I'll outline a few scenarios and you'll pick the song (or songs or album). Respond to all or any.
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1. You're in the kitchen about to cook up a couple of dishes for a small group of people. You have a lot of cleaning and prepping and cookin' ahead of you, but you're looking forward to all of it. What song do you start your work to?
2. You're with a bunch of friends you've just made tonight at a house party. They're great guys and girls, they just don't listen to much music aside from what's on the radio, but they're trying to dance. What song will we dance to?
3. You went camping with your good mate and the conversation was excellent. You're both laying in sleeping bags looking up at the stars between the clouds. What song will you two slowly drift off to sleep to?
4. You're on a deadline for a project and have hit a total wall. The blank page is staring you back, so you decide to go for a walk with some headphones to free your mind. What does freedom sound like?
1.) Oscar Peterson Trio - Canadiana Suite: One of the few albums that I can just leave on repeat. 2.) I'd probably give them what they want! Katy Perry - Prism: I have no hatred for pop music. If i had to go with something Atypical, then Alkaline Trio: Agony and Irony 3.) Silence. I think it's underestimated what silence can let your mind do, especially when you've got the stars as your nightlight. 4.) J.S. Bach - Goldberg Variations as played by Glenn Gould.
I tend towards the 80's recording, but only out of habit: My father owns it and plays it in the car on long trips. I also appreciate the slower tempos he chooses. That said, both recordings are fantastic, and my preference is really just one of familiarity.
1. The Who -Baba O'Riley -Really, this song should start off every endeavor or event. 2. Discovery -Swing Tree -May not be uptempo enough, but fuck-em, they should listen to good music. 3. Easy. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan -Nothing Without You -the link says it all. 4. Paul Simon -Obvious Child -Those drums will wake you up and if Paul Simon can't inspire you... well, you're likely a lost cause :)
Nice to find some Nusrat fans. Meriadoc, to your point about Buckley, I wrote this a while back. I was once at a function in DC shameless plug for Operation Smile and upon leaving I ran in to a Sikh man that I talked to briefly at the gala. He was standing by his car and asked where I was headed, turns out he was headed to the same place so he gave me a lift and I was able to bypass a taxi. He asked what type of music I liked and I went through the usual "I like everything but modern country speel" and I asked where he was from and he said "Pakistan." When I told him that I really loved Nusrat, his face lit up and he was overjoyed. Honestly, I've rarely seen this type of enthusiasm. He couldn't believe that some westerner knew who his beloved Nusrat was. He threw some on the stereo and we "rocked out" to some qawwali. It was a fun car ride.
(#4) I'll assume it's the live version from Concert in the Park. It better be......
You and flagamuffin both. That is a fantastic version, no doubt about it. Pulling that song off, that well live is awesome. But... I like the studio version too.
1. Grinderman - Palaces of Montezuma, or Skrillex & Damian 'Jr.Gong' - Make It Bun Dem. 2. Men Without Hats - Safety Dance: Sixty percent of the time, it works every time.
Haha Men Without Hats is perfect - completely forgot about that song! But great list overall. Have you heard the Dreadsquad Remix to Make It Bun Dem? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfiGr63BpAA
(sorry, no links. I'm on my phone.) 1. Eggs and Sausage - Tom Waits, from Nighthawks at the Diner 2. Some Place - Nick Waterhouse, or really, the whole album. (Sexy, hot music too. Guaranteed for some close dancing if you're into the people. 3. Sigur Ros. Full stop. In the many occasions I've done this, it's never failed. Alternatively, my favorite musician is J. Tillman. I put on a lot of his music on for a lot of reasons, but here, I'd go for Crosswinds, from A Year in the Kingdom. This is probably my more honest answer, but I don't share his music often, unless I truly have a deep, deep connection with the person. (There's a compliment for you, hubski.) 4. Bach's final piece: Die Kunst der Fuge. His music was extremely... Mathematical. Baroque music in general was. With a fair understanding of music and math, at someppoint it clicks to you. You can hear parts and know what comes next. Bach was absolutely the highest genius of this. He wrote his name into songs, for example. One of the activities he was known for in his day was having fugue competitions. Bach and another person at two harpsichords face each other. The person plays a segment and stops at a random point. Bach carries on. He never missed a note and always added to thepiece dramat ically. Anyway, his last piece was based around that idea; many songs built around one small fragment. It becomes increasingly complex, in predictable ways. You'reaware of where iit'sgoing. It's all clicking in your head. It nears its summit and... Ends. He died before he could finish it. His music was so rooted in those logical structures though, it's possible for someone to finish it how he intended (and some have). Something about that feeling though, where it comes together, it happensin all of Bach's music with me, but that one specifically, having sudden clarity of directiondoes wonders for your mind. I always listen to it while working, purely for the logical mindset it puts me in.
Excellent prompt! 1. I love the classic Paul Simon album Graceland for household tasks. Really upbeat and tends to wake me up. 2. Baby I'm Yours by Breakbot is an easy go-to for mass appeal and dance-ability. 3. Tough question. The first thing that popped into my head was Lower Your Eyelids to Die with the Sun by M83. In a similar vein is Ratatat's Cherry. Both songs start minimally and build up to some amazing harmonies. I'm particularly fond of the latter; I have lots of fond memories tied to that song. 4. Freedom sounds like one of the best songs off the greatest Zeppelin album. Trampled Underfoot is perfect for driving too fast with the windows open while tapping on the steering wheel and yelling along with the incomparable Robert Plant.
First off, what an awesome idea for a post! Kudos. 1. I nearly always listen to the radio station The Current when I'm doing anything in the kitchen. 2. Too Young by Phoenix. 3. Like a few others, I'd lean towards no music. But if I had to pick, I guess I'd say Take Care of Yourself by Owen but I'd probably come up with a different song every day. 4. Any instrumental jazz music. I'm partial to The Bad Plus. I work much better and stay much more focused listening to instrumental music.
1. I'm honestly going to music free in this scenario. I'm bad at cooking in the first place, and I need every bit of focus I have to make sure I don't burn something. 2. It's a house party, so some pop would be on. Katy Perry, Ellie Goulding, things like that. 3. Silence. I'm not huge into music so in a moment like that, I prefer silence. 4. Usually the walk clears my mind more than the music, but something with a nice guitar riff, and lyrics I don't even have to think about would be nice, so maybe some Rammstein.
1. Literally, anything from my library. If I'm alone, it'll be whatever I'm into at the moment. Right now, it'd probably be CHVRCHES, Japandroid's Celebration Rock, Alt-J, Jason Anderson, Girl Talk, Andrew Jackson Jihad, Ghost Mice, and the Mountain Goats. 2. Presently, I'd say something by Trouble Lights. Probably Hunting, but maybe Safe with Me, or Truu Love. Pretty good lesser known band, quite danceable. 3. Something calm, slow, and soothing, and nothing particularly electronic. I'd probably choose Godspeed You! Black Emperor's f#a#8, Boards of Canada's Music has the Right to Children or Geogaddi, but maybe The Campfire Headphase. 4. Well, if I'm just trying to stay awake, I'd probably go with something loud and fast-paced. Sleigh Bells' album Treats rarely steers me wrong, and recently Factory Floor's album Factory Floor has been filling that niche as well.
(Sorry, no links. At work.) Let me set the scene. I'm at home. It's a Friday night, and I've had a rough week - meetings, client calls, sill office rivalries, and petty politics. My friends call me, say they're coming over, ask me if there's any food at home. I say sure, I'll cook something. I've been looking forward to this all day. I step into the kitchen and see dishes piled up in the sink. There's a lot of work that needs to be done here. I put on Loveless by My Bloody Valentine and get started. 48 minutes and 36 seconds later, as Soon fades out, bringing the album to a close, I drop my ladle in the sink, and look proudly at my masterpiece - a wok of ramen. My friends come home. They're disappointed that all I've made them is Ramen, and shocked when I tell them I took nearly an hour to make it. One of them has called a few of his friends over. I hope you don't mind, he says, besides you should meet Rita, you'll like her, like like-like her. I say ok, I'm cool with people coming over, there's no beer at home, and frankly, the prospect of "like like-liking" someone seems very appealing. They all come over, Rita too. We're all having a good time. My friends have started trickling out; they all have to get back home. I'm left at home with a bunch of people I've just met, but oddly feel comfortable with. They want to dance; a copious amount of beer has been consumed. And I want to dance, especially with her. I play the album Settle by Disclosure. We all have a great time. I get nowhere with Rita; I'm too afraid to try. But hey, at least we all had fun dancing. A few months after this, I decide to camp in the hills with a friend I made at the party. After a long day of trekking, and a night of conversations about space exploration, women, and the meaning of life, we decide to crash. Why don't we play some music, I suggest. Sure, he says. I put on The Orb's Adventures Beyond the Ultraworld and we drift off peacefully. Inspired by my trip to the hills, I decide to start on a novel. Trouble is, stupid work has come in from the office. I need to get done with it in an hour. I put on Chopin's Ballades and get cracking.
1. Hardest one. Depends on mood. Maybe LP? 2. Anything by Sly and the Family Stone. 3. Kid Cudi - Heaven at Nite 4. Freedom sounds like Young and Free by Jonathan Tyler and the Northern Lights and confidence sounds like Summer Love from JT, but sparking creativity sounds like maybe LCD Soundsystem or Kid A. EDIT: badged, this is a fantastic idea for a post and I'll happily participate in more at the drop of a hat.
1. Spyro Gyra - Morning Dance 2. Little Feat - Oh Atlanta 3. Shapeshifter - Twin Galaxies (this video has a Shadow-Of-The-Colossus vibe to it by the way)
1. Maybe some good ol' Kopecky Family Band. I like cooking. It would be something cheerful. Maybe some Vampire Weekend 2. Oldies but goodies, the classic fun stuff that everyone can swing to and is going to recognize but hasn't played in a while. I joke that the Twist is the only dance I can do. I'm honestly thinking classic wedding reception songs for this one. 3. Modest Mouse, hands down, all the way. And I'm not talking about shit off of Float On which everyone knows, I'm talking like Moon and Antarctica level kind of greatness. Or this. 4. Can I be honest? Maybe some Macklemore or similar.
1. Fragrance of Dark Coffee 2. One More Time - Daft Punk 3. Human Legacy - Ivan Torrent or An Ending - Brian Eno or The Scientist - Coldplay or Into the Mystic - Van Morrison 4. Hungarian Dance no. 1 in G Minor - Brahms (can't find a rendition I like on Youtube, but there's good ones on Spotify!) Cliche, I know.
1. I love singing and rapping loudly when I'm cooking, so something I know all the words to: Queen, Chance the Rapper's Acip Rap mixtape, Wrecking Ball by Miley Cyrus, Penny by Johnny Stimson etc. 2. Senorita by Justin Timberlake or Hey Ya by Outkast. 3. Mutemath or Tame Impala. 4. This is a really difficult one, but the first thing that came to my mind is Bob Marley. It always puts me in a good mood and relaxes me.
1. Eye of the Tiger by Survivor 2. Eye of the Tiger 3. Hallelujah by Jeff Buckley 4. Eye of the Tiger However, when I get back to doing the project, I'd play stuff like One Winged Angel, the Superman theme (by John Williams) and The Pirates of the Caribbean theme (by Hans Zimmer & Klaus Badelt)
1. Behold... The Arctopus- Exospacial Psionic Aura 2. Behold... The Arctopus- Exospacial Psionic Aura 3. Behold... The Arctopus- Exospacial Psionic Aura 4. Behold... The Arctopus- Exospacial Psionic Aura Really though, I could see myself listening to this in any of those situations except perhaps for the dancing once.
1. Higher Ground covered by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, its a very upbeat song with funky rhythms and I think its great to get a good atmosphere and upbeat cooking going. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdOLFtk9joI 2. Depends on the type of people that they are, you could play a lot of things. But always go for what the girls like at this point haha. Something probably like Get Lucky, Daft Punk. Etc. Could vary a lot 3. Blackbird by The Beatles/Paul McCartney. A beautiful and relaxing song, a personal favorite of mine. Perfect to drift off somewhere and fall asleep to. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cp6bd2vf314 4. I would put on 'Glitch Mob' radio on pandora. It plays a variety of songs along the same lines as Glitch mobs music. No lyrics whatsoever so I can still focus on my work with some cool music on in the background. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVqPx5mUj0g
1. City and Colour. Any album, but I really enjoy the flow of "The Hurry and the Harm" 2. Since I'm terrible with Dance music, I'd probably start a Spotify station based on Zedd - Clarity 3. Townes Van Zandt - Pancho and Lefty 4. Glossary - Bend With the Breeze
Hmm, you're terrible with dance music. Ok, couple of questions. Do you like dancing? If you do, where do you find yourself dancing the most? Are you drunk or high when moving your feet? or sober as a judge (or high on life)? I linked a song somewhere but I'll do it again.. ahh, Doses and Mimosas by Cherub. Now do me a favor, and pick up some headphones or a decent stereo (a car's speaker system is fun, too) and play this loud. Do you like it? No matter what I'm doing that middle chorus makes me drop everything and stick middle fingers in the air and the only way to describe what I'm feeling is fun. Boys Noize did a remix of a Feist song that I've been dancing to for the longest time, My Moon My Man. I'll sometimes queue this song up next on someone's iPhone and then just skip somewhere to the middle of it because it's guaranteed to sound awesome and I can't transition well. And something I've heard at the last few loud basement parties I've been to, Major Lazer keeps it pretty freaky. Anyways, I don't think theres anything wrong with a Spotify playlist, I just don't want you to think you should always be terrible at Dance music. I tried to give the broadest strokes of the "Dance music" I hear when I go out -- small portion of the music that's played, I'll agree. enjoi though
1. Wo Qui Non Coin, then probably Ghibli Jazz 2 by All That Jazz 2. Lisztomania by Phoenix 3. No idea. 4. Apartment by Young the Giant
Prepare for differing music here, I swing many ways. 1. Heartless - Kayne West 2. Sierra Lione - Mt Eden Dubstep 3. We Ran Out Of CD Space - Psychostick 4. Dont know, can't think of much.
1. Sonnentanz by Klangkarussell, because this song will get you started and before you know it, you've whipped everything up 2. Doses and Mimosas by Cherub, favorite dance tune these days 3. Separater by Radiohead, just give it a long listen 4. Reptillia by the Strokes, but really there are a lot of options for this one
1. Safe And Sound by Capital Cities or Get Lucky by Daft Punk (or pretty much anything with an up tempo beat and simple lyrics). 2. Hooked On Swing by Glenn Miller (My wife and I don't really dance and neither do our friends, but if we did, I would imagine it to be something like this). 3. NOTHING, if I am out in the woods I want to completely disconnect from technology and enjoy the silence like our ancestors once did. 4. Once again NOTHING, I enjoy the walk and am mindful. When I get back I listen to 4X4=12 by Deadmau5 (never fails to focus my mind before diving in to code).
1. I don't cook, so I don't know what kind of mood or music it takes. I'll just skip this one 2. Doin it right by Daft Punk (song) 3. We don't need to whisper by Angels and Airwaves (album) 4. Voodoo Child by Jimi Hendrix (song)