Stuck In My Skull 355: 90s Week, Part 1 -- "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)"

90's Week, Part 1 || Song: "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)" || Artist: Backstreet Boys || http://youtu.be/O6XE1XRiLeY ||

[youtube http://youtu.be/O6XE1XRiLeY]

Comments: Well, Amanda proposed we do 90's week, so here we are. For the life of me, I don't know where I'm going to find a week's worth of 90's. The 90's essentially predated my interest in music, and the only bad I really cared about, well, here they are. And it turns out, yes, I still know the words. Campy? Nostalgic? Of course. But awesome. Enjoy the memories! And make sure you check back tomorrow -- we might be teasing some announcements in the new year!

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ETC #37 "Higher" 90's Week

Song: "Higher"
Artist: Creed
Link: http://youtu.be/J16lInLZRms

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J16lInLZRms]

Comments:  Happy New Year's Eve everyone!  In the spirit of people making resolutions I decided that this would be a decent song to start off the week.  Not only this, but as you may have noticed from the title, SIMS is doing a 90's week and what's better than a little bit of Creed.  This is one song that I'm sure most if not all people reading this have heard of. I honestly had forgotten that this band had a couple of albums released in the 90s. It's a bit cheesy and at the very end of the decade, but hey it's a catchy tune.  I'm not sure why, but I'm really in love with this Stapp's voice (and his hair, but that's not music related).  This is the first single off of their album Human Clay and as I mentioned quite successful.  I hope that you all have some goal big or small for 2013. I know that I've got some. I also realize that change can be difficult, but don't get discouraged and remember that feeling of accomplishment that you'll have when you're done. Anyhow, let the new year help you to appreciate your dreams, make those dreams yours, and let them take you higher.   Happy listening, all!

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Stuck In My Skull 354 -- "Sleepless"

Song: "Sleepless" || Artist: Deadmau5 || http://youtu.be/l2L599fMDPI ||

[youtube http://youtu.be/l2L599fMDPI]

Comments: Good morning, everyone. This song comes from Deadmau5's latest album, called " > album title goes here < ". It's a really new and different sound for Deadmau5, and I thought it was really interesting, so I just had to post it here. Rather than search for words, I'll just say it's slower and quieter than most songs by Deadmau5, and you should definitely give it a listen. Enjoy!

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ETC #36 "Sweet Nothing" NSFW

Song: "Sweet Nothing"
Artist: Calvin Harris ft. Florence Welch
Link: http://youtu.be/17ozSeGw-fY

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17ozSeGw-fY]

Comments: Haaaaapy Friday!  Firstly, I need to apologize because there hasn't been much etc. in ETC, but I'm hoping that will change a bit come next week.  Like I said in a previous post, I have obtained a lot of new music and most of it is pop oriented, however, I'm going to try and mix it up a bit since you have been getting a lot of the common pop songs this week.  This song in particular didn't get nearly as much radio play as I would like.  Then again, the purity of Welch's voice makes me wish that most of her music gets more radio time then it does.  Calvin Harris, whom I have not previously heard of is apparently a Scottish DJ and if he produces many of songs in a similar fashion to this then I am all for it.  I need to look up some of his previous work because he is not new to the scene.  Anyhow, this song has a similar story line to Rihanna and Eminem's "Love the Way You Lie" except the video takes place in a more street and bar setting versus the bedroom.  The video has a few intense moments. I only labeled this NSFW because of the brief nudity.  In the grand scheme of things it could be much worse, but just in case.  Happy listening!

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AMANDA-- "ASLEEP" by THE SMITHS

Hey all! I'm writing today's entry rather late and am pretty tired to be honest (so please forgive me if I sound incoherent) That's not the only reason I've chosen this song though. I recently watched the film adaptation of The Perks of Being a Wallflower and "Asleep" was the main character Charlie's favorite song. I haven't put any of their stuff on here before but I adore The Smiths.  The simplicity of the vocals and piano playing  are what's most striking to me about this song; that it's so stripped down is what makes it beautiful and honest in my mind. I frequently have trouble getting to/staying asleep and a couple of my friends are having the same problem.  Maybe this will help them in some small way. Have a great day!

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Stuck In My Skull 353 -- "Last of the Wilds"

Song: "Last of the Wilds" || Artist: Nightwish || http://youtu.be/vouAtmE13vs ||

[youtube http://youtu.be/vouAtmE13vs]

Comments: So, I recently (Christmas) came into quite a bit of music. In addition, I recently turned on a radio and realized "Wow, I'm really behind on pop music!" So, between both of those factors, I will be sending you some new tunes soon. But for today, I beg your pardon, but I have to pass this song along. Nightwish is generally considered to be masters of symphonic metal, but they're also really good at putting together an instrumental track -- all of the symphonic and none of the metal. "Last of the Wilds" is the symphonic track from Nightwish's album Dark Passion Play. Enjoy!

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Stuck In My Skull 352 -- "Thrift Shop"

Song: "Thrift Shop" || Artist: Macklemore and Ryan Lewis feat. Wanz || http://youtu.be/QK8mJJJvaes ||

[youtube http://youtu.be/QK8mJJJvaes]

Comments: Hello, everyone! Hope you all had a good Christmas (if that's your thing) or other holiday/normal day. Somebody suggested that I listen to this song forever ago, and now that I have, I realize I should have made time to do so sooner. And I feel really bad, because I don't remember who told me! Whoever you are, please please please message me and I'll credit you! Anyway, song. Song is hilarious. And true. If you think Goodwill is lower-class, icky, or generally not worth it, you are so wrong. I personally have gotten a suit and a tuxedo from thrift shops, and they were dirt cheap. I also found an old computer there the other day. Sure, it's missing some stuff, but it was $6... and the RAM is selling for $16 on ebay. And on that note, enjoy the song!

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ETC #35 "Trespassing"

Song: "Trespassing"
Artist: Adam Lambert
Link: http://youtu.be/qwVkYcjvfqA

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwVkYcjvfqA]

Comments: Morning all!  I hope you're enjoying your holiday season and if you are braving the people today, good luck.  I was lucky enough to obtain a large amount of music over the course of the holiday and I completely forgot about this album.  I posted a song from this album over the summer when if first came out (if I'm not mistaken), but here's another from Mr. Lambert.  I wanted to do something a bit up tempo, feel good, and great music for today.   Unfortunately, this particular song doesn't appear to have a video.  I did find something for you all to watch it's just not a fancy, shiny video. Anyhow, happy listening!

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AMANDA-- "WHITE CHRISTMAS" BY OTIS REDDING

Hello! Let me start off by wishing everyone Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year!  I don't have much to say except that this song is a cover of one of the best Christmas songs of all time by soul legend Otis Redding. I'm a fan of  both Christmas music and the genre of soul, especially Otis Redding. Though he passed long ago, his electrifying performances continue to amaze and delight me. Like all his songs, he infuses a real sense of authenticity and emotionality into this one, which was originally written by Russian composer Irving Berlin (who was actually Jewish!) and later popularized by singer/actor Bing Crosby.  If you didn't know better you might even mistake it for a love song. Merry Christmas and happy listening!

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Merry Christmas!

Hey everyone, and happy holidays! The column Stuck In My Skull is taking the day off to celebrate the day with family. Enjoy your holiday!

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Stuck In My Skull 351 -- "Scream and Shout"

Song: "Scream and Shout" || Artist: will.i.am feat. Britney Spears || http://youtu.be/kYtGl1dX5qI ||

[youtube http://youtu.be/kYtGl1dX5qI]

Comments: Happy Monday, folks! Let me preface this commentary by saying watch this video. Some of my comments might sound a tad negative, but watch the video. That being said, this song confused me. I feel as though will.i.am is still exploring his style as a solo artist, and this video feels like he was trying to go more hiphop than electro or pop. The iconography in the video seems to reinforce this. But I can't really look at this song and say "Oh, will.i.am just wanted to go hiphop," because he didn't. There are so many styles in here, that I really can't figure out what he was trying to do. But the glory of will.i.am is that he still managed to make the song sound good. And say what you will about his music, but he knows how to make a visually striking music video. As for Britney... why does she sound British? And is it just me, or is she channeling Dev?

Enjoy the song!

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ETC #34 "I Cry"

Song: "I Cry"
Artist: Flo Rida
Link: http://youtu.be/OLuWHr6-0YQ

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLuWHr6-0YQ]

Comments: Hey there!  Happy Christmas Eve.  Please don't be deceived by the title of this song. It is actually quite upbeat.  The one thing that I will say is that the beginning is a bit sad when Flo Rida talks about growing up in the projects and throughout the video as well.  There are a lot of pictures of...you know what, I don't want to spoil it.  Please take the time to watch and appreciate the video.  I hope that at least watching the beginning makes y'all feel thankful for what you have.  #rantover   Anyway,  this techno beat has been getting stuck in my head off and on quite a few times.  Even though the beat and the video are decent, I have to say that I'm not the biggest fan of the lyrics.  I feel that he could have done a lot more with them.  Regardless, I hope you all enjoy your holiday.  Happy listening!

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Stuck In My Skull 350 -- "Until the End"

Song: "Until the End" || Artist: Breaking Benjamin || http://youtu.be/_sK2pp2Vkto ||

[youtube http://youtu.be/_sK2pp2Vkto]

Comments: Today's entry is going to be pretty short, sorry. In a nutshell, I ran into this song, realized I hadn't posted it, and had to post it. It's so angst-y, it's wonderful! Enjoy, and enjoy the holiday weekend!

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ETC #33 "Down In Mississippi"

Song: "Down In Mississippi" (Up To No Good)
Artist: Sugarland
Link: http://youtu.be/H4A3lrqSOY4

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4A3lrqSOY4]

Comments: Hey all, happy Friday! If you're reading this then you're not dead, congratulations!  To celebrate, here's a song about a party.  I can't say that I put a lot of thought into choosing a song for today other than the fact that I got this song stuck in my head and since it's Friday I figured that it would be a good way to round out the week.  Jennifer Nettles amazes me with her voice even on a song like this she is able to show off her voice and dat country twang she's got goin' on.  If you haven't heard much of Sugarland, I highly recommend you listen to some more of it and I will be happy to provide recommendations for those who want it.  Just leave me something in the comments and I will get back to you!  I've been confused by a third person that seems to be in some of their videos...well after a little research, I discovered that this dynamic duo used to be a trio and then back in '06 is when they became two.  So if you watch any videos and wonder who the third lady is Kristen Hall who apparently was also part of the founder of this wonderful group and the one who also left.  Anyhow, I hope you all enjoy your Friday and happy listening!

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AMANDA-- "MOSKAU" by DSCHINGHIS KHAN

Hey folks! Today's song is pure delight. The seventies gave us a lot of great music and we much of it to Eurovision. If you ask me, the European music competition had American Idol beat decades ago and produced musical sensations like German pop band Dschinghis Khan (and ABBA too!).  Many people I know aren't huge fans of disco but even they have to admit how  utterly awesome and catchy "Moskau" is. The video features the leader singer rocking the Santa look and the entire band busting some sweet moves. I have yet to get sick of it and thought it was extremely appropriate now that Christmas is nearly upon us.  Thanks for reading and enjoy this wonderful tribute to the beautiful city of Moscow!

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Stuck In My Skull 349 -- "Love Lockdown"

Song: "Love Lockdown" || Artist: Kanye West || http://youtu.be/HZwMX6T5Jhk ||

[youtube http://youtu.be/HZwMX6T5Jhk]

Comments: Alright, I'm going to do my level best to not rephrase and rehash what every music critic and has already said about this song -- especially since they said it years ago then this song came out, and I'm behind the curve. Some things, though, can't be avoided. Putting on my Pitchfork hat, I have to say that the tribal drums aesthetic is excellent, as is the minimalist beat. Apparently this album (808s and Heartbreak -- thanks Amanda for giving it to me!) is the first album in which Kanye really uses Auto-Tune. That surprised me to discover, since he could write the book on the proper and tasteful application of that oft-lampooned technology. He uses it to do some tasteful shifts of tone in the song, but more interestingly, he uses Auto-Tune to add distortion to his voice in a really excellent way for a really nice effect that's in that just-right spot between obvious and subtle. The song is lyrically a bit cliched, but he puts a nice spin on things by actually attempting to deal with his relationship failures. More importantly, his attempt to not drag everyone else down and "...keep a secret code / So everybody else don't have to know" is really interesting. It gives it the realism that this biographical track deserves, and it really speaks to me.

As to the video, I think the tribal aspect might be a tad overdone, but it's not bad. I would legitimately prefer to see more Kanye and fewer warriors in the video, but that's personal preference for emotion over bravado. The part that actually grabbed me (once I got over the dancing) was the spaceship (is that a spaceship?) at around 2:00. Anyway. Song is excellent. Video is excellent. If you haven't seen/heard it lately, give it a go. Enjoy!

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ETC #32 "I Knew You Were Trouble"

Song: I Knew You Were Trouble
Artist: Taylor Swift
Link: http://youtu.be/vNoKguSdy4Y

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNoKguSdy4Y]

Comments:  Hey all.  Before you stop reading this post I know that T-Swift is the artist and please hold out for a second. The reason that I am bringing you this song is because this is a different side of Taylor that I haven't seen before.  The first 30 seconds to minute of the song sounds a bit like Taylor, but once she really gets into the song she has completely let go of any Country.  This song is completely pop and I was shocked by the video.  It is very suggestive to the things she (well, her character) has gotten involved with.  In one instance, there is a bar fight presumably from either drinking or gambling or possibly both.  Point is--Taylor you're song is resembling someone your age!  I'm a fan of something other than the fairy tale songs that she was releasing when she first was becoming popular.  The last couple of releases have not only been strictly pop in their sound, but definitely carry a different tune to what we normally hear from her.  I really want to see her move more in this direction.  Happy listening!

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AMANDA-- "THE ONLY WAY TO MY HEART" by FOXY SHAZAM

Hey all! I apologize sincerely for the lack of post last Thursday. Things are rather hectic around here as it's finals week. Anyway, I'll try to make up for it with this song from Foxy Shazam. First of all, what a name. That has got to be one of the greatest rock-n-roll names ever. It describes the band perfectly. Their sound is so weird and yet so irresistible, combining elements of rock, pop, and soul. Not to mention, Foxy Shazam's exuberant front man and over the top antics  no doubt make for excellent live performances. I only recently took an interest in them and was surprised to learn they're from Cincinnati, Ohio of all places. I'm kind of proud that something so bizarre and awesome came out of my state. I must give thanks to a local DJ for playing this song  and essentially blowing my mind. I was really taken by the vocals, clever wordplay, the use of piano, drums, and trumpet  and overall theatricality. "Only Way to My Heart" is four minutes of sexy, bombastic fun and worth a listen if you like the music of Queen, The Darkness, or Meat Loaf. Enjoy!

[youtube=http://youtu.be/JiN3o5wHO8k]

 

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Stuck In My Skull 348 -- "Jesus of Suburbia"

Song: "Jesus of Suburbia" || Artist: Green Day || http://youtu.be/FNKPYhXmzoE ||

[youtube http://youtu.be/FNKPYhXmzoE]

Comments: If I'm correct on this, I believe the album lists this song as "Jesus of Suburbia: Jesus of Suburbia/City of the Damned/I Don't Care", which is more than a little bit too long. Also, I have to admit that I haven't seen the video to this song, and I really really haven't seen the 'long' version of this song, which apparently is 11 minutes long. But this song came up last night, and I just couldn't resist putting it on the blog. It sounds so crass, but years later, I'm still convinced it's deeper than surface, and still haven't bothered sitting down and thinking about it. I need to. I really do.

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Stuck In My Skull 347 -- "The Real Slim Shady"

http://youtu.be/eJO5HU_7_1w

Song: "The Real Slim Shady" || Artist: Eminem || http://youtu.be/eJO5HU_7_1w ||
Comments: Sorry about the lateness of today's post. I promise, after the holidays things will be more regular. I don't know why I had this song stuck in my head, but I definitely did. It's weird, it's freaky, and it's definitely some vintage Eminem.
On a completely unrelated note, Wordpress looks different now, and the New Post screen has changed. Let me know if this looks any different!

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ETC #31 "Sunday Morning"

Song: "Sunday Morning"
Artist: Maroon 5
Link: http://youtu.be/S2Cti12XBw4

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2Cti12XBw4]

Comments: Good Monday morning to you folks.  As much as I wish it was Sunday morning and not Monday, here we are.  As promised there is no country for today!  I was thinking about Maroon 5's new song "Daylight" which is a very sad video, but excellent and almost put me into tears some of the things people say.  Anyhow, I was thinking about Maroon 5 when this song of theirs popped into my head. It's a bit old, but good. There's a bit of a relaxed, jazzy feel to it to help you ease into your week.  I really enjoy this side of Maroon 5. I've also noticed that there is a slower side to One Direction which is definitely interesting. I heard their most recent song, "Little Things" in the car yesterday and I have to admit I didn't recognize it was them.  I'll admit that my guilty pleasure in the realm of music is boy bands, but again, I didn't realize that this was them in the beginning.  Well, that rant is over now.  Have a good day people--happy listening!

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Stuck In My Skull 346 -- "42"

Song: "42" || Artist: Coldplay || http://youtu.be/Z0xfWCDLoCU ||

[youtube http://youtu.be/Z0xfWCDLoCU]

Comments: Yet another late post! I think I'll try and write out a few extra entries over this weekend, so I have a backup plan for when things get crazy. We'll see.

Anyway. This song comes off Coldplay's Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends album. It's a lesser-known track from the album, and nowhere near as popular as "Viva la Vida" or "Violet Hill" or even "Strawberry Swing." I like it, though. The beginning starts off at a nice, slow pace, then picks up into a merry tune. It's catchy, and a nice, relaxing listen. Enjoy, and have a good weekend!

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ETC #30 Double Feature

Hey all, so I was being indecisive and so there are two songs for you today.

Song: "We Danced Anyway"
Artist: Deana Carter
Link: http://youtu.be/wE66MPAO3Es

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wE66MPAO3Es]

Comments: So as I've mentioned in previous postings, my boyfriend and I have unfortunately split recently (I apologize for any immense amount of break up songs), but I am bringing this song to you because is what reminds me of how immensely happy I was to have him and we enjoyed dancing together and I can picture us as the couple throughout this video.  Anyhow!  Enough ranting about that.  This song is one of my favourites from older country music.  It is simple, but wonderful and a feeling that many can compare to.  She wasn't a huge artist, but one of her other big hits was "Strawberry Wine" which is also another fantastic song.   I highly recommend both of these song if you like the older country music.  (When previewing this post, I noticed that on the thumbnail the man in the front on the right looks like he's searching for something exciting in his nose.)

Song: "She Wouldn't Be Gone"
Artist: Blake Shelton
Link: http://youtu.be/ki-n6DsDG40

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ki-n6DsDG40]

Comments: This second song has been stuck in my head for the last couple of days. Amazing Blake Shelton + my current feelings on life = won't leave my head.  Shelton is amazing and I have so many recommendations that I could give you all for him if anyone wants it.  Side note: he is aging wonderfully.  This song hit #1 on the country Billboard and 43 on Billboard Hot 100.  I will try to avoid putting too much more country on the blog this coming week and put up some more high tempo happy songs. Thanks for sticking with me guys.  Happy listening!

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Stuck In My Skull 345 -- "Give Me Novacaine"

Song: "Give Me Novacaine" || Artist: Green Day || http://youtu.be/ZKAwIwjHwZI ||

[youtube http://youtu.be/ZKAwIwjHwZI]

Comments: Late post, but better than no post. I really do have to apologize for the inconsistent pattern of posts lately. Life has been a little (that's an understatement) crazy lately for all of us. I promise things will get better soon.

Anyway, the song. I haven't listened to this in months, but when I woke up this morning, it was stuck in my head. I And hey, it's not electronic music, the streak is broken! I first ran into Green Day back in middle school, years ago when bashing US President George W Bush was still popular. The album American Idiot was one of the first bands I'd ever gotten into that was at all political, and while it didn't directly or immediately inform my political views, it definitely opened my eyes a bit. I mean, it might be crude, but "Holiday" makes a point. If I recall correctly, it was years later -- after this album fell from popularity -- that I really started to shift my politics, long enough that I feel comfortable saying American Idiot helped, but was not the cause. Oddly enough, the two memories I have of this song/album are completely normal (for me, anyway). I remember playing videogames to this track and "Are We the Waiting", and bringing a portable CD player in the car when I was out with my parents so I could listen to the album. Oh well, enough biographical rambling. Enjoy the song!

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Stuck In My Skull 344 -- "Skrillex Orchestral Suite by Varien"

Song: "Skrillex Orchestral Suite by Varien" || Artist: Skrillex || http://youtu.be/ryR9A8-Nl0Q ||

[youtube http://youtu.be/ryR9A8-Nl0Q]

Comments: Ack, I meant to write this last night, but I fell asleep. Sorry! Anyway, after a long stretch of electronic tracks, I figured it would be good to post something without so much as a trace of synthesizer. Don't let the Skrillex piece fool you -- this is a really excellent orchestral version of a medley of his songs. Enjoy!

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ETC #29 "C'Mon"

Song: "C'Mon"
Artist: Ke$ha
Link: http://youtu.be/rElZ85IofT4

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rElZ85IofT4]

Comments: Hey y'all. Here's the latest from Ke$ha from her album Warrior that was released back in November. Unfortunately, the only video that is out for this single is the lyric video, but on the plus side it's kind of trippy.  I have to say that I like this new single of hers however, I'm just not used to this speed. The language and the meaning of the song isn't any different than that of many of her other singles, but it doesn't have that high energy and excitement that I was anticipating. Not to say that it's a slow song by any means, but it is not "Die Young".  Like I said this video is a bit weird, but the drummer kittens are kind of cute.  Happy listening!

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AMANDA-- "MET BEFORE" by CHAIRLIFT

Hello! Today's song comes from another American synthpop duo, Chairlift. I came across them a while ago and even bought a few of their songs I liked them so much. Between the two members, they've got vocals, synthesizer,drums, bass and keyboard covered.  Admittedly, I have a soft spot for electronic musioc and this song satisfies my nostaglia for 80's synthpop.  Overall, I'm really impressed by the quality of the singing, song-writing, and production. Perhaps even more so by the creativity expressed in Chairlift's music videos. "Met Before" plays with the concept of deja vu, the feeling of having experienced something or met someone before. I've embedded one video here and linked to another, an interactive video that allows viewers to make decisions that affect the story line. Both are thoughtful, fun, and upbeat. Enjoy!

. 

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Stuck In My Skull 343 -- "Animus Vox"

Song: "Animus Vox" || Artist: The Glitch Mob || http://youtu.be/17PM-UMVud8 ||

[youtube http://youtu.be/17PM-UMVud8]

Comments: Things I feel bad about as a blogger right now:

• Overusing electronica as a genre


• Overusing The Glitch Mob as a band


• Not posting yesterday


• Not posting anything new and unique today

Don't get me wrong. I love Glitch Mob. Those gentlemen know how to make a beat. And I love electronic music. But I've put too much up lately, and too much Glitch Mob. So it is with this in mind that I beg you to go and listen to the song anyway, because it is fantastic. Enjoy!

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ETC #28 "Electric Shock"

Song: "Electric Shock"
Artist: 에프엑스_  (f(x))
Link: http://youtu.be/n8I8QGFA1oM

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8I8QGFA1oM]

Comments:  Happy Monday everyone.  I came across this song today (some K-pop that isn't from Psy) and I can't help, but show it to you all.  I am amused by the video and I haven't heard of this group before this song.  I think it's amusing and I listened to a couple of other songs and the group is good. The group's English name is f(x), it is comprised of all girls, and they are from South Korea. The group is relatively new being started back in 2009, but it would seem that hasn't stopped them from being incredibly successful.  This song was released back in June and has done well.  I was going to translate things for you myself, but considering the only language I am confident in translating is Spanish here is a website that I'm hoping is accurate with the translation.  I hope that the up beat tempo will brighten your morning.  Happy listening!

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ETC #27 "Come Wake Me Up"

Song: "Come Wake Me Up"
Artist: Rascal Flatts
Link: http://youtu.be/ighEKw6RDBQ

 [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ighEKw6RDBQ]

Comments: Hey folks, I'm sorry to say that there is nothing hipster about this song. It is a new one by Rascal Flatts and it's excellent just like so many of their other songs. This one in particular is relatable to almost anyone at some point in their lives. Unfortunately, I am using this song because it is particularly relevant to my week and I heard it in the car and it set me straight to tears.  Apologies that I don't have much to say about this song other than it's powerful and I wish I had their most recent album because their music is fantastic.  Have a great weekend everyone and happy listening.

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Stuck In My Skull 342 -- "Eye Bear" [HIPSTER WEEK PART 5]

HIPSTER WEEK, PART 5 || Song: "Eye Bear" || Artist: Gingerbread Patriots || http://youtu.be/QcReWa6N9TM ||

[youtube http://youtu.be/QcReWa6N9TM]

Comments: Wow, sorry about that, folks. Suffice it to say I had a very crazy day. Bad blogger is bad, and didn't just write the post in advance. Oops...

Right. Song. This song is... a song. I'm finding it really difficult to describe Gingerbread Patriots' sound in this track. For some reason, the vocals remind me ever so slightly of Owl City. The song is both electronic and acoustic  and I don't begin to know how. I'm seriously at a complete loss for good words to describe this song, so I guess I'll just have to settle for "Go listen and judge for yourself!" While you're at it, give us some feedback -- what did you think of Hipster Week? Enjoy the weekend!

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AMANDA-- "FADE AWAY" by ELECTRIC YOUTH

Needless to say, this post is coming to you very, very late. My apologies but it was a strange day and I didn't have anything I particularly felt like sharing until now. The soundtrack for the 2011 film Drive is one of the best I've heard in a while. The movie's heavily inspired by the 80's and  its impeccable electronic-pop score contributes much in the way of style. Electric Youth is featured on the song , "A Real Hero," an ethereal synthpop track.  The two person band from Toronto  don't even have a page on Wikipedia, though they fittingly share their name with a Debbie Gibson album. The point is they've got a unique sound and backstory, which you can read about on their Facebook page. Personally, I'm  enjoying this recent  resurgence of 80's inspired music. It'll be fun to see where Electric Youth goes from here. Enjoy!

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Stuck In My Skull 341 — “Below the Surface” [HIPSTER WEEK PART 4]

HIPSTER WEEK, PART 4 || Song: "Below the Surface" || Artist: Ben Preston || http://youtu.be/FB9cvps5bPQ ||

[youtube http://youtu.be/FB9cvps5bPQ]

Comments: Happy Thursday everyone! I have a bad habit -- my desktop on my computer is so cluttered with virtual sticky notes that sometimes I can't actually see my own background. Usually, I have at least one sticky full of music. I generally forget to look at them, but for some reason, I remembered to tonight. And, oh, am I glad I did. Continuing the theme of 'Most of Hipster Week is Electronic,' Ben Preston. As I recall, I originally ran into this song on Pandora, and liked it so much that I wrote down the track name and artist. Going back and listening to it again, I'm having trouble staying in my seat, because my ears are commanding my body to dance! Enjoy!

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ETC #26 "Tic Tac"

Song: "Tic Tac"
Artist: La Oreja de Van Gogh
Link:http://youtu.be/3C9cZNpnanI

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3C9cZNpnanI]

Comments: Hey folks. Sorry this is going to be a short post today, I'm exhausted because I haven't been sleeping. Also, apparently it is Hipster Week here.  I missed the memo so unfortunately I don't have anything terribly hipster to add for this entry and next. However, here is a song by an artist I've used on the blog before that doesn't have more than 60k views (for what it's worth this is an outlier, most of the songs don't past 13k).  As for the title it does not refer to the little orange piece of candy, but rather it means "tic tock" in Spanish.  Here are the lyrics if you're interested. Apologies for the normal lack of translation.  Happy listening!

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Stuck In My Skull 340 — “We Lost the Signal” [HIPSTER WEEK PART 3]

HIPSTER WEEK, PART 3 || Song: "We Lost the Signal" || Artist: Fidgital || http://youtu.be/HrU0A7W48FA ||

[youtube http://youtu.be/HrU0A7W48FA]

Comments: Note to self, get a normal sleep pattern and keep it. Anyway, welcome back to Hipster Week! Though at this point, it might be worth calling these last few days the "Canadian Electronica Special Series," as Fidgital is another Canadian act. Given only a phrase to describe Fidgital based on what I've heard, I'd call them ambient electro-jazz. Woot for making up genre titles. Fidgital's website uses some slightly different language.

Fidgital is electronic pop that draws inspiration from jazz, big band, techno, and an ever-widening range of genres. We (Producer/remixer Keith Gillardand vocalist Ryan Slemko) work with a cast of talented electronic and jazz musicians from Vancouver, Canada and all over the world to create progressive, unique, and ultimately catchy pop music.

Anyway, "We Lost the Signal" is a nice and mellow jazzy track, and I love it. It's about as calm as I am... Which is very, as it's 2:08 AM at time of writing. Good night to me, good morning to you, and good music to all.

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AMANDA-- "LET'S JUST BE FRIENDS" by ALEXIS LEWIS *NSFW*

Apparently it's Hipster Week here at Stuck in My Skull. As such, I'd like to take this opportunity to share all kinds of awesome and/or weird music that I feel deserves some attention. I first heard this song about a year ago (thanks Sidney!) and its been lodged into my brain for the last three days. Small-time entertainer Alex Lewis has several funny music videos floating around the web. "She's a Hipster" is hilarious and clever but not nearly as catchy as "Let's Just Be Friends" in my opinion. Everyone should be able to relate to it's message whether they've been the one to say or hear those four little words. In any case, it's a chance to see a bunch of bros channel their inner rock gods. The lyrics are great but probably not work appropriate so if you're in class or the office save this one for home. Lastly, I'll leave you with an interesting a quote from the artist's Facebook page about the song. Enjoy!

 "While filming "Hermione" Alex was going on dates with a girl and things were going well. He treated her nicely because he’s a nice person. At the end of June, she told him “You’re too nice to me and deserve someone better, let’s just be friends.” Alex took this incredibly personally, it was not the first time someone had told him he was too nice and just wanted to be friends. He was in the middle of writing a song when he started reflecting on what she said to him. He thought it was ridiculous that anybody would become disinterested based on how they nice they were treated. He started of thinking of humorous stories about girls saying “let’s just be friends,” to nice guys and LJBF was born."

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Stuck In My Skull 339 -- "So Beautiful" [HIPSTER WEEK PART 2]

HIPSTER WEEK, PART 2 || Song: "So Beautiful" || Artist: Adriane Lake || http://soundcloud.com/adrianelake/so-beautiful-2 ||

http://soundcloud.com/adrianelake/so-beautiful-2

 

Comments: Well, we have retroactively declared this week to be Hipster Week! It's been FAR too long since we've done a Theme Week, and we just couldn't help ourselves. The rules of Hipster Week are pretty simple: The video must have less than 1,000,000 hits on youtube. And with this entry, I'm impressed. It has zero hits on youtube. Actually, the song I originally wanted to hit isn't on Soundcloud either! So, I settled for this equally-excellent track by the same artist. Adriane Lake is a Canadian producer of electronic music, and that's about all her bio really says. She's hipster enough not to have a wikipedia entry. Regardless of that, her CD Morning Glow recently made its way into my hands, and I love it. This song is featured on Soundcloud, and did I mention it's downloadable? You're welcome. If that doesn't sell you yet, here's a chunk of description from her website to either make or break the deal for you.

With Morning Glow, she brings a tenderness, sweetness and emotive quality to her squishy ambient and thumping arrangements. The addition of her own vocal layers and lyrics to a number of the tracks adds a quirky nerdy femininity when melded with organic textures and stiffer electronic instruments. Using uncommon time signatures, deep bass, treated acoustic instruments and even found sound Morning Glow is an unusually accessible confection of otherworldly songs, decorative textures and unorthodox beats.

Enjoy the song!

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Stuck In My Skull 338 -- "Over the Pain's Madness" [HIPSTER WEEK PART 1]

Song: "Over the Pain's Madness" || Artist: Immortal Pain || http://youtu.be/aqgoFsIbRPg ||

[youtube http://youtu.be/aqgoFsIbRPg]

Comments: Good Monday morning, all! Today's song comes by way of Emily, who has my sincere thanks for sending it my way. According to her, Immortal Pain is "death metal from Saudia Arabia." While that might be true in some of their songs, this song is a nice, fairly mellow instrumental number, and I'm really impressed. I'll definitely be checking out more of their stuff. Enjoy!

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ETC #25 "It's My Life"

Song: "It's My Life"
Artist: Bon Jovi
Link: http://youtu.be/vx2u5uUu3DE

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vx2u5uUu3DE]

Comments: Haaaaappy Monday!  And by that I mean, welcome to yet another week on the working train.  I am starting off this week with a motivator.  The last few days metal, rock, etc. has been my music and so while I was doing some listening I came across this song and all my will power to not dance and sing aloud to this song wasn't strong enough and I was apparently quite amusing.  This song is going to be on replay for me for a while especially this morning so that I can get myself going strong this week.  As unrealistic as this video is to this song is I still think it's very cool. Especially because looking at the stunts the main guy does I'm calling bull on it and saying he's been bitten by a radioactive spider.  I didn't realize how old this song is, but it was released back in 2000 and did well on the charts.  I hope that you all know this song and enjoy rocking to something you probably haven't heard in a while and if you haven't had a listen yet here's the chance to add a good song to the collection.  Happy listening!

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Stuck In My Skull 337 -- "Song of the Caged Bird"

Song: "Song of the Caged Bird" || Artist: Lindsey Stirling || http://youtu.be/inb8MMZ-QmA ||

[youtube http://youtu.be/inb8MMZ-QmA]

Comments: Short entry today, guys. The always-wonderful Lindsey Stirling brings us another excellent new song. Check it out, and enjoy the weekend!

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ETC #24 "Somebody"

Song: "Somebody"
Artist: Reba McEntire
Link: http://youtu.be/p14-lNyBovM

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p14-lNyBovM]

Comments:  Hey all, HAPPY FRIDAY! I have been on a Country music kick the last few days and I was listening to Miss Reba here thinking about how much I love her songs.  I sat this song aside thinking maybe I would think of something else to use and then I realized that she has never been used on the blog and I decided that needed to be changed.  Here's a song that is a bit old, but it is excellent. This song is one of my favourites of hers.  I highly recommend listening to some of her music if you haven't already.  She has been musically oriented all her life (with an astounding amount of success and awards for her amazing vocals), started her own show, and even has a clothing line.  Here's the Wiki if you have an interest in reading more about her.  One of her favourite things are ballads and many of her songs tell a story of some kind.  Furthermore, she has a voice that I miss hearing in some contemporary music; she has a lot of power and is very pure when she sings. This song in particular might help those of you who are feeling discouraged in love.  Happy listening!

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AMANDA-- "DON'T STOP ME NOW" by QUEEN

Happy Thursday all! Here's one of my absolutely favorite songs from the legendary band Queen. As far as I'm concerned, Freddie Mercury was one of the greatest singers who ever lived. Those pipes. That stage presence. Brian May is equally excellent on guitar. Anyway, this is song has become one of their most popular in recent history. I personally remember it from a hilarious scene in the comedy Shaun of the Dead. Here we see Queen do what they do best, combining layers and layers of sound on top of one another. The end result is a three and a half minutes of glorious fun and rock'n'roll.  "Don't Stop Me Now" never fails to get me pumped up and excited about my day. Hopefully it'll do the same for you. Enjoy!

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Stuck In My Skull 336 -- "So Cold"

Song: "So Cold" || Artist: Breaking Benjamin || http://youtu.be/rTiGlNDnOtE ||

[youtube http://youtu.be/rTiGlNDnOtE]

Comments: Let me think. I first heard this song... I can't even remember when I heard it. I was just getting into Breaking Benjamin when I ran into this song. As I recall, I had a playlist.com playlist full of about 6-8 songs that I listened to over and over. This song is excellent-- vintage Breaking Benjamin, and exemplifies their sound wonderfully. Take a listen!

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ETC #23 "Good Girls Go Bad"

Song: "Good Girls Go Bad"
Artist: Cobra Starship Ft. Leighton Meester
Link: http://youtu.be/Ix5z1bRz4Sc

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ix5z1bRz4Sc]

Comments: Hey all. I'm sorry to say that I don't have much to report on this song. It's got a good beat and the video is relatively entertaining. The song did well on the charts; it hit the Top 10 list. Ms. Meester is apparently more popular than I realized.  It would seem that she's more into acting than she is singing, but does both. Here is the Wiki if you want some more information. Happy listening!

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AMANDA-- "LANDSLIDE" by FLEETWOOD MAC

Hello all! As a child, my mother fed me a steady diet of classic rock, metal, and r&b. I have her to thank for my diverse taste in music and so I'm dedicating this song to my loving, supportive mom. At an early age, she instilled in me a love for Fleetwood Mac, especially the incredible Stevie Nicks, who wrote "Landslide." The song's  lyrics have always resonated with me although they mean something a little different now that I'm older. In my mind nothing tops the original, what with  the tenderness and frailty in Nick's singing and the use of both acoustic and electric guitars, but I was impressed by the Dixie Chicks cover on their 2002 album Home. Both versions are worth checking out. Enjoy!

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Stuck In My Skull 335 -- "Homecoming"

Song: "Homecoming" || Artist: Kanye West || http://youtu.be/LQ488QrqGE4 ||

[youtube http://youtu.be/LQ488QrqGE4]

Comments: Of all the unexpected combinations of artists, Kanye West and Chris Martin of Coldplay fame. Wow. Didn't see that one coming. Err, came. This song actually came out quite awhile ago, and I'm just behind the times. Regardless of relevance, this song is actually pretty good. It's a sound I'm not used to hearing in rap, and it's hook-- sung by Chris Martin-- is fabulous. Check this song out!

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ETC #22 "God Gave Me You"

Song: "God Gave Me You"
Artist: Blake Shelton
Link: http://youtu.be/nCf2PoTuh4Q

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCf2PoTuh4Q]

Comments: Good Monday morning, all.  I hope that the week is going to start off well for you. I am bringing this song to you today because as I was going through a list of songs that I wanted to share I realized that many of them had already been used.  I was going through some country because it hasn't been used in a while and remembered that I have been meaning to use this song. It is a beautiful song and while I always think about it in the relationship that I have with my boyfriend and the relationship we have the video does a good job of putting this same theme in other perspectives (i.e. a mother and her child, a doctor and their patient).  What I just found out while doing some searching is that this is actually a cover of the Dave Barnes' version, a contemporary Christian artist.  It's amazing the difference in views on the same song.   They both scored similarly on the Adult Contemporary Billboard, but Blake's version did superior in his respective field than Dave's.  I hope you all appreciate the second version I've provided just as much as Blake's because both of them are excellent. Happy listening!

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Stuck In My Skull 334-- "Snow (Hey Oh)"

Song: "Snow (Hey Oh)" || Artist: Red Hot Chili Peppers || http://youtu.be/fmXLzY8kbYA ||

[youtube http://youtu.be/fmXLzY8kbYA]

Comments: Good morning, folks. Sorry about this post going up late-- my turkey-stuffed stomach and tryptophan-addled brain didn't remember to write this last night. Honestly, I'm surprised I haven't already used this song. I first heard it ages ago, running in the credits to an obscure, live-action movie based on a manga that I watched on youtube years ago in ten minute chunks. Yep, it was old enough that youtube still had the ten minute video limit. I heard it once, and I was hooked, and my love of RHCP began. This song is catchy as all get out, has an incredible guitar, and is that sort of awesome that only the Red Hot Chili Peppers can produce. Enjoy!

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ETC #21 "Walk This Way"

Song: "Walk This Way"
Artist: Aerosmith
Link: http://youtu.be/bKttENbsoyk

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4B_UYYPb-Gk]

Comments: HAPPY FRIDAY!  After many of you are probably still recovering from the large amounts of food from Thanksgiving and possibly going shopping today (depending on your tolerance for massive crowds) so, I thought I would send an oldie, but an excellent song to get you motivated to get up and do something fun today.  I was in the car with my dad the other day and we had the radio up quite loud to this sound because, why the heck not?  I'm sure majority of the audience has probably already heard it, but here's a little 70s for a change up.  Not only does it have the awesome guitar and good beat, but it also has some excellent rap throughout by RUN-DMC. This song was released back in 1976 and reached the top 10 from their album Toys in the Attic.  It's music video also did very well on the charts being well inside the top 25 on 4/5 charts it's listed on.  I hadn't seen the video up until a few minutes ago and it is definitely worth watching.  Here is the link the Wiki because I'd love to share how well it did, but I don't want to make a huge list for those who don't necessarily want to read it all. Rock out this morning and happy listening!

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AMANDA-- "WELCOME HOME" by COHEED AND CAMBRIA

Hey! My song for today comes from the American rock band Coheed and Cambria. Admittedly, this is the only song of theirs that I know but boy is it an epic one. For the last month or so, not a day has passed that I haven't listened to "Welcome Home," it's that good. Apparently all of the quartet's albums are concept albums based on a science fiction story written by the lead singer, which is pretty cool.What stands out to me most about the song are the guitar riff and lead vocals. The singer has a fantastic fro, a sweet double-neck guitar, and a voice that while memorable doesn't really match appearance or at least what I pictured when I first heard the song. It came out in 2009 and  I'm surprised I haven't heard more about them since their sound is so unique and refreshing. Anyway, I've inserted two links below; the first  is for the official music video and the second for the studio version which is two minutes longer. Check 'em out!

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Stuck In My Skull 333-- "Crazy"

Song: "Crazy" || Artist: Gnarls Barkley || http://youtu.be/bd2B6SjMh_w ||

[youtube http://youtu.be/bd2B6SjMh_w]

Comments: I was really surprised to realize that I hadn't used this song yet on the blog. That being said, I am more than happy to use it now. This song is just so distinct, that I could pick it out of a metaphorical crowd in an instant. Let's face it-- nobody really sounds quite like Gnarls Barkley. The only artist I know of that even comes close is Cee Lo Green, but wait! Gnarls Barkley is Cee Lo Green working with Danger Mouse. Anyway. I heard this song ages ago, and it stuck with me. Give it a listen, and to our American audience-- Happy Thanksgiving!

(For what it's worth, an entertaining, StarWars-themed video for this song can be found here.)

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Stuck In My Skull 332-- "Beautiful Lies"

Song: "Beautiful Lies" || Artist: Mt Eden || http://youtu.be/uZnpikoHNWw ||

[youtube http://youtu.be/uZnpikoHNWw]

Comments: The internet is weird. I mean, who honestly sat down and said "Let's take a picture of a cute cat, put a funny caption on it, and butcher the spelling on the caption?" And beyond that, who would have thought they'd be hilarious  and turn into a hallmark of internet culture? Besides just locats, we have the internet to thank for the rise and spread of numerous bands and artists, such as Mt Eden. I'm not a huge dusbtep junkie, but I really like this track. I would almost have to call it 'chillstep'-- that wonderful portmanteau of a genre. However, I'm fairly sure there is an actual definition for chillstep, so I'll just settle for calling it 'really chill dubstep.' I love this track. And I love that it's a free download. The link in the youtube description leads to a 'file not found' on rapidshare, but as the annotation on the youtube video itself points out, the song is available as a free and legal download on their soundcloud, found here. Enjoy the track and enjoy the day!

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ETC #20 "Feel Again"

Song: "Feel Again"
Artist: OneRepublic
Link: http://youtu.be/2tMKO_9SD1Y

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tMKO_9SD1Y]

Comments: Hey everyone. I've got a great song for you today. I'm sure that many of you have already heard this song, because it has been on the radio frequently, but I wanted to share this video.  This song is the most recent single from their album Native. It is amazing with the amount of the lights that they use and it was very creatively made. I took a look at the Behind the Scenes video and it was interesting. The band, well the singer, in the beginning stumbles upon a new society of sorts where lights are their thing.  This is a beautifully made video to a great song that many people can relate to.  Happy listening!

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Stuck In My Skull 331-- "Gangnam Style 2 Legit 2 Quit Mashup"

Song: "Gangnam Style 2 Legit 2 Quit Mashup" || Artists: PSY and MC Hammer || http://youtu.be/l0mUOHXEKmY ||

[youtube http://youtu.be/l0mUOHXEKmY]

Comments: I'm really beginning to think that I should have watched the American Music Awards this weekend. Thanks to Miriah for tossing this at me. One of the things I really love about PSY is his incredible stage presence. This dude monopolizes the stage whenever he steps on to it, and to this point, I thought that anyone doing a duet with him was an utter waste of time because they'd be marginalized into irrelevancy. I would be wrong. It turns out MC Hammer can keep up. I know nothing about MC Hammer besides that he is responsible for the ubiquitous "Stop! ... Hammer time!" line, but I have a feeling I should be looking him up now. Anyway, this is excellent. Take a look!

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AMANDA-- "BARRACUDA" by HEART

Hello all! As I sat down to write this, I found myself in the mood for some classic rock. Hence: "Barracuda" by Heart, one of America's seminal all-female rock bands. They peaked in success in the 70's and 80's but continue to release new music and perform worldwide. I admire these women for thriving in an industry traditionally driven by and geared toward men. This song is one of their best and, as Chris reminded me, was featured in Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock. It's got a bad@#$ guitar riff and some pretty intense (but amazing) lyrics. Truth be told, I absolutely love it. Enjoy!

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Stuck In My Skull 330-- "With a Few Good Friends"

Song: "With a Few Good Friends" || Artist: Carly Simon || http://youtu.be/HrtK1zZ9oiA ||

[youtube http://youtu.be/HrtK1zZ9oiA]

Comments: Nevermind how, but I ended up watching Piglet's Big Movie last night with a friend of mine. The movie is ridiculously cute, and your classic Winnie the Pooh feel good movie. This song is the theme of the movie, and pretty excellent. I'm not terribly familiar with Carly Simon, but she has a really distinct vocal style that I want to listen to more of. Give it a listen!

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ETC #19 "Between the Raindrops"

Song: "Between the Raindrops" Ft. Natasha Bedingfield
Artist: Lifehouse
Link: http://youtu.be/dG6-bU6esKo

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dG6-bU6esKo]

Comments: Oh, hello there!  I hope you Monday is going well.  After making a very long drive I heard so many songs that I wanted to use for today, but after I saw that this song only has roughly 140k views I couldn't believe it. It saddens me when such good music isn't getting views on Youtube.  Granted it has only been posted for about a week, but still there are other celebrities who have more than that in a day.  The point is! This is a new and good song that you should have a listen to.  The ones who made this video did an excellent job; those who like pictures of scenery will like the imagery in this video. I haven't heard too much from Ms. Bedingfield recently, but she is this is a good match up of voices in this song.  It has a catchy chorus and it is currently 26 on the Billboard charts. Happy listening!

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ETC #18 "Have a Nice Day"

Song: "Have a Nice Day"
Artist: Bon Jovi
Link: http://youtu.be/uCg2BoKiuOM

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCg2BoKiuOM]

Comments: HAPPY FRIDAY!  So I know this post is a little late and I send my apologies. However!  I had forgotten about this song and how much I love Bon Jovi until I heard this a couple of days ago.  You gotta love the sarcasm in the title of this song and you only realize it after you've heard the song. This is a lot of the attitude people have on the weekends so I figured I would use the song today to get people pumped because, oh yeah....IT'S FRIDAY.  If you haven't been able to tell I'm very excited that my responsibilities are gone for the weekend.  Anyhow, this is an excellent the song and the video is amusing. I think they took it a little far with the emblem as a tattoo, but it was amusing to see.  "Have a nice day" everyone and happy listening!

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Stuck In My Skull 329 -- "Warrior Concerto"

Song: "Warrior Concerto" || Artist: The Glitch Mob || http://youtu.be/-lszdEZ0-74 ||

[youtube http://youtu.be/-lszdEZ0-74]

Comments: Happy Friday! I'll be straight and to the point. This song is some seriously fantastic techno with a heavy dose of strings. It's excellent, and it (and everything this band does) reminds me why I got into electronic music in the first place. Check it out. Also, go to the youtube for this one-- there's a free (and even legal!) download link. Enjoy the weekend!

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AMANDA--"THIS IS BERK" composed by JOHN POWELL

Hey all! Since I'm short on time at the moment I will  keep this post rather brief. Here's the first track off the How to Train Your Dragon soundtrack composed and produced by John Powell, which received an Academy Award nomination for best score. The song samples other tracks from the album and so it  changes up quite a bit. On Wednesday it helped me get through an otherwise insufferable work day. Whenever I listen to this phenomenal soundtrack, I instantly want to watch the film. Both are FANTASTIC. Animated movies aren't just for kids. Dragons. Vikings. What's not to love? Enjoy!

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Stuck In My Skull 328-- "Die Young (Acoustic)"

Song: "Die Young (Acoustic)" || Artist: Ke$ha || http://youtu.be/oa4jGB-8si4 ||

[youtube http://youtu.be/oa4jGB-8si4]

Comments: Well, I didn't see this coming. While I've always had a certain amount of respect for Ke$ha, that level of respect just skyrocketed. This acoustic version of "Die Young" is pretty! I honestly haven't heard Ke$ha without the synthesizers and the drums and the autotune, and I have to admit, she sounds really pretty. I have to admit -- I saw this song on Buzzfeed.

 

And that brings me to a completely unrelated point. People almost never send me music any more! Just because my life has a soundtrack doesn't mean I don't need more songs. When I first started this blog, everyone was sending me songs. What happened? Guys, if you've got a song, let me hear it! Please? I love you and your music too much not to want to hear from you.

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ETC #17 "Faster"

Song: "Faster"
Artist: Matt Nathanson
Link: http://youtu.be/ZyjQFdeFox8

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyjQFdeFox8]

Comments: Hello, people!  I'll be really honest I don't have a lot to say about this song. I heard it while I was working and it got me singing while I was cleaning of all things.  I am sending it out to my boyfriend because this song is a catchy and up-beat and with the craziness that is our lives at the moment I want to send him a reminder how much I love him.  I haven't heard much of Matt Nathanson, but for those of you who know "Come on Get Higher", this is him.  After hearing a couple of his songs I've noticed he does has a nice tone to his voice though and I will be doing my best to listen to him more.  Oh, and here's a nice duet called "Run" by him and Sugarland (http://youtu.be/bF31ZhYnhcA) for you Country music fans (though the song itself doesn't sound Country). Happy listening!

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AMANDA-- "DIAMONDS" by RIHANNA

Hello! Today's song is R&B sensation Rihanna's latest single. "Diamonds" is a bit of a departure for the artist. She's deviated  from her usual pop/dance formula changing the tempo and tone up. Her vocals are on full display and we actually get to hear the range of that gorgeous voice of hers. The video is  equally as stunning and reminiscent of Drake's "Take Care" video, which she was featured in. The song touches on a common theme of Rihanna's: love and relationships. What's different is how hopeful and even happy she sounds, a welcomed change from much of her music. Enjoy!

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Stuck In My Skull 327-- Loca People [NSFW]

Song: "Loca People" || Artist: Sak Noel || http://youtu.be/vZLd81IHGQw ||

[youtube http://youtu.be/vZLd81IHGQw]

Comments: Well, I've been sitting on this song for awhile now, and I no longer have an excuse not to use it. This song is quite frankly so bad it's good. Well, let me rephrase. The beat is fantastic, but the lyrics are abysmal. Between those, and some of the camera work, I had to label this sucker NSFW. Which is sad. Because the song is just plain funny. Enjoy!

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Stuck In My Skull 326 -- "Danza Kuduro"

Song: "Danza Kuduro" || Artist: Don Omar feat. Lucenzo || http://youtu.be/7zp1TbLFPp8 ||

[youtube http://youtu.be/7zp1TbLFPp8]

Comments: Happy Monday, y'all. Yep, I just said (well, wrote) "y'all." My weekend has been a little loopy. For example, I just had the pleasure/misfortune to send an email with the gist of "I fixed all of our problem but now we need to re-image the hard drive." Anyway, song. This song is catchy as heck, even if you can't understand a word. Do yourself a favor. Stand up, turn it up, dance like an idiot. It'll make you feel good, even if nobody else has any idea what you're doing. "Danza Kuduro" is one of those really great Spanish songs that anyone who parties has heard, but nobody has actually heard of. Enjoy!

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ETC #16 "Wherever You Will Go"

Song: "Wherever You Will Go"
Artist: The Calling
Link: http://youtu.be/jw_4CCe-AwA

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jw_4CCe-AwA]

Comments: Happy Monday morning.  I can't say that I frequently hear those two words used to together, but here's to starting off to a new week!  I heard this song on the radio recently and forgot how much I loved it. It's an old song, but hey, it's not country (as I promised I would not post today) and I feel safe in saying that many people have heard this song. I love the chorus, but unfortunately the video is not cheery by any stretch.  I can't say that I think it wise that she got the boy's name tattooed  on her arm, but I understand the sentiment and she gets it fixed.  Anyhow, here's an oldie that I hope you enjoy hearing it once again.  Happy listening!

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ETC #15 "Beer Money"

Song: "Beer Money"
Artist: Kip Moore
Link: http://youtu.be/JSgyvCan8qg

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSgyvCan8qg]

Comments: Hey everyone sorry for the lateness of this post and for yet another country song. I have had this one stuck in my head all day today and a lot recently so I wanted to share it. I promise there will be some variety of music in the near future.  Anyhow, this is a recent song and it is like a lot of country songs that you hear where people have had a rough week and are taking time to unwind.  That is precisely what this song is and even though there's no special message to it, I think the tune is catchy.  And the video shows exactly what the song says: people drinking, having a good time, and sharing that with pretty women. I hope that you all are enjoying your weekend as much as the people are in the video. Happy listening!

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Stuck In My Skull 325-- "No Church in the Wild" [NSFW]

Song: "No Church in the Wild" || Artist: Kanye West and Jay-Z || http://youtu.be/FJt7gNi3Nr4 ||

[youtube http://youtu.be/FJt7gNi3Nr4]

Comments: I have been listening to this song on repeat for the last several hours, and I love it. The longer I listen to Kanye, the more I realize that while I don't really think much of his lifestyle or attitude, he really is a gifted artist. This song is just amazing, and the video hits you right in your sense of rebellion. Take a look, folks, but perhaps not at work.

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AMANDA-- "CARING IS CREEPY" by THE SHINS

Hey all! I intended do a song from a musical but while browsing through my collection of soundtrack music, "Caring Is Creepy" (interesting title I know) popped into my head out of nowhere. It works because it's 1) a good song  and fairly representative of The Shin's music and 2)  featured in one of my indie favorite films, Garden State. Happy listening!

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Stuck In My Skull 324 -- "Eyes on Fire"

Song: "Eyes on Fire" || Artist: Blue Foundation || http://youtu.be/afx-XRsTDUU ||

[youtube http://youtu.be/afx-XRsTDUU]

Comments: Congratulations to Mr. Obama on winning a 2nd term in office! As important and historical as this is, you're all sick of it, so let's not talk about it here. Music! I love music, don't you? I particularly love this song. I originally heard a dubstep remix of this song (Zed's Dead remix, to be specific), and decided to go find the original. The song is quite excellent-- the vocals are captivating and harmonious. The video that accompanies this song is also quite excellent. It's black and white camera work gives the entire affair a very artistic feel, and I can't get enough. Enjoy!

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ETC #14 "It's Time"

Song: "It's Time"
Artist: Imagine Dragons
Link: http://youtu.be/sENM2wA_FTg

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sENM2wA_FTg]

Comments: Hi, everyone.  Despite whether you were happy with the election results yesterday, I have brought to you a good song for your Wednesday.  I'll admit that the video is darker (literally and figuratively) than I anticipated, but I really like what they did with it.  I also am absolutely in love with the chorus of this song. It's one that I sing to frequently while in the car.  Believe me when I say that this song deserves a listen.  I'm a little surprised by it only being 30 on the Billboard chart, but I'm hoping it climbs the ladder a little higher. It was nominated for the rock video of the year and this is the second single from their album Night Visions.  Happy listening!

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AMANDA-- "DRIVE" by INCUBUS

Hello. I'll keep today's entry short but sweet. I love Incubus. I go through phases where I can't stop listening to their stuff. Now is one of those times. "Drive" is one of many, many excellent Incubus' songs. I merely chose it because it has one of their best videos (although most are pretty cool). In my mind, they're up their with great bands like the Foo Fighters who been around for sometime. Incubus consistently makes good music with a lot of heart and soul. I enjoy their songs almost regardless of mood. Check this out!

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Stuck In My Skull 323 -- "Some Nights"

Song: "Some Nights" || Artist: Fun. || http://youtu.be/qQkBeOisNM0 ||

[youtube http://youtu.be/qQkBeOisNM0]

Comments: I wasn't originally going to use this s0ng, but my roommate was playing it, and then it got stuck in my head, and now here I am writing the entry. Thanks, Brian. Anyway, this song is typical of Fun.-- lyrically driven with several layers of meaning, powered by interesting percussion. Also typical of Fun., the video is ambiguous, and I'll avoid commenting on it in case you haven't seen it. Unlike many people (at least who comment on youtube), I really don't mind the autotune at the end. In all fairness, I listen to pop and techno, so draw your own assumptions. Anyway, enjoy the song! (PS-- the song starts at about 1:00 in the video.)

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ETC #13 "Come Over"

Song: "Come Over"
Artist: Kenny Chesney
Link: http://youtu.be/N1GfEl8XUc4

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1GfEl8XUc4]

Comments: Happy Monday morning, all.  I know I said that I would be providing you with something other than country today, but to be honest I have forgotten the artist and title of the song I wanted to share with you today.  Kenny Chesney has put out yet another great song.  This one has been pounding the radio and I hope that it doesn't become one of the greatly ruined classic (i.e. one of the songs that you love until it gets played on the radio too much and then it becomes irritating).  The music video isn't very lively and may not wake you up this morning, but it is a good song and I felt that it should be shard. It is definitely a song to which a great number of people can relate.  Happy listening!

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Stuck In My Skull 322-- "I'll Be Gone"

Song: "I'll Be Gone" || Artist: Linkin Park || http://youtu.be/eG-ja6wpOa0 ||

[youtube http://youtu.be/eG-ja6wpOa0]

Comments: I really don't have much to say -- it's a good song, but I'm too tired to say much. Enjoy.

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ETC #12 "Cruise"

Song: "Cruise"
Artist: Florida Georgia Line
Link: http://youtu.be/8PvebsWcpto

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PvebsWcpto]

Comments: Happy Friday!  Hi guys. So here's the deal. I've got another new country band for you. I originally had a different song for you today, but the first time I heard this song it made me wanna sing along.  All it took was hearing the chorus for the first time and I was hooked.  This band has only been going at it since 2010, but who knows, they might have a lot of time ahead of them; they also have a new album coming out in December.  I like this is a feel good song that has a catchy tune. I will say that there isn't any big time theme or message to get from these lyrics, but I still love it.  I have to say that the line "Baby you a song/You make me wanna roll my windows down and cruise" is a perfect description of how people think about their lover if you will. I know that's how I think about my boyfriend is that he does make me want to roll down the window in my car and sing and be happy.  I'll try to bring something other than country for ya on Monday. In the meantime, happy listening!

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AMANDA-- "LITTLE BLACK SUBMARINE" by THE BLACK KEYS

For today, I chose a song from one of my favorite bands, The Black Keys. This two man rock band from Akron, Ohio never ceases to impress me. "Little Black Submarine" is the fourth single off of their latest album El Camino and easily one of the best songs on the record. Critics have compared its progression- from slow, acoustic hymn to electric blues epic- to Led Zeppelin, specifically "Stairway to Heaven." It really showcases how versatile their sound is. I've got so much respect for these guys, who have slowly, but surely worked their way to the top. The music video captures them doing what they doing best: giving killer live performances. Enjoy!

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We Moved! Why are we still getting hits?

Hey guys.
I'm not sure why this site is still getting hits, so I'll post this once again.
As of October the 8th of 2012, we moved to stuckinmyskull.wordpress.com! Click over for your favorite content and fresh new songs! Be sure to update your bookmarks and tell your friends!

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Stuck In My Skull 321-- "Moon Trance"

Song: "Moon Trance" || Artist: Lindsey Stirling || http://youtu.be/0dfZ9BXaNyE ||

[youtube http://youtu.be/0dfZ9BXaNyE]

Comments: Because who doesn't love dancing zombies? Lindsey Stirling released this very Halloween-themed song last week, and I decided to use it today. Musically, it's interesting to see Lindsey utilizing electronic and techno elements without going all the way to dubstep. And let's face it. Dancing zombies. What more could you want? Happy Halloween!

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ETC #11 "This is Halloween"

Song: "This Is Halloween"
Artist: Nightmare Before Christmas
Link: http://youtu.be/xpvdAJYvofI

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpvdAJYvofI]

Comments: HAPPY HALLOWEEN!  I couldn't help but share this song today.  Even for those of you who don't like this particular holiday this is a catchy song and there's nothing scary about it. The movie is excellent and I recommend that people watch it.  There isn't much to say about this song other than it's catchy, the opening piece, and if there was a way to make Halloween cute this is it. I would share something a bit more dramatic to fit the holiday, but this particular one has been stuck in my head.  Happy listening!

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AMANDA--"DANSE MACABRE" by CAMILLE SAINT-SAENS

Hello all! Tomorrow's Halloween and as such I feel obligated to share this song with you. It's the well-known "Danse Macabre" (I love that word...MACABRE) by French composer Camille Saint-Saens. The piece has been used extensively in film and television and I can see why.Typical of the Romantic period, the song is highly emotional, innovative, and beautiful yet haunting. The music is actually based on a creepy/cool French poem about superstition that reads as follows:

Zig, zig, zig, Death in cadence,

Striking a tomb with his heel,

Death at midnight plays a dance-tune,

Zig, zig, zag, on his violin.

The winter wind blows, and the night is dark;

Moans are heard in the linden trees.

White skeletons pass through the gloom,

Running and leaping in their shrouds.

Zig, zig, zig, each one is frisking,

You can hear the cracking of the bones of the dancers.

A lustful couple sits on the moss

So as to taste long lost delights.

Zig zig, zig, Death continues

The unending scraping on his instrument.

A veil has fallen! The dancer is naked.

Her partner grasps her amorously.

The lady, it's said, is a marchioness or baroness

And her green gallant, a poor cartwright.

Horror! Look how she gives herself to him,

Like the rustic was a baron.

Zig, zig, zig. What a saraband!

They all hold hands and dance in circles.

Zig, zig, zag. You can see in the crowd

The king dancing among the peasants.

But hist! All of a sudden, they leave the dance,

They push forward, they fly; the cock has crowed.

Oh what a beautiful night for the poor world!

Long live death and equality!

Personally, I love the sweeping flute and violin parts and how the song shifts in tone, sounding dark and ominous one moment and romantic the next. Here  I've embedded  a cartoon made by PBS, which I think is a great visual representation of the text and an excellent alternative to other random Youtube videos of the song. Enjoy and have a safe Halloween!

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Stuck In My Skull 320 -- "Sacrimony (Angel of Afterlife)"

Song: "Sacrimony (Angel of Afterlife)" || Artist: Kamelot || http://youtu.be/ORAc_hx33-Q ||

[youtube: http://youtu.be/ORAc_hx33-Q]

Live version: http://youtu.be/a74TZSlnTW4

Comments: Well ladies in gentlemen, I'm writing this a bit after midnight on 10/30/12. It's unlikely that my area will lose power from the Superstorm Sandy, but just in case, no harm in having this done the night before. If you're in an area that will be or has been affected by the storm, stay safe. Anyway-- song. I originally saw this song when I went and saw Kamelot touring with Nightwish this fall, and it was fantastic live. For that reason, I found a live version with good sound quality, and included it above. Kamelot is excellent with their new vocalist. While music videos were never Kamelot's forte, metal is, and this song is fantastic. If the storm hasn't blown you away, the song will.

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ETC #10 "Let it Rock"

Song: "Let it Rock"
Artist: Kevin Rudolf Ft. Lil Wayne
Link: http://youtu.be/u0n4eMGXAyk

 [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0n4eMGXAyk]

Comments: Happy Monday, all!  Sorry about the delay on the post today. I have been having some health issues lately and I was passed out early last night and sick this morning so the post is clearly late. Anyway, the song.  It is an old one (2008) and a tune that most people probably know. I heard it on the radio yesterday and it has been on and off inside my head. It's quite contrary to how I've been feeling recently, but it's a decent tune to be stuck in my brain.  I hope that this song brings a smile to your Monday.  Happy listening!

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Stuck In My Skull 319 -- "Tetris"

Song: "Tetris" || Artist: Electrixx || http://youtu.be/_pXUl8KMJmc ||

[youtube http://youtu.be/_pXUl8KMJmc]

Comments: Happy Monday, folks! To those of you in the path of Hurricane/Tropical Storm/Insert_Weather_Event_Here Sandy, hunker down and carry on-- be safe above all else. To those of you who aren't, send your thoughts/prayers/good karma/positive feelings to those who are. To anyone reading this, have some music. "Tetris" is a superb remix of the theme of the game Tetris, as mixed by a group I've never heard of called Electrixx. It has excellent dance and dubstep elements in the song, and blends them beautifully. Songs like this remind me why I got into electronic music in the first place. Enjoy!

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Stuck In My Skull 318-- "Puppet"

Song: "Puppet" || Artist: Thousand Foot Krutch || http://youtu.be/uTCZHkrb2IM ||

[youtube http://youtu.be/uTCZHkrb2IM]

Comments: What is with me having songs stuck in my head all day lately? This song would not exit my skull for all of yesterday, and so I bring it to you now. Thousand Foot Krutch is one of those bands sitting on the fringe of religious music with that excellent nu metal, pseudo rap sort of grunge beat that I thrive on. I get it in my Linkin Park, I get the thrashier, non-rap bit in my Breaking Benjamin, sometimes I even get it from some System of a Down. For some reason, I never remember to include Thousand Foot Krutch on my list, something I really should. It's epic. Enjoy!

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ETC #9 "Seven Devils"

Song: "Seven Devils"
Artist: Florence and the Machine
Link: http://youtu.be/hBcXe2B97TQ

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBcXe2B97TQ]

Comments: Happy Friday, all!  I'm bringing you some more music from those who brought you "Shake It Out".  Florence and the Machine have a different sound to them and I have to say I really like it as a change to what's usually on the radio.  If you listen to them you can now add English Indie Rock to your collection!  I  heard this song thanks to a friend of mine who said it was a bad idea to listen to it in the dark while sitting in your car. Now, whether or not she's right I'll just take her word for it. Though I'm really glad that she passed this song along to me because it convinced me to listen to more of their music and now I'm a fan. I think it would have been cool to make a music video for this song; the makers could definitely have found something creative to do with it.  Happy listening!

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AMANDA-- "SUPERSTITION" by STEVIE WONDER

Happy Thursday! Since I've decided to run with the theme of Halloween, today's song is "Superstition," a 70's classic. While I don't believe in superstitions, I do believe in Stevie Wonder, a musical icon who has racked up countless hits over the course of his forty year career. This, one of most his recognizable songs, is pure,unadulterated funk. Those beats. That bass. According to Wikipedia, the single solidified his shift away from Motown to a sound all his own, the same unique sound he since become famous for. I dare you to listen to it and resist the urge to sing or dance along. Enjoy!

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Stuck In My Skull 317-- Tivoli Vs. Walking On A Dream (Acapella)

Song: "Tivoli Vs. Walking On A Dream (Acapella)" || Artist: Steve Angello Vs. Empire Of The Sun || http://youtu.be/Jj0J1cGcRMc ||


[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jj0J1cGcRMc&w=560&h=315]

Comments: Gotta love techno and these crazy-long song titles. Oh well. This song has been bouncing off the walls of my skull and ricocheting around my brainpan all day. It's fantastic. I can't get enough of it. If it weren't for the fact that people are usually around, I would turn up the volume to max and blast this on repeat all day long. This is one of those songs that is good enough that I'm going to have to go look up the original songs that comprise it -- "Tivoli" and "Walking on a Dream." Enjoy!

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Stuck In My Skull 316-- "Long Distance Love"

Song: "Long Distance Love" || Artist: DJ Smash feat Vera Brezhneva || http://youtu.be/2iWWnbiC8ok ||

[youtube http://youtu.be/2iWWnbiC8ok]

Comments: Thanks to my friend Kira for tossing this song out on Facebook and translating the title and stuff! Frankly, I can't understand a word that's being said. Usually that's a pretty big turn-off for me, but this song is still fantastic. The beat is amazing, it's in the 'just right' zone between overproduced and too minimalistic, and it doesn't have any pretensions. This song reminds me why I got in to electronic music in the first place. Enjoy!

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ETC #8 "Bajo Otra Luz"

Song: "Bajo Otra Luz" (Under Another Light)
Artist: Nelly Furtado Ft. La Mala y Julieta Venegas
Link: http://youtu.be/tEAOxnCDhd8

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEAOxnCDhd8]

Comments:  Hey, everyone.  Originally, I came across this song while my playlist was on shuffle and had forgotten about this particular artist in my music collection.  This song in particular used to get stuck in my head a lot during my senior year of high school, a time when I had an explosion of Spanish music enter into my music world.  Then when I went to watch the music video I figured it would be a perfect fit. At this point in time, I'm sure many of you have already picked your costume for Halloween, but you can still admire the ones in this video and for those of you who don't already have a costume here are some ideas.  Anyhow, many of you may not recognize La Mala the featured artist for this song, but I'm sure you recognize Nelly Furtado.  She is a Canadian born, but of Portugese decent and popular for songs like: "Promiscuous", "I'm Like a Bird", and "Maneater".  Julieta Venegas was also recorded with the two other chicas for this song, but doesn't appear in the video.  According to Wiki it was due to pregnancy.  For those of you who don't speak Spanish I have left a translation of the chorus below.  Enjoy the funny costumes and happy listening!

Chorus Translation: Maybe it's me, maybe it's you/Everything is so different, it's you/Maybe it's me, maybe it's you/Everything seems under a different light

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AMANDA-- "HEADS WILL ROLL" by YEAH YEAH YEAHS

Hello faithful readers! Halloween is just around the corner and I couldn't be more excited. I love everything about this holiday: the costumes, candy, scary movies, and creepy music. So for today's post I've combined two of my favorite things-Halloween and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. I've been a fan of this indie band for a while now. Karen O, their fabulous lead singer, never fails to amaze me. The song is infectious, danceable, and overall kind of memorizing. The music video features excellent special effects and choreography in the style of Michael Jackson's "Thriller" Enjoy!

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No Stuck In My Skull Today!

Sorry guys, but there is no SIMS post today. I'm taking the day off to celebrate the first year anniversary of me and my wonderful girlfriend. Tune in tomorrow for regular content!

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Stuck In My Skull 315-- "The Poet and the Pendulum"

Song: "The Poet and the Pendulum" || Artist: Nightwish || http://youtu.be/r3ntHpYocc0 ||

[youtube http://youtu.be/r3ntHpYocc0]

Comments: Normally I wouldn't do two Nightwish songs so close together, but I found out last night that vocalist Anette Olzon has left the band as of October 1. @#$%. That is really, really depressing news. I really enjoyed Nightwish's two albums with Anette, and was looking forward to several more. To my knowledge, no vocalist is currently listed to replace her, and Floor Jansen will be finishing the tour in her slot. As a tribute to the now-departed vocalist, I post the longest Nightwish song I know of, and the first Nightwish song with Anette that I remember playing over and over on repeat. Enjoy!

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ETC #7 "Unbroken"

Song: "Unbroken"
Artist: Tim McGraw
Link: http://youtu.be/bep1zyIyuq8

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bep1zyIyuq8]

Comments: Good Monday morning all!  I'm hoping to start your week off with a cheerful song.  I am dedicating this song to my boyfriend as we're celebrating an anniversary tomorrow (and since I don't post on Tuesdays I am sending this song out today). For anyone who has a great relationship with a loved one they will at minimum appreciate the lyrics to this song. It's a song that has that "I'm on cloud nine" feeling put into words.  Most people have probably felt or experienced the message in this song and I for one want my man to listen to it and know that it's something I believe is true for myself.  When I heard it for the first time my thought was "wow, this guy managed to sum up all the feelings I had that I couldn't explain".  Unfortunately, there isn't a music video to this song even though it's fantastic so I have just put up a fan made video (even the best live version I could find wasn't that good).  I'm excited to report that this song (keeping in mind it was released back in 2002) made it to number 1 on the Country charts and 26 on the Billboard Top 100, which is impressive for a country song.  Anyhow, for all you folks I hope that you enjoy this song.  Happy listening!

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Stuck In My Skull 314-- "The Scientist"

Song: "The Scientist" || Artist: Coldplay || http://youtu.be/EqWLpTKBFcU ||

[youtube http://youtu.be/EqWLpTKBFcU]

Comments: I sincerely hope that this post is coherent and readable-- it's being written at 3:00 AM. The unquiet mind that lies within the confines of my skull won't shut up, and so I'm still awake at this obscene hour. Right, the song. I sincerely love Coldplay, and have ever since the 7th grade, when a teacher of mine inadvertently sparked a slow-burning fuse that would ignite, years later, into my enjoyment of this British musical sensation. This song is slow, mellow, and comforting, and I had rather hoped it would settle me brain a bit. I'll know once I log off and attempt to sleep again. Oh well. Either way, enjoy the song!

Random note: I really hate the label "Alternative Rock." It doesn't tell you a thing. According to Wikipedia, "The name "alternative rock" essentially serves as an umbrella term for underground music that has emerged in the wake of punk rock since the mid-1980s." How silly. Someone suggest a better name? Say what you will about metal and electronic music, but at least the titles of their subgenres are descriptive.

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ETC #6 "Crawlin' Back to You"

Song: "Crawlin' Back to You"
Artist: Daughtry
Link: http://youtu.be/g2WJ3mhjgHA

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2WJ3mhjgHA]

Comments: Hey all, happy Friday!  A while back when Daughtry was came out with his first album I was a big fan, thought his music was excellent, and loved listening to his songs. And while all of the above still applies that amount of listening I've done with his music has dwindled and I need to get back to it.  Anyhow, this song was released last year and I will admit to having it stuck in my head on several occassions.  I like this video, however, I would have liked to have seen a more exciting music video as well.  With the topic of conversation in this song I think that they could have made an even better video out of it.  He had a new song release back in March with "Outta my Head" and in September with "Start of Something Good".  I recommend looking up Daughtry if you haven't already.  Happy Listening!

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AMANDA--"BI***S AIN'T SH*T" by BEN FOLDS

Hello! Today is the second (and final part) of my mini cover week. As you might have guessed from the title of the entry, this song is NSFW. Admittedly, I have a really hard time actually enjoying and taking the original seriously but Ben Folds manages to turn Dr. Dre's "Bitches Ain't Shit" into an incredibly lighthearted, whimsical pop song. Misogyny aside, there's something I find kind of charming about it. This version also makes it much easier to sing along to Dre's lyrics. Enjoy!

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Stuck In My Skull 313-- "Fortune Days"

Song: "Fortune Days" || Artist: The Glitch Mob || http://youtu.be/xC-qHr7J4uU ||

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xC-qHr7J4uU]

Comments: Awhile back, I used another song by this group-- "We Can Make The World Stop." I have to say, the more I listen to The Glitch Mob, the more I am falling in love with them.  TGM has all of the bass I want without sounding distorted (a curiously uncommon trait), and has some ridiculously catchy hooks and beats. In short, TGM is exactly what I want out of my electronic music.

As for today's video, there is no official video for this song, so rather than album art, I saw that someone had posted a video of themselves playing (possibly highscoring on) Audiosurf to this song, and decided it was better than a single image. Enjoy!

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ETC #5 "Guns and Horses"

Song: "Guns and Horses"
Artist: Ellie Goulding
Link: http://youtu.be/IDwbHeR0UYc

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDwbHeR0UYc]

Comments: Hey everyone, sorry for the lateness of this post.  I stumbled across this song a while ago while going on a Goulding splurge.  Admittedly, I don't have much to say about this song other than I really enjoy it and that I think the video is excellent. It's definitely different in terms of what she does for the video.  Apparently, this song was about someone that she met online.  Check out the Wiki for some more information on this song.  Happy Listening!

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