Tag: music

Throwback 60’s Playlist

Lauren9 Comments

I once took a Victorian Literature class and on the first day we went around the room and said what time period we would live in if we could go back (or forward) in time. There were a lot of people who said the Victorian era (suck ups) and others who said medieval times (knight in shining armor syndrome), but me, I said the 60’s.

And not just because I love hitch hiking and tripping on shrooms (NOT!), but because I feel it would be so cool to experience the time period my parents grew up in. And for the great music, of course.

(Way Back) Throwback 60’s Playlist

For when you’re not playing the new Justin Timberlake CD on repeat.  Just me?

1. “For What It’s Worth” by Buffalo Springfield

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Just love.  What a perfect expression of countercultural angst and that laid-back hippie vibe.  From the lyrics to the message to the style of the music, everything about this song just screams 60’s to me.  Fact: If this song comes on in the middle of a heated vinyasa yoga flow, the class becomes a million times better.  Fun Fact #2: I always thought this song was about Vietnam, but it’s actually about the curfew battle that happened between young clubgoers (hello Peter Fonda and Jack Nicholson!) and the surrounding businesses in L.A during the 60’s.  Who knew?!

2. “White Rabbit” by Jefferson Airplane

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It broke my heart a couple weeks ago when, driving in our mini van in Arizona, this song came on the radio and Joey’s cousin exclaimed “this song is about Alice in Wonderland!” and I had to say “this song is about drugs!”  Such is the wisdom you receive when you have two parents that grew up in the 60’s and this is your family road-trip sing-a-long song of choice.

3. “A Whiter Shade of Pale” by Procol Harum

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Okay, call me weird (because this song is weird) but I have always loved this one.  It’s one of those songs that you make up the words to when you sing along and then you look up the lyrics and hey, those actually are the right words!  No?  Just me who does that?  Anyways, slightly chilling, really beautiful and totally thought-provoking.  As in my one thought is “what is this song talking about?!”  Also, um, creepiest album cover ever?

4. “Rescue Me” by Fontella Bass

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Because every playlist needs a little R&B.  And because I dig the simplicity of this 60’s classic.  I just wish I could remember that it’s by Fontella Bass and not Aretha or Diana.

5. “Where Did Our Love Go?” by the Supremes

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And while we’re on the subject of Diana.  Short Story: the other day “Tainted Love” was on in the car and I announced that the part where the song transitions into a cover of “Where Did Our Love Go?” is my favorite part and Joey was so confused because he thought that was an original part of the song.  I about had a heart attack because “who doesn’t know the original is by the Supremes?!”  Luckily, me playing the original and singing along quickly jogged his memory.

6. “Sittin On the Dock of the Bay” by Otis Redding

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Have you listened to this song recently?  Like really listened to it?  I’ll admit that I hadn’t and when I did all I could think was “how beautifully soulful!”  Okay, that whistling part still really annoys me, but the rest of the song is perfect.

7. “(I Love You) More Today Than Yesterday” by Spiral Staircase

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I had second thoughts about including this one, but while going through my list and listening to each song again (I take this seriously, people) there was no way I could skip it.  There’s nothing like an upbeat love song with a fun chorus you can belt out into your honey’s ear while he’s trying to focus on the road and drive you both home.  Amiright?

8. “Respect” by Aretha Franklin

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Is it even possible to be a woman and not love Aretha Franklin?  Answer: no.  I basically consider this song to be the original independent woman anthem.

9. “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” by Marvin Gaye

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Dear lord, I love this song.  I love it in a way that makes me unable to not get super into singing along any time I hear it.  That opening music?  Marvin’s flawless voice?  Those parts where you have to embrace your own beautiful falsetto?  How is it even possible to not love this song?

10. “Build Me Up Buttercup” by the Foundations

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Because there is not a single person on this Earth with ears who does not love this song.  Every time it ends I say “nooooo, it was just getting extra good!”  Sidenote: WHAT is this album cover?

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If you could live in any time period, what would it be?

What’s your favorite “oldie” song?

Do you have a favorite musical era?

10 Christmas Songs I’m Embarrassed to Admit I Like

Lauren4 Comments

My WordPress dashboard is snowing!  Which is weird because it’s supposed to reach 70 degrees here in Colorado today.  What is going on and where is the winter weather?

Okay so the weather here doesn’t exactly make it feel like Christmas is soon.  I’m coping by listening to loads of Christmas music.  Last week I bought the Mariah Carey Christmas CD and have been listening to it on repeat at work ever since.  Two questions: why did I not already own this album and do the other employees at work love listening to it as much as I do?

Sadly, this isn’t the only Christmas music-related embarrassment in my life.

10 Christmas Songs I’m Embarrassed to Admit I Like

1. Colorado Christmas – Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

I just can’t help it.  It’s about my home state and seriously, “the closest thing to heaven on this planet anywhere, is a quiet Christmas morning in the Colorado snow” are probably the truest lyrics I’ve ever heard.

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2. Last Christmas – any and all versions

Honestly, there’s no version of this song that wouldn’t be embarrassing to like.  Wham!, Savage Garden, Rachel and Finn on Glee?  Nope, no version.  But there’s something about that dumb little tune and those heartbreaking lyrics that makes it hard not to belt this one out whenever it comes up on the radio. 

3. Sleigh Ride – Harry Connick Jr.

Let’s be clear that there’s nothing embarrassing about Harry Connick Jr. or liking him and his music.  The embarrassing part is how excited I am every time I hear this song come on.  Like picture the most embarrassing and immature display of excitement you can imagine.  Yeah, that’s me.  I hope I’m never driving near someone I know when I hear this one.

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4.  Feliz Navidad – Jose Feliciano

I claim I hate this song, but then every time it comes on I don’t change the station and I do sing along.  I mean, I still don’t really know the words, but I sing along to a lot of songs I don’t know the words to.

5. Mele Kalilimaka – Bing Crosby

Speaking of songs that I don’t know the words to.  Hawaii is possibly the least Christmasy place there is in the United States, but for some reason I still love this song and imagine myself spending Christmas on an island in the 1950’s whenever I hear it.  Unrelated side note: I had no idea this was Bing Crosby and now I feel dumb.

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6. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas – David Archuleta & Charice Pempengco

My American Idol favorite always loses.  First Clay, then David, then Adam.  My heart couldn’t take it and I no longer watch Idol.  Does anyone?  Anyways, “the David that should have won” will always have a place in my heart and this duet with Charice Pempengco, one of many Glee characters who suddenly disappeared, is beautiful.  Can Kurt disappear next, please?

8. Simply Having a Wonderful Christmas Time – Paul McCartney

Even Sir Paul is embarrassed by this song.  But I will go to the grave claiming to like anything by any of the Beatles.

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7. Step Into Christmas – Elton John

Once Joey and I drove the entire PCL from Los Angeles to San Francisco in one day and listened to the Best of Elton John the entire time.  We maintain that this is totally normal.  Also totally normal to purchase “Step Into Christmas” when it’s not even Christmas time and occasionally listen to it until it becomes the time of year where it’s socially acceptable to listen to it.  Wait, is it even socially acceptable to listen to this song?

9. I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas – Gayla Peevey

And all this time I thought the singer was just an adult with an obnoxious voice, but it turns out it’s a 10-year-old.  I have a sneaking suspicion this song would probably be completely annoying if you listened to it more than twice in one year, but I don’t so I happen to like it.  Also, “hippo” is hands down the best animal name abbreviation.

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10. O Holy Night – Josh Groban

Last week, Joey and I played this game where he played the iTunes previews of different versions of this song and I guessed the artist.  I was good at this game.  Like “oh, that’s the third girl from Destiny’s Child who no one remembers” good.  One version that didn’t come up was Josh Groban’s because he apparently decided not to share this gift with iTunes and thus, the world.  Not cool, Josh.  But man can he sing O Holy Night or what?  Unrelated side note #2: Can you imagine being Josh Groban’s parents and hearing him sing like that from his room when he was younger?

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Your turn: what Christmas song are you embarrassed to admit you like?