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Monday, March 31, 2008

Hello

In the true and trademark style of Evanescence, Hello is both morbidly melancholy and breathtakingly beautiful.
This track, from the group's debut album Fallen (2004), has special signifigance to Amy Lee, the woman behind Evanescence's haunting vocals. Hello was written by Amy about the death of her little sister. Amy was only six years old the day three-year-old Bonnie Lee died, and the lyrics depict this tragic experience in the eyes of a child.
Even without the sad tale to back it up, this song is no doubt emotionally charged. When you hear a song begin with the lyric Has no one told you she's not breathing?, you know you havn't got a pleasant three minutes ahead of you. But nonetheless, Amy Lee has unparalleled talent when it comes to vocals, and she's backed up by an outstanding group of musicians that complete such a heartwrenching track.

Even though this track is going on four minutes long (mostly consisting of the haunting melodies, a knockout combination of piano and violin sure to leave the listener breathless), it seems much shorter. As Amy is singing about her incredible grief, you get lost in the story until, suddenly, Amy hits that remarkable high note while begging, "Hello, I'm still here ... " And then, the song simply ends, before it seems it has even begun. It leaves you with a hollow feeling, looking for answers, some closure. Just like Amy must have felt the day she was told of her sister's death.
Such a powerful track ... I just can't get enough. Five stars from me, without a doubt.

A note ... while the video posted may appear to be a professional music video, this is not the official music video for Hello. Evanescence has not filmed a video for this track. I found this video on YouTube, and I must say it is quite stunning. Kudos to christinerobson from YouTube for creating such a beautiful video, mixing clips from several official Evanescence music videos. Bravo - a beautiful mix!

Evanescence - Hello Video



Hello
Evanescence

Playground school bell rings again
Rain clouds come to play again
Has no one told you she's not breathing?
Hello, I'm your mind giving you someone to talk to
Hello...

If I smile and don't believe
Soon I know I'll wake from this dream
Don't try to fix me, I'm not broken
Hello, I'm the lie living for you so you can hide
I don´t cry...

Suddenly I know I'm not sleeping
Hello, I'm still here
All that's left of yesterday...

Thursday, March 27, 2008

Dizzy

I'd never listened to Jimmy Eat World before I heard Dizzy. My sister bought Dizzy off of iTunes randomly one day ... this is how I get acquainted with several amazing songs, including AFI's Miss Murder, Hellogoodybe's Here (In Your Arms) and an unmentionable amount of Fall Out Boy songs, too. What can I say? My sis has good taste.
So when I saw this new song in our Purchased folder of iTunes, I thought, hey, cool, new song. So I hit "play" ... and wow. I was blown away.

What a powerful song! It opens with a drum beat that immediantly draws your attention; you just know this one is going to be something big. Then the vocals begin, and you're hooked. This track just grows and grows and it kind of swells inside you, makes you feel something so painfully beautiful ... or maybe that's just me. Either way, I'm in love with this track. I can't stop listening to it.
Again, I couldn't find a music video for this song, so you get one of those watch-the-same-graphic-for-four-minutes-straight videos. Arn't you excited? But hey, at least this graphic is remotely interesting.
So, here are the lyrics and a video for one of my new favorite songs; Dizzy by Jimmy Eat World.

Jimmy Eat World - Dizzy Video



Dizzy
Jimmy Eat World

You close your eyes and kiss your hand then you blow it
But it isn't meant for me, and I notice
If the choice was ours alone
Then why'd we both choose letting go?
Does it end like this?

Time never had a chance to heal your heart
Just a number always counting down to a new start
If you always knew the truth
Then the world would spin around you
Are you dizzy yet?

Respectfully, so honestly, I'm calling out
Do you hear the conversation we talk about?
Back away to the safety of a quiet house
If there's half a chance in this moment
When your eyes meet mine, we show it off

All talk and not a lot to think, we were living dreams
And she never crept close to our naked feet
If there's something left to lose
Then don't let me wear out my shoes
I'm still walking.

I tried, but it rang and rang, I called all night
On a payphone, remember those from another life?
If everything I meant to you
You can lick and seal then fold in two
Then I've been so blind

Respectfully, so honestly, I'm calling out
Do you hear the conversation we talk about?
Back away to the safety of a quiet house
If there's half a chance in this moment
When your eyes meet mine, we show it off

Oh, oh take it all back, take the first, the last and only
Oh, oh take it all back, take it all back
Everything you showed me
Oh, oh this must be how it feels when the feeling goes

I told you as I hovered, I never felt this way
You said I have the shot that stops my clock
Baby it's OK
You said you'd never have regrets
Jesus, is there someone yet
Who got their wish; did you get yours, babe?

Respectfully, so honestly, I'm calling out
Do you hear the conversation we talk about?
Back away to the safety of a quiet house
If there's half a chance in this moment
When your eyes meet mine, we show it off

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Look After You

This song is really, really pretty.
I first heard it on an episode of CBS' Moonlight - yeah, the same show that introduced me to Celine Dion's Taking Chances. It's amazing, how many good songs you can discover by watching good television. Anyway.
So, like I said, Look After You by The Fray is simply beautiful. I love the drum beat and of course the keyboard, and the vocals are awesome. The chorus is my favorite, how the words all kind of run together. Very legato, for those musicians who know what that means. The lyrics are beautiful, and it's just a great song to listen to, overall. Almost a sad song, but not quite - a really bitter-sweet track.
So, here's Look After You by The Fray. Enjoy! And I'm sorry I have to post another boring video - it's all I got :( It will have to do.

The Fray - Look After You Video



Look After You
The Fray

If I don't say this now, I will surely break
As I'm leaving the one I want to take
Forgive the urgency, but hurry up and wait
My heart has started to separate

Oh, oh
Be my baby
Ohhhhh
Oh, oh
Be my baby
I'll look after you

There now, steady, love, so few come and don't go
Will you won't you, be the one I'll always know
When I'm losing my control, the city spins around
You're the only one who knows, you slow it down

Oh, oh
Be my baby
Ohhhhhh
Oh, oh
Be my baby
I'll look after you
And I'll look after you

If ever there was a doubt
My love she leans into me
This most assuredly counts
She says most assuredly

Oh, oh
Be my baby
I'll look after you
After You
Oh, oh
Be my baby
Ohhhhh

It's always have and never hold
You've begun to feel like home
What's mine is yours to leave or take
What's mine is yours to make your own

Oh, oh
Be my baby
Ohhhhh
Oh, oh
Be my baby
I'll look after you

You are so beautiful to me (repeat)

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Breaking The Habit

This song is absolutely amazing.
I heard it for the first time just the other day ... ya, I know, it's one of Linkin Park's older tracks, off their Meteora album of 2003. Even if I was a little behind the times, this track sure took my breath away. Just a really hard-hitting song! The lyrics are absolutely phenomenal ... wow! What a strong message! I don't even think I have words that can describe how amazing I think these lyrics are ... there's something about them that just hit you so hard. That, paired with the catchy, techno melodies and awesome vocals, just make it an irrestistable track.
Linkin Park - this is a five star song, in my opinion. And the music video? Fabulous as well - I might have to buy it and put it on my iPod :p
Keep up the awesome work, boys!

Linkin Park - Breaking The Habit Music Video



Breaking The Habit
Linkin Park

Memories consume
Like opening the wound
I'm picking me apart again
You all assume
I'm safe here in my room
Unless I try to start again

I don't want to be the one
The battles always choose
'Cause inside I realize
That I'm the one confused

I don't know what's worth fighting for
Or why I have to scream
I don't know why I instigate
And say what I don't mean
I don't know how I got this way
I know it's not alright
So I'm breaking the habit
I'm breaking the habit
Tonight

Clutching my cure
I tightly lock the door
I try to catch my breath again
I hurt much more
Than anytime before
I had no options left again

I dont want to be the one
The battles always choose
'Cause inside I realize
That I'm the one confused

I don't know what's worth fighting for
Or why I have to scream
I don't know why I instigate
And say what I don't mean
I don't know how I got this way
I'll never be alright
So, I'm breaking the habit
I'm breaking the habit
Tonight

I'll paint it on the walls
'Cause I'm the one at fault
I'll never fight again
And this is how it ends

I don't know what's worth fighting for
Or why I have to scream
But now I have some clarity
to show you what I mean
I don't know how I got this way
I'll never be alright
So, I'm breaking the habit
I'm breaking the habit
I’m breaking the habit
Tonight

Saturday, March 15, 2008

Say

I heard this song for the first time on XM Radio today in the car ...
Wow. What a beautiful song! Amazing lyrics, beautiful melodies, and great vocals tie John Mayer's Say together and make it a great single. I think this track is just fantastic as a whole ... one of those "feel-good" songs with a wonderful message.
Check it out - Say by John Mayer.

John Mayer - Say Music Video



Say
John Mayer

Take out of your wasted honor
Every little past frustration
Take all of your so called problems
Better put them in quotations
Say what you need to say (8x)

Walkin like a one man army
Fightin with the shadows in your head
Living out the same old moment
Knowing you’d be better off instead
If you could only
Say what you need to say (8x)

Have no fear for giving in
Have no fear for giving over
You better know that in the end its better to say too much
Than to never to say what you need to say again

Even if your hands are shaking
And your faith is broken
Even as the eyes are closing
Do it with a heart wide open
Why?
Say what you need to say (25x)

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Under Pressure

I am so not an eighties music fan. I hear an eighties song, and I do my best to leave the room. I don't know what it is about that musical era, but the eighties and I are not good friends as far as music goes.
But, leave it to me to fall in love with an eighties song as soon as My Chemical Romance & The Used collaborate on its remix. In all honesty, I would have never given this song a chance if my favorite band and their close friends, respectively, hadn't redone it. Sorry, I'm terribly prejudice against eighties music, I know. But I listed to this remix of Under Pressure, and turns out I like the lyrics a lot, and the beat is super catchy, too.
Congrats to MCR and The Used, for recording an awesome cover to what was probably an awesome song to begin with. But I'll let some Queen or David Bowie fans tell you how great the original track was. Me? I'm a little biased.
So, here are the lyrics to Under Pressure, and a video of the bands performing the song together. Usually I don't like posting videos of live performances because, let's face it, no band or artist is as great live as they are in a recording studio, and most of the videos of live performances on YouTube have awful picture or audio quality, or both. But I found this video and it was great quality, and fun to watch to boot. So, I'm making an exception and posting this video of a live performance instead of a video where you sit and stare at a band logo for three and a half minutes. You're welcome.
Enjoy the song!

My Chemical Romance & The Used - Under Pressure (Live)



Under Pressure
My Chemical Romance & The Used (Originally by David Bowie & Queen)

Pressure!

Pushing down on me
Pressing down on you no man ask for
Under pressure
That burns a building down
Splits a family in two
Puts people on streets

Bah bah dah bah bah dah
(Yeah) (Yeah)

That's okay!
It's the terror of knowing
What this world is about
Watching some good friends
Scream "Let me out!"
Pray tomorrow takes me higher
Pressure on people
People on streets

Bah bah dah bah bah dah
Okay!

Chippin' around
Kick my brains round the floor
These are the days
It never rains but it pours
Bah bah dah bah bah dah

People on streets
bah dah dee da day
People on streets
bah dah dee dah dee dah dee dah dee dah

It's the terror of knowing
What this world is about
Watching some good friends
Scream "Let me out!"
Pray tomorrow takes me higher (higher)

Yeah!

Turned away from it all
Like a blind man
Sat on a fence but it don't work
Keep coming up with love
But it's so slashed and torn

Why? Why? Why?
Love (love)! Love (love)! Love (love)!

Insanity laughs under pressure we're cracking
Can't we give ourselves one more chance?
Why can't we give love that one more chance?
Why can't we give love give love give love?
Give love give love give love give love give love?

Cause love's such an old fashioned word
And love dares you to care
For the people on the edge of the night
And love dares you to change our ways
Of caring about ourselves

This is our last dance
This is our last dance
This is ourselves under pressure

Under pressure
Under pressure