A few weeks ago, I did the coolest thing ever. I was asked to participate in a survey. Doesn't sound too cool yet does it? But the survey was about music. Light rock music. Yes. We listened to about 600 bits of songs and if we liked the song, we turned the dial up to 100. If we didn't like the song we turned it to 1. And any other songs - whatever we felt like rating them.

Yes, play more Mr. Mister, Starship and Heart.

No, never play Rod Stewart or Matchbox 20 ever, ever again.

And keep playing all the Phil Collins and Sarah McLachlan that you have always played.

You're welcome, Utah.

Some people got tired of listening to the music after a while. But not me. I could have gone even longer.

I think I made a big impact. Hopefully the older lady next to me wasn't giving back the exact opposite feedback that I was.

Was it worth it? Yes. Mostly because they payed me $65.
But secondly, it was just fun.

Heavenly dance party

Today Addie and Ben were dancing as we listened to Lex de Azevedo's super 70's music on the album, "My Turn On Earth". It always reminds me of when I was little. I used to listen to this record all the time with my brothers and sisters. It's just so much fun. My favorite songs are "My Story" and "Where on Earth can I find Heaven?"

Spiritual music put to 70's harmonizing? Now that's what I call Heaven.

And a few shots of spiritual-jumpings-off-the-couch:

It kind of doesn't look like it but she really is in the air in this one.

Big softie

I have been known to have America's light rock favorites programmed in my car. I am not ashamed to admit it. It's for those times when I let the ipod battery die (which is more often than I would like) (and "let" doesn't mean that I wanted it to happen) (it just means that I forgot to charge it). I can't just have silence. What am I going to do with all that quiet? Think? Meditation is just not my thing. So it's time to turn on the radio. I can never just leave my radio on one station, I have to constantly move through my six buttons to make sure that I have the least annoying song to listen to. When that goes to commercial or just starts playing a really bad song, I need to see what else is out there on the radio waves.

I could never just leave the station that plays soft hits from the 70's 80's and 90's on permanently because I don't like most of what they play. But you just never know when you're going to come upon a gem like Total Eclipse of the Heart (Bonnie Tyler) or Say You, Say Me (Lionel Ritchie). It's pure luck when I get to have Heart singing their hearts out in my car to These Dreams. I melt into a puddle of heaven when I hear Phil Collins singing Against All Odds or In The Air Tonight. I squeal with joy when I can listen to OMD's If You Leave, REO Speedwagon's Can't Fight This Feeling Anymore, or Chicago's You're the Inspiration (let's face it, any Chicago song will do).

I'm pretty sure that you will agree with me when I say that these songs are gems. Beautiful, glittery gems that sometimes blind you when the sun hits them just right. I wish that they played all of these songs in a row, but it is not to be. I must leave the station as soon as the next song comes on and then just take my chances another day, another time. It's like playing the lottery. Sometimes I lose, sometimes I win big time.

But it's during these times when I find the last half of a Thompson Twins song or an Air Supply song that I remember, Ahhh, yes. This is the very reason that I keep button number 5. I like me some soft hits sometimes.

When I'm rich, I'm gonna see all the shows

Willkommen
Bienvenue
Welcome

fremde
etranger
stranger

glücklich zu sehen
je suis enchante
happy to see you

bleibe!
reste!
stay!

Willkommen
Bienvenue
Welcome

im Cabaret
au Cabaret
to Cabaret

Ahhh. I've loved that song ever since I first heard it on the showtunes channel in an airplane flying over the Atlantic 10 years ago. Since I've studied German, I've dabbled in French, and I know a thing or two about English, it's right up my alley. When I got home I researched and found out which show it was from. Turns out: Cabaret. You were never going to guess, were you. (I realize that is a question but I don't want it to read like one.) I borrowed the CD from the library way back when and learned to love all of the songs but I've still never actually seen it. (Live or in movie form.) If anyone sees it ever playing in town, let me know. And come with me! Except it may or may not be about a few risqué topics. That might change your mind about whether you want to see it or not.

(I hope I spelled everything right.)

Concert week

On Saturday I went to the Coldplay concert with Sinika, Adam, and Adams sister Megan and her boyfriend. I just have 3 words for it:

It was AMAZING!

Thanks for the pictures Sini!

I also have 66 more words for it: (Ha, ha, I'm a nerd!)

I loved the huge video screens. Even though we were up way high we could still see everything. I loved the confetti and the lasers and all the lighting and I loved when they came into the audience and sang a few songs, and I loved when the whole audience sang parts. I also loved that there were seats to sit on when I got tired.

It was so fun, I couldn't believe when it was over that 2 hours had passed. It went by so fast. The only bad part, and it wasn't really even that bad, but the lady next to me at one point was standing and I was sitting and she was airing out her sweater (it was pretty warm in there) and so I was wafted with warm sweater air right in my face. Eww!

Also, last Monday, we went to the Of Montreal concert and it was quite a show too. They also had confetti, oh wait, it was feathers that were shot out over the audience, and they had costume changes and actors on stage and don't forget the fantastic songs! Even though 85% of the people there were little teenagers, it was still so good and I loved it. The whole time I just kept thinking, this must be what it was like to see a David Bowie concert back in the day. Not that I'm a big fan of him but he just reminds me of him a little.

I don't go to as many concerts as I used to when I was younger so this was a bit out of the ordinary to have 2 in 1 week! I guess I'll need to have a long break from it all.

Clem Snide - Find Love

I love to post videos that my kids like to watch and I like to listen to. But seriously, these guys are my new favorite band. (One of my favorites.) My brother-in-law Adam is always introducing me to great music and I LOVE listening to this one. And then unfortunately I found out that they just recently broke up. I'm a little behind. I guess there'll be no tour soon and no new albums. But I can listen to and enjoy what they do have for as long as I need to.

The Shins - Pink Bullets

Elli likes to watch this video. When we hear this song in the car, Elli says, "Hey Ben, this is the one with the cows!" I love the song and it wasn't available to put in my playlist so I'm putting it on like this. Sorry, you may want to push pause on my playlist at the bottom in order to hear this.