The Dark Romance of Z...

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ZZ Top ~ Gimme All Your Lovin'
This is just a fun rock song which really doesn't require too much explanation or interpretation - just give the fellas all your lovin', already. Sheesh!

Z (Band) ~ Did I Mention It Was Huge?
I have to thank/blame My Dear Friend Kellie for this one (BTW, Kel - as of this September, we'll have known one another for 28 years, man. TWENTY-EIGHT YEARS!!!!!!!!!!). Ahem. (No, really; I'm fine.) ANYWAY, Z were Ahmet and Dweezil Zappa, and I am fairly confident that they hadn't mentioned anything to me about its size before. I have, however, duly noted the assertion and will take the matter under advisement.

Zoom In ~ Duran Duran
Well, Duran Duran started this whole Blogging from A to Z Challenge business on my blog and, by gad, they're gonna finish it! Some interpret Zoom In as being about an online game, others say it's about the paparazzi and their stalking of celebrities and that whole symbiotic relationship. I like to think it's more personal and just about being wholly focused on someone you really dig. Anyway, it's got a good beat, you can dance to it, and I am le tired, so that's all I'm gonna say about it.

And so we come to the close of the Challenge. It's been great to "meet" other bloggers and make friends, and it's also been a challenge to stick to it and not fall behind. But mostly, it's been a pleasure - hope it was for you, too.

The Dark Romance of Y...

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Your Woman ~ White Town
You know that old saying, about hell's fury paling in comparison to a woman's? This is (to me) a comical expression of the idea, the most amusing bit being, "So much for all your highbrow, Marxist ways; just use me up and then you walk away." C'mon, that's hilariously eloquent for a chick enduring the death throes of her relationship.

Your Touch ~ The Black Keys
This was the first of their tunes I ever heard and, as I've already said many times throughout April, it grabbed me by the gut from the very beginning. It's a super-simple arrangement of drums, guitar, and the oh, so sexy voice of Dan Auerbach. Frankly, when he wails that he nee-eee-eee-eee-eeeds my touch, I'm more than willing to...oh, he's married? Damn it. Um, I mean - I wish him and his family every happiness.

You, The Night, and the Music ~ Tones on Tail
It's a sinisterly sexy Goth instrumental. Enough said.

The Dark Romance of X...

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XTC (Band) ~ Earn Enough for Us
I love this adorable song, sung by a dude to his gal, about how money's tight and a baby's on the way but he'll do anything, take anything (even "...hurtful comments from the boss..."), to provide for them all. Aw, ain't he sweet? (Yes. Yes, he bloody well is.)

The XX (Band) ~ Crystalised
A groaned and whispered duet that nearly throbs with UST (Unresolved Sexual Tension), Crystalised made me emotionally erect (that's a technical term) from its eerie, train-whistle-on-a-foggy-night opening tone to its closing breathy vowel. These two world-weary lovers circle one another like boxers in the ring. A very sexy ring, but still...they wanna get close, they're afraid to get close, they're getting closer regardless...you know how these things go.

X Marks Destination (Album) ~ The Whip (Band) ~ Trash (Song)
You can see I had to reach for another tune to fit the letter and my theme. And even so, this song only fits because I think the music is pretty hot (plus, the chick on drums is a B.A.M.F. - you RAWK, Fiona "Lil Fee" Daniel). The lyrics are, essentially, "I wanna. I wanna be trash. And I have become the trigger for your gun," lather, rinse, repeat. I suppose this could all reside in Euphemism Land. Before I looked up the lyrics I thought the dude was singing, "I have become the trigger for your love," which would've been hot in a more obvious way. But I guess you can't have it all.

PS: I am of the opinion that this song sounds best when played LOUDLY. Do not hesitate to dance. You may even wish to wave your hands in the air like you just don't care, but I'll leave that up to you.

The Dark Romance of W...

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Wicked Game ~ Chris Isaak
My Dear Friend Robin seconded the vote for this song (I'd been toying with including it), so here it is. Like some others I've written about, it tells of the woes of loving someone you know is cruel and will destroy you but you just can't save yourself from the demolition. Tsk.

West Ryder Silver Bullet ~ Kasabian
Sounding like something you might hear in a modern-day Western, the lyrics are (to me) mostly obscure and probably not at all about love, except for: "Oh, your beauty plays me just like a guitar string," and the chorus, in which the yearning expressed by the long, drawn-out first word grabs me by the gut and squeezes, "I want your touch...oh, how I want you far too much..." Doesn't seem like a big deal, in writing, but it thrills me every time I hear it.

We Need Love ~ Hard-Fi
This one's not about romantic love/lust, it's about the kind of love we all need to keep going through this absurd and tedious journey called life. Yes, indeed, Hard-Fi, "...what we need now is love."

...V is also for VOTE!

Esteemed visitors, would you be so kind as to vote in my poll (over on the right-hand side, just under my picture)? I've made the font on the blog rather HUGE because it's against a black background and I figured that would be easier on folks' eyes, but maybe it doesn't have to be quite so big. The poll ends after April 30, so please do take a moment to let me know what you think! (And/or leave a comment below on the overall look of the page.)

With love and squalor,
Mina
OXOXO

The Dark Romance of V...

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Voulez Vous ~ Abba
To me, it was a given that this song would appear in "V" land, and My Dear Friend Katy O agreed it should. It's a rockin' tune to dance to and I tend to snicker as I boogie to it (from the safety of my chair, as otherwise I'd be sure to inadvertently put somebody's eye out) because my Mom, who's such an Old Country Catholic, No Nookie Before Marriage, kinda gal, absolutely loves it. I mentioned in a previous post that she's not a native of the U. S., but after almost 42 43* years, her English is pretty damned good. I think she just can't be bothered to pay close attention to the lyrics, which is probably just as well. ;-)

Voodoo ~ Godsmack
When I begged My Dear Friends for help filling up some of these letters with tunes, I noted that they didn't have to be about love/sex/romance necessarily, but that just the music, if it was sexy, would qualify it as an entry. And so My Dear Friend Elizabeth suggested this and OF COURSE she was TOTALLY RIGHT!!!!!!!!!!  ::so worked up by the WOOF! factor, I bark incoherently::

The Vines (Band) ~ Gimme Love
You can't state your case more simply than that.

*Edited because I'm a moron who can't count.

The Dark Romance of U...

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Unchain My Heart ~ Ray Charles
This song has been covered many, many (many!) times, but ain't nobody who can sing about the pain of being kept dangling by a cruel former lover like Ray Charles. (Although I do enjoy Joe Cocker's take on the tune.)

Until She Comes Again ~ Psychedelic Furs
Dudes, this song is just unbearably romantic: "...and with her step, I move my feet; and with her hands, I feel my skin; and with her need, I find I'm saved; and with her dreams, I'm laid..." C'mon, that's gorgeous!

Unconditional ~ The Bravery
He just wants, he just wants a good, true, unconditional love - is that so wrong? (No. No, it isn't. It's just remarkably hard to come by, and keep.)