A musical world

Okay, so I just had a birthday. I'm 25 now. Scary. Oh well, I guess age always has a way of slapping you in the face. Just when you think you have her beat, she creeps up on you the next year and SMACK, you don't know what hit ya. I had a good birthday and it was fun to spend time with some friends and family. But what I'm really here to ramble on about is musicals. I used to hate them. Naturally, before I ever gave them a chance, I made up my mind that I couldn't stand them. Slowly but surely, I have been listening to more and more somgs done in musicals and begun to appreciate them more and more. Then I saw Sweeney Todd. Now, it is the movie version and I have to say I haven't seen anything on stage except for Phantom of the Opera when I was three. I fell asleep. But Sweeney Todd was brilliant. It grapped me. The dark and sinister look of Tim Burton fit the story perfectly. And the music is amazing. I couldn't stop listening to it. Jordan and Ally got it for me for my birthday and I got to watch it again. I fell in love with it again. I really can't say why, but I just have a bigger desire to see musicals now and to experience the genius of the Sondheim's and Menken's. Ally also gave me the song Defying Gravity from Wicked on a mix. I had heard it before, but this time, I honestly got into it. It was kind of funny. I was driving with it blasting in my stereo and I came up to a stoplight and this guy next to me had this disturbed look on his face. I was tempted to turn it down, but then I thought, "What the hell", and I started singing loudly with it. It was pretty hilarious. Anyway, just wanted to share with you all about my ever-changing likes and dis-likes. I hope I can catch some musicals soon on stage. Alright, I'm done for now.

Star-gazing 101

So, I'm going on vacation to somewhere in Oregon for a week. It should be a relaxing time and will be somewhere in the wilderness which means, "Star gazing"!! Woohoo!! I will definitely be bringing my ipod and plan to do some quality daydreaming... at night. It got me to thinking about my statement before on music and star gazing. Obviously, this is going to depend on your personal preference, but there is a certain quality to some music which, I believe, makes it perfect for star gazing. One, it has to be peaceful or folky. I'm sorry, but you just can't fully enjoy the serenity and beauty of the night sky when your listening to Tool or Project 86. Two, the lyrics should cause you to reflect. On your life, your wishes, desires, hopes, fears, anything that causes your mind to swim. Beyond that, as long as you can stay awake, it makes for a very rewarding and refreshing time. If you haven't ever tried it, I highly recommend it. As I was thinking about it, I wanted to prepare myself by thinking of some music that fits the "star gazing" mood. With much deliberation and thought, I assembled a top ten list of what I would consider the best star-gazing music. Now, grantid, it is made up of music that I am familiar with and I'm sure there is some other great stuff out there. That's why I wanted to blog it. I want to share with you my list and if you have any other's to add, please let me know. Now there are some great single songs that work, but my list is the best albums for star gazing. I tried to select 10 albums where each song could work when star gazing. So enjoy and please feel free to add any that you know of. Well, if I don't see ya before Sunday, love and peace to all my brothers and sisters and remember to take some time this summer to go outside and enjoy the wondrous lights in the sky. No matter how far we are from each other, we can always see the same stars.

1. August and everything After - Counting Crows

2. Safe Away - Denison Witmer

3. "Once" Soundtrack - Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova

4. O or 9 ( Does it really matter, they're both genius) - Damien Rice

5. Recovering the Satellites - Counting Crows

6. Are you a Dreamer - Denison Witmer

7. So Far from Home - Brave Saint Saturn

8. It's hard to find a Friend - Pedro the Lion

9. We were here - Joshua Radin

10. The Places that you've come to fear the most - Dashboard Confessional

Close runner-ups were:

Our Endless Numbered days - Iron and Wine

Goodnight - William Fitzsimmons

These Friends of Mine - Rosie Thomas

Veneer - Jose Gonzalez