Category Archives: Music

Guilty Pleasure, Music, Spring Break

SKI-tastic Playlist 1

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In a matter of hours I will be hitting the slopes of Monarch with this rockin’ playlist. I love the cool mountain air and the hot tunes. Hope you have a great spring break.

All These Things That I’ve Done // The Killers
Xanax and Wine // U2
Snow (Hey Oh) // Red Hot Chili Peppers
Make This Go On Forever // Snow Patrol
Yahweh (Alternative Version) // U2
Fully Alive // Flyleaf
Move Along // The All-American Rejects
Read My Mind // The Killers
Flathead // The Fratellis
World On Fire // Sarah McLachlan
Love Comes and Goes // Stillwater
Show Me How To Live // Audioslave
The Dolphin’s Cry // Live
Always (Value Added Title) // U2
Crush // Dave Matthews Band
Louisiana Bayou (6.26.05) // Dave Matthews Band
Soul Meets Body // Death Cab For Cutie

Music

Go, Right Now…

love.tiff

Head over to the iTunes store and download “Love, Reign O’er Me” by Pearl Jam. This is a haunting, near-perfect cover of the Who’s classic from the movie Reign Over Me.

You won’t be sorry.

Ministry, Music, Pope Bono, Shameless Self Promotion, U2, Youth Ministry

Catch Up

To say that the last few days were eventful would be a huge understaement. In the last 5 days I have traveled over 1500 miles and spent over 23 hours in my car. The bond between me and my iPod has, if can be believed, grown even more strong since Sunday. I haven’t posted since Friday so here is a bit of an update.

1) Press: Yours truly has gotten a little bit of press lately from the blog on some music sites. First, I was quoted by Spin magazine in an online editorial about the XM-Sirius merger. According to Spin I am “tuned in” to the issue. They even spelled my name right! Pretty cool. My original post can be seen here and the article from Spin can be found here.

Secondly, my story in my own voice was featured on the March 2nd edition of the @U2 podcast. The POPcast was celebrating the 10th anniversary of the release of U2’s POP album and the @U2 staff asked listeners to submit their favorite stories about the POP album or the tour, POPmart. I never thought in a million years that they would use my story but they did. You can listen to the podcast online or you can subscribe on iTunes. My part begins at around 54:20. Enjoy.

2) PlanetWisdom: I took my students to a great youth conference called PlanetWisdom last friday and saturday. The event was awesome. We had seats on the very front row and my students had a blast. The featured band was group named Addison Road and they totally rocked. The teaching times were solid and the whole event seemed to go flawlessly and smoothly especially from a youth leader’s perspective. It went so great that my students are already asking to go back next year.

On a related note, instead of driving back and forth from here to the conference, we stayed at my parent’s house.

Note to youth ministers out there: Burn all of your stuff from high school if you are going to let your youth group stay over at your parent’s house! They will find something that they think is hilarious. They will make fun of it. They will take pictures and post them on their Myspace pages. I’m just saying.

3) Bono-Fatigue I wouldn’t go so far as to diagnose what happened this weekend as Bono-fatigue but it was at least a case of over consumption. As I set out on my road trip I thought that it would be a great idea to listen to all of U2’s studio albums in a row without skipping any songs. Between Texas and Mississippi I listened to Boy, October, War, Under a Blood Red Sky, The Unforgettable Fire, The Joshua Tree, and Rattle and Hum. After All I Want is You finished playing I was about spent. “On the U2 timeline,” I thought, “this would be a natural break so I should probably quit this experiment right now before I just lose it.” On my return trip yesterday I picked up where I left off: Actung Baby, Zooropa, Pop, All That You Can’t Leave Behind, and How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb. Again maybe not fatigue but my tummy does hurt.

4) Saturday: I am completely stoked about heading out to Colorado to hit the slopes. We will be shooooshing down the mountain at Monarch starting this weekend. Can’t wait.

Music, Theology

God Will

It’s outrageous to line your pockets off the misery of the poor.
Outrageous the crime some human beings must endure.
It’s a blessing to wash your face in the summer solstice rain
It’s outrageous that a man like me stand here and complain.

But I’m tired, 900 sit-ups a day.
I’m painting my hair the colour of mud, mud, OK?
I’m tired, tired, anybody care what I say? NO!
Painting my hair the colour of mud.

Who’s gonna love you when your looks are gone?
Tell me, who’s gonna love you when your looks are gone?
Ah, who’s gonna love you when your looks are gone?
Who’s gonna love you when your looks are gone?
Who’s gonna love you when your looks are gone?
Who’s gonna love you when your looks are gone?
Who’s gonna love you when your looks are gone?

It’s outrageous the food they try to serve in the public school.
Outrageous the way they talk to you like some kind of clinical fool
It’s a blessing to rest my head in the circle of your love.
It’s outrageous, I can’t stop thinking about the things I’m thinking of.

But I’m tired, 900 sit-ups a day.
I’m painting my hair the colour of mud, mud, OK?
I’m tired, tired, anybody care what I say? NO!
Painting my hair the colour of mud.

Who’s gonna love you when your looks are gone?
Tell me, who’s gonna love you when your looks are gone?
Ah, who’s gonna love you when your looks are gone?
Who’s gonna love you when your looks are gone?
Who’s gonna love you when your looks are gone?
Who’s gonna love you when your looks are gone?
Who’s gonna love you when your looks are gone?
Tell me, who’s gonna love you when your looks are gone?

God will, like he waters the flowers on the window sill.
Take me, I’m an ordinary player in the key of C,
And my will was broken by my pride and my vanity

Who’s gonna love you when your looks are gone?
God will, like he waters the flowers on the window sill.
Who’s gonna love you when your looks are gone?

Outrageous
Paul Simon

Music

Black History Month Mix

1. What’s Going On (Original Detroit Mix) / Marvin Gaye
2. Uptight (Everything’s Alright) / Stevie Wonder
3. Stop! In The Name Of Love / The Supremes
4. Ain’t Too Proud To Beg / The Temptations
5. Reach Out, I’ll Be There / The Four Tops
6. Got To Give It Up / Marvin Gaye
7. Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler) / Marvin Gaye
8. Love’s In Need Of Love Today / Stevie Wonder
9. I Can / Nas
10. Changes / Tupac
11. The Thrill Is Gone / B.B. King
12. Everything Is Everything / Lauryn Hill
13. ‘Round Midnight / Thelonious Monk
14. Georgia / Ray Charles
15. What’d I Say, Pt. 1 / Ray Charles
16. Could You Be Loved / Bob Marley
17. Abide With Me / Thelonious Monk
18. People Get Ready / The Chambers Brothers
19. Didn’t It Rain / Mahalia Jackson
20. Freedom Road / The Blind Boys Of Alabama
21. Morning Yearning / Ben Harper
22. Please Bleed / Ben Harper
23. It’s a Man’s, Man’s, Man’s World / James Brown
24. A Change Is Gonna Come / Sam Cooke

Music

Music To My Ears

The 49th Annual Grammy Awards are this Sunday. As any good music fan and observer, I have my own ideas about who will take home awards and who will leave empty handed. Below I’ve listed the big award categories and my picks. I’ve added a little color commentary as well. Let me know what you think. Am I right or wrong? Who do you think will win?

Album Of The Year

My pick for album of the year is John Mayer’s Continuum. This is his best work to date and the album stands over and above anything else released this year. The music is textured in beautiful melodies and complex emotions. Will Mayer win though? I’m not sure.

I’m afraid that the award for Album of the Year will go to the Dixie Chicks for Taking the Long Way. While a decent album, it doesn’t live up to repeated lisening like Contiuum does. I think the Chicks will get a win, they just don’t belong or deserve to win in this category.

Consolation: Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Stadium Arcadium

Record Of The Year
Record of the Year goes to the artist and to the producer(s) of a particular track. Again, this award has a chance of being (wrongly) given to the Dixie Chicks. This award should go to Gnarles Barkley for their summer anthem Crazy. The record was everywhere this year. Of course, Mary J could sweep in and take this award but I’m not convinced that will hapen

Song Of The Year
Now, if the Dixie Chicks deserve any award this year it is this one. Song of the Year is a songwriter’s award and it should go to the Chicks’ Not Ready to Make Nice. The only competion that the they have is Carrie Underwood’s Jesus Take the Wheel. Both songs a very well written but Not Ready packs a much bigger punch.

Dark Horse: Corinne Bailey Rae’s Put You Records On

Best New Artist
Hands down, Best New Artist belongs to Corinne Bailey Rae. She has incredible talent and has been blowing up every since her album dropped stateside this past summer. I have a bit of a crush on Mrs. Rae so I might be a bit bias.

So these are the 4 big awards that everybody cares about. I am no expert so I expect to wake up Monday morning only to find that I was way off on my predictions. We shall see.

I listed a couple of other Grammy picks below. I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend. See ya Monday.

Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals
One– Mary J. Blige & U2

Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal
The Saints Are Coming– U2 & Green Day
or
Talk– Coldplay

Best Rock Song
When You Were Young– the Killers
or
Chasing Cars– Snow Patrol

Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album
See the Morning– Chris Tomlin

Best Reggae Album
Youth– Matisyahu

Official Grammy Website
Yahoo! Grammy Page
Complete List of Awards

Music, Popular Culture

One Step Closer to Knowing

Commenting on the settlement, Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO said, “We love the Beatles, and it has been painful being at odds with them over these trademarks. It feels great to resolve this in a positive manner, and in a way that should remove the potential of further disagreements in the future.”

Commenting on the settlement on behalf of the shareholders of Apple Corps, Neil Aspinall, manager of Apple Corps said, “It is great to put this dispute behind us and move on. The years ahead are going to be very exciting times for us. We wish Apple Inc. every success and look forward to many years of peaceful co-operation with them.”

Peaceful co-operation? Carefully worded statement Mr. Aspinall. Co-operation is quite different from cooperation. Do you mean working toward the same end (cooperation) or seperate companies leaving each other be (co-operation)? Which is it!?!?!?!?!

I just want to know one thing:

Does this mean that the Beatles are coming to iTunes or not?

I’m looking forward to a carefully worded email in my inbox good sir.

link
via

Discipleship, Firm on the Rock, Guilty Pleasure, Ministry, Music, The Word

Bap-Ba-Bap

This morning I sat down at my desk and fired up iTunes. I hit the shuffle button and then play.

“Higher Love” by Steve Winwood began flowing forth from the speakers on my desk. I didn’t even know that I had that song!!!

I am a huge sucker for any song with synthesizer and this ong brings it out in full force.

As I listened to it again this morning I realized that I really only knew the chorus. Yes, it is an awesome chours but I began to really hear the lyrics of the verses today for the first time. I’ve posted the entire song with synthesizer annotation (Bap-Ba-Bap) for your enlightenment below. What a great song and an even greater reminder to keep telling the world about the true Higher Love that they are seeking. Like Message in a Bottle, the world is looking for acceptance and belonging. Never forget and be ready to tell those around you where you hope is. If you’ve got a case of the Mondays let the synthesizer take you into the presence of Higher Love!!! Bap-Ba-Bap!

Think about it, there must be higher love
Down in the heart or hidden in the stars above
Without it, life is a wasted time
Look inside your heart, I’ll look inside mine
Things look so bad everywhere
In this whole world, what is fair?
We walk blind and we try to see
Falling behind in what could be

Bring me a higher love
Bring me a higher love
(Bap-Ba-Bap)
Bring me a higher love
Wheres that higher love I keep thinking of?

Worlds are turning and were just hanging on
Facing our fear and standing out there alone
A yearning, and its real to me
There must be someone who’s feeling for me
Things look so bad everywhere
In this whole world, what is fair?
We walk blind and we try to see
Falling behind in what could be

Bring me a higher love
Bring me a higher love
(Bap-Ba-Bap)
Bring me a higher love
Wheres that higher love I keep thinking of?

Bring me a higher love
Bring me a higher love
(Bap-Ba-Bap)
Bring be a higher love
I could rise above on a higher love

I will wait for it
I’m not too late for it
Until then, I’ll sing my song
To cheer the night along
Bring it…oh bring it…

I could light the night up with my soul on fire
I could make the sun shine from pure desire
Let me feel that love come over me
Let me feel how strong it could be

Bring me a higher love
Bring me a higher love
(Bap-Ba-Bap)
Bring me a higher love
Where’s that higher love I keep thinking of?

Books, Music, Questions

WILSON!!!!!!

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Sarah asked everyone to name the top 5 things that they would take with them if they were stranded on a desert island. She got her inspiration from a great episode of The Office last season (BTW, New episode tonight!!!!).

Here were my answers:

1) Name 5 books you want with you:

Good to Great by Jim Collins
The Jesus I Never Knew by Philip Yancey
Get Up Off Your Knees by Whiteley and Maynard (ed)
In A Pit With a Lion on A Snowy Day by Mark Batterson
TNIV Study Bible

2) Name 5 movies you would have:

The Godfather
The Godfather II
Almost Famous
School of Rock
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off

3) Name 5 songs and 5 songs only that you would have on your iPod.

All Along the Watchtower- Hendrix
Where the Streets Have No Name- U2
All These Things That I’ve Done- the Killers
Baba O’Riley- The Who
Fix You- Coldplay

It is a little rainy and cold here in the Big D. I think our plans are to just curl up in front of the TV tonight. I can’t wait. Dunder-Mifflin was missed last week at our house I can tell you that.

Have a great day everyone.