Mooooorning! ;) Jeez Louise, it is HURLING it down this morning with rain!! I have never seen anything like it! Might have to rethinking our weekend camping glamping activities!
Last Friday, I ran a personal piece as part of my 'Being Self Employed' journals. I spoke about the need to try to focus on the positive, and I asked readers to share up to 5 things in their lives that made them smile. The response was wonderful, so heartwarming. Go here to read all the comments and feel just a little bit uplifted 🙂
This got me thinking. This is primarily a wedding/lifestyle blog with a focus on all that is glamorous, chic and elegant. But it is so much more than that too. It's a tool for connecting human beings together, for introducing different opinions, thoughts and ideas, for inspiring readers in a variety of different aspects of their lives. I love that my blog can be a conduit for connecting people together in this way and I loved the response I got last week from my readers. It has encouraged me to write more blog posts that stray a little bit away from weddings and invite you to engage with the community that is building over here at Love My Dress. Weddings are my passion, always will be, but sometimes, it's good to throw something a little different in to the mix 🙂
So, on that {musical} note, I'm going to shift my attention over to tunes this morning…
I have been so busy of late that I've forgotten all about music. I've been sat here hunched over my desk {I really MUST work on that posture} working flat out and getting a bit stressed if I'm honest, mostly in silence, or with the distant sounds of children outside playing on the street. Having fun.
Well bum to that!!! This week, I bought music back in to my life and I haven't looked back. I swear to goodness if I work with music on, I work better. I can actually feel my productivity levels raising.
For a conversation piece today, I thought I'd list ten albums {in no particular order} that are currently {and pretty much always} on my playlist right now. I have actually compiled this list with the help of my Husband. Take a peek through, and if you will, leave up to 5 or so of your own recommendations in the comments section. I'd like to make a couple of new album purchases so look forward to receiving your recommendations 😉
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(1) 'She Said' by Ursula Rucker – I was first introduced to this poet/activist and lyrical artist about 12 years ago now when she collaborated with another of my favorite bands, 4Hero, on one of my favourite albums of all time, 2 Pages. I love everything she does. No b.s. here people. No subject matter is too uncomfortable for her to discuss and she says it how it is. I love how she makes me stop and think about rubbish stuff in a constructive way but also uplifts me too. Ursula inspires me every time I listen to her.
(2) 'Coltrane For Lovers', by John Coltrane – My Husband introduced me to all the jazz greats and I am so grateful. This is simply beautiful listening for a lazy sunday morning lie-in….
(3) 'Aerial', by Kate Bush – I LOVE Kate Bush and all her weirdly quirkiness and I'm proud of it. I mean, who else could get away with writing a song about an autistic boy who has an obsession with the mathematical calculation of Pi or collaborate on one track with Rolf Harris? One of my all time favourite albums ever ever ever…
(4) 'Let England Shake' by PJ Harvey – Our latest album purchase. I love it. I first listened to this album on the first evening of the London riots. It was incredibly poignant.
(5) 'Till I Reach The Sea', by Martha Tilston – I love the 'Firefly' track on here – what a beautifully romantic love song…
(6) 'Fleetfoxes', by the Fleetfoxes … this E.P. introduced the world to the wonderful Simon and Garfunkle and Dylan inspired harmonies that are The Fleetfoxes, a folk band from Seattle Washington. We LOVE the Fleetfoxes in our house.
(7) 'Love Is What Stays', by Mark Murphy …this man's voice sends quivers down my spine. We had his songs played during our wedding reception. He is a master of romance…
(8) 'I'm New Here', by Gill Scott Heron – described by my Husband as 'true human honesty' this is an emotional heart-wrench of reflective journey, an introspective account of the life of this incredibly talented American soul and jazz poet, who sadly passed away earlier this year. R.I.P. Gill Scott Heron.
(9) 'Abba Gold' by Abba…..we don't ever really get away from Abba in our house. My little girl Eska, 5, adores them! And in the same way I never, ever seem to tire of listening to the likes of Michael Jackson, I never, ever tire of listening to Abba. Classic pop songs at their finest. Me love 😉
(10) 'Masterpiece' by Gilles Peterson – the latest iTunes download in our house. We have just about every compilation album Gilles Peterson has put out there. I love his choice of jazz, hip hop, dance and Brazillian tunes… perfect for friends round for late Summer BBQ' {just mebbes not today!}
Of course, I could literally sit here for a year and write down all the many albums that I love, and I will be blogging soon about 'The Albums That Made Me'. But for today, these are 10 albums that I've had on my playlist of late 😉
I would LOVE to hear what you are listening to right now, or any album recommendations you'd like to make. Why not leave up to 5 below. Or maybe just 1, or 2 if that suits you better 🙂 What are you loving right now? What's uplififting you right now? What music is making you look forward to getting home and blasting it out on the stero? Let's get some musical love flowing through these wedding blog pages! 😉
Much love,
Annabel xXx
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PS = Just a thought, but for inspiration on pulling together your wedding day play list, go check out 'We Plan, You Play'…
