Ahhhhhh music. There are few things as exciting to me as discovering new little musical gems that I can add to my ever-expanding library of tuneage. I know, I know, this is supposed to be my "mommy" blog. I have a reason for discussing my latest finds though. When I was growing up, pop culture and music shaped my personality and affected me more than even I like to admit. I can't help but feel nostalgic whenever I hear anything by the Pet Shop Boys, Madonna, MJ, Roxette, Supertramp...I could go on forever. Because I had very young parents, I grew up listening to whatever was new and popular, from all different genres. Some of my earliest memories involve music. The first house I lived in had hideous reddish-orange carpet in the front living room, but I remember boogie-ing my little buns off to my Smurfin' USA cassette (Smurf covers of Beach Boys tunes) and the NKOTB Christmas tape that I coveted. I used to love when my mom washed my hair in the kitchen sink while I lay on the counter because she always put on something good. For some reason, I always remember her singing along to "Nothing Compares 2 U" by Sinead O'Connor (still one of my favourite all-time music videos). Pet Shop Boys, Depeche Mode, Bananarama...those I have to give my Uncle M credit for. Lots of memories of being in my Grandma's basement while he pretended to be "The King" and used a blanket for a cape that he swept dramatically over my sister and I while we squealed in delight.
I'm hoping that the music I listen to will help create some lasting memories for Sprout. Technotronic's "Pump Up the Jam" came along in the 1990's with a dance that all us girls knew and tried to teach to one of our Aunties out at her cabin in the summertime. I'll never forget the look on her face when she attempted the "lean back and touch the floor with one hand behind you" move and got stuck. Poor woman. We all laughed, but we did help her up. One of the first albums that I remember really wanting was "Diva" by Annie Lennox. My mom ended up buying me the cassette for Valentine's Day, and I played it until it literally wore out. I still have "Walking on Broken Glass" in rotation on my iPod.
I grew up in an interesting time, musically. From the late 80's, the departure from pop and power ballads to Seattle grunge, ska, and techno through the 90's was fairly drastic. Rap and hip hop were in, as were boy/girl bands like N'Sync, BSB, and Spice Girls. Junior high school hit, and I started expanding my tastes to bands like Green Day, Weezer, and Wide Mouth Mason, but don't think I strayed too far - Aqua definitely made the cut. Since then, and through high school and university, I have always enjoyed searching for bands and artists that are maybe a little less well-known, only because they seem to have a more raw sound (and usually more talent) than the mass-produced, auto-tuned shit that oozes out of the speakers on stations like The Bounce (ew). There are always a few of those songs I'm determined not to like that I end up downloading anyways ("Love Story" by Taylor Swift or "Party in the USA" by Miley Cyrus anyone?), but for the most part, I like finding artists and songs that are a little bit different. So here's what I'm listening to now, that may be shaping Sprout's future memories as a tot.
1. Santeria by Aimee Allen
- A cover of a wicked Sublime song, done by a cute little lady that could be the love child of Jack Johnson and Gwen Stefani
2. Your Hands (Together) by The New Pornographers
- Super catchy tune off an awesome new album. Go Canada.
3. Silvia by Miike Snow
- Weird, almost dance-ish song that I always go back to on my iPod, even though the rest of the album is crap.
4. Lisztomania by Phoenix
- Getting pretty popular these days. Their song "1901" is verrrrry recognizable after being the soundtrack to a car commercial that gets played far too often.
5. Never Far Away (Rock Remix) by Chris Cornell
- I was a big Soundgarden fan, and love his voice, but HATED the album he did with Timbaland. The only good thing to come out of that? A re-recording of this song, the way it should have always been in the first place.
6. Antivenom by USS
- Sigh. I kept telling myself I didn't actually like this song because it is so damn repetitive, but it's so catchy I can't help myself.
7. Mes Oreilles by Amylie
- Je t'aime, Amylie.
8. Everybody by Ingrid Michaelson
- I dare anyone to listen to her and not develop a huge crush. One of the only artists to have more than four albums grace my library (the other being Sarah Slean, who will always be first in my heart).
9. Playing With My Heart (Acoustic) by Kate Voegele
- The acoustic version of this song is leaps and bounds more entertaining than the originally recorded song. Sounds like something bitter I could have written in my university days.
10. Little Lion Man by Mumford & Sons
- I love these guys. Four men harmonizing with each other with not even a drum kit in sight. A cross between Social Distortion and Glen Hansard.
11. The Cricket's Quartet EP by Meaghan Smith
- Lovely, lovely girl from Eastern Canada. I mention the whole EP because it is all wonderful.
12. The Mission (M is for Milla Mix) by Puscifer
- The buildup in this song is amazing, much like that in #10. Plus, who doesn't love the fact that Milla Jovovich sings?
13. I Want You by Rachael Yamagata
- I bought this album in Chapters one day because the cover looked pretty. It ended up being in my permanent rotation. The entire album. She's fabulous.
14. Glory Fades by Sig Transit Gloria
- The chorus in this song isn't great, but the verses always have me singing along.
15. The Running Free by Coheed & Cambria
- I wish the lead singer for this band was better looking. I have a weak spot for men who can sing in falsetto with the perfect amount of vibrato (see also: Perry Farrell).
16. Juliet by Royal Wood
- He is marrying Sarah Slean. They will undoubtedly have slim, beautiful, crooning children. I can't wait! Plus, anyone who covers the Oompa Loompa song at a live show and makes it sound album-worthy deserves a spot on my list.
17. Marching Bands of Manhattan by Death Cab For Cutie
- Another man I wish was better looking...that voice.
18. Outside Villanova by Eric Hutchinson
- Check out his video on YouTube of his Justin Timberlake mash-up. Hilarious.
19. Dice by Finley Quaye feat. Beth Orton
- Anyone who watched The O.C. faithfully (and still watches the re-runs like I do...) will remember the New Years Eve episode with Ryan and Marissa at Oliver's apartment. Best slow-mo moment of the season.
20. Soul to Squeeze by Off The Beat (University of Pennsylvania)
- I have a super soft spot for acapella groups, especially ones like this who can cover a Chili Peppers song so well. Listen for the genius intermingling of other RHCP songs towards the end. If you can find it.
Okay, okay, I'm done now. Just wanted to share a few that are new, and some that are always on my playlist. Music sets the tone for our lives. I once wrote an entire paper in a psych perception and cognition class on whether or not films and television would affect their audiences the same way if they were presented with no soundtrack - only dialogue. No background music. My theory was that romance movies wouldn't be as romantic, and scary movies wouldn't really be all that scary or suspenseful. Action films wouldn't get you hyped up in quite the same way. Just a theory, but I still wholeheartedly believe it (and the paper got an A+ so I must have proved a pretty good point). I hope that the music I listen to has a positive effect on Sprout's life, and that she will create her own memories from the melodies that she is exposed to.
Hahaha, another long blog. I could write about music all night, but I won't. Sprout slept from 6:30pm to 5:30am yesterday, and she went to bed at 8:15pm tonight, so I'm hoping for a little more sleep. Maybe I'll dream up a new tune to write for my beauty.
You are the song in my heart, Sprout.
xoxoxo
Mommy
No comments:
Post a Comment