toddintheshadows

TRAINWRECKORDS: Nickelback's "No Fixed Address"

This video is late, and by late I mean three months late. I intended to do it first thing after vacation and I just kept getting sidetracked -- by other projects, by a broken camera, by an unexpected visit from my parents, by the fact that the script fucking sucked and I kept having to rewrite it -- I worry that this has rotted on the vine, after working on it this long I simply have no idea if...

My camera is broken. (Also, please vote in the Song vs. Song poll.)

Ah ha ha my ancient camera that I should've replaced a billion years ago (we partially filmed Suburban Knights on it. It's old.) won't let me get the goddamn files off of it because both the USB port and the SD card reader stopped working. So it's in the shop! I've been trying to get this episode done since, no joke, before I went on summer vacation and things just kept coming up and I kept pus...

RAMBLE ON: "Jolene" by Dolly Parton

There’s a viral Tumblr post, pretty well-known by now, where Dolly Parton’s “Jolene” is rewritten so that Jolene is some unspeakable, Lovecraftian monstrosity who portends the apocalypse. You know it; “We cower here beneath your gaze, that sets the earth and sky ablaze, have mercy at the end of days, Jolene.” People have added what must be hundreds of verses to this, recorded their ...

ONE HIT WONDERLAND: "Tubular Bells" by Mike Oldfield

Does this count? I say it does... not. But I did it anyway. Happy Halloween! 

As always, check my editing for me please. And as always, please vote in the Song vs. Song poll. We're doing The Foo Fighters' "My Hero" vs. The Smashing Pumpkins' "Bullet with Butterfly Wings." https://www.patreon.c...

Please vote in the Song vs. Song poll! (Also here's a stupid thing I made)

I was supposed to be doing actual things for work but I got sidetracked with a perpetually updating supercut. I'm not charging for this since it's not an actual episode; now I have to put the actual episode I was working on on hold because I have to work on the Halloween episode now. (The Spooktacular returns! Stay tuned)

Anyway, I'm looking for more votes at Song vs. Song, we're doing We...

RAMBLE ON: "Dark Side" by Kelly Clarkson

Kelly Clarkson is divorced, y’all. I saw her in Vegas, right at the start of my vacation, and she may be one of the most divorced women I’ve ever seen. Not in an unpleasant or bitter way or anything, the night was a blast. But she was promoting her long-awaited divorce album, so the topic was naturally gonna come up, and yes, there was many a potshot taken at her ex. I have some di...

POP SONG REVIEW: "Rich Men North of Richmond"

First off, here's the Song vs. Song poll. We're doing Mariah and Boyz II Men's "One Sweet Day" vs. Elton John's "Candle in the Wind '97." https://www.patreon.com/posts/new-poll-one-day-89146508

Secondly, please check my work. I'm back! I guess. 

ONE HIT WONDERLAND: "Barbie Girl" by Aqua

Yet another I somehow haven't done. I think there's a movie coming out or something. Sorry for the bad upload earlier, couldn't fix it right away. 

Oh and please catch my errors.

Oh and please vote in the Song vs. Song poll. We're doing something timely this time: "Flowers" by Miley Cyrus" vs. "vampire" by Olivia Rodrigo: 2023-07-20 07:46:37 +0000 UTC View Post

RAMBLE ON: "Wordplay" by Jason Mraz

“Ramble On” is just a feature I came up because with I wanted more money, and I needed to give people a reason to subscribe to this Patreon. But I found it’s been helpful for me, to help me get out my thoughts on things that in a little more thoughtful, deeper way than I do with my whole “YouTube snark douche” routine. But sometimes I come across a song that deserves the whole “in t...

POP SONG REVIEW: "Fast Car" by Luke Combs

Welp. Yes, that "Fast Car." 

As always, please tell me if you see any major errors.

And as always, please vote in the Song vs. Song poll. We're doing "Come On Eileen" vs. "Take on Me." But the ska versions. Save Ferris vs. Reel Big Fish. https://www.patreon.com/posts/new-poll-come-on-853...

TRAINWRECKORDS: "Ringo the 4th" by Ringo Starr

Ringo!

Anyway: Please vote in the Song vs. Song poll where we're doing "Born in the USA" vs. "Rockin' in the Free World": https://www.patreon.com/posts/new-poll-born-in-84763700

And as always: If you see any errors, lemme know.

RAMBLE ON: "wait in the truck" by HARDY ft. Lainey Wilson

Okay, so here’s my issue: Killing people is weird. I mean, yes, I know it’s wrong, that’s the main thing, but also, it’s weird, right? Have you ever thought about that? How weird killing people is? Most people don’t do that! I just did a Google search and the first site I read said that probably only about 48 people in a million have ever killed someone. That’s 0.000048 percent! Not...

ONE HIT WONDERLAND: "I Wish" by Skee-Lo

I wish I worked a little bit quicker.

Anyway, as always, please lemme know if you see any errors. Also: of course, please vote in the Song vs. Song poll! This week, inspired by last month's coronation, we are arguing over "Anarchy in the UK" vs. "London Calling"! https://www.patreon.com/posts/new-poll-anarchy-829...

RAMBLE ON: "Shot in the Dark" by Ozzy Osbourne

I had a conversation once with a friend about which pop stars would make it into the pop-averse Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Mariah Carey? Almost definitely – she’s a powerhouse vocalist, she wrote most of her songs, her music is enough in the soul/r&b tradition that the traditionalist rock hall writers would approve. George Michael? The fact that his legacy is split between Wham! and ...

TRAINWRECKORDS: "Crown Royal" by Run-D.M.C.

I got this done. Yes, yes, y'all, and you don't stop.

I'm sure this is full of errors (I'm so tired), but please check them for me.

And speaking of classic hip-hop, please vote in this Song vs. Song poll where we argue about "Nuthin' but a 'G' Thang" vs. "Gangsta's Paradise"! https://www.patre...

Please vote in the Song vs. Song poll!

We're doing Peter Gabriel's "Sledgehammer" vs. Talking Heads' "Burning Down the House." Vote now! https://www.patreon.com/posts/new-poll-vs-down-81490989

Anyway, I swear I'm trying to get this video done this month. The month got away from me, plus these Trainwreckords videos are just fuckin' h...

RAMBLE ON: "Don't Tell Me How to Live" by Kid Rock

My deep dark secret is that I’ve never been much bothered by Kid Rock, or at least the vast majority of his career. I still like “Bawitdaba” and “Cowboy” as much as I did in junior high. I’ve never found “All Summer Long” particularly objectionable. The rhyme of “things” and “things” doesn’t bother me. Disliking Kid Rock is an easy lay-up for a music critic, and imagin...

ONE HIT WONDERLAND: "99 Red Balloons" by Nena

This was supposed to be done by the end of February but other projects, personal shit and illnesses got in the way. Here it is! Help me out and catch any errors.

And please vote in the Song vs. Song poll! Next one we're doing is "Glamorous" by Fergie vs. "Jenny from the Block" by Jennifer Lopez. http...

POP SONG REVIEW: "Last Night" by Morgan Wallen

Welp.

Anyway, please vote in the Song vs. Song poll, we're doing "It's Tricky" by Run-DMC vs. "No Sleep 'Til Brooklyn" by the Beastie Boys. https://www.patreon.com/posts/new-poll-its-vs-79799829

And as always, if you see any errors, you know what to do

Please vote in the Song vs. Song poll!

It's Creed's "With Arms Wide Open" vs. Nickelback's "How You Remind Me." Exciting!  https://www.patreon.com/posts/new-poll-with-vs-79073692

I hate posting things without a video attached but this month I think I am getting out two episodes. I hit a creative dry spot but I think I know what...

RAMBLE ON: "I Am Woman" by Helen Reddy

The curse of the white woman is to be disadvantaged in some ways and privileged in others, so that when they talk about serious women’s issues it can sound like they’re ignoring the vast amounts of advantages they do have – hence the rise of the term “white feminism” as a pejorative. And to be fair, the term doesn’t come from nothing; there are a lot of white women out there who do ...

ONE HIT WONDERLAND: "Turn Up the Radio" by Autograph

Ugh, getting back into the groove after those exhausting top tens is always hard. I'm back, all right, I managed to finish a video. (This one is also a gift to someone who found me part of a missing Behind the Music.) As always, if you see any errors, lemme know.

And as always, we have a Song vs. Song, one where we get funky! Please vote on "Brick House" vs. "Super Freak"! 2023-02-17 18:30:35 +0000 UTC View Post

Please vote in the Song vs. Song poll! (This one matters)

I hate putting up the poll when I don't have a new video out yet but this one is IMPORTANT. It's our 100th episode!!!! We're doing "Smells Like Teen Spirit" vs. NIN's "Closer" so please please please vote now! 

https://www.patreon.com/posts/new-poll-smells-77977079

RAMBLE ON: "The Outfield" by The Night Game

Martin Johnson is the frontman of Boys Like Girls, one of many emo-pop also-rans who lit up the mid-to-late 2000s with high-pitched vocals and lyrics about getting out of “this town.” Kirin J. Callinan is a musical shitposter from Australia most famous for “Big Enough,” t...

The Top Ten Best Hit Songs of 2022

It's very late and I need to go to bed. When I wake up I'm sure you all will have caught many mistakes I made. Thanks so much.

And as always don't forget to vote in the Song vs. Song poll. We're doing "Whip It" vs. "Cars." https://www.patreon.com/posts/new-poll-devos-77151858

RAMBLE ON: "Trouble" by Elvis Presley

The first time I heard Elvis sing “Trouble” it knocked my fucking teeth out. I don’t remember where or when it was – I was a kid, I know that, and I remember it was on TV. Probably one of my parents watching an Elvis retrospective on PBS or something. I’m gonna guess it was from the ’68 Comeback Special, which I’ve never actually watched; I’m watching it now and Elvis only sings...

The Top Ten Worst Hit Songs of 2022

/edit: Now with ending! As most of you pointed out, it ended up abruptly about a minute early. I am fixing this as we speak. If the video is not working right now, that's because it's still converting; just check back in ten or twenty minutes, or possibly a little bit longer because the video is humongous and will take a bit to upload

I am very tired. I have to fly to Vir...

Please vote in the Song vs. Song poll (plus minor update)

As always, I will need your help in getting the votes up for SvS, where we are doing a doozy, "As It Was" by Harry Styles vs. Taylor Swift's "Anti-Hero." Is this a hint for the best list or worst list? Who knows? https://www.patreon.com/posts/new-poll-as-it-75544478

Anyway, yes, I am working on t...

ONE HIT WONDERLAND: "Your Woman" by White Town

Fun fact: I don't give out requests anymore, but someone found me a copy of an obscure hip-hop documentary I'd been looking for, so I gave them a request out of gratitude. Here we go!

As always, catch my errors!

And as always, please vote in the Song vs. Song poll. We're doing "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" vs. "Jingle Bell Rock." 2022-12-01 04:58:02 +0000 UTC View Post

The Top Ten '90s Buses

This is the dumbest thing I've ever made. Sometimes you just gotta follow your muse. (Direct link here: https://vimeo.com/769325472/9e127e6b05)

Anyway, please catch any mistakes I made, because stupidity is no excuse for sloppiness. And as always vote in the Song vs. Song poll, where we're doing "Footloos...