Life Question

Why, when you're trying to videotape your daughter performing a dance routine during half-time of the high school boys game, does the lady in front of you, oblivious to the crowd around her, stand up to get still photos of her child performing the same routine? They have no chance of turning out because it's just too dark inside a gymnasium. And why does she continue to stand IN MY WAY? Hello, you're in the second row. I think you can see fine. I know I could before you decided to stand up. By the way, the shirt you were wearing that I have plenty of video of...didn't do you any favors.

I feel better.

New Term

I've created a new term...term being short for terminology.

Today is Inauguration Day. Barack Obama is President of the United States of America.

There are many Inauguration parties tonight. Most will include alcoholic beverages.

My term for those beverages is "Inaug-Nog". Feel free to mention my name after using the term.

My word, that will eventually find it's way into the slang dictionary.

Inaug-Nog
© 2009

New Year...New Music

It seems that lately, I've been blogging about music a lot. Well, if you know me, then you'll know that music plays a large role in my life. It always has...probably always will. So, don't be surprised if you see quite a few entries about a new group or a new song I've heard that I want to write about. Today is one of those days.

Last night, New Year's Eve, I made my famous white pizza for dinner, Sara made a cheesecake, we had chips, popcorn, spray cheese, pop...all the requirements for a New Year's Eve party, even if it was just the four of us sitting at home watching Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve (with Ryan Seacrest) and Carson Daly's New Year's Eve special.

As we sat in front of the fireplace, waiting for the arrival of 2009 by eating pizza and soda and snacks, we were switching channels on the TV always looking for the show that had the better music artist on. MTV screwed up this year. It was an all Miley Cyrus night. She has her place and I can stomach several of her songs, but does she warrant an entire night on New Year's Eve? What sealed the deal for MTV was they didn't have the normal midnight cover song. Ever year for as long as I can remember, I'd make sure to check MTV at midnight to see which band was covering what song. One of the best that I can remember was No Doubt covering REM's "It's The End Of The World As We Know It" in 2000. Well, MTV has let that die as well as any chances of retaining viewers older than 30. The final nail in their music coffin has been hammered. Next...

Dick Clark did pretty well with us by having Lionel Richie perform. I mean, c'mon...it's Lionel Richie. We didn't get just a track from a new album but a medley of all of his classics. Sadly, he dampened that pleasure (much to my daughter's enjoyment) by having the Jonas Brothers perform as well. So, he broke even with us. On second thought, he may be in the hole.

Carson Daly won the night. He shared the night with Luke Russert and some other female co-host less irritating than Kelly Pickler over with Dick and Ryan. His delivery was professional and calm and he seemed all-together less frantic than the group over on ABC. But that's not how he won.

He emerged victorious by giving us fresh, new music by a group called The Ting Tings. Sure, the name is enough to scare away any guy with not enough testosterone to walk into the music store and ask for the latest CD by The Ting Tings. But for me, the music performed by this group took me back to the 1980's. The sound was a blend of Duran Duran, Blondie, Chic, Franz Ferdinand and the White Stripes. Top it with a 1980's vibe and you have The Ting Tings. It was something new, and MTV hasn't delivered anything like it since they showed their last Buzzworthy video in the middle of the night sandwiched between another extremely long marathon of Real World or Road Rules many years ago.

So, today...I'm doing some research on the Ting Tings on youtube and I discover something else I'm not even looking for...a band called Alphabeat who also deliver music with a 70's/80's pop feel. Somehow, someway, they're similar enough in style or attitude or hair style or clothing choices that the youtube gods had the foresight to suggest one band when people like me are searching for the other. I saw the message that was being delivered to me from them, and it was good.

The Ting Tings are already beginning to forge their way into American ears and will probably be well known before Alphabeat has a chance to introduce themselves to us. So, I'm taking it upon myself to share new music with you, much like I did when I was a radio DJ. I'll start with The Ting Tings and the video for the song they sang last night, "Shut Up and Let Me Go". Then, the band I discovered by chance, Alphabeat and "10,000 Nights".

Thank you, Carson Daly, for having The Ting Tings on your show because without seeing them, I never would've tripped across Alphabeat. In less than one day, Carson, you have introduced me to two of my favorite songs of 2009. You win, Carson...hands down, not just for bringing me The Ting Tings, but also bringing me Alphabeat, even if by pure association. Oh, and also for sticking it to the pompous MTV execs who think they have their finger on the pulse of everything cool. They totally missed the target. Enjoy the music.

The Ting Tings - Shut Up And Let Me Go

One of my favorite Christmas songs ever!

I have had a lot of trouble getting into the Christmas spirit this year, and I've figured out why.

It's because I haven't listened to my favorite Christmas CD this year. It could be the middle of September, and if I hear a song from this CD, I'm geared up and ready to go for Christmas.

This album has been one of my favorites ever since it came out. About the same time, my friend Andy and I had to work at KLWN in Lawrence on Christmas Eve and Christmas morning. It was then, sitting through the strict Christmas Eve playlist of the "solemn 40" Christmas songs we had to play. There was a list consisting of people like Tennessee Ernie Ford, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Guy Lombardo and Kate Smith that we were NOT to stray from on Christmas Eve. We survived that night of holiday molasses, but only because of the hope dancing on the horizon of Christmas day. On Christmas day, we could play contemporary Christmas songs...songs we selected. This was our time to shine. Our time to share music we knew was good that was being kept from the people by the rigid restraints of holiday tradition at the station.

That Christmas morning, as people were at home listening to me play Christmas music, as people prepared their home for family arriving soon, as people enjoyed Christmas breakfast, I received numerous phone calls asking the name of certain artists or songs, not to mention many, many compliments on the music selection.

This was one of those songs. It was pretty upbeat for KLWN standards, especially to be playing it before noon. This is "Gloria" by Michael W. Smith, from his Christmas album.

This entire album is phenomenal! If you have never heard it, you are missing out on a tremendous collection of work. This album is so good, it moved Andy and me to take action.

Before Christmas tours were all the rage, we had an idea. This album needed to be heard live. So, we contacted Michael W. Smith's people and inquired about him coming to Lawrence to perform this CD live on the KU campus at Hoch Auditorium (before the fire). I don't think we realized the enormity of the request we had made. We certainly didn't think (or know) about what needs to happen for a concert to come to town. For this to be done right, we needed more than Smitty, we needed his band and an orchestra. Looking back, it wasn't a realistic request and it was bigger than both of us.

We were told that Smitty spends the holidays with his family and that touring wasn't an option for him during that time of the year. We understood and let the dream die.

So what happens a few years later? Amy Grant (who Michael W. Smith played piano for) starts a Christmas concert in Nashville. Before long, they take the show on the road year after year. And this year, who do you think went on a Christmas tour?

Michael W. Smith.

I'd like to think that Andy and I planted a seed. And that seed's name was "Gloria".

Sentimental Dad

Call me sentimental.

Exactly one month ago, I was running late for work, just like I do everyday. Actually, it was more like walking late for work. I knew I was late but I was in a very controlled form of expidited motion making my way toward the office.

The previous evening, Amber was in the driveway...focused...ignoring the activity around her...a large piece of chalk in one hand, a blank concrete canvas before her. She worked and worked feverishly, never distracted by the buzz of children playing around her. When she finished, she had drawn a football stadium. She must have been inspired by Andrew and his friends playing a pickup game of football in the front yard. She was very proud, as well she should be.

I knew that rain was coming our way later in the day and thought what a downer it will be when her hard work in the driveway is washed away before we really have the chance to appreciate it.

I started my car, closed the garage door, backed over the artwork, and headed toward the office.

I didn't make it to the end of the block when I decided to be even later for work. I drove around the block, grabbed the camera and captured Amber's creation before it was gone.

So, I bring you, Amber's football field...immortalize forever via the gift of digital photography.

Good job, Amber!

And you know what?

Nobody noticed I was late.

Tunes for Tuesday

I meant to start a "Music Monday" entry where I would share a favorite song every Monday, but I missed it. Here it is Tuesday and I'm itchin' to share a rare, Christmas favorite by one of my favorite artists of all time. I've seen her in concert more than any other. And, if you use the 6 Degrees of Seperation theory, I'm only one person removed from her via several different paths.

This song was made available on cassette as a "cassingle" from Target when you purchased her album "Home For Christmas". It's become difficult to find, but today, I'm sharing it with you here.

This is Amy Grant and "Let The Season Take Wing".


Several years ago, I edited a Christmas greeting video with my friend, Christine D., for the TV station we worked at using this song. We gathered old movies and photgraphs of our families and from co-workers and set them against this song. Here's the video we came up with. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMOmA0eRTuA

I really like this song!

I know it's been around for awhile and for the life of me, I can't figure out why it wasn't more of a pop hit. It's very catchy! And, the melody just makes you feel really good.

This is Guy Sebastian and "Elevator Love".


Oh...and I finally added the video of Sylvester from Kanakuk LIVE! in the post below.