I Can’t Let Go

Young The Giant

It’s been a while since I last got a song stuck on my head. Bam! Just when I think that I won’t have weirdly timed jam sessions in my head, two amazing blokes come into my life.  It’s like that movie where the female protagonist struggles choosing between two great men, in end choosing the slightly flawed and sweet man to leave the hot man candy to continue on his quest for love. However I can not seem to choose between the two songs stuck in my head. Who are these dashing men, Think Twice by Eve 6 and Apartment by Young the Giant but of course.

A bit of the early 2000s and a some new music almost a decade later. While I am a lover of lyrics for some reason, the beat is what has drawn me in to both these songs. While I did later paid attention to the lyrics on my marathon listens, the sound is keeping attached to these two. Not to mention that my love for these two began with a drive and a sing along. Nothing more perfect than that.

While these two songs are obviously different in sound they still have much in common other that the love at first listen, both written by bands from the Southern Cali area. Clearly the awesomeness of Southern Cali goes on.

Not to mention that these lyrics center on a woman and a failed relationship. Honestly I have no idea how I become addicted to songs that I have never experienced such emotion expressed in it. I suppose I shouldn’t dwell on what hasn’t happened, slap myself back to the topic at hand before I go off in tangents. Where was I? Oh yes but of course, failed relationships, and oddly enough the both end of leaving her apartment less than happy and overjoyed. But it’s for the better, after all they resulted in eargasms for me. Yay!

All that aside the songs are just amazing, and I have to thank my cousin and roomie for introducing me to my latest addiction. I urge all to further look into their discography.

The minor fall, the major lift.

-Nessa

I can’t let go
I can’t get out
I’ve said enough
Enough by now
I can’t let go
I can’t get out

Meet Me on the Open Road

Kaile Goh

Constantly stuck with two earphones stuffed into my ears, that’s how the world sees me. Everyone that knows me well, is well aware of my need to always be listening to music. Turn it low and be the background noise while you converse with your friends. Silence was never my friend it is overwhelming as John Cage can attest to.

Music is anything and everything we hear, but for me I love listening to just a six string or a piano and some beautiful lyrics. What’s better to listen to while you chill in the living room or lay on the bed on your feeling-lazy days? Well of course the stripped to the bare minimum kind.  I have a long list of songs I love that are merely guitar and vocals, which include Higgenson’s A Lonely September and Jaime Preciado’s I’m The Secret. Aside from the purposely acoustic songs, I tend to appreciate the acoustic version that bands put out of their singles. It’s like that costume jewelry that was your favorite and abused daily in your outfits for the week, then a new trend comes and it finds its way to the back. One day you’re cleaning out your jewelry box and you pull it out and breathe new life into it as you brush the dust off. For me an acoustic version of a full band single gives you a new perspective to the beauty of the lyrics without distraction.

Several months ago, someone turned me to Kaile Goh‘s song Gold. I originally heard the acoustic version done by Paul Dateh and Ken Belcher. While the song is not only acoustic guitar and vocals, I feel the violin gives it a nicer sound, more soft. I love it especially when it comes in before the chorus. So beautiful. The song is enough to make me envious of the fact that I don’t know to play the violin. While I love the full band, I rather hear the acoustic version. However, full band is nice for live music especially since it’s nice to jam to. I’m thinking I found another song that I could listen to while doing chores.

If you go to her YouTube page while no one can do Adele’s music like Adele can, you can watch Kaile rock out on the bass in the beginning of her cover of Muse’s Hysteria. She does well on Pink’s Perfect, Pink’s styling seems is a perfect fit with Kaile’s voice. In the midst of all the cover’s you’ll find Kaile’s original Last Goodbye. Her sound is a reminder of girl fronted bands I love, like Lillix and Fefe Dobson (her early stuff like from the Perfect Score soundtrack). I can’t help but root for the girls who are in the alternative scene, so I urge you to give a listen to her covers and originals, you might find a gem. Plus there’s plenty of acoustic videos she puts out on her channel, and acoustic makes for a very happy me. So go on and listen…right now!

The minor fall, the major lift.

-Nessa

Awaken, and Untangle You From Me

Image via Wikipedia

I’ve never been into the Disney musical acts. Jonas brothers never made me squeal, the were just like any band of the moment, nothing special.  Selena Gomez should just act, I remember stumbling across a video of her singing with Forever the Sickest Kids and I was not impressed, I thought her voice was to fixed and messed with. She doesn’t have a strong enough singing voice, I’m sure she can hold a note, just it’s very low and weak, almost like she doesn’t completely believe in her voice.  Miley should neither sing or act, and that is my not so humble opinion. What can I say the songs just never awoken anything in me, while Miley’s songs have good lyrics her voice just doesn’t fit the song. There’s no passion or emotion while she’s singing, I feel numb which isn’t the way I want to feel when I listen to music. Nope, not at all. Okay end of my mini rant.

I don’t completely loathe them and I’m sure that their fans adore them to no end and their music speaks to them, it just hasn’t hit me the same way. I am in no way dissing anyone’s musical taste because they listen to them, in fact I applaud them for listening to something at all. Just because I have not been influenced by them doesn’t mean others aren’t and I’m sure these people are genuinely good and are amazing people, they’re just not my cup of tea music wise.

With that said, I scrutinize all musical acts not just the ones mentioned. I begin with the lyrics and then whether the singer conveys  emotion. If the lyrics are good, then I listen to the sound of the voice, if it doesn’t match the feel of the song then I’m never listening to it again. So a couple of weeks someone posted Demi’s new song Skyscraper. I must say I was thoroughly impressed and while I think she over acts and opens her mouth too much, but hey John Mayer makes funny faces and I still love most of his songs. I actually really like this song. I have listened to it on repeat a bit this past weekend since I liked the tune so much I decided to buy the song and add to my music collection.

Since lyrics are what get me hook, line and sinker, I specifically love the following verse:

As the smoke clears
I awaken, and untangle you from me
Would it make you, feel better to watch me while I bleed?
All my windows, still are broken
But I’m standing on my feet

I of course love the chorus, but most people love the catchy melody of a song. The bridge is pretty catchy as well too. I just love the song.

I admit, that I am pleasantly surprised by Ms. Lovato‘s current single. It is very moving and I relate to the topic. My father’s family have always been the type to want to break you and kick you when you’re down, it was a bleak time in my young and impressionable preteen years where I sulked in my misery and self loathe. It wasn’t until my early teen years when I came to terms with my flaws and quirks when I finally clawed my way out of that dark period in my life. In the end, if I let them break me down and try not to bounce back that they were winning and I was losing. I found my voice and learned to weed out the bad in my life.

It’s a beautiful song and I’m glad I actually gave it a chance despite Demi being associated with Disney channel. Give it a listen if only for the inner angst-ridden teen in you that needs a lift every once in a while.

The minor fall, the major lift.

-Nessa