I had such a fun time writing about songs that I love that I wanted to do it again. Only this time I want to write out many other songs. I find that for me music is a really important part of who I am. And as someone who does not share music tastes with most (if any) of the people I know, sometimes I feel like a big part of me isn't shared with the people I care about. So, I figured I could speed some great unwinding time writing about music I love AND share a bit of myself at the same time. I did something like this before in my first blog, but as I've added some songs and people to my life since than (and since I don't use this blog anymore) I think it's fair to do this again! Plus, I've now learned to add videos, so there will be an audio/visual component now! Yay! Here's the old link, if you're curious:
(http://iapprovethisrandommessage.blogspot.com/2013/04/my-music-will-say-more-about-me-than-my.html)
Some background: I keep a playlist on my iTunes of my top songs. It used to be 100, but I upped it to 200 because as my library grew, it just got too hard to limit down to 100. Still, 200 songs is only ~3% of my music library, so these are some pretty elite songs (to me anyway). I won't mention them all but the ones I find worth mentioning. The faint of heart should turn back now!
New Found Glory
If you pay attention at all, you may know that my favorite band is New Found Glory! Love them! I've seen them live 3 times, and even met them once! So amazing! Here's a pciture - one of the rare ones of myself you'll see me post, so count yourselves lucky! :)
Connected is my favorite NFG song. I think it's a combination of the unique, cool guitar riff, and lyrics I really relate to. I am definitely someone who has built up walls and done some skin ripping (I think I have thick skin). Plus, I would really love to find someone to metaphorically scale those walls, and you know, the rest of the stuff. Is it bad that I relate more to this song b/c I feel like I am also working? Yes? No? Probably?
Radiosurgery accurately describes what it's like in my head when I've got some guy stuck in there. I wonder if some kind of procedure to unstick someone from your head is cover by my health plan. ;^) I think it may even be a common thing for people of my Myers Briggs type to be all normal and cool on the outside, but like this song on the inside.
Fun Fact: If you replace the words "your face" with "The Bar" this song also accurately describes what it's like to study for the Bar.
I've made Selfless one of my current life anthems. I even have some lyrics on my desk at work, in case I need reminding.
I love Head on Collision because not only is it an amazing song, but it's also where All Time Low got their name! More on them later. Plus, I love to sing this song, although my interpretation rocks less and is more angsty. I swear I could sing any song like it's the saddest thing ever!
I just love the song Oxygen because it's amazingly beautiful.
Motion City Soundtrack - I would now like to incorporate by reference the blog I posted about MCS and all the songs I love there. I covered everything (and more!) that I would cover here.
All Time Low
All Time Low is my third favorite band. Maybe one day I'll write about the difficult vetting process that is getting on my favorite list, the rules to stay on, those who have fallen off, and those who've missed the cut. But that's another post!
Do I think it's a coincidence that All Time Low has two songs about my two favorite Disney movies? Maybe, but either way I appreciate it! I sometimes feel like I'm too young to be an adult, emotionally. I'd love to live like I'm a Neverland. Or at least with someone who makes me feel young always. I really relate to the lyrics - kind of how I feel about being an adult. The lyrics in Painting Flowers are much more subtle. It took my awhile to even realize it was references Alice in Wonderland. And then of course I Googled it. Should have done that first. OMG, I could listen to this song 1,000 times in a row!
One of my theme songs. Duh!
Dirty Work is easily my fav album of theirs (and one of my favs in general). Listening to this makes me think of driving around Sacramento during my law school days. I listened to it a lot driving home from my internship at the Dept. of Parks and Rec. (Yeah, I'm that cool! It's no Pawnee, and I'm no April Ludgate, but it was pretty fun!) Here are a few of my favs because I can't pick just one!
Fall Out Boy
Can I just say to all you youngster that are into FOB since their reuniting, I've liked them for 10+ years, so I win! Actually FOB fell off my favorite bands list (because one of the rules is/was a band has to still be together). But lucky for them, after I immediately fell in love with American Beauty/American Psycho, I had no choice but to add them back. I particularly cannot get over how freakin' catchy Uma Thurman is. And I absolutely love Fourth of July.
I actually only saw FOB for the first time last year. I had bought tickets to see them in the '00s, but then they had to cancel shows and the one near me was the only they didn't reschedule. So I got to pay $10 in non-refundable fees just to be disappointed. But I made it out to the same amphitheater years later, in what was probably a much better, and much more expensive, seat. But as a responsible adult with a job, I could make that happen!
In case you were wondering, if I could sing a duet with anyone in the world, it would be Patrick Stump. And it would be EPIC!!
I almost feel it's unfair to list any songs, because there are so many I love, and I don't want to leave any out and hurt their feelings. ;^) So here are just a few of my favs. The last one is probably my fav, fav, mostly because of the fact that Justin Pierre of Motion City Soundtrack sings some near the end. :^D
Silverstein
I feel bad that although Silverstein is technically #5 (the end) of my favorite bands list, there are only a couple of their songs that I would consider my favorite. I think they stay on my favorite band list for the strength of their music catalog as a whole, even if any particular song doesn't hook me like some others. Plus, A Shipwreck in the Sand is an amazing album. It would be in the running for my favorite album because every song is so solid and it tells a great story. Is it coincidence the Silverstein is the end of my favorite bands list, and one of my favorite songs of theirs is "The End?" Oh definitely a coincidence. I think I just like asking "is this a coincidence?"
Maybe you've gleaned this already, but my taste in music is not like many other people's. And I'm okay with that. Songs that are my favorites don't have to be other people's favs. I like what I like. Like how Discovering the Waterfront is probably my favorite song to sing. I've busted it out many a time alone in my kitchen. I like all the opportunities to belt, and all the different pieces of the song.
Other Artists I Love!!
Okay, it's time to strap in. There's still a lot to go. You may want to take an intermission (that's assuming you're even listening to any of these videos. If not, just keep going!). I realize now just how many songs I want to talk about!
I saw Yellowcard (with NFG) recently! It was amazing! I took some cool pictures, including the one below, which is pretty awesome!
I download Tear in My Heart last July, and I've probably listened to it 150 times since then. I am absolutely obsessed with the song! I even have this sort of routine I do in my car when I listen to it. I once told my mom I really relate to this interpretation about how love feels - she was concerned since we were then at the end of the song with words like "butcher" and "carver." I meant more the heart as armor thing, and someone being the tear in that armor. I would like to remark that I have this thing with songs about car/driving. (I also love Car Radio by Twenty One Pilots). I would also like to go on record that I knew who Twenty One Pilots were before they were played on the radio!
Safe to Say by Vanna is the most played song on my iTunes. I think it is because (1) I got this album right after I got a new computer (so I lost the old play counts and played this a lot when I first got it), and (2) this was my go to de-stressing song in law school. I would turn this up as loud as my ears could handle while sitting in the exam room waiting to take the test. I've even developed a Pavlovian response where I feel relaxed when I hear this song. Also, I went to Warped Tour in 2014, and was worried that I was too old to go. As soon as I got in, I saw this band playing and they said the next song was for the fans of their older stuff. And then they played this song (it was Vanna). So I saw that as a good sign.
Manners grew on me. I didn't realized I even liked this song a whole lot until one day I just realized I loved it. Plus, the time I met NFG, We Are the In Crowd opened for them and were AMAZING!
Pure classic! A friend of mine in high school turned me onto the Ataris my senior year when I decided I was going to listen to punk rock.
It may sound odd, but I love to sing Drown! And listen to it. I listened to a lot of Bring Me the Horizon the end of last year when I needed a distraction. It reminds me of some comment this coworker said, about them being one of those bands that are all "you can't kill us because we're already dead." And I am pretty sure they have a lyrics almost like that somewhere! So, spot on observation.
Let me take a moment to mention how much I love some classic Coheed and Cambria. There are very few songs that I can remember hearing and going "I have to know that song!" I remember some of my sorority sisters and I were hanging out at one of the frats, playing quarters. Then, A Favor House Atlantic comes on and I had to know who that was! Luckily for me, my little sister loved Coheed and introduced me. Listening to Coheed reminds me of her (especially Wake Up). My little is one of the bubbliest, sweetest people ever, and told me she loved Coheed because many of their songs are about killing people. I find that juxtaposition amusing. :^D I've included some other great ones!
I am a big fan of the band Crown the Empire. They put on an excellent show! I've seen them 3 times now. I am also a big fan of the theatricality and story telling of their music. One of my fav songs of theirs is Millenia. This is another rock song I love to sing. I tend to belt that big note a little too long into the guitar solo. This song made me realize just how great an epic rock ballad can be, and how we don't get that many rock ballads anymore. Johnny's Revenge is a great song to listen to when you're really angry at someone. And it's really fun to watch performed live!
I have the wish that one day, some guy will have fallen in love with me, and when he listens to Stolen he thinks of me (even if I have to make that happen!). I had a period a few months back were I took the time to really learn to sing this song and add my own flair. For awhile there I could burst into this song at any time! I am not a big fan of how I sound for the mellower versus, but the payoff at the end is way too much fun!
One band that I really love is A Day to Remember. Common Courtesy was well worth the wait. I really like their other music, but it's like just the last few pieces clicked into place and they really hit the sweet spot. Life @ 11 is their song I relate to the most. Have Faith in Me is the one song I listen to in my car that most threatens to blow my speakers or my ear drums (or both). It also reminds me of work, because in an interview for the company I now work for I said that song was my work theme song. I like to think I got points for picking a punk song. I don't conform! ;^) I also have a huge fondness for punk covers of other songs. That's really how you make other people's songs better! Hehehe. Sorry, not sorry. Over My Head is my favorite punk cover. The original was one of those few songs I loved the first time I heard it (I was driving away from campus to shop for something in undergrad). But this cover just takes it to the next level!
Let's do some quick hits:
Another quirky love song I really like. Mentions driving.
Maria Brink is a bad ass. Love her! This song is great up really loud, driving down the highway.
My go to "I need a cry song." Made the mistake many times listening to this in the car. I am skilled at driving while crying.
As a Gemini, I relate to this song, my evil twin more so. And this album is so good!
Because, duh!, this song a fantastic! And only the theme for one of the best movies ever!
My favorite love song.
My go to karaoke jam! Spoiler alert, I kill this! When I am not nervous, of course.
This takes me back to my childhood! I love Winnie the Pooh! And it reminds me of cleaning the house with my mom - listening to good classics like these guys, REO Speedwagon, Billie Joel. I repressed the memories of listen to Jimmy Buffet.
Everyone needs a really good, stress relief song. Plus, hot ginger with tattoos! OoOoOOoo!!
One of my favorite songs to sing. Almost stopped singing it forever after embarrassing myself in public. I've since gotten over that, thank goodness!
I love old school Paramore. I love to sing most of their songs, but this one the most!
This song is just a lot of song, and everyone should listen to it!
Whew, that was efficient! For me at least. ;^)
Admittedly, I started listening to The Story So Far because they go their name from a NFG song. :^D Empty Space is one of those songs that it's hard for my to listen to just once when it comes on. For a 2 1/2 minute song, it packs a lot. I like to listen to different layers of this song each time. It sounds to me like it weaving a fabric of sound.
Of course Adele is amazing! (And the Adel I know too, hehe). One and Only is my favorite. I love to sing this song (along with many other Adele songs, although obviously not as well). I imagine if my life were a romcom, I would sing this song one time at karaoke at the climax of the movie and then ride off into the sunset. This will never happen of course, for the following reasons: (1) real life is NOT a romcom, (2) I would never have the guts to sing this at karaoke (because it's an Adele song and I don't make public displays like that), and (3) karaoke places don't carry this song - at least not the last couple I've been to - I've checked.
I got really into Ed Sheeran last September/October. The problem with Ed Sheeran is that I want to listen to him when I am feeling mopey, but his songs make me cry, and being mopey makes me more likely to cry - especially these two songs. I actually had to listen to a lot of Bring Me the Horizon to detox from too much Ed Sheeran.
Wonderwall is one of my all time favorite songs. And the entire album is just absolutely wonderful! I wasn't really into popular music when this came out (I was like 10-11), but I bought What's the Story Morning Glory when I was a senior in high school, because my music collection had to have it! (I also bought Foo Fighter's The Colour and the Shape the same time - also very good!) I recently played trivia against someone who is otherwise generally awesome, but he didn't know who made this song, and that made me very sad, because this song is AMAZING! That's a gap that needs to be rectified. ;^)
Oddly enough, I associate this song with my work. Whenever I get really stressed out from work drama, I listen to this song. I also really love the acoustic version. I think it's amazing how one song can be so dynamic. When I sing this song, the tempo is usually somewhere between these too, and I add a little pop/soul vibe (not sure I am describing that correctly).
I love Issues! I haven't listen to their new stuff yet, because they are 1 great album away from joining my favorite bands list, and I am nervous I will be disappointed. Late is one of my favorites because it brings a good blend of Issues' sound. Plus, that first line! Everything. The Worst of Them was the song that made me want to buy their music. I was checking out Black Diamonds online (having heard good things about the band). As soon as I got to this song, I didn't need to hear the rest. I knew I found a great band.
Push introduced me to my first favorite band. (Rob Thomas ruined this by choosing a dumb solo career instead). I remember it was the summer before 8th grade, and my cousin spent two weeks with our grandma, while we took swimming lessons. He kept singing this song, and driving me crazy because he was ruining it!
Well, that's the end. Thank you to anyone who made it all the way to the end, whether or not you read and/or listened to the entire post. Really, I took this time to write for me, because it felt good to connect and listen to some amazing songs I love. And if you took the time to journey with me, I appreciate you getting to know me a little better. Rock on!
**NOTE: 57 videos seems like a lot more when you've realized you entered the links wrong, and have to redo ALL OF THEM**
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