Music - What I'm Listening To

Friday Jam Session Vol. 16 – Guest Post

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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Friday Jam Session

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!

megan and luna

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.

The Diary of Jane – Breaking Benjamin
Sound of Madness – Shinedown
First Time – Vance Joy
22 – Taylor Swift
Shake it off – Taylor Swift

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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!

Cheers!

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Linking up with these blogs today!
Here, Here, Here, Here and HERE.

Music - What I'm Listening To

Friday Jam Session Vol. 15

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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Friday Jam Session

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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

This sound first became popular from being featuring on The Hunger Games: Catching Fire soundtrack, where Sia was accompanied on vocals by The Weeknd and Diplo. I was pretty obsessed with that version for a long time, preferring it over Sia’s solo version (the one with the really weird video ft. Shia Leouf.) But I stumbled across this piano version this week and fell in love with the song all over again. It might be a strange on to have on repeat, but I can’t get enough.

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.
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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!

lee brice
Can’t believe this was 5 years ago!! (2010)

BONUS: My Top 7 Favorite Lee Brice Songs (sorry I couldn’t pick 5)

Hard to Love
Beautiful Every Time
Drinking Class
She Ain’t Right
Sumter County Friday Nights
I Don’t Dance
Happy Endings (acoustic version)

So, what are you listening to this week?

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Linking up with these blogs today!
Here, Here, Here, Here and HERE.