Mike Doughty: "Janine"

Midway through his set, Doughty did the now-mandatory all-the-way-solo mini-set (see also Feist, Jenny Lewis), which included an audience-choice Soul Coughing song. Now, I have always been of two minds about Soul Coughing. The beginning of their first album is some really weird experimental alt. rock and the rest of their catalog is scattered with catchy songs. Their last stab at mainstream success -- the 1998 single "Circles" -- was probably their best attempt (it didn't work).

So Doughty gave the audience a choice between "Circles" and "Janine," the closing track from their 1994 debut. To my shock and slight dismay, the people chose "Janine" by a wide margin, even though I'm pretty sure he played it when he was here last fall (he also responded to a request with "Fuck 'Circles'" at his previous show.) So, this is a decent little song for what it is, but I really wish "Circles" had gotten picked instead.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• madison
• concert
• mike
• doughty
• high
• noon
• saloon
• small
• rock
• soul
• coughing

[mistabook]

Thanks for posting this, even if you don't like it, haha. This song gives me chills. I think it's one of the best love songs ever. I love how he even sang the answering machine parts. "Moon over your butterfly wings..."

[beau99]

Janine > Circles.

By fucking far.

[fedayk1n]

Apparently this happened the day before I moved to Madison. Fuck.

[blackthorn1965]

Rachel Benbow Murdy, Mike Doughty's ex-girlfriend, supplied the vocal on Ruby Vrooms "Janine." Doughty had Murdy go out to a payphone in Sheridan Square in New York and improvise a long, meandering song into their answering machine.

[AuroraBlue76]

Whoa - what?! Circles over Janine?! Don't get me wrong. . . Janine is totally a 'Best Of' - but ftw? Get me some Sugar Free Jazz and we'll talk :) But seriously - thanks for posting this.

[Aislynnerobot]

heart this

[MildYellowColour]

Fuck you Doughty... Janine owns you. Start painting again for christ's sake.

[tamarastillman]

I love, love, love this song..........nostaligia

[xXxJeneanexXx]

I was named after this song..my mom overheard it on the radio while in the hospital...but couldn't remember the spelling haha.

But I think it could have been the Trooper version she heard..

[Jnenebug]

wow there's actually a good song with my name it