Wishin' and Hopin'

A tight playlist in preparation for a happy occasion. It can't come soon enough!

Agent Orange - Depeche Mode

Dead Man Walking - David Bowie

Death Comes Calling - Everlast

When That Man Is Dead and Gone - Mildred Bailey *

Ding Dong the Witch Is Dead - from The Wizard of Oz

No One Mourns the Wicked - Broadway Cast of Wicked

I’m So Excited - Le Tigre

It's Such a Good Feeling - Daniel Knox

Happy Days are Here Again - Barbra Streisand

At Last - Etts James

Finally - Florist

Dead and Bloated - Stone Temple Pilots

Dead and Buried - Alien Sex Fiend

Dead and Gone - Ozzy Osbourne

Maggot - Amyl and the Sniffers

No Peace for the Wicked - Rory Gallagher

Feeling Good - Nina Simone

Good Times - Chic

Happy - Johnny Mathis

Celebration - Kool & the Gang

Joy - Sean Hayes

Good Times - Journey

Celebration Day - Led Zeppelin

Happy - George Michael

Freedom - Rage Against the Machine

Joy - George Winston

Gone for Good - The Shins

I Forgot That You Existed - Taylor Swift 

(Lyrically the titles don't fit the theme, but the titles most certainly do, as do the joyous feelings that accompany each song.)

* This song is perfect for the now - life in a world where he is still alive, where I daydream of a day when that man is dead and gone.

Amy's Bond Dream

Ha! I came across this old text message from Amy:

1st Day of Summer Playlist

Here's my version for me of the mix I made for Bishop in 2014:

We Used to Be Friends - The Dandy Warhols

You Just Haven't Earned It Yet, Baby - The Smiths

Us - Regina Spektor

Rumour Has It - Adele

Rio - Duran Duran

Let the Music Play - Shannon

Run Fast - The Julie Ruin
Baby Be Mine - Michael Jackson

Body Movin' - Beastie Boys

Love Song - VanVelzen

I'm Afraid of Me - Culture Club

You Dropped a Bomb on Me - The Gap Band

Modern Love - David Bowie

Fresh - Kool & the Gang
Cruel Summer - Bananarama

I Need Your Lovin' - Teena Marie
If You Leave - OMD

Snow Leopard Cult

Hello - Johnny Mathis

Masculinity - Lucky Love

I Can't Help It - Andy Gibb & Olivia Newton-John

Looking for the Holes - Ani DiFranco

I Keep Forgettin' - Michael McDonald

Heart to Heart - Kenny Loggins

Lose Control - Teddy Swims

End It On This - No Doubt

I'm Gonna Get You - Bizarre Inc

25 or 6 to 4 - Chicago

Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show - Neil Diamond

Cloudbursting - Kate Bush

Silver Springs - Fleetwood Mac

Lay All Your Love On Me - ABBA

I'm Not Your Second Choice - Jeffreymixed

What's Happening Brother - Marvin Gaye

Someday We'll All Be Free - Donny Hathaway

Blue Lights - Gus Glasser

Laughter in the Rain - Neil Sedaka

Star - Mitski

Lazarus - David Bowie

Black Moonlight - Duran Duran

Once In A Lifetime - Deer Tick

You're the First, the Last, My Everything - Barry White

Tell It to My Heart - Taylor Dayne

Do It Baby - The Miracles

Breathe - China Soul

Nessun Dorma - Jonathan Tetelman

(First mix of 2024!)

Bowie Puzzle

Bella and I picked up this puzz when we were in Newport. I think there are more in the series and I kinda feel like I just have to have them!

(artwork by Kev Gahan)

Ask Someone (Amy)

In what part of the world do you imagine me being the happiest?

Ireland

What would you use to lure me into a trap?

a large bearded man

In a perfect world, who would I end up marrying?

animal and movie lover, generous, funny, good-looking is a bonus, intelligent -OR- David Bowie

What is your favourite moment we've shared?

UB40 at The Mann and trip to Chicago

What name do you think suits me better than my own?

Lola

What things remind you of me?

octopuses, stickers. Band Aids, Mini Coopers, Fancy cigarettes, Ani DiFranco

What do you hope I will always remember about you?

That I was a good friend.

My answers for Amy:

In what part of the world do you imagine me being the happiest?

I think you are happy with where you live, although I would personally prefer you to live in South Jersey. Maybe swap out the old place on Oxford for the 519 house.

What would you use to lure me into a trap?

Front row tickets to the Stones with optional back stage access.

In a perfect world, who would I end up marrying?

Donald Glover came to mind because he's handsome, not afraid to be silly, is talented, likes music and seems fun and outgoing. 

What is your favourite moment we've shared?

The infamous floaters moment all those years ago, playing on the driveway at the old house on Goodwin, dancing in your mother's lingerie to Cyndi Lauper, and any time we've met up to see classic movies on the big screen: Rocky, Jaws, White Christmas, and Road House.

What name do you think suits me better than my own?

Holly Rebecca

What things remind you of me?

Rolling Stones, recycling, Oreo's, GTOs, farms, Star Wars, football and anything Philadelphia Eagles, B. B. King, The Blues Brothers, hegemony, Stephen King, Jaws, raisins in cookies, floaters, dinosaurs (we heart brachiosaurus/brontosaurus), turgid, and Squishmallows.

What do you hope I will always remember about you?

That through the decades and gaps in time where we would see one another, we have always come back together with complete ease and that I have always considered you to be more than just a bestie. You've been my constant.

Jax Sings Bowie

This video from June of 2017 showcases Jackson's abundant cuteness.

Absolute Horror

Music Buttons

Star

David Bowie - New Killer Star
Linda Scott - I've Told Ev'ry Little Star
Radiohead - Black Star
Frank Sinatra - Corcovado
Charlie Parker - Star Eyes
Everything But The Girl - Two Star
Covenant - Dead Stars
Depeche Mode - The Darkest Star
Oasis - Rock n Roll Star
Django Reinhardt - Stardust
The Carpenters - Superstar
Marilyn Manson - Antichrist Superstar
Mediaeval Babes - Star of the Sea
Harry Chapin - Shooting Star
Hole - Rock Star
Madonna - Little Star
Portishead - Wandering Star
Bob Thompson - Star Fire
Diasan - Star

April 11th, 2006

Quarantine

Paula Cole - Carmen
Depeche Mode - Halo
Ani DiFranco - Diner
Jill Scott - Honey Molasses
Barenaked Ladies - Call and Answer
The Skyliners - Since I Don't Have You
Joni Mitchell - California
Ewan McGregor - Gimme Danger
David Bowie - Ziggy Stardust
Jewel - Morning Song
Madeleine Peyroux - No More
Jamiroquai - Love Foolosophy
Kim Carnes - Bette Davis Eyes
Loretta Lynn - Out of My Head & Back in My Bed
Donna Summer - Last Dance
The June Spirit - If Kenneth Could Speak
Anoushka Shankar - Hamsadhwani Tabla Duet
Lou Reed - Perfect Day
Morrissey - Swallow on My Neck
Bruce Springsteen - Badlands 
Tori Amos - Beauty Queen/Horses

19 April 2005

Stink

David Bowie - Young Americans
Til Tuesday - Voices Carry
Alien Ant Farm - Smooth Criminal
Bush - Mouth (Stingray mix)
Otis Redding - Dock of the Bay
Gipsy Kings - Hotel California
King Harvest - Dancing in the Moonlight
Pearl Jam - Smile
Ani DiFrance - Cradle and All (live)
Clint Black - Like the Rain
Nirvana - Molly's Lips
Aimee Mann - Save Me
Jamiroquai - Corner of the Earth 
Lionel Richie - Running with the Night
Gladys Knight and the Pips - Midnight Train to Georgia
Big Mama Thornton - Hound Dog
Blind Melon - Change

11 October 2001

Happy Halloween 2004

When October comes around I always break out my Halloween Cerpts mix as well as A Dark Forest Halloween to really get me in the mood for the upcoming holiday. Check out this stupendous tracklist!

Intro - Vincent Price
Halloween - Heywood Banks
Please Mr. Gravedigger - David Bowie
Coolest Little Monster - Zacherley
With Her Head Tucked Underneath Her Arm - Kingston Trio
The Headless Horseman - Kay Starr
White Zombie - The Joel Shaw Orchestra
Witches Witches Witches - Andrew Gold
Little Jack O'Lantern - The Dead Elvi
Happy Halloween - Zacherley
Ghoul A Go-Go - Jonny Chan
Annabel Lee - Marianne Faithful
Spooky Old Graveyard - Creepy Clyde
Old Woman All Skin & Bones - The Folktellers
Mysterious Mose - Harry Reser & His Radio All Stars
Loch Ness - Dr. Macdoo
Monster Movie Ball - Spike Jones
The Mad Witch - Dave Gardner
Popeye the Gravedigger - Zacherley
Grim Grinning Ghosts - Thurl Ravenscroft
Spider Baby - Lon Chaney, Jr.
Halloween Spooks - Lambert, Hendricks, & Ross
Here Comes the Bride (of Frankenstein) - Elvira & the B-52's
Werecow - Flippy T. Fishhead
Let There Be Fright! - Doctor Shock
The Wobblin' Goblin - Rosemary Clooney
The Goo Goo Muck - Ronnie Cook
I Want My Baby Back - Jimmy Cross
Spiderman Lullaby - Zacherley
Outro - Vincent Price

On Bowie

I bought this in July of 2016 and am only just now cracking it open. Like all of Rob Sheffield's books, it's engrossing and moving and truly a wonderful read. I'm loving every word on every page.

(post script - I really liked the introduction of this book, which was when I wrote the above post, but it soon went downhill and I gave up on it completely at page 44. The book started to feel very rushed. I originally received the book in the mail and thought it felt like a cheap textbook and that the cover was super cheesy. The fact of the matter is the book was rushed. It reads like the first draft of a book that no one bothered to re-read to check for errors, spruce up, re-word or re-work anything. This book needed editing and several re-writes. There were so many things that were incorrect. David Bowie DID NOT have two different colour eyes. I know this because the man himself said it in a documentary I saw and it stuck with me. He did suffer an eye injury when he was younger and his one eye was permanently dilated which gives the illusion of two different coloured eyes. The truth is that the dilated one still had a thin blue rim.

I did not like that the author acted as though his own interpretations of Bowie's lyrics were what Bowie actually intended and thought when he wrote them. I detested that Sheffield over-used lyrics as sentences in between his own thoughts, and annoyingly did not italicise them so the book began to read like an article in a magazine with random poetry interspersed. It was sloppy. The absolute worst thing was when he misquoted lyrics. That's just bad. I mean, was he typing this book alone in an isolated cabin in the middle of nowhere with no access to the internet or music? Google the freakin' lyrics and get it right, dude. Even if you think you know the song inside and out, DOUBLE CHECK.

Lastly, to compare David Bowie's illustrious career, which spanned over fifty years, to effing Kanye West is an absolute insult. I am appalled that I even had to mention that person in the same sentence as an artist with the genius and humility and decency of David Bowie. There is no comparing the two. Ever. This book was an immense disappointment, except for the fact that it led me to locate the interview Bowie gave on The Dinah Shore Show in 1976. On Bowie stunk out loud and kind of, sadly, has put me off of reading any more of Sheffield's work. That Beatles book has been removed from my Amazon cart because I just don't trust his writing anymore.)

1999 Journal

Ah, the last year of the 20th century...back when I was heavily into Ani DiFranco, Chris Isaak, Metallica, and all things swing. My favourite actors at the time were Gary Oldman (pictured with then paramour Isabella Rossellini, who I just love!), Tim Roth, Ewan McGregor, Benicio Del Toro, Marlon Brando, and to a lesser extent, Robert Downey Jr. (mostly because he was in Only You). I admired David Lynch, Sylvia Plath, Oscar Wilde, David Bowie, and Todd Oldham for his fashion genius and use of vibrant colours. I was still obsessed with Sid Vicious, who got me interested in Gary Oldman after watching Sid and Nancy; and my great love of Ann Jillian was well into its 11th year. Oh, and remember Edward Burns? Yeah, I really liked his first couple of films. After She's the One I kinda lost interest...

Bowie in Dublin

Saturday All Day

Saturday was spent with one of my bestest besties of all time, Jackson. We went ot MOM'S in Bryn Mawr/Rosemont area for lunch, made a pit stop at Sweet Freedom Bakery, hung out at my place to watch (and love!) Pee Wee's Big Adventure. Then it was off to see Nana Rose and lil' Miss Lucy while we worked on a Father's Day project for Xavier. For some reason we tend to have the most fun just driving around, looking for yellow cars to shout "BINGO!" while we chat and listen to music. So far Jax really likes M83's Midnight City, Beastie Boys' Interglactic, Vum You Have Gold ("this song is the best...is she saying You have gold but I have power?"), Roy Orbison A Love So Beautiful, all things Olly Murs ("he's got a cool voice"), David Bowie Lady Stardust (which he knew so well from listening to his father's Ziggy Stardust album that he was singing along), and stellastarr* In the Walls. About halfway through our time together and the second time this month we hung out (Ashlee canceled on me last week at the 11th hour and Jax and I were able to spend the day together...wish granted!), Jackson says, "When are we hanging out again?" Man, this kid makes me happy. Love him to pieces.

Serpent

David Bowie - Rebel Rebel
The Hollies - Bus Stop
Nat King Cole - Night Lights
Tavares - More Than a Woman
Tom Waits - Hoist That Rag
Culture Club - It's a Miracle
Tony Bennett - When Joanna Loved Me
Annie Lennox - Precious
Dean Martin - Until the Real Thing Comes Along
Springsteen - Atlantic City
The Commitments - Try a Little Tenderness
Chris Isaak - Wrong to Love You
Mazzy Star - Fade Into You
Judy Garland - Lucky Day
Donny Hathaway - And Then There's Maude
Ani DiFranco - You Each Time
Johnny Cash - Five Feet High and Rising
Sam Cooke - Twistin' the Night Away
Alanis Morissette - All I Really Want
John Mellencamp - Paper In Fire
Glenn Close & Alan Campbell - Sunset Blvd.
Aerosmith - Angel

 - 15 October 2004

Graveyard

David Bowie - China Girl
Chic - Everybody Dance
Joan Osborne - Pensacola
Ani DiFranco - Falling Is Like This
The Smiths - A Rush and a Push...
Madonna - Love Don't Live Here Anymore
Alanis Morissette - Right Through You
Queen - Gimme the Prize
Tom Waits - What's He Building?
Depeche Mode - Little 15
Frank Sinatra - All or Nothing at All
Brian Kelly - She is Dancing
Huey Lewis & the news - Do You Believe in Love?
Alan Campbell - Overture/I Guess It Was 5AM
Ella Fitzgerald - Btwn the Devil & the Deep Blue Sea
Dolly Parton - Down from Dover
Janet Jackson - You
Broadway Cast of Rent - Over the Moon
Janis Joplin - Down on Me
Johnny Cash - I Still Miss Someone
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy - Go Daddy-O

- 19 March 2005

Nomare

Tori Amos - Marianne
Nirvana - Polly
Fleetwood Mac - Rhiannon
Nat King Cole - Mona Lisa
The Police - Roxanne
Robert Rodriguez - Marv
Pure Prairie League - Amy
Charles Mingus - Celia
Tony Bennett - Laura
The Smiths - William, It was Really Nothing
The Velvet Underground - Sweet Jane
Hole - Jennifer's Body
David Bowie - Jean Genie
Elton John - Empty Garden (Hey, Hey Johnny)
Ben Folds Five - Kate
Tom Jones - Delilah
Stan Getz - Penny
Marry Me Jane - Tabitha
Tom Waits - Table Top Joe
Madonna - Jimmy, Jimmy
Beastie Boys - Ricky's Theme

- July 19, 2005