Lost In The Light - Bahamas I first heard "Lost In The Light" in the movie Very Good Girls (2014), but I'm pretty sure that wasn't the first movie I've heard this song in. Something about "Lost In The Light" sounds old-timey to me. It feels like a nostalgic song, perhaps one created in the wrong time period. Nevertheless, I'm in love with the unassuming, quiet melody of "Lost In The Light". The mixture of soft guitar and humming of the background singers reminds me of the beach. This song has a very unique sound, almost reminiscent of the Alabama Shakes. I feel like this song was made for video accompaniment, so I'm glad so many directors have chosen it for films. Girls Like You - The Naked And Famous Summer after freshmen year, I saw The Naked And Famous live at Atlanta's "Party in the Park" music festival. Going into the show, I knew only two Naked And Famous songs, but the show was so great I went home and looked up more. "Girls Like You" is one of my favorite songs by The Naked And Famous. I think The Naked And Famous are easily written off as the one-hit-wonders who sang "Young Blood", when in reality many of their songs are fantastic (and better than "Young Blood". "Girls Like You" starts out slow, and builds to a fantastic, upbeat chorus. The chorus is where the song really lets loose. My favorite part of the song is when the title "girls like you" is repeated with background vocals. If you liked "Young Blood", I would definitely check out this song and the entire "Passive Me, Aggressive You" album. Fallingforyou - The 1975 In the past year, I have starting really loving The 1975. At first, I thought their songs sounded too boy-bandy for me, but as I have listened to more songs I've changed my opinion. I think The 1975 is a band with a lot of depth and range. "Fallingforyou" departs from The 1975's upbeat sound, and is one of my favorite 1975 songs. Singer Matt Healy said that "regrets not putting "Fallingforyou" on the album cause' (he) thinks it's the best song (he's) ever written". And I would not disagree. I think this song is very unique. It took me a few listens to really get into this song, but now I can't stop playing it. "Fallingforyou" is definitely an emotional song, which is reflected in the progression of the melody and lyrics. Outside - Calvin Harris, Ellie Goulding "Outside" is my new favorite pre-party drinking song. Calvin Harris has really monopolized the pre-game song market. I feel like I'm always drinking to at least one of his songs. Since I'm already obsessed with Ellie Goulding, this song was instant love for me I think the beat and the chorus of "Outside" is superrr catchy and pretty universally appealing. Too often with this sort-of -dubstep-type songs the "drop" part of the song sounds the same as every other sort-of-dubstep song, but the drop in "Outside" is really unique. I love the use of violins, and how the dubstep part of the song still goes with the rest of the song.
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A few songs I've been listening too religiously this November: Heartbreak - Clubfeet, Chela So I finally gave into Spotify and listened to their "New Music Tuesday" promotion. And I'm glad I did, because I discovered this little song. Although "Heartbreak" is definitely an alternative song, it has mass appeal with it's insanely catchy chorus and identifiable lyrics. I love how the guy and the girl singer seem to go back and forth throughout the song. It reminds the listener that inevitably heartbreak effects more than one person. The guitar melodies in "Heartbreak" are easily overlooked, but play an integral role in the song. I also think the music video is really cool and reflects the nature of heartbreak in our generation. Warning Sign - Coldplay This is another older song that I have somehow only recently discovered. For me, Coldplay is a really hit or really miss band. The songs of theirs that I like, which is quite a few, I absolutely love. They often times become some of my favorite songs. However, they also have songs that I really can't stand. "Warning Sign" is one of those songs that I immediately fell in love with. "Warning Sign" is a slower, more somber song, with powerful lyrics. It's a song about missing someone you have let go of in your life. It's the cliche "you don't know what you got until it's gone" message, but backed by more powerful lyrics, rich guitar parts, and Coldplay's classic piano melodies. This sentiment is reflected in the interesting island metaphor used in the song: "I realized/ That you were an island and I passed you by / And you were an island to discover." I Lived - OneRepublic I know most music blogs try to steer clear of songs from the radio, but sometimes the masses get it right. I hate when people write off songs simply because they are popular. Sometimes songs are on the radio for a reason: that reason being that they're actually worth listening to. I hate an over-played song as much as the next person, but I hate pretentious hipsters shaming popular music even more. I'm not a huge fan of OneRepublic, so I'm glad I decided to give this song a chance. "I Lived" is the epitome of a feel good song. It's all about living life to its fullest. This song is super catchy and never fails to put me in a good mood. A Movie Script Ending - Death Cab For Cutie Death Cab For Cutie has been one of my favorite bands since I was in 6th grade. In Middle School I saw them live with my dad at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, and to this day it still has been one of my favorite concerts of all times. Ben Gibbard is seriously talented. "A Movie Script Ending" became one of my favorite sophomore year of high school, when I was started to sort of figure out who I was (so deep, I know). It is an extremely meaningful song to me. "A Movie Script Ending" is a song about the lack of happy movie script endings in life. The lyrics are smart and beautiful, as Death Cab's lyrics always are. "With your hands on my shoulders / A meaningless movement / A movie script ending." I like how the music video comes full circle, and ends with the same shot it starts with.
Menswear - The 1975 In the past year, I've really started to love The 1975. I would describe their music as a hipster-alternative twist on the classic boy band. The song "Menswear" departs from the The 1975's normal pop-rock sound, and ventures more into alternative territory. I love how this song is purely instrumental for the first half. It makes the part of the song with lyrics stand out. "Menswear" is an unusual song in it's structure; there is no chorus or even really verses. It's a unique song in many ways, but also has universal appeal. Every friend I've played this song for has said something along the lines of, "oh yeah I love this song!" or asked me the band/song name so they could look it up Younger Us - The Japandroids "Younger Us" is an extremely meaningful song to me. If I had to make a list of my top five favorite songs ever, this song would 100% be on it. The Japandroids are too harsh for some people, but I personally love their rough sound and edgy guitar riffs. I can't really even put my finger on why I love the Japandroids so much; perhaps I'm drawn to the intensity of their sound. I also find their lyrics brilliant, and relevant to my age/life. "Younger Us" is the anthem of our generation. It recalls the young, wild days of a relationship ("Remember that night you were already in bed / Said 'fuck it', got up to drink with me instead"). I've been listening to this song for two years now, and I can still blast it in my car and feel the same way as I did the fall of freshman year when I played the song for the first thousand times. Stubborn Love - The Lumineers "Stubborn Love" is my favorite song by The Lumineers. I saw them live last fall, and I was actually really disappointed that they were of bunch of pretentious hipsters instead of bearded old guys like I imagined them. They actually were arrogant assholes who stopped in the middle of the stage to yell at the audience members for taking photos.... Although The Lumineers disappointed me as people, they were fantastic performers. They sounded exactly how they do recorded. "Stubborn Love" is such a fantastic song. There are so many smart lyrics in this song that ring true to anyone who has ever loved. Such as "It's better to feel pain, than nothing at all" and "The opposite of love's indifference". It's a song about always coming back to a certain person in your life. I included the music video in this post because I think it's simple and suits the song. The lyrics are accompanied by a fantastic melody, which makes this song unforgettable. Selene - Imagine Dragons So, I know what you're thinking: "Imagine Dragons? Really..." But "Selene" is a fantastic song. Also I gotta stand up for this band because I went to high school with the drummer, Daniel Platzman, who is also my neighbor. I'm not a huge fan of the Imagine Dragons that is played on the radio, but they have some great songs that are not as popular. I love all the guitar riffs in "Selene", and the chorus is incredibly catchy. I also really like the bridge of this song where it gets momentarily slower. Overall, "Selene" is a great song and you should definitely give Imagine Dragons a chance. Always Alright - Alabama Shakes I had no idea "Always Alright" was in Silver Linings Playbook until this YouTube video, and that just makes me love this song even more. The Alabama Shakes' sound reminds me of a mix of 70s and country. "Always Alright" is a super funky song. For some reason, it reminds me of something that would be popular in an older decade. This song is upbeat and just has a great energy. I love the sassy guitar parts in the verses mixed with lyrics like "I don't give a fuck about your intentions at all". The Alabama Shakes have a super unique sound that I have fallen in love with.
Okay, I'll admit it: I only knew 3 CHVRCHES songs before attending their concert last night. I guess that's not terrible considering they only have about 13 songs, but still. I was a total poser. I was "that annoying girl at the concert who's just here to be hip". Upon entering Minglewood, I was tragically told that I was not permitted to take my disposable camera inside the venue. Great, I thought, no hip, edgy film photos tonight. But my disappointment was short lived. CHVRCHES killed it. They really did. I am pretty rarely surprised by artists, but CHVRCHES played a fantastic set. Their lead singer is this adorable Scottish woman with a killer voice. Her voice was so good that I thought she might have been lip-synching, but really she was just that good. In between songs, she informed the audience that Memphis is the most written about city in music history, appearing in over 200 songs. She seemed super genuine, and humbled to be preforming in Memphis. It's always a nice plus for me when musicians I think are talented are not complete assholes (like the Lumineers, but that's a story for a different time). The lights were also done spectacularly and really enhanced the performance. If you haven't heard CHVRCHES, or have only heard "The Mother We Share", here are some songs to get you started: Tether - CHVRCHES I think I've decided that "Tether" is my favorite song by CHVRCHES. I really love a lot of their songs now, but I love the progression of "Tether". It starts slow and more mellow, and than towards the middle/end of the song there is this great techno-ish drop and the song becomes super upbeat. Seeing this song live was amazing; the lights correlated with the song perfectly. I also like the repeated line "feeling capable of saying it's over". We Sink - CHVRCHES "We Sink" is a super catchy song. It showcases CHVRCHES unique style perfectly; it mixes techno/keyboard with the soft, girly voice of the lead singer. This song is a great one to dance to. Although CHVRCHES mostly uses a few short lyrics repeated over and over again, I still think their lyrics are meaningful and interesting. Night Sky - CHVRCHES "Night Sky" is the perfect mixture of fun and intensity. To me, this song almost sounds like something Ellie Goulding would sing. The chorus of this song is so fantastically catchy, and I won't be getting tired of it anytime soon. I like how the female and male singer go back in forth throughout the entire song. Under The Tide - CHVRCHES "Under The Tide" is the only song that features the male singer. This song is a little slower, and I didn't think I was gonna like it that much. But after seeing it live, I've fallen for this song. Once again, I like how this song starts slower, and then builds up. It creates a dramatic effect that contributes to the meaning of the song. I love the keyboard/synthesizer/whatever is creating the background music in "Under The Tide".
In honor of me re-vamping and re-thematizing my blog (more on this later) Heart Like Ours - The Naked and Famous If you've never heard this song, go listen to it right now. Seriously. Ever since Spotify Radio introduced me to this song, I haven't stopped listening to it. I've listened to it at least 10 times while studying for accounting today, and probably another 5 times on my run. I can't exactly pinpoint what about the chorus makes it my absolute favorite part of the song, but the chorus is so fucking badass and I love it. I've always liked The Naked and Famous, and now I have even more reason to listen to more of their songs. They have a very unique sound; the singers voice is weirdly high-pitched, but it works. They have an almost Passion-Pit like sound, but lean more towards alternative rock than techno. But for real listen to this song. Reflections - Misterwaves "Reflections" is a song that my friends and I have been pre-gaming to for the past two months. Unfortunately, Vevo would not let me embed the music video for this song on my post, but if you get a chance you should check it out because it's pretty decent. "Reflections" is a really fun, upbeat song that has the effect of making you want to dance or at least enthusiastically bob your head when it comes on. I have this song on my "Hipster Pre-game" playlist (yes, this does exist). Hipster pre-game should be it's own genre; I would define it as music that may not be on the top 100-charts, but still contains universal appeal (and universally makes you want to drink). You Only Live Once - The Strokes Yes, I know what you're thinking: YOLO!!!! "You Only Live Once" by The Strokes was the OG of Yolo. This is another song that could possibly fall under my "Hipster Pre-game" mix because every single person I've played this song for has liked it (so far). This song has the signature, unique Strokes sound, but has a really upbeat rhythm that makes it extremely catchy. The guitar riff with the drums at the beginning that continues throughout the song is just pure genius. I've listened to a lot of The Strokes, considering they are one of my favorite bands, but "You Only Live Once" is definitely my all time favorite of their songs.
Today I stumbled upon a Thought Catalog article by Brianna West that I thought was completely inspirational and fantastic. I think we all spend too much time trying to figure the world and ourselves out, and sometimes need a reminder that to understand everything is impossible. Recently, I've had interactions with someone who is so tightly wrapped up in trying to discover himself that I think he has lost sight of the real important things in life. Sometimes, overanalyzing and overconfidence are not positive forces in our lives. We become so wrapped up in figuring ourselves out that we regard ourselves as way more important than we actually are. I too am guilty of too much introspection and putting too much weight on my own thoughts and feelings. "14 Ways You're Keeping Yourself From Your Own Peace Of Mind" provided me the important reminder that analyzing every moment of my life is useless, and that sometimes I need to let go of my inner-workings in order to live freely.
If you have a few minutes, please read this article. I promise it will be worth your time and much more. http://thoughtcatalog.com/brianna-wiest/2014/09/14-ways-youre-keeping-yourself-from-your-own-peace-of-mind/ I have a weird obsession with quotes. Maybe it's some English major thing where I like the way people put together words and play with their meanings, but I have a file on my computer where I save quotes that I particularly like and over the years there's probably at least a hundred little sayings in that folder. I have quotes on my walls, on the background of my computer, on my phone. I like to look at a few a day just because. I think the way certain authors/famous politicians/other quotable human beings arrange words and explain feelings that are otherwise difficult to put into words is beautiful and fascinating. So for this post, I wanted to share a few quotes I particularly like: "the cure for anything is salt water. sweat, tears, or the ocean." This quote has been hanging above my bed for the past three years of my life. I'm not exactly sure why I find it so great or special, but for some reason this quote rings true to me. Perhaps because when something is bothering me, I tend cope with a good cry or an intense workout in order to make myself feel better. And I love the ocean. Even just thinking about the beach and the waves and the variety of blues has a calming effect on me. I have this exact poster in my room, and I think the picture goes perfectly with the quote. "And you were just like the moon, so lonely, so full of imperfections, but just like the moon, you shined in times of darkness." This quote about the moon is sort of my version of a cheesy inspirational quote. It's a little more subtle way of saying "make the best out of whatever situation you are given". I can relate more to the moon as a metaphor for positivity than the typical sun analogy because I'm not naturally a super positive or bubbly person who radiates happiness. So I like the idea of the moon. The moon is a perfect way to encapsulate one's ability to have strength in tough times, because it does indeed shine in times of darkness. I think one of the most admirable traits a person can have is the ability to see positives in a negative and have the strength to make a change and take control of their life. I'm the kind of person who tends to just throw my hands up in the air and think "why me?" instead of taking an active role in my own life. I usually drive myself crazy by wallowing in self pity and dwelling when I'm sad, but this quote makes me realize how ridiculous and self destructive I'm being. I find this quote much more relatable and empowering than when strangers tell me to "cheer up", or worse, to smile. "Compassion is not religious business, it is human business, it is not luxury, it is essential for our own peace and mental stability, it is essential for human survival." My mediation teacher of a mother would be proud that I put a quote from the Dalai Lama on my blog. But I do firmly believe in this quote; open-mindedness and compassion are both qualities I try to have, and deeply admire in others. I would consider myself agnostic, but very open to learning about a variety of religions. I'm just putting off figuring out my spirituality/lack of until I'm middle-aged and have nothing better to do than sit around pondering life. In our lifetime, I think it's really important to absorb as much information as we can and learn about people whose viewpoints and outlooks on life differ from our own. I totally agree that compassion is not solely a religious business; in fact, I would say that compassion is similar to a religion to me. I believe that caring for others deeply is one of the most rewarding experiences humans can have.
Since I really love music and sharing it with others, I've decided to start a monthly music post. I figured my blog needs some sort of organization (because right now it really doesn't have any whatsoever...) Although it is organized by month, the songs I'll be posting most likely have not been released during this month, but rather I am just going to share a few songs I've been listening to recently, however old they may be. I really love sharing my music and helping others discover new artists/songs, so I hope you guys enjoy. Florida Kilos - Lana Del Rey I wish I would have discovered this song before I did my article on Lana Del Rey because it definitely would have made the list. Full credit for this song goes to my sister, Callie, for making me listen to it when I listed my favorite Lana Del Rey songs for her. Lana is very sly with her drug references by using the Florida Keys as a not-so-subtle metaphor for cocaine. Although the song is about drugs, I still really like it. "Florida Kilos" has a beachy sound, which is very appropriate given the title and subject matter. Candles - Daughter This song is a very different speed than "Florida Kilos". "Candles" is one of my absolute favorite slow/sad songs. It's a classic "I feel like the world is crashing down around me/I want to wallow in my self pity for 4 minutes and 54 seconds/I'm heart broken" song. The lyrics are really pretty, and I think speak to feelings most girls have experienced. I particularly like the line: "'You're too old to be so shy,' he says to me so I stay the night. Just a young heart confusing my mind, but we're both in silence." I think this song really puts into the words of being young and fucked over by someone who you really cared about. Miracle Mile - Cold War Kids "Miracle Mile" is a song I'm absolutely in love with right now. I've always known and heard of the Cold War Kids, but this is the first song I've actually thoroughly listened to, and it makes me want to hear more. It's a super upbeat, fun song, and I'm guilty of playing this extremely loud and pretending to be cool while I'm driving. Ribs - Lorde Okay, I confess: I really like Lorde. Although she's kind of a bitch (she called Lana "a terrible role model for young girls", and I can't truly like anyone who hates on Lana), I love her music and she has a pretty unique sound. I don't love every song, but a lot of her songs from the album "Pure Heroine" are great. Again, I have to credit my lovely sister Callie for showing me this song after she preformed a dance set to it. "Ribs" has a relaxed, cool sound, and the part about "laughing until our ribs get sore" is reminiscent of fondly looking back upon one's childhood. Hold On, We're Going Home - Arctic Monkeys (Cover) I'm obsessed with the Arctic Monkeys; if you haven't already figured that out by the frequency of their songs on all my blog posts). I loveeee this cover. I actually really like the Drake version of "Hold On, We're Going Home", but the Arctic Monkeys make this song so jazzy and awesome and I just love it. I love how they re-did the instrumental part into a score for a live band. The Arctic Monkeys old-timey-with-a-twist sound is just one of the many reasons I love listening to them.
Wow. British Studies was such a fucking fantastic experience. I’m not even sure where or how to begin reflecting upon the past 8 weeks. As cliché as it is to claim that you’re abroad experience “changed” you, I have to admit that I think definitely changed and grew as a person in Europe. As a mostly introverted person, abroad was the push I needed to open up to people and form new relationships. Last semester at Rhodes was really tough for me; I was stuck in a major major rut. British Studies at Oxford was just the change I needed. I’m not saying I’m completely healed, or completely happy, but I have taken steps this summer. I have initiated change in my life, and I am proud of myself for that. I really needed this summer. As a general rule, I have a fairly hard time opening up to people I don’t know or are not comfortable around. However, this summer I have grown, and I’m so happy that I’ve let go of my social anxieties and preoccupation of wanting everyone to like me. I feel so freed, and showing people my true self right off the bat has been a very rewarding experience for me. I am so incredibly greatful for all the amazing people I have met or grown closer to during this summer. I’m thankful for all our wild nights and shenanigans that we will be inside-joking about when we return to Rhodes. In particular, this post goes out to Blakeley, Harrison, Chi, Price, KJ, Meredith, Mufton, Sam, Foster, Hoffman, and all the other people who I met from various American cities and other countries. You guys truly made this an unforgettable experience, and I am so lucky to have friends who care about me and who I deeply care for. Although we ditched some of you guys at the train station, and made others miss the ghost tour, there is no one I would rather play the odds game with or dance like crazy people at Lava with. I will absolutely never forget us chanting “’merica” at innapropriate times, or going to that Amsterdam bar that played “All I Want For Christmas” and passed out Christmas hats, or taking Slytherin shots at the esteemed Purple Turtle. I had a blast this summer, and most of it was due to you guys, so thank you. It’s surreal to me that the summer passed by this quickly, and that I’m moving into my house in Memphis next week. I’m very happy to be home in the land of air conditioning and Chipotle, but I’m also not ready to go back to Rhodes so soon. I thought I would be a lot more ready than I am right now, but I’m not. I guess I would never be fully ready to face Rhodes again, so I just have to stay positive. I’m super excited for a lot of aspects of next year, and I can’t wait for what junior year has in store for me. I’m looking forward to having my own room and cooking my own food and living with my best friends. I’m excited for the prospect of getting a job and running another half and writing more. I just wish it could just be summer for a few more months…. But for now, I’m really glad to be back in my own bed with my Netflix and actual ice in my water. So, sadly this is the end of my travels and therefore the end of my travel writing. I hope I will have the opportunity to travel more and see more in my life. This trip was a good excuse for me to start this blog; a blog is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time, but haven’t had the courage to do. I’m going to start writing more random things I’m passionate about, and less just travel summary type things. I’m sad to see my magical summer coming to a close, but I’m excited to experience a new chapter in my life. Last weekend in Amsterdam, I had the great pleasure of exploring the Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam. I am definitely glad my hooligan friends and I actually got our hung-over butts out of bed to see this museum and many others (believe me, this was quite the feat). Not to be cliché, but I think Van Gogh's art is pretty damn cool. Again, not to be cliché, but Starry Night is one of my favorite paintings ever. After seeing many of Van Gogh's other works in his Amsterdam museum, I'd like to share a few more favorites I've discovered. I literally know nothing about art besides what I learned in my intro art history class I took senior year of high school (and, you know, senioritis), so here are some of my favorites based simply on my aesthetic first impressions. This first one is called Avenue of poplars in autumn. Fall is by far my favorite season; it's when my birthday and Halloween are (my two favorite holidays), and I absolutely love fall weather and colors. The first day I step out of my house and the sun is beaming, but I still need a light sweater is the most joy-filled moment of my life because I know it's fall. The air just becomes clearer and the trees' leaves get that tie-dyed changing look and I fall in love. Fall is the only season where I am suddenly aware of the fact that time is passing and summer is slowly fading away. I like the shadows and the fall colors of this painting, and it brings me back to the joy I felt as a child when I knew that the day of unlimited candy and pumpkin carving was approaching. Seascape near Les Saintes is another painting that stood out to me. I think the colors are so rich and I like how Van Gogh uses thick paint. The paint is almost tangibly thick. This image is extremely striking and visually pleasing, and when you get closer you can see that Van Gogh used a lot more colors than are initially apparent. I love how he signed the work in red at the lower left corner to off-set all the blue paint. This painting reminds me of all my summers in New Hampshire as a child and teen. I am thoroughly convinced that New England is the most beautiful place in the world during the summer, and I want to go back during summers when I'm old and have a family. When I was a kid, I would literally spend hours on end at New Hampshire's beautiful beaches collecting rocks, or catching crabs, or building little houses on the rocks with my little sister. And talk about another place with great weather; New Hampshire is beautiful (and relatively cool) in the summers. I have such a love for that place and it's fantastic ice cream and clam rolls and cute New England houses and fenced in yards. Lastly, the painting I just had to love, was Van Gogh's Head of a skeleton with a burning cigarette. I love this painting for so many reasons, but mainly because it's just insanely badass. I was so close to buying a large poster of this for my room, but sadly I figured it wouldn't be able to fit in my suitcase. It's funny that this painting essentially is a "smoking kills" campaign wayyy before anyone knew that smoking was even bad for you. This online image doesn't really do the painting justice, in real life it's much more striking. But really, this one is just too cool.
Honestly, I had always written off Van Gogh as that guy-who-cut-off-his-ear-who-painted-starry-night-but-also-that-ugly-boring-painting-of-a-room, but I loved so many of his works that I saw in Amsterdam. We actually stayed at the museum for almost 3 hours. So, moral of the story? Van Gogh is tight, Van Gogh is tight. |