New song of the week: Let It Be by Jennifer Hudson

This isn’t really a new song to me. I’ve listened to Let It Be innumerable times before, but I thought I’d post this because it’s a new version sung by Jennifer Hudson.

Jennifer Hudson sings Let It Be very powerfully. It reminds me the way Across the Universe had previously gospelized it (also an excellent version). I’m glad they chose her to sing this song. She does it justice.

I usually mercilessly despise covers of Beatles songs, but somehow people who sing Let It Be always get it right. Maybe the song was made that way - for anyone to share so that no one will ever be deprived of its splendor and essence. If you were to butcher this song, you would have to really try hard. But I actually never see it happening.

Low Rising by The Swell Season

I just now came across this on VH1. It was love at first sight and at first listen.

A song to share: All These Things That I’ve Done by The Killers

A song that embodies the fragility of life and the power of humanity. This song is for you and for Haiti.

Please, please help.

Hope for Haiti

iTunes

Yele Haiti Foundation

United Nations World Food Programme

UNICEF

Clinton Bush Haiti Fund

Red Cross

Song of the week: Roadsinger by Yusuf Islam

My internet is finally working - a glorious miracle. But really, that’s what I get for grabbing at a free wireless connection.

My song of the week is overdue. In fact, my updates are overdue. I am slowly and painfully realizing that I need to get out of Baylor as soon as possible, but more on that later this week.

Yusuf Islam (formerly known as Cat Stevens) is an interesting guy, full of political and religious controversy. With the zeal of patriotism in these times, which might as well be equated to Christian fanaticism, I think that people have a hard time reaccepting him into pop culture. He’s back after nearly thirty years with a new face and new ideals, but his music remains unmistakably exceptional.

I bought the CD Roadsinger early last summer, but my mother immediately took it from my grasp and kept it in her car for the rest of the year. I was finally able to upload it into my iTunes over Christmas break (along with plenty of other CDs), so now I can fully appreciate the work of Yusuf Islam. Roadsinger is one of my favorite songs on this CD (which I highly recommend). I dare you to not fall in love with his voice. Listening to him is just absolutely entrancing, and it makes me want to buy more of his music (iTunes money please?). Anyway, enjoy. More updates to come later this week.

A song to share: Christmas TV by Slow Club

I know it’s far past Christmas, but this song makes me happy every time I hear it. I first heard it on the season finale of Chuck last year. I have since been seriously considering using the music sans lyrics as my wedding march (I realize I must first find a boyfriend, but that’s just a minute detail).

Enjoy, smile, and love it as much as I do.

New song for the week: The Greatest by Cat Power

It feels like a Cat Power kind of night. Sleepy, relaxed, mellow-yellow.

I first heard Cat Power in Juno when they played Sea of Love. Ellen Page’s character was laying on the hospital bed crying after she had just given up her baby. It was the most perfect song for that scene. It’s definitely up there on my list of best lullabies along with Tu Guardian by Juanes and Return to Pooh Corner by Kenny Loggins. She has such a dreamy voice that you could almost get lost in it. Just close your eyes and sway with the music.

I think I’m going to really enjoy The Greatest this week. It’s odd because the lyrics are so strong, but the slowness of the music creates such a great contrast.  The composition of the song really captures the tone of the singer - that feeling of melancholy reminiscence of something that could have been but never came to be.

The lack of updates is baffling to me too. I honestly have not known what to write about. I’ve had a few failed trials over the past few days. One of them started out really funny and was definitely worth writing about, but then I got all depressed about it. That piece is now long gone as an unsaved Word document, and I remain a glum chum.

Watching Julie & Julia makes me wish this blog had more purpose.

It was a really cute movie. Meryl Streep was brilliant. I kind of wished that the movie was just a documentary of Julia Child’s life. Apart from wanting to see more of Meryl Streep’s impersonation, I think Julia Child was a very interesting lady.

I got a little jealous of Julie because she found such an amazing angle for her blog. I don’t have the same courage that she does; thus, I continue to have a toast blog (reference from My Big Fat Greek Wedding). Maybe I’ll have more to write about once spring semester starts. I can talk about crazy Baylor shenanigans.

Yeah right.

Meanwhile, I have to say that my obsession with Robert Downey Jr. has gone too far and is interfering with my wellbeing.

Don’t get me wrong; I’m not a creepy stalker. I mean, seeing Sherlock Holmes on Christmas day, rewatching Iron Man on Blu-ray, catching Tropic Thunder twice on HBO, and having the occasional daydream is normal. Who can resist anyway? RDJ has aged so gorgeously that I practically had a seizure every time he appeared half naked on screen. (RDJ is short for Robert Downey Jr. Keep up.) All in all, I’ve been good and haven’t cyberstalked him or anything (I’m proud of myself too). But last night I stayed up until 4:30 in the morning to watch Heart and Souls on Hulu (this was after promising myself I’d get back on a normal sleep schedule).

Not many people would even consider seeing this movie, but it’s one of my all time favorites. It’s right up there with To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar and Father of the Bride Part II; all of which I would never miss if they were on TV. Heart and Souls was just as hilarious and touching as I remembered. Alfre Woodard was so great in it. She was definitely my favorite. I loved watching her sassy, protective mother character.

The best part about watching this film was that I had already forgotten most the funny parts, so it was even more hilarious seeing it again. Oh, and I nearly died when they started singing Walk Like A Man. I absolutely loved it. Loved it, loved it, loved it.

I got really emotionally involved with this movie last night. I actually teared up when the child version of RDJ’s character started crying for his ghost friends to come back and when RDJ’s character professed his love to his girlfriend. Yeah, I teared up twice, laughed out loud maybe five or six times, and smiled to myself all throughout the movie. All the while, I drooled at the sight the young, baby-faced RDJ.

I now plan to watch even more of his movies. After I post this entry, I will make a list of his movies and plan to watch each and every one of them. I know that he had a drug problem, and I know that he was arrested several times in the past, but no one can deny how amazingly good-looking he is and how great his comeback has been. Isn’t that all that matters?

I’m pathetic.

A song to share: Best For Last by Adele

This isn’t a new song to listen to for this week. It’s just a really great song that I want to share. I love Adele’s CD mostly because of the cohesion of her album. The theme is lovely in a horrible kind of way.

I didn’t like this song the first time I heard it. I found the bass to be just too much. Plus, I was having a difficult time getting through the rest of her CD as I was obsessed with Chasing Pavements. After about the fifth try, I finally took a liking to Best For Last. The way her voice and the bass talk to each other all throughout the song is wonderful, and her playful lyrics only add to the delightfulness of the song as a whole.

I hope you enjoy it (or come to enjoy it) as much as I do.

These are my books for my last semester in undergrad. Twelve books sans two more that I haven’t received from the mail. I’m nerdily excited to get through all of these. History of the United States sine 1877, Ancient Greece, Modern Middle East History, and Human Sexuality.  It’s weird not having any psychology books to read, but after seeing this load I honestly wouldn’t ask for any more.