A Little Bit of Country

Most of you who know me, know that country music is not my favorite genre of music. I have a very select few artists that I will listen too, and even at that I only like one or two of their songs. My country movement is definitely more towards country rock or old time banjo type stuff. Think Mumford and Sons here.

Mark came home for lunch the other day and for whatever reason, maybe not paying attention because he was on the phone, he came across the Pure Country Channel. I really kind of fell for these two songs.

I love her style in this video. It's sort of 80's/90's modern mix. She's precious!



Not only do I like this song but I'm in love with this video. I absolutely love stop film effects. I WILL learn how to do this some day. It seriously keeps you completely engaged. Love, love, triple love this video!!

Get Back

Ok, I like Kathryn Heigl. I first saw her in My Father the Hero in 1994. I've always liked her. I'm not exactly sure what happened recently, but apparently she made some comments about something and was called a hypocrite, ungrateful and few other things. Some even said she shouldn't be able to act anymore. I think I even heard a rumor that the director of Grey's Anatomy was so angry with her that they planned to kill her off with a brain tumor. I don't know what happened but I do have to say I became a bit irritated when I saw her accept an award for 27 Dresses at the peoples choice awards.
She came plowing up the stage, with the cast and some of the crew of the film, and made a b-line for the microphone. She did, however, slap hands with a few audience members. When she got up there she grabbed her co-star and just started rambling. Of course it was all about how great the fans are and that it wouldn't have happened without them and suddenly it turned to me, me, me. Not one other person said a thank you or anything. Right towards the end of her speech she was all "I'm so glad you guys are ok with me." She kind of squeaked away from the mic as she said that. I don't know why but I got kind of annoyed with that. Maybe it's just me. Probably, really, shouldn't be a huge deal, but for some reason it felt so self centered to me.
Of course your fans are going to be ok with you. Most of the things said of you came straight from Hollywood and the media. I think it must just be me. I prefer stars that are modest and humble. She just seemed overly ecstatic, as if her career all hung on this award. Ok, I'm just being retarded. I'm not making any sense. This is one of those things that only I can understand. I guess Hollywood can do that to you. People would hate me. I would get extremely annoyed at people mis-understanding me and then turning around and making me the bad guy because of my views. Maybe I just really wanted to play this video:

Rated CVE (Cover Virgin Ears)



FYI: This is not my normal everyday listening. I just liked it because of Tom Cruise.

My Celebrity Playlist

I was just wandering around through iTunes and came across some celebrity playlists. I really like the idea of putting together those lists so I thought that for the day I would pretend to be a celebrity and create my own for everyone here to check out. So I've put together a list of about 20 songs that I could listen to every day over and over and never get tired of hearing them. I would love to hear your top five favorite as well. Here you go.

1. "You Are My Sunshine" – Johnny Cash: Although he is not the person to originally sing this song, it is still my favorite version. I don't know why buy I get goose bumps every time I hear this version. It was also my grandmother's favorite song.
2. "Grey Street" – Dave Matthews: I guess it's typical for the indies of my generation to favor Dave. The band is my favorite. I love Grey Street because I relate to it all to well as I think many people could. At times it almost mimics my thoughts.
3. "Soon We'll Be Found" - Sia: I love a lot of Sia's stuff. If there was one artist that I could spend a day with it would be her. All of her songs and videos are so deep and creative. I would like to take a day and just swim in her mind if that were possible.
4. "Use Somebody" - Kings of Leon: I can't help but just love this song and pretty much everything about this band. The best band I can think of from TN.
5. "Pieces" – Red: I love the intro here. I believe in God and his teachings and I can't help but think of Him when I hear this song. It's almost an irrevocable feeling not matter how hard you try to fix it.
6. "Snowden" – The Doves: Ok, this song is just pretty fricking cool.
7. "Sour Times" – Portishead: This song takes me back. It's one of those songs that launches you into the past. When I listen to it, everything about my day becomes 1995 again.
8. "I'll Be Seeing You" – Billie Holiday: May seem a bit cliched but she is definitely my favorite artist of her era. I fell in love with this song when I heard it. I love the smooth feel of the song and her voice makes you want to melt.
9. "California Dreaming" – The Mamas and the Papas: I went through a stage where I wanted to be a hippie and I listened to this song over and over. One because it made me feel like I lived in the 60's and two, because I so badly wanted to go to California and sing on the streets with my guitar. I thought listening to this song would help me figure it out. So naive, I don't have a guitar.
10. "Colors" – Amos Lee: I really enjoy his sound and this song is so touching. Wether you are in an intimate relationship or not, how wonderful would it be to be the one to bring color into the world of someone else.
11. "Blue Sky" – Patty Griffin: – Whenever I hear this song I feel like I can do anything. Patty Griffin is one of the best artists out there without question.
12. "Trouble" – Ray LaMontagne: I get lost in this song when I hear it. He puts so much passion into his songs. It's almost like he's in a different world when he's singing them at the same time bringing me to that place.
13. "Winter Waltz" – Jim Brickman: This song makes me feel like I'm in a dream. It's so incredibly beautiful.
14. "Green Eyes" – Coldplay: I have green eyes and it's the only song I've ever heard about green eyes. It's about me =0).
15. "Up To the Mountain" – Patty Griffin: – OH MY GOSH! Everyone needs to hear this song. I think it can be such a revelation to today and how we all feel. I cry almost every time I hear it. It almost takes your breath away.
16. "Both Sides Now" – Joni Mitchell: I can't really tell you why I like this song. I just do.
17. "A River Flows" – Yiruma: Oh if only I could play the piano I imagine that I would play music like this. I often put this song on repeat.
18. "Moonlight Sonata" – Beethoven: I have loved this song since I was a kid. I can't remember where I first heard it, I just remember listening to it constantly. It sounds so mysterious. I love mysterious. I listened to it for the first time on cassette tape.
19. "Never Think" – Robert Pattinson: The struggle of love. I can't get enough of this song. Thanks to Twilight for bringing it to light.

and last but not least . . .

20. "Tricky" – Run DMC: I can't help but bust a really bad move when I hear this song. I could be in the middle of the grocery store and hear this song and you would see me dancing. It's definitely my favorite hip/hop song.

There you go. Let me know some of you favs. Love you guys!

Kings of Leon

Aside from the fact that I couldn't bring my camera in, I had an awesome time at the Kings of Leon concert. They are absolutely amazing live. Their opening bands, The Whigs and We Are Scientists, were quite good as well. All around it was a good night. Nicole Kidman waved at me, I heard great music, had a great seat, saw some vomit . . . oh yeah. Not even into the first band, someone spewed chunks all over the floor about two rows in front of us. All night half of our section was screaming at people not to sit there while frantically waving our arms in the air, at times unsuccessful. It was super crowded, leaving me only one option to get through to the bathroom. Lots of climbing. I sort of felt like Crocodile Dundee in the last scene in the movie where he steps on top of peoples heads to get to his lady in the subway. It was quite and accomplishment.
As I was hanging out enjoying the music, I started to wonder to myself this one question: 'I wonder how many bands started with the phrase: We need to get chicks. Let's start a band.? Really how many bands out there can vouch for that and that it actually worked in more ways than one. I was looking around at all the girls in there, more than half of which I am sure would drop their panties in a second for any of those band members, wether they be hot or not. I'm not one of those girls mind you, although I might show some side cleavage to get the chance to take some pictures at a concert. Ok, no really I wouldn't do that but you get my point. The influence that they have through their moves, sound and lyrics is astounding. I don't think I heard one song where the crowd wasn't singing along. That also has to be quite surreal for the band. They are going out there doing what they love and essentially would never have to sing a word because their crowd knows every one. To hear your lyrics sung by all those people would give me chills if I were the band.
I noticed one member of the Roadcrew taking photos and managing equipment and I couldn't help but wonder why he was the only one taking pictures and from only one spot. Everything he took was from the right side of the stage. He never moved. I was a bit annoyed. I really wanted to jump down there and take photos but I'm not going to go there again. I got up the balls to ask him if he was the only photographer they had and was going to ask if they could use a free photographer for more local stuff. He didn't give me the time of day. His response to my first question was, in a super cocky jerky voice "It's because I work for the band." He looked at me like I was a complete idiot. Give a ho a chance to talk man! I honestly am not looking to meet the band, even though that would be pretty cool, I am just looking to start a new area of photography. I want to do something that I love, can be proud of and have a great time doing as well. It would be so awesome to listen to great music and be able to snap away as much as I want and not have to tell them what to do. It sort of puts me in a comfort zone of not being on the spot as a photographer. Believe it or not I do sort of feel on the spot taking pictures. There is this pressure that I haven't gotten over about how to pose or not pose people and how to be more creative. I need to give myself credit. I'm still a baby in the photography world and I know it will come.
So, sorry I don't have any great photos to share with you. All in all, the night was amazing and they are one of the three bands that I would go see every time they came back to Nashville.

Here is the link to my favorite song by KOL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCZfJ5ai07U.

Later taters.

Nothing New

Alright, alright, alright (think Dazed and Confused here). Anyway, I most certainly am slacking on the blog keeping. It's kind of a difficult thing to do when your mind is in a million different creative regions and only able to focus on one at a time. Either that or you have spent the last two days curled in the fetal position trying to coax your brain into believing that it really is ok NOT to up-chuck. Well, that only tells your brain one thing "it's coming out somewhere and anyone that needs that toilet better make a reservations." Yessssssss. How else would I want to start the "Holiday Season" other than with the shits. For two days. Non-stop. Thanks brain for actually listening. It's more dignifying to whistle beef than to make all those noises you wouldn't want hell to hear. Speaking of noises, Mark was actually sick two weekends ago and his brain didn't wave the white vomit flag. I don't know if any of you have ever, ladies, heard a guy get sick but it has to be one of the most excruciating things I have ever heard. I think I almost called a paramedic at one point. I've been with him for 11 years and not once heard him toss chunks until a few weekends ago. He made noises that Steven Tyler only dreams of making. I felt bad for him knowing that I couldn't do anything but get him some sleeping/anti-nausea pills and let it ride out. Mmmmm. . . my life. So full of excitement.
On a bittersweet note, I finally finished the Twilight books and am clinging to every bit of Twilight internet whatever until the movie comes out. How sick am I? Here I sit, 27 and I have crush and obsession with these books like a 3 year old has with the word NO Mmmm. . . if only i could . . . oh never mind. I'm just making it worse. The soundtrack kicks some serious ass though, with bands like Muse, Iron and Wine, Paramore and Robert Pattinson himself (plays Edward Cullen in the Twilight Film). I have never been more excited to see a movie in my whole life. Yes, this does it. I am a complete dweeb. All my friends were right about me.

I'm Amazed

Well I have to say that the concert went well. We heard some great music, went to the port-o-pottie one to many times, ran into a friend or two and fell down the hill without spilling our drink. Ok, so we didn't fall down the hill, disaster head did. No, no, to my disappointment she didn't get hit in the head with a drumstick, but she did fall on her pancake and slid right down a hill. Very gracefully I might add again to my disappointment. Then we got into a heated debate with a complete stranger about God. He was an atheist. That was about how well it went. Sorry I don't have anything more interesting to report on the disaster prone but I think she read my blog before we left and decided that she needed to keep her pancake in line or else utter humiliation would occur. I'm AMAZED. So all that said, we had a fantastic time and you all need to be listening to some My Morning Jacket.

Concert

I am going to a concert tomorrow with the one who is a magnet for disaster. I am about 85% positive that she will get hit in the head by a drumstick . . . in a crowd of over 1000 people . . . in the very back . . . sitting down in the grass . . . while everyone else is standing up. Then we will get VIP because the drummer feels terrible. Yup, I'm predicting it to happen. I will let you know how it goes.

Ah-Ha

Although pretty much everything else that Ah-ha wrote bit the big one, "Take on Me" happens to be one of my favorite songs and videos of the 80's. Compared to all the stupid paint splashed backgrounds and cliched close-ups of the day, I can only imagine how much vagina straining they did to make this video. Well worth the strain in my opinion.

Pandora

I have to say, my co-worker is very handy. He is always coming to me with new, interesting and visually appealing sites. Although not to visually appealing, one of my favorites that he has introduced me to is Pandora. It's a mix between iTunes and general internet radio with a little twist. It's a great escape from your iTunes library when listening to the same songs for the last year starts to get old and gives you more control over song choice than internet radio. You get to create your own stations for free. All you do is pretty much start off with one of your favorite groups and Pandora automatically configures a group of songs that are within that genre. Even better, if you don't like the song that starts to play, you can give it a thumbs down click and it immediately stops and moves forward to another song. Beautiful. So for all of you windows users (bottom spanks) who have neglected to go and download iTunes, this is your best alternative. You sign up, for free, and every time you come back it automatically signs you back in and starts your saved station. You can create more than one station as well. Right now, I'm jammin to some Oasis, Travis, Coldplay and a few other greats. Give it a whirl. I don't think you will be disappointed.

The Kin

I just stumbled across a, so far, FANTASTIC band. They are called The Kin and they consist of two brothers from Adelaide, Australia. The harmonies are beautiful, the lyrics are deep and touching and to make a long story short, I could listen to their CD Rise and Fall, ALL DAY. I am a bit of a music connoisseur and if you read my "Death of MTV" post, you know that I am very picky and can only really tolerate all the other crap out there while I am working out. These guys are genuine, have a great sound and put my mind at ease when I listen. If I were at all a painter, this is what I would listen to as inspiration and for relaxing. Two of my favorite songs so far are Nowhere to Now-here and Abraham.

Jewel Gone Cuntray

Now, I have all of her CDs, but Jewel's most recent is probably not one that I will buy. Although there are a few songs that luckily I can purchase on iTunes, I will not be buying the whole thing. You can hear the old jewel in there, but the country soaked instrumental sort of ruins it all for me. There are only a few that don't have that sliding guitar and twang to them. I would have to give it only two and a half stars out of 5. Now, had she just been her same old folky self, I may think differently. Jewel has always sounded a bit on the country side but with her own unique touch. I think she took it a bit too far with this one. I hate it when singers push themselves into a different genre like that. Jessica Simpson has been doing a country album as well. I am anticipating that one something fierce; along with a bullet in the eyeball.

Death of MTV

So my high school just started up a new myspace type thing called "the bobcat roundup" or www.bobcatroundup.com. Lots of people I know and people I don't know. I am torn between signing up and just avoiding it altogether. I probably won't be going to my high school reunion anyway. I don't know why, but maybe it has to do with my junior year. Maybe. Anyway, on this site they have YouTube videos that they post. A few of them are from the 80's (i.e. The Cure and the Police). Whatever you may think from my opening paragraph, I actually posted this to talk about the death of MTV and videos.

I was quite the insomniac during the summers of my teens. I remember MTV and VH1 being top 2 channels. They were so permanent that even if I changed the channel to 2 and turned it off, the next morning it automatically knew that I needed "MY MTV". Those two channels were on 24/7 for me. I woke up to it, fell asleep to it, had my afternoon chips and salsa to it. It used to be that there wasn't a second that went by when there wasn't a video. It was better than any tv show or movie for me. I love music and this for me was like paradise. Somewhere along the line though it slowly began to turn into crap. I believe it started with TRL. I was able to get used that. I accepted it saying 'ok, top 20 songs, cool videos and an hour or so of screaming retards. I can get through that.' Then there was the Real World. Ok what's going on here. This is now 2 hours along with commercials taking up space for fantastic videos. Then all of a sudden here comes 50 cent and his hos dirtying up the scene. I was down right pissed. Everything I loved about the genius tv station was going to the pitts. After that, TRL stopped playing full videos, only showing about 20 second stints of each video and all of the #1. I was livid. I turned to VH1 for all of my pleasures in music until they started doing the same crap. Celebrity Fit Club, I love the 80's and 90's ( I like the "I loves" by the way) and then . . . UGH. I was over it turning all of my hope towards the radio. Well hope was shot down as soon as I heard the same stupid "MY HO GETS ME DOE" song 50 times in a row. That's not an actual song by the way, just an example. (All rights reserved to those lyrics). What are these people thinking. How frustrating is it when all you want to hear are a few great songs in a row followed by a few different great songs in a row. I just don't get the whole reason behind incessant play of the same song! DUDE, IT GETS OLD WHEN YOUR GRANDMA STARTS TO SING IT!

I gave up on radio and stuck to CD's until I was in an art class 4 years later at and someone had it on Lighting 100. I was hooked. Every song is different and unique; some you even know from back in the day. Then comes along Jack FM. HOLY CRAP. Somebody complained enough and woke up to the horrific realization that music, FANTABULOUS MUSIC, was going extinct. THANK YOU. Comcast even carries MTV all video channels for MTV and VH1 now. It's about time they stopped neglecting the fabulousness and the influence of music and music videos! Then there was that GENIUS idea of iTUNES!!!! I may have had bit of a heart attack at this point. TOTAL AMAZING MUSIC OVERLOAD! Not only can we create our own glorious genre of music but we can download 80% of those videos lost to shitty tv shows like Tela Tequila. (I am so not even going to dignify that with a link)

So thank you Lighting 100, Jack FM, Comcast and iTUNES. Your love of music has saved us music lovers from inevitable painful self inflicted death by cutting off of the eardrums.

Anticipation

I have to say that I am quite excited about Coldplay's new album coming in June. In my personal opinion, Coldplay is one of those bands that will be completely timeless. This band puts together some of the most beautiful sounds and creates something meaningful and amazing to me. You hear a band like Coldplay and wonder "How in the hell can you call something like Korn, music?" I've never understood music that takes no effort like rap and hard-core metal. Mark says it's "Kill your mom-kill your dad" brainwashing music. I agree with that statement. I mean seriously, how hard can it be just to scream nothing into a microphone and blow out long-haired, devil finger throwing, head banging brains? How hard can it be to just stand in a studio and talk through some music (i.e. Yo, yo, yo, check it, My name is sam and I eat green eggs and ham.) Do you see my point here. I just don't get it. Granted some of the "rap" songs and "hard-core metal" songs may actually have meaning somewhere but I just refuse to try and see it.

Coldplay puts on one hell of a show as well. When you hear their songs, you hear their songs. You don't hear terrible voices and music that have been digitally altered. You here pure AWESOMENESS!! Mark and I went to a concert a few years ago and it left us in awe wanting to scream "ENCORE" all night long. I didn't want it to end. If they come on HD-Music Live, we watch it. If a song comes on the radio, I turn it up as loud as I can without my ears falling off. There is some music out there that just hurts to hear making you want to jab your eye out with a spoon. There are a few cds that I have that cause my finger to go into "GET AWAY FROM THIS SONG" spasms. Coldplay is certainly not one of them. The way they create songs somehow puts you into a certain mood; mellow, content, hopeful. I'm jumping out of my pants from the anticipation.

Don't try to mentally picture me jumping out of my pants. Not cool.