Carolers are at my door. Don't want to hear them anymore.

That's a lie. I never tire of Christmas music.

If you haven't noticed, I try to title my December posts with Christmas lyrics and that is from a song off Barenaked for the Holidays and it seemed the appropriate choice.

So here's my Christmas songs post. Only a little different from last year's selection I'm sure. I can't really pick favorites so here's just a general list of what has been on my Ipod (it's relatively long and not at all complete).

Winter Song (Sara Bareillis)
Frosty the Snowman (Fiona Apple)
Elf's Lament (Barenaked Ladies and Michael Buble)
Silent Night (Priscilla Ahn)
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (Hem)
Baby It's Cold Outside (Doris Day and Bing Crosby or Zooey Deschanel and Leon Redbone)
Green Christmas (Barenaked Ladies)
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (Barenaked Ladies)
Thankful Heart (Michael Caine - Muppet Christmas Carol)
Oh Holy Night (Voice Male)
Auld Lang Syne (Barenaked Ladies)
Angels We Have Heard on High (Relient K)
Wish I had a River (Robert Downey Jr.)
We Wish You a Merry Christmas (Voice Male)
One More Sleep Til Christmas (Kermit the Frog and the shorter version with Robin)
Little Saint Nick (Electric Mayhem from A Christmas Together - John Denver and the Muppets)
When the River Meets the Sea (John Denver and the Muppets)
Pennies from Heaven (Louis Prima from Elf)
Sleigh Ride (Ella Fitzgerald)
The Christmas Song (Dave Matthews Band)
Linus and Lucy (A Charlie Brown Christmas)

I know I'm missing some of my favorites. I need to get a copy of Susie Snowflake and 2000 Miles onto my Ipod because I love those songs. I can listen to almost any version of Oh Holy Night, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (James Taylor's is playing on the radio right now) and Angels We Have Heard on High - those are my top three all time favorites. I like the Hem version of Merry Little Christmas because it's the closest to the original (sung by Judy Garland in Meet Me in St. Louis - which has become one of my "must see" Christmas movies, but that's a different post I suppose) and I like the Voice Male version of Angels We Have Heard on High because they all sing their parts so clearly and it's beautiful. I like the Josh Groban version of Oh Holy Night but don't have a copy.

The Christmas album I purchased this year was The Hotel Cafe tour presents Winter Songs. I highly recommend it if only for Fiona Apple's version of Frosty the Snowman - it makes me like that song again and I haven't liked that song for a very long time. Winter Song by Sara Bareillis is my new obsession, I might listen to it all winter since it's not so much a Christmas song and because I'm addicted.

I've also recently become addicted to Linus and Lucy and have been listening to that since this summer but it's on a Christmas album so it's technically Christmas music. I love the entire Charlie Brown Christmas cd.

And of course, Christmas is not Christmas without the Muppets...and plenty of them! My Christmas memories are entrenched with watching the Muppet Christmas Carol, listening to the soundtrack and to A Christmas Together with the Muppets and John Denver (I used to fall asleep listening to A Christmas Together on the record player).

So there it is. My Christmas music post. I love my Christmas music - I won't get into the Christmas songs I find revolting (*cough* Dominic the Donkey *cough*) because I like to try and focus on the positive - but I will say that the logs on the fire definitely DO NOT fill me with desire Carpenters. They most certainly do not.

tv is great and so is josh groban

He even does voices. Awesome.

what I listened to today

Priscilla Ahn - Take Away Show

Found her on A Little Sussy.

A little Ingrid Michaelson, a little Jewel (think the Pieces of You album, not Intuition), and a harmonica. I've always been partial to the harmonica. It's one of the things I can attribute to my Grandad.

Also - yodeling. As far as I know Ahn doesn't yodel, but I like voices that sound like they could start a yodel at any moment. Julie Andrews, Dolores O'Riordan from The Cranberries, Jewel and the like. Maybe that's a little weird, but I don't care.

As if we needed more reason...

Let's get this one thing straight...I don't HATE Coldplay. I just don't get all the hype, never have. I have a few choice Coldplay songs on my iPod but that about covers it. My indifference and confusion (am I the ONLY ONE who isn't getting it?!) probably stems back to being forced to listen to a Coldplay CD almost every day for an entire semester. We're talking hours at a time, the same CD, over and over and over again.

So, it made me very happy to have a conversation with Megan one day regarding a quote Chris Martin made about naming his daughter Apple (can't remember or find the quote but it doesn't matter so much) and then she posted this video which really is just ridiculous. Not to mention the band was on Colbert a bit ago and he was just as spacey and odd and danced just as bad.

Then there was this incredible exchange in the comments of that post between me and Megan's brother:

Lin said...

i just watched this again. it's like a train wreck...can't. turn. away. must. watch.

i'm glad i'm not alone in my dislike for coldplay. they used to play a coldplay cd in the printing studio on campus...that was it. the only cd played for an entire semester. i thought of accidentally dropping the cd in ink and/or acid but figured that would probably make me seem a little crazy.

August 8, 2008 10:22 AM

trub said...

Lin, The tameness of your Coldplay CD destruction fantasies is what makes you seem a little crazy. Think about a trap thrower. Think about a shotgun. Think about a shiny disc sailing out into the sunlit air and then seeing it explode through your one open eye and raining down a million glittering shards. The slight bruise on your shoulder will soon fade and in the meantime will remind you of your intense satisfaction over your good works.

Close your eyes and picture it. Feel better now?

Actually, I do. Much better. Thank you.

I honestly did try to think of ways to hide or destroy that CD. I even switched it out once with a different CD (oh those precious minutes of relief) to see if it's over playing was from the laziness of everyone not wanting to switch the CD, but I was thwarted. We got one round of the new CD before someone put Coldplay back on it's eternal rotation. I bet you anything that Coldplay CD is still playing in that studio. I really would not be surprised.

So, to add to my reasons why I'm not such a fan of Coldplay here's this little tidbit from MSNBC online:

Building on his band’s anti-rock persona, Chris Martin recently revealed that the members of Coldplay like to spend some quality time together around the sewing machine. “Making clothes together in our studio makes us feel complete,” Chris admitted to the Daily Mirror. “We probably sound like a group of grannies in a knitting circle, but it’s the truth and it gives us some control over our visual identity.”

Really Chris? You make your clothes together? It gives you control over your "visual identity"? Ugh. As if you lose all control when you put on a Hanes T-shirt and some jeans?

In the end, I believe Megan summed it all up in our earlier conversation. What do you expect from a guy who named his daughter "Apple"?

The Barnacle

Yes. Neil Patrick Harris aka Barney Stinson aka Doogie Howser, MD is also Dr. Horrible. He has a fantastic singing voice and a good sense of humor. He also manages to dress nicely, play a womanizing jerk, and kind of make me forget he's batting for the other team while singing show tunes. Talk about image control. Here's a couple clips. The first one I've posted before but it's good and I love it and it's my blog so there. The second is NPH with Kelly Ripa talking about how her son's teacher is in love with NPH. The third makes me happy because I ALWAYS sing this theme song...ask Krissie. I can't help but start singing along with it during Monday Night Suit Up.

current obsession

iTunes store - celebrity playlists.

ever wondered what music your favorite celebrities are listening to? well, i've looked and the truth is, a lot of them are listening to Belle&Sebastian. this means they have good taste.

i am now addicted to searching these lists. i bought five songs tonight...two to preview and suggest to Megan for London (All the Umbrellas in London by The Magnetic Fields and Up the Junction by Squeeze - very British, enjoy).

so basically i'm in music love at the mo'.

love song: so much love by the rocket summer

Hats need a beat
Like awake needs asleep
Like a pen needs a page
To learn right you need a mistake

Hearts need a mind
Like a clock needs the time
Like white needs black
If you leave, I hope you need to come back

Oh, I swear, I know, I believe it, oh
I can't stop hearing all the singing, oh
My soul has never had this feeling
And it feels like gold

You got so much love in you
You got so much love in you
I'm amazed that I'm talkin' to you
You look like the songs that I've heard my whole life coming true

Strike all the bells
Hit 'em hard, make 'em all yell
Celebrate, infatuate
Lock us up, yeah, incarcerate

Oh, I swear, I know, I believe it, oh
I can't stop hearing all the singing, oh
My soul has never had this feeling
And it feels like gold

You got so much love in you
I'm amazed that I'm talkin' to you
You look like the songs that I've heard my whole life coming true

I've been listening to this song a lot lately. Not because there's someone new and exciting to attribute it to but because I can't wait till there is someone special to share it with. I think it's perfect. The lyrics, the music, the tempo. It's all just happy and sweet and insanely close to how I think love should make you feel.

Steve and Steph got married

I don't know who Steve and Steph are, but they got married Friday night at Herrington Harbor and they had THE coolest wedding EVER.

I didn't go to their wedding because, as I mentioned above, I don't know Steve and Steph, but I did get to witness their wedding FIREWORKS from the comfort of my car, Bullet, in the company of my sister, Lauren.

As we sat at a stop sign and watched in amazement, I remarked that I usually don't really care for fireworks...but they were so early this year! And Lauren pointed out that they were RIGHT THERE! We had the best view and we were so close and they were good fire works. Although there were no heart shapes. That would have upped the cheese factor on the wedding fireworks, but they were WEDDING fireworks - why no sappy, lovey-dovey hearts? Oh well.

Finally, we tried to imagine what music was playing while Steve and Steph watched their wedding being commemorated by colorful, loud bombs (which were also being watched by locals smoking cigarettes and drinking beer on their front porches, btw) in the sky and concluded that only a cheesy 80s love ballad would do. Only we couldn't choose which one - nothing seemed to be perfect enough. I called Megan because Lauren was certain she would have the answer, but alas, Megan was working. Boo. We settled on "Don't Stop Believing" but I still don't think that one is perfect enough. This is where you come in. Please comment with suggestions. Remember, 80s love ballad to go with wedding fireworks...only the cheesiest will do.

P.S. It bugs me that a guy named Steve and a girl named Steph got married. Her name is the female version of his name and vice versa. It's just kind of odd to me.

Weezer

I love these guys. Also, I love that they got all these YouTube people together in one video...especially Charlie the Unicorn and the "Chocolate Rain" guy.

NKOTB - for reals

New Kids sing ‘Summertime’

Seriously. Reunion tour, new cd, Today Show appearances in front of legions of devoted, screaming 30/40 year old women. Nostalgic? Yes. Crazy? Yes. Sad? Maybe a little.

They are all a little older (and by a little I mean a lot). I mean most of them have children now. But they still have loyal fans and I guess that's all you need to make some money 15 years after you hit the big time.


New Kids perform ‘Tonight’

I'm having a hard time not laughing at these performances. The lyrics and the dancing. Man, nostalgia is a powerful thing. If this was their first time around, they would be laughed off the stage. They wouldn't have been allowed on the stage. The choreography is also amazing. And of course, this just reminds me of hanging out at my friends house talking about how cute New Kids were and which one was our favorite and how totally awesome our giant pins featuring their faces were - it just doesn't mean I'm about to stand out in the rain for hours and start crying with joy when I see them.

New Kids on the Block - the boy band that just keeps on giving.

American Idol - Is it just me?

the audio this week has sucked! You can't hear the music or the backup vocals. I love Maroon 5 but part of the reason I love them is the music...although Adam Levine sounded nice and he looked a lot hotter with this haircut than the last time I saw him with that weird slicked back mohawk thing. But seriously, last night had the same problems...it makes everything sound like karaoke.

I love Maroon 5. Apparently they are going on tour to Europe and San Antonio. Adam isn't tuned into his life very well...but who cares. Also, there's an Indian Jones commercial on that I haven't seen and I am getting more and more excited to see it. I want to go back and watch the others since it's been a while for me.

Anyway, I think it's pretty obvious that Jason is going home. Although no tears will be shed in my corner if it's Syesha.

American Idol, yes I am posting about American Idol

As I see it there are clear front runners in this season. I've only watched this season and last - but am enjoying this season a lot better.

Mostly I was excited for this week. Andrew Lloyd Weber was the guest mentor so they all had to sing his songs. Although I have to say...he is kind of creepy looking. I'm curious to know what his face looks like in person.

Last year, Krissie and I got into Grease: You're the One That I Want and watched the whole thing. Then, when we got to England they had shows on there: Grease is the Word and Any Dream Will Do. They were talent searches for the new leads in Grease and Joseph opening in the West End. We totally got into the last few episodes there and would stay home to watch it with Louise. Weber played a big part in the Joseph show and may have judged a night on Grease. I remember one of the girls singing Jesus Christ Superstar and it was amazing.

So tonight, when Carly got up there and sang that it just did nothing for me at all. I don't really like her in the first place so maybe I'm biased. Also, her husband's facial tattoos are yucky and she wears nothing but black leggings/stockings/skinny jeans. ugh.

Syesha did very well, but she is also an actress so that was no surprise. I say if a girl makes it to top 3 it will be her.

Brooke was alright. That whole stopping and starting over thing was weird, but it would have been weirder for her to keep going and making up stuff, right? I think she may go home this week. Not to mention, I think people might be getting tired of her over-emotional state...and by people I mean me.

Jason picked a weird song but did alright with it. I think he'll be bottom three this week. It was a girl song (Memory) - an old lady song even...from Cats. But honestly I don't know what he would have done better with. He's not suited for Broadway. That might hurt him.

Speaking of girl songs. David Archuleta sang Think of Me - only he kind of changed it up. I liked it. His vocals are always spot on - though he needs more of a presence/personality. I think that's more of an age and experience thing.

Finally, David Cook. He's totally grown on me. He sang Music of the Night. And although it wasn't really any different composition-wise, I think he sang beautifully. He's definitely better with the gritty, rock stuff, but still did a great job with this. And his look isn't bothering me so much any more.

So, bottom three I'm gonna say Brooke, Jason and Carly. Although Syesha could be in trouble since she performed first. Sometimes people get distracted throughout the whole show and forget to vote for the first performer.

"This. Is. Serious."

The Wonder Pets Save the Beetles!

"The "Save the Beetles!" episode premieres April 21 (7 p.m. EDT). The Wonder Pets travel to Liverpool to rescue four beetles whose yellow submarine is trapped in kelp. Following the rescue, the Beetles perform a concert."

Proof of how truly awesome some kids shows can be. Even if they feature an ambiguous guinea pig named Linnie.

Songs of Love

Megan posted a play list that focuses on love-related type things. I am also going to post a play list. Maybe play list isn't really the right word for it though, because it will be more general and vast, but a play list could come out of the list of songs I accumulate in this post. So basically I am making a smaller list than what is on my IPod (4000+ songs) in order to more fully investigate which songs are worthy of this years Viciously Awesome Valentines Play List. In may even turn into several play lists separating the somewhat cynical/bitter love songs from the sappy love songs from the just plain great music that makes you feel good.

(in no particular order)

Songs of Love by Ben Folds
Haze of Love by Cake
Friend is a Four-Letter Word by Cake
Love You Madly by Cake
I Can't Make You Love Me by Bonnie Raitt
Chloroform the One You Love by Flickerstick
Anyone Else But You by The Moldy Peaches
So Nice So Smart by Kimya Dawson
If You Find Yourself Caught in Love by Belle & Sebastian
Somebody to Love by Queen
I Could Have Danced All Night from My Fair Lady**
All You Need is Love from Across the Universe (it's a great version)
My Funny Valentine by Matt Damon from The Talented Mr. Ripley (short and sweet and somewhat creepy)
Sad Songs and Waltzes by Cake***
It's Oh So Quiet by Bjork
Be Still My Heart by The Postal Service
The Sound of Settling by Death Cab for Cutie
I Want You to Want Me by Cheap Trick
Hate (I Really Don't Like You) by Plain White T's
I Believe in a Thing Called Love by The Darkness
Love Song for No One by John Mayer
Walking After Love by The Foo Fighters
Crazy Love by Bob Dylan & Van Morrison
All I Want is You by Barry Louis Polisar
That's How You Know by Amy Adams from Enchanted
Let's Stay Together by Al Green
True Love by Bing Crosby and Grace Kelly from High Society
Annie Waits by Ben Folds

More to come....




** This song feels the way love should feel. The lyrics are spot on (I'll never know what made it so exciting, but all at once my heart took flight. I only know when he began to dance with me, I could have danced, danced, danced all night) and the music just builds you up till you are as happy as she is. This is the song that pops into my head after a first kiss or a great date - it's just a happy song.

***Can you tell I'm kind of addicted to Cake right now?

Missing you.

This is a topic of which I write about often. But it is always true and it is always sincere.

I miss my friends.

Maybe it happens when I'm faced with new, challenging, grown-up decisions that I would rather put away on a shelf to be bothered with in the distant future. Maybe it is because sometimes I just get tired of being alone. Maybe it's the holiday season. Maybe it is because they are awesome.

Actually, that last one is a definite, not a maybe.

So, I was listening to the Across the Universe soundtrack (yet again) and one song in particular made me miss everyone a lot all at once for no particular reason. I say no reason because although a lot of the lyrics apply to this situation - this is a song I listen to quite often without requisite reminiscing or longing for my bestest pals.

With a Little Help from My Friends
What would do think if I sang out of tune,
Would you stand up and walk out on me?
Lend me your ears and I'll sing you a song,
And I'll try not to sing out of key.
Oh I get by with a little help from my friends,
He gets high with a little help from his friends,
Oh I'm gonna try with a little help from my friends.

What do I do when my love is away?
Does it worry you to be alone?
How do I feel by the end of the day?
Are you sad because you're on your own?
No, I get by with a little help from my friends,
Mmm I get high with a little help from my friends,
Mmm I'm gonna to try with a little help from my friends

Do you need anybody?
I need somebody to love.
Could it be anybody?
I want somebody to love.

Would you believe in a love at first sight?
Yes I'm certain that it happens all the time.
What do you see when you turn out the light?
I can't tell you, but I know it's mine.
Oh I get by with a little help from my friends,
Mmm I get high with a little help from my friends,
Oh I'm gonna try with a little help from my friends

Do you need anybody?
I need someone to love.
Could it be anybody?
I want somebody to love
Oh...
I get by with a little help from my friends,
I'm gonna try with a little help from my friends
I get high with a little help from my friends
Yes I get by with a little help from my friends, with a little help from my friends

Well, I suppose that's all I have to say about that.

Across the Universe

My friend Sheryl and I went to see this movie this weekend. I loved it. I will preface this with a warning that although it is rated PG-13, it's on the higher end of that rating as it's "artistic" and set during the 60s with the Vietnam War and such. Not too graphic, just not squeaky clean. Mostly I was annoyed with a Titanic-like drawing scene. It wasn't really necessary.

If anything, though, the soundtrack is amazing. The movie is about Jude, a dock worker from Liverpool, who goes to America (sans visa) to track down his father. He meets Max and falls in love with Lucy, Max's sister. Most of the movie takes place in New York where Jude and Max move after Max drops out of college.

The best part of this movie, though, is the music. It's a musical using only Beatles music. The movie is filled with references (just look at the character names) from Beatles songs and the songs they chose to use work perfectly with the dialog and the story. It's amazing how they made the songs work as dialog - you kind of sit there thinking, "why doesn't everybody burst out into a Beatles song in real life" that's how natural this movie makes it seem. It also doesn't hurt that the two main male characters are gorgeous - one of which uses his British accent - and they both have amazing voices. I haven't stopped listening to the soundtrack since I bought it the morning after seeing the movie.

Now, I am a fan of the original Beatles songs, but I also really like a good cover (emphasis on good). Sometimes you need to switch things up. My only complaint is that they didn't include some of my favorite songs from the movie on the soundtrack. I am keeping my fingers crossed that a "more music from the motion picture" CD will be released later. If not, I will be mad.

A clip from one of my favorite songs/scenes in the movie. I've Just Seen a Face

The Wolf That Lives in Lindsey

Yep. There you have it. Megan (who is amazingness squared) found a song that not only has my name in the lyrics, but also in the title. It is by Joni Mitchell and I have yet to listen to it, but the lyrics are as follows (emphasis added for comments following the lyrics):

Of the darkness in mens minds
What can you say
That wasnt marked by history
Or the t.v. news today
He gets away with murder
The blizzards come and go
The stab and glare and buckshot
Of the heavy heavy snow
It comes and goes
It comes and goes

His grandpa loved an empire
His sister loved a thief
And Lindsey loved the ways of darkness
Beyond belief
Girls in chilly blouses
The blizzards come and go
The stab and glare and buckshot
Of the heavy heavy snow
It comes and goes
It comes and goes

The cops dont seem to care
For derelicts or ladies of the night
They're weeds for yanking out of sight
If you're smart or rich or lucky
Maybe you'll beat the laws of man
But the inner laws of spirit
And the outer laws of nature
No man can
No--no man can

There lives a wolf in Lindsey
That raids and runs
Through the hills of hollywood
And the downtown slums
He gets away with murder
The blizzards come and go
The stab and glare and buckshot
Of the heavy heavy snow
It comes and goes
It comes and goes



I'd like to make two points.
1. This song is about a MAN named Lindsey. Which doesn't surprise me in the least. Mostly because it's only been in the last five years or so that I've found my name in the girls section of baby naming books. It's a British thing I believe. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong on that part.
2. This man is a murderer. I'm not complaining, just saying that's not so flattering a topic as say, being the subject of an unrequited love song or a song about a quirky, yet fascinating and beautiful girl or even anything that wasn't about a nefarious man.

So I shall give 10 points to Megan, but I will revise my challenge. I bet you can't find a song about a GIRL named Lindsey.

IPod Shufflin'

So, Krissie and I invented a new game that is very very fun, especially when riding on the train. You need two Ipods (preferably set to play on a similar playlist) and two sets of IPod headphones. They must be the kind that plug into your ears. Switch one side of your headphones with your friend so that in one ear you can hear what your IPod plays and in the other you can hear what your friend's IPod is playing. Then you both pick a song without letting each other know what you have picked. It is helpful to decide before hand whether to go with a fast or slow song. Then you play the songs and see how the sound together....it's a fun way to remix things. Our favorites that we happened upon were:

1. London Bridge (Fergie) mixed with Crazy (Britney Spears) - the chorus'? chorus's? choruses? play at the same time and it's fabby fab.

2. It Feels Like Home (Chantal Kreviazuk) mixed with So Far Away (Carole King) - the songs kind of have different but similar subjects and they blend together nicely.

I fell in love with Clark Gable on a blustery day in April

of course, not the person...he's not my type. I am talking about a song by The Postal Service. A song that I have heard several times before - but never really listened to until today, when I needed perspective, encouragement, and hope. It doesn't really have anything to do with anything - i guess it was just the perfect combination of bitter sweet lyrics, haunting melodies, and soothing voices that i needed today.




I was waiting for a cross-town train in the London underground when it struck me
That I've been waiting since birth to find a love that would look and sound like a movie
So I changed my plans and rented a camera and a van and then I called you
"I need you to pretend that we are in love again" and you agreed to

I want so badly to believe that "there is truth, that love is real"
And I want life in every word to the extent that it's absurd

I greased the lens and framed the shot using a friend as my stand-in
The script it called for rain but it was clear that day so we faked it
The marker snapped and I yelled "quiet on the set" and then called "action!"
And I kissed you in a style that Clark Gable would have admired (I thought it classic)

I want so badly to believe that "there is truth, that love is real"
And I want life in every word to the extent that it's absurd

I know you're wise beyond your years, but do you ever get the fear
That your perfect verse is just a lie you tell yourself to help you get by?

Doesn't anybody stay in one place anymore?

Pick a favorite band and answer only using that band's song titles:

Carole King, Tapestry

1. Are you male or female: (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman

2. Describe yourself: Beautiful

3. How do some people feel about you: You've Got A Friend

4. How do you feel about yourself: It's Too Late

5. Describe your girlfriend/boyfriend/interest: So Far Away

6. Where would you rather be: Way Over Yonder

7. Describe what you want to be: Tapestry

8. Describe how you live: I Feel the Earth Move

9. Describe how you love: Where You Lead

10. Share a few words of wisdom: Will You Love Me Tomorrow?