I don't tend to run across much music that makes me sad. Music is supposed to lift us up. Make us feel good. Entertain us. This one did that for awhile.
SONG: The Dance
ARTIST: Garth Brooks
ALBUM: Garth Brooks
YEAR: 1990
This song was played on the piano at my Aunt's funeral. I don't know what you could say about her. She loved and was loved by everybody who was lucky enough to meet her. I miss her sense of humor and her big hugs. She battled cancer all the way to the end. She was taken away from us way too soon.
The first time I heard this after the funeral, I couldn't make it the entire song before bursting into tears. My wife (who was my girlfriend at the time) didn't understand why I was so emotional until I told her why I was crying. My family lost a great woman and it's unfortunate that my wife and son never got to meet her. It's still hard to this day to get through this song without welling up.
Showing posts with label Music. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Music. Show all posts
8.25.2011
day 03 - a song that makes you happy
There are a lot of songs that could make a person happy. The one that I always blast in the car the few times it's featured on the radio is:
SONG: Are You That Somebody?
ARTIST: Aaliyah
ALBUM: Dr. Doolittle Soundtrack
YEAR: 1998
Maybe you think I picked this because today marks the ten-year anniversary of her tragic death? Maybe I picked it because I heard it today? Nobody will ever know the truth behind this pick. I just love this song. I've probably heard it about 150 times and it never gets old. It's got just the right amount of Timbaland in it. Sure, the movie was terrible enough to spawn a sequel and pay Eddie Murphy money for it, but the song is pure genius and always picks me up no matter what mood I'm in. She was taken away too soon, but her legend lives on through our speakers.
SONG: Are You That Somebody?
ARTIST: Aaliyah
ALBUM: Dr. Doolittle Soundtrack
YEAR: 1998
Maybe you think I picked this because today marks the ten-year anniversary of her tragic death? Maybe I picked it because I heard it today? Nobody will ever know the truth behind this pick. I just love this song. I've probably heard it about 150 times and it never gets old. It's got just the right amount of Timbaland in it. Sure, the movie was terrible enough to spawn a sequel and pay Eddie Murphy money for it, but the song is pure genius and always picks me up no matter what mood I'm in. She was taken away too soon, but her legend lives on through our speakers.
8.24.2011
day 02 - your least favorite song
Can we just call this what it is? "The song that whenever you hear it you want to kill everybody in sight." Everybody has one. That tune that you can't stand for whatever reason. The singer's voice is annoying. The music video is offensive. You hear it too much. Somebody you hate loves it. It brings up bad memories.
The song I selected was easy to think of. It was the clear winner. Hands down, no question.
Song: Hey, Soul Sister
Artist: Train
Album: Save Me, San Francisco
Year: 2010
Hey-ay! Hey-ay-ay-ay-ay!
Maybe it was the fuckin' commercial (F-U Samsung) that featured this un-Godly tone. Maybe it was that first scream. It was definitely overplayed. That first retarded scream puts the entire song into my head. If I hear it on the radio, I'm like a super ninja trying to turn the station. It's too late. By the time you hear Hey-ay, it's like I've already heard the whole song. Then I'm listening to a different song, but all I can do is sing the Train-wreck mockingly.
The easiest way to get me to commit homicide would be to give me courtside seats to Lakers vs. Blazers in another Game 7, have Kobe hit the winning shot at the buzzer, then have the Rose Garden play Hey, Soul Sister as the Lakers celebrate at mid-court, right in front of my seat. There'd be a funeral for someone and...I don't even know. I'd be unable to stand trial and be locked up in the mental ward of the state hospital.
Apparently, I'm alone in thinking this P.O.S. song is worth anybody's time or money because it was the top-selling song on iTunes in 2010. Are you kidding me? Hey-ay! That's everybody's new favorite song. The only way this song could get worse is if they start playing it in my place of employment. I will break every speaker in the building if this happens. And I know it will. I'm just waiting in the corner with a sledgehammer waiting for that famous first note.
The song I selected was easy to think of. It was the clear winner. Hands down, no question.
Song: Hey, Soul Sister
Artist: Train
Album: Save Me, San Francisco
Year: 2010
Hey-ay! Hey-ay-ay-ay-ay!
Maybe it was the fuckin' commercial (F-U Samsung) that featured this un-Godly tone. Maybe it was that first scream. It was definitely overplayed. That first retarded scream puts the entire song into my head. If I hear it on the radio, I'm like a super ninja trying to turn the station. It's too late. By the time you hear Hey-ay, it's like I've already heard the whole song. Then I'm listening to a different song, but all I can do is sing the Train-wreck mockingly.
The easiest way to get me to commit homicide would be to give me courtside seats to Lakers vs. Blazers in another Game 7, have Kobe hit the winning shot at the buzzer, then have the Rose Garden play Hey, Soul Sister as the Lakers celebrate at mid-court, right in front of my seat. There'd be a funeral for someone and...I don't even know. I'd be unable to stand trial and be locked up in the mental ward of the state hospital.
Apparently, I'm alone in thinking this P.O.S. song is worth anybody's time or money because it was the top-selling song on iTunes in 2010. Are you kidding me? Hey-ay! That's everybody's new favorite song. The only way this song could get worse is if they start playing it in my place of employment. I will break every speaker in the building if this happens. And I know it will. I'm just waiting in the corner with a sledgehammer waiting for that famous first note.
8.23.2011
day 01 - your favorite song
How could I choose a song that is my favorite? I've been around for 27 years and I've heard a lot of music. How do I pick just one song? Do I even HAVE a favorite?
I thought about my favorite singers/bands. I thought about songs I really used to like. I came up with a handful of songs and had to decide between them. The one I came up with, I'm sure my wife would agree that if I absolutely had to pick a favorite song of all time, this would be it.
Song: Juke Box Hero
Artist: Foreigner
Album: 4
Year: 1981
I don't really know what it is. It's definitely not the best song of all-time. There's just something about it that gets me all fired up. It has some pretty great memories attached to it.
I was introduced to Foreigner in the summer before eighth grade by my friend Miles. It was 1997. I used to go over to his house ev-er-y-day that summer and we'd hang out. Playing N64 until we couldn't see straight. Looking at weird shit on the internet on his WebTV. Making mix-CD's with cover art that featured me wearing a cowboy hat and holding an acoustic guitar over my shoulder like I was going to smash someone over the head with it. (A CD I still have to this day. I need to find the CD case and post the pic.) We were typical 13 year old boys doing stupid stuff.
There was something about the way Foreigner sounded that I really liked. All of their songs just sounded good to me. Maybe I thought I was cool for liking music that was made before I was born. Maybe I was burnt out on Hip-Hop. For whatever reason, I really liked what I heard. There were a few songs that I recognized from TV commercials or other pop culture. Jukebox Hero really stood out to me for some reason. The lyrics were easily understandable, I could sing along to it. It starts slow with just one beat and builds up until you find yourself banging your head without even knowing it.
I even got inebriated enough to perform it karaoke style with an air guitar solo and attempted power slide that drew applause from the few people who were paying attention. It became a folklore for the people who knew me who were actually there to witness the awesomeness.
So there it is. My favorite song.
I thought about my favorite singers/bands. I thought about songs I really used to like. I came up with a handful of songs and had to decide between them. The one I came up with, I'm sure my wife would agree that if I absolutely had to pick a favorite song of all time, this would be it.
Song: Juke Box Hero
Artist: Foreigner
Album: 4
Year: 1981
I don't really know what it is. It's definitely not the best song of all-time. There's just something about it that gets me all fired up. It has some pretty great memories attached to it.
I was introduced to Foreigner in the summer before eighth grade by my friend Miles. It was 1997. I used to go over to his house ev-er-y-day that summer and we'd hang out. Playing N64 until we couldn't see straight. Looking at weird shit on the internet on his WebTV. Making mix-CD's with cover art that featured me wearing a cowboy hat and holding an acoustic guitar over my shoulder like I was going to smash someone over the head with it. (A CD I still have to this day. I need to find the CD case and post the pic.) We were typical 13 year old boys doing stupid stuff.
There was something about the way Foreigner sounded that I really liked. All of their songs just sounded good to me. Maybe I thought I was cool for liking music that was made before I was born. Maybe I was burnt out on Hip-Hop. For whatever reason, I really liked what I heard. There were a few songs that I recognized from TV commercials or other pop culture. Jukebox Hero really stood out to me for some reason. The lyrics were easily understandable, I could sing along to it. It starts slow with just one beat and builds up until you find yourself banging your head without even knowing it.
I even got inebriated enough to perform it karaoke style with an air guitar solo and attempted power slide that drew applause from the few people who were paying attention. It became a folklore for the people who knew me who were actually there to witness the awesomeness.
So there it is. My favorite song.
30 Day Song Challenge
Most of the things on Facebook are pretty stupid. Farmville was fun for a day or two. There are endless retarded things to do on the social site. I hardly participate in any of them. Except this 30-day song challenge. I saw a friend do it on her page and I thought that I would post the songs to my blog so I could give a little more in-depth breakdown of why I selected each song for each day. You will find that my musical tastes range far and wide and that I don't really prefer a certain genre of music. As I have said to people in the past, I will not apologize for my taste in music. If you think I'm stupid for liking a song, then great. I'm stupid. What else you got? So I hope you enjoy and maybe this is what will get the blog going again.
9.02.2007
I CAN go for that...
What is it that I can go for you ask? I have to say that I absolutely love me some Hall and Oates. You could question my manhood on this one, but fuck off. They have so many hits I don't know where to start.
Go ahead and look for them on iTunes. I know you're gonna. Click on their top hits and you'll go, I didn't know they sang that one. I know hop and dance and do that weird 80's head bob thing while you snap your fingers when you listen to "Maneater", don't deny it.
Although their H2O cover is uber gay, they still rock to no end. "You Make My Dreams Come True" is an 80's anthem. "I Can't Go For That (No Can Do)" is timeless. Hall and Oates are totally "My USA".
6.07.2007
8 bands, 4 beers, 2 nights
I've been to as many concerts this week (2) as I have in my entire life. The following is a sort of review of my experience, as well as the bands' performances.
Monday, June 4th, Hawthorne Theatre
The Atmosphere: The Hawthorne reminds me of someone's house. You walk in (after being frisked) and it's just a hallway with two single bathrooms and a door on the left that takes you into the theatre. The theatre is about 40 feet by 60 feet and sports a bar in the center of the room. I ordered $5 Hefeweizens (Portland's Finest) and we (Nikki, Cari, Kate, I) sat in the back so we could stand up on the booth and see the stage. It runs about 86 degrees in the theatre at all times. Wear as little as possible.
Opening Band: Resident Hero
These guys played half-songs and the lead singer rambled on aimlessly about Filet-o-Fish sandwiches and Kool-Aid. I probably could have rocked it harder than them. They finally played a full song towards the end, but I just wanted them to stop.
Band: Sick Puppies
These guys were a little better, but I think that they could work on their name a little more. Sick Puppies sounds like a made-up band name you'd hear on an episode of Full House, to which Danny Tanner would say, "Sick Puppies? Do they sing a song called 'I lost my Alpo in a slipper'?" This would cause the recorded audience to roar into a frenzy and cause me to change the channel.
Band: Kill Hannah
These guys were decent. I've heard of them before, but didn't know any of the words to their songs. I think we were just killing time to get to the main act...and trying to keep Kate from vomiting.
Closing Band: Flyleaf
A band that scares Amy, these five were the band we came to see and they didn't disappoint. The lead singer is a chick who is about 5 feet tall, but she can scream with the best of them. I knew most of the songs here and they did a pretty good job live. Mr. Filet-o-Fish came back on the stage and sang a little with them and didn't do a bad job. Lead singer Lacey Mosley did that weird Ashlee Simpson/Rocker Chick Twirly Spin thing a lot. By this time we were sweating our asses off and couldn't wait to leave.
Tuesday, June 5th, Roseland Theatre
The Atmosphere: A little more gothic and smelly than the Hawthorne. We (Carli, Audra, Nikki, I) walked in and were immediately segregated by gender to enter two metal detectors to check for guns, knives, shivs, shanks or any other metal device that you could use to injure another spectator. Next, I was patted down by a large Samoan man who asked me if I smelled weed. Probably because I constantly look high due to my lazy eye (damn genetics) and the fact that I'm almost never completely awake. "No," I said as he pulled my keys out of my pocket. "OK, he said, and I was on my way deeper into the theatre to be stamped. We made it upstairs and upstairs again to the bar where I ordered a Budweiser and we found some seats. I was sitting in front of one of the air conditioners so while everybody else was at a cool 60 degrees, Nikki and I were chillin' at about 50 degrees.
Opening Band: Inflikt
These guys were a local band and didn't do a horrendous job. The vocals could use some work, but what vocals can you hear when you're listening to metal? It just seemed like the guy was screaming so that there would be sound to accompany the guitars, drums and ambient noise.
Band: Invitro
This band was the most entertaining as they came out in aluminum foil helmets and the lead singer was speed-walking throughout the entire set. They were good enough for Carli to buy their CD (for a dollar) so I guess they did something right. After they were done, I found myself in a conversation with a guy who was displeased with the lack of other people's hygiene. He was pretty drunk so it made for interesting conversation. At this point, we moved from our upstairs seats to the floor for the final two bands.
Band: Otep
Probably the band Carli wanted to see most, they have a female lead singer who can get her voice deeper than James Earl Jones and Barry White. It's like something out of a horror movie when she screams. It's what I imagine Satan must sound like when he drops something on his foot. She rocked the audience and got them all pissed off at President Bush. They were awesome and even sampled some Nirvana. (Note: the baby doll's head on the microphone stand was creepy.)
Closing Band: Static-X
Absolutely awesome. They played for what seemed like an hour and had the entire place on it's feet. People in the balcony were leaning over trying to get closer to them.
It was amazing to look around and see everybody rockin' out as hard as they could. I now want to do my hair like Wayne Static (of course I'll have to grow it out a bit). He was a character and made people go crazy. Every two or three songs, the band would do shots and the crowd would cheer.
We left the theatre smelling like other people's body odor and weed. We were also all partially deaf which made us hungry for Taco Bell (I had a Grilled Stuft Burrito and a small burrito or taco). My hearing is still only at about 92% as I still have a faint buzzing sound going. It was good times though and a great way to spend my two days off from work.
Monday, June 4th, Hawthorne Theatre
The Atmosphere: The Hawthorne reminds me of someone's house. You walk in (after being frisked) and it's just a hallway with two single bathrooms and a door on the left that takes you into the theatre. The theatre is about 40 feet by 60 feet and sports a bar in the center of the room. I ordered $5 Hefeweizens (Portland's Finest) and we (Nikki, Cari, Kate, I) sat in the back so we could stand up on the booth and see the stage. It runs about 86 degrees in the theatre at all times. Wear as little as possible.
Opening Band: Resident Hero
These guys played half-songs and the lead singer rambled on aimlessly about Filet-o-Fish sandwiches and Kool-Aid. I probably could have rocked it harder than them. They finally played a full song towards the end, but I just wanted them to stop.
Band: Sick Puppies
These guys were a little better, but I think that they could work on their name a little more. Sick Puppies sounds like a made-up band name you'd hear on an episode of Full House, to which Danny Tanner would say, "Sick Puppies? Do they sing a song called 'I lost my Alpo in a slipper'?" This would cause the recorded audience to roar into a frenzy and cause me to change the channel.
Band: Kill Hannah
These guys were decent. I've heard of them before, but didn't know any of the words to their songs. I think we were just killing time to get to the main act...and trying to keep Kate from vomiting.
Closing Band: Flyleaf
A band that scares Amy, these five were the band we came to see and they didn't disappoint. The lead singer is a chick who is about 5 feet tall, but she can scream with the best of them. I knew most of the songs here and they did a pretty good job live. Mr. Filet-o-Fish came back on the stage and sang a little with them and didn't do a bad job. Lead singer Lacey Mosley did that weird Ashlee Simpson/Rocker Chick Twirly Spin thing a lot. By this time we were sweating our asses off and couldn't wait to leave.
Tuesday, June 5th, Roseland Theatre
The Atmosphere: A little more gothic and smelly than the Hawthorne. We (Carli, Audra, Nikki, I) walked in and were immediately segregated by gender to enter two metal detectors to check for guns, knives, shivs, shanks or any other metal device that you could use to injure another spectator. Next, I was patted down by a large Samoan man who asked me if I smelled weed. Probably because I constantly look high due to my lazy eye (damn genetics) and the fact that I'm almost never completely awake. "No," I said as he pulled my keys out of my pocket. "OK, he said, and I was on my way deeper into the theatre to be stamped. We made it upstairs and upstairs again to the bar where I ordered a Budweiser and we found some seats. I was sitting in front of one of the air conditioners so while everybody else was at a cool 60 degrees, Nikki and I were chillin' at about 50 degrees.
Opening Band: Inflikt
These guys were a local band and didn't do a horrendous job. The vocals could use some work, but what vocals can you hear when you're listening to metal? It just seemed like the guy was screaming so that there would be sound to accompany the guitars, drums and ambient noise.
Band: Invitro
This band was the most entertaining as they came out in aluminum foil helmets and the lead singer was speed-walking throughout the entire set. They were good enough for Carli to buy their CD (for a dollar) so I guess they did something right. After they were done, I found myself in a conversation with a guy who was displeased with the lack of other people's hygiene. He was pretty drunk so it made for interesting conversation. At this point, we moved from our upstairs seats to the floor for the final two bands.
Band: Otep
Probably the band Carli wanted to see most, they have a female lead singer who can get her voice deeper than James Earl Jones and Barry White. It's like something out of a horror movie when she screams. It's what I imagine Satan must sound like when he drops something on his foot. She rocked the audience and got them all pissed off at President Bush. They were awesome and even sampled some Nirvana. (Note: the baby doll's head on the microphone stand was creepy.)Closing Band: Static-X
Absolutely awesome. They played for what seemed like an hour and had the entire place on it's feet. People in the balcony were leaning over trying to get closer to them.
It was amazing to look around and see everybody rockin' out as hard as they could. I now want to do my hair like Wayne Static (of course I'll have to grow it out a bit). He was a character and made people go crazy. Every two or three songs, the band would do shots and the crowd would cheer.We left the theatre smelling like other people's body odor and weed. We were also all partially deaf which made us hungry for Taco Bell (I had a Grilled Stuft Burrito and a small burrito or taco). My hearing is still only at about 92% as I still have a faint buzzing sound going. It was good times though and a great way to spend my two days off from work.
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