so hopeful...

So, Coachella is in full swing and I've been seeing youtube videos gallore....and I am SO excited for the ACL line up to be released. I mean really, there's ALWAYS overlap between ACL and Coachella.

I've been a big Capital Cities fan pretty much from the first time I heard their EP and then I literally lost my shit when they released a full album...and this video just...they're perfect. Those pants? Can we take a second to talk about those pants. They honestly look like a modern barbershop group, in the best, coolest way possible.

Anyway...the ACL line up goes out in, uh, like six or seven days. Hell yeah.

Jesus, she's amazing.

So my Senior prom was this weekend...and if you're a girl, you know what that really means: a whole day of make up and curlers and girl chat, and in my case, AMAZING new music finds. So a friend of mine took over the stero in the room we were all getting ready. (Angela Gafney) Blasted ZZ Ward's "Blue Eyes Blind"...and just...oh my lord. I fell in love. Here: 

Not only are her lyrics captivating, they tell a story and they're so catchy. Her whole album ('Til the Casket Drops) is similar. Beautiful, rhythmic, catchy, thought-out. She's by far my new favorite artist.

This song, "Cryin' Wolf" features Kendrick Lamar (who...come'on y'all...I'm obsessed with, too) is also amazing. I know I keep saying "amazing" but seriously.

Finally, her kind of our-liar song:

Some days you just need to sing. Sing out stress or sadness or anger...this is one of those songs for me. Her sound and the feel of this song (and her voice in general) reminds me a lot of Adele in a fantastic way.


Overall, prom was great, but finding ZZ was the best accomplishment of the weekend.

my dabble in SXSW

So I was actually gone for the majority of spring break. I spent the week soaking up the sun in Mexico...because it's still literally freezing in Texas. So anyway, A while ago I had read about a free Foster the People show...and was so excited. 

Foster the People has always been one of those background bands of my life. Then Torches came out and everybody freaking loved "Pumped Up Kicks".....what. Okay, first, that wasn't even Foster the People's only big hit so far. Don't Stop (color on the wall) was huge before that...just...anyway, but I try not to be one people who gets upset because people find out about their favorite band...as if you as an individual have any possessive right to their success (sorry, that's a whole other rant) but hey, Foster the People put on a great show that night. 

Music to smile for!

Okay...the most applicable song to fit this blog post is totally Happy, by Pharell. Regardless of what kind of music snob you brand yourself to be, this song has to make you smile. The beat is infectious, and rally makes YOU happy! It's just...adorable. I think it's the only song I would classify as "adorable", too.

I also get overly happy when a song just 'click's with me. The song Click, by Brad Blackburn is (okay I lied earlier...) adorable! it's the perfect relationship song, but the best part is how I found it. I love finding music through musician friends of mine. In come Daniel Ethridge, Brad Blackburn is a friend of his! Oh the magic of Facebook.

So, I don't know, obviously people have certain tastes in music, but don't be afraid to branch out to find something new that makes you smile. Have a happy day, y'all.

Thoughts on jail...

That documentary we watched...oh my god. So I have a slight obsession with the show "Scared Straight". It's about shitty teenagers whose parents send them in to this program where they see what their future could be if they keep being little thugs. The show usually ends in tears and drama and it's absolutely the best guilty pleasure....this documentary, however, was not.

Seeing how proud the people were to be in jail...how they recorded albums over the phone? That's just crazy to me.

Hit the weed and pass out...

As y'all probably know by now I have a huge love/weak spot for rap...especially Juicy J. Like, y'all, there's just something about the bass and clever lines that make my shoulders bounce and my head bob.

So this week in class, a friend of mine played this song (Smoke a Nigga) and seriously...I'm the whitest girl ever, but hey, if Miley can twerk, more power to the white girl, right? I love finding new things to jam to, and this is for sure one of my new favorites. Thanks, Will.

Rant on being a "bitch" in America

Recently in my speech class, we watched a documentary called American Tongues, all about how we as Americans, should respect the cultures and accents of others...which I'm all for, until it becomes communistic and absurd. There were many interviews throughout the film, and it was amazing to see how many people felt sorry for themselves. Watching the truth in stereotypes become so apparent was amazing. I’m a strong believer in people only being as smart as they push themselves to be, and part of intelligence is being able to speak properly in the language of your country. This is America and we speak in English, and honestly, it’s your own fault if you’re disrespected or miss-understood because of a lack of effort on your part. How much effort people put in to feeling sorry for other people blew me away. Honestly, that’s what being politically correct is: adapting yourself to make others feel more comfortable.. I think that if people took even a fraction of the time they spend worrying about other people, and spent it on creating more solid opinions for themselves, the country would be much stronger, because that’s what we need. America was founded on, and by people with strong opinions, and all of us trying to please each other is creating weak people that tolerate anything, because intolerance is treated like terrorism now a days.

When do you think that happened? When did American culture become so dependent on total satisfaction? Why is it so important that everyone feel included? That’s honestly absurd. If everyone was meant to be equal, pearls wouldn’t be expensive and restaurants wouldn’t have star rating system; there wouldn’t be social class separation, and a janitor would be viewed the same way as a CEO. But that’s NOT the case. America is characterized by hard work and strong individuals, and the second we say “it’s okay….you don’t really have to work, we’ll make excuses for you” is the day America breeds it’s weakest generation, and I think that that day has already come.

             

One and Done...?

I really do love music of all kinds. Everything from upbeat dub step by Skrillex, to sweet harmonies by Michael Henry and Justin Robinett. My favorite thing about music, though, is rediscovering "one hit wonder" bands. We all know that "one group" that sang that "one song" and it was popular for like one month, and then BAM, the group no longer exists. For example, that song Too Close by Alex Clare. It was popular for what, like 2 months? ...maybe. How about Gangnam Style by PSY? Harlem Shake? I think y'all get the point.

Recently, I was shuffling through my iPod, when Glad You Came by The Wanted came on. Not having heard it in a while, I let it play, and let me tell you, I jammed. Shamelessly and carelessly head banged in my car. Damn, how can we forget about songs that were so important to us weeks, months, even years ago? Sometimes it's great to go back through my music and listen to some of those old songs.

Anyways, remembering how much I enjoyed Glad You Came, I decided to go out on a limb and purchase the entire album from The Wanted, and let me tell you, EVERY song on it is phenomenal. Lots of bands get on the Top 100 chart for a single song, but nobody cares to listen to rest of their music, which is honestly sad. If you haven't listened to all of the songs on The Wanted's most recent album, I would highly suggest it.

Rediscovering old hits is more than just the music, though. It takes you back to memories of your past, whether they be exciting and full of life, or shitty and depressive. Music is always worth rediscovering.

Grammy alert

Okay....Jay Z always looks way older than he is, and Paul McCartney is just so cool. I mean really, the rainbow aztec patterned piano...? The song selection was great, totally something I would drive around town with my windows rolled down jamming to. Him and Ringo really rocked it.

You know who else was amazing? Sara Bareilles and Carole King! I count NOT stop smiling while I was watching them. Not only are these two songs (Beautiful and Brave) so perfect together, but the two women are honestly inspiring, beautiful, and just so truthfully happy. It's worth a watch...I promise you'll be happier.

Anyway, Kacey Muscgraves was beautiful as always...but that song she sang is one of my favorites. Part of it goes "follow your arrow, where ever it points". I just...that's such a great message. And can we take a second to talk about how cute she always looks? She is perfection.

Dance With The Devil

Part of me thinks I should put a content warning on this post. Maybe it would read "do not listen if you're under thirteen"...but I've never thought that music should be tied to age restrictions. Maybe something about the graphic content or the moral shock a listener will undoubtedly encounter...but those aren't going to be here. I didn't have warning before this song...and it was the most emotional experience I've had while listening to a song. here goes. 

So, he rapes his mom. His life of crime and constant rigor of trying to prove himself finally caught up to him and he couldn't take it anymore so he kills himself.

Sitting and listening to this song...watching the lyrics scroll across the screen...I remember feeling my jaw drop. I just, I had never heard a story like that, a song so full of real struggle and conviction. I don;t even really know what to write...hopefully you're as speechless as I am.

bulletproof love

Over winter break, I went to see Jay-Z. Absolutely everything about that show was great. From the bass rumbling through my body to the strange feeling of standing in an arena clogged with weed smoke and drunk people. It was just a great night. 

There's something about seeing music really affect someone, ya know? Watching someone sing along in the crown with just as much conviction as the artist on stage. Time and time again songs of triumph in the struggle of sobriety or the tender hearted nature of breakups fill the holes in people's lives. Music makes us feel. We move and sing, tapping toes, singing off key, preforming a ballet: it's all a human response to the art we are presented with. Some art is just stamped with back beats and bass instead of being laced with strings and pianos...it's still incredible to experience.