I'm cheating a little today & just sharing with you two of the songs I always think about when I think about July 4th.
First up, my favorite "I love America" song will always be "God Bless the USA" by Lee Greenwood. This song just always makes me feel glad to have been born in the US.
The second song's setting is the 4th of July, but it's really about achieving freedom of a different sort, Martina McBride's "Independence Day".
If you're in the US, I hope you have a great holiday.
Are there songs that you always think of on the 4th of July?
This week's Twisted Mix Tape theme is cover songs. I had to do a little googling to fill out my list for this one, mainly because I don't always know when something is a cover.
So here, in no particular order are some of my favorite songs that are covers...
Blinded by the Light - Manfred Mann's Earth Band
I had no idea until Google told me that this song was originally written and sung by Bruce Springsteen. I like Bruce Springsteen, but this version is definitely better in my opinion.
I Love Rock and Roll - Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
Another one that I never realized was a cover. This was apparently originally done by a British band called Arrows. Their version isn't bad, but it isn't Joan Jett.
Me and Bobby McGee - Janis Joplin
I think somewhere in the back of my mind I knew Kris Kristofferson had done this song first, but Google reminded me. I love a lot of things Kris has done, but Janis just does this better.
Wagon Wheel - Darius Rucker
This song, originally done by Old Crow Medicine Show, has been covered by several artists, but Darius Rucker's voice just adds something to it that makes this the best version in my opinion. I think I've used this one before, but it's one of the first songs that comes to my mind when I think cover song.
Hurt - Johnny Cash
I never cared much for Nine Inch Nails, but I kind of liked this song. However, in my opinion, the original of this song is lacking something. Johnny Cash's deeper voice adds a richness that makes it so much better.
No Journey song this week, but that's because I don't think they've ever done a cover. If I'm wrong, please let me know.
So I'm back with another Twisted Mix Tape, and this week's theme is the soundtrack of your life.
I think this can be interpreted two ways...it can mean songs whose titles and words describe your life & it's events, feelings, etc., or it can just be songs that were significant at some point in your life.
I decided to take the easier route on this and just pick songs that stand out from various points in my life, and because I tend to define the first half of my life in terms of what educational level I was in, I've narrowed it even further to those. And to make it even easier on myself, rather than try to figure out if a song "defined" that part of my life, I've just picked the first song (or in some instances band) that popped to mind for that period of my life.
So here goes....
Delta Dawn - Tanya Tucker
The only reason I can think of that this was the first song to come to mind when I think of my elementary school years is that we used to sing this song on long car rides, so I have memories of singing this with my whole family. It's one of the few songs (besides "Found a Peanut") I can remember my father ever singing.
Mountain Music - Alabama
I'm not sure if I was in 7th or 8th grade when this album came out, but my best friend and I loved this song in particular and played it over and over.
Troubled Child - Journey
Of course any mix tape of mine has to contain a Journey song, and this is the album that came out during my high school years. As is common for me, my favorite song on an album is often not one that is regularly played on the radio, and this is one of my favorites from this one. The entire album of course was played until the cassette tape (yes we still used those then) was stretched.
Only the Good Die Young - Billy Joel
This was pretty much the theme song for my college years. We thought we were wild and crazy and breaking all the rules...we weren't...but it felt like it right? I can't hear this song without thinking of my college roommate and some great memories.
Let Her Cry - Hootie and the Blowfish
Back when I was in law school, Hootie and the Blowfish was still a bar band. My boyfriend at the time lived in Columbia, SC and was friends with the band, so we traveled all over North and South Carolina, and sometimes Virginia and Georgia too, on weekends following them from bar to bar. We never had to pay a cover charge because we were always on the guest list, and often crashed wherever they did for the night. Maybe I'll tell some of my more humorous (and a few embarrassing) Hootie stories someday....or maybe not.
So there you have it...the soundtrack of my life, at least until age 24 or so.
Yeah, I haven't felt much like blogging lately, but I'm back today with the Twisted Mix Tape of the week.
Valentine's Day is Friday, and so of course this week's theme is love, love songs, all things love. This got me thinking about love songs that have meant something to me over the years, and so I give you a brief snapshot of my life in love songs.
Ripples - Genesis
O.k., this technically is not really a love song, but it has a place in my romantic history. When I was in 6th, 7th, 8th grade the local Elk's Club used to have occasional teen dances. A friend of mine who was in high school always DJ'd and this was the song he would play last at every dance. It's 8 minutes long so it was an opportunity to slow dance with whomever your latest crush was for a good long time before your ride picked you up.
Stay Awhile - Journey
I was a geek growing up and spent a couple of weeks of the summer between 8th and 9th grade at an academic camp at a nearby college. The dorm we stayed in had the college radio station on the first floor. It also had an adjoining dorm that housed all the guys at football camp. As is the norm at that age, couples were formed quickly. Needless to say there was a lot of song dedication going on those 2 weeks. When I asked the college DJ for a song to dedicate to my football player at the end of that week, this was his suggestion. Although the relationship didn't last, my love for Journey remains.
Amanda - Boston
I had a huge crush my freshman year of college on a guy I was in band with. He was a good friend and I agonized about whether or not and how to let him know I wanted to be more than friends. I ended up writing him a poem and making him a mix tape that included this song. He didn't feel the same way, but I got over it, and we stayed friends. And no, his name wasn't Amanda.
Just So You Know - Kristen Hall
Unfortunately there is no YouTube video available for this song that was considered a "B" side. The lyrics to this songdon't quite do it, but I couldn't leave this one out. I had one truly serious relationship before I met my husband. It ended in a slow, long, drawn out process that was the result of both of us not really being willing to admit our lives were going in different directions. I listened to this song over and over during that time because it captured my feelings almost perfectly.
My Best Friend - Tim McGraw
My husband and I don't really celebrate Valentine's Day. It's not a big deal to either of us really. But this is "our song" and has been since we were dating. We danced our first dance at our wedding to it. I'm not a sappy or romantic person really, but he's still my best friend, and this is our love song.
Yeah, so it's Thursday, it's been a busy week y'all, but I'm finally getting this done.
So this week's Twisted Mix Tape theme is your favorite dance music. I suppose most people upon hearing this theme start thinking of partying and clubbing and the dancing that occurs in those locations. But I like to be different, and that's not what comes to my mind.
From the age of 3, until I graduated from high school at 17, I took ballet, tap & jazz. By the time I stopped I was dancing 20+ hours a week. With at least 14 dance recitals, and umpteen-million actual dances performed, when I think of "dance music" I think of the songs I spent hours upon hours listening to in little snippets as I learned carefully choreographed steps.
Thankfully for you (and me) all my dance pictures are still at my parents' house, so no photographic evidence will be presented today. So without further adieu....my dance memories.
Brick House - The Commodores
I think I still remember half the steps from the jazz dance we did to this when I was in about 6th (?) grade.
One - A Chorus Line
I did at least 5 different versions of chorus line to this song, because you can't end a dance recital without a chorus line right? I remember when I was younger thinking I couldn't wait until I was old enough to be in the advanced class that got to do this final number.
Footloose - Kenny Loggins
We had a lot of fun with this one. I remember the dance started with the curtain almost completely down except for about 6 inches so you could only see our feet moving...like the beginning of the movie scene that just shows feet ya' know?
Let's Get Physical - Olivia Newton John
Yeah, I know, but it's seared in my brain & it made an awesome jazz dance song!
Shim Sham Shimmy - Leonard Reed
O.k...this one's not really a song, but a dance, but I can't leave it off, because I hear the sound of the steps, and that's music to me. Tap dance was always my favorite.
So there you have it...what dance music means to me.
This week's Twisted Mix Tape theme is the best new songs you heard in 2013. Jen has been very kind an allowed us to include songs that we heard for the first time in 2013, even if they came out before that. This is a good thing, because I almost never listen to the radio anymore, and when I do it's usually an "oldies" station. In the car I generally listen to audiobooks on my ipod and if I'm in the mood for music it's usually off my ipod as well. So I really had to think about this one, but here's what I've come up with, for better or worse.
Blurred Lines - Robin Thicke
I have to admit I heard ABOUT this song first and went and tracked it down on YouTube. I liked the song a lot initially. I like it a little less after the whole Miley Cyrus thing on whatever awards show that was. I generally pay no attention to entertainment news, but the Miley thing was all over the place so I finally went and watched part of the video of it just out of curiosity. Anyway, that incident diminished my enjoyment of this song somewhat, but it's still a pretty good song.
Jolene - Miley Cyrus
Speaking of Miley... I am NOT a Miley fan. She annoys me and I really can't stand to look at her facial expressions when she sings. Nonetheless, this is actually a good remake of this Dolly Parton song. Miley is actually wearing clothes in this video, but she still had annoying mannerisms, so just close your eyes and listen to the song.
Roar - Katy Perry
I don't dislike Katy Perry, I just wouldn't say I'm a fan. In fact, this is the only song I think I know of hers. I actually heard this song first on a video someone posted on Facebook of a little girl singing to the song in the car. But it's a great sing at the top of your lungs song, and it has a great stand up for yourself message.
Wagon Wheel - Darius Rucker
This is probably the only album I bought all year. Mainly because I've been a Darius Rucker groupie since way back when he was the lead singer for Hootie and the Blowfish and they were still playing bars all over North and South Carolina. The man absolutely has one of the best voices I have ever heard. This song was originally done by Old Crow Medicine Show, and I love that version too, but there's just something about Darius.
Carolina - Parmalee
Just heard this one towards the end of the year. I'm a sucker for just about any song that has a singer longing for his Carolina home. This is a new to me group that I'm going to be checking out a little more soon.
Think I'm missing something great? Let me know in the comments!
Now that the holidays are over, I'm back with Twisted Mix Tape Tuesday. This week's theme is past mistakes.
I think we'll skip the review of my past mistakes and instead talk songs that reflect what happens when you make a mistake.
First, there's the realization you've made a mistake and the consequences of that mistake, so I'll start you out with the requisite Journey song.
Open Arms - Journey
And after you realize your mistake, there's the period of hope that you can somehow fix it, make it right, or at least recover from it, depending on the circumstances.
Amazing - Aerosmith
But then the hard work starts and you have to say you're sorry. But....
Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word - Elton John
Really, really....
Hard to Say I'm Sorry - Chicago
And often you have to say it a lot more than just one time.
I'm Sorry - John Denver
And hopefully, after all that, if you're lucky you'll get a bonus and realize
Everything's Gonna' Be Alright - Bob Marley
Of course the easiest thing is to just not make the mistake in the first place, but that would mean you're not normal right?
This week's Twisted Mix Tape Theme is songs about doing things that would get you in trouble if you did them in real life.
I don't know why it was so hard for me to come up with songs for this week. I was just drawing a blank, and ended up having to resort to quizzing coworkers for suggestions, which finally kicked my brain in gear and I actually came up with 5 that weren't used by Jen to begin with. Not my best list so far by any means, but it will work.
"Cocaine Blues" - Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash did a lot of shit in songs that would put you in prison. Hell, half of his songs are about being in prison. But I still love him.
"Life's Been Good" - The Eagles
"I live in hotels, tear out the walls..." Let's face it, we'd get arrested for pulling that shit since we're not famous rock stars with accountants to pay for it all.
"Life in the Fast Lane" - The Eagles
Yeah, this one's a bit of a reach, but there's "lines on the mirrors, lines on her face" so they're doing some cocaine in this song and that counts in my book.
"Dead or Alive" - Journey
A double secret agent paid to kill sounds like trouble to me. But it doesn't sound so bad when Steve Perry sings about it does it?
"I Can't Drive 55" - Van Halen
O.k., I admit it, I have a bit of a lead foot, so if any of these songs is true for me, this one is it.
Thanks again to Jen for giving me something to write about today!
The theme this week for the Twisted Mix Tape is Cheating Songs. There are so many to choose from, and as usual, country music offers a wide selection. Unfortunately I used one of my favorites, "Before He Cheats" by Carrie Underwood, last week, so here are the 5 I narrowed it down to for this week.
"The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia" - Vicki Lawrence/Reba McEntire
Vicki Lawrence did this song first, but in aswitch for me, I actually prefer the newer version done by Reba McEntire. This could have easily fit in last week's category too. Cheating wives better watch out for southern sisters!
"Ruby" - Kenny Rogers
Loved me some Kenny Rogers when I was a kid, and I always thought Ruby was an uncaring bitch.
"The Thunder Rolls" - Garth Brooks
Another country song that speaks for itself.
"Tempted" - Squeeze
I have to say, watching this video cracked me up. This was the early, early days of music video. I could have totally been one of those girls dancing (sort of) in the background!
"Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'" - Journey
Saving the best for last, no mix is truly complete without my beloved Journey, and they don't disappoint with this song. Another classic video that makes you wonder if men weren't always in pain in those tight pants.
This week's theme is songs that tell a story, and boy did I have a time selecting only five. Songs that tell a story are my favorite types of songs, but since I did have to narrow it down, here are some of my favorites, both new and old. Not surprisingly, most of them are country songs.
"Don't Cry Joni" - Conway Twitty
My friend down the street had this record on a 45 and we must have played it a thousand times hanging out in her basement as kids. I remember thinking how sad he must be that he realized he loved her too late.
"Teddy Bear" - Red Sovine
This song still brings tears to my eyes. The thought of all those good-hearted truckers lining up to take him for a ride. I thought CBs were the coolest thing as a kid and came up with all kinds of "handles" I'd use if I had one.
"I Hope They Get to Me in Time" - Darius Rucker
I love songs that not only have a story, but a message. And Darius has one of the best voices I've ever heard.
"Before He Cheats" - Carrie Underwood
This is such a bad ass, take no shit, woman' song! I would like to think I'd do this if I was ever in this situation, but in reality I would probably be too worried about getting arrested.
"Old City Bar" - Trans-Siberian Orchestra
I thought I'd throw a little Christmas in here since it's getting to be that time. A lot of Trans-Siberian Orchestra's songs are story songs. In fact, most of their albums are one big story. If you have never seen them live, it's well worth the money.
