Categories
Features Videos

Happy Valentine's Day!

Whether you’re celebrating the day with that special someone or friends and family, here’s a few songs to get you in that Valentine’s Day spirit. Be sure to leave your favorite tracks in the comments!

Ray LaMontagne “You Are the Best Thing”


Etta James “At Last”




Paramore “The Only Exception”




The Beach Boys “God Only Knows”


Savage Garden “Truly Madly Deeply”

Categories
Song of the Week Videos

Song of the Week: "Dancing In the Dark"

I’m always reminded I’m a Jersey girl after spending time with the family. After a trip to New Jersey earlier this week, I haven’t been able to stop listening to Bruce Springsteen. This video of a performance from Barcelona adequately captures his energetic live show. What do you think? Be sure to watch until the very end.

Categories
Song of the Week Videos

Song of the Week: "Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not"

While researching country pickup lines for my recent article, “10 Best Come-On Lyrics in Country Music” for The Boot, a friend suggested Thompson Square’s single, “Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not.” I instantly fell in love with the song and haven’t been able to stop listening since. I don’t think I’ve had a song on repeat this much in years.

Watch the video for it below and if you’re in dire need for some pickup lines for this weekend, check out my writeup on The Boot. I’m planning on trying the cheesy, “Are you from Tennessee?/’Cause baby, you’re the only 10 I see.” I’ll be sure to let you know how that goes…

Categories
Song of the Week Videos

Song of the Week: "Come Together"

I haven’t been able to stop playing this song ever since Fifteen Fleeting covered it last Saturday night. A timeless classic, watch as the Beatles perform it live below.

Categories
Song of the Week Videos

Song of the Week: "Walking In Memphis"


Photo Credit: Wendy Hu

When reviewing an album this weekend, a track reminded me of Marc Cohn’s moving song “Walking In Memphis.” A powerful ballad, I remember having the song stuck in my head my first visit to Memphis two years ago. After watching the video below, you just might be singing the song all day as well.

Related Links
Song of the Week: “Enchanted”
Song of the Week: “Until You”
Song of the Week: “Hello World”
Song of the Week: “Christmas All Over Again”

Categories
Song of the Week Videos

Song of the Week: "Enchanted"

I haven’t been able to stop playing this song since I bought Taylor Swift’s album back in November. The light acoustic guitar, her soft vocals, the lyrics. Everything comes together to paint a beautiful picture of the moment you meet that special someone for the first time and the rest of the night you’re up late wondering if they’re dating anyone or if they will even remember you in the morning. I think everyone has felt this at some point in their lives and Taylor once again expresses this universal feeling in her music.

Watch Taylor perform “Enchanted” live below and listen as her fans react to her lyrics.



Related Links
Song of the Week: “Mrs. Mistletoe”
Song of the Week: “Christmas All Over Again”
Song of the Week: “Until You”
Song of the Week: “Hello World”

Categories
Concert Reviews Features Q&A Videos

You Sing I Write's Top 10 of 2010

Photo/Video Credit: Wendy Hu

I’ve been incredibly lucky to have interviewed some of my all-time favorite bands this year. As 2010 comes to a close, I can only imagine what 2011 will bring… (perhaps an interview with John Mayer?!). Instead of compiling my top 10 albums, songs, etc. of the year I decided to break up my Top 10 list with my five most memorable interviews and concerts of 2010. Be sure to let me know some of your favorites in the comments!

You Sing I Write’s Top 5 Interviews of 2010

5. Hanson

My younger self is still in disbelief. HANSON. I remember the years my best friend in middle school was CONVINCED she would marry Taylor Hanson. Little did I know I’d interview him a decade later. Extremely detailed, Taylor Hanson went on to thoroughly and thoughtfully answer every question I asked. Sorry Jacqueline, he’s married. Read my complete interview on Lemondrop here.

4. Colbie Caillat

Though I interviewed Colbie Caillat back in 2008 for my blog, I had yet to meet her in person and was thrilled to catch her in Hoboken and film my interview with her for VH1 Save the Music. You can read the complete interview on Hoboken Patch and watch a video excerpt below.

3. Pat Benatar

I still can’t believe I chatted with Pat Benatar on the phone this year! We bonded over living in Brooklyn and she gave me so much great advice that I shared with Lemondrop readers. And, your No. 1 question was answered. Yes, Pat Benatar still believes love is a battlefield. Read my complete Q&A on Lemondrop here.

2. Lady Antebellum

I still remember the first time I saw Lady Antebellum perform on an awards show and thought to myself, “I REALLY want to interview this band!” I had a hunch they’d explode and in 2010 they sure did. Out of all my interviews this year, I was most nervous for my in-person with them as I listened to Need You Now continuously, it easily being my most played album of the year. Nerves aside, the interview went well and I even stumped Lady A on a few questions. Read my interview with Lady Antebellum on The Boot.

1. Keith Urban

Never in a million years would I have dreamed I’d spend the day with Keith Urban! I remember the first time I heard a Keith Urban song. It was “Somebody Like You” back in high school in the movie, “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days” and I downloaded it and played it obsessively for months. He was the first country artist I really listened to and I was happy to discover my college roommate Celine liked him as well. We’d play his album on repeat and admire his gorgeous locks, often wondering how they’re kept so perfect. I came to learn it’s thanks to his personal hair stylist as she was fixing his hair before my chat with him.

Happy to report my interview went swimmingly (see the video below) and Keith was one of the nicest artists I’ve ever met. For the complete writeup, visit The Boot.

You Sing I Write’s Top 5 Concerts of 2010

5. Pat Benatar, Nokia Theater

I was more than excited to get a pair of tickets to Pat Benatar’s show a week after my phoner with her. Many life realizations came to mind while I was standing near the stage during the entirety of her set. As Benatar’s husband Neil Geraldo provided climatic guitar riffs to accompany her soaring vocals, I couldn’t help but smile at the chorus of “Shadows of the Night.”

We’re running with the Shadows of the Night

So baby take my hand, you’ll be all right

Surrender all you dreams to me tonight

They’ll come true in the end

In 2010, so many of my dreams have come true. Some that I never even realized were possible a few years ago. Read more on Busted Halo.

4. CMT on Tour with Miranda Lambert and Eric Church, Terminal 5

For those who doubt country fans exist in New York, you obviously weren’t at Terminal 5 for the CMT on Tour kickoff. I have never witnessed a crowd so energized. Raising their beer cups and cowboy hats high in the air throughout Eric and Miranda’s sets, watching the crowd was just as captivating as the artists onstage. Read my review on The Boot.

3. The Gaslight Anthem, The Stone Pony

Seeing my favorite Jersey boys on their home turf was a concert experience like none other. My friends and I scrambled to find tickets to their sold-out show at the last minute. And, boy we’re glad we did! The outside stage setup within walking distance of the Jersey Shore and all their friends, family and Gaslight Anthem diehards in the crowd made for a unique evening. I had so much fun, a friend and I even crowd surfed up to the stage where we enjoyed most of the show from the front row.

2. Taylor Swift, Prudential Center

For being 21 and on her first headlining tour, Taylor Swift’s live show is impressive. Every moment of her set is thought out with precise detail and perfected on a nightly basis. Whether she was walking through the first level at the Prudential Center giving hugs to everyone who stopped her, or the arena erupting in heart shaped confetti at the show’s end, Taylor Swift is living proof that fairy tales do come true. Witnessing her live just proved this point even more.

1. NEEDTOBREATHE, Irving Plaza

I heard their show was good, but I never expected to be blown away the way I was. There is definitely a reason Taylor Swift tapped the band as her tour opener next year. From the moment NEEDTOBREATHE took the stage at Irving Plaza it was evident that this wasn’t just any concert. The South Carolina natives have been honing their live show for the past 10 years and the audience could tell. Their impressive instrumental interludes combined with frontman Bear Rinehart’s energy captivated. One can only imagine what 2011 will bring for NEEDTOBREATHE. Read my complete show review here and watch the band perform “Valley of Tomorrow” acoustic below.

Categories
News Videos

“Christmas All Over Again” Download

“Christmas All Over Again” Download

Listen and download the song from A Holiday Benefit, Vol. 4.

Where: Click here. To download the complete album, where proceeds go to 826NYC, click here.

Categories
Concert Reviews Features Interviews Q&A Videos

Keith Urban

On Wednesday I shared with you my review of Keith Urban’s impromptu train station performances promoting his new album, ‘Get Closer.’ I was lucky enough to spend the day with him in New York and Philadelphia and covered all the excitement for The Boot. You can read my complete writeup on The Boot and watch the video below!

Categories
Song of the Week Videos

Song of the Week: “Our Kind of Love”

Their third No. 1 single off sophomore release, Need You Now, Lady Antebellum have been making waves in the music scene. Being that I’ll be interviewing them next week and spent the past few days researching and watching old videos, I thought it’d be fitting to make “Our Kind of Love” my song of the week.

If you have any questions you’ve been dying to ask Lady A, let me know in the comments!

Watch “Our Kind of Love” below.