Friday, March 30, 2012

Friday 80s Flashback for March 30, 2012

Playwright and sometimes gangsta, Mariah MacCarthy

[Singing for Our Supper | A Fractured Atlas Project] -- I apologize for not posting a flashback last week. Between a Friday evening attending the live taping of the Nerdist podcast in Philadelphia and a Saturday derailed by a migraine, I just never had the time to make a post. But this week, we have something a little different. It's also kind of special. Playwright Mariah MacCarthy and her merry band of artists are running a unique fundraiser to help defray costs of producing her new play, The Foreplay Play. In a nutshell, Mariah and her cohorts will perform any song you desire and post the video on YouTube. Now, whether they do the full song depends on the extent of your donation:
  • 10 gets you at least 30 seconds of a song (most likely a verse, chorus, or bridge).
  • $20 gets you at least a minute.
  • $50 gets you the whole song.


For details about this fundraiser, called "Singing for Our Supper," or to make a donation, go to http://igg.me/p/75428.

As luck would have it, Mariah and friends have done a few 80s tunes! So I am featuring three of their clips this week. (Don't worry, I'll also include links to the "real" versions of the songs. Yeeesh, you're so pushy, Internets!)

Which songs were requested, and how did this courageous band of artists perform them? Read and hear more after the break.

Flashback #1"We all need a little patience."

Let's start off with one of the longer performances: Singing for Our Supper covers "Patience" by Guns n' Roses (from the 1989 album G N' R Lies). They even got the whistle down! If you want to compare and contrast, check out G N' R here



Flashback #2"Now I'm only falling apart."

It's only a minute, but Mariah totally belts out the most important part of Bonnie Tyler's "Total Eclipse of the Heart" (from the 1983 album Faster Than the Speed of Light). After listening to Maria, you can check out Bonnie's original here. But you should also visit the literal version here.



Flashback #3"See the stone set in your eyes. See the thorn twist in your side."

Mariah and Diana take to the streets and perform a moving (get it?) rendition of U2's "With or Without You" (from the epically classic 1987 album The Joshua Tree ). For the ever-so-sombre original, go here.  If you ask me, Edge keeps trying to photobomb Bono's videoshoot. And I'm betting both Edge and Bono would gladly tip their hats (or ponytails) to Mariah and the Singing for Our Supper crew.



Once again, I remind you that the rule of three applies when doing Flashbacks. As I've made my three offerings, that's all till next week. Dedicated 80s-philes can find more flashbacks in the archives. As always, your comments are welcome on today's, or any other, flashback post. And if you like what I'm doing here, please share the link with your friends. If, however, you don't like the flashback, feel free to share it with your enemies.


And if you are on Twitter, and feel so inclined, please +K my influence in Music on @klout.


I'll see you in seven!

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