The “cat and owl playing” video is the first time I ever heard this post’s featured Random Song. Too bad Sopa De Cabra broke up before I got a chance to see them live. Of course, I probably couldn’t have understood a single thing they sang, as all their lyrics are in Çatalan. Who cares? The music’s good.

As usual, here are five songs I chose at random (more or less) from my music collection. I used Random.org’s number generator to come up with the numbers and choose which songs I’d feature this time. Want to join in the fun? Post your selections and/or the URL for your own random song blog post in the Comments section. And, of course, happy listening! Continue reading →

If you’re like me, you’ve been sick of Christmas songs since the week after Halloween. But don’t worry—no cheesy holiday music here! Anyway, you’re probably hearing plenty of it elsewhere, even if you’d rather stick candy canes in your ears than hear it again. “Blue Christmas,” ”Jingle Bell Rock,” and “Grandma Got Run over by a Reindeer” were all right the first 400 times.

As usual, here are five random (non-holiday) tunes Continue reading →

U.S. readers return to work and school today after a long Thanksgiving break. After so much food and relaxation, we could all probably use a boost. Perhaps starting this edition of Five Random Songs with a Wilson Pickett classic will help. If neither the song nor Pickett’s awesome pink suit and tie don’t wake you up, you’ve got bigger problems than I can help you with.

As usual, here are five tunes chosen at random Continue reading →

No corny music allowed for today’s Five Random Songs! I couldn’t live with myself if I subjected you to “Monster Mash” one more time. Even “Thriller” gets on my nerves this time of year. How could it not when I’m sick of Halloween in late July? Note to big-box retailers: Leave holidays where they belong.

Once again, here are five tunes, Continue reading →

Need a Monday playlist? Perhaps this installment of Five Random Songs will help you get started.

If you put together your own Five Random Songs post, please let me know and include the link in the Comments section. Random.org is just one of many random number generators you can use to pick out your own out-of-the-blue tunes. Continue reading →

It’s been a while since the last Five Random Songs post, so here’s a fresh new list for your Monday morning.

Was my former student right? Is it possible to tell what a person’s like simply by looking at his or her music collection? I’m not too sure, but it’s fun to peruse what other people are listening to these days. I’m always discovering new songs thanks to my students and friends. Continue reading →

Following up on an earlier post, here are five more random tunes from my music collection. Was my former student correct? Can we really tell a lot about someone just by their CD wallet or their MP3 player? I’m not sure, but it makes for some interesting conversations and great new music.

Feel like joining in on the fun? Choose five random songs from your library (here’s a random number generator, if you’re so inclined) and publish your own random songs playlist. If you do, I hope you’ll leave a link in the Comments section. Continue reading →

A student once confided that he could tell what anyone was like just from looking at that person’s music collection. So I opened up iTunes on my office computer. “Well? What does mine say about me?” Continue reading →