13 posts tagged “music”

Full Disclosure: The lead vocalist of the Mighty Weaklings, Matt Vogel, is a close friend of my sister's. He has done a lot of work with children's programming, including work on Sesame Street. The only other thing I know about him is that his son and my niece are friends.

Mighty Weaklings

My sister sent me this CD on Friday (along with several other things - but that's another post), and Chris and I put it into rotation for The Boy's listening pleasure. Well, what I didn't anticipate was how much I would enjoy it, too!

One of the things I really like about Yo Gabba Gabba! is that the music on the show (especially the music featured in the Super Music Friend Show) is kid-friendly but not necessarily intended soley for kids. (Well, except for the "band" that was on the "Greetings" episode.) I mean, the Aquabats are a mainstay, for crying out loud!

Anyway, the Mighty Weaklings offer great kid-friendly songs that don't sound like they were necessarily written for kids at first pass. Sure, there are kid's screaming "Weak!" on the opening number and a few other tracks, and there's a song called "The Monster Under My Bed", but the music certainly has some grown-up sensibilities. There are some dialogue tracks that I found ridiculously amusing, and songs like "It's Sunny When You Share" (which I've heard - by choice - no fewer than five times this morning alone) are full of funny lyrics that may fly right over a child's head but wouldn't get lost on a listening adult.

One of my favorite songs on the CD is "Superhero", essentially a song about a superhero who can't fly because he's afraid of heights. It's a funny concept, but the underlying message is simple: Once you face your fear, you can do anything! So the songs are fun and catchy, but they alway have a point, too.

You Can't Rock Sittin' Down is available on iTunes (hooray!), and you can also purchase (or download) the CD from Amazon. I totally recommend giving this a listen and adding it to your iPod (or CD collection if you're old school). Sure, it's a departure from the music I listened to as a kid (though there's nothing wrong with Simon and Garfunkle, the Beatles, and Styx), but it's a gazillion times better than anything Barney's ever released. And the best part? You won't feel like ripping off your ears after listening to any of these songs for the tenth time in an hour.

When I was younger, I was totally up on music. Of the music I liked, I could tell you all sorts of fun facts about the artist, the album, the song, blah blah blah. And I would be completely offended when someone would tell me (as my husband sometimes does) that it all sounds the same, that one song is virtually indistinguishable from the next.

Today, while listening to my Complaint Rock station on Pandora, I realized that (gasp!) he might be on to something. Moreover, I've just switched over to my Angry Rock station and have found very little difference between the two stations. It's partially because the artists cross lines, and I get that. But still! (Does this mean I'm angry when I'm complaining? Or that I complain when I'm angry?)

Anyway, perhaps most troubling is that as I listen to (newer) songs, I have to check to see the name of the artist. I know I like the song; I just have no idea who sings it.

I used to love looking through liner notes and memorizing lyrics. Now, I couldn't tell you when I last bought a CD, let alone what it was. And this saddens me.

I'd like to blame all of this on digital media (and leaving SoCal). I refuse to blame it on my age - or, even worse, that all the music I like really does sound the same!

I really like my Classic Rock station on Pandora, but for some weird reason every other song is a break-up song! Check it:

• "Second Chance" by .38 Special
• "Lyin' Eyes" by the Eagles
• "Bringin' on the Heartbreak" by Def Leppard
• "Alone" by Heart (okay, not a breakup song, but not exactly upbeat, either)
• "Black" by Pearl Jam (not exactly classic rock, I know, but Pandora says the musical stylings are similar)
• "Say You Love Me or Say Goodbye" by REO Speedwagon
• "Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad" by Def Leppard (you gotta love Def Leppard)

You know, I already have an Angst station. I don't need my classic rock station to make me want to curl up in a ball and cry, too!

This morning, I was fixing myself a cup of coffee (it was one of those nights) and chanced to look up and see a Grateful Dead tour poster. Given my place of employment, it's not uncommon to see tour posters hanging on the walls in gilded frames, but for some strange reason, this one just made me wonder why the Grateful Dead has been heralded as one of the greatest bands of all time.

So, I'm listening to a new station I created for myself on Pandora of just (what I consider) classic rock in hopes that I can figure out what is (and has been) so great about the Grateful Dead. And I'm just not getting it.

It's not that I hate their music. I don't. I couldn't name one of their songs if my life depended on it, and Jerry Garcia is the only band member whose name I know, but I don't hate their stuff. Of course, it's not like I grew up listening to the Grateful Dead, either. My dad listened to the Beatles and the Doors and Zepplin (in addition to ABBA and James Taylor and Simon and Garfunkle), and my friends listened to Queen and Styx and Journey (in addition to Hall and Oates and the Sex Pistols and everything New Wave).

I don't know. Is there a good gateway band for the Grateful Dead, or this is one of those bands I'm just not meant to understand?

I've been finding my mother in the oddest places.

Let's rephrase that. I find myself reminded of my mother while listening to what I once thought was "safe" music. And it's a little unnerving.

Last night, I broke into tears while driving home when "Gone Away" by the Offspring played on the radio. Then this morning, "Wake Me Up When September Ends" by Green Day made me tear. Just now, My Chemical Romance's "The Black Parade" caused me to reach for my box of Kleenex.

Typically, those three bands wouldn't reduce me to tears. I think I would be more apt to sob while listening to Morrissey, Joy Division or Natalie Merchant.

I guess it goes to show you that Punk has heart, after all.

My older niece, J, is 6 years old and will be 7 in just a few months. She's got a very busy schedule: Girl Scouts, her theater club, soccer practice, Sunday school, and, added this year, piano lessons. All on top of being a straight-A first-grader. (Definitely my sister's offspring.)

Joz,edit

J also recently had the lead in her theater group's fall production of Oliver. Yes, she played the title role, and did an awesome job of it from all accounts. She's quite the little actress, and she's got a very good singing voice, too. (Definitely my niece.) The funniest thing was that earlier this year, my sister was telling me that she needed to sit down with her before the next auditions and explain that it's okay if she doesn't get the lead again. Or even a supporting lead (which she had in her first production). I think it goes without saying that the kid has talent.

So last night, while I was talking to my sister, I heard J playing piano - and sort of singing along while she practiced. It was adorable! Just when I don't think I could possibly be more impressed with my nieces, they surprise me again.

My sister sent me a clip of J's latest piano lesson. Keep in mind that she's only been playing now for about 8 months. (Or, I think it's only been 8 months. I'm pretty sure I was at home with the baby when she started.)

The kid sings, dances, acts, and plays piano pretty well - much better than I did after 2 years of lessons. She never ceases to amaze me!

Audio: What's your favorite carol or holiday song?

Band Aid - Do They Know It's Christmas

More than 20 years later, I still love this song. Most heart-wrenching line ever? Well, tonight, thank God it's them instead of you. Bono's delivery of it makes it that much more poignant.

I recall seeing an early interview with Bono where he was asked what it was like to participate in creating this record. He said something along the lines of being so happy that his little band from Ireland was there with all these great names in the music industry.

It's especially funny to think of that interview now, because that little band from Ireland is one of the biggest forces in the music industry these days. Unlike some of U2's contemporaries, they've been able to adapt to the changes in music, and their sound reflects the changing times and trends.

I vividly recall when this song was released, and this was the very first 12" single I ever bought. I still have it, too, and it still plays, though the cover has a crease on one of its corners, a few scuff marks, and the unmistakable scrawl that is Sir Bob Geldof's autograph.

Can you tell it's a prized possession?

Video: Show us a music video you'd gladly watch over and over again.

Okay, I'm absolutely infatuated with this site. Pandora.com is what they call "Radio from the Music Genome Project." It's really very cool. I created what I named "My Angry Radio", suggested a few bands, and let it go. The nice thing about it is that I don't think I paid much attention to the Donnas or the Boils (I couldn't even tell you who the Boils are), but because their music is similar to the bands I suggested (Linkin Park, Offspring, and Hole), voila! Their music appeared on my playlist.

I have the option to give songs a thumbs-up or a thumbs-down. There was one song, for example, from another band I've never heard of, that I really didn't care for. So it got a thumbs-down. But then it played one of my favorite Veruca Salt songs, and I gave it a thumbs-up. It's all very cool.

So, if you haven't opened up Pandora's music box, I highly recommend it. I'm almost tempted to subscribe and buy the equipment so I can listen to it at home, but I'm just not quite ready for that kind of commitment.

Yet.

So, every year, my employer hosts "Rock 'n' Art", an afternoon during which kids come to the building and paint, draw, or otherwise create art in our break room. The "Rock" part of the equation comes from one of our lawyers, whose band comes in to play a little show for the kids (and the rest of the building).

Anyway, I've decided for certain now that Baby C must learn to play the drums. There were these little kids playing drums (real drums with drumsticks, mind you, not just bongos) to "Sweet Caroline" and "Wipeout", and it was just way too much fun to watch them. So, I think I'll have him start on some little bongos when he's mobile, then have him move up to a full set when he starts preschool.

If he's anything like his dad and me, he'll have a good ear for music, anyway.