I am not really Wonder Woman, but I try to be. Nor am I Mrs. Simon LeBon, but at one time, I was going to be. Nonetheless, I am a wondering (wandering?) woman whose been handed quite a life. I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be. I might not like it always, but I trust the process....
I’m not a Beatles fan. They have a few songs I like — Come Together, Here Comes the Sun, Don’t Let Me Down, Let It Be, With A Little Help From My Friends, and a handful of others, possibly. I deeply appreciate & recognize their musical contributions - “mania”, “boy bands”, all the genres into which they’ve bled. I GET it, okay. OH-KAY??? But I can’t help but dislike how (over)celebrated they STILL are.
You do you. I’ll do me. #heynow
One of the songs I’ve always been irked by is “Eleanor Rigby”. I don’t care for the music to such a degree I haven’t heard or listened to the words. There’s a story there, and I *finally* heard it! All credit goes to CODY FRY! I hope you enjoy this fresh take as much as I did!
We're in 'Angelo at the Saddle Bronc. Burr and Dad are out back fryin' up catfish they caught themselves.
Patrons -- more like a little quilt-like family of good ole Texans -- have all brought a side dish. It's a good ole fashioned potluck.
As it so happens, out behind the Bronc, along with the fish fryer, tables, a bottle of booze or two and several beers, an old-fashioned radio, is a retired tractor. Daddy, taking a cigarette break, sits up on the seat of that rusty tractor. He sits there, in his baseball cap, embering cigarette pinched between fingers as if holding a pencil. His eyes are closed. His arms are tan from days and days of fishin'. His jeans are old, worn and fit him perfectly. His foot is tapping to one of our favorite tunes that's just started on the radio: Waltz Across Texas.
I love this memory of my dad because, although he was a pretty laid-back guy, he looked very happy and at peace in that moment.
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When we dance together my world's in disguise it's a fairyland tale that come true
And when you look at me with those stars in your eyes I could waltz across Texas with you Waltz across Texas with you in my arms waltz across Texas with you Like a storybook ending I'm lost in your charms And I could waltz across Texas with you
My heartaches and troubles are just up and gone the moment that you come in view And with your hand in mine dear I could dance on and on And I could waltz across Texas with you Waltz across Texas
My heart's been overflowing love today.
This tune crossed my way.
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It's a little bit funny this feeling inside I'm not one of those who can easily hide I don't have much money but boy if I did I'd buy a big house where we both could live
If I was a sculptor, but then again, no Or a man who makes potions in a travelling show I know it's not much but it's the best I can do My gift is my song and this one's for you
And you can tell everybody this is your song It may be quite simple but now that it's done I hope you don't mind I hope you don't mind that I put down in words How wonderful life is while you're in the world
I sat on the roof and kicked off the moss Well a few of the verses well they've got me quite cross But the sun's been quite kind while I wrote this song It's for people like you that keep it turned on
So excuse me forgetting but these things I do You see I've forgotten if they're green or they're blue Anyway the thing is what I really mean Yours are the sweetest eyes I've ever seen
I had the good fortune of watching "Copying Beethoven" which is a fictional movie about the timeless composer, Ludwig von Beethoven. I highly recommend this movie. Ed Harris does NOT look like Ed Harris.
I'm not sure how much he truly looks like Beethoven, either, but I
didn't recognize him. I guess that's a sign of transcendence, huh?
I'm fascinated by the fact that he had no children. There's a certain tragedy about that.
Below is a particularly lovely, emotional scene whereby the deaf Beethoven is conducting his Ninth Symphony with the assistance of his young copyist who kept time for him during the performance. So elegant, dramatic, delicate and moving....
The final scene was particularly fascinating. Earlier in the movie, Beethoven was certain there is no God. The copyist, the niece of a Catholic Mother Superior at the Viennese convent where the movie takes place, talks of God throughout the movie. Beethoven experienced a near-death experience just before this:
I'm completely in love with this show. Funny thing is, I started watching it so that it could be a "family activity", especially one that didn't really cost any money, and we could do at home. My Husband and Girls watched American Idol together, and I think last season's The Voice, too. I was either studying, typing on the computer or smartphone, or doing some other sort of I-can't-sit-still-that-long busy-ness. I've tried harder over the last year to sit on the sofa per request of My Husband. He says quality time, partly, is sharing TV time together. And because My Family has very little time to spend together due to busy lives, I figured I'd give this a try. As it turns out, I'm pretty much the only one watching it now. My Husband goes off to work on other things sometimes, and My Girls read, paint fingernails, shower, do homework, play or a litany of other things. They'll occasionally dance or sing along, but mostly it's background noise to them anymore. They don't seem as excited as me about it, which is totally fine, but I do find it a bit ironic. I sometimes pull the Mom Guilt Card and make them watch it with me. Now that Stanley Cup playoff hockey is on, and we have only one television in our house, we do a lot of channel switching during commercials. It's quite a merry-go-round that I just have to laugh at.
So, the Final Four:
Chris Mann , the opera singer on Team Xtina (who is quite a badass I might add!), sang a velvety, moving "Ave Maria".
Jermaine Paul who has been a back-up singer for Alicia Keys (and is quite sexy!) representing Team Blake. He sang "Open Arms", but I didn't get to see this performance because I was applying vinegar to the back and shoulders of a verysosunburned Boa. I think he over-sings some, but he IS very good!
Juliet Sims representing Team CeeLo is reminscient of Janice Joplin. There's a je ne sais quoi about her that I dislike, but I think she's going to win it all. The chick rocks like Steven Tyler and that genre/generation. So good.
Last but not least, Tony Lucca representing Team Adam (he's a former Mouseketeer with Xtina and Britney, BTW). Yep, I'm riding that LUCCAmotive, baby! His cover of Brittney Spears' "Baby One More Time" was awesomesauce! And the "How You Like Me Now" was superfun to watch!
In a previous post, I mentioned Matthai. She was let go but I do think she has a promising career. I think her song choices were poor toward the end. I haven't asked my co-worker how Matthai is doing since leaving the show, but I'll bring it up soon.
And finally, a commentary about Dia Frampton, who won last year's competition returned to sing. Again, I didn't see the last season, so I have no idea what level of talent she was competing against, but I have to say she didn't impress me AT ALL! HOW did she ever win??
My friend, Naughty, inspires me. Her nickname I use for her here suggests something different that what I'm about to type. You see, she's the fiercest lover I know. And by lover, I mean, a person who strives to love in a multitude of ways. She's keenly aware of her shortcomings and failures and works to overcome them, not let them limit her, not let them jade her love for people (and animals).
A few years ago, on My Space, she picked *me* as her Valentine and wrote some sweet words about me. I was blown away and deeply, infinitely humbled. Her blog post revealed to me that Valentine's Day doesn't have to be about love in the traditional sense of boyfriend-girlfriend, husband-wife. Valentine's Day is yet another opportunity to tell someone -- anyone -- you love him/her. Her blog post inspired me to do the same. Bottom line: Valentine's Day isn't just about romance. It's about L~O~V~E!
Naughty posted these words of love wisdom and I am compelled to share them here (orginal credit to Robert Ciantar):
Listen without interrupting
Speak without accusing
Give without sparing
Pray without ceasing
Answer without arguing
Share without pretending
Enjoy without complaint
Trust without wavering
Forgive without punishing
Promise without forgetting
I have a LOT of growth left, and a lot of work to do!
On 1310 AM The Ticket today, The Hardline (evenings 3-7) was reviewing Corby's list of songs that were number one on the U.S. music charts from his birthday through age 21. Danny reviewed his last week (I missed it), and next up is The Old Gray Wolf himself, Mike.
Inspired by the segment, I decided to post *my* list of songs that were number one on the U.S. music charts from January 27, 1971 until my 21st birthday in 1992.
Being born in the 70's will make some interesting findings, I'm sure. The decade was hippie-laden and disco funky. I came of age in the 80's. Though I'm not much of a traditional 80's music fan, I'm sure to get a giggle or seven from the list. I turned 21 in the early 90's and was sort of out of the music scene by then, too wrapped up in a new nephew, my boyfriend, college and other silly stuff.
71: Knock Three Times ~ Tony Orlando & Dawn
72: American Pie ~ Don McLean
73: Superstition ~ Stevie Wonder
74: The Way We Were ~ Barbara Streisand
75: Laughter In The Rain ~ Neil Diamond
76: Love Rollercoaster ~ Ohio Players
77: Car Wash ~ Rose Royce
78: Baby Come Back ~ Player
79: Le Freak ~ Chic
80: Rock With You ~ Michael Jackson
81: The Tide Is High ~ Blondie
82: I Can't Go For That (No Can Do) ~ Hall & Oates
83: Down Under ~ Men At Work
84: Owner Of A Lonely Heart ~ Yes
85: I Want To Know What Love Is ~ Foreigner
86: That's What Friends Are For ~ Dionne & Friends
87: At This Moment ~ Billy Barrett & The Beaters
88: Need You Tonight ~ INXS
89: Two Hearts ~ Phil Collins (*year I graduated high school. My class song was "Forever Young by Rod Stewart. #jackietrivia)
90: How Am I Supposed To Live Without You ~ Michael Bolton
91: The First Time ~ Surface
92: Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me ~ Elton John & George Michael
Well, well, well....all in all, I'd say January 27th folks fared very well in music! Throw out the hoaky song of 1990, overall, the list is decent.
Accounting for inflation and depreciation, amortized over 35 years, anyone else see the giggle in the fact that a group called "Player" sang a song called "Baby Come Back"? (1978)
The songs I'd never heard (of) until compiling this list:
* Laughter In The Rain: Now that I've listened to the song, I realize I HAVE heard the song! I love the interwebs!
* Love Rollercoaster (had to post it for Wolfman Jack greatness!). Now that I've listened to the song, I realize I HAVE heard the song (redux)! I can tell you with 1000% certainty I didn't know until *this blog post* that the superhighpitched part, those dudes are saying "rollahcoastah". Wow. I feel very, very whitegirl, yet so enlightened (no pun intended).
* The First Time: Now that I've listened to the song, I realize I HAVE heard the song (redoux)! What a way to end my list! NOT a fan of this song. No wonder I checked out of music in the early 90's.....
Sadly, no Duran Duran. My favorite band, a band Of The Eighties, not on my list. I'm rather sad about this..... Not even one!#seewhatididthere
I'm going to go look up my family's as well as mine for the UK Charts. I'm interested in comparing the U.S. to the U.K. list & I'll be sure to share it with you.
Accidentally came across this song today.....loved it. Had to share it. Weird how music speaks to me....
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Have you ever fed a lover with just your hands?
Close your eyes and trust it, just trust it
Have you ever thrown a fist full of glitter in the air?
Have you ever looked fear in the face and said I just don't care?
It's only half past the point of no return
The tip of the iceberg, the sun before the burn
The thunder before lightning, the breath before the phrase
Have you ever felt this way?
Have you ever hated yourself for staring at the phone?
Your whole life waiting on the ring to prove you're not alone
Have you ever been touched so gently you had to cry?
Have you ever invited a stranger to come inside?
It's only half past the point of oblivion
The hourglass on the table, the walk before the run
The breath before the kiss and the fear before the flames
Have you ever felt this way?
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
There you are, sitting in the garden
Clutching my coffee, calling me sugar
You called me sugar
I recently updated my Nano with music. I had forgotten about a few songs, one of them being "At This Point In My Life" by Tracy Champan.
I'm having a bit of a hard day today, and lately, I've not slept well. I'm glad the day is just about over. Anyway, this song came on while I was driving home today and it just resounded with me. It rippled deep into my soul and back out of my being.
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Done so many things wrong I don't know if I can do right
Oh I, Oh I've
Done so many things wrong I don't know if I can do right
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At this point in my life
I've done so many things wrong I don't know if I can do right
If you put your trust in me I hope I won't let you down
If you give me a chance I'll try
You see it's been a hard road the road I'm traveling on
And if I take your hand I might lead you down the path to ruin
I've had a hard life I'm just saying it so you'll understand
That right now, right now, I'm doing the best I can
At this point in my life
At this point in my life
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Although I've mostly walked in the shadows
I'm still searching for the light
Won't you put your faith in me
We both know that's what matters
If you give me a chance I'll try
You see I've been climbing stairs but mostly stumbling down
I've been reaching high always losing ground
You see I've been reaching high but always losing ground
You see I've conquered hills but I still have mountains to climb
And right now right now I'm doing the best I can
At this point in my life
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Before we take a step
Before we walk down that path
Before I make any promises
Before you have regrets
Before we talk commitment
Let me tell you of my past
All I've seen and all I've done
The things I'd like to forget
At this point in my life
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At this point in my life
I'd like to live as if only love mattered
As if redemption was in sight
As if the search to live honestly
Is all that anyone needs
No matter if you find it
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You see when I've touched the sky
The earth's gravity has pulled me down
But now I've reconciled that in this world
Birds and angels get the wings to fly
If you can believe in this heart of mine
If you can give it a try
Then I'll reach inside and find and give you
All the sweetness that I have
At this point in my life
At this point in my life
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Hoping to get a little sleep tonight, and a brighter tomorrow.
One of the things I love about music is similar to what I love about the written word: you can like it any time.
I'm late to jump on the bandwagon with this band, Cowboy Junkies. I admit that I can't listen to them 24/7, but while I'm discovering the music, I'm listening to them a lot. I think this will be music that will suit a 'mood'.
I thought I'd post some of the choice songs from the Duran Duran album All You Need Is Now:
+ Being Followed
+ Man Who Stole A Leopard (featuring Kelis)
+ Before The Rain
+ Too Bad You're So Beautiful
+ Early Summer Nerves
+ All You Need Is Now
The whole thing is good, like I've said previously. Safe, Girl Panic, Leave A Light On...all songs with good moods to them.
