Fish Nation Information Station

2012-01-31T23:14:00.000-05:00

To make things easier to find, we put the news on a separate page, at finis.info. Use the links at the right side of the pages to go back and forth between the news page and the video page.

♫ “My Heart is Broken” ♫

2012-01-29T20:00:00.000-05:00

“My Heart is Broken” – Evanescence

It’s all about building walls. Then breaking them.

♫ “The Day The LOLcats Died” ♫

2012-01-18T13:54:00.000-05:00

“The Day The LOLcats Died” – LaughPong

A musical summary of the opposition to the Internet censorship bills currently being considered by Congress.

♫ “Bohemian Rhapsody” ♫

2012-01-16T06:39:00.002-05:00

“Bohemian Rhapsody” – Richie Castellano

What does it actually take to record an epic rock song like “Bohemian Rhapsody”? See for yourself in this video demonstration by Blue Oyster Cult’s keyboardist.

♫ “The DJ Is Mine” ♫

2012-01-13T09:56:00.000-05:00

“The DJ Is Mine” — Wonder Girls

They are already the first Korean act to appear on the Billboard Hot 100 — can they do it again?

♫ “Snow in the Window” ♫

2011-12-12T07:59:00.000-05:00

“Snow in the Window” – Rick Aster

Has it been a loooong year? Don’t worry — things get better.

♫ “Dream Police” ♫

2011-12-08T14:27:00.001-05:00

“Dream Police” – Cheap Trick

Are you dreaming of a white Christmas? Well, watch out, because the Dream Police are coming to town — with a full orchestra!

♫ “Cafe Bossa” ♫

2011-12-02T01:20:00.009-05:00

“Cafe Bossa” – Marchio Bossa

Late-night jazz from Italy.

♫ “Mr. Big Christmas” ♫

2011-11-24T11:57:00.001-05:00

“Mr. Big Christmas” – Bah & the Humbugs

If you want to have a big Christmas this year, it pays to get an early start. Having Santa on your speed dial helps too.

♫ “Downtown” ♫

2011-11-18T08:53:00.001-05:00

“Downtown” – Saw Doctors featuring Petula Clark

A 1965 pop hit gets the Irish party rock treatment. (SoundCloud)

Video at SawDoctors.com.

♫ “The Remembering” ♫

2011-11-13T10:56:00.001-05:00

“The Remembering” (live 1974) – Yes

Progressive rock giants Yes reached the peak of their visionary powers with this song. A new Yes live album comes out at the end of the month.

♫ “What You Want” ♫

2011-10-08T15:00:00.001-04:00

“What You Want” – Evanescence

Hey, it’s the weekend. Do what you want. (Baeble)

♫ “Cast Away” ♫

2011-10-05T17:40:00.005-04:00

“Cast Away” – CIRCA:

A thoughtful turn from the new album And So On. California tour begins October 6.

♫ “No Warning Lights” ♫

2011-09-28T13:31:00.000-04:00

“No Warning Lights” – Levin Torn White

For those listeners who think progressive rock could be a little bolder when it comes to texture and rhythm.

♫ “Neutral Ground” ♫

2011-06-24T15:10:00.000-04:00

“Neutral Ground” – Billy Sherwood

The advance video from the upcoming album What Was the Question? recalls some of the angst of the 2003 Conspiracy album The Unknown.

♫ “I’ll Give You A Ring” ♫

2011-06-18T18:14:00.010-04:00

“I’ll Give You A Ring” – John Montagna

A song from an obscure B-side played on bass for Paul McCartney’s 69th birthday.

♫ “We Can Fly” ♫

2011-06-13T17:24:00.000-04:00

“We Can Fly” – Yes

Yes’s first single in ten years is the most famous song the band never recorded — till now. Album to follow, July 12.

♫ “Walls” ♫

2011-06-03T16:39:00.002-04:00

“Walls” – Trevor Rabin and Roger Hodgson

This song was the second single from the Yes Talk album and the one song fans tend to remember from that album. Here is the early version of the song, sung by its two writers.

♫ “Without You” ♫

2011-05-28T14:05:00.006-04:00

“Without You” – Rainbow Arabia

World beat new wave power pop meets laptop.

♫ “A Beautiful Lie” ♫

2011-05-25T09:01:00.000-04:00

“A Beautiful Lie” – 30 Seconds to Mars

With summer coming, cool off with Arctic ice — while you still can. (video with Vevo commercial)

♫ “Smells Like Teen Spirit” ♫

2011-05-02T22:54:00.005-04:00

“Smells Like Teen Spirit” (live) – Miley Cyrus

Well, okay, I know no one was saying, “What the world really needs right now is a singer who can do a really serious rendition of ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ so that we can make out all the words and reduce the song to an adolescent cliche” . . . but . . . it’s Miley Cyrus!

♫ “Blue Tip” ♫

2011-04-20T09:19:00.000-04:00

“Blue Tip” – The Cars

They took 23 years off — apparently, to learn how to make their sound even more bare and minimalistic.

♫ “Thank You Card” ♫

2011-03-24T10:25:00.002-04:00

“Thank You Card” – Sub Clones

Noisy dance pop with questions about life. Produced by Alan Parsons, but not likely to be mistaken for the Alan Parsons Project.

♫ “Can’t Take Our Freedom” ♫

2011-03-13T18:50:00.000-04:00

“Can’t Take Our Freedom” – Khaled M. featuring Lowkey

A rap that puts you on the front lines of the popular uprising in Libya. (Video includes violent and disturbing images.)

♫ “Beyond the Sea of Lies” ♫

2011-03-08T21:49:00.000-05:00

“Beyond the Sea of Lies” – White

There are times when it seems as if the whole world is breaking down and falling apart. Here’s a song by White that offers a hint of direction, a light at the end of the tunnel for times like these. (Look for the link below the “Free Downloads” heading.)

♫ “Rope” ♫

2011-02-26T13:48:00.001-05:00

“Rope” – Foo Fighters

More hope and hard-driving rhythms, from the forthcoming album Wasting Light.

♫ “we’re all broken sometimes (it’s gonna get better)” ♫

2011-02-21T11:51:00.001-05:00

“we’re all broken sometimes (it’s gonna get better)” – Jessica Latshaw

Every February songwriters get together with the goal of writing an album’s worth of songs during the month at FAWM.org. Here is one of the standout new songs from this year’s effort, in a live recording. While you’re at it, check out a few of the thousands of other new songs that songwriters have written this month.

♫ “Better Than Today” ♫

2011-02-11T16:59:00.003-05:00

“Better Than Today” – Kylie Minogue

It’s not so hard to make today better than yesterday — but if you want to make today better than today, you may have to take some chances.

♫ “Tequila” ♫

2011-01-06T21:25:00.000-05:00

“Tequila” – Korpiklaani

Out of Christmas beer? Not a problem. Finland’s favorite folk-metal band just uploaded a brand-new drink you may like even better, from their album Ukon Wacka.

♫ “Rockin’ Train” ♫

2011-01-03T04:55:00.004-05:00

“Rockin’ Train” – Joe Perry Project

A song to get the millennium rolling, and for all the commuters riding the train on the first regular day of work in 2011.

♫ “I’ve Got The Victory” ♫

2010-12-31T09:48:00.000-05:00

“I’ve Got The Victory” – Pastor James R. Adams and the Abounding Life COGIC Mass Choir and Musicians

A successful New Year’s Eve starts with celebrating the victory of the year that is ending. With feeling.

♫ “Frostbite” ♫

2010-12-18T12:32:00.000-05:00

“Frostbite” – Myrrhna

Things that are pretty can also be dangerous. Especially in winter. Especially at Christmas time. Especially when you’re listening to a remake of a Bah & the Humbugs song by a well-known icy-voiced Celtic singer.

♫ “Jet” ♫

2010-12-12T16:52:00.000-05:00

“Jet” – Paul McCartney

Live from New York, it’s . . . Paul McCartney!

♫ “I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day” ♫

2010-12-02T09:46:00.002-05:00

“I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day” – Wilson Phillips

Perhaps the most California-oriented version ever of this classic English Christmas single.

♫ “Military Man” ♫

2010-11-11T17:21:00.001-05:00

“Military Man” – John Payne and Erik Norlander

On Veterans Day, new rehearsal video of a military song from the 1994 Asia album Aria. (Also an experiment with the new YouTube iframe video player. If you have trouble viewing the video, watch on its YouTube page instead.)

♫ “Peace Train”/“Crazy Train” ♫

2010-10-30T17:58:00.001-04:00

“Peace Train”/“Crazy Train” – Yusuf and Ozzy Osbourne

A musical train wreck at today’s Rally to Restore Sanity. (YouTube video)

♫ “Gimme Some Truth” ♫

2010-10-10T18:25:00.001-04:00

“Gimme Some Truth” – John Montagna

A new performance of an old John Lennon song, to mark Lennon’s 70th birthday.

♫ “Red Velvet Car” ♫

2010-10-03T13:23:00.003-04:00

“Red Velvet Car” – Heart

The new Heart album is called Red Velvet Car, but what is a red velvet car? You have to listen to the song to find out. Live recording from World Cafe.

♫ “Loca” ♫

2010-09-29T22:24:00.002-04:00

“Loca” – Shakira

See Shakira on wheels in the video for her new single. The new album is Sale el Sol — in English, The Sun Comes Out. (video)

♫ “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” ♫

2010-09-28T08:20:00.000-04:00

“While My Guitar Gently Weeps” – Santana

Carlos Santana following in the footsteps of Eric Clapton and George Harrison? Listen to this song just once and you’ll understand why this idea makes sense. (video)

♫ “Heat Wave” ♫

2010-08-25T18:56:00.001-04:00

“Heat Wave” – Phil Collins

The new Phil Collins 45 sounds like an old-time weather forecast. You know, on AM radio. (YouTube video)

♫ “King of Anything” ♫

2010-08-06T16:56:00.003-04:00

“King of Anything” – Sara Bareilles

On her new tour, Sara Bareilles will be playing piano and setting you straight. Like on this song. (streaming Flash audio)

♫ “Run” ♫

2010-08-04T17:00:00.002-04:00

“Run” – Extreme

Heavy riffs, rock ’n roll philosophy, and a Japanese audience. Bonus material from the new live set, out now. (video)

♫ “Butterfly, Butterfly” ♫

2010-06-18T13:44:00.000-04:00

“Butterfly, Butterfly (The Last Hurrah)” – a-ha

On its last release, a-ha is thinking about freedom.

♫ “American Woman” ♫

2010-06-13T08:48:00.000-04:00

“American Woman” (karaoke) – Sam the Eagle

A song called “American Woman” must be one of those patriotic marching band pieces by John Philip Sousa, right? Well . . .

♫ “Waka Waka” ♫

2010-06-02T12:16:00.001-04:00

“Waka Waka” Sharam Arena Remix – Shakira

Energy music — if this official arena remix of a song from The Official 2010 FIFA World Cup Album doesn’t make you want to get out in the arena and kick a soccer ball around, I don’t know what will.

Update: the official music video.

♫ “What’s It Gonna Be” ♫

2010-05-13T20:51:00.000-04:00

“What’s It Gonna Be” – Orianthi

If you can’t decide whether to watch the fingers on the guitar strings or listen to the lyrics, it must be Orianthi in concert.

♫ “Not Afraid” ♫

2010-05-04T10:11:00.000-04:00

“Not Afraid” – Eminem

This new song has a startling level of personal presence, even for Eminem — as the song says, “I ain’t playing around.” (Language advisory)

♫ “Don’t Take My Shadow” ♫

2010-04-20T17:13:00.001-04:00

“Don’t Take My Shadow” – Kings Go Forth

This is something you wouldn’t have predicted: a 10-piece Americana-soul band from Milwaukee that sounds a little like Three Dog Night, Chicago, and Rare Earth. Album out today.

♫ “Gypsy” ♫

2010-03-27T18:32:00.002-04:00

“Gypsy” – Shakira

It’s all dance and sweat in the video for the new Shakira single. If she ends up stealing your clothes, you can’t say she didn’t warn you. (video with commercial)

♫ “Finger on the Trigger” ♫

2010-03-23T00:05:00.008-04:00

“Finger on the Trigger” – Asia

The fourth studio album from the original Asia lineup is coming in just one month — and here’s a surprisingly energetic advance track, as polished as anything on the band’s first album, but going even farther in the direction of 1970s British power pop. This song pushes drummer Carl Palmer to the foreground. (MP3)

♫ “Irrational Number (Pi Part One)” ♫

2010-03-12T23:41:00.000-05:00

“Irrational Number (Pi Part One)” – Paul Nordquist

Sunday is Pi Day — and what else could be as easy as pi?

♫ “No Sugar Tonight” ♫

2010-02-28T14:56:00.000-05:00

“No Sugar Tonight” – Burton Cummings

At the Olympics, video from a live performance at B.C. Place.

♫ “Fearless Love” ♫

2010-02-25T19:55:00.001-05:00

“Fearless Love” – Melissa Etheridge

A live acoustic performance, recorded days ago in San Diego, of the new single. This is a song for anyone who has to choose between going along with the crowd and living their own life. “I think it sets the tone for the album, sets the tone for everything that’s coming from me now. Where I’m at in this journey is about fearlessness.”

♫ “The First Snowflake” ♫

2010-02-09T16:24:00.000-05:00

“The First Snowflake” — Bah & the Humbugs

A special repeat performance of this song — for areas in the northeast United States getting their second major snowstorm in less than a week.

♫ “According to You” ♫

2010-01-31T14:43:00.005-05:00

“According to You” – Orianthi

Another angry breakup song — this one with some hot guitar licks. (with Vevo commercial)

♫ “Down” ♫

2010-01-28T01:36:00.002-05:00

“Down” – Femke/One Song a Week

Sooner or later, everyone is going to need an angry breakup song.

♫ “This Too Shall Pass” ♫

2010-01-20T15:43:00.002-05:00

“This Too Shall Pass” – OK Go

The biggest OK Go video ever, featuring a marching band. The Notre Dame marching band. The new album “Of the Blue Colour of the Sky” is available for download now.

OK Go - This Too Shall Pass from OK Go on Vimeo.

♫ “Sold My Soul to Rock n Roll” ♫

2010-01-16T12:01:00.005-05:00

“Sold My Soul to Rock n Roll” – Dave Evans

This new song, from a hard rock singer who once worked for AC/DC, is for people who think that straight-ahead rock ’n roll is not a joke. Did I mention that it’s almost Saturday night?

♫ “Only One” ♫

2010-01-08T14:21:00.000-05:00

“Only One” – Yoso

Put the lead singer from Toto together with musicians good enough to have played with Yes, and what could you call the new band but Yoso? The new album and concert video are coming soon, and the sound is serious, smooth, and soulful.

♫ “Cease and Desist” ♫

2009-12-26T16:00:00.001-05:00

“Cease and Desist” – Bah & the Humbugs

It’s Christmas time, so here comes the man in the suit. And I don’t mean Santa.

♫ “Titanic Tannenbaum” ♫

2009-12-25T09:40:00.000-05:00

“Titanic Tannenbaum” – Bah & the Humbugs

For Christmas Day: the unsinkable Christmas tree.

♫ “No Free Lunch” ♫

2009-12-22T20:49:00.001-05:00

“No Free Lunch” – Bah & the Humbugs

The true story of the birth of Jesus at Manger Stadium, from those who were lucky enough to get tickets.

♫ “Mr. Big Christmas” ♫

2009-12-21T15:24:00.002-05:00

“Mr. Big Christmas” – Bah & the Humbugs

For some people, a financial meltdown just means things keep getting bigger — especially at Christmas.

♫ “What I Ate on My Christmas Vacation” ♫

2009-12-20T18:20:00.002-05:00

“What I Ate on My Christmas Vacation” – Bah & the Humbugs

Food is part of the Christmas tradition, but don’t be obsessive about it. Not like this, at least.

♫ “Snow Day” ♫

2009-12-19T10:32:00.000-05:00

“Snow Day” – Bah & the Humbugs

For the 50 million people who are snowed in today, or will be before the day is over, Fish Nation is officially calling a snow day.

♫ “The First Snowflake” ♫

2009-12-19T00:25:00.001-05:00

“The First Snowflake” — Bah & the Humbugs

Is that a snowflake? It must be almost Christmas!

♫ “Black-and-White World” ♫

2009-12-17T23:34:00.002-05:00

“Black-and-White World” — Bah & the Humbugs

Some people are too busy to deal with moral gray areas. Take Santa, for instance.

♫ “Christmas Tree from Hell” ♫

2009-12-15T20:24:00.001-05:00

“Christmas Tree from Hell” – Bah & the Humbugs

If you’re going out to get a tree tonight, make sure you don’t take home the Christmas tree from hell.

♫ “Christmas in July (in August)” ♫

2009-12-14T08:57:00.000-05:00

“Christmas in July (in August)” – Bah & the Humbugs

Of course you’re procrastinating about Christmas. But be careful about that — because this is what can happen.

♫ “Limelight” ♫

2009-12-04T12:59:00.000-05:00

“Limelight” – John Montagna

A bass player’s tribute to the recently departed Eric Woolfson (Alan Parsons Project).

♫ “Bohemian Rhapsody” ♫

2009-12-02T17:05:00.000-05:00

“Bohemian Rhapsody” — The Muppets

Twice as Bohemian as the original. At least.

♫ “Give It Up to Me” ♫

2009-11-28T20:08:00.001-05:00

“Give It Up to Me” — Shakira

The new album is out, with the sleekest dance pop yet from Shakira. And the new video? Anything you want in the world.

♫ “Looking for the Magic” ♫

2009-11-24T11:44:00.000-05:00

“Looking for the Magic” – Dwight Twilley Band

An early music video, showing the Dwight Twilley Band at the peak of their success, on a song with rockabilly, British invasion, and glam influences.

♫ “Fading Like a Flower” ♫

2009-11-18T16:12:00.005-05:00

“Fading Like a Flower” – Warmen featuring Jonna Kosonen

A Finnish heavy metal band redoing a Roxette song — because we have the technology to make the song heavier, louder, more dramatic than before!

♫ “Hey U” ♫

2009-11-13T10:10:00.000-05:00

“Hey U” — SideStreet featuring Muffy.

Loud and obnoxious, smooth and precocious — it’s your dance-pop hip-hop wake-up song.

♫ “Highway” ♫

2009-11-04T18:36:00.000-05:00

“Highway” – Paul McCartney

One blues song from Paul McCartney’s Citi Field concert, and the new album Good Evening New York City.

♫ “Did It Again” ♫

2009-10-29T18:04:00.002-04:00

“Did It Again” – Shakira

Smooth, sassy dance pop – it’s the new single from Shakira in most of the world.

♫ “Stop This Game” ♫

2009-10-22T19:25:00.000-04:00

“Stop This Game” – Cheap Trick

In case you missed the Cheap Trick performance at Chicagofest in 1981, this is how it started. (YouTube video)

♫ “Who Cries Now” ♫

2009-09-29T08:24:00.002-04:00

“Who Cries Now” – Unruly Child

This 1990s hard rock band, formed when World Trade broke up, has just signed a new one-album deal with Frontier Records. Here’s a song from way back when.

♫ “Want of a Nail” ♫

2009-09-22T07:00:00.002-04:00

“Want of a Nail” – Todd Rundgren and Daryl Hall

Some Philly soul on Live From Daryl’s House.

♫ “Love Never Wasted” ♫

2009-09-16T10:01:00.001-04:00

“Love Never Wasted” – Howard Jones

Optimistic, soft-spoken, heartfelt, multidimensional. From the forthcoming album Ordinary Heroes.

♫ “Ice” ♫

2009-09-09T21:09:00.000-04:00

“Ice” – Lights

Teen angst in bouncy electropop.

♫ “We Weren’t Born to Follow” ♫

2009-08-30T13:22:00.001-04:00

“We Weren’t Born to Follow” – Bon Jovi

Roaring gospel rock that might remind you of another band from New Jersey. “Well let me hear you say yeah!”

♫ “True Player for Real” ♫

2009-08-16T19:35:00.004-04:00

“True Player for Real” – MC Lars

First MC Lars invented the genre of post-punk laptop rap. Then he realized he had to introduce himself. Triumphantly. With sock puppets.

♫ “Everything Is Music” ♫

2009-08-14T20:37:00.003-04:00

“Everything Is Music” – Deepak Chopra and Dave Stewart

A cosmic meditation on the link between music and the origin of the universe.

♫ Pentatonic Scale ♫

2009-08-13T08:57:00.000-04:00

Bobby McFerrin Demonstrates the Pentatonic Scale

If you’ve ever wondered whether music is an innate human ability, here’s the answer.

♫ “Parallels” ♫

2009-08-09T20:04:00.001-04:00

“Parallels” – Yes

Inside the studio in 1976 as progressive rock band Yes records basic tracks for one of the more energetic songs on the Going for the One album.

♫ “C Moon” ♫

2009-08-04T18:33:00.000-04:00

“C Moon” – Paul McCartney

The perfect song for a full moon in summer. This is a surprisingly durable song from the 20th century’s most noted songwriter.

♫ “Som do Sol” ♫

2009-07-31T15:05:00.001-04:00

“Som do Sol” – Banda do Sol

Smooth progressive rock from a Brazilian band that goes back 27 years, as they announce their new album Tempo. Careful listeners who are fans of the genre may pick up the distinctive mixing style of Billy Sherwood.

♫ “United Breaks Guitars” ♫

2009-07-27T12:58:00.000-04:00

“United Breaks Guitars” – Dave Carroll

How many music videos have brilliant harmony, tell a true-life story, and prompt an official response from a major airline? (YouTube video)

♫ “Skipper Dan” ♫

2009-07-17T12:44:00.002-04:00

“Skipper Dan” – “Weird Al” Yankovic

When your career doesn’t work out the way you planned it, what can you do but keep telling the same jokes over and over again till you cry? (YouTube video)

♫ “Stand By Me” ♫

2009-07-02T11:12:00.000-04:00

“Stand By Me” – Andy Madadian, Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora & Friends

Producer Don Was and singers Andy Madadian (an Iranian exile) and Jon Bon Jovi recorded this duet of the Ben E. King song “Stand By Me” June 24 as a symbol of worldwide solidarity for the Iranian people, currently protesting a rigged presidential election. The first verse is in Farsi (only natural for Madadian, but a first for Bon Jovi).

♫ “Vodka” ♫

2009-06-29T19:42:00.005-04:00

Vodka by Korpiklaani

Finnish heavy metal with fiddle and accordion. Hard-drinking fun.

♫ “Sick Man of Europe” ♫

2009-06-23T07:00:00.001-04:00

“Sick Man of Europe” – Cheap Trick

How to turn the British invasion into a full-blooded roar, from the brand-new Cheap Trick album The Latest. Oasis might want to take notes.

♫ “Craigslist” ♫

2009-06-15T19:45:00.003-04:00

“Craigslist” – “Weird Al” Yankovic

No, it’s not a new Doors single. Jim Morrison, sadly, did not live long enough to comment on the Internet’s own swap meet, so “Weird Al” Yankovic had to do it for him. It may be a cheesy low-budget video, but it still has to be seen to be believed.

♫ “Calley Oh” ♫

2009-06-08T13:00:00.002-04:00

“Calley Oh” – Billy Squier

Billy Squier’s summer tour gets underway at the end of the month. On his home page (look for the player in the upper right corner of the page) you’ll find a live performance of a song from his first album, Tale of the Tape.

♫ “Glamour Boy” ♫

2009-06-04T21:41:00.001-04:00

“Glamour Boy” – Burton Cummings

The questions about what really matters in life haven’t changed all that much since 1973 when this song was written. A YouTube video from a concert last December.

♫ “Some Kind of Magic” ♫

2009-05-29T17:01:00.001-04:00

“Some Kind of Magic” – Orkestra

A song for summertime.

♫ “Magnificent” ♫

2009-05-12T06:56:00.001-04:00

“Magnificent” – U2

Arches, tiles, and cotton in the new U2 video filmed in Morocco, as the band gears up for a tour. (Flash video)