Stuff I'm Listening to # 41 - Cake

Artist: Cake

Title: Love You Madly

Favourite Lyrics:
I don't want to jump in unless this music's thumpin’
All the dishes rattle in the cupboards when the elephants arrive

Why?
This is the kind of love song I would have written for my husband if I had any ounce of song writing talent. Love songs are awesome. But real love, isn’t a giant soppy 'making love out of nothing at all' and 'my heart will go on' kind of mess (Note: Both perfectly good love songs, albeit way over the top for the likes of me!). If you can laugh because you’re just having that much fun, you’ve got something good. Bonus, the video is clearly an homage to one of the many cooking shows he likes to watch. If you follow my Facebook or Instagram, you know #thisiswhypaulcooks

The Gospel According to Mark Hollis

I can't resist

The feeling's so much stronger now

I must make sure

To do the things I want to do

Life's just too short

For answers to your problems
 
~ ‘I Can’t Resist’ - The Reaction

I’ve spent the last (almost) month reading these outpourings of utter grief and despair from Talk Talk fans around the world. I think reading their sadness just made mine worse. It sucks that someone who was a huge part of your life is just gone. Even if there was never any more presence in your life than perhaps songs (for those who've had the opportunity to meet him, I'll tell you I’m envious, but so happy you had that treasured moment for yourself ). He obviously filled some part of your life with something special and meaningful. I’m a newbie fan, so while I can’t claim years, the short time I’ve had this and him in my life has been wonderful. His music is great. I enjoy it immensely and haven’t really stopped listening since.

I was listening to this song on my way to work today. The opening lines kind of slapped me across the face. I’ve been in a kind of numb state for a while (long story short - something happened in December, Talk Talk's music helped me deal with some of it so my life has been interspersed with moments of grooving to Talk Talk’s earlier stuff and general malaise when I read posts from his fans lately. Mark dies and everything that got helped got tossed out the window and I was a mess. Mood swing anyone?). This past weekend was a particularly low point. I was irritable and didn’t know what to do with myself. I knew what was happening and I am not pleased with myself. I know I’m stronger than this. I’m better than this. But I’ve been letting this, for lack of a better description, mid-life crisis, get the better of me. Mark Hollis’ dying served as a catalyst for it. I think it’s fair to say these lyrics felt like it was his statement for me to move on. For everyone else still grieving, please don’t think I’m being dismissive of your feelings. I just found what I needed to move on. I hope you do soon too, which is why I wanted to share this epiphany (See what I did there? 😉) with you.

Life is too short. There may not be any answers. I’m off to do ALL the things now. After all… to pilfer some more lyrics from him… Life is what you make it.

Thanks for reading.

Stuff I’m listening to-Special Edition - Penny Marshall

Artist: Charles Fox and Laurie Maitland

Title: Making Our Dreams Come True

Lyrics:
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight.
Schlemiel! Schlimazel! Hasenpfeffer Incorporated!

Stuff I’m listening to - Christmas Advent Edition - December 15th - Straight No Chaser

Artist: Straight No Chaser

Title: The 12 Days of Christmas
Why?:
A condensed Christmas carols for those who don’t have time for this.
I was distracted by a scotch tasting. Sorry for the lateness of this post.

Stuff I'm Listening To - Christmas Advent Edition - December 6th - After Hours

Title: An A Cappella Christmas - by After Hours

Why?: Like A Cappella? Listen to this. These guys are awesome. This album is great! I'm partial to "Feliz Navidad" personally. Also, bonus, they’re having a concert NEXT WEEK!! I encourage you to go. They’re entertaining and the concerts are a lot of fun. 

Like what you hear? iTunes

Stuff I'm Listening To # 14 - Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet

Artist: Shadowy Men on A Shadowy Planet
 
Title: Having an Average Weekend
 
Why?: Kids in the Hall

Stuff I'm Listening To #13 - Chemical Brothers

Artist: Chemical Brothers

Title: Let Forever Be
 
Favourite Lyrics: 
And how does it feel like to wake up in the sun
And how does it feel like to shine on everyone
How does it feel like to let forever be 

Why?: Though I can’t really pinpoint when I first heard this song, I do remember going through a period of being dismayed at the lack of real production value and quality in videos. Being a huge fan of Duran Duran, visuals are a huge part of how a song impresses on me. This video caught my attention and I enjoyed the effects. The song is catchy, the video mesmerizing. Enjoy!