Entry 280-- "Resurrection"

Song: "Resurrection" || Artist: PPK || http://youtu.be/ipE9QFiWhzQ ||

Comments: Happy Friday! I'll skip right to the meat of this entry. When I was first getting into techno, Pandora showed me this song, and I fell in love with it. I've never seen another song by this group, but I have seen a slew of remixes, which is unusual in the techno world-- one-hit wonders aren't that common... Oh well. If any of you happen to see another song by this group in your travels, let me know! Enjoy!

Download

Entry 279-- "Do You Believe In Magic"

Song: "Do You Believe In Magic" || Artist: The Lovin' Spoonful || http://youtu.be/mDYNuD4CwlI ||

Comments: Good morning, folks! This song was stuck in my head last night, so here it is now. To any gamers out there, this song got used by Valve in their video "Meet the Pyro." To the rest of us, it's just a really old, really good, really campy song. And yes, I do believe in magic.

Download

Entry 278-- "House on a Hill"

Song: "House on a Hill" || Artist: Kamelot || http://youtu.be/0iqsA0evxoQ ||

Comments: Happy Wednesday, folks! "House on a Hill" is one of the prettier songs off Kamelot's album Poetry for the Poisoned, featuring Simone Simons of Epica. It's a very melodic duet, with an exellent blend of vocals and instruments, spread nicely across all the instruments Kamelot uses. Roy Khan and Simone Simons are an excellent duo, and I hope Khan's replacement, Tommy Karevik, does as well. Enjoy the song!

Edit: Thanks to Miriah for catching that this song didn't post today, sorry about that!

Download

Entry 277-- "She's So Mean"

Song: "She's So Mean" || Artist: Matchbox Twenty || http://youtu.be/-8WLa6umgdw ||

Comments: Happy Tuesday, all! It's Miriah bringing you neither country or foreign language or any kind.  Instead, I am putting out there the first single from Matchbox Twenty's new album "North" that I heard once before it got stuck in my head.  It reminds me of some older songs (it reminds me of the  "Uptown Girl" by Billy Joel variety type of songs).  The video was released roughly a month ago, and has recently been getting a decent amount of radio play. As good as this song is (as well as the visual effects at the end of the video), I'm really disappointed by the large amount of instrumental destruction that takes place.  Anyway, enjoy their new release!

Download

Entry 276-- "Kiss with a Fist"

Song: Kiss with a Fist || Artist: Florence and the Machine || http://youtu.be/1SmxVCM39j4 ||

Comments: Hey all! Amanda here! Hope you're all having a good Monday thus far. Sorry for the lateness of this post; things are bit crazy around here today. Even so, we would never neglect our duties here at Stuck In My Skull. Many of you are probably familiar with this particular song or the artist, who has since become a music sensation. The song was Florence and the Machine's first hit single and the track that put Florence Welch on the map. After its release, the lovely and talented singer-songwriter was accused of encouraging domestic violence with her lyrics, which she has denied wholeheartedly. I like it frankly because it's boisterous and has tenacity. Hopefully this will help you tackle whatever challenges you might face over the course of your day. Thanks for reading and enjoy!

Download

Entry 275-- "Promises"

Song: "Promises" || Artist: Nero || http://youtu.be/llDikI2hTtk ||

Comments: Hello everyone! Amanda here! Today's pick was not at all what I had in mind for this entry. I intended to do something bluesy but after hearing "Promises" in a HP laptop commercial for the billionth time it finally stuck. Funny enough, I remember watching the music video when it came out over a year ago. From what I can tell, Nero is a dynamic electronic band. Admittedly, dubstep is not my favorite genre. I appreciate the fact that their music sounds more like Daft Punk than Skrillex and I think the female vocals have a lot to do with how catchy and danceable their songs are. Also, Nero seems to be trying hard to make videos that have some substance and tell a story, which I like. They also have an interesting visual style and compliment the music quite well. Enjoy and have a good weekend!

Download

Entry 274-- "No Te Pido Flores"

Song: "No Te Pido Flores" || Artist: Fanny Lu || http://youtu.be/4fjaBAp359Q ||

Comments: Hey everyone! It's Miriah bringing some Spanish to your Thursday morning.  I have to admit that I haven't listened to a lot of this particular artist, however, I will say that the few songs of hers that I own have all had the opportunity to seize control of my brain and play over and over.  I think everyone has a song where only a line or two plays in their head even if they remember the tune and this is one of mine.  Anyway, the song's title translates to "I Don't Ask for Flowers" and it is very catchy.  The creator of the video definitely wanted to make the distinction between her misery and the cheery part of the 'I will be stronger than this breakup' portion. This song a kind of stereotypical love song, but I have to say that I really enjoy the lyrics to it.  Below is a translation of the chorus.  Enjoy!
Chorus Translation: I don't ask you for flowers/ or that you give me candy/ I only want a caress/ and that you tell me you love me/ I don't ask that you confess/ or that you promise or pray/  I only want you to tell me that there isn't any other woman you admire more./

Download

Entry 273-- "I Am Glad, 'Cause I'm Finally Returning Back Home"

Song: "I Am Glad, 'Cause I'm Finally Returning Back Home" (or "Trololo") || Artist: Eduard Khil || http://youtu.be/1orMXD_Ijbs || 

Comments: This song, as performed by the late Mr. Khil, has reached meme status, and went viral some time ago. To be quite honest, I had thought I'd already used it on the blog, or I would have posted this sooner. "I Am Glad, 'Cause I'm Finally Returning Back Home" transcends the ridiculous and boomerangs back to the realm of the serious, because it is just that funny. In a way, it's actually inspiring. Mr. Khil is so totally into this song that he doesn't care how he looks, and for that, I praise him. Enjoy!

Download

Entry 272-- "Madness"

Song: "Madness" || Artist: Muse || http://youtu.be/Mq9zhpBweDk ||

Comments: Thanks to Amanda for sending me this. Ladies and Gentlemen, Stuck In My Skull presents the first single of Muse's new album, The Second Law: "Madness," and boy, is it a song. Muse continues their growth towards electronic music without being overbearing, and is still fronted by Matt Belamy's trademark falsetto. I love this song. Stayed tuned here, folks, and we'll let you know if a video comes out, or the next single is released. Enjoy the song!

Download

Entry 271-- "Around the World"

Song: "Around the World" || Artist: ATC || http://youtu.be/pXnpsBBBMo4 ||

Comments: Happy Monday, folks! After deciding against two songs in two different genres, I finally settled on some nice, relaxing Eurodance. ATC sits with Eiffel 65, Alice Deejay, Cascada, and a handful of artists in being the pillars of the Eurodance genre. I can't remember when I first heard this song, but it was several years ago when I first started exploring electronic music. As I recall, I had started a Pandora station with the seed as "Sandstorm" by Darude, and eventually this cropped up. It's a good song, and I've enjoyed it for years, and I hope you will too.

Download

Entry 270-- "A Little Priest"

Song: "A Little Priest" ||  Composed by: Stephen Sondheim || Performed by: Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter || http://youtu.be/MGzpzJ4fzGY ||

Comments: Hey everyone! Amanda here! What better way to wrap up the week than with a sinister musical number. This tune is off the soundtrack for Tim Burton’s 2007 film adaption of the Broadway show Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. It’s the story of Sweeney Todd, a wicked barber dead set on getting revenge on his enemies with the help of Mrs. Lovett, his partner in business and crime. Burton breathes new life into the popular stage musical, imprinting his signature style on the movie. As the leads of an all non-musical cast, Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter deliver strong, haunting performances. Although not classically trained singers, they use their talents as actors to get to the heart of their characters and reveal their every motive and desire. They also manage to infuse new passion and drama into the original music and lyrics of Stephen Sondheim, the acclaimed composer known for West Side Story and other stage works. This duet is easily the sharpest, most cheerful song you'll ever hear about murdering people and baking them into pies. Like the entire film, it’s got a sense of humor that makes it quite charming. If you are a fan of the musical genre, I suggest checking out the movie. It doesn't disappoint. Have a great weekend!

Download

Entry 269-- "Walking with a Ghost"

Song: "Walking with a Ghost" || Artist: The White Stripes || http://youtu.be/jeYyoU8kKPQ ||

Comments: Oh, this song takes me back. As I recall, I originally found this song a few years ago when I really started exploring The White Stripes. To put things in perspective, playlist.com was actually popular and useful then. After some poking around, I learned that this song was, in fact, a cover of the original song by Tegan and Sara, another very good two-person group. You should take a listen, and if you like it, go find the original and see what you think. Enjoy!

Download

Entry 268-- "Shot In The Dark"

Song: "Shot in the Dark" || Artist: Within Temptation || http://youtu.be/mLz61g0JLxQ ||

Comments: Hey everyone!  It's Miriah here.  I'm bringing something different to the table than I usually do.  I guess I can still call it foreign because this band is from the Netherlands. Anyway!  I came across this song on iHeartRadio today and thought the song was great.  This band is new to me and I'm going to start listening to more of their things.  Once I've nailed the lyrics to this song I can guarantee I'll be singing it.  While watching the video, I recommend paying attention at around 3:40 because there is an awesome guitar interlude.  Anyhow, please take a listen and enjoy!

Download

Entry 267-- "Sahara"

Song: "Sahara" || Artist: Nightwish || http://youtu.be/auHuwRAYDPE ||

Comments: Happy Tuesday, everyone. If you haven't heard it, "Sahara" is one of the lesser-known songs off Nightwish's album Dark Passion Play, and I can't understand why for the life of me. It's an excellent song, and has a habit of getting stuck in my head for hours on end. Don't let that discourage you from listening, though. Enjoy the song!

Download

Entry 266-- "Good Time"

Song: "Good Time" || Artist: Owl City and Carly Rae Jepsen || http://youtu.be/H7HmzwI67ec ||

Comments: Happy Monday, folks! As it happens, I'm actually travelling today, so I wrote this previously and scheduled it for today. So I say hello to the future! Anyway, I saw this song sitting on the youtube top 100 for music, and being a long-time fan of Owl City, I couldn't resist listening. I'm glad that I did-- the song is excellent. It manages to sound like both Owl City and CRJ without either being overbearing or ending up sounding like a song from the Disney Channel. For some reason, though, I never realized that Adam Young (Owl City) looked like such a hipster. Maybe it's just the video. Beyond that, this song convinced me that Carly Rae Jepsen is worth following, and I'll probably end up buying her album when it releases. Enjoy the song!

Download

Entry 265-- "Whatta Man"

Song: "Whatta Man" || Artist: Salt 'N' Pepa || http://youtu.be/8-WFNbMohTQ [NSFW] ||

 Comments: Hello all! Amanda here! Before there was Lil Kim, Missy Elliot, and Nicki Minaj, there was Salt 'N' Pepa. These ladies were one of the first all-female groups to break into the hip-hop industry and the first female rappers to win a Grammy, accomplishments that I think make them worthy of our time. This song combines their epic rapping skills with the smooth vocals of R&B duo En Vogue, another successful nineties group. I personally love how strong, confident, and not to mention, talented all of the women involved are. As for the song, it’s an unabashed tribute to good men everywhere, a gleeful celebration of  having found those qualities one most seeks in a romantic partner in another person. While I don't agree that "most men are hoes,"I will say that I appreciate the song's honestly and overall sentiment. For its somewhat racy visual and lyrical content, I’m marking this video as NSFW. Anyway, I figured there are enough sappy love songs devoted to my gender so why not show the guys some love today. Enjoy and happy Friday!

Download

Entry 264-- "Parabola"

Song: "Parabola" || Artist: Tool || http://youtu.be/fxiFoYMsIJw || http://youtu.be/_z2O289Jemo* ||

Comments: I was playing this song on Guitar Hero World Tour this afternoon, and let me just say, playing Tool's set really, really hurts your wrist. Totally worth it, though-- I love the songs. After having various bits of Tool stuck in my head for much of the afternoon (interspersed with Ozzy, of all things,) I decided to throw it up as the blog for today. The second link includes the intro instrumental song "Parabol" and has a video that is weird enough to get an honorary NSFW. If your boss doesn't know what it is, they might just have a cow over some of the craziness in there. The song "Parabola" starts (or more appropriately, the important parts of "Parabol" end) at about 4:06, if you want to skip ahead. Enjoy!

Download

Entry 263-- "How Deep Is Your Love"

Song: "How Deep Is Your Love" || Artist: Akcent || http://youtu.be/2zfwY3CaE7Q ||

Comments: Hey all! It's Miriah here bringing in some new Romanian music that I stumbled across today.  This particular group is excellent.  Which sounds like a generic statement, but to put it more specifically these are someone that I would go out and buy their album.  I have found some other new artists as well that have some similar sounds.  Akcent, which Chris compares it to Edward Maya (Stereo Love), is Eurodance and from the songs I listened to there hasn't been one yet that I didn't like.  This particular video isn't terribly exciting as the scenery is consist through approximately ninety percent of the video, however the song itself is definitely worth a listen. I hope that you enjoy this song and it encourages you to listen to others. Enjoy!

Download

Entry 262-- "Phantom of the Opera" and Site Update!

Song: "Phantom of the Opera" || Artist: Lindsey Stirling || http://youtu.be/TCL94-MsxYc ||

Comments: I originally ran into Lindsey Stirling when I was slumming around for material for Tour of Techno Week, if I recall-- her "dubstep violin" came up on my radar, and very nearly made it into the slot for dubstep. Lindsey Stirling is a freakishly talented violinist and a talented dancer. She has an energy that radiates through the screen to the audience, and infects them with her vibrant spirit. Having heard many a cover of Phantom of the Opera, I can say that not only is this one of-- if not the-- best, but it's a fantastic medley. This song is very much worth a listen, and the video is a captivating watch. Check it out! (click to read more)

Download

Entry 261-- "Radioactive"

Song: "Radioactive"
Artist: Imagine Dragons

http://youtu.be/eu-xFvLaE68

Comments: Amanda here! Sorry for the lateness of  today's post but hopefully this song will make up for it. I'm excited to introduce a new band to the blog: Imagine Dragons, one of the most refreshing musical acts I've encountered in a long time. A couple weeks ago, word of a new study suggesting that today’s pop music is louder, blander, and more unimaginative than ever floated around the web. While I don’t contest that there is a lot of sub-par music out there it seems unfair to generalize about an entire genre, especially one as diverse and ever-changing as pop is nowadays. Imagine Dragons reminds me that modern music isn’t in the state of decline some think it is. There is always great music to be found as long as people are willing to look for it. For me, listening to music is an emotional, subjective experience. My musical tastes aren’t so much rooted in objectivity and it’s hard to quantify why I like this song or what makes it good. No doubt part of its appeal is its infectious chorus and killer hip-hop beats. But it'd be more accurate to say “I feel it in my bones.” Enjoy! 

Edit: Chris here-- it's worth noting this song is getting quite a bit of exposure being featured in an ad for a new TV show ("Chicago Fire") being promoted in NBC's Olympics coverage. Also, we're experimenting with different formatting and templates for the blog. If things look weird, bear with us-- it'll come back to normal (or at least settle on one option) soon enough.

Download

Entry 260-- "Miami 2 Ibiza"

Song: "Miami 2 Ibiza"
Artist: Swedish House Mafia feat. Tinie Tempah

http://youtu.be/LCH1AsUydSc
Comments: I heard via Amanda today that SHM is going on hiatus, and I couldn't resist using one of their songs for this entry. Unfortunately, Swedish House Mafia is not exactly a prolific producer of pristine pieces, so my selection was a tad limited. Thankfully, this song had not yet made it to the site, so I can use their last big (unused) single to send them off in style. I love SHM-- they make great music, and from what videos I've seen of them, they seem to have a blast doing it. Heads up on this song, though-- the video borders on NSFW. Enjoy the song, have a great Friday, and enjoy the weekend!

Update: Miriah has asked me to announce that the official video for "Blown Away" by Carrie Underwood is out! Links on the post: http://stuckinmyskull.blogspot.com/2012/07/entry-253-blown-away.html
UPDATE 7:00 PM: Stuck in my Skull has big news in the works, folks! Make sure to check back on Monday!

Download

Entry 259-- "Too Close"

Song: "Too Close"
Artist: Alex Clare

http://youtu.be/zP50Ewh31E4
Comments: Some of you might recognize this song, but have trouble placing it-- this song is currently getting used in the ads for Internet Explorer 9 (not endorsed by this blog in any fashion), and getting a ton of attention for it. It is, in fact, where I encountered the song. I'd heard the ad a few times, but yesterday I went and looked up the song, and it's been raging in my head ever since. And I mean raging. Resonating, deeply, all the way in my soul where only a few songs ever reach. It's heartfelt, but has all the deep, thrumming bass of electronic, with a hint of dubstep. It is beautiful. Please, listen. Hope you like it!

Download

Entry 258-- "Follow"

Song: "Follow"
Artist: Breaking Benjamin

http://youtu.be/CeDeImahXyc
Comments: Happy Wednesday, folks! Today we've got some Breaking Benjamin on tap. This song, off the album 'We Are Not Alone,' was stuck in my head all of yesterday evening, so I couldn't resist putting it up for today. It's a good song, and fairly catchy. The section in the bridge with just Benjamin Burnley and the drums is fantastic, and ridiculously resonant in my head. I don't know 'We Are Not Alone' so much as I know 'Phobia,' but I think I'll have to listen to it after this. Enjoy!

Download