because life needs a soundtrack..

because life needs a soundtrack..

Monday, March 28, 2011

Tunes I'm loving this week - and the ones that aren't quite hitting my spot

Loving:the Jamie xx Shuffle mix of Adele's "Rollin in the Deep"
Groovin to:Jessie J "Price Tag"
Reluctantly Singing Along to:"S&M" by Rihanna (Na na na na come on) 
The song Biebering* me the most:"Tonight (I'm Lovin You)" by Enrique Iglesias
*Biebering is a technical term that
describes the desire to shove your
 head into a hive of zombie bees
rather than listen to one more second
of this song

Just Sayin...

Maybe someone should do a study on whether the weeks fly past more quickly now that we get a full seven days of weather forecasts at the end of each news bulletin.

I never used to think ahead to next Tuesday but now when I see it is going to be 31 degrees and sunny, I am already rushing the rest of my week away.

Scientists should look into whether that is a new phenomenon.

Just sayin...

Its not about the money, money, money (or so you chucked in your 6 figure salary job - now what??)

I am just loving that Jessie J song "Price Tag" at the moment.  This surprises me somewhat because I am honestly not a Top 40 kind of gal but there is something about the sentiment behind it that appeals (alongside a pretty damn catchy beat).  The notion of just wanting to "make the world dance" and "paying with love tonight" fits into my life philosophy I guess. 

And yeah, I know that Itunes don't accept love and I did indeed fork out $2.19 for it so it really is actually about the price tag but hey, I am willing to put that aside for now.

Instead I am going to concentrate on the notion of it not being about the money. 

Last week I made a pretty radical decision (radical as in how the hell am I going to pay the mortgage now kinda radical).  I chucked in my very nicely paying management job in the resources (translation big bucks) industry to take up a part time position with a small firm 5 minutes from home.  Huge pay cut (of course) but massive non-financial rewards.  Where previously I would spend up to 2.5 hours a day in my car travelling to and from my workplace, now I will be lucky to notch up 20 minutes.  Where previously I would end each day frizzled and shattered and so tense you could snap me like a peanut brittle, now I will come home in time to pick my children up from school and then have several hours until I need to prep dinner.

Wow. What on earth will I do with those hours? And how will I manage to cope without my hours in peak hour traffic?  The possibilities are amazing.

I made this decision with my heart and my soul and my gut.  If I had spent too much time in my head, my brain would have started throwing figures at me and reasons why I should continue to put my self and my kids through enormous stress all in the name of money, money, money (sorry - just cannot get that song out of my head!)

My son has never known me to be at home. He has only ever known daycare and me working.  At least my daughter got 3 years of a mum who wasn't snapping at her to "hurry up and get in the car, I'm gonna be late".

Don't get me wrong - I want and need to work.  No offense to the mums who can stay at home doing finger paints or going to play groups and not feel like they are caught in a broken elevator with Justin Beiber playing on a continuous loop but I need the stimulation of adult interraction and stretching my brain with complex problems.  I just don't want to do that whilst stressing out my entire family.

Working full time and having kids full time (well almost full time) requires constant planning and organisation.  You are a mouse in a wheel who also happens to be juggling a dozen flaming swords (just go with me, don't ask which part of the swords would be flammable).  All is good when everything is spinning smoothly (although you get a mighty crick in your neck from making sure they are all still up there).  But stumble just a little in that wheel (confused yet?) and it all comes crashing down.  You then spend the next week trying to put out the fires (from the flaming swords, remember?) and get the gig rolling again.

And ya know what?  It is not only bloody hard.  It is bloody exhausting too.  Life rushes past you at a frantic pace and you don't even have time to catch your breath.  And that is a pretty bad state of affairs when your breath is your life force. 

So I hopped out of the wheel and I am hoping that all the swords I dropped landed in sand and will somehow extinguish themselves. (really wishing I had chosen a better analogy but I am stuck with it now).

I am going to find balance.  Harmony.  And I might even find room for some dream fulfillment.  Nothing like wanting to "make the world dance" to put some tingles in your spine...

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Power

To me, music is like the best kind of drug. It elevates me, it excites me. If it is really good music, or the ultimate high - really good live music, I can even feel it flowing through my veins. It is my life blood.

Music is what connects us from our present to our history. Even a few riffs of a familiar song can evoke the most powerful memories. Instantly I am back in that place, smelling those scents, tasting those foods, seeing those sights, thinking of those people, feeling those emotions.  All from a couple of beats.  This is why I think of life as having a soundtrack and what I draw on, creatively, when I am composing a personalised playlist.

Of course, music can also transport us to places we don't really want or need to visit again.  AC/DC's "Rock & Roll Aint Noise Pollution" is forever ruined for me because of the person and situation it conjures up and Powderfinger's "These Days" is so strongly associated with a sad time in my life (where the lyrics were really resonating with me) that I cried buckets of tears when they played it at their recent farewell concert.

And then there's "Lose Yourself" by Eminem which disgustingly reminds me of vomiting due to it playing on repeat over and over in my head during a particulary messy bout of gastro (think it got into my head in the first place because he talks about vomiting his mum's spaghetti).  And its got that punchy rhythm to it too so that it mimics the throbbing of your pulse from your fever headache. Aargh.  That fucking song would not leave my brain for days and I still get queasy when I hear it on the radio.  And bugger, what do you think is singing around in my head at the moment? Damn you Eminem!

Fleetwood Mac's "Rumours" album will always remind me of Mum playing it in the car on the way to school.  That one made such an impact that both my brother and I bought the CD when we were older.  It got a lot of airplay when I was going through a divorce (in fact, I always think of it as the "divorce album") and one of the songs - "Secondhand News" even got a guernsey on one of my daughter's birthday mixes.

"Shimmer" by Fuel takes me back to the drag racing with my girlfriend with the smell of burning rubber in my nose, "Fergalicious" reminds me of the same friend but this time we are in Thailand and it is the smell of the Thai streets and the taste of their syrupy Red Bull in my mouth.

You Am I's "Berlin Chair" and Buckcherry's "Lit Up" will forever remind me of meeting my man for the first time but then so will Gossip's "Standing in the Way of Control" because I played Ministry of Sound's Sessions Four in the car on the way to our first "date".  And to think I actually asked him if he liked doof! Little did I know then that I had stumbled across my perfect musical partner, someone who, like me, needs music wherever he goes.

Oops, I digress. I was caught up in the squishy feelings that remembering that song playing brought up in me. See why I titled this post "Power"?  Truly, what else in our life has this effect on us?

But back on track now (admittedly with a stupid smile on my face).  I don't just hear the melody.  I absorb the lyrics.  So a song may make it onto my memory jogger list purely because the lyrics affected me rather than because I particularly liked the song.  (This also unfortunately means that I could find myself singing along to something on the radio, word for word only to snap out of my evil song trance by one of the kids piping up with a "didn't think you'd like this song Mum!"). 

Of course there are some songs that tick both of those boxes - like em and like the lyrics - like Martha Wainwright's "Bloody Motherfucking Asshole".  See, now I have the taste of vodka in my mouth and I am with my lovely cousin in a park on her hen's day, dressed in a pink silk dress that would later end up with a very dodgy whipped cream stain on it and third degree questioning from a very mistrusting dry-cleaner ("miss, are you absolutely sure it is cream and not something else? It is much better to be honest now so we know what kind of solvent to use"). "Poetry has no place for a heart that's a whore" WTF does that mean anyway? Who cares? The chorus is brilliant and it gives me a chance to sing in a funny accented kind of voice.

Some songs get high rotation on my Ipod purely because of the emotions, the happiness that they bring me.  Because I know that they will deliver the joy hit that I need. Like Sia's "Bring Night" (I know, I know, I keep mentioning this song), 28 Days "Rip It Up" (my Guarana), the aforementioned "Secondhand News", "Everlong" by the almighty Foo Fighters, "Back In Black" by AC/DC, "Dammit" by Blink 182, "Where's Your Head At" by Basement Jaxx, "Lithium" by Nirvana.

"I'm so happy cause today I found my friends, they're in my head"................

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Got it Covered

I am not a fan of imitation flavours.  You won't find me buying packet sauces or powders - way too many chemicals and nasties.  In this case I much prefer to go back to the original recipe. Healthier, yummier. Winner all round really.

But, I am a fan of imitation songs.  Not as in Milli Vanilli lip synching style but as in great modern bands paying homage (wow how often do you get to use that word in a sentence? Just rolls off the tongue.. hommmage) to fellow great bands (or more hilariously really shit bands) by covering one of their well known songs. 

Triple J does it really well with their Like a Version.  One of my son's favourite songs is Philadelphia Grand Jury's version of Jay Z's "99 Problems".  I love Grinspoon's version of The Divinyls' "Boys in Town".  There is just something about hearing an unexpected voice singing familiar lyrics.  And there is the added bonus of being able to sing along to a completely daggy song ("Dancing in the Dark") because it is now performed by a totally non-daggy band (Temper Trap).

The most successful versions / covers / tributes are when the covering artist allows their signature style to shine through without completely overwhelming the essence of the original song.  Not so good when the covering band (whether by attempting to be more "creative" or more likely by sheer force of their own ego) changes the song so much that it is virtually unrecognisable. I am talking to you The Sleepy Jackson! Your cover of "Better Be Home Soon" off the Finn bros tribute album "He will have his way" is dreadful!  No-one wants to go around all day with lyrics tickling the back of their brain with their vague familiarity (why do I know this song??)! We want to know what we are singing along off key to!

If you want to try a new slant on something familiar try these babies on for size:

Covering ArtistSongOriginal ArtistAlbum if applicable
Faith No MoreGlory BoxPortishead
PowderfingerGlory BoxPortisheadNo Man's Woman
GrinspoonBoys in TownDivinylsNo Man's Woman
Boy & BearFall at your FeetCrowded HouseHe Will Have His Way
Art vs ScienceI See RedSplit EnzHe Will Have His Way
Temper TrapDancing in the DarkBruce SpringsteenLike a Version Vol 6
Limp BizkitFaithGeorge MichaelRock Ya Covers Off
Paint It BlackThe Tea PartyRolling StonesRock Ya Covers Off
Bertie BlackmanIn The Air TonightPhil CollinsLike a Version Vol 5
Holly ThrosbyBerlin ChairYou Am ILike a Version Vol 5
Tiki TaaneUse SomebodyKings of LeonLike a Version Vol 5
Angus StoneRiverSarah McLachlanNo Man's Woman
WhitleyHyperballadBjorkNo Man's Woman
GyroscopeCannonballBreedersNo Man's Woman
Little BirdySix Months in a Leaky BoatSplit EnzShe Will Have Her Way

Booty Shakin

I love to dance.

Preferably on a dance floor in the middle of a sweaty club with my girls or at a party but really, given half a chance, I will dance anywhere.

For a long time now my daughter (and my son) and I have danced in our lounge room.  Sometimes it is to whatever rubbish is playing on Rage / Video Hits at the time.  Mostly though, it is to our special go-to booty shaker songs. Great workout. Fantastic fun.  And definitely a qualifier for "dance like no-one is watching" because, hey, they are my babies, they don't care (yet) how much of an idiot their Mum looks, they are just happy that I am willing to look like an idiot purely for their enjoyment!

So, without further ado, I present our booty-shakin mix:  (oh, it must be noted that I tend to lean rather heavily towards hip-hop / R & B for our dance sessions; mainly because that is the only style of dance (with the exception of belly) that I can do)

Song                                                         Artist
Crazy In Love                                           Beyonce
Temperature                                           Sean Paul
I Like the Way You Move                        Body Rockers
Pump It                                                    Black Eyed Peas
In Da Club                                             50 Cent
Shook Me All Night Long                       AC/DC
Please Dont Stop The Music                    Rihanna
I Love Rock N Roll                                 Joan Jett
Paradise City                                          Slash feat Cypress Hill/Fergie
Love Stoned                                            Justin Timberlake
My Love                                                 Justin Timberlake
You Can Do It                                      Ice Cube (I just love that opening jangle)
Bounce That                                            Girl Talk


Now, before you start your judging, note - these songs are not generally found on my everyday Ipod.  They exist in my collection purely to fuel these dance sessions. 

So go on - get shaking and don't forget to smile!

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Daughters

So.. this is what 12 year old girls are listening to these days...

Hang on, let me back-track for a sec.  About 4 years ago I started a little tradition with my daughter.  I secretly made up a mix of songs and burnt them to a CD for her birthday. I designed artwork for the cover and labelled it the R-G (not her full name obvs) Birthday Mix 2007, Volume 1 and 2.  On the CDs were songs she sang along to on the radio or my Ipod, songs by artists I thought she would like and some extras just to mix it up a bit.

What can I say, the CDs were a huge hit.  And the next year when I did it again and she realised this was going to be an ongoing event, the hit became huger (or whatever word you wanna put there.  Needless to say, it was big, people).  Soon my daughter was putting in requests for particular songs and I was walking around with a mix of smugness over choosing the ultimate (yet dirt cheap) personalised present and joy at the excitement the whole shebang gave her.

Somewhere along the line I decided that age 8 was the perfect start time for this tradition so in December this year my son will get his first Birthday Mix.  My daughter, bless her, has been geeing him up for the significance of this event.  She has been explaining, to much excitement from her brother, the process "Mum will be listening to you sing in the car and she may ask you if you like that song and then she will find some brand new songs that she just knows you will love and then she chucks in some surprises and you can also ask for certain songs to go on there but she may or may not put them on".  (I particularly love the last bit because with the exception of songs that either I a) deem to have just that bit too much swearing or b) can't bear to listen to on high rotation until the novelty wears off, the main reason I "may or may not put them on there" is usually because I plain forgot that she asked for them!)

My kids have been raised in a very eclectic musical environment so some of their choices may surprise you.  So far my son has requested AC/DC, (In fact he requested "all the songs I like on that CD of theirs Mum, you know, Black Ice?" To which I thought, what, you want their actual CD, isnt that missing the point of a mix CD you frustrating bugger and simultaneously thought, what that totally crap CD? but actually just murmured an "mm hmm" reply and resolved to "may not put that one on") plus Jamie T and Puddle of Mud.  Annoyingly, he also requested that "Billionaire" song. Dammit!

I will post my son's mix later in the year but for now, here is my daughter's.  Happy Birthday Ri Ri xx
 
SongArtist
1. Bring Night                 Sia
2. Beautiful Dangerous                Slash feat Fergie
3. Mr Mysterious                          Vanessa Amarosi (the only song she actually requested)
4. Love the Way you Lie                Eminem/Rihanna (I was a little bit uneasy about including this one due to the theme)
5. Baby I'm Getting Better            Gyroscope
6. I Wish I Knew Natalie Portman  K-OS (a song which has nothing to do with Natalie Portman)
7. You've Changed                   Sia (are you getting that I'm on a Sia kick, that girl rocks!)
8. Airplanes                                    BoB (stupidest name ever but my girl loves this one)
9. Bang Bang Bang                         Mark Ronson
10. Shot Caller          Ian Carey
11. You Got the Love                     Florence & The Machine
12. Dance the Way I Feel              Ou Est Le Swimming Pool
13. Sunday Best                             Washington
14. Cousins                                   Vampire Weekend
15. Dominos                                 The Big Pink
16. Truth                                        Chiddy Bang
17. Symphonies                               Dan Black feat Kid Cudi
18. I Alone (Live at the Paradiso)    Live
19. All is Love                               Karen O and The Kids
20. Only Girl in the World               Rihanna (the first song of hers I have liked since "Please don't Stop the Music, a song which always reminds me of my man dancing at his cousin's wedding)
21. Dog Days                                 Florence & The Machine
22. Check It Out (Radio Mix)          will.i.am (slaughtering the Video Killed the Radio Star sample and one of the most annoying songs on radio. I threw this one in just to feel like a good Mum, giving her daughter something she liked and I hated)
23. Clap Your Hands                      (yep, you guessed it) Sia
24. Fast Girl                                    Gyroscope
25. DJ Got us Falling In Love         Usher (refer my comments for Check it Out)
26. Magic                                      BoB and Rivers Cuomo (what, are Weezer not paying enough Rivers?)
27. Paradise City                           Slash/Fergie/Cypress Hill (love this version)
28. Billionaire                                 (that dude who used to harmonise with Katy Perry) Travie McCoy
29. Rock It                                   Little Red
30. Raise Your Glass                     P!nk (continuing her whoa lets party theme)
31. The Bike Song                         Mark Ronson
32. Freefallin                                 Zoe Badwi (try getting this song out of your head)
33. Coin Laundry                          Lisa Mitchell
34. For the First Time                    The Script (a song and a band I absolutely loathe)
35. More than a Feeling                  Boston (the doofed up version)


So, there you go. What 12 year old girls are listening to these days.  (just be grateful I didn't post the tragic 2008 mix which consisted of Chris Brown, Rihanna, Pussycat Dolls and that Gaga woman!)