Panic At The Birthday Party! (wow, that was stupid)

George Ryan Ross III, our favorite Panic At The Disco guitarist, turned 22 today! He was born in Las Vegas* (cool!). Happy Birthday Ryan!

*(P.S. I know he grew up in L.A. but it's possible he was either born there or Summerlin, Nevada. Please tell me if you know!)

Angel

My mother really loves this girl. And I have to admit, she's talented. Who is this girl? Sarah McLachlan.

Angel is my favorite song by her. She's really amazing because she writes all the lyrics and all the music to all of her songs. She has a gorgeous voice and her music is very inspiring. I'm going to give you a link to a video of her singing Angel, but I'm also going to give you a link to listen to the same song with what I think is better sound quality. But there are some things different about each and I love them both. Enjoy.

Sarah McLachlan- vocals, piano, keyboard, guitar, harp


Angel live (no video)

Angel (video)


Angel- Sarah McLachlan

Spend all your time waiting
For that second chance
For a break that would make it okay
There’s always one reason
To feel not good enough
And it’s hard at the end of the day
I need some distraction
Oh beautiful release
Memory seeps from my veins
Let me be empty
And weightless and maybe
I’ll find some peace tonight

In the arms of an angel
Fly away from here
From this dark cold hotel room
And the endlessness that you fear
You are pulled from the wreckage
Of your silent reverie
You’re in the arms of the angel
May you find some comfort there

So tired of the straight line
And everywhere you turn
There’s vultures and thieves at your back
And the storm keeps on twisting
You keep on building the lie
That you make up for all that you lack
It don’t make no difference
Escaping one last time
It’s easier to believe in this sweet madness oh
This glorious sadness that brings me to my knees

In the arms of an angel
Fly away from here
From this dark cold hotel room
And the endlessness that you fear
You are pulled from the wreckage
Of your silent reverie
You’re in the arms of the angel
May you find some comfort there
You’re in the arms of the angel
May you find some comfort here


http://www.sarahmclachlan.com/

Within Temptation

Hello fellow human beings! I just discovered a new band called Within Temptation. I first heard of them online, but I thought nothing of it. Then the other day I saw their most recent album in Best Buy. So, I looked them up on iTunes and they are amazing. It's a sort of mix between Evanescence and Nightwish. The Dutch sextet has four full-length studio albums and one of their EP albums was limited edition and sold only at Hot Topic stores. All proceeds from their single Frozen are donated to Child Helpline International. They have gret music that have rock, metal and symphonic elements. Ireally like them and invite you all to listen to the only songs I have of them due to a dwindiling iTunes allowance >.<

Sharon den Adel- vocals (Robert's girlfriend and mother of Eva Luna)

Robert Westerholt- guitar, backing vocals (Sharon's boyfriend and father of Eva Luna)

Ruud Adrianus Jolie- lead guitar

Jeroen van Veen- bass guitar

Martijn Spierenburg- keyboards

Stephen van Haestregt- drums

Our Solemn Hour-listen

Our Solemn Hour- Within Temptation

Sanctus Espiritus redeem us from our solemn hour
Sanctus Espiritus insanity is all around us
Sanctus Espiritus! Sanctus Espiritus! Sanctus Espiritus!

In my darkest hours I could not foresee
That the tide could turn so fast to this degree
Can´t believe my eyes
How can you be so blind?
Is the heart of stone, no empathy inside?
Time keeps on slipping away and we haven´t learned
So in the end now what have we gained?

Sanctus Espiritus, redeem us from our solemn hour
Sanctus Espiritus, insanity is all around us
Sanctus Espiritus, is this what we deserve,
can we break free from chains of never-ending agony?

Are they themselves to blame, the misery, the pain?
Didn´t we let go, allowed it, let it grow?
If we can´t restrain the beast which dwells inside
it will find it´s way somehow, somewhere in time
Will we remember all of the suffering
Cause if we fail it will be in vain

Sanctus Espiritus, redeem us from our solemn hour
Sanctus Espiritus, insanity is all around us
Sanctus Espiritus, is this what we deserve,
can we break free from chains of never-ending agony?


All I Need

All I Need- Within Temptation

I´m dying to catch my breath
Oh why don´t I ever learn?
I´ve lost all my trust,
though I´ve surely tried to turn it around

Can you still see the heart of me?
All my agony fades away
when you hold me in your embrace

Don´t tear me down for all I need
Make my heart a better place
Give me something I can believe
Don´t tear me down
You´ve opened the door now, don´t let it close

I´m here on the edge again
I wish I could let it go
I know that I´m only one step away
from turning it around

Can you still see the heart of me?
All my agony fades away
when you hold me in your embrace

Don´t tear me down for all I need
Make my heart a better place
Give me something I can believe

Don´t tear it down, what´s left of me
Make my heart a better place

I tried many times but nothing was real
Make it fade away, don´t break me down
I want to believe that this is for real
Save me from my fear
Don´t tear me down

Don´t tear me down for all I need
Make my heart a better place
Don´t tear me down for all I need
Make my heart a better place

Give me something I can believe
Don´t tear it down, what´s left of me
Make my heart a better place
Make my heart a better place

Frozen


Frozen- Within Temptation

I can´t feel my senses
I just feel the cold
All colors seem to fade away
I can´t reach my soul
I would stop running, If knew there was a chance
It tears me apart to sacrifice it all but I´m forced to let go

Tell me I´m frozen but what can I do?
Can´t tell the reasons I did it for you
When lies turn into truth I sacrificed for you
You say that I´m frozen but what can I do?

I can feel your sorrow
You won´t forgive me,
but I know you´ll be all right
It tears me apart that you will never know but I have to let go

Tell me I´m frozen but what can I do?
Can´t tell the reasons I did it for you
When lies turn into truth I sacrificed for you
You say that I´m frozen but what can I do?

Everything will slip way
Shattered peaces will remain
When memories fade into emptiness
Only time will tell its tale
If it all has been in vain

I can´t feel my senses
I just feel the cold
Frozen...
But what can I do?
Frozen...

Tell me I´m frozen but what can I do?
Can´t tell the reasons I did it for you
When lies turn into truth I sacrificed for you
You say that I´m frozen, frozen...

OneRepublic (and Timbaland i guess)

This band is one of those bands that have the famous songs that are always on the radio and all the popular kids have their songs on their iPods. That's usually the exact opposite of the type of music I like, but I'm going to bend the rules a little in this case. I really like these next two songs taht I'm going to share with you by OneRepublic.

Stop and Stare is a song that I really love the lyrics to and the suspension in the song is great. Watch the video

Stop and Stare- OneRepublic

This town is colder now, I think it's sick of us
It's time to make our move, I'm shakin off the rust
I've got my heart set on anywhere but here
I'm staring down myself, counting up the years
Steady hands, just take the wheel...
And every glance is killing me
Time to make one last appeal...
for the life I lead

Stop and stare
I think I'm moving but I go nowhere
Yeah I know that everyone gets scared
But I've become what I can't be, oh
Stop and stare
You start to wonder why you're 'here' not there
And you'd give anything to get what's fair
But fair ain't what you really need
Oh, can u see what I see

They're tryin to come back, all my senses push
Un-tie the weight bags, I never thought I could...
Steady feet, don't fail me now
Gonna run till you can't walk
But something pulls my focus out
And I'm standing down...

Stop and stare
I think I'm moving but I go nowhere
Yeah I know that everyone gets scared
But I've become what I can't be, oh
Stop and stare
You start to wonder why you're here not there
And you'd give anything to get what's fair
But fair ain't what you really need
Oh, you don't need
What u need, what u need...

Stop and stare
I think I'm moving but I go nowhere
Yeah I know that everyone gets scared
But I've become what I can't be
Oh, do u see what I see...


Apologize has great lyrics, too, but I really wanted to share this video with you. I just love it. It represents what happens in a relationship when one persons gives out their heart and the other gives nothing. I have to say, I also like the original song without Timbaland which you can listen to here.

Apologize


Apologize- Timbaland (feat. OneRepublic)

I'm holding on your rope, got me ten feet off the ground
I'm hearin what you say but I just can't make a sound
You tell me that you need me
Then you go and cut me down, but wait
You tell me that you're sorry
Didn't think I'd turn around, and say that...

It's too late to apologize,
it's too late
I said it's too late to apologize,
it's too late

I'd take another chance, take a fall, take a shot for you
And I need you like a heart needs a beat
But it's nothing new
I loved you with a fire red-
Now it's turning blue, and you say...
"Sorry" like the angel heaven let me think was you
But I'm afraid...

It's too late to apologize,
it's too late
I said it's too late to apologize,
it's too late

Bridge (guitar/piano)

It's too late to apologize,
it's too late
I said it's too late to apologize,
it's too late
It's too late to apologize, yeah
I said it's too late to apologize, yeah-

I'm holdin on your rope, got me ten feet off the ground...

Lacey Mosley (Flyleaf)

Lacey Nicole Mosley is the lead singer of the band Flyleaf. I wanted to share with you everything that I found out about her because I think she is an amazing person.

Lacey was born in Arlington, Texas to a single mother of six kids. Her family was very poor and they often moved from place to place, trying to find work that would make ends meet. She had a terrible relationship with her mother which she described as "a war zone going on at home" and eventually started doing drugs. "The first time I ever did drugs, I was ten years old. I kind of kept it a secret from people at school, and I always had a thought that it was wrong, you know. I kinda knew it was wrong. But, then, when I was thirteen, I found these other people that did drugs and I got even worse into it. It was like whatever I could do, I would do it, you know? I was trying to figure out who I was, and anything to separate me from my family, or to separate me from my situation at home, was awesome, was good to me."~Lacey Mosley

At fourteen Lacey got a bass guitar and started playing. At sixteen, fights with her mom were too intense and the police stepped in. She went to live with her grandparents in Mississippi and joined a band. She eventually quit for bad communication and the negative music.

Lacey left her family soon after that and left drugs behind. Unfortunately, that led to what she calls a "nervous breakdown". She cut off her hair and became suicidal. Her grandmother then urged her to attend church.

She later got married and moved to Temple, Texas. She divorced soon after, but luckily met James, Jared, Sameer, and Pat who all joined together and have been together as Flyleaf (after being called Passerby) ever since.

I think Lacey is an incredibly inspiring person and it's amazing how she pulled through all the drugs, depression and divorce. I commend her for her strength and courage. I think Flyleaf is a great group and you should check out this amazing song they wrote about Jesus:

All Around Me



All Around Me- Flyleaf

My hands are searching for you
My arms are outstretched towards you
I feel you on my fingertips
My tongue dances behind my lips for you

This fire rising through my being
Burning I'm not used to seeing you

I'm alive, I'm alive

I can feel you all around me
Thickening the air I'm breathing
Holding on to what I'm feeling
Savoring this heart that's healing

My hands float up above me
And you whisper you love me
And I begin to fade
Into our secret place

The music makes me sway
The angels singing say we are alone with you
I am alone and they are too with you

I'm alive, I'm alive

I can feel you all around me
Thickening the air I'm breathing
Holding on to what I'm feeling
Savoring this heart that's healing

And so I cry
The light is white
And I see you

I'm alive, I'm alive, I'm alive

I can feel you all around me
Thickening the air I'm breathing
Holding on to what I'm feeling
Savoring this heart that's healing

Take my hand
I give it to you
Now you own me
All I am
You said you would never leave me
I believe you
I believe

I can feel you all around me
Thickening the air I'm breathing
Holding on to what I'm feeling
Savoring this heart that's healed


Personally, I like the acoustic version better. Same lyrics, same meaning, just more organic.

All Around Me (acoustic version)-Flyleaf

To end this post I leave you with a quote that I find inspiring:

"We all share the same faith. And so when we deal with the whole 'Christian band thing,' we kind of think about something P.O.D. says, like, 'If you're a Christian, it affects everything in your life. So if you're a plumber, does that make you a Christian plumber?' I don't know the answer. We're a band, it's part of who we are, so it comes out in our music, and it's the fuel for what we do. And finding faith saved my life. So I'm not ashamed of it at all. And most of our album reflects that."~ Lacey Mosley

Thriving Ivory

This is a new band that I discovered under "Say You Heard 'Em Before They Were Big!" at Best Buy. They have a beautiful album cover. It's a band of five guys who have major potential, but aren't quite as good as they could (and should) be. The lead singer needs a better technique, but they're pretty good. Good enough to be on my blog at least! So here they are:


Clayton Stroope-lead vocals, guitar
Scott Jason-piano/keyboards
Drew Cribly-guitar, backing vocals
Bret Cohune-bass
Paul Niedermier-drums, percussion

http://www.thrivingivory.com/

I love their single, "Angels on the Moon". Take a listen (and a look I guess).

Angels on the Moon


Angels on the Moon- Thriving Ivory

Do you dream, that the world will know your name
So tell me your name
Do you care, about all the little things or anything at all?
I wanna feel, all the chemicals inside I wanna feel
I wanna sunburn, just to know that I'm alive
To know I'm alive

Don't tell me if I'm dying, cause I don't wanna know
If I can't see the sun, maybe I should go
Don't wake me cause I'm dreaming, of angels on the moon
Where everyone you know, never leaves too soon

Do you believe, in the day that you were born
Tell me do you believe?
Do you know, that everyday's the first of the rest of your life

Don't tell me if I'm dying, cause I don't wanna know
If I can't see the sun, maybe I should go
Don't wake me cause I'm dreaming, of angels on the moon
Where everyone you know, never leaves too soon

This is to one last day in the shadows
And to know a brother's love
This is to New York City angels
And the rivers of our blood
This is to all of us, to all of us

Don't tell me if I'm dying, cause I don't wanna know
If I can't see the sun, maybe I should go
Don't wake me cause I'm dreaming, of angels on the moon
Where everyone you know, never leaves too soon

You can tell me all your thoughts, about the stars that fill polluted skies
And show me where you run to, when no one's left to take your side
But don't tell me where the road ends, cause I just don't wanna know, No I don't wanna know

Don't tell me if I'm dying
Don't tell me if I'm dying
Don't tell me if I'm dying

Wonderful

I discovered this band through my friend a long time ago and they've just been sitting in my iPod for months. I finally listened to them again last night and I just love the lyrics to this song, Wonderful. Here's the video:

Wonderful


Wonderful- Everclear

hey, aint life wonderful? wonderful, wonderful, wonderful... isnt it wonderful
Now?

I close my eyes when I get too sad
I think thoughts that I know are bad
Close my eyes and I count to ten
Hope its over when I open them

I want the things that I had before
Like a star wars poster on my bedroom door
I wish I could count to ten
Make everything be wonderful again

Hope my mom and I hope my dad
Will figure out why they get so mad
Hear them scream, I hear them fight
They say bad words that make me wanna cry

Close my eyes when I go to bed
And I dream of angels who make me smile
I feel better when I hear them say
Everything will be wonderful someday

Promises mean everything when youre little
And the worlds so big
I just dont understand how
You can smile with all those tears in your eyes
Tell me everything is wonderful now

Please dont tell me everything is wonderful now

I go to school and I run and play
I tell the kids that its all okay
I laugh aloud so my friends wont know
When the bell rings I just dont wanna go home

Go to my room and I close my eyes
I make believe that I have a new life
I dont believe you when you say
Everything will be wonderful someday

Promises mean everything when youre little
And the world is so big
I just dont understand how
You can smile with all those tears in your eyes
When you tell me everything is wonderful now

No
No, I dont wanna hear you tell me everything is wonderful now
No
No, I dont wanna hear you tell me everything is wonderful now

I dont wanna hear you say
That I will understand someday
No, no, no, no
I dont wanna hear you say
You both have grown in a different way
No, no, no, no
I dont wanna meet your friends
And I dont wanna start over again
I just want my life to be the same
Just like it used to be
Some days I hate everything
I hate everything
Everyone and everything
Please dont tell me everything is wonderful now...

I dont wanna hear you tell me everything is wonderful now

Unknown Soldier

Hi everyone. Today I'm going to review a great song by Breaking Benjamin. As you can see, they've made it to my "awesome bands, cool music stores and anything else that has to do with music" list, so they're pretty awesome. So this song is from they're album Phobia and it's about (well, the way I see it) fighting the world and the bipolar emotions and thoughts we all have knowing we fight the world till we die and wanting to escape reality. Wanting to see life through a screen. Because we are one of the thousands of soldiers that the world doesn't know about.

There is no video that does this song justice so to listen, click here.


Unknown Soldier- Breaking Benjamin

Borderline,
Dead inside.
I don't mind,
Falling to pieces.
Count me in,
Violent,
Let's begin.
Feeding the sickness.
How do I simplify,
Dislocate,
The enemy is on the way.

[Chorus]
Show me what it's like
To dream in black and white,
So I can leave this world tonight.

Full of fear,
Everclear.
I'll be here,
Fighting forever.
Curious,
Venomous,
You'll find me
Climbing to heaven.
Never mind,
Turn back time.
You'll be fine,
I will get left behind.

[Chorus]
Show me what it's like
To dream in black and white,
So I can leave this world tonight.
Holding on too tight.
Breathe the breath of life,
So I can leave this world behind.

It only hurts just once.
They're only broken bones.
Hide the hate inside.

[Chorus]
Show me what it's like
To dream in black and white,
So I can leave this world tonight.
Holding on too tight.
Breathe the breath of life,
So I can leave this world behind.

Evil Angel

This is another wonderful song by breaking Benjamin. It's played beautifully with great drums and guitar parts, wonderful suspense and incredible conviction. I really love it. I see it as being betrayed by someone you love, but needing them nonetheless and feeling helpless.

Again, there is no video for this song so to listen to it, click here.


Evil Angel- Breaking Benjamin

Hold it together.
Birds of a feather.
Nothing but lies and crooked wings.
I have the answer.
Spreading the cancer.
You are the faith inside me.
No, Don't, leave me to die here.
Help me survive here, alone.
Don't Remember!
Remember!

Put me to sleep, Evil Angel.
Open your wings, Evil Angel. (Ahhh)

I'm a believer.
Nothing could be worse.
All these imaginary friends.
Hiding betrayal.
Driving the nail.
Hoping to find a savior.
No, don't, leave me to die here.
Help me survive here, alone.
Don't Surrender!
Surrender!

Put me to sleep, Evil Angel.
Open your wings, Evil Angel. (oohh)
Fly over me, Evil Angel.
Why can't I breathe, Evil Angel?

Put me to sleep, Evil Angel.
Open your wings, Evil Angel. (oohh)
Fly over me, Evil Angel.
Why can't I breathe, Evil Angel?