Hedwig

· Langley School Music Project -- Innocence and Despair

Little Canadian pre-teens in their '70s school cafeteria singing the popular hits of frumpy Canada's perfect prom-queen sister next door, America. Some highlights: "Space Oddity," the girls sing the melody, the boys do the creepy countdown to lift-off for Major Tom. One lucky girl, the lonely star of this school (I call her Greta), gets two solos: My favorite is "Desperado." I think she must be the music teacher's last hope, and she knows it. But she's got a muse to serve, and a yen to be an American girl.

· Johnny Cash -- American IV: The Man Comes Around

Again covers, and again "Desperado." As poignant near death as it is near freshman year. I had a dream about Johnny Cash: He was throwing Jewel into a big fiery pit, and for one of those reasons that only make sense in dreams, I shook his hand and said, "Thank you, Mr. Cash."

· Any recording of "Desperado"

I don't even like this song. I don't even like the Eagles. I just like to imagine a hopeless mess of a housewife staggering across the desert, looking for the family dog while the husband and kids watch television. She gets a little loopy and thinks her name is "Desperado." Dies of thirst. I don't know why I think that's funny, I just do. Music should be interactive.

· Shesus -- Loves you ... loves you not

These girls are my idols. I met them in a bar somewhere, sometime -- it was memorable. They said, "What the fuck happened?" and I thought, "That is a question worth asking again and again." I hope they remember me.

· Toni! Toni! Toni! -- A Captain and Tenille Retrospective

This is actually a mix tape I made for myself. When I'm down, it lifts me up. When I'm lonely, it gives me love. And when I'm dead, it will be the one thing I take with me. That, and a laundry list of grievances.

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