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

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

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

Why I Hate Mainstream Music (AKA Why I Support Alternative Artists)

Hey,

So I thought I should explain why I did not post last week about hipster/alternative philosophy. In short, I watched a really good documentary, got freaked out by The Walking Dead, and forgot about my blog until pretty late. Therefore, I had to whip something together fairly quickly—for me, that meant almost 50 minutes. I put a lot of time/effort into each blog post, fyi. So, no, I’m not an amnesiac and I’m not like Dory; I don’t have short term memory loss (P. Sherman 42 Wallaby Way, Sydney) Tonight, a night early, I’m aware of that-I’m going to my grandparents’ house and don’t want to feel tied to a computer—I’m making up for what I meant to write last week: why I like alternative music.

I’m deeper than just “Oh, I hate mainstream music ‘cuz it’s popular.” That’s a pathetic disgrace to music and logic. My disgust with music stems from my musical roots. I have two parents who prefer to listen to music from yesteryear as opposed to today. My mom listens to country—not my favorite, but at least back in the 70’s and before they were talented and knew how to write good quality music. My dad listens to 1980’s music, primarily, with a little 1970’s tossed in there for good measure. The 80’s were great. The artists were talented, they knew how to play instruments—a band is not a band unless they are playing instruments when you see them in concert—and they were much less concerned about their backup dancers or celebrity gossip or how much humping can one fit into a 3 minute music video. It was just about the music.

That’s what we are missing today.

The 1980’s boasted bands like Men At Work, Duran Duran, the B-52’s, The Buggles, Devo, Blondie, and Soft Cell. Now, correct me if I’m wrong, but did Devo ever autotune their vocals because they did not possess the talent to sing? I don’t think so.

Today, artists don’t even need talent. They need money, powerful parents, an agent, and a willing producer who will make them sound like WALL-E. Maybe it’s just me but I thought robots were supposed to do chores and stuff, not sing. A robot chorus, now that could be interesting. I would like that. I would like that very much.

Back to the point, the 1980’s and previous generations had what this and the last decade or two have missed: an emphasis on talent, not how well an album will sell or who’s sexy. That doesn’t matter, but yet, today, it does. Rihanna, for example, is pretty much talentless, save for her constantly wagging butt and boobs busting beyond her bikini. That will sell.

All the blame cannot be dumped on the artists and the producers. Anyone one who buys this crap is supporting it, which encourages them to make more of it. Don’t encourage them. Ever. Even if you’re someone—and I do this occasionally—who buys  or listens to just one song on Sportify, where they earn money, you’re also in the wrong.

As well, it’s never “funny” to buy or listen to a song as a joke, because it earns them money and makes them feel important. Take Rebecca Black, for example. That frightening excuse for a singer appeared out of nowhere and got a billion gazillion views on YouTube. She, and those two scary guys, are rolling in the dough right now, laughing all the way to the bank. Congratulations, idiots, you just made a ton of money for some talentless fools.  That is something we need to avoid, as a whole.

Well, what can we do?

 What we need to do is stand up to these talentless zombies and remind them what music is supposed to sound like. It is up to us to boycott their music, videos, TV specials, movies, what have you, because there are thousands of struggling artists right now who want so badly to show they world that they possess real talent, not this fake stuff we’ve been digesting for the last twenty-two years or so. We should support these alternative/indie artists. That is why I started this blog, so these musicians can hopefully reach a greater audience. That’s my goal, at least.

Next week, I will define some hipster terms/ explain their logic. Then, I’ll get back to music reviews and different things like that.

Until next week,
Bella

Review of 3OH!3's new single "Bang Bang"

Hey,
So, if you keep up with new music, you probably heard that 3OH!3 is relesing a new single each week for 3 weeks. Last week, they released Bang Bang, and this week they released Dirty Mind. Since this is a music blog, I thought I would review both of them. Let's begin with Bang Bang.
3OH!3, the guys behind hits like "Don't Trust Me" (I'm pretty sure most of you remember that Hellen Keller line) and "Starstrukk (the collab with Katy Perry), are from Colorado. They specialize in "jokey raps" and killer hooks.

"Bang Bang" is a super catchy song. This little tune will be stuck in your head all day long; I can guarantee it. It's got that sort of futuristic theme to it, with lots of synth and such. From the opening line "Faster than a bullet train, she's like bang bang," to the final beats, 3OH!3 practically commands you to get out of your chair. Both band members, Sean Foreman and Nathaniel Motte are famous for their one-two punch lyrics and crazilly catchy beats. I read last week that the song was "originally commissioned by Ball Aerospace here in Boulder, Colo., as the only song to keep scientists awake while working in zero-G on Hubble Space Telescope repairs." (Source)
Yeah, if I was a scientist, this song would def keep me awake. Check out the track and enjoy!
:)
http://youtu.be/C9sjMaZz9e0

Until next week,
Bella