I like female musicians a lot more than male ones. I mean yes, I swoon over the hot pretty boys with the guitar or whatever, but I identify more with female singers in general, so I'm naturally more into female singers. Here are some songs I'm listening to at the moment-- Girl Powah! Btw, this mixtape is ALL pop. Fun, mindless POP.
BoA - I Did it For Love
Unfortunately I have yet to buy BoA's US debut CD cause frankly, it was NOWHERE to be found. I checked Best Buy and Borders, and they were not carrying it. Sad... I know I can buy on iTunes, but I'm old fashioned (and a packrat) and like having hard copies of stuff. But for now, I am highly enjoying this charged dance song, which was featured on Forever 21's homepage not too long ago.
Erin McCarley - Pony (It's OK)
I first downloaded this song on iTunes when it was their free single of the week. I normally am not swayed by most of their free weekly singles, but the 30 sec clip had me sold. It's so catchy. And then I ended up buying her whole album. So freakin good. She was the opening act for James Morrison, so I was pleasantly surprised to see her perform live (I usually hate opening acts..). She's fantastic, and so is her album, Love, Save the Empty.
Ciara - Love Sex Magic (ft. Justin Timberlake)
Ciara's back! I've heard lots of things about the video but have yet to check it out.. I heard its steamy HOT. The song is catchy, and I like it, so what if the radio is going to play the hell out of it in the next couple of weeks? This is like a total summer jam, which is just around the corner, hoozah!
Carrie Underwood - Home Sweet Home
Who watches American Idol?? Ok don't everyone raise your hands all at once, now. I usually love the goodbye song the producers choose to send the booted contestants home off to, and this season they've decided to use an AI alum's work. Carrie's version of the Motley Crue song shows off her vocal chops, and it's the perfect song to put those goodbye montages to. She's having a really good year so far, she just won the Academy of Country Music Awards' biggest prize - Entertainer of the Year.
Miley Cyrus - The Climb
I think readers of our blog know how much I hate Miley. I enjoy her Hannah Montana show (I kindareally want to watch the upcoming Hannah Montana movie...), but everything she does in real life ANNOYS me- the way she talks, the way she dresses, her pervy boyfriend... But the girl puts out some catchy songs, and this is one of them. It's a single off the soundtrack for her new album, and though I don't think she has the vocals to pull it off (esp when she sings this live), it's a really nice song. I don't want to like it! But I do...
Black Eyed Peas - Boom Boom Pow
Fergie proved she can have a solid solo career, but she's at her best when she's with her group. This is the newest single by the BEP, and it's like half 'what-the-heck-am-I-listening-to', half awesome. You'll have it stuck in your head after 2 listens.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Mixtape: Girl Power!
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
[Mixtape] Best of 2008
My favorite gift to give at the end of the year is to burn my friends a mix cd of what I deem to be the best songs of that year. I really like music, so this list takes time to compile and figure out, since there's only so much room on an audio cd. So to mark the end of 2008, here is my mixtape of the best of '08!
Best of 08
1) The Ting Tings - Great DJ (Just a really fun song, their whole album is fun.)
2) MGMT - Time To Pretend (I love their sound. Electric Feel is another favorite of mine.)
3) Santogold - L.E.S. Artistes (No song on her debut album sounds the same, and I love that.)
4) Joshua Radin - I'd Rather Be With You (Mellow little song, he was invited to sing at Ellen DeGeneres's wedding earlier this year)
5) Vampire Weekend - Oxford Comma (One of my favorite bands of 2008, I love how conversational this song is. The whole Vampire Weekend album is GREAT.)
6) Sia - Soon We'll Be Found (Her Breathe Me is my favorite song ever, and her latest album didn't disappoint. The music video for this song is SO AMAZING- it's a little piece of art.)
7) Britney Spears - Circus (Her current single, I also love the video for this song, especially from the 2:03 mark. Hot.)
8) Death Cab for Cutie - Cath.. (I went to go see them live this year, they put on an amazing show. Cath.. is one of my favorite songs off the album, I also like Pity & Fear.)
9) Pink - Sober (What a great song. She performed Sober at the American Music Awards, and I remember being thoroughly impressed.)
10) Duffy - Warwick Avenue (Not a huge fan of her- she kinda sounds like Minnie Mouse live, but I LOVE this song and the video.)
11) Estelle ft. Kanye West - American Boy (This song was everywhere this year.)
12) Leona Lewis - Bleeding Love (This song was also everywhere, I think she is so lovely.)
13) Adele - Chasing Pavements (Her debut album 19 has a really old-school flavor to it, and she has some really great set of pipes. The video for the song is extremely well choreographed.)
14) Kings of Leon - Use Somebody (My new favorite band. Apparently it's the only modern band my crush Robert Pattinson likes, which makes me like him and the band even more.)
15) Jenny Lewis - Acid Tongue (Former child actress and Rilo Kiley lead singer released a solo album this year. The song is simple, it's kinda twangy, I love it.)
16) Coldplay - Viva La Vida (Their biggest hit ever, and with good reason. The swelling string section is the best.)
17) Lenka - The Show (Reminds me of Regina Spektor and Kate Nash- a poppy, fun, catchy tune.)
18) Rihanna - Disturbia (How do you not love this song? So catchy and dance-able.)
19) Britney Spears - Unusual You (I know Britney is on ths list twice, but this is the best song on Circus. I really really hope this is her next single.)
20) Jason Mraz - I'm Yours (Technically this song is a couple of years old, but was released officially in 2008. One of my favorites ever.)
Monday, December 1, 2008
[Mixtape] It's Britney, Bitch!
So it's officially Britney week here at Life in Boxes. Ok, KIDDING, Jorge and Julia would kill me if I even so much as floated that idea around. Let me re-phrase. In honor of Britney's comeback (Circus, out in stores tomorrow, my review coming later this week), I've declared it Britney week for me...In my heart. So, don't expect posts about any other subject from me this week! If you haven't checked out the MTV documentary Britney: For the Record, I think you should- it's a really interesting look into the craziness that is her life, and I'm pretty sure MTV will re-run the crap out of it. Say what you will about her, but I don't think many of us can be thrust into the spotlight/fame/money as she has and come away with it unscathed.
I was going through my iTunes collection, and I realized that Britney has a pretty extensive songbook, considering her decade long career. So, here are some of my favorites for this special Britney mixtape edition, some probably familiar to you, some probably not as much. Ch-ch-check it out.
1) Hit Me Baby One More Time - Her debut song, she certainly made a splash by making Catholic schoolgirls...sexy. Apparently the idea behind that was all Britney. Even at the age of 16 she knew that sex sells. The music video recently was named #1 most iconic video of all time on the now-defunct TRL, and it was also the last video to be played on the finale of that show. This is the song that made me a die-hard Britney fan. Classic!
2) I'm a Slave 4 U - Oh how I love this song. From her third album, Britney, this single was a defining moment in her career, when she shed all traces of the virginal girl-next-door image for a more steamy, grown up look. Love the hot hot video, and who can forget the MTV VMAs, when she danced with that giant snake (my favorite performance of hers ever)? Say what you will about her, but no one puts on a show like Brit.
3) Oops I Did it Again - This is my favorite song to sing at karaoke. Mainly for the awesome dialogue in the middle of the song, which I turn into a monologue. I can recite it for you at any given moment... "All aboard! Britney, wait before you go there's something I want you to have...Oh it's beautiful, but isn't this... Yes, yes it is..."
4) Born to Make You Happy - A song off her first album, she released it as a single in Europe but not in the US, which is a shame cause it's my favorite off that album. It's ballad-y, which is not my favorite sound on her, but she makes it work and even shows off her vocal capabilities. YES, SHE CAN SING WHEN SHE WANTS TO.
5) Piece of Me - Her Blackout album is generally touted to be her best, and this is the best song on that album. This might be my favorite of hers of ALL TIME, and it makes me sad that it wasn't a bigger hit, but it's not surprising considering it came at the heels of her public meltdown. The video did manage to win Britney her very first MTV VMAs in September.
6) Toy Soldier - Also from her great Blackout album, it's one of my favorites. So darn catchy, and my friend Ed and I were obsessed with this song for awhile.
7) I Run Away - This is an unreleased B-side song that can be found on the 'expanded version' of the Britney album, which I don't own. It's a sad little song, and I love it.
8) Circus - I LOVE THIS SONG RIGHT NOW. It's her newest single off the album of the same name, and I just love it. The video debuts later this month and from this preview, it's looking good. Very aptly titled for what her life has become, I cannot wait for her to go on tour next year. YESSSSS.
Bonus: Oh, and I hate Christmas songs (probably cause my heart is cold and black, idk), but there are only 2 holiday songs I can tolerate- Mariah's All I Want For Christmas is You (just imagining the amount of money she probably gets off the royalties of that song makes my head hurt), and Britney's sweet My Only Wish (This Year). Happy Holidays, and Happy Unofficial Britney week!
Thursday, October 16, 2008
[Mixtape] Jason Mraz
I have seen Jason Mraz countless times in concert, 3 of which happened this year. I reviewed the first one, and last weekend, I went to see him two nights in a row, which was nothing short of amazing. Jason Mraz is one of those artists where people either don't know him at all, or they kinda sorta know him as that guy who sings..."I'm Yours." I want EVERYONE to know who he is, but I also don't want him to become too big, cause I like that only the cool cats know and love him. My friends Jeannine and Christina are like in love with him and want to marry him (FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT!!), where as I would just like to quit my job and follow him around on tour (you know, in a non-skanky, non-groupie kinda way). For you newbies and fans alike, I put together a playlist of songs, with input from the superfans as well. These songs are a must. And make sure to check out live versions of his songs, they're even more awesome than recorded versions.
1) Plane - My absolute FAVORITE song of his. Off his second album, Mr.A-Z, which as a whole is my least fave, but has some of my favorite songs of his. So heartwrenching, and a tour-de-force of vocals. I think it's a song that showcases his vocal range, and while the lyrics are kind of bewildering (well, I think they are), he proves that he is a master of wordplay.
2) You and I Both - Probably one of his most popular songs, the second single off his debut album Waiting for My Rocket To Come. Jeannine, Christina, and I all really love this song. Really catchy, really sweet, and one of my favorites for him to perform.
3) The Remedy (I Won't Worry) - This is the first single he ever released, and the song that made me want to get his album, which turned out to be one of the better decisions I made. The song is about his friend who got struck with cancer, and how that changed Mraz's outlook on life. He sang this at the recent shows we went to, and it's one of my favorites to sing along to at his concerts.
4) Tonight, Not Again - Christina's favorite song for Mraz to sing live. She thinks its THE song that shows off his amazing live skills and vocal range the best. Can't disagree! Christina's favorite lyrics ever: "It's when you cry just a little but you laugh in the middle that you've made it"
5) A Beautiful Mess - The closing song off his third and most recent album, We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things, a really beautiful ballad. Jeannine's favorite song at the moment. He closed the second show we went to with this one, and it's really beautiful.
Also check out: O.Lover, Geek in the Pink, Make it Mine, Live High, 0% Interest, Song for a Friend, and God Moves Through You.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
[Mixtape] Summer Songs '08
No doubt about it, THE Summer Song of 2007 was Rihanna's ubiquitous Umbrella (ella ella eh eh), and so the race is on for the title of Summer Song of 2008. Based on word-of-mouth, chart rankings, and radio play, I'd have to reluctantly give my vote to Zooey Deschanel look-alike Katy Perry's I Kissed a Girl. It's currently sitting pretty at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 Charts. Ughhh. I hate this song, and unfortunately for me, it's EVERYWHERE. Which makes it the new Umbrella. I just don't like 12 year old girls singing "I kissed a girl, and I liked it..."
Well there you have it. But here are my other contenders for Summer 08 songs, in no particular order. Which gets your vote?
Estelle ft. Kanye West - American Boy
I wrote about this song in my mixtape awhile back, and I'd like for it to catch on with the rest of America as it has with...me. Super catchy, features Kanye, what's not to like? If you're lucky enough to go see Kanye (ahem Yuri and Julia), sometimes he'll play this during his set, and will be like 'fast forward to my part!!' Oh Kanye, only you can take a song that's technically not yours and make it all about you.
Leona Lewis - Bleeding Love
The song has been on the charts for 23 weeks, and is still in the top 10. Did you know that the song was written by Ryan Tedder (the singer of OneRepublic) AND Jesse McCartney?? This song became the best selling single in the UK in 2007, and has continued to enjoy success all over the world, including the US. I love how emotionally-fueled it is for a pop song, it's definitely something old-school Mariah would've sung.
Jonas Brothers - Burnin' Up
The band and this song have been burnin up (I'm SO funny and clever!!) the charts, with credit going to the boys' heavy presence in the media, including a Rolling Stone cover, going on tour with Miley Cyrus, and their successful starring roles in Disney's Camp Rock. It has a very Maroon 5 sound to it, in my opinion.
New Kids on the Block - Summertime
Hello, comeback of the decade! While the song isn't like a HUGE HIT (peak on Billboard: #36), it's like the definition of a summery, poppy song. The video makes me laugh cause they're all acting like 18 year old boys, frolicking on the beach and doing the boy band moves, but many of the members are definitely pushing 40 in age.
Coldplay - Viva La Vida
This is Coldplay's biggest hit of their career, their first single to hit #1 on US and UK charts. Of course it helps when Apple chooses your song to sell their products. The song's success has also been marred by plagiarism accusations, but those allegations have since been dropped. One of my favorites ever.
Jesse McCartney - Leavin
Probably his biggest hit yet, peaking at the charts at #10. I know I'm not the only person to like him, or like this song. Interesting tidbit via Wikipedia: "The line 'Just tell him to the left left left' may be in reference to singer Beyonce's Irreplaceable. In her song, Beyonce is suggesting that her significant other take his belongings 'to the left'. In his song, Jesse is suggesting to a newfound lady that she send her current boyfriend 'to the left left left'." Sighhh, Jesse, you're cute.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
[Mixtape] The British (ladies) are coming!
I've noticed recently that the mainstream/Top 40/American airwaves have been invaded by British up and comer musicians, mostly female. I don't know why, but starting with the Amy Winehouse and Lily Allen invasion of last year, we're seeing more and more artists crossing over the Atlantic. I have a weird fascination with all things related to the British culture, so I'm having a field day with this one. Keep em coming, UK! So, here are some of the cool British artists that are in rotation on K-JEN 120.4, a.k.a. my iPod.
Leona Lewis - Better in Time
She won the UK version of American Idol, called the X-Factor, in 2006. Simon Cowell loves her; she's wowed Oprah. She's broken all kinds of records in her homeland, and starting to break records here in the U.S. She's been compared to Mariah and Whitney. Her first debut single, Bleeding Love, is getting very heavy play on TV and radio. Perhaps it's cause Bleeding Love is so played out now, but I like Better in Time so much more. It's pop at its best.
Duffy - Mercy
Retro is the word that comes to mind when I think of Duffy and this single. Like Amy Winehouse before her, she effortlessly channels old school 70s music and artists as her inspiration. Mercy is a catchy, finger-snapping tune, which showcases her husky voice. Along with Adele (another artist on my mixtape), they are referred to by critics as the new-Amys, meaning they have enough talent to be the next Amy Winehouses. Hopefully they'll steer clear of the drug-ridden, self-destructive path though! Another impressive fact: Duffy is the first Welsh female to achieve a number one pop single on the British charts in the past 25 years.
Kate Nash - Merry Happy
I.Love.Her. She shot to fame when fellow British pop artist Lily Allen added her as a Top Friend on Myspace, and it helped her debut album, Made of Bricks, hit #1 on the British charts. I like to think of her as a Lily Allen (fun, poppy beats) meets Fiona Apple (angry, angsty lyrics). Love the refrain on this catchy, sunny song- "I can be alone/I can watch a sunset/On my own/I can be alone/I can watch a sunset/On my own" (repeat a bazillion times, then try not to get it stuck in your head)
Adele - Chasing Pavements
I don't really know what chasing pavements means, but it sounds cool. I think I'll add it to my daily vernacular. Adele is a graduate of the Brit School, the same performing arts school attended by Amy, Kate Nash, and Leona Lewis. She released her debut album 19 in January, which was certified platinum within a month of its release. In March she signed onto Columbia Records in America, and her album will be released stateside in the summer.
Estelle - American Boy
I don't really know a lot about this artist, except that she's British, and this single featuring Kanye West is pretty dope. She approached Kanye with her music before he was a huge star, in his pre-College Dropout days, who in turn introduced her to John Legend, and they started writing songs together. Her recently released album Shine features work by/with: West, Legend, Will.i.am, and Mark Ronson, to name a few.
Lily Allen - I Don't Know / I Could Say
I had to throw Lily on here. I HEART Lily. She's so fun. It's been more than a year since Alright, Still, her debut album, was released, and she recently made me very happy by posting 2 new songs on her myspace page. Needless to say, I love both I Don't Know and I Could Say. She says she's moving in a 'new direction,' and she plans to release a mixtape to give fans a taste of the new Lily. Cannot wait.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
[Mixtape] Grammy 2008 Edition
It's Media Month here at Life in Boxes, where we will be focusing on and highlighting various media-related things in our features and regular posts. Music is of course a big part of media, and the 50th annual Grammy Awards are this Sunday, Feb 10th (check local listings, in the NYC area it will air on CBS2 at 8PM). They haven't really confirmed who will be performing, but I'm guessing they'll have big names on hand, since it's the 50th year. Most of the nominees are probably songs/artists you're sick and tired of already (only records released from Oct 06 to Sept 07 are eligible). But in preparation and in celebration, I've compiled some of the standout artists/songs worth another listen.
Corinne Bailey Rae - Like a Star
Not as ubiquitous or as radio-friendly as her debut single Put Your Records On, but it's one of the best songs off her album. It's mellow, lovely, and lyrical. This song is nominated for Song of the Year.
Feist - I Feel It All
Leslie Feist is nominated for the Best New Artist award, even though she's been in the music industry for years. She came into the spotlight in 2007 with her album The Reminder (nominated for Best Pop Vocal Album), which spawned 1,2,3,4 (nominated for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance). The entire album is so good, but I Feel It All is my favorite.
Arcade Fire - Keep the Car Running
Montreal band Arcade Fire is sort of hard to place in a category. They're punk-rock, indie folk, string pop- basically, whatever you name, they kind of are. The Grammys chose to recognize them in the Best Alternative Music Album category. I love this song, and apparently a lot of other people do too- it's been covered by the Foo Fighters and Bruce Springsteen, to name a few.
Lily Allen - Alfie
A Brit-pop import who's had her fair share of tabloid exposure, I feel like she's been overshadowed by the other Brit-pop import with her fair share of problems, Amy Winehouse. Lily's album Alright, Still is one of my favorites, full of fun, feisty sounds and her knack for storytelling through her lyrics. Unfortunately, unlike Ms. Winehouse, Lily is only nominated in the Best Alternative Album category. The song Alfie is a gem, and while musically it sounds like it could be a song for little children, it's actually about her pot-smoking brother who can't get his life together.
Glen Hansard & Maketa Irglova - Falling Slowly (Once Soundtrack)
Once is a modern-day musical from Ireland, and this is the Grammy and Oscar nominated song from that film. Singers and newbie actors Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova have great chemistry, both on film and in music. This is a great song off the soundtrack, and the film is definitely worth checking out. The Once soundtrack has consistently been on iTunes top 10 albums for the past couple of months.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
[Mixtape] Cover ups
I really like hearing cover songs. I think it's fun to be able to hear a different artist's take on a song, and if they change up the song so much that it almost becomes a different song altogether, then that's all the better.
So partially inspired by Jen's posting of a unique version of "Hot in Herre", I thought I would share my list of best cover songs.
PS. I would have thrown in Michael Cera and Ellen Page's version of "Anyone Else But You", but that's already been mentioned :x
Mat Weddle - Hey Ya
I have no idea who Mat Weddle or his band, Obadiah Parker, are, but this is a great cover of OutKast's Hey Ya. It It is a completely different take on the song, and I think it works great. If only only listen to one song on this list, this one would be it.
Kate Nash - Fluorescent Adolescent
I really like Kate Nash. Despite the fact that it is a bunch of girly, lovey-dovey songs, I think she has a great voice and musical style. Her take on The Artctic Monkey's Fluorescent Adolescent sounds good.
Iron and Wine - Such Great Heights
The Postal Service's Such Great Heights is such a great song, it's not surprising that there are tons of covers of it. But do you know how you can tell Iron and Wine's version is so great? People are covering his cover of the song. It seems that taking a fast, highly-produced song and making it acoustic and simple = success.
Seu Jorge - Life on Mars
If you've watched Life Aquatic, then you've heard Seu Jorge do his thing. He was featured in the movie and also provided most of the soundtrack. What is particularly cool is that he took a bunch of David Bowie songs (like Life on Mars), translated it to Portuguese (Seu Jorge is from Brazil, woot!), and played it acoustically. Totally awesome.
Ben Harper - Strawberry Fields Forever
Yet another song featured in a film, this cover of the Beatles's Strawberry Fields Forever was made for the movie I Am Sam because it cost too much money to get the actual song in the film (or something like that). Anyway, this soothing cover is really good, especially if you're a Ben Harper fan.
Talk about classic material... Lauryn Hill took this oft-covered song and made it her own. There isn't much to say except that this is a great song, so you should listen to it again.
Friday, December 28, 2007
[Mixtape] Mellow Yellow
Sometimes I like to take a break from the everyday ho-hums of life. Different things inspire me to take some time off for myself, whether if it's from drama-rama, friends, family, and life in general. And when it comes to music, I've been known to be a bit of a music snob, but really, if a song has great lyrics, I'll probably love it (yeah, I'm a sucker for lyrics). Here are some songs that I am currently listening to.
Anyone Else But You - Michael Cera and Ellen Page
This song is featured prominently in the film Juno. I would have to say that the song pretty much summed up the overall feel of the film, dealing with relationships. Originally by the Moldy Peaches, Kimya Dawson is also featured throughout the soundtrack, and just by listening to her voice, you'd be surprised that she is a 35-year old singer/songwriter. I was shocked to find out that the voice belonged to a girl; I actually thought it was a young pre-pubescent boy.
Sugar Skills - Wolftron
Wolftron is a side project by Daphne Loves Derby's very own Kenny Choi. Don't let the name mislead you; even as a die-hard DLD fan, I was a bit skeptical when it came down to the name Wolftron - I mean, it sounds like an electronic-pop band name. But Kenny Choi released a bunch of songs to remind listeners that he's still that mellow guy who can do without all that jazz and pizazz from DLD's last album. Anyone who is trying to deal with this crazy thing called life can relate to his lyrics: "This time I want to take it slow and try to keep this life in line / Maybe fall in love so I can learn to love the night / We can sail the seven seas and just leave behind these ghosts of mine."
Not Myself - John Mayer
Practically everyone has that one John Mayer song that made them realize how amazing he was. And yes, I said it. Personally, I thought that "Continuum" was a let-down, but listening back to his earlier albums reminds me how great he could be. Honorable mention should go to 83, Why Georgia, and My Stupid Mouth, but Not Myself is such a great song in its simplistic lyrics: "Suppose I said I am on my best behavior / There are times I lose my worried mind / Would you want me when I'm not myself? / Wait it out while I am someone else?"
Boston - Augustana
The one complaint I have about VH1's attempt to expose a virtually unknown artist into airwaves is the amount of times you could possibly hear one song while watching one of their "I Love the 80's!" shows. I mean, that's the exact reason why I cannot listen to the radio.
When Augustana's Boston was first put into play as VH1's "You Oughtta Know" featured artist, I was ecstatic. The song is great, with lyrics "I think I'll go to Boston / I think that I'm just tired / I think I need a new town to leave this all behind / I think I need a sunrise, I'm tired of the sunset / I heard it's nice in the summer, some snow would be nice." But damn you, VH1, for making such a great song become annoying.
Overdue - The Get Up Kids
Influencing bands from Fall Out Boy to The Early November, Overdue is a favorite cover for bands who grew up listening to this indie-rock band. Fans and rockers alike can appreciate such heart-felt lyrics, which can be categorized as a bit emo: "Went on a limb for you / Capsized when I turned 22 / Did it burn as bad for you? / No bottle serves to soothe my wounds." Too bad the music video doesn't do the song any justice.
Show Show - Daphne Loves Derby
Anyone who knows me can tell you just how much I love the band Daphne Loves Derby, and this list would not be complete without at least a song from them. I wasn't too happy with their last album, "Good Night, Witness Light," which made me forget why I fell in love with the band in the first place. But a few tracks still held that touch, and Show Show is one of them. The string instrumental in the intro of the song sucked me in (I love string instruments!), and who doesn't like a song of heartbreak? "If you'll be my love, I'll be your mistake / If you need your space, I'll face a distance / It's not that I'm brave, I just finally realized that / I've never, I've never been there for you."
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
[Mixtape] Pop Pop Pop!
I love pop music. I'm not ashamed to admit it. I mean, pop is a pretty general term, it encompasses everything from teeny bopper music to top 40 to pop-rock/pop-country/pop-alt. In my opinion there is nothing like good ol' 90s pop music (MMMMMBop/boy bands/old-school Britney anyone???), but here are some worth listening to at the moment.
Miley Cyrus - See You Again
If you're not a teeny bopper, you probably don't know who Miley Cyrus is. Chances are though, you know her alter-ego, Hannah Montana, the wildly popular Disney Channel program that has made her a household name. The sold-out tour has had parents scrambling for tickets, some going for as much as $1000s of dollars. CRAZY.
Anyways, I really like this catchy song. I mean it's obviously a song for a 14-year old. "The next time we hang out/I will redeem myself/My heart can rest till then/Woah, oh oh oh I / I can't wait to see you again." HAHA, I LOVE it.
Jordin Sparks - Tattoo
She may have won America's heart earlier this year, but winning American Idol doesn't always translate into instant stardom. Her debut album was the lowest selling album of all previous winners on the show. I don't like her, I don't like the boring video, but I really like this song. It's mellow, she has a nice enough voice, and it's R&B laced froth-pop. Not as good as say, Beyonce's Irreplaceable, but good enough.
Fergie - Clumsy
Fergie has had a lot of good singles off her solo debut album this year- London Bridge, Fergalicious, Glamorous, Big Girls Don't Cry. Her newest single is super catchy, super cute, and thump-alicious. Ok, I don't even know what that means, I just made it up. She has a sense of humor, which I like.
Linkin Park - Shadow of the Day
I really didn't like their last album Meteora, so I kinda fell out of love with them. I really like this new single though. It's definitely more melodic and radio friendly than the hard-core rock stuff on the rest of the album. Even though Mike Shinoda's rapping is non-existent in this song, it's a nice change from all the screaming that goes on in most of their songs.
Wyclef Jean ft. Akon, Lil Wayne & Niia - Sweetest Girl (Dollar Bill)
I HEART Wyclef. I love the fact that he is: an artist, musician, producer, activist, Good Will Ambassador. Carnival II: Memoirs of an Immigrant is his first solo album in 10 years, and he brings other artists into the mix for this tightly produced first single. It is obviously a socially conscious album, and Sweetest Girl, with its theme of young prostitution, is no exception. The beats are kind of happy and upbeat though, which is a contrast with what the song is really about, but uh, whatever.
And of course...
Britney Spears - Piece of Me
You know me and Britney go way back. Not kidding when I say it's the best song off her Blackout album, and I'd like to venture to say that it's my favorite song of hers of all time. Even though she didn't have any part in writing the song, it's still as autobiographical as you can get. I will listen to it on repeat for days, I will hear it on the radio then play the song off the CD right after, I will literally drive everyone I know crazy with how many times I can play and still enjoy the song. The music video is coming (this one won't be self-financed/self-directed, thank you very much) and I am excited. Don't be a hater. Give it a chance. Embrace it and love it.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
[Mixtape] Cool Winter Day Playlist
It's a pretty chilly day out, and it will be for the next 4 months or so. Here are some fitting songs that I'm currently into.
The Bravery - Believe
Apparently, they have an ongoing feud with the Killers? Whatever. Just an all-around great song, has been featured on The Hills and Gossip Girls.
So give me something to believe
Cause I am living just to breathe
And I need something more
To keep on breathing for
So give me something to believe
Lovers Electric - Closer
Also featured on The Hills (you can knock the show all you want, but they do feature some great songs time to time). They are a two-person band from Australia, and I haven't heard any of their other stuff, but Closer is pretty great.
I love the lyrics to the song. Contrary to the title, it's about distance and the differences of two people in a relationship that prevents them from being... that's right, closer. 
Gym Class Heroes - It's OK, But Just This Once!
I highly enjoy this group. I highly enjoy pop hip-hop in general. The song is off their As Cruel as Schoolchildren album, which spawned such hits as Cupid's Chokehold, The Queen and I, and Clothes Off! I think this song is my favorite though. I like going around saying, 'it's ok, but just this once!' and having no one know what I'm talking about. =P
More after the jump...
Kathryn Scott - Hungry (Falling on my Knees)
A praise song; it's been stuck in my head for 3 days now. It's kinda how I feel about my spiritual walk at the moment. The Matt Redman version is good too, but I love her singing it.
Peter Bjorn & John - Young Folks
I'm pretty sure the song has been used in every other advertisement and tv show. It's so catchy.
Mandy Moore/Marie Digby - Umbrella
I'm one of the few people out of my friends who actually like Rihanna's Umbrella. Ella, ella, ella, eh eh eh~ The acoustic, slowed-down versions by both/either Mandy Moore and Marie Digby are definitely worth checking out, even if you hate the top 40 one.
Alicia Keys ft. John Mayer - Lesson Learned
They play off well with/against(?) each other. It's one of my favorite songs off her new album.
