Hey y’all – I haven’t shown any Sam Tsui stuff in awhile and this cover really touched me – had to share! Enjoy & have a great day! Sarah
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Music
Words cannot express how much I love this! If only we all lived this freely and joyfully in our daily lives…
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This is rockin’! Happy Monday y’all…
From Novakistan, post Music Break: The Evolution of Music
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I am a BIG fan of Christmas music, having amassed somewhere around 300 songs over the last 20 years. It all started when my family used to purchase the “Sounds of the Season” Album at Target each year (question: Do they make that anymore?) I loved seeing which mix of artists would be on the compilation.
After years and years of listening to Christmas Music, I’d like to share some of my favorite non-traditional songs (read: non-carols) for you to add to your collection.
Top 10 MUST-HAVES for any Holiday Music Collection:
- All I Want for Christmas is You – Mariah Carey
- Do They Know It’s Christmas? – Band-aid
- The Magic of Christmas Day – Celine Dion
- Step Into Christmas – Elton John
- Where Are You Christmas – Faith Hill
- Love on Layaway – Gloria Estefan
- Our Love is Like a Holiday – Michael Bolton
- Wonderful Christmastime- Paul McCartney
- Last Christmas – Wham!
- My Only Wish – Britney Spears
Best of the 2012 Holiday Releases:
- What Christmas Means to Me – Cee Lo Green
- All I Need is Love – Cee Lo Green
- Mittens – Carly Rae Jeppesen
- Something in the Air – Grayson Sanders & Jono
- Shake Up Christmas – Train
- Joy to the World – Train
- Heaven Everywhere – Francesca Battistelli
- Christmas Is – Francesca Battistelli
I’d love to hear some of your faves in return! Happy listening!
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Last night I had the good fortune of attending Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Ball. I’m not a huge concert-goer but I’ll make the splurge for truly exceptional performers like Lady Gaga who really put on a show. As expected, it was one giant theatrical spectacular – complete with strobe lights, glittery costumes and lots and lots of fog. There’s so much spectacle, in fact, that you start to expect something bizarre to happen every 2-3 minutes, whether it’s a grandiose entrance, a meat couch or a bra gun.
Here’s a 2 for 1: Meat Couch + Bra Gun
I’m going to keep it simple and break the night down by Likes and Dislikes. I’m a glass half full gal, so we’ll start with the Likes.
Likes:
- 2 hours of incredible performance. You may not like her or find her weird, but it’s impossible to deny her talent. That girl can sing and dance!
- The funky motorcycle piano (see photo below)
- No belligerent drunks
- The costumes and spectacle
- Her attempts at Spanish
Dislikes:
- The fact that only 1/3 of the stadium was full (in fact, we got asked to move closer so it would look more full)
- A really mellow crowd – it really changes the dynamic when everyone’s far apart and the stadium’s not full
- The high price of the tickets ($70 for the cheapest – no wonder it was only a 1/3 full)
- The 10:30 PM start (1 hour late due to being stuck in traffic & technical issues – the right screen wasn’t working)
- 4 hours spent outside in the cold
- I like Gaga’s message of inclusion and diversity in general, but it got a bit preachy and cryptic at times. In fact, some of it just didn’t make sense at all. Maybe it was a good thing that most of the crowd didn’t speak English…
The Verdict:
I would most definitely see Lady Gaga again, but in a city with a better Stadium and a more enthused crowd. The show experience in Lima wasn’t worth the high price of the ticket. I wish I could have seen it in Manila. Her over-the-top spectacle would be so appreciated there (and apparently it was, considering that she had to add a second show due to demand)!
Finally, I thought I’d end the post by sharing a highlight reel from our concert that I found online. Sorry about the annoying text across it, but it gives you an idea of what it was like. Who else has seen her and what was your experience like?
From Novakistan, post Lady Gaga in Lima
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Nia and I recently started going to a weekly music class in our Miraflores neighborhood. It’s a steal of a deal at $4 a session for an hour of music. Carlos, the musician, is quite versatile too. Each class he plays the Cajón (the peruvian drum box), his guitar AND his trumpet. The kids bring their own instruments too and practice playing their drums loudly and softly.
All the other good children sit in their Mommies/Nannies laps and pound their drum as told. Does my child? HELL NO. She pretty much goes crazy the minute the music starts. This kid L-O-V-E-S music, which I’m thrilled about. Just wish she’d be willing to sit still a bit more. Maybe when she’s 11 months…
Not gonna lie, it’s good for Mommies too because the entire thing is in Spanish so I get to practice using some basic (translation: kid-speak) words that are good to know. I’m making great progress on my farm animals and commands (sit, stand, play, hands up, etc).
To our future visitors – GET EXCITED because you’re gonna love going to Spanish music class!
From Novakistan, post The Joy of Music Class
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This is a sheer delight! Happy Friday all.
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I’m a bit late to the game with this one, as it was released a month ago… but that was right during the chaos of our move, so I made a mental note to come back to it. Better late than never, right? RIGHT!
First, some history:
One of my favorite traditions each year during College at CSB/SJU was going to the outdoor spring concert on Watab Island. At that time it was called Pinestock, but it’s since been renamed 12 pines. I have fond memories of doing backstage crew for the show since I was on the Event Programming Board. We were lucky enough to see Ben Harper, Soul Coughing and Train when I was there, but honestly, I would have given my left arm to see this year’s show – Mat Kearney. He’s one of my fave Acoustic Singer Songwriters of all time.
So not only did he put on an amazing show for the students this year, but he was so moved by the experience at CSB/SJU (note: this does not surprise me one bit, this place is like nowhere else on earth) that he wrote a song the next day called Bennie & Johnnie.
Here’s what Mat had to say about his decision to write the song:
As we drove away from 12 Pines, the most energetic acoustic show I have ever played, I kept seeing in my mind two young people, cars packed full, pulling out of their driveways, leaving home to become a Bennie and a Johnnie for the first time. I got out a note pad and started writing their story, which of course was a love story. I recorded the song in my home the next day. I thought it would be make a nice thank you for a memorable night.
So sweet Mat! You would make a wonderful Johnnie.
For those not familiar with the Colleges or Minnesota, here’s a helpful reference guide for the song:
- Students at the College of Saint Benedict are fondly referred to as Bennies; students of Saint John’s University, Johnnies.
- The schools are right off Hwy 94, so nearly EVERYONE takes hwy 94 to school.
- Sal’s is a popular bar in Saint Joseph, MN, where CSB is.
- Lake Sagatagan is one of several lakes on the SJU campus.
- Bells- refers to the bells on famous Abbey Church’s bell banner.
- Aspens: Lots of those on campus
- Chapel Walk – Johnnie and Bennie couples that take the chapel walk around Lake Sag eventually marry 83% of the time. At least that’s what the rumor is…
And now, without further ado, here’s the lovely little ditty for you to enjoy!
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No lie, this African-inspired version of Coldplay’s Paradise by the Piano Guys is hypnotically entrancing. I hope you delight in it as much as I did. It’s hard not to feel your spirit lift when taking in all that beauty! Sure hope a trip to Africa is somewhere in my future…
From Novakistan, post Afro-Inspiration on a Manic Monday
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Here’s an insanely catchy tune by Will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas that’s garnered over 7 million hits on Youtube. Check it out for yourself, it’s sure to brighten your day! In fact, I’m so enamored with it that I’m thinking of making it my new personal theme song. :)
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