It’s Friday morning, and I want everybody to be happy and alert – even on a rainy Albany day. So I gathered a mixture of ten upbeat songs and I want to share them with you. It may be raining outside, but I hope your soul is warm inside.
SIRSY
Lionheart
How in the world my fellow Times Union bloggers can get all that sound out of a guitar and a drum kit… amazing. And I’m really digging this new release from them. Hey MTV, howzabout playing music again – starting with this track?
MR. ROGERS NEIGHBORHOOD
Sing Together (B-Side)
Yes, that remixing company that re-edited Fred Rogers’ voice into a viral video hit called “Gardens of Your Mind” is back for another go-round. Normally I would be appalled by these auto-tune videos, but this one is kinda fun.
YOTHU YINDI
Treaty
One of the most successful Aboriginal rock bands, Yothu Yindi conquered world music with their international hit “Treaty,” a song about the future reconciliation talks between the Australian government and the indigenous tribes. This clip has some poignancy for me; lead vocalist and songwriter Mandawuy Yunupingu passed away a couple of days ago. He was a legend and he will be missed.
DUM DUM GIRLS
Bedroom Eyes
A little dream pop from Dee Dee Penny, this song is really energetic and reminds me of groups like Sleater-Kinney and the Rayvonettes.
SUNNY DAY REAL ESTATE
The Days Were Golden
Arguably one of the most enigmatic and influential Seattle-based bands, Sunny Day Real Estate’s lineup has changed and reorganized almost at will. Somehow in their short existence, they were able to release songs like this classic, “The Days Were Golden.”
SCHOOL OF SEVEN BELLS
The Night
So let’s go over to the East Coast and enjoy this New York City indie rock group, who took their name from a legendary South American pickpocketing training center. Hmm…
BABE RUTH
The Mexican
No, this is not the famed Yankees slugger. This is a British art-rock band whose 1972 song “The Mexican” has bounced throughout the New York City hip hop world, and John “Jellybean” Benitez remixed a dance version in the late 80’s. This is the original, and it still sounds swank. And am I hearing the guitar riff from “From a Few Dollars More” in this track? Maybe I am…
JELLYBEAN
The Mexican
When John “Jellybean” Benitez remixed this track for the clubs, he hired the lead singer of Babe Ruth to re-record the lyrics for this hit. Normally I don’t put together two songs like this on a K-Chuck Radio… but in this case I feel like making an exception.
GENKI ROCKETS 元気ロケッツ
Heavenly Star
I’m not sure which video game this came from… but I would buy the game just to hear this song over and over again. Plus, I dig this video with its homage to a-ha’s “Take On Me.”
PHANTOGRAM
As Far As I Can See
And let’s wrap up today’s K-Chuck Radio with another Capital District homegrown band. I don’t know what I enjoy more about this song. The dreamy vocals, the funky groove, or the stinger that was borrowed from the opening theme of The Flintstones.
Chuck The Writer 
I like these choices, especially School of Seven Bells.
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I’m not usually a fan of auto-tuning either, but I really like the PBS Digital Studios remixes. The Bob Ross and Julia Child ones are pretty good, too…
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Amazed to see someone else listens (or added to their playlist) Sunny Day Real Estate. Personally, I think Circles is a much better song. Just my 2cents.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itYf8qAE4Gs
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Wow shocked to hear the news about Mandawuy. Personally I think Tribal Voice was their best song. Especially the version with Peter Maffay.
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If you like Sunny Day Real Estate, you should check out Jeremy Enigk’s (SDRE singer) solo album Return of the Frog Queen. Very cool Syd Barrett style psychedelia.
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