Live Like We're Dying

Everyone knows the song "Live Like We're Dying" by Kris Allen, the season eight winner of the singing competition American Idol.  Well I saw him live last week and got to meet him.  Pretty cool, I know.

The Arkansas-native performed songs off his recent album, Horizons, as well as his first single "Live Like We're Dying" and other songs of his, "Chandelier" by Sia, "I Want You Back" by The Jackson 5, as well as a few other covers.

His new album is pretty good.  His sound is pretty similar to what it has always been, it just sounds a little more mature, but that's how most artists are.

My favorite song was probably "Better With You" from his 2012 album, Thank You Camellia.

Irreplaceable

I have been adjusting to school so I apologize I haven't been on much.

But I was thinking today about all of the great songs written by other big names.

1. "You'll Always Find Your Way Back Home" written by Taylor Swift for Hannah Montana in Hannah Montana:  The Movie.  Readers are definitely navigating away from my page right now, so for those of you who were kind enough to stay I thank you for dealing with my childish tendencies.  This song is a catchy country tune that fit perfectly with the movie.
2. "Irreplaceable" was written by Ne-Yo for Beyoncé.  This is one of her biggest songs.  I actually remember hearing this song on the radio back in, like, 2006.  
3. "Just A Little Bit of Your Heart" written by Harry Styles for Ariana Grande.  Okay.  I love this song.  This song has gotten really mixed reviews from different music critics.  I read one in Rolling Stone that said how you can "basically hear Ariana roll her eyes as she sings it" and that it does not belong on this album.  I think Ariana sounds absolutely incredible singing this song.  Her voice sounds flawless with a ballad.
4. "F*** You" or "Forget You" was written by Bruno Mars for Cee Lo Green.  This song was HUGE.  Glee covered it, X Factor contestants covered it, Sleeping with Sirens covered it - the song was heard everywhere for months.  But, did you know that "F*** You" was the original title?  Most people are unaware of that.
5. "Party in the U.S.A." was written by Jessie J for Miley Cyrus.  I completely forgot that Jessie J wrote this song.  This song was huge because it was Miley's first (but small) step away from being Hannah Montana.  Everyone watched her performance of the song at the 2009 Teen Choice Awards with wide eyes as she pole danced on an ice cream cart.
6. "RESPECT" was written by Otis Redding... And was intended for himself!  Made famous by Aretha Franklin, the song was originally written by blues singer Otis Redding with intentions of recording the song himself.  Franklin's version, however, is where the "R-E-S-P-E-C-T" bit originated from.

Anna Sun

"Anna Sun" by WALK THE MOON is probably one of my favorite songs at the moment, along with "Just A Little Bit of Your Heart" by Ariana Grande (I'll talk about her song another day).

Originating in Cincinatti, Ohio, this indie pop group supposedly got their name from "Walking on the Moon," a song by The Police.

The band consists of Nicholas Petricca (lead vocals, keys, synthesizer), Kevin Ray (bass, vocals), Sean Waugaman (drums, vocals), Eli Maiman (guitar, vocals).

While "Anna Sun" was originally released in their debut independent record, I Want!  I Want!, it was re-released on their self-titled record, Walk the Moon, through RCA.

Their sound reminds me of Hunter Hunted, one of the bands that opened for twenty one pilots back in April.  I just think WALK THE MOON is a little more advanced lyrically.

Be-Bop-A-Lula

Listen to this song and I guarantee you will immediately think of Elvis Presley.

Well, good job, you're wrong.

It's actually rock and roll and rockabilly group, Gene Vincent and His Blue Caps.  Gene Vincent (born Vincent Eugene Craddock) was in the U.S. Navy, hence the name "Blue Caps."

It has been said that the song was started in 1955 while Vincent was in the U.S. Navy hospital due to a motorcycle accident.  The song was released in 1956 and peaked at number seven on the Billboard pop chart.

The song went on to be covered by artists such as David Cassidy and Queen.

[Source:  YouTube]

Puttin' on the Ritz

One of my favorite scenes in movie history would have to be in the 1974 hit Young Frankenstein when Dr. Frankenstein (Gene Wilder) and "The Creature" (Peter Boyle) perform "Puttin' on the Ritz."

The scene is comical and seems to lighten up your mood.

[Source:  YouTube]