Showing posts with label Amanda. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Amanda. Show all posts

AMANDA--ENTRY.NO 2: "CALLING ALL CROWS" by "STATE RADIO"

Written By amandathepanda on Thursday, October 11, 2012 | 10/11/2012 01:36:00 AM

Hello! I'm really excited to share this song with you today. I came across it earlier in the week and it left quite an impression on me. "Calling All Crows" is an inspiring call to action and the name of a  non-profit co-founded by musician Chad Stokes, the lead vocalist and guitarist of State Radio. The music video features women from all over the world, the very group the organization works to empowers through their music. What most impresses me about  "Calling All Crows"  is that it's an example of artists actually walking the walk. Money from their concerts goes towards funding service projects or to other humanitarian organizations. It may sound cheesy or naive but I love the idea that music is still a force for good in the world, capable of bringing people together and promoting positive social change. That these musicians are drawing upon their talents and their fan base to educate and inspire others to engage in social activism is remarkable to me. Moreover,"Calling All Crows" has a great sound and a great message. Have a listen, enjoy, and thanks for reading!





AMANDA-- ENTRY NO.1: "SKYFALL" by ADELE

Written By amandathepanda on Monday, October 8, 2012 | 10/08/2012 03:44:00 AM

Hello and happy Monday! This is the first post of my very own column (as yet nameless). Not much is changing around here but you can now expect to see entries from me on Mondays AND Fridays. I will continue sharing things that catch my eye or move me, which brings me right to today's song. Last week the theme for the upcoming James Bond film Skyfall was released in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the franchise. And boy oh boy was it fantastic.

The lovely Adele was  chosen to do the vocals for the track and the perfect pick in my book. She teamed up with the producer of her hit song "Rolling in the Deep" to make one of the best themes I've heard in recent film and tv history. The twenty something English soul-singer joined the ranks of iconic musicians  like Paul McCartney, Carly Simon, and Shirley Bassey who have lent their talents to the music of James Bond films, an honor certainly not wasted on her.

Music has been always been a essential part of my James Bond experience, as  memorable and exciting as the tux, the gadgets, and the women. "Skyfall" is an excellent addition to the Bond soundtrack collection. It eloquently teams  Adele up with a full sweeping orchestra and both deliver flawlessly. For most of the song, Adele's sings rather reservedly, saving up her raw emotion and power for an epic, soulful conclusion.This theme has gotten me more excited for the newest installment in the Bond series, which I didn't know was possible. Even if it weren't connected to the movies in any way, I think I'd still love it. Enjoy!




Entry 252-- "Mad World"

Written By amandathepanda on Tuesday, July 24, 2012 | 7/24/2012 12:06:00 PM

Song: "Mad World"
Artist: Tears for Fears
Comments: Hello all! Amanda here! When I woke up this morning, I honestly had no idea what I wanted to write about but my love for eighties music pointed me in the right direction. "Mad World" may sound familiar to you. A cover by Gary Jules and Michael Andrews appeared in the cult film Donnie Darko, gaining the song a second wave of popularity. Though released decades apart, both are great in their own way and make an interesting observation about the world we live in. I chose the original because I think it’s significantly less well-known among younger generations. I myself had never heard it before today and couldn’t believe how different it sounds. My own reaction to hearing the synthesizers and strong percussion surprised me. Having heard the Jules version first, which always makes me sad, I didn't expect it to sound so upbeat. The video is odd but good. I don’t know how to describe it except to say it's very eighties. I recommend checking out both versions. Enjoy!

Entry 247-- "Tu Me Salvaste"

Written By amandathepanda on Tuesday, July 17, 2012 | 7/17/2012 12:14:00 AM

Artist: Maná
Song: "Tú Me Salvaste"
http://youtu.be/3GBRXOBQbTA
Comments: Hola! Amanda here, bringing some Spanish to the blog this week. I only recently acquired Maná's album "Amar es Combatir" but I've been a fan of theirs for a while now. My AP Spanish professor introduced the class to the band my senior year of high school and it was the first time I'd ever really connected emotionally to non-English language music. It may sound silly, but, music being as central to my life and happiness as it is, this was a pretty profound experience for me at the time. Anyway,  Maná just plain rocks and "Tú Me Salvaste" is the proof to show for it. My Spanish is a little rusty, but the name translates as "You Saved Me,"a rather nice sentiment. Enjoy!

Entry 235-- "Take Care"

Written By amandathepanda on Friday, June 29, 2012 | 6/29/2012 08:48:00 AM

Song: "Take Care"
Artist: Drake feat. Rihanna
 
Comments: Hello everyone! It's Amanda again. Today's song was  released back in February but as sometimes happens when I send Chris a new song he forgot about it and  discovered it later on his own .So here I am, talking about one of my favorite songs of 2012 thus far. Admittedly, I had some doubts about Drake in the past but "Take Care" was a real game changer in my book. It features two incredibly successful recording artists in a dynamic duet and reveals a softer side of them both that music fans rarely get to see. The song in itself is a work of art. The lyrical content, the use of piano and drums, and the vocal performances delivered by Drake and Rihanna are astounding. The video lacks a storyline but instead relies heavily on breathtaking visuals to convey raw emotion. All-in-all, it's a sublime collaboration between two talented individuals. Enjoy the song and happy Friday!

Entry 232-- "Raining on Sunday"

Written By amandathepanda on Tuesday, June 26, 2012 | 6/26/2012 11:44:00 AM

Song: "Raining on Sunday"
Artist: Keith Urban
http://youtu.be/4jG7wNoES8c
Comments: Amanda here! I haven't posted in a little while so I figured I'd talk about something I usually don't on the blog:country music. For most of my childhood and middle school years, I listened to it religiously. This can be chalked up to where I lived and who was around me but I grew to love the genre and do to this day. Although a cover of a song by another country artist, this is one of many great pieces by  Keith Urban and a good representation of his overall performance style. Urban is talented vocally and plays  acoustic, bass, and electric guitar, banjo, drums and more.Many friends of mine tend to write off country music altogether, but I think that upon listening it is easy to find that it isn't so different from other genres. There's just as much great music and variation to found in it as dance or metal. For those interested in the getting into country, Keith Urban would be a good way to cross over into the genre. I should add, the video gets a tad steamy so this may be NSFW. Enjoy!

Entry 221--"Fear of a Blanket Planet"

Written By amandathepanda on Monday, June 11, 2012 | 6/11/2012 02:31:00 PM

Song: "Fear of a Blanket Planet"
Artist: Porcupine Tree
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IsoHNdFUTk
Comments: Amanda here! Today's song comes from the English progressive metal/rock band Porcupine Tree.They formed in the late 80's and have since put out countless albums and EP's.This song is off their ninth record of the same name. It has this dark, kind of melancholy feel that borders on creepy but is also really cool. I discovered Porcupine Tree while listening to  Pandora a while back but failed to follow up on them until now. Their sound is unique and this song is pure awesome. Enjoy!

Entry 206--"Pokémon Theme Song"

Written By amandathepanda on Monday, May 21, 2012 | 5/21/2012 12:43:00 PM

Song: "Pokémon Theme Song (Gotta Catch Em All)"
Written by: John Loeffler
Sung by: Jason Paige

Comments:  Hello! Amanda here to kick off the week! If you grew up in the 90's and watched Pokémon, you probably know the opening music by heart. Summer is here and for no other reason than I can today I decided to re-watch some of the older episodes of the original Pokémon anime (a good life choice I must say). I loved it as a kid and appreciate it even more now that I’m older. Anyway, the theme song is just as fantastic as ever. When I hear it, I’m reminded of my childhood and my friends, many of whom are avid fans of the video games. Hopefully it’s as enjoyable for you.


Entry 203-- "Stone Cold Sober"

Written By amandathepanda on Wednesday, May 16, 2012 | 5/16/2012 04:29:00 PM

Song: "Stone Cold Sober"
Artist: Paloma Faith
Comments: Amanda here! A dear friend of mine showed me this video last year and I absolutely fell in love with Paloma Faith. This song, her debut single, was released in 2009 and is simply amazing. I don't have much else to say except that she's a sassy redhead with an incredible voice (and stunning hair of course!) and that I adore her music. The video is also quite good and fun to watch. Enjoy!

Entry 192-- "Call Me Maybe"

Written By Christopher Audiophile on Friday, April 27, 2012 | 4/27/2012 01:26:00 PM

Song: "Call Me Maybe"
Artist: Carly Rae Jepsen

http://youtu.be/fWNaR-rxAic

Comments: Amanda here! This song is everywhere. And by that I mean, EVERYWHERE. There isn’t one friend of mine that I haven’t heard singing the chorus at some point in the last two weeks. It's all over the web, radio, and television, meaning you couldn’t avoid this song even if you tried. I’ve struggled with own my feelings about it, oscillating between sheer delight and complete hatred. But at the end of the day, I get it. Its classic bubblegum pop: breezy, up-tempo, and incredibly danceable. The song features one of the catchiest hooks I’ve heard in a while, making it the perfect earworm and a likely contender for song of the summer. You have to congratulate Carly Rae Jepsen on the commercial and critical success of the single. It’s well-deserved even if her lyrics are pretty terrible and overly simplistic. Honestly, though, who can’t relate to the song’s main sentiment, the excitement and anxiety of having a fancy new crush? It’s definitely crazy but I still find myself listening to and liking “Call Me Maybe.” The music video is also hilarious and kind of adorable. I suggest watching it at least once all the way through. Enjoy and have a great weekend!



Entry 178-- "Sometime Around Midnight" and Update!

Written By Christopher Audiophile on Friday, April 6, 2012 | 4/06/2012 12:56:00 PM

Song: "Sometime Around Midnight"
Artist: The Airborne Toxic Event

Comments: Hey it's Amanda! Here is one of the first singles released off The Airborne Toxic Event's self-titled debut album. It got a lot of air play back in 2009 and shot the band into success. Until recently, I forgot about this song and how amazing it is. I chose it because I honestly love it and think it  deserves a mention. There are two music videos for it, only one of which I've posted here, and an acoustic version too. Enjoy and have a great weekend!

Edit: 10:21 PM, 4/6/12: UPDATE-- There's now an official video out for "Dance Again"! Check it out! http://stuckinmyskull.blogspot.com/2012/03/entry-173-dance-again.html

Entry 169-- "The Con"

Written By Christopher Audiophile on Tuesday, March 27, 2012 | 3/27/2012 09:52:00 AM

Song: "The Con"
Artist: Tegan and Sara

Comments: Hey everyone! It's Amanda! Today's pick comes from Tegan and Sara. This indie band, composed of two identical twin sisters, hails from Canada and have been around since the mid-1990's. I haven't listen to them in a while but I really enjoy their music and appreciate that they compose all their own songs.As a fan, I had some difficulty choosing just one Tegan and Sara song. It came down to this and "Walking with a Ghost." Both are good but I couldn't get "The Con" out of my head. The music video is interesting as well. Enjoy!

Entry 161: Cover Week, Part 5-- "Bad Romance"

Written By Christopher Audiophile on Friday, March 16, 2012 | 3/16/2012 09:45:00 AM

Song: "Bad Romance"
Artist: Lissie

Comments: Amanda here, finishing off cover week with a folk rendition of Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance." It was a toss up between this song and Hugo's "99 Problems," both of which I enjoy. In the end, Lissie won out and while this version may not be to everyone's liking,  I found it a cool and refreshing twist on one of the most successful pop songs in recent music history. If,however, you do like Lissie's sound, I'd recommend checking out more of her stuff. She has some pretty good covers, including Fleetwood Mac's "Go Your Own Way" and Kid Cudi's "Pursuit of Happiness." Thanks for reading and I hope you all enjoyed cover week!


Entry 159: Cover Week, Part 3-- "Seven Nation Army"

Written By Christopher Audiophile on Wednesday, March 14, 2012 | 3/14/2012 08:42:00 AM

Song: "Seven Nation Army"
Artist: Ben L'Oncle Soul


Comments: Amanda here! Today's pick is a cover of the White Stripes' popular song "Seven Nation Army” by French soul singer and songwriter Ben L'Oncle Soul. Of the cover versions I've heard (and there are plenty), this is by far one of the more creative and interesting ones. I barely recognized it until I heard Jack Whites' underlying guitar riff play out and it has been stuck in my head ever since. If you are a fan of original, I hope you can appreciate the funky, retro vibe this version has. It's not any better or any worse, just different. Enjoy the song!


Entry 157: Cover Week, Part 1-- "All Along the Watchtower"

Written By Christopher Audiophile on Monday, March 12, 2012 | 3/12/2012 02:50:00 PM

Song: "All Along the Watchtower"
Artist: The Jimi Hendrix Experience
http://youtu.be/9WbKBKima4Q
Comments: It's Amanda again, and it's Cover Week at Stuck In My Skull! Chris is out of town so Miriah and I will be taking over and bringing you some of our favorite covers or some of the better ones we've come across. While strongly associated with guitar legend Jimi Hendrix, this song was first written and recorded by Bob Dylan, another sixties icon. Whenever I listen to it, I seem to forget this fact. In my opinion, it is one of those rare instances where the cover is as good or slightly better than the original (sorry Bob!). In any case, if you haven't heard it before, I suggest you take a listen. The song has this great narrative feel to it and a powerful way of sticking with you. Enjoy!

Entry 142-- Valentine's Day Special!

Written By Christopher Audiophile on Tuesday, February 14, 2012 | 2/14/2012 01:40:00 PM

For Valentine's Day, the authors of Stuck In My Skull are pleased to present our favorite love songs. Enjoy!

My Favorites
"Stereo Hearts" -- Gym Class Heroes feat Adam Levine
http://youtu.be/T3E9Wjbq44E

"Neutron Star Collision (Love is Forever)" -- Muse
http://youtu.be/MTvgnYGu9bg

"Your Love Is My Drug" -- Ke$ha
http://youtu.be/QR_qa3Ohwls

"Llamado de Emergencia" -- Daddy Yankee
http://youtu.be/ekFaaEU8Yuw

"Just the Way You Are" -- Bruno Mars
http://youtu.be/LjhCEhWiKXk

Amanda's Favorites
"You Make My Dreams Come True" -- Hall and Oates
http://youtu.be/X_I4wtNPv5w

"Sea of Love" -- Cat Power
http://youtu.be/CbMeAOTPJzM

"We Found Love" -- Rihanna feat Calvin Harris
http://youtu.be/tg00YEETFzg

"Something" -- The Beatles
http://youtu.be/xzkhOmKVW08

"Home" -- Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros
http://youtu.be/DHEOF_rcND8

Miriah's Favorites
"Perfect" -- Sara Evans
http://youtu.be/dsd3Z51MEyg

"Say it Again" -- Marie Digby
http://youtu.be/7fR4BWQmFSg

"Hell on the Heart" -- Eric Church
http://youtu.be/3--O2_PwoYw

"Volverte a Ver" -- Juanes
http://youtu.be/ihE74nG8ioc

Entry 142-- Valentine's Day Special!

For Valentine's Day, the authors of Stuck In My Skull are pleased to present our favorite love songs. Enjoy!

My Favorites
"Stereo Hearts" -- Gym Class Heroes feat Adam Levine
http://youtu.be/T3E9Wjbq44E

"Neutron Star Collision (Love is Forever)" -- Muse
http://youtu.be/MTvgnYGu9bg

"Your Love Is My Drug" -- Ke$ha
http://youtu.be/QR_qa3Ohwls

"Llamado de Emergencia" -- Daddy Yankee
http://youtu.be/ekFaaEU8Yuw

"Just the Way You Are" -- Bruno Mars
http://youtu.be/LjhCEhWiKXk

Amanda's Favorites
"You Make My Dreams Come True" -- Hall and Oates
http://youtu.be/X_I4wtNPv5w

"Sea of Love" -- Cat Power
http://youtu.be/CbMeAOTPJzM

"We Found Love" -- Rihanna feat Calvin Harris
http://youtu.be/tg00YEETFzg

"Something" -- The Beatles
http://youtu.be/xzkhOmKVW08

"Home" -- Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros
http://youtu.be/DHEOF_rcND8

Miriah's Favorites
"Perfect" -- Sara Evans
http://youtu.be/dsd3Z51MEyg

"Say it Again" -- Marie Digby
http://youtu.be/7fR4BWQmFSg

"Hell on the Heart" -- Eric Church
http://youtu.be/3--O2_PwoYw

"Volverte a Ver" -- Juanes
http://youtu.be/ihE74nG8ioc

Entry 122: Symphonic Metal Week II-- "Frozen"

Written By Christopher Audiophile on Wednesday, January 11, 2012 | 1/11/2012 08:47:00 AM

Symphonic Metal Week II, Part III
Song: “Frozen”
Artist: Delain
http://youtu.be/015aevnIGLU
http://youtu.be/wtngwBUyJkM (Acoustic Version)
Comments: Presenting one of our two new authors on the site, Amanda!
Hey, Amanda here! I’ll be posting here somewhat regularly from now on so I can help out and have some fun of my own :) Anyway, Delain is a symphonic metal band from Finland that I like and listen to frequently. This particular song is one of their best and I can honestly say I’ve had it stuck in my head on more than one occasion. The music video is decent and features some impressive head banging. I myself cannot resist cute female lead singers who have sweet vocals and amazing hair. I will say that if you want to slow things down a bit, take a listen to the acoustic version which is also good. Enjoy!