From the category archives:

Melodies

Up

by Marilyn on October 12, 2008

Times are rough right now.  The economy is in the shitter, the election has people more divided and crazy than ever (I feel a post about that is coming, breaking my political silence!) and it seems like everyone’s lives are spinning off course.  It’s easy to let it all drag you down into the pits.

I heard this song the other evening and it reminded me of the spring and fall of 2004.  Those were some very rough times for me.  Possibly the darkest times I’ve ever experienced.  I was still reeling from the loss of Jackson and having a hard time finding the optimism in my everyday life.  I listened to this cd from Shania Twain a lot during that time, whenever I was on the road, often when driving Harry to and from preschool.  A lot of the songs spoke to me, but this was the one song that gave me a shred of hope to hold onto.  I wanted more than anything to believe that we could only go up from here.  And this song was so peppy and upbeat that I couldn’t help but be cheered, if even for only a little less than three minutes.

So maybe this song will help right now.  If you’re having a hard time finding the good, maybe this song can give you a shred of hope too.

 
icon for podpress  Up! by Shania Twain [2:53m]: Play Now | Play in Popup

It’s ’bout as bad as it could be
Seems everybody’s buggin’ me
Like nothing wants to go my way–
Yeah, it just ain’t been my day
Nothin’s comin’ easily

Even my skin is acting weird
I wish that I could grow a beard
Then I could cover up my spots
Not play connect the dots
I just wanna disappear

[chorus:]
Up–up–up–
Can only go up from here
Up–up–up–up
Where the clouds gonna clear
Up–up–up–
There’s no way but up from here

Even something as simple as
Forgettin’ to fill up on gas
There ain’t no explanation why–
Things like that can make you cry
Just gotta learn to have a laugh

[repeat chorus]

Oh yeah, yeah, yeah…

When everything is goin’ wrong
Don’t worry, it won’t last for long
Yeah, it’s all gonna come around
Don’t go let it get you down
You gotta keep on holding on

It’s ’bout as bad as it could be
Seems everybody’s buggin’ me
Like nothing want to go my way–
Yeah, it just ain’t been my day
Nothin’s comin’ easily

[repeat chorus]

Oh– I’m going up [4x]
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah…

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Thoughts inspired by road trip songs

by Marilyn on July 20, 2008

We finally traveled home to Reno this afternoon.  By the time we left, I was in a rather MOOD, if you didn’t notice.  Leaving San Fransisco and BlogHer the way we did, was rather stressful and was really starting to take it’s toll on me.  I’m hoping that tomorrow I get a good chance to write about the whole thing in my standard wrap-up post.  Not to be confused with my standard link post which will include all links to all the business cards I gathered.  I’ll be doing that too, but maybe not until Tuesday.  Yes, you’re just going to have to be patient.

I can say that I’m rather glad I didn’t have to fly because it sounds like people are having a HELL of a time with delayed/cancelled/etc flights.  I would probably have had an anuerism.

Ahem, I’m totally getting off track here, aren’t I?

Listening to the MP3s on my cell phone on the way home (piped through the car’s stereo, of course), I had some thoughts that I felt I needed to share with you all.  Because this is my blog and I can do whatever I want.

  • Bad Medicine” is my favorite-est Bon Jovi song EVAH.  Closely followed by “Livin’ on a Prayer” and “Wanted Dead or Alive” (in that order), but still.  It’s the best.  Hands down.
  • I miss “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” so bad.  And I still love love love the musical episode, especially the song “Walk Through the Fire“.
  • Wynonna Judd’s “Testify to Love” STILL gives me chills.
  • According to my 8 year old, “Enter Sandman” is cool because it’s a “Rock Band” song (and pretty much for no other reason).
  • Even though I’m no great fan of the Dixie Chicks, “Not Ready to Make Nice” makes me wanna pump my fist in the air.  You go, girls!
  • Anywhere” is the best song by Evanescence, without a doubt.  I don’t care to entertain arguments to the contrary, either.
  • How can you have any pudding if you don’t eat your meat??
  • I pretty much pink puffy heart love the entire Moulin Rouge soundtrack and don’t care who knows it. (Especially this song right here. Oh, and this one too.)
  • We listen to a pretty freakin’ strange variety of music.

And there you have it.  TIME FOR BED.

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Like Strawberries?

by Marilyn on May 24, 2006

This song has been playing on the radio a lot lately. And it’s *infectious*. You may not think much of it the first time you hear it, but eventually you find you’re cranking up the volume when it comes on. At least, that’s what I do. ;) It’s fun, funky and feel-good. All good “f” words for a May afternoon. And it has this uncanny ability to make you feel good about yourself, which when you’re waddling through the third trimester is a valuable thing indeed. So if perhaps you live under a rock and haven’t heard this one yet, use the handy, dandy little player below and rock out. And if you like? Read the lyrics and maybe buy the cd (link below).

http://lilacpixels.com/juicy.mp3

Juicy by Better than Ezra

Here We Go
I got with somebody’s date
You’re like a soap Opera cover
My lover self-automates
Juicy
Aw, Juicy

You say a-somebody say
You’re like a salve for a leper
You’re sweet for somebody’s pain
Juicy
Aw, juicy
Aw, juicy

Yeah, you got to live for your own
You say you got all the sordid details
Check-out retail
Watch it sell
Now juicy
Aw, juicy

I gotta delay…

Mothers, children on the street
Can’t get enough to eat
Off the record, dishes fly
Don’t know the reason why
Meet me in the check out stand
See who can be the lover man
Conscience bleeding in a song
Guilty as the day is long
Goodbye

Yeah, you got to live for your own
You say you got all the sordid details
Check-out retail
Watch it sell
I got to see that lie
You say what you’re going to say
You got to know it’s a bitter poison
Sapping all of your soul away

Yeah, aw juicy
Juicy
Aw juicy
Aw juicy
Aw, ooh, aw, ooh, yeah yeah yeah
Juicy

Buy the CD at Amazon.com

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You Had a Bad Month

by Marilyn on April 1, 2006

For once, March kept it’s grimy hands off me. I had a pretty good month, as did my most immediate family. We were lucky. This year, at least. I know so many people who weren’t. People whom I didn’t even mention in this blog. It staggers the mind and pains the heart, to say the least. Truly. And this song has been playing on the radio a lot lately… every time I hear it, it makes me smile. Sure, it’s singing about a bad day someone had (or at least I’m pretty sure it is, that *is* the name of the song, after all) but it has this upbeat sound… as if it’s not the end of the world. There’s another morning dawning. I don’t know, maybe it’s just me seeing hope where it’s not meant to be seen. But if maybe you can see some hope for a brighter tomorrow from this song, then I guess that’s what matters, right?

Bad Day by Daniel Powter

Where is the moment we need at the most
You kick up the leaves and the magic is lost
They tell me your blue skies fade to grey
They tell me your passion’s gone away
And I don’t need no carryin’ on

You stand in the line just to hit a new low
You’re faking a smile with the coffee to go
You tell me your life’s been way off line
You’re falling to pieces everytime
And I don’t need no carryin’ on

Cause you had a bad day
You’re taking one down
You sing a sad song just to turn it around
You say you don’t know
You tell me don’t lie
You work at a smile and you go for a ride
You had a bad day
The camera don’t lie
You’re coming back down and you really don’t mind
You had a bad day
You had a bad day

Well you need a blue sky holiday
The point is they laugh at what you say
And I don’t need no carryin’ on

You had a bad day
You’re taking one down
You sing a sad song just to turn it around
You say you don’t know
You tell me don’t lie
You work at a smile and you go for a ride
You had a bad day
The camera don’t lie
You’re coming back down and you really don’t mind
You had a bad day

(Oh.. Holiday..)

Sometimes the system goes on the blink
And the whole thing turns out wrong
You might not make it back and you know
That you could be well oh that strong
And I’m not wrong

(yeah…)

So where is the passion when you need it the most
Oh you and I
You kick up the leaves and the magic is lost

Cause you had a bad day
You’re taking one down
You sing a sad song just to turn it around
You say you don’t know
You tell me don’t lie
You work at a smile and you go for a ride
You had a bad day
You’ve seen what you like
And how does it feel for one more time
You had a bad day
You had a bad day

Buy the CD at Amazon.com

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Collide by Howie Day

by Marilyn on March 9, 2006

I used to do this thing called “Song of the Week”. And it was fun and all but there was some big problems. 1) I didn’t always feel like posting a song EVERY. WEEK. 2) I found I was putting up songs because it was time to and not because I was inspired to, which was the original idea. 3) People started getting nuts emailing me to send them the songs. I had no problem sending the “Lost” theme I had, at least for a while, because that wasn’t something you could find on a cd and buy. It was simply recorded off the TV. But then I was getting multiple requests a day and I was DONE. And people wanted me to send them MP3’s for songs that *were* on cd, and that is not right.

So I’m trying this again. I’ve renamed the category to “Melodies” so I won’t be posting these on any sort of regular basis, just when I feel like it. Also? NOT SENDING ANYONE ANY SONGS! So don’t even ask. You want to have that song for your very own, I will be including a handy dandy link to Amazon so you can purchase the cd legally. I’m putting my foot down! Also, after a month or so, I’ll be removing the mp3 file, but leaving the post, lyrics, Amazon link, etc. This is so people don’t get crafty and try to download directly from my server. Cuz that’s WAY rude. Anyhow, on with the show.

I love this song. It’s off the “This is Alice Music” cd that I have linked in the sidebar under “Listening” right now. And the acoustic version? Even better. While it might not necessarily be about this, I feel it’s about hope. And that’s how I feel right now. Hopeful. So listen and enjoy. And if you want? Purchase.

The dawn is breaking
A light shining through
You’re barely waking
And I’m tangled up in you
Yeah

I’m open, you’re closed
Where I follow, you’ll go
I worry I won’t see your face
Light up again

Even the best fall down sometimes
Even the wrong words seem to rhyme
Out of the doubt that fills my mind
I somehow find
You and I collide

I’m quiet you know
You make a first impression
I’ve found I’m scared to know I’m always on your mind

Even the best fall down sometimes
Even the stars refuse to shine
Out of the back you fall in time
I somehow find
You and I collide

Don’t stop here
I lost my place
I’m close behind

Even the best fall down sometimes
Even the wrong words seem to ryhme
Out of the doubt that fills your mind
You finally find
You and I collide

You finally find
You and I collide
You finally find
You and I collide

Buy the CD at Amazon.com