This song basically epitomizes everything I love about Ben Folds Five.  I'd love to upload it for you, but I can't seem to locate the CD that has it--to the best of my knowledge, it was only released on a CD called No Boundaries:  A Benefit for the Kosovar Refugees.  I bought the CD for Pearl Jam's version of "Last Kiss," then a few years later after my musical tastes had broadened I discovered rare tracks from a lot of artists I had grown to enjoy over, including BFF.  This song remains one of my favorites from the band and for whatever reason, it's just one of those songs that always gets me. 

If you care to hear it, check it out here; just search "Leather Jacket" and make sure it's by Ben Folds Five.

Had a dream that you were in
The leather jacket that didn't fit
Until we split in two

Half of you turned into glue
And half of me latched onto you
Under the summer moon

All for a leather jacket,
We were so indecisive
We hadn't really thought it through
'Cause we were so in love and,
And things like that don't happen,
And things like that don't slip away...

But sometimes they do.

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Have I talked about Randy Newman?  Yes, no, maybe?  Well, if not, it's time, my friends (four commas in one sentence?!).  (And then four punctuation marks?!)  (Edit:  Um, aka 3 commas.  I'm a freakin' music major, shut up.)

I love Randy Newman.  Not like.  Love.  I would tell Randy Newman I am in love with him, it's that serious.  I realize lots of people enjoy making fun o' the Newman--yes, yes, I understand, he has a silly voice--but his songs!  His orchestration!  His amazing talent!

Now here's why I suck:  I honestly only have one Randy Newman album, and oh dear... it's a "Best Of," which of course makes me a giant poseur.  It won't stop me from raving about him!  Based on everything I've heard, I think Randy Newman is one of my favorite songwriters of all time.  (A brief High Fidelity moment:   My Top 3 Songwriters:  Ben Folds, Randy Newman, Paul Simon.  In no order.)  I'm pretty positive I'm one of about maybe 14 people in their early twenties who enjoy Randy Newman, and I think that's a shame.  I bring to you two songs I can't stop listening to, "Marie," and one whose premise is just amazing and whose execution is equally so, "Sail Away."  (Furthermore, I freaking love the orchestration in the opening of Sail Away; nerd that I am, I plan on breaking it down soon and figuring out how to replicate that sound.)

Marie

Randy Newman

Sail Away

Randy Newman

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As has happened before, I napped earlier, still went to bed at a reasonable hour, and woke up remembering one of my own long-forgotten songs.  Muscle memory is a miraculous thing; if I can get myself to think about what the song sounded like, then just clear my head and play, I can usually remember most of an old song, if not the entire thing.

Then I found this post under the tag of "songwriting" and thought, "What the hell?  I have no memory of that song."  After a few minutes I have some tiny memory of writing it, but cannot remember at all what it sounded like.  Which is disappointing, as it was the only song I ever wrote on piano and liked.

Of course, all this thinking of old songs has me remembering songs--but not how to play them.  They're not clear enough in my head for me to even try.  Someday I'll be smart enough to actually WRITE THINGS DOWN.  Preferably in a system of notation that will still make sense to me five years later.

Bla-diddy-bla.

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