Midlake- Acts of Man

a little more melancholy than previous offerings, but good nonetheless.

Simple Plan - Untitled (How Could This Happen To Me)

I loved this song before I saw the video. I loved the desperation in Pierre Bouvier’s voice and the stripped down piano chords. I loved the honest and simple lyrics.

And then the video came out. And I became OBSESSED with the song. I mean…damn. It was one of those videos that just stops you in your tracks. I remember thinking that this was one of the most genius music videos I had ever watched when I first saw it. And to be honest with you, I still think its genius and incredibly underrated. Maybe its just me…but I found it kinda profound the way they showed everyone’s life literally being shaken during this one moment in time.

*sigh*

I’ll shut up and let ya’ll enjoy it now.

-Calidre

Simple Plan - Untitled (How Could This Happen To Me)

I open my eyes
I try to see but I’m blinded by the white light
I can’t remember how
I can’t remember why
I’m lying here tonight

And I can’t stand the pain
And I can’t make it go away
No I can’t stand the pain

How could this happen to me
I made my mistakes
I’ve got no where to run
The night goes on
As I’m fading away
I’m sick of this life
I just wanna scream
How could this happen to me

Everybody’s screaming
I try to make a sound but no one hears me
I’m slipping off the edge
I’m hanging by a thread
I wanna start this over again

So I try to hold onto a time when nothing mattered
And I can’t explain what happened
And I can’t erase the things that I’ve done
No I can’t

How could this happen to me
I made my mistakes
I’ve got no where to run
The night goes on
As I’m fading away
I’m sick of this life
I just wanna scream
How could this happen to me

I made my mistakes
I’ve got no where to run
The night goes on
As I’m fading away
I’m sick of this life
I just wanna scream
How could this happen to me

Jennifer Hudson - And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going

I, for shame, did not see Dreamgirls until early this year. I had my reasons- mostly being that I was annoyed Beyonce was in it. After being reassured that she had not ruined the film (she’s pretty much playing herself as one person said), I watched the movie and promptly became obsessed with the soundtrack.

JHud tears it up time and time again during the movie. Like…just…straight up rips it apart. I love the Jennifer Holliday version but I’ve never seen it context…and…seeing it in context definitely makes the song so much richer. For example - before I saw the movie, I thought the song was kiiiiiinda stalker psychoish (I’m not living without you. Really?!?! You’re GONNA love me. I’mma need you to get a grip girlie). But, in context, it is so appropriate. Its just…yea. It’s great. And moving. And desperate. And JHud tears it up. Don’t believe me - check out the scene from the film here and Jennifer Holliday singing it at the ‘82 Tonys here.

Ya’ll better be happy I can’t sing. I’d be belting this tune all the time.

Enjoy!

-Calidre

Jennifer Hudson - And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going

And I am telling you
I’m not going.
You’re the best man I’ll ever know.
There’s no way I can ever go.
No, no, no, no way,
No, no, no, no way I’m livin’ without you.
I’m not livin’ without you.
I don’t want to be free.
I’m stayin’,
I’m stayin’,
And you, and you, you’re gonna love me.
Ooh, you’re gonna love me.

And I am telling you
I’m not going,
Even though the rough times are showing.
There’s just no way,
There’s no way.
We’re part of the same place.
We’re part of the same time.
We both share the same blood.
We both have the same mind.
And time and time we have so much to share,
No, no, no,
No, no, no,
I’m not wakin’ up tomorrow mornin’
And findin’ that there’s nobody there.

Darling, there’s no way,
No, no, no, no way I’m livin’ without you.
I’m not livin’ without you.
You see, there’s just no way,
There’s no way.
Please don’t go
Away from me
Stay with me,stay with me
Stay, stay and hold me
Stay, stay and hold me
Oh please stay and hold me
miss me
Try and miss me
Try and miss me
Oh i know, i know, i know you care

Tear down the mountains,
Yell, scream and shout.
You can say what you want,
I’m not walkin’ out.
Stop all the rivers,
Push, strike, and kill.
I’m not gonna leave you,
There’s no way I will.

And I am telling you
I’m not going.
You’re the best man I’ll ever know.
There’s no way I could ever, ever go,
No, no, no, no way,
No, no, no, no way I’m livin’ without you.
Oh, I’m not livin’ without you,
I’m not livin’ without you.
I don’t wanna be free.

I’m stayin’,
I’m stayin’,
And you, and you, and you
You’re gonna love me.
Oh, yeah, you’re gonna love me,
Yes, you are, love me,
Ooh, ooh, ooh, love me,
Love me,
Love me,
Love me,
Love me.
You’re gonna love me.

John Legend - This Time

May I please tell everyone what a sigh of relief I had when I first had a chance to listen to Evolver a little over a year ago. I love John Legend. Love him. He’s one of the few quality artists that R&B has going for it right now. I had the pleasure of seeing him perform live when he opened for Alicia Keys in 2006 and he was amazing.

That said…I was a little disappointed with Legend’s sophomore effort Once Again. Don’t get me wrong - there were some decent tracks on it. It just felt…forced…to me. There was something missing that had given Get Lifted that magical touch.

I was ok with that though. Wanna know why? I think that when you have a debut album that was as well recieved as Get Lifted was, there’s a ton of pressure to be just as great. And that pressure is what I felt in Once Again. Now that John’s on his third album, I think he’s found himself again. Shrugged off the expectations and just did him. And I couldn’t be happier. Evolver is definitely joining Get Lifted as one of those albums that will be on constant rotation in my apartment for years to come. I am so happy that John Legend is making music - he is a talented talented man. So…this is “This Time” from Evolver. If you havn’t listened to the album yet, go find it immediately. Enjoy!

-Calidre

John Legend - This Time

Ran into you yesterday
Memories rushed through my brain
It’s starting to hit me
Now you’re not with me
I realized I made a mistake
I thought that I needed some space
I just let love go to waste
It’s so crystal clear now
I need you here now
Gotta get you back today

[Chorus]
This time I want it all
This time I want it all
Showing you all the cards
Giving you all my heart
This time I’ll take the chance
This time I’ll be a man
I can be all you need
This time is all of me

I hit the bar every night
Looking to score a good time
It’s not like I planed it
I left empty handed
Cuz I’m still alone in my mind
Now what will it take to feel right
Can I come see you tonight?
Is there someone new now?
What can I do now?
Cuz I need you back by my side

[Chorus]

Last time I wasn’t sure
This time I will give you more
I’m more mature
I’ll show you
Last time I didn’t know
I messed up and let you go
I need you, don’t say no
Lying alone in this room
All that is missing is you
Pick up the phone
Won’t you come home?

[Chorus]

John Mayer - Slow Dancing In A Burning Room

Continuum is probably now, and will always be, on my list of Top 20 Albums of All Time. It is just so…real. It doesn’t matter what I’m doing, if one of the songs on this album comes on I just get sucked in. If its despair he’s selling, I’m desperate. If its hope then I’m hopeful. If its inner turmoil then believe me, I’m all torn up.

This song is my absolute favorite off of the album. Sometimes I listen to it on repeat for hours at a time. The imagery is so compelling - I mean…..can’t you imagine two people so desperate to deny the reality of the situation that its almost like they’re slow dancing in a burning room?

D.A.M.N

I listen to this song and grimace. I hold myself. I wanna tear at my clothes. Its just that real to me. Right around 2:45 I get the urge to pound the room. Its not that I’m upset - its just that for that moment, I am feeling every word he’s saying. He is speaking the truth and it didn’t come from a fortune cookie. Hmmm…awwwwwkward - but its the best I can do.

I hope you enjoy this one - I always do.

-Calidre

John Mayer - Slow Dancing In A Burning Room

It’s not a silly little moment,
It’s not the storm before the calm.
This is the deep and dying breath of
This love that we’ve been working on.

Can’t seem to hold you like I want to
So I can feel you in my arms.
Nobody’s gonna come and save you,
We pulled too many false alarms.

We’re going down,
And you can see it too.
We’re going down,
And you know that we’re doomed.
My dear,
We’re slow dancing in a burning room.

I was the one you always dreamed of,
You were the one I tried to draw.
How dare you say it’s nothing to me?
Baby, you’re the only light I ever saw.

I’ll make the most of all the sadness,
You’ll be a bitch because you can.
You try to hit me just to hurt me
So you leave me feeling dirty
Because you can’t understand.

We’re going down,
And you can see it too.
We’re going down,
And you know that we’re doomed.
My dear,
We’re slow dancing in a burning room.

Go cry about it - why don’t you? [3x]

My dear, we’re slow dancing in a burning room,
Burning room [4x]

[3x]
Don’t you think we oughta know by now?
Don’t you think we shoulda learned somehow?

Don’t you think we shoulda learned somehow?
[4x]

Adele - Make You Feel My Love

For the Crack Addicts that have been with us a while, you might remember my previous post on Adele back in March. Well guess what - I’m still obsessed with this cd. Its just so damned good!!!

Make You Feel My Love is a cover of the original Bob Dylan classic. And as many times as it has been covered (22 times to be exact) this version is by far my favorite. It is just such a pure and breathtakingly convincing rendition of the song. It gives me chills. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT to mention, I wish IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII could do that.

So I’ll shut up now and let you enjoy the song. If you want to check out the music video click here or if you want to hear Adele perform the song live click here. Enjoy!

-Calidre

ps - did I mention…in the music video…she’s singing live while recording. AMAZING. I didn’t think anyone did that anymore. Ole girl is first rate!

Adele - Make You Feel My Love

When the rain
Is blowing in your face
And the whole world
Is on your case
I could offer you
A warm embrace
To make you feel my love

When the evening shadows
And the stars appear
And there is no one there
To dry your tears
I could hold you
For a million years
To make you feel my love

I know you
Haven’t made
Your mind up yet
But I would never
Do you wrong
I’ve known it
From the moment
That we met
No doubt in my mind
Where you belong

I’d go hungry
I’d go black and blue
I’d go crawling
Down the avenue
No, there’s nothing
That I wouldn’t do
To make you feel my love

The storms are raging
On the rolling sea
And on the highway of regret
Though winds of change
Are throwing wild and free
You ain’t seen nothing
Like me yet

I could make you happy
Make your dreams come true
Nothing that I wouldn’t do
Go to the ends
Of the Earth for you
To make you feel my love

Eric Hutchinson - Breakdown More

One thing that I love about So You Think You Can Dance is the wonderful music that you can find on there. Because dancing is so dependent on music that conveys a certain mood, I’m always finding that there is a synergistic effect for me on the show. When a powerful song is paired with a great performance…well…its just the bees knees.

This song, Breakdown More by Eric Hutchinson, is the song that Natalie Reid auditioned to in Seattle, WA on this week’s episode. Great song, great performance. Good luck Nat in Vegas! I hope you make it to the Top 20!!! 

Enjoy!

-Calidre

Eric Hutchinson - Breakdown More

I can’t write my words
When I don’t have you
I can’t sing my song
When my strings won’t tune
You won’t believe me
You won’t believe me crying
I can’t walk my path 
When I can’t stay motivated
I can’t play my notes
When it gets too complicated
You won’t believe me
You won’t believe me
So you’ll never see me

[Chorus]
Give me a reason and I won't breakdown
Give me a reason and I won't breakdown
And if that’s all that you’ve got
You’d better not get caught
I’ve got more in store

I can’t keep my beat
When I don’t have you
I can’t shake my sins
When you don’t come through
How could you leave me
Just when you see me crying
And I can’t feel low down
When I don’t have legs to stand on
I can’t feel low down
When I there ain’t no ground to land on
How could you leave me
How could you leave me
Now you’ll never see me

[Chorus]

Don’t look at me and act like you’re just blind
Let’s work it out before you change your mind

[Chorus (2x)]

Snow Patrol - Chasing Cars

Snow Patrol’s “Chasing Cars” is a very simple song, the lyrics are not that complex, yet the song is really exceptional (well to me anyways). I used to play this song everyday… several times a day. At the time I felt like this song was the soundtrack to my life. Between wanting to lay in the bed all day and forget the world, to being confused about love, “chasing cars” was the song that spoke to me. This song also makes me feel like I can do whatever I want, I always get a sense of freedom when I listen to it. I also love the way the music builds up as the song progresses. Although the lyrics allow the artist to express himself verbally, the piano and guitar provides the song with emotion and passion. Although the beat, instruments, and sound (which I do consider important) are things that usually attract people to songs; I am one who enjoys analyzing the lyrics and relating the words to my own life.

We’ll do it all
Everything
On our own

We don’t need
Anything
Or anyone

If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me and just forget the world?

I don’t quite know
How to say
How I feel

Those three words
Are said too much
They’re not enough

If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me and just forget the world?

Forget what we’re told
Before we get too old
Show me a garden that’s bursting into life

Let’s waste time
Chasing cars
Around our heads

I need your grace
To remind me
To find my own

If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me and just forget the world?

Forget what we’re told
Before we get too old
Show me a garden that’s bursting into life

All that I am
All that I ever was
Is here in your perfect eyes, they’re all I can see

I don’t know where
Confused about how as well
Just know that these things will never change for us at all

If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me and just forget the world?

- HESS

Mariah Carey - My All

I came to know Mariah Carey because of my sister. She listened to Mariah heavily when she was in her teens and early twenties (still do today, but not as much), playing every song from various albums over and over and over again. It didn’t take long for the whole family, and maybe the residents above and below us, the music being so loud, to know that Mariah Carey was my sister’s favorite music artist. I really didn’t mind being forced to listen to Mariah, since I enjoyed her voice and she sang of things I was too young to understand, but knew I wanted to experience.

Fast forward to today and my sister’s taste in Mariah is still a part my own. There are few singers out there who can compete with Mariah in talent or success. She has sold over 200 million albums worldwide and possesses, no doubt, one of the greatest voices in the music industry, with the ability to cover a wide variety of vocal ranges (not so much today, since her voice has undergone some wear over the years). One of my favorite songs by her is My All. It’s a soulful ballad that has Mariah singing about her affections for someone and wanting to be with the one she loves. Enjoy.

Verse 1
I am thinking of you
In my sleepless solitude tonight
If it’s wrong to love you
Then my heart just won’t let me be right
cause I’ve drowned in you
And I won’t pull through
Without you by my side

Chorus
I’d give my all to have
Just one more night with you
I’d risk my life to feel
Your body next to mine
cause I can’t go on
Living in the memory of our song
I’d give my all for your love tonight

Verse 2
Baby can you feel me
Imagining I’m looking in your eyes
I can see you clearly
Vividly emblazoned in my mind
And yet you’re so far
Like a distant star
I’m wishing on tonight

Chorus 2X
I’d give my all to have
Just one more night with you
I’d risk my life to feel
Your body next to mine
cause I can’t go on
Living in the memory of our song
I’d give my all for your love tonight

-moises

My Brightest Diamond- Dragonfly

this song is all about drama. more specifically, the dramatic voice of singer shara worden. i wasn’t enthralled on the first listen. this is yet another case where the song lingered in my head long after i decided i didn’t care for it. in the end, as has often been the case, i had a new appreciation for the song on the second listen. i really enjoy this woman’s voice. it is passionate and almost over-the-top in its expressiveness. i find that appealing in many ways. the drama can be a bit much on other songs (i’ll leave it to you to decide which you don’t like), but it works well for this one. the song ‘inside a boy’ and ‘gentlest gentleman’ are other songs that build around her voice rather than suffer under it. when it works, it works well. fortunately, it seems to work more often than not. i hope you enjoy my brightest diamond as much as i do.

I once saw a dragonfly
Caught in the spiders web
As I looked at her once more
I thought that she was dead

So I left her alone
And I went on my way
And I was dreaming of Paris and Pierre Boulez
But she called to me with a beat of her wings
She called to me and said,
‘Flee me’

She said come and fly away
With me tonight
Come and fly away
With me
Come and fly away
With me tonight

She said…

I’ve been up there before
Riding the wind
And laughing

But now I’m afraid of flying
I’m afraid of finding that black again
I’m afraid of flying
I’m afraid of finding that black
That black again

Come and fly away
With me tonight
Come and fly away
With me
Come and fly away
With me tonight

She said…

-the skinny miracle