Monkeemania: The Dream Setlist

Before I knew about the idea to play Headquarters from beginning to end... or was it just focus on that album?... there was a poll on their official website, asking fans what they would like to hear on the upcoming list, and letting the fans compile a 25-song setlist. So not only did I send in a setlist, I saved it by turning it into a playlist. I'll share with you what on that's playlist.


(There are several Headquarters songs on here, and other songs I've all ready mentioned in previous posts. Even though I'll talk about them, I won't go into too much detail since you can read about my feelings in those prior posts. Also, the list is in alphabetical order so no special playlist with tempo speeds or themes are in play, like most of my playlists. Also, it's a Spotify playlist, so if you don't have or use Spotify, well... ummm... sorry. To make up to the non-Spotify users, I'll put up some YouTube videos just for the fuck of it.)



1. "[I'm Not Your] Steppin' Stone" - Off the second album More of the Monkees, this song is so badass, it's been covered to death, especially by punk bands such as the Sex Pistols, Minor Threat, and many others. And seriously, can you blame any punk band for covering this song? I love the attitude behind the lyrics... and that riff before the verse complements that attitude. People with their comments on YouTube argue over which version is better, saying all the others suck and their favorite is better. To that, I say you can fucking suck it. I'm not going to compare and say what's better, because it's always in the eye... errr... ear... of the beholder. But for me, The Monkees will always be the preferred choice just because it's The Monkees. Yeah, yeah yeah... I know Paul Revere and the Raiders did it first (thanks a bunch, Wikipedia,) and it sounds badass, and the Liverpool Five version sounds really cool as well, but come on, you know me... it's the fuckin' Monkees, man.

2. "A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You" - I had all ready talked about this in my previous post, but I'd like to add that I'm surprised this song was sold only on a single. Maybe I was so use to hearing it on the TV shows and hearing it on the album that it would naturally be on an LP. Speaking of songs that I was use to that weren't on an album... 3. "All The King's Horses" - I remember hearing this on the show and loving it. I tried to find it on the albums that I had but it wasn't there, not even as an additional track on Rhino's re-releases. I did find it, however, on Missing Links, Volume 2, a compilation of Monkees B-sides and alternate cuts. There's three volumes to this series, and Vol. 2, by far, is my favorite.

4-5. "Can You Dig It?" and "Daddy's Song" - Both of these songs are from their movie, Head, and two of the three songs from the movie that are on my playlist. There's two different versions of "Can You Dig It?" My playlist has the alternate version with Peter Tork singing the lead, and the movie version has Micky singing. I tend to go with the Peter version, but Micky's version will always coincide with the scene in the movie with the belly dancers... so... yeah. And I had all ready mentioned "Daddy's Song" in my tribute to Davy Jones, talking about that awesome dance vignette with a really attractive (and young) Toni Basil. I have to refrain from dancing around the room like a fool when listening to that song.

6. "Don't Call On Me" - One of six songs on my playlist that's originally on Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd., the song on the album is set in a swingin' Chicago bar with Michael Nesmith as the lounge singer. The song in the video, though, is set in Paris... and I don't know, I don't think the video matches the message made in the song. It's a nice video, but the theme is basically a break up song. It's a beautiful song and one of my favorites off the album, though. Speaking of Paris...

7. "French Song" - I don't know what it is about this song that sounds French, or sounds very "American in 60s Paris", but this is a really beautiful song sang by Davy Jones. I don't know if I'll hear this, since it's off The Monkees Present, and I think if they're going to play anything off that album, it's "Listen to the Band"... hold up, I'll get there... but I really like French Song. And HOLY SHIT! Is that Davy Jones in a 70s Filipino movie?! TALAGA? Umm... why does this feel so awkward? Does this mean I have to watch this now, not only for the Davy Jones cameo but for Don Johnson?! Seriously, though, this song is one of my favorite Davy Jones songs and it's a shame The Monkees Present doesn't get enough credit. 

8. "I Don't Think You Know Me" - There's like three different versions of this song, and all but Davy have had their crack at it. For the playlist, I went with Peter's version, just because it's the more different of the three. Mike and Micky's version have the same arrangement, whereas Peter's sounds completely different arrangement-wise. It's a little more upbeat and faster. Also, I picked Peter's over the rest because Peter rarely gets to sing lead in most songs. Personally, no matter who sings it, it's still an awesome song and I fucking love it. I think it's based off the same girl from "Steppin' Stone." (Born between the covers of your fashion books / You think you can make it, girl, on just your looks.)

9. "Listen to the Band" - The other song off The Monkees Present album on my playlist, this has to be the more popular of the two. If I remember correctly, this was on the Arista version of the Greatest Hits compilation album. It has that Michael Nesmith country-rock sound to it, and I think it gets overshadowed by the other blockbuster hits.

10. "Long Title: Do I Have To Do This All Over Again" - Another song off of Head, this song was the one playing during Mike's surprise, psychadelic birthday party. It's also another song sang by Peter. I really like the opening guitar part to this... as well as the bass throughout.

11. "Love Is Only Sleeping" - Another reason why I love the Pisces, Aquarius... album. There's just a lot of awesome Mike Nesmith tracks off this album and it might be the reason why it's my favorite at this point of my life. Mike's not the only reason why I love this album... as I'll explain later... but it certainly helps. This song isn't even my favorite Nesmith track off this track album... which you'll soon find out.

12. "Papa Gene's Blues" - Off the first album, it's another reason why I like Michael Nesmith, and why I can't say I hate country rock. I'm just curious who's Wilson and what is he pickin'?

(You know... at this point... I kinda wish I HAD put this in some sort of theme rather than alphabetical order. Then, I could group some of these songs together... anyways.)

13-14. "Pleasant Valley Sunday" and "Shades of Gray" - I had all ready talked about "Shades of Gray" a couple of days ago. I, however, would like to point out another reason why this song is awesome: it's not Twilight porn fanfic. "Pleasant Valley Sunday" is one of the more popular hits from Pisces, Aquarius... that's sung by Micky. This social commentary on the suburban lifestyle wasn't an original favorite of mine back in the day, but over the years, it just grew on me. I really learned to appreciate it, adding to my love for the album it's on.

15-16. "She" and "Star Collector" - I had briefly discussed "Star Collector" in the Davy Jones post, but I just wonder how many kids understood what this song meant. Did they know it was about a groupie who tried to fuck every celebrity she could have? Did Davy's lack of respect for her result in a one-night stand, or whatever he could get out of it? I digress. "She" is kinda similar in that respect... kinda... maybe... maybe not. It's not about a groupie, though, but it is about a woman who takes advantage of the guy, feeding him lies of love and loyalty, only to go off and do her own thing, keeping the guy around as a backup until she finds better. And Micky still loves her, despite knowing all of this shit, kinda similar to Offspring's "Self Esteem"... kinda... sorta.

17-18. "Sweet Young Thing", "Door Into Summer" - Both of these songs were sung by Michael but for different albums. "Door Into Summer" is another fave from Pisces, Aquarius... about an old miser counting his riches, probably based on Ebeneezer Scrooge, while life is passing him on. "Sweet Young Thing," off the first album, is about Mike going crazy over a 'sweet young thing' he's infatuated with. I don't know if it's the beginning of the song, or the guitar solo, or the guitar work in general, or... is that a fiddle?... yeah, that... or what, but fuck, this is one of my favorite deep cuts off the first album because it just sounds good.

19. "The Girl I Knew Somewhere" - About breaking up with a woman that reminds the singer of another woman from the past, maybe a little prematurely? This was a B-side off the single for "A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You." I first heard this song as a "never released alternate mix" bonus track off of Rhino's reissue of Headquarters. I'm assuming the song that acted as the B-side was Micky's version, that sounds different from Michael's take. I like Micky's vocals, but overall, Michael's version is better, and that's the version on my playlist... but wait, WHAT?! Does Catwoman have no panties on? Damn, Davy's daydream is pervy...  I like how you think, man. Okay, Micky's song has the better video... upset victory.

20. "The Kind of Girl I Could Love" - Off More of the Monkees, this is probably my favorite song off the album... sang by Michael Nesmith. I like it more than "She," more than "Mary, Mary," and more than "(Look Out) Here Comes Tomorrow"... but more than "Steppin' Stone," "I'm A Believer," and "Laugh?" No. I love it... I love this song so much, but I can't say I like it more than those three songs.

21, 23-25. "Valleri," "You And I," "You Just May Be The One," and "You Told Me" - I had all ready talked about "Valleri" and "You And I" in the Davy Jones' post, and the last two in the Headquarters post, but I just want to reiterate how much I love these four songs. "Valleri," by far, is probably my favorite Davy Jones song. Ever. Even more than the TV version of "I Wanna Be Free." More than "Daydream Believer" and more than "You And I," "Star Collector," "She Hangs Out"... that's just an awesome pop-rock song written by the Boyce/Hart duo. And I'll never take anything away from "You and I." It's an awesome song about the reality of the music industry and I think it comes to terms with it. The Headquarters songs mentioned above are just awesome Nesmith songs that I'm sure I'll hear at the concert, since they said they'll be focusing on that album... and since you got the man there, after all these years, you might as well have him sing it.

22. "What Am I Doin' Hangin' 'Round?" - Off the Pisces, Aquarius... album, this is probably my top 3 favorite Monkees songs of all time. It is pure Nesmith, and it is pure perfection. It's storytelling at its finest. It's my mom's favorite Nesmith song... or one of her favorites. It's the one song I'll be disappointed if I don't hear at the concert. It's about love lost, realizing one has lost an opportunity for something special, preoccupied with leaving rather than staying and enjoying the moment. It's the song I would probably recommend if someone wants to get into the "deeper cuts," even though I do think this is on the Rhino's Best Of... compilation.

Honorable Mentions/Songs I'm Pretty Sure I'll Hear: So I didn't add certain songs because I KNOW I'll hear them anyway. They're too big of hits not to pass up. I KNOW I'm going to hear "Last Train to Clarksville." It's the only song of the Monkees that's on Rock Band so I'm sure it's a big one. "Daydream Believer" is going to get played. Sure, Davy sang it, but someone's going to sing it, and I'm sure there will be tears in the audience... maybe mine... I can't confirm nor deny I will be crying. Fuck you, you insensitive bastard.

And I know I'm hearing "I'm A Believer." Son of a bitch, Weezer fucking covered this song for Shrek IV. I'm hearing this song. Oh yeah, and I'm sure I'll hear the "Porpoise Song" and I'm sure "Circle Sky" will be played, especially if Michael is there. So, that's why I didn't add those to my dream setlist.

Regardless of what they choose as their setlist (I'm sure I can look it up since they played Escondido a day or two ago), I know I'll have a great time. Hopefully it won't be the last time I'll see these three together, but I'll never pass on the opportunity again, just in case.