Jukebox XVII

GAME ON!!! I am an really competitive person. I can remember playing Tetris with Hanssie when we were dating and she would always be SO cocky and arrogant when she won...I would have to destroy her for a few days, just to keep her in check (we ultimately stopped playing video games together, for obvious reasons). Anyway, a few friends of mine have begun a competition to see who can develop the best habits.

A very brief overview of the game is this, we get points for consuming under our 'goal' for calories, for sleeping 7 hours a day (my biggest area of weakness), for drinking 3 liters of water a day, for developing a good habit, for stopping a bad habit and for communicating with the people in the game. There is also an overall goal that if you are tracking every week, you get a bonus. This is my motivation for working out the past few weeks. And I have found it very hard to get this 20 minute workout in every day. So, I have resorted to taking runs with Bentley after dark.

Anyway, here is my game on work out list. I will warn you this is not a random shuffle. I put 6 CDs on my iPod and am random shuffling through those 6 CDs. The CDs are:

The Band Perry by The Band Perry
Hemingway's Whiskey by Kenny Chesney
Charleston, SC 1966 by Darius Rucker
Speak Now by Taylor Swift
The Incredible Machine by Sugarland
My Kinda Party by Jason Aldean

1. Postcard From Paris The Band Perry

The is my favorite cut from this CD (I don't know why I even said that, my favorite is definitely bound to change). I can't put my finger on why I like this band. Maybe their music just resonates with me. Whatever it is, this CD is in my car and it is on all the time. Well, besides the Jason Aldean CD...

2. Hip to My Heart The Band Perry

The first release off the CD, it is ok!

3. Every Girl Like Me Sugarland

I really like Sugarland, but I am not feeling this CD yet. I listened to Love on the Inside and I was sold on 10 of the records. This CD has been slow to catch my attention. Having said that, I like this song. 


4. I Got Nothin' Darius Rucker

I was cleaning the car one day and decided to give this CD a real good listening to. I need that one song to hook me, and Darius had that song Let Her Cry from his Hootie days (a special live version is on this CD). Anyway, that got me and I have been hooked on Charleston ever since. His first CD was really good and this one is a good follow up. Although, I don't think there are as many hits in this group (listen to me drawing conclusions like I am a music critic...and I am not through apparently).


5. Better Than Revenge Taylor Swift

Playing Tim McGraw to Tim McGraw a few years ago was priceless. I loved how raw and innocent she was. I liked Taylor Swift, I loved Fearless, I am torn on Speak Now. What I am certain about? I don't like this song. As a cute 16 year old, the bitterness and vindictiveness is a little more tolerable (I mean, not for my daughter, but for her), but as a 20 year old trying to be an adult...try being better at singing!


6. Seven Days Kenny Chesney

I like Boys of Fall, but this is the song that hooked me on the CD...the jury is still out on the rest of the disc!


7. Just Passing Through Jason Aldean

The more I hear Jason, the more I like him. I really wanted to see him last year at a festival in Lake Elsinore, but somehow missed the show. I don't think he comes out this far west often...

Jukebox XV

I had a goal to be ready for a Triathlon on July 25th. The day has come and gone...the event done. I plan to blog about it soon...but for now, I will just blog the songs I listened to on my last run. I have only been on 4 since the event...probably the heat, or the lack of a goal. Either way, I need to get back out riding and running again...hopefully, this post will provide me with the motivation.

1. What The Deal Boyz II Men

The year is 2000. Boyz II Men are about 4 years past their popularity. Hanssie and I get tickets to see them at some baseball field in Rancho Cucamonga (sidenote: if your concert is in Rancho Cucamonga...you're probably not an "A-lister" anymore). Anyway, a few interesting events happened that night...a.) the opening act was O-Town...I think they were the band from "Making the Band"...I'm not really sure, anyway...they were a completely 'pre-fabricated' band. BIIM in their biography ripped 'pre-fabricated' bands. It was ironic, hilarious, hypocritical...the best part of the night. b.) You go to see Boyz II Men to hear...End of the Road, I'll Make Love to You, and On Bended Knee live. All three of the songs were (I am convinced) made popular by Mike McCrary's incredibly deep vocals - he is the guy who talks on their popular tracks. His vocals literally make the song Ooh Aah. But, I digress...we arrived early...been a Boyz fan since 1992...loved them...went to a bunch of their concerts. The time begins to melt away...I mean it is sunny when we arrived, and now it is dark...the concert was in November I think...and it was getting chilly. We were two hours past the concert starting and we hadn't even seen the opening act, let alone O-Town. Three hours in and we decided to leave. We were pushing 9 or 10pm...not one of the acts had even touched the stage. I was very bummed...anyway, this song was on the CD that was released around the time of that concert. The CD has a Spanish vibe to it...this is my favorite track.

2. Fun Fun Fun The Beach Boys

I spent a lot of time driving the San Bernardino Mountains with my dad as a kid. He owned a construction company and we would drive from job to job. The radio was always on. We were either listening to sports talk radio (no wonder I love sports) or listening to a tape (yes it was a few years ago). The tapes that he had: a.) Alleluia, a compilation of hymns, prayers and testimonies. This was always odd to me, mostly because my dad was never a super spiritual guy. He always wanted us in church, and we kind of regularly went when I was a kid...but I never saw him read his Bible or pray; b.) Alabama, Roll On. To further illustrate my point, when Roll On would come on there is a line that says, "the man upstairs was listening when mama asked him to bring daddy home again"...and I always thought they had some guy in their house who was upstairs. I wasn't used to the phrase 'man upstairs' used in reference to God; c.) The Beach Boys. I don't know the tape, probably a Greatest Hits...but songs that have stuck with me were on it; God Only Knows, When I Grow Up, Don't Worry Baby, California Girls, and Fun Fun Fun...great memories.

3. Come On Get Higher Sugarland

Mac is in love with Sugarland. Well, so am I. The summer of 2008 we spent every day together and we spent most of those days listening to this CD. This song was originally done by Matt Nathanson...I've heard that it is amazing. We have grown bored with music on the radio so we are back to listening to CDs and Mac requests this CD every time. The other day, she was looking through the booklet singing a long with the lyrics...it was amazingly cute.

4. Peaches & Cream 112

During my Boyz II Men phase, I was always on the look out for the next band that would be like them. I was always disappointed. Jodeci was awesome...mostly because of the talent of K-Ci and JoJo...those boys could flat out blow. Their version of Stevie Wonder's Lately was spectacular...I can remember listening to the single over and over and over...might have wore the thing out. Dru Hill was decent but that's it, their biggest song came when Sisqo left the group and was a one hit wonder. Blackstreet was ok too, they had one song that I loved and was my favorite song for a long time - Before I Let You Go. Az Yet was good, but only if they had Babyface writing for them, or if they borrowed songs from Chicago. But, 112 was legit...they were Puff Daddy's (I have no idea what he is called anymore) discovery. They had BIG and Ma$e on their tracks...I liked their first CD a lot. This was the only redeemable song from the second album.

5. November Rain Guns 'N Roses

Stephanie Seymour...enough said!!!

6. In Da Club 50 Cent

7. It Won't Be Like This For Long Darius Rucker

Sappy songs about dads and their daughters get to me. And this is the one that gets to me the most. I am a big fan of Darius...he has a good voice, and his records are really catchy. This song totally reminds me of Mac, and brings up a lot of great memories.

8. Love The Way You Lie Eminem feat. Rihanna

My brother reminds me a lot of Eminem. They both are kind of skinny white kids who probably grew up hanging out with the wrong crowd. They both have a lot of anger...and they both have struggled with addiction. Anyway, this song is exactly how I pictured everyone of my brothers relationships growing.

Jukebox VI

It has been a while...I know that...and I realize that a couple of these songs are duplicates. The reason for repeating some of the songs is that they resonate with me. I am hung up on the James Taylor song and I have been getting back to my country roots.

1. Fire and Rain ~ James Taylor

I've seen fire and I've seen rain, I've seen sunny days that I thought would never end, I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend, But I always thought that I'd see you again

I love the chorus...these lyrics speak to me!

2. She's Country ~ Jason Aldean

I am a big fan. This particular song is fun and I dig it.

3. Drift Away ~ Dobie Gray

Give me the beat, boys, and free my soul...I want to get lost in your rock n roll and drift away!

4. It Won't Be Like This For Long ~ Darius Rucker

I think I have written here in the past that I like Hootie and the Blowfish...in case you didn't know, Darius was the lead singer for Hootie. Anyway, I digress...I really like him as a solo artist and I really like his voice. Two songs...it might be time to pop for the CD.

5. Clothes Off ~ Gym Class Heroes

I have no idea what type of music this is...maybe rap, maybe punk...definitely a little bubblegum. Anyway...I like the song...it is catchy...and it has one hilarious line...

"Oh I'm sorry, my name is Travee and I'm pretty much a big deal, Oh, you've never heard of me, That sounds absurd to me"

6. Chicken Fried ~ Zac Brown Band

I know...there has to be one song that my daughter loves...and this one is it. Every time it comes on the radio she calls it "Chicken Fry"...she tries to find it on my phone...and I get to talk with her about her alphabet and spelling...see using an iPhone can be educational!

7. Piece of Me ~ Britney Spears

Ok, so I should have said that this was the song that Mac liked. Anyway...this song is a shout out to Cean - he was our wedding photographer and is a good friend of ours.

8. I Remember ~ Kenny Chesney

No jukebox post would be complete without a KC song. He is amazing...I can't wait until summer. We have not decided which concert to see (he is at Stagecoach in Indio - unfortunately the same weekend as the Festival of Books - the only day that I allow myself on the campus of UCLA, or in Vegas, or in San Francisco), either way...he puts on a great show...and this is a GREAT song!

My Jukebox II...

Here is my iPhone playlist for this week...

1. All Summer Long - Kid Rock

Ok, credit Kenny Chesney with this song - I am big fan of his song Summertime and this jam by Kid Rock reminds me of that song. Plus, it sounds like something from the 70s and 80s.

2. Far Away - Nickelback

Didn't I say that I was sappy about these types of songs?

3. Don't Think I Don't Think About It - Darius Rucker

Ok, I am a closet Hootie and the Blowfish fan...

4. How Do You Want It - Tupac feat. K-Ci and JoJo

I love Pac - I Get Around is one of my favorite songs of all-time. Jodeci is one of my favorite bands of all-time - so I love their collaboration!

5. Better As A Memory - Kenny Chesney

This song is about a guy telling a girl - I am not a guy for the long haul. I am better as a memory than I am in real life. Sometimes, I feel like this...

6. Now That We're Done - 112

I just love the blend of these guys voices...did I mention that I am a huge R&B fan? Boyz II Men are #3 on my list of favorite artists - Kenny Chesney and Sugarland are #1 and #2 respectively.


7. Photograph - Def Leppard

I am a sucker for 80s rock. This could have been any song from Hysteria...

8. She Goes All The Way - Rascal Flatts feat. Jaime Foxx

Very interesting blend of vocals - Gary and Jaime make some really good sound together. The content may be a little questionable, but that may be true of all of these songs...