Nothing puts me in the mood for working on a campaign or writing new material quite like a good playlist.
So while we are working on Thirteen Parsecs, Jason has put together a new sci-fi themed playlist for your enjoyment.
Don't forget to sign up to learn more about this project.
Enjoy!
A few times in my life are clearly defined as "Before" and "After."
Graduations. Marriage. Kids. But one that has left a significant mark on me (and my wife Natalie) was Before and After hearing "The Lion and the Cobra" by Sinéad O’Connor. Seeing her in concert remains one of the best shows I have ever been to in my life.
I do not believe in any sort of afterlife at all. But I hope she finally found some sort of peace.
The effect her music, especially her first few albums, had on me is quite frankly immeasurable. Not surprisingly, she also inspired some of my favorite RPG moments.
I have already talked about characters I have named after her. and how her album, The Lion and the Cobra, has constantly been among my top 5 forever.
The Dragon and The Phoenix
I am not going to say there would have been no "The Dragon and the Phoenix," my epic Buffy RPG campaign without Sinéad's "The Lion and the Cobra," but it and everything that came after it (my work on the Buffy RPG, Ghosts of Albion) would have looked very different.
Back in 1988, listening to "The Lion & the Cobra" (for like the 1000th time likely), I had an idea of a character that loved someone so much that they breached the walls of death and came back to that person. It was a powerful image and something I wanted to do ever since. Eventually, that image from so long ago became a central theme of "The Dragon & the Phoenix." The song was "Troy" (as in Trojans) and the final adventure was named "No Other Troy." Both for the Sinéad O'Connor song and the Yeats poem.
The build-up for this adventure, an interlude, was set to "Drink Before the War," also from "The Lion and the Cobra."
While "The Lion and the Cobra" had a HUGE impact on my life, it was not her only album. Another contributing factor to both my Ravenloft games of the 1990s and "The Dragon and the Phoenix" was "I am Stretched on Your Grave" from her wildly successful "I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got."
Another element added to the soundtrack of my early 2000s games was her 1994 album "Universal Mother," with "Fire On Babylon" being the main choice.
Sinéad also appeared on many other albums. One song of hers really help me find the tone I was looking for for my The Dragon and the Phoenix game. It is "Empire" off of Bomb the Bass's album "Clear."
Other Games
Though back in the late 80s / early 90s the Buffy RPG was not even an idea yet. What was an idea were my ideas for a Star Trek TNG game after picking up some FASA Trek material for TNG. Back then the idea of a Ghost Ship and the song was "Jackie" also from "The Lion and the Cobra."
This was, no doubt, inspired by what I was doing back then. A lot of horror role-playing.
Another song, which while by itself did not lead to any RPG ideas, it lead me to Enya which more or less was my soundtrack for writing Ghosts of Albion. The song was "Never Get Old" also from "The Lion and the Cobra."
Other Videos
I can't have a proper tribute without mentioning "Nothing Compares 2 U." I was at a party one night back in college. People were drinking and generally doing what you do at an underage college keg party. The TV was on MTV as background noise. Sinéad came on with "Nothing Compares 2 U" and I swear the whole place ground to a halt so people could watch her. Ok, maybe not to a halt, but it was early enough in the release of the song that not many had seen the video yet. I already had heard the song many times, I bought the album on the day it was released, so I knew it. I think I may have even seen the video. But now everyone else was discovering something I already knew. Just how fantastic she was.
Her critics (and there are so many of them) are all quick to point out that Prince wrote this song. Yes. Yes he did and Prince is amazing. He has written so many songs for so many artists. But when Prince wrote this he was singing about a lover. Sinéad was singing about her abusive mother and how she really just wanted to be loved by her the same way she loved her.
Tell me that doesn't make it hit harder.
Speaking of critics.
At the concert to celebrate Bob Dylan's birthday right after the Pope thing, she came on stage and was booed by the crowd. Singer Kris Kristofferson came out, gave her a hug, and told her, "Don't let the bastards get you down." She did her song and fled the stage, where Kristofferson was there to give her a hug. My admiration of him went up several notches after that. In 2009 he recorded an acoustic song, "Sister Sinead."
I'm singing this song for my sister Sinead
Concerning the god awful mess that she made
She told them her truth just as hard as she could
Her message profoundly was misunderstood
There's humans entrusted with guarding our gold
And humans in charge of the saving of souls
And humans responded all over the world
Condemning that bald headed brave little girl
And maybe she's crazy and maybe she ain't
But so was Picasso and so were the saints
And she's never been partial to shackles or chains
She's too old for breaking and too young to tame
It's askin' for trouble to stick out your neck
In terms of a target a big silhouette
But some candles flicker and some candles fade
And some burn as true as my sister Sinead
- Kris Kristofferson, "Sister Sinead"
Enjoy!
You all know I am a huge music fan AND I am a huge fan of Netflix's Stranger Things.
So in celebration of Season 4 here are some songs great for fighting monsters.
These would be the songs on my playlist 1986 that is for sure. Where would I have been on a Friday in July in 1986? Playing AD&D of course!
We need to start with the biggest comeback hit ever. Kate Bush's (who was already a D&D meme) Running up That Hill.
Seriously, could not have happened to a better person.
I grew up in the 80s. I played AD&D. I listened to metal. So I relate to Eddie Munson. I KNEW Eddie Munson, or at least people that had aspects of him. I thought his "and that is why we play." line about D&D was going to be his signature line.
No.
His "Chrissy. This is for you." got me where I live. If "Running Up That Hill" was the song for Part 1, then "Master of Puppets" owns Part 2.
To quote Dustin, "Dude. Most. Metal. Ever!"
Another song from the time, Journey's Seperate Ways, got a spooky sounding remix.
This isn't a song about two people drifting apart as much as it is now a song about our heroes all fighting their own personal battles.
It is really difficult to express how much "classic rock" was part of the 80s, especially in middle America. I mean think about what was popular vs. to what you were listening too. For me 1986 was a combination of The Police (who had promised us new songs in 86), Dire Straits, Peter Gabriel, to Beastie Boys, Run DMC, as well as Pink Floyd, The Who, and Joe Walsh. So seeing a couple of classic rock songs make the series feels right.
Now we have to wait nearly two years until the next and final season. The ending credits left us with none other than the transcendent Siouxsie Sioux and The Banshees' "Spellbound."
It's Christmas Eve in my part of the world!
While I am not a Christian I do love the secular holiday aspects of Christmas. Getting together with family. Relaxing at the end of the year. Making some great food (homemade pizzas tonight) and yes giving presents.
So let's get this Christmas going with some of my favorite Christmas songs!
Here are some of my all-time favorites.
Not everything I post here is game-related.
Friday Night Videos is a prime example. And in truth, there might not be a Friday Night Videos (or even an MTV as we used to know it) without the pioneering work of Mike Nesmith.
Nesmith, who passed away on December 10 at the age of 78 was one of the members of the fake rock band, The Monkees. LAter he created the show PopClips that was later sold to Time Warner and gave us MTV. This is not a surprise since the Monkees show was essentially a surreal sitcom with music video sensibilities. It played in reruns to kids like me that would grow up into teens with MTV.
Mike Nesmith is the Godfather of Music Videos. Yes, there were music videos before, some WAY before, but he turned them into entertainment for the masses.
So here's Nes and some of my favorite songs he has written.
He also was featured on songs written by others.
His best though, is one he wrote and performed and became something of a signature song.
Weren't they good, they made me happy. Miss yeah Nes.
The day job was crazy today! Didn't get my last post in for Norse Week, so I thought I'd throw in a Friday Night Videos for it!
So what are Viking Songs?
Glad you asked!
Well, maybe not Viking songs exactly, but certainly ones that want me to play a Viking/Norse-themed game.
So up first, the most Viking song there is.
Is this a Viking song? No. But the band, Saga, always makes me think of the TSR Mini-game Saga, and that is good enough for me.
Do you know who does know about Vikings? The British. And who better to tell us about it than Iron Maiden.
Ok. So. This song is not at all about Vikings, not even if you try REALLY hard. But it is a song Saxon and I dig it.
Sabaton is a Swedish symphonic metal band that pretty much only sing about Vikings. I want to include them here too since I feel my "Norse Week" might have weighted too heavily on Norway.
Let's not forget the haunting "If I had a Heart" from the series Vikings.
Skol!
Today is the last day of the A to Z Challenge.
Since today's monster was a zombie I thought some Zombie music was in order.
So let's get to it!
Up first, the original Zombies.
I have to include the next big Zombie band, White Zombie.
And Rob's solo work singing about a couple of undead.
And since it IS Walpurgis Night lets have some witches, Zombie style. Plus lots of monsters in these.
Don't wory, the poor witch killed in the first video comes back and gets a kickass Harley.
Honestly I could Rob Zombie songs all night. But we have other Zombies tonight.
Not a zombie, but rather a song about the violence in Northern Ireland from the sadly late Dolores O'Riordan and the Cranberries.
Dolores was to cover the song for the Nu Metal Band "Bad Wolves" but she died on the same day.
There are some more I am sure!
Happy Zombie Day.
It's been a bit since I did a Friday Night Videos, but maybe it's the dark of winter that has my mood looking to some new music from some of my favorite women-fronted bands. And while we are at it let's make this a #FollowFriday too! Follow them all and don't forget to buy their songs, albums, or whatever they have. People have been saying "we don't need artists during this quarantine" and to that I say bullshit! Artists have kept me living in all of this. We need them more than ever.
Let's get into it!
Up first is a favorite of The Other Side, Arden Leigh.
Arden fronted the band Arden and the Wolves. Now she has a new project she is doing Prospertine. Which consists of her and Jeremy Bastard. Their first single is Home.
You can follow her, The Wolves, and Prospertine on the web at:
Arden
Arden and the wolves
Prospertine
Another favorite here is the sister group Neoni. Their newest song Notorious is now out. It has a serious Lorde vibe and I mean that is the best possible way.
Neoni also gave Fandom the gift of covering "Carry On (Wayward Son)" for the Supernatural Series Finale. For this alone they have earned a solid place in geekdom.
You can find and follow Neoni at:
Taylor Momsen of The Pretty Reckless has been putting out some great music for while now. Their newest album, Death by Rock and Roll has a lot of great songs on it. Personal, Taylor is getting better with each album and I have to admit I am pleased she quit acting to do this full time.
Witches Burn grabbed my attention right away.
It's going to be interesting to see where she is in a few years because I think she is just getting better with each album.
Find The Pretty Reckless here:
Speaking of getting better.
Confession time. When they first came out I really didn't care for Evanescence. I mean I recognized that Amy Lee had a powerful voice, but they never connected with me really. Fast forward a few years and I am listening to her doing duets and singing background on other artists' songs and I am just impressed with her. I think she is a better singer now than she was 20 years ago. Here is Evanescence's most recent one and as a bonus Lzzy Hale is singing backup.
You can find Evanescence on the web here:
Check them all out!
One of the things I love about this time in music is not just how much of it is being made, but the unlimited access to new music and talent.
One I have been following for a while is Arden and the Wolves, although these days it is just Arden.
There is something about her voice and lyrics that just call to me at some level. Not sure what it is really, but I like it and want to share.
https://ardenandthewolves.bandcamp.com/album/who-can-you-trust
I am going to start out with my favorite song of hers.
What Arden calls "another year of rain" I would have called my "sojourn in Hell." Though for different reasons.
You can do far worse than covering the Ramones. Arden covers them well and gives this song a new meaning.
The Who Can You Trust album is one of the most emotionally raw things I have listened to since The Lion and the Cobra.
She has more, but these are the ones I listen to a lot.
It's Friday! It's October! Let's start some Friday Night Videos!
Since I am also doing my October Horror Movie Marathon posts I am writing these posts early to autopost.
So let's get started.
Last week I did the Hex Girls, a fake all-girl band. Tonight lets do a real all-girl, witch-themed band. And these women have more in common with the Ostrogoths than they do with eco-goths.
Here they are, The Burning Witches!
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| Jay, Romana, Laura, Larissa, Lala |
They have seen some line-up changes over the years, but right now the current coven consists of lead singer Laura Guldemond, guitarist and founding member Romana Kalkuhl, bass player Jeanine "Jay" Grob, Lala Frischknecht on drums, and newest member Larissa Ernst on guitar.
This is the first video of the Witches I ever saw and features their former lead singer Seraina Telli (now of Dead Venus) and former guitarist Sonja "Anubis" Nusselder.
After this Lead singer Laura Guldemond took over and oh does she has some energy!
And just released two weeks ago, The Circle of Five! With new Witch Larissa.
I am looking forward to seeing some more new material with Larissa!
Links
It's Friday! It's October! Let's start some Friday Night Videos!
Since I am also doing my October Horror Movie Marathon posts I am writing these posts early to autopost.
So let's get started.
Tonight I have the music of my favorite all-girl, eco-goth band of witches, the Hex Girls! Not just the songs from their Scooby-Doo episodes but some clever coplayers and cover bands.
And all the Hex Girls songs in one place.
Happy Halloween!
