Category: music musings

five song friday, music musings, music suggestion, you tube

5SS: december 11

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Well, these past few weeks, you must have definitely noticed I have been out of service, so to speak, as school ramped up, and finals hit full steam. Well, as of Thursday, I am done until January, and I am so burned out that I can’t imagine not having this necessary break (we’ve been going full time since January!!). That being said, I have 5 new songs that I do want to share, and I meant to do this yesterday, but I was busy the whole day, so you get a five song Saturday instead. Let’s get started.

City and Colour – At the Bird’s Foot
What can I say, other than another amazing track by one of my favorite artists, City and Colour?! Dallas Green’s voice is like butter, and it just melts my heart. This is a song he did for a compilation album to benefit those affected by the Gulf oil spills, and it is heartbreakingly beautiful. This is one artist that I will continue to follow for as long as he makes music, because he consistently delivers song after song of amazing music. If you still aren’t familiar with City and Colour, I really have only one thing to say; why not? Seriously, his work continues to be purely amazing folks. Listen to At The Bird’s Foot here.

Christina Perri – Jar of Hearts
Christina reminds me vocally a lot of Nicole Atkins; she shares a similar tonal quality to her voice, as well as her ability to craft a really well written, beautiful song. I love the lyrics of this song, and I love the vivid imagery she conjures in this tale of a woman scorned by love. I actually heard of Christina by hearing one of her live tracks (Bang Bang Bang), and I knew if she was that good live, I wanted to hear some studio stuff. I’m glad I looked deeper, because I love this song even more than Bang Bang Bang, and I cannot wait to hear more from her. Watch the video for Jar of Hearts here.

Adele – Rolling In The Deep
What can I say about Adele that I haven’t said many, many times before? This woman is an amazing artist, and her voice is unique and incredibly beautiful. After seeing her live a couple of years ago, I have to say, this is one of those artists that we are going to still be talking about years and years from now. This is the first single from her upcoming album, 21, which comes out February. While I am glad to have this great track to whet my whistle, it simultaneously makes me sad that I have to wait nearly 3 months to get more from this soulful diva. I loved her debut, and based on what I have heard from her follow up (this great one, and the amazing Somebody To Love; google it, you won’t be sorry), I believe it will find its way into my favorite albums of 2011. Watch the video for Rolling In The Deep here.

Ciara – Gimmie Dat
Let me start by saying that I cannot get enough of this track. This song is H-O-T, and it makes me want to shake my ass all night! For me, Ciara hasn’t been able to reach the caliber of 1, 2 Step again, but that’s not really that much of a critique, because of how high that song set the bar for her; everything else pales in comparison because of how amazing that track remains to be. That being said, this is about as close as I could hope for; this is a BANGER, and I cannot resist hitting repeat when this comes up on my ipod. This is Ciara at her best, and I am glad to see her back in top form; now, if we could only convince her to stop wearing skin-tight cat suits in all of her videos. Listen to Gimmie Dat here. (I didn’t post a link to the video because the song is a bit different in the video, and I prefer this version).

Natalia Kills – Zombie
I saw Natalia Kills open for Robyn last month, and while her set was INCREDIBLY too loud, I did enjoy most of the songs that I heard. This one was the one that resonated with me most at the show, and it turns out it’s my favorite one of hers that I’ve heard so far. I also like Mirrors, which had a video come out very recently, but that one sounds like a track right off of Lady GaGa’s amazing debut, The Fame, which, while it isn’t necessary a bad thing, it makes me worry a bit about just how strong the RedOne vibe might influence Natalia’s music. This one is great on it’s own, and makes me want to hear more; I just hope it’s not all Lady GaGa wannabe tracks. Watch the video for Zombie here.

Well, I hope you enjoyed this five song Saturday. Let me know what you think in the comments, and be sure to let me know what you are listening to as well!

five song friday, music musings, music suggestion, you tube

5SF: november 12

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Welcome back, kids! Sorry there was no 5SF last week; things have been busy… you know, school and all. Things are going to be pretty hectic until December, but I managed to sneak some time in to bring you some fresh tunes this week. A LOT of music is going to be released in the coming weeks, so the year end album countdown should have some interesting changes in the coming weeks; and there will inevitably be more music for the 5SF. Let’s get to this week’s fresh crop:

Shayne Ward – Future Love
Normally, the B-side isn’t as good as (and certainly is not better than) the single itself. However, that is exactly the case with Shayne Ward’s latest single, Gotta Be Somebody, taken from his upcoming album Obsession. Unfortunately, Gotta Be Somebody isn’t stellar (perhaps it being a cover of a Nickelback song has something to do with that), but at least Future Love (another, much better cover) makes the grade. Sadly, Future Love didn’t make the cut, and will not be on Obsession, which sucks, because it is far superior to the aforementioned lead single. Oh well, at least we can cherish it on its own, even though it’s just a B-side. Listen to Future Love here.

Alexis Jordan – Happiness
First and foremost, I want to say, that I do not understand why in the hell the artist for this song isn’t marketed/labelled as Deadmau5 feat. Alexis Jordan, because they “heavily sampled” Deadmau5’s Brazil (2nd edit), for this song; which really means they just used it in its entirety, and gave him no credit. I would prefer to put credit where it is due, and while the lyrics and her singing definitely liven it up, and make it more poppy and enjoyable for me, I do think Deadmau5 deserves his due; the backing track is brilliant, and it is why I fell in love with this song in the first place (a big thanks to my pal Steve for giving me the heads up on it too). Now that I have said what I had to say about that, let me talk about the song; it’s saccharine sweet, and totally groovy. I love this song, and her sweet vocals over the brilliant Deadmau5 house music is pure pop perfection. I expect to hear this on the radio, and have been listening to it on repeat for a few weeks now. Watch the video for Happiness here.

Cee Lo Green – Love Gun ft. Lauren Bennett
I first heard this song playing in the background during the pole dancing scene between Steve Carrell and Tina Fey in the movie Date Night. I loved it, and tried to download it, but according to the internets, it wasn’t available, and wouldn’t be; everyone said that it was going to be covered/released by Pussycat Doll Melody Thornton instead (and her version can’t hold a candle to this one). Hmpf! Well, low and behold, Cee Lo Green released his new album The Lady Killer this week, and there was my song! Hot!! I love the sexy swagger of this song, and how it just begs you to dance to it. The juxtaposition between both Cee Lo’s and Lauren’s voices is a perfect marriage in this throwback track. I am thrilled that Cee Lo decided to throw this on his new album, because it just meant that I would be sure to pick it up (especially after the fantastic Fuck You, which was featured not too terribly long ago on the 5SF). Listen to Love Gun here.

Fitz and The Tantrums – MoneyGrabber
Keeping the throwback swag going today, I have been enamored with this fun little song for a few weeks now. I saw the video, and immediately had to hear the song again. Thankfully, you can go to Fitz and the Tantrums website and download it for FREE (just look to the left about 1/3 down). This is a great old-school jam, one that sounds like it would have fit perfectly in the soul sounds of yesterday. This is a refreshing new song that harkens back to time gone by, and if acts like Duffy and Amy Winehouse can succeed, so can these guys; they’ve definitely got something going on. Watch the video for MoneyGrabber here.

Westlife – Safe
What can I say? I’m a sucker for a beautiful ballad, and if it’s Westlife singing it, I am definitely all ears. I have loved these guys for over a decade, and each new release shows that not only do they know their fan base extremely well, but that they have access to a plethora of wonderful ballads and love songs to feed us with. Their last album, Where We Are, came in at #18 on my top 31 albums of last year, and was filled to the brim with beautiful songs much like this one. Imagine my glee when I found out they have a new album, Gravity, coming out in the coming weeks. I cannot wait to get more music from my all time favorite boy band; these boys will always have a place in my heart, and space on my ipod. Watch the video for Safe here.

What did you think of this week’s crop? Please let me know in the comments; and give me the heads up on what you are downloading and enjoying right now as well. You never know; it may be on next week’s 5SF!

five song friday, music musings, music suggestion, you tube

5SF: october 29

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Well, I didn’t know if I would have five songs to bring to the table this Friday, and it turns out, I tend to underestimate myself! I found five great songs worthy of some praise, so I wanted to share them this week. Here’s the Friday five for this week:

Nadine Coyle – Insatiable
While I have seen a few negative remarks regarding Ms. Coyle’s new single, I have to say, I love it. A big thanks to my buddy Stu for bringing this delightful pop number to my attention. Listening to this song makes me remember with fond memories the time when I first heard of Girls Aloud; and subsequently, when I realized just how much I loved them. This song is a perfectly sexy, swanky ballad, that is very radio friendly. Love it or hate it, this song definitely has ‘hit’ potential all over it. Check out the video for Insatiable here.

A1 – Perfect Disaster
Man, I was surprised when I saw the news a few weeks back that A1, the once defunct Norwegian boyband I had loved from the late nineties/early 2000s, were not only back together, but releasing a brand new album. After a proper listen to their new album, Waiting For Daylight, I was surprised to find quite a few amazing tracks on it. This is one of my favorites, and one that they should definitely release as a single. While these guys split up, waited 10 years, and decided to give it another go, and I think that fans of theirs from yesterday and new fans alike will be happy to hear what new material they have waiting for them today. Listen to Perfect Disaster here.

Robbie Williams and Gary Barlow – Shame
Speaking of boy bands reforming… Robbie Williams recently got back together with his band mates in Take That, and while the verdict on whether this was a good move or not has yet to be handed down, I do find myself quite taken by this recent collaboration for Robbie’s most recent greatest hits release. I didn’t really care for it the first time I heard it (to be honest), but after seeing the homoerotic video with these two hunks (I definitely wouldn’t mind being between these two), I couldn’t resist any longer. Check out the video here.

Elizabeth & The Catapult – Do Not Hang Your Head
I was quite excited to see that Elizabeth & The Catapult released a new album last week, and I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it. After one listen, there are some definite standouts, and this for me, is one of the best. The song is delicate and grandiose at the same time; it fully commanded my attention with one listen. The arrangement highlights the beauty of her voice, and the vocal effect adds a symphonic quality to the track. Such a beautiful song from such a delightful band. Listen to Do Not Hang Your Head here.

The Script – This = Love
I love this song. I have been really enjoying the new album by the Script, Science and Faith (even more so recently!), and I have to say, this album seems to get better with each listen. I am almost at the point of declaring it better than their self-titled debut. That being said, I was actually drawn further into this amazing album because they played this song in the background on the Vampire Diaries in a recent episode. After hearing it, I ran to my ipod and played this amazing song on repeat. I cannot describe how much I love this song, it is full of energy, power, and the lyrics are incredibly inspiring. The Script is one of those bands that is really underrated, and hopefully, since this song made such a big show, it can get them some more of the attention they deserve. Listen to This = Love here.

What did you think? Let me know! Also, let me know what I’ve been missing, won’t you?

five song friday, music musings, music suggestion

5SF: october 22

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I’ve been doing my best to relax today, as I have been majorly stressed out with school lately, and listening to music always seems like such a great way to do just that… relax. So I’ve been chilling out listening to some new stuff, and I have a few songs I’d like to share with you.

Antony and the Johnsons feat. Bjork – Flétta
While it isn’t in english (no singing along for me!), it is amazing, breathtaking, beautiful, and epic nonetheless. I am a big fan of Antony and the Johnsons, as well as Bjork, and when I saw that these two had collaborated for Antony’s new album, Swanlights, I was really excited to hear their song together. What they delivered is this incredible production, which marries their two styles amazingly together, and a song that I cannot get enough of. Beautiful music needs to be shared, and this, ladies and gents, is beautiful music. I am still a bit lukewarm on the whole Swanlights album, but mostly because Antony’s last album was so incredibly amazing, I knew it was going to be hard to top it. Either way, it’s worth checking out for sure; especially if you are a fan of Antony’s previous work. Listen to Flétta here.

Mumford and Sons – After The Storm
It seems like their album Sigh No More keeps sneaking back up and surprising me with how amazing it is. The first time I heard Mumford and Sons’ recently released album, I was blown away by how wonderful it is, and how much I loved it. Well, naturally as time passes, something else steps in and takes the spotlight, but it seems that this album is a great scene stealer… it keeps finding its way into the limelight. During a recent episode of Stargate: Universe (EXCELLENT show!), they played this song, and I instantly went back to Sigh No More, and I have been enjoying this beautiful song ever since. I love when they play great music on my favorite shows; especially when it’s music that’s already on my ipod!! Listen to After The Storm here.

Erik Hassle – Taken (Still In My Blood)
Apparently, this amazing pop music virtuoso just keeps bringing downright amazing shit to the table, time and time again. I have blogged about this Swedish wonder before, who happens to have one of my favorite albums of the year (so far) with his re-released debut, Pieces. Well, I was reading my usual music blogs today, and I saw that he released an EP recently; and this song is just another testament of how talented this guy really is. It is a beautiful, haunting, and very well written pop song. I hope more people talk about this guy, because music this great really does need a wider audience; it’s too good to be (largely) ignored. Listen to Taken (Still In My Blood) here.

Robyn – Indestructible (Radio Edit)
Seriously. Seriously! She cannot be stopped. Indestructible? More like unstoppable! Unless you have been living under a rock, Robyn should clearly be one of your favorite pop artists of 2010, because she has released single after single of solid, amazing, pop music this year; and it seems, isn’t slowing down any time soon. Her last installment (and the compilation/conclusion) of Body Talk comes out next month, and this “little” teaser highlights why Robyn is THE woman to beat in pop music right now; she’s killing it like no one can right now. I am going to see her on the 8th at the Buckhead Theater, and I am so freaking excited, because I know it’s going to be an amazing show. Listen to Indestructible (Radio Edit) here.

Logan Lynn – Last High
I first saw the video for this forever ago it seems, and I could never get the song in iTunes (or anywhere else), so I kind of forgot about it. Then, randomly, the other day, I was looking at my “list of songs to download”, and just gave it a shot to see if it was iTunes, and it was! I love this song, which is apparently a cover of the Dandy Warhols song. Logan is an out (and proud!) artist, who is quite handsome, and someone who has made the 5SF before with his song, Feed Me To The Wolves. I like how fresh and flirty this song is, and I am glad I finally got to download, and enjoy it. Listen to Last High here.

So there’s this week’s five song Friday. What did you think of my selections? Anything you’ve been enjoying that I seem to be missing each week? Let me know in the comments! NOTE: If you’re wondering why Whip My Hair by Willow Smith wasn’t featured today, it is because that (quite brilliant, actually) song is getting enough attention this week.

five song friday, music musings, music suggestion

5SF: october 15

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Holy fuck! Two weeks in a row?! You bet your ass! Welcome to another, apparently fully revived, edition of the five song Friday, kids!! I have some slow stuff, some boy band stuff, and some dance stuff for you today, so we are going a bit all over the place today, if you’re up for it. I am glad that I was able to find a way to share the music again, because I love talking about music that I believe is worth praising; especially when most people wouldn’t hear about it otherwise. Here’s hoping you enjoy this week’s selection! Now, on to the fun…

Greg Laswell – Girls Just Wanna Have Fun
I love a great cover, and this one is fantastic. We saw Greg Laswell (finally!) live last week when he opened up for Sara Bareilles, and he played this little gem; which I had never heard, but apparently, has been on like 5 soundtracks. He performed this song amazingly live, and I immediately downloaded it when I got home from the show. I love how playful, and endearing it is; especially when you consider the Cyndi Lauper original, which I would have thought was almost impossible to improve upon. Well, Greg, you’ve done more than improved upon it, you’ve turned it into something delightful, and completely beautiful all on its own. I’m glad he played it at the show; otherwise, I might not have known it even existed. Listen to Girls Just Wanna Have Fun here.

Jeremy Messersmith – A Girl, a Boy, and a Graveyard
I have to say, I am a sucker for shows that use songs like this during some pivotal scene. I think this one came from the Vampire Diaries (totally guilty pleasure show), and I love that I could find it using that Shazam app on my phone. This song is beautiful, and whoever the music director is for that show, you are a genius (I’ve found so many great ones from you!). This song complimented the touching scene it was used in, AND got me to run out and buy this track soon after the episode aired. The song reminds me a lot of acoustic artists like Joshua Radin, but the vocal has an oldness to it, almost like a Simon and Garfunkel feel. Definitely a beautiful song, and one I’m glad to have been able to find! Listen to A Girl, a Boy, and a Graveyard here.

The Wanted – All Time Low
For as long as I can remember, I have been a sucker for boy bands. From New Kids on the Block back in the day, up through the Backstreet Boys, N*SYNC, and my overarching, undying love and devotion for Westlife, it’s no surprise that I keep my eye out for new boy-band driven pop. A lot of the time, the stuff that comes out is, well, less than stellar, but occasionally, a pure pop gem comes around; and that is what we have here folks. Will these guys be more than their predecessors? That is pretty doubtful, seeing as boy bands are still pretty much a thing of the past these days, but if they can give us some fun pop songs to enjoy along the way, I will be more than happy. This song is perfect for the radio… that is, UK/European radio; this will never be on US airways, which sucks (but at least we get to hear about it thanks to the internet, right?). Overall, I have been playing this song on repeat for a few weeks now after discovering it on the top 20 UK tracks, and I have been loving it ever since. I noticed that they have a full-length debut coming up very soon, and I can only hope that there are more great pop songs like this one on it. I’ve heard another promising single (Heart Vacancy), so fingers crossed that the rest of the album is great as well! Listen to All Time Low here.

Jes – Closer
I had no idea at the time, but the first time I heard of Jes, was when I heard the amazing collaboration between her and Gabriel and Dresden called Motorcycle, back in 2003, with one of the best songs of that entire year, As The Rush Comes. After that, Jes popped back on my radar in early 2008, with the 5SF-featured, Around You (JukiBe Remix). Most recently, Jes is back on my radar screen with this fantastic little dance-pop number, which I saw the video for, and immediately wanted to hear more and more. I love the edge that it has, and her throaty and raspy vocal delivery is a great compliment to something so hard hitting. Overall, this is a great song for her, and I hope she gets some dance-radio airplay; it’s a great down-tempo dance song! Listen to Closer here.

Rihanna – Only Girl (In the World)
I will be the first to admit that I am abnormally hard on Rihanna. I have been a major critic of her work, and honestly feel she is studio produced for the most part (not that it’s a bad thing, but don’t try to sing live if you can’t pull it off completely; do the right thing and lip sync for your life!), and tends to copy trends set forth by artists that were more indie or more creative, and did it quite a bit before her (and then rockets it to the radio without throwing them a bone). That being said, I have to give credit where credit is due; this song is brilliant. It has infectious beats, club-filling synth licks, and a great amalgamation of some of her best hits (S.O.S and Please Don’t Stop The Music, most notably) all rolled into one. It is a song that I heard once and was thought I wouldn’t like it, because again, I’m hard on this chick, but I ended up loving it, and have been playing it more and more since it was released. It may not be anything terribly new, but it’s Rihanna, and it’s a fun track. She may have some flaws, but clearly, she has some good points as well. Listen to Only Girl (In The World) here.

What did you think? As always, leave me some comments to let me know what you thought, and suggest some stuff that you are in love with as well!

concerts, five song friday, music musings, music suggestion, you tube

5SF: october 8 – the return?

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So, I basically stated that the 5SF was kind of dead because of my inability to host/post songs anymore, but one lovely and delightful reader (hi Doug!) said that he would like it if I still did a 5SF, and he could just look up the songs (I mean, iTunes is really easy to use, after all, and you kids do know how to use google, right?). So, as much as I would like to post the songs for you to hear, I can at least tell you about them so that you know what to go out and try to listen to, right? I think it’s at least a good idea for the meantime… let me know if you agree. So, let’s get to some songs that I really think you need to go check out (I’ll try to post links to youtube or whatever I can so that you can listen to it without looking too hard… if I can. Side note: I wrote this first, and after writing the whole post, I was able to find links for each and every song this week. You’re welcome!).

The Script – For The First Time
I have always really liked the Script and their style with that kind of rock-rap hybrid, and I was such a fan of their self-titled debut, that it came it at number 19 on my year end countdown way back in 2008 (which is honestly surprising, since they still have a hit from that album on the radio right now, even though their new album should be making more of a splash). I’ll be honest, when I first heard this first single from the new album, Science and Faith, I was a bit ‘meh’ on it, but now, I freaking love it. It is such a grower, and it should, by all accounts, be a big radio hit for them. Fingers crossed that it will be. Listen to For The First Time here.

Elizabeth & The Catapult – You and Me
I was absolutely elated when I opened up iTunes and saw that the amazing Elizabeth & the Catapult had released a new single last week; and rightly so, it’s amazing. I adored their previous album, Taller Children (which was my number 13 album of the year last year), and I am pretty excited to see that they have a new one coming our way on October 26th. The single has all of the playful energy and delightful lyrics of their previous album, and an updated, more polished newness to it as well (also, the beginning reminds me of one of Marina and The Diamonds’ amazing songs as well! Bonus!). This single was a big surprise that revealed an even bigger surprise that I cannot wait for; I found out about the album release because its release date was on the single’s album art! Listen to You and Me here. (I like what the author of that site had to say about it, too).

Sara Bareilles – Basket Case
I know you are probably tired of hearing me heap praise on Sara Bareilles, but honestly, I don’t care if you are or are not; she’s amazing and she deserves it. After seeing Sara at the Variety Playhouse last night, I just had to post this, my favorite song, from her new album Kaleidoscope Heart. This song is EPIC. It is already one of my favorite of 2010, and is fast becoming one of my favorites of hers as well (Gravity is still on top… for now). Overall, her concert was beautiful and amazing (as I expected it to be, since I have seen her many times), and I had a wonderful night (it was nice to finally see Greg Laswell live, and to discover Holly Conlan as well). The performance of this song was especially beautiful, and I was glad I got to see her perform it live; it only solidifies how amazing it is. I love the new album, and Sara has solidified herself as one of my favorite artists of all time because of songs like this. Listen to Basket Case here.

P!nk – Raise Your Glass
It’s about time P!nk released a greatest hits collection; she’s had a shit load of fantastic singles spanning her career, and it will be nice to have them all in the same place. Plus, it gives her a chance to pull out a great song for the radio, to entice would-be buyers; and that is exactly what she has done with Raise Your Glass. This song is playful, fun, radio-ready (although, check out the, I guess, NSF…R? version. I hate bleep outs), and oh-so P!nk. I love it! It’s kind of So What part II, which makes it all that much more perfect. Here’s hoping for another number one for you, P!nk! Listen to Raise Your Glass here.

Kelly Rowland – Forever and a Day
After the big surprise that was Commander earlier this summer (summer anthem bitches!!), I was again blown away by Kelly a few weeks ago when I heard this amazing new single! Again produced by David Guetta, this song is incredible, and should be a big hit for Kelly… it should be. However, I doubt it will, since it doesn’t seem to be getting a release here in the states (at least not yet). At least she will have success overseas, because a song this good deserves some attention. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, Kelly girl, hold on to D. Guetta’s number! He’s doing you so right!! Listen to Forever and A Day here.

Okay, so I guess was able to make all of the songs available for you to at least go and listen to them. I hope that you will, and I hope you enjoyed them as much as I have been. It feels good to do another 5SF after so long!! I hope you enjoyed it, and will leave your comments letting me know how you felt. If this “new” format works for people, 5SF might be alive and kicking folks!!!

five song friday, music musings, music suggestion

5SF: august 27

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Yesterday was my birthday, and it was an alright day (I had to spend almost all of it in class), but it got better by the evening; a great dinner with lots of great friends. Overall, 32 feels a lot like 31 at this point, so I can’t complain. At some point, I’m sure I’ll start counting down instead of up, but as of now, I’m cool with where I’m at (well, at least numerical age-wise). But enough about all that, let’s get down to some new AMAZING music, shall we?

Sara Bareilles – Hold My Heart
It is exciting enough for me that Sara’s new album Kaleidescope Heart hits shelves the week after next week (September 7), when earlier this week she offered a web-debut of TWO songs from the album, with this being my favorite of the two of them. After one listen, I had chills; this song is amazing. It is seriously top caliber work by her, and it shows that Little Voice may have only been an appetizer for the rest of the delectable meal. This song is definitely one of her best, and it has her personal stamp all over it; you know it is Sara when you hear it, and if you are anything like me, you are glad it is her. Sara is one of the most refreshing and delightful singer/song-writer’s on the pop scene right now, and what she does, she does very, very well. Those that know me know that I have a strong love for this woman and her music, but I am not ashamed; she is a brilliant singer/song-writer, and she deserves all the admiration she gets.

The National – England
A while back, I featured the amazing single Bloodbuzz Ohio, by the National, as a song of the day, and since then, I have fallen for their entire new album, High Violet. Well, after a crazy summer, I put it down for a minute, but I picked back up where I left off a week or so ago, and I have been loving it more and more with each listen; especially this song. The orchestration is haunting, the marching drum beats are enchanting, and the delicate vocals are hypnotizing. This song is epic. I love it, and I am loving my new (and recently rekindled) love affair with The National. Expect to see them on my year end ‘best of’ list.

Cee-Lo Green – Fuck You!
Now obviously, this has some “bad” language, so don’t listen to it through your speakers at work, duh. However, this song came out of left field, smacked my ear drums and made me fall in love with Cee-Lo, all over again (I first truly fell for him with the first Gnarls Barkley album; see Transformer). I love the throw-back sound, that here, has such a freshness to it, and the way it is complimented by the clever kiss-off lyrics; not to mention Cee-Lo’s distinctive vocals. This song is delightful, and I can’t stop listening to it. Like I said, it was a total surprise for me, but there are a lot of people out there talking about this one on the internets right now; and I am glad to be another person heaping some praise on it.

The Saturdays – Higher
A few weeks ago, I featured The Saturday’s new single Missing You from their then still-to-be-named new album; which sadly turned out to only be an EP (Headlines; out now!), which rehashed several songs from their previous, amazing album, Wordshaker. Bummer. Regardless of that minor let down, when I finally got my hands on it, I was NOT expecting this. Higher is perfect in name and form, because it shows that The Saturdays are going to keep taking this thing Higher, as this is hands down, one of their best songs to date. These girls are making brilliant pop, and this song should be a number one hit (that is, if they release it; they have a tendency to ignore their most brilliant material. *cough* Here Standing *cough*). That beings said, I hope someone from their PR team reads this, and does what needs to be done; GET THIS SONG ON THE CHARTS! Higher is brilliant, and one of the best pop songs of 2010 by a mile.

Sofia Fresh – This Instant
Last but certainly NOT least this week is the AMAZING single, This Instant, ‘fresh’ off of the Step Up 3D soundtrack. Now, I will be honest, this song was one of the only reasons I actually wanted to see the movie, because I wanted to see what kind of sick dancing they would do to this incredible song. The base in this song is so slick, and the energy and ferocity of these girls reminds of me TLC, Blaque, and even Destiny’s Child. I hope this is the beginning of something amazing from this trio, because this song has been on major repeat for me over the past couple of weeks. I usually detest T-Pain, but he is tolerable in this song, and since he discovered these girls, I am willing to throw a little forgiveness his way. A big thanks to my friend Stu for playing this song for me (and for forcing me to go see Step Up 3 (not even in 3D the theater was so ghetto)), because I cannot get enough of this amazing song. I am certainly clapping my hands to the beat this instant, this this instant!!

Well, this turned out to be a pretty major 5SF; what did you think? There are some amazing songs featured today, and I would love to know what you thought of them!!

five song friday, music musings, music suggestion

5SF: the first saturday edition, august 14

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Well, so remember last week when I promised a 5SF for this week? And remember how it didn’t happen yesterday? Well, my bad. To make amends, I offer it up a day late, and as such, offer up the first five song Saturday that I believe I’ve done. All in all, a day late isn’t all that bad, now is it? Let’s do this, then!

William Fitzsimmons – So This Is Goodbye (Pink Ganter Remix)
On Thursday night, I dragged my fat ass out to spin class, and while I was suffering through a particularly difficult class, this amazingly beautiful song came on. Being friends with the instructor, I asked her if it was indeed a song by William Fitzsimmons (who usually does almost whisper-driven folk), and I was pleased to find out that it was. So, as soon as I got home, I was happy to find it on iTunes, yet I was a bit bummed to find that it was on his last release, Derivatives, which was an entire album re-working of some of his previously recorded songs; mostly because I all but ignored it when it came out. I am all for remixes and whatnot, but a lot of the time, they don’t work out as well as people planned, and at the time, being in full nursing school swing, I wasn’t obviously in the mood for his album of reworks. Shame on me! Shame on me big time. Because I ignored the remix album, I missed this bonus new track, and this, its beautiful remix as well. Oh well, at least i found out about it eventually. It’s incredible.

Ry Cumming (feat. Sara Bareilles) – Always Remember Me
I’ll openly, and gladly admit that the way I found this song, was the featuring of the amazing Sara Bareilles. I saw it under her listed songs on iTunes, and after one listen, I was in; this song is incredible, so I can see why she would have gotten involved. Ry’s voice is gentle and beautiful, and the delicate picking of the guitar and sweet serenity of the violin throughout the track are delightful, and the tender lyrics are beautiful. What a delightful, albeit random, find; but you know me, I love wonderful surprises, especially if they are musical ones.

30 Seconds to Mars – Closer to the Edge
I KNEW that this album would have more in store for me musically than the amazing lead single, Kings and Queens; and I knew that it wouldn’t be in time for this album to potentially find its place amongst my favorite albums of 2009 (since it came out only a couple of weeks before the end of the year). On that front, it may be kind of a bummer, but at least the music is still around, and this latest single is incredible, and I cannot get enough of it. The energy is heavy, and the haunting vocals and combo of electronic and rock music makes for a great, radio-ready single. I love Jared Leto’s vocals, and here he is doing what he does best, again. The only thing I could do without is the inclusion of choir of what seems to be kids (even though I am pretty sure it is fans); eh, can’t win ’em all, can you?

Selena Gomez & The Scene – Round and Round
I HAD to post this one, because I want to get something off of my chest about it. For some reason, I wanted to hate Selena Gomez, and for a while now, I kind of have. I don’t know why, but I just have. With that being said, I recently heard this song for like the 10th time, and yet again, I didn’t want to like it, but low and behold I realized something; this song is actually quite brilliant. Not only is it catchy and super saccharine sweet, but it shows the total likability of Selena Gomez, and it highlights probably the very reason I didn’t want to like her. Well, obviously, that was a futile battle that I am happy to finally concede defeat over. Now, I can enjoy this sweet decadence in peace!

Robyn – Hang With Me (single version from Body Talk Part 2)
I don’t have much to say other than more brilliance from our resident ruling queen of pop. Robyn has churned out another amazing single, one that I am already proclaiming one of the best of 2010; which, along with Dancing On My Own, that takes the count of over-the-top amazing singles up to 2 for 2010. I am glad that there is someone out there like Robyn who truly knows how to make amazing music, and has the chance to share her amazing, unstoppable pop brilliance with the rest of us. It seems I will always be in a place of excitement over what she might do next; after all, her track record has been pretty spotless, and she continues to exceed all of my expectations rather effortlessly. I will continue to heap praise on her as long as she deserves it, and from where I’m sitting, that is going to be a pretty long time.

Well, that was nice, wasn’t it? What did you think of my choices? Any suggestions for me? Let me know in the comments!

music musings, music suggestion, song of the day

sotd: Sara Bareilles – King Of Anything

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Sara Bareilles – King of Anything from Sam Garvey on Vimeo.

I posted several weeks ago about this fantastic new single from one of my most favorite singers in the world, the amazing Ms. Sara Bareilles, and I STILL cannot get enough of this fabulous song. I seriously cannot wait for the new album, and in the mean time, I have this amazing single (and the cute video!) to keep me company. What really puzzles me, is why this song isn’t soaring up the charts right now; it has hit written all over it. Eh, I guess the American music-buying-public don’t know good music, do they? Then again, that’s no surprise, now is it (just take a look at most of the current top 10… need I say more?)?

five song friday, music musings, music suggestion

5SF: july 9

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The summer of nursing school is still going strong, but luckily, there are only one test and two finals remaining. We are in the home stretch, people!! This is my “friday off” (ha!), and I have a little downtime, and I wanted to bring you some fresh music since I tend to leave you for long periods of time without it these days. So, let’s get right down to it, shall we?

Note: I kind of don’t feel like bothering with the album art this week… sorry kids; I am drained from so much school work!

The Saturdays – Missing You
After I posted about this new Saturdays song in Facebook, a few people commented that they weren’t feeling it, but the more I listen to it, the more I LOVE it. Seriously, The Saturdays are one of those groups that seem to only get better with each new release, and after their last album Wordshaker made such a huge splash with me, I just can’t wait for their upcoming album, which is apparently, due out later this year. These girls have to be the hardest working girls in girl-group driven pop right now!! Three albums in three years; and at least two of them have been fantastic! If the album follows the usual pattern of delicious, well-produced pop, I know that it will be a fantastic album; and here’s hoping it’s anywhere near as good as Wordshaker, because that album was good enough to make my top 5 last year!

Sky Ferreira – One
While I wasn’t really a fan of her first single 17, I heard this song earlier in the week, and I am in LOVE with it. Usually, repetition in a song is a huge turn off for me, but the synth-driven beat, and the super poppy rhythm have me totally hooked on this ‘one’. Apparently, it was produced by the BRILLIANT Bloodshy & Avant (as was 17; eh, can’t win ’em all…); which honestly speaks volumes as to why I love it so. This is the type of song that should shine a huge spotlight on this girl’s career, and I sincerely hope it’s a signal of great things to come from her in the near future. You should check out the video if for no other reason than to see just how much she bears an uncanny resemblance to the Olsen twins… doesn’t she?!

Kylie – Get Outta My Way
So we all know that Kylie’s new album Aphrodite is out, and well, it’s pretty darn good (which was kind of expected). That being said, I don’t think I love it as much as all of my fellow music bloggers do, but I want to heap a little praise on what I do love; this song (it is, in my opinion, the best on the album). Goddammit, I could dance to this song nonstop! It makes me want to grow a ponytail, so I could fling it back and forth in sheer dance-driven delight! This song is a heaping helping of stuff that Kylie does that I love best, and it is definitely Kylie’s message to the world of pop music; you’d better get out of her way, because she is still bringing us some of the best that pop has to offer.

Scissor Sisters – Whole New Way
Well, the Scissor Sisters have also released a new album very recently, and while I am a huge fan of theirs, I have to say, that I am not loving the new album; more along the lines of liking it a lot. With that being said, this song may be one of the best songs that they have ever written and recorded; it is utterly BRILLIANT. THIS is the Scissor Sisters at their absolute best, and I cannot stop listening to this song. I love it so completely, that it just sticks out, and overshadows the rest of the album for me. Perhaps it is because this one is so great, that the rest pale in comparison. Regardless, I am enjoying the new album, but I personally love the first two a bit more than this new release. Again, that doesn’t mean that I don’t like it, because I really, really do; after all, this song is on it!

Joshua Radin & Schuyler Fisk – Paperweight
I was recently watching Dear John, the just-kinda-okay movie with Channing Tatum and Amanda Seyfried, and this song was one of the songs playing in the background, and I instantly jotted it down as a song I must download. It isn’t a secret that I am a Joshua Radin fan, and this is definitely up there amongst his best songs, in my opinion. I love when they work hard to pair music with movies and TV shows, because it really makes the experience of watching something so much more engaging to me; and in this case (as has been with many before), I have found an amazing song as a result.

So there’s your Friday five… what did you think? Let me know, and as always, tell me what you are listening to as well! Have a great weekend.