So two years I did a post of some of my favourite christmas carols/songs and since then my playlist has just kept expanding and getting better and better (hehe, in my 'humble' opinion). This year I read an article on Rolling Stone's top 10 christmas albums and basically just downloaded a lot of great stuff, which I wanted to share with any of you fellow Christmas fanatics out there. I have a lot of friends (and family) who strongly dislike Christmas carols/songs, which makes me so sad because I so thoroughly enjoy them and think they just spread happiness and festivities, but I know out there are some of you who will appreciate this music, so this is for you. I really love every song on the playlist, it's obviously missing some and will definitely keep getting additions each year, but for now, it's already pretty big. So I have just screen grabbed the playlist from my iTunes for you to see. I have highlighted some of my all-time absolute favourites in red, but don't neglect the others, they are all so lovely!
I somehow always find myself doing new posts like a few nights before exams, which is exactly what I'm doing right now, but let me just admit this is procrastination and get on with it haha. Okay, so I've just had a whole bunch of great songs on my playlist for this month (and actually most of August too), and whilst I am sure you'll probably know most of them, just in case you don't, here they are- hope you enjoy! As usual with me, there is a pretty bizarre mix of everything but I love them all!
SWEET PEA- AMOS LEE
I don't know any other songs by this guy, but love this one, it's very cute!
MARVIN GAYE- CHARLIE PUTH FT. MEGHAN TRAINER
This song just makes me happy and want to sing along- super pop-py but in a good way.
DRAG ME DOWN- ONE DIRECTION
Gotta love me a new OneD song, always! And I was so impressed with how good this one is despite losing Zayn, I love this!
JEALOUS- NICK JONAS
I know a lot of musicians might criticise how cliched and pop-py this is, but I gotta admit I love it a lot- again, I just have to sing along.
LEOPOLD STREET- THE PAPER KITES
Very different to the songs I've done so far, but I love the Paper Kites' chilled and relaxed indie folk sort of vibe, and this is one of my favs.
GERONIMO- SHEPPARD
This song makes me happy, I'm keen to see what's still to come from Sheppard.
SEE YOU AGAIN- WIZ KHALIFA FT. CHARLIE PUTH
Oh my goodness, I can't even explain how obsessed with this song I have been. I don't know what exactly it is about it, but I love Charlie Puth's voice, I am not usually the biggest of rap fan but this is pretty cool, and the overall message of the song is a really lovely one.
SEE YOU AGAIN/LOVE ME LIKE YOU DO/SUGAR MASHUP- MEGAN DAVIES AND FRIENDS
I also loove this mash up! Megan Davies' YouTube channel is amazing to start with, but this is definitely one of my all time favourites of hers! Check it out, it's pretty cool and all three voices are incredible! Also, the actual arrangement of the mash-up is really amazing.
TAKE ME TO THE PILOT- ELTON JOHN
Now onto a completely different genre, some good ol' Elton John. I know quite a bit of Elton John, but had never heard this before, and then someone covered it on The Voice, and I immediately downloaded it and was obsessed. It's not for everyone I suppose, but I have a part of me inside that loves American gospel music, and this sort of has that kinda feel and yeah, it's just pretty cool and I like it a lot.
THE WHISKET AIN'T WORKING- TRAVIS TRITT
If you know me, you'll probably know my deep love of country music, particularly the good old stuff like this before it became a bit more pop-py and commercialised. I love Travis Tritt but hadn't heard this song before, and it's one of those that just makes me want to dance around.
LAND OF OPPORTUNITY- A GREAT BIG WORLD
I mentioned in my last monthly favourites that I have been loving A Great Big World's album, and this is one of my favs off it- it's very upbeat and happy.
DITMAS- MUMFORD AND SONS
Firstly, can we acknowledge that Mumford and Sons are coming to SA :D I know a lot of hard-core fans are criticising the sort of slight genre change and shift away from classic folk in the new album, but I must say that I really do like this song. I do think that it's a pity they are moving away from their roots of good old harmonies and banjos, but at the same time, this is still a lovely song. A friend of mine said she thought their new album sounds kind of like a Coldplay album, and I think that's probably the best description I've heard so far, it's not necessarily bad, but just super different from their older stuff. But yeah, I still really like this song.
GOOD TO BE ALIVE- ANDY GRAMMER
Ah, I am a die-hard, long time Andy Grammar fan, and again, he's sort of had a change in sound recently since he has become a lot more popular and commercialised, but I still love what he's doing. When I first heard this song, it was a very weird experience because it's really unlike any song I've heard. The beat is kinda off and a bit odd, but in a really cool way, and yeah it took me a second to understand what was going on, but now I absolutely LOVE it!
BREAKING MY OWN HEART- SWEET TALK RADIO
My dad actually introduced me to this couple's music, and they just do some really cool folk stuff. They have such lovely harmonies and write really different interesting songs, this is one of my favourites.
COLLIDE (COVER)- SAWYER HENDRICKS (The Voice Season 8)
Sawyer was actually the winner of Season 8, and he completely deserved it! He has by far the most amazing, interesting and soft yet powerful voice I've ever heard, and yeah, he really can sing anything. His cover of 'Collide' was just so so pretty!
So that's it for the music I have been loving recently, hope you enjoy!
I'm sorry I've been so slack with posting! My semester has just become more and more stressful, peaking now, as we start mid-terms on monday. But I wanted to share some music that I have been listening to a lot lately with all of you, and that is my studying playlist.
For the most part, I can't really concentrate whilst listening to music, but there are a couple of times I can, like if I'm doing revision or readings, or that sort of thing, and so I thought, for all of you out there who are also writing mid-terms, test weeks or anything else that you are finding stressful, this playlist is perfect to have on quietly while you study, or to listen to and have a bit of a break in between sections!
GOTTA HAVE YOU- THE WEEPIES
OBLIVION- BASTILLE
STUBBORN LOVE- THE LUMINEERS
BE BRAVE- SHELLEY FRALEY
THE SPECIAL TWO- MISSY HIGGINS
HEART ATTACK- KEVIN OLUSOLA (INSTRUMENTAL)
SWEET DISPOSITION- THE TEMPER TRAP
SAFE AND SOUND- TAYLOR SWIFT FT. THE CIVIL WARS
WATCHING PAINT DRY (SONG 6)- GEORGE EZRA
CLASSY GIRLS- THE LUMINEERS
MESS IS MINE- VANCE JOY
BETTER THAN YOU THINK- THE DUBARRYS
STAY WITH ME- ED SHEERAN (COVER)
RAGTIME- RANDY NEWMAN
IF I HAD A BOAT- KAREN ELSON (COVER)
SMILE- 'ANDIE' (COVER)
LOVE IS WAR- AMERICAN YOUNG
STAY WITH ME- KEVIN OLUSOLA (INSTRUMENTAL)
OLD SHOES- ADAM BARNES
So those are some of my favourites to study to! I also made this playlist (well almost the same) on my 8-tracks account, so if you want to download it or listen to it in full, you can check it out there.
Woah, it's so weird to me to have just written 2015 in my post title, it's just so crazy that its now 2015, with that comes a new year, and this year, more than ever before, I can really say, I am SO excited for! 2014 was really a great year, I got to experience so many new things, make some amazing friends and learn a lot more, and it was really one of the best years of my life so far because it was just so different and such a refreshing change. But I am so excited for 2015 which I am going to make my goal, to be my best year thus far and just one of optimism, happiness, spontaneity and confidence. These link to a lot of my new year's resolutions (I am such a resolutions type of person) but unlike last year, I decided not to do a whole post on my new year's resolutions as they are personal and in general, like I said, I just want this year to be bigger, better and really to make it the best year of my life so far.
So, I wasn't exactly sure what I should do with this post but I did know that I hadn't posted this year yet and I guess I was just kind of missing you all and my little blog over here, so I decided to do a playlist post that I have been listening to all of my summer holidays! It's a real sing-at-the-top-of-your-lungs, feel-good sorta playlist, so I hope you enjoy :)
100 YEARS- FIVE FOR FIGHTING I don't know what it is about this song, it sounds SO familiar even though I don't think I've heard it before I downloaded it this month, anyway, it's a really lovely little song. The singer has such a great, simple voice and an amazing falsetto!
BOTTLED UP TIGHT- LUKE SITAL SINGH
Ahhh, I LOVE this song so so much! This guy is incredible, so check out his other stuff too, but this is my fave!
FASTER- MATT NATHANSON
I don't know what exactly it is about this song, but it just makes me happy, so have a little listen!
LOVE RUNS OUT- ONE REPUBLIC
Once again, One Republic have produced a crazy catchy, great pop song! I love this one, especially the chorus!
SWEET SERENDIPITY- LEE DEWYSE
It took me a little while to get into this, because I'm not the biggest fan of the start of the song, but the rest is so good that I kinda love it anyway! It is very much a summer feel good song, so definitely one for my spring playlist :D
BALKANTO- NOMADIC ORCHESTRA
Very much an acquired/personal taste, so I don't expect you'll all like them, but I luurve this band! They are a south african band that produce a mix of electronic house stuff with classical instruments, I just think they are great, and love their style, have a listen and see what you think!
I have just started watching Nashville and because of my love of country music, I am absolutely loving it! This song was sang on the show acoustically and very raw and stripped down, but I love this studio version too.
TRY- COLBIE CALLAIT
It took me a while to get into this song, it's a bit different from Colbie's usual stuff, but I think it is such an important message and I really like the song now.
ROCKSTAR- A GREAT BIG WORLD
Oh my goodness, I am obsessed with this song! This man's voice is just SO beautiful and he plays such amazing piano, and yeah, always just keeps his songs simple, meaningful and always amazing! Have a listen!
CRAZY FOR YOU -HEDLEY
I've only just discovered this band (or guy, I don't actually know), in the past few months, but I am such a fan, and I don't know why their stuff isn't more popular! Have a listen, this song is very upbeat and just makes me happy.
MOVE- LITTLE MIX
I actually didn't like this song the first few times I listened to it, but then suddenly, I just changed my mind and now I really like it. Very upbeat and dance-y, have a listen!
BANG BANG- JESSIE J, ARIANA GRANDE, NIKKI MINAJ
This is definitely going to be my song for the summer, I am a little obsessed, and if I've spoken to you about music at all in the last month, no doubt I would have ranted to you about how much I love this song. I don't know exactly what it is, but it's just so good! I also was SO shocked at how amazing Jessie J's voice is! I have always known what a strong singer she is, but in this, I was really taken by surprised, it is amazing! And always love me some Ariana, with that amazing range, so yeah, a pretty great song!
I'm going to leave it at that for now, but I have downloaded so much stuff that I still want to share, so expect some more music posts. Although, saying that, not in the week or two while I write exams, but after that!
I have just been getting a whole lot of new music recently (expect a different post on that very soon) but I always like to go back to songs I love but sometimes forget about. I love the Top 25 Most Played Playlist that iTunes makes for you, and in my case, it really has 25 of my most loved songs on my iTunes! So here they are; I have a very broad taste in music so it's a mix of everything, but enjoyy, I love all of these so much!
1) 'EVERYBODY'S GOT SOMEBODY BUT ME' -Hunter Hayes ft. Jason Mraz
I LOVE this song so so much! Nothing more to say than have a listen!
* Country Pop
2) 'FOREVER AND EVER, AMEN' -Randy Travis
This is possibly the cutest song in the history of all cute country songs!
* Country
3) 'LITTLE DAVID' -James Taylor
This is a peculiar little 1 minute song, but it's kind of jazzy/blue-sy and I just fell into complete obsession with it!
* Folk Rock
4) 'EVERYTHING -Michael Buble
Hmm, this song is just SO lovely! I love it so much.
I am not usually a big fan for classical music/ music without words, but this amazing celloist has taken a beautiful really contemporary, modern song and done it in a classical instrument. But then, to change it up, this guy is also a brilliant beatboxer, and he does that with it, and it is just like one of the most beautiful pieces of music I've heard! I listen to it on repeat while studying!
* Classical pop (if that's a thing, probably not)
6) 'YOU AND YOUR CROWN' -Matthew Mole
I love Matthew Mole! He is a South African singer and he just writes the most beautiful little songs! This one is my ultimate favourite!
* (Acoustic) folk
7) 'DANIEL IN THE DEN'- Bastille
This is one of Bastille's most beautiful songs ever!
* Alternative/ Folk Rock
8) 'WIDE AWAKE'- Glee (Katy Perry cover)
Oh my gosh, I just fell in love this is amazing cover by Glee when I watched the episode... this is so pretty!
* Vocals
9) 'VIENNA'- Ariana Grande (Billy Joel cover)
I love the original, but this is a great cover of it! One of my all-time favourite songs.
* Vocals
10) 'EET'- Regina Spektor
I used to be absolutely obsessed with this song!
* Alternative
11) 'ICARUS'- Bastille
This was one of Bastille's songs that I didn't appreciate that much when I first heard it, but it grew on me and now it's one of my favs.
* Alternative
12) 'HEY JUDE'-The Beatles
A Beatles classic, I'm not surprised that it's in my top 25!
*Rock
13) 'RICH GIRL'- Cole Vosbury (Hall and Oates cover)
I heard this on The Voice Season 5 and just absolutely loved the way this guy did it, I personally prefer it to the original which is quite something, definitely check it out!
* Soft Rock
14) 'I CHOOSE YOU'- Andy Grammer
I LOVE THIS!
* Pop Rock
15) 'BAD BLOOD'- Bastille
Clearly I have a bit of a Bastille obsession.
* Alternative
16) 'THROUGH THE DARK'- One Direction
This my favourite song off their new album.
* Pop
17) 'FLAWS- ACOUSTIC'- Bastille
This probably has to be my all time favourite Bastille song, particularly this acoustic version they do!
* Alternative
18) 'ROAR'- Katy Perry
Still think this is such a great song!
* Pop
19) 'I WANT'- One Direction
This is a relatively old song of theirs that I actually haven't listened to in ages, but I used to love.
* Pop
20) 'HIGH HOPES'- The Vamps
If you saw my recent 'Boy Bands' post, you'll know that this band are a new little obsession of mine, and this is my favourite song of theirs!
* Pop
21) 'YOU LIE'- The Band Perry
I love this band, especially this song, and I don't think enough people know it! I especially like the bridge.
* Country
22) 'RATHER BE'- Clean Bandit
Ah, I just feel so happy when I listen to this great song!
* Electronic Pop
23) 'WHAT I WOULDN'T DO'- A Fine Frenzy
This is one of my all time fav songs!
* Indie Folk
24) 'PAPER BAG'- Fiona Apple
This is such a stunning song, I love it.
* Jazz(y/ Soft Rock)
25) 'MINE'- Glee (Taylor Swift cover)
This is maybe the most beautiful cover ever, I love it so much, like more than the original too! It's sung by Naya Rivera, and she just has the most stunning voice!
