Chloe

I was given the opportunity to be a part of a music video. This music video talks about finding the beauty within yourself.

To be honest, when I got to the shoot and found out that I was to write what makes me beautiful on the poster... I didn't know what to put. So I texted Harrison. Part of the reason I was unsure was because I had seen some of the other girls posters and I knew I needed to write something different.

Another part of what was difficult about it, is that I don't always feel beautiful. I do have the best husband ever who tells me I am beautiful all the time, and I know he means it by the way he looks at me. But still, there are days when you just don't feel as beautiful as you did yesterday. Since the video was filmed I have thought a little more about it. I have been comfortable with life lately, but I haven't been as creative as I use to be (as you well know since I hardly ever write in this blog...) but creativity is a big component of my perceived beauty. I love to create things, and one of those things that I miss the most is creating dances. I think my favorite time in college was in 2008 when I coached the Collegiate Ballroom Team and got paid to watch dance videos and create and teach dances!  I also felt beautiful in 2010-2011 when I would take photograph walks--where I worked on camera skills and found the beauty in the things around me.

It can be hard to look inside yourself and tell other people what makes you beautiful. I am not making any sweeping declarations here, but I do hope to be more creative because of this experience opening up my eyes to that missing part of my life. 

So take a few minutes to watch this video and then leave a comment about what makes you beautiful.

Click here for video

Thank you to DateNight for having this idea and helping all of us involved to feel beautiful. And a very special thank you to Harrison for doing what I asked him to do in the video, and for loving and adoring me.

Why am I beautiful?
I am caring.
I am loving.
I am a great cook/baker.
I am passionate.
I am dedicated.
I am Quirky!!
I find details of beauty around me.

DateNight - "Girl" (Official Lyric Video)

It's time for an Artist spotlight, and today it is for this new band called DateNight.

Their first single is called Girl, and it features the beautiful Lauren Francom. Her voice is an incredible, light and sultry sound. You know how some people are trying to make their voice sound one way or another? Lauren does not try to do anything, her voice is just naturally this beautiful. Sandro, the lead singer, has a great voice too, but for some reason I can only think of how great Lauren is in this song!!

The song came out at the end of May and I think it is the perfect summer romance song. She wants him to hold her hand, and then she asks for her heart back because she doesn't want to be heartbroken but he is too into her to give her heart back now.

Everything about this song just works for me.  It is light and beautiful, it is what a summer picnic feels like, one of those dates that ends up never ending because neither of you want it to end, so you keep finding things to do and it is relaxed and wonderful. This song is like a nap in a hammock with the perfect breeze. This song is perfection.



One of their other songs is called Chloe.

This song is a little slower, and it is more like a conversation that happens late at night, when he is looking into your eyes, pushes the hair behind your ear, and tells you he loves you for the first time.

It is a beautiful song about how beautiful this girl is.

My favorite line is "makes my heart stutter la-la-like a vinyl record"

The lead singer Sandro is accompanied by Zach Collier and they are able to harmonize in an incredible way.

It is a sweet and simple lullaby that is guaranteed to make you smile and think of the first time you fell in love.

UPDATE! 6/14: So last night DateNight had a show in front of the Provo Library, and it was super good! One thing I loved about this band is that they all switched positions. There was a time that one person would play guitar, one would sing, one would beat on the box, and one would play the tambourine. Next song they all switched! And the harmonica, don't even get me started! Incredible.

They have some really good covers, and some really funny original songs like Girls, talking about their dating life and how it isn't going how they had planned.

Look up this band, listen to them, and love them!!

Go, Don't Stop

I recently joined the Chuck bandwagon, I know it is about 3 years late... But hey, I finally got there. One of the things I love about the show, aside from how perfectly adorkable Chuck is, is the music!!

Down River: The Temper Trap: When I found out this song was by The Temper Trap I was excited because I LOVED their song Sweet Disposition. Down River is just about as intoxicating to me, especially in the scene of Chuck it is in, the whole Go, Don't Stop lyric is perfect. 4 Stars.

Boy & Bear: Southern Sun: The first part of the song doesn't really make you think this song is going to hit you in any way... but there is something about the music and the chorus that I just get. I get a nostalgic vibe from this song, it's been a good song for me to do some spring cleaning to, but it also makes me think of driving in the country side, windows down, arms out, hair blowing in your face. There's something so simple about it yet it hits me deep. They also sound a little like the Shins, who I don't normally love... but man... 4 Stars

Take It Or Leave It: Cage The Elephant: This song reminds me of the Beatles a little, in the chorus. I guess I am in a slightly retro mood, where I want a new song to have the retro feel to it. I love the line "I move to the right and you move to the left" makes me think of the dating scene, when you don't know what someone wants and you make a move and they don't like it, especially with the whole Take it or Leave it... 3 Stars

Little Games: The Colorist: Just a good song, I don't really have any analysis beyond that, I heard it on the radio and wanted it! 3 Stars.

I Choose You: Sara Bareilles: While the name of the song makes me think of Pokemon, the lyrics are so sweet. I absolutely adore the whole, "Lifetime Love Letter" alliteration and notion. Every so often Harrison and I leave each other little love letters, and I never want to throw them away because wouldn't it be so cute to have a book of all those notes one day? (#thenotebook {also, one of my fears is losing my mind through Alzheimers...}) 3 Stars (I think I might get tired of it soon, but it is a good song.)

Holding On For Life: Broken Bells: Don't let the very start scare you off, it sounds alien, but then when they start they sound like a band I know (Death Cab for Cutie?).. and then the chorus makes me think of the BeeGees, (again, sticking with my new/retro sound...) and there is something about it that I just love. Even though yesterday when I was singing it in the car to Harrison I made the chorus sound super weird... haha 3 Stars

There Is No Mathematics to Love and Loss: Anberlin: just like a classic Anberlin song, I love how they layer lyrics over each other. 3 Stars

Flaws: Bastille: Quickly becoming a new favorite band, I love how this song builds in this kind of techno electric sort of way going into the chorus. 3 Stars.

8 Songs Reviewed.

Colors

Razzle Dazzle Rose: Camera Obscura: I love the instruments in this song, it sounds a little retro and very muted. It seems like a very romantic song, very soft. She is from Glasgow, and I remember thinking about her when I was in Edinbugh, walking past the Camera Obscura! 2 Stars.

Red: Taylor Swift: I like the idea of this song, it lets you decide what it means when loving him is red, is that passion? Losing him is blue, missing him is dark grey, I just really love this concept. Not to mention it is catchy and I like the stutter haha. 3 Stars.

Pink Bullets: The Shins: I go in phases where I remember loving the Shins so much when I first saw Garden State, to remembering a past relationship who loved the Shins and then he cheated on me so I kind of lose my interest in them... I think they do make good music. It is mellow, I really do like the stories they tell in their songs. This is a sad song about a ending, and it was beautiful. 3 Stars.

Yellow Submarine: The Beatles: I do like the Beatles... but this song... hm..  It kind of repeats a lot and kind of gets on my nerves, so I will delete this one. I still love you Beatles!

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road: Elton John: Honestly, I want to go see Elton John down in Vegas. I can't decide if I genuinely love his music, or if I want to be that girl with the unique and quirky music taste... But he was the first concert I went to... And I do really like his sound. So this song is one I would expect not to like, because I have never liked the Wizard of Oz, but this song is great. It is so perfect on those grey days where you don't want to do anything and it is rainy out, and you just need that anthem to sing... this is it. 3 Stars.

That Green Gentleman: Panic! At the Disco: I like this shift in their music, it is a little discordant, a little off, but that pulls me in more. Its a good song for when things have changed and you are happy about it, like it was your choice and its good. 2 Stars. 

Grey or Blue: Jaymay: I am not usually a big fan of ukelele type music, but I love this gals voice. I have always been big on eye color, so this song reminds me of that. I never thought I would end up with someone with brown eyes, mainly because I was always obsessed with Donna Lewis's song Always and Forever and how she mentions his blue eyes... but anyway, Harrison's eyes are the best brown eyes I have ever seen, and I can see how much love he has for me shining through and that gets me every time. But back to this song, it is sweet and cute, nice and light. 3 Stars.

Blue and Yellow: The Used: Oh there was a time in my life (2005?) Where I was actually really good at the screamo voice... I remember driving down Pac highway on my way to work at the bank, and I would be listening to the Used and I could scream it perfectly... Then walk into the bank and smile. I used music to cope with my emotions for sure. This song is nice because it isn't a screamy one, but it does have those feelings wrapped into it from that time in my life. 2 Stars.

Blue Suitcase: Erin McCarley:  I like her voice, it is simple and nice. Listening to this song makes me want to listen to her whole album, and then to look up more stuff by her. I think I first heard her from the He's Just Not That Into You soundtrack (which was the soundtrack for my life for some time). 2 Stars.

Black and Blue: New Found Glory: Ahh high school! It is a short song, nothing too special. 1 Star.

Ruby Blue: Roisin Murphy: This song is chaotic and beautiful. My old dance team has a routine to it, and it is good but the lighting is not so great. It has a grainy sound to it that I don't love, I wish it was a more clear sound, but that is part of what makes it what it is. 3 Stars.

Black Hole: She and Him: I do like Zooey Deschanel, but I loved her most in Failure to Launch.  This song paints a very vivid picture in my head, I'm alone on a bicycle for two. I like her retro sound, sometimes it is a little more country than I normally like, and her New Girl personality is one that I think tries too hard. This song scores 1 Star.

Black Velvet: Alannah Myles: Oh this song is dripping and intoxicating. I have loved it for as long as I can remember, I loved hearing it on the radio as a kid, and I love it now. It is a saucy song, a good little West Coast Swing song (which is such a flirtatious dance). It makes me think of the south on a hot day, you're fanning yourself with a lace fan, a light breeze through the curtains at dusk, and that romantic man coming home. This is one of the ultimate kitchen dancing songs for me. 5 Stars.

Black Sheep: Brie Larson: This is from Scott Pilgrim VS the World, which was a clever movie! I like this song, it just feels good to me. The lyrics are kind of nonsense, and that's what makes it work. 3 Stars.

14 songs rated, 1 deleted.

Love Songs (G-Z by Artist)

Let Love In: Goo Goo Dolls: As I am listening to this song now I can only think of Frozen! But then on to something more mature... I think there comes a point in many peoples lives where they have to make that choice to let love in, to set aside their cynicism. I think that was me, I had become quite jaded as I had been in the dating world and graduated from college without getting married or having met someone to marry, and when I moved to Utah and met Harrison, it took me a bit, but then I finally let love in, and now I can't stop saying it! So, this song turned my quite deep. 3 Stars.

Love Just Is: Hilary Duff: Don't just me! This happens to be the only H artist with a song about Love... hahaha This is a pretty good Viennese Waltz song, it is floaty and soft, makes me see pink curtains blowing in the wind with way too much smoke on the ground, swirling around and just being happy. As cheesy as this song is, it is true, Love just Is. Sometimes you can't explain it! 2 Stars.

While We're In Love: Ivy: I always forget how much I love Ivy until I hear them randomly on shuffle. I love how their music sounds so effortless, it has always made me think of how music would sound like underwater. It is soft and rolls together so easily. This song is actually kind of somber and sad, I think it fits when you're in a relationship that you know is not going to last, but you still enjoy it well enough and don't want to do anything to change it. 3 Stars.

Oh My Love: John Lennon. 5 STARS. Maybe 85, I LOVE THIS SONG. I have loved it ever since I saw Heartbreakers (which is easily one of my most favorite movies), and I just can't get over how incredible this song is. It is so sweet and honest. Here is a clip of the song with the movie. I may have wanted a shorter wedding dress because of this movie... Anywho, this song is just intoxicating to me, I love everything about it.

Someone To Love: Kate Earl: this song is a great blend of sadness, her sweet voice, the orchestra... it is just simple and beautiful. 3 Stars.

My Love Follows You Where You Go: Lori McKenna: As I am listening to this song, I don't think it is about a stalker... but I think it raises the question, when you love someone and the relationship ends, does that love end? Or does that person take what love you had given them with them? Her voice is a nice blend of a country singer, folky sound, and just deep and cuts into you. 4 Stars.

 Mestizos Love Song: Mêlée: I think I realized how true this song was in 2007, twice. I remember finally ending things between one guy I had dated, moving to California for my internship, and running in the park near my apartment to this whole album, but especially this song. Realizing that someone never loved you like they said they did is a hard thing. I learned it again later that year when I dated someone else who ended up cheating on me, he also did not love me like he said he did. This song is a great mix of anger and being well worded. 3 Stars. 

I Need Love: NSync: Obvious choice right? In the fall of 2004, Sarah and I embarked on BYU-Idaho. We listened to Nsync all the time, mixed with some Yellowcard and Ashlee Simpson. We occasionally would run into our roommate Emmalee's room, and serenade her with out lipsyncing and sweet dance moves to any song from this NSync album. This song is so terrible, and so great. 1 Star. I can't get rid of this one. It is perfect for road trips. 

Love Love Love: Of Monsters and Men: this is a soft and kind of sad song. It is mellow and doesn't stick out too much for me. Deleted. 

She Is Love: Parachute: It's a nice and sweet song, I like this guys voice. I decided I like the full band version of this song better than the other, it adds another element to the song that gives it more depth. 1 Star. 

Crazy Little Thing Called Love: Queen: Great upbeat song, makes you want to snap along and sway. and I always whip my head when the music drops out for a second. My mom has always wanted me to do a dance to this song. 3 Stars. 

Be Be Your Love: Rachael Yamagata: I remember hearing this song first from So You Think You Can Dance. I loved it then, but never remembered who is was by and wasn't able to download it. Fast forward to when Harrison and I were engaged and started sharing music (Scandalous!) that I found he had a whole album by her, and I knew it was the song because it had haunted my memory. So I snatched that up right quick! I think I actually prefer her live version more than the studio one, but both are good. It is a romantic and sad song, hauntingly beautiful and filled with emotion. I think the song does go on a little too long and ends a little crazy. 3 Stars. 

Elevator Love Letter: Stars: Oh how I love this song. "Her heels so high, my hopes so low" Great lyrics. Great voices. I loved this band for a few years before I finally heard this song. This song also makes me think of Grey's Anatomy, and all of the Elevator scenes. 5 Stars. 

If It's Love: Train: I hated Train for a long time, but Harrison really likes them and I have grown into them a little more. This song overall is pretty catchy and fun, but he has some really strange beliefs that he puts into his music... I want to buy you everything except cologne cause it's poison? ....weird. 2 stars.

DJ Got Us Fallin In Love: Usher: Just a fun club song. Makes me think of every dance movie, meet in a club, tragic thing, end in love. In defense of that though, I did fall in love with Lee, a Welsh/English Salsa dancer in Chester England, oh dang he smelled SO GOOD. And he was a great lead, such a fun partner. I went twice just to dance with him and I was only in Chester for like a week. haha! 1 Star. (not my favorite Usher song)

 This Love: The Veronicas: Yeah, I forgot that I had this song. It is dripping with teenage angst and lust. I am over this song for sure. Deleted. 

I Will Always Love You: Whitney Houston: Duh! So I remember being younger and this song coming out, and boy did I belt it out any chance I got... and I told people that my middle name was Whitney so it was like I wrote the song. It is a classic. 3 Stars. 

Forward to Love: Ziggy Marley: This is a great reggae song, you start groovin along. I am not a huge reggae fan, but I like this one because it makes me feel like it is a perfectly warm summer night, eating some food outside with a nice breeze, enjoying the company of friends and good music. 3 Stars.

California Love: 2Pac: I wouldn't feel right if I didn't include this song! It is funky and fun, perfect for road trips and cranking the volume up and the windows down, makes you want to wave your arm out the window like you're flying... 2 Stars



19 songs reviewed and 2 deleted.

Love Songs (A-F by Artist)

Well it's that time of the year, where everyone is hosting their "Not A Valentines" or "Singles Awareness" whatever party, so I thought I could review some love songs! (Which I have around 272 songs with some form of "love in the title...")

I am kicking it off with a wonderful and funny love song written by my own brother in law!

It's called Pokemon Love Song. It is very clever, reminds me of being in 6th grade when my best friend Brad was trying to get me to watch Pokemon but I never caught on. It also takes me back to one year as an EFY counselor trying to be super cool and compete in the Pokemon name-off (I obviously failed).  Anyway, Zach is very talented and a funny and cool guy, hope you enjoy his song!

Slammin Kind Of Love: A*Teens: This song takes me back to doing yard work, listening to my CD walkman. I don't even know how to rate this song, it's obviously terrible, it is obviously a song that inspired the whole High School Musical empire, but it will stay in my playlist, so I guess that earns it 2 stars!

Lovers of Loving Love: The Aquabats! No Valentines day would be complete without hearing Lovers of Loving Love! I think this song encompasses how you feel when you finally say you love someone and they say it back. Which makes me think of the dance scene from Joseph Gordon Levitt in 500 Days of Summer (not the best Valentines movie...) 2 Stars. (plus one star for nostalgia)

How Deep Is Your Love? The BeeGees. Ahh, the smooth romance of the 70's! My first year at BYUIdaho, there was a ballroom routine to a whole medley of 70's songs, and there was a beautiful night club two step to this song, they had the mirror ball shining, their white suits with purple shirts gleaming... this song just transports me to a different time and I feel the love. 3 Stars.

Another song that would be make this list incomplete, Love You More: Celine Dion (in fact, I had about 6 different songs with the word Love in the title to choose from...) When I hear this song I remember seeing it performed this way, and lets just take a moment to remember how terrible the 90's were for their white...I was once a Model at the mall, we were called "Style Board", and for one fashion show we did, I was put in a white prom dress very similar to the violinists, and it was as terrible, and I had my hair done similar to Celine's... haha Anyway, great song, 2 stars!

Light My Fire: The Doors: I can't remember if this was a cd one of the couples had brought in or if we made a cd with some songs for them to choose a wedding song from... but either way this song was an option for a couple that I helped create a wedding dance to when I did my internship in 2007 for Arthur Murray. I couldn't and still can't imagine anyone dancing to this song as their wedding dance! But it is funky and fun, and you know it lights that fire for a lot of people. I can see some couple dancing to this song as they are making dinner. (is it only me who finds the kitchen to be a romantic place? I seem to mention dancing in the kitchen quite a bit) Anyway, the song gets a little weird and out of control at the end. 2 stars.

Crazy In Love: cover by Emeli Sandi from the Great Gatsby Soundtrack: I love this cover, it is so fun as a Charleston type of song! Makes me want to dance with my darling cheek to cheek, kickin out our feet as we boogie. It's fun and upbeat, 3 Stars.

The Dumbing Down of Love: Frou Frou: 5 stars. Oh how this was the anthem I sang in 2005, once I heard it I knew my life had changed. How was it possible for someone to convey the loneliness of a lover without love in lyrics, in music, in this song? I do believe the first time I heard it, I did break down and cry. I was in a relationship of sorts at that time in my life where I put so much in and got nothing back. I tried to get that guy to hear the song, but even when I played it, he only heard with his ears, and not his heart. It ended up being another year before I realized I couldn't save it, and what it was doing to me. But oh, this song really did change a lot for me. (Thank you Ben for ever introducing Frou Frou into my life)

Your Body is a Weapon

One of my new favorite songs is called Your Body is a Weapon by the Wombats. The music video is... something else. I do think it is clever with the words coming in at random times, and especially when it spells out solo when there's a solo... but it is weird. I love when he says his body is the Temple Of Doom, I just love it! Overall, 4 Stars.

I'm also really digging a little of a retro, rockabilly, ska type of sound....

The Blue Aces sing Velvet, and it is a sweet little song. I absolutely adore the line: I've been waiting for the sun to turn to blue, for a call from you. (3 Stars) One of their other songs, Tried To Warn You, (3 Stars) is cheeky and reminds me of These boots were made for walking.  I am really loving their sound, and they are a local band for me!

Metro, by the Vincent Black Shadow is a song that brings me back to when I loved Save Ferris so much! It is a fun and punchy song. I think I might think it is so fun since I work at a treatment center and the girls are always saying their drugs aren't working, when really they just don't want to be feeling the emotions they are feeling. 3 Stars

I can't get over how much I love the harmonica? in Timber, but Pitbull and Ke$ha. (2 Stars) Again, I am really into this retro sound, so I almost prefer this cover of the song by the Postmodern Jukebox. I absolutely love that clash of the hard and soft, hard lyrics of today with the softer sound of the 40s, I've always been into that.

Lies by Chvrches is a hypnotic song, whose beat will get stuck in my head all day. 2 Stars

I can't remember if I heard this song first or saw them play on SNL first, but either way I really enjoy The Wire, by Hiam, and I love how they filmed their music video! It's nice to see a strong woman and a sad pathetic man every so often, though sometimes they way they broke up with the guy was a little juvenile... either way, the music video is very clever! 3 Stars.

7 Songs Reviewed.