Track of the Week: "Biting Down" by Lorde

Hey,
For this week's installment of song of the week, I have picked "Biting Down" by Lorde. Unless you've been living under a rock, you've probably heard her song "Royals," and "Biting Down" is off the same album. Instrumentally, it is psychedelic, full of layered synth lines and repetitious vocals. Allegedly, the song is about doing drugs. Biting down is a term used to describe tripping on a psychedllic drug of some kind--matching the instrumental component. She says that she breathed "so deep" she thought she'd drown, meaning she took a deep breath and got high very quickly. she then enters a blissful high, cueing the repeticious lyrics, as she can no longer think in a linear fashion. Overall, Lorde's husky, trance-like vocals--she reminds me so much of a 17 year old version of Lana Del Rey--and the swirling synthesizers make the listener almost feel as if they are tripping on something as well. Masterfully done. I expect even more amazing things from her in the coming years.

Until next week,
Bella

Unreleased Lana Del Rey Songs

Hey,

I know I’ve mentioned it before, but I’ll say it again. I love Lana del Rey. I admire her voice, her persona, her confidence, and her lyrics. She fits the femme fatale mold that society squeezes her into, but jumps out of it just as quickly as she went in. She is equal parts sweet and tough and her songs show a wide of range of emotion. In my mind, she is one of the best female acts out there, perfectly straddling the line between indie and mainstream, a difficult feat, no doubt.

Bottom line: I love her. J I enjoy her released stuff, but there are definitely some hidden gems in her unreleased material, most of which is available on YouTube. Tonight, I present to you my top 5 favorite unreleased Lana Del Rey songs.

5. "You Can Be The Boss"- This song is different from her released stuff, which is why I felt it should be included. The instrumental section is nothing compared to her vocals, which travels from high and girlish to low and smoky. The lyrics detail some girl telling some guy he can "be the boss," whatever that means. I think, at its core, it's about a good girl dating a bad boy. Overdone theme, but at least it's well-written. :)

4. "Every Man Gets His Wish"- Opening with a whistle section, giving way to her immortalized love lyrics, and sultry vocals. Lana's music truly does feel like a throwback to music from decades ago.  From some bold open references "We're gonna party like it's 1949"  to just her bouncing vocals that switch as often as she wants, it sounds like something that could have been released in the 1950's instead of the 2000's.

3. "Kinda Outta Luck" This time, we have a bad girl who turns a good boy bad, she tries to be good, but it doesn't work and she leaves him or kills him; I'm not quite sure which one. Point being, she decides to run away and relies on the "kindness of strangers," an ambiguous phrase that she deliberately tosses in there. Lana is an expert at storytelling lyrics without feeling like she's telling a story. Her lyrics are creative while spinning a tale. Excellent song.

2. "Hollywood's Dead"-  After a failed romance, Lana feels that everything she once held dear, old Hollywood icons, has died as well. She is alone and without direction. I love how the lyrics are depressing as heck but the instrumentation, though slow, is still swelling and grand, as opposed to reclusive and demure. The contrast is really powerful. As well, that sort of muffled thing she does about two minutes in proves that she could have been a famous singer back in the 1950's.

1. "Serial Killer" - I like how the song it begins with just her voice and some twinkling instrumentation but the percussion does not really begin until about 20-30 seconds in. The lyrics compare her to a serial killer of love, warning a guy not to fall for her. Love it.

I do want to make a quick note here. You may have noticed all of her songs I highlighted on here are about love and I've complained in the past about Taylor Swift writing all her songs about love. I am not a hypocrite, I swear. The reason I like Lana is because, first and foremost, she has a wide vocal range; Taylor just sounds pretty much the same unless they add dubstep in the background. Lana acknowledges that she cannot fit into one genre. She is baroque pop, soft pop, rock pop, and ballad pop. Taylor tries to be country but still be pop at the same time. Seriously, girl, adding a banjo does not make a song country. Evidence here. Anyways, Lana writes her songs with the help of one other dude; Taylor used to write her own stuff, but now has an entire team of people helping her who mostly just choose which words she should repeat.

Honestly, I don't totally care that Taylor writes all her songs about love;I mean, I get that. I'm young too, you know? I understand how exciting love is. But, Taylor's songs just show a lack of emotional maturity. When she was 16, it was kind of cute, like, "Awww, he broke her heart." Now, she's just mean about breakups. What the heck happened at the Grammy's? Seriously, T-Swift, that was a super lame British accent. Believe me, I'm not a Directioner, but I do admire Harry Styles, her ex, for not saying a single bad thing about her. She, on the other hand, is parodying him in music videos and openly mocking him. Maturity...she does not have it.
I saw this really good thing on Pinterest that showed that Taylor and Adele are the exact same age, but one still acts like she's in high school. It's really true. A high schooler could get away with what she says in her songs, but a twenty year old should not be writing musical taunts, i.e., "We are never, ever, ever, getting back together." Not very mature, especially compared to the majority of Adele's song which are lyrical masterpieces (and Lana's, as well).

So, that, readers, is why I like Lana even though some might argue she is somewhat similar to Taylor.

Thanks for reading!

Until next week,
Bella

The Good, The Amazing, and the Superamazing Playlist

Hey,

It’s been a while since I’ve done a “What is Bella Listening To,” so tonight, I present my new playlist.

Here we goooo….

Relapse (Cosmonaut Grechko Remix) by Jhameel and Blue Satellite- I’ve highlighted Jhameel before, but this track is totally different from his normal music. It’s a remix of one of his original songs “Relapse” and the remix brings something new to an already great song. It makes the list because of the strong piano lines intermixed throughout the track, the perfect distortion, and the lyrics are sheer poetry. Put all these elements together, you have an amazing song. Worth checking out, even if you’re not into electro/remixes (as well, you might have heard this song if you’ve been to Hollister recently).

Act Like You Know by That Work- I love the electro meets alternative feeling of the song. Like “Relapse,” it’s slightly different from what I highlight on my blog, but sometimes, it’s a good thing to listen to all sorts of music. Anyways, I love this song because that chorus is constantly stuck in my head, the singer’s voice is so unique, excited yet soothing, and the lyrics are just as stunning as the music, for example “Ain’t got no eyes for no other…/you make it hard to get over/this feeling’s just too much…/I’m catching a fever.” Lovesick, yet with perfect syntax. Love it.

Flexxin’ By Dutch Uncles- String sections can truly enhance a song, as demonstrated in this track. This one really grew on me. Additionally, I like the layered vocals, catchy chorus, and the lead singer’s croon—so sick. J

Empty Party Rooms by Minus The Bear- One of my favorite bands! They are coming to my town in March and I really hope to go see them. The tickets are super affordable and I’ve listened to them for several years now. They are known for their flawless harmonies, steady beats, and ridiculously memorable lyrics. This song is no exception. It builds, crescendos, decrescendos, and repeats with perfect accuracy. Jake’s vocals blow me away each time, too. J

Pawn Shop Blues by Lana Del Rey- Oh, Lana. I realize I’ve reviewed like a million of her songs, but she has a ton of unreleased material on Youtube, a freaking goldmine for music lovers like me and considering the song has two million views, I suppose I’m not the only one who loves her unreleased material. The main difference between her unreleased music and her released music is her unreleased is relatively undoctored. “Pawn Shop Blues” is just plain and simple elegance flowing from her lips with a barebones arrangement of strings and guitars. The lyrics carry the song and you can feel her emotion, sympathize with her plight: selling things that an ex gave her in order to bury the memories. We’ve all had those low points—metaphorical or not—and Lana—or Lizzie, if you want to be specific—has a certain knack for connecting on several levels with her listeners, not just spewing hatred or sadness.

 I like to contrast her with Taylor Swift. Both women write music (though Lana usually only requires one other person to help fine tune her lyrics, not write them for her, whereas Taylor usually uses two or more people) about their lives—autobiographical songs hold a special place in our hearts, don’t they?—but Lana varies her subjects, discussing love, but heartache, depression, memories, and even fantasies. Taylor, on the other hand, writes about love, breakups, and love, usually repeating and recycling old subjects and material, pawning it off as a new single. (Not to mention, she’s dated like half of Hollywood now, right? I love that Lana is so secretive about her private life; it makes me respect her even more). Point being, just because someone wants to write about their lives in their music doesn’t mean it has to be fluffy with repetitive lines and identical songs. That is why I love Lana and why “Pawn Shop Blues” beats “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together,” two break-up/never reconciling songs but one clearly outshines the other. Just my musings for the night. Overall, “Pawn Shop Blues” is one of my favorite songs of Lana’s and I wish she would release it so I can get it on my iPod. Such beauty. J

Well, that’s it for this week. Next week, I’ll get to part Three of the Twilight soundtrack reviews; I’m trying to mix it up here and there.

Until then,

Bella

5 Covers That Put the Original Artists To Shame

Hey,

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I'm all for honesty. So, I have to be blunt here. It maybe a new year, but the music industry is still the big, broken machine it was 5 days ago. Sorry, but it's the truth.
Still, I consider myself an optimist, so even though the mainstream stuff is complete garbage and indie acts are still looked down upon and labeled, I believe there is a plethora of beautiful, amazing music waiting to be discovered and appreciated. The stuff on the radio is terrible, but with a little effort, it could be turned into something stunning. Therefore, tonight, I present 5 covers of terrible mainstream music made incredible.

5. "Off to The Races" (Originally by Lana Del Rey) by Drew Tabor- I discovered Drew a little over a year ago and she is one of my favorite female YouTube singers. Her vocals perfectly suit Lana's style, which I love anyways, with her deep, slightly gravely, yet powerful voice. Every cover Drew does makes me appreciate her talent even more. This cover, in particular, is so barebones, allowing her talent to really shine through, that it gives me goosebumps. Check out all her videos here

4. "Cola" (Originally by Lana Del Rey) by Ally Rhodes- I realize that this is the second Lana Del Rey song and the title of the post is "5 Covers That Put The Original Artists To Shame" and I love Lana, but both Ally and Drew bring something to Lana's songs. Where Drew's version is raw and chilling, Ally's stab at Lana is more polished but still absolutely beautiful! Both covers are incredible and it's impossible to choose a better singer of the two, so I pick both. :)

3. "I Knew You Were Trouble" (Originally by Taylor Swift) by Walk Off the Earth ft. KRNFX- Where Taylor's original version reeks of too many writers, a terrible stab at Dubstep (Only Skrillex can really get away with all the wub-wubbing) and comes across as another sloppy pop composition, WOTF's rendition is unique, darker, and the a capella gives the depth that the song was missing. I love Sarah's vocals, which blend nicely with the four other guys'. Crazy good.

2. "99 Problems" (Originally by Jay-Z) by Tonic Sol-Fa- I discovered these super talented guys after my mom saw an ad for their concert and we decided, on a whim, to go. Best. Decision. Ever. Seriously. They made a huge fan out of me. :) TSF is an acapella group-- and I've only mentioned a million times how much I love a capella in general--so it's really no surprise why this song makes the list. Jay-Z's versions oozes with his ridiculous bravado and features the most annoying background music I've heard, but TSF challenges that, giving the song a perfect beat, layered vocals, and making it completely loveable and listenable, unlike the original. You have to check these guys out. Really.

1. "One More Night" (Originally by Maroon 5) by Chester See ft. Alex G- Chester has one the most incredible voices and coupled with Alex's gentle vocals, Chester really shines here. Maroon 5's song has really great lyrics, but buried underneath too much synth, repetitious background noise, and Adam's obviously edited vocals, it's hard to tell. But, with Chester and Alex's expressive voices, and gentle guitar and piano, the true passion of the lyrics really comes out. Once again, Chester has won me over and Alex has made me fall in love with her vocals. Love!

Until next week,
Bella

Best Songs of 2012

Hey,
It's almost 2013! Seriously, I cannot believe how quickly this year has flown by. As quickly as it has gone, we've had some incredible music come out this year. At the risk of sounding cheeky, can I say it may have been one of alternative music's best years? Granted, the crap on the radio was still crap ("Whistle", anyone?) but I think the alternative scene is improving and spreading into popular culture, maybe even just a little bit. I think fun. wins the award for best out-of-nowhere hit single and follow-up single with "We Are Young" and "Some Nights." I love seeing bands getting some validation, even it means I have to put up with obnoxious 12 year olds tweeting "OMG!!!! We R Young!" Yes, you are. You're 12.
Anyways, my intent was to do a 12 best songs of 2012 list, but there's just too many good ones, so I'm doing 15 best songs; I couldn't narrow it down!
Here is my list of the 15 Best Songs of 2012:

15."Relax My Beloved" by Alex Clare
14. "All Alone" by fun.
13. "Little Black Submarines" by The Black Keys
12. "Empty Party Rooms" by Minus the Bear
11. "Run Boy Run" by Woodkid
10."No Diggity" by Chet Faker
9."Body Electric" by Lana Del Rey
8. "Speak Up" by POP ETC.
7."Before the Dive" by St. Lucia
6."Holiday" by Electric Guest
5."Because I Know That I Can" by Andy Burrows
4."Demons" by Imagine Dragons
3."American Daydream" by Electric Guest
2."Handshake" by Two Door Cinema Club
1. "This Head I Hold" by Electric Guest

15. "Relax My Beloved" by Alex Clare. Alex Clare gained notoriety for his song "Too Close," which blended blues and dub step seamlessly. However, I think it's safe to say that "Relax My Beloved" is a million times better. It combines his soulful vocals with that Sonny Moore-influenced sound in the background and sounds absolutely beautiful and almost raw in a strange way. The lyrics have captured my heart with such lines as "then maybe again/ we will weep like we've done a thousand time before," and many others. Great song.

14. "All Alone" by fun. I reviewed fun.'s album a while back, and I still am in love with "All Alone." Between the gentle instrumental intro, that ridiculously creative percussion line, one of the best lines of the year: "how do you cry/ with inanimate eyes," and Nate's powerful vocals, this remains one of the best songs off their album and another reason why I am proud to support these guys! They're awesome! :)

13. "Little Black Submarines" by the Black Keys. Ah, the Black Keys. I was angry with them at first for not putting their newest album on Spotify, but after actually listening to it; I understand why. It's too good to put on Spotify. I realize how pretentious that sounds, but seriously, listen to it and you'll see why. The Black Keys specialize in polished blues/ R&B and that perfectly describes track 13 on my list. "Little Black Submarines" showcases their dirty guitar licks, gravely vocals, and their talent of reviving music of the past (and doing an excellent job, if I say so myself).

12. "Empty Party Rooms" by Minus The Bear. I first listened to this band a few years ago when their label, Dangerbird, offered a free sampler off Amazon.com. The song was amazing and I keep coming back for more. And this band never disappoints. "Empty Party Rooms" has a very mellow tinge to it. Certainly, it is more laid-back than most of their usual stuff and I like it for that very reason. Critics tend to criticize (hence their title "critic") bands for experimenting and trying new stuff. I call bull. This song belongs on the album as much as the others and I love the chill sound. Still, it is a very complex song with beautiful guitar lines, heavenly background vocals, and Jake's capable voice carrying the song.

11. "Run Boy Run" by Woodkid. Woodkid is the musical alias of Yoann Lemoine, a French director. This is definitely a different track; I like different. :)  I like the strong lyrics, beautiful vocals, manic percussion, and the string section.

10. "No Diggity" by Chet Faker. "No Diggity" was super big back in the 1990's and Chet Faker put a really cool, grungy, emotional spin on it. Where the original feels sexy and all like "make it rain," this rendition is more vulnerable and honestly, more convincing. I believe him when he says he likes the way I "work it." Whatever that means. Additionally, his raspy, convincing vocals have won me over.

9. "Body Electric" by Lana Del Rey. I realize Lana is a slightly controversial choice, considering she is somewhat mainstream, but I think she is still holding onto her indie roots. This song is too intricate to get played on the radio and the lyrics area sickeningly deep, which means the song would get pushed aside so Lil Wayne and every other pop princess can sing about how much they like butts and sex. Mini rant aside, this song builds and climaxes perfectly, and Lana Del Rey's vocals are absolutely electric.

8. "Speak Up" by POP ETC. Formerly known as the Morning Benders, POP ETC is what would result if The Ready Set and Panic! At the Disco had a lovechild together. And a beautiful lovechild it is. I love the dreamy string section, slightly distorted vocals, and floating sensation of the verses that directly contrasts with the steadier bridge into the chorus. Very cool song.

7. "Before the Dive" by St Lucia. I remember highlighting this song about a month ago and I've yet to get it out of my head. Which, in my book, is the mark of a good song. St. Lucia's incredible talent really shines through the track, boasting a stunning orchestral section, a dangerously catchy intro, and poetic lyrics. Love it.

6."Holiday" by Electric Guest. The introduction of the song alone warrants getting placed on the list, but because of the creative guitars in the background and the line "she's a painted face," they earned spot number six. :)

5."Because I Know That I Can" by Andy Burrows- I love Andy Burrows.Based on how often I've reviewed him, I suppose that's fairly obvious. :) He has a convincing voice and is a talented songwriter. This song has a very "Condor El Pasa" by Simon and Garfunkel vibe and paired with Andy's voice it has won me over.

4."Demons" by Imagine Dragons. This song begins slowly and about 45 seconds into it, it just all goes "KAPOOOF!" I don't think that's a word. Regardless, the track is a beautiful concoction of forbidden love and the best use of a bass drum I've heard for quite some time.

3 ."American Daydream" by Electric Guest. I know this is the second song by the same band, but it's so good I felt like I had to highlight this one as well. The percussion gives the song a sort of monotonous feeling which enforces the lyrics "we keep going/don't stop running" and the distortion on Asas vocals also increases the dragging feeling. Still, I think it's one of the best songs on the album, simply because they dared to be different.

2."Handshake" by Two Door Cinema Club. I love these British bands. They bring something interesting to the music scene, not that American/European bands don't. Don't get me wrong. But, like a lot of other British bands, TDCC fits into their own little genre. They're not quite solid Alt rock, nor are they pop, but a strangely delicious blend of the two. As well, TDCC writes some of the best lyrics: "She said the devil will want you back/ And you'll never find love in an open hand/ Shut your eyes, so you see I'm there/ And know you'll always have this if you stay this mad." So good.

1. "This Head I Hold" by Electric Guest- Yes, another Electric Guest song. They are one of my favorite bands and their album Mondo maybe one of the best debut albums ever. This song earns the number one spot for five reasons 1) Asa's falsetto is incredible the way it soars and makes the song really distinct, 2) That drum line at the beginning...that's the kind of stuff that made Darren King, the drummer of MuteMath, a legend, 3) the keyboard the complements the other instrumentation,4) the infectious melody, and 5) The lyrics! The lyrics make the song. A truly fantastic track.

Thank you for reading this and every other post. You guys rock and I can't wait to see what the next year brings.

Until then,
Bella

Lana Del Rey Born to Die: Paradise Edition Review

Hey,

You may have seen this week that Lana Del Rey released a new edition of her first album Born to Die, called the Paradise Edition. It brings us 8 new, previously unreleased songs, showing a different side of Lana Del Rey.

Without further ado…

 

1. Ride- I love the harmonies at the beginning, Lana’s sultry, raspy vocals, beautiful, yet slightly creepy Freudian lyrics (her trademark, really), the melodramatic string section, and the way the melodies all flow into each other, creating a symphony of sorts. It makes me want to “just ride.” 5/5

2. American- Another solid track, American has a very retro sound to it, but at the same time her strong, versatile voice makes it entirely current and modern. I admire her for pushing herself to explore her high, child-like notes; it shows her determination to not just be another female singer who follows the trends. The “oh-oh”’s in the song have a slightly angelic quality, contrasting the very adult lyrics. 5/5

3. Cola- Oh, boy. This song boasts one of the most disgusting, but memorable opening lines: “My p**** takes like Pepsi Cola.” Well, that’s direct; I’ll give her that much. The lyrics are rather self-explanatory, though she makes some interesting references and similes. “Harvey’s in the sky with diamonds” references “Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds” by the Beatles, while “I gots a taste for older men” alludes to her other songs “Off to the Races,” “Lolita,” and just about every other unreleased song she has on YouTube. Lyrics aside, the instrumental side of things is incredible! Once I stopped focusing on her less than classy beginning, I fell in love with this song. Around the 2:44 mark, I heard some Michael Jackson influenced vocals and the guitars in the background are reminiscent of the mainstream music of the 1980’s. All in all, one of the best songs on this edition. 5/5

4. Body Electric- I hate to admit it, but the first time I heard this song, I hated it. Now, I’m absolutely obsessed with it. The lyrics—I hate to keep focusing on the same thing—are one of the best elements of this song. The allusions to Elvis, Marilyn Monroe,  Walt Whitman—and the title of this song references his poem “I Sing the Body Electric”—and Monaco, Spain, who serve as her friends, paint her as a rather crazy woman, which one could argue she always tries to come across as less than sane. With anyone else, I would call bull and put them down for pretending to be someone they’re not, but with Lana (or Lizzie, if you  like that better) she embodies this crazy lady thing and makes it sexy, but never lets it overpower the amount of effort she puts into her music. Anyways, the prominent strings and her pleading, powerful vocals really make this song. 5/5

5. Blue Velvet- A cover of The Clover’s wildly popular song from the 1950’s, Lana obviously put her own spin on it, utilizing her velvet-like vocals J, while personifying the musical style of the 1950’s. It feels less like a cover, and more like a tribute track. 5/5

6. Gods and Monsters- A slower track, but still good. I like it, just not quite as much as I like the other tracks. Referencing Jim Morrison after she just made a ton of allusions in Body Electric feels cheap. I do, however, like the keyboard line, the slow drums, her lower, raspier vocals, and self-conscious lyrics “if I get a little prettier/can I be your baby?”. 4/5

7. Best track on the album. A few months ago, I was looking up her unreleased music and stumbled across this gem. I love the drunkenly swaying beat, her lilting, angelic vocals, and the minimalistic instrumentation.  The lyrics are terribly melancholy, exploring a girl who is addicted to cocaine (Yayo is a slang term for coke), living in a trailer park. Lana does sad best. At first, I thought the line “Let me put on a show for you Daddy” referred to her Freudian relationship with her dad, but, after some research, I’ve figured out that line refers to her having to strip to support her coke habit, not that that’s any better, really. Regardless, this song is one of her most emotionally gripping tracks and has the most staying power out of any of the other (still great) songs on the album.

8. Bel Air- the angelic piano and strings at the beginning, playing the melody from Lolita masterfully tie the two albums together. From what I’ve deduced, the song is about Lana’s secretive relationship she had a long time ago with Axl Rose from Guns N Roses. I’m not entirely positive if that’s true, though that does explain the lines “Roses/Bel Air/Take me there” and “Sweet child of mine.” Lyrics aside, her lovely, soaring voice complements the strings in the background. However, the chorus is rather repetitive and ends up grating on my nerves. 4/5

 

So, that’s it for this week. Next week, I’m hoping to do another album review. Cross your fingers. J

Until then,

Bella

What is Bella Listening To?

Hey,

It’s time for another installment of “What is Bella Listening To.” No, my playlist may not be super exciting, but I love sharing with ya’ll what’s been trending on my Spotify account. J

Here we gooooooo….

 Damn You by Lana Del Rey- One of Lana’s unreleased, early tracks, this song really stands out above the rest. I love her emotion, the poetic lyrics, and the simple instrumentation. Lana can take a potentially sleep-inducing song and turn it into something memorable. The lyrics detail a failed relationship, and even if you blocked out the words, only listening to her voice, you would easily be able to hear exactly what happened in the relationship. Honestly, the one characteristic is what is lacking in the music industry. Artists today, with several exceptions, do not show emotion in their songs; they’re just autotuned robots. Anyways, Lana’s song is worth checkingout.

Only You by Ellie Goulding- Ellie’s album just dropped this last week, and while it’s not quite as stunning as her debut album, it boasts a few good tracks, one of which is “Only You.” I like the well-developed electronic sound—she’s dating Skrillex and it’s painfully obvious he was a big influence on this album—and her high, light vocals, though it sounds like she’s stretching her voice a little too far, but somehow, she makes it work. This is not something I would typically listen to, but I do respect Ellie for her musical ingenuity and think she may be one of the best female pop artists we have.

Because I Know I Can by Andy Burrows- Andy Burrows may be a familiar name to some, as he was the drummer of Razorlight, switching to We Are Scientists for a while, eventually creating a side project I Am Arrows, and finally settling into this solo venture. I highlighted “Green Grass” by I Am Arrows a few months ago, and I really like Andy’s work. This song is essential alternative rock. It features a prominent, strong drum section, beautiful melodies, varying instrumentation, and Andy’s Simon and Garfunkel-esque vocals. Really good work, Andy.

Starz In Their Eyes by Just Jack- I discovered this guy thanks to Pandora, my faithful musical ally. I like the memorable instrumental beginning, Jack’s mixed singing-rapping vocals, and the tempo changes. He never quite settles on just one style, which is a nice surprise. It’s cool when bands—or artists—play around with a song format. This song is six years old, but honestly, if a popular “band” (I put that in quotation marks to let you know that’s used sarcastically) put this song out, I could see it charting. Oh, well, it’s a well-kept indie secret. J

Cinema (Disparate Youth) by Mike Tompkins - This cover makes it on my list because I have a deep, heartfelt admiration for a capella artists. And, Mike Tompkins embodies everything I love about YouTube. He takes a simple cover, puts his own spin on it, and gets millions of hits. I admire his creativity, truly. Anyone who does a capella, though, automatically gets my respect—assuming their cover doesn’t suck big time…lol. Mike’s cover fuses Benny Benassi’s song “Cinema” with “Disparate Youth” by Santigold. The mash up sounds, at first blush, like it would clash and sound awkward, but oh…it’s stunning. Mike’s incredible talent with the software paired with his soaring vocals and the fact that, using the software, he can recreate the Skrillex sound that we all know and love (or hate, depending on your musical preferences). It’s a beautiful piece of art, really. Check it out here...

Until next week,

Bella

Music on YouTube

Hey!

Okay, like I promised, this week I am writing about my favorite music YouTube videos.

In no particular order...

1. Cinnamon Challenge While Singing by Supricky06

Watch the video: here

Why I love this video: well, number one, Chris is an incredible singer--check out his acapella covers sometime; they are beautiful--even with the cinnamon flying from his poor mouth. Number two: the fact that he's totally dreading it--you can see it in his face. Number three: How he stops singing and starts prancing in place; I felt for the guy, really. Number four: "That was miserable!" Number five: he keeps singing! What a guy! I would have just been like, "Forget this!" But, he keeps at it! Nice job, Chris. I was alternating between cracking up and being amazed by his voice. :)

2. Recorder and Guitar song by Rhettandlink

Watch the video: here

I love originality. And, honestly, do you get any more original than a recorder? Sure, first graders can play them, but just having the ability to play Twinkle Twinkle does not make you a musician, any more than microwaving popcorn makes you a gourmet chef. Link--the guy on the recorder--is pretty full of awesome-sauce, IMO. He has beautiful tone, despite the fact that he and Rhett-the guy on guitar--are obviously exhausted. Very cool.

3. Telephone...on GLOCKENSPIEL? by JakeBruene

Watch the video: here

Another thing I love is creativity. Yes, I see that this video has had 1.7 million views, but that does not take away from the level of creativity that went into it. :) This is an amazing cover. I love how he mixed all the different lines, making it complex and quite frankly, deeper than the original. It must have taken quite a bit of time to come up with each indiviual part and I both recognize and applaud that. :)

4. Justin Bieber- Boyfriend (Violin Cover)by PeterLeeJohnson

Watch the video: here
This is just...crazy good. I had to think for a set of adjectives to describe it. Peter Lee Johnson, the violinst, is very skilled and, again, creative, my word of the night. I love how he really only covers the chorus and decides to improv on the verses. The seperate parts blend together nicely. Layering can really improve I song, I think. Too bad Bieber doesn't get that. So, I hate Bieber, but love this cover. Music is complex, no?

5. Born To Die- Lana Del Rey (cover) by drewby1xo

Watch the video: here

I am a big Lana Del Rey fan, even though I know it's not exactly a popular opinion to have. Oh, well. Anyways, this cover just surpases anything Lana could ever do, as much as I hate to admit that. Drew's voice is mesmirizing, with the minimal guitar part, the harmony, and her versatile vocals. She tranisitions nicely and keeps a steady tempo, two things most YouTube cover artist have a hard time with. If I could, I would give Drew a record contract. I think she has tons of talent, with plenty to offer. If you listen to the song, remember to listen with headphones; you can really hear the harmony meld with the lead vocals better. Just a tip. :)

That wraps up this week's post! Next week, I promise I will get back to reviewing music and stuff like that.

Until next week,
Bella

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

New Songs on My Playlist

Hey,
Here's post number two!

So, I should probably clarify the title of the post. They're not necessarily "new" songs, but they're new to me.

5. Trouble by This Providence
I love this band. I discovered them on accident a few years ago and have been listening to them ever since. Very talented, very, very talented. They've never really had a big "breakthrough" on the charts, but they're fairly well known. Song leads in with a kicking drum, base line, and then the vocals. I love his strong voice and the bluesy influences.

4. Off To The Races by Lana Del Rey
Say what you want about Lana, but I love her. She has such a unique voice. There is nothing quite like her, or at least, not since the 50's or 60's. She's kind of stuck in that time, but I love it. People are all like "ugh, she's fake. She's stiff. She has a weird voice." really? And macy Gray, if anyone even remembers her, didn't have a strange voice? No one, save for the pop stars of Nickelodeon and Disney, has the same singing voice; they only achieve that effect by way of over-editing and shamelessness. Anyways, Off to the Races is rumored to be about the book Lolita, which, given that i haven't read it, uh, I don't have much to say to that. I can thank Wikipedia for the inspiration thing. But, it starts out kind of like slow, and progresses to goosebump territory. If you're going to listen to it, wait about 1:30 before skipping to the next track. It takes a little bit.

3. Come Away to The Water by Maroon5 and Rozzi Crane
This was from the Hunger Games soundtrack. The song is incredible. No idea who Rozzi Crane is, though I'd imagine she had some troubles getting people to spell that first name correctly. Maroon5 is, in case you weren't sure, is fronted by Adam Levine. Yes, that hot judge on The Voice, a stupid show, imo, but I digress, and yes, the dude who was dating the equally hot Anne Val(I-can't-spell-the-rest-because-she-is-Russian). Maroon5's songs are typically boring pop stuff that lands on the Top 100 within 2 days of being released. This is different. It's very bluesy, kinda gritty. Pushing Adam a little, a very good thing in my mind. I havea  feeling that some editing was required, but I still like the song.

2. Tight Rope by Alex Clare

I have already professed my love for Mr. Clare, but I keep finding more reasons as time goes on. I originally skipped over this song, but recently realized it was just as good, if not better than the others on the album. I like the reverb in the chorus, minor key, and his soaring vocals.

1. Everybody Talks by Neon Trees
I've been a big fan of these guys + 1 lady for a while now. The lead singer has a legitiatemly soulful, rock n roll edge that never comes across as put-on; I approve. I like the blended genre thing. The song follows their style. It sounds like it was made in the 80's, my fav decade, and has memorable guitar lines and an infectious melody.

Next week...Graffiti6 and Eric Hutchinson concert!  I'm so psyched.
Until then,
Bella