Peel me a grape

Have you ever been to a concert with me, internet?  If you have, then you know that I am bound to tear up at least once*.  If you haven’t , then you should know that music makes me cry.  It doesn’t matter who it is…I have shed a tear for every genre because songs make me happy, sad, wistful, gleeful, nostalgic, giddy.  I run the gamut.  I’m a sentimental fool!  And a big old sucker for memories of music. 

I come from stock that always had the tunes on full blast when there was serious business going on in the kitchen, so music and food go hand in hand for me:  “Volare” will always remind me of making red sauce with my Nonna.  “Gypsies, Tramps & Thieves” reminds me of peeling shrimp for Christmas Eve dinner with my Mom.  “Just the Way You Are” reminds me of veal cutlets at my Auntie Rose’s.  “Jump” is ribs with Uncle Bob and Auntie Debbie.  “Hypnotize” is grilling steaks on a crazy mini hibatchi with Augie III.  "Let it Snow" is Christmas cookies with Auntie Donna.  Jamie Cullum’s “All at Sea” and Ryan Adams’s version of  “Wonderwall” remind me of dark days and being in my teensy kitchen in the Shore baking my way through The Best Recipe and running sweet treats to my neighbors for taste testing.  I have me a big old cooking-time playlist (titled Cookie!  should you steal my iPod and want to see for yourself.  But please don’t.) that I hit when I’m on a tear in the kitchen.  It’s pretty jazz and standards heavy and I love it.  Let’s see what little ditties pop up on a random shuffle, shall we?!  We’ll do the first 20…this will be riveting!

·          “I Just Don’t Think I’ll Ever Get Over You” - Colin Hay

   Do you guys know Colin Hay?  He’s the Men at Work guy!  This song KILLS me!

·         “The Very Thought of You" - Wynton Marsalis

   Daydreamy!

·          “Peel Me a Grape” - Diana Krall

   One of my all time favorites.  Ever.

·         “Fastlove” - George Michael

  I will love him always, no matter how many bathrooms he gets busted in or cars he falls asleep in.  What?!  Maybe he’s just tired!  Don’t judge.

·         “Thousand Kisses Deep” - Chris Botti

  Love!

·         “Like Rock & Roll and Radio” - Ray Lamontagne

  LOOOOAAAAARRRDDDD this jam stops me in my tracks every damn time.

·         “Slow Dancing in a Burning Room” - John Mayer

  I know everyone hates him right now, but this is still one of my favorites.

·         “Business Time” - Flight of the Conchords

   Ah ha ha ha ha ha!!!!

·         “Ain’t That a Kick in the Head” - Dean Martin

  Awwww…Deano!

·         “I Get a Kick Out of You” - Frank Sinatra

  Come on!

·          “I’ll Be Your River” - Cyndi Lauper

   This is her best song…ever.  Well, tied with her cover of “I Drove All Night”

·         “Solsbury Hill” - Peter Gabriel

  Classic!

·         “Today” - Josh Radin

  So sweet. So, so sweet!

·         “Better Be Home Soon” - Crowded House

  Dang!

·         “High & Dry” - Jamie Cullum

  Love!

·         “Volare” - Gypsy Kings

  Typical.  I’m surprised only one came up and that no Buena Vista Social Club did.

·         “Daydreamin’” - Lupe Fiasco f/Jill Scott

  I fell asleep among the flowers…

·         “Rodeo Clown” - G.Love & Special Sauce

  The live version with Jack Johnson!

·         “Fallen” - Lauren Wood

  You should fly me to San Francisco for dinner and the opera in rented jewels, you guys.

·         “Besame Mucho” - Andrea Bocelli

  Oh, someone’s gonna get beso’d alright.

What do you sweet cupcakes knock around in the kitchen to?

*Seriously.  Sometimes it's because a song is so moving or sometimes it's because I'm just so excited to be having THAT experience RIGHT THAT MINUTE with the people I'm with.  This happens a lot at The Greek Theatre with my Auntie Debbie.  And cheap white wine.  WE ARE FUN!