Everything You Need to Listen to This Summer!

It's finally here. So, what should you listen to? You heard about bands that are great to get ready for summer, and now here's an updated list of SONGS you need to hear to get you in the summer-y mood. And don't worry, lyric posts are on the way! During the week of Nationals I'll probably have about five lined up to publish that week. And the week before I have a somewhat-pageant... yes, this girl is running for Greene County Princess! But here are some awesome songs that you might want to put on your iPod, especially if you're due for some new songs. (I know I am!)

Everyone needs motivation for a good workout, especially when jogging in the heat.

The clock-ticking is depressing... it mkaes me think of the music video when the kid is inside of, must I say, a SCHOOL.

The video makes me so excited to go the park and play beach volleyball with some friends...

I'm thinking of Phoenix an dI don't know why... maybe because it randomly pops in my mind and I wanna go back...

Nothing's better than guitar int he summertime. And the song is great "because I know that You love me..."

Again, there's that amzing guitar...

The piano reminds me of a swimming pool. FUN FACT: "Lovers in Japan" was the first song I ever learned on guitar.

The drumming and bass... amazing. Deas Vail wows everyone???

Yes. EVERY. ONE.

Even just Wesley (lead vocals) can wow the world.

Isn't the song sooo happy? Voted #1 best song to listen to during 1st period by... me.

This can also get you in a happy mood *sarcastic*...

Summer: the ultimate party.

Boyce Avenue... really hot.

I love Halocene. Remember when I was all sad because Relient K was in Phoenix the day after my stay for NFAF? Turns out, so was Halocene. Now I'm super depressed--- I could have been a fan way before now!

Summertime... "ain't no sunshine when she's gone, 'cause she's always gone too long any time she goes away."

Halocene again... but this time it's a Yellowcard song. I never say this about any cover, but dang... this is SO much better sounding than the original! Who's ready to hit the beach?

Landon Austin is so freaking hot... sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo hot... Combine Chad Sugg and Chris Martin and Mat Kearney and there he is. His beautiful voice, attractive looks, weirdly combed hair, and intense, raw talent. Usually I minimize videos when watching them, but I just have to look at him... it's addictive.

Who wants to play soccer? That sport brings bad memories, but oh well.

I love this girl... Yael is so talented, and this song brings a warm feeling of being around family and friends.

Who's thinking of the 90s when they hear this song? Am I the only one? 90s music is the heart of summe rmusic... I either think this song sounds like it because I was born in the 90s or because the band started in the 90s.

"Ignoble" definitely has a home-y, but very sad feel.

These images show some great summer memories for everyone. The song is "Take My Hand" by The Cab. You can also see some graduation images (0:12, 3:21, 3:29), and if you're a senior, well. CONGRATS!
~~~~
Well, have a nice summer. I will be posting WAY more often during the summer months and will be sure to update you on my discoveries of new bands and new songs to keep you happy this summer:)

Yesterday, Three Years Ago...

Three years ago, three years ago...

...THIS BLOG BEGAN! And thus, this blog began many other blogs. A gymnastics one, a 4-H one, a school one, a reporting-turned-art one that got deleted in STEM Foundations class, a pro-life one which is the newest one with the smallest amount of publicity. And I am also the newest member of the JAM Adventures blog.

This blog, and more importantly its readers, has done so much for me. The blog because without it, I wouldn't have discovered my love for writing fiction and newly I have discovered my love for poetry and songwriting. If you see my second post and then this one (I will not link to the first because it is really pitiful), there is a pretty big difference that I hope you can see. With the second post, you can pretty much infer that I was in the fifth grade and I was. Didn't know much about blogging, I just knew I wanted to do it. And that helped me improve in grammar, in which I am suffering a B in Language! Yuck! But then again, I did skip the eighth grade and move up to freshman Language in seventh grade and this year I had to go back to eighth. And how do the readers help? Whenever I'm feeling down, just in the perfect time I receive a comment from one of you, and it makes me feel suddenly much happier. I do want more followers, but I kinda like the title I have for myslef, the indie blogger.

So, here are my top 3's!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Fave band
1. Deas Vail (indie rock/alternative/Christian)
2. Coldplay (alternative/pop)
3. Local Natives (indie rock/folk)

Fave solo artist
1. Taylor Swift (country/pop)
2. Katie Costello (indie pop)
3. Yael Naim (indie folk/pop)

Fave cover artist
1. Megan and Liz
2. Boyce Avenue
3. Cimorelli

Fave music genre
1. Folk
2. Alternative rock
3. Country
(I also like worship and Christian music, but that can fit in all of those categories, really.)

Fave indie rock song
1. "Monday" by The Sea and Cake
2. "Wide Eyes" by the Local Natives
3. "Life in These Little Boats" by Deas Vail

Fave indie folk song
1. "Airplanes" by the Local Natives
2. "Go to the River" by Yael Naim
3. "Come Home" by Yael Naim

Fave indie pop song
1. "Anywhere Place" by Katie Costello
2. "Oh, Imagine That" by Max and Simon
3. "Ships in the Night" by Mat Kearney

Fave alternative song
1. "The Middle" by Jimmy Eat World
2. "Over My Head" by The Fray
3. "Dare to Believe" by Boyce Avenue

Fave country song
1. "Safe and Sound" by Taylor Swift and The Civil Wars (no, they're not racists)
2. "Size Matters" by Joe Nichols
3. "Best Days of Your Life" by Kellie Pickler

Fave mainstream pop song
1. "Liar Liar" by Christina Grimmie
2. "Far Away" by Tyga and Chris Richardson
3. "Old School Love" by Megan and Liz

Fave orchestra song
1. "Mombasa" by Hans Zimmer
2. "Time" by Hans Zimmer
3. "Doctor Who Opening Credits" by BBC National Orchestra of Wales and Ben Foster

Fave metal song
1. "Bring Me to Life" by Evanescence
2. "Again" by Flyleaf
3. "My Heart is Broken" by Evanescence

Fave instrument
1. Acoustic guitar
2. Electric cello
3. Piano

Role model
1. Laura Blaylock (from Deas Vail)
2. Kendall Jenner (she's a Kardashian, sorry...)
3. Ann Marie Calhoun (a rock violinist who has done a performance at the Inception premiere with Hans Zimmer, Johnny Marr, and Lili Hadyn)

Hair inspiration
1. Amy Lee (from Evanescence)
2. Lili Hadyn (her hair is super curly)
3. Miley Cyrus (crappy singer, but her song "When I Look at You" is beautiful)

Fashion inspiration
1. Taylor Swift
2. Laura Blaylock
3. Liz Mace (from Megan and Liz)

Fave tele show
1. Doctor Who
2. Switched at Birth
3. The Lying Game, I guess

Fave movie
1. The Help
2. The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (Disney/Walden)
3. Inception

Fave book
1. "Beatle Meets Destiny" by Gabrielle Williams
2. "The Harvest of Grace" (reviewed but I don't feel like posting a link) by Cindy Woodsmall
3. "Pretty Little Liars" by Sara Shepard

Fave blog
1. Timmerie's Blog
2. Drew's Blog
3. Mid-Morning Sunset

Fave blog of mine
1. This one:)
2. Gymnastics IS Life
3. Eighth Graders Anonymous
And my newest one is my pro-life blog, Life in Technicolor!

My main talents
1. Writing short stories and novels.
2. Music, which would be Vocals/Guitar/String Bass/Piano. I've been singing for two years, playing guitar for nine months, string bass for one year (very small amount of practice though), piano for four years however I am just now working on chords.
3. Collaging. If that's how you spell it. I put magazine papers on EVERYTHING--- I have a composition notebook that has a whole bunch of stuff on the out and inside covers, plus my wall if full of posters, all perfectly aligned with each other, I try to make them perfectly straight, and not one poster is one hundred percent next to the other. Can't wait for freshman art class this year!

My fun facts
1. I am supposedly in the seventh grade
2. I am thirteen years old and 5'9" and the second or third tallest girl in my class
3. I was a cheerleader for three years and the best tumbler on my squad. I'm also a former gymnast. I miss gymnastics soooo much. So now I do human videos and I still get to spot and base stunts.

My aspirations
1. Be a famous journalist and novelist
2. A member of an indie rock or folk band, preferably as the guitarist or lead vocalist
3. Be a pastor's wife!!! I know for sure that's on my list... prayed about it at Ohio Youth Convention 2011!

If you know me, you know...
1. I love Jesus with all my heart and will give up ANYTHING for Him. "I wanna live, but I would die for You." -Fireflight
2. I have gone through a few things in the past, but I have learned to give it all a 'whatever' and move on
3. I write because I want everyone to have the chance to be as happy in life as I am!
~~~~~~
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Y.B.M.L.a.Y!

My Winter Playlist

Ah, the goodness music does for mankind. So, I made a seasonal series of what I am listening to right now. So, here is what I'm listening to right now! (In no particular order.)

1. "Old School Love" by Megan and Liz. "Does anybody miss that" old school love? I think so! The music video is really weird and the dancing is really awkward... But I love 1:15 through to 1:41. I've always wanted to hold a guy hostage... as bad as that may have sounded, it was completely innocent, trust me. And the guy on the left is named TJ. I have seen another video he's in (and he talks!) and it will be on Eighth Graders Anonymous very soon. Twinning??? Yes. Megan and Liz are fraternal twin sisters. They look sreepily similar here, especially at that part I just pointed out when they're doing all the same motions... so creepy... so awesome!
2. "Airplanes" by the Local Natives. I love the piano, the bass, the percussion, the really weird lyrics, everything. And the violin, to Pluto and back. I love how it says "I keep those chopsticks you had from when you taught abroad, taught abroad in Japan." I love the song in general. I first heard the song at school. I love my school. I love the Skull Candy headphones I first heard this song with. I love the iPod it was on (Because it has "Move Along" by the All-American Rejects and a song by Peter Bjorn and John on it). I love YouTube. I love the person that posted the unofficial video on YouTube (@BennisHahn). "I love it all... so much I call,  want you back, back, back... You back..."
3. "Safe and Sound" by Taylor Swift and The Civil Wars. The song was made for The Hunger Games, and I am more than excited! I never quite finished that series... LoL, didn't have the time to. But the song is just b-e-a-utiful... Even Faith likes, and that is a big deal coming from the Anti-TaylorSwift.
4. "Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots" parts 1 and 2, by The Flaming Lips. Hate the band name, love the song. Part 1 is very inspiring, about a girl named Yoshimi who battled cancer and... well, she died. Part 2 is the battle... intense. And Yoshimi has a screaming part in it!
5. "Young Folks" by Peter, Bjorn and John. Self-explanatory why I love it.
6. "We Found Love" cover by Boyce Avenue. Love them. I hated the song before they covered it. Like, seriously. Cold hate. But Boyce Avenue changed all that. And, in honor of the brothers, my guitar is named Daniel Fabian Alejandro.
7. "Take My Hand" by The Cab. Totally reminds me of middle school drama. So, my advice? "Don't worry, just breathe... Say they wanna change, I hope that you remain the same to show that this is not a game, let's end this tragedy today. Now take my hand and we will run away down to this place that I know... We won't, be apart of, we won't, be apart of this..."
8. "Go to the River" by Yael Naim. Who doesn't love her???
9. "Time" by Hans Zimmer:) for obvious reasons.
10. "Again" by Flyleaf. Everybody hates Flyleaf and everybody loves them. I don't know how I feel. But I know for sure I love this song.
11. "Your Love Never Fails" by Jesus Culture. When I first heard this song, I was in church with the adults an dwas like... "It's not that good a song..." Then I heard the original and was like, "Oh! The adult worship team didn't do this song justice at all..." and I have permission to say that about them because my dad is the worship team's main bassist!
12. "Bring Me to Life" by Evanescence. I just love Amy Lee's voice so much...
13. "The Redeemer" by Sanctus Real. I can't get away from this beautiful band...
14. "Battle At Aslan's How" by Harry Gregson-Williams, who composed lots of my gymnastics music way back in the day. He's 2012's Beethoven, Hans Zimmer is our Mozart.
15. "Liar Liar" by Christina Grimmie. Christina... "Tell me why these roads keep leading... leading you right back..."
16. "When You're Gone" by Avril Lavigne. An old classic I've always loved... and now I can play it on guitar!
17. "Hey Mama" by Mat Kearney. Catchiest song I've ever heard. This is a pop-ish song, but I am making an exception--- Mat, you're amazing!
18. "Sing You Home" by Xenia. I saw the video in a Justin Bieber playlist and was like, "Xenia? Hey, that's a city in my state!" Then I realized the girl's name is Xenia. Yeah, she was a contestant on The Voice last year. I only watched some of it because Adam Levine was on it.
19. "Ships in the Night" by Mat Kearney. Okay, this is definitely pop, no exceptions. But i don't care... this is what pop music was MEANT to be.
20. And, of course, every. Deas. Vail. song. there. is.

That's my music life this season!!

HEROES Week~ Dare to Believe

Dare to Believe
It's feeling like our time's run out
But the hourglass just flipped itself over again.
The sun is slowly sinking down
But on the other side, a new day waits to begin.

If you dare to believe in life,
You might realize that there's no time for talking
Or just wait around while the innocent die.
No more,
We're gonna lose everything
If we believe all the lies.
I may fall but I swear that I'll help you believe.
No more,
This world is running on empty
And there's no reason why.
You might fall but I know that you'll help me believe.

We've been in the dark for way too long
But when we turn around, we see a light shine through the haze
So forget about who was wrong
'Cause I have never been more ready to turn this page.

If you swear you believe in life,
Embrace forgiveness 'cause it's all that I'm asking
Or keep holding out while the innocent die.

No more,
We're gonna lose everything
If we believe all the lies.
I may fall but I swear that I'll help you believe.
No more,
This world is running on empty
And there's no reason why.
You might fall but I know that you'll help me believe.

No more...
We're gonna lose everything
If we believe all the lies.
I may fall but I swear that I'll help you believe.
No more,
This world is running on empty
And there's no reason why.
You may fall but I know that you'll help me believe!
No more,
We're gonna lose everything
If we believe all the lies.
You may fall but I swear that I'll help you believe
You may fall but I swear that I'll help you believe
I may fall but I swear that I'll help you
Believe.
If you swear you believe in life...

No more... we're gonna lose everything...
No more... we're so quick to lose everything...
No more... we're gonna lose everything...
No more... we're so quick to lose everything...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Forgiveness. No one wants to have to do it. But one important part of ending bullying is forgiveness.

Like in Megan and Liz's "Are You Happy Now" (Megan and Liz have connections with Boyce Avenue as well!) when at 2:36 Liz says (she plays the bully) "I'm so sorry." We all know that an apology rarely, RARELY happens in real life, especially from a bully. And then Megan (who plays the bullied) forgives her.

If you want to end bullying, it starts with you.

First, do you believe bullying can end? Well, there are seven billion people on this planet, so... I don't see it ending any time soon, in all honesty. But, I know that to stop bullying in its tracks, and not turn into a bully yourself, if you are in a rare case where an apology happens, let them know they're forgiven. And if they don't apologize, here's one weird tip:

Wanna make them feel bad? Here's my technique: Show them that you are not willing to fight them and you do want to---whether you wanna admit it or not---be friends, or at least acquaintances. It works. Whenever someone says something mean to me, I stand up for myself--- I don't take crap from anyone. But then, I find a clever way to be nice to them (even if I hate their guts) and usually I learn that their not as bad as they seem to be. Then, once they see how much I don't care about their negativity and can look past that, they start to be nice to me, too.

"Imagine all the" bullies "living in perfect peace... you might say I'm a dreamer. But I'm not the only one."

So, despite that little breakout into my version of "Imagine" by John Lennon, think of "Dare to Believe" by Boyce Avenue. You can call them YouTube's Best Musicians Ever, for short. They're the best stuff on earth... other than Snapple, of course.

"Dare to Believe" is an anti-violence song. Not so much about bullying, but it can transfer, definitely. It's mainly about (according to Alejandro, the lead vocalist and the person my guitar is named after) never giving up. The song was dedicated to a fan battling cancer.

It feels like time is running out, and it always has been. The longer we wait, the less time we hvae to turn things around. Because there will be a day when time runs out for all of us...

So forget about who was wrong, because we are not any different from each other.

If you swear you believe in life...