A Look Back At 2011

In honor of all that has happened in the last year I am doing a 2011 retrospective. This is a list of 11 events from the last year, mostly personal, that have been memorable. I'm going to try to put these in order, but some of them spanned the year, so I'll just have to put them where I can. Hope you enjoy, and adios 2011!

1.) Current Events of 2011

For the most part, this list is going to be about personal events from the past year, so before I get started on those, I thought I would pay respect to the many events that made the news over the past year. There were some things this year that made the news but really shouldn't have. Tim Tebow, the Casey Anthony trial, iPhone 4s, iPad 2, and the Royal Wedding are examples of such events. Despite these fake news events there were many real news events that are worth looking at. Here are some of them: The earthquake/tsunami and the nuclear aftermath in Japan, Arab Spring, the devastating tornado that hit Joplin, the Debt Ceiling Crisis, the shooting of Gabrielle Giffords and others in Arizona, the death of Moammar Gadhafi, the death of Osama bin Ladin, the sex abuse charges against Penn State and Syracuse, and the 10th Anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. These were major events that affected the world over the past year and they are worth looking back and reflecting on.

2.) Zach's Graduation

This year my brother, Zach, graduated from Kansas State University with a major in Electrical Engineering and a minor in Leadership Studies. It took a lot of hard work and we are all very proud of him. Just this week he started his first job post graduation. The event itself was fun. more than twenty friends and family members came to support Zach at the ceremony. After that we all went to eat at Cox Brothers BBQ and it was a really fun time. Congrats Zach!

3.) Arkansas

People around here love to say how boring it is to live in Kansas. To them I say, clearly you haven't ever been to Arkansas. This summer my family decided to take a trip down to Arkansas. I can say without a doubt that it is the most boring place in the world. There isn't anything there. No movie theaters, nowhere to eat, there wasn't even a decent grocery store. We thought we would be staying on a lake, but in Arkansas apparently staying on a lake means staying 5 miles away from the lake. The one nice thing we did in Arkansas was go see Mirror Lake, which is beautiful. But that one nice quality didn't make up for the fact that Arkansas is an awful place to visit.

4.) My 21st Birthday!

This year I turned 21! Now I know for a lot of people this is supposed to be a special birthday, but for me it wasn't any different than any other birthday, because I don't drink alcohol. It was still a pretty good birthday though. I had a two hour wait at the DMV to renew my driver's license, which turned out to be a blessing in disguise because that gave me time to have lunch with my brother. We had my favorite burnt ends (Arthur Bryant's). I also made time for happy hour, at Sonic of course. Like I said, I don't drink. Nothing against those who do, sparkling grape juice is just more my style.

5.) Borders Closed

This was a truly sad event of 2011. I was a huge fan of Borders. There is something about being able to walk into a bookstore and just look around that cannot be replicated online. Sometimes you'll be walking around browsing books and just see something that you never would have thought to look at. An e-Reader cannot replace that. What I liked about Borders was that it was approachable. It had a big enough selection to suit the needs of most readers, but it wasn't so "nose in the air" that it didn't try to appeal to customers that were on a budget (Yeah, I'm talking to you Barnes and Noble). Customer appreciation and a warm atmosphere are what I miss about Borders.

6.) The Roasterie

 In case you don't know, The Roasterie is a local coffee shop with a couple of locations in the Kansas City area. Now you my be wondering, "How is a coffee shop an event in 2011?" Well after years of hearing about this place I finally tried it this year. Now if you don't know me well, I love coffee. I'm not one of those hipsters who gets all obsessed with it, but I do really enjoy it. I'm satisfied with just a cup of Folgers in the morning, and a well made espresso drink is even better (No, Starbucks does not qualify as a well made espresso drink. While many people disagree with me Scooter's is a much better option. I mean seriously, I like to taste the coffee part of it, not just the syrup.) I don't drink coffee for the caffeine, in fact I would be fine with only drinking decaf for the rest of my life. Anyway, enough about my philosophy on coffee. After trying the Roasterie this year, I can say without a doubt that it is the best cup of coffee that I have ever had, which I think is worthy of this list.

7.) Halloween Party

Since Halloween was on a school day this year some of my friends and I decided to have a little Halloween party after classes were over. It wasn't much, just a few friends, sparkling cider and snacks, and some Halloween shows/movies to watch. It was a small little get together, but it was still a fun time to spend Halloween.

8.) Hiatus! Hiatus! Hiatus!

2011 was the year of the hiatus. At the beginning of 2011 Parks and Recreation returned from its fall hiatus. After the end of it's second season, Cougar Town, was put on a hiatus that isn't going to end until March 2012. 30 Rock had a fall hiatus in 2011 due to Tina Fey's pregnancy. Saddest of all at the end of 2011 Community was put on hiatus and no word has been released as to when it will return. It was a sad year for a lot of comedies because of that awful word hiatus.

9.) Blogging

This year I finally started blogging, as I'm sure you are aware. I've been meaning to start blogging for a while, but this year a friend finally convinced me to take the plunge. I'm glad I did, because I'm definitely liking it so far!

10.) 4.0 Semester

This last fall semester of college was my first 4.0 semester. I've worked hard over the past two years to try and achieve this, and now I have finally done it. The fact that I had a class like Public Speaking to overcome this semester adds all that much more to my enjoyment of this my first ever 4.0 semester.

11.) Shirley Bennett Christmas

This year my friend and I had what we called a "Shirley Bennett Christmas." It was just a fun little get together where we had awesome snacks, watched awesome Christmas movies, and exchanged gifts. Our "Shirley Bennett Christmas" was definitely one of the highlights of my year. Here is a better description of it from my friend's blog  http://nevesaro.blogspot.com/2011/12/shirley-bennett-christmas.html

Have A Very Merry Christmas (And A Chessy One Too!)

I love Christmas. It's not the gifts or food that I love, it's the spirit of the whole season. Family, friends, warmth, and happiness are what I love. One other thing I love about Christmas is that there are some really awesome Christmas movies. Okay, I say awesome, but what I mean for the most part is that there are some really cheesy Christmas movies that I love to watch. Yes they are weird, stupid, and most definitely childish, but that being said I love them because they are almost always about family, friends, and the spirit of the season. So here are some Christmas movies that I love to watch.

Olive The Other Reindeer:

This movie is quirky and often awkward, but I love it for a few reasons. First it reminds me of growing up in the 90's. This movie was made in 1999, so it was right in the middle of my childhood. A couple of years ago I came across it at a Wal-Mart and just had to buy it. I've fallen in love with it all over again. Olive is the pluckiest of protagonists and you can't help but root for her. I also love the assorted cast of supporting characters that are odd and awkward, yet somehow still charming. This has become a Christmas classic for me. Here is a song from the movie. It appears that you may be able to find the whole movie on YouTube, so feel free to check it out, it's pretty short. 

 

Unaccompanied Minors:

I actually just came across this movie on TV this year, so it has become a new Christmas favorite. This movie is the epitome of cheesy children's Christmas movies. It's about a group of UM's (Unaccompanied Minors) that get stuck at an airport while traveling on Christmas Eve. Yes, there's all the physical humor and cheesy jokes any kid could want. While that's not quite on my level of comedy, what I love about this movie is that it kind of makes you think like a kid again. I strongly believe that if there is one time of year where you have every excuse to be a kid, it's Christmas. Speaking of which, the kid in me definitely thinks it would be cool to be able to roam an airport with a group of friends and see what fun we could have. Here is a trailer for the movie, yes it's cheesy, but I love it.

Also, here is a clip from a scene where the kids have found their way into the unclaimed luggage room. Again, cheesy, but how much fun would it be to hang out here?

A Charlie Brown Christmas:

I LOVE this movie. It is hands down the best Christmas movie ever. People like to say how great Rudolph is, but that movie has nothing on this one. From Lucy's awful psychological advice to Charlie Brown's little Christmas tree, this is the ultimate Christmas classic. Not to mention the music is just great. Jazz mixes so well with Christmas music. I mean what's not to like about this movie? Better yet, you better not say anything bad about it to my face. I might never talk to you again. Here is hands down my favorite scene in any Christmas movie.

P.S. Yes, I realize this is a short list, but I'm doing this as a last minute thing at 3am on Christmas. Also note the exclusion of many feature length movies because this is mostly a list about cheesy Christmas movies that bring out the kid in me. But never ever call A Charlie Brown Christmas cheesy. It's just down right awesome.  

Day 30: Your Favorite Song At This Time Last Year

By December, I am well into listening to Christmas music. So at this time last year I was listening to Christmas music. In fact when it comes to Christmas music I feel like Liz Lemon in this clip from 30 Rock:

In other words, when it comes to Christmas music, I know my stuff. I'm just a huge fan of Christmas music. I'm the person that definitely starts listening to Christmas music in November. Don't complain about Christmas music in my presence or I will explain to you why you are wrong and need to leave immediately. So here is a little Christmas music playlist for you. Enjoy!

Skating by Vince Guaraldi:

If you don't recognize the name, Vince Guaraldi is the composer behind the Peanuts movies/tv specials. This is from A Charlie Brown Christmas. More specifically this is from the scene int he movie where Lucy tells the kids the snowflakes aren't ripe enough to eat. What I like about this song is that the sound of the piano makes me think of snowflakes falling, which is a welcome thought during Christmas.

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas by Diana Krall:

This is one of my favorite Christmas songs. It has a lot emotion to it, which I think is a good thing. Most of the time this song is either sung slow and emotional or happy and upbeat. What I like about this version of the song is that it kind of finds a middle place. It still has plenty of emotion to it, but it still has an upbeat quality to it too. 

  White Christmas by Diana Krall:

Okay, I know, it's another Diana Krall song. Whatever version of the song you listen to, it's a great song. I prefer this version because like a lot of classic Christmas music I think it lends itself well to the jazz styling of Diana Krall.

Baby It's Cold Outside by Zooey Deschanel and Leon Redbone:

This is the version that they play at the end credits of the movie Elf. What I like about this version is that I think this song is perfect for Zooey Deschanel's voice. This is by far my favorite version of the song.

O Come, O Come, Emanuel by Sugarland:

Christian Christmas music is my favorite. That's why I love this song. I first fell in love with this song because we sang it in chapel freshman year. I found this because I am a fan of Sugarland's regular music. This is just a well done version of the song.

Children Go Where I Send Thee by Mandisa:

This is one of my favorite Christmas songs. It's kind of like the Christian version of the 12 Day of Christmas (hate that song by way). What I really like is that this song takes it to church, which is the point of Christmas.

Day 29: A Song From Your Childhood

Oh the 90's. People either love 90's music, or they hate it. I personally love it, because it's what I grew up listening to. My childhood music experience was pretty much limited to whatever was playing on Mix 93.3, and though I didn't know the name of most of what I was hearing, I liked it a lot. Also I might add that the 90's are when rock and alternative were actually good. So here are some of the 90's songs that I grew up hearing on the radio.

Semi-Charmed Life by Third Eye Blind:

There are plenty of songs that I could have chosen from this band's self titled album. Songs like "Jumper" and "How's It Going To Be" were pretty popular back in 1997, I just remember hearing this one on the radio the most. It's also easily the most up tempo of the three and I think the 90's were pretty good at producing up tempo songs that were more creative than the lazy 80's throwback stuff we have now.

3AM by Matchbox Twenty:

Yourself or Someone Like You is another one of those albums that had multiple hits. "Real World" and "Push" both got a lot of air time, and I really like them. This song however is my favorite from that album. It's emotive without losing its edge. Also, I'm a fan of Rob Thomas, and he got his start as the lead singer of this band.

Steal My Sunshine by Len:

There are two reasons I chose this song. One is because the 90's are known for producing their fair share of one hit wonders, like this one. The second reason I chose this song is because back in the 90's it seemed like summer was it's own genre of music. Summer songs in the 90's made you wish you were at the beach, and if you couldn't get there, they brought you as close to the beach as you could get. I miss that about the 90's.

Every Morning by Sugar Ray:

Speaking of bands that had popular summer hits, who remembers Sugar Ray? They are kind of forgotten now, but I remember this song on the radio all the time back when I was a kid. I never understood the words, though I had a slight suspicion they weren't the best, but I always loved the sound of this song. The acoustic guitar mixed with the hip-hop undertone in the background was pretty awesome. Also I think it's pretty bold title your album 14:59, in other words saying our 15 minutes isn't up yet. Seeing as this album had three pretty successful singles, I would say they were right. 

All Star by Smash Mouth:

Okay, if you don't remember this song, I question all claims that you were alive in the 90's. Nothing reminds me of the 90's like this song. It's pretty awesome. Not to mention the cultural references like putting your finger and you thumb in the shape of an "L" on your forehead. Back in the 90's and even a little in the early 2000's, it seemed like Smash Mouth always had a hit on the radio. They were the "all stars" of the late 90's.

Day 28: A Song That Makes You Feel Guilty

Okay, so this song does and doesn't fit the topic. The song is Not Guilty by Mandisa. I know, the name implies that this song shouldn't make me feel guilty, and for the most part it doesn't. The song starts out with a reminder of all things that we have done wrong in our lives. This is the part that always makes me feel guilty. But what I like about this song is it shows God's forgiveness and love. That's why in the end, this song gives me more hope than guilt.

Day 27 : A Song That You Wish You Could Play

So at this point after 27 posts, I feel like I'm reusing the same artists over and over again, and I'm doing that here. I can't play any instruments as I mentioned in the last post, so the idea of being able to play a song is pretty far off from where I am. One instrument I have always found to be interesting is the ukelele. It has an interesting sound that similar to the guitar, yet still distinctly different. One artist I listen to that plays the ukelele is Ingrid Michaelson. I really like her use of it in the song Mountain and the Sea. It is particularly noticeable in the intro of the song. Anyway, I think it would be interesting to know how to play a ukelele, and here is an example of someone who does it pretty well. Also, I think the lyrics of the song are pretty creative.

Day 26: Favorite Instrumental Song

Okay, so I'm changing it up a little for this one. I don't play any instruments, so I couldn't exactly pick a song that I can play. So I tried to go with a theme that is similar. There is one artist that I listen to that likes to venture into instrumental songs sometimes, and I really like when she does. The artist is Dawn Landes, and I think her instrumental songs can be pretty creative. Here are some of them.

Traffic (From Dawn's Music):

I think this song is pretty creative. It is titled traffic, and I think that is a fitting name. Listening to the song, some of the sounds really sound like beeping car horns and other traffic noises. 

All Dressed in White (From Sweet Heart Rodeo):

I think this song is pretty interesting. I like the way that it starts simple and then layers on new sounds, such as Landes eventual back-up vocals. Yes the argument could be made that there is singing on the song, but there aren't any lyrics, so I still call it an instrumental song. Not to mention who says the voice isn't an instrument? 

Day 25 – A Song That Makes You Laugh

Okay, so the song I am choosing for this post isn't actually that funny. It's not the song that makes me laugh, it's the story that goes with it. One day I had a Rob Thomas album playing in the car and the song Hard On You came on. My mom turned to me and said, aren't you going to answer your cell phone? I had no idea what she was talking about and insisted that my cell phone wasn't going off. She insisted that it was. Turns out that it was the guitar in the background of the song that she mistook for a cell phone vibrating. I don't personally think they sound the same, but every time we hear this song, my mom insists that the two sounds are identical.

Hard On You by Rob Thomas

 

Day 24 – A Song That You Want To Play At Your Funeral

I think this is a really morbid post to have to make, but I can't come up with a substitute so here goes nothin'. I think that funerals are a tricky situation. I mean they are obviously sad, but I feel like I would want to leave my loved ones with some sense of hope rather than sorrow at my funeral. That is why I'm choosing the song No Sweeter Name by Kari Jobe. This song has a peaceful sound and a great message which is the kind of thing I would like to leave my loved ones with.

Day 23 – A Song That You Want To Play At Your Wedding

This topic is one that I kind of think is ridiculous. I mean this is the kind of decision you would make with the person you are marrying. Although I do have a firm rule that I will not dance to a country song at my wedding. I'm sorry, they are just so cheesy. Anyway, I went in a little different direction for this post. I am a firm believer of playing at least one hymn during the wedding ceremony. Some people say it's no place for that, but I completely disagree. Here is a hymn that I really like (despite our current chapel band's attempts to make me hate it.)

Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing by Chris Rice:

 

Day 22: A Song From Your Favorite Artist

So as I explained in the last post, I'm changing this category up a little. This is one I'm excited about. At first I thought I would go with Norah Jones, but having posted quite a few of her songs on the Favorite Album post, I figured I would go with my favorite CCM artist (and probably a tie with Norah Jones for favorite overall artist) Mandisa. I first found out about Mandisa from American Idol. I honestly thought she could have won her season, but she tragically went out earlier than expected. Ever since Mandisa has had a pretty successful CCM career that I have followed from the beginning. I have all three of her albums (each one has gotten Mandisa a Grammy nomination I might add), and I also have her Christmas album. I think she has an amazing voice and I feel like her music is very sincere. To give you a sampling of what her career has been like so far I'm going to post my favorite song off of each of her albums. Enjoy!

 Unrestrained (From "True Beauty"):

This song just has a really freeing sound to it. I love the uplifting quality to it. Also I really think there is a lot of truth and honesty in this song, which adds to how refreshing it is. Unrestrained relationship with God is the idea for any life here on earth. Not to mention, as always, killer vocals.

Freedom Song (From "Freedom"):

This is maybe one of my favorite song intros ever. I love how she starts the song with just the choir, it's very powerful. Vocals again are amazing in this song. My favorite part of the song is hands down when she just breaks out on her own, which can be found about two and half minutes in. I love it. 

 

Stronger (From "What If We Were Real"):

I really love this song. It's one of the most inspirational songs I know. It can always lift me up no matter what mood I am in. A sign that I really like this song? I almost put this on my first post as my favorite song.

P.S. Mandisa is also a pretty good writer. Her book Idoleyes is very good, and her Twitter account is one of my favorites to follow.

Day 21 – A Song From Your Least Favorite Artist

I know that today is supposed to be a song that I listen to when I'm happy, but to me that category is almost identical  to a song that I listen to when I'm happy, so instead today I'm doing a song from my least favorite artist, and then for my next post I'll do a song from my favorite artist. Yes this is similar to favorite band/least favorite band, but I figured I would do the same for solo artists because I listen to more solo artists than bands anyway. So for a song from my least favorite artist I give you "You Belong With Me" by Taylor Swift. I really can't stand Swift's music. Her vocals are mediocre at best, her lyrics are simply childish (I mean come on people she's older than me and her songs still sound like they are written by a 16 year old girl in high school), and I think she is completely overrated. No, I'm not going to put people through the trauma of listening to this song so instead I'll post an okay parody of it.

Day 20 – A Song That You Listen To When You’re Angry

There aren't many songs that I would put under this title. When I'm angry, I generally don't want to listen to music. But there are some songs that get me in the fighting spirit. You know, those songs that make you say, I don't care who or what is against me, I'm going to stand up for what I believe. Here are two of those songs.

I Won't Back Down:

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers:

You just have to read the lyrics to this song to understand why this is one of those songs that gets me in the fighting mood. This is a song about knowing the right thing and standing up for it no matter what. The original version is by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, and I like it a lot, but I also like a couple other versions, so sorry but I'm going to post all three versions. Feel free to listen to just one or all three. I really like all three for different reasons, but I understand not wanting to hear the same song three times in a row.

Dawn Landes:

This is maybe my favorite version of the song just because you can hear the emotion more in this version, but that being said it is also the least "angry" of the three versions, so that's why I hesitated to post just it. 

Dia Frampton & Blake Shelton:

Blake Shelton isn't my favorite singer, but I really liked this version of the song that he performed with Dia Frampton on The Voice.

 

King of Anything by Sara Bareilles:

This song has a really catchy beat, so musically, it isn't so angry. It does have a story for me though. You see the reason this is kind of an angry song for me is that last year my creative writing professor gave me a really horrible critique on one of my papers and I heard this song on the way home from school. The thought stuck with me, who made him the king of anything. Just because he wasn't a fan of my work, didn't mean that I was a bad writer. I also think the way this video was shot is really creative.

 

Day 19 – A Song From Your Favorite Album

In some ways this one is hard and in some ways this one is easy. I mean there are a lot of albums that I really like, and I would probably have a lot of trouble if I were asked to rank them in a top ten list. When it comes to my favorite album however I do think I have one that stands out among the others though. That album is Come Away With Me by Norah Jones. While I love all of Jones' albums, none of her other three albums quite stand up to this one, it's just that good. I also love how Jones can take an album like this and span genres from country to jazz to soul. It's just one of those albums I love to listen to the whole way through. Here are some songs of note in my opinion (although I really like them all).

Turn Me On:

What I really love about this song is the soulful feeling that Jones gives it. She really has a great voice, and the best way I could describe it is that it whistles like a tea kettle, but has the power of a train steaming down the track. Also a lot of emotion, which is a quality I admire in a singer.

Lonestar:

This is one of those times that Jones veers into the country genre. While she is normally associated with New York because of her jazz influence, she actually grew up in Texas under the influence of a lot of country music. This comes through a lot in her second album and in her work with her The Little Willies, a country band she started in honor of Willie Nelson. Anyway, I think this song has a nice peaceful quality to it and I really like her vocal here.

 

  Nightingale:

This is maybe my favorite song off of the album. I say maybe cause it's hard to make that claim, but this is definitely one of my favorites. I think it is simple yet beautiful at the same time. I like when a song can just be simple and sound great.

The Nearness of You:

This is one of those songs that really highlights Norah Jones' jazz side. I think that jazz suits her well, and while I like her trying out new things and testing her limits with music, it's always good to hear her back in her comfort zone.

Day 18 – A Song That You Wish You Heard On The Radio

Yes, I am very far behind on this whole 30 Day Song Challenge thing, but I promise this one thing, I will be done with this thing within the 30 days I gave myself at the beginning of the challenge. When will I get caught up? Pretty much whenever I find time, but I will get caught up. So when I think about a song I want to  hear on the radio I don't look at it like, "oh that song is good I wish they played it more." The way I take today's post is that when I think of songs I want to hear on the radio, I think of artists that don't get much recognition for their work. So today I'm posting some songs from artists that I think deserve to have a wider audience for their music through the radio.

Cold War by Janelle Monae:

Over the last year I have really come to like some of Janelle Monae's music. She has a unique sound that you don't hear too often. One of the things I really like about her is she often does a throwback to 70's Neo-Soul music but still keeps it modern. This song is a perfect example of that. Oh, and another reason to support her is that she is from Kansas City, Kansas. 

Fisher of Men by M. Ward:

The reason I found out about M. Ward is that he is part of the duo She & Him with Zooey Deschanel, which I am particularly fond of. M. Ward has a very interesting sound. What I like about this song is that the instrumental quality is just so interesting with the background guitar. Also I sense some slight Christian undertones to this and other songs by M. Ward which I think adds an interesting quality to secular music.

Rocks and Daggers by Noah and the Whale:

Okay, so there are some things I will admit about this band. For one, their vocals aren't always the best, and for another their music can be admittedly weird. They do have some really fun and interesting songs that I really like though. This one for instance is a favorite of mine. I love how the song paces. I starts at a jog, goes to a walk and then finishes with a sprint. Also, this song has a very simple instrumental quality that I really like. 

Double Trouble by Jack and White:

So you may have noticed that one obscure artist that I really like is Brooke White. Well to avoid a post about just Brooke again, here is a post about her newest project, a duo with Jack Matranga. I think the name of the duo is pretty clever. I chose this song because it is probably the most fun of any of their songs. You can get the whole EP on Itunes and they are working on a second EP right now.

 

Day 17: A Song That I Hear On Television (Favorite Theme Song)

Okay, so yes, I'm switching up the category today. This is supposed to be a song I hear on the radio, but the problem is I never listen to the radio. So I figured why not a song that I hear on TV? It's another media form and I actually watch TV. Of course in typical fashion, I'm going to have more than one song, but these are theme songs, so they are short and I don't feel so bad about it.

The Theme From Parks and Recreation:

What I love about this song is that it is so upbeat and chipper. Like Leslie Knope, this song has a can-do attitude.

At Least It Was Here by The 88 (Community Theme):

Okay, so this song is kind of weird, but it's also really catchy and this is one of my favorite shows, so I really like it.

30 Rock Theme Song:

This song is really jazzy and fast paced, which is what I really like about it. Also, pretty cool that Tina Fey's husband wrote this song.

Life Keeps Bringing Me Back To You by Lauren Wood (Just Shoot Me Theme):

This is one of my favorite shows, and for years this song has symbolized a great end to a great show.

This is also a pretty great song clip from Just Shoot Me:

New Girl Theme Song:
I really like this song because it is written and sung by Zooey Deschanel, who I think is a really talented musician.

Day 16 – A Song That You Used To Love But Now Hate

Okay so I'm cheating a little here. I never "loved" this song, and I wouldn't say that I hate it now. I did like the song however and more than that, I really think the band is good. The song is Need You Now and the band is Lady Antebellum. To clarify, I don't hate this song, it's just that ever since the song came out it has been incredibly overplayed. While I never thought it was bad, I also never thought it was their greatest song. So at this point, I could really go a long time without hearing this song again.

Day 15: A Song That Describes You

For me, this is a hard category to do. I don't really listen to a song because I think it describes me. I have come up with a song however that I think fits for this category.

Uncharted by Sara Bareilles:

Okay, so I don't completely think this song describes me, but there are some lyrics in the song that I really relate to. As someone who wants to continue writing my whole life (not necessarily with the intent of getting published), I can relate to the lyrics in the song that relate to the artistic pursuits. One line that I like is "I'm already out of fool proof ideas so don't ask me how to get started it's all uncharted." I like this because I feel like I don't know where to start in writing this blog, but I'm starting something that to me is uncharted. Like the song says, if I'm going down with this whole thing, I'd rather do it in flames than burning out. 

 

Day 14: A Song That No One Would Expect Me To Love

The song that nobody would expect me to love is "I'm Your Boogie Man" by KC and the Sunshine Band. I love this song because it reminds me of freshman year of college when my friend would play disco songs during finals week.

P.S. I actually wrote out a longer post than this but blogspot was being weird and deleted it, so this one is just getting in before midnight! 

Day 13: A Song That Is A Guilty Pleasure

Yes, late again. It seems to be an every other day thing with me, but I had a speech to work on yesterday, so I don't feel guilty. Gotta have priorities. Anyway, for this post I have a tie. There are two songs I can think of that are what I would consider guilty pleasure songs. Now unfortunately these two singers can have dirty mouths, which isn't my personal favorite, so I'm posting the clean versions of these songs.

Forget You by Cee Lo Green: 

There are a few things I love about this song. First of all the beat is pretty infectious. Second, I love how this song does a throw back to the Motown classics. If there's one thing I love it's a good Motown song.

Last Chance by Nicki Minaj featuring Natasha Bedingfield:

While I'm not always impressed with Nicki Minaj, I think this song is pretty creative. Lines like "don't treat me like the Pope and cross me" seem pretty clever to me. Also I really like Natasha Bedingfield's contribution to this song.

 

Day 12: Song From A Band You Hate

While I don't actually hate anyone, I don't consider hating a person's career the same a hating that person. Therefore the band that I hate is Rascal Flatts and the song is Life is a Highway. This one is simple for me. Everyone loves Rascal Flatts, and to me they are completely overrated. Maybe it's the nasally vocals or just the sheer fact that they are getting so much credit for this song when it's not even their song, but I'm not a fan. Instead of posting their version I'm posting the original by Tom Cochran, cause someone should give him credit for his own song.

Day 11: A Song From Your Favorite Band

Determining my favorite band was pretty easy. Fleetwood Mac has been my favorite band for a while. Unlike a lot of people going around these days saying they like Fleetwood Mac because those idiots on Glee decided to sing one of their songs. No, I've liked Fleetwood Mac for a while because of how diverse their sound is. The band had three lead singers: Stevie Nicks, Lindsey Buckingham, and Christine McVie. Each of these lead singers brought a different sound to the band and made them all the more complex and great. I'm going to highlight each of them by posting a song that each of them sang lead on.

 Second Hand News (lead vocal by Lindsey Buckingham):

Lindsey Buckingham is kind of the heart and soul of Fleetwood Mac. His vocals are always full of energy and his songs often have a great uptempo beat to them. When I went to see Fleetwood Mac in concert a couple of years ago, he was easily the most energetic and fun to watch on stage. While it kills me to pick just one song for him, this song is a great example of the energy he brought to the band. If you listen closely you can hear Stevie Nicks doing background vocals as well.

Landslide (lead vocal by Stevie Nicks):

In some ways I hate to choose this song. It is probably one of the most recognizable songs from Fleetwood Mac's library. People from Glee to the Dixie Chicks have done their best to ruin this song for me and Fleetwood Mac fans everywhere, and that's why I'm reluctant to post it (Okay, I'll give Glee a very slight amount of credit, at least they had Gwyneth Paltrow sing it and she has a good voice, but still it doesn't compare) . All of that being said, I can't deny that this song is possibly Fleetwood Mac's greatest achievement. Stevie Nicks brought a lot of edge to Fleetwood Mac in her vocals, but this song is a perfect example of how Nicks' greatest contribution to this band is her poet's voice.

Everywhere (lead vocal by Christine McVie):

Christine McVie often does not get the credit she deserves. She brought a lot to this band and if you listen closely you can hear either her lead vocals or backgroud vocals on most songs. Most people know McVie for her angelic voice and her piano driven ballads, but what impresses me most about her is how she can jump out of her comfort zone and rock out with Buckingham and Nicks. This song is kind of a mix of her angelic vocals and the fun side that she brought out now and then.

P.S. Yes, I know that this too is a day late, and I have no excuse for this except that I was tired last night and forgot. Hope you enjoy none the less.

Day 10: A Song That Makes You Fall Asleep

Now a lot of people might approach this category thinking that a song that puts you to sleep is definitely a bad thing. I look at it differently. If a song can put me to sleep that means it's probably a pretty peaceful song, and I like that quality in a song. There are two songs that I think of when I think of songs that can put me to sleep.

 Getting Late by Rob Thomas: 

This song has a very peaceful sound to it, which I like a lot. This is the last song on Thomas' second solo album, and I think it's the perfect way to close. It just has a nice settled and calm feel to it. 

Crusin' by Smokey Robinson:

This song can and has put me to sleep. I remember one road trip I fell asleep a couple of times trying to listen to this song. I feel like it should come with a warning: song may cause unexpected naps. 

Another version of this song that I like is when Gwyneth Paltrow and and Huey Lewis sing it in the movie Duets:

 

Day 9: A Song You Can Dance To

Okay, I have some explaining to do. Yes, this too is a day late, but I have a good reason. I was up late last night studying for a test, so this kind of took a backseat to that. Now today's topic is a song I can dance to. Well here's the thing, I don't really dance. No conviction against it, I just really don't do it. So today what I'm going to define as a song I can dance to is more like a song with an upbeat tempo that gets my foot tappin'. Here's the other thing, it's not going to be just one song. You may have realized by now that I'm bad at keeping it to one song, and looking at the future categories I can say without a doubt that there will be more posts with multiple songs. So here are the songs that get my toes a tappin'!

ABC by The Jackson 5:

When most people talk about loving Michael Jackson music they mean his solo work, but I've always been more of a fan of The Jackson 5. This is in part because I love Motown music, and they were one of the Motown greats. I have loved this song since I was a kid and it never fails to get me tappin' my toes. 

Seems Fine by The Concretes:

Okay, so this is an admittedly weird song by and admittedly weird band. Nobody is denying that here. That being said, I love the tempo of this song. It always gets my toes tappin'. What I really love about the song is not so much the vocal, but the music. The addition of brass instruments to this song was genius. 

Magic by B.o.B. featuring Rivers Cuomo:

This song has a great beat. I really like that about it. I also feel like the lyrics of the song are pretty creative without getting vulgar, which is something I respect in a Hip-Hop/Rap song. I really like Rivers Cuomo's part in the song too. Good collaboration.

Day 8: A Song You Know All The Words To

I'm the kind of person that listens to songs until they are worn out. So even if I forget the lyrics to a song cause I haven't listened to it in a while, I generally have no problem relearning them in no time. Last year I discovered the CD Everybody by Ingrid Michaelson and it quickly became one of my wear out albums. The song that I listened to the most off of it was Maybe. This song deals with a little bit of a depressing topic, but there is an element of hope that I love. Beyond that, the song has a very soulful sound to it without going overboard or getting overcomplicated. It has quickly become one of my favorite songs. Also, I think this music video is kind of creative. I especially like the part where the blue paint is used as rain. Enjoy!

Day 7: A Song That Reminds You Of A Certain Event

One of my favorite vacations ever was the road-trip that my family took across the Southwestern United States. We started the trip by leaving Kansas early in the morning and driving all the way to Albuquerque, New Mexico. The next day we had lunch at a local restaurant, where I had one of the best taco salads ever, and then made our way to Flagstaff, Arizona. After that we made our way to the Grand Canyon, and then on to a city called St. George, Utah. This is where we stayed the longest. It's quite a lovely little city, and I would recommend that any avid travelers visit there. After our stay in Utah, we spent a day in Vail, Colorado before making our way back to Kansas. While driving I had plenty of time to listen to some music and there are many song that I listen to now that make me think back to the road-trip. So here are three songs that remind me of my trip across the Southwest.

Come Away With Me by Norah Jones: 

This song, well actually the whole album, reminds me of driving across Arizona. The desert out there is beautiful and I would love to go back some time. I'm posting a link to this one, because I couldn't find the music video on YouTube and I think the setting of the video helps explain why this song reminds me so much of driving across the desert.

http://music.yahoo.com/videos/NorahJones/Come-Away-With-Me--2156467

Hold Up My Heart by Brooke White: 

I really enjoy Brooke White's music, and a lot of it is inspired by the Southwest because that's where she grew up. I listened to her whole album a lot on this trip, especially on the way to Utah. This is one of my favorite songs off of her album.

Tired of This Life by Dawn Landes:

Dawn Landes is one of those little known artists that I really enjoy, and this is my favorite song from any of her albums. I once gave a friend some of her music to listen to with this piece of advice, "listen to this music at night." I can't explain why, but for some reason Dawn Landes' music has more impact at night. I think my friend was skeptical of the advice at first, but later she told me that she even understood what I meant. This song reminds me of driving through the Colorado mountains on the way to Vail. It's one of those moments where I was just listening to the perfect song at the perfect time. Also, I love the simplicity of the guitar in this song.

 

Day 6: A Song That Reminds You Of Somewhere

The saying goes, "Everything is up to date in Kansas City!" Now to most of the world, Kansas City barely makes the map, but to those of us who live here, it's a gem. The song that reminds me of somewhere is "K.C. Blues" by Charlie "Bird" Parker, a native of Kansas City. I love traveling and seeing new places, but at the end of the day I'm always glad to be back in Kansas City. What's so great about KC is that it's the meeting of the best of two states. The best of Kansas and the best of Missouri can be found in Kansas City. What's so great about this song is that represents the great history of Kansas City. There are two things that make Kansas City great, Jazz music and Bar-Be-Que. It just so happens that my favorite BBQ in the world, burnt ends, is native to Kansas City. Jazz has always held a place in this city, and Charlie Parker is the leading jazz musician to come from KC. In fact the world's only jazz museum can be found in Kansas City's famous 18th and Vine Jazz district. I once read a quote that said, ""While New Orleans was the birthplace of jazz, America's music grew up in Kansas City." This song is an example of that. Hope you enjoy the sound of Kansas City!

Day 5: A Song That Reminds You Of Someone

Sorry, I know this one is late, but I was spending the day putting up Christmas decorations, so I ran out of time for blogging. Today's topic is a song that reminds me of someone. At first this one seemed daunting, but after a little bit of thought a song did come to mind. The song that reminds me of a person is "Do You Know the Way to San Jose" by Dionne Warwick and it reminds me of my mom. Now you may have never heard of this song. I know I had never heard the whole thing until a couple years ago. As a matter of fact I didn't even know if it was a real song and if it was who sang it. For most of my life all I knew about this song was that my mom would go around singing the line, "do you know the way to San Jose" on random occasions. Sometimes it was just because she was in a good mood and other times it was while she was getting ready or belting it in the shower. We would always ask her where the line came from and she didn't even know, all she knew was that she knew that line of the song. At one point my dad even had all of us convinced that it wasn't a song at all. Finally we found the song, and now we all know where that line Mom would sing came from. It's got a pretty catchy beat to it, hope you enjoy!

Day 4: A Song That Makes You Sad

Sad songs can sometimes be some of the best. Most of the time I prefer a good happy song, but there's so much emotion in sad songs that can't be found in happy songs. It's this emotion that draws me to sad songs in the first place. Like my post about happy songs, there are far to many for me to narrow down, so I'm going to post a playlist of sad songs as well.

I Love You Porgy by Billie Holiday: This song comes from the movie Porgy and Bess. Now I've never seen this movie, but this song has so much emotional appeal. While this song is sad, what I love about it is the way that Holiday pleads to Porgy. It's not a sad or pathetic pleading, it an expression of her love, which makes this song great. 

Smile by Brooke White: To me, Brook White is one of those hidden treasures. Most people don't know much of her music unless they maybe saw her on American Idol. What I have always liked about her is the emotion that her voice carries. Her vocal performance isn't crystal clear, but that's why it's great. This song is sad, but it highlights just how emotive her voice can be. 

The Weary Kind by Ryan Bingham: If you have seen the movie Crazy Heart, you might know this song. There is a lot of hurt conveyed in this song, which parallels the movie well. I think there is a lot to be gained from the idea of someone picking up the pieces of their life and putting them back together.

Rosie's Lullaby by Norah Jones: I think that Norah Jones has one of the most amazing voices. I've tried to figure out exactly what the meaning of this song is, but have never quite figured it out. One thing I do know is that this song conveys both sorrow and beauty at the same time, which is why it's great.

Child in a Storm by Sharon Little: There is a sense of desolation to this song, yet at the same time there is a sense of hope that really draws me to it. 

 

You Really Got A Hold On Me by She & Him: Yes, I realize that Smokey Robinson sang this song first, and I really like his version, but there is something about the way that Zooey Deschanel and M.Ward sing this version that makes it heartbreaking and beautiful at the same time. I also love the minimalist nature of this song. 

I'm Thru With Love by Diana Krall: This song is just sad. I mean the idea of someone just giving up on love is tragic, but the way Diana Krall sings this version also makes it beautiful. Also I apologize for the video, it's the only one I could find and apparently the only person to post this song decided to put a bunch of actors from old movies in it. Still, a good song.