Valentines

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone! I've made a mix every year since 2004, but have lost all the song lists older than 2011. But... here is this year's mix and I've included the last two as well. All tracks can be found on Spotify. Enjoy!

Valentine's Mix 2013

1. Sunday Kind of Love - Etta James
2. Too Busy Thinking About My Baby - Marvin Gaye
3. Something In The Way You Are - Kimbra
4. This - Ed Sheeran
5. I Won't Give Up - Jason Mraz
6. It's Alive - A Fine Frenzy
7. Baby, I Love You - Aretha Franklin
8. Paris Nights / New York Mornings - Corinne Bailey Rae
9. Young Blood - Birdy
10. A Rockin' Good Way (To Mess Around) - Dinah Washington, Brook Benton, Belford Hendricks
11. Sweet Lover - Aretha Franklin
12. The Walk - Mayer Hawthorne
13. Two Way Street - Kimbra
14. Now Is The Start - A Fine Frenzy
15. Lego House - Ed Sheeran

Valentine's Mix 2012

1. Saw You First - Givers
2. Laundry Room - The Avett Brothers
3. Closer Than Yesterday - Renaissance
4. Desire - Ryan Adams
5. Roses and Wine - Diego Garcia
6. Sea of Love - Cat Power
7. We Found Love - Boyce Avenue
8. You're The One That I Want - Angus & Julia Stone
9. My Funny Valentine - Over The Rhine
10. Poison & Wine - The Civil Wars
11. If There Was No You - Brandi Carlile
12. Nothin' On You / My Love / Rocketeer - Boyce Avenue
13. Northern Wind - City and Colour
14. Tomorrow - Ryan Adams
15. Home - Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros

Valentine's Mix 2011

1. I Don't Know - Lisa Hannigan
2. Lay Me Down - The Frames
3. Twice Today - Pearl and the Beard
4. The Curse - Josh Ritter
5. We Still Bleed - Val Emmich
6. Part One - Band of Horses
7. My Little Girl - Jack Johnson
8. Sideways - Citizen Cope
9. Runaway - The National
10. Waiting - Norah Jones
11. Lost in Singapore - Pearl and the Beard
12. Lille - Lisa Hannigan
13. See How Man Was Made - Josh Ritter
14. Between Two Lungs - Florence + The Machine
15. Mistakes - Pearl and the Beard
16. Your Face - The Frames
17. Aaj Mausam Bada Beimann Hai (Today The Weather Plays Tricks On Me) - Mohammed Rafi

Electric Lotus - A Great Blend of East and West

One of my new favorites! Read up on it and listen!

http://www.ink19.com/issues/july2002/musicReviews/musicD/djBabaG.html

How Do I Begin To Count The Ways I Love These Boys?

I Will Sing

"I will sing for the meek
For those who pray with their very lives for peace
Though they're in chains for a higher call
Their mourning will change into laughter when the nations fall

In spirit poor
In mercy rich
They hunger for Your righteousness
Their hearts refined into purity
Lord let me shine for them
Lord let me sing
Lord let me shine for them
Lord let me sing"

Sometimes I wonder how I ended up over here. But then I hear this song and remember my mom singing it at the top of her lungs along with Rich Mullins' voice coming through the stereo on any given day of my childhood. I am realizing more and more how much my parents shaped who I am and how I've carried on and out their values and beliefs. Listen to the song by clicking on the link below. It's beautiful. And remember to lift up your brothers and sisters around the world.

http://www.rhapsody.com/rich-mullins/never-picture-perfect/i-will-sing/lyrics.html

My Awesome Playlist From Last Year That I Just Rediscovered... I Promise It Won't Disappoint!

1. Meditation From "Thais" (Featuring Lang Lang) - Lucia Micarelli
2. La Valse D'Amelie (piano version) - Amelie Soundtrack
3. Tryin' To Throw Your Arms Around The World - U2
4. Come Away With Me - Norah Jones
5. Sur Le Fil - Amelie
6. Blood On Our Hands - Aqualung
7. At Last - Etta James
8. Ever the Same - Rob Thomas
9. Unchained Melody - Righteous Brothers
10. Let It Die - Feist
11. You Can Have It All - Yo La Tengo
12. Baby That's Not All - Josh Ritter
13. Save The Last Dance For Me - Harry Nilsson & John Lennon
14. You're Beautiful - James Blunt
15. Our Love is Here to Stay - Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong
16. You Don't Know Me - Jann Arden
17. Comtine D'un Autre Ete: L'apres Midi - Amelie Soundtrack
18. Under My Skin - Frank Sinatra
19. Love Is In The Air - John Paul Young
20. Tears Are In Your Eyes - Yo La Tengo
21. Come Fly With Me - Michael Buble
22. Questions - Jack Johnson
23. Samson - Regina Spektor
24. The Way You Look Tonight - Tony Bennett
25. Loving You - Elvis Presley
26. Le Moulin - Amelie Sountrack
27. Please Forgive Me - David Gray

Check Out My Friend Eugene!

My friend Eugene just cut his first EP! It's really awesome! Check his stuff out at http://www.myspace.com/eugeneleesings or http://cdbaby.com/cd/eugenelee.

The World United By Street Music - I Wouldn't Complain

This made my heart really happy. I've always loved this song and appreciated street musicians. "If this video doesn't bring a tear to your eyes and makes you smile for the rest of the day, you are a cold hearted bastard."

http://gizmodo.com/5231112/best-video-ive-seen-today-will-make-you-smile

Martyrs and Thieves

There's a place in the darkness that I used to cling to
That presses harsh hope against time.
In the absence of martyrs there's a presence of thieves
Who only want to rob you blind.
They steal away any sense of peace.
Tho' I'm a king I'm a king on my knees.
And I know they are wrong when they say I am strong
As the darkness covers me.

So turn on the light and reveal all the glory.
I am not afraid.
To bear all my weakness, knowing in meekness,
I have a kingdom to gain.
Where there is peace and love in the light
In the light, I am not afraid
To let your light shine bright in my life, in my life

There are ghosts from my past who've owned more of my soul
Than I thought I had given away.
They linger in closets and under my bed
And in pictures less proudly displayed.
A great fool in my life I have been
Have squandered 'til pallid and thin.
Hung my head in shame and refused to take blame
For the darkness I know I've let win.

So turn on the light and reveal all the glory.
I am not afraid
To bear all my weakness, knowing in meekness,
I have a kingdom to gain.
Where there is peace and love in the light
In the light , I am not afraid
To let your light shine bright in my life, in my life

Can you hear me?
Can you hear me?

I've never been much for the bearing of soul
In the presence of any man.
I'd rather keep to myself all safe and secure
In the arms of a sinner I am.
Could it be that my worth should depend
By the crimson stained grace on a hand?
And like a lamp on a hill Lord I pray in your will
To reveal all of you that I can.

So turn on the light and reveal all the glory.
I am not afraid.
To bear all my weakness, knowing in meekness,
I have a kingdom to gain.
Where there is peace and love in the light
In the light , I am not afraid
To let your light shine bright in my life, in my life

There's a place in the darkness that I used to cling to
That presses harsh hope against time.
- Jennifer Knapp

There's Nothing You Have That I Need

"16th of June, nine 0 five, door bell rings
Man at the door says if I want to stay alive a bit longer
There's a few things I need you to know. Three
Coming from a long line of traveling sales people on my mother's side
I wasn't gonna buy just anyone's cockatoo
So why would I invite a complete stranger into my home
Would you?
These days are better than that
These days are better than that
Every day I die again, and again I'm reborn
Every day I have to find the courage
To walk out into the street
With arms out
Got a love you can't defeat
Neither down or out
There's nothing you have that I need
I can breathe
Breathe now
16th of June, Chinese stocks are going up
And I'm coming down with some new Asian virus
Ju Ju man, Ju Ju man
Doc says you're fine, or dying
Please
Nine 0 nine, St John Divine, on the line, my pulse is fine
But I'm running down the road like loose electricity
While the band in my head plays a striptease
The roar that lies on the other side of silence
The forest fire that is fear so deny it
Walk out into the street
Sing your heart out
The people we meet
Will not be drowned out
There's nothing you have that I need
I can breathe
Breathe now
Yeah, yeah
We are people borne of sound
The songs are in our eyes
Gonna wear them like a crown
Walk out, into the sunburst street
Sing your heart out, sing my heart out
I've found grace inside a sound
I found grace, it's all that I found
And I can breathe
Breathe now"
- Breathe, by U2 (Thank you for this song, Bono!)

Keeper Of The Door, by Twila Paris

"The One who was no less than God
Took on the flesh on lowly man
And came to wash the feet of clay
Because it was your holy plan

And I, no greater than my King
Would ever seek a place
Of humble service in Your house
To gaze into the light that is Your face

Oh, let me be a servant, a keeper of the door
My heart is only longing to see forever more
The glory of your presence, the dwelling of the Lord
Oh, let me be a servant, a keeper of the door"

Banjo Pickin' Girl, by Abigail Washburn and The Sparrow Quartet

(Just gotta learn to play the banjo and go to Cuba and this song is mine ;-)

"Goin' around this world baby mine
Goin' around this world baby mine
Goin' around this world, I'm a banjo pickin' girl
I'm goin' around this world baby mine

Goin' to Tennessee baby mine
Goin' to Tennessee baby mine
Goin' to Tennessee don't you try and follow me
Goin' to Tennessee baby mine

Goin' around this world baby mine
Goin' around this world baby mine
Goin' around this world, I'm a banjo pickin' girl
I'm goin' around this world baby mine

Goin' to Chattanooga baby mine
Goin' to Chattanooga baby mine
Goin' to Chattanooga and from there on to Cuba
Goin' to Chattanooga baby mine

Goin' to North Carolina baby mine
Goin' to North Carolina baby mine
Goin' to North Carolina and from there off to China
I'm goin' off to China baby mine

I'm goin' across the ocean baby mine
I'm goin' across the ocean baby mine
I'm goin' across the ocean no, now don't you change my notion
I'm goin' across the ocean baby mine"