Songs that Stumped Shazam

Having only had the Shazam app for a few weeks now, I occasionally test it with a song I already know and am listening to. So far, Shazam has not been able to identify the following two songs, so check them out:

and



Feel free to comment and share any songs with which you have also stumped Shazam.

Have a Groovy Day

10 Songs, Old and New(er)

Some days are like a dreamy purgatory, if I don't have enough solitary time, I know that it will not be good for me later. So please Do Not Disturb unless there is blood, vomit or a bump on the head. My Christmas tree is still up, the Three Kings have come and gone, and it isn't even losing needles and it smells good. Calvin stepped on my toe last night and I thought it was nothing much, but today the one that went weee, wee, wee is black and blue and broken(?).


Thank you "said the gramophone" for helping when I am stuck in a music rut. Leave feedback if you feel like it's the right thing to do. One more thing. Bleed is an incredible song, I never heard it before this week.

Autumn Playlist Revisited

I'm in a mood for the music that for one reason or another reminds me of the Autumn season. This is something began compiling several years back, and added some and deleted some. What songs remind you of the Fall season? Why? Feel free to share as many or as few details as you like but definitely share the song and artist names so we can check them out.

Some Days...

...music comforts me and gives me a catharsis. So you can guess the theme of this playlist and what is on my mind. Many years ago my wise and dear Father-in-Law said, "When your children are little they step on your toes, when they're grown they step on your heart." The playlist ends on a hopeful note. That's important.

just some favorite songs - spiritual

Since I did the secular songs a few weeks back, I now shall share some of my favorite spiritual songs which are vastly more important in my life. Hard to pick out just a few, but here is a little start, I'm sure I'll post more another day, another time.


I like Greg Long's version of this song (it's his) best, I like how vulernable his voice sounds in the beginning. The album this comes from "Jesus Saves" is actually one of my favorites and one of those 'go to' albums, it's just good, so good.

Ashley Cleveland - What a voice! I was looking for artist and performance videos, but I couldn't find one for this song. It was the first song of hers I recall hearing and it wowed me with awesome respect for God, or should I say it wowed me with humble respect for an Awesome God! (It also gave me hope that there were some really good Christian artists and musicians out there.) Check out her version of "Gimme Shelter" which better than The Stones, yeah, I know people will doubt my humble but accurate opinion, If you listen to it you'll see why I have that opinion.

There is no artist like Rich Mullins, not before and not since.
Talent + integrity = the real deal.

"Saved" by Dylan just moves me - makes me joyful and reminds me of that day when I woke up to the truth and wanted to just jump for joy. This video clip barely shows Dylan and highlights the band which is great - they need to he highlighted. But it makes me wonder if this was the 2nd camera footage meant to be edited in later on, or if it was filmed by friends or relatives of the band.

just some favorite songs - secular

Blind Melon - No Rain
Uploaded by EMI_Music. - See the latest featured music videos.

Sometimes I daydream that when I get to heaven it will be like when the BumbleBee Girl opens the gates to the beautiful meadow in the Blind Melon video. It's not sane...I know.

Wistful...

I hadn't thought about this song in years, but was reminded of it again recently. Oh, How it resonates, so beautifully.

Neil Young - Unknown Legend

She used to work in a diner
Never saw a woman look finer
I used to order just to watch
her float across the floor
She grew up in a small town
Never put her roots down
Daddy always kept movin',
so she did too.

Somewhere on a desert highway
She rides a Harley-Davidson
Her long blonde hair
flyin' in the wind
She's been runnin' half her life
The chrome and steel she rides
Collidin' with
the very air she breathes
The air she breathes.

You know it ain't easy
You got to hold on
She was an unknown legend
in her time
Now she's dressin' two kids
Lookin' for a magic kiss
She gets the far-away look
in her eyes.

Somewhere on a desert highway
She rides a Harley-Davidson
Her long blonde hair
flyin' in the wind
She's been runnin' half her life
The chrome and steel she rides
Collidin' with the very
air she breathes
The air she breathes.

"Classic" Punk Rock

I took a look at Jorge Garcia's blog, and found a gem of an old punk rock song I hadn't thought about in YEARS. Then just like the little mouse who's given a cookie in one of the kid's beloved storybooks, I was off on a classic punk rock song hunt, one song reminding me to look for another! So here's something I just threw together while doing housework. I wanted to keep it from the classic era ( late 70's early 80's) and the stuff that was genre-blending and and some even getting airplay in the mainstream. I wanted to keep it a little diverse, a little ska, a little English, a little NY, a little LA, a little mod, well, you get the picture.

Dig these grooves, baby!

Hodgepodge, vol. 6

Photographer Elliot Erwitt Check out all the photos on the lower left side of the page, click on the thumbnails to see a bigger view of each ones. Such a variety of interesting images. Some of the dog ones are quite funny.


Six Things From History Everyone Pictures Incorrectly (Warning contains some mild profanity)


Cool LITTLE Camper


Hairy Humor?
The Trustworthiness of Beards.



A quote I like:

"Love many, trust few and always paddle your own canoe." -American Proverb

Música Alternativa del Señor

Moses In The Wilderness

This is an old song, circa the Jesus Freak era, it's kind of funny. "He used real bugs...oww, oww, owww..." Good, old Larry Norman. Enjoy.

Song Memory: Sunshine On My Shoulders

I think I am going to blog occasionally about something I'll call song memory. I know much has been written about sense memory and even scent memory. That would be the concepts of how our own senses and emotional responses are linked to the circumstances of certain memories. For example, the smells of certain things, trigger in us the remembrance of a certain person, place or time. Sometimes songs do that for me. Music profoundly affects me, and I know that to be true for many folks.



I associate Sunshine on My Shoulders by John Denver with a distinct day from my childhood. Every time I hear it, my first response is that I recall a little fragment of an actual of a day in my life. I am about 7 or 8 and with my oldest dearest friend, J. We are in rural Pennsylvania, walking down a narrow, slightly overgrown woodsy path that runs alongside a small lake. Sunlight is glistening on the water and on the leaves of the trees and shrubs. The path leads to a small dam, and being brave and young we always have to walk across it. It takes a bit of fearlessness and balance. J. is so much more coordinated than I am, she leads even though she's younger than me. It was a great way to spend a summer.

Stuck On Something...

Do you ever crave something and it's like you can't get enough of it for awhile? I'm like that. For me, and for most of time, it usually has to do with music or food.

Photo by Adam_d_
There was a point in my recent history where I literally had to have my cheese grits for breakfast almost EVERY day. This went on for about a year and a half. OK well, literally and had to are an exaggeration, but I did have them for breakfast just that frequently, and for that amount of time. Now I have them once in awhile on a Saturday.

Last fall, after reading a post on Jorge Garcia's blog I had to listen to the song "Horchata" at least once a day. The other song I had to hear every day was "Say Hey" and that lasted throughout the past summer and fall.

My other daily delights have been as follows: I've gone through a phase of drinking Publix Raspberry iced tea with lime. I also had this hankering to soak in a certain mineral-mud-bath product almost every day. I also craved the scent of tea tree oil. Then I go off of those things, just get out of the habit of it for whatever reason. I still like the bath minerals, the raspberry tea, and the other things, but I don't find myself craving them like I once did. Can anyone else relate to that kind of frequent urge waxing and waning?

Image from here.
Nowadays, I'm chewing on crushed ice, and when I'm not chewing on it, I'm thinking, I sure could use some crushed ice right now. That probably has to do with the beautifully warm weather. I also have to have a banana every morning and an apple in the afternoon. As for songs, I've been listening to "Good Times, Bad Times." Why?

I don't know. It's just this kick that I'm on.

Autumn Song Playlist

I searched for help in compiling this list of songs that remind me of the autumn season. Some of the songs are chosen for obvious reasons, others are purely subjective. They simply remind me of this time of year for one reason or another. I had many in my own mind, but I wanted to see if what others though about this subject. I found this and this, and hereby give them credit. If you have a song to suggest, please let me know, and if you like share why it reminds you of the fall season. If you use the playlist, I recommend using the shuffle option, it's the little "x" shaped icon on the top right of the playlist box.

Woodstock Rock and Apple Bottom Jeans Hip Hop

This song seems oddly appropriate today:


There was some hoopla last week about it being the anniversary of Woodstock and all. So I am reminded, and I am appreciating artists like the ones above. I also submit The Band, Sly and The Family Stone and whomever (!) from that day and age when music was wonderful, magical and REAL in contrast to some of the current popular music. I am considering all of this because I (finally?) heard a song this week called "Low" by Flo Rida and T- Pain, and let me just say, Pooh-pooh!

Why did I finally hear it, and how did I even come across it, living in my insulated Christian world? Because one of my 4 year old charges this week, looked at me with sweet seriousness over the lunch table, and asked, "Ms. 'EB', do you like the song Sweet Home Alabama?" "Sure, honey," I said. "Doesn't everybody?" I thought to myself, though that song was not exactly a favorite since it's tired from over-play on the radio.

Actually, I can't think of that song without recalling a warning from my my long-haired, heavy metal loving high school boyfriend of eons (not ages) ago. He said that was the only classic rock song you could crank up and not get your *bahookie* (he used another word) kicked in the small Central Florida town where we attended high school. It was a very country town back then, and he with his shaggy long hair and me with my punkability (G. K. coined it back then) we were not well received by a majority of our classmates. So it seemed at the time. But I'm digressing...

Anyway, back to "Low" and the kid from my class. This sweet-faced little cherub-rascal went on to recite some of the opening lines to the song the "Sweet Home Alabama" and then he quickly asked me a follow up question. He asked me if like the "Apple Bottom Jeans" song? And he sang some of it. "Apple Bottom Jeans*, boots with the fur*, the whole club was lookin' at her..." Having never heard it, I googled. All I can say is, "Rap stinks."

Actually that isn't true. There is some good, creative rap out there. "Low" is a catchy song, but the lyrics go from PG to R to X and it BOTHERS me. There is nothing left to the imagination anymore. That is the problem I see with most Hip-hop music in general. Sure there are dirty and gritty songs in all genres of popular music, but in my opinion, modern (not old-school) rap and hip-hop are dirty almost ALL the time. Forget double entendres, or even vague and thinly veiled mature or graphic content. We live in a p*rn saturated world, and we've come a long way since the Beatles wanted to hold your hand and even those old devils the Rolling Stones wanted to spend the night together. Sigh. Rant over, stepping off the soapbox.




* a brand name
*Uggs, perhaps?

Summer playlist

Well, August is nearly over and once Labor Day comes summer will officially be over. This has just been something I have been working on for fun. If you have any other suggestions post them!

Your Song?

Somebody recently asked, as a couple what is “your song?”

[Is your song Your Song? hehehe]

The song that reminds Big Daddy of us is "Heaven" by Bryan Adams.
The song that reminds me of him is "I Got You Babe" the version done by UB40 and Chrissie Hynde.

::sigh:::Twas nighteen-eighty-five, and we were so young, sweet, naive and hopeful! Those were good times.

Our joke song is "I Remember You" by Skid Row, because one time we were driving with it cranked up on the radio as a joke. We were never big Skid Row fans (though we couldn't help but appreciate Sebastian Bach's fabulous hair). In fact, we liked to mock the hair bands and much of metal that was on MTV's Headbanger's ball during that era, even though we liked our share of metal. Anyway, we were driving from Sarasota to Orlando one day and got a flat tire, while listening to that song and singing with faux-passion at the top of our lungs. So now that song just reminds us of that goofy day and now we kind of like the song. It has a nice acoustic guitar in the beginning and all...

We were/are such music fans there are so many songs that remind us of each other, I suppose. Sometimes Big Daddy walks around singing "Over The Hills And Far Away" to me, which is funny because he was never the Zeppelin fan, I was. He will sing “Lady, you got the love I need…” It’s sort of sweet, really, and makes me feel good when he sings it to me. I love the way the acoustic guitar trails off and the tiny bit of organ music at the end of that song too.

I can't presume to speak for Big Daddy but he has mentioned "Me and Honey," and "Home" and this one as fitting at various times in our life together. For me there are so many in addition to the ones mentioned above. A few more of mine: The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, Harvest Moon, Skyway and By Your Side.

There are a few songs that remind me immediatly of some of my friends because they were played at their weddings. It's sweet to think of those times.

So, what songs remind you of your spouse? Did you play them at your wedding? Do you still listen to them?

A Great Collection of Music

A few weeks ago, while ordering Big Daddy's Father's Day and anniversary present, I treated myself to a little something: The soundtrack from the movie version of the musical Godspell. I recall being in fourth grade, and our class doing one of the songs, Day By Day, as our musical performance. My Mom was fond of musicals and movies. She probably took took my brother and I to see Godspell when it was first released. I also recall seeing the movie various times while growing up. Godspell used to get played on TV during Easter season, but it has been a good 10-15 years since I have seen it on cable or network television. Draw you're own conclusions about that. I think it has less to do with the dated, quaint 'hippyiness' of the movie and more to do with our nation's current climate of being tolerant of everything but art and media that carries an such an overt Christian message. However, I could be mistaken.

Anyway, this soundtrack is a perennial favorite of mine, and having lost it during our various moves, I thought it was time to replace it. When I was a newcomer to Christianity as a young adult, this album was something I recalled from my childhood as being religious, good, and full of great folk-rock music. Since I was turning from my old ways and becoming new person in Christ, it was especially helpful. I missed good music, since I felt then the importance of giving up my old rock and roll (and punk, jazz, alternative, etc., music) collection. This fit the bill, along with an old Al Green album. Later on when I found Don Francisco and Rich Mullins I was ecstatic. DC Talk went on to cover Day By Day on their seminal Jesus Freak album.

The Godspell movie features a very young, thin Victor Garber in the Jesus roll. Having been a fairly keen Alias fan, I was delighted when I realized that the man who played Jack Bristow also played Jesus! It also features the late, great Lynn Thigpen. You'll recognize both Garber and Thigpen from the numerous TV and movie rolls they've acted in over the years. Thigpen will always be beloved by me as the radio station DJ from The Warriors, a classic running-the-gauntlet movie from the late 70's. Thigpin was also The Chief from Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego and the voice of Luna from the Bear in the Big Blue House, both 90's era kid's programs. She and Garber can sing as well as they can act. Enjoy.

Two Movie Reviews, or I Once watched Mama Mia

I don’t go to movie theaters much, particularly not for a grown-up movie. (I was going to write adult movie, but that usually means something entirely different than what I’m actually saying.) If I do go to the theater to see a movie, it’s usually G fare that our whole family [hopefully] enjoys. If Big Daddy and I want to see a movie for grown-ups, we just wait until it’s released on DVD and rent it.

I have recently rented and watched two movies that are music driven. I liked them both, in varying degrees and for varying reasons. A few thoughts occurred to me while watching them. I thought I’d compare and contrast them, and some of the issues they brought to my mind. You’ll have to bear in mind that I cannot help but view everything through the filter of my Christian beliefs.


The movie “Once” was released commercially in 2007, and I have wanted to see it since then. When we lived in Central Florida, our local movie rental store did not carry it. I was pleased to see it on the shelves of our local store here. Once is a serious movie of the independent genre. It follows the paths of two musicians who meet by chance, and strike up a musical partnership and friendship. The music drives the story along, as a natural part of the characters’ lives, and in the movie we see a slice of that life. The songs, which are very good, are showcased in that respect. The actors are also the real musicians, and while not well-known, are extremely talented.

“Mama Mia” is a musical, was released last year, in 2008. I probably don’t have to tell you it was a blockbuster. It’s based on the successful Broadway musical, based on the songs of 70’s super-group ABBA. I have always had a big-old soft spot for ABBA (even when I was a punk-rock grrrl and couldn’t admit it to anyone). ABBA’s hit songs are strung together to go along with the plot. The cast are all famous and award winners. The setting is a gorgeous Greek island. I love the songs, the location and the costumes (the flamboyant stuff and even the regular clothing). On a side note, I do appreciate that the bathing suit the main character wears during a scene was a cute one-piece, modest by most standards. Anyhow, it’s not meant to be a deep movie, it’s meant to be fun and fluffy. In those respects, it works.

The plot follows a young woman who is getting married. Her single Mom never told her who her father was, but she finds her mother’s diary from the summer before she was born. Unbeknownst to her mom, she reads the diary and discovers there are three viable candidates for her dad. Also unbeknownst to her mom, she invites them all to the wedding, hoping to find out the truth about her dad. Hilarity and shenanigans ensue (please know I am typing that with sarcastic fingers) over the discomfort of all parties, who do not know about each other, have not seen each other in 20 years and are slowly figuring out the paternity issues.



Both movies showcase wonderful music. Both movies deal with the foibles of life, lust and love, and our human ineptness or competence in dealing with such things; albeit in a low key kind of way. One movie is rather serious and the other is light-hearted.

Once is primarily about two characters, and a short period in their lives. Soon after their initial meeting, the Guy does declare his desire to spend the night with the Girl, which she refuses. We learn why his advances are rebuffed later, and he does not make any pressing moves after that. She is married, though estranged from her husband. It is not clear why. We learn the Guy’s passionate music is inspired by a woman he loved and left because of her unfaithfulness. It is revealed that she desires his forgiveness and to reconcile. Guy and Girl continue on in a very satisfying musical partnership and friendship. They encourage each other in their personal and professional pursuits. They truly make such beautiful music together; you know that it could very easily spill over to a romantic connection. You can sense their attraction to one another but they never let it cross the line. The Guy and the Girl go on to their respective futures and partners without having anything to complicate and shame them. They acted nobly toward one another. The characters hold to a higher ideal.

Mama Mia is another matter altogether. The characters become enmeshed in the baser human desires, revel in them, all the while lamenting over the fallout (read: heartache) from them. If only they would just stop the tomfoolery and stop and think for a moment. If the young Donna had not so quickly consoled herself in the arms of another man before her love affair with Sam was resolved, perhaps the two of them would have had a shot at a happy marriage. If Donna would have been honest and told her three lovers about her pregnancy, her daughter would have had a dad. That has obviously left a big hole in her daughter’s life. All three men seem happy to step up to the plate. Donna is puzzled at why her daughter even wants to get married. At the end, the young bride and groom call it off, for no other reason than they’re too young. Yet, they are going to sail off in the moonlight together to see the world and follow their dreams. Just not as a married couple. The old lovers, Donna and Sam do get married, so as not to waste a good wedding, and acknowledge that they do still have loving feelings for each other.

What is the message here? The young lovers were happy to make a commitment, and don’t seem impeded by anything other than their early 20-something age. Yet they “come to their senses” and realize that youth, marriage and following one’s dreams cannot occur, more or less, simultaneously. The old lovers have carried a torch for each other all those years. They admit to their individual various struggles in the intervening years: a failed marriage, struggles with loneliness, finances and single-parenthood. They would have saved themselves a lot of grief if they had accepted that true love is a virtuous possibility, worth fighting for (or waiting for), and it was within their grasp all those years ago. What if they just married back then? Am I the only one who thought, why are they nudging their daughter in the same mistaken direction they went in at her age? Don’t commit fully to love, honey, but do enjoy your freedom and liberty while you’re young, wink-wink. This seems so typical of the mores and values that came into the mainstream with the baby-boomer generation.

However, Mama Mia is meant to entertain rather than provoke thoughts, it’s a pleasant ride through a repertoire of pop songs. Yet I can’t help but wonder about the underlying values it asks me to just go along with and take for granted as I go on that ride. Once is a slice of life drama, it’s realistic, and it’s not pretty, like the people and setting of Mama Mia. What is beautiful about Once, is that it quietly and effectively ennobles the viewer through it’s subtle portrayal of a platonic relationship between two lonely and gifted musicians; and how they place the greater good over a instant gratification. The gracious gesture at the end of the movie Once shows more LOVE than all the wedding and bedding that is sung about, flirted with or implied within the entire Mama Mia movie.

Christmastime is here…

...And I love it! We have our lights up, our tree, our decorations and we are ready!


What’s your favourite Christmas movie? I love A Charlie Brown Christmas. On the other hand, The Grinch Who Stole Christmas used to scare the heck out of me when I was a child, and he still does. I am still uncomfortable watching it! I really like Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer, the old stop-action animated one where the characters are felt or clay. I like A Christmas Carol, too, but I can’t say which version I like best. I think that the movie The Nativity Story is one of my new favorites. Perhaps I am biased because of my faith, but I think it is a very well made, impeccably acted and visually compelling adaptation. I think anyone could appreciate it, even if they are not particularly religious. It’s directed by Catherine Hardwicke, who most recently directed the blockbuster Twilight. Check it out.

What’s your favorite Christmas music? I have so many favorites. Away In A Manger, O Come All Ye Faithful, O Little Town Of Bethlehem, Breath of Heaven by Amy Grant, Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas by the Pretenders, 'Zat You Santa Claus by Buster Poindexter, Little Drummer Boy by David Bowie and Bing Crosby, Put The Lights on the Tree by Sufjan Stevens, Ave Maria by Joan Baez….and of course, Christmastime is Here from the Charlie Brown special.


I will miss a few of the holiday traditions we enjoyed in Central Florida. Visiting Donelly Park in Mt. Dora, and enjoying the magical wonderland of lights and eating dinner at Vincent’s! Plant Street in Winter Garden was also lovely! I will miss driving by the decorated, old southern mansions in Oakland, some tasteful and some kitschy, but all a delight to the eyes. I will miss my dear family and friends there! I will not miss my dog-tired feet from working the retail craziness at Bealls, but I will miss my old co-workers. Last year I was so busy with my job and having some extra children in the nest, it was a very good Christmas overall, but a little crazy and stressful, too. God bless them (((J & T))), every~one!

I am looking forward to new traditions here in the Keys. I hope to visit the lighted boat parade in Key West. I have never seen a boat parade before, let alone boats with lights and decorations. That should be fun. I’m also told that the lights in the prayer garden of San Pablo are beautiful; I can’t wait to see them. We are having a candle light service on Christmas Eve. I look forward to some down time with my family, and to reflect on the season in a quietly joyful way this year.

Blessings, Ya'll!