Rae Sremmurd

The sound of the word Monday is enough to make one cringe. And, alarms blaring Monday morning is enough reason to put anyone in a lousy mood for the day.  Mondays don't nearly hold the same excitement as Friday does. But, Rae Sremmurd is breaking the mold of the dull Monday blues. Today, Rae Sremmurd has just released the music video for Drinks On Us, and has a dark, wild side to the club scene.

Rae Sremmurd has a unique party vibe. And, they have been blowing up the radios. These two brothers, Khalif "Swae Lee" Brown and Aaquil "Slim Jimmy" Brown, first started off producing music in their home. They would play for parties and at local bars. This duo originally went by St8 Boyz, Ear Drummers, and then finally, Rae Sremmurd, which is Ear Drummers backwards.

In 2014, Rae Sremmurd had officially arrived. Their biggest hits were No Flex Zone, No Type, and Thow Sum Mo feat. Nicki Minaj. Rae Sremmurd was being played on every radio throughout the nation. Their unexpected beats and sound has become a new favorite for hip-hop lovers. 

In 2015, Rae Sremmurd has released This Could Be Us, which is my personal favorite. Rae Sremmurd shows no sign of slowing down. These brothers are here and here to stay.

So, break away from the boring Monday routine. Make this Monday a little less monotonous. Click the link and check out Rae Sremmurd's new music video for Drinks On Us. Enjoy!

The Queen Bee

August 16, 1958, a pop star sensation was born. Yet, over the next 57 years, this queen has yet to lose her spunk and is still a music icon today. She is best known for pushing limits and her provocative flair. She is the original Material Girl. Some of her biggest hits were Like A Prayer, Vogue, Into The Groove, and Like A Virgin. If you're still wondering who this woman is, I'll tell you; It is the one and only, Madonna.

Today, Madonna is 57 years young and is still looking better than ever. Earlier this year, Madonna was on the cover of the Rolling Stones, after releasing her newest album, Rebel Heart. In the article, Madonna opened up about growing up as a youth, raising kids, and refusing to conform with age. Madonna stated, "Women my age have accepted they're not allowed to behave a certain way. I never followed the rules. I'm not going to start now."

Madonna also talked about how everyone has tried to pigeon hole her to one characteristic. Yet, in reality, she, along with every other human being, is made up of all different kinds of characteristics. Madonna also explained how she is both a spiritual and sexual person. "There's no law that says that you cannot be a spiritual person and a sexual person. In fact, if you have the right consciousness, sex is like a prayer. It can be a divine experience. So why do they have to be disassociated with one another?"

Towards the end of the interview, the interviewer asked "Do you think about mortality?" Madonna  replied beautifully, saying, "In some respects I will never die. Because art is immortal. What we leave behind and what we create--the energy that we put out into the world is eternal. The physical body is assembled just like a chair or a building or a flower, but the revolutions we start, the people we affect and inspire, that is eternal. So, in that respect, we do achieve immorality, and that makes me less fearful."

After reading the interview and Madonna's remarks, I quickly realized that I had more in common with this pop-star queen than I thought. Granted, I'm not nearly as talented nor successful as Madonna (who is?), but I concluded that we had similar views, thoughts, and ideas. And, like Madonna, I am a rebel at heart. 

Her album, Rebel Heart, contains music that is fresh, real, and the usual Madonna provocation. The music video for the song, B**ch, I'm Madonna feat. Nicki Minaj, encapsulates Madonna's attitude. Also, the music video is fun and carefree. Below are links to the songs on her album, Rebel Heart. Proceed with caution and enjoy!

Living for Love

Ghosttown

B**ch, I'm Madonna feat. Nicki Minaj

Illuminati

Holy Water

Wash All Over Me

French Kiss

Someone once said that a picture is worth a thousand words. But, the same can be said about kisses. In one kiss, you can feel sparks ignite. Kisses can send chills down your spine and butterflies to your stomach. Kisses can be soft, passionate, sweet, and most of all, kisses can be intimate. Meg Ryan and Kevin Kline starred in the movie, French Kiss, and explained how kisses can be more intimate than intimacy itself. 

French Kiss came out in 1995, starring Meg Ryan and Kevin Kline. It's an unusual and unconventional tale of love. Meg Ryan plays the character Kate, who is engaged to be married, but has a fear of flying. So, she stays behind as her fiance, Charlie, leaves on a trip for Paris. Weeks later, she gets a call from Charlie saying he has fallen in love with someone else. This left Kate hurt and outraged. Despite her fear of flying, Kate gets a plane ticket for Paris. 

On the flight, she meets a french man, Luc. Kate quickly finds out that Luc is a liar and a thief. But, the two form the most unusual friendship. Luc and Kate come together to try to win her ex-fiance back. With the wits of Luc and the determination of Kate, they do just that. 

SPOILER ALERT: a plot twist comes along. When Kate has Charlie back, Kate realizes that she is in love with someone else--Luc. Charlie and Kate say their goodbyes, going their separate ways. And, Kate and Luc end up together. 

Not only did I enjoy this unexpected "chick flick", but the soundtrack for French Kiss was perfect. The music they chose helped create the romantic environment that one would expect to feel in Paris. And, like Paris, the music chosen for the soundtrack was timeless.

Someone Like You- Van Morrison

La Vie En Rose- Louis Armstrong

Les Yeux Ouverts- The Beautiful South (Dream a little Dream of me originally by The Mamas and the Papas)

Via Con Me- Paolo Conte

I Love Paris feat. Toots Thielemans- James Newton Howard

Feels Like a Woman- Zucchero

I Love Paris- Ella Fitzgerald

Verlaine- Charles Trenet

C'est Trop Beau- Tino Rossi

La Mer- Kevin Kline (Beyond the Sea originally sung by Bobby Caldwell)

I Want You (Love Theme From 'French Kiss'- James Newton Howard

Les Ueux de ton pere- Les Negresses Vertes

Kate: "I'm afraid that if he doesn't come back, that I'll . . . it'll hurt so much that I'll shrivel up and never be able to love anyone again."

Luc: "You may say that now, but after a time, you would forget. First, you would forget his chin, then his nose, and then after a while you would struggle to remember the exact color of his eyes. And, one day you wake up and he's gone. His voice, his smell, his face. He will have left you, and then you can begin again."

#LDR

"I refuse to escape reality. That I've accepted to see its beauty. I was awakened and I love this world."
 --Lana Del Rey

At times, reality can be referred as a "hard pill to swallow". Life can be far from easy, filled with sadness and struggle. Sometimes, it may feel as if our entire world is caving in around us. Reality can be the very thing that destroys the innocent soul.  Yet, despite the austere of life, beauty and happiness can be found. We must take off our rose colored glasses in order to see life in a new light. We must become "awakened" to see the beauty of the world we live in and love it.

Lana Del Rey has a unique sound and is incomparable. She expresses the range of euphoria and also the melancholy one may experience in life, through her voice and lyrics. Each song is its own masterpiece, unfolding a story of its very own.

Behind the face and voice of Lana Del Rey, was someone once only known as Elizabeth Grant. At first she used Lizzie Grant as a stage name, but made the switch to Lana Del Rey after releasing her first album in 2010, titled, Lana Del Rey. It wasn't until her second album that her music began to catch fire. Born To Die came out in 2012. The song, Summertime Sadness, helped Lana Del Rey's career explode. Her song was on repeat over the radios from coast to coast. Shortly after Born To Die, Lana Del Rey revealed the extended version, Born To Die: Paradise Edition.

Ultraviolence was the next album to be released by Lana Del Rey. Ultraviolence came out June 2014. Now, Lana Del Rey has announced another album is on its way titled, Honeymoon. The album will come out in September 2015. July 2015 Lana Del Rey released the first track on the record titled, Honeymoon. After publicizing Honeymoon, Lana Del Rey commented, "Here it is, the first and title track of my record-- Honeymoon. In some ways I feels it's where the record begins and ends. . . there are so many other tracks on the record, 13 others to be exact- Some with a muddy trap energy and some inspired by late-night Miles Davis drives. . . But I love this song because it encapsulates all of the things that come naturally to me."

Today, August 10, 2015, Lana Del Rey revealed another song from the album Honeymoon called, High By the Beach. Fans excitedly await the arrival of Lana Del Rey's new album and fresh music.

Again, I will declare that I am not a fan girl in any way for any music artists or celebrities. But, when it comes to Lana Del Rey, it's as close to fan girl-ing as I get. I am a huge fan of her music. And, I am one of the many fans who anxiously await for her upcoming album, Honeymoon. Lana Del Rey is hands down, one of my favorite artists of all time. I love her retro vibe. I also love her unique sound, rhythm, and lyrics. Lana Del Rey sings in a way that you can feel everything just through her voice. Lana Del Rey sings with distinct soul. Her music is easy to connect to. Often times, her lyrics have described how I am. And, in a way, I have been able to discover myself through her music.

Today is when Lana Del Rey released her song, High By The Beach. Today is also my birthday, and I couldn't have asked for a better birthday present. I absolutely love the original sound of High By The Beach. Under the comments of the video, one fan stated, "The Queen is back!" And, I completely agree. Lana Del Rey is back, and is coming with music that is original and fresh.

Below I made a list of some of my favorites from Lana Del Rey. A word of caution: some of the songs contain explicit material. Like always, I will try to mark which ones are explicit. Proceed with care and I hope you enjoy!

High By The Beach **Explicit

Florida Kilos--Ultraviolence **Explicit

Ride--Born To Die Paradise Edition **Explicit

Lolita--Born To Die (Paradise Edition)

Prom Song (Gone Wrong) Teenage Wasteland

Old Money--Ultraviolence

American-- Born To Die Paradise Edition

Black Beauty--Ultraviolence

Body Electric--Born To Die Paradise Edition

Serial Killer

Land of Enchantment

Welcome to New Mexico; A place where rock formations erupt out of the flat lands or where one can get lost in the fields of crops. From top to bottom, New Mexico is full of open skies and beauty, although, it may take a special eye to fully appreciate its beauty. From its diverse beauty to its unique culture, one can understand why New Mexico is known for the “Land of Enchantment”.

Compton and Detroit seem to be the big cities where many great artists are born and made. Yet, many don't know that some of the great classics and today's musicians are from New Mexico. Most don’t know that the artists John Denver and Demi Lovato were born in New Mexico. Also, many might not know that Jim Morrison lived in New Mexico while growing up.

One of my mom’s all time favorite singer is John Denver. John Denver was born at Roswell, New Mexico in 1943. It was in the 60’s when he made his big appearance as a folk singer. He and his band released over 300 songs, and John Denver wrote 200 of those. Some of his well known songs are Take Me Home, Country Road, Annie’s Song, Rocky Mountain High, and Thank God I’m a Country Boy. Not only was John Denver a talented artist, but he got involved with politics and campaigns. He also was a helping hand in several humanitarian projects. John Denver loved being in the great outdoors and flying. He was a pilot for many years and unfortunately, died in 1997 due to an airplane accident.

Demi Lovato was born at Albuquerque, New Mexico in 1992. She first appeared in Barney & Friends, but Demi Lovato made her big break singing and acting in Disney Channel’s Camp Rock. She continued on acting and singing. Demi Lovato isn’t one of my favorite music artists, but I hold high respect for her. She has dealt with depression, eating disorders, and self harm. Demi Lovato went into rehab in 2010. It was a rocky road, but she has been sober since 2013. Recently, Demi Lovato has released her song Cool for the Summer.

Jim Morrison, better known as the lead singer and songwriter for The Doors. Jim Morrison was born in 1943. He wasn’t native to New Mexico, but lived in Albuquerque for a time during his childhood. Jim Morrison is regarded to be one of the most iconic and influential in rock history. He and his band The Doors are best known for the songs Light My Fire, Break on Through (To The Other Side), Riders On the Storm, L.A. Woman, and several others. In 1971, Jim Morrison died of a suspected overdose, but no autopsy was done.

From the roads of New Mexico, to the farmers market, to the history of the state, I have found that New Mexico is truly the "Land of Enchantment".  “When you turn around, you'll see something I bet you've never seen before. If it takes your breath away, then you'll fit in nicely. If you don't feel anything, then maybe you don't belong here.” --Veronica Randolph Batterson, Daniel's Esperanza

New Muse

Johnny Depp once said that music touches us emotionally where words alone can't. Music isn't just something we listen to; it's something we feel. Music is something we can connect to. In one song, a flood of thoughts and memories can come rushing back.

Music can speak to anyone. And, music can move anyone's soul. Every time period, every genre, and every artist is unique and has something to contribute to the music community. Music can change or heighten a mood for anyone. We are all guilty of listening to a playlist of sad songs after a break up or after a rough time. 

Something I love to do is to search out new songs. I don't listen to the radio much, so I take matters into my own hands. Granted, not all of the music I find is necessarily "new", becomes the next radio favorite, or even makes it to the radio. But, that doesn't change the fact that I found a song I love and connect with.

Below is a list of songs that I found and are currently some of my favorites. The songs below are fun and have a great beat, in my humble opinion, of course. These songs may or may not be on the radio, and you may or may not have heard them before. I would also add that some of these songs may contain explicit content. I tried to label all the songs that do, but proceed with caution. Enjoy!

Yoga by Janelle Monae and Jidenna This song is currently my main jam. It has such a good beat. And, I have yet to hear a song by Janelle Monae I don't like.

Like I'm Gonna Lose You feat. John Legend by Meghan Trainor I really like the sound of this song, and every song with John Legend is almost always better. Meghan Trainor is not one of my favorite artists. She sings well, but her songs are over played. I'm afraid if I heard this song too many times, I would become tired of it like all of her other songs.

Here by Alessia Cara I love this song because I can totally relate to the lyrics. I am the mirror image of this song.

The Hills by The Weeknd (Explicit) The beat and his play on words in this song is unique and on point, which is a lot like his hair.

Often by The Weeknd (Explicit) This song has a good tempo and is very chill. But, let's face it. The Weeknd is the champ at creating great beats. 

How Deep Is Your Love by Calvin Harris Yet again, this track has great rhythm and would be a fun one to try to dance to.

Fire N Gold by Bea Miller My favorite part is the chorus. I didn't care for the music video because she kept making the same face, and it became over done and annoying. But, overall it's a good song.

Phenominal by Eminem (Explicit) Again, I really like the chorus of this song. I am not a big Eminem fan, but I do have a great deal of respect for him and how far he has come. 

Kings Never Die feat. Gwen Stefani by Eminem (Explicit) The combination of Gwen Stefani and Eminem was a job well done, and turned out much better than I expected. 

Black Magic by Little Mix This song is fun and hard not to like. Listening to this song takes me back to the days of my awkward phase. Great times.

This Could Be Us by Rae Sremunrd (Explicit) These guys have done it yet again. The song is great and is a fun jam. 

Beast feat. Busta Rhymes by Rob Bailey (Explicit) This song isn't like anything I've heard before. It's an interesting mix of rap and hard rock. I'm usually much of a fan of hard rock, but the two combined is different and done well. The sound track for Southpaw has some great songs.

R.I.C.O. feat. Drake by Meek Mill (Explicit) In spite of the blowout between Meek Mill and Drake, these two did a good job on this one. 

All Eyes On You feat. Chris Brown & Nicki Minaj by Mill (Explicit) Despite my feelings about Chris Brown, I can't deny the fact that he has a great voice. This song has a great beat that hits hard, yet has a chill vibe.

Cecilia & The Satellite by Andrew McMahon In The Wilderness I absolutely love this song! It's new, it's different, and the music video is how I envision myself to be. 

Sippy Cup-- Melanie Martinez (Explicit) I love this song. It's new and fresh.

Beautiful Now feat. Jon Bellion--Zedd The beginning didn't catch my attention much, but I started to like the song as it went along.

0 to 100/The Catch Up-- Drake (Explicit) I love the sound of this song and it reminds me a bit of his song Energy. It has a good tempo, but very steady and chill. 

Comfortable-- K Camp (Explicit) This track is great and so is the beat. 

You Know You Like It-- DJ Snake & Aluna George DJ Snake did a wonderful job fusing his beats with the voice of Aluna George. 

Omen feat. Sam Smith-- Disclosure The rhythm of this song takes me back to when I went to New York City. I for one am a fan of Sam Smith and his voice. I also enjoyed watching the music video for this song.

Budapest-- George Ezra I think this track has become a favorite for many. It has a timeless sound and it still never gets old. 

Tribute: Amy Winehouse

Everyone knows Amy Winehouse for her trademark voice and black eyeliner. Several also know Amy Winehouse for her provocative persona. And, too many individuals only know Amy Winehouse for her song "Rehab". But, few know that she dealt with depression and eating disorders.

I am far from being one of Amy Winehouse's fan girls. I'm not one of those individuals who know every little detail of a celebrity's life. I am too lazy for that amount of research and I simply don't care because most of it is insignificant to my life. But, I am an individual who appreciates her music. Amy Winehouse sings with such soul that you can't help but feel something when you listen to her. So, if you happen to be one among the many who only know her song "Rehab", let's expand your horizons. I even made a list of 10 songs by Amy Winehouse that I think everyone should hear and know. 

These songs are completely based on my taste and opinion, not top charts. In my humble opinion, I find these songs to showcase her voice well and also show her diversity. I might also add that if you are reading this and are not familiar with the song "Rehab" by Amy Winehouse, I would highly recommend to listen to it along with these 10 songs. Yet, approach with caution if you are sensitive to explicit music. Amy Winehouse is a talented artist, but her lyrics can be provocative.

1. Back to Black 

2. Amy Amy Amy

3. Some Unholy War

4. (There Is) No Greater Love

5. You Know I'm No Good

6. Valerie (I love the Live BBC Radio version)

7. Wake Up Alone

8. F**k Me Pumps

9. Take The Box

10. Tears Dry On Their Own

I had a difficult time narrowing it down to just 10 songs, so if you liked what you heard, I would highly suggest to explore her music. 

To explain for the random blogging of Amy Winehouse, Andy and I ended our last date watching the documentary on Amy Winehouse titled Amy (clever much?). Both Andy and I love her music, so naturally we went to go see it. 

I found the documentary very interesting. I thought the film directors did a job well done at trying to shining a neutral light on Amy Winehouse and her life. I was aware that I didn't know much about the life of Amy Winehouse, but after watching Amy, I realized I knew almost nothing. And, I realized I was wrong about what I thought I knew about her. 

Amy Winehouse was a gifted singer and enjoyed writing poetry, but she led a normal life at first. She was your typical girl, and her life wasn't perfect. For one, Amy's father divorced her mother. That really affected her and  was the beginning of her depression. Yet, a hop, skip, and a jump later, she worked her way up to the top.  Amy showed that Amy Winehouse lived a life that was far from easy. And, in the end, Amy Winehouse died of heart failure on July 23, 2011. They believed that she died from the possible combination of drinking and eating disorders. Her family didn't realize it at the time, but there were a few times where she talked about the "perfect diet", which is known as bulimia. Her family didn't think much of it nor did they realize how far she would go with the "perfect diet". 

Of all the things I didn't know, I had no idea Amy Winehouse had an eating disorder. This hit home because I have struggled with eating disorders in my past and still struggle with my body image. It took me years to talk about it, even with my closest friends and family. I was ashamed to say anything because I had nothing to show. I wasn't strong enough to drop the weight and wasn't nearly as skinny as I wished to be. 

Eating disorders are very much real, and aren't something to be treated lightly. Amy Winehouse isn't the only singer to die of heart failure due to an eating disorder. Karen Carpenter, also a famous, talented singer, died of heart failure because of an eating disorder.  There are also many celebrities and artists who have or are currently struggling with eating disorders. And, like me, there are girls, young ladies, and women who battle with eating disorders and their self-image.                                

Overall, Amy was excellent and interesting to watch. I have that much more of an appreciation for Amy Winehouse as an artist and also her music. I would recommend this documentary to anyone who is an Amy Winehouse fan or who enjoys watching an interesting documentary film.

Amy Winehouse was a woman who wanted to find happiness and be loved. Her life was no walk in the park. Yet, Amy Winehouse was able to create music filled with such passion and soul. Her music was able to touch so many lives and still continues to do so. She has left her mark on this world. And, may she rest in peace. 

I would like to thank and attribute the pictures to Google Images.