Tag: music

music musings

who is fancy?

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Remember this song?

Well, I, for one, was kind of obsessed with it, and well, who Fancy was; I mean, this person can sing! Not long after it was released, he was revealed on Late Night with Jimmy Fallow, singing the song live, and it turns out, he is a queer artist, named Jake “Fancy” Hagood.

Interestingly enough, I recognized him in the crowd at a Troye Sivan concert a few years ago, and went over to talk with him. He was super sweet, and I asked him about upcoming music (because I loved Goodbye, as well as his song he did with Meghan Trainor and Ariana Grande, Boys Like You), and he said he was working on it (queue excitement!). After several years of waiting, and a few (amazing) single releases here and there, he announced that he was releasing his long awaited debut album, Southern Curiosity. Well, since it came out last month, I have been listening to it on repeat, and I can say that Fancy has released arguably one of the strongest albums of the year thus far.

Check it out:

You know how they say good things come to those that wait? Well, it was a long while, but Fancy has really delivered on his soulful and heartfelt debut. This album should be soaring up the charts, but sadly, it is probably being overlooked by a lot of people just due to lack of exposure. Well, that’s one reason for this post; give it a listen! You won’t be sorry. I love supporting queer artists, being queer myself, but that’s not the only reason to give him a listen; he is the real deal, and is super talented, which is reflected on this flawless debut.

Now… for a vinyl release; that would be the cherry on top! This one is DEFINITELY going to be in my top albums of the year for 2021!!

Stand out tracks: The Answer, Good Man, Forest, Love Again, Either, Southern Curiosity.

the catch-all-egory

favorite albums of 2020

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So, I have really been neglecting this blog, but really, I don’t have any excuses. Life is pretty crazy, and times aren’t like they were, BUT! Work is good, albeit sometimes stressful, and takes up a lot of my time. Life is good, but can also be stressful, and takes up the rest of my time.

That being said, I wanted to share some of my favorite albums from this year, as there were quite a few stellar albums released (I also included the songs from the cancelled Eurovision this year; there were some AMAZING entries, and it is sadly, another thing that covid-19 ruined). Here’s a playlist for you; play them in order or mix is up, it’s up to you! I know 2020 has been a crazy year for everyone, so here’s hoping next year is a little less traumatic!

(Note: The playlist is a lot longer than it appears… make sure you check out the full one on Spotify!)

I might make a playlist of my favorite songs, and if so, I will plan on another, rare post! Til then (hopefully)!!

Happy holidays, and happy new year everybody!

music musings, music suggestion

something something music

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So I clearly don’t use this blog very often.

Does anyone still read or care? Who knows…

Regardless, I work a lot, and am distracted by life, which seems to go by faster each day. I still enjoy listening to music, and have been recently listening to stuff from the past, and find myself enjoying things that I probably didn’t like, or didn’t really get into before. Sometimes, you just want a bunch of feel-good stuff, and hits from the past can definitely deliver that, when needed.

As it goes, I have been compiling a playlist of a bunch of hits from all genres and decades, and have had a lot of fun both making the list, and listening to it. As such I thought, why not share it? I have also shifted dramatically to using Spotify almost exclusively for music, other than my physical LP records and record player, so that’s where the playlist lives. Check it out, and I hope you have fun listening as well! Pro-tip: I shuffle when I listen, so it keeps it fresh!

all about me, healthcare, near and dear, nursing, venting

it’s the little things that kill

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On Bush’s Little Things, which hails from their debut album Sixteen Stone (which came out when I was in high school… many mooons ago!), Gavin Rossdale sings, “it’s the little things that kill, tearing at my brain[s] again”. Sometimes, I feel like that song lyric really applies to me, because I do just that more often than I would like; I tend to let the little things get to me, and tear at my brain, bringing me down.

I think I am a pretty easy-going person for the most part, but there are a lot of times when it’s the little things that kill, and get me worked up, and it’s hard to come back down. This occus in more aspects of my life than I would like, but I’ve always been like this, for as long as I can recall.

Today, on my mind, I specifically refer to work for instance; when I am seeing a patient who has (from my perspective) a lack of a discernible stake in their own health care, it really bothers me. It always did when I was a nurse, and it continues to do so now that I am a nurse practitioner. It frustrates me when patients with serious medical conditions have a seemingly lackadaisical attitude about compliance and management of their illness. Sure, I get it, life happens, and I get that you are “busy and cannot come in so often”, but you have a serious chronic condition that if left unchecked, can literally be the death of you. Surely that responsibility is impressed upon most, right? I like to think that it is, but there are many patients that don’t seem bothered by the fact that they ran out of medication weeks ago, and never thought to call the office and see if we could help them in any way. Perhaps it is, in some part, a coping mechanism, fear, or simply ignorance, but when it is a patient that I have seen multiple times, it really tears at my brain how they just don’t seem to have a care in the world, and this “little thing” doesn’t seem like anything important to them. Then, when I am seeing them for their appointment, I get frustrated, and start lecturing them about possible side effects, complications, and all of that, and they just look at me like I’m being mean to them. Then, I get more frustrated. I get that old adage of you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink; but that means being really angry at the horse sometimes.

I know it is my job to educate, and I have learned in the past year of providing care for multiple patients daily, that I will, and continue to, encounter tons of patients that have real medical issues that they don’t want to, or refuse to take ownership of, and deal with, but it really bugs me, because I sincerely want the best for every patient I care for, and their lack of ownership and action on their own behalf stands in the way of that many, many times.

It continues to frustrate me, and while these are little things, and should be more of slight annoyances and things I should just let go, sometimes, I really brings me down, and can make my day less than a happy one. I hope that through my career I learn how to better walk the line between over-caring and complete ambivalence, because the gray area between the two can make even the most compassionate and patient person very frustrated to say the least. Anyone else work in health care feel this same way? I’d be surprised if I’m the only one, because this job can be very trying at times.

Here’s to going forward and trying to not let the little things kill; and hopefully not ruin my day, either.

concerts, music musings

smashing pumpkins; a revived interest

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So after last week’s random check-in blog post, I feel like I have been somewhat reconnected, so to speak, and kind of want to keep the momentum going, if possible. I do think that a large part of that, interestingly, was due to seeing Smashing Pumpkins last weekend in Duluth. It was the Shiny and Oh So Bright tour, which was touted as an almost-greatest hits tour, where they got (most) of the original band back together, and played only stuff from their first 5 albums, spanning from Gish through Machina/The Machines of God.

I had read that ticket sales were lackluster for the tour, but teenage me wanted to go for nostalgia’s sake, and I am so glad that I did; the night was fantastic, and they played hit after hit and fantastic deep album cuts (including my favorite song from Siamese Dream!) for a solid 3 hours! Any fan of their work during that time would have had a blast; which is exactly what I did. All in all, I am so glad that I went, because the concert was amazing; and as I said, teenage me would have been super pumped about that experience, and would have been really happy that I decided to go. Sound-wise, they sounded amazing, and considering that a lot of that material is between 18-27 years old (!!!), it was impressive that the magic was, and is still there.

What I didn’t really expect, however, was that the nostalgia effect turned into a renewed interest and exploration of their newer work, which I honestly overlooked prior to now; which includes pretty much anything after Mellon Collie, other than a few singles here and there. For whatever reason, I kind of snoozed on the band after Mellon Collie; perhaps like most other fans of the hardcore alternative style they flexed prior to Adore, due to the large departure of that album. That being said, listening to it now, I don’t see why I didn’t like it more at the time; it, and their other albums, are all quite good, and are through-and-through Smashing Pumpkins at the core. I do have to venture a guess that part of the blame comes from this coming around a time of much change in my life; I was in college, and a lot was going on with me, and my music tastes were changing wildly at the time. Looking, and listening back, I can hear that most of their work has been pretty consistent (albeit different and evolving), and quite good since their inception, and this time I am spending listening to the “older stuff” has been fun, because I have been reconnecting with a band that I have always loved for as long as I remember liking music.

I do know that some of my issues with the band were based on line up changes, and drug use (which lead to the death of one of the touring members at one time), which can explain why I overlooked some of their work, but that is definitely in the past now. I do remember really liking Zeitgeist when it came out, so it is clear that I have always been willing to give them and their newer work a chance, but I just hadn’t connected like the way I have this past week following that show. I have always held Siamese Dream to such an unattainable standard, that it is no wonder that I have felt so lukewarm about their other albums; which is a shame, because I have been the cause of myself missing out on some pretty awesome music. Additionally, it goes to show that a good concert can really sell a band, past, present, and hopefully future. I have been getting some of the older stuff on vinyl, and I would like to see a release of Machina/The Machines of God (and it’s follow up), as well as Zeitgeist on vinyl as well, because as much of a fan as I was before, I am even more so now. Now, to get the vinyl that is available, and complete my album collection!

music musings, music suggestion, you tube

artist watch: Tom Walker

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Dang! I love this! This guy has a beautiful voice, smooth sound, and he is pretty easy on the eyes. Apparently he has an EP out, Blessings, on iTunes, which is giving me a flavor of Jack Garrett, mixed with a little Rag’n’Bone Man, and some Alex Clare thrown in for good measure; sadly this song is not on the EP. Certainly one to watch; the talent here is major! Can’t wait for a proper full length release from this guy!

music musings, music suggestion, song of the day, you tube

sotd: HAIM – Want You Back

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Good lord I love these three sisters. They are crazy-talented, and I have been eagerly awaiting a follow up album to their flawless debut, Days Are Gone (which came out four years ago!!!). I saw them on tour, and their talent is palpable; the concert was amazing. Now, this is their first single (?) from their upcoming album, which is due in July 17, 2017. Needless to say, I am waiting with bated breath for this one, as if this is any indicator of the upcoming release, these girls are unstoppable!!

near and dear, song of the day, you tube

sotd: Kelly Clarkson – Piece by Piece (Idol version)

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Sometimes, the emotion of a song is so palpable, that even the artist singing it gets choked up. This song from her most recent album of the same title, is beautiful, and certainly one of my favorite from the album, but this performance is just, wow. And she released a new version of it, much more stripped like this performance, and it is heartbreakingly beautiful. I love artists that are this talented, and still in touch with their journey and themselves. Kelly Clarkson is truly a music idol, not just the first American one.

music musings, music suggestion, song of the day, that is so gay, you tube

sotd: Troye Sivan – Wild

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Not often do I stumble on a new artist that completely takes me by storm, and I become instantly, obsessively, incessantly transfixed on their voice, their music, and need to hear everything I can get my hands on by them. Well, that’s exactly what happened when my buddy Jamie told me to listen to Troye Sivan. Sivan is a 20 year old, out, Australian actor, singer/songwriter who’s song Wild, which has a beautiful, hauntingly touching video, has me completely obsessed, and after hearing his two EPs, TRXYE and Wild, has me incredibly hungry to hear more from this incredibly talented young singer.