A note about the rules: These are chosen based solely on usage of gibberish alone. Therefore, songs where the gibberish is mixed with actual English words are thrown out, e.g. The Police’s De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da.

1. Crash Test Dummies—Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm

   By naming this song they effectively made every Top 40 DJ’s life a nightmare. I remember hearing it for the first time, enjoying the melody like every good mid-’90s kid would, and wondering what the name of it was so I could go (*shudder*) buy a CD. I wouldn’t have believed it except for the fact that the song was about a girl who wouldn’t change in the girls’ dressing room because she had birthmarks “all over her body.”

   Crash Test Dummies—Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm

   [audio:ctdmmm.mp3]

2. Hanson—MmmBop

   I suppose the “mmm” sound is made enough to warrant two incredibly addicting melodies. Don’t knock Hanson. To me they’re kinda like the band you had to hate but secretly listened to when the song came on in the car and ten years later it’s cool similar to Paula Abdul’s “Straight Up”.

   Hanson—MmmBop

   [audio:mmmbop.mp3]

3. Third Eye Blind—Semi-Charmed Life

   This may be the biggest stretch on the list, but I’ll be damned if I’m not walking around singing “doot doot doot” every time I hear this song.

   Third Eye Blind—Semi-Charmed Life

   [audio:3eb.mp3]

4. The Marcels—Blue Moon

   This one was almost too easy. I can’t even remember the first time I heard this song (although I’m going to venture to say it was when I was in the car with my mom when I was young and the only thing she let us listen to was either Christian music or oldies. Which in my opinion is kind of funny because some of those oldies songs had some inappropriate material in it) but, just like every one of you, I tried to sing it back and screwed it up majorly.

   The Marcels—Blue Moon

   [audio:bluemoon.mp3]

5. Tokens—The Lion Sleeps Tonight

   I don’t know who wrote it, and I don’t particularly care. All I know is that this song, while atop this list, also tops the “Easiest to Get in Your Head” list.

   Tokens—The Lion Sleeps Tonight

   [audio:tokens.mp3]

What are YOUR favorites?

]]> http://www.davidstagg.com/v2/2008/12/12/top-5-best-songs-with-melodies-that-arent-words/feed/ 10 http://www.davidstagg.com/v2/2008/10/22/top-5-video-games-i-spent-more-time-on-than-i-care-to-admit/ http://www.davidstagg.com/v2/2008/10/22/top-5-video-games-i-spent-more-time-on-than-i-care-to-admit/#comments Thu, 23 Oct 2008 03:42:07 +0000 David http://www.davidstagg.com/?p=421

The Legend of Zelda

These are the types of video games when you realize after you’ve spent four consecutive hours on the couch without moving that you need to get up and do something else. The types where you probable thought, “I would have been better off if I had never purchased this game,” and then promptly smack yourself for ever thinking about living in a world without them.

Yes, these are the Top 5 Games I’ve spent an ungodly amount of time playing—and would probably never admit how long, nor really want to know.

PS – BTW, these are in inverse order. So although it says #1 just below this paragraph, it’s actually #5.

PPS – I also cheated and put six games in a Top 5 list. I know. It’s wrong.

1. The Legend of Zelda

   This is the original we’re talking about here. I’m sure this is much higher for most everyone else who plays video games though; it was revolutionary in that while Super Mario Bros. had you bouncing around smashing goombas and stuff, Zelda had you moving and thinking like you were actually saving a real-life princess. There was strategy. There was a sweet sword. And just like any true boy, you just keep on playing until you got the hot princess.

   Soundtrack to this Game

   The theme to Zelda:

   [audio:zeldatheme.mp3]

2. MLB: The Show 2008

   The most recent addition, I must admit that I probably played this one more than most people because it was my first foray into the PlayStation3. Either way, when you can create your own player, make it look like you, start out as a minor leaguer, and then work your way to back-to-back Cy Young awards and a World Series title? Yeah, count me in. (As if my bias towards my love of baseball didn’t influence the direct amount of time I played this game.)

   Soundtrack to this Game

   As games got newer, they’ve stopped writing theme music to video games; they just license songs out and make straight cash. So for this one, and a couple later ones, these are songs from the soundtrack to the game.

   ZZ Top—I’m Bad, I’m Nationwide

   [audio:zztop.mp3]

3. MegaMan 3

   This is kind of a tricky one. MegaMan 3 wasn’t actually a tough game; the tough games usually waste the most time because you can’t beat them right off the bar. But this one is up here because I’ve replayed an insane amount of times. Not to mention, it has some of the best theme music in the history of video games. Segue…

   Soundtrack to this Game

   Theme to MegaMan 3

   [audio:mm3.mp3]

4. Tony Hawk 3

   The thing that made this game so great and time-wasting was the playability. You could get a seemingly infinite amount of points as long as you keep your nollie rolling. And then when you got bored, go ahead and throw in some codes and end up on the moon and spin forever.

   Soundtrack to this Game

   CKY made a huge splash here before Bam Margera was pimpin’ them out. Bodyjar’s “Not the Same” is also awesome, go check it out.

   CKY—96 Quite Bitter Beings

   [audio:bitterbeings.mp3]

5. Guitar Hero 3

   The thing about Guitar Hero is that you have four different levels to play on. So right when you get done beating the game and blistering your fingers on medium, you’re start in on hard and expert feels unattainable. But when it’s that unattainable, just like the hot cheerleader in high school, you just keep on going, keep on trying until you get there. I’ve still never beaten “Raining Blood” by Slayer on Expert.

   Sountrack to this Game

   Slayer—Raining Blood

   [audio:blood.mp3]

6. Dr. Mario

   Rather than tell you about this game and how many hours I’ve spent playing it (which, honestly, probably amounts to almost 30 days straight), I’m going to tell you an anecdote about what happened in my life during the playing of this game. I first learned about it from my buddy Kyle. I didn’t have a car in high school when I was a freshman or sophomore, so he would take me home when we got out. Sometimes, instead of going right home, we would go to his house instead to hang out. Eventually, we started to listen to music, kind of mindlessly, while we played. This turned into us only listening to one CD: Ace of Base’s The Sign.

   Soundtrack to this Game

   Theme to Dr. Mario

   [audio:drmario.mp3]

Honorable Mentions

I wouldn’t be doing this list justice if I didn’t mention the following:

• Halo—Only Halo 1, though. I was in college. Lots of long nights trying to illegally connect to an Xbox server and get people to j-up and play.
• The Oregon Trail—I don’t know if this one counts, but it was the number one game I’ve ever played while in a school setting.
• NCAA Football 2003—Joey Harrington was on the cover. That shows you how long ago that was… and how mis-covered it was.

Happy gaming!

]]> http://www.davidstagg.com/v2/2008/10/22/top-5-video-games-i-spent-more-time-on-than-i-care-to-admit/feed/ 6 http://www.davidstagg.com/v2/2008/06/06/top-5-most-awesomely-bad-80s-music-videos/ http://www.davidstagg.com/v2/2008/06/06/top-5-most-awesomely-bad-80s-music-videos/#comments Fri, 06 Jun 2008 15:11:43 +0000 David http://www.davidstagg.com/?p=146 Everyone loves the ’80s, especially those of us who can claim to have been born in them. Actually, I take that back. Everyone loves the ’80s looking in their rear view mirror. (I’m not so sure leggings are still awesome. But looking at leggings back then? Awesome.) So with that in mind, the best of the best worst.

5. Aha — “Take on Me”

Now while most ’80s music videos are skrate bad, this one is actually not too bad. It’s just so iconic. So is the song. It’s a must know. That’s the end of that. I especially like the Family Guy parody of it.




4. Dead or Alive — “You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)”

“Alright, I’ve got this great idea for your music video.”
“OK, lay it on us.”
“So in the hook, we’re going to have all of the band stand back to back on a device that will turn them.”
“Whoa. Like, TURN them?”
“Yes. Turn them, probably all the way ’round.”
“What do you mean, like, like a record?”
“I’d say that’s a great analogy.”
“So the band will be turning, like a record, during the hook of the song.”
“Yes. What do you think?”
“Do it. Perfect.”




3. Huey Lewis and the News — “Do You Believe in Love?”

Alright, there are so many things that are perfect to this video. Let’s run through them in chronological order:

• 0:09—From the jump, creepy dude watching sleeping naked chick.
• 0:47—Huey Lewis looking directly into your eyes and telling you that he wants to “love you all over.”
• 0:51—Whole band watching sleeping naked chick does not equal less creepy.
• 1:15—Huey Lewis + Purple Shirt + Silk + Sweet Dance Moves = Awesome
• 1:44—Best part of the whole video. Bed magically expands and entire clothed band ends up in it with sleeping chick. All tapping foot. HA!
• 2:02—Classic “It’s my solo!” scene.

Anyway, you get the drift. Thank you, Huey. Thank you, The News.




2. Rick Astley — “Never Gonna Give You Up”

Before Rick Rolling people became an Internet phenomenon, this video was STILL awesome. There’s a reason it became a 2008 cultural landmark. The best part about this video are Rick Astley’s outfits. That, and that to me he looks somewhat obscurely like Doogie Howser.

Just like you’ll find out with Journey, the big suits have decided that embedding this video in your player is not allowed. Check out the video—and yes, I gave you the pop-up video version.

1. Journey — “Separate Ways”

Hands down the winner. I remember the first time I saw this it was like the perfect cocktail of sweet ’80s music and comedy. The part where they’re all in a line and singing. The keyboardists flair at the end of one of his phrases. The hot chick walking around. Playing invisible instruments and when they pop up a total jump cut. I mean, it can NOT get any better. If you haven’t seen this video before, you can thank me later.

Because everyone knows it’s awesome, Sony/BMG has disable anyone from embedding it in their sites, so to see it you’re going to have to head over to YouTube. Sorry!

]]> http://www.davidstagg.com/v2/2008/06/06/top-5-most-awesomely-bad-80s-music-videos/feed/ 0 http://www.davidstagg.com/v2/2008/05/27/top-5-greatest-song-intros-of-all-time/ http://www.davidstagg.com/v2/2008/05/27/top-5-greatest-song-intros-of-all-time/#comments Tue, 27 May 2008 21:26:13 +0000 David http://www.davidstagg.com/?p=88 The Top 5 feature is something I’ve been wanting to implement on this blog since its inception. So occasionally, we’ll be posting our Top 5 Whatevers on here for your reading pleasure. This is the first one.

5. Guns ‘n’ Roses — “Sweet Child of Mine”

Just hearing the intro to this song makes me happy. I know what’s coming, and the first few lines of the song are just awesome: “She’s got a smile that seems to me / Reminds me of childhood memories / Where everything was as fresh as the bright blue sky”.

[audio:sweetchildomine.mp3]

4. Led Zeppelin — “When the Levee Breaks”

Sure, you’re thinking “Stairway to Heaven” or “Rock ‘n’ Roll” or “Black Dog”—all of which are outstanding song intros—should represent Led Zeppelin if you’re putting them in this Top 5. However, “When the Levee Breaks” has spawned an innumerable number of rip-offs, samples, and songs. The list notwithstanding:

• Beastie Boys’ “Rhymin’ and Stealin’” and to a lesser extent “So Whatcha Want?”
• Enigma’s “Return to Innocence”
• Dr. Dre’s “Lyrical Gangbang”

Little known fact: The song is actually a cover of a blues song written by Kansas Joe McCoy and Memphis Minnie from 1929.

[audio:whentheleveebreaks.mp3]

3. Pantera — “The Great Southern Trendkill”

This song is nothing but pure emotion. The intro to this song, which is also the intro to the entire Great Southern Trendkill record, is the exclamation point to their statement in response to what critics were saying about them at the time and the nu-metal movement that had recently been spawned (think rap rock/rap metal and grunge). Also at the time, vocalist Phil Anselmo was in the midst of a heroin addiction that began as painkiller relief for surgery for a bad back. When you listen to the song, you can hear all of it rolled up into one scream.

[audio:thegreatsoutherntrendkill.mp3]

2. The Who — “Baba O’Reily”

I remember the first time I thought that THIS was one of the best song intros of all time and it was watching an extremely short lived sitcom that featured the dude from Seventh Heaven who also did the movie “Sorority Chicks”. I wanted to type that sentence because that’s how I remember it; however, I’m going to go figure all this out now (via the Internet) and let you know what I come up with.

His name is Barry Watson and he played Matt Camden on Seventh Heaven. The sitcom I’m talking about is called “What About Brian” and apparently it wasn’t all that short lived because it had 24 episodes. One of the characters (I’m pretty sure they worked at like a computer game programming company) played the song at work and was air drumming along to it and began to skip out on work just for a second to enjoy the song. I feel like that was a pretty good representation of life; a perfect acting out of ’stop and smell the roses.’

Pretty sure the TV show isn’t coming back. Teenage Wasteland will probably be here forever.

[audio:babaoreily.mp3]

1. Heart — “Crazy on You”

Oh MAN do I wish I had written this thing! Its flamenco-y intro, the crushing hit of the first distorted ‘A’ note—like every time it gives me goosebumps. It’s a good thing the rest of the song kicks, too; it just adds to the glory of that intro. Incredible.

[audio:crazyonyou.mp3]

Honorable Mention

Honorable Mention goes to Fat Pat for “Tops Drop” simply for the first lyrics out the gate: “Welcome to the land where it just don’t stop / Trunks pop, tops drop, see the front end hop.”

P.S. Can anyone confirm (Mary, I’m looking in your direction) whether or not “all-time” has a hyphen in it or not? I’m obviously going with, Yes, it does.

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