Discoveries...

Aside from upgrading my stats in Sorority Life, got nothing to do but upload songs to my IPOD…there were songs I have never listened to, songs that I have downloaded twice and songs that I never knew existed…but amidst all mixed emotions, it gives me another kind of high…a kind of high that only MUSIC can give….brace yourself…got quite a long list….

Here’s my something new, something old and something borrowed songs for this week:

1. Sweet Avenue by Damien Rice
For the first time it felt right
Thank you for making me see there's a life in me
It was dying to get out
He is an Irish songwriter and producer…he makes distinct sound of noise..but I love it! His songs revolve around familiar, bittersweet concerns of life, love and their attendant frustrations. Rice's voice is beautiful, and in it's human imperfection, convey's a world of deep emotion. The vocal style can change from song to song, but his ability to sing straight to your soul is always there. The lyrics are deep and they burn.


2. Bring Me Down by Cueshe
I'm takin' a flight
On the brighter side,
'Cause life just don't come easy
The only OPM on my list. Cueshe has a soft spot in my heart since their bassist Fritz is somewhat related to me having married my niece, Jane. This song depicts of highly-spirited person. I salute the group for doing songs that sounded foreign but with a Filipino attitude on it. I wonder if Fritz wrote this song like the others he did. Fritz write songs based on real experiences, and as shy person as he is, I know this is his way to pour out his feelings…..way to go, guys!

3. I Wished You Loved Me by Tynisha Keli
Really Didn't Know Back Then But Right Now Im Totally Sure
Baby I Know Im Your Friend But I Wanna Be Much More
Her voice is so clear and powerful!! She sounds like a full grown woman, in the line of other pop stars who made it big. Her lyrics give a punch just like Iron Chef does…lol and her voice is amazing! Her talent is real and not studio-created!

4. Best of Me by The Starting Line
We reflect on miscommunications
And misunderstandings
And missing each other too
Much to have had to let go
This song is part of the album Say It Like You Mean It released sometime in 2002. This band was formed in 1999 in Churchville, Pennsylvania. The band has said there is no significance behind the name, it was the only name they all could agree upon.
This album contained songs that ranged from energetic and fast-paced to melancholy and calm, dealing with performing on stage ("Given the Chance"), feeling homesick ("Left Coast Envy") and getting even with Vasoli's ex-girlfriend Karina ("Up & Go", "Hello Houston", among others. This is their hit single along with “Leaving", this received heavy radio and TV airplay, securing The Starting Line a spot on the Warped Tour.

5. ( I want You) Cherry Cola by Savage Garden
Any time I need to see your face
I just close my eyes and I am taken
to a place where the crystal mind and
majenta feeling taken shelter in the base
of my spine sweet like a chica cherry cola
Who doesn’t know Savage Garden, the group behind the song Truly, Madly, Deeply which was a smash hit in the 90’s?? This was part of that album, and this is my something old song, but it was shadowed by the song I mentioned above so I never knew its beauty til now. Savage Garden's songs are of innocence and urgency. Darrens voice is amazing and the lyrics are emotional and heart felt. I love all the songs because they express deep meaning and are very powerful. This cd can pick me up when im down, make me dance, and make me cry. I would say its a must buy for any Savage Garden fan or anyone who likes true deep lyrics.

6. Replace You by Samantha Moore
memories start to fade
i'm thinking i'll be okay
chasing the pain away
but is it gone
all the familiar signs
are hiding behind my eyes
Samantha Moore is a country singer, a pop vocalist and an actress at the same time. Featured on national television shows like "America's Most Talented Kid's", she has been participating in vocal competitions since the age of 10. Samantha is also a young aspiring actress, landing parts in "Little Shop of Horrors" and "You're a Good Man Charlie Brown". She recorded her first original song in the studio when she was only 12. Look for her again this summer when she comes back to record more. Samantha studies the art of voice under world renown vocal coach Billy Purnell. This song is part of the soundtrack of THE HILLS.

7. If It Smashes Down by My Morning Jacket
whos going to care if it smashes down
or flips you up in the air. Its justa really fast, risky ride at a fair.
My Morning Jacket is a Grammy-nominated American rock band. The band comprises Jim James (singer-songwriter, guitarist), "Two Tone Tommy" Blankenship (bassist), Patrick Hallahan (drummer), Carl Broemel (guitarist, pedal steel guitarist, saxophonist, vocalist), and Bo Koster (keyboardist).
There’s an old saying that every human cell in the body is changed over a period of seven years, thus every seven years we become a new person. If this is the case My Morning Jacket has defied this idiom by collectively shedding its skin innumerable times since its inception a decade ago in Louisville, Kentucky. But their music is another addition to on-the-go list of songs.

8. Change by Tracy Chapman
If you knew that you would find a truth
That brings up pain that can't be soothed
Would you change?
Would you change?
This is another something old song from a great recording artist. This single was released in 2005.Tracy is authoritative, with individualistic personality, a songwriter who has a point to make and a singer who figured out how to give those points a voice. She is confrontational rather than confessional, pointed rather than poetic, hers is the sound of a smart black woman growing up in the city with her eyes wide open.

9. Smile by Lily Allen
Whenever you see me you say that you want me back
And I tell you it don't mean jack, no it don't mean jack
I couldn't stop laughing, no I just couldn't help myself
See you messed up my mental health I was quite unwell
This is something borrowed from my niece, I chanced upon this when I opened the disk drive where all downloaded songs are compiled in one folder, hers and mine since she lives with me. The I saw Lilly appeared on one tv show, a very shy girl but very powerful, childlike voice. Lily Rose Beatrice Allen in real life was born to celebrity parents. This song reached number 1 in the charts of UK Singles Chart in 2006. She started uploading demos on her myspace site and from there have gone up to real stage singing. She is more on ethereal songs because she wanted it to feel like it had some sort of integrity. She has grown up a bit as a person and this song reflects that.

10. I Wanna Be by Emma Roberts
I took my time
Learning my lines
Trying to sort it out
This life that I lead
Its trapped me naive
I wanna scream out loud
Leave the past behind
Now is my time
She’s in the line of Hannah Montana, Selena Gomez and other singing tv actresses-songstress. She is the lead actor of Unfabulous of Nickelodeon as Addie Singer. She lived with her Class A actress aunt Julia Roberts at a young age and decided to follow in the latter’s footsteps in the entertainment world. This song in particular is quite catchy yet childish in some ways, but what do you expect from a very young girl?


11. Coming Clean by Chase Coy
And I'm just afraid I've been singing about love
But I'll never find out what it means
And if I was honest about what the problem is
I'd have to admit that it's meI'm just tryin' to live up to all that you want me to be
I think he is wonderful. He is a complete cutie, and his music is great. I love all the lyrics they seem so real. I mean it seems like he takes pride in what he like to do! Seriously it takes talent to be someone like this. I look up to people who put their soul into writing and dont care what other people think. Chase has both and its well respected. Awesome and talented individual who is absolutely gorgeous =] Lyrics and the melody is even and the acoustic makes it seem so legit. I’d marry him in a heartbeat…lol. This is my something new song….

12. Like A Star by Corinne Bailey Rae
Still i wonder why it is,
I don't argue like this
With anyone but you,
You do it all the time,
Blowing out my mind
This is the carrier of her self-titled limited-edition format album which was released in 2005. Its old around 739,000 copies in UK making it a top-selling album in 2006. This lady is very talented who can play guitars, be it electric, acoustic or Spanish. She can also do percussions, piano, bass, keyboards…aside from her good voice, whew!
Corinne Bailey Rae has a great voice, expressive, warm, and with some unique vocal quirks that could really distinguish her from the pack. This is a woman, who, according to her bio, sang in a Led Zeppelin style band ten years ago, so she's not ever going to be your average ballad singer or sweet little pop star. In fact, if allowed, I bet she could blow almost any female singer on the market out of the water.


13. Comin’ Back by Citizen Cope
You can leave me lonely,
You can take my riches,
You can take my life, but my soul been saved.
The mere fact that citizen Cope melds hip-hop with folk, soul and blues is not what makes his music resonate, although his unique spiritual hybrid reminds one of how jazz artists who absorbed rock raised eyebrows in the Sixties. Cope feels this combination deeply, and that's what steers this collection of narrative songs and streetwise sounds in the direction of the divine.




14. You Are My King by Chris Tomlin
I'm forgiven because you were forsaken
I'm accepted, You were condemned
I'm alive and well
Your spirit is within me
Because you died and rose again
I listed down this song to jive with the essence of Lent. This is the time to reflect on what God has done to save us from all our sins, and no other song can top this. This song has the ability to touch someone’s heart and that’s how Tomlin succeeded in spreading God’s word and love. This is a song that not only help you do your private praise and worship, but its also something that you can proudly share to your friends…

15. Broken Wings by Bleed the Dream
when all this pain is justified
while all the time is passing by
now is when we clench our fists
knowing we can fight through this
the hours and days are gone
Their genre is more on heavy metal. Bleed The Dream is catchy and crunchy metallic hardcore in the vein of groups like Hatebreed. The Las Vegas band combines heavy riffs with groove and a lot of melody. It's brutal, yet very accessible and memorable. The vocals are the standard hardcore yelling with group shout-alongs. There are also some melodic vocals for a change of pace. I can relate their songs to Nickelback or My Chemical Romance…rock/acoustic/alternative but with a heart…not just all grunge. Their songs are mostly aggressive yet melodic, relying more on moods and layered arrangements than throat-shredding screams to convey the band’s vision.

16. I’m in Heaven by ATC
You capture me with a stare
I'll follow you anywhere
You lead me into temptation
I guess you need to enjoy
I'm like a kid with a toy
Their group is in the likes of Europop or Aquarium. They have well-crafted pop and danceable songs. It has a good groove and easy listening lyrics. Dreamy, trancy, dance pop... reminds me of sleeping on a cloud... throbbing rhythm, airy vocals... cotton candy for the ear!

17. Dream On by Aerosmith
Half my life
is in books' written pages
Lived and learned from fools and
from sages
You know it's true
All the things come back to you
This is something old, originally released in 1980 but was remastered and released on limited-editon only in 1993. This song is worthy track to listen to. "Dream On" is from their 70's heyday, this is one of the best ever they have done.

18. Twilight by Vanessa Carlton
And I will never see the sky the same way and
I will learn to say good-bye to yesterday and
I will never cease to fly if held down and
I will always reach too high cause I've seen, cause I've seen, twilight
I think this song is from her debut album entitled Be Not Nobody released in 2002. This ex-ballerina turned singer augmented her classical training with a broad range of pop she soaked up playing New York City clubs and listening to classic rock in her father's car, Be Not Nobody finds the phenom decorating her fierce piano playing with orchestration, guitars, and percussion galore.
I am just so proud of this talented young woman for begging to be different from everyone else. She does what the pop industry is terrified of.. she's herself. No elaborate vocals or gyrating to an infectious beat. Beautiful, smooth, sultry and expressive melodies laced with a unique and elegant-sounding voice.

19. Crazy for This Girl by Evan and Jaron
Right now
Face to face
All my fears
Pushed aside
And right now
Im ready to spend the rest of my life
With you
This is part of their self-titled album released in 2000. This twin duo captured my interest in them just by listening to this track. I knew I had to get hold of their album at once. I love all the songs. Their songs are so spell-binding and I can relate to many of them. In this day of same ol' music they are refreshing to hear and I know this song has been heavily played already, Im missing too much you know! Hats off to these twins who have shared their art with us!!!! This is one example of I-never-heard-til-now-song!!!

20. Leavin’ by Jagstar
So, you don't know me very well right now
You try to change me and you stress me out
One day we'll find out this is all a phase
I am losin', 'cause I've overstayed...
Still from THE HILLS soundtrack, the only independent band who was chosen to be part of the album. This band has won several songwriting competitions, and received a considerable amount of radio/studio support. They have traveled around the world to do concerts for a cause. This pop/rock band from Knoxville Tennesse should be given merit awards…

21. Strange by Joe Brooks
but what could i do
and what would i change
when everything's strange
and why should i learn to fly
when i could just hide away
isn't it strange
Okay, this is the last song on my list because I saved the best for last. Joe Brooks is an epic/pop singer, songwriter, producer, pianist, guitarist and a recording artist rolled into one. This is something new, part of the album Time Machine which was released in May of 2008. Music Connection mag described Joe as an “exceptional talent”. His music blends alternative, pop and rock into one mainstream sound. I love this guy…seriously!!!!