Thursday, April 5, 2012

Music of E: Enya, Eminem, and Exogenesis

Happy "E" day in the A to Z Challenge!

How has the first week been going for everyone? Making new friends? Checking out new blogs? Excellent--that's the point of this, right? Right. It is, trust me. Don't argue. We have music to discuss.

I'm trying to get into the "E" frame of mind, but I have to tell you, I'm still in the clouds from yesterday's Dvorak by Dudamel video. Seriously, if anyone reading this happens to have access to tickets to the LA Phil, please let me know. I need to see this live, just once. Now, on to E!

1. Enya
I'm not sure if this is meta or stalkerish, but when I was driving along the far northwest coast of Ireland in County Donegal, I had to listen to Enya's A Day Without Rain album. Why? Because I was driving through her hometown. At least, that's what my book said. I wouldn't know--the signs were in Gaelic. But I'm pretty sure I was in Gweedore. Enya's music has a home in my NaNoWriMo playlist. It's classified as "new age" in iTunes, which I think gives it a weird connotation, but I don't have any better suggestions so for now, here's a video of a "new age" Enya.



2. Eminem
Love him? Hate him? A little of both? Yeah, that's cool. I get it. As a woman, I feel I should say something like, "His music is disrespectful!" but really, I like him. He's the villain we love to hate, right? We love to find his flaws and then in the safety of our own home, we can sing along. Go ahead and watch the video for "Not Afraid." It's okay. Marshall Mathers has grown up, even if people don't want to believe it. And my oh my, he's come a long way from the days of peroxide-bleached hair. Stick to the brown, Em.



3. "Exogenesis Parts 1-3" by Muse
And here it is. I waited until E to unveil my fascination with Muse. Yes, I first heard of the British group because of Stephanie Meyers. I'm not afraid to admit it. But she was right--this group is amazing. Matthew Bellamy (aka Mr. Kate Hudson) has the singing chops AND the musical talent to pull off some more creative pieces, like Exogenesis Parts I, II, and III as found on the album The Resistance. Each part tells a musical story of sorts, Overture (part 1), Cross-Pollination (part 2), and Redemption (part 3 and my personal favorite).



How about you? Would you classify Enya as "new age"? Do you like Eminem better as an angry blond kid or an angry brown-haired adult? What "E" music did I miss?

12 comments:

  1. I do classify Enya as New Age. It matches up with all my other new age music and i think Carribean Blue is on one of the Pure Moods discs (of which i own two. They're good writing music).
    I like Eminem too. Lose yourself is my favorite, i frickin love that song. And i could watch the end of 8 mile like every day

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    1. I love "Lose Yourself" for my running playlists simply for the line "Feet, don't fail me now..." Every time I hear it, I giggle and dig in to finish the run.

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  2. Enya's New Age, but she transcends it (um, did I just say she transcends transcendence?). Actually I got her music labeled as folk, and I often have her playing late in the day, to relax and have her melodies in my head as I drift off to sleep. "Exile" and "Christmas Secrets" are great for that.

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    1. Transcends transcendence... wow. It's getting deep in here for a Thursday morning. :) I'm not familiar with "Christmas Secrets"--I'll check it out!

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  3. I like me some new age Enya sometimes. A must if you're driving through her home town. :)

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  4. I'd say she was new age. She had a really nice song on the Fellowship of the Ring soundtrack as well. And no, I wouldn't call it stalking.

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  5. Oh Eminem...he kind of weirds me out, but I can't help but enjoy a lot of his music.

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  6. Adult Eminem is a big HELL to the YEAH! Nothing gets me pumping like his shouldn't be okay, but somehow is, music. :-)

    I definitely enjoy me some Muse AND I liked them even before that other lady put out the word on them. hehehehe

    For me, E would also have to have some Ellington...as in Duke Ellington. My fave is "Take the 'A' Train". Brilliant!!! I would also have to add Elvis and (first album) Evanescence to the list. :-) But that's just me...

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  7. Love Muse... saw them in concert last year. Absolutely brilliant!

    Their songs are like inspiration crack for me. So many ideas!

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  8. Check out Eva Cassidy. And Etta James.

    {ami}
    http://sundrysumthins.wordpress.com/

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  9. Have you ever listened to Enya on her old stuff with Clannad? I love Irish music. :)

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  10. Muse was on all of my NaNoWriMo playlists last year! Enya is amazing and doesn't get enough credit. And I'll always love Slim Shady. :)

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I love getting comments. They're as much fun as getting real snail mail. So please, chime in and tell me what you think!

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