Sweet Thing - Keith Urban Cover by Vavalour

{We have a new contributor to ourhitparade.com! Her name is Melody Rosher. She goes by the name of Vavalour and here she covers a song from the a country star! Perhaps you too would like to contribute...Email us!}


In honor of every musician who has been at spot #50 on Billboard's top whatever. You're either rising or falling, and no matter what you're at an awkward point.

And also in honor of every Australian who wanted to have a southern accent. Reach for the stars mates!

Here's Keith Urban's "Sweet Thing".

xoxo
Mel

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD: Sweet Thing - Keith Urban Cover by Vavalour

MEDLEY MONDAYS -HOW GREAT THOU ART + ANONYMOUS = OMNIPOTENT/IMPOTENT GOD MEDLEY! by Neal Medlyn

I rode the bus upstate New York recently and in Ada's parents big empty wintery house in the Catskills, recorded this mix-em-up of the old gospel song "How Great Thou Art" and a certain new track by a certain artist who shall remain nameless.

Thought this concept up a while back: the idea of putting a song directed at God, telling him how amazing and powerful he is with a song that has God telling you how sad and bad he feels that he really can't do anything to help and lamenting that he turned away from you.

High end!

XXX,
NM


CLICK TO DOWNLOAD - GOD MEDLEY by Neal Medlyn

Simple Song - Miley Cyrus Cover by Neal Medlyn

Oh man, do I love this Halloween "Screams" CD. I have used it in many, many shows and it never fails to crack me the fuck up.

I also have a stated liking for the songs and persona of Miley Cyrus/Hannah Montana, although these two 'likes' put together seem to suggest otherwise, what with all the voices in terror screaming for me to stop singing her simple song...

This also brings to mind my very, very first live performance where I heckled myself.

I was living in Austin and had an ultimately ill-fated plan to start performing at poetry open mics, so I went, signed up, put a tape player on a stool near the stage, turned it on, got onstage and started telling very mundane facts about myself. The tape recorder started playing all these angry heckles and I, onstage, tried to ignore them and keep going until it was all too much and I walked out of the coffee shop. Farris, I think, retrieved my tape player for me....

Ah, youth.

Til next time, America!

Neal

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD: Simple Song - Miley Cyrus Cover by Neal Medlyn

Not Anymore - Latoya Cover

This song is by Latoya Luckett not Latoya Jackson. But curiously she just goes by Latoya. Does she think it is a good idea to be confused with the mess in the picture above? I like this song. It is a big Mary J lite, but she does it well and it has a hook I can hear coming out of cars in the coming months. Rihanna should listen to it on endless repeat....

Kenny

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD: Not Anymore - Latoya Cover

FLASHBACK FRIDAYS - Our Hit Parade Medley - Songs of 1989!!!

So the March Edition of Our Hit Parade was a doozy. We began the night with this Public Service Announcement. Turns out a lot of hit songs of 1989 seemed to be about homelessness. So, put Bridget in an oversized winter coat, give her a cardboard sign that says "Cash for Kotex" and GO!

Kenny

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD: OUR HIT PARADE MEDLEY - SONG OF 1989

Hey You There - Soulja Boy Tell 'Em Cover by Neal Medlyn with Ada Calhoun and Farris Craddock

I agree with certain sage folks (Brendan Kennedy said it here: http://newsroom.mtv.com/2008/12/10/soulja-boy-tellem-is-on-his-way-to-being-the-new-mc-hammer/) who said that this crazy silly track on Soulja Boy's newest album is kind of like early weirdo "audio art" tracks by Beastie Boys, so I decided to do my own.

I mixed up Ada's vocals, added in some terribly loud sounds that Farris and I recorded last weekend, and voila!

BTDubs, this is also the professional recording debut of Our Hit Parader Ada Calhoun!

Love,
Neal

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD: Hey You There - Soulja Boy Tell 'Em Cover by Neal Medlyn with Ada Calhoun and Farris Craddock

She's Country - Jason Aldean Cover

Beside Miley's Hoedown Throwdown, I feel like this blog has given short shrift to the Country charts. So to make amends for that, I present a cover of the very obvious She's Country by Jason Aldean. Have absolutely no idea who he is but the song in its original form has fairly heavy rock Nirvana-esque guitar with a fairly basic country lyric. Stripped of the guitars it is obvious that Jason Aldean listened a few times to Fancy by Bobbie Gentry. Well, at least he knows his history. One of my favorite covers of all time is the Geraldine Fibbers version of Fancy. Find it. It will make you happy.

Kenny

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD: She's Country - Jason Aldean Cover

Dead and Gone - TI and Justin Timberlake Cover by Jim Andralis and Jenn Harris

So in this month's edition of Our Hit Parade at Joe's Pub, Jim Andralis and Jenn Harris performed this rendition of Dead and Gone. Jim played a mean accordian whilst Jenn acted out the song with 10 Barbies, a Barbie Car, a Barbie Jail and lots of other props. It was amazing! I can't explain it better, just watch it!

Watch it Here

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD: Dead and Gone - TI and Justin Timberlake Cover by Jim Andralis and Jenn Harris

Candle - White Tie Affair Cover

MEDLEY MONDAY HAS BEEN POSTPONED UNTIL FLASHBACK FRIDAY THIS WEEK AS A) I FORGOT IT WAS MONDAY AND B) THE MEDLEY THIS WEEK IS ABOUT 10 SONGS FROM 1989. THANKS FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING!

One of my first crushes was David T., a senior at my highschool when I was a junior. He lived off of Mulholland Drive in Los Angeles and rode a motorcycle. We watched Purple Rain....A lot. First person I smoked pot with. I remember driving back from his house and having to take the canyons and listening to KROQ. He was one of the kids in Pete's Dragon and continued to get residual checks. I thought it was very glamorous that they were Disney checks. He went on to NYU and I visited him there once. We stayed in the dorms and everybody was high on E. We walked out of the dorm on Washington Square East and someone was breaking all of the plate-glass windows. I turned away and there was a woman with a huge keychain breaking into cars and stealing the stereos. I miss that NY.

"I'll be your candle on the water" was a song in Pete's Dragon sung by Helen Reddy. "Candle" is sung by the White Tie Affair. You choose..

Kenny

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD: Candle- White Tie Affair Cover

Blame It - Jamie Foxx Cover by Neal Medlyn

Guest Post By Neal Medlyn


I decided not to even try to really re-think this song. I figured there was no point.

It's just like how, in theory, you'd want someone to have sex with you in a fluorescent lit room while Fox News blares in the background wearing a Gorbachev mask.

You know, cuz you are a free thinker and not bound by conventions in life or in sex.

Yeah, but really, your just like everyone else. You just want some scented candles, firelight, and someone in tube socks in a robe holding their own penis in their hands like everyone else.

Enjoy!

Neal

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD:Blame It - Jamie Foxx Cover by Neal Medlyn

Chinese - Lily Allen Cover by Mike Jackson

GUEST POST BY MIKE JACKSON

Ah, Lily Allen, sweet vixen, manufactured mess . . . I've always had a thing for songs with very distinctly British turns of phrase, in part because I can't convincingly deliver a line about being "down in the tube station at midnight" or making due with "a Sunday joint of bread and honey." They're just so adorable, those kids, you want to pinch their little colonialist cheeks 'til they're as red as strawberries at Wimbledon. So I decided to indulge myself a bit and sing this one, Lily's ode to domesticity. I'll see ya in a bit, love, I'll get a takeaway and we can watch telly tonight. Sounds nice, innit?

mike

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD: CHINESE - Liy Allen Cover by Mike Jackson

FLASHBACK FRIDAYS - I Want To Dance With Somebody by Carmine Covelli and Adrienne Truscott

Guest Post by Carmine Covelli


This one is for Adrienne. A woman who loves the pre and post-crack Whitney. Loves her for her gifted, powerful voice. Loves her for her beauty – outwardly and within. Loves her for finally breaking away from the grip of Bobby Brown. Loves her cuz she can’t wait to buy her new album. Loves her for her role in The Bodyguard.

But make no mistake; she does not care for Kevin Costner. Does not like him for his role in Dances With Wolves. Does not like him for taking home the directing? Oscar – which should have gone to Scorsese – for Dances With Wolves. I’m embarrassed to say I teared up a little when I watched Dances With Wolves but I don’t think Adrienne did. Imagine if Whitney in her old cracked up state recorded a version of I Wanna Dance With Wolves? That could have been good.

Perez Hilton says: She has risen!
I say: You know what, fuck Dances With Wolves, Viva Whitney Houston!

--Carmine Covelli


CLICK TO DOWNLOAD - I Want To Dance With Somebody by Carmine Covelli and Adrienne Truscott

Kids - MGMT Cover

This song crept into the iTunes Top 100. Put a world beat spin on it. When I originally sent this cover to my iTunes it showed up as instrumental that was 27 hours long! Not sure what is going on with my computer today. I finally through many many error messages was able to get this version out of Garageband. It is not perfect but there you have it..

Kenny

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD: KIDS MGMT Cover

Don't Forget - Demi Lovato Cover

      Feeling a bit under the weather, which sucks because it is a beautiful day here in NYC.  Sunny and warm.  But I am inside chugging EmergenC and hoping that I don't succumb.  This song is simple and direct.  

kenny

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD: Don't Forget - Demi Lovato Cover

Bad Girlfriend - Theory of a Deadman Cover

    The lyrics to this song are SO sexist and awful that I'm merely presenting them as a sociological study of what can make it into the iTunes top 100.  The objectification of women in this song is astounding.  He basically calls his girlfriend a drunk, stoned slut but then ends it with "she's coming home with me tonight".  I am glad I'm not his girlfriend.  Or any woman within 200 miles

Kenny

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD: Bad Girlfriend - Theory of a Deadman Cover

Internet Nerds Revenge - Chamillionaire Cover by Neal Medlyn

GUEST POST BY NEAL MEDLYN


I found this mixtape song on Hip Hop DX and man, do I like it. Such a funny and kinda perfect slap at comment post-ers on the internet that suddenly and weirdly veers off course into a dark, dark place.

"Negative 1 is what I'm gonna rate this"

Ha!

Not sure what I was doing to lose my voice doing this song, but I do know that I probably gave myself carpel tunnel syndrome in one fell swoop by typing so goddamn fast....

Neal

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD: Internet Nerds Revenge - Chamillionaire Cover by Neal Medlyn

Hoedown Throwdown - Miley Cyrus Cover

     This song is from the Hannah Montana movie about to be unleashed unto the world.  I can't wait.  I saw the preview while waiting to watch He's Just Not That Into You.  It was Rom-com day in our household.  Earlier we watched Confessions Of A Shopaholic.  Looking around in the 2nd movie, I noticed that the only other person to pay to go see these two movies on the same day was a 99 year old woman.  Hmm...

Kenny

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD: Hoedown Showdown - Miley Cyrus Cover

FLASHBACK FRIDAYS - Mambo # 5 - Lou Bega Cover by Neal Medlyn

It's hard to figure what to say about Mambo #5. I know the first time I heard it I was driving this car I wrecked that occasionally the hood would fly up and hit the windshield while you were driving. The song came on and I freaked out. It's kind of impossible to argue with, this song. Kinda the same way it was hard to argue with "Livin La Vida Loca."

Matter of fact, I wonder if Lou Bega didn't inspire all the enthusiastic, semi-Latin pop confections that have come since.

I've also, as a side note, always been interested in that weird middle space where a pop song ceases to be contemporary but also isn't old enough to be a back-in-the-day nostalgia piece. Mambo #5 is edging into that latter category by now, but I encourage all of you out there in internet land to get a jump start on those Oldies stations and bring Mambo #5 back and bring it back hard.

Neal Medlyn

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD: Mambo # 5 - Lou Bega Cover by Neal Medlyn

I'm In Miami Bitch! - LMFAO Cover

OMG. AFAICT. IRSTBO. BTA.WTHDIK.

KM

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD: I'm In Miami Bitch - LMFAO Cover

Hey There Delilah - Plain White T's Cover

   For some reason this song is back in the top 100.  I think it is a very sweet song.  A touch of a frat boy sitting around with his guitar, but it has an honesty to it that I actually really like.  I also like that it is about a specific girl, in the grand tradition of Sweet Jane et.al.  Not to compare the two at all...

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD: Hey There Delilah - Plain White T's Cover

Untouched - The Veronicas Cover

     

         Veronica Mars was one of my favorite shows on television.  An excuse to use a picture of her!

         The Veronicas are a band.  Or twin sisters with a band.  This song is featured on the FIFA 09 videogame.  That alone pushed this song to the top of the charts.  People, more people bought a videogame last year than bought a DVD!  By millions!   Get your song on a videogame and you are set.  It is like how it used to be with Dawson's Creek or Grey's Anatomy.  Get your song on those shows and your sales went through the roof.  Now if your song is in a videogame, you are set for life.  A week ago The Veronicas sold one million digital downloads!  

Kenny

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD: Untouched - The Veronicas Cover

MEDLEY MONDAYS - Alan Smithee Cover

    Medley Mondays will be back in its up to date fashion next week.  This week, it's an Alan Smithee production.  

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD : ALAN SMITHEE MEDLEY

The Climb - Miley Cyrus Cover

This song reminds me of Prince's The Cross. I've been surprised at how much I like Miley Cyrus. That has been the collateral damage of doing this blog: I have come to respect artists and bands that I probably would never have even given a chance before now. I think it is a good thing to be acquainted with the top pop songs in the same way that I find fault with people who don't watch TV. So I have to face it, every time I hear a Miley Cyrus song, I like it...

Kenny

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD: The Climb - Miley Cyrus Cover

Toxic - Britney Spears Cover by Neal Medlyn, Carmine Covelli and Farris Craddock

I always think I was really into punk rock at some point in my past, and indeed Farris and I ruined the speakers in his car listening to Bikini Kill, Huggy Bear, Bratmobile, the Need, etc. constantly. But I never really got into the more commonly referred to, more dude-ish punk rock, except for one Fall when I listened to Chickenshit Conformist by the Dead Kennedys a whole lot, I guess.

But Bikini Kill and Bratmobile were awesome and that was all I cared to believe punk rock meant. Bikini Kill in fact completely changed my life. Those roller coaster-style screams (Speed Heart!) and feedback (Hamster Baby!) and wild energy (Blood One!) forever altered the path of my life. I loved that I felt like it was an awesome secret that the songs were so goddamned good (Carnival!) in addition to all the aforementioned things. I also loved that Kathleen scribbled her face out in the pictures on the side. I never understood why some of my friends thought it was so weird for me to like them.

Now what does all that have to do with Britney Spears or this particular cover?

You tell me!

Neal Medlyn

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD: Toxic Cover

FLASHBACK FRIDAYS - I'm On Fire - Bruce Springsteen Cover

    Today for Flashback Fridays we have, from 1985, comes Bruce Springsteen's I'm on Fire.  You may notice that the beginning of the track is the exact dialogue from the beginning of the video.  In the video it was between Rosanne Arquette and Bruce.  Bruce plays a mechanic.  The video was directed by the great director John Sayles.  The Secret of Roan Inish is one of my favorite movies. 

    I've reimagined things just a bit...It is funny how changing one pronoun makes the song a bit creepier...

Kenny

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD: I'm On Fire - Bruce Springsteen Cover

Angels On The Moon - Thriving Ivory Cover

     I had never heard of Thriving Ivory before seeing their name on the iTunes top 100.  Turns out that this song is one of the most covered song by guitar playing fans all over youtube.  The band actually put together a montage of their favorites and then put that on youtube.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjY3UvQ2n98

      My favorite moment is the sign language girl.  So cute.  But I have a soft-spot for sign language. One of my drama teachers taught us to sign "You've Got A Friend" in class one year.  Not sure what it had to do with acting.  I think it was just something she knew and was wasting time.  With my friend Susan Slome, I wrote a musical called Street Antigone that we put on in this teacher's class.  it was quite something.  Perhaps one day I'll put a song up from it. I can still remember two of them.  Not awful...but awful...I mean, c'mon, Street Antigone?  Okay here's a lyric

"hey, stop, look!  She's burying the body!"

Kenny

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD: Angels on the Moon - Thriving Ivory Cover

Prom Queen - Lil Wayne Cover by Neal Medlyn

Guest Post by Neal Medlyn!

Influenced by Kanye's adventurous outing, Lil Wayne has gone all heavy metal on us these days. "Prom Queen" is all kinds of heavy, weird and creepy so I figured I'd pretend I knew how to make Philip Glass style piano music and cover that S.O.B.!

I have no idea what exactly he means by saying "the prom queen is crying sitting outside my door" followed by: "Get up!!" but I like it. I imagine all sorts of "Freeway the movie" style revenge on the smug rock boy misogyny of the song's singer grim pleasure at her sadness. I keep seeing smeared mascara and long knives!

I also kept thinking about this song on Kathleen Hanna's 'Julie Ruin' album that just kind of floated in and then floated back out. I didn't really achieve that same idea with this, but I like the idea of a song feeling sort of fragmentary, taking a long time to fade in and then fading back out before anything overly special happens.

By the way, I was never Prom Queen, but I did win Band Beau one time.

Suck on that, haters!

Love,
Neal

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD: Prom Queen - Lil Wayne Cover by Neal Medlyn

Love Is On Its Way - Jonas Brothers Cover

         The new Jonas Brothers movie has a controversial scene where the boys hold hoses near their crotches and then spray white foam all over the girl filled audience.  Their appearance on SNL was truly cringe-worthy.  But their songs are curiously catchy.  This is no exception.  And here we are at the beginning of March and we have the first waltz on Our Hit Parade!

Kenny

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD: Love is On Its Way- Jonas Brothers Cover

MEDLEY MONDAYS -

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Thanks Kelly Clarkson!

F##K YOU - Lily Allen Cover with Brendan Kennedy

So a couple of beers may have been consumed with Brendan's parents before we recorded this Lily Allen cover. I also will confess that pasta was being made during the recording to soak up some of the delicious beer. A cold Sunday afternoon, a beer garden, and now Lily Allen. I think we were maybe a little too excited to watch Kanye on VH1 Storytellers. Which is on right now, and, in a word...AMAZING. He is a performance artist.

PS Brendan told me to write that Lily Allen refused to do his MTV show, so he's over it..."Oh what? We hang out for three days at the beginning of your career, first cameraman to shoot you in the USA and you're too busy to come on my show? Fine...i get it..You're an international superstar. WHATEVAH... Rude"

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD: F@#K You - Lily Allen Cover with Brendan Kennedy