4 Corners of Spring

As I wade deeper and deeper over my head into the number of unfinished projects on my list (and wait for people to give me their contributions for the June Beast*) here are the 4 songs that have found their way into my heart this spring. I think I repeat them about 6 times a day and when it rains 4 times more. 

The 3 playlists these songs are from + A semi-warm rainy day + A good cup of tea + Time to work on my own projects = The closest thing I've found to heaven

North

Waiting

Norah Jones

The Fall (2009)


Lyrics:

Hush now watch the stars fall
Into a fire wall
I am waiting here
Waiting for you to come home

Sinking embers glow
Melting icy snow
I am waiting here,
Waiting for you to come home

And I watch them burn
When will I ever learn
If I wait it doesn't mean
You will return

(Repeat)

Now all the stars have gone
Faded into cracks of dawn
And I'm still waiting here
Waiting for you to come home
I'm waiting here
Waiting for you to come home

Found: 
While listening to starlingdarling's last.fm account: http://www.last.fm/user/starlingdarling
He probably doesn't even realize what a gem this is. Thank you CStar. Thank you last.fm. Boo forever to Pandora.


South


Death Letter
Cassandra Wilson
New Moon Daughter (1995)


Lyrics:
I got a letter this morning
What do you reckon it read?
It said the man you love is dead
I got a letter this morning
What do you reckon it read?

Said "Hurry, Hurry because the man you love is dead"
Well I packed up my suitcase
I took off down the road
When I got there she was layin' on the cooling board
I packed up my suitcase
And I took off down the road
When I got there she was layin' on the cooling board

It looked like ten thousand people standing around the burial ground
I didn't know I loved her 'till they began to let him down
Looked like ten thousand people standing on the burial ground
I didn't know that I loved him 'till they began to let him down

You know it's so hard to love
Someone that don't love you
Won't get satisfaction
Don't care what you do
So hard to love
Someone that don't love you

Don't look like satisfaction
Don't care what you do

Well I got up this morning
The break of day
Just hugging the pillows
She used to lay

Got up this morning
The break of day
Just hugging the pillows
Where my baby used to lay





Found:
Oddly enough, heard this song at a dinner party in Brooklyn while waiting for people to come and the party to start. The owner's friend had downloaded their music to iTunes and he hadn't even heard it before.


East


Big Jet Plane
Angus & Julia Stone
Big Jet Plane (2010)


Lyrics:
She said "Hello mister, pleased to meet ya" 
I wanna hold her, I wanna kiss her 
She smelled of daisies, she smelled of daisies 
She drive me crazy, she drive me crazy 

Gonna take her for a ride on a big jet plane 
Gonna take her for a ride on a big jet plane 
Hey hey, hey hey 

Be my lover, my lady river 
Can I take ya, take ya higher 

Gonna take her for a ride on a big jet plane 
Gonna take her for a ride on a big jet plane 
Gonna take her for a ride on a big jet plane 
Gonna take her for a ride on a big jet plane 
Hey hey, hey hey 
Hey hey, hey hey 

Gonna hold ya, gonna kiss ya in my arms 
Gonna take ya away from harm 
Gonna hold ya, gonna kiss ya in my arms 
Gonna take ya away from harm 

Gonna take her for a ride on a big jet plane 
Gonna take her for a ride on a big jet plane 
Gonna take her for a ride on a big jet plane 
Gonna take her for a ride on a big jet plane 
Hey hey, hey hey 
Hey hey, hey hey 
Hey hey

Found:
Got this from one of my favorite blogs http://www.changethethought.com/ . I saw it once, fell in love and it has lived in my gchat status for the past 2 weeks: "i love everything about this video but i don't exactly know why". So far a couple of people agree with me.


West


I'd Rather Go Blind
Etta James
Tell Mama (1969)


Lyrics:
Something told me it was over
When I saw you and her talkin'
Something deep down in my soul said, 'Cry, girl'
When I saw you and that girl walkin' around

Whoo, I would rather, I would rather go blind, boy
Then to see you walk away from me, child, no

Whoo, so you see, I love you so much
That I don't wanna watch you leave me, baby
Most of all, I just don't, I just don't wanna be free, no

Whoo, whoo, I was just, I was just, I was just
Sittin here thinkin', of your kiss and your warm embrace, yeah
When the reflection in the glass that I held to my lips now, baby
Revealed the tears that was on my face, yeah

Whoo and baby, baby, I'd rather, I'd rather be blind, boy
Then to see you walk away, see you walk away from me, yeah
Whoo, baby, baby, baby, I'd rather be blind...




Found:

This song was the only thing I liked about Beyonce in the entire 109 min of  Cadillac Records. Beyonce is a dope entertainer but one of the worst actresses I've ever seen. Her scene with this song almost made me change my mind... until I heard the original by Etta James... and then I shook my head . Cadillac Records, despite the painful Beyonce butchering Etta Jame's legacy moments, is quickly becoming one of my favorite movies and I thank the directors for reconnecting with my long lost "Down Home Blues" roots.

<3 'til we meet again


* if you want to know more about the beastly june project and/or contribute, hit me up and i'll fill you in

April Mixtape or 4 year relationship purge

Yeap I know I'm late. It's April 25th but it's still April. 

Now, here's the story:

4 Years

3 Guys

2 Thousand miles of mental distance

1 Mixtape (Download here)

* By the way if you haven't noticed, my mixtapes are actually 1hr 20 min long tracks. This was done painstakingly on purpose. I am using modern technology to subvert the whole separate track/single-based music listening culture that arrived with the advent of mp3s. By mixtape I mean fast forward/rewind old school tapedeck mixtape. Enjoy! *

Tracks

I. Introduction

Do You Want to Dance?

Beach Boys

The Beach Boys Today!
1965


If I Was your Girlfriend
TLC
CrazySexyCool
1994


II. The Beginning


In the Cold, Cold Night Brawler
The White Stripes
Elephant
2003


Just Friends Bird
Amy Winehouse
Back to Black
2008


Interested Bear
India.Arie
Voyage to India
2002


III. Definition


Charity Case
Gnarls Barkley
The Odd Couple
2008


Float Brawler
Flogging Molly
Float
2008


Show Me Bear
John Legend
Once Again
2006


13th Period: On My Own Time (Write On!) Bird
Gym Class Heroes
As Cruel As School Children
2006


IV. Problematic


Borderline
Madonna
Madonna
1984


I've Got All This Ringing In My Ears & None On My Fingers Bear
Fall Out Boy
Infinity on High
2007


Lose Myself Bird
Lauryn Hill
Surf's Up Movie Soundtrack
2007


Little Black Backpack Brawler
Stroke 9
Nasty Little Thoughts
1999


V. Heartbreak


Black Girl Pain
Talib Kweli
The Beautiful Struggle
2004


Sail On Bear
The Commodores
Midnight Magic
1979


Marry Me Bird
St. Vincent
Marry Me
2007


Jaded Brawler
Aerosmith
Just Push Play
2000


VI. Reflection / Memories


You Can't Hurry Love
The Supremes
The Supremes A' Go-Go
1966


Here You Come Again Bear
Dolly Parton
Here You Come Again
1977


Hey Love Bird
Stevie Wonder
Down to Earth
1966


The Song of the Count Brawler
Lemon Demon
Youtube
2008

Duct Tape Business Card Holder

I needed one. So I made one. Case closed.

Cute Cuddly Monster Earrings

They have arms. That way they can hug you before the bite you :)

Chucks + Sharpies = Love

Cake Porn

.... or "What Happens When Teenage Theater Kids Phone-in a Scriptwriting Assignment"

Taken out of context, these excerpts may be the funniest thing I've read in a month.(My commentary is in green; the rest was copied directly from the script)

Jeremy: Guys! Look we cant just save this cake for a whole month, look at the cake just look at it, its telling us to eat it right away don’t you see the chocolate frosting dripping by the second, its burning up its about to explode if we don’t eat it anytime soon. (ahem, really?) IT WONT LAST A WHOLE DAY TRUST ME!!
(grandma and faith look at the cake)
Faith: (bites her lip)it does look good. <- "dripping... burning up... about to explode" and it looks good? are we still talking about a cake? because if we are that does not sound appetizing.
Grandma: so we should put it in the fridge so it don’t melt.
Jeremy: grandma I think you should have a piece
Grandma: NO no I don’t think that’s right.
Jeremy: ( cutting a piece of the cake off) now open your mouth <- dude, that's your grandmother.
Grandma: no im not taking a bite
Jeremy: plays airplane with grandma trying to put the cake in her mouth..ereemm ereem(making airplane noises )open wide. <- and by cake you mean....?
(Grandma covers her moth and nods her head)
Jeremy:(making baby noises) aww the baby wants to eat aww the baby wants some chocolate cake
(grandma nods her head)
Jeremy: plays knock knock
(Grandma says nothing)
Jeremy: you know this is the part when your supposed to say whos there.
(Grandma nods her head with her hand on her mouth)
Faith: Oo ill say it <- Faith is his sister. I'm pretty sure what they sound like they're doing is illegal in most states.
(Jeremy turns to faith)
Jeremy: knock knock
Faith: whos there
Jeremy: chocolate cake that wants to go in your tummy(sings tummy)
Faith: oww (faith grabs the spoon and puts the the cake in her mouth) yummy that was tasty.
Jeremy: see grandma did that look so hard
Grandma: alright, alright you guys can go eat it only because jessicas very sick
(Grandma faith and Jeremy split the cake in half, and at the end of the day not even crums are left)

........

Jessica: (boyfriend Nathen comes over) Hey babe.
Nathen: Hey honey (walks to the living room)
Nathen: Hey honey what are you cooking that smells like rotton hot dogs with musterd. <- "cake" smells like rotten hot dogs with mustard? hmmm interesting.
Jessica: (face turns serious) I was making a cake.
Nathen: Dude what are you  making a cake for, there’s nothing special coming up, and besides if your gonna make a cake you should actually know how to bake one.(Nathen starts to laugh at what he said.) <- especially when you're making rotten hot dog cake.


.........

Jeremy: hey Jessica did my cake come 
Jessica: yes it did come I put it in the fridge you wanna see it it looks really pretty.
Jeremy: yea , can you bring it cover here for me im kinda busy here.
Jessica: yes ofcourse Birthday boy, you sit right there and ill get the cake for you. <- (+ previous 3 lines) Jeremy and Jessica are also siblings... fun times all around in this house.
Jessica gets the cake from the fridge and brings it back to jeremys room
Jessica: look
Jeremy: dam isn’t that a sexy cake <- and you're SURE you're talking about food?
Jessica: very
They both just stare and look at the cake for awhile
Jessica: ok well im put it back in the fridge before it melts
Jeremy: ok thanks
Jessica is walking out of his room and half way out the room Jessica drops the cake flat on the the floor (crack)
Jeremy turns his head around and looks at the floor with a shocking face.
Jessica: turns around with a smile on her face and says opps
THE END!
...........


Pure gold without the slightest bit of effort. Now for some "Ice Cream" to go with that "cake":

In the beginning, Block created Weetzie.

then Dirk and Duck, MSALM, Cherokee and Witch-baby etc. etc. etc.

 me: so the theme for march is based on a book series that basically changed my lifein 7th grade when i wasn't so cool i escaped into these books and the characters in them gave me permission to be weird, strange, slinkster-cool, artsy-fartsy and beautifulthey're the weetzie bat books written by francesca lia block

  about this girl growing up in california and her kids, her friends, parents

 JTan: wow, huh

  havent read them

9:34 PM which you probably figured

 me: so the songs are loosely based on the characters in the book

9:35 PM and the personalities of the cities that the author gives the readers
SOOO peeps, let your freak flags fly and check out the March mix here: Dwnld
(if you want to know more about the books this would be a good place to start: Dangerous Angelsand if you get hooked don't forget to find the latest one where Weetzie's all grown up: Necklace of Kisses )
On to the Track List!!1. Rag Mop Lionel HamptonJukebox Hits 1943 - 19502005
2. Yoo HooImperial TeenWhat is Not to Love1998
3. ClumsyFergieThe Dutchess2006
4. La BrujaSalma Hayek & Los VegaFrida OST2003
5. Love LockdownKanye West808's & Heartbreak2008
6. TeenagersMy Chemical RomanceThe Black Parade2006
9. Tangerine SpeedoCaviarCaviar2000
10. Give Me NovacaineGreen DayAmerican Idiot2004
11. It's in His KissMerry Clayton and the BlossomsYou're No Good1964
12. Suffragette CityDavid BowieThe Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars1972
13. Santa Maria (del buen ayre)Gotan ProjectLa Revancha del Tango2001
14. Bye Bye BabyMarilyn MonroeI Wanna Be Loved by You1953
15. Universally SpeakingThe Red Hot Chili PeppersBy the Way2002
16. Little Deuce CoupeThe Beach BoysLittle Deuce Coupe1963
17. LovefoolThe CardigansFirst Band on the Moon1996
18. Boogie On Reggae WomanStevie WonderFullfillingness' First Single1974
19. Tiny DancerElton JohnMadman Across the Water1971
20. Come TogetherThe BeatlesAbbey Road1969
21. Witch DoctorAlvin and the ChipmunksSingle1958
22. I Would Die 4 UPrincePurple Rain1984
23. Camel WalkSouthern Culture on the SkidsDirt Track Date1995
24. Midnight RadioJohn Cameron MitchellHedwig and the Angry Inch (movie version)1999