~Jordin Sparks~

One Step At A Time - Jordin Sparks



I actually stumbled upon an acoustic performance she did with John Mayer and she really tore it up (It actually also includes a rendition of Tattoo which I thought was pretty good too). And for where I am at this little big moment of my life, this really was a pick me up.

"And we find the reasons why, one step at a time"

Two things I love about this song:
1) It doesn't waste time in showing the nitty gritty of getting beaten down. During the percussive pre-chorus, it pretty much beats down the harshness of it. Perfect contrast and set-up into the uplifting chorus.

2) I love how the song addresses the not just the learning process of "Next time I'll do this instead" but also the understanding the "why" which I feel makes this stick out from a lot of other "Get up and try again" songs. Awesome.

~Dave Matthews Band~

Old Dirt Hill - Dave Matthews Band

ah childhood. When things were easier.

~Phil Collins~

Son of Man - Phil Collins

I love how the song doesn't depict sentiments of overpowering people or showing people who's number 1. Instead, its about finding "your place among the ones you love" and getting wiser not to show people up but to benefit yourself and others. This is what motivational/pick-me-up songs/coming into your own songs are all about.


And let's just face it:

Sometimes, Disney just does it right. Enough said.

~Meiko

Boys With Girlfriends - Meiko




Meiko is an artist I came upon by pure accident. The first time I listened to her I was immediately tempted to identify her voice with Avril Lavigne, Regina Spektor, and Michelle Branch. However, the more I listened, the more I found it difficult to really identify her as another "indie artist" or "acoustic guitar playing singer" or another pop star wannabe. And I think its justly so - Meiko seems to have come into her own unique sound, building from the ground up rather than piggy backing on what's already been done. To be honest, I want to say she is like the movie Juno - unique and special enough to be "indie" but it seems like the mainstream is where it would flourish the best. I agree it may be a bad metaphor, but I really think she isn't meant to be confined to "indie" or myspace for that matter.

So go on and take a listen. I've posted both the album track "Boys with Girlfriends" and a live acoustic performance of "Under My Bed" because I think each emphasize two of her best traits - the former displays her unique musical sound while the latter shows off her beautiful voice and command with just a guitar.

I also have to say that I love it when a singer/songwriter can make "oooh's" or "aaah's" just as important as any well-written and well-placed lyric, which by all means I think she does that too - listening to "With my love out the door, You should be knocking" makes me wish I wrote it (c'mon! "You should be knocking" so ingenious!).

~Beyonce Knowles~

Beautiful lyrics. Beautiful melody. Beautiful song.

Halo - Beyoncé

I think what catches me most about this song is the fact that it mixes this idea of seriousness and serenity. The song opens with a very stern percussive beat, almost militaristic like, and Beyonce focuses on her lower vocal range (probably the lowest I've heard her sing). However, as the song progresses, it captures the more idealism of love, characterized by the higher vocal range and the increased emphasis on the use of strings and subtle synthesizer. Overall, a wonderful attempt to capture the essence of love. I say attempt because love is something that may never be fully captured by any medium of art - this however comes pretty close. ~DP~

~U2~

Yahweh - U2

Take these shoes
Click clacking down some dead end street
Take these shoes
And make them fit
Take this shirt
Polyester white trash made in nowhere
Take this shirt
And make it clean, clean
Take this soul
Stranded in some skin and bones
Take this soul
And make it sing

Yahweh, Yahweh
Always pain before a child is born
Yahweh, Yahweh
Still I'm waiting for the dawn

Take these hands
Teach them what to carry
Take these hands
Don't make a fist no
Take this mouth
So quick to criticize
Take this mouth
Give it a kiss

Yahweh, Yahweh
Always pain before a child is born
Yahweh, Yahweh
Still I'm waiting for the dawn

Still waiting for the dawn, the sun is coming up
The sun is coming up on the ocean
His love is like a drop in the ocean
His love is like a drop in the ocean

Yahweh, Yahweh
Always pain before a child is born
Yahweh, tell me now
Why the dark before the dawn?

Take this city
A city should be shining on a hill
Take this city
If it be your will
What no man can own, no man can take
Take this heart
Take this heart
Take this heart
And make it break

~Gavin Rossdale~

Cant Stop The World - Gavin Rossdale

How far will you go?
How deep is your love?
Your bodies bruised and on fire
Cant stop the world
Cant stop desire
and I cant turn around
and I cant turn around

Some days I can see the future
Some days you seem so far
I don't know what I was thinking
Ive been gone to long
Ive been gone to long

Don't fall to pieces
Don't do up
or give down
Keep your eyes on the road
Cant stop the world
Cant stop the phones
and I cant turn around
But I cant turn around

Some days I can see the future
Some days you seem so far
I don't know what I was thinking
Ive been gone to long

Some days I can see the future
Some days you seem so far
I don't know what I was thinking
Ive been gone to long
Ive been gone...

The strange life
So random yeah
Its over you
I understand
What can I do to get to you?
What can I do to get to you?

How far will you go?
How deep is your love?
Your bodies bruised and on fire
Cant stop the world
Cant stop desire

Some days I can see the future
Some days you seem so far
I don't know what I was thinking
Ive been gone to long

Some days I can see the future
Some days you seem so far
I don't know what I was thinking
Ive been gone to long
Ive been gone to long
Ive been gone to long