The funny things that have been going on in my life recently are unfortunately not for public reading, but rest assured… my life is just as complicated, embarrassing and ridiculous as ever… probably more so than you can imagine or I could explain in less than an hour.
Something I do want to share that I’ve been noticing more recently is that my taste in music sucks.
I went to high school in Seattle and true to any emo-punk-high school-music-snob, I wouldn’t listen to songs unless the lyrics identified with my emotions… it’s Seattle… we’re emotional there… it’s just what you do. I would go so far as to make fun of people when bands I liked became “mainstream.” Ok, let’s be real though… I’m making myself sound way ‘cooler’ than I actually was, but there’s some truth in there somewhere. The biggest truth probably being that my brother was actually the one introducing me to the obscure bands that were decent. But at least I cared, right?
Let’s look at me now… I listen to the woooorst muuuuusic eeeeeever: pop/top 40. I love/hate everything about it! Love: Although shallow, the music is happy and fun to dance to! Hate: Some of it is utterly horrendous music. Love: I can sing along to the songs on the radio. Hate: horrible techno blended voiceovers?? It was a huge wake-up call to me when listening to the “Drunk Girl Anthems” on Fratmusic.com (don’t judge) and then realizing that 98% percent of the songs were in fact on my wake-up playlist (aahhh!!! I can feel it!! I said don’t judge!!) 
Since when can I identify with having “moves like Jagger,” while “my heart is a stereo” wanting to “go go go all the way way way taking out my freak tonight” because “I will never be never be anything but loud!” Not so much. But I can’t stop! This shift in shallow music taste happened in college, largely in part to the a love for apple bottom jeans and boots with the fur – I’ve spent the past 5 years belittling myself to the following list…
Sarah’s Qualifications For Good Songs:
- spelling
- counting
- stuttering
- big dramatic buildups and a half second pause of silence (aka: punk rock)
- bridges that drop the instruments or just leave the percussion for any portion of the song
- inspiring the over head hand-clap
- whistling (this is a new one… i’m loving the whistle trend that’s happening right now!)
- sung by Neil Diamond
- bonus points for using the term “shorty” — but doesn’t necessarily qualify a song as “good” in my book
Doesn’t take much to make this girl happy 🙂 Songs with any of those items on the list make me smile. There are a few songs/artists I’m loving right now that I’m not embarrassed of (even if I should be) that make me smile. Hopefully I can leave you with a little bit of awesome. Enjoy!
Mat Kearney – Hey Mama http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9qUMr6feOI&ob=av2e
Kid Cudi – Up Up and Away http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRPpLGxGNZY
Colbie Caillat – Brighter Than The Sun http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KU5o6M7S5nQ
Chiddy Bang – Mind Your Manners (think overhead clap…) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xeYvmdkw3Q0
Matt Nathanson – Faster http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyjQFdeFox8
Joshua Radin – I’d Rather Be With You http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAJfhZamFmo
Sara Bareilles – Uncharted http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlxB9zGH8GU
Coldplay – Waterfall http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyMhvkC3A84&ob=av2e
Erin McKeown – Slung Lo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xU5MbjJZ8Mc
Please feel free to send me your recommendations, or even go old school and burn me cd’s – I’m in the mood for an itunes revamp… ready, GO!
highfiverson 
You’ve sent a few bands my way as well. Most notably bayside and yellowcard. Both good picks! Also, you left off a qualification that you got me hooked on a while ago: the song has to end, not just fade out. That’s become a big one for me.
SarahI, I love reading your blog! Super fun, and it makes me laugh out loud 🙂