Alright we're getting into the good stuff otherwise known as the music and bands that I didn't know existed until this year so congratulations to us for finally seeing it exists! Or we'll just keep calling it the good stuff since that's easier. So Boy & Bear are from Australia and formed in 2009. So far there has been two albums (this song is from the second album) and have one six different awards. All the awards are from Australian performing and recording associations, which means I never knew about them, but now I will have a new source to creep to when trying to find new music! They've done some international touring before and have more planned for this year so we'll see what happens. Here's the band's Twitter, Facebook and website so check them out.
What's up! So today's song is Wish You Well by Joshua Hyslop.
This is a very different song than the one from yesterday, but I love it just as much. Something about ballads just hit my heart and totally take it over. The things about ballads is that it's all about the lyrics. There's a story that needs to be told, and it could mean something slightly different for everyone. For me, it feels like this might have been something he did with his friend or even his brother and after that person died, he came back to try and deal with the feelings of losing them. He's following the path and seeing all the memories of what they used to have. I know others think differently, but that's just my two cents. When you listen to the song and watch the video, what is it that you see? I'd like to know. Also check him out on Facebook, Twitter and his website.
Hello. So today's song is Basket Case by Green Day.
Oh Green Day, I have never not loved you. The great thing is they are still a band! That's twenty-seven years even if not fully consistent which is a big deal for a band. Not everyone shares my love for Green Day, but I will force it on them every chance I get...like at my birthday where one of the two songs I karaoked was American Idiot. As much as I love that song, this one is my absolute favorite. Fun Fact: the entire music video was actually shot in black and white. They added the colors in later, which is why they look so crazy. That's part of the style though, since the whole thing takes place in a mental institution. I just love the way the song starts out. "Do you have the time to listen to me whine about nothing and everything
all at once? I am one of those melodramatic fools, neurotic to the bone,
no doubt about it." So there you go, your daily dose of Green Day.
Hey. So today's song is Dirty Laundry by Kelly Rowland.
One night when I couldn't sleep, since it always happens, I was doing a bunch of the stupid quizzes you see people post on Facebook. One of them was about which Beyonce song describes me. The quiz gave me Diva (the same as everyone else who took it) so I consulted with the resident Beyonce extremist I know: Anna. She gave lots of options that all worked for one reason or another, but the first one that came to mind was from Destiny's Child. It was Survivor. As any fans might know Destiny's Child was made up of Beyonce, Michelle and Kelly, but they all broke up. I never really understood why, but found it ironic since they had a song about being together forever....life in motion I guess. Anyway, this song seem to be Kelly's way of explaining what happened. That this dude got in between her and her friends and she chose the wrong side, only to regret it later. And I bet she did regret it. I mean look at Beyonce's career after losing those two as her entourage. I loved Destiny's Child, but Beyonce held the group together. I'm not a fan of Kelly and this song doesn't do anything to change that, but she's getting honorable mention here because of my childhood obsession with the group. I guess we'll she what she does next.
Now here is a feel good summer song for your viewing pleasure. I am not ashamed to admit I first heard this song when watching a Mary Kate and Ashley movie. It's another 90's song that kind of embodies what that time was like. I miss the 90's sometimes and I'm allowed to say that because I literally grew up in that decade. My childhood was split between it and the 00's giving me prime pop music influences. Although as you guys know I did get my fill of country and rock music too. What you might not know about me is that I also got my fill of older tunes thanks to my grandma. Later this year I'll give a full week of some of those classics, but for now we'll keep jamming to the summer flavor while it's still warm here in Canada. Enjoy!
Have you guys ever had a song that gets stuck in your head without even listening to it? Every morning I normally wake up with a tune playing and it's never one that has a reason to be there. Frequently it's this song. I think it might have something to do with how religiously I played rock band when I first got the game. This was one of the songs on it and I basically mastered playing this one (on easy lol) for each instrument. That includes singing, and now it's permanently burned into my brain. I do enjoy the look people get when this plays and I can sing the very wordy part of the song perfectly without trying. It earns me a little respect among men. I also kind of use that part to take my anger out about my father. It makes zero sense as far as the song goes, but I still do it. Weezer is one of those bands that I never think about when discussing music, but I always feel bad later because they have so many incredible songs. I've featured quite a bit by them before so I hope you enjoy this one being added to the group.
Morning. So today's song is What's Up by 4 Non Blondes.
Even without looking up the year this came out, the video screams 90's...and I'm right. It came out in 1992. Her hat looks like it's the original steam punk genre before it became cool to do. I figured I'd do this song after my weird one yesterday, because this one is a little odd as well...not as much as yesterdays was, but still strange. Most people know this song without knowing it because it's been used in a lot of movies and butchered by He Man. And when I say butchered, I mean it was ripped apart while the song clang to life by a crazy person. Don't believe me? This is that version. I have no words to show my disgust. No Words.
Yo! Today I give you Rollerskate by Matias Aguayo.
Yes this is a weird song, but that's kind of why I love it so much. I originally found this song because I was looking at JacksGap videos on YouTube and he used this song in one. I've been trying to fins the original for you guys for an hour, but unfortunately the original got deleted from his account...not sure why. The good news though is that someone else managed to upload it so you can check that out here. If it was Jack who decided to delete it I don't see why he would because it is so cool. What he did actually inspired a bunch of people to do their own versions on YouTube. This is one of the better ones, so if you're bored check out some more and let me know what you think of the song!
Afternoon guys! So today's song is Broken Strings by James Morrison ft. Nelly Furtado.
I'll say right now thatI didn't actually know who James Morrison was, but judging from the view count he is pretty famous. I can see why. The song is really incredible, but I don't think he needed to have anyone featured on the track. In my opinion it kind of takes away from the song have Nelly in it, but to each his own right? I think the reason I don't like heron the track is the difference in their voices because she puts the lilt in her held notes where he doesn't. I do enjoy the message though. You can't play on broken strings....in other words when something is over, past the point of repair, you can't ever get back to the way it was before, not completely. This song is ideal when you are in the dumps and after breaking up with somebody. Play this one after the woe is memusic and before the better off anyway tracks.
Hey guys. So today's song is Need You Now by Lady Antebellum.
I've heard a lot of people bash Lady Antebellum in my life, but I actually really like them. As for this song, people believe it's overrated. A comment on the video has the best response. "I don't think it's overrated, overplayed yes, but at one point in time
this was a song that had a lot of people singing it like 'Happy' by Pharrell, it made people connect with a shared loneliness all people
have had." See, that is exactly what music is about. It's a common connection that can expand over generations, cultures and languages. It's why I care so deeply about music...enough that this blog of mine has been one of the most cultivated projects I have. So I hope you care about it, because I really do.
This video basically shows what everyone wants the whole clubbing experience to be. I can tell from experience that I have never had a good time clubbing. I automatically end up as the protector and it sucks. Ladies and gentleman, if you are nearing the age where you can actually go clubbing just don't expect the world. The only moderately impressive thing that happened for me was that my friends and I all got in free one night and the only reason that happened was because it was a sausage fest. The amount of dudes we had to fend off was not worth the lack of cover charge. So Kimberly Caldwell...she was on American Idol before it became irrelevant. Sorry, I know I'm being pessimistic today, but I've never really liked American Idol. It seems like this did help her career though so it worked out for her. She's got a really interesting voice that's deeper than most women which makes her stuff unique. I also love the jacket she's wearing in this video. I could never pull it off. Anyway, check it out and her other stuff.
I think most of you can guess where I got this song from. It's the theme for Pretty Little Liars, which I don't actually watch, but I do love the song. I am so done with my family today...perhaps that's why a song about someone being dead is so right. I'm in a depressed slump again, and it's during those times that I'm really sensitive and take everything way too seriously. So yesterday, when my grandparents left without me for a family thing we do every week I was a little upset. When my sister asked me to come to her house to take care of her cat while she went and spent the day hanging out with someone she doesn't even like that hurt a lot. When everyone else I know never even answered my texts or phone calls all day that was the icing on the cake. I know I'm being irrational and crazy right now, but I can't change the way I feel. So today I have made the decision to stay home and watch movies alone, despite my family harassing me for attention now that they have time for me. I hope you guys get to have a relaxing day too, as I plan on doing.
From what I know about her, I'm pretty sure she got YouTube famous first. She would do covers a famous song like the Bruno Mars one which exploded in popularity two years ago. I think I mentioned it when I showcased Bruno Mars on here before, but just in case I didn't, her cover is here. She also did a collab with Lindsey Stirling, but until looking her up, I didn't even make the connection that it was indeed Megan. When I watch Lindsey's videos I only really focus on her. Anyway now Megan has become more famous by producing professional and original songs and videos that get played on radio Disney all the time. It makes sense to me since she seems like a better Disney star than the ones they actually have now. Anyway check out her other stuff on YouTube and tell me what you think.
What's up! So today's song is No One Else by Reachback.
These guys formed in 2009 and have done pretty well for themselves since then, including being featured on McFly's tour in 2012. That's a fun fact I didn't know when I chose this song, but it only further solidifies that it was the right choice. This song in particular is one of their older tracks released in 2010 as a single. As great of a singer this girl is, I really wish the colored hair trend would go away already. Yes, having crazy hair makes you stand out more, and famous people can pull it off more because they are the trend setters of the world, but the fact that pink, blue and green hair (complete hair color is what I'm talking about) is the norm now freaks me out. I like having vibrant color like Apple's red hair, but red is still a normal look. I also love when people have bits of color that flash out when the move. It's like a hidden secret, but not something completely overbearing. I may be a little biased because my hair has always stayed brown like I was born with despite going through phases where I wanted color. I let out my playful side by dying the bottom red...before that became cool too (hey look guys, I started something!) and using hair extensions at grad to add some removable color in. Is it just me who feels this way? Please tell me where you stand so I can accurately judge if I'm justified or just becoming a stick in the mud. Also check out more from this band from their website, Facebook and Twitter.
Speaking of Paramore yesterday....let's talk about Paramore! This is the new and improved sound from the new version of the band, since Haley's old guys left. I heard this song the first time in my car at five in the morning when I had been on my way to school. I missed my train so I could listen to the whole thing because I absolutely loved it from the first moment. Once I found out the song, I learned all the lyrics to it in about an hour. Although I do love the song, Haley's hair is absolutely ridiculous. I know colored hair is the 'in' thing right now, but she's got a Cruella Deville split going on and it is not flattering. Anyway I've shown you their stuff before, you know I'm gunna tell you to check it out. Here's the site, Facebook and Twitter.
I was going to write something about how all these "alternative" girls are now the face of bands and that it's become the norm, but reading the comments I found someone who makes a rant about something so perfect. "Don't you love how every single
band with a female singer is compared to Paramore, like people have
never heard of any other band with a female singer. Just because bands
play the same genre of music does not mean they need to be compared. Do
you honestly just sit there and compare every band that plays the same
genre of music? And even then, this music is a different genre than Paramore's, so comparing them is even more pointless." I can't even tell you guys how many times I check out new music and all the comments are about Paramore. I don't understand why Haley is the go to for everyone when thinking about female singers, but it's weird. She is not the first female singer and she is definitely not the only one now. I'm probably being a hypocrite right now, but starting this second I am no longer going to compare bands with Paramore. Anyway Halocene was formed in 2008 through Craigslist of all things. Since then they've released two albums (with another on the way) and have opened for Blink 182 and Fall Out Boy, as well as playing at Warped Tour. That's pretty damn good in my books. Anyway check out the band's Twitter an Facebook to give them a like.
This one is a British rock group from London that formed three years ago, and how far they've gotten in that time is incredible. I know people who have been in bands for more than five years and still only have underground followings so when a group as new as this is releasing singles worldwide and is doing full country tours it's a pretty big deal. So I sincerely think you should listen to more than one song by these guys. You can check out more of their stuff on Facebook and Twitter...and of course YouTube.
Alright we're getting out of the country slump. This is a Christian rock band from Florida (not to be confused with the folk band from Copenhagen of the same name) who have been together for fifteen years. This song is off their most recent album from a few years ago, and the band is working on releasing their sixth album independently. I don't really understand the concept of Christian rock bands, but there is no denying the good music you get from it. My favorite from this genre has always been Flyleaf, but these guys are a close second. You can check out more of their stuff on Facebook, Twitter and the band website.
Alright, I'm sure you guys are tired of my country shit, but it's almost over. Today is the last day so I'll send off the country music with a slow song. This is the time when the locals are catching up on sleep, and the travelers are leaving, so the city gets pretty quiet. Everyone is sunburnt, covered in mosquito bites and happy. I've barely gone outside in the sun (trying to avoid the 30+ weather) but I still managed to get ten mosquito bites in two days. This happens to me every single year. Apparently my blood tastes great. It would be fine if they were in normal places! Apart from the usual leg and arm spots, I also have a mosquito bite on my elbow (so itchy), my knuckle which has made my whole finger swollen and on the back of my ear. What even!? If you guys ever come to Canada in the summer, pack a lot of Off! with you...and afterbite. All of the afterbite.
Hey! So today's song is Angeles by Jensen Ackles and Steve Carlson.
This one is solely because I adore Jenson Ackles. Yes, I am a Supernatural fan and that's how I know him, but he has me now. I'm convinced he is one of the coolest actors ever. And this isn't a fangirling "Oh my god sleep with me and let me have your beautiful babies" thing. This is a "you seem cool, and are so ridiculously talented, why am I not that talented" thing. Anna has dibs on him in any case anyway. I just enjoy that he is a great actor who also plays guitar and sing, but wont write his own music because he's a little insecure. The fact that he can admit that to people makes it even more endearing. As a person in general he is endearing and has stolen the hearts of so many people. I sometimes judge people by who they're fans of, but if you like Jenson, I consider you to most likely be a good person. Anyway check out the song and his acting if you're curious.
I was planning to show this song to you guys a few days ago, but turns out this hometown beauty is actually performing at the Stampede with Paul Brandt today! So I figured why not leave it until now. So Lindsay, as I kind of said, is from Calgary...so is Paul Brandt actually. It always makes me a little prouder when the performers doing big shows are actually from here. There are a lot of people who travel from around the world to come to the grounds during the 10 days of Stampede and this is a way to give them a real taste of what we have to offer. If you guys think what you can see in July is how the city is all the time, it's wrong. The rest of the year cowboy hats are....well, I guess not totally gone, but there is a hell of a lot less. So enjoy some of what makes this city of mine cool and check out the song.
I've shown you new country and old country. Now I'm showing you what stampede is like based on the people who go to it. Like this song, the stampeding people are so focused on drinking and having fun at the grounds, and are people who act the same way they do all the time, but with a country twinge put on top. It's artificial country. I read an article this week that was about how to spot a real cowboy vs a fake cowboy and it was so accurate. People complain about the rodeo events that go down each year, but without those, it's just an excuse for a whole city to act like idiots. Don't get me wrong, I like parts of the stampede, but this song is symbolizing the parts that I really don't...and this stuff is taking over. I don't know what else to say about it...I'll be glad when it's over.
Hello. So today's song is Beer For My Horses by Toby Keith ft. Willie Nelson.
If you're gunna go country, it's basically impossible to not listen to something with Willie Nelson. He embodies what straight up country music is. So I figured I'd do a song featuring him in it. This is one I grew up with too. My mom played a lot of Toby Keith in the car so I pretty much know all of his older songs, this one included. I think he liked getting to do acting in his music videos, probably how he worked up to doing movies. This song is kind of unique in the theme. Country music does talk about justice on rare cases like this one, but more often than not it's about riding around in a truck, sinking beer with some girl in cowboy boots. There is nothing like that in this except for some dudes drinking whiskey. So check it out and I'll see you tomorrow.
I got the new country out of the way, now we're going to the stuff I grew up on. He released his last album in 2001, but is getting back in the country game and going on tour. I admire him because he's been sticking to his morals and style. He never makes his shows ridiculously expensive, and he stands his ground when people try to push him around. He never released his music digitally, and has only just recently decided to make it available on his website (but no where else.) It's a pretty controversial stand in the digital age, but no big deal for him. Also when talking about his new music he said he wont change the sound of his music, that there will be no "hick hop" as people call it, which is just awesome. If you've never heard his stuff, check it out because it is great.
Lucy is pretty famous already, since she's been in movies and has been acting on Pretty Little Liars for five-ish years. In some of her roles she's done singing, and has always been amazing at it so when I found out that she was starting her music career I was super happy. She had been on American Juniors when she was a kid, but hearing her do her own music in the style she chose is a treat. Sure, doing country doesn't show off the full power of her voice, but it was her choice and that was the music she wanted. It's an amazing song! I especially love the line "like an Amen from the back of the choir." Anyway it's a great song, and perfect for stampede so check it out.
This girl has been doing music basically her whole life. The dedication she has to it makes me glad that it's working out for her. The play on words in this song makes me pretty happy. Actually, the whole message for the song is a great idea. If everyone would realize that what a person does is none of our business (unless it involves us) then society would be better off. It's something that people at the stampede definitely need to learn right now. So much bigotry I can't even handle it. Anyway take a listen to the song and you can check out more of her stuff on Facebook, Twitter, and her website.
So last night I went to a barbecue at Anna's house. It was kind of a last minute invitation for me, but I showed up with Sammy, Will and Greg in tow. It was fun for awhile having dinner and playing games with some of Anna's other friends, but they are very overwhelming people. Eventually Sammy and I ditched out because we just couldn't handle it anymore. See, in my family Sammy is the extroverted one and really good with people, and I am the introvert. However when we're in a room with Amy and Lisa (Anna's friends) they take the extrovert scale and stretch it as far as they possibly can. I couldn't feel my head when I got home and I didn't even drink anything. Oh well, at least I got out of the house for awhile without being near the stampede grounds. Anyway, on to the song. This is Jamie Lynn, Britney's younger sister. Instead of going the pop route, she decided on country and it suits her. She actually seems to have more natural talent the her sister did. Earlier in her career, I thought she was going down the path of other Disney stars in completely screwing their lives. I mean, sixteen and pregnant, didn't end up with the father, talk of a statutory rape case....but she managed to work it all out. She is married to a businessman and has a happy daughter. So I say cudos to her. Well guys, check out the song, and I'll see you tomorrow.
Hey. So today's song is How To Love by Jordan McIntosh.
It's a redo of a Lil Wayne song. It has the same principle as Noah's Sexy and I Know It from last year. To avoid unnecessary screaming girls skip the first twenty seconds. It's weird, but this song actually works as country. It's nice. Country is going to be the theme for a few days. I'm sorry, I know I always do that, but come on.I live in Calgary.The only thing Calgary is known for is the stampede, and even though I don't really go anymore (I'm not interested in the drunk fest it's become) the main premise is cowboys,horses, and country music: things I am fond of. I try to give you good country though, so don't worry. This is a good segway song for it since it's a rap song to country to ease you in. Enjoy!
Hey guys. So today's song is Sweater Weather by The Neighbourhood.
This is an American band, despite using the British spelling in the band name. It's because there is another band with the exact same name, so they tried to differentiate themselves. You may also notice that the picture of them I used, the music video for the song, and the band website linked below all appear in black and white. I don't like using black and white pictures on the blog because I like the splash of color, but it is truly weird when you can't find any colored pictures of a band. It's apparently something the do on purpose, and have become known for. When it first starts I always think it's a different song, but then the singing starts and I correct myself. I absolutely love the part with the lyrics "it's to cooooooooooooold." And yes, I worked very hard to try and follow the note changes, although this is probably wrong. There is only so much I can do with sub and sup html. Anyway,you can check out more of their stuff on the band's Facebook, Twitter and website.
So this is a British band that has been active for about four years now. Since starting, they've been nominated for four Brit awards, which shows how good they really are. Every song by these guys turns out amazing. Honestly I haven't found one that I dislike yet. I particularly like this one. Sure it's a little repetitive in lyrics, but most things are these days so you know the title without looking it up. The rest of the lyrics though show an understanding of how to convey the story. They're pretty famous, so you can find other stuff from them easily. Check it out.
I know most of you probably don't care at all, but I am celebrating. Below are more ramblings from me, but let's do the song now so you can ignore me if you like. I give you the Hadfield brothers with their song In Canada. If you don't know, Chris Hadfield is a Canadian astronaut that got internet famous when he performed Space Oddity from the space station. Awesome. This year he's been inducted into the Court of Canada along with Rick Mercer. It's a big honor.
The Canadian beer fridge that has been traveling the world came home too for the celebrations. I assume you guys have heard of it. It made appearances in the Olympic Village during Sochi, and has traveled to countries including England, France, and Indonesia. It's the best experiential marketing Molson could have come up with. Anyway, in other countries, the fridge can be opened by scanning a Canadian passport. Bringing them back here though, we had to do a little more....we had to sing. Here's the video so you can witness the hilarity.
Another random thing, but I watched a video of Top That where Americans had a competition about what is or is not made in Canada. I'm not linking it because most information is wrong, apparently fact checking was not a thing, but one comment basically sums up all of the pride I have about being Canadian. It goes: "I appreciate the American recognition of just a few of Canada's contributions to society, however this was just terribly stereotypical and pointless. At 7:30, Becca says that if Canada invented the snuggie, we've finally entered the innovation game. We invented a lot more than just a ridiculous blanket with sleeves. Penicillin, the telephone, the lightbulb, the snowmobile (you call them ski-doo's or something), the CANADARM on the International Space Station, the electric wheelchair, the electric car heater Canada and Russia love and depend on, the snowblower, the pager, the walkie talkie, blackberry and the "smartphone", the trackball, potash, poutine, Nanaimo bars, butter tarts, IMAX (the movie thing), sonar, modern military camouflage called CADPAT, the gravity suit pilots use, goretex, lacrosse, hockey, instant replay for televised sports events, insulin, the electron microscope, the caesar (an alcoholic drink), polar bear shots (also an alcoholic drink), the electric oven, the garbage bag, alkaline batteries, the pacemaker, the cesium beam atomic clock, and Canada Dry was invented by a Canadian a year after the Wright Brothers took flight for the first time. It may be owned now by an American company, but it has always been Canadian. Americans like claiming our inventions since we're known as quiet and unconfrontational, but we burnt down your White House in 1813 and it felt good. So please stop taking credit for us, and maybe ask some actual Canadians, or someone that knows the truth for research instead of probably using wikipedia. Because most Canadians know all of these inventions just from growing up in the True, North, Strong, and Free.You guys are entertaining though, I'll give you that." For the record I have never tried a Polar Bear shot, but I want to now. Anyway, that is the extent that I will bombard you of the patriotism you don't normally see. Now I shall reign it in until next year....or at least I'll try to do that.
Peace.
