2000: Songs of Too Little Simple Yellow Bathwater and Stronger Hooks

Okay, so it is now the new decade, friends, which means it's time to remember the goodness that was the last decade. Yep, we are now in the ..."10's"...the "pre-teens", maybe? So let's make some memories of those songs from the new millennium 2000 to the last HU-RAH! of 2009. And here. we. GO.

2000
Age:12/13

"Hate To Say I Told You So" -The Hives

"DO WHAT I WANT, CAUSE I CAN IF I DON'T, BECAUSE I WANNA!"
I really don't feel like I need to say anything more. Who in their pre-teens (or even after, I suppose!) did NOT love a good IN YO FACE!, rock out!, heavyguitarrifftastic song to jump around to? Yeah, we all loved it. And The Hives continue to rock it out just as well as they did 10 years ago, and we thank them for it.
"OHHH YEEEAAH!"


"Too Little Too Late" -Barenaked Ladies

May dad, having a huge influence on my music choices, brought these guys to my attention early in life. And though I was weary of the band name...I couldn't deny the fun the music brought. Nope, they aren't deep or music GODS or anything, but these guys have a friendly, good-time spirit about them. And so does this song.
"Too Little To Late" is the opening track to the bands album "Maroon", and is full of dance worthy, "WOO" shouting, hand clapping goodness. It's not a complicated song, but as you will see in a majority of my list, simplicity is a highlight. It's easy to dance to, easy to sing along, and gets your feet moving. Most songs with hand claps are sure winners. Audience participation FTW.


"Bathwater" -No Doubt

Once again, my dad sends me the good music. I had liked No Doubt since I was wee little, thanks to him, so when Return to Saturn came out in 2000, I already knew what was coming. Sort of. Other songs from this album will show up later in this list, but "Bathwater" is one of those poppy, funtosingalong songs. It has it all. Stomp!a!ble!drumbeats!, fun lyrics ("My pregnant mid is fat full with envy again"), vintagey horns, and Gwen. It's one you can even kick line to, if you wanted.

I can't help it, it's my kind of song.
....okay, I'm done.






"Stronger" -Brittany Spears
Do not deny it. You do have Brittany (bitch) in your iPod. And if you don't now, you had some mix CD, or just her whole album, in your portable CD player in 2000. I was never a huge fan, and certainly am not at this point...except for this song. I like the lyrics, I like the danciness, I like the buildup (I'm a sucker for build ups). And yes, I still have it "checked" on my iTunes. So there. It's a good song. Go ahead, and listen.


"Off The Hook" -Barnaked Ladies
Yes, again. But this one is actually semi-more serious. It's about a cheater and no one likes them. Nope. I played this one on repeat quite a bit back in the day, not quite understanding the meaning. But it had a grasp on you somehow, and left you thinking. One of their finer songs, absolutely.


****You know, as I think about it, just get Maroon. It really does have quite a lot of good quality songs, with a wide variety of style. Most bands have a certain sound, or idea that they go for in an album, but Maroon has everything from hilarious, to satire to WTF?, to lonely. Many of those songs would make this list, so go on and just listen to them all. Okay, moving on...



"Simple Kind of Life" -No Doubt

One of the singles from Return to Saturn, "Simple Kind Of Life" is one for the famous. And though I was never famous, I loved Gwen and the gang. It's another "simple" song, and it is one about heartache, tough decisions, and longing -everything that pop song art is about. But regardless, the guys still rock out, and Gwen pours her heart out. Gosh, I love them. (Also a great album. Get it all.).


"Walk On" and "Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of" -U2

I really remember getting ready for school in the morning and watching music videos on MTV and VH1. These videos were ALWAYS on, and I always loved them. A little bit of sadness, and a little bit of hope. And it's U2. Not a bad way to start of the day.


"Yellow" -Coldplay

I think we knew this was coming. I'm not sure of many people who don't like this song. Sure, it was played like crazy, but regardless, there is still no denying how lovely this song it. It comes from Coldplay's debut album, Parachutes, and hearing the album now, I think they knew exactly how big they would be in the next 10 years. We were introduced to one of the biggest names in rock and pop music with this song, and all around the world, girls hoped boys would write songs like this for them. Chris, you set the standard.



And of course...we cannot forget:

"Blue (Da Ba Dee" -Eiffel 65
"I Try" -Macy Gray
"Who Let The Dog's Out" Bah Ha Men

Oh, how music has changed. As well as my CD collection. Or digital collection...


So there it is. The beginning of the decade and the music it brought. Really, this list could have gone on and on, and I know I left some amazing things out. But it's what I was about when I was just turning into a teenager, and no matter how odd my choices may have been, they all lead me to the music I love today. Next year to follow....

Brit Awards 2009

The Brit Awards were Wednesday night, and I must say...why is the US slacking in the music department?? That's a whole nother post, I guess!

Anyway, here are your winners:

Duffy (biggest winner of the night!)- Best Album, Best British Female, Best British Breakthrough

Elbow- Best British Group

Iron Maiden- Best Live Group

Kanye West- Best International Male

Katy Perry- Best International Female

Kings Of Leon- Best International Group, Best International Album

Coldplay, nominated for 4 awards, went home with zipppppoooo, and my loves, The Killers, also went home empty handed. But I've learned to take award shows lightly. Whatev. Kings of Leon do rock my socks though.

And even though he didn't win anything, Brandon Flowers DID introduce the Outstanding Contribution to Music award to Pet Shop Boys where he later joined them for a medley along with good 'ol fashiontastic Lady GaGa:






After the awards, The Killers, Coldplay, Bono, and Gary Barlow got together to do a gig for War Child.
Epic. All. These. Things. That. I've. Done.
Freaking Bono...WTF, mate??? Otherwise, AMAZING!





Yes?

mmmk.

When I Was Young

I think it's only appropriate to start a music blog by blogging about my own first music experiences. Yes? No? Okay.

I was one of those fortunate kids to have a parent with a great passion for music. My dad is always blarring different albums from his stereo, and that hasn't changed since I've been born. I grew up listening to all the classics, like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and The Who. He introduced to other greats like John Hiatt, Bob Dylan, The Talking Heads, and Steely Dan. When I was younger than 10, I knew the words Lennon and McCartney wrote together, and was dancing with my little sister to the stories Hiatt would swoon about. When I was about 5, Michael Jackson danced into my life, and I was HOOKED! I taped every music video, I had the glove and the hat, and I made my own microphone stand. Yeah that's right. Billy Jean had nothin on me. What happened to you...
I loved music since I can remember, and it's not stopping anytime soon.

By the time I was in elementary school, I was given my first portable CD played (how awesome were THOSE!). I never went one night without listening to the few CD's I had before I went to sleep(at this time I had a few Beatles and a Dave Matthews Band album), and popped a new one in before I headed out for school. In Middle School, my CD player was everywhere I was. My mom must have spent a fortune on batteries. My CD collection grew, and so did my knowlegde on all these amazing bands.

In Middle School, I knew everything you ever wanted to know about The Beatles. I read all the books (hell, I OWNED all the books), I read up on them on the internet (I loved days off!), and I knew the words to every song inside out. I gave facts away at school to people who could probably care less, but that didn't matter. My first Viynl was a Beatles '65 original, and it's hanging up in my room with the rest of them right now. I just couldn't get enough.

It seemed every year my dad had something new for me to listen to. It wasn't long before I was rockin to David Bowie, Janes Addiction, U2, and Peter Gabriel. I would come home from school, grab a notepad, a pen, and my CD player and write notes, stories, poems, drawing while listening to Gabriels SO. I felt like I was the only one of my age who didn't care for Britany, Christina, The Spice Girls on NSYNC (I must admit, I did have a thing for BSB. I saw them in concert with my neighbor and it was awesome, okay??). I loved my rock music, but didn't really know that rock bands of that time even existed. I was pretty much convinced by my mother that the only radio stations that existed were pop music one's. So I listened, and I would record songs on a tape from the radio when the good one's came on. But one day, on a trip home from Cedar Point with my fellow choir members (I was in choir and heavily into theatre when I was young. I miss it sometimes, still...) when I heard 89X, a Detriot alternative rock station. I had no idea who any of the bands were, and was amazed at the fact that rock bands existed today...!?! What?!? I programmed that in my mom's car.

And then, the iPod. I am a firm believe that the iPod has changed my life. My boyfriend had given me an iPod for graduation, and it never left me! That is, until it got stolen, but I would just get another...and then that one was stolen...and a new boyfriend got me another which I still own!
All of my albums on one little device! I could take it anywhere and it wouldn't skip! It was music everyday, almost all day for Chelsie. When I couldn't listen to that, I tried getting on the new alternative rock band wagon to figure out who all these people were.
It wasn't long before I owned Franz Ferdinand, Modest Mouse, Keane, and Coldplay. The my first Killers Album: Hot Fuss. My parents and I went to the mall, and I knew I wanted it, even though I thought Somebody Told Me was...weird...but something drew me in, and I had to have it. Oh My God, what a freaking delight. Everysong was played on repeate on the way home, and my dad even burned it for himself when we got home. It was Mr. B and On Top everyday for a very long time...my mom loved that.

I thought, FINALLY, a new band that is AMAZING! I was worried for a while, that most of these bands were just mediocre compared to the greats, but The Killers were an exception. Their music was different than everyone else's, and the lyrics were actually...created...not just thrown together. Gosh, I loved them...

As time grew, I got to know every band on 89X. Myspace came around, and though I had vowed FOREVER NOT to get one, I gave in. The best part about it was the music. I could browse new music I had never heard before, and it was amazing. Many of the bands I like today I found on Myspace.

I had never been much of a concert goer, mainly because not many of my friends were that into music (or at least the bands that were touring). I had seen 38 special when i was little, and a few local bands before (some of my friends were in bands, too, which I was always jealous of). My boyfriend and my best friends boyfriend made a band together, finally. Thet played a lot of classic rock, and practiced in my friends garage. They had a lot of gigs, and it was an amazing time! My boyfriend sang, and hers played guitar. They had a drummer, who was awesome, a young bass player, and an organ player. We had some really great times, for sure. Holly and I even took part....but I think our Canadian Boys Choir impressions weren't exactly what they were looking for for some reason...whatever.

But time passed. They broke up...WE broke up...and we found new loves. Sam's Town came out, and I listened to that non stop...well since today. The place I worked at let me conrtol the music and I ALWAYS had Sam's Town in the player. No one complained, and I got some people into serious Killer love. I had to see them.

May of 2007, 5 of us went to see The Killers at the Fox Theatre in Detriot. Though I had been first in line to buy tickets, our seats were seperated into 2 groups, and way in the balcony...but we didn't care. The venue is AMAZING, and perfect for Sam's Town. The concert started, and I was somewhere else....I was IN Sam's Town...for about 2 hours. I couldn't beleive Brandon was right there. Ronnie! Dave!Mark! The balcony shook, and I never sat down, and couldn't understand the people who were. I yelled every word, and forgot about life for a while. The experience was like nothing else. We were all there, together, for the same reason. We all had something great in common, and felt that same love together. Amazing.

Since then, I have seen The Killers one more time. This time, I had signed up for The Victims, the fan club for The Killers, months before their tour started. I got floor seats for their show at EMU in Ypsi, MI, and it was just my boyfriend and I. We got there amazingly early, and waited 3 hours in freezing cold temperatures, but it was worth it. No balcony for us, it was front row, barrier standing! I can not describe the DIFFERENCE that makes! I tooka lot of pictures, fell in love again, got lost in the music, and felt such a rush as never before. Ahhhhh I can't wait until May. I see them again.

So that's how it started. I'm sure I missed some milestones...but that's the jist. I can't thank my dad enough, really, for his influence. My collection grows more every month, and I'm here to share. I really beleive there's a new Rock Revolution going on right now, and it's sad that people in America are MISSING IT! So I'm doing my part in educating you people.

Rock out.





wow I wrote a lot...