Late Night Music Part 135........"Whatever You Do, Don't Put The Blame On You"

Sometimes, it's just fun to point the finger somewhere else. What happens when musicians write songs about pointing the blame somewhere else? Who needs taking responsibility when songs about blaming someone are so much fun?

In order to receive votes in this category, the SONG TITLE had to have the word "blame" in it somewhere. Also receiving votes in this category were "We're All To Blame" by Sum 41, "Blame The Vain" by Dwight Yoakam, "Blame It On Your Heart" by Patty Loveless, "Sorry, Blame It On Me" by Akon, and "Share The Blame" by Futures End.

"Blame It On You"- Gathania. Why do I love Scandinavian artists so much? This Swedish starlet made waves in 2007 when she finished 4th on Swedish Idol, and soon signed with EMI Records, who released this as her second single in Sweden, where it peaked at #38. Despite releasing 3 singles, Gathania has yet to release a full length album. Honestly, I can't figure out why- she's better than most of the crap we see on the American version of the show, and seems to look great on camera- isn't that all fans care about anyway? I love her voice and I love the fact that she doesn't look like your stereotypical Scandinavian.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gnTWeTP4jY

"Blame It On Me"- Chrisette Michele. I'm not gonna lie, every time I hear this song it does things to me. This track from her #1 album Epiphany is probably my favorite break up song of all time. The song, which peaked at #28 on the Billboard R&B Charts, is excellent not just because of the song itself, but because of the fact that you can relate it to so many things in your life. This song could represent so many things, and I guess that's why I love it so much. Excellent performance from The Late Show With David Letterman here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kx_k25XoiN8

"Blame It On The Rain"- Milli Vanilli. You know it was coming. However, if there was ever more evidence that music fans cared largely about image, I tell you to look only at Milli Vanilli. Milli Vanilli won a Grammy in 1990, only to lose it in their now infamous lip synching scandal. Now my question is that if the studio musicians who made those records had been the people in the videos, would the popularity of Milli Vanilli been even close to how high it got in the late 80's? Yeah, I thought so. Luckily, for Fabrice Morvan, he's doing pretty well and was always a really talented guy. I smell a bonus video. This single from Girl, You Know It's True would prove to be Milli Vanilli's last #1 single as it climbed to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in late 1989.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwrL9MV6jSk

"No One Is To Blame"- Howard Jones. I've always had a weird love for this song, because I've always been a closest fan of Howard Jones, and this song to me at least, is completely different than anything else he recorded. The song actually was originally very different and showed Jones' techno roots, and was featured on his 1985 album Dream Into Action but with the urging of Phil Collins, the song was made more "radio friendly", with Collins playing the drums and singing backing vocals. The single was re-released in its new form off of his 1986 album One To One and proved to be his biggest American hit peaking at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100. This video just looks like every other video from the 80's........with us having no idea what's going on. Oh yeah, this song sets the world record for most metaphors used in one song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2V3SNrkpp0

"Blame It"- Jamie Foxx featuring T-Pain. This single from Jamie Foxx's second studio album Intuition. Went on to win the duo the Grammy for best R&B/Rap Collaboration, and the single became the longest running #1 song in the history of the Billboard R&B Chart, and went to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100. This song is ok, but I've never been a fan of songs well artists use the studio to distort their voice this much (which explains why I think T-Pain is so overrated). Jamie Foxx is no doubt one of the most talented people in music/films, but this song just doesn't do it for me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfjtpp90lu8

"Blame It On The Girls"- Mika. British singer Mika actually makes his second appearance with this song. This final single from his 2009 album The Boy Who Knew Too Much is surprisingly catchy, and despite being heavily promoted, it failed to chart in the US and only peaked at #72 on the British Singles Chart. Interesting fact though is that this song actually peaked at #1 in Japan. Mika is super dorky, but super brilliant at the same time. His music is nothing short of brilliant, and at least he can make videos that aren't carbon copies of other ones we see from so many other British artists.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iF_w7oaBHNo

"Love To Blame"- Apoptygma Berzerk. Another Scandinavian band! This Norwegian synth band included this song on their 2005 album You And Me Against The World. I like this song, but this video scares the jeepers out of me. Good grief I feel like I'm watching a horror movie. Sick guitar riff in this song, great addition to an otherwise synth heavy song. I also like how they have a choir as background vocals in such a dark song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6z5q2r73vc

"Love's To Blame"- For King and Country. This Australian Christian duo formerly known as "Joel and Luke" and brothers of Christian artist Rebecca St. James made huge waves with this song featured on the soundtrack of the TV show The Vampire Diaries. This song from their debut album Crave has an amazing sound! What a great track! Crave peaked at #4 on the Billboard Christian Albums Charts and #128 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart. I think I'm gonna spend the rest of the night finding more of these guys songs. It's rare to find this kind of vocal blend in the rock genre.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VntgkyUzNT8

"Blame It On The Weatherman"- B*Witched. I didn't know they had girl groups in Ireland, but apparently I was wrong. This single from B*Witched 1998 self-titled debut album somehow climbed to #1 on the British Singles Chart- really? This song was also included on the 2003 soundtrack to the TV Show Charmed, a year after the band broke up. This group had a pretty good vocal blend, but this song is just so stupid. Surprisingly enough, this single gave B*Witched the distinction of being the only group in UK history to have their first 4 singles go to #1 on the British Singles Chart.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNf0ZEbU1JU

"Blame It On The Boogie"- The Jacksons. In 1978, the Jacksons, who could no longer go by the Jackson 5 due to their contract dispute with Motown, finally released an album in which they had complete artistic control. Their third album for Epic Records, Destiny, was also their best selling non-Motown album before the release of Triumph in 1980 (I just can't count Victory for obvious reasons). This lead single from the album would only peak at #54 on the Billboard Hot 100, but would go to #3 on the Billboard R&B Charts, and always remained one of the Jacksons' most famous songs. Also, I know that afros were stylish in 1978, but these are all the way out of control. I love this song, but this video just makes me freaking dizzy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkBS4zUjJZo

BONUS VIDEOS- "Girl You Know It's True"- Fab Morvan. I'm telling you this guy was freaking good! I never understood why Frankie Farian wouldn't let him sing for real.

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

"The Plumbing Song"- "Weird" Al Yankovic. Weird Al's Milli Vanilli inspired parody on his 1993 album Off The Deep End.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Td334mO1_Q

"Good To Sea"- Pinback. Just because it's stuck in my head.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3h9QFXviJ2E

Apoptygma Berzerk
For King And Country
Mika