ABBA. Really. I love them.

Sometimes I pretend like it's a silly joke or something, but honestly I can't get enough of them. I even went to ABBA Mania while in college. I got to dance with a huge crowd of girls as "ABBA" sang Dancing Queen. It was spectacular.

Now that we're clear on that, here are my favorite ABBA songs.

How can you not just love that? If for some reason your still not sure about ABBA here are the top 5 reasons I love ABBA:

1. Every time I hear them I dance. I really can't help it. I heard them in Safeway a couple weeks ago and there I was, dancing.
2.  Their music videos. Seriously fun. I mean you just watched the video for Fernando. Total magic. Chiquitita is the best one, but every time I try to find it, it's not available.
3. Their outfits. I dare you not to smile:

via Don Ignacio

4. Enthusiastic instrument playing. Bjorn and Benny. Enough said.
5. Bjorn looks like he's John Denver's Swedish cousin.

What is your favorite ABBA song?

Classic Christmas Songs

As promised here are my favorite Christmas songs from the classics. You'll find a link to a Grooveshark playlist at the bottom of the post. Enjoy!

 Mistletoe and Holly

 The Christmas Waltz

It's a Marshmallow World

Baby it's Cold Outside

I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm

Sleigh Ride

Home for the Holidays

Silver Bells

Mele Kalikimaka

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Happy Holidays

I think that's more than enough for one blog post! I've created a Christmas playlist over at Grooveshark for you, it includes these songs and some others that I love.

Which were your favorites? Did I forget any?

Sherlock Holmes: my new favorite fictional human.

via TV Kade

via The Futon Critic

So lately I've been super into Sherlock Holmes. I've been watching Elementary (CBS) and Sherlock (BBC). I love them. The characters are so well done. Especially Sherlock!

(Have you watched either of these shows? What do you think?) 

Next step: read the books! So this is what I checked out from the library today:

Let the reading begin!

(Have you read the books?)

"Is that what you really want? You want to be Joey Bishop?"

I adore references to things I love and this one had my mom and me cracking up! Thank you Psych!

PS: I read some of the comments on the video and people had no idea who this was in reference too... hopefully you've been reading my blog enough to know, but just in case it's the Rat Pack. Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr. and Joey Bishop. Below they are pictured with another member of the Rat Pack, Peter Lawford.

via sitcomsonline

Modern Christmas Albums You Should Listen To

Let's just clarify that when I say modern I mean anything post 1970.

Note that there is a link to listen to the album on Grooveshark and a link to the Amazon listing below each album cover.

Favorite tracks: All I Want For Christmas Is You and Holly Jolly Christmas
You can listen here and purchase here.

Favorite tracks: Santa Clause Is Comin' To Town and Reason For The Season
You can listen here and purchase here.

Favorite tracks: The Christmas Waltz and Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
You can listen here and purchase here.

Favorite tracks: Winter Wonderland and Auld Lang Syne
You can listen here and purchase here.

Favorite tracks: We Three Kings, This Christmas Morning and Silver Bells
You can listen here and purchase here.

Favorite tracks: Skating and O Tannenbaum
You can listen here and purchase here.


You can add anything from Mannheim Steamroller or Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

What do you think? Do you like these albums? What are your favorite Christmas Albums? I'll be posting about some of my classic favorites later. 

Same Instrument, Different Sound

Below are my three favorite trumpeters; Louis Armstrong, Herp Alpert and Harry James.

via Forty Two Times

via Fotki

via flickr

They all all very talented, and they each have their very own sound. Can you tell the difference? (I wanted to do the same song for all of them so you could really hear the difference, but Herb isn't in the same era as Harry and Louis. So here are some great videos of each of them.)

What do you think? I love being able to tell an artist or band by the way they play their instrument. It makes me feel like I really know them.

Sammy Davis Jr. - Holy Talent

via coolmag

We all know I love the Rat Pack - specifically Frank, Dean and Sammy. I've already done several posts on Frank and Dean (and I'm sure there will be more), but I've been neglecting Sammy. So here you go! My favorite Sammy songs. The man is talented.

via arts-wallpaper

via sammydavis-jr

What do you think? "What Kind of Fool am I" is my favorite. It's too good!