Hello Monday! Mother Nature sure has been heating things up all over, hasn’t she? We’re still in the midst of our unusually hot weather (seriously, no rain in the foreseeable forecast and record breaking temps) and I know many of my friends scattered about are dealing with either heat or mega rain and flooding. This is a crazy summer for sure!

Meanwhile, it’s Monday, and Monday means music! This month’s Honorary Conductor is Michelle of Musings and Merriments with Michelle! Her theme choice for this week is “Post “2” songs in sign language and Post same without!” This was a fun one – let’s get this party started!

First up is an ASL cover done by a YouTube star who is known for posting American Sign Language versions of popular songs. Her channel is called TheDailySign, and boasts over 340,000 subscribers.

She began to learn ASL early in high school, and was inspired to create a blog on GifBoom. She called this blog TheDailySign, and created .gifs of her signing song lyrics.

Here is the adorable Libbey Ketterer with her ASL cover of Elle Goulding‘s “Love Me Like You Do”:

The song is from one of my favorite British recording artists who recorded this song for the film Fifty Shades of Grey. I haven’t seen the movie yet, but love the video – and love that one of my former crushes (Don Johnson)’s daughter is one of the stars of the movie. This song was released on January 7, 2015 as the second single from the soundtrack.

This song held the record for the most streamed track in a single week. The  features the artist with her boyfriend (I think that’s her boyfriend) in and around their house, as well as scenes from the movie.

Here’s  with ”:

Next up is a tune that surely will have you dancing right off the bat! Libbey does an excellent job with her cover.

Once again, here’s the adorable Libbey Ketterer with her ASL cover of “Despacito”:

The song is a Latin pop/reggaetón that was penned by this artist with the intention of creating a  tune that would make people want to dance. He was quoted as saying:

“The song grew in a very natural way, it really snowballed into this final version. [The song] started with a melody hook that I had with my guitar only. The beat for this track came after I wrote the lyrics, which I wrote as if I was writing a ballad. I sat with my guitar and started this cumbia pattern with my guitar.

After we wrote it, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to leave it as a cumbia/pop song or to give it this urban injection. I also don’t consider it a reggaetón song but it does have that reggaetón energy and to me that’s the new pop. A mix between a pop melody and a subtle urban beat to create the best of both worlds.”

“The video was filmed in Puerto Rico, where I’m from, and it celebrates our Latin culture and who we are; movement, dancing and rhythm are engraved in my bones. The genre I listen to the most is salsa, so people look at me and see this guy who’s done mostly romantic ballads, but there’s always been this other side. It captures the best of both worlds, and I think that’s helped the success of the song.”

This was the first ever Spanish Language song to spend ten consecutive weeks in the Top 10 of the Global Spotify Chart. This was also the first time in 21 years that a primarily Spanish-language song topped the Hot 100. The previous one to do so was Los Del Rio’s “Macarena,” which spent 14 weeks on the summit in 1996.

Here’s Luis FonsiDaddy Yankee and featuring Justin Bieber with “Despacito”:

And because I think she’s adorable, and I love her ASL covers of my favorite songs (and love this next song), I had to throw in a bonus song.

Here’s Libbey Ketterer again with her ASL cover of Rachel Platten‘s “Fight Song”:

More than a decade after releasing her first album, this artist made her Hot 100 debut with this empowerment anthem. This song is the fruit of 12 years hard graft – after all those years of working hard for so long, she didn’t think it was ever going to happen. She thought maybe she’d have to revert to Plan B and figure something else out – that moment bred this particular song.

This song came because she had to make a decision – and because of this song, she finally got some amazing opportunities. The song gained early exposure thanks to its placement in the December 9, 2014 (my birthday) in a Christmas-themed episode of ABC Family’s Pretty Little Liars. It was also featured in an trailer for the TV series Supergirl, and in an ad campaign for Ford.

Obviously it’s a good thing she didn’t opt for Plan B and hang up her guitar. She was quoted as saying:

“I just needed it at the time, you know, I needed that reminder that I believed in myself no matter what.”

Taylor Swift gave this song a big boost when she brought out Platten to duet on the song at her June 13, 2015 concert in Philadelphia. Swift met Platten a week earlier in Pittsburgh, and the pair had some fun singing the song backstage at Swift’s concert. Taylor posted a clip of the hangout to her Instagram feed, which at the time had over 34 million followers. Boom!

Here’s the gorgeous and talented Rachel Platten with “Fight Song”:

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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 Musings and Merriments with Michelle is helping out with hostess duties! And, for the month of July, Michelle is also our Honorary Conductor and Spotlight Dancer!

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” and Honorary Conductor for the month of July:



8 Comments

  1. Stacy,

    Great choices! I love Miss Libbey’s signing ability!! Mary featured the “Fight Song” as one of her choices but I didn’t know who the signer was until nor that she has her own YT channel. She does an excellent job! I did see “Fifty Shades of Gray”. It’s ok movie. The sort of relationship depicted in the film baffles me and I can’t figure out why anyone would want to be in one. Anywho, fabulous mewsic! Have a boogietastic week, my friend!

  2. Well, for sure… for sure… she is definitely a cutie pie for sure! I can see why you like her. She really puts her heart into her signing/singing… It’s almost as if she is singing with her hands. Very cool. One of the reasons why this subject was chosen by our Michelle is that she’s losing her hearing and she’s been either learning how or she already knows sign by now. I had no idea until we started talking one day & the subject had come up. Love your choices here today girlfriend & ending up with the fight song was choice… good one! Seen that tune a lot today. Sorry I’m so late, but I can only sit for so long… Have a rockin’ week my friend… !!!!

  3. Miss Libbey is so expressive; I enjoyed her videos. I loved the tee shirt in the first video. And all of these songs were new to me except Fight Song – Despacito was my favorite – very upbeat and danceable.

  4. Hi Stacy,
    Hope you’re having a good weekend. Love your song choices. The first two are new to me and it was wonderful to not only be introduced to them but to see the sung in sign.
    Interesting story behind Fight Song, which I love (the song). So glad you included it and the inspiring story, one of perseverence and fortitude…and being in the right place at the right time. Wow, Taylor Swift sure helped put her on the map! I love that about Taylor. She’s a very gracious and generous person.

    Enjoy your Sunday,

    Michele at Angels Bark

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