SOMETHING OLD
The Flirtations - Nothing But A Heartache
1969
A few talented young women from South Carolina begin their music career in New York City.
The Flirtations - Nothing But A Heartache
1969
A few talented young women from South Carolina begin their music career in New York City.
No dice.
They relocate to England and open for Tom Jones, starting to adapt the sound of "northern soul."
They relocate to England and open for Tom Jones, starting to adapt the sound of "northern soul."
Remarkable success.
That's the story of The Flirtations and Nothing But A Heartache, this absolute ear worm of soul tune. Written by Tony Waddington and Wayne Bickerton, the beautiful voices of sisters Earnestine & Shirley Pearce and Pearly Gates (the adorable stage name of Viola Billups) make lyrics about literal constant sorrow sound like fun.
After recently listening to this song a couple times, I had the tune from 1:05-1:11 stuck in my head, unable to remember what the words were or where it was from. I just kept humming it out loud thinking it was such a brilliant melody, and wasn't surprised at all to finally remember it came from this song I truly love.
SOMETHING NEW
Ratboys - The World, So Madly
January 14th, 2026
Ratboys - The World, So Madly
January 14th, 2026
Julia Steiner of Chicago-based Ratboys has a cherubic voice that ascends on the group's latest track. It tackles the impermanence and inscrutability of everything.
Oh, what a world we live in
I don't know if it's gonna last
You look at the sky with its big blue eyes
You blink now it's overcast
I don't know if it's gonna last
You look at the sky with its big blue eyes
You blink now it's overcast
That All Things Must Pass attitude is sort of at the core of all that is human. Everything, from beautiful skies to crushing pain, will not last. The latter is comforting whereas the former carries a bit of a sting; that notion that we will lose the good things in our lives, but it's reality. It's can be very freeing if you let it.
An interesting part about all this, though, is when Steiner asks:
Where does all the pain go?
Inside an empty room?
An interesting part about all this, though, is when Steiner asks:
Where does all the pain go?
Inside an empty room?
Things pass. Sure, we get that. But where to?
Is there a room somewhere full of all the bygone feelings and experiences?
The Michael Imperioli-led ZOPA finally released their sophomore album last year, which housed singles that I'd been listening to as early as 2022. Alongside the compelling original tracks is a creative medley between The Velvet Underground's Ocean and Heroin. Ocean is a lesser-known track recorded in 1969, released as compilation material on the 1985 album VU, while Heroin is one of the band's stand-out songs from their iconic 1967 record.
Zopa blends the two somber songs seamlessly with a more energetic edge. Reinvention at its finest. It somehow runs for just over eight minutes, but it's my newest addition to songs that simply do not feel as long as they are. I believe that to be a great testament to the song's quality.
SOMETHING... CONSTITUTIONAL
The Clash - Know Your Rights
1982
The Clash - Know Your Rights
1982
AMENDMENT NO. 5:
No person shall ... be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law.
AMENDMENT NO. 14:
No State shall ... deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law.
No person shall ... be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law.
AMENDMENT NO. 14:
No State shall ... deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law.
YOUR RIGHTS, AS DESCRIBED BY THE CLASH:
1. The right not to be killed. Murder is a crime, unless it is done by a policeman, or an aristocrat.
.
2. The right to food money, providing, of course, you don't mind a little investigation, humiliation, and if you cross your fingers, rehabilitation.
3.The right to free speech (as long as you're not dumb enough to actually try it).
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2. The right to food money, providing, of course, you don't mind a little investigation, humiliation, and if you cross your fingers, rehabilitation.
3.The right to free speech (as long as you're not dumb enough to actually try it).