Drinking Songs

Much like a fine wine can be paired with gourmet meals, music can be expertly paired with alcohol. Both booze and music can be catalysts for celebration and expression, and when combined make for a sublime experience. For today’s post, I paired a few music genres with drinks that compliment each to perfection. I also included a Spotify playlist so you can make a drink (or two or three) and enjoy some good tunes at the same time.

1. Country - Beer: Any kind. Cheap, homemade, from a keg, or in a Dixie cup. There is nothing pretentious about classic country, and nothing gets these musicians through heartache and hurt like a cold brew and some twangy guitar.

I suggest: Emmylou Harris, George Jones, Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson

2. Rap - Any kind of bottle that can be popped. While champagne is traditionally the drink of choice,the liquid in the bottle is not nearly as important as how baller you feel when you when you let it fly all over the couch you’re jumping on.

I suggest: Far East Movement, 50 Cent, Jay Z., Missy Elliott

3. Indie - Craft beer, some obscure brew you’ve probably never heard of. Like craft beer, there’s so much indie music to take in it’s best to discover your favorites by sharing with friends.

I suggest: Gotye, Alabama Shakes, Misterwives

4. Jazz - Gin Rickey: (Gin, lime, soda) Famously F. Scott Fitzgerald’s favorite cocktail, the Gin Rickey was a popular drink during the 20s when booze was banned jazz flourished.

I suggest: Ella Fitzgerald, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Glenn Miller Orchestra

5. Karaoke - Whatever got you feeling confident enough to crawl up on a stage and give it your all. Keep drinking it until you can’t read the lyrics on the screen in front of you. You're a rockstar.

I suggest: Michael Jackson, Miley Cyrus, Meatloaf

6. Opera - Red Wine: Everyone on stage is singing about it, so why wouldn’t you? Much like a fine red wine, the opera is a classic artform, aged to perfection, and steeped in tradition.

I suggest: Verdi, Puccini, Donizetti

7. Acoustic - Your favorite coffee: I firmly believe that coffee and acoustic music (and perhaps an ibuprofen or two) are a fool-proof combination to clear up any aches and pains caused by the previous night’s activities.

I suggest: Obadiah Parker, Tracy Chapman, Jason Mraz

That's all I've got for you, please enjoy the playlist I put together, and leave comments with your suggestions and feedback! 

Why Music is Important

The primary reason I’m starting this blog is simple: music is important to me. Not in the gooey ‘music makes me feel stuff’ or ‘music will bring world peace’ kind of way. No, it’s important to me because it’s good for my brain, it’s my favorite way to communicate, and most importantly it's how I make friends. I firmly believe that you can be friends with anyone who likes the same band as you.  

More than that, it’s important to me that music is important to others as well. Music has shaped my life in such a way, that I wish everyone could be moved by music in the same way I have been. So that is what this blog is going to be all about: the community of music.