The Soundtrack of Your Life

Via http://peopletoo.ru/index.html

I think about music almost as much as I listen to it. I concoct top ten lists in my head, I create themed playlists based on the tone of songs, moods, and lyrics, and I even think about how I can best describe my tastes in detail.

Along these lines, NPR recently posted a story about a project and story from The Guardian (a UK publication) called "Six Songs of Me." This project asks readers to pick six songs based on six criteria with the idea that the lists may somehow collectively begin to reveal why people feel strongly tethered to music. You can fill out the questionnaire here (I never finished because I couldn't find one of the songs and I can't decide about another yet), but the questions are as follows:

1. What was the first song you ever bought?
2. What song always gets you dancing?
3. What song takes you back to your childhood?
4. What is your perfect love song?
5. What song would you want at your funeral?
6. What is a song that makes you you?

I will spend more time thinking about my responses, and some of my responses may change, but here's what I came up with.

1. "Martha My Dear" by The Beatles
I have a very specific memory of going out to purchase my first CD around the age of 12. I was stressed out about it because I, of course, had very limited funds, so I wanted to get he most bang for my buck. I also remember thinking that I wanted to own all of The Beatles' albums, so I started with the White Album because it had the song with my name in it. (What? I was 12.) This wasn't the first music I ever owned (I had Care Bears record and a Michael Jackson cassette for sure), but it is the first music I purchased for myself. Funnily enough, I still don't own all of The Beatles' albums.

2. "Superstition" by Stevie Wonder
As soon as the twangy, funky guitar comes in at about the 10 second mark, I've gots to move.

3. "The Washington Post" by John Philip Sousa
My dad had a Boston Pops record of Sousa marches that he would often crank up on Saturday mornings to blast us out of our beds. Somehow I don't ever remember feeling grumpy about this, instead I associate it with fun dad time.

4. "The Story" by Brandi Carlile
I don't know if this is my "perfect" love song, but I surely love it, and sometimes it gives me chills.

5. "Home" by Bonnie Raitt
This probably isn't my final decision. In fact I've started a playlist dedicated to this question. Since I will be dead at my funeral and won't care what happens there, picking a funeral song feels unimportant in many ways, but at the same time it's a nice contemplative exercise. There's lots of directions you can go for a funeral song: funny, sad, life descriptive, spiritual, hopeful, or simply something beautiful. Other songs in the running at the moment are "Red River Valley" by Riders in the Sky, "I Am Weary" by The Cox Family, "Duettino-Sull’aria" from The Marriage of Figaro (it's about zephyrs and anticipated joy), and the hymn "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing."

6. I have no clue. My first inclination was "Spooky" by Classics IV (or Dusty Springfield), but it's hard to commit when one song is supposed to basically represent you. It's a tongue in cheek choice, which certainly suits me, but I'm still not sure. I almost feel as though someone else should pick a song that represents me. Suggestions are welcome, but may be rejected without impunity. (I've already rejected the joke of "Super Freak" by Rick James, so don't even bother.)

Even though I still can't respond to comments, I would LOVE to see what's on part or all of your lists. Are there any questions you would add to this list?

Ode to Doris Day

I love Doris Day.

First of all, her voice is amazing. If you've only her her sing "Que Sera Sera," do yourself a favor and listen to anything else she sings. 

Like this. And this was one of her biggest hits. And please tell me you've heard this. 

Second of all, I've never seen a star or other person that has the same personal qualities that she has. She is feminine, but she also has a distinct air of tomboy about her; she's not delicate, but she's not clunky either; she's often a goof, but she's never ridiculous; and to top it off, it amazes me how she always come across as genuine and how much joy can radiate from her face.

There's a bit of buzz out there about her right now, because in honor of her 88th birthday Turner Classic Movies is playing a great deal of Ms. Day's movies on their channel this month, they've released a special box set of her movies, and they released a new album of her love songs. (All Doris Day merch is on sale at TCM.com.) Ms. Day even did a rare interview with Teri Gross from NPR's Fresh Air.

Doris Day and Rock Hudson from Pillow Talk

Of her movies that I've seen, my favorites include That Touch of Mink, Calamity Jane (it's pretty silly), The Man Who Knew Too Much, and Pillow Talk. (Please don't watch The Pajama Game, it's one of the worst movies I've ever seen, and her only total flub as far as I can tell.)

Don't you love that giant sequin bow?

I watched Ms. Days' Lullaby of Broadway for the first time last night, and there was an absolutley charming dance number involving a set of glass doors. She's dancing with Gene Nelson, who you may recognize as cowboy Will Parker from Oklahoma! Unfortunately I couldn't find a video that included a reprise of the glass door dance by the two older men watching.

And finally here are some Doris Day facts you may not know:

1) Ms. Day was first discovered as a partnered dancer. Sadly he was in a terrible car accident that shattered her leg, and the leg took several years to heal. Although she always sang, it was while she was bed-ridden that she really began to sing in earnest.

2) She currently lives in Carmel, California, and her home is basically an animal shelter. At one point she had over 30 dogs, not to mention other animals, at her home.

3) According to TCM.com, Ms. Day still holds the record for the top female box-office star of all time.

4) One of her husbands, who was also her manager, squandered all her earnings and left her deeply in debt. There was a huge lawsuit with subsequent lawsuits that followed for years.

5) She got to kiss Howard Keel in Calamity Jane. Lucky. (Not to mention James Garner, Rock Hudson, and Cary Grant.)

6) Her face is covered with freckles. I saw a candid picture of her once that displayed her glorious freckles. She was without make-up, the sun was shining through her for once under-styled hair, and she was laughing right into the camera. I've tried to find that picture many times since that first sighting, but I've had no luck. You can kind of get the idea with the picture below, and she obviously passed her freckles to her son.

Roundup: Movies, Knots & Creativity

Here's what I enjoyed on the web this week:

Movies!
Metacritic.com's list of their 50 most anticipated films for 2012. I haven't made my detailed way through the entire list, but it looks like a good rundown. http://bit.ly/wQtNoF

Knots!
I recently bought a pair of suede, hardsole Minnetonka moccasins with these ties that, of course, do not stay tied. I saw a friend of my nephew's with these little knotty things on the end of his topsiders, so I did some research, found out that these knots are called Eastland knots, and found a how-to. However, I will be square knotting mine in the middle before knotting the ends. http://bit.ly/tq4V3W


Creativity!
From NPR, an article based an interview with Jonah Lehrer, a writer specializing in neuroscience, who just published a book called Imagine: How Creativity Works. The article highlights some of Lehrer's general research and ideas such as how the creative process works, the broadness of creativity, the benefits of collaboration, and the connection of environment and creativity. It made me really want to read his book. http://n.pr/GzoXYy

On that note, Maria Popova has been working on a program called Curator's Code that helps people "honor discovery." Meaning the things we read and see, specifically on the internet, influence our own creative ideas, and she feels it's important to acknowledge our influences. This project has had a very mixed response, and awful, bullying things have been said about her and her motivations behind the project. This particular article posted on brainpickings.org is Popova's thoughtful reaction to the vitriol sent her way. She highlights several passages from Ideas and Opinions, a collection of essays by Albert Einstein, that she believes in and often returns to. I felt inspired.  http://bit.ly/z1pO3G

Beard Slap!
It's been around for a while, but I just saw it again. Just click on it. http://bit.ly/GBiJdQ

You!
What are you finding or looking for on the internet?

Roundups? Maybe?

I've seen weekly roundups on other blogs and I've always had mixed feelings about them, leaning toward not liking them. I think the major problem for me is that I don't want to click on a bunch of links to see what they are, instead I want good descriptive blurbs to not only hook me, but to let me know exactly what I'm getting so I don't waste my time. (Not that I'm against wasting time, in fact I'm quite good at it, I just want to do it on my own terms.) But since I see interesting things on the Internet that I wouldn't necessarily dedicate a whole post to, what can I do but a general, un-themed roundup? So I'm going to give it a whirl on Wednesdays and see how it feels. Please make comments or suggestions about what kind of things you would be interested seeing in this format.

Words!
A list of "20 Obsolete English Words That Should Make a Comeback" from Matador Abroad. Usually obsolete English words are super fun to say. They feel like nonsense in your mouth, or like a foreign language to what English is now. Here are a few examples: quagswagging, yemeles, jargogle, and kench. http://bit.ly/z0Mbd4

Images! 
An awesome illustrated wallpaper inspired by 2001: A Space Odyssey. http://bit.ly/y3940a

One of the best pictures the Internet has given me involving a cat. Warning: This picture either terrifies people or sends them into laughing fits. Click with care. http://bit.ly/ADozW9

Articles!

From The Wall Street Journal, "Are You As Busy As You Think?" A simple yet thought-provoking (for me) article on being "busy" (yes in quotes) and how we spend our time. I found it relevant. Plus it touches on the power of language, which is an important aspect in my life. From the article: "Instead of saying 'I don't have time' try saying 'it's not a priority,' and see how that feels.... Changing our language reminds us that time is a choice. If we don't like how we're spending an hour, we can choose differently." http://on.wsj.com/yErp5v

A short NPR piece about the concept of nothing, and one artist's journey (Rauschenberg) toward representing nothing. The article forced me to think in a different way that took me on a short journey out of my own thought bubble. http://n.pr/xtv8zX


Products!
I try not to be passive-agressive (I just want to be regular agressive), but it's hard when passive-agression comes in a handy pre-fab notebook from ModCloth.com. http://bit.ly/uPAAPp

Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!: The NPR News Quiz

Here are two facts about me: One, I love much of NPR's programming, from This American Life to Car Talk to A Way With Words to Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me. Two, I have an NPR radio crush on Carl Kasell. Yes, I have a crush on a 78 year old, recently retired radio news broadcaster. I mean, look at him.

Last night two of my loves came together when I got to see Mr. Kasell on stage at a live taping for Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me in Salt Lake City. (It's a panel news quiz show that is hysterical, and Mr. Kasell is their regular scorekeeper and moderater). It was fun and funny and exciting! Dreams do come true, Internet.

Our seats were on the third balcony, about 4 rows up from the back of the theater. My point and shoot camera almost got some really good pictures. Here is the cast, from left to right: Carl Kasell, Peter Sagal (host), Mo Rocca (not pictured, he had to catch a flight right after taping), Kyrie O'Connor, and Peter Grosz. All the people in the back are the producers and tech people.

And here is my Mr. Kasell during the Q&A after the show, in grainy glory. When he first came onto the stage he did this little high-knee run and kind of boogied across the stage. Delightful!

Next time I will spring for better seats. I want to see the sweat on their upper lips. If you have never listened to Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me, you are in for a real treat. The weekly podcast is available free on iTunes.

Music Stuffs: NPR and a Video

I love NPR's All Songs Considered hosted by Bob Boilen and Robin Hilton. It is one of my top sources for finding new (to me) music. They do a lot of great things, but I particularly like two of their features. First, are the Tiny Desk Concerts where they invite a musical guest to play few songs while shoved into a tiny office space. (Here's one from a while ago with The Swell Season. And from their most recent concert, highlighting Jeremy Messersmith.) The intimacy of these performances is a nice way to really get to know a band. No auto tuning, no choreographed dancing, no fireworks, just simple and pure music joy.

Second, is the First Listen feature. For a couple of weeks they offer a link that allows you to listen songs, and often whole albums, that have not yet been released. Which is how I became cozy and familiar with the new Beirut album The Rip Tide. And it is just delicious.

But this whole preamble is just an introduction to a video by Army Navy called "Ode to Janice Melt"  that I recently came across in the NPR Music twitter feed. The video is fresh, clever, and funny. Plus it stars Jason Ritter, actor and son of the late and great John Ritter. I have an unexplainable soft spot for Jason Ritter.

Both the All Songs Considered's regular weekly podcast and the Tiny Desk Concert podcast are free on iTunes.