The Song in a DJ's Heart, Part II

For five years running now, WFMU has closed out our annual fundraising marathon with a cavalcade of singing DJs, each performing a song of their own choosing while backed up by the Hoof & Mouth Sinfonia -- a live karaoke band comprising even still more WFMU DJs. To paraphrase the great Scott Williams, (seen here taking a much-deserved break between sessions) who acts as Hoof & Mouth organizer and band leader supreme, this event is the source for our most animated water-cooler discussions in the 364 days that precede each annual performance of the band. Recollections of whose performances were the best, most drunkenly delivered, or most juxtaposed to that particular DJs playlists are all elements that figure into these discussions. (Efforts to convince Fabio to perform "True" by Spandau Ballet have consistently failed, year after year.)

We're gluttons for tradition around here, and tradition clearly dictates that this mess takes place not only on the airwaves of WFMU, but on a webcam feed as well, effectively delivering these hastily rehearsed renditions of the classics live from our main studio and into the hard drives of FMU listeners scattered across the globe. This year, ace listener Jeff T not only captured and recorded the entire thing, but has edited it down into convenient, DJ-sized chunks, which we are now pleased to present for your horror/amusement here.

Behold the damning evidence! WFMU DJs soil themselves to the classics! (Right click to download .wmv files of each performance...)

Bill Mac performs "Hello There" by Cheap Trick and "Stuart" by the Dead Milkmen

Dave the Spazz conquers "Treat Her Right" by Roy Head

Tamar stuns and amazes with "Simon Says" by the 1910 Fruitgum Company

Gaylord Fields goes to town with "Family Affair" by Sly & the Family Stone

Mac kicks it old school with "Indiana Wants Me" by R. Dean Taylor

Dan Bodah pushes the extreme with "Baby's on Fire" by Brian Eno

Bob W and Trouble harmonize on "O Canada" (traditional)

Trouble belts it outta the park with "Scratch my Back" by Jan Panter

David Suisman pushes envelopes on "Declaration of Independence" by Insect Trust

Scott Williams considers "Atras do Trio Eletrico" by Caetano Veloso

Irene Trudel ably handles "Riding in my Car" by NRBQ

Bethany re-defines "Tattoo" by The Who

Rob Weisberg strikes a pose to "Hidegen" by The Ex

Charlie makes it happen with "You Make me Feel Like Dancin' at 33 RPM" by Leo Sayer

Bryce considers his freedom with "Let the Eagle Soar" by John Ashcroft

$mall Change steps up with "Step Right Up" by Tom Waits

Chris T. breaks it down with "Convoy" by C.W. McCall

Mike Lupica shows his twee side with "I Know Where Syd Barrett Lives" by Television Personalities

The Lady in Black de-mystifies "Long Black Veil" by Lefty Frizzell

Doug Schulkind takes it to another level on "There Stands the Glass" by Webb Pierce

Irwin declares "Man, I Feel Like a Woman" by Shania Twain

Jeff Davison destroys (in a good way) "Lodi" by Creedence Clearwater Revival

Liz Berg lights the fuse with "Cherry Bomb" by the Runaways

Lou Ziegler does it up Cleveland style with "Sonic Reducer" by the Dead Boys

Evan "Funk" Davies blows doors open with "Baker Street" by Gerry Rafferty

John Allen does it like a cowboy on "Do Ya" by the Move

Maria delights with "Hangin' on the Telephone" by Blondie

Megan shows us how it's done with "Seven Nation Army" by the White Stripes

Brian Turner rides the painted pony all the way to the "Rock Bottom" by UFO

Rich Hazelton summons the "Jabberwock" by Boeing Duveen & the Beautiful Soup

Terre T. holds forth on "I Love You Big Dummy" by Magazine

Tom Scharpling brings it home with "Born to Run" by Bruce Springsteen

Ken Freedman does the Acid Mothers remix of "Whole Lotta Love" by Led Zeppelin

Comments

[themoonshake]

holy cow! what a freak show.

i blame this blog for comprehensively and eternally shatterring all my assumptions about my fav radio personalities. especially the one that Ken is a gentleman.

[Kenzo]

Another video of Attorney General Bryce's Eagle performance, with MUCH better sound:
Download AVI (86.7mb)

[Kurt Gottschalk]

Bryce, man, I hope you got laid for that.

[Eagle Eye]

One word: BRAVO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Bravo to one and all.

[Timm McCoy]

I can truly say that radio is this groups drug of choice A few have OD'd,some need rehab, but all in all, your all addicted. Ya'll do it 'til it Hertz!!!

[vanjulio]

This is off the chain! We'll all miss our souls. Where is the epicenter, my earhole? (intentionally ambiguous) Cowabunga!!

[-max-]

Most of the photos on this page were taken by me!

-max-

[kylie]

i'm sort of surprised that the all-knowing wfmu didn't catch that magazine's "i love you, you big dummy" is a cover itself; it was originally done by captain beefheart. weird!