Day 25-27

Luckily I listen to a lot of comedy albums so this is a pretty easy one. I have a lot of favorites, especially with British comedians, but since I've already mentioned Tim Minchin, I'll pick someone else. I started watching Monty Python in high school I think, and I still think they're hilarious, even though my English husband doesn't find them that funny.  

Day 25 - A song that makes me laugh: Monty Python and the Holy Grail soundtrack - Knights of the Round Table

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfGpVcdqeS0

I can only play the clarinet and the piano marginally well. I started playing piano in 2nd grade and the clarinet in 6th. Mostly I used the piano primarily for sight-reading my singing pieces since I was in choirs from high school till I was about 26. When I was in high school, I went through this Fantasia phase where I got a songbook and started playing whatever I could from there. I can play on piano bits and pieces from a few of the parts of the Nutcracker Suite, such as  Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy, Beethoven's Pastoral Symphony, and Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D Minor. 

Day 26 - A song I can play on an instrument: 1940 Fantasia soundtrack - Beethoven's Pastoral Symphony Pt. 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKFiR8GvUY4&feature=related

Well besides Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D Minor which I would love to learn to play on the  organ, I don't really want to learn how to play a particular song on an instrument. However, I would love to start voice lessons back up again once I am done with this pregnancy and my lung capacity is back to normal. I saw the opera in Florence, and got this version of the soundtrack conducted by Claudio Abbado shortly afterward, so it has a lot of value to me. It's still my favorite opera. When I'm really happy, I like to sing this in the shower, lol. I've always wanted to sing this song correctly with all the coloratura touches like in this version. 

Day 27 - A song I wish I could play (or in my case, sing): Rossini's Il barbiere di Siviglia (The Barber of Seville) sung by Teresa Berganza - Una Voce Poco Fa

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvW9cUCuPQI

Day 23 and 24

This one was easy as I've already had my wedding. I already have added "our song" from the wedding, so this time I will include the song that my dad and I danced to. It's funny, the only time I really cried, besides during the actual ceremony, was as my dad was walking me down the aisle and when we did the Daddy/daughter dance to this song. I guess it was a kind of "Wow, this is really happening" moment for me. To be fair, this song makes me cry now hearing it. 

Day 23 - A song I want to play at my wedding: Tony Bennett - The Way You Look Tonight

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8gwKnkJHWY&feature=related

Weirdly enough, this one is also easy. The song from Day 2 will definitely not be playing, I refuse to have it there. But I want this as the prelude or postlude, as it has always been one of my favorites. I want them to play the full version of it (it is a bit long) on the organ, so it should be a really excellent quality church organ/organist. I figure if you're going out, it might as be with a bang and something really dramatic. 

Day 24 - A song I want played at my funeral:  J. S. Bach - Toccata and Fugue in D Minor

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipzR9bhei_o

Days 20-22

This weekend has again been busy and I've neglected the blog. We finally managed to pick up a ton of boxes this weekend and have begin the gigantic task of packing our apartment, though I don't think it'll really pick up until this weekend. I've managed to get some of the "things I need to get done before we move" actually done, like canceling services now that we have a move date finally. So this will be my last week in South Carolina and I have kind of mixed feelings about that. On one hand, I am glad to be going someplace new and different and having the chance to start over. On the other hand, that prospects frightens me a little bit. This is a huge move, the furthest I've ever gone. My only comparable move was from Alabama to Virginia, but this one is further away. Anyways, on to the song selections...

While I don't understand all of the references in the song, I still find this song pretty funny, especially the last line. So yeah when I'm pissed off, this song makes me laugh.

Day 20: A song that I listen to when I'm angry - Tim Minchin - Some People Have It Worse Than I

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78XrI_2bPVA

I discovered this song a few months ago and fell in love with it. It's great for days when it's sunny and beautiful outside, basically the entire summer. It's just a feel good song. The video that is with it is not the original, but it goes along with it. 

Day 21: A song that I listen to when I'm happy - The Eels - God Damn Right, It's a Beautiful Day 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kr2tOu40EfQ

This song makes me laugh when I'm upset because I can relate to it. The song is about a guy who has been having a tough time of it and his friends are trying to cheer him up. Since I've been spending a lot of time at my apartment with just me and the dog, it makes double sense. (Warning: minimal amount of cursing)

Day 22: A song that I listen to when I'm sad - Avenue Q Soundtrack - There Is Life Outside Your Apartment 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7C-iEoArAc

Day 18 and 19

I discovered this artist from a fellow librarian/ex alum of USC as he enjoyed them and kept posting when Pogo posted a new video. I got into them and soon I was browsing through his stuff, picking out what else I liked. He makes his music using snippets of sounds from predominantly movies, such as Snow White and Lord of the Rings, and this is one of his more recent songs that I really like. 

Day 18: A song I wish I'd heard on the radio - Pogo - Joburg Jam

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bs66ORnV5jU

I discovered this artist about a year ago, after my hubby introduced him to me. Tim Minchin is an Aussie based in London, a fantastic piano player, and also happens to be a hilarious comedic singer as well. Ok I will admit that while most of his stuff is hilarious, if you offend easy, please don't listen because you will be offended. I personally think he is brilliant and I would love to see him perform live. This is technically a beat poem with music, but figured I could include it. 

Day 19: A song from my favorite album - Tim Minchin - Mitsubishi Colt

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zmfo-eL9VKc

Day 16 and 17

We finally have a moving date, May 3, so I'm glad that is nailed down. Now we just have to pack like crazy between now and then. Hopefully I'll be able to get to sleep better so that I actually have the energy to do this, which so far hasn't happened. We should be getting to Arizona by May 6 or 7. 

In 2004, Green Day came out with its American Idiot album. My hubby and I discovered it about two years later and were listening to it all the time as kind of a young adult anthems, damn the man and I'm a loner etc. However, MTV and all the radio stations way overplayed it and now most of the songs on the album, this one included, I hate hearing. Actually it made me hate listening to all Green Day songs, which is a shame because not all of it is that bad. 

Day 16 - A song I used to love but now I hate: Green Day - Boulevard of Broken Dreams

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWNRUVMboq4

Nearly every time I turn on the radio, this song is playing. However, since I only like a few of Katy Perry songs, I prefer the Glee version by Lea Michele. 

Day 17 - A song I often hear on the radio: Katy Perry - Firework

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AiG0n-OUpFI

Day 13 - 15

I've been MIA from the blog again due to being out of town this weekend. My family decided to put a baby shower for me in Georgia, so I went up Friday night and stayed with a friend of mine outside of Atlanta and then went to Athens for the shower itself the next day. It was nice to catch up with everyone, who I had not seen in a couple years, and I had a blast at the shower and hanging with my friend. She has a 5 month old, who I got to meet for the first time, and totally fell in love with her. She is so precious and has an infectious laugh. I hope I get a baby that laid-back. John and I were both easy babies, so I'm hoping Baby H will be that way too. Only 2 1/2 more months before I find out, so we'll be seeing very soon. 

Day 13 is a guilty pleasure song and it took me awhile to come up with this one. When I was driving in the car yesterday, it finally hit me. I guess it was about a year ago, I was on YouTube and had heard that my favorite band from when I was in 4th-5th grade was touring again, so I decided to check out some of their new music. Yes, I'm talking about NKOTB, which I'm sure some of you know stands for New Kids On the Block, which were all the rage back in the late 80s/early 90s. I, like most of the girls back then, were in love with Jordan and Joe. I liked a couple of their new songs so I put them on my MP3 player, including this one. 

Day 13 - A song that is a guilty pleasure: NKOTB - Summertime

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpkCWs2zSNY&feature=fvwrel

Day 14 is a song that no one expects I would like, which is frankly a bit like the last day, but I'll try to come up something different. So I usually hate country music, but sometimes there's a good song, usually the funny ones or ones that are more rock than country. I learned how to country line dance to this song in middle school, so I guess you could say it has some sentimental value.

Day 14 - A song that no one expects I would like: Alan Jackson - Chattahoochee

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JW5UEW2kYvc

Day 15 is a song that describes me, which I thought was pretty difficult. But I think this song pretty accurately describes what I've been trying to do the last couple of years. 

Day 15 - A song that describes me: Avenue Q Soundtrack - Purpose

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5glOLjR7VK4&feature=related

Day 12 : A song from a band I hate

As I have mentioned in the previous post, things have been rather crazy in my life, so I figured I would start where I left off in "30 songs in 30 days" challenge today. I wouldn't say I hate him, but I do find him very annoying, especially when he tries to use big name rappers to give himself some street cred. 

Day 12 - A song from a band I hate: Justin Bieber - Baby ft. Ludacris

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kffacxfA7G4&feature=related

Day 10: A song that makes me fall asleep and Day 11: A song from my favorite band

I honestly don't know what song to use for Day 10, but I figure this song is lovely and low enough to make me fall asleep if I was comfy enough when I was listening to it. 

Day 10 - A song that makes me fall asleep: Johann Pachelbel - Canon in D 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Af372EQLck

Since I don't have one favorite band, I will include one that I really love. I have no idea what the actual purpose of the song is, but I think it's a tribute to beautiful women and being comfortable with yourself no matter your size. 

Day 11 - A song from my favorite band: Mika - Big Girl (You are Beautiful)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pW1BRiuwPI

Day 9: A song I can dance to

Barely got this done in time, but here it is. I've not only danced to this song at a friend's wedding, but it's fun to sing along with in the car, especially when I'm feeling particularly sassy. 


Day 9 - A song I can dance to: The Commodores - Brick House 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrBx6mAWYPU

Day 8: A song you know all the words to

My original intention was to use Brianna's song,  Salt-N-Pepa's Shoop, which was my very favorite song through middle school. However, I was listening to this in the car the other day and realized that I also liked it and knew all the words. This one is from university though, and reminds me of the last two years, especially as Sugar Ray was going to do a concert at VCU but I missed it because I was in Italy. 

Day 8 - A song I know all the words to: Sugar Ray - Every Morning

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cqU1pFRqYE&playnext=1&list=PLE9FA830C4398AAE2

Day 7: A song that reminds you of a certain event

This one is pretty easy, as the first thing that popped into my head was our wedding a little over 5 years ago today. This was our song that my hubby and I danced to at the reception, and my hubby originally picked the song. I guess it's kinda of a weird song to pick but we liked it. 

Day 7 - A song that reminds you of a certain event: Stereophonics - Just Looking

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xy3T8FmyeE8

Day 5: A song that reminds you of someone and Day 6: A song that reminds you of somewhere

I'm a bit behind on songs, but I figured I would do my two now that I have thought of which ones to use. Day 5's song reminds me of my husband John when we were dating, and he was still living in England. The Darkness started out as a Led Zepplin cover band, but morphed into something more. Most of their album's Permission to Land and One Way Ticket to Hell...and Back were filled with songs that we both were listening to on opposite sides of the ocean. Yes they are corny, but they are fun to listen to. 


Day 5 - A song that reminds me of someone: The Darkness - Girlfriend
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OO5x8FW-Hu4


Day 6's song is a bit of an odd choice, but true. I never listened to Bruce Springsteen at all growing up, I was more interested in hip-hop and defying my parents mostly. But the one place that I did eventually listen to this song was in Italy, specifically Florence/Firenze when I was doing my study abroad my junior year in university and it was just the beginning of the 80s revival that lasted from about 2001-2005 or so depending who you ask and where you are. I thought it was hilarious and a bit ironic that they were playing it in the American club in Italy.


Day 6 - A song that reminds me of somewhere: Bruce Springsteen - Born in the USA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHc9PE-Fftc

Day 4: A song that makes me sad

This song was hard for me to pick because I mean who wants to name a song that makes them cry? But anyways, I searched a bit online to see what others had said, but found I didn't agree with most of their choices. So I turned to opera, which has a tendency to have some very sad songs in it due to the nature of the content. I haven't actually seen this live, only on video and in clips, but La Boheme is an amazingly beautiful opera and the basis for Rent, the modern day adaption of it. I found this online today and had to share, though it cuts off a bit too quick at the end. 

Day 4 - A song that makes me sad: Giacomo Puccini - Final scene end of Act 1: La Boheme 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nZb7YHzHy8&feature=related

Day 3: A song that makes me happy

This was an easy song to pick. I started listening to it about two or three summers ago after I discovered the artist on youtube during one of my random browsings, and I found his song Caroline. Now I only understand very rudimentary French but I listen to him more for his beats/melodies than anything else and because his styles are so varied. He goes from salsa-inspired to jazz rap to more hardcore stuff. I find him interesting because he was born in Senegal but raised in Paris, plus he apparently introduced rap to France. This song is just a happy song. The video is just something someone added to the song (not the original), but I picked it because it contained the entire song. 


Day 3 - A song that makes me happy: MC Solaar - Bling Bling
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5QmEnW6PWM

Day 2: Your least favorite song

Ok, I'm sure I will get a lot of complaints about this one, but here it is. Normally when it comes to church music, I prefer pretty traditional stuff, the stuff out of the blue hymnal or fancier stuff like Handel or Mozart. However, the one song that I absolutely hate listening to is this song: 


Day 2 - Your least favorite song: Amazing Grace
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsCp5LG_zNE

The reasoning behind this is that it is so overplayed at churches or to make anything vaguely religious. Esp funerals. I have banned this from my funeral. Usually I think things played on the bagpipes sound better, but for this song I make an exception. I will sing it if I have to but I don't like to. 

Day 1: My favorite song

30 Days, 30 Songs
So for the first day, we have my favorite song. I will say first it is impossible for me to limit it down to one song out of all the ones I've ever listened to, so I will pick one of my favorites. 


Day 1 - My Favorite Song: The Raveonettes - Love in a Trashcan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRUqpgg-8Ps


I discovered this Danish band my first time around in grad school, at St. Andrews. My next door neighbor and friend Nikolaj, was Korean-Danish and bought me their latest album at the time, Chain Gang of Love, for my birthday because I had admired their first album. This song is off their third album Pretty in Black, which I bought for myself after I came back to the States. They are such a crazy mix of new and old rock that you can't help but listen to them. I've missed seeing them live, but I know it would be an awesome show. 

30 Days, 30 Songs

I got the idea of this from my friend Brianna, whose blogs 100 Recipes and Off the Wal(cott) I subscribe to. She is currently doing it on Facebook, but I thought it would be fun to do it on my blog. The idea is to share a little about yourself by choosing a song a day for 30 days. As she did, I will add my song titles to this master list as I go along with the project. As Brianna has already pointed out, it is hard to pick just one song for some of these categories. Luckily some of them repeat themselves, so hopefully it wouldn't be as bad. I know there will be some that I have no clue what to put down for a particular day, but we'll give it a shot anyways. I will say that some of the "songs" will not be exactly songs but maybe pieces of music, i.e. classical. Like her, I tend to have varying degrees of favorites based on the day/week/month and what I am feeling like. 

The 30 Day Song Challenge

Day 1 - Your favorite song: The Raveonettes - Love in a Trashcan

Day 2 - Your least favorite song: Amazing Grace 

Day 3 - A song that makes you happy: MC Solaar - Bling Bling

Day 4 - A song that makes you sad: Giacomo Puccini - Final scene end of Act 1: La Boheme 

Day 5 - A song that reminds you of someone: The Darkness - Girlfriend

Day 6 - A song that reminds you of somewhere: Bruce Springsteen - Born in the USA

Day 7 - A song that reminds you of a certain event: The Stereophonics - Just Looking

Day 8 - A song you know all the words to: Sugar Ray - Every Morning

Day 9 - A song you can dance to: The Commodores - Brick House

Day 10 - A song that makes you fall asleep: Johann Pachelbel - Canon in D major

Day 11 - A song from your favorite band: Mika - Big Girl (You are Beautiful)

Day 12 - A song from a band you hate: Justin Bieber - Baby ft. Ludacris

Day 13 - A song that is a guilty pleasure: NKOTB - Summertime

Day 14 - A song that no one would expect you to love: Alan Jackson - Chattahoochee

Day 15 - A song that describes you: Avenue Q Soundtrack - Purpose

Day 16 - A song that you used to love but now you hate: Green Day - Boulevard of Broken     Dreams

Day 17 - A song that you hear often on the radio: Katy Perry - Firework

Day 18 - A song you wish you heard on the radio: Pogo - Joburg Jam

Day 19 - A song from your favorite album: Tim Minchin - Mitsubishi Colt

Day 20 - A song that you listen to when you're angry: Tim Minchin - Some People Have It Worse Than I

Day 21 - A song that you listen to when you're happy: The Eels - God Damn Right, It's a Beautiful Day 

Day 22 - A song that you listen to when you're sad: Avenue Q Soundtrack - There is Life Outside Your Apartment

Day 23 - A song you want to play at your wedding: Tony Bennett - The Way You Look Tonight

Day 24 - A song you want to play at your funeral: J.S. Bach - Toccata and Fugue in D Minor

Day 25 - A song that makes you laugh: Monty Python and the Holy Grail soundtrack - Knights of the Round Table

Day 26 - A song you can play on an instrument: 1940 Fantasia soundtrack - Beethoven's Pastoral Symphony Pt. 1

Day 27 - A song you wish you can play (or in my case sing): Rossini's Il barbiere di Siviglia (The Barber of Seville) sung by Teresa Berganza - Una Voce Poco Fa

Day 28 - A song that makes you feel guilty: 

Day 29 - A song from your childhood: 

Day 30 - Your favorite song at this time last year: 

*KarmaTube*

We all know YouTube right? Well I was browsing my email and once again the geniuses at Skirt! magazine had sent me another brilliant link, this time from a website called KarmaTube. The description on the website says that it is "a collection of short, 'do something' videos coupled with simple actions that every viewer can take. Our mission is to spread the good." 

Now the reason I went to this website was for this virtual choir video, where this guy Eric Whitacre sent out free copies of his musical work Lux Arumque via the internet and 185 random people sent in videos of themselves singing individual parts, which he then put together to create this wonderful music video. The music itself is so sublime (I am a former church and recreational choir member so I know what I'm talking about), but the fact that he got 185 strangers to cooperate is just amazing. I would be be very interested to hear more of his work. The other one that I really liked was this video about a non-verbal autistic girl who was able to talk through a computer. She is very inspirational, and I passed it along to my social worker friends as an example of the what kids can do.

Randomness

I found this random video the other day when I was browsing videos on YouTube and playing stuff from my favorites to listen to while I worked. My music on YouTube are mostly Glee songs and a couple of random Hip-Hop songs thrown in, and I usually listen to Haven't Met You Yet by Michael Buble because I love the way he sings and he's dreamy. Anyways, I thought the video was funny because I am a Geek and Gamer Girl, especially now that I like LOTR online obsessively and comics/graphic novels/manga.

Ooh the other random thing I found on YouTube on Friday was the new Eminem video Love the Way You Lie featuring Rihanna (weird combo right?). It was random not because of his co-singer but because his music video, which was surprise surprise again about Eminem and his ex-wife, but starred Dominic Monaghan and Megan Fox. Most people know who Megan Fox is (aka busty chick from Transformers 1 & 2). Dominic played Merry in the LOTR trilogy and was also the druggie in ABC's Lost. And I love him, mostly for LOTR and a bit from Lost. But the thing that distracted me in the video was how hot he was, not the song that Eminem and Rihanna were trying so hard to sing.