Sunday 15 January 2012

Music 2011

As for most (if not all) members of the Edwards family, books are an essential part of my life. Music is also extremely important to me and whilst I may not have time to read when I'm busy working I always have time to listen to music. For some strange reason music is something I've never blogged about, but having just blogged my favourite books of 2011 I thought I'd blog about the music I listened to last year.

My tastes in music are eclectic, but whilst I do enjoy classical music I find myself listening to it only very occasionally. Most of the music I listen to on a daily basis would be classed as country, R&B or pop. I also love musicals and in the last couple of years have started listening to some blues and jazz.

Unlike my reading that I keep good track of it's very difficult for me to say what I listened to the most last year. I do, however, keep a record of my favourite songs of the year (not necessarily released in that year, but ones I find myself playing over and over again). Looking at the list for 2011 only two artists feature twice - Miranda Lambert (with 'the house that built me' and 'new strings') and Lady Antebellum (with 'I run to you' and 'hello world'), both country artists. Other songs that made it to my list of favourites include:

Charlene Soraia - Wherever You Will Go
Adele - Someone Like You
David Cook - Permanent
Jim Brickman - Lake Eerie Rainfall (Instrumental)
Etta James - At Last (actually I've listened to the Christina Aguilera, Beyonce and Josh Krajcik versions more than the original)
Bomshel - Fight Like a Girl
P!nk - I Don't Believe You
Christina Perri - Jar of Hearts
Demi Lovato - Skyscraper

With regard to actual albums I'm guessing the ones I played the most in 2011 were Carrie Underwood's 'Carnival Ride', Jim Brickman's 'By Heart - Piano Solos' and Michael Buble's 'Christmas'. The latter has introduced me to the 'Puppini Sisters' whose albums I will definitely be buying.

My favourite song of 2011 is 'The house that built me' recorded by Miranda Lambert. Both the song and the video can quite easily make me cry, but I love them for that. Enya's 'Book of Days' has also gained a big significance in my life having walked 'down the aisle' to it in July. What music did you listen to or 'discover' in 2011?

5 comments:

  1. Would definitely agree with Land Antebellum and if you haven't heard their latest album (Own The Night) I'd heartily recommend it.

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  2. I discovered quite a few new piano concertos and Alkan's piano music in 2009/10 but my 'find' of 2011 was the composer Christian Sinding.

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  3. Thanks Mark. I'll check it out on youtube.

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  4. I don't think I know any of these except Enya who is a favourite of mine. You bring up an interesting point though because while I try to keep a list of what I read, and since New Year decided to try to do the same with films and DVDs... I never yet occurred to me to do it with music. I think the only new CD I bought in 2011 was Paul Simon's So Beautiful or So What.

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  5. Like Dawn Treader the only name I recognised was Enya - of whom I am also a fan. I look forward to hearing some of the others next time I visit!

    My favourites were nearly all classical piano music and I can't recall discovering much during the year though I'm sure I must have done while staying with GB. It's something I shall think about keeping a note of in 2012.

    What Jo and I did immediately prior to Christmas was play all our old 1960s music - much of which brought back memories and many of which remain my favourite pop music to date.

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