I have had many gentle (or maybe not so gentle 😉 ) pushes to get me to start posting on this blog again. Thank you to everyone who has encouraged me to return. I stepped away from this blog during a health issue, when I just could not focus on posting. The longer I was away, the harder it became to start writing again. I have missed it and so here I go again …
Today’s song is from one of my favorite bands – The Script. I have posted from them in the past. The Script just released their fifth album Freedom Child this month and it was worth the wait. Although The Script has always tackled emotional topics and social issues (addiction, financial issues, etc) in their music, this album definitely feels more politically driven than their earlier music, and I find it to be filled with some pretty deep emotions. (Also, their first single “Rain” is probably their catchiest tune yet!)
I was lucky enough to go with my husband and daughter (who is visiting) to their concert in NYC on Friday night at Radio City Music Hall. Let me just say … AMAZING! They are just incredible live. This is my fourth time seeing them live and we just keep going back. It is the one band that I know my husband will go see without me begging. 🙂
Today’s song is one that just really hit me hard. What a beautiful and timely song! As I have watched so many challenging things happening across the US and around the world over the past year, my heart aches. This song just expresses the way that I feel right now and I have been listening to it on repeat for days. My arms are open.
Today I want to post a brand new song … just released today.
I love Mumford & Sons! I first saw them perform live while living in London, England. Their song “Little Lion Man” was brand new and I heard that they were going to be performing at Pure Groove – a small record shoppe in London. My two young children (ages 13 and 10!) came home from school and I told them, “Get ready. We are going to a concert!” They were the only kids there, but what an experience. 🙂
Pure Groove is a tiny little spot and it was probably the second most intimate concert experience I have ever had. We were literally about 15 feet from the band. It was fabulous! We followed Mumford & Sons the entire time we lived in London as they became a real London-based, local favorite. Then we moved back to the US a year later and we got to watch their ascent here as they were really just being introduced in the US. It was such an interesting experience to watch the same band become famous twice.
The band has just finished a new album – Wilder Mind – after a two year break from their last album. “Believe” is the first single released from the album, which is available for preorder now with an expected release date of May 4. I love the new sound of this song and the electronic music they have incorporated; it is very different from their banjo-playing folk style that made them so popular. The first time I listened to the song I was reminded of Coldplay, particularly during the first half of the song.
I am really excited to hear the rest of the new album and the creative effort that they put into it. How do you like it?
It’s Throwback Thursday! Today’s #tbt song is by one of my favorite groups and is the perfect song for today in China!
I am feeling very lucky to get to be with my Princessin China, and today we are off to see the jewel of China.
We are heading out to hike the Great Wall of China. We are not going to the refurbished, tourist section of the wall, but instead we have hired a guide to take us out climbing and hiking in a much more rugged area. I did a lot of research and our guide came highly recommended by many people who I spoke with from all over the world. (That, in itself, was fun! I reached out to people from all over the world regarding a shared experience and we instantly connected. Friends are everywhere!) Anyway, this sounds like the perfect adventure for me and my daughter. I am so excited and imagine I will have some great pictures to share.
Today’s song just resonated with me for an adventure day in China. I am so excited to be here and the video is an awesome look into the romance and allure of China. “Princess of China” is from Coldplay’s 2011 album, Mylo Xyloto. We saw Coldplay in concert following this album. It was the second time the entire family went to see Coldplay in concert – the first time was at Wembley Stadium in London in 2009 and the second time was in Dallas in 2012 – and so Coldplay is always at the top of my list as a family favorite.
Off to conquer the wall and marvel at a wonder of the world. I am feeling blessed today.
It’s Throwback Thursday! Today’s #tbt song is a favorite of mine from Alexi Murdoch’s first full-length album, Time Without Consequence, released in 2006 on his own label.
I discovered Alexi Murdoch while living in London, England. What a find! I instantly fell in love with his music. This song is truly a gift from an incredibly talented musician and songwriter. I think it is difficult to find someone writing music like he does today. To me it feels like a deeply emotional conversation that I have been invited into.
I am a huge fan, but I have found him to be a bit elusive. Alexi Murdoch does not tour much, but when he does tour, his shows instantly sell out. He has quite a following and was listed as a “Top Ten Artists to Watch” by Rolling Stone after the release of his debut album in 2006. After a long wait, he released his second album, Towards the Sun, in 2011 to strong reviews. He has a personal love and connection with his artistry and music and has never signed with a major music label, even though he has had offers. He decided to stay an independent artist to maintain control of his music. In an interview with CNN Headline News in December 2003, he said:
“I really don’t want people involved in the creative process while I’m recording, who really don’t have anything to do with music, whose interest, by necessity, is just pure economics,” Murdoch says. “There is going to be something [at stake] other than just the integrity of the music.”
Alexi Murdoch is a Scottish musician who was raised in Greece until he was 10 years old at which time his family moved back to the UK and settled in Scotland. He attended Duke University in North Carolina and also lived for some time in California. His songs have received placements in dozens of films and television shows and it is likely you have heard one of his songs on one of those shows. I hope you enjoy listening to this song. I can’t recommend his music strongly enough and if you haven’t listened to him before, check out his albums, I particularly love Time Without Consequence. I love all of his music and there are so many good songs to recommend, but definitely a few to start with include: “All My Days,” “Blue Mind,” and “Song For You.”
I just got home from visiting my son in South Carolina for a few days for his 16th birthday. It was awesome to get to spend time with him! I have been trying to decide if I came home less worried or more worried about him. Haha!
It is such a strange feeling to go visit your teenage boy in his “apartment” and say “yep, that is how I would keep my space.” Yikes! Teenage boys are messy. He keeps reminding me that his apartment was one of only two that passed house inspections … so I should be pleased. Hmm …
Anyway, he is doing incredibly well at his new school and loves it. He is happy, settled, social, and motivated! As much as I miss him, this makes me very happy. I am very proud of him, even if I do worry about him and miss him every day.
The alligators down there also worry me! 🙂
I have been wanting to post this cool new song and I thought the title was just perfect today.Jack Garratt is a young artist from London, England who just released his first EP, Remnants, a few months ago. His music is very unique and is difficult to box into a genre. He has an incredible amount of soul and emotion in his music. It is an interesting song to add to my playlist, but I think Jack Garratt is extremely talented and creates incredibly interesting music. Listen to the unique beat, rhythm, and lyrics that he uses in his music. I hope that you enjoy this new song by a young, rising artist. I am sure we will hear much more from him in the future.
I am posting a song today by a band that I have posted from before – the English, folk-rock band, The Dunwells. I saw The Dunwells perform live back in 2012 while living in Dallas, and I immediately liked them. They have a great sound, wonderful song-writing, fantastic harmonies, and just a cool vibe.
The band is made up of brothers David and Joseph Dunwell, and cousins Robert Clayton and Johnny Lamb. (The band used to be five members, but guitarist, David Hanson, left the band to start his own band.) They just released their second studio album on September 8, 2014. The new EP is entitled, Show Me Emotion and it does just that. It is a different sound than their first album and I loved their old sound … but, I also really like this new sound too.
The Dunwells just finished touring in the UK in September and are headed to California this month. They are great live performers, particularly in an intimate setting where you can really hear those incredible harmonies. If you get a chance to see them, take it! I am hoping they make it to the east coast and will be keeping my eye out for them.
Sometimes at the end of a long day with a lot of moving pieces I do feel overcome with emotion for some reason. Sometimes I feel incredibly happy and other times I feel on the verge of tears. Today has been one of those days. This song just seemed like a perfect fit, just enough emotion to let me settle into my end of day. I really hope you enjoy this new song.
Just a quick note tonight with a song by one of my favorite new artists – James Bay. I have posted a song by him before (“Need The Sun to Break” back on February 3, 2014 where I give more background on the artist) and love his music. This is an incredible song and James Bay makes amazing music. I love a guy with nothing but his guitar and a voice that expresses vulnerability, depth, and passion. I could listen to this song over and over again … which, to be truthful, I often do. It has become one of my favorite songs.
The song is from his new EP, Let It Go, which was released this summer. This is his third EP and I can only imagine the hype when he releases his first full length album.
James Bay is a young British singer-songwriter from Hitchin, UK who is one of the most awesome acoustic performers I have heard. The lyrics to his songs are honest, emotional, and introspective and the music is incredibly smooth. His performances are raw and unforgettable. He is currently on tour and if you are lucky enough to score a ticket (he is touring with Hozier and the tickets are selling fast!), it would be quite a performance. Just watch this incredible performance below and see if he does not become one of your favorite new artists, too!
Can I also just say, I LOVE his hats – he wears them even better than Pharrell.
Last night I made a very spontaneous decision to attend a concert. I love being spontaneous!
I just arrived home Sunday night from an incredible hiking trip in Colorado (more to come on that tomorrow) and my husband was going to be gone on Monday night, so I decided I did not want to just sit home alone. I knew that Scottish, Singer-Songwriter, Paolo Nutini, was coming in concert this week, but I had never planned to attend because I did not think I would be able to swing it after just getting home. Luckily, I was able to get a ticket yesterday afternoon for his show at Terminal 5 in NYC. The show sold out and his show tonight at the Apollo Theater has been sold out for quite some time.
The show was incredible. What an amazing voice! He opened up his show with 9 other people on stage with him, including a three-piece horn section, which was awesome. He thrilled his audience and after he opened with “Scream (Funk My Life Up)“, I think it was the most appreciative crowd I have heard in a very long time. There were a lot of very passionate fans at the show and they were certainly eclectic, from young drunk boys to couples in their 50s and 60s. His music obviously appeals to a wide range of people.
This is the second Song of the Day I have posted by Paolo Nutini – I posted “Better Man” on June 10, 2014. His music truly is reminiscent of another time. He referred to one of his guitarists, who was singing backup to “Someone Like You,” as “Frankie Valli” and the song definitely had a 50s vibe. Then when he sang “Cherry Blossom” I felt like I was right in the middle of the 60s or early 70s, complete with strobe lighting. The music on his new album is such a unique sound and different from most everything else out today. Paolo Nutini has a raspy, throaty voice at times, but he also has an incredibly smooth voice and hits those beautiful clear notes as well. I’m not sure that I have ever seen anyone with such passion and emotion in both voice and performance.
Paolo Nutini’sthird album, Caustic Love, was just recently released in the USA, but it was released in the UK back in April to strong reviews, debuting at number one on the UK Album Charts and certified platinum in June 2014. I can’t imagine that this album won’t get that kind of attention here in the US, both from music lovers and critics. His fans have been waiting 5 years for this new album and he certainly did not disappoint. I totally recommend that you listen to the entire new album and if you get a chance to see him live, I would highly recommend it.
So, in honor of settling down, I am off to the city for a concert tonight. It is going to be fabulous – an artist that I really like giving a private show at Webster Hall in NYC. This will be a new venue for me and one that I have really been wanting to visit. I love these small, intimate, invitation-only concerts where you really get up and close to the artist.I can’t wait to let you know about it tomorrow.
Today’s song is by The 1975, a four-piece, alt-rock band from Manchester in the UK. The group met at school in 2002 and released their first EP in 2012; three more EPs followed. They recently released their debut, self-titled album, The 1975, in September 2013.
The band consists of Matt Healy (lead vocals and guitar), Adam Hann (guitar), Ross McDonald (bass), and George Daniel (drums). They have a really cool sound and are certainly making a big splash. In April of this year they had their first big performance in the US, playing at Coachella Music Festival. I am sure there is much more to come from them and if you have not already explored their music, take time to do it now. They are really good!
Well, I have survived my first few days of being an empty nester … an empty nester much too early! 🙂
Last week I dropped my son off at his new high school – a golf academy in South Carolina. I never thought that I would ever send one of my children away from home to a boarding school for high school, but here I am. It was a very quick decision and my emotions have been all over the place the last several weeks. I am sure if you look at the last few songs I have posted, you will be able to tell where my head has been. I really, really like my kids and I love to be with them, so how did I let one leave home at 16 for college and one leave at 15 for boarding school? What am I thinking?
I got home Thursday night and I woke up Friday and told myself that I had the day to be sad. So I listened to all the songs that would let me wallow in my sadness. Just to give you a quick idea of the emotional pit I was digging, the songs included: “Never Grow Up” by Taylor Swift, “Poems, Prayers and Promises” by John Denver, and “When I’m With You” by Ben Rector. That last one by Ben Rector has been on repeat for the last four days! If you don’t think music can impact your emotions, I challenge you to listen to those songs. A friend of mine told me on Friday, “…I think you are going to have to give yourself more than one day to be sad!” Obviously she is right, but I am certainly trying not to be actively sad.
I am happy to report that my son is very happy and the school seems to be a great fit for him. That makes me happy! I am very proud of him and the decision that he has made. I just know that I really miss him and the house sure seems empty without him here. I thought I would have him home with me for two more years, and just like that he is gone.
All organized in his new room.Home away from home.His outdoor classroom (the indoor one isn’t as pretty)! 😉
I love this song by Saint Raymond and I have been waiting for a day to post it. Saint Raymond is the stage name for Callum Burrows, a very young (only 19!) and talented, British singer-songwriter. Burrows is from Nottingham in the UK. He released his debut EP, Escapade, in early 2013 on Gabrielle Aplin’s (another of my favorite young British artists) Never Fade Records label; two more EPs followed in early 2014. I think we will be hearing much more from Saint Raymond – he has a fabulous sound with great harmonies, cool beats, and interesting lyrics. He is another new artist that has a sound reminiscent of the 80s. Even more exciting, he will be supporting one of my very favorites, Ed Sheeran, on his UK, Ireland, and European arena tour this fall. If there is something that will rocket Saint Raymond onto every playlist, that would be it! I know that you will like his sound.
I have to tell you that the video is the reason that I am posting this song today. It kind of feels like my life right now. Once you watch it, I am sure you will understand. Sometimes I don’t know if I am making the right decision, but when it comes down to it … I have to make a decision and jump. My kids have lived a life full of adventure, change, and challenge and they have risen to all of it. They have a very strong sense of self and embrace life to the fullest. So, how do you say “no” when they are ready for something that maybe I wasn’t ready for … the answer for me was ‘You Don’t.’ My heart is heavy right now, but what a ride as they chase their dreams and I dive in after them as we all enter the next new adventure.
