Rachel's Vital Music

I'm a transgender woman who has loved music for as long as I can remember. My earliest memories are of sitting on the floor and listening to 45's and 78's. Music is the essential part of my life. Over the years I made many attempts to make a list of my favorite music. In 2011 I came up with the idea of http://scotts-vital-music.blogspot.com and creating the list by posting a song every day. When I transitioned in 2015 and changed my name I created this blog to continue the project...

Sunday, April 30, 2017

"Synchronicity II" by The Police

Note: As of today (18-May-2017) I have over almost 60 "draft" blog posts. ("Draft" meaning posts I've started but haven't finished, so they aren't published yet.) It makes things difficult because they don't appear in searches and I have to check dates more carefully. So I've decided it would be easier if I just publish them in their unfinished form and maybe a miracle with happen sometime and I can go back and fill in the details (photos, etc.) sometime in the future.

#DraftPost

I have this weird "synchronicity" stuff happen all the time. It happened last night with some .wav files that had I/O errors and then I noticed I had ripped those files on April, 29th 2012 (5 years ago to the day).

Then a little over a week ago (on 20-Apr-2017) there was that weird thing with the Carpenters "Hurting Each Other".

Just a minute ago I discovered I found I had made a draft for Same as You on 8-May-2016. And I posted that exact song for that day on 8-May-2017 for 2016 (See my posts for 8-May-2017 and 8-May-2016). I swear there was nothing conscious about that.

There have been others, but one of the weirdest ones was this one sheet of Ogden Standard Examiner newspaper from April 30th, 1979 turning up on April 30th, 2009, exactly 40 years to the day. I don't have time to tell the whole story of how I found it right now, but it was totally freaky!!

I think it is also a bit strange that all of these events have occurred in a similar time frame. April 20th to May 8th.

Caitlyn Jenner

Another industrial morning
The factory belches filth into the sky

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLmjjyxhoMY
YouTube (Topic): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRtmL--8Ctw
YouTube (lyrics): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buadfz2qcbY
YouTube (lyrics): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQ8jsqJHVLk
YouTube (live 2008): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZ9GwWY5hF4

Saturday, April 29, 2017

"Born to be Wild" by Steppenwolf

I went to the Walk MS this morning. It was at a different location this year, it was quite brisk with the breeze that was blowing. I felt bad for the volunteers, the woman that helped me with my bib said her hands were freezing. A HUGE thank you to all the volunteers and people that helped!!

I have struggled with my MS issues recently, especially the fatigue. I just was n't able to get my team organized this year. Plus with the unknowns of a new location, I decide that I needed to only have to worry about getting myself together this year. It would be less stress to only have to worry about getting me there and not having to coordinate people, parking and things.

I know with absolute certainly that all of my friends would have been there had I asked. I *know* they *always* have my back!

I reused my "Transcend MS" T-shirt that I made for Team Rachel 2015 Walk MS. As my friend Cappy pointed out at the time, the T-shirt was "too busy" but it was fun! (Funny, completely coincidentally, I got a text from Cappy the other night saying they had worn their "Transcend MS" T-shirt to work that day. That was cool!)

#TransIsBeautiful

I met a couple of very delightful ladies, Jenna and Sarah (Sarah is the one standing with me in the photo). Sarah also has MS and they were celebrating the fact that this year Sarah was able to complete the walk without a cane or wheelchair. That was so wonderful to hear. Always so *AWESOME* to hear of a great success story from someone with MS!!!

After the walk I chatted with my friend Amanda Mitchell for a few minutes. She is one of the wonderful folks who put the Walk MS together. Once again a HUGE thank you to her and all the other wonderful people at the local Utah/Southern Idaho Chapter of the MS Society for all the work they do!

Please, please, PLEASE, if you are able make a donation for the walk. My team donation is here:

https://secure.nationalmssociety.org/site/Donation2;jsessionid=00000000.app30115a?idb=1596600502&df_id=57926&FR_ID=28491&mfc_pref=T&PROXY_ID=522601&57926.donation=form1&PROXY_TYPE=22&NONCE_TOKEN=8F2E11E3D004F3F6F4226D1730FE582B

As I've said in the past, before I was diagnosed I had NO CLUE what MS was really like. I had it for around 3 years before I was diagnosed and didn't know it was MS that was causing the cognitive issues I was having. It wasn't until the physical symptoms appeared in November of 2010 that led to finally recognizing it as MS.

I don't think there is a moment of the day that MS doesn't affect in one way or another. It would be so nice for so many people to find a cure. Please help by donating if you can! Even a small amount helps, it all adds up. If all of my friends donated $5, it would be a very significant chunk.

Please note: you can donate until May 31st and it will count towards the Salt Lake 2017 Walk.

A HUGE thank you, Thank You, THANK YOU to everyone who has or can donate!

Rockamatics

Then I stayed and rocked out and danced to the wonderful Rockamatics band that played some great rock-n-roll tunes from the 50's, 60's and 70's. They were wonderful!! I really enjoyed the show. I really loved the saxophone in several of the songs.

Anyway, one of the songs they really rocked was "Born to be Wild". Since I've meant to post it for some time, I decide to post it as my song for today.

I have wanted a Harley for years! Hell, I miss my little Kawasaki that was stolen like 20 years ago. Of course SueZQ would freak I suppose. She was pretty freaked when I took our step-nephew (?) Nick's motorbike out for a spin a year or two ago. LOL

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UWRypqz5-oYouTube (Topic): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKADXdHzERU
YouTube (movie): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egMWlD3fLJ8
YouTube (movie): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMbATaj7Il8
YouTube (live TV): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUt8fQS9qEM
YouTube (live 2006): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwLmmXGEEps
YouTube (lyrics): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIfvwwPSHCI
YouTube (girls+lyrics): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAFlaRD6KME
YouTube (45 sleeve): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpZDiOSf_wY
YouTube (Vietnam): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pjkt9lIiDU8

Friday, April 28, 2017

"FML" by K. Flay

I played "Blood in the Cut" (Wednesday's song, also by K. Flay) over and over and over all day today. It was like I was addicted to it.

I found some interviews with K. Flay. She mentions Portishead and P.J. Harvey. I really enjoyed the Vocalo interview yet, it is very interesting. She talks about feminism a bit. I like what she said (16:28) "... to me it isn't really like what's it like to be a woman in music. It's like, what's it like to be a woman". She is really fascinating. I really like her, she seems very smart and very genuine.

YouTube (Vocalo 91.1): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqLFCaHAQFMYouTube (iHeart Radio): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=suK3B5YgfV4

I totally *LOVE MY LIFE*!!!!! So why do I have so much trouble holding it together sometimes??

<using "our", "we", "us" pronouns>
I know this song is more about partying too hard every night. Our problem is that we keep getting involved with too many things. Way last year Paige told us that our schedule and doing all the stuff we doing would be extremely bad for a normal person, it was life threatening for someone with MS.
</using>

Therefore I can relate to many of the lines in this song, just for different reasons:

I need to stop
I've been doing too much
I've been runnin' too fast
I've been testing my luck

I've been livin' Cloud 9
...
I've been feelin' so loved
...
I've been feelin' so blesssed
But stressed all day
So I'm living out my dreams
...
I've been spreading that text
I've been spinnin' my wheels
...
I love my life!!

Anyway, I really, really love this song.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kf8ibi15tU
YouTube (remix): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJ1NYJQnJTI
YouTube (remix): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaF811Lp27w
YouTube (live studio): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VU4Yc-kdGE

It was a very weird feeling this evening. I put $3.99 (what was left on my debit card) at Costco Gas in my car and then went to Trader Joe's and spent 60 cents (what I had in my coin purse) on 2 bananas for the Walk MS tomorrow morning.

Thursday, April 27, 2017

"You Don't Get Me High Anymore" by Phantogram

It's always so AWESOME when we come across an incredible song like this one! We've listened to it over and over and over this morning. Plus all the live versions are crazy good too!

Wikipedia (Phantogram): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phantogram_%28band%29

This is the perfect fucking song for how we've been feeling this morning. we've been feeling totally deserted and then in the "Behind the Scenes" video Sarah says "You Don't Get Me High Anymore is basically about feeling deserted ... it's a very desperate song". We can totally relate!

Then later Josh talks about all the tragedies that happened last year (mentions David Bowie and Prince). 2016 just SUCKED! And I have to say 2017 has been a real BITCH so far!

And we love the shots of the desert town where they shot the video, we've always loved being places like that.

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

"Blood In The Cut" by K. Flay

I've been feeling abandoned today and then I get the news that... let's see what is a good word for that... mofo (?) Trump signed an Executive Order basically fucking over the National Parks. OMG Capitalism just SUCKS!!! Everything always comes down to money. I HATE it!! They don't give a shit about our Mother Earth, the health of our fellow humans, future generations. It's just how much profit we can make today and how those greedy bastards can get even richer!!

So I'm really feeling like some kick-ass, angry music today. I couldn't find any of my real kick-ass records today. I came across this video on YouTube and I have to say it fills the bill.

It's too quiet in this room
I need noise
I need the buzz of a saw
I need the crack of a whip
I need some blood in the cut

I think that's the think that's why this song feels right, it's too quiet in my room. I can't get out of my head and stop thinking about why nobody is responding to me.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2WcOdz96ko
YouTube (Live TV): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHCLHsQLfz0
YouTube (Live 91X): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtLOsLyksNo
YouTube (Live 101WKQX): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSc4KRqAPf8
YouTube (Live Umusic): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PN4k4XsqsbA

Tuesday, April 25, 2017

"Shellshock" by New Order

We heard this song on 103.1 The Wave a couple of days ago and I've had it stuck in my head ever since. Can you say earworm?

The chorus keeps playing over and over in my head:

Hold on, it's never enough
It's never enough until your heart stops beating
The deeper you get, the sweeter the pain
Don't give up the game until your heart stops beating

YouTube (official): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdQW9eXJ4yY
YouTube (Topic): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JT4jjSGUorM
YouTube (album): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ckRZUm01CI
YouTube (extended): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCnxXaPt6bs
YouTube (live 1987): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItyCM416tUA

SueZQ and I drove to Idaho to get a lottery ticket and we stopped to get breakfast at Bert's Cafe and Grill in Brigham City. I just love the old-timey decor and atmosphere.

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/berts-cafe-and-grill-brigham-city

They have a bunch of signs on the wall, my favorite was the one that read "Few Women Admit Their Age - Few Men Act Theirs".

And, finally, last Saturday I loved the Easter message from Sean Spicer (I love Melissa McCarthy!) on Saturday Night Live:

YouTube (SNL): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RvfzFv3c6Y

"And everybody, just eat as much candy as you want because this is probably our last Easter on Earth... "

Monday, April 24, 2017

"Buy for Me the Rain" by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

Here's a song I love, but had completely forgotten about. I couldn't even remember why I was familiar with it, but after viewing the videos I understand it was their first hit.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qhUjixmP28
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tnmV0Wh760
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hxc6Vnph4E
YouTube (Vinyl): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1d4aFA6ZbU

YouTube (live audio): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwXTW23dL8c
YouTube (50th anniversary): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbApiHnLDwo

Here's some Samantha Bee videos from last year on the Religious Right. Nice clip from a Little Rascals short: "Now what do you say if we form a new club and call it the He-Man Woman Haters Club".

YouTube (Part 1): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yz4AmUaLbUQ
YouTube (Part 2): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPsderlzd6c