New Music

I kept hearing this song that sounded like something straight out of the 60s a while back and on an episode of Grey's Anatomy. I absolutely loved the song wondering who this was, what the name of the song was, etc. but then was quickly forgotten as I got absorbed in the Meredith/Derek drama or the Callie/Haun innuendo or whatever was going on at the time.

Thanks to my new handy dandy iPhone, a music-identifying program called Shazam, and some luck, I heard the song on the radio last week and discovered it was a lovely Welsh lady named Duffy.


After listening to all the songs on YouTube, I decided it was worth spending some of my iTunes gift card credit on. It's reminiscent of Dusty Springfield, The Supremes, and Martha and the Vandellas. I can envision some lazy Sundays with this in the background and making pies.

Shake It Like a Salt Shaker

I had always wanted one of those thin stereos that attach to the bottom of one of your kitchen cabinets so I could sashay in the kitchen to my favorite tunes when cooking. Then I got one of those stereos that you set your iPod in and quickly disowned the cabinet stereo idea. With the iPod blaster, you can play specific playlists, even one you have set up just for cooking quiche or pies. Or in my case, you just play feel good music to let your happiness spill over into whatever you are preparing, like accidentally spilling too much thyme in your salmon patties when there isn't even thyme in the recipe! You'd be amazed how it clumps together in egg yolk, which makes it easier to fish out. Moving on.

I have determined the best music to cook to is what iTunes deems as the "vocal" genre. Call me crazy, but isn't it all considered vocal unless it's clearly instrumental? Anyway, vocal consists of greats such as Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin. Not only is it happy music, but you can get lost in a daydream of fedoras and dames while listening to auditory velvet. (Doesn't Ol' Blue Eyes just sound like velvet feels?) I keep listening to "You Make Me Feel So Young," which was used recently in the movie Elf when Buddy and Jovie are on their date. Elf is one of my favorite movies, so in addition to it being a good song, I smile imagining Buddy skipping around Manhattan.

Other good music and food pairings include Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, and Black Sabbath. Just kidding. Unless you were ripping apart a roast chicken. Then it only seems fitting to pair a bird with Ozzy.