Just Another Day

It's just another day...

Sometimes in life, there needs to be a day that you can look back on and say, "That was a perfect day." I have been very fortunate to have quite a few I can look back on. Every other day, however, has been just another day. Hence, today's song is quite apt.

In the 70s (the 70s!), the Mystic Knights of Oingo Boingo formed by Richard and Danny Elfman. Long story short, the group (renamed later to Oingo Boingo, then later, Boingo), went on to compile 16 albums over a 17 year span. The band influenced scores of young groups and artists, had incredible presence on both stage and screen, and enjoyed a nice musical life after the breakup in 1995.

"Just Another Day," the initial song off the album Dead Man's Party was featured on the live album Boingo Alive as well. I thoroughly enjoyed the original, but the live version (here, from the final "Farewell Concert") is quite good. Live, the song takes on a different quality due to Steve Bartek's intro. Bartek's guitar work is hard and persistent, Danny Elfman's vocals cut through the song like a knife. The rhythm and bass work are fun. The song works one up into a frenzy, and a terrible thing to listen to while driving. The ending fades away, dreamlike and ethereal (the live version cuts off a bit, which is unfortunate).

In any case, this band was a wonder, live. I saw them more times than I can remember, and nary a Halloween goes by that I don't longingly think of the fun, fun concerts.

Enjoy "Just Another Day." Try to leave a smile on your face for everyone.
-om