Not Forgetting Otis Redding

As you might already be aware, I am a huge sucker for white hot covers. I honestly don't know what it is—the novelty of something familiar packaged differently or the thrill of discovering someone else's interpretation of something that I've always enjoyed. To me it's almost like watching my prom date come down the stairs all dolled up like I've never seen her before.



I've got to thank my friend Lana for this one. I've always loved (Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay. Not only is it a great song, but it was the first ever posthumous No. 1 single in U.S. Chart History. Otis Redding and Steve Cropper recorded it in 1967 shortly before Otis' death. The record wasn't released until the following year.

Here, Sara Bareilles sings an acoustic version of the 1968 hit. Let me know what you think.

Friday's Song: Pour It On My Pancakes

Back when I was really ambitious about vitalizing my team at work, I used to send an email every week called "Friday's Song." Basically it was my chance to share my music with the masses and provide a musical snack to my coworkers. I would hyperlink a youtube video to the email. That video was usually a song that I was loving at the time, or one appropriate for the events surrounding the day. I never really knew if it was more annoying than anticipated so I just kind of stopped doing it.

Today I would like to revive the tradition by posting a "Friday's Song" on my blog. Now, I understand that it isn't Friday, but because I am running my race tomorrow, this is like my Friday.



Today's selection comes to us from Canada. 21-year-old Justin Nozuka, has a voice that someone once described as "so smooth, I could almost pour it on my pancakes." When I said that, I was listening to his song "I'm In Peace" off of his album Holly. I've embedded it below for your listening pleasure. Enjoy this week's edition of "Friday's" song!



P.S. On behalf of my trainig for the Wasatch Back these past couple of months, I have compiled a somewhat extensive and entirely delicious playlist for the perfect run. Stay tuned for its grand debut in the not so distant future.

Joshua Will Make You Weep

Okay, so I don't usually like to mix artists on a post, but I feel the need to share something Joshua and something Weepies at the same time.

I'm a huge fan of Joshua Radin and it seems like each one of his songs speaks to me. Whether it's his calm way of saying just the right thing lyrically or his knack of smoothing things over with guitar and voice—he has a powerful ability to make things right. Here is his "What If You." Rub this salve on a sore spot at least twice a day.





And here is one that I just heard on last.fm by the Weepies. I have enjoyed a couple of their songs here and there, but I never had anything burr to my shoelace until this one. It's called "Can't Go Back Now." Don't let the muppets fool you. This song is seriously good. I don't know, I may just like the Weepies now.

The Quintessential Josh Kelley Playlist

Once again, I had a soundtrack moment driving up to my parents' house in the Woodland Hills. Josh Kelley's song, "Unfair" came on...Well, to be completely honest, I was the one that selected it, but only because I heard it the other day and wanted to listen to it again. I was able to truly listen to the lyrics and it just seemed to hit the spot.

I was first introduced to Josh Kelley through his song, "Fools Like Me." I had to find more, so I bought four of his albums. I've gone through those four albums and I have selected the best songs for what I would like to call the Quintessential Josh Kelley Playlist. Here it is (Don't forget to listen to the embedded "Unfair" music video included after the playlist):

1. Fools Like Me
2. Unfair
3. Lover Come Up
4. Only You
5. Almost Honest
6. Amazing
7. Masterpiece
8. Justice
9. More Than Love
10. Didn't Hear That From Me
11. Too Good to You
12. Heartache

There you go, if I find anymore (I haven't had a chance to really dive in.) I'll update the list.



Oh, what the heck. Here's "Fools Like Me" as well. I mean this is the one that got me hooked, right?..Okay, I couldn't find it, but here's one that's almost as good. "Only You" was released in 2005 and has been played on the radio. The music video features Katherine Heigl. Apparently this was where the two met. They are now married and have a little girl named Naleigh. Katherine is the muse for Josh's song, "Katie's Song"—which I'm not a huge fan of, but you're more than welcome to check it out on your own.

Perfect Miming

Yes, I do realize that it is after 2 a.m. but I had to document this one...

For someone who has as much music as I and for someone that loves it as much as I, I find it rare that the perfect song comes on at the perfect time. I call it a soundtrack moment--one in which a group of people have spent several weeks/planning sessions/failures selecting just the right music for a specific part in their movie. As I was driving home after a somewhat difficult day, Charlie Chaplin's "Smile" came on my radio.

It's a little ironic, but Justin was saying how I seem happier than I have felt in a long time. I told him it was probably just a facade for how I am really feeling...I have been fretting about a lot of things lately and I've been a little down in the dumps, but I find myself happy despite everything. Because of that tenacious happiness, I share Charlie Chaplin's original "Smile" from his film Modern Times. Enjoy.



Here's a modern take on "Smile" provided by the cast of Glee whom we've grown to love (especially Quinn!)...