Music Asks

 

A song you like with a color in the title…

“Devil with a Blue Dress”

A song you like with a number in the title…

“76 Trombones”

A song that reminds you of summertime…

“All Summer Long” by Kid Rock

A song that reminds you of someone you would rather forget about…

“Land of a Thousand Dances” by Wilson Pickett

A song that needs to be played LOUD…

Umm… every song! Unless I’m trying to have a conversation. 

A song that makes you wanna dance…

“Fireball” by Pitbull (and most other songs by Pitbull)

A song to drive to…

This is when I perform musicals. 

A song about drugs or alcohol…

“Whiskey Lullaby” by Brad Paisley

A song that makes you happy…

“Dance” by DNCE

A song you never get tired of…

“Push” by Matchnox 20 

A song from your preteen years…

“Wannabe” by the Spice Girls

One of your favorite 80’s songs…

“It’s Tricky” by Run-DMC

A song that you would love played at your wedding…

“I’m Too Sexy” by Right Said Fred (and that song actually was played at my wedding).

A song that is a cover by another artist…

“Baby One More Time” by Tenacious D

One of your favorite classical songs… 

“Turkish March” by Mozart (when Nicky was little he called this the “run around song” because it made him want to run around).

A song you would sing for a duet in karaoke…

“I Got You Babe” by Sonny and Cher

A song from the year you were born…

“Uptown Girl” by Billy Joel

A song that makes you think about life…

“My Wish” by Rascal Flatts

A favorite song with a person’s name in the title…

“Sherry” by Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons

A song that moves you forward…

“Break Free” by Queen

A song you think everybody should listen to…

“Quiet Uptown” from Hamilton (but you need to understand the context)

A song by a group you wish were still together…

Nope. Don’t really care.

A song by an artist no longer living…

“Jailhouse Rock” by Elvis

A song you're embarrassed to love...

Oh, the list is long for this one, but I do love me some "Lil Boo Thang," and I can groove to some Disney Channel original movie soundtracks like I have a degree in it. 

A song that breaks your heart…

“Skin” by Rascal Flatts

A song that you remember from childhood…

"Hungry Eyes" from the Dirty Dancing soundtrack. When I was in preschool, this was my jam. 

A song that reminds you of yourself…

"I Can Hear the Bells" from Hairspray reminds me of when I was 14 and telling everyone I was so in love with Scotty and wanted to marry him

Got Frisson?

As you know, I recently started working part time. While I’m at work, I’m often by myself, and I’m able to pop my earbuds in and listen to whatever sparks my fancy. Most of the time I listen to audiobooks, but sometimes I change things up with a podcast or a TV show. I’ve found that music isn’t always my “go to” during work because I don’t like to just listen to music, I like to participate in it. The best part of music for me is singing and/or dancing along. I don’t know if anyone at work wants to hear me singing with earbuds in my ears. They probably wouldn’t care if I danced, but dancing while using a nail gun probably isn’t recommended by OSHA. Music just isn’t the same if all I can do is listen, so listening to music at work makes me feel like I’m being held back or living a restricted lifestyle. 

For the last two weeks I haven’t had much success with audiobooks because I haven’t been able to focus, so despite not being able to sing and dance at work, I’ve jumped around from playlist to playlist. One of my playlists is “slow country,” and as I shuffled through it, I pretty much relived my entire life - especially my teenage love life (to compensate for not being able to fully participate in the music, I tapped my toe and occasionally drummed my fingers on the work table).

When I was a teenager, I credited every song to be about (insert boy of choice). When I liked a boy, there was a song for that - written just for us. When a boy broke my heart, there was a song for that. And since I liked a lot of boys, there are a lot of songs that stir memories of (insert boys’ names here). 

I also have a lot of distinct memories of being in specific places and hearing certain songs. I have memories of singing with my friends in the car, slow dancing with boys, performing with my dance team, and belting out solos in my bedroom. 

It’s not just a “slow country” playlist that sparks my memories - I have always enjoyed a variety of music styles - but the slow country hit pretty hard. Not only were there songs I attributed to boys I liked, there were also several songs on my playlist that remind me of friends and loved ones who have died. There’s a country song that played on the radio one day when my friend Brian and I were out buying donuts for our French class. Brian passed away shortly after high school, and every time I hear that song, I think about him. Then there are some songs I listened to shortly after my brother died last year, songs that remind me of my grandparents, and a song that reminds me of my brother-in-law, Doug.

A few months ago I learned a new word: frisson. Frisson is an emotional reaction where you get goosebumps or chills or even get teary eyed as a response to music and other art forms. I was excited to have a word for it because it happens to me. I especially get chills during certain harmonies or key changes in music, and I have this response to dance as well, and -hear me out - I even get it on some amusement park rides (as I learned last year in Disney World when I kept crying on rides). I came across the word in social media one day, and the post said that only a certain percentage of the population experiences frisson. I did a little more googling and found different reports on how many people experience frisson - ranging from 50-80%. Regardless of what the actual number is, I was shocked that not everyone has that response to music. I was so curious about people who don’t experience frisson that I did a poll on Instagram just to see if any of my 32 friends are among the non-frissoners. Two of my friends said they do not experience frisson, and it was kind of surprising. Both of those friends have histories in musical theatre, and one of them is a very talented pianist (she’s the type who, when she accompanies in primary, doesn’t even open the songbook). Friend #1 said (as we messaged each other further about her lack of frisson) that she rarely listens to music, as to her, it’s unnecessary noise. She just doesn’t really like it. Friend #2, the pianist, claims her lack of frisson is due to her heart of stone. I was really shocked by Friend #2 because music is such a big part of her life (heart of stone or not), but then I thought… for people who are especially gifted musically, a lot of music probably sounds really awful to their ears, so it probably takes a really high level and quality music to stir them emotionally. Just a Theory by Britt. 

Recently I experienced frisson while watching Daisy dance in a concert at the high school. 

Daisy has grown immensely as a dancer this year, and Ive started to see her really feel the music. She has had the chance to choreograph and teach two dances to her company, and I cried the first time I saw her choreography on stage. 

I know that music makes my girl experience things, so I’m always trying to sneak it into her life. She loves to listen to music, and she sings constantly (sometimes I just really want her to be quiet, but I always remind myself that the day might come when she stops singing, and that will be a tragedy). I made her participate in a church youth choir for Easter, and boy, was she mad at me. She went to practice every week and pouted. She never confessed that it was a good experience, but by the time they performed, I think she knew. Plus, they sang one of her favorite songs (but anytime I call it “one of her favorite songs,” she argues and says it’s not, but it is. Mama knows). 

A couple of months ago, Scotty and I went downtown to hear the Tabernacle Choir rehearse in the tabernacle on a Thursday night (the rehearsals are open, if you ever want to go. I recommend it! You don’t have to stay for the whole thing. You can pop in for as long as you want). I realized that I hadn’t heard the Choir sing live since before COVID. It was amazing, and you can’t beat the sound of the tabernacle. As the youths these days say, it just hits different. I got many a chill!

Here’s the thing with me and frisson, though. I don’t want to get caught with it. I don’t want anyone seeing me get goosebumps or tears in my eyes. So when it happens in mixed company, I’m like, “Oh no! I’m feeling stuff. Fight it! Be strong!” But when I’m by myself, I just let it happen, and I feel all the things that come at me, and I might sing to dance or cry for a moment. In public it feels like I got caught peeing a little.

So… are you among the 50-80% who get frisson?

Lest You Think I Play the Piano

One of my life's biggest regrets is not learning how to properly play the piano. 

I tried. I took lessons for a minute when I was five. Then when I was 21, I started taking lessons again. I ended up having to quit after about a year to accommodate my job. 

When I was growing up, the organist at our church told me that she learned how to play the piano when she was 27. I always thought that was really cool because it showed that you can learn new things at any phase of life. I kept brushing aside my lack of piano skills, saying I would wait til 27 like Sister Madsen. Then 27 came and went, and I never learned how to really play the piano. 

Despite my lack of piano lessons, in the years between 5 and 21, I still played the piano a lot. Without formal training, I came up with my own methods and developed a lot of bad habits that I couldn't unlearn when I started taking lessons at 21. As a teenager I learned a lot of the easier hymns by playing them the way I heard them. I relied on the written music to help me memorize them, but I couldn't actually read music. I would have to count the lines to figure out which notes I was supposed to play, and then I would practice them over and over until muscle memory allowed me to get through the song. I didn't know proper fingering or timing, and if I messed up, I could never get back on track without starting over. I was able to hack my way through prelude a couple of times for Young Women and seminary, and I tried to accompany from time to time, but I never got to the point where I could play well with people singing other than a couple instances of "Choose the Right." 

Since I regret not learning to play the piano, I'm forcing my kids to take piano lessons. I told them they can quit when I can open the hymn book to a random song, and they can play it. Unfortunately, none of them are very good at piano, so after years of lessons, no one is close to being set free.

At this point in life, I don't know that I want to try and learn to play the piano again, but I'll never say never! I know a woman in her 50's who just started taking lessons a couple of years ago. Perhaps she'll be my new motivator. At least that way I can keep procrastinating for another 13 years. 

Me when I finally learn to play the piano

When the Lord Called Me to Sing Soprano

Speaking of Church music...

Early this morning I had a thorough planning session for my upcoming singing times at Church. I like to plan at least a month in advance with a tentative idea of what I'll be doing for the next three months. I also have a skeletal framework outlined for the entire year, and I make adaptions as needed.

Planning session supplies include:

Laptop

"Come Follow Me" basket with cat folder

Sustenance (i.e. water and Smarties from Sister Argyle)

Spreadsheet

I plan ahead; otherwise I procrastinate. A lot of the time I gather my materials last minute (I've been known to spend Sunday mornings laminating), but I always have my plan far in advance. I don't do well planning week by week. I do better when I do big planning sessions and then spend a little time each week reviewing and prepping.

I've been serving as primary music leader for two years AS OF THIS WEEK, and I feel like I'm finally starting to figure it out.

Let me tell you the story of how the calling of primary music leader came to me.

Shortly after I had Nicky (thirteen years ago), I had a dream that I was asked to be the primary music leader. It was an assignment I never wanted and never thought I could do. When I woke up, I was so relieved it was only a dream. It couldn’t be a foretelling of things to come because our ward had just sustained a new primary chorister a couple of months prior. I didn’t need to worry.

That day happened to be a Sunday. As Scotty and I were nestling into our pew before sacrament meeting, the ward executive secretary came up to me and asked if I could meet with a member of the bishopric later that day. It made me nervous, but again, our chorister was newly called, so I knew that couldn't be what they wanted to talk to me about. It was just a funny coincidence.

During sacrament meeting, much to my surprise, the "new" chorister was sustained as a counselor in the primary presidency. Suddenly, to my dismay, there was a need for a new primary music leader. I immediately became sick. I spent the rest of church wiping tears from my eyes. I couldn't accept the calling. I just couldn't. I hadn't attended primary much as a child. I'd never served in primary. I didn't know the songs or how anything in primary worked. And the thought of standing up in front of a room of children and adults SINGING was absolutely terrifying to me.

There were a few hours in between church and my appointment with the bishopric. During those hours, I was a mess. I ran through every excuse I could think of so I could turn down the calling and not feel guilty. It might sound silly. You might think, "Just say no. What's the big deal?" but my reasons for not wanting to accept the calling didn't align with my belief in inspired callings and patterns of personal growth. I finally turned it over to the Lord, and offered in a prayer to do the calling if that was where He wanted me to serve.

When I headed into the church, I was very nervous. I worried I was going to burst out sobbing in front of a man who wouldn't know what to do about it. And, of course, I had to meet with the counselor in the bishopric with the worst people skills.

I sat across from him, ready to face my fate. Prepared to accept the calling. Trying to not cry.

He asked me to be an Activity Days leader.

------

So I guess you could say I got all hyped up for no reason. But I kind of think I needed that experience. I learned a lot about myself and about serving in the church in those few hours of turmoil.

Many years later, I was called to serve in the primary presidency. I finally got to see how things worked in primary, and as I observed a couple different music leaders in their service, I noted two things:

1) I could do it if I ever had to
2) Eventually, I would be the primary chorister

After serving as the second counselor in primary for a while, I was called to be the first counselor with a new president. Then I was called to be the president. When I was serving as first counselor and then president, my friend Jennifer served as primary chorister. I knew I would replace her. Fortunately, Jennifer served for well over five years. I was able to teach youth Sunday school for almost three years. Then I was asked to meet with a member of the bishopric, and I knew what was coming.

I still didn't want to do it. I didn't want to leave the youth. I hadn't recovered yet from being the primary president. The thought of having to go to primary with my kids horrified me. I wanted to participate in Relief Society. I wanted to be with adults. I was worried that going back to primary might trigger my depression (it did) (when I was serving as primary president I struggled with depression pretty bad, and I think being with kids all the time was a factor). The ultimate kicker is that I don't like very many primary songs (gasp! I know!!! What kind of Saint am I? But I'm an alto, and those dang songs are so stinkin' high!)

As you know, I accepted the calling. I had to have some really thorough conversations with God about it, and I felt a promise from Him in my heart that as I did this calling, my gifts would increase. And I can tell you, they have! I've had an increased measure of love for the children in my ward, an influx of creativity, better musical ability, enhanced teaching skills, and an ever-growing understanding of the gospel. I might even be able to sing a little higher now, but I'll always be pretty pitchy, and I'll never start on key.

That's not to say that I didn't spend the first eighteen months of the calling absolutely hating it. I truly suffered. But I've come around. Two-hour church helps. Kids giving me hugs and calling me "my teacher" also helps.

One little boy, on his last day of primary at the end of the year last year, sought me out after church and said, "Don't worry, this isn't good-bye forever." He cracked me up and melted my heart. And the little punk hasn't said hi to me since.

Just kidding. He passed the sacrament to me last week. That's as good as a hello, in my book.

I didn't anticipate ever being able to say this, but I love my calling!

(Oh my gosh!! I can't believe I just said that!)

A Tale of Three Hymns

As you may remember, I'm the primary music leader in my ward (for those not familiar with my religious vernacular, I teach music to the children at church) (my qualifications for this job are: none). The Come Follow Me - for Primary manual suggested singing "How Great Thou Art" as part of the lesson this week, so today for singing time, I taught it to the kids.

They LOVED it!

They were rowdy as heck, but when they sang that song, they sounded better than... well... pretty much any other time I've had them sing. I even had one kid raise his hand and ask if he could sing the chorus as a solo (I'm still trying to decide whether he was serious). It kind of makes me hope that some of them will someday say, "I love the song 'How Great Thou Art.' I learned it in primary!"

We'll see...

Anyway, I, for one, have always loved "How Great Thou Art," which got me thinking about some of the other hymns that I really like. I don't have a "favorite" hymn, but I have a few contenders. Here are a few hymns that are dear to me, and some of the reasons why.

The first is "I Need Thee Every Hour." 

I really started to develop a love for the hymns when I was in seminary. My first year of seminary, I had a teacher who was a musical prodigy. He was the first person I ever saw play a piano like this:

Jon Schmidt - not my seminary teacher

(but I wouldn't have complained if he had been)

Since my teacher played the piano so well, we always had superb accompaniment for all the hymns we sang in class (we also had some pretty amazing improvised musical numbers based on popular songs, such as "I Want You Baptized"-  an impromptu parody of "I Want You Back" by NSYNC. OUr teacher could sit down at the piano and play anything. Oh to have that gift!) 

After that year, all of my seminary teachers were non-musical and depended on the students to play the piano. Most of the piano players in my classes stuck to the simplest hymns, and that put "I Need Thee Every Hour" in the regular rotation. At first it was just any old song to me, but as I sang it more often and started memorizing it through repetition, the words started to mean more to me. Then as I grew into adulthood and started facing new adversities and learning more about the Atonement, I began to better understand the sentiment of needing the Savior every hour. 

Favorite lines:

I need the every hour, stay thou nearby. 

Temptations lose their pow'r when thou art nigh.

"In Humility Our Savior" is my favorite sacrament hymn. I don't have an experience or story to go along with this one. It just grew on me over time. I’ve always liked the harmony in this hymn. When we sing it in sacrament meeting, I'm all...

Favorite lines:

Fill our hearts with sweet forgiving;

Teach us tolerance and love.

Let our prayers find access to thee

In thy holy courts above.

I also really like “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling,” which is where the melody for “In Humility Our Savior” comes from. I once had the opportunity to sing it in a choir for stake conference.

Another hymn I love is "Abide with Me; 'Tis Eventide." 

The first time I heard this song, I was at my grandparents' house during General Conference. Several members of my extended family were there watching. My grandpa kept nodding off and snoring pretty loud, which gave everyone a good chuckle. Then the Tabernacle Choir began singing, "Abide with Me; 'Tis Eventide," and my grandpa began singing along with them in his sleep but eventually roused enough to think he'd been awake the whole time and finished the performance. 

I confess, my first time hearing the song, I thought, "Wow, this is nice and boring," but I could tell from my grandpa's singing that he really loved that hymn. From that point on, I thought of it as my grandpa's hymn.

Then when I was in my twenties, I had a difficult experience with my employment, and I was considering quitting my job. It was a really hard choice to make, and I struggled with it for weeks. Finally, one night, I was on my knees trying to pray about it, but I had no words. I didn't know what to ask for. So I just stayed on my knees crying and sang, "Abide with Me; 'Tis Eventide" in my head because that's what came to it. It was all I could do. 

It's been a very tender and special hymn to me ever since. 

(The next morning I walked into work and quit my job. It was one of the hardest things I've ever done. Three months later, I started a new job that was an absolute joy and blessing to me, and I believe the hand of the Lord was very present in getting me that position). 

Favorite lines:

Abide with me, 'tis eventide. 

Thy walk today with me 

Has made my heart within me burn 

As I communed with thee.

There are many more hymns I love, but these are some of my tops. I'm always excited when I get to church, and there's a song I love on the program.

Music... it is good.

Christmas in July

For Christmas last year, Scotty (kind of) bought me Hugh Jackman tickets. I say "kind of" because I caused a few problems. You see, Scotty and Brian (my friend Christie's husband) had secretly conspired to buy us the tickets, but Christie and I had also secretly conspired to buy ourselves tickets. So Scotty and were both online trying to by tickets... for me.

Scotty will tell you that I am not fun to buy gifts for. I confess, I don't make it easy. 

Luckily Scotty caught on that I was trying to buy tickets, so he told me that he wanted to get them for me for Christmas. I then had to tell Christie that she was getting a ticket from Brian for Christmas. And then I told Scotty to buy four because I knew I would have at least two other friends who would want to come!

The tickets were purchased in early December, and then we waited the long seven months until July 11th.

Our friends Carlie and Lynsie joined us for the concert, and you guys!

You.

Guys.

It was just really, really good. 

So good, in fact, that the minute I got home, I looked up tickets for the next night's show (after we bought tickets, they announced a second date). I would have done it! I would have bought tickets for the second night!

And there were several options still available!

The thing that stopped me was the fact that Scotty was out of town, and I didn't feel like it would be right for me to ask someone to watch my kids so I could go see Hugh Jackman for a second night in a row. 

But Christie went the second night. With floor seats! (never in my life have I wanted floor seats at a concert until this. This is the one I should have been on the floor for!)

I suffered the greatest FOMO of my life. 

He was amazing! What a talented and gracious man! 

And so easy on the eyes. 

One night of Hugh Jackman will never be enough. 

Never.

Be. 

Enough. 

My Life The Musical

Last week was a very musical week. It started with the Donny & Marie concert (I'm still on a Donny high). Then Scotty, Nicky, and I went to Hale Theater to see Newsies, which was FANTASTIC!!! I was only able to stop singing "Carrying the Banner" because we went to see Mama Mia, and I transitioned to "Super Trouper."

Being so heavily saturated in song and dance made me realize how terribly unfair it is that real life isn't a musical. Surely God could have worked that into His plan so we could break out in spontaneous show tunes as we navigate mortality.

For the past few days I've been paying attention to moments where a musical number would be appropriate.

For example, I could wake up and jump on my bed singing, "Whoa, That was Weird!" in which I recount the bizarre dream I had about a Venus fly trap* (but maybe that would be too close to Little Shop of Horrors).

Then when I drop my my kids off at a friend's house and have two glorious hours to myself, I could sing, "Mom on the Run," a number that celebrates the opportunity to go to Walmart alone. I'll be joined by a chorus of other moms - the whole thing will be very "Step in Time" except we'll be dancing on vans.

Then when Scotty and I have all our kids in the van with us, and every single one of them is trying to talk over the other, we can sing, "Will I Ever Hear the Sound of My Own Voice Again?" which is a lot like "Farmer Refuted" as we all try to sing our own lyrics over one another.

Other songs include:

"Hiding my Chick-Fil-A"

This number is for when I park in front of a random house after dark so I can eat my nuggets in peace, and then someone calls the cops on me for suspicious activity, and I sing my explanation to the police officer.

"Everybody Splash Now"

This is after my kids take a shower, and my bathroom floor is flooded, so I dance in the water (like at the end of Descendants 2).

"I Cried Over the Fries"

This is a ballad I sing about the Moochies french fries I had for lunch. They were so good, they brought a tear to my eye.

"Fast Food Hoedown"

This is a song I sing in defense of eating out twice in one day (I bust out some fantastic barrel rolls in this one).

"Bed Time At Last"

This is the big finale. I don't want to give away too much, but there's some break dancing involved.





*True story. What would Freud say about that?

How to Attend a Donny & Marie Concert in 10 Simple Steps

Step 1: Buy tickets

Justify the expense by worrying that Donny could die before you get another chance to see him. When you look at it that way, it's not hard to throw down some dollars.

(Long live Donny, but still... he's not getting any younger).

Step 2: Convince your bestie to drive in from Boise

(It won't be hard)

Step 3: Wait for your friend to pick you up

Step 4: Make your neighbor take a picture of you together

It helps if one of your other besties gives you a Donny Osmond sign for your birthday.

Step 5: Drive to the concert venue

Step 6: Buy Donny & Marie flip flops

Step 7: Cheer, sing, clap, and woohoo.

Step 8: Convince an older gentleman in a beret to take a picture of you

(His name is Curtis)

Step 9: Laugh because Curtis takes his photographer gig very seriously but still manages to take at least three pictures of his finger

Step 10: Drive home singing "Soldier of Love."

What I'm Doing Right Now

Guess what I'm doing right now:

A) Hanging out in the waiting room at Instacare

B) Waiting diligently at the computer for Donny & Marie pre-sale tickets to go LIVE

C) Listening to the 13 Reasons Why audiobook



If you guessed B, you are correct, though a few weeks ago, I did A & C at the same time. That's when my strep journey began (and I'm wondering if we have a second round of strep beginning in the family. Daisy has been running a low fever and complaining of a sore throat and body aches for two days. She just finished antibiotics for strep last week. I know mostly nothing about anything, but with as many antibiotics she has had in her body in the last two months, I wonder if she has become tolerant) (also, the narrator in 13 Reasons Why is the same narrator as The Wednesday Wars, so it's hard to imagine that Clay is not Holling Hoodhood five years later).

By the end of this post, I'll be able to let you know if I'll be seeing Donny Osmond this summer. Are you on the edge of your seat? I am!

(It's okay if I don't see Donny Osmond this summer, but it would be fun, and it would be a pretty good way to entice Shannon to visit. But THE SUSPENSE of ticket buying! Oh my goodness!)

Six minutes and counting...

In other news, today is one of those days when I want to throw away everything in my house that isn't bolted down. I just took a van full of stuff to Deseret Industries. I keep donating and donating, and I never seem to have less stuff!

Today I took half my closet, half my shoes, and half my jewelry.

32 necklaces gently placed in sandwich bags in hopes of keeping them from getting too tangled.

Yes, that's right. I got rid of 32 necklaces.

You might have noticed that I said I got rid of half my jewelry. So that should give you an idea of how many necklaces I had when I started this morning.

Apparently I have a necklace problem.

Three minutes and counting...

I have a lot more stuff to donate, but I had to draw the line at what I could fit in my van. Perhaps after the Donny chaos, I'll do another load.

One minute and counting...

Gotta go.

-----------------------------

Sigh...

That was rough. 

Decisions, decisions. 

Ultimately, the Donny & Marie tickets were more than I wanted to pay. My price range was on the lawn, and I?

Will not sit on the lawn. 

No thank you. 

So I debated. Do I really want to see Donny?

Do I really?

I texted Scotty. He said do it (he is so good to me). I said, "But I don't actually know any Donny & Marie songs."

Then I had this thought... Donny isn't getting any younger. He could die soon. 

So I'm going.

I wonder what necklace I should wear...

Baby's First Concert

Earlier this month we went to see Brad Paisley in concert. The tickets were really reasonably priced, so when I bought them, I got four, thinking we could either take some friends or take Nicky and Daisy. We decided to take Nicky and Daisy to have their first concert experience.

First, let's address how that went. I knew going into it that Nicky would love it and Daisy would hate it. I knew that I would have to take Daisy to pee at least four times during the concert. I knew she would be bored and that she would think it was too loud. I knew that both kids would get really tired - overall Nicky would be okay but Daisy wouldn't.

A few days before the concert, I started panicking - knowing that taking Daisy was a bad idea. We had already told her that we were taking her, so just to make sure she wasn't disappointed, I talked to her and told her the ups and downs of going to a concert, and I let her decide if she wanted to go. She decided to go, and everything went pretty much as we expected with her. She wasn't bad per se, but the concert was just too long, too loud, and too late for her. I took her potty in between every set, and I told her early on that there is a strict "No Potty During Paisley" rule. She actually did as well as could be expected from Daisy, and I think she enjoyed a lot of the concert. The problem with Daisy is that if 9 things go well and 1 thing goes wrong, she hates the world. So even though she spent most of the concert looking through binoculars with intrigue and having a good time, all she remembers is that she felt bored for 2% of the concert and that she got tired at the end, so if you ask her, she will say she hated it.

That's the Daisy way.

Nicky, on the other hand, loved it. He wasn't big on the opening sets (neither was I), but he liked Brad Paisley. He definitely got tired as the night went on, but he enjoyed the music, the special effects, and the opportunity to be really loud (we have issues with keeping Nicky quiet at home, so he was really happy about being encouraged to yell and cheer).

As far as wholesome family entertainment goes, we failed a bit. We've been to Brad Paisley concerts in the past, and we always thought it would be fine to take our kids. Now that we've actually done it, I'm not sure it was a great parenting choice. I think the other concerts we went to, though, were more mild. This one had a lot of bikini-clad women on the big screen, and there are a couple of new songs by Brad Paisley that I didn't know and am not impressed with. And of course, there's the drinking factor. I don't know if I was just more sensitive to it because my kids were there, but it seemed like there was a lot more talk of beer than there has been in past concerts. On the good side, it opened the door for a lot of discussions.

This concert wasn't as magical as the ones I've been to before. But sometimes that's just a result of trying to relive an experience. Brad's set list also wasn't what I hoped for. Unfortunately, some of my favorite Brad Paisley songs didn't make the concert. I get it, though, he has so many albums, he can't possibly sing everything I want to hear.

That's a good problem for a country artist to have. 

Brad Makes Me Cry

The kitchen renovation continues...

Remember how a few months ago I couldn't stop mentioning that I had graduated? Well, now I've moved on, and I can't write a post without mentioning the work we are doing in our kitchen. It's all-consuming. So bear with me while my kitchen is the center of my life.

(Still happy about the graduation thing, though. In fact, at church today, I was sitting in the pew thinking about the fact that I have a degree, and I started crying. I just never saw myself achieving this. I'm still in shock that I did it, and I have little moments where I remember, and I almost lose it).

Anyway, I've needed a lot of music, podcasts, and re-runs to get me through my kitchen renovation. A couple of weeks ago I was listening to a Brad Paisley play list on YouTube while I was working in the kitchen, and I kept getting teary eyed (maybe it's time for me to take my quarterly pregnancy test - it's kind of a tradition that about every three months I get super hormonal and paranoid that I'm pregnant. Ah, the life of a woman!).

Those Brad Paisley lyrics, though...

{Via}

Before I get into that, let me tell you about my history with Brad Paisley.

One year for Christmas, Scotty bought us tickets to a Brad Paisley concert. I knew who he was and knew some of his songs, but I wasn't really a "fan." I was neither thrilled nor disappointed by the tickets.

Then we went to the concert, and I converted.* Brad Paisley gave an amazing performance (and I can say the same for the next concert of his we went to). I think I listened to Brad Paisley for about three months straight after that first concert.

I learned to really respect Brad and his music. Some of his songs are a little cheesy, and in all honesty, he doesn't have a beautiful or a powerful voice. It's not a bad voice, it's just not "beautiful." But that guy can perform and entertain like you wouldn't believe. He is really, really talented.

I know nothing about playing the guitar (though I have a guitar and used to be able to play a wicked awesome rendition of the Hanukkah Song), but I'm pretty sure that what Brad Paisley does with a guitar is worthy of respect.

And if you look past the cheesy songs (which I still love despite the cheesy factor), he writes some really meaningful lyrics.

Which is probably the reason I cried while I painted my cabinets.  Well, that and it's just really horrible to paint cabinets.

*I also realized at that concert that I have a dream to play the fiddle in a country band, and now, thanks to Carrie Underwood, I also want to play the harmonica. Like, really play the harmonica, not just Oh Susanna, which I've known how to play my whole life.

Sunday Jams

We always have YouTube going at our house for music, especially when we're cleaning. Scotty and I often choose a theme and then take turns picking the song. Themes are sometimes by artist - Michael Jackson, *NSYNC, Rascal Flatts. Other times they are by genre - contemporary country, oldies, musicals. We also do decades - 80's, 90's, whatever you call the decade from 2000-2010 (no, really, what do we call that? Early 2000's?)

Often while I'm working in the kitchen, I listen to spiritual/uplifting music (only in the kitchen, though. Strange). Today, since it's Sunday, I thought I'd share some of the songs I often listen to.

In no particular order, here are ten songs I frequently play from YouTube when I need a spiritual uplift. As I chose the videos to share, I realized that one of the commonalities all of these songs have is that I LOVE singing them. It's not really about listening to them. It's about them being back-up to my kitchen performances. 

#1: Savior Redeemer of My Soul 

What this version lacks is a second voice, and I'm not saying it's pretty, but I provide it!

#2 Glorious

This song has not gotten old to me yet. This one comes with dance moves. 

#3 Simple Gifts/Somewhere Over the Rainbow

This one starts out light and simple, but the power comes at 2:40 when Jon and Steve are suddenly on the set of LOST. 

I don't sing this one since it's instrumental, but I've been known to conduct it. 

#4 Come Thou Fount/How Great Thou Art

Two favorite hymns playing off each other. 

#5 My Little Prayer

I like this song because it talks about how our relationship with God evolves through prayer. 

I like to do yoga moves to this song in my kitchen.

#6 I Know That My Savior Loves Me

I actually really love the arrangement by Ryan Murphy that the Mormon Tabernacle sings. Altos have the melody, which is always a treat (I usually sing alto).

#7 Come Thou Fount/If You Could Hie to Kolob

I love this unusual mashup. 

#8 She Put the Music in Me

I love the way Callie Reed intertwined titles and lyrics from primary songs in this one. 

This song makes me cry.

#9 Angels Among Us

The original version by Alabama, is where it's at (gotta love that piano), but this version adds a unique harmony. 

#10 I Need Thee Every Hour

This is one of my favorite hymns (future blog post on favorite hymns?) I'm always on the hunt for good covers of my favorite hymns. Anthem Lights puts out some good music... including covers of my 90's boy bands. Can't go wrong with that!

Adam vs Carrie

Back in October, we went to the Maroon 5 concert. The tickets were my Christmas/Birthday present.

For our anniversary, I bought Scotty tickets to Carrie Underwood. We went to that concert earlier this week. 

Scotty and I joked all year that we were going to see both our crushes in concert in 2017 - Adam Levine for me and Carrie Underwood for him. 

Now that we've been to both, I have to say... Carrie wins!

I loved the Maroon 5 concert. It was amazing to hear them live and have their music pumping through my blood. I love their songs, and Adam's voice... oh my.

{Maroon 5}

(Side note: Have you heard this cover of "Dream On" by the judges of The Voice? You need to listen just to hear those final notes by Adam Levine. Like I said... oh my!)

(Another side note: I really want Maroon 5 to do a cover of "Take On Me." Can you imagine Adam singing "In a day or twooooooo?" Is there anyone reading right now who can make it happen?)

Anyway, the Maroon 5 concert...

As much as I enjoyed it, it felt a little like a chore for the band. It was like - Salt Lake City? Check mark! Move on... And I was a little surprised at how long it took Adam to get into it. I don't know if I can describe it well, but I guess you could say he lacked energy. It took about three songs before it seemed like he found his groove. 

But Carrie...

From the second she came on stage, she was so powerful. She sang to the entire audience. It was amazing how she was able to reach everyone in the arena. Her energy was there immediately, and it held up through the whole performance. 

I'm not really into Carrie's music, but I really like her as a person, and I completely respect her talent. And that made her concert so enjoyable because, even if her songs don't make me want to jump up and down and go crazy, I can not deny the amazing performer she is (this is actually the second time we have seen her in concert). 

 

{Carrie Underwood}

Carrie had a really impressive set-up. She had a a 360 stage, and there were platforms that would rise up and down. The lighting was super cool, and the special effects were awesome. Carrie gave a heartfelt concert, and she was very sincere and present. It probably helped that it was the last stop on her tour, but I felt the same way about the last time we saw her when we weren't her last stop, so it's just the way she is!

Scotty and I haven't had a lot of opportunities to go to concerts since we've had children, so these last two months have been very exciting. We've been bitten by the concert bug now.