Posts Tagged With: Justin Timberlake

#BeachHouse2016: Dauphin Island

Posted on May 27, 2016 by momentswithmisty

Today is our last full day at Dauphin Island, and it’s already making me sad.
It’s been such a good week here. IMG_6511
The only stresser being whether or not we were actually going to make it back to the shore with our paddle-boards (we did make it, for the record, with only minor injuries).
To be totally honest, I was a little apprehensive about coming to Dauphin Island, because normally we go to North Carolina every year, and I wasn’t real excited to change that. I was afraid we were coming to an island with absolutely nothing, but I’ve been pleasantly surprised. The water is warmer and clearer here, and there is a pizza place that serves the best pizza, so really I’ve got all I need.

Plus my best friends are here, too.
(Now if only I could get Clark to make a 12 hour trip in the car.) IMG_6539

I’ve spent a lot of time by the water that last few days (the red hue of my skin will vouch for that) and this is a small sample of what I’ve been listening to:

  1. Can’t Stop the Feeling – Justin Timberlake – Single From DreamWorks TROLLS
    “I got that sunshine in my pocket. Got that good song in my feet. I feel that hot blood in my body when it drops. I can’t take my eyes up off it, moving so phenomenally.” 
  2. Heartbeat – Mat Kearney – Just Kids
    “I feel your heart beat, beat, beat beating right next to me. The heat, heat, heat got me feeling like I believe in all the things, baby, that we could be.”
  3. Cake by the Ocean – DNCE – Swway EP
    “You should be rolling with me, you should be rolling with me. You’re a real life fantasy, you’re a real life fantasy. But you’re moving so carefully; let’s start living dangerously.”
  4. Giants – Matt Nathanson – Show Me Your Fangs
    “I’m done trying to fit in, and be half forgiven for things that I never did. We’re more than what scares us, we’re final and fearless.”
  5. Rock Bottom – Hailee Steinfeld – Haiz
    “You hate me now and I feel the same way. You love me now and I feel the same way. We scream and we shout and make up the same day, same day.”
  6. New Orleans – Parachute – Wide Awake
    “We’re runnin’ by the river, the city lights are blazing. She looks like she could fly off, like gravity is failing.”
  7. We Don’t Talk Anymore – Charlie Puth feat. Selena Gomez – Nine Track Mind
    “Every now and then I think you might want me to come show up at your door. But I’m just too afraid that I’ll be wrong.”
  8. Peppermint Ice Cream – Brett Taylor – Highway Jetliner
    “When life gets to moving too fast we kiss and it slows down. We might not know what it’s about, we’re too young to have it figured out.”
  9. The Sound – The 1975 – I Love It When You Sleep…
    “I don’t regret it but I’m glad that we’re through. So don’t you tell me that you ‘just don’t get it’ cause I know you do.”
  10. Dancing in The Dark – Bruce Springsteen – Born in the U.S.A.
    “You sit around getting older, there’s a joke here somewhere and it’s on me. ‘ll shake this world off my shoulders, come on baby this laugh’s on me.”
  11. Love Me Like That – The Knocks feat. Carly Rae Jepsen – 55
    “I hear thunder in the distance, and it hits me in an instant. Crashing through my heart and I’m blown apart, you don’t love me like that.”
  12. Unexpected Love – Matt Wertz – Gun Shy
    “Sun     shinin’ in the morning’, midnight, you’re the moon. You’re the tide in the ocean pullin’ me right into you.” 
  13. Blank Space – Taylor Swift – 1989
    “‘Cause we’re young and we’re reckless, we’ll take this way too far. It’ll leave you breathless or with a nasty scar.”
  14. I’m Yours – Alessia Cara – Know-It-All
    “Oh, how rude of you to ruin my miserable, and tell me I’m beautiful. ‘Cause I wasn’t looking for love, no.”
  15. Talk Too Much – COIN – Single
    “Silence is golden, and you’ve got my hopes up. We talk too much. No hesitation, what are we waiting for? We talk too much.”
  16. Something in the Way You Move – Ellie Goulding – Delirium
    “There’s not one thing I can do to change your ways, but I can’t sit back and take the lonely days. When our eyes meet, I can only see the end.”
  17. Get the Girl Back – Hanson – Anthem
    “Tell her she’s your moon and sun. Tell her that she’s always been the one. You’ve gotta say it from the heart ‘cause she will know a fake right from the start.”
  18. One Dance – Drake feat WizKid & Kyle – Views
    “You know you gotta stick by me. Soon as you see the text, reply me. I don’t wanna spend time fighting. We’ve got no time.”
  19. No – Meghan Trainer – Thank You
    “I was in my zone, before you came along, don’t want you to take this personal. Blah, blah, blah, I be like nah to the ah to the no, no, no.”
  20. Don’t Mess With My Girl – Jon McLaughlin – Like Us
    “If you mess with my girl…you leave me with no choice. Imma have to raise my voice get all up in your face. And put you right in your place.”
  21. Bullet – Chelsea Lankes – Chelsea Lankes – EP
    “And I played my favorite song. Turned up the volume and I danced. I didn’t care anymore. I’m better than I’ve ever looked. And boy, I never felt this good.”
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#GratiTuesday: Meant To Be Moments

Posted on May 3, 2016 by momentswithmisty

 

It may sound silly or ridiculous, or inconsequential in the grand scheme of things, but I’m grateful for live music. I’m grateful for music in general, but most of all when I’m experiencing it first hand.

Dancing with 500, or 500,000 people in a loud concert hall is where I feel the most me. When I feel the baseline pulsing through my veins and my heartbeat is indistinguishable from the drumbeat. Those are my Meant To Be moments.

What is a Meant To Be moment, you ask? It’s just like how it sounds. When you know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you are in the right place. This place feels like home for you. Because it is. You heart is at home. I was talking with my best friend Tara about it on our drive back from Tulsa Saturday night, it could be anything for anyone. That’s the joy about it. My Meant To Be moments, and your Meant To Be moments could be (and probably are) totally different.

Tara feels it at the zoo. Any zoo.

And I experience it every single time I go to a concert.
Every show.
Every time.
It’s such a hard concept to explain to people. Because, duhhhh? Who doesn’t feel happy when they are at a concert? But it’s more that just euphoric happiness for me, it’s contentment.

I experienced it last Saturday at Cain’s Ballroom in Tulsa, Oklahoma dancing to “New Orleans” with Parachute. And I’m sure I’ll experience it at Old Rock House in St. Louis this coming Saturday when I see Parachute again.


I felt it every time my wrist band flashed at the 1989 World Tour.


I had it when I was nine years old and my parents took me to a Kansas concert.
And when I was an annoying 12-year-old with her mom and sister seeing NSYNC. And again when I was 24-years-old, but pretending to be 13-years-old, at a Backstreet Boys concert. And yet again when JT brought sexy back.


It reverberated in my heart when Billy Joel told me (and 24,000 other people) that “Vienna waits for you.” And I could hardly stand it when Hanson filled my heart and soul with Roots and Rock N Roll at the Dallas House of Blues.

That’s why every time I leave a concert, it’s such quick onset of Post-Concert Depression. Because that feeling is so fleeting and so rare for me, that Meant To Be feeling. It’s so rare, but I want to live it every day. I can’t even comprehend what it would feel like for me to work for a venue or for a tour and get to have that feeling every night. It would be more than you can imagine, more than I could ever even imagine.

Some people want to make lots of money. Some people want to be mommies and daddies. Other people want to travel the world. Others want to save it.

Me?
I just want to spend every night in a venue until I’ve lost all my proper hearing 🙂

Happy #GratiTuesday!

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You are my fire, the one desire. Believe when I say, I want it that way.

Posted on June 20, 2014 by momentswithmisty

The time has come for me to make a confession. This is a big one guys, so I need all of your support.

Okay…

Here it goes….

…theBackstreetBoysarebetterthanNSYNC…

There. I said it. I feel so much better now.

I spent the majority of my adolescent life arguing the exact opposite. I was team NSYNC all the way (don’t get me wrong, I still liked the Backstreet Boys. I owned all of their CDs and, of course, had a favorite ‘boy’, and it was Brian Littrell!). But the time has come for me to admit the truth. The Backstreet Boys are the better band. Listen, NSYNC was good (and I would for sure sell a kidney to buy tickets if they were to ever go on a reunion tour. No questions asked). They were good at being a boy band. Their songs were fun and uptempo, and their concerts were crazy parties (speaking from a 2001 experience), and JT is arguably the most talented man in the biz right now…but the Backstreet Boys had better songs. Better love songs, better fun songs, just all around better songs. They are also more genuine, I feel. Not that NSYNC wasn’t, but it was more of a show for them. It was always about the show and the entrainment value for NSYNC, but BSB can saaaaanng.

I came to this realization while attending a Backstreet Boys concert two weeks ago, and it was possibly the most fun concert of my entire life. It was like I was 14 again, and it was awesome.

 

Me, Megan, Whitley and Warren!

Me, Megan, Whitley and Warren!

 

The Backstreet Boys are just better. And that’s all. I don’t want to talk about it anymore.

Any way, below you will find some of my favorite Backstreet Boys songs spanning all 7 of their albums released in the US (plus that one Greatest Hits). I will even color-code them for you!

Backstreet Boys    Millennium    Black & Blue    The Hits: Chapter 1    Never Gone    Unbreakable

This Is Us    In A World Like This 

1. Everybody (Backstreet’s Back) 

2. Helpless When She Smiles

3. The One

4. Bye Bye Love

5. Incomplete

6. Drowning

7. I Want It That Way

8. Soldier

9. Back to Your Heart

10. As Long As You Love Me

11. Something That I Already Know

12. More Than That

13. We’ve Got It Goin’ On

14. Shape of My Heart

15. I Still…

16. Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)

17. It’s Gotta Be You

18. What Makes You Different (Makes You Beautiful)

19. All I have To Give

20. Larger Than Life

21. Just Want You to Know

22. Madeleine

*BONUS*

21. That’s What She Said

22. Satellite

Listen to the complete playlist here.

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#BeachHouse2014

Posted on May 16, 2014 by momentswithmisty

WE LEAVE FOR THE OUTER BANKS TODAY! Spending a week in a house off the coast of North Carolina is pretty much my favorite thing in the world.

And naturally, I’ve created a playlist. The full playlist is roughly 12 hours long, but here are the highlights.

1. The Mixed Tape — Jack’s Mannequin One Tree Hill: Friends with Benefit

“As I rearrange the songs again. This mix could burn a hole in anyone, but it was you I was thinking of.”

2. Last Days of Summer in San Francisco — Matt Nathanson Last of the Great Pretenders

“There was so much I didn’t believe in, and then, there was you. You made me brave, you made me stupid.                                         Gave me this skin, that I could move in.”

3. Sing —Ed Sheeran X

“I don’t wanna know if you’re getting ahead of the program. I want you to be mine.”

4. Birthday — Selena Gomez Star Dance

“Tell ’em that it’s my birthday when I party like that. Every night’s my birthday, they don’t know, so it’s okay.                                        Tell ’em that it’s my birthday when I party like that.”

5. Meant to Be — Parachute Overnight

“Baby all I know, and that I’ve come to find, you can the touch the sun, but you’re never gonna kiss the sky.”

6. Rather Be — Clean Bandit (Single)

“It’s easy being with you, sacred simplicity. As long as we’re together, there’s no place I’d rather be.”

7. Best Day of My Life — American Authors Best Day of My Life

“I’m never gonna look back. Whoa. I’m never gonna give it up. Nooo. Please don’t wake me now.”

8. Cut Right Through Me — Hanson Anthem

“I’ve said a word and I’ve said too much. You take a piece of everything you touch.”

9. American Secrets — Parachute The Way It Was “We would drive out through every lonely street, yeah. Smell the truth in her hair, felt the world at my feet, yeah.” 10. Classic — MKTO MKTO

“Out of my league. Old school chic. Like a movie star from the silver screen. You’re one of a kind living in a world gone plastic,  baby, you’re so classic.”

11. Hundred Million Dollar Soul — Kate Voegele Gravity Happens

“It’s no wonder that you’re such a natural, you got everything I want from your head to your toes. And underneath that smile that has me sold is your hundred million dollar soul.”

12. Parallel — Heffron Drive (Single)

“Counting stars, laying in the grass, side by side, your head on my shoulder. We talk a lot about nothing much, with every breath we are getting closer.”

13. 22 — Taylor Swift Red

“It feels like a perfect night to dress up like hipsters, and make fun of our exes, ah-oh, ah-oh.”

14. TKO — Justin Timberlake The 20/20 Experience Pt. 2

“This ain’t the girl I used to know, no, not anymore. TKO.”

15. Moment With You — Will Anderson (I may have downloaded this off SoundCloud, sorry Mikey)

“Baby, close your eye, don’t miss this feelin’. When I pull you close this heart hits the ceilin’.”

16. Wanna Be Startin’ Something — Darren Criss (Originally by Michael Jackson) (Single)

“It’s too high to get over. Too low to get under. You’re stuck in the middle, and the pain is thunder.”

17. She Look So Perfect — 5 Seconds of Summer She Looks So Perfect EP

“You look so perfect standing there in my American Apparel underwear. And I know now, that I’m so down.”

18. Just Want You To Know — Backstreet Boys Never Gone

“Looking at your picture from when we first met, you gave me a smile that I could never forget. And nothing I could do could protect me from you that night.”

19. The Way — Ariana Grande Yours Truly

“I got it bad boy, I must admit it. You got my heart, don’t know how you did it.”

20. Somewhere in my Car — Keith Urban Fuse

“But in my mind we’re somewhere in my car and it’s raining hard on the streetlights glow.”

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Warmer Weather

Posted on April 2, 2014 by momentswithmisty

THE DAYS ARE GETTING WARMER!

One time, in Malibu, I wanted it to be warmer. And it just would not cooperate. So I just faked it.

One time, in Malibu, I wanted it to be warmer. And it just would not cooperate. So I just faked it.

Winter is finally going (see what I did there?).

And with winter going, that means summer is coming. And with summer coming, that means that my days are getting happier. And with my days getting happier, that means I need some music that I can play in my car with my windows down. And that, my friends, calls for a new playlist.

1. Happy — Pharrell Williams G I R L

“It might seem crazy what I’m about to say. Sunshine, she’s here, you can take a break.”

2. Best of Times — Hanson Sound of Light     ***My bfffff, Tara and I sing back up on this song!***

“Making it up as we go along. Three chords and the truth, we can make a song.”

3. Something Right — Chelsea Lankes (Feat. Will Anderson) Ringing Bell

“We play pretend, keeping all our feelings in. Somehow I knew, it’s always been you.”

4. Sway — The Perishers Let There Be Morning

“I’ve always been a dreamer, I’ve had my head among the clouds. Now that I’m coming down, would you be my solid ground?”

5. It’s Always the Quiet Ones — Paris Carney (Single)

“I thought you knew this game was hard. You can’t get points ’til you get scars.”

6. Drive You Home — Parachute Overnight

“Staring at the ceiling but I just can’t sleep, wonderin’ what you’re going when it comes to me.”

7. Same Girl — Jack Johnson Sleep Through the Static

“How can you be so calm when the truth is that sometimes we live in the eye of the storm?”

8. Not a Bad Thing — Justin Timberlake The 20/20 Experience Part 2

“Said all I want from you is to see tomorrow, and every tomorrow, maybe you’ll let me borrow your heart.”

9. Barely Breathing — Glee (Single) (say what you will, but Darren Criss can sing to me allll day.)

“I know what you’re doing, I see it all too clear. I only taste the saline, when I kiss away your tears.”

10. Enough for Always — Kate Voegele Gravity Happens

“You’re stubborn and I’m worse, you know. But your smile is like that country road in Virginia.”

11. Even the Stars Fall 4 U — Keith Urban Fuse

“Yeah, those fireflies in the field, they gotta know the way I feel.”

12. Little Bit — Drake (Feat. Lykke Li) So Far Gone

“Both hearts beat like a metronome. Both in sync like a Justin song.”

13. Treacherous — Taylor Swift Red

“And all we are is skin and bone, trained to get along. Forever going with the flow, but you’re friction.”

14. Heart Starts — Matt Nathanson Last of the Great Pretenders

“All I know is the world is filled with broken things. All I know, with these walls I built, I can’t get to what you need.”

15. Hercules — Sara Bareilles The Blessed Unrest

“I’m on the hunt for who I’ve not yet become. But I’d settle for a little equilibrium.”

16. Tell Her About It — Billy Joel The Essential Billy Joel

“Though you may not have done anything, will that be a consolation when she’s gone?”

17. Wildflowers — Joe Brooks (Single)

“You belong among the wildflowers. You belong somewhere close to me.”

18. Parallel — Heffron Drive (Single)

“What if the one who was meant for you was all along right in front of you?”

19. Can I Have This Dance — Zac Efron & Vanessa Hudgens High School Musical 3: Senior Year

“It’s like catching lightning the chances of finding someone like you. It’s one in a million, the chances of feeling the way we do.”

20. Gold — Owl City The Midsummer Station

“Shout out to the dreams you’ll chase. Shout out to the hearts you’ll break.”

You can listen to the entire playlist here (because the play below randomly leaves out 5 songs).

 

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2014 Grammy Predictions

Posted on January 26, 2014 by momentswithmisty

Each year I struggle with whether I am more excited for the Grammys or for the Superbowl. This year there is not contest. I care very, very little about the Superbowl this year. [As a Chiefs fan, that is my prerogative. Current AFC West rivals Denver vs. former AFC West rivals Seattle (any ACF West team current or former is considered a rival, obviously). It’s lose-lose for me. For the record I’ll be cheering for Seattle, because there is nothing in this world that could bring me to cheer on Denver.] But I care very, very much about the Grammys (as much as someone who has no actual investment in the show or music industry can care).

I feel like this year, they might have done a fairly decent job with the nominations (minus the fact that JT wasn’t present on the list for Album of the Year). I think they manage to not choose the most obscure stuff possible, which is the norm for the Recording Academy. If you watch the show, and you keep up with music in any sense, you will most likely recognized 3/4 of the people, which is a fantastic concept!

I always like to make my picks prior to the actual give aways…because who doesn’t like to do that? Below you fill find the list of people I think will go home with the award, and people I want to/should take home the gramophone (of course you will notice I only choose winner for the awards I have interest in…because I don’t want to get involved in 0ver 80 awards). 

******I will be live-tweeting this event. You can follow me here: @mistydawnclay******

RECORD OF THE YEAR (goes to the performer)

  • Get Lucky -Daft Punk & Pharrell Williams
  • Radioactive-Imagine Dragons
  • Royals-Lorde
  • Locked Out Of Heaven-Bruno Mars
  • Blurred Lines –Robin Thicke Featuring T.I. & Pharrell

There is no way that “Blurred Lines” shouldn’t go home with this award. IT WAS THE MOST PLAYED SONG IN THE HISTORY OF EVER. And I’m hoping the academy recognizes this.

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

  • The Blessed Unrest -Sara Bareilles
  • Random Access Memories -Daft Punk
  • Good Kid, M.A.A.D City -Kendrick Lamar
  • The Heist -Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
  • Red -Taylor Swift

I think that The Heist is a safe Grammy bet. I mean, it was independently released and has a “message.” It’s Grammy bait. But I think Taylor Swift should be the victor here. I mean, seriously. Did any of the rest of the nominees sell over ONE MILLION albums in a week? And did any of the other nominees have an album with more diversity? The answer is no.

SONG OF THE YEAR (goes to the writer)

  • Just Give Me A Reason -Jeff Bhasker, Pink & Nate Ruess, songwriters (Pink Featuring Nate Ruess)
  • Locked Out Of Heaven -Philip Lawrence, Ari Levine & Bruno Mars, songwriters (Bruno Mars)
  • Roar -Lukasz Gottwald, Max Martin, Bonnie McKee, Katy Perry & Henry Walter, songwriters (Katy Perry)
  • Royals -Joel Little & Ella Yelich O’Connor, songwriters (Lorde)
  • Same Love -Ben Haggerty, Mary Lambert & Ryan Lewis, songwriters (Macklemore & Ryan Lewis)

“Royals” should have this in the bag. It’s easily the most unique song and the cleverest. Which I’m pretty sure is what this award is about. I’m just fearful that the Academy will once again side with the message of “Same Love”.

BEST NEW ARTIST

  • James Blake
  • Kendrick Lamar
  • Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
  • Kacey Musgraves
  • Ed Sheeran

I want Ed Sheeran to win. Because he is the bomb, and clearly the best artist out of this bunch, but I just don’t think it’s fair. He’s not really a new artist. Last year “A Team” was nominated for Song of the Year, and I feel like the fact that he’s been nominated before should disqualify him. With him out the running, I think Kacey Musgraves should win, but I think Macklemore & Ryan Lewis will sweep.

BEST POP SOLO PERFORMANCE

  • Brave -Sara Bareilles
  • Royals -Lorde
  • When I Was Your Man -Bruno Mars
  • Roar -Katy Perry
  • Mirrors -Justin Timberlake

Quick fact: I want JT to win everything he’s ever nominated for.

BEST POP DUO/GROUP PERFORMANCE

  • Get Lucky -Daft Punk & Pharrell Williams
  • Just Give Me A Reason -Pink Featuring Nate Ruess
  • Stay -Rihanna Featuring Mikky Ekko
  • Blurred Lines -Robin Thicke Featuring T.I. & Pharrell
  • Suit & Tie -Justin Timberlake & Jay Z

BEST POP VOCAL ALBUM

  • Paradise -Lana Del Rey
  • Pure Heroine -Lorde
  • Unorthodox Jukebox -Bruno Mars
  • Blurred Lines -Robin Thicke
  • The 20/20 Experience – The Complete Experience –Justin Timberlake

This is the best they can do after snubbing him in for Album of the Year. Give JT’s comeback album some real love.

BEST DANCE/ELECTRONICA ALBUM

  • Random Access Memories –Daft Punk
  • Settle -Disclosure
  • 18 Months -Calvin Harris
  • Atmosphere -Kaskade
  • A Color Map Of The Sun -Pretty Lights

To be totally honest, I only recognize Daft Punk and Calvin Harris. And out of those two I like Daft Punk more.

BEST ROCK ALBUM

  • 13 –Black Sabbath
  • The Next Day -David Bowie
  • Mechanical Bull -Kings Of Leon
  • Celebration Day -Led Zeppelin
  • …Like Clockwork -Queens Of The Stone Age
  • Psychedelic Pill -Neil Young With Crazy Horse

So many old guys in one category. But I think no one is more true, real rock than Black Sabbath. The Kings of Leon don’t even deserve to be nominated with Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin.

BEST ALTERNATIVE MUSIC ALBUM

  • The Worse Things Get, The Harder I Fight, The Harder I Fight, The More I Love You -Neko Case
  • Trouble Will Find Me -The National
  • Hesitation Marks -Nine Inch Nails
  • Lonerism -Tame Impala
  • Modern Vampires Of The City -Vampire Weekend

I’m seeing a nostalgia win in this category. But I like Vampire Weekend more.

BEST R&B SONG

  • Best Of Me -Anthony Hamilton & Jairus Mozee, songwriters (Anthony Hamilton)
  • Love And War -Tamar Braxton, Darhyl Camper, Jr., LaShawn Daniels & Makeba Riddick, songwriters (Tamar Braxton)
  • Only One -PJ Morton, songwriter (PJ Morton Featuring Stevie Wonder)
  • Pusher Love Girl -James Fauntleroy, Jerome Harmon, Timothy Mosley & Justin Timberlake, songwriters (Justin Timberlake)
  • Without Me -Fantasia Barrino, Missy Elliott, Al Sherrod Lambert, Harmony Samuels & Kyle Stewart, songwriters (Fantasia Featuring Kelly Rowland & Missy Elliot)

The truth is I have no idea who the Academy will choose, since I know none of these songs, but I do know who Stevie Wonder is, and I think his name will/should pull some votes. But once again, I ALWAYS want JT to win.

BEST R&B ALBUM

  • R&B Divas -Faith Evans
  • Girl On Fire -Alicia Keys
  • Love In The Future -John Legend
  • Better -Chrisette Michele
  • Three Kings -TGT

BEST RAP PERFORMANCE

  • Started From The Bottom -Drake
  • Berzerk -Eminem
  • Tom Ford -Jay Z
  • Swimming Pools (Drank) -Kendrick Lamar
  • Thrift Shop -Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Featuring Wanz

Just so we are all clear, I know little to nothing about rap music. I know that I like Drake, because he seems to have feelings and in general is less offensive to me, not to mention he is incredibly attractive and also sings. But that is where my knowledge ends. I know who all of these people are, but I can’t tell you a single thing about what makes a rap song good. I do know that Jay-Z and Eminem seem to be crazy respected though…so there’s that. I’m calling it a toss up between them.

BEST RAP/SUNG COLLABORATION

  • Power Trip -J. Cole Featuring Miguel
  • Part II (On The Run) -Jay Z Featuring Beyoncé
  • Holy Grail -Jay Z Featuring Justin Timberlake
  • Now Or Never -Kendrick Lamar Featuring Mary J. Blige
  • Remember You -Wiz Khalifa Featuring The Weeknd

Oh look, it’s Jay-Z vs. Jay-Z. Side note: Maybe it’s just me, but aren’t alllllll rap songs collaborations???

BEST RAP SONG

  • F***in’ Problems -Tauheed Epps, Aubrey Graham, Kendrick Lamar, Rakim Mayers & Noah Shebib, songwriters (ASAP Rocky Featuring Drake, 2 Chainz & Kendrick Lamar)
  • Holy Grail -Shawn Carter, Terius Nash, J. Harmon, Timothy Mosley, Justin Timberlake & Ernest Wilson, songwriters (Kurt Cobain, Dave Grohl & Krist Novoselic, songwriters) (Jay Z Featuring Justin Timberlake)
  • New Slaves -Christopher Breaux, Ben Bronfman, Mike Dean, Louis Johnson, Malik Jones, Elon Rutberg, Sakiya Sandifer, Che Smith, Kanye West & Cydell Young, songwriters (Anna Adamis & Gabor Presser, songwriters)
    (Kanye West)
  • Started From The Bottom -W. Coleman, Aubrey Graham & Noah Shebib, songwriters (Bruno Sanfilippo, songwriter) (Drake)
  • Thrift Shop -Ben Haggerty & Ryan Lewis, songwriters (Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Featuring Wanz)

BEST RAP ALBUM

  • Nothing Was The Same -Drake
  • Magna Carta…Holy Grail -Jay Z
  • Good Kid, M.A.A.D City -Kendrick Lamar
  • The Heist -Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
  • Yeezus -Kanye West

Personally I find Kanye West to be incredibly offensive. But I also recognize that everyone sees him as kind of a crazy genius. 

BEST COUNTRY SOLO PERFORMANCE

  • I Drive Your Truck -Lee Brice
  • I Want Crazy -Hunter Hayes
  • Mama’s Broken Heart -Miranda Lambert
  • Wagon Wheel -Darius Rucker
  • Mine Would Be You -Blake Shelton

“I Drive Your Truck” is the sentimental favorite. And I feel like “Wagon Wheel” shouldn’t be allowed because it’s not an original song. This year feel like all of the country nominees are pretty dead even this year. That’s the beauty of country music, it’s all good. These are the hardest categories for me to choose, because not only do I like them all, but I also see them all as equally likely to win.

BEST COUNTRY DUO/GROUP PERFORMANCE

  • From This Valley -The Civil Wars
  • Don’t Rush -Kelly Clarkson Featuring Vince Gill
  • Your Side Of The Bed -Little Big Town
  • Highway Don’t Care -Tim McGraw, Taylor Swift & Keith Urban
  • You Can’t Make Old Friends –Kenny Rogers With Dolly Parton

“Your Side of the Bed” is hands down the best song in this category. Buuuuut, Vince Gill has 20 Grammys, so they obviously like him.

BEST COUNTRY SONG

  • Begin Again –Taylor Swift, songwriter (Taylor Swift)
  • I Drive Your Truck -Jessi Alexander, Connie Harrington & Jimmy Yeary, songwriters (Lee Brice)
  • Mama’s Broken Heart -Brandy Clark, Shane McAnally & Kacey Musgraves, songwriters (Miranda Lambert)
  • Merry Go ‘Round -Shane McAnally, Kacey Musgraves & Josh Osborne, songwriters (Kacey Musgraves)
  • Mine Would Be You -Jessi Alexander, Connie Harrington & Deric Ruttan, songwriters (Blake Shelton)

The Academy likes Taylor, and for good reason. She embodies everything that they promote. Regardless of whether you like her or not, you can’t really deny her song writing ability (which is what this award recognizes). Also, she is the only one single writer nominated, so that should count for something. She is possibly the best writer of my generation. Also, I am partial to this song because it’s rumored to be about the love of my life, one Will Anderson.

BEST COUNTRY ALBUM

  • Night Train –Jason Aldean
  • Two Lanes Of Freedom –Tim McGraw
  • Same Trailer Different Park –Kacey Musgraves
  • Based On A True Story –Blake Shelton
  • Red –Taylor Swift

Anyone who knows me knows that I adore Taylor Swift, but “Red” is not a country album. Yes, it has a few country songs on it, but in general, it’s a pretty pop album. The fact that my bffff Tara likes it is all the verification I need. Other than “Red” I think this is a solid batch of country albums, it could go to anyone, but I think the Academy is going to send Kacey Musgraves home with the award.

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Duck, duck, duck, duck….goose

Posted on December 20, 2013 by momentswithmisty

I am just as tired as you are about hearing about Phil Robertson. I’m not even sure why we are talking about him, to be honest. An individual’s beliefs should not even be a talking point these days. But yet, here we are in the end of 2013 STILL discussing how WE think WE are right. No matter what side you are on, you think you’re right. Which I guess is human nature…if you’re five-years old.

Here is the only problem with everything that is going on with Mr. Phil Robertson and Duck Dynasty, and it has absolutely nothing to do with what he says, or the fact that he was banned from his very popular show. It has everything to do with our views on equality. Equality means that everyone has the right to do and say whatever they feel without fear of persecution. And the fact that this is a front page, top-tier news story proves just how skewed the public’s view of equality is these days.

For the record, before you judge me and stick me off to the side, and think I am some kind of hater or angry person, I just want to say that I am actually in support of same-sex relationships. Don’t misunderstand me, it’s not that I encourage it, but I think who an individual loves is none of my business. Who they love does not affect me in any way, shape, or form, so why should I try to dictate it or be offended by it? You know what offends me more than same-sex marriage? The fact that Kim Kardashian can get married for 72 days and nobody bats an eyelash at it. That is more offensive to my future marriage than Ellen and Portia being married.

If they love them, they love them and that is all there is to it. SIDE NOTE: Lots of homosexual people are actually a whole lot better at the love game than lots heterosexual people, because it’s so much more work for them than it is for heterosexuals. When you are homosexual, you have to fight to love who you love, which I think is probably a bonding factor. But when you are heterosexual, people become disposable because it’s just so darn easy.

The real problem here is that he is being criticized and condemned of hate because he expressed an opinion. It’s not that he was kicked off the show, because as a company A&E has every right to kick him off if he breached his contract or they don’t approve of something he says or does. Since A&E is not the government (I’m pretty sure), it has absolutely nothing to do with his First Amendment right. His job with A&E was an elected privilege, not a right. The problem is that having a belief or voicing a belief should not be something that is even written in a contract, or be something that can be approved or disapproved of, it should just exist.

Just as liberals are given the right to express their opinion that they agree with same-sex partnership, and they expect to be accepted, Phil Robertson has every right to disagree with them, and expect his opinion be accepted.

As a whole, the LGBT community preaches tolerance, which is a good thing. The issue that arises is that tolerance is preached, but not practiced. The LGBT community wants every one to be tolerant of their views on life and love, but they are often times intolerant of anyone who disagrees with them or has different views than them. (And I do’t mean to call them out specifically, but that is where the subject matter is at today.) Which is not okay. If you preach tolerance, you must also practice tolerance, which is putting up with stuff you don’t agree with and not crying hate every time someone says something that offends you.

Example: If you know me at all, you know that I am a little bit in love with Justin Timberlake. Okay, a “little bit” is probably a bit of a lie. I straight up adore JT. But, on his new album in the song Cabaret he has a line where he says “got you sayin’ Jesus so much it’s like we’re laying in a manger.” Um, as a Christian that is INCREDIBLY offensive to me. But do you hear me (or Christians everywhere) crying hate against JT because he is mocking Christianity? No. I either a.) ignore it, or b.) skip the song. (Just so we are all clear, this is NOT me hating on JT, I love him and I will probably never speak to you again if you try to pin JT hate on me.)

Just take a minute to think about it. Look at it from the point of, if someone on a really popular reality show revealed that they were homosexual and was then suspended indefinitely for that reason only, not because they went on a wild rant and for real slandered hate everywhere, or were caught executing heterosexual people, but they were suspended solely because they believed in homosexuality, that would be considered discrimination and people would be up-in-arms about it. Essentially this is the exact same situation, only opposite. Phil Robertson is being discriminated against because of his beliefs, and that is not okay. Discrimination is never okay, not matter the subject matter: race, sexual-orientation, religious beliefs. Doesn’t matter, not okay.

We’ve all come too far with equality to let these little things tear down everything that has been built up. I think as a whole the human race probably needs to develop some thicker skin. People are always going to say things that you find hurtful or offensive, just learn to roll with it. Also, while we’re at it, maybe we can also learn some compassion?

Here’s the big kicker,the thing that I can’t seem to wrap my head around…there are so many different channels to watch, magazines to read, and music to listen, that it just seems crazy to me that we can spend so much time arguing over something so easily avoided. If you don’t like what you see on TV, change the channel. If you don’t like what you’re reading in a magazine, put it down. If you don’t like what you’re hearing, skip the song. It sounds pretty basic and easy to me.

You cannot fight hate and discrimination with hate and discrimination.

If you want tolerance, then practice tolerance.

If you want equality, then practice equality. 

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Late July

Posted on July 21, 2013 by momentswithmisty

It’s late July and I haven’t posted in roughly two months. Mostly because I live a fairly uneventful life, partly because I can’t really seem to post a blog that doesn’t allude to things that are going on in my life that I probably don’t exactly want to become mainstream information…and also because I’ve recently been too lazy to write a blog.

Anyway, this one is just here to remind you that I’m still here 🙂

Here’s my current playlist, take from it what you will about my life (because I know you will).

1. I Can’t Lie – Maroon 5 Hands All Over

“I can’t lie, you’re on my mind, stuck inside my head. I wanna feel your heart beat for me instead.”

2. She’s Got A Way – Billy Joel Cold Spring Harbor

“She’s got a light around her, and everywhere she goes a million dreams of love surround her.”

3. Impatient Girl – Kate Voegele Gravity Happens

“Oh, I ain’t built like this. The way you’re taking your time has got me jumpin’ ship.
And I won’t lie, let’s call this what it is, an impatient girl waiting on an empty wish.”

4. Under Control – Parachute Losing Sleep

“So darling please forgive me, I want you and you’ll just have to know.”

5. Sooner or Later – Michelle Branch Everything Comes and Goes

“Sooner or later, you’re gonna come around. And you’ll be sorry, when you figure out, that I was always everything that you needed. Sooner or later, you’re gonna wish you had me. ”

6. Halo – Bethany Joy Lenz One Tree Hill, Vol.2

“One thing is clear, I wear a halo. I wear a halo when you look at me.”

7. All We Ever Do Is Say Goodbye – John Mayer Battle Studies

“Just when I had you off my head, your voice comes thrashing wildly through my quiet bed. You say you wanna try again, but I’ve tried everything but giving in.”

8. I Knew You Were Trouble. – Taylor Swift Red

“And he’s long gone when he’s next to me. And I realize the blame is on me.”

9. My Love – Justin Timberlake FutureSex/LoveSounds

“Because I could see us holding hands. Walking on the beach, our toes in the sand. I could see us on the countryside sittin’ on the grass, layin’ side by side.”

10. Cut Right Through Me – Hanson Anthem

“I say a word and I’ve said too much.”

11.  Catch Me – Demi Lovato Here We Go Again.

“I can’t set my hopes too high ’cause every hello ends with a goodbye.”

12.  You Can Run – Bryan Greenberg (Feat. Kid Cudi) We Don’t Have Forever

“You try to forget about me, but I told you to never doubt me. How’s your life right now without me?”

13. Sparks Fly– Taylor Swift Speak Now

“You’re the kind of reckless that should send me runnin’, but I kinda know that I won’t get far.”

14. Cups – Anna Kendrick  Pitch Perfect Soundtrack

“When I’m gone, when I’m gone, you’re gonna miss me when I’m gone. You’re gonna miss me by my walk, you’re gonna miss me by my talk, oh you’re gonna miss me when I’m gone.”

15.  Modern Love  – Matt Nathanson Modern Love

“Take the phone calls, take this circus. Take the drama, cause baby it’s just worthless.”

16.  Do You Think Abou Me – Carrie Underwood Blown Away

‘Do you think about me, like I think about you?”

17.  Goodnight and Go – Imogen Heap Speak For Yourself

“Skipping beats, blushing cheeks. I am struggling.”

18. Wanted You More – Lady Antebellum Own The Night

“My heart was open, exposed and hoping for you to lay it on the line. In the end it seemed there was no room for me. Still, I tried to change your mind.”

19. Layla – Eric Clapton Cream of Clapton

“Like a fool, I fell in love with you, turned my whole world upside down.”

20.  Come Back..Be Here – Taylor Swift Red

“I told myself don’t get attached, but in my mind I play it back. Spinning faster than the plane that took you.”

21. Everything You Want – Vertical Horizon Everything You Want

“There’s always another wound to discover. There’s always something more you wish he’d say.”

22.  From My Head To My Heart – Evan and Jaron Evan and Jaron

“I feel the distance standing here next to you. I don’t want to keep you waiting but I’ve been waiting too.”

23. Free Fallin’– Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers Full Moon Fever

“She’s a good girl, loves her mama. Loves Jesus and America too. ”

Listen to the complete playlist here.

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As long as there’ll be music, we’ll be comin’ back again.

Posted on April 24, 2012 by momentswithmisty

BOY BANDS ARE BACK!

Did you hear me?!

They.are.back!

It’s like I can hear the Heavens singing. I have been waiting for this day…well, since they left. They never really left me, though. I have always been a boy band fan. At any time on any given day you will hear them playing in my car, and from my laptop/phone. There is just something about them that makes me love them. Their characteristic good looks and charm, their non-threatening personas, and of course those uber sweet and fun songs.

My love affair with boy bands began at a young age. My first musical love in life was Hanson (don’t judge), but if you really want to get technical, I guess it began with The Beatles. The Beatles were/are my dad’s favorite group, so when I was little they were mine. But the first group that I really remember being devoted to was Hanson. That devotion never really faded. I still love them just as much, if not more than I did back in the day. I’m always going to be slightly bitter that they all married other girls, but whatever (Seriously, they may have looked like girls wen they were younger, but look at the handsome men they became). Now it’s one of those deep loves, you know like that one quote I see every where “….love is like a flame…blah, blah, blah…grows deep as embers…” (something like that). Now I truly appreciate their music. There will never be another Hanson in my life.

Then there was the wave of boy bands in the mid to late 90s. I loved them all. I mean, back then you had to choose a team, you COULD NOT like both Backstreet Boys and *NSYNC, so I was Team *NSYNC (though I secretly loved BSB, too). I was fairly convinced that I was going to marry Justin Timberlake (I was overlooking the strange 8 year age difference, I would still marry him if he’d get rid of Jessica Biel). I was crazy obsessed with them. Anyone who knew me back in the day can attest to this. I owned every single thing they made; posters covered my walls; I had a t-shirt for every day in the month. It.was.bad. (I may o may not still break out in to dance every time “Bye Bye Bye” comes on.) Luckily I got to see them in concert once (PopOddessy Tour. Arrowhead Stadium. July 10, 2001) before they disbanded. And, let me just be honest here, there is no limit on the amount of money I would pay to see them again if they were to ever go on a reunion tour. I would sell one of my kidneys, and perhaps a lung, too (that’s not a joke).

Then along came the Jonas Brothers. Once again, I was obsessed. I can distinctly remember when/how it started. It was my 18th birthday, and my mom had bought me (ironically enough) Hanson’s latest album, The Walk, but the Jonas Brothers had just released their self-titled album, Jonas Brothers (duh). Though I was, of course, pleased to get Hanson’s new album, I went out and brought the JoBros album. And then in February, Tara and I went and saw their When You Look Me In The Eyes tour. And the rest is sort of history. I was crazy obsessed. Like, one of those fangirls, only less annoying and potentially more scary for them because I was smart. I’ve seen them a total of three times (four if you count the time I saw Nick’s solo tour). Once even I drove all the way to Omaha, Nebraska to see them. I’m still a fan. I bought Nick and Joe’s solo albums (I liked Nick’s a lot more than Joe’s), and I am anxiously awaiting all the new music they’ve been working on. Oh, and I still stalk their whereabouts pretty much daily. (Unfortunately every time I come to California they go to NYC. And now that I moved here, they all live in NYC. I’m still pretty bitter about that.) I’m still not totally convinced I won’t marry one of them (obviously Joe or Nick, because Kevin is already married, and Frankie is too young).

And now there is a new way of boy bands. One Direction. Big Time Rush. The Wanted. (There are probably others that I’m forgetting.) I’ve always kind of loved Big Time Rush. I liked to watch their show when I was home. It was silly and fun. Their music is classic boy band, and they all happen to have the boy band look. Handsome and clean cut. I’m actually currently campaning to work on their up coming summer tour (so if you happen to know anyone who works for Columbia Records, hit me up), because I think it would be fun. Four crazy guys who have to entertain 13-year-olds for 1.5 hours? Tell me that doesn’t sound like fun. I only vaguely know The Wanted. I’ve heard their one song “Glad You Came,” but that’s about as far a I go in knowledge of them. I wouldn’t be able to pick them out in a police line up.

Then there is One Direction. I hated them for so long. I remember reading about them months ago. Months before they blew up over here. And I hated them. I had never actually heard any of their songs, but I hated their public personas. They are dirty, inappropriate and I was just not a fan. I’m still not sure that I am a fan. But, I did buy their album. Because I couldn’t resist. As I have just laid out my musical history with boy bands, you can see that it is embedded in my DNA to love them. And as much as I want to hate One Direction, their music is classic boy band. It’s fun, incredibly catchy and sweet. I just want to make it clear that I do not like them, I just like their music (which was not written by them).

MTV has created a competition that was made for me. Battle of the Boy Bands. Voting began yesterday on this bracket (which as far I’m concerned trumps the March Madness bracket by a landslide).

The starting 32 boy bands.

I decided to take some time and give you my picks. Below you will find two separate brackets. The first one is what I anticipate happening, And the second one is what I want to happen.

This what I predict will happen.

Now, as I just explained before, I do not love One Direction…but a lot of girls do. A lot of the demographic that is actually going to vote in the contest love them. A huge part of their rise to fame was the internet. They wouldn’t be as huge as they are now if it wasn’t for tumblr, twitter, blogs and youtube. So I think that their little fans will probably run this competition. Which is sad. There is no way they deserve to beat Backstreet Boys, but such is life. You also may be a bit annoyed with some of my other picks, but I’m just trying to take into account who I think the voters will pick.

Most of the voters will identify with Big Time Rush, but they’ll have no idea who Boys II Men is. It’s kind of the same way throughout some of the other ocntests. You have to look at the voting demographic. Young girls who are crazy obsessed (like I was not so long ago) are going to spend hours on their computers voting, and their friends are all going to vote. Now, Boys II Men may in fact be the better boy band, but how many Boys II Men fans are getting on mtv.com everyday? How many times will Boys II Men tweet a link to this site and campaigning for the win, because I can guarantee the Big Time Rush will. And how many Boys II Men fans have hours upon hours to just sit and vote..? Exactly.

Backstreet Boys are still around making music, and they have a pretty heavy web presence, plus their core fans are my age (and very dedicated), and know how to use a computer and are on it pretty frequently. If anybody has a shot at taking on One Direction and their crazy fans, it’s BSB. They might have a decent shot because once all of my generations other favorites get eliminated we will rally behind them. *NSYNC is a classic, when most people think boy band, they are probably what they think of, so they might have more of a fighting chance than I’m giving them credit for. (Wouldn’t it be great if it came down to BSB vs. *NSYNC? That would be the classic battle.) And I refuse to pick a winner out of the Jonas Brothers/Hanson round. I just won’t do it.

This is what I want to happen.

I can’t choose! I want them all to win!

That east division is just killing me. As you will notice, three of my all-time favorite bands have to face off, and if I could have my way I would want them all to win (though I don’t really consider Hanson or the JoBros as classic boy bands, but I guess they can fit in this time). You will also notice that I kept Big Time Rush ahead of Boys II Men after defending them before, but personally I was just not a big Boys II Men fan. I know that they were successful and well-loved, just not by me. I don’t really have an opinion on The Wanted, but I love The Monkees, so they win that round. Another surprising choice is New Kids on the Block over The Beatles. In my head, I just don’t categorize The Beatles as a boy band. They have more credibility than that. I mean, is Guns N’ Roses a boy band just because it’s a band made up of boys? No! So I don’t see how The Beatles fell into this catagory. I mean, if you’re going to throw them in, then where are The Beach Boys, huh? And you will also notice that I have One Direction going to the final four, but did you look at their competition? They were seriously given the easier division. I mean, B2K? They were barely a boy band. They had one song…and then I’m pretty sure they disbanded. And “Bump Bump Bump,” was hardly an innocent, boy band style song. And, don’t get me wrong, I love BSB and New Kids on the Block, so therefor I love NKOTBSB and I was obsessed with their song “Don’t Turn Off The Lights,” but it seems a little bit unfair to give both bands two bids in this competition.

So, if I had my way the title would be split four ways. However, if I absolutely HAD to choose….

Hanson would get my vote for best overall band…but I think I’d have to give the title of best boy band to *NSYNC. They are pretty much the epitome of the entire genre.

Let me know what you guys think. Do you love boy bands? Are you glad they’re back? Who do you think will win? Who do yo want to win? Was your favorite boy band left out? Tell me what you’re thinking, I’m always up for a good boy band discussion.

And be sure to vote here.

Categories: Entertainment, Music, Pop Culture | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

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