15 Songs You Should Listen to in 2015

Merry Christmas, guys! Mine's been pretty awesome; we're preparing for dinner right now. I was given several baking supplies, so I'll be busy for these next few weeks!

Anyway, here are some songs you need in your life this year.

1. "3005" by Childish Gambino. This is definitely the song I'll be ringing in the new year with... partially because I have no social life and will be ringing it in at home. Again.
2. "Dollhouse" by Melanie Martinez. "Throw on your dress and put on your doll faces. Everyone thinks that we're perfect; please don't let them look through the curtains."
3. "Jealous" by Nick Jonas. I will admit that I never really stopped liking the Jonas Brothers, nor Nick himself.
4. "Shadows" by Childish Gambino. I could just listen to Donald Glover's voice all day. Even just him talking-- I never get tired of it.
5. "That Power" by Childish Gambino. If you ever just want to listen to Donald Glover's voice while he tells you a story, this is the song you need to hear. "This isn't a story about how girls are evil or how love is bad; this is a story about how I learned something... I wish I could say this is a story about how I got on the bus a boy and got off a man... but that's not true. The truth is I got on the bus a boy, and I never got off the bus."
6. "3005 - Beach Picnic Version" by Childish Gambino. I just really like Childish Gambino, okay?
7. "Sky" by Goose House. "Constellations above nowhere to be seen at dawn, while I blink just once. They're so like you, I smile. Strong as the will we swore, straight like the road we once used to walk. I'm missing those days, times I spent with you, and your melodies..."
8. "The End of Everything" by Measure. This is my go-to song for bad days. Whenever I'm rejected by a casting director or I get a bad grade, this song reminds me that life goes on after the fact. My life will continue even after everything I care about ends. I'll figure something out. The end of everything isn't really the end of everything.
9. "Bang Bang" by Jessie J. I absolutely hated this song when it first came out, but now I just can't help attempting to hit Jessie's notes and rapping Nicki's part.
10. "Alchemy" by Kyler England. This one is a lot like #8, in the sense that it is my go-to song when bad things happen. It reminds me that even if I don't get into a school or musical or ace my chemistry test (I got a 56% on my last one and barely swept by with a 90% for the quarter), I can't change what happened, so I need to stop wishing. That's why I love the way the chorus of this song is written-- she spends half of it talking about what could have been done differently, what she wishes would have happened, how simple it could have been, and then she shuts it down saying, "it's all said and done."
11. "Hurricane" by Athlete. "I don't wanna run; I've been here since I was young. What we see today could be gone within the hour. Oh, Hurricane, what you gonna do to us this time?"
12. "We Are One" by Angelique Kidjo. I really love how she combines English with... Zulu, I think. I'm pretty sure it isn't Swahili, but I don't know. 
13. "Personal" by Stars. This song kind of addresses online dating, and I'll leave it to you to decide what this song means.
14. "Ride" by Cary Brothers. This song almost has a creepy feel to it, which is why I like it. Not because I'm creepy, but because of how soothing the song is.
15. "Eyes Wide (Fool's Gold Remix)" by Aristotle Pop A Bottle ft. Local Natives. I don't what's up with the rapper's name, but I promise it's actually a good song.

Well, here are fifteen songs I like! Enjoy the last week of 2014!

Artists who NEED to Collaborate!

Some musicians just make me fangirl. They inspire me to become a better musician, to keep chasing my dreams, to one day become successful (take note of this: "successful" doesn't have to mean "famous!").

Great musicians need great friends. Great friends make great collabs. I'm actually thinking about forming a folk band this year with some of my school friends!

So, here are some artists that NEED to meet up and make some songs together.

1. The Secret Sisters and Eden's Edge

Would you believe how big these two "unknown" bands have gotten? The Secret Sisters are on The Hunger Games album. Eden's Edge is pretty much mainstream. I found out about Eden's Edge through Deas Vail (the lead singer, Hannah Blaylock, is the sister of Deas Vail's lead singer, Wesley Blaylock) but it should have been the other way around! Still, there is some serious talent running in the Blaylock genes. Imagine these two country/folk bands together. Just imagine.   2. The Good Mad and Eden's Edge

Listen to "Follow Your Heart" and then listen to "Too Good to be True" again. I think THIS would be a SERIOUSLY EPIC collab. Maybe just because these are my absolute favorite country bands. 3. The Musical Dorks and Megan and Liz

I don't know why I want them to collaborate. But I do. 4. Measure and Death Cab for Cutie

I am seriously obsessed with "Begin Again" and these two bands' piano rock indie styles (even though neither are very indie anymore!) would just be beautiful together. So come on... why not? 5. Athlete and Coldplay

These bands are both British, creative, amazing, and have got me fangirling every time I hear another one of their amazing songs. Coldplay's new album makes me dance. Their older stuff reaches into my soul, same with Athlete. 6. Kari Jobe and Katie Costello

These two girls sound like angels. 7. Yael Naim and Chad Sugg

I love this world-y feel both songs have. You know, the kind of music that brings you home no matter where you are. 8. Taylor Swift, Hannah Blaylock (Eden's Edge), Wesley Blaylock (Deas Vail)

These three artists. Together. Oh, yes.

Music for Back-to-School

School starts this week on Thursday (sigh). As much as this summer bored me, I'm gonna miss it and Louisville.

Sorry about my last post by the way. I was using a computer in the Exhibit Hall and my youth group wanted to go somewhere. And as I mentioned, I didn't get a callback (but come on. Was I really even expecting one?). There are hundreds of Pentecostal female vocalists in the United States. I'm so proud of myself and my group for making it up to this level--- going against the best AG talents in the entire USA. Representing Ohio was pretty amazing, and I can't wait to go back to Louisville in three years for a college visit! And I can't wait to go to Orlando next year for Fine Arts again if I make it for my drama, vocal solo, possible string solo based on progress, and human video (but only if I'm forced to do it--- I don't really want to and I want someone else to take my place, but Drew keeps saying "It's ministry, Hope" and it makes me all like, "GAAAAH! What should I do?") and other things.

So, I updated my iPoid for Fine Arts and here's that, plus more of my FAF and school faves!

1. "Home" by Phillip Phillips was played during the Olympics this year. Perfect end of summer song, I know. I wish I had it when I left for Nationals, but Faith bought it while I was gone. It's time to "make this place your home" and enjoy your last few years in elementary/middle/high school/college!
2. "Keep Your Eyes Open" by NEEDTOBREATHE. I love that southern voice this band has. Keep your eyes open, guys. Anything can happen here.
3. "With Everything (Live)" by Hillsong UNITED is great to get you really worshipping on the weekends or to listen to on the way to school for you guys who want to be campus missionaries this year. God can do amazing things in our schools, believe me!
4. "Moving Mountains." Jeff Deyo is a music teacher at North Central University, a school at which I know a few people that are currently attending and one that graduated from NCU's music program and is now a creative arts pastor. This guy is epic, and you can download this song free for only a limited time here.
5. "Steady My Heart" by Kari Jobe is a great... I don't know. It answers a lot of things for me.
6. "We Are" by Kari Jobe can really help if you feel discouraged in this whole campus missionary thing.
7. "Find You On My Knees" by Kari Jobe. Just take a rest from homework and just worship. It will change your attitude on everything. Try it.
8. "Love Came Down" by Kari Jobe--- sorry. I'm just really enjoying this free Kari Jobe album I got from the editor-in-chief of ONCOURSE magazine (Amber Weigand-Buckley) at a workshop in Louisville. It felt like a real college experience. The classroom feel, being in a conference theatre, taking notes, everything.
9. "Begin Again" by Measure. This song has some amazing quotes in it--- no kidding. If you feel bullied or like you just need a second chance, this song will uplift you by a lot. "Begin again. Don't waste your time waiting for someone to tell you when... Morning still comes... Move around your furniture or put it all out on the curb and drive away to something new and watch the skyline sink behind you...  Walking out doors only works if you shut them... Quit looking backwards and know where you have been... Begin again. Don't waste your time, 'cause no one's gonna tell you when."
10. "I am the Doctor" by Murray Gold. It will mkae you feel epic the second you walk in dat building.
11. "Superhuman Touch" by Athlete because, well, you can stop the world with "just a wave of your hand" because you're amazing.
12. School's not back in without "Over My Head" by The Fray. It's just not.
13. "Wide Awake" by Katy Perry. "I wish I knew then what I know now." Totally describes how I feel about last school year.
14. "I'll Make a Man Out of You" by Donny Osmond is perfect if you're tkaing gym class this year. You might also need the Gym Class Heroes to save you.
15. "Anywhere Place" by Katie Costello. It can be hard finding your place in high school... but just know that you will.
16. "Lay Your Head" by Athlete. Maybe this is a sign that you need to go to bed early?
17. "Happily Ever After" by He Is We. This is what I think of seventh-grade couples. "We all wanna know how it ends."
18. "Go to the River" by Yael Naim. Just "go, go, go, go."
19. "Safe" by Britt Nicole. "You keep trying to get inside my head while I keep trying to lose the words you said. Can't you see I'm hanging by thread...?"
20. Who is my vision? "You Are My Vision!" Who doesn't love Rend Collective Experiment's version of this hymn?
21. "World News" by the Local Natives. Perfect for anger management.
22. "Skyscraper" by Demi Lovato. Don't let people tear you down, because that's fear of man. We're living for fear of God!
23. "Don't Let it Break Your Heart," guys! However, my heart is breaking about Coldplay not playing in the London closing ceremony.
24. "Birds" by Deas Vail. "We are all birds stuck inside our cage, covered up with praise, and behind our saints we hide our face."
25. "Behind the Scenes" by Francesca Battistelli. "Things aren't always what they seem."
26. "Sixteen" by Deas Vail. Makes me feel so young even though I'm not even sixteen yet!
27. "Summer Forgets Me" by Deas Vail. Face it. Summer's over.
28. Jesus, "let my life be the proof, the proof of Your love!" Gotta love For KING & COUNTRY. This song is totally my prayer.
29. "Cubism Dream' by the Local Natives. Story of my non-existent love life, LoL!
30. Show everyone that you're "Born Again" this year! "Born Again" by The Newsboys is pretty nice.
31. "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" by Relient K. Nuff said.
32. "Build Your Kingdom Here" by Rend Collective Experiment. "Come set our hearts ablaze with hope."
33. "Christ Has Set Me Free," (Rend Collective) so I want everyone to know, you know?
34. "Don't You Know You're Beautiful" by Seabird. I have a friend who will only play this song when she has my iPod in her possession. Not Hans Zimmer, not Paramore, not Deas Vail, not Jason Walker, not Athlete. Just this song.
35. "Echo" by Jason Walker. Hey, you. You ain't alone.

Yeah, this is what I do with my life, guys...

Goals Before School Starts

School is in two weeks. I need to finish up summer reading, summer music, summer workouts, and summer reinventions. So, here are my goals for the end of summer:

READING

"Just Listen" by Sarah Dessen. Some person requested it, so now I can't renew it, and it's got to be done before Louisville. And it's the biggest book I'm reading right now. Plus 13 others.

"Seventeenth Summer" by Maureen Daly. I knew this book was old when I realized the author was dead (AND born in 1921). And someone requested it, so this has to be done before Louisville as well, and oh yeah, I haven't even STARTED this one.

MUSIC

I'm currently doing two piano books before I start lessons in the fall. One is "Piano for Dummies." It's like, having a teacher in a book. Then, I have an old book from when my mom started lessons a really long time ago (she doesn't play anymore) which I just use because it has quizzes. Very useful to help prepare for the school year and make sure I don't forget what I've learned.

For violin I'm using the book "Play Violin Today! Level One" and I will use this series until I can find a teacher. It's helping me learn my notes. And, the scales are finally starting to sound like real songs! I also use "Tipbook for Violin and Viola" for info on the violin and keeping it in good shape.

FITNESS

So, I figured since I'm out of gymnastics, when I'm seventeen I'll try to get back in and move from Level 1 (I was higher than that, I was in the competition levels) and try to get higher than I was so I can stop sitting around saying, "Oh, I wish I was still a gymnast." So, in order to still be fit by then, I really need to get into some flexibility, conditioning, and of course, TUMBLING!


My split leaps have always... uh... sucked. LUCKILY! I have a mini-trampoline that I prop up to be a springboard that helps me open my legs more. Once I master that, I'll just do it on the trampoline. Then, after that, to the floor.

I have been studying this GIF all week to find out how Sam Peszek is doing this. Every time I think I have a clue, I find out she's doing something else. To get this skill (simply so I can brag about it), I need to perfect a cartwheel aerial, perfect my round-off that I used to have perfectly, and do push-ups like, every day.

I am just gonna do back walkovers off the couch. I give up on the floor.

I am soooooo gonna get into yoga and stretching.

I can still do this! But I can't hold it, so I need to work on my balance and stretch out that leg so I can go higher.

REINVENTIONS

So, if you don't like something about yourself and you can change it, change it. So here's what I'm doing:

Handstands to make my arms bigger.
"Supermans" to tone my abs.
Wax eyebrows.
Use hair removal cream instead of a razor (I get really bad razor burn).
Take speech and debate to get out of my shell.
Read more blogs and novels and poetry and song lyrics to inspire me.
I'm currently homeschooling myself for the summer in Science, Algebra I, and just finished Chinese (the book was "Bitter Melon" by Cara Chow--- one of my favorites now).

Those are my goals for the end of summer! Think I can do it?

"Take all of your chances while you can. You'll never know when they'll pass you by."
-Athlete (my favorite British band!)

MY SUMMER PLAYLIST!

It's June! I still have eight days of school left, talking school days. June 13th. I know, I'm dying. So, I've been doing these things for a year now. Just to let you know, I've bene OBSESSING over quite a few songs lately. You had fiar warning.

1. "Echo" by Jason Walker. The song is just absolutely beautiful. The piano is absolutely beautiful, like seriously. I love songs that start out with only one instrument and then the entire band joins in, which is exactly what Jason did here. "I don't wanna be down and I just wanna feel alive and get to see your face again, but 'til then... just my echo. My shadow, you're the only friend that I have... I'm out on the edge and I'm SCREAMING my name like a fool at the top of my lungs. Sometimes when I close my eyes I pretend I'm alright, but it's never enough..."
2. "Cubism Dream" by the Local Natives. I love the guitar, and their voices all perfectly harmonize.
3. "Chances" by Athlete. I first heard it on a Doctor Who episode, specifically "Vincent and the Doctor." Why do you think Vincent van Gogh is my favorite artist? They placed this song at the perfect time at the end of the episode, when the eleventh Doctor decides to show Gogh (he committed suicide at 37) how amazing of an artist he will become. In his day, or at least how DW shows it, he was not recognized for his talent at all. Just a mad man with a canvas. But this song at the end in the background voiceovered with these words: "He transformed the pain of his tormented life into ecstatic beauty.Pain is easy to portray, but to use your passion and pain to portray the ecstasy and joy and magnificence of our world… no one had ever done it before. Perhaps, no one ever will again. To my mind, that strange, wild man who roamed the fields of Provence was not only the world’s greatest artist, but also one of the greatest men who ever lived." Just perfect. Athlete has a new fan!
4. "The Other Half of Me" by Ellie Swisher. The song screams everything I want in my future hubby. "You say life is sweeter 'cause I'm in it. But trust in me, I'm the one that's winning!"
5. "Eyes Wide" by Aristotle (warning: profanity involved in the rap--- I only listen to the chorus) featuring the Local Natives (it's my text alarm--- the "ooh ooh, ooh ooh, ooh ooh, ooh ooh..." part) and "Wide Eyes" by the Local Natives, which is the original version of the song. I like the music video for "Wide Eyes"... it ruins my love for the song every time I see it--- a shark stalks this guy so he kills it, he fights it and kills it during the best part of the song, it's rather graphic actually. Then he puts it in a bodybag. It'd be hilarious if he got caught. And then the next day he is free of his anxiety... and then it ends with an evil koala climbing down a tree with red eyes. "Not again!!!" It makes you wanna yell. I guess that goes along with "Oh some evil spirit, oh some evil this way comes. They told me how they fear it now they're placing it on their tongues. Oh oh, to see it with my... oh oh oh own eyes..."
6. "Starbucks Smile" by Maria K. "I'm so in love with your" song, Maria. This song is "as perfect as a Jolly Rancher seems. I'm more than a girl, I'm your biggest fan." You're a pop artist and you can get me to love you. Takes talent. Sometimes I wonder why I listen to this song, but "you give me a million reasons" why. Am I "in love with your" music? "Oh yeah yeah yeah yeah, baby!"
7. "Abraham's Daughter" by Arcade Fire. The song is rather biblically incorrect (just take a listen and if you're familiar with the story of Abraham almost sacrificing Isaac, you'll get it) but since it's Hunger Games based, I think they only wanted to use it as a metaphor. Besides--- check out that killer percussion! It made walking out of the theater feel pretty darn awesome.
8. "The Ruler and the Killer" by Kid Cudi. I posted this on my gymnastics blog. Check it out here!
9. "It's Not Easy (Superman)" by Five For Fighting. So depressing, and speaking of, I have recently discovered my love for slow and sad songs. The majority of the songs I write are slow and sad. "I'm not crazy... or anything."
10. "Gifts and Curses" by Yellowcard. I love the simple guitar lead at the beginning on the "Mary belongs to the words of a song" part. "(She is the one) but I have a purpose, (she is the one) and I have to fight this... (she is the one) the villain I cannot down... What if I fall then where would I go? Would she know (she is the one), all that I've wanted? (She is the one) and I will be haunted. (She is the one), this gift is my curse for now."
11. "Take the Heartland" by Glen Hansard. It's very violent, but it makes my day. Yeah. Being the happy girl I am, it's amazing that I am obsessed with sad and angry songs. I mean, come on--- who listens to songs that say, "Should I kill you with my sword, yeah or should I kill you with this word?" How about you just don't kill me at all?
12. "One Engine" by The Decemberists. Even better than "Down by the Water." I love the electric guitar. But clearly, this band doesn't understand the meaning of the word "hiatus." Weird. "The line of right, it will barely make you feel... make you feel... barely make you feel..."
13. "American Baby" by the Dave Matthews Band. I mentioned this last time, but sorry, this song is pure genius.
14. I still like "Hellfire", too.
15. And I still like "Mombasa" by Hans Zimmer. The only song that makes me rush through my homework like crazy, yet STILL I get a good grade for it.
16. "Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots" parts 1 and 2. Part 1 is inspiring and about a girl with cancer. Part 2 is just something you'd play to torture the people in your car.
17. "Professor Layton's Theme" from some video game. My friend Evan showed it to me in STEM Foundations class one day because he was disappointed that I had good artists on my iPod (specifically referring to Newsboys and TobyMac) but none of their good songs. Come on... I love "Born Again!" but I like this one. Accordion + percussion + piano = Professor Layton and Professor Layton ONLY.
18. "I'll Make a Man Out of You" by Donny Osmond. I used this song to motivate the only guy on my May Madness team in youth... yup, that's what you get to do when you're the team leader. "Stop sipping like a lady and drink like a man! Chug it! You are on a team full of girls! Don't act like us! Be a man! Mister, I'll make a man out of you!"
19. "I Am (Creation)" by Overture. Sounds a lot like "Time" by Hans Zimmer. It's form the same album as "Alive (Mary Magdalene)" by Natalie Grant, another song I love.
20. I might as well mention "Alive (Mary Magdalene)" now:). I love the guitar. "I am His because He is ALIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIVE, yeah! ALIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIVE!" That girl can hit crazy notes.
21. "This is War" by 30 Seocnds to Mars. If you've heard the song, you probably like it. "OH! To the leader, the pariah, the victor, the messiah! This! Is! Wa-a-ar, YEAH!"
22. "I Can't Make You Love Me" covered by Kiersten Holine. This song has such a powerful message, and I think anyone who has had a crush on someone who didn't like them back or was in a relationship with someone who didn't feel the same way about them can understand this and relate. "I can't make you love me if you don't. You can't make your heart feel something it won't. Here in the dark, in these final hours, I will lay down my heart and I will feel the power but you won't. No you won't."
23. "Ignoble" by Kiersten Holine. "I am sorry time was wasted on a heart you didn't love."
24. "Stay Close" by Fireflight. Fireflight's new song from their new album! Gah! This song gives me the same feeling "For Those Who Wait" does.
25. "Sometimes" by Halocene. It's got a pretty awesome feel to it. Another band I really like.
26. "Safe" by Britt Nicole. It's such a pretty song--- Christian, and it's another one of those starts-with-piano-and-ends-with-a-whole-band-behind songs. I would love to sing it in a lower key for Fine Arts next year. I've liked that girl's music since third grade.
27. "Last Dance" by Halocene. The song plays piano in a lower octave, which I love sooooo much. And then guess what? The whole band comes in!
28. "You Are My Vision" by Rend Collective Experiment. I can't wait to sing this hymn in church. Maybe I can suggest that we do when I join the worship team.
29. "Meeting in Doorways" by Deas Vail. It's happy and sad. Of course, I adore its sad vibe more than the happy vibe.
30. "Asleep at the Wheel" by Wesley Blaylock, a solo project of his aside form Deas Vail. Can't wait to interview him...
31. Lastly, "Who Knows Who Cares" by the Local natives. Makes me feel like I'm in a jazz club. Has a sad vibe, but makes me feel confident.

Yup. Those are the songs I am in love with right now. There's probably more but... oh well.