Amazing! Simply Amazing!

Something I came across while perusing through NPR's All Songs Considered Blog, by Bob Boilen.  This music video is quite post-worthy all on its own, but it was also reminiscent of my most recent visit to my GF's place of residence.  She took me to a local park that was absolutely beautiful. This reminded me of that beautiful moment with her.

Enjoy!

Song 2 of the day: "Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring" - J.S. Bach
 

Damn you, Nick Hornby! Why do you have to be so right?!!!

I heard this song a while back and I've been meaning to comment about it here, but alas, I've been sidetracked multiple times.

Well, not today.

Anyhoo...this is probably the most honest story I've heard in a very long time. And the saddest.

What do you think?

Song of the day: "From Above" - Ben Folds and Nick Hornby

Music and the mind

 Ok, remember a few posts back when I featured Ms. Melody Gardot in my "Song of the day" portion?  Well, just recently, I came across an article that was featured in my school's website and it focused around Ms. Gardot and one of my professors, Dr. Jermyn, who had a hand in helping her to rehabilitate after an unfortunate accident that happened to her a few years ago. Shortly put, Ms. Gardot was hit by an SUV, which left her in chronic pain and other debilitating sequelae.  After exhaustive treatments with drugs, physical therapy, etc. with many doctors, Dr. Jermyn finally suggested that she should restart what she used to do for fun as part of her rehab program, which was playing the piano.  Sure enough, it helped her to heal, and in a big way too, since she's now a very accomplished jazz performer and recording artist.

Here's the school link and the Elle link as well.  It's called "Composing Melody: The Enigmatic Melody Gardot."

Hope you likes.

Song of the day: "Over The Rainbow" - Melody Gardot

...like you didn't see this coming.

Food for thought

I'm sure everybody knows by now about the BP eco-disaster in the gulf of Mexico. I figured I'd share this little parody clip courtesy of the Upright Citizens Brigade to illustrate how poorly this catastrophe was handled by BP and how ridiculous its actions are in containing the oil spill in the eyes of the public.

"BP Spills Coffee" - Upright Citizens Brigade

On a side note, the guy who cut his hair and threw it at the spill is John Frusciante, a former member of Possible Side Effects, a college long form improv based in Montclair, NJ and was one of my teachers when I took long form improv lessons with them back in the day. And now, he's on TV. =)

So to sum up: BP = F***ed. Very F***ed.

P.S. Run summary for the day...
Date: 06/10/10
Distance: 3.30 miles
Time: 35:47 (30:31 @ mile 3)
Pace: 10'51" per mile
Calories: 371
Weight: ? lbs (did I forget to mention that I don't own a scale?)
Short-term Goal: Advance to 4 miles running.
Long-term Goal: lose 15 lbs.

P.P.S.
Did some random running with my nephew last week too. Not timed, but about 4ish miles. Kept up with him considering he's 14 years old and weigh 20 lbs lighter than me.

Song of the day: "How Come" - Ray LaMontagne

A hint of truth?

I'm on nights now for Ob-Gyn. It's been very quiet. Lots of laboring moms, but sadly no babies to deliver yet. My attending tonight is a nice hipster doctor who has a very tongue-in-cheek personality with the wit to match.
So here she was tonight, looking mighty green in the face (she's blaming her husband for catching this stomach bug of hers, since he had it this past Friday and was also violently ill for 24 hours), and about a dash away from tossing her cookies. Amidst bouts of nausea, her husband calls to check up on her. Slightly miffed and in no mood to talk, she kindly dismisses him...understandable, coming from a person who's getting ready to yak. She says, "I love that man, but he sure does have shitty timing."
Then she turns to me and asks, "Are you married/ have a girlfriend?"
Of course, I give my polite and customary "No," to which she responds, "Good. Keep it that way."
So like a good medical student, I ask why, feeling that this is a set-up to a punchline.
As soon as I finished my question, a stream of curses fly out from one of the laboring mothers' rooms, to which my attending woefully answered: "Because women are insane." Then she got quiet for a second and said "But men are stupid, so in the end it's all perfect."

Fair enough.

Song of the day: "Me and Mrs. Jones" - Billy Paul

Musical theme

OK, I realized today that I have a crapload of articles to read (and I don't mean Maxim or GQ), but I had to post this one before it disappears from my mind forever.

So it seems that I've had this theme going on about songs that evoke unpleasant memories of late.  Well, today, on my way to work, I got WXPN blaring on the radio and Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings were being featured on the show.  For those of you who don't know SJ/DK and are fans of just good ol' stick-to-your-ribs kick ass music, she and her band are a must-check-out for all y'all. I made a link for those interested. Anyways, her new album is out and I heard lots of high praises about it, so this might very well be my next online purchase.  Tonight, as I head to the library for some more late night studying, SJ/DK were once again, the topic of conversation on another radio station.  So far so good.  Then they play one of the songs from her new album, and that just made my whole night completely.  Not only was it just a solid song with amazing vocals and the musical chops to match, but the message is just so blatantly clear and solid, it was like a good slap in the face that just brings you back to your senses.  After a few weeks of being in a funk and being reminded of the Ex by any little ol' ditty, I think Sharon's song helped snap me out of it all.

So to Sharon and the band, wherever you folks are, thank you.  God bless.

Song of the day: "Better Things" - Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings


That's right.  I see you bobbin' and bouncing to this song. G'head witcha bad self.

Change of pace

Week 4 of surgery rotation: over.  This week was a fairly light load pretty enjoyable.  My resident was very cool and down-to-earth.  Between the 2 of us, we were quoting up random comedy movies...it was like hanging out w/ old buddies back in High School.  Eerie. Pleasantly eerie.

Anyways, once dismissed, I headed to the library for a little light review, then it was off to a very local venue (the Loft - Audubon, NJ) where my friend, Sam, and his band, Romance Is Born (F***ing Awesome name for a band, BTW), were holding a CD release party along w/ 2 other associate bands.  They were all good, but of course, I have to cheer on my buddy.  He plays a Rickenbacher Jazz Guitar that sounded absolutely sweet tonight. RIB's songs definitely had plenty of pop elements to offer, but it's their solid indie rock sensibilities that kept the sound true and far from saccharine.  The lyrics are deceptively simple, something that any guy or girl that has ever gone through love and loss, especially in their formative years, can relate to. However, it was in the band's ability to deliver their songs with gritty sincerity, laden with thick passion as can only be brought on by late nite musings about the heavy subject of romance (whether coming into or falling out of) that gave their sound real weight, enough to knock you upside your head and grab your attention.
What's even cooler, was all the money they get from CD sales go to their charity, The Arc of New Jersey! Talented AND generous! A class act, through and through.
Check out the links I put up and show them some love.

Meanwhile, I was sonically taking all of it in from the audience side, as well as taking band pics with my new camera =).


 

 

 

 

 



Song of the day: "I Got Time" - Romance Is Born