"Panama" Van Halen

 















 En route to Rio de Janeiro I had a layover in Panama City. Though I didn't get to see the canal, I did get this song stuck in my head.

"Panama" Van Halen

"When I Grow Up" First Aid Kit

A nice cover of a song I didn't realize needed covered.

"When I Grow Up" First Aid Kit

"Nina Bonita" Chino y Nacho

It only took me a month to figure out what this rampant song was called...

"Nina Bonita" Chino y Nacho

"Black & Yellow" Wiz Khalifa

Here we go. I wish I'd brought my terrible towel.

"Black & Yellow" Wiz Khalifa

"Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)" Kenny Rogers

One of the volunteers has a host mom that loves Kenny Rogers. It's a point of hilarity.

"Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)" Kenny Rogers

"Alejate De Mi" Camila

 A regular tune on the radio in the odontologia. Funny, I can hear something like this playing at my dentist's office at home too.

"Alejate De Mi" Camila

"Roses" Harlowe and The Great North Woods

Globetrotting can't keep me from discovering new music.

"Roses" Harlowe and The Great North Woods

"Heal The World" Michael Jackson

Yesterday one of the lab techs asked me "Que dice en Espanol?", when this song came on the radio. Hopefully MJ's message was carried through in my attempted translation.

"Heal The World" Michael Jackson

"Ponchito" Peruvian Band

 Today marks the first ever video on the blog! It should have been posted some time ago, but I finally found a place with fast enough wifi to get it uploaded. This was filmed on the streets of Aguas Calientes.

"The Hustle" Van McCoy

There's a joke going around the volunteers where we yell "Do the Ashley!", and then mimic the absurd dancing of one of the other volunteers. Don't worry, she's in on it.

"The Hustle" Van McCoy

"Starlight" Muse

On Friday some of the volunteers went and watched El Turista at the movie theater. The movie was in English with Spanish subtitles, but concentrating on the Spanish and feeling like I might be able to understand without the audio was cool. The movie itself was alright, but the use of this song in the credits was commendable.

"Starlight" Muse

"No Me Digas Que No" Enrique Iglesias

Enrique, in the language he knows best.

"No Me Digas Que No" Enrique Iglesias

"You And Me" Penny & The Quarters

It's not often a song reaches the height of it's popularity over three decades after it was recorded.

"You And Me" Penny & The Quarters

"Home" Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros

A track I enjoy on my morning commute.

"Home" Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros

"El Ultimo Beso" Los Doltons

Hilarious Pearl Jam cover, heard on the radio while working in the lab.

"El Ultimo Beso" Los Doltons

"Send Me On My Way" Rusted Root

I´ve been trying to expand my British roommate´s musical horizons. Sometimes you miss seemingly obvious songs like this when you live on an island.

 "Send Me On My Way" Rusted Root

"Crazy Love" Poco

Rediscovered this one on shuffle and laughed out loud on the bus. How could I possibly forget this?!

"Crazy Love" Poco

"Corazon Partido" Alejandro Sanz

This track's a real whiner.

"Corazon Partido" Alejandro Sanz

"En Su Nota" Don Omar

Quintessential reggaeton.

"En Su Nota" Don Omar

"I Want It That Way" Backstreet Boys

 A surefire karaoke hit. Every time.

"I Want It That Way" Backstreet Boys

"Morena de Mi Corazon" Antonio Banderas

After an hour of playing music I didn´t know, a mariachi at a bar started playing this song and I was thrilled to finally have a song I could sing along to.

"Morena de Mi Corazon" Antonio Banderas

"Fountain of Youth" The New Amsterdams

The volunteers are going to the parque de fuentes (park of fountains) this afternoon. This track popped into my head.

 "Fountain of Youth" The New Amsterdams

"Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa" Vampire Weekend

 
















My host brother is big into VW right now. Music makes an EXCELLENT conversation starter, and continuer.

 "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa" Vampire Weekend

¨I Want You¨ Alana Davis

Though I don´t have enough time or energy for cover weeks, I´ll continue to post good ones as I discover them. This 3EB cover is delightful.

 ¨I Want You¨ Alana Davis

"Toro Mata" Lucila Campos

Heard at an Afro-Peruvian dance club last night. It was an interesting format, where all of the patrons sit at tables and watch hired dancers dominate the dance floor to live music.

"Toro Mata" Lucila Campos

"When I Come Around" Green Day

Heard in the taxi on the way to the beach today. I love the variety of American music I keep hearing here.

"When I Come Around" Green Day

"We No Speak Americano" Yolanda Be Cool vs DCUP

I resisted posting this song for a long time since it when I found it annoying in the states, but its omnipresence in Peru needs to be recognized.

"We No Speak Americano" Yolanda Be Cool vs DCUP

"Babylon" David Carbonara

 
















Finally starting Mad Men has been an excellent way of passing time on my flights and tucking myself in. This recording in a first season episode haunted the back of my mind for a couple of days. The same couple of days when I felt like I was on my deathbed... it seems appropriate.

"Babylon" David Carbonara

¨We´ve Got Tonight¨ The Blue Mountain Panpipe Ensemble

I heard this playing in a cafe in Cusco. Even with my sunburns and full-body aches I managed to crack a pretty wide smile.

¨We´ve Got Tonight¨ The Blue Mountain Panpipe Ensemble

¨Part Time Lovers¨ Stevie Wonder¨

 















This song came on the radio during my taxi ride back to Cusco. I started whistling along and the taxi driver said, ¨mmm, classy music.¨Si señor, muy elegante.

  ¨Part Time Lovers¨ Stevie Wonder¨

"El Condor Pasa" Inca Taki

 
















I never knew that  S & G's version (also found below) of this song wasn't an original! I had to come all the way to the Andes to find out that it was only a cover (with the addition of lyrics) of a traditional Andean folk tune.

"El Condor Pasa" Inca Taki
"El Condor Pasa (If I Could)" Simon & Garfunkel

"Perfect World" Tom Jones

 















Flying to Cusco. I anticipate I'll be hearing Mr. Jones belt "Cuscoooo!" in my head all day.

"Perfect World" Tom Jones

"Leaving On A Jet Plane" John Denver

I really couldn't help myself, but I DO know I'll be back in June.

"Leaving On A Jet Plane" John Denver

"Let's Take The Long Way Home" The Beautiful Girls

I got an email this morning from my online itinerary alerting me that my 148 day trip to Philadelphia starts tomorrow. This song speaks for itself.

"Let's Take The Long Way Home" The Beautiful Girls

"That Next Place" Thomas Newman

 















Sticking to soothing and victorious tunes as I pack 6 months of belongings into a 70 liter bag.

"That Next Place" Thomas Newman

"Gravel Lines" Amy Seeley

 
















My departure is quickly arriving and the stress is kicking in. Amy is doing her best to keep me calm and collected while I race all over town making last minute preparations.

"Gravel Lines" Amy Seeley

"Anything You Want" Roy Orbison

 















It was a great couple of days at Atlantic City. The casino's awesome playlist, which included this winner, eased the fact that I was ultimately a loser.

"Anything You Want" Roy Orbison

"The Gambler" Mike Doughty

I never liked the original Kenny Rogers song, but this version is delightful.

"The Gambler" Mike Doughty

"A Little Less Conversation (JXL Remix)" Elvis Presley

Pump up music for Atlantic City. I know this song is typically associated with Las Vegas, but it does the trick. Time to win big.

"A Little Less Conversation (JXL Remix)" Elvis Presley

"New Year's Day" U2

 Sometimes artists make this blog too easy.

"New Year's Day" U2

"You & I" aKING

Thanks to LH and VC for introducing me to this obscure and awesome song. This thing is chock full of fun lyrics. My favorites: "I take my council with wine", and "better the devils you know than don't, I suppose."

"You & I" aKING

"One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer" George Thorogood & The Destroyers

 















I was shocked to find out this evening that this track is not only originally a John Lee Hooker song, but George's version is a medley of said song and another JLH recording (which serves as the opener), "House Rent Boogie". Remarkable.

"One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer" George Thorogood & The Destroyers

"Ann Arbor, Michigan" Every Gentle Air

 














Guess where I am for the day. Just guess...

"Ann Arbor, Michigan" Every Gentle Air

"Bang Pop" Free Energy

One of my favorite tracks from BT's 25 Favorite Albums of 2010. Perfect for head bobbin'.

"Bang Pop" Free Energy

"Lover Girl" Teena Marie

 
















I was surprised After learning of Teena Marie's passing that I was unfamiliar with her music. In respect, I did some research. This is what I found.

"Lover Girl" Teena Marie

"Send in the Clowns" Judy Collins

This song has been stuck in my head since I saw Stephen Sondheim on the Colbert Report on Thursday. Hauntingly somber and pretty at the same time. Hope this one isn't too much of a holiday buzz kill.

"Send in the Clowns" Judy Collins

"Christmas Lights" Coldplay

 
Easily my favorite new Christmas track this year. I'm a sucker for Coldplay. Merry Christmas! Now go ahead and let this week's tunes fall back to the depths of your music library until another year.

"Christmas Lights" Coldplay

"Mistletoe" Indigo Girls

I'm not sure the Indigo Girls have been this delightful in 20 years. Please baby please, just let this love be.

"Mistletoe" Indigo Girls

"Getting Ready For Christmas Day" Paul Simon

Featuring sweet sampling of a Rev. J.M. Gates sermon.Though this is Simon's newest, it is not his first Christmas/activism song. For a double dose check out Silent Night, the second link posted.

"Getting Ready For Christmas Day" Paul Simon

"Silent Night" Simon & Garfunkel

"Boots" The Killers

 This song urges me to reminisce about how I viewed winter and the snow it brings when I was a child; less of a transportation nuisance, more of a frosty playland. Also, commendable use of bells!

"Boots" The Killers

"Fairytale of New York" KT Tunstall feat. Ed Harcourt

 















This is definitely a weird one. Be prepared for a strange Celtic turn at 1:25.

"Fairytale of New York" KT Tunstall feat. Ed Harcourt