How Can I Choose?!?!!!

I think there are a lot of talented bands/artists in the CMI campaign, so it is pretty hard to choose my favorite. However, I would have to say Hogni is my favorite artist from the whole CMI campaign, and regionally I love The Features. Hogni Lisberg's new album "Hare! Hare!" deals with moral dilemmas that people are faced with. My favorite song is "Soul Company" because of the beat that comes in after the first ten seconds. Each song has a great sound and shows the unique talent the Hogni has. The Features are my favorite regionally because of the lyrics and awesome rhythm from each song they play. It's no surprise that I would like them because I love Kings of Leon. I am extremely because The Features are coming to Knoxville and Nashville in the next month or so!!

The Sound that keeps Rising

Out of the CMI, I would have to go with The Rising Sound being my favorite band. A lot of the other bands just don't have that sound that appeals to me personally. I definitely have a vibe with the Rising Sound and enjoy their songs on the CMI. They have that edgy, punk rock sound that I can rock out to. Regionally, I have to go with The Features. I was a bit skeptic at first, but as I am listening to them as I write this blog, they are growing on me. They have catchy beats and choruses. I actually am bouncing my leg to the beat and listening to the lyrics. They have a different blend of music in their songs, kind of like... Kings of Leon mixed with The Killers.... maybe. The Rising Sound as well as The Features both two worthy bands producing good music that deserve to be heard. In time, they can be something big!

Music and Movies...

For the most part, it is hard for me to pick out specific songs that were in movies. I think it is hard for me right now because it has been forever since I have seen a movie... probably since Christmas break because of all of the work I have been doing to graduate. But I will have to agree with Bob about the opening credits scene and the love scene. Star Wars' opening credits song is probably one of the most recognized song in history. And "Take My Breath Away" is one of the most memorable scenes by anyone, any girl especially. There are several car chase scenes that I like. Any James Bond movie has pretty cool car chase music. Limp Bizkit's "Rollin" in The Fast and the Furious was a good car chase song. Any of The Transporter movies have really good fight scene songs. The Transporter 3 piano fight scene is pretty cool. For ending credits, John Mayer's "Say" at the end of The Bucket List is an amazing song for that spot. I love that movie, and I think that song is perfect for that movie.

I honestly do not remember ever reading "Where the Wild Things Are" when I was little. That is not saying much, because I do not remember a lot of things from when I was little. However, after reading what it is about and seeing the trailer, I do think that the movie will be really cool. I think little kids will love this movie. One of my roommates read the book when she was little, so I showed her the trailer. She said that they depicted the monsters and the little boy's costume really well. So I think if you read the book when you were little, then watching this movie will be something that will take you back. I also think that Arcade Fire's "Wake Up" is a great song and it's a good fit for this trailer.

Where The Wild Things Are

This blog is actually pretty ironic. When I opened my e-mail telling me about the assignment I laughed. I literally had just watched the trailer online because my roommate's girlfriend showed it to me. And after I watched it, I went on iTunes and bought Wake Up by Arcade Fire. I really enjoy that song, it has a great sound to it. I think this movie is going to be awesome. I loved the book as a kid, and was in a play in kindergarden about the book. I need something to take me back, especially right after my 21st birthday... I'm getting old. Anyways, this movie is going to be thebomb.com. I just hope it doesn't get over-hyped and then become a disappointment. Although I think it will hold its own. I'm super pumped. To be honest, I don't remember specific musical pieces from movie scenes, yet alone ending credit songs, I'm walking out of the theater... Opening credits, I'll go with the Star Wars theme song. That'll send chills down any nerds back. The best ending credits song that I remember is What I've Done by Linkin Park in Transformers. Pulled the whole movie together I think. It was a great song for a great movie. Best love scene song is Take My Breath Away by Berlin in the movie Top Gun. What's not to love. That song was perfect for that scene and is still used today. The "Nobody" song from Kill Bill, Crazy 88 scene. For some reason it fits, mainly because its so opposite of what is going on visually. As for the car chase scene, I'll go with Can't Turn You Loose by the Blues Brothers in the their movie. It took some research to get here, but that's what I came up with. Music and movies... a great combination when fused together. 

Lollapalooza!!!

I have always wanted to go to Lollapalooza, and I might actually be able to go this year (it depends on the job I get when I graduate in May)! The lineup this year looks okay so far. I love Kings of Leon, and I think it would be pretty cool to see them live. My cousin introduced me to the Beastie Boys when I was around eight years old. The fact that they are still playing live is kind of amazing, considering how many groups break up in a short time period. I'm not sure if I want to see them, so with that said, I am shocked they are one of the headliners for Lollapalooza 2009. Jane's Addiction is a band that a lot of people like, and have liked each time they have reunited. I have a few friends that say they are one of their favorite bands. It would be interesting to see them perform live. Overall, I think the lineup for Lollapalooza 2009 is decent. There are a few great bands in the lineup, but I am waiting to see the whole set that comes out in April to see if it will be worth going to or not.

That song...

It is pretty hard to find just one song or album that changed your perspective on life. Throughout high school there were a ton of songs that I could relate to, mostly because of the changes that take place as you get older. College, same story. As you grow, you find different songs that help you understand what you are going through. Recently I have found a few songs that make complete sense and somehow repeat what people in my life have been telling me ever since I can remember.

Missy Higgin's "Steer" and Lady Antebellum's "I Was Here" are great songs that make you take a step back and look at your life. The main line in the song "Steer" that really got me to pay attention was, "so now you finally know that you control where you go, you can steer." Since I am graduating in less than two months, this is a big deal for me. I am just now figuring out exactly what I want to do after graduation, and this song helps me relate to getting everything together to get me where I want to go. Lady Antebellum's "I Was Here" is a very inspirational song starting in the very first line of the chorus, "I want to do something that matters." The whole song is about leaving a mark in the world and proving people wrong if they say you cannot do something. It made me start to think about what I want to do with my life. I'm just now getting to the point where I know what I want to do. I still have a few things to think about, but I'm getting there. These two songs are just recent songs (in the past year) that have changed my perspective on life. If I had hours to sit and go through every song I know, there would be a ton that have changed my outlook on things since I was a kid.

Lollapalooza actually appeals to me, a lot. Their lineup looks very.... interesting. I am a HUGE fan of Kanye and Lupe Fiasco. When I saw both of them were performing, it automatically hooked me in. Of course Rage Against The Machine would be awesome to see live. They have so much energy. Gnarls Barkley, they would be a group I would like to see, how can you go wrong with Crazy? Blues Traveler, Girl Talk, and John Butler Trio! That would be so cool to see all three of them performing. That is just such a blend on the music spectrum that I would definitely pay money to see. Saul Williams is an up and comer that would be good to see what he's got live. MGMT is amazing, love to see them. I'm not too familiar with everyone else playing, so that would be a good chance to find some new bands and see what is coming around the corner in the music world. I think its a good range of artists and would love to come watch a bunch of those bands perform. I like the lineup! 

The Life Changer

It is very difficult for me to pinpoint one album or song in general that "changed my life". I appreciate all the things that music has to offer, and personally, it has a great amount of power and influence on my everyday life. One song can change my entire day, or week. Whether it's a song that I know every word to that my boys and I sang back in high school. Or my best friends and mine "Friday celebration song". If it is a song that comes up and brings back memories or whatever that can be a good, or bad thing. I can listen to a song, and transform myself back to that point in time in my life and remember what was going on, what I was feeling, what time of the year it was, or what girl was giving me problems then. Music is a very powerful tool. If I had to find one song, off the top of my head I would say.... Life is Beautiful by Sixx:a.m. That is just a great song that makes you think about life and how short it is. Album, I would go with Creed's Weathered, it was when I first got interested in music, and I listened to that cd all the time. It does have good messages in it, and Creed's sound appeals to me. So that had a big part of my music "growing". Creed is where its at.

SXSW

Within the South by Southwest 2009 lineup, I ran across a band called The Forms. They are an alternative band from New York City. "Red Gun" off of their self-titled album shows the talent of the band. It has a great sound. The indie-rock sound, with the guitars and great melody, at first seem simple, but keep listening and it pushes towards a more complex composition. The overall sound of the band is definitely something I could listen to on a daily basis. I think The Forms are a great pick for the SXSW Music Festival.

My favorite band on the south by southwest showcase would be The Rising Sound. They have a nice, original sound. The upbeat tempo that they use has an ability to keep my head moving. The catchy chorus is a great addition to any song, it keeps the song in my memory. Their song, "In Space" has that "it" song, like it could be on iTunes top 100 any day now. It also has that 90's west coast kind of vibe. The Rising Sound holds an interesting musical content and instrumental sound to them. They are the best band out of the south by southwest line up in my opinion. They appeal to my musical preferences. The Rising Sound is a band that I would listen to on an average day on my iPod. Great band overall. 

My Dream Show

It has been really hard to pick just three bands in four different genres that I think would be a great show. For the past two weeks I have been trying to think of exactly who I would want to see, and I still have so many bands that I am deciding between. So the following line up is only about half of the bands that I would want to see together.



Hip-Hop:


For the opener, I would like to see Flypside take the stage. Even though I have only heard a couple of their songs when they first came out, those songs were very interesting. They mix the sounds of Rock with the rap/hip-hop style. Flypside seems to be very creative with their lyrics, and they also seem to have a lot of talent to be able to start off for a concert. For the mid, Eminem would probably be an interesting person to watch. He is probably the most controversial Caucasian rapper of his time. His whit and talent to rap would make a live show incredible to watch. Lil Wayne would be the best headliner for this genre. He is a great freestyle rapper, and has proven to create a large fan base over the past few years. With collaboration efforts throughout the years, he would be able to bring in several known artists to create a great live performance.



Rock:

For the opener, Deepfield would be my choice. With a mix of pop-like harmonies and the heavy, rock sound of guitars, they have a unique twist of several genres in which they make their own. For mid, Framing Hanley would put on a great performance. They have an edge about their music, with the heavy guitars and vocals. They are starting to tour now and have already received great feedback from their fans. Headlining this show, I would have to pick The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus. Their music is a mix of alternative, screamo, and metal, which gives them their edge in the rock genre. Still relatively new, they have the ability to relate with their fans with their songs. They have an amazing ability to use their talent and energy level to bring in their audience at any concert.



Jazz:

For the opener, I would love to see Michael Buble perform. He takes traditional influences of the swing era and mixes it with the newer standards to create his own sound. Billie Holiday would be my choice for the mid. She had such a strong voice. Her ability to play around with the music and harmonies of her songs, and the fact that she was determined not to just compromise on her songs made her one of the best vocalists of her era. Headlining this show would be Frank Sinatra. He ability to take songs and interpret them for different generations is what made him one of the greatest artists in his genre. He did this for over 50 years, in which the tastes of music listeners changed throughout the whole time. He was able to adapt to this and still make great performances and hit songs.



Country:

For the opener, I would like to see Gloriana take the stage. They are an upcoming band who started out in Nashville, Tennessee. Their ability to take the strengths of each member, harmonize each one's voice, and use the instrumental talent of each makes them very unique in there genre. They have an amazing level of excitement and talent that they would definitely bring to any performance. Chuck Wicks is my choice for mid. He is a relatively new country artist. Although he seems to be just like any other country artist, he really gets the crowd involved at a concert which is what any fan would love to be a part of. I think Brad Paisley is a great headliner. He puts on an amazing show every time he performs. He has an amazing voice, and he is such a talented guitar player. His ability to showcase his talent and bring his excitement level to the crowd makes for an awesome concert.

These are just a few of the artists and bands I would love to see in concert. Since there are so many in each genre that I love, it was really hard to narrow it down.

This is a difficult blog, simply because there are so many different options and I have a whole lot of favorites to go with here. But I will try to narrow it down to a manageable show. If I could have a dream set with an opener, mid, and headliner for Rock, Hip-Hop, Jazz, and Pop music. I’ll start with Rock first.

            The opener for rock would have to be Linkin Park. They are one of my personal favorite bands of all time. The music they make and the different sounds they incorporate really make them something special. Next would be Led Zeppelin. They are one of the greatest rock bands of all time plain and simple. They could just go out there and play stairway to heaven and I would be fine. Finally the headliner for the rock category would be The Jimmy Hendrix Experience. Hendrix is essentially the best guitarist of all time, legendary in every aspect. Jimmy Hendrix was an innovator in the rock world, paving the way for future rockers.

            For Hip-Hop, this one was easy. I respect my roots and where Hip-Hop came from and all, however, I want my generation and what could be three of the best rappers of all time. I’m never sure if rap falls into “Hip-Hop” but in this blog, it does. Opener is T.I. He has some of the best lyrical content and raw ability to rap. He is just one of the most talented rappers ever to live. Next would be the talented Mr. Kanye West. I have been a fan of Kanye since The College Dropout. His content, whit, and style are just unarguable. Finally, rapper Lil Wayne may be the best rapper of all time (self proclaimed of course). I listen to Lil Wayne and find myself laughing, bobbing my head, and rapping along with him. Flat out, best rapper in this line up.

            For jazz, it was a little more difficult. For the opener, I have the king of cool, Miles Davis himself. The man could play a trumpet like no other. I think it would be really awesome to get a chance to see him play. Next would be Duke Ellington. I started listening to him when I was in elementary school. He always had a pleasant sound to his music. It was upbeat and fun to listen to. I thoroughly enjoy The Duke. And the headliner would have to be Louis Armstrong. Armstrong is arguably the greatest jazz musician of all time, so how could I not have him in my lineup?

            I decided to go with Pop music as my last genre. The opener for pop music will be none other than Elvis, whom else would I have picked? Next in this delicious band sandwich would have to be Bob Marley. I am not sure if he necessarily fits in with the “pop” theme here, but I can’t leave him off the set list, and have nowhere else to put him. A great musician and mind throughout the history of music. Finally, the main event, The Beatles! No question, best band of all time. I didn’t know how else to categorize them but pop music. Even though they did so much for the music world and showed everyone what music should be all about. No question, one of the greatest bands ever to bless this planet.

 

            That’s my set list, it’s all I got, and I’m sticking to it.

                                    

Crazy Weather!!!!

This past Sunday, the weather here in Knoxville, Tennessee was somewhere around 60 degrees. I know it's February, but I wore flip-flops because it felt great outside! And because I want it to be summer. The next day... it snowed!!! I wore multiple layers, and I still could not get warm! The past several days have been really cold, mainly because of the wind. Every county around here have been closed since noon on Monday. Even Knox County schools were closed. But of course, not UT.

There is a story about the reason why the university does not close classes if there is no real need to. I learned of this on Tuesday, so I've been thinking about it all week. In the '60s or '70s, they closed because of snow. The students went down to what we call "The Strip" where there are a few bars and eateries. Legal drinking age was 18 then, so obviously the students had a little to drink on their day off. A few of them started throwing snowballs at the cars driving by. One was actually ice, and it hit the window of a van and cracked it. The man driving got out of the van and started shooting at the group that threw the ice ball. One person was killed, two or three more injured. The group then went after him and beat him severely; almost killed him.

Since this happened over 40 years ago, the university has only closed twice: once for the ice storm in the '90s, and another time a couple of years ago for a really bad snow storm. I understand the fact they are scared of what could happen if they close classes, but that just makes students try to make it to class because of sttendance or tests or presentations when there is ice on the roads surrounding the city. It's still dangerous, and if other schools close... then it makes sense to cancel classes.

Traditional Jazzzzz

I have recently started listening to different jazz artists. I absolutely love Michael Buble! His voice is amazing, and the songs seem very real. Not too long ago I bought Peter Cincotti's first CD because one of my teachers asked us if we had heard of him. He was very surprised when nobody in the class had, and so he made a comment about him being a very popular jazz artist.

The CD has a lot of traditional jazz songs, but there are a few that I've never heard. I like the CD as a whole, but I was a little disappointed since I was expecting what my teacher had described as a great artist with great talent. Peter Cincotti has a good voice; he hits all of the notes, and makes the song his own. However, it might be that I am comparing him to Michael Buble and Frank Sinatra, but I don't think that he is up to their level yet. He is only in his mid-20's, so he has quite a while to improve and become one of the top jazz artists.

The CD is about love and relationships, so it seems very real and there are quite a few good lines in some of the songs. I love the piano and the saxophone throughout the whole CD! I wish I would have continued with piano lessons when I was little. I think it is amazing that there are so many people who have the talent to play any instrument that well.

Super Bowl Scuffle

While watching the Super Bowl last night I realized there were quite a few penalties called. During a punt in the second half of the game, there was another flag thrown. My friends and I all tried to guess what the call would be, turns out it was unsportsmans like conduct, unnecessary roughness. We figure it happens, its football and all. Well they showed the replay and the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year is beating down a Cardinal's special teamer. The player was laying on the ground defenseless, while the huge linebacker literally beat him down. As soon as he got up, the Pittsburgh defensive leader threw him on the ground again. This thug, James Harrison, now has a Super Bowl record of longest interception in history. He is also the Defensive Player of the Year. He is a role model to a lot of fans, and here is he bullying on a smaller player for no reason. This left a bad taste in my mouth personally. From that point on I no longer respected him or the Steelers. His post game interview was naturally all about him talking about how good he is while the analysts and reporters praise him. Harrison does not deserve all this attention and publicity, he should have been thrown out of the game. Harrison and players like him are a disgrace! 

Album that pulls on all kinds of emotional strings.

There are a lot of harsh critics that have A LOT to say about the most recent album by Kanye West, 808's and Heartbreak. I have been a Kanye fan since the College Dropout first came out. I am not always a supporter of what Mr. West has to say publicly or politically, but the man makes great music. And the best part of that is he makes it himself, his songs are his songs. His new album really gives what I feel to be an inside look on his life. With the loss of his mother and the breakup with his fiance all in the same year, there is a lot to be said in his breakthrough album. There is so much emotion and raw feelings expressed in his songs, that it makes me feel what he might be going through. All the songs are truly original, there is nothing like Kanye West beats or songs out there. He is truly one of a kind.