8 Biographical Ballads
November 20, 2013
Today's Coffee Break theme: real songs about real people. You helped us pull together a playlist that would surely make the Biography Channel proud.
Playlist
The Replacements - "Alex Chilton"
Gorillaz - "Clint Eastwood"
Weezer - "Buddy Holly"
The Decemberists - "Valerie Plame"
Brother Ali - "Forest Whiticker"
Billy Bragg and Wilco - "Ingrid Bergman"
The 757's - "Mary Lucia"
OutKast - Rosa Parks
The Replacements - "Alex Chilton"
Local legends The Replacements composed an ode to Alex Chilton, lead singer of Box Tops and Big Star.
Gorillaz - "Clint Eastwood"
Because of its similarities to the theme music of The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, Gorillaz decided to name this 2001 song after its starring actor during a spaghetti dinner. We kid.
Weezer - "Buddy Holly"
Fit for the '50s namesake, the "Buddy Holly" music video takes place at the original diner seen on the '70s TV show Happy Days. Not credited: Mary Tyler Moore.
The Decemberists - "Valerie Plame"
We're assuming this Decemeberists song is about former CIA operative Valerie Plame, but details remain top secret information.
"And when they flashed your picture across the screen
How my heart seemed to leap out of me
And they attached a list of your identities
But the one you'll always be
To me
Is Valerie Plame
If that really is your name
I would just shout the same to the world"
Brother Ali - "Forest Whiticker"
The title isn't spelled the same way as Academy Award winner Forest Whitaker, but we're guessing the actor has does some worthwhile red carpet beauty tips.
"If you would please turn in your bible / To beauty tips according to Forest Whitaker"
Billy Bragg and Wilco - "Ingrid Bergman"
Another Academy Award winner reference. Billy Bragg and Wilco make you want to take a trip to Italy's Stromboli island and say, "this land is my land" just as much as it's original by Woody Guthrie.
The 757's - "Mary Lucia"
Yup, that's right. The Current's own Mary Lucia has a song. Written about her. By The 757's. Yes.
OutKast - Rosa Parks
Rumors are swirling that Atlanta's favorite rap duo is reuniting for Coachella 2014. While Ms. Parks was not a fan of the song from 1998's Aquemeni, (she sued OutKast and LaFace records in 1999) the song helped reignite awareness of the civil rights pioneer. OutKast's producers eventually settled with Parks, providing an undisclosed sum and an agreement to help work with the Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute for Self Development to create educational programs about Parks and the Civil Rights movement.