I’m almost certain I’ve featured this song on the blog before, but after watching Almost Famous last night, I can’t help but repost “Tiny Dancer” as my song of the week. The movie is a classic and one I not only relate to, but continuously inspires me on my path as a music journalist. I can’t help but smile every time I hear this song.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Qn3tel9FWU]
Growing up, I was the only girl in my grade named Annie. I remember my math professor in high school singing songs from the musical Annie when he handed back my exams. “The sun will come out tomorrow,” he’d sing. On the rare occasion (alright, it was more than once…math wasn’t my best subject) that I didn’t do well he’d say, “Well, I guess the sun didn’t come out today now did it?”
My first job out of college my colleague would always text me, “Annie, are you okay?” Gotta love Michael Jackson’s “Smooth Criminal.” Music has always had a major impact in my life and when songs have my name in it, I can’t help but relate. It seems as if the musician is singing the words right to me. Silly, I know, but it does. So, last week when I caught SafetySuit‘s performance at Bowery Ballroom and they announced their song, “Annie,” I couldn’t help but smile.
“Annie don’t be shy here/Annie don’t just lie there/Looks don’t make the world go round/But it comes around/Annie don’t be shy here/Annie please don’t cry here/I always have to stop myself/Cause you’re beautiful,” frontman Doug Brown sang.
Not many of you in the blogosphere know this, but I have always been pretty shy. That’s why, when friends hear of my escapades of going up to a band after a concert and asking them a few questions or setting up an interview they’d always be incredibly shocked. While I’ve come a long way these past two years and have definitely stepped out of my comfort zone, the lyrics to SafetySuit’s “Annie” still struck home: “Annie don’t be shy here.”
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79TEYqDCc48]
Song of the week runner up: “Annie” by Mat Kearney. Listen here.
Is your name featured in any songs? What’s your favorite? I’d love to hear!
It’s that time again. The tree is decorated, the gifts are (almost) all wrapped and holiday music has been heard non-stop since Thanksgiving. For this year’s Christmas playlist I’ve included some reader favorites as well as a few of my own. Listen below and feel free to leave additional suggestions in the comments!
Charlie Brown: “Christmas Time Is Here.”
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPG3zSgm_Qo]
Bruce Springsteen: “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town.”
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yErhglOXIxM]
N’Sync:”Oh Holy Night.”
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXzJqRXLI08]
House of Heroes: “O Come, O Come Emmanuel.”
http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=8267678&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1
House of Heroes “O Come, O Come Emmanuel from Ransom TV on Vimeo.
Elvis Presley and Martina McBride: “Blue Christmas”
Did I leave out any of your favorites? Let me know! Wishing you and yours a Merry Christmas.
You all know my love for John Mayer by now, so this week’s song shouldn’t surprise you too much! My friend Deana passed along his rendition of Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” to me recently. Being my favorite holiday song, and having my favorite musician sing it is a Christmas present in itself. Listen below and let me know what you think!
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ureuzjaXx7k]
Orianthi has had quite the year. After performing with Carrie Underwood at the Grammy’s, she sparked Michael Jackson’s interest, having him invite her to audition for his upcoming tour. Unfortunately, the tour never happened, but Orianthi has been making a name for herself ever since.
I sat down with Ori yesterday before her performance at Best Buy in New York’s Union Square where she filled me in on working with Jackson, jamming with one of her idols, Carlos Santana, and her most recent chart-topping single, “According To You.” Stay tuned for my interview in the upcoming weeks and video of her performance.
Orianthi will be performing at 4 p.m. today at Jingle Ball’s pre-show at Hammerstein Ballroom, but if you can’t make that give her single, “According To You” a listen below.
I’ll be covering Jingle Ball tonight and have access to the press room for artist interviews. Tonight’s lineup includes: John Mayer, Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber, The Fray, Jordan Sparks, Kris Allen, Boys Like Girls, Pitbull, Owl City, Jay Sean, Ke$ha and more. For more information on the artists, photos, and videos click here. Be sure to follow me tonight on Twitter as I update you on the night’s festivities!
Australian band The Temper Trap have been garnering much attention as of late. With catchy music and memorable videos, the band is making their mark in the US. While “Sweet Disposition” is picking up steam on rock radio and television, latest single “Fader” is sure to reach similar success. Watch below and see for yourselves.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L18tjO2GYnU]
Canadian seven-member ensemble, Down With Webster has been making music since meeting in grade school 10 years ago. Having played the Vans Warped Tour and recently opened for Forever the Sickest Kids, the band is well on their way. To listen to new single, “Rich Girl$” via Quicktime click here. For Windows, here.
Teron Beal has written for many notable artists including Jennifer Lopez, Kelly Rowland, Mya, Deborah Cox, Jamie Cullum and Michael Jackson. Now focusing on his solo career, Beal is readying the release of his first album in early 2010. Watch and listen to first video, “Dance At My Funeral” below.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQV5puIEXhE]
Swedish band The Sounds have debuted a new video for “Beatbox” off their album, Crossing the Rubicon. A suspenseful chase through the jungle, “Beatbox” is a five-minute intriguing adventure. Watch it below.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRuhPtniF-A]
I had the privilege of interviewing Swedish songstress Theresa Andersson last year during CMJ and caught her captivating one woman show where she played multiple instruments with the help of two loop pedals.
Andersson recently made a video for catchy single “Birds Fly Away” in her hometown of New Orleans. Watch the video here.
Related Links:
• Saturday Song Addiction: Dance Edition
• Saturday Song Addiction
• Saturday Song Addiction: Halloween Edition
• Saturday Song Addiction
Weekends are the time to break free of the everyday 9-5. This week’s Saturday Song Addiction provides some energetic music you can dance to while getting ready for a night on the town and unwinding from that repetitive routine.
The Ting Tings broke into the music scene this summer with their hit, “That’s Not My Name.” The English duo is back with latest single, “Great DJ,” bound to reach similar success. Watch below as The Ting Tings invite fans in LA to their indie-rock paint party.
http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9/10172910001?isVid=1&publisherID=59121
By far one of the most intriguing artists I’ve interviewed, Sia is known for her energetic stage show and free spirit. In fact, she recently leaked “You’ve Changed,” a new track from her upcoming album due out spring of 2010, on her Twitter. Listen to the catchy single, “You’ve Changed” here.
The press release for Lights’ video, “Ice” explains the music video best. “Check out the brand new video from our favorite keytar-weilding, comic book-writing, video gaming, graduate from the Warped Tour school of badass: LIGHTS. Like the heroine she plays in Audio Quest: Captain LIGHTS Adventure, it’s once again a battle between good versus evil, but there’s a twist — she’s both! Does good prevail? See for yourself below.”
LIGHTS – “Ice” Official Music Video
http://mediaservices.myspace.com/services/media/embed.aspx/m=100542794,t=1,mt=video
LIGHTS | MySpace Music Videos
Related Links:
• Saturday Song Addiction
• Saturday Song Addiction: Halloween Edition
• Saturday Song Addiction
• Sunday Song Addiction
From 70s inspired rock to acoustic pop ballads, this week’s Saturday Song Addiction provides a little something for everyone. You can watch two of the music videos below and download Colbie Caillat’s latest single for free. Love to know your thoughts and what songs you can’t stop listening to!
“A Whole Lot Better” by Brendan Benson
“The End Is Where We Begin” by Our Lady Peace
http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=7170035&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1
The End Is Where We Begin from Our Lady Peace on Vimeo.
“I Never Told You” by Colbie Caillat
Listen and download the track for free until December 1st here.
Related Links:
• Saturday Song Addiction: Halloween Edition
• Saturday Song Addiction
• Sunday Song Addiction
• Q&A; with Colbie Caillat
I couldn’t go anywhere this week without hearing Parachute on the radio! Whether it was at my birthday dinner with friends in New York or the radio on my drive home from a show, Parachute have been taking over the airwaves. While current single, “She Is Love” is heating up the charts, I stumbled upon their latest music video for catchy track, “Under Control.” I think you’ll find the video amusing.
When interviewing frontman Will Anderson nearly two years ago, I asked him about “Under Control,” to which he said:
“I had a crush on this girl for probably about three years all through college. She had no idea who I was. So, I wrote that song in the off chance that she would hear it and realize it was about her. But unfortunately, she did not and she still does not know who I am. I don’t think she has any idea that she has that song written about her.”
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RT_mxC7E_ao]
Related Links:
• Q&A; with Parachute
• Parachute Lands No. 1 Album on iTunes
• Q&A; with Sparky’s Flaw
• Audio Interview with Will Anderson of Parachute