rock and roll hootchie koo

….a very stressful time

but music and green tea can sure soothe my soul

soothe…there’s an aesthetic word

mary wash kids, good luck on finals!

so guess who has her ticket to see Billy Joel this summer?!

…just wanted to share in case i hadn’t
…and you might call it bragging, but i just call it spreading my joy
(the little I do have during these last two weeks of the semester)

Good luck everyone on projects and exams!

….Lupe Fiasco is the first hip-hop artist that has actually provided me with a message through his musical talent.  People might say that hip-hop artists all sound the same.  But, until you listen to this artist, please do not judge.  Hip-hop may have a bad reputation, especially with songs like “Oh!” or “Pop, Lock, and Drop It”.  Granted, I think those are great songs to dance to.  I just don’t personally recieve any sort of meaningful message from them and I think that is why so many disrespect the genre of hip-hop.  Here are a few videos…..please watch:

“Hip-Hop Saved My Life”

“Little Weapon”

“Streets On Fire”

This past friday night, University of Mary Washington’s Great Hall was shaking to the sounds of 9 different bands.  I heard anything from what sounded like the screaming of birds to the total domination style of metal rock (quite an experience).  Sadly, there wasn’t a big crowd for the show, but I actually think that made me enjoy it even more.  There was enough commotion going on with everyone trying to shuffle back and forth from stage to stage.  Everyone seemed to be in anticipation to find out how the next band would get their feet moving and head’s nodding.

As part of the staff on GIANT (the club that provides most of the entertainment for the Mary Wash commuity), I was able to meet and greet with the bands.  They seemed just as normal as the rest of us who walk up and down on Campus Walk, but after seeing them perform..I gained a new level respect for them.  Each band’s performance was creative and distinct.  The winner of the competition, Junk Science, could easily be the next Dave Matthew’s Band.  Because they won, they will be playing on Devil-Goat Day…..this Thursday, April 24th on Ball Circle.  I recommend you come and see this band perform….you won’t regret it.

http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/?cl=7107310 

…this excited me…i’m sort of a lover for both history and music

“I’m Henry the VIII I am, Henry the VIII I am….” is an unbelievably catchy phrase….well, once you hear it sung by Herman’s Hermits. After first listening to it, I sort of felt like a child who cannot stop humming a newly learned Mother Goose rhyme. Check it out:

St. Louis Arch

I have finally recuperated from my trip to St. Louis! However, I am definitely not unpacked nor caught up on all my work. I have a feeling neither of those will happen till I leave for Spring Break. ; ) The five days I spent in St. Louis were some of the best experiences of my life. By attending this conference called NACA (National Association for Campus Activities), I had the opportunity to meet so many people and engage in so many forms of entertainment. As a member of the GIANT entertainment group on campus, I (along with the other four members who attended the conference) had the responsibility of seeking out bands, comedians, magicians, etc. to bring to our campus next year. It was insane how many of the acts there were to perform and then furthermore, how many we enjoyed and want to bring here at Mary Wash.

This conference was, quoted from someone in my group, a “surreal” experience. Not only did I get to see DMC (stayed three rooms down from our group’s room…met him in the hallway!), Lance Bass, Caroline Rhea, Mr. Belding (from “Saved by the Bell”), Finesse Mitchell, Howie Day, Alex Thomas, etc., I had the opportunity to engage in all different kinds of music with all different kinds of people. Music was just beaming from every direction at this conference and it truly had an effect on all of the attendees and performers. I recommend the experience…especially since next year it will be in Nashville…The Music City.

Here are couple clips of music from two musicians that performed at NACA…my favorites:

Jessica Sonner “Rescue Me”

Last night, I attended the Great Lives lecture on Ella Fitzgerald (1917-1996). Douglas Gately, who is part of the Music Department here at Mary Washington, presented the lecture. Many came out from the community and there were also several UMW students. I even saw Magan from our class….and from talking to her, she seemed to have loved it as much as I did. Gateley was very informative and his Powerpoint presentation really helped me gain some insight and details into the life of Fitzgerald (Who knew she was actually part of the Mafia?). I did some further research on my own and found that she was actually nicknamed “The First Lady of Song” and “Lady Ella.” Additionally, I found that she is from Newport News, Virginia. I find that very interesting since that city is actually right beside my hometown: Smithfield, Virginia.

I first discovered Ella Fitzgerald in Girl Scouts when I had to do a project for Black History Month. I found her music so relaxing and easygoing…especially that “A-Tisket, A-Tasket” song (her first number one song). Since my encounter with her music a few years ago, I have really opened to the swing and jazz genres. I would truly just love to sit on my back porch on a gorgeous spring day and listen to the voice and song of Fitzgerald. As I stated earlier, her music is incredibly relaxing.

I think this quote really relates to what we have been discussing in class lately…..

“Coming through the years, and finding that I not only have just the fans of my day, but the young ones of today — that’s what it means, it means it was worth all of it.” –Ella Fitzgerald

……seemed like she really had a mission.

Here is a bit of music trivia I read in University of Mary Washington’s newspaper, The Bullet (just in case you all did not have a chance to read it):

Van Halen’s concert contract demanded that they always have a bowl of M&Ms backstage with all of the brown candies removed.  If there was one brown M&M in the bowl, it was sufficient legal cause for Van Halen to cancel a scheduled appearance.  The clause was in the contract to determine whether the technical specifications had been thoroughly read.

: )

Danielle and I had a grand time with the podcasts yesterday in class…..especially after we realized the red light on the audio recording should be lit up red to actually record.  Haha…sadly we did a whole interview before we realized that it was not on. 

…But by doing this project, we realized that we share a love for the musical artist, Cat Power.  This was the best part of our interview for me, because I find it rare to find somebody with a love for Cat Power and her music.  I recommend anyone reading this to check her music out…..and try to go to one of her concerts!  She is just fabolous.

Here are a couple of pictures I have from the concert I attended this past October (2007):

Cat Power at the NORVA

Cat Power at the NORVA 2