Music Monday: "Baby Are You Down, Down, Down?"

My friend Pat, one of my writing mentors and all around great friends sent me this video clip recently.

I loved the "Where the Hell is Matt" project, and if you haven't seen it, you can find it here.

This is a similar project, but focused on bringing awareness of breast cancer. It was also part of an effort to get Medline to donate a huge amount of money to St. Vincent Medical Center in Portland, OR. They had to get 1,000,000 hits for this on youtube, and the current tally is 1,599,499, so they made their goal and then some.

The folks in this video are Medical Center employees, and as you can see, they were joyous in their participation.

To all our sisters fighting this disease and to all of their loved ones (and a special shout-out to my friend, Linda, who is going through a bone marrow transplant on Friday to fight myelofibrosis):



Happy Music Monday. For more participants, go visit Soccer Mom in Denial.

Music Monday: Blogger Aid - "Imagine"

For other tales of musical adventure, please visit Soccer Mom in Denial.

So, just what is Blogger Aid? Blogger Aid is the brain child of Ivy, Giz and Val and has been set up to raise money for the United Nations' World Food Programme, which helps children all over the globe. Since this is an international group, the World Food Programme was a wonderful choice. Blogger Aid is primarily a group of food bloggers, and the major fundraiser will be the Blogger Aid cookbook. I'll have more about the cookbook in future posts. It's not too late to join and help - join the Blogger Aid ning group and you can learn more. Just click on the link below.

There's a meme going around Facebook that asks for your 20 most influential albums. This is definitely up my alley, and I'm planning to play for real next week here. It got me thinking, however, about which "inspirational" songs have hit me most over the years. I'm not talking about spiritually inspirational - that would be a whole 'nother post, but more the banner songs that have been written for causes: Band Aid, Farm Aid, One.org, Melissa Etheridge's "I Run for Life". I've loved various pieces that have been written for these causes over the years, and I've loved the compilation projects that have come out of these fundraisers.

As I thought and thought about what to include on a "list", however, I realized that I indiscriminately love many of these songs - they're filled with great hope and joy and cooperation.

But then one song kept coming back to me as the granddaddy of them all. Yes, I know there was great protest music long before this song was written, but there's something about this one song that seemed, for me, to turn the world on its proverbial ear, and to give hope for a generation and beyond.

So for this, and for so many brilliant songs, I turn to John Lennon:

Music Monday: "Easy Silence"

For other tales of musical adventure, please visit Soccer Mom in Denial.

The start of this year, despite some new feelings of hope, has been stressful for many, including me.

In many respects, I'm an introvert in the sense that I need alone time to regenerate. For the most part, I hate the phone. I also don't really like instant messages, especially when I'm trying to get work done. A challenge I face working several jobs part time, most of them from home, is that people don't understand that you do, in fact, work, and they often feel that any time they call or contact you that you should be "free" to talk, since you have a flexible schedule.

One place of refuge is my family. We are all kind of quiet, kind of nerdy. We're pretty happy to hang out together reading or following individual pursuits.

This song pretty much sums up how I've been feeling lately - anyone or any place that gives me that "Easy Silence", that refuge from the chatter that is everyday life, is a true gift right now.

And speaking of which, I think the Dixie Chicks are a true gift in and of themselves:

Music Monday: Novel Play List

For other tales of musical adventure, please visit Soccer Mom in Denial.

If you look to my side bar, you'll see a word count meter, with the title Blessed above it. Marianne Arkins, being the wonderful, writer-cheerleader that she is (she's also a darned fine romance writer with a great sense of humor), decided that those of us who punked out on Nano this year deserved another chance and put a "Jano" group together for January. Our goal: 50,000 words. Well, as you can see, I didn't quite make it, but I'm very happy with the progress I did make. I'm especially pleased with this progress because on December 28th, all I had was a germ of an idea. Yup, I had nada. Zilch.

But then my other favorite writer cheerleader, Charity, came to the rescue (who is also, along with her writing partner, Darcy, a darned fine YA writer). She puts together play lists when she's getting ready to write a new piece. I always thought this was a little weird, and I actually teased her about it.

Somewhere around December 30th, however, I was working out, and "Angels Wanna Wear My Red Shoes" came on my shuffle list, and I got an idea for the novel. And by the end of the work out, I started to think of songs that made sense. And by December 31st, I had a basic plot based on my play list.

Wow.

I will always use these play lists in the future. This rocked.

So if you want a preview of my novel, I give you the play list for Blessed below. The songs that have been struck out are ones that don't fit the current plot. I think there are others I'm going to add in, too.

Oh, and I added in a 1977 version of Elvis Costello doing his thing with "Angels" because he just so rocks.

Happy Music Monday!

Blessed:

(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes – Elvis Costello
I Got Money Now – P!nk
Clubland – Elvis Costello and the Attractions
‘Cuz I Can – P!nk
Paralyzer – Finger Eleven
I Need a Man – Eurythmics
How Bizarre – OMC
Bring Me to Life - Evanescence
Lullaby – Shawn Mullins
I Can’t Stand Up For Falling Down – Elvis Costello and the Attractions
Take Me Out Tonight – Rent
New York – U2
New Lace Sleeves – Elvis Costello and the Attractions
Could’ve Had Everything – P!nk
Single – Natasha Bedenfield
Wicked Game – Chris Isaak
There Must Be An Angel – Eurythmics
Grace – U2

Music Monday: Music in my Life

For other tales of musical adventure, please visit Soccer Mom in Denial.

I've always loved music. One of my earliest memories was dancing around the house to musicals and the songs of Yves Montand.

As I got older, music led me in various directions. I played piano for 9 years and guitar for 6, but was never good at either, despite a lot of periodic effort on my part.

As a teen, lyrics "spoke" to me, as I think they do for most teens. I was particularly affected by "Miles of Aisles" by Joni Mitchell. I can probably still recite most of the lyrics from most of the songs on that album.

College brought dance nights at local music venues along with the concept of mood music. Additionally, since I was in design school, music kept me going on my drafting and rendering all-nighters.

As an elementary teacher, my classroom was filled with music. I always had different music playing as the children entered in the morning, and we used music to learn about other cultures, to create art projects, and as a stimulus for writing projects. Students would also bring in their favorite cds for break times.

That tradition continued when I taught middle school - my 8th graders seemed to live in my room, and the different music that was on throughout the day taught me about their loves and interests.

It's harder for me to use music in my high school classes now. We only have a little over an hour together each week and I really need to use every second. My students still make "soundtracks" for what we read as creative projects, and I still find it fascinating to see what they'll choose to translate Wharton or Fitzgerald.

I still use music throughout my day. It's agony to cook without music; I listen to music as I work out, when I drive, and if I'm thinking. Music makes housework bearable (sort of). The one time I can't listen to music is when I'm writing. I really need silence for that, oddly enough.

This summer is a summer of taking stock. There are many things I'm trying to sort out. Part of that is thinking (yet again) about my spirituality. My spiritual path could take up many, many entries, but you'd all be bored to tears, so it's not something I'll be discussing here.

I will say that these are two pieces I've been listening to a great deal lately:

Grace by U2
Fishin' For Religion byArrested Development

How do you use music in your life? What are you listening to these days?

Music Monday - The Movie Themes of John Williams

For other tales of musical adventure, please visit Soccer Mom in Denial.

We went to see Indiana Jones and The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull yesterday.

I loved it, C liked it, and D hated it. Whatever.

My favorite parts? Seeing Karen Allen re-emerge as the oh-so-fabulous Marion Ravenwood and LOOK HER AGE. (That's fodder for another post in itself). And, in addition to Marion, there was the thrill of hearing "that" theme.

"That" theme that lets us know that Indy is about to crack his whip one more time. Or the theme that lets us know that Harry will battle Voldemort again, or that Luke and Leia will eventually rule victorious, or that we'd better not swim in "those" waters, or that ET can, indeed, phone home.

Yup, there's something about hearing each of those pieces and KNOWING that we're returning to beloved characters or favorite movies. Even if the current movie is sequel #92, at least when we hear that great John Williams theme, we have hope that we'll be transported to the greatness of the original.

I don't think I can "share" this medley, so I'm leaving you with this link.

So listen and transport yourselves to your favorite darkened theater, popcorn and drinks in hand.

Happy Monday.

Music Monday - "Born in the USA" - Bruce Springsteen

For other tales of musical adventure, please visit Soccer Mom in Denial.

It's Memorial Day 2008.

Not much has changed since The Boss performed this (see below) except that our Veterans' benefits are wasting away, the VA hospitals are decrepit, and there are no factory jobs to come home to "up to me" or not.

Hope President Bush is enjoying his barbecue today. Too bad he can't play golf.

Am I angry? Sad? Devastated? Disgusted? You bet.

Music Monday - "Hero" - Jupiter Rising

For other tales of musical adventure, please visit Soccer Mom in Denial.

I love this song.

I've followed the career of the very talented Jessie Payo, since her blues-singing days in Jessie and the Rain Dogs, and now she's paired up with Spencer Nesey to be the second part of Jupiter Rising. Jupiter Rising is more popular on the West Coast (they're based in LA), but some of their songs ("Go!", "Electropop") have gone national.

I found Jessie because she's the daughter of my dear friend Cyndy, but I'm really struck by Jessie's incredible singing voice, writing ability and just inner beauty that shines out through her performances. She and Nesey make a smart, funky team, and I have no doubt they'll go far, far, far!

I couldn't find a video of Jessie singing "Hero," which is my favorite of their songs. I think this song is amazingly profound and perfect for our times.

Yeah.

'Cause we gotta do it ourselves.

The video below was obviously put together by a high school student from Escondido, CA. She's put together exactly the kind of thing a teen should put together - full of love for her friends and the adults in her life. She's obviously thought carefully about the lyrics. My only disappointment (and it's a big one) with this video is that the faces are not diverse - she's clearly in a fairly segregated existence - but this is her view of her world, not mine. For the general spirit, I think she did a pretty darned good job.

We all need hope in this broken world and we need our strength, 'cause there's no one who's gonna fix it for us.

Rock on, Jessie!

Music Monday: "Give a Man a Fish" - Arrested Development

For other tales of musical adventure, please visit Soccer Mom in Denial.

Hype makes me suspicious. I wouldn't even go near Harry Potter for the first couple of years that it was out. Then when I finally got around to it, I fell hook, line and sinker.

I made the same mistake with Arrested Development. I knew there were some songs I liked, but the hype was just too much and I didn't listen to albums.

Fortunately, our library has a great CD collection. And I was browsing to hear some new music while doing house chores, and I have fallen. in. love. with 3 Years, 5 Months, and 2 Days in the Life. In fact, I've fallen so deeply in love, it's what I asked for for Mother's Day, and I guess I've been a good mom, because I received it. ;-)

The song I most love is the one below - "Give a Man a Fish". I've loved this proverb since I heard it around age 8 or so, and I guess, as a teacher, it's been one of my favorite phrases as an adult. I also agree with so many of the lyrics in the song. Here are two of my favorite excerpts:

Now I pray for God to invest in me
My dignity, invest his glory
Give me the strength so I can finish the story
Keep on searching for the right way to go out
coz going out is what it's all about
huh! You can't be passive, gotta be active
Can't go with what looks attractive
Gotta learn all I can while I'm able
Headliner expresses his feeling on those turntables
When we get our chance
to make a good living of the music we program
We won't sell out just to be sold out (alright, they're talking about music, but this can be applied in SO many situations)

Raise your fist but also raise your children
So when you die the movement moves on
Coz with revolution, ain't no future in front o' y'all
haha! Direct your anger, love
Nothing's ever built on hate, instead love
Love your life, tackle the government (yes, we need change, but real change can't come from anger - it has to come from love and strength, too. And discipline. There's no free lunch. )

I couldn't find a great youtube clip, but I hope you all like the song. Enjoy!

Music Monday - "Everybody's Talking" - Harry Nilsson

For other tales of musical adventure, please visit Soccer Mom in Denial.

I spoke yesterday of trying to simplify. I'm also finding, as I pare down, that all my senses are getting keener, and I don't need as much.

As much entertainment, as many things, as many sensations, as many tastes, as much music, as many conversations, as much stimulation.

And this is leading me to enjoy silence more than I ever have. Yes, I still have music at times throughout my day, and I'll never turn down a loving conversation with family or friends. I am finding, however, that random social interaction just doesn't have that same thrill that it used to, and I found myself on Sunday thinking of this gem from the late 60s.

I had no idea that it was Harry Nilsson who sang it, and I was delighted, because I am a HUGE Harry Nilsson fan. I played Nilsson Schmilsson so much as a child that the grooves wore out, and The Point was my very favorite movie for years. I was too young for Midnight Cowboy so my main memories of "Everybody" were Nilsson's "Wahs" at the end of each chorus.

Again, with no youtube presence, I have to leave you with this link. Check it out - it's hysterical, because much as this is a brilliant song, Harry Nilsson is not, I repeat not, the cool cat/disco dancer he believes he is in this clip from The Beat Club. Check out the moves, especially during the choruses. It will wake you up giggling. I promise.

Music Monday - "Respect" - Aretha Franklin

For other tales of musical adventure, please visit Soccer Mom in Denial.

You know, if there's one song of all time that I can go back to and back to, it's probably this one. I'm a huge fan of Aretha's talent; living in Michigan, I haven't always been a fan of Aretha's diva shenanigans. Be that as it may, there may be no better battle cry for women, or simply for humans. If we can't treat each other with respect, we ain't got nothing.

Since somehow this blog and youtube seem to have broken up, I leave you with this link.

Party on!

Music Monday - "Blue Moon of Kentucky" - Bill Monroe

For other tales of musical adventure, please visit Soccer Mom in Denial.

First of all... wow. What a welcome home! I saved reading all your messages until I was ready to step back into this blog. Thanks for the well wishes. I planned my courses and then we had a great vacation to... yes, you guessed it, Kentucky.



If I didn't say it clearly enough the first time, we had a GREAT time in Kentucky. ;-)

Our only other experience with Kentucky was driving through it on the way to Florida. And mostly, we just wanted to get through it, because the Smokies were coming up and we heard they were just gorgeous. And while we noticed that Kentucky was pretty nice, too, it was still at the beginning of our drive, so we mostly slept through it.

This time around, though, we'd planned on spending a few days around Lexington and a few days in Tennessee, near the northwestern edge of the Smokies.

But we spent the whole time in Lexington and had a blissful time. We found interesting things to do, (which I'll blog about in other posts), but what really blew us away were the amazingly friendly people, the beauty of the countryside, and way too much good food. We were all exhausted, and Kentucky rocked us gently like a babe in his mama's arms.

Kentucky, the H. family is ready to write love letters to you.

Now, it wasn't like everything went according to plan, because if it had, it wouldn't have been an H. family vacation. We just don't roll that way. And on one of the days when nothing went according to plan, we ended up at the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame Museum in Renfro Valley, KY. And this was an interesting stop for us, because really, we are not country music fans (well, I am, a bit, and D and I both love any kind of grassroots music, and we all love the Dixie Chicks forever, but this was still a weird stop for us). And that tiny, little, three-room museum was darned interesting.

We also picked up a dandy CD there: Ricky Skaggs and Friends Sing the Songs of Bill Monroe. The "friends" included such greats as Mary Chapin Carpenter, our beloved Chicks, Charlie Daniels, John Fogerty, Bruce Hornsby, Joan Osborne, and the wonderful Dolly Parton, among others, so how could we resist?

But there's nothing like old Bill himself, perhaps the founding father of Bluegrass. And for that matter, there's nothing like Bluegrass. And, as you can probably guess, I also feel there's no place quite like the Blue Grass region of Kentucky. So in honor of all of that, I give you: Bill Monroe singing "Blue Moon of Kentucky".

Enjoy, y'all.

Wijvenweek/Music Monday: "Obsessed about my Bre*sts" - The Condos

For other tales of musical adventure, please visit Soccer Mom in Denial.

First of all, thanks to everyone who helped us out on our vacation plans. Your answers not only clarified this particular road trip, but actually, now we have plans for several others! Yay!




Today is the start of Wijvenweek (Women's Week) - a project started by a group of Flemish women bloggers. You can read more about it here, over at Goofball's place, who invited me to join. Basically, a group of international women bloggers are going to spend the week blogging about issues that are particular to women in an ultra-feminine, humorous way. You can see all the daily posts here. Most will be in Flemish, but there will be some English entries as well.

Now for me, that's going to be a bit of a challenge. For example, there is not an ultra-feminine bone in my body. Secondly, in terms of all things ultra-feminine, in my life that's led to more tragedy than comedy. But I'm giving it my best shot, as the fab Pat Benatar would advise me (who deserves her own Music Monday).

So, today's theme is "my body," and my body, sadly, can not be discussed without starting with my bre*sts.

When I was younger, I was the envy of many of my classmates. I had THEM - the "sisters," "the girls," and I had them early. Oh, to be so envied... and yet, here are some of the things I experienced, because when you're young and you have THEM people a. think you're older than you really are, and b. that you want IT. And we all know what IT is, don't we? And if you need a reminder of just how clueless I was at that age, you can read all about it here. I was so not ready for IT in any way, shape or form.

So here are some of the highlights of my long history with my bre*sts:

1. In seventh grade, the boys in my class stealing into the girls locker room during gym time and stealing my bra. Then I had to go to my MALE teacher (walking cross armed back up from gym) and explain to him what happened and that I needed it BACK. And then he sent me out of the room so he could question the ENTIRE class about it.

2. Finding out that my first real boyfriend had only gone out with me because of my big bre*sts, but then dumped me for someone else who also had big bre*sts, but would do IT.

3. Having my pediatrician suggest bre*st reduction surgery when I was 17 (I was a whopping 36C at the time).

4. Having strangers approach me and discuss the joys of bre*st reduction surgery. Complete. Strangers.

Yeah, so, like, my breasts aren't my favorite thing. And why don't I get that surgery? Well, a. my insurance won't pay for it. Despite documented back and massive other health problems, women with big bre*sts are left to hang, so to speak. B. the couple of times I've had surgery as an adult, things never went well. So, I'm scared. Call me a wuss.

So to change to a lighter tone, I give you The Condos singing "Obsessed about my Bre*sts". This is just a great song that goes much deeper than "the twins" and one that I'm sure every woman can relate to.

Since youtube is still not speaking to me, here is the link.


Happy Monday!

Music Monday - "Stop! In the Name of Love" - Diana Ross and the Supremes

For other tales of musical adventure, please visit Soccer Mom in Denial.

I spent some time this weekend putting together a long overdue Michigan mix CD. I'd had a friend, a former Michigander ask me - "What music would be from Michigan?"

Whoa.

To start with, and maybe to end with, Motown. Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, Diana Ross and both the original and latter members of the Supremes, The Four Tops, The Temptations and the inimitable Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul, to name just few.

Okay, and then there's a great punk rock history - The Stooges, arguably the first punk band, formed in my adopted home town. That legacy carries up to The White Stripes today.

Want some harder rock? Try Alice Cooper, Ted Nugent, Mitch Ryder and Bob Seger.

Folkies? Michael Cooney and Catie Curtis both got their starts here, and the Ark, in Ann Arbor, is one of the most venerable folk venues in the country.

When I was in college, blues bars ruled the roost, and given our proximity to Chicago, we had big name blues acts almost every weekend.

Yup, we've done okay.

So, for my ode to Michigan on this Monday, I chose "Stop! In the Name of Love." It's not my favorite. My favorite Motown pick would have been "Respect" or "My Girl." But it brings back fond memories. It resurrects pre-karaoke days when I would play Diana to my bf and his best friend, and we had an "act" that we might pull off in a bar after one too many beers. And from what I've heard, we were funny.

For those who see me as staid and oh-so-nice, another piece of the puzzle...

And darn it, youtube is being a pain again, so if the video doesn't appear (or appears three days late like last week), here's a link to enjoy Miss Ross and her wonderful Supremes.

Music Monday - "The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys" - Traffic

For other tales of musical adventure, please visit Soccer Mom in Denial.



There is nothing more evocative from my high school years than "The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys".

I switched from a very alternative, small school that I had attended from pre-school through 8th grade, to a power prep school for high school.

My old school was in Harlem; my new school was in Riverdale (what was really a suburb and extremely nice area). At my old school, we called most of our teachers by their first names; at my new school, everyone was Mr. or Ms. or even Dr. At my old school we did term projects on topics of interest - we built African villages in Central Park, we created a speakeasy for our studies on the 20s, we passed petitions on Hudson River clean-up, we participated in moratoriums against the war. At my new school, we wrote essays, we read Beowulf in the original, we wrote out mathematical equations, we carried masses of textbooks. At my old school, the school song was "Make New Friends, but Keep the Old;" at my new school, it was a theme in Latin that took me until Senior year to get through without a hitch (and I never did understand what all the lyrics meant).

I was, in my own small way, in culture shock.

My parents tried to help by "fixing me up" with a couple of their friends' kids who went to that new school before I entered. And the interesting thing I found out, was that no matter whom I met, when our talk turned to music, as it generally did in those days, Traffic was a constant. And I almost always found the familiar sky blue album cover with the checkered floor somewhere in a new companion's collection.

I got over my culture shock eventually and made many good friends. I was always a "floater" - rather than having a particular group, I had friends in several. The one common denominator continued to be "The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys." I could listen to this album in an apartment on Park Avenue with a bunch of preppies, or with my hippie friend, Jose, in his apartment in the South Bronx, with my partying Irish friends in Yonkers, or with my theater crowd on the Upper West Side. It didn't matter. We all liked Traffic, apparently.

And to this day, I can not understand the connection. But maybe you can. If you have some time, listen to the track below. Or maybe you already know it. What do you think is the magic that brought together so many diverse kids of the early, NYC 70s?

PS. For some reason the video isn't posting, so if it doesn't get here, you can find the piece here

Music Monday - "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" - the Beatles and William Shatner

For other tales of musical adventure, please visit Soccer Mom in Denial.

Okay, so week two of pure silliness for Music Monday.

My sister was eleven years older than I. When I was very little, none of that made a difference, and I just worshiped her like the puppy dog I was. She was actually my half sister - my father's daughter - and I didn't get to see her as often as I would have liked (which would have been 30 hours out of 24), so when she did come and stay with us, I would trail her in a way that probably drove her crazy.

But as I grew older, jealousy reared its ugly head around Christmas and birthdays. Oh, we were equally loved, and my parents were inherently fair, but darn it, for some reason they felt that a seven-year-old and an 18-year-old might have different needs in terms of presents, and I decided that my sister got all the cool stuff.

I coveted.

And the coveting started with my sister receiving Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. I mean, come on, I loved The Beatles, too!

But my sister was a sweetie, and she shared when she was home. And we both loved the record. And even my dad would go around the house whistling "When I'm 64." I loved drawing and painting, though, and by far, my favorite song was "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds." I had no idea what the actual context/meaning was, of course, but I sure loved those images and had a great time drawing tangerine trees and kaleidoscope eyes.

And my friend showed me this absolutely hysterical version this weekend, so I just had to share it. See it below and let your 60s groove come flying back!

Music Monday - "Disko Partizani" - Shantel

For other tales of musical adventure, please visit Soccer Mom in Denial.


Okay, so I couldn't resist. Ever since Betsy posted this song on Blogness Monster, I've been hooked. I went to i-Tunes that very day and downloaded the whole album immediately. And now Shantel and his Bucovina Club crew of Turkish, Arab, Israeli and German musicians/comedians/followers troop along with him as he combines everything from disco to gypsy music to Klezmer to Turkish pop. The fusion mix is irresistible, and it's become my accompaniment to working out and house cleaning, and occasionally cooking, if I have to chop very fast. While I included "Disko Partizani" below, there is no clunker on the entire album. I especially like the humor and pathos of "Disko Boy."

Have fun and get your Monday dance groove on!

Music Monday - "She's a Brick House" - The Commodores

For other tales of musical adventure, please visit Soccer Mom in Denial.

Okay, so I'm not proud of this one. But in the interests of honesty, and the interests of continuing my high-school-themed Flashback Friday, I had to include this.

Take my bedroom - Senior Year. I'm trying on my best Jordache jeans or anything else that will be so tight that I'll spend most of the evening inhaling, without breathing out once. I'm finding some sort of madras top or something with peasant lacing. Or maybe I'm wearing something with shiny fabric. Maybe something with glitter.

Or maybe the glitter is part of my eyeshadow or my cheeks.

There was nothing that got me as pumped as hearing those first beats and that shrieking whistle that starts this incredibly sexist, but-oh-so-danceable, strut.

So, for all those other closet (or not) disco queens out there, I give you below the one, the only: BRICK HOUSE

Party on!

Music Monday - "Praise You" - Fat Boy Slim

For other tales of musical adventure, please visit Soccer Mom in Denial.

Not much of a story today, but I just had to include this in my pantheon of Music Monday pieces. C, having lived with a slew of teens over the years through our exchange student extended family, has learned some interesting music and interesting lyrics over time.

But his adventures in lyricism started at about age four, when the song below was popular. Only C didn't like the official version, and with the pure knowledge that all four-year-olds possess, would ask me to play, "I'm Gonna Phrase You Like A Shoe."

And, of course, being four, there was no convincing him that the lyrics might be anything but "Phrase You Like a Shoe".

So for all you Fat Boy Slim fans, or for anyone who'd just like to see the possibly most absurd music video of all time, I give you below.... "Praise You"

Music Monday - Yes We Can - Barack Obama Music Video

For other tales of musical adventure, please visit Soccer Mom in Denial.

I saw the clip above on the blog of Carol of Northwest Ladybug. It really moved me, on so many levels. Whether or not Obama is your candidate, I think this wonderful brainchild video of Will.i.am of The Black Eyed Peas reflects a deep level of hope for change and healing that this country so needs. Here are the lyrics, taken from Obama's acceptance speech in Iowa:

t was a creed written into the founding documents that declared the destiny of a nation.

Yes we can.

It was whispered by slaves and abolitionists as they blazed a trail toward freedom.

Yes we can.

It was sung by immigrants as they struck out from distant shores and pioneers who pushed westward against an unforgiving wilderness.

Yes we can.

It was the call of workers who organized; women who reached for the ballots; a President who chose the moon as our new frontier; and a King who took us to the mountaintop and pointed the way to the Promised Land.

Yes we can to justice and equality.

Yes we can to opportunity and prosperity.

Yes we can heal this nation.

Yes we can repair this world.

Yes we can.

We know the battle ahead will be long, but always remember that no matter what obstacles stand in our way, nothing can stand in the way of the power of millions of voices calling for change.

We have been told we cannot do this by a chorus of cynics...they will only grow louder and more dissonant ........... We've been asked to pause for a reality check. We've been warned against offering the people of this nation false hope.

But in the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false about hope.

Now the hopes of the little girl who goes to a crumbling school in Dillon are the same as the dreams of the boy who learns on the streets of LA; we will remember that there is something happening in America; that we are not as divided as our politics suggests; that we are one people; we are one nation; and together, we will begin the next great chapter in the American story with three words that will ring from coast to coast; from sea to shining sea --

Yes. We. Can.



Celebrities featured include: Jesse Dylan, Will.i.am, Common, Scarlett Johansson, Tatyana Ali, John Legend, Herbie Hancock, Kate Walsh, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Adam Rodriquez, Kelly Hu, Adam Rodriquez, Amber Valetta, Eric Balfour, Aisha Tyler, Nicole Scherzinger and Nick Cannon