I wish that you needed me I wish that you knew when I said two sugars, Actually I meant three I wish that without me your heart would break I wish that without me you'd be spending the rest of your nights awake I wish that without me you couldn't eat I wish I was the last thing on your mind before you went to sleep Look, all I know is that you're the nicest thing I've ever seen And I wish that we could see if we could be something Yeah I wish that we could see if we could be something"
Merry Happy ~ Kate Nash
"Can't take back those hours
But I won't regret
'Cause you can grow flowers
From where dirt used to be
Dancing at discos
Eating cheese on toast
Yeah you make me merry make me very very happy
But you obviously, you didn't want to stick around
So I learnt from you
Do do do da do do do do do da do do do do do da do
So I learnt from you
Do do do da do do do do do da do do do do do da do"
Last year I became reconnected with my iTunes (don't know how I lived before without my iPhone) so I shared my 2011 Top 25 Most Played iTunes, and figured I'd keep doing it.
My iTunes 25 Most Played List of 2012:
No. NameArtistAlbum * also 2011
1. We Used to Be Friends - The Dandy Warhols - Welcome to the Monkey House
2. Some Nights (Intro) - Fun.- Some Nights
3. Some Nights - Fun. - Some Nights
4. Last Straw, AZ [Live From Orlando]- Jack's Mannequin - The Glass Passenger [Delux Version]
5. Konstantine - Something Corporate - Played in Space: The Best of *1
6. Find A Way - SafetySuit- Life Left To Go *12
7. Dear Jack - Jack's Mannequin - The Dear Jack EP *2
8. Diane, The Skyscraper - Jack's Mannequin - The Dear Jack EP *3
9. One Foot- Fun. - Some Nights
10. Amy, I- Jack's Mannequin - People and Things [B Sides] *6
11. One More Night - Maroon 5 - Overexposed
12. I Won't Give Up - Jason Mraz - Love Is a Four Letter Word
13. Heart's a Mess -Gotye - Like Drawing Blood
14. Carry On - Fun. - Some Nights
15. Casting Lines -Jack's Mannequin - People and Things
16. Broken Bird (Bonus Track)- Jack's Mannequin - People and Things [Delux Version]
17. Let the Sparks Fly - Thousand Foot Krutch - The End Is Where We Begin
18. Meet Me On The Equinox - Death Cab For Cutie - The Twilight Saga: New Moon Soundtrack *18
19. My Oh My - Tristan Prettyman - My Oh My [Single]
20. The Woman I Love - Jason Mraz - Love Is a Four Letter Word
21. The Only Way - Gotye - Like Drawing Blood
22. There, There Katie - Jack's Mannequin - The Dear Jack EP *8
23. Dancing With a Gun (Bonus Track) -Jack's Mannequin - People and Things [Delux Version]
24. Restless Dream - Jack's Mannequin - People and Things
Most of the songs listed aren't a surprise. At times this year it felt like the only thing keeping me going was listing to some of the songs listed. I am a bit surprised at where some of the songs landed on the list though.
So I've seen a few things around lately that I wanted to share and it doesn't quite fit a Thursday Latelies post (gasp...could I possibly be thinking to starting those up again?!) so I figured I'd try a Things I Love Thursday post (as seen on Little Cheif Honeybee).
1. What EVERY Target shopper NEEDS to know
EVERY Target shopper NEEDS to know this:
****If the price ends in 8, it will be marked down again****
If it ends in a 4, it’s the lowest it will be.
Target’s mark down schedule:
MONDAY: Kids’ Clothing, Stationery (office supplies, gift wrap), Electronics.
TUESDAY: Women’s Clothing and Domestics.
WEDNESDAY: Men’s Clothing, Toys, Health and Beauty.
The easy as pie DYI can be found here. Not that I've ever made a pie or that I think they would be easy to make. But for those who like pie...or, in this case, comic book shoes...it's totally worth the effort!
3. Rediscovering my Material Issue "International Pop Overthrow" CD (circa 1991)
Since Remington ate my (new) iTravel Friday night (it was only 20 days old) I have been forced to listen to my CD's while in the car. I decided to grab something I don't usually go for when I grab my CD's.
So I finally got around to watching the Irish musical film "Once", which was released in 2007. I've wanted to see it since it came out but never got around to it. It won the Independent Spirit Award for Best Foreign Film, had the song "Falling Slowly" receive an Academy Award for Best Original Song and was turned into a Broadway play last year. Seems I'm always more than fashionably late to some things. I've seen "Once" in the library and grabbed it once but the disc was missing. When I was out sick last week I was able to finally get it but never got around to watching it until this weekend.
When Irish came over to pick me up for our second date he saw it and commented that he used to live on the street in the film. I'd totally forgot it was a foreign film or that it was an Irish one at that. Coincidences are so amusing sometimes. Either way I think I scored some extra points with Irish for having it.
It was about 20 minutes into the movie when I completely fell in love with it. The Irishness of it all didn't hurt but it is honestly a brilliant & beautiful film. The talent of the two leads (Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova) is amazing and the music they make together is so raw (Glen), haunting (Marketa) and beautiful.
Seeing the film & hearing the music has changed my life. Overly dramatic. Probably. It is just a film and music. But it's a power film & music. I made aGlen Hansard station on Pandora and there has not been one song I've not liked or have skipped over since programming it in Sunday, and I've listen to it every morning & evening since then. Out of my 25+ Pandora stations that's never happened before.
I've found so many amazing artists from that station. Between my 3 FREE weekly MP3 downloads from the library & $5 Amazon money (thank you music surveys!) I now have 8 new songs... 7 of which are favorites off my new Pandora station.
New songs:
"Boston" Augustana
"First Day of My Life" Bright Eyes
"Falling Slowly" Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova/The Swell Season
"Flightless Bird, American Mouth" Iron & Wine The Shepherd's Dog
"Falling In Love At A Coffee Shop" Landon Pigg Coffee Shop
"Hallelujah" Jeff Buckley Grace (Legacy Edition)
"If You Want Me" Marketa Irglova & Glen Hansard Music From The Motion Picture Once
"Smoke And Mirrors" Gotye Making Mirrors
I think aside from Glen Hansard (the "Once" soundtrack, The Frames & The Swell Season) of course, that Iron and Wine, and Ray LaMontagne are my most favorite new musical loves. I've been circling around Ray LaMontagne but just sort of found other music to buy & concentrate on. And I know, it's shameful but I'm not sure how I have gone so long not having Jeff Buckley's "Hallelujah". After this week I totally HAD. TO. HAVE. IT.
So if you have no idea what I'm talking about have a listen...
I
don't know you But I want you All the more for that Words fall through
me And always fool me And I can't react And games that never
amount To more than they're meant Will play themselves out
Take
this sinking boat and point it home We've still got time Raise your
hopeful voice, you have a choice You've made it now
Falling slowly,
eyes that know me And I can't go back And moods that take me and erase
me And I'm painted black Well you have suffered enough And warred with
yourself It's time that you won
Take this sinking boat and point it
home We've still got time Raise your hopeful voice, you have a
choice You've made it now Falling slowly sing your melody I'll sing
along
Fun. just released the next single off their sophomore album, both titled Some Nights. If you haven't heard it yet YOU. ARE. MISSING. OUT. Seriously, do your ears a favor and take a listen. You know, in case you haven't heard it a million times on the radio yet.
Same goes for the video they just released for it last week... It's like a mini movie. It's sort of epic...and a whole bunch of awesome!
Some Nights (Intro) & Some Nights are my go to songs to listen to when...well, whenever. When I'm sad. When I'm mad. When I'm happy. When I'm pumped. When I'm bored. When I'm in my extremely hot car (hotter than normal since the blower thing broke last week, right after I put in a new A/C compressor but before I could get it evacuated/charged, which should be it's own post... also, please excuse my lack of knowledge of car A/C terminology) with hostages friends who are forced to listen to Fun. (and me) until they too are completely IN. LOVE. with them as well (coughCrystalcough).
Side note: You have not experienced either song until you've experienced them in order TOGETHER. I can't explain it except to say it's mind blowing. Seriously, tell me it's not. You can't. And if you do, I will not listen because you are just absolutely dead wrong.
Both songs are at their best when speeding down the road, with all the windows down, the stereo volume all the way up and I am singing along at the top of my lungs. I would apologize for those of you who have encountered me at a stop light/sign but I am way too much in love with the songs & the experience to care. It is just that good.
My Some Nights review & Some Nights (Intro) video posted here.
I've had the thought of posting these songs since the first time I heard them. I'm sure I've mentioned them but haven't yet given them the spotlighted they deserve.
Seriously, these songs do something to me each time I hear them. Each and every time. Part of it is that feeling you get when you first hear a song and it changes your life. I seriously get that feeling each. and. ever. time. And the other part is something I have yet to figure out. It sort of breaks me and puts me back together, whatever it is.
Andrew McMahon kills me every time he opens his mouth and sings. I could literally listen to him sing the phone book and would actually pay money for it.
Yeah, he's a ninja. Or a Jedi Knight. Just of music.
I, also, love the fact that "Casting Lines"was written as a writing assignment to be the theme song for 'Parenthood'. Damn Bob Dylan! I love hearing "Forever Young" every time I watch 'Parenthood' but "Casting Lines" would have worked just as well. Different feel but just as good. Of course, I'd rather listen to Andrew over Bob any day. I know, blasphemy to some but it's a truth to me.
For those of you who have checked out People & Thingsbut maybe haven't checked out the Deluxe version you need to! Even if it's just for these two songs...
1. Today
is a great day because it’s
Friday & I’m wearing new shoes.
2. Tomorrow
I will get to hang out with some
of my most favorite girls. We’re
celebrating the April birthday’s with
pedi’s, lunch and shopping.
3. My
favorite time of day is usually
morning time because the day is new, it’s usually quiet and the
sunlight is perfect.
4. Sometimes
you just have to buy new
shoes instead of groceries.
5. A song
that I just can't get enough of lately is “Somebody That I Used to Know” by Goyte. It has the added bonus of Kimbra, who I,
also, can’t get enough of lately.
6. My favorite accessory is my silver branch looking ring that I wear on the ring finger of my right
hand.
7. My
favorite thing about this week was buying Jason Mraz tickets.
I may be a little biased because I have been in love with this man's music since my ears heard the first words of the first song I ever heard from him (back when he was promoting Waiting for my Rocket to Come... it was some Pepsi Smash concert on the WB, I think...oh, the WB...those were good times. Not that the CW doesn't represent it's origins cuz it does...). It's been a 10 year love affair and it's one that I know will last a lifetime. I have yet to see Jason Mraz NOT knock it out of the ball park on singing, songwriting, and performing.
It doesn't hurt that he's sort of adorkable and a very vocal & active humanitarian. He did break my heart when he broke his engagement to fellow singer/songwriter Tristan Prettyman, but that's another story. So is his need for a good barbers trip...he's looking a little too granola for me but he does look more like an aged seasoned rocker now and who really cares what he looks like when he can sing and sweet talk a guitar like he does.
He's, of course, touring to promote this new album, so Saturday I procured two tickets for Karie & I to go when he stops in Phoenix on Oct. 2nd. This will be our 3rd time seeing Mr. A-Z and I think I was just as stressed, nervous and excited buying these tickets as I was the last two times. Okay, I may have been just a wee bit more excited the very first time, as first times are always just a little bit sweeter. Karie and I went in 2008 & 2009. I'm pretty sure there is an unwritten rule that we cannot see Jason Mraz without the other. The sky may fall or something just as unlikely, weird and tragic.
He's playing at America West Arena US Airways Center (old habits & names die hard). I haven't been to a concert that large since Tim McGraw or Madonna (Confessions Tour '06). I'm not a big fan of huge concert halls. Give me a "small" room where you are standing like sardines any day. I don't know what it is about small concerts but I love them. Maybe its the energy you get from being that close to the band and all the other fans who love every note and word just as much as you do. Maybe it's being able to feel every base hit & cord played from the speakers right in front of you and the vibrations they send out all around you. Really I don't know. I just know that it's invigorating and no matter how crowd claustrophobic I am I still am in love with small concerts and the experience of it all.
Not to say I don't love large concerts. I've seen several (The Cure, Bush & No Doubt, Smashing Pumpkins...can you tell I was a teen in the mid 90's?!) and had a great time at each but they just aren't as memorable as the smaller concerts. Does anyone agree with me on this or am I some masochistic weirdo?
Anyway, Karie & I are in Section D, Row 3, Seats 4-5...which are floor seats. I have that memorized. Yeah, I'm THAT EXCITED! I wasn't able to buy tickets during the pre-sale(s) so I was sweating that we'd end up with "bad" seats. I didn't want to spend the highest ticket price for "nose-bleed" seats. I'm a concert snob...there, I admit it. It's probably somehow a backwards concert snob but a concert snob non-the-less.
I loved seeing Madonna (during the Confessions tour '06) but ticket prices were INSANE (I can't remember because I blocked the cash amount out) and we very much had nose bleed tickets. We weren't the highest ticket price nor were we the lowest ticket price but most of what we could see in detail of Madonna was on the jumbo screens. It was still an EXPERIENCE and I loved every minute of it... I mean, it's Madonna but I'm going to be more excited about a $20 ticket concert at Martini Ranch to see Live Oak Revue or William Tell. I would have said Jack's Mannequin or Jimmy Eat World but they are my MOST. FAVORITE. BANDS. EVER. so I'd pay whatever I have to and would watch them where ever I had to. Which is the same for Jason Mraz so I'm not really sure how I got off on this tangent.
Brain. Focus. Now. Please.
PS...Concerts are probably the only thing I like smaller better than bigger. Well, that and jeans. I think we'd all rather fit in a size 5 than a size 13. Sigh... I remember those days. Vaguely.
Well
I woke up to the sound of silence the cars were cutting like knives in a fist
fight and I found you with a bottle of wine your head in the
curtains and heart like the Fourth of July
You swore and said "We
are not We are not shining stars" This I know I never said we
are
Though I've never been through hell like that I've closed enough
windows to know you can never look back
If you're lost and alone Or
you're sinking like a stone Carry on May your past be the sound Of your
feet upon the ground Carry on
Carry on, carry on
So I met up
with some friends at the edge of the night At a bar off 75 And we
talked and talked about how our parents will die All our neighbours and
wives
But I like to think I can cheat it all To make up for the
times I've been cheated on And it's nice to know When I was left for
dead I was found and now I don't roam these streets I am not the ghost you
want of me
If you're lost and alone Or you're sinking like a
stone Carry on May your past be the sound Of your feet upon the
ground Carry on
Whoa My head is on fire But my legs are
fine After all they are mine Lay your clothes down on the floor Close
the door Hold the phone Show me how No one’s ever gonna stop us
now
Cause we are We are shining stars We are invincible We are
who we are On our darkest day When we’re miles away Sun will come We
will find our way home
If you're lost and alone Or you're sinking like
a stone Carry on May your past be the sound Of your feet upon the
ground Carry on
I've been impressed with Fun. since the moment they took the stage 2 years ago and blew me away opening up for Jack's Mannequin. Considering they were headed up by Nate Ruess from The Format I expected to like them but wasn't sure if they could replace The Format in my heart.
Honestly, they didn't just replace The Format in my heart, they totally blew The Format out of the water. Not that I don't still love The Format, I mean...come on The Format ROCKED! But Fun. just ROCKS more to my way of thinking. Not to be cute or anything but Fun. is well...FUN! They're dramatic. Different. A bit funky. And I love Nate's unconventional voice. Their music tells a story. Listening is an experience.
Their new album is no exception. The whole album comes together to tell a continuing story, part of it flowing over from Aim and Ignite. I'm not going to lie and say that the story they tell is for everyone. Many may find One Foot offensive but I find it an honest point of view. When they cuss they love dropping the F bomb. But I honestly see this as being on my top 5 favorite albums of 2012. It is AMAZING!
I find everything about this BRILLIANT!! Some Nights (Intro): (make sure to pay attention to the crowd talking... it's sorta hilarious)
I had these thoughts while driving this weekend and I'm going to try my best to regurgitate them into written form. For some stupid reason my best thoughts are always while I'm driving and have no way to take anything but a mental note and that obviously isn't the best note taking around.
I was listening to my iTunes and SafetySuit's new song "Hard Times" came on. It was a free download from iTunes a week or so ago and while I'd listened to it a time or two, I never really took the time to LISTEN to it.
I needed this song and songs like the ones I posted the other day right now. I need them & their message. I need them to be out there for others who need them & their message.
That is what I love about music. It soothes. It heals. It keeps you company. It shines a light in the darkness. I know not everyone connects to music but for those of us who do music helps. Somehow it does all that I've mentioned and more.
I, also, realized that all of these songs (and more I haven't shared) have come at the exact time that I need them. They have always come at the exact times that I've needed them.
I've always wondered how God chose to speak to people. I never understood when people said you just have to listen.
I get it now. I listen to music, it speaks to me.
Now I understand that he speaks to me through music, making sure the words and messages I needed are there when I need them.
Whether it be to cheer me up, to give a soundtrack to fun times, to get over a break up, or to morn the loss of a friend I have always had the music I've needed.
And sometimes having the music I've needed has given me the words I needed when I couldn't find words of my own.
I absolutely CANNOT wait for "Some Nights" from Fun. to be released (Feb. 21st) and for the new Jason Mraz album to come out (currently set for May 8th but who knows)!!
Karie posted this on FB yesterday and I love it! Pretty much perfect timing!
P.S. This song has been stuck in my head all week. I wake up singing it and it stays in my head during my shower. Love it but I don't know why it's so stuck in my brain...
If you do nothing else I've ever suggested please do this...
Listen to this song, take time to read the lyrics and take both with you. File it into your brain, stick it into an imaginary pocket to carry around with you and when things get rough, you get sad or feel surrounded by darkness pull it back out and repeat it.
Repeat it
and swim.
Also, please take time to tell the people you love that you love them and all that they mean to you.
Tell those who have touched you in even the smallest but profound way how they have changed you.
Tell them how they have bettered you day...your life.
Just take a moment and let them know what they mean to you.
Don't worry about how silly it may seem. How dumb you may sound. Don't worry about feeling embarrassed, or worry about how something could be taken the wrong way.
Telling someone you love them is never wrong.
Love isn't wrong.
Letting someone know how special they are isn't wrong.
It just takes a moment.
Then take another moment and do it again.
"Swim"
"Swim"
You've
gotta swim
Swim for your life
Swim for the music
That saves you
When
you're not so sure you'll survive
You gotta swim
And swim when it
hurts
The whole world is watching
You haven't come this far
To fall off
the earth
The currents will pull you
Away from your love
Just keep your
head above
I found a tidal wave
Begging to tear down the
dawn
Memories like bullets
They fired at me from a gun
A crack in the
armor
I swim to brighter days
Despite the absence of sun
Choking on
salt water
I'm not giving in
I swim
You gotta swim
Through
nights that won't end
Swim for your families
Your lovers your
sisters
And brothers and friends
Yeah you've gotta swim
Through wars
without cause
Swim for the lost politicians
Who don't see their greed as a
flaw
The currents will pull us
Away from our love
Just keep your
head above
I found a tidal wave
Begging to tear down the
dawn
Memories like bullets
They fired at me from a gun
Cracking me open
now
I swim for brighter days
Despite the absence of sun
Choking on salt
water
I'm not giving in
Well I'm not giving in
I swim
You gotta
swim
Swim in the dark
There's no shame in drifting
Feel the tide
shifting and wait for the spark
Yeah you've gotta swim
Don't let yourself
sink
Just find the horizon
I promise you it's not as far as you
think
The currents will drag us away from our love
Just keep your head
above
Just keep your head above
Swim
Just keep your head above
Swim,
swim
Just keep your head above
Swim
*I know I've posted this song a long time ago but this song needs to be on every ones playlist!
I've been trying to figure out how to capture my Top 25 Most Played list on iTunes. I'm assuming there's a way to do that but if there is I haven't figured it out. I tried different ways but none of them actually work well for sticking them in a my blog so... I guess I'm going to have to go old school and type it out. Ugh! I would just like to take a moment to say, as nicely as possible, that I totally think iTunes LIES. I've noticed that it hasn't captured some plays or increased the number of plays on others. I've been watching for the past couple of days to see if my suspicions were correct or not. I have yet to be suspicious when it's not warranted. Yeah, that's my round about way of saying I was right. Not that it really matters since this isn't anything earth shattering but if iTunes is going to count then they should count and do it correctly.
My iTunes 25 Most Played List:
No. Name Artist Album
1. Konstantine - Something Corporate- Played In Space: The Best of 2. Dear Jack - Jack's Mannequin - The Dear Jack EP 3. Diane, The Skyscraper- Jack's Mannequin - The Dear Jack EP 4. Get Over It - OK Go - OK Go 5. Watch The Sky - Something Corporate - Played In Space: The Best of 6. Amy, I - Jack's Mannequin - People and Things B Sides 7. Pumped Up Kicks - Foster the People - Torches 8. There, There Katie - Jack's Mannequin - The Dear Jack EP 9. Forget December - Something Corporate - Played In Space: The Best of 10. Wait - Something Corporate - Played In Space: The Best of 11. Cousins - Vampire Weekend - Contra 12. Find a Way - SafteySuit - Life Left To Go 13. Megalomaniac - Incubus - Megalomaniac 14. I Woke Up In A Car - Something Corporate - Played In Space: The Best of 15. Oxford Comma - Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend 16. Make a Move - Incubus - Make a Move 17. 123 Stop - The Postelles - The Postelles 18. Meet Me on the Equinox - Death Cab for Cutie - The Twilight Saga: New Moon Soundtrack 19. Stitch Me Up - fun. - Aim and Ignite Deluxe Version 20. Thieves - She and Him - Merge Records 2010 Digital... 21. The Little Things - Danny Elfman -Wanted Soundtrack 22. Splash, Turn and Twist - Jimmy Eat World - Bleed America 23. Letters from the Sky- Civil Twilight - Civil Twilight 24. Doris Day (Non-Album Track) - Jack's Mannequin - The Glass Passenger Amazon Exclusive 25. Half of My Heart - John Mayer - Battle Studies
I'm a little surprised by the list. I thought for sure there would have been more Jimmy Eat World & Death Cab for Cutie songs listed but if I think about it I guess I listened to both of their new albums (Invented and Codes & Keys, respectfully) in CD form before I got my iPhone (in July). I'm, also, surprised that Thieves by She and Him and Half of My Heart by John Mayer made it to the top 25. I don't remember making a conscious effort to listen to either of those songs. Having Jack's Mannequin & Something Corporate with so many songs listed isn't a surprise, though some of the song choices are. The top play number is 35, but like I said I swear iTunes is WAY off in their count. Like maybe it ran out of fingers and toes to count on or had a tragic bout of amnesia somewhere along the way. Since there have been many a time when I've downloaded a ton of new songs at once I've just gotten into the habit of listening to my iTunes on shuffle. It's the lazy way of listening to music but sometimes its just too hard to pick what I wanna listen to, especially when I have so much great music to choose from. I'm sure no one really cares what I've been listening to, especially since I'm not forcing you to listen with me, but posting it all on here is the easiest way for me to track it. I mean, this is my reference point when my memory fails. I don't know how many times I've checked my past posts to find some sort of information that I couldn't remember on my own. Anyway, I'm interested in seeing what will be the top 25 for this year.
