Sunday Kitchen Disco 3 - Some New Music

As this week has been full of work, household admin and travelling for Easter vacation, we've not done much kitchen disco-ing sadly. And the most common music request is still `Updown Funk` (!). To remind you, to join #sundaykitchendisco add your link below, paste in the badge to your post and tweet your post link to me for a RT - more info here.

However as I work from home, I listen to music a lot and thought I would share with you my most recent finds. I'm a bit behind with current popular music but I'm enjoying a lot of the below. If it helps, my music tastes are fairly free ranging, but more on the indie/metal/electro side.

Grimes 

I've blogged about Grimes before. She sounds like Kylie meets Aphex Twin. Pop meets electro armageddon. I'm loving new song REALiTi which she's binned off her album (god knows why). The video, shot in Asia, is great also. If you like this track, try Oblivion and Genesis.

The Jesus +Mary Chain

Not a new band by anyone's standards, I first heard them after wondering what this great song is at the end of Lost In Translation. Whingey indie/indie-drone, alt rock, I bought their greatest hits but then completely forgot about them until it came on my ipod the other day. I'm now hooked. Favourite track is Snakedriver but I also like You Trip Me Up and Sidewalking.

Kitty, Daisy + Louis

KD+L have been around for awhile - Amy Winehouse was a big fan - and I love their summery, retro big band-meets-motown sound. They have a gorgeous retro look too and are apparently great live. My favourite is I'm So Sorry with it' awesome video but also try Going Up the Country.

Crystal Castles

Not for the faint-hearted, CC's music is intense and relentless - an annihilating mix of beepy electro (chip-tune) that builds a total wall of sound with Alice Glass's incoherent, angelic tones over the top. Not In Love, ft Robert Smith is their most well known track but their triptych of albums is worth a listen. Try Alice Practice, Wrath of God and the haunting Child, I Will Hurt You.

Santigold

If you like M.I.A or Missy Elliot you'll probably like Santigold. Her style is genre-bending but kind of pop, hip hop, indie, electro, funk. It's all in there. I love Shooting Arrows at the Sky from The Hunger Games OSD, but also worth checking out Disparate Youth and L.E.S. Artistes.

Looking forward to seeing all your links on the linky below!

Sunday Kitchen Disco

Hi everyone and welcome to the very first #sundaykitchendisco linky!

Typically, starting with a bang, this week is more of a #sundaykitchenplaylist - because I do love a good list, especially a music related one! I thought I'd pull together a list of Toddler45's favourite songs to boogie, sing and cuddle to.  

For regular readers, in case you're wondering what's going on, a linky is an opportunity to share a post you've written with lots of other people on my blog. The theme is *music*. You can read all about the linky here but the basic idea is:

• Add your post to the linky on the theme of *music*. So what your kids love to dance to, classes they attend, musical toys they love - anything.
• Tweet me your post link + include #sundaykitchendisco so I can RT!
• Comment on other posts in the linky + make new friends :)
• Your post can be old or new, doesn't matter so feel free to dig out one from the archives!
• The linky runs for a week from each Sunday

Fnally, don't forget to add the supercool #sundaykitchendisco badge to your post

<div align="center">
<a href="http://generationwhynot-stupidgirl.blogspot.co.uk/p/sunday-kitchen-disco-linky.html" title="SundayKitchenDisco"><img src="http://i374.photobucket.com/albums/oo184/stupidgirl45/4ba96a8e-263d-4590-8dcb-d362b583c284_zps4wq6wfns.jpg" alt="SundayKitchenDisco" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Anyway, here's our list SundayFundayKitchenDisco playlist :)

Uptown Funk - Mark Ronson ft Bruno Mars
Not yet the most overplayed song of 2015, Toddler45 loves this one and cutely refers to it as UpDown Funk. He does a pretty decent imitation of the dance too and had a little go at breakdancing also!

All About That Bass - Meghan Trainor
Not sure if its the foxy ladies in this video that have Toddler45 mesmerized or the catchy tune. Either way I have been forced to watch this around 67,000 times in the last month alone "Bass Mummy? No tweble!"

Danger Zone - Kenny Loggins

If liking cheesy music is in your genes, then Toddler45 gets this one from me. As a *bump* he used to go crazy to this one. And he still loves it :) "I feel the need, the need for speed!"

Get Lucky - Daft Punk
The first song Toddler45 clapped to. I was a bit over-excited by this - I mean Daft Punk, how cool is my child (nowhere near as cool as his mother obviously...)

Happy - Pharrell Williams

I've yet to find a toddler who does not like running around my sitting room when this song is on. So up there on our regular playlist. And that's without the Despicable Me connections :)

Fifi + The Flowertots Theme Tune

I've deliberately not posted a video clip of this song. It will be an endless earworm for you. Toddler45 loves it and I have regular requests for "FEEFEE" - despite him never actually watching the damn show!

Hear You Me - Jimmy Eat World

I love this song and used to play it to my bump very regularly. As a newborn, it always calmed Toddler45 down. And even last week, he fell asleep on me listening to this song. So it's a bit special. Might make you cry though.

Here Comes the Sun - The Beatles
Again, a bump song, one that calmed my son down as a newborn and even now. It's such a lovely, cheery positive song. The lyrics are oddly reassuring!

A Thousand Years - Christina Perri

This song came out around the time Toddler45 was born and sappy though it is, the lyrics summed up a lot of how I felt about him, loving him for a thousand years etc. I remember spending many evenings, in my dimly lit bedroom, with this on the radio, watching him sleep or feeding him and feeling so blessed.

I hope you liked the list and it's inspired you to add your own post to the linky. Anything music related - an archive post or a new post is fine. Hope you'll join in - just click the link below to join and add your post.

An InLinkz Link-up

Dear Toddler45 - Count My Lucky Stars

Dear Mr Munchy Bum,

As you know, I love you. I tell you approximately 650,789,456 times a day. I also enjoy kissing your munchy little face. At which you either wriggle away or lick me or yell "kiss on my MOUTH MUMMY" and try to give me a big enthusiastic snog.

As much as I whinge about it, I'm quite partial to being a mummy. Particularly, *your* mummy. You see, you're quite lovely and cute and also hilariously funny. So you know, that's all pretty good stuff to have around.

I might complain about the exhaustion - when you wake in the night for 2 hours and have a tantrum about no Mister Tumble and then try to sleep across my head. Or the tedium - when I have to read Dinosaurs Love Underpants at least 7 times before bed (sucker!). But also, you are the apple of my eye.

You give me a reason to get up in the morning, because no one does enthusiasm for a new day like a toddler. "Is it sunny?" when it's clearly pissing it down. "Is it dark?" when it's clearly 9am and yes, actually sunny. Your insistence on "staying in my jim-jams just little bit more mummy" means you're a boy after my own heart - nothing like lounge wear, telly and a big bowl of cereal.

You've also got an excellent bossy streak. I take pride in the fact that you've inherited this from me. Risking life and limb you insist that you "walk for a little bit mummy" as you flail away from me by the roadside whilst I have a minor coronary as cars whizz past. 

Resolute, you tuck your hands into your blue bomber jacket and march along, asking me if "we go Tescos for special t-weat mummy?" *cue big blue eyes*. I am powerless to resist. So is the lady in the Tescos who has a soft spot for you and always asks me accusingly "where is he??" when I go in without you.


I'm also massively enjoying your strong nurturing streak. Much as you like to destroy stuff "Me do snipping Mummy?" (cue paper everywhere) you love your bunny-baby so much. Twee as it may be, you look so cute pushing your pink toy stroller, with bunny snuggled in it, to the shops with me.  To those who have given you a funny look, *blows raspberry* do Daddies not push babies in buggies where you come from? 

Bunny is very important to you, bunny likes to be wrapped in a blanket and is just like you - only napping in the buggy. You also love your Makka Pakka - who sits in the back seat of your Little Tikes car and gets chauffeured around. He is also partial to yoghurt...

You love music, with Bruno Mars being the only person who has, to my knowledge, gotten you to eat a mushroom (heavens above, an actual vegetable!) Your special Uptown Funk dance in which you have tried to copy the video is excellent. You also love the (inappropriate?) All About That Bass video "AGAIN MUMMY, bass, no t-weble".  I love listening to music with you. You're much cooler than me - you love Hozier also!

Mostly though, it was very nice yesterday, on a rainy Monday afternoon, when Mummy was feeling poorly, when we lay on the sofa for a snuggle and listened to the songs I played you when you were a newborn, and you drifted off to sleep with your head on my chest. I know you remember the songs, I played them to you as a bump - and they settled you when you wouldn't feed when you were tiny. You woke a bit on me, and if I moved "No, cuggle mama" and you wound your little arms around me.

I love you baby, because you taught me to love myself. You taught me that I am fun to be around, that it doesn't matter what I wear or where we are, as long as we are together that's all that matters. So I'm counting my lucky stars that I have you as my little best buddy. Because it would be pretty crap for me and Daddy without you.

Love,

Mumma

PS At risk of being considered the world's grumpiest mother, this post came about to reassure people that I don't just let Toddler45 go feral to Cbeebies whilst I eat bonbons, drink gin and post on the social medias. Also it's a follow up to this post. 

On My Tits + Off My Chest - One option is not a choice and Peggy Olsening women.

This post is a bit of a mish mash of some stuff about equality, sexism, feminism that's been percolating in my head for awhile. I've been following the No More Page 3 campaign, the Everyday Sexism project and read the occasional Vagenda post (see this by Germaine Greer on their book/The New Feminism) and I think a debate about feminism, sexism and misogyny is bubbling along on social media. 

I'm often confused as to where I stand or what I think - it's hard to have a proper discussion in 140chr sentences. But I guess a lot of it boils down to a conversation between husbando and I last week....

Here is the cover artwork for Ellie Goulding's single Burn  - it came out in August 2013

Here is artwork for the single of Starry Eyed from 2010

Her look seems to have changed a little over the 3 years between the images. Looking at them, I made some comment to Husbando about how I felt she'd "sold out" a bit. Husbando accused me of not being a feminist and that she had the right to wear whatever she wanted, it was her CHOICE. Well hell to the yes, she does have that right and that choice. But what I think is,  it's not much of a choice when there's only really one option. 

See You On A Dark Night - Lyric Day

#WhyIDidntReport has been trending on Twitter and cropping up on my newsfeed. I've been shocked and saddened by the experiences I've seen tweeted. 

I don't know why I'm so shocked though, after my own (minor) sexual assault 7 years ago, so many female friends came forward to tell me of their own experiences, many of whom didn't report it - or even tell anyone. 

I've just started listening to Grimes (real name, Claire Boucher) and her particular brand of what has been described as "ABBA meets Aphex Twin" electro-y sort of music (and also as "witch-house" which I love!), but when I heard her song Oblivion, I just couldn't get the lyric "see you on a dark night" out of my head. Because, well, I got attacked on a "dark night". 

It's Always Darkest Before The Dawn....Lyric Day

I last did a lyric day in December 2011. So I've listened to a fair few songs since then :P It was a little hard therefore to pick one for my first lyric day since my impromptu blogging hiatus. But we're back with a bang.

I first heard this song on the episode of How I Met Your Mother and immediately loved it. I listened to it a lot when I was pregnant - Baby45 used to kick lots whenever I played it and after he was born it always soothed him :) I think it's such an uplifting, redemptive song, even though the lyrics are quite dark in places. It always makes me feel stronger, that I can carry on. When I was so sick and tired of being pregnant and feeling messed up and hormonal it kept me sane and positive.

It also reminds me a lot of my sister, inexplicably - I think just because she's a fan of F+TM. So here you go.....

Florence + The Machine - Shake It Out

Regrets collect like old friends
Here to relive your darkest moments
I can see no way, I can see no way
And all of the ghouls come out to play

And every demon wants his pound of flesh
But I like to keep some things to myself
I like to keep my issues drawn
It's always darkest before the dawn

And I've been a fool and I've been blind
I can never leave the past behind
I can see no way, I can see no way
I'm always dragging that horse around

Our love is questioned, such a mournful sound
Tonight I'm gonna bury that horse in the ground
So I like to keep my issues drawn
But it's always darkest before the dawn

Shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, ooh whoa
Shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, ooh whoa
And it's hard to dance with a devil on your back
So shake him off, oh whoa

And I am done with my graceless heart
So tonight I'm gonna cut it out and then restart
'Cause I like to keep my issues drawn
It's always darkest before the dawn

Shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, ooh whoa
Shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, ooh whoa
And it's hard to dance with a devil on your back
So shake him off, oh whoa

And it's hard to dance with a devil on your back
And given half the chance would I take any of it back
It's a fine romance but it's left me so undone
It's always darkest before the dawn

Oh whoa, oh whoa...

And I'm damned if I do and I'm damned if I don't
So here's to drinks in the dark at the end of my road
And I'm ready to suffer and I'm ready to hope
It's a shot in the dark aimed right at my throat
'Cause looking for heaven, found the devil in me
Looking for heaven, found the devil in me
Well what the hell I'm gonna let it happen to me, yeah

Shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, ooh whoa
Shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, ooh whoa
And it's hard to dance with a devil on your back
So shake him off, oh whoa

Shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, ooh whoa
Shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, ooh whoa
And it's hard to dance with a devil on your back
So shake him off, oh whoa

Thank you and goodnight,

Stupidgirl has left the building

PS In case you missed it, here are the previous Lyric Days and....here is the blogpost from last week

Shameful Confession #2: "DJ Becky".....

Twice now, in the last two months, some lovely person has invited me to a house party at their place. Yes, I say, how exciting! I plan my outfit in advance and hope I don't get too drunk and embarrass myself, after all, having spent years at university I should know all my drunken little foibles now....(thinking I can sing, thinking I can dance, trying to do a backbend, disappearing from conversations mid-sentence, spilling stuff on myself, eating dodgy food, wearing dodgy clothes....).

Well it seems I have a new drunken bad habit - all thanks to digital music. Yes, when I get drunk, I now think that I am DJ Becky (a name my friend came up with) and commandeer whatever music set up is at the party.....

Top 10 Songs of 2011

If last year was the year of me discovering apparently cool bands and only listening to indie stuff and being a bit alternative (Arcade Fire, Muse, Foos) then this year....hasn't.

2011 has been the year of POP (and some other stuff)! From Gaga to Rihanna to Florence and Crystal Castles - and a few other treats - here are my favourite songs that I've listened to non stop in 2011. (Btw they didn't necc. come out this year, but I got into the song this year).

Top 10 Favourite Songs of 2011

1. Radical Face - Welcome Home Son
- a song that reminds me of climbing in France, the link is a climbing video with this song as the soundtrack!

2. Crystal Castles ft. Robert Smith - Not In Love
- a new discovery, I just can't stop playing this

3. Lady Gaga ft Beyonce - Telephone
- awesome. that is all. brilliant, brilliant lyrics.

4. M83 - Midnight City
- this song was always played at the start of Made In Chelsea, and I had to look it up. A lot of their other tracks are awesome too, specially Graveyard Girl and Couleurs.

5. MGMT - Electric Feel
- I know, it's an oldie but a goodie and I only heard it this year. It's on my next-book-soundtrack...

AudioFuel - Top 10 Songs/Music To Write To

Another Nanowrimo oriented post, but one thing I really noticed last Nano, was just how much music I listened to when I was writing. For me, music is the equivalent of an airplane when it comes to taking me to that place in my head where the writing bits live. Music, to paraphrase Madonna, takes me there.

It would take a whole other blog post to go into why music does what it does to me (and many other people) but I thought it would be interesting to share the music I listen to when I write - it's partly what fuelled my Lyric Day posts also - as I listen to music when I blog.

Last year, for Nano, I compiled a playlist called, rather originally, Writing Music. It's got 62 tracks on it which obviously I'm not going to list in its entirety here, but it covers everything from Bjork to Britney Spears via Tori Amos, Radiohead, Jeff Buckley, Garbage, Counting Crows and The Chemical Brothers.

In addition, last year I also compiled a special playlist of music that helped me focus on my main characters - it plotted their story, music-wise. It might sound a bit odd but it really enabled me to get inside their heads and think about them as real people - and the sort of music they might like.

I'm curious to see if this year for Nano, my writing music tastes change because I'm writing in a different genre (dystopia to thriller). As a result, although this is a top 10 post, really it's just a list post, to help me categorise the music I listen to when I write.

I'm a Freak and I'm On Fire - Lyric Day

So, I *may* have mentioned that I'm a Garbage fan. And I `like` their page on Facebook. Well recently they've added a Garbage Radio app and put all their b-sides on it. Which, if you're a nerdy fan like me, is freakin' awesome :P

So today's song is one that I've not listened to in literally years and I first had it as a b-side on um, my cd single of Stupid Girl. Yes, I was that much of a fan that I remember this shit. It's a great song if you're a little pissed off, it puts a bit of fire back in your mouth and in your head. And Shirley Manson clearly is not to be messed with. I still don't understand why they didn't put it on any albums, cause it's awesome - and here it is, so turn it up......

And here are the lyrics:

Trip My Wire - Garbage


Be easy on me, I'm fragile
I'm easily broken, be careful with me
I'm a fighter, you're a cheat, and you're a liar
I don't need this anymore
This is not what I came for
I won't stand for this at all
I won't see you anymore
(And All you do is) Get burned, Get burned x3(whispered)

Be easy on me, don't trip my wire
I'm a freak, and I'm on fire
Be easy on me, trip my wire
I'm a freak, and I'm on fire
I don't need this anymore
This is not what I came for
I won't stand for this at all
I won't see you anymore
(And All you do is) Get burned, Get burned x7(whispered)

(Be careful with me, I'm fragile
I'm a bitch babe, and I'm on fire)x2====>
Burn, Burn, Burn,and Burnx32
Trip, Trip, trip, tripping on my wire, and oh my well then
Baby I'm a spider
Keep, keep, keep, on tripping on my wire
You can light my friend and baby I'm a fighter
You're a cheap, cheap, cheap, and baby on my wire
And I will think, think, think, but baby I'm a fighter
Becareful with mex3
I'm fragile
You'll still keep trip, tripping on my wire
I'm a freak, freak, freak, but Baby I'm on fire
I don't need this anymore
This isn't what I came here for

Thank you and goodnight

Stupidgirl has left the building

It's Not Me, It's Not My Family - Lyric Day

A great song with a serious undertone to it this week, Zombie from The Cranberries:

I've always loved this song as it's got a great riff and is a bit grungier than most of The Cranberries' other stuff. It's also a very sad song though, there are clear references throughout the song to the the troubles in Northern Ireland "It's the same old theme since 1916". The song as a whole is about the killing of two children in an IRA bombing in Warrington in 1993. It's clear that the song is referencing the fact that civilians get caught up in this terrible and long war (ending in 1998).

Anyway, here's the lyrics for you:

"Another head hangs lowly,
Child is slowly taken.
And the violence caused such silence,
Who are we mistaken?

But you see, it's not me, it's not my family.
In your head, in your head they are fighting,
With their tanks and their bombs,
And their bombs and their guns.
In your head, in your head, they are crying...

In your head, in your head,
Zombie, zombie, zombie,
Hey, hey, hey. What's in your head,
In your head,
Zombie, zombie, zombie?
Hey, hey, hey, hey, oh, dou, dou, dou, dou, dou...

Another mother's breakin',
Heart is taking over.
When the vi'lence causes silence,
We must be mistaken.

It's the same old theme since nineteen-sixteen.
In your head, in your head they're still fighting,
With their tanks and their bombs,
And their bombs and their guns.
In your head, in your head, they are dying...

In your head, in your head,
Zombie, zombie, zombie,
Hey, hey, hey. What's in your head,
In your head,
Zombie, zombie, zombie?
Hey, hey, hey, hey, oh, oh, oh,
Oh, oh, oh, oh, hey, oh, ya, ya-a..."

Thank you and goodnight

Stupidgirl has left the building

Ketchup Post - What I've Been Up To Since...Awhile Anyway

So, I've posted quite a bit this week and last but I was a bit erratic during August - lots of stuff to talk about.
Anyway I thought you'd like a list of stuff I've read, listened to and watched as well as places I've been to - and places I've eaten + drunk at. It's a very short post because I've had a very busy week but I hope it gives you a snapshot of what I've been up to.

Here you go:

Books I Have Read
What The Nanny Saw - Fiona Neill - review to come
Left Neglected - Lisa Genova - review to come

Movies I Have Watched
The Eagle - based on the book, The Eagle of the Ninth - this was well worth watching. The cinematography was awesome - here is a still to prove it:

(pic credit http://www.imdb.com/media/rm492602624/tt1034389)

Red Riding Hood - unfortunately, or perhaps unsurprisingly to some, this was diabolical.

Sarah's Key - amazing + incredibly moving, I'll be covering this in a book review of the book of the same name in the next couple of weeks.

Music I Have Listened To:

Snow Patrol - check this post

Counting Crows - very retro I know :) Mainly their newer stuff though, rather than AAEA

Nirvana - also retro

Pearl Jam - ditto

Rage Against the Machine - ditto

Journey - just because

Lady Gaga - because she has taken over my brain

Places I Have Been

Chamonix

Geneva

Milan

Paris

London

Wales (well that was the end of July)

Places I Have Eaten

Le Percolateur - very yummy food indeed!

Le Pain Quotidien

Hotel Eden

Places I Have Drunk

The Kings Arms

The Green Man

Dr Ink

The Oxo Tower

And that's it for now - am dashing off to a karaoke session (as ever...) but I'll be properly back over the weekend I promise. Have a lovely evening everyone.

Thank you and goodnight

Stupidgirl has left the building

When The Night Has Come - Lyric Day

Today's lyric day is dedicated to all those all over the world affected by 9/11. Yesterday I wasn't sure how I felt or even if it was appropriate to write something in memoriam. So I had this song planned for a lyric day - and it always reminds me of the States - so it seemed like a fitting tribute. That's all I need or want to say. Take care of yourselves folks.

Stand By Me - Ben E. King

"When the night has come
And the land is dark
And the moon is the only light we'll see
No I won't be afraid, no I won't be afraid
Just as long as you stand, stand by me

And darlin', darlin', stand by me, oh now now stand by me
Stand by me, stand by me

If the sky that we look upon
Should tumble and fall
And the mountains should crumble to the sea
I won't cry, I won't cry, no I won't shed a tear
Just as long as you stand, stand by me

And darlin', darlin', stand by me, oh stand by me
Stand by me, stand by me, stand by me-e, yeah

Whenever you're in trouble won't you stand by me, oh now now stand by me
Oh stand by me, stand by me, stand by me

Darlin', darlin', stand by me-e, stand by me
Oh stand by me, stand by me, stand by me"

Thank you and goodnight

Stupidgirl has left the building

Video Killed The Radio Star - Top 10 Music Videos

I've not done a proper top 10 in aaaaaaaaaaages, not since this one I think. So today I thought I'd come back with a, er, bang - My Top 10 Music Videos! It's been, unsurprisingly, tough to narrow down the list as I do love a good music video. Where would we be without MTV and all the other music channels it spawned? Although it's not on the list, I have to give credit to Dire Straits here - Money For Nothing was the first music video shown on MTV, way back in August 1987 (crikey that's 24 years ago.....)

The list is a real mix of stuff - some pop, some metal, some dance, some rock. I've literally picked the first videos that spring to mind but at the end of the post is also a list of the best suggestions that came up on Twitter/Facebook when I asked for your favourite vids.

My Top 10 Music Videos - in no particular order...

1) November Rain - Guns 'n' Roses
Awesome video - great wedding dress, great guitar solo, and just generally a very unintentionally funny video. It's clearly a great song too, which makes all the difference.

2) Smack My Bitch Up - The Prodigy
Er, if you're of a sensitive nature, look away now. This video has won several polls for the most offensive video ever, was banned for years and just generally caused stacks of controversy as did the song/song title itself! Personally I think it's a great song + video and I don't think it's misogynistic at all, rather I like the way it subverts certain stereotypes. I often wonder if the video would have been so shocking if it had had a different protagonist. However if you'd rather not watch the video (I wouldn't if you're not sure!), scroll down to the very bottom of this post - and I've put a little precis in for you.

It makes into this list for being a great video because of the production and direction and the fabulous imagery - you feel like you're part of it! It's also interesting to note that the video was directed by Jonas Akerlund - who has done several Lady Gaga videos including Telephone and Paparazzi.

3) Like A Prayer - Madonna
Interestingly, another controversial video when it came out - but it's a wonderful video. I like the way Madonna goes to great lengths to tell a story - even though the lyrics of the song are utterly bizarre (is it about sex or religion - or both?)  Madonna, witnessing a murder, flees to a church for sanctuary and then has a bizarre dream about having sex with a saint (possibly Jesus?) Anyway the Vatican banned this video - rather understandably - given the extensive Catholic/religious imagery. It's incredibly famous song and video - I've seen Madonna perform it live and it was AMAZING.

Light Out, Light Out - Lyric Day

On Monday evening me and my poorly ankle (torn ligament) went off to meet my mum for a "secret" Snow Patrol gig at the Shepherds Bush Empire. Mum is a big fan of SP - she's seen them 4 times and I've seen them 3 times. (skip to the bottom if you want to check out a couple of videos I took at the gig)

I think SP create mixed feelings about their music - unfairly so I would say, as Run was just played so much, everywhere and even copied by Leona Lewis. Additionally, Open Your Eyes and Chasing Cars seemed to be used on every blimmin advert and TV show on telly. So they kind of made SP really mainstream and poppy when actually they're a bit grittier than that.

I was surprised to learn that SP have been going for over 15 years actually - first formed by Gary Lightbody at uni in 1994 - but they only hit the big time with Run. Which is an awesome song. All the haters out there, really, you have to admit it's a great song - I bet you have a little sing-a-long to it when you're on your own!! Anyway, the rest of their stuff is worth a listen to - particularly Chocolate and Spitting Games.

I first listened to Final Straw loads when one of my best friends moved to Australia for a year and all the tracks really remind me of her! I also saw SP support U2 at Croke Park in Dublin and they were pretty awesome - even in the pissing rain to a half empty stadium. The stuff on the new album that they played on Monday was pretty good - a couple of love songs that were a little too much for me but some of the other stuff sounded really intriguing - Fallen Empires in particular - which even managed a touch of drum'n'bass. (Mum was a bit perturbed at this juncture!!).

So anyway, today's Lyric Day song is, unsurprisingly, Run. It's a gorgeous song - I've chosen a live version because it's amazing to hear 1000's of people singing along! And also because the official vevo version on youtube cuts the song off before the end - weirdly.....

On monday night, Gary came on stage with just a guitar and sang the first two verses. He then walked off stage and the entire place sang the whole song to him. It was so incredibly beautiful and I was so glad to be part of it. Here are the lyrics:

"I'll sing it one last time for you
Then we really have to go
You've been the only thing that's right
In all I've done

And I can barely look at you
But every single time I do
I know we'll make it anywhere
Away from here

Light up, light up
As if you have a choice
Even if you cannot hear my voice
I'll be right beside you dear

Louder louder
And we'll run for our lives
I can hardly speak I understand
Why you can't raise your voice to say

To think I might not see those eyes
Makes it so hard not to cry
And as we say our long goodbye
I nearly do

Light up...

Slower slower
We don't have time for that
All I want is to find an easier way
To get out of our little heads

Have heart my dear
We're bound to be afraid
Even if it's just for a few days
Making up for all this mess"
Thank you and good night,

Stupidgirl has left the building

PS Here are a couple of videos I took at the gig

PPS Cheryl, this blog post is for you lovely!

Let's Dance In Style, Let's Dance for Awhile - Lyric Day (and a photo too!)

So yesterday was my second wedding anniversary. For the fact lovers out there, the traditional gift for a 2nd wedding anniversary is cotton. So I thought I'd buy husbando a t-shirt - just a token present - that he could wear climbing. Unfortunately I slightly ruined the surprise by asking husbando what size he takes in t-shirts. Oh dear.....I made up for it by cooking steak for dinner.

Anyway, lyric day....I thought I'd pick something we had at our wedding. We had lots of traditional wedding music - I walked down the aisle to Pachbel's Canon in D, we had our first dance to Sinatra's Moon River. Rather less conventionally we walked out of the service to Starlight by Muse. However the song I've picked is one we signed the register to. It's song we both loved since we first got together in 2002 and every time I hear it, I get all choked up. Even last night when it came on the playlist during dinner.

So here it is - Forever Young by Youth Group

Let's dance in style, let's dance for a while
Heaven can wait we're only watching the skies
Hoping for the best, but expecting the worst
Are you gonna drop the bomb or not

Let us die young or let us live forever
We don't have the power, but we never say never
Sitting in a sand-pit, life is a short trip
The music's for the sad men.

Can you imagine when this race is run
Turn our golden faces into the sun
Praising our leaders, we're getting in tune
The music's played by the mad men

Forever young, I want to be forever young
Do you really want to live forever, forever, forever?
Forever young, I want to be forever young
Do you really want to live forever, forever, forever?

Some are like water, some are like the heat
Some are a melody, some are the beat
Sooner or later they all be gone
Why don't they stay young?

It's so hard to get old without a cause
I don't want to perish like a fading horse
Youth is like diamonds in the sun
and diamonds are forever

So many adventures couldn't happen today
So many songs that we forgot to play
So many dreams swinging out of the blue
We let them come true

Forever young, I want to be forever young
Do you really want to live forever, forever, forever?
Forever young, I want to be forever young
Do you really want to live forever, forever, forever?

Forever young, I want to be forever young
Do you really want to live forever, forever, forever?

Forever young, I want to be forever young
Do you really want to live forever, forever, forever?"

I can't really explain why we love this song - it's not particularly romantic or weddingy - but it was used on The O.C which we both also watched and it just reminds me of being 20 and in love. So it seemed fitting to use it in our wedding as it's also just an awesome song.

In case you wonder what else was on the Spotify playlist last night, here's the short list:

Welcome Home Son - Radical Face

Dog Days Are Over - Florence + The Machine

Starlight - Muse

Moon River - Frank Sinatra

Black & Gold - Sam Sparro

Suspicious Minds - Elvis Presley (this is our favourite Elvis song but is rather inappropriate wahhh!)

Sugar Town - Nancy Sination

Finally, here's a little picture of me on my wedding day too....

Hope you're all having fab tuesdays wherever you are, reading this. Feel free to share your ear worm, favourite song, songs from your weddings, whatever music you're listening to today, in the comments box!

Thank you and good night,

Stupidgirl

Barefaced Cheek - My Top 10 Noughties Pop Tartlets

So, I have a worry that tonight's blog post might alienate those of my readers who have decent taste in what might be termed `proper` music. Because tonight's blog post is dedicated to those ladies who make me shamelessly want to dance round my handbag, alcopop in hand....

In case you missed it (if so, how very dare you) I turned 30 a couple of days ago *and* I got a new job and hence, I've been listening to a lot of pop music. Mostly, when I'm feeling generally ambivalent about life I listen to a regular diet of indie/rock/metal/emo-y stuff. However when I am feeling mega cheery, not only do the 80's tracks get a regular play on my ipod, but all the good-time girl pop music gets downloaded on my Spotify! So this post is a list of my favourite noughties pop tartlets - and my current favourite of their tracks.

1) Lady Gaga
I was a late convert to Lady No-Pants as she is known in this house. But she clearly stunned me with her love gun, her crazy outfits and most importantly, the sheer ear-worminess of her songs. Poker Face, Bad Romance, Just Dance, Paparazzi, even Born This Way (which I hated when I first heard it, just on principle). But something about her sheer guts, energy and determination to stand out and be creative with her image has taken me hostage. She's like the pop version of Bjork sometimes - the songs, lyrics, costumes wouldn't work on anyone else - but on her they are magic. I don't know where she's going with it all but I'm glad to be along for the ride - and you can be sure I'm not bluffin with my muffin....
Anyway my current favourite song is the genius duet with Beyonce - Telephone. It rocks. Simples.

2) Shakira
I can't really explain why I like Ms Lovely Hips so much I just do....maybe it's because she can out-shimmy Beyonce in Beautiful Liar, maybe it's because her `breasts are small and humble`, maybe it's because she's half Lebanese half Colombian. Her voice has an amazing wail-y quality and I just can't get enough. My favourite song of hers is Suerte (the original Spanish language version of Whenever, Wherever) but currently, I am LOVING She-Wolf. Let me out so I can breathe. Thanks!

3) Kylie Minogue
I think Ms Minogue did it all for us when she released Can't Get You Out of My Head. Possibly the best name for a pop song - ever. And then we got the loveliness that is Kylie in her gold hotpants in Spinning Around and the album Fever. But my current fave is All The Lovers - which reminds me of a friend's wedding last summer. Anyway, all awesome pop songs from and awesome woman. With a tiny bottom.

4) Britney Spears
I don't really know what to say about Britney - she's just not possible to sum up in a few sentences. She's not the best singer, or the best dancer, or the best looking, or clearly the sanest person on earth. And some of her more recent songs have been a bit hit + miss. But goddammit she's got something about her. Ever since Baby One More Time (which I know yes, is 90's) she's just kicked ass. I particularly like Toxic, Piece of Me, Womanizer and Everytime. But her current single Til The World Ends and the even more awesome femme fatale remix with Ke$ha and Nicki Minaj rocks!

It's Lonely Down On Track Street - Lyric Day

Today's song is This Is Your Life by The Killers, from their 2008 album Day & Age. Check out a pretty awesome live version at the Albert Hall here.

Lyric day is a new kind of post on the blog. The first one was back in this post in June. I guess, I know we all get addicted to songs from time to time - and I certainly get cravings to hear some stuff the way I get a jonesing for chocolate, or sushi or whatever.

When I've got a song like that, I have to listen to it over -and-over-and-over-and-over-and-over again, on a loop, on my iPod. It's like my ears itch until I can hear it again. And it's not enough to hear it on a radio, I need to listen to it with my headphones on. It feels like the music travels right into some weird erogenous-type zone in my head where the best kind of music touches you.

Over the years I've had literally zillions of these songs - and certainly the most played list on my iPod is testimony to this. A sample of tunes would be Decode - Paramore, Umbrella - MSP, Starcrossed-Ash, All Is Full of Love - Bjork, Everytime - Britney Spears. I might even put some of these up on a lyric day.

Anyway I've been listening to This Is Your Life a whole lot over the last month or so - and the album too - which I think rocks and is better than Hot Fuss/Sam's Town IMO. I like the 80's synth-y new wave feel to a lot of the songs and the weird-ass intrumentals (inc. bagpipes on this tune). I love Human and Joyride and Goodnight, Travel Well - but This Is Your Life just got me totally hooked.

Partly it's the pounding, marching beat - it's a real on the move track - I've listened to this all over the place in London. The bass is also pretty special and seems to get right into your brain somehow. 

I'm not really sure what the lyrics are about, I don't think they're really that cheery. Candi doesn't seem to be in a great place to me - but she's trying to get out of it. And really, aren't we all just trying to do that - fighting for our little bit of happiness. I think it's a really well crafted pop-rock song and Brandon Flowers really works it (watch him work the crowd in the live video above).

Anyway, here are today's lyrics.

Candy talks to strangers
Thinks her life's in danger
No one gives a damn about her hair
It's lonely down on track street
She used to go by Jackie
The cops, they'll steal your dreams and they'll kill your prayers
Take a number where the blood just barely dried

Wait for something better
No one behind you
Watching your shadows
This feeling won't go

Crooked wheels keep tuning
Children, are you learning
Climatize but don't you lose the plot
A history of blisters
Your brothers and your sisters
Somewhere in the pages we forgot

Take a number Jackie
Where the blood just barely dried
You know I'm on your side

Wait for something better
No one behind you
Watching your shadows
You gotta be stronger than the story
Don't let it blind you
Rivers of shadow
This feeling wont go

And the sky is full of dreams
But you don't know how to fly
I don't have a simple answer
But I know that I could answer
Something better

This feeling won't go

Wait for it (x4)

Thank you and goodnight

Stupidgirl has left the building

Save the last dance for me - a top 10 list, a photo and a general catch up!

So, wow how awesome has the weather been this weekend?! I hope that if you've been in a easter-celebrating country that you've been scoffing chocolate for every meal - and even if you're in a non-easter-celebrating-country that you've had lots of chocolate.

I've been with my in-laws celebrating my oldest sister-in-law's wedding (I have THREE sil's - who read this blog, I must be *nice* :P) and it's been a wonderful weekend :) I outdid my housemaid skills with the following:

- I made 3 different beds
- I emptied the dishwasher 3 times
- I did 2 loads of washing up

Which is more than I've done in my own house in the last month.....

The wedding itself was fab - and I was honoured to do this reading - which I was bricking myself about doing but didn't fluff any lines woopee. Or cry - also woopee! I also had a lot of fun playing with the flower girls - similar mental age y'see. Lots of bubble blowing and confetti throwing and general hilarity :) More importantly the bride looked wonderful and I wish the couple many years of happiness

Just for your delectation, here is a picture of me pretending to be a bridesmaid....

(Photo courtesy of http://www.s-north.co.uk/ )

Oooh, also, before I forget, the most awesome band `Under the Driftwood Tree` played the wedding - they did some really cool covers of The Specials, Prodigy, Dizzee Rascal, Jessie J, The Killers etc but more importantly their own stuff rocks. They're kind of folky, alternative, indy, rock stuff. If you like Stereophonics, Arcade Fire, Jack Johnson, the Killers, etc you'll probably like them....

They've been featured on the BBC, interviewed by Fearne Cotton *and* I think they've just been signed - so definitely ones to watch. You can follow them on Twitter, `like` them on Facebook and also checkout their MySpace page. I definitely plan to catch them next time they gig in London!

So, you've had your photo and your catch up - and here is today's list - Top 10 First Dance Songs. Bit weddingy yes, but it seemed appropriate :) As ever, it's not a definitive list, I make no apologies for my taste in music, it's just what I like!

1) Moon River - Frank Sinatra: so, er, we had this as our first dance. I've blogged about it before, here. I think it's a really smoothy classic. It's a song from pretty much the day we got together

2) Let It Be Me - Ray LaMontagne: I never heard this song until I went to a friend's wedding last summer and totally melted watching them mouth the words at each other.

3) Iris - GooGoo Dolls: Just a lovely, fab song. And quite a popular `alternative` first dance song too :)

4) All I Want Is You - U2: I know, lots of you hate U2. I don't. Live with it.

5) At Last - Etta James: The Obama's had this at their inauguration ball which lowered my love for this a little, but it's just got such a lovely, romantic, vintage-y feel. Etta's voice is amazing too :)

6) These Arms of Mine - Otis Redding: Yes, this is in Dirty Dancing, yes I love the film and this song is  so full of yearning. It's lovely and slushy. Boooooo to you cynical non-romantic types!

7) First Time Ever I Saw Your Face - Stereophonics (cover): Nearly had this as my first dance. Kelly Jones has *the* most amazing voice, possibly better than the original. If you've not heard this, it's like listening to an aural version of velvet + whisky +gravel mixed together.

8) Never Tear Us Apart - INXS: Well, firstly the video is very gothy romantic, but Michael Hutchence is/was a total love god. Me + husbando both love this song

9) Feeling Good - Muse (cover): This song makes me so unbelievably happy, Muse, surprisingly, do a great line in love songs but this cover version is, IMO one of their best songs. Matt Bellamy's voice is supreme in this.

10) Moondance - Van Morrison: I know this one is a little cheesey but I've always liked it - it's a bit of a classic and, I think, a great summer wedding track. Definitely one to dance barefoot to on the grass.

So that's it for today. I'll be back later in the week with a book review, a `Didn't You Get The Memo` guide to publishing for authors` and various other bits + pieces. Have a good one :)

Thank you and good night

Stupidgirl has left the building

Fun with Leeds - a rather silly girlie weekend photo essay

(Advance warning, terrible video of me doing karaoke at the end)

So last weekend I went up to Leeds to see some very good friends of mine for a much planned and awaited weekend away with the....

The weekend commenced with an INCREDIBLY early trip to Kings Cross but as the sun was shining and we had our starbucks lattes, we definitely felt like we were on...

After arriving at Leeds, we spent some time in the sunshine admiring the view....

And gossiping and listening to some music....

We then headed back from the pub in the sun to make ourselves look pretty....

Before heading out for some food...

Now we were ready to rock...