Music Mondays: Bisexual Danish Folk Rock

This song means a lot to me. The first time I heard it, it stole my breath away. I was in Denmark, taking part in a community where I wasn't comfortable being out (though the community was amazing in many ways--sometimes, it's hard to tell if that sort of shit is just in my head or what). Anyway, I heard this song and, not only did it sound incredible, I instantly knew it was about a woman's first time desiring another woman. I've talked to some people who think the song's message is subtle, but to me it was blindingly clear, maybe because I needed so badly to hear it.

The band is from the 70s, and was called Shit og Chanel (Shit and Chanel), a badass punk name if I ever heard one. At some point, Chanel made them stop going by that name. The singer, Anne Linnet, is one of the greats of Danish music.

I'll post a rough translation after the video.



Rough translation of the lyrics:

Jeg gik ind til byen for at kigge efter dig
I went into the city to look for you

Pludselig stod du der i mængden
Og smilede til mig
Suddenly you stood there in the crowd, smiling at me

Ja alle folk ka' se det straks
Everyone can see it right away

Du er så smuk og dejlig
You are so beautiful and lovely

Dine øjne skinner
Your eyes shine

Du må hellere passe på
You'd better take care

Jeg pas på at ilden i mig ikke bliver tændt
I'm careful not to let the fire in me light up

Vi kunne begge to meget let blive forbrændt
We could both easily get burnt

Men det er ikke let
But it's not easy

For du er så smuk og dejlig
Because you're so beautiful and lovely

Dine øjne skinner
Your eyes shine

Ta' og kig den anden vej
Go and look the other way

Du er lidt forvirret
You're a little confused

Siger du og ler
You say, laughing

Smiler lidt vemodigt
You smile wistfully

Når du spør mig hva er det der sker
When you ask me, what is happening here?

Men jeg ved det heller ikke
But I don't know either

Du er så smuk og dejlig
You're so beautiful and lovely

Dine øjne skinner
Your eyes shine

Stærkere end nogen sol
Stronger than any sun

(And then various parts get repeated for the rest of the song)

Music Mondays: "Know Your Name" by Mary Lambert

Know Your Name (Official Video) by Mary Lambert on VEVO.

OK, first, I want to find out where they are in this video and go hang out there.

Second, how do I get in on this Street Fighter tournament?

Third, why is everyone in this video so cool? How does Mary Lambert find such awesome friends? (Probably by being super awesome herself...)

Fourth, I like the song, too!

Music Mondays: "Needed Me" by Rihanna

Warning: This video contains graphic scenes of violence and exploitation

This song is so beautiful, and the video for it is so ugly, but I think these things match and go together. The beauty of the song very much exists in the context of ugliness, and that's what the video is showing. To me, this expresses the power and soothing beauty that can come in the aftermath of horror, and it's something that's felt healing to me lately.

Rihanna is very sexy in this, but she's sexy in that way that isn't for anyone but herself, in my opinion. She feels turned very inward here, and I appreciate that, and I like it when I feel that way, too.

Music Mondays: Dhivara from Baahubali: The Beginning

If you follow me on Twitter, you may be aware that at least 50% of what is fueling my body and soul right now is this amazing movie, Baahubali. It's a grand, hero's journey style epic with a sense of joyfulness at its core that's exactly what I need right now.

The video above is from one of the key scenes in the first movie, Baahubali: The Beginning. Not only do I love the scene, the music perfectly matches the mountain-climbing task. I've been listening to this song or watching this video pretty much anytime something feels hard, and it makes me feel like I can get through. Thought I'd share.

Oh, and bonus: the people in this video are very beautiful.

Music Mondays: Right Now by Haim

Haim where have you been why did it take you so long to bring your glorious hair back into my life how do you play the drums so well when will you let me buy your new album I have so many questions.

But in any case, you're right, "That's how you fucking do it."

Welcome back!

Music Mondays: Venus Fly by Grimes ft. Janelle Monae

I miss doing these Music Mondays posts, so I thought I'd revive them.

First, I wish SO MUCH that the video above was actually a trailer for an f/f science fiction romance about two ridiculously hot warrior witches conquering the universe.

Second, they're both so unbearably cool in this video. I feel like the planning conversation for this video went something like this:

Grimes: Would you like to come hang out with me while I hold fire?

Janelle Monae: Do I get to wield a flaming sword?

Grimes: Not only that, I will let you put a spinal cord on the front of your body.

Janelle Monae: If I also get the coolest goggles ever, I'm in.

Grimes: Can I be the one to wear the coolest nails, though?

Janelle Monae: Of course. I'm not selfish. I'm just awesome.

Grimes: I know! And I want you to be your full awesome self. We will both have wings!

Janelle Monae: Oooh. This will be so much fun.

Grimes: You know what, let's BOTH wear the coolest nails ever.

Then they had some similar conversation about the actual song...

Music Mondays: "Lose Yourself to Dance" by Daft Punk feat. Pharrell Williams

"Here, take my shirt and just go 'head and wipe up all the sweat." -- Pharrell Williams



Why, yes, thank you, Pharrell, I will take that shirt off you, and I appreciate that you offered...

What I love most about this video is how he's obviously having so much fun.

Music Mondays: "Do I Wanna Know?" by Arctic Monkeys

"There's this tune I found that makes me think of you somehow and I play it on repeat until I fall asleep." -- Arctic Monkeys



Very clever lyrics to this one, and the sort of dirty blues sound that always works on me.

Music Mondays: "Atlas Air" by Massive Attack

"It took all the man in me to be the dog you wanted me to be." -- Massive Attack



I once heard the Massive Attack singer's voice as "wet-panty inducing," and I think of that every single time I listen to this song. Because it's true. Enjoy.

Music Mondays: "When I Get You Alone" by Robin Thicke

"When I get you alone... When I get you, you'll know, babe." -- Robin Thicke



Holy heaven, all this talk about the "song of the summer," and I did not realize that this song was performed by Robin Thicke. He's long-haired, dressed as a bike courier, and strangely a lot more charming than the current hit makes him seem to me.

And, yeah, we need to give a nod to Darren Criss for his smoking hot performance of this song:

Music Mondays: "Miss You More" by DeVision

Won't you come alive and take me down the trail?
(I miss you more than home).
Hold me close before it's too late.
-- DeVision



This is becoming the theme song of my WIP, but I'm superstitious about talking about my WIPs, so that's all you get for now. :)

Music Mondays: "How Beautiful You Are" by The Cure

"I turned to look at you to read my thoughts upon your face, and gazed so deep into your eyes, so beautiful and strange, until you spoke and showed me understanding is a dream." -- The Cure



Somehow, I have allowed more than a year to go by without featuring a song by The Cure. I listen to them so much that I think I hold myself back from posting them because I don't want to overdo it. I'm correcting that right now.

This song was inspired by a Baudelaire poem, which makes it dark sexy, sad sexy, all that stuff. But you already knew that, since this is The Cure we're talking about.

Every time I hear this song, I get an ache in my chest.

Music Mondays: "Let's Dance" by David Bowie

"If you say run, I'll run with you." -- David Bowie



I'll be honest. A car commercial reminded me of this song's existence. Please don't judge me. However, good Lord, it's hot, and the line I quoted above ties in vaguely with my forthcoming book, Run for Your Love. Enjoy!

Music Mondays: "Cruisin" by T.I.

"I wonder if they can see her playing in her purple panties, blue bikinis." -- T.I.



I've been listening to this pretty obsessively lately. It's a great car sex song.

I was also really amused by the way T.I. tells the story behind the song:

Music Mondays: "Instant Crush" by Daft Punk featuring Julian Casablancas

"I want to take you to that place in the Roche, but no one gives us any time anymore." -- Julian Casablancas



I've featured Daft Punk and Julian Casablancas separately in recent weeks, but this song is responsible for both previous posts. This is my real love off Random Access Memories. I have listened to it a sick amount of times, and I've written multiple stories with this thing cued up on infinite loop.

Music Mondays: "Came Back Haunted" by Nine Inch Nails

"I came back haunted." -- Nine Inch Nails



Trent Reznor really doesn't have to do much to be sexy. Really, just standing there is good, even if he insists on covering himself with mist and shadow every time he plays a show. That angry whisper of his has done it for me pretty much since the moment I hit puberty. I'm really glad he decided to revive Nine Inch Nails.

Music Mondays: "Reptilia" by The Strokes

"I said, 'Please don't slow me down if I'm going too fast.'" -- Julian Casablancas



God, this song makes me want to go too fast. With Julian Casablancas? Maybe... He's got a weird sort of appeal. In this video, he has a really pure rock star feeling, like he came from some rock planet that exists outside of time.

Music Mondays: "Get Lucky" by Daft Punk featuring Pharrell Williams

"We're up all night to get lucky." -- Pharrell Williams



I don't know which is hotter, Pharrell or the robots. Clearly, this song was made for me (and, like, everyone else in the world, considering how popular it is).

Music Mondays: "What Was I Thinking" by Dierks Bentley

"Cause I was thinking about a little white tank top sitting right there in the middle by me." -- Dierks Bentley



In case you thought I only like my country dark as hell (as in last week), I thought I'd shoot you one of my favorite "fun" songs. The thing I really love about country is the storytelling, and this song is a great example. I particularly like the heroic sound to the guitar as the song builds up. Dierks Bentley's voice is sexy as hell, and when I looked up the video I found he's a cutie, too.

"Your Dad, though, with the shotgun and everything... My first time experiencing that." I laughed out loud. In another life, he'd be a great hot geek.

Enjoy.

Music Mondays: "Two Black Cadillacs" by Carrie Underwood

"They shared a crimson smile and just walked away." -- Carrie Underwood



If they shared a crimson kiss rather than just a smile, I'd be all set. I love Carrie Underwood especially for the stylish way she does anger.

Also, Carrie, could I please have your shoes? Sweet Jesus.