As clumsy as you've been, there's no one laughing. You will be safe in here.

Our Lady Peace - Clumsy

One of the greatest feelings is when a certain song comes on the radio at the perfect time; it's especially great if you haven't heard the song in a while. That happened to me yesterday morning with this song.

Sadly, I was delayed in liking Our Lady Peace and I missed out on the excitement that a fan has when a new single or album is released. I used to find them kind of scary when I was little...must have been the music videos. But I got over it around the time they released One Man Army and realized their music is really friggin' awesome...meaningful, real and relatable. They don't make rock music like this anymore.
Just like with many other bands, I tend to listen to their music in waves; I'll go nuts with it and then forget about it. I like it that way though, because every once in a while I get to rediscover all their songs I love, and enjoy them just as much as I did when I first heard them.

Turning on the radio and immediately hearing Clumsy from beginning to end just made my morning.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xp2P6JKc1QE&ob=av2n

Can you feel it? We can escape and feel so free. If you believe it, it will be yours in a heartbeat.

Spencer & Hill and Nadia Ali - Believe It (Cazzette Remix)

Awesome club song. Perfect for dancing and possibly fist pumping in a big crowd of people. I know it's only Tuesday, but if you hear it now, you'll remember it for the next time you go out to party and unwind from a long week. If you haven't heard it before, please save it for a time when you can play it really loudly. Trust me, it's worth it. I love when the beat drops at 2:00. Too good. Thank you, Shazam!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5PfYX2q0cI

A far l'amore comincia tu

Bob Sinclar feat. Raffaella Carra - Far L'Amore

Today I took a break from my January playlist, and went back to my August playlist. I do that sometimes because older playlists take me back to another time, and I remember all of the things I associate with those songs. I had this song on my Europe playlist and didn't really start to like it until the last bit of the trip. It's funny how that happens; you could be indifferent about a song for quite a while and then hearing it at one moment in particular makes you love it forever. I remember hearing it in Paris while up on the Eiffel tower, looking at the city below. It was a bit after midnight and it was playing at a party on the river way below us, but we could hear it so clearly. How can you not love a song when you associate it with being in Paris? To be honest, I do think this track is hit or miss, but if you want to give it a fair try, the only way to play it is on real speakers. No laptop speakers or earbuds allowed. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMYfEFJVjCU

Twitter @stereoheartfm

But I never learned enough to listen to the voice that told me: Always love, hate will get you every time

Nada Surf - Always Love

I love songs that offer good advice. Here's one you can listen to when you're frustrated from the problems and decisions that come up all the time. It's got a nice positive vibe to it; suitable for the lyrics. We all feel overwhelmed at times; some more often than others. But it's important to take a step back and remember that most situations are only as big as you make them. Enjoy the track!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ulU08Se7Qs

Below is the scene from OTH where I first heard this song. In it, Lucas quotes Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Since it relates to the song's message and the scene's message, I thought I'd add it to this post: "Look not mournfully to the past; it comes not back again. Wisely improve the present; it is thine. Go forth to meet the shadowy future, without fear."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fULx2ghHhtI

Twitter @stereoheartfm

Slow down, this night's a perfect shade of dark blue. Have you ever been alone in a crowded room? Well, I'm here with you.

Jack's Mannequin - Dark Blue

So my best music source, One Tree Hill, is in its final season - 13 more episodes to go. Since that show has a special place in my heart, I may as well do an OTH tribute. Once a week until the Series Finale, I'll try and post one song I first heard on the show, and the scene that it played in. Even if you don't watch the show, you're still in for a treat, because the music from that show is wonderful. If you do watch the show, this will be a nice trip down memory lane, memories being in no particular order.

Here's a playful and energetic track, with some interesting lyrics. I'm going to stop myself from sounding ridiculous trying to analyze the lyrics, but I would say the gist is that it is easy to forget to how to stop and enjoy a moment among all the chaos that is life. Hope you love it like I do!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQOIJDE3RhA&ob=av2e

For you OTH viewers, the link below is the scene "Dark Blue" plays in. One of the best parts of OTH is the narratives. Whitey's words in this scene are just lovely, so I wanted to share some of them:

"...when you find yourself lost in the darkness of despair, remember it's only in the black of night you can see the stars, and those stars will lead you back home...Maybe you'll get everything you wished for, maybe you'll get more than you ever could imagine. Who knows where life will take you, the road is long, and in the end, the journey is the destination."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5kNiMQ0zs4

P.S. For blog updates, follow me on Twitter @stereoheartfm

And I don't even need your love, but you treat me like a stranger and it feels so rough.

Walk Off The Earth - Somebody That I Used To Know (Gotye Cover)

This post is for those who have not viewed the video that is the current YouTube craze: a 5-member cover band playing one guitar. It is a must-see. Due to its complex simplicity and the fact that it screams the word "talent" makes this the best cover song I have ever heard. The chorus vocals are my favourite part - what a voice...and what great emotion. This video has also drawn a lot of much-deserved attention to the original track by Gotye. It's funny because Gotye is a multi-instrumental musician and this cover has multiple musicians playing one instrument. I commend Gotye for an amazing track with strong and relatable lyrics; I do like the cover better though. I hope you enjoy this as much as I do (and the other 10 million people that have watched it). The best part is, at the end of the video, you hear one of them say "I think we got it."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9NF2edxy-M

Gonna take her for a ride on a big jet plane, hey hey.

Angus And Julia Stone - Big Jet Plane (Stern Disco Remix)

The original version of this song is lovely on its own, but add a little more beats and melody and it reaches a whole new level. It's pretty addictive; the type of song that can be on repeat for hours and still have a mesmerizing effect on the listener. Great for late-night cruising. Also a nice accompaniment to Sunday night blues. It can also be a soothing lullaby if you're having trouble sleeping. A versatile track!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eF8S7TfqFYU

New kicks give me cushion like whoopie, keep a smile like an Eat'n Park cookie

Mac Miller - Knock Knock

Since I heard this song on HBO's 24/7: The Road To The Winter Classic, I've been paying more attention to Mac Miller. I should have been listening to him earlier because he's super talented and I like his youthful swagger! I'm sure the fact that the Flyers use this track as a victory song made it catch my attention (Side note: I was rooting for the Rangers in the Winter Classic). Either way, it's a fun song that people of all music tastes can enjoy.
I've only recently come to really appreciate rappers; fitting in so many witty lyrics in the short time span of a song is not easy. And making sure they're audible makes it even more difficult. The thing about rap music is that the music has less of a role in the song; it's like a backdrop to the main attraction - the words. I love trying to figure out what's being said and noticing all the references and rhymes. Anyway, have fun with this one. Hope you keep it on repeat.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bMmhKz6KXg

Flyers jammin' out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3__p9j261g

So this is the new year, and I don't feel any different.

Death Cab For Cutie - The New Year


So this is the new year, and I don't feel any different.
The clanking of crystal, explosions off in the distance.
So this is the new year, and I have no resolutions for self-assigned penance, for problems with easy solutions.
So everybody put your best suit or dress on. Let's make believe that we are wealthy for just this once. Lighting firecrackers off on the front lawn, as thirty dialogues bleed into one.


The melancholy of this song has got me thinking. I don't think it's pessimistic; the music doesn't say pessimism. To me, it sounds more like an epiphany: "This is the new year...and it's insignificant." The lyrics perfectly describe how a lot of people, including myself, feel every January 1st. I think it's how anyone would feel if they didn't plan to change their mindset for the upcoming year, or set real resolutions that require effort to achieve. The celebrations are meaningful to those who want them to be. A new year represents what you want it to represent. Some use it as a starting point for new goals; a chance to make significant changes in themselves for the better. Some don't make any changes; they just await and look forward to the new experiences that will come their way. Others just consider it a change in what they write when they write down the date. What does the start of 2012 mean to you?


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSgHGFuPNus&ob=av2e