon was on. And I couldn't figure out why exactly it was taking me to this place until I was listening to the Radio 1 morning show and they started to talk about how the beginning of the song sounded an awful lot like this one:

Yup, the theme song to Duck Tales. And I was, like, "Huh, it kind of does sound like that."

And then they pointed out that it sounded even more like the beginning of "Footloose":

And I flipped out when they played it, because it all clicked at that moment. The opening beat of "Fascination" is so reminiscent of these two songs -- songs that were ubiquitous in my elementary and junior high school days. That's why whenever I hear it I'm back in Superior, after school, three o'clock, on the couch in front of the TV with a bag of chips or cookies, or whatever junk I could find.

I'm still a bit amazed that a song so new can take me to such an old place. It was such a visceral reaction the first time -- and the great thing is that still happens every time I hear it, which is why it is my Best Song In the World Today.

After the jump -- hear "Fascination," by Alphabeat.

Continue reading "Best Song in the World Today: Fascination" »

Matt Martinez

12:25 PM ET | 03-26-2008 | permalink | comments (20) | e-mail post

It's the End of the World, and They Know It

Filed under: City Living, Personal/Private, The Best Song In The World Today

Solar flares: I suppose you could say they're pretty.

Call me Vic Chestnutt, but I'm kind of about to choke.

The New York Times reports on a new theory that the Earth will meet its demise by getting sucked into the sun. "Kissing the Earth Goodbye in About 7.59 Billion Years," the paper warns. As it renders the theory: "Earth will be dragged from its orbit by an engorged red Sun and spiral to a rapid vaporous death."

A few weeks back, I read Cormac McCarthy's novel The Road, a post-apocalyptic tale peopled by cannibals and a few desperate moral souls. The book's protagonist is a dying father trying to save his son. Never mind the movie rights -- this thing already plays behind my closed eyelids. The last thing I needed was for actual science to pile on.

Riding to my rescue in half an hour is astrophysicist to the (radio) stars Summer Ash. She promises the news is not so bad. I'm aiming to share the interview on Thursday's show. (UPDATE: Have to hold this until Friday's show.)

Laura Conaway

1:22 PM ET | 03-12-2008 | permalink | comments (7) | e-mail post

Mama Said Blog This: All About Trains

Filed under: Personal/Private, The Best Song In The World Today

Click to watch: "Catching Out with William T. Vollmann"

From Vollman's Riding Toward Everywhere

 

We kinda went nuts for trains this week. Author William T. Vollmann stopped by to talk about his time hopping freights, and then someone from Alabama Mississippi (sorry, Mama) tacked on a Most Wonderful Song in the World Today -- Robyn Hitchcock's "I Often Dream of Trains."

Dear listener, we're always shopping for Best Songs in the World Today. You just need a story -- or at least a rationale -- and a song.

Full read:
William T. Vollman Hops Trains, Lives to Tell All
Hobo, Interrupted, Still Dreams of Trains

Laura Conaway

6:32 AM ET | 02-15-2008 | permalink | comments (1) | e-mail post

Embarrassing Crush on Radiohead Song

Filed under: Music, Stuff We Love, The Best Song In The World Today

If I ruled the world, I'd pick "Bodysnatchers" from Radiohead's In Rainbows for a Best Song in the World Today. I realize this means my mama may not have raised me right.

Bonus: The whole Scotch mist movie thing.

Laura Conaway

9:41 AM ET | 01- 1-2008 | permalink | comments (7) | e-mail post

Mary J. Blige Has the Best Song in the World Today

Filed under: The Best Song In The World Today

Mary J. Blige knows from miserable, and she knows from glory. She runs down the journey from the former to the latter on her new CD, Growing Pains.

Today, host Alison Stewart taps "Just Fine" from that record as the Best Song in the World Today. Sometimes, Alison says, you just have to look around say, you know, this life thing is all right.

If you'd like to pick the next Best Song in the World Today, drop a line in the comments, please.

Laura Conaway

1:01 PM ET | 12-31-2007 | permalink | comments (2) | e-mail post

Best Song in the World Today

Filed under: Inside The BPP, The Best Song In The World Today, Video

A double-entendre-laced burlesque ditty is honored by BPP editor Trish McKinney.

Win Rosenfeld

4:46 PM ET | 12-18-2007 | permalink | comments (3) | e-mail post

More Marnie Stern

Filed under: The Best Song In The World Today

Yesterday on the show, we had a Best Song in the World Today segment from Will Gerhardt, a BPP listener and Marnie Stern fan. "Every Single Line Means Something" is a great song, the big hook on her record In Advance of the Broken Arm and a good sample of Stern's monster guitar chops. But it's not the Marnie Stern song I listened to most this year.

That honor goes to "Absorb the Lip Gloss," which is really only half a Marne Stern song. It's a mashup (yes I know, they're soooo over) of Stern's "Absorb Those Numbers" and "Lip Gloss" by teen phenom Lil Mama. The remix comes courtesy of The Hood Internet, a site that's been the source of much amusement to me since my friend Mark obsessively played their first mixtape while driving around DC this summer.

You'll only barely hear Stern's voice on this track, but those guitar skills are evident, even chopped up.

Jacob Ganz

1:12 PM ET | 12-14-2007 | permalink | comments (0) | e-mail post

Marnie Stern's "Every Single Line Means Something"

Filed under: The Best Song In The World Today

Listener Will Gerhardt brought the bring on Marnie Stern's "Every Single Line Means Something" yesterday.

Will G., hearts to you. And to Ms. Stern.

Laura Conaway

5:38 AM ET | 12-14-2007 | permalink | comments (2) | e-mail post

Stevie Wonder Plays 'Sesame Street'

Filed under: The Best Song In The World Today

Maybe the old Sesame Street episodes aren't fit for today's kids, but the sprout on the fire escape sure seems to dig it.

Laura Conaway

1:32 PM ET | 11-15-2007 | permalink | comments (2) | e-mail post

The Best Song in the World Today!

Filed under: The Best Song In The World Today

On to something new for BPP listeners -- though long time blog readers may have already read this feature. Today was the first day we tried it on the radio.

When the Bryant Park Project was in its infancy we had an idea to present what we called, "The Best Song In The World Today." The premise: We play a song that we consider the best song in the world today, chosen simply because we had a radio show and we loved a song.

We still like the notion of "Best Song In The World," but it's one of the ideas that fell by the wayside as we were building the show. So, today, we return to that original idea and try to build upon it.

We're opening up "Best Song In The World Today" to everyone. You can use any reasoning you want to justify making your song the best song in the world, but you MUST justify it. The song could be 20, 30, or 40 years old, or it could have been released yesterday -- but you have to give us a reason other than "it's a really cool song." That said, if it's a really cool song, we might just play it any way.

I'll start: My best song in the world today? Roxy Music's "Love Is The Drug."

A little background on why I picked a 32-year-old song for the "Best Song." When I was a kid growing up in Arizona, I used to run a radio station out of the bedroom I shared with my sister. The station could be heard by me, my sister and, if I was lucky -- depending on how loud I turned up my cassette player -- in the hallway outside of my room. The format was eclectic -- a mix of my mother's Sister Sledge and Whisper's albums as well as K-Tel records my parents used to buy me -- lots of Kajagoogoo and Rufus & Chaka. Seventies art rock wasn't on my playlist -- and to a 10 year old's ear, most of Roxy Music's catalogue was pretty much unlistenable. But for some reason -- this song, "Love Is the Drug," crept in to heavy rotation.

So, I'm listening to a podcast from the BBC the other day and I hear a remake of this song. It's a BBC Radio One recording. The station is celebrating 40 years on the air and they got 40 artists to remake some of the most popular songs of the past 40 years. One of those 40? "Love Is The Drug." When I heard this, it totally transported me to my bedroom in 1985 and I immediately put it back into heavy rotation -- this time on my iPod. Here it is, remade by Kylie Minogue and Producer Calvin Harris, it's as delicious and campy as the original.

"Love Is the Drug." A hit in 1975. A hit on my zero watt radio station in 1985. And the best song in the world today....now, your turn. Post below, or email us bryantpark at npr dot org.

Matt Martinez

8:27 AM ET | 11- 9-2007 | permalink | comments (10) | e-mail post

Upcoming: Ben Harper, Live and Good-Looking

Filed under: The Best Song In The World Today

See him. Hear him. Now.

Getty Images

 

We're shocked to report that work in the Bryant Park newsroom has temporarily stopped while Ben Harper plays rock god all over our fancy speakers.

And we do mean "all over." Harper's due in the studio in the actual flesh in a few minutes. For now, the staff is seriously hypnotized by his online-only version of "Purple Rain." Check it out below, and catch tomorrow's show for his appearance on BPP.

Listen here: Ben Harper reinvents "Purple Rain"

Laura Conaway

10:19 AM ET | 10- 2-2007 | permalink | comments (0) | e-mail post

Best Song in the World Today: Junior Senior

Filed under: The Best Song In The World Today

BPP WARNING to those about to click on this link:

The song you are about to hear will get stuck in your head like peanut butter in a shag rug.

The next time your boss is lurking over your cubicle talking about TPS Reports, or your priest is telling you how many Hail Marys you owe for all that late night Cinemax you've watched, you'll be staring blankly at them with 'can I get get get to know know know know you betta betta baybee' repeatedly running through your dome.

Think you can handle that? Okay then, may we present "Can I Get Get" the first single off of Junior Senior's new record (which comes out Tuesday August 14th). For those who don't know, Junior Senior is The Leading dance-pop gay/straight musical act to come out of Denmark in the last 20 years (okay they're probably the only dance-pop gay/straight musical act out of Denmark.. still). Also, check out the cameos by JD Samson of Le Tigre, as well as all of the shots taken in my old stomps The Los Angeles.

www.juniorsenior.com

Luke Burbank

3:33 PM ET | 08-13-2007 | permalink | comments (0) | e-mail post

The Best Song In The World Today!

Filed under: The Best Song In The World Today

So we've been sitting on this one for a while, because we were hoping to get the rights to post it. We waited so long, though, that it's up on YouTube, so we figured it was fair game. The song is Kanye West's new single "Can't Tell Me Nothing". The video features the ridiculously funny Zach Galafianakis and the ridiculously musical Will Oldham hanging around on a farm somewhere Waiting Till They Get They Money (makes sense when you see the clip).

The amazing part is how oddly affecting this little movie is. It starts out seeming like a lark, but the cinematography is so delicate, and the backdrops so pretty that it kind of feels like a rural lament.

Thanks to hot tipper Cotter who sent this along literally 2 weeks ago.

Luke Burbank

2:00 PM ET | 08- 7-2007 | permalink | comments (2) | e-mail post

The Best Song (But Mostly Dance) In The World (But Mostly A Filipino Prison) Today!

Filed under: The Best Song In The World Today

A little somethin' somethin' to pass the time as you wait for us to post today's show...

Thanks to hot tippers Jen and Vanessa who sent along this truly stunning piece of video. Take a few hundred prisoners, a lot of spare time, and a healthy (bordering on unhealthy) appreciation for The King of Pop, and you get this gem. Thrilling indeed.

Luke Burbank

3:12 PM ET | 07-20-2007 | permalink | comments (7) | e-mail post

The Best Song (And Dance) In The World Today!

Filed under: The Best Song In The World Today

Forget chocolate in your peanut butter, You Got UNK In My Fosse!

What?

Here's what: Last September Atlanta rapper UNK dropped Walk It Out, a catchy little dance number you probably heard blaring from finer house parties and parked Escalades the nation over. Of course, catchy hip hop songs are like romantic relationships with Paris Hilton, they wither and die after about three months. Enter Bob Fosse. That Bob Fosse? Yeah, that Bob Fosse, the legendary American choreographer. Some genius person figured out that Walk It Out goes perfect with an old 60's Fosse dance routine known as Mexican Breakfast. The crazy thing is how well the song works with the dancing, even though they were recorded 40 years apart.

If you're at work, turn up your speakers and have a One Minute Dance Party.

Oh, and here's the original music the routine was set to.

Luke Burbank

3:21 PM ET | 07-10-2007 | permalink | comments (18) | e-mail post

The Best Song In The World Today: "Someone To Love" by Fountains of Wayne

Filed under: The Best Song In The World Today

Here's the video, featuring Demetri Martin from The Daily Show and actress Faryl Millet. For more on the band and the album, see below...

I put the latest Fountains of Wayne disc Traffic and Weather on in my apartment the other day, let it play for a while, and asked my wife what she thought. "It's good," she replied, "but it's a little more pop-y than the stuff you usually like." She's right on both fronts. It is poppier than the stuff I usually like, and it is good.

The catchiness may draw you in, but it's the juxtaposition of a bubble gum aesthetic and acidic lyrics, delivered with deadpan pop glee, that makes the music stand out. This album, along with FoW's previous effort, Welcome Interstate Managers, is to music what Office Space is to movies. Just beneath the veneer of fun there's a brutal depiction of cubicle living as a breeding ground for isolation and frustration, complete with traffic jams, long lines, lost luggage, lost souls, and power-tripping middle managers.

Continue reading "The Best Song In The World Today: "Someone To Love" by Fountains of Wayne" »

Dan Pashman

3:37 PM ET | 06-20-2007 | permalink | comments (4) | e-mail post

Best Song In The World Today!

Filed under: The Best Song In The World Today

Band: The Polyphonic Spree
Song: "Run Away"
Album: The Fragile Army

Part rock band, part gospel choir, all Texas, The Polyphonic Spree is one of the more unique musical acts to come along in a while. I was a big fan of their last album, to the point of wearing out the CD. (Remember those? Hilarious!) Anyway, The Spree have a new record coming out June 19th. The video is composed of over 70,000 still photos, and the song is pretty great too. I think I like these guys so much cause the music reminds me of my days as a young kid living on a religious commune. Check it out:

Luke Burbank

4:25 PM ET | 06- 6-2007 | permalink | comments (4) | e-mail post

The Best Song In The World Today: "Wet and Rusting" by Menomena

Filed under: The Best Song In The World Today

These are heady days in my old stomps: The Pacific Northwest. The Portland Trailblazers got themselves the first pick in the NBA draft -- I hope Greg Oden owns some Polar Fleece -- and as if that weren't enough, The Rose City is also the home of the band Menomena. Their latest record Friend and Foe is so good it will crawl in your ear and lay awesome eggs in your brain. My fave so far is the beautiful / haunting "Wet and Rusting" (by the way, the fact that I just used the biggest cliche EVER to describe a song shows you exactly why I'm not a music critic).

Anyway, the song is great and Bonus! It even comes with a really funny / heartbreaking (okay THAT is actually the biggest cliche ever) video shot by my personal hero Lance Bangs.

The video seems kind of random at first, but give it a minute and it all starts to come together. I dare you not to get a little choked up by the shot of them bouncing on the rolling trampoline in slo-mo.

Thanks to I Can't Believe It's Not Better! for the heads up on the song. And yes I know it was also on Stereogum and other places a while ago. I get it, I'm lame.

Luke Burbank

4:14 PM ET | 05-23-2007 | permalink | comments (4) | e-mail post

The Best Song In The World Today!

Filed under: The Best Song In The World Today

Among the many things that make me happy in life: Mojitos, People Magazine (especially the double issues), unicorns, ponies, malt liquor and dancing! And what makes dancing super fun? When it's done to a DJ-Disco-Funk song featuring a children's choir.

It's called "D.A.N.C.E." by Justice (two French dudes gentlemen). They just played Coachella last weekend. Check out the video and make sure to turn this up real loud.