Mood Booster – “When Life Gives Me Lemons I Make Lemonade”
Optimism is pretty self explanatory – we’ve got to take life as it comes, and make the best out of every situation we are faced with.
That being said, it’s funny how often we can stray from this path.
And THAT being said….happy songs exist to turn that frown upside down!
If you are having the absolute shittyest (new word, dig it) day, just listen to my selection of what I call “Mood Boosters”.
In this entry, I dare you to listen to this song by the fantastic fun little band, The Boy Least Likely To, and NOT be instantly a little bit more hopeful/happy. They are upbeat, with a dash of quirk. Adorable.
I was thinking today about how I can be pretty bad at this whole “blogging every day” thing, and realized…its ok! It’s fine if I don’t. “It can rain all it wants on my parade/Because when life gives me lemons/I make lemonade.” Ipso facto (<—ANOTHER great word!) I will blog about things I love, and that I would love to introduce you to….when I can. I can’t let it get to me if I don’t have time to do something everything….quality….not quantity people 
Listen to this, or ELSE: Sweet Thing – Change of Seasons
Actually nothing much “else” will happen to you, except for the fact that you will miss an opportunity to be introduced to an amazing and perhaps life changing music tidbit.
In today’s case, I am telling you (althought my style is normally to ask politely) to listen to the song “Change of Seasons” by the Canadian based band, Sweet Thing.
I only was introduced to this song yesterday. I saw the movie Easy-A and it was in the opening (and then closing!) credits. The start of the song, with it’s catchy sing-a-long- “ba-da-das”, had me loving it right away. At that point I remember a distinct thought going through my head: “I don’t even care if the movie isn’t half as good as I expected. I can have this song.”
Even the first lyrics are note-worthy. “You want love/But you fear it.” How truthful is that??
It’s a fantastic catch, and I”m glad Sweet Thing has got me hooked; I can’t wait to check out more of their other stuff.
Also, any band that has members that wears orange pants is okay by me. Slightly crushin.
Pot versus alcohol; the age-old debate.
Now I can hear you saying to yourself, “This girl likes to blog about Bieber, hoodies, and music. Why is she writing on a heavy topic such as marijuana legalization?”
My answer is that I find the topic interesting – and also…I fooled you! It is about music – specificially a song, by the British rap group called The Streets.
Their song “The Irony of It All” is clever as all hell; it’s a conversation between a pothead named Tim and a gentlemen with a penchant for drinking named Terry. While it’s meant to be witty and perhaps make you chortle (I like using fun synonyms for “giggle”) it drives home many serious points. Here:
Hello, Hello. My names Terry and I’m a law abider.
There’s nothing I like more than getting fired up on beer.
And when the weekends here I to exercise my right to get paralytic and fight.
Good bloke fairly.
But I get well leery when geezers look at me funny.
Bounce ‘em round like bunnies.
I’m likely to cause mischief.
Good clean grief you must believe and I ain’t no thief.
Law abiding and all, all legal.
And who cares about my liver when it feels good.
What you need is some real manhood.
Rasher Rasher Barney and Kasha putting peoples backs up.
Public disorder, I’ll give you public disorder.
I down eight pints and run all over the place.
Spit in the face of an officer.
See if that bothers you cause I never broke a law in my life.
Someday I’m gonna settle down with a wife.
Come on lads lets have another fight.
Oh hello. My names Tim and I’m a criminal.
In the eyes of society I need to be in jail.
For the choice of herbs I inhale.
This ain’t no wholesale operation.
Just a few eighths and some Playstations my’s vocation.
I pose a threat to the nation.
And down the station the police hold no patience.
Let’s talk space and time.
I like to get deep sometimes and think about Einstein.
And Carl Jung And old Kung Fu movies I like to see.
Pass the hydrator please.
Yeah I’m floating on thin air.
Going to Amsterdam in the New Year – top gear there.
Cause I taker pride in my hobby.
Home made bongs using my engineering degree.
Dear Leaders, please legalise weed for these reasons.
Like I was saying to him.
I told him: “Top with me and you won’t leave.”
So I smacked him in the head and downed another Carling.
Bada Bada Bing for the lad’s night.
Mad fight, his face’s a sad sight.
Vodka and Snake Bite.
Going on like a right geez, he’s a twat.
Shouldn’t have looked at me like that.
Anyway I’m an upstanding citizen.
If a war came along I’d be on the front line with em.
Can’t stand crime either them hooligans on heroin.
Drugs and criminals those thugs on the penny coloured will be the downfall of society.
I’ve got all the anger pent up inside of me.
You know I don’t see why I should be the criminal.
How can something with no recorded fatalities be illegal?
And how many deaths are there per year from alcohol?
I just completed Gran Turismo on the hardest setting.
We pose no threat on my settee.
Ooh the pizza’s here will someone let him in please?
We didn’t order chicken; not a problem we’ll pick it out.
I doubt they meant to mess us about.
After all we’re all adults not louts.
As I was saying, we’re friendly peaceful people.
We’re not the ones out there causing trouble.
We just sit in this hazy bubble with our quarters
Discussing how beautiful Gail Porter is.
MTV, BBC 2, Channel 4 is on until six in the morning.
Then at six in the morning the sun dawns and it’s my bedtime.
Causing trouble, your stinking rabble.
Boys saying I’m the lad who’s spoiling it.
You’re on drugs it really bugs me when people try and tell me I’m a thug
Just for getting drunk.
I like getting drunk.
Cause I’m an upstanding citizen.
If a war came along I’d be on the front line with em.
Now Terry you’re repeating yourself.
But that’s okay drunk people can’t help that.
A chemical reaction inside your brain causes you to forget what you’re saying.
What. I know exactly what I’m saying!
I’m perfectly sane.
You stinking student lameo.
Go get a job and stop robbing us of our taxes.
Err, well actually according to research
Government funding for further education pales in insignificance
When compared to how much they spend on repairing
Leery drunk people at the weekend
In casualty wards all over the land.
Why you cheeky little swine – come here
I’m gonna batter you. Come here!
I honestly won’t even be writing to you that much during this blog my dear readers; the lyrics say it all. Everything that Tim says makes 100% perfect sense. If you are against both drinking and smoking, well that’s a-ok; at least you’re in the same boat. But if you blaspheme all potheads, while you yourself enjoy getting your drink on, think about it.
I’m not saying go out, buy a piece, wear a Bob Marley t-shirt, and smoke the reefer (Super Troopers anyone?). All I’m saying is think about it, and the irony of it all.
-M.Ellen
International Taste Test: presenting aKing
Testing, testing, 123.
I’ve decided to incorporate a weekly entry into my blog so I can introduce to you/help spread the word about some fantastical music from abroad.
First up, South Africa’s aKing.
Made up of Laudo Liebenberg (vocals/guitar), Andrew Davenport (guitar – replacing co-founding member Hunter Kennedy), Hennie Van Halen (Bass), and Jaco Venter (drums), this group is so completely refreshing that it will awake your senses.
Two things instantaneously draw you in; the brilliance of the writing/lyrics and the depth (literally and figuratively) of Laudo’s voice. His vocals are resounding and honest; completely distinguished. Stylistically, aKing proves that they can master incorporating an entire variety of musical genres. They can produce a slow love ballad, unashamed danceable pop-rock, to a mixture of classic rock/folk sounding songs.
Their lyrics are what speak to me most (pun intended?). With such emotionally resonating hooks, they’re very curious – poetic almost. Certain lines will make you think and stick with you and dare I say – make you want to tweet them. But also a simple yet interesting pairing of two words can be very clever; such as ”enslaved but so free/surrendered captivity”, from “The Dance”.
“I find delight in empty days/I take my counsel with wine.”
- You and I
“I know my language has always been my limit/And this slurred speech is my own.”
- Heart of a Fool
“Glorious mistakes are anxiously waiting to be made/In the nervous arms of a breakdown I find embrace.”
“Anything too dumb to be spoken should be sung / a song is never finished, only abandoned / sing if you’ve got nothing left to say.”
- Know your Bones
They’ve released to full length albums to date; starting off with Dutch Courage and then releasing Against All Odds. I’m happy to report that right now they are in the studio, preparing to create a third album!
Try out one of their faster/upbeat songs, “Against All Odds”
Also check out something a bit slower; this is one of my all time favorite songs by them, “Know Your Bones”. Heavy-hitting lyrics.
Also try listening to this slow ballad, “You and I”. It really showcases the beauty of Laudo’s deep voice.
The reason that I know about these gentlemen is through a former friend who was from South Africa. Very few to little people know about aKing here in the states. I’m here to try to help change that. For what it’s worth, I’d love to get them to play some sort of large festival here in the USA. I think that their local-rock feel and their raw passion would draw in many American fans, if only they had a chance to be showcased here.
Try them out and let me know what you think 
Hoodies. Enough said.
Who doesn’t love hoodies?? I mean…tell me, WHO!?
(minus people who live in the Bahamas, etc. who probably don’t need them)
Hoodies are my #1 favorite article of clothing.
a) They are ridiculously comfortable.
b) They are ridiculously affordable.
c) They can be dressed up, or down. AKA worn in any situation/event.
Going out to grab a bite to eat with a friend? Or just to even get a little walk in…but know the night is getting colder? GRAB A HOODIE.
Going to a spectacular concert, and want to wear something a little warmer, but still stylish, and take-off-able if you get too hot? GRAB A HOODIE (maybe in this case, a neon colored one)
Need to escape a first or second story window and don’t have sheets? GRAB A HOODIE.
Feeling a little bit under the weather and want to curl up in a ball and become a zombie? GRAB A HOODIE.
You have over the head hoodies, zip-up hoodies, plain colored hoodies, patterned hoodies, high-neck hoodies, v-neck hoodies, over-sized hoodies, weird hoodies that are like half hoodies, hoodies that rep, hoodies with goodies (ie: built-in earphones).
ie: wearing a hoodie while hanging with your bff cuz its cold out
ie: wearing a hoodie and sunglasses and hanging with rockstars
Running around $25 a shot (unless you want your uber expensive and oh-so-hipster Americal Apparel shizz), it’s easy to understand why one can collect so many. I have an embarrassing amount, probably at least one of all the examples I’ve listed up there (minus striped hoodies…I don’t look good in stripes). Most recently from stores like Target, Forever 21, or my all time favorite – H&M.
Some I haven’t touched since high school, but they will forever remain dormant in my closet as I refuse to give them up, saying “I’ll wear it one day…” (FYI, this probably won’t ever happen. I used to think Volcom and skater-esque brands were the bombdotcom in high school and would feel very outdated to be running around in Billabong.)
Okay, so this is probably the dumbest/shortest blog, but you know what….I don’t care. I wanted to write about something (I’ve been sucking on the updates) and I had a conversation with some friends about the fantastic fall/hoodie weather coming up, and decided to dedicate this blog to something I find quite awesome.
Seriously, you simply cannot beat an article of clothing like that (nope, not even that simple black dress can; suck it simple black dress). Plus….put the hood up and combine it with stellar rockstar and/or celebrity sunglasses? Well, I’ve never had more of a crush on you.
One of the best underrated bands.
JUSTIN BIEBER.
Sup.
JUST KIDDING.
Haha. Well, it made me laugh.
Anyway. The honest answer?
OK Go.
I’m serious. I can hear in your head – oh, are those the guys that did that music video 10 years ago with the treadmills?
Why yes, you are correct. However, it was only 4 years ago, and that is only the tip of the iceberg of their creativity. I mean, do YOU know anyone that can dance on treadmills like that? Point prooven.
I have decided to write this blog to help enlighten you, dear reader (aka my friends and perhaps a few random strangers), about the other fantastic music videos from Ok Go. At the end of this, please remember to push your chin up and close your mouth, or else you’ll end up walking around looking like a surprised idiot the rest of the day.
This is their song, “A Million Ways”. What people don’t realize is that this dancing beauty came out before their infamous treadmill video for “Here it Goes Again.” I will state here, first and foremost, it’s completely cool if you don’t like their musical style…as stated from previous blogs we’re each to our own…but you cannot deny this is a) hilarious and b) talented as BEEP. Damian’s (lead singer) sister is a choreographer and helped them set up this entire song. Little known fact: my good friend Becky and I once memorized parts of this, and were pretty damn good at it, and would perform it (for a price) at parties.
This is a fun story. See…this song, “This Too Shall Pass”, has TWO videos. There’s this one, which is fantastic and so talented/creative in it’s own band-geek and chewbaca creatures from the ground kind of way….and then they said to themselves….”Hey. We’re just so imaginative…I don’t think this video cuts it. Let’s do ANOTHER!!!!!”
Resulting in the coolest music video ever:
Don’t scoff – this is 100% real…no CG stuff - they spent countless hours creating all the machines and setting up entire warehouses so that they could pull this off with one take. I mean, just THINK about that. My favorite part is at 1:28 where they have glasses filled with water that play a part of the song for ya.
That reminds me of a time I saw them play live at Toad’s Place, in CT. They played one of their songs, “What to Do”, using only special hand bells and chimes. Just because I’m SO nice, here’s a video some fellow concert-goer took! (Last vid, I swear)
Fact….I am the voice that can be heard many times throughout this song/video, most notably at 0:12 yelling “Damian!” (I have an infatuation with him and his uber plump lips), 0:57 saying “STFU” to someone, and then again at just past 2:00 saying, “I love them!”.
I have no shame. And for that (along with my fantastical skills of getting to meet and hang out with bands), I present you this:
I’ve been in love with these guys for years. And hopefully after reading this blog and watching these videos, you will agree that there’s no denying that they are some of the most talented and super creative gentlemen out there that are completely underrated. Most people just remember the treadmills and haven’t bothered to keep their eye on them. Spread the love
