18 posts tagged “music”
This song is currently rocking my world. It starts off slow, but just builds and builds. One caution: there's one f-bomb at the beginning, so if that offends you or you're at work, maybe hold off.
I'm in a musical mood. :-)
First, a revival-style song from Coldplay (which you can get free on their website):
And a little Lord of the Rings, for the classical side. This song starts out with a mournful alto solo, and builds into a really rousing theme at the end. One of my favorites:
Monday I ordered the complete score of The Fellowship of the Ring. It arrived today, to my great pleasure, since it was expected to arrive sometime next week! Hurrah for little surprises.
Anyhow, I was psyched because it contained some songs that previously had only been in the movie itself. It so great to have it on CD. This music is amazing, and maybe sometime when I'm motivated I'll do a longer post on it. For now, let me share with you two wonderful songs. I think you'll like them even if you have never seen LoTR.
First off is a song played at Bilbo's party. It's very Celtic-sounding and upbeat. I'm a little in love with it.
Last is a sort of Elven hymn*, sung in Elvish. It's a gorgeous, simple, mournful song taken directly from the book.
*That was me outing myself as a giant nerd. :-)
Dear House,
Why do you hurt me when I show you nothing but love? Was it something I said or did that made you want to break my heart into thousands of tiny pieces?
Don't get me wrong, House, you're still the one for me. I still pop you in the DVD player from time to time, wait for new shows with bated breath, and brag about you to all my friends. But House, what have you done for me? You leave me sitting here all summer, musing on the pain and futility of life and trying to stop crying tears of sympathy. That's harsh, even for you.
I guess it's not only your fault. I mean, there was a director, right?, and writers. Oh, and those ridiculously talented actors. And of course someone had to pick out those songs, a sort of soundtrack to the devastation. (I mean, it was a beautiful devastation, which I'm sure I'll appreciate more when I don't want to crawl into bed for the rest of my life.)
Anyway, I didn't write this to make you feel bad. I'm still madly in love with you, and can't wait to see you again in the fall. Just lay off my heart a little when that day comes, okay?
Love,
Alex
I'm heading to Florida (yay warmth!) in a week and a few days, and I'm driving. With my family and the dogs.
What I am asking, nay, begging, in this post, is for some music recommendations. Basically I like songs that make me want to dance. Here are some examples of songs I enjoy:
- Flathead by The Fratellis (which is kind of a redundant name, as "fratelli" means "brothers" in Italian)
- Birdhouse In Your Soul by They Might Be Giants
- Pretty much anything by The White Stripes
- Sunny, mellow songs featured in Apple ads, like New Soul by Nael Yaim and 1234 by Feist
- Awesome older songs by The Rolling Stones and such
I have a pretty eclectic taste, but I tend to prefer songs with less digital wizardry and vocal distortion, and I like the lyrics to be semi-clean. Whatever you all recommend will be awesome, though, I'm sure. If you wonderful readers could help me out, that would be awesome!
Also, if any of you are Wodehouse fans, what are some of your favorite books aside from the Jeeves series and the first three Blandings novels?
Okay, so last night I went to bed at ten to one. I didn't fall asleep 'til closer to two. I wasn't worried about anything, I was just wired.
Maybe it was the small cup of tea I had at nine. Maybe it was the awesome book I've been reading*. Maybe it was the satisfaction of finding two lovely songs** on iTunes. Or maybe it was because House kicked butt last night.
Seriously you guys, it was so good. It felt more on than it has in awhile. The PoTW was insightful without being obnoxious or preachy, and it was lovely to see House care a little bit, to allow himself to be a little vulnerable. The humor was less in-your-face, and I laughed aloud quite a few times. 'Let's Get It On' will never not be funny for me. Wilson was rocking, and is dating Cutthroat!! Eep!
Anyway, that show always gives me a little high, and I can't wait to see it again tomorrow.
*The Thirteenth Tale, by Diane Setterfield
**'New Soul' by Yael Naim and 'All My Days' by Alexi Murdoch
That stupid writer's strike better end, like, now so the hiatus won't be more than a month or so.
Audio: What's your favorite carol or holiday song?
I can't speak for "favorite", since I adore so many, but pretty much any traditional carol does it for me. Unfortunately most of my Christmas songs are through iTunes, and therefore unpostable, but I do have a few the I downloaded from various internet places. So: Christmas carols, brought to you by the Hughs.
As a sidenote, tomorrow is St. Nicholas Day!
What's your musical horoscope? (Put your player on shuffle and write down the first 10 songs that come up.)
I always end up getting weird songs that I never listen to and have frankly forgotten about.
- Symphony No. 3: V. Lustig Im Tempo Und Keck Im Ausdruck - Bernard Haitink & Chicago Symphony Orchestra Um...I actually have no idea what this song is. My best guess is that it was a free download on iTunes that I got and never listened to again.
- American Girl - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers Ah, I love this song. It was on Scrubs awhile ago.
- Are You Alright? - Lucinda Williams Another song I heard on a show (House) and really enjoyed.
- Tonight - Kate Walsh Another free download that I don't listen to.
- The Lord's Prayer (In Welsh) - Alan Lomax This was part of a Christmas special that aired on the BBC in the 50s. I think this song is beautiful, and very soothing. I posted it at the end.
- Deck the Halls - Nat King Cole
- Brick House - The Commdores She's a brick...house!
- Bagpipe Pipe Tunes: Hail Ro Ruadh Waternish / Daldowie's Reel / The Spider In the Graff / Slow Gaelic Air - Alan Lomax I dig the authentic folk stuff, can you tell?
- Lena and Urra (Sea Shanties from Sicily) - Alan Lomax See above.
- Spirit in the Sky - Norman Greenbaum Good stuff.
Hmm...I don't know what this means in terms of a horoscope! ;-)
Do you tend to like music in particular genres, or are your tastes all over the place? What are your most and least favorite musical genres?
I like the songs that please me. I can't really do better than that. There are genres where songs are more likely to please me, like Celtic music (is that technically a genre?), but even bands or styles of music that I don't typically like have a song or two that I really enjoy.
I can say that while I enjoy playing a little Metallica in band or something, metal isn't a style that interests me at all.
As the quarter winds down, I've been going through the CDs that came with my music textbook and burning all the interesting songs. Among them is Gustav Mahler's Funeral March from Symphony No.1. I quite like it. My book tells me it is supposed to be "ironic", and I guess it sort of is, since it doesn't sound traditionally mournful. I dunno, I just like how it sounds, and I don't necessarily think that dance music at funerals is always out of place. Anyway, enjoy.
(Sorry there are so many tracks! All but a few are less than a minute long, and the whole thing is only 10 or so minutes long.)
In my book there was also this picture. I don't know why, but I love it.
