Eclipse

Every now and then, I am in need of my collection of links to brilliant takes on the even more brilliant, Jim Steinman-penned song "Total Eclipse of the Heart," made famous by Welsh songbird Bonnie Tyler. It happens often enough (like, oh, maybe once a year?) that I've decided it's best to compile them here. Interested onlookers might be advised to refer first to this radio show, where I make a cursory explanation of my fascination for this song (fast forward to 1:15 if you don't want to hear all the noisy arty crap). 

The most famous (and no doubt best) reworking of the song is the original (and only good ever) literal video. It used to get taken down seemingly faster than it could be posted, but seems to be stable now. (I suggest going full-screen to experience the fullness of its glory and to sidestep Blogger's dimensions not matching up with YouTube's. 

Kiki and Herb do a fairly epic version of it, to the extent that something can be "fairly epic." 

But perhaps even epicker is the Finnish band Hurra Torpedo's take. 

Roadfill is a member of the Filipino lip-sync duo phenomenon Moymoy Palaboy (check out their "Bohemian Rhapsody"). Here he is with his gramma. 

Lest it appear that I'm just in it for the laughs, here's a sincere rendition... 

...and here's an unfunny one: 

But enough of these fakers. Here's the originals, faking the song. I love how bored Jim gets halfway through. 

And for anyone who still needs convincing, here's an instructional video that should help. 

Forever's gonna start tonight. 

©2012 Jock Mooney

Roy 2

I tapped his shoulder
and as he turned
someone else tapped
his other shoulder.
Too goddamned much
love in that room
to even say hello.

Lucy in the Purple Sky With Diamonds and Pearls

Dig if you will a picture
Of yourself in a boat on a river
With trees and the sky engaged in a kiss.
How come someone calls you.
You answer quite slowly
As if I were the tears in your eyes?

Elephant flowers of yellow and green
Are always in your hair.
Look for the third eye girl in the sun
And you’re gone.

Lucy cried, I almost died
Lucy cried, I almost died
Lucy cried, I almost died
Ahhhhhh

Go down to Graffiti Bridge, by the fountain,
Where rock hard people eat a funky pie.
Everyone smiles, up yours, you’re a star,
They need a purple high.

Lady cab driver appears on the shore
Waiting to take you away.
Something about her mixes with the clouds
And you’re gone.

Lucy cried, I almost died
Lucy cried, I almost died
Lucy cried, I almost died
Ahhhhhh

Picture yourself and I in a station
With plectrum electrum engaged in a kiss.
Suddenly somebody's somebody somewhere
I guess I should have closed my eyes.

Lucy cried, I almost died
Lucy cried, I almost died
Lucy cried, I almost died
Ahhhhhh

Lucy cried, I almost died
Lucy cried, I almost died
Lucy cried, I almost died
Ahhhhhh

Lucy cried, I almost died
Lucy cried, I almost died
Lucy cried, I almost died
Ahhhhhh




Freak out to a BONUS JAM by Chocomang

Roy

"You came!" the saxophonist said to me. "It's just a club gig."
"Weren't they once all club gigs?" I imagined saying to him. 
"No, " I imagined him responding. "I used to be in the circus."

Me interviewed on Fun 2 Know

On a recent trip to Philadelphia, WPRB DJ Dan Buskirk invited me to be a guest on his Fun 2 Know podcast. He kindly and generously summed up our chat better than I could so I'll just quote him.

Conversation with writer, music journalist, WFMU DJ and record producer Kurt Gottschalk. Originally out of Illinois, Kurt's earned a masters at the Columbia School of Journalism in 1997. He has written about arts and politics for All About Jazz, Signal to Noise, Time Out-New York, The Village Voice, The Wire and publications in Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Portugal and Russia. He has twice been recognized for "best feature writing" by the Connecticut Society of Professional Journalist. He also has hosted the Miniature Minotaur radio show on WFMU. He's also the author of two works of fiction, LITTLE APPLES: A STORY CYCLE and SENTENCES. Kurt's cover story on guitarist Loren Connor is the cover story of the June 2016 issue of the British magazine The Wire.

I became familiar with Kurt in the most modern of ways, a mutual Facebook friend neither of us really know saw our shared interests and recommended that we became Facebook friends. We both have avid interest in jazz music, 20th century rock and pop music and experimental sounds. We met for lunch about a year ago when Kurt was down from New York City for a Philadelphia trip and when we planned to meet up in early summer for a show from the Philadelphia chamber choir The Crossing I took the opportunity to sit Kurt down to record a conversation at the show kitchen table studio. We discuss Kurt's love of avant gardist Anthony Braxton as well as his record collecting roots, getting cheated by the Kiss Army, living in Chicago in the 90s, John Zorn's New York, Kurt's work with guitarist Loren Connors, the late Bernie Worrell and being visited by Prince in his dreams.

You can hear the whole episode here. 

My first cover story for the Wire and one of my favorite guitarists. This was a pleasure to work on.

January 13, approximately 11:30 pm

We shared our first kiss
in the bitter cold -
she looked girlish, 
suddenly cautious. 
A few strands
of her black hair
blew between our lips
after the first, brief, 
mouths almost meeting 
and the second and third,
with the cab driver waiting.

On the way to the subway 
I listened to Diamond Dogs
because Bowie isn't here anymore.