Good morning, funny names fans! Spring is in the air, and if you haven’t already started your day off with a kickin’ soundtrack and pretended that you’re the star of your own romantic comedy film (Doesn’t everyone? No? Just me?) then I’ve got the perfect solution for you. Might I suggest that you queue up a couple of tracks performed by Sara Beth Bareilles?
Sara grew up in the fantastically named Eureka, California and attended the University of California in Los Angeles. Given that her mother’s maiden name was Bonnie Halvorsen Capellas, I’m betting that no one in the family was surprised when Sara joined her college a cappella group, the Awaken a Cappellas. What may have come as a surprise, however, is the level of Sara’s a cappella awesomeness: she won ULCA’s Spring Sing Contest, not once, but twice!
Eureka Sara, that’s a great hat!
Although her first studio album was released in 2004, her career didn’t really gather momentum until 2007, when iTunes selected her single “Love Song” to be released as one of their free singles of the week. By the following month, her album had shot to #1 on iTunes’ list of most downloaded albums. The album has since gone three times Platinum in the US, (and I would recommend “Love Song” as the track to play over the opening credits of your own personal rom-com).
Sara began work on her next album in the summer of 2009, collaborating with the funny-named likes of Amir “Questlove” Thompson, members of Weezer, and Pharrel Williams. The album, called “Kaleidoscope Heart” was released on September 7, 2010, and debuted at Number 1 in the US.
Now, if you’re a regular reader (or if you’ve visited our Contributors page) then you know that, as your resident pop-culture vulture, I specialize in profiling funny names on TV and in the movies. “So Amb”, you may be asking, “why are you talking about a musician?” Never fear, my friends; you know that in my personal romantic comedy, everything always comes back to “Community” – and Sara is no exception.
I love these two so much I can’t even think of a witty caption for this photo.
On April 21, 2011, NBC aired the“Paradigms of Human Memory” episode of “Community”, which was directed by beloved BoFN alumni Tristram Shapeero and is, quite possibly, the most gloriously upside-down, off-the-wall, hilariously and brilliantly and densely plotted 22 minutes of television anywhere, ever, in the history of television. In my completely unbiased opinion, of course. Anyway, Sara’s song “Gravity” was featured in the episode during a montage of moments between two of my favourite characters, Annie and Jeff (swoon).
Speaking of swooning, I’d like to sing you out with my particular favourite of Sara’s tracks – in the rom-com movie version of my life, this is the song that played during our heroine’s “getting over a wrenching break-up and getting herself back out there into the crazy and wonderful world” montage that played a few months ago. As an added bonus, this video was directed by the funny-named (and very funny) Jonah Hill. Enjoy!
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In that top picture, Sara looks a LOT like Feist! *Swoon* (sorry amb!)
Shall we compare? http://modernmysteryblog.com/2009/04/14/new-feist-video-the-water/
Years ago, I made a promise to myself never to use the term “rom com”, but I do have to say, Sara would be a good choice for the soundtrack of that type of movie.
Excellent fare as usual. Bravo!
The girls do look alike! They both have that whole, “I’m quirky and adorable and have an awesome set of pipes” thing going on.
(Btw, CBC Music recently included Feist in its list of 25 greatest Canadian singers ever: http://music.cbc.ca/#/blogs/2013/3/The-25-greatest-Canadian-singers-ever)
Glad you liked the post, but sorry you had to use the phrase “rom com”! xo.
Wow, top 25 of all time! I applaud their good judgment!
Kathleen at #20 and Feist at #5. Wow!
I thought you’d approve 🙂
Another funny name winner 🙂 And more knowledge spread. Will echo D-Man (trying to throw him off guard as it was very unMinnesotan of me to call him that) and say awesome as usual,amb!
Thanks Liz!
PS: the unMinnesotan version of you cracks me up. Sounds very tough!
Haha, thanks! I’ll accept D-Man, D-Money, and Killer Carlson (in honor of the Slap Shot character Dave “Killer” Carlson).
At a desktop and watched the video–I want to go to the grocery store with Sara Beth Bareilles! Lyrics are great, but that whole grocery shopping thing was pure gold.
Me too! Doesn’t she look like she’s having the BEST time?!? I’m curious how many of her awesome dance moves were choreographed and how many she came up with on her own … perhaps google will be able to tell me …
If I (we?) shopped with her, she would push me (us) down and we would get cool jeans and a leather jacket. Now there’s the look for a “tough” Liz. New profile picture idea… Let me know what you come up with for dance moves.
She totally would! I’ll be sure to bring my eyeliner and leather jacket when I get my act together and get out to St Paul for our epic food and movie fest – we will ROCK that grocery store my friend! 😀
If I’m not terribly mistaken she also once appeared on 30 Rock next to Cindy Lauper, so that’s not bad. Yeah, good job there Amb! Those are some great named collaborators she had too, can’t fail with that team…
Cool beans! I don’t watch 30 Rock, (I know, I know – losing cool points here) but I can totally picture her chilling with Cindy.
And I agree you can’t lose with that group. I heart Questlove: http://wp.me/p2myYW-wD
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I’m so glad you linked me to this post! It’s brilliant, and I love that song too, one of my faves. I am completely convinced that your rom-com soundtrack would be magnificent!
Isn’t it an awesome song?! I would LOVE to see her live someday, I bet she puts on amazing show. She’s so talented!!