Pull an Angelina

In what I think is a first since I began the series in October, 2007, I did not post an installment last week of the "YouTube clip for a peaceful weekend."

Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa.

Well, not really. I was on the road again sans laptop for another long weekend. This time I was in Western Pennsylvania for the 15-year reunion (a year late, by tradition) of the Fort Cherry High School Class of 1994. We convened Saturday for a family picnic at Mingo Creek County Park and an after-party at Cadillac Ranch.

Friday afternoon, en route on a JetBlue flight from JFK to PIT, I had the chance to listen to some XM Satellite Radio. (Why don't all planes have in-seat, personal entertainment systems?)

One of the tunes I most enjoyed was Travis "Travie" McCoy's single "Billionaire" featuring Bruno Mars.

I don't endorse the song's message or it's greedier lyrics (which certainly don't jive with the "treasure in heaven" message of Matthew 19 in the daily Mass readings yesterday and today).

But, "Billionaire" has a Mraz-esque mellow beat that's rather catchy. So, for your consideration, here it is as a belated "YouTube clip for a peaceful weekend." (Advance apologies for the F-bombs.)

Pax:

"Lucky"

For this week's "YouTube clip for a peaceful weekend," I've decided to go with the charming duet "Lucky" by Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat. Below is how it sounded live on a TV talk show.

Peace:



I also like this version with Jason Mraz and a young woman (identified as "Clara" in Paris):



And, I'd be remiss if I did not mention this cover version of "Lucky" that (as of this writing) has been viewed more than 1.6 million (!) times on YouTube:



This is the fourth time that Jason Mraz has been featured in the "YouTube clip for a peaceful weekend."

Flashbacks: "Bella Luna" (Jan. '08), "The Rainbow Connection" (Feb. '08) and "I'm Yours" (April '08).

Fight Song for a Peaceful Weekend

For this week's "YouTube clip for a peaceful weekend," in honor of Sunday's Superbowl XLIII, I humbly present the newest fight song of the Pittsburgh Steelers. I don't know it's actual title. I usually call it "A Here We Go."

Note to anyone not from Western Pennsylvania: clicking on the clip below will provide an introduction to the Pittsburghese. (You've been warned.)

Pax:



Go Steelers!

A Nod to the Romantic

So, I hear St. Valentine's Day is this weekend.

Ugh. For a singleton, the Hallmark holiday falling on a Saturday can be cringe-inducing.

But, for this week's "YouTube clip for a peaceful weekend," I begrudgingly nod to the romantic. Courtesy of Anthony Johnson, a.k.a. woodlandcreature22, here is "I've Got You Under My Skin."

Peace:

Hold Us Together

This weekend, I was in Dallas, Texas, to exhibit for my gig at the University of Dallas Ministry Conference.

It was my second time at this fine gathering of about 4,000 Catholic school teachers, catechists and other parish leaders sponsored by the university, the Diocese of Dallas and the Diocese of Fort Worth.

On Friday evening, I went to Matt Maher's concert at the conference. Among the tunes he performed was his original song "Hold Us Together." Here it is below for this week's "YouTube clip for a peaceful weekend."

Pax:

Leads Me Into Life

This weekend, I was on retreat with Apostolist, the young adult group from the Church of Saint Paul the Apostle. We gathered at the retreat center on the grounds of St. Mary's Abbey and the Delbarton School in Morristown, New Jersey.

On Saturday night, we had a beautiful candlelight prayer service on side porch of the Kountze Mansion, also known as Delbarton's "Old Main." With the sounds of a light rain and various insects in the background, we sang three long Taizé chants.

For this week's "YouTube clip for a peaceful weekend," below is the first of those chants, "Bless the Lord, My Soul."

Peace:

Summertime

For this week's "YouTube clip for a peaceful weekend" (our last before Labor Day Weekend), here is "Summertime" from "Porgy and Bess" as performed by the greats Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong, Jr.

Peace:



An aside: Five days a week, I pass this statue of Ella Fitzgerald outside the Metro North Station in Yonkers, en route to my office across the street:

"Shining my way, pure timing ... "

For this weekend's "YouTube clip for a peaceful weekend," here is "The Shining" by Badly Drawn Boy. First introduced to this tune several years ago on a mixed CD by my friend Heidi, I recently was reminded of it by commercials for the new movie "Last Chance Harvey."

Peace:



Here's a live version:

Not A Robot

The weekend is almost over. Some might say it's too late to post a "YouTube clip for a peaceful weekend." Bah humbug, says I.

For this week's installment, here's the great PS22 Chorus with "I Am Not A Robot" by Marina and the Diamonds.

Peace:



Here is the original:

Dying to Try

Spring is here. Deo Gratias -- it was a hard winter.

A tune that's light and enjoyable is required for this week's "YouTube clip for a peaceful weekend."

So, here is Colbie Caillat with her take on "Kiss the Girl."

Peace:



Remember the original?:



It's appropriate to be tapping a Disney song for this weekend's tune as I'm currently in Anaheim, CA. In fact, just a bit ago, I watched tonight's fireworks over Disneyland from my hotel room window.

The purpose of the visit is to exhibit for my gig at the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress. It's my fourth time at this invigorating annual event.

Back to the Earth

We are in Western Pennsylvania this weekend vising family and friends as well as taking in some of the sights.

Today, we headed to Pittsburgh's Oakland neighborhood and visited the beautiful Phipps Conservatory and the nationality rooms at the University of Pittsburgh's Cathedral of Learning. It was my first time at both in several years.

As a tribute to my native place, this week's "YouTube clip for a peaceful weekend" features a song by the Pittsburgh band, Rusted Root. "Back to the Earth" was the last track on the band's mid-'90s debut album. (The Alaska photos in the video are unrelated to this post -- it was difficult finding a high-quality version of this song on YouTube.)

Peace:

Baby Mine

There's still a little more time left in the weekend (technically, at least).

So, for this week's "YouTube clip for a peaceful weekend," here is "Baby Mine" as performed by MissBroadwayDork.

Peace:

In the Glow of Evening

I'm writing this evening from the lobby of the Hilton in Anaheim, CA. My co-workers and I have been hanging out here for a few hours before we have to leave for LAX for the Delta red-eye back to JFK.

We've been here these past few days to represent our gig at the annual L.A. Religious Education Congress. It's my fifth time exhibiting at this tremendous event that draws tens of thousands of catechists and other Catholics involved in education and ministry work.

Even though the weekend is nearing it's end, I still want to post a "YouTube clip for a peaceful weekend." The tune is "I Have Dreamed" from the great old Rogers and Hammerstein musical "The King and I." I was reminded of it earlier this week in a post by Mike over at Googling God.

The first version, a smooth instrumental rendition, is from the soundtrack of "The American President." There's a second take, too, with lyrics.

This is dedicated to the steady back in the Big Apple (who I can't wait to see tomorrow). ;-)

Peace:

Fun and Persuasive

Some weeks back, over at Twitter, I stopped "following" another user. It wasn't a big deal. The man had tweeted something I found slightly offensive and I also wasn't interested in his usual topics. So, I utilized the "unfollow" option.

It happened that the man had activated an automatic tool that put all who unfollowed him into a list. In response to my "unfollow," he appealed to me by linking to my profile page and a clip of Smash Mouth performing their cover of the 1975 song "Why Can't We Be Friends?"

It was a clever move the quickly regained me as follower.

For this week's "YouTube clip for a peaceful weekend," here below is that fun and persuasive tune.

Peace:



An aside: I'm writing today from my mother's house outside of McDonald, PA. I'm in the finished attic that has been set up as a guest room.

I'm in Western Pennsylvania this weekend for an early Thanksgiving week visit. I'll be back in Gotham on Monday evening and for the rest of the week. (On Thanksgiving Day, I'm set to meet the steady's parents -- wish me luck.)

The Sun's Love

I'm writing this afternoon from our pad on Pinehurst Avenue in Washington Heights / Hudson Heights. While perhaps not the most chic spot, its close proximity to the highest natural point in Manhattan proved ideal this weekend as we waited for Tropical Storm Irene to pass by.

"High and dry" would be an apt description.

While very thankful we never lost power or running water, we do now have an awful lot of non-perishables in the kitchen. (Not to mention the $13 in little candles I bought yesterday at the neighborhood pharmacy during an early afternoon rain that turned out to be regular old rain.)

The post-storm calm calls for an equally reassuring tune for this week's "YouTube clip for a peaceful weekend." I have selected Amanda McBroom's 1979-1980 song "The Rose" as heard in a 2008 episode of "Family Guy." (I saw this for the first time earlier this week -- don't know how it took me three years to catch it!)

Peace:



Clips from the episode are banned on YouTube. Fortunately, the "Family Guy" lawyers have not yet discovered its Japanese counterpart:

How High The Moon

This year, Eric's dad and stepmom are both marking major birthdays as well as their 25th wedding anniversary in December.  Two weeks ago, to help celebrate their milestones, we spent a fun long weekend together in Nashville, along with his Eric's two sisters and their husbands.

That Saturday evening, we went to the Grand Ole Opry.  Among the many performers were the Quebe Sisters (described as "triple-threat fiddle champions").  I was very happy to hear their cover of the '40s jazz standard "How High The Moon."

I've loved "How High The Moon" since I first heard it during the opening credits of the 1988 film "Biloxi Blues" in a lovely slow (even mournful) take by Pat Suzuki.

For a "YouTube clip for a peaceful weekend," here below are both of those renditions.

Peace:

In Old Savannah

I'm coming to you again from Tybee Island, Georgia, an ocean-front town of some 3,000 souls near Savannah. Yesterday, the steady's sister was married here and it's been an enjoyable whirlwind of wedding activity and sightseeing. Today, for instance, we visited Fort Screven and Fort Pulaski.

As I write this at 11:30 p.m. on Sunday night, I recognize the weekend is almost at an end. But, begging your indulgence, gentle reader, I still do want to post a "YouTube clip for a peaceful weekend."

One song about Savannah is the fun 1920s tune "Hard Hearted Hanna." Below is a rendition by the late great Ella Fitzgerald.

Peace:



Hat-tip: The steady and Dorothy Zbornak

Ave Maria

I have been remiss this weekend in promptly posting a "YouTube clip for a peaceful weekend."

So, since it's already Sunday morning, here is a clip on the religious side: the beautiful "Ave Maria" by the German composer Franz Biebl (1906 - 2001) as performed by Chanticleer.

Pax:



Hat-tip: A Concord Pastor

An Old Sweet Song

I've been outside of Atlanta this weekend to exhibit for my gig at the Archdiocese of Atlanta Eucharistic Congress. It was my third time at this large annual event.

It's been a nice visit -- lots of friendly folks here.

So, for this week's "YouTube clip for a peaceful weekend," here is "Georgia On My Mind."

Peace:

On My Way ...

I'm headed to Pittsburgh this afternoon for a weekend visit -- to see my new niece and for Mother's Day. Early Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers, grandmothers and Godmothers out there!

In honor of my Western PA visit, for this week's "YouTube clip for a peaceful weekend," here is a fun take on the great tune "Send Me on My Way" by Pittsburgh's own Rusted Root.

Pax: