music

Top 30 Favorite Songs of All Time: #12 “Good Life” by Kanye West feat. T-Pain

Ah, ‘Ye’s second appearance on this list. I remember my ‘cousin’ Ira always saying “summertime Chi” whenever he could, and I never fully understood where he was getting that until I heard this autotuned monstrosity.

I’m not saying I don’t like this song by calling it a monstrosity. In fact, I mean that in the most complimentary way possible, if any. Seriously. T-Pain’s autotuned voice just makes the song for me.

The video makes the song that much better. I don’t know if you know, but I do want to go to an art school to pursue graphic design and illustration, and the graphics in the video just blew my mind. The kind of stuff done in it is intense, man. Also, I’ve really been trying to up my wardrobe, clothing and fashion design/style has become a rather intriguing area for me lately. Kanye is usually seen wearing outrageous outfits, but his clothes in the video are so clean and subtle. I’m a fan of subtle.

 

Earworm: Istanbul (Not Constantinople) – Milan & Phoenix

I recently heard this on SiriusXM recently, I can’t believe this was covered.  I am so glad that Milan & Phoenix just did their own spin on it, and not ruin the song. (Unlike Pitbull and Christina Aguilera’s “Feel This Moment” which sample’s what could arguably be one of the 80’s best songs, A-Ha‘s Take On Me, but that’s another topic for another time).  I enjoy this remake, and it’s a nice break from the daily drudgery of today’s pop music.  I first heard this song back in the 90’s from Loony Tunes.  I later found out it was a song by They Might Be Giants.  (they also did a bit for another TMBG song, Triangle Man).  It’s such a fun song, and i’ve been humming it on and off.  The video is fun too, playing on the old silent films.  Enjoy the video, as well as the Loony Tunes version.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBTxjYeRPB8]

 

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsQrKZcYtqg]

 

 

Top 30 Favorite Songs of All Time: #13 “Northern Downpour” by Panic! At the Disco

Off their acclaimed album Pretty. Odd., Panic!’s Northern Downpour is probably my favorite song from them. This is pre-break up Panic! at it’s mellowest, and I love it.

Acoustic songs have a nice warm spot next to my aorta, you see.

I often talk about how music that confuses me or makes me think or sends a good message out are more likely to appeal to me, and this song definitely is one of the songs that confuses me. I get it, that the song shows that material objects matter the least, but the entirety of Pretty. Odd. is highly abstract, living up to the name.

“I missed your skin when you were east…” What does this mean, Brendan Urie!?

This Pretty. Odd. album was highly influenced by the Beatles, just watch this music video to see why. There’ll be another song off this album in this list to further prove my point.

Top 30 Favorite Songs of All Time: #15 “Come Back Home” by Two Door Cinema Club

Oh yes, another Two Door Cinema Club song for all my fans out there.

I find myself loving this band more and more each and every day I spend listening to their music, yknow?

My friend calls me a hipster for listening to them, but what does she know, she’s a hipster herself.

Go ahead and do as I say, enjoy this song.

Top 30 Favorite Songs of All Time: #17 “Eyes Wide Open” by Gotye

Ah, yes, Gotye. A hit here in America because of Somebody That I Used to Know. Most people here where I live don’t give two shits for the rest of an artist’s music so long as they have one hit, which, in all honesty, pisses me off. If you find an artist appealing, look further into them. It’s a simple enough task, nearly everyone, even 2 year olds, have access to some sort of browser of the interwebs to view or listen to some songs.

One of my more personally favored songs happens to be what I believe to be his best song off the album Making Mirrors, Eyes Wide Open.

Have a listen, boys and girls.

Top 30 Favorite Songs of All Time: #18 “Fast Car” by Tracy Chapman

Soothing guitar, soothing lyrics. Always a winner.

A song about just going out and trying to live, making a living by just living, a song about making sacrifices to better the lives of others for their sake, not just your own, about making bad decisions that ruin the world around you.

Tracy Chapman is a she, by the way.

Enjoy.

Top 30 Favorite Songs of All Time: #21 “Analog” by Tyler, the Creator

The song that got me into Odd Future. A soft electronic beat and solid rapping will get me.

Tyler and the rest of Wolf Gang have risen to fame in recent years, and I have always been open to new music. They’re incomparable to any group prior, but many relate them to D12 and Wu-Tang. I’d say they’re more like Wu-Tang, but no group will ever be like Wu-Tang, let’s face it.

Here’s the song. It’s not as racy as the other songs he’s put out.

Top 30 Favorite Songs of All Time: #23 “Diamonds (Remix ft. Kanye West)” by Rihanna

The Big Cheese probably hates me after posting a feature on Justin Bieber and now one on Rihanna. Whoops.

I’m not a fan of Rihanna. I don’t really like her music (I’ll give it to her, she has talent, and she’s beautiful, but I don’t like her music). This song never really appealed to me, but Kanye West, being one of my top 5 favorite artists, had me sold.

The song has actually come to grow on me after listening to it 90 times straight on Spotify.

There’s no actual music video, but here’s the “clean” version (Try to guess the slurred curses. Try. By try, I mean think of the top 5 curses used by rappers. There are 3. F,N,B. Have fun).

Top 30 Favorite Songs of All Time: #25 “Headphones On” by Skiggy Rapz

(Pronounced skih•jee raps) Skij…-who? He’s Dutch!

“There are only two things I can’t stand in this world… People that don’t tolerate other people’s cultures… And the Dutch.”–Nigel Powers in Austin Powers: Gold Member

Just poking fun. This song made the list because no one knows Skiggy Rapz, who am I kidding. I barely even know any other song besides this, and I feel like I should get to checking out the rest of his beats since I love this song so much.

The song has a really summer vibe, and when I finally compile enough skateboarding footage, this will be used in my video part. (Who knows, it may be posted here sometime. Maybe.)

I don’t even think this is one of his more popular songs. But whatever, it’s one of my favorites.

Top 30 Songs of All Time: #26 “Heartstrings” by Mitchell Grey

A young band, a great band. You guys that have been following my posts in particular should know from my Earworms that I like to listen to many, many, many different things.

This band was introduced to me by the same YouTube singer that introduced me to the John Mayer song I posted about yesterday. She did a cover with Mitchell Grey, and I loved the guy’s voice so much.

The song is about letting go of past relationships, something I believe people have trouble with.

The music video to this song is really special to me. The urban scenes were shot in my old stomping grounds of Elmhurst; Queens NYC, New York. The red awning? Top Line Supermarket. The park? Broadway park.  I’d know the look of those apartment bricks if my eyes were closed. *AFTERTHOUGHT: I FREAKING HATE THE BOYFRIEND’S HAIR. THE HELL IS THAT RAT SHIT?*