Looks Like It’s Suicide For Me. AGAIN.
You guys are too nice. You need to make me work a HELL of a lot harder for your votes. Come on, make me post about something. Ask me to write about something you’ve been up nights wondering about. I’ve now moved above the grocery blog which is rad, but I’m going to lose to Dooce. Doesn’t everyone?
Because I was raised by a couple of stinking hippies, I was singing “We Shall Overcome” and “Blowin’ In The Wind” while I toddled around in my cloth diaper, occasionally being stuck by a rogue pin. I was forced to listen to both Pink Floyd and Peter, Paul and Mary by my mother, who would frequently play a record over and over ad nauseum until my ears bled. I still tremble at the thought of having to listen one more fucking time to “If I Had A Hammer.”
It probably wasn’t until after I was in college before I realized that I could listen to music and like it just because it made me feel good. Not because it had a deeper meaning or because it meant something or because it protested something. Just because it made me happy or made me want to get on the table and dance my (white girl) ass off.
In that vein, I happily dragged my husband out to get the new Britney record on the day it was released. While he wondered if his testicles had been put into a jar on a shelf in our garage somewhere, I (pathetically) bopped out to some funky fresh jams. It beat the hell out of the emo shit Dave normally plays, or as I like to call it “Suicide Rock.”
Shockingly, though, I don’t only listen to bubble gum pop. On my I’m Feeling Acutely Sorry For Myself Days (oh, like YOU don’t have those days too), I like nothing more than listening to Leonard Cohen.
I remember ages ago watching a Saturday Night Live episode with my dad late one night (perhaps on a SATURDAY NIGHT? Get it?!?) and they did a sketch on a Leonard Cohen Fan Convention. I hadn’t been introduced properly to Mr. Cohen at that point, but I do remember that everyone was wearing mournful black clothing (berets even, perhaps, if my mind serves me) and many of them committed suicide while they listened to his music.
It’s only funny if you know his music. Because it’s true.
While I’m not a big Take To My Blog To Piss And Moan kind of person, these past couple of months have been excruciatingly rough for me. I’ve honestly hit the point where I’m wondering, Hey, is this LIFE? Is life really just one stupid fucking crisis after another? Because yeah.
So, what does a person at her wits end do?
a) Consider joining a nunnery
b) Sell herself to the gypsies.
c) Pay the gypsies to take her away
d) Listen to depressing ass music.
While the other three options are great choices, I chose number d. Because I like sex and I hate moving.
And my poor daughter has now grown up on a steady diet of Leonard Cohen, which cannot possibly be good for her development. I should probably switch to Pantera if I want her not to grow up to be an emo chick, right? So now, whenever I put on some “Hallelujah,” Amelia smiles her ever-loving head off.
Guess that’s better than contemplating suicide.
See! Look! She’s trying to decide how best to get upstairs and get some black eyeliner and the new Cure album (is there a new Cure album?).
Here’s an emo joke for you.
My lawn is so emo, it cut’s itself.
Get it?
At least your readers voted! In spite of shameless begging, I’m only up to a whopping 13 votes. Where’s that fucking Leonard Cohen cd?
We will not let you lose to Dooce…no way no how. I’m going out to vote again right.this.moment.
I too listen to music when I’m depressed, usually something like nine-inch-nails, stonesour, or radiohead… you get the picture.
We totally have that outfit too, in fact it was one of my favorites until baby grew so damn slow that she wore it for ummm… like 6 months. Now, it’s not one of my favorites anymore and it looks ratty and I can’t even sell it at the consignment store.
But, on the bright side I did vote for you in both your categories.
Stop listening to that sad ass music and turn on…
Miley Cyrus
That’ll get you going for when Amelia is 9 or 10 or so – just think you’ll already be hip! Learn to use 🙁 as a smiley and you’ll even be ready for the middle school years…
There is nothing better than listening to depressing ass music when life sucks. In fact, when I was in college, I used to make mix tapes (why yes, I am a dork) that I would title Songs for the Suicidally Depressed. I think there are 3 or 4 volumes. I have not heard the Leonard Cohen stuff, though, so I guess I’ll have to hit YouTube this evening.
BTW, I’ve learned to never complain that life is boring, because the excitement you end up with (medical traumas, family fights) is not the excitement you were looking for (winning the lottery, trips to Italy).
Wow. When I’m depressed I listen to Ozzy. I must be doing something wrong.
She’s a blonde baby Alex! And I <3 her socks. I bought two boxes of them that Beans wore for her first year because her feet? Miniscule.
Becks,
First off, I voted for you in each category like 3 times. I’m waiting for the website to ban my ass. Dooce is going DOWN, mother fuckers! Plus she’s not as funny as you are.
As for being depressed – up the Happy Pill dosage and blast that Britney! Things will get better.
I have no idea who Leonard Cohen is, but OMG that outfit is to die for!
Love Hallelujah, but Rufus Wainright has the best version. . . .
Baby, I’m Your Man. My mother loves Leonard Cohen, too. When Amelia gets older I can counsel the poor child on the proper ways to apply black makeup.
oh dear! another adorable photo… I love them…
and “number d?” You funny girl.
I grew up on the same musical diet you did–though it was mostly their old records I was listening to. My mom lost a lot of her hearing due to a car accident before I was born, so her musical taste sort of stopped at Johhny Mathis, because she didn’t have to strain to understand the words.
I went through a long cycle of many boyfriends, many musical genres. I had the punk boyfriend, the rap boyfriend, the techno boyfriend, the list goes on. But the good news is that I ended up with an appreciation for a wide variety of musical styles. In the end, I married the punk(ish) boyfriend. And I have to say, for depressing rainy days (especially if you’re driving to Maine from Minnesota, through Canada), you can’t beat the Tragically Hip. I like “Scared.” I don’t know what kind of emotional future that foretells for our kids.
God that baby is gorgeous.
Hallelujah in this house is “the song from Shrek” I’m afraid. No cred whatsoever. We also have Abba on near permanent loop. Z is better at Mamma Mia than Twinkle Twinkle. Its embarrassing.
How cute is she?
Can I vote for you more than once? If that be the case, then the game is on, Doocie! The bitch sucks all the ad money out of the Blogosphere, fortyfuckingthousanddollars a month, so she can’t have the awards, too!
When I’m depressed, I don’t listen to depressing music. I hear my own sad tune bouncing around in my head, and then I put on something snappy to get me out of it, like Cher tunes 😉
Hooray for Leonard Cohen!
Yeah, they aren’t letting me vote twice. Sorry Becky! I’ll see what one can do about creating multiple profiles.. hhehehehe
By the way, your daughter is adorable! And now to google Cohen – I have no idea who that is… (have I been stuck in lab too long?)
Ahh flashbacks, I haven’t heard Leonard Cohen in YEARS.
Amelia is beautiful.
TOTALLY voted for you. you are so bad ass. Don’t jump until you see your landslide win!
How are your readers NOT knowing Cohen?!? You need to do a youtube video post and school some people. 🙂
And the girl- stunning. And clearly plotting to take over the universe.
xo
Amelia is totally delish!! I agree with Cali. Edumacate yourselves people! I was in Starbux the other day and someone commented on the Talking Heads cd they’re selling and the girl behind the counter said, “I’ve never heard of them.” Fine! Order my walker and book my room in the nursing home! Oh, hell, just Take Me To The River!
Okay, seriously….did you hack into my account and read my drafts? Because I have a post that is so similar to this one in the works! But WAY less funny.
My husband listens to the suicide rock as well and I love the pop/happy music. And Peter, Paul and Mary were about the only music we listened to other than the Safety Kids and G.T. and the Halo Express, because my mom loathed music for the most part. In 8th grade I discovered the radio (ZOMG where had it been all my life?!?!) and got hooked on the happy pop music. I love me some Cohen too (although I agree with Mrs. Spit that the Rufus Wainright version is awesome). And my daughter’s favorite music is Ozzy. When her daddy is singing to her and the words say anything about death, devil, killing, etc, she giggles.
Pass us the black eyeliner and nail polish please!
Yep, Cure has a new album. We totally raised our oldest on them and the Smiths and New Order. (I’m dating myself aren’t I) Excellent suicide music. We totally scarred her for life with Sisters of Mercy – horrified screaming melt-down baby. Oops, who knew. Now she listens to top 40 – all that emo training gone to waste. Sigh.
Don’t worry that adorable Amelia is sure to love the music you hate the most. Peter, Paul and Mary perhaps?
My son asks to listen to Rabiohead. It is his favorite. I would put my eye out before I listened to Miley Cyrus. And yes, I think the Cure has something new out, not sure of the name. It may be a best of kind of thing.
Oh my goodness. She is so freaking cute.
Your daughter is gorgeous.
My boys think Distrubed is the greatest band ever. I don’t even know how they know who that is!
Confession. I didn’t realize that “number d” is not correct, until someon pointed it out in the comments. But that could because I say, “for one (whateveri’mbitchingabout) and B. And things don’t have scents they have flavors…
And I too love baby girl’s outfit.
I love “Hallelujah” — I listen to the Rufus Wainwright version. I have a whole collection of depressing music (mostly Patty Griffin) that got me through Infertility: Part One. Some people don’t understand listening to sad songs when you are down, they think it makes it worse. But I think it helps me to work through it… serves as a soundtrack to help me move forward. Different strokes for different folks, I guess!
That Leonard Cohen bit must be hilarious! I’ve got to hop on the old You-Tube and try and find it…
I tried so hard for so many years to be a “music-snob.” But I like you–would horrifyingly catch myself busting out the Justin Timberlake jams! *GASP*
Sometimes the crappy, bubble-gum pop, just sounds so good!!! (LOL)
what’s with the matchy matchy cute ass clothes on her? where’s her saggy cloth diaper and rogue pins?
i’m listening to jezebel by two hours traffic right now, over and over until the little people’s ears bleed and i don’t care.
“I just want you to know I was listening to the Cure when I wrote this, so, um, well, here goes…” Quick! Name that movie!
My parents had Neil Diamond, Kenny Rogers, and Tina Turner on constant rotation in the car during my childhood. Ask me the lyrics to any of their greatest hits. I dare ya.
Must.smooch.adorable.baby.cheeks.NOW!
When I’m depressed, I read your blog. And not because misery loves company. It’s just because you make me laugh my head off. I hope your shitstorm ends soon so you can listen to happy music.
Break out the Jeff Buckley, baby. He kicks Leonard Cohen’s ass and is way hotter.
And your baby girl is GORGEOUS by the way!
bestill my heart.
i have six or seven covers of hallelujah on my ipod.
wow! she’s looking really big and beautiful!
and i never say that unless i mean it…my standard ugly baby compliment is: OH! s/he looks just like YOU!
She is too damn cute.
Amelia is adorable! I grew up on Elton John and Fleetwood Mac (Mom) and Led Zepplin and ZZ Top (dad) and I turned out, um, okay bad example. Forget what I said. Except about Amelia being adorable because that is so true.
she does totally look like the lady bits version of alex! i love it!
Cute photo. I think my Beauty may have that very same outfit (is it Dwell Studio for Tar-jay?) Forcing Amelia to listen to depressing music can’t nearly be as bad as my little baby being tortured day in and day out with her big brothers’ Elmo Sings cd, can it?! BTW, sorry for the rough couple of months. Hope there is an end to the crises in sight. Also, if I didn’t effing love you already, I would now since you have love for my girl Brit, Brit. I actually spent my 32nd bday as one of the straightest, oldest people at her Seattle concert AND I gave away a copy of Circus on my blog. Check out my concert pics here: http://2under2whew.blogspot.com/2009/04/britney-spears-circus-tour.html
Amelia is beautiful!!
I couldn’t imagine a life without music, and mine reflects my mood, too.
I am all over the place with my taste from Bon Jovi to Josh Grobin to Poison.
I played my favorite songs over and over when my kids were little. My daughter can’t listen to a Rick Springfield song without thinking of summer, the plastic smurf pool, and our matching orange bikinis, while the ‘boom’ box blasted “Jessie’s Girl”.
And she’s kinda normal…….
The thing about giving her emo music to listen to now is that when she is a teen she will have to rebel against her parent’s music and you will have whatever passes for pop cheesy chherfulness in the 2020’s to listen to.
You’re doing a good thing. If she is all emo now she will have no choice but to be helpful, cheery teen.
I thought for sure my daughter would be hardcore, but she’s a princess and a primper. She grew up rockin out to Papa Roach with me (on the way to third grade at her private Christian school) but that didn’t stop her from turning into one of those girly girls who’s always putting on makeup and making sure her boobs are displayed in the best light possible. Sigh.
I’ve already commented on this post, but saw this announcement in the blogosphere and thought of you: March 6-12th nurses can get a free Cinnabon! You need to show your ID badge. Details can be found here….thanks Money Saving Mom!
See what you miss not nursing!
You do know that pic was crying out for a black beret, right? lol
I’m only here to stroke my own ego: I know that outfit!!
I can claim that if you win something, can’t I? “I clothed the daughter of the Award Winner Aunt Becky”.
Cute kid. I listen 2 depressing music 2, but i`ve never heard of leonard cohen. When I first saw his name, I thought he was a classical musician. Wtf? Wen i`m sad i listen 2 stuff like the used, my chemical romance, etc. I am so voting 4 u.