Friday, September 28, 2012

The Rolling Stones Roll Away

So now that I have been introduced to The Beatles, I compare every song/artist to them. Nothing compares to the cute, wonderful, harmonizing, british-accented boys that go by the name The Beatles. If I had to order The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and The Who, it would go The Beatles, then The Who, and then at the very bottom would go The Rolling Stones. I honestly don't like them. Their sound, their look, their vibe. They feel really jumbled and their lyrics suck. And I don't think they improved with their second album either. In fact, I like the covers they did on their second album less than the ones they did on their first album. Part of the reason is they covered a Chuck Berry song. I don't like the way early rock n roll sounds. It sounds to blue-sy and I can't stand it.

Their album 12x5 just doesn't do much for me.

"Around and Around," the original Chuck Berry song just isn't good. It is jumbled and it just sounds like he is talking and extending the syllables of every word.


Although! What is really interesting is when you look at the crowd, it isn't JUST girls. There are quite a few boys/men who are cheering and screaming as well. I think that is an asset to The Rolling Stones that they are able to draw in both genders. The Beatles probably did too, but you never saw any boys at the concerts because it would just be a bunch of girls screaming.

Their dance moves are quite hilarious, especially when Jagger does this rocker type jump thing that is just a fail. Plus when he is trying to move/shake his legs really fast to look cool and to make him seem talented, it just makes him look like he is having muscle spazims.

Even in "Time is on My Side," their harmonizing on the word time is not very good. It just sounds like they are all saying time in the biggest texan accent they can pull off.



And last, but not least, I don't like it when songs have the harmonica in it. It gives it an obnoxious sound and I think the harmonica is a shrill instrument that makes every song sound like a mo-town/blues song. I don't really like mo-town/blues and I just wish people wouldn't use the harmonica unless they are going to start yodeling.

"Confessin the Blues"



Linkin Park

When people usually here of Linkin Park, they think, "Ew sceamo." Which in a sense is somewhat accurate. They have released some songs that are just screaming and in my opinion absolutely appauling. I will insert an example of this, but please do not listen unless you absolutely feel the need-once it has been heard, you can never take horrible-ness away.


I am sorry I put you throught that, but the point of this blog isn't to rag on Linkin Park. It is to glorify them... kind of. I really think they have put out some great songs. My favorite song of theirs EVER is Numb. Yeah you could say it is screamo and call me a hipicrit, but there is something about it that gets you really pumped and excited. The eerieness of the intro and the times during the song where there are no lyrics adds so much to the power of the song.


The way I look at the meaning of the lyrics is that there is a teenage boy/girl and they are tired of following this path that their parents or older sibling has created for them. Everything they do is wrong and they can't be themselves.

I'm tired of being what you want me to be
Feeling so faithless, lost under the surface
Don't know what you're expecting of me
Put under the pressure of walking in your shoes
(Caught in the undertow, just caught in the undertow)
Every step that I take is another mistake to you

I find the lyrics of this song really meaningful because a lot of people can relate to them. And rather than using really complex words that are supposed to "symbolize" an overall idea, they are very blunt and straight forward. They just state what the problems are and how they feel about it.

Here is Encore, a remix of Numb by Jay-z and Linkin Park. It has a really good vibe and I think the two genres go well together.

AND HERE IS MY FAVORITE PERSON EVER! Paul McCartney did a mix up with the song "Encore" and "Yesterday".




A couple of other favorites of mine are:

"In the End"


It is a neat little re-endition mixing rap with alternative/rock and I think it turns out really well. Just like the remix of "Numb/Encore", they mix really well.

"What I've Done"



It is a really good rock song that sends a good message and is really catchy.

They released a new album this past June and though it wasn't my favorite, they did have a really great song called "Burn it Down." It has the same feel as their older songs with that electronic background mixed with a rock/alternative sound. I listened to this song all summer and I continue to listen to it.



One thing I think that is consistent with all Linkin Park songs is they are really empowering and they give you a sense that if something you don't like is happening, then change it. It also makes me want to get up and workout which is never a bad thing.

Friday, September 21, 2012

A Hard Days Night

BLOODY BRILLANT MOVIE! I don't think I have ever felt so much connection with a movie as I did with this one. I felt as if I personally knew The Beatles, like I was their little sister, following them around. The opening scene set the tone of the movie very well-George fallen in the midst of being chased by psychotic, Beatle-loving girls. I felt like every scene in this movie was priceless. Though John really stole the show for me. All of his crazy gestures and sayings were just hystarical. I was sitting in the front row the whole time, just laughing to myself at all of the crazy things he did. Like wearing the hat and playing with the submarine in the bath, barely making it to rehearsals and then accusing the director of being in the wrong place, snorting the coke...

Literally everything he did was funny. And what I thought was really interesting was his personality change when he performed. He went from a crazy, giddy guy to a very professional young man.

My personal favorite scene of the movie was when the tailor was measuring Paul McCartney for a new suit, but he had to leave in the middle, so the tailor was standing there, still holding the measuring tape in both hands and Jon walks up and cuts the measuring tape in half saying," I now declare this bridge open." I laughed so hard, I nearly wet myself. FREAKIN HILARIOUS! I could watch this a thousand times and it would NEVER get old!!!! It is priceless.




This movie just portrays them as really great, likable guys that are caring and hilarious. I can definetly see why so many people went crazy over them. I seriously think we should watch this movie again!


Overplaying Songs

Don't you just hate it when you finally have found a great song with awesome lyrics and a great sound and then it falls victim to the retched radio stations? So many great songs have fallen to the curse of being over played. How is it possible that a song you love so much turn into a song that you can't stand to hear? Well this my friend is the so-called "clever" logic of the dj's and managers on the radio. "Oh yeah they love this song, lets play it ever 20 minutes!" Their "logic" is the fastest way to ruin a great song. Playing the song every 20 minutes might draw listeners in for the first week that the song is played. But I guarentee you, in the following week, the second they hear the first couple of cords, their hand will move so fast to the radio turner that it will just look like a blur. I have had a first hand experience where some of my FAVORITE songs fall victim to the radio.

For instance, when Gotye's, "Somebody that I Used to Know" came out, I thought that was one of the best songs of the decade. The originality of it made it unlike any other song. It was also a song drew in a wide variety of listeners. My mom, who listens to oldies and bruce springsteen, has never once liked a song that I liked. But when she heard this song, she actually liked it. If a song has the ability to draw in listeners from the 60's to the 90's, then that song is a real masterpiece.

And of course we can't forget the AMAZING cover done by Walk off the Earth.


Another great song that I can't stand to hear anymore is "Rolling in the Deep" by Adele. I remember when I first heard this song, I was watching I am Number Four and they used it in a scene when a women had just blown up a building and was walking away from it in slow-motion. The song added so much power to the scene, and it was SO awesome! But now, I don't want anything to do with that song, in fact any of the adele songs. Which is sad, because the reason they are overplayed is because they are GOOD.




The new group Fun. also produced a great song, which at the moment I can not remember because I blocked it from my memory because I couldn't stand it. Oh yeah it is called "We Are Young." It has a really different vibe, like I thought it was from the 80's when I first heard it. They also released another really good, catchy song called "Some Nights," which I predict everyone will hate within the next few weeks.





And finally "Midnight City" by M83. M83 is a really neat electronic/alternative group that has a variety of songs. I thought "Midnight City" was so awesome when I first heard it. It was really upbeat, with a electronic sound. But, as you can tell, it is no longer a favorite for me. Not because it is bad, it was just simply overplayed.



And so there you have the sad lifespan of a song. They go unknown for a while, then they are found and looked at as if they are a God. Then they are taken savagly by the radio and overplayed and then they die. And no one wants to hear them ever again.

Friday, September 14, 2012

The Beatles (documentary)

              The documentary we watched in class about The Beatles was a masterpiece. The reason I thought it was so great was because before we watched it, I didn't think much of The Beatles. I thought they had a couple of good songs and were okay. But only after watching the first ten minutes, I had fallen in love with them. Their personalities are so likable, not to mention that Paul McCartney is adorable. They are so funny, especially when they were on the train and George kept dressing up as different things, puffing smoke wherever he went. And when Paul was showing Ringo pictures that were drawn to look like Ringo, the nose was always huge, because lets face it, his nose is the size of the statue of liberty...A lot of people these days think they have to be inappropriate to be funny, and it was nice to see that The Beatles just goofed off and had a good time, not trying to impress everyone they passed.
             This documentary also made me appreciate how talented they really were. The way they could blend their voices and create such a great harmony was incredible. Plus their songs are so catchy. When I first heard their first album, I didn't really like it. But now that I have heard it multiple times, I think the songs and sounds are brillant. No it isn't their best work, but for a first album, IT'S AMAZING! Now whenever I listen to any other music from around that same time period, it just doesn't compare. For instance, when we were listening to Smokey Robinson, even though I knew more of the songs, they still weren't as great (to me). And maybe that is just a phase. But for right now, The Beatles have stole my heart.

Thursday, September 13, 2012

New Found Love for The Beatles

So as I am sitting in class, watching this documentary about The Beatles, all I can think about is how much I wish I lived in the 1960's. They Beatles are the definition of the Ultimate Boy Band. I am crazy obsessed with them. I felt like one of the girls screaming in the documentary because as soon as they said they were playing "I Saw Her Standing There", I nearly jumped out of my seat and started screaming.That song seriously does wonders for me. I don't even know why I love it so much. I guess it is that devilish attitude Paul McCartney has when he is singing and that fact that he is freaking AMAZING! Although if you listen to the lyrics and the way he says the words, he kind of sounds like a petifial...

                               "Well she was just 17,
                                 and you know what I mean."

If you didn't know who was singing/saying those words, you would think that person was a total creep. Even the name of the song, "I Saw Her Standing There"kind of gives this vibe that there is a creeper watching a girl who is dancing at a school dance and hiding behind the punch bowl, spiking it when no one was looking and waiting to take her home.

And like Mr. A said, I think it is a fantastic way to start off their first album. I kind of with all the other songs were just as upbeat, but who cares? I love this song. And the way Paul McCartney shakes his head is really unique. Rather than head banging, he is shaking his head back and forth in a way I can't even describe. I don't know if it helps him keep the beat or what, but it is definently adds positive affects to their performance.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhllDK6C6eQ

Here is an interesting remix of "I Saw Her Standing There" covered by Little Richard. I personally don't like it as much because it sounds too blues-y for me, but you may enjoy it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zm9oDQs1lI&feature=fvwrel

This is Paul McCartney in 1999 performing "I Saw Her Standing There". I think this is super neat to see how age affects how you perceive a song. The lyrics, "Well she was just 17" sound a little different coming from a 57 year old rather than a 22 year old. He also isn't able to hold is notes as long (which is expected), but I can't help but think that the smoking had something to do with it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbC0evIHkDo

This is kind of off subject, but I don't know if you have heard of it, but Spotify is doing something called The Beatles Covers Project, where they are trying to find good/memorable artists to cover their songs. I don't really think this is necessary because I don't feel that most people can compare to The Beatles. But it would be interesting to see their different reendition of the songs. Here is "I Saw Her Standing There" covered by Jerry Lee Lewis:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2iU_-yFyvjs



Friday, September 7, 2012

The Beatles

               I definently think The Beatles are one of the greatest bands of all time. And their first album, Please Please Me, was just an example of why they are so great. The fact that it was recorded in one day is mind-blowing and unheard of. Paul McCartney is my personal favorite when doing the main vocals in a song. He kind of has this silly yet professional attitude when it comes to singing. My favorite of his songs on Please Please Me is "I Saw her Standing There". I just think he approaches the song in a very fun way and really gives it some neat twists on certain notes. I personally like the way he says:

                            Oh we danced through the night,
                            And we held each other tight.
                            And before too long
                            I fell in love with her.

I just love how he puts that little twist on the ending words in each of the phrases. I do have to say, I feel like their lyrics are really repetitive and say the same thing, rather than telling a story like today's songs. I know that was the style for the time, but it definently can get a little old.

I particularly love this video because Paul McCartney is shaking his head with every other word he says. And plus the way people used to dress is absolutely hystarical. I also appreciate the amount of energy they put into this song. It makes it even more enjoyable.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhllDK6C6eQ

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Imagine Dragons

            Whenever I am filling out one of those 'student info' sheets and they ask "favorite bands", I am usually clueless to what I should put. I in times have liked certain songs by certain artists, but never has ONE band impressed me song after song. But when I came across Imagine Dragons, that all changed. Their sound is so unique and different with every song. I really give props to them for creating such original beats and intros to every single sound. For instance, in the song "It's Time", the intro consists of a clapping mash up, almost like a game of patty-cake and a mandolin.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sENM2wA_FTg Two things you would probably never put together, but when together, they give a really unique kind of alternative music.
             Another one of their growing hits is called "Radioactive". I think this song has the potential to be one of the greatest hits of all time. The intro is very gentle and gives the affect that the song will most likely be sub-dude and quiet, when in fact it is the EXACT opposite. There is so much force in his voice, especially in the chorus, it seriously gives me chills. In a sense I feel like this kind of music is a mix of alternative and some electronic (mainly referring to the beat). And most artists aren't as good as they are in studio when performing live, but man these guys KILL IT. Here is the original version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eu-xFvLaE68 And here is the live version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opyEWwnYH1E And you can really tell he gives it his all. I can totally picture this song being played like at the end of the world, the sky is black with a red glow because everything is on fire. And that adds to the awesomeness of the song. I definently think this band will produce multiple hits in the near future. They bring such creativity to music, I can't even find words to describe how much I love their music. I also love this song of theirs. It has a gentler attitude than Radioactive, but I still think is really catchy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pm-cHz6SIec

Not to mention I think their cover art is fantastic! It's uplifting (literally) and it's so unexpected. I would never think to put something like this on an album cover.



Sources: www.youtube.com
http://www.dc101.com/pages/bailey.html?article=10162347
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=Imagine+Dragons+album+cover&view=detail&id=A01C496D12FDF0EB26CD3B2590E477061A028B4A&first=1