Music to my ears

As I previously stated in an earlier blog post, I have a very interesting relationship with music.  I like what I like and screw everything else.  Well, with my new car came a free trial of Sirius XM.  Now, I'm no stranger to XM - D's had it in his car for several years, and everytime I drive his car, I take full advantage of it.  I usually stick to the few stations I know well - Lithium (54 - previously Lucy on XM), The Pulse (26 - previously Flight 26 on XM), etc. etc.  I have no use for Howard Stern, and as a general rule, avoid any and all talk radio - whether it's politics, news, religion, or humor.  I want my music, bitches!  And my biggest complaint about the regular old radio is that every freaking station takes commercial breaks at the same time - SOOO ANNOYING!!!  In my old car, I'd usually just listen to my mp3s but even that gets old - sometimes you just want a little variety.

Well, one of my favorite stations - naturally - is 90s on 9.  Love it.  Can't get enough.  I may have to become an Sirius XM subscriber because it's going to be too hard for me to let go in 2 more months.

In the past 2 days, the following songs have graced my ears:
Vanilla Ice - Ice Ice Baby
US3/Cantaloop - Flip Fantasia
Semi Sonic - Closing Time
Green Day - Geek Stink Breath
311 - All Mixed Up
Alanis Morisette - Ironic
Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch - Good Vibrations
The Offspring - Self Esteem
Britney Spears - Baby One More Time

Ummmm - more, more, more.... yes, please, and thank you!

The Grammys - in my words

I usually don't really "watch" awards shows.  Sure, they're on the TV, but they're usually in the background.  Last night, however, I actually watched the Grammys.  And I have some thoughts..... naturally.  Many are in the form of a question - because I was thoroughly confused at times......

1.  I don't like Lady Gaga.  I blogged about this some time ago - over a year ago actually.  She's so weird and just UGH.  If she was seriously talented, she wouldn't need all the fan fare and ridiculousness.  Get over yourself, Lady Gaga.  And what was with the egg?  I don't get her. 
2.  I miss Lenny Kravitz's dreads.  I know they've been gone for some time now, but seeing him again last night sans dreadlocks - it just wasn't working for me as much as his other looks.  I love Lenny - and I always will, but I miss the hair.  Sidenote - you know he's 46 years old?  46!  He looks amazing!
3.  Why does Christina Aguilera look like a fat, hot mess?  She seriously looks like she should be living in an over 55 community with that platinum hair.  Yuck.  Amazing voice though - I don't care if she screws up the lyrics or falls down - girl can sing!
4.  Why are J-Lo and Marc Anthony so awkward together?  Marc Anthony seriously creeps me out for some reason. 
5.  Do people actually like Rhianna?  I don't. 
6.  Did Eminem age 30 years between the year he starred in 8 mile and last night?  Did making those Detroit and Brisk Iced Tea commercials put a strain on him or something?  Dude looked old!
7.  What the HELL was Cee Lo Green wearing?  I loved his performance with Gwyneth Paltrow, but he looked like a supersized Dodo Bird.
8.  Who the hell are Arcade Fire and how did they win Album of the Year?
9.  I am personally happy and satisfied that Justin Bieber did NOT win Best New Artist.  I'm not sure who the chick who won is - but I'm just glad the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences does not have Bieber Fever.
10.  I'm happy Lady Antebellum won - their performance of "Need You Now" is the only performance from last year's Grammys that I actually remember, but enough already - I'm totally sick of that song - Cee Lo should have won!
11.  Jennifer Hudson looks FREAKIN AMAZING!  I can't get over it!  She's absolutely stunning.  Makes me want to sign up for Weight Watchers just so I can feel as great as she looks!
12.  I totally dig Bruno Mars.  I shouldn't like him - everything in my gut tells me that I shouldn't.  But I do. 
13.  Mick Jagger is what????  300 years old?  Eat a sandwich, man.
14.  Florence Welch (who performed in the opening act) should have sang The Dog Days Are Over instead.  Sidenote:  I watched the movie Eat, Pray, Love this weekend for the first time.  I wrote a review on Amazon if you want to check it.  I was PISSED that her song was not actually featured in the movie - yet it was in all the trailers for the movie. 
15.  Barbra Streisand (not Barbara, Barbra!) - one of the most elusive singers of all time - makes an appearance at the 2011 Grammys and sings Evergreen from like the 1970s?  Don't get me wrong, it's a beautiful song, and Barbra is an amazing talent, but I was hoping for something a little newer maybe.  My mom was/is a huge Streisand fan, and subsequently I know pretty much every lyric to every song she sings - scary - yet true.

And there you have it - my Grammy wrap-up!

Back with another one of those block rockin' beats!

So, OK.  I am a music snob.  I judge people by the type of music they listen to.  Personally, I have a laughable/ridiculous collection of music.  It's shameful, really.  Here's a little sampler platter of my extensive CD collection:
-Joey Lawrence - Joey Lawrence
-D2: The Mighty Ducks Soundtrack (didn't know there was one?  Boom - now you know!)
-*Nsync - *Nsync
-2 Unlimited - No Limits (don't lie - you still jam to this at football games)
-David Arkenstone - Citizen of Time
-Enya - Paint the Sky With Stars (a true favorite - don't hate)
-Britney Spears - ....Baby One More Time
-Wu Tang - Enter the Wu Tang (36 Chambers)

But enough about those...... I will say there are (many) other, just as embarrassing additions that I don't feel like naming.  Maybe one day. 

My favorite time period for music is the mid-nineties.  The time when I first started high school.  Music was just GOOD.  Always has been, probably always will be.  You know the time period - when the likes of Green Day, No Doubt, The Cranberries, Nirvana, Collective Soul, Lenny Kravitz, Alanis Morisette, Smashing Pumpkins, Sublime, Stone Temple Pilots, Chili Peppers, Fiona Apple, Silverchair, etc. started emerging (and back when you could still watch a music video on MTV).  And you know what - most of them (save the bands where their singers ODed/died/quit) are STILL churning out amazing albums.  Even hip hop was better - LL Cool J, Busta Rhymes, Jay-Z, Pras, Mya, Tu-Pac, Snoop Dogg, De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest, etc. etc. 

Music was just good in the mid-90s.  There were amazing one-hit wonders too!  I've included links to youtube so you can re-live the greatness:
-Spacehog - In the Meantime (my favorite one hit wonder EVER!)
-Dishwalla - Counting Blue Cars
-4-Non Blondes - What's Up?
-Blind Melon - No Rain
-Blur - Song 2
-Chumbawumba - Tub Thumper (senior year of high school - I loved to hate this one)
-Veruca Salt - Seether
-Mazzy Starr - Fade Into You
-Meredith Brooks - Bitch
-Semisonic - Closing Time (saw them live)
-Tracy Bonham - Mother Mother
-Marcy Playground - Sex & Candy (a TRUE one hit wonder - trust me, I bought their whole cd which was crap!)

Of course, I do have a soft spot for the "classics" as I call them:  U2, The Beatles, The Doors, Queen, Michael Jackson, Aerosmith, etc.  That's just good music - I don't care who you are!

I could go on and on - but I won't!  My point?  I'm kind of weird about my music (clearly).  Music lately just hasn't been doing it for me.  And when I say lately, I'm talking about this past decade or so.  Sure there were some gems mixed in, but over all - it was kind of a let down coming from the peak of amazing (in my opinion) from the mid-nineties.  That's the music that really created the soundtrack that defined youth.  I grew up (literally) with that music, and it will ALWAYS hold a special place in my heart.

Having said that, lately, I have surprised myself with my musical choices.  I frequent the gym (not really), but I frequent spinning class - and by frequent, I mean I go once a week.  So lately I've really enjoyed music with a good beat that I can really exercise to.  I've been drawn to a lot of LMFAO and Lil Jon - don't judge me. 

Some of my recent favorite songs to listen to include:
-Cee Lo Green - Fuck You (or Forget You depending on whether it's on the radio or not)
-Florence + the Machine - Dog Days Are Over
-Enrique Iglesias - I Like It
-Black Eyed Peas - Time of My Life
-LMFAO - Shots
-David Guetta - Getting Over You
-Katy Perry - Firework
-Wiz Khalifa - Black and Yellow

Just had to get that all off my chest.... suddenly I feel like pulling out my old yearbooks and photo albums.  Maybe I'll throw my Alanis Morisette CD on and reminisce.  Maybe not!

Day 30 {of 30}..... FINALLY

Day 30- Your favorite song

Well, I was hoping to have this wrapped up last night, but out of nowhere, I decided to just bust out with a fever - so needless to say, I felt pretty crappy.  Of course I would come down with something a week before I'm supposed to go on vacation..... I blame all the idiots that come to work sick and slobber all over the place.  ANYWAY - moving on!

My favorite song.  Seriously?  I feel like after 30 days of this nonsense, this is sort of anticlimactic.  But for the sake of polishing this off and moving on with my life I will adhere!

I have a lot of favorite songs.  I don't think I have a #1 most absolute favorite song.  If I had to pick, I'd say it's probably U2 - One.  Some others include:

The Beatles - Something; Day Tripper; Hey Jude; Let It Be
Madonna - Crazy For You
Trick Daddy - In Da Wind
The Doors - Break On Through and Light My Fire
Lenny Kravitz - Believe; I Belong to You; Are You Gonna Go My Way; Circus; and Again (I <3 Lenny!)
U2 - One (obviously); Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me; Beautiful Day; The Sweetest Thing
Enya - Caribbean Blue
Gary Jules - Mad World
The Offspring - You're Gonna Go Far, Kid
Linkin Park - Bleed It Out
Queen - My Best Friend

I'm sure there are more, but I'm tired of thinking so I'll leave it at that.  Hope you enjoyed my 30 Days!

Day 15 {of 30}

Day 15- Put your iPod on shuffle: First 10 songs that play

1.  The Doors - Light My Fire
2.  Dave Matthews Band - Too Much
3.  Carrie Underwood - Before He Cheats
4.  Andrea Bocelli & Sarah Brightman - Time To Say Goodnight
5.  Michael Jackson - Beat It
6.  Christina Aguilera - Come On Over
7.  Peter Bjorn and John - Let's Call It Off
8.  Stone Temple Pilots - Big Bang Baby
9.  Phil Collins - Against All Odds
10.  Kings of Leon - Milk 

One word: Eclectic.  I should tell you - I don't really know how to use my iPod - other than to turn it on and put the ear buds in.  I still have a pink iPod Mini - 6GB - second generation.

It was a birthday present about 6 years ago.  My boyfriend put my music on it for me when I got it and I've never actually deleted any music.... I have added songs - about one or two times since - and it's been at least 2 years since I've added anything to it.  I just can't figure it out.  I'm not a technical person and it confuses me - so I don't do it!  I like my iPod the way it is!!  And no - I don't intend to upgrade until this one breaks!  :) 

Dear Lady Gaga....

We need to talk.  I don't get you, and dare I say, I'm probably not alone.  What's with the outfits and the creepy persona?  We've seen it all before - and we've seen it better.  For starters, you're not a starving artist, you rocketed to the top of the charts at the tender age of 23, and you'll probably never know what it's like to struggle to make something of your life... so stop acting so eremitic at every event you're asked to attend.  You should be grateful, so suck it up and start acting like a human being instead of a circus side show act. 

Might I remind you, despite what you may think, you sing POP music.  And not only is it pop, it's dance music.  Your tunes are on thousands of bar mitzvah d.j.'s playlists, and nerdy 13 year olds everywhere go crazy when "Poker Face" blasts through the speakers in their middle school cafeteria during their Spring Fling. 

Kylie Minogue mastered that genre more than decade before you, and she was super cute and likable.  She didn't pretend to be something she's not - her music was corny and shallow just like yours, and it worked for her.  Amazingly, nobody ever thought she was a man either (I wonder why), so maybe you should take down some notes from her on how to dispel those nasty rumors.  Embrase your corny music, but please stop acting like you're God's gift to songwriting.

Let's move on to Björk.  You're not her, so get out of her reject closet.  Until you rock dead poultry as a dress, you will never have the type of shock-potential she is capable of.  Stop trying.  It's just awkward and flat out ugly - but not dead-swan ugly - that was just genius!

Next up... Cher.  Leave her headdresses alone.  Don't try to compete, because Cher will always win!  She's about 168 years old and she looks better than most teenagers I've seen.  And unless you're BFFs with her plastic surgeon and he'll fix you up like he did her, stop gluing shit to your face.  It's bad for your skin and it clogs pores, and I don't want to see you go down the road Jessica Simpson and Avril Lavigne did (and don't even get me started on Katy Perry) and start peddling Proactiv solution on TV at night during all the "after-hour television" programming once your career hits rock bottom.  But I digress...... where were we?  Oh yes, Cher - you'll never garner the same amount of attention she gets from heterosexual sailors, although you are high up on the totem pole of women (98% sure) the gays adore, and you don't even have a lesbian-turned-man daughter named Chastity/Chaz.  So props for that achievement. 

In closing, please lose the gimmicks, the costumes, the self-righteous-attitude, and the general ridiculousness because quite frankly, I want to punch you in the face.  Kylie, Björk, and Cher all did it WAY better than you.  You're not shiny or new..... so come up with your own niche and stop being such a copy cat.  I could go on and on, but I'm tired, and I'm pretty sure you catch my drift.

Regards,
Snitz

P.S. - Not even gonna lie - I jam to some rah-rah-ah-ah-ah, roma, roma-ma, gaga oh-la-la - so my advice comes from a good place.  Shape up, Lady Gaga.... before you ship out (hopefully not with Cher and her sailors at the helm).