On A Sidewalk to Nowhere
A Head Full of Doubt and a Road Full of Promise
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Another Musical Post
Denise commented on Twitter that she enjoyed my last musical post, and I’ve been downloading a lot of music this week, so I thought I’d post another round of the recently downloaded music in my iTunes
- “Undisclosed Desires,” Muse - I kept hearing this on the radio, and liking it. Meanwhile, I knew there was a Muse song I liked, but I didn’t know what it was. Finally, I shazamed it when I heard it, and the two thoughts came together.
- “Hip Hop Hooray,” Naughty By Nature - “Give it up for Naughty by Natuuuuurrrrrre!!!!” I mean really, who doesn’t love some great early 90’s rap?Naughty by Nature is awesome. Seriously.
- “Rappers Delight,” The Sugarhill Gang - This has some of THE craziest lyrics I have ever heard. They make no sense, and it’s hilarious.
- “Whoomp! (There It Is),” Tag Team - Obviously this was a very strange day for me. But, I do love the 90’s rap. This takes me back to my childhood.
- “Name,” Goo Goo Dolls - Holy Crap, I love this song so much. I was under the impression that this had made it’s way into my music collection at some point, but then I searched for it and couldn’t find it, so I had to buy it. This song is just so poignant and really walks the duality of specificity and universality very well. And the lines “Scars are souvenirs you never lose/The past is never far…” it just breaks my heart every time I hear them.
- “Beg Steal or Borrow,” Ray LaMontagne & The Pariah Dogs - I pretty much want to have babies with Ray LaMontagne’s voice. Not him. Just his voice. But seriously, his voice is magical.
- “One of Us,” Joan Osborne - Relish was one of my first two CD’s ever. (The other was Bush’s Razorblade Suitcase.) I got them for Christmas when I was 6, I think. (I was kind of an unusual child.) I have long since lost this CD, but when I saw this song performed on Glee, I really wanted to get the original back in my collection. This is just such a good song. And it asks a lot of questions about faith that are much more relevant to me than they were when I was 6.
- “Til I Forget About You,” Big Time Rush - As I mentioned yesterday, I am very susceptible to music put out by teenage Nickelodeon Stars. (A little IMDBing has revealed that all four guys in this group are at least 20, but whatever.) The point is that I watch Nickelodeon, and they play this song a lot, and I like it. It’s cute and catchy. Also, the show from which this song came is totally a play on The Monkees, but I suspect that no one watching except me understands the correlation.
- “Not That Far Away,” Jennette McCurdy - I have long claimed that Jennette McCurdy is the most talented member of the iCarly cast, far outshining Maranda Cosgrove in just about every aspect of performance. Anyway, Jennette put out a country EP, and it’s really good. Also, on her youtube channel, she sings with Darius Rucker, Lady Antebellum, and by herself, and she’s almost better without the production.
- “With A Little Help From My Friends,” Joe Cocker - Theme of The Wonder Years, soundtrack of childhood. Awesome song all around. And probably for mostly sentimental reasons, I enjoy this version more than the original.
- “Thirteen,” Big Star - I had heard this song before, but really discovered it’s awesomeness recently while watching an episode of That 70’s Show. I think it’s entirely possible that the story arc of Eric and Donna’s relationship was based on this song. It really fits them perfectly, and they used it well in the show.
Reading back over these, it’s apparent that I may need a TV intervention at some point. But hey, you can get some dang good music from watching it.
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Thoughts on Being an Extra: A List
Yesterday, I drove 8 hours round-trip to be an extra in Blue Like Jazz in Nashville. These are my thoughts on the experience:
- The cast and crew is probably the nicest group of people I have ever met. EVER. Seriously.
- The people in charge of extras casting were friendly and helpful. The crew was friendly and awesome. The cast was friendly and hilarious. The directions were clear, concise, and given in a totally non-jerky way.
- I laughed so much on set. It was hilarious. Everyone joked around, including extras, the cast, the directors, the crew. It was a very fun and funny day.
- The scene we were in was ridiculous, if only because of the scenery. The entire day was spent walking around a 15-foot inflatable condom. The pope (a guy dressed as the pope) was passing out real condoms. Basically, there were condoms everywhere. (I think it was supposed to represent the hedonism of Reed.)
- I never thought I would say condoms so many times. I’m pretty sure I’m desensitized to it now.
- Marshall Allman is pretty much my new favorite person. He was endeared to my obnoxious laughter, which made me feel awesome. I high-fived him twice. Once, I apologized for laughing so much/so loud, and he said, “Don’t ever apologize for that! You’re bringing joy to people!” It’s pretty much one of the most encouraging things anyone has ever said to me.
- If you want to make instant friends with a large group of people, you laugh obnoxiously. It makes them laugh, which makes you laugh more, and then everyone is happy and you have 30 instant friends.
- We weren’t allowed to take pictures on set, which really sucked. But, I have several of Nashville, and outside the set and etcetera.
- It also helps to be in a scene wherein the director says, “If someone walks up to you, they’re your best friend.” You end up hugging a lot of strangers.
- Craft services fed us lunch, and it was SO DELICIOUS. Christina had the pot roast, and said it was some of the best roast she’s ever had. I had chicken and dumplings and carrots and corn and salad and potatoes, and it was all awesome.
- I really wish I had remembered to take a picture for the leftover blog, but sadly, I’m really failing in that department lately.
- It was so cold. For the first part of the day, it wasn’t terrible, but it got colder as the day went on, so by the time we left, we were pretty much frozen.
- We had to take our jackets off for the shots, which was pretty unfortunate. But, there were guys wearing almost nothing, and a girl wearing a tiny spandex bodysuit, and I felt so bad for their cold little appendages.
- They knew we were cold, and were super nice about it. Like, especially compared to my band days when it was just like, “Suck it up.” Whenever we had to break for a few minutes, they would say, “Go get warm!” and we would all go gather around the propane heater.
- On the way up, I had some seriously deep and meaningful conversation with Christina about our faith experiences. It was awesome. It’s the sort of conversation that I crave, but rarely have since I don’t have a ton of friends around all the time.
- On the way back, Christina and I played a game, wherein we put the radio on scan, and we took turns stopping it. It was fun and funny, and had lots of great jamming out moments.
- Even though it only took about 4 hours, the trip home felt like it took a million hours. It took a little longer than the trip up, because we were stuck in traffic for a little while, and stopped to eat dinner. But I think we were so tired, so it felt like forever.
- We heard the The Taylor Swift song, “Mine” 6 times on 6 different radio stations. We heard Taylor Swift a total of 10 or more times on as many radio stations. Fortunately, she’s good for car jamming.
- We also jammed out to “Above All,” by Michael W. Smith around Chattanooga. It was really funny.
- Nashville is so pretty. I really want to go back when I have more time to explore. And take pictures. That would be super amazing.
- During the day, I consumed, a red bull, a venti pumpkin spice latte, a cherry coke, a glass of sweet tea, and two mountain dews. I was still sleepy.
- I wish I could explain all the nuanced things about being there. The way I felt. The atmosphere. The attitudes of the people. It was so special, but so difficult to explain. I really felt like I was part of something bigger. Part of a community that came together to make this movie happen, and really believed in its message. It was just so beautiful and uplifting and humbling.
- Before I went, I wondered if I was making a foolish decision. To take a huge 16-hour trip. To be up for 20 hours straight on little sleep. To use a tank and a half of gas in one day. To drop whatever responsibilities I had and go on a mini road trip. But, afterward, I am so so so so glad I went. It was amazing.
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Bye Bye Bye: An iTunes Note
If you know me, you know that doing the sort of surveys that were popular on myspace back in the day are one of my favorite things. It’s because I enjoy the sixth grade-ish parts of my personality, I think. Anyway:
1. Put your iTunes, Windows Media Player, Ipod, etc. on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS.
4. Tag 20 friends
5. Everyone tagged has to do the same thing.
6. Have Fun!
IF SOMEONE SAYS ‘ARE YOU OKAY’ YOU SAY?
Coney Island [Antje Divekot] I think this would indicate that I am okay, but maybe having some sort of internal struggle.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF?
Fare Thee Well [Indigo Girls] If I described myself using this song, it would be super depressing.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GIRL/GUY?
Higher Ground [Red Hot Chili Peppers]
HOW DO YOU FEEL?
Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes [Paul Simon] :)
WHAT IS YOUR LIFE’S PURPOSE?
Up Periscope [Drake Bell] ???
WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
Mary [Sarah McLachlan]
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
December [Collective Soul]
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
Waiting [Lonely Heroes]
WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
Undone (The Sweater Song) [Weezer]
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
Not Afraid to Be Me [Kendall Payne] True Story.
WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
The World is Alive [Casting Crowns] Cute.
WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
Glorious [Chris Tomlin & Christy Nockels] Probs Not. Just Saying.
WHAT SONG WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
Wicked Soldier [Tonic]
WHAT IS YOUR PASSION IN LIFE?
Change Your Mind [The Killers] I do change my mind a lot.
WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST FEAR?
Pony (Go On) [Erin McCarley]
WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
SuperStar [Taylor Swift] Yes. I do want to be a Superstar. I don’t know if it’s a secret though. It’s also no secret that I listen to Taylor Swift.
WHAT DO YOU WANT RIGHT NOW?
Beauty and the Beast [Alan Menken & Howard Ashman]
WHAT DOES YOUR LOVE THINK ABOUT YOU?
Elsewhere [Sarah McLachlan]
WHAT WILL YOU TITLE THIS NOTE AS?
Bye Bye Bye [N’Sync]
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Music III
It’s been a while since I’ve updated what I’ve bought from iTunes recently, and apparently I’m going through a season of a lot of music-buying, because I have, like a brazillion new songs since the last time I posted a list. Which, considering I usually buy maybe 1-2 songs a week, that is exceptional.
It should also be noted that this is probably my favorite kind of post because it’s sort of a mixtape of what I’m currently listening to. A mixtape to myself, if you will.
- “Suds in the Bucket,” Sara Evans - I find this song adorable. I heard it on the radio, and immediately felt the need to download it. Also, I learned to play it on guitar, because if there is anyway I’m going to achieve musical superstardom, it will probably be in the country realm, because it’s really the only thing I can sing proficiently, due to my inherent southernness.
- “Song 2,” Blur - This song reminds me of tininkling, because my elementary school had a tininkling group after school, and they tininkled to this song. It was awesome.
- “Head Full of Doubt/Road Full of Promise,” The Avett Brothers - Obviously I have updated my tagline since I first heard this. I just think this song is full of lyrical truths and musical awesomeness.
- “Wicked Game,” Chris Isaak - I always hear this song and wonder what it is, so I finally shazamed it and downloaded it. Have I mentioned how magical shazam is? Because it is so awesome.
- “Strip Me,” I heard this when I went to see Morning Glory, and it is catchy and delightful.
- “Waiting for My Real Life to Begin,” Colin Hay - I also heard this in Morning Glory, but I had also heard it before. “Don’t you understand/I already have a plan?/I’m waiting for my real life to begin.”
- “Possum Kingdom,” Toadies - I shazamed this twice in a couple of weeks and didn’t realize it, because even once I figured out what it was, I couldn’t remember what it was. And I still can’t. When my iTunes rolled over to it, I sill couldn’t remember what it was. Nonetheless, it’s a good song. Grunge-y.
- “All That I Want,” The Weepies - A Weepies Christmas song. Awesome. But, I feel that this will be a Christmas song that I listen to in July, much like the Indigo Girls cover of Joni Mitchell’s “River,” from 1200 Curfews.
- “Same Changes,” The Weepies - Also from Morning Glory. That movie had some dang good music.
- “Radioactive,” Kings of Leon - I kind of feel like EVERY SINGLE SONG that KOL puts out is freaking genius. They are amazing.
- “You Gotta Be,” Des’ree - I heard this on the music/advertising station we play on TV at work, and it made me nostalgic for the 90’s, so now I jam out to it all the time.
- “The Way It Is,” Bruce Hornsby - I could say the exact same thing about this as the previous song. Also, we jammed to it on the way back form Nashville.
- “Come Together,” The Beatles - I have literally been waiting for years for The Beatles to be on iTunes just so I could download this song. Seriously.
- “The Chain,” Ingrid Michaelson - I feel like every Ingrid Michaelson song I hear, I have to download. She is so freaking talented, and this song is ridiculous.
- “Creep (Live),” Ingrid Michaelson - Covering Radiohead. Spec-freaking-tacular. Seriously.
- “Bridges and Balloons,” Joanna Newsome - My mom kept hearing this song on some commercial, and saying she liked it, so I downloaded it. It’s cute.
- Hello, Hurricane, Switchfoot - I heart Switchfoot really hard, and because I downloaded something of theirs from NoiseTrade (or maybe something of Jon Foreman’s? idk) one time, I now get emails from them, and this album was on sale for $3.99, so I snatched it right up.
- “Something Good,” Julie Andrews & Bill Lee - From The Sound of Music. I just kept singing this, but I didn’t know all the words, so I downloaded it to help me. I think that this would be really sweet sung at a wedding, by the way.
- “If It’s Love,” Train - I’m afraid that I’ll quickly get tired of this song, like “Hey, Soul Sister,” but hopefully I will have lingering affection for it like “Meet Virginia” and “Drops of Jupiter.”
- “Come Baby Come,” K7 - It’s the song that Wei-wei break dances to on the balance beam in Stick It! Yes, I am obsessed with that movie a little.
- “Far Behind,” Candlebox - This is like, a sad grunge song, kind of like… well, come to think of it, I can’t really think of a grunge song that’s not depressing.
- “Mad World,” Michael Andrews and Gary Jules - Apparently, this is from Donnie Darko, which I’ve never seen. Maybe someone can provide some insight as to how this ties into the plot, but I certainly can’t.
- “Fidelity,” Regina Spektor - This song played during the closing credits of Love and Other Drugs, which I saw yesterday. I love Regina Spektor, and think she is amazing, but I don’t have a ton of her music, so I came home and downloaded this.
- “Way Over Yonder in the Minor Key,” Billy Bragg & Wilco - Wilco is one of those bands that I should definitively like, and I do when I hear them, but I never am really prompted to buy their music. But, I heard this (also in Love and Other Drugs) and immediately downloaded it. It’s just the kind of vague Americana/Alt-Country/Folky sound that I like.
- “Jack-Ass,” Beck - The last of the three songs that I shazamed during Love and Other Drugs. I’ve always liked Beck, but I was unfamiliar with this. It’s way outside the realm of “Loser” or “Think I’m In Love.” It’s a chill Beck, and I like it.
- “Baby It’s Cold Outside,” Lady Antebellum - This is adorable. Also, I pretty much want Lady Antebellum to be my bff. They are amazing.
- “Murder in the City,” The Avett Brothers - This is a very sweet song, although the title doesn’t indicate it. My cousin referenced it at Thanksgiving, and I must say, he has exceptional taste in music. I think it’s genetic.
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My facebook statuses from this year that are quotes of other people.
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Too Long for Twitter 6
Just once, when I wear flip flops in the winter, and people ask me if my feet get cold, I would like them to break out into song, singing the line, “Don’t your feet get cold in the wintertime…” from “Desperado.”
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I am super in love with Bon Iver right now. I’m pretty much slowly downloading the entire catalog of songs.
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This my excavation and today is qumran;
Everything that happens from now on,
This is pouring rain.
This is paralyzed…In the back with your racks and you’re unstacking your load…
There’s a black crow sitting across from me
His wiry legs are crossed
He is dangling my keys, he even fakes a toss
Whatever could it be
That has brought me to this loss?…In the back with your racks and you’re unstacking your load…
This is not the sound of a new man or crispy realization;
It’s the sound of the unlocking and the lift away.
Your love will be
Safe with me.excerpts from “Re: Stacks,” by Bon Iver.
This song is amazing. -
I took the prize last night for complicated mess,
For saying things I didn’t mean, and don’t believe…Believe in me
Believe in nothing
Corner me
And make me something
I’ve become the hollow man, have
I become the hollow man I see?I’m overwhelmed
I’m on repeat
I’m emptied out
I’m incomplete
You trusted me
I want to show you
I don’t want to be the hollow manfrom “Hollow Man,” by REM
"I want to keep walking away from the person I was a moment ago, because a mind was made to figure things out, not to read the same page concurrently."
- Donald Miller
