30 Day Song Challenge: Part IV

Ugh... I have been under the weather for the last couple of days. I slept through most of yesterday and most of today. I am feeling a bit better but still plenty blah. But I am able to crank out another set of songs.

Day 17 - A Song That You Hear Often On The Radio

Sharp Dressed Man - ZZ Top

I drive to my dad's for work almost every day and it seems like no matter what the time is I will always hear this song either on the way there or on the way back. It doesn't matter if I leave early or if I am running late. I do think this is ZZ Top's best song so I guess I shouldn't complain!

Day 18 - A Song That You Wish You Heard On The Radio

Waiting for Tonight - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

It is no secret that I love Tom Petty. One of his best songs unfortunately never made it on to an album (except for Anthology; a greatest hits album) and therefore never made it to the radio. This song is typical Tom Petty but he also has the Bangles singing the background lyrics. I really think this could have become one of the Tom Petty's top songs if it would have made it to the radio. Oh well, at least I have it on my iPod.

Day 19 - A Song From Your Favorite Album

Dirty Day - U2

I have a lot of favorite albums but the only one that I will listen to as an album is U2's Zooropa. I rarely just play one track from that album. I usually have to play the whole thing. Dirty Day is one of my favorite tracks but I found that this remix (Bitter Kiss Mix) is so much better than the original. This song has nothing to do with the movie Departed. You don't have to watch the video, just listen to the music.

Day 20 - A Song That You Listen To When You’re Angry

Come Out Swinging - The Offspring

At my last job, when I was having a rough day I would play my Offspring playlist. Usually after listening to them I would be in a better mood. I don't know if it was the clever lyrics or the hard guitar riffs but I would end up smiling. Maybe it was because they are one of my favorite bands. This song was usually the first one that I would listen too. If you are going to fight me you better come out swinging!

Day 21 - A Song That You Listen To When You’re Happy

Paperback Writer - Beatles

I don't think there is a particular song that I listen to when I am happy. But when I am in the mood to sing (and that usually means I am in some sort of good mood) I will always crank out some Beatles. And when I play the Beatles, I always play thier awesome album Revolver. I just love this song, maybe it is because I want to be a paperback writer.

Random Ramblings

Day 253

Last night my family and I spent the evening at Merlin Olsen Park with some of our neighbors. We grilled up steaks, hot dogs and chicken and it was so nice and relaxing. The weather was perfect and the food was great. I grilled the chicken and I must say that I did an excellent job. It was so juicy, I really should invest in getting a grill so I can cook it more often.

Awhile ago I mentioned doing an NFL blog for the upcoming season. I was thinking and planning some of it the other day. My first initial thought was to spotlight a different division every week and then have some playoff predictions. So I counted how many weeks I would need and then took a peak at the calendar to see when I need to start. I was shocked to find out that I will need to start this week! Which means we only have nine weeks until the season starts. Part of me is excited but part of me is feeling a bit overwhelmed since sometime this week I need to blog about it. I think I will debut it this Thursday since the NFL season officially starts on a Thursday. That will give me sometime to figure it all out.

I did whip up a graphic for my column and I think I have a name for it. I am not completely satisfied with the lettering and how it looks but I think that might be good enough for now. I am calling the column Upon Further Review as a play on what the referees say after they have reviewed a play on instant replay. That might change too but I kind of doubt it since I am a little pressed for time.

I did one of my New Year's Resolutions the other day. I got out my bass guitar and played it both the day before yesterday and yesterday and my fingers are killing me.

It even hurts to type. So either I need to practice more so my fingers callus up and get used to it or just give up the bass completely. I thought I did pretty well with it. I taught myself a couple of Tom Petty songs that I can play decently. My goal for this next week is to learn Dragon Attack by Queen. It has a cool bass line which will be difficult to learn but will be absolutely fun to play.

This week I am also starting my new book Driven which is the autobiography on the late owner of the Utah Jazz. I may not have seen eye-to-eye with this man and his decisions but I will say that I respect him for all his hard work. I am very interested to learn more about him and see why he made the decisions he made.

Book Review: Conversations with Tom Petty

Day 249

I think I am now all caught up with my book reading. I finished Conversations with Tom Petty last night and I am pretty happy that I found this book at the library.

The book is one long interview that takes the reader all through Petty's early life all the way up to 2002. The author splits the book into two sections. One on the main history of Petty and the other section exclusively on his songs and songwriting. And in each section he devoted a chapter to each one of his albums.

His history was rather interesting. From an early age Tom was into music and was heavily influenced by Elvis. His childhood was a bit rough, he was unsure of his relationship with his father. His father did not see eye-to-eye with Tom on a lot of things but when Tom wanted to become a musician, his father accepted it and fully supported it. Tom started playing gigs at the tender age of 14. The best chapter in the book was his involvement in creating the Traveling Wilburys. It was quite interesting to read how they came together and how they created their music. It totally makes me want to break out my bass and start playing.

While I did find his history very interesting, I was more thrilled with the section devoted to his songs. I always thought his lyrics were fantastic and innovative but reading about how passionate Tom is about his music made me appreciate it even more. I had no idea that he wrote Mary Jane's Last Dance years before he released it. He had written everything but couldn't figure out the chorus. I also didn't know that he recorded a song with the Bangles called Waiting for Tonight, and I had to drop everything and get a copy of that song and he is right, it could have been a huge song for him. Reading about the creations of his songs makes me want to give songwriting a try.




If you like Tom Petty, you will love this book. If you like music or are a musician, I recommend this book too.

And of course I highly recommend his music too. Any of his albums are fantastic but if you want a smidgen of it, I would highly recommend Anthology.

Random Ramblings

Day 238

I just finished watching the USA lose its World Cup game. I thought that they played pretty well, I just wish they played the way they did in the 2nd half the whole game. That 1st half really did us in. So far my first experience watching the World Cup has been a fun one. More than likely I will watch it again when that time comes around. For the time being I see myself being more of a casual fan than a hardcore one.

It has been quite warm the last couple of days. I am not a fan of the heat and I particularly hate the first hot days of summer. My body is not used to the heat and I think I am going to die. I almost set up my air conditioner last night but like usual, my laziness won out. And now I am regretting it.

My birthday is in a few days.... HINT HINT

I cannot wait for the new NFL season. It just can't come soon enough for this Jets fan. Usually every year I will pick up the new Madden game but more than likely I will have to skip it for a couple of reasons. Firstly it is pretty expensive and I don't think I can afford to plunk down 50 bucks. Secondly, I was a bit disappointed in the Wii version. It had some neat aspects to it but it is definitely for the casual fan, something that I am not. I would love, love to have the PS3 and have that version but if I cannot afford 50 bucks I definitely cannot afford to pick up a PS3. They do have the new Madden for the PS2 that I am tempted to pick up but it only features a roster update and no new features. Still, I think it will be a better game than the Wii version.

Speaking of the NFL, I am looking forward to doing some blog columns here making my season predictions and then doing weekly columns with my picks for the game. I used to write NFL yearbooks previewing the seasons but I have not done that for years. Doing an NFL blog should be fun (at least for me maybe not my readers) because I get to write about one of my favorite things and it will also take up one column a week.

Speaking of Wii games. I have to admit that I am excited to get my hands on the Harry Potter Lego game. I just love those Lego games. I would love to see a Lego Spider-Man or a Superman one. They are so dang addicting.

Today I went and picked up my first Bountiful Basket and I hope this first experience will not sour me on the whole experience. I got an e-mail last night telling me that they have changed the pickup and location times so I called my sister-in-law to warn her. Then I get a phone call this morning asking me where Kristy is. Apparently the times and locations have not changed. So stinking confusing. I had to run to Hyrum to pick up my stash and I feel very lucky they kept my baskets. I am looking forward to eating them, I got some tomatoes and avocados and no one in my family likes them!

Last night Logan and I had another Guy's Night Out for the second week in a row. Kristy was gone once again with the Young Woman overnight. Logan and I went down to see my brother-in-law Eric to play some games and then we came home. We stopped by to get some burgers and then I had some errands to run in the evening. We didn't have time for a Star Wars movie, we only had time for a few Simpsons episodes.

I finally found a book I really want to read!

Logan and I also went to the library yesterday and I found a couple of books that I am excited to read. I picked up an autobiography on Tom Petty and also one on Bill Parcell's last season as the New York Jets coach. So I guess I cannot complain that I am bored. I have a ton of reading to do.

I am really enjoying this new album, Mojo, from Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. A lot more bluesy than his other work. I wish he was coming to Utah.

Well, I cannot think of anything else to talk about. Guess that means I am done.

List-Mania: Tom Petty Songs

Day 237

I was not sure what to blog about until I turned on my iTunes. I just recently got Tom Petty's new album Mojo (which is fantastic!) and thought I should continue my List-Mania tradition of posting my favorite bands and what my favorite songs of theirs are. A few months ago I put together a couple of List-Mania columns listing my favorite Queen and U2 songs and today in honor of the new album, I am listing my favorite Tom Petty songs.

I have always known Tom Petty and have been familiar with most of his music throughout my life but it wasn't until the release of Full Moon Fever that I really became a fan of his. The first song I heard of his was his duet with Stevie Nicks and I kinda dug that song. I next saw his freaky video for Don’t Come Around Here No More, (which was a play on Alice in Wonderland and the memorable ending with them all eating cake which was Alice). I liked the song but never totally got into Petty until I heard the song I Won’t Back Down. I bought that album (Full Moon Fever) and picked up his next album and also his collaborations with the Traveling Wilburys.

Since then I have picked up every single album that he has come out with faithfully. I was quite excited to hear that he was coming on tour and he made a stop in Salt Lake City to support his The Last DJ album.
 
I prefer his solo stuff but his collaborations with the Heartbreakers, The Traveling Wilbury's and Mudcrutch cannot be ignored. He proves you do not have to have a great voice to be a great musician.
 
5) Walls

There are two versions of this song and I really like this one because it is more upbeat. Originally, Lindsay Buckingham (of Fleetwood Mac) offered his voice to this song but I could not find it anywhere. This live version works just as well. The lyrics of this song really strikes me especially the part even walls fall down. Good words to live by.
 
4) Don't Come Around Here No More

Tom Petty sure can do some creepy videos. This was the first song that Tom made that got my attention. I love the lyrics, there are times that I wish I could say this to people. I also love to play this song on my bass. When I think of the Mad Hatter, I think of Tom Petty and I just love how sinister he gets the longer this video goes. I just got an autobiography on Tom Petty and I hope he explains this video and song.
 
3) Wildflowers

This is not the official video, this song was not released as a single. Everything about this song is just gorgeous. The melody, the lyrics and the fine guitar work.
 
2) I Won't Back Down

The song that started it all. My mom introduced me to the Traveling Wilbury's and I loved them. C'mon, who wouldn't love a supergroup with George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty, Bob Dylan and Roy Orbison? They guested (along with Ringo Starr) on this song. I love the message and I love the guitars on this.
 
1) Last Dance With Mary Jane

I still love this song even though the video is so creepy. The guitar riff and the harmonica blend so perfectly and gives this song a hardened edge even though the song is kinda tender.
 
I am never disappointed in Tom Petty and his music. It is uplifting and at times just plain out rocks.

List-Mania: Musicians/Music Bands

Day 34

List-Mania! I am beginning to have a love/hate relationship with these columns. I love putting things in lists but I am starting to hate putting them together. It just takes a lot of time and effort.

I love music, I love many types of music but I like rock music the best. But even my tastes in rock music differs from each other, as you will see from this list. So here are my Top Ten Favorite Bands. I listen to these guys more than any other artists.

10) AC/DC
Much of my middle school/junior high years were spent listening to this band. They are very simple. Opening riff on the guitar with pounding drums added in and you have an AC/DC song. Very catchy riffs.
FAVORITE ALBUM: Back in Black




9) AUDIOSLAVE
I never was into Soundgarden but when I heard "Like a Stone" I was taken by it. I am a latecomer, it has been only recently that I have collected and listened to thier material. Chris Cornell has the voice I wish I had. So rock and roll. Sadly, they are no more but at least I have three fantastic albums I can listen to anytime. Thier songs cover everything, they have some really rocking songs to more quiet, makes-you-think songs.
FAVORITE ALBUM: Audioslave (self-titled)

8) BELINDA CARLISLE
I know what you are thinking. Belinda Carlisle? Rock music? Well, she is my guilty pleasure. I never liked her that much when she was the lead singer of the Go-Go's but when she came out with her solo stuff, I paid attention. Of course I was sixteen at the time and I thought she was pretty hot. I still like her music, sure it very pop but I think she has a rocking voice. That is why she makes the list.
FAVORITE ALBUM: Runaway Horses

7) BEATLES
The Beatles changed the way I thought about old-fogies's music. They are older than me but when I heard them the first time, they felt fresh. Especially thier later stuff. I like the Beatles because I liked how they grew together as musicians. They tried new things and brought a lot of new innovations to music, each next album refined thier sound.
FAVORITE ALBUM: Revolver


6) ROB ZOMBIE
I wish I was Rob Zombie. He gets to do every thing that I would love to do. He writes and sings in a rock band, he writes and directs movies and he writes comic books too. You may not like him but you have to admit he is pretty creative. In fact, when I am in a writing slump I watch some of his videos and it reignites my creative drive. I also like that his songs are tinged with horror and creepiness. When I am feeling down I listen to him for a kickstart.
FAVORITE ALBUM: The Sinister Urge

5) FLEETWOOD MAC
I must have listened to this band a ton of times when I was a kid. My parents owned the album "Rumors" and I must have heard it enough times for it to be engraved on my brain. They made a comeback in the later '80s and that is when I discovered them. Then I remembered all the great music that came before. I like them because they do not have one main lead singer. They share the role and that makes them a unique listening experience. And Stevie Nicks, she has such an awesome sexy and raspy voice.
FAVORITE ALBUM: Tango in the Night

4) THE OFFSPRING
It took one song for me to become a fan of them. "Self Esteem" was a rocking song that had very clever lyrics. So I got the album and I have got them all since. What I like about them is thier lyrics. They can sing about very poignant things, serious matters to the other extreme. They have some absolute fun songs to some that make you think about life. They can ryhme like nothing else.
FAVORITE ALBUM: Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace

3) TOM PETTY
I don't know what it is exactly about Tom Petty but I sure enjoy his music. He can do it on his own with his solo stuff but his collabartions with the Heartbreakers, The Traveling Wilbury's or Mudcrutch, I love his music. He proves you do not have to have a great voice to be a fantastic musician.
FAVORITE ALBUM: Full Moon Fever


2) U2
I liked U2 when they first came out but I was not wowed until they released "Actung Baby". Then thier next album "Zooropa" really won me over. The one thing that I like about U2, and it will be hard to explain, but it seems to me that they do not waste any space or sound on thier songs. Each song feels "full".
FAVORITE ALBUM: Zooropa


1) QUEEN
I love Queen. My first exposure to Queen came from the unlikelest sources, my sister's boyfriend. When I first met Dave, he gave me a birthday present that changed my life. He was transitioning from cassettes to CDs and he gave me two of his old tapes. He gave me Def Leppard's Hysteria and Queen's Greatest Hits. After a few listens to Queen, I was enamored with the vocals and lyrics. I felt like I was listening to a soundtrack and not a collection of singles. I went and bought thier newest Greatest Hits and I quickly collected all their back material. What I love about Queen is that they hit every musical genre. Opera? Check. Heavy Metal? Check. Pop? Check. They have it all for me. Whatever mood I may be in, there is a song for that. I could go on and on but I'll stop. They can have a column all to thier own sometime.
FAVORITE ALBUM: A Day at the Races (this does change often)

Fair warning. Sometime during the course of the year, I will post (in weekly segments) my all-time favorite songs.

An Evening with Tom Petty

Day 14

One of my favorite music artists is Tom Petty. Sure, he doesn't have the greatest voice in the world but his music is just awesome.

The first song I heard of his was his duet with Stevie Nicks and I kinda dug that song. I next saw his freaky video for "Don’t Come Around Here No More", (which was a play on Alice in Wonderland and the memorable ending with them all eating cake which was Alice). I liked the song but never totally got into Petty until I heard the song " I Won’t Back Down". I bought that album (Full Moon Fever) and picked up his next album and also his collaborations with the Traveling Wilburys.

Since then I have picked up every single album that he has come out with faithfully. I was quite excited to hear that he was coming on tour and he made a stop in Salt Lake City to support his "The Last DJ" album.



The only problem was that Kristy was 8 months pregnant with Logan. We went to the doctors and asked if that would be a problem if he went to a loud concert and the doctor assured us that he wouldn’t be hurt. It would be like us sticking our head in a bathtub full of water. So we went! The opening act was Jackson Browne and we missed it completely because of the stupid parking. We drove all over trying to find where we parked and we finally found a place. It charged us 5 stinking bucks to park and it was a couple of blocks to the E Center. We trucked along and I got in line to purchase a shirt and we made it to our seats as they were closing. We had fantastic seats. Any seat would be cool because really, no matter where you are, you can hear and feel the music.



The best part of concerts, other than the acts themselves, is people watching. There were a few kids younger than us but most were a little older. Most of them looked like hippies. Then the concert started and it was a fantastic concert. Tom was very personal, thanking us after each song he sang. He also made a point that no one (company) was sponsoring him and then he went into "Joe". We also saw a lot of fans getting kicked out for lighting up a little Mary Jane. Speaking of that, by far, the best song was "Last Dance With Mary Jane". Logan certainly kicked around a bit when the concert first started but then calmed down towards the end.

Here is the setlist:
NOVEMBER 4, 2002 - SALT LAKE CITY, UT
The Last DJ
Love Is A Long Road
Have Love Will Travel
Free Fallin'
Joe
When A Kid Goes Bad
Shadow Of A Doubt
I Won't Back Down
You Don't Know How It Feels
Feel A Whole Lot Better
Can't Stop The Sun
A Woman In Love
The Waiting
King’s Highway
Yer So Bad
Lost Children
Refugee
Running Down A Dream
ENCORE:
You Wreck Me
Oh Carol

It's too bad that Tom has not been back to Salt Lake since.