Stop, Think

This song and its arresting video by Oren Lavie have me thinking a bit deeper than I usually do.

The Museum of Simon and Garfunkel (or I Wish I Was An English Muffin)

I've begun the slow process of importing all my favorite songs from my CD collection into my iTunes. It's a nice review of what I own and why... it makes me think a little.

At the moment, I am importing the entire collected works of Simon and Garfunkel. Maybe this makes you think of the over-played 70's easy-listening standards "Bridge Over Troubled Water" or "Mrs. Robinson", but their works include so much more.

From the soft, simple harmonies of Bleeker Street and Peggy-O to the personal stories in Kathy's Song, America and Leaves That Are Green to the religious themes in The Sun Is Burning and Blessed, there's so much to hear. There's the unmistakable social/political commentary of songs like The Sound Of Silence, A Most Peculiar Man, I Am A Rock, Save The Life Of My Child, At The Zoo, A Simple Desultory Philippic (Or How I Was Robert McNamara'd Into Submission) and The 7 O'Clock News/SIlent Night. There are the sensitive gestures of Voices Of Old People and Old Friends. Finally, though, there are my favorites: Cloudy, Patterns, April Come She Will, For Emily Whenever I May Find Her, Bookends Theme, Punky's Dilemma, Cecilia, So Long Frank Lloyd Wright, and The Only Living Boy In New York.

It was an impressive though short stretch they had together, and of course we all know that I think Paul Simon is the most brilliant lyricist EVER in the history of music. That man has a way with words that I love and they stick with me, narrating my life from time to time. Listening to this 3 disc set is like a long rainy-day visit to a favorite New York museum filled with their music. I wander from room to room, close my eyes occasionally, and enjoy the beauty of the fine art... and paul.

Name That Tune

Go ahead, sing it!



Now go buy yourself the t-shirt here.

Christmas: The Soundtrack

We all have them and they are never more precious than at Christmas time- I'm talking about our favorite versions of classic holiday songs.

So when I say "Frosty the Snowman", are you hearing Fiona Apple or Bing Crosby? Maybe you prefer Ella Fitzgerlad or even The Cocteau Twins. Or, for a slow-dance version, the Partridge Family. But please tell me it's not Alvin and the Chipmunks.

Let's play a little game. I'll name a Christmas song, and you tell me who recorded your definitive version. Well, okay, I'll start. But I want to hear you singing along!

Frosty the Snowman: Fiona Apple

Santa Claus is Coming to Town: Chris Isaak (with Stevie Nicks)

Good King Wenceslas: Loreena McKinnett

Go Tell It On the Mountain: Simon and Garfunkel (with James Taylor a very close second)

I Saw Three Ships: Sting, of course

Mary's Boy Child: Boney M (go look it up on itunes- the real version isn't there, but some good imitations are)

It Came Upon a Midnight Clear: Sixpence None the Richer

Do You Hear What I Hear: The Rankin Family

I Pray on Christmas: Harry Connick, Jr.

I'll be Home for Christmas: Tony Bennett (live version)

Let It Snow: Gary Grant (a former co-worker of Q's, Sinatra sound, on itunes)

Winter Wonderland: Harry Connick, Jr. (from When Harry Met Sally)

Jingle Bells: Diana Krall

O Little Town of Bethlehem: Sarah McLachlan

Away in a Manger: Emmylou Harris

Hark, the Herald Angels SIng: Jim Brickman (piano)

O Tannenbaum: The Vienna Boys Choir

O Come All Ye Faithful: Amy Grant

Silent Night: The Hooters

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day: Jars of Clay

Deck the Halls: Aly & AJ

O Holy Night: Afterglow

Silver Bells: The Mormon Tabernacle Choir

Some Children See Him: James Taylor

Angels We Have Heard on High: Josh Groban

The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting): Mel Torme

Do They Know It's Christmas: Band Aid (really, nobody else can do it justice- it must have Boy George, George Michael, and Bono in all of their 80's naiveness.)

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: Chris Isaak (if I have to listen to that song)


You might notice a few missing. Well, I don't have a favorite version, so let me know what your definitive version is of "Joy to the World", "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" (BNL is pretty good), "White Christmas", "The Holly and the Ivy" (I used to have a great dulcimer version, but it's on cassette tape), etc.

As for new favorites, I love "Mele Kalikimaka" and "Brightest Star" by Christ Isaak, "Someday at Christmas" by Stevie Wonder, and " Maybe This Christmas" by Ron Sexsmith, of course.

What's on your soundtrack this year- and every year?

Walk (Fast) With Me

Ok, Dave asked for my treadmill playlist. Thanks- like I didn't have enough time-wasting going on with facebook.

Here (also here) it is. It's not quite in order, but you get the idea. I try to walk/run to the beat or double-time if its slow. I generally go for 22-30 minutes at 3.5-4 mph, covering between 1.3 and 2 miles. I sometimes get quite animated while singing along... bonus cardio workout.

I get to input this kind of stuff on my Weight Watchers daily planner, thus canceling out food points I may have used that day.

There are a few songs missing because I either don't know its name (from undocumented Beautiful South cd from Dave) or last.fm doesn't have it (like BNL's Disgruntled Elf's Lament). I like Holiday music.

When the New Day Dawns, I've Just Got to Entertain...

If you live in my neighborhood, you might have seen me rocking out to this tune as I pull out of my driveway. It sticks in my head and I sing it everywhere (except in the shower). It's on the Sandra Boynton/Michael Ford album called Blue Moo.

We've been fans of their Philadelphia Chickens for five years. Grandma Connie brought it to Sonja when Laurel was born and I remember singing Pig Island as a lullaby for little Lu. Snuggle Puppy is one of Torin's most requested diaper-changing ballads. For some reason, the albums Rhinoceros Tap and Dog Train have not interested me, but Blue Moo is red hot. Grandma Carol sent it along to entertain us when Peter was born, and it has. We love everything- except Big Band Sound and Loud/Quiet. Speed Turtle and The Uninvited Loud Precision Band had us cracking up during the first listening of the album. That's the magic of the Blue, Blue Moo.

If you have kids, this was made for you. If you don't have kids, you might find this stuff lightens up your day and makes you happy. If you have grandkids, go here and order them each a copy, pronto!

(D&M, your kids will be getting this for Christmas unless you already have it.)

Oh, I want to be in that number...

... when the Saints go marching in. Actually, I want to be in that number when the Saints get to sit in the choir seats at Stake Conference.

I love singing. I have been a somewhat decent singer at various stages of my life but, unfortunately, now isn't one of them. I'm 32 weeks pregnant (8 weeks to go!) and so have seriously diminished lung capacity plus I have recently recovered from one of the worst cases of bronchitis ever... and my vocal chords took a real beating. Add that to the fact that I'm just plain out of practice and my voice is nothing special at the moment.

However, I still love singing, and have wanted to join our totally fantastic Branch Choir for quite some time. It's a great group of men, women, and young people led by a talented professional and accompanied by one of those people who can play just about anything. As a bonus, the fantastic director's fantastic husband is also an amazing musician and arranger of music. My current family situation is not ideal for staying after church: three worn-out kids, one of whom desperately needs a nap, and a husband who stays after for meetings of his own. So when I hear the choir perform every month, I have to remind myself that now is not my time. Someday, maybe I can manage it, but not yet.

Then, two weeks ago, they announced that our choir is singing in Stake Conference and now is the time for anyone who might have been considering joining the choir to do so. Eureka! I saw this as my great opportunity to be a part of it- at least for a limited time. We have stayed after for practice twice now, and it isn't easy for the kids. However, I have thoroughly enjoyed it! The music is great and it's so fun to sing with such a full and dedicated group under the direction of someone who really knows what they're doing. It can be a powerful, uplifting experience to express your faith through music and singing.

The conference is in two weeks and we have one more practice to go. It occurred to me that members of the choir will probably be sitting in their soft choir seats for the whole meeting. (Many of you already see where I'm going with this.) Since moving to Vermont four years ago, Quinn has not been able to sit with us during Sacrament Meeting; he's been on the stand (or "stand" in our case) as part of the Branch Presidency in one capacity or another. This is one of those rare chances he has to sit in the audience... with the kids. I feel a tinge of regret that he will not be getting anything out of the general session of Stake Conference this time around, but I am looking forward to a real spiritual feast. Especially when it comes to the music.

This week's Friday 5

This week's 5 has been postponed. There seems to have been a computer problem at the station, which resulted in Quinn's live show being cancelled today. He might get a chance to do it early next week; we'll see. Here's the show outline, anyway, for your amusement.

News: Happiness scores are lowest among middle-aged men
Music:
Middle Age Malaise (by AV8)
Growing Old (by The Origin)
Skinny Young Millionaire Blues (by Ethan Daniel Davidson)
Shiny Happy People (by R.E.M.)

News: Angkor Wat Sprawl
Music:
Love Among the Ruins (by 10,000 Maniacs)
Man and His Environment (by Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown)
Urban Buddhism (by Los Monjes Budistas)

News: Flash Gordon is back
Music:
Flash's Theme (by Queen)
Captain Space Man (by Johnny Law)

News: North Korea is flooding
Music:
Flood (by Jars of Clay)
Down In the Flood (Live) (by Bob Dylan)
Fear the Flood (by Nixon Nation)

News: Combined music news- The Osmonds reunited for a concert in Las Vegas celebrating 50 years since their barbershop quartet debut in 1957. Also, there was a huge candlelight vigil at Graceland marking 30 years since Elvis's death (or "death", depending on your view).
Music:
Everything Good Reminds Me of You (by Donny Osmond & Marie Osmond)
Morning Side of the Mountain (by Donny Osmond & Marie Osmond)
Love Me Tender (by Elvis Presley)
Peace in the Valley (by Elvis Presley)

Friday Five at 5

This is the official announcement of Professor Quinn Mecham's radio show on the Middlebury College radio station WRMC, Fridays at 5pm. It's a fusion of news and music: five news items from this week and music to go along with the stories. Don't miss the best entertainment WRMC has to offer. This week's music will include songs by Phish, the DuBay Band, Dance Hall Crashers, The Red Army Choir, the department of homeboy security, The Beatles, Matt McCluer, The Red Elvises, Abaji, and Paul Simon. Tune in locally or online!

Addendum: The Show outline
All music listed is available on iTunes. The news summaries are mine, not exact quotes.

News item: The BBC reports a man boarded a plane in Peru with a monkey under his hat, which was discovered at New York's LaGuardia airport on Wednesday August 8.
Music:
I Really Love My Monkey (by Kid Andersen)
Sleeping Monkey (by Phish)
Everybody's Got Something To Hide Except Me And My Monkey (by The Beatles)

News item: The Canadian Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, has begun an Arctic tour to strengthen his country's claim on the region. Last week, Russia placed a flag at the North Pole.
Music:
Arctic Wind and Ice (by Alan Tower)
O Canada (by The DuBay Band)
Russian National Anthem (by The Red Army Choir)
Arctic Zone (by Isolation Years)
North Pole (by Dance Hall Crashers)
Diplomacy (by the department of homeboy security)

News item: The German newspaper Spiegel reports that a giant Lego man washed up on a beach in the Netherlands.
Music:
Lego (by Ian Gomm)
Plastic Man (by The Temptations)
Washed Up By the Ocean (by Jamie Junger)
Boogie On The Beach (by Red Elvises)

News item: The New York Times reports that a man was detained by officers of the law after his homemade submarine came too close to a cruise ship off Brooklyn's Pier 41. The submarine was a plywood replica of America's first submarine, the Turtle, from the Revolutionary War. See also.
Music:
Submarine (by Here Comes Everybody)
Mr. Submarine (by Russ Tolman)

News item: The BBC reports: Unity call as Afghan jirga opens. Afghan President Hamid Karzai tells tribal leaders at a peace summit that unity with Pakistan will defeat militants.
Music:
The Tribe Is Back Together (by Matt McCluer)
Pakistanaise (by Abaji)
Peace Like a River (by Paul Simon)

Nano Nano

I got my new (red) iPod nano yesterday. It was free with my iMac purchase- one more advantage to being affiliated with an academic institution and being a mackie. I now feel like one of those people whose life spans from old-fashioned technology to way-cool new technology: this beats the heck out of my walkman. Next time I run across it in an old box, I'm going to toss it. Last night I was vacuuming to the Red Elvises, washing dishes to Tarkan, and mowing the lawn to the Beatles. If my neighbors don't think I'm crazy yet, they will soon.

Yes, for those of you who know my gmail address, you are more than welcome to gift me a song or two for any occasion!

Discovering Music

My sincere thanks goes out to Marie, Emma, Davey, and Kari for your excellent suggestions. They were almost all right on, and led me in some rewarding directions. Here's my working list of stuff you've probably been listening to for years now. (Subject to editing without notice.)

•Rediscovered Pink Maritni's GREAT sound. I heard it many moons ago and never bought any, but should have bought it all.
•Edie Brickell's new one: Volcano (especially the song "Take a Walk")
•Brett Dennen- liked everything I've heard so far.
•Enjoyed Ben Folds (Five).
•Keane- yeah, I can see why they opened for U2. I might be a fan.
•Why don't I own any Barenaked Ladies? Hate the name- cheap shot, guys- but I'm a fan of the music.
•New Riders of the Purple Sage- where was I?
•Beth Nielsen Chapman, Brandi Carlile, Dashboard Confessional- nice sound, not sure I'm going to like all of it.
•Madeleine Peyroux- I own one album, but I think it's the wrong one for me.
•Susan Tedeschi- like Hope and Desire a lot.
•Davey- get yourself a yummy hat- I'm not (yet) a Jeff Buckley fan. There's not much of that kind of darkness left in my life- maybe if I had heard him when I was 17....
•Belle and Sebastian, Death Cab for Cutie, Aqualung, Thomas Cunningham, Jem- lots of promise, I need to hear more. (New computer is on its way.)
•Jamie Cullum- I've had his Pointless Nostalgic album on my Amazon list for a couple of years now. I should probably buy it.
•Jack Johnson- slam dunk for me, I think. I will probably acquire all three albums.
•Jason Mraz- yup, I think so. (He's from Mechanicsville, VA?)
•Donovan Frankenreiter, Josh Kelley, Nada Surf- yeah, maybe.
•Nickel Creek: oh yeah- I did like this! I was getting it confused with Nickelback- whoa, not the same. Thanks for the rediscovery.

Ok, got anything else?

Opening the box

Dave and his friend Davey, courtesy of other friends, introduced me to musicovery recently, and I spent a few hours there checking it out. As a "radio station", it's pretty good. I have a couple of issues with it, though. First, I think they categorize some artists incorrectly: The Eurythmics are pop or electro rather than rock, and George Michael should be pop as well, for example. They'll probably get that worked out eventually. Second, I'd like very much to be able to input an artist or an album and have it map out all the songs so I can see where they fall. I realize this may be outside their mission as a music player, but it seems like they should have the ability to do this sort of thing fairly easily. It would be very handy. Third, they seem to be somewhat limited in their selections- there were a lot of my favorites missing or at least hard to find. Also, I vote they have categories like "indie" and "alternative rock". However, I know it's beta, so there's still hope. It's pretty cool.

Another site which deserves notice is Pandora. You put in a song or an artist you like and it creates a radio playlist based on its musical characteristics. You get to say if you like or dislike each song, and it continues to learn from your input. This is great for me- I'm learning a lot about what's out there and there's so much to listen to. It's not perfect, either, but is a straightforward and linear exploratory tool that is a good companion for musicovery fans.

Try them out, but be careful. It's all very addictive.

S.O.S.

Ok, for those of you who have checked my profile, you can see that my taste in music is, let's say, boring. Some might call it sorry, out-dated, unusual, or square. I need your help. There are many of you who live in more hip locals than I do and thus have access to some decent radio stations, not to mention current pop culture. What's going on out there? What do you like?

Let's just take a stroll up the radio dial and see what's on the airwaves here in Vermont right now: 1) something like Neil Diamond but not quite, 2) "When the summer's hot... you've got women, you've got women, you've got women on your mind...", 3) a sad country song about the decline in the number of husbands and wives, 4) classical on VPR, 5) sports talk radio, 6) a twangy "Walking in Memphis"- another country station, 7) Dire Straits: "Money for Nothing", 8) Sounds like Janice Joplin- something with a little too much electric organ for me, 9) talk radio, 10) some lame heavy rock song about how "everybody wants you, everybody knows you, everybody needs you, needs you!"

Now, that may not seem like very many stations to you, and you're right. Here next to the mountain our reception isn't very good; I can get two or three more when I'm the the car. And I know what you're thinking: "The radio?! That's soooo 80's! Like, I get all the latest tunes on my i-pod directly through the RSS feed on my blackberry, dude." Gnarley, I'm sure, but I don't have time for that. I cannot mess around with TRYING new music. It must be a slam dunk for me or I don't buy it. I don't even have time to go wandering through i-tunes downloading 30-second snippets and guessing if I'm going to like the whole song.

I hope I haven't scared you off with my tirade because I need your help. Dave, Kari, you already know how pathetic my knowledge of and appreciation for current (or even recently out-dated) music is. Thank you for not mentioning it (very often) before. Here's my proposal: I will make a non-difinitive list of my favorite music and artists, in no particular order. It may seem wildly disparate to you- bear with me, though. Your challenge is to recommend something YOU like based on what's on my list. "Oh, she likes 'Music from the Chocolate Lands' by Putumayo. I bet she'd also like 'Paris Café'"- and you'd be right! See how easy it is? Those of you who like a challenge can give me some direction so I can safely venture into uncharted water without being too disappointed.

Oh, one last thing: I'm not a big fan of heavy electric guitars or explicit lyrics. I don't even like angry music at all. But you probably knew that....

The List:
I own (or know I like) all U2's music (except for POP- still hasn't grown on me)
Most REM
Cure, Smiths, and the like
Toad the Wet Sprocket- some
James Taylor in a major way
John Denver- yup
Allison Kraus & Norah Jones
Abba (but not Ace of Base), Dee Lite (some)
Eric Clapton, unplugged
Chris Isaak- Baja Sessions
Paul Simon, of course (even with Garfunkel)
Erasure (some), A-ha (yes I still own their first LP)
Shakira (in Spanish), Tarkan (in Turkish), Sissel Kyrkjebø (in Norwegian), Israel Kamakawiwo'ole and Cyril Pahinui (Hawaiian)
Sting- Nothing Like the Sun, Soul Cages, Dream of the Blue Turtles
Beautiful South
Sarah McLachlan- some
The Sundays, The Proclaimers
Turkish Pop 2006 sampler
Putumayo:
Music from the Chocolate Lands (thanks, Emma)
Paris Café
Turkish Groove
North African Groove
Arabic Groove (a little disappointing)
Celtic Crossroads

By the way, if you are one of those readers of my blog who does not usually comment, then I urge you to chime in here and at least leave your two cents! You do listen to music, don't you? What's on your list?