Girl You Know It's True - Milli Vanilli

Artist: Milli Vanilli
Song: Girl You Know It's True
Year: 1989
Album: Girl You Know It's True

Unfairly crucified artists who got caught in the corporate machine of late eighties bubblegum pop.

Lyrics:
"So what are you doing back?"
"Well, I set back and thought about the things we used to do.
It really meant a lot to me, you mean a lot to me."
"I really mean that much to you?"
"Girl, you know it's true."

I'm in love with you girl 'cause you're on my mind,
you're the one I think about most every time.
And when you crack a smile in everything you do
don't you understand girl this love is true.
You're so sickin' hand, lone sweetin' thing,
that ? like poison up on your skin.
It lightens up my day and that's also true,
together we are one, separated we are two.
To make it all mine, all mine is my desire,
cause you contain a quality, you that I admire.
To put it playin' simple, you rule my world,
so try to understand:

I'm in love girl, I'm so in love girl,
I'm just in love girl, and this is true.

Girl you know it's true,
uh uh uh, I love you.
Yes you know it's true,
uh uh uh, I love you.

Girl you know it's true,
my love - is for you.
Girl you know it's true,
my love - is for you.

This sizzling thing girl, I can't explain,
my emotions starts up when I hear your name.
Maybe a sweet, sweet voice would ring in my ear,
it stimulate my senses, girl when you are near.
And with your positive emotion love making enjoy,
there's no need to bust, it's like a girl and a boy.
These feelings I keep, I often wondering why,
so I thought I might discuss this girl, just you and I.

Now what you wear, I don't care,
how ? before, the reason that I like a girl is for what you are.
If I sit and think about it, you rule my world,
so try to understand:

I'm in love girl, I'm so in love girl,
I'm just in love girl, and this is true.

Girl you know it's true,
uh uh uh, I love you.
Yes you know it's true,
uh uh uh, I love you.

Girl you know it's true,
my love - is for you.

I'm in love with you girl, I'm in love with you girl
I'm in love with you, I'm in love with you, I'm in love with you.

Girl you know it's true,
my love - is for you.
Girl you know it's true,
uh uh uh, I love you.
Yes you know it's true,
uh uh uh, I love you.

Funky Cold Medina - Tone Lōc

Artist: Tone Lōc
Song: Funky Cold Medina
Year: 1989
Album: Lōc-ed After Dark

In the late eighties, any rap single that featured an odd premise and an artist who could have a little fun with himself in the video had a hit record. Tone Lōc had a good time in his videos and seemed to be humble enough for everyone to like.

His gravelly voice was instantly recognizable. Every time that I heard Tone Lōc pop up on the radio or on MTV, I stopped and listened. The songs had charm. Especially this one. The images in the video sold me on the lyrics. I was at the appropriate age, where situations like Tone Lōc got himself into in the song were very funny.

This marks the first time, that I can think of, where the rapper was seduced by a transvestite in a song. The premise still held true years later, when comedian Eddie Murphy was seen in the company of a transvestite. I find nothing wrong with that lifestyle. Whatever floats your boat and doesn't hurt someone is fine by me. It's just funny when it crosses into the tabloids.

There is a drink that was inspired by "Funky Cold Medina". It consists of 1 oz Absolut Vodka, 1 oz Southern Comfort peach liqueur, 1 oz Blue Curacao liqueur per serving, topped with cranberry juice and dry ice. I haven't tried it, but it sounds interesting.

Lyrics:
Cold coolin at a bar, and I'm lookin for some action
But like Mike Jagger said, I can't get no satisfaction
The girls are all around, but none of them wanna get with me
My threads are fresh and I'm lookin def, yo, what's up with L-o-c?
The girls is all jockin at the other end of the bar
Havin drinks with some no-name chump, when they know that I'm the star
So I got up and strolled over to the other side of the cantina
I asked the guy, "Why you so fly?" he said, "Funky Cold Medina"

Funky Cold Medina

This brother told me a secret on how to get more chicks
Put a little Medina in your glass, and the girls'll come real quick
It's better than any alcohol or aphrodisiac
A couple of sips of this love potion, and she'll be on your lap
So I gave some to my dog when he began to beg
And then he licked his bowl and he looked at me and did the wild thing on my leg
He used to scratch and bite me, before he was much much meaner
But now all the poodles run to my house for the Funky Cold Medina

You know what I'm sayin?
I got every dog in my neighborhood breakin down my door
I got Spuds McKenzie
Alex from Stroh's
They won't leave my dog alone with that Medina, pal

I went up to this girl, she said, "Hi, my name is Sheena"
I thought she'd be good to go with a little Funky Cold Medina
She said, "I'd like a drink," I said, "Ehm - ok, I'll go get it"
Then a couple sips she cold licked her lips, and I knew that she was with it
So I took her to my crib, and everything went well as planned
But when she got undressed, it was a big old mess: Sheena was a man
So I threw him out, I don't fool around with no Oscar Mayer wiener
You must be sure that the girl is pure for the Funky Cold Medina

You know, ain't no plans with a man
This is the 80's, and I'm down with the ladies
Ya know?

Break it down

Back in the saddle, lookin for a little affection
I took a shot as a contestant on The Love Connection
The audience voted, and you know they picked a winner
I took my date to the Hilton for Medina and some dinner
She had a few drinks, I'm thinkin soon what I'll be gettin
Instead she started talkin 'bout plans for our weddin
I said, "Wait, slow down, love, not so fast says, I'll be seein ya"
That's why I found you don't play around with the Funky Cold Medina

Ya know what I'm sayin
That Medina's a monster, y'all

Funky Cold Medina

Paper Cuts - Nirvana

Artist: Nirvana
Song: Paper Cuts
Year: 1989
Album: Bleach

People tend to forget how heavy Nirvana were. They seem to only remember Nirvana as a kooky band that played funeral songs acoustically on MTV. Or they remember a song named after a deodorant marketed to teen girls.

Nirvana had many more sides to them than just those two things. They started out before there was a movement such as grunge. They based the songs off of punk, metal and classic rock. These are the beginnings of the grunge movement. It just so happens that most of the bands were concentrated in the Seattle area.

"Paper Cuts" shows Nirvana's heavier side. Kurt's wail almost makes me believe that he is still alive. It's so real and raw. The music comes some the other side of Sabbath's heaviest riffs. It's muddied and dirty, but they might have out-Sabbathed Black Sabbath on this song. Pain and torture and grit comes out in the vocals.

Bleach is a heavy record, but it does have it's softer side. "Paper Cuts" is not the softer side of Nirvana. For anyone who wants to get to know the real band, start with this album. Start with this track. Next, go to Incesticide and then In Utero. Top it off with Nevermind. You will see the evolution of Nirvana. The only reason I switched In Utero and Nevermind was to have the most accessible album as the last thing the listener should hear.

Lyrics:
When my feeding time
She push food through the door
And I crawl towards the cracks of light
Sometimes I can’t find my way
Newspapers spread around
Soaking all that they can
A cleaning is due again
A good hosing down

The lady whom I feel maternal love for
Cannot look me in the eyes
But I see hers and they are blue
And they cock and twitch and masturbate

I said so
I said so
I said so
Nirvana
Nirvana
Nirvana
Nirvana
Nirvana

Black windows are paint
I scratch with my nails
I see others just like me
Why do they not try escape?
They bring out the older ones
They point in my way
They come with a flash of light
And take my family away

And very later I have learned to
Accept some friends of ridicule
My whole existence was for your amusement
And that is why I’m here with you

To take
Me with
You’re eyes

Nirvana
Nirvana
Nirvana
Nirvana
Nirvana
Nirvana
Nirvana
Nirvana

Kinda I Want To - Nine Inch Nails

Artist: Nine Inch Nails
Song: Kinda I Want To
Year: 1989
Album: Pretty Hate Machine

I discovered Nine Inch Nails in 1992. I had heard the buzz about this band that did everything in the studio, with only one person. It was supposed to be amazing. Then, I saw all the pink and blue shirts with NIN on them in my art classes.

I listened to some of the band's music through a few friends. I was hooked. I taped a copy from one of my friends and listened to that constantly. I didn't actually pick up a physical CD until 1994. I could tell you the exact day that I picked it up. April 8, 1994.

I was in Dallas, Texas that morning. I was ending a two week trip with my mom to see her parents. We got back into Chicago around 1PM. I got restless and when to the CD Exchange to scope out the used music. I bought the Pretty Hate Machine and headed home.

At 5:30, we watched the evening news. We normally didn't do that, but for some odd reason we did that day. That's when I became aware of Kurt Cobain's passing. I had been blissfully unaware of the events of that day. I had even spent a good half hour in a music store.

I got a good CD out of that day and another surprise that I'll reveal in another post.

It was almost like a torch was being passed that day. My interest in Nirvana as a band grew that day, but I had already signaled that I was ready for new interests with that CD purchase. It just goes to show that if you get something for free, and you like it, it will be a purchase in the future.

This song became one of my favorites from the album. It was rarely played and it had the raw, yet shy, feelings of a teenager. It fit perfectly with my upbeat and confused outlook on life at that age. It was something grown up and complex. Although it still reeked of inexperience and longing. Something teenagers are definitely used to feeling.

Lyrics:
i can't shake this feeling from my head
there's a devil sleeping in my bed
he's watching you from across the way
i cannot make this feeling go away

i know it's not the right thing
and i know it's not the good thing
but kinda i want to

i'm not sure of what i should do
when everything i'm thinking of is you
all of my excuses turn to lies
maybe god will cover up his eyes

i know it's not the right thing
and i know it's not the good thing
but kinda i want to
kinda i want to

maybe just for tonight
we can pretend it's alright
what's the price i pay
i don't care what they say
i want to
i want to (i'll take my chance tonight)