This week’s Jam Session is all about songs that motivate me, some that are upbeat that you can workout to and others that are slow and maybe more calming and uplifting. Both typically have positive messages. I’ve said a few times lately that my attitude just hasn’t been the best and so music is definitely one of my main go-to’s to help change my mood or help me get through things. This list is fun because there is a good mix of newer songs that have been on my radar lately, and a few of them are older, and are some of my all-time favorite songs to help motivate me and change my outlook. There is also a really good mix of genres, which is just a reminder and how vast my music taste is.
A few playlist notes…
If you played high school sports in the late 2000’s you’ll probably agree with me on Eminem’s “Lose Yourself,” and I couldn’t count the amount of times that my sister and I rapped through the whole thing on the way to school. Speaking of high school, I included an early Taylor song, which really takes me back! I tried to not duplicate any of the artists, but my favorite Christian rock band, NEEDTOBREATHE, snuck in there with two songs, because to be honest, almost all of their music motivates me. There are three songs that have the word “Arrow” in the title, though they could not be more different. Ed Sheeran is one of my all-time favorite artists, but I was a bit surprised that I managed to still include him on this list. I don’t know if I’ve ever considered any of his other music to be particularly motivating, but this one definitely hits that point. I hadn’t heard Pink’s song until the Grammy’s this year and am still think back about the impact of her very simple performance. Hope you enjoy this week’s playlist!
I love music. My taste is very diverse — continually being shaped by an unique combination of people, places and experiences. I never try to pawn myself off as someone who “knows music,” because I have too much respect for those who do. I did dance and took piano lessons growing up, but trust me, you do NOT want to hear me sing. But music is a topic that I never tire of and I love swapping recommendations. Please join in and share your own picks! View past posts HERE.
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Everyone, I want you to Meet Megan (and her pup Luna)! Megan is my best friend from college. We met at the Women’s Smurthwaite Scholarship House our freshman year at Kansas State and went on to live together for 4.5 years. Our friendship began over sharing and talking about music, and after dozens of road trips, concerts and late night jams to get through studying, music continues to be at the center of that friendship. Megan is now a food scientist, working for a spice and ingredient company in Wichita, Kan. I’ve been traveling for work in Guatemala this week and since I mention her in almost every Friday Jam Session post anyway, I decided she was the perfect choice to fill in for me!
1.Favorite New(ish) Album How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful – Florence + the Machine
I’ve always been a Florence + The Machine fan, but this new album takes it to a whole new level. Right now I’m struggle to pick a favorite. Seriously though, Listen to ALL OF THE SONGS.
2.Favorite New(ish) Collaboration Heavy Crown – Iggy Azalea ft. Ellie Goulding (Explicit) Listen HERE
This is my new favorite song to rap along with in the car…or in my apartment…or when walking my dog in public. It’s cool, my neighbors already think I’m crazy anyway.
3.Favorite New (new-to-me) Artist/Band The Score
I can’t actually figure out how I discovered this band. I think it was one of those late night YouTube searches for one thing which led me to another then another until suddenly I was in a completely different genre of music and falling in love with a new band. My favorites by them are the song above, “Oh My Love,” as well as “This Beating Heart” and “Don’t Wanna Wake Up.”
4. Jam I Have on Repeat Jackie and Wilson – Hozier Listen HERE
After the radio played “Take Me to Church” about every half hour for a solid few weeks, I was definitely an anti-Hozier type of person. However, on a whim, I got the CD from the library to listen to in the car. Oh my gosh, I’m so glad I did!! The rest of the album is so much better than the one obnoxious song the radio community chose to play.
5. Favorite Cover, Remix or Mashup Radioactive/Pumped Up Kicks – Megan Davies
I always get worried when I first see two songs that I really, really love being put together in a mashup because it always has the potential of ruining one of the songs for me. But THIS.This is pure genius. This girl and I think her sister do a lot of different mashups and covers. So while you’re at it, definitely listen to more of their stuff.
6. Favorite Spotify List Acoustic Afternoons This has become my go-to playlist for afternoons at work. It’s the perfect mix of acoustic versions of songs, covers and new artists.
7. #SoulMusic I’m Obsessing Over Georgia – Vance Joy Listen HERE I know Amanda recently featured Vance Joy’s album, but later this month I’m going to a Taylor Swift Concert in Kansas City and Vance Joy is currently on tour with her, and I’ve been going through spurts where I listen to Vance Joy and Taylor Swift songs over and over and over. Every time this song comes on I stop what I’m doing and close my eyes and wish that I could inject this song into my bloodstream. Like Amanda says, it is the definition of #soulmusic.
8.Song That is Currently Cracking Me Up Girls in Bikinis – Lee Brice Listen HERE
I realize that this isn’t one Amanda’s normal categories, but I really felt the need to share. I went to a Lee Brice concert last week and he sadly did not play this song, but it would have been hilarious if he had. I heard it the first time in my car and proceeded to play it 3 more times in a row because I was laughing so hard.
9. Current Beat That Makes Me Want to Dance…in the Car…Jamming With the Windows Down Roots – Imagine Dragons
I love everything about this song. I love the piano, the singing, but I especially love the drums and the beat. This song makes me want to jump around and dance and just go crazy! (Let’s just pretend that I am NOT turning 25 soon)
10.Taking Me Down Memory Lane Our Song – Taylor Swift Listen HERE
This song is from back when T-Swift was singing country and her first album had just come out. She had curly long hair and a twangy singing voice. And now she’s all grown up and I still really love her songs.
11. Work, Work it Out Lean On – Major Lazer feat. MØ & DJ Snake Listen HERE
I haven’t actually worked out to this song yet…but I feel like it would be a very good workout song. Plus I really wanted it to be on this list and couldn’t figure out the best place for it. So this’ll do.
12.Making Me Want to Fall in Love Riser – Dierks Bentley
Amanda said it best last week…everything about Dierks Bentley makes me want to fall in love. #amen
13. Guilty Listen of the Week Anything Goes – Florida Georgia Line
I denounced Florida Georgia Line. Really, I did! Once they started getting just too bro country for me, I said goodbye. Their first song or two on the radio I liked. But soon they were overplayed and annoying, and ever since then everything they have come out with drives me absolutely crazy…except this song. I CANNOT tell you why I like this song. Every fiber of my being says I shouldn’t (especially with a video like this). But the song starts up on the radio and I find myself turning up my volume and singing along #sorrynotsorry
14.Song That I Originally Loved, But Is Now Overplayed Cheerleader – OMI (Felix Jaehn Remix) Listen HERE
The first time I heard this song I thought it was catchy and fun. The 800th time I heard it, I yelled and turned the radio off. I’m very done with this song.
15.Popular Song That Is Making My Ears Bleed Watch me Whip (Nae Nae) – Silento Listen HERE
I can’t even. That’s the only unintelligent thing I can muster up to say, #ijustcanteven.
16.Country Pick of the Week Blue Bandana – Jerrod Niemann
Since I’ve got several different concerts coming up, this song has terrible timing. It’s all about being a gypsy and following bands across the country and going to all the wonderful music festivals. It makes me want to quit my job and live out of a van, which isn’t feasible and would not end well. But it makes me seriously consider it.
Bonus 5: Over the next couple of months I will be going to several different concerts which I am freakishly excited for. So my Bonus 5 are songs from the different artists I’m going to see.
Thank you so much Megan for sharing your jams this week and helping me out while I was traveling! There are a few new ones to add to my playlists, and a few that I was planning on featuring soon myself! I only wish we could have been jamming to these in the car together!
I love music. My taste is very diverse — continually being shaped by an unique combination of people, places and experiences. I never try to pawn myself off as someone who “knows music,” because I have too much respect for those who do. I did dance and took piano lessons growing up, but trust me, you do NOT want to hear me sing. But music is a topic that I never tire of and I love swapping recommendations. Please join in and share your own picks! View past posts HERE.
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This album might be the one I have listened to the most in 2015. Imagine Dragons is one of those bands where I love and know every single song on the album. They hit it big with “It’s Time” (their third EP in 2009/10), but once I heard their debut album, Night Visions, in 2012, I knew they were going to be big. I’ve been to a lot of country concerts, but Imagine Dragons at Starlight Theatre in KC is probably my favorite concert (the drums are amazing!) Their sophomore album Smoke + Mirrors is what you hope for from a band that saw so much success with its debut. The song above is my favorite but I also like “I Bet My Life,” “Gold,” “Polaroid” and “The Fall.”
This could have very well been my jam on repeat this week (or summer.) I’d say in the last two years Sia’s voice (and quirky style) has been the go-to obsession for people, and “Golden” does not disappoint. I love the contrast of the artists and their voices here.
3.Favorite New (new-to-me) Artist/Band George Ezra
Most people recognize George Ezra for his first single “Budapest,” but my favorite is “Blame it On Me,” above. I just love a really deep singing voice that comes across so smoothly (think country music’s Josh Turner.) This guy is young, a true musician and with the successful of this debut album, I hope he stays around. I also like “Barcelona” and the video for “Listen to the Man” is light and funny featuring Sir Ian Mckellen.
4.Jam I Have on Repeat Poison – Rita Ora Listen HERE
I haven’t actually decided if I’m a Rita Ora fan and I could see myself deciding later on that I don’t like this song as much as I originally thought. But for now it’s been on repeat a lot.
BBC’s Live Lounge could probably have its own category on this list. They always have the best covers. I’ve lost track of the amount of times I’ve sent people to go listen to this one. I know I featured Imagine Dragons already in this post but this cover is SO different and fun.
They are talented, but some of A Great Big World’s music is a bit too much for me, so I was a little late to discover this song. But I definitely have it on repeat now. It’s a great song for their sound, stripped down, both silly and sweet, almost making me laugh.
I’ve always been a U2 fan, but this summer I have been watching Friends from start to finish and re-fell in love with this song. I’m well past that episode but the song popped up on my Spotify this week, reminding me how sad I’m going to be when I finish the series. Man, what I would have given to be just a little older when the series was airing. Instead of the music video, I included the clip from the show.
9. Current Beat That Makes Me Want to Dance…in the Car…Jamming With the Windows Down Ugly Heart – G.R.L. Listen HERE
Ugh. Girl bands generally give me a headache and I probably skipped this song at least a dozen times before I finally got all the way through it. But friends… jam to it just once in the car and I promise you’ll be sold.
I might be wrong, but it always seemed to me that this was one of the first songs that made Calvin Harris a well-known name, outside of EDM music. At some point in college I got a new phone and I wanted a fun ringtone that didn’t have a lot of lyrics so I chose this song, somewhat on a whim after hearing it I think on a commercial. It ended up staying as my ringtone for over a year. I’m not generally a huge EDM fan, I don’t know that much about it, but I’ve always liked how universal this song felt. I love words and lyrics, but as a kid who grew up dancing, I also like when the music itself takes care of telling the story.
11. Work, Work it Out Come With Me Now – Kongos Listen HERE
First heard this in a pre-game highlight reel for K-State Football. It’s a solid workout tune, I usually skip it and save for the last hard leg of my run.
I am really going to have to make an effort to not include Ed Sheeran every week on this series. This song is not considered new anymore and the video is almost a year old. Most people would have probably put this in the “Song That I Originally Loved, But Is Now Overplayed” category, and I don’t blame them, I’m just a bit of a fan girl. Honestly though, the girl does most of the core dancing but his part was probably harder than you think. Props to the awkward white boy.
13.Guilty Listen of the Week Ghost Town – Adam Lambert Listen HERE
So I actually saw most of this video before I heard the song. I was in a bar on the 4th of July that was really loud and it was playing on multiple screens. I remember thinking, “this is slightly creepy, I don’t know that I actually want to hear the song.” Then I did on Spotify and found myself NOT skipping it. Guilty, I know. It’s terrible, but its great.
People, please don’t be mad at me. I love this song, I really do, but I just need to NOT hear it for a while. IT’S EVERYWHERE. I mean I lost track of how many times I heard it while I was in Vegas, whether it was actually the song, or the fact that my sister felt the need to sing it over and over. In my mind, its not supposed to be a song that gets stuck in your head. Let it fade and then we can fall in love with it all over again when we rediscover it.
15.Popular Song That Is Making My Ears Bleed Strip It Down – Luke Bryan Listen HERE
Listen, say what you want about “bro country,” but I like Luke Bryan. His is music is fun and he has pulled off the sexy country slow song before. But not this time. This one is flat and repetitive in a way that is annoying. Also, the lyrics are dumb. “I want to drop the cell phone now, let it shatter on the ground…” Umm WHAT? No, phones are expensive, have two seconds of self control and set it down like a normal person.
It’s kind of hard to believe that Lady Antebellum’s first country single “Love Don’t Live Here” debuted eight years ago. It came out when I was high school and I vividly remember how refreshing this new band was. It’s been fun to follow their success. Expect for them to be a regular over time on this series.
BONUS: 5 More Songs On My 2015 Summer Jam Playlist Some of these first came out last year, but they’ve been my repeats this summer
It’s K-State Gameday!
And this football loving, purple bleeding, K-State alumna is as giddy than a kid on Christmas Day. Go ahead and roll your eyes at me, but there is something a bit magical about Manhattan, KS on a Gameday. And it’s contagious, I have had family and friends that are fans of other schools sound off on their respect for the camaraderie and school spirit that they have witnessed from K-State fans. And now coming off Big 12 Champion seasons from football, men’s basketball and baseball, and with the dedication of the brand new gorgeous West Stadium Center, “Titletown” is ready for its annual family reunion. That really does have a nice ring to it, now doesn’t it.
Now let’s get to the music.
Those who know me well, know that sports and music are the two things that I could talk about endlessly, so when I attended my very first K-State game as a freshman, it shouldn’t be a surprise to hear that I took note of the music in the stadium. Having been clearly born in the wrong era, I immediately approved of the playlist that was heavy on the 80’s. But it wasn’t until at least a year later that I realized that I was hearing the exact same playlist at every game. “That’s the Snyder way” someone informed me, rather annoyingly, as if it were I crime that I was even questioning the subject.
And it was a crime. Snyder is all about his routine and his traditions and it is the traditions that Snyder has built here at K-State that help define what it means to be a part of the K-State Family. I know I’m getting a little nostalgic here, but if you don’t bleed purple, just replace that feeling with the spirit you have for your own sports team or alma mater. Understand? Now if you don’t understand or believe that there something magical and poetic about sports, well then, I can’t help you.
Thunderstruck – AC/DC
This one off of Snyder’s playlist shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone. My guess is Thunderstruck is probably the song most universally used in football stadium’s across America. It even draws up a few good ol’ Hermiston High School football game memories…
Where The Streets Have No Name – U2
If only I had been a teenager when U2 was in their prime. Bill, I highly approve.
Right Now – Van Halen
That piano introduction says it all…
Welcome to the New Age (Radioactive by Imagine Dragons)
So “Radioactive” isn’t on Snyder list, but back in summer 2012 when my roommate and I were first discovering the band Imagine Dragons, I would go on and on about how this song would be such a great sports song. Then ESPN started using it last season, but hardly anyone knew the song yet. So needless to say I was REALLY excited when K-State Sports used it in this {awesome} feature of our three Big 12 Championships. Now when you watch the original version don’t get freaked out. The video is really….really weird, but the band and their music is worth it.
Proud of The House We Built – Brooks & Dunn
So I have always been a B&D fan and always liked this song. But becoming a K-State student gave it a whole new meaning. This song is played with a video at the beginning of every game and hearing it, always gives me chills, and sometimes, makes me tear up. Again, roll your eyes at me if you want, but relate it to something else near and dear to you, and you’ll understand. {Here is the original version.}
After getting through the craziness known as graduation, new job, etc. I realized how much I had started to enjoy this Friday Jam Session bit. So regardless if it’s just my roommate and sister who read my recommendations (and who already know them) I’ve decided that’s completely OK.
So today I’m venturing into uncharted territories. My roommate and I are headed up to KC for an Imagine Dragons concert at Starlight Theatre (insert happy dance here.) They have been one my newest obsessions over the past year, so obviously I’m pretty stinkin’ excited. One problem though. With the exception of a few concerts on campus and at my county fair back home, I have never been to a non-country concert. It’s not like I never wanted to before but I’ve just never been plugged into keeping track of whose playing where like I am with country music. I’m sure that I am over thinking this a tad bit too much but I’m a little anxious about how overwhelming this experience is going to be. Better leave your boots at home this time Amanda.
Today’s music doesn’t need much of an introduction. The bands that are opening for Imagine Dragons are ones that I have just starting listening to in the weeks leading up to the concert. But I am now well-informed and ready to go thanks to the beauty of Spotify. I think it’s pretty cool that there is such a variety of sound and am pretty sure that I am not going to be disappointed.
Here’s a few favorites that I’m looking forward to tonight!
Demons by Imagine Dragons Most new bands win us over with a chart topping hit single. And while It’s Time did it for Imagine Dragons, that’s not why I love these guys. I love them because their entire album, Night Visions won me over, and that is a rare occasion. I think their sound is original and the lead vocals go on the “I could listen to endlessly” list. Demons is my personal favorite, but I also recommend checking out Radioactive, On Top of the World, My Fault, and this version of It’s Time.
Holding On To You by Twenty One Pilots
Next to the main set, I am most excited for this band. This song has been stuck in my head since I first heard it two weeks ago and has been on repeat. And the music video…its crazy weird…and I absolutely love it. Also check out Guns For Hands andAddicted With a Pen.
The Good Stuff 