Hurricane Irene Playlist

1) Riders on the Storm - The Doors
2) Blowing in the Wind - Peter, Paul and Mary
3) Stormy Weather - Lena Horne
4) It's Raining on Prom Night - Grease
5) Goodnight, Irene - Willie Nelson
6) Like a Hurricane - Neil Young
7) Windy - The Association
8) After the Rain - Nelson
9) Rock You Like a Hurricane - Scorpions
10) Set Fire to the Rain - Adele

11) Rain - Madonna

12) The Rain - Missy Elliot

13) Fool in the Rain - Led Zeppelin

14) It's Raining Men - The Weather Girls

15) Here Comes the Rain Again - Eurythmics

A Top Ten List

Hello, friends!! During my drive to work today, I heard a song on the radio that NEVER CEASES to break my heart each and every time I hear it. Thus, I have been inspired to create a top ten list: The TOP TEN SONGS THAT BREAK YOUR HEART every time you hear them (or, at least, every time I hear them....).....

1. I Can't Make You Love Me (Bonnie Raitt) - This version is the ultimate in gut-wrenching, sad, heart-breaking songs. The George Michael version is just as sad, but Bonnie takes the cake.

2. All Out of Love (Air Supply) - Ugh, that lyric, "I'm so lost without you." That says it all. And their voices are filled with such pleading...

3. More Than Words Can Say (Alias) - This was one of the first songs that I had to listen to OVER AND OVER in order to figure out the lyrics when I was younger. I would sit there with my boom box, hitting rewind and play, rewind and play, because the words moved me so.

4. I Don't Know How to Love Him (Jesus Christ Superstar soundtrack) - Though these words are sung by Mary Magdalene, she is speaking for all women baffled by their partners, not sure what to do with them.

5. Eternal Flame (The Bangles) - It's not the lyrics as much as the beautiful, lullaby quality of the song. I just can't listen without being moved to tears.

6. What it Takes (Aerosmith) - Probably a surprising choice for some of you, but I am all about Monster Ballads sometimes. "Tell me what it takes to let you go" is a thought that I have had to ponder before, and I know there is a universality to its plea.

7. Everytime (Britney Spears) - A stripped-down, simply orchestrated song that allows Britney's voice to float over the piano, singing words like, "I may have made it rain/ please forgive me/ my weakness caused you pain/ and this song's my sorry."

8. You Don't Bring Me Flowers (Neil Diamond and Barbra Streisand) - A classic song, so good for some karaoke melodrama, and it hasn't gotten me through a few breakups. "It used to be so natural/ to talk about forever / but used-to-be's don't matter anymore/ they just lay on the floor/ till we sweep them away." Those poor "used-to-be's!!!"

9. How Deep is Your Love (Bee Gees) - I really need to know!! A surprisingly deep song from the guys primarily known for lighter, disco fare. Love this song. Can't get enough.

10. In the Deep (Bird York) - A song featured heavily in the movie, Crash, this haunting piece both calms you and moves you to tears. "Thought you had all the answers to rest your heart upon. But something happens, don't see it coming, now you can't stop yourself."

What would you add?

My Top 25 Songs (At least, According to My iPod)

Try as I might, it has always been incredibly difficult to figure out my most favorite songs. I mean, how does one really begin to create such a list? Well, it became clear to me recently - what are my most played songs on iTunes? I am going to list them in order, including how many times I've played each song (at least since adding it to iTunes). Perhaps this is the true test. Prepare to learn more about me than you ever have before!

1. "You are the New Day," The King's Singers (45 times)
   
2. "Feel," Robbie Williams (41 times)
3. "Private Emotion," Ricky Martin and Meja (35 times)
4. "Something Stupid," Robbie Williams and Nicole Kidman (35 times)
5. "Loves Divine," Seal (35 times)
6. "Runaway," The Corrs (33 times)
7. "In Your Eyes," The King's Singers (33 times)
8. "Yihiyeh Tov (Things Will Get Better)," David Broza (32 times)
9. "In Your Eyes," Peter Gabriel (32 times)
10. "My Favourite Game," The Cardigans (31 times)
11. "Chicago," Sufjan Stevens (31 times)
12. "Waiting for My Real Life to Begin," Colin Hay (30 times)
13. "Skye Boat Song," The King's Singers (29 times)
14. "Looking Through Patient Eyes," P.M. Dawn (29 times)
15. "Waters of March," Jane Monheit (28 times)
16. "The Road to Mandalay," Robbie Williams (28 times)
17. "Here With Me," Dido (27 times)
18. "Such Great Heights," The Postal Service (27 times)
19. "Blues Away," Erasure (26 times)
20. "This Kiss," Faith Hill (25 times)
21. "Veronica," Elvis Costello (24 times)
22. "Hallelujah," John Cale (24 times)
23. "Both Sides Now," Joni Mitchell (24 times)
24. "Thank You," Led Zeppelin (24 times)
25. "Quando, Quando, Quando," Michael Buble (24 times)

So, what about you? What's your favorite? Does your iTunes agree? What are your top songs on iTunes?

Heads or Tails Tuesday: Royal

Well, folks, it is that time again! Heads Or Tails is a weekly meme done on Tuesdays hosted by Skittles. Anyone can play. In fact the more, the merrier! You can visit the Heads or Tails Home Page for more information on how you can join in!

This week's topic/prompt: ROYAL

So, I am so excited to tell you about one of the greatest QUEENS of rock, CYNDI LAUPER!!
She has put together one of the most incredible concert tours of all time, True Colors.

The concert tour, sponsored by the Human Rights Campaign, Logo Network, PFLAG, and many others, and has very important goals. According to the website,

The goal of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) equality is at the heart of True Colors. From day one, the tour has sought to raise awareness about the discrimination the GLBT community still faces and raise significant funds for the organizations that work everyday on their behalf.

My sister and I attended this concert this past Sunday night, June 1, at the Jones Beach Theater here in New York. It was one of the most positive, wonderful, and celebratory events I have ever attended, nevermind the fact that some of my most favorite performers were there!! The show was hosted by "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy's" Carson Kressley, and the line-up was:

• Mary McBride
• Kat Deluna - who has a huge hit right now with her song, "Run the Show"
  
• The Cliks- who turned "Cry Me a River" into a rock anthem
  
• Indigo Girls - their voices have been such an enormous, enduring part of my life, ever since overnight camp campfires, and it was absolutely amazing to see them live (I first saw them live while I was in high school, and hadn't since then). They even sang two of my most favorite songs, "Galileo" and "Closer to Fine."
  
• Rosie O'Donnell - we expected stand-up comedy, but were instead treated to moving, beautiful lessons on life, family, and love. She spoke about her mother, who died when Rosie was young, and her children, who continue to teach her every day.
  
• The B-52s - they ROCK!! The band puts on such a good show, filled with so much energy and life. "Rock Lobster" will always make me smile.
  
• Cyndi Lauper - the QUEEN herself. She sang many of her most famous songs, but I was moved to speechlessness when she sang one of my all-time, most favorite songs, "I Drove All Night."
  

We laughed, we cried, we sang, we clapped, we danced, we cheered. My sister and I have always believed that we must have been gay men in past lives, so we felt right at home :) The night was closed by a group performance of Cyndi's song, "True Colors." It was beautiful, inspiring, tear-jerking, and empowering. My sister and I held onto each other, smiled, and sang along.

But I see your true colors
shining through
I see your true colors
and that's why I love you
so don't be afraid to let them show
your true colors
true colors are beautiful
like a rainbow

If you have a chance to see this tour, or to support any of its important sponsors, I strongly encourage you to do so. As long as there are any groups of people who are not considered equal, or do not have equal rights, then we must continue to strive for equality for all.

Wordless Wednesday

David Broza, Israeli superstar, performing at CCAR Convention 2008.

Thursday Thirteen - 13 Musical Artists

Dear Friends, Shalom! I am going to participate, for the first time, in Thursday Thirteen. I have enjoyed reading some of your Thursday Thirteen posts for some time now, and decided to give it a go.

Figured I would start with a fun one:

Thirteen Musical Artists I Can't Live Without!

1. Duran Duran - still making incredibly exciting, moving music after all these years. I still find myself getting a visceral reaction every time I hear "Ordinary World" or "Hungry Like the Wolf." My friends and I saw them when I was in High School, and memories of Simon Le Bon crawling on the stage in a silver lame suit still make my heart flutter.
   
2. Colin Hay - I've mentioned my love for his music before. If you haven't had a chance to check out his solo work (he was the lead singer of Men at Work), you are missing out on moving, amusing, heartbreaking, and beautiful acoustic work. "Waiting for My Real Life to Begin."
   
3. Sarah McLachlan - I celebrate her entire catalog. No singer is so consistently wonderful, in my humble opinion. She is one of those artists that I can put on, listen to the entire CD, and enjoy every moment. "Elsewhere" is my long time favorite.
   
4. Robbie Williams - What an underrated artist! He is HUGE in the UK, yet a minor star here in the US. His music has passion, a sense of humor, so much sexuality, and immense talent. I love me some Robbie. Saw him live at a taping of CARSON DALY. "Feel" and "Road to Mandalay" are current favorites.
   
5. Dave Matthews Band - I've seen them perform at least five times (including their enormous Central Park Concert a few years ago). While their more recent albums have disappointed me, I really love their first few records. Put those on, relax, sing along, and feel at home. "Two Step" makes me wild with joy.
   
6. Barenaked Ladies - I really began enjoying their music towards the end of high school and early in college. They seem like such genuinely nice, talented guys, and I love the way that they incorporate love, humor, silliness, and profundity all in the same song. I saw them perform, for free, in Boston while I was in college. It was raining, and so the Mac N' Cheese that the audience threw around got mushy and messy. Yet, we loved every minute! "Pinch Me" is my most favorite.
7. Erasure - Give me some happy, dancing men any day, and I shall be at peace. I have been a fan for a LONG time, thanks to my best friend, Jessica, introducing their music to me in elementary school. They still put out amazing albums, and have a unique sound. "Always" is still my most favorite song of theirs.
   
8. George Michael - His voice is like butter, as far as I am concerned. He is capable of singing so many different styles and emotions, and so many songs are classics. "As," his duet with Mary J. Blige, remains my favorite.
   
9. Indigo Girls - My overnight camp experiences would have been so different without their songs to sing around the campfire. The heartache and wonderment in their songs always helps me better understand something in my life that I couldn't, personally, articulate. My friends and I saw them live in High School, and we danced around the outdoor theater during each song. "Galileo," their ode to reincarnation, is true brilliance.
   
10. Moldy Peaches - Okay, so I only just discovered this sweet band, thanks to the JUNO soundtrack, but I am HOOKED! I downloaded every possible song off of iTunes, including the solo work of Kimya Dawson and Adam Green, and feel like I am entering a new world of honesty, love, and simplicity. I can't stop listening to "Tire Swing."
    
11. Madonna - What can I say? From my childhood filled with lace gloves, big charm necklaces, and torn jeans, to the mystical dance tunes playing on my iPod today, I have always been a fan of her music. Notice that I specify MUSIC - she, as a person, drives me crazy. "Dear Jesse" and "Don't Tell Me" are currently my favorite songs.
    
12. Metallica - Throwing you for a loop here, I'll bet. There is a sweet, little, Jewish headbanger deep inside of me. In fact, I saw Metallica perform live in Tel Aviv when I lived in Israel. One of the coolest moments? When James Hetfield shouted, "Shalom, Motherf**kers!" Have those two words ever before or since been muttered together??? "Nothing Else Matters" is still a necessity.
13. R.E.M. - Last, but certainly not least, I love R.E.M. I saw them in concert while I was in High School, and I remember so many moments from it, even now. Their lyrics are smart, the songs are brilliantly put together, and Michael Stipe seems like such a good person. "Near Wild Heaven" is one of my favorite songs of theirs.
    

Well, I can't believe that I have already listed 13 artists. There are plenty more favorites, but we will stop there for now.

I can't wait to hear your reactions and your favorites.

Have a great day!!

Song Sequels

Okay, folks - need your help with this fascination of mine:

Song Sequels.

I mean, what a cool concept! For whatever reason, the original artist, or even another artist, decides to continue the storyline of the first song. I am thinking of a few right off the bat:

Metallica - "Unforgiven" and "Unforgiven II"
This one might be obvious, particularly due to those roman numerals at the end of the second song. There are even some lyrics repeated in the second song that were from the original.

Lesley Gore - "It's My Party" and "It's Judy's Turn to Cry"
This is one of my most favorite examples - the story from the first song, in which Judy steals her boyfriend, thus causing Lesley to cry at her own party, continues in the second song. Now, it's Judy's turn to cry! So there! Interesting Trivia - Lesley Gore was originally Lesley Sue Goldstein, and she came out as a lesbian in 2005. Thanks, Wikipedia!

David Bowie - "Space Oddity," and Peter Schilling, "Major Tom"
Well, this one just blew me away. I thought that these were the only two songs that dealt with Major Tom, but, boy, I thought wrong! It turns out that there is a whole world of songs that further along the mythology of the Major Tom character. David Bowie added the song "Ashes to Ashes," and then other people from all over the world have written other songs. What a phenomenon! Check out the Major Tom article on Wikipedia for the whole list of songs and artists, and examples of the lyrics.

So, what Sequel Songs are you aware of? They can be by the same artist, or a response from another artist.

NKOTB Reunion Tour?!?!?!

Could it be true? Are they really getting back together?
Oh, 12 year old Marci, calm yourself!!!!

Sunday, Sunday - so good to me...

Hope you all had a good Sunday!

I CANNOT believe it, but I made it through the High Holy Days. Wow! For those of you who don't know, these are the most awe-inspiring, meaningful days of the Jewish calendar. We are supposed to examine our souls, our lives, and our relationships, and look for ways to be better in the coming year.

As a rabbi, I give my biggest sermons, lead the longest worship services, and have the most stress before and during the holy days. Due to my back pain, I was quite concerned in the weeks leading up to these days - how was I going to be able to do my job? I needed to stand for 11 hours of services yesterday. Luckily, the day was so filled of profundity, of beautiful liturgy and music, and of family and friends - I didn't have enough time to think too much about my pain!

It all got me thinking about how we each deal with stress. One of my most powerful stress reducers is music. Certain songs immediately relax me, get my feet tapping, or bring a smile to my face. Some of the ones that helped most this year:
1) "Feel," by Robbie Williams
2) "Hey Eugene," by Pink Martini
3) "Midnight Train to Georgia," by Gladys Knight and the Pips
4) "Waiting for My Real Life to Begin," by Colin Hay (mentioned this a few days ago)
5) "Rehab," by Amy Winehouse
6) "Such Great Heights," by Iron and Wine
7) "Sin Wagon," by the Dixie Chicks
8) "Thursday's Child," by David Bowie
9) "When the Stars Go Blue," by the Corrs, featuring Bono
10) "Young Folks," by Peter Bjorn and John

SO, what about you? How do you de-stress? I can't wait to hear what works for you.

Have a great week!

Top Five Break-Up Songs

As you know, I am a bit of a pop culture fiend (haha - I just accidentally typed poop culture - that is HILARIOUS!!). Anyway, I've been pondering the way in which we rely on music to convey our moods in ways that we often cannot. So, this is, perhaps, the first in a series of lists of themed countdowns. Totally my humble opinion, and you can, of course, feel free to disagree.

1. I Never Really Loved You Anyway..... The Corrs
2. All You Want...... Dido
3. Stronger...... Britney Spears
4. Fighter....... Christina Aguilera
5. Every Rose Has its Thorn...... Poison


There are probably songs I am totally forgetting, so I am counting on all y'all to help me out here. Let the lists begin!

Ode to the Man Playing the Accordian in the Tunnel Connecting Port Authority and the 7 Train

"Do Mi Sol"

Oh, Happy Accordian Man
A scant five feet of pure polka delight
Oblivious straphangers sail past you
Yet you soldier on, providing
A melodic opium opus for the masses

But, Happy Accordian Man,
Where have you gone?
A disheveled shaggy maiden tonelessly
Huffing on her harmonica
Has attempted to take your place

I await your joyful jaunts
Your smiling, swaying music
Far beneath the streets of the city
Bringing the anonymous together
At last.

Nobody puts Baby in the Corner!

It's been a "Dirty Dancing" couple of days here in Marci-land. I watched the last twenty minutes of the movie yesterday (actually turned it on right before Johnny Castle says, "Nobody puts Baby in the corner.") So, here's a movie that I've watched at least a hundred times since it came out, and I was still moved by the final dance scene. I nearly cried - it is just SO ROMANTIC!! And, yes, the cheese-factor is quite high, but doesn't that just make it that much better????

And then, today, one of my co-workers showed me this video of a couple dancing at their wedding. You've gotta see this!