Oh Crap! – Musings of an Unperfect Mommy

Music Monday – Closer – Joe Inoue

October 23, 2014

I was listening to my kids’ Japanese music mix this morning (as I was depositing people at their work places), and this song played and I wondered why I hadn’t thought of it when doing my encouraging music week. It is a much newer song compared to my others and written and sung by Joe Inoue – a Japanese American singer. Now, the original song is in Japanese but part of the chorus is in English. So, being the curious cat I am, I looked up the English lyrics – BAM – hit me right between the eyes. Yep – it’s amazing how young folks can teach us old folks a thing or two still. So, that’s the song for today – the English version of Closer. If you want to hear the Japanese version go here. Enjoy and be inspired!

Closer – Joe Inoue

You could reminisce; you could recall
The very last time you felt joy
Or maybe you are so blessed to a point
Where you can’t remember anything
It’s a harmony, a miracle
Being able to breathe and live at all
So here is your one and only chance
Life is an opportunity

All that is near us
We must know
Could disappear any day
Be careful
The main key to finding happiness
Lies nowhere else but in my soul
You know the closer you get to something
The tougher it is to see it
And I’ll never take it for granted
Let’s go

Some people may call a kind deed
An act of mere hypocrisy
But never mind those who have lost faith
You shouldn’t give in to what they say
As a matter of fact, let me tell you
Even if it was for a selfish cause
A salvageable hypocrisy
Is superior to murderous honesty

Everybody tells you from time to time
To never give up like a phrase from a movie
They tell you to stand up for yourself
As if was always that easy
Gather a handful of courage in my heart
To go on and survive another day
And I’ll never take it for granted
Let’s go

All that is near us
We must know
Could disappear any day
Be careful
The main key to finding happiness
Lies nowhere else but in my soul
You know the closer you get to something
The tougher it is to see it
And I’ll never take it for granted
Let’s go

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Fall Break!

October 15, 2014

Yep, it’s that time of year again – the school kids are out of school this week and I decided that we would be too. Frankly, we all need a break around here. The last few weeks have been punctuated with stormy weather, assorted medical appointments, and trying to keep up on everyday stuff. Today, is a beautiful cool, sunny fall day and so I’m sitting here with my tea and just enjoying the view. After that I do need to work on a couple of things, but that’s it. Freedom!

SO, what are we doing you ask? They are running a special at the bowling alley this week so I think we’ll take advantage of that. I also want to do some baking – stuff like pumpkin bread, blueberry muffins, granola, and maybe cookies. I’m sure I’ll have plenty of helpers for that too. I need to get clothes for the kids so that will play in here somewhere. And movies – we need a movie night or two around here as well. That and just plain being lazy – that’s always nice. All in all I think it sounds like a good week and the kids think it does too. :-)

Oh, and I will get back to the music stuff soon. I’m working on a possible decades sampler of my favorites each week. After getting the MP3 of “Fox on the Run” I started doing a lot of Googling of Sweet and found a video of Fox on the Run, plus a gem from even before that – Wig Wam Bam. I’ve become a little obsessed with it. Steve Priest was really adorable in that video (he’s the one with the super huge headdress) and I just can’t get it out of my brain. Anyway, that’s for another day.

So, enjoy the fall weather if you have it where you are and hopefully enjoying fall color too. Happy Fall Break!

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Music That Encourages – Madonna

October 11, 2014

Actually, Madonna has a few songs that are good in this category, but this one – Over and Over – is the best. I found it again earlier this year when I bought the Like A Virgin cd for the first time in decades – I had really missed it! Angel is probably my favorite song with Dress You Up a close second. But, Over and Over caught me again and I found myself belting it out in the car and letting the message fill me with enthusiasm. I needed that.

This song is closely related to another (much older song) that goes:

I pick myself up
I dust myself off
I start all over again

Simple, no? Same thing here – I get up again over and over. Hmmm – wonder if she used the other song as inspiration? One of my favorite lines is “I’m not afraid to say I hear a different beat” – yep, that’s me! I’ve always done my own thing and sometimes it’s hard when everyone else thinks there’s only one way, but I just keep on in my own way. I’m happier for it. Anyway – great song – very upbeat, easy message to remember, and fun to sing along with. Well, in my opinion. So, here are the words, and take a listen if it’s been awhile and file it away for a day when you really need something to pull you out of a slump.

Over and Over

Hurry up, I just can’t wait
I gotta do it now I can’t be late
I know I’m not afraid I gotta get out the door
If I don’t do it now I won’t get anymore
You try to criticize my drive
If I lose I don’t feel paralyzed
It’s not the game it’s how you play
And if I fall I get up again now

I get up again, over and over
I get up again, over and over
I get up again, over and over
I get up again, over and over

Got past my first mistake
I’ll only give as much as I can take
You’re never gonna see me standin’ still
I’m never gonna stop ’till I get my fill
It doesn’t matter who you are
It’s what you do that takes you far
And if at first you don’t succeed
Here’s some advice that you should heed

You get up again, over and over
You get up again, over and over
You get up again, over and over
You get up again, over and over

I’m not afraid to say I hear a different beat, oh
And I’ll go out in the street, yeah
And I will shout it again
From the highest mountain

Hurry up [repeat 3 times]

Hurry up, I just can’t wait
I gotta do it now I can’t be late
I know I’m not afraid I gotta get out the door
If I don’t do it now I won’t get anymore
You try to criticize my drive
If I lose I don’t feel paralyzed
It’s not the game it’s how you play
And if I fall I get up again now

I get up again, over and over
I get up again, over and over
I get up again, over and over
I get up again, over and over

I’m not afraid to say I hear a different beat, oh
And I’ll go out in the street, yeah
And I will shout it again
From the highest mountain

Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
Shout it, shout it, shout it, ah
Over and over

I get up again, over and over
I get up again, over and over
I get up again, over and over
I get up again, over and over

So keep trying – keep getting back up! Don’t give up!

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Encouraging Music – Journey

October 10, 2014

I thought about this the other day – for me Styx, REO Speedwagon, and Journey are like the holy trinity of classic rock. :-) SO, obviously, it would be Journey today. I have two songs by Journey one because the encouragement is obvious, the other more of a coming of age theme, but there is a story around the song and I really want to get that in here because I think that will encourage as well (although you may need a kleenex – just sayin’).

The first song is Be Good To Yourself and I thought for sure I’d written about that on here but couldn’t find any evidence of that so now’s the time. I know I’d probably listened to this way back when, but several years ago when I got the Greatest Hits cd it felt like I was hearing it for the first time and I made it my own.

The song talks about when life becomes overwhelming because you’re doing too much, or maybe there’s too much to do, that is the time to step back a little and do something for yourself. It’s not a crime to have a piece of chocolate while putting your feet up when you have a few minutes to do so. It’s a good thing to get out of the house and go shopping, or read a book, or go for a walk in the park to recharge yourself. Or maybe be creative – drawing, knitting, sewing – whatever brings you peace and comfort. One of the things I like to do is light a candle, put some music on, and then fix dinner. It brings closure to the busyness of the day. Taking care of your needs will help you to refresh so you can be a better mother, father, friend, employee even and so on. You get the picture. So, let this piece inspire you to take better care of you so you can take better care of others.

Be Good To Yourself

Runnin’ out of self-control
Gettin’ close to an overload
Up against a no win situation
Shoulder to shoulder, push and shove
I’m hangin’ up my boxin’ gloves
I’m ready for a long vacation

Be good to yourself when, nobody else will
Oh be good to yourself
You’re walkin’ a high wire, caught in a cross fire
Oh be good to yourself

When you can’t give no more
They want it all but you gotta say no
I’m turnin’ off the noise that makes me crazy
Lookin’ back with no regrets
To forgive is to forget
I want a little piece of mind to turn to

Be good to yourself when, nobody else will
Oh be good to yourself
You’re walkin’ a high wire, caught in a cross fire
Oh be good to yourself

Be good to yourself when, nobody else will

All righty, the next Journey song is Only The Young and it’s for the upcoming generations as they seek their place in the world. Now, there is a story behind the song which I heard them tell on a Behind the Music several years ago. I found it back on the Wikipedia page for the song – yes, now is the time for Kleenex:

The first individual outside the band to hear the song was sixteen-year-old Kenny Sykaluk of Rocky River, Ohio, who was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. His mother wrote a letter to the band telling them about her son’s terminal condition, and how big a fan he was of Journey. The band flew to his hospital bedside in Cleveland, Ohio at the request of the Make a Wish Foundation. Along with a Walkman containing the new track, the band also brought Kenny a football helmet signed by the San Francisco 49ers and an autographed Journey platinum record award. The experience of playing the song for Kenny left Steve Perry and Jonathan Cain deeply affected. Perry said, “As soon as I walked out of the hospital room I lost it. Nurses had to take me to a room by myself.” On the band’s episode of VH1’s Behind the Music, Cain broke down in tears recalling the event, remarking that “children should not have to live with that kind of pain”. Kenny died the next day, with the Walkman still in his hand. The song brought life into perspective for the band and left them humbled. Neal Schon said that Kenny’s death affected Journey by making them re-evaluate the issues that were causing friction inside the band itself. In honor of Kenny Sykaluk, the band used the song as their opener for the Raised on Radio Tour.

That’s where the encouragement comes in – to have such a profound experience that it changes you afterwards. It’s amazing what doing something for someone else will do for you. It never fails. The receiver is not the only one blessed but the giver also. So, here’s the song:

Another night in any town
You can hear the thunder of their cry
Ahead of their time
They wonder why

In the shadows of a golden age
A generation waits for dawn
Brave carry on
Bold and the strong

Only the young can say
They’re free to fly away
Sharing the same desires
Burnin’ like wildfire

They’re seein’ through the promises
And all the lies they dare to tell
Is it heaven or hell?
They know very well

Only the young can say
They’re free to fly away
Sharing the same desires
Burnin’ like wildfire

Only the young can say
They’re free to fly away
Sharing the same desires
Burnin’ like wildfire

Only the young can say
Only the young can say
Only the young can say

I’ll try to fit in one or two more songs this weekend – I know I missed yesterday, but it’s just been so crazy busy around here lately that other stuff has to take a backseat. My blog tells about my life but it isn’t my life. Have a great day – encourage someone!

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Music That Encourages – Styx

October 8, 2014

Before I start today’s post, I do want to mention that I found out that Mick Tucker – the drummer for Sweet – died in 2002 after a battle with leukemia at age 54. So only Steve Priest and Andy Scott remain of the original four. Rest in peace Mick.

Today, I have two selections of encouraging music and both by Styx. The first one is Crystal Ball and it’s more of an introspection – being at a crossroads – and wondering where to go now. And it’s not just young people who ask those questions but many of us come around to that same point when we are older. I still think it fits in the encouraging because we have all been at this point at one time or another in our lives and it helps that someone put those feelings down in a song to share that yes, I’ve been there too. Oh, and this is also one of my favorite Styx songs as well. Have a listen:

I used to like to walk the straight and narrow line
I used to think that everything was fine
Sometimes I’d like to sit and gaze for days through sleepless dreams
All alone and trapped in time
All alone and trapped in time

I wonder what tomorrow has in mind for me
Or am I even in it’s mind at all
Perhaps I’ll get a chance to look ahead and see
Soon as I find myself a crystal ball
Soon as I find myself a crystal ball

Tell me, tell me where I’m going
I don’t know where I’ve been
Tell me, tell me, won’t you tell me
And then tell me again
My heart is breaking, my body’s aching
And I don’t know where to go
Tell me, tell me, won’t you tell me
I’ve just got to know

Crystal ball
There’s so many things I need to know
Crystal ball
There’s so many things I’ve got to know
Crystal ball

The second song is Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man) by Styx and it is a song of encouragement. I found this on Wikipedia and thought it interesting:

The song was written by guitarist Tommy Shaw. It was originally based on Shaw’s initial perception of Styx keyboardist Dennis DeYoung — an “angry young man” who viewed the group’s successes with a wary eye and grew angry or depressed with every setback. It was only in later years that Shaw began to see himself in the lyrics, and the song took on a more personal meaning to him.

I think life is like that though – songs have meanings when we’re younger, but then when we get older we find the words are richer and we find new meaning in them as we grow through life and gain deeper insights. Anyway – again – I’ll let the song speak. I like these simple songs which are straight to the point with no deciphering involved. :-)

You see the world through your cynical eyes
You’re a troubled young man I can tell
You’ve got it all in the palm of your hand
But your hand’s wet with sweat and your head needs a rest
And you’re fooling yourself if you don’t believe it
You’re killing yourself if you don’t believe it

Why must you be such an angry young man
When your future looks quite bright to me
And how can there be such a sinister plan
That could hide such a lamb, such a caring young man
And you’re fooling yourself if you don’t believe it
You’re killing yourself if you don’t believe it

Get up, get back on your feet
You’re the one they can’t beat and you know it
Come on, let’s see what you’ve got
Just take your best shot and don’t blow it

Keep coming back for more as Music Month on Oh Crap continues.

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Music That Encourages – REO Speedwagon

October 7, 2014

Before I start I want to say that I was going to change my last post about the stuff I’ve been going through as nobody’s business, but left it in the end. Mostly it just means it’s private, I’m trying to sort stuff out, and I’m not a blogger who is going to let it all out all over the internet. So, I didn’t mean to be rude, just saying that details are intensely private right now. Okay – now for today’s post.

I realized that I know several pop/rock songs that actually lift and encourage teens and young people, and I’ve always thought they were great because there is so much junk out there for kids to listen to now and not much that is positive or not filth. I’ve even needed to hear these messages again for my own self since life lately has been throwing me a lot of stuff that is challenging. One of those songs is REO Speedwagon’s “Keep Pushin'”. It’s a coming of age song directed to young men who are struggling – leaving home for the first time, working a job that may be less than stellar, relationships that are difficult – and how to get through it. It encourages through words like, “keep pushin’ even if you think your strength is gone” (which I should probably have posted somewhere around here). We all go through times like this, when we are young and even when we are older. Sometimes it takes us awhile to find direction in life, but when we do it really does start coming together. Even if it’s just for a short time before the next challenge comes along. Anyway, I could say more, but I won’t – I’ll let the song speak for itself.

I used to be lonely till I learned about livin alone
I found other things to keep my mind on
And I’m gettin to know myself a little bit better
Whoa , I keep pushin on
Keep pushin on, yeah
Goin through all the changes I made so many mistakes, oh yes I did
Tryin to leave behind the heartaches
And sometimes I think I was a little bit crazy, oh yeah
Whoa, I keep pushin on

Keep pushin, keep pushin, keep pushin, keep pushin on
Keep pushin, keep pushin, you know you have got to be so strong
Keep pushin, keep pushin, well even if you think your strength is gone
Keep pushin on

Well it’s comin together I finally feel like a man, oh yes I do
I never thought that I’d be where I am, oh
Everyday I wake a little bit higher
Whoa I keep pushin on, oh yeah

Keep pushin, keep pushin, keep pushin, keep pushin on
Keep pushin, keep pushin, you know you have got to be so strong
Keep pushin, keep pushin, well even if you think your strength is gone
Keep pushin on

Stay tuned – more encouraging music coming this week!

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Music Monday – Music Month

October 6, 2014

Well, well looky who’s back after…one…no…two months! Yeah, me. :-) Life is just too complicated to even begin writing and most of it is no one’s business, although it would be nice to actually share some really deep and heavy stuff, but then again, my oldest reads this blog so I don’t want to lay all that out if you know what I mean. Anyway – it is a Monday and I have been thinking about all these great songs that really need to be talked about so I thought it might be nice to do a month of nothing but music posts. Yeah, I think I could actually do that. So, here goes.

Yesterday I finally decided to get some music from Amazon that was just laying around my MP3 cart – I also had $2 in credits so that was an incentive. I bought a few 70’s songs because it is time to get that collection replacement going, and I bought a few songs to replace my Napster ones that don’t play anymore. After that I made a new 70’s mix cd and here’s what’s on it:

1. Bohemian Rhapsody – Queen
2. Doctor’s Orders – Carol Douglas
3. Angel Eyes – ABBA
4. Let’s Hang On – Barry Manilow
5. More Than A Feeling – Boston
6. American Pie – Don McLean
7. Go Your Own Way – Fleetwood Mac
8. Killer Queen – Queen
9. Rag Doll – Four Seasons
10. Daydream Believer – The Monkees
11. Precious To Me – Phil Seymour
12. Fox On the Run – Sweet
13. Bang A Gong (Get It On) – Marc Bolan and T-Rex
14. Spirit In the Sky – Norman Greenbaum
15. Nights in White Satin – The Moody Blues

As you can see there’s a little bit of everything on here – including Disco! Yes, Doctor’s Orders IS a disco song, and I loved it instantly. Bohemian Rhapsody is a must and I can’t believe it has taken this long to get it! I remember seeing the video of that song way back when I was like 11 I think – it was just so awesome (still is)! Killer Queen – another favorite that I loved right away even though I didn’t even get the drift of the song… I do now. Angel Eyes is one of my all time ABBA favorites and it always goes out to those boys I used to have crushes on. I remember watching Sweet many times on Top of the Pops when we lived overseas so Fox On The Run was a given. I like it better than Ballroom Blitz believe it or not. Those were some good times people, good times.

On a sadder note, I also realized that several of these singers have died and it’s such a personal loss because that was MY generation not to mention you think hell, they’ll (we’ll) always be around. So, here’s a tribute of sorts if you will to thank these men who graced our lives with their words, music, and voices – we miss you!

+ Brian Connolly – Sweet – 1997 age 51
+ Davy Jones – The Monkees – 2012 age 66
+ Brad Delp – Boston (lead singer) – 2007 age 55
+ Freddy Mercury – Queen – age 45
+ Marc Bolan – T-Rex – 1977 age 29 (2 other T-Rex band members also are gone – Steve Currey and Mickey Finn – only one member remains)
+ Phil Seymour – 1993 age 41

Eternal rest grant unto them Oh Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May their souls rest in peace.

I’ll be back tomorrow with the first of a week of songs that have positive messages for our youth (or even old farts like me – hehe).

In the meantime – Rock On!!

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