I thought I hated Christmas carols before, but this week I learned what it really means to HATE Christmas carols. (Hence the title) Today, Ashley(my sister) and I performed at and Assisted Living Center(sort of live and nursing home). We have been preparing it all week, and getting irritated with each other in the process.
Although my mom warned my sister and I two or three weeks ago that we would be performing there, but of course we procrastinated to get music ready until this Monday. We practiced for hours on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. We got into arguments and by the end couldn't stand the songs we were singing, but eventually we got over it.
Today was performance day. It went pretty well; I only messed up once and Ashley did a good job of covering it up. We got lots of “thank you”s and “you did a very nice job”s after our performances, and to see how happy it made them made it all worth while in the end.
First we sang some Christmas Carols with them. Then we performed "It's Beginning to Look A Lot like Christmas", "Rocking Around the Christmas Tree", "Winter Wonderland"(Video below), "Baby It's Cold Outside", and "Let It Snow"(Video below)
Winter Wonderland
Let It Snow
After Christmas caroling Ash and I got a few pictures taken:
I realize that this isn't relative at all and is completely pointless, but I figured not ever post HAS to be music related. So, tonight I took some pictures for fun of my adorable dogs. I have six of them, yes six. here are a few of them(:
The Mooser. Her name is actually Lucy, but it rhymes.
That guy on the right, that's Max. Lucy's best friend(:
Pixie(: Sister of Max and the itty-bitty baby. (She is actually older than Lucy and Max)
Oscar/Grumpy Grumpers. He is father of Pixie and Max
Sadly, I didn't get any pictures of Kiwi(mom of Max and Pixie) and Gizmo(Ashley's senile dog), but eventually I'll get some more on here. I'll be posting tomorrow night so keep an eye out!
Well, if you don't already know, Youtube is my life(even though I don't have an account). I could waste my life away watching silly homemade videos, parodies, and covers. I have many favorite covers and I want to share a my top 10(:
Kurt Hugo Shneider and Sami Tsui ft. Christina Grimmie (Click here to visit their account)
Ah, the 80’s, the era of cheesy, extremely catchy singles that never, ever die. To this day everyone above the ages of, like, 8 know a lot of 80's songs, even my 10 year old sister Carrington (that also has to do with the fact that that’s all we listen to on the weekends).Anyway, there are so many “signature songs of the 80’s”; I just wanted to point out a few of the ones that jumped out at me.
1. Love Is A Battlefield- Pat Benatar
Gotta love this song. I always think of the movie 13 Going on 30, where her and a bunch of other girls are singing and dancing to this song. It's the best scene in the whole movie(:
2. Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go-WHAM! I remember the first time I heard this song I though it was the stupidest thing I had ever heard. Now I really like it, I love how cheesy and ridiculous it is((:
3. Time After Time-Cyndi Lauper I always thought this was a really pretty song... Its a classic, but she is seriously weird.
4. Don't Stop Believin'-Journey Oh, how I love this song. It is one of my all-time favorites. There are a lot of good covers of this song, such as the one by Glee and the one by Sam Tsui. I really just love Journey, I like their songs Open Arms and Faithfully too.
5. Total Eclipse of the Heart-Bonnie Tyler Another reaally pretty song. Strange music video, but I can't get it on so here is a live version:
6. Livin' On a Prayer- Bon Jovi Ohh, this is suuch a good song. I always think of the time my cousin was singing this and I just couldn't stop laughing*cough cough*(Paul). I think this is a cute music video...(:
7. Every Breath You Take-The Police This is another cheesy one that I reaally like anyway(:
8. Whip it-Devo Dumbest. Song. Ever. Just saying. I think it is ridiculous, but I like it anyway. I have a Devo shirt! It's been passed down to me but hey (: Here is a recent video of them performing it. They are pretty old now :P Click here for the music video.
9. The Way You Make Me Feel-Michael Jackson Hah, this song. Everybody knows it, and loves it, well a lot of people. Even me :D Plus, you've gotta love this music video...
10. Never Gonna Give You Up- Rick Astley Hah, this song is the epitome of CHEESY. But I lovee it. This little red headed guy's voice does NOT match his body. It's quite shocking.. P.S Does this guy remind anyone else of Duncan? ahaha
So today after pondering about what to blog about, I decided to do a review of The UK's top ten songs. I figured it would be fun to here some unfamiliar songs. Some of the songs are ones we have here but there are also some new ones. So, here I go(:
1. When We Collide-Matt Cardle What a good song! This guy actually won the X-Factor this year. It is really similar to the music in the U.S but at the same time it's so unique, which is not so common here. hah. It's cool(:
(Couldn't find a music video)
2. What's My Name-Rhianna and Drake Good song, it's really catchy, it gets stuck in your head and you can never, ever get it out...Especially the "Ooh nana. What's my name" part... :P
3. Your Song-Ellie Goulding This song was originally by Elton John. I have to say with her adorable accent and quirky personality it was charming and just awesome.
4. The Time-Black Eyed Peas I really dislike the Black Eyed Peas. I don't know why. But this song just really bugs me.
5. Surfin' Bird-The Trashmen Okay beware this may be the weirdest song you ever here. Ever.
6. Whip My Hair-Willow Smith This song is ok. I don't hate it but I don't love it either
7.The Flood-Take that This song is really strange. Not a bad strange, just odd, different.. This band was also on the X-Factor. How strange.
(again couldn't find a music video)
8. Hold My Hand-Michael Jackson and Akon I really like this song. I'm curious to why it's not popular in America. Or at least that I know of. Oh welll.
9. Only Girl-Rhianna It's pretty good but I'm already tired of it.
10. Like A G6-Far East Movement In the first review post that I did I didn't like this song at all. But my opinion has completely changed on it. It's even my ring tone!
Monday was the premiere of my new favorite show, The Sing-Off. It is a show where acapella groups compete against each other. The definition of acapella is: vocal music or singing without instrumental accompaniment. This week they sang top hits. Which was really cool to here.
The show is back for it's second season and I am excited! Nick Lachey is the shows host, and the judges are Ben Folds, Nicole Scherzinger, and Shawn Stockman. These 10 groups will be facing off for $100,000 and a Sony Music recording contract. Make sure you watch the Sing-Off(<--Link to the website) Monday and Tuesday nights on NBC at 8.
So I figured since it's finally December I would blog about Christmas music. Honestly, I am not a big fan of most Christmas songs. But, I do have a few that I enjoy, like:
Mariah Carey's All I Want for Christmas is You
I love Mariah Carey's voice, its so powerful and it is just a cute song. Check out her new Christmas album, Merry Christmas II You.
WHAM'S Last Christmas
I love the 80's feel to this song, its a classic. One of my favorites.
Elvis's Blue Christmas
Who doesn't love Elvis? His voice is like...well you know. Its so bluesy and just awesome.
Brenda Lee's Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree
Again, another classic every time I hear it I think of the movie Home Alone when he is convincing the robbers that his family is throwing a party.
Lady Antebellum's Baby, its Cold Outside
Its a remake, but I actually like it better. (:
The other day while checking yahoo news, like I regularly do everyday. I saw this cute little girl, and a caption that said "8 year old's remake of Mariah Carey classic". Obviously, I had to read. Well this girl, she was amazing, and adorable. You know I was excited when I read this:
"Rhema Marvanne, an 8 year old gospel singer, recently remade Mariah Carey's All I want for Christmas is You and Elvis Presley's Blue Christmas." (Yahoo)
Okay so I am finally admitting it. I have a problem. I am OBSESSED... ...with Taylor Swift. I usually don't go all crazy teen-girl-fan, but Taylor Swift is the exception. For my birthday I got the new CD. It was most definitely what it was worked up to be.. I am currently watching the Taylor Swift-Speak Now "Concert" from Thursday night. Thank you DVR(: and I have spent the day listening to all three T-Swift CD's on repeat. Woohoo! :D ! Anyway my point to this post iss..... BEST SONGS ON SPEAK NOW: and codes in the lyric book(check previous post)
Did anyone else watch the American Music Awards last night? Well while watching it I thought, "Hey, I could blog about this!" I'm going to talk about to over all good, bad, and weird.
Good
Outfits:
Taylor Swift:
Swift looked gorgeous in her Collette Dinnagan, sparkly, mini dress. With straight across bangs and pin-straight hair.
Miley Cyrus:
Miley wearing her Marchesa, a short white gown with a pretty train. Her hair, which looked gorgeous, was light with flowy waves.
Katy Perry:
Katy Perry, looked beautiful as always, wearing a baby pink Badgley Mischka gown. With her long wavy hair.
Performances:
Rihanna performed a medley of Love the Way You Lie, What's My Name, and Only Girl, sadly I missed it. But EW graded it a B+
Surprisingly, Miley Cyrus wasn't horrible. She sang Forgiveness and Love She sounded a little shaky, but otherwise she did an okay job.
Katy Perry,singing Fireworks, sounded okay, but otherwise it was a cute performance.
Taylor Swift sang a song off her new album, Back to December. I'd say it was pretty good!
Bad
Outfits:
Fergie
Fergie's Falguni, mini dress was, in my opinion, horrible.
Sheryll Crow
Crow's dress was a mix of to many colors and patterns for my taste.
Hillary Scott
Lady Antebellum's lead singer wore an odd dress, the pattern and shape was just a little out of the ordinary.
Performances:
Train performed their single Hey Soul Sister and Marry Me, both songs were adorable. But his outfit, and the performance were both terrible.
Usher did a horrible job, his dancing was great, of course, but sadly his vocals were terrible.
Bon Jovi's performance was horrible... Vocals were off, I guess that was what bothered me most.
Weird
Outfits:
Kesha:
Surprise, surprise! Her black gown was very odd, along with her teased hair, and awful make up was a disaster.
Nikki Minaj
Minaj wore a very, uhm, strange Manish Arora frock. With green tipped hair. wowza.
Rihanna
Rihanna's red lacey gown was pretty, but pretty weird. Her wild red curls were definitely toned down for the AMA's.
Performances:
Kesha's performance was surprisingly good. I wasn't surprised about how weird it was. All of her dancers wore blue lipstick, and had blonde mullets. yeah. weird.
Pink performed Raise Your Glass, it was awesome, but it was a little strange.. Her outifit and the whole thing!
Taylor Swift's 3rd CD has officially been released as of Monday (: Yay! It is most definitely on my birthday wish list this year.. Well everybody knows that the latest Taylor Swift song "Dear John," is about John Mayer. Honestly, I think it's brave that she puts names in her songs. Let's everybody know what jerks they are ;) W
Well, turns out the rest of her CD is about different guys that she has been with the last two years. In the lyric booklet thingy( :P ) there are "random" letters capitalized. Turns out. They aren't so random.. The majority of the codes give away who or what the song is about but some leave you questioning. Here are a few that were posted on Yahoo!
The Story of Us: CMT AWARDS Yahoo said that after interviewing her they thought the song was about Lautner. Turns out it's also about Mayer! Woahh. John Mayer showed up and did a performance with Keith Urban, most likely after they broke up..yikes.
Dear John: LOVED YOU FROM THE VERY FIRST DAY Well we all know about this one already :P
Last Kiss: FOREVER AND ALWAYS Every loyal Taylor Swift fan, like myself ;), should know the song Forever and Always is about her relationship with Joe Jonas. This song, which is VERY different from Forever and Always, sounds sort of regretful. Like she let him slip out of her fingers and it was a big mistake.
Enchanted: ADAM Well that was discrete.. Turns out Taylor Swift had a "crush" on Adam Young, singer of Owl City.
Haunted: STILL TO THIS DAY Well thats the only not so obvious one that I saw I guess. Leaves us questioning.. Hmm..?
Well.. Thats 5 examples.. I thought that was pretty clever..so I had to say SOMETHING :) Monica
I figure once a week I'll try to post "The Latest Gossip". I'll find some music/musician related gossip and talk about it :)
Okay has anyone else seen this "Whip My Hair" music video with Willow Smith? She is freaking 9 years old!! Does she even know what she is saying?? I DOUBT IT. Uh, what is up with this? This girl is way to youngg. In my opinion, this is what happened to Miley Cyrus..Started to young..
Anyone heard of the new short show "Ready Set Dance"? It's hilarious!! Adrienne Bailon, the host, calls to people who entered to be at the show and they have to dance (wherever they are) for a minute.. And at the end they choose a winner! All I have to say is it is the funniest thing I've ever seen.
Justin Bieber movie?? Is that really necessary? Absolutely not. I loved Justin Bieber. Than after an immature prank that he played on POLICE (and got into NO trouble for it), I lost all respect. My step-dad calls him a punk..I agree (:
October 23, Katy Perry and Russel Brand get MARRIED. I wonder how long this marraige will last...They just don't seem like the typical couple...My sister was telling that they met at an award show when she threw a water bottle at him, and that he said "I knew then, that I wanted to marry her." How cute..and strange.
Taylor Swift's new song, "Dear John," IS ABOUT JOHN MAYER?!?! Hol-y-cow... All I'm saying is that he is an idiot. Honestly, why would he date her(a 19 year old girl at the time) and break her heart? Talk about low... Yahoo covered this a few days ago, and it said "Listening to "Dear John," the scorching song that is-from all appearances-aimed at Mayer, all we can say is: Joe Jonas, you got off easy." AHA. Love it..
So I'm tired of working on figuring out this PAGES problem..So I'm taking a break and actually posting something...
I figured I would "review" the top 10 songs right now.. I'll just tell you what I think, things I like and dislike about them..Just kinda ranting...Enjoy, or not...whatever :P
1. Just the Way You Are Love, love, looove. Who doesn't?? The lyrics are adorable. Any girl would love to have the guy of her dreams sing her/or compare her to this song(: I guess I am just super cheesy/sappy :P
2. Like A G6 BLEH! *throws up* Hate it. Stupid, repetitive, annoying. Enough said. I was listening to 106.7 yesterday, and Ryan Seacrest said, "The first time I heard this song, I thought they were saying CHEESE STICKS!" I couldn't help but burst out laughing.
3. Just a Dream Mmm, it's sad. I haven't heard it much. Its pretty new. But I do like it :)
4. Teenage Dream Love it!!! Buuut it is WAY over played. So I am already tired of it...I covered it, with a few changes of lyrics. But I do really like it. This weekend I helped paint our new house. After listening to the radio the WHOLE time, I was pretty sick of hearing the same songs over and over. When this song came on for the 3rd time in under 4 hours I just shut it off...
5. Dj's Got Us Falling In Love I really like it, but it's not a song I haven't really become obsessed with...Favorite line, aswell as everyone elses..."Imma hustla baby," baha. yup.
6. Only Girl(In the World) Eh, it's ok. Not a huge fan. Liked it in the beginning...theeen I started hating it..Not sure why.
7. Dynamite My sister and I did an acapella cover of this song.. It turned out really cool, but I don't really like it anymore. I guess it's just another case of over playing...
8. Mine I love this song, it's so sweet and relatable.. I grew up with fighting parents, I honestly know exactly the feeling that she describes in this song (: Even though my parents divorced when I was little...I know it was all in God's hands...and it all worked out for the best(: Now I have two amazing step parents and 3 awesome step-siblings..(:
9. Club Can't Handle Me I didn't really care much for this song to begin with, but my best friend and her brother showed me a cover by Tyler Ward <3, and I loved it. So the more I listened to the song the more I liked it...(:
10. Love the Way You Lie This was my favorite song. But now I'm tired of it. But it's still a good song. The rap is clever, the lyrics are touching...(:
That's pretty much my opinion....Sorry if I bored you. :P
I live for music. I am always listening, playing, humming, or thinking about music. Sometimes, it will drive me crazy when there isn't music playing. I have been playing guitar for about 8 months and I am pretty sure I have made more improvement in the last two weeks, then the rest of the time. I have been playing piano for over a year. I can pretty much just play chords. But that's good enough for now (: For the most part I don't just like songs because of the music, or the beat. It's usually the lyrics. I always end up falling in love with songs that relate me. There have been so many times that I couldn't explain how I felt, I just didn't know how to put it into words. Then, I find a song that explained exactly what I was feeling. And that is how I would explain to someone how I felt, "look up this song:". Music has spoken for me, when I couldn't. That pretty much explains this blog, and what it is all about. Enjoy (:
