No, I'm Not Proud

I heard a song in Wet Seal when I was out shopping a few weeks ago.

Yes, Wet Seal. Don’t judge me.

Anyway, it sounded like some angry, frequent smoker/drinker chick and it just kind of struck a chord with me, even though I don’t normally like angry frequent smoker/drinker chick singers. When I got home, I looked up the band (Thriving Ivory) after remembering a mere one line of the song (I heart Google). Imagine my surprise when I learned that the band actually consists of five young emo guys. And they’re so tortured with their shaggy hair.

I watched the YouTube video and couldn’t make it through the whole song. The guy singer just kills the feeling I get, which in turn, makes me not like the song at all. But I still bought the song because I can picture the angry, frequent smoker/drinker chick in my head and get an entirely different emotion from it. As long as I’m not looking at the brooding emo guy.

So, the point of this post, is a line in the song:

“Pull yourself together before you set yourself apart.”

I like that line. It hits home. Get your crap together before branch out on your own.

Maybe it’s just the “pull yourself together” part as my self, incidentally, completely unraveled over the weekend. So, I felt especially lectured when I heard this again this morning on my iPod. I pictured the angry, frequent smoker/drinker chick cooing at me, very lovingly, saying “Dear. Get yourself together…”

Okay. I can do that.

“And I know and I know and I know
That you’ve had more than you can bear
But you’re gonna have to let it go
No, you’re not movin’ anywhere.”

Yes, yes. You’re stressed and overwhelmed and you’re about to blow a fuse, but get over it (to quote my mother) and skootch along. You’ve got shit to do.

It’s amazing how much I can read into a song.

Speaking of not being proud, Celine Dion just came across my iPod.

I remember listening to her first album, with my brother in his apartment. Her big hits then were “If There Was Any Other Way” and “Where Does My Heart Beat Now”. That’s when I first started singing and, man, you could BELT the Celine songs. But then she got a little to big for me, and then she put a large string section in her band, so I don’t listen to her much at all.
Then one day recently, I heard the song “Taking Chances” somewhere. Can’t remember where. But oy, it hit a nerve. It’s like it was written for me and Todd.

“What do you say to taking chances?
What do you say to jumping off the edge?
Never knowing if there’s solid ground below
Or a hand to hold, or hell to pay?
What do you say?”

It just chokes me up.

Todd has specifically said no Celine at the reception, so you’ll just have to watch the video. And yes, it’s not your speed of music, but the song is short, so just do it.

Okay, back to work.