Domino, Cold War, and Happy Ending

I just can not stop listening to this song.  It's addictive!  It's so energetic and cheerful, I just want to blast it on a radio or my iPod and jam out to it, and "dance like nobody's watching".  But I won't, since that would be a little really embarrassing...I mean, imagine how ridiculous that would look.  As you can tell, I am far too self conscious to ever be brave enough to do that and not give a hoot about all the strange looks I would get.  Still, it's tempting to do that with some songs.  And this is one of those songs.  It's like every beat demands you to get up and start dancing!  

"Domino" is more carefree and less serious than some of Jessie J's other songs, but I like it just as much.  When I first listened to it, I wasn't sure if I liked it, but it wasn't too long before it grew on me.  Below is the music video for "Domino".  I lost count of how many different outfits she wears in the course of this video a while ago.

Regarding the outfits she wears in this music video, I would say I like most of them.  If I were asked which is my favorite, I would say the one with the decorative butterfly mask (Is that what it is?  Well, I think that's what it is...).

I've heard that some people think she sounds a bit like Katy Perry in this song.  To them, I say psh.  In no parallel universe will Katy Perry ever be able to sing as well as Jessie J.  As Rhett Butler from Gone with the Wind would say, don't make me laugh.  (Apologies to any Katy Perry fans reading this who were offended by that true statement - ehm - I mean, personal opinion.  Okay, okay.  Sorry.  But seriously, Jessie J is a better singer, I don't care how much a fan of Katy Perry you are.)

Another song I've been listening to recently is "Cold War" by Janelle Monáe. There is so much meaning behind this song, on more levels than one. It gives me chills when I listen to it. There's also a lot of emotion present, which becomes especially clear when you see the tears form in Janelle's eyes as she sings. This song has the ability to strike a tune with our emotions, and our thoughts, as well. There's not much else for me to say, except that this is just a really good song.

Yet another song I have been listening to, is Mika's song, "Happy Ending":

These are the lyrics:

This is the way you left me,
I'm not pretending.
No hope, no love, no glory,
No Happy Ending.
This is the way that we love,
Like it's forever.
Then live the rest of our life,
But not together.

Wake up in the morning, stumble on my life
Can't get no love without sacrifice
If anything should happen, I guess I wish you well
A little bit of heaven, but a little bit of hell

This is the hardest story that I've ever told
No hope, no love, no glory
Happy endings gone forever more
I feel as if I'm wasted
And I'm wastin' every day

This is the way you left me,
I'm not pretending.
No hope, no love, no glory,
No Happy Ending.
This is the way that we love,
Like it's forever.
Then live the rest of our life,
But not together.

Two o'clock in the morning, something's on my mind
Can't get no rest; keep walkin' around
If I pretend that nothin' ever went wrong, I can get to my sleep
I can think that we just carried on

This is the hardest story that I've ever told
No hope, no love, no glory
Happy endings gone forever more
I feel as if I'm wasted
And I'm wastin' every day

This is the way you left me,
I'm not pretending.
No hope, no love, no glory,
No Happy Ending.
This is the way that we love,
Like it's forever.
Then live the rest of our life,
But not together.

A Little bit of love, little bit of love
Little bit of love, little bit of love
This is the way you left me,
I'm not pretending.
No hope, no love, no glory,
No Happy Ending.
This is the way that we love,
Like it's forever.
To live the rest of our life,
But not together.

This is the way you left me,
I'm not pretending.
No hope, no love, no glory,
No Happy Ending.
This is the way that we love,
Like it's forever.
To live the rest of our life,
But not together.

This is the way you left me,
I'm not pretending.
No hope, no love, no glory,
No Happy Ending.

It's a beautiful song, both in the way that it has a beautiful yet sad message (perhaps bitter sweet, as well), and sounds beautiful to the ear. I've listened to it numerous times. My impression is that the lyrics speak of a heartbreak. It's interesting how the message of "Happy Ending" is sad, yet the sound of it is happy and uplifting. But then, all of Mika's songs sound happy and uplifting, which is part of why I enjoy listening to his songs so much!

A Discussion About Music...

Today I feel like discussing music.

I have a love for much of the music from the past, such as folk and classical, but this doesn't mean I don't like some of the modern music of today's world.  This list I have conjured up features my personal top favorite singers and bands that range from the late 90's to the present.  
   
7) Adele

What I like about Adele is how she doesn't put up an act to get extra attention like so many artists today, but presents to us the pure, simple talent that she possesses - her voice.  She is a straight forward musician that lets her personality shine forth.  "Rolling in the Deep" is my favorite song of hers.  

6) The Backstreet Boys

Songs by the Backstreet Boys are somewhat of a "guilty pleasure" for me.  I think the reason I love their music so much may be because they remind me of my early childhood.  I like 90's music because it brings back memories.  And music that brings back cherished memories is the best kind of music.  The Backstreet Boys is very nostalgic.  I was born in the mid 90's, so I was too young to be really fully aware of the Backstreet Boys, though I have a distant memory of the song "I Want It That Way".  When I was fifteen, I rediscovered them and began to listen to their music.  I like both their early songs from the 90's and their late songs from the early and mid 2000's.  

This is their most well known song, "I Want It That Way", from 1998.

Here is a song by the Backstreet Boys from 1997. 90's music just makes me grin from ear to ear. :) 

A more recent song by them, from 2005.

5) Imagine Dragons

Well, I don't have much to say about Imagine Dragons, since I'm not quite as familiar with them as I am with the other people and bands on this list...but they deserve a spot, because I like their sound and style, and this song.  There are a lot of other songs of theirs that I like, but "It's Time" is my favorite, and in my opinion, their best.  It's also the most well known of their songs.

One of the reasons I'm so interested in this band is because they remind me of one of my uncles when he was young.  He was a fan of "Guns and Roses". Somehow, "Imagine Dragons" reminds me of that band and my uncle. Perhaps its their style, the color scheme, or mood in this music video...I'm not sure.

4) Mika

I don't have too much to say about Mika...he's just a great singer, has style, is full of energy, and I love listening to his songs.  And he's awesome.  Pretty simple.

This was the first song by Mika that I heard.  I was taking a sewing class at that time.  I heard the teacher's daughter listening to it frequently during class.  Years later, I remembered that song and tried to find out who had sung it.  Thus, my knowledge of Mika was born.  This is from 2007.

This song is a personal favorite of mine.  It's "We Are Young", from the movie "Kick-Ass".

And two more songs by Mika, to show more of the overall sound and style of his music....

.....yup.  He's awesome.

3) Janelle Monáe

Janelle Monáe, to me, is like a hidden jewel.  She is underrated and underexposed.  She writes songs with meaning, which is refreshing, since so much of the music today is devoid of any meaning or truth.  I love how her album, "The ArchAndroid", feels like a film with emotional ups and downs when listened to from beginning to end.  She's a fantastic singer and an intelligent, well spoken, unique individual.  Also, I love her culture and sense of style.  Oh, and her hair is just amazing.  I always like when someone embraces their natural self.

This is the music video for one of her songs, "Tightrope".

...and here's another version of it.

In this interview, Janelle explains the meaning behind the suits she is always wearing.

2) Amy Lee and Evanescence 

Evanescence speaks out to the dark side in all of us.  Their songs feel real, because they are so connected with what people go through in life, their struggles, and feelings, whether they are happy, angry, or sad.  If I'm having a bad day, a song by Evanescence helps me vent any emotions closed up inside. It is healthy to let go of those emotions every once in awhile.

This is one of Amy Lee's most beautiful songs, "Good Enough". It seems more happy than most of her other songs, I feel.

Another aspect of Evanescence that I love is Amy Lee's voice.  I find her voice to be hauntingly beautiful.  She is also very talented at writing lyrics and expressing the feelings so many people feel.  A lot of this comes from her own experience. The raw emotion she has comes out in her music and connects to the listener emotionally.  I will always be a fan of hers.

"Lithium" is one of my favorite songs by Evanescence.  As Amy Lee explained in an interview, this song speaks of the difficulty of letting go of your sorrow.  Because it's been a part of you for so long, you are afraid of letting it go and allowing yourself to be happy.  Lithium, the drug, is a metaphor for being cold and dead emotionally.  When someone takes lithium, they don't feel sad or happy - they are emotionally numb.

This is the video that led to my discovery of Amy Lee and the band, Evanescence.  This is my favorite of the songs Amy Lee covers, since it was the first time I heard her voice.  I am in love with her version of this song and like it even more than the original.

Two other favorites...

1) Jessie J

I love Jessie J!  She is a great inspiration, and my favorite pop singer. I have been a fan of hers for a long time, even since before she became well known. This is she singing "Who You Are", my favorite song by her.

"Nobody's Perfect" is my favorite of her music videos.  I really like the outfit she wears when she walks on the table and holds onto the chandelier.  It seems like a very British style to me, and reminds me of London.

Her voice is just so powerful.  She's got an incredible vocal range. Plus, she sounds even better live, which is pretty rare nowadays.

Jessie is an amazingly talented musician, and will never cease to be my favorite singer of today.  

And that concludes my countdown!