Song Challenge, Day 6

A song that reminds me of somewhere: "Friday, I'm in Love" by The Cure. When I was younger, my family would go to Bear Lake every year with 3 other families. In 1992, I was nearly 14, this song had just come out, and I was desperately in love with a boy from one of the other families. One day, he and my older sister, Sara, were having a debate about whose music taste was better. He was relentless about this song, claiming it was the most ridiculous thing ever recorded. Sara was equally disdainful about his tastes (rap and hip-hop), and while I was secretly in total agreement with Sara, and very much a fan of "Friday," I had to stand up for him, didn't I? Imagine my devastation when he didn't realize that we were meant to be. I defended his music and he didn't even care! (Oh, to be 14...) Anyway, I am still very much a fan of this song, and The Cure, and this song always reminds me of that picnic table, the smell of sunblock, and the taste of Black Cherry Shasta.

Song Challenge, Day 5

A song that reminds me of someone: The Water is Wide. This is an American folk song, and it reminds me of my mom. She used to sing it to us when we were younger. I can't ever hear this without thinking of her.

Song Challenge, Day 4

A song that makes me sad: Accidental Babies, by Damien Rice. I heard him play this live. It was just him and a piano. It was devastating in its beauty and heartbreak.

You can listen to it here.

Song Challenge, Day 3

A song that makes me happy: Suite No. 1 in G Major, by Bach. I love this song. It's evocative and beautiful and everything music should be.

Song Challenge, Day 2

Your least favorite song: Icky Thump by the White Stripes. It literally makes my skin crawl.

30 Day Song Challenge

I'm going to participate in this. Because I can. And I want to.

Anyway, 30 days, 30 songs that mean/represent/express different things.

Day One: Your favorite Song

This is hard, because I don't pick favorites (You say commitment phobic to the point of ridiculousness, I say fickle. Potato, Pohtahto). So, we'll just say my favorite song of the moment, shall we?

It's this one: "The Cave," by Mumford and Sons. I have to be honest: I like this song in large part because of the banjo. What is it about a guy with a banjo? Hot...

Tender Mercies

Because I will take them where I can find them.

*I had a meeting at the hospital the other day, and as I was walking in, I heard the piano. There is a Steinway in the lobby, and they have volunteers come and play during the day; it helps detract from the whole hospital feel. Anyway, as I came flush with the piano, I looked to see who was playing. It was an older lady, playing -- improvising -- without music. She was playing "I'll be Loving You, Always" an old song (1925) written by Irving Berlin. I could hear the words in my head, which was a nice little reprieve from my own thoughts, but what really lifted my spirits was the look on the lady's face: she was grinning: ear-to-ear, all-her-teeth-showing grinning. She was having the time of her life, and I felt so grateful that I got to participate, even for a moment, in unadulterated joy.

*I could see the North Star the other night. The night was clear and beautiful, and it was bright. It was comforting to be in the presence of constancy. It was more comforting to remember that even though the world is big, and the universe bigger, I have a place in it. I know who I am (which is also a mercy), and I know I'm loved (another).

*The simple joy of a sugar cookie, proffered by a friend.