Moth's Wings (cont.)... It's in my head!

I pretty much don't know anything about music. I can only sing to babies and dogs. (I was in chorus back in 4th grade.) I don't know what the hell all those symbols mean on a sheet of music. (I used to play the trumpet! And I foolishly let myself be talked into buying a guitar, and have been unable to tune it or decipher the poster with the chords?... notes?...) I can't tell you which band sings what song--if I could even name the band or better yet an actual song title.

But I like music! Haha. And I love listening to new stuff. The problem I run into is I can't tell if I like it at first or not. Rarely will a song hit me the first time I listen to it, although it happens. A coworker excitedly shared "Runaway" by Love and Theft, claiming it made her think of me. I was skeptical at first, but wow. Haha. I pretty much went home and downloaded the acoustic version (okay, I know that I have a huge, huge preference for an acoustic version of a song, pretty much across the board).

That was a rare case though. Usually, a new album or CD takes me a good 4 or 5 listens before the songs start to separate from each other. I'll suddenly notice that Track 5 has an intro I really like and Track 11 has a lyric that seems to literally stop the song and whisper into my ear. Then after a few more listens, I know I've really got a song. At first it's just a lyric or two that stands out (Whose side are you on?/What side is this anyway?). And then, maybe it gets so into my head that I listen to it too much and bam.

So now "Moth's Wings" by Passion Pit has fixed itself into my head. I usually try not to skip through songs when I'm driving. But when I hear:

"Dear friend, as you know..."

I get excited.

It's like a conversation. I think maybe that's why I like it. It's not someone belting out how much he loves someone, or misses someone, or how great things are, or how bad they are. Sure there's emotion to it, and strong ones at that (But the clouds are clearing up/and I've come rebelling/burning incandescently/like a bastard on the burning sea). But it's different.

I just keep coming back to this conversation idea. Things are "wrong" with the situation (You're pressing on your laurels/and stepping on my toes). There's "conflict" (You come beating like moth's wings/spastic and violently/whipping me into a storm/shaking me down to the core). Then there's the question--my "first" lyric!! (Whose side are you on?/What side is this anyway?).

And then another part that I love about this song. There's a resolution offered (Put down your sword and crown/Come lay with me on the ground).

It's a song to make amends. A song to mend fences or build bridges. A song to renew relationships, or ya know what? Even end them. But on good terms I think. It's like a book that has one of those endings where the reader decides what happens. You don't know if the friend accepts the offer or not. Even if you've decided on the relationship--friends, lovers, siblings, whatever--it's just out there. That possibility, that offer. After the singer and friend are on the same level, after laying down on the ground, what happens? Friends again? Kiss and make up? Business as usual and pretend the conversation never happened? Turn around and walk away?


Hm. I spent way too much time writing this post. I take solace in the fact that you didn't have to sit there and read it. ;)

Moth's Wings

Whose side are you on?
What side is this anyway?

In Your Eyes

It's no secret that I really enjoy simple tunes. There's just something about a guitar or a piano or whatever, even if it's not necessarily accompanied by a voice, that I love. Acoustic versions of songs are beginning to be my favorites by far.

Along those lines, I stumbled into a good one over the weekend. I've really liked the song, "In Your Eyes" by Peter Gabriel ever since my sister's wedding when it was played during a little show of pics from my sister and brother-in-law growing up and some shots of our families, both living and passed. [Haha, probably cliche, but it was awesome nevertheless.] What I came across was a cover version performed by Sara Bareilles. She's one of the artist's who had a song featured in a Mac/Apple/iPod commercial... "Love Song" maybe? Either way, her version of "In Your Eyes" is, yes, awesome.

Check it out on YouTube here.

Fireflies

Song of the day (or past several, actually)

Fireflies by Owl City

It reminds me of Trying To Put Your Heart Back Together. Like a happy sad song or something. Plus, with a Firefly program coming up, and the awesome little dudes flyin' around the past few weeks, it seems appropriate.

And I like this line:

To ten million fireflies
I'm weird, cause I hate goodbyes

Ask You

Go here and check out the song. (Then, you should probably leave a comment and let him know what you think. Chances are you'll help make his day.)

That itch to fly...

"I had the itch to fly and I flew." As you can probably tell by now, I LOVE that line. And here's the song which provided the sweet lyric.

And actually, this live version kicks so much ass. I think I need to go to another show soon. Guster?! Haha. Jimmy?! Hmm...

I find myself thoroughly enjoying this along with "Trying To Put Your Heart Back Together." All thanks to my Gregarious friend! [Where's my favorite DJ when I need him?]

Artoo? Where are you?

In honor of the brand-spanking new phone I picked out in less than 5 minutes thanks to the wonderfully funny and sarcastic Verizon lady, I have changed my blog to a black background.

'Cause that's what my phone has.

Pretty sick. I'm enjoying it thoroughly. Now all I need to do is figure out this music thing... For, you see, I've considered actually utilizing all the functions my phone was meant to have, including for once, sound! At least, sound when I'm hangin around home.

Guess who beeps and boops when I get a text! Haha. Not to mention a Guster ringtone!

Hahah I love it.

Cannonball

Check it out.

"It's not hard to grow
When you know that you just don't know"

"Please keep in sight what makes you care...

...you have it always."

That is my current challenge. It shouldn't be that difficult, huh? Balls. I don't know why I invest so much of myself into things.

This does make me feel a bit better:

April 1. This is the day upon which we are reminded of what we are on the other three hundred and sixty-four. - Mark Twain

Maybe that's the excuse. I'm just a foo'.

"Spinning and spinning..." We're all gonna be dizzy. "Dancing in plastic, shake-up snow." Still dizzy.

I have the itch to fly.

Trying To Put Your Heart Back Together

Okay... so if my little playlist project worked out better, I would have to add this song to my list. This vid doesn't do it total justice, but it's awesome.

I don't have a lot of Slow Runner's stuff, but what I do have I really enjoy. This song, "Trying To Put Your Heart Back Together," is no different. I can't figure out if I should feel sad or not when I listen to it. Haha, I guess it's actually a sad song, but in an upbeat way. Is that even possible?

It just struck a chord, and it continues to resonate.

(Thanks for the tunes, boyo!)

Creatively speaking

I have scads of friends who just ooze talent. Whether it's visually artistic, intriguingly audible, culinarily mouthwatering or soul-searchingly thoughtful, I can't think of one person who doesn't have something awesome going on. It's pretty sweet.

I currently have two friends who are hard at work on music projects. Chad, who recently solidified a band and has written some of the coolest songs I've ever heard, is going to be opening for a U2 cover band in the Boston area. He's been in other bands, played in festivals and coffee shops and even tapped through the Zelda theme for me once on his keyboard. He wrote one of my favorite songs of all time, Rain, which you can get on iTunes here. I don't know if I ever told him this, but I listen to that song when I'm bummed out (it's perfect) or when I'm happy (because it's actually sorta perfect for that too) and it's easily made half my playlists on iTunes. When I listen to it, I get the same kind of feeling as when I listen to Let's Dance To Joy Division by The Wombats. Where things are just messed up and you're screwed and there doesn't seem to be anything left to do. But it doesn't matter. It just doesn't matter.

And it reminds me of one of my favorite memories from school: Running around and playing in the pouring rain. If you've never done that, you really need to put it on your list of things. (Check out Chad's blog.)

The other vocalist in the song, my friend Dylan, is currently in the process of producing his first album. He's been pretty good at keeping an online production journal which I also recommend checking out. His latest entry was pretty deep! This should also be on your list of things to get. I'm a pretty big fan of acoustic music, and Bicycle On The Ice is my acoustic Van Gogh in this album. (I'm going to be thrown off when I listen to it and don't hear the infamous "doorslam" IM sound that I've grown accustomed to on the demo version.) I know how much it means to this kid to actually be DOING this, and as with Chad, I couldn't be prouder of him for doing it.

I'm excited for them. And while I'm sad I'm not a part of their process, I wanted to give 'm a plug. In case you happened to stumble upon this blog, do yourself a favor and check them out. You won't be disappointed.

On a clear day...

I caught the end of a Scrubs episode before. It was from their second season, entitled My Philosophy. Part of the episode deals with a patient who is waiting for a heart transplant and her interaction with J.D. The patient, Elaine, has come to terms with the two possible outcomes, and she's not afraid of dying. What bothers her is the waiting.

J.D. asks her what she thinks death is like. She hopes it's like a big Broadway musical, with people dressed up and singing and going out with a flourish. J.D. on the other hand thinks it's more like a game of dodge ball, where you get nailed by the big guy, wake up in the hot nurse's office and "when she leans in to put that bandage on your nose, you get the feeling that something could actually happen if you just take the chance and bury your face in her knockers."

Towards the end of the episode, Elaine does die. As the doctor and nurses try to revive her, the scene fades to Elaine in Broadway-esque dress and she starts to sing "Waiting For My Real Life To Begin," (by Colin Hay) followed by the rest of the Scrubs cast. I actually know the song (and it almost made it onto my playlist!) but I don't remember hearing it in the context of this episode. It's poignantly sad and beautiful at the same time.

I love the lyrics. And how that one part utilized in the episode can relate to death not being the end, but the possibility of it being a new beginning. Maybe even a more important beginning?

"Don't you understand
I already have a plan
I'm waiting for my real life to begin"

And as Elaine sings, "On a clear day, I can see... see a very long way," the scene fades back to the bed and we lose her.

Chills. Not for the loss perhaps, but for the pregnant possibility...