day 17 - a song that you hear often on the radio

This one, I'm not sure why, but every remix known to man plays to my ears. I don't even really like this song..



I mean, it's cool. I heard this song a LOT when I broke up the Scotsman. And it was always when I was driving by his apartment or the Mission. And I would always think, "Cool, do your thing man. Cause at the end of the day, I'm way better off."

day 16 - a song that you used to love but now hate

Train, you failed me in many many ways. I keep thinking that someday I'll come back to this song, cause it's fun, poppy and upbeat. And yet, when you let your bit hit be added to a television commercial - it's sort of done.

day 15 - a song that describes you

What? How existential. I mean somedays I'm like this...



Other days it's like this..



Sometimes it's like...



And then it's like...



You know, pretty typical.

day 14 - a song that no one would expect you to love

I guess what saves this day is that the word "love" is involved. I think there are plenty of songs that I like and a bunch that I rock out to, but an usual one that I LOVE? That might be hard, maybe this one? When it's super hot out, I like to drive around with the windows down and rock this.

Cause the guitar intro (along with Sweet Child O Mine) are such frickin' classics..

day 13 - a song that is a guilty pleasure

Oh...ha, I feel like lots of my songs are guilty pleasures. I mean, I could put Mmm..Bop could I not? Oh wait...this is what I play on my iPod when I'm running and I get to that top of the curve, right when the endorphins kick in...

hey, I never said I was COOL.

day 12 - a song from a band you hate

Hey Sucky McSuckerson...

Suck it.

day 11 - a song from your favorite band

So...true story, I do not have a favorite band.

No really, I don't.

I really want to, and at the same time, there is a huge part of me that is way too lazy to be a joiner. I enjoy coming across music and listening to it and then going about my merry way. And most of the time I like singers not bands.

So here's something I've been listening to non-stop that I enjoy.

Trolling...

Because I am stronger everyday, I dare to open myself up to the world around me. And because you are not, you try to scare me back into the dark oblivion whence you come. But for every one of you, there are a hundred benevolent strangers, and my faith in the world remains unshaken. I stand for myself, and I stand for my friends who suffer you in dignified silence. I'm not going anywhere.
-Little Girl Big Closet

Why vulnerability always trumps anonymous hatred.

With the internet becoming more and more revealing on a day to day basis, maybe it's just more important to say what you mean. And to find out ways to say things in ways that are mean.

day 10 - a song that makes you fall asleep

True story, there was about 8 months one year, where every night because of my weird insomnia issues (I need to have background noise in order to make me comfortable enough to fall asleep) I listened to this. Josh Groban's "When You Say You Love Me". On repeat.

Please, please don't ask me why and please forgive my horrible, sappy bedtime choices...

day 09 - a song that you can dance to

Well, the roomie hosted her first big theme dinner party last night. I'll get her permission and possibly post a link to her blog as well, cause it was EPIC. The night was filled with laughing, slightly buzzed and efficient people (hey 5 stage managers will do that). Drinking, singing and grooving. Sexposito and I grooved right along to this when it came on...

day 08 - a song that you know all the words to

If you are a female aged 10-40 and do not know all the words to this song...

There was something wrong with your childhood.



...and why does it, what's the word? BURRRNNN?!?!

day 07 - a song that reminds you of a certain event

8th Grade Dance...need I say more?
(ps. why did middle school teachers think that a song about DEATH was an appropriate ditty to play before our trip off to high school? macabre bastards)

day 06 - a song that reminds you of somewhere

Whenever anyone asks me for one of my favorite memories. I always quote this one.

"In 1999, I traveled to Italy for two months to study Interior Design. It was my first time, officially, completely separated from my family. And it wasn't without its own special brand of difficulty. My ATM card demagnetized itself while traveling and I freaked out. I was certainly quite a bit poorer than my classmates, and was also traveling sans credit card. What I choose to forget about Italy was the heat, the cold and dirty stone floors, and the feeling of being alone among people my own age who I couldn't relate to. And the loss of a friendship. Because the trip taught me that I love to travel alone. That I prefer the peacefulness and grace of studying native people in their native land and not slumming around Europe with rough and rude Americans. (Sorry, y'all, it's true) That amazing food, architecture, art and culture ARE mutually exclusive from your travel companions. That I can be independent and happy.

And that I can be alone. That being alone is preferable to pretending to like to hang out with people you don't like very much. And while I may have lost a friendship that I thought was great; it turned out she wasn't that fantastic of a person - and I gained the friendship of an absolutely fabulous roommate who was smart, funny, lovely and sensible.

But the one night that I remember best. Was being in the darkness in the middle of Piazza San Marco - that historical plaza where ever movie ever made about Venice features prominently. And the small string quartet playing outside of Harry's Bar at midnight. And the stone square and Moorish influenced Ducal Palace to the Campanile (the same one my own college's tower was modeled after) echoing back the traces of this song while the waves of the lagoon slapped against the piers and the gondolas swayed back and forth...

day 05 - a song that reminds you of someone

omg...catching up, catching up!

So this song reminds me of an ex of mind. I don't really have horrible memories of this guy, but I'm certainly glad that we're not together anymore. Maybe it sticks out because this was the first guy I ever broke up with. Huh...

listen up!

Rock out!! via I Feel Unmotivated.com

Day 04 - a song that makes you sad

Day 04 - a song that makes you sad

Hmmm...this bears some thinking. Maybe this...



Which, as it's from William Finn's "Elegies" makes sense that it would be sad. I'm not a fan of how belty this woman makes it, but it's still a completely poignant message. And is, according to the story, dealing directly with the death of Finn's mother, Barbara.

Day 03 - a song that makes you happy

Day 03 - a song that makes you happy

Roll to Me - del Amitri. Yeah, deal with it. It takes me right back to being 16 again where I thought I had the whole entire world all figured out. heh. Way to be wrong Pen, way to be wrong...

Song Day #2 - a Song you Hate

Here's a couple of songs I absolutely can't stand. Generally, I feel like I have pretty eclectic music tastes - pop, jazz, classical, rap etc. but there are a few songs that get my goat, and here they are.

Every time I hear Tonic's "If you Could Only See" - I literally turn it off or change stations. Just because it's probably the worst reasoning to love another person tribute song ever. And what it means is that nobody else can see what the reason you love this woman is cause she's probably a bitch to everyone else in your life. Which is never a good reason to keep dating anyone. uff.



and the other honor belongs to Sir Paul McCarthy and his wife Linda. Because as lovely as they are, I cannot listen to this during the holiday season without wanting to tear my eardrums out with a dull implement.

01 - Your Favorite Song

This is a really vague and difficult way to start off the 30 Day Song Challenge, mainly because I have so many. And in all different genres. So I'll just start with three...

Favorite Musical Theater Song to Sing. Stephen Schwartz's Meadowlark from 'The Baker's Wife'



I have a total soft spot in my heart for this song. It's completely self-indulgent and melodramatic; but I mean, if you're gonna sing musical theater, that's what it does best. The song is an epic story within a story and takes all the skill of a singer (goes from legit mix to belt and even has some spots with soprano) The song with a consistent eighth note current running throughout is 16 pages long. It's been tackled by some of the best including Patti LuPone who originated the character of Genevieve, but Liz Callaway still holds the top spot.

Sentimental Favorite: Janet Jackson's 'Escapade'

30 Day Song Challenge

W00! 30 Day Song Challenge! (yet another project for me to start then fail...oh well - I never did get through that pyramid did I?)

day 01 - your favorite song
day 02 - your least favorite song
day 03 - a song that makes you happy
day 04 - a song that makes you sad
day 05 - a song that reminds you of someone
day 06 - a song that reminds you of somewhere
day 07 - a song that reminds you of a certain event
day 08 - a song that you know all the words to
day 09 - a song that you can dance to
day 10 - a song that makes you fall asleep
day 11 - a song from your favorite band
day 12 - a song from a band you hate
day 13 - a song that is a guilty pleasure
day 14 - a song that no one would expect you to love
day 15 - a song that describes you
day 16 - a song that you used to love but now hate
day 17 - a song that you hear often on the radio
day 18 - a song that you wish you heard on the radio
day 19 - a song from your favorite album
day 20 - a song that you listen to when you’re angry
day 21 - a song that you listen to when you’re happy
day 22 - a song that you listen to when you’re sad
day 23 - a song that you want to play at your wedding
day 24 - a song that you want to play at your funeral
day 25 - a song that makes you laugh
day 26 - a song that you can play on an instrument
day 27 - a song that you wish you could play
day 28 - a song that makes you feel guilty
day 29 - a song from your childhood
day 30 - your favorite song at this time last year