Throwback Thursday Musical Edition

The first thing that comes to mind when you hear the name Nancy Wilson (especially when discussing music) might be the rock group Heart, but long before Ann and Nancy began their musical careers, there was another Nancy Wilson. Today is her birthday (she's 77, born in 1937 in Chillicothe, OH) and this year is the 50th anniversary for her biggest charting hit (and first Grammy-award winning song). Let's go back to 1964 for a few minutes to enjoy that early performance. 

My favorite song by her is from the early 1990s, from an album of Johnny Mercer songs produced by Barry Manilow. "When October Goes"  features Johnny Mercer's lyrics and Barry Manilow's music.

Happy birthday, Nancy!

Manic Monday Presidents' Day Edition

Some random thoughts and questions...

Will this snow ever end? I can't recall a more tedious winter in recent years. So much snow AND so cold as well. Not fair, Mother Nature!!

What lessons from your parents have meant the most to you over the years? My father taught me how to work, a lesson that I think a lot of kids may not be getting these days. One of the reasons I've had any success is that whatever I've attempted, I've always done it to the best of my ability and with full effort. My mother taught me how to adapt. She's not always quick to embrace change but she eventually finds her footing in any situation. Life sends a lot of crap your way and if you can't roll with the punches, you'll eventually get knocked out.

I had a lovely Valentine's Day - low-key but perfect. Dinner out with Mike (and his brother - Frank's birthday is Valentine's Day!) and then watching Britcoms on Hulu in bed - what else could you want? Growing up when and where I did, the concept of finding someone to love seemed not only out of reach but not even possible. There's something damaged in me from those years of being made to feel less-than and unworthy that can't be cured but can only be managed, like a chronic illness. Here in 2014, when it seems like every day brings news of another state recognizing me as an actual human being, every day is Valentine's Day. 

I hope everyone that is off from work today has a great and relaxing day. If you're not off, I hope it goes by fast! 

Throwback Thursday - Oct 2002 - Easton Town Center Columbus OH

Mike and me

My mom, Mike, and my sister-in-law Janet

New Music Tuesday!

Today's new music is from veteran artists (with a bonus track by a newer artist). First we have two tracks from Nina Persson, the lead singer of the Cardigans. Her new album is pretty great, much better than I was expecting. I'd urge you all to try the songs below and the other songs available online and consider purchasing it. 

"Food For The Beast" is a upbeat Abba-esque tune that is addictive and gets better with each listen.

My first thoughts upon hearing "Clip Your Wings" was Fleetwood Mac meets Ellie Goulding, which is a great combination of influences. I love how the song slowly builds and then really takes off at 2:50 or so. 

The next new song is from Belinda Carlisle, lead singer of The Go-Gos and an established solo artist. It's a great ballad that really showcases her unusual voice. Click the link below to open the YouTube video - for whatever reason it's not able to be embedded. 

Belinda Carlisle - Goodbye Just Go

I'd be remiss in not mentioning this last track, since I've listened to it approximately 1.4 million times this week. It has a retro 80's/90s vibe so it fits thematically in this list, even though it's from a newer artist. 

Is there a new song that has caught your ear lately? Tell me about it in the comments and thanks for listening.

Friday Fun

There's nothing I love more than sitting with my friends and talking about music. As the best and closest of my friends can attest, I have OPINIONS. Over the years, I've spent countless hours discussing all topics musical - what's your favorite Beatles song (Yesterday, always and forever), which ending of Violettas's aria from Traviata is the right one (clue: it's the E flat above high C - I don't care that it's not written), why Cyndi Lauper's career isn't as large as Madonna's (one that still baffles me) or who will be the next diva to come out of "retirement" (please let it be Tina Turner). 

But above all, I love introducing new music. With my group of friends, it's hard to be the first to discover a new artist or song, so maybe I can introduce a new-to-you artist instead.

Chante Moore has been around for over 20 years but has not really achieved the mainstream success she deserves. Her biggest hit is "Chante's Got A Man", a Top Ten song from 1999. 

A fun fact: The man she's referring to in this song is Kadeem Hardison (Dwayne Wayne from "A Different World", the Cosby spin-off) - she didn't have him much longer, as they divorced the next year.

Chante Moore is one of my favorites of the large group of singers I call "Mariahites" - pop/R&B female vocalists with multi-octave ranges that debuted after 1990. These's a ton of them, but Christina Aguilera is perhaps the most successful and Ariana Grande is the most recent. ANYWAY - Chante's voice has always reminded me of a mix of Diana Ross and Mariah - a pretty great combination!

Her most recent release, Moore is More from 2013, shows a maturity and range of musical styles not fully expressed on her earlier releases. I want to share two tracks that couldn't be more different. The first song is "On and On" -  a superb dance smash that wouldn't be out of place on any diva's CD and features a Nicki Minaj-ish rap by DaBrat (remember her?). The coloratura vocals at the bridge really lift the song to a new high, literally.

Chante is known for her ballads, and the next song, "Giving You My Always", is a perfect example. Here she sounds like a contender to fill the void left by Whitney Houston's passing. Something about this song vaguely reminds me of Beyonce's "Halo". I'm sure this will be a huge wedding song in years to come.

If you enjoyed either or both of these songs, I highly recommend the full album as well as her back catalog of releases. There's something for everyone - standards, gospel, more dance tracks, lots more ballads. If you don't have Spotify, you can listen to the full CD below. Thanks for reading/listening and have a great day!

Wikipedia Wednesday

Since the most recent SNL, when the skit above aired, I've been thinking about Black History Month. I am conflicted - while I applaud the focus on this shamefully neglected part of American and world history, I think it is a disservice to present it as a separate topic for 28 days instead of working it into the normal flow of historical study year-round. I feel that historical events are best understood when they are explained in the context of what else was happening in the world at that time. I was also curious - why is Black History Month in February? My first thought was, "Of course, it's the shortest month! If there's anything the establishment does well, it's insulting a minority group while pretending to honor them." So I turned to Wikipedia to find out.

In 1926, a group of African-American historians headed by Carter G. Woodson started what was then known as Negro History Week, choosing the second week in February to honor the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, a former slave who became one of the leaders of the Abolitionist movement in the years before the Civil War. The response to this week of celebration was strong and grew stronger over the years, and in 1969 the Black United Students group at Kent State University proposed a full month staring the next year. In 1976, President Gerald Ford and the US government officially recognized the month of February as Black History Month. The UK and Canada followed, in 1987 and 1995 respectively.  

I was happy to see that the month was chosen for a specific purpose, and also proud that the movement to a full month was spearheaded by a college group here in Northeast Ohio. 

To celebrate Black History Month in my own way, I want to put a spotlight on Bayard Rustin. A posthumous Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient in 2013, Mr. Rustin was a close adviser to Dr. Martin Luther King and was instrumental in organizing the March on Washington in 1963. His list of achievements and the many causes he supported can be seen at his Wikipedia page. What makes him stand out to me (and why he may not be as well-known as he deserves) is the fact that he was a openly gay man as early as the 1950s. The amount of bullshit he must have faced because of his race and sexuality cannot be overestimated, but he continued to work tirelessly for the betterment of others until his death in 1987. 

Manic Monday

I'm gonna try to write more regularly here. Seeing as it's been nearly 2 years since my last post, I can only do better. Mondays are busy days for everyone, so I'm just rattling off a few quick things to break the ice.

I'm still all a-twitter this morning, still thinking about Renee Fleming's Anthem performance last night. The overwhelmingly positive response has me hoping that public support for arts education in school in on the rise. 

I don't know anything about football, but why was last night's game so one-sided? Were the teams so unevenly matched, did the Seahawks peak at just the right time, or was Denver just awful? 

I'll have whatever Anthony Kiedis is having. 

Another poem

5 Favorite Grammy Performances

I couldn't let the Grammys come and go without sharing my 5 favorite performances from Grammys past. These are all moments I can remember loving while watching live and that have stuck with me over the years. I'm hoping for a few more performances this year to rival these wonderful memories. C'mon , Adele!

#5 - Mariah Carey - Vision of Love

This isn't the strongest vocal from Mariah and she's visibly nervous. This was her first Grammys and I can only imagine what it would be like for a new artist to perform in front of the global audience. She's almost unrecognizable from the Mariah of 2012 - physically and vocally - but her sense of humor was there from the start. At the end of the performance, the look she gives the dress strap that kept slipping off her shoulder cracks me up. This is the Mariah that I adore.

#4 - Melissa Etheridge and Joss Stone - Cry Baby/Piece of My Heart

At the start of this performance, I was looking forward to Joss Stone, who I have liked from the start of her career. Not that I didn't like Melissa, but I wasn't as excited about her. But when she came out and started Piece of My Heart (one of my favorite songs ever), I may or may not have popped up off the couch and screamed "You better sing, b----!!" - and she did.

#3 - Aretha Franklin - Nessun Dorma

Filling in for an ill Pavarotti at the last minute, Aretha ignited the crowd with a unique and soulful take of this aria by Puccini. This is a legendary moment in an even more legendary career. She keeps promising an entire album of operatic covers, and maybe someday it will happen.

#2 - Pink - Glitter in The Air

This was only 2 years ago, but it has become one of the most memorable performances of all time. When watching this live, it was so unusual and unexpected that it took my breath away. Watching it now, even knowing what is to come, it's like watching a dream unfold. Not long after this performance, Pink injured herself recreating it for her tour, falling on a crowd divider and requiring a trip the the ER. The mix of beauty and danger is hypnotic. 

#1 - Deniece Williams - God is Amazing

Best known for the pop hit "Let's Hear It For The Boy" from Footloose, Deniece Williams is a stunning vocalist. She defied the wishes of her PR team to perform this gospel song - they wanted her to instead sing her current single. The audience is in the palm of her hand and she takes them to church. Remember that this is a live a capella performance - who would dare this today with the world watching? Furthermore, who can even sing like this today? I will trade all the Katy Perrys, Keshas (I refuse to type the ridiculous "$"), and J-Los for another Deniece Williams. But sadly, there can only be one. 

I remember watching this in 1985 and being overcome with emotion. It wasn't religious fervor but a  kind of musical madness that swept over me. I link this moment with the start of my fondness for the soprano voice. This performance also cemented my love for R&B and gospel music. I could watch this constantly and have heard it a million times now -the audio track is even included on one of her best-of CDs - perhaps the finest live vocal performance I've seen. I have a joke with a old friend -we say that the four things you must do while singing to get the audience to like you are: go low, go high, repeat things, and get loud. She is teaching a master class in this method.

New Release Tuesday

Some great new things this week!

1)  Kelly Clarkson has a new CD out - not her strongest effort im my opinion but a good album from Kelly is better than most others these day. The highlight for me is a bonus track on the iTunes Deluxe edition called "Why Don't You Try" that sounds like it was ripped from the Aretha Franklin songbook. Here's a live performance of it -

2)  She & Him is a guitar/vocal duo with a unique sound. The "She" is Zooey Deschanel, movie and TV star, and I really enjoy her voice. Their new CD is Christmas-themed and they cover many of the usual suspects. Here's "Blue Christmas" - 

3) I'm not a big Puccini fan, but I do enjoy the music from Tosca. Here's a great rendition of the aria E lucevan le stelle by Joseph Calleja - 

4) Jay Brannan is am indie singer/songwriter that really should be at the top of the charts. I love his new song, Greatest Hits, because when read on their own the lyrics are like a poem. I'm copying them underneath if you want to follow along. 

to bitter from sweet
like liquid to concrete
it's tough to digest
life rips through your chest
and just takes a heartbeat

you can't check your pain
aboard the shame train
and maybe i'm out of line
but if you show me yours
i'll sing you mine

[chorus:]
a punch in the gut
some black 'round the eye
there's red from my lips
and i'm asking god why
there's a bump on my head
and a hole in my heart
if there's one thing i've learned, it's
that these are my greatest hits

i don't sing for the rainbow
cuz i taste the rain
they spit "cheer up" and they scoff
i laugh "cheer down or fuck off"
then get roughed up against the grain

you may never be happy
and i still see your worth
someday we'll be less miserable
we'll dye our heads invisible
wrapped up in robes not of this earth
not of this earth
not of this earth
not of this earth

[chorus]

would you read a book if somebody took out all the good pages?
so we did some drugs, gave out some hugs, rattled a few cages
have you made mistakes, let off the brakes? confess uncleanliness
not to feel bad about but to embrace your humanness

[chorus]

Last but not least - THE ZOMBIES ARE COMING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My age on Mars is 21 and that's good enough for me

"Being this side of 40 feels like what I should have felt being this side of 25: in my body, in my heart, happy with my life, and OK with whatever bumps in the road present themselves." - Jennifer Aniston

"Bullshit, Rachel." - Michael Hall

Your age on other worlds

It's been almost 6 weeks since I turned 40 and I think I've finally wrapped my head around it. I tried to avoid the thought of it, as if that might keep it from being real, but having to also get a new driver's license last month really drove it home. Now the picture in my wallet matches what I look like today, for better or worse. However, for the first time in decades, the weight on the card is the truth and not my best guess or wishful thinking., so there's a plus.

I'm not sure if it bugs me to be 40 or if it bugs me to read what other people think of being 40. 

For example:

Let's face it, after 40 you're past it

Of course, this article is talking about writers, but if a writer (who isn't exactly a celebrity and doesn't have to be camera ready or even attractive) can't find success at age 40 or older, then who can? Luckily, I was not the only one to think of that - here's a great rebuttal:

41 Over 40

So if Alex Haley can hit it out out the ballpark with his first book Roots at the age of 56, I guess I have a few more good years ahead. And if I miss that deadline, don't forget Grandma Moses, who became the darling of the art world in her late 70's. Just one thing - please don't call me Grandpa Mickey, or I might throw my walker at you.

Not-So-Extreme Couponing

If you've seen the Extreme Couponing series on TLC, you probably wonder how realistic the actual shopping trips are - sometimes these couponers end up with hundreds of dollars of groceries for under $10, or even for free! In my experience, those kinds of savings are nearly impossible without a lot of time and energy devoted to gathering, clipping, and sorting many coupons, as well as hours of research and planning. 

However, with minimal effort and time spent, you can easily cut a shopping order in half. I get three papers each Sunday, so I have three sets of circulars at my disposal. I save these together by date - in fact, Maggie's sharp eyes have spotted the stacks in some kitty pictures I posted on Facebook. I also save any coupns that come my way in magazines or inside product packaging, just in case.

There are tons of coupon websites that do all the research for you and post the deals, listed by store, as items go on sale or new coupons are released. The ones I find most useful are:

Couponing 101 and The Krazy Coupon Lady for national chains

Giant Eagle Deals and Saving in Akron for more localized information

Of course, there are a million others that you may find are better for you and your needs and geographic area. 

I've gotten many commonly used items for free - cat food, toothpaste, shampoo/hair care items, even skin care and cosmetic products. There's about 20 bottles of body wash as well as many toothpastes and deodorants  floating around in various cupboards throughout the house. These are items that will get used eventually and do not expire for many years. Of course, lots of store shelves are empty by the time I show up, but I have enough success to make it worthwhile and keep it fun too.

I check the websites once a day - it takes maybe 5 minutes, if that - and gather any coupons that look worthwhile. I live within 2 miles of just about every store you can imagine, so it's easy to stop by and pick up the best deals. Here's what I went shopping for tonight:

2 toothbrushes - these really should be replaced fairly often

Coffee - my mom likes a cup every now and then

Cranberry juice - also for my mom

Toilet bowl cleaner - I wanted to try the new Scrubbing Bubbles One Step kit and I had a high-value coupon

An all-purpose seasoning - I like these for finishing a dish before serving or on salads and in canned soups for an extra kick

...and some Breathe Right strips - I don't need these but with coupons, the store will pay me to take them, so why not?

Here is what I brought home:

And here is the receipt for the transaction:

As you can see, the total dropped from $21.59 (pre-tax) to $9.09 (pre-tax) or $10.09 after tax. It's like I paid full price for the Scrubbing Bubbles kit and everything was free. I had three coupons for $1.50 off Breathe Right strips (10 pack or smaller), and was lucky enough to find sample packs for 97 cents each. Walmart is one of the few stores to allow overages, meaning they honor the full amount of the coupon regardless if the price paid for the item is less. In this case, they paid me $1.59 to take the strips home. 

Bonus saving - My debit card (from a free account, by the way) gives me 1% back every month on any signature-required purchase. In this case, that's 10 cents. Not much, but because I use it almost exclusively for every payment, it comes to $30-40 dollars each month. Every little bit helps!

So while it's not always a million dollars worth of groceries for 42 cents, there are ways to coupon in a casual manner and save a little money each time. Don't throw those circulars away - try it and see for yourself!

From The Kitchen Of ... Me!

Two standout recipes this week - yesterday I made Pork Chops Hongroise with herbed noodles and green beans, and today's dinner was Red Wine Crockpot Roast with mashed potatoes and corn.

The Pork Chops Hongroise was my favorite of the two - I highly recommend it if you like paprika (which I do)! I made it as instructed by the recipe, with one exception - I broiled the pork chops for a minute on each side at the end, for a little bit more color. The sauce was delicious but you may need to add more salt to taste.

The Red Wine Crockpot Roast was super easy, as usual for slow cooker recipes. I used a cheap red wine - there is never a need to use cooking wine, it's really just oversalted swill and is normally higher in price than a budget drinking wine, plus you have the leftovers for later. The sauce did not thicken up like a gravy, but more like au jus (as mentioned in the recipe) but it was very flavorful and went well with the mashed potatoes. I did add a bit more salt to this at the end, as the meat had soaked up the original amount added.

Scarf - what an odd word...

It's getting to be scarf weather, but sometimes they can be tiresome and simply in the way. I just love this fun and informative video that offers a lot of variations on the basic hang-it-around-your-neck option. 

New Release Tuesday - Sandi Patty Special

Finally, the Sandi Patty Broadway CD is out today - it's a fabulous collections of songs, with several original thematic medleys. Sandi is certainly in my top 10 favorite singers list and has been since the 1980s. Those of you that went to high school with me may recall that we did many of her songs in choir (along with Amy Grant's entire body of work, it seems) and I have remained a fan to this day. You'll Never Walk Alone is one of the songs from the new CD and it's a great arrangement.

Her voice remains a marvel and I have always admired her ability to bring classical vocals to a larger audience. Here's one of her early and biggest hits, We Shall Behold Him - the first performance was sung in 1983 and then another just last month.

Sandi has criss-crossed musical boundaries by changing her vocal style from a more classical style to a purer pop sound. From time to time, she will even go to an urban gospel sound which I particularly enjoy. Here are some examples:

And finally, her version of the Star-Spangled Banner is legendary and unrivalled. Here's a live performance of it from 1997.

What a career, and she's still going strong! Congratulations to one of the finest vocalists ever recorded!

Music Monday

Here's a 1990 flashback - a great album track ballad from Heart's Brigade CD. We listened to the album in its entirety this weekend and I have to say that most of the unreleased songs on it are far superior than the two hits, All I Want To Do Is Make Love To You and Stranded. Of course, Ann Wilson could sing the Yellow Pages and I would like it, so what do I know?     :-)

Do skinny people do all this?

There was an interesting article yesterday in USA Today about long-term weight loss.

 You can read it here.

The takeaway was that there are certain actions that help people who have lost weight keep that weight off. Quoting the end of the article, I've pasted the list of actions below. What I'm curious about is  - Do those of you that have never had a weight problem do all or some of these or is it just not necessary for you? If you do any of these, is it an automatic thing that you don't even thing about or a conscious decision?  Or perhaps, is this list only is applicable to those with a weight problem in the first place?

Track their food intake.

Count calorie or fat grams or use a commercial weight-loss program to track food intake.

Follow a low-calorie, low-fat diet. They take in about 1,800 calories a day and less than 30% of calories from fat.

Eat breakfast regularly.

Limit the amount they eat out. They dine out an average of three times a week and eat fast food less than once a week.

Eat similar foods regularly and don't splurge much on holidays and special occasions.

Walk about an hour a day or burn the same calories with other activities.

Watch fewer than 10 hours of TV a week.

Weigh themselves at least once a week

Sickness Wednesday

I'm feeling a little under the weather today , so I'm sharing a hysterical blog entry about when someone else was sick. It's really worth the time spent reading it, and the cartoons only add to the festivities.

Click here to read it

New Release Tuesday

Not a lot new that interested me this week, so instead I give you Carol Channing, first as silent film star Cecilia Sisson and then as Dolly Levi in the 1994 revival of Hello Dolly. A unique performer in every way!

Bonus Raspberries!!!

Discover this song for Columbus Day!

Tina goes country! I really like her version....

I also love this Glamourshot album cover, even if she doesn't look like the more recent versions of herself..