Music that moves me…and a giveaway!
If there’s one thing that moves me, it’s music. Ever since I can remember, there has always been music. There are a few songs that I know word for word that I don’t think I’ve heard more than 2 or 3 times because my dad and brothers sang them all the time.
I can’t tell you the last time I left church without crying. Because of the music. Because I feel closest to my Papaw then. I know that’s what he’s doing all the time. And that connecting is overwhelming.
Love of music is something Nathan and I have in common. Something we share. We won’t put our credit card info into iTunes because we couldn’t control ourselves. It’s just how we are.
Since I’ve started running, I’ve learned a lot about music. I used to think that the only songs that were good workout songs were upbeat songs. But I’ve found that it’s about the connection I have to a song. I never thought Ben Fold’s cover of Elton John’s “Tiny Dancer” would be one of my favorite running songs, but it is.
We have some eclectic music favorites, and I want to share a few of my favorites with you.
The Punch Brothers.
This picture is a year or so old. They have a new bass player now. We saw them last night at Natasha’s. I usually take awesome pictures, but I honored their request not to take photography last night. Chris Thile is amazing. We started following him when he was in Nickel Creek. New band is amazing. It may take a little time to grow on some people Give it a shot.
Also ex-Nickel Creek bandmember. She is amazing. We will see her next Monday! Yay!
Jon Foreman. I’ve never seen him. I don’t have any pictures.
If I could only listen to one artist for the rest of my life, it would be Jon Foreman. His season EPs break me down and build me up. He is also known as the frontman of Switchfoot and joined with Sean Watkins (also of Nickel Creek) to form Fiction Family.
Also be sure to check out Ingrid Michaelson (especially Corner of Your Heart), Matt Wertz (I Will Not Take My Love Away), Over the Rhine (Don’t Wait for Tom), Jars of Clay (the entire Good Monsters cd)… the list just goes on. (My iTunes playlist on the top of this post are some of my absolute favorites ever.)
So here’s where I need you. I need new music. Here’s the deal. I’m going to buy a $25 iTunes card. And I’m buying suggestions from you guys!
Leave one comment with one song and why you’re suggesting it. It could be old or new. Sentimental or workout music. Just a song that means something to you. I will listen to each of them and buy my favorites.
I will also randomly select 5 random entries (regardless of if your song was selected) to receive something special in the mail from me! Let’s just say that I used to make awesome mix tapes. Some say I still do. (Except I’ve moved up in the world of technology.)
So leave a comment here of a song I should buy. That will get you entered. Comments will be open until Saturday until midnight. I can’t wait to hear your suggestions!
(…and I’m alerady looking forward to doing this in a few weeks with Christmas music!)
I can’t pick only one b/c I’m too indecisive, but a few of my current favs:
-Lady Antebellum, pretty much the entire CD
-Glee Cast version of Somebody to Love
-Fairytale by Sara Bareilles
-Don’t Stop Me Now by Queen
-Party in the U.S.A by Miley Cyrus (As embarrassing as that is to admit…)
I want to win this one sooo bad. We have a pretty similar taste in music I think… A Krissie mix tape would be THE BEST.
We are totally sisters from another mister. I love love love Obediah Parker!
Ok.. so here’s my list for you. Its mushy, but I know you can appreciate a little mush. ;)
Long Time Running – The Tragically Hip
Halleluiah – John Buckley
Cannonball – Damien Rice
Klimbim – Don Ross (this is instrumental)
Bulletproof – Blue Rodeo (Andrew calls Blue Rodeo “baby making music”
Making Memories of Us – Keith Urban (love me a little country!)
Nearness of You – Norah Jones
Time has Told Me – Nick Drake
Say hello, wave goodby – David Gray
Cover You Reprise – Rent Cast (this will give you goosebumps)
Revolution – Tracy Chapman
Okay.. I’m done. I could give you suggestions ALL day long!
Ok. I am delurking here. First time commenter EVER. I just have to suggest Ray LaMontagne’s “You Are The Best Thing” because it’s a great love song. And, like me, you are in love with your husband. Uh, I meant, I love my husband like you love yours…not that I love YOUR husband like you…Geesh, this is why I lurk! :)
I love your music posts and love mix tapes and need to hear more inspirational and empowering music these days. (PS–I just saw Regina Spektor in concert last week and the show was fabulous! I was amazed by how wonderful her voice is, despite the music venue not having the best acoustics.)
I agree–a song doesn’t have to have a fast beat to be a good workout song. The following are my favorites:
The District Sleeps Alone Tonight by The Postal Service (slow beat that gradually speeds up and is perfect for running)
Lake Michigan by Rogue Wave
The Reeling by Passion Pit
Sleepyhead by Passion Pit
Nineteen by Tegan & Sara
Two Weeks by Grizzly Bear
As Is by Ani Difranco
And the song that always makes my eyes tear and heart hurt is Breathe Me by Sia. It’s such a beautiful song and reminds me that sometimes I need the strength and support of others to pull through. It’s okay to ask for help.
Some randomness for you:
That Song – Big Wreck (my power song on Nike+…can keep me going another 4 minutes)
Everytime – Colm MacIomaire & Glen Hansard (yes, a Britney cover…give it a try…quite beautiful)
Dancing – Elisa
Blue Eyes – Cary Brothers
Hi!! First I want to say you are doing amazing with your running!!
My absolute favorite song to run to is….
She Can Get It – Kevin Rudolf
I added it to my playlist because it’s fast and upbeat, which is what I generally need in order to stay focused. However, it quickly became a favorite of mine because of the lyrics…which I find incredibly motivating (at least one specific part)
Yeah she don’t stop
She working’ it all about
She moves it around the clock
And she can get it, sh-sh-she can get it
Don’t quit, the way that she moves it
She’s making me lose my grip
And she can get it, sh-sh-she can g-g-get it
I’m sure the lyrics weren’t written with anyone running on a treadmill in mind, but hearing things like “She don’t stop” and “Don’t quit” really help push me.
I couldn’t help but put my two cents in here. You should check out Be Good Tanyas. They’re sort of a folky girl group from Canada. I’d recommend any of their songs, but one that’s been stuck in my head lately is their cover of Prince’s “When Doves Cry”. It’s awesome.
jai ho by A.r. rahman…the original (not the pussy cat dolls one)..
it’s upbeat but not all techno-ey// and plus there is this one part where its just calm instrumentals..it makes me feel like i’ve reached the top of a mountain like the climax..especially great when pounding it out on the the treadmill..
and the title..jai ho..means..may you be victorious!! which is what i will be as i get closer to my running goals =)
How could I not comment on a music post?
Some of my current (well for the past year or so) favs:
Bon Iver- Blood Bank, Skinny Love, and Re: Stacks. Or pretty much anything out there that he does including all of his side projects.
The Avett Brothers- These boys are from NC and are awesome. My favorites include the Perfect Space, I and Love and You, and Paranoia in B Major
The Helio Sequence- lately
Ramona Falls- Bellyfulla
But I would have to say my favorite is still Bon Iver. :)
Looks like you’ve got your work cut out for you!
From me, one song, which is significant because when I was in college and needed to get away from things (except I did my running in the car ;) )this is the song I turned up loud and sang along to shamelessly as I sped down 25. it made me feel alive, more sure of the future, and free. Hearing it now still brings back those feelings.
Shelby Lynne, “Gonna Be Better”
Finally saw OTR in concert last year after being a fan FOREVER and was all *swoon*. One of the best live shows I’ve seen. Not necessarily great for running, but you might want to check out Kim Taylor if you haven’t yet (local to Cincy). I also second anything by Bon Iver or Ray LaMontagne (although I prefer “Till the Sun Turns Black” to the newer “Gossip in the Grain” album). Also, not well known, but Scott Matthews’ “Passing Stranger” album is awesome.
First — I feel like I’ve told you this before but I LOVE that all of your titles are lyrics… I love trying to figure out if I know the song or not. You’ve already got some GREAT suggestions here.
My favorite artist of all time is Edie Carey. She’s not very well known — but you may know her cause you’re super hip. hahahaha. So anything by her… right now my favorite songs of hers are “Violently” and “Under a Sky”
More favorite songs…
“Pale Love” by Rose Cousins
“Linger” by Jonatha Brooke
“Weatherman” and “Arms Length” Kris Delmhorst
“The Good Kind” by the Wreckers
“That’s What You Get” by Paramore (this is totally cheesy pop love it!)
“Crazy Ever After (Acoustic Version)” by The Rescues
Ok… I could go on all day but I think that will do! Will you post the 25 songs you end up downloading?? Also, I might steal this idea for my blog — I hope you don’t mind!!
I’m not even kidding you, I think I’m your music twin. I know almost all of the songs that your titles are from and I actually have a copy of your music list so that I can check some of those songs out on iTunes.
Okay – so I’m going to TRY to keep this short. But no promises.
Songs that I run to that are great running songs for me:
“Stand” by Rascal Flatts (I run the hardest/fastest to this song…)
“Because We Can Can Can” from the Moulin Rouge soundtrack
“Life, In a Nutshell” by Barenaked Ladies
“The One Thing” by Paul Colman (this helps me just kind of re-focus on what is important…which is why running and stress relief go hand in hand for me)
“I Want You Back” by Jackson 5
“Such Great Heights” by the Postal Service
“Video Killed the Radio Star” by the Buggles
Okay – it’s getting too long. I’ll send you an email with a copy of my playlist.
But the other artist that I think you might think about checking out is Tristan Prettyman. She’s mellow (not as much as Joshua Radin) but her song “Smoke” is so good! Oh! And check out Oren Lavie’s “Her Morning Elegance” – it’s awesome and although I’m not much of a video person, this video is absolutely fantastic.
P.S. I LOOOOOOOOVE Ingrid Michaelson’s “Keep Breathing.” It’s one of my favorite songs ever.
P.P.S. If you want, you can go to my blog and click on the music label…I have some of the songs I like set up with audio players.
Lay Me Down – The Frames.
Wow. Just Wow.
Here are a few favorites from my playlist:
We run – Sugarland
I run for Life – Melissa Ethridge
Halo – Beyonce
Bright Side of the Road – Van Morrison
Out of our Heads – Sheryl Crow
If I ever leave this world alive – Flogging Molly
The Dynamo of Volition – Jason Mraz
Walking in Memphis – Marc Cohn
Case of you – Joni Mitchell
Somebody told me – The killers
No Blue Thing – Ray Lynch (perfect sunrise or sunset music)
It is awfully hard to pick just one song! I would have to say Vienna Teng’s song Passage. To this day it evoked the strongest response I’ve ever had to a song. I actually stopped working when it came on the radio through our local independent station because it was so haunting. I physically moved closer to the radio because I wanted to listen more closely. Enjoy!
“Ain’t No Grave” by Crooked Still
“What Was That” by John Gorka (actually, I love almost all of John Gorka, one of the truly great singer-songwriters)
“His Hometown” and “Sylvia Hotel” by Cheryl Wheeler (or, if you like funny, “The Bank”)
“Elvis Presley Blues” by Gillian Welch
And there I will stop, much as I am tempted to go on and on and ON.
Lisa Hannigan’s “I don’t know”…wicked song.
Okay Fav song EVER: You Bring me Joy-Anita Baker
And from high school and the alternate end of the spectrum…
Creep-Radiohead, but sorta depressing so I wouldn’t suggest it.
Descending by the Black Crowes….lovely southern style rock. :D
I’m sure you guys have heard of her, but I can’t get enough of Neko Case. Everything she’s done is seriously amazing, and each album just gets better and better.
From her latest album (Middle Cyclone, which many say is her best, but I think Fox Confessor is a tight contender), I’m suggesting “This Tornado Loves You,” and because I’m a rule-breaker and can’t suggest just one of her amazing songs, “Polar Nettles,” and “Prison Girls.”
One of my favorite songs to run to is Sinnerman (Felix Da Housecat’s Heavenly House Mix) by Felix da Housecat & Nina Simone. Another version of it is in The Thomas Crown Affair, but this one really gets me moving when I run. My iPod will shuffle to it and – no matter how tired I am – I can’t possibly walk to this song. Let me know what you think!
Here’s my current “running” playlist…it’s so dern hard to pick something to keep you motivated during a run, especially towards the end when you are tired and sweaty and that one section of hair has come loose from the ponytail and its in your eyes!
The One I love – David Grey
A Thousand Girls – Christine Kane
Butterfly – Jason Mraz
If I Could Write – Sam Phillips
Foundations – Kate Nash
Not Drunk Enough – Adele
Bitch Went Nuts – Ben Folds
Skinny Love – Bon Iver
Throw Your Arms Around Me – Eddie Vedder/Ben Harper Live
Riot – Three Days Grace
(No Such Thing As) Girls Like That – Christine Kane
Superstar – Saliva
Say Hey (I Love You) – Michael Franti & Spearhead
Here are a few of my favourites off of my running playlist:
Here I come – The Roots
Normandie – The Think Out Louds
Wheels – Foo Fighters
Driving my Wild – Common
Daughter – Pearl Jam
Dandelion – Audioslave
American Girl – Tom Petty
Foot Prints on my Ceiling – Social Distortion
Brooklyn Girls – Charles Hamilton
Fashionable People – Joel Plaskett Emergency
Ego – Beyonce
California Waiting – Kings of Leon
B.O.B – Outkast
Cheers, Tammy
Music!!! (: Here are some random choices from my current playlist:
Hurt by Johnny Cash
Everyday by Dave Matthews Band
The Show by Lenka
Dance, Dance, Dance by Lykke Li
Breaking it Up by Lykke Li
Dare You to Move by Switchfoot
Rock and Roll Ain’t Noise Pollution by ACDC
Move Along by All American Rejects
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For some Canadian content try Wake Up by Arcade Fire and Save Your Scissors by City & Colour.
my top five fave running songs:
smooth criminal – michael jackson
don’t stop believing – cast of glee
It’s your life – francesca battistelli
stronger – britney spears
disturbia – rihanna
For running, I recommend the following!
Matt & Kim “Daylight” rhythmic, the female drummer is crazy good.
or…
The Library Voices “Step off the map and Float”…because it will rock your socks!
or…
Sam Sparro “Black and Gold” great beat
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