A new outlook on Pretty. Odd.

I want to apologize to my friend for leaving a comment on her blog saying I wasn't a fan of Northern Downpour, I lied :) I especially want to apologize to Panic At The Disco if I ever dissed them. Yesterday I went shopping and got Pretty. Odd. at F.Y.E. I just downloaded it on my iPod (I got a nano!) and I was shocked. The so called (or as I called them) "cheesy" lyrics were incredibly powerful and uplifting and the new sound is just great. I completely understand what's so great about Northern Downpour and I've decided to rate all the songs by stars:

We're So Starving- ***
Nine In The Afternoon- *****
She's A Handsome Woman- ***1/2
Do You Know What I'm Seeing?- *****
That Green Gentleman (Things Have Changed)- *****
I Have Friends In Holy Spaces- ****
Northern Downpour- *****
When The Day Met The Night- *****
Pas De Cheval- ***
The Piano Knows Something I Don't Know- ****
Behind The Sea- ****1/2
Folkin' Around- *****
She Had The World- ***1/2
From A Mountain In The Middle Of The Cabins- *****
Mad As Rabbits- ****

I really love how Ryan gets to sing in Mad As Rabbits and She Had The World. He has a great voice, but he needs to put a little more enthusiasm in his voice and he goes a little flat when he scoops to a note. Of course, I could criticize Brendon, but I'm so used to his voice and that's why I notice more things about Ryan. I especially like when he sings in She Had The World, I think he sounds great.

So, that's it for today. I won't be posting in eight days because I'll be in Vancouver for my competition. Wish me luck!

More B'days!

Happy Birthday Tim McCord! Tim was born in California and is now officially 29! He's the bassist for Evanescence.

Jason and deMarco

I was just looking these guys up on iTunes. I was watching showtime this morning and they were showing the documentary on their lives. Jason and deMarco are gay lovers who travel the world performing pop songs together in churches, dance clubs and at pride events. They are both very spiritual and religious people and they want to show the world that you can be spiritual and gay. They battle critisism from both anti-gay churches and from they gay community. They work together to integrate spituality and homosexuality and they beleive in accepting all religions and sexual orientations. I think they are very inspiring and amazing people. They have two full-length albums, Spirit Pop and Till The End Of Time.

They're great singers and great people. Check out they're website and google them. Here is their music video and a video of one of my fave songs:

This Is Love- Jason and deMarco

Be The Light- Jason and deMarco (at Wallingford United Methodist Church in Seattle)

I incourage you all to look into them.

www.jasonanddemarco.com

"...shake, shake, uh shake it!..."

Hi everybody! Do you love the new template? I found it on http://www.pyzam.com/, it has great blog templates. Anyway, I'm here to give you #1 on Fuse's #1 countdown because I didn't have time to yesterday. The video is to the song Shake It by Metro Station. Unfortunately, the embedding for all the videos is disabled. So here's a link: http://youtube.com/watch?v=EpU78IeTx_c


Shake It- Metro Station

(Let's Drop!)
(Yeah)
(Come On)

I'll take you home if you don't leave me at the front door (front door)
Your body's cold, but girl we're getting so warm
And I was thinking of ways that I could get inside (get inside)
Tonight you're falling in love (let me go now)T
he feelings stirring me up (here we go now)

[Pre Chorus:]Now if she does it like this will you do it like that
Now if she touches like this, will you touch her right back
Now if she moves like this, will you move it like that (come on)

[Chorus:]Shake, Shake, Shake, Shake, uh shake it
Shake, Shake, Shake, Shake, uh shake it
Shake, Shake, Shake, Shake, uh shake it
Shake, Shake, Shake, Shake, uh shake it
Shake, Shake, Shake, Shake, uh shake it

Your lips tremble but your eyes are in a straight stare (straight stare)
your on the bed but your clothes are laying right there
And I was thinking of places that I could hide
Tonight you're falling in love (let me go now)
The feelings stirring me (here we go now)

[Pre-Chorus][Chorus]

I saw you dancing and I couldn't get you off my mind
(I could tell that you could tell that I was taking my time)
I was thinking of ways that you would stay and be mine
(You're body's shaking, turn me on, so I can turn out the lights)

[Pre-Chorus][Chorus] (2x)

New Stuff

I have lots of new stuff to show you. For a couple of them, I am just going to show you through a link. It's a song called Love Me Dead by Ludo: http://musicislife3168.blogspot.com/2008/06/love-me-dead.html


This is another link to the same blog. It's for a beautiful String Quartet: http://musicislife3168.blogspot.com/2008/06/vitamin-string-quartet-new-spin-on-old.html


Alright, now down to business. First, I am going to review an album by Panic(!) At The Disco. It's their latest album Pretty. Odd.

I have to say that I was a little disappointed with this album and some of the choices Panic(!) made along with it. One reason is because some of the songs in A Fever You Can't Sweat Out were really great, like But It's Better If You Do; Build God, Then We'll Talk; Lying Is The Most Fun A Girl Can Have Without Taking Her Clothes Off; I Write Sins Not Tragedies and Time To Dance. Unfortunately, Panic(!) chose to go for a more soft-rock, upbeat, Beatles-like side of their music and with some Alice in Wonderland and happy, lovey lyrics they came up with something, well, Pretty. Odd. Also, they chose to get rid of the ! in their name on January 9th. I thought that was one on the best things about their name and the only reason I ever bothered to look them up is because I thought the exclamation was awesome when I saw the name in Fall Out Boy's video for Thanks For The Memories.

But I have to commend them for the courage to withstand the pressure of writing music like everyone else. I love how they brought back that old feel to music and the Beatles-like stuff. They probably knew that's that everyone was going to criticize them, but they were ready. Also, I loved them even more after reading this quote by Ryan Ross: "I try to think of the person who's worked an eight-hour day, the person who gets in the car and puts on their radio. I'd like them to hear a song that makes them feel happy for three minutes rather than something that makes them more depressed than they already are. We're not afraid to write about love or being happy. We have an entire culture that is either provocative or negative. It's so geared toward being shocking that it no longer manages to shock. They've pushed it as far as they can go both sexually and in terms of anger. Which is why we're here, to provide something different." I think Ryan's dead on with this quote and after reading this I have more respect and admiration for the music they have on Pretty. Odd. I also have to say that the exclamation point doesn't really fit the new feel of the band and their music, anyway.

Therefore, I neither love nor hate this album, but I think it's Pretty. Good. Here are the songs:

1. We're So Starving
2. Nine In the Afternoon
3. She's a Handsome Woman
4. Do You Know What I'm Seeing?
5. That Green Gentleman (Things Have Changed)
6. I Have Friends In Holy Spaces
7. Northern Downpour
8. When the Day Met the Night
9. Pas de Cheval
10. The Piano Knows Something I Don't Know
11. Behind the Sea
12. Folkin' Around
13. She Had the World
14. From a Mountain In the Middle of the Cabins
15. Mad As Rabbits

I encourage you all to listen to the album and watch the videos:
Nine In the Afternoon
That Green Gentleman
Mad As Rabbits

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I would like to share with you a video I saw on Fuse yesterday in their #1 countdown. I think it came in at #6.

That's What You Get- Paramore

That's What You Get- Paramore

No sir, well I don't wanna be the blame, not anymore.
It's your turn, to take a seat we're settling the final score.
And why do we like to hurt, so much?

I can't decide
You have made it harder just to go on
And why?
All the possibilities...
Well I was wrong

That's what you get when you let your heart win. Whoa!
That's what you get when you let your heart win. Whoa...
I drown out all my sense with the sound of its beating.
And that's what you get when you let your heart win. Whoa.

I wonder, how am I supposed to feel when you're not here.
'Cause I burned every bridge I ever built when you were here.
I still try... holding onto silly things, I never learn.
Oh why? All the possibilities. I'm sure you've heard.

That's what you get when you let your heart win. Whoa!
That's what you get when you let your heart win. Whoa..
I drown out all my sense with the sound of its beating.
And that's what you get when you let your heart win. Whoa.

Hey, make your way to me. (to me)
And I'll always be just so inviting.
If I ever start to think straight,
This heart will start a riot in me,
Let's start... Start, hey!

Why do we like to hurt so much?
Oh why do we like to hurt so much?

That's what you get when you let your heart win!
Whoa.

That's what you get when you let your heart win, whoa.
That's what you get when you let your heart win, whoa.

Now I can't trust myself with anything but this,
And that's what you get when you let your heart win, whoa

Papa Roach at Nine in the Afternoon

Hey people! I'm back again! And I bring to you... new songs! And a new band! Woo hoo! (WaMu free checking- woo hoo! lol :D)

Nine in the Afternoon


Nine in the Afternoon-Panic(!) At The Disco

Back to the streets where we began
Feeling as good as lovers can .. you know
Well, now we’re feeling so good

Picking up things we shouldn’t read
It looks like the end of history as we know
It’s just the end of the world

Back to the street where we began
Feeling as good as love .. you could .. you can

Into a place, where thoughts can bloom
Into a room where it’s nine in the afternoon
And we know that it could be
And we know that it should
And you know that you feel it too
‘Cause it’s nine in the afternoon

Your eyes are the size of the moon
You could ’cause you can so you do
We’re feeling so good
Just the way that we do
When it’s nine in the afternoon

Your eyes are the size of the moon
You could ’cause you can so you do
We’re feeling so good

Back to the street
Down to our feet
Losing the feeling of feeling unique
Do you know what I mean?

Back to the place, hey
Where we used to say
Man it feels good to feel this way
Now I know what I mean

Back to the street, back to the place,
Back to the room where it all began
Back to the street, back to the place,
Back to the room where it all began
‘Cause it’s nine in the afternoon

Your eyes are the size of the moon
You could ’cause you can so you do
We’re feeling so good
Just the way that we do
When it’s nine in the afternoon
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The next song is called Last Resort, but I don't like the video. Here's the band website and the lyrics. If you want the video, go to: www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6hbqW0fsxE

Last Resort- Papa Roach

Cut my life into pieces
This is my last resort
Suffocation, no breathing
Don't give a fuck
If I cut my arm bleeding

This is my last resort

Cut my life into pieces
I've reached my last resort
Suffocation, no breathing
Don't give a fuck
If I cut my arm bleeding
Do you even care
If I die bleeding?

Would it be wrong
Would it be right
If I took my life tonight
Chances are that I might
Mutilation out of sight
And I'm contemplating suicide

Cause I'm losing my sight,
Losing my mind,
Wish somebody would tell me I'm fine
Losing my sight,
Losing my mind,
Wish somebody would tell me I'm fine

I never realized
I was spread too thin
Till it was too late
And I was empty within
Hungry feeding on chaos and living in sin
Downward spiral, where do I begin
It all started when I lost my mother
No love for myself
And no love for another
Searching to find a love upon a higher level
Finding nothing but questions and devils

Cause I'm losing my sight
Losing my mind,
Wish somebody would tell me I'm fine
Losing my sight,
Losing my mind,
Wish somebody would tell me I'm fine

Nothing's alright
Nothing is fine
I'm running and I'm crying
I'm crying(x4)

I can't go on living this way

Cut my life into pieces
This is my last resort
Suffocation, no breathing
Don't give a fuck
If I cut my arm bleeding
Would it be wrong
Would it be right?
If I took my life tonight
Chances are that I might.
Mutilation out of sight.
And I'm contemplating suicide.

Cause I'm losing my sight
Losing my mind,
Wish somebody would tell me I'm fine
Losing my sight
Losing my mind
Wish somebody would tell me I'm fine

Nothing's alright
Nothing is fine

I'm running and I'm crying

I can't go on living this way

Can't go on
Living this way
Nothing's all...right!


http://www.paparoach.com/

"...Miracles, these are miracles..."

Hi! Guess what? Yesterday I had my spring concert! It was so much fun! Our group (Cantare) sang Miracles, Vray Deu D'Amour, Steal Away, Kishu Uno Tonosan, and Cedar Swamp. Miracles was a complete disaster, but we did really well on the French piece. Steal Away actually worked out with the echo choir of 9, which is amazing considering that we almost cut the song from the program. Kishu was a little scary, but we worked it out. We were great on Cedar Swamp which is a dream come true because we had ALOT of choreography that we didn't know (mainly because it was supposed to be learned in 3 weeks, but we did it in 3 days). We did Let It Be and Give Us Hope with the whole chorus. My friends Casey and Dagny came to see me. They said it was great. 10 people graduated from the chorus to go to college. Waaa! There were some really fun people leaving who it seems have been with YPC forever! But good luck to them!

Well, now that our annual spring concert is over... off to hard-core rehearsals for our international competition in Vancouver! Woo hoo! I'm stoked! It's gonna be great... See ya in the next post!

Happy B'day Pete!

It is yet another birthday for Fall Out Boy. Peter Lewis Kingston Wentz III was born in Illinois and has just turned 29! He is the bassist and back up vocalist for Fall Out Boy.

Yay! New Songs!

Here are a couple of great songs that I found. Enjoy!

B.Y.O.B.- System of a Down


B.Y.O.B.- System of a Down

Why do they always send the poor?!

My god is of bible blood
With pointed ears
Victorious victories kneel
For brand new spankin' deals

Marching forward hypocritic and
Hypnotic computers
You depend on our protection
Yet you feed us lies from the tablecloth

La la la la la la ooooooo
Everybody's going to the party have a real good time
Dancing in the desert blowing up the sunshine

Kneeling roses disappearing into
Moses' dry mouth
Breaking into Fort Knox stealing
Our intentions

Hangers sitting dripped in oil
Crying freedom
Handed to obsoletion
Still you feed us lies from the tablecloth

La la la la la la oooooooo
Everybody's going to the party have a real good time
Dancing in the desert blowing up the sunshine

Everybody's going to the party have a real good time
Dancing in the desert blowing up the sunshine

Blast off
It's party time
And we don't live in a fascist nation

Blast off
It's party time
And where the fuck are you?

Where the fuck are you?
Where the fuck are you?

Why dont presidents fight the war?
Why do they always send the poor?

Why dont presidents fight the war?
Why do they always send the poor?
Why do they always send the poor?
Why do they always send the poor?
Why do they always send the poor?

Kneeling roses disappearing into
Moses' dry mouth
Breaking into Fort Knox stealing
Our intentions

Hangers sitting dripped in oil
Crying freedom
Handed to obsoletion,
Still you feed us lies from the tablecloth

Everybody's going to the party have a real good time
Dancing in the desert blowing up the sunshine

Everybody's going to the party have a real good time
Dancing in the desert blowing up the sun...

Where the fuck are you?
Where the fuck are you?

Why dont presidents fight the war?
Why do they always set the par?

Why dont presidents fight the war?
Why do they always send the poor?
Why do they always send the poor?
Why do they always send the poor?

Why do they always send the poor?
Why do they always send the poor?
Why do they always send the poor?
They always send the poor
They always send the poor
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That Green Gentleman- Panic(!) At The Disco


That Green Gentleman- Panic(!) At The Disco

Things are shaping up to be pretty odd
Little deaths in musical beds
So it seems I'm someone I've never met

You will only hear these elegant crimes
Fall on your ears from criminal dimes
They spill unfound from a pretty mouth

And everybody gets there when everybody gets there
And everybody gets their way
I never said I missed her when everybody kissed her
Now I'm the only one to blame

Things have changed for me, and that's okay
I feel the same, I'm on my way, and I say
Things have changed for me, and that's okay…

I want to go where everyone goes
I want to know what everyone knows
I want to go where everyone feels the same

I never said I'd leave the city
I never said I'd leave this town
A falling out we won't tiptoe about

When everybody gets there everybody gets there
And everybody gets their way
I never said I missed her when everybody kissed her
Now I'm the only one to blame

Things have changed for me, and that's okay
I feel the same, I'm on my way, and I say
Things have changed for me, and that's okay
I feel the same, and I say

Things have changed for me, and that's okay
I feel the same, and I say
[X2]
Things have changed for me

Music Saves Your Life

Fuse. Great commercial. Love the video clips they included. Song: Hear A Song by Ian Love.