First, it’s not Friday. But last Friday, my Wi-fi was down all day due to a crazy wind storm we had and this Friday I have a different post that I want to specifically post on that date. But hey, I definitely jam out other days of the week, so really, it works. #rebelyell
Second, I’m fully aware that it is a bit dramatic to create and share a playlist titled “Post Break Up,” but hey, unfortunately most of us need a playlist like this at point or another. You are welcome.
I’ve been adding songs to this list over the past couple of weeks and it was MUCH harder to keep it under a reasonable number than I thought it would be, which was silly to think because all artists have at least a handful of break up songs to their name. And really, I could have just made the list with only country songs… or only Taylor Swift songs.
So is this list a bit cheesy? Yes, because there was no way I was leaving Dolly out of it. And it is definitely full of angst (my teenage self would be so proud). But it is pretty well-rounded — meaning it covers every stage of a break up and quite a few different situations. So please note, I obviously don’t personally relate to every single song, quite a few are just songs that I enjoy and love to jam out to regardless of what they are about. Enjoy!
p.s. There are a few songs that are explicit, just FYI, if that’s not your thing. #sorrymom
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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1.Favorite New(ish) Album Wild Ones – Kip Moore
When I read that this was only his sophomore full album, I had to remind myself that Kip Moore hasn’t actually been around that long. He has a lot of my favorite songs from college and is one of the artists that I have been listening to since the very start of his career. He’s a songwriter, which I respect even more, with a gritty blue-collar country rock sound. Right now “Lipstick” above is my favorite off of the new album, but the title track, “Wild Ones,” is close second. I am also really like “Comeback Kid”, “I’m to Blame”,“Backseat” and “Girl of the Summer.”
2.Favorite New(ish) Collaboration Where It All Begins – Hunter Hayes ft, Lady Antebellum Listen HERE
You know, I didn’t start out a bit Hunter Hayes fan, but he’s really grown on me with his new album. And the vocals from Lady Antebellum in this song blend well with his voice. New band member for Lady A?
3.Favorite New (new-to-me) Artist/Band James Bay
I’m loving this guy’s voice, which you will probably recognize most from “Hold Back the River.” I kept trying to put different songs of his in other categories before I decided it made more sense for this one. “Let It Go” featured above is practically the definition of #SoulMusic to me, but then again so is “Move Together” and “Need the Sun to Break,” which I’ve also had on repeat lately. Then just this week I discovered his 2015 Spotify Session where he covered Alicia Key’s “If I Ain’t Got You.” Ummm… #swoon
4. Jam I Have on Repeat Elastic Heart – Sia (Piano Version) Listen HERE
5. Favorite Cover, Remix or Mashup Smelly Cat – Lisa Kudrow with Taylor Swift
I know I referenced Friends last week, but seriously though, this might be one of the best things EVER. Taylor Swift has been inviting celebrity guests to all of the stops on her 1989 tour, so I mean, why not? Personally I think it was brilliant and hilarious. If you have NEVER watched Friends, then just skip this one because you won’t get it. (If this is true then we also need to chat about your priorities in life.)
6. Favorite Spotify List “Piano Ballads” by Spotify
Friends is was a bit of a long and trying week, and I kept returning to this playlist for just a bit of a break from all of the chaos. The playlist’s description says it all: “Pop unplugged. Only the best piano ballads – vocals and keys front and center.”
7. #SoulMusic I’m Obsessing Over Smile – Mikky Ekko
I first heard this song in the trailer for the movie “Paper Towns,” and it’s continued to stick with me. It’s a simple, light hearted song, providing lots of room for nostalgia and memories, much like the book and movie did for me. I thought it fit really well so I was surprised not to see it on the final soundtrack.
8.”Oldie, But a Goodie” I Heard This Week Her Life’s A Song – Alan Jackson Listen HERE
This throwback came up on my Timehop this week and made me smile. There are a lot of different definitions of what country is, but for me it starts with guys like Alan Jackson.
9. Current Beat That Makes Me Want to Dance…in the Car…Jamming With the Windows Down Freedom – Pharrell Williams
I haven’t completely decided if I actually like this song, I just really like singing it in my car and screaming the “freedom” part.
10.Taking Me Down Memory Lane Get This Party Started – Pink Listen HERE
So I may or may not have done a jazz dance duet to this song with my best friend Kayla, when we where 5th graders (?) one summer at the county fair. I swear I would share a picture, but I don’t have one. I do remember we wore matching tie-dye pink tank tops and our black Nike basketball shorts. I also distinctly remember that is how I got my left split down because we had to be opposite and Kay called dibs. LOL, if only I could still do that at all!
11. Work, Work it Out The Walker – Fitz and The Tantrums
This is great to workout to but this is also my FAVORITE song to walk to work to in the morning, it always puts me in a good mood. I promise though, I really do walk like normal person.
12.Making Me Want to Fall in Love Say You Do – Dierks Bentley
Basically everything Dierks sings makes me want to fall in love.
13. Guilty Listen of the Week Dirrty – Christina Aguilera Listen HERE So my co-worker definitely caught me jamming to this on a Throwback Thursday playlist. Oops. #sorryimnotsorry
However I will say about the music video… I had forgotten how well, “dirty” it was LOL. My question is, did she let her parents watch that?! #coveryoureyes
14.Song That I Originally Loved, But Is Now Overplayed Honey, I’m Good – Andy Grammer
I love this song, I just need a break. Anyone agree?
15.Popular Song That Is Making My Ears Bleed I Really Like You – Carly Rae Jepsen
Just make it stop, ok?
However, listen just ONCE while watching the video because two words: TOM HANKS.
16.Country Pick of the Week That Don’t Sound Like You – Lee Brice
Lee Brice was my first college concert and the first of countless concerts that I have been to with my best friend Megan. We weren’t 21 yet so when we got to Longhorns (the country dance hall in Manhattan, KS at the time) we camped out front and center. It was AMAZING and still one of my favorite college memories. His first single “Love Like Crazy” had just peaked on the country music charts, eventually to become the longest-charting song in the chart’s history. He was another new guy that I had followed since the beginning so I knew a lot of his songs, but he also sang a lot of songs that he had written for other people (ahem, remember Garth Brooks’ “More Than A Memory”?) Four years later he was back in Manhattan on a bigger stage, with a much bigger audience and a LOT more hit songs. Last night, Megan saw Lee Brice again in Wichita and every Snapchat she sent made me super nostalgic. I wish I could have been there again!
Can’t believe this was 5 years ago!! (2010)
BONUS: My Top 7 Favorite Lee Brice Songs (sorry I couldn’t pick 5)
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
The Good Stuff 