music

Earworm: “Powerless” by Linkin Park

Oh, the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. You’ve left many people, including the Big Cheese, powerless. In fact, I only got my power back today. So yes, our dear dedicated followers, the apologies for not really posting anything palatable in the last few days. Anyway.

Today’s Earworm will be my second LP ‘worm. It’s a good song, really. Off their new album Living Things.

Although the song’s meaning has nothing to do with electrical problems, the title of the song pretty much sums up what’s going on to most of the north east that has been affected by the dreaded super-storm, no matter how long the power had been out. I for one lost power for about 3 days. The Big Cheese has had no power for 4 days and counting. Everyone hope he’s safe, because he and I just want to get back to playing Resident Evil 6. (Little hint there, take note that you should expect a “Game Corner” from us soon.)

Earworm: “Paradise” by Coldplay

A really good mix of electronic beats with Chris Martin’s soothing Brit-rock voice. Can’t be beaten.

It’s been played to death by the radio, but it still has a place in my music library. I still love this song. Damn.

Some special meaning behind this post, as well. I’m posting this about 4 days after the 1st anniversary of the release of this amazing song.

Earworm: “Sk8er Boi” by Avril Lavigne

My English teacher is the best. THE ABSOLUTE BEST. I wish more of my teachers were like her. She’s a child inside. And she sings songs. And she characterized me by singing this song. Good Lord help me.

Two things about the music video.

a) There’s a BMX theme.

b) Why would a police helicopter come to stop an impromptu concert? Oh wait, Avril is Canadian. No wonder.

Earworm – “History Repeating” – Propellerheads Ft. Dame Shirley Bassey

A phenomenal song. Seriously, just listen. Shirley’s voice, and the ‘Heads arrangement…EPIC.

This was also used in a Jaguar car ad, and I cannot seem to find it. if anyone knows of this, can you please post?

Earworm: Lost in the Echo by Linkin Park

Okay, a first for me, and more to come in the future.

This is my first Earworm post chronicling my favorite band of all time. I’d held back on writing about them, for their songs are literally always stuck in my head. I know the lyrics to all the songs off of their 5 albums, trust me. The Big Cheese can attest to this.

But this one is special. Although it isn’t the first song I heard off the album (it would’ve been “Burn it Down”), it, for me, marked the return of Mike’s rap, something that has been gone for a while. It reared its head here and there, but in “Lost in the Echo,” it became obvious clear that Mike Shinoda still has the rhythm and rhyme.

During an assembly for school, a video was shown. The title intro song? LOST IN THE ECHO. I damn near just got up out of my seat, walked on stage, and started singing it. Wish I had.

Oh, and the music video just came out, about a month ago. It released as an interactive video. You linked your Facebook account to the video and the characters interacted with you, using your photos as the memories that were “lost in the echo.”

Earworm: “Woo Boost” by Rusko.

Um, well, yes, this is dubstep. Woo-woo-woo-bahbahbah-woop. That kinda ish, y’know? The noise your grandparents complain about.

I guess this is a popular dubstep song to begin with, but I heard it first just this weekend in an Adidas outlet store in Deer Park, Long Island. Heard it playing and instantly knew I had to Shazam it.

Not a bad tune to get the energy flowing when painting or drawing or on a photography shoot or driving or whatever you’re doing. Played it all day today when I was drawing. Drawing, drawing, drawing. Arts.

All I can think about lately is arts.

Oh, and the fact that technology is failing on me. My phone is breaking again, although I can safely blame one or two apparatuses, one being the actual charging port itself, or the charging cable I am using. And my mom’s laptop literally crashed as soon as I turned it on.

Earworm: “Bye Bye Bye” by ‘N Sync

Oh lord, does this song bring back memories. Back when boy bands were the ish.

‘N Sync and The Backstreet Boys and and Britney Spears ruled pop radio back then.

It came on the radio today in the car, and I was so pumped to hear the song again. It’s been stuck in my head all day. “EARWORM?! Hell yes,” I thought immediately.

I remember when I watched the music video for this song when I was a kid and just felt like running around my house like a maniac. I would dance for hours to this song.

There’s not much to say about this incredible pop hit besides that it is on my list of Top 10 Favorite Songs.

Earworm: “Arms” – Christina Perri

This song I’ve always liked, but I never really paid attention to it until my boss kept asking who sings it. Finally, sometime earlier this week, he told us why this song was in his mind, one of his daughters had a dance recital, and they used this song. He said it was quite powerful, and these are 9 year olds that were doing it. Finally, got a hold of the song, and we played it at work, and I was able to listen to it in depth.

It is quite powerful, I love how it starts off all mellow, with a simple guitar strumming, then slowly an instrument gets added as the song progresses and suddenly the drum’s drop, and it’s just a great build up, and I actually felt my spine tingling. The video itself is quite entertaining, and very true to the song. I’ve felt like this at time, and, well, just enjoy it.

Earworm: “Canned Heat” – Jamiroquai

For some reason this song has been stuck in my head for a few days. I recently heard it on Sirius XM, and it sort of brought me back to one of my favorite movies of all time, Napoleon Dynamite. Jon Heder doing that dance to this song is just EPIC. JayKay also happens to be a big gear head and has made multiple appearances on one of my favorite TV shows of all time, Top Gear.

Anyway, the song is way trippy, as is the video. It’s just a joy to listen to, puts you in a sort of feel good mood. I don’t know, i’ve listened to it a few times over the past few days and it has made me feel a bit better.

And as an extra, Jon Heder’s EPIC performance from Napoleon Dynamite.

Earworm: “Pyramids” by Frank Ocean

If you’ve been following my Earworm posts, I have an array of musical tastes. Impossible to decide what my favorite genre is, endless possibilities as to what I’ll listen to next. I’ve been following Frank Ocean and the rest of Odd Future for a little bit now, and Frank just performed on SNL.

He recently took a ride on the fame train and skyrocketed to fame as a solo artist with the release of his debut album, Channel Orange (and the ridiculous controversy that surrounded it. Who cares about his sexual orientation. He’s still a human). He was nominated for Best New Artist at the 2012 MTV VMA’s, but was snubbed by British boy band One Direction. Where was Kanye when you needed him?!

I never though I’d truly get into the whole R&B, rap, hip-hop, smooth type music again, but I’m finding bits and pieces to be really good. I don’t regret anything.

What I’m getting at here is that you never know what you might like listening to. My ears enjoy a lot of different sounds! And this song is one of the best songs out there, in my opinion. One of the best songs off of Frank Ocean’s Channel Orange, in fact.

(WARNING: NSFW. SKIP THIS ONE AND LISTEN TO THE SECOND EMBEDDED VIDEO ON THIS PAGE IF YOU ARE IN A WORK OR SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT!)