Delilah

My husband is in love with this song:

Soundtrack of Childhood

Mine was in brass:

This is Sunday afternoons at home in bad weather, golf with the volume turned off on TV, and a card table with a 1,000 piece puzzle in the middle of the living room:



Rise:



And a classic:

Something Cool

It's awfully cool when you can say - "hey, I went to school with her."

Just listen to that. Wow.

The Lunchtime Singer

One and his friends got into a music discussion yesterday at lunch, and he took it on the chin for some of his choices. In particular, he announced that he liked Amazing Grace, and proceeded to belt out the first verse. Twice. Thank goodness they eat outside. He sang to hoots of derision, but he sang all the same, and hadn’t changed his opinion by the evening. He told me his friends liked “modern rock” and he didn’t know what that was and wasn’t sure he liked it. I gave him some examples and he realized he did have something in common with them, even given their hatred of Amazing Grace. So he’s off to school today to announce that he didn’t realize they meant Green Day, No Doubt, Good Charlotte and Everclear, because he likes them too. But he wanted to add he also likes The Lads, Van Morrison and Bob Marley, and he’s not going to give up liking Amazing Grace any time soon.

I’m so proud of my dorky child who sticks to his guns! And to him, Amazing Grace isn’t a stuffy hymn – it’s something that Robbie sings most Sundays these days, and if Robbie sings it, it’s on One’s list. Then again, Robbie could stand on his head and sing The Chipmunk’s Christmas Song and One would be all over it. Seriously though, my son thinks of music as an act of worship as well as something enjoyable and fun: how can I not be proud of that!?

Best Movie Soundtracks: Revised

Started thinking about this on the freeway Friday morning:

• Pulp Fiction
• Grosse Pointe Blank
• 10 Things I Hate About You
• A Hard Day's Night
• Grease
• Swingers (this is a criminal omission - my bad)
• Boogie Nights
• Blues Brothers
• Next Stop Wonderland
• My Fair Lady
• Buena Vista Social Club
• High Fidelity
• Trainspotting
• Romeo & Juliet (1996)
• Mighty Quinn
• Monsoon Wedding
• Bend it Like Beckham
• Christine

Old But Good Quote

I was listening to No Doubt today and Hey Baby came on - it reminded me of when One was much smaller and we were riding in the car, listening to that CD. The song came on ...

"Hey baby hey baby hey ... all the girls say"

And One burst out with "Well, the girls at my school don't say things like that!"

I almost wrecked the car. And I started listening to different music after that. At least while the boys were with me.

Exodus

That's what the boys are listening to right now. God bless my husband!

RSB Tour

Here is the first part of the tour schedule for Robbie Seay Band this fall. If you've never seen them, get off the couch and get yurself some tickets, y'hear!

In particular, if you're in Houston they will be at Taft Street Coffee House (home of Ecclesia) on Wednesday September 17 at 7PM.

Here's the band's myspace page, with some of their music to try out. And the band blog, mostly written by Robbie.

Enjoy.

The Lads

The boys just spent an amazing week at VBS with The Lads, a Christian kids' band from New Zealand. This is the second summer they've come to perform at VBS, and they do a fantastic job. They stay all day, all week with the kids - play for the 3 year olds as well as the older kids, act in skits, and generally goof around and get all the kids to absolutely love them. We ended the week with a concert tonight, and the boys (especially One) were jumping and dancing all over the place.

If you get a chance to see them and bring the kids - take it! You won't be sorry. Their message is fantastic and the music is pretty darn good at the same time. I can't say enough good about these guys.

Lullabies

What do you sing to your children at bedtime? Here are my favorites:

You Can Close Your Eyes and Sweet Baby James by James Taylor

If You Want to Sing Out by Cat Stevens

Our House by Crosby, Stills & Nash

Mind you, I can't sing to save my life, but they don't know that yet.

Shhhh. They're asleep.

Pathetic

So this morning I'm driving down the toll road at a high rate of speed, barefoot with Robert Earl Keen's The Road Goes on Forever (and the Party Never Ends) at 11, volume-wise, and thoroughly enjoying myself. And then it hits me. I drive a minivan. With booster seats. And school stickers on the back. And that means I am old. Old, old old. And you know what makes me older? The fact that, as I drove along, this thought flashed through my head: oh, is One going to be jealous of me - he loves this song, especially Rich Brotherton's guitar solos. I am so old I am wanting to share my loud music road odyssey with my 8 year old.

Oh, pathetic, thy name is Tari!

It's Not Everyday

you hear this on the radio:



The fact that I kept the radio on to listen to the whole thing is proof that I got hooked into watching some VH-1 80's show last night - so embarrassing.

But hey, every day can't be opera, or even Frank for that matter.

Mary

I've been trying to find a RSB recording of this song, but lacking that, here is a great version of what has to be one of the most beautiful songs in the world.

(Yes, the YouTube surfing has begun again. I'll just take some medication and it will go away, just like it did last time).



Blessings.

Train Whistle

I love that there's never been a place in Houston I've lived where I couldn't hear a train whistle. It has to be one of the all-time great lonely sounds, as so many good songs tell us.

Here's one I've always loved - a friend and I in college used to sing this together with alarming frequency.

Jill Paquette

Okay, I know I'm turning into a YouTube junkie, but Jill has such a spectacular voice. She and Donna played at church tonight and, as whenever they do, you leave with such a feeling of uplifted peace.



Blessings.

You Do Something to Me: Paul Weller

This is the wedding reception song from the Torchwood episode, Something Borrowed. I absolutely love it:

My Ongoing Battle with the Radio

Why do I let the radio make me mad? I was trying out the Christian Radio Station again on the way to lunch today and it wrapped me around the steering wheel once again. This time it started out good; I was so excited when they played one of Robbie's songs and then - more excitement - they started to play Los Lonely Boys' Heaven. Wow! Except ... it was the same song, but it wasn't Los Lonely Boys. It was an impostor - and a dreadful one at that. So apparently you can take their song, but they aren't good enough. Get busted for pot possession and the Baptists want nothing to do with you personally (but they'll take your stuff if it's good, okay?).

Hypocrites.

Surfing Radio Stations

This AM on the way to the office I had 2 great sing-along opportunities: Paradise City by Guns N Roses and I'll Fly Away. Yes, a little difference between the 2. I enjoyed the former more than the latter, not because I was ever much of a metal head, but the I'll Fly Away version was way too slow and anemic. Oh well, that's Christian Radio for you - they turn everything good into a washed out pop ballad. Blech.