2025.06.20 - When Your Feet Don't Touch the Ground

For a few years now, my wife and I have given each other a season pass to a local theatre company's productions as a Christmas present. That's where we recently saw "Finding Neverland". I wasn't sure what to think about this one going in, because I really didn't care for the Johnny Depp film (this isn't the time or place to unpack the pathology of WHY), but our daughter was a big fan so I tried to be positive about it. It says a lot about my feelings about the show that this song, which appears at the climax of the show, made its way into my mental rotation of songs that I wake up in the morning with. Much like the boy Peter in this show, I had to grow up quickly when I was very, very young - although for dramatically different reasons - and there are still things that haunt me sometimes about that phase of my life. This song really brought a lot of those back into the light and made them heal just a little bit more. I realize I'm probably alone in this, but I think naming the production after that terrible movie was a huge mistake for the musical. It's genuinely wonderful.

2024.NOV.05 - Life's a Happy Song!

My wife asked me to start writing these again, so here we go.

For as long as I can remember, I have loved The Muppets. The characters from Seasame Street and Mr. Rodgers were the only reliable things from my childhood, and I can still vividly recall the details of many episodes of each.

In 2011, I was very nervous about the new movie, _The Muppets_, as we took our kids to see it. I didn't know Jason Segel's body of work very well, but my perception of him at the time was that he was a poor man's Vince Vaughn (which…is saying something).

I couldn't possibly have been more wrong about it. What a joyous celebration it was of what made the Muppets such a major factor in the lives of SO MANY PEOPLE.

And nothing could have been done better to settle my fears than the opening number, _Life's a Happy Song_. That is why it remains to this day one of my choices for a morning alarm. Which is probably why it's a frequent repeater for the Song of the Day.

Life's a happy song…

YES. IT IS.

I have a dream...

I hope will come true That you're here with me And I'm here with you. I pray that the Earth, Sea And Sky up above Will send me someone to "lava" (love)

For years, my favorite Pixar short has been the cowboy poetry laden "Boundin'," but ever since watching Inside Out, it has been replaced by this cute, hartwarming, pun-filled treasure.

Now my wife and I love to tell each other (and our children) "I lava you."

Plus - ukulele, man. What's NOT to "lava?"

Listen to it on on Spotify.

Watch it on YouTube:

Well, he was fueled by a lack

Drew inspiration from a need; So many problems to crack, and mouths to feed. Crooked was the path, and brazen was the walk; A cocky swagger up the ladder - and could he ever talk!

Always enjoy the Mighty Mighty Bosstones, and this one is one of their peppiest. It's fun to belt out "it's the last round; A-AH! Do it again!"

Listen to it on on Spotify.

Watch it on YouTube:

Your little piece of heaven turns to dark

Listen to your heart when he's calling for you. Listen to your heart there's nothing else you can do. I don't know where you're going and I don't know why, but listen to your heart before you tell him goodbye.

Not sure why this one. I like Roxette well enough, but I can't even think of the last time I heard this song, and it doesn't seem to be apropos of anything in particular.

Listen to it on on Spotify.

Watch it on YouTube:

Believe it or Not

I'm walking on air I never thought I could feel so free Flying away on a wing and a prayer Who could it be? Believe it or not it's just me.

Things didn't go so well for me the other day; even my wife knew, when she heard me singing this one, that it was more in defiance of my internal struggles rather than a celebration of my own status as someone who is "walking on air."

Listen to it on on Spotify.

Watch it on YouTube:

(Overdue #7: 2015-05-11) One boy, one girl...

two hearts beating wildly. To put it mildly, it was love at first sight.

This is one my wife taught me to appreciate. I really enjoy the way the chorus takes a little twist right there at the end; the meaning becoming so much more. This is a thing I notice a lot more in country music than in most other kinds of music, and I expect that (now that I've called it out here) some of those other songs will leak into my brain in the coming mornings.

Listen to it on on Spotify.

Watch it on YouTube: