Ingrained Refrains: April 2008

Friday, April 25, 2008

Anatomy in Song

It's BAAAAAAAACK! After the unfortunate hiatus thanks to the strike, Grey's was back last night with a new episode, "Where The Wild Things Are" that wasn't all that entertaining if you ask me. I was really disappointed in the big return but that's the way it goes sometimes. Perhaps I built it up too much in my mind...who knows. I was happy to see Cheech Marin on television again. I just love him. And is it just me or does Katherine Heigl look even more amazing than usual these days? Love and marriage suit her well but then again I suppose everyone looks better in love.

Here's hoping next week's episode has more substance and more music. In the meantime, here are the three songs featured last night...

Goldfrapp - "Some People"

This track is from Goldfrapp's recently released fourth studio album Seventh Tree and admittedly, I've had a copy since January and have yet to give it a proper listen. Having said that I will say however that this...I sorta dig this track. It's a pretty big departure from what's been done in the past but different is good sometimes and this is.

Lykke Li - "I'm Good, I'm Gone"

Fresh off her (what I hear was exceptional) SXSW performance, this 22 year old Swedish import is poised to make a big splash here in the states this year when her debut album Youth Novels finally drops here on May 6th. Helped along by Bjorn Yttling (that guys is EVERYWHERE these days...what is he, the Kanye of the indie scene?) of Peter, Bjorn & John fame the album is pure addictive indie pop. Discover more about this lovely songbird, her music and her shows on her website and keep your ears open this year as I'm sure you'll hear more about her as time goes by.

Greg Laswell - "What A Day"

My friend Ashley turned me on to Greg a few years ago when she sent me a copy of the song "Sing, Theresa Says" from his album Through Toledo that had a note attached that read "You will LOVE this song" and she was right, I did. In fact, it was my favorite from the album and for some strange reason I find myself singing the chorus often even when it's been ages since I've heard it. Greg's quite a talent and this track from his latest effort, a six track EP, is a beauty.

And for the convenience of those who always seem to ask, a .zip file of the songs (minus "Sing, Theresa Says")...

Grey's Anatomy - Where The Wild Things Are

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

"We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children."

Happy Earth Day inhabitants of the planet! Today is a great time to focus on the big and small ways we can all do our part at home, work, school and in our communities on a daily basis to nurture our planet and conserve our natural resources. Having been born and raised in Oklahoma, Native American culture has always been a big part of my life and a cornerstone of their tribal cultures hinges on respect of nature and the Earth. I was sent this years ago by a Chickasaw friend and it's stuck with me:

"You must teach your children that the ground beneath their feet is the ashes of your grandfathers. So that they will respect the land, tell your children that the earth is rich with the lives of our kin. Teach your children what we have taught our children, that the earth is our mother. Whatever befalls the earth befalls the sons of the earth. If men spit upon the ground, they spit upon themselves."

I know that's pretty heavy but it's so, so true. Today is also a great day to forgo that ridiculously overpriced Starbucks latte and chuck a few dollars in the direction of an environmental charity. These are some of my favorites:

Co-Op America

The Ocean Conservancy

Greenpeace

Conservation International

Some songs to celebrate the day with...

Of course the MOST obvious and one of my favorite of all time:

Marvin Gaye - "Mercy, Mercy Me"

John Butler Trio - "Treat Yo Mama"

Mos Def - "New World Water"

Midnight Oil - "Dreamworld"

Cake - "Carbon Monoxide"

Jack Johnson - "The 3 R's"

Cat Stevens - "Where Do The Children Play?"

Counting Crows - "Big Yellow Taxi (Joni Mitchell Cover)"

Country Joe McDonald - "Save the Whales"

Lynyrd Skynyrd - "All I Can Do Is Write About It"

Peter Gabriel - "Here Comes the Flood"

Alabama - "Pass It On Down"

Melissa Etheridge - "I Need To Wake Up"

Ben Harper - "Excuse Me Mr."

The Pretenders - "My City Was Gone"

Bruce Cockburn - "If A Tree Falls"

Jimi Hendrix - "Earth Blues"

Jackson Browne - "Before the Deluge"

Michael Jackson - "Earth Song"

Tracy Chapman - "The Rape of the World"

And several versions of one of the greatest songs ever written...you just can't help but feel hopeful and alive when you listen to it.

Louis Armstrong - "What A Wonderful World"

Katie Melua & Eva Cassidy - "What A Wonderful World"

Michael Buble - "What A Wonderful World"

Israel Kamakawiwo'ole - "Somewhere Over The Rainbow/What A Wonderful World"

Joey Ramone - "What A Wonderful World"

And I leave you with a parting thought that I try to keep in mind at all times in regard to our home...

"Take nothing but pictures. Leave nothing but footprints. Kill nothing but time."

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

"Ordinary no, really don't think so..."

"Not a love this true. Common destiny, we were meant to be...me and you"

My parents are celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary today (look at how cute and thin they were in 1983!!) and in honor of this wonderful milestone in all our lives, I thought I'd share the announcement I had put in our local paper and a listing of the songs I chose from to make their anniversary CD and video (I didn't use all of them though). They've been best friends, lovers and true companions to one another for a quarter of a century and in this day and age of quickie marriages and even quickier (yes I know it's not a word) divorces, a love like theirs is rare and should be celebrated.

Over the years your support, respect and admiration for one another has been a shining example of what a marriage can and should be and it is because of your example that we have learned the truest meaning of love. Together you've taught us that real love is seldom the stuff of fanciful fairy tales but instead the constant state of compromise, consideration and companionship that never grows tired or impatient and that is forever faithful and steadfastly selfless.

So in honor of your 25 years of abiding love and commitment to one another and the family you've created we wish a very Happy Silver Anniversary to two parents who are more precious than gold.

Collectively now, AWWWWWWWWWW! Now on to the tunes since that's what you're really here for...

Orleans - "You're Still the One"

Tracy Byrd - "Keeper of the Stars"

John Lennon - "Grow Old With Me"

Kenny Chesney - "Me & You"

Tony Toni Tone - "Anniversary"

Colin Raye - "In This Life"

Eva Cassidy - "Anniversary Song"

Sade - "By Your Side"

Diana Ross & Lionel Richie - "Endless Love"

Michael Buble - "Everything"

Randy Travis - "Forever & Ever Amen"

Crystal Gayle - "A Long & Lasting Love"

Van Morrison - "Have I Told You Lately"

Patty Griffin - "Heavenly Day"

Doug Stone - "I Never Knew Love"

Don Williams - "I Believe In You"

Sonny & Cher - "I Got You Babe"

John Michael Montgomery - "I Love the Way You Love Me"

Bread - "If"

Tim McGraw & Faith Hill - "It's Your Love"

Marc Cohn - "True Companion"

The Beatles - "When I'm 64"

Dolly Parton & Ricky Van Shelton - "Rocking Years"

Shania Twain - "You're Still The One"

Andy Griggs - "You Won't Ever Be Lonely"

Richard Marx - "Now & Forever"

Crystal Gayle - "You Never Gave Up On Me"

John Berry - "Your Love Amazes Me"

Paul McCartney & Wings - "Maybe I'm Amazed"

The Righteous Brothers - "(You're My) Soul & Inspiration"

Clint Black - "Something That We Do"

Vince Gill - "Look At Us"

Brad Paisley - "Two People Fell In Love"

Keith Urban - "Your Everything"

The Hollies - "The Air That I Breathe"

Huey Lewis & The News - "Stuck With You"

Tim McGraw - "My Best Friend"

Gladys Knight - "The Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me"

Crystal Gayle & Eddie Rabbitt - "You & I"

Kenny Rogers - "Through the Years"

Rod Stewart - "You're in My Heart (The Final Acclaim)"

Leona Lewis - "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face"

Monday, April 7, 2008

24 hours in a day, 24 beers in a case. Coincidence?

My friend Jenn (who is the beer connoisseur of all beer connoisseurs) comes over to my desk this afternoon giddy as all hell and informs me that today marks the 75^th anniversary of the end of prohibition. Now keep in mind that she’s so super stoked about telling me this that I swear she almost danced a little jig while insisting that I absolutely HAD to make a post to celebrate since we had a disagreement a few weeks ago about whether or not Psychostick’s “Beer” was actually music. I say no, she says yes. You be the judge from the track below.

Either way, because I love her I’ll oblige her by making a post even though I myself am not a drinker. Having said that, the irony is that it would appear that I’m a big old drunk based on the number of tracks I found to share from my library. Who knew?!?!?!

So for Jenn and all you other folks who love to imbibe, this one’s for you…

They Might Be Giants - "The Beer Song"

The Replacements - "Beer For Breakfast"

311 - "Whiskey & Wine"

Roger Miller - "Chug A Lug"

Steely Dan - "Cuervo Gold"

Garth Brooks - "Longneck Bottle"

Jim Ed Brown - "Pop A Top"

The Doors - "Alabama Song"

Beastie Boys - "Brass Monkey"

George Jones - "White Lightning"

George Jones & Garth Brooks - "Beer Run"