Sunshine

I really have no explanation for what plays in my head in the mornings. 

This is a great song, "Sunshine" by Todd Snider.  He's telling the story of a man standing on a ledge threatening to jump while a crowd of people look on.  I love the way he paints this story through clever song and lyrics:

I wish I could publish the studio recording, since the sound isn't great on this live performance, but he still does a nice job.  Todd Snider is a diamond in the rough for anyone who appreciates lyrical folk/country music.   

Because I don't decide which song to blog about, I don't really get to decide what to blog about.  Since this song is about depression, I guess I can give my 2 cents on the matter. 

I've only been through one period of situational depression in my life.  It lasted about a year and I got through it thanks to amazing support and amazing medication.  I admit, it was awful and horrible feeling helpless and out of control.  I'm afraid that I will have to confront this sort of despair again in my life.  I'm dreading that day and crossing my fingers it never happens again. 

Generally I'm a really happy person, and I prefer to keep it light and funny.  I've tried to make this blog funny, but I feel like this is not a funny matter.  I know there are people that struggle with depression their whole life.  I believe with all my heart that they cannot help but feel the way they feel.  I don't know how they get by, many of them do not.  I think there are many people who don't understand this, and look down on those who suffer this way and think that the person can just get over it on their own. 

So, I hate to be preachy, but if I could say anything to anyone reading (thanks Mom!) it's that I hope everyone would try to have more sympathy for those who suffer with depression.  You wouldn't be critical of somone for having cancer.

What is a Guitar But a Box of Sound

I'm learning more and more that my subconscious really digs girl singers.  I'm not saying that I'm not a fan of girl singers, some of my favorite music has been produced by women.  I've just never noticed before writing about what plays in my head, that so much of it is by women. 

I'm just starting to get into her music, so it's hard to say much about her, but I know classifying Ani DiFranco into any type of sterotype would be belittling.   She's as hard-core as it comes.  She has the ability to lay it all out there lyrically, not holding back, giving you music that can be hard to listen to, then turning out some of the most beautiful melodies you've heard.  But isn't that what life is like?  Why should music always be pretty?  For me, it's refreshing that there is honesty in what she does as a musician. 

So, this is the song that was playing this morning.  There is something about the dissonance in the saxophones that sticks with me in this song.  It's both beautiful and haunting to me. 

I hate to digress, but I don't understand why, when I have so many AMAZING prizes available (see Saturday's post) and only 7 people have entered the contest.  Boy people, you are really missing out.

I'm also getting lots of requests to post more videos of my family singing.  I am happy to do it again.  Last time we did it is when I got 1000 visitors to my blog.  I will do it again once I've had 2000 visitors, which should happen soon enough, so if you care to see us sing again, keep checking the blog and sending people to it who you know like music... 

So to sum up:

Ani DiFranco rocks

My readers are ungrateful and unappreciative of the great prizes I'm offering

I will sing again with my family if we can get to 2000 visits to my blog

Coin Operated Boy

My wife was right.  Last night, after humming this song around the house, she predicted that it would be stuck in my head this morning:

I find this song 50% annoying and 95% awesome.  It gets stuck in your head really bad, so use caution before watching. 

Amanda Palmer of The Dresden Dolls has done some pretty cool things, musically.  I really dig her solo album "Who Killed Amanda Palmer."  She also has an album of her just playing Ukulele songs, which is fun. 

One project she spearheaded was a band called 8in8.  She got together with author (and her husband) Neil Gaiman, Ben Folds and Damian Kulash of OK go.  They decided they were going to make an album of 8 songs in 8 hours.  They did it over the internet, getting suggestions for songs ideas from Twitter, and streaming the process of putting the songs together and recording them live on YouTube.   The end result was 6 songs in 12 hours.  You can buy the EP on her website for a dollar.  Surprisingly, the songs didn't turn out half-bad, and watching them get thrown together was fun.  I admire people with the talent to write music, and wish I had that gift. 

I JUST DECIDED I'M GOING TO HAVE A CONTEST!

If you comment on this blogpost, you could win one of 3 things:

-A CD of "The Best of the Songs Stuck In Brady's Head:  Volume 1" *

-A Bag of Teriyaki Beef Jerkey and those wax sticks with koolaid in the middle.  *

-A RARE VHS cassette featuring 3 of your favorite episodes from 1982's season of "Cheers."  A real treat for adoring fans worldwide.  *

Just place your comment below, tell me what you think about Oprah, The Spice Girls, Jersey Shore, or how dumb you think my blog is. 

I will randomly pick by number who wins these great prizes.  I will even ship them to the brave people in Russia, Germany and United Arab Emirates who are reading my blog too. 

The drawing will take place a week from today, April 14th.  No purchase necessary!

*Child Not Included

And I Love Her

I want to publicly declare that I LOVE MEGAN CASH!

Here is the song that was stuck in my head this morning to prove it:

My wife has given up more than most women have to give up by marrying a doofus like me.  Life is not easy for her, taking care of 4 little ones, and a colicky baby.  I hope she knows I love her.

Cats and Dogs

If you've been in a cave the last 3 years, you will not have heard of the band "The Head and the Heart."  If you've been living outside of a cave the last 3 years, you will probably not have heard of them either.  You will know this band only one of 3 ways:

1)  You are really really cool, and somehow happened upon them since their album was released a few years ago

2)  You happened to see the 16th episode of "How I Met Your Mother's" 7th season and heard one of their songs, liked it, and bought their album.

3)  You went to Boise recently to see your Uncle John, who has good taste in music, and he gave you a copy of the album.

In my case, it was the 3rd option.  I instatly fell in love with this music.  The song that was stuck in my head (Cats and Dogs) this morning is here:

What's sad about this band, is that it's not likely that you'll ever hear them on the radio and they are writing really pleasant and great music.  It makes me wonder how much great music there is out there that I'm missing.  Feel free to let me know of anything I should be listening to that is hard to find.                        

On the subject of Cats and Dogs, well cats at least, I'm somewhat embarrased to admit that as I kid I was mildly obsessed with cats.  While other kids were hanging posters up of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Racecars, and Michael Jordan, I was rockin it with posters of kittens and cats. 

I thought it was perfectly normal for a 10 year old boy to dream about cats, draw pictures of cats and dream about owning a large home one day full of cats. 

I'm proud to say that with years of shock therapy and watching Oprah, that I have overcome my obsession with kittens.  As an adult I only now own one cat, a mangy outdoor cat named Tigger.  Now if someone could just help me get over my obsession with really awesome obscure music like "The Head and the Heart" has to offer...