A Musical Interlude: With P!nk

Hello there lovelies,

Yesterday I posted about one of my long-time lady crushes, and today I'm going to continue the theme. P!nk has been one of my favourite artists for a long time, but I really thought she same into her own with the release of I'm Not Dead in 2006. I love that she makes fun music, with a really sarcastic sense of humour, and on the same album makes heart-wrenchingly beautiful music. In some of the darkest parts of my life her music has made me feel normal. I was heartbroken when I couldn't afford tickets to her last Australian tour. Here are a few of my favourite P!nk songs:

And, of course, the P!nk anthem:

Enjoy!

Until next time, xo.

A Musical Interlude: With Rise Against

Hello there lovelies,

It's strange that I've made it this long without doing a musical post about Rise Against. So many of their songs are on my favourites list, and they never fail to get me thinking about things. Rise Against is an American punk band, formed all the way back in 1999. They are known for their activism and the political nature of their song lyrics. I was devastated when I missed the chance to see them live on their last Australia tour, which I hear was amazing. Here's a few of my favourite songs (be warned, some of the film clips are fairly intense - Hero of War tends to make me cry):

Happy listening!

Until next time, xo.

A Musical Interlude: With Bon Jovi

Hello there lovelies,

I really think that this weeks musical selection should need no introduction. But then, I do have an incredible soft spot for 80's/90's hair metal/hard rock. Just in case you've been living under a rock since the early eighties, Bon Jovi is an American rock band from New Jersey. They have released 15 albums throughout their career, and performed more than 2,600 concerts in over 50 countries. What you won't find on their Wikipedia page however, is the fact that they are absolutely boss, and that awesome blogger Max California has been known to rick-roll people with lyrics from Livin' On A Prayer. Her rick-rolling reminded me how much I love these guys, got Livin' On A Prayer stuck in my head for three days straight, and led to this post. Thanks Max! Here's my favourite Bon Jovi songs:

Are you a closet Bon Jovi fan like me? Do you have any 80's hair metal favourites to pass on to me (I'd be much appreciative)? Happy listening!

Until next time, xo.

A Musical Interlude: With Santana Lopez

Hello there lovelies,

I know that everyone who watches Glee is pretty much head over heels for Rachel Berry/Lea Michele, but in the second season I really enjoyed seeing Santana Lopez/Naya Rivera come out of her shell. Not only does she have an absolutely amazing voice, but her sense of humour, biting sarcasm, and struggle to admit that she is actually in love with her best friend made her my favourite character of the season. Here are a few of my favourite Santana performances:

The line of Santana dialogue that well and truly won me over? "See here's whats gonna go down. Two choices: you stay here and I crack one of your nuts,right or left, that's your choice, or you walk away and live to be a douchebag another day. Oh, and also? I have razor blades hidden in my hair. Mhmm. Tons, just all up in there." I laughed for a weirdly long period of time, and now try to put these phrases into my daily vocabulary where ever possible.

Until next time, xo.

P.S. Just because I think he's super-fine, I had to stick my favourite Season Two performance from Puck in here too. You're totally welcome.

A Musical Interlude: With Florence & The Machine

Hello there lovelies,

I don't know if I've mentioned that I'm in the middle of doing the Couch to 5K - a running program that takes you from "the couch" to running five kilometres in nine weeks. My favourite music to play loudly while I run is Florence + the Machines' 2009 album Lungs. These are my particular favourite running songs. I thought it only fitting to share them in a week when I am mentally focusing on moving forward.

Until next time, xo.

A Musical Interlude: With Love Songs

Hello lovelies,

In keeping with my theme from yesterday, I thought it was only fitting that I share my favourite love songs with you. For most of my teenage years, as I'm sure is fairly common, I was convinced that I would never find romantic love. I thought that love was about being pretty, and about compromising things about yourself to make the other person happy. Despite being convinced that I wouldn't ever find love, I was obsessed with love songs, and love stories. I have to admit that I still am. I adore stories about how other people fell in love, or out of love, or found love where they didn't expect it. I certainly didn't expect that I would find love when I drove through Brisbane to a friends place for the first time, hopped up on close to three litres of iced coffee. I drink up stories of unconventional love, of unrequited love, of love enhanced or destroyed by distance & time. But most of all, I love the way that love songs preserve love at its' best.

I love you all. You could probably imagine me serenading you with these songs, but that might get a tad weird for all of us. I can't say I'd really recommend it. Do you like to listen to love songs? What are some of your favourites?

Until next time, xo.

A Musical Interlude: With Lisa Mitchell

Hello there lovelies,

Today's musical interlude is brought to you by someone I didn't like at first. Lisa Mitchell first rose to fame as a contestant on the fourth season of Australian Idol. I thought the judges must have been touched in the head for letting her through to the top six - I thought she was so boring! But I stumbled across these songs on Youtube the other day, and I have to admit that I quite like them.

What do you reckon, ay? Have I become touched in the head since 2006, or is this gorgeous girl actually really good? Could my initial dislike have been because I was a teenager who refused to listen to anything other than hard rock & heavy metal? Have there been times when you have disliked a musician to begin with, only to stumble upon them years later & realise they weren't so bad?

Until next time, xo.

A Musical Interlude: With The Offspring

Hello there lovelies,

This musical interlude is brought to you by a band that have been with me a long time. I've been listening to The Offspring since primary school, and Americana was the first "rock" album that I ever owned. It got played on repeat, at full volume many, many times in true teen angst style the year that my parents made me move to Hervey Bay. I'm fairly certain that everyone has heard Why Don't You Get A Job?, & Pretty Fly For A White Guy by this stage, but here are a few of my favourite Offspring gems.

Ugh, it's incredibly difficult to choose only a few songs. I also highly recommend Self-Esteem, Stuff is Messed Up, The Kids Aren't Alright, and, well, everything else that these guys have ever done. Do you have any bands, or musicians that have stayed favourites for a long time?

Until next time, xo.

A Musical Interlude: With Gotye

Hey lovelies,

Today is the day that I introduce you to yet another musician that I really should have discovered before now - Gotye. Apparently, he is a Belgian-Australian multi-instrumental musician & singer-songwriter, who managed to release three independent albums, a remix album, win five ARIA awards, and play in another band, all without me ever hearing of him until he was mentioned by the blog of the gorgeous Carly Findlay. Ever since the first time Carly mentioned Gotye, I've been hooked by his haunting melodies and unique vocals. Have a listen:

I know I'm terribly cliche, but my favourite so far is Somebody That I Used To Know. Possibly because I also love Kimbra on her own, but also because I find that song so relatable. I think everyone has a somebody that they used to know. I also have a soft spot for Hearts A Mess.

Do you adore Gotye? Despise? Do you think I have comitted a terrible faux pas for not knowing about him all these years? Let me know!

Until next time, xo.

A Musical Interlude: With Glee

Hello lovelies!

So, who's getting sick of me rambling about Glee? Just kidding, I know you're already totally sick of it. But before you start throwing fruit at me, listen to these songs. They're from when members of the Glee club try writing original songs, with some hilarious results.

My personal favourite is Big Ass Heart. Possibly because Puck is super-fine.

Until next time, xo.

A Musical Interlude: With Lykke Li

Hello there lovelies,

Continuing from my musings on wanting to broaden my horizons, I plan to share the music I discover in my (mostly internet-related) travels. Lykke Li is a Swedish singer-song-writer that I have only recently had the pleasure to listen to. Funnily enough, I decided to look her up after I heard Tina Cohen-Chang cover I Follow Rivers on an episode of Glee. I fell in love with the dreamy, ethereal style of her songs, and of course, her gorgeous voice. Her voice is soft, but strong, and she has a talent for drawing you into the emotion of her music. These are only a few of the songs I've found by Lykke Li that I adore - in particular, I really like the cover of Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow.

Happy listening!

Until next time, xo.

Musical Interlude

Hello there lovelies,

Well, I am completely and utterly exhausted. I tell you, no amount of coffee can make up for a 7AM start. Stocktake is a horrible job, but someone has to do it. Also, I had to come home sick today, because I was feeling flu-ish and then started getting dizzy. Anyway, since I can barely string two words together, let alone make coherent sentences on a particular topic, I'm going to entertain you with the current musical stylings of my life. Some musical favourites:

The Dillinger Escape Plan - Milk Lizard.
A.K.A "The New Favourite"

Aerosmith - Don't Wanna Miss A Thing
A.K.A "The Old, But Still Amazing Favourite"

Lady Gaga - Speechless
A.K.A "The HOLY SHIT SHE CAN ACTUALLY SING Favourite"

Hopefully tomorrow will bring my return to wellness, and allow me to return you to your regularly scheduled programming. I hope you're feeling better than I am lovelies! And with that, I retire to bed.

Until next time, xo.