I need to stop listening to Flogging Molly.

‘Cause I’m feeling rather fragile and far from home and honest to God, Black Friday Rule just rolled up on the iPod, hit next QUICKLY now, because that song is all about leaving home and being depressed…

 …oh dear Lord, next up is Elliot Smith. What is this, the Playlist for Enhanced Moping?

Hanyoldway, I’m wearing my grandfather’s ring on a chain around my neck, and I’m declaring today to be Blogfeeds Amnesty Day. I’m going to go read The Wizard of Oz instead.

See you guys when I’m feeling stronger.

 But before I leave, a little Flogging Molly lyrics for you all:

Terrified of the open road
Yeah, where it leads ya never know.
But rest assured he`ll be on you back,
Yeah, the Holy Ghost through his tounges in black.
As the band dog howls, and the young girl cries,
The blessed virgin in her proud dad`s eye.
The albatross hangin’ round your neck
Is the cross you bear, for your sins he bleeds.
Rebels are we, though heavy our hearts shall always be.
Ah, no ball or chain, no prison shall keep,
We`re the Rebels of the Sacred Heart.
I said no ball or chain, no prison shall keep
We`re the Rebels of the Sacred Heart.

Meme Time!

Padre Mickey tagged me for a music meme. I think because he knows I have my new, shiny iPod here at work.

Advent and Christmas Songs I F’n Love

UPDATE 12/6/07 – Who knew a post about Advent and Christmas songs would be a top Google hit? Not me! So for those of you looking for, you know, the WORDS to these songs, try the 1982 Episcopal Church Hymnal. Also please to be seeing companion post Advent and Christmas Songs I F’n Hate

This list is going to be rather larger.

• God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen: It says it all in the first verse. No, really, I mean it says it all in the first verse—

God rest ye merry, gentlemen,
Let nothing you dismay,
For Jesus Christ, our Saviour,
Was born upon this day
To save us all from Satan’s power
When we were gone astray.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
comfort and joy;
O tidings of comfort and joy!

• On Jordan’s Bank the Baptist’s Cry: It’s pretty. What? I need a better reason?
• Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus: It has the same trouble with tied notes as The First Noel but doesn’t succumb to the dragging as much. *shrug*
• It Came Upon the Midnight Clear: Bing Crosby, imo, did the best version of this.
• On This Day, Earth Shall Ring: I will ‘fess up, I love this song for the ‘i-de-oooo!” part in the refrain.
• Good Christian Men, Rejoice: You cannot slack on this one. You have to sing it like you believe it. And even if you’re not feeling it, there’s no way you can sing this song without believing, just for a few minutes.
• Go! Tell it on the Mountain!: I know, I know, that’s not how it’s punctuated in the hymnal. BUT THAT’S HOW IT SHOULD BE PUNCTUATED!
• Joy to the World! The Lord is Come: Hah! That IS how it’s punctuated in the hymnal. Also, a descant that’s easily accesible to all voices. YAY! INCLUSIVE DESCANT!

Advent and Christmas Songs I F’n Hate

UPDATE 12/6/07 – Who knew a post about Advent and Christmas songs would be a top Google hit? Not me! So for those of you looking for, you know, the WORDS to these songs, try the 1982 Episcopal Church Hymnal. Also please to be seeing companion post Advent and Christmas Songs I F’n Love

Just for the record:

• Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming: I hate this song with the passion of a thousand firey suns. It sucks so hard that the gravitational pull of the earth increases by a significant fraction at the locus of the congregation that is singing it.
• The First Noel: This song has never, no never, no never been sung properly in a group of more than two people. It’s those stupid tied note slides, is what it is. You want to drag those puppies out and the song has to keep a fairly brisk pace to sound right.
• Lo, He Comes With Clouds Descending: Oooh, icky. I hate the melody. I hate anything that throws you unsuspecting into the stratosphere, though, because I feel it shifts my voice into somethng that’s not pretty (although all my choir directors feel otherwise).
• Love Came Down at Christmas:    :P. And you can quote me on that. It’s like Hallmark bribed the 1982 editors.
• Away in a Manger: I’d rather have dental surgery without anaesthetic than sing this song. It’s glurge-ariffic and espouses being a good little kidlet for your mommy and daddy and not whining and doing as you’re told NO MATTER WHAT and that makes me want to puke.
• Once in David’s Royal City: No, thank you. I’d rather sing Away in a Manger.
• In the Bleak Midwinter: Dude. I grew up in CALIFORNIA. I don’t know from frosty winds. Well, I didn’t until I moved to Oregon. BUT ANYWAY– Stupid song. Stupid lyrics. I hate it. Make it go away now, kthxbai.

Wednesday Afternoon Concert

Yes, I bought their CD after seeing the YouTube video. I’m a sucker for synchronized stuff. But it’s also kind of amusing, see, I’ve done performance routines like this, so I know how much concentration and precision it takes… and the fact the song is all about things spiraling out of control, well, it just makes me smile. Enjoy.

Friday You-Are-Seriously-Damaging-My-Calm Playlist Meme

If you know what film that quote is from, you’re a big geek. Congratulations!

Anyway, having a rough day at work, so the iPod is NOT going on shuffle. Instead, I’m treating you to the top 10 in my Most Frequently Played list. Because these songs make me happy. AND I NEED TO BE HAPPY TODAY! *grinds teeth*

I’m going to tell you why these songs make me happy, too. After the cut.

An Open Letter to the Holy and Undivided Trinity, One God

Dear Creator Father, Redeemer Christ, and Sustaining Spirit:

I really had a good time at church yesterday, especially considering it was the first time I’d vested and sung with my little choir in probably a month. And thank you for getting the other strong-lunged soprano to church in time for the Communion Hymn, since she can read music and I just, you know, fake it.

And it was kind of fun to have the processional stuck in my head for the rest of the day, because it was Glorious is the name of Jesus and I really like that hymn.

But, seriously, enough is enough. The thing has one verse that just repeats the same thing over and over. It was in my dreams last night, fer crying out loud! I’m starting to feel sympathy for the guys who drill holes in their skulls to get rid of the voices. Even the iPod isn’t working, and I’ve brought out the big guns: the Moulin Rouge soundtrack.

Little help here, please?
Thanks,
Me.

I Heart My Music Committee

We’re singing Faith of our Fathers AND Blessed Assurance on Sunday.

Neener neener neener!

First Night of Choir Rehersal

Whomever said “They who sing, pray twice” was a liar.

Because when you’re singing in the choir, you’re so worried about where you are, and how to pronounce the word “the”, and whether or not you’re drowning out the person next to you, and whether the sweat rolling down your back (in January) is leaving salt stains on your choir robe, and dear God, am I sharp or is that the piano?

Oh, and yeah, there’s a worship service going on, praise God, where are the cough drops and WHO STOLE MY HYMNAL?!

Someone once told me “The Devil enters the church through the choir.” And that has NOTHING to do with the fact that, as a young choir member, I once started a water fight during the Children’s Sermon.

I didn’t volunteer for the choir. As a matter of fact, I was invited to join at several times during the last year I’ve been attending A Certain Church, and each time I plead conflicting appointments. About two months ago, however, they sent in the big guns.

No, not the music director, someone with even more power and prestige: one of the Elders.

(Yes, yes, I know Episcopalians don’t really have appointed and anointed Elders [and why don’t we?], but trust me, they are around.)

“You’re joining the choir this year,” she told me.

“Okay,” I said. Because, well, what else could I say?

(If you say, “Well, you could have said ‘No’, you’ve never been faced with an appointed and anointed [unofficial] Elder.)

So, on Sunday, for the first time in over a year, I will once again put on vestments and become a part of the worship leaders. I have my pencil, post-its, hymnal, music binder, and fan all ready.

God bless the singers, who pray twice (at the beginning of the service “Dear God, don’t let me mess up!” and at the end “Thank God it’s over!”)

You ever get that feeling…

You ever get that feeling that the music director has picked hymns just to piss you off?

This is a rare problem at A Certain Church, because the music director is a sensible man, who won’t make us sing some of the funkier, syncopated songs out of Lift Every Voice and Sing II because he realises what a train wreck the congregation will make out of it. Oddly enough, this also applies to #6 in LEVAS II, which is Lift Every Voice and Sing.

Well, we had a combined event this weekend, and the other parish got to pick the music.

Shine, Jesus, Shine was the closing hymn.

I do not sing Shine, Jesus, Shine.

I just don’t. And you can’t make me.