Musing on Music

I've always had a connection to music. I think I'm a very audio-visual individual. I gravitate towards pretty much any kind of music--I've blogged about it plenty. Song lyrics are like candy for my brain, since I'm usually munching on them and dissecting them. I appreciate talented musicians...as I've said before, music is what feelings sound like.
Music is a basic way for someone to display emotion. It's like getting to know a person, but just from what you hear.
Not all singers/guitar players/other-instrument players should be called musicians.
(EXAMPLE: auto-tuned disney pop stars. Brittany Spears.) But that's best saved for another post.

So, I have a friend who is lending me quite a few CD's.
I'm pretty sure my itunes library is going to be doubled by the end of this process. It's a good prospect.

It's exciting, because I love getting new music, though my computer is being funny--it won't recognize the song titles.
{cue Track 01, Track 02...}
...which is actually turning out to be even more fun for me. This process of listening, guessing, then googling (if I give up), is reminding me of a game my dad and I used to play when we were driving. We'd turn the radio on and play "guess the band"
It would go like this (if such a simple game needs further explaining):
Turn on the classic rock station.
Wait for a song.
"Makenzie, do you know who this is?"
"uhh, do you, Dad?"
"Think about it for a minute..."

there would be lots of finger-snapping and incorrect guesses. If my dad remembered he'd wait for me to guess.

"oooh, uhhh, it's that band...with that guy...he has that funny voice...OOH! ROBERT PLANT! LED ZEPPELIN?"
*nod from Dad*
"YESSS." (okay, admittedly, everyone knows what Robert Plant sounds like, but this is an example, okay? In real life I'm kinda-sorta-ish better at guessing)

We tried to get to where we would guess the song and band before the singer came on (because singers are usually what's associated with the sound of the band. People don't often think about the uniqueness of drum patterns and guitar riffs as much.)
If we didn't get it right before the singer started, we 'lost' and it didn't count.

I love music trivia. I have a lot of trivia from the 1960's - 1980's scene, thanks to my dad.
And now I'm playing "guess the band" with my itunes.
...but I get to cheat by searching google. Shhh. 


ALSO, I have a HUGE MUG OF COFFEE. My happy cells are awake. My typing is getting faster thanks to the coffee. Yay!

Jarle Bernhoft

This guy has some talent. Serious talent. He hails from Oslo, Norway.
I'm amazed at his voice and lack of accent.

Check it out (I'm sorry you have to pause my music player...life is tough):

musical flowcharts

When you really want to get to the meaning of a song, break it down into a flowchart. 

New LP and a stroll through my memory...

I LOVE SHOPPING. What girl doesn't?!?

Resale shops are my favorite. It's like an awesome adventure. You never know what neat stuff you'll discover (at a discount, no less).

The Mall is life-sucking an okay place to shop. Every few months I'll go there to remind myself of commercialism, materialism, salesmanship, and the inherent dangers of credit cards ("Would you like to apply for our super-fun, high-interest rate credit-card? You'll save 10% and the card is sparkly...")

Today we went to the mall. After wandering about for a few hours, I was happy to leave the death trap the mall.

Although I did get some cute winter stuff (ON SALE)...and a caribou coffee.

The mall does have its place.

But what I am really pumped about is my new vinyl from Ed McKay (a simply wonderful bookstore).

UB40.
Reggae is fun stuff.

This picture is crazy, but it captures the moment of "reggae realization"

I'm currently listening to it. It's a nice change from my ipod.
Playing music from a record is an experience. You actually have to set the needle and flip the LP after three songs. Skipping songs takes some precision...shuffle is unheard of. You actually have to pick music out. The machine won't choose for you. Woah. This is radical.

The album I bought is called "Little Baggariddim"


hahahaha. Try saying that out loud. Little Baggariddim.
I dare you not to smile.

If you didn't smile, try saying it with a Creole accent.

Still not smiling?

Wow, you're a tough cookie.


My new purchase has started me on a resurge of listening to my LP's.
I have quite a collection. It ranges from the beatles to blondie to the beach boys... There's even some classical music in there (boston pops orchestra, anyone?).

Just another random fact about yours truly.
.....

Another random fact:

For about two years, I was a Chick-fil-a employee. I learned the ropes, and knew the regulars pretty well. Not so much by name, but by orders. 

Humans are creatures of habit.

"A #1 with provolone cheese and a large diet lemonade?" 

I knew what the customer was going to order. There was one gentleman who only ordered a 6-piece kids meal with a side salad, honey mustard dressing, one barbecue, one ranch and one cfa sauce. 

He would get an adult sweet tea "with a splash of lemonade and not too much ice." 

He was very specific about it. He'd peek around the counter to make sure everything was just so. I found him amusing. He'd always double-check the bag, even after I'd assured him it was all there. 

There were countless others who had their "signature meal". I had them all memorized. 

Weird, right?

I thought I had forgotten; it's been almost a year since I worked at CFA (I quit for school reasons... and the fact that I am allergic to peanut oil fumes...not fun), but strangely I still have these people and their orders INGRAINED IN MY BRAIN.

Talk about useless random trivia.

Today when I went shopping, I visited the same mall where I used to work. 

Guess what?

In almost every store I went in to, I saw a chick-fil-a regular working.

...I remembered their orders.

(They didn't recognize me, of course, since I didn't have my hair back in a ponytail, and I was not in the burgundy uniform with the silver nametag...) 

.

It was odd. I think I could have freaked some people out by randomly telling them what they order (or used to order) at Chick-fil-a. 

But I didn't, because I don't really enjoy creeping people out like that.

Phobia?

I have a fear of writing papers.
Rather, I dread it.


Yet, somehow I have a blog.

This I do not understand.
............

On another note, I was quite loved at yesterday night's kids club. My church has started one that meets on Wednesdays. We pick up kids from the nearby apartment complexes, feed them dinner, teach them Bible lessons, then help with homework or create crafts.

...I was like a human loungechair...it was fun.

But really, it is a rewarding task, hanging out and establishing relationships with these kids.
They are hungry for attention, and I am more than happy to oblige; listening to their stories and giving piggy back rides.

.........
Right now,
I am loving the
acoustic, indie, singer-songwriter, chill sound.

A few months ago, I was obsessed with the Rat Pack and Michael Bublé.
I had my Beatles fetish. You think those girls in the 60's had Beatle-mania?
Well, they had nothing on me.


But now, I am "in like" with soothing strains.

It'll change soon.
I'm always on the prowl for new sounds.
Let me know if you would suggest anything positively ah-mazing.

.........

As far as academia goes...

Geometry is teaching me to become the mistress of the OBVIOUS.
When I'm working the problems, I feel like I'm being too simple.

See, I skipped geometry, did algebra I & II and then Precalculus.
In order to round out my high-school transcript I have to get in my Geometry credit.

To put it simply, I don't like it.

(It is way better than Physics, so I won't complain too much.)

............
I'm starting a trend.

My right hand has long fingernails. (which I DO keep groomed)

In sharp contrast, my left hand has short nubby nails. (since you can't push down on a fretboard with fingernails in the way.)

I've picked up playing the guitar again.  It is a beautiful instrument. One of the best sounds.
NOTE: I am not meaning to say that that my playing is one of the best sounds, but that the instrument itself has some amazing sounds.

I've learned that my fingernails are the best for finger-picking songs. Much better than metal claws.

So, I have strange looking hands.

It'll catch on. 

............


Believe it or not,
I'm an honor student. 


I'm a geek and proud of it. 


I'm going to be re-inducted into the eta sigma alpha xi zeta chapter tonight...
I need to be there so I can socialize with smart people, and maybe they'll rub off on me.