This One's For Camelot - Let It Be

This One's For Camelot

Today, November 22, 2013 marks 50 years since the assassination of JFK.  I know i wasn't alive when he was president but i still consider him one of my favorites.... well right after my man Abe of course!

All over the news today.... stories and videos, friends and family talk and remember the horrific day when our country mourned for a president.  A president with potential to change the world.  Today, tragedy like that doesn't hit as hard.  With all the shootings and killings, it seems nothing shocks us anymore.  We've almost become used to it!  The sixties were a time filled with rebellion and war but when our president was shot, the US had never experienced a pain like that.

I heard this Beatles song today on my way to work.... creepily fitting i think for today's mood.  The song and lyrics are beautiful.  A song filled with such meaning. 

Our youngest, most handsome president ;), too young to die and yet i can't believe today marks 50 years since it happened. 

Remember today and ask yourself what YOU can do for your country!

~Penny Lane

Hey Sandy Girl!!

 Hey Sandy Girl!

I can honestly say that I can't believe a year has passed since a hurricane rocked our world....literally.
Today, October 29, 2013 marks the 1 year anniversary of Hurricane Sandy hitting the Jersey Shore and our home. 

Since i woke up this morning, all i can seem to think of is how i felt just a mere year ago today.... thinking it would be just like any other storm that's hit us before, not expecting what was really about to happen.  We spent days not really believing or understanding what was probably the worst experience of our lives, just trying to get by. Thinking back to the weeks spent wondering around in a sort of shell shock daze seems like it was just yesterday, oh how far we've come. 

I thought today's song was quite appropriate, since now it will forever remind me of the storm that pretty much changed my life.  Wonder if Bruce ever thought this song would come to mean what it does today to so many people.

                              "Oh Sandy the aurora is risin' behind us
                                The pier lights our carnival life forever
                                Love me tonight for I may never see you again
                                Hey Sandy girl"

Stay Strong
~Penny Lane

On The Cover Of The Rolling Stone

On The Cover Of The Rolling Stone

I was just browsing through my latest copy of Rolling Stone Magazine when i came across a Cameron Crowe article.  Yes, the one and only Cameron Crowe, my writing idol!! The famous journalist who got his start with Rolling Stone Magazine, back in the height of real Rock n' Roll.  Crowe has moved on to bigger/better things, like writing screen plays for some pretty awesome movies...(including my favorite - Almost Famous) but occasionally he comes back to right an article or two.

The article is called "Elton John: My Life in 20 Songs."  I screamed!  Could this be??!! I had recently tried to run through what the soundtrack of my life would be in previous blog posts.  It's exactly the kind of article i could only dream about writing with any legend of Rock.  Elton John goes through and elaborates on his top 20 songs that really meant something to him while emerging as an artist through the span of his career.

To browse through each song and here little snip its of his thoughts while writing them or performing them....just to get a feel on his personal library of musical landmarks.  It was fantastic.  A different take for music journalism.  The song that caught my eye, number 5.  The title track off the album "Madman Across The Water".  Such a beautiful song and one that i listen to and can say, "Yup, that's sooo Elton John."  He goes on to talk about how he considered this album the "end of an era" and how even though the album was not commercial, he felt a special connection to the title track.   

One day, maybe one day I'll write for Rolling Stone!  Maybe not like Dr. Hook says about getting on the cover of the Rolling Stone.... but a little piece in it would be nice right?!?

Keep Your Dreams!
~Penny Lane

One Hell Of A Happy Place Over Here!!!

It's My Happy Time Again!

Attention, Attention!!  It's that time again...my happy time that is.  I know I've mentioned it before, time and time again, but when one of your favorite bands comes out with a new album... It's like Christmas!!!! (Well it's definitely my kinda Christmas!)

Some of the excitement you could say is now somewhat lost.  No more trips to the record store,  no more waiting to get that shiny new album in the palm of your hands.  We all just rush onto itunes to download it as quickly as possible.  I miss the days of getting to rip off that impossible plastic covering, check out the album booklet.... covered front to back with private band photos and all of the lyrics to your new favorite songs.

Yes I'm now subject to the rest of the worlds trend of getting everything yesterday.  I bought the new album on my iTunes the second it came out, put it right on my iPod and have not stopped listening to it since!

Magpie and The Dandelion, the 8th installment from the one and only.... Avett Brothers!  This album is packed full with all those romanticized lyrics I've grown to love from them over the years.  Starting off with "Open Ended Life," full of their classic Bluegrass Rockin' sound is simply amazing.  The song featured above, "Morning Song" is slow and true to that vintage sound of theirs.  The weepy "Apart From Me".... ugh, adorable lyrics - in love with it!  Another realization to the fact that anyone who can play a guitar and sing a song like that to me... yup, I'd probably marry you right on the spot!! Add an Avett Brothers beard and Bam!  This girls dream come true over here!  Banjo playing is also encouraged! HeHe

So many good jams - i still can't choose a favorite.  More investigating needs to be conducted!  So please run to the nearest record store or iTunes store and make yourself happy today!

~Penny Lane

What Does A Rainy Day Call For??

What Does A Rainy Day Call For??

A rainy day in my book calls for The Beatles!!! All day long, on my Pandora, as loud as my office can stand, yup!  I love The Beatles and choosing a song to post for today was quite the challenge,  then I totally remembered my favorite tune on the white album and knew that Rocky Raccoon was it!!!

I mean really... what is better than having The Beatles playing in the background all day while you're slaving away at work?!?! Well yes just like the rest of you I'd rather be in my bed watching movies all day but ya gotta make the best outta the day right? HahaHa.

Such a weird and wonderful song!  I think the awesome rhyming of the lyrics are so damn catchy!
I hope you enjoy this rainy day Beatles jam..... and remember Friday is only a day away!!

~Penny Lane

I Miss You John Lennon!!! Stand By Me - John Lennon

  

I Miss You John Lennon....

 Oh Friday.... sometimes you drag on while I'm here slaving away at work, but then a certain songs appears on my radio and a smile crosses my face!  Then my Friday dosn't seem too bad!

John Lennon's version of Ben E. King's "Stand By Me" is one of my favorites.  The song is pretty great to begin with but John Lennon just has that something that makes it even better!  Maybe it's his signature voice, maybe it's cause he's a beetle, or maybe even because of those trademark shades..... Whatever it is we got to see a true legend in our time, taken away too soon.  Well maybe my parents time, not so much my own... UGH!  More evidence that points to my theory of being born in the wrong decade!!

The lyrics are simple and pleasing, the melody fun and upbeat, the twist that Lennon adds along to it makes me smile.  It's good to have a few songs tucked into your back pocket, the ones ya know are gonna make you smile the minute they come on, no matter where ya are or what you're doing. 
This is one of mine :)

Happy Friday
~Penny Lane

All About The Lyrics - Lorde - Royals

Lyrics, Lyrics, Lyrics

Oh Boy!  Here's another jam i can't seem to get off my repeat.  Every song has a way of "gettin' to ya", hence why every one of us has our favorite songs or certain song addictions.  If a song didn't get to ya somehow then it's just not the song for you.  Either way.... Every song has that special something that speaks to a person and gets in their head, that special something for me was the lyrics... so damn catchy!  I had to learn them all right away, so good and so fun to sing along to!!

The song is called "Royals" and it's sung by Ella Yelich-O'Connor (or Lorde...as what she goes by).  The thing that fascinates me the most.... she's only 16!!! A New Zealand Singer-Songwriter, Lorde has managed to put out an album and have a #1 chart topping hit all at the ripe age of 16.  Damn Girl!

A song about being famous... or wanting to be famous.  It shows what social media and Hollywood say being famous or being royals is all about! She's not a royal and not famous yet her and her friends are just fine being who they are!

If you're like me - you already have this song on repeat and you know exactly what I'm talking about!
SO DAMN CATCHY!

HAPPY MONDAY
~Penny Lane