I've been following Lindsey Stirling's channel for years and I have to say, she still amazes me with her talent each and every time she posts a new video.
She's dubstep meets violin meets awesomeness. Lindsey literally makes me want to scream "yasssssssssssssssssss" every single time she starts playing. I believe it is physically impossible to not stomp your foot along or bang your head to the beat. So go ahead. Give in to the music. ROCK OUT with Lindsey. Let's be real here...I am.
In addition to her solo work, Lindsey has also teamed up with other groups to make musical magic (I have no idea where that came from...musical magic...whatever). Check out her video with Pentatonix here:
And "Shatter Me" with Lzzy Hale (from the band Halestorm). I mean COME ON! This song is everything! If it comes on while I'm in the car, I don't care if we are mid-conversation, this song is begging to be blasted at full volume. I promise you, one listen and you will be hooked on this collaboration:
If you haven't caught on, I'm a mega fan of this girl. So what are you waiting for!? Get out there and follow this girl on every possible social media platform so you can stay up to date on her latest and greatest covers!
For me that means I'm in search of a musical pick-me-up and I've found it with Betty Who's "Somebody Loves You".
Not having a rough day? Well then this is the feel good song you never knew you needed.
Betty released this song a year or so ago and I still find it absolutely fabulous. The sound is a bit Whitney Houston "I Wanna Dance With Somebody", but it's a fun song with a really great message behind the lyrics.
If you've been keeping up with my blog, you already know of my love for all things Kurt Hugo Schneider. The guy knows how to put together a great medley and his production skills are insane!
His "Zedd Medley" video in particular is so simple, yet so powerful. By having Mandy Jiroux and Chester See sit on stools while back-to-back gives you as the listener the opportunity to focus on the lyrics and create your own emotional story rather than following along with one on the screen, which I LOVE.
While the video is important, the sound is the make or break element. I'd say that Mandy and Chester nailed it. They kept true to the original sound of the music, but they still were able to make their medley unique as they sang with great amounts of passion and emotion. Furthermore, their voices work together extremely well. Their harmonies are on point and I really couldn't have asked for more with this Zedd Medley.
Personally, I'm a huge Zedd fan, so I expect a lot out of a cover. Mandy and Chester definitely deliver. Kurt has taken some of Zedd's well-known tracks and created a medley that is beyond fabulous. In fact, I almost forgot it was a medley because the blend of all the different songs is so seamless and the various lyrics make sense with one another. The way he combined all of the tracks is flawless and I am in LOVE with it!
Chester has other covers on his YouTube channel, all of which as amazing and worth a listen.
I'm a huge sucker for any A Great Big World cover, which might be one of the reasons why I think this is his best video. The other reasons include his piano skills, the sheer sexiness of Chester's voice and that stare down as he sings his heart out.
And if slow, heartbreaking covers aren't your thing, check out his version of Muse's "Madness".
Mandy. This girl can dance AND sing! Watching her videos is like watching an expert Zumba class. Check out some of her cover of "Burn", originally by Ellie Goulding here:
I mean seriously, this girl puts my white girl dance moves to shame!
And just because I'm absolutely in LOVE with Kurt Hugo Schneider, here's one more of his videos before I wrap up this post:
After seeing their "Zedd Medley", I'd love to see another Kurt Schneider video with Mandy and Chester because their voices sound phenomenal together!
P.S. If you haven't already, check out Zedd's album Clarity. It's one of my favorite EDM albums and is perfect for any mood, so give it a listen.
My goodness, I LOVE Sia. I don't think I can explain just how much I love this woman. Her music is soulful, her sound is chill-inspiring and her outlook on fame is refreshing.
First of all, she's an amazing writer. "Titanium" by David Guetta feat. Sia, "Let Me Love You (Until You Love Yourself)" by Ne-Yo, "Wild Ones" by Flo Rida, "Diamonds" by Rihanna and the list goes on and on. Like those songs or not, take a moment to read up on the lyrics. They're simply beautiful and they're all written by Sia.
Now on to her sound. If I had to describe it in one word, I'd say powerful. Her vocal belts are power. Her ability to give you chills with one line...power. It all goes back to the power of her voice and ultimately the lyrics.
The song "Chandelier" is fabulous. A few months ago I wrote that this song would be the next big party anthem, and to me, it is. I live for this song. The lyrics are killer and Sia's voice resembles a mix of BC Jean and Rihanna. Simply put, the greatness this song radiates is beyond words.
If that one song didn't make you a Sia fan, I guarantee this next one will.
"Big Girls Cry" is my favorite Sia song for so many reasons, but the main one is the fact that this song has the ability to make me stop what I'm doing and listen. Don't get me wrong, I love songs that make fabulous background noise, but this is not one of them. The lyrical story, the power in her voice, the need for the song to never end all make it impossible to focus on anything but Sia for three and a half minutes.
Her music has been covered by many different artists, but my favorite would have to be Sara Bareilles' rendition of "Chandelier" (Thanks Heidi for passing this video along!). You can skip to 1:38 in the video to get straight to the song, but I left the starting point of the video at 0:00 because Sara's personality is just the greatest. After hearing this, you're going to be dying for a Sara/Sia collaboration!
Sia isn't big into showing her face during performances and that's because she doesn't care too much for the whole fame thing. To quote "My Anti-Fame Manifesto" by Sia, "Me and fame will never be married."
Best. Artist. Quote. Ever.
Sia will always be one of my favorites because of her vocal abilities, flawless music and because of her classiness.
Mika, Mika, Mika. I love me some Mika. First of all, his vocals are intense. I'm fairly positive there isn't a note outside of his range. Check out "Rain" and you'll see what I'm talking about:
Mika has numerous collaborations including one with Pharrell called "Celebrate":
And another with Ariana Grande called "Popular Song". Maybe it's just me, but I think it resembles "Popular" from Wicked (not sure if that was the intent or if anyone else hears the similarities):
And his fashion sense. It's undeniably some of the best. This man doesn't fear color, but rather embraces it. I envy his wardrobe. The blue pants in "Love Today" need to be mine.
Not gonna lie, Mika's music is the type that I dance to in my bedroom with the door closed so no one can see the ugly, white-girl dance moves. You know, the ones I think I'm oh so good at...
Glad to know I'm not the only one who does that. Check out Mika's "We Are Golden":
His latest, "Boum Boum Boum", is completely in French, so I honestly have no idea what the lyrics mean. I just think it's a fun song.
Mika's music is pure fun. I have to imagine his concerts are a giant dance party with tons of confetti and glitter, which means the second he has a show within a 200 mile radius of my house, I'm going.
For starters, let's take a look at Robyn's latest track, "Do It Again", which also stars Röyksopp.
As for sound, it's traditional Robyn. I could have blindly listened to the track and I still would have picked her voice out within seconds. I think that's a great "problem" to have.
The video itself confuses me a bit, but Robyn posted in the comments that it's about life's chaoses, so I guess it makes sense why it doesn't fully make sense to me. I hope that last line made sense.
Don't get me wrong, the music video is beautiful, but I would say give the song a listen without watching, then check out the video.
And this one. Just go ahead and add it to your cry playlist now (assuming I'm not weird for having a playlist solely for the purpose of inducing myself into a fit of tearful emotions).
Seriously though, if you don't have a cry playlist, I recommend making one right now. Put "Dancing On My Own" as song numero uno. I promise you it will come in handy at least once in your lifetime.
Last but not least, my roommate's favorite Robyn song. Prepare yourself for a 1997 flashback with "Show Me Love":
Old school, new school, Robyn is seriously the best.
You might remember Karmin (Nick and Amy) from their hit song "Brokenhearted":
While this is a great song, they have so much more in their arsenal and it's time the whole world takes notice of their awesomeness (spell check says it's a word, so I'm using it).
Their first album Hello has seven tracks plus a "Brokenhearted" remix. Among those seven songs, I'd have to say my favorite is "Hello". Not only is it catchy and fun, but it also showcases their poppy rap style that got them hundreds of thousands of fans.
(P.S. I don't know if poppy rap is a thing, but it is as of now.)
Their most recent album, Pulses,demonstrates their musical diversity. For instance, we all know by now that Amy can out-rap the best of the best, but we have yet to see her perform a ballad that shows her vulnerability (unless you count their phenomenal cover of "Jar of Hearts" originally by Christina Perri).
Check out "Neon Love" here:
I can't even begin to explain how much I love this next track ("Hate To Love You"). It gives Nick a time to shine, which I love because the guy has a super sexy voice!
And if you're still not convinced on the level of talent these two have, check out their cover of "Look At Me Now":
It's undeniable, these two have talent and they have proven they can do just about any genre of music. Don't believe me on that one? Check out their covers channel and their Vevo channel on YouTube.
**Completely unrelated sidebar**
Before I end this post, I have to take a second to point out Amy's hair. I mean, can we just take a second to appreciate her flawless, vintage inspired hairstyles? They're all absolutely stunning!
So in summary:
Listen to Karmin. Buy their music. Worship Amy's flawless tresses.
Their style is on point, their music is to die for and they're genuinely great people. Every show I've been to of theirs, they wanted to meet you afterwards, and it wasn't a short "thanks for coming" type deal. They took the time to take photos with everyone and interact with their fans. It really just goes to show how much they appreciate the ones who buy their music.
Speaking of their music, it's straight up sexy and I'm fully convinced that their harmonic chemistry has everything to do with the fact that Isaac and Thorald are brothers. The blend that they are able to achieve is borderline perfect.
Shakerleg is their fabulous drummer. If you've watched any of these videos so far, you might have noticed he isn't holding drum sticks. He doesn't use them and he doesn't need them. His style of drumming creates a completely different sound which is unique to them.
In addition to their unique drumming sound, they also use a didgeridoo in some of their music. It's awesome to see a traditional Australian instrument be brought into today's music and the sound really works.
If you haven't already fallen in love with these guys, go check out one of their shows. You won't regret it.
You may know Of Monsters and Men from their hit song "Little Talks" as it got some radio love in 2011, but quite honestly, my favorite song of their's is "King and Lionheart". This song has been out for about a year and a half, but it's still one of my favorite songs by these guys. Enjoy :)
First off, let's talk about the video. The story line is extremely dark and takes you on an emotional whirlwind of sorts. It's like the massive two hour season finale of your favorite show and then it ends...with a flipping cliff hanger!! You can't do this to me! I have to know what happens to the little boy in the end! Fingers crossed for a part II.
Now onto the important stuff, the music. Nanna's voice (lead female singer) is extremely unique. Her sound is definitely her own and the harmonization between her and the guys in the group is perfectly done. It lets her tone shine, but really adds depth to their sound.
This song is definitely one to add to your playlist and rock out to while you're in the shower, car or working out.
Sorry for the unannounced long-term leave. Life got busy, blogging fell to the back burner, blah blah blah. The important thing is, I'm back and I've discovered some GREAT music the past month or so.
For starters, can we just take a second to talk about the awesomeness that is LP?
This girl has so much vocal power and control that I feel as though she can do no wrong. Take "Halo" for instance, I've never been a huge fan of the song. I think it's got decent lyrics and Beyonce is an artist in her own right, it's just not my favorite. That being said, check out LP's version. HOLY GOOSEBUMPS! This girl is crazy good!!
There was an article I was reading the other day that said LP learned vocal power and control at a young age. She said she would try to sing louder than the vacuum or lawnmower and that helped her sound to evolve into what it is today. Simply put, her sound is powerful and emotion inspiring.
On top of her singing, LP also has some crazy good suit game. Her look is polished, unique and completely her own.
This girl has some serious talent and I can't wait to hear more!! I'm officially a fan of LP!!
Sara Bareilles's "Blessed Unrest" released during the summer of 2013, and it includes the hit song "Brave" as well as many other great songs! Recently, she released another single called "I Choose You". If I were to sum up the song in one word, I'd have to say sweet or absolutely adorable (I guess that last one is two words...).
This lifelong love letter has a fun feel but it's still just as romantic as Jason Derulo's "Marry Me" or John Legend's "All of Me". Personally, I am absolutely in love with Sara's overall vocal sound. I think her style and her lyrics are fabulous. She's one of those people I'd love to hang out with for a day. She seems super chill and easy going. Those personality traits reflect positively back into her music as every line sounds so effortless and the message is conveyed in a way that is original and different from the average love song.
My only criticism of the song is that when it gets to the chorus, I can no longer take it seriously because I don't hear the lyrics "I choose you". Instead I hear "Achoo" and feel the need to say bless you every time. Trust me, once you hear it, you'll never be able to listen to the song the same way.
You've been warned.
Check out Sara Bareilles's "I Choose You" here:
If you like what you heard, show her some love and buy the album on iTunes!
Martina McBride's upcoming album, "Everlasting", is said to have "interpretations of iconic songs" and a couple have been released including "In The Basement" (originally by Etta James).
Martina brought Kelly Clarkson in on the project to recorded this fabulous duet.
Now I know what you're thinking. Martina McBride and Kelly Clarkson. They're gonna give this song a country feel. And you'd be wrong (no worries, I was wrong as well). In fact, they kept the R&B feel, which makes me love the song that much more. It's definitely a great tribute to the original and I think Etta James would be proud.
Check out "In The Basement" here:
And just because I'm obsessed with the concept of this whole album, I have to post another. Check out Martina's version of "Come See About Me" here:
Martina should be applauded for her ability to take an iconic song and give it her own spin while still keeping its original integrity intact. Well done, Martina McBride!!
I vote that this whole album is worth a listen and I've officially pre-ordered my copy of "Everlasting", but I would LOVE it if she released a vinyl as well!
On Friday, Lady Gaga released the video for "G.U.Y." and that thing is just straight up sexy. It features the cast of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and a pretty much naked Gaga. Usually I think nudity in music videos is ridiculous, mainly, the way Miley does it; however, much like Rihanna in "Stay", this nudity was done tastefully and it really adds a lot in regards to the meaning of the lyrics.
Speaking of the lyrics, those are equally as steamy and sexy. Not only does it talk about taking control in the bedroom, but also in the relationship in general. It's really speaking to the new age way of life where women are no longer just here to cook and clean. They're contributing members of society and it's ok for them to wear the pants so to speak.
I know I've thrown this word around a lot in this post, but I don't care. This whole song, video etc. is straight up sexy. And let's be real, the girl brought back Michael Jackson, Gandhi and Jesus. That automatically is the sign of a hit.
Love the song, love the video and most of all, love her!!
I fully believe that Sia is one of the most underrated artists of our time, and that's unfortunate because the girl has some serious talent. Not only can she write kick ass music, but the girl can SING!
We all know "Titanium" and "Wild Ones", and both are fantastic, but her new single "Chandelier" could very well be my favorite of her songs. Don't let the mellow sound fool you, it's definitely going to be the next big party anthem. The lyrics are killer and Sia's powerful voice resembles a mix of BC Jean and Rihanna. Simply put, the greatness this song radiates is beyond words.
According to an interview with Ryan Seacrest, Sia was debating giving this song to Katy Perry or Rihanna, which to me is crazy because after hearing "Chandelier", I don't think either of them could have done this track justice. Don't get me wrong, both are great singers, but Sia knocked it out of the park with this one!
Check out Sia's latest single, "Chandelier", here:
Let's start with the name of the group: The Chainsmokers. Personally, I think it's a kick ass name.
The song title? Well I do love a good #, and so does the rest of the Tweeting world, so I like that they incorporated the symbol into the song title (as well as in a lyric or two of the actual song).
In all honesty, while the song does have a sick beat and some hilariously narcissistic lyrics, it could get rather old really quickly. I don't see myself singing this in the shower or in the car, but I could dance to it for sure.
Even if you haven't heard of Bebe Rexha, I guarantee you know her work. "The Monster" by Eminem and Rihanna...that was co-written by Bebe, but it was originally called "Monster Under My Bed".
Bebe's demo for Eminem and Rihanna features no rap, just her unique sound. Overall the track is pure perfection and completely different than the radio sound we all know. In all honesty, I don't think it's even fair to compare the two because they are so different in terms of sound, genre and lyrical content.
After learning that the song was originally written by Bebe and that she herself could sing, and not just the type of singing one does in the shower or car, I had to wonder why she gave her song away? According to an interview with Vibe, Bebe knew when she recorded the song that it should be an Eminem record. Smart career move or a major loss for her personal career? Personally, I think it was a risk that paid off extremely well. Now with those two powerhouses on her resume, she's becoming a force to be reckoned with and hopefully, she will become a rising star in the music industry because I am in love with her sound.
Listen to "Monster Under My Bed" here:
In addition to "Monster Under My Bed", Bebe has collaborated with Cash Cash on a track currently on the Top 40 charts called "Take Me Home". The EDM track is beyond catchy and the beat could liven up any room. This song is dope (I can't believe I just used that word in a sentence) and it deserves some serious radio love.
Check out "Take Me Home" here:
I still don't know a whole lot about Bebe Rexha, but I do know that her music is definitely worth a listen and I will be stalking her YouTube channel waiting for more (in a non-creepy way of course).
So...it's been awhile. New jobs (yes with an "s"), a new address, a car accident (everyone's fine), a new car...needless to say 2014 has been a WILD ride, but it's been a great one so far.
With the new year has come new music and this cover has to be my favorite so far! Unless you've been living under a rock, you probably know "Say Something" by A Great Big World feat. Christina Aguilera. And if you're like me, you still get a tear in your eye every time you hear the intro start playing on the radio.
Over the past few months, I've found that the song means something different to everyone. The original video has an older couple saying goodbye as the woman takes her last breath. It has also ended countless relationships with it's pure, raw emotion, and it has even been a song of strength when it comes to moving on. I think the countless meanings to the lyrics makes the song that much more relatable to every listener.
Thanks to the power of YouTube, many covers of the original song have been created, but my personal favorite is by Pentatonix. The setting is minimal and the white backdrop reinforces the seriousness of the message. Say something. I'm giving up on you.
In addition to the black and white setting, the harmonies are equally as chilling. The blend of their voices makes their sound so much bigger and the lyrics even more powerful. Also, each singer is staring down the camera for the entirety of the song, which makes it that much more emotional.
I can't lie, the first time I saw this video, I sobbed. At work. At my desk. Just sobbing. It's that good!
And can we just talk about the cello-boxing for just two seconds? A-MAY-ZING. Absolutely amazing.
Give Pentatonix's cover of "Say Something" a listen and then definitely check out more of their music because they are worth a listen!
For me personally, A Great Big World really came out of nowhere. Honestly, I had never heard of them until "Say Something" went mainstream.
After checking out more of their music, I have to say that "Say Something" isn't my favorite song of theirs. Don't get me wrong, it's a fantastic song, but they have so much more to give the world.
For starters, "This is the New Year" (how appropriate, right?!) is just the best. The song just makes you want to run around dancing or jump on couches and scream the lyrics at the top of your lungs into your hairbrush...or maybe that's just what I do in my spare time. Either way, the song is tons of fun and a rush of energy.
In addition to the music video, the guys made a lyric video, which I love! I think the idea is genius and I'm sharing both as I just can't get enough of this song.
And for all of the Gleeks out there, here's a version just for you:
This song made me want to check out their YouTube channel and there I found their latest, "I Really Want It". Holy crap! Such a great song! Mark my words, these guys are going to be BIG in 2014!
And just because I can, here's one last song by A Great Big World: Everyone is Gay!
To wrap this post up, please give Ian and Chad some love by buying their music, following them on Twitter and by hitting up one of their upcoming concerts because A Great Big World is worth a listen!
