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.

New Year

It may be cliche, but I looked up some songs with "New" in the title for this new year.

The New Year: Parachute: "What a way to start the new year" Well, I think a great way to start the new year is with good music! This song is pretty good, catchy, nice beat, and his voice is just clean and clear. 2 Stars. "This could be my year"

New Year's Eve: Nina Gordon: Oh this song it pretty good for when you're feeling down, when you have had plans fall through, or you're at a dance or party and you are expecting that special guy to show up so you keep glancing at the door... It's a good song, takes me back to those moments where you're in that big group but still feel alone. 3 Stars.

Together We'll Ring In the New Year: Motion City Soundtrack: Another song for when you're feeling down and forgotten, where you're wearing a mask and don't feel like you can be yourself around anyone. This song really takes me back to the dating scene, partially because I was introduced to this band by an ex-boyfriend, and how one of my roommates at the time and I would drive around and sing/scream this song... Especially the lines "Heads Up! Damage control, there's a ring around her finger, last chance for changing lanes and you missed it by a mile" We would then follow up this song with "I Hate Everyone" (I am excited to review that one! haha) 3 Stars

Brand New Day: Joshua Radin: Just a nice simple song about starting over, and how that can be OK. Maybe not great, but okay. 2 Stars.



Brand New Day: Dr. Horrible: Epic rocking rap love song, It is a great song, but doesn't really stand on it's own, I think this is better in Dr Horrible's Sing Along Blog. <deleted>


New Day: Mêlée: I think this is one of the songs on a free CD one of my friends got, makes me think of road trips, long car rides, not my favorite of the CD, but still a good song. 1 Star.


Nothing New: Ashlee Simpson: A nice, good pop song. Reminds me of my first semester of college (when I bought the CD) cleaning my room, pretending to study... 1 Star.

Pastures New: Nickle Creek: I had that phase, I think summer of 2005 where I was really into the folksy music and loved the mandolin...  but now I am not feeling it. It does put me in a happy mood, it could be good for cleaning the house because it makes me want to move a little faster... but I won't be keeping it. <deleted>


The World Is New: Save Ferris: Oh the days of Ska! Are you still alive? Do people still listen to you? It makes me want to jump up off the couch and do the typical ska dance, or watch 10 Things I Hate About You (they aren't in the movie, but there is a similar band in the movie). Another nice simple song, great instruments in the background. 2 Stars.

(9 songs reviewed)

Ratings

This year I rated 250 songs, only 212 listed below because the others were Christmas songs. There are 3957 songs in my iTunes right now! EEK!

5 Stars (6 songs)
Single Ladies: Beyonce
Ola Chica: Chico Fernandez
Bennie and the Jets: Elton John
No Sleep Tonight: Faders
Paris: Grace Potter and the Nocturnals
Screaming Infidelities: Joanna

4 Stars (13 songs)
Now That I've Found You: Alison Krauss
Break The Ice: Britney Spears
Lock You Heart Down: Churchill
New Heights: A Fine Frenzy
Crazy: Gnarls Barkley
Canned Heat: Jamiroquai
You Got What I Need: Joshua Radin
Green Garden: Laura Mvula
Sun Hands: Local Natives
Beggin': Madcon
Mistakes We Knew We Were Making: Mae
Waiting: Mae
Crash Course: The Spill Canvas

3 Stars (37 songs)
It Ends Tonight: All American Rejects
Cold War Transmissions: Anberlin
It's Oh So Quiet: Bjork
Rain, Rain, Go Away: Breaking Benjamin
Late Night Swing: Casey McGill and Spirits of Rhythm
Saturday In The Park: Chicago
Dirrty: Christina Aguilera
Magic: Colbie Caillat
Kissing You: Des're
Who Makes You Feel: Dido
Satellites: Doves
At Last: Etta James
Open Season: High Highs
Dark Blue: Jack's Mannequin
Running On Sunshine: Jesus Jackson
Brand New Day- Reprise: Joshua Radin
Sweet Home Alabama: Lynryd Skynyrd
Ready And Waiting To Fall: Mae
I Could Break Your Heart Any Day of the Week: Mandy Moore
Ladie's Choice: Mandy Moore
Reasons to Love You: Meiko
Got It All: Melee
Eclipse (All Yours): Metric
Fade To Black: Nina Gordon
Too Slow To Ride: Nina Gordon
Nightingale: Norah Jones
Back in Time: Pitbull
Killer Queen: Queen
Somebody to Love: Queen
Maria: Ricky Martin
Ramalama (Bang Bang): Roisin Murphy
Bom Bom: Sam and the Womp
Need You Around: Smoking Popes
Polygraph, Right Now: The Spill Canvas
Secret Oath: The Spill Canvas
Cough Syrup: Young The Giant
Last Love Song: ZZ Ward

2 Stars (70 songs)

Set Fire To The Rain: Adele

Mr. Saxobeat: Alexandra Stan

All My Days: Alexi Murdoch

Audrey, Start the Revolution: Anberlin

Knights of Shame: AWOLNATION

Something: The Beatles

Can U keep up?: Beyoncé

It Will Rain: Bruno Mars

Feel So Close: Calvin Harris

Good Woman: Cat Power

Yellow: Coldplay

Friday Night: Dance Mix 3

Show Stopper: Danity Kane

Debussie: Daphne Loves Derby

Ghost Of A Good Thing: Dashboard Confessional

Rooftop: Dave Matthews Band

Warwick Avenue: Duffy

Waltz #2: Elliot Smith

We Will Run: Fefe Dobson

Only A Rainbow Away: Fefe Dobson

Dog Days Are Over: Florence and the Machines

Fly Me To The Moon (In Other Words): Frank Sinatra With Count Basie & His Orchestra

Solid Ground: Frozen Lakes

Only Happy When It Rains: Garbage

You Look So Fine: Garbage

He Danced With Me / She Danced With Me: Gemma Craven & Richard Chamberlain

Variations On The Kanon By Johann Pachelbel: George Winston

Whatever Lola Wants: Gotan Project

Mistake Pageant: Idlewild

Road Runner: Imelda May

Stellar: Incubus

Ghosts: James Vincent McMorrow

I Won't Give Up: Jason Mraz

The Forecast: Jason Mraz

The Boy's Gone: Jason Mraz

Last Goodbye: Jeff Buckley

Jen: Jimmy Eat World

When It Rained: Josh Groban

Star Mile: Joshua Radin

Don't Push Love Away: The Juliana Theory

My Love: Justin Timberlake

Unlike me: Kate Havnevik

Bulletproof: La Roux

Journey to the Past: Liz Callaway

Once upon a December: Liz Callaway

Wide Eyes: Local Natives

Cubism Dream: Local Natives

Telescopes: Mae

Hey stranger: Mêlée

Kissing A Fool: Michael Bublé

The Phantom Of The Opera: Michael Crawford, Sarah Brightman

New Low: Middle Class Rut

Words Cannot Describe: Mirah

This Is For Real: Motion City Soundtrack

Let's Dance: Mya

Crazy For You: 'N Sync

Better Off Dead: New Found Glory

Turn On Your Radio: Nina Gordon

Sunrise: Norah Jones

Young Folks: Peter Bjorn And John

1901: Pheonix

So Damn Clever: Plain White T's

What Do I Do: Sam Phillips

Let the Rain: Sara Bareilles

Many the Miles: Sara Bareilles

Punk Rock Princess: Something Corporate

Family Theme: Sondre Lerche

Connect The Dots: The Spill Canvas

Midnight Coward: Stars

I knew you were trouble: Taylor Swift

1 Star (86 songs)

Bouncing off the ceilings: A*Teens

Sugar Rush: A*Teens

Journey to the Past: Aaliyah

Will You Still You Find Me?: Aereogramme

Kingdom Celebration: Alan Menken

Don't Leave Me: All American Rejects

You Lie: The Band Perry

Piazza, New York Catcher: Belle & Sebastian

Turn Me Up: Benni Benassi

Eyes on Fire: Blue Foundation

The Last Time: Bread

The Chemicals Between Us: Bush

Honestly: Cartel

Midnight Bottle: Colbie Caillat

Tailor Made: Colbie Caillat

Butterfly: Corinne Bailey Rae

Golden Years: David Bowie

Rolling In On A Burning Tire: The Dead Weather

See You When You're 40: Dido

Klimbim: Don Ross

Sacrifice: Elton John

So Stylistic!: Fannypack

Fire in the water: Feist

Dead Wrong: The Fray

Hundred: The Fray

Over my head: The Fray

Everyone Else In the World: Frozen Lakes

Wait: Get Set Go

Ooh La La: Goldfrapp

Another Dumb Blonde: Hoku

Cover Up: Imagine Dragons

Die Alone: Ingrid Michaelson

Worry About You: Ivy

Good People: Jack Johnson

Staple It Together: Jack Johnson

Holiday From Real: Jack's Mannequin

Make It Mine: Jason Mraz

Evidence: Jimmy Eat World

Cut: Jimmy Eat World

Here We Go: Joshua Radin

Spin Around: Josie & The Pussycats

One Of The Boys: Katy Perry

He's Not A Boy: The Like

You're the Ultimate: Lindsay Lohan

Something I never had: Lindsay Lohan

Royals: Lorde

Crush: Mandy Moore

Umbrella: Mandy Moore

Fantasy: Mariah Carey

PayPhone feat Wiz Kalifa: Maroon 5

Can't Break Her Fall: Mat Kearney

Crazy Little Thing Called Love: Michael Bublé

Black or White: Michael Jackson

Feel Like Rain: Motion City Soundtrack

Uh-Huh (Feet. Zooey Deschanel & Von Iva): Munchausen By Proxy

The End.: My Chemical Romance

Bulletproof Heart: My Chemical Romance

Your Surrender: Neon Trees

Reasons Why: Nickel Creek

Raccoons: Ohbijou

Gold: Owl City

Reason Why: Rachael Yamagata

Raindrops: Regina Spektor

Better: Regina Spektor

Right here, waiting for you: Richard Marx

Waiting : Rocket Summer

A Good Thing: Saint Etienne

Twistin The Night Away: Sam Cooke

The Light: Sara Bareilles

Track 14: Selena

Pressed in a Book: The Shins

Phantom Limb: The Shins

Dan And Marie Melody: Sondre Lerche

Beginning After The End: Stars

Your Name Here (Sunrise Highway): Straylight Run

Rain: SWV

State of Grace: Taylor Swift

MoonDance: Van Morrison

1000 Miles: Vanessa Carlton

Lets Dance: Vanessa Hudgens

Forever: Vertical Horizon

Say It Ain't So:  Weezer

Such A Pretty Lie: The Wrens

One Year, Six Months: Yellowcard

Shake: Ying Yang Twins
Feel Like A Feather In The Breeze: Unknown

Songs in iTunes: 3957

Christmas Music Review 3

Last year Harrison and I got the CeeLo Green Christmas album, Magic Moment. It is unexpected and pretty fun!

1. What Christmas Means To Me: This song makes me want to dance "The Carlton" because of its beat. Makes me snap my fingers and sway side to side. This song seems to list a lot of different things someone might do to help it feel like Christmas, those things that if they don't happen you notice and it makes a difference. 4 Stars! He does kind of go crazy towards the end, but it is too fun.

2. Baby It's Cold Outside--featuring Christina Aguilera: I think this is the first version of this song I think is not creepy! I like their voices together. I wish they had made a music video to this song because I can picture it in my head and I love it. Christina gets a 5 on this song, her voice is so smooth like some perfectly hot chocolate and her voice also has that retro quality. I like what they've done with the background music... 5 Stars!! 

3. This Christmas: This is a solid song, but not my favorite on the album. I like the chorus better because that's when he is belting it out, and I like that. 2 Stars.

4. The Christmas Song: This song is a total R&B song, this song is a miss for me. I don't think I care much for this song to begin with, and there isn't anything that makes it different enough to catch my attention. 1 Star.

5. White Christmas: What sets this song apart from others, is the key change within the song. It isn't anything too special to me, but it is done nicely. 2 Stars.

6. All I Need Is Love--featuring The Muppets: This is a silly and fun new song. I mean, it's the Muppets and Cee Lo having a Christmas party, what else can be said about this song! 3 Stars.

7.  You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch: I am not a big fan of this song to begin with, but this is a fun little a capella version, with the background singers making the beats with their voices, which adds a nice creative flair and makes it pop. 2 Stars.

8. Please Come Home For Christmas: I think Cee Lo's voice in this song is like gravy, thick and delicious. He does a good job on this song, though he doesn't do much to change it. 3 Stars.

9. Run Rudolph Run: A pretty typical version of the song, plus a gospel choir. 2 Stars.

10. All I Want For Christmas: I feel like this song is redundant, because he has a song about All he Needs (is love) so... now to say all he wants is you... well, whatever.  This is not an attempt of Mariah, but he puts his own spin on it, and it works. 3 Stars.

11. Mary Did You Know: Not many people seem to attempt this song, but Cee Lo does a great job. I like how he slowly builds up his volume, it's a smooth and mesmerizing song. 4 Stars. I don't love too much the slower songs, but he really does a great job with this one.

12. River: This is mainly a song about Christmas, but not a Christmas-y tune. Not a favorite...It seems to drag on a little bit for me. 1 Star.

13. Merry Christmas, Baby--featuring Rod Stewart: Now, I don't know why, but I have never cared much for Rod Stewart, then there is a weird synthesizer in the background... and I am not loving this one. 1 Star. (Though it probably deserves two...)

14. Silent Night: Classic song, and Cee Lo does a nice job and adds a little twist. 3 Stars.

Christmas Music Review 2

Mittens: Carly Rae Jepson: This song caught my attention just because it was so cheesy... I fell for you like crazy ( and I always hear glue here... haha) I have been obsessed with watching the worst and most cheesy Christmas movies on Hallmark and Lifetime, and I think this was a song from one of those... it is perfect... perfectly cheesy. 3 Stars, it's catchy!

I had someone recommend some T-Swift Christmas music.. but I am not so sure myself.
Christmas Must Be Something More: I was expecting something more from this song... Not sure I will keep this one.
Christmases When You Were Here: sounds like she is trying too hard to make her voice catch at times, this one just sounds like a reason for her to write a song about how she's broken up with and it happens to be Christmas. Don't like.
Last Christmas: I am not a huge fan of this song, and it seems like a follow up for the last song... Not sure I can even make it through the song...
Silent Night: No. I do not like this version.
White Christmas: Already sounds too country for me, and I mentioned this is one of my favorite songs and I am very picky about remakes... not impressed.

My personal thought, don't spend your money on Taylor Swift's Christmas Album.

Christmas Music Review

If you were to have asked any of my roommates in College if I liked Christmas, I think most of them would tell you NO. For some reason, I didn't like it much then, but now... I started listening to the Christmas Radio station a week BEFORE Thanksgiving.  So... something is different.

I heard a few songs off of Kelly Clarkson's Wrapped In Red Christmas album, and I decided to review it for you all and give you my opinion of the cd as a whole, as well as what songs I will be playing on repeat.

1. Wrapped In Red: I think this is a good new Christmas song, talking about taking a risk for love. I like the description of colors. It's a cute one. 4 Stars
2. Underneath the Tree: This is where I like to spend some time, under the tree looking up at all the lights, just relaxing and smelling that tree (if it's real...) That is something some of my best girl friends will relate to, mainly because it is a scene from Grey's Anatomy. This is a cute and fun one, I can see myself dancing around the apartment with a nicely scented candle or cookies in the oven and the Christmas lights on. 5 Stars
3. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas: Simple, Classic song. She does it right, she doesn't push too hard (well, maybe a little at the end), it is just soft, sweet, and makes me want to watch some snow fall. 3 Stars
4. Run Run Rudolph: A fun little Swing number, makes me want to do a little jive. 3 Stars
5. Please Come Home For Christmas (Bells Will Be Ringing): Soulful, a little sad, and she rocks it.  2 Stars
6. Every Christmas: It didn't quite capture my attention, but it is alright, I think I like the music more than the lyrics. 1 Star.
7. Blue Christmas: Not my favorite Christmas song... and she doesn't totally sound like herself on this track. 1 Star.
8. Baby It's Cold Outside: Not super impressed, I don't care too much for the man in the duet. The piano solo is very jazzy and makes me feel like I am in a piano bar where Kelly is in a slinky red dress draped around the piano... 1 star.
9. Winter Dreams (Brandon's Song): First off, loving the beat, love that this is a song for her husband, I am a sucker for those moments where the music drops out... its cute and new and I like it. I think this song captures the feeling of having a great snowball fight, warming up with hot coco... building that perfect snowman, and just snuggling with that perfect someone watching the snow fall, no responsibilities, no where you need to be. That's the dream!5 Stars
10. White Christmas: I am quite biased on this song, White Christmas is one of my favorite Christmas films, and no one can really compare to Bing Crosby... This is a lot slower version and it is nice, but since I am biased, I will be giving it a lower score. 1 Star.
11. My Favorite Things: I do like this version of the song better than Julie Andrews--Sorry! It's a little bit more upbeat, it would be a fun Viennese Waltz to do.  2 Stars.
12. 4 Carats: This is really upbeat and I think it is catchy and fun! Not totally a Christmas feel, but it is light hearted and silly. 4 Stars.
13: Just For Now: A remake from Imogen Heap, it is not originally a Christmas Song... she sings it well, and it is a different version of the song... I do like that I don't feel as song when I hear this song by here, but it still has a frantic and rushed quality to it, and it is no Christmas song... 1 Star. (maybe more when not featured on a Christmas Album)
14. Silent Night: Well the rest of the album did not prepare me for this more Country version, with Reba McIntyre and Trisha Yearwood joining in. I have been enjoying watching Trisha on Food Network, but I am not super interested in this countrified version of Silent Night. I don't think you'll hear me singing along to this one... 1 Star.
Bonus Songs:
15: I'll Be Home For Christmas:Oh what a welcome relief to my ears after that country trio! This is the voice of Kelly's I like. Again, it has a smoky piano bar feel, but I am digging it. It is a little breathy, like a mix of Jessica Simpson and some high notes like Mariah Carey, but overall I like the instruments that join in. 2 Stars.
16. Oh Come, Oh Come Emmanuel:  Slow, smooth, soft. This song leaves you wanting more, it is a classic song and she doesn't try to hard, it just happens. 5 Stars.

I think this is a great album, it is a nice addition to anyone's Christmas music collection!