"Steal My Sunshine"

       Songs like this are the reason that everyone loves '90's music; the guys look like assholes (but they're really just harmless punks on scooters), the lyrics are easy to sing along to (yet still great), and that back beat will be going around in your head all day (in a good way).

      The song samples "More, More, More" by The Andrea True Connection and the music video was filmed in Daytona Beach (Florida) during Spring break time (anyone who lives near a Florida beach will tell you to stay far, far away from the beach during that time [for two months, hordes of people will crowd the highways, cause accidents, leave their trash on the beach, and remain utterly oblivious to their stupidity]) and basically features Len and his friends hanging out on scooters and messing around at the beach (debauchery was much more G-rated in the '90's).
     The best way to start your day is with some good, solid '90's alternative rock pop; besides, it's nearly impossible to not love this song (if only for its simplicity).

       "Steal My Sunshine" Len

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WOTE Concert (for everyone)

       Walk off the Earth is kind of amazing and, from their videos, we already know that they can sing live and have the charisma and charm that would make them great in concert. With all of the requests the band has received, asking them to play in one place or another, they have announced that they will have an online concert (broadcast from their living room) for their fans from around the world. 

       The concert will take place February 20th (2013) at 8:30 PM (eastern time) and will last for half an hour. Of course, my last Wednesday class does not end until 9:15 (so I will be able to offer no opinions on the actual concert), but you can still get your tickets for the show (prices are based on your donation amount so you should donate/tip as much as you can to support the band [plus they have gifts for the top tippers that you'd really like if you really like WOTE]) and enjoy how wonderfully great this band is. 

       Check out this site to buy your tickets (before they run out [they keep adding more tickets when they run out and it's an online show so they can't really "run out" of room; you'll probably be fine]), then wait until the 20th for a really awesome show; nothing is more fun than watching the live performances of bands that really love the creation of music (i.e. WOTE will put on an amazing performance).

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"Past the Golden Gate"

          Need a great song from a great artist to start off your work week?

       The first time I had a chance to sit down and listen to Ryan Dishen's album(s), I decided that Dishen is probably one of my new favorite artists (each time I listen to his music, it just gets better than it was before). All of his music is pretty great, so make sure to check him out here.

       Plus, the music video is kind of perfect for the song (and only manages to make me even more excited to return to Europe in six [long] weeks).

"Past the Golden Gate" Ryan Dishen

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Halftime Show- Beyoncé

       As I relinquish my NHL addiction to the wonderfully fun insanity that is the Superbowl at 6:30 tonight (all the matches will be done by six anyways), I would be remiss not to mention the great artist who will be the star of this year's halftime show.

       Regardless of the personal opinions you may have formed of Beyoncé (good or bad), her career is pretty amazing; Destiny's Child is the best-selling girls group of all time (being named one of the greatest musical trios of all time by Billboard magazine and selling more than fifty million records worldwide) and, during her solo career, Beyoncé has received sixteen Grammy Awards, twelve MTV VMA's, a Billboard Millennium Award, sold thirteen million albums in the US and over seventy-five million records worldwide, has been named one of the "100 Greatest Artists of All Time" and "100 Greatest Women in Music" by VH1, and was named one of the "100 Most Powerful and Influential Musicians in the World" by Forbes (plus, Sasha Fierce may be the best stage name to date).

       Some people may have been upset by the whole lip-syncing episode at this year's presidential inauguration, but it was her own vocals that you heard through the speaker system; no one's voice, but her own, sang the "The Star Spangled Banner". Beyoncé is quoted as saying, "due to the weather, due to the delay, due to no proper sound check, I didn't feel comfortable performing live", though she will perform live at the Superbowl tonight (honestly though, were I in Beyoncé's place, I would have pre-recorded my vocals for President Obama's second inauguration, as well; would you want to take a chance of fucking that performance up?). Get over whatever pre-conceived notions you may have recently developed concerning her performance because she is amazing and, at thirty-one years of age, she has already had a truly great career (and you cannot deny that songs like "Halo" and "If I Were A Boy" are not great).

       There has been some talk of Destiny's Child reuniting on stage during the show, but it has not been confirmed (nor denied), though did Destiny's Child really have any hits aside from "Survivor" (Scratch that; upon further iTunes library digging, songs like "Jumpin' Jumpin'", "Bills, Bills, Bills", and "Say My Name" bring back memories of elementary and middle school and my first "boy-girl parties" [is there anything more awkward while growing up?].)? While looking through old songs (so old they were placed into my iTunes library from a physical CD, rather than an online purchase) I actually got kind of excited about the prospect of a Destiny's Child reunion, although Beyoncé has pretty much shot those rumors down. 

       While there is no set list available for Beyoncé's halftime show tonight, we can be pretty certain that songs like "Single Ladies" and "Crazy In Love" will be performed sometime during the show so, while preparing to root for your favorite team, listen to some of Beyoncé's music and prepare for a really great halftime show.

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Campfire Songs

       You know that moment (during a fire) when the last log is burning out, the S'mores and Cheetos are nearly all gone, the laughter and jokes have died down, and you're just laying back and staring up at the stars? That perfect moment can only get better if you have people you love and a good soundtrack for the rest of the night.

"Tightrope (Acoustic)" WALK THE MOON

"Days & Days" Camera Can't Lie

"Goodbye Serenade" The Rebel Light

"Take Me Dancing" The Maine

"New Windows" Ryan Dishen

"Wishing Well" The Airborne Toxic Event

"I Go to the Barn Because I Like the" Band of Horses

"Reckless" San Cisco

"High Hopes" Kodaline

"With A Little Help From My Friends" The Beatles

"Happiness Loves Company" Red Hot Chili Peppers

"One Headlight" The Wallflowers

"Here's Lookin At You, Kid" The Gaslight Anthem

"End of the World" Hunter Hunted

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"Angel"

       Every time my brother tries to convince me that military guys can be cool, he uses Shaggy as an example. I mean, Shaggy's pretty timeless, but still...

       Regardless, nothing supplies a better base for a playlist made for lazing around in the sun.

"Angel" Shaggy

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