Resolution Motivation

Workout Music.

A month of total food and beverage indulgence almost guarantees a New Year's Resolution of getting back into shape. But if you are anything like me, your playlists could use a little makeover too. I mean "Bootylicious" can only motivate me to do squats for so long...

photo courtesy of Toni Rantanen

Fitness Magazine created a list of their favorite 100 workout songs from 2010 and I definitely plan to pull from it. Do you have any go-to songs that get you through your workout?

SongVote

Music Voting Site.

You know what my least favorite part of planning a party is? The music.

I will sit and agonize over my vast collection of random music and stress about whether the group of guests that I have invited will understand it makes total sense to me to play Roxy Music and follow it up with Snoop Dogg.

Which is why the day before a party, my husband usually finds me muttering to myself and looking like this...



Thank god someone was a freakin' genius and came up with the fantastic site SongVote. This 100% free service allows you to have your guests create the playlist. It's as easy as this:

1. Create a profile.

2. Create a "Contest".

3. Set your parameters - Event Date, Description/Genre, Number of Votes allowed, End Date for entries

4. Invite your guests to view the "Contest".

5. Your guests go to your "contest" and make suggestions of what to play...as well as vote to increase rank of what other guests have picked.

Voila! Instant playlist.

Since I know that our readers will want to give this a try, I've created a little contest for you to participate in. I want to hear your suggestions for my Afternoon Blogging Songlist. The VIP Code is hhblog and your password is 992.

I'm anxious to see what you all suggest!!

Free Summer Music on Rhapsody

Deals Deals Deals.

Music is key to set the atmosphere for any party. In fact, the quality of a song list can make or break a party. I know that I've quickly exited many a drinking establishment based purely on bad tunes. Don't let your party be like that...

Starting today, Rhaspsody is offering a free music download every day until July 31st from their "Best of Summer" collection. I got a sneak peak of what they are offering and it is worth a quick jaunt over to download. There are some oldies but goodies from the likes of TuPac and The Go Go's and some hot new tunes from the Black Eyed Peas and Lady Gaga. Just what you need to get your party started...

Cure for a dull day.

Photography and Music.
Well I woke up in a seriously blah mood. Thankfully I was able to find the perfect cure...The Flashdance. This collaborative of The Human Jukebox, Our Labor of Love, and Max Wanger is so freakin' talented that I dare you not to be impressed.

So I spent my morning listening to THJ's Songs for April and browsing some eye candy from Max Wanger's portfolio. And I find myself inspired and out of my funk. I give it a try if you need a little pep in your day as well.

I'm an 80's lady...

Music.

The best thing about bad weather during the weekend is that it removes all guilt associated with watching "trash tv". You all know what I'm talking about. Those shows that may not make the A-list on your TiVo, but you record them just in case. Well I hit the jackpot recently. VH1 replayed their viewers picks for the Top 100 songs of the 80's. I was glued to the TV and would only get up from the sofa to grab another bottle of Bartles and Jaymes. And when it was finally over, my Hip Husband decided that it should be renamed "the Top 100 Songs of All Time."

But that comment got me thinking, who doesn't love 80's songs? My parents do, my teenage nephews do, the tweeners do, and we certainly do...80's music brings many generations together. So when you are planning you upcoming home holiday parties, try loading up your iPod with these songs. They are sure to please. --a

100 Greatest Songs of the 80’s from VH1

1. Bon Jovi / "Livin' on a Prayer" (1986)
2. Def Leppard / "Pour Some Sugar On Me" (1987)
3. Duran Duran / "Hungry Like the Wolf" (1982)
4. Michael Jackson / "Billie Jean" (1982)
5. Prince / "When Doves Cry" (1984)
6. Hall & Oates / "I Can't Go For That (No Can Do)" (1981)
7. Guns N' Roses / Sweet Child O' Mine (1987)
8. Madonna / "Like a Virgin" (1984)
9. Run-D.M.C. / "Walk This Way" (1986)
10. AC/DC / "You Shook Me All Night Long" (1980)
11. Journey / Don't Stop Believing (1981)
12. Whitney Houston / "How Will I Know" (1985)
13. U2 / "With Or Without You" (1987)
14. The Bangles / "Walk Like an Egyptian" (1986)
15. Van Halen / "Jump" (1984)
16. INXS / "Need You Tonight" (1987)
17. Whitesnake / "Here I Go Again" (1982)
18. Dexy's Midnight Runners / "Come On Eileen" (1982)
19. Cyndi Lauper / "Time After Time" (1984)
20. Rick Springfield / "Jessie's Girl" (1981)
21. Michael Jackson / "Beat It" (1982)
22. The Cure / "Just Like Heaven" (1987)
23. Cyndi Lauper / "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" (1984)
24. A-Ha / "Take On Me" (1985)
25. Go-Go's / "Our Lips Are Sealed" (1981)
26. Guns N' Roses / "Welcome to the Jungle" (1987)
27. Kajagoogoo / "Too Shy" (1984)
28. Wham! / "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" (1984)
29. Talking Heads / "Burning Down the House" (1983)
30. Pat Benatar / "Love is a Battlefield" (1983)
31. Queen and David Bowie / "Under Pressure" (1981)
32. Night Ranger / "Sister Christian" (1983)
33. Soft Cell / "Tainted Love" (1981)
34. Poison / "Every Rose Has It's Thorn" (1988)
35. Phil Collins / "In the Air Tonight" (1981)
36. Tommy Tutone / "867-5309/Jenny" (1981)
37. Aerosmith / "Janie's Got a Gun" (1989)
38. U2 / "Pride (In the Name of Love)" (1984)
39. Modern English / "I Melt With You" (1982)
40. The B-52's / "Love Shack" (1989)
41. Mötley Crüe / "Dr. Feelgood" (1989)
42. The Clash / "London Calling" (1982)
43. ABC / "Look of Love" (1982)
44. Bananarama / "Cruel Summer" (1984)
45. Janet Jackson / "Nasty" (1986)
46. The Police / "Every Breath You Take" (1983)
47. Twisted Sister / "We're Not Gonna Take It" (1984)
48. Bruce Springsteen / "Born in the U.S.A." (1984)
49. Beastie Boys / "Fight For Your Right" (1986)
50. Eurythmics / "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" (1983)
51. Ratt / "Round and Round" (1984)
52. Dead or Alive / "You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)" (1985)
53. Billy Idol / "White Wedding" (1988)
54. Salt-N-Pepa / "Push It" (1986)
55. A Flock of Seagulls / "I Ran (So Far Away)" (1982)
56. Bonnie Tyler / "Total Eclipse of the Heart" (1983)
57. Toni Basil / "Mickey" (1981)
58. Culture Club / "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me" (1982)
59. John Mellencamp / "Jack & Diane" (1982)
60. Young M.C. / "Bust a Move" (1989)
61. Styx / "Mr. Roboto" (1983)
62. Berlin / "Take My Breath Away" (1986)
63. Devo / "Whip It" (1980)
64. Paula Abdul / "Straight Up" (1988)
65. Foreigner / "I Want to Know What Love Is" (1984)
66. Depeche Mode / "Just Can't Get Enough" (1981)
67. REO Speedwagon / "Keep On Loving You" (1980)
68. Public Enemy / "Fight the Power" (1988)
69. R.E.M. / "It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)" (1980)
70. Joan Jett & The Blackhearts / "I Love Rock N' Roll" (1981)
71. Rick James / "Super Freak" (1981)
72. The Fixx / "One Thing Leads to Another" (1983)
73. Nena / "99 Luftballons" (1983)
74. George Michael / "Faith" (1987)
75. Prince / "Little Red Corvette" (1983)
76. Thomas Dolby / "She Blinded Me With Science" (1982)
77. New Edition / "Candy Girl" (1983)
78. Blondie / "Call Me" (1980)
79. Human League / "Don't You Want Me?" (1981)
80. Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock / "It Takes Two" (1988)
81. Cameo / "Word Up!" (1986)
82. Squeeze / "Tempted" (1981)
83. Prince / "Kiss" (1986)
84. Lionel Richie / "All Night Long (All Night)" (1983)
85. Robert Palmer / "Addicted to Love" (1985)
86. Bow Wow Wow / "I Want Candy" (1982)
87. Falco / "Rock Me Amadeus" (1986)
88. Chaka Khan / "Ain't Nobody" (1989)
89. The Pretenders / "Brass in Pocket" (1980)
90. Tone-Loc / "Wild Thing" (1989)
91. Katrina and The Waves / "Walking On Sunshine" (1983)
92. New Kids on the Block / "You Got It (The Right Stuff)" (1988)
93. Gary Numan / "Cars" (1980)
94. Rolling Stones / "Start Me Up" (1981)
95. Debbie Gibson / "Only in My Dreams" (1987)
96. Men at Work / "Down Under" (1982)
97. The Romantics / "What I Like About You" (1980)
98. Bobby Brown / "My Perogative" (1988)
99. Wang Chung / "Everybody Have Fun Tonight" (1986)
100. Loverboy / "Working for the Weekend" (1981)