General Gregory N. Pigott: Late Night Music Part 76......."Walking Around"

Sorry, I've been away for awhile, I've actually had a mild case of writer's block. That's actually probably a good thing considering every time I come across a new case of it I usually belt out 4-5 in a week. That means Devon would have to spend a whole month catching up on his comments!

One of the words in music and literature that can be literal and figurative is walk. So often in music "walk" is talking about living your life, achieving a goal, or just being yourself. Obviously, walking can be all of that and so much more besides just walking down the street. I didn't realize how many songs could fit in this category until I tried to do it, so this one wasn't really as hard as I thought it would be.

In order to receive votes in this category the SONG TITLE must include the word "walk". Also receiving votes in this category were "The Walk" by The Cure, "Walk Wit Me" by Raekwon, "I Can Walk On Water" by Basshunter, and "Walk Tall" by John Cougar Mellencamp.

"Can I Walk With You"- India Arie. I know I featured this one recently on "My Name, Is Neo", but I still really dig India Arie and her awesome hair. Something about a woman with a guitar just drips cool to me. India Arie has some of the best driving music ever. I know I said it before, but I always remember listening to "Voyage To India" up and down the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu with my mom during our 2003 trip to California. Bonus points for the jeans with the orange inseams.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5CI-lLpcys

"Walk Of Life"- Dire Straits. Ok, I have to admit, I kinda came up with this topic to put this song on here. This song from their 1985 album "Brothers In Arms" (which was the first ever album to sell 1 million copies in CD format) helped Dire Straits stay at the top of MTV's rotation (after their groundbreaking and pioneer video "Money For Nothing") by featuring sports clips and bloopers. This was interesting that an British band would include American sports (for that reason, the British video was VERY different than this one). Bonus points for this song being my ring tone in college.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jp7GTVGsFU

"A Long Walk"- Jill Scott. I LOVE this song, album, video, and this artist. This song vaulted Jill Scott in stardom with her first album "Words and Sounds Vol 1: Who Is Jill Scott?". This video really reminds of the Chante Moore video for "Bitter" where you know she's talking to someone and that the video is supposed to be from that person's point of view. I have to admit that I was dying to see who that person was the entire I saw this video the first time because like in the Moore video, I was expecting someone surprising ("Bitter" featured R Kelly as the person she was talking to). However, it was just a normal nobody on this one- I guess it was Jill's way of being different.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSYMKUtNuw8

"Walking On Sunshine"- Katrina and the Waves. Ok, another repeat song. I still can't believe Katrina is an American who moves to England and then carries herself as the lead singer of a British band- very weird. Obviously, she wanted to prove that Americans can take the cold better than the Brits, because she's in short sleeves and those guys are freezing. I guess she was the only one walking on sunshine.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPUmE-tne5U

"Walking In Memphis"- Marc Cohn. Dang it! Another repeat! Much of you know by now how much I really don't like the city of Memphis. However, bonus points for the statue of Elvis. I still can't believe that Marc Cohn won the 1992 Grammy for Best New Artist over Seal and Boyz II Men. That is one of the most mind boggling awards in the history of music.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JzuZW-Lcns

"Walking Away"- Craig David. I'm kinda suprised I've never featured Craig David before now as his 2001 album "Born To Do It" is considered by many as one of the best R & B albums ever, especially coming from a British artist in a highly American influenced genre. This video here was actually the European version, which is funny because it seems really stereotypical to me. The accent the radio DJ has at the beginning almost sounds fake. Also, maybe it's just me, but doesn't Craig David show exactly what I was talking about in the intro of this blog in this video? I'm just saying.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lxRRCxfRvI

"Walking With A Ghost"- The White Stripes. This song, recorded by the White Stripes for their 2005 EP of the same name (due to "Get Behind Me Satan" running out of space), is actually a cover of the original by Tegan and Sara that was featured in the movie "Monster-In-Law". Jack White is one amazing guy, but this video creeps me out. I guess it's still too close to Halloween.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeYyoU8kKPQ

"Walking On Broken Glass"- Annie Lennox. I love this song because it's so catchy, and I remember singing the crap out of this song in 5th grade all the time, but why in the world does Annie Lennox have to be so dang ugly? Bonus points for John Malcovich in the video, who appeared as a revival of his "character" in the movie "Dangerous Liaisons", which the video is based on. The funniest thing of all is that this song was featured on Lennox's 1992 album "Diva". Does she really qualify as one?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y25stK5ymlA

"Walking After You"- The Foo Fighters. YES! I LOVE THIS SONG! This song was originally on the soundtrack for the 1998 movie "The X-Files", and if you notice, this version was slightly different than the version that appeared on "The Colour And The Shape". This video is really interesting, and the female in the video is actually Spanish actress Arly Jover, but she seems to work really well with Grohl. Like most Foo songs, this song is extremely personal and emotional, and I freaking love it. I love how Foo can make such deep songs while still keeping the mood light. Very few artists are even remotely capable of this. This song is one of the VERY FEW Foo Fighter songs that only features Grohl as a credited songwriter, while most songs credit the entire band. The original concept of the video was supposed to be tied in at least loosely on the movie. Obviously, that didn't happen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNwkN9vrUYY

"Walk Like An Egyptian"- The Bangles. LOVE SUSANNA HOFFS! Besides that, the Bangles represent everything that was wrong with 1986. Seriously, this song went to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and shot their album "A Different Light" into the top 10. Just another case of a song with a stupid dance with it being huge. How does that happen? Also, bassist Michael Steele needs to never sing again. Did she really say "Egyptian" like that? Also, what does this song say about stereotyping?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHngF_b3NuE

"Walking Disaster"- Sum 41. Is it just me, or does Deryck Whibley look like Flea with hair? Or are they the same person? Hmmmmmm. Anyway, our Canadian friends sure do a good job of confusing me with this video. I think I speak for everyone by asking "WHAT THE HELL IS THE ROBOT DOING THERE?". Anyway, this song sounds like every other Sum 41 song. Don't they sound like a Canadian version of Simple Plan?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHx-xqs3hO8

"Walking On The Sun"- Smash Mouth. Smash Mouth was always one of my favorite 90's band and their 1997 album "Fush Yu Mang" shot them into stardom for the rest of the decade. Steve Harwell always cracked me up because it's like he doesn't even care that he's a goofy fat guy that can still be cool. I guess I always liked him so much because I could so see myself doing everything that's in this video. Bonus points for the beach dance scene from the 1960's. So random.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQj--Kjn0z8

"Walk This Way"- Aerosmith and Run DMC. This song is interesting in so many ways. First of all, this was the first ever rap song to ever crack the top 5 of the Billboard charts, which it did in 1986. It was also the first rap track to sample a rock track which has become more and more routine in the hip hop community. It also resurrected the career of Aerosmith, which had recently fallen on a dry spell, only to follow up with 1987's "Permanent Vacation" and shoot back into the top of the charts with the momentum of this song. Also, Run DMC admitted they have never even heard of Aerosmith before this song, and their record company suggested they cover the song in order to "reach a wider audience". The song went on to win several awards and helped Run DMC cross over with their smash album "Raising Hell". Also, if you notice, only Steven Tyler and Joe Perry appear in the video (and also on the track- studio musicians are used for all instruments except for Perry's guitar). Despite their success in the hip hop community, Run DMC could not afford the entire band so just settled for Steven Tyler and Joe Perry. Bonus points for Rev Run actually having hair and for the late Jam Master Jay. More bonus points for the white Adidas.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4B_UYYPb-Gk

"Walk That Walk"- Dorrough. Not a bad song, but not a good one either. I like the beat, but my question for Dorrough is what in the world is "that walk"? I wonder how much mileage Dorrough will get being from Dallas. Not really known as a hotbed of rap music.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRr6siic_-I

"Walk On"- U2. In 2000, U2 released maybe their most popular album ever (with "The Joshua Tree"), "All That You Can't Leave Behind". They pulled off the remarkable feat of winning the Grammy Award for Record of the Year not only back to back years, but back to back years with songs from the SAME ALBUM. The first was "Beautiful Day", with this song finishing the repeat in 2002. This song was actually written by Bono as a tribute to to Aung San Suu Kyi, a female politician who has fought to bring democracy the country of Burma, and she is briefly pictured in the video. The song was also used in many 9/11 TV tributes, and is considered by many to be U2's most inspiring songs. Bonus points for the shot of the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro. Still the most magnificent spot I have ever stood. More bonus points for this CD being played to death by roommate at MC Matt Kilgore. Still one of the best guys I ever knew.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwKEdFoUB0o

"He Walked On Water"- Randy Travis. Just for you country fans- I like the inspiration behind the song, but does Randy Travis own 1000 brand new non wrinkled extremely white t-shirts? Good grief that's all he ever wears.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCVw8Qjeg84

BONUS VIDEO- "Three Wooden Crosses"- Randy Travis. Randy's best song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_I-sTv6NV0