Irish Punk Rock In Scorsese's The Departed: Queen, 30 Seconds To Mars, Dropkick Murphys

"I WANT IT ALL"    QUEEN

When you've got to release three greatest hits albums just to contain all of your best songs, you can't deny how amazing a band like Queen was.   One of the most influential bands of all-time, "I Want It All" got released at the end of their original line-up career and sometimes gets lost in the shuffle of their greatest songs.   But this song verges on metal with one of Brian May's hardest solos and Roger Taylor's best drum work.    Freddie's vocals perfectly capture the theme of taking charge, making things happen, a revolution of personal drive and ambition. 

"FROM YESTERDAY"    30 SECONDS TO MARS

When Jared Leto, lead singer of 30 Seconds To Mars, played their set at Coachman Park in Clearwater, Florida, he climbed to the top of the light tower during this song!   The band has only released 3 CD's in their fourteen year history but they're currently in the studio working on their next project.   One fact that always impressed me, Jared is a big time actor but never uses this fame to exploit his band's popularity.   In fact, if a venue promotes them as Jared Leto and 30 Seconds To Mars, they won't play there.   Ballsy move but you've got to respect the artistic choice to let their music generate their fans.   "From Yesterday" has a 14 minute video shot in China, here's an edited version.

"I'M SHIPPING UP TO BOSTON"   DROPKICK MURPHYS

Celtic pride in full effect when you drop in a Dropkick Murphy's CD.   Like me, you probably first heard this band during the Martin Scorsese film, The Departed.  The crime boss theme and a cast including Leo DiCaprio, Jack Nicholson, and Matt Damon contributed to their Oscar win for Best Picture.  Leo's transformation from a good cop to a Boston thug perfectly matched up to the soundtrack of the Dropkick Murphy's drunken bar band anthem.    Jonathan Papelbon used this song as his entrance theme song when he closed games for the Boston Red Sox.

 

Today Was A Good Day : 30 Seconds To Mars, Ice Cube, Peter Cetera

"CLOSER TO THE EDGE"                     30 SECONDS TO MARS

Actor, Jared Leto, fronts the ever-improving band, 30 Seconds To Mars.    This 2010 summer song is pure inspiration.    The video is genius:   Capture the band performing live all over Europe, share their energy and the passionate and mesmerizing interaction between a band truly connecting with their audience.    "Closer To The Edge" is an all-time favorite video from the beautiful locations, the uplifting message, and a powerful rock performance.   Check out at 3:00, "Are You Ready?" then an amazing crowd shot, slow-motion drum beats, classic!

"HOLD ME"                       PETER CETERA and PAUL ANKA 

Peter Cetera?    What?   Yes, it's totally cheesy, it's one of those secret songs you have to roll up the windows if it comes on your car stereo but you don't turn the channel.    Beautiful romantic song that combines two "soft rock" giants.   I guess, two wrongs do make a right!

 


"IT WAS A GOOD DAY"                             ICE CUBE

I was lucky to have grown up in the 80s when rap took off.   I loved the creative rhymes mixed with hip hop samples from great R&B favorites of mine from the likes of James Brown, P-Funk, and Sly and the Family Stone.   Ice Cube was THE MAN, a true O.G.   After leaving N.W.A. he put out a string of classics including his biggest hit from 1993's The Predator.  The beats sample the Isley Brothers and has classic lyrics about scoring a triple double on the basketball court, name dropping Yo! MTV Raps, bragging he didn't have to use his AK,