Song of the Day - Dog Days Are Over - Florence + The Machine

The dog days are over

The dog days are done

The horses are coming

So you better run

I'm starting off summer vacation with one of the most feel good songs ever!  And the title is appropriate, for those dog days ARE over...at least for now!  Happy Monday!

NYC Pride Day Song of the Day - I Am What I Am - Gloria Gaynor

I am what I am

I am my own special creation

So come take a look

Give me the hook or the ovation

Happy Pride Day, New York City!  I've been so busy this past month I haven't had any time to talk about Pride Month, which has seen celebrations all over the country over the past four weeks.  Though I'm seeing that we've gone so mainstream during my lifetime, with gay marriage being legalized seemingly all over the place and acceptance becoming more and more widespread with each year, pride seems to take on a whole new meaning these days.  

This oldie but goodie speaks so perfectly of being who you are no matter what your uniqueness happens to be, and it's a pretty good song, too!  Though I'll be skipping the festivities in the city this year, I'm still with all of the marchers and spectators in spirit.  To them I say enjoy and be safe, and to everyone else within the realm of this blog, be proud of who you are and enjoy your day!

Summer Vacation Has Begun!

Well, today is my official first day of summer vacation, a day I've been waiting for for a long time, and I started off this first real summer vacation with a bang.  You see, a couple of years ago, my pal Laura Kim and I celebrated the end of the school year by spending a night in Cherry Grove, something that I don't get to do too often.  Though we skipped last year, this year had been so long for all of us at school, we decided to return to a new and fun tradition.

We headed out on the 3:30 ferry armed with reservations at the Grove Hotel and a fresh outlook on the summer ahead.  The weather was picture perfect and our moods were decidedly giddy, and the time spent was a much-needed respite from life.  My pal Rich came by and joined us for dinner and cocktails and a great meal, even greater conversation and laughs were had by all.  

The night followed a pre-preview of summer with my pals Terry and Heather on Thursday at Corey Creek Vineyards out east where I work.  I tell ya, it's nice (and necessary!) to take the moments of fun when you can catch em.  I'll let the pictures tell the rest of the story.  I've got some entertaining to do tonight...

Song of the Day - Where Have You Been - Rihanna

I've been everywhere
Man looking for someone
Someone who can please me
Love me all night long



I heard this one early this morning and have been bopping to it ever since.  Great song. Great day!  Happy Summer!

Flashback Friday Song of the Day - School's Out - Alice Cooper

Today is Friday, June 27th, a date I've had circled on my calendar since September.  You see, today is the last day of school, and after a year such as I had, it is definitely a reason to rejoice.  So even though I'm not crazy about this song (it's alright, but I'd never really listen to it in the car or anything, lol), it totally fits the day and so finally I can say HAPPY SUMMER!!!!!

 

Song of the Day - Shades of Cool - Lana Del Rey

This sultry cut from Lana Del Rey's smash album Ultraviolence I could easily see as background music to a love scene in a movie.  I'mm not the biggest Lana fan, but she is beginning to draw me in to her unique style. Check out Shades of Cool...

 

Shades of Cool

My baby lives in shades of blue
Blue eyes and jazz and attitude
He lives in California too
He drives a Chevy Malibu

And when he calls
He calls for me and not for you
He lives for love, he loves his drugs
He loves his baby too

But I can't fix him, can't make him better
And I can't do nothing about this strange weather

But you are invincible
I can't break through your world
'Cause you live in shades of cool
Your heart is unbreakable

My baby lives in shades of cool
Blue heart and hands and aptitude
He lives for love, for women, too
I'm one of many, one is blue

And when he calls
He calls for me and not for you
He prays for love, he prays for peace
And maybe someone new

But I can't help him, can't make him better
And I can't do nothing about his strange weather

'Cause you are invincible
I can't break through your world
'Cause you live in shades of cool
Your heart is unbreakable

You are invincible
I can't break through your world
'Cause you live in shades of cool
Your heart is unbreakable

Song of the Day - Gypsy - Lady Gaga

I don't want to be alone forever

But I can't be denied

I don't want to be alone forever

But I love gypsy life


metatube

Today was one of those days when I woke up with a song in my head.  I'm not sure why it was this one...I haven't listened to ARTPOP in awhile, and this isn't even my favorite song from that set, but alas I can't stop singing it over and over in my head. It is really a good song, uniquely arranged and with a melancholic feel. Check out Gaga's Gypsy...

Song of the Day - Latch - Disclosure

More than a few months ago, I issued a hot song alert for Disclosure's F for You, featuring Mary J Blige. Well here's the Brit electronica duo's newest single, Latch.  It features the vocals of Sam Smith, who I just featured here last week (also with Mary J!), and it's a lot slower, less funkier, but more soulful than the previous tune.  Check it out...

Song of the Day - Do It Again - Röyksopp & Robyn

One more time

Let's do it again

Blow my mind

Do it again...

We do what we want

and as soon as it's done

We just do it, again

Robyn is BACK baby.....Since I posted this one about a month ago, I've been listening to it...and loving it...more and more.  Typical Robyn song: great beats, great lyrics, great vocals.  If you like Robyn, you're gonna love this...

Song of the Day - Colors - Tritonal & Paris, feat. Sterling Fox

Today's song is strictly for dance music fans.  I discovered it off of an album I downloaded on iTunes called Casablanca Nights, which I love.  This is one of my favorite tracks and to me, the guy singing it sounds a little bit like a young Sting.  Check it out...

Flashback Friday Song of the Day - Do Ya Think I'm Sexy - Rod Stewart

I don't think I have ever posted a Rod Stewart song on John's World, but that's about to change.  For you youngins' out there who don't know Rod Stewart, well, he's a British singer who is actually one of the best selling artists of all time, having sold over 100 million records worldwide.  Of course, with those kinds of numbers, he's had to have had plenty of hits, which he has.  Here's one of his most famous, a discoish anthem that was simply everywhere in 1978.  Check out Do Ya Think I'm Sexy...

Song of the Day - The Man - Ed Sheeran

powerhits975

Ed Sheeran is the man of today.  With three songs from his forthcoming Multiply album currently sitting in iTunes top 10 downloaded tunes, this amazing Brit singer/songwriter is simply on fire!  This one, a sort of pseudo-rap tune where the Brit accent is clear as a bell (which is something you hardly ever hear in song!), has a steady, rhythmic backbeat and is very easy to like after just one listen.  Check it out...

Song of the Day - Where Did Our Love Go - The Supremes

Oops!  I flubbed yesterday when I forgot that the 17th, not the 18th was the 50th anniversary of the Supremes very first number one song, Where Did Our Love Go.  Though not the best song of theirs by any means, it was the trio's tenth single and very first smash of what would be many, many more.  In fact the Supremes are one of the most successful groups of all time and they're still the standard when it comes to the iconic girl groups of the sixties and beyond.  So check out a rare early performance of Diana Ross, Mary Wilson and Florence Ballard performing Where Did Our Love Go... Classic!

Song of the Day - Stay With Me - Sam Smith, with Mary J Blige

mtv-uk

Here's a beautiful, soulful ballad by Brit singer/songwriter Sam Smith.  The tune is the third single from his debut, In the Lonely Hour, and it's my favorite so far. Smith's voice is so soulful, a great match for R&B soul queen Mary J. Blige, who contributes her voice in this equally awesome version...

Song of the Day - I Luh Ya Papi - Jennifer Lopez

Here's a newer song that J-Lo released a few weeks back, and it's taken until now for me to enjoy it.  I thought the tune was a little corny at first, but it's got nice beats and a pretty catchy chorus.  Oh, and the video?!?!!!  Lots and lots of eye andy.  I luh you papi, I luh luh luh you papi....

Song of the Day - Dance with My Father - Luther Vandross

sandrachamplain

Back when I was a child

before life removed all the innocence

My father would lift me high

and dance with my mother and me and then

Spin me around till I fell asleep

Then up the stairs he'd carry me

And I knew for sure I was loved

This special Father's Day Song of the Day is for all of the people out there who's only connection to their dad is through memories.  Luther Vandross' beautiful words are ones with which anyone can identify with. No matter what kind of dad (or a mom for that matter) you have, remember that being one doesn't come with a manual to be followed, and so even though they're not always perfect, there is one sure thing we can all bank on, and that is love.

If I could get another chance,

another walk, another dance with him

I'd play a song that would never ever end

How I'd love, love, love

to dance with my father again

This is the fifth Father's Day without my dad and I have several friends who find themselves in the same situation where all they can do today is remember.  So to anyone who celebrates Father's Day simply through memories, this is for you, and for your dads up in Heaven.  Happy Father's Day!

NY Rangers: Thank You!

Here's a post I put on Facebook this morning before I went to work...

Waking up a little sad this morning. Though the final score of the series was 4-1 Kings, it was a lot closer than that. It's a little harder to swallow to know that two clearly wrong calls in the series directly lead to Kings goals, momentum shifts and two of their four wins. That being said, congrats to the Kings.  They're a very good team worthy of the Cup.

As for the Rangers, all I can say is wow and thank you. I don't know of anyone who expected this awesome playoff run, and even in this series they represented and made us all proud. There's no sport as thrilling as hockey and no team in sports with greater fans than theirs. 

Let'sGoRangers!

Song of the Day - Since You've Been Gone - Kelly Clarkson

Here's the thing

We started out as friends

It was cool it was all pretend

Yeah yeah since you been gone

Been a long, long time since I posted Kelly Clarkson.  Love this one!

A Flashback Friday Double Shot - 50 Years of the Supremes

theconcertdatabase

It's hard to believe it, but it's been 50 years since the Supremes first hit it big with their very first of many #1 tunes, Where Did Our Love Go.  Since that one first hit the #1 spot on June 17th, 1964, I figured I'd save that one for the actual anniversary, but since it is Flashback Friday I wanted to share two of my favorite Supremes tunes that hit the top spot in that same year.  Click play and enjoy...

Come See About Me

I've been cryin'

Boo hoo

Cause I'm lonely

For you

Smiles have all turned

To tears

But tears won't wash away

The fears

Back in My Arms Again

How can Mary tell me what to do
When she lost her love so true
And Flo, ,she don't know
Cause the boy she loves is a Romeo

Song of the Day - Stayin' Alive - N-Trance

Everybody in the house

C'mon, lemme hear you say

Ho oh!....(Ho oh!)


usatoday

Today's Song of the Day is all about the NY Rangers, who successfully fended off the LA Kings last night to stay alive in the Stanley Cup Finals.  The game sure wasn't pretty, with seemingly the whole 3rd period being played on the Rangers' end of the ice, but this time Lundqvist and the rest of the team were able to prevent a Kings' goal to tie the very tight game and they won by the thinnest of margins, 2-1.  So now the series moves back to LA with the Rangers down 3-1 and the Kings still needing only one win to take home the Cup, which I'm sure they'd love to do at home tomorrow night.   Of course the situation is still dire for the Blueshirts, but you know what, they're still alive!