A Cappella Christmas

I'm one of those people who starts listening to holiday music in November. I can't help it! A festive playlist always yanks me away from the pressure of the season (Like holiday shopping! And accelerated deadlines!) and puts me in just the right spirit. My regular readers know my Christmas tradition: This year, I'm going to hear a cappella music in my hometown. The best!

It got me thinking about my favorite Christmas a cappella tunes that I always have playing on repeat on my iPhone, plus a few new ones I've discovered this year. Here, my favorites:

"The Christmas Song" by Forte Femme
Watch the video here.

"Sleigh Ride" by Pentatonix
Listen to the song here.

"Silver Bells" by Rockapella
Listen to the song here.

"Text Me Merry Christmas" by Straight No Chaser and Kristen Bell
Watch the video here.

"All I Want for Christmas is You" by Out of the Blue
Watch the video here.

Happy a cappella Christmas!

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Taylor Swift is on my morning playlist

What music do you listen to on your morning commute? I'll admit it: Right now, I have "Shake it Off" from Taylor Swift's new album, 1989, on repeat. That song is so infectious!

Truth: Sometimes, even if I have a seat on the subway, I'll give it up just because it's way too tough to sit down while listening to this song. I know this is crazy talk since seats on the A train can be very difficult to come by! ;)

Do you have a song that wakes you up during rush hour?

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Jeff Goldblum + Pink Martini

Last week, I got my fill of arts and culture in New York, first with a chance to see Jeff Goldblum and his band, the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra, at the Carlyle Hotel, and then later in the week, with Pink Martini at the Beacon Theatre on the Upper West Side. 

For Goldblum, this show marked his New York debut (he plays fairly regularly in LA at Rockwell Table & Stage)—and what a performance. The night I was there, he arrived 30 minutes early on stage to joke and banter with the crowd, quizzing his audience on the best Woody Allen films and laughing while teaching the art of heckling. But his talent for piano and singing caused the whole audience to stop their laughter and listen: His voice is dreamy and he has perfect pitch. I fell in love with this tune, called Stella by Starlight.

Two days later, I was at the Beacon, enjoying the world-class sounds of Pink Martini, a group I've followed since being introduced to them at a dinner party in Boston, nearly a decade ago. The host told me Pink Martini albums were his go-to dinner party tunes. I was hooked! Their show in New York was, as always, a treat, made even better by special guests like the Von Trapp grandchildren, who now tour with the band. My favorite song is still Sympathique, a hit from their debut CD back in 1997.

Are you hearing any good music this fall in New York?

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Little French Songs

The first time I heard Carla Bruni—the former First Lady of France—sing, it was on the 500 Days of Summer soundtrack. The song that was included, called "Quelqu'un m'a Dit," is breathtaking. I listened to it over and over again before deciding I wanted to hear more. When I discovered her latest album, Little French Songs, I was hooked. Now, Carla's music is a part of my regular morning routine. There's something so soothing and peaceful about her voice. It totally calms my brain before a hectic day. 

Right around the time I found Carla's music, she announced an international tour with a stop in New York. I'm going to hear her perform at the Town Hall this week, and I can't wait. It will be my dose of French culture, which is perfect timing since I leave for Paris four weeks from today.

Are you a Carla Bruni fan?

PS: My favorite song on her new album.

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Holiday traditions

Last year—completely lost in the chaos of December—I began thinking about the importance of traditions, and what a difference they can make when it comes to embracing the holiday spirit. This month can feel so absolutely crazy, between the shopping and the gift giving and the crunch of what always feels like a much shorter month. I realized I needed a ritual to help me take everything in, and appreciate the joy of this season above everything else. On a whim, I purchased the last two available tickets to see Pink Martini (a band I've always loved) perform with the Holiday Pops at Carnegie Hall. The seats were obstructed view, but I didn't care—I was convinced that this was the ticket to my forgotten holiday bliss.

When Matt and I arrived at the concert, we pushed through the crowds to our seats. The view wasn't bad, even though we were promised worse. The people around us were cranky, and it was hard to ignore the alerts and emails with holiday to-dos that kept popping up on our phones. Five minutes to showtime, we shut everything off. 

Then, the music began. It was beautiful. By the second set, I was completely lost in it—so in awe of the energy and love radiating from the stage, it was impossible to think about anything else. I left feeling inspired; my holiday spirit renewed. It reminded me that all I really needed was a moment to pause and enjoy the season, instead of just racing through it.

So, this year, Matt and I are going back to the Pops for their holiday show, and I'm counting the days. It's our new, can't-miss holiday tradition, for all the reasons explained above. :)

What are your Christmas traditions? 

PS—A clip from the concert last year.
PPS—More singing!

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Christmas caroling

'Tis the season for holiday music. Well, almost! This may sound crazy, but I've been listening to Christmas tunes since October (!!). In the fall, I joined a holiday singing group with a few co-workers of mine. It's perfect: There are about 25 of us, and we practice once a week for an hour at lunch. Then, our chorale director packs our December calendar with holiday performances around New York.

For my regular readers, you know: I'm bursting with joy every time we rehearse. Singing Christmas music harkens back to my a cappella days. I didn't realize how much I missed it until the first time we practiced together as  a group.

The amazing part is that our repertoire is so varied. I'm learning all these new holiday songs that I've never heard before like this one and this one.

What about you? Has the holiday spirit hit you yet?

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Pitch Perfect sequel

It's been a while since we've talked a cappella here, but the news of a Pitch Perfect sequel was a reminder that I'm overdue. :) Did you see the first film? If not, you better catch it now—not only is a follow-up flick in the works, the cast is recording a holiday album due out just in time for Christmas this year.

I remember when the Wheatones—my former group—used to travel around to sing holiday music at local nursing homes, children's hospitals, and more. There was something so fun about switching up our set list, learning harmonies for classic Christmas tunes, and then taking it on the road.

Now, the big question: What will Anna Kendrick sing on this new holiday album? (Click here to listen to her impressive pop rendition of "Cups".)

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Alice Smith is back

Ever since I first saw Alice Smith join Citizen Cope on stage during a concert at Brooklyn Bowl three years ago, I can't get enough of her music. Her voice is soulful, bright, powerful, unique. I had the privilege of seeing a solo performance of hers first at Joe's Pub and then again at the Blue Note, and I'm thrilled that—after a brief hiatus—she is finally back on tour. If you haven't heard her music, download Cabaret, her latest single, here. And New Yorkers, grab your tickets now to see her at Joe's Pub later this month. I know from personal experience—they'll sell out fast!

(Image via Pop Matters)

You were loved

"God gave me a voice to sing with, and when you have that, what other gimmick is there?"

                                                                                                              - Whitney Houston

                                                                                                                  (Rest in peace.)

Modern mix tapes

Maybe it's because I'm in need of some new tunes for my subway ride to work, but I love the creativity behind these digital mix tapes from Wit + Delight. Get up and Get Dressed delivers exactly what it promises: a selection of songs that provide the motivation you need to start your day! I'm also really into the songs featured on At the Movies with Woody Allen. The entire mix conjures up my favorite memories from the best Woody Allen films. As Kate recommends, play this mix with good company and a glass of wine and you're in for a relaxing night!

More Woody Allen here, here and here.

My own mix tape, tied together by the lovely and talented Narrylikes! 

(Image 1, 2 via Wit + Delight)

Adele reinvented

Check it out — it's a new take on Adele's "Rolling in the Deep" from father/daughter team Jorge and Alexa Narvaez. What an adorable duet! Yes, I love this song, but this little girl's passion and talent for performance is tough to beat. What do you think?

More Adele here and here.

(Via Marvelous Kiddo)

'Call him out' by Jeannine Hebb

Not too long ago, I found myself out at Caffe Vivaldi in the West Village on a random Saturday night in New York. I was looking for good wine and good music, and clearly, I had come to the right place. By pure coincidence, I caught a performance by Jeannine Hebb, whose debut music video can be watched above. I love the catchy rhythm and piano accompaniment of 'Call Him Out', one of Hebb's many original tunes. What do you think? Are you a fan of the song? 

(Video via Jeannine Hebb)

A New York playlist

How would you react if someone stopped you on the street to find out the tune currently blasting on your iPod? Better yet, would you be honest with your response? The New Yorkers featured above were. Combined, their music picks make for quite an interesting playlist! To find out more about what other people are listening to, check out Narrylikes' playlists here. You can even get a glimpse of what's been in the summer rotation on my own iPod! 

(Video via Narrylikes)

The weekend is here!

Happy Friday my dear readers! What do you have planned? I'm looking forward to a bit of relaxation and fun. There are so many things on my summer to-do list, I don't know where to start. This weekend, I'm hoping to check out a performance by Jeannine Hebb at Caffe Vivaldi in Greenwich Village. If you haven't heard her music, you should definitely pay a visit to her site. She's fantastic! Wishing everyone a lovely weekend ahead. Here, to get it started right, a few happy posts from around the web:

What's your number?

Take a trip to paradise. 

The kettle can wait.

A clever gift for kids.

The summer salad I made this week. 

What to bring to Paris (I love this stripey headband!).

Fall in love. 

Bear aware!

Summer obsession: orange pants.

Early fall temptation.

Beach art — I love this one and this one. 

Where I'm going next week!

Paper yo-yos.

A toast to new beginnings.
 
(Image via Lyla & Blu)

Rolling in the Deep

I'm on deadline this week for a variety of assignments, which is why the video above comes as a welcome distraction in the midst of all this work. Are you familiar with the a cappella stylings of singer Mike Tompkins? His version of Adele's "Rolling in the Deep" is as musically fascinating as it is fun to watch. Check out a couple of his other songs here and here, but before you do that throw some headphones in and check out the tune above. Makes you look at a cappella music in a whole new way, am I right?

(Via YouTube)

The Honey Trees sing "Moon River"

This song has always been a favorite of mine, but I'm captivated by this particular version of "Moon River" by The Honey Trees. Becky Filip and Jacob Wick's harmonies are full of warmth and wistfulness. Such a sweet performance of the classic song. What do you think?

(Via Sunshine)

"Your Song" by Ellie Goulding

Did anyone else catch Ellie Goulding's performance on SNL over the weekend? The British pop star's voice is so angelic and sweet — I can see why she was picked to serenade Wills and Kate at the Royal Wedding just two weeks ago. My favorite is her rendition of "Your Song" by Elton John, and the music video to match. Definitely a more youthful take on the 70s hit! 

(Video via YouTube)

My first trip to the Met

Tell me — have you ever been to the opera in New York? Two weekends ago, I had the chance to see Lucia di Lammermoor, an Italian opera being performed at the Met. What a night! The show was so moving and elegant. I especially loved the intense respect for the performers that the audience had. I was even a bit startled the first time I heard someone yell out "Bravo!"

As a kid, I remember my grandmother talking about her biannual trips to the Met. A singer herself, she had a deep love for opera music, and looked forward to catching a live performance with all her heart. Into her late 70s, she would make the trek from Connecticut to the city and sit in the same seats that I did, just two weeks ago. It felt so special to be able to carry on her tradition, and her appreciation for the opera too.

Have you been to the opera before? What was your experience like? Do you think you would go back?

(Images via Kwarmyw0333 and Cinesystem Cinemas)

The style of music

Who's your favorite musical icon? What's their signature look? The poster above — designed by Glenn Michael of Moxy Creative House and illustrated by James Alexander — breaks down the style secrets of 20 legends that have shaped the music industry today. I love Bob Dylan's look and Miles Davis' too, but Prince's purple suit? That guy is in his own league.

What about you? Which look do you love? 

(Via Yay! Every Day and EveryGuyed)

'I'm Yours' on the ukulele

My sister sent this over to me as a mid-week treat. If you ask me, this little guy gives Jason Mraz a run for his money. Too cute!