Ramble Ramble

Next week is my wedding anniversary, and because I am an awesome wife, I got my husband an awesome anniversary gift…

I got him tickets to see Nine Inch Nails/Janes Addiction this past Saturday, since he’s a huge NIN fan and I knew he would have an amazing time. But more importantly, I got him tickets to see NIN/JA with his best friend, and not with me. Yes, I got my husband an anniversary gift that included a night out without me. N.C. hasn’t been to a ton of big concerts, and I really wanted him to totally enjoy it, not worry about whether I was having fun/comfortable/etc.

It got me thinking about all the big concerts I’ve been to over the years, and the list is sort of…well maybe not what you’d think for a 29 year old female. But each concert was amazing in it’s own way. Here, then, is today’s list–7 (well really big arena concerts I’ve attended over the years:

1. Debbie Gibson was the first concert I remember going to as a pre-teen. I had really wanted to go to the NKOTB concert, but my mom couldn’t get tickets. I think she felt bad, and so got us tickets to see Debbie instead. We had horrible seats, and the shrill screaming still echoes in my head, but I remember being so excited that my mom would take me to a concert, and having a great time with her. Oh, the memories of denim jackets and aqua netted hair!
2. Paul McCartney was a bit of a surprise to me. My parents got tickets to this concert when I was probably 13 or so, and I “had” to go along. Not that that was the end of the world–I grew up listening to the Beatles, and went through a period in 7th grade where that’s almost all I listened too–but I wasn’t convinced the concert was going to be that good. I mean, Paul was so OLD (ah, the stupidity of youth) and he wasn’t the Beatles anymore, it was Paul McCartney and Wings, so how good could they be? To this day, this is one of the best concerts I’ve ever seen in my life. And his live version of Live and Let Die in the middle of the concert was so good that I immediately (and still) proclaimed it better than the Gun’s and Roses version. Everyone should see a concert where a rock song gives you chills.
3. Harry Connick Jr. Ahhh, Harry. I had such a crush on Harry when I was in high school, and getting the chance to see him was such a dream come true for me at that time. Of course, there was a little disappointment, because he was touring for his “rock” album, and so didn’t play many of the jazzy songs that I adored him for, but that didn’t matter–he wore jeans and a wife beater, and I actually got to stand right next to the stage! Swoon. And even though his rock album isn’t his best, I still contend that he’s an amazing musician and performer that is somewhat underrated.
4. Dave Matthews Band. I’ve seen Dave in concert twice, once in college and again last year. I got turned onto DMB by someone I dated and have never looked back. I know a lot of people don’t like Dave’s music, but you have to admit, he’s a music machine–they tour constantly, and because of that, their live performances are an examination of how a group of musicians can “talk” to each other on stage. They riff, they improv, they solo, and it pretty much always sounds as good if not better live than the studio albums. If only there weren’t so many douchebags who go to DMB concerts.
5. Billy Joel–ah the piano man. I went and saw him in college, with perhaps the worst seats I’ve ever had at a concert (we were 3 rows from the top of the arena, behind the stage, and the angle was so steep, we literally couldn’t anything that didn’t happen on the front 1/3 of the stage). But damn it sounded good.
6. Fleetwood Mac. I saw Fleetwood Mac with my mom and a few of her friends when I was about 23. I was actually really excited about the concert (another group I grew up listening to), but unfortunately I hurt my back on the way there, which meant that I was drugged up on painkillers and muscle relaxers during the show. Which, come to think of it, might be more appropriate for FM than being stone cold sober.
7. Dixie Chicks. My best friend from high school and I got ourselves to the Dixie Chicks concert (this was before all the brouhaha with them) one summer in college, and proceeded to have the best, most girly time. It was a great concert, with great musicians playing on the road with them. I love watching musicians who are super skilled at their instruments, and there was no lack of that at this concert. But perhaps the best part was enjoying it with my friend, and being so silly and giggly and into it together. What better way to see a concert?

What concerts stand out in your memory? What makes a concert stand out for you–is it the music, the atmosphere, who you see it with, or some other element?

As always, more lists can be found over at abdpbt:

Well, Christmas is almost here, which means N.C and I are one day closer to “vacation”. The time off is helping my holiday spirit greatly!

I’ve been working to improve my bah-humbuggyness in general, so today I’m making a point to listen to Christmas music. On the way to work, on iTunes, at home, etc. It definitely is starting to thaw my two sizes too small heart, as music has a way of doing. Of course, it also reminds me that there are certain holiday songs that I loathe and make my ears bleed. But that’s back to bah-humbug, so I’m going to focus on the positive instead by listing some of my favorite Christmas songs.

1. Greensleeves/What Child is This. This song elicits an almost gut reaction. My mom used to sing this to me when she was pregnant with me, and when I was a baby, Christmas time or no. It’s practically in my blood.
2. Silent Night. I’ve always loved the quiet, peaceful nature of this song.
3. Carol of the Bells. With or without words, this song is beautiful and somehow very powerful.
4. Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring. Hmmm, I’m seeing a theme here with instrumental, quiet, peaceful songs that can transcend the season.
5. The Christmas Song. This is one I love from singers like Frank Sinatra or Nat King Cole. Mmmmm, a singer with a chocolaty voice can make this very yummy.
6. I’ll Be Home for Christmas. After years of having to shuffle around the country for Christmas, this song has always resonated with me. I usually want nothing more for Christmas than to be home. Unfortunately, it doesn’t always work out that way, as the song acknowledges.
7. Linus & Lucy. Otherwise known as “The Charlie Brown Song”, this song just screams Christmas to me. It’s just somehow entirely Christmasy, even though I know it’s really the theme song.
8. Christmas Time is Here. Another quiet peaceful one. Although I like the version with words as well, I’m such a sucker for instrumentals.

Ok, obviously I have a thing for piano, classical guitar, and other instrumentals that help remind me of how peaceful the holidays can be. Don’t let this fool you though, I’ve also got a full rotation of Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Harry Connick Jr., pop songs by Mariah Carey and Paul McCartney and Christina Aguilera and the like. This list of songs though…I don’t know if it’s just how manic I usually get around the holidays, but these songs in particular help me remember why I love this holiday. But enough about me…what Christmas songs speak to you?

Oh, and don’t forget to stop by Anna’s place for more lists!

Oh my gosh, the last few days have been so much fun here in bloggy land! Elizabeth, thanks so much for letting me crash at your place for the day (and dealing with the serious last minuteness of my post!). The last few days of blog switching and secrets and such have been a testament to both the blogging community, and to the power of words. I hope you guys had fun too!

Tomorrow we’ll get back to normal around here, but in the meantime, please do continue to comment on both the BlogSecret post, and Elizabeth’s post. I know everyone loves comments!

Oh, and because I like bandwagons, I made you guys a mix tape of my “Songs That Make Other Drivers Look at Me Funny!”   Enjoy!

This morning on the way to work, 3 of my “other drivers are going to look at me funny” songs came on. You know those songs (don’t you?), the ones where you can’t refrain from not only belting the song out at the top of your lungs, but you also find yourself grooving along? Dancing, or pretending to play drums, or air guitar?

Ah, come on, it can’t just be me…

I’m one of those people that sings and dances in the car anyway, though I try to be sort of mellow and discreet about my grooving out most of the time. But there are certain songs that when they come on…well, I know I’m going to be getting strange looks from other drivers. I’m going to crank the volume, sing at the top of my lungs, dance and generally make a fool of myself. Thank goodness I’ve got a car now…people used to really look at me funny on the subway!

Anywho, today’s list is inspired by the music that moves me, so let me present:

14 Songs That Make Other Drivers Look at Me Funny!*

1. Bohemian Rhapsody, Queen: Ok, this is of course, the ultimate in car rock god songs. Even ignoring the scene from Wayne’s World, who doesn’t feel the need to rock out to this song? Queen actually has a lot of songs like this (We are the Champions, Fat Bottomed Girls, Bicycle Race…oh the list goes on), but this is the ruler of them all.
2. Viva la Vida, Coldplay: I love this song, and it never fails to make me happy (lyrical content notwithstanding). Something about the bouncy tempo…
3. Money, Pink Floyd: There are actually several Floyd songs that get this treatment, but Money was the original. The opening with the cash registers? Brilliant, and a perfect cue to bump up the volume.
4. Many Shades of Black, The Raconteurs: What’s not to like? You get to rock out with some attitude and break out the bitchiness…in the safety of your car.
5. Bullet with Butterfly Wings, Smashing Pumpkins: For the days you’ve got a little anger or frustration to share. The screams toward the end of the song are particularly gratifying.
6. Sex on Fire, Kings of Leon: OMG this song. I was rocking out to this song in the McDonalds drive-thru today, so I get double points for the drive through workers and the people behind me!
7. Carry On Wayward Son, Kansas: Cheesy, yes, but it must be included. Don’t judge me! It’s perfect for those air guitar solos.
8. Since You’ve Been Gone, Kelly Clarkson: This is not a song I wanted to like. This is not a song I wanted to include. But if I’m going to be truthful…I’ve got to include it. I turn all little girl teeny bopper when this song comes on.
9. Dead Man’s Party, Oingo Boingo: Oingo Boingo is supremely underrated if you ask me. This song is fun, a little creepy…it’s kind of like Halloween for everyday!
10. Dashboard, Modest Mouse: One of the great driving songs, plus it’s got great grooves to dance along to…
    
11. SexyBack, Justin Timberlake: Yes, please do bring the sexyback Mr. Timberlake. I will allow it. If you wanted to bring it back to my place, that’d be cool too… (don’t mind my husband over there).
12. Crazy, Gnarls Barkley: Ok, I know this song is completely overplayed and passe now, but I still love it. It’s for that sort of mellow, head bobbing gettin your groove on kind of day.
13. Around the World, Daft Punk: Daft Punk is another one that has a zillion songs that I can include on this list, but Around the World was probably the first Daft Punk song I recognized that I liked, so it gets nostalgia points.
14. Live and Let Die, Paul McCartney: Some would argue that the Guns N Roses version of this song is better, but I have to give the nod to Sir Paul. This is one of those songs that builds and builds, then releases, then builds and builds, then releases…awesome for any car rocker.

This list is in no way all inclusive…trust me, there are more 80’s hits and hair band songs that fit the bill, plus some techno adds and hip hop. This is a from the top of my head/ipod list…there are really tons and tons more! What are some of your favs?

*Thanks to my company blocking all things streaming media, I can’t link to any of these songs…sorry bout that!

Today on my (horrible) commute to work, I was reminded again of how amazing music can be to transport you to another place in life. To take you outside of your current self to a previous version–one you may like better, or one you might regret, or one that just makes you happy to have had the chance to be. Within a 20 minute stretch I was in college, then high school, then junior high, then my wedding day.

There was the song that instantly sent me to the infamous house of my early college days. It’s a song that will forever and always remind me of that place, and those guys. Reminders of parties at their house, dancing on their fireplace with the rest of “the brothel”, the mantra from Pat that “you–need a shot!”.

Then there was the song that had me in high school, driving to lunch with my two best friends and my high school sweetheart on a sunny day, top down on his car, all of us singing along (or yelling, I’m not sure how much singing we did on those drives). Looking back, we were a random foursome–and often there was fighting to prove it–but there was something about us that somehow meshed and provided a solid basis for my high school life.

Ah, the Beatles song that reminded me of a long-lost friend from junior high, and dancing around her room while quoting Monty Python. We were the most random of kids, book worms, outcasts, a little lonely. She and I clicked–though she was one of the only friends I’ve had that my mom didn’t really like me spending time with–because of those random traits that put us a little outside the group. She had a harder life than I realized as a kid, and in that moment where I was transported to that little girl, I wonder if she’s grown up ok?

And then, as a perfect cap to my little trip down memory lane, a jaunt back to my wedding day. A sweet reminder of everything that day encapsulated, of laughing just because we were happy and exhausted and silly, of the crazy wind that almost caused my veil to catch on fire (!), of the look on my husband’s face, of the lovely speeches of 2 of our closest friends, and of dancing even when no one else was because we dance on subway platforms and waiting for taxis and in our kitchen and we could add to that dancing on our wedding day.

So as I struggled through traffic (and it was a struggle this morning), I was able to remind myself that I’m lucky to have these memories. I was able to remind myself that I’ve had amazing friendships. I was able to remind myself that I’m not just always a nagging wife (sorry honey!), but I’m also a loving one. Sometimes I get a little bogged down in the day to day of life and miss the person I used to be–this morning was a reminder that I am still that person, those people…just more.
…all because I heard 4 songs on the radio.

So as I struggled through traffic (and it was a struggle this morning), I was able to remind myself that I’m lucky to have these memories. I was able to remind myself that I’ve had amazing friendships. I was able to remind myself that I’m not just always a nagging wife (sorry honey!), but I’m also a loving one. Sometimes I get a little bogged down in the day to day of life and miss the person I used to be–this morning was a reminder that I am still that person, those people…just more.

…all because I heard 4 songs on the radio.