Can't Stop Won't Stop

*Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop, Rocking to The Rhythm - Holly Miranda

The beast of all features is back. It involves people we admire for one reason or another talking you through some of the songs that have stayed with them over the years or maybe just found them recently but either way, made an everlasting impression. An awesome photographer and friend, Megan Holmes did our first one and for the second one we would like to introduce you to (or better acquaint you) with Holly Miranda - lead singer of the band The Jealous Girlfriends and solo artist in her own right.

Her voice truly blows my mind and I don’t say that about many people. Urgent yet delicate, raspy yet perfectly clear all at the same time, we find it hard to believe everyone isn’t already losing their musical mind over this.

Over to Holly:

Edith Piaf - “Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien”:

This is my favorite song. ever. period. I could listen to it on repeat for days. No I have no regrets. What else is there to say? I really want to cover this, but I want to do it right and that means learning way more French than I know now… it will happen.. someday. Mark my words..

Nina Simone - “Suzanne” (Leonard Cohen Cover):

Wow. I could fill this whole thing up with Nina Simone songs. Seriously. She is the ultimate inspiration, soul woman, thoughtful thinker/dreamer… I mean talk about empathy, listen to “Mississippi Goddamn” which was the first protest song she ever wrote. This cover just floors me, she had the ability to take a song and make it COMPLETELY her own. I have started covering “Famous Blue Raincoat” at a few shows recently and I always think of Nina, and Jeff.

Celebration - “Comets”:

“Are we ever gonna know, why birds lay down in the snow. Baby we run the risk of knowing too much” is one of my favorite lyrical lines. I remember being stuck in traffic in Brooklyn (probably on the BQE) I was driving towards the East River and the sun was setting over the city.. one of those blue, purple, orange sunsets that take your breath away. This song came on and it brought tears to my eyes. This is also THE BEST LIVE BAND ever. ever. ever. There were a few years when I didn’t miss a single show, I even drove to Baltimore (with my friend Sharron of ‘Pink Noise’ (check them out too)) to see Celebration in their hometown on the last show of a tour they did with ‘The Dragon’s of Zynth’ (another great band and friends).. mind shattering band!

Jeff Buckley - “Yeh jo Halka Saroor Hae” (Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan Cover):

Fuuuuuuucccckkkkkk! Of course, this is another person i could fill this whole blog full of.. but this cover. Holy shit! This is off the ‘Live at Sine” cd, he starts it off by saying “I’ll do just a bit of the first song I ever heard by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan”.. THEN goes on to play a six minute version of this classic Nusrat song. His annunciation is impeccable, he even gets the crowd to “clap the way they do in pakistan”.. I also love that at about a minute in when he stars to sing the audience begins to laugh as if he is joking… he certainly is not joking people.

Joan As Police Woman - “Start of my heart”:

I absolutely adore everything Joan does. Oh man. So it was really hard to pick one of her songs… but this one off her newest record “To Survive” .. I listened to a few this morning and tried to decide which I wanted to share. Everyday it changes. But today “this is the one” :).. It sums up my sentiments about life and love (today) exactly. enjoy. and then go buy everything you can of hers…. no seriously. go. buy.

Yoko Ono and The Plastic Ono Band - “Will you touch me”:

This recording is absolutely amazing! John is playing the guitar and it sounds like they are recording into a four-track.. He messes up the chords and restarts a few times, apologizes… starts again. “Will you touch me, will you touch me, when my body’s full of fear, will you reach me, will you reach me, when my body’s so cold” its so simple, so beautiful. I feel like I’m laying on some floor pillows in their living room smoking a j… and like maybe we will all make out a little after they are done recording…

Cat Power - “Metal Heart”:

This song sounds like it just took a Qualude (anyone remember those?), and what do I know maybe it did. For instance, the guitar sounds like it just accidently was in the right key, and maybe the drummer only has one arm, and it is PERFECTION. absolutely perfect. Chan’s delivery always blows me away. So subtle and soulful and yes empathy, so much empathy and understanding in her voice.

Tv On The Radio - “Family Tree” :

This song makes my heart stop. I don’t know what else I can say.

Kate Bush - “This Woman’s Work”:

I covered this at a show I played a few days ago, and so I’ve been listening to it on repeat for the last week trying to nail all the little inflections she adds… of course I never could do it just the way she does… but I like to try. Anyhow, in the process I have completely fallen back in love with Kate. “I know you have a little life in you yet, I know you have a lot of strength left”.. I also realized as I was asking my friends if they knew it, or trying to get my band to learn it, that a LOT of people this this is a MAXWELL song!! WHA??? Seriously guys. What is going on with the youth of today?

Land Of Talk - “Street Wheels”:

I really really really really love this band. Lizzy’s voice is so unique and gorgeous. Phenominal songwriter and guitar player, I love seeing other woman out there doing that.. I love how this song builds and builds and builds.. I really wish I had been able to get into their SxSw show last year.. but I did stand outside the fence and listen. Sounded Killer!

Electrelane - “The Valley”:

Just listen to this and tell me you don’t feel like joining a choir.. There is a great one at a church in the East Village.. they even have a summer choir, you just join for the summer like a kick ball team.. Who’s with me?

“Ok this has been really hard to pick just a few songs, and I’m sure they would all be different tomorrow.. But that is the beauty, right? right.”

Where you can look/listen/learn more about Holly:

Holly Miranda Myspace

Holly Blog