Originally posted 2009-08-04 07:26:23.
For Marcy Playground chords & lyrics, CLICK HERE!
By Chris Moore:
After both technical difficulties and more than my share of human error for the night, my “Chris Moore Monday” post is here! Not only am I posting a video tonight for the best acoustic cover song music video blog known to man — and humble, too! — but this is actually the first of a double header that will conclude tomorrow night. Since Jim is away for one more “Jim Fusco Tuesday,” I didn’t want to see anyone go without new material for even a day more. So make sure to check back tomorrow for an all-new cover song and music video.
Tonight’s song is one that would have made me blush in 1997, and to be honest, it still does. Back in late ’97 and early 1998, Marcy Playground’s “Sex and Candy” was everywhere, particularly if you listened to a modern rock radio station. (CT locals may remember the alternative station Rock 104′s hey day in the nineties.) At the time, this song broke the record for most consecutive weeks at number one on the modern rock charts — 15 weeks, to be specific. Meanwhile, this song catapulted Marcy Playground to one hit wonder status, peaking at a solid number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100.
To this day, I’m not exactly sure why this song was such a big hit at the time. Structurally, it’s a very simple song, and the vocals are very straightforward. I think the song’s success can be attributed to its provocative lyrics and John Wozniak’s distinct vocals. Fortunately for me, “Woz” as he refers to himself has a vocal range that is well within my own, at least on this song!
There are two reasons I’ve chosen this particular song for tonight’s session. The first is that it reminds me of a time when I was first becoming interested in music, listening to the radio and just beginning to buy CDs at the overpriced Sam Goody’s store in the mall.
The second reason will be explained in tomorrow night’s session…
You know, another sign that this song was successful is that “Weird” Al included the chorus of “Sex and Candy” in his “Polka Power!” polka medley. If only I, too, could one day have a song parodied by the man, then I would truly know I had earned success. But, until then, I’ll just have to enjoy the new “Weird” Al video for his new song, “CNR.” It’s a style parody of the White Stripes and the video was produced by JibJab, so it’s all the more hilarious. While I thought the “Skipper Dan” video a couple weeks ago was enjoyable, this one is truly great — it made me laugh out loud a couple times and want to watch it again.
Okay, so that’s it for me for now. I’ll see you back here, same Laptop Sessions time, same Laptop Sessions channel for an all-new “Chris Moore for Jim Fusco Tuesday” cover song music video.
See you next session!
Related posts:
- “Sex on Fire” (Kings of Leon Acoustic Rock Cover Song) – The Guest Sessions
- “The Sound of Settling” (Death Cab for Cutie Acoustic Rock Cover Song) – The Laptop Sessions
- “Jonathon Fisk” (Spoon acoustic rock cover song) – The Laptop Sessions
- “Just Breathe” (Pearl Jam acoustic cover song) – The Laptop Sessions
- “Wilted Rose” (Vanity Project acoustic rock cover song) – The Laptop Sessions
This is one in a series of acoustic cover songs, original music, and free mp3 downloads here on the Laptop Sessions Music Video Blog.
August 6th, 2009 at 7:49 pm
Yo, I hate to give you a negative comment, but I think you are singing this a little too high. I’m trying to sing along, but something seems off. It’s still a great video though, and I’ll probably still play your video a handful of times. Maybe some time soon you could do some everclear for me, something off the sparkle and fade album. Every song on that CD is dynamite, especially white men in black suits, and I will buy you a new life. I think the singing would be pretty easy for you on those songs since I can sing anything by everclear pretty much perfect, but I have trouble going low enough to sing sex and candy. Give them a try!
August 11th, 2009 at 12:41 pm
This is officially the first time someone has thought I should be singing in a lower register… lol One reason my performance may seem “off” is that it’s missing the classic riff at the beginning of each line of the choruses. But, that’s why it’s my “cover” version.
Anyway, thank you for listening and commenting! I’d love to do something from Everclear; that brings me back a bit. Did you mean “So Much for the Afterglow”? That’s the only Everclear album I have, and those songs are from that one, not “Sparkle and Fade.”
Thanks for reminding me about another great, classic 90s band/album. Hope you come back soon!