Category Archives: music

Toddler Tunes 2.0

Song Lyric of the Day:

You know your love (your love keeps lifting me) / Keep on lifting (love keeps lifting me) / Higher (lifting me) / Higher and higher (higher)

Jackie Wilson / “(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher

A while back I wrote about how I started a playlist for Coraline to save my sanity. When we first started it, I told her that it could grow to have as many songs as she wanted on it. She took that to heart and her playlist is now up to 75 songs. I’ve really enjoyed watching her discover new non-Disney music that she likes, and singing along with her is one of my favorite things to do (she has my talent for memorizing song lyrics). We even play some of “her” songs during baths now, turning them into musical events. Plus, singing along to songs keeps her from screaming while I rinse her hair on hair-washing nights. See? Sanity-saver.

This is the second batch of songs she added to her playlist.

“Bulletproof” by La Roux

Coraline knows it as: the correct title

Fun fact: This is one of her favorite songs to sing at full volume, and one of the first ones she started requesting by name once we set up her playlist.

“Best Day of My Life” by American Authors

Coraline knows it as: the correct title

Fun fact: This was one of the first of “her” songs that she recognized as being used in TV commercials. She enjoyed pointing that out to my parents.

“I Love It” by Icona Pop featuring Charlie XCX

Coraline knows it as: the correct title

Fun fact: Coraline heard this song while at my parents’ house, and recited some of the lyrics to me that night so I could figure out what song it was that she wanted added to her playlist. I downloaded the clean version for her, which substitutes “stuff” and “chick” in place of a couple of words I don’t need her repeating.

“Troublemaker” by Weezer

Coraline knows it as: that song about the Troublemakers from Team Umizoomi (which it is not)

Fun fact: see the above

“Pork and Beans” by Weezer

Coraline knows it as: the correct title

Fun fact: This is her go-to song when she picks up one of our XBox Rock Band guitars

“Ho Hey” by The Lumineers

Coraline knows it as: the correct title

Fun fact: This is another one of her favorite songs to sing along to, with her shouting, “Hey!” every time “ho” or “hey” is sung.

“Raise Your Weapon” by Deadmau5

Coraline knows it as: the correct title

Fun fact: Based on the title alone, I had to send Rich the song lyrics so he could read for himself that the song is a metaphor for pulling the trigger on/ending a relationship before he agreed I could add it to Coraline’s playlist. I downloaded the radio edit for her since the album version is about 8 minutes long.

“A-Punk” by Vampire Weekend

Coraline knows it as: that song Mommy danced to when she was in my baby tummy (we saw Vampire Weekend in concert in early 2010)

Fun fact: She always demonstrates how she bounced around in the womb while I danced to this song.

“Sometime Around Midnight” by The Airborne Toxic Event

Coraline knows it as: that song she likes that Mommy likes

Fun fact: I’m pretty sure she only likes this song because it’s one I always sing along to (TATE is my favorite band these days)

“All I Ever Wanted” by The Airborne Toxic Event

Coraline knows it as: another song that she likes because Mommy likes it

Fun fact: She always asks why Mikel sings “forever, forever, forever.” Every. Time.

“Evacuate the Dancefloor” by Cascada

Coraline knows it as: the correct title

Fun fact: This is a song Coraline discovered while I was exercising and blasting music videos on YouTube.

“Girls Chase Boys” by Ingrid Michaelson

Coraline knows it as: “Boys Chase Girls Chase Boys Chase Girls”

Fun fact: Ever since I told her the video was a “people” video, she asks every several days if she is big enough to watch it yet. Rich and I think letting her watch it will raise more questions than we feel like dealing with right now.

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Flashback Friday: “Only the Lonely” by The Motels

When I got a new computer last year, I was able to successfully transfer almost everything from my old computer. Unfortunately, one of the things that took a hit during the transfer was my iTunes library. I lost dozens of songs and albums, which I have been working to restore via iTunes support (for purchases) and old backup CDs I found. One of my favorite songs from the ’80s, “Only the Lonely” by the Motels, was one of those song casualties. It’s since been restored to my library, and in honor of that — and the fact that I still love this song so much — I’m sharing the video for it here. I have to say, even decades later, lead singer Martha Davis‘ voice still amazes me.

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Toddler Tunes

Song Lyric of the Day:

But I still stay cause you’re the only thing I know / So won’t you take, oh, won’t you take me home / Take me home, home, home

Cash Cash featuring Bebe Rexha / “Take Me Home

A few weeks ago I made a huge mistake: I put the Tangled and Frozen soundtracks on my iPod, which lives in my car. To say Coraline was thrilled to be able to sing along with her favorite songs as we drove to school, to her abuela’s house, or during errands is an understatement. It is not an understatement, however, to say that after the 1,000th time I was ordered to sing the Mother Gothel or Hans or Flynn or Elsa parts, I was going insane. I laid down the law that we had to alternate between listening to her music and listening to Mommy and Daddy’s music. Since she got to hear her music some of the time, she was pretty happy. And so was I, particularly when she started to sing along with songs I liked.

Soon enough she started requesting certain songs, which is when I introduced her to the concept of a playlist. She loved the idea of saving all her favorite of Mommy and Daddy’s songs to her very own special playlist. I told her that whenever she heard a song she liked, to let me know, and I’d add it to her playlist. I also told her how we can add as many songs as she wants, so it can keep growing.

Here’s the playlist Coraline built for herself. With my help. And my iTunes account.

“Take Me Home” by Cash Cash featuring Bebe Rexha

Coraline knows it as: “Take Me Hooooooooooooome”

Fun fact: She refuses to let me sing along with this, even if she’s “too tired to sing,” insisting that it’s her song.

“Cups” by Anna Kendrick

Coraline knows it as: “You’re Gonna Miss Me When I’m Gone”

Fun fact: When I showed her this scene from Pitch Perfect the other day, she asked for a cup and I recorded her singing along and trying to mimic how the cup is used to make music.

“Breathing Underwater” by Metric

Coraline knows it as: the correct title

Fun fact: This was the first song of my music she ever sang along to, parroting me from the backseat on the way to her cousin’s birthday party last year, April 6, 2013. She calls it “our song.”

“I Will Wait” by Mumford & Sons

Coraline knows it as: the correct title

Fun fact: She serenades me with this while waiting at the bathroom door for me to help her go potty.

“Pompeii” by Bastille

Coraline knows it as: “If You Close Your Eyes”

Fun fact: She actually does close her eyes during that line in the song.

“Right Round” by the Treblemakers

Coraline knows it as: “Hey, I know this song! Can you put it on my playlist?”

Fun fact: I thank God she can’t yet understand the meaning of some of the lyrics. Thankfully, they’re not ones she sings along to. Look for this song to “disappear” from her playlist in a few months.

“Bright Lights Bigger City/Magic” by the Treblemakers

Coraline knows it as: “Dut Dut Dut Dut Dut Dut Dut Dut”

Fun fact: Clearly me listening to the Pitch Perfect soundtrack over and over made an impression on her.

“Counting Stars” by One Republic

Coraline knows it as: the correct title

Fun fact: This is probably Coraline’s most requested song, and one I bought per her request. (Luckily, I’m a One Republic fan.)

“Titanium” by David Guetta featuring Sia

Coraline knows it as: “That song about being strong”

Fun fact: She can’t quite pronounce “titanium,” but lord, does she try.

“Beam Me Up” by Cazzette

Coraline knows it as: “Hey, I like this song! Can you put it on my playlist?”

Fun fact: I love that she likes this song enough to have asked to add it to her playlist. Also, I find her singing along with the “beam me up up up up up” part really amusing.

“Somebody That I Used to Know” by Gotye featuring Kimbra

Coraline knows it as: “That song where the guy sings and then the girl sings”

Fun fact: This is another one of “her” songs, with which I am not allowed to sing. Even though she barely knows the words yet.

“99 Red Balloons” by Nena

Coraline knows it as: “The Balloon Song”

Fun fact: It blows her mind that her mommy knows this song from when she was young. It’s old! And so is Mommy!

(Update: I now have the German version, “99 Luftballoons,” embedded because the English version disappeared from YouTube.)

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My Happy for the Day: “Beam Me Up”

“Beam Me Up” by the Swedish DJ duo Cazzette is yet another song introduced to me by satellite radio a few months ago. And, oh, how I love it. I’m not a dancing person — and certainly not in public — but every time I hear this song, I’m right there in spirit with all the people dancing in the video. I’m waving glow sticks in the air and dancing in perfect time to the music while looking fabulous in short shorts. In my head, of course. And as I slowly get back on the fitness wagon, this song is at the top of my list for my new workout playlist.

Lyrics:

Tonight we’ll run away / Speeding faster than a midnight train / Somewhere to such a place / Where the stars come out to light your face / We’ll leave behind a world in darkness / Go where no one’s broken hearted / Take off without a trace / Neon angels, up, up and away

Ride my clouds / I think we’re getting closer / Don’t stop now / Off the ground / Higher than a supernova / Don’t look down [x4]

Beam me up [x4]

Ride my clouds / I think we’re getting closer / Don’t stop now / Off the ground / Higher than a supernova / Don’t look down [x2]

After we kissed the sun / We can burn our names into the sky / Feel my electric touch / Taste my supersonic lullaby

Ride my clouds / I think we’re getting closer / Don’t stop now / Off the ground / Higher than a supernova / Don’t look down [x4]

Beam me up [x4]

Ride my clouds / I think we’re getting closer / Don’t stop now / Off the ground / Higher than a supernova / Don’t look down [x2]

Ride my clouds / I think we’re getting closer / Don’t stop now / Off the ground / Higher than a supernova / Don’t look down [x2]

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My Happy for the Day: “Female Robbery”

As with most new-to-me music these days, I first heard this song by The Neighbourhood on Sirius XM. I was entranced by singer Jesse Rutherford’s smooth-as-velvet voice and the overall British sound (to me, anyway) of the song. From start to finish, it feels almost hypnotic to me. Add in a noir-esque black-and-white video, and I’m completely sold on this L.A. band. Why exactly would I label this moody, dark song as “My Happy for the Day”? Because it really does make me happy to hear it: It’s unlike most new music these days and really stands out to me. It also excites me to think about hearing more music from The Neighbourhood, which most definitely makes me happy.

Lyrics:

I think I found help / I think I found something / I think I found something in my TV screen / I think I found out, that I have nothing / That I have nothing in this place for me

I watched it all in my head / Perfect sense / They’ll take me from my bed / Leave everything that is worth a single cent and just take me instead / That TV show that I saw as I fell asleep / Had me on both knees / Praying to whatever is in heaven / Please send me felon / And don’t let the police know …

Anything / Anything / Don’t tell them anything / Anything/ Please.

I think I can tell / I think I can tell them / Tell them they were made for me / I’m thinking they’ll know / Know it already / I’m thinking they’ll know just about everything.

I bet they planned it all out / Like the shows / Went everywhere I go / Walked in the store right behind me / Stood in line right beside me and followed me to my home / I’m sure they figured it out / Early on / That I would never run / That they could shoot but that’s no fun / ‘Cause then they’re killing their stolen son

Anything / Anything / Don’t tell them anything / Anything / Please.

We’re gonna die, die, die…

I think I found love

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My Happy for the Day: “Titanium”

Through the spouse, I was introduced to David Guetta‘s music. While I’ve enjoyed most of what I’ve heard by him, my favorite of his songs has to be “Titanium,” which features Sia. There are a lot of interpretations out there as to the song’s meaning — that it’s about standing up to an abusive spouse, coping with verbal abuse, and being bullied. No matter how you interpret it, I interpret it as saying that it will take a lot to knock me down and that I’m stronger than others (and even I) realize. However you interpret it, I think it’s a pretty kick-ass song.

Lyrics:

You shout it out / But I can’t hear a word you say / I’m talking loud not saying much / I’m criticized but all your bullets ricochet / You shoot me down, but I get up

I’m bulletproof, nothing to lose / Fire away, fire away / Ricochet, you take your aim / Fire away, fire away / You shoot me down but I won’t fall / I am titanium / You shoot me down but I won’t fall / I am titanium

Cut me down / But it’s you who have further to fall / Ghost town and haunted love / Raise your voice, sticks and stones may break my bones / I’m talking loud not saying much

I’m bulletproof, nothing to lose / Fire away, fire away / Ricochet, you take your aim / Fire away, fire away / You shoot me down but I won’t fall / I am titanium / You shoot me down but I won’t fall / I am titanium / I am titanium / I am titanium

Stone-hard, machine gun / Firing at the ones who run / Stone-hard as bulletproof glass

You shoot me down but I won’t fall / I am titanium / You shoot me down but I won’t fall / I am titanium / You shoot me down but I won’t fall / I am titanium / You shoot me down but I won’t fall / I am titanium / I am titanium

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Flashback Friday: “Last Goodbye” by Jeff Buckley

I still can’t believe this week marks the 15th anniversary of Jeff Buckley‘s death. I had heard “Last Goodbye” a few times and liked it, but it wasn’t until after he died that I discovered how amazing his first and only complete studio album, Grace, truly was. And as much as I love the album as a whole and so many of the songs on it, “Last Goodbye” is one of my all-time favorites. It’s such a beautiful, heartbreaking song about the end of a relationship, perfectly describing what it’s like when love dies, the regrets, the doubts, the gratefulness for all of it. Listening to Grace this week for the first time in too long is a bittersweet experience. The album is so amazing to listen to, but it serves as a sad reminder of what could’ve been had Jeff lived past the young age of 30. I’m grateful, though, that at least his music lives on.

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“Waiting for the End” — Linkin Park

Things have been pretty stressful of late, for reasons I’ll try to go into sometime in the  next few days. But as stressful as things have been for me, they’ve been so much worse for some people close to me, and I want them to know they are always in my thoughts and prayers.

As an avid Linkin Park fan, I’ve always loved their lyrics, and these last few weeks I’ve found myself listening to “Waiting for the End” over and over. I’ve read online where some people interpret this song as being about a soldier heading off to war or about a relationship ending. However, for me, its meaning is more about not letting pain, fear, doubt, and uncertainty take hold of you, about letting go of the bad in order to make room for the good. So it’s with that in mind that I hope these people close to me listen to this song — really listen to it — and embrace even a bit of what it’s about. Because these bad times will come to an end, for all of us. The stress, the uncertainty over which direction life is heading, the fear of what lies ahead, the second-guessing of every decision, the wait for opportunities that have yet to materialize — all of these things will come to an end. Hopefully sooner rather than later.

Lyrics*:

[Mike:]
This is not the end, this is not the beginning / Just a voice like a riot rocking every revision / But you listen to the tone and the violent rhythm / And though the words sound steady something empty’s within them / We say yeah with fists flying up in the air / Like we’re holding onto something that’s invisible there / Cause we’re living at the mercy of the pain and the fear / Until we dead it, forget it, let it all disappear

[Chester:]
Waiting for the end to come / Wishing I had strength to stand / This is not what I had planned / It’s out of my control / Flying at the speed of light / Thoughts were spinning in my head / So many things were left unsaid / It’s hard to let you go

I know what it takes to move on / I know how it feels to lie /All I want to do / Is trade this life for something new / Holding on to what I haven’t got

Sitting in an empty room / Trying to forget the past / This was never meant to last / I wish it wasn’t so

I know what it takes to move on / I know how it feels to lie / All I want to do / Is trade this life for something new / Holding on to what I haven’t got

[Mike:]
What was left when that fire was gone / I thought it felt right but that right was wrong / All caught up in the eye of the storm / And trying to figure out what it’s like moving on / And I don’t even know what kind of things I said / My mouth kept moving and my mind went dead / So I’m picking up the pieces, now where to begin / The hardest part of ending is starting again

[Chester (till end):]
All I want to do / Is trade this life for something new / Holding on to what I haven’t got

[Mike:]
This is not the end, this is not the beginning / Just a voice like a riot rocking every revision (I’m holding on to what I haven’t got)

But you listen to the tone and the violent rhythm / Though the words sound steady something empty’s within them / We say yeah with fists flying up in the air / Like we’re holding onto something that’s invisible there (Holding on …) / Cause we’re living at the mercy of the pain and the fear / Until we dead it, forget it let it all disappear (… to what I haven’t got)

*I bolded some of the lyrics that really resonate with me.

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My Latest Music Obsession: Neon Trees

The first time I heard “Animal” by Neon Trees, I loved it. Fun, catchy, sounded like a song influenced by music from both the ’80s and the ’90s — right up my alley. And it was danceable. What’s not to like? (And guess what? They’re not British!) Once I heard their second release, “1983,” I knew I’d be downloading their album. Sure enough, from the first notes of their album, Habits, I fell in love. The opener, “Sins of My Youth” and “Your Surrender” are prime examples of the band’s accessible lyrics — catchy without dumbing things down, introspective and longing at the same time. And lead singer Tyler Glenn does a great job at conveying emotions via his vocals; “Love and Affection” is a prime example. Overall, the album is fun throughout, with great songs that will have you singing — and dancing — along in no time.
Their first single, “Animal”:

The year that I was listening to Thriller, “1983”:
You can check out the viral version here.
The song I think should be their next release because I love, love, love it, “Sins of My Youth”:
And proof the band doesn’t take itself too seriously: their awesome cover of Justin Bieber’s “Baby,” with a little bit of Ben E. King’s “Stand By Me” thrown in for good measure:
Now don’t you want to listen to more by them?

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Faves: Musical Movie Scenes

Song Lyric of the Day:

It’s tricky to rock a rhyme, to rock a rhyme that’s right on time / It’s Tricky

Wow, it’s been longer than I realized since I put together one of these lists. So here I am. If you read this blog even occasionally, you know how much I love my music. To that end, I thought I’d share some of my favorite movie scenes set to music. These are the scenes I inevitably think of whenever I hear the songs associated with them. I will say there are some glaring omissions (Ferris Bueller’s Day Off‘s “Twist and Shout,” to name one) thanks to some strict copyright enforcement. Party poopers. Anyhoo, here are some of my faves. That I legally found online. OK, legally that I know of.

“Puttin’ on the Ritz” – performed by Gene Wilder and Peter Boyle, Young Frankenstein

If there’s any scene in this classic comedy — which I’ve pretty much memorized I’ve watched it so much — that epitomizes its warped sense of humor, this is it. And to think Mel Brooks didn’t think Gene Wilder’s idea would work. Good thing he caved, though, since the movie is richer for it.
“Build Me Up Buttercup” – The Foundations, There’s Something About Mary
I love the silliness of the cast lip-synching to “Build Me Up Buttercup” as the end credits roll. Not only is it memorable in that it’s a catchy song, but for me it really embodies the heart of what is, despite the zaniness and gross-out jokes, a really funny movie with a genuine sweetness to it. Added bonus: Even the smallest bit players get their moment to shine.
“It’s Tricky” – Run-DMC, Road Trip
Take one seriously skinny, tall, gawky white kid and have him attempt a step dance with an African-American fraternity (set at UT Knoxville, no less), and what do you get? DJ Qualls’ hilarious quasi-Irish dancing in Road Trip.
“Canzonetta sull’aria” – Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro, The Shawshank Redemption
One of the most beautiful, simple, and heartbreaking scenes I’ve ever seen in any movie, ever. Red’s narration that even though he didn’t know what those Italian women were singing, he “… like(d) to think they were singing about something so beautiful, it can’t be expressed in words, and makes your heart ache because of it.” Which sums up the scene perfectly.
“Don’t Stop Me Now” – Queen, Shaun of the Dead
One of my all-time favorite bands plus my favorite romzomcom equals awesomeness. A pool-cue beating keeping time with the music makes for a fun moment right before the perfect storm of zombie shotgun killings to come.
“Paradise City” – Guns N’ Roses, Can’t Hardly Wait
Of all the associations I have with movie scenes set to music, this is the one that makes me laugh the hardest. I blame it on Charlie Korsmo’s awesome leap back onstage after passing out when two girls flash him. Of course, he may also be the reason Loveburger never did get around to performing.
What are some of your favorite musical movie scenes?

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