Week 52 - All You Need is Love (The Beatles, 1967)

Week 52 - the Beatles

We made it! For our last song, well…the song says it all. Thank you for all your support - every comment, every “like” inspired us to keep going. We couldn’t have done this without all your support. Thank you. 

I’d especially like thank James for his loving and patient support, I know it was a lot to take on! The same goes for Evan - thank you! And most of all, Rebekah. You constantly challenge and inspire me to do better. Thank you lady, I love you so much!

As for the future, I don’t know…but I’m going to do my best to cover all the songs that all of you have suggested. Eventually ;)

And please come see us celebrate at Rockwood Music Hall stage 3 on Thursday, April 27th!

Yay! We. Did. It.

Week 48 - Mrs. Robinson (Simon and Garfunkel, 1968)

Week 48 - Simon and Garfunkel

The internet went down mysteriously yesterday and again mysteriously came back late last night…  Who knows why.  Internet wasn’t the only thing that was strange this week for us.  First we had to scrap the song we were planning on covering (long story, ugh) so then we had to come up with a song and learn it in an hour!  We settled on this song but to our surprise, it’s deceptively complicated!  We should’ve known, we tried to cover a Paul Simon’s song before and miserably failed.  One of the interesting thing about doing this project is that I get to peek into the personality of each composers.  I find Paul Simon’s songs to be exacting and fussy in details.  The combination that makes Paul Simons songs so genius but it doesn’t bode well with my personality…  But here we go, we must embrace challenges of all sorts.  Once we learned it though, it was so much fun to sing!  Hope you enjoy!

Week 46 - I Love Rock 'n' Roll (Joan Jett, 1982)

Week 46 - Joan Jett and the Blackhearts

A long time ago, when I went to see Brendan Benson and the Wellfed Boys, they jokingly started play this song on stage just because my friend said that was one of her favorite songs.  I was pretty impressed that they could play the song just like that!  Turns out, the song is pretty easy to play…  not saying Brendan and his co. aren’t talented, of course they are, but anyway it was lots of fun to learn and play this song.  It was originally written by the British band the Arrows but it was Joan Jett that made this song so iconic.  It doesn’t get more Rock ’n’ Roll than Joan Jett!

Week 39 - "Heroes" (David Bowie, 1977)

He would have been 70 tomorrow.  It’s hard to believe that he’s been gone for almost a year.  In the madness that followed through out that year and the strange political climate that continues to this year, I realized I really needed to sing this song.  This song, originally recorded in the 70’s in Berlin depicts lovers separated by the Berlin Wall.  His performance of the song in West Berlina decade later is considered a catalyst to the eventual fall of the Berlin Wall.   

Happy almost birthday, Starman.  We miss you dearly.

Week 36 - Innocent When You Dream (Tom Waits, 1987)

Week 36 - Tom Waits

I was editing this video this morning (which I tend to do because I’m always running WAY behind with this project) all was quiet while snowed outside.  It was beautiful and peaceful.  And I felt this song fits the mood of the day.  I’m not quite tired of the snow yet although ask me in March and I might have a different answer! 

Week 33 of 52 Weeks - Where You Lead (Carole King with Louise Goffin, 1970 & 2002)

Happy Thanksgiving weekend!  This week, in honor of the revival of Gilmore Girls which happens to be one of Bekah’s favorite shows, we are covering this Carole King’s classic.  This song was originally on her iconic album Tapestry but when the producer of the show Gilmore Girls contacted her about using it as its theme song, she updated the lyrics to go with the mother and daughter theme of the show.  Then she re-recorded the song with her daughter Louis Goffin.  I also have a personal connection to this song - I got to work on the shoot with Carole King for the cover of her album Love Makes the World which the updated version was included.  I remember she was really laid back and easy to talk to.  

Hope you enjoy!  

This one goes out to Cody and Waylon :)

Week 31 of 52 Weeks - Trouble in Mind (Nina Simone, 1961)

Week 31 - Nina Simone

I wish I had some light and wisdom to share with you but I’m afraid my thoughts seem to be just streaming through randomly right now.  So I turn to music like I always do and find courage in the words of people who were there before us.  This song has been going through my mind during those nights when I just tossed and turned.  Thank goodness for Nina Simone.  Her voice makes it easier to get out of the bed in the morning.  

Week 30 of 52 Weeks - To Make You Feel My Love (Bob Dylan, 1997)

Week 30 - Bob Dylan 

I bet you are probably thinking “Bob Dylan again???”  I know I felt the same way.  Although it was written by Dylan in the 90's, Adele made it more famous, I think.  This song has been stuck in my head for the last few months.  I kept on finding myself humming it and finally it got so annoying that I had to learn the darn thing.  Everything about this project has been a surprise to me.  And finally, accordion!  Considering Bekah and I met through Main Squeeze Orchestra, an all girl accordion orchestra, we really should play more accordion…  

Anyway, Bob Dylan has been the talk of the town again, first with him winning the Nobel prize for literature, and then keeping everyone including the famous Swedish institute in suspense to see if he will even accept the prize by remaining absolutely silent about it.  I did read an article with him about his upcoming painting exhibition in London and in that he mentions that he will be attending the ceremony.  In the same article, I found a quote from him that resonated with me deeply.  

“Everything worth doing takes time. You have to write a hundred bad songs before you write one good one. And you have to sacrifice a lot of things that you might not be prepared for. Like it or not, you are in this alone and have to follow your own star.”

I’ve taken wrong turns and detours, have gone backwards and sideways, and have definitely walked in circles following my star.  And I’m pretty sure there will be lots more surprises, pleasant and otherwise, on the path ahead. Luckily for me though, I have found many wonderful companions along the way!

Week 29 of 52 Weeks - Red Right Hand (Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, 1994)

Week 29 - Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

It’s Halloween, so of course we had to cover Nick Cave.  The thing is, I love Nick Cave.  From the days of Birthday Party to the Grinderman, he’s a prolific artist that always seem to surprise you.  He’s amazing on stage and although he has had some commercial success, he seems to remain himself whether singing murder ballad or love song.  I knew I wanted to cover Nick Cave but picking this song was a bit of surprise.  Maybe Peaky Blinders has something to do with it?  But there are so many songs that I love by him, it’s possible that I will cover him again.  I still have over 20 songs left!  

On the side note, yesterday James got us tickets to go see him next year.  I’m so excited!

Happy Halloween!!!

Week 28 of 52 Weeks - Boys aka Girls (Beastie Boys, 1987)

Week 28 - Beastie Boys (1987)

We had this idea to change the song “Girls” to “Boys” and keep the rest of the lyrics the same.  But what I didn’t realize was how much of it describes my life to a tee right now!!!  It’s all about boys in the morning, and it’s all about boys in the evening. I love the way they walk and I sure love the way my 2-year-old and his friends talk!  And every night I hope he will say “hey me and you should hit the hay” as in “is it bed time yet?!” and certainly I can’t wait for him to do the dishes and his own laundry :)  Later in their career The Beastie Boys weren’t too fond of this song for its lyrical content but I figure Bekah and I can make it equal, right?  I sincerely hope though that when my boy grows up, he will know the difference between looking for a soul mate and a house keeper!

Brilliant styling by my home slice Bekah S.  She ain’t just a pretty face, you know?

Week 27 of 52 Weeks - All I Have To Do Is Dream (The Everly Brothers, 1958)

Week 27 - the Everly Brothers (1958).

This song is a classic and we wanted to do it right. We are so used to coming up our own harmony so it was a fun challenge to learn somebody else's arrangement!

Week 26 of 52 Weeks - Sir Duke (Stevie Wonder, 1977)

Week 26 - Stevie Wonder  

It’s week 26 - we made it half way!!!  To celebrate this momentous occasion, we are covering Stevie Wonder.  This was definitely the most challenging song we covered so far.  I never felt so uncoordinated in my life!  Seriously doubted if I had any sense of rhythm at all. Then I remembered one of my old boyfriends who was undoubtedly the worst dancer I have ever seen.  It was so bad that the dance floor used to clear as people just stared at him.  He himself had no idea though - he loved music and dancing, and if he noticed people staring at him, he probably just thought people were admiring his dancing skill…  And this song is about that the music is a universal language and we all have an equal opportunity to sing and dance.  It’s an amazing song all around dedicated to Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong and other jazz greats. 

I’m just so grateful that musicians like Stevie Wonder exists!

Week 21 of 52 Weeks - Dress (PJ Harvey, 1991)

Week 21 - PJ Harvey.  I still remember the first time I listened to Dry, PJ Harvey’s first album.  It just blew my mind.  She was, with a lack of better word, so COOL.  I haven’t heard anything like it before, she was intense, poetic, angry and damn sexy, just all around badass.  She was the first artist I saw using a bottle neck with her guitar and I bought one the very next day and tried to use it and miserably failed it.  It took me another 10 years before I tried it again…  When I decided to go solo, I spent hours learning every single songs from Dry.  There are other albums by her that I love, but Dry is the one that I always go back to.  She is one of a few artists that truly changed me.  And I’m very please to be able to pay homage to her by singing one of my favorite songs of hers which happened to be her first single.  

Week 20 of 52 Weeks - Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend (Marilyn Monroe, 1953)

Week 20 - Marilyn Monroe.  I love dresses.  I especially love vintage dresses and consequently I have accumulated lots of them over the years.  Half of me thinks that wanting to wear those dresses is motivation to get on the stage…  There’s something really fun about swaying around in a full length gown, even in 90 degree heat!  With that spirit we channeled our inner Marilyn Monroe this week - we had to dig pretty deep to find her!  It’s a mini-series continuing from last week’s Material Girl.  Enjoy!

Week 15 of 52 Weeks - Rockaway Beach (the Ramones, 1977)

Week 15 - the Ramones.

The Ramones will always have a special place in my heart.  They were the first punk rock band that I really fell in love with, they were the soundtrack to my summer days when I first got to NYC, and Jarvie was dressed as one of the Ramones for his first Halloween.  I even got to meet Joey Ramone a few times!!! Recently I went to the Ramones exhibit at the Queens Museum and it made me think of covering this song.  Singing this song was so much fun, much like listening to the Ramones!  If you are in the NYC area, go check out the exhibit- it’s up till the end of this month.