Top 15 Songs for Spring

I know it isn't spring yet, but to be honest, this post has been in my "Drafts" for a really long time, and I wanted to publish it.

1. "Ain't That Peculiar" by Marvin Gaye. Spring is the season for playing guitar on the front lawn again, and this song is definitely close to the top of my "Must Learn" list. "I know flowers grow from rain, but how can love last through pain?"
2. "Alchemy (Acoustic String Mix)" by Kyler England. This song is also at the top of my "Must Learn" list, though it seems like something I'd also listen to in autumn. "October turned the leaves to copper and gold. Set my world on fire, left me in the cold. If I were a master of alchemy, I'd change everything, I'd make all the broken things beautiful."
3. "Go the Distance" from Hercules. This song is kind of perfect, and is pretty motivating. After all, final grades are out in two months! "I know every mile will be worth my while."
4. "I Want to Know You" by Measure. I have a post that's almost done that will go more in depth about this song, but... this is one of those songs that just automatically changes your mood.
5. "Shiawase (Happiness)" by Puffy Amiyumi. Yes, this is on my list of songs to learn, too. For some reason, I imagine cherry blossoms. Maybe because "shiawase" means "happiness," I want to attend Northwestern University, and they have a lot of cherry blossoms. Cherry blossoms = accomplished dream. Or I could be over analyzing.
6. "Young Friend" by Brooke Waggoner. This is the kind of song that I could just listen to on repeat all day and never get sick of it. It's one of those songs that makes you wanna roll down all the windows and drive with no clear destination.
7. "Hold On, We're Going Home" by Drake. I kinda want Drake to be my husband. I have no idea what this song has to do with going home, but... it's Drake.
8. "We Are One" by Angelique Kidjo. Yeah, this song is from The Lion King II: Simba's Pride. But I still love it. I love how Angelique incorporates Zulu into the song at some parts. 
9. "Daisy" by Stereo Dive Foundation. This song... oh my. Every person on the planet needs to hear it, even if they can't understand/speak Japanese. After all, there's enough English in it to get it. "I've never said goodbye, and I never will."
10. "Wonderwall" by Oasis. One word: Legendary.
11. "Happily Ever After" by He Is We. For some reason, this song just seems like a spring/summer song. "Author of the moment, can you tell me... do I end up happy?"
12. "Femmes" by Brooke Waggoner. I'd be lying if I said I didn't try to learn this on violin. I'd also be lying if I said I succeeded. 
13. "Dance in Perfect Time" by Deas Vail. Deas Vail may no longer be my perfect band, but this is still a pretty perfect song.
14. "Colorblind" by Overtone. If you've never seen the movie about Nelson Mandela and the Springboks, Invictus, then let. me. tell. you. You HAVE to see it. I was forced to watch it in my World History class, and that teacher became my favorite because of it. Not only did Morgan Freeman portray Mandela, and the story was just so moving, but the music was the foundation of the film. Overtone and Yollandi Nortjie did a marvelous job on this soundtrack. While my favorite might be "9,000 Days" (which I played when I first heard the news of Mandela's death) or "Osiyeza," this one is definitely moving. The soundtrack really fueled this movie-- whenever a super emotional part occurred, there was Overtone's vocals, messing with my feels. And in the ending credits, after all these feels, came "9,000 Days." Needless to say, I cried. Well, I didn't cry. But if I had normal tear ducts, I would have.
15. "Endless Night" from The Lion King. This song, because of the actor who originally sang it (Jason Raize, who committed suicide in 2004), makes me think of depression. However, you could also think of it like a long winter finally beginning to end, and knowing that better times are coming.

"I know that the night must end, and that the sun will rise!"

-Simba, The Lion King (on Broadway) 

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!