“Those who danced were thought to be quite insane by those who could not hear the music.” ~Angela Monet

It could be said that Q, E, KSP and me suffer, or in my mind benefit, from some of this insanity.  Q is constantly moving his head back and forth (note, this was also the behavior that therapists were suggesting might be indicative of Autism; however, my sister rocked on her head and I sway and hear music so for now we aren’t pursuing this as a diagnosis unless you diagnosis our entire family:) ).

Since I  hear this music in my head and when stressed it can even be a bit frustrating and intrusive, and KSP is also very musical. I am pretty sure, although she can’t vocalize it yet, E has music in her heart.  We are a musical family. From the first moments of our morning, Q will get into our bed about 6:30 am, where his sister has already been for 2 hours, grab the remote, point it at the TV and say “uuuuuh” or “mama.” From then on, it’s TOP 40 morning dance party.

I can pretty much sing word-for-word all of the songs that are currently popular amongst the Top 40 crowd,  (although I will warn you, not so pretty prior to teeth brushing, hair brushing and occasional raccoon eyes from mascara I missed the night before), but the amazing thing is that no matter how sleepy (or morning ugly) I am, I feel better and more energetic (which is also amazing since I have not yet had any caffeine). It’s the power of music.

Personally, I LOVE music.  Ever since I was a kid, Crystal Gale, Air Supply, Boston, Asia, Dionne Warwick, Barry Manilow it was all amazing. I knew all the words and made up songs to pretty much everything.  My sisters, mom and I used to dance around the living room listening to records…twirling and giggling until were winded, dizzy and on the floor.  Now music is the first thing that can bring me joy, bring me to tears or just lets me be so that I can just sing at the top of my lungs and pretend I am the singer that I always wanted to be as a kid or now after a long night of Karaoke.

So last  week on ‘mynewfavoriteday’s’ Facebook page, I posted a photo of “Wonderwall” and did a little call out to folks asking them to submit their songs that were meaningful to them and why. It was such fun and the playlist that has come back is random but fabulous…so for those of you that played, thanks so much and for those of you that are seeing this for the first time, hopefully some of these songs will bring back some good memories for you.

Drum roll please……

October 23, 2011 ‘Mynewfavoriteday’ first family playlist:

The idea started with this Oasis’ “Wonderwall.”  image:

This song is near and dear to my heart and a group of friends we have here in LA.  It basically makes the rounds at nearly everyone’s wedding and turns into a group sing along.  Our rehearsal dinner 4 years ago may have been the first time, when I presented KSP with a guitar personalized to him from Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters.  Our good friend AB, grabbed the guitar and suddenly 73 people were signing along at the top of their lungs…just awesome. From here, here is where we go:

From Nicole:  “Use Somebody” by Kings of Leon 🙂 Tony and I went to a music festival in Gorge, WA and heard it live. I believe for me that was the weekend where I knew I would never want to be without him. I can’t hear the song even now, without tears and smiles 🙂

From Nissa:  *love* Wonderwall! That is one of, if not the number one, all-time favorite of mine. I will always love “The Way You Look Tonight” as sung by Tony Bennett (danced with my dad at my wedding to that one) and also, get ready for it, “It’s Your Love” by Tim McGraw and Faith Hill (the song Jeff and I danced to). What? We went to college in a country town! 🙂

From Julie:  “The Way I Am” by Ingrid Michaels and “Honey Pot” by Bob Schneider. Both remind me of my new, fabulous boyfriend.

From Tara:  “Swallowed in the Sea” on Coldplay’s X & Y album because Kimball was 8 years old and loved to have loud, happy singalongs to it in the car..

From Katie:  Our song was “Take my Breath Away” – Berlin (I know, old school) but we have been married 15 years 🙂

From Jason:  When we were dating it was Everything But The Girl – Before Today, and our wedding song is Van Morrison – Someone Like You.

From Deb D.: ‎”The Year of the Cat” by Al Stewart. Scott was impressed that I knew the singer’s name and we realized our love of 70’s singer/songwriter music. We tortured our wedding guests with it, but it was perfect for us.

From Erin:  California by phantom planet – reminds me of all the emotions and excitement i had when I first moved to Cali and always brings me renewed optimism for living here.

From Deb from The Monster in Your Closet:  I have a few! I think the one that is most powerful for me is “Wherever You Will Go” by The Calling. That was my sister and her husband’s processional song at their wedding, so every time I hear it, I think of how amazing it was to finally see their union fully sealed. They’d already been dating 7ish years by that point, to the point where I’d forgotten he hadn’t always been around and making life brighter for all of us. ♥

From Vicki:  “What a Feeling”/Flashdance”by Irene Cara and “Escape (The Pina Colada Song) and “Tub Thumping” by Chumbawamba. All songs Vicki and I sung Karaoke to every weekend when we lived in Japan for 2 years!  Such fun and many late nights.  “Tub Thumping ” found us in Hong Kong at the Rugby Hong Kong 7’s, big men  in little shorts as Vic liked to say…many smiles:)

I am also adding a few more songs as it was both my Anniversary and the Wondertwins birthday last week and I still feeling a bit sentimental:

“She is Love” by Oasis – The song we walked back down the aisle to after we said “I do!”

“Everlong” by the Foo Fighters – The song we entered to… a fan favorite.

“Don’t Go Away” by Oasis – When we first started dating, we traveled a lot and it was always sad to say goodbye so we danced to it at our wedding as our song…Love.

“Stronger” by Kanye West – obsessed with this song. Being Type A, Event Planner, I brought my entire playlist for the reception and had to have this song…”Taller, better, faster, stronger…”

“I saw her first”  by Heartland – The song I danced to with my dad at my wedding to KSP.

“If I Could” – by Ray Charles – Obscure but amazing for all you parents. For both my parents…now I know how you feel:)

“To make you feel my Love” by Garth Brooks – I sang this song to my babies every day in the NICU and even now, although every time I choke back tears.  If there was ever a song I could use to at least begin to try to tell them how deeply and fiercely I love them, this is the one.

So that’s it, the first weekly (if you approve) playlist for ‘mynewfavoriteday.’ Happy Monday and I hope these songs and the stories behind them will bring you a smile and that whatever song you hear today can help make today ‘yournewfavoriteday’. I could go on all day, sibling dedications, friends, loved ones, and on and on and on!

So this Monday, I will dance to Coldplay’s “Every teardrop is a Waterfall” even if I am the only one who hears it:)

I am also thinking of doing this on a weekly basis, what does everyone think about that?  I will categorize the songs, (favorite: love song, break up song, wedding dance song (groom, mom or dad), make out song, girl’s night out,  child’s song, you get the idea.  What do we think?  Fun way to learn of other great songs and remind you of some goodies.  What say ye, yay or nay?