Tag Archives: videos

Saturday video break: Exactly Like You

Posted on January 24, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Nobody does western swing these days like the Hot Club of Cowtown: I’ve been a fan of theirs for awhile, though I haven’t seen them in Houston recently. For a clear demonstration of their instrumental chops, see this blazing rendition … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: Everybody Hurts

Posted on January 17, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

An REM classic, as done by the Meat Puppets: And by Amanda Palmer and Cormac Bride: I have some more versions of this, all in a similar style. They’re from a tribute to REM called “Drive XV”, which is still … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: End of the World

Posted on January 10, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

We’re all familiar with Skeeter Davis’ 1965 hit, right? OK, that may not be the song we think of when we hear the words “It’s the end of the world”. Let’s try the Pet Shop Boys, shall we? Still not … Continue reading →

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Same sex marriage ads on your TV

Posted on January 6, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

In case you missed it. The national same-sex marriage advocacy group Freedom to Marry will air a series of television ads in Texas this week, with the aim to personalize the issue ahead of an important federal hearing Friday. The … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: The Elements

Posted on January 3, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

This is a bit of a rerun from last year, but it fits into this theme even though it’s technically not a cover but more of a remake and an update. Surely you know Tom Lehrer’s song “The Elements”: But … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: El Matador

Posted on December 27, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Let’s get folky, shall we? When you think folk music, you’ll probably think about the Kingston Trio sooner or later. Of course, the Trio themselves didn’t consider themselves to be folkies, though they obviously had a huge effect on the … Continue reading →

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Wednesday video break: A visit from St. Nicholas

Posted on December 24, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Still my favorite rendition of this classic poem: And now I’ve got to dash away as well. Merry Christmas to all, and I’ll see you on the flip side.

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Saturday video break: Dumbledore

Posted on December 20, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

And now for something a little different. We love Weird Al Yankovic here. You know that Weird Al does a lot of original songs in addition to his trademark parodies. Well, what do you get when someone parodies one of … Continue reading →

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I’ll see you in C-U-B-A

Posted on December 19, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Among the many likely winners of the new US policy towards Cuba will be the city of Houston. As an established travel gateway to Latin America and the Caribbean, Houston is positioned to benefit from any potential easing of tourism … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: Driving Wheel

Posted on December 13, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

One of the giants of the blues, Albert King: I guess I discovered blues music in college, with Stevie Ray Vaughan, ZZ Top, and Robert Cray being my points of entry. That eventually led to Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: Don’t Worry Baby

Posted on December 6, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

It’s the Beach Boys, not looking very beachy but sounding like they always do: I will never understand the 50s and 60s fashion of band members all dressing alike. It just looks so weird now. Anyway, a group that did … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: Downtown

Posted on November 29, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

A classic from Petula Clark: Remember how they used that song on Lost to introduce Desmond living in the hatch? Now here’s a typically offbeat cover of it by the B-52s: I can’t even think of a band that reminds … Continue reading →

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Friday video break: Black Friday

Posted on November 28, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

I have no idea why I haven’t used this on Black Friday before: I love it when a band successfully reinterprets its own established work, as Steely Dan does here, turning the synth-driven tune into a slowed-down blues rocker. For … Continue reading →

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Thanksgiving video break: I’ve done this often enough to call it a tradition

Posted on November 27, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

And what a tradition it is: I plan to be in a turkey coma today, hopefully in front of a football game. Hope you have the Thanksgiving you want as well.

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From the “Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life” department

Posted on November 23, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Every dark cloud has a silver lining, y’all. You just have to know where to look for it. Metro’s four-month delay in opening two rail lines will give the agency time to obtain enough cars to prevent severe crowding when … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: Don’t Stop Believin’

Posted on November 22, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

You’re not too cool to sing along. Admit it. That was recorded in Houston, as you could tell from the pandering lyrics edit. The copyright says 2005, but that’s got to be at least 20 years off. My guess this … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: Don’t Look Back

Posted on November 15, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

It’s a “same name, different song” fourplay. First, Boston: If you’ve ever listened to a classic rock station, you’ve probably heard that song. Now here’s one you probably haven’t heard, from Bruce Springsteen: That’s a live version of a tune … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood

Posted on November 8, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

British Invasion time with Eric Burden and The Animals: I’m guessing a lot of people are familiar with the Elvis Costello version. Here’s a somewhat stripped down live recording of it: The version with which I am most familiar is … Continue reading →

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Red light cameras: The final insult

Posted on November 5, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Awesome. In settling the lawsuit with camera vendor American Traffic Solutions, whose contract was supposed to run through 2014, the city agreed to pay the Arizona-based company $4.8 million. The city had $2.3 million in red-light ticket revenue on hand … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: Dimples

Posted on November 1, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

The great John Lee Hooker, y’all: And the Spencer Davis Group, featuring a very young but still completely recognizable Steve Winwood: The recording I have is by Winwood as a solo act, but I couldn’t find a video for that. … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: Desperado

Posted on October 18, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

A live performance by the Eagles during one of their reunion tours. Can someone explain to me why music writers seem to all hate these guys? I don’t get it. Anyway, the country roots of this song are easy to … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: Danny Boy

Posted on October 11, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

I have no idea who might have done this originally, so I nominate the King’s Singers for the canonical version: The main problem with this song is that it’s so easy to do an over the top schmaltzy version of … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: Daniel

Posted on October 4, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

A little classic Elton John: Wilson Phillips did the honors on the “Two Rooms” tribute CD: That song wasn’t written for them, of course, but it sure sounds like it could have been.

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Friday random ten: T for two

Posted on October 3, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Or for ten, as the case may be. 1. Puttin’ On The Ritz – Taco 2. Sweet Child O’ Mine – Taken By Trees 3. Slippery People – Talking Heads 4. Kingdom of Rain – The The 5. In Walked … Continue reading →

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Gov debate II: That’s more like it

Posted on October 3, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

The second Governor’s debate was a lively affair. Republican Attorney General Greg Abbott, who has mostly avoided direct confrontation with his opponent in the race for Texas governor, took a hard swing at Democratic Sen. Wendy Davis over her ethics … Continue reading →

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The Lite Guv debate

Posted on October 1, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

It was lively, and it was a good reminder of who Dan Patrick really is. In the only scheduled debate in their race for lieutenant governor, state Sens. Dan Patrick and Leticia Van de Putte faced off on Monday night … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: Dancing Queen

Posted on September 27, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

All hail ABBA: Did they know how to craft pop music or what? It’s not a surprise that the concept of a jukebox musical, where all the songs are taken from a single artist, has had its best success with … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten: Call me Steve

Posted on September 26, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Just not Steve Jobs. I mean seriously, just try to do a Google search of “Steve” without tripping over a zillion Steve Jobs links. 1. Nothin’ To Do But Today – Stephen Stills 2. Copperhead Road – Steve Earle 3. … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: Dancing In The Dark

Posted on September 20, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

You know this one: Gotta say, I’ve seen Springsteen in concert a couple of times, but I’ve never seen him dance like that, with or without Courtney Cox. Clarence Clemons, sure, but not The Boss. Ah, well, it was the … Continue reading →

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Debate night

Posted on September 20, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Nothing like a 6 PM on a Friday debate that people don’t know how to find on their cable service. Democrat Wendy Davis went on the offensive against Republican Greg Abbott on issue after issue Friday in their first debate … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten: R You Ready?

Posted on September 19, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Ready or not, here come the Rs. 1. Cry Me A River – Ray Brown Trio 2. One Mint Julep – Ray Charles 3. Cruella De Ville – The Replacements 4. Time To Ring Some Changes – Richard Thompson 5. … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: Dance This Mess Around

Posted on September 13, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

The B-52’s, who are not easily imitated: And the Asylum Street Spankers, who are up to the challenge: I had the privilege of seeing the Spankers many times before they sadly broke up a couple of years ago. I had … Continue reading →

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Interview with David Rosen

Posted on September 8, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Once you get past the District Attorney race, there’s not a lot of high-profile electoral action in Harris County this year. County Judge Ed Emmett has no Democratic challenger, and while there are things happening at the legislative level most … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: Crocodile Rock

Posted on September 6, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

You know what you need? A video of Elton John on “The Muppet Show”, singing “Crocodile Rock” backed by Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem and a chorus of crocodiles, that’s what. The singing begins at about 1:46: How awesome … Continue reading →

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