So Groovy Now

I know everyone is planning those Halloween parties and get togethers...so what are some good, cheesy songs to celebrate the season?  Keep an open mind while reading :)

Cliff Richards - Devil Woman (also remade by Cradle of Fifth)
Five Man Electrical Band - Werewolf
October Country - My Girlfriend is a Witch
Rockwell with Michael Jackson - Somebody's Watchin' Me
The Five Blobs - The Blob
Warren Zevon - Werewolves of London
Cher - Dark Lady
Metallica - Enter Sandman
Michael Jackson - Thriller
John Williams - Theme from Halloween
Blue Oyster Cult - Don't Fear the Reaper
Rob Zombie - Dragula
Rob Zombie - Living Dead Girl
The Cranberries - Zombie
Helen Reddy - Angie Baby

And who can forget? Bobby "Boris" Picket - The Monster Mash

I may add more to this list before the month is up!

I probably won't be posting again until October when Halloween rolls around, because I have plenty of thoughts on songs for that holiday.  So I got to thinking...songs about Autumn.

I had to search online and some of these, I wasn't that familiar with and had to dig a little to see what they are about.  Some aren't necessarily about the season, though the song title might seem to indicate they are.  Some I think aren't necessarily popular and I just stumbled across them.

You Have Lived in Autumn - Blossom Dearie
Autumn - Easterday
Autumn Leaves - Nat King Cole
Autumn Almanac - The Kings
Autumn - Paulo Nutini
Autumn Sweater - Yo La Tengo
September - Earth, Wind & Fire
When All Is Said & Done - Abba
Dead Leaves & the Dirty Ground - The White Stripes

A couple that remind me of the fall in particular:
Linus & Lucy by Vince Guaraldi Trio
Wide Open Spaces by The Dixie Chicks.  This song was released as a single in the fall and I think that is why it reminds me of the season.  Plus it almost sounds like a girl is going off to college (kind of).

Michael Jackson passed away last week.  So now, we're going to talk complete Jackson mix tape!  We are going to cover everybody...because no matter what you think about him, he was an awesome performer.  So here goes the ultimate Jackson family recommendations:

Jackson 5/Jacksons:
I Want You Back
ABC
Never Can Say Goodbye
The Love You Save
I'll Be There
Enjoy Yourself
Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)

Jackson Five - Can You Feel It

Janet Jackson:
Someone to Call My Lover
Love Will Never Do
Together Again

Michael Jackson:
Billie Jean
Thriller
The Way You Make Me Feel
Off the Wall
I Just Can't Stop Loving You
Don't Stop Til You Get Enough

Michael Jackson Beat It HQ

So, any of you out there in your late 30's or early 40's, feeling  the urge to hear some 80's music?  Are there some obscure songs you forgot you knew?

I listen to a little of everything;  like everyone else in the 80's, I listened to Madonna.  Duran Duran.  Prince.   But I also went outside the realm, listened to a few things some of you might not have heard.  Or, if you did, you might think...geez, I'd forgotten about that song!  So here's a list of a few of my favorite obscure 80's songs (I've tried to link to videos if found on youtube):

Wouldn't It Be Good by Nik Kershaw.  Geez this is still a great song.
Major Tom by Peter Schilling
Invisible by Alison Moyet
So You Ran by Orion the Hunter
10-9-8 by Face to Face
Ship of Fools by World Party
Don't Walk Away by Toni Childs
Cry by Godley & Creme (great video - innovative for its time)
Heart & Soul by T'Pau
Shame by The Motels
Noticeable One by Missing Persons

Well, it's almost Valentine's Day, and I'm sure there are many of you are out there burning CD's that tell of your...burning love.  Let's try to think a little outside the box and not go with the typical sappy "Open Arms" type ballad (not that there is anything wrong with that song)

Songs about love that are peppy, dancy, happy.  Not necessarily "slow dancing" songs:
'Deed I Do - Blossom Dearie
I'll Cover You from "Rent"
Red Magic Marker - Amanda Marshall (this song is more of a "hey wake up can't you see how I feel" song.)
Breathe Your Name - Sixpence None the Richer
Too Much Passion - The Smithereens
I'll Be Your Shelter - Taylor Dayne
Promises - Def Leppard
I Get Weak - Belinda Carlisle (this one is a personal fav)
Our Love - Natalie Cole
Stand Here With Me - Creed
Count On Me - Default
Get Closer - Seals & Croft
Stars - Simply Red ( love it!! )
My Destiny - Lionel Richie

Ballad type tunes:
At Last - Raul Malo (what can I say, I love him)
Wonderful Tonight - Eric Clapton
I Just Can't Stop Loving You - Michael Jackson
Lovin' You - Minnie Ripperton
I'm In You - Peter Frampton

Sexy tunes:
You're The Boss - Brian Setzer Orchestra with Gwen Stefani
Crazy for You - Adele
Love Thy Will Be Done - Martika

Country:
Love In the First Degree - Alabama
It's Your Love - Tim McGraw w/Faith Hill

And some of "the obvious":
Open Arms - Journey
Keep on Lovin' You - REO Speedwagon
Can't Help Falling In Love With You - Elvis
Waiting For A Girl Like You - Foreigner
Truly Madly Deeply - Savage Garden

That should give you a good start on some different kinds of love songs to send to your Valentine.

or maybe to tell someone it will be okay.

Chiquitita by Abba
I'll Stand by You by The Pretenders
I Can See Clearly Now by Johnny Nash
The Rain Don't Last Forever by Hope
Dreams by Van Halen
Better Days by Bruce Springsteen
A New Day Has Come by Celine Dion
Don't Stop Believin' by Journey

Songs about cheating from the perspective of the injured party:
Cheater, Cheater by Joey + Rory
My Happy Ending by Avril Lavigne (I don't know if this is so much about cheating as it is about you hurt me)
Cheated on Me by Gavin DeGraw
So Tired by Ozzy Osbourne
Cry by Godley & Creme
Wrapped In the Arms of Another by Susan Tedeschi
Bitter Song by Antigone Rising (again, I think this one is more about being hurt by a lie but it fits)

When the female is the one cheating:
Unfaithful by Rihanna
Lyin' Eyes by The Eagles
Criminal by Fiona Apple (she's cheated, she knows it & deserves the punishment - don't you take the song that way?)
Wake Up Call by Maroon 5
Cry Me a River by Justin Timberlake

When the male is the one cheating:
Cheatin' by Sara Evans
Should've Said No by Taylor Swift
Heart Turns to Stone by Foreigner
Cold Shoulder by Adele
No Way Out by Starship
Before He Cheats by Carrie Underwood
Strong Enough by Cher

I'm tired of your crap, you need to go and you'll get what you deserve with that skank:
Leave (Get Out) by JoJo.  Awesome, empowering song for those who have been cheated on!!
Good Luck by Basement Jaxx
You Oughta Know by Alanis Morrissette
Solitaire by Laura Branigan
Go Your Own Way by Fleetwood Mac

Here are a couple that make me sick:
Stay by Sugarland.  This one is sang from the perspective of the other woman.  What a load of shit.  The other woman gets what she deserves and if she were smart, she wouldn't be the other woman in the first place.  Dumb ass.

Lips of An Angel by Hinder.  Sang from the perspective of a man talking to his ex-girlfriend while his current one (or wife?) is in the next freaking room of their home.  Bastard.  There's a reason she's your ex!  Dumber ass. 

Now you have to decide who you want and here's why it should be me - or speak now to keep me or forever hold your peace:
(yea, sometimes there are those who want to work it out and I am not knocking those people. Been there)
Stop In the Name of Love - The Supremes or the Hollies.  Seriously, listen to the lyrics.
Tired of My Tears by Ray Charles or Susan Tedeschi (works from each side's perspective)
Make You Feel My Love by Adele (or Garth Brooks, but I prefer Adele)
Let's Stay Together by Al Green or Tina Turner
Our Love (Don't Throw It Away) by Andy Gibb (or Jennifer Love Hewitt)
Stay With Me by Better Midler or Whitesnake

This is a list that could definitely be added to, but a good start with a few that maybe you've never heard of.

I think I will use this as a forum for "mixtape subjects." 

We all get in moods where we want to hear a certain kind of music of a certain kind of situation.  Or maybe we want to burn a CD for the love of our life, or the love of our life that ripped our hearts out.

I recently made a mixtape for someone, and it was hard to come up with songs for the situation...then after I made it, I thought of about 5 more immediately and had to "do-over."  So as I was driving to work this morning, rolling my eyes at a sappy love song that I found on a mixtape I wasn't supposed to find (the person who ripped my heart made it for someone else) - it occurred to me that this would be a good project, something useful - and something to keep my mind off the aforementioned jackass.