Pandora Preheated

Yes, Pandora. We all know Pandora.

But I didn't.

Well, not really.

I never thought that I would need Pandora. I have my iPod, I have CD's, I have cassettes from way back when. I barely listened to the radio at one point in my life because I had my iPod and the iTunes store. But radio is still a relevant and useful vessel for new music to come through, and I finally turned on the Pandora Radio and crossed my fingers, hoping for the best.

And oh my Goddess. This is the best invention since anything Apple has come up with...until a few months later when they release the iPhone-Pad-Pod-Piddle 2000. I've entered songs and artist names to create stations based on either one, and 9 times out of 10 I'm thumbing up the songs and bookmarking the artists for future purchase. Yeah, sure, ads sometimes come in between, which can be rectified by paying for a subscription to Pandora One, but it's so worth it. You can even listen to standup comedy skits from people like Chris Rock, Lewis Black, Alonzo Bodden and more.

But musically, I've gotten a few songs from a few artists that I can't stop thinking about, and so I had to share them with you.

Again, thank to Pandora for these; it's easy to make an account for free, it's easy to make your stations, and it's easy to fall in love with it.

1. Funky DL- Record Shop (I can just chill outside or inside, swaying to the beat like a slow dance...go london!Came from Little Brother Radio.)
2. Little Brother - The Way You Do It (Little Brother is one of my favorite groups to exist in hip-hop. This is from their DEBUT. They were like wine, though--they got better with age. Came From Skyzoo Radio.)
3. Baby (2010) - Bobby McFerrin (So many songs were the soundtrack to my childhood. Thank goodness I can find them again through Pandora. Came From Bobby McFerrin Radio.)
4. Like You - Bow Wow ft. Ciara (now, I knew this song before Pandora, I just wanted to put it on here. HA! Came from Diggy Radio.)
5. Pumped Up Kicks - Foster The People (sort of breezy to me, came from MIA radio. I actually have a few songs now on my computer because of this.)
6. Shove It - Santigold (Ah, Santigold. Her music never ceases to lift my mood. And this song makes me pine for SUMMER! Came from Santigold Radio.)
7. Jump In The Line - Harry Belafonte (Moment I heard this, I was like, "Beetlejuice?" Props to you if you know what I mean. But no, I like shaking it to this one when no one can see me! Came From Bobby McFerrin Radio.)





8. Close Call - 88 Keys (I think this is a group with Phonte from Little Brother--after LB broke up, waaaa--and I think it's pretty fly. Will have to do more research on them, but this song is a good start. Came From LL Cool J Radio.)NO VIDEO AVAILABLE. JJUST THIS LINK FOR A LISTEN: http://www.undergroundhiphop.com/audio/detail.asp?ID=13300
9. You Da One-Rihanna (This is actually a really cute, fun song. My favorite on the album hands down. Kinda reminds me of Man Down mixed with What's My Name, don't you think? Came From Frank Ocean Radio.)
10. Stutter-Joe (Yes, the same Joe who did "I Wanna Know" and "All The Things Your Man Won't Do." From late nineties to early 2000's he was one of those memorable crooners in RnB. I heard the remix to this song before this original, and now I'm not sure which one is cooler. Help! Came From Joe Radio.)

Hey, this might be a new dimension on the blog! "Pandora Preheated: 3/28." How does that sound? Ah, anyway, there's your treat for today. Tune in soon for the next discovery!

-CDM

Friday Fondue: Delayed, but Delicious

Yes, sue me, I'm later than I promise. It won't happen again. Inrtoducing the Firday Fondue that should have been up by now.

Welcome to March, Y'ALL! And boy, do I have a few Spring delights for you!

But first, I have to ask y'all about something.

One of my girlfriends called me up and asked to chill, so we did, and we ended up talking about love and relationships (always a good subject for when you want to have a loooong conversation). We were more in the lane of the complications of being near an ex. My gal pal talked about how she once had a boyfriend and then broke up with him, and months after not talking to him and getting better, he called her up and she was "right back where I started; it took even longer to get over him fully."

And then she brought up how listening to empowering music and feel good jams helped her out. It got me thinking; could music actually be a general treatment for a broken heart? I have to wait until I get one, but I thought it would be interesting to get your input: 10 songs that you feel are the best for getting over an ex in the comment section below.

If I had to pick ten, off the top of my head, it would be:

1. No Regrets - X-Quiste
2. Me Myself and I - Beyonce
3. F**k You - Cee Lo Green
4. Are You Happy Now? - Michelle Branch
5. Karma - Alicia Keys
6. Beautifully Undone - Lindy
7. Your Ex-Lover Is Dead - Stars
8. Irreplaceable - Beyonce
9. Do You Think About Me - 50 Cent
10. Come Winter - Drake

What's YOUR Top Ten?

Now, to bring the Three Top Art Picks for Friday Fondue number 2!

I went to go see the Woman In Black late last month.

I know there's a more popular poster, but it still creeps me out too much.

Worst case scenario of your life: you get killed. Only natural to think so.

But what if you're put into a trance where you kill yourself? What if you're a young child just wanting to play with your doll when suddenly you see a strange woman dressed in complete black, equipped with a black veil, staring at you with beady eyes, and suddenly you decide to drink lye?

This is the issue that young lawyer Arthur Kipps (played by Har--Daniel Radcliffe) is dragged into when he is sent to Eel Marsh House to settle the affairs of recently deceased Alice Drablow, an elderly woman who lived with her husband, her son, and her sister for most of her life.
Well, at least until a tragedy took the son's life, after which the sister, Jennet, killed herself.
Nobody in the town is welcoming; in fact, they are downright hostile to Kipps when he tries to get answers to his questions, like, "Why is there a woman always lurking around Eel Marsh House, and why is it that children die immediately afterward?" The further he looks into this case, the more he falls victim to the hauntings of the Woman In Black.

This has quickly developed into the greatest horror movie of the year by far. Critics are saying, fans are saying it. 12 year olds who are stupid enough to sneak in with their friends are saying it. And after seeing it myself, I can understand why every trailer said, "Don't watch it alone." I put off watching it because I have had a history of weak stomachs when it comes to scary films (example: Thriller). But I took one friend with me weeks after it was out, so the theater was pretty much empty save for three other people.

I'm just going to say this; if you need to see this, see it on DVD with the lights on and a group of friends who are willing to sleep over that night.

I spent the most part of the movie behind my fingers and the last part of it blubbering like a baby. I cannot being to tell you how freaked out I was. The Woman In Black didn't even show up at every second, just pieces of her face in a mirror or window, or whispers in the hallway, all leading up to when we finally see her--that's what makes it so scary, because you KNOW something's about to go down, but you don't know exactly when.Only afterwards did I realize it's better to have screaming crowds when you're practically forced to crap yourself in fright.

ONLY if you can handle these movies should you go to see this. I visited my grandmother two days afterwards, and I couldn't be in the same room with her rocking chair (see movie for reference). As freaked out as I STILL AM, I got what I wanted: a good, old-fashioned, well-designed scare. No gore, no blood, none of that "Final Destination" overlapping mutilation crap. It's suspenseful to the point where you're expecting everything to scare you, but it's still a blow when it finally is.

But yes, you will be scared of your own house.


NEXT! Music.

 I think I've made a reference to this album before in earlier posts, in fact I know I've put the image out there on the first post I ever did, but I never really delved into why this album is so awesome and what it does for me. So now, when I've recently rediscovered why I love it so much, I have to share it with y'all.

Behold, the Lenny of Kravitz!

Once upon a time, it was 1989, and no one had heard of the hard-working rock star named Lenny Kravitz until September 19th. After that fateful day, "Let Love Rule" was the tune on everyone's lips. But I got this album years after the fact, for the first time, and fell in love with it like it was my first love.
It wasn't. But you get the idea.

The whole album is raw, pure, and beautifully mixed, as if it was done today. Everything for the most part is acoustic and funky, and Lenny's sincerity oozes through the tracks. Songs like "Mr. Cab Driver," and "Let Love Rule," are just two of the memorable gems from Let Love Rule, but my personal favorite is the last song, "Flower Child," which I believe was dedicated to his then-wife Lisa Bonet (of the Cosby Show). But check it out for yourself. Tell me what you think.

Finally! Books!

I just finished it today, and I gotta tell you, it really had an impact on me.

Remember Ayaan Hirsi Ali?

yeah, the somalian woman who used to be in the dutch parliament? she had written Infidel about her life as a muslim woman and her brave escape from a forced marriage into a free life in Holland. Now she resides in America and has a second book that was released a couple years ago as a follow-up to her first one: Nomad.

Notice the subtitle? "A personal journey through the clash of civilizations?" That is exactly what this is. She breaks it down in four parts: A Problem Family, Nomad Again, Sex Money Violence, and Remedies.
She updates us on her family since we left them last; where they are now, what they're up to and how her relationship is with them. She talks about her own experiences in different country, from Somalia to Ethiopia to Holland and finally to America. She points out what she feels are the biggest problems within Islam and then tries to bring u remedies.

Now, regardless of your personal opinion, this is a very interesting book. I appreciate her willingness to allow the rest of us a peek into her personal life, as well as the personal battles she has endured. And while I won't put my opinion of her views of Islam on here, this is a great debate-sparker, a mind-provoking argument, and it's worth picking up.


So that's it, by the next time I do a Friday Fondue I'll be making sure to be more punctual with it. Forgive my issues. Lucky it hasn't happened before and won't happen again.

Love forever!

-CDM

Waters Of March

My computer was having some sort of breakdown over the past few days, so I could get nothing written or done. I apologize for the delay, because I really wanted to blow up the whole "first month of spring" thing.
Went out ALL day today. The weather was fabulous. Heard tomorrow's supposed to be hotter, but who is gonna tell the difference when the rain is pouring down? Unless you like getting caught in the rain, you'll be stuck inside.
The Friday Fondue that was supposed to be this past friday was of course delayed, so I'm putting it off to this Friday if my computer is working for me. Instead, this lovely Monday evening I'll give y'all a few morsels of musical deliciousness--IN VIDEO.

So there's this rapper named Skyzoo i've been in love with for a little bit. His flow is easygoing and his tone is instantly likable. I could listen to him all day, on a sunny day in a long car ride. Check out some of these songs (IN VIDEO) of his.

Next up we have another lovely rapper named Theophilus London. He does a little singing on the side, kind of like Drake and K-OS. Here are two videos of the songs I like most of his.

Solange Knowles has such a lovely voice, and the kinda music she puts out always puts me in a good mood. Y'all probably already know about her, but I'm putting her stuff on here anywhere.

Now, I have to put this girl in because more female rappers are needed in the spotlight today. Her name is Rapsody, and she's from a group of MC's, producers, and DJ's called Kooley High. Show her some love and lend her an ear.

I know, right? Yeah, give these artists some of your time, they are so worth buying.

-CDM

Feel-Good Appetizer

This Saturday night is a GIRLS NIGHT with a couple of code buddies, and I'm spending all of this morning cleaning up and doing laundry to prepare for it, because I take hours to clean up perfectly and I don't want to do on the exact day the girls are coming over.

This is a sleepover, and we're gonna be inside all night talking and joking and watching movies until the early morning. I had to mull it over it my head what kind of music sets the tone for this kind of scenery. No one wants to try a compile a playlist of a billion songs, though I have done it before, for a random night.

So what I've done is taken a couple of albums that were made, really, for delicious lounge music, and put them into one playlist. To break up the monotony, I have also some party-esque albums as well, along with some instrumentals.

These are a few of those albums I'll be using. Use this as a guide for indoor get-togethers if you'd like. :)

Aquarian Angel By Blue Six

Turn The Dark Off By Howie B

Simple Things By Zero 7

Raise Hope For Congo Compilation Album

Dr. T By Billy Taylor

Off The Wall By Michael Jackson

The Diary Of Alicia Keys by Alicia Keys

Afrodisiac By Brandy

After Saturday is done, y'all will soon get two movie reviews for Safe House....and a surprise new movie. :)

Happy weekend, y'all!

-CDM

Day Old Box Of Chocolates (a book, a film, a few songs)

Yes, yes, Happy Valentine's Day and all that jazz. -_-

Nah, just kidding, hoping you' all had a happy valentine's day!

I wanted to add my Valentine-friendly treats on the day, but they are really all-year-round goodies that just happen to work on Valentine's day as well. Plus, this kind of stuff shouldn't just be reserved for that one day, it should be for every day! Any day can be your Valentine's day! Don't be traditional! Be unexpected!

FIRST UP!

A Book.

Remember A Serious Of Unfortunate Events? Lemony Snicket? Yep, this is the real guy, DAvid Handler, using his real name to write a novel about a girl named MIN who send her ex-boyfriend a box full of little things, and with each item she has a letter that tells a story connected to that item and pointing out red flags in their relationship.

Equipped with illustrations of each item, this book is amazing. I finished it in a couple of hours because I couldn't put it down, and this was in a bookstore over the weekend with swarms of people coming in and out. I noticed none of them.

Then, of course, there's the movies. I said I would give you a quick review of Safe House, and I will. But because I'm trying to do the Romantic thing, I must, today, do I review of The Vow, the second movie I saw on Friday.

A couple made for each other are involved in a car crash and the wife loses her memory of their life together. Instead, she thinks she's in a whole different environment with a different boyfriend. Yeah, must be hard for the husband, but he works to try and bring her memory back with love and respect.

Very sweet, very poignant. Perfectly timed for V-Day. Of course, that was probably the intention, but yeah. It's very sweet. Channing and Rachel have pretty good chemistry!

And, of course, no damn V-Day post would be complete without the top songs to….er…set the mood.

Please note that most of these videos can't be watched on here and gives you a choice to go to youtube to view it. Not my fault. Not what I want to happen. But it is what it is. I hope you enjoy the songs anyway!

AHEM!

1) For those who are caught in the throes of that first romance:

2) For those who are single or recently ex-d and darn proud of it:

3) For those who are planning to propose to that special someone:

4) For those who are in long distance relationships:

5) For those who…uh….are trying to set a mood: 

6) For those who are unlucky enough to have their heart broken by someone they loe:

7)For those who want the spice of 70's soul to set the mood:

8) FOr those who are so in love, it's embarrassing:

9) For those who are trying to win the heart of that special somebody:

10) And finally, for those who find all the love they need within themselves:

Yes, and so it is that we continue our lives wishing and hoping and flirting and fighting and loving and hurting and forgiving, but I hope this post has something to do with that (arrogant, i know.) 

-CDM

RIP Whitney Houston

Tonight, we mourn the passing of a phenomenal singer and performer. The beauty of her life is what I choose to remember the most, and those who loved her music and followed her all these years will feel the same.

Rest In Peace, Whitney Houston.