stuck in my head: october 14th edition

"I Wish I Could Break Your Heart" by Cassadee Pope- I was a little iffy about her debut album, because after The Voice it seemed as though Blake Shelton was pushing her more towards a country career. In my opinion, I feel like that's changing who she is. She started with Hey Monday, which is the furthest from country. Though I do like the album, and I believe that girls can relate to a lot of her songs. This one for example, is one of those  "blast with the windows down and scream at the top of your lungs" songs that every girl needs after a stupid boy screws them over.

"Classic" by MKTO- All of the credit to my friend Rachel for introducing me to this duo. The vocals are very unique, because they combine smooth singing with a twist of hip hop. The refrain is nothing less than catchy, and it makes me come back to listen to it over and over again.

"Bruises" by Train ft. Ashley Monroe- I stumbled across this song when I was driving around the other day, and it was so bizarre how I engulfed myself into a 3:52 experience. The lyrics are exactly how I hope an interaction with a certain person will pan out if I see him in the next five years. I also think the combination of voices in this song is so light and fun, making the song become a bit more positive.

"The One That Got Away by Katy Perry: My friends and I watched Katy Perry's movie last week and I can honestly say that each and every time there are moments that get me more than others. I also realize how much of a kickass person Katy Perry is. Her songs have been on the soundtrack to many parts of my life, another thing I didn't realize until I watched the movie. For as wild and crazy as her albums and wardrobe used to be, Katy is quite the reserved person, and I can appreciate that whole heartedly.

"Sorry" by Naya Rivera: First of all, good for her for putting her pipes to good use outside of Glee. Second, this song is catchy as hell. I've known about it for a couple of weeks now and it has been stuck in my head so many times. Naya has a unique voice that should be spread to the world, and I hope this song gets the chance it deserves.

The Red Tour: a night I will never forget.

Every girl should be able to experience a Taylor Swift concert. It's that simple. There are so many who would say "Psh, Taylor Swift? I don't listen to her." Listen up, her tour, which just finished in Nashville, was a life changing experience. I'm here to tell you why this seems like a staple for the typical chick these days. 

Around this time last year, my dear friend (ironically named Taylor) called me and told me she had tickets to see Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran in Nashville. Of course I was going to say yes, it was also the closing night of tour which means the show holds a much higher level of significance in my books. I've been counting down the days since the number was in high triple digits. Not only was I getting to go back to my favorite city, but I was also seeing the reigning princess of country music in her home town. Throw in my favorite singer and call it a sweet deal. 

There's something about the ambiance of a Swift show that just makes you feel happy. The music playing before, the dedication of her fans, the signs in the crowd, etc. It was such a wonderful setting. I will actually admit, I'm not a hardcore "Swiftie" but I do appreciate a good TSwift jam every once in a while. Little did I know that the minute the lights went down I was going to be jumping out of my seat screaming like a banshee. She chose the perfect opening song: State of Grace. I think it's a song that any 20 something girl should listen to at this point in their life. I also think that at my current age, "Red" is actually the perfect album. There are so many things I am able to relate to on it as opposed to the other albums. 

Throughout the entire concert we were singing at the top of our lungs and dancing like idiots, but let me tell you it was the most fun I had had in a long time. There is something about being able to belt out the words to the ultimate chick songs such as "You Belong With Me" and "22" that make all of your previous cares fly out the window. Like Taylor says "tonight's the night where we forget the deadlines", and that is exactly what we did. It was such a freeing feeling being able to know exactly what she meant behind each one of those songs. In particular though, she was speaking about her song "All Too Well", as well as her writing process. That was the moment where I felt like I was getting the up close and personal with her on the tour, especially because that song holds a very special place in my heart. I will always associate that song with someone who used to be near and dear to me, but unfortunately is no longer a part of my life. I may have cried a little when she sang it...and by a little I mean I might have bawled. It was amazing. To feel that connection with someone like Taylor is so surreal. You read about her in magazines, see stories on the news, etc., but you never imagine being able to see her on the last night of her biggest, and by far best tour to date. 

The attached video is 10 minutes, because it's a speech and a song, but I promise it's worth that ten minutes of your day. 

best of both worlds: the most phenomenal cover I have heard in a while

Shortly after giving The 1975 a deeper listen, I saw all over Twitter that they had covered pop smash hit "What Makes You Beautiful." At first I was a little skeptical as to how this was going to go, because it seemed like two completely different sounds coming together for this. After the first chorus, I was hooked. It's such a beautiful rendition of the song, because it makes it sound, for lack of a better word, more mature. As if my 1D craze needed another addition to the madness. I think this cover shows how diversified a band can get. The 1975 already has quite a unique sound, but the fact that they can crossover and cover this song of such great stature with their own spin, and have it sound this beautiful, speaks volumes of them as a band. Kudos, fellas.

stuck in my head: episode 4

We have an interesting bunch here this week ladies and gents. After seeing "This Is Us" I have yet to have a One Direction song NOT stuck in my head, but I have also had some fun bits in between. 

1. "Teenage Dirtbag" (Originally by Wheatus, covered by 1D)- I will admit that I had maybe heard this song once or twice before 1D covered it, which probably makes me sound pathetic that I just now am obsessed with it. The part of This Is Us where this cover is sang is so fabulous (no spoilers here), and since then I have had jank recordings of the track on my phone. Liam has this falsetto during the bridge that actually pains me due to it's beauty. ANYWAY. I have also listened to the Wheatus version mixed in with the 1D version. It's a really fun song overall, very catchy. 

2. "Last First Kiss" by One Direction-Shocker, another 1D song. And again, for a very obscure reason. In the movie, 1D is goofing around during soundcheck and sing this song in a reggae-like manner, and it was just magnificent. Also I fell in love with Harry Styles all over again during this specific song but that's for a later date. This song is so pretty, and definitely was not one of my favorites on Take Me Home when I first bought it, but now it's all I can listen to!

3. "I Wish" by Cher Lloyd ft. TI- Very catchy tune. I discovered Cher right before Want U Back was released to major radio stations here in the states. Unfortunately, her album failed to impress me. There were a couple of tracks that caught my eye (i.e. "Oath"), but overall, it wasn't anything special. This song as a new single is a great choice for her, and I can see her going bigger places very soon. 

4. "Chocolate" by The 1975- Alright, if you haven't given The 1975's debut album a listen yet, you are definitely missing out. I heard of them months ago when I came across them on twitter or Instagram I believe, and to be honest I really did not look into them right away. A bit later my friend Kaylee told me that I should give them a listen. She typically knows what kind of music is up my alley, and boy was she right. When the album came out, everyone was tweeting about it and I decided it was worth the 8 bucks on iTunes. "Chocolate" was the first song I had heard, so it will obviously have a special place, but there are so many other songs on that album that are great for many reasons. Something I appreciate about this band is that when you listen to their music you can hear the variety of instruments used. That my friends, is what music is about. 

review: one direction's "This Is Us"

Alright guys, I saw it. 

My best friend Caroline and I have waited months for this movie to finally be released. First and foremost, we knew it was going to be the closest we ever get to the British pop sensation. We have both been fans for about two years now, and being hardcore Directioners is a big part of our friendship. We have spent countless nights watching videos and comparing ourselves to Narry (the friendship of Niall and Harry for you non-Directioners out there.)

I had high hopes from the minute I saw the first trailer, but I had no idea how much this movie was going to actually impact me. The entire film was a behind the scenes look on the Take Me Home tour, featuring live clips and in between trips for the boys. Viewers get a deeper look into the lives of five lads who met on the X Factor and immediately began a whirlwind adventure. 

Highlights for me included seeing more of who Harry Styles was as a person, because he is my favorite member, and I wanted to have my proof for those who could tell me that it's a generic choice to be a fan of him. Harry has been the face of 1D for a while, he seems to be the one where if you say you love him, it's a broad statement. When Harry went back home on a break during tour, and on that break, he went back to visit the bakery he worked for leading up to his audition. The little old women that he worked with were so happy to see him, and it put a huge smile on my face. When Niall went home, he went to church with his family for his brother's wedding. Zayn bought a house for his mother (a goal he had from the minute he auditioned.) Liam's mom teared up while purchasing a Liam cutout at the 1D store because "it's the closest thing she would have to having him at home." Louis went to visit his grandma and it reminded me of myself and my grandma. These real moments opened my eyes even more to the guys who I think the world of. 

During the shows, the pre-shows, and bus time after, these five are just normal dudes living the perfect dream honestly. Something I also thought about was how for the amount of fame they have, there really hasn't been a terrible amount of negative publicity. There could be so many things made up about them in the process, but in the end I can only think of one word: normal. There is no way you can go into that film and come out with a negative thought about One Direction.

the little things: adventure club appreciation post (one of many..)

I feel like every 20-something should have a part-time job that involves working with kids. It can change them for the better, honestly. I applied to work for Adventure Club my freshman year, and almost three years later I am at the same school with my same core group of kids. Some have grown up and graduated onto middle school, some have dropped for personal reasons, but everything happens for a reason in my eyes. These kids have meant the world to me, they've been my smile on a cloudy day, they've been my extra babysitting on the weekends, they've been a poorly drawn horse hanging on my wall, but the most important thing these kids/my staff has been to me is a family. I can rely on them to know little quirks about me, like when I bite my tongue when I focus really hard on a drawing, or when I hum tunes to myself when I clean up. They also know that my favorite animal is a penguin. It's an understatement to say that I love them. I am in the best mood when I head out to work, and in an even better one driving home. They look up to my co-workers and I, because we are their support system the minute that bell rings letting them out of school. We are the people who provide a safe, fun, educational environment for them before and after they begin class everyday. Their naive, goofy minds are the best part of my day. I couldn't imagine a life without my Midway AC kids. 

"The only man a girl can depend on is her daddy." - Frenchy, Grease