I Watched This For You So You Didn’t Have To… “Behind The Music: Gym Class Heroes”

Last week, I found myself with more quiet time than usual, so I decided to head on over to VH1.com and watch some new full episodes of “Behind the Music.” I don’t know who is responsible for choosing who gets featured on these episodes…but can I have their job?! Anywayssss, here is the episode if you want to watch!

I watched the “Gym Class Heroes” episode because I honestly didn’t know anything about them, and their lead singer Travie McCoy does intrigue me. We all know he dated Katy Perry before they both got reallyyyy famous. See below:

And literally a HUGE chunk of the show was dedicated to their relationship! Travie couldn’t kick his drug habit (prescription pain meds), which led to their break-up. And it seems like he has been reeling ever since. He definitely still loves her. And Katy’s song “Circle The Drain” is about his demise into drugs that led to their break-up. And Travie was NOT happy about that song!

But this is pretty much what I learned from the episode:

1. They are named “Gym Class Heroes” because the two original founding members, Travie McCoy and drummer Matt McGinley, met in gym class.

2. Travie started doing drugs when he was 14. He also used to be really overweight. He is now sober, and their latest album, especially the song “Fighter,” is heavily influenced by his journey to become so.

3. So they have been around for a LONG time! When “Cupid’s Chokehold” came out, they had already been a band for ten years. LEGIT.

The episode wasn’t awful, but it was kind of boring. WHICH IS DISAPPOINTING. I’m not a huge Gym Class fan, and I was kind of like, why would they choose them? But the more time it has had to simmer in my mind, the more I am glad they did feature them. And I forgot how many songs I actually do like…

Since I am in Hurricane Sandy…Songs with Hurricane References!

Well, I am cooped up in my apartment waiting out this storm for the next couple days. What better way to spend it than to go through a few songs/artists that talk about hurricanes?!?!
1. Something Corporate- “Hurricane”

2. Hurricane Chris- “Aye Bay Bay”

3. Thirty Seconds To Mars- “Hurricane” This is the mini-movie they made for it…DRAMZ.

Ughhhhh there are probably so many quality songs/artists that have ‘hurricane’ in them, but…

4. Hurricane Chris- “Halle Berry (She’s Fine)”

“Where Are They Now?”- Teddy Geiger

Too many good memories with this song. Srsly. (Ummmm, can we also talk about Kristin Cavallari being in this video?!)

But okay, since he “shot to fame” in 2006, Teddy has obvs been MIA for a while. But he’s been quietly releasing songs here and there. He put out an EP called “Living Alone” in 2010 that sounds WAYYY indie.

Check out this acoustic song he put out in 2011. Sounds more like the “Teddy” we all know.

But he’s been on the DL because he has been up to some fundraising to keep himself making music. LOLZ because the website he started in 2011 to raise funds for his new album is also paired with a VERY important charity…SAVE THE ELEPHANTS. People. Ten percent of the money Teddy raises goes to this worthwhile cause. THERE IS GOOD NEWS! He has reached that goal and surpassed it. Teddy’s new album is going to be called “The Last Fears,” according to his blog on is website. Holy hell though…his voice is DIFFERENT. WHY DOES EVERYONE WANT TO SOUND ALL INDIE?!?! Kind of Bob Dylan-esque?! BLAH. He posted this in January of this year.

I hope that this new cd “gets back to his root.” i.e. Pop-Rock. Hottie with a guitar and icy blue eyes, mhmmmmm.

Okay…ONE LAST ANNOYING TAYLOR SWIFT POST!!! MY PICK FOR THE BEST SONG ON THE ALBUM!

Ughhhhhhhhhhh it is so sad!

“All Too Well”

I walked through the door with you, the air was cold
But something about it felt like home somehow
And I left my scarf there at your sister’s house
And you still got it in your drawer, even now

Oh, your sweet disposition and my wide-eyed gaze
We’re singing in the car getting lost upstate
Autumn leaves falling down like pieces into place
And I can picture it after all these days

And I know it’s long gone
And that magic’s not here no more
And I might be okay
But I’m not fine at all

‘Cause there we are again, on that little town street
You almost ran the red ’cause you were looking over me
Wind in my hair, I was there, I remember it all too well

Photo album on the counter, your cheeks were turning red
You used to be a little kid with glasses in a twin-size bed
Your mother’s telling stories about you on the tee ball team
You tell me about your past, thinking your future was me

And I know it’s long gone
And there’s nothing else I could do
And I forget about you long enough
To forget why I needed to

‘Cause there we are again, in the middle of the night
We’re dancing around the kitchen in the refrigerator light
Down the stairs, I was there, I remember it all to well

And maybe we got lost in translation, maybe I asked for too much
But maybe this thing was a masterpiece ’til you tore it all up
Running scared, I was there, I remember it all too well

And you call me up again just to break me like a promise
So casually cruel in the name of being honest
I’m a crumpled up piece of paper lying here
‘Cause I remember it all, all, all too well

Time won’t fly, it’s like I’m paralyzed by it
I’d like to be my old self again, but I’m still trying to find it
After plaid shirt days and nights when you made me your own
Now you mail back my things and I walk home alone

But you keep my old scarf from that very first week
‘Cause it reminds you of innocence and it smells like me
You can’t get rid of it ’cause you remember it all too well, yeah

‘Cause there we are again, when I loved you so
Back before you lost the one real thing you’ve ever known
It was rare, I was there, I remember it all too well

Wind in my hair, you were there, you remember it all
Down the stairs, you were there, you remember it all
It was rare, I was there, I remember it all too well

What on Earth…Blink-182 is Now Unsigned?!

I posted a few days ago how Blink-182 would be coming out with a new album in a year…and now they are without a label. What. Is. Going. On.

Lead singer Tom DeLonge tweeted yesterday: “Freedom!! Blink as of today, is now an independent Artist!!!!!” They were signed to Interscope records since 2003.

My first thought was, ‘Oh no!’ But I have had a revelation: THEY WILL BE FINE. THEY ARE BLINK-182! It’s hard to believe this will be a bad thing. How do they not know everyone in the music industry? I am sure their next album will be great. I’ve never thought about what Blink-182 might be like “re-invented”…probably because they have never re-invented. And I’m sure they will stick to that formula next time around.

And I’d never watched the video for “Not Now” until tonight…it’s the classic “on the road” video with tonsss of Blink flashbacks.

Summer in October! The Afters- “Summer Again”

Such a pretty song about missing summer in October….oh wait. Today FELT LIKE SUMMER. Anyways, how poetic and romantic are these lyrics?! Mmmmmmmm.

I’m watching the green give into gold
As summer becomes October’s cold
Gravity begs
For one final kiss
She drops it to him, as she gives in

Traces of light, linger around
As laces of white fall to the ground
The softest of sounds for the heaviest things
And the pain that it brings

As she falls I try to catch her
For one last touch of warmth from summer
As one thing leaves to becomes another again
I remember when

Don’t remember the day, she started to fade
The ground felt a chill as she gave it away
A whisper – a sigh, for the time that she passed
But this winter won’t last

As she falls I try to catch her
For one last touch of warmth from summer
As one thing leaves to becomes another again
I remember when
Oh to be with summer again

The days were warm and we wore them like skin
Now I feel the effects of October again

As she falls I try to catch her
For one last touch of warmth from summer
As one thing leaves to becomes another again
I remember when
Oh to be with summer again

I’m watching the green give in to gold
As summer becomes Octobers cold

Whoopsiessss Sorryyyy. More Love for Macklemore!

He loops the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ “Otherside” in a song about addiction. That makes it sound really cliched and cheesy, but it’s not. TRUST ME. His lyrics are a total story.

It’s actually his story on his battle with drugs. Here is a Youtube video explaining the inspiration for “Otherside.” Lyrics below!

He rolled up, asked him what he was sippin’ on
He said lean, You want to hit it, dawg?
That’s the same stuff
Weezy’s sippin’ huh?
And tons of other rappers that be spittin’ hard
Yup yup five a bone
When he passed him that styrofoam the easter pink, heard it in a rhyme before
Finally got to see what all the hype was on
And then he took a sip, sittin’ in the Lincoln thinkin’ he was pimpin’ as he listen to the system
Little did he know that it was just as addictive as base
Not the kind of hit from the kick drum
Hot box, let the base bump
Take it to the face, gulp
Months later the use went up
Every blunt was accompanied by the pink stuff
But Goddamn he loved that feelin’
Purple rain coated in the throat
Just so healin’
Medicine alleviate the sickness
Liquid affix and it comes with a cost
Wake up, cold sweat, scratchin’, itchin’
Trying to escape the skin that barely fit him
Gone, get another bottle just to get a couple swallows
Headed towards the bottom couldn’t get off it
Didn’t even think he had a problem
Though he couldn’t sleep without gettin’ nauseous
Room spinnin’, thinkin’ he might of sipped just a little bit too much of that cough syrup
His eyelids closed shut
Sat back in the chair clutchin’ that cup
Girlfriend came and a couple hours later said his name shook him but he never got up

He never got up, he never got up
We live on the cusp of death thinkin’ that it won’t be us
It won’t be us, it won’t be us, it won’t be us
Nah, it won’t be us

Now he just wanted to act like them
He just wanted to rap like him
Us as rappers underestimate the power and the effects that we have on these kids
Blunt passed, ash in a tin, pack being pushed, harassed by the feds
The fact of it is most people that rap like this talkin’ about some shit they haven’t lived
Surprise, you know the drill
Trapped in a box, declined record sales
Follow the formula violence, drugs, and, sex sells
So we try to sound like someone else
This is not Californication
There’s no way to glorify this pavement
Syrup, Percocet, and an eighth a day will leave you broke, depressed, and emotionally vacant
Despite how Lil Wayne lives
It’s not conducive to being creative
And I know ’cause he’s my favorite
And I know ’cause I was off that same mix
Rationalize the shit that I’d try after I listen to dedication
But he’s an alien, I’d sip that shit, pass out or play Playstation
Months later I’m in the same place
No music made, feeling like a failure
And trust me it’s not dope to be 25 and move back to your parent’s basement
I’ve seen my people’s dreams die
I’ve seen what they can be denied
And “weeds not a drug” – that’s denial
Groundhog Day life repeat each time
I’ve seen Oxycontin take three lives
I grew up with them, we used to chief dimes
I’ve seen cocaine bring out the demons inside
Cheatin’ and lyin’
Friendship cease, no peace in the mind
Stealin’ and takin’ anything to fix the pieces inside
Broken, hopeless, headed nowhere
Only motivation for what the dealer’s supplying
That rush, that drug, that dope
Those pills, that crumb, that roach
Thinkin’ I would never do that, not that drug
And growing up nobody ever does
Until your stuck, lookin’ in the mirror like I can’t believe what I’ve become
Swore I was goin’ to be someone
And growing up everyone always does
We sell our dreams and our potential
To escape through that buzz
Just keep me up, keep me up
Hollywood here we come

And while we are at anti-cliched rap, check out “Same Love.”

New Tegan And Sara- “I’m Not Your Hero”

If you don’t know about twins Tegan and Sara, I am simply going to direct you to their bio page on their website. This song is the latest single from their fourth album, and it is a good pop song. Awesome harmonies. Girl jam. The more I have listened to it today, the more I like it.

Standing where I am now, standing up at all
I was used to feeling like I was never gonna see myself at the finish line
Hanging on to parts of me, hanging on at all
I was used to seeing no future in my sight line

Sometimes it feels like they wanna remind me
Send all those villains after me

I’m not their hero
But that doesn’t mean that I wasn’t brave
I never walked the party line
Doesn’t mean that I was never afraid
I’m not your hero
But that doesn’t mean we’re not one and the same

—

Sometimes it feels like the side that I’m on
Plays the toughest hand, holds the longest stand
Sometimes it feels like I’m all that they’ve got
It’s so hard to know I’m not what they want

Don’t Everyone Cry At Once…But James Blunt Is Retiring.

In an interview with the UK’s Daily Mail, James Blunt has declared that the “I haven’t got any plans to do more songwriting. I have been chilling out since I finished my world tour and I’ve spent a lot of time in Ibiza, where I have a villa.” Alright then!

I will not lie. I bought James Blunt’s 2nd album. YES I DID. I am one of the few who can actually handle his voice…sometimes. Like, come on, “You’re Beautiful” is a good song when you haven’t heard it in 7 years. (Yeah, this came out in 2005.)

But I really do love “Carry You Home.” There is a time and place for everything, people. Let us memorialize him this day.

 

THE NEW TAYLOR SWIFT ALBUM!

Today was SUCH a good day. Whether you like Taylor or not, how fun is pop culture?! THE HYPE! THE EXCITEMENT! THE OVER-PUBLICIZING OF EVERYTHING! Today, I spent my lunch hour traversing across town to Target to purchase T-Swift’s DELUXE (Target exclusive) version of her new album Red. I also bought a red lipstick. FUN.

But I love it. I have already listened to the album multiple times. Let me give you my insight: I think A LOT of the album is about Jake Gyllenhaal. I think that Taylor REALLY loved him, and apparently he was a major ass to her. And at the same time, she is/has STRUGGLED to get over him. Some peeks into songs: He was a no-show for her birthday. (“The Moment I Knew.”) The song “All Too Well” is TOTALLY about him, and the fun time they spent together and how she “remembers it all too well.” She still loves him and wants to reach out, and he will still call, but she won’t answer because she knows it will lead to nowhere good. (“I Almost Do.”)

Some of my faves, besides the ones above:

“The Last Time” is a duet with Snow Patrol lead singer Gary Lightbody. It’s veryyy chill, and kind of sad.

“Starlight” is more upbeat, and positive about young love.

And “Everything Has Changed” is a duet with Ed Sheeran, and it’s a slower song about seeing a relationship gone bad.

In my opinion, the DELUXE version is worth it. It was $14.99 at Target. There are 6 extra tracks with some cool original demo cuts (“Red” is great!) which brings the total number of songs to 22. Did any of you guys buy the album? Thoughts?