Battle of the bands

Sitting home and doing nothing puts these ideas in my head.  I thought it would be fun a good idea to create a playlist for you guys - something I have not done in a long time.

So I was brainstorming different ideas for playlists and I thought of "Battle of the Bands."  Now, "Battle of the Bands" is a real competition in which different bands perform and compete for the winning title, kind of like X Factor but only one day.

So I put together a list of 39 bands/groups and came up with at least one song for each band.  Here's the end result (all of the links are from YouTube):

1. Kiss You - One Direction
2. Twist and Shout - The Beatles
3. Gimme Shelter - The Rolling Stones
4. Standing In The Dark - Lawson
5. Bye Bye Bye - N Sync
6. Don't Stop - Fleetwood Mac
7. Larger Than Life - Backstreet Boys
8. That's What You Get - Paramore
9. Don't Turn Out The Lights - NKOTBSB
10. Take Me Home - Midnight Red
11. California Dreamin' - The Mamas & the Papas
12. Baba O'Riley - The Who
13. Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen
14. Wheel In the Sky - Journey
15. Roxanne - The Police
16. Bless the Broken Road - Rascal Flatts
17. When I See You Smile - Bad English
18. Hotel California - Eagles
19. Wings - Little Mix
20. Angeleyes - ABBA
21. Miami 2 Ibiza - Swedish House Mafia ft. Tinie Tempah (Viewer discretion is advised for this video)
22. Burnin' Up - Jonas Brothers
23. Mrs. Robinson - Simon and Garfunkel
24. Carry You - Union J
25. Chloe (You're The One I Want) - Emblem3
26. Oh Boy - BOY
27. That'll Be The Day - Buddy Holly & the Crickets
28. Bring It (Snakes On A Plane) - Cobra Starship
29. Ho Hey - The Lumineers
30. Higher - The Saturdays
31. Centerfold - J. Geils Band
32. The Weight - The Band
33. Party Rock Anthem - LMFAO
34. Seventeen Forever - Metro Station
35. Carry On - Fun.
36. It's My Life - Bon Jovi
37. Our Lips Are Sealed - Go-Go's
38. Hazy Shade Of Winter - The Bangles
39. Sharp Dressed Man - ZZ Top

Which one is your favorite?  If these bands were all in a "Battle of the Bands" contest, who would be the victor?  Comment below with your answers!

Tomorrowland videos

Here are the Tomorrowland videos I promised to post!  These are my personal favorite artists, that's why I chose these ones over all of the others I found.  These are not my videos, all credit goes to the owners!!!

Official Video

Nicky Romero

Afrojack

Redfoo

David Guetta

Comments

Okay, I want you all to comment on my posts.  I have adjusted the settings so anyone can post a comment - you do not need a Google account!  If you don't like something I posted, say it (in a nice way, of course).  If you loved something I posted, tell me.  The more I know about my audience, the more I can mold my blog to be what you want it to!

Pretty please with a cherry on top.  Comment.

Tomorrowland

The annual concert took place in Belgium, as always, over three days this weekend, starting Friday and ending today.  

For those who have never heard of Tomorrowland, it is a large electronic music festival that has taken place in Boom, Belgium since 2005.  The festival always holds several stages so many artists can go on at one time.  That's a lot of house music going on at once.

On Friday, July 26, Tomorrowland hosted DJs such as:

• Sebastian Ingrosso (a former member of Swedish House Mafia)
• Redfoo (you know, from LMFAO) (you know, "Party rock is in the house tonight!")
• Afrojack (the DJ that featured in "Give Me Everything" by Pitbull.  You know what song I'm talking about, right?)
• Steve Aoki (WE HIT TURBULENCE!!!)

On Saturday, July 27, some DJs were:

• Avicii (his most famous song "Levels" is instrumental.  I don't think you want to see me type out that tune)
• Axwell (was alongside Sebastian Ingrosso in Swedish House Mafia)
• Zedd ("If our love's insanity, why are you my clarity?!")
• Martin Solveig ("I just came to say 'hello!'")

And to name a few DJs from Sunday, July 28:

• David Guetta ("I am TITANIUM!") vs. Afrojack (see Friday, July 26) vs. Nicky Romero (an attractive young (24-years-old) DJ)
• Steve Angello (we just can't seem to get rid of these Swedish House Mafia folks) (I love you Swedish House Mafia)

I would love to go if it wasn't in Belgium!  It's like the Bamboozle of house music - pretty awesome!

I haven't seen any videos from the eventful weekend, but as soon as I do, I will post them up here for you all to get a little taste of the famous Tomorrowland.

The artists are courtesy of tomorrowland.com

Long Road Out Of Eden

My friend Kayla and I go thrift shopping (yes, like Macklemore) and buy clothes to fix them up.  The two of us love DIY projects!  As I was looking around, I found this Eagles Long Road Out Of Eden Tour 2009 t-shirt.  Knowing me, I could not pass!   

The shirt shows all 22 cities from the 2009 tour.  I have never seen the Eagles in concert (even though they are one of my favorite bands) but this shirt is still very cool to have regardless.

It was a regular t-shirt, but I don't like tees.  To fix it up, I cut off the sleeves and the collar to make it a cool muscle tee.  

Journey vs. Rascal Flatts

There was this show my dad recorded on CMT called Crossroads.  My dad recorded the episode because we love Journey (one of my May posts explains why).  Well, Journey and the country band Rascal Flatts sound flawless together.  Sometimes an unexpected mix of voices and instruments can sound a little messy, but I am telling you that the collaboration was put together perfectly.

The two groups performed Journey hits like "Separate Ways," "Faithfully," and "Don't Stop Believin'," and Rascal Flatts hits like "Life Is a Highway," "What Hurts the Most," and "Bless the Broken Road."

If you see this show or this specific episode on, I suggest you watch it.  I know I always say "watch this" or "listen to this," but that's only because everything I blog about is worthy of your attention.  I would never make you listen to something that doesn't deserve to be listened to!

Midnight Red

I first heard their song "Take Me Home" on a Coca-Cola commercial earlier this week and it's a very good tune!  I think it is the perfect summer song.  Midnight Red is an American boy band consisting of members Colton Rudloff, Anthony Ladao, Thomas Augusto, Eric Secharia, and Joey Diggs.  

They are a more poppy version of Lawson, the band I spoke of yesterday.  Their voices, like One Direction, sound absolutely amazing together.  They opened for the NKOTBSB Tour in 2011 and they are in the midst of recording for their debut album, scheduled to be released this year.  

"Take Me Home" is available on iTunes as well as another single, "Hell Yeah," and an EP entitled, "One Club At a Time."

Andy, Ryan, Joel, and Adam

Andy Brown (acoustic guitar and lead vocals), Ryan Fletcher (bass guitar and backing vocals), Joel Peat (lead guitar and backing vocals), and Adam Pitts (drums) are the four men making up the British pop band Lawson.  They are currently based in London and released their debut album, Chapman Square, in October 2012.  

I first found out about this band the same way I find out about a lot of music - Instagram.  Their sound is similar to that of The Wanted, in case you were wondering but are too lazy to look them up yourself which in understandable.  I am like that, too.

They have had five singles released over the past year and a half in the UK and IRL:

1. When She Was Mine (2012)
2. Taking Over Me (2012)
3. Standing In The Dark
4. Learn To Love Again (2012)
5. Brokenhearted (feat. B.o.B) (2013)

The only song available as of right now in the US on iTunes is "Learn To Love Again", all of their songs are available on the UK/IRL iTunes, but I am unsure about other countries.

Beautiful

The free song on iTunes this week is "Beautiful" by Ben Rector.  I usually listen to the preview iTunes provides but rarely download it.  For me to download the free tune of the week, it has to be good.

Since I downloaded it, you're probably thinking that the song must be good.  It is good.  The song fits the title very well - it's beautiful.  Songs like this are a little difficult to stumble upon these days since  a good portion of music contains sex, drugs, and/or alcohol.  "Beautiful" is just a classic love song.  Anyone want to write me a song like this? 

I really suggest downloading this song.  Even buy it - that's what I'll end up doing at the end of the week.  I want to show how important lyrics like this are.  Stop focusing on the obscene lyrics and focus on the beautiful ones instead.  

Best Song Ever

There is a new One Direction song out and even though they will be releasing a third album in the near future, their sound is not changing - usually singers change their sound a little bit by now.  The music video, which was released earlier today, is a promo for their movie This Is Us which will hit theaters at the end of August.  I have to say that I am never disappointed with One Direction's music videos.  This one is just as funny and creative as the others.

The song talks about how they each danced with a girl to "the best song ever," but he can't seem to remember the words.  To him, though, remembering the words doesn't matter because he "won't forget her."

It's My Party

1963 by Lesley Gore.  This song will go on to be one of the most famous songs in the American culture.  The song's chorus, "It's my party and I'll cry if I want to, cry if I want to, cry if I want to / You would cry too if it happened to you," represents her humiliation at her own birthday party.  The poor teenager notices her boyfriend Johnny disappears and later sees him with Judy and she's "wearing his ring."  The girl realizes she has been replaced and cries, and cries, and cries because, well, it is her party.

Every birthday party we've ever had at my house always has this song in the playlist.  Yes, it is a little sad, but it's perfect!

Mama Cass Elliot

The Mamas & the Papas.  A group that is known so well even though most of their hits came from the 1960s.  But one voice in the group is so distinct and that is the voice of Mama herself.  

"Dream a Little Dream of Me" is a very difficult song to sing if you are looking to sound like Mama Cass.  In my opinion, that song is extremely hard to match because of how amazing her voice is.  

I know I was not alive when she died, but 33-years-old is way too young.  I think it will always be impossible to find someone just like Mama Cass.  A voice like that is hard to find. 

The First Time

In the movie The First Time, Aubrey (Britt Robertson) meets Dave (Dylan O'Brien) in an alley outside a party they both attended.  There was automatically a connection between them and they spent the whole weekend together, even though they both had their own love lives which - well I won't give anything away if you have yet to see the flick.  I usually don't like movies that are sappy and romantic like this, but it was such a good movie.  One of my favorite parts was the soundtrack.  A soundtrack for a movie is extremely important.  If the movie is good but the music is bad, the movie will not be as good as it really should be.  Here's the soundtrack:

Silly Boy - The Blue Van
Teenage Daydream - The Nights
We're #1 - The World Record
Lonely Soul - The Nights
Trouble - Wait.  Think.  Fast.
The End - Best Coast
Head Spin - The Jamestown Story
Vampire's Kiss - John Gold
Girls Like You - The Naked and Famous
Sweet Louise - The Belle Brigade
Coming Home - The Pete Kilpatrick Band
Til The Morning - Bahamas
In Your Mind - Phonograph
I Cannot Love You  - Telekinesis
Can't Stop Thinking - Buva
Come On - The Wind
Wait For Me - Motopony
Mama - Sorta
Come And Go - Danica Rozelle ft. KU
Anne With An E - The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
Oh My Love - The Concretes
Diamond Eyes - Michael Haggins
Out Of Touch - Liz Boden and The Axes
If It Be Your Will - Leonard Cohen

Storage

I wish I had this storage for all of my vinyls.  I am just running out of room. 

                 Photo: tumblr.com

This Magic Moment

Today is my dad's birthday, so in honor of him, I'd like to talk about the song that has been ours since I was four-years-old.  It's called "This Magic Moment" by Jay & the Americans.  It was decided that on my wedding day, my dad and I would dance to this song.  This song is such a classic in so many ways.  The lyrics and the music are both fantastic.  I couldn't have asked for a better song.

'Cause I'm tired of sleeping alone

I'm very upset that "Don't Let Me Go" is not available on iTunes because it was leaked.  Someone is definitely in trouble for that! 

The song is by a member of the New Zealand duo Kids of 88, Sam McCarthy, and One Direction member, Harry Styles.  Styles sings the entire song while McCarthy collaborates with the boy-bander.  

The ballad is beautiful.  During the chorus there is a line, "'Cause I'm tired of feeling alone " and my favorite part is when they end the song with that line, but change it to, "'Cause I'm tired of sleeping alone."  Songs like this make me mad - how come I didn't write this?!  

Well, the song is on YouTube, so you should check it out there.

Everytime We Touch

While going through all of the songs on my phone, I stumbled upon this oldie.  Well, I'm exaggerating.  It's "Everytime We Touch" by the German Eurodance act, Cascada.  This was the song and artist to listen to at any huge party.  The upbeat track always brought people to the dance floor even if they didn't want to dance.  The act has also had several other hits like "Miracle" and "Evacuate the Dancefloor" which is their most recent success.

Cory Monteith

I was always a huge fan of the show Glee, so when I found out this morning that Cory Monteith (Finn) died, I was in complete shock and I still am.  Finn has been my favorite character since the first time I watched the show.  He was a great singer and seemed like a really good guy in reality.  At 31-years-old, it's extremely upsetting to see him go so soon.  Watching my Glee seasons and playing Glee Karaoke Revolution will never be the same.  

Probably one of my favorite songs he did was "Can't Fight This Feeling" back from season one, although every song he covered was always great and always sounded flawless.

Rest in peace, Cory Monteith.  We will miss you. 

The Nerds

On Thursday night I saw a band called The Nerds.  They are a cover band that has been around for quite some time - my mom used to see them with her friend in the '80s.  I've seen them before and they are absolutely incredible!!  Their name fits them well because they are dressed up as, well, nerds.  

They performed a very diverse group of songs:

1.  The Boys Of Summer - Don Henley

2.  Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen

3.  Locked Out Of Heaven - Bruno Mars

4.  Don't Stop Believin' - Journey

5.  An insert from Thrift Shop - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

Several more were in this mix but unfortunately the concert had to be cut short due to rain since the show was outdoors.  

Here is a picture of the stage before the concert. 

I am unable to post the short video I took of their performance of "The Boys Of Summer," but if you have an Instagram you can watch it on there. My Instagram is @jordanhanley03 

I Would Give - song of the day

"I Would Give" by Jonathon Waterman

169 records and counting

I went to my grandma's today for her birthday.  While we were sitting in her family room, she pointed to cabinets that had a plethora of records.  I went through every single one and looked over each song on each vinyl and took the ones I wanted.  I picked ones like (but not limited to and please do not judge me) Mary Poppins, The Sound of Music, The Carpenters' Horizon, and from the movie Deliverance, Dueling Banjos. My record count now is - drum roll please - 169!  Oh boy am I running out of space in my room! 

What About Love

Another obsession has risen and it is with Austin Mahone's song "What About Love."  I heard it when it was first released but never really listened to it until today.  I have had the song on repeat for the past thirty minutes.  He sounds just like Justin Bieber and is cute like him, too!  The beat has a little bit of an 'N Sync sound to it, don't ask me why I think that, though :P.

Guitar picks

I, for some reason, find this to be the coolest thing ever.  Okay maybe not the coolest thing ever, but it's still pretty awesome.  From urbanoutfitters.com, you can purchase a Guitar Pick Punch for $30.00.  This punch cuts any flat surface you have into a guitar pick shape!

My drawings

Little Mix

I drew this last year.  As you may know, Little Mix is one if my favorite groups so I had to draw each of the members' logos. 

One Direction

My previous explanation is pretty much the same for this picture.  I could not pass up the opportunity to draw the boys.

Cher Lloyd

This one was so much fun to draw because I really just drew any shapes and colored with the first color I saw!

Concerts

I love going to a concert.  I really only enjoy myself, though, if I actually like the singer/band.  You're probably thinking, why would she go to a concert she didn't want to go to? and you're right.  Why would I go to a concert I had absolutely no interest in going to?  There is actually quite a simple answer, though.  A concert, to me, is a concert.  I would never go to a concert for a band I have never heard of, but if I like a couple of songs and the tickets are cheap, why not go?

I'm only 17-years-old, but I have been to my fair share of concerts.  Not necessarily as many as some of my peers have, but I'm proud of my number:

1.  Bon Jovi - My very first concert and it was at Giants' Stadium.

2.  The Police - It was on Halloween at MSG and the three band members were all dressed up for the holiday.

3.  Bruce Springsteen - Izod Center

4.  Bryan Adams - We were four rows from the stage at the PNC Bank Arts center.  George Thorogood was the opening act.

5.  Ringo Starr and His All-Starr Band - 2008 at the PNC Bank Arts Center.  Edgar Winter, Billy Squier, and Colin Hay were among the All-Starrs.

6.  Jonas Brothers - I have seen them twice.  Once in 2008 at MSG and the second time at the Izod Center and I was five rows from the stage. 

7.  Miley Cyrus - Saw her in 2009 at the Prudential Center.  The opening act was Metro Station. 

8.  Justin Bieber - 2010 at the Prudential Center and Sean Kingston and Jaden Smith were there as well. 

9.  Cher Lloyd - My school won a concert from her and I got to the venue so early with my friend, we got to be front row!

10.  Amy Grant - I saw her at the Beacon Theatre with my youth group at church during our 30-Hour Famine.

A party is only as good as its music

To me, a party isn't a good one if there isn't good music.  PLAYLIST IS KEY HERE.  I have learned from my father that when a party has good music, all of your guests find your party to be one of the best!

Now, the first rule is it is a must to incorporate music for all different ages and likes.  If your party is going to consist of teenagers, thirty-year-olds, and your parents, you need to have a little bit of everything. Frank Sinatra, Miley Cyrus, Backstreet Boys, The Police - they are all perfect to include into the playlist.  Now, if you are only hosting a group of juvenile delinquents, I don't think Frank Sinatra is a good idea because unless they have an appreciation for 1960s tunes, their inner delinquent is going to come out.  Trust me.  And playing a mix of different things will make your guests very happy!

The second rule on my list is you don't need a huge and elaborate sound system to host a party with good music.  Honestly all you need is a device to hold your playlist (i.e. an iPod or computer) and some sort of dock or stereo.  Even if you just plug your iPhone into an iHome, that's all you need!  People don't care about where the music is coming from.  All they want is music!

My third and last rule for today is to have fun with it!  I know that sounds so cliché but it's so true!  Don't make "making a playlist" a task you absolutely dread.  To make your life a little bit easier, get a couple of people of different ages and have them write songs down they like or songs they think the audience will like. Music makes the world go 'round and makes everyone enjoy their time at your event. 

Make it spooky

Besides the fact that scary movies are fun to watch, the background music makes them 20 times better!

Let us look into that.  Jaws is one of the greatest movies.  Steven Spielberg's minimal use of the shark makes it that much more scary when the monster does pop out of the water.  But one of the most famous aspects of the movie is that music:  duh nuh....duh nuh....duh nuh nuh nuh nuh nuh nuh - I think you know what I'm trying to say.

photo:  youtube.com

A movie that I can never resist to watch during the Halloween season is of course Halloween.  John Carpenter is the master composer.  We all know a majority of his work and we always find them to fit each movie or TV show perfectly.  While John Carpenter is the ultimate composer, Michael Myers seems to be the ultimate killer.  I think the theme for the movie really fits his character, don't you think?

photo:  wikipedia.com

Mike Oldfield's "Tubular Bells" is the famous theme from blockbuster The Exorcist.  This song being the theme for the movie is as iconic as the scene when Father Merrin arrives at the MacNeil household.  It seems as if no other creation would've worked as well as this piece does for this film.  

photo:  imdb.com

Happy 4th of July

Happy Birthday America!!  In honor of Independence Day, here are the lyrics, even though I would hope you know them, to the Star-Spangled Banner. 

O say can you see by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming,
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there;
O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave,
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

Thank you to everyone who fought and those you continue to fight for our freedom.  God Bless America. 

42 years of a closed Door

It has been 42 years since lead singer Jim Morrison of The Doors died.  He died in Paris, France of heart failure [1] at the young age of 27 and is buried at Père Lachaise Cemetery in France. 

This same year of 1971, Jim Morrison left The Doors to go on his own.  To go back in time, Morrison and fellow UCLA student Ray Manzarek were the first two members of the band which came about in the summer of '65.  Manzarek thought of Morrison's poems as "rock group material" and they formed the group from there.  Because of his early death, Morrison never released a solo album since he died soon after he broke away from The Doors. 

He was ranked number 47 of "100 Greatest Singers of All Time" by Rolling Stone [2].  This Door was closed way too soon. 

[1] "Jim Morrison." 2013. The Biography Channel website. Jul 03 2013, 01:40

[2] "100 Greatest Singers:  Jim Morrison."   Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 3, 2013.

Followers

I got my first follower today!  Well she's my only follower that I know of. Thanks to everyone who takes the time to view my blog every day. You really mean everything to me and my blog!

- Jordan xx

Still Crazy After All These Years

One of Paul Simon's greatest solo albums is Still Crazy After All These Years.  The 1975 release, which won a Grammy [1], features songs:

1.  Still Crazy After All These Years

2.  My Little Town

3.  I Do It for Your Love

4.  50 Ways to Leave Your Lover

5.  Night Game

6.  Gone at Last

7.  Some Folks' Lives Roll Easy

8.  Have a Good Time

9.  You're Kind

I went thrift shopping with my friend yesterday and the moment I saw the album I realized I just HAD to have it!  This record is of course post-Simon and Garfunkel, but the duo reunited in this album for the song "My Little Town," which is definitely nice to see - well hear.  

[1] wikipedia.com