Seven Favorite "Soundtracked" TV Shows

Happy Music Monday!  Its also Labor Day, but I'm not sure I should wish a happy one to people.  I think that defeats the point, yeah?


Today we are kicking off TV Week in celebration of all the new TV shows and returning favorites that are gonna happen this month!  Herc happens to be a TV connoisseur in his time away from the 7w/D offices.  Combining two of his passions, he has put together the best sounding TV shows for you and of course compiled the Spotify lists that go with them

As far as the rest of the week goes, be on the lookout for 90s shows, Gilmore Girls, Muppets and even more!


Let's get this party started Herc!

 
Herc’s Seven Favorite “Soundtracked” TV Shows

These TV shows feature more of Herc’s favorite songs than all other shows combined. Some of them have had official albums and playlists released but none of those releases do any justice to the sheer quantity and quality of the songs played on the following television series. It is a paradox that it is these very songs that make it cost prohibitive to issue the majority of these shows on DVD or Blu-Ray with the original, as broadcast soundtrack intact. To give you a taste of each series music, songs from the premiere episode are listed. For a full serving, click the Spotify link for each show.



Ed [2000-2004]

Music aside, this is one of the greatest shows ever to hit the airwaves. It aired from 2000-2004 and is criminally unavailable to watch legally. Sonically, it mines the familiar, popular songs of the Seventies and Eighties with the occasional contemporary song thrown in for good measure.

>>>Spotify Ed<<<

"Next Year" by The Foo Fighters (theme song)

"Tropicalia" by Beck

"Your Life Is Now" by John Mellencamp

"Do That to Me One More Time" by The Captain & Tennille

"Between the Sheets" by The Isley Brothers

"Knock Three Times" by Tony Orlando & Dawn


My Name Is Earl [2005-2009]

A show that wasn’t afraid to take comedic risks, it rewarded its viewers with an eclectic soundtrack that spanned five decades. Unfortunately, when the DVDs were released, some of the music was replaced with generic filler.

>>>Spotify Earl<<<


“Been Caught Stealing” - Jane’s Addiction

“It Takes Two” - Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock (this one is Earl’s jam)

“Winning” - Santana

“99 Luftballons” - Nena


Freaks and Geeks [1999-2000]

Close to my heart for a number of reasons, this show was set in 1980 and featured songs from then as well as the late Seventies. It barely lasted one season, as it was cancelled before all the episodes had aired but is fortunately available on DVD with every song as originally broadcast.

>>>Spotify Sam<<<

“Bad Reputation” - Joan Jett & the Blackhearts (theme song)

“Runnin’ With The Devil” - Van Halen

“I’m Alright” - Kenny Loggins

“Renegade” - Styx

“Come Sail Away” - Styx


Supernatural [2005-????]

The only show on this list still being produced, Supernatural has unleashed a collection of hard rock classics upon a new generation. Imaginative editing coupled with well chosen songs has left indelible images on the brains of the shows legion of fans. This show rocks!

>>>Spotify The Winchesters<<<

“Ramblin’ Man” - Allman Brothers Band

“Back In Black” - AC/DC

“Highway To Hell” - AC/DC

(It’s interesting to note that this episode, in its pilot form, contained different music, listed below)

“Boulevard Of Broken Dreams” - Green Day

“Disco Inferno” - 50 Cent

“Points Of Authority” - Linkin Park

“La Grange” - ZZ Top

“Enter Sandman” - Metallica


Cold Case [2003-2010]

Using music as an integral part of the atmosphere of the series, each episode featured songs from the same year, the year the original crime took place (shown in flashbacks) as well as a melancholy ballad near the end of the episode as the culprits were arrested. This ballad was exempt from the “same year” policy as its purpose was to show criminals being brought to justice and survivors getting on with their lives. A few episodes managed to use songs from only one artist to show cohesiveness yet allow for the passage of time. It is doubtful that this show will ever see a DVD release due to the large amount of music featured.

>>>Spotify Lil<<<

(Unlike later episodes, this one did not begin with a specific date, only the year “1976”)

“More Than A Feeling” - Boston

“You Sexy Thing” - Hot Chocolate

“I’m Not In Love” - 10cc

“Have You Ever Seen The Rain” - Creedence Clearwater Revival (the song at the end)


Miami Vice [1984-1989]

Watching Miami Vice is like watching dated, cliched Eighties music videos interspersed with cop action drama. Unlike the other shows on this list, mostly contemporary music was used and it plays a huge role in the show as does the tropical Miami setting.

>>>Spotify Crockett And Tubbs<<<

“Theme from Miami Vice” - Jan Hammer (a hit song in it’s own right)

“Miss You” - Rolling Stones

“All Night Long (All Night)” - Lionel Richie

“Somebody’s Watching Me” - Rockwell

“Girls Just Want To Have Fun” - Cyndi Lauper

“In The Air Tonight” - Phil Collins


The Good Guys [2010-2011]

If you blinked, you might have missed this action comedy ode to those cop shows that partnered opposite personalities as it was relegated to the TV wasteland known as Friday nights. Sadly it lasted just one season and that season was just last year. While no DVD release has been set, the series is out there in the stream-iverse, in the Cloud so what are you waiting for? The soundtrack for this show was pretty much Trans-Am rock with a few surprises thrown in.

>>>Spotify the Trans-Am<<<

"I Fought The Law" - The Clash

"20th Century Boy" - T. Rex

"The Stroke" - Billy Squier

"Thunderstruck" - AC/DC


Have you got a favorite that Herc should know about?  Tell him in the comments!  What shows are you looking forward to?

(In case you care, I'm excited for New Girl, the return of Bones, the return of Grey's Anatomy and too many others!)

Seven Toys I Will Never Buy (but totally want!)

Hey there.

Have I told you lately that I love you?

Cause I do.  I love when you all come around and check out this silly little blog.  I love the comments and I love the support.

I wish you'd tell all your friends about this, but I guess its okay that you don't because I love you anyways.

You keep coming back for more, so I guess you're expecting another set of seven?

Fine fine.  Let's talk about toys.  I'm pretty nerdy, also a pretty nerd when I try.  I love technology (most days).  I love the newest gadget and generally always want one.  There are just not enough dollars in a day, my friends!  And sometimes I prefer to spend that money on more useful things like a new air conditioner or food or whatever. Most favorite toy I have?  Kindle.  Yes.

If i was a kajillionaire, I'd have everything I ever wanted and so would my family and friends.  I hate to break it to you, I'm not a kajllionaire.  Sorry.

Seven Toys I Will Never Buy (but totally want!)

• iPhone.  I like the white one but think any of the sweet ColorWare options would be totally fine by me! I don't even have an iPod Touch or whatever the proper spelling is for that.  But i love apps...and toys.
• Segway.  Pretty much the coolest thing ever.  I have drooled over them for ages and would LOVE to ride one.  The security team at my work has them and they're always zooming by, looks like so much fun!  Guess what, you can totally have a custom one thanks to ColorWare!  This Just In:  I went to their site to get that link, and OMG there are so many different varieties.  I must have one!
• iPad.  The first one, the second one. Any of them, I'll take it.  So easy to use and just plain fun. The folks at Apple are definitely doing something right.  Also you can have them painted too, just get lost at that ColorWare site...
• Any Dyson Vaccuum.  For their hefty price tag, they must be something special right?  They clean the floor, but they cost 50x more than a broom?  But why?  Who am I kidding, I don't care, I just want one!  I'd even settle for the air blade hand dryer like at IKEA!
• MacBook Air.  Ever since I saw that commercial where the armless hands pulled this computer out of an envelope I have wanted one.  Way to go marketing!  I'll never forget the first time I saw one.  It was in a Best Buy.  Our eyes locked from across the room.  I headed over to the beacon drawing me in.  The first touch was sublime and I immediately knew I would never be the same.  How do they do it?  Its so SMALL!
• THIS Refrigerator.  It has a touch screen.  It has apps.  Its a computer in a refrigerator.  Consider my mind blown.  Its only $3600!!! What a deal.
• Canon Rebel.  Or any fancy camera, I don't know the difference.  I have always harbored a secret dream to be a photographer.  Making things look better in film than they could ever look in person.  That's like true magic.  I don't know my f-stop from my white balance though, so its sort of silly that I want one.  Call me crazy!

This list is a not so subtle hint.  My birthday is in two weeks, please try to keep it a secret which item from this list you are buying me.

Do tell me what items you want that are beyond your budget?

Seven Arguements Against Blue Food

Happy Holiday Weekend Everybody! 

I hope everyone takes care of themselves this weekend and has copious amounts of barbecue and summer foods!  Eegees' FOM is Original Orange, FYI!!


I'll be around, working!  We get a lot of funny requests in the kitchen and a common one that I try to avoid is blue foods. 

Lemme preface that to let you know that I have nothing against the color blue.  Its a lovely color, really.  Especially where it occurs naturally - sky/ocean.  Its a beautiful eye color on the fellas, am I right ladies?  I enjoy rooms decorated with blue, paintings painted with blue, blue clothing.  I just have an issue with it in food.


I've been asked about a blue wedding cake.  Not the icing, not the decorations but the actual cake.  Its definitely possible.  It has been done for sure, but I would prefer not to deal in blue food.

Can I tell you why?

Okay, good!

Seven Reasons I Avoid Blue Food

• It doesn't occur naturally.  This alone is enough for some people.  There is no truly blue food.  Even things like blueberries appear blue but are actually purple when you cook with them or use them in other food.  
• Blue Mouth.  This is the biggest anti-blue-food-at-a-wedding selling point.  Do you really want all of your guests to walk around with purple-ish lips and blue tongues?  All those memories encapsulated in those photographs, marred by blue mouths. 
• Blue Terror.  Since it doesn't occur naturally, it can't be created naturally and looks just a little weird, like the picture I included above.  It can actually frighten me when I see artificially blue food on a buffet or even just in pictures.  I can't be alone on this...
• Unhealthy.  Food color (any color) is actually not that good for you.  There are studies that prove this and now thankfully you can get a lot of natural food colors but they don't achieve the bright and bold colors people like. For another reason that its not good for you, look to my next reason...
• Blue Terror v2.0.  Ever eat a lot of blue food and have a heart attack when you look in the toilet the next day?  I thought I was for sure dying once.  Too much grape soda...won't be making that mistake again.  Any color does this but the shades that come after too much blue and purple foods is...amazing and quite frightening until you realize what you ate. 
• Confused Children.  Blue Raspberry is a flavor that is marketed to all kids.  Blue raspberry yogurt, snow cones, candies, etc.  Guess what, raspberries aren't blue.  They are red and these poor kids are trying to learn and be smart so we can compete in the world market...yet they are being taught that raspberries are blue.  Way to go, America.  
• The Funky Aftertaste.  Ever eat some red velvet cake and have a weird aftertaste?  Or some of your kids birthday cake that was neon shades of blue and green?  Yeah that is what food color does to food.  Imagine my perspective here, I work really hard to make delicious food and then you ask me to dump a few ounces of chemicals into it to make it look a certain way which completely negates all my hard work!  Also, yuck no thanks.

Maybe I'm a little strange for being so passionate about blue food.  I know there are several others in my field that have the same feeling.  I still do it, but I encourage light blues and other alternatives.  Purple is much easier...I know lots of purple-y foods. 

How do you feel about blue food? Or artificially colored food?


As a side note, this is my first post with a dedication.  This is for KT, you know who you are!

Seven on Technology

Hey. Just do me a favor today and click past this post and onto your next bookmark.

This is sure to be my worst post because I'm gonna sound like a whiny brat. (that is what I feel like today too!)

Today is all about technology. That devil spawned creation.

Without further ado...

Seven on Technology

- IT SUCKS! My trusty little red netbook crashed yesterday. Out of the blue. For no apparent reason. I'm very capable of fixing my techno-infused issues. Not this time. I've invested over 12 hours already and I'm PISSED!!!

- I hate how connected to it I am. Or the whole word is for that matter. It broke down and it ruined my day. I have an excellent desktop computer that I built, but my portable couch computer breaks and I'm a mess. How did I get here?

- I have a curse, I think. I tweeted last night that I wanted to be a professional blogger, even put it on my Facebook status. I was inspired by bloggers I follow whose blog was crashed after a wildly popular post. And then my computer crashed.

- I love it. I love being connected to the world, I really am a big fan of technology but when it breaks I wanna chuck it out the window real bad. Love and hate, I tell ya!

- I also broke my old laptop many years ago. I still have it, I can't get rid of it. I'm determined that I can fix it's booboos. But guess what, I can't and even if I could, it's not worth it anymore since it is past it's prime. Maybe it's a Devyn thing, but it's the sentimental connection. So as soon as I finish this, I'm gonna wipe it clean and finally part ways with it. We've had our fun, right?

- Technology is amazing though if you think about it. I traveled across the country several times back and forth thousands of miles and this netbook survives. Somehow something else took it out and broke it down. Isn't it weird? Tough, physically but alwyays vulnerable.

- About a month ago my phone tried to take a crap and die too. I fixed it. If I can fix that, I can fix this. All about the attitude right? I really need to look on the bright side though. I didn't lose any data, it's not my only computer and it's not a lost cause(like my other one).


Is technology this much of a bear to anyone else?

Seven Reasons My Mom is Awesome

Happy September!

I can't believe its already the ninth(and best) month already!  And what an exciting month it shall be!  I have a couple more themed weeks planned for you and one week where all posts will be done by my army of guest bloggers! 

To kick off the month, we are celebrating a very special birthday today!  Today is my Mom's birthday!  She is enjoying a quiet day and has no idea this post is coming.  Knowing her, I'll get a text after this posts telling me of what I spelled wrong or what sort of factual errors I have included accidentally.  I wouldn't have it any other way. 

Let's get right down to the brass tax. My Mom is obviously amazing - look at me.  Truth is, she is better than your mom.  Yeah.  I said it.  Facts are facts!


Seven Reasons My Mom Is Awesome

• Smarts.  My mom is one of the top 3 smartest people I know.  She has a very important, fancy job which she kicks butt at and puts that college education to use.  Also, the family machine that she runs daily which is no simple feat.  Most importantly and the biggest thing I am trying to learn from her, she has an incredible ability to think things through and weigh the pros and cons and leave emotion out of the equation.  I call her all giddy and excited about a sale on something and she asks me a few questions and says Dev, that's not a sale its a ploy to get you to spend more money(or something like that).  Yeah, it bursts my bubble but she is (almost) always right.  
• Cookie Mom.  This could go two ways.  She taught me to make cookies and lick the beaters back in the day, and now its my profession so clearly she is pretty okay at making cookies.  What I remember the most vividly is being a girl scout for many years and selling the cookies most of those years.  There always had to be a cookie mom who received the entire troops' cookie orders and divided amongst us girls for distribution and then she also collected the money and tallied it all up.  Not to mention the booth sales, in front of grocery stores, these were also her responsibility.  My mom did this for several years and was far and above the very best cookie mom that troop #357 ever had!  She used a lot of those smarts I was telling you about...
• B-E-A-utiful!  My mom is very pretty and always has been as far as I can tell from photos and whatnot.  She hates having her picture taken but I love the ones I have of her because they capture her how I've always known her.  On more than one occasion we have actually been mistaken for sisters, as we look very much alike. 
• Honest and Helpful.  She will always do anything to help anyone out in our very close knit family.  She often is turned to at tax time by all of her kids, her kids' friends, her own taxes and she loves to help.  Full disclosure - she loves numbers and math and spreadsheets.  She does all of this without complaining and never expecting anything in return.  She tells me like it is, whether or not I want to hear it and has often told me straight out when I am acting stupid.  I wouldn't trade that pure honesty for anything in the world.
• Fun.  She is a very fun lady to be around!  She thinks differently and I have such a good time just hanging out with her(and my dad too, they're a package deal!)  I spend many of my days off in Tucson just hanging out with my mom and dad.  I know many people that don't like to hang out with their parents.  I'm lucky I guess. 
• Inspiration.  I'm not sure how she did it(best guess is witchcraft), but she is my inspiration in life.  If I live a life half as successful as hers I will consider my life complete.  Yes, everyone has flaws and makes mistakes but my Mom has learned and grown from any bumps in her road.  She is so awesome, its just hard to put it into words that make sense to anybody but me. 
• She married my Dad and they made me!  This is by far her biggest accomplishment, having me!  They got more than they bargained for all those years ago, and if they know what's good for them, they will tell you it was the greatest thing either of them ever did.  Creating this miracle child who is now the mastermind of this great blog.  You all owe her a big thank you!

Happy Birthday Mom!  Love you!