Carpool Mom Playlist

I spend one hour in my car each morning. I take Emma and 2 of her friends to Middle School every day. Then, 3 days a week I add Benjamin and 3 of his Pre-School friends to the mix. I don't do any after school pick-ups, so that leaves my whole morning free, almost all week. I love the arrangement!

I really enjoy my time with Emma and her friends. They talk about assignments, interesting hairdos they see at school, teachers, music and their clothes/hair/perfume/lipgloss. I like just hearing their chatter.

Ben's crowd giggles, wrestles (with their seatbelts on!), plays air guitar, tells me to "TURN UP THE ROCK AND ROLL!" and admits interesting things about their parents/boogers. It's very entertaining.

When I've dropped them all off, I forward Emma's CDs to the songs I like and TURN IT UP!!

I've added a playlist of some of her current music to help you all get as up to date as I think I am. For those of you that might be wishing we were still in the 80s . . . I think you'll like this stuff! Scroll down and turn the music on!

Music in Honor of my Hometown: Valdez, Alaska!

I had to change my 80's music playlist . . . to give you MORE 80's music. I made a playlist that reminds me of growing up in my sweet little hometown, about 3 months ago. (No, I haven't had time for that kind of thing, recently!)

Since I'm going to Valdez in 2 weeks, I thought I'd pump myself up!! And Emily, I really wish you still had your "Eagle" so we could cruise Egan Drive, playing these songs on my laptop. Oh well, we'll re-live the magic in your grown-up lady car.

Small Town by JCM: I wasn't into Mr. Mellenchamp until college. I was a late J. Cougar Bloomer. When this comes on the radio, I crank it up and sing LOUD and remember my favorite SMALL TOWN! And how about this line: "No, I cannot forget from where it is that I come from, cannot forget the people who love me, and I can be myself in my small town . . ."

'92 Subaru by Fountains of Wayne: I just chanced upon this song. The line: "I'm coming for you, you better make way 'cause I'm coming through, in my late '92, baby blue subaru," is just too much. I drove a baby blue subaru my senior year, 1992. And I hit a lot of stuff, snowbanks mostly. The license plate said, "Goold" for crying out loud. I still drive like a crazy Alaskan.

Eye of the Tiger by Survivor: My brother John and I loved this song in 1983 (3rd grade). I would call our ONE AM Radio Station about 20 times a day and request it. I'd also pretend to be someone new, each time. I'm sure in a town of 3,000 the DJ knew my squeaky voice and tried not to be annoyed. I saw all the Rocky movies recently and renewed my love affair with the song.
Eternal Flame: I still haven't posted about my 4-wheeler accident in 1989. The one where I drove my before mentioned friend, Emily, off a cliff. This song reminds me of that time. Not the cliff jumping, but a nicer, albeit inappropriate, memory. I know the song by heart and it's STILL one of my favorites. Not to mention that I put it on EVERY mix tape I EVER made.

Total Eclipse of the Heart by Bonnie Tyler: Emily had this 45 record and we would play it on her mom's gigantic floor model, piece of furniture, record player. And we were probably eating frozen cranberry juice boxes, while the bisquick coffee cake was baking in the oven.

Walking on Sunshine by Katrina & the Waves: I know I always say, "This is my absolute favorite song" but I really think this one is. Growing up in a town that's overcast most of the year, I'll tell you, when the sun comes out, the whole place SPARKLES. You really learn to appreciate the sun. This song is just fun and cheerful, and another one I love to crank up and sing along with, LOUDLY. FYI: I like Aly & AJ's version better, but it wasn't available on the playlist site.

Rainy Days and Monday's by Karen Carpenter: My mom loved this group when I was a kid. And I know all their songs (and ABBA's) by heart. I usually bust into this song on a rainy day or a monday, at least a few times a month. And it really did rain about 280 days a year in Valdez. So you have to deal with it, with humor.

My Favorite 80's Tunes

I've changed my music . . . I couldn't listen to Reggae anymore. It was making me cry, wishing I was still in the Bahamas. Now, I may start crying and wishing I was still in the 80's . . .

Back when my hair was big . . . And I could listen to heavy metal without getting a headache (maybe my hair protected my ears?)

Back when my waist was smaller than my bust. And my hips were smaller than my shoulders.

OH, BOO HOO!! I WANT THE 80's BACK!

Scratch that. I just want my figure back.

Which brings up another subject. My friend Jen (of http://www.jensart.com/ ) is now my personal trainer. As if being a full time artist and mother of 4 isn't enough, she leads me in hour long workouts 4 days a week. (2 other friends lead me 2 other days a week.) So, I'm working out 6 days a week and watching my food like a hawk. So if I don't get my body, from the 80's back, I will be a candidate for a tummy tuck. At least, that's what I'll tell Damian.

So, if you want to know why I chose all these songs, read on. If not, go do something more worthwhile with your time. I know I'd probably pick my toe-nails rather than read the rest.

Only You: This is a newer version of Eurasure's song, from the movie Napoleon Dynamite. I didn't know Damian in the 80's, but every time I dreamed of who I'd marry, it was ONLY HIM (and sometimes Troy, to be mentioned later). I dedicate this cheesy song to my true love: The Big Cheese-Meister, The Barry Manilow Cheese-of all Cheeses: Damian. (You might not believe it, but he was the cheesiest guy at BYU . . . someday, I'll scan a note he gave me after a date our freshman year and you'll laugh your head off!)

We Belong: My BFF in the 80's, Emily, had the 45 record to this song and we listened to it. She also had Total Eclipse of the Heart by Bonnie Tyler, but that song is a little LONG. Both are so DRAMATIC and I wish I knew the words so I could sing them REALLY loud in the car and make my kids roll their eyes. It's one of my passions in life. Making them roll their eyes.

When Did Your Heart Go Missing? This song is current. It sounds like an 80's song and I really love it. So don't give me a hard time, you hard-core 80's fanatics. I can do what I want, it's my playlist.

It's Raining Men: This is an 80's remix by some washed up Spice Girl. I first heard it a few years ago at my Jazzercise class. Beca, my instructor and BFF's favorite line was: "I'm gonna rip off the roof and stay in bed!" Mine was, "I'm gonna get absolutely soaking wet." Ha, the silliness of it makes me laugh out loud!

Time After Time: Who doesn't love this song from the 80's? Classic. I also love Crazy for You by Madonna, but didn't include it.

A Little Respect: I really got into Eurasure in college (in the early 90's.) A girl on my floor of the Freshman Dorms had a car and we bought ski passes to Sundance. We had a ski class once a week, but would head up to the mountain a lot to work on our spring tans, flirt with all the ski bums and conquer the moguls. We listened to Eurasure EVERY time in her car, so ALL Eurasure songs reminds me of that spring at BYU.

Friday I'm in Love: I first loved The Cure in college and this is their BEST song. I love it when one of their songs plays during a movie (especially popular during credits, it seems!) because Damian gets all psyched. He only knows the words to songs by The Cure, The Police, Peter Cetera, Duran Duran, Boyz2Men and Prince. He's so cute. And stuck in the 80's music.

Cool Rider: OK, this is really sung by Michelle Pfeiffer (Grease 2). The movie is dumb, but I LOVED this song in 1986 (6th grade) . . . when hot TROY FENNER moved to my neighborhood and would ride up and down the street on his dirt bike (Hence the love of the song about a Cool Rider!) With his hair feathered on the sides, and a way cool mullet, he ROCKED my world.

And I'd sing this song, vacuuming the living room, watching out my windows for him. Mom, did you ever wonder why I liked vacuuming so much? Or why I'd quickly stop vacuuming to run out and sweep the front porch or pull weeds?

Only 10 More Days!

I changed my blog music to get me pumped for my upcoming cruise. Yeah right, I'm already pumped, it's just to make you jealous, ha, ha!! My favorite song is "Angel" by Shaggy. I like the part about "My Peeps (people) and Incarceration" Too funny!

All of Damian's family came over yesterday for dinner and we made vacation plans . . . decided what we want to do, etc. Then we all went in the backyard and they helped us with landscaping ideas. Tonight, for FHE (Family Home Evening, where we sing, pray talk and work together) we're going to try and start a small garden. I'll take some pictures!!

My Music

I added music to my blog and just wanted to comment on my choices.

"Fire and Rain" by James Taylor is my all-time favorite song . . . I've put it on every mix tape I ever made . . . I downloaded it right away onto my itunes account . . . I know all the words by heart. I start dancing around the room, when it plays. I ordered an old favorite movie, "Running on Empty" with River Phoenix, from Blockbuster Online (you can find all sorts of weird 80's movies on there!) I loved watching this one, over and over, back in 1989 with my BFF, Emily. Watching it as an adult wasn't as fun, but when this song played during the movie, I realized when I first fell in love with the song. . .That's a 20 year crush, people. If you can have a crush on a song.

"Short People" by Randy Newman is so funny. My blog inspiration, Kari, put this on her blog and it cracks me up. It's a new favorite. If you listen to the words, like, "They wear platform shoes on their nasty little feet, I don't want no short people round here!" you'll laugh out loud! I think as I "age" I am getting quirky, and liking this song proves it.

"Sweetest Thing" by U2. I have to say, my all-time favorite band is U2. My before-mentioned BFF, Emily, had a VERY hot big brother, Shawn. He had great taste in music, and he looked great in his speedo, on the swim team. Sorry Emily, the truth had to come out. Don't tell your brother. I'll get even more red in the face the next time I see him, if that's even possible. I just realized, it's probably because of him that I joined the swim team and did student council . . . Wow, what an influence he had on me! OK, back to THE MUSIC, I first heard this song as a bootleg, in college, and LOVED it. Later, after I was MARRIED, it came out on an album. I've always loved it because I first heard it, ILLEGALLY!!

"For Good" by Kristin Chenoweth "Glinda" and Idina Menzel "Elphaba" (from the original cast of "Wicked") I saw this on Broadway last Feb. from a front row seat that I won on the daily lottery for $25 (the women behind me paid over $400 for their tickets!). I've never experienced anything quite as moving, as front row seats on BROADWAY, other than childbirth (And I didn't actually like childbirth, even though I kept repeatedly doing it) I wanted to put all the Wicked songs on my blog, but this one is the sweetest. "Defying Gravity" makes me cry and I didn't want to do that to you people. You should only cry during childbirth. And I didn't want those of you that aren't familiar with the Musical to get the wrong idea about me, with the song, "Popular." But it's really my favorite.

"Faithfully" by Journey is my favorite love song. In theory. I love the words, but every time Damian and I chaperone a dance, or go to an adult dance and it plays (because I always request it) I realize I have too short of an attention span to slow dance. And this song is 4:30 long. It is very boring to slow dance that long. Especially after the 3rd minute and all the Whoa, Oooh, Ooohs . . .Poor Damian. I am faithful to him, just not a faithful slow dancer.

"Que Sera Sera" by Doris Day reminds me of my Grandma Goold. She used to sing it to me, and it wasn't until I was in college that I realized it wasn't, "OK Sarah, Sarah" I think my Grandpa Prince sang it too, and my Great-Grandpa Levie . . . I come from a long line of singing fools. Too bad all they passed onto me was the fool part!

"You're Beautiful" by James Blunt reminds me of my France trip. If you know me well, you know I loved that trip for one particular reason. This song was popular on the Euro stations . . . before it was popular in THE STATES. I really love being cool and it doesn't happen often.

OK, so those are my top choices to share with you, but I have a few more up my sleeve, so I may add some at a later date . . .