Archive for the 'Music Queue' Category

August 7, 2009 | Life in General,Music Queue,Random Thoughts,The 4-1-1 on Me

The best kind of music is the kind you can play over and over.

During lunch today, a co-worker and I hit up Target. I got a Betty Boop messenger bag for school (it’s only for orientation, but still…) and a couple of new CD’s. I haven’t listened to the TRANSFORMERS 2 soundtrack yet, but when I got back to work, I popped in the new SHINEDOWN, The Sound of Madness.

Just like their previous CD, “Us and Them”, there. Is. Not. One. Bad. Song. I don’t skip over any of them. Right now, my favorite radio station—98 KUPD—has the first three songs on rotation: “Devour”, “Sound of Madness” and “Second Chance”.

My favorite songs:

#2 – Sound of Madness
#5 – The Crow and The Butterfly
#8 – What a Shame
#11 – Call me

I’ve played #5 and #8 at least 4-5 times. A piece. I think my absolute favorite is “The Crow and The Butterfly.” A song about loss and regret–my impression–it’s beautifully written and you can hear the emotion in Brent’s voice when he sings.

I think the lyrics from “What a Shame” are so amazingly powerful

“What a shame/what a shame/To judge a life/That you can’t change/The choir sings/The church bells ring/So won’t you give this man his wings/What a shame/To have to beg you to see/We’re not all the same/What a shame.”

And I like these lines from “Sound of Madness”

“I created the sound of madness/Wrote the book on pain/Somehow I’m still here to explain/That the darkest hour/Never comes in the night.”

Really cool song title: “Cyanide Sweet Tooth Suicide”

And I loved this quote on the back of the inside jacket: “You can’t kill me with kindness. I don’t buy it.”

If you’re a fan of this group, go buy the new CD now. Go. Buy. Now.

Review: 5 Snaps Up

Technorati Tags: Target, Betty Boop, TRANSFORMERS 2, SHINEDOWN, The Sound of Madness, 98 KUPD, Devour, Second Chance, The Crow and The Butterfly, What a Shame, Call me, Cyanide Sweet Tooth Suicide

July 8, 2009 | Life in General,Music Queue,The 4-1-1 on Me

Ok, not really, but Mr. Maul and I went to see Beyonce in concert last night here at the US Airways Center.

“Best. Concert. Ever.” His words.

“Well, she’ll never be accused of lip-synching.” My words.

We had good seats, Section B, Row 8. And yes, we were close enough to see her sweat…and any wardrobe malfunctions that might have occurred (but didn’t). I think he might’ve liked to have been in the Diva Zone (an area on either side of the stage that was standing room only. Possibly occupied by radio contest winners and people with connections) because he might’ve gotten a chance to touch her.

She puts on a really great show. She has great choreography, too. There were a couple of songs that I wish she had sung, but they ended up in a little video montage interlude moment.

My favorite song is “Halo” which she saved for the encore–and used it as a dedication to Michael Jackson. I also like “I Think I’m in Love w/ my Radio” (which she sang) and “Hello” (which she also sang). During “Ave Maria“, she incorporated a couple of lines from “Angel” my Sarah McLachlan. Also, during “If I was a Boy”, she incorporated a few lines from “You Oughtta Know” by Alanis Morrisette (which was totally awesome).

Her dancers were fabtastic and I liked the fact that she has an all-female band. Who got to show off their stuff during a costume change. All in all, it was a great show. But Mr. Maul no longer wants to attend concerts. He says it’s too much of a hassle.

I was hoping he’d go with me to see Creed, but…

Technorati Tags: Beyonce, US Airways Center, Halo, Michael Jackson, Ave Maria, Angel, Sarah McLachlan, You Oughtta Know, Alanis Morrisette, Creed

June 25, 2009 | In the News,Life in General,Music Queue

Michael Jackson is dead.

I’m still finding this hard to believe. Funny how you think someone will live forever.

I can’t say that I was ever a huge fan (my sister was, though), nor did I buy any of his albums, but I loved his music. All the songs that he put out, from the time he was young, to the popular ones in the 80′s.

My Dad taught me how to moonwalk on the kitchen floor when I was young.

When I was in middle school, my Dad had gotten us tickets to see him in concert…but it never happened. He ended up cancelling for some reason. Don’t remember why. My sister was devastated. I imagine all the people who’d bought tickets for his upcoming concert will be devastated, too. I wonder how much they paid?

Despite the scandals, Michael was a fabulous entertainer. He had great songs and outstanding dance moves.

Rest in peace, Michael. You will be deeply missed.

He had a lot of great songs, but I think I’ll always be partial to “Man in the Mirror.”

What’s your favorite Michael Jackson song?

Technorati Tags: Michael Jackson, Man in the Mirror.”

June 22, 2009 | Music Queue,Random Thoughts

I know. I’m on a roll today with these Random Thought posts, but this is the last one for today. I swear.

About a month ago, I bought the TWILIGHT double disc DVD. I know, I finally got with the program–what?–a year later. They aren’t even showing this movie on the cable channels yet and the new one is coming out soon. Anyhow, in watching the extra features DVD, they showed a video of my favorite group, Linkin Park! I had no idea they were on the soundtrack! This group is makin’ the rounds with the soundtracks, let me tell ya. I just heard their new song for the TRANSFORMERS 2 movie, “New Divide“….aaaaaaand I love it, of course.

But I digress.

Yesterday–we’re still talking Sunday here–Mr. MMA and I stopped by Best Buy so he could get ENTER THE DRAGON on Blueray and he asked me if I wanted anything. I have a whole list of CD’s I want, but I chose the TWILIGHT soundtrack.

The CD jacket turns into an actual poster of Edward and Bella and if I were a freak fan of the movie/books, I would put it up in my cubie at work or something.

But I’m not. So I didn’t.

It’s going to stay as a CD jacket.

I bought it because 1) I’m a GINORMOUS fan of Linkin Park and the song on the CD is on their best-album-ever and 2) because Rob Pattinson has a song on their, too, and I wanted to hear what he sounded like.

I was a little disappointed. Not in Rob’s song, which is actually quite beautiful (he sounds like someone I’ve heard before, but I can’t put my finger on it), but the CD as a whole. In my opinion, there are only 4 good songs on here:

#1
#2
#4
#10
#12

I also like songs by Collective Soul, but I wasn’t too impressed with their contribution this time (#7). I guess I like their old stuff better. All in all, I’m tempted to just download the other three songs and exchange the CD for something else. I dunno. Maybe the soundtrack for NEW MOON will be better.

Rating: 3 Snaps

For snippets of the songs, go HERE.

Technorati Tags: TWILIGHT, Linkin Park, TRANSFORMERS 2, New Divide, Best Buy, ENTER THE DRAGON, Blueray, Rob Pattinson, Collective Soul, NEW MOON

June 8, 2009 | Life in General,Movie Queue,Music Queue,Random Thoughts,The 4-1-1 on Me

My birthday was last Friday and today I received a gift in the mail from my parents–who live here locally, by the way. Anyhoo, it’s a little booklet titled 1971 Remember when…A Nostalgic Look Back in Time. So, now that you all know my real age, here’s a few interesting facts about the year 1971…

~ March – Chatrooms make their debut on the Internet

~ June – Ed Sullivan’s final TV show airs

~ October – Walt Disney World opens in Orlando, FL

~ England’s BBC bars “Sesame Street” because of the show’s authoritarian aims (say what?)

~ The Beatles’ “Helter Skelter” is played at the Charles Manson trial.

~ Soft contact lenses receive the FDA’s approval.

~ Television Favorites – All in the Family (CBS), Sanford and Son (NBC…I watched this show), and Mannix (CBS).

~ Life Expectancy – 71.1 Yrs

THE COST OF LIVING

~ New House: $25,200
~ Average Income: $10,622/yr
~ New Car: $3560 (can you imagine? Today, that’s considered to be a downpayment!)
~ Average Rent: $150/mo (I wish it was still like this)
~ Tuition to Harvard University: $2600/yr (диваниI about fell out of my chair when I read this. Today, of course, it costs two legs, an arm, and a friggin’ kidney!)
~ Movie Ticket: $1.50/ea (I remember when it was $2.50. And have the stubs to prove it)
~ Gasoline: $.40/gallon
~ US Postage Stamp: $.08/ea

FOOD
~ Granulated Sugar: $.62/for 5 lbs
~ Vitamin D Milk: $1.17/gallon
~ Ground Coffee: $.98/per lb
~ Bacon: $.80/per lb
~ Eggs: $.45/per dozen
~ Fresh Ground Hamburger: $.62/per lb
~ Fresh Baked Bread: $.25/per loaf

FAMOUS BIRTH NOTICES
~ Mark Wahlberg (Jun 7)
~ Winona Ryder (Oct 29)
~ Sean Astin (Feb 25)
~ Mary J Blige (Jan 11)
~ Minnie Driver (Jan 31)
~ Corey Feldman (Jul 16)
~ Alfonso Ribeiro (y’know, Carlton from “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air“? Sept 21)

MUSIC FAVORITES
Brown Sugar - The Rolling Stones
Family Affair - Sly & The Family Stone
Go Away Little Girl - Donny Osmond
Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves - Cher
I Feel the Earth Move - Carole King
Joy to the World - Three Dog Night
Knock Three Times - Tony Orlando & Dawn
Maggie Mae - Rod Stewart
Me and Bobby McGee - Janis Joplin
You’ve Got a Friend - James Taylor

MOVIES FAVORITES
The French Connection
A Clockwork Orange
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory
Dirty Harry
Fiddler on the Roof
Diamonds Are Forever (yay James Bond)

I thought this was pretty interesting. Thanks Mom and Dad.

Technorati Tags: 1971 Remember when…A Nostalgic Look Back in Time, Ed Sullivan’s, Walt Disney World, Orlando, FL, Sesame Street, The Beatles’, Helter Skelter, Charles Manson, All in the Family, Sanford and Son, Mannix, Harvard University, Mark Wahlberg, Winona Ryder, Sean Astin, Mary J Blige, Minnie Driver, Corey Feldman, Alfonso Ribeiro, Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Brown Sugar, The Rolling Stones, Family Affair, Sly & The Family Stone, Go Away Little Girl, Donny Osmond, Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves, Cher, I Feel the Earth Move, Carole King, Joy to the World, Three Dog Night, Knock Three Times, Tony Orlando & Dawn, Maggie Mae, Rod Stewart, Me and Bobby McGee, Janis Joplin, You’ve Got a Friend, James Taylor, The French Connection, A Clockwork Orange, Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, Dirty Harry, Fiddler on the Roof, Diamonds Are Forever, James Bond