State of Mind

One of my nerdy habits is to make random music playlists with a theme. I have my "Manuary" list with ballads sung by and about men, "Happy Happy Joy Joy" with songs about happy things, and "Time Flies on Wings of Lightening" with tunes about the seconds, hours and minutes that fill our lives. In that spirit, I thought I would create a "Tax Return" playlist, because after all, I'm a tax accountant. I've spent a lot of time over the past few months looking at federal, state, and local income tax returns.

So, without further ado, here is a Federal and 50-state playlist for you, along with some explanations of why I choose certain songs. Admittedly, some of the connections are a little tenuous, but this is hard. If any of you have better suggestions, I'm all ears.

The Feds - "Taxman," The Beatles; "Born in the USA," Bruce Springsteen; "I am a Patriot," The Burns Sisters; and of course this gem:


"50 State Song," Animaniacs

Alabama - "Sweet Home Alabama," Lynyrd Skynyrd (If you haven't seen it, there is a most excellent documentary that will explain the lines about Muscle Shoals and Swampers!)
Alaska - "Frozen" movie soundtrack (because this is true of Alaska very often)
Arizona - "It's Too Darn Hot," from the Kiss Me Kate soundtrack (because this is true of Arizona very often!)
Arkansas - "I'm a Bad, Bad Man," from Annie Get Your Gun ("There's a girl in Arkansas/The Sheriff is her brother in law" - we're talking quality rhymes here)
California - Beach Boys (all their songs sound the same, so there's a bunch of options)
Colorado - "High Flying, Adored," Evita (because they have high mountains. And legal weed)
Connecticut - "Rain in Spain," My Fair Lady ("In Hartford, Hereford, and Hampshire"...Hartford is in CT!)
Delaware - "Long Way," Antje Duvekot (this one mentions several states but Delaware is slim pickings!)
District of Columbia - Okay, this one I don't own, but it makes me laugh: "Washington, D.C.," The Magnetic Fields. Also, AC/DC.
Florida - Disney, Disney, and more Disney
Georgia - "The Devil Went Down to Georgia," The Charlie Daniels Band (honorable mention: "Georgia on my Mind," Ray Charles)
Hawaii - Jack Johnson (he was raised in Hawaii and a lot of his songs are about surfing)
Idaho - "Hello, Little Girl," Into the Woods (Idaho has wolves, this song is sung by a wolf)
Illinois - "Chicago" soundtrack (If I track down the CD, which I have somewhere, could also use "Illinoise" by Sufjan Stevens)
Indiana - "Gary, Indiana" from The Music Man
Iowa - "Iowa Stuborn" also from The Music Man
Kansas - "Over the Rainbow" - of the many versions of this Wizard of Oz classic, I love Eva Cassidy's (even if you're not in Kansas anymore, this is a great song)
Kentucky - "Fugue for the Tinhorns," Guys and Dolls ("I got the horse right here" - Kentucky derby, anyone?)
Louisiana - The Princess and the Frog soundtrack (honorable mention: "Down at the Twist and Shout," Mary Chapin Carpenter)
Maine - "Carrying the Banner," Newsies Soundtrack ("Remember the Maine!" was the battle cry of Hearst, one of the newspaper publishers mentioned in Newsies)
Maryland - "Good Morning, Baltimore" from Hairspray
Massachusetts - "Sweet Caroline," Glee version because it's better than Neil Diamond (this is sort of a theme song for the one and only Boston Red Sox)
Michigan - Dreamgirls soundtrack, or anything Mo-town
Minnesota - When I think of Minnesota, I always think of the radio show A Prairie Home Companion.  If you don't listen to it, you should. One of my current favorite groups from the show is the Wailin Jennys, and while they're technically from Canada, I associate them with Minnesota.
Mississippi - O, Brother, Where Art Thou (honorable mention: "Mississippi," Sheryl Crow - because doesn't everyone stay in Mississippi a day too long?)
Missouri - "Kansas City," Oklahoma
Montana - "Sweet Baby James," James Taylor (somehow, this song evokes cowboys and open space, which is my stereotype of Montana)
Nebraska - "Fields of Gold," Eva Cassidy (there's a lot of corn, fields, and cornfields)
Nevada - "Luck be a Lady," Guys and Dolls soundtrack
New Hampshire - "My Girl," The Temptations (did you know that NH is the only state to have an all female congressional delegation AND a woman governor? Guess it's easier if you have only two representatives in Congress)
New Jersey - Bruce Springsteen, obviously. "Born to Run" or "Atlantic City" seem appropriate.
New Mexico - "Santa Fe," Rent soundtrack (or the Santa Fe song from Newsies)
New York - this state overflows with options - you got your "Empire State of Mind," "NYC" from Annie,  the entire soundtrack of Guys and Dolls and 42nd Street, so much more.  Unfortunately I don't have a recording of it, but Hugh Jackman sings a dreamy version of "I Happen to Like New York."
North Carolina - "Carolina On My Mind," James Taylor (the wording could be North or South, but since Mr. Taylor was raised in North Carolina, I went with North)
North Dakota - "Rocky Racoon," The Beatles (Rocky lived in the black hills of Dakota!)
Ohio - Annie Get Your Gun (did you know Annie Oakley was from Ohio?)
Oklahoma - "Oklahoma," Oklahoma (duh! this song actually inspired this whole playlist idea, because I like to sing this song to myself when I review Oklahoma tax returns)
Oregon - "Citywide Rodeo," The Weepies (For whatever reason, I had a lot of friends and roommates in college from eastern Oregon. Pendleton, OR has a big rodeo so I weirdly associate rodeos with Oregon)
Pennsylvania - 1776 soundtrack
Rhode Island - Dan in Real Life soundtrack (it takes place partially in Rhode Island)
South Carolina - "Time," Hootie and the Blowfish (a little research turned up the fact that this band was organized at the University of South Carolina!)
South Dakota - "Train Going South," Peter Breinholt (because if you're in North Dakota, why would you not want to go south? Also, speaking of the Dakotas, there's a great clip about the Dakotas from The West Wing (yes, it always comes back to that show) - watch the episode "We Killed Yamamoto" because I can't find it on Youtube)
Tennessee - "Walking in Memphis," Marc Cohen
Texas - "Wide Open Spaces," The Dixie Chicks
Utah - Mormon Tabernacle Choir and/or BYU singing groups
Vermont - Sound of Music soundtrack (Did you know the Von Trapp family settled in Vermont and established a lodge?)
Virginia - "The Lees of Old Virginia," 1776 (and of course, "Meet Virginia" by Train is a solid choice as well)
Washington - "I Love the Rain the Most," Joe Purdy (It rains in Washington, a lot apparently)
West Virginia - "Coal," Kathy Mattea
Wisconsin - "Tire Swing," Kimya Dawson (there's a fleeting reference to Madison, WI)
Wyoming - "Why Do I?" by Joe Purdy is a song about loneliness (because WY is the least populated state per square mile in the lower 48, seems legit), and I always want to say "WHY?-oming"

So there you have it, the jams to listen to while you review tax returns late at night in a windowless office. Can you tell I listen to a lot of Broadway? Happy End of Busy Season to me, and to all the tax accountants who are still sober enough to read this!

Smile

Don't know why, but couldn't come up with a good political post tonight. However, this song was on my mind, so I thought I'd share.

"Smile," Glee Cast

Change

In search of an easy blog post, I Googled political protest songs and found this one.  Change will come, and hopefully for the better.

Sam Cook, "A Change is Gonna Come"

Ghosts

Halloween just passed, so I thought I'd post a political song about a ghost.  Specifically, the ghost of Tom Joad.  This song takes its theme from Grapes of Wrath, one of my all time favorite books and a great narrative - you should read it.

Elvis Costello & Mumford & Sons, "Ghost of Tom Joad"

Political Science

I can't remember if I've shared this before on the blog, but here's one of my favorite political songs, simply because I can't make the words of the blog post I want to write now.  Hope it brightens your Monday and makes you laugh a bit.

Randy Newman, "Political Science"

I Think I'll Try (Defying Gravity)

It should be pretty clear that I'm not a risk taker.  After all, I'm an accountant - kind of the definition of lame and "safe career choice."  But sometimes you have to try to defy even the laws of nature.  It's why I found Nick Wallenda's walk across the Grand Canyon foolhardy, yet oddly inspiring.  He's crazy, yet I admire him for taking chances. It takes bravery - you don't have guarantees of the outcome and he literally walked without a safety net.  I could not do that, but I need to start letting go of fear and taking chances - otherwise I feel like my life will be wasted.  Time to try defying gravity!

"Defying Gravity" from the musical Wicked

Friday, My Friend

Remember back when I committed to write a post every Monday?  Yeah, me neither (obviously).  Maybe next week I will finally find the right words for the posts I've been planning, but for now, I am just glad it's Friday.  This song has been rolling around in my head this week - enjoy!  May you all have glorious weekends :)

Anna Kendrick, "When I'm Gone"

Stand (In the Place Where You Live)

One of (the many) reasons my parents are awesome.  They planned a church youth conference around Gordon B. Hinckley's book, "Standing for Something," and during registration they played this song (in the church!  Ok, the church lobby, but still).

"Stand" by R.E.M.

Yep, be jealous - my parents are pretty awesome.

Quiet Christmas Morn

May you have a peaceful and happy Christmas morn!  I am setting this to post right as we get to call my missionary brother :)

Merry Christmas!

"On a Quiet Christmas Morn" by Mary Chapin Carpenter

What it Means to Me

Thought this was a good upbeat Christmas song for Christmas Eve.

"What Christmas Means to Me" by Stevie Wonder

Love Really Is...All Around

This one's not a song, but I liked it nonetheless.  While Christmas is a time that amplifies joy, it can also amplify sorrow.  People who feel alone, friendless, or unloved can have those feelings exacerbated by a season that emphasizes togetherness with loved family and friends.  That's why I think an important part of Christmas is making "room in your inn" for whoever is struggling or feels alone.  It's important to let them know that they are not alone, that they are loved and cared for.  As a wise man once said "it is usually through another person that God answers our prayers."  I believe that.  I also believe, as the movie "Love Actually" states, that "Love Really is...All Around."  We just have to look for it.

As this is Christmas Eve Eve (or, as my brother might say, the penultimate day before Christmas), you get two videos.  One is a Mormon Message about feeling God's love on Christmas, and another is a Christmas song by Michael McLean, "Homeless."

"For in His love there is a home" - for everyone who feels alone, forgotten, or friendless at a joyous time.  I believe Christ truly is there for us, and we owe to him to be there for others.  Merry Christmas!

Infant Holy

I really liked this Christmas hymn, which I think I heard for the first time this year at our Institute choir's Christmas concert.

"Infant Holy, Infant Lowly" by BYU Vocal Point

Lullaby

Today was a long day.  I felt like posting "One Day More" because I have only one more day of work between me and my Christmas vacation.  However, Les Miserables is not technically a Christmas album.

I need a Christmas lullaby to sing me to sleep, and this was perfect:

Christmas Lullaby - John Rutter & the Cambridge Singers

Go Tell

When people are super excited about something we say that they want to "shout it from the rooftops."  This song reminds me of that expression.  I so grateful for the gift of Jesus.  I know I so often need His grace and His understanding.  Sometimes I feel like Going to Tell It on the Mountain!

"Go Tell it On the Mountain" by James Taylor

O What a Wonderful Child

Amen, Mariah:


"Jesus, O What a Wonderful Child" by Mariah Carey

Exclaim!

I noticed while singing "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" today that it has a lot of exclamation marks.  Too many exclamation marks is one of my many grammar sins.  I love that it is a joyous EXCLAMATION of the angels singing to celebrate Jesus' birth.

Here's a version sung in St. Paul's Cathedral in London:

Sing, Mary, Sing

I hope you like this song - it's not one that I had ever heard before I stole Kathy Mattea's Christmas album from my dad.  I like its upbeat tone and joyous message.  I couldn't find it on YouTube, so here's just the song from Grooveshark.

"Sing Mary, Sing" by Kathy Mattea

Peace, Be Still

Words can't describe it.  The events today  in Connecticut are inexpressible horror.  Children who just yesterday were writing letters to Santa, playing with dolls, or riding their bike down the street are now dead in a senseless act of violence.  There is nothing I can say or do to ease the heartache of 28 families in a small town.  It's times like this when I need the "peace that passeth understanding" of the gospel that comes from Christ, who was able to say to the wind and the waves: "Peace, Be Still."  He cannot bring back those innocent Angels who perished today, but He is able to give us peace when we are surrounded by a world that is frightening in its horribleness, as it was today.  Take time to be "still, still, still" today.  Hug your loved ones!

"Still, Still, Still" by Mary Chapin Carpenter

Tannebaum

Because I just bought my Christmas tree tonight, of course I had to choose a song about it.

"O Christmas Tree" by Aretha Franklin

O Holy Night

Tonight, it's just going to be Susan Boyle's version.  Have a good night, world!