This is yet another reference to Community, so I apologize to those of you who don't watch the show, but I will explain. In season one, Shirley--the study group's only Christian member--decides to have a Christmas party for her friends at school. When she becomes upset with Jeff for fighting "on Christmas" the others remind her it is December 10th, not Christmas. But to Shirley it is Christmas, their Christmas, her best chance at Christmas because the study group is the closest thing she has to a family anymore.
S01E12, Comparative Religion
You'll have to watch the episode to discover how the conflict resolves, but fortunately the point I'm trying to make here doesn't depend on that. You see, this year my best friend decided we should have our own Shirley Bennett Christmas. We exchanged gifts, then ate mozzarella sticks and drank apple Izze juice while watching Olive, the Other Reindeer and A Charlie Brown Christmas. These two Christmas movies have been a kind of tradition for us since freshman year. Apart from the two finals we had to take that same day, it was a great day and a neat way to celebrate an early, college-friends-only Christmas. We had lunch with another friend (free fries at Burger King) and afterwards the two of us loaded up my car for the break, which I really appreciated. I would absolutely do it again, and I'm already looking forward to next year.
Shirley Bennett had it right in season one. Christmas with your family is always important, but if you're a college student, you should definitely celebrate Christmas with your friends, your college family, before you leave at the end of the fall semester. If you're short on money (like so many of us college students), you don't have to exchange gifts. But you can get together for a few hours, enjoy some Christmas treats, and watch a Christmas movie or two. It's one of my favorite college experiences and a great holiday tradition. Of course, include your friends from every religion, but maybe with a little more acceptance than Shirley ;)
I failed the 30 Day Song Challenge, as you might have noticed. My last day should have been days ago, and I never got past Day 27. But I'd feel like I cheated myself and my readers if I didn't just go through with it, so here are the last three days in one big, delayed post.
Day 28: A Song That Makes Me Feel Guilty
A couple years ago I was listening to a band called Forever The Sickest Kids, which I assume is something most of you either haven't heard of or don't really care for. Anyway, I was a fan for a while, and my favorite song from their album was definitely this one, "Coffee Break." It's a coming-of-age song about a guy who has to take a break from his busy life for a while and turn off his phone, just to accept that his life is changing and he has to change too, and grow up. The line that makes me feel guilty is "my mom hates my guts." Now, I don't really feel that way, but when life gets hard and you're not sure you're the person you wanted to become, it's easy to make yourself believe your parents are disappointed.
Day 29: A Song from My Childhood
There are a few I could talk about here. The first thing that comes to mind is that my mom used to always listen to country music, so I picked out my favorites from that genre when I was little. One I clearly remember dancing along to was "Boot Scootin' Boogie" by Brooks and Dunn.
Oh, the 90s! How I miss them. My sister and I were into all the cool stuff, like N*SYNC and The Backstreet Boys. Back then, we were bigger fans of N*Sync, but later we grew to really like The Backstreet Boys better. I have to be honest, I still have a huge soft spot for boy bands. No lie. "Tearin' Up My Heart" is one I remember being addicted to, and if I remember correctly, my group had to make up a dance to this in elementary school. I also seem to remember Marshall Hopkins being in my group, so I guarantee it was the best dance in all of the first grade. Maybe memory serves me wrong, but i doubt it.
And, last but never least, I cannot forget the wonderful Savage Garden. I don't think we knew anything about the band or heard any of their songs until sometime after 2003 when I rediscovered them and bought both their albums, but my sister and I loved "Truly, Madly, Deeply." (I doubt we could have told you the title in the '90s)
When I think '90s music, I always think of my sister. I remember singing these songs with her, and dancing to some of them, too. I remember singing along to the songs from Disney movies, and I remember running around with the characters, too. Sis, do you remember running around in the basement to certain scenes in The Lion King or The Rescuers: Down Under? Those days were incredible.
Day 30: My Favorite Song this Time Last Year
I wanted to talk about a Christmas song, but I have to honestly say I do not recall my Christmas song phase from last year. Sadly, I have to abandon that attempt.
Winter is a hard time for me when it comes to music. Especially these last few years, I'm used to finding an album or artist to listen to constantly in the summer. I go through that phase when I'm not happy listening to music if it's not that artist, or that album. Then it gets old, and I start to drop it, and when winter comes along I look for something new and can't grasp onto any of it. If I remember correctly, last winter I was trying to find something to replace The Summer Set's newest album (apparently no longer their newest; I have some money to spend, you guys), Love Like This, but I couldn't let go of this song, "Where Are You Now?" along with a couple others. Maybe you can guess why.
This song features Dia Frampton of Meg and Dia (I don't know who that is, but I figured I might as well credit the female vocals, as she is not a member of The Summer Set). Also, one thing I like about this band is their drummer is a woman. And I think this is the first band I've mentioned here that I've seen in concert. Nice way to end the challenge, I guess.
Did you know I used to take piano lessons? I was awful. As I like to put it, I can't think with both hands at the same time. When I found out we were moving to Colorado, I saw an opportunity to quit piano lessons once and for all. The problem was the big recital that stood in my way.
This is bad, you guys. Part of me is ashamed of what I did, and part of me is still that proud 12-year-old. I devised a plan and kept it secret until my performance. You see, I was going to be playing Mozart's Symphony No. 40, and someone was going to announce it as that just before I played. But the way I played, you couldn't tell it was Mozart. Everyone would know I was butchering the heck out of the song. So I made up my mind to practice only the recognizable right-handed portion of the song and play without my left hand.
My parents (and grandparents? She was there, right?) were disappointed in me, if I remember correctly, but I still think it was more of a success than it would have been if I had tried to practice both hands. Still, I wish I had the talent and the discipline to have really pulled off a performance that day rather than half-handing it.
Here's someone who can play it.
I was sitting at Wing Stop with my parents when I heard this song for the first time, soft and barely audible through the restaurant speakers. I tried to remember some of the song lyrics so I could look it up later because it sounded cool, but all I could ever remember was people sitting on rooftops. I should have looked it up; the title is "Rooftops." Anyway, I didn't hear it again until I heard my boyfriend at the time playing it, and I got all excited and shortly I learned to play it, too. You know, on Guitar Hero: World Tour.
I'm sorry if you expected a real instrument. If it helps, I can also play "Taps" on my harmonica. I could the last time I checked, anyway. Other than that, no musical ability whatsoever.
There's an artist I've been dying to talk about, and fortunately one of her songs fits into this category for me. It's Dawn Landes, and I know nothing about her except she has a crazy awesome voice and her music is best when listened to at night (as recommended by a friend of mine). There is one song that always catches me off guard because of the strange lyrics. I don't know what to do other than laugh at it.
I think this is it... "Picture Show" by Dawn Landes
At my sister's request, I have to mention a certain band I once loved somewhere is this challenge. This is the only place for them at this point, and I think I might have put them here all along if I had remembered them. The band I'm talking about is Bowling for Soup, and I think almost all of their music makes me laugh. I'm more of a Hangover You Don't Deserve kind of person, but Drunk Enough to Dance was cool too. I'm not familiar with most of The Great Burrito Extortion Case. My parents laughed at my Bowling for Soup phase, I think. Who wouldn't? Weird name, weird band. But I love them. One of my favorites, which I definitely laugh it, is "Two-Seater." It's a classic break-up song, way cooler than Carrie Underwood's "Before He Cheats."
Fun Fact: I sang that one in the shower the other day. I mean, Fun Fact: Bowling for Soup also sings the title song for Phineas and Ferb. So stick with us 'cause Phineas and Ferb are gonna do it all.
Someone brought up the point to me that I won't be there, so it's really more up to my family and loved ones who will be at my funeral. Honestly, I don't look forward to that particular date yet anyway, so I say who cares? I'm just going to do this thing.
I'll start of with "Old Rugged Cross" because it just seems right. I think my mom is a fan (Mom, please don't attend my funeral. I plan to attend yours instead. Thanks.) This topic is morbid. So... Anyway, this is a great hymn, and I've heard it at funerals before, and if I had the choice I'd play it at mine. This one's Anne Murray; I wouldn't be too picky about the artist, but it would have to be a woman.
I also think "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" is beautiful. Soft, slow, and sweet. Absolutely perfect. The one I'm including is by Zooey Deschanel from She & Him Volume 1. I love Deschanel's voice, and this is the most beautiful version of the song I've heard. I think it would be the coolest for this one to be sung a Capella (is there any other way?) by a small ensemble. I've heard it done by a barbershop quartet and thought it was fantastic.
I don't even know why I'm including this last one, except that I just can't get it out of my head. I don't know if I can say for sure, like I can with the other two, that I'd like it played at my funeral, but I do think it's beautiful, and I like that's just sad and slow enough but also full of hope. I'll have to over-analyze the lyrics before I make any further decisions. For now, please just enjoy... "Blackbird" by The Beatles.
So I looked it up, and it's actually about racial tension. Well, you know what, that's the meaning intended when it was written. I'm an English major, and I think we're allowed to assign our own meaning. If I wanted to, I could definitely see this as a funeral song, especially for Christians.
This post is somewhat incorrectly titled, because I don't want a wedding. That's how I feel right now, anyway. I'll change my mind tomorrow, and then in a couple weeks I'll be right back to this again, or something like that. Anyway, someone who doesn't want a wedding half the time, does not take the time to plan out music the other half of the time. So I have no idea. But I think this could be a really cute song for the father-daughter dance at the reception, for any girl who would have the guts to play it. I'm pretty sure I would just cry. I've always found it incredibly sweet, in an almost sad way.
"I Loved Her First" by Heartland
P.S. If my sister is reading this...You're not allowed to steal this and use it at your wedding first. If you already had it in mind then...I'll think about allowing it. ;)
This sort of relates to the category I'm supposed to talk about today: a song you listen to when you're sad. I'll tell you how: You may or may not remember my day 4 (a song that makes you sad), but I gave a video for the original song as well as a fan cover of the song. This was done by a cool kid named Julia Nunes. I wanted to talk about her a little bit more because, while most of her covers are pretty solid, I think her original songs are pretty creative too. So I'd like to share some her stuff with you. She does announcements at the end of most of these, so you can stop watching when the song is over.
I'll start with "Maybe I Will," because I think this one has a pretty cool video. This took a lot of work, I'm sure, and it looks pretty neat.
Next up is "The Debt." I love everything she does in this one. So much talent.
I think I'm just in love with her, because I even like this one:
Anyway, there's a lot of talent out there on YouTube, if you know where to look or if one day you happen to stumble upon a quirky girl with a great voice like Julia Nunes. If any of you guys have discovered someone super talented on YouTube, please share with your comments!
Today is supposed to be a song I listen to when I'm happy, but I already covered the happy category with day 3. Instead, I decided to try to steal a category my best friend used as a substitute, which was theme songs from his favorite shows. Unfortunately, he pretty much used all of them, so I have to be as creative as I can.
I'll start off with Community, my current favorite TV show. My friend already highlighted the theme song in his post for today (you can read his blog here) so I feel like I can't talk about that now. Instead, here's Troy and Abed's Spanish rap. It's fun even though it doesn't make sense, like pretty much everything Troy and Abed do together.
Makes me smile every time. Well, I might as well throw in the season two Anthropology rap. Because, you know, it has Betty White.
Another them song my friend highlighted was the 30 Rock theme song. I love and hate that song because, while it is incredibly catchy, that just means it gets stuck in my head every time I watch an episode. The love overrides the hate though, for sure. Another fun song from 30 Rock is Jenna's "Muffin Top," apparently quite popular in Israel. I tried to find the clip of Jenna actually performing the song, but YouTube isn't perfect. This just has pictures of the cast in the background, but I guess it works. Anyway, this song is hilarious just because of how weird and awkward it is. Another good one is Tracy Jordan's "Werewolf Bar Mitzfah." (I'm not including that one, sorry.)
Moving away from NBC now, one of my favorite shows on TV is Psych. What I love about Psych is that it's a comedy and a drama. It's flexible enough to have some serious plots without losing its humor. And the theme song is catchy and does a great job summing up the premise of the show. Here's the full-length version of "I Know You Know."
I think four songs is enough for today. Thanks for reading, I had fun with this one.
This is a fun category. I remember in middle school I was listening to Avril one day in my room, and my dad came in and I was like, "This is my angry music!" and he laughed at me. Thanks, Dad. Anyway, it's always good to have that one song, or artist, or album, that you can turn to when you're mad. It's healthy, I think. Ask your therapist.
For me, one artist I can rely on in times of anger is 3Oh!3. You guys, this band is really quite awful in several ways. For some reason, I'm addicted to how bad it is. And this song, "I'm Not Comin' To Your Party, Girl" is good for a mad song. It's not good for much else. It just played on my Zune and I didn't even realize it until I looked down to find it to clarify the title. So yeah, definitely my favorite song, right?
I guess I like the "I don't need you" attitude of it. It works.
Guess what? It's difficult for me to single out an album I definitely prefer above all the rest. No surprise there. I was going to try, though. I was going to talk about Mumford and Sons, and their CD, Sigh No More. Did you know the album title is a reference to a song from Shakespeare's "Much Ado about Nothing"? I love references to the works of the bard. (English nerd alert.) I guess, since I've mentioned that, the song I'll give you is the title track, "Sigh No More."
This band makes beautiful music. I fell in love with "Little Lion Man" in January, then "The Cave" in the summer, shortly followed by the rest of the album. I like them for their unique sound (gotta love the way they use that banjo) and for their lyrics, in which I personally found some Christian themes. I'm a little disenchanted ever since I realized they're more popular than I initially guessed, because something about mainstream music often turns me off. There's something exciting about loving a band no one else has heard of.
I love that album, but I have to talk about Vampire Weekend too. Unfortunately, I can't tell you which album I prefer. At first, I was a bigger fan of their self-titled album, but when I warmed up to their second album, Contra, I realized I couldn't choose one over the other. I will pick only one song though, not because it stands out as my favorite, but just because it's the one on my mind right now. It's called :"Giving Up the Gun," and it's off their second album.
The reason this song has been on my mind is because of these opening lines:
"Your sword's grown old and rusty
Underneath the rising sun.
It's locked up like a trophy,
Forgetting all the things it's done."
The last time I heard these opening lines, I thought, "That's it. That's why I started my blog." As a writer, I felt I wasn't exercising my gift at all, that maybe my talent was going to dry up with disuse. So I thought a blog would be a good way to get my sword back out of the confines of the trophy case and wield it with pride. And now I'm writing "every day" (sorry day 18 was late. I have all this work to do for class...)
I am currently listening to the radio at work, so this is just the song I wish they would play right now.
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel by Sugarland
I loved this song the first time I heard it, and the first time we sang it in chapel. There's a quiet and beautiful power in the lines, "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel" as well as just in the entire song as a whole. This time of year, I love to think of this name for Christ. Emmanuel, God with us. God cared so much for us that He came down to be with us, for our sake and not His own. The idea means so much to me, seems so crazy and beautiful, and the name "Emmanuel" sums that up and always triggers that place in my heart.
This year, my friend put together a Christmas playlist for me to listen to on my Thanksgiving drive home, and he included this song as sung by Sugarland. It took my breath away, and I had to replay it. These guys have done a perfect job with this song, if you ask me. When Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush combine their voices, it creates the most beautiful sound in all of country music, with the exception of similar groups like Lady Antebellum. They have a great sound too. In fact, I would single out Lady Antebellum as my favorite country group, with Sugarland close behind.
In conclusion, this particular version of this song has become a Christmas essential for me and will stick with me for years to come, I am sure.
You know I don't listen to the radio very much. Mostly I prefer my Zune, especially for longer drives. But when I'm at home, there are a few stations I like to switch between when I'm just driving around town. And there's a song I always hear, it seems, every time I turn on the radio, on more than one of these stations. As far as I know, they've been overplaying this song since the day it was released a year and a half ago. The song is "Say You'll Haunt Me" by Stone Sour.
Now, I don't have anything against the song itself. It's okay. But the only other song I've ever heard from this band was "Through Glass," which I thought was much better. To me, "Through Glass" represents all this band is capable of, and "Say You'll Haunt Me" represents their failure to live up to that. Maybe I would believe in this band more if I heard more than just these two songs, but until I make that decision, this is all I have to go by. I'm including "Through Glass" just because it's better.
Again, I have to go with a band instead of a song. It's going to be an obvious one, and I apologize for that, but it is what it is: Linkin Park. I used to like their old stuff, and I'll admit I was even a fan of Minutes to Midnight, the album that turned almost all of their other fans off. It was honestly more like the kind of music I was listening to at the time. Which was everyone else's problem: this band sold out. Anyway, after that album it all went downhill. They don't even sound like the same band anymore, and I refuse to believe they are. So a while back, I added some of their older music to my playlist thinking I was doing myself some good, returning to the band as it should have been. Sadly, I discovered I'm not even a fan of their old stuff so much anymore. It is so angsty, as I guess I once was. I've just grown out of it.I don't hate it, but it's also not my favorite anymore. Here's one I was once crazy about: "Nobody's Listening." (I'm not including any of their newer stuff because I prefer to pretend it does not exist.)
At first I thought, "I don't feel like blogging today. Do I have to? I suppose I do..." But then I saw the topic for today, and I'm pretty excited about this one. There are two songs that jumped into my head immediately when I first considered this day of the challenge. The first is "Unwritten" by Natasha Bedingfield. I haven't heard it in a really long time, but I used to think of it as "my song" because I felt a connection to it as a writer. I know the writing theme is supposed to be a metaphor for life, but I like to take it literally too. Maybe that's partially because, as a Christian, I don't necessarily belief my life itself is completely "unwritten." But it's great to think that, when it comes to writing, I have so much ahead of me to look forward to. I have so much potential, and since I haven't even begun a career, all of my writing is so far unwritten. But maybe today is where my book begins.
The second song is "Unwell" by Matchbox 20. I guess the theme for today is "un-." Anyway, I'm not trying to say I lie in bed making friends with shadows on my wall (odd). I don't hear voices either. But I definitely do talk to myself in public, and I can relate to dodging glances even if I don't ride the train. The way people look at you sometimes when they realize you're talking to yourself...I feel a bit like Raskolnikov from Crime and Punishment. There are some times when I want to tell people, "I'm not crazy," but there are other times when I scare even myself and I wonder when they'll discover me and take me away. But I'm not crazy. Just a little unwell, right?
Enjoy the acoustic version of this one, guys. It's different, I think in a good way.
Who made this list?
Personally I think this category is a lot like yesterday's category, so I'm spinning it a little. Instead of a song no one would expect me to love, I'm giving you a band no one would expect me to love. And since most of the music I like is the kind of thing that might inspire the, "You? You like that band, really?" response, I'm going instead with a band that no one would expect me to like for the simple reason that no one else has heard of this band. You can't expect me to love a band you've never heard of, right? Call it cheating if you wish.
I don't know where I found this band, but because of their name I used to confuse them with Death Cab for Cutie. This band is not Death Cab for Cutie. This band is Cute Is What We Aim For. If cute is what they aim for, I'm not sure they're hitting the mark, but I do think they're weird but catchy, witty but sometimes lame. And I'm addicted. This band's jams are on that driving playlist I can never manage to shut up about. Here are just a couple.
This first one is called "Teasing to Please." I don't know why, but I like the bit about the ripped knees.
The second one I'd like to share is called "Time." It's a little bit more slow and sad, and you know I like that.
The only videos I could find had the lyrics, so I hope you guys don't mind that.
And that's the weird band I listen to when I drive across Kansas. I wouldn't call them a favorite by any means, but I like singing along.
