lesson learned

{Alicia Keys - Lesson Learned}

I think I always kind of knew this would be our song.
AK has such good breakup songs.

Not in the club

[I think this was written a month or two ago]

Now that I'm thinking about music, I must admit I've been lazy about it. I've been passively listening to whatever the pop radio stations play. Which means I've been listening to a lot of LMFAO, Britney Spears, Rihanna, Nicky Minaj and all them folk on repeat every time I'm in the car. I enjoy the music but what happened to mixing things up?

When I DJed at the college radio station they had rules about the music we played.
While mainstream stations play:
* one genre of music all the time and
* the same new song about once every half hour,

We were required to play:
* at least three genres of music every hour (unless you had a genre-specific show)
* at least three new featured tracks every hour
* if you were playing off a mainstream cd, it is preferred to play the songs that weren't on the top 100 charts

My mixes were usually hip hop and show tunes with some classical, jazz or comedy thrown in.
(I would have played more comedy but it was tough censoring tracks on the spot. A fine from the FCC for one of the "seven dirty words" was enough to shut down the station. Better to be careful.)

So here's some songs from different genres I didn't discover on the radio or in the club that I like/really liked at some point. Enjoy!

Ratatat - Loud Pipes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64liF2VuLxI&feature=related

Edward Shearmur - Grand Central (KPAX soundtrack)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GUcoSENzF0

Holly Brook - What I Wouldn't Give
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fxuxfjWZKo
(now Skylar Grey)

Jake Shimabukuro - Crazy G
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEqzV3ysPEg
(ukelele master)

Dick Dale - Shake N Stomp
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UiNFNnsH1Bo&NR=1
(surf music king)

Janis Joplin - Mercedes Benz
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-GFqhCq2HA

Ugly Girl
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6hcXEG4fpA

Manau - La tribu de dana
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDJ0McwKCwQ

Mi Alabanza Seguira
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3v6aHfahVZQ (in french)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcgYeFFpaog (in spanish)

Passing Strange - Keys
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKaJdMjdvwk

I'm trying to refrain from mentioning every musical I've ever seen, so I'll say most of the entire soundtracks to Rent, Spring Awakening, The Book of Mormon, Avenue Q, and Wicked.


Extra appreciation for services like youtube, spotify, etc.

Simple song

According to Phil Collins, the best songs are simple.

Don't be witty. Don't confuse listeners.
Stick to the message.

Maybe that's why I like this one so much.

Not found in the club

Now that I'm thinking about music, I must admit I've been lazy about it. I've been passively listening to whatever the pop radio stations play. Which means I've been listening to a lot of LMFAO, Rihanna, Nicky Minaj and all them folk on repeat every time I'm in the car. I enjoy the music but what happened to mixing things up? I can't even find a classical station anymore.

When I DJed at the college radio station they had rules about the music we played.
While mainstream stations play:
* one genre of music all the time and
* the same new song about once every half hour,

We were required to play:
* at least three genres of music every hour (unless you had a genre-specific show)
* at least three new featured tracks every hour
* if you were playing off a mainstream cd, it is preferred to play the songs that weren't on the top 100 charts

My mixes were usually hip hop and show tunes with some classical, jazz or comedy thrown in.
(I would have played more comedy but it was tough censoring tracks on the spot. A fine from the FCC for one of the "seven dirty words" was enough to shut down the station. Better to be careful.)

So here's some songs from different genres I didn't discover on the radio or in the club that I like/really liked at some point. Enjoy!

Ratatat - Loud Pipes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64liF2VuLxI&feature=related

Edward Shearmur - Grand Central (KPAX soundtrack)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GUcoSENzF0

Holly Brook - What I Wouldn't Give
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fxuxfjWZKo
(now Skylar Grey)

Jake Shimabukuro - Crazy G
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEqzV3ysPEg
(ukelele master)

Dick Dale - Shake N Stomp
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UiNFNnsH1Bo&NR=1
(surf music king)

Janis Joplin - Mercedes Benz
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-GFqhCq2HA

Ugly Girl
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6hcXEG4fpA

Manau - La tribu de dana
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDJ0McwKCwQ

Mi Alabanza Seguira
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3v6aHfahVZQ (in french)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcgYeFFpaog (in spanish)

Passing Strange - Keys
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y99GVfbx3Tw&NR=1

I'm trying to refrain from mentioning every musical I've ever seen, so I'll say most of the entire soundtracks to Rent, Spring Awakening, The Book of Mormon, Avenue Q, and Wicked.

That TAL song

This American Life plays this one song on their tv show quite a bit,
at least I feel that way because when I hear the song I automatically think of the show.

Besides some great reporting,
they pick out some great music.
(Yes, I think DO think the show great.)

I always wondered what song it was but never really looked into it.
One of those songs that plucks a heart string and awakens the soul.
How do musicians and songwriters do that?

In steps Pandora, right when I was about to turn you off too.

penguin cafe orchestra - perpetuum mobile
(fyi: the part they always use starts at 0:26)

Note: I think I usually only hear piano and strings, but I really like this version because I can pick out quite a bit of oboemabo. =)

Three Things

It's hot. I want to sit indoors and drink banana shakes all day - hot.
Three things that make it better.

1. Beach

An impromptu trip to the beach for boardwalk snacks, enjoying the sun because no ski jackets required, and running barefoot among the seagulls in wet sand. I wish I lived there and could start everyday with sand between my toes.

2. Banana pudding

I made some banana cream cupcakes. A cool dessert perfect for warm weather. Unfortunately, I in lieu of making the frosting I cut corners and bought a can of french vanilla whipped cream. Sounds good. Tastes good. But falls flat into a watery mess within 10 minutes. Next time I shall stick with the original recipe.

Whip cream slowly melting

3. Opera

Lately I've been listening to opera on pandora. I'm not sure why, but it is incredibly soothing. I don't know what they're saying and that doesn't matter. It's the perfect background music for working or stretching or a night of baking.

(FYI: I've also been listening to the soundtrack to The Book of Mormon but it's not good background music because I end up singing along. Hello!)

 

basically an episode of South Park on Broadway

Japanese beat

Coworker showed me this clip of beat boxing in a Japanese film from 1957 movie The Lower Depths.
I love any show/movie/flash mob that breaks out into song/dance.
Sigh. Disney really needs to bring that back.

When he told me about it, all I could think of was the ending to Zatoichi (the one with the blind samuari).
Completely random ending (considering the rest of the movie) but completely AWESOME!!!
As if a Broadway producer suddenly took over the ending.

BTW Stomp is coming to San Jose. April 12- 17 @ SJ Center for Performing Arts.
(I typed "san jose tomp" and Google autocompleter thought "san jose temp". They really need to hire some new Autocompleters.)

[Does funny hand clap and bangs trash can lids together.]

Happy Thursday!