Nobody Puts Baby in the Corner...

Ugh. It has been such a shit week. I'm ok with those occasionally because they serve to remind me just how good good really is. They give me an excuse to indulge in all of the dorky things that make me feel good again: Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Xander Harris, I heart you since I was 16), Gilmore Girls (I can watch the Luke Can See Her Face episode over and over and over again and still swoon every time), and Dirty Dancing. Dirty Dancing has been my bad week killer since I was 8. I can recite it line-by-line and still dance along to all of the awesome dance montages. However, what I love most about that movie is the music.
Solomon Burke - Cry To Me

This has got to be the sexiest song that I have ever heard, and I absolutely love this whole sequence in the movie. After hearing Burke on this soundtrack, I started listening to a lot of his other stuff. He has such an amazing voice, it surprises me that he didn't have more commercial success. Oh well, maybe all that commercial success is overrated.
Come on take my hand, and baby won't you walk with me...


(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEu8DrO9PbY)


The Blow Monkeys - You Don't Own Me


This is such a great cover and just so unexpected on the soundtrack. It combines three of my favorite things in the music world: an interesting cover, Brit Pop New Wave 80's synth, and 1960's mellow dramatic ballads.


(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7QLghxmzhU)

As a side note, my barometer for the perfect man is the guy who will reenact the Mickey and Sylvia scene with me. Thanks for setting the standard so high Mr. Swayze!

Bucket List #22: Sing with Diana Ross... Check.

Growing up, I loved The Supremes. I would stand in the doorway between our living room and dining room, pretending it was a stage, and sing along to all the songs. My first dream job was joining The Supremes and singing back up for Diana Ross. I never did have a very good concept of the date, which lead to other delusions that involved The Monkees, The Beatles, Bob Dylan, and Pete Townshend. Anyway, Saturday night I had the privilege of seeing Diana Ross live. I've had a lot of years to grow my expectations and she still blew them all away. Her voice was beautiful, her costumes to die for, and in perfect diva style, she was utterly fabulous.

A few songs in, it hit me that my dream was coming true. I sang along with Diana Ross. Granted there were a few thousand of us living that dream, but it made no less spectacular. My next to do list item is to get a trunk of sequined evening gowns for singing along to the stereo. A girl has got to do these sorts of things right.


The Supremes - I Hear a Symphony

I love to talk tough, but my undying love of this song proves just what a soft-hearted love optimist I really am.


(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_T9SEY8eLyk)


The Supremes - Where Did Our Love Go

I can't think of any other song that leaves me so unable to let it go. I will randomly Baby Baby for hours after hearing it.


(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izzKUoxL11E)


Michael Jackson & Diana Ross - Ease on Down the Road


I have seen The Wiz more times that I care to admit (I had the biggest thing for Michael Jackson as a kid). When she played this song in concert, I about exploded from excitement.


(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BfvzaSxkSY)

Songs that I like to pretend were written for me...

In the last seven days I've been through just about every emotion known to man. Most days I feel like I'm nothing more than what I feel. What is most comforting is that I can always find a song to fit my emotional state. These songs are all ones that I've wished at some point or another were written about me. Selfish, I know, but it's more that, as anyone would, I love when I'm in a situation where these kinds of feelings are involved.
Blind Pilot - Oviedo


I know that I've already written about this song, but this is my game and I reserve the right to break the rules that don't suit my current needs. Anyway, I think that this might be the most beautiful, poetic song. It always leaves me with this feeling in my stomach that borders between the excitement of falling in love and the sickening sadness of falling out. If my writing was ever judged, I would want it based on if I could create that kind of feeling in someone else.

I didn't know the weight of my tongue. I didn't know, I didn't know what I had done...


(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDP8vsDsPM0)


Michael Trent - Anybody's Boy

I'm a fan of both The Films and Michael Trent's solo work. The songs are always kind of gritty and defensive with a twist where emotions and vulnerability shine through. They feel real and I think that always makes it way more powerful. Anybody's Boy is just sweet and emotional. Everything about it just feels like that moment when you get so close to someone and you realize that your guard is down and you're waving the white flag of vulnerability. Beautiful.


I stare at your lips while we lie on the floor and I'd stay there all afternoon...

Sadly, I can't find a version anyway, but you can hear a snippet on Amazon. That whole album is great and worth the purchase.


Magnetic Fields - Asleep and Dreaming

There are so many amazing Magnetic Fields songs that I could post one every week for a year and still feel like I'm missing too many. There is an attention to detail and emotion that make these songs beyond amazing. Plus, he always adds some sort of snarky joke or pun that makes it even more fun.


I don't know if you're beautiful because I love you too much...


(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJsK2mSUwnM)

My Anthem and Something Fun to Sing

Ahhh, so Halloween is now past and we're only a few weeks away from the start of the holidays. Today even started a cold spell, which always does wonders for my mood. This is most definitely my time of the year, and I've been enjoying it.

The Killers - Sam's Town (Abbey Road Version)

Anyone who knows me (or has kept up with this blog) could probably tell you how much I love The Killers. This song specifically though is indescribable in how much it gets to me emotionally and makes me think about my life.  This version is so beautiful and the fact that it was recorded at Abbey Road studios just makes it that much cooler.


I've got this sentimental heart that beats and I don't really mind that it's starting to get to me now...


(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVbFMoimgM4)



Blondie - Heart of Glass

First of all, I start out every Halloween convinced that this is the year that I'll finally dress up like Debbie Harry. She is so badass cool. Second, I like this song, but I never really loved it; I was more into Tide is High. Last week, I got the new Rock Band 3 game, and even though it has awesome tracks from The Cure and The Smiths, I have been completely obsessed with perfecting my singing on Heart of Glass. What can I say? It's fun to sing.


Lost inside adorable illusion...


(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXlaOsNBDkk&ob=av2e)

Because Music Makes Halloween...

This post basically mixes two of my favorite things: Halloween and any random reason to create a playlist. These are my top 10 Halloween songs for 2010.

10. DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince – A Nightmare on My Street

The only thing that freaks me out more than Freddy Kreuger is Michael Myers. I can guarantee that the Halloween theme song will never make one of my playlists because it takes me a month to sleep right again after hearing it. Oh yeah, I love this song too because it gives me an excuse to do the Fresh Prince jump.

9. Marilyn Manson – Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)

Considering that Marilyn Manson is pretty much walking Halloween, this was an easy choice. Plus, I love a good cover.

8. Warren Zevon – Werewolves of London

A classic pick for any playlist, this song is just great to jam out to while nice and toasty in your costume.

7. Talking Heads – Psycho Killer

I always think that this song is The Doors when it first plays, which in itself stands for it being awesome. What's Halloween without French-singing mass murdering art-school psychopaths?

6. Oingo Boingo – Dead Man’s Party

The 80's knew how to do everything to make me love it, and this song is no exception. This song will definitely start your ghoulies on some Molly Ringwald 1980's Breakfast Club style dancing.

5.  Rockwell – Somebody’s Watching Me

Wow, Berry Gordy's kid sure did know how to pick a backup singer (ahem, Michael Jackson). Dare you to try to get this song out of your head. I'm just an average man with an average life...

4. The Doors – People are Strange

This song is always awesome. It always reminds me of The Lost Boys and of simpler times when the Coreys were fighting vampires and Keifer was still cool.

3. Bobby “Boris” Pickett – Monster Mash

This is the most classic and essential Halloween Song and will always be on my playlist. Bet you can't listen without wanting to Mashed Potato. 

2.   Matthew Sweet – Scooby Doo, Where Are You?

I have always loved Halloween (costumes and free candy!). Every day after school, I rushed home to watch Scooby, which gave me my daily dose of Halloween. I guess that I was just born a dark, freaky child.

1.  Michael Jackson – Thriller
Even before Scooby, I loved Michael Jackson's Thriller. I would play this song over and over and over again even though the Vincent Price voice over at the end scared me. I loved being scared. I guess that some things really never change. 

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOnqjkJTMaA)

Want to listen to this playlist and even more Halloween classics? Halloween Mix on last.fm

Songs I Loved in the 90's

I still haven't been listening to anything new lately. Tumultuous times in my life mean that I need some old music with fantastic memories. These are songs from my early high school years when grunge was over and everyone was all about Clueless, baby doll tees, and emotional alternative rock.

Gin Blossoms - Till I Hear It From You

I've always loved listening to the Gin Blossoms, but this song has even more meaning to me because it was the main track from the Empire Records soundtrack. When the movie came out on video (yes, VHS and that's how I know that I'm getting old), I had a group of friends and we would watch it over and over again. Each one of us was like one of the characters in the movie. I was Corey. Apparently, I was destined to try to seduce aged rock stars. It's Rex Manning day!


(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7sx32alzeE)

The Wallflowers - One Headlight

Umm, Jakob Dylan, will you marry me? Yes, even at 30 the offer stands. I saw the Wallflowers in concert a few different times, and Jakob was most definitely my biggest adolescent crush on a rock star. I mean come on he's a Dylan (aka son of Bob Dylan) and that alone makes him super awesome in my book. He also wrote some pretty sweet tunes (and still is, his newest solo album is really good). Plus, nothing takes me back to being 17 more than this song.

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zzyfcys1aLM&ob=av2e)

Velvet Elvis

I seriously dig Elvis. If you read my post earlier this week, you'll know that Elvis movies were my secret joy as a child. While I was listening to Geto Boys with my friends, but at home I would escape into the world Elvis and spontaneous singing. While trying to download the ultimate Halloween playlist, I got stuck on the Elvis collections, and I was sucked right back in. Here are some Elvis goodies that always make me super daydreamy.

The Lady Loves Me

I've seen Viva Las Vegas more times than I would like to admit. I liked to pretend that I was Ann Margaret because she had an awesome wardrobe and got to make out with Lucky Jackson.

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6fH02JqpDE)

She's Not You


I always love a good love song, and this one just kills me.


(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjiBHT3Z0d8)