Every Teardrop is a Waterfall

“I turn the music up, I got my records on
From underneath the rubble sing a rebel song
Don't want to see another generation drop
I'd rather be a comma than a full stop

Maybe I'm in the black, maybe I'm on my knees
Maybe I'm in the gap between the two trapezes
But my heart is beating and my pulses start
Cathedrals in my heart”

Every Teardrop is a Waterfall – Coldplay

Last Saturday night I saw Coldplay live at Mt Smart Stadium. On the way to the show my friend and I were discussing other music acts we’ve seen live. I realised within the past year I’ve been to Vector Arena six times for concerts and numerous gigs at bars for local bands. It seems I am drawn to live acts as much as I’m drawn to chocolate cake with pink icing. I remember a few months ago I had food poisoning and missed Luger Boa, Villainy and Clap Clap Riot playing together and I’m sure I nearly died. Not from food poisoning, but from missing out on seeing these three bands playing together. Therefore, with my history of seeing musicians in the flesh, Coldplay would have to do something spectacular to top the list of live shows. And as Coldplay’s music is often described as slow, sad and slightly mournful, it has hard to see them doing that.

But holy shit Coldplay put on an amazing live show. They turned their slow crooning British songs into hits which got the audience rocking and singing along. They had glowing wristbands, fireworks, confetti, light spinning across the stadium, three stages and the band were full of energy start to finish, from Paradise to Viva La Vida through to Fix You, the slowest song of them all. They ended with Every Teardrop is a Waterfall, the song which is all about turning the music up, something which you know I endorse.

It was easy to get lost amongst all the glamour though, and there was so much glamour at the Coldplay concert. Chris Martin and the band sounded really good live, but they weren’t the most amazing band I’ve ever heard (Dave Grohl takes that award home). I don’t love their songs like I love Keane or Skillet’s music. And I’m certainly not attracted to the lead singer of Coldplay like I’m attracted to Reese Mastin Meatloaf all the members of Hot Chelle Rae. Yet Coldplay were mesmerizing to see live because I wanted to know what was coming next: which song and which sparkly accompaniment flying through the sky. They were seasoned performers who knew how to wow a crowd and make their songs sound as best as possible live.

Thus, Coldplay takes the award for the most amazing show I’ve ever seen. Not the best live band or best songs performed, but a spectacular music and lights show which left me buzzing for hours.

Every You Every Me

“Sucker love is known to swing.
Prone to cling and waste these things.
Pucker up for heavens sake.
There's never been so much at stake.

I serve my head up on a plate.
It's only comfort, calling late.
Cuz there's nothing else to do,
Every me and every you.
Every me and every you”

Every you every me – Placebo

Now that I’ve finished up with University I’ve got a fair bit of spare time, and I start to lose track of days. Hence, it’s 9pm and I only just realised it’s Thursday and I’ve got to upload a blog. I got distracted for a few hours earlier because I was watching The X Factor USA, but then I realised this week’s theme gives me a sweet blog topic. It’s movies week on The X Factor and on Musical Musings.

Every movie it accompanied by a theme song, or so it seems. From songs written especially for the movie to a song which was a hit then became an even bigger hit when it accompanied a block buster film, you can generally name a film and think of the song which goes with it. The X Factor contestants are pulling out the big names this week – Eye of the Tiger and Iris, and even a version of Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. These tunes add the surrounding sound and make a moment all the better; how bad would all the Armageddon scenes be if they weren’t accompanied by Steven Tyler’s crooning. Okay, maybe not bad, but you have to admit I Don’t Wanna Miss A Thing adds a good amount of drama.

Placebo’s Every You Every Me is one of my favourite movie songs. It sets up such a great introduction to Cruel Intentions, by sounding a bit seductive and a bit dangerous. It sets up the whole movie perfectly, as Kathryn and Sebastian enter a bet with a few naughty outcomes, accompanied by a not so innocent Cecile and Annette. It’s a great movie and comes complete with a ridiculously hot Sarah Michelle Gellar and a rather attractive Ryan Phillippe. Nice.

The X Factor movie hits has finished up for the night and they’ve celebrated the best songs in films. I’m looking forward to bringing this topic up at the next social event I have with the mates (this isn’t a lame topic, is it?). I bet someone will mention every Linkin Park song ever in every Transformers movie ever. 

Top of the World

“There is only one wish on my mind
When this day is through I hope that I will find
That tomorrow will be just the same for you and me
All I need will be mine if you are here

I'm on the top of the world lookin' down on creation
And the only explanation I can find
Is the love that I've found ever since you've been around
Your love's put me at the top of the world”

Top of the World – The Carpenters

This is blog number four of six on the topic of my favourite songs.See my other four favourite songs here, here, and here. 

It is common knowledge that us girls like to dream about our wedding days since we’re about five. We think up the perfect dress and cake, what flowers we would have and how our guests would be placed. We argue with each other about where to have the wedding; someone usually says the beach and someone else will say a church. We dream about the perfect guy: our prince, knight in shining armour, movie star, exceedingly rich, handsome husband to be. Or just someone who will take good care of us.

Me, being me, have a few vague things in mind about all of the above, but of course, have the song for my first dance picked out. Sorry future hubby, it’s going to be The Carpenters. None of this cliché soppy heart wrenching I Don’t Wanna Miss A Thing by Aerosmith stuff, I want it to be a bit more upbeat but still sweet,  so this hit song by The Carpenters is what it going to be. Don’t worry future husband (who, might I add, I have no idea will be), you might still get to pick out what cufflinks you’ll wear on our big, currently imaginary, day.

I really like this song because it is nothing more than simply a happy tune. There’s no hidden agenda to it like most love songs you hear. There’s no creepy stalker undertone like in Every Breath You Take and no allusions that the love you have has left you like in I Will Always Love You. Yet, it isn’t the ridiculously cutesy love song which makes you gag whenever you hear it because it is too damn lovely. No, the lovely Karen Carpenter just puts the message out for us to hear: her love is, quite simply, putting her on the top of the world.

While we’re on the subject of Karen Carpenter, I must add this quick note. If there was one musician I wish hadn’t died too young, it would be Karen. I would have loved to see her sing during my lifetime because she was amazing and I think she’s one those sad stories where a musician who had much more to give the music world died too young. 

Give it a Million

“We've always waited for the day
And we feel the same way to
Understand it all for you
It getting closer day by day

Give it a million that's what we say
Don't stop, don't stop today
Stick to the top and we’ll meet you half way
Don't stop don't stop
Oh it's getting harder not to say we’re running away”

Give it a Million – The Make Believe

When I was about sixteen I thought I had my career sorted: I wanted to be a journalist. After graduating from high school I started the Bachelor of Communication Studies at AUT with the high hopes of writing for some fancy magazine. A quarter of the way through my second year I threw down a newspaper in hatred and decided right then journalism was not for me. Instead of embarking on the journalism major I went for radio with high hopes of becoming a star radio host.

That was all more than a year ago, and this time next week I will have sat my last exam for university (hopefully) and I’ll be in the big badass world. But I decided I can’t move forward without taking a quick look back at the year that’s been in the radio major, and that’s what this blog is dedicated to. It was a year of hanging out with the same thirty or so people and complaining bitterly about assignments. I ripped survey results to shreds (not literally, though there were times I really, really wanted to), sought up a budget for a radio station, wrote an entire radio journalism bulletin by myself (I decided radio journalism is okay) and burned through dozens of CDs with ads and music reviews and interviews on them.

I got the chance to be a host of our AUT radio station Static and this was an absolute highlight for me. Spinning yarns on the every week airwaves with The Sunday Panel, various other co-host or just by myself was heaps of fun. And with this came the music choice: I made it my mission to make sure every show I was in had sweet beats, and I soon realised what sweeter beats then the ones grown in our backyard.

This year, it’s been an absolute delight discovering and re-discovering local talent. I heard and subsequently saw live bands such as Clap Clap Riot, Black River Drive and Villainy, made friends with up and coming musicians like Will Frost, and immersed myself into the local pop scene with talent like The Make Believe. I also made sure to keep our history loud, by playing acts such as Crowded House, Split Enz, The Mutton Birds, and more recently separated bands such as The D4 and Steriogram. It’s been a year of giving it a million to New Zealand music.

All puns aside, I’ve really enjoyed the year at Static, and I want to end it with one of the most upbeat and funky songs I’ve heard this year. The Make Believe gives us this song with a positive message and to me, that’s the best way to go out of university: by giving everything a million because today’s the day. 

How to Touch a Girl

“Bring me some flowers
Conversation for hours
To see if we really connect
And baby if we do
Ooh I'll be givin all my love to you
Ohh

Do you know how to touch a girl?
If you want me so much
First I have to know
Are you thoughtful and kind?
Do you care what's on my mind?
Or am I just for show?
You'll go far in this world
If you know how to touch a girl”

How to Touch a Girl – JoJo

If you have to Google it, you probably shouldn't be doing it.

In saying that, JoJo’s is not about physically touching a girl, but it certainly gets your attention. What it really is about is a girl liking a boy but she wants him to shower her in gifts and pay her full attention and then will she decide if she will love him / let him “touch her”.

This song was released in 2006, in a time of advanced technology like the iPod and a female Prime Minister of New Zealand, and yet it makes me think about the aged old woman / man situation chivalry in society. When we look around we see these strong female figures and have witnessed feminist rebellion throughout the 1970’s and 1980’s and yet, we still go weak at the knees for a bunch of flowers. What this seems to me is a battle of politics versus personal lives. As much women love to think they are empowered by themselves, their peers and their role models to make a change for females, the odd gift from a man is rather nice.

And I like what JoJo talks about in her chorus – “touching a girl” is also about being kind and thoughtful and much more than a prop on your arm. To me, this is sheer politeness which should come from both sexes. It’s nice to head out with either a guy or a group of girlfriends and hear a “how are things going at uni / work / family home etc” and follow up on the things which aren’t quite going right for you. I think this shows support which should come from anybody involved in your life. Leading on from the politeness, this song also makes me think about the age old chivalry – is it still considered polite and socially correct to let a girl go through a door first or offer a lady your seat on the train (if she’s pregnant there’s no question – get your butt off the seat!)

So what really is “touching” a girl and can you really go far in the world if you do it? Is it finding the balance of letting a girl shine by herself while you stand beside her and if you do she’ll make it worth your while? Probably, and this is where you shouldn’t go around introducing your woman as an aunty to act like a skux to your bro mates at your party (on the Gold Coast).

I’m musing here, as it’s what I do best, and the conclusion I come to is being nice and polite can get you far in this world - both with the opposite sex, and with anyone else you may encounter. 

Whispers in the Dark

“No
You'll never be alone
When darkness comes you know I'm never far
Hear the whispers in the dark
Whispers in the dark

You feel so lonely and ragged
You lay here broken and naked
My love is
Just waiting
To clothe you in crimson roses”

Whispers in the Dark - Skillet 

This one time (a very long time ago) I was trolling through people’s Bebo accounts like a normal fourteen year old did back in the mind 2000’s. If you were lucky enough to have a Bebo account, you’ll remember being able to make a huge list of all your favourite music artists. Much like I scroll through Twitter these days, I used to look through people’s Bebo lists to find new bands. And that is how I came across Skillet.

I listened to Whispers in the Dark first and I didn’t hear much more than a generic rock song, one which I already had in my music library. Then, a few weeks later when I was in some hormonal fourteen year old bad mood I came back across the same song. And that’s when I really listened to the song. I listened and searched up the lyrics and realised what Skillet were doing. Whispers in the Dark is a song which has a dark and moody tone, but the lyrics shine with positivity. It was something new to me and I thought it was amazing.

Skillet soon became my favourite band and it’s because they just get it. They get silly teenage issues which seem so big to a young fourteen year old and they get the big picture that life isn’t always that easy growing up. They get people want a song which has positive themes but they don’t want it sugar coated from pop artists all the time. Skillet’s songs, from The Last Night to Awake and Alive feel much more realistic than a pretty girl singing about loving life to a back up track.

I believe Skillet’s positivity comes from a hybrid of being both a rock band and from a Christian background. I’m not personally a practising Christian or involved with any other religion, but I love the messages Christianity in particular can teach us and I think this world can benefit from the positivity of these messages. And occasionally I enjoy the songs from worship bands like Hillsong United, but I like Skillet because their messages aren’t thrown at me. It’s like they are there if you want it and want to take it on board, much like all advice we are given should be. Skillet makes you feel like someone else gets how you feel and is there to accompany you. I remember seeing Skillet live about a year and a half ago and the crowd were wild in unison as Skillet told us their message and shared with us they got how we felt. And these feelings music give you is, my blog readers, the reason I write this on here every week and share it with you. 

Hollaback Girl

“Uh huh, this is my shit
All the girls stomp your feet like this

A few times I've been around that track
So it's not just gonna happen like that
Because I ain't no hollaback girl
I ain't no hollaback girl”

Hollaback Girl – Gwen Stefani

Imagine fronting a hugely successful 1990’s rock band with a number of hit singles. Imagine being the it music girl for a number of years. But then, your band splits up and you launch into your solo career with earnest because you could become the next big female musician. And then - you release this song “I ain't no Hollaback girl”

I wouldn't go as far as to say this song ruined Gwen Stefani’s career, but it came pretty close. You might say you love it and it’s real cool and what not, but in comparison to her other songs, it was the bottom of the heap. Gwen, along with No Doubt, bought out songs such as Just A Girl, Don’t Speak and It’s My Life, which in my opinion were absolute gems. Don’t Speak peaked at number one in charts in America, United Kingdom and Australia. In early 2004 No Doubt went on a hiatus and Gwen Stefani, the cool chick she was, embarked on a solo career. She came out with the funky song What You Waiting For?  which is about the fear of releasing an album.

Followed by ... Hollaback Girl

What a disaster. Personally, I don’t like the song and I don’t like that it’s Gwen Stefani. I get that’s a big middle finger to Courtney Love, who said Stefani was little more than a cheerleader. But did Gwen really need to rise to a jab by Courtney Love? And if Gwen did think she needed to make a comeback, I wish she’d done it in a way which was a bit cleverer. A bit more lyrical wisdom instead of spelling out bananas, and less running around like a cheerleader, more empowering what Gwen Stefani really is – a successful mother and business woman. I sincerely hope No Doubt’s recent comeback is going to show a lot more musical gloriousness than Hollaback Girl did.]

I suppose musicians want to take risks and change things up as their career goes on, even if they do run the risk of ruining their career. Or it could go the other way, and a musician could make a song so out of the way, like Gwen did, it becomes popular. After all, Hollaback Girl got more than one million downloads and was one of the biggest hits of 2005. I call it bizarre, but few hundred thousand fans out there must have thought it was a chance to tell the world they ain't no hollaback girl.