Music

Music Therapy

Posted on by Megan

This weekend was an odd one in my neck of the woods – weather-wise. I was happily traipsing around wearing a sleeveless shirt on Saturday, but by Sunday evening I was back to wearing a jacket. With the onset of what many are calling the Storm of the Century across one-third of the US I thought I’d share with you my source of escape from the winter blahs, because even a scarf-loving girl like myself can suffer from them.

Music is my escape – its ability to change my mood is incredible. Just last week, I mentioned that Jazzercise nurtures my soul; however, there are times when my schedule doesn’t allow me to attend Jazzercise. When that happens, I turn to one of two places: My iTunes library or Songza. When I’m at work, nine times out of ten you can find me with headphones in, listening to Songza and bopping my head. When I’m at home, you’ll typically find me listening to iTunes while catching up on my iPad, occasionally taking solo dance breaks to my awesome tunes. Today I thought I’d share a few of my random musical escape routes with you. Enjoy!

Playlists via Songza

Oscar Winning Songs

90s One Hit Wonders

80s One Hit Wonders

Love Actually

Florence and the Machine Inspired

What Jazzercise is not…

Posted on by Megan

I’ve mentioned a few times that I am a Jazzercise-aholic. It fuels my spirit, my muscles, and my mind. After seeing this video posted on the lovely blog of Kirsten Blowers I laughed hysterically, replayed it, then laughed some more.

Then I shared the video on Twitter and Facebook, calling it a hilariously inaccurate portrayal of modern Jazzercise classes. In short it is – I’ve never seen one leotard at my Jazzercise classes or, for that matter, dancing elephants. Today’s Jazzercise classes are addicting, not only because of the results you’ll get, but also because of the music, the choreography, and, of course, the AWESOME instructors. As soon as the music of a new class starts, I smile and start singing along to the tracks. I’m in the zone!

The Music

Jazzercise music today consists of some of the newest tracks from the hottest artists. Think Ne-Yo, Beyonce, Rihanna, KT Tunstall, Ingrid Michaelson, and the cast of Glee! In any given class you could go from country, to jazz, to hip-hop, to rock in the course of an hour. If your iTunes library is as schizophrenic as mine, this means you’ll feel like you’re working out to your own iPod and you won’t tire of one genre every time you go. This also means if you hate a song that’s playing (which I’ve never had happen) in 4 minutes or less a new one will start and chances are it’s a song you love.

The Choreography

Jazzercise consists of both cardio and strength training with a bit of stretching/flexibility mixed in. As an ex-dancer I find the choreography easy to follow and challenging, but don’t let a lack of dance experience deter you. I’ll venture to say the majority of members don’t have a dance background and they are still picking up the choreography as well as I am, sometimes better. The most important part is that you keep moving and have fun.

The Instructors

I’d be lying if I said that the instructors didn’t play a huge part in my Jazzerdiction. They greet me with a smile, make me laugh, keep me motivated, and encourage me when I need it. They take time to teach modifications to routines that still challenge you when needed and share healthy tips without shoving the information down your throat. They visibly LOVE teaching Jazzercise and their energy is infectious.

What are you waiting for? Go try out a Jazzercise class today, I promise you won’t regret it!

The Pressure…of a Playlist

Posted on by Megan

In today’s Internet world, it’s customary for the engaged couple to create a wedding website for their guests and being the music lovers that Adam and I are, we’ve decided to include a playlist on ours. A playlist of songs that sets the tone for our wedding and gives our guests a peek into our personalities.

This has proven more difficult than I imagined, mainly due to the fact that I’m known for my playlists. I have friends that ask me to create playlists for them from my eclectic mix of music and summing our wedding up in a single playlist puts some pressure on me. This pressure has caused me to ask Adam for his suggestions, since I want both of our musical preferences to be represented.

Unfortunately for me, his suggestions have been less than helpful. His first recommendation was 99 Problems by Jay-Z, which really? Not so romantic OR appropriate for our guests. Then he scrolled through his music library and made the observation that the majority of his songs are sad ones. Given that his favorite song is Loser by Beck, I wasn’t shocked, but this also didn’t bode well for our playlist. He continued through his library making recommendations of songs by Pearl Jam and Reel Big Fish. Again, no.

Our playlist made it nowhere. Fast. Which is why I turned to WeddingWire’s recommended song list.

If you’ve never thought to look at recommended wedding songs before, I highly recommend you peruse this site. I have never laughed so much in my life. Here are just a few of my favorites – that did not make the cut.

(God Must Have Spent) A Little More Time on You – *NSYNC

Clair de Lune – If only this song didn’t remind me of the PixyLand website it would be a contender. But alas the guy in Florida who thinks he’s really Peter Pan is the last thing I want people thinking of when learning about our wedding.

Forever – John Stamos and the Beach Boys. Apparently Full House is a popular wedding soundtrack.

Kiss the Girl – Little Mermaid. 9 times out of 10, if you choose to walk down the aisle to a Disney song, you’re too young to get married. See also? Heart-shaped diamond rings.

And in case you were wondering, our website playlist still only has one song. So much for productivity.

Deck the Halls

Posted on by Megan

I love everything about the Holidays. The music, the food, and the family time. The decor.

Every year, my family begins decorating for Christmas the day after Thanksgiving.

We deck our old Victorian home’s halls with mistletoe balls.

We hang our needlepoint stockings on the mantle with care.

We set up the Christmas Village which my mom collected over several years.

We hang the tatted and crocheted snowflakes our Great-Aunt Lila and Great-Grandmother Ruth made for us for every birthday, anniversary, and holiday until they passed away.

We give the Baby Jesus his first sip of wine.

Oh wait, that’s so my sister and I can make it through decorating with our parents. [I kid, I kid.]

Every year, memories of decorating for Christmases past flood my mind. In fact, one of my earliest childhood memories is from this treasured time and involves the song, It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year by Andy Williams.

I was probably 2 or 3 and wearing a navy peacoat and saddle oxfords. My hair was probably in braided pigtails tied with red ribbon (courtesy of my mom), and we were decorating the house for Christmas just as we always have.

We keep the majority of our Christmas decorations in a closet under the stairs and my dad was in charge of getting out all of the boxes. Being Daddy’s Little Girl, I decided he needed help taking the decorations out of their boxes and putting them in their appropriate location.

God help him – my dad’s 6’8″ frame has had to contort to fit into a less than 3 ft tall space, in order to get all of our decorations out, for as long as I can remember. Well, until this year, when my sister took over this chore.

First was the box of Christmas lights for the front of our house. I pushed that big box down the hallway and out the door to the porch. Then came the garland box, which also got pushed outside. Next, was our stuffed animal head of Rudolph [I swear it’s not as brutal looking as it sounds] that we normally hang on the wall by the kitchen, but that year, I decided it should be displayed prominently on the front porch. The same went for the fabric Santa wall hanging, as it also got taken to the front porch.

Eventually, almost every item from every Christmas decor box and almost every item from that downstairs closet got taken to the front porch – including an old wooden tennis racket that was lying near the boxes by the closet door.

Apparently, I thought the Baby Jesus and Santa would enjoy playing tennis together.

My Christmas Playlist

Posted on by Megan

It should come as no surprise that I’m a music junkie and the Holidays are no different. Many songs make me nostalgic (go figure), while others simply provide yet another great beat to which I can bop my head. I’ve got classics from when my parents were kids and instrumental standards, holiday inspired rap and 80’s-style pop. Every. single. song. fills me with the spirit of Christmas.

It’s taken me a while to build up a Christmas music selection that I’m never sick of listening to, so I thought I’d share some of my favorite tunes with you. Happy Holidays!

Click the record below to listen to the playlist whenever you want to feel festive! 

Do You Wanna Dance?

Posted on by Megan

Middle School.

The most awkward period of everyone’s life. Marred by the burning desire to fit in and sit with the cool kids; the desire to please your parents, but be accepted by your peers. Easier said than done.

For example, take the 5th grade Christmas dance, where I decided it would be most appropriate to wear a sparkly gold sweater and velvet stirrup pants. Complete with matching purse and choker. Add to that my mom’s obsession of steam rollers, teasing, and hairspray and you got this…

I thought I was stylin’ and that all the girls would ask me for fashion advice. Looking back, I was clearly mistaken.

Then picture that awkward, skinny, towering 11 year old version of me dying for the chance to dance with a boy. ANY boy. Instead of sitting on the sidelines watching every other girl dance only joining in when the Electric Slide or Macarena played. I was so desperate, in fact, that I decided to chase a boy around the dance floor until he agreed to dance with me. Yes, you read right. I CHASED him around the dance floor, in front of teachers, classmates, parents, and the DJ.

Not my proudest moment.

Karaoke Memories

Posted on by Megan

When I was 2 or 3, my cousin introduced me to Janet Jackson and I danced and sang my way through “Nasty” and “Lately”. My parents further encouraged this behavior by taping it using their VHS Camcorder. They were cool like that.

When I was about 7, I remember receiving my own personal tape player and microphone set-up, perfect for rapping to MC Hammer or Vanilla Ice on my parents’ screened in back porch. I was dope.

When I was about 12, my family started having karaoke nights, despite the fact that none of us could sing…well, we could sing, we just weren’t any good. Our karaoke machine was well loved and our song selection was impressive. We had a binder of CDs from which to choose, but inevitably I always chose “Brick House”. Complete with a little self-choreographed dance.

My adolescence was marked with age inappropriate karaoke.

Then, I went off to college, got my first apartment and realized that I could own karaoke games. Karaoke competitions? In my own home? Count. Me. In. I bought SingStar, Karaoke Revolution, and Get On Da Mic and held karaoke parties with friends. Watching each and every person try to hit a perfect score was entertaining to say the least, but best of all it provided me with 3 karaoke standards, should someone every bribe me to sing karaoke in public.

These standards have proven invaluable already, after an overconfident and unfortunate group effort involving “Scarborough Fair”… [Did you know there are more words to it than “parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme”? We didn’t.]

Turn the Beat Around by Gloria Estefan

9 to 5 by Dolly Parton

Wannabe by Spice Girls

image via Cuba Gallery on Flickr

Road Trip Revelations

Posted on by Megan

About 2 months ago, I took a road trip to Austin, Texas with a friend. I was visiting Adam, she was visiting family [and IKEA. It’s amazing how much you can fit into a 2-door convertible]. During this trip, she decided that it would be best if I scrolled through all 6,524 songs on my iPod while she drove and made note of the songs she wanted.

Approximately 16 roundtrip hours, a cramped left thumb and 6,524 clicks of the next button later, she had chosen 1,607 songs.

It was during this trip that I realized just how revealing an iPod can be about someone. She learned things about me that I’ve made her promise never to share with anyone else, mainly because I don’t want people to know that I own every Paula Abdul album or that I enjoy Disney music or that “Barbie Girl” can be found on my iPod.

But for everything I’ve sworn her not to share I’ve got equally embarrassing dirt on her. Like that she requested both Taylor Hicks and Spice Girls. The best part of this experience was the realization that we both have guilty music pleasures that are equally embarrassing, and many of those are the same.

Here’s three embarrassing songs from my collection that I love no matter what…

Spice Up Your Life by Spice Girls

Step By Step by New Kids on the Block

Straight Up by Paula Abdul

Perfect Playlists

Posted on by Megan

I’ve become addicted to Songza Sets during the work week, so on this rainy Sunday afternoon I decided to re-create some of their playlists in my iTunes library. These playlists are eclectic, just like my music library, and are perfect to get you down the road, through a work day, or chill on a weekend.
Summertime, Summertime – The Jamies
Summer In The City – Lovin’ Spoonful
Heat Wave – Martha Reeves & The Vandellas
Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini – Bobby Vinton
Under The Boardwalk – The Drifters
Summer Of ’69 – Bryan Adams
Ocean Avenue – Yellowcard
Summer Girls – LFO
Kodachrome – Paul Simon
Summer Nights – John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John
Hot Fun in the Summertime – Sly and the Family Stone
Cruel Summer – Bananarama
Ventilator Blues – Rolling Stones
Cemetry Gates –  The Smiths
It Must Be Summer – Fountains of Wayne
California Girls – The Magnetic Fields
Summertime Blues – Eddie Cochran
It’s Summertime –  The Flaming Lips
The Message – Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five featuring Melle Mel & Duke Bootee
Suddenly Last Summer – The Motels
The Warmth Of The Sun – The Beach Boys
Over and Done With – The Proclaimers
Oh Yoko! – John Lennon
Making Time – The Creation
Alone Again Or – Love
Ooh La La – Faces
A Quick One, While He’s Away – The Who
Hey Jude – The Beatles
Me and Julio – Paul Simon
Needle in the Hay – Elliott Smith
These Days – Nico
Judy is a Punk – The Ramones
Stephanie Says – The Velvet Underground
Everyone – Van Morrison
Life On Mars – David Bowie
Wigwam – Bob Dylan
O Astronauta de Mármore (Starman) – Seu Jorge
This Time Tomorrow – The Kinks
Staralfur – Sigur Ros
Where Do You Go To – Peter Sarstedt
Heroes and Villains – The Beach Boys
Buckeye Jim – Burl Ives
Let Her Dance – Bobby Fuller Four
Ain’t No Grave – Crooked Still
Beaumont Rest Stop – Red Molly
Beg and Borrow – Mike and Ruthy
Didn’t Leave Nobody But The Baby – Emmylou Harris, Alison Krauss and Gillian Welch
In Spite Of Ourselves – John Prine
The Littlest Birds – Be Good Tanyas
Lock Your Devils Up – Nathan
My First Lover – Gillian Welch
Picture in My Mind – Freakwater
Mexico – James Taylor
Tamacun – Rodrigo y Gabriela
Peel Me a Grape – Diana Krall
Mi Primo Juan – Chambao
Serre Moi – Tryo
L’Amoureuse – Carla Bruni
You Can Call Me Al – Paul Simon
Carpe Diem – Aldebert
Mambo Gelato – Ray Gelato
Mi Primo Juan – Chambao
Serre Moi – Tryo
Mambo Italiano – Club des Belugas Remix
Level Green (Blue States Remix) – Hefner

Let the Music Play

Posted on by Megan

I think it’s an annual tradition on my blog[s] that I do a post where I put iTunes on shuffle and tell you what 30 songs play. It helps flex my sometimes tired writing muscles and rescue me from boredom when there’s nothing to watch on my DVR. Here’s last year’s post.

Seeing as it’s a tradition and all, I can’t disappoint my readers [all 1 of you] now can I? Plus I need documented proof that my taste in music really is as schizophrenic as I claim it is. [Hmmm, maybe I should reconsider this whole idea now that I see it in writing] Oh well, here we go!

  1. Faces Going Places – Jose Vanders. A great young artist out of the UK you’ve probably never heard of.
  2. The Acid Queen – The Who. You can thank the boyfriend for this one. He introduced me to the music of The Who via Tommy at The Rep. Yes, I had no idea what songs they sang or that they even sang good music, but I was proven wrong. Dang that boyfriend. My only saving grace was handily beating him at pinball during intermission 🙂
  3. St. Judy’s Comet – Paul Simon. I have to be honest, I hadn’t heard this song until this little exercise but I find it quite enjoyable. I mean, who doesn’t like Paul Simon?
  4. My Boo – Ghost Town DJ’s. aaaaaand the schizophrenia begins. Yes, I’m a fan of 90’s hip-hop and yes I actually remember the words to this song.
  5. Never Surrender – Corey Hart. Did I mention I’m an 80’s music addict? C’mon, admit it, you know you are too… As a side note, did you know this song was 5 minutes long? That’s a lot of 80’s pop musicality.
  6. Oh Yeah – Yello. I told you I was an 80’s music addict. Now do you believe me? I love the ch-chchikaaah’s in this song, btdubs.
  7. Hold Me – Fleetwood Mac. Anytime a Fleetwood Mac song begins to play I smile. I don’t know what it is, but I like it. Plus, there’s some cowbell in this and I hear it’s a great prescription for fevers.
  8. Jungle Love – The Time. Embarrassing, really embarrassing even if it is an early Prince track, but I can’t help but sing along with the “oh-wee-oh-wee-oh’s”.
  9. Farther Along – Sam Cooke & the Soul Stirrers. “Oh cheer up my brothers live in the sunshine”. I need this reminder every so often.
  10. Run Around – Blues Traveler. Ok this song? This song right here? Was one of my childhood jams. I LOVE[D] Blues Traveler and even had this on cassette. [For you young’uns out there, before invisible .mp3 files and CDs, there used to be these small plastic boxes with ribbon on gears inside. We’d put these magical boxes in a boombox, Walkman, or car stereo and our favorite music would play. It was truly amazing.]
  11. What Have You Done For Me Lately – Janet Jackson. This song and I go waaaaay back. When I was just a toddler running and dancing around my parents’ house in diapers I learned the words to “Nasty” and this was the next song on the cassette, so I learned the words to its intro as well. In fact, my parents video taped me dancing and singing “Nasty” and the intro to this song, which you can watch on YouTube.
  12. One Vision – Queen. My dad’s love of Queen was obviously passed down to me.
  13. Be My Baby – The Ronettes. Fitting, since I carried a watermelon today.
  14. Something Happened on the Way to Heaven – Phil Collins. Early 90’s Phil, is there anything better?
  15. Then Came You – Dionne Warwick & the Spinners. Did I also mention I enjoy music from the 70’s?
  16. What a Fool Believes – The Doobie Brothers. I rest my case.
  17. Girls Just Want to Have Fun – Cyndi Lauper. You can’t say you’re a fan of 80’s pop and not have this song.
  18. Sisters are Doing it for Themselves – Eurythmics. I cannot express my love for Eurythmics eloquently enough.
  19. Mo Money Mo Problems – Notorious B.I.G. May he rest in peace.
  20. Inside – Sting. Sting is my favorite artist of all time. Seriously, I cannot get enough of his music. Perfection, every.single.time.
  21. The Boys Are Back In Town – Thin Lizzy. Yep, I also like classic rock. This is a sunroof open kinda song.
  22. Yesterday – The Beatles. My favorite band of all time [closely followed by The Police]. This song is just so beautiful and I love the melody. McCartney is a musical genius.
  23. Constellations – Jack Johnson. Obligatory college leftover. Surprisingly I can still listen to it. Not my favorite Jack Johnson, though.
  24. Hey Baby – Bruce Chanel. My parents raised my sister and me on Oldies. I’m pretty sure this was played on a weekly basis.
  25. Anyone Else But You – The Moldy Peaches. Anyone else a Juno soundtrack fan?
  26. Loose Ends – Imogen Heap. If you haven’t heard of Imogen YouTube her now. This woman is amazing. She can and does make beautiful music from a radiator, a sweeping broom, and any other household sound you can think of.
  27. Can’t Stop – Missy Elliot. Yeah, I listen to rap too. Missy is a favorite, even if I can’t understand half of the lyrics to her songs, her beats are sick. [Did I really just type that?]
  28. Chameleon – Elton John. After going to his the Face2Face tour with Billy Joel with my sister I have become an even bigger fan of his music. A true entertainer and, I dare say, he gets better with age [without a shadow of a doubt].
  29. Brown Eyed Girl – Steel Pulse. Is there any better summer beach music than this reggae standard? I didn’t think so.
  30. Jesus & Gravity – Dolly Parton. Ever since my sister and I skated on/polished wood floors to Dolly’s “9 to 5” record I’ve been a fan. She’s like the Betty White of the country music world.

Weekend Recap

Posted on by Megan

This weekend, Adam and I enjoyed all that Riverfest in Little Rock, Arkansas had to offer. Well, almost. We only made it there for 2 nights, but we still had a blast! Earth, Wind, and Fire, fireworks, and Ludacris, what’s not to love? We also got to see each of our families. All in all, we kept I-40 hot…

Here’s some highlights:

Friday:

  • Heidi Montag left Spencer, is the world coming to an end?
  • Watching Adam rap and groove to Outkast – Ms. Jackson while driving to Riverfest is one if the funniest things I’ve ever witnessed…
  • The streets around Riverfest are filled with cars blaring 90’s rap/hip hop and all the drivers are white.
  • Waiting patiently for Earth, Wind, & Fire http://twitpic.com/1ryqkj
  • A DJ is spinning mixes of old-school rap/hip hop. Think O.P.P. and Da Dip and Hip Hop Hooray into Usher’s Yeah.
  • Save me. Adam is quoting Spaceballs while we wait for Earth Wind & Fire…
  • There is nothing better than watching white people with no rhythm dance to hip hop music.
  • At Earth, Wind, & Fire, Adam’s first impression of the band is “That tall guy is wearing some interesting pants.”

Saturday:

  • On our way to lunch, Adam says/sings, “I’m a Rock. It. Man!” just in case I ever doubted his geek status…
  • Protein. Dairy. Grains. Veggies. Totally healthy right? http://tweetphoto.com/24547642
  • This bike shop is named Poppa Wheelies? Really?
  • I just missed Adam’s fist in a fist bump. #IAdmitMyFlaws #IFail
  • Today I learned that Adam has never seen “Catch Me If You Can”. Tonight we’re watching it together.

Sunday:

  • Dad: “What is box wine?”
  • Dad: “I had some of that behind the blue moon beer”.
  • Oh Sonic, does it really take 5 minutes, 1 callback, and 3 tries to order 2 shakes? Oh, it does? Yay!
  • After Ludacris sang “Move B!tch” Adam and I left. We didn’t want to disobey Mr. Luda, as he had an entourage.
  • Listening to the LRPD scanner. Glad we got out when we did…
image via LITTLE ROCK CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU

Why I want to move…

Posted on by Megan

[See also: Why I despise my downstairs frat boy neighbors]

11:40: Just got off the phone with Adam and am walking back to my bedroom.

11:41: Changed into my PJs, ready to read Jen Lancaster and fall into a sweet sweet slumber

11:42:30: Is that ABBA?

11:42:35: It IS ABBA, but what song?

11:42:45: OMG the frat boys are blaring “Dancing Queen”

11:42:47: I hit the floor, ear to carpet, listening and giggling at this picture I’ve drawn in my head of frat boys dancing around their apartment and singing “Dancing Queen”

11:43:15: Man, I’m tired. I need to sleep. [Gets up off floor]

11:43:18: But what if the next song is equally entertaining? [Walks and stands in the corner to listen to more music]

11:43:20: What’s this?

11:43:32: It’s The Eagles…

11:43:34: It’s Hotel California

11:44:25: I call Adam.

11:44:27: Adam’s working, and says, “That’s umm interesting” as a I regale him with the scenarios that are popping into my head at this very moment about the neighbors’ playlist.

11:50: Adam tells me he needs to get back to work so he can finish laundry and pack to visit me on Thursday.

11:50:10: “Don’t go!” I shout, not wanting to miss the opportunity to share the next song choice with him.

11:50:30: Distract Adam with my sleepy ramblings while I try to figure out the next song…

11:50:35: It’s the Bee Gees, not nearly as random, we say our goodbyes.

11:51:35: We are done saying our goodbyes.

11:53: Oooh! Foreigner, “Feels Like the First Time”

11:54: Seriously, WHAT are THEY doing down there…

11:54:45: Ok, the charm of this is starting to wear off. Maybe it’s something to do with the fact that it’s almost midnight on a school night.

11:54:46: Did I just say school night?

11:54:50: Head to bathroom to wash face, brush teeth, etc. etc.

11:58: Get into bed with Jen’s new book.

11:58:09: New Song!!

11:58:10: No. Freaking. Way.

11:58:11: Jump out of bed and begin to dance.

11:58:30: Grab hairbrush and lip-synch to Manfred Mann “Blinded by the Light”

12:04: Ok, seriously, Megan. Get in bed and stay there, you have to be at work in 8 hours.

12:04:30: Fleetwood Mac begins.

12:04:45: It’s “Dreams”. Fitting since it’s way past my bedtime.

12:04:50: Continue reading Jen.

12:06: Oh no they didn’t. I KNOW they didn’t just skip “Dreams”.

12:06:10: I’m pissed and I’m tired.

12:07: An unidentifiable song begins blaring.

12:07:30: I text Adam saying I’m about to go postal.

12:08: No response.

12:09: Continue reading.

12:10: This music is getting louder (and not any better).

12:14: I call the courtesy officer pager.

12:14:30: Courtesy officer calls me right as the music is shut off.

12:14:32: Of Course.

12:14:40: Apologize for bothering her, tell her I can’t hear their music anymore, and not to worry about it.

12:14:45: She tells me not to hesitate calling her back if the music comes back to an unacceptable level.

12:15: Remember nothing after this point.

7:10: I wake up with “Blinded by the Light” stuck in my head.

image via MAZZALIARMADI.IT on Flickr