Monday, June 11, 2012

The West

Hello everyone! It's been a couple months since my last blog post and I'm really excited to be back. This week is about something very close to my heart. In the past couple years there have been so many changes in the music industry, some good and some bad. One of the good things is the evolution of musical genres and the different styles people are enjoying listening to.

One particular style that I've heard lately (that I never imagined I'd hear on popular radio) is the indie Western-style music. And I'm not talking about Country. I'm talking Western....with an indie flare, making it unique and fun easy-listening. When I close my eyes and hear these songs I see pine-covered mountains, dry golden plains, tumble weeds and people on horse-back. Feels like home.

Click:

Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros "Home":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHEOF_rcND8

Of Monsters and Men "Little Talks":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghb6eDopW8I


Much love,

Genevieve

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Monday, March 26, 2012

Harmonies

I dunno, there's something about harmonies that really make a song sound complete. Harmony finishes it. Done. Maybe it makes me a bit of a music dork but I find it incredibly frustrating to hear a song that begs for vocal harmony but doesn't have it. Of course in that case it's fun to make up my own and imagine what the song would sound like with what I've come up with, but to me something is always missing when a melody sails along all alone. Granted, some songwriters leave out harmony on purpose...maybe that's what they're going for, something incomplete, an empty vibe, unfinished. But in the end I shrug my shoulders because the song never remains that way when its being listened to, at least not by me or my vocally-talented siblings and husband, and believe me, we come up with more than a couple great-sounding harmonic parts. So either way harmony always wins.

Want to hear some songs with some fantastic harmonies?! Mmmhmmm...try listening to these without getting goosebumps.


These two songs are begging for harmony! They frustrate me but I love them so. Play these in the Lopez household though, and you get a room full of voices. Every time. :)


I'd love to hear your harmonically-superb favorites!

Much love,
Genevieve
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Monday, March 19, 2012

For The Men

Some things never change. No matter the age, guys always play with toys. When you're little you've got Legos, blocks, toy cars, and GI Joes. When you're a little older you've got tools, cars, and gadgets. Toys R Us becomes Home Depot, and pizza parties become, well...pizza parties with beer.

The desire to destroy things, and also fix them, being competitive, and always being interested in impressing, never goes away.

Of course, one thing that also doesn't change is how music affects the male's life. Here's some tunes to boost the ol testosterone and celebrate being a man:



Can you think of any quintessential manly songs I am forgetting?

Much love,

Genevieve
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Monday, March 12, 2012

For The Ladies!!!

Here's my disclaimer: when it comes to things like getting my nails and hair done, wearing lots of jewelry and makeup, high heels, the color pink, wearing perfume and glittery lotion, noticing fashion labels, brunch, words like bronzer and shading, or taking baths...these aren't typically things I'm drawn to or think about day to day. I realize in general I'm a minimalist. I even feel a little insecure just putting on a cute outfit and making myself up for a night out. (Partly because I know nothing about how to do my makeup so it looks natural yet noticeable, and partly because, well that's just too much to think about for me!)

I know some of you think I am coo-coo, and some of you are nodding and agreeing with me.

Having said all of this, there are certain songs that really get me excited to girlie it out! When some fun female company happens to be available, and an occasion arises, I pump up these tunes to help get me out of my own head, to start thinking less about how tall I might be in these high heels, and more about what color eyeliner will look the best. And all that I listed above suddenly become the greatest things EVER!

Here are some of the funnest lady songs!!

"You're The One That I Want" - from the musical Grease

Don't you just want to grab a bottle of nail polish now?! Got any songs you like to dance to in your living room when no one else is looking?

Don't worry men, you'll be next week.

Much love,

Genevieve

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Sunday, March 4, 2012

Road Trip!!

Smells different doesn't it?

When I inhale it feels lighter in my lungs. It's a knowing air, it nods "yes," something's about to change. March is upon us, which means warm days are slowly trickling in, windows are starting to open, cool breezes are becoming the friend not the enemy, Spring Break is around the corner, and people are starting to plan vacations. Maybe I'm getting ahead of myself I mean, Spring isn't even officially here yet, buuuuut since when do things have to be "official" in order to feel real?

What I'm trying to get at, most importantly, is that it's finally time for road trips!!!


I've put together a list of fantastic songs to add to your road trip mixes. These tunes will get you through the excited, anticipating moments, as well as the long stretches of straight highway and hours of low energy. Use this as a guide, a reference, add these to your mixes, or even make a big mix with these songs!


Arm yourself with these driving companions and enjoy your time outside on the road!!




Billy Joel - "We Didn't Start The Fire"
Blink 182 - "All The Small Things"
Bon Jovi - "Livin On A Prayer"
Brandi Carlile - "The Story"
Brian Adams - "Summer Of 69"
Colbie Caillat - "Brighter Than The Sun"
Diamond Rio - "Unbelievable"
Far East Movement (Feat. Ryan Tedder) - "Rocketeer"
Foo Fighters - "Everlong"
Frou Frou - "Let Go"
Fun. (feat. Janelle Monae) - "We Are Young"
Guster - "Careful"
KT Tunstall - "Black Horse And A Cherry Tree"
Janet Jackson - "Runaway"
Jimmy Eat World - "The Middle"
Jimmy Eat World - "The World You Love"
Joan Jett - "I Love Rock N Roll"
Journey - "Any Way You Want It"
Hansen - "MMMBop"
Nicky French - "Total Eclipse Of The Heart"
MGMT - "Time To Pretend"
Michael Jackson - "Hold Me"
Mariah Carey - "Always Be My Babe"
Moby - "Porcelain"
Nelly - "Must Be The Money"
Nicki Minaj - " Super Bass"
OMC - "How Bizarre"
Oakenfold - "Starry Eyed Surprise"
Paramore - "Brick By Boring Brick"
Rednex - "Cotton Eyed Joe"
Rihanna - "Disturbia"
Sheryl Crow - "Every Day Is A Winding Road"
Steppenwolf - "Born To Be Wild"
Tom Chochran - "Life Is A Highway"
Travis - "Turn"
U2 - "Beautiful Day"
Weezer - "Island In The Sun"
Weezer - "Buddy Holly"


Please share some of your favorite driving tunes for everyone!


Much love,


Genevieve
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Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Three's a Crowd

Duets: Sometimes it's nice to hear a little change in a song, to feel the balance gently shift from one person to another. It's a dance between vocals, a sonic friendship that somehow seems to make the message stronger because there's more than one singing to you. They give you more to listen to, more to sink your teeth into.

They also force you to choose between singing along to the melody or the harmony, which then forces the passenger in your car to also choose a part to sing with, which OMG then creates a duet of your own and thus!!! is the circle of life.

Here's some good sing-alongs that make hearts melt:








And here's a fun one...

"You Are my Sunshine" sung by Phil Beaudreau and Genevieve


What's a duet you love to sing to?

Much love,

Genevieve
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Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Down

For those times when it's not quite right.
For those days that don't go smoothly
For when you have questions
For when you realize it's more complicated than you thought
For feeling blue
For when maybe you're not feeling like yourself

Not every day can be great, not every minute can be perfect.

Sometimes I like to listen to somber tunes when these low days or moments happen, as they inevitably will. And I think it's ok to indulge in them, to really allow that vulnerability to sink in, because it makes the brighter days and moments that much sweeter and that much more worthwhile. Click on these and they'll keep you company when you stumble.

"Yesterday"- The Beatles

"Empty"- The Cranberries

"Hurt" - Johnny Cash (Nine Inch Nails cover)

"Dying in the Sun"- The Cranberries

"Remember" - Harry Nilsson

"Hallelujah" - Jeff Buckley

"Yesterday"- Boys II Men

"Somewhere Over the Rainbow" - Judy Garland


Much love,

Genevieve
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