Monday, January 26, 2009

Rock/Alternative Playlist

And now, for the spin-off of the Pop Playlist: Rock/Alternative (maybe eventually they, too, will be separate; you never know).

1. What I Like About You - The Romantics: Um, a Numb3rs episode, maybe? Or NCIS? I really don't remember, but it was on my iTunes To-Buy list, so I did.
2. Where is My Mind? - Pixies: from the ending of a 4400 episode (I also heard it in another show, but I can't find anywhere on the internet where that was. Frustrating. ETA: Just figured out where it was. Not another show, but a great LOST fan video montage.)
3. Shiny Happy People - R.E.M: Would you believe it was a Sesame Street short that led me to get this song? I was looking up various Sesame Street shorts from my childhood to put on my iPod, and I came across a bunch of celebrity appearances, too, most of which are very fun, including R.E.M's "Smiling, Happy Monsters." :-P Then, I had to have the original, harkening back to my jr. high/high school days.
4. Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen: re-introduced to this song thanks to the amusing "LOST Rhapsody" YouTube video
5. White Flag – Dido: I heard this in the video store and remembered liking it, so I dug it up.
6. In The Sun – Joesph Arthur: from the alternate, alternate ending to Bourne Identity (took some digging on the internet to figure that out, if you can imagine)
7. Who Will Save Your Soul - Jewel: I think I just like it.
8. Istanbul (Not Constantinople) - They Might Be Giants: Just fun. Plus, ML sings it occasionally.
*9. Whole Wide World - Wreckless Eric: From the movie Stranger Than Fiction. According to ML's research, it is a common first song to learn on the guitar because of the simplicity of the chords (it may actually have just one chord).
*10. Summer of '69 - Bryan Adams: Once again, I'm not sure if this was on Numb3rs or NCIS, but I heard it and remembered it and wanted it, which is basically a running theme, in case you hadn't picked up on that.
*11. Everybody Hurts - R.E.M.: Numb3rs, I'm pretty sure.

*New song.

Pop Playlist

As promised, my original Pop Playlist grew cumbersome, so I split it into Pop and Rock/Alternative. Some of my choices as to what went where defy iTunes designations for those songs, but, by golly, they're my playlists. I can put the songs where I want them.

1. I Will Survive – Gloria Gaynor: from an episode of Medium (You can all collectively gasp at the fact that we watch that show. Would you believe that my mom recommended it?)
2. Bubbly - Colbie Caillat: On our family vacation a couple of years ago, the pop (meaning, American) radio station that they had on in the restaurant each morning at breakfast played this song. It's catchy, and it reminds me of our vacation (which had its high points, although we will be returning to the Dead Sea from here on out and probably not deviating from that tradition again).
3. That’s Not Me - Bianca Ryan: I discovered this song after seeing the Bianca Ryan YouTube video from America's Got Talent. I know it's just a cover she does, but I like the song and the way she sings it.
4. Lullaby – Dixie Chicks: another Medium episode
5. The Rose - Bianca Ryan: Another Bianca Ryan cover that I liked. Reminds me of seeing Beaches at the drive-in with my mom and a friend.
6. I’m Still Here – Johnny Rzeznik: from the sleeper Disney movie, Treasure Planet
7. American Pie – Don McLean: Not quite sure on this one.
8. Complicated - Avril Lagrine: Think I just liked it.
9. Extreme Ways - Moby: Bourne movie credits theme
*10. Mad World - Michael Andrews & Gary Jules: From the opening scenes of a Without a Trace episode. The openings of the episodes tend to be without dialogue, because they depict the disappearance, which is, of course, shrouded in mystery, since the missing person is not there to explain, so I've gotten to hear some interesting songs. Oh, and this is not a song I would play with my kids listening (and since I control the iPod in the car and my computer in the kitchen, the two places I listen to my own music, this is easily accomplished). The lyrics are too negative and depressing and might be latched onto particularly by my one more melancholy child. They do, unfortunately, portray the perspective of many adolescents.
*11. Chain of Fools - Aretha Franklin: I know, this does not belong in a "Pop" playlist, but I just don't have enough R&B yet to spin it off. Eventually, maybe. Inspired by discussion of her music following her inaugural performance. Also reminds me of a scene in the movie Sneakers.
*12. Rich Girl - Gwen Stefani & Eve: Random, I know. The kids were watching Beverly Hills Chihuahua (which I do not recommend; they were not glued to it, fortunately, and will not be seeing it again; I was giving it a chance at a friend's house), and I got a kick out of the song behind the opening credits, which was a hip hop version of "If I Were a Rich Man" from Fiddler on the Roof. Yeah, I wouldn't have been able to imagine it, if I hadn't heard it myself, either. I do not recommend watching the video [I wanted to listen to the whole song to make sure I wanted it, so I pulled it up on YouTube], nor purchasing any other of her songs without first researching them for content, from what I've read). This one, though, is just fun, and I'm enjoying listening to it.
*13. If I Were a Boy - Beyoncé: I'm just surprising you all over the place today, aren't I? Saw the video for this song at our favorite ice cream parlor in the capital when ML and I were on a date a couple of months ago. Although I don't recommend watching it with the kids, the video is interesting in a cultural literacy/cultural commentary way. And I just like the sound of the song.

It's late, so the Rock/Alternative Playlist will have to wait until tomorrow. I know you're all just waiting with bated breath.

*New song.

to-be-purchased
- Be OK - Ingrid Michaelson: from a commercial

Folk Playlist

Okay, folks, it's been entirely too long since I've done a playlist post. I know, there for a while, those of you who were reading my blog at the time (Hi, GfG!) thought there would be nothing *but* playlist posts, but it's been six.whole.months since the Birthday Playlist post, and it's high time.

Drumroll, please...

I have a *new* playlist! Yes, you've all guessed it by now (because you're all smart people who can read blog post titles): I created a Folk Playlist.

1. Scarborough Fair/Canticle - Simon and Garfunkle: another song that my family has owned in more than one medium. I remember listening to the record (or maybe the 8-track) on my parents stereo in elementary school. It's a classic.
2. Send in the Clowns - Judy Collins: I've got to start taking better notes on where I hear songs. Either this was in an episode of a TV show I watched recently or another song was and when I looked up that song this one came up as a Genius recommendation on iTunes. Either way, I remember hearing this as a child, too, and it has a nice mellow tone to it.
3. Blowin' In the Wind - Peter, Paul and Mary: You guessed it: a record of my parents'. Takes me back.
4. Piano Man - Billy Joel: I'm thinking this was the song that was in the TV episode that then led me to Send in the Clowns, a Without a Trace episode, I'm guessing. Okay, the theme of this playlist is definitely "Songs I Remember Hearing as a Child."
5. Time in a Bottle - Jim Croce: Mm hm. See above

Definitely needs to be fleshed out. Unfortunately, I can't get the Genius Bar in iTunes to work when I want it to, just when some song that I never want anything else of that genre is playing. Suggestions are welcome. Mom, maybe you should just go flip through the records and type me up a list.