Last weekend I walked into my local Berkeley coffee shop and Bob Dylan’s Desolation Row was playing on the stereo. I turned to my friend and asked if he had any way of identifying what verse we were at – but neither of us could place how far into the song we were, or how likely it was the song would still be playing when we left. It was, in fact, still playing when we left. Later that night, I saw Wilco at The Greek Theatre open with One Sunday Morning (Song For Jane Smiley’s Boyfriend) – yet another song with numerous (albeit short) verses, and thus was born this week’s B List. Interestingly, both of those songs, and many listed below, share the characteristic of also not having a chorus.
Hurricane – Bob Dylan
There was a time in high school where I could recite all eleven verses from Dylan’s protest song for boxer and accused murdered Rubin “Hurricane” Carter. If I had time to dig through enough songs, we could probably make a B List of only Bob Dylan songs that have eight or more verses. In addition to the mention of Desolation Row in the intro, Tangled Up In Blue, Lily, Rosemary and The Jack of Hearts, the list goes on and on.
Last week The Flaming Lips made news when they released the very NSFW video for The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, the band’s collaborative track with Erykah Badu from their Record Store Day exclusive Heady Fwends. The clip, which features a scantily clad Badu and her sister Nayrock, who appears completely naked, didn’t sit too well with the neo-soul singer. Yesterday, Badu posted a rather scathing open letter to Wayne Coyne, who directed the video which has since been taken down. Erkyah’s letter takes shots at the Flaming Lips front man for posting what she deemed an “unedited, unapproved version,” declaring that Coyne, “disrespected me by releasing pics and rough vid on the internet without my approval. (Contract breech ) That is equivalent to putting out a security camera’s images of me changing in the fitting room.”
Badu closed the letter by saying, “These things have been said out of necessity. And if you don’t like it you can KiSS MY Glittery ASS . O and Nayrok told me to tell u to kiss her ass too . Almost forgot. Peace Ms. Badu”. An apologetic Coyne immediately took to his Twitter account last night posting a series of messages directed at Badu and about the video, stating “To all the haters who think Erykah Badu has lost her mind!!! She has NOT!!! The Flaming Lips take full responsibility ..For the making of and the content of the controversial video !!! We are very sorry if it has offended some of Erykah Badu’s more.” Coyne even posted this picture of him puckering up with the message “Hey @fatbellybella I kissed it!!!! Thanks!!!!!!” Coyne, Badu and fans of both acts, continued to have a lengthy conversation about the video, Coyne intentions and more, which is worth checking out.
In other Flaming Lips news, the band has announced their itinerary and supporting acts for an attempt at breaking the Guinness World Records title for Most Live Concerts in 24 Hours (Multiple Cities). The group will play eight concerts in eight cities over the course of 24 hours on June 27 and 28. You can follow the action through O Music Awards. Here’s the full list of cities the Lips will treat to a mini-set a piece as well as the opening act…
June 27 — New Fumes & The Flaming Lips — Memphis, TN @ Handy Park
June 27 — Gary Clark Jr & The Flaming Lips — Clarksdale, MS @ Ground Zero Blues’ Club
June 27 — Grace Potter & The Nocturnals & The Flaming Lips — Oxford, MS @ The Lyric
June 28 — Neon Indian & The Flaming Lips — Jackson, MS @ Duling Hall
June 28 — Hunter Hayes & The Flaming Lips — Hattiesburg, MS @ Benny’s Boom Boom Room
June 28 — TBD & The Flaming Lips — Biloxi, MS @ Hard Rock Casino
June 28 — GIVERS & The Flaming Lips — Baton Rouge, LA @ Varsity
June 28 — Grimes & The Flaming Lips — New Orleans @ TBD
On March 30 neo-soul singer Erykah Badu will release her fifth studio album New Amerykah Part Two: Return of the Ankh. The album is said to be more organic and emotionally charged than her last effort, which is immediately evident from watching her latest video. Check out Window Seat, a clip that features Ms. Badu essentially baring her soul and body…
. The album is said to be more organic and emotionally charged than her last effort, which is immediately evident from watching her latest video. Check out Window Seat, a clip that features Ms. Badu essentially baring her soul and body…
