Monday, July 25, 2011

Top 30 Songs of 1998


I came across this (see below) link of the top 30 songs of ’98 recently and the songs brought back a lot of memories. In 1998 I was 16 and a junior in high school, music and photography were my passions then. Heck, it seems not much has changed since I was 16 along those lines. These are my memories about these songs what if any are yours?





30. Uninvited-Alanis Morissette: Absolute favorite song during 1998. I Remember listening to the radio and waiting for this song to come on so I could record it and put it on my mix tapes. Way before iTunes kiddies!

29. Pretty Fly for A White Guy- Off Spring : Absolutely hated this song but I couldn’t escape it. Pretty much like “Don’t Stop Believing” it followed me everywhere I went. Eventually it grew on me to the point where I sang it as karaoke on a senior trip.

28. You get what you get- New Radicals: VH1 use to run this song like crazy making me cringe and rush to change the channel. I see this vid as the start of the hipster fashion movement. Everytime I was approached by a dude rocking one of those hipster hats I’d tell him, “Back off dude you look like you got the dreamer’s disease.” It’s a line from the song.

27. Save tonight- Eagle Eye Cherry : No Buffalo guy was he. Hated this song with a passion.

26. What's This Life For- Creed : AHHH Hated it, but then again I wasn’t much of a Creed fan.

25. Tearing up my heart-N'Sync : I owned the CD and the cassette of this damn album and used to listen to the song over and over again. In fact, it’s tearing up my heart right now not to be listening to it. Good thing I have it on iTunes huh?

24. Are you Jimmy Ray? - Jimmy Ray: One of my favorite songs in 98' to parody. I would just make up lyrics to go along with the chorus and sing it along with my friends in the school cafeteria.

23. Wishing I was there- Natalie Imbruglia: I LOVED pretty much anything by Natalie Imbruglia I worshipped her. I don't know maybe it was a girl crush after all I was an impressionable teenager at that time.

22. Show me love-Robyn : This little Swede captured my heart with this song. I even went out to the Virgin Megastore on 42nd street (R.I.P) with my hard earned baby sitting money and purchased the CD single for $3!!! Hey compared to iTunes now that was pretty expensive!

21. My favorite Mistake-Sheryl Crow: VH1 killed this song for me by constantly running it as if it were the only song on planet earth.

20. Too much-Spice Girls: My guilty pleasure, I never publicly admitted to liking them hell if you ask me to this day I’ll deny it. Fact is I LOVED them, loved their stupid movie even their damn candy line.

19. Sonnet-the verve- LOVEEEEEEE their Urban Hymns so pretty much any song off this album I still listen to and enjoy. They were way ahead of their time!

18. Brick-Ben folds five- Oh lord. I knew the entire song yet hated it. There were times I was tempted to throw a brick at my radio when it came on.

17. Push it-Garbage - I was (still am) a huge Garbage fan. So when this album came out after 3 years of nothing I was ecstatic. I even trooped it down to the Virgin Mega store during a storm when the album dropped.

16. Frozen-Madonna- Loved, loved, loved this entire album but this was my favorite song of them all in ’98.

15. My All- Mariah Carey: It was a nice boo hoo hoo song…what was it with depressing ballads back in ‘98?


14. Getting Jiggy with it- Will Smith -Words can't express the hatred I had for this song…and still do… To this day if you want to piss me off sing this song. After this song dropped whenever I saw Will Smith on TV or in a flick I wanted to punch him in the face. In fact I will kick you in the shins if you sing this around me now.

13. Everybody- Backstreet Boys- I remember walking around my high school halls doing my best impersonations of both AJ and Nick in this song. I was an odd teen what can I say?

12. Paranoid-Garbage- See #17

11. Spice Up Your Life-Spice girls : See #20

10. Cruel Summer- Ace of Base- I was a huge Ace of base fan. Wasn't too crazy about this song but in 1998 I was still rocking out to their earlier albums. Their song " Ravine" was the staple song in all of my mix tapes til 1998.

09. Thank you- Alanis Morissette : I loved this song! My pervy guy friends loved the video they loved the illusion of nudity. Hey don’t judge they were horny teens and college freshmen you know how they are.

08. Ray of Light- Madonna: While I totally loved the song the video used to give me motion sickness. I also parodied this song a lot.

07. Bitter Sweet Symphony: I still love this song and I’ll say it again in case you missed it they were ahead of their time.

06. Don't Want To Miss a Thing- Aerosmith: The moment I hear the opening of this damn song I think back to my late teen years especially 1998 the year I had a stalker. My stalker dedicated this song to me via e-mail. He had followed me to the public library and stole my book bag from the back of my chair. I still don’t know how he managed that without being seen. My bag contained my address book and later on that evening he sent out a mass email to all my contacts professing his love for me. You know it still pisses me off to this day; I had $10 in quarters I never got back!

05. My Heart Will Go On- Celine Dion: Really? It’s a miracle of God this woman is still alive. I mean really how safe was it for this mega thin petite chick to go around pounding her chest like King Kong when she sang this song? The question for this song should be-WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER ABOUT YOURSELF IN 1998? This song was all over the place, damn that movie…damn that movie!

04. Truly Madly Deeply- Savage Garden: I was a long time fan before they broke out here in the US totally loved this album, it was so romantic.

03. The Way- Fastball: Loved this song Z100 would always play this song when I was in the car so it became my traveling song. I remember riding down the West Side Highway dancing in the backseat on my way grandmothers house singing it at the top of my lungs. Hmmm I think I’m going to re-adopt this as my traveling song.

02. Torn- Natalie Imbruglia - Please see #23

01. You're Still the One - Shania Twain: I still get a warm feeling when I hear this song. I remember a boyfriend of mine dedicating this song to me. He wasn’t known as the romantic type so it really was a special song for me.

Labels: memories, music

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Posted by @ 2:23 PM
3 comment from:  Alianne,  trump,  Goggles Piasano Ritardo,

Monday, July 20, 2009

I'm Waving The White Flag

Ever had a song stuck in your head? Well that happens to me a lot sometimes with songs I’m not particularly fond of …that’s the worst.

A few years ago when I was working the night shift at a department store Journey’s Greatest Hits was getting heavy play on the store’s system. Thanks to hearing it at least 8 times a day for the entire summer I got sick of the song. Until recently I had managed to successfully avoid the song.

That changed this summer, the song has been stalking me in television commercials, lounges, and dance clubs. While in Atlanta recently I heard it played four times in the space of two days and that’s not counting hearing it twice in the airport. Once while waiting for my flight in Atlanta and once after I landed in New York.

I made the mistake of letting a few people know about my issue with the song. News travels fast. When I arrived in New York my yeti made sure to download it and torture me for an entire weekend with it. My friends being the sweethearts that they are began text messaging me snippets of the lyrics and when that got no response they posted the lyrics and video of the song on my face book. My sister not wanting to be left out kept blasting the new dance version of the song over and over again in her room. Luckily for her the bedroom door was locked or I would’ve throttled her.


A couple of weeks go by and my friends and yeti have finally grown tired of messing with me. The song is finally out of my head. I'm a happy female. I’m at a small lounge down south with some friends a couple of them born and bred southerners. “You know Mia if you yell Free Bird out in any bar here in the south they’ll blast the song.” One of my companions drawled in that cute southern accent of hers. “Seriously? I thought that only happened in movies.” They assured me that it was true and they all encouraged me to give it a try. In what I can only describe as a dumb brunette moment I yelled,“FREE BIRD!” over the hip hop song that was playing.

The DJ looked up over to where we were smiled and pointed a finger in our direction. Wanna guess what song quickly interrupted the song that was already playing? Give yourself a big ol’ pat on the back if you guessed “Don’t Stop Believing”. I didn’t get Free Bird people what I got was set up.

The song is once again stuck in my head. I’m throwing in the towel. I’m waving the white flag! I’ve decided not to fight it anymore and to just embrace it. Come on people sing along with me!
“Just a small town girl, livin' in a lonely world She took the midnight train goin' anywhereeeeeee….”

Labels: Don't Stop Believing, friends, music

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Posted by @ 8:48 AM
3 comment from:  Darla,  frum,  Mia,

Monday, June 29, 2009

Thanks For The Music MJ

I was sitting in the back row of a crowded auditorium waiting for my brother’s graduation ceremony to start when it was announced that Michael Jackson had died. Immediately the noise died down, people couldn’t believe it. Judging from the crowd’s reaction it was obvious that he had touched all of us with his music.


I was six or seven years old when my mom came home one day with MJ’s then latest album. One song on the album stuck with me. “Man in the Mirror" touched me on a level I can’t even begin to adequately describe. At the time NYC was grappling with a huge homeless situation. Programs that are in place now didn’t exist then on the level that they do now. It wasn’t uncommon for me to see dozens of homeless people in the course of one day. Like the adults on the streets around me I pretended not to notice them. I’d actually get embarrassed whenever my parents would walk up to the homeless and place a freshly brought meal or a couple of dollars in their hands.

When I heard the song a second time that day I got the feeling that I was supposed to do more than just listen. I had the feeling that there was a lesson in there for me waiting to be learned. Listening to the MJ sing about the man in the mirror made me realize that I had the power to make a change in the world, well at least my world. I was a very mature kid. The very next day I began making changes. My mom has often said that the song pointed me in the direction of helping others. I don’t know if that’s true but I do know that the song had a huge impact on the way a kid looked at the world around her.


Say what you will about Michael Jackson but the man was a musical genius and his impact on the world of music and dance can’t ever be denied. How many of us didn’t try to moonwalk? I still get the creeps when ever I see the Thriller video and I still sing along anytime I hear a Jackson 5 tune. I know there’s a lot of talk about his personal life but you know what right now I don’t want to hear that. Let’s turn down the chatter and pump up the music. Music was his gift to the world everything else in between is between him and his god. I hope he finds peace at last. I for one will be eternally grateful for the gift of his music.

Labels: man in the mirror, michael jackson, music

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Posted by @ 12:41 AM
1 comment from:  Goggles Piasano Ritardo,

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

It Has A Good Beat and You Can Dance To It

We were on our way off the dance floor for a much needed break when the DJ put the one song on in the entire universe capable of making Puerto Ricans of all ages lose their mother fluffing minds. The opening guitar chords made my heart skip a beat. I knew what was coming and it made me smile with anticipation. I’d seen it happen before. It is definitely a ‘must see’ moment. For my non-Hispanic friend however this was a new experience.


The song being played, 'Preciosa' was written in 1937 by one of Puerto Rico’s most prolific and talented composers, Rafael Hernandez . The song is considered to be one of his masterpieces as well as his love song to Puerto Rico. Since it was first published the song has always held a special place in the heart of Puerto Ricans. My generation was reintroduced to Preciosa by Marc Anthony and it’s his version that has loomed large for years now. Preciosa means beautiful and precious in Spanish.

As the opening lyrics blasted over the lounge’s sound system the crowd froze and let out a joyous shout. Guay yanked me back onto the dance floor no way anyone was sitting this song out. Even the non-Spanish speaking Nuyoricans in the crowd knew the words to the song and they joined the Spanish speakers in song. While the song was still at ballad pace my Caucasian friend leaned towards me and with a look that can only be described as amazement asked, “What is it about that damn song that drives you Ricans crazy?” I fluttered my fingers over my heart in response and began to sing along with the crowd as I danced. The tempo picked up and my friend shook her head and laughed. Our joy was infectious she said as she swayed her hips. “Oh my gawd!” she exclaimed when she saw several people with tears in their eyes as they sang, I had goose bumps.

The crowd began jumping up and down as they voices echoed the composer’s feelings. They danced salsa with bomba and plena moves thrown in (traditional dance) for good measure. The crowd went wild singing even louder as if trying to send our message of undying love back to the island via the night. Our voices formed a unified chorus, I was certain we could be heard beyond the closed doors and onto the moonlit street. Just what the world needed over 200 loud ass Puerto Ricans united in song I thought.

I looked over and my home girl Guay was emotional as hell, tears in her eyes she sang at the top of her voice. She was red faced and thumping her chest as if she were kick starting her heart. female is gonna kill herself. I caught Guay’s eye and smiled. I knew how she felt.I still carry enough Puerto Rican blood in me to feel a thrill in my heart whenever I hear the song. I decided right then and there that in the event Guay succeeded in beating her heart out of her chest I’d gladly stuff it back in with a smile on my face. My Caucasian friend smiled at me not quite understanding the mass wave of love we all felt for this tiny island but totally into our emotional display.


Because it's now that I understand
Because it's now that I understand
that regardless of what happens
I will always be Puerto Rican
I will always be Puerto Rican
Because wherever I walk, oooohhhh
Because I carry it in my blood
Because of my parent's heritage
And with pride I repeat
I love you Puerto Rico
I love you Puerto Rico”

When the song was over my friend leaned towards me again, “wow that was amazing…so Mia tell me what is it about that song that makes you all lose your mind?!” I thought about it for a second. “It has a good beat and you can dance to it.”

Labels: music

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Posted by @ 11:45 PM
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Thursday, October 02, 2008

Doe, a deer, a female deer

I was walking across my straight out of little house on the prairie campus with a classmate when I spotted a deer feeding.

Mia: Oh look at Deer!

Classmate: A what?

I pointed to where the female deer was grazing ahead of us


Mia: A Deer!

Yeah I get hyped like that, it’s not exactly like Deer’s roam free in the streets of The Bronx. I pointed to the deer again.

Mia: Look over there dammit it’s a deer!

Classmate: What the fuck are you talking about?

Mia: It’s a doe

Classmate: A what?

Mia: A doe, a female deer!

my companion finally spotted it and smiled. I waited a heart beat and couldn’t resist. The song was running through my head. I began to sing…loudly

Doe, a deer, a female deer
Ray, a drop of golden sun
Me, a name I call myself
Far, a long, long way to run
Sew, a needle pulling thread
La, a note to follow Sew
Tea, a drink with jam and bread
That will bring us back to Doe!

Classmate: What the fuck was that?

Mia: It’s from The Sound of Music

Classmate: Mia, you so are weird.


Do, Re, Mi

Labels: education, music

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Posted by @ 12:02 AM
4 comment from:  Anonymous,  Anonymous,  christina/ohio,  Mia,

Wednesday, September 03, 2008

Ain't No Mountain High Enough

Mom was volunteering at an outreach center for teens and barely older than Nora when they first met nearly 20 years ago. The girl was malnourished, homeless, and pregnant. Unable to get her out of her thoughts mom brought her home to live with us. My aunt Nora stayed with us for five years and always says that those were the happiest years of her life. Eventually she would reunite with her family, marry, and move out of our home. The bond between her and my parents never waivered and in time our two separate families became one.


Aunt Nora called mom crying hysterically last week from Egypt with the news. Business circumstances are forcing my Uncle Hassan to move back to Egypt. Several days later she arrived in NY to pack the house up for the move. In a matter of days they’ll be gone. Naturally our families are taking it hard especially mom and Nora. With the exception of the occasional trip to Egypt they’ve never been apart for more than a couple of days in the last twenty years.

This past Sunday we were at Aunt Nora’s saying goodbye. Even though it was left unsaid we all knew that due to work, school, and financial constraints the chances of us all ever being together at the same time were slim to none.This was our last family dinner. Every now then someone would burst into tears and mom would joke, “Cut it out I’m not sure if this mascara is waterproof.” Even the paragon of Arab machismo himself Nora’s husband Hassan broke down a few times. For the first time in my life when my uncle Hassan asked me to make him tea I actually did as I was told and brought it out to him without joking about his chauvinistic ways, “you little piece of shit” he joked in his thick Egyptian accent before pulling me in for a hug,” it took me saying I was leaving country before you finally make me cup of tea with no hustle! “Hassle” I corrected. He choked up and he hugged me, “Habibi, he whispered, “you are my first daughter and more precious to me than my life.”

My favorite memories of mom and Nora have always revolved around the kitchen and this Sunday was no different. The kitchen is where I first learned about the tooth fairy, waxing, sex, and make- up. It’s where important decisions about my future were made in between bites of mom’s arroz con pollo, Aunt Leila cookies, or Aunt Nora’s Kusherie. Then of course there’s the music, mom has a beautiful voice but Nora oh man her voice is truly a gift from God and when they sing together it really is a thing of beauty. The sound of the two of them singing in English, Spanish, and Arabic when they clean the kitchen never fails to make me smile and sometimes just makes me straight out laugh. Trust me you have not truly lived unless you’ve heard Nora and mom’s Arabic/English version of Salt –n- Pepa’s “Push It”.


Nora, her mother Leila, and mom were in the kitchen preparing dinner.“Just because Nora’s moving away doesn’t mean you forget all about your aunty Leila Mia . I expect you to drive up and visit. I’m only an hour away.” She’d said as she hugged me. Nora stopped chopping vegetables and stared at her mother, “Ma go inside and keep the men company. I can hear Hassan crying all over Willie again. Me and Mags got this under control. You too baby go and torture your uncle a little.” I flashed a mischievous smile at her, “I think I’ll tell him I’m joining Jews for Jesus.” Nora burst out laughing. “Oh my god you’re going to give Hassan a heart attack!” Leila groaned. Mom looked up from the potatoes she was peeling and shook her head. “It’s on your head if she ends up killing him Nora.” “Want to take a picture while I make him turn purple Leila?” I asked as we left the kitchen. After a few minutes we heard the sound of someone washing dishes. Then suddenly Nora began to sing an acapella version of Ain’t No Mountain High Enough after few seconds my mother joined in.

If you need me, call me
No matter where you are
No matter how far
Just call my name
I'll be there in a hurry
You don't have to worry
'Cause baby,
There ain't no mountain high enough
Ain't no valley low enough
Ain't no river wide enough
To keep me from getting to you

The sound of their singing traveled into the living room and stunned everyone into silence. It was a bittersweet moment. Their combined voices had never sounded better. Every vocal inflection was saturated with their pain and the lyrics were sung with heart felt conviction. It was obvious to all listening that they weren’t just singing. They were reaffirming a vow made to each other 20 years ago.

Labels: mom, music, Nora

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Posted by @ 8:27 AM
2 comment from:  Anonymous,  Mia,

Sunday, July 13, 2008

My Mother's Play List

It was early morning and my mom was hooking up a set of giant block party sized speakers to the stereo system that already had five speakers attached to it.
My father stopped to watch what she was doing…

--Hey little one what are you doing?

-Getting ready to give Ralphie’s wife a heart attack. Could you please take the picture frames off of the wall honey?

My dad burst out laughing when he realized what my mom was up to.

--Baby, baby come on you can’t do this. He said as he began taking the frames and diplomas off the dining room wall.

She looked up at him innocently as could be and pointed to the table indicating where she wanted him to put the frames. I looked up from the newspaper and continued drinking my tea noticing my dad was trying really hard to keep himself from laughing again.

-Why not?

--Because I said so that’s why.

-Because you said so?

My mother snorted.

- You’re so cute when you’re trying to be all authoritative.

She turned her back on him and finished hooking the last of the speakers up.

--What about the rest of the neighbors did you think about that?

- I already talked to them about it and management thank you very much and everyone gave their approval. They were the ones that picked out the time for me to start even approved the play list.

--Maggie…

-Don’t worry everything is cool. I so got this honey.

He stared at her for a second and she walked over to him and hugged him he started laughing again and kissed the top of her head.

- Okay so where do you want this monster speaker?

She pointed towards the door.


Our next door neighbor has recently become a born again Christian. Yeah verily more power unto her I say the only problem is that she has decided to express and share her new found love of the lord with us in the form of some of the corniest Christian music known to man every weekend for the past couple of months. Personally I could deal with it say it were Christian rock or gospel but when it’s stuff like Debbie Boone oh heck no. and when it’s stuff like Debbie Boone at 7 am in the crusty morning? Stop the madness. Now.

Despite the repeated requests from fellow tenants the happy Christian hasn’t been able to resist blasting her music. Since we live right next door to her and are the most affected my mom decided to take matters into her own hands. War had been declared and the Christian lady had no where near the record collection we have nor the kick ass stereo system. I almost felt sorry for her. Mom spent several weeks studying her enemy her musical likes and dislikes and developed a strategy of musical warfare that would do the CIA proud based on her observations. Mom dug way deep into her old record collection.

Once my father’s blessing had been secured and everything was in place mom opened the door and adjusted the volume on the stereo loud enough to be heard in the hallway but not so loud that it would cause the picture frames to bounce on walls. She was saving that for later. She lulled the Christian neighbor woman into a false sense of security starting her play list with old school basement party jams songs she knew the woman liked. Songs like “Hey Lonely Girl” then she kicked it up throwing followed by Santana’s Samba Pa Ti. When the opening strains of Echo & The Bunnymen’s “The Killing Moon” began she cranked up the volume and the walls began to vibrate. Several songs later the Christian lady ran out of her apartment and was greeted by the sight of my mother leaning leisurely against our door frame drinking her coffee swaying her body to the music and several neighbors in the hallway curiously staring at her door awaiting her emergence from her apartment like a bat out of hell. She didn’t fail to disappoint them.

The Christian lady was furious as she walked towards our apartment, her husband just stood at the door shaking his head back and forth. He’d warned his wife this was going to happen after all mom had told him of her plans but his wife had refused to listen to him. Mom waved at her.

-Good morning!

--Maggie what the fuck are you doing?!

My mother purposely ignored her singing along with The New York Dolls.

-Hey Mia did I ever tell you that the New York Dolls use to rehearse at the Endicott on 81 street?

---No ma

-Oh yeah right across the street from my house and since my aunt worked at the Endicott for like 30 years and I practically grew up there I had free run of the place so I used to go in and watch them rehearse all the time.

The Christian lady stood several inches away from my mother.

--Maggie!

-Yes?

--Maggie what the fuck?

-Is that a nice way to greet your neighbor? Whatever happened to love your fellow man?

--Maggie!

My mother shrugged her shoulders.

-Well I just figured since you’ve got the need to get up and make a joyful noise early in the morning at an ear shattering decibel I should follow your example. You play your music in worship of your god and I play mine in worship of mine. I figure we can do this every weekend. Deal?

--Who is your god Maggie Satan?

-Depends, can he play bass guitar and is he willing to let me sit in on drums?

--Fuck you Maggie

-I’ll pass I’ve never been into females. I thought that kind of stuff was a sin in your church?

The Christian lady glared at my mother and then at all the neighbors in the hall and slammed her door really hard. I’m certain the lady got the message because she hasn’t blasted her music since.


My mother’s playlist…

Labels: mom, music

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Posted by @ 2:52 PM
7 comment from:  Anonymous,  Mia,  christina/ohio,  Goggles Piasano Ritardo,  Goggles Piasano Ritardo,  Mia,  DannieS72,

Tuesday, July 08, 2008

It's Tearing Up My Heart

I literally popped up in my bed singing N’ Sync’s “Tearing Up My Heart at the top of my lungs. I have no idea what I was dreaming about but judging from what was coming out of my mouth at 7 am Sunday morning that song was part of the soundtrack.

Throughout the day I kept humming the song much to my boyfriend’s annoyance. He’s got issues with boy bands. At one point he even towered over me hoping to intimidate me into silence with his “Yuri Sonofabitchkovitch” stare (see photo above). Ha!I laugh in the face of danger! I fart in its' general direction!

Finally as the day slipped into evening the dam in my head burst and the flood of lyrics poured out of my mouth...

“It's tearing up my heart when I'm with you
But when we are apart, I feel it too….”

He jumped up and threw his hands up in the air... “No Mia no noooooo!” he begged. That just made it worse I started singing louder…

“ Baby I don't understand
Just why we can't be lovers …”

“Mia shut up!”

“Things are getting out of hand
Trying too much, but baby we can't win ….”

By this time my parents and my sister had started shouting out their encouragement. My BF just groaned putting his head in his hands. “Don’t encourage her!” My little sister started singing the chorus as she danced over to me…

“Baby don't misunderstand
What I'm trying to tell ya
In the corner of my mind
Baby, it feels like we are running out of time…”

My bf shook his head back and forth and covered his ears as if he were in pain. When my brother skidded into the room and started singing as well I thought Josh was going to have a coronary. I got up from my chair and stood next to my brother and sister and the three of us launched into N’ Sync’s signature choreography as I continued to sing with them backing me up…

“Let it go
If you want me girl, let me know
I am down on my knees
I can't take it anymore
Tearin' up my heart and soul
We're apart I feel it too
and no matter what I do, I feel the pain
With or without you …”

When we were done my parents broke out into wild applause as we took our bows. My bf sat as if in shock the poor guy didn’t know what to think. ”Mia don’t ever do that again please I beg you.” He finally said. “Keep messing with me big man and so help me God almighty I’ll start singing New Kids on the Block.” I shot back. “You wouldn’t dare!” he barked out. I threw my head back and to sing….

The right stuff
The right stuff
First time was a great time
Second time was a blast
Third time I fell in love
Now I hope it lasts
I can see it in your walk
Tell 'em when you talk
See it in everything you do
Even in your thoughts

You got the right stuff, baby

Labels: family, music

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Posted by @ 8:40 AM
3 comment from:  Goggles Piasano Ritardo,  Mia,  Anonymous,

Saturday, April 12, 2008

Shirley Bassey

I walked into the room to find my mom watching a music video on her computer. She had this WTF?! Look on her face. The song was oddly familiar ….oh snap I know this song!

--Ma is she singing …

-Get The Party Started

--Holy Monkey, she is singing Pink’s song! Who is that?

-Shirley Bassey

--Who?

-Shirley Bassey, the lady that sings Gold fingaaaaaaah !

--Uh okay lady lay off the booze

-This is off her new album can you believe she’s 71?

--She’s 71? Wow she looks fantastic, she’s beautiful.

-God Bless her little septuagenarian soul

--Word

Labels: music, shirley bassey, video

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Posted by @ 10:35 PM
4 comment from:  Anonymous,  Mia,  Anonymous,  Anonymous,

Saturday, December 15, 2007

Free Bird

When I study my focus is so intense I block out everything going on around me with the exception of music. The BF and I have very different tastes in music he’s a lil’ bit county and I’m a little bit (actually alot)alternative rock & roll. I was working on my notes when the BF decided to test the speakers he’d just hooked up in my room. He was using his own play list and although his selection wasn’t too bad it wasn’t inspiring the much needed adrenaline to help me finish writing out the last few paragraphs on the paradoxes of obesity and malnutrition among the poor in this country.

Then THE song came on. As soon as the opening chords came blasting out of my speakers in window rattling volume my head snapped up and a smile slowly spread over my face. “FREE BIRD!!” I yelled out at the top of my lungs and jumped up pumping my fist in the air. Then I started singing along,"If I leave here tomorrow
Would you still remember me? For I must be travelling on, now, 'Cause there's too many places I've got to see...." Between you and me I scared the hell out of the BF. He thought I finally wigged out under the pressure of finals. He just didn't know about my history with that song.

You know how there’s always that one song that makes you lose your friggin’ marbles? For me that song is Free Bird. My boyfriend never knew this about me. So when he witnessed it he looked at me as if I were several kinds of stupid for a brief second . Then the look on his face changed to one of total adoration as he realized it was one of his songs that had made me flip out. I could tell that at that precise moment he fell a little more in love with me. Maybe next week I’ll clue him in that I’m into NASCAR too.

Labels: free bird, music

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Posted by @ 12:38 AM
4 comment from:  Darla,  christina/ohio,  Mia,  Mia,

Tuesday, July 31, 2007

Never underestimate the Boriqua chick or the rhythm embedded in her DNA

I tend to surprise the heck out of people and no it’s not because I hide in dark corners and jump out at them. I surprise people because they have a tendency to underestimate me, especially on the dance floor. People never seem to get the fact that music is my God, my religion. The dance floor is my church and dancing is my spiritual release.

I’m in a Latin club geared to the 30 and up crowd on the floor dancing with a friend when a guy cuts in. The three of us do some salsa, meringue, and even a little bachata. All is good then the DJ throws on some old school free style music. My friend gets off the dance floor because she knows this is all me. I grew up on freestyle. The music is pumping; the DJ is playing a classic,“Maria”. It is time for some serious dancing now. The best way I can describe what freestyle dancing for those unfamiliar with it is that it's a form of hip hop dancing born back in the days when my folks were teens.

I’m guessing that back in his day this was my partner's genre. This song was his jam and he kicked major ass on the floor when it came on. Judging from the look on his face and his body language school was officially in session and he saw himself as the teacher and me as the pupil. He threw some fancy moves my way and I repeated them adding some of my own to the mix. A smile slowly crossed his face as he realized that I knew how to freestyle. He shook his head realizing it wasn't not going to be so easy to impress me on the dance floor. My moves had revealed that I was on equal footing with my so called teacher. It wasn't about teaching now it was about pride... his.

He threw down the challenge and it was on. A crowd gathered around us calling out their encouragement as our steps got more and more complicated each of us trying to out do the other. Step vs step we battle it out our feet moving in a frantic frenzy arms and bodies twisted in ways I’m sure neither God nor evolution had ever intended. At one point he stepped back to watch me dance. He shook his head in disbelief, he jumped in and threw a few more steps my way this time thrusting his chest into mine. I thrust back and do a spin bringing it down to the floor with one hand behind my back. I quickly pop up and shaking my hips end up an inch from his face. I then threw him the coup de grâce; I dusted my shoulders off smiled and gave him a wink. He laughed and finally threw his hands in the air he gave up. He conceded he couldn't keep up with me and sure as hell couldn't beat me. Before leaving the dance floor he bowed to me and kissed my hand. The crowd exploded with applause. Never under estimate the Boriqua chick or the rhythm embedded in her DNA.

Labels: dance, music

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Posted by @ 2:27 PM
5 comment from:  don_veto,  DannieS72,  Mia,  Mia,  DannieS72,

Friday, March 09, 2007

10 Favorite Songs

Jane Had a wonderful “10 Favorite Songs” tag and you know me I love me some music. It was really hard to keep the list at 10 but these are some of the ones that came to mind. Check them out on the mp3…


1. Number 1 Crush- Garbage

2. Missing – Evanescence

3. Simple Kind of Life – No Doubt

4. Taste of Ink – The Used

5. Love Is A Feeling – The Darkness

6. The Space Between- Dave Matthews Band

7. Wicked Little Town- Hedwig and The Angry Inch Soundtrack

8. Origin of Love - Hedwig and The Angry Inch Soundtrack

9. My Place – Cold Play

10. Ghost of You – My Chemical Romance



Update: When I included the MP3 player here I forgot to program it so that it would start manually. It got to be annoying hearing the music everytime I logged on here so and I was too lazy to do over. If you'd like to hear the tracks please click here I've put the MP3 player in a separate entry.

Labels: music, tag

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Posted by @ 9:23 PM
3 comment from:  DannieS72,  Just Jane,  Mia,

Monday, January 01, 2007

Favorite Songs of 2006

Anyone who knows me knows music is my passion. It’s the one thing in this world I can not be without on a daily basis. These are the songs in no particular order that got the most play from me in 2006. If you’re not familiar with them give them a listen…you’ve got nada to lose.


Title: All That I'm Living For
Artist: Evanescence
Album: The Open Door

Title: Anna Molly
Artist: Incubus
Album:Light Grenades


Title: Bailia Reggaeton
Artist: Tego Calderon ft. Yandel


Title:Beast and the Harlot
Artist:Avenged Sevenfold
Album: City of Evil

Title: Believe Me
Artist: Bobo
Album: The Rising Tied


Title: Black Horse and the Cherry Tree
Artist: KT Tunstall
Album:Eye to the Telescope


Title:Caile
Artist: Tito el Bambino
Album: Top of the Line


Title:Call Me When You're Sober
Artist:Evanescence
Album: The Open Door


Title:Cancer
Artist: My Chemical Romance
Album: The Black Parade


Title:Catch My Disease
Artist:Ben Lee
Album: Awake Is the New Sleep


Title: Chasing Cars
Artist: Snow Patrol
Album: Eyes Open


Title:City of Delusion
Artist: Muse
Album: Black Holes and Revelations

Title: Coming Undone
Artist: Korn
Album: See You on the Other Side


Title:Crazy
Artist:Gnarls Barkley
Album: St. Elsewhere


Title: Dani California
Artist:Red Hot Chili Peppers
Album: Stadium Arcadium Disc 1


Title:Dejale Caer te Peso
Artist: Yomo
Album: Sangre Nueva


Title:Dig
Artist:Incubus
Album:Light Grenades


Title:Disenchanted
Artist: My Chemical Romance
Album:The Black Parade


Title: Do It for Me Now
Artist: Angels and Airwaves
Album: We Don't Need to Whisper


Title:Don't Wait
Artist: Dashboard Confessional
Album: Dusk and Summer


Title:Down
Artist: Ken-Y
Album: Masterpiece


Title:Endlessly, She Said
Artist: AFI
Album: Decemberunderground


Title:Enjoy the Silence
Artist: Lacuna Coil
Album: Karmacode


Title: This Aint A Scene, Its An Arms Race
Artist: Fall Out Boy
Album:Infinity on High


Title: Famous Last Words
Artist: My Chemical Romance
Album:The Black Parade


Title:Famous Last Words
Artist: My Chemical Romance
Album: The Black Parade


Title:Faster Kill Pussycat
Artist: Brittany Murphy
Album: A Lively Mind


Title: Fergalicious
Artist: Fergie
Album:The Dutchess


Title:From Yesterday
Artist: 30 Seconds to Mars
Album: A Beautiful Lie


Title: Fully Alive
Artist: Flyleaf
Album:Flyleaf


Title:Get Together
Artist: Madonna
Album: Confessions on a Dance Floor


Title:Going in Blind
Artist: P.O.D.
Album:Greatest Hits: The Atlantic Years


Title:Gold Lion
Artist: Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Album: Show Your Bones


Title:Goodbye for Now
Artist: P.O.D.
Album: Testify


Title: Cupids Chokehold
Artist: Gym Class Heroes
Album: As Cruel As School Children


Title:Hands Down
Artist: Dashboard Confessional
Album:A Mark, A Mission, A Brand, A Scar


Title:High
Artist:James Blunt
Album: Back to Bedlam


Title: Hold Me Down
Artist: Motion City Soundtrack
Album: Commit This to Memory

Title:Hole in the Earth
Artist:Deftones
Album:Saturday Night Wrist


Title:Hurt
Artist: Christina Aguilera
Album:Back To Basics Disc 2


Title: I Don't Love You
Artist: My Chemical Romance
Album: The Black Parade


Title: I Will Follow You into the Dark
Artist: Death Cab for Cutie
Album: Plans


Title:Into the Ocean
Artist: Blue October
Album: Foiled


Title:Is It Any Wonder?
Artist: Keane
Album:Under the Iron Sea


Title:It Ends Tonight
Artist: The All-American Rejects
Album: Move Along


Title: It's Not Your Fault
Artist: New Found Glory
Album: Coming Home


Title: Lacrymosa
Artist: Evanescence
Album: The Open Door


Title:Land of Confusion
Artist: Disturbed
Album: Ten Thousand Fists


Title:Level
Artist: The Raconteurs
Album: Broken Boy Soldiers


Title: Liar (It Takes One to Know One)
Artist: Taking Back Sunday
Album: Louder Now


Title:Like You
Artist: Evanescence
Album: The Open Door


Title:Lying Is the Most Fun a Girl Can Have Without Taking Her Clothes Off
Artist: Panic! at the Disco
Album:A Fever You Can't Sweat Out


Title:Machucando
Artist:Daddy Yankee
Album:Barrio Fino en Directo


Title:Makedamnsure
Artist: Taking Back Sunday
Album: Louder Now


Title:Mama
Artist: My Chemical Romance
Album:The Black Parade


Title: Maneater
Artist:Nelly Furtado
Album:Loose


Title:Me & U
Artist: Cassie
Album: Cassie


Title:Miss Murder
Artist: AFI
Album:Decemberunderground


Title:Move Along
Artist: The All-American Rejects
Album: Move Along


Title: E7sas Gedeed
Artist: Nancy Agram


Title: No Hay Igual
Artist: Nelly Furtado
Album: Loose


Title:Not Ready to Make Nice
Artist: Dixie Chicks
Album: Taking the Long Way


Title:Nothing in My Way
Artist: Keane
Album:Under the Iron Sea


Title: Now That You Got It
Artist: Gwen Stefani
Album:The Sweet Escape


Title:Out of Control
Artist: She Wants Revenge
Album:She Wants Revenge


Title:Pain
Artist: Three Days Grace
Album:One-X


Title:Pam Pam
Artist: Wisin & Yandel
Album:Pa'l Mundo [Deluxe Edition] Disc 2


Title:Photograph
Artist: Nickelback
Album: All the Right Reasons


Title:Prelude 12/21
Artist: AFI
Album: Decemberunderground


Title: Right Where You Want Me
Artist: Jesse McCartney
Album:Right Where You Want Me


Title: Salio el Sol
Artist:Don Omar
Album: King of Kings


Title:Save Room
Artist:John Legend
Album:Misc. Tracks


Title:Say It Right
Artist: Nelly Furtado
Album: Loose


Title: Seize the Day
Artist: Avenged Sevenfold
Album: City of Evil


Title: Snakes on a Plane (Bring It)
Artist: Cobra Starship
Album:Snakes on a Plane


Title: Steady, As She Goes
Artist: The Raconteurs
Album:Broken Boy Soldiers


Title: Stolen
Artist:Dashboard Confessional Album:Dusk and Summer


Title:Suddenly I See
Artist: KT Tunstall
Album: Eye to the Telescope


Title: Sweet Sacrifice
Artist:Evanescence
Album: The Open Door


Title:Talk
Artist: Coldplay
Album: X&Y


Title:Tear You Apart
Artist: She Wants Revenge
Album: She Wants Revenge


Title:Teenagers
Artist: My Chemical Romance
Album: The Black Parade


Title:The Adventure
Artist: Angels & Airwaves
Album:We Don't Need To Whisper


Title:The Ghost of You
Artist: My Chemical Romance
Album: Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge


Title:The Kill
Artist: 30 Seconds to Mars
Album:A Beautiful Lie



Title:The Missing Frame
Artist: AFI
Album:Decemberunderground



Title:The Queen and I
Artist: Gym Class Heroes
Album: As Cruel as School Children



Title:Through Glass
Artist: Stone Sour
Album: Come What(ever) May


Title:Unfaithful
Artist:Rihanna
Album:A Girl Like Me



Title: Welcome to the Black Parade
Artist: My Chemical Romance
Album: The Black Parade


Title: When You Were Young
Artist: The Killers
Album:Sam's Town


Title: Where'd You Go
Artist: Fort Minor
Album:The Rising Tied


Title:White And Nerdy
Artist: "Weird Al" Yankovic
Album:Straight Outta Lynwood


Title: Who Let You Go?
Artist:The Killers
Album:Sam's Town


Title:Wind It Up
Artist:Gwen Stefani
Album:The Sweet Escape



Title:Wings of Butterfly
Artist: Him
Album: Village fm Summer Hits 2006


Title: With You
Artist: The Subways
Album: Young For Eternity


Title:You Are the One
Artist: Shiny Toy Guns
Album:We Are Pilots


Title:You Only Live Once
Artist:The Strokes
Album:First Impressions Of Earth


Title:You're Beautiful
Artist: James Blunt
Album:Back To Bedlam

Labels: music

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Posted by @ 10:22 AM
5 comment from:  christina/ohio,  Nunu-San,  Anonymous,  DannieS72,  Mia,

Saturday, October 21, 2006

A NY State of Mind

Earlier this season I wrote about how especially beautiful New York is during the fall and here’s the proof. I’d like to dedicate this post to my friend The Don who is always in a New York State of mind and currently on a much needed break. Enjoy my friend you are missed.

Labels: fall, music, new york, video

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Posted by @ 2:57 AM
9 comment from:  Laila K,  The Krispy Dixie,  Emory Mayne,  Mia,  Anonymous,  DannieS72,  Anonymous,  Goggles Piasano Ritardo,  2 Second Club ®,

Monday, March 06, 2006

Swing Music

I was helping my brother research a paper on swing music and I played some of my swing music CD’s for inspiration. By the time he was done I was dancing all over the place. It’s hard to listen to swing music and not dance. One of my all time favorite songs is Benny Goodman’s Sing, Sing, Sing simply because of Gene Krupa’s wicked drumming on it. Gene Krupa by the way was the first drummer to ever have a recorded drum solo(1937).

For those of you not familiar with swing music here’s a little bit of it’s history.
Swing music was born in New Orleans during the 1920’s,however Kansas City and New York City contributed extensively to its sound as well. Swing music was also known as swing jazz and later on as Big Band Music but we’ll get into the Big Band thing in the next paragraph.During the 30’s and 40’s Swing Music’s popularity spread to Europe. In Germany, it conflicted with Nazi ideology since it was “black music” and “played by Jews” it was declared officially forbidden by the Nazi regime. In Germany they even had a movement of high school kids called Swing Kids that opposed Hitler. They were a group of jazz and swing lovers that would hold dances and festivals and mock the Nazis, the military and Hitler. They coined the phrase "Swing heil!",mocking the infamous "Sieg Heil!"


Even though Swing Music was at the height of its popularity in the 1940’s it was a watered down version of the music that had been growing in popularity during the 1930’s.As swing music got popular it began to have an influence in culture. The music with its strong rhythms, led to an explosion of creative dance in the African-American community, known as swing dancing.

The second change that occurred as swing music increased in popularity with white people was that racism took over and the musicians were pressured to soften the music down for the white audience who felt the music was “too black” this despite the fact that a lot of the orchestras such as Benny Goodman’s were racially mixed this is when it became Big Band Music.

Eventually Rock and Roll took over and Swing Music/Big Band Music was seen as senior citizen music but good music is hard to forget and during the 90’s swing music began getting popular again with bands like Brian Setzer Orchestra, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy ,Cherry Poppin' Daddies and Squirrel Nut Zippers . All of whom I have seen in person by the way and if you’re into swing music do yourself a favor and check them out.I dare you not to dance when The Squirrel Nut Zippers play "In The Aferlife"

One of my favorite childhood memories involves Swing Music, Cab Calloway to be exact. I was around 5 years old and he was preforming in a local venue. At the time one of my favorite songs was Minnie The Moocher. Don’t ask how I knew the song because even my mom doesn’t know, she figures I probably heard it somewhere and retained the lyrics. My mom had a friend who was some bigwig and scored us VIP seats. I was inches away from the stage. When Mr. Calloway came out and launched into Minnie The Moocher I lost my freaking marbles! As Mr. Calloway did his thing he noticed me singing along with him and dancing and he came over to me and started singing to me. It was sublime!

For your listening pleasure…
Sing, Sing, Sing :: Benny Goodman w/Gene Krupa on drums


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Minnie The Moocher:: Cab Calloway



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In The Mood:: Glenn Miller



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Labels: music

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Posted by @ 1:55 AM
8 comment from:  2 Second Club ®,  Just Jane,  Mia,  christina/ohio,  Emory Mayne,  Mr. Khurram,  Emory Mayne,  Mia,

Friday, December 02, 2005

Instant Karma

For some odd reason when I saw this photo today Lennon’s “Instant Karma” popped into my head.


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Labels: music

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Posted by @ 4:56 PM
3 comment from:  Just Jane,  Emory Mayne,  Mia,