Over the summer I became a bit obsessed with making playlists. I go through phases where, for whatever reason, I don't have the patience to listen to albums in their entirety. It just becomes far too tedious to listen to the same voice for 45 minutes to an hour and I crave the variety that a good playlist can provide.
One of the playlists I worked diligently to create and thoroughly enjoyed listening to was titled "One-Hit Wonders". Now when I say one-hit wonder here I'm not talking what you might traditionally think of when you hear this term; a single song that created and defined a band's 15 minutes of fame and usually resulted in you recalling the song 10 years later and remarking "I wonder whatever happened to those guys?" The one-hit wonders I'm talking about are those songs that seem to come out of nowhere, hit you over the head, and force you to seek them out and listen to them obsessively until your friends and family politely tell you to please take the cd player off repeat and move on with your life. A bit dramatic, maybe, but I think we all can relate to those songs that, for whatever reason, have a tendency to make us stop, listen, and then really need to listen again.
For better or worse (i.e. my freshman year Spin Doctors obsession) here are my top 10:
1.) Joyride - Roxette
God I loved this band. Granted, I was in the sixth grade when this song came out and we can't always vouch for the depth of taste displayed in our early music selections, but the Joyride album was one of the first cds I ever bought. Remember when cds came in those ridiculous and useless thin cardboard boxes ? I cut the picture off of this one and hung it in my room as a poster (I was a very resourceful child) and shrine to my favorite band. When I started middle school and found that my 7th grade english teacher had the same haircut as Marie Fredrikson I almost crapped my pants. It was a musical obsession as only a 12 year old could have. (And Joyride was a much better track than The Look, which still gets fairly regular airplay on monotonous pop stations.)
2.) Love Shack - The B-52s
Another middle school favorite. I'll admit it, I still have an obsession with the B-52s. I am not ashamed of this fact. I pretty much literally drove my family crazy with B-52s albums for at least a couple of years, but none were in higher rotation than Cosmic Thing and Love Shack is what started it all for me. (Roam was definitely a close second.) When I first started taking guitar lessons my teacher asked me about the music that I liked and I told her my two favorite bands were Roxette and The B-52s. She immediately starting teaching me Beatles and Led Zeppelin tunes and tried to pretend we'd never had that conversation.
3.) Little Miss Can't Be Wrong - Spin Doctors
It was the 8th grade and I was risking life and limb watching MTV before my mom came home from work (the channel was banned in our household until I was well into high school) when this video came on. The video was something ridiculous with the band having some sort of fight with paint brushes, but I was immediately hooked on this song. I was just beginning to learn to play guitar and I loved the opening riff and the catchy chorus. And you have to admit, it's a pretty funny break-up song. Cheesy but lovable.
4.) Stairway to Heaven - Led Zeppelin
Before I'd even heard this song I was laughing hysterically at the "NO STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN" joke in Wayne's World and pretending I knew what they were talking about. Once I heard it and began learning to play it on the guitar it became my greatest eight minute obsession. It's beautiful, it's epic, and it has one of the greatest guitar solos of all time.
5.) Because - The Beatles
I didn't really become a true Beatles fan until high school when I was forced to listen continuously to their entire catalog through the wall that separated my brother's and my bedroom. I actually first fell in love with Because when I head the acapella Elliot Smith version during the closing credits of American Beauty. Such a hauntingly beautiful song.
6.) Shelter From the Storm - Bob Dylan
Thanks to my dad, I grew up listening to, and not always enjoying, Bob Dylan songs. The turning point for me in my relationship with Bob Dylan, however, was when I first heard this song. Not to mention the fact that it comes from one of the best albums ever made.
7.) Momentum - Aimee Mann
Creating this playlist made me realize how often I am drawn to particular songs within the context of a film. This song first caught my attention when I saw the trailer for Paul Thomas Anderson's Magnolia. It was, in fact, the main reason I later went to see this film that has since become one of my favorites. It is a short yet extremely dramatic track that will stick in your head for days. The lyrics are brilliant.
8.) Dry the Rain - The Beta Band
I was never a huge Beta Band fan until I heard this song. It was featured in one of my favorite movies (a great book too), High Fidelity, and I've been a devoted follower ever since. There is something about the chorus of this song that just makes you want to get up and pump your fist with a big grin on your face, and I'm not really a fist-pumping kind of girl.
9.) Transamericana - Muckner
You're just going to have to take my word for it on this one, since I'm pretty sure most people have never heard this track before. Muckner was a hometown band until their singer/songwriter/guitarist up and moved to New York City. I randomly came across this song while surfuing the web at work about 8 years or so ago. I don't know how I found it, but once I heard it I couldn't get it out of my head. This song has a beautiful rootsy-folk tone and the lyrics have that dusty old Steinbeck novel feel to them. After becoming obsessed with this track online I emailed the band's singer-songwriter, Dan Erb, and asked how I could get my hands on their EP. He told me he normally sold them through his website for five bucks, but he was so pleased with the fact that I had been drawn to the song that he mailed me a copy for free. Still one of my favorite songs and the other two songs on the EP are excellent as well. Hit me up for a copy of it if you're interested in checking them out.
10.) Blonde on Blonde - Nada Surf
This has been one of my most recent obsessions. I am definitely a late arrival on the Nada Surf bandwagon, but this is truly a beautiful song; one of those perfectly arranged tracks that leaves you totally satisfied with each listen. I picked up the album, Let Go, not expecting to find much more that I would enjoy as much as Blonde on Blonde but was pleasantly surprised. The first half of the album has some incredibly addicting songs and overall it's really solid.
Honorable Mentions:
Falling Slowly by Glen Hansard (from the film Once)
Son of a Preacher Man by Dusty Springfield (Pulp Fiction. Need I say more?)
All These Things That I've Done by The Killers (The BEST song to run to. Ever.)
Most of the Time by Bob Dylan (another High Fidelity moment)
Say Something New by The Concretes (until the Target commercial ruined it)
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Stock Your Mind
"You have to study and learn so that you can make up your own mind about history and everything else but you can't make up an empty mind. Stock your mind, stock your mind. It is your house of treasure and no one in the world can interfere with it."
From Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt
From Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Happy Days
I read a beautiful post on the NY Times blog Happy Days: The Pursuit of What Matters in Troubled Times yesterday that I can't stop thinking about. Thought I'd share:
http://happydays.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/13/a-light-in-winter/
http://happydays.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/13/a-light-in-winter/
Monday, September 14, 2009
Worth a Read
I've been reading The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid by Bill Bryson for the past couple of weeks. It's a memoir of Bryson's childhood that humorously describes life growing up in the 1950s. For me, the book started out a bit slow, with observations of 1950s life that weren't all that intriguing; but Bryson's humor and wit really came through at the end of the first chapter, and it has turned into an enjoyable read. Bryson's writing is especially hilarious when he is describing his personal experiences during this time period and focusing less on the stats of the day.
Here's the excerpt that reeled me in, describing his visit to a local restaurant and his experience with an employee and the restaurant's "gift box":
"I seem to have got a doll," I said, with something approaching an ironic chuckle.
Here's the excerpt that reeled me in, describing his visit to a local restaurant and his experience with an employee and the restaurant's "gift box":
"I seem to have got a doll," I said, with something approaching an ironic chuckle.
He looked at it carefully. "That's surely a shame because you only git one try at the gift box."
"Yes, but it's a doll," I said. "For a girl."
"Then you'll just have to git you a little girlfriend to give it to, won'tcha?" he answered and gave me a toothy grin and an unfortunate wink.
Sadly, those were the last words the poor man ever spoke. A moment later he was just a small muffled shriek and a smoldering spot on the carpet.
Too late he had learned an important lesson. You really should never fuck with the Thunderbolt Kid.
Good stuff.
Friday, September 11, 2009
To Those Who Camp in the Rain: I Salute You!
Have you seen those commercials, there is a whole series of them these days, that outline some of the humorous oddities of life in the Northwest? Socks and sandals guy, obsessive recycler, 50 degrees shirts off guy, etc? They have been created by PEMCO Insurance and you can view a whole list of them on their website . It's a hilarious campaign if you're from around here, but I have to say that my personal favorite is the Blue Tarp Camper. The first time I saw this particular commercial I laughed my ass off, recalling fond memories of childhood camping trips spent underneath that familiar blue glow, playing cards and......well, really cards are kind of the entertainment limit when it’s raining buckets on you for hours on end.
This past weekend I had the pleasure (and yes, I have made the correct word choice here) of revisiting this fond childhood memory as my partner and I, our dog, Radley, and our next door neighbors made our way to the Cascades for a Labor Day weekend camping trip. Our neighbors had arrived the night before and, as Chris and I woke up to the sound of pouring rain in Seattle, we received a phone call to let us know that the same wet weather had hit and drowned the campground as well. We looked at each other with that "do we still do this?" face: the furrowed brow, half grimace, nose wrinkled up like you've just smelled something not quite right, and decided that, of course we do. We were born and RAISED here for Christ sakes! Our neighbors are from CHICAGO! There's no way they can be more tolerant of this weather than we are. We've actually been conditioned to live in a constant state of denial about this weather. "Aren't you going to use an umbrella?", most will ask. "Naw, it's just barely drizzling out!”, I'll say as I cover myself in a thin layer of nylon and skip happily out the door. Of course, I'm yadda yadda-ing over the part where I end up cursing the "drizzle" that minutes later will have formed a puddle in my shoes, but I digress.
So we packed up our gear and headed out, being sure to stop by the local hardware store and pick up the requisite Northwest campers’ tools: a 12' X 16' blue tarp and about 50 feet of nylon rope. When we arrived at the campground, the rain was still coming down pretty heavily. It ceased long enough for us to put up our tent and tarp shelter without being drenched, however, and the rest of the evening was reasonably pleasant; dry enough for a campfire.
Early the next morning, we awoke to the sound of the returning downpour. Maybe it's because I've lived so long here in the Northwest, but honestly I find nothing more comforting than the sound of a heavy rain, and find it especially soothing on the roof of a tent. For someone who loves the outdoors, there are few things better than being that close to the elements while still knowing that you will remain dry and comfortable.
Although the rain did slow down enough to the point that we could get out of the tent, its quick return made us especially grateful that we had purchased that large blue tarp and that Chris had risked breaking his neck when he shimmied up that tree to string it up. (For those of you that know Chris and his tendency to break things, you understand how real this risk was.)
The rest of the day was uneventful. The rain continued and the four of us + dogs spent our time by the fire, under the shelter of our most crucial accessory. The dogs gave us the occasional look of disgust, not quite understanding what we seemed to find so appealing about all this sitting around in the damp, dreary outdoors. But for the four of us, it was obvious that you don't often get an opportunity like this. It was a genuine excuse to stay put, enjoy a lot of laughs and good conversation, and not so secretly hope that it doesn't stop raining.
This past weekend I had the pleasure (and yes, I have made the correct word choice here) of revisiting this fond childhood memory as my partner and I, our dog, Radley, and our next door neighbors made our way to the Cascades for a Labor Day weekend camping trip. Our neighbors had arrived the night before and, as Chris and I woke up to the sound of pouring rain in Seattle, we received a phone call to let us know that the same wet weather had hit and drowned the campground as well. We looked at each other with that "do we still do this?" face: the furrowed brow, half grimace, nose wrinkled up like you've just smelled something not quite right, and decided that, of course we do. We were born and RAISED here for Christ sakes! Our neighbors are from CHICAGO! There's no way they can be more tolerant of this weather than we are. We've actually been conditioned to live in a constant state of denial about this weather. "Aren't you going to use an umbrella?", most will ask. "Naw, it's just barely drizzling out!”, I'll say as I cover myself in a thin layer of nylon and skip happily out the door. Of course, I'm yadda yadda-ing over the part where I end up cursing the "drizzle" that minutes later will have formed a puddle in my shoes, but I digress.
So we packed up our gear and headed out, being sure to stop by the local hardware store and pick up the requisite Northwest campers’ tools: a 12' X 16' blue tarp and about 50 feet of nylon rope. When we arrived at the campground, the rain was still coming down pretty heavily. It ceased long enough for us to put up our tent and tarp shelter without being drenched, however, and the rest of the evening was reasonably pleasant; dry enough for a campfire.
Early the next morning, we awoke to the sound of the returning downpour. Maybe it's because I've lived so long here in the Northwest, but honestly I find nothing more comforting than the sound of a heavy rain, and find it especially soothing on the roof of a tent. For someone who loves the outdoors, there are few things better than being that close to the elements while still knowing that you will remain dry and comfortable.
Although the rain did slow down enough to the point that we could get out of the tent, its quick return made us especially grateful that we had purchased that large blue tarp and that Chris had risked breaking his neck when he shimmied up that tree to string it up. (For those of you that know Chris and his tendency to break things, you understand how real this risk was.)
The rest of the day was uneventful. The rain continued and the four of us + dogs spent our time by the fire, under the shelter of our most crucial accessory. The dogs gave us the occasional look of disgust, not quite understanding what we seemed to find so appealing about all this sitting around in the damp, dreary outdoors. But for the four of us, it was obvious that you don't often get an opportunity like this. It was a genuine excuse to stay put, enjoy a lot of laughs and good conversation, and not so secretly hope that it doesn't stop raining.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Do you know what you're voting on?
So I've decided to enter the world of blogging with a rant about an f'd up piece of legislature, or, I should say, an f'd up opposition to a piece of legislature, that is currently making its way (in disguise, none the less) onto the ballot here in Washington State.
Earlier this year the state legislature approved and Governor Gregoire signed an expansion of the domestic partnership law, broadening the rights of gay and lesbian couples and unmarried couples over the age of 62 to (nearly) equate those of the legally married. Before the ink was dry, however, a group called Protect Marriage Washington was beginning to gather signatures on Referendum 71, blocking the ability of the expansion to be immediately placed into law.
The tricky thing about Referendum 71, and the thing voters have to be most conscious of if it does make it onto the ballot this November, is that a 'yes' vote on the Referendum will in fact approve the expansion of the domestic partnership law. Protect Marriage Washington is working to place the referendum on the ballot simply because they are playing the odds and assuming voters will reject, as they statistically do with referenda.
This somewhat backwards agenda has also worked against domestic partnership law supporters as it has forced them to have to convince voters not to sign for the approval of Ref. 71, but to support it if it does make it onto the ballot, creating a great deal of room for misunderstanding in the process.
It never ceases to amaze me the length to which some individuals and organizations will go to control the rights of others who are causing them no harm. Some will argue that the addition of Ref. 71 on the ballot is important because the public should be able to vote on this expansion of the domestic partnership law; that politicians shouldn't be making these types of decisions for the public. I believe it is more important to consider the significance of the fact that we are still having to debate who is deserving of particular rights in our society. Politicians aren't setting moral standards for our society by enacting this expansion of the domestic partnership law; they are simply recognizing the fact that these aren't debatable issues. They are making the statement that it isn't the place of government to hinder the ability of individuals and families, regardless of their makeup, to live their lives without fear of losing what matters most to them.
Please, Washington State voters, beat the odds. Don't place your vote on Ref. 71 without truly considering what it means for our citizens, our state, and our ability to preserve justice for all in our society.
Earlier this year the state legislature approved and Governor Gregoire signed an expansion of the domestic partnership law, broadening the rights of gay and lesbian couples and unmarried couples over the age of 62 to (nearly) equate those of the legally married. Before the ink was dry, however, a group called Protect Marriage Washington was beginning to gather signatures on Referendum 71, blocking the ability of the expansion to be immediately placed into law.
The tricky thing about Referendum 71, and the thing voters have to be most conscious of if it does make it onto the ballot this November, is that a 'yes' vote on the Referendum will in fact approve the expansion of the domestic partnership law. Protect Marriage Washington is working to place the referendum on the ballot simply because they are playing the odds and assuming voters will reject, as they statistically do with referenda.
This somewhat backwards agenda has also worked against domestic partnership law supporters as it has forced them to have to convince voters not to sign for the approval of Ref. 71, but to support it if it does make it onto the ballot, creating a great deal of room for misunderstanding in the process.
It never ceases to amaze me the length to which some individuals and organizations will go to control the rights of others who are causing them no harm. Some will argue that the addition of Ref. 71 on the ballot is important because the public should be able to vote on this expansion of the domestic partnership law; that politicians shouldn't be making these types of decisions for the public. I believe it is more important to consider the significance of the fact that we are still having to debate who is deserving of particular rights in our society. Politicians aren't setting moral standards for our society by enacting this expansion of the domestic partnership law; they are simply recognizing the fact that these aren't debatable issues. They are making the statement that it isn't the place of government to hinder the ability of individuals and families, regardless of their makeup, to live their lives without fear of losing what matters most to them.
Please, Washington State voters, beat the odds. Don't place your vote on Ref. 71 without truly considering what it means for our citizens, our state, and our ability to preserve justice for all in our society.
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