Come on Elieen

I was at a Japanese restaurant last week when this song came up and gosh did it remind me of The Perks of Being a Wallflower and the good times I've had with my bestie. This groovy and dance-worthy song is just the right song for setting my mood for back to school.

Doses and Mimosas - Cherub

Hmm, there is nothing much I can say to this song, but good memories. And I want to be the people in the video. Rad. 

Earcandy: Feels like we only go backwards

Tell me this isn't the best thing in the world: Arctic Monkeys covering Tame Impala.  This version and Tame Impala's 'Feels Like We Only Go Backwards' is, obviously, very very different.  In this video, Alex Turner's voice is just so rich and lingers around my ears, going deeper and deeper into my head.  This version is more calm and feels way more hopeless and reflective than Tame Impala's oringinal version which is more trippy and well, more Tame Impala radness.  And Turner's strumming of the guitar accompanying his deep echoy voice, thick and penetrating, is just plain awesomeness.  I'll keep listening to it all day and all night and all week and forever.

Wild Child

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So I've recently discovered this band.  And to be honest, I am drawn first thing by their name.  Wild Child.  Who doesn't want to be a wild child, right?  Only the burdens in life takes the wildness in us all away.  Anyway, their music is so relaxing, kind of indie folk, which is right up my alley.

This is my favorite out of their newest album.  Somebody Else.  It's so light hearted and chill.  I love the story element of it, and I especially love the light conversations in between the lines.  I wish everything was that easy like the lyrics goes.  All the chuckles and laughs and 'I don't really care's.  It just sounds extremely fun and bubbly.  A mood-lifter.

The Saddest Word in English

There is a 6 word story that goes like this.  The saddest word in English: stay.  

Immediately, my mind jumped to Rihanna's 'Stay', which is the most played song (457 times) on my iTunes.  It was my anthem last October through December, when I kept playing and replaying because, well, it sung my heart and mind back then.  

My favorite version of the song is not the original music video or the studio version, but Rihanna's performance on SNL.  I could feel her hurt and pain through her voice and her eyes.  I feel like she was singing her heart out, baring her cuts and bruises for the whole world to see, bravely.  It is so moving, and I feel so bad for her every time I see this video, I wish I can share a piece of her pain.  Go watch it, see it for yourself, and you will know what I mean.  

High Highs

Recently, I am loving the mellow and echoey sound of the High Highs.  This Sydney, Australian born (now Brooklyn-based) band is mega-awesome and mega-rad.  Their songs relax and unwind me.  Perfect for the moments of escape from the hectic reality that everybody needs. 

This is the most well-known song by them, played while the credits roll in Pitch Perfect.  And apparently it was in Catfish as well?

This one is my favorite.  It's their cover of Pnau's The Truth, but I love this version way more.  And here's my favorite bit.

You know I met you baby I thought that you were the sun

I felt your presence and your pure warmth shone upon

And then the night fell hard and you were the moon

I rode your waves but I fell too soon

I thought you were the truth

Here is an 30 mins performance by the High Highs.  I love it.

home, let me come home

I first heard of and listened to this song three summers ago when I was in America, far away from home.  And three summers after, I am in American now, and again am far away from home.  What's different this time is that I am here to stay, not for a month only like last time, but for four years.  Hong Kong will always be my home though, or rather; like the song but a tit-bit different, home is where I belong with my mama and papa and my family.  I will miss them dearly and I can't wait to see them next summer back home.  Home, let me come home.

All By Myself

I've never felt a song get me that much as this one, and it sure is a spur of a moment thing; but still, this morning, this song was like the summary of my now, my situation.  My family left this morning and 'All by Myself' kept looping in my head non-stop, even when I tried playing another song.  I suddenly felt so alone.  I am alone.  This is what I thought.  I don't wanna be all by myself.   It should be my new life here in the university and I should be all excited and happy about it.  But the thing is, I was doubting if I really wanted all of this.  There was just me and myself here, and no one gets me and there's no one to talk to.

So here is a slice of loneliness and emptiness I'd like to share.  Please do close your eyes and imagine, feel the moment, the emotion, and take a little bit of this solitude in, so as to ease this bottomless hole in my heart.

I'm just joking, I'm feeling much better now.  I will make it through, I have to.  Because this is what I've always wanted.  I won't be all by myself for long.

Never Seen Such Good Things

Big Black Car - Gregory Alan Isakov

I fell in love with this song the moment I heard it.  It's just so beautiful.  Apart from lost love (that I can't really relate to because I've never been in love), I feel like it's about the loss of innocence and the realization of reality.  It's about life, how we used to see everything as wonderful and miraculous, and how slowly, things and people change and fail us; and we all end up with just this never ending hope that we could be something in life's glory. 

Lyrics:

You were a phonograph, I was a kid

I sat with an ear close, just listening

I was there when the rain tapped her way down you face

You were a miracle. …I was just holdin' your space

Well time has a way of throwing it all in your face

The past, she is haunted, the future is laced

Heartbreak, ya know, drives a big black car

Swear I was in the back seat, just minding my own

And through the glass, the corn crows come like rain

They won't stay, they won't stay

For too long now

This could be all that we know

Of love and all.

Well you were a dancer, I was a rag

The song in my head, well was all that I had

Hope was a letter I never could send

Love was a country we couldn't defend.

And through the carnival we watch them go round and round

All we knew of home was just a sunset and some clowns

Well you were a magazine, I was a plane jane

Just walking the sidewalks all covered in rain

Love to just get into one of your stories

Just me and all of my Plain Jane glory

a little fall of rain

A Little Fall of Rain

Les Miserables has the best songs and lyrics ever.  I could still remember watching the 10th Anniversary Edition with my mom when I was small and singing along (of course I sang terribly).  The melody and the way they sang it just left me in awe every time.  As I grew older, I came to appreciate the words too, and I appreciate them a lot.  They're so so beautiful and I wish one day, I could write something like them.  The movie was really different from the musicals, but it's wonderful as well.  The shots were so raw and real, I was sucked deep into the movie the moment it began.  A Little Fall of Rain is one of my favorite out of all the songs, and I mean, how could anyone just have one favorite among those heavenly melodies and words.  So here are some of my other favorites.

A Heart Full of Love

Drink with Me

Stars

Empty Chairs at Empty Tables

There are just so many, I should stop here before I flood this post with videos.

Devendra Banhart and Ana Kras

I've seen this in my tumblr dashboard for a few times, but lately, I have no idea why it keeps coming up agian and again.  Anyway, Devendra Banhart and Ana Kras has, like, the most amazing and romantic love story in my opinion.  I don't think I could ever be so spontaneous. Oh, and they are one of the chic-est and coolest couple out there in my opinion.  I want their life...

 (He looks so much better with short hair, btw.  And seeing him and ana in fashion shows and Kooples posters...gosh, such transformation.)

St. Augustine

St. Augustine is such a beautiful, beautiful song.  I love the tingling sad feeling that it gives.  And also the calmness and peacefulness in the voice and melody, though the images and words are quite violent, and full of frustration, regret and remorse.  It is a great mix of gentleness in the tone and the slight violence/self-destruction (perhaps?) in the words.

Lyrics: 

Silver scents of Saint Augustine
Fire in the ground
Between my better teeth
We're dancing on the poison in their graves
At the end of the night
We'd all seen better days

I know you tried
I know you're cursed
I know your best was still your worst
When Hollywood was calling out your name

Saint Augustine

if I stayed behind
Would you let your hair grow?
I will forget
The favors that you owe
I'm dreaming of car wrecks and thunderstorms bright
Let's bury ourselves
And go haunt someone tonight

I know you tried
I know you're cursed
I know your best was still your worst
When Hollywood was calling out your name

Saint Augustine

itsy bitsy teenie weenie yellow polka dot bikini

Apologies for the future never-ending looping of this song in your head for the rest of your day.  But I'm sure you won't mind.  And Brian Hyland, you stole my heart away.

Music Monday: New Soul - Yael Niam

I've been enjoying my summer holiday and chilling with my friends and this bubbly song just fits the mood of how I've been feeling lately. I'm indeed a new soul and as I'm moving on to a whole new chapter of my life.  I am graduating; I am becoming an adult; I am heading to a new environment, to be a new fish in a whole new different pond.  

True, there are nervous moments and panic attack sometimes about the unknown future that I will have to go through alone, without my friends and family here.  But, just like this song, I know I will make mistakes and there will be joyful moments as well as moments when I fear and worry, and I wish (I know) that this will be a happy end. 

Music Monday: Everything Has Changed - Taylor Swift ft Ed Sheeran

I am not really super cray cray about the melody itself, I mean, it sounds nice; and their voices sounded superb together (Ed Sheeran's magical and perfect voice can do no wrong anyway).  But the video though, is the cutest thing ever!  The mini Taylor and Ed look uber cute and lovely together and I just can't help smiling while watching this.  The twist in the end is really nicely done as well.  Hype!
(now I wish I hadn't studied in a girls' school all my life...)

music: you are my sunshine

Sure all of us have listened to this song in our childhood, and well, it was only last year have I really gotten into this song and really listened to the lyrics.  I've always thought it a happy song because, come on, it's always played in lullaby CDs.  But now I know, the song is kind of sad.  True, the lyrics and words are nothing special, but got to admit, it's a pretty sweet song. 

Lyrics:

The other night dear, as I lay sleeping

I dreamed I held you in my arms

But when I awoke, dear, I was mistaken

So I hung my head and I cried.

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine

You make me happy when skies are gray

You'll never know dear, how much I love you

Please don't take my sunshine away

I'll always love you and make you happy,

If you will only say the same.

But if you leave me and love another,

You'll regret it all some day:

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine

You make me happy when skies are gray

You'll never know dear, how much I love you

Please don't take my sunshine away

You told me once, dear, you really loved me

And no one else could come between.

But now you've left me and love another;

You have shattered all of my dreams:

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine

You make me happy when skies are gray

You'll never know dear, how much I love you

Please don't take my sunshine away

In all my dreams, dear, you seem to leave me

When I awake my poor heart pains.

So when you come back and make me happy

I'll forgive you dear, I'll take all the blame.

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine

You make me happy when skies are gray

You'll never know dear, how much I love you

Please don't take my sunshine away

music: Shannon and the Clams

Looping this song non-stop these days.  I'm beyond happy as my exams are all over woohoo!  And I'm feeling alive again!  Cheers to a long long summer with friends and family, and all new adventures that I'm going to have and new places that I'm going to visit and all that jazz!  I'm all up to groovy and bouncy tunes and smiles and weirdness and coolness and whatever rainbows and sprinkles and glitters that lie ahead of me in the next few months.  Trust me, I'm smiling even in my sleep these days.

I know the song has zero context match with the happiness I'm feeling these days, but AIN'T THE VIDEO COOL AND THE TUNE NIFTY?

Enjoy.

music: kids

Yep, this song is nothing new.  But I still love love love this song for its upbeat melody and for, just for my plain love for Two Door Cinema Club.  Perfect song to blast when you're home alone, and for those rock stars and dancing queens of the shower.

Enjoy.

music: The Neighbourhoods

With my exams approaching and my nerves and tension building up, I just need something to cool me off.   Sweater Weather is the perfect song to play and listen to.  The video is cool and the song is just so chill...

Enjoy.