Hey,
It's been 3 weeks since I gave a Top 5 PLaylist, so here's another installment. No theme here, just random, like always. :)
In no particular order--because I'm too much of a softy to rate these songs--my weekly playlist...
5. Heart Skips A Beat by Olly Murs
I realize this guy is hardly indie/unknown, given the fact that he tried on the X-Factor in England and toured with One Direction, but, this guy has pipes. The original version is mediocre, but check out this acoustic performance. He has a great voice and I would love to see Olly push his vocals and explore other types of music besides bubblegum pop.
4. Bronte by Gotye
I love the soft, Bon Iver-esque instrumentation. Wally's (AKA Gotye's) vocals just lightly waft over the instruments, complenting never dominating, serving as another mechanism in this beautiful machine. The poetic lyrics remind me ever so slightly of a lullaby, coupled with the graceful, lilting tempo. I respect you, Wally. I do. I really wish this song would make it on the Top 40, but that's just a silly thought. The majority of people who listen to the radio want one catchy line they can post on Facebook with an immature emoticon and some club jam. Not beautiful simplicity.
3. Treading Water by Alex Clare
Alex Clare has gained significant notority for his song "Too Close," but I am willing to argue that "Treading Water" is a much better track off his album Lateness of the Hour. "Too Close" is good; I'm not saying that it's bad, but I like TW better. I'll explain. :) Reasons: the romantic, bittersweet lyrics detailing a failing relationship, the gentle beginning leading up to a gorgeous Dubstep-style climax, the way Alex blends several musical styles (which one could point out he did the same thin on TC), the way he transitions from a roaring chorus to a soulful second verse, and how the song just goes full force right to the very last second.
2. Get Higher by Paper Tongues
I found these guys a few years ago and remembered them the other day when I was listening to another band (Imagine Dragons) whose voice reminds me of the Paper Tongue's lead singer. I love the rock influences, the lead singer's unrelenting powerhouse vocals, the religious-without-being-righteous lyrics, and the guitar lines. I'm so glad I rediscovered this song as it brings back some great memories from JUnior High.
1. Sleep Alone by Two Door Cinema Club
These guys are one of the best alternative bands right now, up with MuteMath, Panic! At the Disco, and Young the Giant. I honestly cannot find anything to complain about with this song; all I hear is a fantastic, complex song that represents exactly what I love about alternative music.
A. The guitar lines that carry the song
B. Tempo changes
C. Volume changes
D. Confusing, poetic lyrics
E. A dinstinctive vocalist
F. A talented drummer
G. An infectious chorus
H. An original sound
I. Utilizes various instruments besides guitar, base and drums
J. Makes me smile
Alright, that about wraps it up for this week. :)
In a couple of weeks, I'll be seeing MuteMath in concert (2nd time!!!!!) so as soon as that happens, you'll get a new review of this tour. :D
Until next week,
Bella
Showing posts with label Gotye. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gotye. Show all posts
Friday, August 31, 2012
Friday, August 3, 2012
I'd Like to Thank Twitter and Pandora For My Music Collection
Hey,
So, I realized it's been a while since I posted about my ever-changing music playlist. Without further ado....
Radioactive by Imagine dragons- If you watched the Olympic
opening ceremony and saw the Chicago Fire commercial (I didn’t) or listen to
the radio, you’ve probably heard of Imagine Dragons. Their big song right now is
“It’s Time,” which I think is a good song, but I am head over heels for “Radioactive.”
This song has everything I desire in music: a soft, twinkling guitar intro,
equally quiet harmonies in the background, an attention-grabbing percussion
section, a powerful vocalist, dark lyrics “this is it/ the apocalypse…/welcome
to the new age…/I’m radioactive,” and a song that never quits, going full force
right until the last second. One beast of a song. I’m impressed.
Green Grass by I Am Arrows- Pandora is a music lover’s best
friend. Without that website, I would not have discovered this song. I know
that this song is not exactly “new,” but, it doesn’t matter; it’s still
fantastic two years later. The band is a side project of Andy Burrows, the ex-drummer
of Razorlight, and I absolutely love it. I admire Andy’s vocal range, the
simplistic (yet perfect) lyrics, and the rhythm section is great. Nicely done,
dudes. J
Don’t Wake The Lion by Joy Valencia- Again, I really love
twitter. Thanks to that helpful resource, I found out about Joy Valencia. This
song is very pop-rooted and I could totally imagine this song being played on
the radio. It’s crazy catchy and I’ve had the chorus stuck in my head all week.
Infectious melodies coupled with poetic lyrics and Joy’s simply amazing voice
makes for a great discovery. Super good. J
As well, the music video is really cute. Check it out sometime!
Ten Cent Pistol by The Black Keys- I’ve started listening to
these guys again. Unfortunately, I did not stay up on their tour schedule and
they just came to Iowa, but I found out the day before. Shoot. Nonetheless,
these guys make gritty blues relevant again. The guitar lick at the beginning
lures the listener in, Dan Auerbach’s vocals never fail to make me fall in
love, and of course, Patrick works miracles on his drum set. The right amount of
distortion, when down in taste, can really complement a song. I think it’s safe
to say The Black Keys have mastered that formula. Sweet.
Until next week,
Bella
Saturday, June 9, 2012
My Top 5 Favorite Music Videos
Hey,
Sorry for not posting last night, but I'm doing it now...so it's okay. :)
Tonight I am doing my top 5 favorite music videos...
5. This City by Patrick Stump
4. I Write Sins Not Tragedies Panc! At the Disco
3. Heart's a mess by Gotye
2. One Thing Leads to Another by The Fixx
1.Spotlight by MuteMath
5. Patrick Stump rocks. I've mentioned that before, and I think this video solidifies that. I like the black and white footage, the very 1980's effects, and Patrick's sick dance moves. No, he's not exactly the next Usher, but at least he can sing without mandatory autotune.
4. Yeah, I know these guys are, uh, questionable, (see my review of their concert, if you're lost) but this is their "big" breakout track and easily one of their best videos; sorry, hipsters, its true. So, what I like: the theatrical feeling, Brendon's top hat (I mean, seriously, who even wears those any more?), they're actually acting out the lyrics (I feel like that never happens anymore unless you're "getting down with some shawties"), and no dance breaks! Ha, that's incredible. Almost every music video (save for these, I suppose) features some type of choreographed dance break. I'm here for a story and the music, not some choreographer's idea of what's happening. Duh. Oh, well, amazing video/song. (And, yes, I know PATD has other songs; I own almost all of them. I just think this is their best video. But, The Ballad of Mona Lisa is good too as well as Ready To Go, but this is my fav and my blog, so shhh. :D)
3. Ah, Gotye. My favorite Australian. And musician, too. Here's what I dislike: nothing. Here's what I like: it has a futuristic theme, its very somber, I have no idea what is going on (when its a deep confusion, not just "Why are you going to three parties with your girlfriend's sister" type, I like it.), the way the "robots" dance-walk during certain segments of the song, and it reminds me a little of something Johnny Depp and Tim Burton would collab on. It feels like a movie, which is cool.
2. yes, I realize this video is from the 1980's. It's on my list because, well, it's just good music. Sometimes, especially when this song come on, I wish I had been alive during the 1980's; my parents were so lucky. :) This is, in my mind, the perfect video. A perfect video should follow these rules: Okay, 1) walk around in a tunnel (because everybody in the 1980's just walked around in tunnels. Duh) 2) Wear a suit with the top/shirt unbuttoned enough that when you swing your arms like you are skiing, your chest cleavage either is super visible or you are completely covered by the suit (watch the video if you don't understand) 3) Rock a bad mullet 4) Make weird hand motions as if you are making up a new sign language that looks like a Do Not Cross sign in many different forms 5) Get some creepy dogs 6) Climb a ladder in a shiny outfit; all the cool kids are doing it 7) Have a crime scene lab that can be built in under 5 minutes. Just grab a lady's purse, some constumes from a thrift store, and have at it! 8) Make sure someone in your band looks like a celebrity (The Fixx found Matt Damon's blonde twin) 9) Crawl on the ground. It makes sense if you don't think about it. 10) Chase your bandmates around. One of my favorites from the 80's, which makes me think I should do a favorite videos of the 80's post. That would be cool. :)
1. This video is my favorite because it looks so spastic, so random, so "we're running out of time and we have to whip something together in the next half hour or we're going to look like idiots" that it achieves a high level of awesomeness. I think its great. Between the fact that they look totally cramped and that was the best Paul's hair has ever looked (sorry, I notice the little details), it's amazing. They all get so into the music, considering the fact that they are smushed into the back of a moving van. Amazing? Yes.
In music news, just wanted to let you know, on YouTube, they are broadcasting Bonaroo live. Tomorrow, Young the Gianta and many other alt/music greats are playing. Look it up!
Until next week,
Bella
Sorry for not posting last night, but I'm doing it now...so it's okay. :)
Tonight I am doing my top 5 favorite music videos...
5. This City by Patrick Stump
4. I Write Sins Not Tragedies Panc! At the Disco
3. Heart's a mess by Gotye
2. One Thing Leads to Another by The Fixx
1.Spotlight by MuteMath
5. Patrick Stump rocks. I've mentioned that before, and I think this video solidifies that. I like the black and white footage, the very 1980's effects, and Patrick's sick dance moves. No, he's not exactly the next Usher, but at least he can sing without mandatory autotune.
4. Yeah, I know these guys are, uh, questionable, (see my review of their concert, if you're lost) but this is their "big" breakout track and easily one of their best videos; sorry, hipsters, its true. So, what I like: the theatrical feeling, Brendon's top hat (I mean, seriously, who even wears those any more?), they're actually acting out the lyrics (I feel like that never happens anymore unless you're "getting down with some shawties"), and no dance breaks! Ha, that's incredible. Almost every music video (save for these, I suppose) features some type of choreographed dance break. I'm here for a story and the music, not some choreographer's idea of what's happening. Duh. Oh, well, amazing video/song. (And, yes, I know PATD has other songs; I own almost all of them. I just think this is their best video. But, The Ballad of Mona Lisa is good too as well as Ready To Go, but this is my fav and my blog, so shhh. :D)
3. Ah, Gotye. My favorite Australian. And musician, too. Here's what I dislike: nothing. Here's what I like: it has a futuristic theme, its very somber, I have no idea what is going on (when its a deep confusion, not just "Why are you going to three parties with your girlfriend's sister" type, I like it.), the way the "robots" dance-walk during certain segments of the song, and it reminds me a little of something Johnny Depp and Tim Burton would collab on. It feels like a movie, which is cool.
2. yes, I realize this video is from the 1980's. It's on my list because, well, it's just good music. Sometimes, especially when this song come on, I wish I had been alive during the 1980's; my parents were so lucky. :) This is, in my mind, the perfect video. A perfect video should follow these rules: Okay, 1) walk around in a tunnel (because everybody in the 1980's just walked around in tunnels. Duh) 2) Wear a suit with the top/shirt unbuttoned enough that when you swing your arms like you are skiing, your chest cleavage either is super visible or you are completely covered by the suit (watch the video if you don't understand) 3) Rock a bad mullet 4) Make weird hand motions as if you are making up a new sign language that looks like a Do Not Cross sign in many different forms 5) Get some creepy dogs 6) Climb a ladder in a shiny outfit; all the cool kids are doing it 7) Have a crime scene lab that can be built in under 5 minutes. Just grab a lady's purse, some constumes from a thrift store, and have at it! 8) Make sure someone in your band looks like a celebrity (The Fixx found Matt Damon's blonde twin) 9) Crawl on the ground. It makes sense if you don't think about it. 10) Chase your bandmates around. One of my favorites from the 80's, which makes me think I should do a favorite videos of the 80's post. That would be cool. :)
1. This video is my favorite because it looks so spastic, so random, so "we're running out of time and we have to whip something together in the next half hour or we're going to look like idiots" that it achieves a high level of awesomeness. I think its great. Between the fact that they look totally cramped and that was the best Paul's hair has ever looked (sorry, I notice the little details), it's amazing. They all get so into the music, considering the fact that they are smushed into the back of a moving van. Amazing? Yes.
In music news, just wanted to let you know, on YouTube, they are broadcasting Bonaroo live. Tomorrow, Young the Gianta and many other alt/music greats are playing. Look it up!
Until next week,
Bella
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Gotye's Making Mirrors Album Review
Hey,
So, I promised a track-by-track review of Gotye's newest release "Making Mirrors." (Next week, I'm doing a track-by-track review of Neon Trees new album "Picture Show.")
1. Making Mirrors. This is the title track and begins with a slow instrumental introduction, with the vocals fading in. Beautiful, goose-bump inducing song. Gotye whispers, almost murmurs his way through the 1:01 song, which makes you listen a little closer.
2. Easy Way Out. I've talked about this track before, but I should discuss it again. It is still one of my favorite songs off the album. Gotye is known for heavily sampling songs, and he obviously chose "Daytripper" by The Beatles, which I approve of, as I love that song. What do I love? The various instruments in the background, the base line, and the airy sounding vocals. I'm not "looking for an easy way out" of this song.
3. Somebody That I Used to Know. Chances are you've heard this one before. In fact, if you're anything like me, you cannot escape from it. Believe me, it's a good song; their voices (Gotye and Kimbra) fit together like puzzle pieces, much like The Civil Wars. It's just overplayed and I like it, but it's not my favorite on the album. Anyways, the song samples "Seville" by Luiz Bonfa (there's supposed to be an accent there...whoops) and leads in with a catchy xylophone line that will be/already is stuck in your head. Cool track, even cooler music video.
4. Eyes Wide Open. I'm pretty sure I've reviewed this song before,so that just goes to show how much I really love this dude. I've heard some rumors that this song is about a new tax in Australia. Not sure how credible that is.. I like the country-style strings in the background, the pounding drums, and his relatable lyrics. I feel like I understand what he's saying. It's beautiful, really. He's quite the writer and I'm very impressed.
5. Smoke and Mirrors. For some reason, this song, sounds like it should have been on the Dirty Harry soundtrack. It's got that skeezy, bluesy, jazz-infused instrumentation and finger-pointing lyrics: "You're a fraud/And you know it.../it's always been a smoke and mirrors game."
6. I Feel Better. Good track, positive lyrics--in that he sounds happier than he did on Eyes Wide Open--but I don't like the horns at the beginning and I feel like he's kind of yelling; it's a happy yelling, but it's a little like whoa. It's a good song to play if your life is going well-i.e she said yes, you got a job promotion, A on your test, etc.
7. In Your Light. So creative. I love how it starts with just the guitars at the beginning and all the other instruments just trickle in. It's got a nice beat, kicking horn section, and fantastic vocals. His odd, beautiful, strong voice projects perfectly over the music. Also, the romantic lyrics are worth mentioning: "When I'm in your light/all of this is clear/just when I'm in your light/and I won't be alright if you take that light away."
8. State of the Art. One of his first songs that I fell madly in love with. I know I've talked about this one before...I had no idea how many of his songs I had already discussed. On YouTube, you can watch a mini-documentary where Gotye talks about how he made this album and more specifically, this song. It's amazing, actually. The song is about this super-cool organ he has, which, more power to him, considering most main stream artists just write about alcohol and da club. Anyways, he sampled this old jazz track and then sped it up. Very creative. For the vocals, he recorded them in a monotone-talking voice, lowered the vocals, and gave it that almost frightening, menacing, machine-like sound quality. Job well done.
9. Don't Worry We'll Be Watching You. The song leads in with whispered vocals, a simple drum beat, a little harmony, and eventually some strings. It has a mythical, fairy-tale, story-like sound to it. Honestly, it reminds me of Bon Iver a little bit, except that there's a little more variation throughout the song. My favorite part is around 1:20 when his voice gets louder and he sounds a lot like Paul Meany, the lead singer of MuteMath. In fact, this song reminds me of MM's second album Armistice.
10. Giving Me A Chance. To be honest, this is my first time ever listening to the track. So, this is completely unbiased. I approve of the synthesizers, minor key tonality, and the keyboard line. The lyrics are sad, but honest: "I get a little wrapped up in myself.../I know I let you down." Gotye's vocals are about an octave lower than usual which is a beautiful change.
11. Save Me. Don't shoot me, but the vocals at the beginning remind me of the intro to "Friday" by Rebecca Black. Ugh, horrible, right? Still, this song is amazing. One of my favorites off the album, i think. What do I love? Everything. To be more specific, I like the long notes with the faint vibrato he produces, the chorus in the background, the complex drum pattern, and his falsetto. I melt for a falsetto.
12. Bronte. Before this post, I listened to this song once, so, it's nearly as unbiased as Giving Me a Chance. It's much slower than his other tracks, so that's nice. Variety is the spice of life, or an album, in this case. This song reminds me of something very Lana Del Rey-esque, very 1960's, mixed with a slow dance song. It's breathtaking, truly. You can feel the emotion he feels. "We will be with you/when you go." Somehow, I think that line is his way of closing the album. And his promise holds true, all of his songs (the we in the lyrics) will stay with you for pretty much forever.
Conclusion: Incredible album. People will be like "Eh, he's okay for a new artist, but nothing special." In actuality, he has been around for ten years, this is his third album. Additionally, he wrote and recorded his own album in his parents' barn. Pretty impressive, I think. This guy is going up and I think he has an even brighter future coming his way. Buy his albums, go see him in concert, and comment about your opinion on Gotye.
Until next week,
Bella
So, I promised a track-by-track review of Gotye's newest release "Making Mirrors." (Next week, I'm doing a track-by-track review of Neon Trees new album "Picture Show.")
1. Making Mirrors. This is the title track and begins with a slow instrumental introduction, with the vocals fading in. Beautiful, goose-bump inducing song. Gotye whispers, almost murmurs his way through the 1:01 song, which makes you listen a little closer.
2. Easy Way Out. I've talked about this track before, but I should discuss it again. It is still one of my favorite songs off the album. Gotye is known for heavily sampling songs, and he obviously chose "Daytripper" by The Beatles, which I approve of, as I love that song. What do I love? The various instruments in the background, the base line, and the airy sounding vocals. I'm not "looking for an easy way out" of this song.
3. Somebody That I Used to Know. Chances are you've heard this one before. In fact, if you're anything like me, you cannot escape from it. Believe me, it's a good song; their voices (Gotye and Kimbra) fit together like puzzle pieces, much like The Civil Wars. It's just overplayed and I like it, but it's not my favorite on the album. Anyways, the song samples "Seville" by Luiz Bonfa (there's supposed to be an accent there...whoops) and leads in with a catchy xylophone line that will be/already is stuck in your head. Cool track, even cooler music video.
4. Eyes Wide Open. I'm pretty sure I've reviewed this song before,so that just goes to show how much I really love this dude. I've heard some rumors that this song is about a new tax in Australia. Not sure how credible that is.. I like the country-style strings in the background, the pounding drums, and his relatable lyrics. I feel like I understand what he's saying. It's beautiful, really. He's quite the writer and I'm very impressed.
5. Smoke and Mirrors. For some reason, this song, sounds like it should have been on the Dirty Harry soundtrack. It's got that skeezy, bluesy, jazz-infused instrumentation and finger-pointing lyrics: "You're a fraud/And you know it.../it's always been a smoke and mirrors game."
6. I Feel Better. Good track, positive lyrics--in that he sounds happier than he did on Eyes Wide Open--but I don't like the horns at the beginning and I feel like he's kind of yelling; it's a happy yelling, but it's a little like whoa. It's a good song to play if your life is going well-i.e she said yes, you got a job promotion, A on your test, etc.
7. In Your Light. So creative. I love how it starts with just the guitars at the beginning and all the other instruments just trickle in. It's got a nice beat, kicking horn section, and fantastic vocals. His odd, beautiful, strong voice projects perfectly over the music. Also, the romantic lyrics are worth mentioning: "When I'm in your light/all of this is clear/just when I'm in your light/and I won't be alright if you take that light away."
8. State of the Art. One of his first songs that I fell madly in love with. I know I've talked about this one before...I had no idea how many of his songs I had already discussed. On YouTube, you can watch a mini-documentary where Gotye talks about how he made this album and more specifically, this song. It's amazing, actually. The song is about this super-cool organ he has, which, more power to him, considering most main stream artists just write about alcohol and da club. Anyways, he sampled this old jazz track and then sped it up. Very creative. For the vocals, he recorded them in a monotone-talking voice, lowered the vocals, and gave it that almost frightening, menacing, machine-like sound quality. Job well done.
9. Don't Worry We'll Be Watching You. The song leads in with whispered vocals, a simple drum beat, a little harmony, and eventually some strings. It has a mythical, fairy-tale, story-like sound to it. Honestly, it reminds me of Bon Iver a little bit, except that there's a little more variation throughout the song. My favorite part is around 1:20 when his voice gets louder and he sounds a lot like Paul Meany, the lead singer of MuteMath. In fact, this song reminds me of MM's second album Armistice.
10. Giving Me A Chance. To be honest, this is my first time ever listening to the track. So, this is completely unbiased. I approve of the synthesizers, minor key tonality, and the keyboard line. The lyrics are sad, but honest: "I get a little wrapped up in myself.../I know I let you down." Gotye's vocals are about an octave lower than usual which is a beautiful change.
11. Save Me. Don't shoot me, but the vocals at the beginning remind me of the intro to "Friday" by Rebecca Black. Ugh, horrible, right? Still, this song is amazing. One of my favorites off the album, i think. What do I love? Everything. To be more specific, I like the long notes with the faint vibrato he produces, the chorus in the background, the complex drum pattern, and his falsetto. I melt for a falsetto.
12. Bronte. Before this post, I listened to this song once, so, it's nearly as unbiased as Giving Me a Chance. It's much slower than his other tracks, so that's nice. Variety is the spice of life, or an album, in this case. This song reminds me of something very Lana Del Rey-esque, very 1960's, mixed with a slow dance song. It's breathtaking, truly. You can feel the emotion he feels. "We will be with you/when you go." Somehow, I think that line is his way of closing the album. And his promise holds true, all of his songs (the we in the lyrics) will stay with you for pretty much forever.
Conclusion: Incredible album. People will be like "Eh, he's okay for a new artist, but nothing special." In actuality, he has been around for ten years, this is his third album. Additionally, he wrote and recorded his own album in his parents' barn. Pretty impressive, I think. This guy is going up and I think he has an even brighter future coming his way. Buy his albums, go see him in concert, and comment about your opinion on Gotye.
Until next week,
Bella
Monday, May 7, 2012
Makeup Post/ Five Songs Rocking My Spotify Playlists
Hey,
I just wanted to do a quick post to let you all know what I'm listening to...
Because I'm crunched for time, here's my proposition: tonight I will talk about 5 songs on my playlist and then on Friday, I will do a proper review: Gotye's newest album, track-by-track.
Now, my five fav songs:
In no particular order:
1. Nothing in My Way by Keane
This is an older song, from their 2006 album Under The Iron Sea, but I just discovered it today. I had on my Gotye Pandora station and this came on; I was frozen in place. Some songs just strike me, and this one was no exception. I love the powerful piano hammering, the organ, the drum patterns, and Tom's beautiful tenor. I love the minor key tonality and the beautiful harmony. Not going to lie, I'm a sucker for almost any song in the minor key. Especially songs in the minor key + a powerful vocalist= heaven for my ears.
2. Diet Mountain Dew by Lana Del Rey
yeah, yeah, she's controversial, talentless, stiff, just a pretty face, rich, spoiled, stupid, dumb; I get it. I don't know why, but I'm drawn to her voice. I like the 50's swagger and her husky sound. It's different. Seriously, Katy Perry doesn't sound like this; I kinda think she sounds like a robot who inhaled a bunch of helium. Anyways, Diet Mountain Dew has nothing to do with the song, really, I don't have any idea what she's talking about, but she does have some good one-two-punches. It's good songwriting.
3. Killer by The Ready Set
Ah, Jordan Witzigreuter (I know that's wrong, but I'm running with it) I love him. He's the dude behind TRS, just him and a manager/producer, obviously, but you catch my drift. I love his editing techniques. Yes, I think he uses autotune, editing, reverb, and audio effects. Seeing as he actually has real talent, isn't swollen with arrogance, and doesn't do stupid choreographed dance moves, and writes his own music, I respect him. Oh, unlike OneDirection, he plays instruments! Yes, it's crazy right? Now, I realize I'm contradicting myself and setting a double standard by saying it's okay for him to use autotune but not the Biebs. Yeah, but Jordan's not some puffed up, cookie-cutter musician. He has talent, sounds just as good live as in a studio, and he's creative. If the Biebs wrote his own crappy music, I might respect him a little bit more, but probably not. Jordan's just a cool guy and he can sing without his effects; he uses it to give him some edge, and to set him apart from other musicians.
4. Thanks For Your Time by Gotye
I love him. I love, love,love,love,lovelovelovelovelovelovelovelovelovelovelove him. He's amazing, and I'll explain it in more detail on Friday night. I chose this song from his second album "Like Drawing Blood," because it cracks me up. Not in like, OMG, I'm doubling in laughter, I need to dry my tears, but it's in more like a funny ha-ha sort of way. But because the entire song is about dealing with customer service on the phone. We all know how freaking complicated that is. So, I love the track in the background, the steady beat, the "ah-ah-oh's" repeating through the back. The clips from different customer service places are a nice touch. It's smart. His building frustration which is demonstrated with the vocals growing louder and the irritated lyrics. I like how he's trying to show it from their stupid side like, "that's understandable/isn't that understandable." Those companies tend to either have ridiculous robots or messages that talk down to you like you're 8 years old.
5. Payphone by maroon5
I knew this song before it was big. I called it. I've been listening to this song since the day after it came out. This song is "meh," with simple lyrics, boring chord changes, an easy drum pattern, and too many vocal fillers on Adam's voice. I used to really like Maroon 5, but their new stuff just feels really mass-produced. And all those Pop listeners are freaking out because I'm being mean, and I approve of Jordan's effects, but not Maroon5's. I just know Jordan uses those in all of his songs like they are another instrument. Maroon 5 and Bieber rely on them. I really just posted this song because I wanted to prove that I predict the hits. I've heard most songs before they get big. ask me what I'm checking out and in a few months, it'll be huge. Take "Somebody I Used to Know," I was listening to that like back in January. Same thing with "We Are Young." :)
Until next week,
Bella
I just wanted to do a quick post to let you all know what I'm listening to...
Because I'm crunched for time, here's my proposition: tonight I will talk about 5 songs on my playlist and then on Friday, I will do a proper review: Gotye's newest album, track-by-track.
Now, my five fav songs:
In no particular order:
1. Nothing in My Way by Keane
This is an older song, from their 2006 album Under The Iron Sea, but I just discovered it today. I had on my Gotye Pandora station and this came on; I was frozen in place. Some songs just strike me, and this one was no exception. I love the powerful piano hammering, the organ, the drum patterns, and Tom's beautiful tenor. I love the minor key tonality and the beautiful harmony. Not going to lie, I'm a sucker for almost any song in the minor key. Especially songs in the minor key + a powerful vocalist= heaven for my ears.
2. Diet Mountain Dew by Lana Del Rey
yeah, yeah, she's controversial, talentless, stiff, just a pretty face, rich, spoiled, stupid, dumb; I get it. I don't know why, but I'm drawn to her voice. I like the 50's swagger and her husky sound. It's different. Seriously, Katy Perry doesn't sound like this; I kinda think she sounds like a robot who inhaled a bunch of helium. Anyways, Diet Mountain Dew has nothing to do with the song, really, I don't have any idea what she's talking about, but she does have some good one-two-punches. It's good songwriting.
3. Killer by The Ready Set
Ah, Jordan Witzigreuter (I know that's wrong, but I'm running with it) I love him. He's the dude behind TRS, just him and a manager/producer, obviously, but you catch my drift. I love his editing techniques. Yes, I think he uses autotune, editing, reverb, and audio effects. Seeing as he actually has real talent, isn't swollen with arrogance, and doesn't do stupid choreographed dance moves, and writes his own music, I respect him. Oh, unlike OneDirection, he plays instruments! Yes, it's crazy right? Now, I realize I'm contradicting myself and setting a double standard by saying it's okay for him to use autotune but not the Biebs. Yeah, but Jordan's not some puffed up, cookie-cutter musician. He has talent, sounds just as good live as in a studio, and he's creative. If the Biebs wrote his own crappy music, I might respect him a little bit more, but probably not. Jordan's just a cool guy and he can sing without his effects; he uses it to give him some edge, and to set him apart from other musicians.
4. Thanks For Your Time by Gotye
I love him. I love, love,love,love,lovelovelovelovelovelovelovelovelovelovelove him. He's amazing, and I'll explain it in more detail on Friday night. I chose this song from his second album "Like Drawing Blood," because it cracks me up. Not in like, OMG, I'm doubling in laughter, I need to dry my tears, but it's in more like a funny ha-ha sort of way. But because the entire song is about dealing with customer service on the phone. We all know how freaking complicated that is. So, I love the track in the background, the steady beat, the "ah-ah-oh's" repeating through the back. The clips from different customer service places are a nice touch. It's smart. His building frustration which is demonstrated with the vocals growing louder and the irritated lyrics. I like how he's trying to show it from their stupid side like, "that's understandable/isn't that understandable." Those companies tend to either have ridiculous robots or messages that talk down to you like you're 8 years old.
5. Payphone by maroon5
I knew this song before it was big. I called it. I've been listening to this song since the day after it came out. This song is "meh," with simple lyrics, boring chord changes, an easy drum pattern, and too many vocal fillers on Adam's voice. I used to really like Maroon 5, but their new stuff just feels really mass-produced. And all those Pop listeners are freaking out because I'm being mean, and I approve of Jordan's effects, but not Maroon5's. I just know Jordan uses those in all of his songs like they are another instrument. Maroon 5 and Bieber rely on them. I really just posted this song because I wanted to prove that I predict the hits. I've heard most songs before they get big. ask me what I'm checking out and in a few months, it'll be huge. Take "Somebody I Used to Know," I was listening to that like back in January. Same thing with "We Are Young." :)
Until next week,
Bella
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Alternative Music Videos...Hey, we gotta figure out new things to talk about besides the boring stuff. :)
Hey!
If you are anything like me, you like watching music videos because it gives a visual to the song. I am a visual learner, in case you weren't totally positive.
So, here are 3 of my favorite music videos with my worthless commentary:
1) Somebody That I Used to Know by Gotye ft. Kimba
Watch the video here
0:00 Cool, nice feet
0.06 hairy legs
0:10 Hmmm, something tells me this guy isn't wearing any clothes
0:12 Nope no clothes
0:18 Can I be stupid for a second and say that he has nice eyes?
0:29 I like how low-budget these alt/indie vids are. It's free to roam around naked and so far he's just staring
0:50 Someone's been using crayons on the wall...naughty
0:56 That someone is probably not four years old...those are complicated geometric shapes
1:00 I love that effect! It's kind of liked stop-motion, all the squares are magically colored in
1:27 We are now reallllllly close to his face
1:38 Uh-oh, someone's painting on him
1:39 Nice belly-button shot, btw
1:51 Looks like Lady Gag-Me's Makeup for a sec :)
2:13 He reminds me of this creepy clown I saw once; when I saw him, I ran the other direction
2:15 I wonder what it would be like if that paint accidentally got in your mouth...yuck?
2:22 He probably had to practice not blinking
2:28 Sweet, now it's a naked lady painted just like him. Is the nudist-paint-canvas meeting?
2:33 She kinda looks like a prettier, less slutty Katy Perry...sounds like her too
2:51 Aww, that's sweet. He's closing his eyes to make it a little less awkward for her. Or he's in pain
3:06 I love the harmony. Reminds me of The Civil Wars
3:31 "Aw, nah! She's leaving me." yeah, it's probably time to go find some clothes
3:37 The pain of the breakup is too painful; all the paint must come off.
3:44 I think she's been ex-communicated from the meeting; you have to be dating hot musicians to join
3:56 Awkward sexual tension...
4:03 Black screen
Summary: Very cool, unique vid highlighting a fantastic song with hautnting harmonies and a guy with nice eyes
Song 2# Spotlight (Oh Nostalgia) by Patrick Stump
0:02 I remembering playing on monkey bars like those when I was in elementary school.
0:08 That guy is too good. I usually just hobble around on my pogo stick. "look ma, two hands!"
0:16 Helloooooo, Patrick
0:21 Hm, my helmets were never that cool.
0:26 Not gonna lie, at first i those those were either weapons or bombs
0:34 He's more flexible than I am. Not good. *Time to stretch*
0:54 Awwww, no way! That cannot be possible
1:10 I love how minimalist this video is. He probably went around and just found a bunch of cool people to follow around. An artist who is not so full of themselves that they can highlight other people. Five bucks says Rihanna or Ke$ha never will. Camera hogs...
1:12 Jealous!
1:15 Talent...talent...amazed
1:21 Okay, so that kid's a little better on the monkey bars than I am
1:27 Little Pig Girl, you are killer with that skateboard. The last time I tried it, I fell off after 3 seconds and spent the next 5 minutes laughing
1:33 O...M...G It's extreme Pogo-Sticker Boy. That would make a cool TLC special. (Hey, they did the Virgin Diaries, why not cool Pogo Stick people?)
1:35 I used to think that talent was stupid, but after this video, I'm kind of totally impressed. You go, Stacker Dude!
1:43 It's a ninja!
1:44 Don't steal her food, clothes, money, or even look at her the wrong way. Yikes
1:47 Pencil Man's pretty good at this. That takes serious dexterity
1:50 I like Mr. Yo-Yo. I'm just as good as him; I know one trick. It's okay to be jealous...
1:56 See how Patrick failed; that's me, just in Patrick form
1:59 Best part of the whole video. I love how he's laughing and trying not to stare. Cute girl, btw
2:02 Okay, he's better than me and 80% of the population. Go Patrick!
2:05 Um, impressive but nauseating
2:07 Superman!
2:17 Now that's talent on the pole. Take that, pole dancers. This guy is talented! Big time!
2:31 Looks nice, Pat. Just whack that thing around and pretend you're intimidating. I'm scared...if that helps.
2:35 I could never figure out the pattern you're supposed to follow
2:39 What a cool dog!
2:57 Love this guy! Anyone have his number?
3:06 WOAH!!! (thanks for not squishing Patrick, btw)
3:32 Most talented group in the video (I think I'm even qualified to join!!!)
3:59 Cool ending!
Summary: Catchy song and cool thought process. I like whoever thought about going around and finding talented people. It's different and I like different. :) You can watch the video here
Song 3# Cough Syrup by Young the Giant
0:02 I think we're under water
0:07 Yep, because guitarists and musicians like to play their instruments in front of the pool. Water needs music too
0:09 Ooooh, Sameer! I love him. Marry me, por favor?
0:11 A fish tank?
0:21 Hello. Nice swimsuits.
0:22 Food dye always makes water much prettier
0:26 Kinda looks like bubbles
0:32 I like the bouncy bassist
0:38 LOTS of food dye. Much more fun
0:41 Bouncy
0:49 Food dye must have been on sale
0:53 Good for you, chicka! be a non-conformist; we have much more fun
0:57 Fun colors
1:06 Time to swim!
1:10 I have so much respect for people that can do that
1:28 Hey, they moved!
1:51 This is where science gets cool
2:05 Wonder how they got the sunglasses to stay glued to their faces...
2:09 "Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming..." (Sorry, couldn't resist as Dory reference)
2:16 Kickboards are very fashionable
2:18 Oh, that's a cool effect
2:27 I'm thinking, oh, at least 50% off. Or their budget was like 100,000 dollars
2:37 Birds!
2:38 I'm reminded of that anatomy picture where it's the dude with like 3 arms and legs
2:52 I wonder how much practicing it took to get that just right
2:54 Look at him! He feels the music. $303 dollars says Chris Brown doesn't feel his; mostly cuz his lyrics are all about money and sexing up the ladies
3:05 Do I even want to ask?
3:09 Ugh, I'm confused
3:13 Smoke, I see, smoke
3:15 That's probably how Ke$ha takes a bath
3:18 Prettier than Ke$ha
3:31 That looks like a lot of fun
3:55 The smoke disappeared
3:58 It's that cool reverse trick.
4:02 Oh, Sameer!
4:08 It's over already? I like it when you were staring at the camera, looking right into my eyes...sigh...
Summary: A music video that meets several criteria:
1) Hot lead singer
2) Takes place at a pool
3) Showcases a talent of some sort
4) Has members of the band that actually look like they want to be there
5) Uses dye
6) Is entertaining
Watch the video here
Well, I hope you enjoyed my commentary, I'm always trying to think of ideas for new posts, so if you think of something interesting, comment or e-mail me. I love feedback!
Until next week,
Bella
If you are anything like me, you like watching music videos because it gives a visual to the song. I am a visual learner, in case you weren't totally positive.
So, here are 3 of my favorite music videos with my worthless commentary:
1) Somebody That I Used to Know by Gotye ft. Kimba
Watch the video here
0:00 Cool, nice feet
0.06 hairy legs
0:10 Hmmm, something tells me this guy isn't wearing any clothes
0:12 Nope no clothes
0:18 Can I be stupid for a second and say that he has nice eyes?
0:29 I like how low-budget these alt/indie vids are. It's free to roam around naked and so far he's just staring
0:50 Someone's been using crayons on the wall...naughty
0:56 That someone is probably not four years old...those are complicated geometric shapes
1:00 I love that effect! It's kind of liked stop-motion, all the squares are magically colored in
1:27 We are now reallllllly close to his face
1:38 Uh-oh, someone's painting on him
1:39 Nice belly-button shot, btw
1:51 Looks like Lady Gag-Me's Makeup for a sec :)
2:13 He reminds me of this creepy clown I saw once; when I saw him, I ran the other direction
2:15 I wonder what it would be like if that paint accidentally got in your mouth...yuck?
2:22 He probably had to practice not blinking
2:28 Sweet, now it's a naked lady painted just like him. Is the nudist-paint-canvas meeting?
2:33 She kinda looks like a prettier, less slutty Katy Perry...sounds like her too
2:51 Aww, that's sweet. He's closing his eyes to make it a little less awkward for her. Or he's in pain
3:06 I love the harmony. Reminds me of The Civil Wars
3:31 "Aw, nah! She's leaving me." yeah, it's probably time to go find some clothes
3:37 The pain of the breakup is too painful; all the paint must come off.
3:44 I think she's been ex-communicated from the meeting; you have to be dating hot musicians to join
3:56 Awkward sexual tension...
4:03 Black screen
Summary: Very cool, unique vid highlighting a fantastic song with hautnting harmonies and a guy with nice eyes
Song 2# Spotlight (Oh Nostalgia) by Patrick Stump
0:02 I remembering playing on monkey bars like those when I was in elementary school.
0:08 That guy is too good. I usually just hobble around on my pogo stick. "look ma, two hands!"
0:16 Helloooooo, Patrick
0:21 Hm, my helmets were never that cool.
0:26 Not gonna lie, at first i those those were either weapons or bombs
0:34 He's more flexible than I am. Not good. *Time to stretch*
0:54 Awwww, no way! That cannot be possible
1:10 I love how minimalist this video is. He probably went around and just found a bunch of cool people to follow around. An artist who is not so full of themselves that they can highlight other people. Five bucks says Rihanna or Ke$ha never will. Camera hogs...
1:12 Jealous!
1:15 Talent...talent...amazed
1:21 Okay, so that kid's a little better on the monkey bars than I am
1:27 Little Pig Girl, you are killer with that skateboard. The last time I tried it, I fell off after 3 seconds and spent the next 5 minutes laughing
1:33 O...M...G It's extreme Pogo-Sticker Boy. That would make a cool TLC special. (Hey, they did the Virgin Diaries, why not cool Pogo Stick people?)
1:35 I used to think that talent was stupid, but after this video, I'm kind of totally impressed. You go, Stacker Dude!
1:43 It's a ninja!
1:44 Don't steal her food, clothes, money, or even look at her the wrong way. Yikes
1:47 Pencil Man's pretty good at this. That takes serious dexterity
1:50 I like Mr. Yo-Yo. I'm just as good as him; I know one trick. It's okay to be jealous...
1:56 See how Patrick failed; that's me, just in Patrick form
1:59 Best part of the whole video. I love how he's laughing and trying not to stare. Cute girl, btw
2:02 Okay, he's better than me and 80% of the population. Go Patrick!
2:05 Um, impressive but nauseating
2:07 Superman!
2:17 Now that's talent on the pole. Take that, pole dancers. This guy is talented! Big time!
2:31 Looks nice, Pat. Just whack that thing around and pretend you're intimidating. I'm scared...if that helps.
2:35 I could never figure out the pattern you're supposed to follow
2:39 What a cool dog!
2:57 Love this guy! Anyone have his number?
3:06 WOAH!!! (thanks for not squishing Patrick, btw)
3:32 Most talented group in the video (I think I'm even qualified to join!!!)
3:59 Cool ending!
Summary: Catchy song and cool thought process. I like whoever thought about going around and finding talented people. It's different and I like different. :) You can watch the video here
Song 3# Cough Syrup by Young the Giant
0:02 I think we're under water
0:07 Yep, because guitarists and musicians like to play their instruments in front of the pool. Water needs music too
0:09 Ooooh, Sameer! I love him. Marry me, por favor?
0:11 A fish tank?
0:21 Hello. Nice swimsuits.
0:22 Food dye always makes water much prettier
0:26 Kinda looks like bubbles
0:32 I like the bouncy bassist
0:38 LOTS of food dye. Much more fun
0:41 Bouncy
0:49 Food dye must have been on sale
0:53 Good for you, chicka! be a non-conformist; we have much more fun
0:57 Fun colors
1:06 Time to swim!
1:10 I have so much respect for people that can do that
1:28 Hey, they moved!
1:51 This is where science gets cool
2:05 Wonder how they got the sunglasses to stay glued to their faces...
2:09 "Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming..." (Sorry, couldn't resist as Dory reference)
2:16 Kickboards are very fashionable
2:18 Oh, that's a cool effect
2:27 I'm thinking, oh, at least 50% off. Or their budget was like 100,000 dollars
2:37 Birds!
2:38 I'm reminded of that anatomy picture where it's the dude with like 3 arms and legs
2:52 I wonder how much practicing it took to get that just right
2:54 Look at him! He feels the music. $303 dollars says Chris Brown doesn't feel his; mostly cuz his lyrics are all about money and sexing up the ladies
3:05 Do I even want to ask?
3:09 Ugh, I'm confused
3:13 Smoke, I see, smoke
3:15 That's probably how Ke$ha takes a bath
3:18 Prettier than Ke$ha
3:31 That looks like a lot of fun
3:55 The smoke disappeared
3:58 It's that cool reverse trick.
4:02 Oh, Sameer!
4:08 It's over already? I like it when you were staring at the camera, looking right into my eyes...sigh...
Summary: A music video that meets several criteria:
1) Hot lead singer
2) Takes place at a pool
3) Showcases a talent of some sort
4) Has members of the band that actually look like they want to be there
5) Uses dye
6) Is entertaining
Watch the video here
Well, I hope you enjoyed my commentary, I'm always trying to think of ideas for new posts, so if you think of something interesting, comment or e-mail me. I love feedback!
Until next week,
Bella
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