You're Killin' Me, Ho.

In keeping with National Poetry Month, I've taken down to writing poetry. It's awful, so you worry, you won't be getting any here, but I will say this:

Why is the music at the gym so f*ing bad?!!? All the music played in all of the classes pretty much makes me want to have a brain hemmorage. I swear. All I can think is what the f*ing hell are these instructors thinking? I mean, is it not enough for you that you have our undivided attention and a roomful of people who are doing all they can do to follow your lead, but then you have to force us to listen to awful and unnecessarily re-mixed and up-tempo'd club music? How can anyone feel okay about forcing that many people to listen to re-mixed Britney Spears, songs about ho's, hittin' it, and being Fergalicious? Every. Single. Week.

So while I may be an awful poet, maybe the inspiration for all this expression is coming from the torrid world of bad pop music. Maybe this just means I'll become a pop star. Instead of just a really trite excuse for a poet.

My instructors have been asking for suggestions. I believe this is in reference to what areas of the body we should work on. I'm at the point where my primary request is to work on my ears. Any suggestions on what you like to sweat to?

Making Love.

It's official.

After just over a year of deep, deep love, iPod and I have finally taken things one step further. We had a baby.

Isn't he cute? Totally precious.

And SO strong...I took my new baby to the gym the very next day, not certain of how well we would do together and slightly nerveous about my inexperience with such a tiny little gift of joy, but- and this is impartial- WOW. Did baby-love come as a chip off the old block or WHAT!?! I mean, kicking it off with some LL, to Madonna, some Under the Influence of Giants...my baby knew EXACTLY what I like!

Any suggestions for what I should get my new baby? You know how I do love a playlist- tell me what new music is out that I cannot be without!

The Most Romantic Song IS:

Last year I made a fantastic playlist of songs about love.
This year, I'm wondering what would be the best about ROMANCE.
You tell me. Clearly it's nothing I know about. And it's time I romanced iPod.
Happy Valentine's Day, iPod. I sure do still love you.

Strange.

This reminds me of INXS. Remember that video? Or maybe Michael Jackson's "Black and White," only less scary...
Pivitol.

Why is it "regular people" videos assume that regular people are ugly? I know lots of non-famous people, and they are all attractive. Some are disturbingly photogenic. And those who are regular-looking...well, they're still not this fugly.

Harold & Maude.

Harold and Maude is one of my favourite feel-great movies ever. Cat Stevens is one of my favourite songwriters ever. And since I spend most of my life in the car, when I heard that familiar, "ooh, baby, baby it's a wild world," I had a good 4 minutes of loud singing and feeling good going on all along Beach Blvd in Anaheim.

This is my favourite song from the film. But the entire soundtrack is all Cat and it's ALL good. It's about a young man who was given everything but has nothing to live for, and he meets an old woman who lives to value every living thing. It's a beautiful story.
I just don't remember this many car chases.

Other soundtracks worth having? DISH IT. You know how iPod and I love a good mix tape.

Breakups Suck.

Well. They do.
But ultimately, they are really empowering. How do I know this? Because long, long ago, I discovered this song, and it altered my perception on breaking up FOREVER.

http://www.ifilm.com/video/2790939

And for those of you who don't watch videos, it's a duet:

I need a little time
To think it over I need a little space
Just on my own
I need a little time
To find my freedom I need a little...

Funny how quick the milk turns sour
Isn't it, isn't it?
Your face has been looking like that for hours
Hasn't it, hasn't it?
Promises, promises turn to dust
Wedding bells just turn to rust
Trust into mistrust

I need a little room
To find myself
I need a little space
To work it out
I need a little room
All alone I need a little...

You need a little room for your big head
Don't you, don't you
You need a little space for a thousand beds
Won't you, won't you?
Lips that promise - fear the worst
Tongue so sharp - the bubble burst
Just into unjust

I've had a little time
To find the truth
Now I've had a little room
To check what's wrong
I've had a little time
And I still love you
I've had a little...

You had a little time
And you had a little fun
Didn't you, didn't you?
While you had yours
Do you think I had none?
Do you, do you?
The Freedom that you wanted back
Is yours for good
I hope you're glad
Sad into unsad

I had a little time
To think it over
Had a little room
To work it out
I found a little courage
To call it off
I've had a little time
I've had a little time
I've had a little time
I've had a little time

I'm actually a huge proponant of breaking up, because I figure that I don't want to be with someone who has lukewarm feelings about me anyway. I mean, what am I supposed to do? Convince them that I'm awesome? meh. Not really my style. Harangue them into progressing in a relationship that they clearly don't think is worth the effort? Please. Sounds like too much work. I figure if someone isn't stoked enough on being with me to BE WITH ME, why worry about keeping them around? We'll both be better off alone.

Point being, that if someone chooses to put you off after they've already been with you, the real question becomes not "will they take me back?" but "will I want them back after they treated me like old, smelly cheese?" The answer, my friends, is NO. You do not want them back. They knew how good you were when they had you the first time. If they can't deal with that, they don't deserve you the second time.

If you ever break up with someone, I will most definately give you this album and make you listen to the above song carefully. In addition to The Beautiful South's "A Little Time," on The Breakup playlist:

* I will Survive- Gloria Gaynor. A classic.
* Anything but Down and My Favourite Mistake- Sheryl Crowe. That woman has been through some bad relationships. I'm pretty positive "Down" must be about Clapton, but I like to think "Mistake" was about Owen Wilson. *sigh.* They can't all be gems.
* You Had Me- Joss Stone. "Hey, Mister, you'll be missing/out on my love and my kissing/Make your mistakes on your own time/...I don't want you here/messing with my mind."
* Girlfriend- The Beautiful South (originally by Pebbles. Yeah. Outstanding cover. Especially when sung by five men.)

Add to this playlist and we'll have one heck of a good time after you ditch your next loser. Especially if your name is Jake.
I also hope this helps out the harpie who thinks I'm sleeping with her boyfriend. If you have to suspect something, DITCH HIM.

First Times.

People never know who I'm talking about when I say that I would give an appendage to see "The Beautiful South" live. They have been my favourite band since I found their cassette when I was 15. They were my first CD, and they were the first played on my beloved iPod.
sigh.
Sweet memories.

Anway. YouTube has found my delightfully lyrical and sort of weird humoured band, and I couldn't be happier.

Who's your AllTimeMostFavourite-Give-Your-Right-Arm-To-See-Them-Live band? I'd be interested who is standing the test of time. I'm also adding Travis, The Beatles, Madonna, Joss Stone, Amos Lee, and The Beastie Boys. (Of course.)

Kick Out the Jamz.

I was out running with my boyfriend, iPod, and was turning around to head back when suddenly, out of nowhere!, Kenny Loggins hollered at me:
Dig way down in your heart, you're yearning, burning for some- somebody to tell you that life ain't passing you by! I'm trying to tell you it will if you don't even try. You can fly if you'd only cut loose, footloose! Kick off your Sunday shoes!
And do you know what I did? Well I just kept on runnin'. Yes, sir. That is EXACTLY what I did for another mile or so- just cuttin' loose. FOOTLOOSE.

It's like when I run and all of a sudden, I think, "Yes! YES!!! We ARE a part of The Rhythm Nation!" (Thank you, Miss Janet-If-You're-Nasty.) And then I noticed the inordinate amount of LL Cool J on my Dance, Dance Revolution playlist (which I also like to run to, and sometimes maybe wave my arms around and sing along), and I wondered:
What's on YOUR Kick Out The Jams playlist? What makes you want to cut loose, footloose? What knocks Mama out?
Feel free to post as many suggestions as often as you like. There's nothing I like more than sharing a new playlist with iPod!

Music is Better Than Food.

The Feeling: Never Be Lonely.

I like everything about these fellows.* They're younger, thinner, and more European than I am, so therefore, they are my new favourite band. I am kicking myself for not having the cash to get their CD. So if they're on tour near you, do us both a favour. Buy the album, get it signed, and hug each and every one of these boys for me. They prove that outstanding music and the art of performance still exists in this world of manufactured "hits."
www.myspace.com/thefeeling http://www.thefeeling.co.uk/
I'm not even kidding you. I streamed their online clips for six hours straight, and keep doing that for a few hours every day since the concert. O! You damned ATM card with the faulty magnetic strip!!! My fast-food-excuse-for-a-meal was NOTHING compared to THE FEELING.

*Jack Bauer thinks they're f*ing fantastic. And he has promised to kill anyone who disagrees. I swear. I was there. In the velvety-red room upstairs of House of Blues. You can read about it in THE FEELING's blog.

There have been some outstanding shows this year. Live music is so much better when the artist understands the art of performance. Par example- Alyson LOVES Jack Johnson, so we waited to see him in SanDiego's Street Scene. About 10 minutes in, Jack was so boring we ditched out to hit the Foo Fighters. I danced so hard I lost my sunglasses. And I didn't even care. THAT is how hot the Foo do rock.

Other fantastic shows I will always try and hit:
Joss Stone www.jossstone.com
Amos Lee www.amoslee.com
Isaac Hayden www.myspace.com/isaachayden.com
Oasis (yeah- how lucky am I?!?!) www.oasisnet.com
Matt Nathanson www.mattnathenson.com

Still kicking myself for missing:
Under the Influence of Giants www.utiog.com BIG TIME.
OKGO www.okgo.net
Gwen Stefani www.gwenstefani.com

Obviously I have my favourites who haven't even been close to coming my way, so they're not listed. So. Go ahead. Tell me what else I'm missing. I know Broek, Bree, Veeda & Brendan, Caroline, Isaac, Katie, Alyson and Dainon will have amazing suggestions. Listen to them and O- be wise.

My Day.

Krista always tells me she wonders what is going on in my head. Actually, a few people have wondered.

Want to know what my world is like? It's like this:



Exactly like this.

*My mom actually sewed a gold dress for prom and I wore it with my yellow Chucks.
Thank you for understanding me, Lily Allen. Thank you.

Your turn. Post your favourite video- I'm so out of the loop- I haven't seen Mtv in years, and am still struggling with the acceptance of finally being in the VH1 demographic...rather unsettling.

So far, I'm mad about OKGO music videos on YouTube, and the band I can't stop listening to is THE FEELING. And if anyone can tell me how to post an actual video instead of all these unattractive links, blog and I would really appreciate it.

Getting Lucky-

A few years ago, I saw a "St Patrick's Day" card at a friend's house. I didn't know people actually CELEBRATED St Patrick's Day, and he informed me that it was, "bigger than Christmas." I called my grandmother later and she said, "Farrah- YOU celebrate St Patrick's Day! We're Irish!" She then began listing all the things that should have been clues to my heritage:

• corned beef and cabbage.
• the 4 leaf clover patch
• green eggs for breakfast
• Grampa's obsession with Ireland

You would think I should have caught on. Maybe being the only Asian in the house threw me off a littlebit. We may never know. Suffice to say, NOW I celebrate St Patty's with purpose.

So, as we approach this year's "Get Lucky" party, I am trying to come up with playlists for '007. So far, all I've got are "Luck be a Lady"-Sinatra, "Lucky Star"-Madonna, and a few others from my iTunes list. So if you know
of any other songs about luck, fortune, the Irish, Colin Farrell, the colour green, or getting drunk, let me know. Post your songs for the "Getting Lucky" playlist. iPod and I will thank you for it.

And then, come and celebrate on the 17th with the annual "Get Lucky" party.

*is anyone else getting major icks from the way Sir Sean is looking at me? ew.