Being a teacher is what I've wanted to be "when I grow up" as far back as I remember, and tomorrow, I embark on my first day of my first student teaching placement. I've basically spent the last month bouncing back and forth between really excited, really nervous, really scared, and really not-sure-if-I-can-handle-this-whole-being-a-teacher-thing. I know a lot of the nerves is just me being me, and I've had plenty of people tell me that they would be more concerned about me if I wasn't nervous before taking this giant step that is *literally* the beginning of the staircase to my future. I don't feel like I'm under-prepared: I've had excellent professors at BV that have helped me expand the knowledge I already had, and given me new knowledge, and I don't feel like I have no business trying to pass some of that knowledge onto students: I've had more than one person tell me that they think I'm going to be a good teacher and that I've got great skills and knowledge to offer my students. The biggest problem is, once again, I am my own worst enemy. I can have every person that I lean on when I need support tell me that I'm awesome, and that I'm smart, and talented, and that I'm going to be just fine student teaching, but it's all no good if I don't believe it myself. A man that I respect a lot told me that everyday, I've got to remind myself that I can do this, and I don't have to face it alone.
I love a good metaphor every now and then, and a few weeks ago I was conversing with a close friend, and I came up with what I think is a really good one for the beginning of this next stage of my life. When I was 4 years old, I took swimming lessons at BV during the summer. Now, I hated going underwater, and refused to go underwater every time they asked us to. A lifeguard literally had to hold me while every other kid was going underwater because I refused to do it. Move it to a few weeks later ---- > we get to swimming lessons, and we find out that we are going to be thrown off the diving board into the 13 foot deep end of the pool. I had no choice in the matter, they were going to throw me off that diving board whether I liked it or not. Imagine my panic: I'm a little 4 year old who had never been under the water up to that point, and now they were going to throw me off the freaking diving board?!?!? Not cool, first of all, but nonetheless it happened. Naturally I made a huge deal of this whole thing because I'm Kelsey and I tend to make big deals out of things, but it's not like they were throwing me down there to die. There was another lifeguard waiting down in the water to help us swim to the side of the pool once we hit the water. So, I got to the end of that diving board, lifeguard #1 threw me to my doom (but not really,) and lifeguard #2 helped me paddle my way to the edge of the pool after I hit the water. Student teaching is A LOT like that situation. Tomorrow morning when I get to East Sac County High School in Lake View bright and early at 7 AM for jazz band, I am (metaphorically speaking) getting thrown off that diving board all over again. The difference is, I've got more than one lifeguard in the pool to help make sure that I don't drown. I've got my cooperating teacher, my advisor at BV all the teachers I've done previous field experiences with, my high school band director, my private lesson teacher, the music faculty at BV, my family, and my friends. That's a lot of bodies making sure that I keep my head above the water and make it to the edge of the pool safely at the end of this 8 week experience. There's another difference too. Little Kelsey was terrified of being under the water. 21 year old Kelsey has gotten over that fear, and doesn't mind going beneath the surface for a little bit to explore what's down there.
I've always been a person who likes to play it safe. Taking risks is not something that I do very often, and I don't like being in situations where I don't feel like I'm in control. That's part of the reason I hated going underwater as a kid- Lord knows what could happen down there (again, little Kelsey may have been overdramatic but just go with it.) One of the biggest things I've learned as I've grown up is that it's okay to want to be in control and play it safe, but it's impossible to control every single thing, and you shouldn't try to. It's okay to take a risk every now and then, and step outside the box that I've gotten very comfortable living inside. No matter how much I want to or try to, I cannot plan for every single obstacle or experience I'm going to have during my student teaching NOR can I control every single thing that's going to happen- it's impossible, because students are students, and every day is going to be different, and present new challenges to work around. The best thing that I can do is be confident in the knowledge and skills that I have, be flexible in my plans, remember all the people that are in the pool to make sure that I'm not going to drown, and go underneath that water and see what happens.
I want to be a teacher because I love my content- no matter what else was going on in my life, band, and my band director, were always there for me. I want to be for my students what my band director was for me: someone who I knew believed in me, and was always there for me when I needed him, and I want to pass on the INSANE love and passion I have for music. I've spent the last 3 and 1/2 years learning and experiencing things to prepare for this moment, and, as Jukebox the Ghost said, it's time to jump into that water and see for myself what the rest of my life is going to look like.
Monday, January 25, 2016
Saturday, January 23, 2016
Let me tell ya about (one of) my BEST FRIENDSSS
Blog readers, meet Amy Jo:
This girl and I have been best friends for almost 17 YEARS. Crazy! We met on our first day of kindergarten on the South School playground in 1999. Me being the outspoken, mostly friendly child, walked right up to her, introduced myself, and asked if she wanted to be friends. She said yes, and thus our friendship was born. People don't always believe me when I say that's how we became best friends, but that's literally how it happened. Now, when we were younger, Ames and I couldn't have been more opposite. She was a huge tomboy, who hated wearing dresses, playing with Barbies, or playing house. I was a major girlie-girl who had a Barbie village in her basement and wore dresses as often as I could. It always struck me as odd that her and I could be such good friends despite the fact that we had NOTHING in common for a long time. As we've aged, she has become a bit more "girly" for lack of a better term, and we've discovered mutual love for some things that fuel the majority of our conversations (mainly Harry Potter.) We were in the same class from kindergarten to 4th grade, and even though we had different teachers in 4th grade, we still got to see each other at recess and eat lunch together. We made a huge deal of the fact that we were not together every single minute of the day, but we were just being overdramatic, as per usual. The transition to middle school was terrifying, because we knew we wouldn't be in every single class together, and we might only get to see each other once or twice a day. High school was a bit better, since we knew we would at least have two classes together (band and choir.) Having to say goodbye to Amy as she left Storm Lake for college while I was staying home and going to BV was really freaking hard. I was going from seeing my best friend every day since KINDERGARTEN, to maybe getting to talk a few times a week. There were lots of times that I missed having my best friend close, especially when I needed her advice, or needed her to make me laugh and get my mind off of something. As hard as it was and has been, I know it's definitely taught me to cherish the time that we do get to hang out together and be hooligans, and I would be willing to bet Ames will say the exact same thing.
In 17 years of friendship, I can only remember one BIG fight where Amy and I claimed we were "never going to be friends again." It lasted about a week. We were in middle school, it was all over something really stupid, it was really overdramatic, it happened. I'm glad it only took us a week to realize that we were both acting like idiots, and that throwing away our friendship over some stupid seventh-grade squabble would inevitably be a HUGE mistake. Even though we don't get to see each other as often as we would like, or get to talk as often as we like, I know that Amy will always be there for me, and she knows that I'm always going to be there for her. I'm really glad that kindergarten Kelsey walked up to her on the playground that first day of school, because 21 year old Kelsey has no idea what she would do without her. I can't wait to see where life takes both of us, and the crazy adventures that we are going to get into next!
In 17 years of friendship, I can only remember one BIG fight where Amy and I claimed we were "never going to be friends again." It lasted about a week. We were in middle school, it was all over something really stupid, it was really overdramatic, it happened. I'm glad it only took us a week to realize that we were both acting like idiots, and that throwing away our friendship over some stupid seventh-grade squabble would inevitably be a HUGE mistake. Even though we don't get to see each other as often as we would like, or get to talk as often as we like, I know that Amy will always be there for me, and she knows that I'm always going to be there for her. I'm really glad that kindergarten Kelsey walked up to her on the playground that first day of school, because 21 year old Kelsey has no idea what she would do without her. I can't wait to see where life takes both of us, and the crazy adventures that we are going to get into next!
Friday, January 8, 2016
20 Facts about...moi!!!
Hello my lovely readers. Boy, are you in for a treat today, because this post is going to be nothing but facts about ME! Some of you may already know some of these, or most of these, and some of you may learn a thing or two about the magical mystery tour that is Kelsey Monica Struck. To start things off, here's a collage of Kelsey selfies that I made just because.
1. I have an extreme love/hate relationship with my hair. I've got this insanely naturally wavy, super thick hair. I used to have really long hair when I was a kid, but after I cut off 10 inches between 3rd and 4th grade, it hasn't ever really grown past my shoulders since then. When it's long, it takes me roughly an hour to straighten it decently, and it really depends on the day whether or not it's going to look good or not. I was trying to grow it longer, but last fall I just got sick of it and had my stylist Sherrie cut 7 inches off on a Friday morning. It now only takes about 20 minutes to straighten decently. My only complaint about my short hair now is that I can't get it all in a ponytail when I'm lazy, and when I do pin-curls to get it wavy (like in the second picture of the top row,) the back of my hair looks like a really bad afro.
2. I am almost 22 years old, and I have NEVER driven on an interstate. We don't go very many places that require the use of the interstate, because we are poor and my mom hates travelling, and I don't go places by myself, like ever, because who wants to go on a road trip by THEMSELVES? Not me, that's for sure. I've made it a priority this semester to drive on an interstate at least once, so we'll see who the lucky people that get to witness me freaking out over absolutely nothing while driving on said interstate.
3. I have never seen the original Star Wars movies. If some of you need to stop reading at this point because you are so sickened by me now, go ahead. I understand. It's not that I'm opposed to watching them, I've just never taken it upon myself to watch them, and none of my friends have ever been like "hey let's watch Star Wars." So again, if anyone out there wants to be with me when I experience "the Force" for the first time, let me know alright?
4. I've had two surgeries in my life: I had my tonsils and adenoids removed when I was 10 years old, and I got my wisdom teeth removed my freshman year of college. On Election day, if you cared. And my tonsils got taken out on New Year's Even, if you care about that too.
5. I've never had a boyfriend. There, I said it, and it's on the internet for ever. I'm only like 50% bitter/ashamed about it. I've had one relationship that didn't end up manifesting into a boyfriend/girlfriend thing (see "So, I just got friend-zoned" if you want to read more about that.) That being said, that one relationship did give me my first date ever, and it was a really good one, so any potential suitors out there have their work cut out for them.
6. I am borderline obsessed with tacos. I could eat a taco every single day and be completely fine with it. Tacos are bae, tacos are life.
7. I can pretty much quote the entire movie "Mean Girls." Back when movie rental places other than Redbox were a thing, we would always rent movies on Friday nights, and there was a good 3 month period where I rented Mean Girls every single time, and would watch it three times a weekend. My family pretty much refuses to watch it with me because I just sit and say every single line along with the movie.
8. I've been accused of having a large ego and being "over-confident" in my abilities, both in regards to music and academics, but it's all a front. I actually have very low self-esteem in my academics, music, how I look, my friendships, all of that. I don't want people to perceive me as being weak or sense that I have low-self esteem about pretty much every aspect of my life, so I overcompensate with the so-called "big ego." There are very few people in this world (before I put this on the internet, of course) that knew how low my self'-esteem really was. But now you all know it. Huzzah.
9. The only jewelry I really wear are earrings and a watch. I have lots of bracelets and necklaces, but when I wear them, I usually take them off because they bug me. I also can't stand wearing rings, mainly because I have super awkward fingers and even after I get them re-sized, they never fit and fall off my fingers. That might change once it's a nice diamond on my left finger (you know, provided I find someone that finds me appealing and I'm not forever alone with books and cats.)
10. It doesn't matter if it's 50 degrees below zero outside, if I have the option of eating ice cream, I'm going to eat the ice cream. Blue Bunny ice cream. Preferably Peanut Butter Panic, Super Chunky Cookie Dough, Birthday Cake, or Super Fudge Brownie. In fact, I'm going to go get a bowl of ice cream right now.
11. I love to read, and I always have. I used to go to the public library at least 3 times a week every summer, and I would read an average of 150-200 books just during the summertime. I used to say that I didn't need friends as long as my mom kept buying me books and the public library never closed. I don't have nearly as much time to read now that I'm an adult with actual responsibilities, but I still have a vast collection of books that is ever growing, and I read whenever I get the chance.
12. My biggest fears in life are failing at my chosen career, being a disappointment to my parents, my mentors, and anyone whose ever believed in me and my goal of being a band director, and never finding love.
13. I constantly worry that I'm a burden to my friends, or that they find me super annoying and only talk to me in the hopes that I'll go away. Particularly one friend who I love to talk to more than almost anything. Sigh.
14. Sometimes I like to dance around my bedroom to Britney Spears, NSYNC, Backstreet Boys, and NKOTB. I also sing into my hairbrush while I'm dancing around my bedroom. And I'm not ashamed of it at all.
15. I got a sewing machine for Christmas when I was in 3rd or 4th grade and I still don't know how to use it. I should have my mom teach me before I move out and become a real adult.
16. I worked as a waitress the summer after I graduated high school, and it was the hardest job I've ever had in my life. Because of that experience, I always try to leave decent tips, provided the waiter/waitress we had was not sucky.
17. I can crack my toes basically whenever I feel like it, and it apparently grosses people out really bad (therefore, I do it more often because I'm obnoxious.)
18. My worst habit is most definitely biting my nails. I've done it all my life, and even when I try super hard not to bite them, I can go maybe like 4 days before I give in. It's worse when I'm stressed out or nervous about something. If I paint my fingernails, I don't bite them, but I'm too lazy to paint them so that strategy never really works.
19. I would love to have a weekend where some of my friends and I just get in the car, and go somewhere completely random, jamming to awesome music in the car, having good conversation, and just being young. Hint hint to any friends that read this blog that think that would be cool.
AND FINALLY, the last fact.
20. The hardest question you could ever ask me is "What is your favorite band?" When this question is asked of me, I have to give you like a list of 6 bands because I can't make up my mind. Here's that list, the order doesn't necessarily matter after the first two because they all their amazing points that make me consider them one of my favorite bands:
- The Beatles
- Jukebox the Ghost
- Sweet
- LHC (Liberty Hall Collective aka Kam's band)
- KISS
- The Eagles
So there you have it. 20 facts that barely scratch the surface of everything that is ME. Maybe you learned something new about me, maybe you are reading these closing remarks thinking "Kels, I already knew that stuff. Be original for God's sake," or maybe you don't actually care at all about the facts that make up my life (which is probably a lie because if you are reading this far into the post, you care at least a little bit, even if you don't want to admit it.) I'm pretty impressed with myself that I was able to come up with 20 facts in about an hour, because I thought this post was going to take through all of Jimmy Fallon, and HE HASN'T EVEN STARTED YET. Huzzah!!!!!
Wednesday, December 30, 2015
30 songs in.... however long it takes me to write this post
One of the many blog post ideas I found on Pinterest is something called "30 songs in 30 days." It's intention is for users to follow the prompts and post the videos on Facebook or whatever. But since I've got this blog and I can never think of things to blog about, I'm going to do my version of this challenge on here. I've linked to YouTube videos of all the songs I've mentioned in case there's one you've never heard before, or you just want to listen to them, or whatever. Also it makes me feel like a more official blogger, but details. So, without further ado, I present to you, the 30 songs challenge thing!
1. A song from your childhood- She Thinks my Tractor's Sexy by Kenny Chesney
- I used to sing this song a lot when I was a kid. Sorry Mom.
2. A song that reminds you of one/both of your parents- Little Willy by Sweet
- My dad used to sing this song ALL THE TIME when I was a kid, and it helped me develop a liking for this band (who doesn't need a little British Glitter Rock in their lives every now and then???)
3. A song that calms you down- Man in the Moon by Jukebox the Ghost
- I can't even describe the calming effect of this song, both the recording and when someone is playing it on the piano and singing it to you.
4. A song that reminds you of a best friend- Aaron's Party by Aaron Carter AND Oh Darling by The Beatles
- Aaron Carter first: Amy Jo and I have been friends for 16 years now, and we were obsessed with Aaron Carter when we first became friends as little kids. We used to sing his songs at recess, and even handed out Aaron Carter valentines in first grade (because we were super cool, obviously.)
- The Beatles: Kam is also someone I consider to be one of my best friends, and as I've mentioned before we both love the Beatles. There is a group of guys in Cherokee who do Beatles cover concerts every now and then, and Kam and I have been to two of them. There's this guy named Brooks who always sings this song, and I just stand there and fangirl so hard because damn, he's good (both with the whole singing thing and just good looking in general.) *swoon* AND THIS IS ACTUALLY A VIDEO OF BROOKS SINGING FROM ONE OF THE SHOWS KAM AND I WENT TO!!!!
5. A song that reminds you of last summer- Uma Thurman by Fall Out Boy
- This song was HUGE in the summer of 2015, and after I heard it for the first time, I loved it immediately. It was super catchy and just got stuck in your head. I worked in the financial aid office at my college during the summer, and all I listened to from the hours of 9:00-5:00 was the local radio station, and one day, this song was played 4 times on the same station in that time period. I also took a road trip with my bestie Amy Jo to see Kamron's band play in Des Moines, and we listened to this song probably 15 times.
6. Favorite musician or band that you have met- Abracadabra by The Steve Miller Band
- So I haven't actually MET the Steve Miller Band, but I did see them in concert last May, and it was pretty fantastic. This is my favorite song by them, closely followed by Fly like an Eagle.
7. A song you like with a color in the title- Crimson and Clover by Tommy James and the Shondells
- I've always liked older music, and I have no idea what this song is supposed to be about or what it means, but it's great none the less.
8. A song by your favorite band- Here Comes the Sun by The Beatles
- I have lots of favorite bands, but my number band by far is The Beatles. They are just fantastic. There are so many of their songs that I love, so I'm just going to randomly select one of those now.
9. A song on the soundtrack of your favorite movie- Tara's Theme~ Gone with the Wind
- I don't know if a soundtrack was ever released for Gone with the Wind, but this is the main theme of the entire movie, named after the O'Hara plantation.
10. The last song you heard- We're Painting the Roses Red ~ Alice in Wonderland
- I'm watching this movie as I write this post, and this was the last one they sang :)
11. A song that is often stuck in your head- Do Your Hear The People Sing~ Les Miserables
- I played in a pit orchestra for Les Mis a few summer ago, and the entire show has pretty much been in my head ever since then, and the earworms still come back and every now and then. This is usually the one that revisits my head most often.
12. A song you love singing along to- Total Eclipse of the Heart by Bonnie Tyler
- This song. This freaking song. No matter where I am at when I hear this song, I belt my little heart out when it comes on. And, I have been known to stare longingly out the car window and act like I'm in a music video while singing along.
13. A song that has made you cry- How Great Thou Art
- My cousin Tyler sang this song at my Grandma's funeral, and there was not a dry eye in the church. He has an awesome voice and managed to hold it together without breaking down in the song, which is something I could not have done at all. Carrie Underwood does a good job too ;)
14. A song that makes you want to dance- The Twist by Chubby Checker
- I mean, the whole point of the song was to get you to dance, and it fulfills its purpose.
15. A song you love but rarely listen to- I Will Always Love You by Whitney Houston
- This song is awesome, and is another great one for when you just want to belt out a song really loud but I don't own it, therefore I hardly ever listen to it.
16. The first song alphabetically on your iPod- A Movie Script Ending by Death Cab for Cutie
- Another band that Kam introduced me to. I haven't listened to all their stuff he gave me, but everything that I have listened to (mind you, that's maybe like 5 songs tops) doesn't suck so I'm optimistic that I'll enjoy the rest of it when I get around to it.
17. The last song alphabetically on your iPod- 1997 by Saint Motel
- And, AGAIN, another band I would know nothing about if it weren't for Kam. These guys are awesome. This song is good. Enjoy.
18. A song that you could listen to all day without getting tired of it- The Great Unknown by Jukebox the Ghost
- See the post entitled "The band that changed my life" for explanation
19. Your favorite song- Let It Be by the Beatles
- Although I have LOTS of favorite songs because I have LOTS of favorite bands, this is one of the top ones. Plus I love me some Paul McCartney.
20. Favorite St. Patrick's Day/Irish song- My Wild Irish Rose and When Irish Eyes are Smiling
- My Grandma Struck came from a HUGE Irish Catholic family, and when we would go to my dad's family reunions as a kid, these songs always got sang. When my grandma passed away in August, my aunt and great-uncle led us in these songs at the cemetery right before we all left. These always make me think of my family and the great times we had singing these songs when I was younger.
21. A song that needs to be played LOUD- Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen
- Do I really even need to explain this one??? It's gotta be LOUD so you can still hear Queen singing above me belting out every part, including the instrumental riffs.
22. Favorite Christmas song- Do You Hear What I Hear by Idina Menzel
- It's so hard to find Christmas albums with this song on them, and it's one of my favorites. Idina does an awesome job in my humble opinion.
23. When you think of classical music, what is the first piece that comes to mind- Eine kleine Nachtmusik by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
- Mozart is my favorite composer by far, and he's actually a classical composer so this song is actually classical music. Huzzah!
24. What is your favorite version of Pachelbel's Canon?- Pachelbel Rant by Rob Paravonian
- My friend Andreya showed me this video of a comedian ranting about how a bunch of songs have the same chord progressions as Pachelbel's Canon in D, and it's hilarious!
25. First song or album that you bought- I Want You Back by NSYNC (NSYNC)
- I didn't buy this CD myself, it was a gift from my aunt, but it was the first CD that was actually MINE. And here's a song off that album for your enjoyment.
26. Band/artist you would like to meet, but never have- Jukebox the Ghost
- BUT HOPEFULLY I GET TO MEET THEM IN FEBRUARY. Again, see the post entitled "The band that changed my life" for more information. Here's another good song I haven't mentioned before by them:
27. Favorite Album- Rumours by Fleetwood Mac
- It's just a good album with awesome songs. Here's one of my faves
28. A song you listen to to cheer you up- Hey Jude by the Beatles
- How can you be in a bad mood after listening to this song, and by listening I mean singing every single word and going crazy with the "na na na's" at the end???
29. A song you would want played at your wedding- God Must Have Spent A Little More Time on You by NSYNC
- I've loved NSYNC for my entire life, and as long as I can remember I've proclaimed that this will be the song my future husband and I dance our first dance to at our wedding. So hopefully the guy I marry can tolerate NSYNC or we might have an issue...
30. A song that you know every single word to- Friends in Low Places by Garth Brooks
- Garth is the man, and this song is one of my favorites by him.
So, there you have it. Another look into some of the songs that define my life. This post was long, so if you made it this far, good job and thanks for reading!!!
:)
1. A song from your childhood- She Thinks my Tractor's Sexy by Kenny Chesney
- I used to sing this song a lot when I was a kid. Sorry Mom.
2. A song that reminds you of one/both of your parents- Little Willy by Sweet
- My dad used to sing this song ALL THE TIME when I was a kid, and it helped me develop a liking for this band (who doesn't need a little British Glitter Rock in their lives every now and then???)
3. A song that calms you down- Man in the Moon by Jukebox the Ghost
- I can't even describe the calming effect of this song, both the recording and when someone is playing it on the piano and singing it to you.
4. A song that reminds you of a best friend- Aaron's Party by Aaron Carter AND Oh Darling by The Beatles
- Aaron Carter first: Amy Jo and I have been friends for 16 years now, and we were obsessed with Aaron Carter when we first became friends as little kids. We used to sing his songs at recess, and even handed out Aaron Carter valentines in first grade (because we were super cool, obviously.)
5. A song that reminds you of last summer- Uma Thurman by Fall Out Boy
- This song was HUGE in the summer of 2015, and after I heard it for the first time, I loved it immediately. It was super catchy and just got stuck in your head. I worked in the financial aid office at my college during the summer, and all I listened to from the hours of 9:00-5:00 was the local radio station, and one day, this song was played 4 times on the same station in that time period. I also took a road trip with my bestie Amy Jo to see Kamron's band play in Des Moines, and we listened to this song probably 15 times.
6. Favorite musician or band that you have met- Abracadabra by The Steve Miller Band
- So I haven't actually MET the Steve Miller Band, but I did see them in concert last May, and it was pretty fantastic. This is my favorite song by them, closely followed by Fly like an Eagle.
7. A song you like with a color in the title- Crimson and Clover by Tommy James and the Shondells
- I've always liked older music, and I have no idea what this song is supposed to be about or what it means, but it's great none the less.
8. A song by your favorite band- Here Comes the Sun by The Beatles
- I have lots of favorite bands, but my number band by far is The Beatles. They are just fantastic. There are so many of their songs that I love, so I'm just going to randomly select one of those now.
9. A song on the soundtrack of your favorite movie- Tara's Theme~ Gone with the Wind
- I don't know if a soundtrack was ever released for Gone with the Wind, but this is the main theme of the entire movie, named after the O'Hara plantation.
10. The last song you heard- We're Painting the Roses Red ~ Alice in Wonderland
- I'm watching this movie as I write this post, and this was the last one they sang :)
11. A song that is often stuck in your head- Do Your Hear The People Sing~ Les Miserables
- I played in a pit orchestra for Les Mis a few summer ago, and the entire show has pretty much been in my head ever since then, and the earworms still come back and every now and then. This is usually the one that revisits my head most often.
12. A song you love singing along to- Total Eclipse of the Heart by Bonnie Tyler
- This song. This freaking song. No matter where I am at when I hear this song, I belt my little heart out when it comes on. And, I have been known to stare longingly out the car window and act like I'm in a music video while singing along.
13. A song that has made you cry- How Great Thou Art
- My cousin Tyler sang this song at my Grandma's funeral, and there was not a dry eye in the church. He has an awesome voice and managed to hold it together without breaking down in the song, which is something I could not have done at all. Carrie Underwood does a good job too ;)
14. A song that makes you want to dance- The Twist by Chubby Checker
- I mean, the whole point of the song was to get you to dance, and it fulfills its purpose.
15. A song you love but rarely listen to- I Will Always Love You by Whitney Houston
- This song is awesome, and is another great one for when you just want to belt out a song really loud but I don't own it, therefore I hardly ever listen to it.
16. The first song alphabetically on your iPod- A Movie Script Ending by Death Cab for Cutie
- Another band that Kam introduced me to. I haven't listened to all their stuff he gave me, but everything that I have listened to (mind you, that's maybe like 5 songs tops) doesn't suck so I'm optimistic that I'll enjoy the rest of it when I get around to it.
17. The last song alphabetically on your iPod- 1997 by Saint Motel
- And, AGAIN, another band I would know nothing about if it weren't for Kam. These guys are awesome. This song is good. Enjoy.
18. A song that you could listen to all day without getting tired of it- The Great Unknown by Jukebox the Ghost
- See the post entitled "The band that changed my life" for explanation
19. Your favorite song- Let It Be by the Beatles
- Although I have LOTS of favorite songs because I have LOTS of favorite bands, this is one of the top ones. Plus I love me some Paul McCartney.
20. Favorite St. Patrick's Day/Irish song- My Wild Irish Rose and When Irish Eyes are Smiling
- My Grandma Struck came from a HUGE Irish Catholic family, and when we would go to my dad's family reunions as a kid, these songs always got sang. When my grandma passed away in August, my aunt and great-uncle led us in these songs at the cemetery right before we all left. These always make me think of my family and the great times we had singing these songs when I was younger.
21. A song that needs to be played LOUD- Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen
- Do I really even need to explain this one??? It's gotta be LOUD so you can still hear Queen singing above me belting out every part, including the instrumental riffs.
22. Favorite Christmas song- Do You Hear What I Hear by Idina Menzel
- It's so hard to find Christmas albums with this song on them, and it's one of my favorites. Idina does an awesome job in my humble opinion.
23. When you think of classical music, what is the first piece that comes to mind- Eine kleine Nachtmusik by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
- Mozart is my favorite composer by far, and he's actually a classical composer so this song is actually classical music. Huzzah!
24. What is your favorite version of Pachelbel's Canon?- Pachelbel Rant by Rob Paravonian
- My friend Andreya showed me this video of a comedian ranting about how a bunch of songs have the same chord progressions as Pachelbel's Canon in D, and it's hilarious!
25. First song or album that you bought- I Want You Back by NSYNC (NSYNC)
- I didn't buy this CD myself, it was a gift from my aunt, but it was the first CD that was actually MINE. And here's a song off that album for your enjoyment.
26. Band/artist you would like to meet, but never have- Jukebox the Ghost
- BUT HOPEFULLY I GET TO MEET THEM IN FEBRUARY. Again, see the post entitled "The band that changed my life" for more information. Here's another good song I haven't mentioned before by them:
27. Favorite Album- Rumours by Fleetwood Mac
- It's just a good album with awesome songs. Here's one of my faves
28. A song you listen to to cheer you up- Hey Jude by the Beatles
- How can you be in a bad mood after listening to this song, and by listening I mean singing every single word and going crazy with the "na na na's" at the end???
29. A song you would want played at your wedding- God Must Have Spent A Little More Time on You by NSYNC
- I've loved NSYNC for my entire life, and as long as I can remember I've proclaimed that this will be the song my future husband and I dance our first dance to at our wedding. So hopefully the guy I marry can tolerate NSYNC or we might have an issue...
30. A song that you know every single word to- Friends in Low Places by Garth Brooks
- Garth is the man, and this song is one of my favorites by him.
So, there you have it. Another look into some of the songs that define my life. This post was long, so if you made it this far, good job and thanks for reading!!!
:)
Monday, December 21, 2015
Not-So-Guilty Pleasures
I've never really understood the phrase "guilty pleasure." Let's break it down: guilty means "I feel bad about this," whereas pleasure means "This is something that makes me happy," so logically a guilty pleasure is something that you makes you happy, but you feel bad that it makes you happy. Perhaps the reason I don't understand this phrase is because I don't feel bad about liking what I like, nor do I feel bad about doing things that make me feel happy. The only time I feel bad about doing something that makes me happy is if me doing so creates a problem for someone else, but that is a very rare occurrence (both because my life is INSANELY boring, and I don't socialize with many people for a variety of reasons.) So, I don't really feel like I have any guilty pleasures because I don't feel bad about liking what I like. That being said, there are certain things that I tend to like or indulge in on a less-frequent basis than other things, but when I do indulge in these things it's almost borderline obsessive for an undetermined period of time. In brainstorming for this post, I discovered that I have a ton of these "not-so-guilty pleasures," but for time's sake I have narrowed the list down to what I deem to be my top five. Here we go:
1. Saved by the Bell
- It actually pains me when I am talking with friends and/or acquaintances, and I reference an episode of Saved by the Bell, and they stare at me like I just spoke in Korean. I grew up watching this show, and I think it is an injustice to society that there are so many people out there that haven't seen it. But that's not the point of this post so I shall move on. I freaking love this show, and I have seen every episode literally hundreds of times. I can recite these episodes, I can pull funny quotes from these episodes when necessary, and I can tell you which season this episode came from, along with the episodes that preceded it and followed it. Even though I've seen them so many times, there are times when I get in a mood, and I will sit and watch Saved by the Bell for hours or even days at a time. (This is what I meant when I said "borderline obsessive.") There are things that come and go in life, but I am beyond certain that I will always turn to Saved by the Bell when the mood strikes.
2. Boy Bands
- Much like I get in Saved by the Bell moods, there are days when I want to do nothing but listen to boy bands and dance around my bedroom. Backstreet Boys, NSYNC, O-Town, NKOTB (New Kids on the Block for you rookies out there,) Dream Street, the list goes on. This is not music I listen to exclusively at this stage of my life, mainly because I have more developed tastes, and a lot of stuff from which to choose. I've had to make a lot of decisions about which music to take off my iPod just because I've got so much to put on there and no money to buy a 64 GB one right now, but those boy band playlists are constant, and they never get removed. You know, sometimes you just need to listen to a teenage boy sing to you about true love, even though he has no idea about true love, and dance around your room singing into a hairbrush. It happens.
3. Mint Oreos
- Growing up, getting name-brand anything was not something we were used to, because generic brand was way cheaper and everything tasted the same. Oreos were no different. I rarely remember having actual Oreo brand Oreos as a kid, we usually had like the Fareway brand sandwich cookies which weren't the same, but sufficed none-the-less. So actual Oreos were a treat. Even now that I have a job and make my own money, I hardly buy any food that is name brand, and I can't always justify spending $3.00 on a package of Oreos that I will more than likely eat in one sitting. However, when I do justify that spending, and it's usually when I'm stressed out or have had a bad day/week/whatever, it's always going to be mint Oreos, and yes, the entire package will get eaten in one sitting, and I'll probably either be listening to boy bands or watching SBTB while I eat them. Go ahead and judge.
4. Jimmy Fallon YouTube Videos
- I rarely watch Jimmy Fallon when he's actually on TV, but holy crap I watch the heavens out of his videos on YouTube. He is one of the funniest guys ever, and he always manages to get celebrities telling at least one funny story while he is interviewing them. Not to mention he always has some funny games, and any video that features him and Justin Timberlake is bound to be a good one. I spent 4 hours watching his videos before work one day (again with the borderline obsessive thing.) I really think Jimmy and Justin need their own show together, because I would watch the shit out of that thing. Moving on.
5. Easy Listening Music
- Much like with boy bands, my easy listening playlists (think Sinatra, Michael Buble, Harry Connick Jr., etc) never get taken off my iPod because when the mood for that music strikes, it must be there for me to listen to. Not nearly as many playlists as the boy bands, but they are still critical. CRITICAL (that was just for emphasis.)
So there you have it. Five of my not-so-guilty pleasures that I turn to when the mood strikes. Happy Monday!
1. Saved by the Bell
- It actually pains me when I am talking with friends and/or acquaintances, and I reference an episode of Saved by the Bell, and they stare at me like I just spoke in Korean. I grew up watching this show, and I think it is an injustice to society that there are so many people out there that haven't seen it. But that's not the point of this post so I shall move on. I freaking love this show, and I have seen every episode literally hundreds of times. I can recite these episodes, I can pull funny quotes from these episodes when necessary, and I can tell you which season this episode came from, along with the episodes that preceded it and followed it. Even though I've seen them so many times, there are times when I get in a mood, and I will sit and watch Saved by the Bell for hours or even days at a time. (This is what I meant when I said "borderline obsessive.") There are things that come and go in life, but I am beyond certain that I will always turn to Saved by the Bell when the mood strikes.
2. Boy Bands
- Much like I get in Saved by the Bell moods, there are days when I want to do nothing but listen to boy bands and dance around my bedroom. Backstreet Boys, NSYNC, O-Town, NKOTB (New Kids on the Block for you rookies out there,) Dream Street, the list goes on. This is not music I listen to exclusively at this stage of my life, mainly because I have more developed tastes, and a lot of stuff from which to choose. I've had to make a lot of decisions about which music to take off my iPod just because I've got so much to put on there and no money to buy a 64 GB one right now, but those boy band playlists are constant, and they never get removed. You know, sometimes you just need to listen to a teenage boy sing to you about true love, even though he has no idea about true love, and dance around your room singing into a hairbrush. It happens.
3. Mint Oreos
- Growing up, getting name-brand anything was not something we were used to, because generic brand was way cheaper and everything tasted the same. Oreos were no different. I rarely remember having actual Oreo brand Oreos as a kid, we usually had like the Fareway brand sandwich cookies which weren't the same, but sufficed none-the-less. So actual Oreos were a treat. Even now that I have a job and make my own money, I hardly buy any food that is name brand, and I can't always justify spending $3.00 on a package of Oreos that I will more than likely eat in one sitting. However, when I do justify that spending, and it's usually when I'm stressed out or have had a bad day/week/whatever, it's always going to be mint Oreos, and yes, the entire package will get eaten in one sitting, and I'll probably either be listening to boy bands or watching SBTB while I eat them. Go ahead and judge.
4. Jimmy Fallon YouTube Videos
- I rarely watch Jimmy Fallon when he's actually on TV, but holy crap I watch the heavens out of his videos on YouTube. He is one of the funniest guys ever, and he always manages to get celebrities telling at least one funny story while he is interviewing them. Not to mention he always has some funny games, and any video that features him and Justin Timberlake is bound to be a good one. I spent 4 hours watching his videos before work one day (again with the borderline obsessive thing.) I really think Jimmy and Justin need their own show together, because I would watch the shit out of that thing. Moving on.
5. Easy Listening Music
- Much like with boy bands, my easy listening playlists (think Sinatra, Michael Buble, Harry Connick Jr., etc) never get taken off my iPod because when the mood for that music strikes, it must be there for me to listen to. Not nearly as many playlists as the boy bands, but they are still critical. CRITICAL (that was just for emphasis.)
So there you have it. Five of my not-so-guilty pleasures that I turn to when the mood strikes. Happy Monday!
Sunday, December 20, 2015
The band that changed my life
As I mentioned in my last post, my friend Kam (his name is actually Kamron, but I literally never call him Kamron, I always call him Kam, therefore I always refer to him as Kam) gave me a BUNCH of music last year. Among all these songs were all the albums by this indie band called Jukebox the Ghost. I had no idea this band existed, had never heard of them, and had no idea what to expect when listening to their songs for the first time. Now, these guys are like Kam's second favorite band, so he was super hyped about them, and just talked about how amazing all their stuff was, and that he thought I was really going to like them since we have very similar tastes when it comes to music, among other things. I didn't dive into listening to their tunes right away, because I was honestly super apprehensive about it. My whole thought process was "Oh God, I'm going to hate their music, and then it's going to be super awkward because Kam really likes these guys and I'm either going to have to lie about liking their music or just be straight up and say that I hate it and it's just going to create tension and I have no idea how to handle this situation." Don't mind the fact that that last sentence was a super run-on sentence; I'm over the fact and you should be as well. This all went down last semester, and that's when Kam and I first really started hanging out and getting to know each other, among other things, so I didn't want to like punch our developing friendship relationship thing in the face by absolutely hating his second favorite band. It was a legitimate concern if you ask me. So, forward a bit towards the end of the spring semster. I was talking to Kam one night, and we were both planning on staying up obnoxiously late to work on all the homework and projects that had been neglected over the last few days (well, I had been neglecting my work, no idea whether or not he'd been neglecting his.) As I often had done (and still do to be honest,) I asked him what music I should listen to while I was working [sidenote: I'll just randomly message him and ask him "what should I listen to right now?" "What's the best chill music to listen to right now?" "I need to focus: what should I listen to?" It's a miracle that he still answers me as often as I bug him, but that must mean I don't bug him nearly as much as I think I do. Back to the story ----->] Upon his suggestion, it was that night that I finally dived into the musical experience that is Jukebox the Ghost. I listened to every single album that night, in order, and... holy God. Any fears I had about the awkwardness that would develop if I hated this band were gone. The instrumentals were amazing, the voices were even more amazing, and some of the lyrics punched me in the feels harder than anything I've ever listened to ever (but more on that later.) As I'm listening to these songs, I'm still talking to Kam and randomly bringing up the ones I absolutely love, my reactions to everything, etc., and I know he was just sitting there like "Yes, I was right, this band is amazing, I told you Kelsey, I win."
The crucial moment for me the first time I listened to JtG was the song "The Great Unknown." I had never cried upon hearing a song for the first time, until I listened to that song that night at some ridiculously obscene early hour of the morning. The lyrics to that song majorly punched me in the feels, like total knockout of my feels. That song alone has changed my life, enough that I made a canvas with part of the chorus that hangs in my bedroom (which I shared a picture of on the JtG Facebook page and they totes liked it, no big deal or anything,) listened to that song 32 times in a row one night when I felt like my whole life was falling apart, and even started designing a tattoo that incorporates part of the lyrics. I'm going to link to this song at the end of the post because me talking about it doesn't do it justice, you really just need to hear it for yourself.
Now, since that initial hearing, I've literally listened to every single JtG song probably 100 times. That playlist is the most played one on my iPod, call me obsessive if you will. And even now that I've listened to them so many times, there are still moments where I truly "listen" to a song that I've heard 100 times and have another crazy emotional response like I did the first time I heard "The Great Unknown." Just a few weeks ago, I was listening to that playlist once again while working on final projects. There were two songs that night, "Man in the Moon," and "Show Me Where it Hurts." I had heard these songs a million times, but I think the first time I had actually LISTENED to those songs was that night, and I'm just sitting on my bed sobbing while listening to them because the instrumentals are so good, the lyrics are so good, and this band is just so good. That's 3 times that this band has made me break down and cry like a baby just due to the pure BEAUTY and realisticness (is that a word? If not I'm making it a word right now) of their music. I will link to those videos too. I could really link to every single video because they don't have a single bad song, but if I only give you 3, your appetite will be peaked and then you will seek them out and listen to more and my job will be done. *cue evil, maniacal laughter*
NOW, it's not just sappy, crying emotions that come into play when listening to JtG (Kam once said that it's not just music, they are an experience, and boy was he right.) Some songs just make me laugh, some make me want to rock out and dance like a super white girl, some songs get me super pumped up to be a productive member of society and get sh%^t done, and some just make me really ridiculously happy. I'm definitely one of those people where my mood affects what I want to listen to, and no matter what mood I'm experiencing, I can find at least one JtG song that will help with that mood: anger, sadness, heartbreak, happiness, nerves, etc., etc. etc. Hearing songs with lyrics that really connect to what I'm going through in life is an experience that is really hard to explain, but the feeling that comes with it is amazing: like I'm not alone in my struggles, and, as cheesy as this sounds, those songs will always be there when I need them, which is huge for me because I am a girl that feels like I don't have a lot of people there for me. This band that I was so nervous that I was going to hate has become one of my top 5 favorite bands, and really did change my life. I have no idea how I can possibly ever repay Kam for that (and if he has any ideas, he should probs let me know about that, and this sentence is only in here because I know he will be reading this post at some time or another. *thumbs up*)
Two months from today, Kam and I are going to see JtG in Omaha. It's crazy that at this time last year, I had never even heard of this band and now I am so close to finally getting to see them in concert. I've had a countdown going since I bought the tickets, and you can guarantee that the whole experience is going to get thorough coverage on this blog thing that I've got here. I know that I'm most likely going to cry like a baby when they sing the three songs that got specific mentions in this post, and I'm probably going to cry just because I will actually be experiencing a band that means so much to me. This band had such a profound effect on me when I was just listening to recordings of their songs, so I can only imagine that the effect is going to be amplified by about a million when I am in the room with them listening to them live. I'm super glad that Kam is going to the concert with me, because I can't think of somebody I would rather experience this with than the guy who introduced me to this band that changed my life. That sounds super sappy, but holy CRAP I don't even care right now because I am super sappy where JtG is concerned. The guys in this band could probably care less that some over-emotional, 21 year old girl claims them to be "the band that changed her life," but I would love to get the opportunity to meet these guys after the show, get all my merch signed, and thank them for always being there for me.
So, I said this in my last post and I'm going to say it again here: go listen to Jukebox the Ghost. They might not have nearly the effect on you that they did on me, but they still have killer tracks. Check them out: http://www.jukeboxtheghost.com
VIDEOS
The crucial moment for me the first time I listened to JtG was the song "The Great Unknown." I had never cried upon hearing a song for the first time, until I listened to that song that night at some ridiculously obscene early hour of the morning. The lyrics to that song majorly punched me in the feels, like total knockout of my feels. That song alone has changed my life, enough that I made a canvas with part of the chorus that hangs in my bedroom (which I shared a picture of on the JtG Facebook page and they totes liked it, no big deal or anything,) listened to that song 32 times in a row one night when I felt like my whole life was falling apart, and even started designing a tattoo that incorporates part of the lyrics. I'm going to link to this song at the end of the post because me talking about it doesn't do it justice, you really just need to hear it for yourself.
Now, since that initial hearing, I've literally listened to every single JtG song probably 100 times. That playlist is the most played one on my iPod, call me obsessive if you will. And even now that I've listened to them so many times, there are still moments where I truly "listen" to a song that I've heard 100 times and have another crazy emotional response like I did the first time I heard "The Great Unknown." Just a few weeks ago, I was listening to that playlist once again while working on final projects. There were two songs that night, "Man in the Moon," and "Show Me Where it Hurts." I had heard these songs a million times, but I think the first time I had actually LISTENED to those songs was that night, and I'm just sitting on my bed sobbing while listening to them because the instrumentals are so good, the lyrics are so good, and this band is just so good. That's 3 times that this band has made me break down and cry like a baby just due to the pure BEAUTY and realisticness (is that a word? If not I'm making it a word right now) of their music. I will link to those videos too. I could really link to every single video because they don't have a single bad song, but if I only give you 3, your appetite will be peaked and then you will seek them out and listen to more and my job will be done. *cue evil, maniacal laughter*
NOW, it's not just sappy, crying emotions that come into play when listening to JtG (Kam once said that it's not just music, they are an experience, and boy was he right.) Some songs just make me laugh, some make me want to rock out and dance like a super white girl, some songs get me super pumped up to be a productive member of society and get sh%^t done, and some just make me really ridiculously happy. I'm definitely one of those people where my mood affects what I want to listen to, and no matter what mood I'm experiencing, I can find at least one JtG song that will help with that mood: anger, sadness, heartbreak, happiness, nerves, etc., etc. etc. Hearing songs with lyrics that really connect to what I'm going through in life is an experience that is really hard to explain, but the feeling that comes with it is amazing: like I'm not alone in my struggles, and, as cheesy as this sounds, those songs will always be there when I need them, which is huge for me because I am a girl that feels like I don't have a lot of people there for me. This band that I was so nervous that I was going to hate has become one of my top 5 favorite bands, and really did change my life. I have no idea how I can possibly ever repay Kam for that (and if he has any ideas, he should probs let me know about that, and this sentence is only in here because I know he will be reading this post at some time or another. *thumbs up*)
Two months from today, Kam and I are going to see JtG in Omaha. It's crazy that at this time last year, I had never even heard of this band and now I am so close to finally getting to see them in concert. I've had a countdown going since I bought the tickets, and you can guarantee that the whole experience is going to get thorough coverage on this blog thing that I've got here. I know that I'm most likely going to cry like a baby when they sing the three songs that got specific mentions in this post, and I'm probably going to cry just because I will actually be experiencing a band that means so much to me. This band had such a profound effect on me when I was just listening to recordings of their songs, so I can only imagine that the effect is going to be amplified by about a million when I am in the room with them listening to them live. I'm super glad that Kam is going to the concert with me, because I can't think of somebody I would rather experience this with than the guy who introduced me to this band that changed my life. That sounds super sappy, but holy CRAP I don't even care right now because I am super sappy where JtG is concerned. The guys in this band could probably care less that some over-emotional, 21 year old girl claims them to be "the band that changed her life," but I would love to get the opportunity to meet these guys after the show, get all my merch signed, and thank them for always being there for me.
So, I said this in my last post and I'm going to say it again here: go listen to Jukebox the Ghost. They might not have nearly the effect on you that they did on me, but they still have killer tracks. Check them out: http://www.jukeboxtheghost.com
VIDEOS
The Great Unknown
Man in the Moon
Monday, December 14, 2015
Everybody do the iTunes shuffle (now let me see you do the...)
Happy Winter Break blog-readers! Winter Break means you are about to get a barrage of posts on this blog, some of which may be really great, and some of which may be... not so great. I'll let you be the judge of that. I've been struggling to come up with topics to blog about, so I turned to the one thing that can help you think of anything when you are out of ideas: the Internet, more specifically Pinterest. I found several like "30 day blog challenge" type things, and printed a BUNCH of them out, and plan on pulling ideas from them to blog about while I'm home on break, and even after Winter Break has ended. A lot of these are going to dive deeper into the mystery of "Who exactly is Kelsey Monica Struck, and what makes her tick?" Sooo, if you have no desire to learn anything about me, my likes, my dislikes, or my life in general, you should probs find a new blog to follow or something better to do with your time. This is your last warning!
If you made it to this point, you've decided to continue reading and learning more about my life! Congratulations!
Anyone who knows me will be able to tell you that music is my life. It's who I am, it's what I do. Not only do I love to make music, but listening to music is one of my favorite things to do, right behind binge watching Netflix, but that's a post for another day. My iTunes library is home to 3,540 songs, which is quite small in comparison to some of the people I know. A big shout-out must go to one of my BFF's Kam for literally providing over half of the music in that library. I know he's probably reading this, so you're the bomb dude. I'm not going to write about all the songs in my library because let's be honest, I just don't want to. But, I am going to put my iTunes on shuffle and write about the first 10 songs that come up. I'll talk about how I feel towards that song, any memories it brings back, etc, etc, etc. There is a possibility that there will be songs that I am listening to for the VERY FIRST TIME as I'm doing this blog post because I haven't even had a chance to listen to half of the music that Kam gave me, because he gave me a bunch of music. A bunch. Literally, so many songs. So without further ado, here we go.
Song Number 1: Hungry Like the Wolf- Duran Duran
So, there you have it: a small sampling of my vast iTunes library. As you can tell, I listen to lots of different stuff, and possess lots of music that I haven't even had a chance to listen to yet (partly because I have lots of songs [thanks Kam] and partly because I tend to get into moods where I fixate on one particular playlist or one particular band for months at a time. Like, lately it's been a back and forth between 3 particular bands, who I'm not going to mention now because they may or may not get their own blog posts in the near future, who knows?
Let me leave you with one last piece of advice: GO LISTEN TO JUKEBOX THE GHOST!!!!
If you made it to this point, you've decided to continue reading and learning more about my life! Congratulations!
Anyone who knows me will be able to tell you that music is my life. It's who I am, it's what I do. Not only do I love to make music, but listening to music is one of my favorite things to do, right behind binge watching Netflix, but that's a post for another day. My iTunes library is home to 3,540 songs, which is quite small in comparison to some of the people I know. A big shout-out must go to one of my BFF's Kam for literally providing over half of the music in that library. I know he's probably reading this, so you're the bomb dude. I'm not going to write about all the songs in my library because let's be honest, I just don't want to. But, I am going to put my iTunes on shuffle and write about the first 10 songs that come up. I'll talk about how I feel towards that song, any memories it brings back, etc, etc, etc. There is a possibility that there will be songs that I am listening to for the VERY FIRST TIME as I'm doing this blog post because I haven't even had a chance to listen to half of the music that Kam gave me, because he gave me a bunch of music. A bunch. Literally, so many songs. So without further ado, here we go.
Song Number 1: Hungry Like the Wolf- Duran Duran
- I have a huge obsession with 80's music, especially 80's pop music. I have seen every special that VH1 has ever aired about 80's music. The 100 Greatest Songs of the 80's, the 100 Greatest One-Hit Wonders of the 80's, I Love the 80's, all of them. I actually used to sit and watch them with a piece of paper and pencil, and whenever I heard a song on their that I liked, I would write down the title and the artist. And I of course went and obtained all of those songs legally (heh, heh, heh.) Duran Duran actually has a ton of good tracks, and I'm kind of disappointed in myself that this is the only Duran Duran song I have in my iTunes library. May need to fix that. Duran Duran was also beautiful in the 80's. And their British, can't go wrong there.
Song Number 2: Mistletoe- Jukebox the Ghost
- You may be asking yourself "Who the heck is Jukebox the Ghost?" If you are asking yourself that very question, GO LOOK THEM UP RIGHT NOW AND LISTEN TO ALL OF THEIR SONGS. Once again, Kam is to thank for introducing me to this band. I owe him super big because this band literally changed my life. I'm not going to go into a lot of detail because there is going to be more posts in the future that explore my love for Jukebox the Ghost and how exactly they changed my life. They don't have a bad song at all, but this certainly is not one of my super super favorites. But again, they don't have a bad song, so I'm not sitting here cringing just waiting for the song to end. Kam and I are actually going to see JtG in February and I'm freaking beyond excited for it. Here's their website, I was serious about checking them out: http://www.jukeboxtheghost.com
Song Number 3: Blue Ocean Floor- Justin Timberlake
- This is off JT's latest album, and this is the first time I've heard this particular track from that album. So you, readers, are getting my first hand opinion of this song. I've loved JT since his N'SYNC days so we will see what my opinions are of this song. First impressions: JT's voice is like fine wine, it just gets better with age. The instrumental tracks are also pretty good, the way the volume and different sounds play together make it feel "wave-like," which makes sense since the title involves the word ocean. This is just really pretty, and very chill. I've been big into chill music lately, and this is probably going to get added to my chill music playlist. I wouldn't mind having JT just come serenade me with this song. The instrumentals at the ending just made this song. Good stuff.
Song Number 4: I Will Always Love You- Dolly Parton
- Yes kids, it's true, Whitney did not originally sing this song. I'm not bashing the Whitney version at all, because that song is one of my faves to put on when I just need to belt really really loud. Dolly's version is not nearly as bombastic as Whitney's, but a lot of it's beauty for me is in the simplicity. Simple instrumental backing, and Dolly's light country voice. I'm not nearly as big of a country fan as I used to be, but Dolly will always rank up there in my tops for female country artists.
Song Number 5: I Want to Hold Your Hand- The Beatles
- The Beatles. The Fab Four. Literally my number one favorite band, hands down. I haven't done a story yet, so I'll do some stories with this one. I went to Hawaii for Spring Break last year, and there was a Beatles tribute/cover band playing at some fancy hotel down the street from where we were staying. I went to this show with Kam and his roommate Chase. This was the first Beatles tribute band I had ever seen, but Kam and Chase had seen several because they are also both huge fans of The Beatles. This band was not that great, and Kam and I ended up going to see a band do a bunch of Beatles covers in Cherokee, IA a few weeks later that was way cheaper and way better, but I digress. The best part of that entire show in Hawaii was how Kam and I just kept talking about how the guy playing George looked like a creepy serial killer. Anyway, Beatles: fantastic, good, love them.
Song Number 6: You're Nobody Til Somebody Loves You- Michael Buble
- Oh, Mr. Buble. Easy listening, Sinatra-esque music is one of my guilty pleasures. Mr. Buble definitely delivers on this song. I envision myself in like the 1930s in some speak-easy laying on the grand piano drinking a Gin and tonic while Michael sings this song to me with the horns backing him up on stage. Too much information? #SorrynotSorry. Being an instrumentalist, I'm a killer for songs with good horn lines and horn sections, and this song delivers.
Song Number 7: Always- Paul McCartney
- Another song that I am hearing for the first time right now. Being that it's a song by Paul McCartney, I know it's not going to suck. I appreciate the simplicity of the accompaniment: bass and guitar. What more do you need honestly? Oh now we've got some piano and some brushes on the drums, a light jazzy feel. Me gusta. This is another song that I wouldn't mind someone singing to me (hint hint to any future suitors out there, or any musician friends who need to give me a birthday present.) I really want to learn to play guitar, random side-note. Another random side-note: I think my Uncle John looks a lot like Paul McCartney. I don't think he has the musical talent of Paul McCartney, mainly because Paul McCartney is a wizard and my uncle is not.
Song Number 8: Huron Carol- The Five-Fifths
- Yay, a Christmas song! This is off an Irish, Celtic-y Christmas album. We love Christmas in this house, and we love Christmas music more than we love Christmas. We have an entire CD case that is just Christmas CD's. I'm not even kidding. This is not one of the well-known Christmas carols, so if you've never heard it let me give you quick synopsis of the song: it's about Jesus being born. AKA it's about Christmas. It has some cool instrumentals: guitar, like a recorder or lute or something along those lines, violin, finger cymbals. A stereotypical Celtic sounding song, but not in a bad way. And it ends with a Picardy 3rd (for non-music people, a major chord in an otherwise minor key.)
Song Number 9: Stairway to Heaven- Led Zeppelin
- This song is just a classic. I don't know what more to say about it. The guitar part is probably my favorite part of the song (I tend to either really love the guitar part or really love the drum part, in terms of instrumentals.) One of my mom's high school prom themes was "Stairway to Heaven," as many schools probably did after the song became popular, so that's a fun fact. I would ask her more about her "Stairway to Heaven" themed prom, but she's sleeping since she actually has to get up and be a contributing member of society tomorrow, unlike me (well, I don't have to contribute until 3:00, so I've got some time.)
Song Number 10: All For Love- O-Town
- Another guilty pleasure is boy bands. Now, I was not nearly as big of an O-Town fan as my big sister, because I was a NSYNC loyalist (although I also listened to BSB, but don't tell anybody.) Young, teenagey voices singing about love and how it's all for me, who doesn't need that stuff in their life every now and then? If nothing else, it provides a fun flashback to childhood and the simplicity of it all. I don't even remember half of the names of the dudes in O-Town, just Ashley Angel because he was my sister's favorite and his posters adorned her bedroom.
Let me leave you with one last piece of advice: GO LISTEN TO JUKEBOX THE GHOST!!!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)