Love on the day

So I looked for a couple of different quotes hoping I would find one that summarized what I thought love "really meant," but alas nothing. I guess it's because I still have no idea what love means. I'm cool with that. I think it exists in so many different forms and at all levels. All I know is that it's important...and everybody should love somebody (and, ideally, multiple somebodys).

Love your significant other, love your parents, love your roommates, love the guy who makes the perfect caramel latte for you, love the car that lets you out of a crowded parking lot, love your representation of God when it's a beautiful day, love the feeling of a job well done, love food, love music, love life.

And if you can't find something to make you love, make a Boyz II Men station on Pandora. It'll do the trick, promise.

<3

Love round 2

So this will be quick...but here's my musical contribution to love. I first discovered this song in the movie Paris Je'taime and I think it's just about the sweetest thing in the world.

Love

So Valentine's Day is (sort of) just around the corner...and I thought I'd start posting things that represent love to me to get in the "holiday spirit"

I used to really resent Valentine's Day...and while I still maintain that it shouldn't take a special day for people to know that you love them, or for you to demonstrate your love...I've softened my jaded heart just a bit. Yeah, it's commercialized and superficial, but there also isn't any real harm in it. Plus, anything that brings a little more love in this world can't be all bad...right?

To start off, a few photos I took while in Santiago, Chile.

Music makes you lose control...

I've had music on the mind for a couple of weeks now, and you could say that the culmination of these thoughts occupying my mind is represented by the Grammys showing last night.

All in all, I was a little disappointed in "music's biggest night." My roomies and I discussed how Grammy appearances should be EPIC showcases of musical talent and spectacle...ala Kanye West singing "Jesus Walks" with a gospel choir backing him up. This year's performances were alright...but is alright really good enough? These are the individuals that are supposed to represent the music industry, and the cream of the crop at that. I guess I just expected fantastical numbers...I want our stars to rip out their heart, throw it on the stage and say "there...this is what I'm about and this is why I perform." Needless to say, I didn't really get that from the Grammys.

In other music news, Racheal got to MC an American Red Cross benefit concert with Gainesville's own Against Me! as the headliners. Pretty boss. Also, the Gainesville community has raised over $20,000 for Haiti relief...makes me proud to be from this area. Go Gators and all that jazz...

I interviewed Glypher (the creator of gainesvillebands.com) earlier last week for my magazine writing class, and it's got me all pumped up to go see some local music. There's a couple of sweet acts coming to the 'ville, local(ish) and otherwise. Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk (not local) and Soulphonics with Ruby Velle (via Orlando, I believe) will both be here this month and I'm going to try to hit at least one...though ideally I'd do both. Super soulful and funky dance-your-face-off kind of music. Yes please.

So yeah, other than that things are pretty much business as usual. Reached my capacity on Pandora for January so I tried out Grooveshark for the last few days of the month. Neither program is really better or worse...they're just different. Pandora is easier, but you have less control...and while I'm sure you can make multi-artist playlists in Grooveshark (or perhaps search by genre) that's a little more effort than I want to put in for background music.

Anyway...until next time...keep singing your song, whatever it may be :)