I'm usually not one for Christmas music, but this year I haven't been able to help myself. Of course that may be because I've discovered some of my favorite classic songs, sung with a modern twist.
Without further ado...
• Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, She & Him • You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch, VersaEmerge • Merry Christmas Darling, Christina Perri • Baby It's Cold Outside, Idina Menzel & Michael Bublé Along with anything by Michael Bublé & Pentatonix!
Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy is by far my favorite, but Mary, Did You Know? & Little Drummer Boy are both close seconds. What are your favorite Christmas songs to listen to?
I have to say that I'm really not a fan of cleaning. Unless I'm in one of those power-cleaning moods, it seems to take me forever to get even half of what I need to done. (of course the three year old "tornado" might have a little bit to do with that too.) But a little music always seems to get me in a cleaning mood.
*My go-to songs are always changing, but these are my current faves.
• Barenaked Ladies: One Week
• Iggy Azalea & Rita Ora: Black Widow
• Iggy Azalea & Charli XCX: Fancy
• Sia: Chandelier
• Taylor Swift: Shake It Off
• Taylor Swift: Blank Space
• Marky Mark & The Funky Bunch: Good Vibrations
• C+C Music Factory: Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)
**Disclaimer:
I have received products to try from Growing Sound & am simply sharing my personal opinion which may vary
from yours. I was not compensated for this review.
October may be Bullying Prevention Month, but really it's something that should have the spotlight all year long. More & more these days, children are being bullied by their peers for the simplest of things. It really makes you wonder how children can be so cruel.
Growing Sound creates award winning music CD's & other resource materials based on the latest research in social-emotional development. They strive to teach kids life skills to prepare children for school & life in general, through fun & interactive songs. Better yet, Growing Sound also works with teachers by conducting training to help implement the positive music into the classroom. After all, it's the impressionable children who pick up on bullying practices, whether it be from their peers or the adults in their lives. I received a CD Sampler which boasts fifteen different songs, one from each Growing Sound album. These albums cover a variety of topics, such as confidence, self-control, belonging, mindfulness & creativity, To say that my kids enjoyed this, is a vast understatement. They love any excuse to dance around & sing, but it was amazing to see just how inspired they became. Like after they listened to "A Pink Polka Dotted Tiger" a million times from the album, Imagination Creativity (songs of creativity). I also received two download cards for the full CD's of "Take Care" & "Everyone Is Someone" by David Kisor, which are specifically dedicated to bully prevention. David Kisor is an accomplished singer, songwriter, composer, performer & teacher. Not to mention the Creative Director for Growing Sound. And all of the songs on both CD's are performed by him & several friends.
"Take Care"
These songs of friendship & social awareness are present in a variety of musical styles & help children develop acceptance, friendship & teamwork. All positive things that can reduce the likelihood of bullying in later stages of childhood.
"Everyone Is Someone"
These songs of social & emotional responsibility are presented in a contemporary, pop/rock musical style & are actually more helpful to parents & teachers. They help the development of acceptance, friendship, teamwork, empathy & responsibility both at home & in the classroom. Again, all positive things that can reduce the likelihood of bullying in later stages of childhood. I have to say that aside from the silly dancing & singing, the songs on these downloaded CD's are amazing. Especially when my son would tell a story about his classmates, but reference one of the songs & tell me what they should've done instead. (proud mama moment right there!) Growing Sound (a 501 non-profit) products are also available on iTunes, CD Baby & through assorted retailers. To schedule or find out more about a Growing Sound Training/Workshop, email growingsound@childreninc.org.
I am obsessed with love Halloween! It's full of spooks, frights & things that go bump in the night. Of course I'm one of those people that decorate, make Halloween themed food, go to haunted houses (when I can get a sitter) & watch as many scary movies as I can. And lets not forget my favorite Halloween songs! (There's just something about listening to Rockwell while you're adjusting your faux cobwebs.)
**Disclaimer: I have received products to try from NEELY & am simply sharing my personal opinion which may vary from yours. I was not compensated for this review.
When the hubs & I first met, our musical tastes were opposite to say the least. He was a country boy & I would rather head bang to screaming rock. Yep, little ol' me was a rocker chick. (Can you believe it?!) But fast forward over a decade, add three kids & our musical tastes have changed a bit. Of course he's still a country boy & I'm still a rocker, but we now have more appreciation for each others musical tastes. Except for the screaming rock, the hubs likes to actually hear words.
Lately, we've both been jamming to NEELY, a husband & wife duo that breaks the genre barriers with their own mix of...well, whatever they feel like at the moment.
"Industry folk have tried to pigeon hole us as Rock, Pop-Rock, Christian and now Country. That's junk! We are NEELY!"
Actually, it's their latest single "Kiss My Grits" that has been playing practically nonstop in my house lately. The hubs loves it (of course), the kids love it & even I love it with it's catchy chorus & rebel attitude.
But I also love "Everything I Am". This song is downright intoxicating how it starts off with the guitar (forgive me if it's a specific kind of guitar - I'm not that musically inclined) & then Kaci subtly cuts in singing.
But what sets Jeremy & Kaci Neely apart from just about every other recording artist out there, is how incredibly down to earth & independent they are! And I can tell you that I know this first hand after having a Q&A with Jeremy Neely himself!
How was it that you & your wife came to working together?
This is an interesting story. Kaci and I were married in 1996. At the time I performed more classic country in any venue I could find in the Salina, KS area (where we lived at the time). It wasn't until I started helping on a Church worship team that I even discovered that Kaci could sing. As I was preparing a few songs I was not confident when Kaci sat down beside me and began harmonizing. This was in 2001. By 2003 a friend and I wrote "Peace Be Still" and I gave Kaci a gentle nudge out front. The rest you can say, is history :)
Where do you find the inspiration for your songs?
All of the songs I've written thus far has some kind of personal, emotional connection. It isn't always our story but it's always something that either hits me deep or I relate to in some intimate way. For instance, I had problems with addictions. One day I hear this young lady speaking on her struggles with cutting and how her emotional\self esteem problems drove her addiction to self hurt. That hit pretty close to home and from that moment the song "I'm Alive" just flowed out of me. I could tell you an intimate story like that about every song I've written.
How do you set yourself apart from other musicians?
Honesty. I know that might sound like a simple answer but when you really begin to dig it is huge! In today's music industry not many artists are as good or better than their CD\recording. Even some of these YouTube sensations who make you think they are doing live videos of songs are really pre recording, mixing, auto tuning, mastering, etc before they play it back and lip sync to it. Everyone uses auto tune, it saves on studio time and on vocal wear and tear. However, some people take it over board and correct vocal pitch for artists that can't hear\control their pitch. We take this on step further, we mostly travel as an acoustic troupe so that people know that they are getting the real deal. This also allows us to share the stories\inspiration for the songs so our audience can connect not only with our music but with us. For us it is all about honesty and relationship. Which brings up another point: we are becoming more comfortable being who we are honestly. So many artists out there are trying to fit a genre and dress with the trends and sound like such and such to obtain fame and fortune. This is why you'll hear a ballad like "Complete", a rocker like "Move", and now our country rock (aka southern rock) single "Kiss My Grits". My playlist is not confined to one specific genre...it's not who I am, so why should the music that flows from me be? If it's great music, who cares?
How do you balance a working relationship while being married to each other?
From 1998 to 2010 I worked in the corporate world as a Network Engineer (fancy term for a computer geek). I can honestly say what Kaci and I have now is easier than "the old life". Now I'm with Kaci and our 4 daughters nearly 24/7. In the past I was separated from them 10+ hours a day and it was like our family was going in 6 different directions. To be far though, it was tough starting out full time in 2010. It's not just the adjustment of a new town every day and being away from home but finding your place\role in this thing. After four years we've all found those roles and when we tour across the country people are in awe of how efficiently we operate. To top it all off, each of us feel blessed that we get to spend so much time with the love of our life.
When are you coming to Canton, OH?!
Anytime! Most people have this perception that we are some kind of big time music group that is too big for their britches. The honest to goodness is: we are down to earth folks who are trying to make a living like everyone else. What you see on American Idol is not reality for 95% of artists out there making a living. We will actually come and play a concert in your living room! Yep, we do that. Hosts will get anywhere from 10 - 50 friends together who will each chip in anywhere from $10 - $20 a piece and we will do an intimate, story telling concert right in your home. Now granted, we mostly work through an organization calledconcertsinyourhome.combut there are times we work outside of that organization (a lot of communication and homework for safety reasons). Other than that we play coffee houses, listening room, Churches...anywhere we can take our family :)
See, down to earth REAL people, making REAL music! Which, honestly, makes NEELY that much better! (I'm a total fan, can you tell?)
One lucky winner will receive a Kiss My Grits T-Shirt & CD pack (includes the Kiss My Grits CD, Everything I Am CD, and Colorblind - an acoustic CD).
And a second lucky winner will receive a CD pack.
The
giveaway will conclude on at 12:00 a.m. est on Tuesday 5/13/14. Winners
will be announced via rafflecopter & in a separate blog post which
will be published no later than 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday 5/13/14. Winners will
also be notified via email & announced on the Smith and Blessings facebook page. Winners
will have 48 hours to submit shipping information, which will then be
passed on to Neely Music for distribution of product. If 48 hours has
lapsed, a new winner will be picked & then will also have 48 hours
to submit their information. Smith and Blessings is not responsible for prize shipment. *Giveaway open to U.S. residents only.
