Easy as 1-2-3?

A few days ago, my mom told me about this A-Z contest playlist thing. Basically, a blogger had created a contest where her fellow bloggers made playlists where every song title started with a different letter, the 26 letters of the alphabet. And then she drew the winner and someone one….

So of course I don’t learn about this competition until after I have a chance to win it. Nevertheless, my mom still presented me with the challenge, which I didn’t think would be that hard. And guess what? It wasn’t. In fact, the hard part wasn’t finding a song that started with the letter I or Q or Z (although X is a bit of a stretch – see below), but deciding which song out of hundreds to choose from.

Below is my list of 26 songs, and every single letter of the alphabet is represented. Better yet, no artist repeats.

A is for "All My Days" by Alexi Murdoch: This is my favorite ‘A’ song. Alexi Murdoch is too unknown for the amount of talent he has. The perfect voice. The perfect lyrics. It’s almost not fair how perfect he is.

B is for "Bittersweet Symphony" by The Verve. Chances are if you haven’t heard this song, or at least the famous orchestra that opens the song, you are at most, 10 years old, but then again, you probably wouldn’t be reading this blog, so everyone should know this song. If not by its name, then by that orchestra. It’s pretty distinctive, and it makes for a pretty good song.

C is for "California 2005" by Phantom Planet. I’ll admit that I really don’t like how this song is called “California 2005.” So what if it’s more mellow than its upbeat original? It’s still the same song. The lyrics are the same. The band is the same. They just threw in some whistling and hand claps. Does that really call for a new song title altogether? But kudos again to my hero Alex Patsavas (I posted about her in my last post, you may remember) and Mr. J. Schwartz for putting Phantom Planet up to “covering” their own song.

D is for "Dice" by Finley Quaye and Beth Orton. This is a wonderful song with a nice… oh, who am I kidding, I know absolutely nothing about musical terms like “harmony” or “melody.” All I know are phrases like “this is awesome,” “it sounds pretty cool,” and “it’s so darn catchy.” And, in this case, I can use all of those technical terms.

E is for "Earthquakes and Sharks" by Brandtson. I’ve been listening to this song for over a year and I like it every single time. It never gets old. The pure definition of a timeless classic. At least in my mind.

F is for "Fans" by Kings of Leon. Pretty sure this song is off their new album, Because of the Times. Still good music. Still that same, distinctive voice of Caleb Followill, the lead singer.

G is for "Good Day" by Luce. This song just reminds me of summer. It’s just really happy and it “flows” really well, whatever that means. This song could also have easily gone to another G song by the exact same name. So, sorry Tally Hall, but I chose to go in a different direction. Sort of.

H is for "Hallelujah" by Jeff Buckley. Not enough can be said about this song and just how classic it sounds to me. Jeff Buckley does an amazing cover of a song that is covered a lot. It’s the best I’ve heard, so it says a lot about this song. (It also helps that I have associated this song with a fantastic OC moment, but still.)

I is for "I Want to Hear What You Have Got to Say" by The Subways. The Subways are a band that can go for a “heavier” type of rock (but I still listen to it, so it can’t be that “heavy”) but can tune it down, evident in this case. And then they can combine the two elements, and they do that pretty flawlessly in this song, as well. Plus I love the aspect of the girl singing in this song. Puts a whole new spin on the song.

J is for "Just For Now" by Imogen Heap. I’m not sure if I’ve ever posted about this song, but I chose this song assuming that I haven’t just so that I could talk about Imogen Heap’s spectacularly amazing live rendition of this song that sounds little like the original but a billion times better. This woman has out-of-this-world talent and some cool machines to display that talent. I’ll say that the awesomeness of this video got me through the craptastic week that is winter finals.

K is for "Keep It Together" by Guster. Guster is one of those bands that does the radio-friendly alt-pop stuff, but then goes way crazy and does “Carol of the Meows,” (click for a link to a HP fanvid, which is the best clip of the song that I could find) which is an experience that you can’t really describe. Well, describe well.

L is for "Legendary" by Lou Barlow. This song is so mellow, but really, really good. It starts out pretty slow, but picks up towards the end, but maintains its gloomy sound throughout. Now that’s dedication.

M is for "Marvo Ging" by The Chemical Brothers. The Chemical Brothers have this sort of crazy, instrumental thing going on. Think The Album Leaf, add some more upbeat sounds and mixes, and you have The Chemical Brothers and this wacky, but awesome song.

N is for "Naked As We Came" by Iron & Wine. When the talk on the TWoP OC boards was about the final song to play on The OC, I really could not think of a song that could be played. So I Googled “the saddest songs,” and came upon this one. It’s really not that sad, but it’s beautiful and I could totally envision it as the final song to ever grace an OC episode.

O is for "Oh Yoko" by John Lennon. John Lennon sings the same thing over and over again in this song, but it somehow works. Maybe because of the upbeat sound. But I’m guessing it’s more because he’s John Lennon and he can do whatever he wants.

P is for "Paint the Silence" by South. This used to be my favorite song and deservedly so. It’s pretty long, but it doesn’t have the feeling of being dragged out like other long songs do. It has some great lyrics, too, which also helps. And it was on The OC twice, which helps even more.

Q is for "Quiet" by Rachael Yamagata. After Imogen Heap, Rachael Yamagata is my favorite female artist. Her first LP, Happenstance, is so beyond flawless it’s not even funny. She has this amazing, deep, sort of husky voice, and she’s so different than all of the other female “singer-songwriters” out there. And yes, I have to use quotes, because half of those girls don’t even write their own stuff. Yes, Ashlee Simpson, Hilary Duff, Avril Lavigne, and Lindsay Lohan, I am looking at you.

R is for "Rough Gem" by Islands. This is a slightly different sound than what I usually listen to. It has that Caribbean sound to it. I think it’s probably the steel drums, but at least we known that Islands are self-aware of their sound.

S is for "Stay With Me Tomorrow" by Patrick Park. I’ve really gotten into Patrick Park more lately, especially some of the songs off his new album, Everyone’s In Everyone. Anyway, this song is on that album. Going back to the final song on The OC ordeal, this was one of the songs that I thought would be the last one when I heard it was a Patrick Park song. I could totally envision the final scene (totally different from what actually happened, but that’s aside from the point), but I was just off on the song. Give it a listen and tell me that it doesn’t sound like a series-ending song, though.
T is for "Transatlanticism" by Death Cab for Cutie. Final chapter in the final song on The OC story (kind of strange that I picked three songs that fit into this little story, though, isn’t it? Or maybe I did it on purpose in order to relay my story to everyone. Who knows?!). Many of the posters over on TWoP thought that this would be the perfect song. I was still content on “Naked As We Came,” but I decided I had to give this song a listen. And I became obsessed. This song is really like four songs in one. It transitions flawlessly.

U is for "Umbrellas" by Sleeping at Last. I read about this song on a music blog and fell in love with it. It’s got a pretty “soft” sound, but it builds up wonderfully and the climax in the song is amazing.

W is for "We Will Become Silhouettes" by The Shins. The best of both worlds! The Shins covering a Postal Service song. This song is off the Such Great Heights EP (I think), and has a much different sound than the original, which is a lot slower and more electronic. But, hey, that’s the best thing about covers.

X is for "Chicago X 12" by Rogue Wave. I know, I know. But couldn’t it technically be “X 12, Chicago?” No? Well, then you go find a song starting with ‘X.’ I’d be delighted to take a look at your results (or lack thereof). Anyway, off of Rogue Wave’s new album, Asleep at Heaven’s Gate, which I love.

Y is for "Young Folks" by Peter Bjorn & John. Chances are you’ve never heard of Peter Bjorn & John, but that you have heard this song, which is kind of everywhere. Read on (from a TWoP recap): “a song so over-licensed it now plays whenever I send an email, receive an email, am approached by strangers, see a blue or green car, or think about what shoes to wear today.” Here’s a more fitting analogy: Remember The Fray’s “How to Save a Life”? Remember how it was like a rite of passage that any television show with an audience of at least 10 million (give or take a lot) used that song, preferably in an episode-ending montage? Okay, well, Young Folks is like “How to Save a Life,” except instead of television shows, it’s car commercials. Sort of. It’s hard to explain.

Z is for "Zak and Sara" by Ben Folds. One of the few songs that talks about a Sara without an ‘h’ (and even includes that description in the lyrics!). Also, one of the few songs to start with a ‘z.’ I included it for both of those reasons.

A-Z

My response to Katie's A-Z list from Friday night...

Addictions - hmm... good tv shows, but I guess those are more like obsessions
By this time next year, I I'll be a sophomore
Challenge: Current challenges are getting good grades and staying on task
Daydreaming about: summer
Ella Minnow Pea--what's your favorite letter? uhh, s? because sara starts with s?
Fondest Memory: ones from camp
Go forth and... run?
Hella sweet: uhh, i don't know. good music.
Indulgence: mm cheesecake
Jealous about people who... have a really laid-back attitude about school
Kindness is: showing respect towards someone just because
Listen to this advice: relax.
Ma mere est: (my mom is...) amazing.
Never tell me: something that is degrading?
On the nightstand: no nightstand
Perfect day would be: Saturday
Quotation I just can't get out of my head: "Life is not about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself." -Unknown
Retreat: Horse Shoe, NC for three weeks every summer
Story I love to hear: scary stories
Ticket stub I'd want: to California
Underneath it all: ?? Victoria Secret cotton panties, as well
Vision--in ten years, I want... to be happy and successful
Wish I could: be better at tennis
X-favorite anything: color - blue
You are least -- ...likely to be
Zero is the number of: times I've watched an O.C. episode since it ended (if I remember correctly)

apple to zebra deux

Addictions
By this time next year,...
Challenge:
Daydreaming about:
Ella Minnow Pea--what's your favorite letter?
Fondest Memory:
Go forth and...
Hella sweet:
Indulgence:
Jealous about people who...
Kindness is:
Listen to this advice:
Ma mere est:
Never tell me:
On the nightstand:
Perfect day would be:
Quotation I just can't get out of my head:
Retreat:
Story I love to hear:
Ticket stub I'd want:
Underneath it all:
Vision--in ten years, I want...
Wish I could:
X-favorite anything:
You are least -- ...
Zero is the number of:

love, me.

question quizzes. sara's answers.

1. What is your occupation? student. unfortunately
2. What color are your socks right now? barefoot
3. What are you listening to right now? gross FOX ads (yuck!!)
4. What was the last thing that you ate? mexican food
5. Can you drive a stick shift? i can't drive at all
6. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? turquoise, like the sky
7.. Last person you spoke to on the telephone? um, my mom
8. Do you like the person who sent this to you? you know, i guess (just kidding)
9. How old are you today?15
10. Favorite drink: maybe water. who knows
11. What is your favorite sport to watch? baseball
12. Have you ever dyed your hair? all natural
13. Pets? Chance
14. Favorite food? cheesecake. yumm
15. What was the last movie you watched? about 10 minutes of as good as it gets in health
16. Favorite day of the year?any day during the summer
17. Least favorite day of the year? first day of school i guess
18. What was your favorite toy as a child? i don't know and it wasn't even that long ago
19. Favorite season? summer
20. Hugs or Kisses? both
21. Cherry or Blueberry? blueberry
22. Do you want your friends to email you back? yes
23. Who is most likely to respond? i don't know
24. Who is least likely? i don't know
25. Living arrangements? my room in my house
26. What's on the floor of your closet? crap
27. Who is the friend you have had the longest that you are sending this to? i don't think i'm sending this to anyone
28. What did you do last night? homework and then about 2 hours on the computer - it was wonderful
29. Favorite smell? vanilla?
30. What inspires you? my friends, family, what i can become, etc.
31. What are you afraid of? failure
32. Favorite kind of hamburger? medium to medium rare. lettuce. cheese. ketchup.
33. Favorite vehicle? i don't know range rover?
34. Favorite dog breed? labs
35. Number of keys on your key ring? 1- to the house
36. How many years at your current job?as a student, it's been 10 including kindergarten
37. Favorite day of the week? saturday
38. How many states/countries have you lived in? 1 GA
39. Favorite holiday? thanksgiving because of the food, probably
40. Ever driven a motorcycle or heavy machinery? no

2nd one from elsie flannigan's blog a beautiful mess (and I didn't keep my answers...):
A= Available ~ yes
B= Best Friend ~ rachel and sara and katura
C= Cake or pie ~ pie
D= Drink of choice ~ water
E= Essential item you use everyday ~ glasses or contacts
F= Favorite color ~ blue
G= Gummy bears or worms ~ both (it's the same thing)
H= Hometown ~ roswell, ga
I= Indulgences ~ yumm dessert
J= January or February ~ january?
K= Kids and Names ~ (no stealing!) for girls: madison, kate ... for boys: i don't know
L= Life is incomplete without? dreams
M= Marriage date ~ sometime in the future
N= Number of siblings ~ 1
O= Oranges or apples ~ apples (not as sticky!)
P= Phobias or Fears ~ failure, embarassment, public bathrooms, etc.
Q= Favorite Quote ~ "Life is not about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself." -Unknown
R= Reason to smile ~ The O.C. (usually Marissa's stupid antics), friends, family, etc.
S= Season ~ summer
T= Tag 3 or 4 people ~ :(
U= Unknown fact about me ~(what is the point of it being an unknown fact if it is about to revealed for anyone who comes across this??) I can name every single O.C. episode in order and name at least three things that happened in that episode and most likely at least one song that played during that episode, and, if you're lucky, when that song played
V= Vegetable you don't like ~ radish
W= Worst habit ~ getting sidetracked (haha)
X= X-rays ~ many on mouth/jaw/teeth
Y= Your favorite food ~ cheesecake
Z= Zodiac Sign ~ scorpio
and the 3rd one Katie developed based on her a to z journal - here's the quiz and my answers (dated 2/12/07):

>Alarm Clock: my mom
>Biggest Challenge: learning to overcome past fears and succeeding in school and in general
>Childhood Ambition: to be a teacher at some point (don't ask)
>Daily Mantra: relax
>Even when... i'm really nervous
>Favorite author/book: i don't know
>Given a hundred dollars, I would... buy 3 seasons of friends (probably seasons 4, 9, and 6)
>How are you inspired? by people around me, the idea of being successful and fulfilling my aspirations
>I take my coffee/tea with... i don't drink coffee or tea
>Joke I always tell: i don't really tell jokes
>Know-it-all about: The O.C. Ask me anything.
>Last purchase: i don't know/remember
>My best days are... summer days
>Number of magazine subscriptions: 1 - Teen Vogue, but it's all I need
>Oddity...? I wash my hands a lot. Does that count?
>Picture you love the most? me jumping at the clearwater beach, me and katie together in december '06
>Quirky habit: like an oddity? see oddity.
>Restaurant--favorite thing to order: i don't know - sometimes it's just whatever i'm in the mood for
>Soundtrack I live by: I could probably listen to The O.C. Seasons 1-4 for a reaaaaally long time.
>Traveling--if I could hop on a plane now... I'd go to Europe or California or New York or Florida
>Utopias: (is this like a paradise?) <>Voice you love the most (this a hard one): as in singer? imogen heap as an amazing voice and i like patrick park's voice a lot right now, as well
>Wildest dream: to fly
>Xenophile? (does this mean liking foreign cultures?) <>Your favorite place? camp
Zen place? hmm. don't know. someplace quiet where i can just do nothing and relax.

question quizzes.

Sara and I had a fun dinner out - totally spur of the moment - Marc called to say he was just finishing golf and would get his own dinner and Sara has manageable homework (for once!)...so El Porton here we come! While we waited and ate, we enjoyed the [Bracketology] article and bracket on the ajc living front page - we also ended up with MLK and Coke in our final two, but we picked MLK...

...anyway, we got to talking about other brackets we could do - episodes of the O.C. (yes, Sara's pick), songs (my pick), TV shows (my pick)...and a few other ideas - places, books, food, .... could be inspired!

and then I mentioned the 'question quizzes' that Katie and I had done a few weeks ago. And Sara was totally into it and begging to respond. So I said I'd post them here for all to see and respond to {leave it up to Katie if she wants to post her previous answers, too}

We have three quizzes:

First one originated from Lisa Rogovin-Payne (Marc's sister) - she sent this to Katie so I didn't respond originally - my answers are posted below:

1. What is your occupation? i get paid to be a benefits delivery manager, but i think my jobs as mother and wife are really what I 'do'
2. What color are your socks right now?wearing just slippers
3. What are you listening to right now?champagne super nova
4. What was the last thing that you ate?nachos deluxe, no beef extra lettuce, too many chips
5. Can you drive a stick shift?who, me?
6. If you were a crayon, what color would you be?pink - a very happy color, and lots of flowers
7.. Last person you spoke to on the telephone.marc
8. Do you like the person who sent this to you?n/a
9. How old are you today?44
10. Favorite drink:tie between fine red wine and marc's coffee
11. What is your favorite sport to watch?golf (really, honestly i promise!)
12. Have you ever dyed your hair?who, me?
13. Pets?just one (now) Chance
14. Favorite food?steak, salad, roasted asparagus, mussels
15. What was the last movie you watched?last half of breakfast at tiffany's with sara last weekend - can't remember the last full movie i saw
16. Favorite day of the year?any day during the summer
17. Least favorite day of the year?a rainy monday in november, or february
18. What was your favorite toy as a child? ??
19. Favorite season? summer
20. Hugs or Kisses?kisses!
21. Cherry or Blueberry?blueberry
22. Do you want your friends to email you back?sure!
23. Who is most likely to respond?sara
24. Who is least likely?probably katie - she's already done it
25. Living arrangements?'small' house in roswell - where i've grown up - will be 22 years here this year
26. What's on the floor of your closet?shoe boxes and my vera bradley duffel bag collection
27. Who is the friend you have had the longest that you are sending this to? ?? maybe karen
28. What did you do last night?watched american idol *hangs head in shame* :-)
29. Favorite smell?salt water at the beach
30. What inspires you?my life and the wonderful people my children are becoming
31. What are you afraid of?s....n....a....k....e....s
32. Favorite kind of hamburger?very rare, with blue cheese, lettuce and tomato
33. Favorite vehicle?the car i'm driving now - 2005? mercedes e320 love love it!
34. Favorite dog breed?lab or something small enough to fit into a purse
35. Number of keys on your key ring?6 - car,house,3 for work and one to my golf locker that i haven't used in over a year
36. How many years at your current job?24 (in june)
37. Favorite day of the week?friday
38. How many states/countries have you lived in?ga, tx, wy, nj, ga (5 states) one country
39. Favorite holiday?christmas
40. Ever driven a motorcycle or heavy machinery?who, me?

2nd one from elsie flannigan's blog a beautiful mess (and I didn't keep my answers...):

A= Available
B= Best Friend
C= Cake or pie
D= Drink of choice
E= Essential item you use everyday
F= Favorite color
G= Gummy bears or worms
H= Hometown
I= Indulgences
J= January or February
K= Kids and Names
L= Life is incomplete without?
M= Marriage date
N= Number of siblings
O= Oranges or apples
P= Phobias or Fears
Q= Favorite Quote
R= Reason to smile
S= Season
T= Tag 3 or 4 people
U= Unknown fact about me
V= Vegetable you don't like
W= Worst habit
X= X-rays
Y= Your favorite food
Z= Zodiac Sign

and the 3rd one Katie developed based on her a to z journal - here's the quiz and my answers (dated 2/12/07):

>Alarm Clock: Big ugly cd player - I hear the cd start to spin and I wake up most days before the music even starts; currently playing Jim Brickman, but had Elvis Costello in for a while, soundtrack from Somethings got to give and a few Andrea Bocelli cds
>Biggest Challenge: staying focused on what's important
>Childhood Ambition: don't remember! maybe to be like my dad?
>Daily Mantra: (at work) it's not like we're doing brain surgery or putting men on the moon {how hard can it really be...or why is this so hard?}
>Even when... i get copied on multiple bad news emails from senior client contacts
>Favorite author/book: HARD one, so many good ones! JK Rowling - #3 or #5
>Given a hundred dollars, I would... buy a new pair of shoes
>How are you inspired? by Katie, by magazines, by spending time with myself running
>I take my coffee/tea with... skim milk
>Joke I always tell: how do you top a car - 'tep on da brake, 'tupid!:-)
>Know-it-all about (or would love to be one about): would love to be know it all about wine, photography
>Last purchase: colored pens for Jillian's b-day (to go with the stationeryI got her)
>My best days are... sunny ones where I get a lot accomplished...or where I spendtime with people I love...or when I get to have a nap...
>Number of magazine subscriptions: 5? (Gourmet, Bon Appetit, In Style, More, Southern Living, but there seem to be so many more magazines than that - what amI forgetting?)
>Oddity...? hummm....so much to pick from - I like to heat our thermal coffeepot overnight with hot water so the brewed coffee stays hot longer?
>Picture you love the most? currently loving the funny shot of Katie and Sara- very silly - taken while we were going for our 2006 holiday photo {Katie put it in the frame on my desk}
>Quirky habit: like to take off my jewelry when I get home - not the earrings,just the rings and bracelets; oh- and I have to triple check that I have my keysbefore I lock the garage door!>Restaurant--favorite thing to order: lately mussels, but usually fried calamari
>Soundtrack I live by: I love Andrea Bocelli for "concentrating", butvarious mix CDs from Sara when I'm not working; I also love Summer Highland Falls by Billy Joel because it reminds me of Katie's senior year and Traveling Prayer by Billy Joel because it reminds me of one summer in college - I once told Karen that I imagined my entire life as BJ soundtrack, and I think that's true,but I like some other stuff now too
>Traveling--if I could hop on a plane now... so I really don't like to travel- I guess this means if I did - I've got to think I'd head to a beach someplace
>Utopias: I think my life is pretty good right now - not thinking anything else could be more perfect
>Voice you love the most (this a hard one): spoken word - James Earl Jones; song- tie between Luciano Pavarotti (sp?) and Andrea Bocelli - different takes on my favorite sounds...
>Wildest dream: that I can fly
>Xenophile? yes - strange because I don't really like to travel, but I am so intrigued by anything Italian, French or English (not so much China, Japan, Korea....)
>Your favorite place? my home
>Zen place? ditto - lately!