All Time Faves: Bands

Day 28: What are your top 3 favorite bands?

What does it take for a band to be considered a favorite? do I need to have every single record they ever made? been to at least one of their concerts? like ALL their songs? If that's the case then I don't have a favorite band, but here's three bands I love:

1. Blink 182. The obsessions started when their hit album Enema of the State came out in 1999 (I'm all about the 90's). After that, I looked all of their older stuff up and continue to follow their career up to their self tittled album. I'm actually really excited that they are releasing a new album this year (California), but before I get that, I need to catch up with what came in between: Neighborhoods. I've seen them live once (they came to Mexico ages ago) and I don't have all their records nor do I like all their songs.I think what I like about Blink 182 is their music over their lyrics. Usually I'm more of a lyrics person, but despite what their songs say, their music just makes me happy. (Image via here)

2. The Ataris. Remember that time (in the 90's, of course) when you'd make friends in online chat rooms? Well, back then I met this guy named Sam. He introduced me to The Ataris and many other bands of the sort. That's how I started listening to punk rock music, when I was in Secondary school. What stood out from The Ataris over the other bands was also their music and occasionally their lyrics too. I felt like their music had messages of love, friendship and family and over all, it made me happy to listen to it. I don't have all their records (just a couple), I've never seen them live,  and I stopped following their career. But we'll always have San Dimas High School Football Rules. (Image via here)

3. Maroon 5. There's more to Maroon 5 than just how hot Adam Levine is. I love their music AND lyrics, possibly more than the music itself. I don't have ANY of their records but I've seen them live once. (Image via here)

Other bands I really like include Imagine Dragons, Mumford and Sons, Green Day, Good Charlotte, New Found Glory, Sum 41, All American Rejects, Simple Plan, Unwritten Law, MxPx, Mest, Coldplay, Keane, One Republic, Lifehouse and Florence and the Machine, amongst many, many more. 

What are your top 3 favorite bands?

g.

*Cover image via here

First Concert Ever

Day 18: What was the first concert you attended?

I can't be too sure about this one. I believe it's between Kabah and Fey. Embarrassing, I know, but hey, it was the 90's. I'm gonna go with Kabah though, because 18 years later I saw them again!!! As part of the 90's comebacks fever, Kabah joined OV7 (another 80's and 90's Mexican pop band) and are currently touring Mexico (and making my 13 year old self's dream come true).

My first Kabah concert was some time in May of 1998. I remember this because my attendance was some sort of birthday present from my parents. Many of my friends were there too and we were psyched. They had just released their 'Esperanto' record which went on to become my favorite. 

When they announced they were joining OV7 for a national tour I told A we HAD to go see them. All my girlfriends saw them in Veracruz and one of them even said she'd come with us to see them in Puebla again. And so my sister, my friend, A and I went on to see them back in February.

I don't have any pictures of that concert in 1998, but here's a bunch from last February :)

We've got tickets to a pop show...

The gang before the gig :)

Put on the boots, take off the sneakers

Kabah in their signature yellow outfit from like 25 years ago

All the girls

Kabah girls and OV7 boys

Everyone 

The end 

ps. We went to lunch before the concert and half of Kabah was there!!! You can see René and Daniela's back and hair. Federica was also there, but out of frame.Best Concert Ever!g.

10 Songs

So… since I’m officially off duty in the teaching department, I thought it would be fun to do some sort of challenge here on the blog that would encourage me to write more and specifically, more often. This is very simple, I will write one post each day for 30 days. 

I had read about this sort of challenges for a while, but never thought I had the time to actually do them, at least not until now, so without further ado, here it goes.

Day 1: Put your iPod* on shuffle. List the first 10 songs that play and how you feel about them.

Disclaimer: I have to say that my music library consists solely of songs from the 90’s and until around 2010, with the occasional oldie and the even stranger new hit.

1. 'Deep in my heart' by Britney Spears. This is embarrassing, probably not the greatest way to start, but it is what it is. Most Britney songs remind me of my junior high days and sleepovers with my friends. I actually remember the very first time I heard Britney’s first album (which includes this song). It was not a single but I like that it’s catchy (and cheesy). 

Favorite line: (chorus, what a surprise) Deep in my heart I know there’s only you and right from the start I always knew. I never let go ‘cause I love you so. Ooh I want you for the rest of my life.

Dedicated to: A <3 font="">

2. 'Lifestyle of the rich and famous' by Good Charlotte. My love for punk-rock music should not be a surprise. I even wrote a post about this very topic not too long ago. GC reminds me of high school, when I met new friends who were also into this type of music, when I briefly joined a band and went to more Battle of the Bands events than I can remember. 

Favorite line: Always see it on TV or read it in the magazines, celebrities want sympathy. All they do is piss and moan inside the Rolling Stone, talkin’ about how hard life can be… (mo money mo problems!)

Dedicated to: many people actually come to mind, but I rather not say.

3. 'November Rain' by Guns N Roses. This is probably the only NOT embarrassing song I got. I’m not really a Guns N Roses fan, but got into them because my friends from junior high had a band and played many of their songs (plus they are classic). This song is really sad, but it reminds me of my brother who is a big fan.

Favorite line: And when your fears subside and shadows still remain, I know that you can love me when there's no one left to blame. So never mind the darkness, we still can find a way 'cause nothin' lasts forever, even cold November rain.

4. 'No te pido flores' by Fanny Lu. (I’m not asking for flowers would be the translation for this song). This is a good one in the sense that is actually the response to a song previously written by the male counterpart in which he sends her flowers. The song reminds me of nights out in my hometown with girlfriends where the live band would play both the songs and we would sing and dance away.

Favorite line: Yo sólo quiero que me digas que no hay mujer que más admiras (I only want you to tell me that there’s no other woman you admire most’.

5. 'So Long Sweet Summer' by Dashboard Confessional. Any song with the word ‘summer’ in it, automatically becomes attached to my summer at Disney and this one is no exception. It’s a specially sadder song since it’s about good byes and stuff, but not less catchy.

Favorite line: Hey thanks, thanks for that summer…

Dedicated to: my Disney friends <3 font="">

6. 'That Power' by Will.I.Am feat. Justin Beaver. After every other song that played before, I’m surprised this one popped out. Not the kind of music I usually listen to, but it reminds me of the time I spent in Sheffield studying (and going on nights out with other Mexican friends and international students), Viva la Fiesta and Embrace.

Favorite line: And oh, I'm alive, I'm alive, I'm alive. And I'm loving every second, minute, hour, bigger, better, stronger power

Dedicated to: the girls from Sustainable Studies

7. 'Fly' by Nicki Minaj feat. Rihanna. Also not my type of music, but I think I heard it on Glee and liked it, so I looked it up. I really love the message of the song and its empowerment of women, which is no surprise that my favorite part is actually the chorus.

Favorite line: I came to win, to fight, to conquer, to thrive. I came to win, to survive, to prosper, to rise. To fly

Dedicated to: every woman ever

8. 'I Wish You Were Here' by Incubus. This song takes me back to high school too when I got really into Incubus. I even went to a concert once when I was visiting friends/attending a conference in Monterrey, plus Brandon Boyd (heart eyes emoji).

Favorite line: I'm counting ufo's. I signal them with my lighter and in this moment i am happy, happy.

Dedicated to: my former best friend

9. 'Ven a Ver' by Byron. This song could not be more appropriate. It’s a song about my hometown, sung by a local performer (who happened to play most nights at my favorite night club back home). The tittle also has a double meaning as it could be ‘Come to see’ as well as ‘Come to Ver’ which is short for Veracruz, my hometown.

Favorite line: Veracruz, quisiera darte una canción con música de Agustínn Lara y con letra del poeta Díaz Mirón (Veracruz, I’d like to give you a song with music from Agustín Lara and lyrics from the poet, Díaz Mirón)

Dedicated to: Jarochos, everywhere

10. 'Forever and Always' by Taylor Swift. Of all the TS songs I could not have gotten ‘Welcome to NY’ or something cooler than this?… well, again pretty lame, but this song reminds me of a time before A, when I was doing pretty bad (pathetic) in the romance department. I guess it’s just one of those songs you scream at the top of your lungs when you feel hurt and you wish he was listening (or maybe not really).

Favorite line: ‘Cause I was there when you said forever and always. You didn’t mean it, baby!

Dedicated to: those guys before THE ONE

Well this was fun! 

Have you ever done this?

Try it and let me know? I’d love to read.

G.

*My iPhone has only two artists on it for the time being, so I thought I'd cheat and use my iTunes library on the laptop instead.

Guilty Pleasures: Music Edition

Since I work in a very noisy environment to say the least, it is often that I find myself wearing earphones. I always find it hard to decide what to listen though, in order not to get it burnt out. I've been one to listen to the same artist/album/song so much I end up hating it, so I try and diversify the music I listen to from time to time.

Long nights at work require certain concentration which can be hard to attain after 15 hours in the office, and so, occassionally I'll need to listen to music that will help keep me awake, which means no Coldplay or the Roswell Soundtrack.

Just the other night I had this song by The Ataris stuck in my head, which gave me the idea to crank up all the songs I once praised, songs not a lot of people know (at least not the people I know), songs I love. The genre? Punk Rock.

I might not strike you as the type of person (if there is even a type) which would listen to this type of music. Whenever people ask me what kind of music I like, I don't exactly stand proudly acknowledging this. Partly, because it's not something I listen to anymore, and partly because I think it's a little awkward.

However, I spent that Saturday night mouthing the words to 'Responsibility' and 'My friends over you' and even though I was extremely tired and frustrated after not getting my pieces right, I felt happy. Music kinda does that, doesn't it? I mean, it can change a mood, it can bring back memories, and for a while there, I was back in high school, dressing up (or attempting to) like Avril Lavigne and going to see my friends' bands play at clubs.

Although I guess there's no wrong age for listening to a certain type of music, it is a fact that as everything else in life, we change and our tastes evolve as we grow up. And although these days it is more likely that you will find me listening to Jason Mraz or Gavin Degraw, still this doesn't mean I don't enjoy singing out loud to 'Pretty Fly' or 'I'm just a kid', no matter how old I get. 

Well I guess this is growing up*
What's your musical guilty pleasure?

g.

*These are lyrics to a Blink 182 song (my favorite band growing up).
*PS. Here´s a playlist where you can listen to my musical guilty pleasures (Punk-Rock edition).
*Image via here.