Category Archives: Music

We Got the Beat

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Born this WayA new year – a new you?  If you are determined to become more active in 2012, add music to your exercise formula. It has been scientifically proven that music distracts you from fatigue and energizes you during a workout.

The tempo of the music can help you maintain a steady pace; in fact, many exercisers look for a specific beats per minute (bpm) when creating their workout song list. If you need ideas for songs to add to your list, check out these suggestions from Fitness magazine’s 100 Best Workout Songs.

Who shows up the most often on these playlists? Lady Gaga’s “Just Dance“(127 bpm) and “Born This Way“  (124 bpm) show up on several lists.  Try Britney Spears’ “If U Seek Amy” (130 bpm) or “I Wanna Go” (129 bpm).  “Break Your Heart” (127 bpm) and “Higher” (128 bpm) by Taio Cruz also appear on many top ten lists.

Check out the music selection at your local branch. This Baby Boomer likes “Boogie Shoes“(120 bpm) by K.C. and the Sunshine Band or “Love Shack” (130 bpm) by the B-52s  to get going!

What’s on your list?

 

New Year Resolution: The Walk

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It’s that time again when promises are made to make a life change. 

Consider a different perspective when exercise is in the equation.

Set the alarm 15 minutes early.  Don’t think.  Get up, and throw on your “hamper” clothes.  Put on a comfortable pair of walking shoes. Don’t think.  Check the temperature.  Grab a coat, hat, gloves, rain gear, or whatever is necessary for the weather.  Don’t worry about your hair or face. Depending on where you are bring a flashlight, a cell phone (for an emergency), and possibly mace.  Don’t think.  Don’t listen to music.  Open the door and GO!  Start with a 10 minute walk.  Don’t think!  For the first 5 minutes let yourself complain about anything and everything – muscle aches, sore joints, the cold, the heat, the rain, the spouse, the children, the boss….. now, STOP and breathe the fresh air.  Look at the sky.  Smell the earth, a local bakery, or flowers.  Feel the frost, the rain, the wind, the snow, the sun on your face.  Listen to the birds.  Look at the houses you pass by, the gardens, the decorations, the rhythm of the traffic and people at a particular point in time.  Let your senses experience the morning as it is, not with what you have to do that day. Connect with reality in a fresh, stimulating way.  Before you know it you’re back home, ready for that hot cup of coffee and ready to think!

The key is to just do it and to do it for YOU.  Don’t think.  Just move.

Before you know it you’ll watch for certain flowers to bloom again, for the feral cats to stake new territory, for the lonely dog in a back yard to welcome you, for the pinks, blues and oranges of the sunrise, and of the gentle, soft breeze on your face.  You’ll soon want to explore a little further, investigate a new area, or solve a problem.  That’s when a new novel, a how-to book, a just released movie, or a favorite musician’s latest CD will inspire.  That’s when you check out the library!

Don’t think, just do it for you.

We’re not worthy!

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alice cooperDid you miss your chance to have a Wayne’s World moment with Alice Cooper this week at the Taft?  If so, the library has several of his albums that you can check out, with songs spanning Alice’s more than 40 year career.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee.  Recovering alcoholic.  Guillotine owner.  Milwaukee expert.  Golf addict.   Devoted Christian.  Curious how that all fits together into one package?  Check out Alice’s memoir, Alice Cooper, Golf Monster : A Rock ‘n’ Roller’s 12 Steps to Becoming a Golf Addict.

Ashes & Fire

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I didn’t think it would happen, after three long years of silence, Ryan Adams has released an album of new material. Check out Mr. Adams’ new release Ashes & Fire, of which we have at the library. Three years may not seem like a long time, but if you look at his track record for CD releases, it is forever. Between 2000 and 2008, Mr. Adams released ten full length albums of mostly original music (not including EPs, abandoned songs or internet only), even recording three records in the year 2005. As recently as 2010, some of that abandoned and/or lost music came out on the CD entitled III/IV.

If you have never heard of him, you should, because he brings an amazing talent and voice to music that you may have not experienced  before.  Tim McGraw, on his Greatest Hits: Vol. 2, covered one of Mr. Adams’ song entitled, “When the Stars Go Blue,” which came from Adams’ 2001 release Gold.  Moreover, The Corrs featuring Bono of U2 fame, also covered the same song on the album entitles VH1 Presents: The Corrs, Live In Dublin. So if you have never heard of Ryan Adams as a singer at least you may have heard of him as a songwriter.

Post 2008, it seems, he decided not to continue with his music. He married Mandy Moore, yes that Mandy Moore. Wrote a couple of books of poetry and short stories entitled Infinity Blues and HelloSunshine. So I reckon, he was content to ride of into the sunset, never to be heard from again. Until now.

Also,  if you want to get acquainted with his previous stellar music check out these CDs which are also at the library: Gold, Demolition, and Easy Tiger. Then when you get hooked you can thank me.

Adele’s 21

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Dear Guy Who Broke Adele’s Heart,

 Thanks.

 Sincerely,

Everyone with Ears.

 

Adele’s breathtaking sophomore album 21 was released here in the States in February of this year and has been on a constant tour of Clermont County since then, filling holds at all ten branches for the last nine months. I just got a copy last week and the wait was well worth it.

Like her previous album, 19, all of the songs on 21 are centered on a single relationship and its painful end.  With her retro-soulful style, astounding vocals and deeply moving lyrics each song by the British songstress is a powerful statement of love and loss.  The singles Rolling in the Deep and Someone Like You have been getting serious airtime on the local radio but it is the as of yet undiscovered gems like Rumor Has It and Set Fire to the Rain that really round out what can only be described as a timeless and amazing album.

There are still a number of people waiting for their turn with a copy of 21, but if you add your name to the list you won’t regret the time you spend waiting.

If you don’t want to wait and are looking for something to check out now some of Adele’s more popular songs on these albums:

Listen to Chasing Pavements on Grammy Nominees: 2009

Listen to Hometown Glory on Grammy Nominees: 2010

Listen to Rolling in the Deep on Now That’s What I Call Music! 38

Listen to the Grammy Nominated (Album of the Year) 19

Death Cab for Cutie’s Latest

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Death Cab for CutieThe lights went down on PNC pavilion last Friday and the distinct melodic beat of the five minute instrumental slowly drew the crowd into each key hit on the piano. The lights began to flicker to the beat as the band increased its tempo. Finally the singer belted out the first words of the song…”How I wish you could see the potential…” the crowd erupted in a syncopated cheer and then they all began to sing along.

The band Death Cab for Cutie played PNC Pavilion Friday, September 30th and I was there. It was an amazing concert put on by the band from Seattle. If you were there or even if you weren’t and are interested, the Clermont County Public Library has a few of their CDs so you can give them a listen.

From 2005 Plans which includes the songs  Soul Meets Body, Crooked Teeth, and I Will Follow You into the Dark.  All of which were performed at the concert.

Narrow Stairs is from 2008 and has the song that opened the concert – I Will Posses Your Heart.

Their latest Codes and Keys just released this year and has the song You are a Tourist.

In case you were curious, the band’s name comes from the title of a song by the band Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah which they performed in 1967 film, Magical Mystery Tour, which many of you know is a film by the Beatles.