Barack ‘n’ Roll with the Boss!
(the election may have been almost one month ago but I’m still celebrating)
[Posted by Madeline]
Category Archives: music
things for which i am thankful.
You end a sentence/phrase with a preposition, your AP English teacher has a heart attack. You arrange a sentence/phrase so that it doesn’t end in a preposition, you sound like an elitist douche. When given the choice, I’ll obviously go for the latter.
Anyway, seeing that Madeline (the “guest” slash obviously permanent blogger) has beat me to breaking our dry spell, I was overwhelmed with Catholic guilt. Friends, it’s not that I haven’t wanted to blog in the past few days. I really have. It’s just that I’ve been too overwhelmed with work, to the point that blogging would have caused me even more Catholic guilt. So I cut my losses.
Now that I’m home on break, I have a little more time on my hands. In light of the upcoming holiday o’ food, I’ve decided to share a random list of some things for which I am thankful. In no particular order…
1. Stovetop stuffing. And while we’re at it, the cranberry sauce that looks like the can in which it came (now I’m super paranoid about the preposition thing, dammit). We’re not exactly fancy in my family.
2. Michael Franti. I saw him for the first time back in July, and I fell further in love with him when I saw him at the 9:30 Club in DC last Wednesday. Even if you think you wouldn’t like his music, I’d encourage you to go to one of his concerts. He has an amazing ability to put on the BEST SHOW EVER. His energy is just unbelievable. It didn’t hurt that he made me laugh, made me cry, and made me chant “Barack Obama” all in the span of three hours. And perhaps most impressively, Mr. Franti makes me feel like I’m a good dancer, even when I’m sober (!!!). Take a look at my favorite song off of his newest album:
If you don’t like that song, you should probably just give up on life. You clearly don’t have a soul.
3. While we’re thinking about him, Barack Obama. And Michelle, Malia, and Sasha. Also Joe and Jill Biden.
4. That my finger didn’t entirely fall off today at the nail salon. The entire story would call for a blog post in itself, but I’ll just say that it involved a bloody electric buffer, a sadistic manicurist, and sanitation standards that would have made a cockroach shudder.
5. My ability to entertain myself. My friend Rachel thinks that I could have my own reality show because of the embarrassing shit I do in the privacy of my own space. I’m not sure I agree with her (although, hey, people do watch The Real Housewives of Atlanta), but I am grateful for this skill of mine. The other day, for instance, I caught myself singing “99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall.” Out loud. In a British accent. Riiiight.
6. That I’m not pregnant.
7. That I’m not morbidly obese. (I honestly think about this on a daily basis.)
8. Goat cheese, breakfast sandwiches, salsa, bourbon, etc. etc.
9. The mountains.
10. Copper.
11. KBCO.
12. Cry Face:
13. All of you, dear readers.
14. The fact that I can make this ridiculous list, because it means that all of the important stuff (health of friends, family, etc.) are already there.
Happy Thanksgiving, SWTCTW readers!
[Posted by Mallory]
okay, here’s something to talk about.
I know what you’re thinking: “Six words, you have failed me.” It’s true, we have. Not Kathleen though, she has an excuse. Personally, I blame it on the fact that Gossip Girl was a repeat this week. WHAT is up with that? I missed you all terribly, internets, and I promise that this will not happen again.
Yesterday, I was driving all around Monmouth County, NJ (relishing in the fact that it only cost me TWENTY TWO DOLLARS to fill up my gas tank) and I experienced one of those moments that will make me cringe with embarassment every time I recall it for the next 80 years (I’m optimistic. And healthy). Over the years, I’ve entertained many friends while driving. Whether it be through new and creative ways of using boring old curse words or defying the laws of physics/the road, I think I’ve showed them a good time. HOWEVER, none of them have had the opportunity to experience what I tend to do when I’m driving by myself immediately after drinking a lot of coffee.
It is my firm belief that in another life I was a great performer and because in this life I suffer from both stage fright and being tone deaf, the only time I perform is in the car, alone. I know you’ve all done it too. However, unlike me you’re probably smart and reserve such performances for long drives on empty roads when few people will see you and not for WHEN YOU’RE STUCK IN TRAFFIC. I couldn’t help it though, because a really fabulous song came on and, although I fought it, the rhythm got me (DAMN YOU, Gloria!). I could lie and tell you that it was some really catchy new pop tune like Britneys “Womanizer” or that “Just Dance” song but we’re all about integrity here at SWTCTW so I’m going to come right out and say it: I was listening to a light radio station. I was listening to Bonnie Raitt.
. . . and I was really getting into it. Singing into my coffee cup, doing a little hair flip, making a fool out of myself and of course, I was busted. Some dude in the car next to me totally caught me at a particularly croony moment and laughed and laughed and laughed. I can’t say that I blame him, I looked like an idiot-but that was for my amusement only! I had to spend the next ten miles driving twenty miles below the speed limit so that my car wouldn’t catch up to his again.
It was terrible but you know what? That song is awesome. I wouldn’t lie to you, internets. Enjoy.
[Posted by Madeline]
Filed under adventures, blogging, dance, definitely not politics, music, random
a fun game for your friday.
Ashlee Simpson and Pete Wentz had a beautiful, healthy baby boy. And they named him Bronx Mowgli. Yeah, that Mowgli. I’m all for creative names, but I think parents should consider the mockery factor. Ashlee and Pete didn’t seem to do that. Maybe Ashlee is displacing her anger about the misspelling of her own name onto her infant son.
Our Southern belle correspondent tipped us off to this wonderful story, and with the help of Marie Claire UK, we came up with a fun game. You know how you can make up your own porn name or soap opera star name? Well, now you can also make up your own Ashlee Simpson baby name. Here’s the formula:
[One slightly shitty U.S. city + One cartoon animal name]
Here are some examples:
Harlem Tarzan
Compton Simba
Watts Baloo
Scranton Shrek
Our fun new game will sweep the nation. Tell us your favorites in the jump.
UPDATE: FINE, due to some complaints from our favorite readers, let’s change this up a bit:
[One location in the U.S. + One cartoon animal name]
[Posted by Mallory]
Filed under babies, celebrities, family, humor, music, news, pop culture
what the hell was she thinking?
Praise be to the goddesses of pop! Britney’s back!
It seems that she has finally gained some perspective on her, um . . . hiatus, and she’s ready to explain all in an MTV documentary (also known as the “True Life” to end all “True Lifes”). The documentary airs on November 30 but you can see the trailer here!
For the sake of her children and pop music as we know it, I’m glad Britty’s back. I was by no means one of the faithful (holler, Walsh) who thought this day would come but I embrace it. After all, I slow-danced to “Sometimes” in middle school, “Drive Me Crazy” still makes me covet Adrian Grenier, and “Toxic” got me through AP Bio senior year of high school. So, welcome back Britney. We salute you by sharing our favorite Britney moments with our SWTCTW friends and watching more trailers.
She looks so happy!
[Posted by Madeline]
Filed under celebrities, dance, definitely not politics, music, news, pop culture, Uncategorized, YouTube
paul and beyonce: together at last.
I told you that I’ve been been unusually obsessed with Paul Simon these days. Part of this is because of “The Obvious Child.” That song is so FREAKING good. I just want to get up and dance like a fool whenever I hear it. This makes for some awkward bus rides, as I occasionally find myself shimmying my shoulders to the beat and maybe mouthing the words a little bit. At least I know how to entertain myself. And that Paul Simon, he sure knows how to entertain YOU:
I realized after watching that video that I didn’t really know what Paul looks like. Google Image changed all that. I especially like this photo, because I, too, have a furry hood thing attached to one of my vests. It’s like Paul and I are soulmates:
Speaking of shimmying your shoulders to the beat, Beyonce is mesmerizing in the “Single Ladies” video:
I would sell an internal organ or two on the black market to be able to dance like that. Unfortunately, things like the small intestine and the liver seem to be kind of important. I guess I’ll have to stick to my classic unabashedly awkward style of jumping up and down and calling it dancing.
[Posted by Mallory]
Filed under dance, music, pop culture, YouTube
it might be a quarter-life crisis.
Or maybe just a bold career move. Either way, TMZ.com (the real “gotcha” journalists) is reporting that John Mayer will be hosting a weekly variety show on CBS, maybe as early as January 2009.
The show will be “a music, variety and sketch show in the ’60s mold,” according to TMZ. I’m sure there were a few successful variety and sketch shows in the ’60s but my mind goes right to “The Brady Bunch Hour.” Technically, that was a show of the 70s but that’s what I’m picturing and I just don’t know what to make of the thought of deliciously-jeans-and-teeshirted John Mayer in one of these outfits:
There’s no word yet from John Mayer’s people about a variety show but Johnny did have this to say on his blog (yes, he has a blog; yes, I read it sometimes; yes, it would have been much cooler if he was the mystery guest blogger):
Hi out there…
thought I’d check in to let you all know what’s up in my world…I’m working on the next CD, which I’m sure you will immediately hate until you eventually love. I’m basing out of LA because I’m working on a side project that is extremely cool. (I’ll tell you about it soon.)
A side project that is extremely cool? Is that singer/songwriter/celebrity blogger code for “musical variety show of the 60s mold?!” Probably. John Mayer’s a pretty funny dude and I certainly wouldn’t object to seeing more of him but I’m just not sure how I feel about this. Then again, I have an aversion to most change.
What are your thoughts? Can he pull it off? Is it Rock ‘n’ Roll? Will you watch?
While you debate, let’s take a trip back to where it all started:
[Posted by Madeline]
Filed under celebrities, crushes, music, pop culture, TV
now let’s see barack do riverdance.
Over the years I’ve been grateful to my Irish ancestors for many things; coming to America, skin so pale it’s see-through, an iron liver, Catholic guilt, etc. So it’s not as if I needed another reason to be proud of my Irish heritage, but a little band called Hardy Drew and the Nancy Boys wrote this little ditty to celebrate Barack Obama’s election to the highest post in all the land and it’s fabulous. They’ve been invited to perform at an inaugural ball in January and are currently recording their newest single “When President Obama Comes Home to Moneygall.”
For those who may not remember, all the way back in month four of this now legendary 21-month long campaign, it was reported that some of Obama’s roots were planted in the small village of Moneygall, Ireland. Moneygall, which has more pubs than traffic lights and a population of 298, was the home of the President Elect’s great-great-great grandfather Fulmuth Kearney, who left Ireland for the United States in 1850 at the age of 19.
According to the Irish Times, the little village has already welcomed the first Obama tourists and the Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Brian Cowen has extended an invitation for Obama to visit Moneygall and have a pint.
With the job he has ahead of him, it can’t hurt Obama to have the luck of the Irish on his side. So raise your pints because, faith and it’s a small world!, there’s no one as Irish as Barack Obama.
[Posted by Madeline]
don’t want to wander too far.
I really love The Weepies, and I REALLY love this song:
Thanks to our mystery future guest blogger for introducing it to me.
[Posted by Mallory]
steady on, steady on my mind.
I listened to this song a TON two summers ago (holler, Walsh), and I have it going on repeat again these days. It’s just so…true, at least for me, at least right now:
[Posted by Mallory]
six words to change the world. 