A Very Lucky Girl

I've been listening to one of the greatest musical albums of all time for the past week. Backstreet's Back, FOR REAL THIS TIME. "In A World Like This" is lyrical genius. I'm especially fond of the following lines: In a world like this where some back down I know we're gonna make it. In a time like this where love comes 'round I know we gotta take it. In a world like this where people fall apart In a time like this where nothing comes from the heart In a world like this, I've got you.  The world mega sucked on Monday. The mailbox held some terrible surprises, just in time to stress me out in an already stressful week crammed with academia and employment woes. But I was reminded of the people who have me in a world like this. Grace perfectly timed a note to counter the awful mail, reminding me of those that care who aren't even in my same state. Tyler endured my ugly crying (what a trooper, so much snot) and the two Amys I recently ...

I have a giant girl crush on Cady Groves. Her voice, her personality, and her attractiveness are all 10s. I've followed her on Twitter since I created an account almost 2 years ago and every so often I'll send out a fruitless tweet just to let her know that I am one of her thousands of fans. She's never replied or acknowledged my fandom...until a few days ago. I was sitting outside of Starbucks, waiting for my friend to arrive, and scrolling aimlessly through my Twitter timeline. Kim K tweeted about pregnancy cravings, Amanda Bynes said something completely nonsensical, and I realized I'd been following Paris Hilton for almost 2 years. I immediately had feelings of self-loathing and rectified that little issue before thinking I hadn't tweeted Cady in a while. So I sent out a little call me maybe tweet. In the literal sense. "@cadygroves call me maybe? [insert actual number here] #please" Seconds later, I received a mention from Cady Groves. I'm no...

Delay isn't denial. It's often hard to accurately express what I'm feeling. I've been working at it. It's difficult to enunciate what I need from people. Something about putting musical notes to words makes them easier to understand and connect with.  Winter has come back again Feels like the season won't end My faith is dying tonight And I won't try to pretend I've got it all figured out That I don't have any doubts I've got a busted heart, I need You now. I'll show them I'm willing to fight And give them the best of my life So we can call this our home Lead me, cause I can't do this alone I got a front row seat To the longest wait And I just can't see Past the things I pray Today. I don't know, I don't know What tomorrow may hold But I know, but I know That You're holding it all So no matter what may come I'm gonna fix my eyes on all that You are 'Til every d...

I was doing laundry the other day and effectively procrastinating reading Chapter Six for Social Problems when I happened to notice the top 10 most played songs on my iTunes. I commenced furious blushing. WHY must Apple record every single play of my songs? Some of them I am proud of, letsbehonest. But Grove St. Party? Really? And TWO explicitly labeled hits? So THAT'S where the need for a swear jar comes in... Gavin DeGraw's "Not Over You." I wish I could say I played this 1,740 times because I really liked the musical quality. But no. I was a sucker for the lyrics last January when all boys were stupid. Taylor Swift's "Ours." "Don't you worry your pretty little mind, people throw rocks at things that shine" are words for any and every occasion so I am only mildly ashamed of the 1,734 plays. It's a bit excessive. Waka Flocka's "Grove St. Party." There are no words. Cady Groves' "Ugly." It could be argu...

The long wait is finally over and Taylor Swift has released her newest, fourth album, "Red." As opposed to, you know, yellow, green, or blue. Because obviously, "loving him was red." And so begins the frantic search to discover what each of her emotion-packed lyrical songs REALLY mean. We all know that Swift writes with a motive, outing past relationships in her chart-topping hits. Already, fans online are alive with speculation, grasping at small hints in each song to reveal its inspiration. So I followed suit, grabbed a pen and paper, and painstakingly picked out the capitalized letters in Swift's digital booklet that accompanies her album. Until I realized Google would make this process way easier: State of Grace: I love you doesn't count after goodbye Red: SAG Treacherous: Won't stop till it's over I Knew You Were Trouble: When you saw me dancing All Too Well: Maple Lattes 22: Ashley, Dianna, Claire, Selena I Almost Do: Wrote this instea...

One particular detail of the human memory fascinates me. The ability to commit hundreds of songs to memory, so much so that one can recall all 3 verses, the chorus, and the bridge of a track after hearing only a few musical notes. Tyler was mesmerized in awe (or maybe something akin to car wreck curiosity in standstill traffic?) as I nailed most of the words to Wiz Khalifa's "No Sleep" during a drive to OKC. It's unfortunate that my knowledge of every Taylor Swift song will not be able to help me with my next HES test. The endocrine system just doesn't have a catchy tune to commit various hormones to memory. Where's Miley Cyrus when you need her? Oh yeah, trying on wigs to cover up that monstrosity of a haircut. I'm going to have to get back to y'all; "Cruise" by Florida Georgia Line just appeared on iTunes shuffle and all of A Very Lucky Girl's focus is on belting out every single word since roommate is go---BABY YOU A SONG YOU...

Carly Rae Jepsen is my current musical obsession. It all started with "Call Me Maybe", which I covered  here . And by covered, I mean wrote about. My talents don't include excellent singing. Miss Jepsen is a genius for releasing only a single for a few months, making fans clamor for more and guaranteeing at least a success in that one song. "Call Me Maybe" launched Jepsen into stardom, and to a relatively high spot on my iTunes play count. 44 isn't too shabby. "Ours", by Taylor Swift, is hovering at second place on the list with 1,731 repetitions, but that's beside the point. When Carly Rae and Owl City collaborated, a "Good Time" was had by all (the duet eclipses "Call Me Maybe" with 259 plays). "Hands up if you're down to get down tonight" said the whitest people in pop music. But somehow it worked for them. Jepsen released her full album, "Kiss", 2 weeks ago and I have yet to take it off repeat...

So, as most of you know, I've been nannying for an 8 and 10 year old all summer. I ferry them all across town, from Frontier City to White Water Bay to Walmart for crafting supplies. So we spend some time in the car. And I am not one to drive in silence. I didn't want to expose them to 102.7 or 104.9 (the pop stations) or even 93.3 (the resident country station) so I've kept the radio tuned to 88.9 (KLOVE). I don't regret that decision for a single second. Not only does it keep them from learning songs like Usher's Scream , a song that I caught the neighbor boy singing in the house a few weeks ago that idolizes casual sex (in a really catchy upbeat way), but I could only hope that KLOVE has made an impression. And then something awesome happened a few weeks ago. We were driving home from a Walmart excursion and "Our God's Alive" by Andy Cherry was playing (one of my all-time favorites). I thought I heard someone talking in the backseat and held my br...

Carly Rae Jepsen became an overnight sensation with her hit song, "call me maybe" this summer.  Things I love about this song: 1.               The gentleman in the music video isn't hard to look at.  2.               It's catchy and perfect to jam to in your best friend's red jeep with the top off (the car's top. to be clear.) 3.               It's accurate. It's not that I've had lots of experience in handing out my number and wishing for calls, maybe. I think I've actually only done it once, on a dare. It was lunchtime at the mall food court and my friends and I were demolishing ChickfilA as only high school senior girls can do. There was a semi-attractive (at least from the back) male ordering food from the neighboring establishment. I am not a bold person, so they ...

Eric Church points out that it's "funny how a melody sounds like a memory." I couldn't agree more. There are certain songs that just take you back in time. Whether it's kicking and screaming, or willingly. For instance, Sadie Hawkins Dance by Relient k? I'm back in middle school with Sarah, screaming "do you like my sweeeatttterrrrrrr?" at the top of our lungs. Everytime We Touch by Cascada? Transported to carpools to Crabtree Mall with Marianne, Penel, and Astrid. Our Song by Taylor Swift summons images of Moriah and I interpretative dancing at our sweet 16 birthday party. I'm sure there are songs that touch you like that too. Probably in a more meaningful way than the ones I just described. Even just a few music notes can remind me that I'm A Very Lucky Girl. 

Someone once said that stupidity is doing something over and over again and expecting a different outcome. I'm pretty stupid sometimes. I make lots of mistakes. I disregard excellent advice from well-meaning friends. But I'm insanely stubborn, and something in my brain convinces me that this time, this time, I'll get it right. I'm an egotistical know-it-all and it frustrates me. I think that I can successfully sail through life alone. I SO can't. But I think I've finally learned (at least THIS lesson, I'm sure there are coming attractions/distractions). I'm also sure that my friends are skeptical in a "yeah, right, I've heard that before" way. Which they should be, I haven't backed up my declarations with action (or inaction might be more appropriate for the situation). But I'm resolute in this end. Finally. He didn't respect my words, why should I reward him with my valuable time? (he cut into some serious How I Met Your ...

September 2011, when I was feeling really discouraged about school and my pathetic life in general, my friend Nick introduced me to this song . Proud by The Icarus Account. First off, this was a complete music change from my typical Katy Perry and Taylor Swift playlists. And secondly, the chorus completely hit home. "The innocence we had could never last forever And I look at what I learned to play today; Do you think that I'll be famous someday? When you see me now,  I hope I make you proud" Because all I wanted to do was make people proud of me and I felt like I just kept disappointing them. I didn't know how to fix it.  Recently I've heard this refrain in my head, and it's bringing new thoughts that might be impossibly twisted. You tell me. I really struggle with pride. I like to be right, I like to be perfect, I like to have all the answers always. I hate to be wrong, I hate to make mistakes, I hate unknowns.  And pride has al...