Today’s Silly Saturday post was inspired by my favourite Periscope psychic, Melissa Mattern! Yesterday Melissa taught her followers about “schadenfreude”, the German word for experiencing joy thanks to someone else’s pain. Her usual goal is to spread the magic of meditation and mindfulness to the masses, and lead an open discussion on what it’s like to be a real working psychic. But, getting over things like schadenfreude are really good signs that you’re moving along on your spiritual journey! Personally, I’m good with this. But I was reminded of a hilarious musical called Avenue Q, written by Jeff Marx and Robert Lopez (before Lopez wrote the music for Frozen). Can you think of any other musicals with songs like It Sucks To Be Me and Everyone’s A Little Bit Racist? I thought not! So for an even deeper understanding of Schadenfreude, check out this clever number from the show! (It hurts a little to post this because I really am not one to laugh at other people’s troubles, but honestly the musical is genius!) With love, light, and song… ~Melissa~
Month: April 2016
April 7th 2016. American Idol Era!
“Some people wait a lifetime for a moment like this…” sang Kelly Clarkson way back in 2002 (and probably a million times since). So hard to believe that tonight is the last night ever of American Idol. What an iconic show. It may have had its ups and downs over the years, but undeniably it changed the face of television, particularly reality and music shows. No matter what, the show always celebrated music first and foremost; it would be nothing without the glory of the almighty song! Humans singing text set to music; that’s all! And some pretty darn amazing singers were discovered thanks to American Idol.
While I would of course bow down to the great Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood, my personal favourites skew more along the lines of David Cook, Elliott Yamin, Phillip Phillips, and the stunning Jennifer Hudson. Phillip Phillips wrote my number one get-moving song (future post!), Elliott Yamin wrote all three of my wedding songs (future posts!), but David Cook stole my heart as one of the most genuinely talented, fame-deserving, sweet and loving hearts of the world. Here’s a little retrospective on my very favourite American Idol success story. With love, light, and song… ~Melissa~
1. Original audition footage
2. Assembled performances (big kudos to the YouTuber who made this!)
3. The winning moment (that year’s “winner’s single” was Time Of My Life, by Regie Hamm)
4. First single, Light On, written by Brian Howes & Chris Cornell (yes, really, Chris Cornell of Soundgarden!)
April 5th 2016. A little patience…
Just a little nod to the GNR mania taking over the world again. And sure, we all thought this day would never come, except of course it did, because money! But also, these guys are legitimately talented and always made better music together than apart. Loving GNR was a huge part of my youth. Their posters commanded by bedroom walls, and Slash commanded many a teenage daydream. However, as I am old now, it’s too late for a loud and raucous tune, and my head hurts way too much anyway. Good grief. So this beautiful acoustic tune is perfect, and a little patience would go a long way in most of our painful experiences, right? With love, light, and song… ~Melissa~
Listen here: Patience * by Izzy Stradlin * from the EP G N’ R Lies (1989)
April 3rd 2016. Let it snow!
Well, it’s snowing in rather dramatic fashion here tonight! How’s the weather in your neck of the woods? Rain or shine, there is always beauty to be found in Mother Nature’s variety of talents! Every “first” snowfall feels fresh and lovely to me, and while this isn’t the first of the year, it’s definitely the first one for April! Hahaha…I know, no one is laughing with me! And I probably won’t be laughing going out in the cold in the morning. But for now, while looking out the window, I’m just hearing this beautiful tune over and over again.
This iconic Christmas melody was written in 1945 by Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne, famous Broadway songwriters. This is Dean Martin’s impeccable version from 1959. Perhaps my grandmother listened to and liked this version. Today would have been her 89th birthday, but she passed away almost six years ago, a week after my wedding. I miss her very much. It’s always great to remember the nicest times we had with her, and the one Christmas we spent at her house instead of our own was one of my favourites. So yes, Christmas music in April it is! With love, light, and song… ~Melissa~
Listen here: Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! * by Sammy Cahn & Jule Styne (1945) * as recorded by Dean Martin (1959)
April 1st 2016. More thank yous!
So I thought about it, and my challenge for this month will be to post a song every other day. April is busy with taxes, concerts, a short trip, and a music festival, and every other day is still a challenge in itself! What if I really want to write something, and now I can’t?! Oy vey! Anyway…
This is all I want to share today. The glorious, soulful, goddess Alanis. Someday I’m going to post this song again and go through what each line means to me because I love it so much. But for today, just this. And a million of my own thank yous to everyone and everything in my life: good, bad, and as yet uncategorized. With love, light, and song… ~Melissa~
Listen here: Thank U * by Alanis Morissette & Glen Ballard * from the album Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie (1998)
NB: This performance is from a 2001 concert in Germany.