Who doesn't love ABBA?

Seriously, who?
Dancing Queen, Voulez-Vous, Waterloo? Classics! Plus any song that you can dance to like and idiot is awesome in my book. We saw Mamma Mia! for my birthday yesterday and I loved it - with two exceptions.
1) I think Meryl Streep was a bit old for the part
2) Peirce Brosan can not sing. Tricia and I actually cringed when we realized there was a second verse to his song. YIKES!

So I have just purchased the Broadway soundtrack instead. That was I get all the songs (plus some) and I never have to here PB sing again! Well until the winter when I buy the DVD.

Impossible to decide

I don't think any one musician has had a bigger impact on my life than Harry Chapin. He's my Bruce Springsteen - only I can't see him live because tragically he died 3 days before I was born. So many of my favorite memories have him singing in the background. My family singing off key to his records. I just discovered videos of his concerts on YouTube but I can't decide which ones to post, so here is the first of many I'm sure.

So let's start with Mail Order Annie. Nothing like a ballad about a mail order bride arriving on the Dakota plains to start the weekend off right.

Also in love with The Shins, but really who isn't?

Plus this video is a garden state homage. yippee!

Loving Nick Drake

I love his wistful and simple vocals.
Listen to Northern Sky sometime, I'm happy and sad all at the same time.

I never felt magic crazy as this
I never saw moons, knew the meaning of the sea
I never held emotion in the palm of my hand
Or felt sweet breezes in the top of a tree
But now you're here
Brighten my northern sky.

It's been a long time that I'm waiting
Been a long time that I'm blown
Been a long time that I've wandered
Through the people I have known
Oh, if you would and you could
Straighten my new mind's eye.

Would you love me for my money
Would you love me for my head
Would you love me through the winter
Would you love me 'til I'm dead
Oh, if you would and you could
Come blow your horn on high.

I never felt magic crazy as this
I never saw moons knew the meaning of the sea
I never held emotion in the palm of my hand
Or felt sweet breezes in the top of a tree
But now you're here
Brighten my northern sky.

Soundtrack of a life

While flipping through the itunes store, looking at Contemporary Singer/Songwriters itunes Essentials tonight and scrolling through the list I was transported back to so many different times in my life - all in one playlist.
I'm in a weird happy/sad moment.
Ah, singer/songwriters...you are the soundtrack to my life.

Which brings me to a funny story to get out of my momentary funk.

Once in college I lent my car to a friend. In the tapedeck was a mix tape called "soundtrack". My friend listened to the whole tape and upon returning from his trip mentioned that it was cool that I had put together a soundtrack of my life.
It wasn't - It was just a mix of Priscilla Queen of the Dessert and Reality Bites.

I guess it works - Here's to the past and all the really great music that got me through it!