Monday Music: Gotye

Obsessed with this guy. I came across Gotye (and Kimbra, whose music is equally addicting) through The Next Great Generation and my life has been radically changed. Apparently he's big in Australia but really hasn't received much popular notice in America, and I really can't imagine why. I seriously went from 0 to 24-hour Gotye in no time flat.

I'm not an expert music review so there's really nothing else to say that'll do Gotye justice except for the love of God click the videos and you'll never be the same. 


Or maybe I'm just a hipster.

You like? Care to share your music with the class?

Monday Music: Julian Smith

(warning: lots of flashing lights!)

So, I wasn't sure if this should count as "Monday Music" because Julian Smith is a comedian, but then I decided that any song that can perfectly encapsulate my life and get stuck in my brain deserves a share. I'm not sure if I blogged this in the past, but it deserves a revisit anyway. Julian Smith is funny, adorable and has a lot of other catchy songs on his channel and website that you need to check out.

What about you? What's stuck in your head? Or, are you reading a book? What would happen if, say, someone were to interrupt you while reading it?

Monday Music: Ke$ha Unplugged

Yes, this is Ke$ha without autotune. The world may implode.

Now, I know I wrote a post awhile back about the ill effects of raunch culture in which I cited Ke$ha as one of those ladies corrupting the youth of America. Okay, maybe I wasn't that melodramatic, but there's a lot that Ke$ha sings that I find distasteful in the lyrics department (secretly, I think Ke$ha songs are really fun and catchy, but I'm sure I'm not alone). However, I am not one to deny credit where credit is due. Some of you may have seen this around this Internet already (I may have even tweeted it), but it's worth a listen because girl actually has a gorgeous voice. I know, I was surprised, too.

Reason for posting this today? I don't know, no reason really other than I've listened to it on repeat for about an hour every few days since I found it, and that's reason enough to share.


What have been listening to on repeat? Care to share with the class?

Letters to Akon (with a Little Taste of Monday Music)

Dear Akon,

I will have you know that I have never had any intention to like you. Somehow, though, you always find your way into my life.

There I am, listening to the radio on my way to work because I forgot my mp3 player, and I hear a song I really like. I bob my head and sing along a bit. I don't know what this song is yet. When I go home a Google search the lyrics and nine times out of 10 that song is by you. I don't know how this keeps happening. I don't consider myself any kind of avid R&B fan or anything. I would never picture myself saying aloud "you know who I really like? Akon." That's just not "me," you know? But every time there you are with a catchy song that I inevitably resist for awhile on principle and then download.

I don't want to like you.

But then I saw this. (NSFW due to subject matter, but you probably assumed that anyway).




Goddammit, Akon.

See, I have this principle: if you're a cool enough guy to laugh at yourself and appear in a Lonely Island video, you're okay with me (this means you, T-Pain, but you're already so self-deprecating that I've loved you for ages). I give up. You got me. You win.

Maybe I kinda like you, Akon.

xoxoxo,
Vanessa


What musicians do you hate to admit you like? Spill it! I know you have one!

Monday Music: The Kin

The Kin is one of those bands that you should be listening to. I hadn't heard of them until last winter: The Kin was one of two opening acts for Joshua Radin when I went to see him in concert. Everyone is a little bit skeptical of the opening band. A lot of us assume that they'll be mediocre, or at least not nearly as good as the act we came for.

As soon as they got on stage and began to sing the room went dead silent. The audience for a Joshua Radin concert probably won't be that rowdy anyway, but I've never been to a performance where you could hear a pin drop-- let alone for the opening act. Issaac and Thorry Koren's voices are gorgeous. They play didjeridu. Their lyrics tell stories. They command a room through talent alone. As much as I love Joshua Radin, I can say that I would have been completely satisfied if their act was the only one I got to see that night. And again, there was something so lovely about that silence.






(this one has didjeridu)


What's the best concert you've been to? The best opening act?

Monday Music: World Spins Madly On by The Weepies

I'm just in time for Monday Music!

I saw this video today and I've been watching it on repeat. Not only are The Weepies fantastically intoxicating but this animation is... no words. It's gorgeous.

ryan j woodward

What songs make you hit "repeat" lately?

Monday Music: King of Anything by Sara Bareilles

Awhile ago, I told you that this song should be your new theme song. Well, if you're planning on making a whole darn playlist of theme songs, you'll have to add this one.

What songs make you feel awesome lately?

Monday Music: Brand New Day

I know we're sort've far into Monday by now (at least my fellow East-coasters are-- I suppose this depends on time zone), but I figured I'd share a song to get you through it. I like to listen to this on mornings when I'm not feeling chipper enough to want to get up. That's a lot of mornings. I don't like getting out of cozy little bed early, but this is my reminder that it's always more than worth it.

You can see the music video here, too, for a different arrangement.

What songs get you through Monday/the morning? What other rituals do you have to get yourself going?

Monday Music: "Just the Way You Are" by Bruno Mars

This is your new theme song.

Monday Music: Tunes In My Head Right Now

 

 

Is this relatively old? Yeah, but a) it's awesome and b) you have to appreciate the irony of having it stuck in your head.

And you guys are gonna think I'm lame, but....

Whenever I hear this song, I picture driving through the countryside on a sunny day with the windows wide open, radio blaring, singing at the top of my lungs with my girlfriends* and I really can't fault any song that makes it that much better to feel the wind on your cheeks.

What do you have stuck in your head? Bonus points if you share a link with all of us!

*My boyfriend hates this song and turns off the radio when it gets to the chorus, so I don't picture an adorable couple-- well, I often do, but I have to picture some other, more whimsical dude and then that just gets awkward.

** P.S. I'm still not sure if knowing who Mr. Mister is ruins the song or makes it 30 jillion times better. Thoughts?

Letters to Usher

Dear Usher,

I really wanted to like this song of yours.



I think you're totally cute and that it's really endearing that you say "gosh" so many times in one song. It's refreshing, even. But I do have a bone to pick with the following lyrics:

"Honey got some boobies like wow, oh wow."

Okay, Usher, really? Boobies? That was really the sexiest word you could think of? Because if anyone tried express attraction to me by complimenting my "boobies" I would laugh really hard and never want to talk to that person again. Are you seven? Or a Pussycat Doll? Because only children and Pussycat Dolls ever say that.

Stop it. Stop it right now.

Sorry, but I had to get that out.

xoxo,
Vanessa



(Are there any words that drive you crazy?)

Monday Music: OMG Let's Rave!

Perhaps I have a simple sense of humor, but seeing this made my morning.

See more funny videos and Music Videos at Today's Big Thing.

Enjoy your Monday! What are you up to?

Monday Music: "Split Screen Sadness" by John Mayer

I'm not too much of a John Mayer fan.

Except for this song.

I remember one of my very first days of college. I was in the auditorium waiting for a boring presentation to start, sitting next to a guy I'd been talking to online all summer. He was one of the few people I was really eager to meet because he'd become something of a best friend. He took out his iPod and handed me one of the earbuds; he wanted me to hear one of his favorite songs. It was this one.

Happy early birthday, Minh!


P.S. This week may possibly be light on posts/me commenting on your blogs (which I've already been bad about-- sorry, loves, I do try to visit you all!). I was informed just a wee tiny time ago that my best friend is visiting from Texas for the first time in two years! In order to go spend this Thursday through Sunday having a grand ol' time, I need to get a lot of work done by Wednesday or so. So excited!

Monday Music: India.Arie

remember my review of "good hair?" this goes perfectly with it.

Oh man you guys. I remember hearing these songs way back when, but listening again now that I'm older, I can really appreciate what a kickass artist India.Arie is. The way she sings about race, body image, and general self-esteem is so inspiring. Just try not to feel amazing about yourself after watching these videos.

What songs make you feel great about yourself?

Monday Music: What the Hell is With That Duck?

I started this post with the intention of just being all "hey, it's Monday, and here's a song that always makes me feel cheerful and maybe it will cheer you up, too!" I didn't realize how disastrous searching for a music video of said song ("Blow Away" by George Harrison) would be.



This music video is from the '70s. I feel like there's some excuse for it built in there, but I'm probably lying, because there are probably videos from the '70s that don't have giant ducks and bobble Bulldogs and awkward staring at the camera-- seriously, don't pause at 46 seconds if you don't want nightmares.

Have you ever liked a song better before you saw the music video?