Thursday Thoughts....

The subconscious is an interesting thing. I always dream but I do not always remember my dreams. Some are for sure more vivid then others and last night was one of those dreams.

You Can Make Me Free - Billy Joel

I was with a friend that I have known for several years and we were hanging out at some sort of coffee shop but it wasn't one I was familiar with. It honestly felt like we were in Sweden but I am not sure why it felt that way. She was studying and I was just kind of hanging out. At one point I got up to go look into another part of the coffeeshop because a friend of ours was supposed to be over there. They were not and when I came back there was this kind of odd old man that was kind of bothering her.

I'm All Right - Kenny Loggins (Caddyshack Version)

So I sat back down but this time my chair had moved close to hers. There was kind of a time leap and our chairs were even closer and then a leap again and I was sitting sideways and she was leaning against my shoulder and we were still in our chairs. It filled me with a sense of peace and calmness. There was nothing romantic or sexual about this. It was just nice. We were just resting together in this public place but with a level of connection that was greater than usual. Everything felt good and right.

Reasons For Waiting - Jethro Tull

The comfortableness became almost a tiredness to the point of I felt the need to put my head on her shoulder and I did so with ease and that was nice as well as she rested her head against mine. Then time and space shifted again and we were walking through Silver Creek Falls. I knew that for a fact. We strolled and chatted about many different things. It didn't seem to matter what the subject was at all. It was just us strolling and talking with apparent ease on many different subjects.

One More Time - Hammerfall

After a while her father appeared and we walked with him for awhile. He told us a story about a young boy who had died in a car accident. The boy had been seven and her father was very upset by this. The boy was not related to anyone as far as I could tell and I remember thinking that while it was sad I didn't understand why her father was upset to the point of tears about it. It also appeared that her father was running the retreat center of the campground and soon he and his wife had to leave to go pay their taxes in California. Then time shifted again and her husband was there walking with us and her father was gone.

One And Only - Adele

The three of us walked for awhile and I remember us walking through a parking lot and I could see my van sitting their. Again walking together it was totally comfortable and there was no awkwardness of any kind. Things just felt right and natural and normal with no stress of any kind. In fact the only stress was that I saw their red truck in the distance and I knew that the conversation was going to have to end and I wanted to prolong it and I woke up. I woke up refreshed and rested and the memory of the dream still vividly in my head.

Self Inflicted - Katy Perry

That is the story of my dream. I share that because I found it interesting and I do enjoy thinking about what my dreams mean. Though in this case I can't imagine it meaning anything but good things. It did not leave me with any feeling other then good and comfortableness. It was a nice to have a nice dream and too remember that dream as well. If anything it has left me feeling very inspired to have a good day. So that is something to look forward too. I am also super happy with how the playlist turned out today. All random from my music machine and I have to tell you that I think they all work so well together. I love it when that kind of thing seems to happen.

The Cave - Mumford and Sons

I love you guys and I hope that you guys can have a great day. Take a deep breath. Text a friend. Call a friend. Hug a friend. Keep on dancing and keep up loving each other. You won't regret it.

Monday Musings

It is Monday morning and the mental fog is in full effect but with every sip of my coffee I can feel the fog lifting away and that my friends is a good thing. I watched the Grammys last night. Or to be clear I watched part of the Grammys and then I looked for clips online of the performances because, lets be honest, CBS really does suck and they do not know how to put on a decent live show to save their lives. The Grammys are a perfect example of that. They took a music show and rather then just show it live and let people enjoy all of the crazy and the power and emotion that live music can bring they put it on a two hour recorded tape delay on the west coast. Pretty lame CBS, pretty lame. That and boy does LL Cool J suck now. He has become the harmless friendly black man that CBS and old people just love. It makes me weep and long for the days of Chuck D and the anger of Public Enemy. It was a pretty pathetic effort from all concerned except for the bands that were actually performing and  CBS did all they could to mess that up as well.

We Float - PJ Harvey

I love what PJ Harvey does with music. I do not listen to her all of the time but when I do I always am happy that I did.

It isn't that I am surprised that CBS screwed the pooch on this one. They always seem to do it. But I am surprised that they even bother. Maybe they were afraid of competing with Downton Abby or something.

Make You Feel My Love - Adele

This is a beautiful song. Just lovely.

I know that I have been staying away from the typical these things suck all of the time posts but I felt like I had to at least mention the Grammys. I would have been doing a disservice to music in general if I tried to act like what happened last night was okay. Because it was not. It was just bad. But I am over it. What else is going on?

Summer Boy - Lady Gaga

Why was this song not a bigger hit? Odd. It seems to fit right in her style window. Though I could argue that this was written for Gwen Stefani. It sure sounds like it.

I went to the Wizard World Comic Con with my brother in Portland this weekend and it was fun. But it was interesting and far more about popular nerd and geek culture and being an obsessed fan then it was about comic books. I love television and movies but I am not going to pay upwards of $25 to say hello to a celebrity who is not going to remember who I am among the 500 other fans that they met that day. There were lots of people who seemed to love doing it and that is great for them but I just can't get excited about doing that. It is nice to see what those people look like in person as opposed to on the television or the movie screen. But other than that I do not care if they are there. I would much rather just get a book signed by the author or artist who drew it. I think my position is in the minority though.

My Weakness - Moby

Awesome song.

I did enjoy seeing the various cosplayers though. It is always fun to see the different costumes that people wear at such an event. Some people put some real effort into their costumes and others put in less. But that is the nature of things and sometimes ones passion overrides ones ability to actually create the item that they are trying to replicate. That being said. It was still very cool to see and made me wish that I was that passionate about some things in my life. I do not know what that would be though but I suppose how I feel about the Portland Timbers comes pretty close. I do dress up for the matches after all.

I Saw A Man - Johnny Cash

Believer or not, this is a good song..

That is it for today. Time to apply for some more jobs. Maybe I will be able to catch at least an interview, at this point getting an interview at least feels like success. Have a good Monday folks. Give your friends and family a hug and keep on dancing.

Tuesday Tunes

I was awakened bright and early this morning by I know not what. But, I was at least able to put that time to good use and get a couple of jobs applied for and so I feel pretty good about getting the day off to a productive start.

Mosquito Song - Queens of he Stone Age

I am a big fan of this band but if this was the first song of theirs that you had ever heard you would be in for a real shock once you heard the rest of their discography. I love this song though. So beautiful. Who knew that they had it in them.

Who Knows Where The Time Goes - Judy Collins

Well, well, well it looks and sounds like the music player wants to start things off on a somber note this morning. This is another great song. But it is really a downer I think. I do not have a problem with that, I like this type of music and I hope you do as well. I think that Judy Collins has a very nice voice.

Somebody To Love - Queen

I can't say much about this song, other then that Queen is awesome and you really should put some headphones on and turn it up to 11. They deserve it. This whole album 'A Day At The Races' is amazing and Freddies voice is awesome on it.

Chasing Pavements - Adele

This is another nice song. I don't think that it compares well to Queen and if I was building a playlist I would not include them near each other. But I would for sure put her on a playlist with Judy Collins depending on what theme I was going for.

Do you guys remember making mix tapes for people? I suppose I am dating myself by even mentioning the idea of a cassette tape. But honestly one of the things that I used to love to do was to make a good tape. It was usually for some girl that I felt emotionally invested in. The last tape that I made was for my ex-wife and I am not sure that she ever even listened to it. But to be fair she had a pretty bad tape player in her car. So no hard feelings. Now I pretty much make playlists on blank CD's so I can listen to them as I cruise in my van. I love the idea of having my own soundtrack as I cruise around.

Dressed In Black - Depeche Mode

This is such a great song and really should have had more radio play. I love Depeche Mode. One of my favorite bands and one of the best bands that I have ever seen live.

Old Man Took - America

Another great song by an underrated band. At least as far as I am concerned. This one has some seriously nice piano. Just very nice to listen to. Good stuff.

That is all for this Tuesday folks. Keep on dancing,

More Music Thursday

I am sorry about missing yesterday folks. The Timbers had a game and I got home very late so I didn't get anything written down or set up for my blog. But, onward and upward. The next artist on the wild alphabetical ride through my musical catalog is

ADELE Now I realize I am a little remiss in that I only own her second album 21. I am intending to remedy that soon and pick up the rest of her discography which looks to be one full album 19 and 3 different EP's "Hometown Glory", "Chasing Pavements" and "Cold Shoulder". If these are as good as 21 then I do not think I will be disappointed by them at all.

If you have not heard her, and I would be a little surprised at this point if you hadn't because she is popping up everywhere, please give her a listen. Here are three of my favorites off of her latest offering.

I really detest what VEVO has done to YouTube but this is her biggest hit and I just love the video and I love the drums in this song.



This is Adele doing "Turning Tables" live and it is amazing.



This last one is Adele covering "Lovesong" from the Cure. This is truly one of my favorite Cure songs and she really nails it.



I think as a little treat for my readers I am going to leave you with a video that I just found of Linkin Park covering "Rolling in the Deep". I am not a Linkin Park fan but wow. They did a great job.



And here are the Cure doing the original version of "Lovesong"

MUSIC MONDAY April 18th 2011

Today is Sad Music Monday. I am not feeling particularly sad but I love a song that makes me kind of melancholy. So if this does make you depressed I apologize but just enjoy the lovely music.



I just like Adele the more I hear here the more I like her. So good.

Now on to business as usual. Today in music history April 18th the UK edition.

1953, Frankie Laine No. 1 in the UK with 'I Believe'



This was an interesting song. It was not what I think of when I think of music from the fifties. It almost seemed like a hymn. It was on the charts in the UK at No. 1 for 9 weeks.

1963, Gerry and the Pacemakers: No. 1 with 'How Do You Do it?' for 2 weeks.



I really enjoy this era of music. There is just something about it that brings a smile to my face.

1972, (Bonus Track) Royal Scots Dragoon Guards 'Amazing Grace'



Just a great, great song and on bagpipes one of my favorites of all time.

1973, Gilbert O'Sullivan at No. 1 with 'Get Down'



Wow!! I...this is so much like the Osmonds I am a little stunned and the way he looks on the album cover is just amazing. I actually really enjoy it.

1983, David Bowie at No. 1 with 'Let's Dance'



Anyone who knows me. They know how much I love David Bowie and really this song is no exception. I think it is nearly perfect as far as 80's dance pop goes. One of my all time favorites.

1993, Bluebells at No. 1 with 'Young at Heart'



Well, this was honestly not what I was expecting for 1993. I am not impressed.

2003, Room 5 Feat. Oliver Cheatham at No. 1 with 'Make Luv'



I just ugh. So, so, bad.

2011, Jennifer Lopez ft. Pitbull at No. 1 with 'On The Floor'



Sometimes music just makes me want to cut my throat. Why are people even buying this? It is just such bad, bad music and I hesitate to even call it music. It is being run through so many computers and so many drum loops and multiple auto tuners that any resemblance to actual music is completely missing.

So as a pallet cleanser I bring you the latest from the Decemberists 'This Is Why We Fight'



This is good music. This is why I listen to music. This is why music touches my heart and my soul. There is real depth and feeling to this. If the music that you are listening to doesn't impact you then why are you bothering to even listen to it. It is just a waste of your time and you are encouraging the industry to continue to create crap. So please just go away.

April 4th Today in Music Monday History

I discovered some interesting tidbits about music and today in history. On April 4th in 1956 Elvis Presley played the first of two nights in San Diego at the San Diego Arena. The local police chief issued a statement saying that if Elvis returned and performed the same way he would be arrested for disorderly conduct. I find it a little humorous and kind of disturbing that compared to what is going on in concerts today Elvis seems so tame and harmless.



1964, The Beatles hold the top five spots on the US singles chart. 5: 'Please Please Me" 4: 'I Want To Hold Your Hand' 3: 'Roll Over Beethoven' 2: 'Love Me Do' 1: 'Can't Buy Me Love" as well as nine other singles on the chart. I have never really gotten into the Beatles. I just do not enjoy them. I am sure that makes me a bad person.



1970, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young are No.1 on the US album chart with 'Deja Vu'. Which is one of my favorite albums of all time and one that I can listen to almost anytime and I always enjoy it. This is my favorite song of this album.



1981, Styx is No. 1 on the US Album Chart with 'Paradise Theater'. This is another band that I have always enjoyed. I will admit that at times that enjoyment is ironic but I think that most of the time I just really enjoy their sound. This is a sweet little number about the scourge of the 80's. COCAINE!!! We just do not hear much about it anymore.



1991, Mariah Carey has the top spot on the US Album charts with the self named album. I almost hate to do this to you but you do not have to watch it. There are types of music that it is really hard for me to say something good about. This is one of those types.



2001, The No. 1 spot is held by Shaggy with the album titled 'Hotshot'. I had no idea that this was the number 1 album at the time and it has an interesting cover of the song 'Angel of the Morning' by Juice Newton



This is the original. I think I prefer her version better. I am just enough of a fancy lad to admit it without that bothering me.



2011, The top spot on the US Album Chart is held by someone that I frankly have never heard of. Her name is Adele and I believe the album is called '21'. I had not realized that I was so out of touch with the hot jams. But I have to say that after listening to the first single off of the album. The song is called 'Rolling in the Deep'. I think I really dig it. The lady has some serious pipes and I like the drumming and the backing vocals in the song as well. She also does not look like the typical pop singer and I like that as well.



That is your Music Monday for today this April 4th. I hope you enjoyed our look back at the charts and enjoyed listening and viewing some of the videos. As always please feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section.