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Hope you enjoyed.

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July 4th Playlist

It’s about the day to day freedoms this country gives us, that we often take for granted: (Chicago ~ Saturday in the Park)

It’s about embracing the differences among our 50 states, and their diverse population: (Tom Petty ~ Southern Accents)

It’s about fighting back against injustice, if only in the court of public opinion: (Bruce Springsteen ~ Born in the USA)

Telling the people when we’re failing to live up to the promise of this country. Not hiding the things we’re ashamed of but bringing them to the forefront:  (Neil Young ~ Ohio)

It’s about embracing the great history this country has: (Johnny Cash ~ Ragged Old Flag)

Remembering how we’ve gotten to where we currently are: (Billy Joel ~ We didn’t start the fire)

And it’s about loving this country: (Elvis ~ America the Beautiful)

If not unconditionally, then unabashedly:  (Jimi Hendrix ~ Star Spangled Banner)

Enjoy your 4th of July, and God bless America

1. Record companies kind of suck, and do a lot of counter-productive things in the name of “maximizing profits”

2. Nick loves Tom Petty

3. Zune has to deal with record companies, and sometimes music gets taken off the service.

So Here’s what I saw tonight on my ZunePass that got me all excited: Mojo (new album); Wildflowers (fav. song on this album); Echo; The Last DJ (hasn’t been on ZunePass in 8 months);and You’re Gonna Get it.

5 albums all back on the pass, this time I might invest my 10 free songs and make sure I don’t lose them again.

Terrific news, it’s about damn time. Also, Mojo is a good album, a bit Bluesy it’s good to see Petty changing it up a bit.

Anyways, I’m excited very very excited some great tunes to start my weekend with once I make it through Friday.

P.S. Microsoft I’m still waiting for the feature I suggested 2 years ago around being able to subscribe to an artist and know when there’s new content available from the artist.

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The Teddybears were a Swedish band I heard back in college from some crazy drunken Swedes. The song Punkrocker was stuck in my head for years. I could never find their album though in the states.

All that changed about 2 or 3 years ago when I was watching the Super Bowl. The Teddybears like many acts found themselves through licensing their music for use in commercials. Hearing Iggy (freaking) Pop singing the song in a Cadillac Commercial got me out of my seat and onto the internet to find the song. This was followed by Intel using “Different Sound”, and Heineken using “Cobrastyle”.

Give the album a listen, its  a great fusion of electronic music, and rock.

1. You Wreck Me

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Truly how I see love. The back and forth, the unbridled enthusiasm, the thought that you’re out of control but trusting that other person from keeping you from going too far off track. Taking the chance, jumping, seeing if they’ll catch you. Once I heard the Wallflowers Album this had to become my favorite Tom Petty song.

2. Learning to Fly (Accoustic) - video is from the Gorge! (too bad this was Friday night, he played a different song Acoustic on Saturday when I went)

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I was watching Behind the Music on VH1 probably about 8 years ago, heard this version and man I just felt this song in a new way. From the lyrics I’d hazard a guess this song has a bit to do with drug use, but for me it’s always been an uplifting look at taking those hard steps toward the future. I can’t think of anything more optimistic than trusting in your future among the hazards and hardships we all face along the way.

3. Two Gunslingers (sadly this was the only video I could online for this, at least its unintentionally funny and the guy isn’t too bad)

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I first really listened to this song last September as I was going through a major change in my life, separating from a person I’d spent the last 7 years of my life with. At first I thought this song was in the vein of a Bon Jovi “Wanted Dead or Alive”. Eventually I saw through to what this song truly is about, being able to make that choice at any minute, to stop being upset and stuck in where we’ve been and change for the better. Standing up and changing, not putting up with the unhappiness we’ve brought into our lives and the impact our decisions have on the whole world. It struck me pursuing happiness is a choice we get to make.

4. I Won’t Back Down

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The Tom Petty flipping the bird to the record companies song (over them trying to charge more for his record). I love the ambition; I love the anger, the conviction. Standing up against somebody that’s bigger, standing up for what you believe in and saying this isn’t happening. How couldn’t this be a favorite song.

5. Runnin’ Down a Dream –

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I’ve always felt it a challenge to find my way, yet somehow I always have. Someday I hope to have this kind of attitude towards my dreams (I’ve come close a few times). This is also a terrific song for driving around in summer, but don’t be fooled it should cleanse those fears you have that are getting in the way.

6. The Waiting - (OMFG Eddie Vedder Edition)

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Another love song, if you didn’t know any better you’d think I was some sort of romantic. Waiting…. Yes it truly is the hardest part. As someone who is impatient, and thinks overly much on matters, this song resonates with me.

7. American Girl - (good lord he looks young in this video)

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First off I really want to know what the one promise was in this song. Second it’s a terrific song, and one about longing for the missed opportunities from our past. Additionally, I kind of like the idea of this woman as a strong female; she couldn’t settle and went after something and it hurts a little but she knows it’s worth it. I remember last time I saw Petty live, I told everyone the concert isn’t over until he plays this song and when he started it you knew it was done.

8. Saving Grace -

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Just a terrific rock song, love the blues guitar in it as well. Probably the only song on this list that’s here just because it’s a great song and not due to some special meaning it has for me.

9. Don’t Come Around Here No More –

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Sure love songs are great, but every so often you need a break-up song. This song’s instrumentation seems almost whimsical compared to the message it’s sending. Another reason to absolutely love this song is the take the director of the music video had on applying Alice and Wonderland to it.

10. Free Fallin’

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I think this song may be unfairly categorized as the most “pop or bubblegum” of Tom Petty’s work; people really don’t seem to get it. The lyrics don’t paint a picture of a sunny day in LA, it’s a take on lost innocence. The loss of something that should have been good, just for the sake of being free and then the fallout the guy has for his efforts.

This guy has been pumping out hits non-stop and the Zune community noticed this way before I ever did. Once I gave him a chance though, man did he grow on me.

Some terrific mixes of songs I love in a completely reimagined way. Phoenix and Gorillaz remixes were my favorites. I also discovered that Phoenix has a new album of nothing but remixes on Zune, a terrific way for this electric Rock group to take their act even further.

I’ll be off camping so I figured this song was a great choice for a signoff for a bit. Found this song through the Zune Smart DJ feature. Downloaded it, promptly forgot about it for 3 months then was at a friend’s party, heard it again, and said I need to go download this song.

I’m actually kind of torn right now on whether I like the Hip-Hop Remix or the original better. They both have their own sense of soul.

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30ish: Its Friday Time to Dance Playlist

LET’S GET IT STARTED (ALBUM VERSION) ~ CRAIG ROBINSON

I’M NOT ALONE (RADIO EDIT) ~ CALVIN HARRIS

KNOCK YOU OUT (FEAT. EMILY HAINES) ~ DJ TIËSTO

PERFECT (AGNELLI & NELSON REMIX) ~ MARKUS SCHULZ

AS THE RUSH COMES ~ MOTORCYCLE

THE WORLD IS MINE (F*** ME I’M FAMOUS REMIX) ~ DAVID GUETTA

What You’re missing on Zune

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What You’re getting with Zune

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Probably my favorite song on the album is a throw-back to ESCM “Le Nocturne De Lumiere”, very chill relaxing.

Overall – I found the album to be pretty solid, if not just a little too Pop for my tastes.