From This Moment - Shania Twain

Generally speaking, I like Shania Twain. She is a remarkable musician and artist, and a lovely lady, and she knows how to ride horses while singing duets with Lionel Richie.

As wedding songs go, this is the one I have performed more frequently than any other.  It is also one of the most codependent songs ever.  (EVER.)

I live only for your happiness,
and for your love I'd give my last breath...
My dreams came true because of you...
There is nothing I wouldn't give...
Your the reason I believe in love...
All we need is just the two of us...

Mix in the three ascending key changes and you have the makings of the music for a Lifetime Television movie, complete with tissues.

Happy listening!

Shania Twain – From This Moment On

I Can't Help Falling In Love With You - Ingrid Michaelson

More wedding music!

There are a big handful of excellent songwriters, an array of wonderful and talented singers, and a number of gifted poets; only very, very rarely do you find someone who is all three of these things. In my opinion, Ingrid Michaelson is one of those rare few.

What she does with this very classic song is something completely different, yet so much the same; she makes beautiful music by making the song completely her own, and treating it as if she was the first and last person to ever sing it. And if she were, many of us would die happy and satisfied that it couldn't be done better than this.

Happy listening!

Ingrid Michaelson – Can't Help Falling In Love (Recorded Live at Daytrotter)

Grow Old With Me - Mary Chapin Carpenter

So I am searching for wedding music for an upcoming matrimony, and I thought this would be a great theme - wedding music!

This is actually a really lovely song, great text, and lovely sentiment. (Although it could get cheesy pretty quickly...)

Carpenter was one of a handful of folk artists that emerged in the 80's, and is one of the very few that achieved some level of recognition. Still active as a songwriter and performer, she released her latest album "Ashes and Roses" earlier this year.

Happy listening!

Mary Chapin Carpenter – Grow Old With Me

Ornithology - Charlie Parker

I was introduced to jazz (REALLY introduced) by a college friend who was an amazing saxophonist. She would share these wonderful,  tragic stories about jazz legends and would let me listen to recordings of their playing.

One of these musicians was Charlie Parker, a musician known for his influence in shaping Bebop, a rattling heroin addiction, and his skill at the sax. (An avid student of classical music, Parker was also a fan of Igor Stravinsky.)

Happy listening!

Charlie Parker – Ornithology (Live - Storyville)

Let's Have a Kiki - Scissor Sisters

I had not, at this point last year, developed a deep love for the Scissor Sisters, I had listened to them occasionally over the years and have watched them from afar. For some reason, I just hadn't been able to get excited about them, even though many of my friends adored this NYC-based glam rock band.

But then their last album, Magic Hour, came out and I finally got it. As a professor was fond of reminding me, "Never overlook the obvious." This is music that reminds me of Elton John and the Bee Gees - music that just makes you feel like dancin'...

Happy listening!

Scissor Sisters – Let's Have A Kiki

Forgiveness - The Local Strangers

Thanks to a share by a friend of mine, I got to hear/see this Youtube video by the Seattle-based alt-Americana ensemble, Local Strangers. This was a great rendition of Patti Griffin's "Forgiveness" that they recorded amidst the Redwoods of California while touring the West Coast.

While studio recording can artfully craft sound into a flawless product, this video reminds us that live music making is uniquely experiential.

Enjoy this.  I sure did.