Sonic Sunday: May Flowers

Rose of music from Polyvore.comSince I just inundated you all with three Sundays of "April Showers," it's only right that I follow up with a big musical bouquet of May Flowers. I thought this might be hard at first because there doesn't seem to be as many flowery songs as there are songs about rain, but this was actually a lot of fun to put together. It's turned out to be one of my favorite Sonic Sunday mixes so far, so I hope you all enjoy it! (And don't worry, my next mix won't be about pilgrims.)

"Flowers in the Rain," The Move - Woke up one morning half asleep/With all my blankets in a heap/And yellow roses scattered all around/The time was still approaching/For I couldn't stand it anymore/Some marigolds upon my eiderdown/I'm just sitting watching flowers in the rain/Feel the power of the rain making the garden grow/I'm just sitting watching flowers in the rain/Feel the power of the rain keeping me good

I almost posted the Kaiser Chiefs version of this, but opted for the original instead. Even though I love the bass groove on the cover, there's just something cuter and peppier about the original version.

"I Picked a Flower," The Pastels (featuring Jarvis Cocker) - I found a rose in another man's garden/She was flowering all alone/Undervalued and unappreciated/I knew I had to take her home/And though she did not want to betray you/I knew that I had her in my power/And I drank deep of a sweet and heady nectar/And she opened beneath my hand like a flower

Jarvis Cocker as sexy lothario? You betcha! The lyrics to this song are brilliant. Don't be lazy, lovers!

"Famous Flower of Manhattan," The Avett Brothers - And I found a flower in a field/A field of cars and people/Rows of concrete, paint and steel/Manhattan is where it grew/And I thought to cut it from it's stem/And take it from the cracks between bricks that it lay in/And save it from city strife/Away from the city life

Apparently, this song was written about Regina Spektor, although I can't get a definitive answer about that. The people of the Internetz all have differing opinions on it.

"In Every Sunflower," Bell X1 - I wouldn't swap the pain/For never knowing you/I wouldn't swap the pain/'Cause it was worth it for the view/We're still watching your rainbow through the shower/And we still see you in every sunflower/We're still watching, I make days from the hours/And I still see you in every sunflower/Every screaming sunflower

This mix is supposed to be bringing us into spring, but this song is kinda depressing. *sigh* Oh well. It's still pretty though.

"Every Rose Has Its Thorn," Poison - Was it something I said or something I did/Did my words not come out right/Though I tried not to hurt you/Though I tried/But I guess that's why they say/Every rose has its thorn/Just like every night has its dawn/Just like every cowboy sings his sad, sad song/Every rose has its thorn

Get well soon, Bret Michaels!

"Wildflowers," Tom Petty - You belong among the wildflowers/You belong in a boat out at sea/Sail away, kill off the hours/You belong somewhere you feel free/Run away, find you a lover/Go away somewhere all bright and new/I have seen no other/Who compares with you

Apparently, this song was written about me. Or maybe I'm just trying to start another Internet rumor.

"Cherry Tulips," Headlights - I can't sleep in silence/Can't be pitch black in my room/I need some lights on, some distraction/So I won't move/And in the middle of the night when I have drifted off in sleep/I see a thousand cherry tulips lined up along my street/I want the sea/I want the whole sea/(And endless cherries)/For you and me

I stumbled upon this song recently and loved it instantly. It's just so darn cute. But I'm afraid it may get snatched up for a Target commercial soon, if it hasn't been already.

"Daisy," Fang Island - Hey yeah, something something, whoa-oh

Good luck figuring out the lyrics to this one! Actually, why bother? Just jump around.

"Dandelion," The Rolling Stones - One o'clock, two o'clock, three o'clock, four o'clock chimes/Dandelion don't care about the time/Dandelion don't tell no lies/Dandelion will make you wise/Tell me if she laughs or cries/Blow away dandelion/Blow away dandelion

A happy, early Stones tune. For those of you wondering why "Dead Flowers" didn't make the mix: I'm trying to promote spring rebirth here, not heroin and death. But it still is a favorite of mine.

"Blue Orchid," White Stripes - You were given a flower/But I guess there was just no pleasing you/Your lip tastes sour/But you think that it's me just teasing you/You got a reaction/You got a reaction, didn't you?/You took a white orchid/You took a white orchid and turned it blue

The general belief is that this song is about Jack White's bar fight with Jason Stollsteimer, who supposedly exaggerated his injuries to get attention. I really don't care about these pasty-faced rockers and their pissing matches. I just like the song.

"San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Some Flowers in Your Hair)," Scott McKenzie - If you're going to San Francisco/Be sure to wear some flowers in your hair/If you're going to San Francisco/You're gonna meet some gentle people there/For those who come to San Francisco/Summertime will be a love-in there/In the streets of San Francisco/Gentle people with flowers in their hair

Damn, dirty hippies!

Comments

Red said…
I love that Tom Petty song, but sorry! It's about me!
Malcolm said…
I always thought "San Francisco" was just OK. However, I gained a new appreciation for the song when Scott McKenzie performed it live a few years ago on a PBS special celebrating folk-rock music of the sixties.
Yay, the White Stripes! I hadn't heard that was about the fight. I'll have to listen to it again in that light.
Anonymous said…
I can't be listening to anything by The Pastels. I've seen them live 300 times and each one left me wanting to poke my own eardrums with a spike. I do love me some Avett Brothers though. They're my ultimate driving band. Whenever there's driving to be done, they are kick ass singalong awesome.

I'm sorry what? Was this not about me?
"Blue Orchid" is a rocker. I kind of hate "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" but I'm pulling for Brett to get better because he seems like a good dude.
Penny said…
I love you for putting Jack White on this list...
elaine said…
I really like "Cherry Tulips." Thanks for expanding my musical knowledge!
Flowers said…
Wow! this is a very good entry i like it. Will certainly visit your site more often.