Conrad

Ben Howard has a new album out and it's fucking amazing!!

My favorites fluctuate between Conrad to Time Is Dancing... I can't decide which one is my favorite yet. But they have been on replay in my car. I love the feeling of this new album. It's like a mixture of your favorite seasons with your favorite memories and that anticipation of something beautiful. Conrad is a pleasant and melodious song, soothing and intriguing.

Happy listening!

The Music I live In...

I put my headphones on

Watch the world stop

Listen to my favorite song

Smile as I nod

...to every beat of the song.

Music can inspire, relax, heal and wake feelings that are dormant.

The biggest compliment I've gotten lately was regarding music. My friend said she didn't appreciate music as much as she does now, and it's all because of me! :)

We share the same office, and almost every morning I make a playlist to listen throughout the day. Or I come to the office in the mood of certain songs... and she puts up with my love for music. 

Music is a semi-intangible form of art. And Earth without Art is just Eh!

Have you heard the song Every Teardrop is a Waterfall by Coldplay? 

If not, have a listen :) 

I had the fortune to see them in concert a few years ago and I completely fell in love all over again. I mean I loved them already, but after the concert my respect and love for them grew even more. Truly an amazing band. They closed with this amazing song:

And yes, my heart did beat to my favorite song! 

Songs of the week

Music evokes a diverse range of emotions and feelings. Some are good, exciting and joyful, and some are melancholic and reminiscent. 

 This week I had a few songs on replay from the minute I woke up, until the minute I went to bed. 

Drunk

-Ed Sheeran

"I wanna hold your heart in both hands..."

I love this song for so many reasons. The lyrics, the feeling, Ed's voice and the meaning. Listen with headphones, and close your eyes. You might get the same feeling I get. It's not at all about drinking alcohol and getting drunk. This song is so much deeper than that.

Ed Sheeran was here in Minnesota in 2012. He played for Oake on the Water (free mini concerts as part of Cities97 summer programs) when his big hit The A Team had just come out. I went to see him on a rainy day and waited for hours, so unfortunately I didn't get to see him then. His flight was delayed and he arrived about 2 hours late to the show. He felt so bad that he literally gave a full concert! He was supposed to play just a few songs and leave, but I've been told he was so real, down-to-earth and humble that he played most of his songs on his album. All because he felt so bad for being late.

Ed Sheeran's album is very intimate and he gives us a glimpse of his personal life. I can go on and on and talk about each song on the album, but you all should listen to it. Discover the beauty of his music and lyrics. :)

The Script 

-If You Could See Me Now

This Irish band doesn't need an introduction because everyone should know them. My favorite song from them is For The First Time. The Script has such a beautiful, melodic rhythm to their songs. If You Could See Me Now was written in memory of Donny's father and Mark's parents who passed away when they were younger. I am fortunate to have both parents alive, but the thought of losing either of them breaks my heart. When I hear this song I'm thankful for kissing my mother goodbye every morning and hugging my dad when I see him. Listen to this song, and appreciate your parents, hug them, and kiss them every day.

OneReplublic 

-Marchin On

OneRepublic's Ryan Tedder is unbelievably talented. If you don't believe me, look him up; Grammy-Winning American Singer-Songwriter, composer and producer for popular artists such as his own band OneRepublic, Maroon5, Beyonce, Adele, Leona Lewis, Kelly Clarkson, etc. This song, Marchin On, is such a good song to wake up to! I've been questioning certain policy issues as part of a project for my History and Policy class. And right when I wanted to give up on advocating for something very personal and dear to me, I heard this song. It gave me the motivation I've been lacking to press on and "march on". Sounds cheesy but it's so true.

Bon Iver

-Skinny Love

Bon Iver's Skinny Love is such a great song to listen to on a lazy Sunday morning. There's a sense of hurt and melancholy in this song, but it's so good. Justin Vernon wrote this song when he went through a break up from his band and his girlfriend, hence the melancholic feeling. I like the history behind this album and I can't get enough of this song. I have yet to explore the deeper meaning of his lyrics, but superficially the song is beautifully written and performed.

88

-Wolftron

"I wanna love my woman right, I wanna see her face in every kind of light, I wanna taste the air she breathes, I wanna be the man she needs..." This is what every man should be saying to a woman. At the same time, I want to be a good [wo]man, I want to hold my lover's hand, I want to grow old in God's good light... I think I aspire to these things. Which is why I like this song so much. 

I simply cannot say how much I love this song. It's made it to my blog twice. Wolftron's Kenny Choi has an amazing voice and writes so beautiful.

I'd love to hear what songs you have on your iPod or iTunes or playlist :D 

Wolftron

Last December, I met a very interesting person who loves music as much as I do (no, much more than I do). He is a very warm and friendly person who happens to work in the radio industry here in the cities. Aside of his professional career with music, his personal taste is very diverse but definitely unique and notable.

He introduced me to a few bands I have never heard of, but I was instantly won over by the artists. There is one in particular that got my attention the most: Kenny Choi also known as Wolftron. 

The man behind Wolftron is Kenny Choi. I know very little of this artist. I know he’s a Korean American artist from Washington and was in a band called Daphne Loves Derby. He left the band to focus on Biology. He is now working at a Cancer Research Center in Washington and is happily married. 

His music is very insightful and inspiring. We could say he wears his heart on his songs. Some people hit the gene pool lottery when it comes to creativity, talent and intelligence. This guy, is one of them. I hope he continues to write more songs. I would love to hear more of him, it's too bad I found out about him after his Daphne Loves Derby days. The lesson learned from this is to support the bands and singers you like when you can, because you never know what's in the future for them. 

I'd like to share some of my favorites:  

Sugar Skulls--

"Sticks of death, cigarettes I hate the smell of smoke but I've learn to hide it in.

And then when I'm old I'll damn these broken lungs I should've listen to my friends."

Stay Safe-- 

"I want to be the one who saves you from this world, you will be the one who saves me from myself"

Strawberry Eyes--

"Watch it burn, let's not care what anyone says, Let's not care what yesterday wastes, all that really matters now, is the escape. In our sleep, let's pretend tomorrow will bring, hope, that makes the darkest heart sing"

This is my favorite.. I would quote every single word of this song, but it's better to listen to it and internalize it. 

So, what do you think? :)

The 1975

I've been stuck inside the house writing papers and reading theories, history, and policies of social welfare. The only thing that keeps motivated is listening to music while I write or read.

I came across a band called The 1975, an English Manchester-based alternative rock/indie rock band from Wilmslow in Cheshire. Their song "Chocolate" has been on replay, the song is super catchy and I love Matthew Healy's accent! (Matthew is the lead singer), what would make them even cooler is if they cheered for Manchester United!... So, I went and streamed the full album online not expecting anything really amazing or good, but to my surprise I liked it! 

After I looked up the band, I realized the theme of the song "Chocolate", is indeed about recreational drugs and deviant attitudes of young people. 

A friend of mine told me Matthew wrote the song inspired by his sister who was a heavy drug user. I don't know how much of this is true, after all the internet is full of public opinion and speculation. But what I do know is that I am really liking this song and some other songs in their new album! Most of the songs reflect the attitudes of today's youth; Sex, drugs, fear, love and hope. Being immersed in the strengths perspective theory, I see the positive in this album, I see them as nonconformist and with a strong desire to explore those attitudes often shunned by society.   

I found out they will be playing at the Varsity this coming Monday and I am very tempted to go see them perform live. But if I go, will I be going against my own ethical values? I want to go because of the art of music, because of the whimsical and mysterious lyrics attached to the catchy and playful beat of the songs... but I can't help to think and I ask myself if their music is reinforcing self destructive behaviors already damaging young people's lives... 

Here's my favorite song of the album:

I shared this song with a friend and the only thing I could tell him is that I think I do have a darker side to my taste in music. 

Good Music for the Soul

Miguel Bosé, Latin-Grammy winner, was named the Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year (2013). This doesn’t come as surprise knowing the trajectory and how talented Bosé has been and still is to this day. The Spaniard artist (actor, singer, and composer) was surrounded by artists since his childhood, his parent’s close friends were Ernest Hemingway, Pablo Picaso (who became the godfather of Bosé’s sister), and Luchino Visconti (who is Bosé’s godfather).

His music transcends generations of music. I remember listening to his music back in 1995 when I was barely 11 years old. I am almost 30 and I have fallen in love all over again. Not only does it bring back innocent memories, but it also stirs sentiments hidden and locked away.

A few songs that I absolutely love: