Surviving China: A Playlist

The best advice I got before I came to China for the year was to take my iPod and headphones everywhere I go. It’s kind of a no-brainer in light of my love for music, but the root of the advice is that when you’re walking along, doing your thing, living in China after a few weeks and you don’t see any English or hear any English or see anyone who looks anything like you, at least there is familiar music playing in your ears. I’ve really taken this to heart. When I take off each morning on my walk to class, I put my music on. I do the same on the walk back. In the car on the way to wherever I’m going, on the train. I keep my music going pretty much anytime I am not in conversation with someone or in my apartment.

I have a lot of music. I’m not in the top tier of music owners. I know some fanatics who have 50,000 songs or more. I am coming in at around 8000 these days, but I think that’s substantial. I’ve learned that with so much music, playlists are essential. I could spend days and days organizing my music, and often, I do. No one wants to listen to The Who right after Amy Grant. Or a song from Rent next to a Frank Sinatra. Okay, so those are not at all an adequate sampling of my music...just for the record.

A few days ago I decided to check out to see what I’ve played the most while here in China, and I assembled a playlist called “Surviving China.” Since I’m almost done here, I thought I’d share a few songs with you, with no, vague, or way too detailed explanations. Oh, and don’t judge me, you might be surprised what you choose to listen to when you spend a year alone in a foreign country.

Fleetwood Mac/Stevie Nicks-Dreams, Gypsy, The Chain

I recently rediscovered Fleetwood Mac. I was one of those people in college who kinda went back and forth on Stevie’s voice, then in California when my love for Joni Mitchell tripled, I think Stevie got ushered in too. I started listening more and more, and by the time Glee did their Rumours episode, I was a legit fan. I know, late in the game, but I also know lots of people who have this same story about Stevie. Anyway, I find myself going back to the above songs this year. Turning them on feels very grounding, almost like putting roots down. And that’s something that I’ve needed this year. I feel like I could float away sometimes and no one would know or notice. These songs have helped with that feeling. “I have no fear, I have only love.”

Ingrid Michaelson-Keep Breathing

A Promise To Keep-Brandi Carlile

Brandi Carlile-A Promise To Keep

Natalie Merchant-Kind and Generous 

Remembering to be thankful throughout this year has been hard in my worst moments. I get lonely, a little depressed, and find myself wanting to blame someone, ANYONE, for not being there for me. For this not being easier. For so many things. But this song is grounding and when I stop naval-gazing for 2 seconds and look around at the people in my life, the opportunities I’ve had, I cannot be anything but thankful. 

Sarah McLachlan-Hold On 

Damien Rice-Delicate 

David Gray-Babylon

I just love the line, “The love that I was, giving you was, never in doubt.” Love his voice, love the song, brings back great light memories and makes me feel somehow hopeful too.

John Mayer-Say, 3x5 

All At Sea-Jamie Cullum

Jamie Cullum-All At Sea

Coldplay-Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall, Us Against The World, Swallowed in the Sea

I am a total geek when it comes to Coldplay. I love them. I just do. These three are a good sampling for me here. The upbeat anthem, the super slow and sweet love song, and the quiet but building with the greatest lines, “Oh what good is it to live? With nothing left to give? Forget, but not forgive...not loving all you see!?” I have taken those words as a personal challenge this year. 

Van Morrison-Into The Mystic

Elvis Costello-Hoover Factory

The National-About Today

The song from The Fighter that still haunts me when I hear it. It’s soothing and melancholy, but ultimately has a slow steady beat with good instrumentation, the words are sad, but I like them that way.

Pearl Jam-Just Breathe

One Republic-Good Life

Mumford & Sons-Hopeless Wanderer, White Blank Page

The Weepies-World Spins Madly On

If you are not familiar with this song, you should get that way soon. It’s a really simple song, with great words and truth behind it. It gives me a resigned/content feeling. It is what it is, the world stops for no one.

Gotye-Somebody That I Used To Know

Things To Say-SafetySuit

SafetySuit-Things To Say

Spencer and Antfood-Trek

This song was from a commercial on Hulu and it hooked me every time. I love the name of it. Feels very appropriate to where I am right now.

Fun.-We Are Young

Linkin Park-Waiting For The End

And of course...

The Cure-Pictures of You

I already blogged on this one...check it out here.

What songs have kept you going during 
tough or unusual times?

Obsession of the Week: Pictures of You

I have a new obsession. For a person with an addictive personality, that is not to be taken lightly. When I find something I love, I latch on. My friend Jill has watched me for almost 20 years as I dive head first into everything from hobbies to people. I like to say it’s passion more than obsession. Every coin has two sides right?

Buy this album.

So less than a week ago, my friend Joni mentioned in a text to me, as she often does, that she was listening to a great song...Pictures of You by The Cure. I read her text and thought for a minute...did I know this song? Hmm...I summoned up my limited knowledge of The Cure...Mint Car...Friday I’m in Love...yeah...I know The Cure. But I couldn’t get Pictures of You in my head. When most people recommend songs, I just YouTube them, but with Joni, I know it’s a given. If she likes it, I’m probably going to like it. I went to iTunes and bought it. To be clear, I bought the version that is about 7.5 minutes long. There are a lot of them out there.

That was less than a week ago. Since that moment I have played the song over 100 times. That’s the count on my iTunes, not including God Knows How Many Times I’ve listened on my iPod. I am obsessed. How could I have missed this song in my 33 years of life? My mom definitely did her part to give me all the best of the 70’s and I hit the 90’s in my teens, but the 80’s fell in that unfortunate period of time where I was a child and my parents were...well, busy being parents. This is why we need friends of all ages. Because one day, one of those friends who WAS a teenager (the most important period of life for discovering the bountiful gift of music) during a music era you were not will text you that they are listening to a song that will change your life, feed your soul, and become your instant new favorite.

I have no choice but to write a blog about Pictures of You. Remember last week when I geeked out about Gotye’s mouth? This is gonna be like that only maybe less creepy, more dorky.

Any song that starts with chimes is bound to be magical. And that's how this one begins. Then there's this great low, lengthy, but rhythmic syncopated guitar over a basic bass line that repeats. More chimes, then the guitar line comes in again an octave higher, building the music, making it escalate. It repeats and just when you've got the idea, cue the chimes and keyboards to fill in the chords and the foundation of the music is set.

By the time Robert Smith starts singing, with his incredibly unique voice, his British accent pushing through, I was already hooked on the song. It was predictable enough that I could get into it immediately, but was still interested in what was coming. The music takes a backseat to his lyrics, which are surprisingly not that bad! I mean, listen, 80's lyrics were not known for their poetry. The 80's were known for fun! Booming economy, neon colors, materialism, pop music! So sometimes I have to put my love for words aside while listening to music from that time. (More recent music coming from the grunge angst of a no longer happily ignorant world has no excuse. Life House...what are you thinking..."it's you and me and all of the people...." geez.) But as I said, the words to THIS song are not that bad. A little repetitive, but the song calls for it.

What I like about the story he is telling is that he is so clearly reflecting back about a relationship he was in. But it is definitely in the past. He is not longing for that person or whining even. He is just reliving a memory. As a person prone to reflection, I can really get behind this idea. He kind of knows that the pictures are not real, but looking at them, he realizes all of the emotion attached to them, how they beg him back to another time. He lets himself go there, and in the process creates a great formula in the lyrics, which serve as his vehicle for going.

Smith found this picture of his wife after a fire in his home. The song is loosely inspired by it.

He begins each verse with "Remembering you..."and then follows that with an actual memory "...running soft through the night." Reflecting on the relationship in its glory. But then he punctuates it with some of his internal thoughts "You were bigger, brighter, and whiter than snow." These are things he probably never said or even thought at the time, but have been summoned by these pictures and painted with silver linings through the rose colored glasses of memory. I get that. Colors are brighter in my memories, voices are sweeter, moments I never want to forget are frozen and played in slow motion losing the nuances of the less than perfect things that might have accompanied them in their reality.

Leonardo DiCaprio's last words to Mal in the movie Inception are a perfect explanation of what a "picture" or imagination lacks that reality provides. He says to her, "I can't imagine you with all your complexity, all your perfection, all your imperfection. Look at you. You are just a shade of my real life. You're the best I can do; but I'm sorry, you are just not good enough." Smith's lyrics are proof of this sentiment. The pictures of his lost love have kept her frozen in time, bringing out only what he wants to remember, which in this song, is the best of her and them.

While Smith is singing, the guitar rhythm, keyboards, chimes, and drums keep their pace, backing off during his words, coming forward during breaks. It's a dance really, both partners are vital, neither can stand alone.

By the time the "bridge" shows up we have had a glimpse into his relationship and we get that it was pretty incredible to him. After reminiscing...the emotions are bound to surface. He can't just tell us about it anymore, he can't just recall it, he actually misses it. This is where we get the few lines of regret, remorse, and the "what might have been" element of the song. "If only I'd known of the right words, I could have held on to your heart." And it's a feeling almost everyone in the world has felt. What I love about it is that it doesn't really keep him down. He gets a little quiet in the following measures as if to give himself time to be sad, to recover, and finally to get it together. The music takes the stage to let him have these moments.

That hair.

And you think the song is going to end. You think it's going to fade out into this guitar rhythm it started with, but then the chords start changing and the music revs back up, cue chimes, and then...the anthem comes...

His declaration...his last words...a statement of clarity that says to the once beloved person of his former relationship, in case you were at all confused as to how I feel or have felt, THIS is what I want you to understand. "There was nothing in the world, that I ever wanted more, than to feel you deep in my heart! There was nothing in the world, that I ever wanted more, than to never feel the breaking apart..my pictures of you." He sings more loudly here than anywhere else in the song. More confidently. This is the take away. The declaration is made and even though what's done is done, and he is probably at peace about everything ultimately, no one likes to be misunderstood. The clarity he has in those last lines show the best of his intentions, the depth of the love he once had for someone he held so dear, shared so many memories with, and will never forget.

The guitar keeps going but begins to fade until it all comes to an inevitable but still somewhat abrupt end.

As things tend to do.

Gotye's Mouth

Does he even have a top lip?

Thin lips...I got em. In fact, occasionally I seriously spend time looking in the mirror trying out different faces/mouth positions that might somehow make my lips suddenly morph into those of Angelina Jolie...or at least the much inferior, but still substantial lips of Jennifer Aniston. It never works though. My lips are almost always chapped, even though I use so much Carmex I should have bought stock in it back in 1990 when I started playing the trumpet. That's a thing right? Stock in Carmex?

Anyway, probably because I do not have one, I love big mouths. I actually love mouths in general. Some of my friends have the most interesting mouths and just as you might find yourself looking at the length of my eye lashes (because the best feature I have is the HAIR ON MY EYES) when we talk, I probably spend too much time looking at lips. Not in a lusty way, in an envious way. I have this one friend who has this perfect mouth. Her lips are always the right amount of shiny, and never with extreme color, but instead with this natural gloss, like she just licked them and stimulated the exact right amount of blood to make them the perfect pink. When she is emphatic, her lips spread wide across her face, but they always stay full. If I try to imitate her, my lips all but disappear. When she laughs they make a perfect “O” and when she cries they quiver just the right amount. Whereas some of my friends have lips that are too agape and hang open or closed too tightly, this friend has the perfect “resting” position for her lips. Just slightly parted, not in the way someone who is waiting to talk might have theirs parted, but in the way someone expecting to receive a kiss might leave the slightest opening. 

Do you get it now? I mean, I really pay attention to mouths, and I like the ones with full lips. (Cue insecurity in all my friends...)

Barely parted, you can see how the corners of his lips curl up slightly.

So imagine my surprise when Gotye popped up on the scene earlier this year and I found myself completely enthralled by his mouth. I mean, look at it.

It’s nothing special. Where are his lips? Of the people I’ve ever kissed, almost ALL of them had substantial lip size. Someone has to make up for what I’m lacking in that area. And yet, with Gotye, (not that I’ve kissed him, but I’d consider it) his lips are something like a pencil mark, or thinner, a single line of thread. He doesn’t really fit my typical “type” and yet, I cannot stop watching him sing. While his lips are definitely thin, his mouth is kind of big. It’s wide, especially when he opens it fully. And even though his upper lip is almost invisible, when he pronounces certain words, it rolls slightly up, exposing just a tad more pink than usual. In his video of Somebody That I Used To Know, (and I’ve studied it extensively at this point) the corners of his mouth curl up slightly each time his lips part. The words sort of slip and escape through them during the verse, but then when the chorus starts, his mouth gets HUGE. As he sings, it makes the most amazing shapes showing his teeth, tongue, and even his throat at times.

I love the way his upper lip is shaped in this picture.

Ok, I know, this is a little much, probably beyond obsessive and getting into mentally unstable territory. I can admit it; I am hoarding pictures of Gotye’s mouth on this blog. And I’m not done yet. Just hang on.

So...what I love about Gotye’s mouth is what I love about any mouth. It’s watching the muscles work. Having played trumpet for so many years, I learned to isolate the individual muscles around my mouth for various sounds, notes, and other terms that would only prove that I am a band nerd. On a person with thin lips, it’s very easy to see the movement of these muscles. So when I saw Gotye sing his one hit wonder (yeah, I’m calling it) the way his muscles pulled his mouth into various shapes was fascinating to me. 

The right (your left) side of his mouth tends to raise a little higher than the other.

Facial muscular movement = passion. Anyone who has ever talked to me about anything important to me, knows that I will make dozens of faces during the conversation. At one camp I worked at, I was kind of known for my various and unexpected faces. Watch someone watching their favorite football team in a close game, their face will contort and reshape hundreds of times. It’s passion. And I do believe the opposite is true. The deadpan who never raises his eyebrows, never scrunches her nose, never maneuvers his mouth into any somewhat strange shape...well, I’d be willing to bet there’s a lack of passion there. 

Which is fine if you like that sort of thing. But for me...you guys know by now...passion is my jam. It’s a must quality for me. If a person can’t get excited, riled, upset, expressive about something then most likely they become somebody that I used to know. (See what I did there?)

This is what passion looks like.

So back to the song itself, it’s simple. Good, but basic lyrics. The only real surprise is his use of the word “rough” which is maybe my favorite word in the song. It’s unexpected and rolls out. The way he says it is as though he’s been so hurt. Think about what it means to be treated rough. I love that word, the wear and tear of it, the mark it leaves. 

The music itself isn’t much to listen to, the harmonies are very simple. But it definitely made its mark this year and I doubt any of us will forget it anytime soon. Still, Gotye’s other music isn’t that great. It’s unique, some of it too unique. The kind I really try to tell myself to like...but ultimately just can’t do it. I do like one from the Whip It Soundtrack, Learnalilgivenanlovin. But I mostly just want to see him sing it. 

And that is a big mouth. 

And that’s what it boils down to for me when it comes to Gotye. Watching him sing is enjoyable for me. It’s not this John Mayer style borderline orgasmic/seizure situation that makes me nervous and want to laugh and actually distracts me from the singing. It’s an enhancement of what’s already happening. For this reason, I would probably attend a Gotye concert but never actually buy his album. 

Oh, and I’ve had time to consider it and in light of our dual pair of thin lips, it might be strange to kiss him, but I would definitely let him sing to me.

5 Killer Cover Songs--By Meredith

I’ve been threatening Amber with a guest blog since Weekend Fat launched. Today, I’m finally making good on at least one of many promises. I’m diving in with a good old-fashioned list (lists perform exceptionally well as blog titles and topics) and an evergreen topic: The cover song.

There are tons of cover songs out there – lots of opinions - so I feel it’s necessary to lay down my ground rules for today’s post:

1. No covers originating from American Idol, X Factor, Glee, Nashville, etc.
2. Similarly, no teens with a guitar or piano, playing covers for their YouTube fans & followers (as talented as they may be – go Annelise).
3. All covers included in the list must be true “covers.” No “samples” or “mash-ups.”
4. No Beatles covers. No jazz, bluegrass or folk rock standards. There are just too many to process. 
5. Also, no Fleetwood Mac covers. There are some good ones out there, but Fleetwood Mac is hallowed ground.
6. No holiday-themed covers.
7. All originals must be good songs to start; so it follows, all cover songs must be genuinely notable. We’re talking either a complete reinterpretation or a completely different style of music. 
8. Johnny Cash’s cover of NIN’s “Hurt” is too easy. Excellent - but easy. I’m angling for more obscure on one or both tracks within the grouping.

Obviously, these are my completely arbitrary rules – mostly in place for the sake of brevity. Without further ado: five awesome originals and their equally awesome covers.

Immigrant Song

Original: Led Zeppelin 

Cover: Karen O w/ Trent Reznor & Atticus Rose

I’m starting with my favorite because, well, it’s just badass. I was in middle school when NIN was at its apex. The boys sported grungy NIN and Stone Temple Pilots t-shirts. The girls were all about bubblegum and The Backstreet Boys. I was woefully misguided by my sex. NIN is the shit. And Karen O can do no wrong in my eyes. Maps and Gold Lion are on my multi-generational, cross-genre “classics” playlist. 

Running Up That Hill

Original: Kate Bush 

Cover: Placebo 

Kate Bush is a quirky, English powerhouse that frequently ousted 80s-era Madonna when she was at the top of the charts. She’s worth revisiting. Kate is a definite reference point for many artists enjoyed now. Bjork and Florence & The Machine borrow heavily from Kate’s pop-opera delivery. I’ll get you started: Cloudbusting, Breathing and Hounds of Love.

Placebo, on the other hand, is Placebo. Admittedly, I’m not terribly well versed in their work but big props on the cover.

Kate Bush Cover Song, Honorable mention: This Woman’s Work (Maxwell) I don’t know who has the cheesier video, but Kate and Maxwell are melodrama at its best.

It’s My Life

Original: Talk Talk 

Cover: No Doubt 

No Doubt follows Talk Talk’s arrangement; and yet, these are two strikingly different songs. 80s-era British pop-rock or Gwen Stefani? It’s a draw.

Can We Still Be Friends

Original: Todd Rundgren 

Cover: Mandy Moore 

Rundgren is a prolific singer-songwriter and record producer, with a significant hand in the 70’s and 80’s pop scene. Rundgren is the real deal. And I maintain, Mandy Moore is an under-valued entertainer. I wish she did more. She has a solid voice, she stuck to her guns during the over-sexed Britney Spears / Christina Aguilera era and she also happens to be a decent comedic actress too (Saved!). Anyway, this is my hidden gem.

I Will Always Love You

Original: Dolly Parton 

Cover: Whitney Houston 

Cover: Jennifer Hudson 

Get ready to turn on the tears. 

Everyone knows Whitney Houston’s amazing version of Dolly Parton’s original. In fact, even Dolly admits that David Foster’s arrangement for ‘The Bodyguard’ floored her and she’s thankful the song turned into the iconic hit that it is. In both versions, “I Will Always Love You” is all about sweeping, romantic love and saying goodbye.

And then, Whitney Houston died tragically, a day before the 54^th Annual Grammy Awards. As a former live television producer, I can’t imagine what those 24 hours between the news hitting and the curtains coming up were like; but the Grammy team did an excellent job. A night of tasteful tributes and awards was capped with Jennifer Hudson’s memorial performance - and she’s the reason I get to break Rule #8 concerning obscurity.

You can’t find J-Hud’s live cover of “I Will Always Love You” on any album, but it’s a heart-wrenching and wholly original take on the epic song. Jennifer mutes the crescendos, goes with a bit more staccato and translates a song about bittersweet romance into palatable, general grief.  She can sing at my funeral.

Share your favorite cover...but make sure you follow the rules!

The Happiest Video on Earth

While I'm off in Beijing here's the happiest video on earth. 


Everyone has their "go to" video to get a quick fix of happy. This is mine. 


In case you can't see it, just click here or search on YouTube "Sugarland and Sara Bareilles Cover Come On Eileen."

What's your get happy video?

Searching for the November Rain of 2012

Today I had the fortunate experience of introducing Guns N' Roses', "November Rain" video to a group of Chinese students. As I watched along with them, so many questions ran through my head: 

What happened to the front of that girl's wedding dress? 

How did they find that teeny-tiny church in the middle of the New Mexico? And why bother with the marriage hoopla when Slash is clearly the star of this video?

Has anyone at this wedding ever seen rain before? No need to destroy the cake!

And perhaps the biggest mystery (Spoiler Alert if you are under the age of 27 or over the age of 40) What happened that put this bride in a coffin by the end of the video? The mirrored face implies suicide...but why? She should've married Slash...

Some questions we will never know the answers to. But what I really wanna know is that since our society has digressed evolved to a point where MTV and VH1 are not for music videos anymore and YouTube is the new medium for them, are we still getting the same narrative production value in videos today?

What is today's equivalent of the overly dramatic music videos that I grew up with? You know the ones. Richard Marx's "Hazard," MJ's "Thriller," A-Ha's "Take On Me," anything by Celine Dion, Bonnie Tyler or Meatloaf, Reba's "Fancy," and yes, I will go there...R. Kelly's "Trapped in the Closet." These videos and many more like them put images to music that redefined the songs and became icons for my generation.  

Before we explore some possible contemporary comparisons, let's dissect the elements of these videos:

1. Storytelling-The story doesn't have to be concrete or detailed, but each of these videos has characters, setting, and some semblance of a narrative arc that moves the story forward. 

2. Epic elements-I'm talking about costumes, lights, wide angle shots, absurd length, and lots and lots of extras.

3. Solo break-It doesn't have to be a guitar solo, it can be a dance solo or just a total interruption/change in the music, but something has to break it up.

4. Chill factor-Where would any music be without those four right chords that make you cry? At some point in watching a video, whether it's musically induced or story induced, the hair on your arms should stand up.

5. It helps if someone dies.

Now, I submit for your consideration the following possibilities:

Anything by Lady Gaga but more specifically "Bad Romance"

Coldplay "The Scientist"

Katy Perry "The One That Got Away"

Beyonce "If I Were a Boy" 

Eminem and Rihanna "Love The Way You Lie"

Even though the above videos have potential, you can see that they all fall short of the dramatic videos of the 80's and 90's. In short, I am completely unsatisfied with these results. But I recognize that I might not know everything. My talents are far-reaching, but I admit that there might be cobwebbed corners of music that I cannot reach. And in my attempt to find the modern day have the lock on the modern version of "November Rain." 

So I ask you, dear reader, help me find the most epic music videos being made today. If you would like to suggest one, leave a comment!