Celtic Woman

Music is so much a part of my life as well as my children's; for learning, play, and basic entertainment. While I pride myself as a music aficionado I admit that some music was out of my league. So when I got an email saying "Hold your horses and be open minded" I thought I really need to hear this.

Mind you I am very open minded, but when I saw the name of the band I cringed in fear. I received a Celtic CD as a gift some years back and really I needed to be in the right mood and or just gift the CD away. But with Celtic Woman Songs from the Heart I was so pleasantly surprised at the sound of traditional Celtic harmony with a modern day spin. Beautiful sounds were echoing through my speakers as I heard the familiar sound of the lyrics to Fields of Gold...sigh...and swoon to my heartthrob Sting.

I then moved onto the next song in the play list Amazing Grace with full bagpipes. I was bawling like anyone would who loves the sound of Amazing Grace in bagpipes. Next was Níl Sé'n Lá and was blown away at the beauty of the song. Soulful, sweet, and soothing. Now fast forward to O' America and the song screams nationalism, country pride, and you can feel the red, white and blue pulsing through your veins.


Please go listen to them and watch these ladies on YouTube to see how beautiful they are when they perform. I know I am excited to see their show here in Tempe in May at Gammage Auditorium; the timing couldn't be more perfect as well as I take my mother to the concert for Mother's Day. I cannot wait to post about the show and the feeling of being in the audience with their performance. Oh did I forget to mention they are on tour?! Yes. You can see these talented ladies LIVE in a city near you with their list of SOLD OUT tours or download their CD on iTunes or even better...enter to win Celtic Woman Songs from the Heart LIVE concert DVD. Just as if you are right there in the audience.

To enter tell me what kind of music do you listen to and are you open to music like Celtic Woman? What city would they be touring near you?

Extra entries:

• Fan Celtic Woman North America on Facebook
• Follow my blog and tell me you do
• Follow me on Twitter
• Tweet this giveaway and tweet as much as you want as long as a comment separates your previous tweet entry comment: Win Celtic Woman LIVE DVD from @KariewithaK #musicmom Ends 3/1 http://bit.ly/aOTVpR 
• Subscribe to my feed
• Blog this giveaway (Worth 5 entries)
• Stumble my blog (not this post....its against the TOS)
• Technorati fave this blog (Worth 3 entries)
• Fan The Fish
• Add my blog to your text blog roll
• Grab my button and add it to your blog

CONTEST ENDS MARCH 1ST @ 11:59PM

Best of luck!

*The Five Fish received a copy of the CD Celtic Woman from EMI Music as a member of the Music Moms program.

Winner

Are you excited? Are you ready?

For a fabulous CD that is autographed?

I have to say I am a bit jealous....I didn't get an autographed copy.....(ok I'm over it)

CONGRATULATIONS!!

Congrats to Ms. Pamela Shockley! An email has been sent and we hope to hear from you.

Congratulations again to all the entrants and participants. Lots more giveaways going on now and in the future. In the meantime, enjoy The Five Fish.

Again big thanks to you all for helping make this promotion a success

and of course the sponsors One2OneNetwork.

Brandi Carlile: Give Up the Ghost Album Review

Fall has to be the best time of year! Tons of great media out at this time of year. Seriously, I will say it again, all the great TV shows are back on for fall, movies in time for Thanksgiving, and the music scene is EXPLODING!




Speaking of exploding, have you heard Brandi Carlile? I had not heard of her name to be quite honest, but her sound was familiar. The awesome folks at One2OneNetwork provided me with a download so that I could see hear for myself what Brandi is all about. And I tell you once I heard her music she reminded me of the young, breakout sounds of Sarah McLachlan. Brandi has such a fun, unique, soulful sound with emotional lyrics, she has her own style that is just absolutely contagious.

I love her songs "Looking Out" and "Dying Day." I have them in my iPod when I go jogging every night because each has a great beat, a makes you want to move rhythm, not to mention the beats per minute are perfect for boosting your cardio! She also has some really great slow ballads that emote strong emotion, but I am a feeler, I feel my music. I don't just listen to my music because music is life in our house.

Speaking of life and music, maybe you recognize Brandi's sound? Any Grey's Anatomy fans out there? (Waving hand WILDLY!!) Yes, Brandi has been a featured track artist for the show along with several commercials, so if you recognize her, your favorite fall show is where you have heard her wonderful music. But don't take my word on how rocking this girl is with her funky country, rock, pop sound and her soulful, emotion filled music. Find out more about Brandi and her new album "Give Up the Ghost" in the Brandi Carlile newsletter.


Here is her current track list for "Give Up the Ghost":
Looking Out
Dying Day
Pride And Joy
Dreams
That Year
Caroline
Before It Breaks
I Will
If There Was No You
Touching The Ground
Oh Dear

*Five Fish always blog ethically and with transparency. Click HERE!

At Home with Friends: Joshua Bell album

This week has been so fabulous for me because I celebrated my nine year wedding anniversary and I got to do it in a really fabulous way. I know, can you tell I love to use FABULOUS!

So the week started off with reviewing and holding a giveaway for the new Harry Connick Jr. CD "Your Songs" which is heavenly. I love anything HCJ, he reminds me a lot of Sinatra, Van Morrison, just awesome. Then as the week progressed I got a chance to review the AWESOME sounds of Joshua Bell.

If you have never heard of Joshua Bell, go, go now and Google, get him on iTunes, buy his CD. I am a music snob and his music is really right up my alley. He is a violinist for starters. I am a violinist. *GASP. I know, who would have thought this snarky mom of three would play the violin, let alone like any artist that plays themselves. I grew up attending The Nutcracker Suite productions with a full orchestra, I have gone to the symphony (and am that snob in full applause at the end), I am a HUGE classics fan.

So when the ladies at One2OneNetwork asked if anyone wanted to reivew Joshua Bell's new CD, I was scrambling to make sure my  hyperlink was clicking as fast as it could! I love his music. The violin, folks, is one of the most emotional and powerful instruments I personally have ever heard and to hear this man play the way he does is absolutely magical. My kids when they heard his music were like the children from that Lowe's commerical with the green paint, at ease.

His new CD which became available on September 29th is JAM packed with other phenomenal artists. Imagine the divine singings of the violin strings with Josh Groban, Sting (SWOON! BIG BIG SWOON!), Regina Spektor, and Sergei Rachmaninoff (classics composer in case you didn't know).

If you thought a date night with Harry was great....MOVE ON OVER! The music of Joshua Bell is a serenade, but don't feel pressure to take my word for it.

Oh and he was on The Tonight Show last night, I happened to miss because I was listening to him at home for my anniversary. Thank you! But even better if you missed him on The Tonight Show if you happen to live in the Chicago area, he will be ON TOUR! Yes catch this violinist master at his best at Orchestra Hall at Symphony Center in Chicago. But don't fret, you can still catch him on TV for the following days:

Better TV www.better.tv - October. 6
WNET Sunday Arts - October 11th between 12 and 3 PM .
Tavis Smiley on PBS check your local listings at PBS.org - October 5th
WGN TV Noon News - October 8th at 12:00 noon

Here is a little about Joshua's album and music:

The album covers all of the genres, from classical to pop, bluegrass to Broadway, jazz and ethnic World Music. There are even a couple of seasonal tracks just in time to celebrate the holidays.

Joshua Bell is a Grammy Award winning violinist and performed on the Oscar winning soundtrack for Best Score to the film The Red Violin. Joshua attended Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music where he recently returned as a senior lecturer. 

You don't need me to tell you anymore, go listen for yourself on his website and be sure to tell the ladies and gents at One2OneNetwork thanks for the recommendation on some superb music! I know I am grateful to listen to Joshua's new album over and over until the next one comes out.

*Disclaimer: For all The Five Fish transparency and disclosure policies, 
be sure to click the link Looking in the Fish Bowl.

Harry Connick, Jr. "Your Songs" Review and Giveaway :: CLOSED

It's Friday night, you and your hubs are planning a great evening out! You have a babysitter lined up, the kids are primed, you take your time applying your makeup and getting ready when the worst happens.

The babysitter cancels.

What is a dressed up girl to do? Well why ruin a perfectly good date night!

If you can't take yourself out on a date with your husband let the date come to you!

My DH and I love to have a date night in when we can. Maybe grill some steaks, bust out the wine and best of all, the MUSIC!! To me, I think that music can transcend moments in time and set the mood, especially on a date.

Now the music can vary depending on the evening but I will tell you that the best date night and mood music is bar none Harry Connick Jr. His voice to me is like a lullaby, soothing, romantic, and just has a way to put you at ease and get you moving all at the same time. He has that make you melt like butter voice. So you can imagine how awesome his new CD "Your Songs" is to listen to on a date or even an evening where you want to relax, unwind, and enjoy since he sings some fabulous classics.

The folks of the One2OneNetwork are helping to promote the new album and I was lucky to get a copy before the release date of September 22nd and I love it! Not only for a date night but also because after a long day with the kids, listening to an absolutely beautiful man singing in my ear is heavenly.

Some of the classics Harry Connick Jr. performs are "Just The Way You Are" by Billy Joel, "First Time I Ever Saw Your Face" by Roberta Flack, and "All the Way" by the extraordinary Frank Sinatra. These classics coupled with Harry's style and grace, a full jazz big band and string orchestra put you in such a wonderful mood and some of them make you want to get and dance!

Now if you love Harry as much as I do (in the music sense.....though he is delicious looking, has a wonderful sense about him and I would be a wet noodle if I ever met him) you can catch his upcoming TV appearances promoting his new album. For those of you who want to catch this delicious dish talking about his new album and performing tune in on these dates:

• 9/25 – Oprah “Live Friday”
• 9/28 – Today Show
• 9/29 – The View
• 9/30 – Imus in the Morning
• 9/30 – Letterman
• 10/1 – Today Show
• Week of 10/5 – Rachael Ray

 If you want more info on Harry and One2OneNetwork you can sign up for the newsletter or heck...you can just read the deets to enter to WIN a copy of his new CD.

That's right, courtesy of One2OneNetwork and to promote Harry Connick Jr's new album, I get to give a lucky reader a copy of the new CD "Your Songs" to enjoy in your home and maybe on your date night. Do you want to win? Here are the deets:

To Enter this Giveaway:

• Tell me why you want to win the "Your Songs" CD
• Do you prefer Harry the singer or Harry the actor (since he is so multi-talented)
  
• Follow my blog or tell me you already do (bottom of the page)
  
• Follow me on Twitter or tell me you already do
• Tweet the giveaway being sure you copy One2One
  
• Fan The Fish on Facebook (now say that 10 times fast!) on the left
  

What are you doing still reading?? 

GO ENTER!!

Oh right...the contest ends October 9th 2009.

GOOD LUCK!!


*Disclaimer: For all The Five Fish transparency and disclosure policies, 
be sure to click the link Looking in the Fish Bowl.

Sing Us A Song....

The lyrics are ones that pretty much everyone knows. At least I hope you know the lyrics and tune to the ever famous Billy Joel song "Piano Man". Billy Joel is by far one of my favorite artists, as I have so many.

Seems my youngest son has joined me in my love for Billy Joel. The soothing sounds of the ivory keys on the piano seem to set him at ease......or maybe the sound of Billy's voice touches his soul, I am not quite sure.

One day while driving on the freeway with Pickles Magoo fussing I tried everything from the Binky, a blanket, a bottle, you name it I tried it and the poor boy wouldn't quit. So I couldn't handle the screaming and thought I would turn on the music and turn the volume up a little louder to help drown the crying. (I know...bad mommy....but we have all been there at least once) Little did I know that the musical genius permeating from my speakers would put the boy in a DEAD SILENCE!

"Scenes from an Italian restaurant" came through the speakers and the Pickles Magoo was hypnotized! No one believed me....and I mean no one! Until one day when my mother was riding in the car with me on our way home from Sun City that she became a believer. (Cue Monkeez music...HA HA) Since those moments I have been trying to capture the elusive actions of Pickles Magoo as he is a fuss budget and then suddenly is in the trance of the Piano Man himself. The best I could do was the other day on our way home from our trip to Costco. Unfortunately the picture from my cell phone is less than desirable, but from my perspective you can see Pickles Magoo fighting the inevitable sleep creeping in and just seconds before I turned on the camera and the radio he was screaming as if someone was pulling him limb from limb. Enjoy what you can see...and hear of the Piano Man.