no time for a hundred indecisions

This week's assignment was to come up with my dream set list for three genres, and then one of my choice. I have done an unspeakable amount of research to be able to present this final product to you. I have surfed Pandora, last.fm, Amazon, and iLike until my eyes burned. I have downloaded over 2 GB of music to my already cluttered computer. So appreciate, please. :)

Genre #1: Hip-hop

Opener: Gnarls Barkley
Mid: M.I.A.
Headliner: Santogold

What's that you say? Gnarls Barkley and Santogold aren't actually hip-hop? In my book, they are. If I hear you rapping (and you're not being ironic), you're hip-hop. I know Santogold is horribly offended by this label, but my justification is that I'm honestly not doing it on racist terms. So now that I've sufficiently defended myself against classification Nazis, if those exist, I'd like to explain my choice. I've never liked hip-hop (or any other terms I judge to be equivalent, i.e. rap, R&B, etc.). And when I learned I had to come up with my top 3 hip-hop artists, I practically tore my hair out in panic (minor exaggeration). So after much research, I've compromised for a sort of pop rap theme. I'd like to see Gnarls Barkley live because I've always sort of liked them (since their ubiquitous hit, "Crazy"). And also, I hear they put on a great live show, with themed costumes. Next, I chose M.I.A. because I think I'm beginning to appreciate her music more (read: more than I appreciate other rappers), and because she has apparently performed her last show?! I chose Santogold because I actually really like the music from her debut album. My favorites are probably, "L.E.S. Artistes," "Shove It," "Lights Out," and "Say Aha."

Genre #2: Jazz

Opener: John Coltrane (c. 1960s)
Mid: Nat King Cole (c. 1950s)
Headliner: Frank Sinatra (c. 1940s)

Jazz was also a bit hard for me, since I'm not much of a jazz-appreciater. I'd like to be, but it's just hard for me to get into certain types of music at this point in my life. Like Bob Dylan. I don't like admitting this to hardcore music snobs, but I really don't see what's so great about Dylan. Call it a lack of maturity, but I also can't yet appreciate 10-minute saxophone solos. But I hear the experience of seeing a jazz performer live is incomparable to hearing a CD, so I'll go out on a limb and put John Coltrane on my list. Also, he's is reputedly an amazing improviser. Nat King Cole made the list because I love the sound of his voice. And I think Frank Sinatra is a no-brainer. Frank Sinatra songs have been the soundtrack to my love life, and I know by heart all the words to "Let's Fall in Love," "Fly Me to the Moon," "The Way You Look Tonight," "Somethin' Stupid," "I've Got the World On a String," etc. You get the idea.

Genre #3: Rock

Opener: Blondie (c. 1980s)
Mid: Queen (c. 1980s)
Headliner: The Beatles (c. 1960s)

There are so many bands in this genre I would love to see live, and it certainly makes me unhappy to have to leave so many out of this set list. In case one of the above bands calls in sick, I would please like someone from the following to step in: The Clash, The Pogues, Stone Temple Pilots, Alice in Chains, The Cure, The Smiths, Nirvana, The Velvet Underground, The Replacements, Duran Duran, or Bruce Springsteen. Maybe I did that to illustrate what a tough choice it was. Maybe I did it as an honorable mention. More likely, I did it because I have very little confidence in my final set list, and I like to keep my options around. I chose Blondie because I love everything they do, which seems an adequate enough reason. I am also still disappointed at not being able to see them this week. The show is the night before my economics midterm, but I still wouldn't hesitate to go if I were somehow magically offered tickets. By a secret admirer who reads this blog. No? Well, it was worth a shot. I think Queen and The Beatles need no explanation.

Genre #4: Pop

Opener: The Magnetic Fields
Mid: The Killers
Headliner: Stars

For Genre #4, I chose the vague, all-encompassing genre of pop. I've actually already seen The Killers and Stars in concert, but I really enjoyed both concerts, so I would have no problem seeing them again. The Magnetic Fields and Stars both have a very charming, lo-fi sound, and really clever lyrics. And The Killers are just a lot of fun. Enough said.