Posted By BillHeise on June 29, 2009

Okay, the first video is one of my favorite songs, but the video is bizarre, featuring people in life-sized plush animal costumes. So this would be the time to remind my faithful readers that I don’t often watch the videos themselves.

Having said that, my wife walked in my office one day and found me listening to this song and watching the video and she said (and I quote) “What the @$$@^%#$# are you watching?”  So I explained to my (justly) skeptical wife that I was not a “plushy” and that I really liked the song. I played it for her and she agreed. That almost never happens. She and I agree on almost everything, but not on music. (Note her reaction to Chester and Lester.)

A few weeks later, the song was featured on the pilot of Life, one of our favorite TV shows. If it was on television, it must be okay. This song has never been released in the United States. They’re big in France, however. You can order the import album Rough Dreams here.

Once again, I have to tell you that I’m a little disturbed by the bondage in this next video, but I really like this song. This video could account for the lack of mainstream airtime on MTV or on any American radio station. But they’re big in France!

This song was featured on I Oughtta Give You a Shot in the Head for Making Me Live in This Dump, their first album, along with such songs as Cannibal King and , Daring Lousy Guy, and Idiot Waltz. But none of those songs were available on YouTube.

[Correction: I found Daring Lousy Guy on the Internet after I had posted the first draft. Click link to watch.]

The next two videos were from a 2007 concert in France, where they are big. The first is a rendering of Chicago’s own R. Kelly’s Half on a Baby. I didn’t really get the song right away, but they had featured it on their website, and I came around. Much better than R. Kelly’s version IMO. But then everyone knows I have no taste in music. (I listen to music that’s big in France, for God’s sake).

The next video is called Hello, I’m Back Again.

The next song is a short standardish offering from the versatile artists. It was my favorite Shivaree song at the time I wrote this posting. But I am fickle, and I’m sure I’ll go back to my old favorites at some point.

Their one famous song in America rose to fame by its inclusion in the soundtrack for Kill Bill Vol. II. If you haven’t heard this song , you should listen to it. If you have heard the song but haven’t bought a copy, you should buy a copy of I Oughtta Give You a Shot in the Head for Making Me Live in This Dump. And if you own the album…well, who am I kidding? Nobody in America owns the album. But they’re big in France!

For more information on Shivaree, go to their website.

Categories: What I'm Listening to This Week
Tags: