That Music is Cooking!
After my contract with CBC ended, I decided to take a little sabbatical from food writing (and you know, busy kids + busy friends = no time out). I have made a greater attempt to be better in my own kitchen. Mostly the basics. I dusted off my Bible of Cooking (Better Homes Cookbook) and started with the standards of European soul-food: beef Strogonoff, roast chicken, potatoes, pasta, and polenta (to name a few). But there's one thing I pride myself on doing well in the kitchen:
Cooking music.
It should be its own category on Spotify. There is just a certain type of sound needed for cooking. I'm not talking about those high intensity cooking situations--if you're in a cooking competition, you're a chef of a busy restaurant, or if you're cooking Christmas dinner for the in-laws. I'm talking about casually chopping-up-vegetables-pouring-a-bit-of-wine-into-the-sauce-and-into-your-glass kind of cooking. What is the best music while cooking? I contend that it needs to be upbeat--you need a certain kind of rhythm for chopping. And while the salt from your tears might help season the food, let's avoid anything too sad. So, here's my top 5 songs to turn up in the kitchen while cooking:
1. "Try a Little Tenderness" by Otis Redding
There's going to be a lot of early R&B and Soul on this list. If you've never really listened to music, like really listened to where the beat is, then you should listen to an early rock'n roll song like Bill Hayley and The Comets' "Rock Around the Clock"--listen to the rhythm section; it is tight, or square--clearly at the front of the beat. Compare that to Fats Domino's "Fat Man." It's still a simple 4/4 song, but you can hear--and more importantly, feel--that you are hanging out and the back of the beat. And for me, that's where a good cooking song should be. So my first pick for cooking is Otis Redding's 1967 classic, "Try a Little Tenderness."
5. "Jockey Full of Bourbon" by Tom Waits
Finally, get the meat going, top-up your glass (perhaps with bourbon?), and turn up the Tom Waits. I'm not sure we can be friends if you don't own at least one Tom Waits album. And if you're too young for "albums," your playlist better be deep enough to have one of his tunes. With the hardened, gravelly voice seemingly mumbling incantations in your ear, Tom Waits is both an invitation and a cautionary tale to the underbelly. His lyrics and ability to create unique melodies is what makes him one the last great song-writers. And that enticing salsa rhythm of "Jockey Full of Bourbon" is what makes this the perfect cooking song.
Cooking music.
It should be its own category on Spotify. There is just a certain type of sound needed for cooking. I'm not talking about those high intensity cooking situations--if you're in a cooking competition, you're a chef of a busy restaurant, or if you're cooking Christmas dinner for the in-laws. I'm talking about casually chopping-up-vegetables-pouring-a-bit-of-wine-into-the-sauce-and-into-your-glass kind of cooking. What is the best music while cooking? I contend that it needs to be upbeat--you need a certain kind of rhythm for chopping. And while the salt from your tears might help season the food, let's avoid anything too sad. So, here's my top 5 songs to turn up in the kitchen while cooking:
1. "Try a Little Tenderness" by Otis Redding
There's going to be a lot of early R&B and Soul on this list. If you've never really listened to music, like really listened to where the beat is, then you should listen to an early rock'n roll song like Bill Hayley and The Comets' "Rock Around the Clock"--listen to the rhythm section; it is tight, or square--clearly at the front of the beat. Compare that to Fats Domino's "Fat Man." It's still a simple 4/4 song, but you can hear--and more importantly, feel--that you are hanging out and the back of the beat. And for me, that's where a good cooking song should be. So my first pick for cooking is Otis Redding's 1967 classic, "Try a Little Tenderness."
2. "Nights on Broadway" by the Bee Gees
Chopping. Don't judge me, but I love the Bee Gees. Disco is highly under-rated...those funk lines underneath are gold, Jerry! Besides Dana Carvey's "Choppin' Broccoli," the Bee Gees' "Nights on Broadway" is the perfect chopping or mashing song. In fact, this is my mashed potatoes song ("mashing them up!/mashing up the potatoes/gonna add garlic/and lots of butter too!"). Plus, how can you not listen to the Bee Gees and marvel at those falsettos and harmonies.
3. "Cry to Me" by Solomon Burke
Simmering. You've got the food prep done. Food is in the pan and you've turned the heat down to simmer. That's a perfect place for some Solomon Burke. A preacher and one of the fathers of soul, Solomon Burke has the velvety tenor voice of later R&B artists but the grit of those who came befoe him. "Cry to Me" is soulful and nostalgic (for anyone who recognizes the song from Dirty Dancing) and works as a good song to taste your sauces to (you are welcome to sing into your spoon, if need be).
4. "Didn't It Rain" by Hugh Laurie
Hugh Laurie never professed to be a good musician. But he loves the blues. "Didn't it Rain" is a bluesy gospel/spiritual song--with many fantastic versions (the Sister Rosetta Tharpe version is the standard). This version, however, is my favourite because of Hugh Laurie: The Renaissance Man of the Modern Era (he rowed for Cambridge and won the British national title, he has had an illustrious comedic career--Black Adder, Fry and Laurie--he wrote a novel, rides a motorcycle, he can play guitar, piano, and sing, and you might know him as the titular character of House or from the cameo spot on Friends). But for all his achievements, he is humble. His liner notes for both of his albums express his gratitude for the real musicians with him and how he just wanted the opportunity to play his favourite music with great people. In this case, he passes the vocals to Jean McClain as he bumbles about on the piano. And it's perfect. Throw those veggies is the pan, rain down the salt and seasonings, and let the music do the rest.
5. "Jockey Full of Bourbon" by Tom Waits
Finally, get the meat going, top-up your glass (perhaps with bourbon?), and turn up the Tom Waits. I'm not sure we can be friends if you don't own at least one Tom Waits album. And if you're too young for "albums," your playlist better be deep enough to have one of his tunes. With the hardened, gravelly voice seemingly mumbling incantations in your ear, Tom Waits is both an invitation and a cautionary tale to the underbelly. His lyrics and ability to create unique melodies is what makes him one the last great song-writers. And that enticing salsa rhythm of "Jockey Full of Bourbon" is what makes this the perfect cooking song.
Like with food, music is not to everyone's taste and it is hard to make an objective case for that which is subjective. And just like food, you should always try it at least once. Try making dinner with my top 5 cooking songs and pass along your favourites because good food and music should be shared among friends.
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