So, my iPod is basically as bipolar as my closet. I prefer not to think of myself as confused, but rather openminded when it comes to my music choices. While I can’t categorized my music preferences neatly, I find myself attracted to beats and lyrics of nearly every genre. With this new subseries of my blog, I hope to encourage my readers to look beyond their own traditional preferences and maybe give another artist or genre a shot. Who knows, you could end up with front row tickets to their upcoming tour after obsessing over one track…(yes, yes I’ve been there) Enjoy!
Looking at the ‘Recently Added’ folder on my iPod….
Royals – Lorde
For the sixteen year old from New Zealand, I only have one word: Wow. Lorde’s vocals are powerful yet subdued, making for a fun song to sing along to, and great for harmonizing. More than the sound, however, the lyrics and subsequently the music video of this song is groundbreaking. While so many up and coming musicians release singles about the lifestyle Lorde describes in this song, Lorde steps outside the common desire to live a wild, wealthy life and acknowledges that this isn’t possible for everyone, we’re just doing our best to get by with what we have — and it’s still possible to have a little fun.
Distance – Sundy Best
Distance was sent to me by my boyfriend via a YouTube link. Two lines into the song and I was already in tears. The lyrics of this ballad are simple yet powerful. Because I am in a long distance relationship like that character in the song, it made me extremely emotional. Sundy Best is a talented band (from Kentucky!), and although their melodies and lyrics are simple, they convey such a strong sentiment that sends me back to my roots and makes me want to drink a beer on a tailgate under the moonlight.
Girls/Girls/Boys – Panic at the Disco
Panic at the Disco has consistently produced music that I’ve carried with me since early adolescence. Although they have dropped the exclamation point from their name as I have since abandoned my Chuck Taylors and emo makeup, Too Weird to Live, Too Rare to Die is nothing short of impressive. Brendon Urie’s vocals never disappoint. In the words of my best friends, “He’s got pipes for days.” The album features hits like Miss Jackson, Nicotine, and Girls/Girls/Boys — if you haven’t seen the music video, check it out here. It’s worth it 😉
Wake Me Up – Avicii
While I don’t typically gravitate towards dance or electronic music, the lyrics of Wake Me Up struck me the first time I heard it on the radio, driving home from work. Verses such as the following represent something anyone, anywhere, at anytime can relate to: “Wish that I could stay forever this young/Not afraid to close my eyes/Life’s a game made for everyone/And love is the prize” & “So wake me up when it’s all over/When I’m wiser and I’m older/All this time I was finding myself/And I didn’t know I was lost”. I’ve yet to listen to anything else by this artist but this song is 100% worth a listen.
If you haven’t heard one of these, look em up and let me know what you think! Also, feel free to leave me music suggestions — my library is expanding exponentially!
With love from my lecture hall,
Sarah Alexandra
