America: The Mixtape

And so in the spirit of this blog, I thought I’d capture the songs that were big while we travelled around the US.

Anna Kendrick “Cups”: I hadn’t really heard this back in Australia (except played in the background when the 2013 American Idols did their homecoming round). Super-catchy, try and resist learning the cups move – and Sally and I sat flabbergasted at a bar in New York on our first night as patrons and the bartender performed this in perfect synchronisation.

And you just can’t help but love Miss Kendrick can you?

Train “Drive By”: This I did know well from a BodyAttack track a few releases back, but I never knew the original was by Train. Oh-so-catchy and just a little bit different, it’s latin beat will stick in your head for days. Like a few of these, we heard this song hourly whenever we were in the car.

Justin Timberlake “Mirrors”: The best release from JT’s newest album, it’s a cracking return to form music-wise for the ex-Sync-er. This was hot on the heels of his mega-performance at the MTV VMA’s, and he could not be hotter. JT will save pop.

Mariah Carey “# Beautiful feat Miguel”: Released a few months back, this was basically ignored in Australia, but was on the radio a fair bit in the US and it really grew on me. Miguel’s voice is fantastic (it could easily be his single featuring Ms Carey), and the whole song flows like a romantic indian summer.

Maroon 5 in general: A pop music powerhouse and probably scoffed at by a lot of people, to me there’s no denying Maroon 5’s talent to craft a great song. And then get it on the radio. And played every 15 minutes. Maroon 5 were everywhere on American radio. They succeed so brilliantly in the space they inhabit as performers. No more, no less.

Thicke “Blurred Lines”: This was right after the VMAs and that twerking performance and escaping it’s reach was impossible. A decent song when it was released. Overplayed now.

One Direction “Best Song Ever”: Surprised me about how much1D were actually played in America, and a testament to their global success. We’ll all look back on this fondly, like we do with Backstreet Boys and ‘N Sync. Except 1D are better.

The National: Not on radio, we listened to The National a bit because Matt and I had both got into them around the same time in Australia. Plus we played Bloodbuzz Ohio, but missed actually playing it in Ohio. Dammit.

Lorde, ‘The Love Club EP’: Already a superstar, this NZ teenage songstress has taken the world by storm. She’d go on to grab The Billboard number one spot in the US just after we left, but we spent hours driving around listening to her debut album. Quality.

Katy Perry “Eye of the Tiger”: Maybe the best pop song of the year.

Lana Del Rey “Summertime Sadness”: One of Del Rey’s songs from her last album gets a 2013 remix and becomes a global hit again. Reminiscent of Florence and the Machine’s success when they get a reworking by a DJ, mix a thumping electro-beat with Del Rey’s so-modern vocals and you get an instant hit.

Pet Shop Boys: Finally I have to mention that I saw the Pet Shop Boys live at The Beacon Theatre in New York, and what a show it was. Great venue, great crowd (!), and a good 2 hour non-stop set of their huge catalogue of hits mixed with new stuff from Electric. Their influence and legacy is undeniable, plus they keep releasing albums, their newest being amongst their best. They’re probably a bit ignored, but they’re musical royalty really.

The opening with “Electric” and some amazing lighting and visuals was stunning and hearing them perform “Rent” was exciting and beautiful. But best were their anthem hits with the whole crowd, young and old, all mix of people, all on their feet, singing together.

“American”, or “There’s a Party in the USA”

I totally intended on continuing to listen to the list while we were in the USA for three and a half weeks, but it soon became pretty clear that there’d be no time for that (except the commute, but there was no way I was going to listen to Radio for the 14 hour flight from Melbourne to L.A. and then the 5 hour flight to New York).

A huge, fun, tiring, exciting holiday and we barely scratched the surface. Some places I fell in love with, some places just no, and some places I’m still deciding how I feel about them.. I’m looking at you New York.

So what did I love? Boston was something else, the prettiest and cleanest city that I’ve ever been to. Heart-clenchingly patriotic, Boston was everything I thought it would be. There certainly is something about being near the world’s preeminent universities that makes me feel good. It probably helps I look slightly Bostonian somehow… Hi-low? I adored Boston: perhaps no dizzying high, apart from being around college kids being college kids, but a gorgeous and proud city and one I hope to return to. Low? My trip downtown to go to the Boston Institute of Contemporary Art – a fantastic building – was a little hairy: if there were no homeless people around Back Bay (though there were a few) that’s because they all congregated downtown. I guess even the prettiest cities have their issues.

On that, it surprised us all about the number of homeless people in the US, though, sadly, you got used to it. The obvious reminder for us in Australia is that we’re in a fairly blessed state right now, and it hit home how much (one assumes) the Great Recession has impacted even wealthy states like Massachusetts and Illinois. I hope it all works out for America, lord knows they have the spirit, but you have to think there’s more dark times ahead economically.

From Boston we drove cross-country through Rochester (moving on..) to Niagara Falls, and then to Cleveland.

First – the speed at which people drive on the freeways was crazy. Easy to get used to in a plushy and big SUV, but not something that I’m used to in Australia. Surprising stuff.

Second – Niagara Falls… I almost feel like this needs its own blog. The Falls themselves were nice enough, if a little bit smaller than I thought, but as far as falls go in a tourist mecca, they were good. The worst best part though was the surrounds on the US side.  I’d have to say we were a little shell-shocked. Now, I don’t know the history of the area or the reasons for the state of things, but I will say it’s an extreme oddity that one of North America’s great natural wonders is surrounded by such nonsense and tack. Do yourself a favour and go if you can, just with the lowest of expectations. The Falls themselves were nice. I’m still getting used to the idea of smoking inside a casino you can’t buy a beer in.

Cleveland itself was nice enough, if a little quiet, but we did get to the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame which was fantastic. Going here having knocked over 30-odd albums in this list so far was great, so I can only imagine how good it’ll be in 10 years when I’ve done the 500. Housed mostly underground a Louvre-esque glass pyramid (looking like a guitar fret rising into the air, it’s actually a turntable from overheard) it’s an absolutely cracking museum. Highlights are almost too many to name, and I’ll keep thinking of more. Michael Jackson’s glove was strangely moving considering I don’t really connect with him, all things Elvis, Kurt Kobain’s death certificate was morbidly fascinating, finally hearing “It’s Been a Good Year for the Roses” by George Jones and making Andrew listen to it was fun,  and hearing Elvis Costello’s “(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding?” honoured made me smile. The highlight for me was fairly small scale: seeing the original penned lyrics by Sheryl Crow of “Run Baby Run” and “Leaving Las Vegas” – two gorgeous and highly recommended songs from my past.

And so I woke up in Cleveland 30 years old, had a haircut and we travelled the last leg of our road trip to Chicago. A very old, very dear, mate came down from Toronto, and Andrew surprised me with a stretch limo ride around the city, a private chef-cooked mexican feast, and we were entertained by a guitar player. So Chicago: fantastic architecture, clean, well planned, fun, easy. I adored Chicago and I can’t wait to go back and spend more time there. Highlights… The Chicago Institute of Art and Millennium Park are fantastic. Hanging out in Bucktown, Wicker Park and Lincoln Park with the hipsters was super-cool. The Wiener Circle was something else – awesome, hilarious, and like nothing you would ever see in Australia. DO IT. Just make sure it’s 2am and you’re feeling brave. And make sure you ask for the chocolate milkshake.

And then came New York, which was everything we thought it would be… and I’m almost reserving opinion until I go back and experience it some more. No doubt, it’s an amazing city, surely one of the world’s best, but hard work and touristy and tiring. Amazing and amazingly exasperating, I’ll get back and chill out a bit, explore the Burroughs, and try to tread the road less travelled. But I sound like I didn’t like it, which is far, far from the truth. Highlights are almost too numerous to list. Flaming Saddles – the cowboy/western themed gay bar in Hell’s Kitchen complete with Coyote Ugly style male bar dancers – was too much fun, as was Marie’s Crisis Cafe – the dive-bar meets musical theatre piano bar, which we attended for no less than 7.5 hours straight.  Seeing the site of the Stonewall riots and having a drink in the iconic bar was special. The 9/11 memorial, although a bit unfinished, was particularly touching and moved me more than I expected it would. A triumph of design simplicity and respect, the unnerving roar of water falling over metal creates a strangely and beautifully quiet space for sadness, reflection, and hope.

America. We danced with you for but an eve, but loved every moment. I can’t wait to get back – next time it might be NY again, San Fran and California, and down to Texas and beyond. Until then, keep flying that flag. As if you would ever stop.

Next, quickly, the music we listened to in America…