Thor: The Dark World

Since The Avengers, my eldest has become such a great big fan of the this particular Marvel franchise. Needless to say, there was no way we could miss this latest installment when it finally hit the cinemas.

Anyway, since I'm too lazy to come up with a decent review, let me point out the good and the bad in bullets. 

Warning: Possible spoilers ahead!

The Bad (because I like to save the best for last):

• - slightly sluggish start
• - banal villain
• - generic MacGuffin
• - some plot holes
• - a potential love triangle that went nowhere
• - Natalie Portman as Dr. Jane Foster wasn't really given much to do or say
• - a lot of scientific nonsense

 The Good:

• - Chris Hemsworth's charisma (and his ripped body!)
• - Tom Hiddleston's brilliant portrayal of Loki
• - scenes between Thor and Loki are the ultimate saving grace
• - cameos from old friends
• - witty one-liners and gags (Joss Whedon was actually brought in for this)
• - pain and loss
• - a mind-boggling final showdown between Thor and Malekith

The Verdict:

Despite the slow start, it was an undeniably extremely entertaining movie. I loved how scenes went from serious to funny and back again. I liked it more than Iron Man 3 to be honest. And this despite my being a huge Robert Downey, Jr. fan. 

Of course, as with all Marvel movies related to the Avengers franchise, there were two Easter eggs at the end of the movie. The first one came after the animated credits and gave a hint of what's to come in Guardians of the Galaxy while the second came after the credits finished rolling.

With all that said, Thor: The Dark World  has successfully managed to keep Marvel's Avengers franchise going and having people look forward to the next chapter which is Captain America: The Winter Soldier. And by the looks of this trailer, it looks like it's going to be awesome.

Mood Music: Star Spangled Man

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Dazed.

I was able to watch Man of Steel with my son last Monday and we both enjoyed it immensely. I'll try to write a review this weekend but obviously, aside from the movie itself, Henry Cavill, the new Superman, has left me dazed and drooling.

Dayum... He is GORGEOUS.

Mood Music: Sent Here for a Reason

 

Posted with Blogsy

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Told you so

We caught Marvel's The Avengers on Star Movies this evening and, of course, we had to watch it again. This has become Jeolo's favorite non-animated movie since we first saw it last year when it was released that we even bought a copy off iTunes to keep on our iPads.

And though I'm a year too late, I just really need to say it: Mark Ruffalo turned out to be the best Hulk ever. I knew it!

Okay, gloating done. I can sleep now. :D


Mood Music: Hulk is Hulk by The Brunettes

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Officially Iron Man-ned

Jeolo started begging me to bring him to watch Iron Man 3 the moment he saw the trailer aired on TV. And last Monday, the two of us went on a movie date with matching Iron Man power meals from McDonald's and two buckets of popcorn.

I loved this installment better than Iron Man 2 because Tony Stark has been made to spend less time in his Iron Man suit of armor (more RDJ goodness!). Instead, we get to see him on a more personal level as he is plagued by panic attacks as a result of that last battle in The Avengers, how he tries to figure out his place in life, and how he reacts when his early years come back to haunt him. 

Shane Black also managed to bring Tony Stark's character back to the man he was before he and his metal suit began shooting down fighter planes out of the sky. I particularly enjoyed how he MacGyvered the arsenal he used to attack the Mandarin's headquarters.

Speaking of the Mandarin, Ben Kingsley was absolutely perfect for this role with his deadpan delivery and weird accent. The twist in the middle of the movie left me shaking my head and laughing at the sheer unexpectedness of it. I was also glad to see Gwyneth Paltrow as Pepper Potts doing more than just being the damsel in distress.  

And, like all Marvel superhero movies, there was no shortage of eye-popping stunts and special effects as well as snappy one-liners to keep the humor going.

I asked a comic book geek friend of mine how he found the movie and he told me, comic book-wise, it was disappointing. But geeky nitpicking aside, the movie itself was pretty awesome in his opinion.

By the way, if you haven't watched the movie yet, be sure to wait until after the credits finish rolling because the traditional Marvel extra scene is there. I actually wasn't able to catch it because Jeolo wanted to pee but I was able to watch it online before it was taken down. Science Bros forever! ;)

Mood Music: Iron Man by Black Sabbath

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Nine years after Before Sunset

I guess this means Jesse (Ethan Hawke) did miss his plane and stayed with Celine (Julie Delpy). :)

If, like me, you've followed Jesse and Celine's seemingly star-crossed relationship, I'm sure you're also eagerly awaiting to see how life has unfolded for these two. Are they as perfect for each other as we thought they'd be? Have they been able to keep their love and romance alive through the years? Do they still talk like they used to?

Unfortunately, we may have to wait a few more months to find out the answers because there doesn't seem to be a release date for Asia yet. :(

And Ethan Hawke has not aged well, tsk, tsk.

Mood Music: This is Life by Kathy McCarty

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Guess how much I love you?

I've been searching for a copy of this book since last year after a blog friend mentioned it in passing in one of her  posts. Luckily, I spied one copy left last night at the bookstore and immediately grabbed it. I do wish it had been the pop-up version but it's still a gorgeous little book with a most beautiful story that's perfect for Jeolo's bedtime reading.

The story is about a young bunny named Little Nutbrown Hare and his indulgent parent, Big Nutbrown Hare, who's actually the dad. Since their names are such a mouthful, I changed the names to Jeolo Bunny and Mama Bunny to make it easier for my son to understand while I read it to him. 

The little bunny is searching for words to tell his parent just how much he loves him and starts out by asking, "Guess how much I love you?" His parent says he probably couldn't guess it and the little one replies with his arms stretched as wide as possible, "This much."

Daddy bunny then ups the ante by spreading his much longer arms and say, "But I love YOU this much."

The game goes on and on as the little one tries to outdo his dad until he finally becomes very sleepy. But before he finally slumbers off, he manages to come up with the sweetest and dearest line for his dad: "I love you right up to the moon."

His dad then settles him into his bed of leaves, leans over and kisses him good night. After the little bunny is fast asleep, he then whispers: "I love you right up to the moon -- and back."

I love how this story affirms a parent's everlasting love for his child. And I love that Jeolo and I now have a new game to play right before he dozes off at night which also helps strengthen the message of how much we love each other. 

Tonight it will be Dada's turn to read this to him. :rainbow

Mood Music: Brahms' Lullaby by Jewel

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Things I Love: Classical Music

I've always enjoyed listening to classical music but never really took the time to learn about their composers and their specific work as well as which versions I liked best. But after watching Little Einsteins with my son for the past three years, I decided to educate myself more on the subject.

I'm not going to bore you with the details of what I've learned by this time but allow me to share with you one of my most favorite pieces: Ludwig van Beethoven's Symphony No. 9. As Leonard Bernstein puts it, this symphony is "...the closest music has ever come to universality." Almost anyone who listens to this won't fail to be moved and be lifted to a place of serenity even for just a few moments.

These videos merely show the last movement of the composition where Beethoven used Friedrich Schiller's poem "An die Freude" as his basis for the vocals and chorus.

Listen and be taken away. :d

Mood Music: Ode to Joy in D Minor by Arturo Toscanini and the NBC Symphony Orchestra

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a song for our "baby tummy"

I unexpectedly came across this song while browsing mommy forums and it's so apt for this period while we wait for our second baby's arrival.

Little Little 

by Jenny Morris

Pulsing away, just like thunder in your little ear
Be brave, it won't be long till you meet us

My blood is your blood
I'll feel you till the day I die
Dear little little, sweet little little

I love every little thing about you
Even though I can't see your shining eyes
I can tell I'm gonna love you
By the way I love you now

And it's your little little kick down below
Makes me feel the strength of a hundred forces
I never felt the power of a love like this before

Noises from outside, you hardly hear at all
Your lifeline pulses with anticipation

No dark and dim thoughts
Confound your little head
Floating in paradise
Remember little little little

I love every little thing about you
Even though I can't see your shining eyes
I can tell I'm gonna love you 
By the way I love you now

See what you can do
And you haven't even showed your face to the world yet
You've got power we've forgotten
Everybody's born with, but they lose it

I love every little thing about you
Even though I can't see your shining eyes
I can tell I'm gonna love you
By the way I love you now

And it's your little little kick down below
Makes me feel the strength of a hundred forces
I never felt the power of a love like this before

And I love you little little
I-I love you little little little

Mood Music: Little Little by Jenny Morris

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Things I Love: The Sound of Music

 "I go to the hills when my heart is lonely..." And my hills is The Sound of Music.

If I had to choose just one film out of my many favorites, this would be my ultimate choice.

From the very beginning, when I see Julie Andrews walk across the green field, make a sweeping turn and exultantly declare in song that "The hills are alive with the sound of music...", I'm captivated. And throughout the course of movie, I continue to be swept away by the utter joy, enthusiasm and sincerity of the cast as they sing infectious tunes backed by moving orchestrations amidst gorgeous scenery. And it happens every time I view it, even though I've seen it countless of times already.

I also have to say that I absolutely and totally adore Julie Andrews as the irrepressible Maria and will gush about her even more in a separate post. Of course, I have to mention the dashing Christopher Plummer, who actually kind of hated his role but was nevertheless perfect as the austere Captain Georg Von Trapp; Eleanor Parker as the glamorous and catty Baroness Schraeder who whipped out zinger lines like, "Goodbye, Maria. I'm sure you'll make a fine nun."; and the beautiful, talented children, the compassionate Mother Abbess and her nuns, Rolfe, and Uncle Max, who all together made an unforgettable classic.

Some people may criticize that The Sound of Music as being too saccharine, schmaltzy and trite but I don't really care. All I know is that this film never fails to inspire me, make me feel good and oh, so joyously happy every time! :D

Mood Music: Prelude/The Sound of Music by Julie Andrews

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Things I Love: Old Movies

Most of my friends, and even my husband, can't understand my fascination for old movies. I don't know but there's this amazing charm about them that have really captivated me. Whether they be musicals like Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Gigi, or Meet Me in St. Louis to romantic dramas such as Casablanca and the epic Gone With The Wind to film noir greats like The Maltese Falcon and Sunset Blvd., I would gladly trade watching any of the recent blockbusters for any of those films.

I guess I love them because the actors and actresses weren't only good-looking and talented but also exuded such panache and elegance. The filmmakers didn't rely on gratuitous sex or violence to make their movies stand out. It was the story that reeled audiences in, the music and the dancing, the slow but gripping build up of the suspense up to its climactic end, and the unforgettable lines.

Whatever genre you may prefer, be it drama, romance, action, comedy or suspense, old movies are a treasure trove of great entertainment that you should try to explore if you're not yet a fan. Let me know if you need any recommendations. :)


Mood Music: Saturday Night at the Movies by The Drifters

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back in circulation

Hey there, blog. Sorry I've been remiss in updating you lately. I haven't been in the mood to do much online except to lurk. I was busy with other stuff and then a friend sent me some e-books which ended up consuming the rest of my free time. Percy Jackson and the Olympians were way too much fun to "put down" until I was through with all of them.

Now that I'm done though, I'll be coming back with a vengeance. Just you wait.


Mood Music: Taking Care of Business by Bachman-Turner Overdrive

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the new Bruce Banner

Fan-girl Mode: ON.

I was so excited yesterday when I found out that it had been announced at Comic-Con 2010 that Mark Ruffalo would be playing The Hulk in the upcoming The Avengers movie. :e

Image Credit: Marvel

Many are skeptical if he can pull it off but all I have to do is remember his characters in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind as the brainwipe pothead Stan Fink and as the tormented Brian Reilly in What Doesn't Kill You to know that he can. He's played many complex roles in indie films and that makes me sure he's going to be great as Bruce Banner.

I'm also optimistic that the director, Joss Whedon, who's used to creating and directing ass-kicking characters for TV, will be able to bring to life, with his mostly A-List cast, The Avengers.


Mood Music: The Lonely Man by Joe Harnell (The Incredible Hulk TV Theme)

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Things I Love: Start-Your-Day-Right songs

After what seemed like a wonderful, ordinary day yesterday, someone had to taint it with a dose of pessimism which left me quite annoyed. To counter it, I opened up my iTunes and played my list of positive songs. I love how music like this can help make my day so much better.

And since Monday is the start of the work week for most of you, I'm going to share five of the many happy songs that I love to help you begin it with positivity in your soul and a spring in your step.

1. It's a Beautiful Morning by The Rascals

"It's your chance to wake up and plan another brand new day. 
Either way, it's a beautiful morning..." :D

2. On the Sunny Side of the Street by Ella Fitzgerald

Grab your coat and get your hat,
Leave your worries on the doorstep,
Life can be so sweet on the sunny side of the street.

3. Three Little Birds by Connie Talbot

This song was originally by Bob Marley but this cover by Connie Talbot was too cute to resist.

Don't worry 'bout a thing,
'Cause every little thing's gonna be alright.

4. Ordinary Day by Great Big Sea

It's a beautiful day but there's always some sorrow,
It's a double-edged knife but there's always tomorrow.
It's up to you now if you sink or swim,
Keep the faith and your ship will come in.

5. Tubthumping by Chumbawamba

Okay, this song isn't exactly profound but the energy is enough to jumpstart your day.

I get knocked down but I get up again,
You're never gonna keep me down.

Have a smashingly beautiful week, everyone!


Mood Music: My Favorite Things by Julie Andrews (The Sound of Music OST)

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of broken roads and northern stars

I had my iTunes playing on shuffle last night while I was downloading music for J's iPod when this song came on. It's one of my favorites because the lyrics are reflective of how I felt before, and when, I finally found the man I would spend the rest of my life with. I'm also sure that those of you who've been down that same "broken road" will agree that it was indeed "blessed" as it was the same one that led you to the love of your life.

I set out on a narrow way, many years ago
Hoping I would find true love along the broken road
But I got lost a time or two
Wiped my brow and kept pushing through
I couldn't see how every sign pointed straight to you

Every long lost dream led me to where you are
Others who broke my heart, they were like northern stars
Pointing me on my way into your loving arms
This much I know is true

That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you
Yes He did

I think about the years I spent, just passing through
I'd like to have the time I lost, and give it back to you
But you just smile and take my hand
You've been there, you understand
It's all part of a grander plan that is coming true

Every long lost dream led me to where you are
Others who broke my heart, they were like northern stars
Pointing me on my way into your loving arms
This much I know is true

That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you

But now I'm just rolling home into my lover's arms
This much I know is true

That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you

That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you

*The video is the live original version from Rascal Flatts but there's also another version by Selah that's also beautiful to listen to.


Mood Music: Bless the Broken Road by Selah

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the best kind of marathon

Last Friday, since the husbo was off from work, we decided to get ourselves some DVDs to watch over the weekend. While we were out, I missed the Brazil versus Netherlands match and, as a result, Brazil lost. Yes, it was my fault but I digress. :c

Here are the movies we enjoyed:

Date Night. I loved it! It was so funny and engaging. Tina Fey and Steve Carell were perfect as the suburban couple trying to put some life back into their comfortable marriage and inadvertently get plunged into a night of danger, intrigue and excitement after they assume the identities of two low-level thieves. Aside from the laughs, the sight of Mark Wahlberg's perpetually shirtless body was a great big bonus. ;)

Prince of Persia. I could never bring myself to imagine Jake Gyllenhaal in a swashbuckling hero kind of role and even after his wonderful portrayal of Dastan, I'm still not sold. Except for the new buff body, his face seems more suitable to drama than action. I also found Gemma Arterton's voice a little irritating. Aside from that though, I enjoyed it immensely. The visuals were stunning and the use of parkour was exciting to watch. I'm looking forward to the next installment of this flick.

Toy Story 3. After reading all the raves and waterworks warnings on Plurk, I sat back with tissue in hand to watch. I wasn't disappointed. Toy Story 3 was the perfect end to a perfect trilogy. It tied up all the loose ends in a bittersweet finale. And it had me sniffling as I imagined having to let go of my little boy in the future. This is going to be a classic.

How To Train Your Dragon. Another heartwarming animated film that I've fallen in love with. I found it witty, funny and action-packed. The characters were lovable and I appreciated the message the story sent about looking beyond our preconceived notions and instead try to learn and understand first about that which we fear. 

Clash of the Titans. Since I remember watching the original Clash of the Titans on Betamax when I was a child and that I've read the story of Perseus countless times, this film disappointed me. The characters were hollow and the storyline was disjointed. Only the great big, nonstop action sequences kept if from becoming a bore.

Letters to Juliet. I knew it was going to be predictable but I didn't expect it to be so charming and easygoing with characters that were extremely likable. The scenes of the Italian countryside reminded me of Only You and Under the Tuscan Sun... beautiful. It left me inspired and lighthearted like any good romantic film should.

Remember Me. I was intrigued to see how Robert Pattinson would fare beyond being the perpetually constipated-looking Edward Cullen in Twilight and I was pleasantly surprised. He did a great job playing the role of Tyler. The movie dragged a bit but the characters managed to draw me in and I found the story to be thought-provoking. I'm glad I didn't read the critics' reviews before I watched it or else I probably wouldn't have appreciated it as much.

And that was our weekend. Oh, plus dinner at TGIFriday's last Friday and Assaraya Turkish Restaurant on Saturday. I conveniently forgot that I was trying to eat less on those two evenings. :D 

Mood Music: Hooray for Hollywood by Benny Goodman and His Orchestra with Gene Krupa

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sound trip down memory lane

Don't you just love it how listening to a certain song, or songs, can take you back to a time and place in your past and evoke feelings you'd thought were long gone? I've been listening to music from the 80s and early 90s today and I couldn't help but reminisce about the old times, both good and bad. Here are a few random songs and the memories attached to them:

I remember...

• that the first song I ever danced to in a school program was The Police's De Do Do Do De Da Da Da and we all wore white gloves, sparkly headbands, dark blue jeans and white sandals. I was in the first grade then.
• dancing to Madonna's Papa Don't Preach back in fourth grade with my classmates and all the while feeling  that we were so controversial even if we weren't quite sure what the song actually meant. :) 
• that my first ever favorite band was Menudo, that I loved Robby Rosa and Ricky Martin and their song If You're Not Here used to make me cry. 
• that the song Body Rock will forever remind me of my classmates Roland and Joey who could break dance like nobody's business back in elementary.
• that Rick Astley's Together Forever has etched into my mind that people who have two left feet should not attempt to dance a choreographed number in public.
• my friend Mir whistling the opening notes of Wind of Change by Scorpion while arriving late for Journalism class with the scent of his Cool Water cologne wafting through the room as he came in through the classroom door.
• how all the guitar-playing people back then learned how to play Extreme's More Than Words. You couldn't go through an entire day without hearing its strains coming from different classrooms.
• having no specific memories attached to I'll Remember You by Skid Row but listening to it always takes me back to the halls of my high school.
• the all-night event we had at school for our PE 104 included a whole lot of dancing and headbanging to Sweet Child O' Mine. 
• that I dreamed of having the guy I liked sing Firehouse's Love of a Lifetime to me. LOL. :O
• how a good friend made us call her favorite FM station to request Can't Cry Hard Enough to be played over and over again after she and her boyfriend broke up.
• that I thought the name Eraserheads was a silly name for a band but my friend, who was studying in UP that time, made me listen to Pare Ko and I fell irrevocably in love. With the band, not the guy, hehe.

So many songs and so many memories. They can make smile, laugh out loud and sometimes even cringe but it's always nice to sometimes recall them and realize just how far I've come.

Mood Music: Night Swimming by REM

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a peek at Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to watching this movie. The trailer alone gave me goosebumps. It covers the final book in the series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, and it seems to be darker and more gothic than the previous ones. The actual movie has been split into two with the first part to be released in November of this year and the second part in July 2011. 

Over the years, one or two of the Harry Potter movies managed to disappoint me somewhat after the director took his artistic license a bit too far in my humble opinion. I read that there will also be some plot changes on these last two but I hope they're not big enough to take away the distinctive vibe that readers loved in the book.

Watching this trailer made me feel both excited and sad. Excited because it looks to be an awesome cinematic finish to the series and sad because this really is the end of one of my favorite sagas ever.

Mood Music: The End by The Beatles

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perfect fit

While going through my twitter timeline earlier today, I clicked on this link that Toni had tweeted and it led me to this tender and beautiful song that she'd posted on her wedding blog, Big Day Plunge. And I asked her if I could share it over here, too.

Strange how you know inside me
I measure the time and I stand amazed
Strange how I know inside you
My hand is outstretched toward the damp of the haze

And of course I forgive
I've seen how you live
Like a phoenix you rise from the ashes
You pick up the pieces
And the ghosts in the attic
They never quite leave
And of course I forgive
You've seen how I live
I've got darkness and fears to appease
My voices and analogies
Ambitions like ribbons
Worn bright on my sleeve

Strange how we know each other

Strange how I fit into you
There's a distance erased with the greatest of ease
Strange how you fit into me
A gentle warmth filling the deepest of needs

And with each passing day
The stories we say
Draw us tighter into our addiction
Confirm our conviction
That some kind of miracle
Passed on our heads
And how I am sure
Like never before
Of my reasons for defying reason
Embracing the seasons
We dance through the colors
Both followed and led

Strange how we fit each other

Strange how certain the journey
Time unfolds the petals
For our eyes to see
Strange how this journey's hurting
In ways we accept as part of fate's decree

So we just hold on fast
Acknowledge the past
As lessons exquisitely crafted
Painstakingly drafted
To carve us as instruments
That play the music of life
For we don't realize
Our faith in the prize
Unless it's been somehow elusive
How swiftly we choose it
The sacred simplicity
Of you at my side

Mood Music: Eric's Song by Vienna Teng

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currently playing

How do you organize your music files? Do you meticulously categorize them into folders by genre or do you group them according to your personal preference? Or maybe you just click on "shuffle" and that's that? 

I categorize my music roughly according to genre and mood. Certain days or times of the day makes me want to listen to something that will either complement my mood or help improve it.

                                    

                                                                                              Image Credit

                                                                                 

Cool Grooves. Here's where I keep my jazz, reggae, and bossanova tunes. Listening to them takes me to the beach, to a lovely rainy day or to somewhere far off where I can just chill. I have Jamie Cullum, Bob Marley, Astrud and Joao Gilberto, Lou Rawls, Miles Davis plus a lot more.

Cotton Candy. Sweet pop tunes like those from The Corrs, Colbie Caillat and Plumb that are for whenever.

Don't Break Anything. Everything from glam rock to heavy metal to alternative is in this folder. I usually listen to them when I'm mad or when I need some energy or I just want or do some head banging.

Easy Rider. I made this playlist last year in preparation for 14 hours of flight with 2 stops along the way. And I've kept it, and added some more, to help keep me relaxed during travel.

Flower Child. I love the 60's! Here's where you'll find Peter, Paul and Mary, The Monkees, Simon and Garfunkel and Fleetwod Mac, to name a few.

Girl Interrupted. Songs from the ladies which range from empowering to angry chick music. Some of the artists I have here are Joni Mitchell, Ani DiFranco, Lily Allen, India Arie, KT Tunstall and Indigo Girls.

Guilt Trip. Okay, there are songs that I just love but get dissed about for their cheesiness. I have songs from  Air Supply, Barry Manilow, Styx, England Dan and John Ford Coley for starters, hehe!

Jingle Bells. My favorite, all year-round pick me upper - Christmas songs! :)

Old School. This is another playlist dedicated to rock music but these are the classics from bands such as The Who, Led Zeppelin, The Kinks, The Beatles and Jimi Hendrix.

Psychedelic 80's. Yup, all my music from the 80's are lumped in here - from Madonna to Tears for Fears to Rick Astley to The Smiths to OMD and more. It's for those days when I feel like reliving my childhood.

Reel Sounds. These are my favorites from the movies, TV and show tunes from Broadway. Some of the soundtracks come from Dawson's Creek, My Bestfriend's Wedding, Only You, Watchmen, 500 Days of summer, Fiddler on the Roof, et al.

Secret Garden. Sometimes, I feel very stressed and I need to retreat into a place where I can commune with my soul and collect myself. Classical pieces from Beethoven, Vivaldi and other great masters plus Enya's ethereal sound are the perfect accompaniments for this mood. I'm thinking of adding some opera here, too.

Studio 54. What can I say? Disco music is fun! Picture Cameron Diaz dancing to Donna Summer's Last Dance in Charlie's Angels and that's me when I play this list. :)

Training Day. Nothing pushes my pace more when I'm running on the treadmill than music with the perfect beat and this is where they're all at. You can find The Chemical Brothers, Fatboy Slim, The Postal Service and a variety of other artists listed in this one.

Unbreakable. When I'm depressed, sad or frustrated and my spirit needs a little push to help keep me going, this is what I listen to. It's a mix of positive, inspirational songs and gospel music.

Vodka Martini. No, these aren't drinking songs but what most would call the "oldies" - Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Billie Holiday, Louis Armstrong, and others. Listening to them makes me feel like I'm back in the 50's, sitting in a snazzy hotel bar or a club with my vodka martini in one hand and these incomparable artists singing on stage.

Maybe you've noticed that I don't have a playlist that highlights sad songs. I can't say my entire library is devoid of them but when I'm down in the dumps, the last thing I want to do is wallow with music that'll depress me further. 

I also still have songs that I'm not sure where to throw in so I need to come up with a few more lists. I'll probably create one for MoTown and another for OPM. Oh, and I need another one for indie music. Will work on that later. 

And that's what I listen to. Care to share your music playlists with me?

Mood Music: Thank You For The Music by ABBA

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falling slowly

I had to make a separate post for this song because it's so beautiful. It's my favorite from the film Once, which I gushed about previously, and I wanted to share it with you. Yes, I'm that crazy about it. 

This must be what falling in love sounds like.

I don't know you
But I want you
All the more for that
Words fall through me
And always fool me
And I can't react
And games that never amount
To more than they're meant
Will play themselves out

Take this sinking boat and point it home
We've still got time
Raise your hopeful voice you have a choice
You've made it now

Falling slowly, eyes that know me
And I can't go back
Moods that take me and erase me
And I'm painted black
You have suffered enough
And warred with yourself
It's time that you won

Take this sinking boat and point it home
We've still got time
Raise your hopeful voice you had a choice
You've made it now

Take this sinking boat and point it home
We've still got time
Raise your hopeful voice you had a choice
You've made it now
Falling slowly sing your melody
I'll sing along

Mood Music: Falling Slowly by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova

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