Michelle Pfieffer - "Never Forget"

We've known she could sing ever since her star turn in The Fabulous Baker Boys. She's consistently given us little glimpses of this underutilized talent of hers. In movies like The Prince of Egypt and Hairspray she used the craft of her acting to shape her singing voice into the character she portrayed, and once again, in an almost overlooked moment, she brings us a dazzling look into the strongest and yet most wounded character in her newest film, the 2017 remake of Murder on the Orient express. 

Her gently frail, almost lullaby take on what is ultimately a mournful song, immediately invoked both the breathiness of current indie artists, and the jewel-box voices of singers of the 1930's, the era in which the film is portrayed. She finds a delicate balance on a razor's edge between classic and current, and I am once again in awe. 

In the pantheon of Hollywood stars, she is luminous. A constellation unto herself, she has helped shape hollywood, and created a mold of actress hollywood is still searching to recreate. I hope that I age half as gracefully. 

So today, with memories on my mind, I choose Michelle Pfieffer's "Never Forget" from the 2017 remake of Murder on the Orient Express, as my, lullabies and laughter, smiles in the sun, distance makes the heart grow fonder, song for a, look to your legends, follow in the footsteps, create your own mold Wednesday.

Blu Cantrell - "Hit 'Em Up Style (Oops!)"

I don't know why, but I woke up with this song in my head. It was just such a funny and fun throwback to a different era of music and different time of my life. It's got that great hook, and it really does make me laugh. 

After her 2 albums in the early 2000's Ms. Cantrell has been away from the musical spotlight, but she certainly left her mark. 

So today, with humor and with smiling eyes, I choose Blu Cantrell's "Hit 'Em Up Style (Oops!)" as my, laughing all the way, go on and do something, it's your life - go out and live it, song for a, break open the blue sky, lift the veil of mourning, Good God Girl Get a Grip, Tuesday.

Dolly Parton - "Hard Candy Christmas"

So I know it isn't December yet, so you may see a repeat of this song in my month of only holiday music, but as I decorated my Mother's home with her yesterday, working diligently to make every last nook and cranny filled with holiday cheer and sparkle, this is the first song we started working to, and the song I was humming all day. 

The holidays can be tough for those who are missing the ones they love. They can be times of bittersweet memories and moments sharp clarity for their current circumstances. It's important to remember as we enter this season of joy, to not only bring cheer, but compassion to those all around. You never know what someone else may be struggling with. 

So today, hopeful and hanging on, I choose Dolly Parton's "Hard Candy Christmas" as my, with memories like winter snow, with joy like the morning mist, with hope like the sun on the water, song for a, make the yuletide gay, gladness and light, love and compassion, Monday.

Rocky Heron - "Can't Help Myself"

It is a rare occurrence in this world, to find someone who shines their light so brightly, and yet never asks anyone else to dim in their presence. In all truth Rocky Heron is the kind of person who not only lights up those around him, but he, in turn, helps those near him to burn more brightly. 

like the Lights of twin stars, he and I have revolved around each other's lives for years, always guiding, helping and cherishing along the way. He's the kind of person you pray you'll run into at least once on this wild journey around the sun. 

His music, that's an entirely different world. Yes, he's a great person, but his music is like a queer Drake mixed in with old 90's R&B and some caribé flavor. A male Rihanna? Sure. A Queer Drake? Yep, An artist that is consistently changing, challenging, and evolving? You got it. 

Let the music drive your forward and let his example lead the way. I'm here for this, and you should be too!

So today, with joy and salt on my skin, I choose Rocky Heron's "Can't Help Myself" as my, hips like honey, beats like butterflies, laughter like sunshine falling all around, song for an, open up and let the possibility it, groove on down the road, make yourself a new rulebook and teach the children Friday!

Get the track here: Rocky Heron - "Can't Help Myself"

Fiona Apple - "Across the Universe"

Chopin said: "Simplicity is the highest goal, achievable when you have overcome all difficulties. After one has played a vast quantity of notes and more notes, it is simplicity that emerges as the crowning reward of art."

And so it is that we come back to the simple, the pure, and the true. One does not need a multitude of things to be happy. You only need to be happy with the things you have. Simplicity is knowing your own heart, and following it's light unto your path. 

So today, with words flowing out like rain, I choose Fiona Apple's delicate cover of the Beatles' "Across the Universe" as my, somewhere out there, let it be me, I am not longer beholden to your image of me, song for a, awash in contradictions, joy and sorrow in equal measure, Look to your own light to find it magnified in another Thursday. 

Van William - "Revolution (ft. First Aid Kit)"

Van William is an American musician. He formed the band Waters (stylized as WATERS) serving as vocalist/guitarist and was the frontman of the band Port O'Brien. He is currently a solo artist.

He is a California native but has lived in Norway, Alaska and New York, and his music reflects those varied landscapes. While living in Alaska every summer growing up, Van worked on his father’s commercial salmon fishing boat, the Shawnee, on Kodiak Island. Van has cited Neil Young, Kurt Cobain, and Lily Allen as his musical heroes. 

His music is somewhere on the borders of indie and folk and there's a touch of windswept magic as you listen to him singing to the countries he's crossed.

On July 18, 2017, NPR premiered the “Revolution” music video featuring First Aid Kit. They also announced the release of The Revolution EP, Van’s solo debut, in September with a full-length release coming in 2018, and I for one and VERY excited. It's well documented how much I love First Aid Kit, and this collaboration they've created is something made of pure folk music bliss.

So today, with tattered hearts in the breeze, I choose Van William's "Revolution (ft. First Aid Kit)" as my, things fall apart so other things can fall together, life's about changing - nothing ever stays the same, Goodbye is only a precursor to Hello, song for a, slip into the mystic, clarity comes like a dagger's point, a dream is a wish your heart makes, Wednesday.

Annaleigh Ashford & Jake Gyllenhaal - "Move On"

I have to start with, for me, no one will ever be able to top the vehemence and passion that Bernadette Peters brought to this show. However, there is something really pure about this performance.  It rings brightly it's own passion, and Jake's performance style has it's own subtle nod to Mandy Patinkin. What really shines for me here, is the urgency in Annaleigh's voice. It is balanced with a gentility and yet still full of passion. A feat not easily accomplished in today's musical theatre. 

The real star here though is, and always has been, Stephen Sondheim's incredible writing. The interwoven melodies blend perfectly and the rise and fall of the singer's vocal patter is truly astounding. In the first few listen's you merely let the sound wash over you, but the more you listen to the song, you see how cleverly disguised these universal truths are, that Sondheim is subliminally sneaking into your heart. 

So today, with guts and guile, I choose Annaleigh Ashford & Jake Gyllenhaal's version of Stephen Sondheim's "Move On" from "Sunday In The Park with George", as my, break open and let it out, it will be new no matter what, learn from the past, song for a, stop worrying where you're going, if you could know you'd already be gone, adventure and hope lie intertwined like lovers in the hayloft, Tuesday.

The better recording

The full live recording

The Originals!

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The Beatles - "Let It Be"

There are a few things we can control in life, our breath, our bodies, our vocal cords, but if there is one thing I've learned in life, there are far more things that we can't. You can't make your heart fall, you can't make someone give you your dream job, you can't make create a diamond out of coal, well not without pressure. 

In moments like this, when the world has gone sideways and life actually feels like the wild ride for your life that it is, I remember the serenity in surrender, and the divinity and acceptance. Take control of the few things you can, your outlook, your perception, the way you receive information, and allow yourself to accept the things that you cannot change. 

No song has said this better than this classic. So as I sit in my meat sack filled with bones and divinity, stuck to this big wet rock floating through space around a giant ball of bright hot gas amidst a cluster of similar galaxies in the vast Universe that's all just made of stardust anyhow, I think to myself, Life is Weird, and so are We, this is awesome, and I am grateful for the chance to experience all of it at once. 

So, today with time like a rubber band, I choose The Beatles' "Let It Be" as my, accept and smile, laugh and shine, break open and find another layer, song for a, it takes pressure to make a diamond, you've got to cut to polish, refine refine refine, Monday.