My New Favorite Songs

Thanks to this list from Buzzfeed, I found some hidden gems and wanted to share three of my favorites that have already cracked my list of Best Tunes of 2015... So Far.

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I can only sum up my feelings in a .gif:

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I never fell harder for a song before. Shout-out to The Sims influence!

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Holy crap, I'm such a sucker for songs that sound like they came from my birth decade, but aren't (and also, good synths.)

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If these songs don't do anything for you, I'm sure that list has a few you might find more to your taste.

Let's jam out! *parties like a sober rock star*

P.S.: Other favorites from that list include:
"I'll Wait for You" by Iris
"Jump Hi (feat. Childish Gambino)" by Lion Babe
"Catch" by Allie X
"Ego" by Tove Styrke

Sorry y'all

I feel like I've been going up and down on things these days (but dammit it won't affect San Francisco and future events!). I blame it on PMS and general stress. And the job thing I was talking about for a while now...

My mom was pointing out that she was afraid of me lapsing back into the state I was in last year. And you know? That was my fear from the very beginning. She helped me gain perspective and change how I feel about everything. It was then I was able to turn down the job and move onto future plans. I feel a great sense of relief and understanding about things now. As always, my mom has been a big help. And also, I listened to my gut. And my gut said "that's nice of them, but this isn't what you want". And there you go.

That and listening to this song over and over does help a lot. Damn, it's good.


*FYI: I am a huge Ladytron fan*

*Something clever*

Well, late to the party, but found out for sure last night that WMG and YouTube are on good terms again, and yes, WMG are allowing their videos to return!

Turns out there was a huge movement by various YouTubers, so thank them for their hard work.

So, I'm reposting my link on "Other Haunts", ending my drop-in-the-bucket protest of never returning unless a deal was reached.

And that's it. Yeah, there you go.

P.S. To celebrate (late at that, but whatever), let's watch "Amsterdam" by Guster.

Looks like I'll be returning to YouTube soon...

Looks like a deal is in the making. Yea, WMG music videos!

Small note: most of the musicians/bands I enjoy are under this umbrella of labels.

An Open Letter to Warner Music Group and YouTube

To Whom This May Concern,

Music videos have been a necessary evil for some, a marketing tool for all. We cannot deny the art form's original intentions. Yet, when handled correctly, music videos add pizazz to a newly-released single. They also can become a statement for the artist. Sometimes, as seen with artists such as Michael Jackson and Madonna, the videos become cultural icons, inspiring fashion and art. Music videos are also a good way for someone to be introduced to a band. As stated before, the video is usually for a single that the record label considers to be a potential hit. It is a "safe way" for a newcomer to learn about the artist, if you would pardon the lack of better phrasing. For some, the only way to attract possible sales would be bombastic visuals, like the kind seen in early metal videos.

As a child born in the '80's, I grew up watching music videos. They were of the country music persuasion, but the point remains the same. I have many fond memories of watching Reba McEntire and Garth Brooks walking around in fields, singing heartbreak songs. As I got older, I started to watch VH1. I was too late, though. The channel was moving to air more music-based shows more so than videos. I was lucky even to catch something with the Go-Gos or Lionel Richie.

As the world discovers the infinite space we all know as the Internet, there are places where these once-forgotten music videos have a new home. Places like YouTube, where watching videos of animals doing cute things can get boring after a while. People then uploaded music videos. And it was good. Older folks relived their younger days, and the tykes of today were discovering Led Zeppelin and Iron Maiden.

But now, there is a disagreement between Warner Music Group and YouTube. Now, music videos posted with artists signed under the WMG banner are removed. Odd enough, other record labels haven't gotten into a disagreement with YouTube and their videos are happily streaming, racking up plays, and comments between fans and non-fans alike are being shared. The musicians get their publicity (and eventual sales), the record labels get their sales and advertising. It's win-win.

While the solution of music videos being posted on the bands' official websites is not a bad idea, it does defeat the purpose of what YouTube was all about and what the other record labels are doing. It's all about sharing, being open to whatever venue there is. It's about catching up with the times. Whether it is a fear of change or financial hang-ups, this whole debacle between WMG and YouTube is an unfortunate one.

Please, WMG and YouTube. Work something out. You're hurting not only the musicians, but all the viewers (and even potential fans!). TV is no longer reliable for kids these days to find classic music. The Internet was their main source. Don't deprive them of that.

Sincerely,
Lindsey
-a concerned audiophile and YouTube user

Random note on YouTube...

My sister recently asked me why I don't go onto my YouTube account these days, and regulars with sharp eyes would notice a link to that profile is absent from "My Other Haunts". That is because, until Warner Music Group and YouTube reconcile (restoring all my old favorite videos, mostly of the Fleetwood Mac and Talking Heads persuasion, and even Jerry Harrison and Guster ones), I refuse to log back in.

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Stupid? Yeah, I know. But it is just backwards how WMG is looking at it. It's free advertising! Plus, it's not like these old videos are getting any airplay on MTV and VH1 (God forbid music video channels actually play videos *rolls eyes*)

In case you ever wondered...

Here is the origin of my pseudonym here.

God, I forgot how much I loved these guys...

Hey, kids! Here's a math question:

what does Editors + Talking Heads song = ??

This awesomeness.

What the heck I've been up to these days...

The Labor Day weekend is coming to a quick end, alas. I didn't really get to enjoy it very much.

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When school began, the stress of my writing issues (along with other fun quarterlife crisis issues) came to a head. I managed to get myself together, but yeah... this anxiety is too much to keep fighting alone. So, I made an appointment with a counselor on campus. I feel better already.

Despite my anxiety, my classes are going to be a blast. I'm getting to hang out with tons of familiar faces (including some very close friends), read some goods books and of course... talk to some cool professors. They're all intelligent, well-read and experienced people. So, at least, all is good on that front.

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After years of wanting, I finally got VH-1 Classic. The channel had an '80's video marathon, so I tried my best to keep up with it and watch some of my favorite artists. I had to bypass Genesis due to work, but I got to see:

Lindsey Buckingham: "Go Insane" and "Holiday Road" (!)
Fleetwood Mac: "Hold Me", "Little Lies" and "Seven Wonders" (!)
Billy Joel: "Pressure"
Squeeze: "Hourglass"
Talking Heads: "And She Was" and "Once in A Lifetime"

Their Talking Heads video choices were good, yet lacking one major video... no "Burning Down the House"! WTH?!

And yes, after years of accepting the fact I would never see it on TV, I finally saw "Little Lies". Man, my happiness reached a limit I didn't think existed. The video is so much more... green than seeing it on YouTube.

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Current school reading: The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton and a sci-fi anthology edited by Ursula K. Le Guin.

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Thank God and everyone else in Heaven for the citizens of New Orleans and the rest of the Gulf Coast. They all got out before Gustav hit. Looks like things aren't going to be as bad as predicted: see here.

That's, of course, fantastic news.

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There's nothing much else to say for the time being. So I leave you, rocking out to the ending of the Mavericks's "What A Crying Shame"...

Regards,
Lindsey