Winter has come far too soon this year! I’ve made countless playlists thus far to make the walks to and from class seem that much shorter because I already can’t put up with the snow and the cold. This edition of Music That Moves Me has a mix of acoustic jams and newer releases because my mood is kind of all over the place at the moment: I’m somewhere in between wanting to be mellow and curled up in a warm ball until the semester ends and barhopping on the weekends. Here’s a little bit of my iPod at the moment:
Jealous – Nick Jonas
So little Jonas appears to have broken out of his shell. It’s kind of refreshing to see someone coming into adulthood, and shedding the largely fabricated “perfect” image, but not in such a way that is overtly shocking or completely socially disruptive. Jealous is just a feel good song all around — We’ve all been there, feeling some sense of jealously, justified or not, over a significant other, despite knowing how much the other truly cares. I think he nailed it with this single.
Blank Space – Taylor Swift
Honestly, I love to hate TSwift. But, here we are, yet again, when she precisely nails my life and the lives of twentysomethings everywhere. I wish I could refuse to link to the video here because, frankly, it’s something I wish I could un-see. I think it dismisses everything I initially felt about the song, and therefore I’m okay with pretending she never made it. In reality, Blank Space captures the wanderlust-loving, ever-confused, and ever-ambitious young adult that just wants love…or a little fun. I’m not a huge fan of the rest of the album, surprisingly co-written with Lorde, but I am going to keep dancing in my car every time this tune comes on. Also, I am convinced this song is going to end up on an infamous list of “misheard song lyrics”. What exactly is a “Starbucks lover”…? 😉
You and Me – You + Me
I don’t even think this song needs much of an explanation. The first single from a collaboration album between two of my favorite performers — Dallas Green and P!nk. The twos’ voices pair unbelievably well together, as previously demonstrated by What Makes A Man, and I don’t think I’d want City and Colour’s front-man to do an entire album with anyone else. You and Me has simplistic lyrics, yet provides all the feels.
Break Up In a Small Town – Sam Hunt
Break-up anthem of the year, at your service. Sam Hunt crashed into the country music scene in 2014 with two hot singles and the recent release of his new album that is, much like him, smoking. Break Up In a Small Town gives listeners almost as much raw emotion as Redneck Crazy did in 2013 by flat out laying out how difficult it is to go through a break up with someone you’re bound to see all the time. The song is somewhere on the strange yet amazing spectrum between R. Kelly meets Drake meets Bro-country and I love every second.
L.A. LOVE (la la) – Fergie
Fergie decided to casually slip back onto the scene, sans the Black Eyed Peas, to release a killer new dance song. L.A. LOVE, in my opinion, is basically Fergie’s way of saying “Hey Iggy, step aside for the one who has been in the game far longer.” L.A. LOVE’s chorus is kind of mediocre, but still fun. The verses though, are where Fergie really goes in and I can’t help but get excited for her. She’s been at it for a long time, but still one of the best women in the industry doing what she does. Also, if you haven’t ever heard her sing a cappella, it’s worth a search on YouTube. You won’t be disappointed.
I’m Not the Only One – Sam Smith
Definitely not another feel good song of 2014, Sam Smith continues to whine ever so pleasantly about relationship woes. If you’ve ever been cheated on, or your significant other really just dropped the ball on romance in a relationship, this song really hits home. While the video is slightly more dramatic than my tastes, think TSwift nuts, this song reissues the sanctity of monogamy and marriage, and reinforces how worlds shatter when those institutions are violated.
