It wasn't an exaggeration

 I went under fire the last couple of days. Now that is the exaggeration. It's safe to say that it was a spark, but enough to cause fire any day from now. The only question is, do I want it to? 

I've been a fan of BTS for a while now. Although I cannot attest to others' experience, mine is as real as it can get. The boys are special to me because they not only represent music, they represent hope, ambition, and hard work. I will not spend words convincing people that I am, because love does not need proof.

Before I dove into BTS, I had my fare share of biased judgment. I was quick to form my opinion, based on what I see from social media. And in that environment, BTS ARMY leads. I have read many threads and witnessed people fighting over BTS, some groundless. The only barrier that separated me from becoming a fan was the fans. Initially, I thought the fans were narrow-minded, blindly following an artist without actively dissecting their work. Of course, I found myself wrong... in some aspect.

I surrounded myself by members of the fandom who are smart, open-minded, and respectful. That's why in the many music releases they've put out since I became a fan, I was confident enough to comment on the ones I don't like, respectfully of course. I am very passionate about the things I like and the people I follow. But never once I blindly supported something I cannot justify or explain. Many may know me as a Michael Jackson fan, and I will forever defend him against biased judgment. However, when people ask me if he bleached his skin, I will not immediately attack the person, because his question was valid. It wasn't disrespectful at all. I will answer according to what I know. Yes, he did, but there is a reason. If you want to know about it, listen to what I have to say first and let me finish. Only then I'll listen to your input. That to me, is a discussion. It's an exchange of ideas and opinion that may or may not align. Getting to know BTS Army, they earned my respect. There was a time that I would have defended them as vigorously as BTS, until I changed my mind.

I recently uploaded a Book Discussion on the new BTS Book, Beyond the Story. I have been reading books for years and although niche, Youtube has a community for book enthusiasts where people freely review books. This is a healthy environment, as people are free to say that they liked or disliked a book. In the same community, there is always varying opinion. Book ratings are seldom the same for each reader. The reason I title my videos Book Discussion instead of a Book Review is because it sounds friendlier. Book Review sounds too rigid. Book Discussion welcomes conversation. I was confident to put out my Book Discussion on the new BTS Book because I believed that BTS Army will actually listen. Few did. If you happen to watch the video, you'd notice that I did not attack BTS at all. In fact, I discussed the book as I would any other book. And it was bad, only because I have over 100 books to compare it to. Actually, while I was reading the book, I looked up reviews online, expecting similar observations. If you look at the comments on Goodreads, most if not all of it comes from fans, and none actually discussed the book as a book but instead discussed the book as BTS. 

I'm surprised that nobody saw what I saw because my observations are quite in fact obvious. I did not even go deeper than the actual text. Normally, I'd dive into the application and its relation to deeper subjects in life. I didn't even go there because the surface level is already problematic. Yet fans saw this as an attack and immediately formulated their counter-attack. I was in defensive mode. I hate that I have to walk around eggshells around Army, afraid to stir another drama. 

I am disappointed because maturity doesn't reflect on both sides. Whatever BTS is fighting against, Army is unintentionally promoting. RM once took criticism and worked around it. I wish people would do the same. Now unfortunately, I have this heavy weight on my heart whenever I talk about BTS. Don't get me wrong. BTS will always be special to me and I will never leave their side. But I think I'm stepping back a little bit from defending Army. Not that it matters anyway. My voice is a hum in a chamber of echoes. No one will hear me, and I'd like for it to stay that way. 

I hope this does not get views as usual. This is my space. This is my head.

P.S. The video title is not an exaggeration, the book is really bad. But did I use the title for clickbait? Of course. That's social media in retrospect, a realm of clickbaits. I'm surprised that you were. So did I use BTS for views? Of course I did, just like I used the food I eat, the places I go to, the clothes I buy, the pain I go through, the story I heard, and the books I read, for views. It's called experience. And that's what I do, I share experience.

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My BTS journey

 I'm bored so I found this BTS ARMY tag which seems fun. I thought I'd answer them.

QUESTIONS: 

When did you discover BTS?

I actually discovered BTS in 2016. That was the year I got into G-Dragon and Bigbang. Youtube and its algorithm recommended me this BTS video clip of the members dancing to Bigbang songs. Right away, I fell in love with their personality. 

Consequently, I got curious and I searched them up, but it didn't stick. I forgot about them and I didn't pay attention until they got so popular in 2018 that it became impossible not to. I remember thinking in 2018 when they received their first american award, "Oh wow, BTS? I know them!" But that was it. I still didn't care enough to revisit their discography. 

Fast forward to 2021 when the BTS Meal from Mcdonald's came out, I thought, "How did they get this far?" or "When did they get this big?" The last time I remember, Bigbang was the biggest K-pop group, not BTS. The hype of the whole Mcdonald's collaboration became so massive that it was enough to make me ask the big question "WHY". My goal then is to at least understand "why", I wasn't planning on staying for good. Joke's on me because I never left since.

What song did you hear first?

In 2016, I believe I heard their songs "Blood, Sweat & Tears" and "Dope". But back then, subtitles and translated lyrics weren't a thing in K-pop. So I went with the beat. I heard "Dope" first. And I couldn't say that there was something special with the song. It was just that... dope, like a thousand other songs that came out that year. I would say this though, the choreography got me. And that was enough for me to watch a live version of the song. But it didn't do it for me. It wasn't from any special stage so wearing the same clothes they wore in the music video threw me off. It was bland. Though their performance was great, in my mind at the time, so was every single K-pop group out there. 

Then I decided to find another song. Maybe if I find two more songs that are as equally "dope", I'd stick around. I saw "Blood, Sweat & Tears" next. I may have seen a third song but I can't remember. Maybe it's "Fire". Anyway, let me tell you something about BS&T. It's not for me. Not then, not now. I can't explain why because I don't get it myself. It has all the makings of a Liz approved song and music video but it didn't get there. Maybe I didn't like the melody altogether. That was enough for me to close the book and never return.

Until.

2022. I heard "Dynamite" because I was intentionally looking for new songs on Spotify. I love "Dynamite" because it gave me Michael Jackson vibes and I love MJ. Besides "Dope" which made it to my unplayed "K-pop" playlist", "Dynamite" made it to my main playlist. I listened to it regularly. But that was it. It was a trendy pop song which is in english so naturally it didn't mean anything special. I liked the song but not enough for me to say I like the artist. This was around the time of the Mcdonald's collab too, so add it together, plus the fact that every single reactor on Youtube were reacting to BTS, I decided to take a peek myself. See what the hype is all about. 

I think I saw a live performance first from Tinydesk. It was a medley of their songs. So I heard Dynamite, Save Me and Spring Day. All of which were toned down, with a live band, and just their vocals. Not too much production. Not too much music. No choreography at all. But it was exactly that, that I needed to hear. That was enough for me to keep going.

What song made you a fan?

Continuing the story from the time I saw the Tinydesk performance, both "Save Me" and "Spring Day" caught my attention. I looked it up on Youtube but the studio versions didn't do it for me. I liked the unplugged version more. But I was convinced enough to keep looking and there I found, "Life Goes On". It was the first song that I listened to non-stop. But to say that that song was the one that made me fan, was an overstatement. 

It was actually "Spring Day" which made me a fan, which solidified the status. The overabundance of BTS reactors on my Youtube homepage actually helped me with my journey. I followed along as they discover BTS because just like everyone else, I didn't know where to start. BTS discography was insane. But ARMY was helpful in the comments. As they guided the reactors I would watch, it guided me too. And that led me to watching theories regarding the"Spring Day" music video. Since then it didn't matter if I liked the music video or not, or the beat, or the aesthetic. What mattered was the message which soon I found out was a major part of BTS discography. 

Who was your first bias?

My first bias is V because of his visual. I saw him in 2016, in the music video for "Dope". But as you know by now, that didn't last long. I wouldn't even call it a bias because I simply saw him for his looks.

Who is your current bias?

Looking for my bias was intentional. When I decided to know their names and look them up, I intentionally searched for Jimin first, just because it's the name I keep hearing about. And he did not disappoint. He is exactly what I was expecting.

Jimin will always be my ultimate bias but someone else come and go alongside him. And that someone depends on the day.

Who is your bias wrecker?

My first bias wrecker was Suga. I loved his mixtape. I loved his rap style. Then I think I shifted next to RM when I found out he liked the same things I do. Then it became J-hope and Jin simultaneously. I remember watching compilation videos of Jin knowing he would make me laugh. And I often find myself anticipating J-hope's part in BTS songs. Then it was RM again when I heard Mono. Anyway yeah, mostly the rappers I guess.

What are your top 5 favorite songs?

This is difficult. But I'll try to name the ones that hold significant meanings to me.

1. Spring Day

2. Black Swan

3. Magic Shop

4. Zero o'clock

5. Epiphany

What song have you listened to the most?

According to my stats, in 2021 it was "Epiphany" first and then "Life Goes On" second.

In 2022, it's probably a song from Mono (most probably "everythinggoes"), Jimin's "With You", or RM's "Wildflower" but I'm not sure because my stats didn't show.

This year (January 2023), it's probably "Crystal Snow" or J-hope's "Future".

What is your favorite solo song?

I'll name one from each member. It seems fair that way.

Jin - Epiphany (but lately "Awake")

Suga - So Far Away

RM - everythinggoes

J-hope - Future

Jimin - Promise

V - Winter Bear

Jungkook - Euphoria 

What is your favorite album?

This is hard because when I discovered BTS, I didn't listen to the songs chronologically per album. So I can't say I have a favorite. I don't own physical albums too, nor do I know which songs are in the same album. I'll just say "Proof" so it's all in one album.

What is your favorite music video?

Black Swan for sure.

What is your favorite choreography?

Black Swan, Fake Love, and Airplane pt. 2.

What is your favorite lyric?

Oh boy. We'll be here forever. I'll name a few.

Magic Shop : "I know you're hesitating because even if you say the truth, in the end it will all return as scars."

Zero o'clock : "When the second hand and the minute hand overlap, the world hold its breath for a brief moment."

Intro: Nevermind : "If you feel like you're going to crash then accelerate more."

                                "Moss surely grows on a stone that doesn't roll."

Answer: Love Myself : "Even all the scars from your mistakes make up your constellation."

Awake : "Maybe I can't touch the sky, but I still want to reach my hand. I want to try running. Just a little more."

Tomorrow : "The dawn right before the sun rises is the darkest."

ON : "Choosing to descend into the dark abyss"

Outro: Wings : "My back hurts in order to let my wings sprout."

Who is your favorite vocalist?

The thing about BTS is every single member has a role to play. No member is alike. No member sounds alike. No member does it alike. But if I were to really choose, it's Jimin or Jin.

Who is your favorite rapper?

Again, every single member has a role to play. No member is alike. No member sounds alike. No member does it alike. But if I were to really choose, it's Suga.

Who is your favorite dancer?

And again, every single member has a role to play. No member is alike. No member dances alike. No member does it alike. To each is their style. But if I were to choose, it's Jimin.

Hmm.. but sometimes it's J-hope.

What is your favorite BTS era?

I wasn't lucky enough to experience their eras because I became an ARMY in 2021. But if I were to imagine I were around in any era, probably the "Love Myself" era.

What is your favorite performance?

Oh man. This is hard. But it's also easy.

If I were to choose one, I'd choose "Attack on Bangtan" Live On Stage Epilogue Japan 2016. Their energy on stage is unbeatable.

What is your favorite side project? (ie Run BTS, BT21, TinyTan, BU, etc.)

Run BTS, Bon Voyage, and In The Soop.

Have you seen them in concert?

Not yet. But I will. I will make sure that I will.

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To be a 'fan of music' seem to be an understatement

 To be a 'fan of music' seem to be an understatement. I don't know why I take music seriously more than anyone I know. Initially I thought it comes with being a teenager. Getting lost in the realm of music seemed rebellious enough. But the interest lingered. Until I started asking the question. "Why do I like music so much?" In traditional Lilah Gran fashion, I started to overthink the question. "Like" seemed like an understatement. I don't just "like" music. Many people like music. But they don't dissect music like I do. Saying "I love music" is even worse. It sounds like an exaggeration. It sounds like fake flattery, like I'm trying to impress the God of music. And I'm far from impressing anybody. 

When people ask me what type of music I listen to, I stutter. I don't have an answer. The most common response is "It depends". On the mood. On the season. I listen to all types of music because I'm not just a fan of classical music, or of pop music, and of rock. I am a fan of music itself. I am interested in the process, in the interpretation, in its history, and even in its industry.

Music is art. It requires an audience. And I'm its perfect audience. I don't just peek, I dive. I dissect. I process. I absorb. I interpret. Generally, I like things that allow me to judge. Otherwise, everything starts to feel textbook. It starts to feel like everything about my childhood. Maybe that's why the most troubled kids become artists. They seek to be in control of their own judgment. And music is the most convenient form of art. For many years, music has been distributed for free consumption. It is accessible. Unlike art. To see an art show requires money. But to listen to music, requires nothing. Consequently, I loathe music that demands payment. I condemn music that is purely business. I follow its source, not its destination. So when a singer simply sings and does not create, I follow the creator, not its presenter.

Many has fallen victim to money making type of music where art gets lost in the distribution process. It's fun to look for artists. Like a scavenger hunt, I seek to find my next favorite artist.

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#NOWPLAYING: More by J-hope

Note: I am a huge fan of BTS. In fact, J-hope is my bias wrecker. Among all the members, I've always liked his personality. I like his kind of art too. It reminds me of street style G-Dragon. I'm going to address the song objectively. I am not here to spread hate, and worse of all, bash J-hope. I just feel isolated in my opinion and that's why I'm here writing this.

Unpopular opinion: I don't like More by J-hope. Not because it was bad, but simply because it did not appeal to me. My least favorite genre is grunge. I don't like the draggy and lazy feel of grunge music. I don't like the "morning voice" in grunge music. You know when they make vibrations in their throat that produces that grungy voice, yeah, not for me. It triggers a pet peeve and it cringes me. I do like rock though. So I definitely liked the guitars during the chorus.

I am not very confident when I say this song is grunge. It sounds semi old school hip-hop too, but I guess in a nutshell, at least to me, it radiates more grunge. That's why personally, I label this song as "Grunge" (I apologize if it's not).

Above all, I don't like distorted voices in songs. That's why I'm not so much of a fan of Suga's verse in Yet To Come. I recognize it is a common theme for him, but in a typical BTS song, there are others' parts that compensates. After all, only a select few songs has that distinct style. Most Suga verses are fine, although with minimal distortion. 

The entire chorus of "More" is majorly distorted. I was really hoping at least the chrorus is "sing-able", so I was really disappointed at that. 

The lyrics "Eenie Meenie Minie Mo" was repetitive. I heard it before from RM's verse in a BTS song so I didn't like how he basically recycled it. Suga often recycles too, but at least it's in his own verses. That way, it's become his identity or his signature. For example, J-hope on a hospital bed in Ego vis a vis J-hope on a hospital bed in More. It fits because it's from the same artist. 

The rest of the lyrics are okay. And that's the last I would criticize, otherwise, 90% of the world's released songs are going straight to garbage. 

I just have one last thing to say, it's not exceptional. It is good, very good, but not exceptional. But that's okay because I wasnt expecting exceptional. After all, J-hope is not RM, Suga or Jungkook. And all three is my favorite lyricist when it comes to BTS. Still, I always just enjoyed J-hope's songs because they were always a bop. 

I love the dark concept because I blossomed in darkness too, for many years in fact, lol. But I don't understand too how for some reason, it didn't just tie in all together for me.

One thing to applaud is the music video. The plot is interesting, and something reminiscent of BTS's storytelling forte. I love how personal the song is to J-hope and the music video's portrayal of that.

I do applaud his courage as well. I'm sure he foresees fanmade critics like me, so I don't feel as bad. After all, BTS is the most unbitter artist when it comes to criticism. I respect him for taking the BIG JUMP, for being true to himself, and for being the first to come out with a solo album. I'm sure it wasn't an easy decision for him. So I admire him for being honest to himself, and for having the courage to reflect that honesty to ARMY. 

As a true ARMY I am proud and I am happy for Hobi. I congratulate him, although unfortunately More didn't make it to any of my playlists. I am still looking forward to Jack in the Box though, after all, More is just ONE SONG.

That's all. Thanks for nothing.

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(NOT SETTIMANALE) BANGTAN: I am convinced

 So instead of doing SETTIMANALE this week, because I already did one a few days ago, I thought I could just talk about BTS. After all, if I'm going to look back, my life has never been the same since I clicked on that live performance of Dynamite on Tinydesk, 2 or maybe 3 weeks ago? Honestly, I'm not sure anymore when it started. 

Before I write about BTS now though, let's go back to a few years ago. It's important to say this because it is relevant to my ongoing dive into the BTS-ARMY fandom. 

I think it was probably 2015 or 2016. At the time I stumbled across G-Dragon and Bigbang. I really like G-Dragon and since Bigbang is a huge part of his life, naturally, I had to like that too. But I'm not particularly obsessed with the group. While watching music videos of Bigbang, I somehow stumbled across a video compilation of this Kpop group BTS dancing and singing to Bigbang songs. That encounter led to me watching Dope for the first time. I liked the song. I remember being awestruck with the choreography and I liked one particular face in particular, V. But for some reason, maybe it didn't resonate enough, or maybe life distracted me from pursuing any more hours on Youtube watching clips of Kpop idols, I have totally forgotten about them. Although I remember I even watched a live performance of Dope. 

Now I realized they were getting so much hate then, but I wasn't aware. I thought they were good, their dance especially, but like so many other Kpop groups, they're just as equally good when it comes to performance. I wasn't convinced.

And then they blew up and I still didn't care. I chose to distance myself from the Kpop world because I was only waiting for G-Dragon's magnificent return. I stayed idle. I'm not particularly a fan of Kpop, I just like G-Dragon, that's what I keep telling myself.

And then BTS blew up even more, and more, and more, until it's gotten to the point where I keep wondering why they blew up in the first place. For a while, I've entertained the idea that Bigbang's absence contributed to their success. But now I know that wasn't the case, Bigbang was there in 2016.

All I keep saying to people is that they dance great. That's all I know.

And then somehow I think I ended up watching their Tinydesk live performance of Dynamite, which by the way, I already like (the song). But it was a pop song, and it's not hard to like a pop song especially with its catchy vibe. What really was a waterslide for me was the song Spring Day and Life Goes On. Those two songs started it all. And then I saw the Music Video Interpretation of Spring Day and the rest is history. The more I found out about them the more I admire them. I'm completely looped in.

I guess part of my journey is realizing why they got so big in the first place. I didn't understand it. In my head, there must be something else, something I haven't seen before, something different that could categorize beyond all other existing Kpop groups. Writing this I realized why I don't like Kpop- they're like replicas of each other. Same formula. Same strategy. Same look. And I'm the kind of person who craves individuality and creativity. That's why G-Dragon stood out for me in the first place. Maybe that's why BTS didn't stand out to me too, then. 

Anyway, I kept digging and digging, and everytime I found out something cool, I still kept digging, and now I realize there is paradise under ground. I finally understand- their lyrics, their story, their work ethic, their intellect, their passion, their dedication, their fans-ARMY. They got so much more to offer than the genre of Kpop itself. It all comes together. Right now, everything about them is exactly what I've been looking for. Creativity, control, power, talent, humility, freedom, and most especially - a S T O R Y. They have a story. And I'm always up for a story. But not just any other story written by some company, but an autobiography. A story of ups and downs. A story of not giving up and finding yourself. To use a translated lyrics by them "I choose to crawl out of the dark abyss." That kind of story always gets to me.

I'm excited to be in this journey. It feels like a journey to myself. It feels like a reunion with Lilah Gran.

I am convinced.

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#nowplaying: Ferrari

FERRARI BY BEBE REXHA

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#nowplaying: Mobile

Everything's changing...

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MY TOP 20 SONGS OF 2016!

I had such a hard time ranking my favorite songs of 2016. After all, it's been a year of amazing releases. But a girl's got to do what a girl's got to do. About an hour later, I finally managed to pick out these twenty amazingness out of thirty-six. I feel bad for the sixteen though, so I still listed them down.

A little note: The songs I've included in this pool are songs that are actually released in 2016. There were a couple songs that were popularized in 2016 but were released in 2015 so I didn't include those. 

This is in descending chronological order:

1. Closer by The Chainsmokers feat. Halsey
2. Let Me Love You by DJ Snake feat. Justin Bieber
3. Cold Water by Major Lazer feat. Justin Bieber & MO
4. Don't Wanna Know by Maroon 5 feat. Kendrick Lamar
5. Perfect Strangers by Jonas Blue feat. J.P Cooper
6. Sound by The 1975
7. Middle by DJ Snake feat. Bipolar Sunshine
8. Starboy by The Weeknd feat. Daft Punk
9. Versace on the Floor by Bruno Mars
10. Girls Like by Tinie Tempah feat. Zara Larsson
11. No Money by Galantis
12. Thinking About You by HARDWELL feat. Jay Sean
13. What We Started by Don Diablo & Steve Aoki X Lush & Simon
14. Can't Stop The Feeling by Justin Timberlake
15. Trust Nobody by Cashmere Cat feat. Selena Gomez
16. We Don't Talk Anymore by Charlie Puth feat. Selena Gomez
17. This One's For You by David Guetta feat. Zara Larsson
18. Rockabye by Clean Bandit feat. Sean Paul & Anne-Marie
19. Don't Let Me Down by The Chainsmokers feat. Daya
20. We Don't Have To Dance by Andy Black

Runner ups (no order):

1. My Way by Calvin Harris
2. How Deep Is Your Love by Calvin Harris & Disciples
3. Cheap Thrills by Sia feat. Sean Paul
4. I Hate That I Love You by Gnash feat. Olivia O'brien
5. Work From Home by Fifth Harmony feat. Dolla Sign
6. Kundalini by Headhunterz feat. Emily Warren
7. I Took a Pill in Ibiza by Mike Posner
8. Be Alright by Ariana Grande
9. Baldadig by HARDWELL & Quintino
10. What Is Love by Lost Frequencies
11. Me Too by Meghan Trainor
12. Fast Car by Jonas Blue feat. Dakota
13. Fresh Eyes by Andy Grammer
14. Rather Be by Clean Bandit
15. In The Name of Love by Martin Garrix feat. Bebe Rexha
16. The Ocean by Mike Perry feat. Shy Martin

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#nowplaying: EDM Sesh (Playlist)

Hi yall. I remember I once made this list http://lilahgran.blogspot.com/2014/10/lilahs-playlist-ultimate-outcast.html

Basically, I enumerated my favorite rock/band songs. This was back when I was obsessed with bands, which I still am (kind of, partly), but it definitely died down a couple years later. So allow me to list down my favorite EDM songs (or party songs in general) this time.

You're welcome.

Just like before, this go in no order whatsoever.

1.) Live The Night - Hardwell & W&W feat. Lil Jon

2.) Years - Alesso feat. Matthew Koma

3.) The Only Way Is Up - Martin Garrix & Tiesto

4.) Jumper - Hardwell & W&W

5.) Apollo - Hardwell feat. Amba Shepherd

6.) Five More Hours - Deorro & Chris Brown

7.) Bangarang - Skrillex feat. Sirah

8.) Sick Bubblegum - Skrillex (Warning!)

9.) Promises - Skrillex & Nero

10.) Blinded by the Light - Julian Jordan

11.) Levels - Avicii

12.) Waiting for Love - Avicii

13.) Don't You Worry Child - Swedish House Mafia feat. John Martin

14.) Take Over Control - Afrojack feat. Eva Simons

15.) Clarity - Zedd feat. Foxes

16.) Spectrum - Zedd feat. Matthew Koma

17.) Where Are U Now - Skrillex, Diplo & Justin Bieber

18.) Forbidden Voices - Martin Garrix

19.) Final Song - MO

20.) Are With With Me - Lost Frequencies

21.) Spectre - Alan Walker

22.) Forever - Vanze feat. Brandon Mattheus

23.) Here For You - Kygo feat. Ella Henderson

24.) ID - Kygo

25.) Firestone - Kygo feat. Conrad Sewell

26.) Stay - Kygo feat. Maty Noyes

27.) Don't Stop The Madness - Hardwell & W&W

28.) Follow Me - Hardwell & Jason Derulo

29.) Area 51 - Hardwell and DallasK

30.) Arcadia - Hardwell feat. Luciana

31.) Echo - Hardwell feat. Jonathan Mendelsohn

32.) Young Again - Hardwell feat. Chris Jones

33.) United We Are - Hardwell feat. Amba Shepherd

34.) Eclipse - Hardwell

35.) Runaway (U&I) - Galantis

36.) No Money - Galantis

37.) Turn Down For What - DJ Snake feat. Lil Jon

38.) Let Me Love You - DJ Snake

39.) Middle - DJ Snake

40.) Sahara - DJ Snake

41.) Tremor - Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, Martin Garrix

42.) Titanium - David Guetta feat. Sia

43.) Closer - The Chainsmokers feat. Halsey

44.) Until You Were Gone - The Chainsmokers & Tritonal feat. Emily Warren

45.) Let You Go - The Chaimsokers

46.) Kanye - The Chainsmokers feat. Siren

47.) Inside Out - The Chaimsokers feat. Charles

48.) Don't Let Me Down - The Chainsmokers feat. Daya

49.) Roses - The Chainsmokers feat. ROZES

50.) New York City - The Chainsmokers

51.) Waterbed - The Chainsmokers

52.) I Need Your Love - Calvin Harris feat, Ellie Goulding

53.) Sweet Nothing - Calvin Harris feat. Florence Welch

54.) How Deep Is Your Love - Calvin Harris and Disciples

55.) Feel So Close - Calvin Harris

56.) My Way - Calvin Harris

57.) This Is What You Came For - Calvin Harris feat. Rihanna

58.) Overdrive - Calvin Harris & Ummet Ozcan

59.) Summer - Calvin Harris 

60.) Outside - Clavin Harris feat. Ellie Goulding

61.) Blame - Calvin Harris feat. John Newman

62.) Under Control - Calvin Harris feat. Hurts

63.) Pompeii - Bastille

64.) Sweet Escape - Alesso

65.) Heroes - Alesso feat. Tove Lo

66.) I Wanna Know - Alesso &, Nico & Vinz

67.) Virus - Martin Garrix * MOTi

68.) Helicopter - Martin Garrix & Firebeatz

69.) In The Name of Love - Martin Garrix & Bebe Rexha

70.) Wizard - Martin Garrix feat. Jay Hardway

71.) Poison - Martin Garrix

72.) Lean On - Major Lazer & DJ Snake

73.) Cold Water - Major Lazer & MO feat. Justin Bieber

74.) Don't Look Down - Martin Garrix feat Usher

75.) This One's For You - David Guetta feat. Zara Larsson

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#nowplaying: All We Know

The new Chainsmokers song just came out. It's called "All We Know" and it's the succeeding song after their hit "Closer". A bunch of people anticipated the release. Some in my group of friends are even more excited than me. I don't know their thoughts on the song just yet. And I'd rather not discuss.

To be honest, to me, this song is a huge disappointment. The similarity with their recent hit "Closer" is too unreal.  It saddens me to think The Chainsmokers really played it safe this time. Being such a fan for quite awhile, what I really loved about the duo is their sound variation. If you take Waterbed for example, and Roses, then Don't Let Me Down and Closer... nothing sounds alike! And a common denominator from those hits? Their sing-a-bility (is there such word?). Every track encourages the crowd to sing and jam along. That's why they were hits in the first place. Perfect for roadtrips with friends, solo dancing at home, or partying. 

This song in particular, lack the same energy. The vocals sound like whispering and I don't like it. It could have been a Taylor Swift song feat. The Chainsmokers except referred to as the "boring" song. I imagine singing this with my friends and by the end of it we'd all be depressed, singing with our poker faces on. I don't imagine this playing at clubs, except when remixed by far greater DJs. 

And actually, when I first heard the snippet on Facebook, I thought it was a distorted version of Closer. Take a listen https://www.facebook.com/thechainsmokers/videos/1255437404488647/

Won't you agree?

Closer 2.0 "The Boring Version"

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#nowplaying: Let's talk favorites (off all time!)

Take note that the following songs are my ALL TIME FAVORITES and it ranges from Classical to Pop to EDM. I hope you find it interesting. Cheers!

Note: Not listed in order. I've discovered many songs that have touched my heart. Some I obsess with for months and months before I get over it.

But these are just the songs that never grew old. These have touched my soul, one way or another.

1. Young Again by HARDWELL

2. Firestone by KYGO

3. Beautiful Girl by CHRISTIAN BAUTISTA (originally by Jose Marie Chan)

4. Crazy Beautiful by DAVID POMERANZ

5. Shape of My Heart by BACKSTREET BOYS

6. Heal The World by MICHAEL JACKSON

7. I've Never Been To Me by CHARLENE

8. Right Here Waiting by RICHARD MARX

9. Lost It All by BLACK VEIL BRIDES

10. Ascension by FUTURE WORLD MUSIC

11. River Flows In You by YIRUMA

12. The Moment by KENNY G

13. Mariage D' Amour by PAUL DE SENNEVILLE / OLIVER TOUSSAINT

14.) I Will Be Here by GARY V

15.) There You'll Be by by FAITH HILL

xxx

In case you didn't notice, I'm a hopeless romantic. Some friends may recognize a few on the list. But no matter the circumstance, these are the songs I always have with me, wherever life leads me.

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#nowplaying: Let's take favorites (off all time!)

Take note that the following songs are my ALL TIME FAVORITES and it ranges from Classical to Pop to EDM. I hope you find it interesting. Cheers!

Note: Not listed in order. And many songs (I've heard in my lifetime) have touched my heart. Some I obsess with for months and months before I get over it. But these are just the songs that never grow old. These have touched my soul, one way or another.

1. Young Again by HARDWELL

2. Firestone by KYGO

3. Beautiful Girl by CHRISTIAN BAUTISTA (originally by Jose Marie Chan)

4. Crazy Beautiful by DAVID POMERANZ

5. Shape of My Heart by BACKSTREET BOYS

6. Heal The World by MICHAEL JACKSON

7. I've Never Been To Me by CHARLENE

8. Right Here Waiting by RICHARD MARX

9. Lost It All by BLACK VEIL BRIDES

10. Ascension by FUTURE WORLD MUSIC

11. River Flows In You by YIRUMA

12. The Moment by KENNY G

13. Mariage D' Amour by PAUL DE SENNEVILLE / OLIVER TOUSSAINT

14. Sleeping Beauty Waltz by PYOTR TCHAIKOVSKY

15. Hymn for the Weekend by THE COLDPLAY

xxx

In case you didn't notice, I'm a hopeless romantic. Some of my friends may know some of the favorite songs listed hereto (naming the obvious). But no matter the circumstance, these are the songs I always have with me, wherever life leads me.

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#nowplaying: American Wolves

I can't seem to find the full music video. So here's a link instead: https://youtu.be/Nr2CgpT7Rsk

Let's talk about bands... or in general "Alternative Music". I live by my favorite bands. A day would never go without hitting my playlists. A summary of my go to's listed below:

1. Paramore
2. Black Veil Brides
3. All Time Low
4. Sleeping with Sirens
5. Panic At The Disco
6. Summer Ser
7. We Are The In Crowd
8. The Click Five
9. My Chemical Romance

The list goes on...

Anyway, as years went by upon graduating college and getting rid of my bangs, my ripped skinny jeans, and my studded belts, I somehow got mislead into the world of the glamorous and luxurious, which I very much live in at the moment... still.

And I love every bit of it.
The glitter.
The sparkles.
I live by it.

I find myself listening to a lot of Pop - girl groups (ie Little Mix, The Fifth Harmony), Disney/Nick stars turned superstars (ie Selena Gomez, Ariana Grande), and EDM (ie Chainsmokers, Hardwell, Martin Garrix).

I somehow fell into the trap.

And have forgotten what attracted me to Alternative Music in the first place - the angst.

For the past year, I've lived in the most comfortable life... ever.
I had NOTHING to worry about besides traffic, and getting late to work.

So, I relied to music as a spare time, to relax me and bid my time.

But this song. The song above.
Reminded me exactly why I listened to this in the first place.
It's my scene.
It's where I belong.

There is a high probability that this is all happening again because I quit work. I jumped off my comfort zone, and entering hell zone.

Law school.
Is never comfortable.

I am once again seeking angst,
Some sort of fuel.

I once more needed music for motivation and fueling,
No longer a spare time.

I needed it for exactly what it's made for:
A conversation.
A mirror.
A fuel.
An alter ego.

So thank you American Wolves!


PS I dedicate this song to you, Marshall.

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#nowplaying: Let's catch up

So I have a selection of songs I've adored lately. And to be honest, each day I find myself getting farther away from my old playlists. I barely listen to my favorite bands anymore, including Michael Jackson! I have no idea if this is anything temporary or not, but here are the songs I've been loving lately, or at least the songs I built up a connection with. 

1. Shape of my Heart by Backstreet Boys

Pretty old school, I know. But I think the idea came up to me when I saw a video on Youtube, made by a vlogger. And this vlogger used one of their songs, and got me so hooked that I downloaded an entire Greatest Hits album.

This song in particular spoke to me like a twin sister. I actually dedicate this song to one guy I've sort of "dated?" or at least I've hang out with for a time last year. I suppose I can put it this way - here's for you V

2. I've Never Been To Me by Charlene

So I typed in "Greatest Love Songs" for my Mom's Ipod, and that's how I ended up with this track. I suppose right now, it doesn't really matter anymore but back when I was working, I'd listen to this song everyday. There was a point in my life, right after college when it felt like I have everything, but nothing at the same time. I just wasn't happy, although I was earning and living a very glamorous life. Thus, I entertained the idea of Law School.

3. Crazy Beautiful by David Pomeranz

Do you get the theme going on here? I've always loved David Pomeranz because his songs make me fall in love! I ended up downloading a Greatest Hits as well, and this song in particular caught my attention. Mainly because it sounds so raw. It's just very heartwarming and it makes me want to fall in love just imagining how great it probably feels like. 

4. Hymn for the Weekend by The Coldplay

This is probably the only song sort of "modern" in this list. I heard this song from Chris Martin's carpool karaoke. And I was so desperate to find out the title, so I downloaded Coldplay's entire discography! Now I'm obsessed with this song.

Special Mention: I also recognized a new band by the name of AMERICAN WOLVES. The vocalist is a Youtuber and has been posting covers since 2010! His voice is amazing, and their single "Part of me" is addicting. It sort of rekindles my addiction for bands. I hope they remind me why I fell in love with rock songs in the first place.

That's it for now. I don't have much because I never actually had the time to do some research lately. That's why oldschool it is. Gags.

I'll compile a few more when situation requires it.

Until then,

Cheers!

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#nowplaying: Dope

So, hi. I was on Youtube, just scrolling down my subscriptions page, when I saw another K-pop react video from the Fine Bros. Look it up. 

One featured in the video was the music video/ song called Dope by a K-pop boy group BTS. Here's a backdrop. I actually know them! Though I haven't really checked out their stuff before, I knew of them because they're Bigbang fanboys. And you know how much I drool over G-Dragon for the past few months, and counting. 

Holy crap! This song in particular is just mindblowing. I loved it. And even more so when they start dancing! It's fucking amazing, I can't even describe it! I don't think I'll fall in love with the band just as much as Bigbang though. Probably just for this song... unless they make more of these. Totally fangirling.

CHECK IT OUT.

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#nowplaying: Like I'm Gonna Lose You

Like I'm Gonna Lose You

Meghan Trainor ft. John Legend

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#nowplaying: Confetti

Confetti

by Hilary Duff

from Breathe In Breathe Out (2015)

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#nowplaying: Hallelujah

"Hallelujah"

by Panic! at the Disco

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#nowplaying: November

November

By Sleeping With Sirens

Madness (2015)

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#nowplaying: Tidal Waves

Tidal Waves

By All Time Low

Future Hearts (2015)

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