This quirky North Carolina duo is always impressing me.
Lead singer Amelia Meath has a beautiful voice with a folksy tone that expresses emotion like no other. The band have talked about how they use the voice as an instrument, so that it's difficult to separate the lyrics from the background; Meath's voice is one with the twang of the guitar.
In this particular song, she sings slowly, each syllable distinct, and it's full of sadness.
The lyrics talk about growing older. It's about how one day you're at home and your parents are still bathing you, and then suddenly you're going away with your brand new husband who you think loves you so.
That's not even cynical, but it's such a good lyric. I'm sure your spouse will love you, and you're sure, or else you wouldn't be marrying them. But still, no one does unconditional love quite like family.
And anyway, it's always bittersweet to be moving out and relying less and less on the people who used to do everything for you. But that's life.
"Mac is from Marietta and a self taught musician. He writes all music and lyrics for 99% of songs. His cousin Jack plays the guitar and trumpet in this, and they both are amazing. They recently played in my house for about 50 of his friends. He's so good and wonderful live. I know he's going to be on the big stage some day."
We all know Athens, Georgia has a rich history of musical talent, ranging from R.E.M. to The B-52's to, more recently, Reptar. Not to mention, we have some of the best music venues anywhere.
Check out Wikipedia if you don't believe me. Or, better yet, come pay us a visit.
(Go to a concert. You might run into the next big thing.)
Speaking of which, the song today is an original by Mac McComb, who performs in Athens and hails from my very own Marietta, Georgia. Great guy, so I've heard. Also great music, so I've heard. And now you've heard.
The first thing that stuck out in this piece is that the trumpet is great, dude, very cool. Unexpected. Horns are generally under-utilized, to be honest.
My favorite thing, though, is the way the instrumentals are sometimes stripped down to nothing but sparse guitar chords. Like here. There's something haunting about the way McComb's strong, deep voice is laid bare in those sections. Makes you shiver.
I'm into the general vibe of the song and the atmosphere created by the video. Will be watching out for new stuff.
So glad I got slipped this recommendation before the end of the year! This is the kinda stuff I had in mind when I started this blog in the first place. Hope y'all enjoyed :)
Overview: Genre:
Indie/Folk/Rock Verdict:
gotta support local
Chiller Than The Weather Sunset Soon Forgotten by Iron & Wine
Lovely song.
It comes from Our Endless Numbered Days (2004).This was Iron & Wine's second full-length album and the first to be produced in a professional studio, the first having been recorded on only a four-track tape recorder at Sam Beam's home.
There's something super soothing about this song. I think it's mostly in Beam's gentle voice, the way he projects only enough to be heard over the acoustic guitar, so as not to lose the intimacy.
He sings like he has a secret, and you can't help but feel like if you listen closely, you'll uncover it.
Overview: Genre:
Indie Folk
Favorite Lyrics: We've learned to hide our bottles in the well And what's worth keeping, sun still sinking Down and down Verdict:
When I first heard this song, I thought they were saying ghosts not girls.
Obviously wrong.
I like this track. Carrie recommended like a zillion songs by this band, so I had to pick my favorites out of the seven. This is the third and final one.
I'm not sure what it is that I like about it. The guitar strum pattern is exactly what you expect from The 1975, and it's just as catchy as the other options.
I think it's the lyrics. I mean, the creepy obsession with 17-year-olds is not good, but at least it seems to be like "nah, don't go for that jailbait." Yeah...anyway, I was reading this blog talk about how the word seventeen itself is prettier than the other "teens" because it's the only one with three syllables. Plus, it rhymes with more words. And, listen, there's something to that.
It's a good post; it's better than mine. Plus it gives you 17 songs for the price of one, read that instead.
"Me and my STA team, including my college roommate Jim, got in a van and traveled all over the south to play tennis. During the drives, we played a bunch of road games, and all the wile, Jim was singing this song I didn't think he was that great of a singer, but he had no shame. I mean, he wasn't bad, but yeah, he really went for it. This song is just attached to some really good memories."
This song was originally a northern soul track composed by Ed Cobb and recorded by Gloria Jones in 1964, but it didn't hit its height of international popularity until the 1981 version by Soft Cell (x).
Jones herself has said that the Soft Cell version is the best. "I loved the emotion in [Almond's] voice. Their version was far better than mine" (x). Funny enough, the vocal track used was Almond's first take. It was just just a run-through so they could "tweak the settings," but they thought the emotion he delivered was perfect (x).
They transposed the original from C to G and slowed it down. It has some sticking power, let me tell you. You'll be singing this in your head for a good minute.
In 1000 UK Number One Hits, Soft Cell's vocalist Marc Almond called the song "A mixture of cold electronics with an over-passionate, over-exuberant, slightly out of key vocal."
The song is about a toxic relationship, very clearly. But given the time during which it was released, it took on a second meaning, which had to do with the AIDS epidemic. This was never something considered by Soft Cell before the song's release, and it certainly was not the intention of Cobb, but Almond has said that he accepts the interpretation (x).
When Soft Cell first recorded this song, they expected it to be a "throwaway cover song" (x). That's uplifting somehow. If you've got an idea, just go for it, 'cause you never know.
This suggestion has been sitting on my list for a really long time. When I first started this blog in January, my dad said I had to cover a John Berry song because he's one of the best artists to come out of Athens, Georgia...but at the time, he couldn't think of recommending something other than Berry's Christmas music, specifically O Holy Night. My mom's favorite was The Little Drummer Boy.
Either way, I figured it wasn't the time for it. Now, 12 months and 359 blog posts later, I'm finally fulfilling his wish.
(Full disclosure, I covered Berry's Your Love Amazes Me earlier this year. But anyway...)
Then, a few weeks ago, my mom went to a John Berry concert and her love for the guy exploded anew. She bought like eight copies of his Christmas album to give away as gifts. We listened to it in the car today as we headed to my grandparents' house.
John Berry's version of this traditional hymn charted at 55 and 63 in two separate years, earning itself a place on Wikipedia's "Notable versions" list on the official O Holy Night page (x).
It's also the title track for his Christmas album.
I love this guy's voice, smooth and strong. Even though he's a country singer, this song doesn't have much of a southern twang. It's pure and sweet, his voice filling vast spaces over poignant strings. I typically prefer fun, secular Christmas songs, but this is one exception that I enjoy very much.
I've always thought the chorus and the imagery of falling onto your knees in the presence of the angels was incredibly powerful.
Have a blessed evening if you're into that. If not, then to all a good night.
Overview: Genre:
Holiday Favorite Lyrics: Truly He taught us to love one another; His law is love and His gospel is peace. Verdict:
a great performance of one of my favorite serious Christmas songs
Merry Christmas
I was reminded yesterday (December 24th, 9PM, Eastern Standard Time) that RENT exists, and it really doesn't feel like the holiday season for me if I haven't watched this musical. It technically takes place over an entire year, but the whole first act is, like, a single day. And it all starts on Christmas.
Christmas Eve last year...
I'm not usually a purist or a snob, but this (and Goodbye Love) is one reason why the staged production is vastly superior to the 2005 RENT movie musical. Luckily, they filmed RENT live on Broadway in 2008, so you can watch it without having to actually see it in-person.
I embedded the full performance above because it really doesn't have the same impact without the visual aspect.
My favorite thing in musicals is when you've got a bunch of different lines of lyrics and melodies running together, and this song does that masterfully. The best part starts around here and continues until the end.
It first builds up to a seemingly disorganized cacophony of voices, with Mimi and Roger's strident I should tell yous, and then everyone comes together in unison for that last and it's beginning to...snow.
The references to popular, traditional Christmas songs are a nice touch, too.
There's the Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer allusion, with the addition of a vulgar hand gesture. Plus, the sections with the police feature quite a few quotations from traditional Christmas music, either in melody or, often, lyrics.
He's got policemen singing I'm dreaming of a white Christmas and jingle bells, prison cells and you have the right to remain silent night and fall on your knees. I see what you did there.
I also enjoy that part at the beginning where the guy is repeating honest living over and over again. He's playing the role of "squeegieman," and the intonation of his voice as he sings that line acts as almost an onomatopoeia for the sound a squeegie would make on a car window.
If you aren't familiar with RENT or musicals aren't your cup of tea, I can understand how this whole piece might be overwhelming. It's a lot to take in, and you have to be okay with missing things.
I have listened to this song a million times, and I'm still picking up on new lyrics. Plus, I can literally look at the script and still not be able to follow along at certain parts. But for me, that's half the fun.
Overview: Genre:
Musical Theater
Favorite Lyrics: Hush your mouth, it's Christmas.
Verdict:
I am absolutely tickled by Mimi and Roger's interactions.
Can I make it up to you? How? Dinner party? That'll do.
"Just want to try and sneak one more in before the year is over." This track is actually so freaking cool, dude! Thanks for sharing. We're looking at a guitar-led indie rock song. There's, like, a five minute instrumental interlude from about 2:40 to 8:00, (they call it the 'jam' section) which I usually wouldn't like, but I can get behind it in this case because it gives you time to ruminate on the lyrics of the track. The first line drops the name "Michael Hastings." He's the journalist who died under somewhat unusual - some might say strange - circumstances in 2003. As it says in No Connection, Hastings was only 33 when he died in a car crash. Technically, they way there was no foul play, but there's a bit of a conspiracy theory that his high-speed collision with a palm tree wasn't an accident at all, but rather a "car cyber attack." Colleagues, friends, and some family reported that Hastings had been saying he was "onto a big story" in the weeks leading up to the incident, and he even stated that he believed he was being investigated by the FBI the day before he died. (Not even gonna lie, I just learned all of that information 5 minutes ago from Wikipedia.) I'm tempted to pass it off as histrionic nonsense, but that would be going against the very essence of the song that brought the incident to my attention. There's no connection; stop paying attention.
You can do some really highly destructive things now, through hacking a car, and it’s not that hard. So if there were a cyber attack on the car—and I’m not saying there was—I think whoever did it would probably get away with it. (source)
Wow, dude, I made myself paranoid. After getting wayyyyy too deep into the Michael Hastings information, I returned to the song and it sounded even better. That intro is gold, with the creepy, sparse plucking of the guitar and then the one word opening: strange... The frontman of Narc Twain, Tommy Siegel, describes his own voice as "naturally very earnest and nasal" (x), and it's a perfect fit for the tense atmosphere throughout the song and especially in the first verse. Despite the weightiness of the topic being discussed, however, the track strikes a nice balance between genuine suspicion and...let's call it playfulness. I've been quoting from this interview where Siegel says they would never allow a band called "Narc Twain" to take itself too seriously. I'd call this track a success. Overview: Genre: Indie Rock Favorite Lyrics: strange Verdict: Literally why did I keep this as a category? I have never and will never say anything of value for the "verdict" portion of these entries.
The Manager or Patron The Impresario by Jake Kaufman & Tommy Pedrini
"Who doesn't love a good rock opera from time to time"
Is it a rock opera? It's only one song rather than a whole concept album...but it's, like, a medley so...Whatever. It's rock and it's operatic.
There's a cool review of this track here. If you're actually a FFVI fan, then that will probably be more interesting to you than anything I can say. I'm just listening to this music for the first time, so to me it is a rock opera and that's the end of it. If you played the game, then you'll probably be listening to this arrangement as a wild cover of a beloved soundtrack, and that's a very different experience.
That reviewer also lists a bunch of other covers of the same OST, and that might interest you if you're familiar with the music.
This track is very, very reminiscent of Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody, and I'm sure they're not trying to hide it. The template is exactly the same, with "an intro, a ballad segment, an operatic passage, a hard rock part and a reflective coda" (x).
[Side Note: Apparently Queen literally invented the concept of a music video with Bohemian Rhapsody seven years before MTV went on the air (x)]
Since I'm not familiar with FFVI music, I honestly just hear this track as a funky take on Bohemian Rhapsody. Like, this part and the guitar solo are just so similar to the Queen song, dude.
Anyway, kudos to the OC ReMix crew for taking a risk like this. Apparently it was already, like, legitimate opera on the FFVI soundtrack, so it wasn't completely absurd to create a rock opera. But still. Mad talent, respect.
P.S. Here is an orchestral arrangement of the original. Apparently this Aria di Mezzo Carattere is one of the most famous pieces of music to come out of the whole Final Fantasy series (x).
Overview: Genre:
Symphonic Rock Favorite Lyrics: The night is young, and so are we. Verdict:
entertaining
Warning for Video: Domestic Violence Reference Good Man by Raphael Saadiq
"Heard it in the show Luke Cage and really enjoyed it."
Lol all the comments on the YouTube video are about how people are there because of Luke Cage. Is it a good show? Maybe I should check it out.
Anyway, this is a cool track. It comes from Saadiq's highest-charting and most critically-acclaimed studio album, about which he said "Stone Rollin' basically symbolizes the action of throwing dice and taking chances with life. That's what I've done my whole career—taking chances with different styles of music and making choices that other people would be afraid to take. Stone Rollin' means I'm going all the way out there this time" (x).
I was impressed to hear that Saadiq not only sings on the album, but he also plays most of the instruments, including bass, keyboard, guitar, Mellotron, and percussion (x).
I love the sound, the slow burn of the funky instrumentals as well as Saadiq's clear, ringing tone. It's so smooth that, with regard to the video above, it's jarring to hear sudden silence paired with the female lead's head colliding with the bathroom sink. The intent is to shock, and they succeed.
But the video is beside the point. I'm digging the music, which is why we're here. The lyrics don't paint quite as vivid a picture of how the good man's lover betrays him, but they're simple and heartbreaking when paired with the soulful music.
P.S. The woman singing the hook is Taura Stinson. She also co-wrote the hook (x).
Overview: Genre:
Classical Soul Verdict:
better be good for goodness' sake
Not Shake It Off Shake It Out by Florence + The Machine
"This is my 'dance it out' song whenever I feel like I gotta get all my energy out. I'll just jam to this and sing and dance around my room. It's kind of therapeutic haha"
Okay, so I must say, after reading your description, I was expecting something a little happier.
Sure, this song is ultimately positive, assuming that by the end of the song, you succeed in shaking out the pessimism you've been harboring; however, it starts out kind of sad and serious. It's slow, and Florence's voice is pretty dark, and the lyrics spend a lot of time focusing on whatever negativity has brought you to this point in the first place.
It helped me stay lighthearted about the whole thing when I learned the context: Florence Welch wrote this song while suffering from a hangover (x).
So yeah, those regrets? Darkest moments? The horse she's dragging around? The devil on her back?
Wine. Beer. Vodka. Tequila.
#Relatable
I like the development from the first verse where regrets collect like old friends to the third verse where she asks herself whether given half a chance, she'd take any of it back. So maybe she's letting go of some of those regrets...or realizing they aren't really regrets at all.
You live, you love, you learn.
The more I listen to this track, the more I get used to the dark warmth of Florence's voice, and the more I'm thinking that it is a pretty upbeat, happy song. Especially compared to this remix by The Weeknd, where it could literally be on the soundtrack for a horror movie.
Shake It Out was released to widespread critical acclaim, and it was even nominated for a Grammy in 2013 (x).
Full disclosure, so you don't judge Welsh's writing process:
"I don't want everyone to think that I always write songs with a hangover! Cause I don't, I really don't. But with this one I have to say there was a bit of one lurking in my mind as I wrote it. It was like I was trying to write a hangover cure..." "It was one of those strange days where you're not really sure where a song comes from. [Producer] Paul [Epworth] just had these chords on the organ, and they sounded optimistic and sad at the same time. And I was thinking of regrets, like, you know when you feel like you're stuck in yourself, you keep repeating certain patterns of behavior, and you kind of want to cut out that part of you and restart yourself. [...] sometimes I have to write songs for myself, reminding me to let it go. But then, the end refrain of 'What the hell' is really important as well, because you'll dance with the devil again at some point, and maybe it will be fun. I've heard he does a really good foxtrot." (x).
Overview: Genre:
Gothic Pop / Indie Rock Favorite Lyrics: It's always darkest before the dawn. Verdict:
no energy now, but maybe i'll dance to this tomorrow
Tomorrow El Mañana by Gorillaz "If you've never watched a Gorillaz music video, you're in for an audio-visual treat. I suggest you go to their official website because all the versions on YouTube are crappy. Plus if you get really into them, you can look at their other work. It's stunning and trippy at the same time. Enjoy!" I can't embed the video from their website, so I used a YouTube video for listening purposes. If you want to watch it, click the hyperlink in the description above. It's worth a view. The music video is actually so beautiful that it takes precedence, for me, over the music. It's as if the track was created to be the soundtrack to the video rather than the other way around, which is how music videos are typically created. That's not true but that's what it feels like. To understand what's going on, we need to take a step back. Gorillaz is a virtual band. It is made up of four animated, fictional characters:2D (lead vocals, keyboard), Murdoc Niccals (bass guitar, vocals), Noodle (guitar, keyboard, and backing vocals) and Russel Hobbs (drums and percussion) (x). I left the hyperlinks on each band member so you can do some more research if you really want to know more about these guys. This isn't the first time I've talked about virtual bands. Remember this? But at the time, I thought Hatsune Miku was unique. I didn't realize virtual bands are, like, a thing. According to Wikipedia, "a virtual band is any group whose members are not corporeal musicians." The article says that Gorillaz popularized the term in 2000, but it cites none other than Alvin and the Chipmunks as the originators of the "virtual band" as a concept. They do everything non-virtual bands do, including our and give live performances. Back to the video, I'm still not sure I understand what's going on, but at least it's pretty. Spoiler alert: Noodle dies. That's something you don't see in music videos with non-virtual bands. Overview: Genre: Trip Hop Favorite Lyrics: Maybe in time, you'll want to be mine. Verdict: confused
Lots of Good Suggestions Recently Fred Astaire by San Cisco
"really cute and sweet jam, but also kinda sad? haha idk it's like this dude wants to be with someone he really loves but knows he can't compare. sounds like a sweetheart though. i'd date him lol."
Let's start with a little context. For those of you unfamiliar with Fred Astaire, he was a singer, dancer, musician and actor that was voted the greatest male star of all time (x).
That's a lot to live up to, and it's no wonder the singer thinks he can't compare.
Bassist Nick Gardner says, "This song is basically about thinking you're not good enough. The girl you're after has another guy nearby who seems better than you" (x).
But, luckily, this "Fred Astaire" character is all made up. That is, the singer of this song has the image of "the perfect guy" in his head because he believes his lover deserves the best (aww), but the truth is that there's no such thing as a perfect person.
That's kind of a funny thing, how people feel so bad about themselves that they decide I'm not good enough for you, when you should be letting that person decide what they want for themselves.
In that respect, the song is pretty sad. But the sound has some nice pep to it. The guitar bounces along to a fairly fast-paced beat beneath a memorable melody, and all of it belies the resigned unhappiness described in the lyrics.
Maybe that's a reference to how this guy's relationship seems to be going well on the surface, but if you dig deeper, you see his insecurities that threaten to tear the whole thing apart.
Probably not, though. Just sounds good.
Overview: Genre:
Indie Pop Favorite Lyrics: And I can take you out for breakfast, but he could take you 'round the world. Verdict:
maybe the guy can only take you out to breakfast, but the song will take you around the world
We're Alright, Though You're Alright by Bry Recommended by a gender non-conforming individual "The music video means a lot to me and it made me emotional." Thanks for sharing! It's a lovely, uplifting song, and the video is powerful. Bry has said this music video is about "his personal struggles with masculinity and self-expression," and it's "based on true events where people have judged [him] based on the way he chooses to present himself" (x).
The song itself, though, is dedicated to Bry's sister Fiona. The track rolls along at a nice pace, with an easy beat and a catchy melody. It's a perfect pep talk in song form, letting you spend time with your grief (tell me you're not good enough) but also remind you that you're alright, love. I'm really digging it. Also check out the acoustic version here (with Dodie Clark), conveniently equipped with lyrics and chord progressions in the description. Overview: Genre: Singer Songwriter / Pop Favorite Lyrics: I know that it kills that you're not someone else. Verdict: Me, every time the song ends: Oh, you said it was the last time, love.
Sleepy Christmas Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas by Frank Sinatra
"My earliest memories of Christmas are from when I was 4 or 5 years old. We were living in my grandaddy's house at the time, and it was only me, my baby sister, my mom, my dad, my grandaddy, and I think my Grandma too. These are some really happy memories. And there were only a few of us in the family, but really happy memories. Now our family Christmas includes over 20 family members. The numbers continue to change every year due to new births, the passing of some, marriages, some relocating...but the memories I have from the past 48+ years have mostly been so full of joy and love that I really feel blessed at this time of year, no matter what has transpired over the previous 12 months. This song reminds me of these times, all of them, I guess because it is one of the first Christmas songs I remember wanting to learn how to sing. I remember Sinatra's voice singing this song as one of my earliest memories...anyway, I hope that gives you something to think about as I hope you close your eyes and listen to this song..." Thanks so much! I always love context when people recommend songs to me. I love Christmas music because it always reminds me of my favorite memories. How could I not love the holiday season, with good food and even better company? It's just so full of love. In 2009, this particular track was ranked as the third most commonly performed Christmas song, and back in 2004, it was ranked as the 76th best tune in American Cinema (x). It was, after all, first popularized by Judy Garland in the film Meet Me in St. Louis. The movie version (1943) is about how a father plans to move to New York City, leaving behind his family in St. Louis. Original lyrics that didn't even make it into the movie include the line have yourself a merry little Christmas; it may be your last. That was determined to be a little to despondent, but it explains why the melody and general sound of the song is so haunting and sad. In 1957, Frank Sinatra asked for even more lyric changes: "The name of my album is A Jolly Christmas. Do you think you could jolly up that line for me?" That's when we got the line Hang a shining star upon the highest bow. More history here. Otherwise, just enjoy Sinatra's iconic voice. Gotta love that background choir. Overview: Genre: Holiday Favorite Lyrics: Faithful friends who are dear to us gather near to us once more. Verdict: sounds sad, but, like, isn't...
Happy Graduation Obsessions by Marina and the Diamonds
''I had a brief obsession (haha) with Marina a few years ago. I have no idea what spurred it, but I was interested in her very unique voice. I don't think I've really thought of this song since then, but I just had a little throwback :D''
I like her voice, too. The whole sound in general of this song is nice. Poppy, but piano-driven.
I had a brief obsession (haha) with Marina a few years ago. I have no idea what spurred it, but I was interested in her very unique voice. I don't think I've really thought of this song since then, but I just had a little throwback
About the content of this song, Marina said “Because I am not over-sensitive I don’t write and gush about love, as a lot of songwriters do, but this one does touch on it, about seeing someone for what they are” (x). About the album (her debut, The Family Jewels), she said it ''encourages people to question themselves'' (x). Also, "I think it’s a really diverse album stylistically speaking because I’m such a flexible writer...so there’s a lot of pop on it, but there’s kind of a lot of left-field experimental stuff as well. It’s basically an album about what not to be'' (x). I thought that sounded like the kind of confident I always hope to achieve, but in the same interview she also said things like ''I probably have a bit of a different sound because I don't really know what I'm doing!'' and ''I always think that I'm not big at all'' and those are more relatable. It seems to me that the song is kind of about seeing someone for what they are, but I also feel like it's about not seeing someone. Miscommunication or lack of meaningful communication, you know? I like the part where she's in the store trying to decide what crackers to buy, but the (imagined) pressure gets to be too much and she leaves without making a purchase. I relate.
Overview: Genre:
Indie Pop
Favorite Lyrics: I want to erase every nasty thought that bugs me every day of every week. Verdict:
be free, be happy
You didn't think I was going to sleep on this, did you?
Louis Tomlinson, in his first move as a solo artist, released this collab that he did with Steve Aoki out of nowhere this past weekend. I mean, there was definitely talk that Tomlinson was working on some of his own music, given that he was the last member of One Direction who had yet to reveal his personal project for during the hiatus, but the performance on the X Factor finale was a bona fide surprise.
Coming just a few days after the passing of his mother, the performance (embedded above) is heart-wrenching. Sure, it's an upbeat and optimistic pop song, but the lyrics are tinged with something wistful on their own, and they're downright bittersweet in this context.
The whole song is applicable, but here are some excerpts:
Wish that you could build a time machine... What do you do when a chapter ends? Do you close the book and never read it again? Where do you go when your story's done? The sun goes down, and it comes back up. The world, it turns no matter what. It's not over 'til your dying breath. So what do you want them to say when you're gone? That you gave up or that you kept going on? If it all goes wrong, darling just hold on.
I'm not crying, you're crying.
(Also, okay, that's almost the entirety of the lyrics, but can you blame me?)
I would say Tomlinson's voice is an acquired taste, but I also have been a One Direction fan for three years and still haven't quite grown to love it. But I mean, he sounds, like, fine. It's kind of endearing. You can listen to the studio version here if you want something a little cleaner.
Aoki is keeping it real back there with all that techno electronic instrumentation. I'm too tired to dance, but I'm bouncing to this beat.
It's got good vibes, musically and lyrically. If it ends up being a hit (I mean more than it already is - it's gotten some "early radio play" on U.S. radio stations), I'll be okay with hearing it during my commutes.
(Until it becomes obnoxiously overplayed, like The Chainsmoker's Closer. They're kind of the same genre, so I could see Just Hold On following in those footsteps.)
(Real talk, it's so bubblegum that I can already feel myself getting sick of it, and I've only listened on repeat for like 30 minutes. It's like when you're eating candy or a rich dessert, and you are really having a good time, but in the back of your mind, you know what's coming.)
But anyway, I'm proud of the kid.
Overview: Genre:
Pop / EDM Favorite Lyrics: Feels like you're standing on the edge Looking at the stars And wishing you were them. Verdict:
always in my heart
#ATLOnTheClock Everyday I'm a Star in the City by Kevin Rudolf
I just completed the capstone project for my major (advertising), and we used this song in the video that my friend made for our campaign.
It's a great song for generating excitement. It starts out with a bunch of funky sounds that draw you in, and then the lyrics pop in at about :13, and it never really cools off. For me, it's a confidence-booster, just because the guy singing is so proud of himself.
I would explain more, but I'm really tired and deserve to rest. Enjoy.
Overview: Genre:
Rock Favorite Lyrics: Give it all up for me. Verdict:
builds hype, FOMO
Be Scene Not Heard Gone Forever by Three Days Grace
"I was so emo about this song in middle school (still am tbh)." I'm glad we all had "this song" that we were emo about in middle school. (Mine was this song. So angsty. No chill. Let's never speak of this.) Apparently Three Days Grace is a Canadian band. I didn't know this, but it's somehow very fitting. The band name, by the way, is about "a sense of urgency, with the question being whether someone could change something in their life if they had only three days to make a change" (x). It's funny; a sense of urgency of the main theme of the campaigns project I've been working on for class. (So random XD) I always think of I Hate Everything About You when I hear Three Days Grace, and it takes me back to this time I was listening to it with my chorus friends during a field trip to Disney World (of all places haha) in 8th grade. That's a classic song to be emo about in middle school, but I'm glad you gave me something new. Sometimes you just want to listen to a song with this intensity but you don't want to commit to full-on metal. This, with its heavy guitars and passionate vocals, is your best bet. Surprisingly the lyrics are actually not that angsty. I mean, sure, you could read it about a grieving guy being in denial and overdramatically, passive-aggressively mourning about a break-up. OR you could take him seriously when he says I feel so much better now that you're gone forever. I mean, sure, I doubt that he [doesn't] miss [her] at all...but listen... The first time you screamed at me, I should have made you leave. I should have known it could be so much better.
That's actually some good reflection and good advice. You deserve the best :) Overview: Genre: Alt Rock / Alt Metal / Post-Grunge Favorite Lyrics: Until the morning comes, I'll forget about our life. Verdict:
This song is actually about middle school (except I'm not lying when I say I don't miss it at all).
I always know it's going to be good when I Google a song, and I'm overwhelmed with reviews. (In this case, I guess it doesn't hurt that Childhood Gambino's album Awaken, My Love just came out like a a week ago.)
My brain is entirely fried from staying up all night and working at the student center for like 12 hours everyday for the past week, so I'm doing pull-out quotes. Please don't sue.
That's so much better than I can do. I was just going to write "Nice" and maybe comment on that funky-fresh bass line.
Real talk, I didn't even realize it was Donald Glover singing on this track at first. That falsetto is unbelievable. Is it autotune, or is there just literally nothing this man can't do?
(Literally 99% of the articles above, whether they liked his work as Childish Gambino or not, mentioned what a great dude Donald Glover is and congratulated him on his show Atlanta.)
Anyway, enjoy this nice little break-up slow jam.
P.S. For all you etymology nerds, this bout of research led me to the origin of "stay woke" as a term for "stay socially and politically aware." 2008 (x).
"You can call it my first single, but I call it the invitation to the party." - Bruno Mars, about this song
It's a great jam, you guys, and it brings the fun, from the upbeat melody to the conversational lyrics filled to the brim with modern pop culture references. You can't help but dance to those '80s beats and '90s vibes.
It feels in many ways like a continuation of Uptown Funk, though I guess that was Mark Ronson.
The "braggadocious party anthem" is what the world wants, what the world needs, and what the world deserves.
Genius does a hilarious write-up about the lyrics that mirrors the tone of the song itself. "Bruno can't help the fact that he's so fly other people are jealous of his success and try to copy his moves."
I aspire to have as much money as Bruno, or the character he plays in this song. Overview: Genre:
Funk Favorite Lyrics: known to give the color red the blues Verdict:
"Yo whatever happened to this guy? I dug his music back in the day, but haven't heard much from him since the early 2000s." Yeah, I dunno. James Blunt had a #1 hit with You're Beautiful back in 2004, but I haven't heard of him since then. His subsequent three albums (2007, 2010, 2013) received mixed or positive reviews, and they did alright in Europe, but nothing else stuck in the USA quite like his break-through hit (x). I miss him. Blunt is actually pretty interesting. He was in the military for six years before pursuing a career in music. He is a pilot, and he likes motorcycles. Although he lives in Ibiza, Blunt owns a chalet in Switzerland, where he opened a restaurant. There's a ski lift named after him. Honestly, just read through his Wikipedia page. It's a trip. Getting back into the music, 1973 is a great jam. Blunt's voice is gentle as he remembers this girl - Simona, who's based on a girl he met in a club in Ibiza - and his past relationship with her. It's sweet and nostalgic. The track hides several other song references among its lyrics, including allusions to It's the Same Old Song, Here We Go Again, and the classics I Can See Clearly Now and As Time Goes By. The big question has got to be "Why 1973?" Luckily, he has an answer: "Well I was born in 1978. So I wrote it about a girl called Simona in a song about a nostalgic moment - it's a celebration of something we did last year in Ibiza. And Pacha originally opened in 1973, but 1973 was also a great year for music, so many fantastic albums came out at that time" (x). I'm a little skeptical because Wikipedia actually lists Blunt's birth year as 1974 (x). So, um?? I told you he was an interesting dude. Overview: Genre: Pop Rock Favorite Lyrics: You're getting older; your journey's been etched on your skin. Verdict: I wanna listen to this 1973 times.
In the Middle of the Night Lover of the Light by Mumford & Sons
Recommended by A Lover of Both the Light and Shakespeare "I'll let you explain this one ;)" I assume the person who recommended this song is referring to the time we went to see Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing at UGA, and they worked Mumford & Sons music into the performance. They neither prefaced the show with a notification, nor did they explain the creative decision in the program. It was the biggest mystery in my life for the longest time. I'm glad you suggested it now, though, because it's given me the opportunity to do some research into the topic, and I've got answers. First of all, and this is something I already knew because I'd seen Much Ado performed before, Shakespeare already wrote songs into the script. Usually it's filled with period-appropriate tunes, sure, but having live music is nothing new for the show. Mumford & Sons, however, was a surprise. I found an article by the Online Athensthat basically says they thought it would be fun to use modern music, and Mumford & Sons fit the tone of the play, which is a comedy with some serious moments. On top of that, Mumford & Sons are Shakespeare fans. Or, at least, they reference the guy quite a lot. Mumford's debut album, "Sigh No More," is from a poem from Much Ado About Nothing itself. The title track of the same name features several other references to the same play: Serve God, love me, and mend (Act 5, Scene 2) is a direct quote, as is man is a giddy thing (Act 5, Scene 4). The lyric lived unbruised, we are friends references two lines: live unbruised, and love my cousin and Come, come, we are friends (both from Act 5, Scene 4). Mumford & Sons:Sigh no more, no more / One foot in sea, one on shore / My heart was never pure Shakespeare:Sigh no more, ladies / Men were deceivers ever / One foot in sea, and one on shore Those are all the Much Ado references, but it doesn't stop there. Mumford & Sons have another song called Roll Away Your Stone that borrows from Shakespeare's Macbeth. Mumford & Sons:Stars, hide your fires, for these here are my desires. Shakespeare:Stars, hide your fires; let not light see my black and deep desires (Act 1, Scene 4) These seem are pretty obvious, depending on how familiar you are with Shakespeare and M&S. When asked about the references, Mumford said, "You can rip off Shakespeare all you like; no lawyer's going to call you up on that one." He's not wrong. Overview: Genre: Folk Rock Favorite Lyrics: But I'd be yours if you'd be mine. Verdict: Friar John does it best.
*whispers* Merry Christmas Last Christmas by Wham!
Mambo No. 5 and then Last Christmas the very next day? How did I end up scheduling the two most obnoxious songs back to back like that?
I don't know, but I'm not sorry.
First of all, everything about this song is catchy. The entirety of the song is fair game for getting stuck in your head. You could be humming the bum bum bum bums of the synthpop instrumental, or you could be singing along to the melody, or you could have that creepy whispered Merry Christmas on repeat your mind's ear. You just never know.
Second, it's one of the least problematic holiday songs out there. It's basically secular, and despite mentioning Christmas in the title, it really only talks about it in passing.
Plus, there are somegreatcovers. Including this one by Hilary Duff - did you know her debut album was a Christmas album? And even this one by Crazy Frog. Amazing. Carly Rae's version got good reviews.
Oh, wow, and Ari covered it - on her album which she decided to call Christmas & Chill, oh my god.
But of course, no Christmas song discourse is complete without the Glee cover. I should just do Christmas songs for the rest of December. How annoying would that be? Maybe once a week.
Anyway, after all that...Wham! does it best.
It's going to be stuck in your head for the next few hours whether you like it or not, so you might as well embrace it.
Overview: Genre:
Synthpop / Holiday
Favorite Lyrics: Now I know what a fool I've been, But if you kissed me now, I know you'd fool me again. Verdict:
Do you actually like this song?
Or is it just catchy? (...story of my life)
omfg there are literally 111 covers listed on Wikipedia
