My Weekend Winter Crush

No, I will never tire of this song. Especially not as long as it keeps being reincarnated like this recent acoustic version with Ingrid Michaelson and Broadway stars Jessica Vosk and Abigail Sparrow. The most hauntingly beautiful seasonal song remains haunting and beautiful, shepherding us back through another long winter's night. Happy weekend, all.

Music Monday: Ingrid Lang Syne

On this penultimate day of 2024, I hope you have plans soon to gather with good friends and raise a glass, and your voices, together. Sure, it’s easier when you have the singing caliber of friends that Ingrid Michaelson has. But the rest of us can muddle through with maximum enthusiasm instead. Happy Monday, kittens.

Music Monday: Winter Song Edition

Yep, it’s that time of year again. May you find your harbinger of light this winter season. Happy Monday, kittens.

Music Monday: Winter Song Season

The first Monday in December calls for my favorite melancholy “Winter Song.” I can’t believe Sara Bareilles and Ingrid Michaelson’s truly lovely December lullabye is 14 years old (heck, almost as old as Ye Olde Blog). But each time I hear it again I feel enveloped by its evocative beauty. Admittedly this year, well, it just hits different. Is love alive? The seasons always change, so we shall see. Maybe there is still a harvester of light for me out there somewhere — and hopefully for you too. Happy Monday, kittens.

Music Monday: Winter Edition

The calendar shows this is the first Monday in December. So that means it’s that time of year again – time once more to settle into the beautiful melancholy of winter. And, of course, a time to share my favorite winter song, appropriately named “Winter Song.” I’d like Sara Bareilles and Ingrid Michaelson to provide my entire winter soundtrack, honestly. Grab a scarf and some hot chocolate, 'tis the season after all. Happy Monday, kittens.

Music Monday: Rainbow Edition

Well, we made it to June. I cannot tell if time seems to be moving faster now or slower, it certainly doesn’t seem to all be moving at the same time – if that makes any sense. Does anything make any sense anymore? Sorry, where was I? Right, so it is June which – of course – is traditionally Pride Month. But pride celebrations have basically all been cancelled because, well, you know. *waves arms gayly at the whole damn world* So instead, we must find our inner rainbows. And this song, well this song makes me feel rainbows around my heart. We used this cover by Ingrid Michaelson (an obvious favorite) of “Over the Rainbow” as entrance song at our wedding. So, it will always fill me with sunshine, lollipops and rainbows (another song we used in our ceremony). So please enjoy this little slice of my heart with hopes that June will be a better month for our nation and this world. We sure could use that other side of the rainbow. Happy Monday, kittens.

Music Monday

So earlier this month singer-songwriter-serenader of lesbian proposals Sara Bareilles revealed she had recovered from COVID-19 and was “grateful for every breath.” Sara’s smart, empathetic songwriting continues to be a favorite. I am so glad we will be able to hear more from her in the future. And it’s a reminder that this pandemic is far from over and also does not care what political party you belong to in the least. Not wearing a mask to own the libs is perhaps the dumbest self-own in the history of humankind. Yet here we are. Sorry, now I’m getting all worked up again.

So here is Sara and the also lovely Ingrid Michaelson singing my favorite melancholy holiday song “Winter Song” together in better times when we had a real president and not a criminally corrupt and incompetent Orange Turd who is physically incapable of showing even the slightest bit of empathy as our nation hurdles toward 100,000 deaths in the span of just three months and continues to prioritize corporate profits over protecting people’s health. Sorry, sorry, I was trying to find calm. Breathe. And, enjoy. Happy Monday, kittens.

My Winter Song To You

Well, winter doesn’t officially start for another 37 days. But the weather here in California has taken a turn for the chilly. I even turned on the heat this week for the fist time. (Yeah, yeah – I know everywhere else, it doesn’t really get cold in California. But cold for us.) Plus, all the terrible smoke from the wildfires hasn’t helped either. (p.s. Climate change is real – we haven’t had significant rain here since May. MAY.) This time of year always brings along a kind of gorgeous melancholy. It’s bittersweet, the end of the growing season and beginning of a long, needed dormancy. The world becomes very still. There is a beautiful quiet about the season. Without the magnificence foliage of spring, summer and fall we are left with only the silhouettes are left. I will say I miss seeing snow. But the beauty of this state is it’s only a car ride away. And then I can drive back out, and never have to shovel out my car even once. See, other than everything being on fire, California ain’t half bad. May your impending winter bring you the same kind of calming joy. And may this, perhaps my favorite songs about winter, warm you throughout the season.

Winter Song, Take 2

I know I posted this already this winter, but it really is the perfect song to get all my East Cost friends through all the snow and cold. Hope you are having a very happy blizzard. And, for everyone else in other less and/or more snowy parts of the world please accept my apologies for letting January get away from me. It has been a long winter, even if my winter is 60 degrees.

My Winter Song For You

A quick look at the calendar tells me it is that time of year again. Time for my favorite winter song. Also, pretty much all my TV shows have aired their so-called “winter finale” (that is not a real thing, stop trying to make “winter finale” happen, networks), I must resort to the comfort of song. Also, this song is just really, really pretty. May it be a long, and wonderful, December, kittens.

p.s. Though if you need to warm up, please check out my recap of this week’s “The Fall” over at AfterEllen. Never mind a yule log, all you need is the body heat between Gillian Anderson and Archie Panjabi.

Monday music

Let's be frank, Mondays hold very little charm on their own. You know it, I know it, we all know it. But there are ways to make Mondays more palatable. To make the mundane start of another weary work week just a smidge more sublime. And one of them is music. But not just any music. Because why have any old music when you can have excellent cover music. And what's more excellent than some of your favorite ladies singing some of your favorite (and guilty favorite) songs. Starting with your friend and mine kelly Clarkson singing Sia's "Breathe Me."

Tegan & Sara, "Umbrella"

Admit it, this version makes it sound mighty, might gay.

Ingrid Michaelson, "Toxic"

This version makes me feel a little better about dancing to this song until nearly dawn in my younger days.

Zooey Deschanel, "Wouldn't It Be Nice"

Manic pixie dream surfer girl.

Brandi Carlile, "Crazy"

Brandi could sing me the phone book, but Patsy is better.

My Weekend Crush

I have very few stead-fast winter traditions. I don’t put the decorations up on a certain day. I don’t roast chestnuts on an open fire. I don’t rush out to sled at the first fallen snow. But, come on, I live in California so that last one isn’t really my fault. What I do always do is open presents on Christmas morning (not Christmas Eve, that’s just impatient crazytalk). I always watch “The Snowman” with my family (well, when I’m with my family). And I always start playing Sara Bareilles and Ingrid Michaelson’s “Winter Song” on an endless loop. Here after a day of much turkey and lying flat, I finally feel ready to admit that winter is well on its way. So now, now I’m ready to press play. Something about this song with its delicate melancholy makes my heart just melt. It’s a harvester of light through cold, dark nights. I fell in love from the first second I heard it. And, once the season changes back, I fall in love all over again. Welcome, winter. Happy weekend, all.

Sing me a song

Today, I feel like a little song. Words just fail me sometimes. And that's where music comes in. Nothing invigorates or inspires me more than live music, particularly when sung by amazing women. So today, how about a selection of live, unfiltered sounds? All these songs are lovely and thoughtful and have a sweet melancholy about them that is almost impossible to resist. Sure, some of these videos are shaky. And, granted, the quality isn't always the greatest. But it's that raw experience that makes it feel more personal. After all, life isn't perfect, but we just keep trying anyway.

Ingrid Michaelson, “Corner of Your Hear”


The Watson Twins, “Just Like Heaven”


Maria Taylor, “Clean Getaway”


Ani DiFranco, “Independence Day”


Vienna Teng, “City Hall”


ADD: Natasha Richardson, “Maybe This Time”

Beautiful, heartbreaking, a true talent that the world is now so much worse for having lost.

So, feel like sharing a song? Sing it sweet and low to me below.

I'll be your harvester of light

Sometimes, in the wee small hours of the morning, I stumble across something that I had no idea existed only seconds before but now cannot imagine living the rest of my life without. It could be a photo. It could be an essay. It could be anything. And last night it was “Winter Song.” I just fell instantly, insanely in love. Sara Bareilles and Ingrid Michaelson's voices have a lilting beauty together that transcends space and time. The song is steeped in the sweet sadness that sometimes sets in this season. But it's that gorgeous kind of melancholy you almost wish you could wrap around yourself like a blanket. And then there's the video. Oh kittens, the video.

If your heart doesn't grow three sizes at the sight of little animated Sara and Ingrid together, well, then there's no roast beast (or roast tofurkey, for all my vegetarian friends) for you tomorrow. Plus, if you ignore the separate beds, you can totally read a lesbianish subtext into that video.

The song is part of the wonderful holiday collection “The Hotel Cafe presents...Winter Songs.” The CD includes seasonal originals and classics by female singer-songwriters including Brandi Carlile, KT Tunstall, Fiona Apple, Colbie Caillat and many more. Naturally, I downloaded the whole thing from iTunes immediately. Best yet, a portion of the proceeds go to Susan G. Komen for the Cure, to support breast cancer research. (If you download individual songs, be sure to include the “Auld Lang Syne” medley to still donate.) My only complain: Katy Perry, seriously? I guess there really is no escaping her. Blessedly, there is a “delete” button. And not even Katy can ruin the beauty of all these women's voice making a joyful noise. May the wonder of winter fill your heart with love, peace and light.