FAS: Friday Afternoon Song

Ali-like Return To The Ring!

This is a special day. Not only is it my triumphant return to the blogosphere, but more importantly the return of the legendary "Friday Afternoon Song."

A little history.

6 years ago, a shaggy haired college Blake interned at EMI Records in Nashville where every Friday one of the executives would crank up either a) The Pointer Sisters "He's So Shy" or b) AC/DC "Back In Black." I mean CRANK. Didn't matter if you were on the phone, there was a vendor with you, or whatever (it was a record label... people expected music to everywhere and the people to be a little weird. Ah... I miss those days.). Every Friday you knew it was coming.

Coming back to school after that summer, I felt the burden to continue the tradition. Every Friday I would come back to The Speakeasy (our aptly nicknamed house) after a "rough" day of classes, throw down my one book, grab a Capri Sun, go into my room, turn up the speakers as loud as I could and blast what became known as the "Friday Afternoon Song."

This tradition continued into my first job where employees would gather in my office at 4:45 each Friday and listen to the chosen song. There was to be no discussion of work, no complaining about the song choice, and no burdens. It was all positive energy only.

The FAS then went national. I created a little web page where friends from around the nation who had recently moved could each log in at exactly 4:45 (CST) and share the FAS with the knowledge that those they are close to were doing the exact same thing. It even went into the classroom as one Mr. Bryan Beene played it for his high school students every week as a treat for a good week.

FAS was then democratized, and people were allowed to submit their favorite songs to be chosen. The most famous case of this was when Mr. Beene's class voted and submitted their own. It was chosen, and if I'm not mistaken they then voted FAS as Amarillo High homecoming king.

Then, just as quickly as it arrived, it left. A change in jobs and a move to Dallas brought the FAS to a standstill.

Until now. A shaggy haired married Blake is bringing it back. He is bringing it all back.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I present the all-new FRIDAY AFTERNOON SONG (blog edition).

The parameters are simple. The song must be upbeat, bright, creative, and put you in a good mood to kick off the weekend. And of course, mash-ups are most definitely encouraged.

The rules still stand. No negative comments about the song. Only upbeat, positive feedback encouraged. If you have been to a Cowboy Mouth concert, just picture Fred slapping his hands together yelling "Give Me Rhythm!"

And please, submit your own songs for consideration as well.

Now without any more waiting, I present this week's FAS.

I give you Jay-Z + Radiohead = Jaydiohead. Note: There are two b/c the whole freaking album is amazing and I couldn't pick just one. Go to that link and download the whole thing. And in the future I will include some background on the singer/song, but this post is already too long.

Jaydiohead - Dirt Off Your Android
Jaydiohead - Song and Cry


Cheers and Salud.