Busy week so not much time to write anything interesting…however, on my to work I was listening to **cough** Ryan Seacrest **cough** and they were playing Danity Kayne’s song “Damaged. Now for you Revolution folk you know how much Liana loves this catchy little ditty, whose lyrics are dumb, yet you still want to sing along.
Anywho, in the song they spell…H-E-A-R-T and D-A-M-A-G-E-D. Is it bad that I like it when people spell in songs? Perhaps it’s because I have the spelling level of a fifth grader, or maybe it’s because it somehow makes me want to sing/spell along…whatever the reason - all I know is that I love spelling songs. Take Gwen Stefani’s B-A-N-A-N-A-S or Black Eyed Peas F-R-E-S-H…whatever word is being spelled I always find myself spelling along and dancing along.
My buddy Bret has placed a challenge out there…to take a picture of your top 25 songs played on your iTunes. So, here is my top 25…and now it is your turn.
Tech Support - For you Mac folks, it’s Command (Apple)-Shift-4, you get the crosshairs, draw a box around what you want to cut out, it takes a picture. For Windows users, Print Screen, open Paint, paste, copy the section you want, open a new Paint window, paste that, save it. Or, you can just type it out (commenters, you’ll have to do that).
OK! So, I haven’t done a serious post in a long time…it’s not because I don’t want to, it’s more because my thoughts are not organized enough with all that has happened. I am currently working on a post entitled thoughts on authenticity but until that time I have this one. Today at lunch we were discussing great live performances so below you will find some of my favorites. I chose on originality, creativity, and sheer enjoyment. You don’t have to agree with me…but I bet you will. Feel free to add your own.
In no particular order here are my favorites…
Michael Jackson - Billy Jean - It’s not the original but still, no description needed!
U2 and Green Day - The Saints are Coming - Sentimental for me, but also incredible.
NYSYNC - BYE BYE BYE - Don’t mock me! I apologize for the beginning of the video but if you wade through it and watch the BYE BYE BYE portion you will understand why I think it is one of the best…I hope. It’s just the middle part.
Bruce Springsteen, Elvis Castello, Dave Grohl, and Steve Van Zandt - The Clash Tribute - If you don’t know who The Clash are…then know that I am sad for you.
Guns N Roses and Elton John - November Rain - When of the best/odd combinations in a live performance…ever.
Beyonce - Ring the Alarm - Say what you want, this performance is sick…specifically beginning at 2:29
Coldplay - The Scientist - Granted this is one of my favorite songs, but the simplicity of this performance is beautiful.
U2 - Super Bowl - Sure U2 is on here twice…there’s a reason…they rock! And this performance is not only frickin awesome but it’s also moving…in fact if you don’t get chills…check your pulse.
For those of you who like Coldplay and might be living under a rock…the band is giving away a free download to their new song, “Violet Hill”. If you like Coldplay you should over to the site and get the song…it’s good.
With a heavy heart I respond today. I am officially moving to Ireland - the magical green isle - where teenage girls no longer run popular culture or the popular vote.
Good bye and Godspeed people of America. I shall miss you.
It has been a while since I have blogged…I blame vacation and an illness…however, tonight I wanted to share about God’s presence. Every once in a while something happens to a collective group of people that causes them all to experience God together. Today was on of those days.
There is nothing else like it, to look around a room and see every person around fully engulfed in the spirit of God as they worship. I wish I could say that every service in every church that happens…but we all know that is not true…generally there are people that are worshipping through song while others watch or squirm with anxiety. You can’t always pinpoint when it happens…this morning you could. We had just finished watching a great teach film and the room was already filled with a sense of anticipation. Then the band led us in some great pensive songs and when the crescendo of hallelujah hit it was like the spirit of God rained down upon us. It was beautiful. Instantaneously hands were raised, tears were shed, heads were bowed. It is invigorating to be in God’s presence. Thank you Jamie, Hector, Carlos, Michelle, and Scott for allowing God to move through you all in such a powerful way.
What am I talking about? Well a summer song that rises above all others. Each year at the end of May songs begin to fight and claw their way to summer stardom.
Now standard rules apply for a hit summer song. Generally it needs to make you bang your head, or move your body. It also should sound unique with a slight throw back to older times. If it is truly a great summer song it should come from a relatively unknown artist, group, or band or at the very least a re-imagined artist (Ala Nelly Furtado). And finally it has to be able to play on more than one type of radio station. (i.e. rock and pop, country and pop, adult contemporary and rock, etc…)
I have a fairly good track record of picking the song that has even the most jaded souls rolling down their windows and singing out loud for all the world to hear. This year my pick is by a band that I love, and that many people have never heard of. Even if this song does not rise to the popularity it so deserves I know that I can rest easy knowing that I have done my part in spreading the good news of …”Ain’t Nothing Wrong With That” by Robert Randolph and the Family Band.
