music

“I Choose You” – a One Little Word Theme Song

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I like to have theme songs.  Music has always been a huge part of my life, and right now, Sara Bareilles is a huge part of my life.  (I’ve written about her here and here and here and here and here).

This song keeps popping up on my Pandora and Spotify stations, and it is spot on for my One Little Word – CHOOSE.  I mean, “I Choose You” is a love song, but I’m listening to it as a love song to my self.  There are some lyrics that are particularly perfect for how I’m feeling about CHOOSE for 2016:

And I believe in something again
My whole heart
Will be yours forever
This is a beautiful start
To a lifelong love letter

Tell the world that we finally got it all right
I choose you
I will become yours and you will become mine
I choose you

I’m choosing, this year, to write a lifelong love letter to myself.  To make choices that are good for my body and soul.  I’m choosing to do things that will affect and impact my life for more than just 2016.  That’s the magic of these Little Words.  You never know where they will take you, or what they have in store for you.

We are not perfect
We’ll learn from our mistakes
And as long as it takes
I will prove my love to you
I am not scared of the elements
I am under-prepared, but I am willing
And even better


Let the bough break, let it come down crashing
Let the sun fade out to a dark sky
I can’t say I’d even notice it was absent
Cause I could live by the light in your eyes
I’ll unfold before you
Would have strung together
The very first words
Of a lifelong love letter

Tell the world that we finally got it all right
I choose you
I will become yours and you will become mine
I choose you

There was a time when I would have believed them
If they told me you could not come true
Just love’s illusion
But then you found me and everything changed
And I believe in something again
My whole heart
Will be yours forever
This is a beautiful start
To a lifelong love letter

Tell the world that we finally got it all right
I choose you
I will become yours and you will become mine
I choose you

We are not perfect
We’ll learn from our mistakes
And as long as it takes
I will prove my love to you
I am not scared of the elements
I am under-prepared, but I am willing
And even better
I get to be the other half of you

Tell the world that we finally got it all right
I choose you
I will become yours and you will become mine
I choose you

My Favorite Christmas Songs

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First and foremost there is “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” (I wrote all about my love for this perfect song two years ago).  Then there are the classics, the obvious choices – “White Christmas,” “Let It Snow,” “The Christmas Song.”  Then there’s always “O Holy Night” – such a lovely, simple song.

But, I have some other, more eclectic favorites.  Bear with me, some of these are strange, but all of them are worth it.

[I’m posting some videos below, but I only wanted to post links to videos that where officially posted by the artists.  You can look up the other songs on YouTube for unofficial videos, or on Spotify.  But I do suggest that you listen to each and every one of these songs.]

“A Baby Changes Everything” by Faith Hill.  This one was all about the timing.  I first heard it when I was 9 months pregnant with Alma.  It’s slightly cheesy, but it still has a beautiful message about motherhood, and Jesus and all that.

“It Won’t Be the Same This Year” by Vince Gill.  This is a sad one.  I don’t know why I love sad Christmas songs.  We had this album when I was little, and I always loved this song.

“Love is Christmas” by Sara Bareilles and by Evynne Hollens and Emily Sangdor.  This is probably the most modern song on my list.  I love anything by Sara.  I also love everything by Evynne, so her version is perfection.

“Where Are You Christmas?” by Faith Hill (again).  This one is from the Grinch movie that I have never seen.  The song, though, is one of my very favorites.  It’s all about hope and love and joy.  What a great message to have all year, but especially at Christmas.

“The Man Who Would Be Santa” by Vertical Horizon.  This was another song that came into my life at the right time.  It was my freshman year of college. “The man who would be Santa tells his son to write, to call him if he needs him in the middle of the night, ‘don’t you worry, don’t you cry now, your mother and I love you, and think about you all the time.”  This is an acoustic version on the band’s YouTube channel, but the original is also great.

“Magic” by someone on an old Christmas in Sun Valley cassette tape that my brother turned into a CD.   I can’t find a video of this song, but it’s great.  It’s all about how Christmastime is magic.  Absolutely magic.

“Good King Wenceslas” by The Roaches.  I love this one so much.  The idea of helping others, especially those who are less fortunate, is such a beautiful idea.  And the fact that the Feast of Stephen is the day after Christmas is perfect.  After all the craziness, it’s great to take a breath and give back.

“The Cherry Tree Carol” by Peter, Paul, and Mary.  I love a good story song.  Peter, Paul, and Mary’s Christmas album was in heavy rotation when I was a kid.

“Silent Night” all versions, but especially Cantus and the Dublinaires.

“One Little Christmas Tree” by Stevie Wonder.  Another song of the year.  I listened to this one on repeat while we were in Azerbaijan.  Christmas felt so strange there, and this song seemed especially poignant.

Last, but certainly not least – The entire Very Special Christmas, Volume 3 album. Especially “Christmastime” by the Smashing Pumpkins, “Oi to the World” by No Doubt, “Christmas” by Blues Traveler, “Christmas in the City” by Mary J. Blige ft. Angie Martinez, “Christmas is Now Drawing Near at Hand” by Steve Winwood, and OF COURSE “Christmas Song” by Dave Matthews.  I know this is a crazy 90s flashback.  I remember listening to this during my senior year of high school.  If I started the Dave Matthews song right as I left school, it would end as I pulled into my driveway, every time, WITHOUT FAIL.  Christmas miracles, folks.

My Favorite Autumn Songs

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Music is important.  It is the food of love, the breath of life, everything.

When I sit down to write, I do one of two things:  Turn on Pandora and listen to the Nickel Creek/ Sara Bareilles station, or open YouTube and go to Megan’s version of “Manhattan.”  The second option is sort of difficult, because I have to pay attention to go back to the YouTube tab and go back to the beginning before Megan says, “Hi everyone!  Thank you so much for tuning in and watching that…” but I can make it work.

I have already written about this song, but it has certainly turned into my Autumn Theme Song 2015.  It’s just so beautiful.  Here it is again:

Thinking about how this song has become a theme song made me think back to Autumns past.

Last year I was all about Peter Mulvey and Vlad.  This video always gets me.  I first listened to it in my car, last October.  I clearly remember driving around Eugene, looking at the beautiful changing leaves.  I felt the beauty of our Earth very clearly in that moment.   The way that Vlad explains our culture so simply makes my heart ache.  Autumn is such a good time to hear this message of mortality, and connections, and love.

Please watch:

A few years ago, I was taking a class from Kal about being bulletproof and creative.  It was the same time I was teaching art in a middle school.  This song came into my life and the power of the music and lyrics (from a poem by James Baldwin) moved me.

I don’t know, sister,
what I’m saying,
nor do no man,
if he don’t be praying.
I know that love’s the only answer
and the tight-rope lover
the only dancer.

When the lover come off the rope today,
the net which holds him is how we pray,
and not to God’s unknown,
but to each other–:
the falling mortal is our brother!

If I ever have a song stuck in my head, I use this song to get it out.  I just sing it to myself until it’s in my head.  It’s just such a beautiful piece.

Here you go:

The last song I’ll share here is one of my all time favorite Autumn songs.  It just feels like Autumn.  The mandolin, the imagery, Laura’s rich voice.  It doesn’t feel like Autumn has really arrived until I’ve listened to Laura Kemp sing “Hannah Branch.”

“This is the time the apples lie rotten on the ground, this is the time the supper sees the sun start goin’ down.”

Soundtrack of My Life

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Standing in the dark, holding Alma, watching the curtain call of an amazing children’s theatre production of Beauty and the Beast.  I had to fight back tears.  It obviously isn’t an overly emotional play, but I found myself overcome with emotion.  It happened a few months before, watching the curtain call of another children’s production of Peter Pan with Alma.

20150425_164904There’s always been something magical about live theater.  The way that I get to watch such talented people put their hearts and souls into the performances.  The way that the composer’s passion is played so beautifully.  The way that the audience experiences something, all together in the dark.  The way that the actors feed off the energy in the auditorium.  It’s magic.

20150425_155230(0)And to share it with my daughter.  Magic.  Watching Alma become so enraptured with what’s happening.  The way that her eyes don’t leave the stage.  The way that she reacts to all the shocking moments, the scary things, the funny jokes, the soaring high notes.  She lives it, and she loves it.

Watching musicals with Alma adds another layer to the emotions on stage.  It feels so special to share one of my passions with my little daughter.  She eats it up, and I couldn’t be happier.  I love to share the shows with her, but I also can’t help but glimpse a possible future of watching her on the stage, pouring her heart out.

20150425_164916Today, we played a little game.  I’d sing a few lines from some of the shows and movie musicals she’s seen.  She can identify the movie within a few lines, if not a few notes.  It sort of blows me away.  Alma really hears the songs, and understands their importance.  She identified one of the Beauty and the Beast songs, and she had only heard it once, when we saw the play.  These songs are leaving their mark on Alma.  They are becoming the soundtrack of her life.

Drama PajamaThe soundtracks of West Side Story, Music Man, Peter Pan, My Fair Lady, The King and I are among the soundtracks of my childhood.  My adolescence consisted of Phantom, Les Mis, Ragtime, Beauty and the Beast, Miss Saigon, and of course, Rent.  Add Oklahoma, 42nd Street, Once Upon a Mattress, and Pajama Game from my school drama program.  My young adulthood added Wicked, Lights in the Piazza, Little Women, Urinetown.  My middle adulthood is all of those, plus Next to Normal, Ordinary Days, The Last 5 Years.  When I hear a song from a musical, I am transported back to the time in my life when the song was played on repeat.  It is fair to say that these will always make up the soundtrack of my life.  And I love that they are playing in my kids’ lives, too.

Brit Steam Heat

“The Hanging Tree” by Peter Hollens

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So, this is pretty cool.  At least, I think it’s pretty cool.  If you haven’t heard “The Hanging Tree” sung by Jennifer Lawrence, then you obviously haven’t seen the new Hunger Games movie, or you’re not a middle school student.  Or you don’t listen to hit radio.  Anyway, “The Hanging Tree” is sort of a surprise hit because it’s sung by a non-singer and wasn’t created to be a radio song.  But, with Jennifer Lawrence’s star-power, it went platinum.

Now there’s an amazing new a cappella version of “The Hanging Tree” by Peter Hollens.  It is sung by a REAL singer (an amazing singer, really).  It is haunting and beautiful.  The video is excellent.  There’s even a cameo by yours truly in it. Can you see me?  I’m part of the Peter Hollens Army.

Filming my teeny tiny part in the video was a really fun experience.  I had coffee with Evynne, and joked with her about how Peter could ask me to be in one of his songs anytime.  Haha.  That afternoon, Evynne texted me and asked if I could come over to be in a video.  Haha?

I went to Peter’s studio in their house.  It was totally full of fog.  I wish I had taken photos, but I was too nervous.  I mean, Peter is pretty much totally famous.   There were other people there being filmed for the Army.  I listened to the song a few times before I built up the courage to stand in front of the camera.  (I should probably say that I didn’t actually sing in the song, it was already recorded… )  I had to look angry, which is kind of hard for me.  But, I did it!  In one take! Haha!

So, share the video!  Tell people about it!  Let’s make my Peter Hollens debut go positively VIRAL!  Go on all the social networks!  Tell everyone!  I’M FAMMMMOUSSSSS!  Haha.  But, seriously, share it.  Or at least watch it.

Our Love is Here to Stay

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Our time in this universe is limited.  We are just a blink.  Humanity is just a blink.   When our civilization dies out, I imagine the Earth as a huge ball of love.  As if our lives have burned up, leaving a smoke of love.  After all this, our love is here to stay.

I know that when people die, it is their love that remains.  The happy memories and feeling of happiness and love are what’s left of my grandparents.  Bach left his sonatas, also full of love.  Artists leave their love on their canvases.  Parents leave their love in the children.  Anyone who has ever made anything is adding to that smoke of love.

Sure, there’s war and hatred, in the world and in our lives.  I get that.  But, does any of that last?  Does it have to?

Let’s just do the love.

Watch this:

Pfssst.

 

The First of Many

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Our first night away from Harriet.

Alma’s first camping trip.

It was quite a trip.  We met my parents at their annual group camp-out.  They go up the river every year and spend a few nights playing music with friends.

We have never actually spent the night at this camp-out.  This year we tried.

We almost made it the whole night.  Jesse got food poisoning and we ended up driving back to the valley in the middle of the night.

Looking back, there were a few signs telling us not the try to camp.  My sister-in-law had a baby that morning (we thought maybe my parents would want to go meet him right away – the decided to wait until the next day).  Our air mattress didn’t fit in the tent (sweet Marsha traded us for her tent).

Oh well.  At least we tried.  And Alma got to experience most of the camping experience.

And Harriet had a great time having a slumber party with my dad.

 

 

Friday Gratitudes – 8

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And Then They - DoiliesAnd Then They - Music ClassAnd Then They - SwingingAnd They They - SunningAnd Then They - 33And Then They - CurlsAnd Then They - SavorAnd Then They - Irises And Then They - Strolling

Friday the 21st:  Subbing – My first day back at work.  Oh boy do I love middle schoolers!  I missed my babes, but it was great to spend some time with those amazing big kids.

Saturday the 22nd: Music – Incredible music class taught by my talented friend Jodie.

Sunday the 23rd: Puddles

Monday the 24th: Swings

Tuesday the 25th: Friends – Such a great way to celebrate my birthday.

Wednesday the 26th: Frozen – A wonderful movie to see with my dear friends.  It completely satisfied my love of musical theater.

Thursday the 27th: Pandora – My Audra McDonald station is on a roll of my favorite songs right now.  Gotta be grateful for that!

“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”

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It’s that time of year.  In fact it’s been that time of year for a couple months around here.  The time of year when pretty much the only music I have playing is Christmas music.  I have my iTunes all set up so my favorites are at the top of the list.  This list is basically the same every year, but it tends to be a bit fluid in the order of songs. 

The song that is always on the top is “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.”  Always and forever. 

This song became a favorite the year I spent Christmas in Azerbaijan during Peace Corps.  The line “through the years we all will be together, if the fates allow” hit home, since I wasn’t at home. I plan on writing more about my Azerbaijani Christmas next week, so check back for more about this.

Not only do I have that on the top of my list, but I also have an ordered list of my favorite versions of the song.  Here they are (please note that I am embedding videos here and that they might not show up on all viewers):

1.  Bright Eyes

I love the almost melancholy take that Bright Eyes has on the song.  “Let your heart be light, from now on our troubles will be out of sight.”  They way they sing this line just gets me.  It’s a mixture of hope and sadness.  Good stuff.

 

2.  John Denver and the Muppets, or more specifically, John Denver and Rowlf.

John: “Faithful friends who are dear to us, gather near to us once more.”Rowlf: “That’s nice…”

It really is nice, Rowlf.  It really is.

 

3.  Judy Garland

The original.  “Next year all our troubles will be miles away.”  So beautiful.  So unique. 

 

Then there are all the other greats.  James Taylor, John Denver (without Rowlf), Frank, She & Him.  Oh man.  So good.