Keep my eyes to serve, my hands to learn

September 28, 2012September 27, 20121 Comment

Did you feel a change in the atmosphere Tuesday? Like the world got a little better and colors were brighter and while life might still have been kicking your ass, at least it was wearing slippers instead of steel-toed boots?

It’s on account of The Album.

Mumford’s new one, DUH.

They played some of this stuff at their concert I saw last month wherein I confirmed my suspicions, that Marcus Mumford has the voice of an angel.

Download it/buy it/order it/watch it on YouTube/borrow it from a friend or whatever you need to do, just get it. It’s that good.

Current ~~favorite~~ obsession?

This one.

I can’t even…

What music does – what REALLY good music does – is takes you away. No matter the drama, no matter the day you’ve had, the week you’ve had, the year you’ve had, a good song (or better yet, a good album, which are few and far between) pulls you out of it. At least for the time you’re listening.

There are many times I’ve just sat and listened. Nothing else, just listened to a song and let my mind close off to all of the other stresses and problems and worries of the day.

It’s not something that’s happened as many times as I would prefer, and it’s a practice I’m reinstating. A few minutes a day, just to zone out and concentrate on nothing but listening to or singing along with a good song. A song that makes your heart and mind and soul smile. And I’m so serious, you guys, that song you just (hopefully) listened to, that’s one of them for me.

What’s your song going to be?

Little Talks. Lil’ bitty ones.

September 1, 2012September 1, 2012Leave a comment

Full disclosure – when I give you a song, I don’t watch more than about 30 seconds of the music video. Mostly I just let it play in the background while I write about it.

That is all.

Unless it’s OK Go, because those have the tendency to be RI-DONK.

This one is weird as hell. Like, Bjork weird. In fact, I think she’s in there. Or her doppleganger…But good song.

I came upon this song when it was on the radio randomly last week. And I didn’t get the name, because I was on my way somewhere and had to get out of the car before that robot girl on 102.3 told me what it was. She’s so reliable…

I also didn’t Shazam it, because, hello, DRIVING. Also, there are stupid amounts of orange barrels in the roads these days I have to pay special attention to avoid and I feel that Shazam wouldn’t be conducive to such activities.

So anyways, to find out the song – I listened to just about every song in the iTunes Top 10, not counting the ones I already knew, owned, or knew who it wasn’t. I did that until I found it. I knew it’d be on there too, because the radio is dumb these days and only plays songs once they know everyone likes it, they don’t really promote the whole “Get into some new music” thing. It sucks.

So yeah. Of Monsters and Men is the group, and Little Talks is the song. It has trumpets. And sounds somewhat Mumfordish. Plus a girl singer.

And I already did the detective work of finding out the who and what and the video for you!

You’re welcome.

Now what do I do?

August 12, 2012August 12, 2012Leave a comment

The Olympics are over, you all.

We have to wait four more years. And don’t even say “Oh, but there’s winter games,” because those don’t even come close.

Ice skating is not as fun as gymnastics to watch and while I’ll tune in for some skiing, it’s no swimming and diving..

And it’s because of these Olympics I have a new song on rotation.

Yes, it’s by a guy that won American Idol, but.. it doesn’t sound like it’s by a guy that won American Idol.

It was the theme song of the Olympics and if you excuse me, I’m gonna go listen to it on repeat as part of my continued morning process that this year’s Games are over.

I like them because they use punctuation.

August 5, 2012Leave a comment

fun.

That’s the name of a band.

And I love them. Period.

This is my current favorite song of their’s, which means it’s played at least three times a day, on maximum volume in my car.

Obsessed with it.

So sweet I got a toothache

July 28, 2012Leave a comment

I’m a fan of sweet little love songs.

Yes, I love the ballads and the hardcore Adele-type love stuff, but my favorite songs about the L-word are more of the Jason Mraz, “I’m Yours” type.

Cutesy stuff and whatnot. With my generally tough exterior, who’d have guessed, right? Shh.

So it’s actually because of Jason Mraz that I found this little lady, Tristan Prettyman. She opened for him when I saw him in Nashville years ago, that one concert where we were so close to the stage and I swear he looked right at us, right Rebeck?

You might recognize it as that song from Juno. At the end. And it might be my favorite one of hers. I mean with lyrics like this, why wouldn’t it be?

If you were a wink, I’d be a nod.
If you were a seed, well I’d be a pod.
If you were the floor, I’d wanna be the rug.
And if you were a kiss, I know I’d be a hug.

If you were the wood, I’d be the fire.
If you were the love, I’d be the desire.
If you were a castle, I’d be your moat,
And if you were an ocean, I’d learn to float.

All I want is you, will you be my bride
Take me by the hand and stand by my side.
All I want is you, will you stay with me?
Hold me in your arms and sway me like the sea.

The sweetest.

Perfect for my soundtrack. And Grey’s Anatomy’s.

March 25, 2012March 24, 2012Leave a comment

At the end of last season I gave up on Grey’s Anatomy. I’ll probably go back to it eventually when its all on DVD just to see what happened after I left, but it just got to be too melodramatic for me. I got tired of watching a show where every week I couldn’t stop crying over fictional characters. So now, instead, I watch a show about the zombie apocalypse.

That said, it had/has some killer music. Shonda Rhimes has a good ear for things. And this song, if it hasn’t been on there already, would fit perfectly.

Also I like it a lot.

Her songs are the words you can’t say

January 11, 2012January 10, 2012Leave a comment

Adele can do no wrong.

If I hear a song of hers and don’t fall in love with almost immediately, well..that’s not ever gonna happen. But if it does, I will pay each of you $20.

Current favorite: Set Fire To The Rain

Seriously, just check out some of the lyrics…

I let it fall, my heart,
And as it fell you rose to claim it
It was dark and I was over
Until you kissed my lips and you saved me

My hands, they’re strong
But my knees were far too weak
To stand in your arms
Without falling to your feet

But there’s a side to you
That I never knew, never knew.
All the things you’d say
They were never true, never true,
And the games you play
You would always win, always win.

You speak for my heart, Adele. You speak for my heart.

An unusual love story

December 4, 2011Leave a comment

Is it possible to marry a song? ‘Cause if it is, you can look forward to getting a save the date from me sometime here soon. I am IN LOVE – CAPITAL LETTERS SO IT’S SERIOUS – with this song.

My absolute favorite part of the song is where he says:

“Tell me now/where was my fault/
in loving you/with my whole heart.”

Because you should never apologize or feel bad for caring about someone.

Rap superstar

November 18, 2011November 16, 20112 Comments

I am the reason my sister knew all the words to Busta’s “Break Yo Neck” in high school. I still got all the words to Mo’ Money Mo’ Problems up in the ol’ noggin’ and rap along just fine when it comes on 100.5.

Then there was that whole couple of years in my life when I could – actually, who am I kidding, I still can – do all of Nelly’s Country Grammar album like it was my own. Loved him. So did my dad. No joke.

My current rapper of choice is Weezy, of course, for several reasons, including that I can sound like him when I’ve got The Bronch or a sinus infection (which is at least 8 times a year) and he’s the shit. And I’ve almost got ‘6 Foot 7 Foot’ down.

However, there are a couple of rappers sneaking up on me. Jay-Z and Kanye.

My sister and Swarles have long been fans of ‘Ye. Many a night of partying with friends has brought out one or both of them singing his stuff word-for-word. And Jay-Z ain’t bad either, he’s just never been my number one (NELLY reference, anyone? Two is not a winner and three nobody remembers…).

But Watch the Throne? Pretty good. At least the three songs I’ve heard off there on the regular – Otis, H*A*M and —-as In Paris.

That last one I downloaded Sunday night. I have since listened to it about nine times. And slowly but surely, I’m learning the words. Because I’m a fan of good rap. And this is good rap. Plus it has Blades of Glory snippets in it and if you put Will Ferrell in a song, that’s enough to make me happy right there.

Below are the words/versus/lines/bits I know so far. It really gives you a good idea of the song as a whole.

“Y’all don’t know that don’t shit faze me.”

“Bitch behave.”

Something about “broke my clock but roll east it still tick tock.”

“That shit cray.”

“That shit cray.”

“That shit. cray.”

“She said ‘Ye can we get married at the maaaaahhll? Come and meet me in the bathroom staaaaaahll.”

“What she order? Fish filet.”

My favorite part – “Prince Williams ain’t do it right if you ask me. If i was him I woulda married Kate and Ashley.”

“What’s that jacket, marzshilla?”

“They going gorilla.” Then there’s that part from Blades of Glory where Napoleon Dynamite says “I don’t know what that means” and Will Ferrell says “Nobody knows what it means. It’s provocative.” Seriously.

“You now watchin’ the throne.”

Then Kanye says “dont let me get in my zone.” A bunch.

And somewhere in there Jay-Z said he’s got “that hot bitch at home” (shout out, Beyonce!) and ‘Ye says “you know how many hot bitches I own?”

Yeah. That’s all I got. Beautiful though, right?

T minus 4 days

November 15, 2011November 8, 20111 Comment

Y’all, it’s almost here. Part 2. Bourbon Boys reunite. I’ll be bringing you (as much of the) play-by-play as I can over on the Twitter thing and all the photos and as much detail as I can remember a few days (or a week, I make no promises) after the event.

For now though, to get you in the mindset, I present to you our playlist for the day. Listen to these songs and then you’ll KIND OF have an idea of what I’m ’bout to deal with. Cheers to the designated driver!

Before you watch this next one, can I just note that Jamie Foxx tried to make this a story. One in which Ron Howard, of all people, will be out drinkin’ at the club. Yep, he’s in there. Just wait for it.