My Favorite 4 Minutes of Music: 9/15/2045: "Golden" by Travie McCoy featuring Sia

Now that both the Taylor Swift and Kelly Clarkson/Pentatonix concerts have passed, I have been able to take 1989 and Piece by Piece off repeat and actually revisit the world of current pop music.  Thanks go Songza's "Today's Pop Hits" station, I've recently discovered some great new songs.  One of which has prompted me to resuscitate "My Favorite 4 Minutes of Music" here on my blog.

You need to listen to this song for no other reason than the lyric "She's my Patty Mayonnaise to my Doug Funnie".   Because that lyric is everything.

Past that lyric, the song is really enjoyable.  The catchy hook sung powerfully by Sia in combination with the creative verses provided by Travie McCoy creates some delicious pop snackage.  The video is equally as enjoyable to watch, playing some visual tricks that make you question what you just saw as if its all in one take.  Two thumbs up for both the song and the video!

Enjoy!

My Favorite 4 Minutes of Music: May 8, 2013

There have been some seriously good tunes for motivating and inspiring me lately!  I love that music has taken a turn for the positive.  The song I'm obsessed with at the moment is "Wings" by Little Mix.  I heard this song for the first time maybe 3 or 4 weeks ago at the SRC (on the new "Matador Music" station).  I Shazam'ed it because it definitely sounded like a tune that I should know, and I hadn't heard it before.  Since then, I've heard it several other times, including when the top 4 girls on American Idol decided to cover it. 

This morning, I was running laps at the SRC and this song got me through the final mile (my total was 4.5 miles!  Woo hoo!).  I played it three times in a row.  Then as I walked back to the locker room, it came on Matador Music!  This made me remember that I haven't posted a blog in a while, so it was just the inspiration I needed to dust off the old blogger account.

After some further research I discovered the Little Mix was actually the season 8 champion of X-Factor UK.  I can't believe that I hadn't already heard of them, considering that I'm usually up on my reality-competition-music shows.  Anyway, I'm happy to have found them, and found this song.  Hopefully it will put some pep in your step like it did for me!  :-)

My Favorite 4 Minutes of Music This Week- 3/19/12

It's been a while since I've posted a song on here as my favorite 4 minutes of music.... but this song just came out of nowhere this morning and slapped me right across the face!  I had to post it... not only because I love it... but because I wanted a historical reference on my blog of the first day I heard this song. 

Katy Perry is re-releasing her Teenage Dream album with a few new tracks and remixes, and just this morning I heard one of those new tracks called "Wide Awake".  At first listen, it grabbed my attention simply because of its catchiness.  Should we be surprised that Katy Perry has a catchy pop tune?  Not after five #1's off the same album!  :-) 

After listening through a few times and catching some of the lyrics, I googled the lyrics and followed along as I listened.  I got goosebumps AND even teared up a bit.  The song definitely is striking a chord with where I'm at in life right now.  I need my hands on this single ASAP.  I hope it comes out on iTunes soon.  This is the kind of music that makes me feel better about life, even in my darkest moments (a`la Sara Bareilles and Kelly Clarkson). 

WTG Katy!  Props for releasing another amazing song and making my love for you grow even stronger!

Enjoy "Wide Awake"


I'm Wide Awake
I'm Wide Awake

I'm wide awake
Yeah, I was in the dark
I was falling hard
With an open heart
I'm wide awake
How did I read the stars so wrong

I'm wide awake
And now it's clear to me
That everything you see
Ain't always what it seems
I'm wide awake
Yeah, I was dreaming for so long

(Pre-Chorus)
I wish I knew then
What I know now
Wouldn't dive in
Wouldn't bow down
Gravity hurts
You made it so sweet
Till I woke up on
On the concrete

(Chorus)
Falling from cloud 9
Crashing from the high
I'm letting go tonight
(Yeah I'm) Falling from cloud 9

I'm wide awake
Not losing any sleep
Picked up every piece
And landed on my feet
I'm wide awake
Need nothing to complete myself - nooohooo

I'm wide awake
Yeah, I am born again
Outta the lion's den
I don't have to pretend
And it's too late
The story's over now, the end - yeah

(Pre-Chorus)
I wish I knew then
What I know now
Wouldn't dive in
Wouldn't bow down
Gravity hurts
You made it so sweet
Till I woke up on
On the concrete

(Chorus)
Falling from cloud 9
Crashing from the high
I'm letting go tonight
(Yeah I'm) Falling from cloud 9

(Chorus)

Thunder rumbling
Castles crumbling
I am trying to hold on
God knows that I tried
Seeing the bright side
But I'm not blind anymore...'cause I'm... wide awake

(Chorus)
(Oh now I'm) Falling from cloud 9
It was outta the blue, I'm
Crashing from the high
(Yeah) I'm letting go tonight
Letting go of illusion
(Now I'm) Falling from cloud 9

I'm Wide Awake x5

My Favorite 4 Minutes of Music: Week of December 16th

Sorry that it has been a while since I've blogged.  Once again life has gotten the best of me lately... but the last few days I've connected to a song that has inspired me to pull up the blog again and write about it.

So, I'm pretty comfortable being me.  I wouldn't say that I wish too often to be someone else.  But... if there has ever been a song that has made me wish I was a super sexy, scantily-clad, take-no-prisoners, boot-wearing, hair-flailing, shot-pouring female bartender, a`la Coyote Ugly, then it is this song:

"Paris (Ooh La La)" by Grace Potter and the Nocturnals. 

I have to admit, I hadn't even heard of this band until the recent VH1 Divas special where they performed for the troops.  I only turned in because I love Kathy Griffin (who was hosting), but the show also opened my eyes to this group.  They hadn't even finished performing the song and I had already taken out my iPhone to download the song.  Since then, I've had the opportunity to listen to it several times and it always makes me want to lip sync and dance... like Coyote Ugly dance.  Even tonight, alone in my car, I got caught at a stop light dancing to this song.  Hahaha.  It happens people! 

Hope you enjoy!

My Favorite 4 Minutes of Music This Week- October 8th

So it should come to no surprise for people close to me that Pink is my #1 favorite musical artist.  It's hard for this talented woman to release a song that I don't like.... but recently she just released a song that I LOVE!  It's going to be a new single that will a part of her Greatest Hits album (which even though I already own ALL of her songs, I will HAVE to get it!)

According to Twitter she's been filming the video for the last few days, and she's including a wedding ceremony of a gay couple in the video!  I think that's awesome.  She's always been an advocate for the gay community, and I think its great that she is showcasing the issue of gay marriage in her video.  Just a few days ago she was presented the "Ally for Equality" award at the Human Rights Campaign annual dinner and fundraiser.  She rocks!

Enjoy this song... its got a great party beat and is fun to rock out to in the car with the windows down!

My Favorite 4 Minutes of Music: Week of August 24th

Nothing like having a three week break from blogging, eh?  Sorry to those of you who were becoming loyal readers and then I just fell off the face of the planet.  I had a huge event at work... and a huge event in my personal life that I was getting prepared for.  Both are now complete and I hope to get back to blogging in my spare time!

I figured I'd start with my recurring "Favorite 4 Minutes of Music".... the funny thing is that this song isn't even four minutes long!  It's just over two minutes.  But for some reason, in those two minutes, this song makes me feel like I am 20 again and wanting to go out to a dance club and seriously shake it.  During some of the more stressful times of hte last two weeks, this song has gotten me through just by putting it on in my car or in the shower and just dancing like there's no tomorrow.  :-)

The song is "I Like That" by Static Revenger & Richard Vission featuring Luciana.  One quick fun tidbit I just learned: Richard Vission was raised in the San Fernando Valley of LA.... which is right where I live!  :-)

My Favorite 4 Minutes of Music This Week- July 23rd

For this weeks Favorite 4 Minutes, I'm sharing a group that I've been jamming to all week.  This song isn't a new, breaking song that is fresh on the charts... in fact, I don't think they have ever been on the charts here in the US.  They are a UK-based Danish pop that I am in love with: Alphabeat!

To me, Alphabeat is a little slice of Europop heaven.  There ain't no shame in my game... I will openly admit that I love Ace of Base and other poppy groups that came out of the Europe in the 90's.  To me, Alphabeat is a throwback to those days, with a new, current spin on it.  I was able to get my hands on their most recent CD "The Beat Is..." and I am in LOVE with it.  The lead singer, Stine, is so damn cute... and she is joined by a group of equally adorable guys.  They are just fun, fun, FUN!

I first found out about Alphabeat when Perez Hilton posted a song by them on his blog... and he later had them perform at his showcase at SXSW this year.  It was their first US appearance... and I was SO wanting to be there.  I guess I'll have to wait for them to come back to the states and hopefully they will do a show in the LA area.

The song Perez posted months ago is the song that I am posting for you today... it's my favorite of their songs and makes me feel like dancing.  It's great while driving with the windows down in the summertime!

Check it out and if you like it, you should look up their other songs and videos on YouTube.  Enjoy "The Spell" by ALPHABEAT!  :-)

My Favorite 4 Minutes of Music This Week- July 13th

Summer is a time for a good, poppy, windows-down, speakers-blaring, wind-in-your-hair kinda jam... and there is one song that I think fits this bill, and I can't stop listening to it.  That's why its my favorite 4 minutes of music this week: Dance Forever by Allstar Weekend. 

I first heard this song simply by seeing it in the iTunes top 100 downloads and listening to the 30 second sample.  It sounded fun so I downloaded the whole track.  Since then, its been on my "Current Hits" playlist on my iPod... and I seem to always go to this song first.  It's got the same vibe as Metro Station... and the lead singer totally has a Fall Out Boy vocal thing going on.  I'm not sure if its the pop/rocky guitar and keyboards, or the simple easy to sing along with lyrics... but its infectious... and I've got the virus.

I decided before I posted this I may want to look the band up and get a bit more information about them.  They all went to high school together in San Diego... and got thier start in early 2009.  Not surprisingly, this band was part of a talent competition on Radio Disney (I'm a sucker for teeny-bopper pop folks... no shocker here).  They didn't win... but they did get signed by Hollywood Records following the competition.  Also... not to play the race card here (but I'm gonna...) its nice to see a diverse group of guys in this band! 

I've already put my shields up for the amount of crap that is going to get hurled at me for being almost 30 and enjoying a band that is liked by girls who are literally half my age.  But no shame in my game!  I love this song... so turn it up and enjoy!

My Favorite 4 Minutes of Music This Week- July 6th

So with my love of music, I've decided that I want to start a recurring set of posts called "My Favorite 4 Minutes of Music This Week".  It will be my opportunity to share with you what I'm currently listening to... whether that is a new tune, or maybe a throwback.

For this week, I'd like to feature the new song King of Anything by Sara Bareilles. 

Now... I'm usually not one of those people who boast about music artists with lines like "I knew them before anyone else did!"  In fact, one of my favorite tshirts from threadless.com is this ------>

I like this shirt because it makes fun of all those uber chic hipsters that think they are so ahead of the music curve. But I do have to admit... that with Sara Bareilles, I obtained her first hit Love Song when it was the "Free Download of the Week" on iTunes.  After listening, I immediately bought the whole album.  Then about 6 months later, Love Song hit radio airwaves and then other people started to love this artist that I already loved so dearly.  I saw her open for Maroon 5 and actually got to meet her and get her autograph at the show.  She was so sweet and nice, which made me like her even more.

Now Sara is back with a brand new album, and King of Anything is the lead-off single.  All it took was one listen and I am hooked on Sara again.  This song has the perfect combination of staying true to herself as an artist (and what we know of her), but bringing just a little bit more to the table.  It starts with a simple piano melody and her vocals... and as the song builds she adds percussion and brass instruments (and some infectious hand claps).  By the second stanza the song really has a great pop rhythm and beat going that even makes me want to dance a bit.  It just makes me happy! 

The lyrics of the song are great too!  She's telling a great story about a guy who seems to think he's all that and a bag a chips.  But Sara is realizing that she doesn't have to listen to everything he says... and really, who is he to seem any better than anyone else?  I particularly love the line "All my life, I've tried to make everybody happy... while I just hurt and hide.  Waiting for someone to tell me that it's my turn to decide".  I think a lot of people can relate to this!  Whether its a boss, a parent, or a significant other... everyone probably has a "King of Anything" in their lives... and really... we just need to be confident in ourselves and overcome that person! 

The video is cute too.  Creative... and we get to see her have a little bit of fun.  I think people may have a preconceived notion that she is such a serious artist... so its nice to see her dancing around and having fun in the video. 

So check it out!  I was pleasantly happy to find that the song is in the top 30 of iTunes downloads right now.  I hope that it gets some radio airplay and that she can have a great first single leading into her new album.  Personally I can't wait. 

Here's the video.  Enjoy!