How our Playlists are Built. Or What I'm Listening To and Why

Music is EVERYWHERE! Inside our cars, in stores, when we're on hold, in movies, on television... it's coming out of my computer right now! The other day, I was remembering how I came across my all-time favorite band, Switchfoot.

It's the most random of stories, but I'm thankful for it, as it's literally changed my life... and my shoes.

I was still in high school, watching a cheesy Disney movie called Model Behavior about a girl who ran into someone that looked just like her and they switched places. It had Justin Timberlake in it, so of course I watched it. Being the music nut that I am, this song came on in the movie and I fell for it. Forget Justin, forget everything but this song. I hopped online and researched the soundtrack (this was before iTunes) and found out the band's name was Switchfoot, the song: Let That Be Enough. Then I stumbled across their CD in a bookstore and I remembered that was the same band. I bought it and quickly became OBSESSED. I shared it with my parents, and they became equally obsessed. Together we've watched this band put out five MORE albums (seven altogether.. I think), loving each one even more. Their concerts are family bonding time, I tell you.

So, that's my big story about how I became an accidental Switchfoot fan. Here are some flash stories about why I'm listening to some other great artists you may love too!

Mindy Gledhill - Anchor

The song Anchor was on an episode of Bones and I fell in love with it. After previewing the album snippets on iTunes I knew I had to have the whole thing. It's such a great addition to my playlist!

Stacy Clark - Connect the Dots

I SHAZAM'd her song Touch & Go in a store at the outlet mall. The whole album is golden. Thank God for phone apps! :)

Erin McCarley - Love, Save the Empty

iTunes suggested this because I bought Stacy Clark's Connect the Dots. They were so right! I LOVE it!

The Civil Wars - Barton Hollow

I don't make a habit out of watching the country music video channel, but out at the lake, it's pretty much the only channel that works. When I was there almost a year ago, this amazing song called Barton Hollow came up, and I googled the band on my phone. Turns out, this duo is one half Joy Williams, and I was a fan of hers from WAY back. I'm an even bigger fan now. These two are amazing. Check out their Christmas songs too. WOW.

Jem - Finally Woken

When I worked in a cubicle a couple years ago, I often traded iPods with the guy that faced me (we used our OWN earbuds, don't worry!), and this album was on his. I still love it... even though it makes me picture sitting in a cubicle sometimes. hahaha. 

SINGLES:

Riverside by Agnes Obel

This song was on an episode of Revenge. It's gorgeous.

Trouble is a Friend by Lenka

From the movie Easy A. Such a fun song.

Girls Just Want To Have Fun - Glee

Did anyone else fall in love with Finn's rendition of this song? It's the way Greg Laswell sings it, as heard in the movie Confessions of a Shopaholic. I don't know what it is... but I LOVE this version.

Last but not least, the song getting the most love on my playlist right now is:

Safe & Sound by Taylor Swift featuring The Civil Wars

It's such a sweet song, and it makes me think of the relationship between Katniss and Prim.

So that's it for this edition. I hope I've introduced you to some new music!

Have you randomly run across your favorite songs too? How? And what are they?

Best Concert of the Summer!

So... as my long time followers will know, I am a bit obsessed (not in a freaky scary way...) with the band Switchfoot.  They are my all-time fav band, and I've seen them more times than I care to admit (and I really don't know if I could count...  a couple times a year at least).

I've seen the Goo Goo Dolls quite a few times as well, so we weren't originally planning on going to the show last night... but HELLO... Switchfoot was the opener! 

Needless to say, my voice is a bit rough this morning--I sound like a man, lol, but it was so much fun!

And to top it all off, total surprise, Switchfoot came out to talk to people after their set, so I got to meet the guys for the third time!  And I didn't have anything for them to sign, but the girls in front of us had them sign their converse so mom and I did the same!

Jon Foreman of Switchfoot:

Johnny Rzeznik of the Goo Goo Dolls

Johnny Rzeznik - Still has the most awesome hair ever!

And this was the opening opening band, Green River Ordinance.  I had actually heard their song "Come On" on the radio before.  They did really good live--new fan.  Check them out here!

Something To Look At Sunday

Just got back from a relaxing weekend at the lake, from which I will post pictures next Sunday as soon as I sift through the plethora of them that I took. But for today... Switchfoot concert photos!! I'm sure y'all are sick of hearing about them and are yelling BASTA (enough)! So, this should be my last Switchfoot bit until I see them again... which I'm sure will be a very long time from now (although, that's what I thought this past November :).

Tim Foreman. Yes, that's my hair on the right... I cropped myself out for posting... mostly because I was REALLY too excited when this picture was taken, and it's just not becomming. LOL.

Me and Jon Foreman. I regained composure SLIGHTLY for this one, but alas, it's not in focus. I'm convinced that 10 of the 20 pounds I'm trying to lose are in my cheeks!

Seabird - the opening band. VERY solid. My favorite song is "Don't you know you're beautiful."

Tim Foreman and Chad Butler (Chad will be on the cover of Drum Magazine in March!)

Jerome - he literally plays everything

Timmy again :)

A SUPER freaky picture of Jon that I just couldn't resist posting. I think it may give me nightmares.

This has been another Something to look at Sunday, and hopefully the last time I burden you with my Switchfoot obsession!! ;)

I hope everyone had a molto bene weekend!

Come back Monday for my interview with Kristi Chestnutt!

*All photographs are property of Kristin Rae and may not be used or duplicated without written permission.

My Face is Missing

Switchfoot ROCKED my face off! There are no words to describe their utter awesomeness. Seriously, everyone must experience the wonder that is Switchfoot in person. Go to http://www.switchfoot.com/ to check out their tour dates and see if they will be in your city. The opening band, Seabird, was absolutely incredible as well. I was very pleased, and am looking forward to seeing them again one day. Such a great night!!!!

I had to get there pretty early for the meet and greet, but missing dinner was worth it. The boys were all so very nice - I brought along all the CD jackets of theirs I could find for them to sign, so now they look spectacular! My dad sort of tried to take pictures of me with Tim the bass player (the little guy on the right), and his brother, Jon, the singer (front and center), but they turned out a bit wonky. I'll get the photos from his camera soon and post some concert shots. We were in the THIRD ROW!! I had NO clue we'd be making eye contact with the guys all night. SO fun!! (I REALLY don't mean to sound braggy... I am just on cloud 9 at the moment.)

Moving along... everyone get ready for an interview next week with Kristi Chestnutt, author of the soon to be released novel, The Wolf Within! So excited!

*I must insert a disclaimer for my previous post - I do not speak fluent Italian, I am just learning :)

And this idea that I'm good at all sorts of things... see... I feel that I mislead some of you. I TRY many things... because I'm interested in WAY too many things!! Some things stick, some things don't. I will expand on this next week, because I really don't want to come across as someone flashing my paintings or new songs or new paragraphs around in everyone's faces saying, LOOK AT ME! So I do hope it never comes across that way. My brain is just overactive in the creativity deptartment (only with certain areas), it never shuts off. Sometimes it's hard for me to sleep because I can't stop thinking of song lyrics, the plot of a WIP, paintings I want to try.... I just have many interests, and I work hard at them. I'm glad I have y'all to share it with, and hope I don't step on any toes in the process! :)

I will be unplugged this weekend, back in full force on Monday with announcements!

Ti auguro una buona fine della settimana!

It's Friday! And the Ally Carter Book Signing!! (Molto Fantastico!)

Went to Ally Carter's signing last night here in Houston. She was delightful! Hilarious, inspiring, friendly! Everything you'd want an author to be when you go to an event.

There were quite a few young girls there (understandably), and my friend and I were amazed at the questions they asked. They were so insightful! Why wasn't I that smart when I was in junior high?! Must get a time machine programmed to 1997 and tell myself, "you ARE cool", and "you should really think about reading more". Maybe I would have started writing more seriously sooner. But what's done is done and everything happens because it's supposed to! So no "shoulda coulda woulda" from me!

A few points of interest from the evening, Ally mentioned how securing the Gallagher Girls series with the publisher was like them asking, "What's your favorite type of food?" "Pizza." "Well congratulations you get to eat pizza every night for the rest of your life!" And at first it's fantastic, but then you start to feel that you want to taste something else. That's where Heist Society came in to play. Inspired from a line she heard in an audio book she was listening to in her car. Something about a cat burglar. Then she knew she had to write a book about a burglar named Kat.

Her inspiration for the Gallagher Girls happened while she was half heartedly watching an episode of Alias (obsessed with that show! Miss it terribly!) with the TV on mute. She looked up from what she was doing just at the right moment that made her think, "Does that girl go to a boarding school for spies?" She unmuted and discovered she was very wrong, but the idea stuck.

Another interesting tidbit; a girl asked why we never see the girl's entire face on the cover of the Gallagher Girls books. She's a SPY that's why! And they originally wanted the first model to do all the covers, but she can't model again until her grades are up (hilarious!), and they've actually had a different model on each of the 4 covers done so far. The second book is a photoshopped face of the first girl on a different girl's body. HA! Marketing... which is also the reason the uniforms are a different color on each cover, so the reader could easily see which one was new.

She took the time to talk to every single person, and was very personable with the young girls, who were a bit star struck. She took photos, signed ALL the books they brought, asked everyone questions... it was such a joy to see an author signing done this way. I was already a fan of her work, but I'm even more so now a fan of her.

And yes, I did snag an extra signed copy for a GIVEAWAY!! I will probably announce it officially on Monday, or Tuesday (mio compleanno), so shhhhh!

Anyway! Tonight also has fun things in store, because I will get to meet these lovely boys again!!

Can't wait to shake their hands (after I wipe the sweat off of mine), and hopefully sneak a picture in with them since I wasn't able to last time... we'll see. THANKS FOR THE TICKETS DAD! Grazie papa! Sono molto eccitato! (I don't know why I feel the need to teach y'all Italian today! lol.)

Venerdi felice! (Happy Friday!)