Sunday, April 6, 2008

Glamorous Indie Rock 'n Roll

by Caren Crane

I think we all have a soundtrack to our lives. The music that runs through our heads as we work, play, grocery shop, order Chinese take-out or seduce our significant other. Sometimes the style of the music changes, but overall everyone has music that is theirs. My soundtrack is indie rock 'n roll or, if you prefer, alternative rock.

From the time I was old enough to form musical preferences I liked music that was different, emotional and highly danceable. Early on, I listened to plenty of my mother's music: Rolling Stones, The Who, Neil Diamond, Elton John, Bread, The Beatles, Creedence Clearwater Revival. And also my father's: Arlo Guthrie, Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass, Johnny Cash, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Three Dog Night. As a preteen, I was seriously influenced by my oldest sister's taste in music: Heart, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, David Bowie, Renaissance, Al Stewart, Jefferson Airplane/Starship, Allman Brothers Band, Steve Miller Band.

And yet, for all that rich musical exposure, my first concert ever was...The Village People. But that was sort of accidental. My mother's friend worked for a radio station and got us tickets. I remember halfway enjoying it immensely and halfway being mortified to be seen there. I'm happy to say my first real concert (of my own choosing, without parental supervision) was AC/DC when I was 14. I'm still not sure how I pulled that one off, to tell you the truth. I think I went with my next older sisters' friends or something. It was awesome! That AC/DC show during the amazing Back In Black tour gave me a lifelong fondness for live music, smoke-laden venues and seriously loud, rocking party bands.

Then I discovered New Wave. When I started college, I enjoyed Men At Work, Culture Club, Duran Duran, and Prince as much as anyone else. But there were different tiers of "New Wave" music hitting the scene. Some of my personal faves: Thomas Dolby, Elvis Costello, The Clash, Dexy's Midnight Runners, Depeche Mode, Oingo Boingo, Level 42, Yaz, Adam Ant and, of course, The Police. The early 80s were a time when music was seriously fun.

Eventually, all that cool music spawned my exploration into darker, more emotive, more "real" music than we were spoon-fed on commercial radio. Some of my post-punk raves: Joy Division/New Order, The Smiths, The Violent Femmes, U2, The Cure, Pixies, R.E.M. (I'm seeing them again in June!), Smithereens, Sonic Youth and my beloved XTC. I reveled in the angst and darkness - it totally went with my punk hair!

Then I had children.

Fast forward through the 90s - a decade I barely remember thanks to the last two children, birthed a mere 18 months apart. The 90s was a time of interchangeable pop and rap with a few high points: Nirvana, The Breeders, Stone Temple Pilots, The Offspring, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Smashing Pumpkins, Oasis, Weezer, Soundgarden, Beck, The Cranberries. Somehow, I didn't miss all the music (though I have almost no memories of 1993 - 1996), but it's mostly because younger sister kept burning me CDs (well, okay, she made me TAPES, since it was back in the day), merciful soul she is! Those grunge and hard rock people were carrying on the angsty banner all through my lost decade.

These days, my husband rolls his eyes and asks me when I'm going to stop listening to college radio. I understand his frustration, but I like what I like. As I get older, the bands I like get smaller and less well-known, but they are still fun and lots of times full of angst. Lately, I've flirted with The Killers, Guster (most fun live band ever!), The Decemberists (okay, they're also great live), Spoon (seeing them in a couple of weeks!), Franz Ferdinand, Queens Of the Stone Age, Of Montreal, My Brightest Diamond, Les Savy Fav, Kasabian, Iron & Wine, Ima Robot, Hot Hot Heat, The Fiery Furnaces. I just found British Sea Power - new obsession (who are playing in Chapel Hill in May!).

Over the years, I've adored the sex-and-cigarettes rock of Aerosmith and the manic Cape Breton fiddling of Natalie MacMaster. I have run the gamut from the sea shanties of Great Big Sea to the big band stylings of gypsy-punk of Gogol Bordello. Though my tastes are fairly eclectic, I find that whatever I enjoy turns out to be the odd, the quirky, the not-quite-mainstream time and again. My personal, ever-changing soundtrack reflects a lifetime spent holding singular opinions, being a bit "different", taking the road less traveled and making what are generally held to be unpopular choices. My life and my music - just the way I like 'em! *g*

So, what kind of music plays on the soundtrack of your life? What do you think your music says about you and the life you lead? Remember, we love everything from ABBA to Mozart in the Lair, so even your Eddie Rabbit penchant is safe in our hands! *g*

72 comments:

Fedora said...

Laurie Berkner :)

Anna Campbell said...

Fedora, the boy has returned to his true love!!! ;-) Congratulations!

Fedora said...

And John Williams' amazing soundtracks to the Star Wars movies... A curious mix, I know... that's what our kids most favor right now.

Caren, I was totally following you until you hit the 90s--I've heard of all those groups but haven't actually heard them (knowingly, anyway). And in your more recent list, I haven't even heard OF them... pathetic, huh? ;)

Anyway, now we listen to a strange mix of kids tunes and soundtracks, with some Josh Groban, classical, and random performers tossed in...

Quite an audio mishmash awaits the GR... :)

Donna MacMeans said...

While I idenify with much of the music on your parent's play list, I liked a lot of the stuff my kids blasted as well (you never realize how thin a house wall is until a teenager occupies the bedroom on the other side of your headboard).
When I write, I like soft instrumentals and soundtracks like that of The Last of the Mohicans. No words, just melody. But when I'm in the car or walking the dog - give me something with a lot of bass and a strong beat. It doesn't matter if I know the words or not, I'll sing along - loud - and love it.

jo robertson said...

How interesting to see your musical evolution, Caren!

Flchen1, ya just couldn't leave the boy alone, could you?

Gotta love my show tunes -- all kinds, every era! But I must say that after my own years of The Beatles and Simon and Garfunkle, I picked up my children's tastes -- Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Nirvana, Queen.

I like writing to music, so nowadays it can't be anything too jarring or my muse runs away. Lots of Enya, a little Sarah Brightman and I do love me some old-time Roger Whitaker.

p226 said...

I have constant music in my head. It's constant. Always there. Sometimes it's maddening. And not maddening in the sense of some goofy song stuck in there that won't leave. No, maddening in its constant presence.

Sometimes, it's a whole song. Sometimes, it's a few runs on a guitar. Sometimes, it's just generic, almost midi-like tones. Chords. Arpeggios. Scales. I walked around for a week hearing harmonic minor in my head. There's an arpeggio followed by a little bend in "Sultans of Swing" by Dire Straights that's played through my mind at least five thousand times to date. Maybe ten thousand.

Right now, the radio station in my head is playing "Beast and the Harlot" by Avenged Sevenfold. And that's fine with me. I really ....

Ok. I have to interrupt both myself and the song in my head because of something musical that happened while I was typing. I have "Adult Swim" on the TV for background noise. Right now, it's a bunch of stupid anime. I hate anime. But, for background noise it'll do. What do I hear in the score to whatever anime is blathering on my TV? Robbie Robertson and the Red Road Ensemble. That's incredibly powerful, and reasonably obscure modern Native American music. That was weird.

Now, where was I? Oh yeah, Avenged Sevenfold. One of my favorite current bands. And System of a Down before they started their goofy solo projects. SoaD rocks. And I'm really diggin' Disturbed these days. I like distortion. And I like speed. And I like heavy socio-political commentary in the lyrics ,even if I vehemently disagree with the premise.

I'm a metalhead going way back. Maiden. Slayer. Old (pre black-album) Metallica. Ozzy. Black Sabbath. Megadeth. Overkill. Exodus. And on the more punk side, Black Flag and Suicidal Tendencies.

Hmm... the radio station in my head just switched to Megadeth's "Holy Wars."

Good choice cranial radio station!

You can't see it, but I'm moshing ever so slightly.

Minna said...

You mentioned quite a few bands and singers I listen, like The Beatles, Abba and Culture Club. In addition to those I listen for instance Laura Branigan, Savage Garden, A-ha, Adiemus, Electic Light Orchestra, The Police, Pet shop Boys, Huey Lewis and the News, Bryan Adams, Crash Test Dummies, Weird Al yankovic, Enigma and then there are some you have probably never even heard of. Well, you might have heard of Sibelius, Sunrise Avenue and Nightwish, but I also listen to Paul Oxley's Unit, Indica, Tik Tak, Pave Maijanen, Bogart Co, Modern Talking, Broadcast, Tomas Ledin...

Trish Milburn said...

I like a variety of types of music. I was a teen in the '80s, so my formative music years were those of the big-hair rock bands like Poison, Warrant and Bon Jovi. Prior to that, I loved Duran Duran.

I'm a big lover of soundtracks to movies and TV shows. I love the instrumental ones like The Last of the Mohicans that Donna mentioned, House of Flying Daggers, etc., and the soundtrack to the musical episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer is awesome. There are two other Buffy soundtracks showcasing the real bands that appeared on the show at the Bronze (the club where the Buffster and the Scoobies hung out).

Lately, I've gotten into European goth/metal/symphonic rock bands like HIM, The Rasmus, Lacuna Coil, Delain, Within Temptation, Nightwish and Apocalyptica. Eva and Minna will recognize a lot of those bands since several are from Finland, others from Holland, and one from Italy (Lacuna Coil). Hmm, maybe there's a full blog post for the future in this. :)

The most recent concerts I went to are Nickelback and Evanescence.

Trish Milburn said...

Hey, look, Minna mentioned Nightwish as I was typing my post. :)

p226, I like Metallica too. I'd like to go see them in concert. Have you ever heard Apocalyptica? They're a Finnish band that gained their initial following by playing Metallica tunes on cellos! Check out their Enter Sandman in concert on YouTube. Pretty cool.

Jane said...

I love New Order, too. In junior high, I was listening to U2,OMD, Depeche Mode, Def Leppard and Madonna. Then I gravitated towards The Verve, Alice in Chains, Porno for Pyros, Radiohead, The Cranberries, Chemical Brothers, Propellerheads, DMX, Oasis and Travis.

Minna said...

Trish, have you heard about Lordi? They even won the Eurovision Song Contest. That was the first time ever for Finland to win that contest. It must have been because of that pretty face of mr. Lordi and the rest of the band. *g*

Anna Campbell said...

Caren, the soundtrack of our lives? What a fantastic topic for a post! I'll listen to almost anything in terms of genre. I've been really lucky because I've had people around me who have introduced me to an enormous variety of music. I've always loved classical music - loving ballet and playing the piano as a wee gel probably helped with that. And I was a huge film watcher so I've always been aware of soundtracks. Mum and Dad loved musicals and Dad had a real penchant for swing and the Great American Songbook. Then obviously you can't escape popular music so that became enormously important to me once I started school. Ooh, big influences? Too many to mention! David Bowie, Joy Division/New Order, the Police, the Cure. In recent years (i.e. since the 90s, snork!), I'm probably more aware of singles than albums but I love Jane's selection!

Helen said...

Big congrats flchen

Great post Caren I love my music I have stacks of albums and cd's and very different from Dean Martin to ACDC Led Zepplin Pink Flloyd and of course Rod Stewart from his first album thru to his Great American Songbook cd's.
When I was a child my grandparents had lots of the old 78 records and i loved listening to them I grew up in the 60's and 70's so I love that style of music from heavy rock thru to classical love it all.

Have Fun
Helen

Caren Crane said...

Fedora, congrats on welcoming the GR back to his home-away-from...well, I suppose he is a vagabond with no true home. Unless it's with you!

I completely get the audio mishmash! My indie rock is MINE and my husband has little appreciation for it. But my bff loves it! That works out for me, since she'll go to concerts with me. *g*

So you're a soundtrack girl, eh? One of my other friends adores soundtracks and pays attention to them when she watches movies. I don't. I'm not a visually-oriented person, so it's all I can do to keep up with what's going on on-screen, much less what music is playing!

No Star Wars for me - I was forced to play it in orchestra in high school, so that ruined it. *g* But Stewart Copeland (of The Police) does LOTS of TV soundtracks and I love his stuff. He did the music for the sadly-over Dead Like Me. Loved it!

Enjoy the rooster and, er, keep us posted on how the mishmash and the chook mesh. :-)

Caren Crane said...

Donna, my sister in car singing! Yes, when I don't know the words to songs, I generally do a Jeanne and just make some words up...much to everyone's chagrin.

Check this out: my youngest (13) corrected me on Beatles' lyrics. Yes, she did! I had been singing one line of "I Am the Walrus" wrong my ENTIRE LIFE!

Normally, I am a fool for liner notes, but apparently when I learned this song as a preschooler, I learned it wrong. Ack!

Caren Crane said...

Jo, the show tunes! When my oldest sister was a teenager, Evita was on Broadway and she had the album. I knew the whole thing by heart! Never saw Madonna's version. I'm torn whether I should. Any recommendations from those who know both versions?

Oh, and writing music. I tend to write mostly to Coldplay, Belle and Sebastian and The Decemberists. Really great and all manner of moody when you need it.

Caren Crane said...

Oh, P226, I have a whole room in my head devoted to Dire Straits! It's sort of a smoky jazz/blues club where they headline 24/7. I know the arpeggio of which you speak! *g*

Sadly, I don't have the music 24/7 because the voices drown it out. Writers and the voices - gah! It's so cool that you do. But I can see how that would be distracting and potentially annoying to you and others. I mean, aren't people forever interrupting your great music?

I was with you on SOaD and Black Flag. These days, a lot of metal is quite screamy, so they kind of lost me, but my brother (then my son) were HUGE metal heads. My son went through a Metallica phase that lasted years. Okay, he's still wont to start intoning an obscure guitar solo from time to time. He does play guitar, after all. What was I thinking with the music lessons? (You're right, Donna, THIN WALLS!)

I haven't heard of the Native American group, but I dig that stuff. More things to scramble for on the internet! Thank you for sharing!

Caren Crane said...

Minna, bring on the recommendations! Man, Trish and I will be all over trying to You Tube those! Yes, your list from back in the day includes a ton of bands I loved.

I have this ELO greatest hits CD that drives my daughters crazy! They're like, "This is so cheesy, but so insanely catchy!" Exactly! All I have to say is, "When you are gone, I turn to stone!" and it's stuck in everyone's head all day. Bwahaha...

Caren Crane said...

Trish, how did know you would be You Tubing things? ;-)

I think you need to do a whole post on Euro-metal. You are, after all, our resident expert! I like many of the bands you mentioned, but I can only take them in moderation. They are not really on my soundtrack. I can't help it, I like happier!

Ooh, speaking of which, Guster's song "Happier" is so awesome if you can find a live version. Okay, EVERYTHING of theirs is better in the live version.

Caren Crane said...

Jane, we were practically sharing ears! In addition to the bands I mentioned already, I really liked Alice In Chains and Chemical Brothers.

Oh, and you reminded me of another great band from the Lost Decade: Jane's Addiction!!

Caren Crane said...

Anna, The Cure! They are picking up their interrupted concert tour and will be in Charlotte in June. I'm trying to get my younger sister to go with me. Yes, I will drive 3 hours still to go to a concert on a Tuesday night. Arg! It's a disease, I tell you.

Caren Crane said...

Helen, how could we forget your relationship with Rod the Bod Stewart? *g*

Like you, I learned a lot of older songs listening to old records. Namely, the little singles my mother had from her youth. I know TONS of pop songs from the '50s!

And growing up, there was a Big Band station on AM radio in Nashville that I listened to. I think I was their youngest listener as a young teenager and drove them mad with requests! *g*

Caren Crane said...

You guys forgive me. I'm off to drive for several hours, but hope to check in later. Keep the conversation going and BY ALL MEANS, post bands I need to check out via You Tube or download!

Minna said...

Just so that you don't have to look for them:
Aikakone - Keltainen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckP18aRSqJ8&feature=related
Indica-Vuorien Taa
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05mAzx56jQ4
The Crash - Still Alive
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ax_N4d0Efb0
Paul Oxley´s Unit Terry´s inside
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Si9xeJkvPXc&feature=related
Sunrise Avenue - Forever Yours Video Clip
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMNa1GX1kZk
Broadcast - You Break My Heart (Too bad their song Pacific isn't on YouTube)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiAWSoCaygQ
Bogart Co-Princess
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9nJq4fi5f8
Tik Tak-- Lopeta
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yqqj43qWfPc&feature=related
Jonna-Tervomaa - Rakkauden haudalla
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MR50dTJgEFg

Amy Andrews said...

Well I was pleased to see, Caren, that your first REAL concert was an Aussie band - yey!!!

I seem to have similar tastes to a lot of people here being an eighties girl and all.

But my heart belongs to some 70's bands like Smokie and Dr Hook and Air Supply (yes, chick bands). There were also some great aussie 70's bands - Skyhooks and Sherbert and Dragon and my all time fav who were big in the pub scene and then just got bigger, Cold Chisel.

The older I get the more into country I become - I've always liked it but I find myself listening to it more and more and I always get heaps of plot ideas from country songs. Much to my 12 yo son's disgust the radio in my car is permanently tuned to a local country station. The minute he grumbles he gets the standard - when you buy your own car you can listen to whatever you want.

I'm a sucker for soundtracks too. Just had to buy the Juno soundtrack after seeing the movie -very, very quirky!

hrdwrkdmom aka Dianna said...

flchen1, congrats! Does the GR have his own room there or what?

I like country and oldies, oldies ranging between the 50's and 70's. I know just a tad strange but then that is who I am, just a tad strange. :-)

Minna said...

And now something completely different:
Monty Python always look on the bright side of life
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_eyDoWIMPg
Gazebo --- I Like Chopin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-_6J03UCxs&feature=related
Sandra In The Heat of the Night (1985)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZbk86x-GxM&feature=related
Adiemus - Adiemus
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7zJ0yVSSvE
Enigma-Beyond The Invisible (The scaters here are Susanna Rahkamo and Petri Kokko)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMI67lbz0Qc&mode=related&search=
Scatman John: Scatman music video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpHLEm9-0bg
Power Of Love - Huey Lewis (Back to The Future) (...And there are at least 2 other songs called "Power of Love" that I know of)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOu8x1gqW3c
aha - take on me
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMWXyEHoN88&eurl=http://cherylstjohn.blogspot.com/
modern talking--you're my heart you're my soul
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IbPGxYWS_k
Weird Al Yankovic - Jurassic Park
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpDckbqhpW8

Anonymous said...

Caren, I love the idea of having a soundtrack for your life, and I am shocked and awed at the time you spent on this blog. You are truly the master of music!

Fedora, we can definitely hang! I love Laurie Berkner! And Jessica Harper. She's my all-time favorite. But my kids have outgrown most of her stuff, unfortunately.

Hey, anyone else surprised to find Helen an AC/DC fan? You go girl!! :-)

As for me? Well, I've been burned before in conversations about music. Admitting to my musical tastes is a bit like admitting I read romance. People make fun. But we're friends, right? So here goes--I listen to county music.

There.

Go ahead, laugh!

Actually, there are a lot of similarities between country and romance. People make fun of romance for being formulatic and trite, and they make fun of county music for the same reasons. They've got stereotypes and they judge without listening. County music, for me, is about great stories. And so is romance!

Do I sound a little defensive? ;-) I guess growing up on the east coast, where no one listened to county, I got tired of being the butt of jokes.

Actually, I like lots of music, as long as it's 1) relatively upbeat or romantic, and 2) melodic (no screaming, angry, whiny voices allowed). Lately, my favorite artists are Jack Johnson, Colbie Caillat, Norah Jones, Madeleine Peyroux, and Sara Barielles.

I should get a t-shirt made for myself: I read romance novels and I love country music! So there! :-)

Anonymous said...

Omigoodness, just as I write this long post about no-one else liking country, Amy and Dianna show up to get my back!

Way to go ladies! :-)

Amy, I'm so with you on the plot ideas. Country music is great for that! Do you know the Billy Currington song about good directions and turnip greens? Is that a book waiting to happen or what?

doglady said...

He just couldn't stay away, Fedora!

Here's a post right up my alley, so to speak. However, being a musician can be a problem. All of those music analysis classes tend to make me listen to music and then dissect how it is put together. If it isn't done well, I tend to dismiss it. Not always a good thing. My sister from the 80's, Trish! Loved the Big Hair bands, especially Poison.

Grew up listening to my Dad's big band music and my Mom's country music so I also have a nostalgic yen for Glenn Miller and Hank Williams,Sr. and Patsy Cline from time to time.

I too love soundtracks and will buy a good one in a heartbeat. Last of the Mohicans, Braveheart, Harry Potter, Gladiator, etc.

For writing I prefer instrumental, although I have written to some of Celtic music CDs. My brother hooked me on The Chieftans and TransSiberian Orchestra. Love those.

I currently listen to the soundtracks from Sense and Sensibility and Pride and Prejudice when I write.

Josh Groban, Il Divo and James Blunt are always close to my computer as well.

A also love Etta James. Have all her albums on CD. Hers is the only version of "At Last" that exists as far as I am concerned.

Of course the majority of my every day listening is "classical' music. After Pavarotti died I listened to his music for weeks.

Gillian Layne said...

Love Evanescence, Nickelback, Ricky Scaggs, Josh Turner, Allison Krauss, Maroon 5, Bryan Adams.

Cannot live without Sting.

8O's music. All of it!

Rush is a huge thing for all of us. Hubby was/is addicted since youth, he got me hooked, and now the girls love it. We have fun talking about the lyrics during long car rides.

p226 said...

Trish,

I just want to say... Lacuna Coil rocks. And Christina Scabbia... mmmmmm....

And Doglady, there's a band out there that rips Celtic in Metal/Punk. They rule. Dropkick Murphys. And they have hilarious lyrics.

And for the country fans out there... I'm resisting a diatribe explaining how pop country today sounds exactly like pop rock from the 80s and 90s with the addition of slide guitars and fiddles...

I'm no fan of Country. Bluegrass? Oh yeah. But these days, about the only country I can handle is Brad Paisley. MAN can that dude *PLAY* a guitar. I hope that guy keeps it up. He could be the next Chet Atkins.

After my metalhead proclamations above, some of you guys might find this one a bit contradictory. But skill is skill. And here's some skill:

Chet Atkins:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndiMnwz5XjA

Trish Milburn said...

Minna, I've heard of Lordi when they won that contest, but seems like I heard a song and it didn't appeal to me. I'll check them out again. Oh, and I loved aha's "Take Me On" -- the video was so different. I'm going to check out the others you've suggested.

Caren, funny that you should say you like "happier" music. My hubby calls the music I like my "depressing music." :)

doglady, yes, a lot of makeup and AquaNet went into rock in the '80s! :) I'd go to concerts where the guys on stage were wearing more of both than I was. And funny you should mention Etta James' "At Last". I got my hubby a card for Valentine's Day that plays that when you open it. I too like Celtic music like Clannad, Enya, Seven Nations. Also love Scottish bagpipes.

Christie Kelley said...

What a fun post, Caren! I'm sitting here at an open house and it's raining so I'm thrilled I can steal someone's wireless. I'm bored out of my mind. Except for when my client's cat found a mouse. Yes, it just happened and I saved poor little Mickey.

OMG, another mouse just came out from under the stove. You'd think I'm in some run-down place and I'm not!

Anyway, I grew up on Southern rock. Kind of funny since I'm a Yankee. I love the Allmond Bros and yes, Lynyrd Skynyrd.

But now I tend to listen to just about anything. My husband records a lot of local musicians and it's fun to listen to their music.

Last night we went to see Gaelic Storm. Great Celtic fun music. The only problem was the venue was general admission, no seating. I'm getting too old for that.

Trish Milburn said...

p226, LOL. Why am I not surprised there's some Christina Scabbia appreciation going on there? :) Okay, fangirl moment -- I posted a little fan note to their site or MySpace or something last year, and Christina e-mailed me back to thank me. We had a little back and forth via e-mail. She seems really nice.

Minna said...

Well, I must admit I'm not really Lordi fan myself, but thanks to them we got to arrange Eurovision Song contest in Helsinki and got a lot of tourists. By the way, the Latvians sang in Helsinki an Il Divo-type of song and they sang in Italian.

Minna said...

Herreys - Diggiloo Diggiley
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTFec_mrD-c
Hector - Kuunnellaan vaan taivasta
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89WOlVwyTnA

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

Doglady, I LURVE the Chieftans! And p226, I'll be sure to check out Dropkick Murphys. They sound like great fun.

Other than a little Celtic music and some old show tunes, I only listen to classical. So all these names are lost on me.

My son went wild for Metal in junior high and I hate to admit it, but some of it wasn't too bad. I'd already heard Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin, of course, but I got a huge exposure to Judas Priest (my son called their album "Screaming for a Vinny-gance") Black Sabbath, Dark Throne (whom I christened Black Toilet)and too many more who all run together. :-P

I grew up in the heart of country music in the west, Bakersfield, and as a result, can't stand 99% of it. As for show tunes, I never saw Evita on Broadway but have seen several local productions and it is one of my faves (along with Cats). However, the Madonna film version is worth watching strictly for Antonio Banderas! (very evil grin)

Congrats on the GR, Fedora. And ACK! on the mouse invasion, Christie! Sounds like you client may have a nest of them. :-(

AC
who doesn't listen to anything except her characters when she writes.

hrdwrkdmom aka Dianna said...

Kirsten, that is one of the really cool things about the lair, somebody has always got your back. :-)

hrdwrkdmom aka Dianna said...

P226, I love Bluegrass too, a lot of my family used to play it, we even have a couple of cloggers. Most are all gone now but the memories remain.

limecello said...

Hi Caren!

Oo, I really like The Killers, Guster, The Decemberists, Spoon and Hot Hot Heat too! Also Tchaikovsky, Mozart, Ingrid Michaelson, Imogen Heap, (old school) Smashing Pumpkins, Collective Soul, U2, a lot of "one hit wonders" - and more! Goldspot, Bittersweet... I like a lot of pop/college station music too - but I tend to like songs that you can sing to, and the more indy ish songs.

Caren Crane said...

Minna, wow! Thank you for the time-saving (time-sucking *g*) links to the Borg - I mean, You Tube. Resistance really is futile! *g*

I can't wait until I get home and can check these out! Thanks a million!

Caren Crane said...

Oh, no, Amy more bands to check out! *eg* I like the sound of Cold Chisel. Even their name is awesome!

As to country, I grew up in Nashville, TN, the home of country music and...have never been a country music fan. *ducks* My youngest LOVES country and I download it for her and listen to it for her. I do enjoy some, but it will never be the soundtrack of my life, I'm afraid. :-(

It's great you can torment your son with it! What good is it to love something if you can't annoy your kids with it? Ha!

Caren Crane said...

Dianna, that's the country I like - the country I heard as oldies when I was little! And don't worry about being strange. You're just the kind of strange we love here in the Lair!

Caren Crane said...

Kirsten, you are among friends and fellow country music fans, you will note. One writer in my chapter says she loves country music because there's a book in every song. That's very true. Sadly, for me, they aren't the ones that resonate with me. :-(

Of course, I think there is a book in every Belle and Sebastian song, too. *g*

p226 said...

Hey, that old school country is alright in my book. It's kind of been eaten by modern pop country which drives me nuts. I've found that the old school country tradition has really been kept alive in modern Folk, Bluegrass, and some of the Bluegrass fusion.

Nickel Creek...
Allison Krauss...
Bela Fleck and the Flecktones...

Caren Crane said...

Doglady, I love The Chieftains and TSO! I tend to dig lots of Celtic music and can listen to Celtic fiddling even if it doesn't have words. *g*

For straight listening pleasure, I prefer songs with words. Too many years playing violin! It's like school to me.

It's great that you've retained your love of opera. Opera really speaks to the soul! Such a rich, full life you've had already and so much left to live!

Caren Crane said...

Gillian, I love it that you guys have passed on your love of Rush to the kids. Nothing like second generation fans! My older daughter is now a rabid fan of AC/DC. But I promise she got that way all by herself!

Sting: I could write odes to Sting! Best concert ever: me and a good friend bought tickets to a Sting concert in Greensboro from a chick at work. She had won them on the radio and wasn't a fan. We were front row center! He was about ten feet from us. He flung sweat in our direction! It really was a once-in-a-lifetime concert experience. Man, oh, man Sting could sing me the phone book. So sexy!

Caren Crane said...

Christie, the 70s were a great time for Southern rock. Loved the Allman Bros, dug ZZ Top (though technically, they're from TX) and couldn't avoid Lynyrd Skynyrd. I liked their music, but their fans tended to be a little on the redneck side. I can say that, since I'm Southern. *g*

My daddy lived in LA (Lower Alabama) and they had 'Sweet Home Alabama' on the jukebox. It got a lot of play. Lots. Many, many repeats. It's probably still on that jukebox, though maybe it's not played quite as often. Hopefully.

Caren Crane said...

AC, I'll bet your glad your son is now grown and took his music with him! *g* Black Toilet! *snork*

Note to self: put Antonio - er, Evita - in Netflix queue. =:0

Caren Crane said...

P226 and Dianna, I adore bluegrass! I don't get to listen to it much (no dedicated bluegrass radio that I've found in Raleigh), but it reminds me of being a girl and hearing people make music when we got together for parties. I loved that so much! Dianna, too cool that you have cloggers in the family. I've run the idea by my husband a few times. Um, he's not biting. And he really is rhythmically challenged, so maybe it's best he's not in metal-shod shoes!

Caren Crane said...

Limecello, my musical sister! Yes, unfortunately, lots of indie bands tend to have one good song or CD and then either break up, take up an annoying solo career or just make horrible music.

Case in point: The Killers. First album: fabulous! Couldn't get enough. Would have paid lots to see them in concert. Second CD: using it as a coaster. They had such success with the first, they decided to "explore" and "make the music that speaks to our souls". Um, hello, that first CD made lots of money. Fans with expectations out here! They could at least throw us a bone and record some more music that doesn't speak to their souls but at least allows them to pay the rent. Sheesh!

Also: The Information. They had exactly one great song: A Simple Plan. Unfortunately, I bought the whole CD expecting more of the same. Uh, no. Just download the one song.

But speaking of one hit wonders, I did love that A-ha song!

Hellie Sinclair said...

Okay the first 10 years of my life were filled with Johnny Horton, Hank Williams, Oak Ridge Boys, Statler Brothers, and every classic country icon you can think of. (Johnny Horton was my favorite though.) At 10, my niece introduced me to rock-n-roll, and FOOTLOOSE was very much my soundrack of my youth. With some George Michael thrown in. Loved Richard Marx, Michael Bolton, and every other ballad-singing pop artist who I could pine for. As an old teenager, I loved the "classic rock" stuff, like the Doors, Lynard Skynard, Led Zeppelin, etc--classic and southern rock--and of course, I loved George Strait.

In college, my roommate insisted on updating my music tastes, so I learned to like Pearl Jam and Green Day and other alternative bands...but at the end of the day, if I'm tired and I want to be happy and relax, I usually stick on some Johnny Horton or George Strait.

I also love movie soundtracks. I collect them like other people collect kewpie dolls. Current faves: POTC3 & A Lot Like Love. AND the soundtrack to Braveheart. God, that was a beautiful, heartbreaking soundtrack.

Caren Crane said...

P226, Dropkick Murphy is awesome! I love the punk/rock/Celtic thing. Great Big Sea is really good, but it's more soft rock/pop and old-time Celtic songs. They're Newfies, so they're a little whacked. In the best way. *g*

Also, we lived not too far from Chet Atkins when I was little. But Nashville was like that then. The stars were more just people who everyone knew but didn't bother. These days, they get no privacy.

Caren Crane said...

P226, Nickel Creek is so great!! What that boy does to a mandolin should be illegal. *g*

They are insanely talented and still so young!

Allison K. is a wonder. Didn't adore her joint venture with Robert Plant so much. Love them both, but together I expected more magic. Does that make any sense?

Caren Crane said...

Mshellion, you and Joan and the Oakridge Boys! *g* George Strait is just good music. It's interesting what everyone gravitates back to, isn't it?

Amy Andrews said...

Hey Kirsten - I hear you and I'll have one of those t-shirts thanks. And you're right, I take the same deep breath when talking about what music I like to people as I do when I say I write romance.
Maybe I need to go to a meeting. hi my name is Amy and I write romance and listen to country.

P226 - I LOVE Brad Paisley. Have not long discovered him and I'm really in to him at the mo. Sorry can't converse about how clever he is with a guitar, I'll take your word on his talent, but his lyrics crack me up - so very, very funny, incisive and witty - and then you get something bittersweet like Letter To Me.

Minna said...

you're welcome! Oh, and here are a couple more:
Leningrad Cowboys & Red Army Choir - SWEET HOME ALABAMA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lNFRLrP014
Neljä baritonia-Pop musiikkia
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GI5V5-zSLr4
Neljä Ruusua - Popmuseo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ay-7FEK6-kE
The Dandy Warhols - Shakin` [Buddy Holly style]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-5UxSj1T6I
Foo Fighters-Big Me
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhfWzCPRPtg
Crash Test Dummies - Afternoons & Coffeespoons
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j53VGZnW4fU
J Karjalainen - Sekaisin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzN2vO1yxpI

Amy Andrews said...

Oh Kirsten, also meant to say, Love the Turnip Green song.

Amy Andrews said...

Oooh yes Caren, Cold Chisel - about as iconic Aussie as you can get. I think they realy resonated with a lot of disaffected youth at the time. A lot of their songs were banned on radio - searingly insightful on many taboo subjects at the time like abortion, drug addiction and returned vets. My fav song ever is a Chisel classic - Khe San.
Chisel, AC/DC or Acca Dacca as they are more affectionately known down here and Midnight Oil are probably our biggest, most successful bands ever.

hrdwrkdmom aka Dianna said...

Oh! Allison Krauss sings and I get the shivers, really! To have a voice like that is unbelievable. I made my mother so proud the day I go busting into her room and tell her she has got to hear this woman....LOL!
Nickel Creek is amazing too. I so, so wanted to be musically inclined.
Caren it is a real good thing "strange" is welcome in the lair cos I really do like it here.

Trish Milburn said...

mshellion, I have tons of soundtracks too, including all three of the POTC ones. Love them, especially the third. Other faves: Last of the Mohicans, as I already mentioned, Lord of the Rings, Top Gun, The Returner (Asian film), Underworld Evolution (where I discovered Lacuna Coil), Titanic, Gladiator, Rob Roy, Braveheart, Glory, The Man in the Iron Mask, Far and Away, Dances with Wolves...

Trish Milburn said...

Well, I live in the heart of country music, but it's not my fave. I can stand a few Nashville acts -- Brad Paisley, Allison Krauss, Nickel Creek, some Toby Keith. But I very seldom listen to the radio here because it pretty much blows. :) Thank goodness for iTunes and my iPod.

Totally off the topic of country -- another singer I think is fabulous is Sarah McLachlan. That gal has a beautiful voice.

p226 said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
p226 said...

hahahah, top gun soundtrack...

I think Kenny Loggins' "Danger Zone" might have been maybe, the third song I learned to play on guitar. Behind "Smoke on the Water" and "Iron Man."

Joan said...

Coming in late to the discussion but I'm jumping on the bandwagon for country. Love it.

Now that being said, I enjoy all other types of music..Big Band, Celtic (ESP. Bodhran)sountracks both Broadway and movies. The closest I ever came to living on the edge was a Three Dog Night Album I had in high school :-) Along with BeeGees, Bread, John Denver I was an "in" chick...

Ok, not...but I wanted to be!

I did get a CD of "Big Bad Voodoo Daddies" a couple of years ago...lost it...but I liked it!

Susan Sey said...

Okay, I'm dropping in even later than Joan, but I can't resist. My husband has hundreds of CDs. Seriously. We had to get a new hard drive so he can feed his addiction to downloadable music. I came to our marriage with FIVE cds. But I was & am passionately attached to them:

Indigo Girls/Swamp Ophelia
Black Crowes/Shake your Money Maker
JayHawks/Tomorrow the Green Grass
Cheap Trick/Greatest Hits
Nancy Griffith/Lone Star State of Mind

Black Crowes for working out, JayHawks & Cheap Trick for road trips, Indigo Girls for harmony & Nancy Griffith when I'm nostalgic for Texas.

It's like a well balanced meal. Yum.

Thanks for the great post, Caren!

p.s. Kirsten? I like country, too.

Anonymous said...

Hey, thanks Dianna, Amy, Joan and Susan, and everyone who's got my back on the country music! The t-shirts are on the way! :-)

Oh, and mshellion--Footloose is the greatest movie ever made. The Cutting Edge is a close second. And then there's The Pirate Movie. I bet no one remembers that one. Kristie McNichol in a hilarious send up of the Pirates of Penzance.

Susan Sey said...

I *love* the Pirate Movie.

I can't believe you know it, too, Kirsten! This must be why you're my favorite CP ever. :-)

Anonymous said...

NO WAY--You know The Pirate Movie? Wow. I knew we were destined for each other. I actually OWN a copy of it.

Seriously.

I think I paid like $20 to get it from eBay. We'll have to have a viewing the next time we get together! :-)

Christine Wells said...

Wow, Posh T, what an amazing post! You brought back so many memories. Did you mention the Violent Femmes in there?

When I was a child, my father played the Beatles, Neil Diamond, Creedence, the Beach Boys, Dusty Springfield, Dionne Warwick. Those songs still bring back memories of dancing on his feet:) Then there was "I was made for lovin' you" which was around in Grade 1 and The Village People. Boney M. Argh! Bucks Fizz--do you remember them?

REM's Shiny Happy People always made me smile, especially since my brother used to do a silly dance to it. Now, I must admit I listen to a lot of music that brings back good memories. I'm a little caught up in the past, I guess. Oh, and I love cheesy Dean Martin songs too. My boys didn't get traditional lullabies, they got Cha Cha D'Amor and Sway;)

Christine Wells said...

Oops, yes I see you did mention The Violent Femmes. Oh and New Order. Loved New Order! THanks for bringing back all those memories!