no song.

today, for the first time i can remember, i have no song in my head. it is driving me crazy. sure i can think of songs that i would like to have in my head. however, the whole song in my head bit is spontaneous and random, as far as i am concerned. i realize there must be some subconscious reason songs pop into my head, but that does not really matter, does it. i usually sing while i cook and today i noticed a strange silence, which made me think of my long forgotten blog. hopefully tomorrow will bring a new song.

Dear Blog, I Have Not Forgotten About You

Eight months? Nine months? Not one post, Paloma?

We thought your head was full of songs? Was that all a lie?

No, no, I mean yes, I mean no. Not a lie. The head continues to be full of song. It is just that I got sucked into singing karaoke. There, I said it. Don't hate. It is a little embarassing to admit, but I sing in places other than the shower, also known as karaoke bars. It is terribly addicting. The more I sing songs, the less likely I am to write about them.

I've got a couple swimming around today. First, "Ray of Light" by Madonna might just be my favorite song. Wait, I think I have said this before about another song. Let me qualify this by saying that today, January 14, 2009,it is my favorite song. I am generally not interested in light, happy, fluffy sounding stuff like this. However, when I hear this song, I really do want to getup and dance around really fast. I want to put on a strobe light and jump up and down; I want to run around in circles and flap my arms. Now, those are things that I don't do very often.

When I woke up this morning, I had a song from they came from the stars, i saw them going in one ear and right out of my mouth. "Wa-wa-wa walking down the street. Eating an ice cream..." If you scroll down to an earlier, way earlier blog entry, you'll find the video.

OK. Lunch break is officially over.
Bye.

Living Life like a Midnight Coward

As I said yesterday, I've been listening to Amy Millan quite a bit lately.



I hum "Come Home Loaded Roadie" as one of my daily song rotations. "Come home and the birds will bring you honey..." I just like the feel of the words in my mouth and the sound of my voice when I sing along.

Today, when walking from the parking lot to my office at 5:00 am, I was singing out loud The construction workers think I am crazy. I like it that way. They leave me alone.

I'm also on a Daniel Johnston "Living Life" kick. I saw Daniel Johnston about two years ago and it was amazing. The show brought me to tears, especially this song. This was the first time I had seen him live and it was very emotional for me. I had the pleasure of meeting him after the show. So sweet and in the photo (I'll have to find it) I have a gigantic smile on my face.

"Midnight Coward" by Stars is also on my mind. I love the opening. It is a great shower song for me. "Sweetness, sweetness never suites me.." "What can't be decided, in the morning, it will bring itself to you..." Love, love, love it...

Obituaries in the Morning

I read the local obituaries every single morning. Well, just about every single morning. I feel like they need to be read, that I somehow owe it to the people who died. Every day, I wonder about all the people in my city who died and who did not get listed in the obituaries and send thoughts to them too.

Today, I am listening to "For the Actor" by Mates of State and and walking around the office singing Daniel Johnston's "Living Life." I have received some strange looks from my coworkers. I especially like to sing in the bathroom because the acoustics are so great. It is better than singing in the shower. Oh and I am also digging on Amy Millan (she's in one of my favorite bands, Stars) this morning.

Yesterday, I listened to Leonard Cohen all day. And then, wouldn't you know, when I got to Too Cool for Karaoke, Adam played Leonard Cohen for an hour straight. Mr. Cohen has had a strong presence in my life this week and has been the topic of many conversations. Well, he did just play here, but I always like to think that there is a reason for these things.

Yesterday, I also walked clockwise around the baseball field in the park. Usually I walk counter-clockwise. I wanted to see what the difference was. I noticed more birds. I like birds.

I have been back for two days straight, and will try to keep this up!
Have a lovely muffintastic day.

xoxo
Paloma

What's in my ear today? It is the Evening of the Day...

I have been on a Donovan kick lately. This past weekend, on the Saturday before Easter, I went looking for Donovan LPs at the San Diego Record Show. No luck finding anything I could afford, but I did score a sweet Marianne Faithful LP in mono. I am digging on girl versions of Rolling Stones' songs, too. I am a bit obsessed with Mazzy Star's cover of "Wild Horses" and of course there is nothing like Ms. Faithful's rendition of "As Tears Go By."



I just love her voice and her face. I k now others will disagree, however, she moves me. There is something about the plain simplicity of it all.

Gosh, it's been more than a year

I was on a roll and then I just stopped. However, I'm back! Today, the Jesus and Mary Chain's "Something I Can't Have" is stuck in my head and I'm listening to the Beatles Rubber Soul at work. I've been practicing mindfulness lately, so expect some different (hopefully) takes on things. I'll write more this afternoon...

Oh, and I know that Christmas is done and over with. But, I must, I absolutely must write about the novocain, dentist's drill, root canal and christmas music. I meant to do this in December, I really did.

What's New Pussycat

I am just about to get in the shower. Those of you with dirty minds, me being one of them, are probably thinking that a video of me singing these songs in the shower would draw in more readers. I am beginning to think that maybe if I had a sex tape to get my name on the map, then maybe I'd get some serious and loyal readers.

Today, I was wasting time on myspace, and my four year old daughter bursts into the room (glad I was not watching the alleged Meg White sex tape that I had been looking at a few minutes earlier...I am not sure that it is her, I've seen her in person) singing, "Pussycat, pussycat, I love you, yes I do!"

What the hell? Where do these kids hear this shit? Tom Jones? My children are running about the apartment sining Tom Jones. And, now, it is what the little radio in my brain will broadcast for the rest of the day.

"What's new pussycat? Woah, Woah
What's new pussycat? Woah, Woah
Pussycat, Pussycat
I've got flowers
And lots of hours
To spend with you..."

Well, I don't have lots of hours to do anything let alone spend them with anyone. But, for the record: I like flowers. I like it when people give me flowers.

I really need to get in the shower and get this singing out of my system.

they came from the stars, i saw them

Well, I didn't really see them, but YOU need to see this video and then you'll understand why they are the best thing since MUFFINS:





Online Videos by Veoh.com



Muffin Love,
Paloma

June 18, 2007: "I Just Wasn't Made for these Times" by the Beach Boys

"They say I got brains
But they ain't doing me no good
I wish they could

Each time things start to happen again
I think I got something good goin' for myself
But what goes wrong"

"Sometimes I feel very sad
Sometimes I feel very sad
(Can't find nothin' I can put my heart and soul into)
Sometimes I feel very sad
(Can't find nothin' I can put my heart and soul into)

I guess I just wasn't made for these times…"


"Every time I get the inspiration
To go change things around
No one wants to help me look for places
Where new things might be found

Where can I turn when my fair weather friends cop out
What's it all about"

It has been about a year since I have listened to Pet Sounds in its entirety. It just seems to fit today. In which era would I have ever felt comfortable? Maybe sometime in the far off future when there is a way to rewire the human brain. There is a point of self acceptance and self understanding, and I think I am there. And come to think of it, I would not want my brain rewired anyway. That would not be any fun, now would it? Yeah, I think I'll stick with the crazy.

June 14, 2007: iPod Shuffle Time

and
the
winner
is:

"War Pigs" by Alice Donut

Ah yes. "War Pigs" heavy on the brass. It is really nicely done. Alice Donut or here: Alice Donut. I had been toying with the idea of writing about Bright Eyes' "Road to Joy," which also touches on the topic of war.

What? Is Paloma writing about an instrumental? She's a poet. Where are the lyrics to carry her through the song. The song is the poem as read by the instruments. I love when I hit shuffle play on the iPod and get some quirky tune like this. Overall, I think Alice Donut are a bunch of noise and they really don't do much for me. But this is a cool little thing they did and it is worth adding to music collections everywhere.

Next week, in between music making, I will write some poems.

June 13, 2007 Song: "Just My Imagination" by the Temptations

This morning, while on my 7 mile round trip commute that takes 45-60 minutes, I, for some inexplicable reason, was listening to one of the crappy San Diego "alternative/cutting edge/bullshit" radio stations. The DJ announced that it was Incubus week. What? A week dedicated to Incubus? A young lady called in and won tickets to see Incubus. "Oh My God. This is the best day ever!!!" she squealed obnoxiously into the phone. Incubus Wednesday. Then the station played Pearl Jam. That was the last straw.

I am so switching to the oldies R&B station. I just want to hear some good pop music. Is that too much to ask? Apparently, yes, Paloma, it is. "Just My Imagination" was what was on when I switched over. Now it is stuck in my head. What can I write about it that I have not already said here about some other song before?

"Dear Lord, hear my plea.
Don't ever let another take her love from me.
Or I will surely die. Hmm

(Her love is) heavenly.
When her arms enfold me.
I hear a tender rhapsody.
But in reality, she doesn't even know me.

Just my 'imagination, once again.
Running away with me.
Oh, tell you it was just my 'magination"

I must say that I find it creepy that this is about some guy having an imaginary relationship with a woman and that he is worried about having someone take her away. I will kick the ass of anyone who ever tries to steal my imaginary friends.

June12, 2007 Song: “Postcards from Paradise” by Flesh for Lulu

“Delivered by mortal hands…”
Back in the mid 90’s, Davey and I were at a family gathering and this teenage boy walks up to us and says, “Are you guys from the 80’s? You look like you are from the 80’s.”
By now, you should know how much I like romantic 80’s songs. I totally dig the raspy voice too. And the accent makes my hair stand on end. Write me a song and get a raspy voiced Englishman to sing it and you’ll have me wrapped around your finger. It gives me butterflies in my stomach when I hear a song like this. There is nothing spectacular about the music or lyrics. Flesh for Lulu = Flash in the Pan.
The song is simple and straightforward enough. There is no musical or creative genius here. Simple. Simple. Simple. But how can you not love a song that goes:

“Postcards from paradise
Delivered by mortal hands
X marks the spot where you lay
Now the sun burns down on the sand

There goes love again
7 day wondering
Out on the ledge again
You’re threatening to jump again
Here comes temptation
Dragging it out again
Riding a bullet train
To your central nervous station
And I fell under your spell
And I lay where I fell
So wind down your window
I think I'm gonna kiss you
I don’t know what else to do
You send me…”

Perfect pop songs are like this. There is a mathematical formula. The problem with pop music as a whole is that the formula gets messed up. They make one careless misstep and the equation is out of whack. There is nothing spectacular about a balanced equation except that it makes perfect sense. I appreciate my share of complex and pretentious stuff. But, I adore a perfect little song like this because I can just sit back and feel it. I can be so damn complicated and suffer from so many internal existential dramas that a perfect little song that is plain and ordinary is all I can handle. Some days. Days like today, anyway. Today I am not in the mood for complicated. Really, at the heart of it all, I am just a simple girl who, honestly, would prefer to be free of all existential dilemmas. I am just as happy reading Sartre as I am reading the Sunday funnies…maybe happier reading the Sunday funnies.

Red Shoe Love

June 4, 2007 Song: "Race for the Prize" by the Flaming Lips

“Race for the Prize” explodes in the gentlest of explosions. If I had a favorite song, which I don’t, it would be this one. One of the best nights of my life was spent dancing my ass off in a Santa suit on stage with the Flaming Lips at the Hollywood Bowl. It was almost one year ago. Fuck. I still can’t get over it. When I hear this song I just want to cry. I do cry. It says to me: “Possibility. Believe in possibility.” It is my song about wishes granted and dreams coming true. It is confetti and rechargeable flashlight and the magic of being on that stage. I understand that it was not one of the Lips “best” shows, but I don’t really care, because it was magical. This song is orange balloons and Christmas in July.

It was the hottest day EVER. Davey and I arrived in Burbank the night before at 7:00 pm and it was 112 degrees Fahrenheit outside. We signed up for a timeshare presentation so we could get a cheap place to sleep while we were in LA to see the Lips at the Hollywood Bowl. I was not in the best mood that evening because of the way things had worked out at the San Diego show. I was feeling tired and hopeless.

The day before we drove to LA, Madi and I had gone to see the Lips at the Del Mar Racetrack. We got there at 2:00 and found Wayne Coyne! And, he said he would let us dance. Wayne took us backstage into the green room. Steven Drozd was there and complimented me on the T-shirt I had made just for the show (I ended up making him one). It was all a little surreal. Well, the Animal Wrangler, who has all the power, said no. The spots had already been given away to some asshole jocks and frat girls by the radio station. We waited ALL Day outside the green room and even got dancer passes. But, we never did get into those costumes. I was so disappointed. The one beautiful and redeeming thing about the night was that Wayne Coyne in the middle of the show announced that there were some fans that had been there since 2:00 and he bowed down to US. We also got to hang out with their sound and light guys during the show, it was cool to see them do their magic with all the switches and knobs.

Anyway, the next day, we made the short trip to LA. Though, I was not feeling it. I was my DREAM to dance on stage with the Flaming Lips and I had pretty much given up on that possibility. But, in true die-hard fan fashion, we decided to go to the venue early. After not buying a timeshare, we parked at Hollywood and Vine (I had been warned against parking at the Hollywood Bowl due to “stacked” parking) and walked up the hill to the bowl in the SCORCHING HEAT with our cooler of beer and candy bars. At one point, I did not think I was going to make it up the hill. It was so HOT. When we did get there, we found a nice spot in the shade had some beers, and hammed it up for the cameras (they were filming for a live DVD, since been replaced with the OKC footage). I had given up hope, but maybe I hadn’t. Because when I saw the Animal Wrangler, I went right over to him and guess what? He said yes. I guess I had to first endure the time-share sales pitch and the LA heat before the Universe would grant my wish. I understand the real meaning of Christmas in July.

I Daydream That My Life is a Musical

I daydream that my life is a musical. Every story and event has a song associated with it (as you can and will read in this blog). Those who are close to me know how often I break out into song. I live my life through music and music lives through me.

On Friday night Davey and I went to see once. I read some reviews on this film and had waited all week to see it. It left me emotionally exhausted. It was not overdone. It was perfect and tasty. I believe in musicals with all my heart. Glen Hansard (from the band, the Frames) was sweet and stunning in his tenderness. Marketa Irglova, who I found out is ONLY 19, was simple and beautiful as a young mother, a Czech immigrant, who meets the love of her life, a street musician, played by Hansard. They end up recording the most painful, longing and tender music together.

A love story can best be told through songs. I want so bad to give away the ending. I’ll just say that I have been thinking about it and replaying over and over in my mind it because it was so charming and it hurt me so bad. That is the power of the musical. I cried from start to finish.

I have not been moved by a musical since Dancer in the Dark. Is anyone surprised at my love for painful musicals about young mothers who sing?

I bought the soundtrack on iTunes as soon as I got home on Friday night. I fall in love at the drop of a hat. It is the love of my week.

Now, off to daydream about MY musical.

Painful Red Shoe Love,
Paloma

May 29, 2007 Song: "Oh Playmate, Come Out and Play With Me (Playmates)" by by Saxie Dowell

I used to have a music box that played this old tune called "Oh Playmate, Come Out and Play With Me (Playmates)." It was a ceramic fishbowl that had a cat climbing up the side. The cat was peeking over the edge, into the bowl at the fish. The fish looked like it was about to jump right out of the bowl and it would spin around as the music played. My grandmother gave it to me because she thought it was funny and because it played this song. She used to sing this to me...

"Oh PLAYMATE, come out and play with me
And bring your dollies three.
Climb up my apple tree,
Look down my rain barrel
Slide down my cellar door
And we'll be jolly friends forever more."

This is the song that is stuck in my head today. I miss her so much.

When I was a child my friends and I would sing this and play hand clap games. We would add a " One Two Three Four" right after "forever more."