IMG: Sxc.hu/teakettle

This got us talking about different things dealing with both of these and I thought I’d come to you and hear your opinions.

-  How do you feel towards censorship? (especially with music and shows) As far as I’m concerned as a parent we must watch what we teach our children, this includes the things that could influence them.

Now that you’ve answered (or thought about) the above how many of you pick what your kids are allowed to watch and listen to? I will not lie, when we had cable certain shows were not allowed on television. I can’t stand shows that teach kids about things I don’t even want to talk with them about and the same thing goes for the language used. When Miley Cyrus started doing all her “bad girl” moments I banned her from my tv. We even ban certain music in our house, so yes I do censorship, but I also call it a “parent’s right.”

-  Do any of you ban certain shows or music in your house?
-  Should teens/preteens/younger be able to listen to whatever they want?
-  If you do, isn’t this considered censorship in a way?  What do you think?

Post from: Blisstree

How do You Feel Towards Censorship?

What songs are considered the most romantic?  Who decides what is on the list?  I was just looking at a list of  Top Love Songs and it goes like this:

1.  Always by Atlantic Starr
2.  In My Life by the Beatles
3.  We’ve Only Just Begun by the Carpenters
4.  Up Where We Belong by Joe Cocker
5.  Then He Kissed Me by the Crystals
6.  Chapel of Love by Dixie Cups
7.  I Do (Cherish You) by 98 Degrees
8.  This I Promise You by NSYNC
9.  Fields of Gold by Sting (I love this one)
10. Almost Paradise by Ann Wilson and Mike Reno

What do you think of this list? My sister’s song isn’t on it. None of the songs that I associate with past romances is on it. My list would go a bit like the one below and it’s in more or less a chronological order, because I will choose no favorites.
*Girls Just Want To Have Fun by Cindy Lauper
*If This Is It by Huey Lewis and the News
*Everybody Wang Chung Tonight by Wang Chung
*Hold Me Now by the Thompson Twins
*I Can’t Fight This Feeling by REO Speedwagon
*Janey’s Got A Gun by Aerosmith
*Angel by Aerosmith
*Dreaming With a Broken Heart by John Mayer
*Slow Dancing In a Burning Room by John Mayer
*Swing Life Away by Rise Against
*Use Somebody by the Kings of Leon

I could put the whole John Mayer Continuum album on there. I spent a lot of time on the road during one of those romances and it played over and over throughout the drive. (No surprise that Bay has no appreciation for John Mayer now).  Lots of Corinne Bailey Ray then, too.

Some of the songs on my list are not what most people would consider happy songs or romantic songs (Janey’s Got a Gun??), but they are tied to special memories, both good and bad, and that’s all a part of romance.

What would your list look like? Please share it.

Image credit: Amazon.com

Post from: Blisstree

The Playlist Of Your Love Life

The Ford Amphitheatre – This outdoor venue in the hills north of Hollywood features a calendar of diverse music, from world music to jazz and blue grass.  It’s owned by the County of LA, and has 1,200 seats, providing an intimate outdoor music setting.

Concert at the Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles

Gibson Amphitheatre at Universal CityWalk Hollywood – Originally an outdoor amphitheater, this venue, located at Universal Studios, was converted to an indoor one back in 1982.  It seats 6,000, and hosts national acts.  It’s known for its spectacular acoustics, giving you quality listening whether your in the front row or the last.

Grand Performances at California Plaza – Nothing is better than FREE musical performances, and that’s what’s offered up here throughout the summer.  It’s a favorite for local residents who come to watch up and coming local acts during the lunch hour and on weekends.  Located right downtown in the heart of things, crowds of nearly 6,500 people can be accommodates in this urban garden setting.

The Greek Theatre – Located in Griffin Park, this venue goes back to the 1920’s.  Lots of famous acts have appeared in this outdoor amphitheatre that will seat nearly 6,000.  Performances offered April through October.

Hollywood Bowl – This place is legendary (in photo), and your concert experience can include a picnic dinner, bottle of wine, and a spectacular sunset.  The venue is laid back, family-friendly, and can accommodate more than 17,000 people.  Despite its size, concerts here generally sell out, so if you want to catch a performance, be sure to plan ahead and get tickets in advance.  During the summer, the LA Philharmonic calls this spot home.

House of Blues Sunset Strip – You can catch nearly every genre of live music at House of Blues, from hip hop to gospel.  The iconic club looks like something transplanted from the south, with its rusty corrugated roof and factory-like look, but inside its all plush LA.  The Sunday Gospel Brunch is a big favorite.

Knitting Factory Hollywood – Related to the east coast indie-hip Knitting Factory, this location offers some of the most eclectic music you can imagine.  Mexican ska, Cambodian rock, and metalcore join emo, indie and classic rock.  The venue has 3 stages, often blending a diverse audience of music lovers.  Come back often, and you may discover the next greatest act.

Nokia Theatre at LA Live – The newest and glitziest of the live music venues, the Nokia Theatre boast 7,100 seats, none of which are more than 210 feet from the stage.  It’s a big venue, still trying to bring you that intimate music experience.

Walt Disney Concert Hall – Audiophiles will love this venue, with its expert acoustics.  The architecture is also great, and the seats have unobstructed views.  Primarily a venue for classic music, the LA Philharmonic plays here from October through June (after which they move to the Hollywood Bowl for summer performances).

The Wiltern – This venue gets its name from combining the two streets where it’s located – Wilshire and Western, and its Art Deco building can seat up to 2,300 on tiered floors.  Boasting good acoustics, this venue is often used for acts to tape a live concert album.

Photo credit:  SXC

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10 Los Angeles Music Venues Worth a Visit

Queen’s Day

The birthday of the Netherlands’ Queen Beatrix is celebrated each year on the 30th of April. It’s not Queen Beatrix’s actual date of birth but her grandmother’s. Queen’s Day is characterized by a multitude of outdoor activities. Recognizing this, two queens in succession decreed that Queen’s Day should continue to be celebrated on 30th April due to the warmer weather in April.

This is the only day of the year that anyone is allowed to open a street stall and sell anything they want (usually old junk but a lucky gentleman once picked up a small painting for several Euros, got it examined by experts and it turned out to be an original Rembrandt!). The streets of Amsterdam turn into a massive open-air flea market just for this special day.

Amsterdam is also famous for its many Queen’s Day street parties and concerts (in photo right).  The parties begin the night before (Queen’s Night) and continue the next day. These are centered around the Leidse-, Rembrandt- and Museum Squares and attract thousands of visitors. This years’ Queen’s Day celebrations in Amsterdam attracted 600,000 people! For the foreign tourist, it really is an amazing, exhilarating experience to see the Dutch doused in orange (the royal color) and partying it up.

Open Garden Days

This is the perfect opportunity to get a peek inside Amsterdam’s historic canal-side mansions. These mansions were built during Amsterdam’s Golden Era in the 17th century and most are currently privately-owned national monuments. However, for several days in June, visitors are given a chance to step inside these stately houses and admire the interior as well as walk around the secluded, immaculate gardens (in photo left).

Holland Festival

Each year in June, cultural organizations from throughout the world descend upon Amsterdam to showcase their productions. For culture-lovers, the Holland Festival is a dream. Everything and anything one can think of: music, theatre, dance, opera and visual arts; the offerings are so diverse that visitors often have a tough time deciding what to see and do!

Gay Pride

Gay Pride is held during the first week of August but the highlight is undoubtedly the Canal Parade on the first Saturday of the month. The celebrations burst into life on Friday when the major gay areas in Amsterdam (around the Leidse- and Rembrandt Squares, the Reguliersdwars street and the Warmoes street) organize hugely popular street parties. Everyone, gay or straight, young and elderly, from all over the world joins in the fun. Later in the evenings, more parties are held in various bars and discos in Amsterdam.

The Canal Parade starts at about 2pm the next day (Saturday) and follows the entire length of the Prinsengracht (Prinsencanal) and the Amstel River. As many as 80 boats participated in the previous edition while about a half million visitors joined in the party along the canals and bridges.

Grachtenfest/Prinsengracht (Prinsencanal) concert

The Grachtenfest made its debut in 1997 and has since become a much loved Amsterdam event. Held during the warm summer evenings, the Grachtenfest offers classical music enthusiasts a unique opportunity to appreciate classical music in some of the most stunning locations in Amsterdam such as in the private chambers or gardens of canal-side mansions, the Westerchurch or in the Anne Frank House. This week-long event features world renowned musicians and ensembles as well as up-and-coming talent who perform opera classics and chamber music. The Grachtenfest culminates with the world-famous Prinsengracht concert. It is a free concert held on barges anchored in the Prinsengracht (Prinsencanal). It’s a great idea to pack a basket with some food and wine and get there early for the best spots. Set against the flood-lit façades of historic canal houses, the concert is an unforgettable, not to mention highly romantic, experience for every visitor.

Keith Jenkins is a 30-something based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.  Travel and writing are his biggest passions, and he has traveled extensively across 60-plus countries on six continents.  The experience he’s gained from traveling are priceless.  You can read more about his adventures on his blog, Velvet Escapes.

Photo credits:  Keith Jenkins (Gay Pride); all others courtesy of Amsterdam Tourism & Convention Board

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5 Not-To-Be-Missed Annual Events in Amsterdam

Legendary guitarist Carlos Santana will be the first resident performer at the new Joint at the Las Vegas Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, with an opening performance on May 27th.

Carlos Santana opens the Joint, Las Vegas

The show, titled Supernatural Santana: A Trip Through the Hits will cover music from his first single to hit the charts (Jingo in 1969) to his first Top 10 hit (Evil Ways in 1970 to his most recent hit (Into the Night in 2008).

Santana, perhaps best known for the group of the same name, has sold over 90 million records, won 11 Grammy Awards, nine of which are for his 2000 album, “Supernatural Santana.”  In 1998 he was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Claiming to still be a “hippie at heart,” Santana hopes that the music will bring everyone in the audience together as one.

May 27th is opening night at the Joint.  Tickets are priced from $79-299, and can be purchased at the Hard Rock box office, through Ticketmaster, or by phone at (800) 745-3000.  You can find more information about dates, times, tickets, and more, at Supernatural Santana.  There are still good seats available for opening night.

The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is located at 4455 Paradise Road, Las Vegas.

Here’s another Las Vegas show to put on your must-see list!

Photo credit:  Bauer Griffin

Post from: Blisstree

Carlos Santana Opens the Joint, Las Vegas

Opera and classical music buffs will want to consider this Top 10 list compiled by Frommer’s (read the full article for lots more details):

1. 

   La Scala in Milan, Italy

   Göttingen, Germany – The small Deutsches Theater provides a cozy venue for opera lovers.  The town is also home to  the world’s oldest Baroque music festival, the International Handel Festival.

2. St. Petersburg, Russia – The Mariinsky Theater features classical performances as well as those from Russian composers.  The summer White Nights Festival, featuring opera and classical music, is Russia’s largest public event.
3. Wexford, Ireland – Home to the Wexford Festival, and the recently opened Wexford Operate House.  Little knows performers and operas can frequently be seen here.
4. New York City – You knew this had to be on the list, with its outstanding venues of the Metropolitan Opera, Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, and the Brooklyn Academy of Music.  There’s music everywhere you turn.
5. Milan, Italy – Another city that was sure to be in the top 10, Milan has a storied history of opera.  Home to La Scala (dating back to the 18th century), you’ll find both classic and innovative productions.
6. 

   Civic Opera House in Chicago

   Paris, France – The city that’s been the inspiration for a number of operas, Paris  offers myriad venues for opera and classical music.  From the gothic Notre Dame Cathedral, to the classic Palais Garnier (the site of Phantom of the Opera), to the modern Opera de la Bastille, you’ll find venues that you’re sure to love.

7. Chicago, Illinois – The Civic Opera House is an architectural beauty (worth a visit even if you’re not an opera buff), and home to the Lyric Opera of Chicago.  The city’s Chicago Opera Theater presents edgier productions in Millennium Park.
8. Stockholm, Sweden –The painstakingly restored 18th century Drottningholm Court Theatre has a brief summer season, and is also a UNESCO World Heritage site.
9. Santa Fe, New Mexico – This one was a surprise to me, as I hadn’t realized how popular the Santa Fe Opera had become.  The high desert landscape has been incorporated into the adobe theater, providing compelling drama onstage and off.
10. Sussex, England – Home to the Glyndebourne Festival Opera, taking place every summer on the estate of its founder, John Christie.  Think of it as a fancy country house party, complete with world class performances.

Source:  Frommer’s

Photo credit:   Both from flickr,  La Scala, Civic Opera House

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Top 10 Travel Destinations for Opera Lovers

It’s even more so true, though, when you know the artist, and wonder if you can fit yourself into the nooks and crannies…and then wonder, who actually IS there. The songs are surely not about you…or are they? And if they aren’t, why aren’t they?

I live and love in a circle of artists – we are all in some way a creative – whether it’s of lyrics or prose or visual arts – and thus the heart on canvas (or audio) comes up very often, to various results.

And we find ourselves praying to have a song written about us,or for us – and dreading those bitter “ex” songs…but the worst fear of all? Not warranting songs at all. Cause that would truly prove we just aren’t all that significant, right?

Or maybe, just maybe, a song is just a song.

Image: Sxc.hu

Post from: Blisstree

A Song for Love

Truman rocks with "Captain Jack Sparrow's Dad" and the other Stones

I suppose my husband may be right. Perhaps 5 is not too young of an age to spend money on instruments and get our son into music lessons. And, I’ve recently learned, music tuition may actually help children inch ahead of their peers not just musically, but in reading as well. According to the journal Psychology of Music, children who are exposed to a multi-year program of musical training in “increasing complex rhythmic, tonal, and practical skills display superior cognitive performance in reading skills compared to their non-musically trained peers.” Perhaps if I actually had had an interest in music, I wouldn’t have lagged so far behind in reading as a child….odd for a writer, don’t you think?

Truman seems to enjoy books and he’s just beginning to learn how to read (thanks to preschool Phonics!) I honestly was surprised when earlier this week we cracked open Take Me To The Zoo, which we hadn’t read in maybe a year, and my son was able to identify words and read a bit. After a couple pages of that, though, he’s ready to quit and let me tell the story. I really want do more of these reading activities, especially since the summer break is drawing near and he starts Kindergarten in the fall. (I want him to make a good impression with his teacher!)

I found on PBS Kids’ Between the Lions site (which is a great show if you haven’t seen it) some fun games you can play with your kids to entertain them while secretly developing their vocabularies and helping them recognize new words.

Check them out here:

Destination: Library
Word Worms
Watson’s Word Wall
Matching Games

Sources:
Science Daily
PBS Kids

(photo of girl, Flickr, Edwin Dalorzo)

JWJourney

Post from: Blisstree

Study: Music Makes Kids Better Readers!

I went to Madonna when I was pregnant cause, like, that’s who I love. My fetus danced the whole freaking time and still loves it to this day.

But, alas, I’m not that hip.

Still know people who are though.

Via Julie Pippert on Twitter I found out about Pandora – a music genome project which will create a custom radio station for you based on you favorite music.

Only after entering Natalie Merchant (you may not think you love her but you LOVE her and always will) and Meatloaf (you shut up he ROCKS like. no. other.) I realized I needed something NEW.

So, to Mrs. Blogoway I went. Cause dude, she’s to an iphone and she’s always talking about being sick to death of music I’ve never freaking heard of. So I asked her for some recommendations.

Curious?

The Ting Tings (cardio)

Duffy (r&bish_)

Adele (famaliar)

Manu Chao for cooking (really, cooking? special music?)

Thievery Corporation for yoga and drinking wine.

And so I will test these recommendations. Join me.

Do YOU have tunage recommendations for the unhip?

Post from: Blisstree

Pandora and Mrs. Blogoway