New to Me Music

This isn't really "new" to me, because like the majority of y'all out there (I hope) I've been singing along to this for weeks. 

In the car (sans kids) LOUD AS CAN BE. In the shower OFF KEY AS CAN BE. At work AS QUIETLY AS CAN BE. 

It's just that good. 

I GG Y

I GG Y

(So good....)

And in terms of this video: could not be more perfect! Clueless, I die! 

Aw Naw

I know it was just a couple weeks ago I shared some other country music videos -- but here I am again! Doing the same thing!

I know I've stated it before a million and one times, but I have really ecclectic mood swings when it comes to music. I like a lot of different genres and artists, and I'm really not very discriminatory when it comes to my musical preferences. If I like, I like it. I don't push the thought process too far beyond that.

And it seems to me I go through musical swings -- I'll be into country for awhile, then pop, then rock. And while I'm in the middle of those swings, I still listen to all the other genres out there. I never limit myself! 

And yes, right now I seem to be on a bit of a country upswing at the moment. Some of it, I'm really loving -- and some of it I'm really hating.

Chris Young is one of those artists I've been listening to a lot lately -- particularly this little twang filled ditty:

And while I adore "Aw Naw" I can't stand this one by Luke Bryan (which some people say is rather similar). 

Just, no. I guess there really is no rhyme or reason when it comes to my musical tastes. I just happen to like what I like. 

Any songs on your radar at the moment that you're loving? It doesn't have to be country, believe me, I'll listen to anything...once :)

What Southern girl doesn't relate to this? Our mommas (and especially our grand-mommas) definitely get a little shock and awe from how we handle things now vs then. 

I'm on a bit of a Miranda Lambert kick at the moment -- these two songs make me smile + cry respectively. 

Riding in the car the other evening with my kiddos, we listened to this song -- I found myself crying behind my sunglasses, pretty much yelling at Sidney, "you know it really does take all kinds of kinds, right?!?!" 

Crazy mom award, right here, ladies and gentlemen. 

Just keeping that Southern tradition going, I guess -- but I like to think it's got a little modern twist on it*

Let's Talk About This Lorde Song for a Minute

Show of hands>>who's obsessed with this song?

You there in the back, get on the bandwagon already. It's a sweet song. 

Now, show of hands again>>who the hell knows what she's talking about? 

Yeah, if you're like me, you're coming to the realization right about now that you're no long part of the in crowd -- maybe "in crowd" isn't the right term. What I mean to say is: we're OLD and getting older every second. Further and further away from what's hip and cool and do the kids these days even use those words? Cool beans was a term from my generation, but I'm pretty sure that one died out with our love of hemp shark-tooth necklaces and Tommy Hilfiger overalls. 

I realize I'm a mother and married and with a mortgage -- but none of that meant I felt old. Not until recently. Well, not old -- just older. 

And maybe it's not even that I feel older -- the great divide between me and them is now abundantly clear, however. I'm one day further away from this generation of selfie-loving individuals who text non-stop and IG their lives away and love a lot of things that I don't quite understand. 

And I get that. No judgment, really. I was there -- we all were at one time or another. Sure, the music was different and the phones not so snazzy and we still had pretty basic cable packages without DVR. Different music was played and we all had different faces behind pastel heart-shaped sunglasses with rhinestones around the rim. It was different -- the clothes were different and everything was different -- but the same. 

That's life. I get that more than ever now. 

So thanks, Lorde, I like your beat -- it makes me feel things I didn't quite expect to feel. But that's the point of music, isn't it? To get inside us and bring out emotions we didn't know we had within? 

So.....

....it's Friday. And it's officially the weekend now. And I've managed to sneak a few moments almost every evening and actually blog regularly -- but since I have nothing real to say right now, let's just go with this video.



I have no idea what this is or what it's about -- it's one of those true blue WTF?! things, but I think you just have to roll with it.

Honestly, I can stop watching.

Happy weekending! 

Apropros for today, amIright?

Also: so random.

Sidenote: this isn't a real post. Or much of a real blog anymore.

New to Me Music

I'm a little embarrassed to admit it, but I've reached that point in my life where my kid knows more about "current" music trends than I do...and she's only five. Waaah. 

Sidney is a big fan of Neon Trees -- "Everybody Talks" may just be one of her favorite songs ever (and I think it's really cute how she clears her throat at the beginning of the song, just like Tyler Glenn). 

Personally, this is my favorite Neon Trees song we've found so far. And it's nice to give FUN! and their song "Some Nights" a little break -- because girlfriend has nearly broken our car radio with that song! 

Whaa.....? Music Today, You Are So Strange

So is this a new fad or something: 

Normal (by today's standards) country song with a little pop flair -> turned into a totally pop song infused with rap (if you can still call Nelly a rapper these days...)

Whaaa.....? Huh? When did this become a thing. I totally blame Taylor Swift (I blame her for all the evil in the world, just FYI)

I mean, I'm all about crossing boundary lines and blurring the existing lines and just enjoying music (and life in general) but this is just kind of strange. Good strange? Bad strange? Remains yet to be seen. 

I guess I'm just still annoyed that I can turn on a pop-music station or a country-music station and find Taylor Swift playing both places. Pick a side, woman! No, really, you don't have to like either/or - but I'm over her in general and usually like my rock music to sound like rock music and my country to sound like country and so on and so forth. 

And don't even get me started on that insane Darius Rucker cover of "Wagon Wheel" - shame on you! OCMS had the perfect version, totally appropriate for radio play, you don't need to redo it ARGCHFAFH insert multiple exclamation points! 

And and YES, I still listen to live radio. On a station. Not Sirius or I-Heart-Radio or what have you. 

And and and, I'm turning into an old person (and my father) because I like listening to JohnBoy & Billy in the morning. G-D HELP ME. 

RIP George

You don't grow up proper in the South without knowing and loving "The Possum"...

New to Me Music

Girl has got some pipes on her. And no matter what "they" might say, I think she's even better than Beyonce.

I love any music that has a hymnal feel to it - I don't miss going to church but I do miss singing church music.

My favorite Christmas song of the moment - maybe it's just the sentimental (read: hormonal) side of me coming out, but I just adore this song.

Let's Have a Good Weekend, Shall We?

It's Friday! And despite the long, stressful, sick week I've had - I'm in a good mood. Happy and (on the road to being) healthy and looking forward to a mostly warm, mild weekend. Family, friends, and lots of food in my future.

Let's enjoy some of my favorite dancing/music scenes, shall we?

New to Me Music

In the randomness that is Pandora, this song came floating along like a dream. And it's so lovely, and I just can't quit listening to it. I have no idea how old it is, who this Ron Pope guy is (sounds like a politician's name) or how this song got popular (or made its way to my Pandora station) BUT I'm so glad it found me.

Lovely, you are. I highly recommend you listen and enjoy! 

New to Me Music

I have such a soft spot for this song! For one thing, the first time I ever heard it was at my first-ever trip to the best-known gay bar in the area for my first-ever drag show! You never forget those kind of firsts...it was magical fun of the best-nature kind, and I've really been wanting to go back to see a show again.

This song really isn't my "style" and it's not even a sentiment I'm familiar with (I was never any good at playing head games with boys!) but it's just a special little tune for me. And it's a fun video! 

New to Me Music

Anyone else as obsessed with this song as I am? I can't stop playing it.

(And for some reason I can't figure out, Nate Ruess totally reminds me of Andy Warhol. Anyone else see it?)

New to Me Music

I'm slightly obsessed with this song.

Even though I have no idea what she's singing 75% of the time - the first time I heard the song, I heard it one way and now I can't unhear it to know what she's saying. Know what I mean?

It's hard to unlearn things in my opinion, especially music lyrics. And movie quotes.

But I'm getting off-topic here. This song? It's pretty awesome. 

I say "like" and "soundtrack" way too much, but I really did like this soundtrack.

You know how sometimes you get excited about seeing a movie, but then it's kind of a total letdown? But you don't feel so bad about wasting nearly two hours of your life because at least you got to see a little bit of action and listen to a pretty rad soundtrack.

Enter: The Lucky One.

Zac Efron just isn't my cup of tea. And Nicholas Sparks movies are pretty unbelievable and unrealistic. I liked some of his earlier stuff (A Walk to Remember and The Notebook) but the past few years I've really lost interest in his books/movies (Dear John, The Last Song, etc.)

So, yeah, The Lucky One is a "meh" movie. It's alright. Nothing spectacular. Nothing I'd really sit down and watch again. That is unless I really was in the mood to listen to the soundtrack.

Because the soundtrack? Oh my god, the soundtrack. Yeah, it's that good.

My favorite pick?

I know Dobby had a favorite and Cassie told me her favorite (sorry I can't remember girls!) but I think we all walked away liking at least one of the songs.

From the soundtrack. Did I mention it's the soundtrack? Yeah, The Lucky One soundtrack.

Go buy it. Now.


Soundtrack. 

music memory lane: 1994-99

Talking about music before got me to thinking: there are times when I'm kind of ashamed to admit I grew up in the NSYNC/Britney Spears era. That was the rage in middle school, I remember being in love with it all - the cheese, the boy bands, the bubblegum pop.

But I also developed my love for other music outside of just pop music. I've always been an eclectic music lover. I have my awesome parents to thank for that; they introduced me to AC/DC, Meatloaf, The Eagles, KC and the Sunshine Band, Elton John, The Bangles, and an entire slew more of music legends. We listened to it all: rock, country, pop, you name it. They took me to concerts and gave me the freedom to explore music on my own. So, thanks Mom and Dad, for that. You rock.

While in the midst of my "growing up" back in the 90s and early 00s, I got the chance to listen to some amazing music, and I don't want you to think I'm a carbon copy 90s kid who never got to experience "real" music. Though if you ask me, it's all real. I love Van Morrison just as much as I love S Club 7. I love BBMak the same way I love the Beatles. I'm an equal opportunity music lover. But here, I'm listing some of favorite music (and music videos) from my childhood.

God bless VH1 - and please bring back the original Pop-Up videos!

1993 (I was five, by the way)
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Last Dance with Mary Jane


Ace of Base - All That She Wants, The Cranberries - Linger, Aerosmith - Crazy, Sheryl Crow - All I Wanna Do, Mariah Carey - Dreamlover, Meat Loaf - I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't do That), Melissa Ethridge - Come to My Window, Salt N Pepa - Whatta Man

1994
Green Day - When I Come Around, Soundgarden - Black Hole Sun, Live - All Over You, Hootie & the Blowfish - Hold My Hand, Boyz II Men - I'll Make Love to You, The Eagles - Hotel California


1995
Shania Twain - Any Man of Mine, Jewel - You Were Meant for Me, Collective Soul - The World I Know, Montell Jordan - This Is How We Do It, Selena - Dreaming of You, Faith Hill - Someone Else's Dream, Lisa Loeb - Stay (I Missed You)


1996
Celine Dion - It's All Coming Back to Me Now


Hanson - MMMBop, The Verve Pipe - The Freshman, Backstreet Boys - I'll Never Break Your Heart, The Wallflowers - Headlight, Toni Braxton - Unbreak My Heart, LeAnn Rimes - One Way Ticket, Marilyn Manson - The Beautiful People

1997
Spice Girls - Wannabe, Marcy Playground - Sex and Candy, Savage Garden - Truly, Madly, Deeply, Third Eye Blind - Semi-Charmed Life, Meredith Brooks - Bitch, Puff Daddy - I'll Be Missing You, Sugar Ray - Fly


1998
Dixie Chicks - You Were Mine, Train - Meet Virginia, Madonna - Ray of Light, NSYNC - I Want You Back, Terri Clark - You're Easy on the Eyes, Ace of Base - Cruel Summer, Kid Rock - Cowboy, Goo Goo Dolls - Black Balloon, Brandy - The Boy is Mine


1999
Britney Spears - Baby One More Time, TLC - Unpretty, Blackstreet - Take Me There, Ricky Martin - Livin La Vida Loca, Blink-182 - What's My Age Again?, Jennifer Lopez - If You Had My Love, Smashmouth - All Star, Edwin McCain - I Could Not Ask for More, Santana - Smooth


I love taking a look back through the years at music; there's a lot of memories up there for me. Love, loss, heartbreak, friends, summers, life being lived. I'm a huge music junkie, we could talk about music all day and I'd be happy!

Come back next time and we can reminisce about the 00s!

can you hear me all the way back in 1995?

I feel drunk, but I'm sober

I'm young and I'm underpaid

I'm tired but I'm working, yeah

{I was the ripe old age of seven when this song came out, but I can remember listening to it then and liking it. Now I listen to it and I love it. Story of my life right now brought into focus by a song from way back when, back when I was way too young to get it. Well, I get it now. Good god, do I ever get it.}

{Also, praise the Pandora gods - and who can I blame for not turning me on to this whole internet radio revolution earlier? I'm hooked. All the horribly wonderful bands from my youth are on constant demand: in the car, at home, at work. I've got stations dedicated to Westlife, Pearl Jam, Jewel, NSYNC, Tom Petty and more. It's unreal! Shame on you for not sharing with me before!}

Breaking It Down: Hold My Hand

With a little love and some tenderness

Okay we're off to a good start here, although I'd prefer a lot of love and more tenderness.

We'll walk upon the water, we'll rise above the mess

Wait, you mean like Jesus? Cool, I'm down with that. I'd rather walk above this mess than clean it any day.

With a little peace and some harmony

This is feeling very religious right about now. Are you preaching to me?

We'll take the world together, we'll take them by the hand

Who are we taking by the hand? I thought this was just supposed to be me and you. I'm not down for more than some one-on-one action.

'Cause I've got a hand for you

Well now I'm wondering what it is exactly you want me to do with that hand.

'Cause I wanna run with you

Now where are we going? All of this world travel is making me very tired. Making me tired isn't going to inspire me to do anything with that hand of yours.

Yesterday, I saw you standing there.

Okay, creeper. Do you do this sort of thing often?

Your head was down, your eyes were red, no comb had touched your hair

Well, excuse me, asshole. It's called a hangover. I had just woken up and had to be at McDonald's in ten minutes or else I'd never get my Egg McMuffin and this bitch can't live without her morning McMuffin. Next time, I'll remember your creeping eyes are watching me and I'll brush my hair, okay?

I said, "Get up and let me see you smile"

Again, there's no need for to be so damn pushy. I'm waiting on my McMuffin and I'll get up when I feel like it.

"We'll take a walk together, walk the road awhile"

The last thing I want to do right now is go for a walk around the world with you and your hand. Didn't you hear me? I'm hungover as hell right now.

'Cause I've got a hand for you

Listen mister, you can take your hand and shove it where the sun doesn't shine. Wait, hold that thought-

'Cause I wanna run with you

I'm not running anywhere, dude. I'm fat and hungry and too tired to think at this point.

Won't you let me run with you?

Hell to the no.

Hold my hand.

.....

Hold my hand

Just because you keep asking, doesn't mean I'm going to say yes

Hold my hand

Okay, if I hold your hand will you shut the hell up?

See I was wasted and I was wasting time

Why didn't you tell me you were wasted, too? We could've saved a lot of time with the stupid conversation if you'd admitted it up front.

'Til I thought about your problems, I thought about your crimes

What crimes? The only problem I have right now is your stalking ass getting in between me and my Egg McMuffin

Then I stood up and then I screamed aloud

Great, now everyone is looking.

"I don't want be part of your problems, don't want to be part of your crowd"

Back off, mister, you're the one who came here begging to hold my hand and shit.

'Cause I've got a hand for you

And I'm about to slap you across the mouth with my left hand, bro

'Cause I want to run with you

I'm about to run over you if you don't leave me the hell alone

Hold my hand

No

Hold my hand

Eat me

Hold my hand

Really, dude?

I want to love you the best that, the best that I can

I think you might be bi-polar. Maybe I should take you to the doctor or something. Wait, here's my Egg McMuffin. I think I'll just leave now, if that's okay with you.

Hold my hand

Dear mother of g-d, go away.

Hold my hand

I'm leaving now.



{Hootie & the Blowfish -- Hold My Hand}