Music has always been a huge part of my life. I grew up on Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson, The Chicks, and Shania Twain. Just like I grew up on Eminem, DMX, and Tupac. And like I grew up on Fleetwood Mac, Prince, and George Michael. In middle and high school, I listened to Taylor Swift, Paramore, The Fray, Avril Lavigne, Panic at the Disco, Evanescence, Daughtry, and so many others. My life has a musical thread to it. Music is the one constant. Music has never let me down. It’s always been there. Whether I need to listen to some heavy rock like Metallica, Disturbed, Shinedown, Sick Puppies, or Skillet when I’m trying to calm down. On those when I’m tangled up in anger and frustration that I can’t explain, I turn them up loud. Or on the days when I feel strangely apathetic when I need some softer music, music that hits me deep within my heart and soul. Music like Lord Huron or LEON or BANKS. Music that makes me feel a bit more connected and makes me feel when I’m not feeling anything. Or on those days where I’m sad, but I don’t know why, so I turn on some Ed Sheeran or some of my favorite musicals like SIX, Rent!, or any Disney movie soundtrack, because it makes me feel better. It puts a pep in my step, and it’s like, okay, everything will be okay because we have music. Music is there. It’s real.
There are songs that I listen to that instantly bring back memories. Like “Bad Girlfriend” by Theory of a Deadman, my friend and I danced in my house, the walls shaking with how loud the music was. we once were hanging out and having a ball when Facebook started blowing up, and my mother called me asking if we were okay after the earthquake. My friend and I didn’t even realize there was an earthquake. We were having so much fun. Even listening to Jesse McCartney makes me think of her. Two extremes, Theory of a Deadman and Jesse McCartney, and bam! All the memories, ever.
Like the fact that even though I don’t like Bon Jovi, sometimes I’ll listen to “Wanted Dead or Alive” because it reminds me of my brother Tristan, just like listening to the Red Hot Chili Peppers does. He went to a concert maybe like six years ago, and he recorded my favorite song of theirs just for me.
How when I listen to songs like “I Love Rock n’Roll” by Joan Jett or “Heartbreaker” by Pat Benatar, I think about those rare moments when my sister Chloe and I were home alone, just us girls. Those rare beautiful moments where we’d dance and sing (scream, really), and we were sisters. How much fun we had just being silly.
When I hear “1985” by Bowling for Soup, and “Mr. Brightside” by The Killers, I think of being at the club Decades with my best friends Caroline, Abby and Nick and we’d be singing it to each other like there was nothing wrong with the world. Like it was just us friends against the world, and that’s all we need. The end of last month, I went to Abby’s bachelorette party, and there was something about being back in Decades, about dancing and singing and being with friends. It was amazing.
Music reaches a part of you that sometimes you can’t explain, and in one of the shows of the summer, it addressed this. In Stranger Things, how they save Max is through her favorite song, “Runnin’ Up That Hill” by Kate Bush.
That got me thinking.
What song would save me from Vecna?
It didn’t take me long to figure it out.
“Freedom” by George Michael immediately came to mind. I can’t help it. I hear that song, and I am instantly happy. It’s like a power ballad and just, yes. Hell, I might get “Freedom” tattooed on my arm. or you know, some of the lyrics, who knows.
This song is like, a new start for George Michael. It was him saying, okay, I’m here but I’m not the same, and my music isn’t the same, and ain’t nothing wrong with that. He wanted to make his own music, and how he wanted. It’s such a power ballad and he’s like, taking back his power. How can you not like this song? Also, you’ve got supermodels lip-syncing the song, and it’s glorious.
And because of George Michael, we got this:
Yes, that is Zachary Quinto aka SPOCK lip-syncing to “Freedom” and it. is. glorious.
The point is, it’s one of my favorite songs, and if I was trapped with Vecna, I feel like it’d be that song that would bring me back.
Then I remembered that Stranger Things is set in the 80s, and this song was released in 1996, a full ten years after the newest season’s events but whatever. It still would save me.
Though if we are going based on, you know, what was available in 1986, then it would probably be a Fleetwood Mac song such as “Dreams” or “Rhiannon.”
Music is such an important part of us, who we are. you hear a song, and it brings back memories. It makes you feel something, whether that’s a good or a bad feeling. So of course it’sa song that saves Max’s life. It makes perfect sense to me.
So my question for you is: What song would save your life? Let me know in the comments!
I haven’t done this in a while. I have this alarm on my phone to blog at 8:00 PM. I think I need to change that to some time early in the day. I get bored at work so why not blog instead of spend hours on Buzzfeed. (Not that I won’t still get on Buzzfeed. I love Buzzfeed. If I could work there, my life would be complete. They are AWESOME.)
What songs am I obsessed with? Well, I have a few. We’ll start with the newer songs first.
The first song is a song that I just listened to this morning, and I’ve been listening to it ever since. It is “Senorita” by Shawn Mendes ft. Camila Cabello. I think this song is going to be our Summer Hit for 2019. It’s got an incredible beat and some rather deep lyrics. “You say we’re just friends but friends don’t know the way you taste.” It’s about two people who are probably FWB (friends with benefits) but there’s something more. Neither of them want to admit it though. It makes me want to get up and like salsa or tango or rumba or something. . . .which is probably why I shouldn’t listen to it while I work. But whatever. Also, the video is steamy! Like hot damn. *fans self*
The next song is “90 Days” by P!nk ft. Wrabel. This song is definitely different than the previous one. This song is a duet between P!nk and Wrabel. They sing about their relationship. They are saying it’s been a year, but are we still going to do this. They are both asking the other: Are you still in love with me? It’s a beautiful song. And like I mentioned in my other post, I picture two people dancing, starting out touching and slowly get further and further apart. This song makes me have feelings. I hate it. (I really don’t.)
Most of the time, I don’t trust my cousin Pagan’s music tastes. She listens to a lot of rap but not like the good rap. The bad rap. I’m not a fan of Cardi B or any of the newer rappers. I like old school. However, I do love me some SZA and DJ Khaled. I found this song on one of Pagan’s station she listens to a lot. They are amazing. The next song is there collaboration: “Just Us” by DJ Khaled ft. SZA. It starts out with a really familiar beat from “Ms. Jackson” by Outkast. My favorite line is “99 problems but you ain’t one.” It’s got an old-school kind of beat to it and SZA’s voice is amazing. I don’t think I’ve ever not liked one of DJ Khaled’s songs though now that I think about it. This song makes me want to turn it up loud and put my hand in the air and jam out with my girlfriends. That’s the beat this song has. (Also I haven’t watched the video to this so you’ll have to tell me what you think of it!)
Okay, time to switch it up. Again. My music tastes are all over the place. The next song is “Call You Mine” by The Chainsmokers ft. Bebe Rexha. Like with DJ Khaled, I’ve never not liked The Chainsmokers. The problem with them is that the radio plays their songs over. And over. And OVER again. Thus, I can’t listen to that song. The radio did that with “Closer” by The Chainsmokers ft. Halsey. I can only now listen to that song again. “Call You Mine” could also be a summer bop but I think “Senorita” will beat it out of the park. But I do like the song. It’s a cute song. . . .even if I don’t necessarily get the video. Plus this one line gets stuck in my head all the time. “You said, ‘Hey, whatcha doing for the rest of your life?’ And I said, ‘I don’t even know what I’m doing tonight'”
The next song is from a show that I haven’t actually watched. At all. It’s “On a Roll” by Ashley O aka Miley Cyrus. This song is also a bop. Her voice is sexy and the video is sexy, and I think want to be her for Halloween. I don’t know. Torn between Ashley O and Betty Boop. Either way, this song is great. And Buzzfeed is so right. Ashley O, save pop!
The next two songs are old. “bitches” by Tove Lo ft. Charli XCX, Icona Pop, Elliphant, ALMA. I found this song on a radio station created by “On a Roll” and it’s definetely now on my “Woman Power” playlist on Spotify. Just. . . .yes. It’s a rauchy song about going down on a girl. But hey, if men can write songs about stuff like that, why can’t women? It came out a year ago but it’s still a great song. I love it. Like with “Just Us” I need this song turned up loud and jam out with my girlfriends.
Now to completely flip gears. “Please Don’t Go” by Joel Adams is from like 4 years ago. My other cousin, Paige, played it in the car one day. Since then I’ve been obsessed. It makes me have all the feelings in the world. Even more so than “90 Days.” It’s somehow a love song but so forlorn and depressing. I love it. There’s something about his voice and how he does “mmhm mmmhm” that just gets me deep in my black heart. “I send so many messages you don’t reply. I gotta figure out what am I missing, babe.”
So it’s been a while since I’ve posted a blog post. I’ve been busy and sick and work and school. So yeah. But here’s more shuffle adventures! We’re gonna do something a bit different. With each song, I’m going to give my thoughts as it plays. Enjoy!
“90 Days” by P!nk: This. Song. Kills. Me. I heard it yesterday on YouTube while I was doing homework and oh boy. It’s so emotional and just makes me have *hisses like Hannibal Lecter*feelings. All the feelings in the world. Every time I hear the chorus, I may tear up a little (don’t tell anyone though). Especially the first two lines: “If I’m just somebody that you’re gonna leave and you don’t feel something when you look at me.” All I can picture in my head is two people dancing together but they never touch and they get further and further apart as the song progresses. It’s a beautiful song. But come on, it’s P!nk. I don’t think I’ve ever not liked any of her songs.
“All of Me” by John Legend: First, John Legend is just. . .perfect. Seriously, his voice is like an angel. This song he wrote for his wife, Chrissy Tiegen (I feel like I spelled that so wrong. Sorry, Chrissy!) It’s the most perfect wedding songs. Of one my favorite lines is: “Even when you crying you’re beautiful too.” Let’s be real. Most people are not pretty when they cry. But he’s like you know you are and I love you. All of you. The flaws, everything. I think when it comes to love, it’s important to acknowledge your loved one’s flaws but love them even still. Love isn’t perfect. If it was, we wouldn’t fall in love so often. I think this song captures that yeah, you can be in love. And no. It isn’t perfect. And really, I don’t think love should be perfect.
“Push it to the Limit” by Corbin Bleu: Omg. What a transition. Every time i hear this song I think of Jump In! and how stupidly hot he was in the movie with his hair pulled back. I was like “No. no. This isn’t right. But holy shit he’s hot.” Then after watching the movie Jump In! I remembered how much I used to love jump rope. . . .even if I’m a klutz. I hear this song and I feel like I should be boxing or like jumping rope. Something with a lot of energy. It made me giggle because I went from this love song with “All of Me” and then this. Two completely different moods. Entirely.
“Little Black Dress” by Sara Bareilles: I feel like this is Sara’s clever way of saying “Fuck. You.” to an ex without actually saying “Fuck. You.” She’s basically saying: “I’m going to put on a cute dress and dance the night away without you. So there.” It’s not my favorite song of hers but I still like it. It’s oddly. . . .peppy? I think that’s the word I’m looking for. Yeah. Peppy. But not my favorite.
“There and Back Again” by Daughtry: How do I always forget this song even exists? I spend so much time listening to other songs by Daughtry that I forget about this song! It’s a travesty, I say! (Dramatic but hey, whatever.) Since I don’t listen to this song that much, I don’t know it that well. I have no idea what’s going on it. All I know is that I feel like headbanging when I hear it. Which would not go that well. Trust me.
“All The Pretty Girls” by fun.: fun. is an interesting band. I don’t know if they are pop or rock or alternative. This song seems more. . . .alternative? While songs like “Some Nights” seems a bit more pop. Also, fun. has the habit of dropping a new song out. of. the. blue. You don’t hear from them for years and then boom! A new single! And you’re like “Oh! Hey, Fun! You’re still alive!” I don’t even know where I got this song. I probably listened to some playlist and liked this song because well. . . .I like it. This song reminds me of the 80s for some reason. Like some song you’d hear in Grease or 16 Candles or The Breakfast Club. It might just be me though.
“Save Me” by Shinedown: I don’t know a lot of songs by Shinedown. I only know my favorites. The lead singer of the band has such a nice voice. My question is: is Shinedown rock? Like what qualifies as rock these days? Rock is such a broad term. You have bands like Nirvana, you know that grunge rock. Nirvana like made rock what it is today according to some people. Then you have the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Queen. Then Papa Roach, Shinedown, 3 Doors Down, Three Days Grace, Bowling for Soup. Bands like Fall Out Boy, My Chemical Romance and Panic! At the Disco. Are they all considered rock? I need some more context on what “rock music” is exactly. Someone help me out here.
“I Wanna Go” by Britney Spears:. . . .so we went from maybe-rock to pop? Interesting. Every time I hear this song, I think of the really weird music video. You know the guy who has like red eyes and is like a stalker? Or something like that. It’s been a while since I’ve watched the video. I remember listening to Britney Spears when I was like 8. In fact for my 5th grade talent show, I sang “Lucky” by Britney Spears. I even had a dance and everything. (And I may or may not remember said dance. . . .)
“Headspin” by Butcher Babies: I got this song because Ray (my ex-boyfriend but we’re still friends) likes to listen to music like this. It’s a bit too. . . .scream-y for me. But I do like it. I have to be in the right mood for this kind of music.
“Living Without You” by Beth Crowley: Okay so this girl is. amazing. Seriously. She’s amazing. I found her on YouTube years ago. She writes songs based on books and sings them. She has an incredible voice and can play the piano. She finally is on Spotify! Which I am really glad about. She gets a lot of listeners. Now I just need her to write a single and get it on the radio. She is that good. Her songs are usually really emotional and slow but beautiful with great lyrics. This song makes me sad because she’s talking about someone she once loved. And isn’t there anymore. My favorite lines: “I write you letters you will never read, paint you pictures you’ll never see.” It’s a beautiful line. And again, like “90 Days,” makes me have *hisses*feelings. I think this song could apply to a boyfriend/girlfriend or even a family member who passed away.
“Skydiving” by Lights: Lights I found on playlist. I want her hair. It’s like some orangey-red-coral color and long and awesome! She has a unique voice. The one thing I’ve noticed when it comes to female singers is that they often sound similar. Especially with country singers. It’s hard to figure out who they are. I like the female singers who have a unique voice. Lights has a nice lilt to her voice. Her style of music reminds me a bit of Ellie Goulding (another favorite of mine). But again, like with Shinedown, what kind of music is Lights? Is she considered alternative? Indie? And if Indie, what is indie?
“One Love” by Marianas Trench: They are one of those bands that I didn’t know I knew until I was on a playlist of just them and I was like “OH.” And sang-a-long to a lot of there songs. “One Love” Is one of my favorite songs by them besides “Wildfire.” His voice is simply wonderful. Now. . . .are they rock? I have no idea. Again, rock is a very broad term.
And that’s it for today! (I realize I did an odd number of songs but whatever. :))
So. . . .I only have 4 songs that I’ve been obsessed with lately. I honestly haven’t been listening to a lot of music this week. I know, shocker, right? If you know me, then you know I always am listening to music. Always. It’s like, my thing, you know?
Instead of listening to music, I’ve been listening to this fabulous podcast called “Harry Potter and the Sacred Text.” What the podcast does is is every week they read a chapter, and then dissect it using a theme. They are still going in fact and I believe only on the 5th book. I just finished season 1 all about Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. Now on the second season. I love this podcast. Also, it makes time at work past by so quickly!
I actually have several podcasts on Spotify that I plan on listening too. However, I know me. When I have shows, I start a show. . . .then get distracted by another show and never finish the other show. I know I’ll do the same thing with podcasts. If I want to switch it up and go to a different podcast I’ll at least finish the season I am on for “Harry Potter and the Sacred Text.” If you haven’t listened to “Harry Potter and the Sacred Text,” you totally should. It’s awesome. I think even if you aren’t a fanatic Harry Potter fan like myself, you’ll like it.
Since I’ve talked about podcasts. What are other podcasts I have on Spotify? Well I have a few that sounded interesting. They are the following:
How Did This Get Made?
Pop Culture Happy Hour
TED Talks Daily
Harry Potter and the Sacred Text
My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
Binge Mode: Game of Thrones
Pitch Hunt
Keep It!
This Might Get Weird
The Moth
The Big Picture
Blackwood
True Crime Obsessed
We Hate Movies
The Misfits Podcast
Next Door Villain
The Rewatchables
Director’s Club
Someone Knows Something
This American Life
As you can see, I have A LOT. I literally went through all the topics on podcasts on Spotify and just picked out ones that sounded interesting. Do you have podcasts that I might like? Let me know in the comments. Also (and here is some shameless advertising) have you checked out my podcast? If you haven’t, you should! It’s called “Keels Reels.” You can find it on Spotify!
Now that I have successfully distracted myself, let’s get the real point of this blog post: songs that I am obsessed with! Here we go!
“Doom Days” by Bastille
I have found a newfound love for Bastille. Like I already loved him but then I heard this song and fell even more in love. I actually found this song while on YouTube. It came on the playlist I was listening too while I was cleaning. I actually had to restart the song 3 times because I kept leaving my room.
The video is a bit creepy but he’s also like, hot? But whatever. nothing really deep happens in the video but the song itself is pretty deep. Do I really know what it means? No. Not really. But I like it. I like the beat and the lyrics. It’s great.
My Favorite Lyrics:
“Think I’m addicted to my phone My scrolling horror show I’m live-streaming the final days of Rome One tab along, it’s pornographic Everybody’s at it No surprise we’re so easily bored”
“Church” by Fall Out Boy
Now I really think about it, I don’t think there is really is a Fall Out Boy song that I don’t like. I’ve been listening to them for years and even when I’m like 45, I probably still will be listening to them.
This song is from their newest album, “MANIA.” I actually had tickets to see them last August for the MANIA tour but I was in Washington D.C. and I couldn’t go. I was so upset. I’m hoping they come back to Arkansas.
Kind of like with “Doom Days” this song was on a playlist on YouTube. And I was like yes! As always with FOB, the video is. . . .weird. Yeah, it’s weird. I think it’s a love song? Comparing someone to a church, and saying that that person is their sanctuary.
My Favorite Lyrics:
“I love the world but I just don’t love the way it makes me feel Got a few more fake friends And it’s getting hard to know what’s real And if death is the last appointment Then we’re all just sitting in the waiting room I am just a human trying to avoid my certain doom”
“Lost in the Middle of Nowhere” by Kane Brown ft. Becky G
Well isn’t this song a shift from the past two songs. This is somehow country. . . .but also not? I just love the beat of this song. Also, apparently there’s a Spanish remix? And I dig it already. This song makes me want to get up, grab my honey (oh god I said that. . . .) and dance and bump and grind. I feel like this is a great song for the summer and I thoroughly expect it to be a summer hit. If it isn’t, then what’s wrong with this world.
My Favorite Lyrics:
“We’re young and the highway goes on forever Come on girl, no time to waste, it’s now or never We’re young and the highway goes on forever And ever and ever”
“Girls/Girls/Boys” by Panic! At the Disco
Okay, so I know this is an older song. But somehow, I missed it when it first came out? Well I know it now. And I love it. I swear it’s not just because of the video. . . .okay, so the video probably had something to do with why I love this song. . . .*grins* But can you blame me? Also, how did Brendon Urie convince them that this would be the video? He’s wearing nothing and is just there with a black background and just. . . .what? But hey, I ain’t complaining. Are you?
When I saw Panic! At the Disco (which was AMAZING) when this song played we all had these colored hearts that said:
The entire stadium was lit up like a damn rainbow. Brendon even had a few rainbow banners that people in the crowd gave him. It was a beautiful moment and made me have feelings.
My Favorite Lyrics:
“And love is not a choice”
Hope you like this week’s songs!
-K
P.S. I am playing around with formatting on this. Tell me what you think of the blocks!
When Taylor Swift’s first album came out on October 24th, 2006, I was 12 years old. I was at that stage in life where all I wanted to do was fit in. We all remember being 11. Most of us were starting a middle school, moving on from being babies and getting closer to being teenagers. We were in that in between stage where we wanted to be treated like adults instead of children, but we weren’t quite sure what being an adult actually meant. We were at that stage where none of us wanted to be an outcast and we sometimes did outrageously stupid things in order to fit in, in order to be liked and seen as ‘cool.’
For me, I wanted that as well.
At first.
We had just moved from Iowa to Oklahoma that summer. I started middle school with completely new friends. It sucked. No one wants to start a new school. I was awkward and shy. I hadn’t yet figured out who I was. I’m not ashamed to admit that I was one of those typical emo-goth girls who listened to a lot of Paramore, Flyleaf, Avril Lavigne, My Chemical Romance and Panic at the Disco. I wore black and way too much eyeliner. (I still wear black but less eyeliner, and am still a sort of Goth Southern girl but now, I’m classier.)
Middle school I found myself in that group. You know the one. The one where it’s a hodge-podge of Goths, jocks, nerds and preps. Those kids who don’t quite fit in with their usual clique. I would keep this trend throughout my life. It was all very Breakfast Club.
Basically me and my friends. A bunch of awesome, amazing and incredible misfits.
And though yes, I did listen to all those emo-goth bands, Taylor Swift really resonated with me.
Taylor Swift
I remember singing “Teardrop on my Guitar” because this really cute guy I liked, Josh, didn’t like me back and was dating some other girl who was sort of my friend but not friend. (You know how that goes.) Josh lived down the road from me and I saw him all the time. And I definitely pined over him like some silly middle school girl from one of those semi-horrible 2000s rom-coms.
So I’d sing in my room to my hairbrush:
“Drew walks by me, Can he tell that I can’t breathe? And there he goes so perfectly, The kind of flawless I wish I could be,”
And my mother or stepdad would walk in and laugh at me. I was that girl. I loved Taylor Swift – and even now 13 years later, she’s still one of my favorite artists.
I connected to her songs like no doubt, many other middle schoolers did. “Tied Together with a Smile” was like, my anthem, in middle school.
My childhood wasn’t the greatest. My mother wasn’t around and I was left at home watching my siblings. When really I wanted to be hanging out with my friends. Most of my friends didn’t know what was going on at my house. And if they did, it was one of those topics that we never really talked about.
Once, my friend Rachel was over. My stepdad had just gotten kicked out. He came back and started pounding on the front door, trying to break in. Rachel and I had to lock all the doors and windows, call 911 and my mother.
It was an incredibly embarrassing moment for me. Rachel’s mom didn’t let her come over anymore.
“Tied Together with a Smile” was myanthembecause it was true. Middle school I was so close to breaking. I wanted to be that 13 year who got into trouble. But I couldn’t be. I had to be my mother’s good girl and a good influence on my siblings. It was exhausting.
“Hold on, baby; you’re losing it The water’s high, you’re jumping into it And letting go, and no one knows That you cry; but you don’t tell anyone That you might not be the golden one And you’re tied together with a smile But you’re coming undone”
Like Taylor, I was the “good girl.” The sweet Southern girl. I just wanted to be taken seriously, you know? But no really did take me seriously in middle school. I got taken advantage of a lot. I let people walk all over because I was so focused on being good and sweet and kind and accepted.
7th grade was when I really started to say fuck it. I didn’t allow my mother to buy me those stupid cutesy outfits. And if she did, I didn’t wear them. I started to listen to edgier to music (at least to my 13 self it was edgier, now I know it’s not). I tried to be more outgoing. . . and that got me in trouble a few times with my friends. I got pulled into some drama with a girl named Miranda who was a close friend. Her friend is the one who started it but I got blamed and it was a whole ordeal.
Then in 9th and 10th grade I got pulled into more drama. I let myself get pulled into that drama because I wanted to be a good friend, and in the end I lost a lot of friends. And just like Taylor, I got called two-faced. A lot. I also got called a skank and a whore during 9th and 10th grade. And a boyfriend thief for some reason that I can’t remember.
The drama didn’t get disappear until after I left Memorial High School But it still haunted me a bit. Just like the drama didn’t end with Taylor Swift. She got heat because she wrote songs about her exes and also the whole Kanye West thing.
In each album you can see her growth, and in a way, her albums also reflect my growth as a person as well.
Favorite Songs of the Album:
(Starting with my favorite song to my least favorite song.)
Tied Together with a Smile
Cold as You
Tim McGraw
Teardrop on my Guitar
Stay Beautiful
A Place in this World
Mary’s Song (Oh My My My)
Should’ve Said No
The Outside
Picture to Burn
Our Song
Fearless
Her next album, Fearless, released November 11th, 2008,was still a country album. But whereas the self-named album Taylor Swift was more teenage angst and talking about boys you liked and trying to figure out who you are, Fearless was a bit different. Instead of “Picture to Burn” it was “Love Story.” Instead of “Should’ve Said No” it was “You Belong With Me.” (I apologize if you now have “You Belong With Me” stuck in your head. My brother Kody, who is now 14, used to sing this song all the time when he was little. He knew the lyrics better than I did. He loved Taylor Swift. Now not so much.)
Her songs in Fearless are a bit more hopeful and yes, they are mostly about relationships, but the lyrics allude to the fact that hey, she’s learned from her mistakes.
Fearless became my motto in high school. And to this day, it still is. Fearless to me isn’t the absence of fear it’s having the strength to do something even if you are afraid. (I plan on getting a tattoo with the word “Fearless” and a daffodil surrounding it – maybe the word forms the stem? I’m not sure. I’ll need to design it. A daffodil symbolizes a new beginning.)
“And I don’t know how it gets better than this You take my hand and drag me head first Fearless And I don’t know why but with you I’d dance In a storm in my best dress Fearless “
An underrated song is “Breathe.” This is a collaboration that Taylor Swift does with Colbie Caillat. It’s about letting go of a relationship and moving on. A relationship that was started but in the end, someone had to say goodbye. But instead of blaming the other, there’s almost peace. Yes, it’s a goodbye but no hard feelings. And yes, maybe that friendship has changed but so have they as people.
Another underrated song is from Taylor’s first album, “Cold As You.” This song is different than “Breathe” because while “Breathe” is almost a bit hopeful, and about ending a relationship because you both agree that it’s not working.
“Never wanted this, never want to see you hurt Every little bump in the road I tried to swerve But people are people and sometimes it doesn’t work out Nothing we say is gonna save us from the fall out.”
“Cold As You” is about a relationship that is falling apart. The girl, in this case, Taylor, is in love with the boy who doesn’t love her back. But they still are in a relationship together. He’s cold and she’s clinging on to him. She’s emotionally invested but he doesn’t give a damn. I dated someone once, a few years ago, that I did love but I felt like they weren’t invested. They came off as cold. I think we all can relate to that. When you’re in a relationship and you’re clinging on with all your might but you know it’s not working and you really just need to “Breathe” and let the relationship go.
“You never did give a damn thing honey but I cried, cried for you And I know you wouldn’t have told nobody if I died, died for you (Died for you)”
Favorite Songs of the Album:
(Starting with my favorite song to my least favorite song.)
Breathe
Fearless
You’re Not Sorry
Forever & Always
Change
The Way I Loved You
White Horse
Love Story
Hey Stephen
Tell Me Why
The Best Day
Fifteen
You Belong With Me
Speak Now
Taylor’s next album was Speak Now, released October 25th, 2010. Her music started turning more pop-like in this album.
While I love all the albums, Speak Now‘s song lyrics are simply. . . .beautiful.They are poetry. Whether that means “Mine,” “Back to December,” “Enchanted,” or “Last Kiss.” All of the lyrics are simply beautiful. I listened to this album with my friend Brittany for hours. Pretty sure this is the album I know the lyrics to every single song. Every time I listen to this album, I think about my last two years of high school and how even though it did suck at times, I still had so much fun with my friends. Every time I hear the song “Long Live,” I think about my friends. Some of whom I still talk too.
“We are the kings and the queens You traded your baseball cap for a crown When they gave us our trophies And we held them up for our town And the cynics were outraged Screaming, “This is absurd” ‘Cause for a moment, a band of thieves In ripped up jeans got to rule the world”
One of my favorite song – or rather my two favorite songs from this album are “Back to December” and “Last Kiss.”
“Back to December” is an apology to an previous boyfriend. This is Taylor saying “Okay, I fucked up. I’m sorry. Please forgive me.” Apologizing to someone – especially someone you love or care about – after you did something to hurt them is incredibly hard. Sometimes you struggle to find the right words to say and then, sometimes, in the end, you say the wrong words and make everything so much worse.
This song is saying that this guy was wonderful and brilliant and good, but Taylor was afraid and thus, she hurt him. I dated a guy once, fell in love with him at 19 and then regretted it because he was a good guy. (We ended up getting back together and then he broke up with me but that’s a longer story. . .) It sounds cliched but you really don’t know what you had until it’s gone.
“I miss your tan skin, your sweet smile So good to me, so right And how you held me in your arms that September night The first time you ever saw me cry Maybe this is wishful thinking Probably mindless dreaming But if we loved again, I swear I’d love you right I’d go back in time and change it, but I can’t So if the chain is on your door, I understand.”
“Last Kiss” is one of those songs that makes me feel things. I get all the feelings. (It’s horrible.) It’s about saying goodbye to someone – even though you’re really not sure what went wrong. Why is it our last kiss? What happened to make us end this way? This song in a way reflects my relationship with Morgan. We started out of BFFs and then that changed into something more, and now, we are nothing. There’s nothing.
Taylor Swift’s bridges are almost always my favorite parts of the song. The bridge for “Last Kiss” is definitely on my Top 10.
“So I’ll watch your life in pictures like I used to watch you sleep And I feel you forget me like I used to feel you breathe And I keep up with our old friends just to ask them how you are Hope it’s nice where you are And I hope the sun shines And it’s a beautiful day And something reminds you You wish you had stayed You can plan for a change in weather and time But I never planned on you changing your mind”
One of my least favorite songs from Speak Now is actually “Mean.” It’s one of those songs that gets stuck in your head. it’s already stuck in my head and I haven’t even listened to it. However, the video to it kind of makes me laugh a bit. Not gonna lie.
(It’s stuck in your head now, isn’t it? I am so sorry.)
The first song off of Speak Now is called “Mine.” It’s a really sweet song. The girl has a pessimistic view on love because of her parents’ failed marriage. This song shows how the girl falls in love with this guy (like any good rom-com movie) and he helps her see that love isn’t all bad. And yes it has it ups and downs, but in the end, it’s worth it.
And when I look at my relationships, when I even think about starting one with someone, I always think about my parents. I think about them and I don’t want to be like them. I don’t want relationship like theirs because it wasn’t good or healthy. It just. . . .was.
For once my favorite line is not the bridge. Instead my favorite line is:
“Flash forward, and we’re taking on the world together And there’s a drawer of my things at your place You learn my secrets and figure out why I’m guarded You say we’ll never make my parents’ mistakes”
Favorite Songs of the Album:
(Starting with my favorite song to my least favorite song.)
Haunted
Last Kiss
Sparks Fly
Mine
Back to December
Dear John
The Story of Us
Speak Now
Enchanted
Better than Revenge
Never Grow Up
Long Live
Mean
Red
If you were to ask me what my favorite album of Taylor Swift’s was, I’d say Red. Red is my favorite album of hers. I may not like every single song on the album, but it’s still my favorite album.
Between Speak Now and Red, Taylor really went from being country with a big of twist of pop. Red came out while I was in Iowa and let’s just say that was not a pleasant experience. I didn’t get the CD for a long time but I listened to all the songs on YouTube. Red was released October 22nd, 2012. This album is all about relationships that burn bright and are tumultuous. The relationships that well. . . burn red. Those relationships that start and it’s like fireworks and gunpowder and fizzy soda all at once. But then it fades, and you’re sad because you wanted it to last. But it didn’t.
It’s difficult for me to pick one song from this album that is my ultimate favorite. The two songs that stick with me though are “Red” and “Treacherous.” They are two very different songs.
“Red” is the title of the album. “Red” is about falling in love and it’s intense and fast. Then, just as quickly as it came, it’s gone. It’s red. Sometimes you fall so hard so fast that you don’t even think about it. You just are in love and you’re reckless and stupid. It’s like that first love. That first taste of love and you almost feel high with how strong it is.
Then suddenly you’re no longer high. You are simply empty because that love is gone.
Taylor talks about losing him, missing him and forgetting him, and compares those emotions to colors. This is the chorus of the song.
“Losing him was blue like I’d never known Missing him was dark grey all alone Forgetting him was like trying to know somebody you never met But loving him was red Loving him was red”
“Treacherous” has a different tone that “Red.” Treacherous is about taking a chance on love, even though you don’t know how it will go. It’s about being attracted to someone and maybe their relationship has to be kept a secret. But it’s also about being in love or attracted to someone whom you probably shouldn’t.
This song can have all sorts of meanings. For me, it reminds me of the first guy I ever slept with, the one I lost my virginity too. I was head over heels in love with him (or so I thought) and though a part of me knew that continuing to talk to him and be with him was treacherous, I did it anyways. No, it didn’t even well but I took that chance.
“Two headlights shine through the sleepless night And I will get you, get you alone Your name has echoed through my mind And I just think you should, think you should know That nothing safe is worth the drive And I will follow you, follow you home Follow you, follow you home”
“We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” is one of those songs on this album that you can’t help but sing. . . .even though I don’t personally like it. Also, the video is super weird. Like super weird. Watch it below. It kind of reminds me of “Don’t Wanna Know” by Maroon 5.
“I Knew You Were Trouble” is another song that’s not my favorite but the lyrics get stuck in my head. all. the. damn. time. Seriously. I bet it’s stuck in your head.
Taylor concludes Red with “Begin Again.” This song is very sweet. She talks about her last boyfriend and how he didn’t like James Taylor or when she wore heels, but then she talks about a new guy and how he does. I also like that she ends with this song.
“‘Cause you throw your head back laughing like a little kid I think it’s strange that you think I’m funny ’cause he never did I’ve been spending the last eight months Thinking all love ever does is break and burn and end But on a Wednesday in a cafe I watched it begin again”
Favorite Songs of the Album:
(Starting with my favorite song to my least favorite song.)
Red
Treacherous
All Too Well
Begin Again
Starlight
Everything Has Changed
The Last Time
Holy Ground
The Lucky One
I Almost Do
Sad Beautiful Tragic
State of Grace
I Knew You Were Trouble
We Are Never Getting Back Together
Stay Stay Stay
22
1989
The album dropped October 27th, 2014. When the first single of this album dropped, “Shake It Off,” I did not like it. At all. I was like “Who the hell is this? Is this Taylor Swift?” Trust me, I was not a fan.
It wasn’t until I listened to the album fully that I actually liked it. No more was Taylor sort of pop. She was full blown pop. It was different and new and fresh. 1989 was vastly different than Red. I think that’s what threw me off, but I still liked the album.
While “Shake It Off” is not usually my type of song, I did end up liking it. Eventually. After I listened to it eighty times. I think what really helped me to appreciate that song was the video. If you haven’t watched the video, watch it. Taylor is such a dork in it. It’s wonderful.
1989 is all over the place. You have “Shake It Off” which is straight up pop and very much about her reclaiming her reputation and dissing all the haters. Then there’s “Blank Space” that has a similar message but different sort of lyrics. She’s basically singing about herself. It’s a very satirical song. She’s making fun of herself and what people have said about her writing songs about her ex-boyfriends.
“Screaming, crying, perfect storm I can make all the tables turn Rose gardens filled with thorns Keep you second guessing like “Oh my God, who is she?” I get drunk on jealousy But you’ll come back each time you leave ‘Cause darling I’m a nightmare dressed like a daydream”
(I actually have a red tank top that says “Darling I’m a nightmare dressed like a daydream.)
Other hits off this album are “Bad Blood” which is apparently a hit at the feud with supposedly Katy Perry. Selena Gomez, Hayley Williams, Zendaya, Ellie Goulding, and a whole bunch of other female artists are in this video. Taylor Swift loves Law & Order: SVU and she got Mariska Hargitay to be in this video. She plays Olivia Benson in SVU.
Also “Style,” “Out of the Woods” and “Wildest Dreams.”
Some of my favorite songs on this albums are those that didn’t not get a lot of spotlight such as “I Know Places,” “Clean,” “Wonderland” and “You Are In Love.” The last two are on the deluxe version of 1989.
“I Know Places” is about the paparazzi and how she feels like she’s always being hunted by them, like nothing is private. She just wants to be with this guy and spend time with him but she knows that if they – the paparazzi – see her with him, they’ll tell everyone. And she doesn’t want that.
“Lights flash and we’ll run for the fences Let them say what they want, we won’t hear it Loose lips sink ships all the damn time Not this time”
“Clean” is a song about moving on from a relationship. It’s oddly sweet and hopeful. She’s learned from the relationship and though she’s sad about it being over, she knows it’s time to start over. It’s time to be clean. And yes, at times, she does it, but it’s over and that’s it.
I broke up with someone once, and though it was the right thing to do, that didn’t mean that I didn’t miss them. It didn’t mean that I wish we had worked things out. That didn’t mean I didn’t think about them some days and it ached because it was over. But I know that I am older and wiser. I have learned from that relationship.
“Ten months sober, I must admit Just because you’re clean, don’t mean you don’t miss it Ten months older, I won’t give in Now that I’m clean, I’m never gonna risk it”
“Wonderland” is about being in love and it makes you go mad, like the Mad Hatter. It’s about a toxic relationship that you shouldn’t be in because it’s bad for you. Who hasn’t been in a relationship that is toxic but you still stay in it? I think that’s what took me so long to break up with an old love. And it wasn’t like that relationship was purely toxic but it was getting there. I wasn’t happy, but I was clinging to this idea of it being happy.
If you haven’t heard it, definitely take a listen.
“Didn’t they tell us don’t rush into things? Didn’t you flash your green eyes at me? Didn’t you calm my fears with a Cheshire cat smile? Ooh, didn’t it all seem new and exciting? I felt your arms twistin’ around me It’s all fun and games ’til somebody loses their mind”
While I didn’t start out liking 1989, now I do like it. Yes, it’s different, but it’s still Taylor Swift.
Favorite Songs of the Album:
(Starting with my favorite song to my least favorite song.)
I Know Places
Clean
Out of the Woods
I Wish You Would
Blank Space
How You Get the Girl
Wildest Dreams
Style
Shake It Off
All You Had to Do Was Stay
Bad Blood
This Love
Welcome to New York
Reputation
If we thought 1989 was different, it was nothing compared to when Reputation dropped November 10th, 2017. This album is all about Taylor Swift reclaiming her reputation.
“Look What You Made Me Do” was the first single released from this album and I fell in love instantly. I love the lyrics and the video. Everything.
What is this song about? It’s basically a diss track to all her haters. Taylor is saying “Look what you made me do. You made me do this because you wouldn’t leave well enough alone.”
Snakes are a huge theme in the music video to this song. At the end of the video, there’s this huge mountain of old Taylors and then a cute, funny, satirical skit where she plays as herself. She’s calling out her haters but also she’s moving on. Basically, this song is a giant “FUCK YOU” to everyone.
“…Ready For It?” was the second single and though I’m still not sure what it’s about. . . .the video is weirdly beautiful. Next was “Endgame” ft. Ed Sheeran and Future. Taylor’s collaborated with Ed Sheeran before for “Everything Has Changed.”
“Delicate” is my favorite song from this album. Or it was until the radio killed that song. Now I can’t listen to the song at all. The video of the song is hilarious though.
“This ain’t for the best My reputation’s never been worse, so You must like me for me… Yeah, I want you We can’t make Any promises now, can we, babe? But you can make me a drink”
“I Did Something Bad” and “Don’t Blame Me” are two of my other favorite songs.
“My name is whatever you decide And I’m just gonna call you mine I’m insane, but I’m your baby (Your baby) Echoes of your name inside my mind Halo hiding my obsession I once was poison ivy, but now I’m your daisy”
Basically all of the songs are here have to do with her reputation and she’s taking it back. But it’s more than that, she’s owning up to what everyone’s said about her as well. Talk about a change.
Favorite Songs of the Album:
(Starting with my favorite song to my least favorite song.)
Don’t Blame Me
I Did Something Bad
Delicate
Look What You Made Me Do
Ready For It
End Game
Call It What You Want
Gorgeous
Getaway Car
So It Goes
Dress
Dancing with Our Hands Tied
This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things
New Year’s Day
King of My Heart
And now for her latest single. . . .
ME!
A few weeks ago Taylor Swift revamped her Instagram. Suddenly it was all pastels and clouds and cutesy stuff. There were SO many articles trying to interpret what the change on her social media and even her style change meant. Maybe a return to innocence? Maybe she’s moving on? Maybe she’s being hopeful? Who know! The world was going crazy trying to figure out what was going on. Then she posted “4.26” on her Instagram and on Spotify. Turns out. . . .she’s been working on this new top secret song!
Isn’t this awesome?
I love the beginning of this video where you see the cute pastel pink snake and then boom!it changes into a bunch of butterflies! This song reminds me almost the Spice Girls. That sort of boppy cutesy girl group stuff. I kind of like it. Also, it has Brendon Urie in it and he is life. End of discussion.
Whenever I hear this song, I can’t help but bop to it. It’s so cute and upbeat that it just makes you happy.
I look forward to Taylor Swift’s new album. I can’t wait to see what Taylor does next. Also I looked up the dates her other albums were released and she tends to release a new album in the fall. So I guess (or I hope) we’ll be getting a new album sometime in fall. When it is released, I’ll tell you what I think.
I will always love Taylor Swift no matter what the critics say about her. Her albums really do correlate with my life at times, which is scary but also kind of cool. I like that over the years she’s basically said “You know what, I’m not afraid to be me and I’m not here to cater to you.” And I relate to that because over the past 6 years I’ve been in Arkansas, I’ve slowly becoming more and more comfortable with myself. I’m no longer afraid to be well ME! That’s thanks to my aunt and to my friends and to all the music – like Taylor Swift – that inspires me.
Now please, take a look at the video for “ME!” It’s great.
The other day while we were cleaning, we were listening to Vevo on the Roku. I clicked on this playlist called “Pop Hits” and now, I have more songs I’m obsessed with. I’ve been listening to these songs on repeat since then.
I thought I’d share them before the radio overplays them and makes me hate them like what they did to “Without Me” by Halsey.
Song 1: “Saturday Nights” by Khalid ft. Kane Brown. First, I love Khalid. Period. “Better,” “Ocean,” “Eastside,” and just everything by Khalid. There is something about his voice that so soothing and beautiful. You can hear his passion.
This song is about him loving a girl who has issues with her family and telling her that she has him.
My Favorite Lyrics:
“I guess there’s certain dreams that you gotta keep ‘Cause they only know what you let ’em see.”
Song 2: “Think About Us” by Little Mix ft. Ty Dolla $ign. I didn’t think I would like Little Mix since I like Fifth Harmony, but honestly, I like Little Mix better than Fifth Harmony. (Though I love Camila Cabello.) This song is somehow a pop song but when you listen to the lyrics, it’s a rather deep song too. (Plus they are kind of hot in the video.)
This song is about an ex and wondering, well, do you think about us? Do you think about what we were before? At all?
My Favorite Lyrics:
“I’ve, I’ve been thinkin’ ’bout us, yeah (Yeah-yeah) All the cities we met up in (Ooh yeah) Situations that we been through (Na na-na na-na) Have you been thinkin’ ’bout me, too? I’ve had some things on my mind I wanna tell you (Tonight) Can we spend some time, I’ll clear the schedule for you (For you)”
Song 3: “Last Hurrah” by Bebe Rexha. This song is such an end of the year song. It really should’ve came out before 2019 dropped. It’s one of those songs you play at a New Year’s Eve party while everyone is drinking and dancing to this song.
Basically, Bebe is saying “I’m done with all this bullshit. I’m starting over.” Sort of like a New Year’s resolution in song version.
My Favorite Lyrics:
“I’m done with the heartache, I’m done with the demons Can’t wait to be normal, right after this weekend I’m done with the drama, I’m fixing my karma One more night up your nirvana”
Song 4: “11 Minutes” by YUNGBLUD ft. Halsey and Travis Barker. First, the video to this is depressing as hell. Seriously, it made me tear up and it’s a music video. If you haven’t watched the video, DO IT. It’s amazing.
This song is really open to interpretation. The video it’s about a boy who is late to something and then his girl gets in a car accident. Either way, I love this song.
My Favorite Lyrics:
“Tell me what you need, I can make you more than what you are Come and lay the roses on the floor, every single Sunday, don’t get bored I just want to freeze, I can give you more than what you are Now I see you standing all alone, I never thought the world would turn to stone.”
Song 5: “Pretend” by CNCO. Who knew that boy bands were making a comeback? They are pretty. They can sing well and dance well. What else do I need? Also, not a bad song either.
My Favorite Lyrics:
“I only love you in the middle of the night That’s when you’re on my mind Every time I get the feeling I can’t fight And I know it just ain’t right”
Bonus Song: “Geronimo” by Sheppard. I can finally listen to it again after the radio killed it. I haven’t listened to it in like 3 years because the radio overplayed it SO MUCH. But it’s such a peppy song. I thought it suited today.
I haven’t blogged in 5 days. Sorry. But hey I am here. (Or am I?)
I haven’t had much motivation to do well. . . .anything. Also I had a concert.
Panic at the Disco Concert
Wednesday February 6th, I went with my cousin Paige and my two friends Bailey and Precious to see PANIC AT THE DISCO in Memphis, Tennessee. We had Olive Garden and then left around 3:30pm to get on the road. We got to Memphis around 5:30pm to a rather shady hotel that definitely was NOT in a good part of town. As Precious said later that night “I can feel it in my ankles.” After we got to the hotel, we got changed, charged our dead phones and then headed on our way.
It took us about 30 minutes to find where we were supposed to park. Then we finally were inside. The two opening acts (Betty Who and Two Feet) were good. Even if I had never heard them before that night.
Then Panic at the Disco came on. Brendan Urie started with “(Fuck A) Silver Lining” from the new album, Pray for the Wicked. Precious was right about that.
It.
Was.
Awesome.
I saw Justin Timberlake in January and while JT was amazing, don’t get me wrong, he was, Brendan Urie blew him out of the park. Seriously. The energy was incredible. I’ve been to a few concerts and Panic! was definitely the best one.
The video is of “This Is Gospel” which is one of my favorite songs.
It was amazing. Really. And being with the girls was something I really needed. I didn’t really know how much I needed it until that night. I was in a great mood the next just by getting out and being with people. I need to work on getting out more.
I had to leave of course but Panic at the Disco was seriously amazing. The second to last song he played was “I Write Sins Not Tragedies” and it was great.
Brendan mentioned that he’d been singing in Panic for 15 years. I have been listening to Panic for 15 years. I have grown. And so have they. It’s incredible.
School
I have had no motivation to do class work. It’s not that I don’t care. I do. Hell I want to graduate. But I am not motivated. At all.
Today I woke up at 9:30am and since then have been working on homework. I am finally caught up. I forced myself to do homework and do it well (or at least semi well) because I am not going to fuck up my GPA. I guess I just need to get through my little funk is all.
Or try at least. I got this. (I think. I hope. I pray.)
Another video! Enjoy! And sorry for the bad quality. My phone is terrible.
The Inner Workings 