February 26, 2013 · 6:35 am

Tunes Tuesday: Same Love

I just discovered this song this weekend and it simply left me speechless with its powerful message and beautiful music. I think it is my new favorite song. I hope you like it too.

Same Love
Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, Featuring Mary Lambert

When I was in the third grade
I thought that I was gay
‘Cause I could draw, my uncle was, and I kept my room straight

I told my mom tears rushing down my face
She’s like “Ben you’ve loved girls since before pre-k tripping,”
Yeah, I guess she had a point, didn’t she?
Bunch of stereotypes all in my head.

I remember doing the math like, “Yeah, I’m good at little league”
A preconceived idea of what it all meant
For those that liked the same sex
Had the characteristics

The right wing conservatives think it’s a decision
And you can be cured with some treatment and religion
Man made rewiring of a predisposition

Playing god, aw nah here we go
America the brave still fears what we don’t know
And god loves all his children, is somehow forgotten
But we paraphrase a book written thirty-five-hundred years ago
I don’t know

And I can’t change
Even if I tried
Even if I wanted to
I can’t change
Even if I try
Even if I wanted to
My love
My love
My love
She keeps me warm
She keeps me warm
She keeps me warm
She keeps me warm

If I was gay, I would think hip-hop hates me
Have you read the YouTube comments lately
“Man, that’s gay” gets dropped on the daily

We become so numb to what we’re saying
A culture founded from oppression
Yet we don’t have acceptance for ‘em

Call each other faggots behind the keys of a message board
A word rooted in hate, yet our genre still ignores it
Gay is synonymous with the lesser

It’s the same hate that’s caused wars from religion
Gender to skin color, the complexion of your pigment
The same fight that led people to walk outs and sit ins

It’s human rights for everybody, there is no difference!
Live on and be yourself

When I was at church they taught me something else
If you preach hate at the service those words aren’t anointed
That holy water that you soak in has been poisoned

When everyone else is more comfortable remaining voiceless
Rather than fighting for humans that have had their rights stolen
I might not be the same, but that’s not important
No freedom till we’re equal, damn right I support it

And I can’t change
Even if I tried
Even if I wanted to
My love
My love
My love
She keeps me warm
She keeps me warm
She keeps me warm
She keeps me warm

We press play, don’t press pause
Progress, march on
With the veil over our eyes
We turn our back on the cause
Till the day that my uncles can be united by law

When kids are walking ‘round the hallway plagued by pain in their heart
A world so hateful some would rather die than be who they are
And a certificate on paper isn’t gonna solve it all
But it’s a damn good place to start
No law is gonna change us
We have to change us
Whatever god you believe in
We come from the same one
Strip away the fear
Underneath it’s all the same love
About time that we raised up

And I can’t change
Even if I tried
Even if I wanted to
I can’t change
Even if I try
Even if I wanted to
My love
My love
My love
She keeps me warm
She keeps me warm
She keeps me warm
She keeps me warm
Love is patient
Love is kind
Love is patient
Love is kind
(I‘m not crying on Sundays)
Love is patient
(I‘m not crying on Sundays)
Love is kind
(I‘m not crying on Sundays)
Love is patient
(I‘m not crying on Sundays)
Love is kind
(I‘m not crying on Sundays)
Love is patient
(I‘m not crying on Sundays)
Love is kind
(I‘m not crying on Sundays)
Love is patient
Love is kind

What do you think? Has a song’s lyrics ever made you speechless the first time you listened to them? What song?

I would love to hear your thoughts. Thank you for reading.

11 Comments

Filed under equality, Love, Music, Stereotypes

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February 19, 2013 · 6:24 am

Tunes Tuesday: Ani Difranco

Ani Difranco is simply a poet who sings. Her lyrics are provocative and raw…and always real.

One of my favorite Difranco songs has been covered by other artists, but the words were penned by Difranco.

32 Flavors
Ani Difranco

squint your eyes and look closer
I’m not between you and your ambition
I am a poster girl with no poster
I am thirty-two flavors and then some

and I’m beyond your peripheral vision
so you might want to turn your head
cause someday you’re going to get hungry
and eat most of the words you just said

both my parents taught me about good will
and I have done well by their names
just the kindness I’ve lavished on strangers
is more than I can explain

still there’s many who’ve turned out their porch lights
just so I would think they were not home
and hid in the dark of their windows
til I’d passed and left them alone

and god help you if you are an ugly girl
course too pretty is also your doom
cause everyone harbors a secret hatred
for the prettiest girl in the room

and god help you if you are a phoenix
and you dare to rise up from the ash
a thousand eyes will smolder with jealousy
while you are just flying back

I’m not trying to give my life meaning
by demeaning you
and I would like to state for the record
I did everything that I could do

I’m not saying that I’m a saint
I just don’t want to live that way
no, I will never be a saint
but I will always say

squint your eyes and look closer
I’m not between you and your ambition
I am a poster girl with no poster
I am thirty-two flavors and then some

And I’m beyond your peripheral vision
So you might want to turn your head
Cause someday you might find you’re starving
and eating all of the words you said

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVg7mtgEqGY&feature=youtube_gdata_player

What do you think? What favorite song of yours has been covered by other bands? Do you usually prefer the original song or the remake?

I would love to hear your thoughts. Thank you for reading!

5 Comments

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February 17, 2013 · 12:56 pm

Travel Theme: Mountains

As I have mentioned in previous blog posts, this is an extremely busy time of year at work. My brain is working much more than full-time right now, so I have not had the brain power to do much more than the Tunes Tuesdays series here lately. But Third Eye Mom’s post on the Where’s My Backpack Travel Theme of mountains grabbed me, since mountains are my happy place.

I didn’t get to share any photos from our trip South yet, so I will use this opportunity to do just that. Here are my favorite recent mountain photos from El Chalten and Calafate, on the Argentine side of Patagonia.

My husband at the beginning of our adventure...Copyright JC Politi Photography

My husband at the beginning of our adventure…
Copyright JC Politi Photography

El ChaltenCopyright JC Politi Photography

El Chalten
Copyright JC Politi Photography

Perito Moreno Glacier, Calafate, ArgentinaCopyright JC Politi Photography

Perito Moreno Glacier, Calafate, Argentina
Copyright JC Politi Photography

Perito Moreno GlacierCopyright JC Politi Photography

Perito Moreno Glacier
Copyright JC Politi Photography

 

What do you think? What is your favorite mountain location? Do you prefer the mountains or the sea? What do mountains mean to you?

I would love to hear your thoughts. Thank you for reading!

12 Comments

Filed under International, Photography, Photos, travel, Travel Challenge

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February 12, 2013 · 7:43 am

Tunes Tuesday: Billy Joel

image

My entertainer

I drove my mom’s car from Baltimore to Colorado this weekend. To pass the time, I bought some cds at Target. Two of these cds were the Essential Bruce Springsteen and the Essential Billy Joel. My throat still hurts from singing.

I have heard this song a million times, but this time, it’s lyrics jumped out at me. Just brilliant. I love the 3:05 line and the can of beans.

This week, I bring you Billy Joel’s The Entertainer.

The Entertainer
Billy Joel

I am the entertainer,
And I know just where I stand
Another serenader,
And another long-haired band.

Today I am your champion.
I may have won your hearts
But I know the game, 
You will forget my name,
And I won’t be here 
In another year,
If I don’t stay on the charts.

I am the entertainer,
And I’ve had to pay my price,
The things I did not know at first,
I learned by doin’ twice.
Ah, but still they come to haunt me,
Still they want their say.
So I’ve learned to dance 
With a hand in my pants,
And they rub my neck, 
And I write ‘em a check,
And they go their merry way.

I am the entertainer,
Been all around the world.
I’ve played all kinds of palaces,
And laid all kinds of girls.
I can’t remember faces,
I don’t remember names.
Ah, but what the hell,
You know it’s just as well.
‘Cause after a while 
And a thousand miles,
It all becomes the same.

I am the entertainer,
I bring to you my songs.
I’d like to spend a day or two.
I can’t stay that long.
No, I’ve got to meet expenses.
I got to stay in line.
Gotta get those fees 
To the agencies.
And I’d love to stay, 
But there’s bills to pay,
So I just don’t have the time.

I am the entertainer,
I come to do my show.
You’ve heard my latest record,
It’s been on the radio.
Ah, it took me years to write it,
They were the best years of my life.
It was a beautiful song.
But it ran too long.
If you’re gonna have a hit,
You gotta make it fit–
So they cut it down to 3:05.

I am the entertainer,
The idol of my age.
I make all kinds of money,
When I go on the stage.
Ah, you’ve seen me in the papers,
I’ve been in the magazines.
But if I go cold, 
I won’t get sold.
I’ll get put in the back 
In the discount rack,
Like another can of beans.

I am the entertainer,
And I know just where I stand
Another serenader,
And another long-haired band.
Today I am your champion.
I may have won your hearts.
But I know the game, 
You will forget my name,
And I won’t be here 
In another year,
If I don’t stay on the charts

What do you think? Is there a song with lyrics that you didn’t notice until after listening many times?

I would love to hear your thoughts. Thank you for reading!

20 Comments

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February 5, 2013 · 7:43 am

Tunes Tuesday: Baltimore

I had trouble finding lyrics about Baltimore that do not mention prostitutes, so I thought I would share this sweet video instead of lyrics this week. In case you didn’t hear, Baltmore won the Super Bowl!! Caw caw!!

What do you think? Do you have a favorite song about your hometown? What about a song about your favorite place?

I would love to hear your thoughts. Thank you for reading!

12 Comments

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January 29, 2013 · 7:51 am

Tunes Tuesday: The Unicorn Song

Copyright JC Politi Photography

Copyright JC Politi Photography

For today’s Tunes Tuesday, I have chosen a whimsical song from my youth. I loved this song when I was little, probably for the simple reason that it is a song about a unicorn! What is better than that?

But now that I am grown, I see the depth in these lyrics much more clearly. I hope you will, too.

The Unicorn Song
Peter, Paul and Mary

When I was growing up my best friend was a unicorn
The others smiled at me and called me “crazy”
But I was not upset by knowing I did not conform
I always thought their seeing must be hazy.
The unicorn and I would while away the hours
Playing, dancing and romancing in the wild flowers
And we’d sing

(Chorus)
Seeing is believing in the things you see
Loving is believing in the ones you love.
Seeing is believing in the things you see
Loving is believing in the ones you love.

When I was seventeen my best friend was the Northern Star
The others asked why I was always dreaming
When I did not reply I found my thoughts were very far
Away from daily hurts and fears and scheming.
The Northern Star and I would share our dreams together
Laughing, sighing, sometimes crying, in all kinds of weather
and we’d sing

(Chorus)

And now that I am grown, my best friend lives inside of me
The others smile at me and call me “crazy”
But I am not upset, for long ago I found the key
I’ve always known their seeing must be hazy.
My friend inside and I would while away the hours
Playing, dancing and romancing in the wild flowers
And we’d sing

(Chorus X2)

What do you think? Are there any songs whose lyrics have changed for you with time? What are your favorite songs from your youth? Go ahead, sing it out, loud and proud!

I would love to hear your thoughts. Thank you for reading!

6 Comments

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January 27, 2013 · 10:22 am

Lean In? Maybe it should be Lean On…

Copyright JC Politi Photography

Copyright JC Politi Photography

According to an editorial in the New York Times this week, Sheryl Sandberg, Chief Operating Officer at Facebook, has a new book coming out this year entitled “Lean In.”

Her main hypothesis is that women internalize the messages surrounding them that they should not be aggressive or assertive and that they frequently make career decisions based on concerns that are not yet real, such as kids or a spouse that have yet to come. She places much of the blame for the lack of women in leadership positions on these issues.

I have written about Sandberg’s theories on this blog in the past. I shared that I have fallen prey to some of these tendencies myself over the course of my career. I certainly know that I am an abysmal negotiator when it comes to my salary; sometimes it seems I am more likely to negotiate down than up.

But I wonder about younger women and if this paradigm is shifting. While the statistics on women in leadership positions remain fairly bleak, young women now have competent role models like Hillary Clinton and Sheryl Sandberg and Sonia Sotomayor, whose work encourages them to shoot for the stars.

As I have written before, what has not shifted as much are the workplace policies that allow women and men to find a way to balance a family and a career. There is no question that workplace policies need to shift to enable men, as well as women, to contribute fully in both the workplace and at home if that is what that family chooses.

It seems that young women and men are making more demands of their employers for things like telecommuting and flexible schedules to enable them to better achieve balance. And a number of extremely talented people are making these demands, so companies are forced to choose between accepting these requests and losing talented staff.

The choice for me would be simple. I would choose a balanced, talented staff person any day over someone who is going to work themselves to the bone until they are burned out and unable to contribute. And if all it takes is a flexible work schedule to make that person content over the long-term, who wouldn’t fulfill that request?

What do you think? When do you think we will reach a tipping point and when companies will change their policies to make them more family-friendly? Do you think family friendly policies impact a company’s bottom line? If so, how? Do you think our corporate culture is ready for this shift, or will these change come about as the next generation reaches leadership positions and can force change?

I would love to hear your thoughts. Thank you for reading.

16 Comments

Filed under Business, Career Planning, Culture, Economy, equality, Fitness, Home, Income inequality, Parenting, Politcs, Relationships, social pressures, Stereotypes, Women

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