I have a deep-rooted emotional attachment to the music I love. I’ve probably mentioned that before. I do have a tendency to repeat myself.
I know.
You’re shocked.
I also firmly believe that without this music, I would not be alive right now. It was the one thing keeping me from flinging myself off a cliff for so many years while I was getting progressively sicker, barely keeping my head above water. Then I met Bob and my entire world changed. Music is still an integral part of maintaining what little sanity I do have, but it comes secondary to the man I call my saving grace.
It’s been awhile since a new artist has entered my collection that has had a profound impact on my mental state. And by that I mean, upon listening to a handful of songs, I feel as though I’ve been punched in the gut, because Holy Christ on a bike and Helen’s handbasket…I fucking love this. And the more I listen, the stronger the feeling grows. The songs don’t necessarily have to have any particular theme to them, there is just something about the package of the singer and the song that I can’t quite explain, that hits me in just the right spot.
I’m passionate about the music I love. If that makes me sound like an obsessive whack-job, then so be it.
Enter Andy Grammer.
I’ve mentioned him before.
My introduction to his music came in the form of a Rate the Music survey. I heard a clip of a song called Fine By Me. Like most of the songs on the list, I’d never heard it before, but unlike most of the songs on the list, I liked what I heard. I wrote it down, fully intending to look him up to hear the complete song, and promptly forgot about it.
This happened a handful of times. Each time that song came up in a survey, it triggered the memory to look him up. Each time I finished a survey, I promptly forgot.
You know, the usual.
Then a new survey came along and Fine By Me was still on the list, but so was another song by Andy Grammer called Keep Your Head Up.
With two songs on the list, I finally remembered to look him up.
The first song I heard in its entirety was Fine By Me. That was really all it took. I fell in love. (And also found a pretty good anthem for Ben and Marina. Or rather Ben to Marina.) (Side note: Andy Grammer could totally be Ben in my mind.)
It took me a little while to actually purchase his album (because I’m a putz, apparently), but I previewed it on iTunes several times, and finally downloaded it. I listened to it a number times over a few weeks, but I’ve been listening to it almost exclusively for the past several days. It just keeps getting better and better.
Last night I woke up about 2AM and couldn’t get back to sleep. I got up and moved to the loft, as I do, and found myself on Youtube looking up Andy Grammer videos. I fell down a fucking rabbit hole, let me tell you. Sure there were countless live and acoustic performances of his two singles (doesn’t get old either), but there were also numerous other videos of other songs off his album, and a handful of other tracks, including some pretty fantastic covers. (Oh Ye Gods he sings End of the Road* and I almost DIED in a fit of insane giggling.) (Stifled giggles as it was probably four in the morning and Bob was sleeping.)
I may or may not have spent the next four hours watching all my AG findings.
(Spoiler alert: I totally spent four hours watching AG videos.)
In the middle of it all, I found THIS song.
It’s not on his full-length album, but he also has a live EP available that comes with that song and this video for it. His demeanor in that performance is such a contrast from all the other performances I’ve watched. When I downloaded the live EP and listened to his intro to the song, I finally understood why. He wrote that song for his dying mother. And as he talks about it, you can hear him fighting not to get all choked up over it.
How about another punch in the gut, huh?
Hello, weepy mess.
This song…knowing the story behind it brings a whole knew appreciation for it, but in general it’s some pretty fantastic song writing.
I just want to hug him. For that song and just in general because he is freaking adorable. And so very talented. Also the smile and the big blue eyes.
He could probably cover any song and make me like it. I’d go as far as My Door Bell by the White Stripes. The song that actually made me give up on listening to Drive 105 because they played it so. fucking. much. He’s already done it with Beyonce and Rihanna.
Ingram Hill did it with Amy Winehouse, Katy Perry, AND Beyonce.
I need to see him perform live.
He just needs to come to town to a venue I’d be willing to venture out of the bear cave to see him at. (Reserved seating is your friend, kids. Especially for those of us with major anxiety issues.)
In summation: Andy Grammer…the newest musical love of my life.
If you like catchy pop tunes by singers with actual talent, give him a listen. I’ve linked a fuckton of his music, click a few.
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*They sang End of the Road on the MMC. TONY AND MATT. WE’VE BEEN OVER THIS.
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The Heavy and the Slow Andy Grammer |