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Today's tune recommendation: Electric Wire Hustle

May 25, 2011

Emotional Toads

As I was thinking about this post, I went back & forth on if I really wanted to discuss something kind of personal. I finally decided that I need to be more open since it's a lot healthier than bottling up everything. I have a bad habit of holding things in until something finally sets off an explosion of emotions. FUN, eh?!

Last night I was listening to a playlist that I had made for someone a while back and a song came on which made me start to cry. I wasn't really shocked since the particular artist has stirred up emotions for many years now whenever I hear them. I think I'm just surprised how deep those feelings go.

Ever since I was little, I've dealt with depression. At first, I didn't realize exactly what it was or that it was really serious in my case, until my early twenties. I just knew that it was difficult to deal with my feelings and thoughts sometimes. During highschool I was introduced to Toad The Wet Sprocket and for me that band became a way to get through some hard times. Specifically, the album - Pale - which I remember many times sitting on my bedroom floor crying my eyes out as I listened to every song.  Three songs stick out the most that expressed my thoughts & feelings so well  -
1. High On A River Bed
2. Torn
3. I Think About

In some ways, I'm glad that I had an outlet because I'm sure I would have been in worse shape if I wasn't able to get my feelings out in some form. It's just interesting to me that all of the songs from this album stuck with me over the years. I remember going to see TTWS in concert at Exit Inn and I ended up standing in the back trying to hide as tears ran down my face. I wasn't sad about anything at the time, it was just that when I heard any of those songs - all of those feelings came back up to the surface.  It makes me realize how powerful music can be....

I still enjoy Toad The Wet Sprocket. All of the other albums they came out with don't have the same emotional power that Pale does so it's not a total cry fest every time they are mentioned. ;)

Do any of you have certain music that stirs up crazy emotions? I know there are other songs or artists that can totally change my mood but TTWS will always be the strongest, I think.

May 19, 2011

Discoveries

This will be a really short and sweet post.
I had new discoveries which i hope you all have at some point in time. I rediscovered Laura Veirs which I should never forget how wonderful she is....then I listened to Midnight Oil again which will always remind me of highschool and my  brother.  My brother and his friend, John, recorded a version of Midnight Oil that will forever stay in my heart. :}  

As i thought about Midnight Oil, I remembered that there were many songs that I actually loved about that band. I listened to the cd that I had and enjoyed it like I was back in the day....

The final discovery was my first Ipod which had my first playlist, artist, influences, etc. It's interesting to listen to what you had back in the day. I recommend it to those who can...
It takes you back to what you were feeling and maybe the experience that you were going thru....

I have more to say about this topic but will let it be simple at this point.

Enjoy ur first love of music. Seriously.

May 11, 2011

BANNED!

Before I talk about the topic of the day, I wanted to mention that I recently got the latest album from ELBOW (my lil obsession) - Build A Rocket Boys!. I was somewhat nervous about whether I would like it or not because to me it's rare for a band to have enjoyable consecutive albums. I shouldn't have doubted though because once again, they have created an album that is sticks with their style while at the same time expresses how they have evolved. The entire album has made my ears happy & I definitely recommend it!

Ok, so a while back I was talking with a friend and the question came up that if you had to pick a song or artist that you feel should never be played on the radio or in general again, you could live a happy life.

Yes, that is pretty harsh but at some point there are songs which in my opinion are done. I'm pretty tolerant of most music and will even suffer through listening to something I don't really care for sometimes. I do have times that I can't even handle the first few notes of the song. You know when you are flipping around the radio (for those of you who still listen to the radio) and a song comes on, and after a few seconds you recognize it then change it immediately. It can almost ruin your day if you hear even one minute of the song.

I asked around and came up with a list of my own as well as some suggestions that friends made....

SONGS THAT SHOULD BE BANNED FOR LIFE:

My list

* They Paved Paradise & Put Up A Parking Lot (I never really liked this song to begin with but it's gotta go)
* Heard It Through The Grape Vine (I know it's a classic but even oldies need a rest-- although there is a cool cover of this song on the second season of East Bound & Down)
* I've Had The Time Of My Life  (actually many songs from Dirty Dancing could make this list)
* Aerosmith (Sorry to those who are big fans but I feel their time is up!)
* How You Remind Me by Nickleback (go to the bathroom already?!)
* Who Let The Dogs Out (duh)

* If I Could Turn Back Time by Cher (wish I could turn back time and erase this song)
* How Do You Talk To An Angel by Jamie Walters (his voice is just annoying)
* Cotton Eyed Joe (don't even get me started)
* Friday by Rebecca Black ( I was recently introduced to this horrific song by my friend Jamie. It scared me)
     If you haven't seen the video of FRIDAY, please watch is HERE  and I will go ahead and apologize for putting something so awful in your head. ;)  A redeeming video can be found  HERE of some reviews- pretty smart kids!

Friends list

* Brickhouse
* Any song from Greece
* Most Christmas songs
* Most Country songs
* Informer by Snow
* I'm A Girl, Not Yet A Woman by Britney Spears
* Hot, Hot, Hot by Buster Poindexter
* Don't Worry, Be Happy by Bobby McFerrin
* Everybody Have Fun Tonight by Wang Chung
* Macarena by Los Del Rios


I'm sure I could add many more to these lists so maybe we will have a second edition to this post in the future.
So do you have any songs you could stand to live without??

May 4, 2011

A Little Reminder

This post almost didn't happen. I've been extremely under the weather the past few days and wasn't sure if I was up for writing anything. Then by late yesterday afternoon, I finally felt like I was gonna make it so I decided to go get one of my favorite sickness -make me feel better- remedies, an immune builder smoothie from Smoothie King.

When I got in the car to go to Smoothie King, the song that was playing on the radio was You Keep Me Hangin' On by Diana Ross &The Supremes.  I haven't heard that song in a long time so it hit me with a couple of different thoughts.....

First, I thought about how appropriate those lyrics apply to certain times in my life.

     "Why don't you be a man about it
      And set me free
      Now you don't care a thing about me
      You're just using me
      Go on, get out, get out of my life
      And let me sleep at night
      'Cause you don't really love me
      You just keep me hangin' on....."

I mean to be fare, I'm sure some guys would say the same thing about me in that I was the one dragging them along or that I tried to have my cake and eat it too.  Still, we should all pay attention, learn from lessons past and respectfully let someone move on with his/her life. I admit, it's extremely difficult for me to put this into practice since I really don't like hurting anyone or making someone feel unloved.  Also maybe holding out hope and wanting to make things work keeps ya hanging on.  I'm glad I have a fun little ditty to remind me of the better way to go about these relationship situations. Yeah, let the music teach ya how to live. HA!

Sometimes it's shocking to me that somehow the lyrics of a song can sum up a situation much better than I could ever try to explain to someone. Maybe I should just start sending lyrics to explain myself when I need to let someone know what's going on?! Would people be ok with that?  I would dig it. Seriously, I would. It puts somewhat of a fun spin on it at least.

Second, I thought the song was appropriate with how I'm currently feeling about being ill. I'm ready for the sickness to set me free!!  I was so over it when the first symptom showed up. So, then I was inspired to write a post. Crazy how something that is not even five minutes of your day can change things. NICE.