Well, This Is It (Maybe)

I don't know if you know, but this blog is a school project for Honors English and to be honest, I wasn't very excited to do it. I mean why would I want do more homework? But it actually has been fun. I have enjoyed writing about music and expressing what I love, and even though there's only a few of you, I am glad that some people with the same interests have found my blog. True, it was harder than I thought, there's been times where I had zero motivation to write, or I could not think of a quality topic, or both. Many times I have felt like all my post suck and that I am a disgrace to the music world but it worked out in the end, My posts are at least decent and not to brag, but I've been getting good grades too.

Now here we are at the end of my blogging journey and I take this time to reflect on myself (cheesy I know). I feel that I have grown so much in the past months as a writer. I have found "my voice"  as a writer and was able to write in such a way that it sounded as if I were talking to you the way I would in person instead of like a formal essay or something. The look of my blog as improved a lot too if you notice, as my first few posts look like crap but now my more recent ones look at least half way decent.

Now, seven months and 17 posts later, we come to our end. I am not sure if I am going to continue blogging after this project is over, but either way, I'm glad I'm glad that my teacher made me do this. I am glad that I got to rant about music and share my favorite songs and my passion for Fall Out Boy with you. It was fun sharing this stuff with people who actually enjoy it as much as I do.

Since this may or may not be my last post, I am going to recommend one last song for you. I don't know if you've noticed but I've been kind of obsessed with Foxes lately. So I am recommending her song Cruel. I really love this song because it's a fun pop song and I don't know why but the chorus is really fun to sing along too.

Patrick sending thanks
( photo via justfalloutboythings)

It's been fun, thanks for taking the time to read my blog. Maybe I'll see you in a while. :)

Best Music Videos of All Time

Music videos are the reason I breathe (not really), but they are my life. I can't tell you how many hours I've spent watching videos, but it's probably somewhere around half my life. So  I decided that I would share some of my favorite music videos with you.

NUMBER ONE. Emperor's New Clothes by Panic! At the Disco. I'm not going to go into too much detail because I wrote a whole post about it, but the reason I love it is because not only the camera angles are sick but because the way Demon Brendon Urie evolves throughout the video is awesome.

Next up is Fall Out Boy's Young Blood Chronicles. This is actually a series of music videos, all of them from the Save Rock and Roll album. The story they tell through the videos is awesome and even though Pete Wentz is a horrible actor, it was still really fun to watch.

Young Blood Chronicles
( photo via YouTube)

Now we have Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana. I love it because there is really no point to it, it's just a bunch of people having fun at a Nirvana concert that happens to be at a high school gym. Plus the best part is the janitor jamming out. 

The music video for Foxes song Amazing is in my top five. It's just a bunch of friends going on an adventure and having a great time together. It is literally friendship goals, I mean, who doesn't want to drive around in an ugly orange van with your favorite people?

Stressed Out by Twenty One Pilots. Everyone knows this song, but does everyone know the video? Watching Tyler Joseph and Josh Dun ride through a neighborhood on trikes drinking Capri Suns is definitely one of the best things I've ever seen in my life. It is also friendship goals, and don't even get me started on the handshake that goes down in this video.

New Americana by Halsey is definitely a thriller. For a musician, Halsey is actually a great actor, and her dystopian themed video wouldn't have been nearly as cool without her in it. The video fits the song so well too, it's just so perfect.

Lastly, Disco//Very - Keep It Healthy by Warpaint is a fun video to watch. There's nothing really special about, it's just the band walking around and singing their song while some random skateboarder is throwing ollie's in the background, but hey, it's fun to watch and the song is good.

Well, that's all of now, the list goes on but I don't want to keep you here for seven years. See you next time. ;)

A Rookies Survival Guide to Concerts

So I've been to a lot of concerts including Bastille, Panic! At The Disco, Twenty One Pilots, Fall Out Boy, Ed Sheeran, etc. I think this makes me qualified to give some rookies some advice on how to survive a concert or music festival.

Concerts: What to bring and how to survive

Fully charged phone with plenty of storage space - this is essential. If you're anything like me, you want to document the amazing time you had and that means taking lots of pictures and videos. Make sure your phone is fully charged because taking videos drains the power fast, and make sure that you have plenty of storage so you don't have delete apps in the middle of the concert to make space for your photos.

Ear Plugs - I know what you're thinking, ear plugs are for the weak, I thought that too. But then my first concert I was stuck right in front of the speakers and I couldn't hear properly for 2 days. Concerts are loud and your ears might need a rest so do yourself a favor and and buy some $2 ear plugs.

Money, and lots of it - You are going to want to buy some merch, I can guarantee it. Concert t-shirts usually cost between $30 - $50, so save up. Sweatshirts, posters, hats, etc are also available for sale, so I would bring about $80 just to be safe.

Now that we have the essentials, you're going to want to keep your phone and money in your front pocket. This makes it so it’s hard to be pick pocketed, and that happens a lot at concerts, so keep your mula safe.

I recommend getting to the concert an hour - 3 hours early. This is so you can get some good merch and if  you're in the mosh pit or have general admission you  can get a good spot right in front of the stage. Speaking of merch, get it before the concerts starts. You want to do this because it sells out fast and after the concert you probably don't want to stick around in a long line to buy a t-shirt.

Have fun! Once the concert starts, don't give a crap about what people might think of you. Sing as loud as you want and break out some dance moves, just don't be that person everyone wants to kill, there is always someone who just doesn't make the concert fun for everyone.

Concert Fun ( photo via Intel)

Music Festivals: How to survive

To be honest, I've only been to one music festival, but I learned a lot. It's like a concert times 7. You're going to want to bring what you would a concert, plus a little extra. Before you go, check the weather, most festivals are outside. Don't be afraid to bring a rain jacket and warm coat, at my festival it was raining/snowing, so dress appropriately, I know you might think it’s uncool to wear a coat to a festival, but it’s uncool to freezing cold too.

You're going to have to deal with a bunch of weirdos at festivals, no avoiding it. There is almost always beer being sold somewhere so you might run into a few drunk people, just ignore them and get as far away as possible from them. And to be honest, you might get a beer thrown at you, I did and my hair smelled like cheap beer the rest of the night, so just be prepared.

There will be merch being sold, so I would go buy some while a band you don't know/like is playing. There will usually be less people in the line and it's nice to get out of your seat/the pit for a while. In fact, there are usually booths around so feel free to explore them, it's pretty fun.

I hope this was helpful! Just make sure to have fun at your concert or festival and it will turn out to be awesome.

These Songs Are Totally Random

So I listen to music a lot (obviously) and I am always finding songs that I love and can listen to on repeat for days. So I am going to give you a list of random songs, both old and new, that I have discovered over the years and tell you why I love them.

First up is All Things Lost by MS MR. I found this song via movie trailer and wanted to check out the full song. One of the best decisions I've ever made (not really), but still, this song is amazing. It starts off with a piano and slowly builds on top as the song progresses. I don't really know this band MS MR, but I know this song so and the woman's voice is amazing, plus the lyrics are awesome too.

Next is Free by Broods. This is their new single that just barely came out and I am in love. It is different from all their other stuff, but nonetheless, this song is the shiz. Not only are the lyrics cool, but the beat is hella rad.

Tumblr aesthetics
(via flying-vinyl)

Now we have Just One Yesterday by Fall Out Boy ft. Foxes, (come on, you knew it was gonna show up at some point). This song is off of their Save Rock and Roll album and it by far my favorite off of the album. Patrick Stump's is that of an angles (as always), and Foxes is amazing as well. It's all deep and dark and during the pre chorus has this piano thing going on that just sounds amazing and totally works for the song.

Speaking of Foxes, her song Amazing is, well, amazing. Foxes has a unique voice (I think so anyway), and the way she performs this song is really awesome. The song itself is fun and upbeat and it's all about have a fun time.

Smile by Mikky Ekko. I also found this song through a movie trailer (Paper Towns) and like All Things Lost, I decided to check it out. It's kind of a sad but not, if that makes sense, it's fun to listen to but the lyrics are kind of sad but amazing either way.

Lastly, and this is really random for my taste in music, but Stay by Rihanna is actually one of my favorite songs. I don't know why, but its just a good song and Rihanna performs it beautifully, and the lyrics are actually pretty deep, plus the melody is really cool.

Well that's it for know, see ya next time, hope you enjoyed this list of random songs!

Pump Me Up

As some of you may know, as well as a music lover I am an athlete, particularly in water polo, gosh how I love water polo. Anyway I decided I would share my "Pump Up," playlist that I often listen to before games incase you were looking for some new up beat songs or if you just wanted some good music  in general.

Michael Phelps at 2012 Olympics
(photo via The Telegraph)

First up we have Castle by Halsey. I love to listen to this song before games because not only is the beat sick, but the lyrics are so awesome and "empowering" I guess you could say. I particularly like the lyric "Already choking on my pride, so there's no use crying about it." I don't know why, it just makes me feel invincible.

The next song isn't very well known. It's called Turn The Music Up by NF. This song is awesome. The lyrics just give off the vibe. They talk about being confident and not giving a crap about what people think. It also has a sick bass drop during the bridge and makes you feel like you can punch through walls.

I then have Victorious by Panic! At The Disco. This song is pretty obvious, and the title is a huge give away. It is an upbeat song and the lyrics are literally talking about winning. Perfect material if you want to crush your opponents.

I also have Heart of Fire by Black Veil Brides on my 'Pump Up' playlist. This is sort of a metal song so there is a wicked guitar and sick drums the whole song, not to mention that Andy Biersack has a sick voice.

Guns For Hands by Twenty One Pilots is one of my favorites. Though not a particularly fast song, Tyler Joseph's "rapping" just sets the mood.

Novocaine by Fall Out Boy. This song gives me life. It is super upbeat and I legit feel like I can run a marathon, and I hate running. It just gets you in the zone, you know?

Dream by Imagine Dragons. It starts out kind of slow, but once you get to the chorus, you'll see why it's on my playlist. The lyrics are just so powerful, you'll know what I mean when you listen to it.

Another Imagine Dragons song: I'm So Sorry. This. Song Is. The. Best. The first twenty seconds are quiet and then all of a sudden BOOM. Your heart will be racing a million beats per a second. I especially like the part when he screams "I'm so sorry" in the chorus.

Since I started with a Halsey I have to end with one. I Walk The Line. The beat, like Castle, is so unique and cool. It's isn't upbeat, but it just makes you feel powerful and the way Halsey's voice sounds just sends shivers down your spine. The last half is particularly awesome.

This is only a small fraction of my playlist and I wish I could share the rest of it with you, but we would be here all day. Hope this was helpful, see you next time!

Say It Wrong And I Will Slap You

It has come to my attention that some people do not know the correct names of bands and/or the correct names of the musicians. This is probably one of my biggest pet peeves and if I hear someone say a band the wrong name I literally have to restrain myself from slapping them. With that in mind, I have made it my mission to explain to you good people the correct names of a band and its members so you don't have to get slapped.

First off, there is Panic! At The Disco. The most common mistake people make is leaving out the '!' in the title. Why is this a big deal? Because people are panicking! At the disco. The real reason behind the '!' though, is that when they first started the band, Panic! At The Disco put the exclamation point in the title once as a joke and fans kept on using it until it stuck. So remember kids, keep that exclamation point in.

Still on the subject of Panic! At The Disco, let's talk about their lead singer, Brendon Urie. Let's repeat his name a couple of times: Brendon Urie, Brendon Urie, Brendon Urie. Got it memorized? Good, because another common mistake people make is calling Brendon either Brandon or Braden and it is annoying and that is not his real name. Remember: it's Brendon Urie.

Concerning Twenty One Pilots, most people for some reason think it's written with the number '21' but it is in fact, spelled out so it reads "Twenty One Pilots" and not "21 Pilots." People also abbreviate it to "21p" when it is simply "top." Don't ask me why Josh Dun and Tyler Joseph decided to make their title that way, all I know is that it's supposed to be said correctly.

Now we have Fall Out Boy, glorious Fall Out Boy. I can't tell you how many times I've seen some imbecile spells it "Fallout Boy", "Fall Out Boys," and the worst, "Fallout Boys." It drives me crazy, and people know it. My best friend finds joy in torturing me with misspellings and it pains me to have to read such abominations. Here is conversation we had recently:

 

My friend torturing me
(via my phone)

It is "My Chemical Romance" not "My Chemical Romans." It's "Blink 182" not "Blink 182 Times," it is not "Black Veil Birds" it is "Black Veil Brides." Please, people of this earth, if you have a shred of decency you will write these names correctly and spare me and my fellow music nerds the pain of seeing it the wrong way, and spare yourself the pain of getting slapped by me.

On that note, hope you all have a fantastic day! :)

Pete Wentz Held My Hand 2k15

Today is the day I will tell you about the time Pete Wentz held my hand. But to tell this story, I have to start from the beginning.

So, I arrive at the concert about an hour before it officially starts with my friend, my sister, and her French foreign exchange student. After purchasing some merch (I got a tour t-shirt and a Fall Out Boy flag) claim a spot in the pit, right in the center three people from the front. We wait not so patiently for the concert to start and finally after what felt like Centuries (pun intended), Hoodie Allen came on stage. Now I had never listened to Hoodie before so I obviously didn't know the songs, but it was fun all the same. After Hoodie Wiz Khalifa came on and we had a surprise visit from MAX.

Joe Trohman and Andy Hurley
(My Photo)

Then it was the moment we had all been waiting for. I could not stand still and anxiously waited for FOB to come onto stage and make my dreams come true. Then...we heard it. Sugar We're Going Down. The crowd FLIPPED  and there was lot's of screaming. And all of a sudden they were there. Patrick, Pete, Andy, and Joe all on stage, literally nine feet away from me.

I'll spare you the details of of the concert because lets be honest, if I told you everything this would be a 5,000 page book. But I literally died 27 times. It was amazing. Patrick Stump has an amazing voice in real life and nothing can compete with it.


To soon was it over, and FOB ended with their hit song Saturday. I was killing it in the mosh pit and though sad it was over, glad that I got to see Fall Out Boy live.

But then something unexpected happened. Pete Wentz put his base down, grabbed a microphone and climbed into the pit to be held up by his fans. The crowd surged forward but I didn't care. Pete Wentz was now inches from me and I even touched his arm.

But then, through all the chaos and waving hands, Pete Wentz held  mine. I repeat. PETE WENTZ HELD MY HAND. I died for the 28th time that night. Shocked that Pete had grabbed my hand all I could do was gape up at him and I swear on all that is good on this sweet earth- Pete Wentz and I made eye contact and he smiled directly at me. 29th death. He held my hand for a good 12 seconds before he let go and moved on, but I didn't care. Pete Wentz held my hand. 

And then it ended. Fast forward to a few days later, still slightly in shock from the concert, still wearing my FOB t-shirt I had purchased, I was looking at pictures other people had taken when I found this photo:

Pete Wentz SLC 2015
(via my phone)

At first I was like, "cool pic," but then I looked closer and saw it. My hand is in that picture. It is the one sideways and vertical in the air with the ring on it, right by the hand that is waving and looks like it has a drawing on it. You're probably thinking, "pfft, yeah right. How does she know that's her hand?" Well buddy, I've been living with that same hand for nearly 15 years and I think I would know what it looks like. Plus, I was wearing a ring on my right hand that night so I think it is safe to assume that that is in fact, my hand.

Anyway, that is my story of the time Pete Went held my hand and how I died 29 times.