Tunes for Tuesday: Music for Healing

The violence in Kalamazoo since the new year began has me tired.

Angry.

Sad.

I've been getting into Google search holes of reading everything related to what happened here on Saturday. Reading about the victims, details, gun control, mental health awareness, racial double standards, white masculinity in the United States... yesterday morning I looked up and an hour had gone by. Then another.

Then I stopped. And I thought about my job.

I work for a youth leadership organization that is rooted in the community, We do community work every day. Yesterday, I did a variation of what I do every day, what makes my job amazing and enjoyable-- I talked to people in Kalamazoo about upcoming community events, community projects, ideas for improving the community. It gave my tired soul some energy.

Last night, we had one of our twice-monthly meetings and we opened the floor to our young people. Many of them expressed anger that they didn't get to talk about what happened at school. That in 2016, the thought that you could easily hide what is ugly from the youth if you don't talk about it is an idea I can't even entertain. Their conversation moved me-- let's come up with ideas to raise awareness, let's do something, let's give ourselves time to grieve, let's understand, we can't understand... I love them.

After our conversation, we moved outside for a small gesture to send something good out into our community. Each of us took a glass votive and on it, we wrote what we want to put out there to Kalamazoo.

Hope.

Healing.

Strength.

Change.

We lit our candles and stood together in community. We left them burning until the end of our meeting.

I listen to music all day at work, every day. Yesterday, I couldn't do it. But last night, after the conversation and candles on my way home from a very long day of work, I passed through downtown Kalamazoo. As I drove by every news truck stationed all over our small city, the tears flowed while Death Cab for Cutie played in the background. Now I can't stop listening to music.

Today, I'm listening to music that heals me. These are the songs that pulled me out of bed early this morning.

What are yours? 

Tunes for Tuesday: Beyonce, Duh.

This. Song. Is. So. BADASS.

It just renewed my love of all things Beyonce. 

And this. This.

There is some ish going down in our country and pop culture is so on top of it. 

Update! This just happened and will continue to crack me up FOR DAYS:

Tunes for Tuesday: Winter Weather

Today's song goes with the weather:

I think I played this song at least six times today. It was good workin' music. 

Today was gray and cold and wet. This winter hasn't been as terrible as the last two because I can make it out of the house without my face falling off, but I think it's time to bust out my sun lamp.

This one was going in today's gray rotation too:

Blah.

Tunes for Tuesday: A Post for Clarence Reid

Clarence Reid died and I'm sad about it. The music he wrote prior to becoming Blowfly is why I think he's awesome, but his dirty songs always make me feel like a middle schooler, even though I didn't know about him until I was in college and the Hubs told me about how much he liked him when he was younger. And to think, I spent middle school listening to stupid Adam Sandler tapes when Blowfly existed. Pshhhhh.

Today's tune for Tuesday isn't one of his nasty songs, it's one of my favorites written by him:

The Hubs and I saw him live a few years ago and we got to meet him. He was still touring and performing in his 70s and he was still good at it. Before he got on stage, I was worried he wouldn't make it, but dang when he was up there, I was impressed. You could tell by watching him that he truly loved performing. He also serenaded me, which has never happened to me before and it made me feel cool. Afterwards, when we sat down to chat with him, he was sweet and kind and weird and I just loved him.

If you've ever been interested in Blowfly, check out the documentary. His story is one that makes me feel all the feelings:

Peace out, Clarence Reid.

Tunes for Tuesday: Body Love

I've been spending way too much time on Spotify trying to catch up on every "Best of 2015" album. I'm all about 2016-- I just need the year to catch up on music from 2015. Too. Many. Albums. 

In the meantime... 30 Days of Yoga Camp and Whole30 #2 are well under way. I'm only a few days in, but feeling good so far. So thankful for supportive communities. 

I'm part of an online kula, or yoga community. Someone posted this video on our Facebook page and I've watched it at least ten times because I love the song and the message:

The song was made specifically for the ad by Panjabi MC. The song and the ad are badass!

I'm not traditionally "plus size" but I've always considered myself curvy, or as some of my former students used to say with love, I'm thick. I've embraced that about myself over the last few years. All of this yoga has made my body love skyrocket, especially after years of yo-yo dieting and hating myself every time I ate an Oreo or a mozzarella stick. However, I still sass myself about some of the more difficult poses, like every inversion. "You're way too thick to hoist yourself up, girl. Don't even try." Videos like this make me feel like I'll get there if I keep practicing. 

The end of week one for both challenges is quickly approaching. I'm trying to come up with the best way to update everyone on my Year of Thirty Days, so I'll be playing with some different formats this month. 

Tunes for Tuesday: Bye, 2015

One of my favorite songs from 2015:

Also, my sister told me about this lil' Easter egg in the video. Call the number at 4:34, especially if you love Lord Huron. 

If someone were to ask me about crappy years of my life, 2015 will always be on the list. 2015 can be over, please. 

On Friday, I'll be rolling out my blog project for 2016-- A Year of Thirty Days. 

Ooooooooo, exciting. 

Tunes for Tuesday: Leon Bridges

I love make-out songs and Leon Bridges has some epic make-out songs. I've been loving on his album since the song "Coming Home" first popped up on a random Spotify playlist. When I heard it, I had to Google him because I thought he was an old school artist I'd never heard of. Nope, he's an awesome throwback to Motown and I love him!

Although I've been listening to Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp a Butterfly which MOVES me to no end, I've been loving the old school sounds of Leon Bridges and Nathaniel Rateliff over the last few weeks. Here's a taste of Leon Bridges for you-- grab someone and slow dance with them cheek-to-cheek:

I'm working on a blog project for 2016, something similar to my 30 Before 30. I'm very motivated by public lists of goals. Look for it next week!

Tunes for Tuesday: Hole

A few weekends ago, my good friend Katrina came over to my house and opened up a whole new world for me by showing me the Smule karaoke app. I think we spent about four hours karaoking to the tunes of the 90s and early 2000s. I haven't been on the app since for fear of falling into a time hole and realizing that I just spent the whole night karaoking with myself, but I have been listening to some of my favorite girl power ladies of the 90s since then. Sometimes I get so caught up in how much I loved 90s R&B that I forget about my love of Lisa Loeb and company. 

Jewel and Pieces of You?

Check. 

Alanis Morisette and Jagged Little Pill?

Oh yeah. 

The Cranberries and To the Faithful Departed?

Hells yeah. 

That reminds me, did anyone else get in trouble for this sweet CD deal in the 90s?

'Cuz you know it cost way more than a penny. 

Anyway, one of my favorites was Hole. I remember when Celebrity Skin came out in 1998 and Courtney Love had an image makeover that made everyone mad because people thought she was going soft. I thought it was awesome. Malibu is one of my favorite songs from the album. I even went out and bought the single (remember when that was a thing?) when it came out and played it on repeat until the CD started skipping.

Happy Tuesday! What were some of your favorite girl power songs of the 90s?

New Song for My (and Your) Ears!

Lord Huron was amazing last night! I'd won tickets to Wilco at the State Theater, but I've already seen them play an amazing show-- one I will remember for my whole life.

Lord Huron has been in my weekly rotation since I first heard them two years ago and I had to see them again. My first time was at the Pyramid Scheme in GR and the sound was so bad that I wanted to scream!!! So much feedback. Not good for such a good band. Last night more than made up for it. It was a great non-food way to enjoy week two of Whole30 too.

Loved it all!

Plus, they played a new song, which was just lovely (as all their songs are):

The drummer, Mark Berry's, parents were in the audience and we spoke to them after the show. They were so cute, talking about how they've bands he's in playing in their basement since he was in fourth grade. As a fellow Bands in the Basement Person, this made me like them automatically. 

I really enjoyed the opening band at this show too-- Son Little. Of course, his performance had that awkward "opening band so no one knows their songs vibe" and the audience was really quiet, but I was moving my head around and groovin'. I looked Son Little up on Spotify and did some listening yesterday-- that's some good blusey, soulful stuff! Check them out:

Earworm Wednesday: Snow Days and Jenny Lewis

A great benefit I got to keep from my teaching days is that my office is on a college campus so I still have snow days!

Yesterday, I had to work from home, but the first snow day of the year still gave me that celebratory feeling. Plus, I had to figure out holiday games and crafts for the kids we work with which meant I got to be on Pinterest looking up fun holiday ideas to do with young people in grades 3-5. These are a few gems from my search:

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We're making these wish list ornaments, but on the wish list kids will have to write things they wish for their community, family, and THEN themselves-- anything we can do to get a hold of the crazy consumerism of the season.  

We're also playing this reindeer antler relay game because I think it looks hilarious:

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I might be getting into the Christmas spirit this year. Maybe we'll put the tree up. 

The soundtrack of my snow day was not Christmas music. It's too soon. My Spotify was rockin' Jenny Lewis' The Voyager. I've liked Jenny Lewis since I first heard her in Rilo Kiley and I absolutely love this album. Here is one of my favorite songs, although I would highly recommend listening to the whole thing from beginning to end:

Okay, here's one more, just because I can't help it:

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Earworm Wednesday: Sigh, Michigan

I've been listening to Erykah Badu's New Amerykah Parts 1 & 2 over the last few days. Seems fitting after yesterday's election-- she sings about complacency.

Sigh, sigh, sigh. 

Here is one of my favorite songs from Part 2... it's not political, unless the "love" referred to in this song is the United States of America.

 Happy morning after election day!

Earworm Wednesday: Ani Difranco is a Boss

Last night I went to see Ani Difranco with one of my good friends at the State Theater. 

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A month ago, I attended Iron and Wine at the State Theater and I left feeling meh. I was hoping the show would be soul-filling-- that I would leave feeling full of music and love and happiness and all of those lovely hippie feelings you I want when I leave a show. Sam Beam even played one of my favorite songs, The Trapeze Swinger, but he effing FORGOT THE WORDS. He was very funny and playful, but I think it was part of his schtick to forget words or say to the audience, "What do you guys want to hear?" which gives assholes the opportunity to yell, "FREEBIRD" which is one of my ultimate pet peeves.

Favorite song #1 from the evening.

This show was nothing like that. I was really into the lady singers in my late teens and early twenties. Ani Difranco was there when I dated a-holes who weren't right for me. She was there before I met the Hubs and declared that I wasn't going to date anyone because I wanted to focus on myself. She was there when I met the Hubs and we moved in together and I had an inner battle with my feminist self because I didn't think I should be so invested in a man, but I wanted to be because he was cool and I loved him.

Favorite song #2 from the evening.

It was great to see her now that I'm ten years older. Her songs mean something different now and I've always felt like that is the mark of someone who writes great music-- meanings can morph throughout all of the phases of your life. I definitely don't feel that way about much of the emo music I listened to in high school.

I left the show with a permagrin and a full soul. The vibe from everyone-- her fabulous opener Jenny Scheinman, the crew, the audience-- was so positive. I love shows like that and I'm so glad I got to share it with a fellow Ani fan-- she was the best Ani Difranco date ever!

We were oozing joy. 

Ani closed with this song, which I've always loved:

Good stuff. Ani is a Boss.

Earworm Wednesday: An Identity Song

I found my Wednesday Earworm yesterday while I was searching for identity songs to discuss with an after school program I'm working with. One of my favorite activities to do with youth I'm just getting to know is to have a listening party. We all pick songs that show who we are right now at this point in our life and we play the best thirty second clip from that song for each other. It always promises to be a good afternoon.

I also got to play around on Rap Genius, which I haven't done since the site first started. I spent way too much time on there yesterday. 

Plus, Kendrick Lamar samples Who's that Lady by the Isley Brothers, which makes the song even better.

When I was obsessed with the movie Almost Famous, I learned in the commentary of the movie that when he was younger, Cameron Crowe used to make a mix tape each week to show how he was feeling that week. That always stuck with me, which is why I love these listening parties. 

Have a great Wednesday, my friends. I've been blogging like a fiend this month because I'm gearing up for NaNoWriMo. I need to get my writing chops warmed up. But on the opposite end of that note, I will be taking a few days off for some fall camping. See you next week! 

Earworm Wednesday: Time for the Lady Singers

It is officially my favorite season. It is the season I most like to listen to my favorite women from the 90s and early 00's... Tori, Ani, and Fiona. This Earworm Wednesday is dedicated to them!

This song. This video!

Hold on, one more time:

Tee hee

My favorite sad sack song. 

Best. Breakup. Song. Ever. 

I'm going to go stare introspectively out of a window and think about my life. After I think about my life, I'm going to wear a nubby sweater and sip a pumpkin latte black coffee. 

Happy Autumn! 

Earworm Wednesday: Cardiac Arrest

This song is all over the alternative radio station here and I love it. It is a true earworm in that it gets stuck in my head and I can't get it out! The song is a little more bouncy than my usual jam, but I'm bouncing along with it. I haven't listened to the rest of the Bad Suns album, but if it sounds like this I might give it a try.

Happy Wednesday!

Earworm Wednesday: Iron and Wine

On Monday, I will be crossing a band off of my concert list. I'm pumped to see Iron and Wine in our little town of Kalamazoo at my favorite venue, The State Theater.

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My favorite Iron and Wine song is The Trapeze Swinger. After searching setlists from this tour, I can see that my chances of hearing it are hit or miss. Also, some of the setlists are crazy short, while others are intense... I hope Samuel Beam is feeling the love from Kalamazoo and that we get a great show... fingers crossed.

In honor of seeing Iron and Wine, here is The Trapeze Swinger, which has been playing on a loop in my mind over the last few days:

In other news, my allergies are KILLING ME. I thought I'd found the perfect combination of allergy meds, but this year the combo isn't as potent as usual. I wonder if you build up a tolerance and should switch it up every few years. If so, this is the time to switch it up. Goldenrod, I shake my fist at you.

Wordless Wednesday

In the top ten list of songs of my life, this song rotates among the top five:


It's rainy, which is why I'm probably listening to Jeff Buckley.

So I Turn On the Light

When I was away from Nate for a month last summer, I listened to this song almost every night before I fell asleep alone in my hotel room. Because I base a large portion of my life around music, I've been trying to figure out why I wanted to listen to this song so much. I still don't know why I decided that this was the song. It just was. Listen to it and see. Pure 90s goodness.

Also, Can I Just Say...

I am extremely happy with Radiohead's new album King of Limbs. I have been a fan since high school and have been anxiously awaiting this album for a few years. :)

I've listened to it about 4 times already and I love the nature motif they've got running through the album.

One more thing. I don't care if people think Thom Yorke is ugly. I've always loved him. My freshman year of college I hung a 5 foot poster similar to this one...

... next to my bed and my roommate hated it because they were all staring at her. They aren't the most attractive musicians, but I don't care!