How to:

Make your car look like this:

Step 1: Drive in the rain on a windy day

Step 2: Park car beneath a flowering tree

Step 3: Leave wet car beneath flowering tree while the wind blows and the rain falls

Step 4: Drive home

Step 5: Park car in garage to dry overnight



Do all that and you're sure to end up with this!

Soundtrack Saturday

Boy, do I have a treat for you all this week!

This is the theme from Black Beauty by Danny Elfman.

This incredible score won me over from the first time I heard it while watching the movie and it continues to entrance me with it's light, mysterious, beginning and lilting, dreamlike melody.

The whole score is full of emotion and is simply gorgeous.

This was the best video I could find, but it cuts off early at the end. My apologies. At least it's in the correct key...

What's In My Head Wednesday

I've had a bunch of great songs in my head lately, haven't I? Instead of making it a daily thing, I've decided to share a song or two that have been in my head every week. That way I won't overload you all with awesome music.

So for this week...



I don't remember where I heard this song, but it immediately captured me. It's so meaningful. It's been stuck in my head almost all day.





Ah, but then this song popped into my head.

What's In My Head Today?

What's been in your head?

I Love...

These songs!


They've been in my head all day. Possibly all week. That may be due to the fact that they've been playing on the radio nonstop.

Soundtrack Saturday

This week's selection is the theme from Finding Nemo by Thomas Newman.

I love how lush and watery this is.

Listen closely. Close your eyes. What do you picture? Can you see the deep blue of the water, the sun's rays penetrating the water's surface? Can you hear the waves? Feel the current?

I sure can. That's why I love this. Music that paints a picture in my mind is the best type.

I don't own Finding Nemo yet (it's been on my iTunes wishlist for a long time) and I'll definitely have to get my hands on this soundtrack. When I do I'll be sure to post a review!

What do you think?

I've Been Tagged!

The Director tagged me... Again.

Let's see what I must do this time...

"List 10 artists you love, in no particular order {before looking at the questions below}."

All right, sounds simple enough.

1. Matt Maher
2. James Newton Howard
3. Lecrae
4. The Afters
5. Third Day
6. Kristian Stanfill
7. Chris Tomlin
8. Hans Zimmer
9. Jeremy Camp
10. MercyMe 

Then I...

Answer some questions. Looks pretty harmless, right?




What was the first song you ever heard by 6? 

Day After Day (I love that song! If you haven't heard it, go listen to it! Now!) 


What is your favorite song of 8?

Drink Up Me Hearties Yo Ho!


What kind of impact has 1 left on your life?  

His lyrics are so meaningful, they really make one think. I hope that counts as an impact.


What is your favorite lyric of 5s? 

Ooh, this is a hard one! Probably the first verse of Born Again:

Today I found myself
After searching all these years
And the man that I saw, he wasn’t at all who I thought he’d be
I was lost when you found me here
And I was broken beyond repair
Then you came along and you sang your song over me 


How many times have you seen 4 live?

Once (earlier this month, in fact). It was epic! Especially Light Up the Sky!  


What is your favorite song of 7? 

Umm... I can't decide between I Will Follow and I Will Rise. They're both really cool and for different reasons. I Will Follow is just downright catchy, but I Will Rise is just downright beautiful. I think I'll go with the latter for now. But I also really like Our God is Greater. (Oh, why did I have to put Chris Tomlin for #7?)


Is there any song of 3 that makes you sad? 

Umm... Not really, except Just Like You is pretty heavy, but I wouldn't say it's sad...


What is your favorite song by 9?

This Man! That's a no brainer (but only because of the story behind it... *glares at The Director*


How did you first get into 2? 

The Director, of course! I don't remember how exactly. Ah, yes! I had heard of him before, but it wasn't until this last summer when I heard the score for Treasure Planet that I really started listening to Howard's work. He's brilliant and I have learned so much just from listening.


How did you first get into 3?

It's all The Director's fault again! 


What is your favorite song by 4? 

*Scrolls back up for the zillionth time to see what 4 is* Ah. Light Up the Sky, of course!



How many times have you seen 9 live? 

None... But how I would love to!


What is a good memory concerning 10? 

(Oh great.) Umm... Well... It's a long story, but it has to do with Speech class and the school library... *headdesk* (Why number 10, why?)


Is there a song by 8 that makes you sad? 

Let's see... Nope, not really.


What is your fave song of 1's? 

That's one of the toughest questions I've ever been asked. Can I just throw a few out there? Christ is Risen is one of my favorites to listen to before bed, but I have a sweet association with Hold Us Together, but No Greater Love is just so catchy... But so is Your Grace is Enough, and As It Is In Heaven has a cool piano part. Did that answer the question? (And if you haven't heard any of these songs, go do that!)


How did you become a fan of 10?

Well, I knew about them and thought they were catchy and all, but I really became what one would describe as a "fan" during or after the happening in Speech class.



Great. That was all of the questions, it looks like. Now for the tagging part:

I tag...


Rebekah at Sidetracked Studies (Yes, dear. This means it's finally time to wipe away all those cobwebs gathering on your blog)

Jamie Joyce at Through Two Blue Eyes (Cuz I can!)

 

I got a new new computer!!!

I know, I know, I was excited about a new computer just a few days ago. Well, that computer is history!

That's right...

HISTORY!!!


KA-BOOM!!!


And now I have a new new one. I've never had a new new computer. They've always been old hand-me-downs from my dad and such.

But not this time, folks!

Just a couple of hours ago we went to the Apple store and I got my very own, super cool, (super expensive) MacBook Pro. And it's all mine!


Now I just need a spiffy name for it.

I'll post pictures at some point, you know, when we get it all up and running.

But for now, I am one happy camper composer!

Soundtrack Review: Flyboys

I'm not quite sure how I happened upon this soundtrack, but I'm very glad I did. Full of heroic fanfare and hopeful melodies, the soundtrack for Flyboys by Trevor Rabin is well worth listening to.

The score is quite different from his other works which include Batman, Armageddon, and National Treasure, which are noticeably heavier. Flyboys, on the other hand, is beautifully light.


What really caught my attention was the way Rabin presented the main theme differently. Almost every time it was used, it was played by a different combination of instruments. As you probably know, I dislike the overuse of themes and by using such a combination of sounds, Rabin was able to hold my interest throughout the entire soundtrack, not just the first few tracks.

I also noticed his sparse use of drums. When he did use drums, and he usually used snare, it was only when it was extremely necessary. He made me want to listen harder so that I wouldn't miss them.


I already shared the Main Title to you, so here are some of my other favorites. Listen closely for the different ways he presents the theme.





The first time I listened to this one, I didn't think I'd like it when it got all "battle-y" but it resolved and became one of my favorites. Really, it's hard not to like it because it's so exciting. But don't just pay attention to that! listen to all the different ways the theme is used! It's used in major, in minor, with low horn, with high strings, you name it! That's what makes this an especially noteworthy piece.





This is an ineresting one. Having not seen the movie, I can only imagine what's going on. The way the music swelled or dropped, went major or minor, helped me picture what could be happening. Again, but I didn't need to mention it, the theme creeps in there.



I'll admit, the first time I listened to the whole soundtrack, i thought the theme was used way too much. But over time, I've come to appreciate the different ways it was played. It has taught me so many useful things that I can apply to my own compositions. Flyboys is a brilliant soundtrack, and I hope you'll check it out.

Getting Organized

Remember a few days ago when I told you about my sudden impulse to organize my books? Well, it actually happened!

*insert applause*

Earlier today, my mom and I went to the Container Store and purchased three of these:

They stack on top of one another! Isn't that nice?

Here is what I did with them. I'm very happy with the result.

See the pretty labels I made?

I trimmed colored index cards to the size I wanted, labeled with markers, hole punched,  and simply tied them on.


On a side note, did I mention I got a unicycle? Well, I did. It's bright red! And I can even ride it! At least, yesterday I could. It's too rainy to ride it today. Even if it wasn't raining, I'm probably too sore to ride it anyway. Oh well... That's Oregon for you.


What have you been up to of late?