Tag: songs

Friday 5: Songs that Remind Me of Books

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This week I have a special episode of the music series I participate in called the Friday 5. The topic was supposed to be song parodies but I’m not really a fan so my friend and I came up with our own topic to talk about. Instead we picked 5 songs that remind us of books. I tried to stay away from soundtracks of movies based on the books because that would be too easy.  It was songs that I feel capture the essence of the book. It was a challenge but also a lot of fun.

The songs and books I chose are:

Ashokan’s Farewell to match with Little Women- I particularly think in the Beth scene this song would be perfect. It’s a song I would like played at my funeral and even though it is just classical music it makes me cry every time. Little Women is the first substatial novel I ever remember reading so it will always have a special place in my heart.

I’ll Follow You Into the Dark to match with The Book Thief- this beautiful song by Death Cab for Cutie captures the surreal feeling of the book and weird combination of despair and hope. The Book Thief is my favorite modern novel and I love the song also.

Kiss Me to go with the Undomestic Goddess- Sophie Kinsella books started out as a guilty pleasure and then I gave up the guilt and realized I just genuinely love them. This song by Six Pence None the Richer is kind of the same way. It’s a one hit wonder of sorts but I genuinely love it. Plus, it captures the light romance of the book and Kinsella’s writing. The Undomestic Goddess has its silliness but I really like what Kinsella has to say about work and balancing the modern with homemaking.

Swing Lo Sweet Chariot to go with To Kill a Mockingbird- Sung by Suzy Bogguss there is something about this song which fits To Kill a Mockingbird. It is a folk song that feels real with a mournful quality to it. I can picture it being sung as Atticus leaves the courtroom and all in the balcony stand in his honor.

Seven Years to go with North and South- Technically this song is about a little girl so perhaps it is an odd choice but there is something about the lyrics that reminds me of Margaret and John in this novel. The way their worlds open up to each other and they go from hating each other to understanding.

So there you have it!  Those are my 5 songs that remind me of books.  What about you? What songs remind you of your favorite books? Put in the comment section below.  Thanks!

Friday 5: Songs from the 80s

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This week for the Friday 5 we were asked to pick a decade and give 5 of our favorite songs from that decade. I thought about doing a more obscure decade because I had previously done the 50’s which was  ton of fun but nothing was really speaking to me so 80s it is. I have actually done the 80s once before but as it is a favorite decade of mine I certainly have 10+ songs that I love from that decade.

So here are the 5 I came up with. I think you will agree with me these are 5 iconic songs from the 80s:

Here’s a review of the 5 songs I picked:

  1. Everybody Wants to Rule the World- Tears for Fears: This song has such a great hook and draws you into the song. It’s very catchy. I feel like this song isn’t talked about in the great 80’s songs and I’m not sure why.
  2. I Want You to Want Me- Cheap Trick: I guess this song was technically released in 1978. Oops! Still it feels like an 80s song. It’s the kind of song that is great when driving with friends.
  3. Rio- Duran Duran: I got introduced to Duran Duran fairly recently and I love their songs! They have the feel of the era but creative lyrics and some unusual songs. This is one of their more mainstream songs but it is catchy and fun to listen to
  4. Just What I Needed: The Cars: Nothing seems more like the 80s than The Cars. They are so great at writing catchy hooks that you can’t help but hum along to.
  5. Once in a Lifetime- Talking Heads: A bit of an experimental group but they have some mainstream songs as well. It was hard to get a good 25 second clip from one of their songs because they tend to ramble.

Friday 5: 5 Deep Cut Songs

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This week for the musical series I do on my youtube channel I had a lot of fun. It may be my favorite week yet. The theme was ‘what are 5 favorite deep cut or hidden gem songs by your favorite artists?’.  I think I enjoyed this week so much because it helped reintroduce me to songs I had forgotten about. The idea is whenever an album is a bit hit there are always those songs that don’t get a single release and aren’t well known but are still great songs. Here are the 5 songs that I picked and why:

  1. Billy Joel- Seen the Lights Out on Broadway.  This song is from his Turnstiles album which is probably best known for New York State of Mind but I love this unique power ballad.  Billy Joel wrote the song about New York City as it was falling apart at that time and close to default and disaster.
  2. Richard Marx- Turn Off the Night- This song is from his Beautiful Goodbye album which isn’t that popular but the reason I picked it is because he sang it at a concert I attended just after he wrote it.  He described the emotions he had just gone through and asked us if we would like to hear the song and we cheered. It felt like a real authentic moment. After on twitter I told him how meaningful it was and he said he was blown away by it. To me that is a true deep cut. Sure his other songs may be more famous but this is one I got to see why it meant so much.
  3. Beatles- Wait. This song is from the Rubber Soul album which is so great a song as good as Wait gets forgotten.  I’m Looking Through You or Nowhere Man are probably the most popular off of the album but listen to the entire thing. It’s fantastic.
  4. Beach Boys- I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times. Just like Rubber Soul, Pet Sounds, is one of the greatest albums ever released. The harmonies are perfect and every song is carefully written and beautiful. Some of the biggest hits are Wouldn’t it Be Nice or God Only Knows, but I also love I Just Wasn’t Made for These Times because I think we all feel that from time to time.
  5. Paul Simon- Silent Eyes. This song is from Still Crazy After All These Years. Quiet songs are always more likely to be forgotten than the more poppy songs, but Silent Eyes is a beautiful song. It’s a song about faith, hope and grief.

What are some deep cuts of popular artists that you like? What do you think of my 5 picks? I would love to hear.

I’m getting really close to 1,000 subscribers on my channel and would love to cross that threshold so I’d love if you subscribe. Thanks tons!

Friday 5: My Dad’s Favorite Songs

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This week for Friday 5 we had a special topic. It was all about Dads and Father’s Day.  I tried to find songs about fathers like I had done for Mother’s Day but most of the songs were really depressing (like Papa was a Rolling Stone).  This certainly didn’t capture my Dad at all. So I decided to do something different and I asked my Dad what his 5 favorite songs were and he gave me 6 great choices.

I think the songs show  a lot about his personality and how much of a people person he is.  They are also diverse and songs filled with empathy.  I was a little surprised he went with a Fleetwood Mac song as I had no idea he was a fan of them.  That’s what’s cool about the Friday 5 is I’m constantly learning new things about music.  It’s neat because I think I know just about everything about my Dad or other relatives and then it turns out there is always more to learn.

So these are my Dad’s 6 favorite songs and they are all fantastic.  I particularly love Have You Ever Seen the Rain by Credence Clear water Revival. With the horrible events that happened in Orlando I found myself listening to that song and finding some comfort in it.

Anyway, let me know what you think of these 6 songs and to all you Dads out there have a great weekend!

Friday 5: Songs with Names in the Title

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I had a lot of fun with Friday 5 this week.  The topic was ‘Songs with Names in the Title’ and it turned out very eclectic. I would wager to say these 5 songs have never been combined together before this!

  1. Sherry- Frankie Valli and the 4 Seasons. Classic song from the 60s. This is the first song with a name I thought of.
  2. Jolene- Dolly Parton. One of Dolly’s best songs about hoping a woman won’t take her man just because she can.
  3. Jeremy- Pearl Jam. This song is a little outside of my normal wheelhouse but it is really moving when you listen to the lyrics. It is based on a story Eddie Vedder heard about a high school student named Jeremy who shot himself in front of his English class. Very tragic of course but it describes the feelings of those bullied and when they get to that awful place in a very haunting way.
  4. Maria- Sound of Music. Talk about a change in 2 songs! There are actually a bunch of songs with Maria in the name. I guess with Virgin Mary making it such a multicultural name explains that. This is of course from Sound of Music with the nuns singing about their frustrations with the headstrong Maria.
  5. Barbara Ann- Beach Boys. Written in 1965, Barbara Ann is one of the most bopping tunes the boys ever wrote. It brings a smile to my face.

So a lot of different emotions and 5 great songs.

What are some of your favorite songs with names in the title? If you like my video please give it a thumbs up and subscribe.  Also, if you have a blog or channel participate in the Friday 5. We have some great topics coming up you won’t want to miss out on.

http://thefridayfivemusic.tumblr.com/

Friday 5: Songs About Moms

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This week on the Friday 5 we are celebrating Moms. I think this proved out to be a really fun week and I have some good variety. Here are my 5 picks:

  1. Mama Says from Footloose: The Musical- A really fun little song about listening to your Mom!
  2. Mother and Child Reunion from Paul Simon- I love Paul Simon’s song writing and it is on display here. It’s a mother and child reunion and the power of that relationship.
  3. Just a Housewife from Marilyn Mathis, Not Just a Housewife- I wanted to have one song defending the life of a homemaker.  This song does a great job with that and I wish I could have included the entire song.
  4. Your Mother from Kathryn Beaumont and Peter Pan- Kathryn is one of the best vocalists in Disney history and even though I’m not the biggest Peter Pan fan she sings this song beautifully.
  5. Mama Says from The Shirelles- A classic Motown song about listening to your Mom on the bad days!

What are your favorite songs about Moms? If you have a blog or youtube channel join in with us in the Friday 5  It’s a lot of fun and we have some neat topics coming up.  To participate get the topics on the tumbler page. http://thefridayfivemusic.tumblr.com/

Friday 5: Best Songs from the 80s

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Hey guys! Quick post today. I hope you are all doing well and getting ready for a fun weekend. I don’t have a ton planned but I haven’t been feeling super well so I may just rest up and work on content for next week.

Speaking of content it’s Friday so that means it’s time to participate in the Friday 5. This is a weekly series of youtubers/bloggers who get a topic and have to pick 5 songs that within that topic.  This week was wild card so we could pick whatever we want. I decided to have a little fun and dive into my favorite songs from the 1980s.

To me when I think 80s music I think of big arena type sound- you could call them epic songs! I think all 5 of my picks capture that spirit. Let me know what your favorite songs from the 80s are and what you think of my picks.

Also if you have a blog or channel you should participate in the Friday 5. It’s really fun! Take a look at the tumblr page to see upcoming topics and then join in! http://thefridayfivemusic.tumblr.com/

Have a great Friday guys!

Friday 5: Songs About Spring

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Hey guys!  I hope you are having a Happy Spring!  Things are going well for me.  I’ve been keeping myself busy with blogging, movies, writing and work.  Next week I’m eagerly anticipating watching Jungle Book! Make sure you are subscribed to my channel and blog to find out my thoughts on it.

Today is Friday and that means it’s the next entry in the Friday 5 series.  This is a music series where we get a topic each week and have to pick 5 songs that fit said topic.  This week the topic is ‘Songs that Remind You of Spring’.  It’s not a time of the year that is very musical compared to Winter or Summer but I like all 5 of my picks.  They are each songs I feel are joyful and bright which is what I think of with Spring.

My 5 songs are:

Best Day of My Life-American Authors- I thought of this song because graduations and other big events happen in the Spring.  It seemed like a good fit to sing about the best day of my life!

Great Day to Be Alive- Travis Tritt- I hadn’t done a country song in a while and this one is the definition of chill.

Colors of the Wind- Pocahontas. If you’ve read my Disney blog you know I’m not the biggest Pocahontas fan but I do like the music (except Mine, Mine, Mine which is one of the worst Disney songs).  Judy Kuhn as Pocahontas’ voice is one of the best in all of Disney.  My Pocahontas Review.

Daydream Believer- The Monkees- Cheer up and sing a song with The Monkees!  This is such a fun song.

Pocketful of Sunshine- Natasha Bedingfield- It’s a song about a pocketful of sunshine. What’s more spring than that?

So those are my picks.  What would be your picks?

Friday 5: My 5 Favorite Male Singers

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Hey guys!  I thought I would share with you guys my latest Friday 5 video . Friday 5 is a series where we are given a music-related topic and we are asked to pick 5 songs that fit said topic.

This week the topic is 5 Favorite Male Singers.  To make my decision easier I went with solo artists so that took out a John Fogerty, Brian Wilson, or Paul McCartney.  After that I had a fairly long list but I wanted to pick people I liked pretty much all of their songs and there had to be a good song I have not used in the Friday 5 yet (this week marks my 150th song recommendation for the Friday 5!).

Here’s what I came up with:

  1. Fire and Rain- James Taylor.  I love Fire and Rain.  It sometimes makes me cry if I am feeling down.  But honestly I love all of James Taylor’s songs and would love to see him in concert someday.
  2. Raise Me Up- Josh Groban.  Everyone knows I am a Grobanite and I’ve been saving this song because it is perhaps the most expected of Josh Groban.  I love Josh Groban’s voice and have seen him 3 times in concert including the best concert experience of my life.
  3. Piano Man- Billy Joel. You could make an argument that Billy Joel is a stronger songwriter than singer but I still love his voice and his songs.  Kind of like Raise Me Up for Groban, it was time to do the expected pick for Billy Joel too.
  4. Try a Little Tenderness- Michael Buble.  This is my 8th Michael Buble pick.  I’ve also seen him 3 times in concert and I loved it every time.  I love his original stuff and his covers like this classic song.
  5. Sweet Caroline- Neil Diamond.  This last slot I struggled putting a lot of different singers in there.  I don’t know if Neil Diamond is really my 5th favorite male singer but I do like him a lot and I hadn’t used this song so I figured why not

What do you think of my 5 songs and 5 artists?   What would you have picked?  You should join us for the Friday 5 if you have a blog or youtube channel.  It’s a ton of fun and next week’s topic is Five Songs About Fools so that should be tough!  If you do decide to play keep music clips under 25 seconds.  I haven’t been pinged once for copyright since I started that rule.

You can find out more at http://thefridayfivemusic.tumblr.com/

Do you like these Friday 5 posts and hearing my taste on music?  I would love your feedback.  Thanks!

Updates and Friday 5: Songs when I was a Teenager

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Happy Friday everyone!  I hope you have all had good weeks.  The last few months have flown by for me.  It’s been a bit dominated by headaches but a lot of fun experiences too.

Mainly I keep growing in my video creation skills.  It might not sound like much to be excited about but it really is thrilling to continue learning and growing.  Just today I figured out how to alter color in Adobe Premiere (a really tough software to use).  That was a huge breakthrough!

Anyway, it keeps me busy and motivated.  Next week we have Batman v Superman and I will be reviewing all the Superman and Batman movies on my blog.  I have watched all the Batman movies and in the weeds with the Superman movies right now.  This weekend is Superman 4, Superman Returns and Man of Steel…Yikes!

On Sunday I am doing a ranking video with my friends Abby and Jeremy where we are each giving our rankings for the Star Wars films.  It’s been tougher than I thought because I like most of them for different reasons.  Here’s the link if you are interested in watching.  https://plus.google.com/events/c7gog64knsdhfnbve6521ehh6k4?authkey=CLedlabMkNfIhAE

This week for the Friday 5 the topic is Songs from When I Was a Teenager.  This one was actually kind of easy for me as they are still songs I love.

  1. Who Am I? From Les Miserables- I am running out of Les Miserables songs but I had to pick one for this category because Les Mis was the first music I really fell in love with and I still love it to this day
  2. Ease on Down the Road- Musical theater was pretty much the music that meant the most to me in high school.  In fact, theater was more important to me than film or books at that time.  The Wiz was my favorite play I was ever in hence this song on the countdown.
  3. Hands by Jewel- Jewel’s Spirit album really spoke to me.  I remember my friends even getting annoyed with me because I would just play it over and over again (that’s so my personality.  Repetition never bothered me). I still love the album and song.
  4. Thy Word by Amy Grant- My Mother and I had a lot of conflict about music.  I felt she judged me too harshly for the music I liked and sought her validation. It was kind of silly looking back on it but Amy Grant was a singer I felt was an olive branch to my Mom.  She was Christian and a pleasant singer we could both agree on.  Thy Word is one of my favorite of her songs.
  5. Sidewinder Sleeps Tonight- REM’s Automatic for the People is another album I listened repeatedly too throughout my teen years.  I still love every song.  This is a deeper cut but it’s got a great hook and I love that you can hear Michael laughing in the take. That’s just awesome.

So those are my Friday 5 and a little updates on things going on.  What about you?  What are your favorite songs from when you were a teenager?  What do you think of my list?

Are you pumped for Batman v Superman and what is your favorite Batman or Superman movie?  How would you rank the Star Wars films?

Sorry this post is a little jumbled but sometimes it just works out that way.  Love you guys!