Day 13: A song that makes you cry

A lot of songs make me very sad... but only a few actually make me cry. 

This is one of them. The whole concept of losing someone you are engaged to is super-sad to me...

...sadder than having your husband die. 

Also, tragic war songs tend to get me. :P

I love this music video, too. Carrie Underwood's outfits are adorable!  

I gotta say, though... I really wish she would cut back on the black gooey eye makeup. Sheesh.

Day 12: A song you want played at your wedding.

I couldn't think of hardly anything... a lot of the songs I love are sad. There are very few love songs that I really like--a lot of them are dumb.

But here's one I like pretty well.

Random song that makes me emotional.

For some reason, this song makes me sad. And happy. Mostly emotional.

And I like her boots. ;-)

you're right there beside me

I'm not a huge fan of Owl City (not really into techno, or his voice, or some of the strange lyrics)...
but I love a couple of their songs, including "Meteor Shower". The lyrics are so. perfect. And I felt like adding them to this sky shot I got a while back.

How do you feel about Owl City? 

Yes, I am obsessed with Les Miserables.

Wednesday was one of the best nights of 

my life.

The musical of Les Miserables has been an obsession of mine for the past month or so, aided by Anna Olivia, and my sister. I listen to I Dreamed a Dream every night at least once, 

and sing "Red... the blood of angry men!" sporadically around the house. 

So when we found out that the 25th anniversary concert was playing for just one night in a theater not far from our house, we decided to go. 

There is so much I could say about the concert, but it would turn into a 20-mile long post.

Basically, 

1. It was absolutely beautiful. 

I liked some of the singers much better than in the 1995 version that I am super-familiar with.

2. Nick Jonas actually pulled off Marius. I think this is impressive, considering he's only 18, and is a pop star. I actually liked how his voice wasn't super powerful and mature, because that's more fitting for Marius. And he looked great for the part. I haven't seen hair I liked that much in a long, long time.

3. I adored Javert like never before. My sister has always loved this character, and I have repeatedly reproved her for this. However, Norm Lewis' Javert was so amazing, I couldn't help but adore him.

4. Jean Val Jean didn't do anything for me. I didn't like his voice or looks much at all. 

5. The costumes were to die for. I wish there were more pictures I could show you, but there is shocking lack of them on the internet. There were scrumptious cravats and white shirts with rolled-up sleeves and boots and vests and newsboy hats. I nearly died.

6. I didn't actually ever weep, which is pretty impressive. The closest I ever got was when Michael Ball 

(the Marius that I love from the 10th anniversary version) 

got on stage at the very end and sang "One Day More" with several other singers from that cast.

I nearly burst into tears. His voice is so powerful and amazing

It's cocoa butter for my soul.

Enjolras on the left. Marius... is singing... LOL.

7. Enjolras was awesome. His hair wasn't great, but he looked very French, and was perfect.

8. I was totally rooting for Javert and Eponine instead of Val Jean and Cosette, as I ought.

Cosette sang well, but I don't like her part very well, plus, as a character, she bothers me.

Eponine and Marius totally needed to get together. OR Eponine should've married Enjolras.

9. The filming and sound and close-ups were so amazingly breathtaking in the movie theater. 

I wish they showed concerts like that more often.

If you want to see videos of the performance, and more extensive commentary, 

read my sister's post about it. 

We feel basically the same about the entire thing.

I have now added two things to my list of things to do before I die:

See Les Miserables live.

Read the entire book.

If you haven't listened to the musical before--

buy it, 

find it on Grooveshark, 

or just watch a whole bunch of YouTube videos, 

because it is amazing.

And if you have seen/heard the musical, what do you think?

Day 1: A favorite song

Porcelain Heart ~ BarlowGirl

 Not my very favorite song, but one that I love.

I haven't heard much of BarlowGirl, and some of what I have heard, I don't like, but I like this song.

"If I Die Young"

This song has been stuck in my head for days, and I just keep listening to it over and over. It is kinda odd, but I really like it. Be warned: two of the guys in this video are seriously unattractive. Yeah. It's actually too bad, because if they had decent hair, they wouldn't be bad looking. I think it is pretty cool that this group (called "The Band Perry") are all siblings.

Anyways--enjoy.

I love Beauty and the Beast

...and I love the music.

Especially the title song. 

But I don't care for the vocals on any of the versions that I've heard, until I found this one today.

Emma Rowley isn't famous yet, but she is getting there,

 and I love listening to her original and cover songs on Youtube. 

This one is just beautiful.

This makes me happy.

But I think the guy looks weird.

Speak Now ~ Taylor Swift

So. Taylor Swift.

 It seems like everyone loves her... or hates her. 

I love a lot of her music and I appreciate that there is at least one super-popular female celebrity role model that does not act like a stripper. I definitely don't think she's all that wise in her personal life,
but she does seem to have standards.

Almost all of her lyrics are super clean, and I love her voice. There is a steady theme--teenage romance, obviously, which can get old, and just get your focus somewhere it doesn't need to be.

 So I don't listen to her a lot. 

Her third album Speak Now was released at the end of October, after a long, long wait. 

I bought it the day it came out and listened to it continuously for days. 

I think it's definitely her best album so far. 

She keeps getting better musically, and her songs are getting more mature.

(if you don't want to read my thoughts on each song, just skip to the end and tell me what you think!)

mine

I was actually sick of this song before the album came out... I like it, but I don't think it's amazing.

My favorite part is: 

"Do you remember all the city lights on the water? 

You saw me start to believe for the first time..."

sparks fly

Not my favorite, either. The instrumentals are slightly obnoxious and some of the lyrics are strange

back to december

I love, love, love this song. It has a unique story, and the lyrics are beautiful. She said herself that this is the first song where she is apologizing. 

"So this is me swallowing my pride

Standing in front of you saying I'm sorry for that night

And I go back to December all the time.

It turns out freedom ain't nothing but missing you

Wishing I realized what I had when you were mine

I go back to December, turn around and change my own mind

I go back to December all the time."

speak now

I didn't like this at first, but it grew on me. I think it's silly how at the end, he reconsiders and leaves the girl at the altar and runs away with the girl singing. Like that would happen.

"And you say

Let's run away now

I'll meet you when I'm out of my tux at the back door

Baby I didn't say my vows, so glad you were around

When they said speak now."

dear john

Beautiful, sad song about her relationship with John Mayer

"And I'll look back and regret

How I ignored when they said

Run as fast as you can."

Sheesh. Even I knew that she shouldn't have gotten involved with that creep.

mean

Lots of attitude. Pretty forgettable song, and I thought it was just a tad immature.

the story of us

I love the lyrics.

"And I'm standing alone

In a crowded room

And we're not speaking...

...And the story of us 

Look like a lot like a tragedy now."

never grow up

Bittersweet. So relatable. I feel like this every time I'm with my nieces.

"Oh, darling, don't you ever grow up, 

Don't you ever grow up

It could stay this simple

I won't let nobody hurt you

Won't let no one break your heart

No one will desert you

Just try to never grow up

Never grow up."

enchanted

I feel like I should love this song, but I just don't. Some of the lyrics don't really work for me. I like how it's about meeting someone and know that your relationship could go somewhere... but then it doesn't really.

"This night is sparkling, don't you let it go

I'm wonderstruck, blushing all the way home

I'll spend forever wondering if you knew...

I was enchanted to meet you."

better than revenge

It's bitter, angry, vengeful, and has some rather questionable lyrics. It gets stuck in my head like crazy.

innocent

A song forgiving Kanye West... she manages to make it work for other people, too. It does get pretty specific which I don't think was quite necessary.

"Wasn't it easier in your lunchbox days?

Always a bigger bed to crawl into

Wasn't it beautiful when you believed in everything?

And everybody believed in you?"

haunted

One of my favorites. The music is eerie and matches the lyrics perfectly. I listen to it over and over.

"Com one, come on, don't leave me like this

I thought I had you figured out

Something's gone terribly wrong, 

You're all I wanted."

last kiss

My other favorite. I love the music, and it is a tear-jerker. 

"I do remember 

The swing in your step

The life of the party, you're showing off again

And I roll my eyes and then you pull me in

I'm not much for dancing 

But for you I did."

long live

One of the few happy songs, but it has a bittersweet uncertainty at the end, too. 

It includes one of my favorite lines of all time. I am so going to say this to someone some day.

"I had the time of my life

Fighting dragons with you."

So, are you a Taylor Swift fan? 

What did you think of her new album? Do you have a favorite song?

Nick Jonas

Maybe you can't stand the Jonas Brothers. Maybe you're more of a Justin Bieber fan. Maybe you were a Jonas Brothers fan back in the day. Maybe you've never heard of Nick Jonas. Maybe you're a die hard Les Mis fan, and you think Nick Jonas as Marius was laughable and/or grievous. Maybe you're so mature that you're above all this.

Well, today, I'm sitting in the sunshine by the open window, drinking chocolate milk and smelling fresh-cut grass. And today I'm going to talk about Nick Jonas, the eighteen-year-old singer, songwriter, drummer, pianist, guitarist, actor, diabetic, and Christian.

I knew nothing about him until I watched the stunning Les Miserables 25th anniversary concert last November. I loved his voice, I loved his hair, I loved his collar, I loved that he was only seventeen, and I loved that he fit my idea of Marius perfectly.

"life's too short to waste time/ every little thing's gonna be alright.
...cause we're chillin' in the summertime/ not a cloud in the sky..."
-chillin' in the summertime

He wins the award for my favorite hair of all time. Since the post in which I commended his hair, I have discovered his music, and love his solo album, as well as some of the less mature but way-fun Jonas Brothers' music.

I have been wanting to do another post on guys' fashion, but it's hard to find examples of awesomeness. 

I so found one in this guy. His style is consistent, masculine, and includes pretty much everything I have always liked on a guy.

Well-fitted polo shirt? Check.

Amazing jeans? Check.

Classy silver watch? Check.

Converse? Check (not imperative, but still)

Satchel? Major check.

(Only Nick Jonas looks this good while pumping gas.)

"something's changing deep inside/
all my hopes are comin' alive..."
-invisible


and, dog tags. love.

They do stunts in their concerts, and of course, his are the most awesome out of the three brothers. : )

Also, he has a white belt. Just sayin'.

He reminds me a ton of my brother Benjamin, both his personality and his good looks. Especially this photo--the hair, the shirt, the pants, the watch, the amazing aviator sunglasses, the cell phone... it's creepy how much he looks like Benjamin.

"It doesn't matter if the world is pulling you down. With Christ you have everything."

He has done a lot of events to encourage diabetic kids. Fist-bumping little boys--yes.

His voice isn't for everyone, but it's definitely for me. : ) He has a high range, but doesn't sound like a girl/messed up boy like so many male singers that are popular right now. I loved the different sound he had for Les Mis, too.

"Trust is a far greater compliment than love could ever be."

Every once in awhile I think "my word--he's only eighteen!" His dignified, level-headed interaction with crazed fans, paparazzi, and interviewers is amazing.

I have always loved white suits...

I think he was meant to be a 50's heartthrob. Classy, dapper, gentlemanly...

"every single word's been said/ broke each other's hearts again/
as the starlit sky begins to shine/ we're breaking down..."
-tonight

Love, love, love his jacket.

"Any man can love a million girls,
but it takes a real man to love one girl
a million ways."

"we're chasing stars to lose our shadows/ Peter Pan and Wendy turned out fine/
so won't you fly with me?"
-fly with me

Any guy who lists Peter Pan as one of his favorite movies and writes an entire song inspired by the story wins in my book. 

His dog's name is Elvis. ♥

"nothing is right, nothing is right when you're gone/
losing my breath/ losing my right to be wrong/
I'm  frightened to death/ I'm frightened that I won't be strong/
I want someone to love me/ for who I am/
I want someone to need me/ is that so bad?"
-who i am

I am a long-time fan of rolled-up sleeves on men. I was raised in the midst of a whole lotta rolled-up-sleeve goodness. 

Also, a lot of good hair. Which is why I'm so picky.

His completely naturally-curly hair used to be longer and crazier. Now it's less exciting but more dignified. : ) By the way: drummers should always have cool hair.

Love his jacket, again.

"have you ever felt like standin' on a rooftop?/
have you ever wanted to scream?/
..this is the night/
so raise up your hands and touch the sky/ cause we're not alone tonight."
-this is the night

I love that he wears so much plaid.

He wears his dogtags because of his diabetes--so that when he needs medical attention, people will know that he is diabetic. He also often wears his purity ring on the chain.

"the stars are shining/ for you and me tonight/
in this city that dreams are made of."
-LA baby

I love this outfit.

"now that the pain is done/ there's no need to be afraid/
we don't have time to waste/ just tell me that you'll stay."
-stay

As of last week, I am the proud owner of his solo CD, Who I Am. (Hadley, you are awesome).
I'm always interested to read the artist's "thank you" section...his starts out with:

"I would first thank my Lord and savior Jesus Christ. Your love and mercy surpasses all understanding."

Now you know. 

Now you know that I like Nick Jonas. Wow...I feel such freedom.

.some of these photos are from the show Jonas LA.
.all quotes and song lyrics are by Nick or from songs that he co-wrote. 
.be sure and check out the linked YouTube videos if you're interested. : )
.photos via we ♥ it

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