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? :)

Autumn in silence, inside us, putting it behind us

Fall of 2004…

 The heat of the summer had finally settled and the breeze of the fall had swept through the city in a heartbeat. It was a time for scarfs, light jackets, hot coffee and holding hands. And that’s how we walked to school day after day, hand in hand with nothing but an empty stomach. We smiled and laughed as if we had no cares, worries or problems. Little did we know the days of joy were soon to be over and winter would suddenly cool the heat of the summer passions.

Fall is a season meant to be shared. Whether it’s shared with the most important person in your life, or the romance that sprung from a simple “hello” on a ripped piece of paper.

If you don’t have it, you long for it. If you have it, you take advantage of it.

I still remember the black coat and the blue scarf you wore when we first met, it was the very first day of fall the year before, your smile pierced through my broken heart thawing every single broken piece. It was between Math and English that I learned your name, and during Romeo and Juliet when we exchanged notes for the first time.

Every time I saw that skinny boy walking through the halls, my mind spun and I loved the sudden halt by your voice calling out my name. The perfectly shaped lips and those calm eyes that said more than I could understand never failed to hypnotize me in such a way that I didn’t want you to stop.

I always wondered what you liked about me; was it the sadness in my eyes that intrigued you? Perhaps the bubbly personality I developed over time? Or was it the smile that greeted you every morning? The fact is that you broke through the tough protective walls I had built and gave me a reason to believe in romance again, and a reason to go to school every day. I graduated early because of my longing to see you every single day, whether in school or outside of school.

And here we were in college, walking with confidence as if you and I had a clue of what it meant to be an adult. You became a sports novelty and gained popularity and I became a fighter for social justice and gained activist friends. The silence of your lips and the arguments in my mind created a fissure between us that became bigger and bigger with everything we didn’t say. And when December froze the streets we walked on, our romance also froze, and it was over.

I cried, you cried. I pleaded, you reasoned. I walked away and you watched me leave.

That Christmas was undoubtedly the saddest.

Your silence was the saddest conversation I’ve ever had.

And then Spring of 2005 came along with blooming flowers, warm showers and promising lovers…

...............to be continued.