A few minutes ago, it occurred to me that it would be awesome if I made a CD (or a playlist, 'cause who really listens to CDs anymore?) of awesome songs that are about Naked.
I could think of three (including the one above) right off the top of my head. These are the other two:
I was really looking forward to this weekend. I didn't have anything going on Friday and was really excited to sit around and do nothing for once. It was really nice. I spent most of my time reading and drinking tea. Friday night I went dancing at the Golden Skillet- I've been trying to get out there (some AMAZING dancers go there, so it's a great opportunity to dance above my level) for months and haven't been able to. All in all it was a very relaxing day.
I made up for it yesterday. I got up fairly early, for a Saturday, to go shopping for a bridesmaid dress. Exciting, right. My best friend is getting hitched in August. It may seem kind of early to be shopping for dresses, but it's better to do it now than to wait to the very last minute. I was kind of dreading the whole thing, but it ended up being really fun. There are four of us bridesmaids, we're all wearing different dresses. I think it would have been impossible to get us all in the same dress and had us all look not-hideous. All the dresses will be the same color, and our flowers will match, so it's all going to mesh. I'm strangely actually looking forward to this wedding. Click Here if you want to see the dress I ended up with.
I went straight from shopping to work and then straight from work to my friend, Val's house where I quickly changed clothes and then set off for the Symphony. I have to say that last night was one of the most amazing symphony performances I've been to. They started out kind of weak, with Brahms. Brahms is lovely, but doesn't do anything for me. I find him kind of pretty, but boring. The last two pieces were incredible! The second was Elgar's Cello Concerto with a guest soloist... I can't even begin to tell you how amazing it was. For her encore she played an arrangement of a Piazzolla (I think) that was written literally two days before last night special for her by a composer she met on the plane here from Argentina. How cool is that? The final piece was Ginastera, some Argintine dude. It was incredibly exciting. The piece made me want to stand up and cheer. It was awesome.
After the symphony we went to an after party. I didn't get home until about 2 am. Good times. Today I don't have much going on. I'm going to laze around with friends this afternoon, then it's off to Grandma's for dinner with the family.
Now that my final in my Lit class is over, I'm indulging in some very silly novels. It's really fun to get swept away by a silly little plot and not worry about symbolism and theme and tone and all that Jazz. I'm almost ravenous for these silly little novels. And I'm going to enjoy being able to relax and read them for a while until I have to get back to serious reading for my summer classes.
I'm kinda feeling pensive tonight (and I just finished one book. I'll wait a while to start another), so I'm just going to keep adding to this post as things come to me.
Imagine if Jay Gatsby had been a woman. What with all the brooding, the excessive parties, the staring at the light across the river. She would have been considered obsessive and histrionic. Not that Gats is a particularly sound character... he gets away with it though (more or less) because he is a rich white male.
I kind of miss going to the opera. I had season tickets for two years in high school- I was able to get them really cheap. I enjoyed it very much. Since then I've only gone once. The last time I went to the opera I spent a lot more money than I could afford to get the tickets for my boyfriend at the time. They were a birthday present. He loved listening to opera music, but had never actually seen one. I thought it would be the perfect thing to get him, and I splurged to get decent seats. I was so excited about the gift, but his reaction was disappointing. Maybe it was my fault... isn't it supposed to be typical for guys to hate things like the opera? I really thought it was a wonderful thing to get him though. Those tickets are one entry on a long list of things I did for him with little or no thanks. The funny thing is, when we broke up he accused me of being ungrateful. He even said that he refrained from doing nice things for me because he didn't think I would appreciate them properly. ... Anyway, the opera was really good.
The conversations I have in my head always go smoother than when I try to have them with real people. Funny that.
Do you suppose Wagner is going through the after-life hitting himself in the head repeatedly every time someone plays Ride of the Valkyries because he knows at least half the people listening to it are singing along "kill the wabbit, kill the wabbit"?
It's odd; I don't have many favourites (it's better spelled the British way!). I don't have a favourite colour. I don't have a favourite fruit. No favourite band, flower, song, vegetable, number, movie, book, or animal. When I do settle on favourite, I seem to choose odd categories. I do have a favourite constellation, and a favourite composer (Corona Borealis and Beethoven, respectively). When asked what my favourites are though I respond with preferences based on phonetics. For example, I will tell you that my favourite colour is Vermillion, my favourite fruit? Kumquat. Veggie? Zucchini.
I have been looking forward to this weekend for months. Included in the weekend is tonight (I know, it's cheating a little) because that when the unofficial kick-off of the fun starts.
What is so special about this weekend? I'm so glad you asked! This weekend it theUtah Lindy Exchange. What this means is there is lots of dancing all weekend. I am especially excited about Saturday night- New Deal Swing is the band at that dance. New Deal was founded by the Utah Symphony's principal clarinetist and is comprised of Utah Symphony members. Just going on that, it can be assumed that they would be pretty darn good. I've heard them play a couple times and I have to say they rock... er... swing... jive.... they are quite awesome.
ULX doesn't officially start until Friday, but tonight is the UofU Swing Club's Big Band Bash. It's a big pre-exchange hoopla (and by hoopla I mean dance). So tonight is the night to dust off my dancing shoes (figuratively. I actually will probably just wear chucks as they are pretty easy to dance in. I do have dancing shoes that have been sitting in shoe box for a while but might still be a little dusty. They're not very comfortable though. Maybe I'll wear them sometime this weekend. I also have saddle shoes that should be danced in, yeah? I might drag those out on Saturday. Note to self: your parenthetical asides are WAY TOO FREEKING LONG) and get this party started.
For those of you who are perhaps still scratching your head about what Lindy-Hop is (or are wondering how truly awesome it actually is), chizzeck the shizzle outta this:
Of course, those kids are pros. And champs. Here's a video from a Chicago exchange, it's pretty good (I covet the tall blonde's skirt):
It's a little weird with the four guys there, but hey, it's still good dancing. And finally, if you've never seen the movie Swing Kids, you should. I mean, really, it's got Christian Bale, great dancing, and great music. What more could you want? Oh yeah, it's a good story too.
Of course, I only wish I was half as good as some of the kids in these videos (the movie one cheats, what with being fully choreographed and all). I like to think I'm not bad though, and it's tons-o-fun in any case.
Somewhere in the blogosphere (or possibly somewhere else), a friend wrote about the difficulties of putting his ipod on shuffle and subsequently having his pop(etc) music interrupted by classical. Actually, I think it was Dave- I don't think anyone else would really have that problem.... well, except Jeremy...but I think it was Dave*... or somewhere else. Anyway, the point is, rather than put his ipod on shuffle, he would just listen to music in alphabetical order by song name. This way he got a good variety of music without the classical interruptions.
I tried this method. It mostly works for me. There are two places where it the system breaks down: I have multiple versions of one song, or when there are several songs with the same first word.
Example of the first: Swing Life Away (Rise Against), Swing Lover (Indigo Swing), Swingin' Uptown (Jimmie Lunceford), Swingtime in the Rockies (Benny Goodman). Except for the first song, these are all big band, swing songs. So much for variety. Or, another example: America (from West Side Story (I like showtunes, sue me)), America: Fuck Yeah (from Team America World Police), The American (Angie Aparo), American Music (Violent Femmes), American Patrol (Glenn Miller), American Pie (Don McClean), Americano (Brian Setzer). While these songs are pretty varied in type, there is a definite theme going on, and I would prefer things to be a little more randomized.
Example of the second: I have Across the Universe by The Beatles (twice- one from Let It Be and one from Let It Be... Naked), Fiona Apple, and Rufus Wainwright. I have three versions of Sing Sing Sing, Hallelujah, Blue Skies..... several others. And there are plenty of songs I have two different versions of. So, listening straight through by song name doesn't work so well because I would hear the same song 3 different ways right in a row.
So, what's the point? Well, there is none, really. I just thought I'd let you all know that I am going to stick with the simple "shuffle songs" method.
Since I went on for a while with no point, I will end with a little game. I like to call this game Put iTunes on Random and Let It Tell My Readers 10 Songs They Should Make A Major Effort to Listen To**.
1. Space Invaders by Arctic Monkeys 2. Tonight Tonight by Smashing Pumpkins 3. She's Not There by Santana 4. Everywhere by Bran Van 3000 5. My Alcoholic Friends by The Dresden Dolls 6. Story About a Girl by Our Lady Peace 7. Money Money by Billy Idol 8. Taya Tan by Pink Martini (actually, I would pick a differnt song by them. Hey Eugene or Sympathique) 9. Ne Me Quitte Pas by Baronessa 10. Funky Town by Lipps Inc
*If either Dave or Jeremy read this: yes, I am cyber stalking you! Muahahaha. Though I am apparently doing a terrible job as I can't remember what you've written. And by cyber stalking I mean I don't have anything to do at job#1 so I read your blogs.
** I promise I didn't skip any and that these are really the first ten songs itunes came up with. Except for a few that were really embarrassing. No really, I didn't skip any. (or did I?) (seriously, no)
Purchased because: The first of the three suites is Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker.
Thoughts: Extremely worthwhile purchase. The Nutcracker (the normal way) is kind of overplayed this time of year, or at least as overplayed as classical music ever is. Duke's version peps it up and turns it into something different enough to be fresh and interesting but familiar enough to be, well, familiar. Plus it's less ballet and more swing. Which kind of dancing do you prefer? Me, I dig the latter. Nothing against Tchaikovsky, mind, it's just nice to hear such a refreshing take on a classic. Besides, Ellington makes me want to get up and dance Tchaik (name is too long, fingers are lazy), as pretty as it is, doesn't. Brian Setzer Orchestra also has a version of the Nutcracker Suite, which also swings, but isn't nearly as good as the Duke. Not really surprising, considering Ellington is one of the greatest greats.
If you ever have the opportunity to see Stravinsky's Rite of Spring performed live by a good orchestra, I highly recommend taking advantage of that opportunity. It is a piece full of so much energy and vigor that it's as interesting to watch as it is to listen to. I had the pleasure of experiencing the awesomeness of Stravinsky on Saturday.
A long time ago I joined a group called Vivace Uncorked. Their website doesn't really do much to explain what they're all about, but basically they're a group that funkifies the classical performing arts and makes them a little more appealing to 20/30 somethings. Through this group I got discounted tickets, plus they had an after party at one of the swankiest "private clubs for members" around.
Not only was the music incredible but the après musique gathering was quite fun as well. The "smorgasbord" of food (appetizers, ours devours, dessert. And smorgasbord is how it was described on the ticket. I love it!) was all extremely delicious and I met some interesting new people. Well, at least one interesting new person. I met others, but I'm not sure how interesting they really are. The next after party is at a local brewery, which will be more conducive to mingling and therefore to making new friends.
The point is, classical music=good time. I recommend everyone (in the area) check out Vivace and maybe attend an event or two.
In other news: I still have a lingering cough and a little stuffiness. I need to get over this by Thursday because....
I'm heading to Vegas this weekend. (Viva Las Vegas! <-- that is me singing)
The bookstore thing didn't work out. Oh well. I'll still keep my eye out for a new and interesting job. Of course, not much else would allow me to devote so much time to my blog. I would hate to disappoint my adoring audience.
Don't think twice 'bout whatever keeps you itchin'
This weekend is the unofficial Halloween, the bestest best holiday ever! I'm super excited to dress up and hit the parties. On Wednesday (the real Halloween) there's a petit fete at work - a pot-luck costume contest thing.
All Hallows Eve has been my favorite holiday for, like, ever. It surpassed Christmas by the time I was 7. I just love dressing up, and the free candy was always grand too. Why don't I get free candy anymore?
Anyway, in the spirit of all things spooky, I treat you all with this:
Bonus points for anyone who can name the song that the headline is from.
I'm rocking out to the hits of the eighties today at work. Why? Because they rock. And because on my way back from lunch I pulled up next to a car that was playing Just Can't Get Enough by Depeche Mode and it got stuck in my head.
This week random songs have very easily lodged themselves in my brain in such a way that they stay there for hours. Earlier I read something stupid on some webpage or another about the Backstreet Boys that casually (in a sarcastic sort of way) mentioned their song "I Want it That Way." I am loathe to admit it, but I didn't totally hate the Backstreet Boys back in Jr High. Apparently somewhere deep in my subconcious the thirteen-year-old me lurks still listening to the music of decades past. I was appalled to find out that, not only did I remember the tune of that horrible ditty, but I actually know most of the words.
I'm afraid I have now lost all musical credibility. I hang my head in shame, and protest: I have good stuff on my i-pod, really! I swear I have good taste! The music I listen to is edgy, eclectic, unique and... not by pop tarts.
Isn't it sad though that so much of my memory is taken up by lyrics to horrible pop songs? That may be one of the worst side-effects of high school. It was impossible to avoid hearing a number of songs that are just dreadful. Not only was I not old enough to have more discerning taste, but I still listened to the radio and went places (like school dances) where the featured entertainment was top 40 tripe. I also have a tendency to remember lyrics really easily. Especially with pop songs with their simple verses. There is probably a dusty part of my brain that still knows every word to "Ooops I did it Again" and every single song by the Spice Girls that got radio play. It's not my fault. I blame the goat!
At least now I know better. And I only dance around and sing along to the Spice Girls when I'm sure no one is looking.
There comes a time in every girl's life when she has to ask herself, "What 5 songs would be the most tubular songs ever for karaoke?" (apparently she has to speak 80s when she asks)
I've never done karaoke myself (as a service to the planet, believe me). And I believe that the quintisential karaoke songs should be ones that most people wouldn't think of and that lend themselves to total embarassment of the singer.
This is what I would answer:
"It's the End of the World" by REM -thoroughly impossible to sing all the lyrics but it would kick ass if you could. And it would kick ass seeing the karaoke kids try to hit all the lyrics. Awesome.
"Psycho Killer" by Talking Heads - really, anything by the Talking Heads would be fun. Their songs don't make much sense, but you don't really need to be able to SING to sing them. And Psycho Killer has French bits. Anything French is fun!
"ADIDAS" by Korn - It cracks me up. And how much fun is it to sing about nothing but sex? Come on, shake those karaoke singing grandma's up a bit. It'll do them good to be a little shocked. (for those of you thinking: "how many grandma's do karaoke? I thought it was a younger people thing. Like something you 20-30 somethings do in bars." You should probably should take a moment to think before you think something.)
"Woo Hoo" by the 5 6 7 8s - for those who are extremely lyricly challenged.
"Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen - This is actually what started it all. This was on somebody's (I don't remember who or how I heard about it) list of the best karaoke songs because it's a great song to do in a group and it has something for everyone: a little rock, a little opera, a little... Freddie Mercury. I thought: That's dumb. There's no way a human being, especially a drunk one, can hit the high notes in that. Man, this would be awesome to see.
So that is my list. I think someday I should go to a karaoke bar and fix it so that people have to sing these songs. I'm sure it would be the raddest thing ever, dude.
Why am I not playing the game over at that site? Because I don't want to.
So, here are my five random i-pod songs:
First Orgasm - Dresden Dolls Impromptu in 2 Keys - Gershwin (performed by Fazil Say and the Chicago Philharmonic) Got To Get You Into My Life - The Beatles Kids with Guns - Gorillaz Burning Down the House - Talking Heads
On my way home from work this afternoon I stopped at a red light behind a Jetta with a license plate that read "ADIDAS"
Now, I know it could be the car of a major brand whore, or a company/team/whatever car. That is to say that it could easily be referring to the shoe/clothing brand.
I like to think it's actually a reference to the Korn song. Sing it with me:
I've been on a total 80s hair band trip all week. I had "Cum On Feel the Noise" (Quiet Riot, if you don't know) stuck in my head all day. It started to get annoying. Now I'm Listening to Lita Ford. Does that really count as a hair band? It was on a CD called "80s Hair Metal" (or something like that) that I almost bought earlier this week.
My quest this week is to find a kicky hat-box. It may last more than just this week because I'm not sure I have time to really look for one. I'm not so into shopping these days and those are an odd item.
I think next time I post I will do so in a color that you can only read it you highlight it. That would be fun. Ha ha ha ha ha ha. I think all this heat is going to my head.
Every year X96 a "local independent" radio station puts on a Big Ass Show. It's kind of like the Warped Tour only much smaller and usually more emo. It was today, I went, it was awesome. We didn't stay for all the bands- we left before Story of the Year, Our Lady Peace and The Used- but the ones we were there for rocked.
First one we saw was Morning Wood. It was the only chick (lead) band there. After that we sawKasibain, they were ok. Arrakis got bopped in the nose by some nasty little fat goth moshers. Then we sat at the edge of the crowd for Hawthorn Heights (not a big fan of them).
Then we saw 30 Seconds to Mars that was wicked good. Jared Leto is so freakin' hot. The music was good, the energy was good, the crowd was good. They were the best band we saw today. After them we got some food. The plan was then to see Rise Against, but they were missing two band mates and were doing an all acoustic performance. I love Rise Against, I saw them last time they came here, but they're much better plugged in. They sucked with just the two acoutic guitars, so we walked off. Next was The Bravery. They rocked.
After them, we were all very tired and felt like our arms were going to fall off. Funny how that happens at a concert. You get close enough to the stage and you either use all you muscles keeping people from collapsing your rib cage or you are unable to put your arms down. Good times.
I'm afraid it's been a while since I updated this thing. To my devoted public, I apologise and I hope you will get over it someday. I've been a bit busy though really. Somehow I managed to, more or less accidentally, find myself a boyfriend of sorts. He's not my typical type (gorgeous but arrogant and very cynical, whereas he is nice and sweet and not fantastically good looking. He's not ugly by any means, but.... he's got a great personallity) and I'm not entirely sure how crazy I am about him. I do like him quite a lot, don't get me wrong, it's just very different for me. He may be too nice, but that may not be that terrible. Anyway, the course of action I am currently taking is to just sort of play it by ear until I figure out what's going on and what I want. Also, I'm totally unused to the not-single mentality. Oh well. In other news, I've had a musical last couple of days. Thursday I went to the first in the Gallivan Center's Twilight Concert Series. Free music good. Playing was a band called Cracker. They started out not too bad but got progressively more honky-tonk as they kept playing. Last night I went to club Ego's (dive) and saw my cynical-ex-boyfriend, Todd, play with his band. Todd is a fantastic drummer. The band could be better. It's the last opportunity I'll have to see him play as he's moving to NM in a month or so. It's also the first opportunity I've had to see him play as he's played 21-and-older venues and, as any regular readers I might have know, I have not been 21 very long. Tonight I'm likely going to Salt Lake City Jazz Festival ditto for tomorrow night. Tomorrow Big Bad Voodoo Daddy is playing - I'm quite a fan. Anywho, that's good enough of an update for now. Ciao!
Last night I went to a free Violent Femmes concert at the U. The festivities started at 5:30 with a decent opening band that played for an hour or so. The next "band" was a guy in a pink shirt with a guitar. I didn't like him much, but he didn't play too long so.... Then it was the Femmes. I have to say they kicked. One of the best concerts I've been to. I was up close in the part of the crowd that jumps around and runs into eachother and really gets into the music. I'm black and blue this morning and a bit sore- always a sign of a good concert. The atmosphere was great, the crowd just the right size and the weather was perfect (it was all outdoors). There are a few things, though, that I feel need to be banned from concerts. Or at least from the kinetic part of the crowd. I don't care what happens back where people just stand there nodding thier heads. First is synthetic fibers. When you're jumping around and sweating and having a raucus good time, the last thing you want is to get thrown against someone wearing scratchy polyester. Second is small children. Arrakis was right up by the stage and she said there were a bunch of 12 year olds* up by her who didn't know the music of the VF at all and were constantly in danger of being squished. I was a bit farther back where people were bouncing and kicking and flailing and there were these four prepubescent girls with braces who maybe weighed 200 lbs between the four of them. They did not know the music either and got pushed down every two minutes. According to concert etiquite when someone falls, you stop kicking and help them up, so these little girls disrupted the violence quite often and threw off the groove a bit. Finally, long hair should be pulled up. When you're jumping around coating in sweat (yours and eveyone elses) the last thing you want is to bump into some chick with waist length hair and get it all stuck to your arm. It really was a good show though. I had a rockin' time and when you're really into the music and the crowd, those little above-mentioned annoyances don't really matter much.
*by 12 year old I mean a kid shorter than my shoulderblade who could be just about any age under 17.
Last night I went to see 1964, the Tribute(a Beatles tribute band) with my-cynical-ex-boyfriend Todd. It looked a lot like a date, I mean, he made me dinner first and then we went. But that's not the point. It was a lot of fun, 1964 is a pretty good bunch of Liverpudlian immitators. It's about the closest thing I'll ever get to seeing the Beatles in concert considering half of them are dead (>sniff<, George). They played mostly older stuff. A lot off of Hard Days Night nothing from Abby Road (probably my favorite album) or Magical Mystery Tour and only one or two off of Sgt Peppers, Revolver or Rubber Soul. But, if you're really a Beatles fan, you like the early stuff as well as the old. It was a good time.
I just got back from a kick ass concert. The headliner was Rise Against, also playing were Tsunami Bomb, Alexisonfire and Only Crime. Tsunami Bomb and Rise Against totally rock my world and Alexisonfire is extremely decent. I'm not super hot for Only Crime but they're not bad. I got there about halfway through their set so.... Anyway, it totally rocked. I've been wanting to go to a concert for ages (not too many good bands come to this neck of the woods and I'm not wasting my money on crap) and so I got my loud-music-lots-of-sweaty-bodies-in-very-close-contact fix. Good times man!
This Song has been stuck in my head all day. It is a silly song. It makes no sense. But it is a fun little ditty (or something like that). Look, lyrics!
Brimful of Asha -Cornershop
eka sadi asha jena sadi sooka bella nah dinner bonothia ha kimmir kar ke. There's dancing Behind movie scenes Behind the movie scenes Sadi Rani She's the one that keeps the dream alive from the morning past the evening to the end of the light
(chorus:) Brimful of Asha on the 45 Well it's a brimful of Asha on the 45 Brimful of Asha on the 45 Well it's a brimful of Asha on the 45 And dancing Behind movie scenes Behind those movie screens Asha Bhosle She's the one that keeps the dream alive from the morning past the evening to the end of the light
Chorus
And singing illuminate the main streets And the cinema aisles We don't care bout no Government warnings, 'bout their promotion of the simple life And the dams they're building
Chorus
Everybody needs a bosom for a pillow Everybody needs a bosom Everybody needs a bosom for a pillow Everybody needs a bosom Everybody needs a bosom for a pillow Everybody needs a bosom Mine's on the 45 Mohamed Rafi -45 Lata Mangeshkar -45 Solid state radio -45 Fer-guh-son mono -45 Bonn publeek -45 Jacques Dutronc and the Bolan Boogie, the Heavy Hitters and the Chichi music All India Radio-45 Two in ones -45 Argo Records -45 Trojan Records -45
Chorus
Everybody needs a bosom for a pillow Everybody needs a bosom Everybody needs a bosom for a pillow Everybody needs a bosom Everybody needs a bosom for a pillow Everybody needs a bosom Mine's on the 45 seven seven thousand piece Orchestra set Everybody needs a bosom for a pillow Mine's on the RPM!!
Chorus
Everybody needs a bosom for a pillow Everybody needs a bosom Everybody needs a bosom for a pillow Everybody needs a bosom Everybody needs a bosom for a pillow Everybody needs a bosom Mine's on the 45
Whenever life gets you down, mrs brown, and things are hard or tough, and people are stupid obnoxious or daft and you feel that you've had quite enough.... Just remember that you're standing on a planet that's evolving and revolving at 900 miles an hour, that's orbiting at 19 miles a second, so it's reckoned, a sun that is the source of all our power... _Galaxy Song by Eric Idle
