Isn't it Romantic

I recently listed to a This American Life podcast from earlier last year called The Break Up. Included in this awesome piece is a discussion on romantic songs. And the focus of that segment is a girl who, along with her then boyfriend, loved the song "Against the Odds" by Phil Collins (I think that is the right song). So, when the boyfriend broke up with her, she tracked down Phil Collins and wrote a song with him.

It got me thinking. With the approaching nightmare of Valentine's Day, it got me thinking of what makes a song romantic, what makes a love song work. Is this something subjective, that varies from person to person? Or is there an objective measurement of love songs?

So I pondered this, and came to the conclusion that it is pretty subjective. There are songs that you hear that you just know will be someone's wedding song ("Still the One" by Shania Twain, "Unanswered Prayers" by Garth Brooks, "Rock Whitcha" by Bobby Brown...), but to me, those songs often seem really cheesy and trite. There are ones for me which just stop me in my tracks, mainly for the lyrics, but I doubt others would deem them romantic.

I love "M&M's" by Blink (before they added the -182). When I was in college, I would listen to it over and over again. But I think it was made more special by the fact that a friend of mine put it on a mix tape he made me, as the last song, and then asked me had I listened to the tape all the way through (man, the brilliant conversation of college freshmen). I still wonder why he asked me that, but hearing that song brings me back to the bright spot in a really rough patch. I am going to play it right now.

There is a song from the Love Actually soundtrack called "Songbird," that stops me in my tracks every time. The voice is haunting, the melody gorgeous and the lyrics telling. It makes me long for something missing in my life, and would someone play it for me, I think I would melt.

Not to go on too much longer, but there is also one called "Ballad for my One True Love," by Mason Jennings. It is a bit folky, but we can all only wish for someone to write us a ballad like that.

So what makes a good love song? What makes it romantic? Opinions welcome.

Monday Answers

From Monday's a Bitch...

1.Which song reminds you most of the 90's?
Probably "These Are Days" by 10,000 Maniacs and "Tubthumping" by Chumpawumpa

2.Do you remember where you were when you heard about Kurt Cobain?
I was in Seattle visiting some people my friend and I had met at Close Up. I still have the paper from the day after...we left on the day of the funeral, otherwise we would have gone.

3.Were you ever known to sport a fanny pack?
I probably wore one, but I never really liked 'em.
4.Which 90210 character was your favourite?
DYLAN McCAY 4-EV-AH

5.Do you own a troll doll?
I don't think I do anymore.

Shopping Blues

The other day, I had the great displeasure of going clothes shopping.

Now, I am not a shopper by nature. I don't like it that much. But on days when I need something, and I brave the great rainy outdoors to shop, I expect to find a few things. And I needed some new clothes...did I find 'em?

No, I did not. I should have known after shopping with my mom the other day that there is a severe lack of things I like in the latest crop of clothes. It seems everything I could find was overrun with bright, huge prints, and ill-fitting cuts. The styles have very little shape to them; instead, they are cut like sacks of potatoes and fit about as well. Or, you get the tops that all have empire waists, which often give the illusion of pregnancy unless you are stick thin.

The pants consist of those high cut numbers (uh, ew) or pencil cut. Last I check, those styles flattered about 2% of the population. A lot of it looks like what I wore in high school, which means the 90s are back in a mean way. I went into Express at one point, and laughed that I had worn almost the exact shirt they are selling now on my 21st birthday. And that was 10 years ago.

I still need clothes. Where are the nice tailored tops? The non-offensive colors? I guess I will just bide my time until the next crop of what's "in" hits the stores!

Sunday Answers

From Randomness...
This or that?
1. soda or water?
soda
2. mustard or ketchup?
ketchup
3. lake or beach?
lake
4. rent a dvd or go to the theater?
theater
5. log onto the internet or go for a jog?
job
6. read a book or watch a movie?
read a book
7. italian food or chinese food?
italian
8. summer or winter?
summer

My New Addiction

Hello. My name is Annie, and I am a Scrabulous addict.

Scrabulous is a fabulous Scrabble (see the pun...hah!) application on Facebook. I get to play Scrabble with people all over the world. I play for fun, but hate, and get very angry, when I can tell people are cheating.

At least I know I am not alone. In a recent Wired article, the author confessed to her own obsession, and her flirt with the cheat (which she ultimately decided against).

I just read that it is at risk of being shut down. I would probably have a more productive life, but I would sure miss it.