music – Sassy Dreams Awake

RIP Eddie

Posted on October 6, 2020 by sassysheisme

My favorite Eddie Van Halen memory:

My older brother idolized him. When Eddie appeared on the cover of Guitar magazine in the 80’s, Scott bought a copy and brought it home. From paper, duct tape and a yard stick, he replicated the guitar, perfectly, drawing out every detail down to the knobs and frets.

Then he wired the stereo so I could sing into a very rudimentary microphone and hear my voice through the speakers. He even built me a mic stand. Karaoke wasn’t even really a thing then.

Our little brother completed our band – banging on feed buckets for drums.

We three kids were so very different, but music brought us together. Always.

RIP Eddie.

(I don’t know if this was the cover, Eddie was on so many, but we were still kids, I’d say early to mid 80’s).

fearless, femininity, feminism, music, Uncategorized

CHAINED TO THE RHYTHM

Posted on June 17, 2017June 17, 2017 by sassysheisme

I really like this song! The lyrics are wonderful, and I was not surprised to see that this was one of Sia’s offerings to another artist.

Let the words sink in. I will never fit into the picket-fence utopia and once I stopped trying to do so, I was much happier!

Chained to the Rhythm by Katy Perry (Video)
Are we crazy
Living our lives through a lens
Trapped in our white-picket fence
Like ornaments
So comfortable, we live in a bubble, a bubble
So comfortable, we cannot see the trouble, the trouble
Aren’t you lonely
Up there in utopia
Where nothing will ever be enough?
Happily numb
So comfortable, we live in a bubble, a bubble
So comfortable, we cannot see the trouble, the trouble

Ah, so good
Your rose-colored glasses on
And party on

Turn it up, it’s your favorite song
Dance, dance, dance to the distortion
Turn it up, keep it on repeat
Stumbling around like a wasted zombie
Yeah, we think we’re free
Drink, this one is on me
We’re all chained to the rhythm
To the rhythm to the rhythm

Are we tone deaf?
Keep sweeping it under the mat
Thought we can do better than that
I hope we can
So comfortable, we live in a bubble, a bubble
So comfortable, we can’t see the trouble, the trouble

Aha, so good (so good)
Your rose-colored glasses on
And party on

It is my desire
Break down the walls to connect, inspire
Ay, up in your high place, liars
Time is ticking for the empire
The truth they feed is feeble
As so many times before
They greed over the people
They stumbling and fumbling and we’re about to riot
They woke up, they woke up the lions (woo!)

Turn it up, it’s your favorite song
Dance, dance, dance to the distortion
turn it up, keep it on repeat
Stumbling around like a wasted zombie
Yeah, we think we’re free
Drink, this one is on me
We’re all chained to the rhythm
To the rhythm to the rhythm

It goes on, and on, and on (turn it up )
It goes on, and on, and on
It goes on, and on, and on
(It goes on) ’cause we’re all chained to the rhythm

creativity, music, pop culture

WHEN FANS CRY

Posted on April 21, 2016April 21, 2016 by sassysheisme

Today one of my coworkers, who usually checks the news around noonish, blurted out, “Prince died!” I went on the internet immediately to verify. It was true.

Ironically, I had spent the morning searching for and finding the video of a coworker singing, “Purple Rain,” during karaoke at the company Christmas party in 2014 to show one of the interns. She had just received them when I walked back to her department to give them the news.

After the denial wore off and other coworkers took their turns singing parts of “Purple Rain,” and sharing random thoughts and memories of Prince, I couldn’t get the song, “Purple Rain,” out of my head – and it’s not even my favorite Prince song.

My 2nd favorite Prince song is largely unavailable – it’s “Most Beautiful Girl in the World,” from his 1995 release, The Gold Experience. The song is not only beautiful and inspiring, it shows Prince’s amazing range. I also have some of his recent funk and random jazz cuts in my collection. He also wrote songs that he didn’t sing himself, like Stevie Nick’s, “Stand Back.”

So much talent and creativity packed into one mind and life.

Super Bowl halftime show – AMAZING. Pouring rain, and when asked if he was going to perform in the rain, he said, “Can you make it rain more?”

My favorite song, though, is “When Doves Cry,” from his iconic Purple Rain album. I was a freshman in high school when it came out, and the lyrics, which I sang with all my heart and pain, resonated with me.

How can you just leave me standing?
Alone in a world that’s so cold? (So cold)
Maybe I’m just too demanding
Maybe I’m just like my father too bold
Maybe you’re just like my mother
She’s never satisfied (She’s never satisfied)
Why do we scream at each other
This is what it sounds like
When doves cry

Musical therapy.

When I came home tonight, MTV had cleared all their normal programming to show Prince videos and the movie Purple Rain. I watched it in its entirety, which I haven’t done in years.

It’s odd, watching an iconic movie filled with such iconic music and persona when the force behind it all is no longer earthside. The performance seems fuller – as if the last breath of the soul finally made its way to the celluloid.

As I expressed in my post WHEN YOUR CHILDHOOD STARTS DYING, the grief is different, but it’s there in every note, video, and other expressions of sadness. Even now, as it appears that Prince’s death might (might) be drug related or suspicious, that doesn’t lessen his impact on people’s lives or my life through his art.

I believe there’s a fine line between creativity/genius and insanity or otherworldliness that is nearly impossible to walk and nearly impossible to understand or fathom. I think that line is what scares me the most when I find myself at my most creative and expressive. Artists like Prince (and many more) inspire me to walk that line regardless of the mystery and to trust the process because no matter what happens if we obey the muse, we bare our souls and may inspire, encourage, challenge, and change others around us.

As people around the world listen, watch, and remember Prince tonight, we will all remember that we have gathered together to get through this thing called life – and his genius was a big part of it.

music, Uncategorized

WHEN YOUR CHILDHOOD STARTS DYING

Posted on January 18, 2016January 18, 2016 by sassysheisme

The headlines lit up again today as it was announced that Eagle Glenn Frey had died today. I’ve had this subject on my mind since the announcement on December 31st that singer Natalie Cole had passed away, and last week, when David Bowie died, I saw the following Tweet which summed up how I felt.

Screen Shot 2016-01-18 at 16.18.22

Natalie Cole

David Bowie

Alan Rickman

Dan Haggerty

Lemmy Kilmister

Glenn Frey

And that’s just a partial list from the past three weeks.

I’ve had the song, “Let’s Dance,” and “China Girl,” by David Bowie in my head for days. Now, “We Belong to the City,” and “The Heat is On,” are crowding them for space. Nevermind the music from the Harry Potter soundtrack from when Harry sees the real Snape in the Pensieve rolling around in there, too.

I’ve seen people sniping and rolling their figurative eyes all over Facebook and Twitter at how other express their very real grief over the loss of a celebrity. The grief is real, it’s just not the same as when someone you love or knew well dies. It’s the grief of being old enough to watch your childhood slowly die one celebrity at a time with an increasing regularity.

My entire life has a soundtrack, and Glenn Frey and David Bowie were a big part of it – especially in high school. Natalie Cole has been a favorite of mine for decades. Add in iconic movies – the visual history, and books – my literary history, and when actors, authors and others who have left an imprint on my life start to leave this world, and it has an effect.

Songs can take me back to a time, all I have to do is close my eyes. Music has been a strong rudder in my life. It’s no surprise that a tear or tears will come to my eyes, when a voice or sound from my childhood/younger years is silenced.

I imagine as I grow older, more of my cultural influencers will be silenced with an ever increasing regularity. It comes with the territory, I suppose. I will mourn their influence in my own way, as will generations who have been touched by their extraordinary lives.

creativity, music, Yahweh's fingerprints

THE ELUSIVE, YET STUNNING BEAUTY WITHIN SUCH MALADY

Posted on February 8, 2011 by sassysheisme

I enjoy reading the Owl City Blog. Even though Adam is my mirror age (24), I can identify with so much of what he writes, especially his recent entry about his struggles with insomnia.

It’s a funny thing. Even now I often find myself wide awake staring at the ceiling, and when the Ambien runs out, it seems as though all I do is toss and turn. However, a wry irony lurks within such sleepless nights by which my restlessness ultimately becomes the fuel for all sorts of dreams — consciously wakeful though they may be.

Adam does what I cannot seem to do – use that curse of too much awake time to be productive and turn my sleep deprived dreams into reality. Even as young as he is, he has learned to harness the power of that which keeps his eyelids glued open and uses it to bring his dreams to life.

Despite any such treatment, the ailment is altogether chronic and incurable BUT it may be the very reason by which I’ve unearthed such elusive, yet stunning beauty within such malady.

The elusive, yet stunning beauty within such malady.

To have such insight and vision to see the beauty in the very thing we feel is a curse is a gift. Embracing this gift may not lead to restful sleep, but it may bring me to a place where I can accept my normal and learn to work within it.

By the same idea, the alluring light at the end of the tunnel can often flicker and burst forth into a hideous freight train hurtling in my direction.

Been there, many times. The freight train is the reminder that my beautiful malady has a dark side that I must deal with on a daily basis. The creative dreamer must make the freight train, the insomnia, the oddity, the malady work together.

However, I delight in the mere fact that being a dreamer often exempts me from the rules of reality and her consequences, be they good or bad — and I love how dreams propel the mind of an artist into imagining what the world might be like if such dreams were in fact reality. It’s a compelling thought and it keeps me on my toes. I love that.

Adam often says that “reality is a lovely place but I wouldn’t live there.” I know exactly how he feels.

about shae, lists, music, photography, video, Yahweh's fingerprints

DISCOVERIES (2009)

Posted on December 31, 2009 by sassysheisme

Yeah, yeah, so the fever of list making has finally hit me.

DISCOVERIES IN MUSIC

Interestingly enough, I owe most of those discoveries to Joe Ben, who is always ahead of me in discovering great music. Thank goodness he’s the type of guy who shares.

Song that brought me to my knees: “How He Loves” by the David Crowder Band.
And I can’t let this post go by without mentioning Steve, the computerized drum kit made by Bwack, and one of the songs off the David Crowder Band’s Church Music CD called, “God Almighty None Compares.” You can see Steve in the upper center of this video and you will enjoy some of the best guitarmony I’ve heard in a long, long time!

DISCOVERIES IN BOOKS

The Dune series by Frank Herbert

The Shack by William P Young (led to an incredible moment in my life)

“Leaf by Niggle,” from Tales of the Perilous Realm by JRR Tolkein

Tales of Beedle the Bard, by JK Rowling (these really are great kids’ stories)

DISCOVERIES IN MOVIES

Sam Worthington (Terminator Salvation, Avatar)

JJ Abrams rebooted Star Trek and I LOVE it!

Boondock Saints I & II (thanks, Green Onion)

Video that made me laugh out loud: David Crowder Band – Twitter Will Kill You

DISCOVERIES IN TV

I really miss Chuck.

24 Just started watching this year, thanks to Joe Ben… and Season 7 is all I’ve seen.

A show I loved, Battlestar Galactica, aired it’s last episode (though spinoffs abound) this spring.

Another show I loved that was well acted and written, Kings, did not make it to season 2.

DISCOVERIES ABOUT HOUSTON

It really can snow in Houston and it can snow two years in a row.

You can be completely covered (with just your face showing) in near freezing temperatures, and mosquitos will still attack you.

DISCOVERIES ABOUT MYSELF

I do like wearing hats that do not have team logos/company brands on the front.

I love taking pictures and I hope to continue to learn and to take my photography to the next level.

I enjoy being female (hence another hat and purse purchase earlier today. I still blame Mish).

Heartbreak is a painful experience, but it isn’t fatal or final… and I’d rather hurt than feel nothing at all.

Hope is still a tattoo-worthy word.

Courage is a lot scarier than one might think but worth every drop (weather that be blood, sweat or tears) it requires of me.

Going with the flow is a lot less exhausting than fighting change.

I am stronger than I think I am.

I have a long way to go, but I am slowly but surely moving forward.

music

BREATHE

Posted on October 10, 2009 by sassysheisme

Ok, so my Inner Geek is showing… I heard this song on the new Stargate Universe last night. I had no trouble finding the song on Amazon.com MP3 today because apparently my Tribe of Geeks liked the song as well.

Alexi Murdoch is an indie artist and has another CD coming out this year. I know there’s not going on with this visually, but the song is amazing and I wanted you to hear it.

music, Yahweh's fingerprints

HAPPINESS

Posted on February 13, 2009 by sassysheisme

The entire The Fray album is excellent, both lyrically and musically. I could listen to it all day long (ok, right now I do). My favorite songs are “You Found Me,” and the album closer, “Happiness.”

I listened to “Happiness” just once before I thought of a friend of mine and how we both wrestle with this beast. I love it when I listen to a song and it brings me to a person, place, a sigh, a conversation or confession. I think this song will be a favorite of mine for years to come, just because of how much takes hold of me even when I’m not listening to it.

Happiness isn’t a given, it’s a choice. It’s not a feeling, or a right, or person, or a thing. I believe happiness is something that happens when I choose hope and let it lead me to places I could never dream of on my own. Before happiness, there must be hope, and before I can choose happiness, I must choose hope.

Happiness…Look for it and you’ll never find it all
But let it go, live your life and leave it
Then one day you’ll wake up and she’ll be home

HAPPINESS
(Isaac Slade/The Fray)

Happiness was just outside my window
I thought it’d crash blowing eighty miles an hour
But happiness is a little more like knocking
On your door, you just let it in

Happiness feels a lot like sorrow
Let it be, you can’t make it come or go
But you are gone, not for good but for now
And gone for now feels a lot like gone for good

Happiness is a firecracker sitting on my headboard
Happiness was never mine to hold
Careful child, light the fuse and get away
Cause happiness throws a shower of sparks

Happiness damn near destroys you
Breaks your faith to pieces on the floor
So you tell yourself that’s enough for now
But happiness has a violent roar

Happiness it’s like the old man told me
Look for it and you’ll never find it all
But let it go, live your life and leave it
Then one day you’ll wake up and she’ll be home

music, video

COLDPLAY – VIOLET HILL

Posted on June 6, 2008 by sassysheisme

Less than two weeks until the new CD comes out!

music, Yahweh's fingerprints

THE OLD STUFF

Posted on May 27, 2008 by sassysheisme

I’ve been listening to OLD CD’s tonight… one is Robbie Seay’s debut indie CD (the one with the inspired straw-wrapper cross on it) which has one of my favorite songs: “All I Can Say,” written by David Crowder. (Dude. That CD is 10 years old, can you believe that? – I also listen to “Run These (bare) Feet,” frequently).

I remember the first time I heard Robbie sing, “All I Can Say.” The tears came pouring out in spite of my attempts to maintain my cool. I wondered when the songwriter crawled inside my heart and wrote out was was buried deep inside it. No offense to THE CROWDER, but this version is my favorite, not only because the barefooted kid from Waco sang it with all his heart that night, but whenever I listen to this CD, and in particular, that song, I am taken back to the night these words attached themselves to my heart forever and all the nights since that I’ve found comfort in them.

This song helped me take steps forward when I didn’t think I could move an inch because I knew someone else understood and gave words to my heart’s aching. Thank you, Crowder for sharing your heart and your words, and thanks, Robbie for giving them a voice that night (and tonight).

“All I Can Say”

Lord I’m tired
So tired from walking
And Lord I’m so alone
And Lord the dark
Is creeping in
Creeping up
To swallow me
I think I’ll stop
Rest here a while

And didn’t You see me crying?
And didn’t You hear me call Your name?
Wasn’t it You I gave my heart to?
I wish You’d remember
Where you sat it down

Chorus:
And this is all that I can say right now
And this is all that I can give

Bridge:
I didn’t notice You were standing here
I didn’t know
That was You holding me
I didn’t notice You were crying too
I didn’t know that
That was You washing my feet