Music to romance by

Looking for the perfect romantic music for your candlelit dinner or to share a glass of wine at sunset? Try the Second Movement of Bach's Double Violin Concerto in D Minor.

Yes, it's a mouthful, but well worth the effort to locate this piece.

String orchestras are some of the most romantic musical instruments, especially violins when playing a movement like this one. The two violas compete with each other like two lovers desperate to let the other know, "I love you".

While most musicians will tell you the construction of this piece is an excellent example of a technical composition known as counterpoint, you don't have to know anything about music in order to appreciate its beauty. It'll carry you to emotional highs that are a perfect backdrop for a romantic evening.

Still, if you're curious, it might make good table conversation to know a little about the piece. The technique, counterpoint, focuses on two instruments or sections of the orchestra playing different melodies in a kind of duel - note against note. Each violin's melody is independent of the other yet when played together, they fit. The two harmonize and blend into a wonderful bigger sound that is exciting and breathless.

As you listen to the building of the melody, the strings wail with heartfelt emotion and rise almost to a crescendo only to fall back into the melancholic rhythm gradually rising once more.

So set your table, light those candles and enjoy this piece while dining, knowing you're setting the perfect romantic mood.

Music for the Spooky Classics

In keeping with this week's music theme. I started thinking about spooky movies and the soundtracks used for them.





Think about Jaws and the music played right before the shark attacks. Those few bars of music have become a humming icon just like the screeching score for the shower scene in "Psycho".

This scene would not have been the same with that haunting build up of music. And another classic favorite, The Exorcist. Any other music for these movies just wouldn't have left the same kind of impression on our entire culture.

Then there is the creepy music that fills the world whenever danger lurks nearby. The breathtaking strings when you know the woman should run, but instead goes down into the basement to see what made the growling sound. We're all yelling, "Don't go down there, stupid!" But of course she must or there's no movie.

The music helps carry the emotion and fear factor that stays with us long after it's over. It embeds itself into our minds so we forever associate the emotion of the story with the melody. Everyone knows Close Encounters of the Third Kind theme song just as most of us know the theme song to X-files.

And wading out of the oldies into the modern, I love the theme music for 28 Days Later throughout the movie and was also used in 28 Weeks Later. My all time favorite zombie movies. The soundtrack is as brilliant as the movies. It builds and builds until the end and carries the urgency and emotion of the movies.



Vampire movies well, there so many like best. Blade is always a winner. My favorite is Blade Trinty.

Underworld kicks vamp and were arse! The music throughout is sexy and tough. Bram Stoker's Dracula is a beautiful movie that has such life with a great storyline, film, acting, and music and the underlying theme of reincarnation.


The love song from the movie is haunting as well.





Talk about love redeeming! Okay stop me. I could go on forever!

Gettin' Naughty - Feel The Power

Music is great at setting the mood, no matter what mood it is you’re after, there are some great songs to get you there. Music holds great power. It has the ability to soothe and relax us, or excite and exhilarate. It can tell a story, evoke emotion, and even be used in medical as well as spiritual healing.

I’ve learned the hard and expensive way (through speeding tickets) that I can’t listen to hard rock while driving. Makes me very aggressive and brings out my lead foot. I start thinking I’m in the middle of that old game, Pole Position, and I have to be first to the next red light! God forbid Sammy Hagar, I Can’t Drive 55, comes on while I’m driving. Love that hair…LOL!



When I feel like getting my grove on, give me some Usher, baby. Yeah! Now, I didn’t say I could dance, because I have no rhythm, but I like to try sometimes and this is one of my faves for trying to get my grove on.



When the past is after me, and I need to remember how far I’ve come, I want Rascal Flatts, I’m Movin’ On. This song speaks to my soul, almost as if they wrote it just for me, at the time I needed it most. No matter where I am or what’s happening when this song comes on, I have to stop, listen and sing along. If you’ve read Tamara’s Spirit, you will hear echoes of this song when Tamara faces her past. Click here to watch the video.

When I need a pick me up and want to sing, its Sheryl Crow, Soak Up The Sun, played really loud so no one, not even me, can hear me singing. Nope, I can’t sign either.



Felling sexy or wanting to get in the mood, I turn on Paula Cole, Feelin’ Love. If there was ever a song made for sex, this is it. Damn skippy, baby! Sorry, Paula never made a video for this song, but I found one with Mick from Moonlight in it. Yum! He makes my inner lioness sit up and roar!



These are just a few songs that affect me and my moods. Are there any particular songs that make you sing, dance, cry, feel sexy, feel anything at all?

Hussy Charm School: Class Is In Session

Good morning, class. Welcome to the first installment of Hussy Charm School where I'll take you from shy small town girl to vixen.

Don't think you can do it? We don't accept that here at the school. Because I guarantee you, if I can let my inner hussy out, so can you.

In order to be a hussy you have to feel like a hussy, so we're going to work on those inner landscapes. No, I'm not talking about standing in front of the mirror dancing to Shakira's Hips Don't Lie naked telling yourself you're the most beautiful creature in the world. Though frankly that won't hurt. So if you want extra credit, go for it.

But while we're talking about Shakira's music (and have you seen her videos, I'd kill someone for abs like hers - just kidding!) we'll take a lesson out of the music diva's book. To be a inner hussy you need a hussy soundtrack. What songs make you think of sex? Those are the songs you need to add to your hussy playlist in your mp3 player, burn to a cd and play over and over and over again until you see yourself as an inner hussy.

My mom introduced me to some hussy playlist songs for those who like country (or need to write about hot cowboys). You may want to try Tangled Up by Billy Currington, The Hot Tub Song by Phil Vassar, or Honky Tonk Badonk or Hot Mama by Trace Adkins.

If you're looking for workout music or need something with a bit more tempo I love Nelly Furtado's Promiscuous, the aforementioned Hips Don't Lie by Shakira, Big Girl (You are Beautiful) by Mika, and many others. Don't forget Head Like a Hole by Nine Inch Nails. Yeah baby, bow down to the one you serve.

Class is only in session every other week, so for the next two weeks I want you to create your own inner hussy playlist. And then, play it. Who knows what will happen? (And if you have a favorite song, let me know. I'm always looking to add to my playlist, too.)