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  • The Eagle Has Landed…

    The Eagle Has Landed…

    After over a week of being in transit, the eagle has landed in Converse, Texas…

    Hi folks. I am finally in a house again after having vacated our home in North Carolina last month. My husband Bill and I set off for the San Antonio area last Saturday. Silly me, I had been looking forward to the road trip, not realizing how exhausting and exasperating it can be to drive on America’s interstates. I am now sitting at my desk, which we wisely decided to bring with us instead of having the movers pack it. Unfortunately, we unwisely did not decide to pack other things for our immediate use, like a small table and chairs, trash cans, or margarita glasses.

    Incidentally, this move has been by far the worst yet in terms of irritations and mishaps. I won’t go into detail about that in this post, since if you know me on Facebook or have read my other blogs, you may have already been exposed to my bitching about all that. One thing that did come from this long ass road trip was exposure to music. I listened to my iPod the whole way and it’s fairly bursting with over 11,000 songs from a wide variety of genres. Though I thought I would have made a point to listen to some of the epic road tunes I blogged about last time, my playlist was surprisingly lacking in those big songs. Maybe if I hadn’t been driving, I might have made a point of playing classic road anthems like “Born To Run” and “On The Road Again”. But as it was, I was too busy trying to prevent people from flipping me off and running me off the road to select much music.

    Here are a few songs I did listen to as I made my way from North Carolina to Texas.

    Friend of the Devil by Rice, Rice, Hillman, and Pederson

    This is a great bluegrass version of a classic song by The Grateful Dead. The video is not mine; so no one needs to worry that I was filming while driving. Still, this turned out to be a great driving tune.

    Diamonds by Rihanna

    I don’t usually listen to Rihanna’s music, but I became acquainted with this very cool song during my big road trip. It’s definitely not bluegrass. I could become a fan.

    1973 by James Blunt

    I actually really like this song by James Blunt. It reminds me of living in Germany. It was popular when we moved there in 2007 and has always stuck in my head as a great pop song. It’s aging well, too, even though it’s six years old now.

    You Can’t Please Everybody by Rose Royce

    Here’s a little old school funk from 1977. I love Rose Royce. I was introduced by their brand of funkiness by my older sister, Sarah, who owned their album In Full Bloom on vinyl. This song is spunky, sassy, and sure to make you want to press on through the worst traffic jam… even if someone does shoot the bird at you (like a biker did to me in Alabama).

    Watch Your Step by Carlos Santana

    Here’s another blast from the past. A little Santana never hurt any long drive and my big road trip is no exception to that rule. It’s fun cruising through Louisiana bayous to this song.

    You’ve Got A Friend by Carole King and James Taylor

    I am aware that Carole King and James Taylor released a great live album a few years ago called Live At The Troubadour. I included the above clip because it’s from 1971 and I happen to own a great Carole King live album called The Carnegie Hall Concert- June 18, 1971. On that album, she invites James Taylor to join her on “You’ve Got A Friend”. That was the version that played as I made my way through Alabama. But the Troubadour version is also very special and would also fit right in on this list.

    Someday Sarah and Crazyboutya by Dave Barnes

    I discovered the ultra smooth stylings of Dave Barnes by watching Army Wives on iTunes when I lived in Germany. I liked his music so much that I went on a mass downloading spree; consequently, his songs pop up a lot when I drive. Luckily, I think he’s awesome and his music is fun to drive to.

    If You’re Gonna Play in Texas, You Gotta Have a Fiddle in the Band by Alabama

    Yes, sometimes I do listen to mainstream country music, though my preferences are really for more classic stuff. And since Alabama was biggest in the 80s, maybe they qualify as an oldies act now? This song happened to come on as I crossed the Texas border.

    Baby I’m Burnin’ by Dolly Parton

    Another classic country hit, this time from Dolly Parton. Since it’s been over 100 degrees here, I think this song is an especially appropriate road tune for Texas in late July.

    So there you have it. The eagle has landed and hopefully won’t be flying anywhere new anytime soon… unless it’s to a home of our very own. Until next time, keep on truckin’.

  • Road trip tunes

    Road trip tunes

    I’m about to take the longest road trip I’ve ever done… so I’m looking for road trip tunes!

    Okay, so I was technically on a longer road trip a couple of times. The first time was when I was a tot and my parents drove the family cross country in a Winnebago. I don’t remember that drive because I was too young, but I’m told I swung on a bar the whole way and stunk up the trailer by repeatedly filling my diapers. The second time was in 1996, when I went by bus from Yerevan, Armenia to Istanbul, Turkey. It took three days straight, but I wasn’t driving.

    This time, I will be driving alone in my car while my husband drives our other car with our dogs. That means I’m gonna need some good driving songs. Here are a few road trip tunes that come to mind in advance of our three or four day trek from North Carolina to Texas.

    Truckin’, by the Grateful Dead

    Of course, I had to start with “Truckin’”, a classic Grateful Dead song that is all about moving down the highway. It’s got a beat you can nod your head to and some irreverent lyrics that one can sing along to. I can’t say I’m the biggest Deadhead out there, but I like this song. I think it will get things off to a good start.

    Rockin’ Down The Highway by The Doobie Brothers

    This song literally spells out “rockin’ down the highway”, so of course it’s an excellent road song. I imagine I’d better watch it with this song, though. Wouldn’t want to get a speeding ticket while rockin’ down the highway.

    On The Road Again by Willie Nelson

    I have always loved this classic road tune by Willie Nelson. Yeah, I know Willie is not necessarily a rock star, but he’s pretty damn cool. And this is a great song to drive to as you watch the countryside fly past.

    You Can Sleep While I Drive by Melissa Etheridge or Trisha Yearwood


    Melissa Etheridge


    Trisha Yearwood

    I’m kind of partial to Trisha Yearwood’s version of Melissa Etheridge’s edgy hit, “You Can Sleep While I Drive”. I don’t know why… there’s sort of a raw, earthy, passion to Melissa’s original, but I like Trisha’s vocals. But yeah, I can see putting the top down on my convertible as I drive to this song… Either version rocks!

    Hot Dog by Led Zeppelin

    This may seem an unconventional choice, but I found it to be great travel music when I took a train trip through Europe in 1997. It’s got a nice upbeat tempo and some lyrics you can sing to if you manage to understand them.

    Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen

    This song is the ultimate let’s get the hell out of Dodge song. When I was a kid in high school, I fell in love with this song for its romantic lyrics and hard driving beat. Most of Bruce Springsteen’s rockin’ songs are great songs to drive to. And I intend to be rockin’ on this trip so I don’t fall asleep at the wheel.

    Pride and Joy by Stevie Ray Vaughan

    My earliest memory of hearing this epic blues number is when I was riding in a car, lying down in the back seat, and hanging my bare feet out the window as my sister drove us to Virginia Beach. Ever since then, this song has been one of my favorite road tunes.

    Something To Talk About by Bonnie Raitt

    I dare you not to sing along to this road tune, girls. I know I will be singing at the top of my lungs to “Something To Talk About”… though, if it’s too late in the drive, I might change the lyrics to “Something To Cry About”.

    Hit the Road Jack by Ray Charles

    Yup… another one you can sing to… and seat dance to… and watch your speed to. I look forward to cranking up this and many other road tunes. Cuz I’m hitting the road, Jack.

    The March by Robert Randolph & The Family Band

    I freakin’ love this song! Actually, I love most of what Robert Randolph & The Family Band does. Their music kicks serious ass, especially when you’re driving. I plan to kill about eight great minutes playing this glorious track. I will also be playing Robert Randolph & The Family Band’s latest album, “Lickety Split”, reviewed here on Pop Rock Nation a week ago!

    Robert Randolph’s “I Don’t Know What You Come To Do” is an easy follow up…

    This song kicks serious ass! It’s an epic road tune if I’ve ever heard one!

    Well, with that, I think I shall continue packing and see y’all on the flip side… when I am an official Texas resident!

  • SingSnap brings people together

    SingSnap brings people together

    This week, I’ve found out how SingSnap brings people together

    Next week, I will be in the midst of a move. The packers are coming to gather up our belongings on Tuesday, and by Friday, all our stuff will be on its way to Texas. Consequently, it’s unlikely that I’ll be writing nearly as much next week. But this week, I have enjoyed some creative pursuits, including much time spent on SingSnap.com. On Tuesday this week, I was unusually prolific on SingSnap and a man from Norway ran across my recording of Don McLean’s “Vincent”. I had done it in a lower key and it turned out pretty nice. He left me a comment and then listened to a few of my other recordings, on which he also left comments.

    I was curious about my new Norwegian follower, so I went to his SingSnap page. Turns out he has a very nice voice himself and even writes songs. He didn’t have many recordings up; in fact, over the past week, he’s more than doubled what was on his page the first time I visited. But I noticed that he had an “open duet” available, Don Williams’ and Emmylou Harris’ cover of the Townes Van Zandt song, “If I Needed You”. I actually had only heard Lyle Lovett’s take on that song.


    Emmylou Harris and Don Williams sing “If I Needed You”.


    Lyle Lovett’s version of “If I Needed You”.

    And I will admit that I pretty much guessed how Emmylou Harris would sing her part in the duet. I didn’t listen to her version of the song before I recorded my part. Consequently, my version is probably more like Lyle’s done in Emmylou’s key.

    Anyway, I joined “brumm101” on that song and it turned out nicely. I posted it on Facebook and much to my surprise, several friends listened and enjoyed it. In fact, a former English professor of mine, now retired from many years of teaching at Longwood University listened to our recording and wanted to know how we did it. I explained how on SingSnap, you can sing your part, post it, and others can join you if you give them that option.

    Another online friend, who lives in Texas and sings, vows that there WILL be karaoke when we finally meet. I “met” him and his wife on Epinions.com roughly eight or nine years ago. I actually met his wife in person at an Epinions Meet & Greet in Washington, DC. I understand he’s quite the singer and, in fact, used to write excellent music reviews on Epinions. We’ve kept in touch over the years, despite my many moves. He offered his take on my duet with the Norwegian, too. And so did another “friend” I’ve never met in person, but who is a musician and mutual friends with a chef I used to work with years ago. He offered some suggestions and checked out some other stuff I did. It was a nice bonding moment.

    Yesterday, SingSnap had a duet challenge asking members to sing duets with people from other countries. Since I am American and brumm101 is Norwegian, it worked out well for us. We sang Sonny and Cher’s “I Got You Babe”. I think I might have found a new friend!

    “brumm101” and I sing an old hit by Sonny and Cher.

    Making and sharing music is exciting to me, even if I’m only doing it on an online karaoke site. If I manage to make new friends and find good duet partners in the process, that’s a good thing.

    I hope everyone has a good weekend. I’ll try to post next week before my computer gets packed up for the move. If I don’t manage to, I’ll be back when I’m no longer in transit to Texas.