I have friends who consider the Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds to be genius. And Mr. Moon once told me that “God Only Knows” and “Wouldn’t it be Nice?” are two of the most romantic songs a boy could email a girl. He’s probably right. In a break from tradition, I’m not going to talk about each version, but rather just give ’em to you to enjoy.
God Only Knows – The Beach Boys

God Only Knows – Joss Stone

God Only Knows – Jonatha Brooke

Back when this album was out, I was in a bad roommate situation. I was living with my best friend. We were not getting along, and she resented the fact that she felt that she had to invite me to do anything she did, socially. Because we had the some friends. She did her best to exclude me as often as possible, even if it just meant treating me coldly when we were in a social situation. Why on earth would a best friend treat you that way? It hardly matters, we haven’t been any type of friends in many many years.
During this time, I started to discover all the ways in which we differed, coveted these things. Music was one. She had an increasing interest in country music. And I discovered Nirvana and Pearl Jam. Nevermind and Ten, I used to play them loud, especially the angry songs. (But I still enjoyed a good Lyle Lovett song.)
Lithium – Nirvana

I like the Brady Family feeling to the beginning of this cover. I’m so happy… it’s a sunshine day… I’m quite insane. Yay!
Lithium – The Polyphonic Spree

Hello from Victoria, where I am enjoying my own modern love… Wil and I met on line, that’s modern… right? Anyway, I like this song. Why I chose it explained below.
Modern Love – David Bowie

My latest favorite show, which I started watching in reruns this summer, is Grey’s Anatomy. One of my favorite things about this show is Sandra Oh, whom I’ve loved since Double Happiness. But my 2nd favorite thing is the music. They play some great music on this show. I am not sure what episode I was watching… and it took me a minute to even recognize where I had heard this song before, it was so different. The band has the song for download on their website – yay! Love that! So go check them out, for being so friendly and generous.
My 3rd favorite thing about the show is George.
Modern Love – The Last Town Chorus

Happy Birthday, Blog! Now you are 4 years old. In a year, you’ll start school, but for now, enjoy your preschool years. While you can. I’ve saved up a bunch of Sesame Street on the tivo for you, and afterwards we can have cake!

So, for my blog’s birthday, I’ve decided to do a Then and Now that features one of my favorites, The Eels. In a slightly different format this time, as I don’t have much to say about the original, except that I’ve always thought it was a very sweet song. And I chose it simply because the Eels covered it. Sometimes, it works like that.

Thanks everyone for reading my little blog. I can’t help falling in love with all of you. Honest. Yes… even you!

Can’t Help Falling in Love – Elvis Presley

Can’t Help Falling in Love – The Eels

Yesterday was the most beautiful day. It was a Jodi kinda day. Mid 60’s and raining. Pru and I sat and listened to it rain, listened to the laundry cycle it’s way through wash and dry, and watched a marathon of What Not to Wear. We like to scare ourselves that way. I do believe Stacy could kick all of our asses at once. In 4″ stilettos. She rules.
Anyhoo, on to this week’s song.
Hold Me Now – Thompson Twins

I’m late with the T&N because I have been trying to find a particular song I heard on a podcast. I’ve been looking everywhere, and could not find it. It is sung by Stephanie Casey, who sings in a band Fall of Snow, but this is some of her solo work. However, damned if I can find any info about her solo work. So what we have here is basically the digital equivalent of recording a song off the radio. I thought it was pretty and wanted to play it for you. In the mean, here is the link to her band’s website.
Hold Me Now – Stephanie Casey

You know, some day I might do an ¸ber Then and Now of Prince songs. I find the most interesting covers of his stuff. Heck, we could do one just on covers from Purple Rain. I think that movies is 2nd in number of times I saw in a movie theatre. DVD’s, tv, video doesn’t count. We are talking in a movie theatre. The first is Grease. And I am not counting all the movies I saw over and over while working at a movie theatre.

When Doves Cry – Prince

Last time we featured a song from my Like a Version cd of covers. We are going to do that again this week. This cover, by Damien Rice, is why I bought the cd in the first place, although it turned out to be a treasure trove of interesting cover goodness. But this song… this is la cerise sur un parfait de la qualitÈ

When Doves Cry – Damien Rice

The first time I heard this song, I knew it sucked. But it just continued on it’s popularity. I never in a million years thought I would ever feature it on a Then and Now, but I forgot something. People love to cover incredibly lame, yet freakishly popular, pop songs. I cannot tell you how many covers of “Hit Me Baby One More Time” there are out there. So.. without further ado, but absolutely no fanfare….
Milkshake – Kelis

In working on River’s cover cd [which is finally finished and should be shipped this week, River] I found this cool cd from an Australian radio show called Like A Version [damn, I wish I had thought of that title] , that featured a bunch of really cool covers. I’m sure I will feature many of them in the next couple of weeks. This one cracked me up the most. Just the fact that someone had covered this song….. this was before I knew there were so many covers of this song.
Milkshake – The Pictures

I think this is a catchy tune. I have very vague memories of my older brother trying to use my singing this song against me, by telling my father and stepmother. A kind of “Oh yeah? Well, do you know what kind of music your DAUGHTER is listening to?” type of distraction technique, including the lyrics to this song and also John Cougar’s Hurt So Good. I don’t remember it working real well for him.
Never Say Never – Romeo Void

I’ve been working a cd of cover songs for River Selkie, and one evening, Mr. Moon was helping me by sending me some good ones.
jodi: more people should cover Never Say Never
mr. moon: there’s not been a truer statement around the world in the past hour
jodi: THANK YOU!
mr. moon: mark it – move on to the next hour
mr. moon: we gotta mark! recorded!
Never Say Never – Queens of the Stone Age

I’ve been keeping this song in the back of my mind, for a while, as a possible T&N. Pretty much everyone I know, in my peer group, loves the Pixies. LOOOOVES the Pixies. I wanted to use this song, in particular, because it’s the song a 15 year old Louise heard in some Scottish dance club that made her an instant Pixies fan.
Sunday, Louise, Tessa, KK and I went to see LoudQuietLoud at the SIFF. So it seemed like a good time to do a Pixies Then and Now. By the way, if you love the Pixies, Frank Black, or even music in general, it’s a very good film. Playing at a film festival near you!
Gigantic – Pixies

Wil, who knows everything about Frank Black and the Pixies, gave this song to me. I think it’s particularly delightful the way they sing “gig-antic.”
Gigantic – Wakusei

And the Reel Big Fish? Well, that’s just for me, because they make me happy.
Gigantic – Reel Big Fish

Ever since I got back from the King Dork book signing, with music, I’ve been enjoying the MTX playlist in my iTunes. So today’s Then and Now comes out of that. It’s a song I’ve been signing along with for years. When I told Mr. Moon I was going to use this song, his reply was “KiKi Deeeeeee!”

Indeed.

Don’t Go Breaking My Heart – Elton John and KiKi Dee

I sincerely hope that Dr. Frank someday posts the delightful “Cingular Wireless Song” he played at the book signing. I think anyone with a cell phone… or cable… or regular phone… or anything that has required a phone call to customer service, would enjoy it. I wish I could tell you who was signing this song with Dr. Frank, but I couldn’t find that information. If I had only known I was going to do this, I could have asked … but I would have been too shy anyway.

Don’t Go Breakin’ My Heart – Mr. T Experience