Rockit is resting

Hi Everyone.

Rockit is resting for a while but should be back in February.

But feel free to browse my blog http://wolfiesworld-oz.blogspot.com/
as I'll be posting there quite a bit over the month.

Billy Idol - Jingle Bell Rock

This seems unlikely...



But then I saw this:

"Have yourself a Merry little Christmas" - Twisted Sister.



Wolfie!

More than This

Mum was great, One year she offered to get me an album, but didn't know which one's I liked... so I wrote down five albums... She bought the lot for me.

I'm missing both My parents terribly, but the memories of them were good.







A proper video of this can't be found, so we'll settle for this:


Wolfie!

* * * Videodrome * * *

This week it's one of my favourite comedy songs ever.

I used to play this a lot on my radio show years back, and it would annoy some members of staff, oh dear, I'm such a naughty boy.

It's Mojo Nixon with "Debbie Gibson is Pregnant" [With My Two-Headed Love Child]



Wolfie!

To a lovely Guy

One of My favourites, the end of the song cracks me up :)

Max Headroom - Merry Christmas Santa Claus.

I want a Hippopotamus for Christmas

This song was said to be a fund raiser for the Oklahoma zoo who wanted a hippo of their own for Christmas, When this song by Gayla Peevy [ten at the time] soared up the charts worldwide in 1953, The zoo got it's Hippo.

However anoter story goes that in 2007, in a radio interview with Gayla.
"Peevey clarified that the song was not originally recorded as a fundraiser. Instead, a local promoter picked up on the popularity of the song and Peevey's local roots, and launched a campaign to present her with an actual hippopotamus on Christmas." (Wikipedia)

The campaign succeeded, and she was presented with an actual hippopotamus, which she donated to the city zoo.

The Hippo was named Matilda, and lived for fifty years.



The B-side of the record was equally charming, Here's Gayla Peevy again, with "Are my ear's on straight"



Have a lovely Christmas everyone!

Wolfie!

Being nice to everyone

Australian Music

The Cockroaches - She's the One.


Australian music of the 80s.


Wolfie!

Pull up to the bumper - Grace Jones

Subterranian Homesick Blues - Bob Dylan

Hrmmm... this is interesting, could be a clue.

Wolfie!

Misfit - Curiosity Killed The Cat

Do Ya Wanna Play Rockit?

Every week, on a friday, I play Rockit on ABC Island in Secondlife, and I end up with a lot of scripts with a lot of interesting questions at the end of each show which will most likely just sit on my hard drive forever.

Well, I decided to do a mock-up of the real thing, and put it on my blog for non SL users to try, granted it won't be as much fun, but will still rack your brains as some of the later questions get very tough indeed.

The Music you'll be quizzed on is generally Pop and Rock from the 1950's to 1995,
Don't worry, most of the questions are based on music which is played on FM radio all the time... and I do give clues via this very blog, so perhaps dig around first and watch a few videos before playing.

I suggest you write down your answers.

Best of luck.

Wolfie!


****

Hi Everyone and Welcome to the only live music gameshow on Secondlife.

My Name is Wolfie Rankin and I'm your host tonight.

Playing Rockit is very easy, First of all We'll play an Audience round where I'll ask some fairly easy music questions, and if you think you know the answer, Just shout it out and if you're right, Just walk up here and take a seat on the panel.

And when We have two teams of four players, We can begin the real game.

So, Do Ya wanna play..... Rockit?

Here We go.

1. Q- What does the "L" in ELO stand for?

2. Q- Kiss'Peter Criss wears makeup portraying which creature?

3. Q- Which Aussie group was headed by Angry Anderson?

4. Q- No sex, no fun, no wine, no women, no fun, no sin, no you, no wonder it's dark" Is a line from which song?

5. Q- What's Boy George's real last name?

6. Q- Which Swiss group had a hit with "Oh Yeah"?

7. Q- Which 70's rocker declared "I hate the music"?

8. Q- A High Energy disco hit for Sylvester was "Do ya wanna what?


* At this point there would be eight people sitting up front, two teams of four players.

And now that We have our teams, we can move onto our first round.
It's called "Local and/or General" after a song by Models.
It's a general music questions round, and a bit harder than the first set of questions.

* At this point, all correct answers are worth five points, so write down your answers and check them in the comments section later.

1. Q- Which song about mastication involved Diana Ross and Michael Jackson?

2. Q- Which suburb of Perth did Rolf Harris come from?

3. Q- Which unusual instrument, for a rock song, is heard in Midnight Oil's "Dead Heart"?

4. Q- Together, Paul Weller, Mick Talbot, Steve White and Dee C. Lee are known as who?

5. Q- Kate Ceberano covered which song by The Reels?

6. Q- Apart from "Video killed the radio star" Another of The Buggles' songs was "Plastic What?"

7. Q- Which Kiwi artist who sang with DDSmash, had a few major hits as a solo artist later.

8. Q- Which Aussie group sang backing vocals on Diana Ross's "Chain Reaction"?

9. Q- Most of the members of which band also had a "side project" called "Ecco Homo"?

10. Q- Which 70s-80s vocal group from the UK and Ireland included: Anne, Denise, Maureen, Linda and Bernadette.



The next round is rather like the "Who am I?" Questions on "Sale of the Century", I'm sure the formula will be familiar to you.

Profiles.

1. Born in 1949 in Melbourne, Brother of Glen, was in the same class as Olivia Newton-John, his first hit with the group he was in was in 1971 and called "Can you feel it baby. He played the lead role in the 1973 production of "Tommy". He was crowned "king of pop" by TV Week for three years from 1975 to 1977. In 1988 He released his solo album "The edge" which included "As the days go by" and "One Summer"

2. Born in 1949 in Essex, UK, He started in the band "Strings Unlimited". At 22 He was crowned "King of Moomba" in Melbourne. From 1981 to 1984 He was lead snger of The Little River Band Known as "Whispering Jack" He is...

3. Born in 1956 in Sydney, He developed an interest in art and music, He played Harmonica. His best known artwork is His Storm Clouds Over the Piazza series
Although His first name is Andy, I acquired a nickname... Greedy.
He was a member of Mental as Anything, He is...

4. He was born in 1958 in Canada, at the age of eight, She wrote ""Ugly Little Cabbage In The Garden" to annoy Her Sister.
In 1984 She appeared in the TV Show "The Kids Of Degrassi Street"
She released Her first solo and self titled album in 1989, and had three top40 hits from it, including "Love Is" and "Black Velvet".
Her Last name is Miles, She is...

5. Born in 1953 in Scotland, He moved to Australia with His family at 14 He was a member of Ringo Starr's 8th and 10th All Star Band. Best known as The lead singer of an Aussie band who's biggest hit was in 1981. His group was Men at Work, and He is...




You've just realised that your life imitates art, it's just like a well known song, it's been known to happen, only... Which song is it?

Living it:

1. Q- If your job as an office clerk is "very boring" and you're dreaming of a beach, you're living which song?

2. Q- you're complaining about the easy life of bands while working for a furniture removal company, it's...

3. Q- You're a guy who's girlfriend has had a baby, and she's saying it's yours when it's not "your son".

4. Q- Your boyfriend is a traindriver who never sleeps, he takes the train out and "home again" and finds "you waiting for him"

5. Q- You can't sleep or eat, you're pretty sure "You're in deep", you have a tight throat and can't breathe, "another kiss is all you need" then you're...




Just a few questions about instumental tracks, easy as pie.

Instrumental:

1. Q- This song was the Theme to Beverly Hills Cop, performed by Harold Faltermeyer

2. Q- The theme to a movie about athletes training for the 1924 Olympics.

3. Q- This well known movie theme by John Williams was turned into a disco hit by Meco.

4. Q- This instrumental was first performed by Barry White's Love Unlimited orchestra in 1973.

5. Q- Although the entire soundtrack of E.T. was instrumental, one song, "Heartlight" honoured the movie, who sang it?

And now, The final round, called "Local and or General" except, this one is much harder. Whichever team has the most points after this round, wins the game, Goodluck to everyone!

1. Q- Which title is shared by a 1954 film with Danny Kaye, a song by Prefab Sprout and a disco classic by Amii Stewart?

2. Q- Jimmy Sommerville fronted two bands, name one for the points.

3. Q- Which Wilde British female artist had a hit with The Bee Gee's "If I can't have you?"

4. Q- "The arms of orion" a slow and romantic duet between Prince and Sheena Easton, was included in the soundtrack of which 1989 movie?

5. Q- Who's album was "Bonk", released in 1987?

6. Q- "Eight arms to hold you" was from which Spielberg movie?

7. Q- 80's icon Max Headroom was in fact not computer generated, but an actor wearing a rubber mask, Who was it?

8. Q- Real Life's "Send me an angel" was in the soundtrack from which mostly unsuccessful Jason Bateman movie?

9. Q- Who teamed up with Tube & Berger for their 2004 song "Straight Ahead"?

10 Q- Casual Gods was an album by who?

(Answers will be published soon)

Wolfie!

Rockit and this document is copyright Wolfie!/PWTS 2008.
All rights reserved.

Wolfie! is Copyright PWTS 1986-2008 All rights reserved.

Fabulous Furry Animals

OK, Let's see what you know.

The music played by Yappy Fox in this video is originally from which movie? If you think it's hamsterdance, you're not right.

Wolfie!



Ohhhh what nice flips these are!

Pop Goes The World - Men Without Hats

Most people associate Men without Hats with their biggest hit "Safety Dance", Indeed I suppose you could say they were a One hit Wonder.

But I love this song anyway, it's "Pop goes the World".


Wolfie!

Badger Badger Badger Badger

Try the new Badger Trance.

Wolfie!

Eight Arms to Hold You - Goonsquad

This is from the Spielberg film, "Goonies"

ABC - The Night You Murdered Love

I had an entirely different image in my head about what what going on in this song, and then I saw the video... hrmmmm. Oh well, It's still a great song anyway.



You know, what these video sites need is some kind of audio adjustment, which the uploader could slide and set, to get the sync right.

The Doco is almost finished!

Information on this is available here.

Wolfie!

Tube & Berger with Chrissy Hynde.

This is "Straight Ahead"

High Energy Disco

Both of these songs were given a pounding at every school disco we had. The style is called Hi-NRG Disco. People say Disco died, in fact it just mutated into many different forms which still exists today.

Sylvesters' "Do ya wanna funk" is one of the first 12" singles I ever bought.


And this is Patrick Cowley and "Menergy"... You'll notice that the video is just a remix of the one above, it's possible there was no video for this track, ever.

Rockit - Summer Love Series

The first of five shows starts tonight at ABC Island, down near the beach at 7pm AEST or Midnight PST.

Study the links below, especially the television shows, there's all sorts of clues there... and "It's The Wolf" will be the source of all tonights Videodrome questions.

Join me then.

Wolfie!

* Update 7pm might be too early for most of my audience, so I'll happily give-in and delay the show till later if required... afterall, it's gotta be fun for me too!

"The Tra-La-La Song" - The Banana Splits

I used to watch these as a kid, maybe you did too, Memories, eh?

The Banana Splits


The Catanooga Cats.


And from that show here's "It's the Wolf!" poor old Mildew, I hated lambsy.

This was a weird one, but fun anyway:


The Groovie Ghoulies [Who had a Wolfie of their ooooWWWwWwWnnnnnn!"]
The show was a spinoff from "The Archies", They were of course related to Sabrina, The teenage witch.


Wolfie!

Love is the drug

Two Versions of "Love is The Drug", Firstly, The original by Roxy Music.


And the Grace Jones version from her 1980 album "Warm leatherette".


Wolfie!

Wolfie's World Music

I thought some World Music would go down well.

Here's Deep Forest with "Sweet Lullabye"


This is Savana Dance, From their first album:


Browsing youtube I often find tracks by bands I know, but songs I haven't heard, This was lovely, so I'd like to include it here, I love the very different sounds included in what we call "World Music" it's always a real delight for the ears.

"Marta's Song" - Deep Forest



The Wonderful, The Exotic, The Beautiful Angelique Kidjo who hails from Africa,
She's an Oxfam supporter, Grammy award winner and is fluent in four languages. This is "Wombo Lombo"

John Farnham and Tom Jones

From Hey Hey it's Saturday.



Wolfie!

I want to break free - Queen

Ahh yes, there's a question here somewhere, there has to be, right?

See you on Friday the 21st for Rockit.
[Time unconfirmed, I may go an hour earlier than usual, or late late... any ideas?]

Swedish Dancebands of the 70s

These are awful, really awful.

The poor bugger from the Teddyboys on the far right, clearly doesn't want to be there and I can't say I blame him.

Most of them look like they got their shirts at a football shop, looking at the design of them.

Or perhaps they made theit clothes themselves, like the blue outfits worn by the "ake lindh's".

The Mills remind me of Skyhooks, except their shirts somehow remind me of lost in space.

Link

Obama Rocks the World

I find Religion a worrying and dangerous thing, even moreso when mixed with politics.
I'm not too keen on this song either, It's a fairly bland affair, However it was good to see Dave Stewart again.

Here's Dave Stewart of Eurythmics, with "American Prayer"



I like this one more though, Hardy Drew and The Nancy Boys and "There's No One as Irish as Barrack O'Bama".


Wolfie!

Eraserhead mashup

Warning: Don't watch if you're even the least bit squeamish.
[actually this icks me right out too]

Wolfie!

The Boogie Woogie Puppini Sisters

Although I had my 80s music which I still love, I was born rather late to my parents who listened to a lot of 40s music because they were teenagers themselves in the 40s.
It seems to me that whatever you listened to as a teenager sticks with you for the rest of your life. Anyway I ended up knowing who a lot of the 40s singers were and also the actors at the time who I can still identify much better than any actor/actress walking up a red carpet today. Stars back then had something special which I don't see today, or perhaps that just the effort to get dressed up and see a movie in a cinema was so much better than simply owning a pile of DVDs. I don't want to depress anyone though... Here's the Puppini Sisters and with the Andrews Sisters hit, Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy.

Wolfie!

Paul Kelly, The Coloured Girls and The Models.

Thought I'd post some really good Oz Rock.

Here's Paul Kelly and The Coloured Girls with "Darling it Hurts"



The Models Re-Modeled this phrase for their own use, and I find myself saying it this way in conversation because it really worked it's way deep into my mind and replaced the correct phrase... I'm sure I'm not alone.

Each song has a "gem" in it that makes it standout, something odd that sticks out like a sore thumb, Everyone who knows this song well knows what I'm talking about If it's new to you, I'm sure you'll notice it as you listen.

"Out of Mind, Out of Sight" - Models


Wolfie!

The Sandman

Rock the Casbah - The Clash

I love the little animal running around in this video, any idea what it might be?
* hint hint, yeah it's a thinly disguised clue... I know it's a... a....

We can get together - Icehouse

Another great song I was reminded of thanks to the Radio, I love the howling in this.

Here's Icehouse and "We can get together".



Wolfie!

James Reyne and Australian Crawl

I turned the radio on this morning and the first thing that came on was "Reckless" so, I thought I'd begin todays post with Aussie Crawl [which some may know is also a swimming style] and James Reyne during his solo career which went very well.

Downhearted - Australian Crawl


"You've been hanging with the mockie set peep with the hamerhead, some soup just slipped by me and the hammerhead" that's how it sounds to me anyway. Backing Vocals by a very well known Aussie, Guess who.

Hammerhead - James Reyne


House of Cards


BTW: If you're reading Rockit for Overseas and you've been playing these James Reyne videos for the first time and can't understand a word he says, don't worry, None of us Aussies could understand him either... Check this out.

Five in a row - D-Generation


Wolfie!

When Smokey Sings - ABC

ABC's tribute to "The King of Motown" Smokey Robinson.

Rockit Trivia: This song was about Smokey Robinson's influence on the music industry. The single went to five on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. For the week of October 3, 1987, it dropped to eight as Smokey Robinson's single "One Heartbeat" was peaking at ten. It's interesting that one song on the charts was tributing another artist who was on the charts at the same time, indeed it's probably never happened before or since.

Wolfie!

When the River runs dry - Hunters and Collectors

Werewolf

I dislike Halloween, while fine in the US and other Northern Hemisphere countries, it's not fine for Australia. Halloween is a seasonal thing, an end to the warm season and the beginning of the cold... But here it's exactly the reverse, We're just growing our pumpkins, not harvesting.

I see any promotion of Halloween here as little more than a sneaky way for chocolate companies to flog more chocolates and lollies, and keep the dentists happy too.

And it mocks my kind, all those ugly werewolves getting around when everyone knows what total hunks we are, it's not fair, in Pauline Hanson's words, "I don't like it, I don't like it at all".

Anyway, Here's a great little song about a werewolf, one of the nasty Halloween types, nobody writes songs about big cuddly werewolves like myself, no, always the nasty kind who end up being shot at. *sigh*

I'd love to make a video of this, I reckon I'd dress up as the Mother and do all the finger waving and furrowing of brow.

There's something about wolves dressing up as women, and sheep on occasion... hrmmm.

It's The Five Man Electrical Band, and "Werewolf".


Wolfie!

The Dog

Everyone loved "Dog" though we had no idea what his real name was, we sympathised with "Dog" via the strips in the paper and in the comics. Footrot Flats was a wonderful read. It hit the big screen later on and Dave Dobbyn with Herbs provided the wonderful music. Thanks everyone, We miss you Dog.



For you Eva.

Wolfie!

Pressure Sway - Machinations

Some more Aussieness here.

I often wondered about the words "pressure sway" I think it's derived from "precious way". but I think another band around the same time used the phrase in their song too.

Years after machinations were gone, Mum and I were in Forges and she picked up a cheap sweatshirt/windcheater which was a Machinations tour one, and I was annoyed because the band were history and strewth, Mum... oh geeze and all that.

Anyway I shoved it away in my wardrobe, but later started to wear it, mostly because it was untouched and still nice and fluffy... sorta like me... anyway, don't tell anyone but I sometimes wear it to bed for jammies.

"Pressure Sway" - Machinations.


This was already quite an old song, then suddenly it was slapped on the "Young Einstein" Soundtrack. There's a lot of very good Aussie tracks on that Album too.

Models - "I hear Motion"


Finally Gangajang "Sounds of then" [This is Australia]

I have no idea what this song is about, all about fires, humidity and pongs... but play it in an Aussie pub and they all love it.

Gangajang - "Sounds of Then" [This is Australia]


Wolfie!

Panda Power

Remember Electric Pandas? They had one fairly big hit with this song "Big Girls". Play the video, I'm sure you'll remember it.



Wolfie!

Blancmange

It's pronounced Blah-monge and it's a type of cold pudding. I once made one in cookery class at high school. Cooking was one of the rare classes I did any good with, and got a B which wasn't bad.

Anyway, I made this thing, and generally wasn't impressed, it tasted like a chocolate jelly and looked fairly inedible, though the teacher was happy with my result.

Here's the Band, Blancmange, with "Living on the ceiling", They were better than the dessert.



Wolfie!

YES

Rockit WILL be on this Friday evening at 8:30pm AEDT or 2:30am PDT. Your friendly furball is over his flu and ready to go. Look for clues to questions on the blog here, watch the videos, remember the names, it all helps.

Take the Rockit Box Transporters at ABC Island to get to the set.

Wolfie!

I do the Rock - Tim Curry

My word this song sounds so much like Werewolves of London, doesn't it?

This is Tim Curry, Once Sweet Transvestite of Transexual Transylvania with his hit "I do the Rock" which is linked with Shakespears' Sisters' hit "I don't care".

How so, ahhh, well it's going to come up as a question in Rockit, So I'm not telling. So cruel, aren't I?

Oh... you'll never work it out, so suffer. *evil laugh*

Wolfie!

Werewolf - VSB

Look at those people, trying to looks scary, making out that at any minute one will transform into a savage beast and eat the rest, pfft.

That bloke with the mask, That's Mickey, He's my chauffeur... And the Muscle God, He's just a pastry Chef, and What's Charlene and Sally doing there? They're accountants.

How come I wasn't invited to this gig?

Wolfie!

Shakespeare's Sister

One of my Late-80s favourites, Most of the fun was over by now, Musical boredom began to set in, the 90s were coming, little did we know it would just be the 70s all over again but with a better haircut, and nothing's really changed since... Anyway, this pair came along, Thanks Ladies, We needed you.

I love the evil woman in this one, "Stay".
[poor audio but entire video]


You're History


I Don't Care - Something of a personal anthem of mine. ;)


A French and Saunders Parody. [watch your ears, starts loud]


Wolfie!

Worst Band Name Ever

I've seen a lot of band names over the years, many are very strange but in a fun sort of way, others try to be as rude as possible, as in Punk Rock, but then you don't expect a punk outfit to call themselves "The Pretty Pansies" Still... perhaps if they were after the shock factor, a bit of reverse psychology might work in their favour.

I'm not off to create bad karma or heap manure on people, but I reckon that the worst band name I've ever seen is....


"System of a Down"


I look at that name and my brain sort of freezes over for a moment, like someone shoved a dead rat down my back.

It trips the mind, as though someone put junk in front of me and turned the light off.

It rolls off the tongue like a sticky ball of pre-chewed gum, laced with honey, flour, molasses, little rabbit traps... you get the picture.

It's as though the band members were really tired one night, came to an idea, said "that will do" and turned in for the night.

"System's Down"?... "Cardiac System"?... "Down with The System"

Reminds me of people who try to use their real names online and can't get the one they'd like and settle for "J3nny485".

Wolfie!

Colgate blue minty gel

Toothpast is a product that really annoys me and I can hear people asking "Why does toothpaste annoy you Wolfie?" Well it does because just about everytime an advert comes on for toothpaste and claims that there's a brand new flavour... I think, "Ohhhh maybe it's Pineapple, or Orange or Vegemite or something" but then they say it... It's a variety of *mint* again? Now how is that any flaming different than before? Cool Mint, Freshmint, Spearmint... it's all bloody mint, isn't it?

Colgate did this lovely parody on "Baggy Trousers" by Madness for this ad... Guess what flavour this incarnation of toothpaste is?

Pavlova? No
Gravy? No
Beer No
Celery Nooooooooo

Give up?

It's Bloody MINT!



Baggy Trousers


Our House


It must be Love

When this one went to air, there was concern by those who tend to be concerned about things that don't matter much at all, that kids might try and copy the antics in this video and try and play instruments underwater, the worry being that if you leapt into the water with an electric guitar, things could get quite nasty.



Wolfie!

Showtimes

Hi Everyone.

Just a reminder that Rockit should be on at 8:30pm AEDST which is 3:30am PDT.

I've been hit pretty hard with the flu this week, yeah I know, You too right? It's going around and it's been bad, I just thought I was over it last night... Big mistake.

So, although I've been logging into SL, My logical mind which is required for tasks such as writing questions is on the blink, but I will try to do my best to launch our favourite Rockit tomorrow at it's proper earthly hour all being well.

Salute.

Wolfie!

* Update * Due to a worsening of the flu, I've since cancelled.
I'm sorry about this, but I'm not feeling very fun right now.

Woman in Chains - Tears For Fears

It was about 1am and I was having a shower before bed and singing this to myself, and I realised that I hadn't mentioned it here at all.

This is the most beautiful, wonderful, soulful song I know, and I love it dearly. I feel my skin tingle, my hair too, and I get tears...

There's Sex and there's chocolate, but somewhere high above that is this song.

It's "Woman in Chains" by Tears for Fears.

I bought this as a vinyl single in the days I was a DJ, It came with four small badges... Sun, Moon, Wind and Rain.

I wore the moon on my jacket for a few years.

Now there was an odd thing, They came along with "Mad World" which I'm sure you all know, and then just up and vanished... years later, without warning, they were back with a whole new style, and they were brilliant too.

Oh heck I'm going to have to add a few more to this posting, even though, rightly, I should be tucked up in bed dreaming about bones and things.

Woman in Chains


Sowing the Seeds of Love


Mad World


And off to bed.

Wolfie!

Bronski Beat & Marc Almond - I feel Love

A faster beat and a more electronic sound in the late 70s caused Disco to evolve into one of it's many off-shoots, Hi-NRG as it was called, was kicked off by Donna Summer and survived into the 80s with songs by groups like the very well known Dead or Alive.

Here's Bronkski Beat and Jimmy Somerville with Hi-NRG hit, "I feel love"

Wolfie!

Tropical Loveland - Abba

This is from the televised ABBA concert from 1978, During their Australian Tour. with Frida up front singing "Tropical Loveland".

Wolfie!

Life at the Outpost - Skatt Bros.

They were just sending this one up on "Spicks and Specks" [A Music Quiz show on ABC] and well, Check out the Moustaches, Check out the Abs and Biceps! It's all a bit "Do I make you horny baby?"

I'll forgive you if you think it's the Village People without their gear on, But no, It's a band called The Skatt Bros, with "Life at the Outpost"

Wolfie!

Cry for Help - Rick Astley

Yes he's part of a youtube fad these days and yes back then he was "over produced" by SAW... But when it came down to the Nitty Gritty, He could really sing... No voice tuners here.

This is Rick Astley and the stunning, "Cry for Help"



By the way, Check out the McCain Obama Rick Roll thing on my "Wolfie's World" blog.

Wolfie!

Baby U Left Me - Marilyn

Gender Bender, That's a phrase not used too often today, but there were at least three famous ones in the 80s.

The excellent music blog Retrowonderland is featuring the awesome 12" mix this week and so I thought I'd go and look for the video, Now I remember most videos I've seen [if I liked them] but I don't recall this one.

So it was a treat to find something new.

Hey is that the Bloke from Was not Was? and is that the Woman who was also in Tears For Fears video "Woman in Chains"?

Wolfie!

Nintendo Homebrew

Many people would be unaware that there are people making free games for your Nintendo DS. The games can be downloaded and transferred to a type of flash memory card and then used in your DS.

The games aren't bad either, Here's a "Guitar Hero" clone:


Wolfie!

Kazookeylele

It's great to find the occasional oddity like this, Here's a weird musical instrument called the Kazookeylele, and the song, had to be an eighties classic... It's Europe's "Final Countdown".



And another strummer, with bloopers.



And one extra, rather evil, song.

Wolfie!

Sting

You have to love a guy who can Howl well, and Sting certainly can, He's probably a wolfy like me! Anyway, this is he with "We'll be together" and saluting some of his former hits too.

He looks like he's having some probs with his alter-ego, oh dear.



It's Not the Messiah, It's Sting "Brand New Day"



This could be Secondlife in ten years time, if we're lucky.
Sting "I'm so Happy, I can't stop crying" Yep, with a title like that, It's got to be Country... and it is! alas the video was "Embedding Disabled" another clever idea by the folks who protect artists by preventing potential fans from seeing their work.

Oh well, be it on your heads: Watch it here

Wolfie!

Howard Jones

One of My favourite 80s singers, Howard Jones, Better known for "What is Love" from 1984 had a few other songs which were "quite good" [he says with a grin], and here's two that I "quite like". ;)

You Know I Love You [Don't You].


No One Is To Blame.


And I may as well include "What is Love" the one that started it all happening.
I love that fountain in the video, I believe they've dismantled it since.



Wolfie!

Sort of dunno nothing - Pete Denahy

Yep, we've all known people like this, very difficult to hold a conversation with them.

Smoke Rings - Laurie Anderson

I love Laurie Anderson's work, so strange and yet so wonderful.

Which is more Macho, Pineapple or Lightbulb?

Find out here:

Wolfie!

Sitting on the dock of the Bay - Otis Redding

What a lovely, Soulful song by Otis Redding.
The perfect sound for a hot, humid summer evening. Just laying there with your dog panting next to you... You'll get no arguments from your dog, that's why they're the perfect companion.

Maybe you're on your bed, maybe you're laying at the beach and this is coming through your radio, you know how it feels.

Ahh Summer, it won't be long now... Roll on, Roll on.

Wolfie!


And after that, try this version ;)

Pale Shelter - Tears For Fears

Ka-Ching

There are things I don't quite understand and have to think about.

Yesterday in the Doctors waiting room, the radio was playing that old song which goes "Hey Mr. Tambourine Man play a song for me".

Now my mind began thinking about this in ernest, which is never a good thing when you're listening to music.

But imagine there's an actual tambourine man, with said tamborine, and you're feeling a bit low, You're not sleepy and there is no place You're going to.

So you say to this fella "Hey Mr. Tambourine Man, play a song for me".

And he says "OK Mate, hows this then?"

And he get's his tambourine and goes *ka-ching ka-ching ka-ching....*

And you go "Great... Smoke on the Water... I love that song"

Then afterwards he plays "Tainted Love", "Dancing Queen" and shows off a bit with "Flight of the bumblebee", Then just to look hot, he does "Sexual healing".

*ka-ching ka-ching ka-ching ratttttttllleeeee*

Beaut.

Wolfie!

Hospital

Hi Everyone.

My mind is on other things lately and I haven't been coming into SL as often.

For quite a while now I've needed to have an operation which is basically a repair which needed doing ages ago, but I have let it go for a lot longer than I should have.

In truth I'm scared of having an operation, and as this didn't bother me too much, I let it go and went on with life... but it's getting to me, and I have decided that it's time to get it done.

So things may be slower than usual, I may not be doing many new shows for a while as I try to fit in doctors appointments and so on.

The surgery will require tests to see if I'm completely fine physically before they even go near me with a knife.

But I'm hoping I can get everything done and hopefully I'll be fine and bounce back as if nothing happened.

Sorry about the delay, but real life, as always, comes first.

Wolfie!

In 3D

The Holograms, "Danger Seekers".

I just found this online and thought I'd share it, an interesting if rather cliché sort of video, but fun none the less.

I've been after a nice keytar like this in Secondlife for some time, and a good long animation to go with it. ;)

Wolfie!

Fruit Jelly

First of all, a bedtime story, where the wolf gets it, he always does, poor bugger. and then a psychedelic tale about ducks... and things.

It's cold here, getting some hail too.

Wolfie!

"Three Little Pigs" - Green Jelly


"Nice Weather For Ducks" - Lemon Jelly

Goin' out west - Tom Waites

Funky and a bit creepy, Tom Waites and Goin' out west.

Wolfie!

Word Up - Cameo

All I can think about when watching this is "Red Codpiece".
Well you know, a fella needs protection during these music videos, you just never know.

Wolfie!


And the Gorilla has a crack too, Good to see our animal friends giving it a shot.

The Horses - Daryl Braithwaite

Fellow Melbournian and ex-Sherbet singer Daryl Braithwaite and his big solo hit "The Horses".

This one's for all the very best of friends.

[For Eva, Best Wishes, *Big Hugs*]

Wolfie!

Boy in The Moon - Margaret Urlich

An appropriate song for this blog, all things considered.
Here's Margaret Urlich with "Boy in the Moon".

Very scratchy recording, but the only one I could find.

Wolfie!

Lisa Stansfield

"All around the World"


"So Natural"

I don't know what you want - Pet Shop Boys

An 80s band which is still going strong today, this is one of my favourites.

It reminds me of the stuff I went through in hospital and coming out the other side feeling like a different person.

I love those clothes and would love to go through the experience of being dressed like that, I think it'd be loads of fun.

Though I wouldn't swap my Katie for anything, She's my sweet Alaskan Malamute.

[She'd shed like crazy all over my... er... Turkish Kilt?]

Also, I'd like a secondlife avatar like that, well, except for the human part.




I had to add this too, "Heart", because I love a cheesy old horror film, and this is a nice play on the old Dracula theme.

Wolfie!

Sexuality - Billy Bragg

So many funny lines in this song.

And true about the body *sigh*

Wolfie!

Heartbeat - Sylvian and Sakamoto

Rich, Gorgeous, Beautiful.
One of my favourite songs of all time.

Listen to it's Heartbeat.

Wolfie!

Scritti Politti

Now I must include the fabulous Scritti Politti surely?

Three songs here.... OK, Four. ;)

Firstly their big hit in Oz "Wood Beez [Pray like Aretha Franklin] which the local radio jocks were calling "Wood bee easy" for some reason while it was riding high in the charts.

The Second, the lovely "The word girl"

A superb song called "Perfect Way"

And finally a cover of a Beatles classic "She's a Woman" featuring Shabba Ranks doing a great rap... I'm not a fan of rap, it's pretty woeful copy-cat junk, but this is great and I have to say, if you must rap, rap like this.

Scritty Rocks!

Wolfie!

"Wood Beez" (Pray like Aretha Franklin).


"The word Girl".


"Perfect Way".


"She's a Woman" with Shabba Ranks.

Magnetic Fields II

Hehe, Yeah another JM Jarre video.
I used to be really into his music and bought quite a few of his albums. My favourite is still Zoolook, but I have always liked Magnetic Fields too.

Wolfie!

Music sounds better with You - Stardust

This one popped into my mind today.

Warning: turn your speakers/headset down before playing, it's a bit loud.

Wolfie!

Gary Numan Interview

Have a look at Gary Numan now, he's still making music too!

Wolfie!

Moonlight and Muzak - M

They did more than just "Pop Muzik" here's one of my long time favourites.
Have been looking for the original video for years, but this live one is good too.

Wolfie!

Twilight Zone

Up for your consideration today is this hypothetical question:

Imagine your favourite record or movie from years ago, the one that's often in your mind. and that one day, somehow you meet this person... actor or singer, and you find out that they're well... not as nice as you would have hoped, or just downright nasty.

Would that change your perception of their songs or movie scenes?

Wolfie!

Eighties

I hear a lot of slinging off about eighties music, all the usual stuff, how awful it was... people who talk before they put their minds in gear and sit and remember that there was a hell of a lot of great music in the 80s.

It was a wonderful time which was very diverse and experimental, especially in the early part of the decade, which is the part I love most of all.

Some of the early videos looked pretty poor, this was before the MTV era, where videos were just called "clips" and people didn't take them seriously... a lot of bands were too poor to have them made and tried to do it themselves, but they still managed to create a fun video for their songs.

I'd like the knockers to consider this... If the eighties were so awful, why the hell do people keep sampling eighties music for their new releases? it's such hypocracy.

Wolfie!

Rio - Duran Duran

"Hey, where's Nick Rhodes?"

"Down the back there, throwing up"

"Not again!"

* Blaarrgghhhhhhgggg *

What's Rockit?

Rockit is a live music trivia gameshow which is played in Secondlife.

It was developed for The Australian Broadcasting Corporation's Island in Secondlife, but is also played at Eragon Island, and makes guest appearances in other Islands.

If you'd like to play, just get on Secondlife http://secondlife.com

To get there, just send a message to me "Wolfie Rankin" and I'll bring you to our studio and help you out with any questions that you may have about Secondlife in general.

Wolfie!

Agadoo - Black Lace

Computer Games

Rockit has gone all electronic, not that it wasn't before, but we've now got an electronic scoreboard system, Courtesy of Captaincrunch Hax who has done a marvelous job, and is planning to create even more scripted wizardry for the show soon.

If the Show had been real world, then all the electronic upgrades could have cost a few thousand dollars, So I'm relieved that we're dealing with Secondlife here.

Wolfie!

Digging in the dirt - Peter Gabriel

Check out the scene with the snails.

It was done in time lapse, so Peter had to lay there for about half an hour with those gooey little creatures sliming away all over his face.

That's what's known as "Suffering for your art".

Wolfie!

Play it cool - Super Furry Animals

OK Rockit Fans, What's an "Electric Mistress" ?
http://www.metrolyrics.com/play-it-cool-lyrics-super-furry-animals.html

Wolfie!

Rubberband Girl - Kate Bush

The sexiest Woman ever, and if you don't agree, I'll send the boys 'round ta duff yer up.

Wolfie!

Zoolook

Another famous Fairlight user was this guy, French composer Jean-Michel Jarre.
Listen carefully, Jean-Michel used human voices to create every sound in the composition.

Wolfie!

Herbie Hancock and Quincy Delight Jones Jr. Jam with the Fairlight CMI

This is the Fairlight CMI, The World's first digital sampler, which was invented in Australia.
It was used by many of the worlds most famous artists, Like Stevie Wonder, Icehouse, Kate Bush and Peter Gabriel.

Oh Yes, Herbie Hancock also wrote a tune called "Rockit".

Wolfie!

2001: A Space Odyssey / Jean Michel Jarre Mashup

The Rhythm Divine - Yello and Shirley Bassey

Ferris Bueller's Day Off" but here's an interesting diversion from that song... "The Rhythm Divine" featuring Shirley Bassey on vocals, of course!.


Wolfie!

Suboceania - Tom Tom Club

Welcome

Yes, This is the blog for My gameshow "Rockit", I'm pleased that you've dropped in.

You'll find times and dates of showtimes here, Listed in Australian Eastern Standard Time or Australian Eastern Daylightsavings Time (AEST/AEDT] and Secondlife Time.

There will be links to videos and of course there'll be clues to questions I'll ask on the show.

Feel free to write, I don't bite... Much!

Enjoy!

Wolfie!