“Divisionary” is a song by Ages and Ages from 2014 (it always feels weird when dating a song that’s not obviously if its time — like disco or the British Invasion of the 60s). I like it and maybe you will too. You should — but what do I know?

Zelda Fitzgerald’s birthday was yesterday. I’ve written about her previously and I think many Dear Readers know how I love her. I thought a selection of quotes would be nice and might give a little inspiration.

The night you gave me my birthday party… you were a young Lieutenant and I was a fragrant phantom, wasn’t I? And it was a radiant night, a night of soft conspiracy and the trees agreed that it was all going to be for the best.

She quietly expected great things to happen to her, and no doubt that’s one of the reasons why they did.

We grew up founding our dreams on the infinite promise of American advertising. I still believe that one can learn to play the piano by mail and that mud will give you a perfect complexion.

I don’t want to live, I want to love first and live incidentally.

I wish I could write a beautiful book to break those hearts that are soon to cease to exist: a book of faith and small neat worlds and of people who live by the philosophies of popular songs.

I love you, even if there isn’t any me, or any love, or even any life. I love you.

And my favorite. The quote that speaks so much of me.

I am really only myself when I’m somebody else whom I have endowed with these wonderful qualities from my imagination.

I think we can all agree that Chris Isaac’s song “Wicked Game” is one of the most beautifully haunting songs ever recorded — once you hear it you’ll never forget it. I’ve always had a soft spot for the song, so when I heard Emika’s version in season one of The Blacklist, man, I was blown away. Sure, there is Gemma Hayes’ version, but the new wav-y kind of spin on it is pretty cool. Here you go.

I liked Beck back in the day, but as he’s grown as an artist and I’ve — I don’t know, aged — I really dig him. Here’s “Up All Night.”

This is the truth. There is no white knight. No fairy dust. No Prince Charming. No fairy godmother. No woodland creatures to clean your house or make your ballgown. No ballgown needed.

The Disney princesses didn’t have both parents or divorced parents. They didn’t go to college or school at all. They didn’t have a ton of bad dates before they met their husbands. Only Princess Tiana had bills and a job. We never see what happens after the princesses get back from the honeymoon. Does Charming stay up with the sick baby at night? Do they have fertility issues? Does Charming ever have to work out of town? Or does his Prince job provide all they need? Maybe that’s the case.

Tiana’s the only one who had a job and made her dream come true. And homegirl married a deadbeat prince! If that’s not Louisiana, I don’t know what is.

*for the record my husband is not a deadbeat prince, though we are from Louisiana.

Wow, 201 posts this year! Only 164 post left this year. So, post 201 should be a good one. I can’t think of a better post that one with good music (especially when it’s a little quirky). Today it’s an artist pretty new to the music scene — Courtney Barnett. She’s Australian and fun and writes the kind of stuff I’d write if I wrote music: endearing and fun.

Here are my favorite Courtney Barnett songs. Maybe they will become favorites on your iPod too.

And one originally by one of my all-time favorites, the Lemonheads, “Bein’ Around.”

This post was inspired by this photo from my friend Rachel’s Facebook post yesterday. It got me thinking — what would people not want played at their funeral? But those songs would be exactly what I would want played at my funeral. Yes, I’m morbid.

Rachel’s husband posted the good/bad funeral songs, “The Bitch is Back” and “Paint It Black,” which are great, but y’all know me — let’s see how far we can go. That’s kind of my motto.

And so I give you: Songs Not/Or To Use For Your Funeral

“Pop Goes the Weasel”

“Stayin’ Alive”

“Ding Dong the Witch is Dead”

“Send Me to Glory in a Glad Bag” *look it up

“Killing Me Softly”

“Wanted Dead or Alive”

“Copacabana”

“Blaze of Glory”

“Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door”

“I Shot the Sheriff”

“A View to a Kill”

“Goodbye Earl”

“The Show Must Go On”

“Another One Bites the Dust”

“The Hokey Pokey”

“Dead Man’s Party”

“The Queen is Dead”

“Only the Good Die Young”

“Used to Love Her”

“Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die”

“I Would Die 4 U”

“Somebody Got Murdered”

“People Who Died”

“(Don’t Fear) The Reaper”

“Die Young, Stay Pretty”

“I just Died in Your Arms Tonight”

“Underground”

“I Will Survive”

“Live and Let Die” – my personal favorite.

And “YMCA”

Those, Dear Readers, are song to die for.

When the going got tough…the tough

Sometimes we need reminding. I know I do. Right now.

Visit emilymcdowellstudios.com for the pin.