I listen to music constantly.
My Spotify has over 100 playlists (because I’m a lunatic & make multiple playlists for almost everything), and probably like 20 of those are for Christmas music. I hunt for Christmas music more than almost any other kind. Which is how I was introduced to Johnnyswim.
I was hunting for The Christmas Waltz (my favorite Christmas song) and came across their AWESOME version. Totally theirs – but still 100% Christmas. Which is exactly how you should do Christmas music as a band. Familiar but specific. ❤
So I absolutely love this duo. It’s a husband & wife and their sound is just so very interesting. On their website, she says “I add intimacy, and he adds fire” and it’s so true. I💕 her voice like nothing else. I am super jealous of my friends who went to their concert because it looked amazing. (Jealous & yet I don’t really like going to concerts because I had some friends who sang loudly and off-key at concerts when I was growing up & kinda ruined it in general. But I digress.)
The newest album Moonlight is amazing! Below are my faves from that album (plus a couple of my all-time favorites because I can’t limit myself that much…)
“Bridges”
I freakin’ LOVE this song. It’s got a great concept and I really love the use of “burning bridges” as a positive. I think this would be a spectacular, quirky ” walk down the aisle” song. Partially because – well, let’s stop with the Canon in D, shall we? Just… please. Plus, the visual of a bride walking down the aisle with this song playing & fires lighting – would be just epic. Terrifying, but epic.
I heard “Bridges” in the store the other day & did a little happy dance to the music. That was accompanied by some askance glances but hey – I’m a weirdo & that comes with the territory.
The music video is also really cool. I love its simplicity.
“Flowers”
AHHHH – “Flowers” is just heart-breakingly beautiful. I love that the first two lines just take such a sharp turn from where I thought it was going to go. I totally want to see a contemporary dance to this. Any dancer friends if you need ideas for songs – @ me. This will be at the top of the list. And I expect at least one dance from your playlist of 500 songs. 😜 (Singer friends can @ me too but you won’t get 500 options. That’s lies – you totally might.)
“Amanda”
It’s this intimate glance at a couple and their life. I am just in love with this idea of the name of your love encompassing your life together.
When I was younger – I thought the idea of a song being written with my name in it, would be so cool. Then some one-hit wonders came out with Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Depressing & annoying is NOT what I had in mind. So now I’m stuck wishing I could change my name to Amanda. Or hoping some really good songwriter falls in love with a Tiffany.
“Say What You Will”
I love a song that I can use as an anthem. “Say What You Will” – is going to be my new mantra. I say “Don’t judge me!” all the time. It’s a quote from a show I worked – but I think it’s worked against me in how I perceive others opinions (and how others react to the phrase). I love that this song – instead of assuming judgment & commanding others against that nature – accepts that people will talk about you & your actions. But reminds you to choose your path and pursue it regardless of praise or pressure to change.
*Drunks (from Georgica Pond)
A song about the power of music. To create camaraderie, to give you strength, to remember. The line “and if the walls of Jericho could crash on down to just a tune, I bet our walls could fall also, even if only me and you sing” is just so heavy with calling. I love it.
Oh and now I’ve had an idea – I’d love to hear a cover of this by last week’s obsession – Choir of Man. OOH I can almost hear it. Denis? Tom?
*Diamonds (from Diamonds)
Another song that I love as an anthem. The first non-Christmas song of theirs I listened to – and it does NOT disappoint. Basically why I started to love them in the first place. Listen to it any time you need to be reminded you are awesome!
*In My Arms (from Georgica Pond)
Oh My GOSH. Home is your people. Just yes.
I travel ALL the time and have always had loose concept of what constitutes “home”. Basically, it’s wherever some of my people are and I’m comfortable enough to sit on the floor. So your person as an anchor just speaks to me.
And again, I want to see a dance to this but in a very Fred & Ginger waltzing type of way.
*Let It Matter (from Georgica Pond)
A crying song if there ever was one. I’m not really a dark & wallowing kind of person. I’m mostly bright & happy. (I also love the dark, haunting music but that’s another post). I just had a conversation with a friend about how we can do a disservice by immediately distracting from negative experiences. It’s not actually helpful long term because then we don’t process it. This is just the BEST song for accepting that pain is necessary. “Hurt today, heal tomorrow.”