List #16: Genres of Music I Like

This list came about because Rachel and I were talking about how we hate it when people say "I listen to everything but country," mostly because that probably isn't true.

1.  Country.  I was raised on country.  Basically, to quote Barbara Mandrell, "I was country, when country wasn't cool."  I was raised on Barbara, Kenny, and Tanya.  And now I listen to Sugarland, Trisha, and Reba.  There are a few others that I adore, too, but those are go-to staples.

2.  Pop.  Well, it's pop music for a reason.  I listen to less now that I don't have a car and don't listen to the radio as often, but Pandora helps keep me current to an extent.

3.  Hip-hop/Rap.  It's no secret that I love me my Eminem.  When Tupac was still living, I thought he was a genius, too.  I've been meaning to get some of his posthumous stuff, but I have yet to do that.  I might this year, though, since this was to be his 40th birthday, and a lot of stuff is being released.  I also like some hip-hop, and some of the music that straddles the line in between.  I'm not a huge fan of the mythology or the lifestyle, but I do get it - our society has created this and fed it, for better or worse.

4.  Rock.  I know this is a broad term, as there's "soft rock, classic rock, hard rock," and probably a few others.  I'm more on the softer side of things - I'm definitely not a heavy metal type of person.

5.  Classical.  I'm not one of these people who can tell you a favourite composer or who can identify movements, but I can enjoy what I listen to. 

6.  Misc.  I also pick up little pockets of things from movie/television soundtracks that get me interested in specific artists/groups, or Broadway shows that get me interested in certain people.

One year ago today...

I've been sitting here for about an hour trying to write this post. I wasn't sure whether to write that the world lost a legend a year ago, that I lost a personal hero, or that we all lost a musical/dance genius. Because it's all true.

He's outsold any other musical artist. He has inspired an entire generation of other artists in both musical stylings and choreography. He was the first black artist to have a music video played on MTV (remember when MTV actually played videos?). He co-wrote "We Are the World" with Lionel Richie, a song for charity, which was the fast-selling U.S. single in history. He's overcome personal demons, many of which have been documented (and vehemently denied by Joseph Jackson) and some of which I believe we'll never know about. He alluded to some of them in his single "Childhood." He unsuccessfully tried to overcome a painkiller addiction (acquired when his hair caught on fire while filming a Pepsi commercial), but the point is that he had the courage to acknowledge the problem and face it - not that he failed. And he was a great philanthropist; he gave over $300 million and founded the Heal the World foundation.

I still have things on my TiVo that I recorded a year ago when the tributes started. Some of them (like the video tributes) I've watched over and over again. But most of them I haven't watched at all because it's just too painful. I still can't believe he's gone, even a full year later.

Random events make me cry. During a scene in "We Are Marshall," the Jackson 5 song "The Love You Save" is played, and I burst into tears. Walking through the city the other day, I heard someone blasting "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough," and I found tears streaming down my cheeks. I never knew losing someone I've never met could be so painful.

I understand that some of you reading this don't share my love or passion for MJ, but please be kind to those of us who are still in grieving and are in pain (in general, but especially this weekend). One of the women on my MJ board shared this story this week: She and her fiancé (who are getting married in a few weeks) were meeting with their DJ. Her fiancé mentioned to the DJ how much she loves Michael, and the DJ asked her, "So, have you gotten used to him being dead yet?"

Earlier this week, I ordered a floral arrangement of sunflowers (his favourite flower) to be placed at his internment site today. For the past few weeks, I've been working on two MJ cross-stitch patterns. I was hoping to have them both done by today, but I only succeeded in getting one of them done; I think the other one will be done this weekend, though.

PS. Dear Joseph Jackson: Screw you for filing a wrongful death claim. All MJ fans should file one against YOU.

"See Her Smile"

There was a request for more cat pictures. So for you, Anju:




You can tell I'm really in a sad state when you can find this in my player on repeat.

See Her Smile
Words and Lyrics by Jonathan Larson

It's not you, she says
It's just that life's so hard
We all get blue, I say
Hang on tight
I'll be your bodyguard

Something's breakin' my baby's heart
Something's breakin' my baby's heart
Something's breakin' my baby's heart
Oh, oh, I just wanna see her smile

It's such a drag, she says
When the world's so mean
It's just a red flag, I say
Gotta look for the green

Oh, oh, oh
Something's breakin' my baby's heart
Something's breakin' my baby's heart
Something's breakin' my baby's heart
Oh, oh, I just wanna see her smile

Cynical town can be tough on an angel
Clip her wings baby, one, two, three
I'm her clown cause a laughin'
Angels richer than kings
Oh, baby, don't you see?
Baby, don't you agree?

Wish I knew why, she says
But on a sunny day, I find the rain
Let's give it a try, I say
We can dance all through the pain

Something's breakin' my baby's heart
Something's breakin' my baby's heart
Something's breakin' my baby's heart

Oh, oh
Oh,oh
Oh,oh
Ooooh, oh, oh
I just wanna see her smile
I just wanna see her smile
I just wanna see her smile
I just wanna see her
Just wanna see her...smile

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To hear it, go here.