Maura's been singing it this morning*, so what the heck?  Why should I be the only person with it stuck in my head?

*note that Maura's version is more "Bob bob ba bans, Bob bob ba bans, Bob bob ba bans....Bob bob bob BOB!"

Okay, there's been an addition - I'm also adding "The Campfire Song Song" - also by the Spongebob.  My boys love the Camping episode, with this song...to the point that Collin sings along to it every time.  Which cracks me up. 

Monday, August 18, 2008 10:29:38 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)    Comments [0] 

I do believe this song is appropo for my "What do you mean I have to wait three more weeks still for school to start?" state of mind.

"Funny Farm" by Dr. Demento -

Tuesday, August 12, 2008 10:11:04 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)    Comments [0] 

I was about 11 years old when we got cable.  A very big deal in our household to say the least. 

The man came to install it, and once he got the box hooked up, he punched in the number 34.  Channel 34 was Mtv...and it was back when Mtv had VJ's and played actual music videos.  And this was the video that was playing.

I remember jumping on the couch to the song and thinking that the band was really cool.  I also wondered what the heck they were singing about and my mother giving me a version of Bloody Sunday (we're part Irish, if you haven't caught on by now.)  Years laster, I actually got to hear it live, with my college friends - now that was a night.  A few weeks later, my friend Anne and I and her friend Jill stalked them hung around after another concert and actually got to sorta meet Bono and Anne got a kiss on the cheek from him and a couple autographs before collapsing to the ground.  No, I was never jealous of Anne.  She was way more of a fan than I could ever dream of, and I was more excited about being there to watch her finally meet Bono than if I had met him myself.  If there was a soundtrack to my college years, U2 would be it. 

Anyway, now you know my history with this video and song and band..  Now enjoy them, live at Red Rocks, playing "Sunday Bloody Sunday".

Monday, July 14, 2008 6:55:58 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)    Comments [0] 

"Angel" by The Corrs reminds me of my friend mom, who passed away a few years ago.  She was an amazing, unforgettable person who was full of laughter, and because of organ donors, I was able to know her.  So listen to the song and look into giving up your organs when you don't need them anymore ; ) 

Wednesday, July 09, 2008 10:09:21 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)    Comments [0] 

Okay, so I have established that I am a 10,000 Maniacs/Natalie Merchant fan.  So it's been playing in the car a bit.  I love this song, and now Maura loves this song.  At least the Mtv Unplugged live version.  But I couldn't find that one.  So this one will have to do.

Song of the Week - "These Are Days" by 10,000 Maniacs

Sunday, June 29, 2008 10:31:56 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)    Comments [0] 

Okay, you know by now my love of Great Big Sea.  Well, they posted a thing about how they were looking for pictures of  accomplishments/acheivements/etc for their upcoming video.  I sent in one of each kid, hoping one of them would make the cut.

I got to see the video today and got to see my Seanie Boy in their video!  He's the boy at the first minute mark going up the rock climbing wall.  FYI - he was seven years old in the picture.  We were at the neighboring town's fall festival, they had this rock climbing wall and Sean really wanted to try it.  Of course we let him.  And of course, he did great! And I got a couple great shots of him...one good enough for the video!

I don't know if the embedding worked, so if it doesn't, just click on the link.  The link does work, I checked.

Anyway, the Song of the Week is Great Big Sea's "Walk on the Moon" - which is bound to become one of the best videos EVER!  LOL!

http://canwest.a.mms.mavenapps.net/mms/rt/1/site/canwest-canada-com-pub01-live/current/launch.html?maven_playerId=entertainment&maven_referralPlaylistId=87c93c73111553f5a56f8c6a758198113760163d&maven_referralObject=1615504

Friday, June 20, 2008 5:08:14 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)    Comments [0] 

The kids (and the parents, we'll admit to it) enjoy watching iCarly - a show on Nickelodeon about a girl, Carly, and her two friends who have a web show and all the wacky fun things that happen.  To add to the humor is Carly's older brother (who she lives with) who quite frankly, makes me look like quite the normal person. 

I'll admit it - I like the theme song.  Miriam and I go around singing it.  It gets stuck in my head...but in a good way.  Not in a bad way...oh, say...like the Dora the Explorer theme song, which makes me want to take a metal bat to my head. 

So here is the full version of the iCarly theme song - feel free to get it stuck in your head as well!

Thursday, June 12, 2008 8:49:45 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)    Comments [0] 

In honor of Maura's birthday, this week's SotW is one of her absolute favorites - "The Old Black Rum" by Great Big Sea.

Yeah, there's nothing like having to explain to the preschool teacher that if your daughter happens to say "rum", it's because of her favorite song...uh...it's traditional music...really, we're not alcoholics.

FYI - the video is from the Great Big Sea CD/DVD set - which I highly recommend - and has the closing credits on it.

Monday, May 19, 2008 9:32:03 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)    Comments [0] 

This song takes me back to Oak Lawn, Illinois, 60453.  It's the town I grew up in.  I grew up in the big light blue house on 52nd Avenue.  Though it's no longer light blue. 

I loved that house.  Heck, even now I think it's a great house.  It had built-in bookcases, lots of windows, good closets.  It also had quirks like the former owners son's name carved here and there and the shelf in the upstairs bathroom that had been a window before the addition, which still had the window frame around it.  And the two attics, neither of which we ever managed to get into.  Oh sure, it also had mold in the bathroom and drafty windows and the basement that was great and scary at the same time.  But I've learned that no house is perfect...well, none I could afford.

I used to sit on the stairs and stare out the front door.  Watch it rain or just the cars go by.  I spent countless hours bursting out the back porch, down the stairs, out the gate, down the sidewalk.  We never really used the front door.  No one ever had a key for it. 

We moved into that house when I was 6 months old.  I left to go to college from it.  When I was twenty, we moved from it to a new house a few blocks away.  I would go back to Oak Lawn a lot to visit family, until they all moved away.  The last time I was in Oak Lawn, a few years ago, I realized that it had completely changed from the town I grew up in.  It was no longer that place.  Too much had changed, in both it and me. 

It was a great place to grow up, but as the song says, "Some had to leave it."  Turns out I was one of those who had to leave.  And it turns out, that was okay.

"Photograph" by Nickelback

Monday, May 12, 2008 10:26:17 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)    Comments [0] 

This week I bring you Natasha Bedingfield's "Unwritten" - it's fun to dance to, a bit inspirational, and it appeals to the writer in me.  I also am somewhat amazed that I can keep up with it when I sing along with it when it comes on the radio.  It has a lot of S's in it. 

See, as a child, I had a big bad speech problem.  I couldn't say S, SH, CH, J, soft G's, Z's, R's...W-R combinations would trip me up at times...I'd also spit a lot b/c of my speech problem.  I was teased a LOT because of it.  It wasn't until 8th grade that I conquered it all.  Now, I meet speech therapists and they are amazed at how well I speak after hearing my history.  No one who has known me since high school ever guesses I had a big bad speech problem.  As the song goes, "No one else can speak the words on your lips" - they couldn't.  I had to learn it all myself.  And now I can sing that line...maybe not the best that anyone has ever sung it, but all my S's are as clear as anyone else's.  It never occured to me until recently just how much that should be celebrated. 

Monday, May 05, 2008 9:20:16 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)    Comments [0] 

I discovered 10000 Maniacs when I was 14 or 15 years old.  Long ago enough that I can't quite remember.  But I'd watch their videos on VH1, back when VH1 played videos and had VJ's...

This song is off the first album of theirs I bought, "In My Tribe" - it was the last track, which was suitable for this song is hauntingly wistful.  It's one of those songs that take you back to a place in time, and stays with you long after it is over.

Ignore the perky British guy who introduces the song..."Verdi Cries" by 10000 Maniacs

Monday, April 28, 2008 5:43:59 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)    Comments [0] 

Hey, it's my blog, I can have more than one SotW, right?  Great Big Sea has released their new single off their up and coming new album

So go here and listen to "Walk on the Moon" - click on the "Listen to the new single" thing in the right hand column, it's not hard to find.

Wednesday, April 23, 2008 10:00:41 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)    Comments [0] 

I love this song.  Can I tell you why?  I don't know.  It has a nice build-up to it, it's sung perfectly by Marc Cohn...maybe it's because Josh and I used to go to Memphis here and there - we went to Graceland on a whim coming back from his parents, went there the day after I found out I was pregnant with Sean.  We'd take the boys to the zoo there.  It's a cool city, and this is a cool song.

So I bring you this week's SotW - "Walking in Memphis" by Marc Cohn

Tuesday, April 22, 2008 5:41:07 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)    Comments [0] 

What better way to wake up on a Monday but with a good stomp around song like this one?  This one is an old favorite, and in a way, timeless. I would guess that it's the mix of old and new sounds that keeps it that way.  Or maybe it's the banjo. 

Oh, and I will always remember all of us stomping around to it at my friend Anne's wedding...

So, turn up your speakers, kick off your shoes and get ready to stomp to "Come On Eileen" by Dexys Midnight Runners

Monday, April 14, 2008 8:47:26 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)    Comments [0] 

Yes, I'm behind this week on my SotW posting...part of it is that I like too many songs (though is that even possible?)

I love this duet - but then again, what's not to love about Bono?  Or the Corrs?

Wednesday, April 09, 2008 6:26:29 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)    Comments [0] 

REM and Muppets on Seseme Street...sounds bizarre, but true!  And funny!  The first time I saw this was when Collin was a little guy watching Seseme Street.  Of course, I had to call up my old roommate/REM fan Jen to tell her about this one.

So Jen, this one's for you -

Monday, March 31, 2008 4:19:20 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)    Comments [0] 

Ah yes, and REM classic.  Except this one is re-interpreted by...yes, you guessed it...Great Big Sea.

Yes, we like GBS here.  Maura just came into the room jabbering when she heard this playing.  She has actually sung "I feel fine!" once a couple weeks ago.  Right now she's so excited, she's hugging me and jumping.

But I love REM too.  This some sort of represents my past and my present - an old favorite done in a new way.  I'm still myself, but I have changed, and in good ways. 

Anyway, enjoy this song and I dare you to try to keep up with the lyrics.  Maura laughs every time I attempt to.

Oh, did you not think I'd share an REM version???  Of course I will!  And I found a live version as well.

Tuesday, March 25, 2008 4:57:26 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)    Comments [0] 

Now this isn't an Irish song, despite the Paddy and the whisky and the wake gone wrong...it's a folk song out of Newfoundland actually.  But it's a great song, so let's see some vertical movement to this people and jump around!

I bring you Great Big Sea's version of "The Night Pat Murphy Died"...

Monday, March 17, 2008 9:52:08 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)    Comments [0] 

Something upbeat for your Monday - and another one from Great Big Sea - "Run Away"

And why this song?  When I took Maura to see GBS last March, this was the song that Bob (the man on the fiddle) played to Maura.  As in stepped forward to the edge of the stage where she was (we had front row seats), got down to her level, and played to her...and then gave her a wink and a smile.  Yes, a way to a mother's heart is to be really nice to her little girl.  But Maura loved watching Bob during the concert - he played the most instruments and to her, that's really cool.  I'm guessing he noticed her three year old adoration and decided to give her a closer look.  All I know is that it's one of those special moments I'll keep with me.

Besides, it's a fun song, the kind that makes you want to get up and jump around.  And who doesn't like a video with men dressed as nuns anyway? 

Monday, March 10, 2008 9:53:00 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)    Comments [0] 

This week, I give to you one of my favorite songs from one of my favorite bands - "Ordinary Day" by Great Big Sea. And of course, there's a story behind it.

Maura is as big of a fan of Great Big Sea as I am.  Last year, she and I went to see them in Kalamazoo, where I got to hear this song live.  It still amazes me just how much Maura has taken to their music - we're talking almost instantly, she was clapping along with the dvd.  It took Maura a year to learn "Ring Around the Rosie" and two days to pump her arms up when the crowd yelled "HEY!" on the dvd during "Excursion Around the Bay"

Needless to say, we listend to it a lot.  Good thing the entire family enjoys this music.

The song "Ordinary Day" is a song about how sometimes life is rough, but you can get through it with the right frame of mind.  The Irish in me can relate - I have this mantra of "You can either laugh or cry about it, and I choose to laugh."  My life to an outsider is anything but ordinary, but for us, it is.  The bathroom floods and the school is calling because some kid of mine is having a meltdown?  Yeah, that's normal.  Going to see specialists but not getting answers?  Routine.  Life happens, we make the best of it.  Or as the chorus of the song goes -

And I say way-hey-hey, it’s just an ordinary day
and it’s all your state of mind
At the end of the day, you’ve still got to say,
it’s all right.

This would have been more than enough to make me like the song, but there's more to it that speaks to me.  See, Maura didn't walk until she was almost two.  She stumbled a lot, fell over really well.  Her feet turned out, her ankles rolled in, she had the balance of Bambi on ice.  But she was also determined, she always got up, she never stopped trying.  She still keeps trying.  Her determination is one of her best strengths. 

The second verse of "Ordinary Day" is this -

Janie sings on the corner, what keeps her from dying

Let them say what they want, but she won’t stop trying.

She might stumble if they push her around

She might fall, but She’d never lie down.

And yes, I like the song enough that I partially named the blog after it.  Our life may seem weird to others, but to us, it's our ordinary day.

Monday, March 03, 2008 10:24:31 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)    Comments [0] 

I love music.  I love songs with good lyrics that I can relate to and I can sing along with.  Music has always played a huge part of my life.  I can hear a song and be taken back to a moment in time or am reminded of a person or event.

So I bring you a new blog feature - Song of the Week. 

Our first SotW - Natalie Merchant's "Wonder".

Why this song?  Because it reminds me of Maura and what we go through with her and her medical stuff.  She is a wonder, she is God's own creation.  She is able, she is gifted, she does not suffer, and we all deal with her with love and patience and with the faith that she will make her way.  She already does.

Monday, February 25, 2008 9:56:52 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)    Comments [0]