Blood / Ballad of Fuck All

The Middle East : Blood


"Lie for a while with your ear against the earth, and you'll hear your sister sleep talking."




Well, my two best friends have been begging me to get on my laptop and write another one of my blogs accompanied with one of my "emo" songs, so this is to shut them up. Yes Anna and Sarah, I'm talking to the both of you.


"Blood" is an incredibly special song. It played on Pandora when I was driving, and it completely captured me. The strings of the guitar, the pitch of his voice, and the lyrics that accompany them melt together and become one of the most beautifully poetic songs I have ever heard. Although the entire song's underlining meaning is about the inevitability of death, it approaches it in such a beautiful, peaceful, nature-like way. He speaks to different members of his family and tries to reassure them that through connection with mother nature, they can find the peace of knowing their loved ones are still there, somewhere, waiting for them. There is a certain line that breaks me-


older brother, restless soul, lie down.
lie for a while with your ear against the earth,
and you'll hear your sister sleep talking.
say, "your hair is long but not long enough to reach home to me,
but your beard someday might be."


The imagery of those few lines is breathtaking in my opinion. Imagining grieving the loss of a sibling is overwhelming for me. I love my sisters and my brother so incredibly much. What he says to his older brother, to lie down with your ear against the earth and you'll hear your sister sleep talking, that is so heartbreakingly beautiful! What a peaceful moment. Listen to the earth, deep down in her roots, and you'll hear your sister again. She will always be a part of this world, and if you listen close enough, you'll still hear her. I don't know, maybe I'm a big weirdo, but I think that is just.... perfect.


Clearly, whoever wrote the lyrics feels very passionate about nature and his spiritual beliefs-



and you'll find somebody you can blame-
and you'll follow the creek that runs out into the sea-
and you'll find the peace of the Lord.


Just a beautiful song about loss, love, and faith. My favorite part of the song comes in around 3:25 in the song. It is such a happy, freeing feeling after hearing the end of the song. I LOVE IT! My 15-year-old niece, 10-year-old niece, and 7-year-old nephew all LOVE this part of the song. Every single time they get in my car they ask if we can listen to it. I look in my mirror and can see the two younger ones singing/screaming along, bobbing their heads, and smiling. They turn into little flower children every single time I play this song, makes me smile. :)


To end my little rant about this song, I'd just like to say how nice it is to be reminded that no matter who you have lost in your life, they are still all around you in spirit. In the wind, when the sun kisses your skin, the smell before rain, the sparkle of the water.... they never really leave you completely. 


Below is a cover I found of the song that I think is worth mentioning. I still think the original is a thousand times better, but it is a really good cover, also. 

One last song! Even though he's Scottish, I think you can still enjoy this song for St. Patty's Day. I love it. :)

Malcolm Middleton : Ballad of Fuck All

Active Child:You Are All I See/Miracle Fortress:Beach Baby

Active Child : You Are All I See




http://www.myspace.com/miraclefortress
Miracle Fortress : Beach Baby
(Click on the link.. and look towards the end of the song list for "Beach Baby")


**Both of these songs were featured in the short movie I posted on my facebook a while back. If you didn't watch it, definitely take the time to. You won't be disappointed! It is one of the absolute cutest videos I've ever seen! The link for the video is below.**

http://vimeo.com/29285965





Oh hiiiiiii 2012!! It's so nice to be here to greet you. :) I'm remembering the loved ones I've lost that can't say the same, and doing my absolute best to live each and every day to it's fullest, in their remembrance. From my aunt Donna, to my uncle Paul, to my boyfriend's sister Natalie, to one of my favorite great uncles in the world, Uncle Gary, to my favorite dog in the entire world, Copo Mellie---this one's for you.

What is it about the new year that feels so refreshing? It's just another day, but mentally something always feels different. You have another shot to do it right. And I'm convinced this year is my year. I have everything aligned to set sail and take me on my adventure. I've got big hopes for this year, but also am just trying to take it each day at a time, and count my blessings.

One of my resolutions is to attend my church more. I've been feeling incredibly spiritual lately, more than usual. I consider myself blessed to be where I am spiritually in my life, but I have a long way to go to get to that relationship with Christ that I want. I go to a non-denominational church, called Northridge. It's all the way out in Plymouth, but it is so worth the drive. No matter what...no matter WHAT is going on in my life, during and after church service there, I always feel an incredible sense of peace come over me. My everything feels awakened and aware. To know everything I have is because of Him.. every day I'm given, every love I feel, every happy moment I encounter.... it's overwhelming. And this year I'd like to give back some of that overwhelming feeling. I've been talking a lot about making trips to orphanages to visit with the kids there, but this year I'm going to actually DO this. Also, get more information on how to volunteer at a cancer center to hang out with the kids. I need to expand my comfort zone and put my natural gift with kids to good use.

I also want to eventually become a vegan. My dad's response was, "That'll last a week. Then you'll remember your obsession with Chic-Fil-A." He's right, but here's to trying! When Zak and I get our own place I most definitely plan on buying organic, making those weirdo antioxidant and wheat-grass shots, and eventually cutting out fast food entirely. With the exception of Jack in the Box and Chic-Fil-A. See, already, there goes that whole vegan thing. I just think God put those two fast food chains on the world for a reason--to keep suicide rates low. You just can't be sad while eating two tacos for 99cents, or a box of chicken nuggets with a side of waffle fries. No wayyyyyy.

And lastly, I want to be a better girlfriend to my boyfriend, who is deserving of the most incredible girl this universe can produce. Also, an equally amazing friend to the two girls that have always been by my side. One since 5th grade (cough Anna)... and one since high school (cough Sarah). :) Each completely opposite, but perfectly the same in the area that matters--being there for me, always, always, always. One thinks she's ghetto, even though she's a white girl born and raised in Trenton.. the other has always been more of a hippie. We've actually talked about buying a van, driving for the rest of our lives around the world, and living off of daisies for our main food group... haha. I want to always be there for these people, and make sure they can be as close to me as possible, no matter where my path leads me.


Focus on what you can control in your life. If you aren't happy with it, change it. If you are, work towards bettering it. I guess it really is that simple. Keep the happy memories. Recreate them as often as possible. Remember the bad ones, but also remember that they are a part of your past. You left it behind for a reason. Always move forward. Always seek those happy moments. Always love.

Penobska Oakwalk

Quilt : Penobska Oakwalk


And "why", you said to me
"Why would we try, why should we try to make anew
When we could be intoxicated by this ordinary turn again?"






Finding a new song that I adore reminds me of finding a lost memory that I tucked deep away in my brain. I forgot I once related with the emotions spoken and played throughout the progression of the song. Somewhere in my blissful ignorant day to day life, I left behind the memories of heartache, and what it felt like to feel the intense pain of feeling nothing at all. 


This song is not nearly as depressing as I usually like my daily cup of music, but the above lyrics struck such a chord with me. "Why would we try, why should we try to make anew when we could be intoxicated by this ordinary turn again?" Getting lost in shit is so much easier than cleansing yourself from it. 


The song goes on to say...

Do you remember when

When you shook, or when you felt a rising tide?

From within, before the cross

From that place where our child resides

The way I personally feel about the lyrics, is that the person speaking them, just wants to feel something. They are so drunk on the feeling of being numb that they've lost communication with their nervous system entirely. Everyone has that one bad relationship experience. Mine unfortunately lasted for almost 4 years. I have to say, after the day to day bullshit, I forgot I was even living. You would zombify yourself into routines and days become weeks, the shit gets shittier, and next thing you know, you don't know yourself at all. You laugh at the thought of who you used to be- free and beautiful and full of life. You've become this girl comparable to a character Kirsten Dunst would play in a movie. Depressed, lost, full of anger (For all of the guys out there who aren't familiar with Kirsten Dunst movies, she always plays the beautiful yet depressed main character-The Virgin Suicides, Crazy/Beautiful, Marie Antoinette, and the soon to be released movie, Melancholia).


My mind went back there after 2 minutes and 54 seconds of music. Probably my favorite thing about music---it reminds me of who I was, who I never want to be, and who I am. All 3 are needed in their own right. If you don't get these feelings from listening to music, you're probably listening to the wrong kinds of music. Music shouldn't be something that happens to be on the radio, but rather looked for and cherished, like your own little secret. When you find it you'll never forget it. It'll remind you of the good times and the bad. It won't remind you of "OH MY GOD I HEARD THIS SONG AT THE CLUB LAST NIGHT.. THIS IS MY JAMMMM!!!!" It will remind you of beauty and sadness. Your inner most fears and thoughts. I cannot express more to my 15-year-old niece how absolutely vital music is for inner growth and strength. Creativity, intelligence, passion, all are formed through music. REAL music. Real damn good music. 


I appreciate all of your positive feedback on my music taste and thoughts. Makes me smile to know that people actually look forward to when I make a new post. Posts will be more frequent, as well, since the summer sunshine has gone to sleep for a while. I'm going to try to search out good music as much as possible and share it for you all to enjoy. 


In the mean time, go pick out your pumpkins and slutty halloween costumes. It's officially fall. :) 


Peace, love, and Tim Horton's apple cider




*********Oh, I've been obsessed with the song "Bell Bottom Blues" by Eric Clapton lately, so I'm going to post that as well. The chorus is one of my absolute favorites, and I'm so glad I heard my mom listening to it while she cleaned the kitchen the other day. This song makes me want to put on my prom dress and slow dance with my boyfriend hahaha. who knows-maybe i'll get him drunk and do that. 

World, Meet Lana Del Rey

Lana Del Rey: Stuck in the 50's-60's like myself. Probably one of the cutest girls I've ever seen, with her pouty lips, poofy hair, and sassy sarcastic lyrics.

Also, my current music obsession.

Lana Del Rey:Video Games
"Heaven is a place on earth where you tell me all the things you want to do."


Her song "Video Games" has been playing on my mac/cell phone nonstop since I first heard it yesterday morning. I cannotttttttt get enough of it. Her smooth voice mixed with sarcastic lyrics won me over. I mean, she really could quite possibly be a guy's dream girlfriend, but I'm pretty sure these lyrics are sarcastic, and aimed at a video game addict ex boyfriend. Maybe I'm wrong, but she does mention something along the lines of "Go play a video game" abouttttt 4 times in the song. Love it.



Open up a beer
And you take it over here
And play a video game
I'm in his favorite sun dress
Watching me get undressed
Take that body downtown
I say you the bestest
Lean in for a big kiss
Put his favorite perfume on
Go play a video game
It's you, it's you, it's all for you
Everything I do
I tell you all the time
Heaven is a place on earth where you
Tell me all the things you want to do




The video itself got me hooked to her. She could not be cuter! And the clash between cartoon fairytales of love, and the reality of this world, definitely make for an interesting video. After watching it, I've decided I want to buy her lips, hair, and clothes. But seriously, her "I don't give a shit" look that constantly stays plastered on her face throughout the entire video, is simply amazing combined with those lyrics.

I've spent the last day looking up almost every single one of her songs, and I'm only disappointed by a couple of them. Diet Mtn Dew, Kinda Outta Luck, Jump, Oh Say Can You See, Kill Kill <<<<ALL good songs in my opinion.

Diet Mtn Dew
"Diet Mountain Dew baby, New York City. Never was there ever a girl so pretty."

In Kinda Outta Luck, she goes for the glamour gangster look with the video and the lyrics. 

"Diamonds on my wrist, whiskey on my tongue."

Her lyrics are light and fun, and her videos are simple, cute, and interesting. Definitely a breath of fresh air. Hope you guys enjoy her as much as I have! 

So excited for fall to be right around the corner! I'm usually dreading summer ending, but this is the first fall that I won't be going to school since Kindergarten, considering I graduated from EMU last December. I want warm jackets, warmer boyfriends, red noses and hot apple cider STAT. First, my boyfriend and I have to travel to New York for my brother's wedding. Enjoy these last weeks of summer, fill it up with as many warm memories as you can to hold you over when Michigan dies a little inside and experiences winter. 

Until next time.

Peace love and flip flops.

Damn/It's Real

Dom-Damn

 >>very new song, and I can't find a video of the song unless it's a live version. All you have to do is go here...

http://www.facebook.com/Domband?sk=app_178091127385

*Click on the song "Damn" and it'll ask you to like the song in order for you to play it. Just do it.. it's worth it. You can always unlike it later if you're that paranoid about your likes. 

Real Estate-It's Real

With summer already in beautiful full swing, I figured I'd post two summer songs that just make me happy. Postings are going to be few and far between most likely until the weather gets crappy again. It's too gorgeous everywhere to be stuck inside writing blogs.

I've already done so much this summer, but I'm looking forward to the second half of it. I feel like this is my last summer I'll be able to enjoy completely, since I'll be getting my big girl job here soon. It's weirddddd. I love staying up until morning with my boyfriend and not giving a care in the world to anyone or anything besides each other. Pretty sure I won't be able to do that when I get that job, unless I'm a vampire nanny (I've been watching too much True Blood). 

I love the song "Damn" because of three simple lines---

"I don't care about anyone else.

I don't care about anyone else.

I know."

I love that "who gives a shit" attitude the entire song portrays. You don't care about them, who cares if they care about you, get over it and get on with your life that you love to live. 23 really was a changing year mentally for me. I used to be so aware of how others felt about me, and I'm slowly starting to copy my boyfriend's attitude and truly, honestly, sincerely, not give a shit. This is pretty hard for me to do since I'm one of those girls that gets incredibly upset when someone doesn't like me, but I'm getting pretty good at it as of late. By this time in my life I'm clearly not going to go through any crazy changes. What I mean is, I am who I am. And I love who I am. Conceited? No. Just genuinely proud and happy with who I've turned out to be. If someone, for whatever reason, doesn't like who I am, then I don't really care. Sad it took me 23 years to learn how to do this, but let me tell you, it feels incredibly freeing. Very empowering. I just love my happy little life, and I'm realizing how blessed I am. I have this ridiculously amazing boyfriend who I truly love with everything in me. We have so much fun together... it's stupid. It really is. My family is so crazy and loud and large, but I love all of them. Every last weird one of them. I can't even blame them for being crazy. We are 1/2 Italian, and 1/2 Irish. CMON. My girlfriends, my boyfriend's friends who've become my big brothers... the list goes on. My life is oddly amazing and established for only being 23. 

This is the life, and I'm glad I'm living it. Have I not mentioned enough to everyone who reads this in my previous blogs that we are insanely blessed to still be alive? We're one of the lucky ones. People die.. it happens all the time. And yet we still let our life get brought down from other people who don't even matter? Trust me- on your death bed you will not be like, "Oh my God I wish blah blah liked me. Oh my Godddd I wish I would've had a better paying job." Hell to the no. We'll be hoping with everything in us that we lived life to the fullest. We've loved with every cell in our body. We laughed and made others laugh. Most importantly- we were given this body and mind for whatever reason, that is completely unique from anyone else, and we made the best out of it. 

Go do good.

Peace and Love and Jimmy Johns. 

Good Morning, Hypocrite

Electric President : Good Morning, Hypocrite
"But if there's one thing I know, it's that I never really know enough."





LYRICS:
Seems like the roads stretch out like veins, but there's no heart. 
Nature's haircut is concrete now, and we played our part.
So we sing


I've lost my taste for modern things. They're not for me. 
I want mundane: a quiet place, where time is free,
And I can sing


Crawled from my bed, to collect the thoughts that'd fallen from my head,
And you watched me sink, through the carpet, through the basement, and beyond. 
And you didn't blink. 


On the glass, I traced the sun with my thumb. It sank into the ground. 
And then the stars were blinking, like kids who were staring into the wind. 
So I climbed through the window and walked until I lost my name.
Now I can play the victim. It's fine. I've seen it on TV. 
But if there's one thing I know, it's that I never really know enough. 


Our heads, our hands, our brains, our lungs: they're just machines. 
These hearts are all that we've got left, and they don't beat. 


Live a little, talk a lot; it's the way this goes. 
I've come to fear the little knives beneath their well-pressed clothes. 
Their arms are reaching; reach is spreading through the neon glow.
Their mouths are moving, but their voices sound like telephones. 
The traffic hums; the traffic grumbles near my old window.
The street lights flicker; glow and hover like suspended snow. 
I used to watch the moon retreat and wonder where it goes.
Now I just wonder why my head is overrun with ghosts 






I don’t even know where to begin with this song. The noises, the lyrics, the transitions--it’s beautiful. Electric President finds a way to make us feel guilty for turning Mother Nature into a folk tale. Our generation knows how to become one with man-made creations like cell phones, televisions, etc. But when it comes to becoming one with the roots of this place, the dirt, water, forests, creatures, we laugh and wonder if the person asking us to do so is on Shrooms. 


“Seems like the roads stretch out like veins, but there’s no heart. Nature’s haircut is concrete now, and we played our part.” Am I saying I want to live in a world without technology? No. Am I saying we should be more aware of the energy life cycle all around us from this planet we’re on? Yes. Who are we to piss on this world? It doesn’t need us - we need it. Point blank. Let’s just knock down every living thing there is left out there to build more pointless buildings that will just go into foreclosure soon. Humans do rule this planet, but I just wish we’d take things into consideration before we all get this God-like persona.  Truly, I really am going to hate the day when rain forests, wild life preservations, etc. are all a long lost dream. We NEED them. We do not need buildings. Stone and brick have no value to our health.


“Crawled from my bed, to collect the thoughts that'd fallen from my head, and you watched me sink, through the carpet, through the basement, and beyond, and you didn't blink.” To me, this line is trying to portray how robotic we all have become. Tv, laptops, cells, have all made us emotionless idiots. “Our heads, our hands, our brains, our lungs: they're just machines. These hearts are all that we've got left, and they don't beat.” Again with my robot theory. 


Probably my favorite line in the song is, “So I climbed through the window and walked until I lost my name. Now I can play the victim. It's fine. I've seen it on TV.” His lyric style, combined with the pretty, weird, mismatched noises in the background, make this song incredibly unique, in my opinion. 


Now, keep in mind, I love technology. I’m a TV-holic. I probably take way too long of showers. But, at least I’m consciously aware of all of the above. I never forget that this world is not ours. It does not belong to any of us. I’m thankful for all of it’s resources. I guess I just laugh at our country and others that battle over resources EVERY SINGLE DAY. It’s like, what the hell made you think this is “yours”, are you that incredibly egocentric? Good job humans, we’re smart enough to know how to survive and build things and use resources, but slow the hell down and realize what living is about. 


This has nothing to do with being a hippie or not being a hippie. That word gets thrown around way too much from little hipsters these days. It’s just a human realizing how small you are in the big picture of things. If I were mother earth I’d probably of already killed myself by now with the way she’s been treated year after year. Thank God she’s not that suicidal I guess. 


In my defense, I come from a mother who was pretty tree huggin’ in her ways. I was always taught to appreciate nature and have “spiritual moments” with it. When I was a little girl and wanted to kill an ant just because it was chillin’ by my feet, she’d always remind me, “Genevie Marie, remember that that ant has a family too, and he’s just out looking for some food to feed his babies, let him be.” So cut me some slack for this type of thinking about the world. 


I guess to conclude, it’s nice to hear a song and be reminded of the important things in life. The generations below us (and I guess kind of ours, too) are too busy being stupified by songs sung by The Black Eyed Peas and Lil Wayne about artificial happiness found in designer belongings. 


Probably the absolute best thing about this song is the title, “Good Morning, Hypocrite.” At the end of my rant, I’m still typing on my MacBook Pro, with headphones in my ears listening to the above song, my eyes glancing back and forth from this screen and the TV screen, with my fan blowing on me, and my AT&T Inspire cell paused on Angry Birds. Good morning, hypocrite.

Girlfriend

Phoenix : Girlfriend
"Farewell, til you know me well."







Helloooo world! Today is SO GORGEOUS!!! Finally I feel summer creeping around the corner. Makes me think about barbecues, bonfires, beach parties. I didn't purposefully make those all "b" words, but cool. I've been pretty busy lately, hence why it took me so long to start posting good tunes again.

Zak and I spent 9 days in Tennessee at the end of April. Once again, I fell in love. Dear God that place is perfect! Something about constant sunshine, warm weather embracing your skin, and southern people. Since most of you know about this blog from my facebook page, I'm sure you all saw the pictures. You have water, mountains, bluffs, you name it. I'm actually considering applying to some places down there. I can just imagine him and I starting a new life down there with his family. Plus, the economy is ridiculously good, surprisingly. I guess I just figured most of America was suffering, but the highest we paid for gas was probably $3.50. Everyone is happy, and although I love all of you Michigan people, you guys are freaking cranky, always. Seriously! Who wakes up and thinks, "Damnit, God gave me another day to live. I guess I should just start complaining about everything around me. I mean, living life, breathing, feeling, is way worse than dying." I'll tell you who, 90% of Michigan.  I'm so sick of negative people. Let's all just be thankful we're alive. If you are able to complain about ANYTHING, be thankful to even have the chance to be alive and able to complain. Do you know how many people who's lives were taken way too young would give ANYTHING....ANYTHING to just, breathe? To wake up and do things. To kiss the person they love. To laugh so hard that you start crying. Just let the breeze hit your face and smile... realize that you were one of the lucky ones that survived to live another day.

Okay, a little dramatic I know, but hopefully you get the point. Anyways, other than Tennessee, I've just been spending time with my boyfriend and friends. We celebrated our 2 years on May 4th.. which is crazy to me. I feel like I've known him my whole life, but I also feel like we just met, weird? I can't really think about my life before him. It's as if he's always been there. So sappy and gay, I know, but it's the truth. Who would've thought I would've came back from the Caribbean, and the next day get dragged to a Tigers game by my friend Megan, and meet the love of my life. It's easy with him, you know? I've been in relationships that were so... up and down, stressful, hard. He's my perfect little happiness. Never argue, always play around. Everything with us is funny, and I think that's what makes us work. When you fall so deeply in love with someone that you truly, honest to God put them in front of your own self, it makes everything easy (if they do the same to you, of course). He's my best friend, my laughing partner, my absolute everything, and anything in between. I'm blessed beyond belief.


Okay, now that I've gone off the deep end with my hopeless romantic talk, I hope some of you are still reading this and haven't shot yourself by now. Since this is a music blog, I guess I should talk about that. Phoenix is one of my favorite bands. I love their sound, and how they stay true to it. They don't dramatically change it in order to get radio plays, they keep it how they like it. This song reminds me of summer, so I guess that's why I posted it. It's just a feel good song, so hopefully it makes you feel just that.