Now Playing
Current DJ: DJ Duggery Presents the Frontiers of Weird
Majesty Crush Seles from Butterflies Don't Go Away (Numero) Add to Collection
The CHIRP Blog
Clarence Ewing: The Million Year Trip writesFriday MP3 Shuffle: Happy Birthday Vince Clarke Edition
Today we say Happy Birthday to one of the most accomplished musicians and songwriters from the world of Synthpop. Vince Clarke was one of the original members of Depeche Mode and wrote many of their early songs, including their first UK top-10 hit “Just Can’t Get Enough.” Although their album Speak and Spell put them on the map as a musical force, Clarke and his band mates parted ways soon after its release. No hard feelings, though; While the band went on to international stardom, Clarke teamed up with singer Alison Moyet to form Yazoo (Yaz if you’re in North America) and released two albums, one of which is the underrated classic Upstairs at Eric’s. He then joined forces with vocalist Andy Bell to form the duo Erasure and sail through the charts with Dance-Pop hits like “Oh L’Amour,” “Chains of Love,” “A Little Respect,” and “Breathe.”
Along with having mastered analog and digital electronic instruments, Clarke has produced a fantastic catalogue of music. Wish him a Happy Birthday by taking your MP3 player, pressing the “shuffle” button, and sharing the first 10 songs you hear:
SKaiser writesIs 2015 Your Year for the Car Trader Challenge?
The deadline is fast approaching to enter New Belgium's Tour de Fat car-for-bike challenge. If you're unfamiliar, take a look at details and enter your spectacular self-made video here.
CHIRP Radio supports the Tour de Fat celebration in Palmer Square on Saturday, July 11. Entries are due by Wednesday, July 8.
In 2013, Johnny Mays took the challenge and says this for the next winner: Don't half ass it. Read on for Johnny's commitment to the yearlong ride.
CHIRP: Where do you currently live and what are you doing these days?
Mays: I live in Houston, TX and work for Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC), IT auditing Fortune 500 companies. I also teach yoga on the side.
CHIRP: Why did you take the challenge to give up your car?
Mays: I was sick of working corporate America life, and I wanted to get out to travel and see the country - on a bike!
Cher Vincent writesA Chat With Chastity Belt
On their sophomore album, Time to Go Home (Hardly Art), Chastity Belt have left the house parties behind in Seattle, WA, and risen through the ranks. From spotlight performances at this year's SXSW, to an opening slot on rock's newest leading lady, Courtney Barnett's latest NA tour, they have had continued momentum that will likely land them on many year-end lists.
Embracing their womanhood, Julia Shapiro and her all-female band command, and rightfully earn, respect. While they were here for their headlining tour through the Midwest, Cher Vincent got to chat with them, and discussed their humble beginnings, feminism, and their future pursuits.
You all met in college in Walla Walla, WA. When did you decide that you could form a band together?
The band started as a joke. Julia and Lydia thought up "Chastity Belt" as a great name for a punk band and they started chanting it at parties and flipping over tables. We were friends, so eventually Annie and I joined. Sometimes after a band played at a party we would take over their instruments and start playing "Photograph" by Nickelback. One of the frats had a battle of the bands at the end of the year, which we took as our opportunity to extend the joke one step further. We wrote one song, performed it in heavy eyeliner and chokers, and won the battle of the bands.
CHIRP DJ writesCHIRP Factory Session - Circuit des Yeux
Our latest Factory Session features Chicago’s own Circuit des Yeux. Principal singer & songwriter Haley Fohr is joined by her new touring band, which features members of Verma, Implodes, CAVE, and Bitchin’ Bajas! The songs that they performed from her new album In Plain Speech were recorded on location at the CHIRP studio building by Mike Lust of Manor Mobile Recording. Video of the session was captured & edited by Big Foot Media.
The band is made up of Haley Fohr on Guitar & Vocals, Whitney Johnson on Viola, Adam Luksetich on Drums, Rob Frye on Flute & Bass Clarinet, and Matt Jencik on Bass & Organ.
Circuit des Yeux>>
Manor Mobile Recording>>
Big Foot Media>>
January 2014 CHIRP Radio Podcast Interview with Circuit des Yeux>>
Eddie writesFaux Yeah! Top 5 Songs with F-Bombs in the Title
[Editor’s Note: For our purposes, the F Word in question will be replaced by a series of creative alternatives in order to prevent the word from losing its powerful allure. And also to not get you in trouble when you read this in the office. That being said, be warned that the videos are MOST DEFINITELY NSFW!]
The word “fock” is a loaded word, no matter how it is used. It is often used to denote disdain towards something or someone, and if placed in the right hands, can become a work of poetic art (i.e. the works of Armando Iannucci such as “The State of It” and “Veep”).
The most popular song with the word “feck” in the title is the Cee-Lo Green song from 2010, which was edited for radio play as the 3rd level cornball “Forget You.” Playing both songs back to back shows how neutered the “clean” radio version has become once “frog” is taken out like it is something to be ashamed of, like a dog or child urinating where they are not supposed to.
Well, freak that. These are songs that are out and proud with their titles, and they don’t give a foch if you like it or not.
N.W.A., “F%$# Tha Police” from the album Straight Outta Compton (1988, Ruthless/Priority)
Though Cee-Lo Green’s “Forget You” is the most commercially popular song with “funk” in the title (unless you are listening to it on the radio), the most influential “filler word” song is this track from the landmark album Straight Outta Compton. Written and performed as a protest towards the LAPD, this song has been banned in numerous markets, caused the FBI to condemn them, and the phrase has been chanted during rallies and protests in Ferguson and Baltimore; further proofing that these three words have become bullets for the oppressed.