Friday, December 19, 2014

Toto - Africa

Elementary School again, this song reminds me of 5207 Germain Road, in Richmond VA. and riding my bike around with my friends Michael and Kataka. Or going to hang out at my friend Lori's house. Her Dad always had western movies going in the living room (another nostalgia thing). Or Playing with my old dog Boragard in the back yard. Spinning in the wicker swings on the back patio, rollerskating on our back patio. My first stereo my Mom and Dad gave me, it popped with static when I turned it on to listen to the radio. But I loved that stereo, it helped fuel my love for music. They would let me listen to it as I went to sleep, and they would always come in and switch it off as they went to bed. It had a record player, and i would listen to records that i had, or sometimes even the ones Mom and Dad had.

I have been by that house in recent years, when going home to visit. The neighborhood and house and everything around looks so much smaller. Back then it all seemed so big. Funny how our perspective changes as we get older. But the feelings stay the same.


Thursday, December 18, 2014

Hooked on a feelin....GoG Soundtrack

So we went to see Guardians of the Galaxy when it came out. I will admit I wasn't excited to be going to the movie theater. I am not a big go to the theater person. I hate sitting still staring at a screen for 2 hours. And if there's a lot of action in the movie i get antsy and have to get up and move around. I'm a dork yes.

Imagine my surprise.... this little movie that could... keep me in my seat for the ENTIRE run time and then the credits too.

I have watched this movie now so many times. We have it digitally, and we got the Blu Ray. We have the deluxe soundtrack. We are total fans. If you haven't seen it yet you must! The music just makes it so perfect. All of the popular music is 70's and then it also has a full score (i heart motion picture musical scores!!!)

So check out this movie, because then you too will want to run out and buy the soundtrack and the dancing baby Groot, who I must shamelessly plug as my favorite character in the movie! :)







Sunday, December 14, 2014

How Blue/ Does He Love You

Songs I used to Karaoke with the best Karaoke DJ on the planet... Anne Marie Alexander!!!!

They don't have good quality Karaoke here in San Antonio, like they do in Richmond. Even the bad Karaoke outfits in Richmond are better than what is here. I miss it. If you need a great place to Karaoke look up Anne Marie. She will rock you! :)



Friday, December 12, 2014

Its hip to be Square! /Soul Man/....


...or at least march in a square box around the football field playing the song lol! But my favorite is still and always will be Soulman! Shawn and Craig were too cool for school with their guitars. And refused to wear Band Uniforms (Hell who could blame them!?) Probably the coolest time in marching band for me. Somewhere I have video of that performance. if I can ever find the tapes I am totally going to copy them off for some YouTube! wooo!

This is for all my marching band friends who remember this song and this halftime show. I think this was the order we played them in. If anyone remembers for sure, let me know:

Its Hip to be Square!


Soul Man


Does Anybody Really Know What Time it is?


One Moment in Time

Thursday, December 11, 2014

Missing the Landscape

So lately, if you couldn't tell by my last post, I have been missing VA. I go through this struggle at least once a year. I think most people here think I am crazy.

I hear, Ohh Texas is great!! What is the matter with you?!"

And there are some great things about living here. But I miss a lot too. I miss the defined seasons, the trees, the highways where you CANT see anything on either side because the trees are so tall that everything is hidden. I miss going to Roanoke and seeing the mountains. I could go on and on.

Its funny how I can hear a song and it just bring back smells, sounds, moments, feelings. (this is not a song about virginia...) I heard this song in the store the other day, and It took me back to a summer vacation I had with my family, and my friend Leighann in 1987. I listened to the radio in Richmond all the time and I never heard this song there. But when we made it to our vacation spot, a family friends cabin in Pembroke VA, this song was all over the radio, we must have heard it every 15 minutes for the week we were there.

I still think of that vacation, it was a week I made long distance friends who I still talk to today. Leighann and I had a blast staying up late talking about boys, running up terrible long distance phone bills calling the next county over (oops!). Watching the trains go by and counting the cars (yes this doesn't sound like much, but it was fun, I promise). We fished, and swam in the New River. It was an awesome vacation that I probably appreciate more today than I was smart enough to back then.

back to real life. The song, Wild Horses, by Gino Vannelli.

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

'Ohh Virginia'

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
Crappy video quality. But love love love the song. Cant even really say anything else.

"Oh Virginia"

Here's my chance to say thank you to a place where
All my memories are fond and an essence of my heart
Waiting there with open arms
There's Melissa full of charm
How I miss her so, she's such a sight of love down in


Oh Virginia down the highway to 64
East way to Newport News
There you'll find an open door in
Oh Virginia all my friends are there to greet me
Just a smile down 64 along the open road


At the Patton Hotel I spent lots of time there
That's where we decided this is where we wanted to be
And down the road on Jefferson you'll find Steamer's close by
If you see Mark and Steve Breen
Tell 'em Jeff and I both said "hi"


But we were younger then never knowing then
That she would take us as her own
And make us part of her life
Highway to the sun we had so much fun
I can't wait to get there and tell 'em that I miss my second home


Oh Virginia down the way we'll be there in no time
Oh Virginia just a ride down 64
Oh Virginia I can see those signs from here
Oh Virginia 25 miles to Hampton Roads


We got friends in Yorktown we got friends in Williamsburg
We got friends in Newport News
We want all of y'all from Portsmouth sing
We got friends in Bluefield we got friends in Richmond
We got friends in Hampton Roads
And down by the beach let me hear everybody, yeah



♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

Monday, December 8, 2014

Free

I haven't posted any country yet. Though I do love country music, it wasn't until my 20's that I learned to appreciate it.

I only got into Zac Brown Band a couple of few years ago. Back when 'Toes' was big and every radio station was using it as their 5 oclock Friday song. Good choice ;). Anyways, I saw them in concert twice. They sound amazing in person.

I love listening to the harmonies and blending in their music. the instruments all come together so well that you forget that there is more than just one. Not to mention that ZBB violinist Jimmy De Martini is a beast on fiddle. He just blows me away every time i watch or hear him play. This band brings together so many elements from old southern rock, to a small bit of island flair (but not too much), and country.

If I had to pick one song that Id say I loved above all else it would be Free (+intro). So I will feature that here, but there are others, like Chicken Fried, and Colder Weather. Ok I just thought of 5 more so I will stop before this becomes a list too long to feature. Im just going to post Free today. I'm sure there will be more from ZBB :)

Friday, December 5, 2014

I cant help myself - I love Bruno Mars!

I CANNOT get enough of this song!

Uptown Funk - Mark Ronson Featuring Bruno Mars

This song is so flippin throwback I love it. I'm talking Morris Day and the time, old style.... "SAY WHAT!?!?!"






Okay, to be fair I am a bit biased. I LOVE BRUNO MARS! Did you see his super bowl performance?! OMG! okay shameless inclusion of said performance to follow. <3

*SIGH*....

Thursday, December 4, 2014

The Game

Todays blog is not just one song but an entire album. Over the years I wore it out over and over and over again. I was introduced to the group Echo and the Bunnymen by a very good friend who to this day I adore with all my heart. We lost touch for a while after high school, but this album always made me feel like she was still close to me. Every single time I listened to it. She posed the question the other day that she wondered if lost friends looked for her the way she did them. My answer was, I always did.

I will never forget the first time I did get to talk to her after we had lost touch. I was working an overnight at Hamilton Beach doing month end and waiting for jobs to run. and I googled her, and came across her information. at the time I was on AOL Instant messenger and I saw that she had a messenger address listed. I pinged her and she was on. Many tears ensued. But it was like we had never lost touch. I would like to think its because that line was never broken between us. It just stretched a little. :)

So todays post is for her. I have no doubt she will see it :).









Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Hmm I have been slackin!

Well its December 2nd and I haven't been a good blogger at all lol!

So this song snuck in my head tonight. A nod to one of my all time favorite movies "Some Kind of Wonderful". I have to go back and listen to that soundtrack every now and again.

This group, The March Violets have some great stuff, and they are still putting out music even today.
And Im not feeling overly wordy, so enjoy the song!

Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Set Adrift on Memory Bliss of You

This song just takes me back to a different time. Its mellow, and I love the bit of bass thats in it.

And of course the nod to Spandau Ballet :) Happy Tuesday everybody.

Friday, September 12, 2014

RIP Zune/Xbox Music

I was an early adopter of Zune and Microsoft Music. And for years I loved loved loved it!!!! I paid about 15 bucks a month and each month I got to download 10 songs that I "owned" or so I thought. Eventually Microsoft decided to do away with the Zune software and the plan that gave you the 10 songs a month, but the early adopters could keep it as long as they didn't cancel their accounts. Well one day about a year ago, I stopped being able to download songs but was still paying their high price. I just thought that ohh they are having an issue it will get fixed and Ill be able to download again in a few days... Umm no. a year later, and no fix. So we try to work with them, but of course customer service is clueless and they just want to offer me a refund. Only 3 months worth, and that's it.

So I decided fine, I take the 3 months of refund and then cancel my service once I see the money. How frustrating. I had a library of soo much music. Most of which was subscription. So when I cancelled I lost it all. and whats more is the songs that I believed to be mine were really not. I paid them more money for no reason. I lost EVERYTHING. Unless it was music I ripped from CD's I purchased myself. I love my music. I feel a little lost without my library. And starting over feels quite daunting. Thanks Microsoft for screwing me royally! I was a loyal customer for many years. In the end they just did what every other company does, Succomb to the Greed.


**update!!**
So I originally started writing this in August. And I drafted it. Im so glad I did because the story was not over. I waited to see my 3 month refund from Microsoft, which I did. Then I went to the website and cancelled my account. What I found odd was that it would not allow me to remove my account info. but I had clicked the cancel button so I should be good, right?! WRONG!
So, I was checking my bank statement and I see a charge come through for Microsoft Music/Xbox Music.... REALLY!? I cancelled that! Here is the conversation that I had with Microsoft over this: Info: Please wait for an agent to respond. You are currently '1' in the queue.
Info: Privacy Statement
You are now chatting with 'David D.'.
David D.: Hello shawn, my name is David D. with Microsoft Windows Phone and Xbox Music Support. Please give me a few minutes as I review the information you've submitted.
David D.: Thank you for the issue description. Connect on commerce.microsoft.com with your Music Pass account please.
shawn: will take me just a minute to get a code
David D.: Sure.
shawn: ok im in
David D.: I can see that the music pass is still active on this account. can you see the same on commerce?
shawn: yes
shawn: but I went in after I received my refund last month and I said to cancel.
shawn: and its still there.
David D.: May I have the reference number of your last chat to our support please. shawn: sec and I will find it
David D.: Thank you.
shawn: xxxxxxxx
shawn: she refunded me.
David D.: Checking.
shawn: then I went in and did the cancel. after the refund hit my account.
David D.: So you stopped the autorenewal of the subscription?
shawn: yes. I told it to cancel.
shawn: i tried to remove my payment info too but it would not allow that,.
David D.: Did you click on turn off auto renewal on xbox.com?
shawn: yes i went through all of that. several times.
shawn: i wanted to remove my payment info but it would not allow it
David D.: Thank you for the information. I will cancel the music pass for you from my end. give me a minute.
David D.: For your reference, the Service Request number for this chat is: xxxxxxxxxx
shawn: thank you.
David D.: The music pass is now cancelled. You will receive an email confirming the cancellation shortly.
shawn: I did receive that email.
David D.: If you received the previous refund already, you can now remove your credit card attached account.
shawn: will i receive a refund for the amount that was taken from my account this month?
David D.: We are allowed to give a 3 month refund only. Further refund are not authorised as you have to contact us before you are charge to avoid the charges. The system won't allow me to refund another month on your account.
shawn: this is unacceptable. Who do I need to speak with to get that cleared up?
David D.: Note that all charges are not refundable and the 3 months refunds already granted are exceptional.
shawn: i have been paying for a service for OVER a year that has not worked.
shawn: and i was clear when i cancelled the account
shawn: and again money was taken from my account after I requested this
shawn: i want to talk to someone who will refund me the last payment. I did not give authorization for that payment. I asked that the account be cancelled. and the money was continued to be taken out.
shawn: i want this fixed.
David D.: I totally understand. I can escalate the case to our senior team to see what can be done. I will contact you by email once there is answer on their part. I don't have any authority for additional refunds.
shawn: I understand.
shawn: i don't blame you at all.
David D.: Do you have a contact email address?
shawn: shawn@ploe.net
David D.: I will contact you in a delay of five working days maximum.
shawn: ok thank you.
David D.: depending on the amount of cases escalated to the senior team.
David D.: You are very welcome.
David D.: Is there anything else I can assist you with today?
shawn: no sir that is it.
Info: Your chat transcript will be sent to shawn.ploe@xxxxxxxxxx at the end of your chat.
David D.: Thank you very much for contacting us and have a nice day. Kind regards.
shawn: thanks you too.


For the most part I am being nice here. I mean really. I didnt authorize the last transaction they should have refunded it over and above their "exceptional" refund for my troubles with their defunct product. So five days passes and I get this email:

Hi Shawn Ploe,

This is David from Microsoft.

I am contacting you regarding your refund request for your Music Pass that was active till 09/02/2014.

Unfortunately we are not able to provide an additional refund to the 3 months already granted by our department. It is under the responsibility of the owner of the subscription to check his billing transactions on his Microsoft account. Once a subscription is active, we cannot determine if the customer is willing to continue with the service or is willing to stop. As stated in the Terms and conditions of the subscription, Your subscription will remain active until the end of the subscription period. Charges are not refundable. It is the sole responsibility of the user to contact the service in due time to cancel all payments and subscriptions attached to the Microsoft Account. The 3 months refunds are exceptional for customers that have been through difficulties to contact us.

The support is available 24/7 and you can contact us anytime if your are having difficulties to cancel any subscriptions.

Kind regards,

David B.

Microsoft Support.




So I read this and I'm all pfft! whatever. I knew you weren't gonna give me the money your company stole out of my bank account anyways. So I just let it go figuring it wasnt worth my time to pursue anymore.




Well then this week, I receive another email from this guy. And sorry for him I was not having a good day:

Hi,

It's David from the Windows Phone Support(Microsoft). I have sent you an email on the 10/09/2014, but didn't get any reply from you.


In case you didn't get my email, I have paste a copy of the e-mail at the end of this one. Please have a look at the e-mail down below if this has happened, let me know.

Kind regards,

David.

Microsoft Support.



And at that point I had had about enough of this guy and here is my response.

I’m not sure what response I could give that would make any difference. To you all its just another month. To me it’s a charge I did not authorize. As a matter of fact I “unauthorized it”. I went into the website and selected to cancel subscription.

You say its my responsibility to watch the account and make sure that I don’t get charged. But in fact that is what I did, and I informed you. But you tell me, Microsoft has already given me back 3 months of the service with charges for a service and benefits that I couldn’t even use. And that you cant “give me back anymore”. That money was rightfully mine, and Microsoft stole it. So yea, whatever. I don’t know what other response you were looking for.

I really hope there is a class action law suit on this one day. I don’t normally participate in those, but for this I would. I was taken advantage of for over a year. And yet I should feel blessed to get 3 months back. *rolleyes*. I have been a Microsoft supporter for quite a long time. It’s a shame Microsoft likes to steal from the pockets of its supporters.

Have a great day.
Shawn S. Ploe



Rest in Peace Microsoft, and XBOX Music. I am now a very happy Rhapsody Music customer!!!

The Human League

The significance of this song.... Well I can remember being in 3rd or 4th grade, and singing this song in the elementary school cafeteria with my best girlfriends. Candace Bey and I think Candace Gibson too. maybe others too. But I just remember us singing the chorus over and over again. and giggling. :) Good stuff.



Wednesday, September 10, 2014

... And I feel fine!!!

At one time I knew every word to this song (ok yes i still do I wont lie about it). My brother used to complain that this is the only song he remembered me listening to when we were growing up. I told him, "Hey I loved some awesome music!!!!" But yea this song is pretty freaking fantastic! ;) So without further adieu....




Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Friday.. Im in love!

Its only Tuesday.... Im dreaming of Friday :) <3 Robert Smith and The Cure. *sigh*

.... "Saturday wait, Sunday always comes too late, Friday never hesitates...."




Sunday, July 13, 2014

House

Raise your hands if you loved the show House MD!!! The opening theme was a small snippet taken from an amazing song called 'Teardrop' by the group Massive Attack.



I so loved this show! Hugh Laurie played the best @sshole! I still watch whenever it pops up on the Uverse guide. They chose this song for the opening because it opens with a bit of a base drum that sounds like a heartbeat. I don't think I looked into where the opening credit music came from until after the first season (you know that time, after they play the seasons last episode, and you are 'jonesin' to know what will happen in the fall?!) Yea so I started doing some digging and found out where that music came from.


This is the original video for the song 'Teardrop'. The video for the Massive Attack song is a bit odd and also very cool at the same time. But its the beat, and the music that are kind of mesmerizing. If you are curious about vocals, they were done by Elizabeth Fraser from the group Cocteau Twins. This is just another song I could listen to over and over again.





OK OK! Honorable mention for this video of 'Houseisms'. It's not music, but I just couldn't help it! this character was a snarky genius!!!! I admire that! :)

Saturday, July 12, 2014

I love this stuff!

Im torn about what song to post today, and I missed yesterday, so I think Ill post 2.

Song 1. Sarah Brightman - Deliver me. My husband introduced me to Sarah Brightmans music. I was sucked in right away! I love everything about her voice and the music. Her music style is all over the place, which is probably another reason why I like her so much. If you have never heard her music, check her out. You will not be disappointed.



The video is part of her Eden DVD and some of the most beautiful work and sound I have ever heard/seen. She recorded it on concert with a full choir and orchestra. And like most everything Sara does it is just beautiful.

I also loved it in this video:




Song 2. Enigma - Sadness Part 1 - Im pretty sure this whole album MCMXC A.D., should be in everyones life soundtrack at one point or another, at least in my generation :). I was introduced to this music by a friend. And It instantly became a favorite. And has remained that way ever since.

There is actually a correlation between Enigma and Sarah Brightman as she dated and worked with Enigma Producer Frank Peterson. The influence is there. I can hear it anyways.

Thursday, July 10, 2014

And IIIIIII want to Thank You!

So, admittedly, the first time I heard this song it was just a hook in Eminem's song 'Stan'. I was so taken with the hook that I was driven to find out what it was. Which is how i found out about Dido. And at the same time, my friend (at the time) Brian was doing the EXACT same thing I was.... he sent me a link to Dido's Video for Thank you, and I was like, "WAIT HOW DID YOU KNOW!?" We compared stories and found out that we both fell into the hook and the song at the exact same time unbeknownst to us. WOW who does that!? Thank You, kinda became our song as we started dating. Now we are married with a kiddo. But everytime we hear this song we stop and look at each other. Just the first few beats always take me back to my desk at Hamilton Beach and playing this song over and over again. And my co-workers saying, "ohh God can you please just STOP!" lol! I wonder if they still hear this song and groan. =).

As I was reading my friend Raz's tribute post to The Outfield yesterday and the song that was his and his wifes, it immediately made me think of this song. So I post it second behind the first song I remember being in my life. =) Thank you!





And honestly, how could I not include the original song with the hook, that I will never forget?! Eminem and 'Stan'



Thats all for now :)

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

A beginning

So, a friend posted on Facebook about a band that he and his wife listened to and loved, 'The Outfield' and that one of the band members passed away (RIP John Spinks). I got to thinking about how we all have a soundtrack to our lives. And how certain songs can totally bring back vivid memories for me, sparking wonderful times gone past as if it was just yesterday!

So what song do I start with!? Of all the songs that I could put here that left an imprint on my heart?! I think I will start with probably the first song I can remember having a love for. It was one my Mom played for me, I was really young. We might have even still been living in Roanoke, and since it was released in 1972, its a pretty good bet that we were. and it was definitely a 45 record. :) Helen Reddy - Delta Dawn