If you love to play music, you probably started out playing covers of songs, whether you took part in lessons or got into the world of musicianship on a self-taught basis. Of course, if you find yourself wanting something more and you’re ready to start creating original tracks, then it can be hard to take the plunge in terms of putting pen to paper. While there are no ‘rules’ in terms of writing music, as creativity can’t be forced, there are ways in which you can hone in on your talents and start to create something original. Here are some pieces of advice to help you make a mark in the music world as a songwriter rather than a cover artist:
Understand the recording and production process:
When it comes to creating your own songs, writing something with a catchy melody and meaningful lyrics is only one part of the equation. In fact, being a musician with a beautiful singing voice and instrumental talent who performs well is also only a small part of the equation. You need to understand the recording and production process involved with creating music if you want your original tracks to really make their mark on listeners, and this involves more than simply turning on a mic and pressing ‘record’.
You need to ensure that the quality of the instruments being used and everything involved with the song has been honed to perfection, as it’s easy to capture every sound in a live environment, but not quite so much in a recorded environment. You might want to look into sites such as Box Tiger Music for help with choosing guitars or pianos based on reviews. It’s important that you strive to sound as good, if not better, than the top musicians in the industry before you’re anywhere near that status. That’s how you make it.
Perhaps you understand the technicalities of music, but you just don’t feel creative or professional. While many big labels in the industry are full of songwriters and producers who have spent years learning how to create hit songs through observing what works, many musicians with a deep passion for the art of creating music want to ‘make it’ in a more organic way. If you’re much the same, then writing a catchy song which starts to turn heads and brings you attention in the music industry shouldn’t ever become a mechanical process. Instead of thinking about the simplistic chord progressions behind the biggest hits in history, you should just start jamming and see what happens.
We all have the power to be creative. Whether you’re in a band or operating on a solo basis, just hit ‘record’, start messing around with your guitar, piano, voice, or whichever instrument you play, and see what happens. When you listen back to your five or ten minute jamming session later, you’ll likely hate a lot of it. However, there’s every chance that you’ll hear a gem in the form of a musical nugget which will really inspire you to form a fully-fledged song out of what was originally nothing more than a small riff or chord progression. Play around and see what happens, super star!
Heyyy everyone and TGIF! About a month or so ago, I wrote an article about my desire to play all of the over 8,000 songs on my iPod the entire way through on shuffle. (See: “iTunes Shuffle Challenge”) Unfortunately, I only made it to song 1,000. I seriously couldn’t handle not being able to hear my go to jams whenever I wanted, so thanks to a few of my favorite songs, the score is as follows:
Sarah: 0
iTunes Shuffle Challenge: 7496833058
Now it’s time to share with you the funky time jams that made the iTunes Shuffle Challenge triumph over Lil Red:
Wild For The Night – A$AP Rocky (ft. Skrillix, Birdy Nam Nam): Yes, the lyrics in this song are vulgar to the point that it’s almost shameful. No, I don’t care. This song is my fucking jam. Whenever I’m in the mood to blast rap music at the highest volume possible in the Little Red Love Machine (which is very often), this is my first choice. It’s so damn catchy and I have the biggest, weirdest crush on A$AP Rocky. Ain’t no shame in my game. 😉 #ihatemyself
One Time – K-Os: Oh yes, I looooove me some K-Os and “One Time” is one of my all time favorites by him. This track is so sexy it’s unreal and it’s another one of Lil Red’s go to driving jams. If you haven’t noticed already, a common theme in this post is that these songs are all ones that I like to drive to. Sue me for it. By the time I got about a month into the iTunes Shuffle Challenge, I was so over not being able to hear my favorite driving songs. Everyone has those certain tracks that put them in the best mood while driving and it was very difficult to live without them. But I digress. K-Os came out with a new album recently and I’m very excited to give it a listen…Also, give “One Time” a try. It’s the tits.
Wake Up – AWOLNATION: Obviously AWOLNATION is going to be on this list considering how much I freaking love them. (See: “AWOLNATION Concert” and “Man Crush Monday: Aaron Bruno Edition) AWOL is one of my favorite bands to drive to because their music is so fast paced and upbeat. Around song 500 on my Shuffle Challenge “Like People, Like Plastic” played and I freaked out with happiness and then spiraled into a depression because I couldn’t rock out to any more of their music. It seriously killed me. #neardeathexperiences
That Black Bat Licorice – Jack White: Once again, obviously my main man, Jack White, is going to be on this list. (See: “Man Crush Monday: Jack White Edition) I love playing anything and everything with Mr. White in it, so consider this part of the list an all inclusive blurb for all of Jack White’s past and present bands. Such a beautiful, talented, hunka hunk of burning love. I also really like the music video for this song!
Avocado, Baby – Los Campesinos!: I like this song a lot. Like a lot a lot. I’ve been a Los Campesinos! fan for years and this track is no exception. It’s cool, it’s catchy, and I play it in the Little Red Love Machine at least ten times per week. #MVP
Don’t Save Me – HAIM: Whenever I’m feeling sassy, which is very often, I loves me some HAIM. I’m a big fan of their entire album Days Are Gone and “Don’t Save Me” is probably one of my favorite tracks. I like to play HAIM when I’m in need of a heaping helping of girl power and best believe I’m singing poorly the entire time. Oh, what I wouldn’t do to be a member of that sisterhood (of the traveling pants).
Burnin’ Up – Jonas Brothers: Hahaha…haha…ha. JUDGE ME FOR IT!!! Whenever I’m driving with my sister, this is one of the songs that we like to belt at the top of our lungs. For that reason, “Burnin’ Up” was an accomplice to my iTunes Shuffle Challenge failure. You guys have no idea how hard it was to tell my big sis that she couldn’t play our JoBros anthem because I couldn’t stray away from my shuffle streak. I made a lot of musical sacrifices for the Shuffle Challenge, and not playing “Burnin’ Up” was one of the most difficult ones I had to make. #truestory
So there you have it, the tunes that turned my iTunes Shuffle Challenge into an Epic Failure. What are some of your go to driving songs? How many songs do you have on your iPod and do you think you could succeed at a Shuffle Challenge of your own? I wanna hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah
Whatupppp everyone and happy Hump Day! This Funky Time Jams post is brought to you by my hangover and my deep passion for Bedtime Music. If there’s one thing that I love, it’s falling asleep to some soothing tunes. I have a plethora of go to artists in my vast collection that I play when it’s time to hit the hay for the night and they never fail to send me off to dream land peacefully. The trick to good bedtime music is that it literally has to be “just right”. So here’s my Lil Red Rules to bedtime music before we discuss some tried and true favorites:
1) The music can’t be too upbeat because you don’t want to get hyped up instead of worn out.
2) The vocalist needs to have a voice that soothes you, obviously.
3) Songs with piano playing is always a good thing!
4) The songs need to take you to your pre-sleep happy place.
Alright, here we go!
Enya – Orinoco Flow: Freaking OBVIOUSLY. Out of all of my bedtime music artists, Enya is the one that I play most frequently. I just love her – even though I never understand what she’s singing about half of the time. All I know is that Enya soothes a Lil Red like no other. Her music is pure poetry and it takes me to places in my mind that are good for the soul…shopping in Paris, shopping in London, shopping anywhere. It’s a magical thing. Enya has saved me from many a sleepless night and for that, I salute you.
Coldplay – Speed Of Sound: Of course Coldplay had to be included on this list. I had a difficult time selecting which Coldplay song to feature on here, but then I thought back to yesterday when “Speed Of Sound” came on my iPod when I had it on shuffle and just how much I enjoyed it. I seriously forgot how much I love this song. I’m a really big Coldplay fan – they were my first concert when I was in fifth grade or so. (Richard Ashcroft from The Verve was the opener and they performed “Bittersweet Symphony” together and it was life changing!) My brother chose to take me over his stupid girlfriend at the time and it’s always been one of my favorite memories. I also figure skated to “Talk” during competitions. Coldplay holds a very special, sentimental place in my heart and their music makes me happy – which is why they’re a great band to play before bed!
Cat Power – I Found a Reason: Oh dear lord I love this song – specifically because it’s featured in one of my all time favorite movies, V For Vendetta. Cat Power’s voice is so hauntingly beautiful. Her music is the kind that you would expect to hear in one of those jewelry boxes that I feel like every little girl has when they’re growing up…You know, the kind where you open up the lid and music starts playing and the ballerina or whatever starts spinning around. Those jewelry boxes.
Wolf Parade – Dear Sons And Daughters Of Hungry Ghosts: I know I said to avoid upbeat music before bed, but Wolf Parade is my exception. Spencer Krug’s voice is simply intoxicating and it legitimately puts me under a spell every time I hear it. Maybe that’s why I can listen to them while I’m laying in bed at night and feel sleepy, because I’m under a weird Indie rock love spell. “Dear Sons And Daughters Of Hungry Ghosts” is a fucking brilliant track, and if you’ve never heard of Wolf Parade then this is a perfect song to introduce you to them with. Make sure you pay close attention to the lyrics because they’re fantastic. The video I’m posting is great too because it includes their hit “I’ll Believe In Anything” as well which is one of my all time favorite songs in the history of ever.
Say Hi To Your Mom – Let’s Talk About Spaceships: If you want some really good Indie bedtime music, then Say Hi To Your Mom is one of your best bets. I love this guy too much and I’m actually really excited because I’ve wanted to see him in concert for years and he’s finally coming to Cleveland in October!! HURRAY! “Let’s Talk About Spaceships” was one of the first songs I ever heard by Say Hi To Your Mom and the only reason I even discovered this artist is because years ago when my brother and I were browsing through Best Buy we saw his CD’s and thought his name was absolutely hysterical. I had to investigate his music as soon as I got home and I fell in love. This track opens with one of my favorite lyrics of “And what’s that saying again? They’re only words and words can’t kill me.” I’ve never considered this song one of my favorites but honestly I think it’s safe to say that it’s one of my favorites. I’ve loved it since I was fourteen and I still love it seven years later.
Sufjan Stevens – Detroit, Lift Up Your Weary Head! (Rebuild! Restore! Reconsider!): Once again, if you’re looking for some really good Indie bedtime music, Sufjan Stevens is also a good way to go. “Detroit, Lift Up Your Weary Head!” is probably one of my favorite Sufjan songs for reasons I can’t tell you, because I have no clue why. In the words of Matthew Mcconaughey in those stupid Lincoln commercials, “I just like it”. One of the reasons why I like to play some Sufjan before bed is because all of his songs are quite long, so you can easily lose yourself in the ten minute tracks and before you know it you’re asleep. INDUSTRY! INDUSTRY!
U2 – Sleep Like a Baby Tonight: Okay, 1) Did you honestly think that I would pass up an opportunity to post music by my favorite band in the whole wide world? and 2) The answer for posting this song is all in the name of it. The end. Wait…no, not the end! Because now I have to discuss just how disappointed I am that U2 isn’t coming to Ohio on their Innocence + Experience Tour! So Bono, if you’re reading this: I love you! AND COME TO OHIO!
So there you have it, the Funky Time Jams: Bedtime Music Edition! If you’re having trouble sleeping, definitely give some of these songs and artists a try and let me know how they work out! Who’s your go to bedtime music artist? What songs succeed in making you sleepy? I wanna hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah
Whatsup guys! I haven’t done a music post in a while, so I figured now would be the perfect time to let all of you know what I’ve been jamming out to this past month! Get comfy, kick up your feet, and turn your speakers up while I discuss some new tried and true favorites:
RAC ft. Matthew Koma: Cheap Sunglasses – Ohhhh yes indeed, I love this song. This was on our playlist when I worked at PacSun, and to be honest I kind of forgot about it until I heard it playing at Express a few months ago. After I got reunited with RAC this fun little indie pop ditty has become one of my favorites. Ever since I rediscovered this song, it became the track that I would start my drives to Cleveland for school with. It’s so catchy it hurts, and I’ve had played it on repeat more times than I can count – which I’m so okay with!
The Used: Take It Away – I’ve always been a really big fan of this song, but after seeing The Used perform this in concert a few weeks ago (which you can read all about in my article “The Used Concert!!!”), my love for it rekindled tenfold. This song is so fucking powerful, and I really wish that I could upload the video I have of The Used performing it, but unfortunately it won’t upload on here! You guys should know by now that I’m an emo kid through and through, and I really can’t think of a better emo kid anthem than this song.
A$AP Rocky: Fashion Killa – I have a HUGE crush on A$AP Rocky, and this track in my fucking jam. This is my fly girl theme song, and I love bumpin it in the Little Red Love Machine every chance I get. The beat is amazing, and I like to pretend that this song was written for me…judge me for it. I fall in and out of phases of liking rap, but no matter what I always have a soft spot for A$AP – he’s cute as a button and his flow is insane. MARRY ME!
AWOLNATION: Jailbreak – I’ve mentioned countless times before how much I love AWOLNATION’s sophomore album Run, and I think that this song might be my favorite one on the album. I love the really dark vibe that “Jailbreak” has, which is very similar to everyone’s favorite “Sail” off of Megalithic Symphony. I’ve grown very fond of playing Run in its entirety while driving, and best believe I’m singing along the whole time – but I go especially hard to this song! I’m really hoping that I can see AWOLNATION in concert sooner or later, I feel like they would be SO fun to see live!
Generationals: Ten-Twenty-Ten – I absolutely adore Generationals, and I really like this short and sweet track. It’s a PacSun playlist oldie but goodie that I didn’t even realize I had in my collection until I had my iTunes playing on shuffle a few days ago. Needless to say, I was thrilled when I made this discovery! I’m usually not a fan of watching music videos, but the video for this song is pretty fun – so make sure you check it out! I like this dudes voice a lot too, it’s quirky and smooth, and I really like how it’s a bit higher pitched than most male singers. Big fan!
Grouplove: Chloe – I rediscovered my love for Grouplove a week or so ago, and “Chloe” is probably one of my all time favorites by them. It’s so sweet and catchy, and I always get this image in my head of a bonfire party where everyone’s just sitting around a campfire and singing their little hearts out whenever I hear this song. You know how there’s some songs where you don’t have an obvious reason for liking the song other than the phrase “I just like it”? That’s exactly how I feel about this fun little track.
The Smiths: Bigmouth Strikes Again – I feel like I mention my undying adoration for The Smiths a lot, but that’s okay because they deserve it! All of their songs are a favorite song of mine, but “Bigmouth Strikes Again” is a track that’s closer to the top of my list. The lyrics to this song are SO dark, which is something that I’m always drawn to.
Sweetness, sweetness I was only joking
When I said by rights you should be
Bludgeoned in your bed
^^^ Like what? Haha, at least he was only joking! This song is also why “sweetness” is one of my favorite pet names to call people – which I realized I started doing a lot more after I began playing “Bigmouth” periodically throughout the day!
The New Pornographers: Falling Through Your Clothes – Hands down my favorite New Pornographers song, no questions asked. I could hear this track on repeat all day and I would still love it. Everything about this song just works SO amazingly well, it’s unreal – I love how soft the verses are and then BAM the game changes with the orchestral chorus. I never really made it a priority before to listen to The New Pornographers a lot, but I recently added all of their albums to my collection and it was the most worthwhile thing I’ve done in a long time. They’re slowly but surely becoming one of my favorite bands.
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah: Upon This Tidal Wave Of Young Blood – THERE IS NOTHING LEFT TO FEAR, NOW THAT BIGFOOT IS CAPTURED!!!! Best. Opening. Lyric. EVER. I’ve been on a very big Clap Your Hands Say Yeah kick as of late, and I’m so not mad about it. My older brother saw them in concert a year ago and I’m forever jealous of him for it. The lead singers voice is simply intoxicating and their lyrics are astounding. Enough said.
Metric: Speed The Collapse – I’m a very big fan of Metric, and they’ve really pulled through as a month of May all star for Lil Red. As you guys know, I usually hate female vocalists, but Emily Haines is the exception. I don’t know what it is about her voice, but I can’t get enough of it – AND she’s drop dead gorgeous. Hubba hubba. Shout out to PacSun for exposing me to Metric and all of their glory, because “Speed The Collapse” is a PacTrack if I’ve ever heard one!
So there you have it! My funky time jams for the month of May! Who have you guys been rocking out to lately? What song have you been playing on repeat today? I wanna hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah
Whatupppppp guys! Hope your Thursday is treating you well so far. So, for the past few months I’ve had the exact same song lineup on the tabs that I have on my iPod. These songs are my old faithfuls. I can listen to them literally at any given time during the day and enjoy it no matter what. Some of these songs I’ve known for years and I’m still not sick of them! I’m sure I may have mentioned a few of these tracks at some point during my posts, but some of them are so nice I’ll name them twice. Let’s get started!
The Wombats – “Your Body Is A Weapon”: I absolutely ADORE this song. (So PacSun-y, I know) I love The Wombats too much and this is probably one of my favorite songs by them. The thing is, is that there really is nothing too special about this song – the lyrics aren’t mind blowing and the sound is very similar to everything else that The Wombats do BUT there’s just something about this track that speaks to me. It’s catchy, it’s cool, it’s fun. Whenever I hear it I can’t help but dance to it. In fact I choreographed a pretty cool routine to it. This song puts my heart and body in motion, so I guess that’s the something about this song that speaks to me.
The Knife – “We Share Our Mothers Health” (Ratatat Remix): This is a song that I know I mentioned before, but that’s okay, because it’s fantastic. Ratatat absolutely annihilates this remix. I love that a dark spin was put on this song, it’s so moody and hypnotizing and I can’t get enough. Quite frankly, the remix is infinitely better than The Knife’s original, and that’s really saying something because I love The Knife. So bangin.
Wavves – “Nodding Off”: “Don’t call me friend, I’m not your friend. Don’t call me nothing at all. I stopped waiting for your call – STUPID AND ANNOYED!!!” That lyric basically sums up my entire life, sad but true. This is hands down my favorite song by Wavves. This song used to play during my first year of working at PacSun about four years ago, and I loved it then just as much as I do now. The chorus of the song repeats “gods been nodding off” and I think that it’s absolutely brilliant. That one simple statement sums up how I feel about a lot of shit in my life. With a chorus like that you would think that the song would be melancholy and depressing, but in true Wavves fashion, it’s the perfect mix of surfer rock and straight up fun. I love it forever and for always.
Everything Everything – “Cough Cough”: Yeah. So. Um….wait a second. This track is fantastic. I wasn’t a very big Everything Everything fan until I heard “Cough Cough”. I honestly find their earlier stuff quite annoying, BUT they changed it up with this song and displayed such a fresh mature sound that I dig so much. The lyrics are fascinating and the vocals on this song really are impressive. Usually I never recommend watching music videos because I hate them, but the music video for “Cough Cough” is pretty cool, so definitely check it out.
Juicy J ft. Kreayshawn – “U Trippy Mane”: Lol, this list wouldn’t be complete without a rap song, and this is my jam. Juicy J absolutely slays me and Kreayshawn really isn’t that great but I have a big crush on her so that makes up for her lack of talent. My sister and I play this song in the car all the time and it legit never gets old. “I’ve got so much trip, I fell asleep high. I woke up high. If I’m sober I LIED.” Hahaha, I love it.
Magic Man – “Texas”: Yes, yes, yes, yes. This is hands down one of my favorite songs in the world. Simply gorgeous. This track takes me to a really magical, melancholy place in my mind and it honestly feels like Magic Man picked my brain to write this song. I’ll never forget the first time I heard it at you guessed it, PacSun. I had to stop what I was doing and just listen to it. The lyrics are so poetic and sad but somehow uplifting and joyous at the same time. All I picture in my head is sunsets, summer time, a night sky full of stars, and a blossoming relationship when I hear this song. Some day I hope that someone feels the same way about me that the guys of Magic Man were feeling about someone when they wrote this song. It’s a perfect sentiment of love and it’s too beautiful for words.
Sheppard – “Geronimo”: This one is actually a new song that I added to my lineup. If there’s one thing Lil Red loves, it’s indie pop – and this song is a perfect example of it. Songs don’t always have to be so serious. They can be care free, fun, catchy, and cute and Sheppard displays all of these things effortlessly. I rarely play the radio when I’m driving, I usually just plug my iPod in, but I was running some nearby errands and didn’t bother and I ended up hearing this song. When I hear “Geronimo” I can’t help but smile. It’s a sweet song that puts me in a happy mood, what more can you ask for?
Little Comets – “Joanna”: I. Love. This. Song. I love the vocals, I love the sound, I love the lyrics, I love it all. There’s honestly nothing else I can say about this one. If you chose to listen to any of the songs on here, this is the one you should try. You’re welcome.
Wolf Parade – “I’ll Believe In Anything”: Wolf Parade is one of my all time favorite bands, and this song is astoundingly beautiful. “Give me your eyes, I need sunshine.” That lyric holds a very special place in my heart and soul. All of Wolf Parade’s lyrics are phenomenal, but there’s something about the pure poetry in this song that really speaks to me. This track is absolutely timeless. “I’ll Believe In Anything” is almost a decade old and it still resonates in my very being to this day. Once again, I hate music videos – but, the video for this song is quite good, so make sure you give it a watch.
U2 – “Beautiful Day”: U2 is my number one favorite band in the world. Point blank. Period. I grew up listening to U2 with my parents and loved them as a small child and here I am now, at twenty years old and I love them even more. This song is my everything. It has gotten me through more tough times than I can even begin to tell you. My very first tattoo that I got the day I turned eighteen were actually lyrics from “Beautiful Day” – “After the flood all the colors came out”. That phrase has been my mantra for years now and this song has been my theme song since I was young. I was lucky enough to see U2 in concert in Pittsburgh for their 360 Tour and was in absolute hysterics when they performed this song. To hear my favorite song in the entire world by my favorite band in the entire world live was an experience that I’ll never EVER forget. Perfection.
So there you have it, my old faithfuls! My go to-s, my favorites, my funky time jams. I love these songs so much, and I hope all of you enjoy them just as much as I do! What’s your favorite song in the entire world? What are a few of your old faithful tracks? I’d love to hear from you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Peace out. -Sarah
Hey hey guys and happy Saturday! The funky time jams have been real this week, and I’ve had a few songs that I’ve been playing on repeat to the point that I was annoying myself. So here’s a few fun new tracks for you to feast your ears on – let me know what you think!
Edward Maya & Vika Jigulina – “Stereo Love”: I am absolutely OBSESSED with this track. It’s a bit of a throwback since it came out in 2009, but my love for this song got rekindled about a week ago when I was getting my nails done. My beloved nail technician, Vinny had his techno Pandora playlist on and this song came on and mama got hyped. The lyrics are gorgeous for one “I hate to see you cry, your smile is a beautiful lie”. Love it. And for two, that accordion is bangin!! After Vinny and I shared our mutual love for this song with each other, he invited my sister and I to move in with him. It was a beautiful time.
The Neighbourhood – “Afraid”: “You’re too mean, I don’t like you – fuck you anyway.” So. Much. Yes. Whenever I have an emo kid moment (which happened quite a few times this past week), The Neighbourhood is usually my go to band to play. Their entire album “I Love You.” always manages to make me cry no matter what, particularly this song. I remember hearing this for the first time when I was working at PacSun, and it had an instant emotional effect on me and remains one of my favorite whiny Sarah anthems to this day. The music video is pretty cool too, so make sure you check it out.
Wale ft. Sam Drew – “LoveHate Thing”: I know, I know, I’ve already mentioned this song before – SUE ME FOR IT, because I absolutely love it. This track is so sexy and smooth and I can’t get enough of it. “Give me love baby, NOT ENOUGH NOT ENOUGH just a touch babyyy”. You better believe that I scream that part at the top of my lungs when I’m cruising around in the Little Red Love Machine. “LoveHate Thing” has actually been my most played song this week, so of course it had to go back on the funky time jams list for this post.
The War On Drugs – “Baby Missiles”: Alright, I admit it, I wasn’t too keen on The War On Drugs once I first started listening to them, thanks to a suggestion from my brother. I don’t know what changed in my mind, but after the third or fourth time of listening to their albums “Slave Ambient” and “Lost In The Dream” I was in love. I get such an old school rock n’ roll feel from these guys. This song in particular gives me a really amazing Bruce Springsteen vibe, that I’m sure many of you will agree with if you listen to it. If you’re a Bob Dylan fan, I’d highly recommend giving The War On Drugs a try, because some of their vocals are damn near identical to Dylan’s. Top notch.
Kiesza – “Hideaway”: The first time I heard this song was when I was flipping through channels and landed on some award show or another. I saw this lanky, gorgeous redhead singing her ass off and I was mesmerized. Her vocals are SO strong, and you guys know I don’t say that about female vocalists very often. This is such a great electronica track, it makes me feel like taking LSD and staring at a lava lamp for hours on end. So mission accomplished, Kiesza – keep doing your thang. -From one redhead to another. ❤
Rae Sremmurd – “No Type”: Yes. Oh hell yes. This song is my JAM. We played this at Next constantly when I worked there, and I was obsessed. I love these guys’ voices so much. They have so much swag, it’s ridiculous and this track is bumpin. “Bad bitches is the only thing that I like”. They took the words right out of my mouth. We truly are on the same page with that beautiful sentiment.
Viva Brother – “Fly By Nights”: I love these Brit boys so so very much. I had a blast listening to their album “Famous First Words” while I was getting ready in the morning a few days ago. What I like so much about Viva Brother is that they’re so sure of who they are as a band. They’re this perfect blend of poppy boy band charm with just the right amount of a punk edge to give them a very unique sound. They often get compared to The Wombats in terms of sound, but I hear two distinctively different bands whenever I listen to either of them. There’s this fantastic lyric in “Fly By Nights”, “I’m thinking of you and so I’m drinking for two” which I fricken love. I can’t tell you guys how many times I cracked open a bottle of wine over a stupid ex boyfriend or whatever and that lyric sums it up perfectly. Did I also forget to mention that the Viva Brother boys are cute as hell? Hubba hubba!
Jack White – “Lazaretto”: This track is without a doubt in my top five favorite songs to drive to. I happened to drive a lot to Jack White this past week, shocker, I know. I’m sure I’ve mentioned multiple times before my undying love for Mr. White, but let me mention it again: I love him, and I will have his pale children some day. COUNT ON IT. Jack White loves redheads too so that definitely will earn me some extra brownie points! This song is just fantastic. It’s a true testament to who Jack White is as an artist. That amazing guitar and those raw vocals – the fact that you can hear through his music just how much fun he has making it. It’s amazing. The lyrics “When I say nothing, I say everything” spoke to me enough that I got it tattooed. #superfan #marrymeJackWhite (PS: make sure you check out the music video for “Lazaretto” – it’s way cool!)
Santigold – “You’ll Find A Way”: Yasssssss! I’ve been a big Santigold fan for ages now! I actually was just listening to her today as I was applying my makeup. Santigold is fantastic putting on makeup music because she’s so damn sassy, so it got me extremely hyped up to get all dolled up! This girl can spit, and I love her sound so much. It’s this fantastic combination of rap, gorgeous vocals, and just a hint of electronica. It’s quite brilliant, actually. The best part about her sound is how distinctive it is. I’d know a Santigold track instantly just by her somewhat throaty voice (which I find incredibly sexy!). And can we talk about that album cover? GORGEOUS!
Cloud Nothings – “Understand At All”: Cloud Nothings is a cool, cool band. It’s quite amazing the transformation that their music has undertaken within a few short years. “Understand At All” is the opening track to their debut self titled album which definitely had a beachy, surfer boy/garage band feel. Just imagine a group of handsome guys playing in a garage filled with surfboards and you’ll get early Cloud Nothings. This is such a simple little song, but sometimes simple is better. The refrain repeats “I don’t understand at all, and I don’t understand at all” which is a sentiment I’m sure many of us has felt in their lifetime. Whether it be from a breakup or a math problem, Cloud Nothings took one universal statement and turned it into a bangin track. Their sound is a lot more mature now, which you can hear in “I’m Not Part Of Me” which is off of one of their latest albums “Here And Nowhere Else”. You’ll be amazed by their metamorphosis if you take the time to compare and contrast these tracks.
So there you have it, my top ten latest and greatest funky time jams! What’s your favorite song or album to drive to? Do you have any lyrics from a favorite song tattooed on you? I’d love to hear from you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Have a fabulous Saturday! -Sarah
I hate Christmas music. Go ahead, call me a scrooge! I just can’t help it though, it’s all very annoying to me. Everyone thinks my hatred of holiday music stems from working at the mall for four holiday seasons straight, where the Christmas music was non stop, but that’s not true. I can remember disliking it long before my four year stint at PacSun. So I put together a list of music recommendations for the holiday music haters, to hopefully drone out a whole lot of fa la la’s!
Nick Jonas: Jealous – Pleeeease judge me for this one! I think this song is so catchy it hurts….it especially hurts my pride for enjoying it. I rarely play the radio, I opt for plugging in my iPod instead, but if I’m running errands that are within a five mile distance of my house I begrudgingly play the top forty hits. This is the one song on the radio that I can actually tolerate listening to…and by tolerate I mean singing poorly to it at the top of my lungs. Nick Jonas is all grown up and cute as can be, so now that the purity ring is off – holla atcha girl. 😉
The Wombats: Tokyo (Vampires & Wolves) – Ohhh yes, this song is indeed a PacSun throwback. We played this song within my first year of working there four long years ago, and I still love it. I actually was playing this about ten minutes ago when I was painting my face for the day. I think that if you can hear a song that was played at your work and not wanna roll your eyes at it, then that means you really do enjoy the song. I quite like The Wombats too, the album that this song is off of “The Wombats Proudly Present: This Modern Glitch” is simply delightful.
The 1975: Girls – I had to include The 1975 on this list considering I’m seeing them in concert in Cleveland tomorrow. I’M SO EXCITED!!!! First of all, Matt Healy is a babe with the voice of an angel. Having said that, I really adore this song. It reminds me of a more mature version of their fan favorite “Chocolate” especially when Healy uses the lyrics “I think you better go” which are used in “Chocolate” as well. I really enjoy the entirety of their self titled debut album, but this one is definitely one of my favorites. I can’t wait to tell you guys all about the concert tomorrow! Yippy hurray!
Usher ft. Juicy J: I Don’t Mind – I actually DO mind that I like this song…I mind it a lot actually. We play this raunchy jam at my current job, and it grew on me like a fungus. It’s a definite ear worm too considering I can never get it out of my head once I hear it. Juicy J’s verse absolutely cracks me up in this track, just like all of his songs do. He opens with “I’m just tryna cuddle up, tryna bust a nut” so be prepared for the feeling of “what did he just say?!” My mom loves her some Usher, but she refuses to listen to this song because of the suggestive content. Lucky for her, this song can definitely be classified as one of my funky time jams, so we balance each other out.
Phantogram: When I’m Small – This song is good for more than just being featured in the commercials for Gilette razors. I love this song. I’ve had Phantogram on my iPod for a while now, but have never really chosen to listen to them avidly until my beau played them in the car a few nights ago. I always wondered what the song they were using in the razor commercials were, so I was shocked to find out that it’s been on my iPod for months now and I haven’t even realized it. I love the lead singers vocals, they remind me of an extremely indie version of the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s, and considering the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s are one of my favorites, I can definitely get down to some Phantogram.
Mona: Teenager – I forgot how much I liked this song until I had it playing in the Little Red Love Machine yesterday. This track is a PacSun classic, and I am SO not mad about it. Mona is a SEVERELY underrated band, so hopefully this will shine a light on just how fantastic they are. Do yourselves a favor and listen to their self titled album and their newest one “Torches & Pitchforks”. You’ll be glad you did.
Ed Sheeran: Don’t – This song plays at Next on occasion and I hate myself for liking it. BUT WHATEVER. This is definitely another tolerable song that’s playing on the radio, along with “Animals” by Maroon 5, which I mentioned a few posts ago. Anyways, I can’t tell if I’m attracted to Ed Sheeran’s leprechaun looking self, but I have no problem listening to this sexy track until I figure it out. Don’t even get me started on his accent. Lord have mercy on me.
The Killers: Jenny Was A Friend Of Mine – I’ve been on a HUGE The Killers kick lately, and if you say that you dislike the album “Hot Fuss” – then you’re a liar…plain and simple. This is the opening track on the album and it really is the perfect opener. I know too many people that think that “Hot Fuss” is only good for the crowd pleasers like “Somebody Told Me”, “Mr. Brightside”, and “All These Things That I’ve Done” but that is far from the case. I enjoy literally every song on this album, therefore, I think that it’s brilliant. “Hot Fuss” is ten years old now, and it’s still insanely relevant to this day.
Modest Mouse: March Into The Sea – Modest Mouse is one of my all time favorites, and they always will be. I wrote a paper on them recently in one of my college classes on their effects on indie rock over the years, so I’ve been listening to them more than usual. Isaac Brock’s vocals on this song are just INSANE. The things that this man can do with his voice is truly a gift from above. And that’s something that you will rarely hear me say about anyone. The fact that he can go from this amazing stylized screaming to gorgeous crooning in this song at the drop of a hat makes my heart flutter. My heart is also VERY warm at the news that they confirmed the release of a new album in the future!!!!
American Authors: Luck – I’ve been listening to a lot of these guys lately, and I really really enjoy them. This song touches my soul in the sense that I can relate to it so purely that it has moved me to tears multiple times. So many lyrics in this song are so relevant to the way that I’ve been feeling lately such as “I’m sorry mother (father, brother, ect) – I know I let you down” and ESPECIALLY “How can I set us free? I’m what you taught me to be – shouldn’t that be enough?” So needless to say, if you’re ever in the Ohio area, and see a little red headed girl in a little red car with her red lipstick on and crying hysterically into a cup of coffee…you’ll know that I’m listening to this song.
So there you have it, my latest funky time jams. Hopefully some of these tracks will get you through the annoyance of hearing holiday music day in and day out if you’re anything like me and can’t stand it. Sorry that I’ve been MIA over the weekend, by the way. My beau is home from college for the holidays so I’ve been spending a lot of time with him! It’s been fantastic 🙂
What have you guys been listening to lately? Leave me a comment with your music suggestions and let’s chat! Have a lovely Monday! -Sarah
There’s been quite a few songs and artists who I’ve been obsessed with as of late, so I figured why not share the joy and tell you guys all about it!
Sir Sly – Gold: Ohhhh yes indeed. I LOVE this song. We started playing it the last week or so that I was at PacSun and it was always one of my favorite funky time jams. I really just love screaming the refrain of “pocket full of YELLOW, YELLOW, YELLOW” even though I’m not quite sure what he’s talking about. Either way, this song is rad.
Magic Man – Texas: I’m fairly certain that I’ve mentioned this song before, and if so – I don’t care. This song is so beautiful and fantastic that it’s worth repeating. Once again, this is another PacSun funky time jam (judge me for it) and it’s without a doubt in my mind on my list of top five favorite songs that we would play there. This song is just gorgeous. When I’m hung up on a guy or feeling shitty in general, this is my go to tune to play. I remember when I would be at the store early in the morning, and this song would come on and I would feel so good. I felt calm. This song makes me feel like everything is going to be okay.
Grizzly Bear – Will Calls (Diplo Remix): I absolutely love Grizzly Bear, and usually I’m not fond of a lot of remixes – BUT Diplo kills this beat like no other. This remix makes me want to cover my body in glow in the dark paint and take Ecstasy at a rave…too much? Don’t care. When the beat drops in this track and Diplo’s fingers start moving a mile a minute on whatever the hell he’s playing on, best believe I start dancing very poorly. 😉
Steriogram – Walkie Talkie Man: Way back when I was around ten years old there was a band called Steriogram….they kind of sucked. BUT this song is the best throwback in the world. It was featured on this one soccer game that my brother would play on the N64 and it became one of our favorites. This song gets me hyped in the way that it takes me back to silly memories of watching my brother play video games in the basement and I would watch even though I had no clue what was going on. WELL YOU’RE WALKIN AND TALKINNNNN!
Maroon 5 – Animals: I rarely listen to the radio, but I quite like this song. Adam Levine is a sex god. Having said that, I think this song is a great compromise between the poppy bullshit that’s often played on the radio with something dark and alternative. Animals took me back to Maroon 5’s strictly alternative days a la Songs About Jane and I really appreciated the effort. Don’t get me wrong, I rock out to Maroon 5 like any girl does, but this song really showcases their musical talent that I know they have. Way cool.
Franz Ferdinand – Take Me Out: The other day I decided I needed some Franz Ferdinand in my life again and was blasting Take Me Out in my car – just like any person would do when they decide that they need some Franz Ferdinand in their life. I remember when this song first came out and I always would think how weird the music video was when it would play on MTV or vh1. This song kicked so much ass when it was released and flash forward five years later and it’s still fantastic. That’s how you know a song is good!
Daft Punk – Doin’ it Right: This very well might be one of my favorite Daft Punk jams. This song takes my minds eye to a club where the lighting is all blues and purples and everyone is slightly drunk and vibing off of each other….Judge me for it. This is an intoxicating track, when Panda Bear comes swooping in with those vocals magic is created. Instant head nodder for sure.
Best Coast – Boyfriend: I’ve been listening to Best Coast a lot as of late and I really just adore them. I’m kind of late in the game to them too. I’ve had them on my iPod for quite some time now but just never really cared to listen to them extensively until now. This song has kind of been the soundtrack to my love life (or lack there of) lately. I’m pretty sure every girl has written variations of these lyrics in their diary when they’re about to go to sleep and thinking of that special someone.
Tom Vek – A Chore: Shit, this song takes me back to my early days at PacSun. I love the pure angst that Tom Vek is showcasing in this song. When he goes into “you’re not really listening to me” I identified with it so much. If I listen to this song when I’m in just the right mood, I get transported into this weird place in my mind where I can see memories of myself saying variations of that phrase to different people in my life. It’s like my own personal music video to this song in my head. Music is amazing.
Viva Brother – Darling Buds of May: I absolutely LOVE this song. Viva Brother has a lot of really fun feel good anthems, but this one is my all time favorite. When I’m screaming along with them to “it is what it is” I get this really cool feeling of girl power bad ass-ness and it’s AWESOME! I feel like I should be wearing leather pants and a crop top and lip synching the lyrics into the mirror while dancing provocatively when I hear this song. What of it?
So there you have it, my top ten funky time jams of the moment. Who are you guys listening to right now? I’m always up for music suggestions to please leave me a comment and let’s chat! -Sarah
Alright, it’s time for the annual Lil Red Recommends segment, where I let everyone know what songs I’ve been obsessed with as of late. Here we go:
Bad Suns – Transpose. LOVE this song, we played it at PacSun and it was one of my favorites.
Basement Jaxx – Romeo (remix). So catchy and fun.
Bastille – Bad Blood. Yet another PacSun song, but I don’t care. I love these guys. Their entire album, also entitled Bad Blood is really great.
Chromeo – Fancy Footwork. How can you not love Chromeo? Seriously.
The Go! Team – Huddle Formation. Get hyped, get hyped, get hyped.
Hot Chip – My Piano. Funky fresh.
Jay-Z & Kanye West – Gotta Have it. My two favorite gents absolutely have what I need 😉
Juicy J – Bounce It. Need I say more? Juicy is freaking hilarious. If you ever need a good laugh, just listen to one of his songs.
Kid Cudi – Ashin’ Kusher. Best believe I blast this in the Little Red Love Machine (aka my car) every chance I get. Who are you to judge? JUDY?!
Lady Gaga – Judas. Oldie but goodie.
Locksley – The Whip. Why? Well, just because. 😉
The Neighbourhood – Afraid. These guys are angsty. I love it.
New Order – Temptation. So classic. I always got so excited when we played this at Pac.
One Direction – Best Song Ever. Judge me, I dare you. 🙂
Rick Ross – The Devil is a Lie. I can dig it. Jay-Z goes IN on his verse. So good.
Say Hi to Your Mom – Blah Blah Blah. This guys lyrics are so quirky-cool.
The Stone Roses – Love Spreads. Cool band, cool lyrics, cool song.
Tapes ‘n Tapes – Omaha. Do yourselves a favor and give this band a try. The Loon is easily their best album so it’s a good place to start.
Wild Belle – Keep You. This gals voice is sweet. Sick song too.
^^^ SO GOOD!
Give some of these songs a try and let me know how you like them! What should I listen to next? What bands are you guys obsessed with right now? Leave me a comment and let’s chat! -Sarah
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