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!