I Love You

Alright, so it’s Monday and it’s been quite a long time since I last wrote. Plus, today is extra special because…are you ready for it? This is my 100th post!! WOO-HOO! And to celebrate this I’m going to do a 100 song Random Playlist Monday. I know, I’m pretty dedicated. So, without further ado, here it is (just a warning: I am about to completely embarrass and humiliate myself because I have a feeling some very weird things are about to come up, brace yourselves).

1. War of the Worlds – Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly
2. The City is a Drag – Hawksley Workman
3. To The Dogs or Whoever – Josh Ritter
4. Neon – John Mayer (so far so good)
5. Joy to the World – Sufjan Stevens
6. Woods – Bon Iver
7. Depot Depot – Tom Waits
8. Fool – Neutral Milk Hotel
9. The Girl You Lost to Cocaine – Sia
10. Back Broke – Swell Season
11. Cape Canaveral – Connor Oberst
12. New Years – Ohbijou
13. At the Airport – Old Man Luedecke
14. Motion the Eleven – Cornershop
15. Extra Ordinary – Dave Mann Collective
16. Sixteen – Justin Trawick (Freaky, no!?)
17. Come Together – Across the Universe Soundtrack
18. Late Bloomer – Sarah Harmer
19. Never Going Back Again – Fleetwood Mac
20. An Open Door – Illinois
21. Dream About Flying – Alexis Murdoch
22. South Australia – The Pogues
23. Trouble – Ray LaMontagne
24. Here Goes Something – Nada Surf
25. Waiting on the World to Change – John Mayer
26. To Go Home – M. Ward
27. Language is a Virus – Laurie Anderson
28. Doot Doot Plot – The Hidden Cameras
29. I Don’t Mind – The Cave Singers
30. Whole Lotta Losin’ – Monsters of Folk
31. Home – Wintersleep
32. Perfect – Danny Michel (It’s about time!)
33. Say Hey (I Love You)  – Michael Franti and Spearhead
34. Sula – Jeremy Fisher
35. Violins – Lagwagon
36. The Clearing in the Woods – Harry Nilsson (It’s getting strange now!)
37. Oviedo – Blind Pilot
38. Little Nancy – Fionn Regan
39. Junkie Song – The Be Good Tanyas
40. Jimmy Jazz – Clash (Good changeup there!)
41. Chelsea Dagger – Fratellis
42. Free Until They Cut Me Down – Iron and Wine
43. Low Day – Capra
44. Gypsy Boys Reprise – David Francey
45. I Am a Rich Man – Old Man Luedecke
46. Sammy – The One Night Band
47. The First Snow of the Year – Hawksley Workman
48. Run Devil Run – Jenny Lewis with the Watson T
49. On My Way – Ben Kweller
50. I’ve Just Seen a Face – Across the Universe (Go see this movie if you haven’t already, and if you have go watch it again I know I’m going to)
51. Toothpaste Kisses – The Maccabees
52. A Matter of Minutes – Shawn Colvin
53. Black Wave-Bad Vibrations – Arcade Fire
54. We Go -   Thao
55. Story of My Life – Done With Dolls
56. Had Me a Girl – Tom Waits
57. Blake’s View – M. Ward
58. Salt Bean Fumble – The Penguin Cafe Orchestra (Great name for a song if not a little strange)
59. Close to Me – The Cure
60. With or Without You – U2
61. Why Didn’t You Call Me? – Macy Gray
62. To Your Love – Fiona Apple
63. Never Know – Jack Johnson
64. Sold – Dan Mangan (Going to see him next week: can’t wait)
65. Anti-social – Cuff the Duke
66. Satisfied – Bruce Peninsula
67. Cowgirl in the Sand – City and Color
68. No Sleep – Sam Roberts
69. Last Leaf – The Cake Sale
70. Basket – Dan Mangan
71. Happier – A Fine Frenzy
72. Hearts in the Park – Patrick Watson
73. Our Velocity – Maximo Park
74. Midnight Lullaby – Tom Waits (With 3 songs, Tom now dominates, but how could he not?)
75. House in Motion – Talking Heads
76. Hello Seattle – Owl City
77. Oxford Comma – Vampire Weekend
78. Run (I’m a Natural Disaster) – Gnarls Barkley
79. Patience – Take That
80. Hours Last Stand – Elvis Perkins
81. (Past-due) – The Weakerthans
82. State of the Union – David Ford
83. Gomni – Ali Farka Toure
84. A Call to Arms – Beirut
85. The Saga – The Libertines
86. Shelter from the Storm – Bob Dylan
87. Sweet Baby James – James Taylor (some classic cheese, but we all love our cheese, well except for lactose intolerant people)
88. True – The Frames
89. The Dozens – Amelia Curran
90. 1234 – Feist
91. Champion Angel – Low Anthem
92. Try (just a little bit harder) – Janis Joplin
93. Sweet Hallelujah – Hawksley Workman
94. Quiet – Rachael Yamagata
95. All is Love – Karen O and the Kids (if you haven’t seen “Where the Wild Things Are”, go see it NOW)
96. Hannah – Freelance
97. Whales – Personal Stars
98. This Feeling — Danny Michel (just in time)
99. Relax – Frankie Goes to Hollywood (a terrible song! Yet so very good)
100. Brainy – The National

So, that was quite the list. There were some really good things on there, and a few questionable ones. Now is the appropriate time to laugh at that list. I must admit I’m slightly embarrassed by it, especially the Frankie Goes to Hollywood, but oh well I guess. Of course, there was an extremely large amount of Danny, Tom and Hawksley, but there always is. Today though out of all those songs I’m going to go for Michael Franti, because we all need a music pick-me-up every once and a while, and a little reggae never hurt anyone.

I first discovered Michael Franti through his Obama Song. I was really into Obama and all he stood for (and still am) and the song just seemed really cool to me, it also proved to me that I can like hip-hop/rap/reggae music (other than Bob Marley). After the intial discovery I went in and found a few more of his songs. I especially fell in love with Say Hey (I Love You). Sure it’s a little cheesy, but it’s a damn good cheesiness. And there’s just some kind of appeal to Michael Franti, I’m not entirely sure what it is, but he has that “thing”. This song just always makes me especially happy, and it can give you a good outlook on the world, this is especially shown in the video. The video for Say Hey (I Love You) has just made it up pretty high on my list of top videos. It’s pretty fantastic and incredible cute, see for yourself.

I love this video, I especially love that it’s real people and his background looks real, not Hollywood perfect. I think that’s what makes the song not come across totally fake and cheesy. It has a certain real-ness to it not expressed in most things. I really love that the people look like real people of different sizes, cultures, and are allowed to show real emotions. It’s a pretty darn cute video, and I think it can even make all you cynics out there smile (it achieved that for me, and I’m about as cynical as it gets). So, please smile away for the rest night, and if you’re like me you’re going to watch this video about a million times more. For now though I’m out, thanks for putting up with me for this long, it’s greatly appreciated, and feel free to continue, that would also be greatly appreciated.

P.S. Feel free to get up and dance a bit to, it may actually be a requirement. Awkward dancing especially.

A Double Dose of Monday

It’s Monday! And this Monday I’m actually going to do my Random Playlist. Now I think I’m going to do 20 songs this week just for the fun of it (and to catch up a bit). So sit back relax and enjoy, I have a feeling today is going to be a good one.

1. Anywhere I Lay My Head – Tom Waits (there’s always Tom Waits, and this happens to be my dads funeral song)

2. Let My Love Open The Door – Pete Townsend (old school)

3. Somebody Got Murdered – The Clash

4. Sh0t In The Back Of The Head – Moby (this is quite the playlist so far)

5. I’ve Just Seen A Face – Across The Universe Version (and a great version at that, if you haven’t see that movie, go do it, NOW!)

6. Thunder In The Mountain – Danny Michel (always Danny as well, now all we need is Hawksley)

7. (Bit Part) – The Wooden Sky (this is one of my new favourites, it’s fantastic)

8. Atlantis! – Shane Koyczan (this is a great one, not quite as sad)

9. Action/Reaction – Choir Of Young Believers

10. Old Bloody Orange – Hawksley Workman (and there’s the Hawksley, with quite the lovely title)

11. Too Many Nights – Matt Giraud

12. Hello Goodbye – The Beatles (this is one of my favourite Beatle songs)

13. Sweet Medicine – Jason Castro

14. Please Call Me, Baby – Tom Waits (more Tom. I think this is the song where I finally start to fall asleep on Heart of Saturday Night)

15. Airplanes – Local Natives (I’ve been really loving this song lately)

16. Dashboard – Modest Mouse (this is a classic. One of my favourite Modest Mouse songs)

17. Tickle Me Pink – Johnny Flynn

18. What Katie Did – The Libertines (I loved this song and this band when I was little. It’s really to bad they broke up so early)

19. Sweater Song – Hedley

20. Kids – MGMT (you just can’t help but love this song. Even my mom likes it)

So after perusing all the songs on this list (and it really is quite the list), I’ve decided to go with Modest Mouse today. I find that I often forget about Modest Mouse, but than I remember and think “how could I ever forget about this, I won’t this time” but than it just happens again. I’m not sure what that is because they really are awesome and seem unforgetable. As Modest Mouse goes their CD Good News For People Who Love Bad News is my favourite CD. It has classics like Dashboard (of course), Bury Me With It (the perfect funeral song) and Bukowski. For today though, here’s the video for Dashboards. I kinda like this video, it’s a little quirky, but quirky is good.

It’s an old man video so of course I like it. It also includes cool beards and the water not to mention monsters. All my favourite things (well maybe minus the monsters). But for now I’m off to bed ’cause my mom and I are off early on a bit of a culinary adventure inlcuding the Moosewood Restaurant, perfect for a vegetarian like myself and a foody like my mom. I’ll see when I get a chance to blog, but between awesome veggie dishes and pastry over-doses I may not have much time for music.

Daft Punk Is Playing At Your House

It’s Monday. I actually remembered it was Monday, and random playlist day, so without further ado, here it is.

1. Daft Punk Is Playing At My House – LCD Soundsystem (when I was little I loved this song, especially the cowbell solo)

2. Get Off My Cloud – The Rolling Stones (I guess it’s a rock’n'roll kinda’ day)

3. To Ohio – Low Anthem (or not, but this is still a great song)

4. Creature Fear – Bon Iver (‘kay well I guess it’s actually a quiet day)

5. Oh, La – Ra Ra Riot (this is one of my favourite songs by them)

6. Sixteen – Bombay Bicycle Club (this one for my sixteen playlist from my dad)

7. Kurt Cobain’s Cardigan – The Pains of Being Pure at Heart

8. Peace On Earth – U2 (from my favourite U2 CD, All That You Can’t Leave Behind)

9. Baby – Tenacious D (let me explain this one. This is from a baby playlist I made for my little cousin, although this song may be slightly inappropriate for a baby)

10. You & I Both – Jason Mraz

Okay this playlist just jumped to the top for me. I really love this one. What with the LCD Soundsystem and than Tenacious D, it just really doesn’t get better than that. And I think LCD Soundsystem is the perfect music topic for the day.

LCD Soundsytem, my dads always been a fan, and as a little kid (and a big kid) I loved his song Daft Punk Is Playing At My House, like I already said, especially the cowbell solo, but truly the whole song is fantastic. I’m afraid it’s the only LCD Soundsystem song I really know. I may have to familiarize myself with more now, but right now I only know the one. I also had no idea who LCD Soundsystem was. I was expecting a young(ish), british punk band, but instead all it is, is James Murphy, middle-aged, American James Murphy. I was a little shocked at first, but I’m getting the new picture in my head, I may be liking that picture even more.

Here’s the video for Daft Punk Is Playing At My House (they can play at mine anytime too). I really like this video especially the editing features and of course the dancing coloured people.

Hope you enjoyed the video, and have a good rest of your random Monday, talk to you later.

Buzz, STING!

Okay, so I completely forgot about random playlist Monday, WHOOPS! So that’s what today is going to be. And here it is.

1. You Can Always Come Home (feat. Serena Ryder) – Jason Castro (how many times has this song come up on shuffle)

2. Driven To Tears – Sting (not sure why I have this, but a classic all the same)

3. Shout It – Mitchell Musso (not at all embarrassing that I have this…)

4. One Of Those Days – Joshua Radin

5. Stranded – Hope For Haiti Now Version (a somewhat bearable version)

6. Make The Most – Brett Dennen

7. Walcott – Vampire Weekend

8. Rosie – Chubby Checker (apparently every week, we continue my old guy music thing)

9. Lonely – Tom Waits (I don’t know what is up with Tom and my playlists, but he’s always there)

10. Don’t You Fall – The Be Good Tanyas (this always makes me think of my mom)

That was incredibly strange. Sting to Mitchell Musso (a very sappy Disney guy), than Vampire Weekend to Chubby Checker. Goes to show how strange my iPod is. Anyways, I’m thinking Sting, because it’s one of the only things on that playlist I haven’t talked about or atleast mentioned, which is what I love about random playlsits, I always find something new.

So I’m not entirely sure what to write about, on the topic of Sting. The song came from the Hope For Haiti Now CD, which is superb, but I can’t say I’m a huge Sting fan, although I actually quite like the song. I just went and downloaded a few more and may becoming more of a fan. I think the name may have been a bit of a turn-off, seems more rockier (nice word) than he is. Anways thank you playlist for introducing me to this song, that I didn’t even know I had. Below is Sting singing Driven To Tears, which is a fantastic song, the lyrics are very interesting too. Enjoy the video, the show he played this for really was awesome, a great fundraiser, I advise you to go buy the CD and check out the telethon at youtube.

I can’t believe I may have just become a Sting fan. One day I talk about the Zac Brown Band, the next Sting. This was a fantastic discovery, hope you enjoyed it, and have been taking more advantage of Sting than I have over the years.

My final conclusion: never jugde a band by it’s name!

P.S. Lee won American Idol, YEAH!!! Check out his version of Beatiful Day by U2, although nothing could compare, it’s pretty well done.

My Brains Fried

Okay, so I had a pretty fantastic long weekend, how about all of you? I travelled to the city (where I’ve decided I belong), I did a little shopping, bought some new shoes, ate fantabulous food, visited friends, and than I came home. And home for me is a tiny rural town, with the population of about 1300. How might you ask have I survived here, well that’s a good question that I don’t have the answer to. My guess is that, even though I grew up in a small town, I’ve been brought up in a non-rural way. My family and I often travelled to the city and well my parents aren’t very country, they just settled here to build a cool, off-grid house and my house still managed to be pretty “urban”. It was also better when we actually lived in the good ol’ country, but living in the actual town is mega-depressing, since it has nothing going for it, not even a good restaurant, especially not for a vegetarian. I know that as soon as I can I’m getting out of here (and only coming back to visit my Bube ).

I’ve decided to post my Songs That Capture Your Hometown playlist, in my listography book.  So, below are the songs that basically capture my life here and the things that go on, it’s basically telling my life story through country music, which is something I thought I’d never do, because well I can’t say I’m a big fan of country

1. Fifteen – Taylor Swift (I also thought I’d mention that the area where I live has one of the highest teenage birth rates in Ontario)

2. Chicken Fried – Zac Brown Band (this is really what people here live by)

3. People Are Crazy – Billy Currington (entirly depressing, but captures my hometown completely, these are the rules here. Gods great, beers good, people are crazy)

4. Save A Horse (Ride A Cowboy) – Big & Rich (this is what kids on my bus used to sing)

5. She’s Country – Jason Aldean (this she certainly isn’t, but most are)

6. Whiskey Lullaby – Brad Paisley

7. Kiss A Girl – Keith Urban

8. We Will Rock You – Queen (country, classic rock and rap are the staple music genres around here, although for the kids at my school mainly offensive rap and depressing country songs)

9. Lips of an Angel – Hinder (a school dance staple, maybe doesn’t capture the town, but makes me think of it)

10. Life Is A Highway – Tom Cochrane

11. Low – Flo Rida (another dance staple)

So, I think what I don’t like about most country music is how straight-forward it is. I like music that is more abstract, so you can interpurt what you want out of the song. Hopefully as a get older, I’ll start to appreciate  my hometown for more, and add some better songs. But for not, at this point in my life, this is my playlist (sorry I’m in a sentimental mood). On a lighter side, here’s a thing I thought I’d never say, introducing the (wait for it), ZAC BROWN BAND with Chicken Fried. If you already like this song, right on, for me, well not so much, but enjoy the song and playlist however you like.

WOW! That was a big step for me, but enjoy. The instrumental elements of this song are actually awesome.

P.S. Anyone a Glee fan out there, ’cause it’s fantastic this week! If not, watch it!