It’s time for Twisted Mix-Tape Tuesday, and this week is all about crime. I took the theme literally – mostly. Check out the other playlists here, and feel free to add your own.
Down by the River by Neil Young
Because it’s over nine minutes long, this is a song I tend to skip on my iPod although I do love Neil Young. He explained the “I shot my baby” lyrics in the liner notes of Decade, saying he wrote the song when he was delirious with fever.
Hey Joe by Cher
I was never a Jimi Hendrix fan (sorry if that’s sacrilege to any of you) but when I first heard Cher sing it, it totally creeped me out and still haunts me. Joe is heading out to “shoot my old lady ‘cause I saw her messing round with another man” (ooh, I could have used this in last week’s cheating mix-tape) and, yes, he should freaking end up in jail. And, on a related note, so should the guy in “Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down).”
Man Down by Rihanna
I believe she acted in self-defense, she’s remorseful and I would find her not guilty. I can’t guarantee a jury would do the same. And if this song is a warning to Chris Brown, well, good.
I Shot the Sheriff by Bob Marley
My friend has a funny story about this song. She was driving with the windows open, and stopped for a red light. She was singing along to the Eric Clapton version, when she noticed the man in the next car staring at her. She turned around to look at him and realized he was driving a car marked “Sheriff.” She stopped singing, shrugged and he started to laugh.
Killing Me Softly by Lori Lieberman
I liked the idea of including this one because imagine someone killing another person softly with their song and ending up in jail. Ha ha! On a more serious note, this is a really beautiful song written by my friend, Lori Lieberman, after watching Don McLean perform. Roberta Flack made it famous but Lori made it a classic.
I Fought the Law by The Clash
This is just a bonus but it felt like the right way to end the theme of songs that could’ve sent someone to jail – and apparently did.
I was totally taken by surprise when you said that the Roberta Flack version of Killing Me Softly wasn’t the original, but when I listened to the one you posted, I recognized it. I also didn’t know Cher did a cover of Hey Joe (more of a fan of the Hendrix cover).
More songs for arrest:
Driving that Train High on cocaine
Sympathy for the DEVIL
I shot my baby down by the river
I want to be sedated
House of the rising sun
Dr. Sherry-You need to start a blog and join our blog hop!
Love Neil Young…and yes I get the skip over it bit. Speaking of “skipping over” I think I will do the same for Rhianna…you know me and my hot buttons…but we can chat live on that one. I had never heard the Cher cover of Hey Joe, I do love Jimi and I like her version too. (probably because I live to find covers…well maybe not quite “live”, I do love them though!)
So glad you included Lori Lieberman, I enjoyed the story behind her song and her version.
Nice job with this my friend! I enjoyed it even with skipping over Rhianna! xo
Yeah! The Clash! Good one. And I can’t believe I didn’t think of Down By the River or Hey Joe. Love ’em both. Great mix.
Okay. I love you, Lois, but I think I would rather listen to The Chipmunks sing “Hey, Joe” than ever have to be subjected to Cher singing it again EVER. OMG, horrible. Zero soul. Zero connection to the story. So, thanks for ruining Cher for me.
In your defense, although I don’t think it fully cancels out the Cher thing, Lori Lieberman— WOW! I NEVER knew who wrote that song before — though I was fairly certain it wasn’t Cher. I never knew the story behind it either. I’m going to listen to all the Lori Lieberman I can get my hands on. So, thanks for that!
The story about the sheriff is pretty funny! Good pics!
Funny how we both picked different versions of I shot the sheriff! I went with Clapton, but both versions are cool. Loved the list!
I swoon at the sound of truly great musicians– so starting off with Neil Young’s inspirational guitar riffs hooked me immediately! You reeled me in with Lori Lieberman’s gentle keyboards…. Thanks for the wonderful treat Lois!
Aw come on! You don’t like Jimi??? Oh well, I won’t hold it against you. I still think your list is great and really appreciate you playing during this crazy week!