No. 1 music video

In my spare time, I think of really random and abstract things- one of the random things is wondering which music video should be considered the number one music video.
So I've been looking at quite a few and I've finally decided on one. Many people would argue with me on this, but I think when deciding on a favourite music video, it is a very personal 'quest,' so everyone's opinion is different and choose their's for many different reasons.

So the big revealing... my number one favourite music video is "Demons" by Imagine Dragons, for many reasons: it is emotionally confronting, moving and makes you reflect. It makes you realise that, when at a concert, everyone is there for the same reason: to hear the band. However, what led them there is a completely different story. Each individual person interprets the songs differently, as each person has experienced different things and can think back on those times and relive those moments, or they can forget momentarily about their lives. That is the power of music, and Imagine Dragons have been able to capture that perfectly in this song and music video.

Best Autumn Day

It is Autumn, and I have already decided which day is the best in the entire season. This is a huge statement to make, but I am certain that nothing can beat this...

Autumn... the season of red, orange, yellow- of the last remnants of the summer's warmth, and the new chill in the breeze. Days of jeans and tee-shirts and not being too hot and not being too cold. When the sky is blue but also has grey clouds at the same time. The perfect time to enjoy the outdoors with incredible friends.

"How to achieve the Best Autumn Day"

1) Go outside to the park or an open space where there are trees

2) Make sure you have some of your closest friends with you

3) Look up at the sky and spin around until you get dizzy

4) Enjoy the moment when the world is tipping up and down

5) Spin the other way and repeat step 4.

6) Find a stick on the ground

7) Sit down on  a pile of leaves

8) Try to balance the stick on your finger

9) Use sticks to make a drum kit with the leaves and everyone sings

10) Make it your mission to catch a falling leaf, even if it means you have to run across the whole park and make a dive for it

And you have achieved the BEST AUTUMN DAY, with the promise of ice-cream the next week, when you do it all over again.

(Please note: laughing until you cry is compulsory)

Marina and the Diamonds

Another random topic from me: most people have heard the song 'Primadonna' which was a hit in 2012, however I was somewhat shocked when I would speak to people and they didn't know who had actually sung that song. And the answer is: my favourite singer, Marina and the Diamonds. She is a  single artist who has created her own genre of music because her sound is so unique and one can't put a label on it.

'Primadonna' is from her second album 'Electra Heart,' which tells the story about the quite tragic love life of a fictitious character called Electra Heart. 'Primadonna' is greatly based on the prima-donna's through history, Marilyn Monroe being one of the ones who stand out. Marina is able to take on the persona of Electra (a prima-donna); this particular song being of a satirical nature. This album also holds my favourite song of her's, 'Lies,' which I call one of the "epic" songs. This means, when the chorus comes in, the instrumentalists have come to their climax and it is almost like an explosion of music, passion and emotion has swept over whoever is listening. And you can actually feel your body being moved physically by the impact. It is just an incredible song from an incredible album.

Marina's lyrics is the reason why she is my favourite singer- she writes her own songs- which are so clever and are able to capture the deepest emotions, which transcend to these amazing song. Especially her first album, "Family Jewels," she has been able to comment on aspects of society, like how our generation has been brought up in a truly materialistic and somewhat fake world. In her song "Oh No!" my favourite lyrics are:

"... 'cos I feel like I am the worst

so I always act like I'm the best

If you are not very careful

Your possessions will possess you

TV taught me how to feel

Now real life has no appeal..."

Which I think is quite true about many in this era (but not everyone is like that, mind you). I know for a fact that  I talk about what is happening in tv shows with my friends an awful lot and if someone asks what is happening in my life, my "not much" is a standard reply that many other people tend to do too. So these lines by Marina are frighteningly accurate. 

But not only her lyrics and music should be merited, but also her voice, which is absolutely phenomenal! She has a very strong voice that she is able to manipulate and experiment with across her two albums. She has a rich voice that is powerful, deep and dark and then can transform to a sweet, innocent sound. A mezzo soprano, she can reach the highest notes, while also having a wide vocal range (across three octaves), able to sing between the "two ends of the scale." She has such control of her voice, that make the transitions of notes appear effortless, and for an audience, this is enjoyable to hear and would be amazing to hear live (which I haven't had the fortune of experiencing). An example of this talent is in her song "Not a Robot."

The main reason that I randomly decided to talk about 'Marina and the Diamonds' is- not only that she is brilliant and want to share her brilliance with others- that she is still not that known, despite her very popular "Primadonna," and deserves to be more widely recognised as she is extremely talented, both in voice and her lyrics and music.

 

Wake Up

I am not a morning person. At all. I'm one of those people who turn off their alarm and roll over and go back to sleep, or I decide I'm going to get up, blink... and two hours has passed since then. But now I have started university, I decided that this zombie-like behaviour in the morning must come to an end. I shall become responsible and I shall not ignore that horrible bane-of-my-existance alarm clock any more. And I have come up with the perfect solution: a WAKE UP playlist. And so far it has worked quite well. So I decided to share with you the songs that are fantastic to get you out of bed and start the day.

• Lazy bones- Green Day

Now, this is number one for many reasons. The first song is crucial, so I gave it tremendous thought (sadly that is what I do in my spare time) and came to the conclusion of 'Lazy bones,' which the title pretty much sums up how I feel in the morning. However, it is not only the song's content that made this decision, but also the frantic, quick paced drum beat in the introduction, that causes your own heart to break from the lethargic rhythm it had in sleep and adopt a more crazed beat that matches Green Day. The genius about the song's lyrics and music; it suits many moods. If you wake up grumpy and exhausted, wanting more sleep, the first lines are: "I'm too tired to be bored, I'm too bored to be tired" which you can agree with. If you are in a bad mood, the swearing in the second verse is really satisfying to hear first thing in the morning, and if you are in a good mood, the lyrics are just funny and you can easily jump out of bed and dance along to the music.
So, the amazing 'Lazy Bones' followed by:

• Stray Heart- Green Day
• X-Kid- Green Day
• My songs know what you did in the dark (Light Em Up)- Fall out Boy
• I don't care- Fall out Boy
• Radioactive- Imagine Dragons
• On top of the world- Imagine Dragons
• Don't stop (Color on the walls)- Foster the People
• Come on Eileen- Dexy's Midnight Runners
• Counting down the days- Good Charlotte
• Animal- Neon Trees
• In the next room- Neon Trees
• Counting Stars- OneRepublic
• Primadonna- Marina and the Diamonds
• Hall of Fame- The Script
• Good Ol' Days- The Script
• When I'm gone- Simple Plan

All of these songs are great motivators and really do help getting out of bed, getting ready for the day and being mentally focussed with the tasks at hand, no matter which mood you wake up with, because this is so true:

No Words

Even though the purpose of a blog is to write- which is one of my favourite things to do- some things, words aren't needed. At the moment I'm listening to the song 'No Words' by the Script, which has sort of sparked the idea for this random post. Despite it being a love song (it is a fantastic song, which I would encourage you to listen) and this post isn't about love, the lyrics made me start to think: some moments, words aren't needed; actions are just as powerful... a smile, a hug or even a look.

The other day I went to the train station to purchase my yearly student ID which was about to expire, when I realised that I was a dollar short. It was 5:30pm, I was tired from the day and ready to just go home and eat dinner. I was about to leave when a lady offered me a dollar from her purse. Spontaneous acts of kindness is greatly appreciated and still gives us faith in what is considered a "narcissistic world." I don't know who this lady is, but I was so gracious and won't forget this seemingly small action.

I have moments where I am so self absorbed and I only think about me, that I don't notice that someone in my life might be in a bad place and they need a friend to support them. Someone might be on the verge of breakdown and I have no clue, but if I even just smile or hug or even just acknowledge them with a look, it could make that someone feel a bit better about themselves and life. It won't fix all problems, but the first step is one action that brings us closer to a better world. Without meaning to sound like a self-righteous  person- because I am very self centred- but it would be wonderful if everyone just did one small action that makes someone feel loved or help someone out. Because, that lady who gave me a coin the other day probably hasn't given it a second thought, while I now have my ID card because of her kindness.