Monday has arrived! We have been lucky with some awesome sunny days – sure, they’re intermingled with some cloudy days with a spritz or two of rain, but the sun keeps winning out. This week will see even warmer temperatures, so it’s going to be time to get outside and bask in the beautiful weather for sure! Since it is Monday, it’s time for some music!

This week we celebrate our Honorary Conductor for the month of May – John from The Sound of One Hand Typing is leading the charge on chosen themes for this month, and for this week his cool and unique theme is “song titles that begin with each letter in your name… your choice first, middle or last!” Since my first name has the least amount of letters, I decided to go with that...heh! Why don’t you grab your favorite tune(s) and dance along, won’t you?

Let’s start off with a song that is guaranteed to get you dancing. The song originated when the vocalist went to a Los Angeles dance club to blow off some steam. When he started complaining when it was taking forever to get drinks at the bar, a girl came up to him and said, “Just shut up and dance with me!'”

He took her up on the offer and the two hit it off. He says the song is not so much about his personal experience, but about living in the moment.

Representing ‘S’, here’s Walk The Moon with “Shut Up and Dance”:

Next, this artist sings about having big dreams of being a star on stage as a kid. He recalls being laughed by his classmates for such ambitions, but in the second verse, the frontman flips the script on those who mocked him.

Now I’m smiling from the stage / While you were clapping in the nose bleeds

The artist was quoted as saying:

“[This song] is: ‘I’m so happy for a really (crappy) middle school and high school existence and getting kicked out of college. It’s reflecting on all those things and saying, ‘Good, I’m happy for all that because that brought me to this place of being. It created angst inside of me that bred art.'”

And excellent representation of “T”, here’s Imagine Dragons with “Thunder”:

Next up, this favorite artist explained how recording this song was encouraging for her in terms of her vocal technique:

“Years ago I got together with a voice coach briefly and I hated it, because I felt like they tried to change things that, like, would make me me, you know? There’s been a lot of growth over the past two years. I think I sound different now. I’ve gotten a lot more practice and everything’s just gotten easier. Like, notes that I could barely hit for the first album – like, ‘Oh my gosh, this is gonna kill me’ – are a piece of cake now. We’re on to new notes now that are way in the stratosphere. On [this song], the high note is the highest I’ve ever hit.”

Representing “A”, here’s the inimitable Carrie Underwood with “All-American Girl”:

Next up is a personal song that finds this artist referencing her time away from the spotlight following her split from her former boyfriend and public feud with an annoying celebrity couple, hence these lyrics:

My castle crumbled overnight / I brought a knife to a gun fight / They took the crown but it’s alright

By the song’s chorus, the artist has found peace, thanks to her new lover, who she believes is “The One.”

My baby’s fly like a jet stream / High above the whole scene / Loves me like I’m brand new

The artist was quoted as saying:

“The way I feel the album is, as far as a storyline, is I feel like it starts with just getting out any kind of rebellion, or anger, or angst, or whatever. And then, like, falling in love, and realizing that you kind of settle into what your priorities are, and your life changes, but you welcome it because it’s something that matters to you. And this last part of the album feels like settling into where I am now. So it started with where I was when I started making the album, and ends with kind of my emotional state now. And this song, I think, really reflects that probably the best on the album.”

Representing “C”, here’s the ultra talented Taylor Swift with “Call It What You Want”:

And finally, this artist attempts to convince a girl he likes that there’s nothing wrong with being “young” and “dumb” and “broke” high school kids. The video was filmed in an actual high school, and features a host of celebrity cameos, starting with Dennis Haskins (Mr. Belding from Saved by the Bell) as the principal.

Other famous names that make appearances include Fifth Harmony’s Normani Kordei, as the singer’s Prom Queen, She’s All That actress Rachael Leigh Cook who portrays a teacher, and Kenan & Kel’s Kel Mitchell, who plays a cafeteria worker. The clip ends with TV personality Wayne Brady in the guise of a disgruntled janitor.

The artist said the song was inspired by “not seeing love as a commitment at my age.”

Wrapping it up with “Y”, give a listen to Khalid with “Young Dumb & Broke”:

That’s a wrap for this week, have a great Monday – see you on the dance floor!

Now on to the particulars of Monday’s Music Move’s Me:   PhotobucketI have the supreme honor and privilege of being a co-host with the inimitable Xmas Dolly and our musical cohort, the awesome Cathy from Curious as a CAThy, and while our beloved Callie of JAmerican Spice is taking a break, our friend Michelle from Michelle’s Musings and Merriment is helping out with hostess duties! And introducing our newest addition to our Conductor repertoire – we have the honor and privilege of welcoming Alana from Ramblin’ with AM!

Want to join in the fun? It’s easy – just find a tune that rocks your boat, post it and link up – don’t forget to grab Xmas Dolly…er, um, I mean her button…over at her place here. Check out Xmas Dolly’s sidebar for the random themes we sport each week – and you can always ask for a specific theme of music you like, too. Check out the other music lovahs and let’s jam!

INTRODUCING OUR “SPOTLIGHT DANCER”:



7 Comments

  1. Stacy,

    I thought I was going to say I knew all of your song choices today until I got to the last one which is an introduction. ‘Young Dumb & Broke’ peaked #18 on Billboard Hot 100 charts. I reckon the reason I hadn’t heard it before now is that I have the impression this song is tailored for the teen genre. It had an interesting beat, though. Thanks for sharing this boogie with me, my friend. Have a good week!

    ~Curious as a Cathy
    C.A.T.H.Y. playlist & ‘Sparks’

  2. I knew “Shut Up and Dance” (a fun song) and Thunder. Carrie Underwood and Taylor Swift are always good choices although I wasn’t familiar with these particular songs. As for the Khalid song, my favorite part was at the end with Wayne Brady as the Janitor. He was so funny. What he said is what I’d like to say sometimes at the end of the work day.

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