Some Kind of Weird Empathy

If I were Sarah McLachlan, I’d be able to write an evocative song about what I’m feeling right now.

For some reason, I am so terribly sad that she and her husband, also her drummer, are splitting up.

I really am. I’ve teared up about it a few times over the past two days.

As soon as I heard her new song last week, I thought to myself, “Holy crap, she’s getting divorced.” And, then I read it yesterday, and I’m just heartbroken. Why? I don’t know.

Maybe it’s just that, more than any other artist, her music has been continually playing in the background of my grown up life. Sarah McLachlan is, without question in my mind, the most talented songwriter and vocalist of my generation. She hasn’t written a bad song and, her voice is angelic. It has an ethereal, mystical quality to it, and I never get tired of listening to her.

A very private person- anything that she wants to the public to know comes out in small spurts in her lyrics. Her song “Push” has always been very important to me and when I saw her concert in September 2004, she told the story of writing it for her husband who, she said, had put up with a lot of her pregnancy induced hormonal moments. She joked that it was about time that she wrote a happy love song.

I guess that’s why it all seems so sad. To hear a simple and beautiful message that sums up so many marriages and, four years, later a song with an entirely different and heartbreaking sentiment…it just seems to prove that things, for anyone, can change and it can happen to you and me too. And, it is so, so sad.  Why am I so caught up in someone else’s life?  Someone I don’t know?

Her new song has been continuous on my itunes all this week, and the lyrics are haunting.  Asking questions about if their “eden was a failure…a made up story to fit a picture perfect world?”  I guess you question your reality and those kinds of things when something that you thought was a given becomes an uncertain.  What I perceive to be her natural graciousness comes out by the end of the song, but it seems as if these questions are still lingering in her mind…and as much as I’d love for her to have new material for a long awaited new album, I just can’t help being Sad.

 

Stealing Someone Else’s Idea for Easy Blogging

I completely, 100% stole this idea from Matt at Licensed to Blog after I saw it on Allison’s site because I just love my iPod so very much that I leap at every chance to turn it on, listen, or download or even just to chat about what’s on it. I am a huge nerd.

Consider yourself tagged!

What song or songs is/are most “atypical” on your player?

Probably either “Family Tradition” by Hank Williams, Jr. or “Louisiana Saturday Night” by Mel McDaniel which I play when I’m in a redneck mood, generally when I’m thinking about the South or being pissed off that I live thousands of miles from SEC football.

If someone new were in your car, what song on your player would you be quickest to skip out of embarrassment?

“La La” by Ashlee Simpson. I am so embarrassed. What made me pay $.99 for this? I can honestly say that I would forward immediately no matter if I knew the person for five minutes or five years.

What song(s) on your player turns you on?
For sure, “Let’s Get Lifted” by John Legend. It is the most subtle dirtiest song that I can think of.

If you wanted to get a member of the opposite sex in the mood, what song would you program to come on when they are in the car? “
“Crush” by Dave Matthews Band. It’s sexy.

What is the longest song on your player?
“Fumbling Towards Ecstasy” by Sarah McLachlan, coming in at a very long 9 minutes, 47 seconds. Who knew that song was so long?

What do you think is the silliest song on your player?
Splish Splash I Was Taking A Bath & Kung Fu Fighting…both for the Bear’s Benefit.

What did you most recently add to your player?
I’ve been in a Girls with Guitars mood. So a bunch of Indigo Girls.

What did you most recently delete? I rarely delete.

What is your favorite song on your player that is from a movie?
Right now, probably “How Do You Mend a Broken Heart” sang this time by Al Green & Joss Stone. From Sex and the City…I came home and immediately downloaded.

Is there a song on your player that is only there for someone else’s benefit?
See above and also ABC/123 by the Jackson 5…stuff that my kids like, but that don’t make me feel like kicking a giant purple dinosaur.

What song or artist do you find yourself skipping most frequently and therefore should probably delete? “Under the Bridge” by Red Hot Chili Peppers. I don’t know why. I like this song.

Without cheating, start your player and list the first 10 songs that come up in random play.

1) Not Enough Time by INXS

2) Got to be Real by Cheryl Lynn

3) The Promise by Tracy Chapman

4) Short Skirt/Long Jacket by Cake

5) Little Perennials by the Indigo Girls

6)Just Like Heaven by the Cure

7) All Dressed in Love by Jennifer Hudson (from Sex and the City)

Crash Into Me by DMB

9) Return to Innocence by Enigma

10) Not Fade Away- Grateful Dead

And in the spirit of the meme, my own question…

What song brings back the best memory?

“Thank You” by Dido…cheesy, but totally honest answer…how I felt after I had the Bear. I have never been able to listen to this song without thinking of my first born baby and how awesome the day was that she came into this world.

Add your own question and pass it on.

 

Stealing Someone Else's Idea for Easy Blogging

I completely, 100% stole this idea from Matt at Licensed to Blog after I saw it on Allison’s site because I just love my iPod so very much that I leap at every chance to turn it on, listen, or download or even just to chat about what’s on it. I am a huge nerd.

Consider yourself tagged!

What song or songs is/are most “atypical” on your player?

Probably either “Family Tradition” by Hank Williams, Jr. or “Louisiana Saturday Night” by Mel McDaniel which I play when I’m in a redneck mood, generally when I’m thinking about the South or being pissed off that I live thousands of miles from SEC football.

If someone new were in your car, what song on your player would you be quickest to skip out of embarrassment?

“La La” by Ashlee Simpson. I am so embarrassed. What made me pay $.99 for this? I can honestly say that I would forward immediately no matter if I knew the person for five minutes or five years.

What song(s) on your player turns you on?
For sure, “Let’s Get Lifted” by John Legend. It is the most subtle dirtiest song that I can think of.

If you wanted to get a member of the opposite sex in the mood, what song would you program to come on when they are in the car? “
“Crush” by Dave Matthews Band. It’s sexy.

What is the longest song on your player?
“Fumbling Towards Ecstasy” by Sarah McLachlan, coming in at a very long 9 minutes, 47 seconds. Who knew that song was so long?

What do you think is the silliest song on your player?
Splish Splash I Was Taking A Bath & Kung Fu Fighting…both for the Bear’s Benefit.

What did you most recently add to your player?
I’ve been in a Girls with Guitars mood. So a bunch of Indigo Girls.

What did you most recently delete? I rarely delete.

What is your favorite song on your player that is from a movie?
Right now, probably “How Do You Mend a Broken Heart” sang this time by Al Green & Joss Stone. From Sex and the City…I came home and immediately downloaded.

Is there a song on your player that is only there for someone else’s benefit?
See above and also ABC/123 by the Jackson 5…stuff that my kids like, but that don’t make me feel like kicking a giant purple dinosaur.

What song or artist do you find yourself skipping most frequently and therefore should probably delete? “Under the Bridge” by Red Hot Chili Peppers. I don’t know why. I like this song.

Without cheating, start your player and list the first 10 songs that come up in random play.

1) Not Enough Time by INXS

2) Got to be Real by Cheryl Lynn

3) The Promise by Tracy Chapman

4) Short Skirt/Long Jacket by Cake

5) Little Perennials by the Indigo Girls

6)Just Like Heaven by the Cure

7) All Dressed in Love by Jennifer Hudson (from Sex and the City)
Crash Into Me by DMB

9) Return to Innocence by Enigma

10) Not Fade Away- Grateful Dead

And in the spirit of the meme, my own question…

What song brings back the best memory?

“Thank You” by Dido…cheesy, but totally honest answer…how I felt after I had the Bear. I have never been able to listen to this song without thinking of my first born baby and how awesome the day was that she came into this world.

Add your own question and pass it on.

 

Singing the Praises of the Indigo Girls

Normally I’m the uncoolest music lover ever out there…jumping on bandwagons left and right, but I can honestly say that I have been a fan of the Indigo Girls since waayyy back in the day. Since my freshman year in high school…19 freakin’ years ago. Oh MY Goodness, but we’ll save that for another post.

They are raw, honest, gentle, talented, and, I love that when Amy Ray and Emily Saliers play together, you can tell that they’re old friends. In tune, both musically and personally, for better or for worse. They know each other. They embody old friendship, and there are few things better than that.

The Indigo Girls took me through high school and then on to college. Even now when “Springtime in the Southland” comes on, I can’t not picture taking a drive over the old Cooper River Bridge in Charleston, SC. When I listen to that song, I still feel like that song was written for me…even though I’m proud of my D.C. roots (read East Coast roots, Coach)…God was just teasing when he made born a Yankee.

I’ve see the Girls no less than 8-9 times (including a well publicized one in 1998 on the University of Tennessee campus that had been originally scheduled at a local high school-it was canceled when it was discovered that Emily & Amy are both out lesbians); their concerts are feel good events, where fans stand up on their seats and go crazy. I also have been hit on several times by women at the shows and, although I had to decline their advances, I’m at the age where it was just flattering to be sought after by anyone.

Amy Ray often plays a few of her songs from her solo albums- they have a harder edge and a more militant sound, and she plays them like she’s ready to kick some serious ass. I have to confess that I’m not a huge fan, but please Amy…don’t come kick my ass…I just personally love your acoustic guitars, your introspective lyrics- your folky sound.  BUT, I was so happy to see CNN’s profile of Amy Ray and her new solo effort. New song “SLC Radio” examines radio station KRCL here in Salt Lake City which is programmed into my car radio and where you can hear delightful, insightful, controversial, and sometimes hilarious commentary.

In the song, she alludes to religion… which you must when you allude to Salt Lake City and commends the radio station- a lone voice of dissent- in the most conservative state in the country.

So, I thought that Amy Ray would enjoy the irony in the fact that, a little while later in the day after reading that profile, I was taking Bee for a walk in her stroller with my iPod on and cutting across the parking lot of the nearest LDS church when “Get Out the Map” came on. A song that I listen to when I’m feeling geographically challenged, it’s one of my favorites. As I’m inclined to do when no one’s around, I sang Amy Ray’s (and Emily’s too) lyrics out loud while crossing through the parking lot with my stroller and my iPod, bringing her song about friendship across miles literal and figurative right to the door of the church around the corner.

And, as it does every time, it felt good listening to the Girls and singing out loud.

 

Heavy Hearts on the DMB Tour

I’ve had a sad feeling all last evening and today about the passing of Dave Matthews Band saxophonist LeRoi Moore…the DMB takes up a lot of space on my iPod, in my CD collection, and in my college concert memory.

I have so many good and pleasantly hazy memories of seeing DMB perform under the stars, beer in hand, and feeling like I was seeing one of the great bands of my generation. Just hours before I heard this news, I had purchased tickets to see them perform next week here in Salt Lake City.

Thinking of LeRoi Moore takes me instantly to “Crush” one of my very favorite DMB songs due in no small part to the lovely, ethereal opening notes courtesy of his fine musical prowess. And, “Where Are You Going?” off the Busted Stuff CD, and so many more.

He will be missed.

 

As Ben Folds Would Put It, Shit I’m Old. Shit.

Back in the day, I was an extreme concert goer. I have seen probably 80 or so shows, but with lots of repeats. Grateful Dead times three, Indigo Girls at least eight times, and Dave Matthews Band at least 21, 897 times. Since our move to Utah, the subsequent birthing of two children has put a serious dent in my concert going.

Anyway, last night, I saw one of my perennial favs, Ben Folds, for at least the fifth time. He always plays a great show, and he is among the best at interacting with the audience. Not to mention that he can make the piano sing like no one else.

All while dropping the f-bomb. A lot, and with style.

This would be about the time that the Mormon lovebirds next to me would stop swaying long enough so that the very young husband could cover his very young wife’s ears so that the sounds of swearing would not cross the blood-brain barrier.

If you know Ben Fold’s music, you know that the ear covering happened pretty often.

Concerts have changed quite a bit in the past few years. Some I attribute to Utah (no more smoky halls). But some can only be the change of times. The passing of the torch, yadda yadda yadda.

Its only that that can explain the fact that there are no more raised lighters during a particularly poignant moment. Nope, look around and all you will see is a mass of lit cell phones swaying back and forth in the dark.

I have no idea of Lynard Skynard tours anymore or if they’re actually still living but what would they think of a stadium full of lit LCD screens waving at them during Freebird?

 

As Ben Folds Would Put It, Shit I'm Old. Shit.

Back in the day, I was an extreme concert goer. I have seen probably 80 or so shows, but with lots of repeats. Grateful Dead times three, Indigo Girls at least eight times, and Dave Matthews Band at least 21, 897 times. Since our move to Utah, the subsequent birthing of two children has put a serious dent in my concert going.

Anyway, last night, I saw one of my perennial favs, Ben Folds, for at least the fifth time. He always plays a great show, and he is among the best at interacting with the audience. Not to mention that he can make the piano sing like no one else.

All while dropping the f-bomb. A lot, and with style.

This would be about the time that the Mormon lovebirds next to me would stop swaying long enough so that the very young husband could cover his very young wife’s ears so that the sounds of swearing would not cross the blood-brain barrier.

If you know Ben Fold’s music, you know that the ear covering happened pretty often.

Concerts have changed quite a bit in the past few years. Some I attribute to Utah (no more smoky halls). But some can only be the change of times. The passing of the torch, yadda yadda yadda.

Its only that that can explain the fact that there are no more raised lighters during a particularly poignant moment. Nope, look around and all you will see is a mass of lit cell phones swaying back and forth in the dark.

I have no idea of Lynard Skynard tours anymore or if they’re actually still living but what would they think of a stadium full of lit LCD screens waving at them during Freebird?

 

The Coach’s Offerings Part One: On George Michael, The Genius

The coach has a lot of time on his hands for idle thought lately…riding on the bus for roads trips, riding the lawnmower for hours on end at the field, etc. As such, I have come up with 2 completely unrelated random tidbits to share.

EDITORS NOTE: The BD will publish the second later on.

I recently saw a rerun of Pop-Up Video on VH1 Classic. These shows are filled with the useless bits of information I seem to soak up like a sponge. Anyway, I learned that George Michael wrote the lyrics to “Careless Whisper” at the age of 17.

 {OK, this is the point where our relationship is tested. If you don’t like these types of songs, you and I will have to part ways. If you do, we can be friends. And, as your friend, I recommend more cheese in your musical diet. You might message the B.D. for her “Gourmet Cheese Album” or I can give you my “Ultimate Cheese” list.} 

Anyway, my initial thought was “Big deal, who cares when he wrote it”. 

But after further reflection I realized the highlights of my seventeenth year included Beavis and Butthead and drinking beer by the lake in my parent’s backyard. 

So, if George Michael reads this (I like to believe he does), great job…though it’s easy to pretend, I know you’re not a fool. 

 

 

The Coach's Offerings Part One: On George Michael, The Genius

The coach has a lot of time on his hands for idle thought lately…riding on the bus for roads trips, riding the lawnmower for hours on end at the field, etc. As such, I have come up with 2 completely unrelated random tidbits to share.

EDITORS NOTE: The BD will publish the second later on.

I recently saw a rerun of Pop-Up Video on VH1 Classic. These shows are filled with the useless bits of information I seem to soak up like a sponge. Anyway, I learned that George Michael wrote the lyrics to “Careless Whisper” at the age of 17.

 {OK, this is the point where our relationship is tested. If you don’t like these types of songs, you and I will have to part ways. If you do, we can be friends. And, as your friend, I recommend more cheese in your musical diet. You might message the B.D. for her “Gourmet Cheese Album” or I can give you my “Ultimate Cheese” list.} 

Anyway, my initial thought was “Big deal, who cares when he wrote it”. 

But after further reflection I realized the highlights of my seventeenth year included Beavis and Butthead and drinking beer by the lake in my parent’s backyard. 

So, if George Michael reads this (I like to believe he does), great job…though it’s easy to pretend, I know you’re not a fool.