2011 Resolutions

I've decided that rather than coming up with any specific resolutions for 2011, I'm just going to resolve to take better care of my health. We only have one chance and one body and I want to take care of mine. I'm going to start by continuing my switch to using all natural and/or organic bath products. I'm going to continue this by also trying to eat more organic and natural foods when possible. I need to get back in the habit of exercising as well. I saw this every year but I'd really like to get in decent shape. I did a good job of regularly exercising most of last year but I've severely slacked. Time to pick that up.

I hope everyone has a happy and healthy new year. It's going to be a good one!

The Best of 2010

Last year, for the first time, I made my list of the top 10 albums of the year and it was a really great way for me to reflect on all the great music that came out that year. I decided that this year I'm going to try something different and see which I like better... Instead of doing a list of albums, I'm going to pick a best album, best song, best live act, best new artist, and best flashback album (an album that came out a previous year but I didn't discover until this year). I figure this way I get to mix things up a bit and talk about a variety of different works that deserve credit for their awesomeness. I'm also going to include a short section on what I look forward to most in 2011. So, without further adieu, here's my picks for the best of 2010!

Album of the Year
This year had a lot of strong releases from some of my old favorites including Broken Social Scene, Stars, and Motion City Soundtrack as well some newly discovered artists like Basia Bulat and Woodpigeon. My pick for album of the year is (surprisingly) not from any of these artists, however. It's from an artist that I've listened to in the past and enjoyed but was blown away by the work they put out this year, Land of Talk.

Their release, Cloak and Cipher, is haunting and beautiful and a rocking good time all packaged into one album. Lizzie's distinct vocals are what really carry the album. Her voice is soft but doesn't get too breathy or weak like some female singers' voices can. Also, it's what her voice actually sounds like; I saw them live in September and there's no editing needed to create her unique sound (unlike many artists these days, it seems). If you're going to download just one song, make it Quarry Hymns. It's a truly beautiful song.

Song of the Year
This one gave me more trouble than picking album of the year. I toyed back and forth with a bunch of ideas. For a while I was going to choose "Sentimental X's" by BSS or "Changes" by Stars. "To Die For" by Tonight Alive was a strong contender and, more recently, "Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)" by Arcade Fire was almost going to be chosen. While these songs are great and I strongly recommend all of them, there was one song that blew them all away...

"Black Sheep" by Metric. Yes, this song has existed in some form or another or other for a while but it was this year that the final studio version was released on the soundtrack for Scott Pilgrim vs. the World and let me just say, this song is SICK. It starts out with a lot of sexy, "Awww, yeahs!" and brings on the rock. The real great thing about this song is the guitar solo during the outro. I've always known that Jimmy Shaw was a great guitarist but this solidified his status as a guitar god. Seriously, give it a listen. If you're not mindfucked there's something wrong.

Best Live Act
I go to a lot of shows and 2010 was no exception. This year, I got to see Motion City Soundtrack (twice!), Meg & Dia, Metric, Broken Social Scene, Stars, Land of Talk, and many more artists that I love. They were all fantastic show but none of them compared to the two hour dance-mindfuck-empowerment-sing-along fest that was the Monster Ball put on by Lady Gaga.

This lady proved she's not just another pop star and truly put on a SHOW. As mentioned before, it was almost two hours long. Usually, having a short attention span and all, I'd get bored but Gaga kept it coming and even as she closed with "Bad Romance" I was left wanting more and even considering going to see her again the next night (which didn't happen for monetary reasons). Tickets to see her are expensive but she makes it worth every penny and then some with lights and dancers and a fountain of blood. Probably my favorite moment of the concert was when she was doing Speechless on the flaming piano. How cool is that?!


Best New Artist
I've said this for every category but again, this one was a toughie. There were a lot of great new artists this year but probably my favorite was Tonight Alive.

They're a really awesome band from Australia and have a nice, clean alternative rock sound. They get compared to compared to Paramore a lot and I guess I see the comparison to some extent but Jenna doesn't have the same snarl that Hayley does and I honestly think that the comparison is just made because both bands have female fronts (an unfair comparison if you ask me; just because two bands have female fronts does NOT mean they sound the same). They released their first album, All Shapes and Disguises, in June and it features a cover of "In My Eyes" by Rufio that I actually prefer to the original (which is not a common occurrence for me- I generally don't like covers). I'm definitely looking forward to seeing what this band has in store for us in the future!


Blast From the Past Album
I don't know how I didn't hear about this band earlier but early in 2010 I discovered the Rural Alberta Advantage and their 2008 release, Hometimes. This album is fantastic and one of the rare albums that I actually like all the songs on it. If you want a sample of it, download "Drain the Blood" or "Edmonton."

2011 Excitement
I'm not even gonna lie: 2011 is going to be a great musical year. No Doubt will (more than likely) be coming out with a new album and I have been waiting for this album FOREVER. In addition, the Sounds are apparently done with their new album that should be released sometime this year and the Ting Tings are releasing a new album as well. Metric is headed back to the studio so maybe we'll be getting a new album from them as well. Lady Gaga's new album is due out beginning of the year and I've heard rumors that she'll be releasing her new single soon. Of course, there will also be a ton of other releases that I haven't heard about yet... 2011 should be an exciting year in music!

Blogging Fail

With the Christmas rush behind us, that means we can officially turn our attention to the impending new year and it's made me realize something: I have failed hardcore at blogging this year, especially the last few months. I did that awesome blog challenge in August but past that, diddly squat. If I did write something, it was me being sentimental and reflecting on the past or contemplating some big philosophical issue. Well, I assure you that next year I'll take more time to actually blog about things that people WANT to read about... and with greater frequency. I'll be writing a blog sharing my New Years resolutions soon but for now, it's time to recover and relax after the craziness of the past few days... All that family time takes a lot out of you! I hope everyone had a fantastic Christmas (or whatever holiday you celebrate this time of year) and is looking forward to many good things in the coming year!

Grammy Picks 2011!

The Grammy nominations were announced for the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards last and, like always, I largely don't care about most of them. However, I do make a point to try to pick for most of the major categories even if I'm not all that into whoever it is. Here are my initial picks for the upcoming award show:

Record of the Year
Empire State of Mind- Jay-Z is one of the few rappers I like and I love Alicia Keys. My second pick would probably be the Bruno Mars song... or Fuck You haha.

Album of the Year
The Fame Monster- I... love Lady Gaga. And I love this album, more than The Fame in fact. I'd REALLY like to see Arcade Fire take it but I honestly don't see that happening... but how awesome would that be?

Song of the Year
Fuck You- This song makes me giggle. I also like Need You Now and think it's extremely well written and pleasant, especially for a country song.

Best New Artist
Justi... No, totally kidding. =) Florence and the Machine. I haven't listened to her much BUT what I have listened to I have enjoyed AND, unlike Beaver, she actually sings live. I'd be okay with Drake too. Mainly, I don't want J. Beaver winning. Not singing live is an unforgivable musical sin as far as I'm concerned.

Best Female Pop Vocal
One category that got everything right as far as I'm concerned. I actually really like all of these songs/artists. My pick would be Gaga and I def think her or Beyonce are the best vocalists but I'll be happy for whoever gets it.

Best Male Pop Vocal
Ehhhh... Haven't really listened to any of these so I don't care.

Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group
The Only Exception. Loves me some Paramore!


Best Pop Collaboration
This one is a tough one for me. I really like Telephone and Airplanes like a LOT. I guess I prefer Telephone (and it didn't get overplayed like Airplanes did).


Best Pop Vocal Album
The Fame Monster. Susan Boyle or Katy Perry are okay with me. Beaver, on the other hand, is not. Not at all.


Best Dance Recording
Dance In the Dark. I also like Rocket and In For the Kill. Rhianna... not so much.

Best Soundtrack for Movie, TV, etc.
Twilight... ONLY because Metric is part of this nom and they totally deserve a trillion Grammy's haha.

So many questions, where are the answers?

For a while now, I've considered myself an atheist. However, recently I think I've started to realize that we really don't know that much about the universe. A lot of people claim to know (or at least carry on like they have all the answers) but really, no one knows for sure... Not the pope, not Richard Dawkins, no one. This greatly disturbs me. Is it so much to ask to just KNOW? Why are we here? Where do we go? Is there any deeper meaning? I honestly don't think these questions will ever be answered.

I guess I'm back to being agnostic.

All Hallow's Eve

For those of you haven't had the joy of living with me (or at least spending an extended amount of time with me), you probably aren't aware of how seriously I take holidays. I love decorating for the season and watching cheesey specials that every TV show seems to have for every holiday. My obsession extends so much that I even get pretty into holidays such as Easter (despite not being Christian), 4th of July, and Singles Awareness Day (my sort of pseudo-anti Valentines Day substitute). My favorite holiday, however, is Halloween. I LOVE Halloween. Maybe it's because I can turn off my inner skeptic for a while and pretend that ghost stories are real or maybe it's all the freaking sugar (or maybe it's that I can use it as an excuse to watch Sabrina the Teenage Witch...), something about Halloween tickles my fancy like no other holiday does.

It seems as I've grown older, my Halloween celebrations have changed... or at least the last three years they've changed. Until I was 17, I would go trick-or-treating around my entire neighborhood... and my dad came with until I was probably 15. When I was 18, I did an abridged version of trick-or-treating, mainly to show off my Sarah Palin costume. Last year, despite having an epic Pikachu costume, I just walked around West Lafayette. This year I carved a pumpkin, watched the first 12 Simpsons Treehouse of Horror episodes, watched 5 of the Sabrina Halloween specials (not that I own them on DVD or anything... Haha), and will soon be going out to go dancing. Yes, I realize it's a Sunday and I'm in college but let's be honest: I need a day off. Like completely off. And that's exactly what I did. Despite being an adult, I think I'll always be pretty child-like when it comes to Halloween and I hope that someday I can help make Halloween a magical experience for my kids kind of like my dad did for me. Also, it means I'll get to tag along with my kids trick or treating... something I sorely miss.

While this Halloween season has been a bit busy and different than most (I'm living in an apartment and not at home) and I haven't been able to celebrate as much as I'd like to, it still was a great season as always. I really look forward to next October rolling around. Hopefully I'll have time for lots of spooky stories, going on a ghost tour, and other activities that make this time of year so great.

High School... I miss thee?

I was just going through my photo albums on Facebook and trying to do some better organization/housekeeping of what exactly each photo album contains and when they were taken, etc. and something unexpected happened: I began to miss high school. As much as I complained the whole way through and said I'd get out and never look back, there really were a lot of good things about it. I had a lot of fun times with my friends (I actually had friends of the non-internet variety!) and there were a lot of good things... I don't miss it as much as I miss elementary school with Star Lab, summer road trips to Nonna and Nonno's house (and, once there, baking, going to movies, shopping, swimming, seeing fire works, playing with chalk, catching lightning bugs...), bad 90's music, stuffed animals (don't judge me lol), and generally less work... but I do miss some parts. I definitely miss a lot of my friends, too, such as Natalie, Katrina, Sam, Paige, Anne... I barely talk to any of them. We used to be so close and then drifted apart... I know a lot of it was my fault for being such a psycho but still... They still are some of the coolest people I've ever met. As much as I bitched about everyone at Totino Grace being clones and religious whackos there were good people there. And I always had my friends from St. Anthony. I think part of this may be because I didn't walk in graduation. I've said it once and I'll probably say it again but I feel like I never really got closure. I don't regret it, however. I mean... I never took a class at the school I graduated from. I dunno, I just wish time travel really was possible... or reincarnation, for that matter. I want to grow up again... but I want it to be with the same people and the similar experiences. I care about all of you too much and am truly thankful for my life so far.

But as for high school...
I miss the 7 Deadly Sins Game.
I miss going to Applebees for half price appetizers.
I miss walking places (Weird, I know...)
I miss living at home...
I'm actually thinking... maybe I should move back home. I haven't been emotionally right since I've moved out. I'm such a mess.

"I'd give, I'd bend... Let's play pretend."
-Pretend by Lights

God, what I'd give to be a kid again...

Day 30: Your favorite song at this time last year

Last year, I was at Purdue and my favorite song was "Going Away" by Meg & Dia because it basically described how I felt at the time... I was in a new place and didn't know how I'd handle it or how things would be. It was a new experience in a place where I knew NO ONE.

But I'm not gonna lie... I'm mainly glad that this blog challenge is over. I'm sick of writing a blog every day. I need some time to recharge. Also, I'm still exhausted/mind fucked from Lady Gaga last night... Who, by the way, is GLORIOUS.

I think I'm going to start reviewing all the concerts I go to starting with my next one so look for that starting mid-September.  Otherwise, I'm taking a few days off.

Day 29: A song from your childhood

Today's song is "2 Become 1" by the Spice Girls. The Spice Girls will always hold a special place in my heart because Spice World was the first CD I ever got. I took a lot of shit for that because, ya know, guys aren't allowed to like female singers. I've expressed my resentment of this social attitude in other blogs, however, so I won't touch on that.

Does anyone remember the movie Spice World? Great fucking movie. Trashy as all fuck, but really great. The aliens? The bomb in the bus? Epic. Just epic!!!

The reason I chose this song as opposed to another Spice Girls song is because it's really, really freakin' dirty. I listened to this song as a child and not only that but I'd sing along. "Come a little closer baby, get it on, get it on..." Great song for a 7 year old to be singing, right? Of course, I didn't know what the words meant. It's funny how so many songs from my childhood are like this... You listen to them years later and are blown away by what they're actually saying now that you understand it. This also happened to me with the movie Clueless. So many sex jokes and yet I was oblivious...

Anyone else have this happen? What song did you not realize what it REALLY meant when you were younger?

Day 28: A song that makes you feel guilty

Today's song is "Rock Steady" by No Doubt.

I'm not going to go into details on this one... =\

Day 27: A song that you wish you could play

Can I just say ANY song for today's blog? I mean, I can't play any instruments... No? Fuck, I need to come up with a specific song then.

Okay, well... One of the things I value in a musician is talent. This seems to be a foreign concept these days but I think singing, being able to play an instrument or two well, writing your own songs, etc. are crucial duties of someone who is a musician in the same way that a doctor needs to be able to recognize symptoms of diseases, prescribe medicines, etc. (except obviously doctors need to know a *little* more than musicians haha). It seems that very few pop stars these actually hold up to that standard... which is sad because I don't think that's that high of a standard. The one shining, glimmering, leather studded hope happens to be the lovely Lady Gaga. I know, a lot of people think she's just some weirdo space alien singer with no talent (I myself used to be a hater until I woke up) but really, she isn't at all. Take for, example, her song "Speechless."

"Speechless" isn't at all like what people think of when they think of usual Lady Gaga music. The woman shows off her voice and trust me, SHE HAS A VOICE. It's so powerful and she definitely lives up to all the hype she's getting. I also recommend looking up some of her acoustic stuff too. It's... incredible.

Beyond her amazing voice, Gaga is also fucking smart, too. She realizes that even though she's an amazing singer, that's not what sells so she makes music that's more poppy but still has a chance to show off her real music on the occasional track or at live shows. And she knows how to sell herself too while still being true to herself. Gaga is a fucking genius. There's no other way to describe her. If you don't like her, or at least acknowledge that the woman is talented as all fuck, there's something wrong with you.

Day 26: A song that you can play on an instrument

Great, as if I needed another reminder that I have no musical talent... For those of you who have known me for a while, you may remember my stint attempting to learn guitar toward the beginning of high school and end of middle school which ended when I dropped my Fender and its neck snapped. Yeah, not fun. By the way, I have a Fender with a broken neck I'd like to sell if anyone wants it. I'm guessing I won't get many offers on this one.

Anyway, there were like two actual songs I learned to play before that unfortunate incident... One of them was "Bathwater" by No Doubt, which was already covered in a previous blog so go read that if you want to hear about the glory of No Doubt (which I hope you already know about) and I could only play part of it, and  the other one was "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" by Green Day. Seriously, this song is super easy. It's all freakin' power chords.

As much as I'm really not into Green Day much anymore (I still like them but there's MUCH better music out there, trust me) they'll always hold a special place in my heart because they were the first real concert I went to waaaaay back in freshman year of high school with my buddy Kathryn. It was a really good show, not gonna lie, and a really good first concert. And it started an addiction that I still have to this day...

Day 25: A song that makes you laugh

WARNING: If you are easily offended... then why the fuck are you reading my blog, anyway?

Today's song is "You Made Me Gay" by the pure and Jesus approved band Gravy Train!!!!. Have a listen:



If that didn't make you at least giggle... there's something wrong with you.
I think the dancing cartoon characters in that video only add to the bizarreness of the song.

There's nothing I can really say about this one that the song doesn't say. What do you guys think?

In addition to the main song, here's a few other songs that I find amusing. Enjoy!

Secret - The Veronicas


Baby Jesus - Regina Spektor


Shoes - Kelly


My Girlfriend's Dead - The Vandals

Day 24: A song that you want to play at your funeral

What... a depressing topic. I don't have one song that I have on reserves in case of death (although I guess it doesn't really matter because I wouldn't be able to tell anyone to play it because of the whole being dead thing) so I'm not sure if I actually want this song played at my funeral or not... But I do think it's a pretty appropriate funeral song.

"It Just Is" by Rilo Kiley is the last song on their More Adventurous album, one of my absolute favorite albums of all time. This album is fucking genius. Rilo Kiley is kind of weird in that they straddle the line between country and alternative and it actually works really well. It doesn't hurt, however, that they are fronted by the adorable Jenny Lewis whose voice is almost as amazing as she is.

"It Just Is" is a lot like yesterday's song, "Love is a Place," in that it's very simple ("Love is a Place" is a lot simpler, however, in that it's basically an acoustic song). The lyrics repeat themselves and there's nothing overly fancy about the music, although it is a really climactic way to end the album. The lyrics are very fitting for a funeral, too...

This loss isn't good enough for sorry or inspiration
It's such a loss for the good guys
Afraid of this life
That it just is
'Cause everybody dies

It gives me chills every time I hear it. It's weird to think that everyone in the world right now that we know or see or that is alive will someday die. You, me, celebrities, politicians, the janitor at your place of employment... Everyone. Kind of depressing, but it's something we need to accept. Existence is finite. Yeah, it sucks, but denying it won't do us any good.

Day 23: A song that you want to play at your wedding

I'd like to start this blog out with a political message: LEGALIZE GAY MARRIAGE. It's time for marriage equality for all and to end second class citizenship in our country.

Now that we have that out of the way, it's time for a less weighty topic: Looooooove. Okay, that's probably equally as weighty. NOT THE POINT. While as of now I have no plans of getting married (although I feel socially pressured to so I'd probably marry the first person who came along).

Anyway, the song that I've always felt is the perfect love song because it describes what I imagine love to be like so perfectly is "Love Is A Place" by Metric.

What a perfect song for a first dance at a wedding. If you haven't heard this song, you NEED to listen to it. It's one of my favorites of all time. Emily's voice is so beautiful too and there's nothing complicated about it. Pure, simple musical goodness.

Here's an acoustic performance I happen to love:

Day 22: A song that you listen to when you're sad

I'd like to officially christen today "Emo Day" in honor of today's blog. It's all about the negative emotions, man. So let's dress in all black, find the nearest dark corner, and wallow.

Today's song is "Reason Why" by Rachael Yamagata. I was originally introduced to this song on a mix CD my sister in law made for me. Rachael's voice is beautiful and sad and you can hear the heartbreak in her voice. The lyrics are what really blow my mind so I'm going to share some of my favorite parts...


And you can tell the world what you want them to hear
I've got nothing left to lose, my dear
So, I'm up for the little white lies
But you and I know the reason why

This section I particularly related to in high school. I'd rather not get into why exactly, but let's just say I was in a situation with someone who I could tell was in complete denial... and it sucked.

But as close as I get to you
It's not the same

Mmmmmm... Love that line... It gives me shivers.

So, I will head out alone and hope for the best
We can pat ourselves on the back
As say that we tried
And if one of us makes it big
We can spill our regrets
And talk about how the love never dies
But you and I know the reason why
I'm gone, and you're still there

So raw, so emotional, so beautiful. Fuck, I wish I could write like that. I guess that's why I'm not a musician or poet. Science FTW!

I wish you well and hope you find
Whatever you're looking for
The way I might've changed my mind,
But you only showed me the door

That situation I mentioned before... That's kind of how I feel about it now. Whatever, I'm over it.

Day 21: A song that you listen to when you're happy

I've never really thought about how much my mood affects the music I listen to until writing today and yesterday's blog (and looking ahead to tomorrow to see that it's going to be another mood themed post). I really do tend to listen to music that fits my mood rather than music that fits the mood I'm going for (in which case I guess I'd just listen to happy music all the time haha). Even within bands that I listen to a lot of I'll have certain songs I'll listen to more depending on my mood. For example, take Metric: If I'm in a bad/depressed mood, I'll tend to listen to, "Empty," "London Halflife," or "Calculation Theme." If I'm in a good mood, however, it usually is something more like "Combat Baby," "Grow Up and Blow Away" and "Gimme Sympathy." Of course, how can "Gimme Sympathy" NOT put you in a good mood? It's so happy and fun.

I remember the first time I heard "Gimme Sympathy" it was on spin.com. Emily and Jimmy did an acoustic performance a few months before Fantasies was released and I was just in awe of that song. It was kind of a shock when I first heard the studio version because, needless to say, when I heard it the first time there were not as many soaring synths in the first version. Regardless, the song instantly clicked with me. The lyrics are so simple yet extremely deep... You can sense Metric's anxiety about getting bigger and if it will be a positive change or not.

The song asks the question, "Who would you rather be; the Beatles or the Rolling Stones?" This brings up my own question: Does Emily get asked who she'd rather be a lot? And if so, does she regret writing that line? I totally would. After about the sixth person who asked me I'd just be like... "Shut the fuck up. For real, it's not original and it's not cute." Of course, I have a feeling Emily is a lot less of an ass than I am =)

Day 20: A song that you listen to when you're angry

RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!
I HAVE SO MUCH RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGE!!!!!

No, totally kidding. I'm only mildly pissed off that my dad murdered my morning glories. But anger is the theme of the day so angry I shall be... GRRRRRRR!!!!

Today's song is "Emergency" by Paramore. Paramore and I go way back. I'm proud to say that I've been a fan long before any of this Twilight non-sense. They came into my life when I needed a particularly strong, angry teenage girl to relate to because my inner angry teenage girl (we all have one, don't deny it) was becoming a bit too rampant.

"Emergency" is the perfect angry at your lover (or in my case, crush) song. Sometimes they just act like an idiot and do stupid things and treat you less than how you should be treated and you're just like... RAWWWWWWWWWWWWR!!!!!!!! It really does feel like an emergency, like your relationship is a dog who was hit by a car... Horrible metaphor, I know. Either way, it's really easy to relate to and it's real. Kudos, Hayley, kudos!

Day 19: A song from your favorite album

I'd like to start out by admitting something: I'm getting really sick of this challenge. I'm sure many of you have noticed due to my relatively short posts that are filled with meaningless dribble... Oh wait, that isn't anything new, is it? Regardless, I refuse to give up when I'm almost 2/3 done! So please, bare with me loyal readers and randos who occasionally stop by over these next 11 days. We'll get through this together.

I'm not really sure what album would qualify as my favorite but one of my favorites of all time is the No Doubt classic Tragic Kingdom. Without question this album is one of the greatest albums of all time and if you think otherwise... I'll shiv you in the kidney.

A favorite track of mine has always been "Just A Girl." Holy fuck, that song rules so hard. It's super catchy and features one of my favorite features a song can possibly have, angry female vocals. Gwen's expressing her frustrations about being stereotyped because she's a girl, something I can relate to... kind of. Not about being a girl, but about being a man. My whole life there have always been these expectations about how I should be simply because I possess a penis and I've never really lived up to them so I've gotten a lot of shit. People would tell me, "You can't listen to bands with girl singers! That's GAY!" or "You can't be friends with girls unless you want to FUCK 'EM!" or "You look up to a woman? You can't do that!" Well you know what? Fuck you all. I'm sick of being told I have to fit this mold because I'm a man.

Yes, I like a lot of bands that have female singers. Their voices sound better to me. SO WHAT?

Yes, I consider Gwen Stefani to be my idol. She can teach anyone a thing or two, man or woman. SO WHAT?

Yes, I actually respect women on a non-sexual level and see past gender when it comes to abilities and qualifications... SO WHAT?

We need to get over these culturally set up gender roles. They're so stupid. And it's not like anyone perfectly fits them, either. So get over yourselves and stop acting like you're hot shit just because you (think you) live up to what society tells you a man should be.

Day 18: A song that you wish you heard on the radio

I'll repeat something I said yesterday: It's very rare that I actually listen to the radio apart from CBC Radio 3. So today is another day that really doesn't apply to me because I don't listen to the radio enough. I guess more than anything I'd like to hear some VARIETY on the radio. Even the short snipits of radio I hear always seem to be the same song. Come on, mix it up!

For that reason, today's song is by an artist who DOES mix things up. "Play Your Part (Part 1)" is the first track off of Girl Talk's Feed the Animals album, although the whole album really flows like one big song. Girl Talk takes popular songs from today and yesterday and mashes them up and puts them over a new beat so it seems completely fresh and new. It'd be nice to hear something like this on the radio... Not necessarily the Girl Talk mash up style but just a real VARIETY being played.

Also, if any of you are looking for a fantastic live show go see Girl Talk. He mixes the songs up even more so it's not like he just puts on a CD. His shows are INSANE. I can't wait for him to come back.

Day 17: A song that you hear often on the radio

I'm not much of a radio person because very rarely does the radio play anything I actually want to listen to (the one exception being CBC Radio 3... best radio station ever!) so for this one, I'm counting all the times I'm riding in someone else's car, commercials, TV shows, etc. This is a song I'm sure you're all familiar with and it goes a little something like this...

CAN WE PRETEND THAT AIRPLANES IN THE NIGHT SKY ARE LIKE SHOOTING STARS...

Yes, that's right: Today's song is "Airplanes" by B.o.B. feat. Hayley Williams. I love this song, largely because of Hayley, but it's waaaaaaay overplayed. I swear every time I turn on the TV it's in a commercial or something and on the off chance that I catch a bit of the radio it's ALWAYS PLAYING. I think the worst part, however, is that EVERYONE has it as their Facebook status. I mean, Jesus Christ... Every few minutes someone updates with, "Can we pretend that..." NO. NO YOU FUCKING CAN'T. SHUT YOUR PIE HOLE.

One of my favorite internet personalities, GloZell, does a lovely translation of this song. If you haven't seen it yet, check it out here:

Day 16: A song you used to love but now hate

When I began this challenge, there were certain artists I didn't think I'd ever add to my playlist. One of the was J. Beaver which I did a few days ago. Another is today's less than talented artist, Nickelback. Both artists hail from a country I happen to love, Canada. Normally, Canada produces music that is far superior to music found anywhere else. However, it seems like America still manages to find the talentless, generic, boring musicians up there and make them famous instead of more deserving musicians.

As embarrassing as it is to admit... There was a time when I liked Nickelback. Of course, I was in middle school and was mainly just doing it to fit in. I did, however, genuinely enjoy the song "Far Away" the first couple times I heard it. Then, like almost everything on the radio, it got over played and it began to make me want to take an ice pick to my head.

It was about this time, too, that I began to discover music on my own for the first time in my life instead of just listening to what was on the radio... I started listening to Green Day which eventually lead me to New Found Glory and No Doubt (don't ask me how that happened, I'm still not sure haha). From there I started listening to Rufio, Motion City Soundtrack, Tsunami Bomb... Then I discovered Metric which lead me to Stars, Broken Social Scene, and all of the GOOD music Canada has to offer. I branched out and figured out what I liked to listen to and finally stopped giving a fuck what people told me to listen to and it forever changed my life.

Day 15: A song that describes you

If asked to describe myself in one word, the word "insecure" is one of the first that comes to mind. Thankfully, I've learned to deal with insecurities (and there are many of them!) much better than I did when I was a teenager largely thanks to one woman who happens to be just as insecure as I am: Gwen Stefani. Yes, you read that correctly; despite being one of the most attractive and talented women on the planet, Gwen went through her own insecure phase and it is documented on No Doubt's album "Return of Saturn." One song where Gwen's insecurities become particularly apparent is "Magic's in the Makeup." While I can't relate to the makeup aspect of the song, I can relate to her feeling unsure about your identity and feeling the need to hide part of yourself in order to attract a mate.

The second verse of this song is one of my favorite verses from any song ever. It goes like this:

If you bore me then I'm comfortable
If you interest me I'm scared
My attraction paralyzes me
No courage to show my true colors that exist

But I want to be the real thing
But if you catch my eye can't be authentic
The ones I loath are the one's
That know me the best

That's exactly how I feel whenever I find someone attractive; I get so afraid that I can't do anything about it and end up coming off as this awkward weirdo (not a far cry from reality, I guess haha). I know it's normal to be nervous but I think I take it to a new level in that I can't move or speak or anything. Kinda pathetic.

On a side note, this blog marks the halfway point through my 30 day blog challenge... Woo hoo! Not gonna lie, kinda ready for this to be over. As much as I've enjoyed picking a song for each day, sometime it's hard to find stuff to say about each song. I am, however, going to keep going. Only 15 days left!

Day 14: A song no one would expect you to like

Those of you who know me (and I'm assuming that's all of you unless my blog has somehow attracted creepers) know that there's one type of music I can't stand: country (the new stuff, anyway). Today's song, however, is from that awful genre and I happen to LOVE it. The song is "Whiskey Lullaby" by Brad Paisley and Allison Krauss. This song is so sad but so beautiful and Brad and Allison's voices harmonize so perfectly. If only all country music were like this. The story of the song is so sad and heartbreaking but it's also real. There are probably thousands of untold stories of people who become alcoholics after losing a lover.

This seems like it would be a good blog to share a sad, intimate story of me losing a lover... but I don't have any such stories. Sorry, guys. =)

Day 13: A song that is a guilty pleasure

I generally try not to feel bad about any of the music I like but there is some that I definitely feel loses me a lot of man points. One such song... is everything by Kelly Clarkson. I might as well bedazzle my vajazzle because you don't get more femme than miss Clarkson. Don't get me wrong, she's a fantastic singer but most men don't admit to listening to her.

One song that I happen to love by Kelly is the live version of Beautiful Disaster. Holy fuck does that woman have some pipes! And the lyrics are perfect. There are so many times in my life where this song has fit my life to a T.

This song is a perfect example of a song that is much better as an acoustic song than the original. The original version is... meh. Not such a fan of it. The music and the lyrics don't really match up. You can't really feel the emotion that you do in the live version. I feel the same way about every cover of "Umbrella" that's ever been done; they're MUCH better than the original.

Day 12: A song from a band you hate

Does it have to be by a band? No? Okay, sweet! "Baby" by Justin Bieber is my choice, then. This song is... awful. I actually haven't heard it the full way through nor do I have any plans to change that. The first time I heard it was on TV while I was in a different room and I was like... Who is this horrible woman singing? Then I entered the room and say the TV was like... Who is this horrible LESBIAN singing? Then I found out who it was and I was horrified that such an awful musician (if you can call him that... I hear he doesn't write his own music... -.-) was selling millions of records and making little girls' jinies tingle.

The worst part isn't his horrible music; it's his fans. They're insane. Like... legitimately insane. They sent death threats to one of the Kardashians when she was spotted with Justin and he was into. Come on, girls, let's be honest: Were you not expecting that? I think the Kardashians are a bunch of pseudo-celebrities but even I'll acknowledge that they're fine as hell. And most of you are either 12 and wear glasses/are over weight or give a whole new meaning to the term "cougar" (in that you're 50 and not still hot and lusting after a 12 year old boy). Add on your creepy and blatant mental illness/stalking of him and it's pretty goddamn obvious that he'd of after one of the Kardashians.

What's worse is how disrespectful you are in times of world crisis. When Haiti was happening you insisted on making fag boy a TT on Twitter? NOT COOL. Hundreds of thousands of people died and you're just like, "Tee hee! Let's ignore the world crisis and talk about some shitty pop star!" There are more important things than him, got it? You don't see me tweeting about No Doubt or Metric when there's a major world event going on, do you? No. So grow the fuck up. I realize you're mainly 10 year olds or old women with the mental capacity of a 10 year old but seriously, didn't your parents teach you better?

Overall, I'm really disappointed with these new pop stars lately and it's not because I'm one of those people who thinks all new music is shit and that the Beatles are the only good band to ever exist or anything like that... It's that they are genuinely awful. Ke$hit? Beaver? Taylor Swift, who can't carry a tune live? These are the best that music has to offer? Wow. Kinda sad. I guess that I have the attitude that musicians should be able to, you know, sing or play an instrument well but I guess I'm the only one. We'd rather have someone who looks good... or a Canadian lesbian with a sideswiped haircut.

Day 11: A song from your favorite band

I realize I've been kinda skimping on the blog post the last few days; while I have been doing them, they haven't been very long and were kind of rushed. I've been hella stressed from jury duty and haven't exactly had enough time to write long, extensive blogs.

As many of you know, I consider both No Doubt and Metric to be my favorite band and use them interchangeably seeing as I'm pretty goddamn obsessed with them. I have already written a heartfelt blog about Metric, however, so today's blog goes to No Doubt (although I'd probably write about them anyway).

The song I chose for today is "Simple Kind of Life" because this song was what originally sparked my obsession though I really didn't know it at the time. When I was younger, going to my grandma's house was a treat for many reasons one of which happened to be that she had cable when we didn't at home. I stuck mainly to Disney, Nickelodeon, and Cartoon Network as most 10 year olds would but I had been hearing about this station called MTV from some of my more badass peers. Wanting to be one of the cool kids, I felt the need to check it out. One day when my parents and grandparents were out of the room I flipped through channels until I found MTV. I was enthralled by all the weird ass people who were apparently among America's coolest.

The show that happened to be on was TRL. Remember that show? People would call in or go online or use carrier pigeons to vote for their favorite videos and then they'd countdown the top 10. They wouldn't play the whole video, however, just part of it with the occasional shot of an audience member making a shout out and screaming, "WOOOOOO!!!" After some babble and shots of some beautifully robotic people, they decided to play the first video. I was perplexed by the video they showed. I wondered who the strange, pink haired woman was running around smashing wedding cakes...



Little did I know that someday that bizarre pink haired woman would be tattooed on my leg. I watched the whole thing but decided that, no matter how much I liked the song, I couldn't listen to it yet because it was "adult music" and I was only 10 (I was a weird child, don't judge me) so I didn't look much into it but that video stuck with me. Shortly thereafter, I entered a phase where I literally didn't listen to music for a few years. Ironic considering how I am now, I know.

Eventually, I got over my no music phase but it took a few years. As soon as I did, one of the first bands I got into was No Doubt and it didn't take me long to become obsessed because they're just that great. I can't even begin to describe how much this band has meant to me. Their music has gotten me through so much and I've met so many wonderful people because of them. I can't imagine life without them. It would be... awful.

Day 10: A song that makes you fall asleep

I'm one of those people who needs complete and total silence to fall asleep so there really isn't a song that makes me fall asleep to. However, there are some songs that are better to fall asleep to than others. One of the better songs happens to be "Winning" by Emily Haines and the Soft Skeleton. I've said it before and I'll say it again: Emily has an AMAZING voice. Normally, with Metric, she sticks to harder, more rock style music. In her solo music, on the other hand, she had the chance to show off just how beautiful her voice is with a bunch of slower piano music. This song is incredible and features of of Emily's amazing lyrics.

On the topic of sleep, sleep is one of my favorite things ever. I wouldn't mind being in a coma... as long as I wasn't secretly conscious and just couldn't express myself. Cause that'd suck. And not being able to shower would suck to cause I'd staaaaank. Anyway, off the topic of comas and into regular sleep... It seems no matter how much I sleep, I'm always tired and I always want more. Perhaps I'm lazy. Or I just have really weird sleep needs. Or I'm dying... Hopefully not that last one o.O

Also: This song isn't on the site I make my playlists on so I put another song by Em on there. Here's a video of it live, though.

Day 9: A song that you can dance to

I use the term "dance" very liberally.

I can't dance to any music but "Hurt You" by the Sounds makes me want to try. The funky electronic beat is super catchy and the vocals are perfect... I love when there are both male and female vocals. My favorite line is, "Don't want to hurt you, try not to fuck with your feelings..."

Day 8: A song that you know all the words to

I could've chosen many songs for today's blog because I spend more time memorizing song lyrics than I do pretty much anything else, including studying. If only No Doubt would come out with an album about genetics... Anyway, the song I ultimate chose is "Bathwater" by No Doubt. I've been looking for a reason to write about this song and today seemed like a good day to do so.

"Bathwater" is one of my favorite songs ever. It's really quirky and not like any other song I can think of. I love the constant beat and the trumpets. Gwen sounds really old school and the song has a kind of... burlesque feel, for lack of a word to describe it. Interesting fact about this song: It was written the night before it was recorded in like 10 minutes. How awesome is that?

Probably my favorite thing about this is song is the video for it. Have a watch below. Can you spot Adrian dressed in drag? =)

Day 7: A song that reminds you of a certain event

FYI: I added the playlist that was on the first post to the right side of my blog. Have a listen to the songs I've been writing about!

I know this song has lot of special meaning to many people, but to me, "Angel" by Sarah McLachlan holds something different for me. Most people associate it with that sad puppy commercial, and let's be honest, I do too, but more than that it reminds me of something that happened when I was in 7th grade.

Every New Years since I was little, my family has had a tradition where we invite some family friends over and they spend a night or two here celebrating. The year I was in 7th grade was no exception. New Years day my friend, Tara, and I were up late watching TV when my brother came into the room and asked, "Joe, do you know Jessica Mayer at all?" I said that yes, I did just not very well. We had band and gym together, though, and her locker was right next to mine. I asked him why he wanted to know and he said he was just wondering so I brushed it off.

The next morning, I was playing Beyond Good and Evil on my Gamecube when my mom came into the room and told me to turn it off because she had something she needed to tell me. I asked if I could just pause it and she said that no, I needed to turn it off and come sit down at the kitchen table. I did as I was told and she began to tell me something that would change my life forever.

The night before, Jessica and her two sisters were driving to the bachelorette party for their brother's wedding when they were involved in a car accident. Jessica was killed instantly and her sisters did not survive much longer. This was my first real encounter with death. I had pets that had died in the past but this was the first time that a person I knew had died.

A few days later winter break ended and we returned to school, not knowing how everyone would be reacting. I came into school and everyone was tying white ribbon on the locks of their lockers and Jessica's locker had a picture of her up on it. People were sitting in the halls and classrooms talking to each other, crying, hugging... each one trying to make sense of what had happened. We talked about it in every class that day (except math... our math teacher still tried to teach us a lesson but we were honestly too upset to really comprehend it). Teachers cried. The one that has stuck with me most was my band teacher crying... Actually, pretty much everyone in that class cried. Some were just paralyzed and sat in silence. In gym, we just sat in groups and talked about what happened. None of us could believe that Jessica was really gone.

The moment that it really hit me the most was the end of the day when I went to my locker to get my things and head home. Normally, Jessica would be there smiling and ask me what homework we had but not today or ever again, for that matter. It was strange how something so little was what affected me the most. It really made me stop to think about the little things in life and how I shouldn't take anything, or anyone, for granted.

By now you're probably thinking, "Okay Joey, that's really sad but what does this have to do with the sad puppy song?" Well, I'm getting there. Don't get your panties in a bunch.

Fast forward a week or two. Jessica's funeral, my first funeral, had come and gone, with 90% of the 7th grade class along with most of the St. Anthony Middle School staff attending. It was now time for everyone's favorite awkward middle school event, the Friday night dance (or, the P.C. version that my middle school referred to it as, the "activity night"). You know that anything starting at 7 and ending at 11 is going to be a GOOD TIME especially when coupled with a bunch of hormonal pre-teens who were just discovering the magic of grinding.

During this dance, however, something different happened, something profound that's memory still lingers with me to this day. After the DJ got done playing "Get Low" or some other raunchy generic rap hit of 2003, he stopped the music and said, "Okay guys, we're going to slow it down for one song. We'd like to dedicate this song to Jessica Mayer. We'll never forget you, Jess." And he was right; we never have.

The song he played was "Angel" by Sarah McLachlan (bet you didn't see that one coming!!!). At first, everyone just kind of stared at each other. None of us knew what to do. Then, slowly, people began to sit down. Soon everyone was sitting down and many of them, including myself, were crying. I had never heard this song before but it seemed to so perfectly fit the situation we were in. It was encouraging to see everyone, even complete strangers who had never spoken to Jessica, being so respectful and mourning such a loss with us.

Now, every time I hear this song I am reminded of that cold January night and, more importantly, of what Jessica's death taught us all: Be grateful for the simple things because you never know when they'll be gone. Take the time to appreciate those around you, no matter how well you know them, because they may not be in your life much longer. And, most of all, live your life the way you want to, never wasting even a single day, because you never know when it'll all be over.

Day 6: A song that reminds you of somewhere

"No One Sleeps When I'm Awake" by the Sounds reminds me a lot of my time at Purdue largely because that's when I really got into the Sounds. Actually, I really got into a lot of music there, come to think of. I really wasn't enjoying myself as much as I could've been so I guess music was my escape like it always has been. The Sounds, Lights, Paramore, and, of course, No Doubt and Metric... They made things seem alright. I also started realizing something about myself there. Something that I never thought would happen to me but these feelings and urges just kept building inside of me and I couldn't deny it any longer.

I realized that I...

FUCKING LOVE LADY GAGA.
She is glorious. Fucking glorious.

Day 5: A song that reminds you of someone

Today's song takes us way back to the 90's... or the early 2000's, I don't remember. The early 2000's are basically an extension of the 90's. But that's beside the point. The song is "Juliet" by LMNT and it reminds me of one of my BBFs, the lovely Maxi Moroni. I remember when this song first came out I used to listen to it on Radio Disney all the freaking time and sing along. Now the only thing that has changed is the Radio Disney listening to part. I remember last summer we were riding in Maxi's car and she played this song and it brought back so many memories... I wish trashy pop music were as glorious today as it was in the 90's. The only trashy pop music I'd classify as glorious these days is Lady Gaga.

Day 4: A song that makes you sad

It's day 4 of the 30 day song challenge and today's theme is "a song that makes you sad." I chose the song "Pretend" by Lights. I happen to adore Lights; not only does she make really good music but she's REAL PURTY!!!! I mean, look at this picture I stole from her Facebook:



LOOK AT THAT FACE. It's soooo... symmetrical.

But this blog isn't about me being a creep, it's about this lovely song that happens to make Joey very nostalgic. I turned 20 just over a week ago and it's been really sinking in that I'm not a child anymore and you know what? I had a pretty damn good childhood. Nothing overly traumatic happened (well, until I was like 16, anyway) and I lived a pretty easy life. And best of all, I got to just play all of the time and didn't have to work hard in school (which really fucked me over for college haha). I got to do a lot of things Lights sings about; Drinking soda (or that sparkly grape shit) instead of wine, water gun fights, play fights in general... Don't get me wrong, I love me some wine but I'd give it all up to be a child again. Things were just better back then.

Some things I miss: Game Boys, Pokemon, playing cops and robbers, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, old episodes of the Simpsons, Nickleodeon, Beanie Babies, getting dressed up for Halloween, Christmas in general, playing Legos, going to my grandma's in Illinois and catching lightning bugs, the Fun Fest at my elementary school, chalk, sledding down my neighbor's hill, sleepovers, Skip Its, biking, bad 90's music, being able to get by on 7 hours of sleep, doing nothing all summer, getting special treatment because I was so young, ghosts in the graveyard, freeze tag, my friend's basement, N64 (I miss this one A LOT haha), the Spice Girls, movies like Clueless, being innocent and carefree, Joe and Tara's Bar (don't ask haha), awkward middle school dances, calling people do see if they wanted to play, looking forward to college and the future and having endless possibilities ahead of me...

I wish I could go back.

Day 3: A Song That Makes You Happy

Today's song is The Sweet Escape by God (a.k.a. Gwen Stefani) featuring Akon. How can this song NOT make you happy? It makes me just want to snap my fingers and sing along. I remember when the album of the same name came out this song was one I instantly clicked with despite that album... not being my favorite of Gwen's work.

On a related note, I'm really looking forward to No Doubt's new album. I've been waiting for this for YEARS. YEEEEEEEEARS. Apparently they have nine songs done already, too!!! Hopefully by this time next year we'll have some brand new ND and a tour to boot!

Day 2: Your Least Favorite Song

Much like my favorite song, I had a lot of trouble picking this one. Harder than picking my favorite, actually, because let's keep it real: There's a lot of shit music out there. I was going to do a Ke$ha song but I couldn't pick just one because they're all so horrible... Kate Nash almost made the cut with that "Mariella" song but then I remembered this piece of shit that I was forced to listen to back when I started working at PacSun... It's called "I Wish I Was A Punk Rocker" by Sandi Thom and it's just... really bad. We'd have customers stop and say to us, "What the fuck is this horrible song playing?" and none of the employees liked it either. In fact some of the people who've worked at PacSun for 3+ years still remember and complain about it. The lyrics are probably what makes it so bad. I mean, they're just really stupid. It's like... Shut yo trap, guuuuurl. No one cares. And punk rockers don't wear flowers in their hair, idiot. That's a fucking hippy. IDIOT.

Day 1: Your Favorite Song

It was really hard for me to decide on a song to do for this one. I listen to a lot of music and picking just one song as my favorite of all time? Shit. A couple came to mind. Among them: "Simple Kind of Life," "Sunday Morning," and "Rock Steady" by No Doubt, "A Man/Me/Then Jim" by Rilo Kiley, "Emergency" by Paramore, and a few others... but one song stood out and that song is "Hustle Rose" by Metric.

The first time I heard this song I wasn't blown away. It was like a few other songs where I've been like, "Whoa, this song rules!!" But for some reason I kept listening. From the beginning, from the very first line, this song rules; "Behold the fishnet slut tonight..." Behold indeed. After repeating "Now that your wallet is all lit up" over minimalist synths for around 30 seconds, the real beauty of the song starts: Emily's soft, haunting voice over piano turning... and then bursting into a musical experience like something you'll never know. I can't even come up with the words to describe it. Probably the most spectacular part, however, is the breakdown that closes out the song. Turn it up loud, close your eyes, and shut out the rest of the world and your mind will be blown in such a way that you'll never be able to recover... not that you'd want to.

This song also has a lot of personal meaning to me. Back in high school while I was going through all my depression and eating disorder shit, I'd listen to this song a lot. It honestly is one of the reasons I'm still alive today. I'd just sit there in awe and think... How can something this beautiful exist and the whole world be bad? There is good out there, you just need to search for it.

Also, for those who don't know, the tattoo on my back is from this song.

30 Day Song Challenge

K so in case you haven't noticed I've really neglected my blog for the last few months. It's kinda hard to keep up with school and what not but I really should try to get back into the habit. To kinda force myself to do so, I'm undertaking one of those "30 Day Challenges!" Not gonna do the letters one because most of them don't really apply to me (i.e. I don't have any ex's, don't have a crush unless you count my biology lust object, etc.) so I found this nifty little one... The 30 Day Song Challenge! Here's the list of each song for each day:

Day 01 – Your favorite song
Day 02 – Your least favorite song
Day 03 – A song that makes you happy
Day 04 – A song that makes you sad
Day 05 – A song that reminds you of someone
Day 06 – A song that reminds of you of somewhere
Day 07 – A song that reminds you of a certain event
Day 08 – A song that you know all the words to
Day 09 – A song that you can dance to
Day 10 – A song that makes you fall asleep
Day 11 – A song from your favorite band
Day 12 – A song from a band you hate
Day 13 – A song that is a guilty pleasure
Day 14 – A song that no one would expect you to love
Day 15 – A song that describes you
Day 16 – A song that you used to love but now hate
Day 17 – A song that you hear often on the radio
Day 18 – A song that you wish you heard on the radio
Day 19 – A song from your favorite album
Day 20 – A song that you listen to when you’re angry
Day 21 – A song that you listen to when you’re happy
Day 22 – A song that you listen to when you’re sad
Day 23 – A song that you want to play at your wedding
Day 24 – A song that you want to play at your funeral
Day 25 – A song that makes you laugh
Day 26 – A song that you can play on an instrument
Day 27 – A song that you wish you could play
Day 28 – A song that makes you feel guilty
Day 29 – A song from your childhood
Day 30 – Your favorite song at this time last year

And here's a player with all the songs from each day... Well, most of them. This website doesn't have a lot of songs on it so who knows what I'll be able to post and what I won't be able to.

I want to remember this forever

The tour manager opened the door and they came out, Emily first. I shook their hands and introduced myself. I told them I was a huge fan and said thank you for helping me through a lot of the hard times. Jimmy was freaking awesome. I congratulated them on Twilight. Michelle said to show them my tattoo so I took off my shirt and showed it to them and they all seemed to really like it. Jimmy asked me if I wanted them to sign anything and I asked them to sign my sign I had made. I had a pen but Jimmy was like, "We'll get a Sharpie so it'll be much more dynamic." He was so friendly, it was awesome. I stepped aside and asked Emily how she liked being on Lilith and she said it was really cool. Joules said it was like 106 most of the other dates so it was nice to be inside and then Jimmy said he was disappointed it wasn't at Canterbury because he wanted to bet on some dogs. They said bye and went back into their dressing room but Joules stayed and we talked for a bit and then he gave me a hug. I thanked him again and said hopefully I'd be seeing them again soon and that I was trying to get up to Toronto to see them and he said that it was an incredible place...

Best night ever.

I've never been more grateful to be alive or for my life. Once again, Metric has given me hope in humanity and has been a beacon of hope in my life.

My Ultimate No Doubt Setlist

I've been asked to come up with my ultimate set list for a No Doubt show. The rules:
1. No covers (besides Stand and Deliver and It's My Life)
2. Only 20 songs.

I decided I'm going to do it and post it here for any No Doubters (that includes you randos who stumble across this... Don't be afraid to comment! I love meeting new No Doubters!) to comment on, discuss, post their own, etc. I've also included an explanation of why I included some songs/why I put them where I did. So, without further adieu, here it is!

1. New
I like the way this one starts off kinda slow and then builds and climaxes. It'd be the perfect way to start out a show!
2. Hella Good
Gotta keep the energy up from New and get the crowd PUMPED and there's no better song to do so than this.
3. Hey Baby
Keeping it in the poppy Rock Steady theme...
4. It's My Life
5. You're So Foxy
I've always LOVED this song and wish it would have been on an album or even a single.
6. Running
Gotta slow it down a bit to give some contrast and I think this would be a good transition.
7. Acoustic version of Magic's in the Makeup
I LOVE THIS SONG. And I love the acoustic recording. And seeing it live would make me cream myself.
8. Simple Kind of Life
9. Ex-Girlfriend
To bring the energy back up... And I love rocking out to this one.
10. Sunday Morning
Time to bring the ska vibes
11. Total Hate '95
LOVE THIS SONG.
12. Sometimes
I've always loved this and it'd be cool to see some REALLY old school No Doubt.
13. Underneath It All
14. Everything In Time (either version... I like both!)
Another one I thought should've been on an album...
15. Bathwater
16. Platinum Blonde Life
I just think this song would be epic live.
17. Don't Speak

Encore

18. Spiderwebs
19. Rock Steady
One of my favorite songs off Rock Steady. =)
20. Just A Girl
The perfect ending... Everyone'll be expecting it but at the same time, they'll be kind of afraid that they're not gonna do it. Gwen doing her push ups, shouting "Fuck you, I'm a girl!!"... What better way to remember a show by than this?

Best of 2010... so far

As I'm writing this, I'm listening to fireworks go off for July 4th. This means the year is a little over halfway over so I think it's time to reflect back on some of the musical gems that have come out so far this year. I usually do a top 10 around December (and by usually I mean I did one for 2009 and plan on continuing the tradition) so for the halfway point, I'm going to pick five of my favorites. Check back in December to see if they're still here or if they get outshined!

"Heart of my Own" by Basia Bulat

I hadn't heard of Canadian singer Basia Bulat until I started listening to the CBC Radio 3 Breakfast Club podcast in January. One of the first podcasts I listened to (actually, I think THE first) was one with Basia talking about her new album. I thoroughly enjoyed her music so I downloaded it and was very pleasantly surprised how good the whole thing was. She has a sort of quiver to her voice but it's not annoying or bad or anything; it actually makes her more distinct. Her music has a very simple, rustic folksy sort of feel to it which is enhanced by a lot of the gold rush imagery she uses. My favorite track is probably the title track or "If Only You." Go have a listen!

"Die Stadt Muzikanten" by Woodpigeon

Another Canadian artist (surprise, surprise knowing me!) that I discovered via CBC Radio 3. I generally prefer female vocals but Woodpigeon definitely qualifies as an exception to that rule. Their lead singer's voice is very pleasant sounding and pure. I strongly recommend "Woodpigeon vs. Eagleowl (Strength in Numbers)." That was the song that originally got me to give them a listen. It was one of those songs that I heard on the radio and I was instantly like, "WHO IS THIS?!" and is probably one of my favorite songs of the year.

"Rat a Tat Tat" by Jason Collett

Jason Collett is another recent discovery of mine and I'm already obsessed with him. He has a very raw feel to his music and I love it. My favorite songs are "Love is a Chain," which makes use of one of my favorite instruments, the trumpet (Once a ska kid, always a ska kid!), and "Northern Light Letdown." His lyrics are absolutely amazing and he seems like a really cool dude which only adds to his appeal.

"Forgiveness Rock Record" by Broken Social Scene

I have been waiting for the album for SOOOOOO long. Broken Social Scene is a Canadian indie clusterfuck of sorts that features musicians such as Jason Collett, Feist, Amy Milan, and of course, the goddess herself, Emily Haines. They've always had an eclectic experiment sound that kind of plays around with music in ways that most bands wouldn't dare to try and this album is no exception. However, it has more of a rock feel to it. My favorite song, without question, is "Sentimental X's" which features Emily Haines, Feist, and Amy Milian on vocals... PURE FREAKIN' BLISS. I can't describe how beautiful that song is. Other favs include "All to All" and "Texico Bitches."

"All Shapes and Disguises" by Tonight Alive

The only non-Canadian to make it on this list, Tonight Alive is an Australian band I recently discovered. They have a female front so they're getting a lot of comparisons to Paramore but I don't think they sound that much alike. TA has their own sound, as does Paramore, and just because they both have female singers doesn't mean they're the same. Anywho, this album will rock your panties off and then some. Currently I'm addicted to "To Die For," the first track, but I also really enjoy their cover of Rufio's "In My Eyes." This is probably my favorite album over all so far so if you download any of these, make it this one!

A Simple Kind of Life

What am I looking for in a mate? (Yes, mate. Biology FTW!) Nothing complicated...

Someone who will go to shows with me.
Someone who talk about genetics with me even if it's just to humor me.
Someone who will listen to Emily Haines with me.
Someone who will text me just because.
Someone who will put me before anyone else.
Someone who will listen to the rain with me.
Someone with sexy tattoos.
Someone who is okay with my mood swings and meltdowns.
Someone I can look at all day and late into the night.
Someone who is okay when I talk Pokemon.

And most importantly...
Someone who realizes that Gwen and Emily will ALWAYS be number 1 in my life.
A man's gotta have his priorities, right?





Why is this so hard to find?

The Past is a Place You Can Never Return To

"As we go on
We remember
All the times we
Had together
And as our lives change
From whatever
We will still be
Friends forever"

"Graduation (Friends Forever)" by Vitamin C

Anyone else remember that song? It seems like forever ago that it came out. I used to always listen to it around this time of year and imagine myself graduating high school and how sad I'd be to say goodbye to everyone. Well, last year it finally happened for real. High school was... over.

Now, it's been a year since my graduation and it's time for another class to graduate and move on to the next phase of their lives. For the first time in your lives, you'll have complete control over what you do. Some of you may choose to begin working right away. Others may take some time off to travel or volunteer or do whatever it is you need to do. Most of you will go on to college and then who knows what. I'd like to offer some advice to any of you who will be moving on to college. As many of you know, I took college classes my senior year so I've technically already finished two years of college and these are just a few things I wish someone would have told me before I started my first semester.

Freshman year, take as many of your general ed requirements as possible. Many people want to start on their major as soon as possible (I know I did!) but it's best to to get your generals out of the way. Chances are they're the classes you don't want to take anyway and it's best to get them out of the way so you don't have to take them later. Besides, no matter what your major is, you'll have to do them anyway. This way, if you change majors you won't have wasted your time.

While doing the above, take at least one of your generals in your planned major. This will give you a chance to see what the major you're planning on going into is REALLY like. College is a lot different than high school. For example, I slept through the semester of high school chemistry I had and I still got an A. When I got to college, I had to work my ass off to do well. It was quite a shock!

Don't be afraid to change majors. This is especially true your first year. It's best to do it right away, anyway, so you don't have to go an extra year or take summer classes. Any classes you have already taken won't be wasted: They'll count as electives toward graduation and possibly as general requirements as well. Most people change majors. When I started college, I wanted to be a movie director. I changed majors a couple times and am now a psychology major and am also doing pre-med. Pretty big switch, right? As you go out and take classes, experience new things, and meet people you'll realize things about yourself and your interests and skills that will affect your educational choices.

Join at least one student group. Chances are there are trillions of student groups at your school and there is probably one that you'll be interested in. This is also how you'll make a lot of your friends (in addition to those you meet in your dorm, if you live in the dorm, and your classes) and it'll look good on a resume to be involved with SOMETHING. Besides, you never know what opportunities will come your way because of your involvement!

Be prepared to work hard. College is portrayed a lot differently in the media than how it actually is. Those people who are out partying all the time? They're the ones who fail out of college or end up graduating in seven years. College is a LOT of work. You'll have a lot of freedom but there's also a LOT of work. Nothing I can say will you prepare you for it. It'll be a shock at first but you'll be able to handle it. Just don't get behind because it's a lot harder to catch up than it is to do the work in the first place.

Don't be afraid to drop a class, take a class over the summer, or transfer. I dropped a class my first semester and I thought I would die. Turns out pretty much everyone does it and having one or two W's on your transcript isn't a big deal. Most people will end up taking a summer class, too. Usually it is to catch up on credits from dropped classes or semesters where you don't take as many credits. Transferring is also an option if you end up not liking where you chose to go to school. I did it and it was definitely a good decision. It's another one of those things that it's best to get it done early so 1) you don't spend 2-3 years somewhere you don't like and 2) if any of your credits don't transfer correctly you can retake any classes you need to. Again, those classes will transfer as electives and will count toward your overall graduation requirement.

I have much more I could say but I think I've covered most of the major points I wanted to make. Congratulations to the class of 2010. Enjoy the last time you'll spend with your classmates. Life will take all of you in many different directions and who knows who when, or if, you'll see each other again. Take this summer easy. Have fun and make lots of friends in college. And most of all, get excited because the rest of your lives start sooner than you think.

Not to out myself as a nerd or anything...

... but I wrote a paper for my Anthropology of Dreaming and Myth class about The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Some of you may know it as THE GREATEST VIDEO GAME OF ALL TIME. Seriously, I have the soundtrack on my iPod (and I actually listen to it!) (I shouldn't have admitted that, should I?) Several of you had requested to read it so I thought I'd post it on here for anyone who so desires to take a gander at... But remember, per my last blog, it's copyright me so don't even think of stealing it you plagiarizing little shit heads.

The Hero of Time

    In our modern culture of science and rationality, it can often seem that we don’t have a need or place for myths and legends, dismissing them as nonsense or primitive legends that only existed as explanations for why things happened before science unraveled many of the mysteries of our world. Joseph Campell warns, however, that without a modern myth we may be overdue for an ecological disaster. Not to argue with an esteemed anthropologist like Mr. Campell, but it seems to me that modern myths and legends are all around. The stories of fictional characters such as Harry Potter and Santa Claus have become integrated into our culture as myths, as have the lives of many historical figures such as George Washington and Marilyn Monroe. Unlike the myths of the past, however, our myths may be told through a variety of mediums that did not exist until the advent of electricity and modern machinery such as radio, film, and animation. One platform that myths may be displayed upon that is often over looked is that of video games. Since their invention, video games have developed story lines that are exponentially more complex than those of early video games such as Pac Man and the original Super Mario Brothers. A perfect example of such complexity can be found in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. The story of Link’s quest to save his homeland, Hyrule, featured in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time follows Joseph Campell’s monomyth outline almost perfectly and is thus a shining example of a modern day myth.
    The game starts out with a nightmare that features two characters that will become very important in the plot later on: Zelda, princess of Hyrule, and Ganondorf, king of the otherwise all female Gerudo tribe. In the dream, Zelda is riding away on a horse from Ganondorf. This is a scene that will be repeated later in the game and the clairvoyant nature of this dream is the introduction of the supernatural elements that will be found throughout the story. As Link wakes, the scene for the beginning of the legend is set: Link lives in the Kokiri forest, a forest inhabited by a tribe known as the Kokiri, who stop aging at a young age and thus remain children forever. Each Kokiri has a fairy that follows him or her around, offering advice and companionship. Until this particular day, Link was without a fairy but Link is awoken from his nightmare by the fairy, Navi, who will soon become his companion fairy. She tells Link that he must come with her to speak to the Great Deku Tree, guardian of the forest. Link follows and the Deku tree informs him that he is cursed and asks him to go inside him and break the curse. This serves as the first part of the monomyth, the call to action. Campell (2008) says that “typical of the circumstances of the call are the dark forest, the great tree, ... and the loathly, underestimated appearance of the carrier of the power of destiny” (p. 43). Link’s call contains all of these; a child living in the forest is called by a guardian tree to help save him and, as soon revealed, the world.
    Because this is a video game and there needs to be something for the player to do, the second part of the monomyth, the refusal of the call to adventure, is not present in the story line. Instead, Link accepts the Deku Tree’s charge. After the curse is broken, the Deku Tree tells him that even though Link succeeded, the tree’s death was inevitable because he has been cursed by an evil man. The Deku Tree tells Link he must leave the forest and stop the man who did this to him before he causes further trouble. This leads into part three of the monomyth, supernatural assistance, which occurs in two parts. First, the dying Deku tree grants Link the Kokiri Emerald, spiritual stone of the forest, which will later help him in his quest, and tells him he must leave the forest and speak with the princess of Hyrule, Zelda. Next, as he is leaving the forest, Link’s good friend Saria is there waiting for him. She says that she knew he would leave the forest one day despite the Kokiri tribe being forbidden from leaving the forest. As a parting gift, she hands him an ocarina, a musical instrument that becomes a key element in the storyline. Campell (2008) states that the supernatural aid often comes from an old man or woman (p. 57). The Great Deku Tree definitely fits the old man part and while Saria may not be an old woman in the traditional sense, she is the oldest she will ever be so she could qualify as an old woman in a more abstract sense.
    After parting with Saria, the story of Link continues in it’s procession with the fourth aspect of the monomyth, the crossing of the first threshold, as Link leaves the familiarity of the forest and enters into the kingdom of Hyrule for the first time ever. This is a simple but significant action that most players think nothing of. Growing up as a Kokiri, Link had always been told that if he left the forest, he would die. However, Link is very much so still alive and has entered into the unknown and mysterious adventure that lies ahead of him. As he’s leaving, a wise old owl tells him that he really isn’t a member of the Kokiri tribe and that he actually belongs to the race of the Hylians (which are the equivalent of “normal” people). Link journeys onward and eventually, he meets with the princess. Zelda tells him that Ganondorf has been searching for the three spiritual stones because if one possesses all three stones and plays a song on the sacred Ocarina of Time inside the temple of time, a gate to the Sacred Realm will open. Inside the Sacred Realm lies a treasure of ultimate power, the Triforce, which will grant the wishes of whoever possesses it. She and Link make a pact to stop Ganondorf; Zelda vows to protect the Ocarina of Time if Link will go collect the other two spiritual stones that he does not possess. This conversation with Zelda is Link’s entering into the belly of the whale, the fifth element of the hero myth. From here on out, there’s no turning back for Link. His promise to Zelda has permanently bound him to the quest for he now knows the seriousness of what he has been charged with.
    On a more literal level, to acquire the third spiritual stone Link literally must enter the actual belly of a whale. However, aside from that similarity, the next phase of Link’s journey, the collection of the spiritual stones (and later, the collection of medallions from the sages), fits much better as the road of trials. Campell (2008) says that the road is a “dream landscape of curiously fluid, ambiguous forms, where [the hero] must survive a succession of trials” (p. 81). Attaining each of the spiritual stones is definitely a series of trials because getting them is no easy task. In order for Link to get the second one, the Goron’s Ruby, he must climb a volcano, enter a cave with many puzzles and monsters and defeat a giant lizard-like creature. To get the third spiritual stone, the Zora’s Sapphire, he must enter a whale and defeat a giant octopus monster. Not only are these tasks difficult but they are situations that one would next expect to encounter in real life which satisfies the dream-like landscape of Campell’s specifications.
    The meeting with the goddess is interspersed throughout Link’s adventure via a series of helpful fairies that grant him special powers and restore his health when he has been injured. Link’s first encounter is with the Great Fairy, queen of all the fairies, occurs while Link is on the mountain trying to get the Goron’s Ruby. The Great Fairy bestows upon Link a special ability that will help him on his quest as well as fills up his health meter. The bestowing of this gift is a sign of the fairy’s love for not only Link but for the entire planet which Link is responsible for saving. According to Campell, this love is a key feature of the monomyth. The love the Great Fairy has for Link, in the form of the aid she gives him, is a lot like that of a mother protecting her child. This maternal love is an essential feature to the hero cycle and often comes through via the goddess.
    The eighth aspect of the monomyth is temptation of the woman. While Link is not tempted by any women in this adventure, while inside the whale’s belly trying to get the third spiritual stone, he is severely hindered in his efforts by a woman. Before the king of the Zoras, a water dwelling tribe found in Hyrule, will give him the Zora’s Sapphire, Link has to find the princess of the Zoras, Ruto, who has gone missing because she stole the sapphire. Link discovers that she has gone inside the belly of a whale that is sacred to the Zoras and follows her inside. He doesn’t need to journey far inside to find the princess but upon finding her, he is told that she lost the stone. She then makes him carry her around the inside of the whale until they find the stone. While women in hero myths generally tempt men by making them lustful and appealing to their animal desires, Ruto does the opposite here; her bratty behavior and demands no doubt tempt Link to give up on finding the last spiritual stone. However, he puts up with her and resists any temptation to quit and is rewarded with the final spiritual stone.
    Upon getting the final spiritual stone, Link head back to Hyrule Castle to meet with Zelda. As he approaches the drawbridge, however, the sky grows dark and Zelda rushes by on a horse with her handmaid, throwing something into the moat as she passes. She is followed by none other than Ganondorf on a dark horse. As he passes Link, he looks at him and smiles a sinister smile. Link dives into the water and discovers that Zelda has entrusted him with the sacred Ocarina of Time. He takes the instrument and heads to the Temple of Time. After opening the door, Link heads in and finds a pedestal with a sword in it. He pulls out the sword and is transported to the Sacred Realm seven years in the future. Here, he meets with a sage name Rauru who serves as a sort of father figure in the next phase of the hero myth, the atonement with the father. Campell states that the father figure is someone with a lot of power and who must initiate the hero and Rauru does just that. As a sage, he has power, combined with the other six sages, to help the hero defeat Ganondorf who, Link is informed, has turned Hyrule into a land of darkness. He also initiates Link into the second part of his quest in which he must travel across Hyrule and awaken five other sages who are unaware they are a sage so they can help him defeat Ganondorf. Link submits to the will of Rauru, much like a hero submits to the will of any powerful father figure, and goes out to finish his quest. Another possibility for this step comes at the very end of the game when Link must fight Ganondorf’s ultra powerful alter ego, Ganon. Ganon is the ultimate representation of evil in the game and thus could be seen as a sort of devious father figure, especially if one looks at the initiation in this step as Link’s defeat of Ganon, thus initiating him as the Hero of Time.
    For the rest of Link’s journey the other parts of Campell’s monomyth formula do not appear in the order he originally wrote them. However, they do all appear at some point minus one, the refusal of the return. For the same reason that he couldn’t refuse the call, Link can’t refuse the call to return to a normal life because it is a video game and if he did, there would be nothing for the player to do or they would be left hanging without a satisfying ending. One step that does occur, however, is Link’s mastery of two worlds, the Hyrule of his childhood and the Hyrule seven years in the future. By returning to the Temple of Time as an adult, Link is able to travel through time seven years to manipulate the past and do things that he may only be able to do as either a child or an adult. This freedom to travel between the two lands is unique to him and is an ability he acquired as a result of his heroic actions.
    After meeting with Rauru, Link heads out to find the other sages who are waiting for him in various temples scattered across Hyrule. Along the way, he gets help from a mysterious character named Sheik who he seems to meet before entering each temple. Sheik directs him first to the forest of his childhood where he discovers the first sage is his childhood friend, Saria. After that he travels back the the volcano he was on before to find the second sage is a Goron who helped him last time he was there. He then awakens the final three sages who turn out to be Ruto, Princess Zelda’s handmaid, and a member of Ganondorf’s tribe. Link returns to the temple of time to meet the seventh and final sage. When he arrives, Sheik is waiting for who and he reveals that he is actually Princess Zelda in disguise. She gives Link some magic arrows that will help him defeat Ganondorf and tells him that the Triforce split into three when Ganondorf touched it and that she and Link possess two pieces of it with Ganondorf having the third. However, Ganondorf arrives and kidnaps Zelda and takes her to his castle.
    Link follows Ganondorf to the castle but is unable to get inside due to a moat of lava surrounding it. The six sages come to the rescue, however, and build a bridge of light which allows Link to cross not only the moat but also the return threshold. Link is at the final part of his quest and soon, he will be able to return home. There is still one thing he must do first: defeat Ganondorf and save both Hyrule and Zelda. Thus comes the next part of his quest, the magic flight (or, more appropriately in this case, the magic fight). Rather than running away from danger, Link faces it head on. He uses all of his magic items he has obtained throughout his journey as well as the magic that has been bestowed upon him by the Great Fairy to defeat Ganondorf, which after a tough fight he appears to have succeeded in. However, Ganondorf uses his piece of the Triforce to transform himself into Ganon, a powerful boar-like creature. This transformation brings about another element of the monomyth, the rescue from without. Link is unable to defeat Ganon on his own and requires the assistance of the sages. Zelda, who was set free when Ganondorf was originally defeated, helps Link retrieve his sword which he dropped during Ganon’s transformation and uses her magic to paralyze Ganon while Link attacks him. While there is no doubt that Link would have put up a good fight, he would be unable to take out Ganon without Zelda’s help. Not even heroes can do everything alone and this is a theme reflected in the rescue from without across many myths and legends. Finally, Zelda and Link manage to defeat Ganon and return him to his human form of Ganondorf. The seven sages use their magic powers to seal Ganon in the Sacred Realm along with his piece of the Triforce, yet another example of Link needing assistance in his quest.
    Having defeated Ganondorf and sealing him away to prevent him from causing further trouble (at least for the time being), Link has done one of the most critical steps of the hero myth, the collection of the ultimate boon or achievement of his quest. The defeat of Ganondorf means that Hyrule has been saved and Link has done what the Great Deku Tree sent him out to do; he stopped the evil man who cursed him. This may be the most important part of the monomyth because if the hero does not succeed, they more than likely will not be revered as a hero or have their story told for many generations to come. In the context of Ocarina of Time, Link gains the title of Hero of Time for his heroic efforts. Of course, Link and Zelda will be the only ones who end up remembering many of the heroic deeds that have been carried out by not only Link but Zelda and the other sages because of the final events of the game. Link is okay with this, however, because he has reached apotheosis, a state of mind in which the hero is filled with knowledge, love, and joy for the world. Link doesn’t care about glory or honor and is content in knowing that because of him Hyrule will not be subjected to the many horrors it could have faced because of Ganondorf. This love and compassion is something he undoubtedly will carry with him through the rest of his life.
    After Ganon’s defeat, Zelda and Link have a chance to talk. Zelda thanks Link for all he has done and apologizes because she feels she dragged him into a messy situation. As a continuation of the assistance from without and the final piece of the monomyth, the freedom to live, Zelda takes the Ocarina of Time of time from Link and plays a song to take him back in time seven years to his own time period. This is Zelda’s gift to Link; she gives him the gift of a normal life and the gift of the seven years that he did not get to experience. He no longer has to worry about the fate of the world, something that was thrust upon him at all too young of an age. He instead can live a normal life with only himself and Zelda knowing of the events that took place. The game ends with a scene of Zelda and Link meeting again for the first time as children.
    Ocarina of Time was released twelve years ago in 1998 and has hardly had enough to time to develop into a classic myth like those found in Greek literature and other cultures. However, for many gamers who have grown up playing Ocarina of Time and experienced the magic of acting out the role of Link, the Hero of Time, it is nothing short of a legendary experience which is why The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is such a fantastic example of a modern day myth that follows Joseph Campell’s monomyth formula. It has inspired so many people all over the world and its impacts may not be fully seen for a long while. Perhaps someday in the future college students learning about the mythology present during our lifetime will get to relive the trials and tribulations of Link as he lives up to his title, the Hero of Time.

Works Cited

Campell, J. (2008). The hero with a thousand faces. Novato, CA: New World Library.