Loves

While I was typing up my last blog post of the update of my past week via Instagram photos, I thought, most weeks, there's certain things that I'm obsessed with. Whether that be music, a book, a certain article, a designer, a tv show, or a film I've seen...anything really, and I would love to share those things that I've been loving that week, with you guys!

This week, my ears have been abused mostly by 4 songs.

Drake - Hold On, We're Going Home

I love the tenderness of this song and how smooth it is, and it's been the first song that I put on when I get in the car for a drive.

Bastille - We Can't Stop

I love Bastille. I think they're a phenomenal and talented band who work so hard, and when they did this cover Miley's 'We Can't Stop' in Radio 1's Live Lounge, they took that song and spun it on its head. Even the most empty of lyrics seemed to contain meaning leader Dan Smith sang them, and their twists of Disney's 'I Can't Wait To Be King', Eminem, and Billy Ray Cyrus, were just genius and hilarious.

The 1975 - What Makes You Beautiful

Since during September, it's Radio 1's more music month, there was another Live Lounge that took me by surprise and I couldn't stop pressing the replay button. The 1975 covered One Direction and transformed it from a spunky lil' pop number into a sultry and tender throwback to the 90s, and it made the whole song sounded so sweet that I'm sure honey was trickling out of my speakers.

Conor Maynard - R U Crazy

Now, I think Conor Maynard's got a bit of a bad rep, because he started out his career when he was reasonably young and got compared to being the British Justin Bieber. When you think of mega stars and talented performers like Justin Timberlake, they started their career pretty young too, and in my opinion, his music is completely different and he's a different person altogether, so no need for comparisons. I thought of his songs as guilty pleasures for a while, then he came out with 'Turn Around' with Ne-Yo which I fell in love with, and 'Animal' showed a more mature sound, and with this new single, that sound continues to grow, which I think is a bit Timberlake-esque, from the 'Cry Me A River' era, and I've got to say...I'm really enjoying it.

My eyes have been feasting on the Great British Bakeoff, which I still love just as much as ever. Drooling over beautiful bakes, wishing the sweet Mary Berry was my grandma, and laughing at Mel & Sue's commentarty, is the perfect way to spend a cold Autumn evenign in. Educating Yorkshire is new show that I've been snuggling down to the sofa to watch, and it's hilairous, heart warming and makes me kind of wish I had the innocence of all these teens, and having he past few years to look forward to. May I add that the headteacher is also amazing and fantastic! I've also been infdulging in some old-school Fresh Prince, which I think if where Will Smith was his funniest and I still never goet bored of this show, the cast and he energy between them all. 

I've also still been getting lost in the world of Japan while reading Memoirs of a Geisha, and the other  week, I picked up a copy of Scott Mills autobiography for a bargin. I've always loved his show and found him hilarious, and his book was no exception, but there was a chapter in it about his work with the documentary he filmed called 'The World's Worst Place To Be Gay', and it was such an eye-opener and made me have a new-found respect for the Radio DJ.

How do you like these weekly favourites? What have you been loving this week? I always love finding new interests!

Hope you're all well,

Speak soon,

A.x

Please don't stop the music...

As i mentioned in a previous post, i have re-discovered my love for Ellie Goulding and cannot stop listening to her, and i thought there's quite a few artists i have like that, where i can just listen to their music over and over and not get fed up with it, and still find it as exciting and fresh as i did the first time i heard it.

At the moment, both of Ellie Goulding's albums are in that category. Her first album, Lights, holds so many good memories for me. It reminds of of a special person that i shared a lot of memories and experiences with, at a very special time in m life., so it kind of hits that reminiscent spot in my heart. I just love her use of beats, it's very clever , and i think her voice is just hauntingly angelic. Her lyrics are beautiful and she is absolutely amazing live,there’s so much passion and energy. My constant favourites of hers are 'Lights', 'Guns and Horses', 'Believe Me', 'Your Biggest Mistake' and 'Under the Sheets', which was the first song i heard off her that my brother showed me, so always has a special spot in my heart.

'Figure 8' and 'Only You' are also making me abuse the repeat button...

 

Another relatively new album that I’ve been loving, and has made me dig out the their earlier stuff, is Two Door Cinema Club. Their music just has so much energy in them and I just can’t get enough of the horns in anthemic song, ‘Sun’. 'Something Good Can Work' was the first thing I heard off them years ago, and till this day I still can’t help but jump madly along to it. 'What You Know' and 'I Can Talk' are my personal favourites from their 1^st album, but the whole of 'Tourist History' is a fantastic listen.

There are also some artists that have been away for a break, but are returning back on the scene, with all guns blazing, and I’ve been digging out their old albums…

I don't think i can describe in words how much i love Justin Timberlake and how much Futuresex/Lovesounds dominated my adolescence. His butter-soft, smooth voice, those dance moves, and I just can’t resist a man in spiffing suit…  

 'Suit and Tie' featuring Jay-Z is so catchy and infectious, but I’ve got to admit, was a bit of a grower, but now, I can’t wait to see the video and hear what treasures his new album holds! From the past, i love the beat in 'Summer Love’, the lyrics and darkness of ‘Losing My Way’, the fun nature of ‘Senorita’. ‘Cry Me A River’ is painfully beautiful, and along with the pure seduction of ‘Sexyback’ and the brilliant ‘My Love’, the are my all-time favourites that I haven’t and don’t think I’ll ever get sick of.

Along with these oldies but goodies, there’s also been some fresh additions to my music library that has different and exciting to listen. Grimes is one that whenever I’ve heard her stuff in the past I’ve loved it and had that thought in my head that I desperately need to hear more of their stuff! But never caught the name of the artist. When I finally got round to getting her album, I just couldn’t stop playing it. Her music is so refreshing to hear amongst all the music that’s around in the charts, and is so ethereal, sounding like something a nymph would produce. 'Oblivion', ‘Be A Body’, 'Vowels = Space and Time' and 'Infinite Love Without Fulfilment' are my personal favourites, so if I had to recommend any songs from her, I’d definitely say go and check this ones out.

Neon Bunny is a Korean artist that my housemate (who is obsessed with k-pop) introduced to me, and I just love the fun nature of her songs which just makes me think of bubbles floating and crossing paths with a rainbow.

 

I may be the least gangster person in the world, but I love Kanye West’s songs and honestly think he is one of the most creative artists out there, especially when it comes to videos. The way he tells stories via his lyrics, his clever use of beats and merging different genres of music. He has songs that just make me want to hit the dancefloor (Stronger), ones that make me want to put my shades on and have a drive in the sun (Good Time), and ones that are just masterpieces (Dark Fantasy).

My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy and Graduation are some of my favourite albums ever, with 'Slow Jamz', 'Through The Wire', 'Never Let Me Down', 'Power', 'Runaway' and 'Homecoming' having a special spot in my music library.

Two bands that I’m really looking forward to see what 2013 has in store for them are Alt-J and Bastille. Alt-J are just brilliant, the rawness of the songs and voices, they’re filled with passion and pure emotion. 

Bastille’s melodies are so fun and so cleverly done, i'd go check out 'Flaws', i love the bit of the song that goes up in scale when it gets to the chorus! and I am obsessed with their rendition of Rhythm is a Dancer and it have been put on repeat more than I think is normal…

 

These are the artists who are on my most played list at the moment, are you a fan of any of them?

Are there any new songs or artists you’ve been loving at the moment? Leave a comment below as I always love finding new music!

I love music and it’s a large part of my life, but do you like these posts about music?

Hope you're all well,
Speak soon,
A.x