h2o mp3: Water – Brad Paisley

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Here’s the perfect track for the heat apex of summer from country giant Brad Paisley. It makes me wish I could “Drive until the map turns blue” right now! From 2009’s American Saturday Night, the honky-tonky sing-along song Water conjures up every good memory a good ol’ boy might have of good times and water.

Lyrics:
Inflatable pool full of dad’s hot air
I was three years old
Splashin’ everywhere
And so began my love affair
With water

On a river bank with all my friends
A big old rope tied to a limb
And you’re a big old wuss
if you don’t jump in
The water

Yeah when that summer sun starts to beatin’ down
and you don’t know what to do
Grab your swimming trunks
ice up that old igloo
Drive until the map turns blue

Play the track

[audio:http://thirstyinsuburbia.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/brad-paisley-water.mp3]

Download Water – Brad Paisley
Low-fi 64 kbps mp3 file for sampling.
Like it? Support the people who make music. Buy this track at iTunes or Amazon.com.

Bonus video: here, Paisley talks about his inspirations for the song. (Regarding the pond that’s on his property: “I work on that pond like most people work on their yards.”)

h2o mp3: The Drought Song – Carlos Guitarlos

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Hard living has taken its toll on Carlos Guitarlos. In the 80s he was lead guitarist and songwriter for the cult-fave Los Angeles group Top Jimmy and the Rhythm Pigs (immortalized by the Van Halen song) and also recorded with Tom Waits and the Breeders. He spent most of the 1990’s just gettin’ by as a San Francisco street musician.

The 2003 album Straight from the Heart marked his personal and career comeback, and he’s reportedly now at work on a new acoustic collection. The bluesy-jazzy Drought Song reveals a raspy, ravaged voice and tepid backup, but it’s honest, sincere and enjoyable just the same.


Lyrics

This is a drought year now
Or so they say
You’ve got to use less water, everyday
Commissioner says he’s trying
You and I know he’s lying
Now it’s near

They say they can seed the clouds, and more in time
If you ask mother-nature, that’s a crime
And if we delay an hour, yes we will feel the power
Don’t you care?

Look at my garden, see how lush she grow
What’s my secret… wouldn’t you like to know?
Well, I’ve just been crying for hours
So we won’t lose the flowers
Don’t you cry

Play the track

[audio:http://thirstyinsuburbia.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/12-the-drought-song.mp3]

Download The Drought Song – Carlos Guitarlos
Low-fi 64 kbps mp3 file for sampling.
Like it? Support the people who make music. Buy this track at iTunes or Amazon.com

h2o mp3: No More Water in the Well – The Temptations

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From 1961 to 1968 The Temptations went from virtual unknowns to international superstars, a key influence in defining the still-popular “Motown sound.” No More Water in the Well was released in 1967 at the zenith of the period known as the “Classic Five” era among Temptationologists featuring the lineup of Melvin Franklin, Eddie Kendricks, Otis Williams, Paul Williams, and David Ruffin. And, there’s more legendary talent tied up in this track; Smokey Robinson along with Miracles band mates Bobby Rogers and Pete Moore are the songwriters.

Lyrics
No more water in the well, baby no more
You take my love for granted like water
Water you spill and you waste
Though love is thicker than water
It spills quicker than water and you’ll look up one of these days
And there’ll be no more water in the well, baby no more

Play the track

[audio:http://thirstyinsuburbia.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/05-no-more-water-in-the-well.mp3]

Download No More Water in the Well – The Temptations
Low-fi 64 kbps mp3 file for sampling.
Like it? Support the people who make music. Buy this track at iTunes or Amazon.com

The Benefits of Big: Giant Campaign from RWE

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How can you change your negative image if you’re a often-hated, ginormous European energy company whose sheer size and power terrifies the regular folks? Why not channel that feel-good-about-monsters character, Shrek?

A colossal tidal power project

A colossal tidal power project

RWE group’s new European ad campaign does just that, and like those roller-skating Evian babies, you can’t help but fall for this Shrek-ish lumbering ogre regardless of how you feel about the company or its operations. The ugly but lovable “energy giant” crosses the idyllic countryside, making energy happen in unusual but environmentally-sensitive ways with the tagline, “It can be so easy to make big things happen. When you’re a giant.”

(Don’t miss the ending, where our friendly beast lights up the city with a new approach to hydropower!)
The charming song in the clip is “I Love the Mountains” by Houaida, an up-and-coming German star. (You can download the song mp3 via the RWE website.)

h2o mp3: Crazy Water – Was (Not Was)

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This very catchy, funky bluesy track isn’t about plain water, but “crazy water” and the economic boom and bust it created during and after Prohibition in a small Texas town. In 2008 the cult-favorite band Was (Not Was) released its first album in 16 years, called “Boo!” (For more on their story including how they came up with that band name, read this article on npr.org or this first-person account from the Seattle Times.)

Lyrics
In a deserted town at the corner of Main and Third
there’s nothing moving, not a butterfly nor bird
used to be some action here,
big motel and movie stars
but its been like judgement day,
trains and planes and fancy cars
The Senator’s Son and the President’s Daughter,
all came to town for that Crazy Water.

It was the pride of northern Texas,
an oasis cool and clean
now its just a dusty truck stop,
an evaporated dream.
The Senator’s Son and the President’s Daughter,
all came to town for that Crazy Water.

Play the track

[audio:http://thirstyinsuburbia.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/crazy-water-was-not-was_64kbps.mp3]

Download Crazy Water – Was (Not Was)
Low-fi 64 kbps mp3 file for sampling.
Like it? Support the people who make music. Buy this track at Amazon or iTunes.

Bonus enhanced experience: watch the music video!

h2o mp3: Under the Underground Water – Telefauna

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This Montreal band is presently on hiatus and too bad, because I wish we could enjoy an ongoing steady stream of their quirky, funky, melodic art-pop. In their absense they’ve generously left this and other great tracks on their website as free downloads. (Link below). Thanks Telefauna! Under the Underground Water is from 2007 and reminds us that like water deep beneath the desert, the vital substance of life and people that we thirst for is also found far beneath the surface.

Lyrics
Tell me what you want, you want drinking water
Tell me what you need, you need telefauna
tell me what you want you want drinking water
Very deep below the surface of the Sahara
Deep below the surface of telefauna

Under the water, under the water,
under the water near the underground water
Under the water, under the water,
under the water near the underground water

It’s not the surface but what’s below, that you, that you wanna know,
you gotta know uh oh
It’s not the surface it’s what’s below, it what’s below,
it’s underneath the snow, uh oh

Play the track

[audio:http://thirstyinsuburbia.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/03-telefauna-under-the-underground-water-edit.mp3]

Free MP3 Downloads at www.telefauna.com, including Under the Underground Water

h2o mp3: The River Hymn – The Band

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This weekend, pack a picnic, head to the water’s edge and enjoy this song. The sentimental, nostalgic lyrics will have you drifting back (and wishing for) a simpler time.

The Band was active from 1967 to 1976 and again from 1983 to 1999. This track is from their 1971 album Cahoots. Although they never achieved mass success and appeal, they earned admiration from music journalists and other musicians and the group holds a place in the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and achieved a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award last year.

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Lyrics
The voice of the rapids will echo
And ricochet like an old water well
Who’d ever want to let go
Once you sit beneath its spell
It’s dark and wide and deep, towards the sea it creeps
I’m so glad I brought along my mandolin
To play the river hymn…

You can ride on it or drink it
Poison it or dam it
Fish in it and wash in it
Swim in it and you can die in it
Run, you river, run

Play the track

[audio:http://thirstyinsuburbia.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/the-band-the-river-hymn.mp3]

Download The River Hymn – The Band
Low-fi 64 kbps mp3 file for sampling.
Like it? Support the people who make music. Buy this track at iTunes or Amazon.com

h2o mp3: Glass of Water – Coldplay

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My daughter went to Omaha and saw Coldplay and all I got was this crappy giveaway CD!

Actually there’s nothing crappy about it, and it includes this live version of “Glass of Water.” What’s more, you too can own this CD as the band is offering it as a free download on their website “as a thank you to our fans.” Yea! And thank you!

Lyrics:
And they say you can see your future,
inside a glass of water,
with riddles and the rhymes
but will I see heaven in mine?

♫

Play the track

[audio:http://thirstyinsuburbia.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/01-glass-of-water-live.mp3]

Download Glass of Water (Live) – Coldplay

h2o mp3: The Water Remembers My Face – The Western States

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Last summer, this indie country-folk band from Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada packed up a rented van and drove 2 days to Austin, Texas to record their sophomore album, Bye and Bye.  The album was recorded live to two-inch tape without the use of any digital technology or effects, giving this track a warm, pure and earthy “something’ that’s hard to put your finger on, but irresistible.

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Lyrics
The river runs faster this time of the year
I never kept up with its pace
and now I sit by it and I think of what to do
cause the water remembers my face

Play the track

[audio:http://thirstyinsuburbia.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/05-the-water-remembers-my-face.mp3]

Download The Water Remembers My Face – The Western States
Low-fi 64 kbps mp3 file for sampling.

Like it? Support the people who make music. Buy this track at iTunes or Amazon.com
Visit The Western States on MySpace.

h2o mp3s: Água de Beber

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The song “Água de Beber” (Water to Drink) is a 1963 bossa nova blockbuster composed by Antonio Carlos Jobim, a Brazilian songwriter and artist celebrated as one of the primary creative forces behind bossa nova jazz and one of the most influential popular composers of the 20th century. (He also wrote “The Girl from Ipanema” and  “Águas de Março” (Waters of March), a promising song for another day!)

Following, two versions to start your weekend off with a jazzy Latin beat, plus two amazing bonus links:

Lyrics:
Your love is rain, my heart the flower, I need your love or I will die
The rain can fall on distant deserts, the rain can fall upon the sea
The rain can fall upon the flower, since the rain has to fall let it fall on me
(In Portugese, Água de beber, Água de beber camará
(In English, Aqua de Beber, Give the flower water to drink)

From Herb Alpert Presents Sergio Mendes & Brasil ’66

Play the track

[audio:http://thirstyinsuburbia.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/07_-_agua_de_beber.mp3]

Download Agua de Beber – Sergio Mendes & Brasil 66

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From the 1969 sessions of Antonio Carlos Jobim and Frank Sinatra (fab 8-track cover and mp3 via artdecaade.blogspot.com)

Play the track

[audio:http://thirstyinsuburbia.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/watertodrink.mp3]

Download Agua de Beber – Sinatra & Jobim

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BONUS #1: Did any of you Mad Men fans catch Agua de Beber in a racy scene where a malfunctioning washing machine sends Betty Draper into a hot fantasy involving a door-to-door salesman? (Not for the kiddies! Embedding is disabled, but you can watch it here on YouTube.)

BONUS #2: Like your tunes with an urban beat? Check out this excellent 2008 version of Agua de Beber by Sergio Mendes featuring Will.I.Am. Stream the song here on imeem.com (signup required).
Update: Here’s an Amazon.com purchase link for this track.

Support the people who make music – buy these tracks at…
Sergio Mendes & Brasil 66: Amazon.com or iTunes
Antonio Carlos Jobim: Amazon.com or iTunes
Frank Sinatra: Amazon.com or iTunes