30 Days of Music: Day 30

A Song You Haven't Listened To In A While

"Iris" by Goo Goo Dolls was very popular when the movie City of Angels came out.  It was the theme song for that movie and people fell in love with it.  Many, like myself, still love the song today.  I hadn't heard the song in a while.  Creating this post was fun because I was able to listen to this song again and remember why I love it.



And I'd give up forever to touch you
'Cause I know that you feel me somehow
You're the closest to heaven that I'll ever be
And I don't wanna go home right now

And all I can taste is this moment
And all I can breathe is your life
When sooner or later it's over
I just don't wanna miss you tonight

And I don't want the world to see me
'Cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am

And you can't fight the tears that ain't coming
Or the moment of truth in your lies
When everything feels like the movies
Yeah, you bleed just to know you're alive

And I don't want the world to see me
'Cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am

And I don't want the world to see me
'Cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am

And I don't want the world to see me
'Cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am

30 Days of Music: Day 29

The Piano Guys

The Piano Guys are a group of men who live in Utah and love making music.  Steven Nelson is the cellist, and Jon Schmidt is the pianist.  They had made a lot of videos prior to "The Cello Wars".  However, when this song was released, they sky-rocketed to stardom!  I found them through a Facebook post, and was hooked.




Next up, they did a cover of Coldplay's "Paradise", which you've already seen in this 30 day challenge.     It's such an awesome song, however, that it's worth playing again.



If you're curious to know how they got the piano on the mountain, stay tuned for the last clip for the behind-the-scenes look at this video!

They then took on The Bourne Identity soundtrack.  I love how creative this video is.  Watching them appear on the train with the piano and cello....so awesome!




They then took on the classic theme from Mission Impossible.  With the help of violinist Lindsey Stirling, this video is a lot of fun.




Finally, the video with the most YouTube hits yet.  They took a song from One Direction, a group I hadn't heard of before this video came out, and did a cover of their song "What Makes You Beautiful" using only items found in the piano.  Simply amazing.




For fun, here is the making of "Peponi".

30 Days of Music: Day 28

Oldies!!!

I am a HUGE fan of music from the 1960s and 1970s.  Growing up my dad used to listen to music from the 60s and 70s, and I HATED it.  Not until I was older did I come to really like it.  Music from that era was so much fun.  The words were simple, often stupid.  Then in the late 60s, early 70s the words to the songs often turned political.

It was difficult to pick just a few, but I managed to do it.  Below are just a few of my favorite oldies.

"Windy" has some of dumbest lyrics, but the tune is so fun!  And of course, when I sing it, the lyrics are "Everyone knows it's W-E-N-D-Y"!  I love this video, how they use a flowchart to show the words!

"These Eyes" by The Guess Who is next.  

"Magic Carpet Ride" by Steppenwolf is a great song.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T.....still not hard to spell, is it?  This is all we want!

One of the greatest songs of the 1960s, "Sweet Home Alabama" is next!!

Their voices are smooth and fabulous!

A great anthem for women!

How could I not put Elvis in this list?

ADHD: Facts and Myths

As we await the phone call from Brandon's doctor saying the insurance company has given the "ok" for the medication that has been recommended for Brandon, I have continued to do research on ADHD.  There seem to be two VERY distinct takes on ADHD:

I decided to find a list of myths and facts about ADHD.  The first list is from the website helpguide.org.

Myth #1:  All kids with ADD/ADHD are hyperactive.

Fact:  Some children with ADD/ADHD are hyperactive, but many others with attention problems are not.  Children with ADD/ADHD who are inattentive, but not overly active, may appear to be spacey and unmotivated.

Myth #2:  Kids with ADD/ADHD can never pay attention.

Fact:  Children with ADD/ADHD are often able to concentrate on activities they enjoy.  But no matter how hard they try, they have trouble maintaining focus when the task at hand is boring or repetitive.

Myth #3:  Kids with ADD/ADHD could behave better if they wanted to.

Fact:  Children with ADD/ADHD may do their best to be good, but are still unable to sit still, stay quiet, or pay attention.  They may appear disobedient, but that doesn't mean they're acting out on purpose.

Myth #4:  Kids will eventually grow out of ADD/ADHD.

Fact:  ADD/ADHD often continues into adulthood, so don't wait for your child to outgrow the problem.  Treatment can help your child learn to manage and minimize the symptoms.

Myth #5:  Medication is the best treatment option for ADD/ADHD.

Fact:  Medication is often prescribed for ADD, but it might not be the best option for your child. Effective treatment for ADD/ADHD also includes education, behavior therapy, support at home and school, exercise, and proper nutrition.

This list is from the WebMD website.

Myth	Fact
There is no such medical condition as ADHD.	ADHD is a medical disorder, not a condition of the child's will. A child with ADHD does not choose to misbehave.
ADHD is caused by bad parenting. All the child needs is good discipline.	ADHD is not caused by bad parenting. But parenting techniques can often improve some symptoms and make others worse.
ADHD is a life sentence.	Although ADHD symptoms usually continue into adulthood, the person learns ways to cope with the symptoms. People with ADHD have plenty of energy, are creative, and can often accomplish more than people who do not have the condition.
Having ADHD means the person is lazy or dumb.	ADHD has nothing to do with a person's intellectual ability. Some highly intelligent people have ADHD.
The diagnosis of ADHD is confirmed if certain medicines (psychostimulants) have a positive effect on what seem to be symptoms of ADHD.	Children without ADHD respond to psychostimulants similarly to children with ADHD. A trial of medicine is not used to diagnose the condition.
Medicine for ADHD will make a person seem drugged.	Properly adjusted medicine for ADHD sharpens a person's focus and increases his or her ability to control behavior.
Medicine prescriptions for ADHD have greatly increased in the past few years, because the condition is being overdiagnosed.	ADHD is estimated to affect about 3 to 7 out of 100 school-age children in the United States.1There is little evidence to support claims that ADHD is overdiagnosed and that ADHD medicines are overprescribed.
Psychostimulants are no longer useful after puberty.	Teens and adults with ADHD continue to benefit from medicine treatment.
Children with ADHD are learning to use the condition as an excuse for their behavior.	ADHD is a disability. Children with ADHD have to learn ways to deal with their symptoms (inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity) that cause them to have difficulties in life.
Children outgrow ADHD.	About 70 out of 100 children with ADHD continue to have symptoms during their teen years and about 50 out of 100 have symptoms into adulthood.2
If a child has ADHD, he or she can always be diagnosed in the doctor's office.	A child may not always show symptoms of ADHD, especially in an unfamiliar setting. Evaluating a child from one office observation may result in failure to recognize or diagnose symptoms.

A lot of these facts line up exactly with what I believe about ADHD.  I do believe that ADHD has been over diagnosed through out the years.  However, I know that something just isn't right with Brandon. After spending the past year and a half wondering what has been going on, I believe that Brandon struggles with many things on these two lists.  I also feel very strongly that medication alone is not the answer. I'm not trying to just medicate my child to make it all go away.

I look forward to hearing back from the doctor so that we can begin this process while Brandon is still in school.  He struggles with this the most there, and they're only about 30 days left until summer break. I'm also grateful for all my supportive friends and family; you guys are fabulous!

30 Days of Music: Day 27

Musicals

I LOVE MUSICALS!  I love the songs, the stories, and most of all.....I LOVE SINGING ALONG WITH THEM!  The following are some of my favorite songs from my favorite musicals.  Enjoy, and sing along!

Ramin Karminloo and Sierra Borgess played Phantom and Christine in the 25th anniversary of this fabulous musical.  I've spoken about this production many times, and it's still on Netflix for anyone that wants to see it.

Here is "Phantom of the Opera/Music of the Night" from Phantom of the Opera.

Guys and Dolls is another one of my favorite musicals.  Frank Sinatra, Marlon Brando, and a bunch of fun songs.  The following is one of the first from the movie, "Nathan Detroit".

When I was young, Grease was popular in my house.   I had no idea that the musical was really about a bunch of sex-crazed teenagers, (one who thought she was pregnant!) I just loved the music and the dancing.  "Summer Nights" is one of my favorites from this musical.

Les Miserables is a work of art.  I love this musical so much that I've included 3 songs from it.

First up, "On My Own", by Lea Salonga.  This song pulls at my heartstrings every time I hear it!




Next up from Les Mis, "A Little Fall of Rain", by Michael Ball and Lea Salonga.  Just try to get through this song without crying....I dare you!  And then realize that these two are only standing in front of a microphone and they are getting these emotions out of you.  They are fantastic!




Finally from Les Mis, "Bring Him Home" by Colm Wilkinson.  I've said it before, and I'll say it again; this man's voice is liquid gold.  I could listen to him forever and never tire of him.

Funny Girl was one of the first musicals I remember watching.  I love the story about a girl who doesn't feel like she belongs anywhere, or is not pretty enough overcoming the odds and then making a name for herself.  One of my favorite songs is "Don't Rain On My Parade".

In 2001 the world discovered that young Obi-Wan Kenobi, Ewan McGregor, could sing....and could sing well!  Moulin Rouge introduced Ewan to those who didn't know him yet.  I could do without Nicole Kidman, so I listen to this soundtrack more than I actually watch the movie.

One of the reasons this movie is so great is because it took songs that were popular, or those that had already been written, and weaved them into medley's.  First up is my favorite from the movie, "Elephant Love Medley".




Next from Moulin Rouge is the Elton John song "Your Song".

Finally, we come to Dirty Dancing.  Where it isn't technically a musical, there is so much music from the 1950s in it that it almost counts.  The late Patrick Swayze was a triple threat.  He could dance, act, and we discovered from this movie that he could also sing.  A beautiful song, by a great actor.  Here is "She's Like The Wind".