It has been so long, but mark my words this is something that I've been wanting to do. I try to read Amanda Palmer's blog as often as it is updated and it is so inspiring. Every time I read it I learn something new, or get new insight about a certain topic, or am just left thinking and I think that that is SO powerful. I love to write and I love to read, I've lost sight of both of those things and will be attempting to retake them while I have a long break from school. I am not limiting this sort of output to a blog. I'm also going to get my YouTube channel back up and running and have been flirting with the idea of VEDIM (Vlog Every Day in May). So, we'll see what the future has in store.

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Typically I hate these sort of Facebook things, but secretly I think they are good ideas, if we remove the brevity of them. Do not get me wrong I can be funny in 140 characters, but can I really convey something? Yes. People do it all the time. In fact Amanda Palmer does it on the daily via her Twitter account, but I am not so masterful with words. I have a tendency to be long winded and over explain things. A lot of that will happen here, simply because the character limit has been removed. There I go again, I've strayed off topic and have to read back to remember my original point. I found this thirty day song challenge on Facebook and I'll be warping to my own needs. I don't have the attention span to post a single song a day because it's my "favorite" or "least favorite" so I'm going to condense the list, break it into a couple of posts, and actually explain myself. I'm going to attempt to write the explanation of why I chose a certain song while I listen to it! Hopefully when the last notes resound I'll be onto editting and you won't have to read 10,000 words about Sinead O'Connor.

So without further adieu here are five songs from the thirty day song challenge with my added spice.

1. A song that reminds you of a certain event

"Symphony 5- Was a Surprise," by Emily Wells

It was the summer going in my junior years of high school, I had my drivers license, I had a car, life was good and I was feeling like this was my first taste of "total freedom" though looking back it was something quite different. It was a point in my life where I was becoming unsatisfied with what I had discovered up to that point. Enter Emily Wells, a classically trained violinist with a melancholy voice who loves rapping! What an odd combination! I'd like to say she spread like wildfire through my friends, but she still hasn't. That isn't to say though, that I didn't have friends who at least would listen to her. Enter Amber, we decided that we were going to do something fun and crazy and went to Emily Well's show at the Majestic Cafe in Detroit. How familiar you are with Detroit will probably help you with this, but the Majestic Cafe is almost directly under Detroit Mercy Hospital (translation: the hood). I still cite this show as the best thing that has ever happened to me musically. I'm not kidding when I say this concert changed my life and I don't think that I only speak for myself when I say this was the best song in her set. I wish that I could find a better live recording off it, because she is so much better live than on the album. I suggest that you go check out some of her other live work here and here. (Note: That actually took about five minutes, which the original live version of the song that I found was about that, so I feel like I've still met my own guidelines.)

2. A song that you know all the words to

"Her Ghost in the Fog," by Cradle of Filth

Another huge turning point my adolescent development. I discovered Cradle of Filth in the seventh grade thinking that they had two harsh vocalists, a male and a female, and they were the greatest thing since sliced bread (all wrong). This was on of their first singles to receive commercial success with her album Midian in 2000. Naturally it was one of the first songs by them that I stumbled on because of this. I made it my mission to learn these words, and anyone with familiarity with Cradle of Filth will know that that isn't always an easy task. These words are still partially written on the ceiling above where my bed was in my old bedroom. I got dispirited about writing them, my handwriting was too big, writing upside down was too hard, and the song is LONG, I knew that I didn't give myself enough room. But, I do still know all the words to this song and if by chance you drive by me while I'm alone in my car listening to this track, you'll probably see or hear me singing along.

3. A song from your favorite band

"Insect," by Hammers of Misfortune

So far this has been the hardest song to pick, simply because I was torn between Martha Wainwright and Hammers of Misfortune. I ended up picking Hammers because they're a band and Martha in a singular musician. She is my favorite musician and they are my favorite band, if that makes sense. I also always think it appropriate to explain that NONE of my favorite songs are by either, I cite that as my favorite because I love every song. I picked this song because it is a perfect showcase of what Hammers does and why I love them! A quite intro with chanting-like vocals for an intro and bad ass transition and a glorious arrival. In my opinion the best way to listen to this song is on headphones, turned up to 11, close your eyes and just imagine. Lame, but I think this song is actually perfect for a superhero movie trailer. 0:00- 1:32 showing how the world has come undone and how humans, as a race, cannot win, and then 1:33 on shows the superheros showing up and kicking ass. Sounds like a winner to me.

4. A song that no one expects you to listen to

"Black Friday," by Lil Kim

Honestly, I don't feel like people would be surprised that I listen to this, but it's maybe the most outlandish kind of music compared to the rest of my music collection. I love Lil Kim! I love her attitude! I hate her new face, it scares me! Looking though at the previous song compared to this and not reading the title, I think you might be a little surprised to see this song making the list. In short I love attitude and Kim has a surplus! (P.S. actually watch the video and check out her new face)

That's it for todays installment, and honestly I don't think I'll continue on with this theme. It's served it purpose, but the rest of the list is basically the same things worded differently. If I continue I run the risk of songs reappearing. :P There is one last song that I'm going to post though, for no other reason than I love it. I think that Annie Lennox is perfect and doing a song that I didn't really think could get better. I generally stay pretty true to either the Wainwright's doing it or Leonard Cohen himself, but I'm almost tempted to say they don't hold a candle to this. So PLEASE enjoy it!

I'd love to hear about the music you listen to.

Efd

I'm not always going to rip of Amanda, but for this return it is Edward FUCKING Dolehanty.