Feb 17, 2011

Life's Soundtrack - Whistle While You Work


Inside Out

Last weekend the weather in my neck of the woods was glorious, with just a hint of spring in the air.  So I decided to do a little early spring cleaning.  I turned on our Valentines Playlist and got to work.  As I washed windows (not one of my favorite tasks) I realized what I really needed was a more appropriate playlist.  Love songs are great - but they just weren't meant for housework.   Luckily, I have all of you to help me put together a kick-butt, Whistle While you Work playlist that will help us all power through those housework tasks that are hated but necessary.

The songs I like to listen to while I'm cleaning have to do at least one of two things - make me move fast thanks to a strong beat or are so great that I want to sing along, because even the most dreaded task seems a bit easier when you are belting out an awesome song at the top of your lungs.  Here are a few of my favorites.

Taio Cruz - Dynamite
No Doubt - It's My Life
Kevin Rudolph - Let it Rock
Gnarls Barkley - Crazy
Muse - Resistance
Tina Turner - Proud Mary
Jason Derulo - Whatcha Say
Cee Lo - Forget You

What songs do you put on when you get serious about cleaning?  Please take a minute and share them in the comments, I'll compile them all and post them next week in our Whistle While You Work playlist.

Your suggestions for last week's Musical Journey playlist were wonderful!  After listening to this list a few times I'm quite content to stay at home for a bit longer and do my traveling via music.  There are some great new-to-me songs on this list and some old favorites.  I have a feeling you will love it as much as I do.

Musical Journey's Playlist
To listen to the playlist click on the sideways triangle in the middle of the embedded player.  To repeat a song or skip to the next click on the < or > to either side of the player.

In addition to coming up with this weeks theme while I was scrubbing windows I had a second idea (two ideas in a single day, maybe I should clean more often!)  I am very lucky to have all of you help me put together playlists to go with my every mood.  I realized that some of you may have an idea/need for a playlist that you would love to see opened up to the group - if so, feel free to leave it in the comments or send me an email (auroraforever (at) gmail (dot) com) I'll work it in so you can put the power of the amazing i-Studio community to work for you too.

Don't forget to share your Whistle While You Work songs (aka music to help us clean) in the comments below.

Happy Listening

16 comments:

Prairie Girl Studio said...

yay! so happy you had a touch of spring ...
what an amazing feeling : )
love the window image ~ perfect!

k ... off to far away places ... yay ...
and to get my whistle on
and try to be a bit more helpful this week!

xoxo
and the beat goes on ...
prairiegirl


ps. bag on head
so, jamie ~ i did it again ...
forgot to add a few selections ... : (
you could probably hum these after
listening to the amazing list this week ... ; )
three dog night ~ never been to spain
frank sinatra ~ new york, new york
joni mitchell ~ california

Petie@inspirednesting.com said...

Love this idea! I blogged recently about how music makes everything better; cleaning house, working out, driving, etc

My "get me going" songs:
Switch by Will Smith
All the Single Ladies by Beyonce
Spill the Wine by War
Lido Shuffle by Santana

Tks for a fun post.

Petie@inspirednesting.com said...

Oops, Inspired Nesting again, the song Lido Shuffle is Boz Scaggs, not Santana.... :)

Jamie said...

Never fear PG - I just discovered I can add songs after I post them. Your songs are now in the list!

Unknown said...

Shout by the Isley Brothers
Respect by Aretha Franklin
Nut Rocker by B. Bumble & the Stingers
Born in the USA - Bruce Springsteen
Travelin Band - Creedence Clearwater Revival
Oh Happy Day - Cat Stevens
Sugar Magnolia - Grateful Dead

Prairie Girl Studio said...

jamie ~ you are pure sweetness!
xo
pg

Anna said...

Jamie,
I'll put my thinking cap on and come up with some themes for you. I'm getting addicted to listening to your lists while writing late night emails :) Thanks!

ELK said...

a beautiful photo and the songs to clean by are essential ... even then I do not like to do it!!

kelly@thebluemuse said...

I like Sheryl Crow when I clean, Joni Mitchell is great too because I always sing along to her, or for a really tough job, I might crank up some Pearl Jam.

Anonymous said...

I just adore your blog, just post...what even made it more amazing was Ryan Adams, adore him. :-)
XXXX to you! Emily from EL Vintage

Chantal said...

Cleaning music? At the moment that would be Lady Antebellum's newest CD

blue elephant photography said...

yeah maybe you should clean more often lol
when i do some cleaning i play some louder songs to keep me in pace or upbeat ones and i vary from alternative rock to hip hop to indie lol:
No Doubt's Tragic Kingdom Album - I love Spiderwebs, Sunday Morning, Just a Girl
Weezer - Jamie, Undone(Sweater Song)
Save Ferris - Come on Eileen
And just for some variety, I listen to Filipino bands too when cleaning:
Eraserheads - Fine Time
River Maya - Shattered Like
Put3Ska - Manila Girl

Prairie Girl Studio said...

man, we've got some rockers this week ...
RIGHT ON! sorry ~ little excited

i dunno i think i am gonna have a hard time
cleaning for all the dancing! shucks!

ram jam ~ black betty
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R044sleOW6I
makes me want to get my 1961 black comet
on the road again ... sweet black betty ...
windows down ... hair blowin ... a road trip, louise?
what? right after cleaning? ... well, ok.

here's a nice bunch of beards for ya, jamie ~
ozark mountain daredevils ~ if you wanna get to heaven
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYvOsnhV6ZY&feature=related

oh my ~ you're gonna need your swiffer duster to sing along ... cue it!
meatloaf~ paradise by the dashboard light
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PN_YjM4V4fc

time for a break ~ i'm exhausted and i haven't left the bathroom!
but, seen as how we are in front of a mirror ...
my name is prairiegirl. i am addicted to singing real loud with brad roberts. *melt*
crash test dummies ~ superman
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihUIPlLw2ZE

throw open the windows, jamie!
scrubbing along ~
xo
prairiegirl

Anita @ GoingALittleCoastal said...

Does this mean I have to clean??

I really do need to. So how about
KT Tunstall- Black Horse and the Cherry Tree.
Rod Stewart- Forever Young
Billy Joel- Piano Man

Kim Klassen said...

hi Jamie
i'm painting textures today and listening to your playlist...
we are so blessed to have you in the Studio... I am most grateful for you!

xxo, Kim

bee said...

Hi Jamie!

Wow - I sure did love last week's playlist - a wonderful musical journey indeed!

I'm hopeful that next week's playlist will give me just the motivation I need to tackle some of those cleaning jobs that I can't seem to get up the will to do...

My favourite songs to clean to are ones that also make me want to dance. Which can sometimes be a problem... I'll start something and 20 minutes later, the floor still isn't washed, but I'm busting a move in the living room.

In any case, for cleaning (or dancing), I would recommend...

Superstition by Stevie Wonder
I Don't Feel Like Dancing by the Scissor Sisters
Everybody Got Their Something by Nikki Costa
Crabbuckit by k-os
Say Hey (I Love You) by Michael Franti

and... how about a little Gwen Stefani? Probably my favourite for cleaning would be Hollaback Girl... and during that one, you are allowed to throw down the vacuum, feather duster, cleaning rag... and shout along with her... this **** is bananas! It will make you feel better, I promise! ;)

Looking forward to the mix next week... maybe I'll finally tackle the closet purge that I've needed to do for... oh... 3 years or so... :)

-Bee