Little Bits of Happiness

A close friend of mine started posting on his band’s Facebook page “100 Days of Happiness” in which he posts a picture of something that makes him happy.  So far posts have included a picture of himself with his band when he was 15 years old, a stuffed animal, the names of his alarms on his phone, and a pair of headphones.  I wouldn’t list 100 things that make me happy in one blog post because that’d be a lot to read.  But, I’ve got a nice even list of ten because my Spring Break will be here in one week, and I’m excited, and sometimes you just need a reminder of the little things in life that make it great.

1.  Breakfast.  I look forward to this meal every morning: bacon, eggs, hash browns, waffles, fruit, muffins, oh my.

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2.  A blank page.  There’s nothing like turning a page in your notebook and starting fresh.  The pristine white is inviting and writing is how I express myself, so how could I not enjoy a notebook?

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3.  Flip flops.  When it’s sunny and I can finally pair a cute outfit with flip flops, it means summer is in the air, and I can’t get enough of summer.  Plus, flip flops mean I can paint my toe nails, layer anklets upon anklets and throw on my toe rings.

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4.  A jog.  On a nice day, when I don’t have too much to do, a jog is so refreshing and helps me destress and I feel invincible.

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5.  On a whim movie moments (or at least they feel like movie moments to me).  When I’m in the car with a friend and we decide to just drive around and talk and blare our favorite songs.  When it’s almost midnight and me and a friend decide that we need to go grab a burger.  And those quiet instances when you sneak a kiss despite the chaos that is happening around you.  Moments like those when it’s almost too surreal to be real.

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6.  Listening to my iPod.  Sometimes life gets so hectic and the simple act of putting on my headphones and zoning out or getting in the zone with the help of music makes all the difference.  I wish my life had a soundtrack, and this is the closest I can get.

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7.  Buying groceries.  Food shopping is a liberating experience of free will.  I get to decide how many cartons of strawberries I buy, whether I really need that organic chocolate, and which jar of syrup I should get.  I just love making those little decisions.

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8.  Hugs.  They LITERALLY make my day.  A hug from a friend makes me so happy, and I try to hug all my friends upon seeing them and when we part ways.  I can’t get enough hugs.

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9.  Strawberries.  My favorite fruit.  I can eat pounds of these in one sitting.  And when I have them in my fridge, I cannot wait to eat them.  And when the dining hall serves them, I guarantee, I eat them all.

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10.  The posters plastered to the wall of my dorm.  I’ve made my space my own despite that my residence here is temporary, but because of the decorations I feel at home.  Bring Me the Horizon sits above my desk, Pierce the Veil above my bed and a slew of other screamo bands cover the walls from floor to ceiling, making me like walking into my dorm.  

The N Word…

Dare I say this on the internet…I like the band, Nickelback.  I’m very aware of the backlash one gets for liking this band, though.  For goodness sakes, in 2011 when Nickelback was slotted to play the Thanksgiving half time show, thousands signed a petition that the band should not perform.  It’s become the mainstream to hate Nickelback, and when the band becomes a topic for discussion, any hater will say, “They suck” or “All their songs sound the same.”  Everyone’s entitled to their opinion, but I’d like to defend the Candian post-grunge/arena rock quartet.

I’ll agree that indeed all the songs sound the same; however, Nickelback has perfected their style so much and they’re good at what they do.  You can tell it’s a Nickelback song by Kroeger’s voice,  the fast-paced aggressive nature of the song, and the simplistic lyrics.  Nickelback have never reinvented themselves, but that’s perfectly fine.  If Nickelback like the songs they create, and their fans like it, and their enjoying themselves, there’s no need to reinvent their sound.  Sure, they’ve experimented with slower songs and some country twang, but nothing too far from their core.   Plenty of artists perfect their own style and stick to it, e.g. A Day to Remember, All Time Low, Bowling For Soup, and many more.

The misconception exists that Nickelback only writes songs about sex.  The majority of their songs are about the subject, but they’re about lust and not so much about objectifying and degrading women.  Nickelback’s song “Something In Your Mouth,” which is more about oral fixation, is nowhere near as embarrassing and offensive as Lil Jon’s tune, “Get Low.”  But even so, some of the best songs are about sex, Def Leppard’s  “Pour Some Sugar On Me,” “It Takes Two” by Rob Base and DJ EZ Rock, and Aerosmith’s jam, “Love In An Elevator.”  So just because the majority of the lyrical content of Nickelback’s songs are sensual doesn’t warrant any hate.  And if you’re wondering which songs aren’t about the topic, listen to “Never Again” (physically abusive relationship from a child’s perspective); “Just to Get High” (drug addiction and consequences); “Side of a Bullet” (murder and the aftermath), and plenty of others.

People also seem to attack Chad Kroeger’s look and voice.  People claim he’s constantly yelling in his songs and his goatee is unattractive.  To this I say, why are people ridiculing how someone looks?  That’s bullying.  If you don’t like the man’s goatee, don’t grow one yourself or don’t date someone who has that facial hair.  But stop spreading hate.  And Kroger’s voice isn’t for everyone, but at least he doesn’t sound like every other auto tuned singer.  His scratchy deep voice appeals to me.

I used to say Nickelback was my guilty pleasure because I was ashamed of the reaction I got when I admitted that yes I actually like their music, know their songs, and willingly choose to listen to them.  But, I’m not going to any more.  I have all their albums, I’ve been on a Nickelback kick for the past week, solely listening to them all day; and going to a Nickelback concert is on my bucket list.  So to the haters, I say:

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Your Warped Playlist

Warped Tour is in full swing, and if I’m being honest, I haven’t gotten any sleep this past week (or at least not much) because I’ve been so excited for the concert coming to my area THIS FRIDAY.  This Friday I will finally get to let loose and scream my lungs out, jump up and down until my legs go numb, stay out in the sun until I am out of sunscreen, and soak up every little moment of pure musical magic.  And since my Warped Tour date is a day away, I have been gearing up for it: I’ve been listening to only the artists who will be in attendance at Warped Tour for the past few weeks.  In honor of Warped Tour, I’ve put together a playlist of artists that will be there and songs you can expect to be played.  Headphones on!

 

1.  The Summer Set’s “Jukebox (Life Goes On)” :  Off their latest album, Legendary (which you should own by now…) this pop punk jam is complete with an optimistic viewpoint and catchy as hell lyrics.  Sure to be on their setlist because the lyrics even invite listeners to sing along.

 

2.  Sleeping With Sirens’ “The Best There Ever Was” : This high paced, viciously energetic hardcore song is perfect for Warped Tour.  Off their latest album, Feel, this anger fueled song blends together screaming and a fuck you attitude.

 

3.  Bring Me the Horizon’s “Antivist” : Phenomenal screaming.  Explicitly honest lyrics.  Mosh pit inducing mayhem.  Hardcore at its absolute best.  Need I say more?  Also, this is off the band’s latest album, Sempiternal, a must have.

 

4.  The Used’s “Blood On My Hands” : Though this is not off their latest album, this song is everything The Used.  The lyrics are macabre and dark, the singing is melodic yet emotional, the beat is high paced, and the chorus yearns for gang vocals from the audience.

 

5.  Bowling For Soup’s “1985” : I know, this is a band and a song out of left field, but they will be there and everyone knows BFS is a hoot and a holler.  This classic jam simply has to be played.  Every soul on the planet knows these lyrics (and if you don’t, quick learn em).

 

6.  Go Radio’s “Any Other Heart” : Not off their latest album, but this emotionally driven song has a charging buildup to the chorus and is pop punk at its finest.

 

7.  Story of the Year’s “Until the Day I Die” : This song is a blast from the past, but the explosive guitar and drums, brutally honest lyrics, and emotional tremors beg the song to be turned up to full volume.

 

8.  3OH!3’s “Don’t trust Me” : I am not a fan of the band’s latest album, Omens, because they fused as much AutoTune as possible, dub step collisions, cliche, lame as ever lyrics together until the result was a vomit inducing mash up of noises.  BUT, before that happened, 3OH!3 was everyone’s guilty pleasure with their explicit, tongue in cheek lyrics, attitude, and rap-core glory.  This hit is probably what made the band famous for its rightful reasons.

 

9.  Silverstein’s “If You Could See Into My Soul” : Silverstein has an plentiful array of albums, and this song is from one of their older ones, but it’s a must hear.  Fusing together screamed lyrics and enchantingly sung lyrics, thrashing guitars and charged moments of buildup, this is a winner in my book.

 

10.  Hawthorne Heights’ “Ohio Is For Lovers” : Probably their best named song ever, this song is also digging deep into the band’s album history.  I can’t say for sure if this song will be played at Warped because the band have progressed and changed pretty drastically from the death of a bandmate, lineup changes, and an overall polishing of their rough, hardcore sound; nonetheless, you should know of this song.  This dark love song starts off softly and slowly builds into this passionate, emotionally awake, cut throat screaming, masochistic chaos.

Summer Songs

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Ever since I went to the beach yesterday, I’ve been on cloud nine just thinking about summer.  I was so excited that I made myself a playlist of summer, beach-y, poppy, upbeat tunes that I could blare in my car or while I am relaxing by my pool.  So, crank that iPod and get ready for the best season of them all.

 

1.  “I will always remember/making out ’til the sun went down/counting stars from the hood of a car/catching my friends as they were falling down.” – Every Avenue’s Days of the Old.  It’s a shout out to summer.

2.  “Lets just kick it in the summer heat/Meet me at the boardwalk in pacific beach.” – Fight Fair’s Brain-Freeze!  The song’s chorus is all about being young and having fun, exactly what summer encourages.

3.  “Then you lost your shoes as it started to rain/And your jeans soaked through/But you smiled anyway.” – The Summer Set’s Lightning In a Bottle.  When it’s summer everyone is a little more carefree, and that is what this song is about, just living in the moment and enjoying life.

4.  “What do you say we leave for California/If we drive all night, we can make it by the morning.” – Metro Station’s California.  Summer day trips and summer vacations.  This incredible pop song describes just packing and going to California.

5.  “Baby you light up my world like nobody else/The way that you flip your hair gets me overwhelmed.” – One Direction’s What Makes You Beautiful.  Now I’m not a fan of this boy band; however, this song is just so optimistic and happy and it always puts me in a great mood, and summer does too, so they go hand in hand for me.  Plus, I have memories of me and my best friend blaring this song as we drive down the road.

 

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6.  “The sun set too soon in this town/We’re pushing statues to the ground/I know you are the reckless kind/The crashing is the sweetest sound.” – Avalanche City’s Sunset.  This song begins with whistling and the cute, bubbly melody just leaves a smile on your face.

7.  “And we’ll stay out all night/’Cause rest is for the dead.” – Hit the Lights’ Stay Out.  During summer teens stay out until the wee hours of the morning, and sleep in until mid afternoon, so this song is quite fitting.

8.  “I spill my heart from coast to coast/Fall in love with everyone I know/Sometimes it isn’t where you’re going/It’s who you’re with.” – Mayday Parade’s Get Up.  Off their sophomore album, this song is about experiencing love and heart break in different parts of the States.  And with summer comes flings and loves and flirts.

9.  “Hey windows down, chillin’ with the radio on.” – Hot Chelle Rae’s I Like It Like That.  This upbeat song is all about partying, having a good time, and just letting loose.

10.  “There’s a place off ocean avenue/Where I used to sit and talk with you/We were both 16 and it felt so right,/Sleepin all day, stayin up all… night.” – Yellowcard’s Ocean Avenue.  Need I say more, this song is the epitome of summer.

 

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This Band…

Certain songs on my iPod trigger memories surrounding one person.  Sometimes when I miss said person, I play their song on repeat and let my mind wander to thoughts of them.  Or, if the person has hurt me and my wound is too fresh, I refuse to play the song that reminds me of him of her.  The worst, though, is when an entire album reminds me of one person, and the Summer Set, their two latest albums remind me of people who I have cared about intensely and who have hurt me in terrible ways.  Listening to the albums are bittersweet  because I think of the good times I shared with those people, yet I am always reminded that those people didn’t give me the love and attention I deserved.

The Summer Set’s 2011 album, Everything’s Fine, got me through a difficult break up because the entire album was like a breakup bible.  The songs ranged from loss and hurt to happiness because a bad relationship is severed; however, all the songs were relatively sad and mostly the songs mourned the loss of something beautiful.  The one song in particular, “When We Were Young,” described me and a former boyfriend to the “T.”  And now that he and I are friends, I can listen to that song and smile.  I no longer blare it in my car and cry when I think about him.  I appreciate the album because of its emotional honesty and how relatable it is.  I’m relieved, actually, that the album spoke to me because it helped me heal.

 

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And of course, The Summer Set has done it again with their 2013 album: Legendary.  On the surface, if I do not listen to the lyrics, each song puts me in an upbeat, joyful mood.  The poppy optimistic sounding songs give me an extra hop in my step and make me grin a little wider.  Unfortunately, if I listen to the lyrics and let my mind wander, I think of a most recent breakup, and I end up skipping several of the songs because I don’t want to be reminded of that person.  A few of the songs are safety songs because they aren’t necessarily about a relationship; rather, the singer describes letting go and chasing your dreams and loving life.  But, with a song like, “The Way We Were,” it is almost inevitable that I think of the person who I am still getting over.  And this time, even though I love this band, and I appreciate their truthful lyrics and the cheerful music that will later be the soundtrack to my summer, right now, I can only take it in doses.  I don’t want to think about the person, and because The Summer Set are so good at their craft and triggering memories through their words, I cannot completely listen to their album.  It’s a shame someone ruined this album for me, because I had been anticipating the album’s greatness for months.

 

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