Dancing Up A Storm

Clockwise: Weather Girls; Panic At The Disco; Eurythmics; and Boyzone.

Well, I had to think about Irene when coming up with the posts, didn't I? I'll start with the obvious, to be sure. I couldn't possibly even consider doing this post without the amazing Weather Girls, Martha Wash and Izora Armstead. Twenty-nine years ago, they had the #1 Dance song in the country when they sang It's Raining Men.



Just two years later, in 1984, the Eurythmics released the third single off the album Touch, Here Comes The Rain Again. The song made it to #4 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, and #4 on the Dance/Club Play chart. Here is Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart with Here Comes The Rain Again.



In 2010, Ronan Keating, Keith Duffy, Mikey Graham, and Shane Lynch were still recovering from the surprising death of Stephen Gately. They had released a new album, and the first included Gately's vocal track. So when Boyzone released Love Is A Hurricane, it was the first song without Gately. While I still miss Stephen, I have to say Ronan, Keith, Mikey and Shane are looking damn good in the video.



Certainly much has been written, theorized, and categorized about the final group in the post tonight. Original members Spencer Smith and Brendon Urie still make up the nucleus of Panic At The Disco, a few years ago having lost three other members. But the Pop/Punk/Emo band from Las Vegas was not prepared to call it a day, and put out Vices & Virtues earlier this year, and excellent album. Here is their song, Hurricane.



So, having listened to all those songs, I now feel ready to face Irene! Two about rain, and the other two with hurricane in their title... Hope you enjoyed!

2010 Bloggie Best Weblog About Music

Champagne for everyone!

Yes, as I and several others mentioned yesterday, Soundtrack to my Day was named Best Weblog About Music in the 2010 Weblog Awards, or Bloggies. I discovered this when I noticed increased traffic from the Bloggies site on my FEEDJIT traffic feed, and I went there and found this:



I went back and checked several times, for I was in disbelief. I will admit to being in a bit of a winter funk, with what seemed like endless snow, and a rough week or so at work. Then I read the rules, and see that the winners were announced on Sunday night via Twitter, so I had missed this:


So it was true, it seems the blog had won. I was totally prepared for the whole 'I am just thrilled being nominated' thing, because that is so very truth. It was not that long ago that David Dust and Tranny Beth talked me into blogging, and then through setting it up. My goal was to talk about the music I love. My first real post was about Casey Stratton, for I had just purchased his album and decided to review it. I've covered my favorite out and proud singer/songwriters, their videos, new releases, and the live shows I have attended. So I feel once I have thanks David & TrannyBeth, I must thank all the musicians, signed or unsigned, gay or str8, who have made music that inspired me on this blog. Casey, Eric, Tom, Aiden, Levi, Matt, Chad, Chris, Gareth, Guy, Toby, Syd, Travis, Ari, Ivri, Wes, Lee & Alex, Theo, Mikey, Shane, Ronan, Jimmy, Paul, Stewart, Anthony, Garrin, Daniel, Angel, and others, thanks. Y'all do the hard work, I just chat about it. And to the readers, I owe appreciation as well. Your comments keep me on my toes, and remind me there are people out there who, like myself, appreciate good music. Whether you appreciate the new artists or the old favorites, without your support and kindness, none of this would be possible.

To celebrate in the traditional 'Soundtrack' way, I offer you Daniel Cartier, who has a new album coming out soon. Here he is singing an a cover of the Eurythmics Here Comes The Rain Again as I look out the window to watch the rain, grateful it isn't more snow.