Kiss The Year Goodbye

Here's my best of 2004 mix cd. As always if you want a copy of this mix, give me a shout and I'm sure we can arrange something.

This year, things were a little bit poppy and a little bit jazzy.

Kiss the Year Goodbye!


1 Elvis Costello - The Name Of The Thing Is Not Love
2 The Dresden Dolls - Coin Operated Boy
3 Duran Duran - What Happens Tomorrow
4 Jamie Cullum - Everlasting Love
5 Diana Krall - I'll Never Be The Same
6 U2 - Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own
7 Alison Moyet - Almost Blue
8 Elton John - All That I'm Allowed
9 Lisa Stansfield - Treat Me Like A Woman
10 Jonathan Rice - So Sweet
11 K.D. Lang - Hallelujah
12 Glenn Tillbrook - Untouchable
13 Keri Noble - Piece Of My Heart
14 Counting Crows - Accidentally In Love
15 Lara Fabian - No Big Deal
16 Robbie Williams - It's De-Lovely
17 Tierney Sutton - Fly Me To The Moon
18 Joshua Payne - City Song

My favorite tracks are The Dresden Dolls' Coin Operated Boy, K.D. Lang's gorgeous cover of the Leonard Cohen classic, Hallelujah and Elvis Costello's The Name Of This Thing Is Not Love. Of course, I like them all, or they wouldn't be on here.

2004 was a good year for music.

2004 in Pictures

While on the subject of best ofs, I decided to go through all the pictures I took on my digital camera this year. I picked 26 photos that summed up some of the best events of the past year and the best shots of the last year.

Here's one of the photos that made the post.


A winter scene -- taken one block above my house on 2/2/04 

Click on the picture and you'll be taken to the rest of the photos.

Enjoy!

The Best of 2004

Well before the new year starts, I thought I had better recall some of the good things that this year has brought my way.

01. Two Moody Blues Concerts
02. Great seats to David Bowie's show in Pittsburgh (even though it was the worst concert experience ever)
03. Two trips to Atlantic City
04. Going back to Longwood Gardens for the first time in over 10 years.
05. Flower shows at Phipps Conservatory.
06. Seeing Jeff Dunham at the Improv.
07. New music from many of my favorite artists. (Elvis Costello and Duran Duran)
08. The family together for the holidays.
09. A great 30th b-day.
10. Seeing more of the beauty of the surrounding area.
11. Meeting Malcolm Gets

Damn you sickness

Disease and pestilence has been spread throughout my house. Of course, I had to be the last one to get the damn cold. Of course I couldn't get the normal symptoms of cough and runny nose. I could deal with that.

I got the symptom from hell. The one ailment that makes me a miserable bitch. OK, that makes me a even bigger miserable bitch than usual. Sore throat.

I can deal with most anything else. Stuffy nose? Big deal! Cough? Who cares, I like sounding like I'm hacking up a lung or two. Fever? Gives me an excuse to eat soup and sleep. Sore throat? ARGH!!!

Of course we have no cough drops.

So I'm sitting here sucking on mints. Anything to make the scratchy throbbing feeling go away.

Grrr!

I wonder if wine will take away a sore throat? Cos if it will, I'm so opening the New Year's Eve stash of Arbor Mist.

R.I.P. Jerry Orbach

Most of us will remember Jerry from Law and Order, but in his memory, I want to post a link to one of the great musicals Jerry was a part of.

Chicago!



Yes, Jerry was the original Billy Flynn! And from the sound clip at Amazon, he was a damn good Billy Flynn.

R.I.P. Jerry. The world lost a very talented man yesterday.

2004 mixed up

I've been sitting around with my CDs, pondering the last mix of the year. The best of 2004.

This has been a rather good year for CD releases. We had U2, Elvis Costello, Duran Duran and Jimmy Buffett to name but a few. (And there were many many good cds out this year and many many bad ones too)

When my friend CBlaze mentioned he had made one, I thought, great idea. Then I thought, how in the hell am I going to fill a CD with new music? So I started looking at my CDs and my downloads. That's when I realized. Wow! There's a lot of new music this year, and it was pretty good too. (With exceptions like Ashlee Simpson and Britney Spears)

The nice thing is that my Roxio Software arrived today. Yay! I can burn the CD now! I didn't think I'd be burning any time soon. I just can't get used to the newer burning programs for XP. I don't want to burn with Windows Media Player and I really don't want to burn with Itunes, because every time I go there, I'm tempted to buy something! Crikey! I so do not need to buy any more stuff, unless it's on my Half.com wish list. (which is growing larger and larger every day)

I'm living proof that you can't teach an old dog new tricks. I won't even try the new software. I had to have Roxio!

~stomps foot~

~pouts~

And of course, now that I have the new version of Roxio (7.0), I'm staring at it befuddled, because they changed things and added features!

~How dare they do that?~

~stomps foot repeatedly~

I have to learn new software anyway now!

~more pouting~

But at least my mix cd artwork isn't lost anymore!

~big grin~

That, at least, is a plus.

If only I can figure out how to use the label creator for new art.

Didn't someone say change would do me good? I think they lie!

As soon as the mix is done, I'll post it here. Now I've got to figure out how to use my new, old software.

So much joy in one day

Not only did I finally get to go see Lemony Snicket today, I also saw the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory trailer and found out that Bob Saget was coming to the Improv in Pittsburgh.

I've had a very nice day.

OK, if it weren't for the fact that every little kid in the world decided to go to the movies today. And I do mean every little kid. (With their obnoxiously perky mothers_

I was itching through the whole film!

(Kids give me hives, remember?)

And I don't know which was worse, obnoxious kids or perky moms.

But other than that, the day was peachy. And I really mean that. Honest.

Lemony Snicket was a good movie. Not earthshatteringly good, but a pleasant movie that helped pass a few hours on an otherwise boring afternoon.

It was also the first movie with Jim Carrey that I've ever seen in a theater. See, I'm not too fond of Jim. He was almost tolerable in this film. Almost. Something about him, always makes my skin crawl, and this was no exception.

Thankfully the rest of the cast was superb. (Highlights were Meryl Streep and Billy Connelly as the orphans guardians) I absolutely love Billy Connelly.

All in all, a cute, odd film that was very Tim Burton-esque. And everyone that knows me, knows that I like Tim Burton films. Dark, yet sweet and not always with an ending that you'd expect.

Now all I need to see is Phantom Of The Opera. (basically so I can complain about the actor playing the Phantom) Life will be complete then. (Not really but for the time being)

It was just a really good day today! How was yours?

26 Things -- Holiday Hunt

It's finished! I'm so excited!

All 26 photos are assembled. It's taken most of the month to do it. In fact, the last photo was taken this morning. Can you belive it?

So go on over to my photoblog and have a peak at my photos. In the next few days I'll be adding posts of additional photos that I wanted to use for the hunt. I took so many, and they were all so pretty.

Enjoy!

Year End Music Mambo!

It's time to do the end of the year Music Mambo

"End of the Year Madness"

1. What was the best album released in 2004?

This wasn't an easy question. I've bought several "new" CDs this year, and all of them great. As much as I love the recently released Elvis Costello disc, the best disc this year is Duran Duran's Astronaut.




2. What was the best single released in 2004?
Again I'm tempted to say Monkey to Man, but it's typical Elvis and the new U2 song Vertigo, makes me crazy, so for me, the best single is Duran Duran's Reach Up For The Sunrise



3. What new (or new to you) artist did you discover this year?
The Dresden Dolls



The song Coin-Operated Boy is the greatest. It makes me smile everytime.

4. What was the best video made this year?

Elvis Costello - Monkey to Man

Watch it, you'll be amused.

5. What was the best concert you attended this year?
The Moody Blues - Tropicana Casino June 19, 2004.

Did you think I'd say anything else?

6. What was the musical scandal that amused you most?
Oh I can't decide. Between the talentless Ashlee Simpson's lip syncing incident on SNL and Janet Jackson baring a boob. Really, who could ask for any more amusement?

7. What song or album that you discovered this year would you recommend to us?

Bernie Barlow - Golden.

The album came out last year, but I didn't know about it. The CD is available on her website, and it's probably one of the best CDs I've bought this year. I recommend the Moody Blues backup lady to everyone! Check her out now!

How I spent the Sunday after Christmas

Do you really want to know? Cos it's been quite an uneventful day, unless you count me screaming at the computer eventful.

See XP still hates me.

I have most of my software back. Just not the software I want back. (insert grrr here)

I spent 2 hours editing my photoblog trying to ready my 26 things post. Right now I have about 25 things.

I've also gone back to listening to the regular CDs. I think I've had in my CD player and on my winamp for the last 5 days. My audioscrobbler was looking a bit scary. OK, it's still looking scary. I may have let up on the Christmas tunes, but I'm still listening to Justin Hayward. I checked my network on the site, and there isn't a single person that is more than about 55% compatible to me musically. I don't know if that's a good thing or not.

I guess it means I'm unique. (read: weird) I don't really care, but I never thought that I'm that different musically than most people. (oh who am I kidding.)

I like being unique. It makes things interesting for the most part, especially making mix CDs. I often wonder how many people I've traumatized with my taste in music. (not enough, I say)

I'm also reading bits and pieces of an old mystery I found while cleaning called Tourists are for Trapping.



That pretty much sums up my day, doncha think?

A Musical Christmas

Yesterday was lovely. The first Christmas in a long time that was just a pleasant day, even though it was hectic. I don't think I've ever slept til 9:30 on a weekend in ages.

For starters, I was blessed with some very lovely presents. Yay for presents! A few small bills will be paid at the first of the year! (insert sigh of relief here)

My brother gave me a new operating system for my computer from hell. That was the hectic part of the day. Cos in the installation of the new software, I lost some programs that will take awhile to get back and I lost a lot of emails I had saved.

GRRRR

But I also got Itunes. Yay for Itunes! So I imagine I'll be getting a few new tunes to see if I can sort out this whole phenomenon. I did notice that it's cheaper to buy album downloads than the CDs. I just don't know if I can survive without liner notes etc.

~sigh~

On another happy musical note , the lovely Lady Starlight, got me a little mp3 player for Christmas. No, it's not an Ipod, but I don't care. I just want something to put music on when I go walking without having to cart around a huge bulky walkman with me. The mp3 player is so tiny it will fit in my pocket! Squee!

So, all in all, it was a nice day. The family was here. We ate lots and lots and had a nice time. Hope we can have more Christmases like this one.

Low fat snacks for Santa?

Ok. I've had it with low fat, low carb and all that other C-R-A-P!

Yesterday, on the news they did a segment on healthy snacks to leave out for Santa.

WTF!!

I stared at the telly appalled. Santa deserves and . Or at least . I mean the man is going around the world in one night, right?

Instead this self righteous health nut decided that Santa should have healthy snacks like crackers with jelly. (Nope PB is bad and Santa can't have that)

Oh and don't forget the reindeer. No salt or sugar for them either. (wouldn't want Rudolf having a coronary flying through the sky) The reindeer get veggies. (no dip please)

Seriously, after watching that segment, I was wishing Santa would leave this woman a lump of coal in her stocking and that the reindeer would poop on her head!

So Santa, next year, I'm leaving you hot chocolate, cookies and nut roll and if the stress of your journey is too much for ya, there will be and in the kitchen.


Merry Christmas! Eat what you want!

Merry Christmas!!

For all those that celebrate, I want to wish you all a joyous funfilled holiday.

As Justin Hayward said...."Say it with love"

And what better way to say happy holidays than with silly fun smiley faces!

May your days be merry and bright



and may all your Christmases be white!





Don't forget to leave Santa cookies and milk tonight!!



Cos we want him to come down the chimney



and not him.



Lotsa love and hugs to all of you and

Christmas mixes

This year I added a few more mixes to my collection of holiday songs. Several of the people that I sent CD cards to, sent CD cards back to me.

Having listened to several of them, and loved them, (of course) I can tell you what some of the most popular holiday songs are.

How can I do this?

Cos these songs are on almost every mix! (including mine sometimes)

Some are good, some make me cringe, but it's Christmas, so it doesn't matter at all.

So here are the songs of Christmas that everyone loves. (or at least it seems that way)

The Beach Boys - Little Saint Nick (this song scares me)
John Lennon - Happy Xmas (War is Over) NO NO NO NO NO!!!!! Why does Yoko have to screech in my ears every year? Why, oh, why, oh why?
Some version of Baby It's Cold Outside. (Most are good, and I love this song)
Band Aid (the first version) - Do They Know It's Christmas?
Bing Crosby and David Bowie - Little Drummer Boy (Peace On Earth)
Paul McCartney - Wonderful Christmastime
The Prentenders - 2000 miles
U2 - Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home)
Ron Sexsmith - Maybe This Christmas
The Ramones - Merry Christmas

So, are any of these your favorites? Or do they make you cringe?

What I want to know is why Don't Need A Reindeer wasn't on everyone's mix?

~pouts~

Oh and thanks to Elena, I have a new favorite - Pearl Bailey's Five Pound Box Of Money.

(It's cute and something I could use too)

They need the frim fram sauce

This is a lovely song by the Nat King Cole Trio, that was covered nicely by Mrs. Costello (you know Diana Krall)

The lyrics got me pondering though.

Well, before I go into it, let me show you the lyrics

Frim Fram Sauce

I don't want french fried potatoes, red ripe tomatoes
I'm never satisfied
I want the frim fram sauce
With oss-en-fay with sha fafa on the side

I don't want pork chops and bacon
That won't awaken, my appetite inside
I want the frim fram sauce
With oss-en-fay with sha fafa on the side

Well you know a girl
She really got to eat
And a girl she should eat right
Five will get you ten
I'm going to feed myself right tonight

I don't want fish cakes and rye bread
You heard what I said
Waiter please, I want mine fried
I want the frim fram sauce
With oss-en-fay with sha fafa on the side

Well it seems Mrs. Costello isn't heeding these words. Nope, it doesn't look like she's eating right. (or eating at all)



And while I'm ordering up some Frim Fram sauce for her, I think I'm going to order up some for flautist, Norda Mullen as well.



Cos I think Norda could use some feeding.

See, I'm human, and I like to eat. I'm not sure if I like the frim fram sauce, cos frankly I haven't a clue what it is, but I like food. Food is good and it makes me happy sometimes. And not much makes me happy these days.

Granted if I were Diana Krall and Elvis Costello were my hubby, I'd be deliriously happy and wouldn't need food or frim fram sauce. Hell, if I were Norda Mullen and wonderfully talented and got to tour with the Moody Blues, I'd be deliriously happy...etc ...etc. (plus I'd chase Justin and John around all day) So no frim fram sauce needed there either.

Damn, but I'm not. So I need my food!(and hell, I'll even try frim fram sauce, I'm brave!)

But c'mon. Tell me you wouldn't like to take these two ladies to the nearest McDonald's so that they might one day look like mortal women?

Another episode of blonde

I've finally finished the blonde mix! It took awhile. Mostly because I've been doing other things, but I've got it done.

I took the songs from current favorites (Diana Krall, Justin Hayward, Erasure) to older favorites. (David Bowie, The Cardigans, Robin Zander).

Its a pretty laidback mix, but I like it, mostly because I've been feeling rather laidback lately.

Here are the tracks that made the cut.

1 Diana Krall - Frim Fram Sauce
2 Justin Hayward - Shame
3 Julia Fordham - Falling Forward
4 Erasure - Breathe
5 Blondie - Good Boys
6 Martin Gore - Lost In The Stars
7 Keri Noble - Talk To Me
8 Robin Zander - Show Me Heaven
9 Annie Haslam - Anada
10 Rod Stewart - Downtown Train
11 Joni Mitchell - Both Sides Now
12 Alan Frew - Home
13 Garden of Joy - Eyes Of A Child
14 Sting - Moon Over Bourbon Street
15 Jewel - Hands
16 David Bowie - Strangers When We Meet
17 Sixpence None The Richer - Kiss Me
18 Jimmy Somerville - From This Moment On
19 The Cardigans - Lovefool

So tell me what you think. And as always, if you want a copy, ask. I'm sure we can work something out.

Blast from my past

I was surfing Amazon last night, just randomly, (Cos I have no money) when I came across this:



It's a new greatest hits compilation by Glass Tiger.

Now I realize most people will not know who Glass Tiger is, or for that fact, who Alan Frew is. (He's the lead singer) But maybe if I mention a song title or two, some memories will be refreshed.

Don't Forget Me (When I'm Gone)
Someday
The Thin Red Line
I'm Still Searching
Diamond Sun

There are a few more if you live in Canada, where the band is mostly from, and had another album released. Alan also has had 2 lovely solo albums I had to fight to obtain.

Anyway, this best of has 2 new songs!!!

New songs!!!

Now if only one darn online store would have sound clips. Oh that would be nice. Amazon Canada doesn't even have em.

Grrrrr.

See Glass Tiger have always been one of my minor favorite bands. I love them to pieces, but they only have 3 CDs. (And now 2 best of compilations, which seems wrong)

One can't devote too much love to that little music, when comparing them to The Moody Blues, Elvis Costello or even Oingo Boingo. (Oh jeepers, did I just mention Oingo Boingo?)

That doesn't mean that I can't feel excitement to know that they recorded 2 new songs and are touring. (Canada...damn and blast)

So if you don't mind.

SQUEE!

There now. I feel much better. Now to add that cd to my growing wish list.

Do the Christmas Music Mambo!

Once again, I bring you my music meme, straight from BDI. This week it's all about Christmas Music. So come on now, who wants to mambo with me?

"And So Happy Christmas"

1. What are your 5 favorite "traditional" holiday songs?
O Holy Night - Especially if it's sung by Michael Crawford
What Child Is This - The Moody Blues should learn more than one verse though
Angels We Have Heard On High
The Coventry Carol
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - Erasure did a nice version of this one.
When A Child Is Born

2. What are your favorite "contemporary" holiday songs?
The Moody Blues - Don't Need A Reindeer
XTC - Thanks For Christmas
Annie Haslam - It Snows In Heaven Too
Elvis Costello w/the Cheiftains - St Stephen's Day Murders

3. What holiday song makes you cringe everytime you hear it?
John Lennon's Happy Xmas (War is Over)
It's not the song, it's Yoko screeching at the end. Her voice makes my ears bleed. And she's another example of love being blind and deaf!

4. What is the weirdest holiday song you've ever heard?
Merry Christmas From The Family - Jill Sobule. It's so weird and it's so true, making it scary! She did a video for it as well and it's a hoot.

5. How many Holiday CDs are in your collection? And what is your favorite?

Too many! At least 10 or more. OK, more than that because I have a box set that I picked up at a discount store thats 5 discs of music. (I bought it to have a copy of Handel's Messiah)

And now for my favorites.



Don't Need A Reindeer can be found on this one.



His version of When A Child Is Born is simply beautiful.



Annie's voice is simply beautiful. I constantly thank Justin Hayward (In my mind, of course) for letting her do his song, The Angels Cry. (and doing backing vocals and guitar on the track) If not for him, I would have missed out on this talented lady's wonderful music.

Merry Christmas from the Mambo creator!

Rod Stewart - What Happened?

I have a love and hate relationship with this man's music. I've been trying to compile a mix of "Blondes" as well as digging up the tracks for Brandie's 80's mix and I realized I had to include Downtown Train.

Then I thought, granted the man has done some pretty annoying songs (Infatuation) and some pretty awful albums (All of the American Songbook CDs), he's not always been bad.

In fact there's something oddly lovable about him and some of his music. Sure he seems to be one of the biggest chauvanistic pigs in music, but he's Rod Stewart, and somehow he gets away with it. Lord only knows how.

Still, he manages to sell albums and he did a really good one right before he started doing the songbooks, or perhaps in between them. Either way, while I was thinking about Downtown Train, which is one of one of my most loved songs, by the man, I thought of Smitten which came from his album Human.



The song Smitten was written by Macy Gray. Oddly if anyone is going to write for Rod, it should be Macy, they have that same gravelly, you either love it or you hate it voice.

Which makes me wonder how I got so, middle of the road, when it comes to liking or disliking the man. And while I'm wondering that, I'm also thinking why someone that seemingly can get away with putting out crap would decide to ruin classic American songs.

Did no one tell him he doesn't have the voice for it?

Then again, Elvis Costello has done Gershwin and Bacharach tunes, and done them well. (At least in my estimation) He's another one you wouldn't think could do those types of songs well, but I think he pulls it off better than Rod.

I saw Rod on the Today show a few weeks back, and he belts out stuff like Maggie May like he's back in his twenties again. If he can do that, why the hell is he doing such laid back material then? And why the hell are people buying it? Three albums worth even!

GAH!

That is so wrong on so many different levels.

The joys of cleaning

Well, I'm enjoying a snow day today. Not a lot of snow, but enough to keep me cloistered in the house.

And it's been worthwhile too. While dejunking part of the dining room, I found 25 bucks! Woot! It couldn't come at a better time.

I can pay some bills now! You know for the presents that I bought, even though I have no money!



Now if only a few more bucks would appear out of nowhere I might be in good shape!

Really sad when 25 bucks can make me that happy.

I need to see Lemony Snicket

Yes, it's a need thing. I don't even like Jim Carrey all that much, but this movie looks so Tim Butonesque that I feel compelled to go see it.

Does that make any sense?

No I didn't think so.

What's worse is that it's kinda a kids movie. (Remember my allergies to small children)

So I've determined whenever I go to see this movie it will be really late. The latest possible showing. The showing that is past all the little kidlets bedtimes. That way I can enjoy the film without having to hear a million brats running up and down the ailses and fighting with siblings and parents.

I think it's a plan.

And hopefully I won't get too many hives from the children that stay out late to see the movie.

Happy Anniversary Justin and Mariemutt

Ah yes another year has come and gone. And my lovely Justin is still married to his not-so-lovely Marie.

There's absolutely no accounting for taste.



And yes, I'm still jealous. Why wouldn't I be? He's still a hottie at 58! And she still looks like she's been dead for awhile.(a very long while)

Oooops! Bitter pill. Time for some chocolate to sweeten me up.

I'll give Justin credit, it takes a man to really stay married to something that looks like that for 30+ years.

ICk!

And we all know that I do like some of my favorite eye candy/concubine's wives.

I adore John Lodge's wife Kirsten. She's such a cutie and she looks so ornery.

I mean just look at this picture



I'm pretty sure that's baby Emily there. Don't you just want to say "Awwwwww!"?

And she hasn't really changed much over the years. (Kirsten that is)



We also know I've actually become fond of Mrs. Costello too. (Diana Krall)



Diana looks so nice when she's not flashing her boobs around.

So there! That's proof that I do like some of my eye candy's choices in women, and I reserve the right not to like everyone. (And for those of you in the know. I've always liked Olivia Harrison, Linda McCartney and Barbara Bach, so you have 3 more.)

But anyway, Happy Anniversary Justin. Do what you did on your honeymoon tonight. Watch a football game!

December Snow! HA!

December 17th and still my little hamlet of Charleroi on Mon has barely seen any of the white stuff that makes people forget how to drive.

There was some on Monday, but it quickly disappeared. How depressing is that?

OK, not very, if you don't like snow.

I'm not a snow freak, but it's nice to look at and take pictures of.


Monday's snow 


Look Ma! No salt! 

It sure doesn't make me want to listen to December yet. Sigh, even though it's my favorite holiday CD, I'm just not feeling it yet.

But maybe this song will help...

December Snow -- Justin Hayward

Like December snow
That lays in the wood
You're gone too soon
I knew you should

With October skies
You brought your love
But November came
Taking all I have and
Time, take this sadness from me
Time, bring my heart back safely
Hold on to warm September
'Cause life can be like December snow

With your touch of love
in this Autumn world
The Sun was bright
The songs were heard

And maybe fools like me
Are under your spell
But with leaves that fall
I hear you callin'

Time, take this sadness from me
Time, bring my heart back safely
Hold on to warm September
'Cause life can be like December Snow

Time, take this sadness from me
Time, bring my heart back safely
Hold on to warm September
'Cause life can be like December Snow

Life's like December Snow? What if there isn't any?

All You Need Is Love

After seeing Love Actually last year, I've decided that this song is an honorary Christmas song.

The message is so perfect for this time of year. Especially when there's so much unacceptance and fighting in the world.

It's not a romantic song. It's not even one I'd want playing at my wedding. (As it was in the movie) It's more a song that states something so obvious, yet something we always miss.

There's nothing you can do that can't be done
Nothing you can sing that can't be sung
Nothing you can say but you can learn how to play the game
It's easy

In my opinion John Lennon knew what he was talking about.

Nothing you can know that isn't known
Nothing you can see that isn't shown
Nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be
It's easy

Aren't those words true?

And if so....then it's true, love is all we need.

And isn't Christmas also about love?

So can't this song be an honorary Christmas song?

I think so.

Everything is possible. If you can't do it, someone else will.

So what's left then? Love!

So let's start spreading some Christmas love around. Me first.

Love, Love, Love....Love is all you need.


(right click my little kissy lips and save to your server and post them to your blog if you want to spread the love and then leave a comment here to let me know you're spreading the love! Or just spread the love in the comments!)

Who will be next to spread the love?

Sad music news

A friend of mine on one of my 80's groups sent an article through about Andy Bell. For those of you that don't know who Andy is, he's the front man of the synth-pop duo, Erasure.

He is one of those truly wonderful singers that can make anything sound good. The man could sing the New York City phone book and make it sound like a heavenly choir.

Well in this article, Andy finally shares with us that he's HIV+.

I wept.

He's known since June of 1998. So far it hasn't turned into full blown AIDS. I pray to God that it never does.

I just can't help but feel sad at the possibility that this talented life can be cut short, and I hope and pray that soon there will be a cure for this, so that Andy and all the others will be able to live out their lives.

Import CDs make me very mad

Ok, I've been waiting for a few years for this: Down Side Up: B Sides & Rarities

It's the Siouxsie and the Banshees box set.

Go on, click the link and see how much that bad boy costs.

Why is it so expensive?

Cos it didn't get released in the US.

God forbid we do that!

It's like Elvis Costello's Monkey To Man, that has one of the bonus tracks on it. (as well as the video)

SO if I want Monkey to Man



That's part 1 btw, it's a 2 part cd single. Part 2 has the b-side but no video. WTF?

I only have to find 10 bucks, and I get the video for the song on the CD on that disc. That's not bad, but it would be nice if the US got the single release too. It would save me about 3 dollars and shipping.

It's just so frustrating that I have to spend so much extra, when these bands sell records in this country and they have fans in this country! Damn it, sell the b-sides box here! Sell the singles here!

I'm poor! Extra expenses to get my favorite music aren't appreciated!

I'm loved!

Wow!

I'm totally shocked and subsequently kinda freaked out. I've been nominated for a BOB award.

For best music blog, no less.

Wow!

I'm shocked that anyone likes me enough to do it and freaked out, because I'm so the last person that wants to be in a popularity contest.

I'm a nerd. The geeky girl that no one likes. Suddenly, someone likes me? I'm not sure how I'll deal with that.

The voting starts after Christmas, cos the nominations close on Dec 24.

I guess now I can just say, "Please please please please please VOTE FOR ME!"

WOW! I can't believe I just said that.

(That subsequently means that no one is going to vote for me)

I could probably list the reasons why I'll not even come close to winning or become a finalist or anything like that.

Such as:

1. I don't post any downloads on this blog. (Cos this chicky can't afford to build her own website and can't figure out how to create a bit torrent)

2. I'm not terribly interesting.

3. I like music that most people don't like.

4. I bitch and moan too much.

But if you can find reasons why you want to vote for me, by all means share them with me and then, vote for me! (Cos I've never really been elected to anything in my entire 30 years)

But thank you to those of you that nominated me, even though I think its going to be something that depresses me in the long run.

It's time for a new mix

I'm not sure why I want to make a new mix cd. I'm not going anywhere. Unless you count the 6 blocks I drive downtown to Curves, which I don't because I only go through 2 or 3 songs in the whole trip.

I've so much new music though, that I really need to do something with it. Plus it gives me an excuse to listen to non-Christmas Music.

Plus making a mix is more fun than trying to figure out why Audioscrobbler is not working for me.

Nothing is updating. Grrrrr! Cos I'm sure all of you want to see exactly what I've been listening too.

Cos, I've noticed this. If you put Winamp on shuffle, it pulls out all the stops and makes you listen to your most embarrassing mp3s. But so far, I don't have any songs updating, even though I've had my winamp playing for over an hour.

That should be reason enough to just start building a mix.

Making mixes takes my mind off of things, the same way writing does, and since audioscrobbler is pissing me off, why not.

It will probably be fun to see if I can get songs from this cd and this cd on the same mix.

I think I'm up for the challenge.

Diana Krall and Blondie on the same mix....Hmmm. I think I've been given some inspiration for a theme.

Do ya wanna know what it is?

Oh, come on, sure you do.

Blondes!

Bet you didn't see that one coming! OK, maybe you did, but it could come up with a rather amusing mix of songs. Oh and just to let you know, my blondes won't always be women.

Cos if you think I'd forget this blonde



you don't know me very well.

Music Mambo Time!

Here's the weekly meme that I create. And I'm daring all of you that read my blog to go do this week's meme.

Here's how we're playing this week.

Go to the comments of this post. Now pick at least 5 song titles. (You can pick more if you want, but come on...do at least 5) Then give us your answers for those song titles. You can be as truthful or as funny or as crazy as you want to be with your answers.

So I'm now going to answer a few musical questions.

Do They Know It's Christmas? - Band Aid

Well since we're talking about Africa and for the most part Ethiopia, probably not. Why? Because even though Christianity is everywhere, not everyone is Christian. (Therefore Christmas isn't celebrated)

Oh and to the line..

There won't be snow in Africa, this Christmastime.

Well, D'oh!

What's So Funny Bout Peace Love And Understanding? - Elvis Costello

Nothing is funny about peace, love and understanding. It's something we could use a heck of a lot more off all over the world. Now if only we could convince world leaders and religious extremists that this was the case, we'd be in great shape.

Do Ya Think I'm Sexy? - Rod Stewart

Now this all depends on who's asking. Rod Stewart? Nah! Sorry, I don't think you're all that sexy. At times, a bit cute, but not sexy. Oh and Rod, please, lay off the spandex, cos it's hurting my eyes. No, seriously, it's making me want to poke them out with a rusty melon baller.


What's Love Got to Do With It? - Tina Turner

Absolutely nothing. But then again, that's because I don't know what you're talking about!

And hell, it's only a second hand emotion, right?

How Can You Mend A Broken Heart? - The Bee Gees

Use duct tape! I hear it works for almost anything!

Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman? - Bryan Adams

Well, no. And come to think of it I haven't really loved a man either. (unless you count unrequited love for Justin Hayward, John Lodge and Elvis Costello)

Who Will Save Your Soul? - Jewel

My soul needs saving? What kind of trouble is it in now? I guess I'll call a priest. Damn and blast my soul. It's always sneaking out and going to wild parties. (and not taking me with it) You know what! My soul is on it's own! I'm not getting anyone to save it! It can do it on its own!

Who Are You Now? - Justin Hayward & John Lodge

I'm Andrea, aka the Music Whore, aka your biggest fans. That doesn't really change, guys? So why ya asking?

Have You Ever Seen the Rain? - Bonnie Tyler (though it was a CCR song, if I remember correctly)

I've seen the rain before. Much too often this year, in fact. But I don't think I've ever seen it, come down on a sunny day, as the lyrics go on to say afterwards.

What Do You Do With A BA in English? - Avenue Q

Practice saying "Do you want fries with that?" Cos you're going to need to.



So come on! I dare you guys to play along.

And as always, the Mambo is brought to you by me and the rest of the cwazzies at BDI.