favs

Its hard to pick just one favortie from this semesters CMI lineup. Last semester my favorite was definitely The Jakes. I really like their sound and I got to see them open for Kings of Leon. They are an awesome band, not to mention super cute. This semester it was harder to pick just one. I really like Glasko. I think their sound is unique and original. I also like how they are based in Chicago. On campus one girl I gave a drop card to told me that she knew one of the members of the band! Then she texted him to say she just got a drop card with them on it. What a small/cray world!!!

Mav Viola

I would have to say that my favorite artist from the CMI would be Mav Viola. When we decided to have our listening party, I was unfamiliar with almost all of the artists that we were showcasing. They are were obviously up-and-coming so have recognition of them was pretty rare. When we came to Mav's songs, I was very impressed. Her voice reminded me of a mix between a Sarah McLachlan and K.T. Tunstall, but her music is really retro, kinda a mixture of pop and jazz. I love love love the use of the piano and drums in each song, and the lyrics are catchy and work well with the tunes. Some of my favorites have to be "The King Has Fallen" and "Breathless." I think the reason that I really enjoy her music is because I love powerful female artists with strong, slightly-off vocals. Her voice kind of reminds me of a 1930s jazz or blues singer and definitely delivers. I really hope that her music makes its to the radio because I would love to here it and believe that she could get a great fan base obviously doing local venues and gigs. I hope that the CMI will launch her career and grab followers along the way! Good luck Mav!!

Best Movie Songs

Car Chase: The Killers- "Midnight Show"
Opening Credits: Harry Nilssen- "Put the Lime in the Coconut"
Ending Credits: Jason Mraz- "I'm Yours"
Fight Scene Song: The Colt - "She Sells Sanctuary"
Love Song: Rob Pattinson- "Never Think"

"Where the Wild Things Are"

I have never read this book before, actually I have never even heard of it. But I watched the trailor and it looks pretty interesting. I cant even really tell if it is supposed to be for little kids or if it is supposed to be a scary movie. The trailor was crazy with lots of little creatures; but I really like the music in the background. I want to know who sings it so that I can download it. I liked the arcade fire setting for the mood of the trailor; it thought it was very different.

Country Thunder!

I just bought my ticket to country thunder in July!!! I'm so excited! It is in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin. Tim Mcgraw, Taylor Swift, Alan Jackson, Kellie Pickler, and many more country artists will be there! I have been wanting to go for so long and I am finally going! Yay! I'm a nerd and absolutely love Country music. I think I'm going to buy a cowboy hat just for the occasion.

"Where the Wild Things Are"/Perfect Movie Songs

Oh my goodness! I cannot express how excited I am to see this movie. I had absolutely no idea that this classic book was ever going to be turned into a movie, especially a storyline like this. I actually thought the story was nearly impossible to turn into a book, but hey, anything is possible now in the movie world. I thought that the Arcade Fire song, “Wake Up” completely set the mood for the film. It goes really well with the concept of the book, explaining in the first line, “Children, don’t grow up.” The lyrics go perfectly well with the story, as well as the soft-rock/indie vibe, and I liked the fact that most of the song was instrumental. The few lyrics basically set the tone of the film and storyline. All in all, I cannot wait for this flick to hit the theaters!!!!

Favorite Car Chase Song: Black Betty- Lynard Skynard
Opening Credit Song: “Extraordinary”- Better Than Ezra
End Credit Song: Somewhere Over The Rainbow/What A Wonderful World- Israel Kamakawiwo’ole
Fight Scene Song: “Party Up”- DMX
Love Scene Song: “We Belong Together”- Gavin Degraw

LOLLA 09!!

I CANNOT wait until August 7th rolls around this year because it means my 4th consecutive trip to Lollapalooza. Lolla has always proven to be the best three days of my entire summer and I get to see some of my favorite bands and artists perform for three days straight, and on top of it, get to see some pretty crazy/interesting people while doing so. This year, obviously, Red Hot Chilli Peppers is a given and will be one of the best acts there....but my numero uno is no doubt GIRLTALK! After last years insane performance (in which I was almost trampled and killed), I am anticipating an even more exciting show from him this year. All I have to say is girltalk may be one of the most inventive and talented and entertaining of his kind. He's simply a genius that can put together the most random songs and make them sound sooo sick with some amazing beats. He's the one that all the other show I attend get planned around! In addition, some other good ones will be Foo Fighters, Smashing Pumpkins and Holy F*ck...among many many others. Get ready cause this year will be one for the records!

I Can't Live Without Taylor Swift

Right now my obsession is Taylor Swift. Sure it's a little tweeny and not-so-sophisticated, but her songs and lyrics, and the fact that she writes them herself, inspire me! Taylor writes about things that are applicable to a normal teenage girls life, and does so without being vulgar. Her tasteful manner and deep insight, on top of catchy melodies and beats, just make me want to belt out her songs. I wouldn't say she's necessarily my go-to music, but when I'm getting ready for a fun night or just need something to pump me up or get the inspiration flowing, I look to Taylor. And, not to mention she's my age and I basically want to be her. Hey, a girl can dream, can't she?

Album I Can't Live Without

An album that I can't live with out is Beatles 1. It came out in 2000 and is a compilation of a handful of their greatest hits. I love the beatles because their music is simple and relaxing/fun. Everyone loves their music, I dont know a single person who doesnt. a few of my favorites on the album are "love me do", "i want to hold your hand", "yellow submarine", "panny lane", "lady madonna", of course "hey jude" and many more. this album represents a lot about our history and i think the movie Across the Universe did a great job at showing this. It brought up a lot of controversial things like the war, drafting, homosexuality, love, loss, drugs, and more. i think it brings people together because most people like their music and it sends messages about our past.

Lolla

Jessie! Let's go together! I think they have a lot of good bands lined up. A lot I still haven't heard of though. I absolutely love Kanye West, The Ting Tings, MGMT, Brand New, The Weakerthans, and The Whigs!! The Whigs opened for Platform-1's Dare 2 Dream concert and I liked them a lot. I used to be obsessed with Brand New in high school and I haven't heard their name in so long.

I have never been to Lollapalooza, but I have been to Warped Tour a couple of times. I think it would be a lot of fun to go to , but I would only want to see some of the bands.

Lollapalooza- BLAHHHH

Alright-- Well I live in the Chi and was seriously considering attending Lolla this year because I haven't been in a while. I just checked out the lineup. Somebody please tell me that they are adding a lot of better headliners in upcoming months. I really don't have any interest to see any of the bands currently listed. I mean Gnarles Barkley may be good and is Flagging Molly some sort of Irish band? Duffy could actually be fun to watch. In all honesty, I am only excited to see the Blues Travelers (don't make fun). I know all of their old hits, like "Run Around" and "Hook," but have they come out with something new recently that I don't know about? I agree with Alison, though. Last year's shindig had a much better lineup, but hey, I'll still go and sit through the extremely hot temperatures and enjoy a nice cocktail and maybe find a new band that I can add to my favorites. After all, I only live about 25 minutes from Grant Park so I really don't have an excuse not to go!!

Songs that I can't live Without

This is kind of a "heavy" blog. Throughout the years, there have been tons of songs that have really had an effect on my life and have become my all time favorites, so its really hard to pinpoint a specific song. I think in this blog, I would like to talk about one of my favorite albums of all time, and that is Jason Mraz's "Tonight, Not Again, Live at Eagles Ballroon." So, I purchased this CD my senior year of High School which was about 4 years ago, sad to say. It is still one of my all time favorite albums because it consists of a lot of his hits, along with some never before released singles. I can't quite explain the effect that this album had one me, but I will explain that it was the only CD that I would play and listen to for months. I was so captured by the music, the melodies, and lyrics that Jason expressed through his songs. Not only is his voice AMAZING live, even better live, but the way he delivers each song is breathtaking. I mean, this guy can freestyle and then belt out a note that we would only be so lucky to reach. One of my all-time favorite songs is called "Unfold" and I would seriously suggest downloading it. Every time that I listen to it (and believe me, I listen to it quite frequently), I still get the chills and it brings back memories of High School. In fact, the first concert I went to of Jason's was back then and I got so close, that I was able to shout out the song to him. Lucky me, he played it and I recorded it on my voicemail :) One more song that I think has been a big part of my life is "Paperweight" by Joshua Radin and Schuyler Fisk. This song is so simple, yet the lyrics are soooo good that they just draw you in. This song reminds me of a lot of the relationships I have been in, and currently am in, and it just makes me happy every time I put it on. Download this song!!

Five Times August

After seeping through the longggg list of artists that are set to perform at the SXSW Music Festival on March 18, the artist that stood out to me was Five Times August. The music has a really light-hearted feel and makes you smile. Five Times August is a solo act and his name is Brad Skistimas. He's a Dallas native and is unsigned, yet has performed with the likes of Augustana, Matt Kearney, Matt Nathanson, Matt White, and Josh Kelley. He's had 52 song placements on various TV stations and is the first unsigned artist to receive national distribution on music he released in stores such as Wal-Mart. He's a mastermind, being able to be so successful while being unsigned. Wonder why he performs under the name Five Times August.

My Dream Show Line-Up

Rock:

Opener: John Butler Trio
Mid: OAR
Headliner: The Fray

Hip-Hop:

Opener: T.I.
Mid: Kanye West
Headliner: lil Wayne

CountryL

Opener: Rascal Flatts/ Kenny Chesney
Mid:Corey SMith/Carrie Underwood
Headliner: Taylor Swift

SXSW

wow i did not realize how many bands play at this event! the list was so long! one of my favorite bands that i ran into was Little Black Dress. They are a rock band from Dallas, TX. I liked how they sounded different, Im so sick of hearing band after band that sound exactly like Fall Out Boy. The band features Toby Pipes and Nolan Thies. Their debut album is coming out this year, even though the band formed in 2005. Their influences include the conteau twins, swerevdriver, my bloody valentine, the cure, depeche mode, jesus and mary chain, the smiths, new order, david bowie, talk talk, and more. They are currently signed to an Indie record label called Exploding Plastic/Idol Records. I am really looking forward to listening to more of their music. I wonder how they thought of the name Little Black Dress??

Light FM!!

The band that I would definitely have to select out of the many playing at the SXSW Music Festival is Light FM. They are a rock band from Los Angeles, California. I recognized one of their songs from an episode of Gossip Girl a couple weeks ago called “Black Magic Marker” and absolutely loved it! This indie band is exactly the type of music that I love listening to and although I was unfamiliar with most of their music, the songs I did know I loved. They have been influenced by some of the “classics” in music, including the Beatles, Rolling Stones, and even ABBA! They also mentioned that the Postal Service has made an impact on their music, and to tell you the truth, some of their music definitely reflects Postal. I chose to go on their MySpace page and download a couple of their other songs just to get a taste of their music. Some of the other songs that I would suggest are “Sleepy Hollow” and “16 Below.” Most of Light FM’s music is a mixture between alternative, indie, and pop, so if anyone is interested, I would highly recommend visiting their page and downloading some of their tunes. If anyone had tuned into Fox’s new series, Dollhouse yesterday, Feb 27, they also showcased one of their songs on the show. This is a band that I am adding to my large iTunes selection!

my dream show line up

Rock:

opener-U2
mid-The Beatles
headliner-Elvis Presley

Hip-Hop:

opener-T.I.
mid-Kanye West
headliner-Lil Wayne

Jazz:

opener-Billie Holiday
mid-Miles Davis
headliner-John Coltrane

Country:

opener-Kenny Chesney
mid-Rascall Flatts
headliner-Tim McGraw/Faith Hill

unofficial!

Unofficial is only two weeks away! can you believe it? do you guys have any plans? i just ordered my green tshirt for that day. a lot of my friends are coming to visit from home so im sure it will be very crowded in my apartment! im so sad that this is my last official unofficial. i hope that the cops arent too out of control though... because they have been in the past. i heart st. patties day! : )

Dream Show Line Up

This is a little lengthy-- so bear with me:
Rock:

Opener: Better Than Ezra
Mid: Jason Mraz
Headliner: Bruce Springsteen

This was one of the easiest genres to choose music from for me. I am a huge classic rock and modern rock fan. One of my favorite musicians of all times is the Boss and I have been waiting to see him in concert since I was a freshman in High School! I definitely had to put him as the headliner, knowing that he always puts on an awesome show with energy and excitement. The ‘Mid’ musician is Jason Mraz. I selected Jason because he is also one of my favorite musicians and I have been to two of his concerts, as well as owning every CD. He’s the perfect fit to rock it out before Bruce. Better Than Ezra, although I have seen them as the Headliners at the House of Blues in Chicago, would definitely do an awesome job at opening up the show. I saw them two years ago and they have yet to be back in Chicago performing, so their involvement is definitely required!

Hip Hop:

Opener: Rihanna
Mid: Jay-Z
Headliner: Missy Elliot

Missy is one of my favorite rappers of all time. Although she was on top of her game in the early millennium, I still catch myself flipping on her tunes while working out or dancing. I absolutely love her and want her headlining my show because I know she’ll get the party started! We all know that a rap concert is not complete without the king himself, Jay-Z. He is such a respected artist in the industry and his hip-hop music is perfection. He would be the perfect person to introduce Missy and possibly a duet? Even though Rihanna is going through a bit of controversy at the moment, she would make this hip-hop concert off the charts. She is such an amazing entertainer and I can’t think of a better addition!

Jazz:

Opener: Etta James
Mid: Bobby Darin
Headliner: Michael Buble

I am familiar with the older Jazz and Blues of older decades, but one of the newest members of this genre includes Michael Buble. Although he does a lot of covers for many of the older popular jazz songs, he does have many of his own and his voice is to die for. Bobby Darin would be a wonderful singer to perform before Buble. After I saw the movie based on his life, Beyond the Sea, I downloaded almost every song he has ever written. The smooth and catchy tunes are fun to both sing and dance to. Etta James is an all-time classic and opening up the show with her incredible voice would be an honor. She still performs and can still bust out her older hits and would be a wonderful addition to this show.

Pop:

Opener: The Ting Tings
Mid: Lady Gaga
Headliner: B. Spears

I know I already talked about this in a previous post, but I had to add Britney to the mix. I haven’t seen her perform live in four years because she hasn’t been on tour! She would be the perfect headliner for my dream concert and I have no doubt that her show would be amazing! Lady Gaga will get the crowd prepared for Britney with her upbeat dance songs and moves. I really enjoy her corky personality and would love to see her perform live. The Ting Tings have turned into one of my new faves. I am absolutely obsessed with “That’s Not My Name” and can’t get enough of their CD. I think their opening performance would be a perfect fit to this high energy mix of artists!

Abusive rapper...guess who?

Not in a million years would I have guess that CHRIS BROWN is abusive!! Apparently he was charged with domestic battery against soon-to-be ex-girlfriend and singing sensation Rihanna. Chris Brown once released information that his mother's boyfriend was abusive towards her and he witnessed it firsthand and it scared him to death. You'd think if he saw it with his own eyes and how disgusting it is, he would vow to never be the same way as his mom's boyfriend....guess things don't always work out in a sensible way. Apparently, Rihanna is heading back home to escape the drama and the legal happenings that go along with it. A good escape is what she needs to clear her head from the damage that Chris Brown brought upon her. Chris Brown just seemed like such a gentleman, a really decent guy...such a shock that he would do something like this. Stay strong Rihanna...it's not you it's him. As for you Chris Brown... I hoped you learned your lesson! Anger management...I hear it does wonders;-)

Superbowl

The half-time show last night was the best half-time show the NFL Superbowl has had in a while! I think it was quite apparent to everyone watching that Bruce still has it going on! I have been such a fan of him since I was little and would listen to him music with my dad, and I have to say, his performance last night was nothing short of amazing. Did anyone see him slide across the stage into the camera, or flip his guitar around his back a million times in a row? Genius. I haven't seen an older band rock out that hard since Aerosmith a few years back! I had a bet going with my boyfriend on what 3 songs he would play, but unfortunately, I only got Glory Days right. Guess I have to pay up the $5 I now owe him. I also enjoyed how he incorporated football into some of the songs and you could tell that he and the E-Street Band were having the time of their lives. It's awesome to see performers that have been making music for years and can still put on a great show. I really wanted to get tickets to his concert in May, but because of last night's performance, they sold out in 3 minutes this morning. I just have to keep my fingers crossed that he opens another one up! On a side note, I heard that Jennifer Hudson lip-synced. I still have to give her huge props for being able to get up there and perform. Faith Hill, on the other hand, rocked it as well! Thumbs up to every performer last night!!!!

Akon: Freedom

Even though, like Jessie, Circus is up there I have to give my vote to Akon! He's amazing. All of the songs flow well together but are each so unique. My two favorite tracks are "I wanna make up right nanana" and "beautiful". He sounds different than anyone I have listened to. His songs are always on my workout playlist because they really pump me up. I always scream when I hear his songs come on in campus bars! I love Akon because he is also featured in so many other popular songs. He sings with t-pain a lot and they are amazing together.

Slumdog Millionaire

I recently decided to go see the movie Slumdog Millionaire last weekend because I wanted to see what all the hype was about. After all, it was the first week of school, also known as "syllabus week," a.k.a blow-off week, and I really didn't have anything else better to do with my time. I went into the movie with an open mind and curiosity. Right from the start of the film until the end, I was completely blown away with the plot, the acting, and the love story between the two main characters. I left the movie in tears and could not believe how unbelievable of a film it was. I am not usually one for indie films, but this one completely changed my perspective. Now I know what film I'm rooting for for Best Picture at the Oscars!!

B. Spears: all the way!

My favorite new album in the past 3 months is "Circus" from Britney Spears. I have to admit that I have been a die hard Britney fan since the sixth grade and although I am not really into Pop music anymore, Spears continues to impress me with her catchy tunes and major comeback. When you first choose to listen to the entire CD, many of the songs sound similar to one another, which is common among Pop artists. However, with more of a listen, the songs began to stand out individually and draw anyone in with the up-tempo beats and clever lyrics. This album is a lot more upbeat then her last, "Blackout," and I finally began to recognize the Britney that many thought was lost forever. I am a sucker for great dance songs, and this CD not only delivers those songs, but keeps them stuck in your head whether you like it or not. From working out at the gym, to jamming in my car, "Circus" is still making me want more. I was holding my breath before this CD was released and now can breathe easy knowing that B. Spears, once again, has created a great album.

Dare 2 Dream

Last night I went to the Dare 2 Dream benefit concert and silent auction at the House of Blues in Chicago. I worked really hard trying to raise money and items for the silent auction and in result I got to attend the event. I got to Chicago around 10:30 am to help set up. There were a million gift bags for the VIP guests. My job was to basically set up the opera boxes at the House of Blues. It was a long day, but at least we got Chipotle for lunch! Yum! The silent auction went really well. The Arrelious Benn jersey I brought sold for $115! It was nice to see some of my hard work pay off. I'm really glad I got to go because I was able to meet all of the Platform-1 employees and interns. They're awesome! I had a lot of fun and the concert was unbelievable!