This is an amazing story about beauty, perception, art, and what we see, or don’t see, as we go about our daily lives. Do you stop and notice, enjoy, live in the moment with something beautiful or do you walk past without a glance, without a thought for what’s happening right in front of you. What would you do?

Check out this review… and get  a little sampling of the joy.

NPR Review of Sneakin Out

I woke up this morning, a brown eyed girl who was born in the USA, feeling a little down. I heard the folks over at Donnybrook  said good riddance to 100 songs I, and many other girls a lady and a loser all happen to get more than a feeling from.  It’s not that I want to call them creep or suggest they have a black hole sun for a heart.  That’s not it at all.  I mean, come on people, can I get a baby one more time from all you on board the crazy train.  Don’t stop believin’ people!

Once upon a time there were people who said don’t speak, listen, hold my hand, jump on the love rollercoaster, and quit bustin’ my humps!  Don’t give in, don’t be a zombie.  What a wonderful world this could be if people just got over the wicked game of radio censorship, put on their poker face, and like the speed of sound, like lithium, let that sound wash over them.  It’s magic man.   Or could be.

What’s with the haters?  Don’t they know a love story when they see one or have they lost that lovin’ feelin’?  I think Jeremy or Janie’s got a gun and they are out for a super freak on a leash named Fernando, the fortunate son he is, who only wants to experience the feeling of how to save a life through the beauty of jammin’ in Margaritaville to some classic tunes.

Can you hear me people?  Or is the tubthumping too loud for you Luka?  Am I livin’ on a prayer?  Am I just a jump around pretty fly gettin’ the run-around?  This censorship, this banning of the music that knows how to start me up, taking me on a stairway to heaven, it’s wrong.   Am I getting too baba o’riley?  Do I need to chug a little black velvet, cry like a free bird, pour some sugar on me, and take it easy?  Maybe I need to take a moment and when I touch myself with a Kleenex to the eye, I should feel it in the air tonight… the feeling of fireflies, but maybe not… maybe it’s enter sandman, stage left.

I don’t want it to be so.  God bless the USA, I want the good times.   I want there to be a higher calling. If I had 1,000,000 for every time someone said I want to hold your hand, I want to know what love is, and I can’t help falling in love with these tunes man, I would be rich!

I feel like I’m making a Lisztomania here.  Completely freaked out by the thought of losing the don’t worry be happy feeling of listening to some great tunes because a group of peeps at Donnybrook randomly decided, in a drunken stupor, that these sounds don’t make them feel like making love anymore.  It’s like getting rid of American pie filled with apples.  It’s like watching grandma who got run over by a reindeer.  It’s theft, that’s what it is… they’ve been caught stealing.  They are a bunch o’ bad to the bone peeps who might just blister in the sun if they keep going on like this.  Robbing the tunes from the people who still want them.

I know this diatribe is turning into a bohemian rhapsody.  It’s just that the boys of summer and I, who were born to be wild, want to say that if this heresy doesn’t stop it will fade into you and the longer it lasts the more you will lose that Friday I’m in love feeling.  This is no celebration. This is no butterfly taking wing and whispering bawitdaba. This is a time to stand up, a time to light my fire and yours.   This is a time to give up Santeria, crow like a rooster, whip it into shape, and take back our airwaves.

I want to say to these drunkards, though the thought of this does make for a good thriller, that the ants are marching now one by one, the boys are back in town, and we are going to take the money money and run yelling mony mony. There is no kryptonite that can stop us cuz this is nuthin’ but a G thang gangstas.  I know without a doubt that when Stevie says I just called to say I love you, you, wastoids, will say I melt with you Stevie, and you won’t be able to stay at the YMCA, or look at waterfalls, or go walkin’ in Memphis again without wanting to listen to one of these songs.

It’s closing time on this missive, but I want you to know, you lit up fools, that you shook me all night long with this idea, but I know I wouldn’t be the gambler in saying that most of your body is a wonderland, your body of work that is, and I do appreciate it.  After all of this, isn’t that thought just a little bit ironic… yeah?

 

December 10, 1:20 AM, Pacific time

Sun coming up over the Atlantic.  Traveling in this plane, just having woken up from a nap laying across two seats and Karen (a miracle in and of itself).  Taking pictues with my phone out the window and listening to the Hip (80) playlist on the ipod on my phone. Bose quiet canceling headphones on.  The world is a beautiful place.

I’m having one of those moments… So filled with gratitude and wonder and love.  So much love I feel like this smaller body of mine might not be able to hold it all in.  Overflowing out of me as teardrops falling down my face.  It’s so quiet in here right now. All these people sleeping, watching the movie or listening to their own music.  All these people going somewhere…. To see someone they love, like we are, or to see somewhere new, or just making the journey home.  And here we all are together, on this plane winging our way across the Atlantic as the sun comes up. I’m listening to Good Life right now, and it really is a good good life.  Thank you thank you thank you thank you….

Today has been a mellow day.  My honey has gotten a lot of business done, both professionally and personally for us.  She and Kev are, right now, at one of our rentals looking at the dryer.  Seems it quit working and since we put it in there we are responsible for it.  If Kev can fix it, great… if not, we buy a new (actually a used) one.  Not too terrible.  I’m here, hanging with the dogs.  They are actually sitting in the living room on the chair looking out the window longingly waiting for Karen and Kev’s return.

I was just chatting with someone about the aches and pains that come with getting older.  My contention though is that yes, there are aches and pains, but the good parts about getting older are worth the occasional inconvenience of having an older machine.  What, pray tell, do I mean?  Well… what I mean is that as a person gets older they know themselves better, usually like themselves better, and are more of who they are… at home, out in the world, etc.  We become more of ourselves and more comfortable with who that is.  So I will take the stiff ankles (thanks to the racquetball injuries of my youth) because they come with a better me.

So what is all this alone again naturally stuff?  No, Karen and I have not had some bad break up (not gonna happen folks… ever).  No, what I mean is that I am the only PO in the office today.  Everyone else is at a training.  Apparently, according to my boss, I’m un-trainable.  Can’t be trained.  I accept this.  Actually, I think I have it better than they do.  It’s so quiet and peaceful around here.  Music, birds outside, great view, good book to read during lunch… I can’t complain.  I did go around this morning and take a photo of myself sitting at each of their desks.  After the round of photos I sent them each a text including the photo I took in their office and told them I had them covered.  Pretty funny.  Funny to me at least.  I obviously have no trouble entertaining myself.

And now, that song… Alone Again, Naturally  I couldn’t get the code to embed it, but if you follow the link you’ll get a little treat from 1972.  Enjoy!

The other song, I just looked up the lyrics, is I Need You by America. Here’s the video for that one… Gotta love America.

Let the River Run     – Carly Simon – Working Girl

A nice little fable of a film. The song, at the end, sort of sums it up and lends itself to that feel good feeling.

Band of Brothers Requim – Band of Brothers

Beautiful piece of music and a fantastic mini series. If you haven’t seen it… do so. You may cry a lot, I did, but it’s amazing.

Have a Little Faith in Me – John Hiatt – Benny and Joon

I fell in love with this song after hearing it in this movie. A little fable of a film. This film just works.

Girl, You’ll Be a Woman Soon – Urge Overkill – Pulp Fiction

Tarantino knows how to use music in his films. This scene is just plain riveting. And the music in it is perfect for it.

Come What May – Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman – Moulan Rouge

I had no idea these two could sing, and sing so well. Besides which, this is a lovely lovely song.

Cell Block Tango – Various – Chicago

Fun fun. Listen to this a couple of times and you’ll find yourself singing along.

She’s Like The Wind – Patrick Swayze from Dirty Dancing

Patrick Swayze singing. Who doesn’t love that? Or love this movie for that matter. No one puts baby in a corner.

I Am Changing – Jennifer Hudson – Dreamgirls

Jennifer Hudson’s defining movie moment.

Long Ride Home – Patty Griffin – Elizabethtown

One of my favorite songs which was used really well in this movie.

Falling Slowly – Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova – Once

A fantastic little film with some awesome music. If you have never seen this, or heard the soundtrack, or listened to the Frames, check some or all of that out. The two from this movie now have their own band called The Swell Season.

Vianne Sets Up Shop – Chocolat

This music just simply makes me happy.

Cruisin’ – Gwyneth Paltrow and Huey Lewis – Duets

Who knew Gwyneth could sing this well. Wow.

You’re The One That I Want – John Travolta and Olivia Newton John – Grease

No list is really complete without this. If you are a person of my age, give or take 10 years either way, you know and at least secretly, if not down right openly, love this song and this scene.

Back Where You Belong – Sinead O’Conner – The Water Horse

Just a really gorgeous song.

You Sexy Thing – Hot Chocolate – The Full Monty

Who doesn’t love rough burly guys dancing… I ask you.

All I Want Is You – U2 – Reality Bites

This song sort of sums up this entire movie.

Stuck In The Middle With You – Steeler’s Wheel – Reservoir Dogs

Ear cutting off scene so beware…. Tarantino knows how to use music in his films.

Goodbye Horses – Q Lazzarus – The Silence of the Lambs

R Rated, for those who care. I’d advise not watching if you do.

In Your Eyes – Peter Gabriel – Say Anything

Iconic image from film this one. I think this spawned thousands of incidents where guys stood outside girl’s homes and played music.

Lust for Life – Iggy Pop – Trainspotting

Ok… so the voice over is in french, but for the purposes of this post it’s the music that counts….

In The Deep – Bird York – Crash

A truly intense gritty movie. Loved it. And loved this song in it.

People Are Strange – Echo & The Bunnymen – Lost Boys

The song in the first part of this clip is Gerard McMann’s Cry Little Sister, also good… Love when People Are Strange is playing and scenes of regular people doing what they do.

Sweet Jane – Cowboy Junkies – Prelude To A Kiss

Unfortunately I couldn’t find a video clip from the movie with the song in it so I had to settle for the video. A lot of people haven’t even heard of this movie. I liked it. Also a little fable of a movie.

American Girl – Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – Silence of the Lambs

The girl, before being kidnapped, drives along singing this song at the top of her lungs, no care in the world… and then… the second tune from this film. What can I say?

Like To Get To Know You Well – Howard Jones – Better Off Dead

This is the music video, not the clip from the movie… unfortunately.

Across 110th Street – Bobby Womack – Jackie Brown

A fantastic intro/opening credits to a movie. Love this and again love Tarantino’s use of music in a film.