And a new year begins... (Glen Phillips, Band of Horses, & Heather Nova)

I have been on vacation and a little lax with the writing. I had every intention of posting on Christmas, but I was sick and completely unmotivated. To save you the anticipation of having to wait an entire year to finally hear what my favorite holiday song is, I'll just tell you because it's always the same: Wham! - Last Christmas.

Well, it has been one hell of a year for me and I'm both surprised and proud of myself for actually keeping up with this blog. I have no idea if or who actually reads it, but it is cathartic. Anyway, to make up for not writing enough, I've picked three pretty spectacular songs.
Glen Phillips - Blindsight

I can't remember the last time that a song hit me as hard as this one. It both unsettles and calms me. In the soundtrack of my life, it perfectly feels like the last month I've had. Granted, it is a little sad, but it is still so beautiful and aware.


(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGEM0Tt8V4k)

Band of Horses - Part One

This song has a perfect mood. It is difficult to explain, but it is almost like that feeling of absolute vulnerability and intimacy. I find it both sexy and emotional, which is pretty awesome.


You really caught me, dear, at the bottom when I'd fallen...


(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4IOx4zgHvA)

Heather Nova - Like Lovers Do

Ok, I admit it. The beginning of my Christmas vacation was spent in a Felicity marathon. I love Ben Covington with those sexy, sexy eyes and that soft whispery voice. Plus, it takes me back to my college days. I've always loved listening to Heather Nova, but back in those days, I was a religious listener. Her voice is beyond amazing and it has a quality that completely ups the ante of my sexual divaness. And you are welcome for all the words I just had to make up to explain it.


(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-GbcBAOzBU)

Songs that make me happy...

I took a trip back home to Ohio last weekend. It was the first time that I had been back and seen snow in about 14 years, and it ended up being a pretty awesome experience. It was coupled with my yearly reading of The Tao of Pooh, which was perfect for the plane ride. I feel good and I'm enjoying my moments. Maybe that is my Christmas miracle.

Violent Femmes - Prove My Love

Went to Vinyl Fever with my friend the other day, and he showed me a new(ish) deluxe edition of the Violent Femmes self-titled. It is most definitely on my top ten list of albums I would need to have on the island while hanging out with Desmond.

Special favors come in 31 flavors. We're out of mints, so pass the Lifesavers. I'm dropping hints, candy for candy coated tongues.


(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHswOhYeThA&feature=player_embedded)

Foo Fighters - Miracle


This shuffled in on my iPod and all I could think was Dammmmmmn Dave Grohl, how many awesome songs do you have in there? This song makes me feel good.

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

G Love and Jack Johnson - Give It To You


This is a puppy song. I love puppy songs... especially ones that make me want to dance.


(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64CZlDUIn6I)

Songs that make me feel...

I love when a song perfectly captures the way that you are feeling at a specific moment. These are a few of my moments from the week.

John Lennon - Jealous Guy

Music is my religion. John Lennon is the one that I go to when I want to understand life and my emotions. There is an honesty to his songs that is almost painful, but they are so beautiful and real that you want to listen. It's was 30 years ago yesterday that he died. II am amazed at the impact that he still has on the world and on me.

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lLs2dC9NaE)


Dave Matthews Band - Crush

This song is so crazy, sexy and personal that sometimes I feel embarrassed hearing and knowing all the personal details. Whatta puppy.

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elUwSHjfA94)

Violent Femmes - Good Feeling

I have listened to the Violent Femmes for pretty much all of my life, so pretty much anytime something really fantastic happens, this song is playing on the soundtrack in my mind.


(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhedKAhHqK8)

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)