My Rome Playlist, post electrocution

I’m learning a bit about myself while in Italy. Yesterday for instance, while driving in the hills of Chianti in Tuscany, I learned that some wineries put small, unassuming electrical fences around their vineyards. Those fences are probably installed to keep the deer away. After trying to reach through to grab some grapes, however, I realized that they serve another purpose – to keep out Americans. My left arm was numb for about an hour.

Since the Tuscans tried to kill me, my wife and I traveled south and arrived in Rome today. We wanted to feast on some traditional Italian cuisine, so we visited the Hard Rock Cafe for potato skins. As I sipped down a few Peroni beers, the plasmas on the wall kept showing old-school and new-school music videos. I soon realized that my taste in music might not be as good as I think it is. I found out that I know all the words to “I Melt With You” by Modern English and Damn Yankees’ “High Enough,” but I don’t know a lick of Deep Purple’s “Smoke on the Water.” I found myself humming along and sputtering out random words before singing the chorus, “Smooooke on the Waaater… ba bah bah in the sky.”

When the video for The Fine Young Cannibals’ “She Drives Me Crazy” came on, I was genuinely excited and couldn’t wait for the part where the two guys in single color unitards jump ahead of one another.

I’ll spend the rest of the week reflecting on my bad music taste and guilty pleasures of song, but here’s a playlist I would have never dreamed of constructing if it hadn’t been for the Hard Rock Cafe serving it up alongside my cajun chicken sandwich in Italy.

Damn Yankees – High Enough

This “supergroup” was formed in 1989, consisting of Tommy Shaw of Styx, Jack Blades of Night Ranger, Ted Nugent of Amboy Dukes and his own solo career, and Michael Cartellone. Ted Nugent is so out of place.

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Motley Crue – Wild Side

This is Vince Neil’s “Before” picture.
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Everlast – What it’s Like

I think we all have a soft spot in our heart for Everlast. He’s overcome heart problems and he’s complete white trash. Americans love them some white trash.

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Fine Young Cannibals – She Drives Me Crazy

I realized that those guys aren’t really wearing unitards, but whatever.
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Gym Class Heroes – Shoot Down the Stars

This video was almost as out of place in this playlist as the Hard Rock Cafe is in the streets of Rome.
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Enough videos. Here are the rest as mp3′s.

U2 – Mysterious Ways (Live)

Modern English – I Melt with You

Deep Purple – Smoke on the Water

Ox – Surrender (Cheap Trick cover tune; I couldn’t find the original)

Violent Femmes – Blister in the Sun

Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Maps (from Peel Sessions)