My daughter woke up before dawn calling out my name. It's been a long time since she's done that. Mostly she doesn't call out because she's getting older and doesn't need to anymore. But also it's because when she does need something these days, she calls out for her father. I view this with an alternate mix of wistful joy, exhausted relief and complete jealousy. Turns out this time she awoke because she'd had a nightmare that I was gone. I went in her room, hugged her tightly and she went back to sleep like that. And me, sadly I found some joy in her frightening dream. Her wide eyes that softened with relief when she saw me, and that tight-tight hug, well I've been in a great mood all day.

I haven't written here in so long. I can't believe people still come by, but I know they do. I get stats, I get emails. I wish I still had the push inside of me that made me want to reach out most days and write and post songs. I still have great songs, still hear new ones all the time that I think, "Oh, I should post that" but then I don't. So much going on, too much on my mind. Like for instance, my daughter's school, the one some of you probably read about on this very blog, that I agonized over whether to send her to, it abruptly and unexpectedly closed a few weeks ago. Weeks before school was officially over for the year. But that's a long and involved story and I suspect much good will come out of it in the end.

Or maybe I've just been lazy. But I'm thinking of posting a few mixes that I've shared with my friends over the last few years. So many of you are my friends, or pretty darn close, so I'm gonna share them with you too-- next week, maybe? They're mostly from the first few months of this here blog. But now onto my latest batch of random songs:


Got this from Heather's great blog I believe. You can't go wrong with the classics. Hold Steady are big baseball fans. I'm a big Hold Steady fan. Ergo...

The Hold Steady, "Take Me Out To The Ballgame"

Get your dance groove on. It's just silly, mindless and totally dance-able. I don't have a ton of tolerance for too much of this stuff, but c'mon, this is fun for the kids. They can totally do air drumming and weird robot dancing to this. Little fishies in my ice cream?

Prinzhorn Dance School, "Up! Up! Up!"

Another classic. Got this from who killed the mixtape? They did a great mixtape that featured another one of my selections here, the last one. I had forgotten what a great tune this is for the kiddles. I didn't have it in mp3 form, only a 7 inch. I need to record some of my 7 inches. Whose doing this these days? How? Mine always sound so distant when I do it with Audio Hijack and cord connecting computer to receiver.

The Dixie Cups, "Iko Iko"

The latest Shrek soundtrack was a bit disappointing. But this song is great. The Eels never fail to bring the love to the ogre flicks. The level is a bit low on this, don't know why.

Eels, "Royal Pain"

We've played this CD over and over and over at our house since we got it on the day it came out. This is the song that stuck out to Tuesday. She sings along, pointing out that Jeff Tweedy switches it up in the chorus from what light to white light to one light. It's got a nice sentiment too, this song, about being yourself so I think it's glorious that she's taken a liking to this one. Sky Blue Sky is lovely and I know, I don't think Wilco can do anything wrong, but it's just fantastic for the impending lazy days.

Wilco, "What Light"

Whoo-eee. This is one of those songs that I can't get enough of. I played it when I DJ'd my husband and his partner's AIGA event and someone came up and frantically asked me what it was. They thought it was old. Nope, brand new.

Lucky Soul, "Get Outta Town"

I remember listening to this over and over on my pink Panasonic cassette deck with the mint green buttons. We heard it on one of the kid movies we've seen lately and then I saw it on blog. Tuesday immediately took to it. Of course she did. She's my daughter.

Katrina and the Waves, "Walking on Sunshine"

And then this: it's been everywhere but in case you haven't seen it, here it is again. Tuesday loves this video and our friend says his 3-year old daughter has watched it so many times that she can do all the dance moves along with Feist and her colorful accompanists. So much better than the Wiggles, no?





More info on Lucky Soul :: Wilco :: Eels :: Hold Steady :: Shrek the 3rd Soundtrack :: Prinzhorn Dance School

I don't often write about videos here. Mostly because the focus has always been music and also because we don't watch a lot of videos. Although we recently instituted Saturday Movie Night at our house complete with big-screen feature attraction and popcorn. So far the big hits have been the old Pink Panther movies. It's crazy how well the physical comedy of Peter Sellers translates to a 5 year old. And the sexy stuff goes right over her head.

But recently we have another hit — a little Scholastic video that isn't a movie at all. We have this favorite book in our house, it's called Arnie the Doughnut, by Laurie Keller. If you haven't read it you're missing out. She also wrote Scrambled States of America and the Open Wide book that is probably very dog-eared at your dentists' office. Her books are brilliant -- she illustrates them and fills the pictures with tons of hilariously wry little asides. They make Tuesday laugh out loud and frankly us too.

One of the hard working PR people that sends me tons of emails that I usually ignore sent me one telling me that they had turned Arnie, the story of a doughnut who doesn't want to be eaten, into one of those Scholastic Video Series DVDs. In case you're not familiar with them, they are fairly low-fi vids that take popular books and sort of animate them... sort of. I mean, this is not the kind of animation the kids today are used to, it's more in line with what we watched as kids. They move the eyes a bit, maybe make the mouth move along to the spoken words. And that's why I LOVE them. I mean, they are quaint. And this story is fantastic. Lenny or Squiggy narrates, I get them mixed up. Coupled with five other books that are sort of animated, it makes for about a 40 minute video (Tuesday's other favorite? "The New Animal.") Perfect for a Saturday Movie Night, low-fi style.

Pick it up here.

And yes, here it is, the last day of school for my big boy. We've finished all the homework. The talent show and end of the year barbeque have passed. We're packing for family camp in the Sierras next week. And my kids have decided they hate (no, not dislike) all of my music. Even when I put the CDs in their room to choose for themselves. They will only choose things these days that are specifically recorded with them in mind.

But, as they are marketed, there are a few of these things that I really, truly am finding myself liking as well as my kids. I know it's goofy and cliched, but I am seriously listening to a couple of these things on my own time, sans littles. They really do fit the ((sm))all ages spirit here, so I'm putting them up today and will return to our regular programming next time. I'm hoping my kids will come around to be a in a little better mood next time, too.

First off is one that the littles dig a bit more than I do, but it's hippity and cool and we all dig. And, as Clea says, his publicist is nice and I like her and she asked nicely. So, here you get a spankin' new Mr. David song from his upcoming record. He's a Bay Area guy, so that works in his favor here, too. Gotta show the local love. And if you are one of the first lucky 3000 to sign on to his mailing list, you'll get a signed copy of his single! Hop-to, folks!

Mr.David--Hey! It's Lunchtime

I'm returning to Renee & Jeremy's It's a Big World over and over again. My littles sing along so sweetly. They act so big and cool sometimes, but they are such lumps of honey. And the title track just laces its way into my heart and soul and stays with me. I hum and sing and think about my babies playing together so nicely - laughing and getting along for the few minutes when the world just all seems lovely. Both Max and Annie seem to go along their own way, paying no mind to what anyone thinks, fiddling in their own style. My greatest wish for them is that they can somehow keep that quality as they get older and more aware. I do love this song. And I listen on my own. Check it. Buy this record. It's really, really, really beautiful.

Renee & Jeremy--it's a big world

The DeedleDeedleDees just make me happy. I listen to them in the car by myself. I listen to them when I'm working by myself. When my the littles are around and Major Deegan comes on, they RUN, RUN, RUN to me and say - MOMMY! it's your favorite song! They can can kick some serious rockin' butt and they are the smartest and handsomest and super-nicest band east of the Mississippi. AND, if you happen to be anywhere in the vicinity of Florence, MA you and your family MUST attend one of the shows they are playing there this weekend. They KILL live.

DeedleDeedleDees--Major Deegan
DeedleDeedleDees--Drum!

And very, very last, but not least - my buddy Enzo, the smartest, handsomest, super-nicest musician WEST of the Mississippi, is giving away a free download on his myspacepage in honor of Dairy Month. Oh, yeah! He loves his milk. It's a fun blues song, so go grab it before June ends.

enjoy!
--debinsf

and thank you to emutree for the use of his photo.