Tag / Tegan and Sara

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iTunes Top 200: #46 – 56

itunes_image3 years ago, we first counted down the then Top 100 songs in my iTunes library. Since that time, I’ve successfully managed to migrate my music collection to a new PC with the stats intact. So, I figured it was time to take another look, expanding out the field to the top 200 songs, based on number of plays as of January 1, 2016.

We reach the 3/4ths mark today, looking at the remaining songs tied for 56th with 23 listens and starting the songs tied for 46th with 24 listens.

#56: Darling Violetta – Angel Main Theme
iTunes stats: 23 plays, most recently on 12/11/2015
Previous ranking: #76

The band performed 2 songs in a third season episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer before being tasked to perform the theme to the spin-off.

#56: Coolio f/ L.V. – Gangsta’s Paradise
iTunes stats: 23 plays, most recently on 11/15/2015
Previous ranking: #96

This 1995 hit from the Dangerous Minds soundtrack also appeared on Volume 19 of my mix tapes.

#56: The Cast Of Buffy The Vampire Slayer – Where Do We Go From Here?
iTunes stats: 23 plays, most recently on 9/22/2015
Previous ranking: #41

The last tune from the musical episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer following the defeat of the dancing demon Sweet.

#56: The Beatles – Magical Mystery Tour
iTunes stats: 23 plays, most recently on 9/21/2015
Previous ranking: #58

The only theme song to a Beatles film to not be released as a single.

#56: The Beatles – Helter Skelter
iTunes stats: 23 plays, most recently on 6/13/2014
Previous ranking: #54

Considered by music historians as a key influence in the development of heavy metal.

#46: Weird Al Yankovic – White & Nerdy 
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iTunes Top 200: #65 – 79

itunes_image3 years ago, we first counted down the then Top 100 songs in my iTunes library. Since that time, I’ve successfully managed to migrate my music collection to a new PC with the stats intact. So, I figured it was time to take another look, expanding out the field to the top 200 songs, based on number of plays as of January 1, 2016.

Today, we finish off the remaining songs tied for 79th with 21 listens and start the group of songs tied for 65th with 22 listens since 2007.

#79: The Cast Of Buffy The Vampire Slayer – Under Your Spell
iTunes stats: 21 plays, most recently on 12/11/2015
Previous ranking: #76

Amber Benson performs the song which writer Joss Whedon called “pornography” and “probably the dirtiest lyric I’ve ever written, but also very, very beautiful”.

#79: The Beatles – Eight Days A Week
iTunes stats: 21 plays, most recently on 7/21/2015
Previous ranking: #76

Although it was a huge hit in America, the group did not think highly of the song and they never performed it live.

#65: 10,000 Maniacs – Because The Night
iTunes stats: 22 plays, most recently on 8/4/2015
Previous ranking: #76

This cover of the Patti Smith classic from the band’s MTV Unplugged appearance also appeared on Volume 12 of my mix tapes.

#65: The Wonders – That Thing You Do
iTunes stats: 22 plays, most recently on 7/9/2015
Previous ranking: #96

The theme song from the 1996 movie of the same name, about a band that hits it big in the 60s before disintegrating before they can record a follow up.

#65: Weezer – Dope Nose
iTunes stats: 22 plays, most recently on 10/5/2015
Previous ranking: #41

The first single from the band’s 4th studio album.

#65: Toad The Wet Sprocket – Walk On The Ocean
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iTunes Top 200: #79 – 96

itunes_image3 years ago, we first counted down the then Top 100 songs in my iTunes library. Since that time, I’ve successfully managed to migrate my music collection to a new PC with the stats intact. So, I figured it was time to take another look, expanding out the field to the top 200 songs, based on number of plays as of January 1, 2016.

Today, we start the final 100 songs of the countdown with the last grouping of songs tied for 96th place with 20 plays apiece and the first tied for 79th place with 21 plays since late 2007.

#96: The Cast of Buffy The Vampire Slayer – Standing
iTunes stats: 20 plays, most recently on 12/11/2015
Previous ranking: #76

Performed by Anthony Stewart Head as a ballad to Buffy that she does not hear, unlike the songs revealing truths elsewhere in the episode.

#96: The Breeders – Cannonball
iTunes stats: 20 plays, most recently on 8/4/2015
Previous ranking: #54

The first single for the new band fronted by former Pixie Kim Deal and her sister Kelley.

#96: The Beatles – Getting Better
iTunes stats: 20 plays, most recently on 12/16/2015
Previous ranking: #58

The initial idea for the song’s title came from a phrase often spoken by Jimmie Nicol, the group’s stand-in drummer for the Australian leg of a 1964 tour.

#96: The Beatles – A Hard Day’s Night
iTunes stats: 20 plays, most recently on 8/25/2015
Previous ranking: #96

From 1964, the song is the title track to both the album and the movie.

#96: AC/DC – Back In Black
iTunes stats: 20 plays, most recently on 9/10/2015
Previous ranking: #58

Written as a tribute to former lead singer Bon Scott, who had died during the songwriting for the album.

#79: 10,000 Maniacs – Candy Everybody Wants
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iTunes Top 200: #96 – 118

itunes_image3 years ago, we first counted down the then Top 100 songs in my iTunes library. Since that time, I’ve successfully managed to migrate my music collection to a new PC with the stats intact. So, I figured it was time to take another look, expanding out the field to the top 200 songs, based on number of plays as of January 1, 2016.

Today, we finish off the final grouping of songs tied for 118th place with 19 plays apiece and start the first group of songs tied for 96th place with 20 plays since late 2007.

#118: The Beatles – Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
iTunes stats: 19 plays, most recently on 12/16/2015
Previous ranking: #96

Recorded for the White Album in 1968, the song didn’t chart in the US until 1976.

#118: Afroman – Because I Got High
iTunes stats: 19 plays, most recently on 9/7/2015
Previous ranking: Unranked

A goofy song picked up off the scrap heap by Kevin Smith for inclusion on the Jay And Silent Bob Strike Back soundtrack.

#118: Aerosmith – Crazy
iTunes stats: 19 plays, most recently on 9/27/2015
Previous ranking: Unranked

The third and final entry of the band’s Alicia Silverstone video trilogy, also featuring a teenage Liv Tyler.

#96: 10,000 Maniacs – These Are Days
iTunes stats: 20 plays, most recently on 11/6/2015
Previous ranking: #76

The song hit number one on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart in November 1992.

#96: Young MC – Bust A Move
iTunes stats: 20 plays, most recently on 11/23/2013
Previous ranking: #70

This Grammy winning hit also appeared on Volume 1 of my mix tapes.

#96: Van Halen – Jump
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iTunes Top 200: #118

itunes_image3 years ago, we first counted down the then Top 100 songs in my iTunes library. Since that time, I’ve successfully managed to migrate my music collection to a new PC with the stats intact. So, I figured it was time to take another look, expanding out the field to the top 200 songs, based on number of plays as of January 1, 2016.

Today, we break into the first grouping of songs tied for 118th place with 19 plays apiece since late 2007.

#118: Toad The Wet Sprocket – Something’s Always Wrong
iTunes stats: 19 plays, most recently on 7/20/2015
Previous ranking: Unranked

The second single from the band’s fourth album reached #9 on the Billboard modern rock charts.

#118: Tegan and Sara – I Bet It Stung
iTunes stats: 19 plays, most recently on 7/21/2015
Previous ranking: Unranked

An album track from Tegan and Sara’s fourth studio album.

#118: Mark Snow – X-Files Theme
iTunes stats: 19 plays, most recently on 12/18/2015
Previous ranking: Unranked

The theme song from the long-running sci-fi hit on FOX.

#118: Lustra – Scotty Doesn’t Know
iTunes stats: 19 plays, most recently on 8/20/2015
Previous ranking: Unranked

The main song from the film Eurotrip, explaining how poor Scotty doesn’t know his girlfriend is cheating on him.

#118: Less Than Jake – I Think I Love You
iTunes stats: 19 plays, most recently on 7/21/2015
Previous ranking: #96

This cover of the Partridge Family hit was featured on the Scream 2 soundtrack.

#118: The Knack – My Sharona
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Top 200 Albums – #1 – 10

itunes_imageMy latest desktop computer arrived in late 2007, at which point I transitioned all of my music off of my laptop. 2 iPods, 3 iPhones, and an iPad later, that computer is still my main repository of music, with iTunes updating its stats every time I listen to something.

Having already gone through cassette tapes and CDs, and digital music, it’s time to roll everything up with the Top 200 albums whose songs I’ve listened to as of September 2014, according to iTunes. Today we finish up the list and look at the top 10 albums that I have listened to the most.

#1: The Cast of Buffy The Vampire Slaying – Once More, With Feeling
iTunes stats: 326 plays
The soundtrack album to the musical episode of Buffy The Vampire Slayer takes the top spot thanks to 21 of the 23 tunes from the album.

#2: Various Artists – The Muppets
iTunes stats: 287 plays
The entire album contributed to this total for the soundtrack album from the big Muppets comeback movie in 2011.

#3: The Lonely Island – Incredibad
iTunes stats: 181 plays
7 tracks from the debut album, most of which originated as digital shorts on SNL.

#4: Foo Fighters – Live In Hyde Park 2006
iTunes stats: 180 plays
This bootleg makes the list thanks to 8 live versions of the band’s greatest hits.

#5: Various Artists – Billboard’s Top Rock ‘n’ Roll Hits: 1969
iTunes stats: 171 plays
8 of the 10 songs on this album contributed to this total, with the vast majority coming from Steam, thanks to its connection with the White Sox.

#6: Tegan and Sara – So Jealous
iTunes stats: 156 plays
The entire album, which I have also had loaded in my car’s CD player since 2005, makes up this total.

#7: Aerosmith – O, Yeah! Ultimate Aerosmith Hits
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The Non-Acting Oscar Predictions

side_oscarWith the Academy Awards scheduled for Sunday night, here’s my predictions for the non-acting awards.  I likely have seen very few of these movies, so I will mostly be going on gut feel and word of mouth.

Best Original Screenplay

Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Nicolás Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris, Jr. and Armando Bo, Birdman
Richard Linklater, Boyhood
E. Max Frye and Dan Futterman, Foxcatcher
Wes Anderson, The Grand Budapest Hotel
Dan Gilroy, Nightcrawler

I haven’t seen any of these films yet.  If I had to guess, which I guess I do, I would think it will come down to either Birdman or Boyhood, and I’m going to go with the crew from Birdman.

Best Adapted Screenplay

Jason Hall, American Sniper
Graham Moore, The Imitation Game
Paul Thomas Anderson, Inherent Vice
Anthony McCarten, The Theory of Everything
Damien Chazelle, Whiplash

Another category where I have not seen any of the nominated work.  I have heard nothing but good things about Whiplash, mostly from Balb Bryan of the Adam Carolla Show, so I will go with that.

Best Animated Feature

Big Hero 6
The Boxtrolls
How To Train Your Dragon 2
Song of the Sea
The Tale of the Princess Kaguya

Obviously, The Lego Movie will take home this prize.  Wait, what?  It wasn’t nominated?  In that case, I’ll take a shot in the dark and say Big Hero 6 will take home the statue.

Best Cinematography

Emmanuel Lubezki, Birdman
Robert Yeoman, The Grand Budapest Hotel
Łukasz Żal and Ryszard Lenczewski, Ida
Dick Pope, Mr. Turner
Roger A. Deakins, Unbroken

I haven’t even heard of a few of these, so I’m going to guess that The Grand Budapest Hotel will get some love here.

Best Costume Design

Milena Canonero, The Grand Budapest Hotel
Mark Bridges, Inherent Vice
Colleen Atwood, Into the Woods
Anna B. Sheppard, Maleficent
Jacqueline Durran, Mr. Turner

I’m thinking Into the Woods will deliver a fairytale ending for Ms. Atwood.

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Top 200 Albums – #65 – 73

itunes_imageMy latest desktop computer arrived in late 2007, at which point I transitioned all of my music off of my laptop. 2 iPods, 3 iPhones, and an iPad later, that computer is still my main repository of music, with iTunes updating its stats every time I listen to something.

Having already gone through cassette tapes and CDs, and digital music, it’s time to roll everything up with the Top 200 albums whose songs I’ve listened to as of September 2014, according to iTunes. Today, we crack the top 70, looking at the 9 albums that rank between 73 and 65 with 46 to 51 listens.

#65: David Cross – It’s Not Funny
iTunes stats: 51 plays
This 2004 comedy album from David Cross would be significantly higher if I were to sync my old phone again, as I have listened to it while falling asleep plenty of times.

#65: Various Artists – Millennium Hip-Hop Party Vol. 2
iTunes stats: 51 plays
7 tracks, from artists like Coolio, Naughty By Nature, and Paperboy, make up the total for this turn-of-the-century compilation.

#67: Tegan and Sara – Sainthood
iTunes stats: 50 plays
11 of the 13 tracks on this album make up the total.

#68: Various Artists – The First 1000 Years- Rock
iTunes stats: 48 plays
7 songs, from artists like The Breeders, Everclear, and Jane’s Addiction, make upthe total for this MTV sponsored compilation.

#68: Van Halen – The Best Of Both Worlds
iTunes stats: 48 plays
This greatest hits compilation makes the list thanks to 8 tracks, split between David Lee Roth and Sammy Hagar.

#70: Various Artists – Private Parts: The Album
iTunes stats: 47 plays
The soundtrack to Howard Stern’s love letter to his now ex-wife uses 6 tracks, 2 of which are clips from the movie, to make up its total.

#70: The Beatles – Past Masters, Vol. 1 [2009 Stereo Remaster]
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Top 200 Albums – #84 – 91

itunes_imageMy latest desktop computer arrived in late 2007, at which point I transitioned all of my music off of my laptop. 2 iPods, 3 iPhones, and an iPad later, that computer is still my main repository of music, with iTunes updating its stats every time I listen to something.

Having already gone through cassette tapes and CDs, and digital music, it’s time to roll everything up with the Top 200 albums whose songs I’ve listened to as of September 2014, according to iTunes. Today, we get closer to the top of the list and crack the 80s by looking at the 3 albums tied for 84th with 40 listens and the 5 albums tied for 87th with 39 listens.

#84: Rolling Stones – Forty Licks
iTunes stats: 40 plays
This all-encompassing, double CD hits package has 13 different tracks to make up its total.

#84: Tegan and Sara – If It Was You
iTunes stats: 40 plays
8 tracks from Tegan and Sara’s second album, and the one that introduced them to me, makes up its total.

#84: Purdue University Marching Band – Back Home In Indiana
iTunes stats: 40 plays
A version of the fight song for my alma mater makes up this entire total all by its lonesome.

#87: Nirvana – MTV Unplugged in New York
iTunes stats: 39 plays
7 songs from Nirvana’s MTV Unplugged performance, the first Nirvana album released following the death of Kurt Cobain, put it on this list.

#87: Def Leppard – Hysteria
iTunes stats: 39 plays
The first album that I fell in love with back in junior high makes this list on the back of 7 different tracks.

#87: Dr. Dre – 2001
iTunes stats: 39 plays
3 tracks from Dr. Dre’s second, and, to date, last, solo album make up this total.

#87: Gin Blossoms – New Miserable Experience
iTunes stats: 39 plays
The debut album for the alt rock band lands on this chart thanks to 4 different tunes.

#87: Various Artists – Austin Powers
iTunes stats: 39 plays
The soundtrack to the original Austin Powers film, featuring the work of artists like Strawberry Alarm Clock and Divinyls, makes this list thanks to 4 songs.

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Top 200 Albums – #100 – 111

itunes_imageMy latest desktop computer arrived in late 2007, at which point I transitioned all of my music off of my laptop. 2 iPods, 3 iPhones, and an iPad later, that computer is still my main repository of music, with iTunes updating its stats every time I listen to something.

Having already gone through cassette tapes and CDs, and digital music, it’s time to roll everything up with the Top 200 albums whose songs I’ve listened to as of September 2014, according to iTunes. Today we hit the midway point, looking at the 5 albums tied for 107th with 36 listens and the 7 albums tied for 100th with 37 listens.

#100: The Beatles – Abbey Road [2009 Stereo Remaster]
iTunes stats: 37 plays
7 songs make up this total for the remastered version of the last Beatles album ever recorded.

#100: Mazzy Star – So Tonight That I Might See
iTunes stats: 37 plays
Only 2 songs make up this total for the so-called dream pop band.

#100: Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons – Very Best Of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons
iTunes stats: 37 plays
The second straight week with an appearance of a greatest hits package from Frankie Valli and company, this one uses 4 tracks to make up its total.

#100: Garbage – Shut Your Mouth EP
iTunes stats: 37 plays
Live versions of Wild Horses and Only Happy When It Rains make up the total from the CD single for Shut Your Mouth.

#100: Offspring – Smash
iTunes stats: 37 plays
4 tunes from this debut album from the California punk band make up this total.

#100: Various Artists – OST – Veronica Mars
iTunes stats: 37 plays
2 different tracks, from The Dandy Warhols and Tegan & Sara, make up the total for the soundtrack from the cult television show.

#100: The Beatles – A Hard Day’s Night [2009 Stereo Remaster]
iTunes stats: 37 plays
Only 2 tracks from the remastered version of the album released along with the movie make up this total.

#107: The Beatles – Revolver [2009 Stereo Remaster]
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