Alt-J - An Awesome Wave

Having fun isn't hard, when you have a library card!

This song has been in my head since middle school and I am glad my hippocampus works the way it works. It's also another reason why I loved working at the UCLA Library (for three years!) When I see kids doing drugs or just not such fun things, I break out in song along with the appropriate dance moves. Enjoy!

Frank Ocean - Thinking About You

Carly Rose - Rolling in the Deep

And yes, Carly Rose is still in the running! I should end it with "American's Next Top Model" but I... well I kind of just did. I can't say her last name, and I just think of her as the other Carly Rae Jepson girl. Just, this Carly is younger (she's 13 and the Call Me Maybe girl is actually 26!) and much much more talented (vocally). Here's her latest performance on the X Factor. Her version is definitely unique and shows her range and control of her vocals. I agree with Simon that this wasn't her best performance, but her best beats everyone else's best on the show. She got me from day one when she performed "Feelin' Good" and has not disappointed met yet.  Go Carly!

A dream of mine? To be in a musical.

Chicago - Cell Block Tango

                                        

Wicked - Defying Gravity

The Sound of Music - So Long, Farewell

Singing in the Rain - Singin' in the Rain

Grease - Summer Nights

Rent - Seasons of Love

3 songs I'll always love

Some are original, some are covers, but these are my favorite versions. 

Phil Collins - Against all odds

Youth Group - Forever Young

Lauryn Hill - Killing Me Softly 

Six tracks for the train trip

Alliteration, my friends. It would have been more impressive if I had done ten tracks, or two, or twenty two, but I wanted six. Six because it isn't five. Instead of the usual top five, this can be sexy six, selective six, salient six, oh, or even six songs!

I have a playlist on my spotify titled "subway" which features these six songs amongst others. Always on repeat, medium volume, so I can somewhat hear the conductor and not annoy everyone else on the train who's getting some shut eye before heading to work or home. Let's take the D and play these tunes!

Ou Est le Swimming Pool | Dance The Way I Feel
Panda Bear | Alsatian Darn
Snoop Dogg & Wiz Khalifa | Young, Wild and Free ft. Bruno Mars
El Ten Eleven | My Only Swerving
Cults | You Know What I Mean
SBTRKT | Hold On

Rihanna's We Found Love music video reminds me of...

Cee Lo Green's No One's Gonna Love You (which is a cover from Band of Horses). Just a tad. Now, aren't you glad you're single!? Enjoy!

Bon Iver at Shrine Auditorium

My nap two hour nap was over. It was 7pm and the Bon Iver concert was at 8. I did a quick change up and walked out the door in my beloved black Beatles shirt circa 2007 and khaki shorts. I was so ready for a concert. We were lucky enough to find parking spot right across the street from the Shrine Auditorium. Once we got there, I felt like the purple elephant in a tutu balancing itself on a unicycle. EVERYONE, and I mean everyone including Michael looked like they just walked out of the Opening Ceremony's Fall lookbook. They were a sophisticated bunch dressed in shabby chic outfits with vintage leather purses and tousled i-just-woke-up-but-my-hair-looks-perfect- look. Me? I looked like I exited the wrong freeway and missed my Warped Tour stop 5 miles back. Indeed, I did a long look around the lobby to see if there there were others who were unprepared like me. Even the security guard looked the part.

This entry is about Bon Iver, not about me. 

This concert was a week ago, and everything I felt was a week ago. I knew I should have blogged right when I got home! I'll create a quick phone conversation I had with Francois from my memory about this spectacular event along with other additives.

Me: You missed out. It was frucking amazing. Best concert I've ever been to. Lady Gaga is now numero uno.

Franois: I'm glad you enjoyed it.

Me: No, I more than enjoyed it! It was such an out of body experience. I feel exhausted even though I sat there the entire time minus the last ten minutes when the whole audience was on their feet! Think Coldplay mixed with Brand New and Arcade Fire, even though I've never seen them live. Did you know there's 9 people in Bon Iver!?

Francois: I did not know that.

Me: I had no idea there were that many instruments! I saw a saxophone, trumpet, french horn, two drums, piano, and other instruments that I can't even name. Usually, I look at the lead singer and anyone else who is cute in the band. But this time, I paid attention to every single person on that stage. It was just... raw music.

Francois: Wow, that sounds really good.

Me: IT WAS! I don't know how to describe it!

Jeez, how annoying am I. I apologize that I can't creatively write about this experience. I've played it in my head many times about how I'd describe the concert, but it seems it's indescribable. You just had to be there.

Gym Class Heroes: Stereo Hearts ft. Adam Levine

I'm getting sick of a lot of songs on the radio (I'll make a list soon enough) and when this song came on, I didn't want it to end! I know I'm liking it now because it's fresh, but what's not to love when Adam Levine is involved? 

Travis McCoy and his band Gym Class Heroes are back with a new hit since Cupid’s Chokehold (if you remember, his ex Katy Perry before she kissed a girl) starred in the music video. She’s still present in this song also when he raps “Furthermore, I apologize for any skipping track / It's just the last girl that played me left a couple cracks” Awww.

This time around, the track features Maroon 5’s frontman Adam Levine and a better sing-along chorus that makes more sense than “not much of a girlfriend, I never seem to get a lot.” Am I being biased here? Yes! I would choose Adam Levine’s voice over Fall Out Boy’s Patrick Stump any day. But even the less obsessed will fall in love with this song on the first listen and seriously go searching for someone and force them to serenade this to you. It really brings to life the classic love scene in “Say Anything” that has forever made it more impossible for the average man to find a mate. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, look it up! Perhaps watch it on mute and play this song instead!

Gym Class Heroes: Stereo Hearts ft. Adam Levine

I'm a Recent Grad, I don't Need Money

Great message, horrible lyrics. But sometimes, that's what you need to get the point across. It makes for a really good sing-along when I'm applying for internships. I really do look to my left and my right while I edit my cover letters. 


And I'll just turn it off when my parents walk by. 


Jessie J- Price Tag (anyone else think of Fergie?)

It's not about the money money money
We don't need your money money money
We just wanna make the world dance
Forget about the price tag
Ain't about the uh cha-ching cha-ching
Ain't about the yeah b-bling b-bling
Wanna make the world dance
Forget about the price tag

I really like this song

July 2011 Huntington Beach, CA

Click here. Press play.

If you're genuinely smiling, shaking your body back and forth, and singing/reading along (in your head counts too), then you're fucking in love (at this moment). Or maybe you just really like this song.

Commentary on DCFC's Tourist just for you

On our drive back from Westwood, I took the initiative to over annoy my driver. I heard it before, but it didn't stick with me. But that was a few months ago when I was a few months younger. Now Death Cab's You Are A Tourist will be on repeat a lot this month. Some old fans might hate this because it's just too... positive! My comments will be in parenthesis, and when I say comments, I mean stupid, strange words that will make you raise your eyebrow. Imagine a lot of gusto! And raised arms! And random sounds in between as I try to explain this song to you.


When there's a burning in your heart
An endless yearning in your heart (YES!)
Build it bigger than the sun (the sun is so big, wow go for it!)
Let it grow, let it grow (grow as big as the sun, if you can!)
When there's a burning in your heart
Don't be alarmed (don't be scared, yes you can have aspirations and desires!)

This fire grows higher (YES IT DOES!)

When there's a doubt within your mind (don't doubt, how dare you!)
Because you're thinking all the time (remember, thinking is only intended for do or die exams)
Framing rights into wrongs (no, the cup is half full, bro)
Move along, move along (American rejects)
When there's a doubt within your mind (negative pops up, crush it, erase it, don't give it attention!)

When there's a burning in your heart (again)
And you think it'll burst apart (it's too good to be true, don't let me jinx it)
Or there's nothing to feel
Save the tears, save the tears (stop being such a negative nancy)
When there's a burning in your heart

And if you feel just like a tourist in the city you were born
Then it's time to go (fuck, this is my favorite line, hi hi ) 
And define your destination
There's so many different places to call home (there is, got me thinking, gone gone)
Because when you find yourself the villain in the story you have written
It's plain to see (you are the sole controller of your story, write a great one, be a hero)
That sometimes the best intentions are in need of redemptions
Would you agree?
If so please show me (okay, i don't really care much about this part)

This fire grows higher
When there's a burning in your heart (fire! grows! higherr!)

Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun

When Friday comes around, I always want to play a song to celebrate. But resorting to Rebecca Black's Friday (i couldn't find the original video, way too many parodies and remakes) ends up ruining my Friday. I tried thinking of other songs with this Friday theme on my own, without the help of google. Katy Perry's Last Friday Night obviously was the second contender. But that isn't fair because her and Black are homies (watch her video, she makes an important cameo). I started thinking... I get paid on Fridays! That idea led me to my second favorite boy bands of the late 90's: Nsync! Their song Just Got Paid sprinkles in Friday (Just got paid, Friday night, Party hoppin', feelin right). But no, not good enough.


Then, lo and beyond, it came to me! THE CURE! Friday, I'm In Love. How could I have not thought of that!? I decided to take a look at the lyrics, and oh my lanta, it's brilliant. It does what Rebecca couldn't do: brilliantly educated me in the days of the week. Take a look:

Yesterday was Thursday, Thursday
Today i-is Friday, Friday (Partyin')
We-we-we so excited
We so excited
We gonna have a ball today

Tomorrow is Saturday
And Sunday comes after... wardsI don't want this weekend to end



I really had to google the lyrics. Amazing stuff. But, how dare she leave out Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday? These days are necessary for Thursday to happen, which leads to Friday, then leads to the weekend! Really now. How dare they leave out the middle children. But now take a look at this:


I don't care if Monday's blue
Tuesday's gray and Wednesday too
Thursday I don't care about you
It's Friday, I'm in love


Monday you can fall apart
Tuesday, Wednesday break my heart
Oh, Thursday doesn't even start
It's Friday I'm in love


Saturday, wait
And Sunday always comes too late
But Friday, never hesitate...


I don't care if Mondays black
Tuesday, Wednesday - heart attack
Thursday, never looking back
It's Friday, I'm in love


Monday, you can hold your head
Tuesday, Wednesday stay in bed
Or Thursday - watch the walls instead
It's Friday, I'm in love


Saturday, wait
And Sunday always comes too late
But Friday, never hesitate...


Repetition is key, my friends. Every line has a day in it. Every day is equally represented! This is pure music genius. I feel the love for every day of the week here, and they are in order! Now this is what I'd let my kids listen to if they sadly can never ingrain the days in their heads. This will make it easier. 


So what did you get away from this? That Hong needs a life.