If I Had A Boat...

Its been raining for three days here in Richmond. I don't really mind it because I work inside during the day and don't really see the outside until later on in the afternoon. And well lets be honest we needed the rain. This whole heat/summer needs to end and we need to hit fall. So bring it on. (As long as you stop for my work event on Saturday night we are good).

So here is a song for my friends who live downtown, because lets face it. You're going to be flooded. Shockoe Bottom can't handle this amount of rain so I'm sending you a song... to hold you over until you actually do get a boat and sail on up to the Boulevard to visit me :)

History of Rap - Fallon & Timberlake

If your a fan of any of the next three things you should watch this video.

1. Justin Timberlake

2. Rap Music

3. Talent

Justin stopped by Late Night with Jimmy Fallon last night and gave the audience a treat. The "History of Rap"... just watch. Its impressive. 

More Glee - Favorite Brittany Quotes

So I feel the need to elaborate on my love of Brittany's character on Glee. I mean this is the exact reason why I love having a blog. Especially one where no judgments are allowed. 

I think that I love the Heather Morris's character so much on Glee because well she wasn't supposed to be there. Formally a back up dancer for Beyonce Heather was asked to do an episode of the show that focused on dancing. She would join the squad and just be the badass dancer in the background. 

This would have been fine, I'm sure. Until the genius that is writer Ryan Murphy started writing her one liners that she literally would say with the most deadpanned look. Instant success. She quickly went from back up dancer to back up character to one of the best characters on the show! Unexpected success! What is better than that. Without her not sure I would find the show that entertaining.... 

So keeping with the theme today of Brittany. And because I just read the article on Entertainment Weekly. Here are the best Brittany quotes:

 "I find recipes confusing"

''Sometimes, I add a teaspoon of sand.''

"Mr Shue: Who can tell me what a ballad is?

Brittany: A male duck"

Mr. Shue: ''Brittany, take it away.''Brittany: ''Take what away?''

''She's the one they made me talk to when they found out I was keeping that bird in my locker.''

Santana: ''Having sex is not dating.''Brittany: ''If it were Santana and I would be dating.''

''Kissing my armpits is a really big turn-on for me.''

Brittany: ''Did you know that dolphins are just gay sharks?... Yeah.''

''Mr. Schue, is he your son?"

''When I pulled my hamstring, I went to a misogynist.''

''There are so many lyrics.''

some of my favorites... 

''I'm pretty sure my cat's been reading my diary.''

''I had a cold and I took all my antibiotics at the same time and I forgot how to leave.''


''People thought I went on vacation but actually, I spent the summer lost in the sewers.''

Love it! 

Glee - Brittany S. Pearce

Last night one of my favorite shows GLEE had their Brittany Spears episode and while it probably wasn't as good as their Lady Gaga episode it was certainly impressive. Impressive really because of Heather Morris. Heather who plays "Brittany" on GLEE was originally hired to be a back up dancer on the show, yet quickly rose to stardom from her great one liners like "Do you know Dolphins are just gay sharks?". 

Last night they finally gave her an entire episode and of course it was the Brittany episode I mean her real name is "Brittany S. Pearce" and "she has been living in the shadow of Brittany Spears her entire life" . I can't really complain. I mean I really think that Heather out danced even the real Brittany. Its impressive. Really impressive. Check out these moves... if you squint your eyes you will think its the real thing and forget all about Brittany's head shaving crazy real life.


Oh and yes that is John Stamos too! Double bonus!!

Phish - Halloween

Going Phishin For Halloween

Well to anyone familiar with this blog, or my life knows that I am a Phish fan. I don't follow them around as much as I would like to anymore but I still get to see enough shows to keep me happy. This year I am excited to say that I'm going to see my first Phish Halloween show. Ahhhhh!!

To all that aren't familiar Phish has had a tradition for years that they take one of their sets on Halloween night and does a "musical costume" meaning they cover from front to back one of their all time favorite albums. They have done ones by the Rolling Stones, Beatles, The Who to name a few. Every time bringing the house down with every note.

Now this year we are headed to Atlantic City. Thats right people... I'm going home to go Phishin... Should be interesting what they pick to play. Will they cover a Bruce album? They are playing in southern NJ? Whatever they decide to play, I will be there, with my three best friends, dancing, dancing...dancing. And, I'm finally going to cross another one off my music bucket list in the process! Phish Halloween - Check.

Check out the vintage video below from after their Halloween 1996 show. 

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame - Bon Jovi

This post is for my cousin Liz. 

Liz is not from New Jersey. I am. 

But she still loves this man above more than anyone that I know of. For real.

So for her I was happy this morning to hear of Bon Jovi's name added to the list of nominees for this years induction to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. **Again this does not mean they are in, but it does get them on the short list**

Now while he would not be my first choice (I'm still trying to figure out how Peter Gabriel still has yet to be nominated....) but I gotta give it to the home state boy. Your "Slippery When Wet" album is still a standard. And well, I'll say it. You still look pretty damn good. So todays for you Bon Jovi and Liz. 

Well deserved.

Now get Peter Gabriel in there immediately! 

More Things You Didn't Know About Rock & Roll....

Its a busy day here today so I'm just spitting out obscure Rock & Roll facts that you may or may not have known about.... 

In the 50's, Little Richard kicked Jimi Hendrix out of his band for stealing the spotlight:Jimi wouldn't wear the uniform Richard had imposed (since he wanted all the attention to his figure) and the audience was delighted with his guitarist's eccentric way of dressing.

-Two songs were recorded by the Beatles, Bob Dylan, and Elvis: "That's Alright, Mama" and "Yesterday".

-Mason the only member to play on every Pink Floyd album.

-Cass Elliot (Mama Cass of The Mamas & Papas) and Keith Moon of The Who that died in the apartment of the same singer/songwriter: Harry Nilsson.

- In the Beatles' "A Day In The Life," there's a bit in the orchestral score where the musicians were told "start on the lowest note your instrument can play, and gradually work your way up to the highest note your instrument can play." 

-Stevie Ray Vaughan was the guitarist on David Bowie's "Let's Dance" album 

And there are just some more facts for you to think about today.....

Things You Didn't Know About Rock and Roll!

Crazy busy today so I thought I would do another little fun day. How about posting some facts about rock and roll that well maybe you didn't know about yet. Some things like Led Zeppelins famous "Black Dog" was named merely because a black dog walked into the studio while recording! I didn't know that...did you?

So today I'll bring you some fun interesting facts. Like...Beyonce is only 11 months older than me (that doesn't make me feel like a slacker I promise you). 

So here are some more for you to throw into the back of your brain for the next time you play Trivial Pursuit: 

-Nirvanas classic "Smells Like Teen Spirit" really was named after the deodorant of that name. 

-Elton Johns real name is Reg Dwight; Slash's real name is Saul Hudson

-Malcom Young used to play the solos in AC/DC, until one day he told his brother "You do them...cuz they keep busy the hand I use for drinking"

-"Yesterday" first appeared in 1965. By 1967 there were 466 versions of the song. Today there are more than 4000 versions. 

- Bob Dylan said in his school yearbook that his ultimate dream was being in Little Richard's band. 

Patrick Park - Life is a Song

And we are back to talking about rainy day music and well I wish that my entire blog was dedicated to this type of music because I can sit and write about it all day long. Its just those songs that absolutely never get old, the songs that no matter how many times you hear them they take you to that calm place. That place of peace that we are all really searching for in this life (at least thats what I think thats why we are here...to find our little slice of peace in our surroundings, to be comfortable in who you are and what you are trying to be). 

Okay little bit off subject there but hopefully your still following me. 

This next song I know I have written about before, and really it has to be about the lyrics. Patrick Park is a songwriter who is an amazing poet. Much like Dylan and Springsteen he takes everyday words, stories and twists them into simple songs about life and his surroundings. His tunes are breezy, they are light but the lyrics are heavy. 

Like this song "Life is a Song" it talks about how sometimes in this life of ours people take things too seriously. They don't realize the beauty that is right there in front of them. They take the concepts of good health, good friends and family for granted, forgetting that thats really what makes the world go around. The little things. And yes, "Maybe life is a song but you're scared to sing along..." things are tough, life is not pretty, but if you sit around and not grab it and go for the ride you will miss out on a great thing. 

"always forget how strange it is to be alive at all"

SNL is Back!

I take a break from todays regularly scheduled list of rainy day music to bring you some hilarity. Saturday Night Live kicked off its latest season just a few nights ago and anyone who missed Amy Poeler (guest hosts) opening sequence needs to stop what they are doing and watch this immediately. 


Hilarious. 

Parachute - She Is Love

"I've been beaten down, I've been kicked around

But she takes it all for me

And I've lost my faith, in my darkest days

But she makes me want to believe....

They call her love, love, love, love, love."

The first time I heard this song I listened to it on repeat for a few times. Its just so nice and easy. My favorite type of music...the effortless kind that feels like it pours from someones soul. A song that any girl in the world would be lucky to hear sung from the person that they love. Its that sweet.  Perfect for this rainy day...

"She is love...she is all I need"

Amy McDonald - The Road To Home

"Oh the light is fading all the time
And this life I'm in, it seemed to pass me by
But I still remember which way to go
I'm on the road, the road to home"

Amy McDonald is an artist that I have been following for the last year or two. Her debut album "This is the Life" was released back in 2007 and ever since this Scottish born singer/songwriter has been making her way throughout Europe and now finally onto U.S. soil. 

This song from her is one of her more unknown, its a simple tune. Not much to it, but I can listen to it all day long. If you enjoy her voice I highly recommend you go to youtube and listen to other songs like "Youth of Today" or "Mr. Rock and Roll". She is quite the impressive artist. 

Rainy Day - Coffee House Music

Well its a gross rainy day in Richmond today.... I shouldn't say gross because down here we all know we really needed the rain. Its been dry for weeks and finally maybe some of those nice gardens will get refreshed. Yet as I sit here and listen to the rain hit against my windows I can't help but think that I would rather be at home, under the covers with my music. Rainy day music is my favorite. Its kind of like those Sunday afternoon classics that make you just want to sit around, relax, and appreciate the simple fact that you don't have anywhere to be. 

So today is my rainy day music. That music that I like to hear on days like today... 

(The over under of me falling asleep at my desk during these posts today is high)

First off is one of my favorite artists Joshua Radin called "What If You" and a video made obviously by a fan, but its just perfect for the video. Enjoy your rainy afternoon...

Bruuuuuuce

This movie named The Promises: The Making of Darkness on the Edge of Town is a documentary for every Bruce Springsteen fan out there. This groundbreaking documentary set to air October 7th on HBO chronicles the ups and downs of the makings of Bruce's legendary album. 

Now this is not just some concert DVD or biopic of a great band its a true inside peek into the making of a rock and roll star. For the music fan and lover like myself, it includes all the gritty details you want to see about the making of an album. To others it may be a little bit too much information. Either way you will walk away from this documentary knowing a lot more about a small town guy from Jersey who was able to capture his feelings and surroundings and turn them into the soundtracks of peoples lives. This picture shows Springsteen's creativity at its best. 

Trailer

Well....

Silver Springs

"I know I could have loved you...but you wouldn't let me"

Silver Springs.... probably one of the greatest songs of all time in my book. Talk about intensity. There really isn't much you can say about this song. Just listen, take it in. Listen to Stevie sing these lyrics. Its just fabulous. She would definitely be in the top of the list of people I would like to have a drink with. 

I mean the point when her and Lindsay are looking at each other you can just feel her showing her, her soul. 

This is music.

. -

Set Me Free, Leave Me Be

This song by Sara Bareilles is EXACTLY how I'm feeling today....

Something always brings me back to you

It never takes too long

No matter what I say or do

I still feel you here 'til the moment I'm gone

You hold me without touch

You keep me without chains

I never wanted anything so much

Than to drown in your love and not feel your rain

Set me free, leave me be

I don't wanna fall another moment into your gravity

Here I am and I stand so tall

I'm just the way I'm supposed to be

But you're on to me and all over me

You loved me 'cause I'm fragile

When I thought that I was strong

But you touch me for a little while

And all my fragile strength is gone

Set me free, leave me be

I don't wanna fall another moment into your gravity

Here I am and I stand so tall

I'm just the way I'm supposed to be

But you're on to me and all over me

I live here on my knees

As I try to make you see

That you're everything I think I need

Here on the ground

But you're neither friend nor foe

Though I can't seem to let you go

The one thing that I still know

Is that you're keeping me down

You're keeping me down

You're on to me, on to me and all over

Something always brings me back to you

It never takes too long

Phish Trucker Hats

I don't wear hats. I look pretty terrible in them. But if someone was to get me one of these hats... I would rock this trucker hat every single day.

Introducing...the coolest trucker hats ever.

The "Slave" Hat

The "piper" Hat

The "yamar" hat

The "2001" Hat

You can buy me one of these from this website HERE.

Have a nice day everyone.

Guns & Roses - Sweet Child O' Mine

I was shocked today while doing my research to learn that this song by the great Guns and Roses was their first and only #1 hit. I don't know why this shocked me so much, but I thought for as great of a band they once were...they would have had more. At least November Rain right? Nope.

Now while in epic videos November Rain ranks up there...high. I like this one better. For the simple reason is its filmed like a rehearsal. Shows the band raw and uncut and surrounded by crew members. Rock and Roll is not about the glitz and glamor like November Rain was... its dirty. And thats why I'm choosing this video as one of my all time favorites.

That and Slash is amazing.