I will freely admit I don’t listen to popular music. Â My radio in my car almost never gets played – I’m usually listening to audiobooks. Â About the only time I put on the radio is when I know our local AM station will be doing a traffic report.
So I typically find my music through alternative channels. Â Who’s playing on “Saturday Night Live” this week? Â What’s that song being danced to on “So You Think You Can Dance.” Â What’s that song playing during that scene on “Vampire Diaries?” Â Let me watch the credits of this movie so I can see what this end titles song is called.
Yep, that’s where I find new music. Â It may not necessarily BE new, but it’s new to me.
And so here is a list of songs I recently fell in love with, and how I discovered them.
“Rivers and Roads” by The Head and the Heart – this was the final song to play in the final episode of one of my favorite TV shows, “Chuck.” Â This song – even 20 years from now – will remind me of Chuck and Sarah sitting on the beach while he tells her of their life together (which she no longer remembers).
“I’m All Over It” – Jamie Cullum – I discovered this watching clips of “Never Mind the Buzzcocks” on YouTube (a fabulous British comedy game show about pop music). Â He was a guest on the special Doctor Who episode of the show, and I really like the clip they played over his introduction. Â I hopped on iTunes, and after listening to a few of his songs, I’m a fan. Â He’s much more diverse than Michael Buble, but I’d put him in the same category.
“IO” – Helen Stellar – I heard this song at the end of the movie “Love Happens” which I recently watched via my Netflix account. Â The movie was only so-so, but the soundtrack was good, and the movie ended with this one in the final scene. Â This is currently on heavy rotation for me.
“We Don’t Eat” – James Vincent McMorrow – oh how I adore this song! Â I played on “Vampire Diaries” last season during a scene featuring Elena and Damon. Â This is another one on heavy rotation for me and for me has grown past just being a song featured on a TV show. Â It’s just a GREAT GREAT song.
“All Roads Lead Home” – Golden State – finding this song is what made me realize how much the Internet rocks. Â This was playing at the end of a recent episode of “American Idol.” Â I could BARELY hear it, but I know from the instrumental that I would love the song if I could just find it and hear the whole thing. Â I caught ONE SMALL phrase from the song (“a kiss goodnight”) and hopped online. Â It took about 15 seconds to find the answer. Â Apparently it was also on the “Dolphin Tale” soundtrack, the “Henry Poole Was Here” soundtrack and featured on the TV show “Deadliest Catch,” but I haven’t seen either of those.
“A Beautiful Exchange” – Hillsong – about the only station on the radio I DO listen to is our local Christian radio station. Â I hear a lot of music I like on there. Â However, it was at church that I heard this song a few weeks ago. Â Our worship leader and his wife are amazing when they sing together, and this song was done during a service that was VERY powerful and moving for everyone.
So those are some of my current favorite songs, and how I found them. Â I’m sure there will be many other songs that I “discover” and begin to listen to. Â As my kids get older they are starting to play the radio in their rooms as they get ready for school, and Cootiegirl has even come to ask if she can download a song or two that she’s heard that I’ve never heard (and after a quick listen I determine if we’ll download it or not).
Got any music recommendations for me? Â If you listen to these songs you can get an idea of the kind of music I like, so lay it on me!