Shuffle and Stories is an attempt to get a more personal look on why we feel the way we do about music. Music is like art, subjective, and that means that everyone has a different way at looking at one album or band. Every week Ill pick from one of ten songs when my library is on shuffle and talk about the music but also talk about why I personally like it or tell any personal stories regarding the music.
Oh man that is a pretty killer list as far as great bands (XTC, Sad Lovers and Giants, Daft Punk, Smashing Pumpkins) but there is one band that outshines all of them combined; Scooter. Scooter is bar none the silliest band out there. Almost all their songs heavily rely on samples or inspiration from other riffs, theyve been notorious with their use of high pitch-shifted vocals, their melodies are usually overly happy or just downright silly, and H.P. Baxxters rapping is about as insanely nonsensical as it gets. Scooter stands as a goofy EDM group that genre-hop between everything out there as they try their damnedest to capitalize on the Stadium House feeling put in place by The KLF. TvTropes.com (as much as it confuses me that they are talking about music) very accurately describe them as "an electronic music outfit who are a Guilty Pleasure or are So Bad, It's Good or are So Cool Its Awesome or are completely appalling, depending on who you ask." And I love them dearly for every single one of those reasons. Theres no way I could sit here and talk about all of Scooters music as a whole so for this well actually just be sticking to this album; Under The Radar Over The Top and going over some favorites from the album http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTz_rJMBTe8
The Sound Above My Hair This is hands down one of the top 10, possibly even top 5 songs Scooter have put out in my opinion. This video is actually the single version which at times differs quite radically from the album version, the single version is played much straighter as a Eurotrance song where on the album there is a more significant Hardstyle influence (and sadly no bagpipes). Differences aside the chorus is the same in both versions and thats really what matters as it is so infectious it could be the musical version of the disease in Steven Kings The Stand. I do remember being a little perturbed by the inclusion of autotune on H.P. Baxxters vocals because if I recall correctly this was one of the first instances of it being included and also it was 2009 and autotune hate was around its climax. Regardless this song was a total banger and easily the best one off the album. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikboKGNAfgU
See You Smile My face lit up when this song kicked in, I am a huge fan of the DJ Paul Elstak song Rainbow In The Sky and Scooter does brilliant work with the vocal bit. However what absolutely steals the show is the synth melody in the chorus, It has that perfect Stadium House feel and is just so flawless with how it goes about being used that its addition sells the song 100%. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OdWEKzm5qk
Second Skin This song is a full-on cover of a track from one of my all-time favorite bands The Chameleons UK and I really have to give it to Scooter for how faithful they made it sound. Instead of being a big stupid Euro dance song they were actually very respectful to the songs Goth/Dream Pop origin and played it straight. Its actually a good showcasing of H.P. Baxxter doing some actual singing instead of over produced lines that rhyme in silly ways. A good way to mix up two of my favorite bands. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMhLz6PWjVM
Stuck On You Dear Lord this music video where do I even begin on this one. 0:25 The hockey footage is there for a reason, this song was actually the official anthem of the 2010 IIHF Hockey Championship in Germany. I guess it shows how wildly popular Scooter back in their homeland. 0:40 That guy totally dropped the F Bomb. 1:04 I cant properly explain why but all the shots of Rick J. Jordan and Michael Simon make me laugh. 1:43 that stutter cutting of the footage is the most badass any referee has ever looked. 2:22 Oh Rick J. Jordan, youre silly. Someone was storyboarding this during the meeting and had to have said we need a shot of Rick checking out a girls ass in here somewhere! You might have to chalk it up to me being American and having some culture clash but that video is just over the top silly. I like hockey with an almost unhealthy passion but the combination of H.P. Baxxter, hockey, rave, and girls is just a little too hokey for me. There are some more great songs off the album but in my opinion those are the standout performances, however shoutouts must be given to the first two singles as well Jdore Hardcore and Ti Sento. Under The Radar Over The Top may not be my favorite record by Scooter but definitely has some seriously bangers on it and is one of their better outings.