30 Days of Thankful: Good Music

Today I am feeling thankful for the good music that is woven into our everyday lives. Shelly has asked all our family to tell her our favorite songs of the year, and it has prompted lots of good discussion about what kind of music we listen to and what our favorites are.

• We listen to quite a bit of pop/Top 40 music in the car, as evidenced by the number of Taylor Swift and Phillip Phillips songs my kids can sing along with.

• I had on a praise and worship Pandora station while getting ready for church this morning, and Alex was doing so much more dancing and singing than getting dressed that I had to threaten to turn it off. It was awesome. I credit our affinity for this music to my college days at Breakaway with the girls of apartment 1811. Since LDS members tend to stick with more traditional fare, like our beloved Mormon Tabernacle Choir and their beautiful hymns, it was a mostly new experience for me back then, and there is certainly something to be said for an energetic praise song.

• Of course, we love the Primary songs, too. Do any of you listen to the Jenny Phillips/Kamie Bolen Primary songs? We really like their arrangements, and listening to the cd in the car on the way to church every Sunday is a great way to practice the program songs they need to learn each year.

• The kids also love, love The Piano Guys. 

• I've realized I love pretty much any song with clapping (think "Brighter than the Sun" by Colbie Caillat). I can't resist. Weird?

• We are all just itching to listen to Christmas music. The best! I want to get the new Kelly Clarkson Wrapped in Red and The Lower Lights Sing Noel albums this year. Has anyone listened to them yet? 

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Speaking of the MoTab, traditional hymns, and gratitude, here's a favorite:

Swimming along

It's not often that I discover new music anywhere but Jenny's blog, but I've been meaning to share some Johnnyswim songs (discovered last month via A Prairie Home Companion) that I've had on repeat in my head and playlist.

 

 

One more... 



 

Oh wait, here's a little Christmas music from them. (They are married. Super sweet, right?) 



A Completely Random Topic

Especially for my first post after another extended blog absence, but it's what I'm thinking about, so you'll have to take it.

Country Music, or more specifically, the state of country music today.

I rarely listen to the radio in the car, but when I do, I can barely stand the Top 40 stations. Gah, I am so old. So I sometimes cruise through the country stations, where I generally notice one of two things:

1) They are still constantly playing the same ol' same ol' music from over fifteen years ago when I did listen to country music with some regularity.

2) They are playing newer country music, which is...bad. Just bad. "God is great, beer is good, and people are crazy." Really?

I'm sorry, but I really, really, really dislike the Kenny Chesney, Billy Currington types in country music today. I'll take George Strait or Randy Travis, or even Tim McGraw over the new kids any day. Yes, I know that those three have their own share of cheesy country songs (I'm looking at you, "Indian Outlaw" and "Check Yes or No"), but they are still infinitely better than these other one-trick ponies. Maybe it's the whole wanna-be rockstar vibe I really can't stand. If you're going to be a cowboy, be a cowboy.

 

Hello, George.

So enough of my ranting. Am I being too hard on current country music? Any fans out there that want to share some actual, good stuff being put out right now by new artists? (And I'm not talking pseudo-Taylor-Swift-country, but honest to goodness country music.) I'd really like to hear some, or else I'm going to have to turn in my country music fan card for good.