With a dauntingly powerful voice that is as tough as nails yet still earnestly insecure, Serena Ryder makes a dramatic introduction into the music business with her debut album Is It O.K.
The obvious similarities between Ryder and numerous artists are one of the unique factors to her persona – it would seem that some very different artists influence her heavily. For example, her vocals are reminiscent of artists such as KT Tunstall, Johnette Napolitano (of Concrete Blonde fame) and Brandi Carlile, but her overall style seems indicative of apparent influences by Mellissa Etheridge, Janis Joplin, Amy Winehouse, Natalie Merchant and Norah Jones.
There are many highlights to this artist, including an acoustic variation of the often-overlooked Bruce Springsteen song “Racing in the Street.” And while she shines performing someone else’s work, it is her original works that really stand out. Granted, she's not at "The Boss" level yet, but her lyrics are ripe with a biting and sharp-edged attitude. Ryder dazzles in what is sure to be a bright career.
A Little Bit of Red – Think KT “Tunstall’s Black Horse and a Cherry Tree” with more attitude and swagger. Ryder not only matches Etheridge’s grit on this track but she manages to slide in a can’t-help-but-sing-along chorus that leaves a lasting impression of haunting malice and fury. The crown jewel of her album, expect to play this track repeatedly.
Sweeping the Ashes – Perhaps her second best track, this lyrical gem tells the story of a person whose youth was washed away from a relationship that’s love has expired. The partner decides they want out, leaving the narrator to blast out their frustrations. It has a bit of a 3 Doors Down feel to it, but the lyrics are much bolder and carry her message of dejection loud and clear.
Last Night I had the Strangest Dream – This cover of Ed McCurdy's classic anti-war ballad sounds like Natalie Merchant’s Tigerlily, particularly the tracks “Wonder” and “Carnival.”
All For Love – Up-tempo and rhythmic, this catchy rock/pop tune hits all the right chords. Perhaps no other artist is as prevalent on the album as Johnette Napolitano is, because this is exactly the kind of music she would be making today. On a side note, it has a bit of a Fleetwood Mac sound to it. If someone had told me this was a Stevie Nicks song, I wouldn't have challenged them.
It Doesn’t Matter Anymore – reminiscent of Ingrid Michaelson’s “Morning Lullabies,” this soft and delicate – yet still bluesy – song would be perfect for an artist like Joe Cocker to cover. Much like a Norah Jones or Billy Joel song (only a bit more spiteful), this ballad tells of a missed chance at love.
Just Another Day – sounds like an Eve 6 or Blessid Union of Souls track with a bit of Amy Winehouse mixed in for good measure. Add in an alternative chorus to John Mellencamp’s famous tune and you’ve got yourself a low-key-yet-downtrodden track that flows like a river.
Weak in the Knees - A love ballad that is sure to be played at indie aficionados' weddings. It is a slow yet eternally hopeful song reminicent of Bryan Adam's "Right Here Waiting for You" or "(Everything I Do) I Do It For You"
Racing in the Street - Like this wouldn't make it into the blog. A tale of a drifter whose love has seen better days. A sincere cover version that really highlights the lyrics and gives them a unique voice.
Luckie Street Tribune is a project that has been in the works for the past month. This is a collaborative effort consisting of Rafael DelBosque, Chris DelBosque, Andre Lecour, Kevin Work and Justin Smith. We have created a blog that has all of the interests that are dear to us; whether it be sports, politics , music or entertainment... we got you covered.
Showing posts with label Lost and Found. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lost and Found. Show all posts
Monday, June 14, 2010
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
THE DECADE: MUSIC – ONE HIT WONDERS
As with every decade, there are some artists who have staying power and some who don’t. Some bands come from obscurity and tear up the charts only to come crashing down just as quickly as they rose to the top, others string along the notion of lasting dominance only to realize that they never did become what everybody thought they would be.
It is as tragic as it is joyous. Thus we here at Lucky Street Tribune have decided to include for you the one-hit wonders of the decade. On one hand, the artist or band made it to the top, something that very few musicians are able to do; on the other hand, the pressure to stay on top proved to be too intricate a task. Some one-hit wonders are the product of being at the right place at the right time, others set a musical trend, some are the products of a key producer or featuring artist’s touch, some are covers, and some are just so stupid that they cannot help but be a chart topper.
To be fair, time is the biggest factor in determining who is/will become a one-hit wonder; for every novelty song (where it is obvious that the band will be a one hit wonder) there an instance where the artist really had the chops, but they just couldn’t regain their swagger to collect a second hit and before they knew it, they are being labeled a one-hit wonder. Time really is the key to becoming a one-hit wonder. Because of this, no songs from 2007 – 2009 are featured on this list.
Below is the list of the Top 10 One-Hit Wonders (along with a series of fake awards to accompany them):
1. Bad Day – Daniel Powter [2006]
----- Winner of the “Greatest American Hero Award” (a.k.a. the “One-Hit Wonder Where the Song was Bigger Than the Show Award”)
Take away American Idol and this song would never have made it into the top ten. And oh did they play the crap out of this song. They just played it and played it and played it and played it and played it and played it and played it and… It’s hard to imagine that the song would be a hit on the radio when it was heard every week on American Idol. Seriously, even if you didn’t watch the show and tried to avoid the radio, this song could still be heard everywhere. There was literally nowhere else to hide. This song suffered the same fate as many one-hit wonders: overexposure; it was just played too damn much. The fact that it engulfed the world’s most famous music competition (almost overshadowing the show itself) and the fact that it reached the top of the billboard charts with nary a hint of repeat status earns Daniel Powter the title of One-Hit Wonder of the Decade.
2. Who Let the Dogs Out? – Baha Men [2000]
----- Winner of the “Macarena Award” (a.k.a. the “Worst One-Hit Wonder of the Decade Award”)
Seriously? Seriously? Are you guys f - - king kidding me? Are you proud of yourselves? Well, believe it or not, it was a hit. So simple was the track that everyone from mothers to schoolchildren began to perform this song at everyday events such as sporting events to music class. Half of the people loved this song and half of them hated it. Looking back, I’m sure everyone who loved the song is embarrassed to have liked it for as long as they did.
3. Crazy – Gnarles Barkley [2006]
I remember when, I remember, I remember when this song was big; something so special about that song… This song was possibly the most acclaimed of the group, winning Rolling Stone Magazine’s Song of the Year award. Gnarles Barkley is definitely a unique product, one who was never meant to be a superstar, let alone a chart topper. This song was never supposed to be a hit and he knew it. Fortunately, it was well received and went on to become one of the most covered songs of the decade. Artists who covered this song include the Kooks, and Butch Walker.
4. Butterfly – Crazy Town [2001]
Attention all white people who think they can rap: look no further than 2001’s “Butterfly” by Crazy Town to show you that no, you really can’t rap and expect to be cool. Cheezy and simple, Crazy Town delivered a monster hit and was never heard from again. If anything, they were a buffer band; they were a band that filled in the gap between one prominent band and another. Reminicent to Limp Bizkit, Crazy Town took themselves too seriously (without the talent to back it up). As a hybrid rock/rap band, they managed to pave the way for several similar bands yet to come, including Linkin Park. It’s doubtful that anybody is hoping to hear a new Crazy Town song on the radio, because that would be the saddest thing in the history of the world.
5. Absolutely (Story of a Girl) – Nine Days [2000]
----- Winner of the “Come On Eileen Award” (a.k.a. the “Best One-Hit Wonder Song Of the Decade Award”)
Nine Days is the band that should have been one of the best artists of the decade and instead only left us with the fond memory of just the one song. Everyone expected more from them, everyone thought they would be back on top, but fate had a different idea in store for them; Sony, their record label, decided to shelf their 2003 album So Happily Unsatisfied (which has still yet to be released). Without their record label behind them (and an additional three years left on their contract) the band had a hard time remaining relevant, so they worked on solo projects in the meantime. The gap between their 2000 hit and their follow-up album was seven years; far too much time to remain relevant. At this point, the band seems unlikely to accomplish anything more than “Absolutely (Story of a Girl)”, but they are still together and stranger things have happened.
6. I Try – Macy Gray [2000]
When it comes to Macy Gray, one has to wonder if her Grammy Award for Best New Artist was a bit premature. “I Try” was a bona-fide chart topper and her smoky, raspy voice was defiantly unique, but she was never able to repeat that same success. She had some minor success with her follow-up album but they were forgettable and out of everyone’s heads not long after their release. Soon after, he career took a downturn and she moved on to other things, including acting. After he acting career dried up she returned to music, going under the alias Nemesis Jaxson. She is hoping to release her next album by 2010.
7. Wherever You Will Go – The Calling [2002]
----- Winner of the "That Thing You Do Award" (a.k.a. the "Band that Couldn't Stop Fighting Long Enough to Produce Another Hit Award")
Becoming one of the top hits of the year, “Wherever You Will Go” derived most of its popularity from lead singer Alex Band’s vocal similarity to then-Creed front man Scott Stapp. The Calling seemed to have everything going for it, until it didn’t. Not long after their song left the charts the band faced turmoil backstage and faced in-fighting. Half of the members left the band and sued the remaining members of the band, a break-up soon followed. Alex Band went on to acquire a top ten hit with his solo song “Why Don’t You & I” in 2004. Despite their one hit, the song has remained fairly steady airplay on light rock radio stations.
8. Tipsy – J-Kwon [2004]
Written by a teenager who was not legally old enough to drink, J-Kwon set the music world on fire with “Tipsy”. A simple song with agonizingly simple lyrics, J-Kwon was too young to have anything important to say, was too inexperienced to have multiple songs under his arsenal, and happened to catch lightning in a bottle. There were a million better hip-hop songs out there, this song just happened to be a hit at the clubs. Because of his youth, it’s not out of the question that J-Kwon can have another hit, but after five years without a hit and out of the limelight the odds are against him.
9. Laffy Taffy – D4L [2006]
----- Winner of the “Anita Ward Award” (a.k.a. the “Genre Makes The Hit Award”)
Ah, krunk; a simpler time, a time when all a person had to do was yell a couple of key phrases like “WHAT! YEAH! and OKAY! to assure one’s-self a hit. D4L’s “Laffy-Taffy” not only featured a repetitive chorus, monster bass tracks, and an element of sampeling (from the song “Candy Girl” by New Edition) but it also was released during krunk’s viable hey-day. Had it been released in 2002 or 2008 it would not have been a hit; timing was everything to this song’s success. Oddly enough, while it reached number one on the US Billboard Top 100 charts, it never became a top five rap or hip-hop song on its respective chart.
10. Blue (Da Ba Dee) – Eiffel 65 [2000]
Released in January of 2000, this song earns the title for the first true one hit wonder of the decade. Eiffel 65, a dance music band, made its first and only crossover hit of their career. The annoyingly catchy dance-mix song was enhanced by its effects-driven music video, featuring a bevy of 3-D aliens rocking out to the song in outer space.
Honorable Mentions:
• You’re Beautiful – James Blunt [2006]
The reason this song didn’t make the list (it would have been listed at number two) is because the likelihood of James Blunt having another hit is still quite high. When “You’re Beautiful” first came out, the world indulged on it to the point where it heard it too much, and later became disgusted with it and never wanted to hear it again. In fact, the song’s tremendous popularity (and later revolt) may be the reason that Blunt may fall into the annals of history as a one-hit wonder. It seems premature to call him a one-hit wonder at this moment but it also wouldn’t be wise to exclude him either.
• Mambo No. 5 (A Little Bit of…) – Lou Bega [1999-2000] & Thong Song – Sisqo [1999-2000]
Technically these songs were both released in November of 1999, so they can’t officially be listed as having been released this decade. However, neither songs had reached their full hit status until the new millennium, so they count. “Thong Song” did not become a hit until March and “Mambo No. 5” was a hit well into the summer, spanning more parody songs than anyone could imagine. In Atlanta, both the Atlanta Braves and the Atlanta Zoo featured radio ad parodies of the song. As they both are novelty songs, neither singer saw their solo career pan out. Sisqo had a bit more success, being a feature singer on the popular Will Smith song “The Wild, Wild West” for the film of the same name. He also went on to have cameos in a couple of television and movies before fading out of the spotlight.
• Because I Got High – Afroman [2001]
----- Winner of the “Chumbawamba Award” (a.k.a. “Song That Became An Anthem Award”)
This song really connected with a lot of people because they get high, because they get high, because they get hi-igh. This song will be the musical version of the film “Half Baked” – a pot smokers’ delight. A niche song, this novelty track has the potential to have more lasting power than any of these songs on the list.
• Lean Back – Terror Squad [2004]
----- Winner of the “Electric Slide Award” (a.k.a. the “Dance Move that Sweeps the Nation Award”)
----- Winner of the “Rockwell Award” (a.k.a. the “I Got A Major Artist To Perform In This Song And That Is The Only Reason That This Song Is A Hit Award”)
Okay lazy people, you officially have a dance move; now shut the f- - k up. This song, popularized by the appearance of Fat Joe – who basically does most of the work on this song – requires the following moves to become a dancing guru: Step 1) Lean back. Step 2) … There is no step two.
• I Believe in a Thing Called Love – The Darkness [2003]
----- Winner of the “Gary Numan Award” (a.k.a. “The Right Place at the Right Time Award”)
This faux rock band was a band that was ahead of its time, right on time. Marvelous 3’s 1999 “Ready, Sex, Go” album featured many of the same elements of this ironically retro rock pop album, yet did not reach hit status. So why did this band have a hit and not Marvelous 3? Two words: Falsetto Voice.
• God Bless the USA – Lee Greenwood [1984/2001]
Is it possible for a one-hit wonder to become a hit again? If so, then Lee Greenwood is your man. Originally becoming a one-hit wonder in 1984, the country singer’s track was usually only heard during the 4th of July weekend. Then September 11th happened; suddenly patriotic music filled the airwaves and “God Bless the USA” was the biggest benefactor. Re-entering the charts, this single rose to number 16 on the US Billboard Top 100.
It is as tragic as it is joyous. Thus we here at Lucky Street Tribune have decided to include for you the one-hit wonders of the decade. On one hand, the artist or band made it to the top, something that very few musicians are able to do; on the other hand, the pressure to stay on top proved to be too intricate a task. Some one-hit wonders are the product of being at the right place at the right time, others set a musical trend, some are the products of a key producer or featuring artist’s touch, some are covers, and some are just so stupid that they cannot help but be a chart topper.
To be fair, time is the biggest factor in determining who is/will become a one-hit wonder; for every novelty song (where it is obvious that the band will be a one hit wonder) there an instance where the artist really had the chops, but they just couldn’t regain their swagger to collect a second hit and before they knew it, they are being labeled a one-hit wonder. Time really is the key to becoming a one-hit wonder. Because of this, no songs from 2007 – 2009 are featured on this list.
Below is the list of the Top 10 One-Hit Wonders (along with a series of fake awards to accompany them):
1. Bad Day – Daniel Powter [2006]
----- Winner of the “Greatest American Hero Award” (a.k.a. the “One-Hit Wonder Where the Song was Bigger Than the Show Award”)
Take away American Idol and this song would never have made it into the top ten. And oh did they play the crap out of this song. They just played it and played it and played it and played it and played it and played it and played it and… It’s hard to imagine that the song would be a hit on the radio when it was heard every week on American Idol. Seriously, even if you didn’t watch the show and tried to avoid the radio, this song could still be heard everywhere. There was literally nowhere else to hide. This song suffered the same fate as many one-hit wonders: overexposure; it was just played too damn much. The fact that it engulfed the world’s most famous music competition (almost overshadowing the show itself) and the fact that it reached the top of the billboard charts with nary a hint of repeat status earns Daniel Powter the title of One-Hit Wonder of the Decade.
2. Who Let the Dogs Out? – Baha Men [2000]
----- Winner of the “Macarena Award” (a.k.a. the “Worst One-Hit Wonder of the Decade Award”)
Seriously? Seriously? Are you guys f - - king kidding me? Are you proud of yourselves? Well, believe it or not, it was a hit. So simple was the track that everyone from mothers to schoolchildren began to perform this song at everyday events such as sporting events to music class. Half of the people loved this song and half of them hated it. Looking back, I’m sure everyone who loved the song is embarrassed to have liked it for as long as they did.
3. Crazy – Gnarles Barkley [2006]
I remember when, I remember, I remember when this song was big; something so special about that song… This song was possibly the most acclaimed of the group, winning Rolling Stone Magazine’s Song of the Year award. Gnarles Barkley is definitely a unique product, one who was never meant to be a superstar, let alone a chart topper. This song was never supposed to be a hit and he knew it. Fortunately, it was well received and went on to become one of the most covered songs of the decade. Artists who covered this song include the Kooks, and Butch Walker.
4. Butterfly – Crazy Town [2001]
Attention all white people who think they can rap: look no further than 2001’s “Butterfly” by Crazy Town to show you that no, you really can’t rap and expect to be cool. Cheezy and simple, Crazy Town delivered a monster hit and was never heard from again. If anything, they were a buffer band; they were a band that filled in the gap between one prominent band and another. Reminicent to Limp Bizkit, Crazy Town took themselves too seriously (without the talent to back it up). As a hybrid rock/rap band, they managed to pave the way for several similar bands yet to come, including Linkin Park. It’s doubtful that anybody is hoping to hear a new Crazy Town song on the radio, because that would be the saddest thing in the history of the world.
5. Absolutely (Story of a Girl) – Nine Days [2000]
----- Winner of the “Come On Eileen Award” (a.k.a. the “Best One-Hit Wonder Song Of the Decade Award”)
Nine Days is the band that should have been one of the best artists of the decade and instead only left us with the fond memory of just the one song. Everyone expected more from them, everyone thought they would be back on top, but fate had a different idea in store for them; Sony, their record label, decided to shelf their 2003 album So Happily Unsatisfied (which has still yet to be released). Without their record label behind them (and an additional three years left on their contract) the band had a hard time remaining relevant, so they worked on solo projects in the meantime. The gap between their 2000 hit and their follow-up album was seven years; far too much time to remain relevant. At this point, the band seems unlikely to accomplish anything more than “Absolutely (Story of a Girl)”, but they are still together and stranger things have happened.
6. I Try – Macy Gray [2000]
When it comes to Macy Gray, one has to wonder if her Grammy Award for Best New Artist was a bit premature. “I Try” was a bona-fide chart topper and her smoky, raspy voice was defiantly unique, but she was never able to repeat that same success. She had some minor success with her follow-up album but they were forgettable and out of everyone’s heads not long after their release. Soon after, he career took a downturn and she moved on to other things, including acting. After he acting career dried up she returned to music, going under the alias Nemesis Jaxson. She is hoping to release her next album by 2010.
7. Wherever You Will Go – The Calling [2002]
----- Winner of the "That Thing You Do Award" (a.k.a. the "Band that Couldn't Stop Fighting Long Enough to Produce Another Hit Award")
Becoming one of the top hits of the year, “Wherever You Will Go” derived most of its popularity from lead singer Alex Band’s vocal similarity to then-Creed front man Scott Stapp. The Calling seemed to have everything going for it, until it didn’t. Not long after their song left the charts the band faced turmoil backstage and faced in-fighting. Half of the members left the band and sued the remaining members of the band, a break-up soon followed. Alex Band went on to acquire a top ten hit with his solo song “Why Don’t You & I” in 2004. Despite their one hit, the song has remained fairly steady airplay on light rock radio stations.
8. Tipsy – J-Kwon [2004]
Written by a teenager who was not legally old enough to drink, J-Kwon set the music world on fire with “Tipsy”. A simple song with agonizingly simple lyrics, J-Kwon was too young to have anything important to say, was too inexperienced to have multiple songs under his arsenal, and happened to catch lightning in a bottle. There were a million better hip-hop songs out there, this song just happened to be a hit at the clubs. Because of his youth, it’s not out of the question that J-Kwon can have another hit, but after five years without a hit and out of the limelight the odds are against him.
9. Laffy Taffy – D4L [2006]
----- Winner of the “Anita Ward Award” (a.k.a. the “Genre Makes The Hit Award”)
Ah, krunk; a simpler time, a time when all a person had to do was yell a couple of key phrases like “WHAT! YEAH! and OKAY! to assure one’s-self a hit. D4L’s “Laffy-Taffy” not only featured a repetitive chorus, monster bass tracks, and an element of sampeling (from the song “Candy Girl” by New Edition) but it also was released during krunk’s viable hey-day. Had it been released in 2002 or 2008 it would not have been a hit; timing was everything to this song’s success. Oddly enough, while it reached number one on the US Billboard Top 100 charts, it never became a top five rap or hip-hop song on its respective chart.
10. Blue (Da Ba Dee) – Eiffel 65 [2000]
Released in January of 2000, this song earns the title for the first true one hit wonder of the decade. Eiffel 65, a dance music band, made its first and only crossover hit of their career. The annoyingly catchy dance-mix song was enhanced by its effects-driven music video, featuring a bevy of 3-D aliens rocking out to the song in outer space.
Honorable Mentions:
• You’re Beautiful – James Blunt [2006]
The reason this song didn’t make the list (it would have been listed at number two) is because the likelihood of James Blunt having another hit is still quite high. When “You’re Beautiful” first came out, the world indulged on it to the point where it heard it too much, and later became disgusted with it and never wanted to hear it again. In fact, the song’s tremendous popularity (and later revolt) may be the reason that Blunt may fall into the annals of history as a one-hit wonder. It seems premature to call him a one-hit wonder at this moment but it also wouldn’t be wise to exclude him either.
• Mambo No. 5 (A Little Bit of…) – Lou Bega [1999-2000] & Thong Song – Sisqo [1999-2000]
Technically these songs were both released in November of 1999, so they can’t officially be listed as having been released this decade. However, neither songs had reached their full hit status until the new millennium, so they count. “Thong Song” did not become a hit until March and “Mambo No. 5” was a hit well into the summer, spanning more parody songs than anyone could imagine. In Atlanta, both the Atlanta Braves and the Atlanta Zoo featured radio ad parodies of the song. As they both are novelty songs, neither singer saw their solo career pan out. Sisqo had a bit more success, being a feature singer on the popular Will Smith song “The Wild, Wild West” for the film of the same name. He also went on to have cameos in a couple of television and movies before fading out of the spotlight.
• Because I Got High – Afroman [2001]
----- Winner of the “Chumbawamba Award” (a.k.a. “Song That Became An Anthem Award”)
This song really connected with a lot of people because they get high, because they get high, because they get hi-igh. This song will be the musical version of the film “Half Baked” – a pot smokers’ delight. A niche song, this novelty track has the potential to have more lasting power than any of these songs on the list.
• Lean Back – Terror Squad [2004]
----- Winner of the “Electric Slide Award” (a.k.a. the “Dance Move that Sweeps the Nation Award”)
----- Winner of the “Rockwell Award” (a.k.a. the “I Got A Major Artist To Perform In This Song And That Is The Only Reason That This Song Is A Hit Award”)
Okay lazy people, you officially have a dance move; now shut the f- - k up. This song, popularized by the appearance of Fat Joe – who basically does most of the work on this song – requires the following moves to become a dancing guru: Step 1) Lean back. Step 2) … There is no step two.
• I Believe in a Thing Called Love – The Darkness [2003]
----- Winner of the “Gary Numan Award” (a.k.a. “The Right Place at the Right Time Award”)
This faux rock band was a band that was ahead of its time, right on time. Marvelous 3’s 1999 “Ready, Sex, Go” album featured many of the same elements of this ironically retro rock pop album, yet did not reach hit status. So why did this band have a hit and not Marvelous 3? Two words: Falsetto Voice.
• God Bless the USA – Lee Greenwood [1984/2001]
Is it possible for a one-hit wonder to become a hit again? If so, then Lee Greenwood is your man. Originally becoming a one-hit wonder in 1984, the country singer’s track was usually only heard during the 4th of July weekend. Then September 11th happened; suddenly patriotic music filled the airwaves and “God Bless the USA” was the biggest benefactor. Re-entering the charts, this single rose to number 16 on the US Billboard Top 100.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Music Watch: The Top 10 Springsteen Songs You've Never Heard
For all of Bruce Springsteen's (a.k.a. THE BOSS) accomplishments, perhaps the songs he is best known for are some of his worst (I'm talking to you Red Headed Woman).
Anyway, in between his acclaimed gems are the diamonds in the rough. As some of our readers may be aware, Springsteen's albums -- while not strictly concept albums -- followed a very similiar theme in each album he released, meaning that some of his best songs never made it onto the shelves. Did you know that "Born in the U.S.A." was a reject from his low-key acoustic Nebraska album? That is where I (and a large portion of his 1998 Tracks album) come into play.
First, lets set the ground rules: just because a song did not become a radio hit does not make it elidgeable for this list. If that were the case, than I'd have to include Atlantic City, Promised Land, Should I Fall Behind, or any song that made its way onto a greatest hits CD. Because any casual fan would know that "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" is to The Boss what "Panio Man" is to Billy Joel -- it is his signature concert anthem.
Despite being semi-familiar to casual Springsteen fans, some of his less popular (Nebraska) and later works (We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions) will be elidgible for this list. Songs from extremly popular albums such as Born to Run or Born in the U.S.A are less likely to be on the list, but don't expect to see a few outakes make the list.
Now introducing to you, the 10 best Springsteen songs that you've never heard:
10. Tie: Sherry Darling/Janey, Don't You Lose Heart/Be True -- Nothing like a feel-good romp to get the list started. I couldn't decide between the three -- all of which carry a bit of similarity -- so I decided to count them as one. Note, of the three, two were failed Born in the U.S.A. tracks and one (Sherry Darling) was featured on his 1980 album The River.
9. Restless Nights -- A track so rare that even YouTube doesn't have a clip of The Boss playing it, so we went with the next best thing, a cover. The Springsteen version is here in the link.
8. Empty Sky -- The Rising saw a plethora of critical acclaim and quickly rose to the top of the charts like no new Springsteen album in over a decade. But this is the digital era, and people mostly buy singles now, meaning that this track is usually the forgotten 9/11 track of the bunch.
7. Lost in the Flood/Spirit in the Night -- I could have entered several songs from his earlier work, but felt as though these songs embodied much of what he represented back then. Specifically, I chose "Lost in the Flood" because he had not performed the song for 20 years until he busted it out for the reunion tour in 1999 (last having played it in 1978).
6. Sad Eyes -- Another Tracks song, was a reject from his Human Touch album, arguably the worst of his career (only matched with another album that he released on the same day, Lucky Town). How this album found its way onto the cutting room floor is beyond me when listening to Human Touch.
5. Pay Me My Money Down/Erie Canal/Old Dan Tucker -- Playing with his folk band (The Seeger Sessions Band), Springsteen brought out his first and only cover album, using songs made famous by Pete Seeger. The album won a Grammy for Best Traditional Folk Album yet went largely unnoticed by the public, selling only 700,000 copies. "Old Dan Tucker" is probably my favorite of the set, but Pay Me My Money Down features a video where Bruce dances like an old Jewish guy with a stiff back -- it is both sad and funny at the same time. Erie Canal leaves a haunting presence long after you've stopped listening.
4. Devils & Dust -- the title track to his 2004 folk album featured a plethora of heartfelt, ponient expressions of nuiance that became a critics darling. The album went on to win five Grammy Awards, including best rock album, but the song "Devils & Dust" is the true winner, winning Song of the Year. The song was written in 2003 as a protest to the Iraq War, about a soldier trying to survive and make sense of his role there. It is only at number four because it was so popular at the award shows, yet not a radio tune. The lyrics of this song are perhaps his best work since Born in the U.S.A. Here is the studio version that won the Grammy award for best long-form music video.
I got God on my side,
I'm just trying to survive -
What if, what you do to survive
Kills the things you love.
Fear's a powerful thing ...
3. Land of Hope and Dreams -- This song has never, repeat, never been featured on a studio album. The only time that this song has been recorded professionally was the Chimes of Freedom live album. It is similiar in content to "Promised Land" and tells of the promise of hope, the darkness of dispair, and the dream that is America. On the flip side, "American Skin (41 Shots)" details what is wrong with America. This version was also never a studio release, but it did make headlines.
2. Thundercrack -- A failed track from his The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle, Thundercrack is a free-spirited rock song that will be played from time to time in concert. Here is a version from the mid-70s, notice the facial hair he was sporting back then... wow.
1. I Don't Want to Go Home -- This is one of those songs where you hear it for the first time and say to yourself, "What the hell? How did I live this long and not know that this song existed?!?!" Well, technically, it is not a Springsteen song but infact that of Southside Johnny and the Ashbury Jukes (Springsteen is from Ashbury Park, NJ). Not only did the two know each other, but the song was written by Steve Van Zandt, who played with Springsteen as a founding member of the E Street Band (even finishing "Born to Run" when Springsteen was in a musical rut) who left to found a new band. The result was one crazy night in Cleveland in 1978 when Springsteen made an appearence in a concert that would later become a live album. The result is a Springsteen song that even some serious fans may not know about.
Anyway, in between his acclaimed gems are the diamonds in the rough. As some of our readers may be aware, Springsteen's albums -- while not strictly concept albums -- followed a very similiar theme in each album he released, meaning that some of his best songs never made it onto the shelves. Did you know that "Born in the U.S.A." was a reject from his low-key acoustic Nebraska album? That is where I (and a large portion of his 1998 Tracks album) come into play.
First, lets set the ground rules: just because a song did not become a radio hit does not make it elidgeable for this list. If that were the case, than I'd have to include Atlantic City, Promised Land, Should I Fall Behind, or any song that made its way onto a greatest hits CD. Because any casual fan would know that "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" is to The Boss what "Panio Man" is to Billy Joel -- it is his signature concert anthem.
Despite being semi-familiar to casual Springsteen fans, some of his less popular (Nebraska) and later works (We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions) will be elidgible for this list. Songs from extremly popular albums such as Born to Run or Born in the U.S.A are less likely to be on the list, but don't expect to see a few outakes make the list.
Now introducing to you, the 10 best Springsteen songs that you've never heard:
10. Tie: Sherry Darling/Janey, Don't You Lose Heart/Be True -- Nothing like a feel-good romp to get the list started. I couldn't decide between the three -- all of which carry a bit of similarity -- so I decided to count them as one. Note, of the three, two were failed Born in the U.S.A. tracks and one (Sherry Darling) was featured on his 1980 album The River.
9. Restless Nights -- A track so rare that even YouTube doesn't have a clip of The Boss playing it, so we went with the next best thing, a cover. The Springsteen version is here in the link.
8. Empty Sky -- The Rising saw a plethora of critical acclaim and quickly rose to the top of the charts like no new Springsteen album in over a decade. But this is the digital era, and people mostly buy singles now, meaning that this track is usually the forgotten 9/11 track of the bunch.
7. Lost in the Flood/Spirit in the Night -- I could have entered several songs from his earlier work, but felt as though these songs embodied much of what he represented back then. Specifically, I chose "Lost in the Flood" because he had not performed the song for 20 years until he busted it out for the reunion tour in 1999 (last having played it in 1978).
6. Sad Eyes -- Another Tracks song, was a reject from his Human Touch album, arguably the worst of his career (only matched with another album that he released on the same day, Lucky Town). How this album found its way onto the cutting room floor is beyond me when listening to Human Touch.
5. Pay Me My Money Down/Erie Canal/Old Dan Tucker -- Playing with his folk band (The Seeger Sessions Band), Springsteen brought out his first and only cover album, using songs made famous by Pete Seeger. The album won a Grammy for Best Traditional Folk Album yet went largely unnoticed by the public, selling only 700,000 copies. "Old Dan Tucker" is probably my favorite of the set, but Pay Me My Money Down features a video where Bruce dances like an old Jewish guy with a stiff back -- it is both sad and funny at the same time. Erie Canal leaves a haunting presence long after you've stopped listening.
4. Devils & Dust -- the title track to his 2004 folk album featured a plethora of heartfelt, ponient expressions of nuiance that became a critics darling. The album went on to win five Grammy Awards, including best rock album, but the song "Devils & Dust" is the true winner, winning Song of the Year. The song was written in 2003 as a protest to the Iraq War, about a soldier trying to survive and make sense of his role there. It is only at number four because it was so popular at the award shows, yet not a radio tune. The lyrics of this song are perhaps his best work since Born in the U.S.A. Here is the studio version that won the Grammy award for best long-form music video.
I got God on my side,
I'm just trying to survive -
What if, what you do to survive
Kills the things you love.
Fear's a powerful thing ...
3. Land of Hope and Dreams -- This song has never, repeat, never been featured on a studio album. The only time that this song has been recorded professionally was the Chimes of Freedom live album. It is similiar in content to "Promised Land" and tells of the promise of hope, the darkness of dispair, and the dream that is America. On the flip side, "American Skin (41 Shots)" details what is wrong with America. This version was also never a studio release, but it did make headlines.
2. Thundercrack -- A failed track from his The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle, Thundercrack is a free-spirited rock song that will be played from time to time in concert. Here is a version from the mid-70s, notice the facial hair he was sporting back then... wow.
1. I Don't Want to Go Home -- This is one of those songs where you hear it for the first time and say to yourself, "What the hell? How did I live this long and not know that this song existed?!?!" Well, technically, it is not a Springsteen song but infact that of Southside Johnny and the Ashbury Jukes (Springsteen is from Ashbury Park, NJ). Not only did the two know each other, but the song was written by Steve Van Zandt, who played with Springsteen as a founding member of the E Street Band (even finishing "Born to Run" when Springsteen was in a musical rut) who left to found a new band. The result was one crazy night in Cleveland in 1978 when Springsteen made an appearence in a concert that would later become a live album. The result is a Springsteen song that even some serious fans may not know about.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU...
Quick, what is the fourth most important day of the year?
In case you were wondering the three most important days of the year are:
1. Baseball's Opening Day
2. The Last Day of the Baseball Season
3. The birthday of our dear lord Jesus Christ, and by Jesus Christ I'm referring to blond, good-looking, lightly-bearded or clean-shaven Jesus Christ, not hippie-looking Jesus or swarthy, more Middle Eastern Jesus – who's probably more historically accurate – not that guy. I mean clean-shaven or lightly-bearded-like-Mike-Piazza Jesus, blond, almost Swiss-looking Jesus.
and
4. May 4 – Professional Baseball's Birthday.
That's right, on this day in 1871 the Fort Wayne Kekiongas defeated the Cleveland Forest Citys 2-0 in the first game of the newly formed National Association of Professional Base Ball Players (NAPBBP or NA).
Memorable events from this game include:
1. The 2-0 victory was the lowest scoring baseball game throughout the league’s first four years.
2. Despite winning the first game, the Fort Wayne Kekiongas would soon find themselves in baseball infamy as the first professional team to collapse, folding before the end of August of that season.
3. It was the first rainout in baseball history. Even though the home team had already completed a full nine inning defensive outing, baseball rules still had teams playing nine complete innings, regardless of whether or not the home team was winning. So the home team was at bat in the bottom of the ninth, having already secured a victory, when the game was rained out.
4. Deacon White, the catcher of the losing Cleveland club, played in this game. The league’s best catcher would later join the Boston club and become part of the “Big Four,” a group of players who defected from the star Boston club to play for the Chicago club while still under Boston’s contract. The defection of the “Big Four” caused the eventual breakup of the league as the owners would take control of the league, issuing a “reserve clause” that would give ownership the power. This system would not be challenged until Curt Flood fought the reserve clause 1969, nearly 100 years after it began.
So there you have it, baseball’s birthday. It should also be noted that on May 4, 1869 Henry “Father” Chadwick released the first of what would become an annual baseball book that would evolve into Spalding’s Official Baseball Guide, a popular annual publication that was printed for many years, eventually merging into the Sporting News’ Official Guide Book. Chadwick wrote nearly every modern rule on the sport. In fact, when the first game was played on May 4, 1871 pitchers threw underhand, were not allowed to bend their elbow, and from 45 feet away. By the end of the NA, pitchers could throw with bended elbows, baseball mounds were moved back to the modern distance of 60 feet 6 inches, and the curveball entered baseball – which would forever change the way the game was played, as baseball games went from a hitting league to a pitching league. However, it would be several years before pitchers were allowed to throw overhand. The rules at the time still required the pitcher to throw from no higher than their waist belts – a rule that was sometimes bent (here is another photo).
So here's to you baseball. Hope you don't mind, but I brought in a special friend to sing "Happy Birthday" to you.
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Be sure to check back on more baseball related history, as my nine part series The National Association: The Creation, Operation, and Downfall of Baseball’s First Professional League is sure to engage, enlighten, and some other word that starts with “e” baseball purists.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Retro Games- Sly Cooper
Long over due, I give you my review of Sly Cooper and the Thieves Raccoonus. Sly Cooper and the Thieves Raccoonus was developed by Sucker Punch and was released in 2002. Sly Cooper revolves around a Raccoon by the name Sly Cooper and his two allies, Bentley a Turtle that is a technology wiz and bumbling idiot with a heart of gold named Murray
It’s been little over six years since I originally played this game yet it has aged very well. The graphics in this game uses cell shading which was one of the hot things at the time, but this style has died down in recent years. Sucker Punch was one of the developers to use cell shading graphics to their success. The game is colorful and makes you fell that you are in a cartoon, yet still has that cool look to it. Each chapter of Sly Cooper is presented with still animation intro sequences were Sly explains were they are going and what villain Sly must face. The presentation is great and Sucker Punch really wanted to give the player the felling that they are a part of a cartoon. I really thought Sly Cooper was going to show its age when compared to the games of today, but holds its own and the cell shading design choice is perfect. The animation works well and fills smooth and moves very well.
In the sound department, the voice acting is good and does its job. Sly Cooper is a brash, sarcastic character and the voice actor achieves it very well; especially dialogue between Sly and Carmelita throughout the game. The Music is okay but not mind blowing; it has good ambient sounds but does not rock the boat to much. The real winner in the sound department is Sucker Punch, as they made every sound fit the Sly Cooper universe. From Sly’s sneaking footsteps to the sounds of water and fire it was able to suck me in to the game even more then I had expected. The first time I heard the sneaking noises that Sly makes when he is behind an enemy made me laugh because it felt like an old Looney Tunes episode. It’s hard to explain, but little touches in a game can go a long way in my book.
Before this game came out I was not really into platforms since Super Mario World back on the SNES. Sly Cooper was able to get me back into this genre of games. The controls are simple which helps make the game accessible and fun. Overall, it’s a simple game to operate. Sly has a one button melee attack, a special move button, a contact specific button and since this is a platformer, a jump button. The game works similar to old school games were one hit equals death for most enemies for Sly, but the use of the special horseshoe allows Sly to be able take damage once or twice before death. When I was playing, I thought it would be a breeze to go through the game but I found myself dying a lot mainly eventually due to human error on my part. I would try to rush and make careless mistakes but was eventually able to get through it. Similar to other 3D platformers, the camera can be cumbersome which led to a few deaths, but overall it works well and can be easily adjusted. Throughout the game, you can collect clues scattered throughout the level which allows the character to upgrade special abilities. This is important because it give Sly Cooper more shelf life. Since the game can be beaten in less then ten hours, I found my self wanting to stay in the level and find clues. It was very rewarding to find all the special items in the level and crack the code to new abilities, but it was also frustrating to find 29 out of 30 clues throughout the level and search for that last clue that cannot be found. The level design in Sly Cooper and gameplay is spot on. There are five overarching levels and mini-levels inside each location. These mini-levels will run the gamut from straight platforming to mini-games; my favorite being the arena battles and boss battles that all have their distinct differences and are fun and challenging. The pacing of the game is perfect, especially towards the end were the game mixes all the different gameplay mechanics into the final stage.
Overall Sly Cooper and The Thieves Raccoonus is a must play for anyone that still has a Playstation 2.I would also like to mention to give the two sequels a try as well. Sucker Punch should be commended for their efforts in bringing back the nostalgia of old platformers and introducing modern gameplay mechanics into the fold. Also Sly Cooper still looks good even after six years. Let’s hope that Sucker Punch can do as good of a job on their new game Infamous.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Washington DC: Part II
In Part II of our series, we'll continue our examination of the history of Washington D.C. Our first part can be found here. This is part two of a three part series.
------------------------------------------------
Washington DC: 1787 – 1864; A Look into the Founding of the Nation’s First Permanent Capitol and Its Near Collapse, Part II
Congress would approve the city’s commercial future, but first had to build a city to do so. On the 15th day of April, 1791, the cornerstones of the city were placed at Jones’ Point, near Alexandria. From that point onward, the city – then known as the Federal City, or the District of Columbia – would construct a massive series of public buildings. Developed by French architect Charles Peter L’Enfant, the city would create a series of grand governmental structures, as well as gorgeous park and recreational grounds. In an article written by L’Enfant to The American Apollo, he describes his vision of the future city. Included in the plans were the blueprints to build a great memorial in honor of the nation’s first president, George Washington. Also included were plans to build a national park, known as a mall. This mall, 1800 feet in width and three-fourths of a mile in length, would lead directly from the Washington Monument to the Capitol Building. Grand fountains would also be a fixture of the city plans, as L’Enfant was greatly influenced by other famous world cities . His concept was to takes the best parts of the world’s best cities and build upon them.
Additionally, streets would run vertically and horizontally, with oblique roads running throughout the city. These streets would begin with a fixed radial center, the Capitol Building. All streets would be given directional titles. For example, the first street east of the capitol would be known as First Street East, while the first street west of the capitol would be known as First Street West. Meanwhile, the oblique avenues – with titles of states given to them, were designed to give direct linkage to some of the more prominent governmental fixtures. For example, Pennsylvania Avenue was designed to connect the Capitol Building to the President’s House, moving in a northwestern direction. Maryland Avenue connects the Capitol to the Potomac Bridge. Indeed, roads make up a large part of the city. The design of the city featured roughly 3,604 acres of paved roads while the accumulated government lots totaled only 3,529 acres of land . The streets were intended to support a grand supply of transportation, and while the total number of government lots has increased over the years, the streets continue to dominate much of the city’s infrastructure.
The positions for many of the government’s buildings were a matter of suitability, as the executive offices were to be placed immediately south of the President’s House. Also, the structures for the War, Navy, State, and Treasury Departments were constructed to the east and west of the house as well. It is believed that the exact location was selected both due to the proximity and the cost of which it could be built (the ground surrounding the President’s House was on the slope of a hill and would be costly to build upon such grounds). Another placement of convenience was housing for foreign aids and ministers. At a mile and a half, the distance between the executive and legislative branch of the government has been continually problematic for lawmakers. The distance for these two buildings has never been truly answered. Other buildings, such as the Patent Office, were placed in a preexisting structure, once serving as a church. Once a hotel, the General Post Office was first rented by the government until it finally decided to purchase the structure and redesign the interior to better suit its purposes.
Yet despite its grand intentions, the city had no great roadway leading up to it. In her first travel to the city, First Lady Abagail Adams – wife of President John Adams – remarked in a letter to her daughter how difficult it was to procure the lodgings of her future home.
“I arrived here on Sunday last, and without meeting with any accident worth noticing, except losing ourselves when we left Baltimore, and going eight or nine miles on the Frederick road, by which means we were obliged to go the other eight through the woods, where we wandered two hours without finding a guide or the path. Fortunately, a straggling black came up with us, and we engaged him as a guide to extricate us out of our difficulty; but woods are all you see from Baltimore until you reach the city, which is only so in name.”
In fact, prior to the city’s completion, few if any buildings existed. On July 4, 1800, then-Secretary of the Treasury Oliver Wolcott wrote a letter to his wife. Wolcott, who had recently moved to Washington, remarked that the few houses that did exist were nothing more than simple huts and that the President’s House – if looked upon by visitors – would be met with ridicule or pity. But not all people met the city with such contempt. Despite her difficulty in finding the city, Mrs. Adams continued in her letter that she found the city delightful.
During that time, the city was fairly scarce, but did reside next to the cities of Alexandria and Georgetown; both housing a few thousand residents each. From the years 1800 to 1850, the population consisted of nearly 5,000 people, with an increase of nearly 550 people per year. Of that, blacks consisted of nearly one-fourth of the population. Throughout this time, the number of free vs. enslaved black people would differ greatly. In 1800, nearly 20 percent of the city’s population was slaves, with freed blacks consisting of nearly four percent. By 1860, slaves would only consist of roughly three percent, while freed blacks made up about 15 percent of the city’s total population. However, while the quantity of freed African-Americans continued to increase, the quality of their livelihood remained fairly consistent. The majority of work that black people could find was often laborious; cooking, cleaning, and farming were the most common forms of employment, one that did not allow them to fully grasp the idealisms that the national capitol was supposed to exemplify.
Despite this seemingly unjust practice, the city was considered wildly liberal for its time. Beginning with Jefferson, formal dinners became a staple of his presidency; for, James Madison, attending the President’s House meant attending a reception. Social balls were quite common during this time period and would often times feature a plethora of bachelorettes who were said to be quite beautiful. One author of the day remarked that the women were both of high statue and grace, remarking, “Between these young ladies, who are generally not only good looking but good tempered, and, if not well informed, capable of becoming so.”
------------------------------------------------
Washington DC: 1787 – 1864; A Look into the Founding of the Nation’s First Permanent Capitol and Its Near Collapse, Part II
Congress would approve the city’s commercial future, but first had to build a city to do so. On the 15th day of April, 1791, the cornerstones of the city were placed at Jones’ Point, near Alexandria. From that point onward, the city – then known as the Federal City, or the District of Columbia – would construct a massive series of public buildings. Developed by French architect Charles Peter L’Enfant, the city would create a series of grand governmental structures, as well as gorgeous park and recreational grounds. In an article written by L’Enfant to The American Apollo, he describes his vision of the future city. Included in the plans were the blueprints to build a great memorial in honor of the nation’s first president, George Washington. Also included were plans to build a national park, known as a mall. This mall, 1800 feet in width and three-fourths of a mile in length, would lead directly from the Washington Monument to the Capitol Building. Grand fountains would also be a fixture of the city plans, as L’Enfant was greatly influenced by other famous world cities . His concept was to takes the best parts of the world’s best cities and build upon them.
Additionally, streets would run vertically and horizontally, with oblique roads running throughout the city. These streets would begin with a fixed radial center, the Capitol Building. All streets would be given directional titles. For example, the first street east of the capitol would be known as First Street East, while the first street west of the capitol would be known as First Street West. Meanwhile, the oblique avenues – with titles of states given to them, were designed to give direct linkage to some of the more prominent governmental fixtures. For example, Pennsylvania Avenue was designed to connect the Capitol Building to the President’s House, moving in a northwestern direction. Maryland Avenue connects the Capitol to the Potomac Bridge. Indeed, roads make up a large part of the city. The design of the city featured roughly 3,604 acres of paved roads while the accumulated government lots totaled only 3,529 acres of land . The streets were intended to support a grand supply of transportation, and while the total number of government lots has increased over the years, the streets continue to dominate much of the city’s infrastructure.
The positions for many of the government’s buildings were a matter of suitability, as the executive offices were to be placed immediately south of the President’s House. Also, the structures for the War, Navy, State, and Treasury Departments were constructed to the east and west of the house as well. It is believed that the exact location was selected both due to the proximity and the cost of which it could be built (the ground surrounding the President’s House was on the slope of a hill and would be costly to build upon such grounds). Another placement of convenience was housing for foreign aids and ministers. At a mile and a half, the distance between the executive and legislative branch of the government has been continually problematic for lawmakers. The distance for these two buildings has never been truly answered. Other buildings, such as the Patent Office, were placed in a preexisting structure, once serving as a church. Once a hotel, the General Post Office was first rented by the government until it finally decided to purchase the structure and redesign the interior to better suit its purposes.
Yet despite its grand intentions, the city had no great roadway leading up to it. In her first travel to the city, First Lady Abagail Adams – wife of President John Adams – remarked in a letter to her daughter how difficult it was to procure the lodgings of her future home.
“I arrived here on Sunday last, and without meeting with any accident worth noticing, except losing ourselves when we left Baltimore, and going eight or nine miles on the Frederick road, by which means we were obliged to go the other eight through the woods, where we wandered two hours without finding a guide or the path. Fortunately, a straggling black came up with us, and we engaged him as a guide to extricate us out of our difficulty; but woods are all you see from Baltimore until you reach the city, which is only so in name.”
In fact, prior to the city’s completion, few if any buildings existed. On July 4, 1800, then-Secretary of the Treasury Oliver Wolcott wrote a letter to his wife. Wolcott, who had recently moved to Washington, remarked that the few houses that did exist were nothing more than simple huts and that the President’s House – if looked upon by visitors – would be met with ridicule or pity. But not all people met the city with such contempt. Despite her difficulty in finding the city, Mrs. Adams continued in her letter that she found the city delightful.
During that time, the city was fairly scarce, but did reside next to the cities of Alexandria and Georgetown; both housing a few thousand residents each. From the years 1800 to 1850, the population consisted of nearly 5,000 people, with an increase of nearly 550 people per year. Of that, blacks consisted of nearly one-fourth of the population. Throughout this time, the number of free vs. enslaved black people would differ greatly. In 1800, nearly 20 percent of the city’s population was slaves, with freed blacks consisting of nearly four percent. By 1860, slaves would only consist of roughly three percent, while freed blacks made up about 15 percent of the city’s total population. However, while the quantity of freed African-Americans continued to increase, the quality of their livelihood remained fairly consistent. The majority of work that black people could find was often laborious; cooking, cleaning, and farming were the most common forms of employment, one that did not allow them to fully grasp the idealisms that the national capitol was supposed to exemplify.
Despite this seemingly unjust practice, the city was considered wildly liberal for its time. Beginning with Jefferson, formal dinners became a staple of his presidency; for, James Madison, attending the President’s House meant attending a reception. Social balls were quite common during this time period and would often times feature a plethora of bachelorettes who were said to be quite beautiful. One author of the day remarked that the women were both of high statue and grace, remarking, “Between these young ladies, who are generally not only good looking but good tempered, and, if not well informed, capable of becoming so.”
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Washington DC: Part I
Today here at the Luckie Street Tribune we'll be introducing a new feature to our selection of articles: "Lost and Found." In this section, we'll work to uncover a series of interesting topics that our readers may not know enough about. Today, the focus of our initial subject is the Federal City, better known by its nickname Washington D.C. The District of Columbia portion of the title is legitimate, but the Washington portion was added four months after the nation's first president, George Washington, selected the site. This is part 1 of a 3 part series.
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Washington DC: 1787 – 1864; A Look into the Founding of the Nation’s First Permanent Capitol and Its Near Collapse, Part I
The District of Columbia, with the prefix “Washington” added at a later date, has housed the federal government since its inception. Created with the task of performing the daily tasks of government, elected representatives selected the grounds across the Potomac River with the intent to preserve and improve the ideals of the nation. But building a capitol city of this magnitude was not an easy task; there were many different factors that went into building such an establishment. From this, a city was created that has had its share of both prosperity and tragedy; like the nation, it has been a city that has changed with the times. Following a massive effort, the city has become the symbol of democracy.
Following the colony’s victory over the British, a formal federal government was established. Aimed at developing a democracy that would expand the ideals that they had fought to acquire, Congress proposed the permanent location of a national capitol. Many states had applied for the honor, including many of the largest cities. The federal government, having fled the city of Philadelphia following the mutiny of October 21, 1873 , realized that a permanent solution needed to be implemented quicker than originally anticipated. But, as the first Congress learned from its temporary home in Philadelphia, building upon a pre-existing city was not the most suitable environment to hold the federal government. For one, the buildings had to be close together, so in the event that an emergency occurred, members of all three branches – as well as the military – could convene in a timely manner. Also, as most cities relied upon easy aquatic transportation, national security was concerned. A city had to be constructed in a location that was both secure and easily accessible.
Indeed, Congress did intend to move away from their historical roots, as mentioned in the Constitution of the United States (Article I, Section VIII). The original proposed location for the capitol was along the Delaware River, but – for either economic or political reasons, was never put into motion. At other times, locations in Virginia and Pennsylvania were seriously considered for the capitol. Finally, on May 10, 1787, a location along the Potomac River was selected to house the nation’s capitol. George Washington, as the nation’s first president, would have final selection over the city’s location. He would eventually decide on an area known as Connogocheague, on the Potomac River. This area, located in between Georgetown and Alexandria, bordered the two states of Maryland and Virginia. Thomas Scott, a representative for the state of Pennsylvania, presented the location to Congress and the location was finalized, 31 “ayes” to 19 “nays.” The nation’s capitol had been selected.
Scott, on his proposal, declared the area by the Potomac to be, “the future tranquility and well-being of the United States,” stating that the fate of the country “depended as much on this as on any question that ever had or could come before Congress.” Not everyone felt this way. One New York representative claimed that it should be held in New York City, as it was superior in both behavior and in class.
The purpose for the site seems fairly simple, as Washington – who was raised in that area – was given the task of selecting the location of the capitol. He wanted to build the capitol in his former backyard. And while the battle for deciding the capitol’s location had been settled, a new set of questions would begin to emerge. Should the capitol become a city of commerce? Some members of Congress felt as though Washington decided upon that specific region in an effort to increase trade commerce. The river of the Potomac featured easy access to the Ohio, as well as the Great Lakes (through the Cuyahoga). Thomas Jefferson made the argument for commercialization in Notes on Virginia, claiming, “Spread the field of our commerce Westwardly and Southwardly beyond any thing ever yet done by man.”
--------------------------------------------------
Washington DC: 1787 – 1864; A Look into the Founding of the Nation’s First Permanent Capitol and Its Near Collapse, Part I
The District of Columbia, with the prefix “Washington” added at a later date, has housed the federal government since its inception. Created with the task of performing the daily tasks of government, elected representatives selected the grounds across the Potomac River with the intent to preserve and improve the ideals of the nation. But building a capitol city of this magnitude was not an easy task; there were many different factors that went into building such an establishment. From this, a city was created that has had its share of both prosperity and tragedy; like the nation, it has been a city that has changed with the times. Following a massive effort, the city has become the symbol of democracy.
Following the colony’s victory over the British, a formal federal government was established. Aimed at developing a democracy that would expand the ideals that they had fought to acquire, Congress proposed the permanent location of a national capitol. Many states had applied for the honor, including many of the largest cities. The federal government, having fled the city of Philadelphia following the mutiny of October 21, 1873 , realized that a permanent solution needed to be implemented quicker than originally anticipated. But, as the first Congress learned from its temporary home in Philadelphia, building upon a pre-existing city was not the most suitable environment to hold the federal government. For one, the buildings had to be close together, so in the event that an emergency occurred, members of all three branches – as well as the military – could convene in a timely manner. Also, as most cities relied upon easy aquatic transportation, national security was concerned. A city had to be constructed in a location that was both secure and easily accessible.
Indeed, Congress did intend to move away from their historical roots, as mentioned in the Constitution of the United States (Article I, Section VIII). The original proposed location for the capitol was along the Delaware River, but – for either economic or political reasons, was never put into motion. At other times, locations in Virginia and Pennsylvania were seriously considered for the capitol. Finally, on May 10, 1787, a location along the Potomac River was selected to house the nation’s capitol. George Washington, as the nation’s first president, would have final selection over the city’s location. He would eventually decide on an area known as Connogocheague, on the Potomac River. This area, located in between Georgetown and Alexandria, bordered the two states of Maryland and Virginia. Thomas Scott, a representative for the state of Pennsylvania, presented the location to Congress and the location was finalized, 31 “ayes” to 19 “nays.” The nation’s capitol had been selected.
Scott, on his proposal, declared the area by the Potomac to be, “the future tranquility and well-being of the United States,” stating that the fate of the country “depended as much on this as on any question that ever had or could come before Congress.” Not everyone felt this way. One New York representative claimed that it should be held in New York City, as it was superior in both behavior and in class.
The purpose for the site seems fairly simple, as Washington – who was raised in that area – was given the task of selecting the location of the capitol. He wanted to build the capitol in his former backyard. And while the battle for deciding the capitol’s location had been settled, a new set of questions would begin to emerge. Should the capitol become a city of commerce? Some members of Congress felt as though Washington decided upon that specific region in an effort to increase trade commerce. The river of the Potomac featured easy access to the Ohio, as well as the Great Lakes (through the Cuyahoga). Thomas Jefferson made the argument for commercialization in Notes on Virginia, claiming, “Spread the field of our commerce Westwardly and Southwardly beyond any thing ever yet done by man.”
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