Category: Music

Why you should watch “Tonight You’re Mine”

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Tonight You're MIneRecently I decided to try out Netflix’s DVD service so that I could finally watch some new releases I’d been wanting to see. While I was browsing through their offerings, I came across a movie called “Tonight You’re Mine.” The synopsis intrigued me:

Shot over the course of five days at Scotland’s annual T in the Park music festival, this unconventional romance centers on a pair of bickering rockers who are handcuffed together; 24 hours later, they’re falling in love.

Yes, the setup is a total cliché, but I’m a sucker for movies about music and musicians, so I figured I’d give it a chance. And I’m really glad I did! The two lead actors are very appealing, particularly Luke Treadaway as Adam. (To be fair, I like looking at scruffy rock stars, so I might be a bit biased!) They have great chemistry together and manage to make the handcuff thing look very natural and realistic.

I also loved the fact that the movie was filmed at an actual music festival; it really captured the energy and magic of 85,000 people coming together to enjoy some great songs. A lot of real bands are featured in the film, and while I had never heard of most of them before, I was happy to be introduced to some new music!

It’s not a perfect movie, by any means. Because the movie is short and was filmed on a very tight schedule, the plot and character development are relatively slight. Also, it’s very hard to hear some of the dialogue due to the challenges of filming at a live event. But there’s enough here to be entertaining for anyone who likes music and rom-coms. This scene alone, where the heroine’s band is playing a gig (with the hero still handcuffed to her arm), sold me:

Unfortunately the end of the song is cut off, but you get the idea. 🙂

There’s also this charming song from the very beginning of the film (actually written by Treadaway):

It’s so freakin’ catchy, I can’t even take it!

Long story short, “Tonight You’re Mine” isn’t going to be one of my all-time favorite movies, but it’s definitely worth watching!

Tune in Tuesday with Katelyn: I wish I could do better by you

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Tune in Tuesday with KatelynMy pick for this week’s Tune in Tuesday is another awesome find from Pandora (seriously, the Mumford & Sons station is great!). The lyrics are just so endearing! I love a simple, straightforward, un-ironic love song — even when it’s also an apology, as I think it is here. I also can’t help swaying and tapping along to the beat. Anyway, here’s “The Girl” by City and Colour:

If you’re not digging the song initially, skip ahead to [2:17]!

A Year with the Beatles: “Please Please Me”

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Beatles_Please Please MeTime to kick off my Year of the Beatles by talking about their first U.K. LP, Please Please Me. It originally came out in 1963, which makes 2013 its 50th anniversary! Overall, I really like the album, which is basically 14 songs of happy, innocent, fresh-faced rock and roll. I think the Beatles’ later work is going to be more interesting, but I can see why this album made them so popular.

I actually did write up my thoughts on all the individual songs…but then I lost them somehow when I published this post! 😦 I had tried to put them under a jump, but in so doing, I inadvertently deleted them. Despite my efforts to restore an earlier draft, it looks like they’re gone for good. So I apologize for not providing the in-depth discussion of individual songs that I wanted to do…I just don’t have it in me to rewrite the whole thing. I’m crushed, but what can you do?

My next Beatles post will be on February 23, when I’ll talk about their second U.K. LP, With the Beatles. (And I’ll have the jump thing figured out by then, I swear!) Stay tuned, and feel free to join me!

Tune in Tuesday with Katelyn: I can hear it clear as day

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My pick for this week’s Tune in Tuesday is “Just Stay” by Kevin Devine. I really like the entire album, Put Your Ghost to Rest, but in my opinion this song is the standout. I love the slow build of intensity throughout the song, to the point where he’s almost screaming at [2:18] and following. Something about this song is cathartic for me; it makes me feel sad in a good way, if that makes sense. Anyway, here it is — hope you enjoy!

2013: The Year of the Beatles

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Confession time: when it comes to the Beatles, I’ve never really understood what all the fuss is about. I’m well aware that this is heresy to music lovers — the Beatles are arguably the greatest band of all time, and certainly one of the most beloved. But while I do like several Beatles songs, I never truly became a fan of the group. As a result, there are many Beatles songs that I’ve never even heard before…and I’m thinking it’s time for that to change.

Therefore, I’ve decided to make 2013 the Year of the Beatles. According to Wikipedia (that ever-reliable source), they released 12 original U.K. LPs. There are also 12 months in the year. Coincidence? I think not! So here’s the plan: I will immerse myself in one Beatles album per month. I’ll listen to it repeatedly and attentively, making notes on the individual songs. Then, on the last Saturday of every month, I will write a post about the album and my reactions to it.

The album for January is Please Please Me, released in 1963. I just realized that this is perfect timing, as 2013 is its 50th anniversary! I already own the CD, so accessing the music won’t be a problem. I’ll post about it on Saturday, January 26, so stay tuned!

My hope in doing this is that I will gain a newfound appreciation for the Fab Four. Maybe I will finally understand what everyone else is talking about when they gush about how amazing/seminal/life-changing this group is! At the very least, this project will make me a more culturally literate and musically knowledgeable person, which is always a good thing!

So what do you think about my musical project? Are you a Beatles fanatic or just a casual listener? What’s your favorite Beatles album or song? I’d love to hear your opinions — and if you’d like to join me in my quest, you’re certainly more than welcome!

Tune in Tuesday with Katelyn: Kick-start my rock ‘n’ roll heart

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meme - tune in tuesday katelynDo you guys remember Jimmy Eat World? They had some radio hits when I was in high school, and I’ve always liked them, though I never became a hardcore fan. But my brother had their CD (Bleed American), and this was my favorite track. Something about the driving pulse of the song, combined with the lyrics (and, let’s face it, the nod to “Crimson and Clover”), just works for me. So here you go with this week’s pick, “A Praise Chorus”:

Tune in Tuesday with Katelyn: I’m lit up like a Christmas tree

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meme - tune in tuesday katelynFun fact about me: Christmas is my absolute favorite holiday. I love that it’s a symbol of hope in a world that often seems dark and full of tragedy. And of course, it’s great to spend some time with family and friends — and OK, presents are nice too! 🙂 So today, in honor of the season, I figured I’d share a Christmas song that I really enjoy. Here’s Sister Hazel’s rendition of “Merry Christmas Baby”:


There have been many versions of this song, but I have to say, this one is my favorite (yes, even over the Springsteen version — sorry, Boss!). It’s just so lively and exuberant that it always puts a huge smile on my face.

Merry Christmas to all! I hope you have a wonderful day and enjoy some relaxation before heading back to work/school/life responsibilities.

Tune in Tuesday with Katelyn: All my desperate calls echo off the walls

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meme - tune in tuesday katelyn

So I actually had a Tune in Tuesday post all ready a few days ago. It was going to feature a Christmas song that I really enjoy (since Christmas is only a week away, you guys!). But then I saw “How I Met Your Mother” last night and couldn’t resist the song they played over the ending montage! For those of you who saw “The Final Page: Part 2” (8×12), wasn’t it a wonderful song choice for that moment? Here’s “Let Your Heart Hold Fast” by Fort Atlantic: