Hey guys! The artist of the week is Wakey!Wakey! Genre-Alternative/Indie Rock. Although it seem as though it is a solo band led by Michael Grubbs there are many more musicians in conjunction to his vocals and piano playing. Music made a huge impact on the Virginia native's childhood because his mom was a choir and piano teacher. In 1998 he moved to New York City to jumpstart his music career and while there, he scored a role on The CW's One Tree Hill. The song I am sharing with you today is "Almost Everything"off of their album Almost Everything I Wish I'd Said The Last Time I Saw You.
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I first discovered this song when it was featured on the Season 7 Finale of One Tree Hill. I really like this song because it is almost like an anthem. I know this song is referencing a romantic relationship but I think it applies to all relationships in all aspects of life. One of the first things I thought of when listening to this song was the "It Gets Better" Project. I remember hearing about this project in my health class last year because of the increasing number of suicides among LGBT teens whose stories sometimes go unheard. Suicide is a very common "outlet" for LGBT people who feel stuck and unaccepted from society and the purpose of the project is to create videos to let them know that their lives will get better and that they shouldn't end their life which I thought was a very powerful message.
"See it feels bad now but it's gonna get better."
You should definitely check out some more of Wakey! Wakey! Some other songs I suggest are: "Dance So Good," "War Sweater" and "Light Outside."
Hiya! The artist I am introducing today is Andrew Belle. Genre-Acoustic/Pop. The singer-songwriter was originally born in Chicago, IL, however, moved to Nashville, TN in the past few years. Starting his musical career upon graduating college, Andrew began his solo career playing around Chicago. This song I am sharing with you, "In My Veins," comes from his 2010 album In My Veins.
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I really like this song because it definitely touches home for a lot of people. I also thought it was a well-fitting song because this week in my Sociology course we have been talking about romantic love and the different types of love. The love that Andrew is singing about I believe is acceptance-based, the couple knows that they are not compatible, however, they are so in love with each other. Although they have not necessarily accepted reality they are on their way because they just want each other to be happy in their own skin. A great message. I first discovered this song on Grey's Anatomy Season 6 shooting finale.
Definitely check out Andrew Belle's other 2010 album, The Ladder which has "Static Waves" and "Make It Without You."
Similar Artists: Peter Bradley Adams, Joy Williams, Mat Kearney
Hey there! I am really excited to introduce this week's artist, Iron & Wine. Genre- Folk Rock. The singer-songwriter Samuel Beam was born in South Carolina with a love for the arts, however, he never expected to become a singer. As the story goes, he made a break into the music business and came up with the name "Iron & Wine" from a Dietary Supplement called Beef, Iron & Wine. This song, "Boy With A Coin," comes from his 2007 album The Shepard's Dog.
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I discovered this song from my Mumford and Sons Pandora Radio station. As a dancer, I really appreciate the falmenco dancing in the video and in general just think the video is genius. Once I watched the video I understood the Spanish inspired, falmencoesque vibe in the beat. Another reason I really enjoy this song is because it has a lot of hidden meaning. After listening to the song on replay and researching, I realized the little boy and the little girl represent innocence in a corrupt world who find an outlet, i.e. the coin and the bird, however, still cannot seem to escape the corrupt world that seems godless. Let me know what you think.
I would definitely recommend listening to some other whimsical songs by Iron & Wine. Here are a few: "Flightless Bird, American Mouth," "Such Great Heights," "Resurrection Fern," and "The Trapeze Swinger."
Similar artists: Ray LaMontagne, Bon Iver, Horse Feathers, Fleet Foxes,
Hey! The second artist you might have heard of is City & Colour otherwise known as Dallas Green. Genre- Contemporary Folk/ Acoustic. The former vocalist and guitarist for the band Alexisonfire is known for his melodic voice and sweet acoustic tunes. This song is actually the live version (which sounds exactly like the recorded version) from his 2008 album Bring Me Your Love. I would definitely recommend listening to some other songs from this album including "The Girl","Confessions"and "What Makes a Man?", it is well worth it.
Listen in.
I discovered this song on the tv series, One Tree Hill, on their Valentine's Day episode last year (2011). I absolutely adore the lyrics in this song because they are so relatable. Dallas Green brings up such an important question...whether the glass is half full or half empty. How do you want to live your life? An optimist or a pessimist. I am personally leading an optimistic lifestyle.
P.S. Check out City & Colour's recent album Little Hell.
Similar artists: Alexisonfire, William Fitzsimmons, Jonny Craig
