Poker Face -- Lady Gaga

Just like a chick in the casino
Take your bank before I pay you out
I promise this, promise this
Check this hand cause I'm marvelous

So, anyone who followed me home from my errands today got a glimpse of my musical ADHD.

No sooner had Sarah Brightman hit that last note did Lady Gaga make her presence known. I know, for a fact, that the sudden acceleration of the older woman who had been pacing me on Center City is directly attributable to the change in musical moods. Truly, Granny got gas when Kelly got Gaga.

Have you ever judged someone or something without all the facts? I had only known Lady Gaga from her images in People Magazine, one of my many sources of newsworthy information (yes, I realize I just insulted my own intelligence, but I am feeling a mite self effacing at the moment). Let me tell you, the images really did not make me curious for the music . . . Too put it bluntly, she freaks me out, and not in a good way.

Then, one day I was channel surfing on XM while in traffic . . . The iPod was out of juice so I went for the emergency back-up car noise. I caught this song during the chorus and I thought the sound was pretty catching. I quickly checked the audio information, and low and behold, I was rocking to Gaga.

Well, after the initial shock wore off, I headed home and by that night Gaga was the newest fixture on my "Just Push Repeat" playlist. This song is often my lead song on the elliptical . . .it gets me moving when I need it.

To this day, I cannot honestly say I am goo goo for Gaga (it was too easy, I had to do it) but because of her I was reminded that I shalt not judge an artist for her appearance lest I wish to miss the chance to get moving.

Sarai Quii -- Sarah Brightman

La mia luce accendi tu
E sai perche'
Io mi sento forte
Solo grazie a te
Tu sarai sempre quii
Tu sarai sempre quii

Have you ever had music literally move you to tears? Sarah Brightman's music has always had that power over me and it continues, to this day, to be some of my favorite audio stimulation for any situation or circumstance.

Like many others, I first discovered Sarah Brightman through the brilliant work of Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom. Her voice just inspires . . .there is no other way to explain it.

I was all but a pesky kid when I first heard the Phantom score. Until then, my music scope was limited to the great works of Michael Jackson, REO Speedwagon and, of course, New Kids on the Block. This was a departure from the norm for me. Seriously, musicals were for old people, like my parents, and those who walked with their noses at a permanent 45 degree angle. Not for a youngster with a penchant for bubble gum and boy bands.

But I can remember hearing "Think of Me" for the first time and feeling my eyes fill with tears. I had never heard anything so beautiful or moving. I couldn't understand the lyrics, the thematic meanings or the significance. . . I only knew that listening to the music made me feel like crying and moved me more than words could express. When I finally got to see the stage show, I seriously cried throughout the entire show. Can't explain why, I just did.

Over the years, I have continued to follow Sarah's music evolution. She certainly has come a long way from Christine. When the Symphony album came out, I can remember being in a bookstore and hearing it over the audio system . . .Well, the predictable happened, and I ended up sniffling in the Romance section. Three kleenex and two CD's later (gotta get one for Mom too), I was on my way. I think I must have listened to the CD no less than 8 hours straight when I first got it. . .Rarely, if ever, do I find an album where every track moves me.

Sarai Quii is, without a doubt, my favorite song from the album . . .and no, not just because the man on the duet, Alessandro Safina is an Italian Stallion of the first order. Even in Italian, a language not in my personal repertoire, the song carries tremendous meaning for me. I don't know the English translation, and frankly I don't need to. I just know it is good music, and even now, I still need kleenex when it comes on.