I'd like to meet:

Of the no longer living. Queen Elizabeth (the original); talk about a woman overcoming odds to succeed! Charles Dickens; my favorite author growing up who brought great characters to us like Fagin and Oliver, and of course Scrooge.

Of the living. I'd love to sit down (and sometimes I do) with a few of the great musicians of today and just try to hear from each of them how their songs get words, or their words get to be songs. What I do understand is that these young talents have it all: voice, music, lyric. They make my days brighter and deeper.

Thanks all!
Jason Mraz, Josh Kelley, Eoin Harrington, Christopher Dallman (see my Indie blog entry for video), David Sneddonand Kiff Gallagher. All offer incredible originality to today's music combined with voices that keep you coming back for more, and unmistakable charisma ... . So here's a fantastic self-produced video Almost Honest by the now indie-again JOSH KELLEY
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Get this video and more at MySpace.com

Eoin Harrington is one of the best voices (Irish, of course), most individually diverse, and fun and sexy musicians I've ever come across. Here's a link to an awesome acoustic performance on San Francisco local TV http://www.chameleonmusic.com/navlinks/press.html.

Kiff Gallagher is smart, hot, and bangs out some serious keyboards. A former Clinton WH guy, he's a guy whose lyrics I relate to all around.
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Get this video and more at MySpace.com

David Sneddon may have won Fame Academy 2002 because of a lovely voice and boyish good looks, but his music is strong and evocative, and only two other artists I know have voices similiar to David's -- Jason Mraz and Jake Hook. Here's an absolute favorite song of mine Lazy
Josh Sturgeon has songs full of a searching passion that makes me think, and wonder. ,I turn to him when I need strength of will or just want a really masculine voice with a sweet guitar to take me over.

Ocean Grove, NJ July 24, 2006

Jonathan Clay has a sweet honest voice.
Jeffery Todd's voice puts me on a beach, happily.
Melody Gardot has a smoky voice of crystal clear
Lelia Broussard is sweet, soulful and sassy all in one.
If anyone out there misses the complicated unbelievable tracks of Queen, take a listen to Josh Fix... and he does it all by himself! Modern technology or just super talent, or both, take your pick!
Shane Hines and the Trance I'm proud to call local, and bound for strong rocking greatness. Saw Shane open for Josh Kelley, and even just acoustically, he was charming and belting it out. His album Zoe was just picked up by VH1 for the Real World, and with good reason, as it is one of the best and most diverse albums I have EVER heard. Impressive.
Gavin DeGraw... who else sings about chariots in today's music and can make it work?
Fort Pastor is great rock and roll with this Aussie instrumentality you've got to check out.
Timothy Daniel is straight-up original; alternative pop and the way pop should be.
Christopher Dallman is a bit of Cat Stevens with fantastic lyrics, more diversity, and a willingness-- perhaps a need-- to keep it completely real. He's a treat I have to keep myself from listening to too much.
Chris Townsend is a darling young Brit who, like Howie Day, does the whole kit and kaboodle himself. He's got a great voice.
Pino Farino and his incredible 'high energy' (to put it mildly) rock band Dearborn is outstanding. Unlike some bands that simply get noisy when they get loud, Dearborn keeps the riffs neat, clean and eye and ear-popping. Pino has the perfect rock voice. I'm loving it... (guess that makes me a rock and roll goddess, eh gentlemen? lol.)
David James is provocative and evocative in one.
Adam Wexler has a strong, deep genuine voice.
I just want to sit and listen to Kyle Riabko play.
Carbon Leaf is smart and interesting.
Vanessa Carlton and Michelle Branch help make all women look good with their beauty, music and charisma.
Tyler Hilton is brimming with talent.
Smith Point and Stepanian are great pop rock bands.
If you want to hear a stunning slide guitar, take a listen to Joel Fafard.
Adrian Rhen plays guitar in that haunting S. American style I adore.
Will Hoge is incredible and classic, while his brother Josh Hoge, does pop the way it is supposed to be!

And I'd say they make me wish I was a decade younger, but I don't think I'd appreciate any of them fully if I were!

Of those that run our country. Although I do get to sit down with a policymaker of note from time to time, I would really like to sit down with the President and discuss a few issues ...

Music:

Intelligent, fun, interesting musicians who care about the integrity of the music they make and do it for love of their art and their audiences.


Alternative rock.
Soul.
Blues.
Jazz.
Dance.
A tad of Funk.
Pop.
Bluegrass.

Some classics I'd never turn down a listen to Bon Jovi; Prince; Earth, Wind and Fire; George Michael working with Queen; or a Harry Connick Jr. Christmas album.

If the music hits my soul, I'm joyful.

If the music makes me want to dance, I'm digging it.

So bring it on!

And this is just a little design I did to promote the volunteer work I'm doing for ...

And this is kind of fun... explains my approach to life, and all my crazy roadtrips on behalf of the music I adore.

Your Five Factor Personality Profile
Extroversion:

You have high extroversion.
You are outgoing and engaging, with both strangers and friends.
You truly enjoy being with people and bring energy into any situation.
Enthusiastic and fun, you're the first to say "let's go!"

Conscientiousness:

You have high conscientiousness.
Intelligent and reliable, you tend to succeed in life.
Most things in your life are organized and planned well.
But you borderline on being a total perfectionist.

Agreeableness:

You have high agreeableness.
You are easy to get along with, and you value harmony highly.
Helpful and generous, you are willing to compromise with almost anyone.
You give people the benefit of the doubt and don't mind giving someone a second chance.

Neuroticism:

You have low neuroticism.
You are very emotionally stable and mentally together.
Only the greatest setbacks upset you, and you bounce back quickly.
Overall, you are typically calm and relaxed - making others feel secure.

Openness to experience:

Your openness to new experiences is high.
In life, you tend to be an early adopter of all new things and ideas.
You'll try almost anything interesting, and you're constantly pushing your own limits.

[Just as a sidenote, this is completely correct... this would be ME: the embrace, the dress, the ability to take a personal risk... mmmm, yes!]

A great connoisseir of art and beauty, you can find the positive side of almost anything. The Five Factor Personality Test

Movies:

Mad cow

Television:

Uhhh... what is that?

Books:

I'll go by authors: Charles Dickens, Jane Austen, William Faulkner, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Isabelle Allande, Joseph Conrad.

Other than that, I read mostly current events and government documents, the best song lyrics I can find, and my journalist friend's awesome memoir!

Heroes:

Teddy Roosevelt.
Queen Elizabeth.
My parents.
Women who hold their own despite the odds, and the men that love them for exactly who they are.