Thursday, 10 March 2016

Optimism 101 - It Will Get Better

Image from http://positivedoodles,tumblr.com
Confession time: I'm in a bit of a slump. I'm in that strange, dark, "after graduation" limbo. Truth be told, I'm having a hell of a time getting motivated to do much of anything, (hence the lack of updates - sorry guys!) and the job search process has me more discouraged than I've felt in a while. And right now, though it feels like the absolute worst, I know that it will get better. Because it always does. Looking back on the last few years, I can honestly tell you that I've been down, man. Like really down. Like the "never planned to see 30" kind of down. I've made some really bad choices, been on the receiving end of some serious bullshit, gotten myself into, and subsequently out of, some really sticky situations. I've drank dangerously (and way too frequently) and experimented with some things (read: drugs), each time hoping it would be the last time. And, if three years ago you told me that one day, I'd be OK, I never would have believed you.

But you know what? You'd have been right.

Image from http://positivedoodles.tumblr.com
And through it all, I learned that things always get better, and that this too shall pass. I realize that it
never seems that way - I'm a realistic person, and I know that it's hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel when you're deep in the shit. I never thought I'd be happy, off medication, or well adjusted. I never thought I'd leave a job I was unhappy at after eight years. I never dreamed of coming out of the closet, slowing down at the bar and putting the party days behind me. But I did. It wasn't always ideal, and some things were easier to walk away from than others, but it was worth it. Things will always get better - all you have to do is shake it up a bit. Start making a few positive changes, and the rest will fall in line.

And so, here's a little gift just in time for Music Therapy Awareness Month - I give you some encouragement in the form of a quick playlist. Here's Optimism 101:

The Beatles - Getting Better
Bleachers - I Wanna Get Better
Rilo Kiley - A Better Son/Daughter
NERD - Things Are Getting Better
First Aid Kit - My Silver Lining
Modest Mouse - Float On
Sia - Death By Chocolate
Tom Petty - Won't Back Down (I used to belt this one out whilst driving in my car when things were really bad)
Born Ruffians - We Made It
Florence + The Machine - Shake it Out
Say Anything - Do Better
And, for Barb Murphy, Monty Python - Always Look on the Bright Side of Life
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Tuesday, 8 March 2016

She's A Jukebox Hero's Official Women's Day Playlist

Happy International Women's Day! 

The first ever IWD was celebrated in 1908, and while we've come a long, long way, there's still a long way to go. Nonetheless, it gives me great hope to know that we're continuing to work together towards a future where we are ALL equal, and where 'feminist' isn't a dirty word. And, though Lisa Simpson was worried that we'd come up in a world where our role models would be as empty as Malibu Stacey, rest assured there are plenty of ass-kickin' ladies in history to look up to. 

As for me, anyone who knows me (or reads this blog), will know that my lady-heroes are the ones who rock. Women in the music industry have always been present, and they continue to dominate the industry both behind the scenes and on stage. In honour of them, I've compiled a playlist, featuring some of my favourite women in music. These women inspire me, and listening to them reminds me that I'm capable of damn near anything. And you are too! So, for all the lovely ladies in my life (whomever you are, however you identify), here's my official Women's Day playlist. Turn it up and give'r. Girl power!!

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Monday, 11 January 2016

Saying Goodbye to the Goblin King

This blog was originally posted on the Feldman Agency website, and can be found here.


Today started out like any other. My alarm went off at 5:45 am… I hit snooze twice. I finally managed to drag my lazy ass out of bed, and I checked my phone, just like I do every morning. Amidst a sea That’s when I saw it. My heart sank as I scrolled through my newsfeed in disbelief, hoping that by some miracle, I was still asleep and dreaming. I wasn't. 

David Bowie is dead.

He’s been quietly battling cancer for the last 18 months. He succumbed to his illness last night at home, surrounded by his loved ones. Last week, he celebrated his 69th birthday and the released of his final album, Blackstar, and then he was gone. Ziggy has returned to his home in the stars.

"Look up here, I'm in heaven." Lyrics from Lazarus, the video he released just 2 days before his death. His producer, Tony Visconti confirmed that Blackstar was indeed a parting gift to his fans.

An innovator in the truest sense of the word, he touched every part of pop culture in the last five decades - from art to film, fashion to music. He was the man who fell to earth. He was the Goblin King. He was Aladdin Sane. Trying to sum up the Thin White Duke`s career is near impossible. His entire life was a work of art and so, not surprisingly, was his death. Trying to give a just snapshot of what it was he brought to this world doesn`t seem to do him justice, but this is my humble attempt. Goodbye, Starman. 

"I don`t know where I`m going from here, but I promise it won`t be boring" - David Bowie

 The Man Who Sold the World
Space Oddity
Life on Mars?
Ziggy Stardust
The Jean Genie
Diamond Dogs
Fame
Golden Years
Let's Dance
Heroes
Ashes to Ashes
China Girl
I'm Afraid of Americans

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Sunday, 1 November 2015

Happy Birthday, Baby! The Drunkloading Post

This week, She's A Jukebox Hero celebrated its first birthday! What better way to celebrate than by playing my first playlist, Tunes That Mix Well With Tonic, and having a few cocktails. Yes, it was a fine celebration... But something always seems to happen when we drink with friends. Somehow, at some point in the evening, the playlist gets... Weird.

It's a phenomenon known to some (specifically my cousin, Brandie) as "drunkloading", the act of downloading songs while drinking, and it always leads to an overly shameful iTunes history the next morning. This list usually consists of songs you wouldn't dare admitting to enjoying when you're sober, but somehow know all the words to when you're drunk. You probably have dance moves for these songs as well. The practice isn't absent in those who don't partake in the occasional cocktail, either. My sober friends can chalk it up to mob mentality or guilty pleasures, but I know we've all been there.

Boney M
I decided to dig a little deeper, and after some surveying of my friends and family, this is what I've come up with. Dear readers, I bring to you perhaps the most shameful playlist to date. Spoiler alert, Bony M makes more than one appearance on this list. That being said, here it is!

A Beginner's Guide to Drunkloading:


Corie:
Barry Manilow - Copacabana
* it should be noted, Corie loves Manilow any time, all the time.






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Saturday, 31 October 2015

Creature Feature - A Halloween Playlist

It's my favourite time of the year! Pumpkin carving, Halloween specials, trick-or-treaters, horror movies, dead leaves (and the dirty ground)... Nothing beats Halloween! Last year, I brought you a few different playlists, this one here at Jukebox Hero, and this one, full of symphonic Halloween tunes for the HPO. This year, instead of mood music, I'm bringing you a playlist full of songs dedicated to our favourite monsters and classic horror movie characters. Perhaps they'll serve as a source of inspiration for a last minute costume idea (slackers, I'm looking in your direction).

Nothing against the Monster Mash, but you won't find that here. You won't find Thriller on this list either. Listen to these tunes as you're getting your costumes together, having a few drinks, doling out the candy (read: eating more of it than you give to the kids)... whatever it is you're doing to get you into the holiday spirit! Be safe and be spooky!

Alice Cooper - Feed My Frankestein
Warren Zevon - Werewolves of London
The Cranberries - Zombie
Gorillaz - Dracula
Stars - The Ghost of Geneva Heights
David Bowie - Scary Monsters
Tom Waits - The Black Rider
The Cramps - Zombie Dance
Rage Against the Machine - The Ghost of Tom Joad
Whodini - The Freaks Come Out at Night
Outkast - Dracula's Wedding
Tom Petty - Zombie Zoo
The Fuzztones - Night of the Vampire
The Cramps - I Was A Teenage Werewolf


And just for fun, a little Boyz 4 Now:
and some Tracy Jordan. Because Halloween isn't complete without 30 Rock:



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Wednesday, 28 October 2015

On a Rainy Wednesday - An Obvious Post

This is a total gimmie post. I'm about to state the obvious. Everyone's talking about the torrential downpour wreaking havoc on Southern Ontario. The commute this morning was total hell, and word on the street is that the trip home is going to be even worse. We're expecting a record 50 mm today, and for those who aren't sure how much that is... It's about a month's worth. We're getting about a month's worth of rain today. And, to top it off, apparently winds are reaching speeds of up to 70 km/h. Delightful.

So I thought I'd provide comfort to you all. While I'd like to envelope each one of you in a nice, warm hug, that seems rather impossible. Instead, here's a playlist. Listen as you warm up/dry off, as you clean up any flood damage, or as you sit and watch the storm. I can't promise there won't be any Prince on here... But I do promise there's no Guns and Roses. Or Rihanna. Here's your playlist for a rainy Wednesday - stay dry out there, friends!

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Thursday, 15 October 2015

This is the Remix

Hello my faithful readers! I know, it feels like ages since my last post. Probably because it has been. I made the executive decision to never come back from Way Home, and as a result have since spent months crying in a field in Oro-Medonte.

Ok, that's not exactly true... but I have been a busy little music nerd.

HOW I SPENT MY SUMMER VACATION: Way Home was amazing. Great tunes, fantastic surprises (Passion Pit canceled last minute, so instead, we got to witness the glory that is Broken Social Scene), amazing people... but zero cell reception, next to nowhere to charge my phone, and loads of data overage charges made the weekend a mobile blogger's nightmare. But, at the end of the day, I'm definitely Way Homesickand already pining for next year (July 22,23 & 24 2016). As you may already know, I'm a sucker for a good cover song. I was already super jazzed to be at the festival, but became even more stoked to see some of my favourite bands add some amazing cover tunes to their sets. Gaslight Anthem did Baba O'Riley by The Who (call it "Teenage Wasteland" and I'll excommunicate you. I'm not kidding.), The Decemberists did Ask by The Smiths, St. Vincent channeled The Beatles with her version of Dig A Pony, and Brandon Flowers (fittingly) covered INXS's Simply Irresistible. These covers were nice little treats for those who caught their sets, and it reinforced the decisions I had made in the wake of band scheduling conflicts.

 People went nuts at Kendric Lamar (I lost my voice), danced like mad at Django Django (one of my favourite sets of the weekend), and took a nap at Neil Young. Seriously. How many songs about Monsanto do we need to hear? I'd say play Rockin' in the Free World and be done with it... but he did. And he added a new verse. About Monsanto. I wish I were kidding. All Neil Young disappointments aside, much fun was had, many new friends were made, and a great time was had by all.

WHAT I'M UP TO NOW: Flash forward, past job hunting, wedding season, and a move. Here I am now, living that intern life. I managed to land my dream internship at a place called The Feldman Agency, a talent management agency filled with amazing people and a stellar client roster. I haven't been here long, but I've already had some amazing opportunities. So far, I've caught Matt Good's new album at a private show at The Rivoli, enjoyed Hozier from an executive suite at WE Day, and met a handful of famous faces (none of whom I recognized right away - so no embarrassing, dorky, star-struck moments to share... yet). My job puts me smack dab in the middle of the industry I've been dying to be a part of for so long, and I'm absolutely loving every minute of it!

So here's where I'll call it a day, for now. Before I go, here's a small sampling of what I've been listening to lately:

Jamie XX (ft. Romy) - Loud Places
Hippo Campus - Little Grace
Rykka - Blackie
Shamir - Vegas
Father John Misty - The Ideal Husband
Matt Good - All You Sons and Daughters

New opportunities mean new inspiration and adventures, so I'll keep the updates coming!

- Heather, the Jukebox Hero    
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