Summer 2024
Sabbatical Life
It’s been a great couple years, and music continues to play a vital role in my life. Funny enough, someone I just met for the first time last week told me they went on my website & loved the playlist before we jumped on our call. I told them I’d been working on another one, which captures music that’s inspiring me today. So here we go, a new playlist for summer, 2024. Enjoy- KK
White Horse Chris Stapleton album: Higher
I’ve been a fan of Stapleton for a number of years, and finally got to see him live in Charlottesville at John Paul Jones arena in October of 2023. And that guy puts on an absolutely epic show. He came out & blew the roof off the place with this song as the opener. For two hours, he & his band shredded guitar, belted lyrics & kept all of us on our feet. Ok, well since we were in the GA pit on the floor, being on our feet was a necessity. But seriously, if you even like Stapleton a little bit, go see him live. He is a top 10 performer who leaves everything he has on the stage every night. I can’t wait to see him again. Since this song kicked off his show, it kicks off my playlist.
lyrics that speak to me: This love is gettin' kind of dangerous, Feels like it's a loaded gun; My-my, it's turning like a cloud of dust, My heart always wants to run.
Dark Matter Pearl Jam album: Dark Matter
So all y’all know I’m a huge Eddie Vedder & Pearl Jam fan. And while I had high hopes for this album, it has wildly exceeded my expectations. Shout out to Producer Andrew Watt (who Eddie met years ago & let produce his supergroup album The Earthlings during COVID)…somehow the 33-year old (!!!) guy who grew up a rabid Pearl Jam fan now has become the producer who does the new Rolling Stones album & then rolls right into Dark Matter with Pearl Jam. Needless to say, if you aren’t dialed in to Andrew Watt & what he’s up to, I recommend you go check him out. As for this album, PJ has done something really hard – gone back to their roots (tracks that sound like their 1st & 2nd albums), brought fresh new sounds into the world AND channeled the competing forces of darkness & hope that seem to be in perpetual conflict. If you have time google ‘superposition’ and enjoy reading about how a quantum system can be in multiple states until it is measured (source: TechTarget.com). PJ is suggesting we can live in light & darkness, and yet the album builds to gratitude and hope by the end. I got to see them in concert in Vegas in May and the show blew my mind. It was a dream setlist, and the new songs sounded like they’d be part of the repertoire for years. I am counting the days until I see them again at Fenway, this time with Erin & some close friends in September. This track feels like it could be added to Vs. (1993) or Yield (1998) and it would fit right in…except for the heavy nature of the lyrics. On this album I feel like it’s the song that features every band member’s strengths the best. Bonus points if anyone knows who King Diamond might be. PJ challenges all of us to meet this moment & persevere. We can do it.
lyrics that speak to me: Steal the lights from our eyes, Drain the blood from my heart We're in all of this dark matter; Take the breaths from my chest, Break the thoughts in our minds; We're losing time, dark matter
Looping Charlotte Cardin album: 99 Nights
To celebrate our 25th Anniversary, I got tickets for Erin & I to go to a music, wine & food festival on Prince Edward Island – Sommo Fest, in July, 2023. If you ever get the chance…you must GO! Two days of music on multiple stages, amazing food & wine to be had, great chill vibes of PEI & our neighbors to the north. And headliners last summe included Maggie Rogers, Vance Joy and Mumford & Sons. And yet as fun as it was to sing along with all of the artists whose tracks we knew, I was blown away by some new faces I’d never heard before…led by Charlotte Cardin. A Canadian, the energy she brought to stage was soulful, sexy & sleek…she had the audience on a string for her entire set. I am so hyped to see her be successful. This was my favorite song from her set, and as it suggests, voices (this song!) can get in your head & just stay on repeat. That happens to me a lot & most of the time those voices are positive, but not always. Here’s hoping we all keep the inner monologue rattling around our brains giving us positive reinforcement, not giving us reasons why we might be scared, nervous or anxious.
lyrics that speak to me: Voice-voice-voices in my head, Keep looping and it's endless; Looping and it's endless, Looping, looping, looping, looping.
Something in the Orange Zach Brown album: Something in the Orange
I really admire how Zach Brown is pulling fans from ‘70’s & ‘80’s singer songwriters (Springsteen), from present-day country stars (Rhett) & from people who think he might be the only in his genre. I love this track because it tells a story that I can just picture seeing, being a part of or hearing about from a friend. Seems so relatable, and while it’s about somebody seeking redemption, I try to find the positive of someone holding out hope & extending their hand asking for another chance.
lyrics that speak to me: Your voice only trembles when you try to speak, Take me back to us dancin', this wood used to creak.
Nightflyer Allison Russell album: Outside Child
So at Sommo Fest, the second best new artist for us was Allison Russell…totally different than Charlotte Cardin, and yet Russell touched us in a way that was unlike most artists I’ve ever seen. She was part activist, part songwriter, part lounge singer, part virtuoso musician…and 100% badass. Whether it was when she was playing clarinet or story-telling about her challenging upbringing as a foster child who faced unspeakable hardship as a young person…she brought hope to the stage, gave all of us chills and left us wishing her set was twice as long. If you have never heard of her, please…please…go check her out & get on board as her star is shining really brightly & will be for years to come. There is so much hope, positivity & beauty in her as a person and her art. Put your hands together for Allisson Russell.
lyrics that speak to me: Now I feel everything good Lord, What the hell could they bring to stop me Lord? Nothing from the earth, nothing from the sea, Not a God almighty thing.
Grace Marcus Mumford album: self-titled
We’ve been Mumford fans for over a decade. And yet when Marcus dropped his first solo album during COVID-19, we were hyped to hear him bring new beats, new lyrics & new stories. And I wasn’t really prepared for the darkness and depth of this album. But as a Mumford fan, when they take you to a dark place they are always bringing you closer to the light. And he does that on this album too. In many of the tracks he unpacks a bunch of childhood trauma for the first time publicly, including sexual abuse, that he endured as a young person. And yet on this track, he kind of steps up to being an adult who can do hard things, even if he has no idea how. I admire him for this, and on this track, love how he believes that when we can offload the heavy stuff we carry around, we can move forward lighter, more confident & more hopeful…even when we don’t have everything figured out yet.
lyrics that speak to me: And yeah, see, there will come a time, When it won't feel just like living it over and over with the weight of the shadow on your shoulders, And I hear there's healing just around this corner
If We Were Vampires Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit album: The Nashville Sound
So I wasn’t a huge Isbell fan, but I had always admired him from afar. Then my brother told me that Isbell was coming to Red Rocks this summer, and he wanted to take me & a friend for my birthday. I said “HELL YES” and couldn’t wait to see this guy. And wow, it makes sense why so many bands admire him, so many artists around the world call him a friend & why REM would ask him to give the induction speech when they entered the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Isbell is a force of nature as a song-writer, and maybe even better as a virtuoso guitar player. This track he sings with his now ex-wife, Amanda Shires. And this concert, where Shires opened for him only weeks after their public split, was unique on so many levels. It’s gotta be real, real, real weird to be on tour with the person you just broke up with, who you once wrote songs with & played together with in a band. But they’re doing it. And when Shires opened for him at Red Rocks, she was a total badass who electrified the crowd. Credit to both of them for figuring how to make it work, especially in an area when lots of bands & artists (looking at you, JLo) are canceling shows for any number of reasons. Isbell & Shires are still out there grinding & making beautiful music, just further apart than they were when they wrote & sang this track for this album as a married couple.
lyrics that speak to me: Maybe time running out is a gift, I'll work hard 'til the end of my shift; And give you every second I can find, And hope it isn't me who's left behind
Stick Season Noah Kahan album: Stick Season
Raise a glass to every New England singer songwriter who dreamed of playing local gigs & then one day selling out stadiums. Because Noah Kahan is that guy. And I love this song & feel like it could’ve been written at any time in the past fifty years, maybe except for the lyric about COVID. But this guy is so humble, seems to be handling his global fame so well, and still seems like a guy I want to go have a beer with in a bar in Burlington, VT. I also admire how embraces his Jewish dad, Christian mom & his own struggles with mental health. I root for him and people like him, and hope he keeps making music people want to voraciously consume. And when he was announced as the Sommo Fest headliner this year, I really, really wanted to go see him up there. But alas the dates don’t work.
lyrics that speak to me: And I love Vermont, but it's the season of the sticks, And I saw your mom, she forgot that I existed, And it's half my fault, but I just like to play the victim, I'll drink alcohol 'til my friends come home for Christmas
Ain’t No Man The Avett Brothers album: The Avett Brothers
So, funny thing happened – after my brother bought the tickets for us to go see Jason Isbell at Red Rocks in May (many, many months ago)…his favorite band Dawes was announced as the opener for The Avett Brothers at Red Rocks in July. So he was like – dude, are we going back to Red Rocks in July? And of course the answer was “HELL YEAH”. So we did, with Robin & Erin this time. And lemme tell you, while I was excited to see Dawes this time, and they did not disappoint…The Avett Brothers are a VIBE! Prior to the show I only knew a dozen of their songs. They got to play 3 nights at Red Rocks this year, and I am real excited for seeing them to become an annual summer tradition going forward. Part religious revival, part bluegrass backyard picnic, part guitar festival…and just a goddam great time. Count me among the converted, The Avett Brothers are a can’t miss show, a band with so much talent & even more positive energy they bring into the world. If this is the first time you’re encountering them, I’m thrilled to be the one to introduce you.
lyrics that speak to me: There ain't nobody here, Who can cause me pain or raise my fears; 'Cause I got only love to share, If you're looking for a truth, I'm proof you'll find it there
Georgia Peach Quinn XCII album: The People’s Champ
So I have to thank my oldest daughter Maggie for introducing me to Quinn…apparently he was a big deal on college campuses over the past many years. Not somebody who had ever really entered my orbit. And then Maggie had an extra ticket for a show at Red Rocks last summer, and asked if I wanted to go. A little life advice to all you parents out there – if you ever get that invite, the answer is YES no matter if you had other plans, have never heard of the band or both. JUST GO. I did, and while I’ve seen a bunch of live music, one of my favorite experiences is catching an artist on the rise, with a rabid fanbase & with a venue where all of their talent can be effectively put on display…and that’s exactly what I got at this show. Imagine 9,500 fans of Quinn bouncing with arms raised in unison singing along to this track, and that’s what I got to experience with Maggie. A night I won’t soon forget. And Quinn’s story as an everyday dude from Detroit who is a grinder just trying to make music people like rising to superstardom is a guy I root for.
lyrics that speak to me: none, this song ain’t about the lyrics, it’s about the vibe
Dance the Night Away Van Halen album: Van Halen II
So many of the songs on this playlist are less than 10 years old, I had to throw it back to a classic. And Van Halen seems like a perfect choice for a few reasons – sadly, Eddie passed away in 2020. And in the years since, members of the band and fans have been trying to determine what might happen next with the archive and the music. Good news for Van Halen fans – Sammy Hagar has put a tour together, and the virtuoso guitarist Joe Satriani has agreed to go deep and do the best he can to play Eddie’s part in the band. So I hope this tour can put to rest some of the petty disputes that caused friction in the band over the past 40 years, and instead lets everyone enjoy, maybe for the last time, the magic that is a live Van Halen show. Some familiar faces (Hagar, Michael Anthony) along with some new ones (Jason Bonham on drums, Satriani on lead guitar)…and my hope is they stay true to the essence of the band. Still on the fence about going to see the show but as it gets closer, feeling like I might just have to shell out to add this to my list of other Van Halen shows I enjoyed (1991 Worcester Centrum, 2004 in Greensboro, NC).
lyrics that speak to me: Have you seen her, so fine and pretty? Fooled me with her style and ease
I Ain’t Worried One Republic album: Artificial Paradise
While this album was just released on July 12, 2024, this song has more than 2 billion downloads as a result of it being included on the Top Gun: Maverick soundtrack in 2022. Great movie, by the way. But Ryan Tedder is one of the most generational songwriters in the world, and I love the vibe of this song. He had a seemingly impossible task – create an iconic song that they could use for a(nother) volleyball scene that stands alone, connects with the first movie & yet is unique & modern. And he delivered in a huge way with this track. As I continue in this sabbatical, I genuinely am not worried about a lot…and seem to have offloaded a bunch of the anxiety, stress & weight that I carried during my twenty years at Danaher. Don’t get me wrong, I’m really excited to keep putting wins on the board in a bunch of different ways. But the freedom to paint on this very different canvas feels really, really good. We saw One Republic in Colorado Springs in August open up the brand new Ford Amphitheater…they put on such an amazing live show. And that’s a great venue I highly recommend! Roll down your car windows & turn up the volume.
lyrics that speak to me: But I ain't worried 'bout it right now (right now); Keeping dreams alive, 1999, heroes, I ain't worried 'bout it right now (right now); Swimmin' in the floods, dancing on the clouds below
When My Time Comes Dawes album: North Hills
If you’re still reading this and maybe read the liner notes to my first playlist, you’ll know Dawes is the favorite band of my brother & his wife. And I’m early in my journey with them, having just seen them live for the first time last week. AND that said…I’m a huge fan. These guys do it their way, with fresh lyrics, great musical talent & a hugely devoted fanbase. Kind of feel like they may break through in the next couple years, even if they’ve been grinding for over a decade already. From the show, while the music was awesome, seeing Taylor Goldsmith & his wife (Mandy Moore – yeah, that Mandy Moore) parent on stage was pretty awesome. Mandy kept the kids (twins 3-year olds) occupied during their set, and then one of them sprinted to Taylor as he left the stage & jumped into his arms. My kinda people. And this band makes incredible music.
lyrics that speak to me: So I took what I wanted, And put it out of my reach, I wanted to pay for my successes, With all my defeats
Houdini Eminem album: The Death of Slim Shady (forthcoming, no release date yet)
Come on, Slim Shady dropping rhymes overtop of Steve Miller’s Abracadabra makes this a track I have to include. I realize Eminem isn’t everyone’s taste. If anyone wants to try & enlighten me about rap lyrics and the risks they bring to society, save it – I’m fine & we’ll agree to disagree. And I can’t possibly explain everything happening in this song. I get the arrows he slings at Dre & Megan Thee Stallion, and I like the David Blaine / Houdini / magic vibe that courses through it. Then I get really excited when I realize this song is the first rack released from an upcoming album titled The Death of Slim Shady: Coup de Grace. Feel like the guy from 8 mile in Detroit who has earned more than $400M in his career is going out on his own terms. And if this is the first course on the menu that will be his album, count me in for dinner. I really enjoyed Revival (2017) and think he has been building up to this for a while. I didn’t realize he went so far as to publish a fake obituary in the Detroit Free Press earlier this summer. From that: “Ultimately, the very things that seemed to be the tools he [Slim Shady] used became calling cards that defined an existence that could only come to a sudden and horrific end. His complex and tortured existence has come to a close, and the legacy he leaves behind is no closer to resolution than the manner in which this character departed this world. May he truly find the peace in an afterlife that he could not find on Earth.”
lyrics that speak to me: like a motherfuckin’ hackey sack, I treat the whole world cause I got it at my feet
Overdrive Thomas Rhett album: About a Woman
So this is a gamble, since Overdrive was released just a few weeks ago. And every other track on this playlist are songs that I already have more soak time with. But I really, really like Thomas Rhett…and I love this song on my first & second listen. So TR gets the benefit of the doubt because he’s awesome, and I’m pretty sure this song is gonna be a mainstay for me for a while. This feels like an updated, TR version of the Bryan Adams’ classic Summer of ’69. So let’s see what happens…hope you enjoy it as much as I (think I) do.
lyrics that speak to me: Something pretty simple 'bout an eighteen Tennessee summer, 84 was the number that I wore under Friday lights, How could I forget that night?
Something Special Peal Jam album: Dark Matter
So Eddie Vedder’s daughter Olivia joined him on vocals for a movie soundtrack they did a couple years ago, which I recommend by the way (Flag Day). And those of us who follow Eddie know how important family is to him – immediate family, the band & his friends who count as extended family. That said, I was really surprised to hear this track when the album dropped. It’s a love song to his daughters, and as a proud girl dad, this almost brought me to tears when I heard it the first time. He talks of the heartbreak, love and joy involved in raising his daughters…and the importance of giving them room to fail, grow & fly. And it’s full of positive reinforcement & inspiration. So this one is included with much love and as a giant hug for Maggie & Sydney. I love you to the moon & back. You are two amazing, unique, gifted, strong, courageous young women. Stay humble, keep grinding, surround yourself with people you love who believe in you & the sky is the limit. Go be great!
lyrics that speak to me: and someday you May find yourself in the place that I now do, And someway you gonna have to let it go, And I got proof for my heart, It aches and breaks, but I believe in you; Oh, ain't it, oh, ain't it the truth? Mmm, remind yourself and find what makes you free, It's goal to go and time to find out what you seek
Q3 2023
Hello! Thought I would provide an update on what I've been up to. The last few months of 2022 & first few of 2023 have been great! I've been busier than anticipated, working on a few things that have been a blast. I will provide more info on them in the coming months...stay tuned!
In the meantime, with more free time, I have enjoyed engaging more closely over the past few months with UVA & Notre Dame. Two weeks ago, I was fortunate to have the chance to join Professor Tim Hubbard (Donnelly Fellow in Participatory Management, Co-Director Virtual Reality Lab) in the Mendoza School of Business at ND when he taught a group of primarily undergraduate seniors a case about Danaher in his Strategic Management class. The discussion was fabulous, and while most had never heard of Danaher before reading the case, a few students had benefited from hearing Danaher founder Mitch Rales teach their Art of Investing class in November, 2022...when he shared his insights & perspectives, including stories about Danaher. After listening to the class, I sat down with Tim for an interview, where we discussed more about Danaher, building on the case discussion and digging into some other topics as well. He then shared that with his students, and also gave me the opportunity to post the video here. So if you're interested - enjoy!
As always, I welcome your input & feedback....hit me up! And more updates from me coming soon...
Cheers,
Kevin
Farewell & thank you, Danaher
Y’all know how much music means to me. So I figured some of my favorite artists’ lyrics & music could capture my headspace as I look back in my time at Danaher, look back over the last 20 years and look ahead to an exciting, uncertain future. So here’s the Spotify playlist. I also wrote a few words about why each song made the cut.
Enjoy –KK
Unthought Known Pearl Jam album: Backspacer
An all-time Pearl Jam classic, this is one of my many hype songs. It brings me insane energy & fires up my soul for the potential we all have inside us. And I have always believed I am no one’s rival…thanks to this song. Chart my own course, do it any damn way I want…stay on solid footing, strong foundation of faith & family…and I’ll be no one’s rival. Then it’s all about what am I giving? Since my early years at Danaher I felt like I could chart my own course & paint on the canvas w/ whatever colors I wanted.
lyrics that speak to me: Dream the dreams of other men, you’ll be no one’s rival... A distant time, a distant place…so what you giving?
Given to Fly Pearl Jam album: Yield
Only time I’ve seen PJ in concert was at the Target Center in Minneapolis in ’98 for their Yield tour. That show cemented this song as one that became an anthem for me. It also should fire people up…we are all given to fly. Feel like it also has helped me think about lifting people up since we all have times & moments when we’re not feeling it, not flying. How can I help? What I can do so they get back to that unbelievable feeling of being that spot in the sky?
lyrics that speak to me: Sometimes you see a strange spot in the sky, a human being that was given to fly.
Shipping Up to Boston Dropkick Murphy’s album: The Warrior’s Code
This used to be the song that Jonathan Papelbon came out of the bullpen to & Fenway Park erupted every time…shout out Red Sox Nation. Then it won me $20 at a Danaher Leadership Conference when Larry Culp used it as his walk-up music & asked if anybody in the crowd knew who sang it. Easy money for a fellow Sox fan! Now it’s the music that wakes up ND Stadium…and bottom line this song brings me chills every damn time. Like all my worlds collide here. On your feet Notre Dame…here come the Irish!
lyrics that speak to me: none. yeah, let’s be honest, this song is really about the 60 second lead-in. I mean I know the guy lost his leg & that’s crazy…but it’s the sound not the words for me with this one.
Empire State of Mind Jay-Z, Alicia Keys album: The Blueprint 3
I hate the Yankees…but love New York City. Living in Brooklyn right out of college helped me get to know the city even if only for several months. Jay is a legend & I’ve always loved this track. Shout out to Maggie Demont…a legit Jay-Z fan & somebody who welcomed me adding this to the Drakes Island playlist years ago. As for what this song means to me, weirdly, at some point I projected onto this song that Danaher maybe was my ‘New York’…and if I could make it here, I could make it anywhere. So here’s to 20 years of living in the concrete jungle where dreams are made of! And just maybe there’s somebody from Danaher who listens to this playlist & hasn’t heard a Jay-Z song before…welcome to the bright lights!
lyrics that speak to me: New York, concrete jungle where dreams are made of…There’s nothing you can’t do, Now you’re in New York.
Thank You Led Zeppelin album: II
I just feel gratitude flowing through this track. Zeppelin has been a constant since high school for me (shout out classmates Eric Page, Ned Greene) and I think about the sacrifices Erin made to give me the chance to go run around the world & do what I did at Danaher…and I hit play on this song. Thank you.
lyrics that speak to me: and so today, the world it smiles your hand in mine, we walk the miles. Thanks to you it will be done for you to me are the only one.
Her Mercy Glen Hansard album: Didn’t He Ramble
Man this guy is a treasure. Go watch the movie Once if you haven’t seen it in a while, you’ll thank me. This song for me has been about being ‘lost among the rubble’ when things weren’t going well, and staying humble when they were. And then it’s about having a damn church revival and blowing the roof off the joint when you get the chance. Because that’s what Glen & his buddies do when they play this song. ‘Feel her beauty flow right through you’…go see Glen live. I like to think I brought the same energy to Danaher he brings to the stage. Because all we control is attitude & effort.
lyrics that speak to me: And when you’re ready for her mercy, And you’re worthy, It will come
Room at the Top Tom Petty album: Echo
I never saw Tom Petty live, but this is one of my favorite tracks of his. And then Eddie Vedder put it on his setlist for his Feb. 3 show this year w/ his other band (The Earthlings) at the Beacon, and he & the band just brought it altogether for me. Feel like we need that bourbon, glass of wine, or ice cold beer to enjoy the best things life has to offer. Because the Lord knows we’re gonna have hard days. But we can find beauty in small moments & big ones…and when we do, damn it, we better get a room at the top of the world & we better not come down.
lyrics that speak to me: I got a room at the top of the world tonight, and I ain’t coming down.
Society Eddie Vedder album: Into the Wild Soundtrack
This song just challenges me. Great book (J. Krakauer), great movie & epic soundtrack. And while I don’t plan to check out of this world the way Chris McCandless did…I do think about what I can learn from him. Kind of a modern day challenge about materialism, about working on things that matter and not getting caught in the trappings of money or what other people think of you. And then this song reached next level status when I shared it with Sydney…we went deep on the meaning of the lyrics & the magic of Eddie Vedder. She tolerated me…and later told me it really changed how she thinks about music. Proud Dad moment.
lyrics that speak to me: There’s those thinking, more or less, less is more But if less is more, how you keeping score?
Nothingman Pearl Jam album: Vitalogy
I think one of my biggest motivators is my fear of being average. And this song puts it into words. What if we waste our talent & the gifts God gave us? For me, the ‘bolt of lightning’ in this song was Danaher…I got lucky finding it, and thought about leaving many times. But I wasn’t ready. I couldn’t let that bolt of lightning go…I had to ride it because there was so much that was magical about this place, and I knew I was finding ways not to be average while I was there. Now as I head out, I feel like I’m in a great place…I didn’t let my bolt of lightning go, it’s just time to go find another one.
lyrics that speak to me: Caught a bolt of lightning, cursed the day he let it go….he who forgets, will be destined to remember.
One Love / People Get Ready Bob Marley & the Wailers album: Legend
Let’s not overthink it – doesn’t every playlist need some Marley? Shout out to Uncle Harry as we played a bunch of reggae & drank Red Stripes together during our epic vacation to the British Virgin Islands back in 2019. I think this song serves as the bridge to the ‘love’ section of this set. And it reminds me we must never forget we owe everything to the Lord above.
lyrics that speak to me: Give thanks and praise to the Lord and I will feel alright.
Seasons of Love Original Broadway Cast of Rent
Wow, Rent. Shout out to Sydney and all of our musical theater people…keep bringing your gifts to the stage! I don’t think I’m overstating it to say that this show changed my life…it changed how I think about people, what is possible on a stage and it spoke to Erin & me as we were engaged & about to be married. Saw it first in ’97, and have seen it 7 times since. It also reminds me to be present. This crazy adventure called life is fragile, and every day I wake up I think about having a great day because we never know how many more days (or minutes, or years) we have. Two more things…there is a high note in this song that is unlike any other note I have ever heard. And I think deep down, every town I listen to this song, I root for the woman to hit that note…but it’s recorded!? Of course she hits it. Years ago I realized I wanted to be able to hit the high note when given the opportunity. I can’t sing, by the way…so I use this song as inspiration to do everything I can to be ready to hit that note when my moment comes. Ok, last thing. Love. This song reminds me how important it is to LOVE.
lyrics that speak to me: How do you measure a year? In daylights, in sunsets in midnites in cups of coffee?…It’s time now to sing out, Though the story never ends; Lets celebrate remember a year in the life of friends!
We’re Going to be Friends The White Stripes album: White Blood Cells
I really admire Jack White for what he can do shredding on a guitar and how he can strip it all away, tone down the loud sound and sing this song. Friends play a huge part in my life, and I wouldn’t be where I am without them. All the places we’ve lived we’ve loved…because of the people we met along the way on our journey, who loved us when we lived there and continue to love us today. Too many to name (though you all should still be getting our Christmas cards! 😊 ) . And time with friends is some of our most treasured…dinners, shows, wine, bourbon, games…doesn’t matter. What matters is just being together, listening, sharing the moments & memories that bring joy & energy to our lives.
lyrics that speak to me: we don’t notice any time pass, we don’t notice anything.
Sweet Caroline Neil Diamond album: Neil Diamond
Recorded in 1969, this song makes the cut because it was one of the albums & songs that my brother and I listened to on vinyl as we were kids growing up. Plus this playlist was a little top-heavy with songs recorded after 2000 and needed a little texture. While I grew up going to Fenway, and this song is now an 8th inning tradition there - it only dates back to 1997, which is after the time when we moved away from Boston & I stopped going regularly to the Fens. So I loved this song before it became intertwined with my favorite team & favorite place in the world. But shout out to Mom & Dad, who have loved Neil Diamond longer than I’ve been alive & seen him in concert…I’m singing along to this one thankful for having amazing parents….’so good, so good, so good’.
lyrics that speak to me: Good times never seemed so good
You Will be Found Ben Platt album: Dear Evan Hansen Original Broadway Soundtrack
I first heard this song at a workshop where Sydney performed in Boulder. Loved it, but didn’t have any context. Then in March 2018, in response to the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting weeks earlier, the March for Our Lives happened & I went to a march in Phoenix, Arizona with Sydney & my parents. And a local high school from outside of Phoenix had a choir perform, and they sang this song. And it hit me so hard. I then listened to the Dear Evan Hansen soundtrack on repeat for months before finally seeing the show late in 2019. It is a triumph for musical theater, and this song speaks to people everywhere who are lonely, outcast & lack hope. Yet it’s a call to be there for people, and for those struggling to know help is out there – in churches, communities, friends & colleagues. We have to ask for help when we need it, and we have to check on our friends & colleagues to be sure they’re ok. And they…we…you…will be found.
lyrics that speak to me: Even when the dark comes crashin’ through, When you need someone to carry you, When you’re broken on the ground, You will be found!
All Your Favorite Bands Dawes album: All Your Favorite Bands
Shout out to my brother, who has always had my back, always been there when I needed him, always been game for my adventures…and who is single-handedly responsible for my love of music. Full disclosure, Dawes is his favorite band, and I have only gotten into a few of their songs. But this song…man, it seems like it was written for him, and for me. Charlottesville reference? Come on. I had to include this one. I’m pretty sure there were days he thought he might be my chaperone for many of our adult years. And then one night when he was my chaperone (Richmond, Live concert, 1995) it didn’t go so well. But thankfully he forgave my antics, and has been there every step of the way. This one’s for you buddy. Thanks for everything. And may all our favorite bands stay together.
lyrics that speak to me: Hope your life without a chaperone is what you thought it’d be.
Rearviewmirror Pearl Jam album: Vs.
So in July 2012, after three crazy, stressful, unbelievably challenging years as the VP of HR for Danaher working for Larry Culp, I survived. I had crossed the finish line. I earned my ticket to a job at Hach. And then I headed back to DC a few weeks later for a meeting and went for a run one morning. And this song was on my playlist. And it was like it was written for me in that moment. I felt that day like I ran a 6 minute mile; I flew around the District. I had survived this insane HR gig & was able to put the most amazing & hardest development experience I had ever had in my rearview mirror. And with that sense of accomplishment, I could regroup, move to Colorado and dive into my next challenge. Now as I put Danaher in my rearview mirror, I’m ready to look ahead.
lyrics that speak to me: I guess it was the beatings, that made me wise. I’m not about to forgive things, or apologize…so much clearer, want you, want you, rearviewmirror.
Beloved Mumford & Sons album: Delta
This is a phenomenal track, and yet it’s a weird one for me in this playlist. I include it because I feel like if Danaher could choose one song to add to my list, this would be it. I feel so much gratitude, and have heard so many times how much people appreciated many things I did along the way – small things, big things, and moments that I shared with people literally all over the world. I read every email, and I genuinely appreciated the people who stopped, thanked me and let me know how something I had done positively impacted them. And I won’t ever get to see many of those people again, certainly not as colleagues. But weirdly, I feel like if my Danaher colleagues could say something to me at this moment, they would play this song. I’m so thankful for all of the moments I shared with these great people. And I know how much they appreciated my effort, my energy & my commitment to our success. And I am lucky to call many of them friends. I’m pretty sure many of them would be happy to know I heard them, I appreciated them, and as I leave, I feel I am beloved.
lyrics that speak to me: She says the Lord has a plan, and admits it’s pretty hard to understand… Before you leave, you must know you are beloved…and as you leave, I won’t hold you back, beloved.
Burn the House Down AJR album: The Click
This is a shout out to Maggie. I still remember when we took the roof off the Jeep on your graduation weekend, piled in & headed to Boulder. And this was the song we played. And this song reminds me how unstoppable you are when you have confidence. During COVID, when you were back home from ND living with us, you & MPS bought tickets to the livestream AJR concert which you watched in our basement. I remember coming down to watch a few songs & thinking “DAMN!” AJR is so innovative, so fun, so loud…such a welcome addition to this playlist & a song I’ll always turn up when it comes on the radio. Because we should all take the top off the Jeep every chance we get, turn up the radio & hopefully have something as fun as AJR bumping through the speakers. Gonna be plenty more of that for me this summer.
lyrics that speak to me: We gonna burn the whole house down
Lose Yourself Eminem album: 8 Mile
Unbelievable movie, and this song is the highlight. Marshall Mathers deserves so much credit for his 20+ years of hit-making. This song has been a staple on my running playlist since 2000, and you’ll also hear it at every tailgate we host. And while I love how this song is really about rising to the moment, seizing the opportunity…for me it’s also about how we can channel the fire from disappointments & flip the script. I haven’t faced what he faced growing up on 8 Mile…but I’ve had my share of mistakes, letdowns & failures. And I kept rhymin, & always felt like if I could dust myself off, keep working & channel my energy, I’d be ready to kick some ass the next time I had my shot. Crazy to think I’m old enough to see Eminem joining Dr. Dre & Snoop on this year’s Super Bowl half-time show in a kind of throwback hip-hop set. Time flies.
lyrics that speak to me: No more games, I’ma change what you call rage, Tear this motherfuckin’ roof off like two dogs caged, I was playin’ in the beginnin’, the mood all changed, I been chewed up and spit out and booed off stage, But I kept rhymin’ and stepped right in the next cypher
Invincible Eddie Vedder album: Earthling
So we saw Eddie & his band sing this on February 3rd 2022, at the Beacon in New York, the first night of their tour. Absolutely epic show. And the album didn’t drop until February 11th, so many of the songs from Earthling we’d never heard before. For me hearing this song that night…wow…I love how he’s speaking to all of us about how we should be clear to take off, to let the weight of these past few years flow away and how we can rise when we love. I also love how Eddie took so much risk on this album & on this tour (thank you Andrew Watt) at a time when he could’ve sat back & waited for the next Pearl Jam tour. As I flew home from the show and thought about what was next for me, I took some comfort knowing that while I was taking some risk, I feel invincible.
lyrics that speak to me: Invincible, when we love!...Now there’s smoke on the horizon, and the clouds are looking violent. There’s a future in need of a frame. Compass is spinning in my brain…The unbearable weight, let’s lift it up.
Starting Over Chris Stapleton album: Starting Over
Seriously, if there is one song that completely captures my headspace right now, this…is…it. “I ain’t got no kind of plan, but I’ve had all of this town I can stand…I got friends out on the coasts, we can jump in the water & see what floats.” While I’m in such a good place to step away, maybe because I’m not running toward something it feels like a bigger risk. Stapleton completely nails the feelings of thinking big & yet knowing there will be moments along the way of indecision, doubt, fear & anxiety. And yet he paints it all exactly the way I see it – that this is a journey worth taking, as long as I have the most important person in the world at my side as I do it…so Erin, here we go. “I can be your lucky penny, you can be my 4 leaf clover…starting over.”
lyrics that speak to me: Nobody wins afraid of losing, the hard roads are the ones worth choosing. Someday we’ll look back & smile, and know it was worth every mile.
I Lived One Republic
This band & Ryan Tedder have been our soundtrack since we moved to Colorado in 2012. We’ve seen them a few times, including two epic shows at Red Rocks. And it was at one of those shows in 2019 when this song brought me to tears. We had just dropped Maggie off at ND a few days earlier, and I heard this song & only thought about her journey heading to college. We want everything for our kids…and this song captures how this crazy ride we’re on will mix the highest highs & some really challenging lows. And yet we have to experience both. I close this setlist with this song because it grounds me, it captures what I hope for all of us…I hope we get to do it all, experience the highest highs, and shed tears in the tough moments we have to bounce back from. Only then we can raise our cup & can say ‘we did it all’.
lyrics that speak to me: I owned every second that this world can give, I saw so many places, the things that I did, with every broken bone, I swear I lived.