26 Hours

Last weekend I left the office at 12pm on Saturday and did not return until 3pm on Sunday. For those glorious 26 hours I did not do one single school related thing! Instead I packed up and headed to Atlanta for the night to head to a concert with a friend! 

For the record, if you ever have the chance to see Ingrid Michaelson in concert, you should drop everything you're doing to make it happen. I've been to one concert before and this one did not disappoint either. That girl can sing and puts on amazing show! To say her live performances are infinitely better than her [already amazing] CDs would be a bit of an understatement. 

Although we bought the tickets for the first act, the headliner was Rufus Wainwright. I don't know much by him, but man, what a performance from him as well! So much talent and awesomeness in one night. And that guy is truly a fantastic performer. 

A great show by everyone, and a lovely weekend with a good friend! So I'll leave you with a clip from what was, for me at least, the absolute highlight of the night. Ah-mazing. 

a packing playlist

Over the past week of packing (and yes, I actually started before the night before!), I've discovered the best companion through it all is a good playlist. And I feel as though I've really put together a gem with this one. It's a mix of new and old, relatively unknown and occasionally overplayed, lame and awesome, German and English. And I would completely recommend any one of these songs! 

can we talk about nothing to do with living in Germany for a second?

Oh hey, yeah, I'm still in Germany and yes I still have about a million things to share that have happened in the past couple weeks. But lets all just take a moment to watch this:

I'm gonna go out on a limb and say it's not secret that I'm a fan of musicals. And ever since I saw Les Mis in NYC on Broadway when I was 14, it's pretty much been one of my favorites! 

But I'm having some mixed feelings about the movie. 

On one hand, I'm so excited they're making a movie so I can get the dvd and watch it and sing along till I'm blue in the face (because sometimes having a movie makes singing along more exciting than just a cd). Also, Hugh Jackman? Yes please, Mr. Valjean. Plus, loved Amanda Seyfried in Mama Mia and I'm pretty sure she's the perfect cast for Cosette. 

BUT, I have a big problem with casting actors over singers in movie versions of musicals. Let's start with Anne Hathaway. She actually sings better than I was expecting - and I'm slightly ok with her role, because she'll die in the beginning so it doesn't matter if she does suck too much. However, she has one big mountain to tackle, I Dreamed a Dream which you hear in the trailer. I wasn't blown away with it, but I feel as though I should withhold judgement till I can hear more.

My biggest concern is Russel Crowe. I mean, I don't know - can he even sing? I'm terrified that he's going to do to this movie what Pierce Brosnan did to Mama Mia. That is to say, completely ruin it! I also love Javert's parts, so they absolutely cannot be ruined! 

Any thoughts out there from the peanut gallery? I'd love to know what you all think of it! 

Otherwise, that's all I had to say about nothing to do with Europe for now. We'll get back to business tomorrow! 

The Olympics of American Idol in One Night

What could be as magical as an entire season of a reality singing competition combined with the international elements of the olympics all performed in one night?


Only the Eurovision Song Contest, of course!


So, for the Europeans reading this - as far as I can tell, there's really no middle ground, you either love it or you hate it - so you're probably thinking one of two things right now:

"OMG!! Best night ever!! SO MUCH FUN! Must stay up all night and vote and watch!!!"

or

 "wtf. Seriously? How embarrassing."

As for the non-Europeans, you're most likely thinking "uhh...?" So let me explain.

via

Eurovision has it's origins back in the 1950's when someone, somewhere thought that an good old fashioned singing rivalry was just what post-war Europe needed to get everyone talking to each other again. It is held every year in May and takes place in the country of the previous year's winner (for example, in 2010 the contestant from Germany won, so in 2011 Eurovision was hosted by Germany). 

Each country selects one musical act to represent them on the big night. I think there is a days of semi-finals and trials and such, but the big event - everything that matters - happens on one night and lasts about 4 hours.

So how do you win this Olympiad of singing competitions? It's a pretty genius system really.  Each country scores their top 10 favorites (but you're no allowed to vote for your own country). The #1 favorite for any given country gets 12 points, #2 gets 10 points, #3 gets 8 points, and #4 - #10 get 7 down to 1 point respectively. But let's be honest, getting points in Eurovision is pretty much 75% crazy, flashy show, 15% political/social ties with other countries, and 10% actually quality of singing. Which, in my opinion, makes it all the better! 

Sounds pretty epic, doesn't it? So when can you catch Eurovision 2012? Well, you can't. It happened a couple weeks ago. But don't worry, there's always Eurovision 2013! And guess what everybody, it's going to be hosted by one of my favorite countries! That's right, Sweden, the country that can do no wrong, continues to get it all right with this, their winning Eurovision entry:

But guys, if you thought that was good, you're gonna be so disappointed that Russia only came in 2nd. 

what I'm currently playing on repeat

Anyone who knows me, knows that I can listen to the same song[s] on repeat for about 5 months without getting tired of them. My current obsession (between this song, and most definitely this song), is from the Voice of Germany (or, as the commercials like to say, "the Woice of Germany"). Yes, I'm kind of in love with this show and I'm not ashamed (ok maybe a little ashamed) to admit it! 

Anyway, last week was the semi finals and my favorite singer (it's a redhead thing, guys) sang this song and I can't stop listening to it. 

also, while searching for that link, I came across this cover by my redhead and got all weak in the knees
also also, 1000 points to anyone who finds the grammatical error in the 2nd verse. 

The Christmas Song[s]

No matter what country I'm in, I can't deny what a sucker I am for Christmas music! The music goes on on Thanksgiving and is rocked out to almost exclusively for the following month. And over the years I've been able to really perfect my Christmas playlist - a mixture of traditional and unique, seriously and silly, nostalgic and new - so I thought I'd share it with you, people of the internet!

Sufjan Stevens - Songs for Christmas
I first got this album last year and it quickly became my absolute favorite Christmas album. It covers almost every traditional Christmas song - you know, the ones that were in all the carol books but you'd never actually heard a day in your life. But there are also quite a few new songs. If nothing else, I would definitely recommend you take a minute to listen to "Lo! How a Rose E'er Blooming" and "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing"

The Killers - Annual Christmas Single
-Boots
-Don't Shoot me Santa
-Great Big Sled
-Happy Birthday Guadalupe!
-Cowboy Christmas Ball
The Killers are my favorite band. And every year they put out a Christmas single and give the benefits to charity. The songs are all fantastic. Perhaps a little strange in subject, but just great! 

Amy Grant - A Christmas Album
- Tennessee Christmas
- Sleigh Ride
I actually don't know why I don't have the entire Amy Grant Christmas Album. But this really goes back to the good ol' days. See, having been born in Nashville and living just outside for 8 years, all Amy Grant music pretty much defines my childhood. And, despite the fact that I haven't lived in Tennesse for over 15 years, it is absolutely not Christmas without listening to a tender Tennessee Christmas!

Cary Brothers - Father Christmas
It's upbeat and fun... but I'm still not entirely sure what it's about. A department store Santa getting beat up by spoiled kids for money. But then there some nice bits about feeding the hungry. Good, but confusing.

Coldplay - Christmas lights
Fantastic stuff.

Ingrid Michaelson 
-Snowfall
-Winter Song (with Sarah Bareilles)
-Auld Lang Syne (with lots of others...)
I love Ingrid, and she does Christmas pretty well. I really wish she'd put out a full Christmas album. I'd defs buy it. 

A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All
As per Stephen Colbert, this album is just ridiculous! It's a combination of completely new songs and traditional songs with Weird Al'-esque reworking. Stephen Colbert sings quite a few himself, but the album also features guests artists from Willie Nelson to John Legend. I laugh every time a I listen to this, and yet I still find myself humming the songs constantly.

Mariah Carey - All I Want for Christmas is You
'nuff said.

Michael Buble - Let it Snow!
-Let it Snow
-Grown up Christmas List
I grew up on Amy Grant's "Grown up Christmas list" but I have to say, Michael Buble does a pretty good job himself.

Deathcab for Cutie - Christmas (baby, please come home)
Great new take on a lesser known classic

Dean Martin - Baby It's Cold Outside
a classic Christmas playlist must-have

Josh Groban - Noel
I've pretty much been obsessed with Josh Groban since day 1. Seriously. Ask my mom, who had to wait till I was out of the country to get rid of the cardboard cut-out I'd stolen from Barnes and Noble  that had been living in my room since high school. That being said, this is not my favorite Christmas album. There are some really great ones on it like the original song "Thankful" or the tear-inducing "I'll be Home for Christmas" with voice overs of messages from military men and woman overseas. Otherwise, though, I found the whole thing a bit overdone. My absolute favorite Josh Groban Christmas song (and probably my favorite Christmas song ever), O Holy Night, is unfortunately not on this album, but it is available to download and definitely on the playlist!

Polar Express Soundtrack
-only the good songs
I bought this because of the Josh Groban theme song. Which I do enjoy! Otherwise, I got rid of all the songs written for the movie and kept the classics. Lots of good old-timey gems on this one. 

Honorable mention go to A Very She & Him Christmas (She & Him) and Christmas! (Michael Buble) which I have been listening to pretty much everyday on Grooveshark, but haven't quite made the commitment to download them yet. Both really great interpretations of new and old Christmas music!

So, that is my Christmas list! Recognize anything you like? Or do you have any other suggestions to make the cut?

don't forget your kilt - we're going dancing!

Berlin updates are going to have to wait till I a) get my sweet disposable cameras developed (which also depends on my figuring out where and having €€€) and b) finish with all my Scotland stories!

So today's post is brought to you by the traditional Scottish dance party (that's how I'll describe it anyway) called a Ceilidh (pronounced KAY-lee. duh). I didn't really know what to expect, but when we walked in and were greeted by the general dress code of kilts, tshirts and heavy boots, I knew I'd like it. 

Basically, it is a live band playing traditional Scottish music (on their electric fiddles, of course...) and everybody dances along. I don't mean dancing like prom night, but actual traditional dances. 
How do you join in if you don't know the dances, you might ask...
Before each dance, you go out on the dance floor however they tell you to line up (the majority had all the couples in one giant loop around the dance floor, boys on the inside, girls on the outside. Some had us in small circles of 6 or 8. One was 5 couples in a straight line, partners across from each other). Then they walk you through the steps. Some were simple: forward 3, hop, backwards 3, hop, spin the girl, waltz forward 8. While others were more complicated: 4 people hold hands and twist in and out of each other, 2 people work together to pick up 2 others under the shoulders and spin them around so fast their feet fly out. But they were all so much fun. After they walk you through it once, it's time to bust out your best moves. Or just, as I did, cross your fingers and hope you don't die. 

This Ceilidh is sponsored by the university and comes once a month. The crowd ranged anywhere from small kids (only a few, though) to old men (they would have seemed like creepers if I wasn't afraid they were going to die from the fast-paced music). There were experienced dancers who knew all the dances and did them well, then there were people like me who were there for the first time. 

We danced hard for a good 3 hours - I was so exhausted (and sweaty) by the end! And Simon, Shahida's   boyfriend, was such a good sport being the only boy in our group with 3 girls.  So it was always one girl dancing with Simon and then two other girls dancing together  (which, of course, led to the next decision of who was going to be the boy). 

And to wrap it all up, we all gather in a big circle and hold hands and sing Auld Lang Syne. Or as I like to call it [G]Auld Lang Syne (because I'm just that cool). 

Oh Scotland, thanks for the red hair, love your dancing!