Ol’ Blue Eyes: The Legend of Frank Sinatra

Ever since I was enough to think for myself, my music tastes and overall thought processes was very much old-school. Some may even call me an old-soul. And to be perfectly, I will admit I am somewhat. But can you blame me, when the days of old-although filled with bleakness, racism, and real struggles- produced amazing artists and big bands and other creative types. One in particular, a born-in New Jerseyan, rocked the world with his powerful vocals. I’m talking about the one, the only, Francis Albert (Frank, for short) Sinatra. Almost everyone in the world knows who he is. He has won multiple musical awards for albums, records, and vocals. As an actor, he also won multiple awards for his roles in motion-pictures. He was the reason I started getting into musicals and singing, because I wanted to move people and have “the world on a string.” Sinatra could make masterworks of theatre composers of the period, like Jerome Kern, Irving Berlin, George Gershwin, Cole Porter, and Richard Rodgers, and reinvent it in a way that lead people to rediscover it and for the songs to become classics. Sinatra is known for his good lucks and heavenly voice, but like everyone else, he had a dark side. He was involved with the mob. However, how did this boy from New Jersey sky-rocket to becoming this world-wide sensation, transcending time even?!

Sinatra was born in Hoboken, New Jersey – a stone’s throw away from my own hometown, Harrison, NJ – on December 12, 1915. His parents, Italian immigrants, where interesting in their own right. His father, Savario Antonio Martino Sinatra was a Sicilian boxer, fireman, and bar/tavern owner. On the other hand, his mother, Natalia Della (Garaventa) – also known as Dolly– was from Northern Italy. She had a huge presence in local politics and her son’s life and career. As a kid in Hoboken, in the 1900s, he pushed to work hard to get a better life. However, after hearing Bing Crosby, Sinatra decided to drop out of school to pursue music his senior year of high school.

Sinatra started his career as a saloon singer, even carrying his own P.A. system around. He then become part of a band, The Hoboken Four. However, the group disbanded, and Sinatra was discovered by Harry James, a trumpeter, and then Sinatra was picked up by Tommy Dorsey. Dorsey inspired Sinatra to work on his breathing with Dorsey’s smooth trombone melodies. During this time, Sinatra realized he mastered both ballads and up-tempos, and he made/featured on his first huge body of work, with songs like “I’ll be seeing you,” and chart topper, “I’ll Never Smile again. ” With the Dorsey band, he also appeared on Las Vegas Nights (1941) and Ship Ahoy (1942).

In 1942 he began his solo career, although difficult for big-band singers on their own, he instantly found fame, and became the king of the bobbysoxers, aka the young women and girls who were his fans. He became the most popular singer of the era among teenage music listeners. He also came to be known as “Frankieboy,” “The Sultan of Swoon,” and, most popularly, “The Voice. His press agent, George Evans, decided to sell him as a street punk and thug, saved by his first wife, Nancy Barbato Sinatra. Frank Sinatra also began solo-acting in the 40s.

In April 1943, he made his first credited appearance in a motion picture, singing “Night and Day” in “Reveille with Beverly”. “Anchors Aweigh” was his big break. He starred in lead alongside Gene Kelly, one of the top actors of his time. Sinatra himself, was known as “One-Take Charlie” as he favored spontaneity and energy, over perfection, Sinatra was instinctive and best at playing parts that mirrored his own personality. He gave strong and memorable performances in such films as Guys and Dolls (1955), The Joker Is Wild (1957) and Some Came Running (1958). Guys and Dolls is one of my favorite musicals, and in middle school, we performed it and it was a blast. I played the part of the intimidating General Cartwright of the Mission – yeah, ’cause I’m scary. He played in various serious and non-serious movies and had quite a repertoire.

In the mid 1940s, reports of his friendships with organized-crime figures, and newspaper accounts exposed of Sinatra cavorting in Cuba with the likes of Lucky Luciano and Joe Fischetti, a prominent mob figure. There was also the widely reported incident and lawsuit in which Sinatra punched gossip columnist Lee Mortimer, an action for which Sinatra received some vindication in later years when it was revealed that Mortimer had collaborated with the FBI to discredit Sinatra. Whatever the cause, Sinatra began a five-year period of professional decline and personal depression. To add to his pain, the new Columbia Records president Mitch Miller cajoled Sinatra to record several banal novelty tunes that compromised his artistic credibility. In 1952 his Columbia recording contract came due and was not renewed, he was dropped by his talent agency, his network television show was canceled, and Sinatra was considered a has-been. Ironically, and despite Miller’s demands, several of Sinatra’s recordings from this period are now considered among his best, with shining examples such as “Mad About You,” “Nevertheless,” “Birth of the Blues,” and, especially, his 1951 recording of “I’m a Fool to Want You.”

In 1953 Sinatra’s musical style took a huge turn. He signed with Capitol Records which, in about 9 years time, issued a series of recordings widely regarded as his finest body of work. He is credited (probably not accurately) with inventing the “concept album”—an LP collection of songs built around a single theme or mood. However, he and Nelson Riddle was a match made-in-heaven. Almost all of the albums the Sinatra-Riddle team made for Capitol— “In the Wee Small Hours” (1955), “Songs for Swingin’ Lovers!” (1956), and “Only the Lonely” (1958)—are masterpieces. His voice had deepened and grown in power and no longer did he croon-whisper, as in the Columbia days. He attacked swing numbers with abandon and displayed his jazz influences with an uncanny sense of syncopation and an innate knowledge of “blue notes,” which he incorporated into the melody line. Two of his most praised recordings—“I’ve Got You Under My Skin” (1956) and “One for My Baby” (1958), both arranged by Riddle—showcase his varied approach to moods and tempos.

During the late 1950s and early ’60s, Sinatra frequently appeared on stage and in films with his close-knit band of friends known variously as “The Clan,” “The Summit,” or, most popularly, “The Rat Pack.” Peripheral members included actors Peter Lawford, Joey Bishop, and Shirley MacLaine and honorary member John F. Kennedy, but the core group was always Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Jr., and Dean Martin. The trio performed a largely ad-libbed act of boozy humour. It was also about this time that Sinatra generated more controversy for his connections with organized crime. His interactions with notorious individuals such as Sam Giancana damaged his fan base and jeopardized his political friendships. In 1960, at the request of Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr., Sinatra acted as a liaison between Giancana and the Kennedy family during John F. Kennedy’s presidential campaign, in order to ensure their votes – but after Kennedy’s war on crime, both parties cut ties with Sinatra. Sinatra continued to associate with mob figures throughout the years, saying “If you sing in joints, you’re gonna know the guys that run them”

Sinatra founded Reprise Records in 1960 and was allowed to record there simultaneously with his Capitol contract, which expired in 1962. During the early 1960s, Sinatra recorded furiously, releasing at least 14 albums of new material during the years 1961–63. His two 1960s masterpieces, “September of My Years” (1965) and the partnership with Brazilian songwriter Antônio Carlos Jobim, “Francis Albert Sinatra and Antonio Carlos Jobim” (1967), are among Sinatra’s greatest. He also had chart success during the decade with the hit singles “Strangers in the Night” (1966), “That’s Life” (1967), and “My Way” (1969). “My Way” being wildly recognized as his song and covered by many Sinatra fans.

He did say he would retire in 1971, but was back creating music again, during a shift in music tastes. His voice has grown increasingly gritty and coarse, from years of cigarettes and alcohol. His best albums towards the end, were volume one of the three-disc Trilogy (1980), the ballad collection She Shot Me Down (1981), and L.A. Is My Lady (1984), which featured an all-star orchestra. Duets (1993) and Duets II (1994), which paired Sinatra with several contemporary popular singers, were his last recordings. Sinatra also virtually retired from films during his later years. He concentrated instead on live performance and gave hundreds of international concerts from the late 1970s, with his final public performance in 1995. Even with multiple health issues, he still was a great entertainer, until the bitter end.

Sinatra changed the world, with his controversies and his voice and everything about him challenged the views about musicians and their limits. He was a musical genius and genuine entertainer. The 1,400+ recordings he made during more than 50 years as a performer are regarded as the most important body of work in American popular vocal music. Sinatra helped redefined singing as a means of personal expression. Through his life and his art, he transcended the status of mere icon to become one of the most recognizable symbols of American culture. He made music from days past relevant again and put a twist on them so they stay that way. He died May 14, 1998, in California, USA, due to bladder cancer, and heart and kidney disease. But, Frank Sinatra will keep singing and swinging on a star, as a one amazing legend who went from singing as waiter to the one of the most popular vocalists of all time.

You can check out his discography and music here.

You can check his filmography here.

For more in-depth biographies, check here, here, or here.

Artists on the Rise?- Nicholas Rosado and his band “The Reboots!”

So, when we were asked to interview an artist, I was excited. I had a good friend of mine who just so happened to be a musician. He was self taught, and had an amazing ear for music. One thing he cannot do, however, is read sheet music. But for someone in a band, that’s not a real big issue. When I sat down with him I wanted to figure more how being in a band is different, and yet similar to being a classical musician. However, I still wanted to focus on his experiences with his band and how they do what they love and balance life. Here is the interview of Nicholas Rosado, the guitarist and second vocalist for “The Reboots”.

What is the name of your band and your members?

Our band name is “The Reboots!”. And currently the concrete members of the band are Alex Miranda, and myself, Nicholas Rosado. We both play guitar and sing for the band. We also have a lot of friends and people we know come on for specific performances or recordings.

Oh wow, and well I know you both met at High Tech High School, but what’s the story behind that?

Yeah, we all met in high school, I wanted to do a performance for a school show (I had just transferred into High Tech in my junior year) and I had seen him perform earlier in a prior school performance. I already talked to him occasionally because he was in my English class, so I asked him if he wanted to help me perform a song for the upcoming school show. He said yes, helped me set up a performance, and from there on in, I became involved in the music scene in my school and I was able to meet a lot of people who were very helpful- we’re all thankful for that. From then on we decided to hang out more and play some more music, and eventually the idea of getting a group of people to play together and make original music- the band- formed. And from then on we’ve been together.

See I never knew that. So what kind of music do you guys make?

We play all sorts of genres, we try to keep our minds open. We’ve written songs that we consider range all the way from indie to punk rock to reggae. Primarily however, most of our songs would probably be considered Alternative/Indie Rock.

So, like, do you have a musical idol that pushed you to make that kind of music, and could you explain why?

This is difficult, but if I had to choose one I’d have to say Kurt Cobain was the guy who really made me pick up guitar again. Listening to his guitar riffs and just how raw and uninhibited his emotion was really struck me. His guitar was as much of a voice as his own mouth was, and together they could really scream. His (what many people would call “unconventional”) method of playing guitar was really powerful to me- how it was complicated but not complicated at the same time, how it broke away from traditional scales and expectations, and just how LOUD and emotional it all was. His style basically said to me “do whatever the f**K you want.” It made me realize a new dynamic to music I had not realized before. In terms of emotions, it was like his songs played a sort of emotional outlet for me, and myself, in search of something of the same, really clinged on to that. The first song I ever taught myself was a Nirvana song.

Do you play any other instrument other than guitar?

Primarily I play guitar, but I also can play bass, drums, and keyboard, I sing as well.

When and how did you ever teach yourself how to play the guitar though?

I first started out playing guitar when I was about 9, I played for a little less than a year and took lessons with a wonderful guy named Manuel. He couldn’t teach me after about a year and when he couldn’t teach me I stopped playing. I stopped playing for about 6 years. Then, when I was between 14 and 15, I started listening to more Rock n’ Roll, watching live performances, and listening to how the musicians actually made their music. When I started listening more and more, I asked myself “Why the hell did I stop playing guitar?” and from then on I began playing guitar seriously. Only thing is, this time I was all on my own. However, I taught myself more guitar in a month than I learned that whole year of lessons I did when I was younger. Not because Manuel was a bad teacher (he was an amazing teacher), but because now, I was completely invested in what I was doing and I fell in love with it. I started by teaching myself how to play along to some songs I really liked by watching other people play it. The learning evolved from simple songs to more and more complicated things as time went on, and here I am today, still learning, still practicing.

Wow wow good for you! That’s dedication. But how do you like the experience of being part of a band?

It’s difficult, and difficult to describe. It’s perhaps, “one of the hardest group projects one can do”. Being in a band is stressful, but fun and well rewarding. Especially since my bandmates are friends. When you are in a band you really need a synergy between everybody. Everyone in the band could be super great musicians but if you don’t have any synergy between people in the band you will sound terrible. People dance to music- but music itself is a dance. And just like dancing with a partner, the more you play with the same people, the better you get at knowing each others strengths and weaknesses, and evening it out on the field. It’s a team effort with us, and we strive to push each other towards improvement no matter what, through the bad times and the good times. For us, music really reflects a lot of our emotions and character, and things that affect us in our life, affects our music as well.

That’s great guys, so I’m guessing this, “synergy” helps “The Reboots!” play actual gigs?

Yes, we’ve played several gigs, and it does help a lot. We’ve played at bars, festivals, school shows, and on the street in “garage gigs”, where we play songs with an open garage door and just let people watch us as they go down the street. Sometimes people stop by and come to watch us.

How do those usually go?

There’s good gigs, bad gigs, alright gigs, and everything in between. It’s tough to judge whether something went objectively right or wrong- but there’s always an adrenaline rush to performance that sometimes turns to a level of comfort once things get rolling. We’re still quite new to songwriting, covering, and performance. It’s almost like riding on a really fun roller coaster that you want to ride on again and again and again. Feeding off of the audience’s reaction is really great.

Ok, so what is your favorite performance to date?

My favorite performance was probably our performance for a Jersey City Festival on Grove Street. Simply because it was probably our largest crowd we had ever played, getting everything set up for this show in particular was extremely stressful- but once we got things rolling seeing little kids dance to our original song and having such a crowd applaud us and ask for an encore was a really really uplifting and sort of “high” feeling.

In the midst of all the actual work/gigs and practice, do you have chill jam sessions where you just unwind?

Yes, a lot of times really, that’s how we even make some of our songs.

Do they do anything else, other then help make songs, those jam sessions?

They go really well, they’re extremely fun for us and our improvisation has improved immensely because of it. Sometimes we do this exercise where we play a certain instrument for a set amount of time and then we switch instruments with all our band members so that we are all playing different instruments, and we do this over and over again until we rotate throughout the whole band.

Ooo, so, do you have a favorite bandmate? And who if so?

Well, that’s a secret.

Aww, boo, you’re no fun. Well, do you ever have any issues with any bandmates?

Well, that’s also a secret. Issues arise up often in regards to lots of things. Song direction, lyric selection, how we should play this, should we play that? How should we produce this? How should the settings be for this? Hell, even band direction as a whole. However we usually deal with it rationally and in a civil manner. If there’s a division, usually we take votes. On the occasion that a full on argument begins, we usually discuss it out in the open and, once things calm down, address whatever situation may have happened. We try to be completely and utterly honest with each other and not leave anything left unsaid. We’ve had people leave the band because they had other interests and we’ve had to drop some people who wouldn’t show up to practice or would neglect things that as a result, would hold us back as a band.

Does all that take a toll on your love of music?

I love playing music, I will admit- playing the same song for 5 hours straight just to get that song down or that perfect recording done can be really tiresome, but that’s part of the process. In the end, songs can evolve from what it begins as, and playing it allows you to see how you can mold it in clearer ways for us. I don’t mind playing the same song everyday, especially if it makes other people happy.

Ok, because I already know the answer, but love it, I have to ask, do “The Reboots” have a logo? And how did you guys ever come up with that?

Yes, it is a old fat television screen with our name in the middle like if it was your grandpops favorite evening broadcast. The antennas on top of the television are eyeballs, one is open normally and the other one is dazed like a swirled lollipop. Funnily enough, it was a joke for a project for my Rock n’ Roll Ethnomusicology Class, we had to come up with an idea for a band, logo, and name. I drew it up on a poster board with the name “The Reboots!” In a sort of ironic way because it sounded cheesy, and implied we played some sort of music in the past. I showed Alex my drawing as a joke because I thought it was so sh*tty and he liked it almost immediately- we started showing other people the logo and name and although it was admittedly eccentric, and kinda cheesy, it was oddly charming. From that day on we were officially “The Reboots!” And we used that logo for our band ever since.

So, that was just a short little peak inside Nick’s band, “The Reboots!” Although they have not released anything, if you ever want to contact them for booking them for a gig, let us know! That will be greatly appreciated from them. And we can see, being in a band offers a lot more freedom for creativity and technicalities than classical musicians, but it takes just the same amount of time, practice and dedication. “The Reboots!” hope to make it big one day, but for now they do what they love, with people they can have fun with. And I think that is the best part of being in a band.

Garage Rock- not a company that sells distressed clothes

What is Garage Rock? It is decidedly not the clothing company “Garage,” which sells distressed clothing for aesthetics sake. Real garage bands are a staple of the musical industry. It defines the backbone of many mainstream artists of old and has various branches. One such branch, or scene, is Garage Rock. Rock by itself is also a huge popular scene, but Garage Rock also has its own huge following. It is more raw form of the classical rock and roll created by various American bands in the 60s. it was created as a way to combat the British “invasion,” aka the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and the Kinks. There was a revival in the 80-90s and since then Garage Rock has always had a lively following.

The 60s where the pinnacle of Garage Rock music. The Brits where invading American music, and so, American teenagers took it upon themselves to create bands and travel coast to coast creating this Anti-British movement, which in turn created a whole new music scene and genre. As the landscape all around America was quickly changing to suburban living, it provided the garages out of which bands could practice and even perform for a passing audience. These bands didn’t have much, but they did the most with all they had. What they lacked in experience, training, and equipment, they made up for by the power and rawness of their talent. However, for each successful group we discuss and listen to today, there are thousands that didn’t make it.

The first group that really made an impact on garage rock is, ironically, an English band called, originally the Troglodytes, and then shortened to Troggs as stated in the article. They began in Hampshire, England in the UK in 1964. They were composed of four people, Reg Presley as lead vocals, Chris Britton on guitar, Ronnie Bond on drums, and Pete Staples on bass. The band’s most famous song, and the one that almost all garage rock artists look back on, was “Wild Thing.” The song was released in 1965, and its popularity rates was helped due to the television appearance on “Thank Your Lucky Stars.” The song reached number 2 in the UK and number 1 in the US. Its flirty sexual lyrics and a simple guitar riff, plus the song’s catchiness made it into a garage rock standard, and they even influenced the Jimi Hendrix Experience.

The next group is a group that helped to reintroduce garage rock into main-stream music in the 21st century. The White Stripes are a staple American, Detroit duo, created in 1997, who have created a name for themselves by being weird. They had begun as a high school senior and a waitress at a restaurant, struck up a friendship, and in the midst of playing with various bands, they fell in love with one another. The duo, once successful, was often regaled as the early 2000s garage rock kings. They used limits on instruments and color scheme, allowing for their creativity and musical talent to shine through. Jack and Meg White (married and divorced, with Jack taking and keeping Meg’s last name) had a unique, mystique feel to their band. Laden in controversy, with the pair claiming they were siblings rather than married, helped them stay in the news and be relevant. Meg’s on-beat, minimalistic style of drumming paired with Jack’s vocals and “freewheeling guitar” complemented each other perfectly. Their song, which thousands of people know, “Seven Nation Army,” won a Grammy for best rock song, and even became a staple at sporting events. It has such a catchy beat and the lyrics are wonderfully poignant. Almost everyone can recognize the song by the opening notes.

Finally, the most recent iteration of garage rock is found in the Black Keys. The Black Keys is an American rock group/duo/band formed in Akron, Ohio in 2001. Dan Auerbach is on guitar and the vocals, while Patrick Carney is on drums. The group began as a duo, creating and producing their own music, but now have become one of the most popular garage rock bands in this second wave revival of the 2010s. Their song “Howlin’ For You” was a little nod to Auerbach’s blues influence, Howlin’ Wolf. The song is has a background clap/stomp rhythm that just hooks the audience and makes you want to sing along. It also is very similar to how “We Will Rock You” has a beat that is unforgettable and easy to replicate. Its a fun song and makes anyone feel more powerful.

All these songs are in the Garage Rock scene, and you can see their similarities. They all are dark, and grungy, yet still have a youthful fun feeling. They do feel somewhat unsophisticated, and like its name, based in a garage- band, but I think that is the joy of it. It isn’t polished, and it can be aggressive, but it’s back to musicians doing it themselves and having basic chords with distorted sounds. Basically, they are that clothing company, Garage, in the sense that young people can truly vibe with Garage Rock, even if some are posers. And that was the whole point of the movement. It was to stop the spread of British bands, who did help shape garage rock, but also establish music for the younger generations to listen to, other than pure rock and roll. It was made to be “cool” and “hip” and somehow, it still is. I personally think its because people love to let their “wild, bad boy/girl” personas out and just embrace that dark side. And these songs do a great job of making it feel like it something cool and not something to be ashamed or embarrassed of. I love all these songs, and truthfully I didn’t think I really had a music scene I was in. Now, I know, I’m definitely into more Garage Rock music and songs like this. Who doesn’t want to feel powerful and “bad”, even just for pretend?

Willow: The Most Calming Folk Song Ever

Exam season just finished, and yet, somehow I am more stressed than ever. Especially now as we are getting our grades back and warning letters are being sent out. It really doesn’t help lessen the stress students feel regularly. To stop myself from spiraling down a dark hole, considering how I am far from the grades I want to have, I listen to a lot more calming and folksy music. Though folk music gets a bad reputation, there are some songs that really help mellow a person out, and is pretty to listen to as well. A personal favorite artist of mine is Jasmine Thompson.

Jasmine Thompson is known for her emotional and being full of feeling. Her voice sounds pure and even for a 17 year old, she sings with years of experience and talent. Her mother is Chinese and her father is English, and she grew up living in a low-income household in Central London. She turned to music in rough times, as her father fell to alcoholism, splitting the marriage. Although her parents were not musical, her brother helped her discover her sound and how to play piano and bass. She even ended up attending a performing arts high school. Since then, she’s made a name for herself on YouTube at only 13 years old. Jasmine has worked with high-profile artists such as Meghan Trainor, Julia Michaels, and more. Other people also praised her vocal talents, such as Aviici and Passenger. Nowadays, she sings covers and her own material and has loyal following. In 2013, she had released her first EP, titled “Under the Willow Tree.” This song has some great sounds and lyrics that just feel like a nice warm hug. You can listen to the song below.

“Willow” is my favorite song of hers, as she has a great airy, sharp, and angelic quality to her voice in this song. She accents and articulates her lyrics, which gives it a more clear and folksy sound. The song is in the tempo of a 3/4 waltz, and she wrote the song based on a fairytale by Hans Christian Anderson named, “Under the Willow Tree.” The song has her and the piano with synthesizers and some sort of drum shaker. However, the real star are her vocals. Somehow, she manages to be light and breezy while she spins this tale of a man and a women and a willow. The song being in a 3/4 waltz, mixed with her heavenly vocals, with the synthesizers, create a mystical and vivid image of this fairytale.

The lyrics are also a huge component of the song. The song discusses a man and his wife’s journey, people hypothesize, to having a child. The lyrics of the first verse below describe how they “plant a seed” which is the seed of a child.

He and his wife, once lived happily
Planted a seed, that grew through the reeds

The story continues with them “craving” names into the child, otherwise known as naming a child. It also mentions how if the husband had said something out loud, they would have been able to rekindle the love. This could be about comforting the wife about the baby miscarrying.

Mr. & Mrs., dreamed of a willow
Carving their names, into their willow
If he had spoken, love would return
Spoken inside, too soft to be heard

The next verse discusses how the there should be hope the sun always comes and they will be able to find their “willow,” aka child.

Somewhere the timing will all come together
The mishaps will turn into sunny Decembers
The lovers will be able to find their willow

The repeated verse of “Summers and winters, through snowy Decembers/Sat by the water close to the embers/Missing out the lives that they once had before” explains how they gave up their personal lives for this child. The chorus “I wouldn’t leave you/I would hold you/When the last day comes/What if you need me/Won’t you hold me/On the last day, our last day,” describes how their love for their child and for one another will never fade away.

The song transports you away from your petty issues and stressful situations. It also spins a tale of a married couples parenthood journey. It lets you slip into a world of whimsy and a heavenly soothing voice serenading you. You really should check her other music out on YouTube. Jasmine Thompson is an amazing vocalist and songwriter.

My Daily Feel-Good Jams

My playlist is a compilation of music I like, in a way that I feel flows the best. There’s various different types of genres and styles. I feel like these are the songs I could never grow tired of even after listening to them over and over again. They make me feel more cheerful after a rainy day, make me pumped to face the day’s challenges, and they help me to focus, or not focus, depending on the day. They are essential to me, and can be described as a small window into me and my life. Without these songs, I would probably not function as well. They go from songs I listen to in the morning, to afternoon, to the evening, to keep me going through a long day of classes. All the songs I have honestly found through sheer dumb luck, or through Pandora’s algorithm of related music. If you want to check out the artist(s) or the album, the hyperlink will direct you to their pages or their music. You can check the full playlist here (if you wish to listen as you read) or at the bottom of the page. I hope you enjoy the new/old music!

1- Banana Pancakes by Jack Johnson – In Between Dreams

This song is a nice segue into my personal playlist, as it starts of nice and sweet. This song I found in my “Easy Listening Radio” in Pandora, and it is very easy to listen to. It’s a soft, simple song that is relaxing and easy. As a soft rock song, it soothes the soul with its intimacy, as this article states, as it is purely him and his guitar, and a few backup vocals/instruments. The song , while getting you to feel refreshed and ready for the day with the melody, is also a lovely, lazy song about having a nice day in bed with its lyrics and tune. Although, it is ideal for couples, the song can resonate with anyone who feels like not getting out of bed and just relaxing. This song always helps me calm down and feel better about anything.

2- Not For The Better by Us the Duo – Just Love

This is another love song, however, it can still relate to anyone who knows the struggle of an overbearing friend or family. Its a great affirmer of being unsure about yourself and finding yourself with respect to other people. They are a very fun couple, with a folksy pop sound, that is very catchy and easy to start grooving to. It helps me just accept myself and how much I have changed in the short amount of time I’ve been alive and how people have shaped me into myself. The melody is slow and steady yet as it picks up it is a great follow-up to Johnson’s smooth, morning-snooze jam. Somehow, it had shown up in my “Broadway Showtunes Radio” on Pandora, but now listening to how they tell stories, and their voices are so expressive, it makes much more sense.

3- Gold Dust by Galantis – Gold Dust (Single)

The next song in my playlist is an electro-pop/progressive style of music, that starts of well and smooth, and even pretty. It starts to pick up getting into those synthetic beats that make you sway and feel reenergized for either the rest of the day or for any event. It has a slight beat drop, which is nice to continue that “morning” vibe, while steadily moving on to more midday and afternoon “hype” song. I found this song while listening to “Dance Cardio Radio,” as their other music is pretty upbeat and fast.

4- Rockin’ Robin by The Jackson 5 – 1972

Oh, the Jackson 5. What could be a better song for high noon, walking, or strutting along to this song, between campuses and classes? Its a fun song that always puts a smile on my face. This song of course, could be found in the “Oldies Radio,” as it a gosh darn classic, and you are lying to yourself if you at least don’t know the group, even though the song is highly recognized as well. Back when the Jacksons where a family group and half-prepubescent, was when they had the most fun, I feel. Although they may have felt pressures backstage, they owned the audience and the stage they were on. They had so much fun performing this piece. And who wouldn’t? It is a clean wholesome, fun rock and roll bop that gets you humming and tapping along.

5- I’m So Sorry by Imagine Dragons – Smoke + Mirrors

This is where we move from the soft sound of the morning really fades away, as I want to stay pumped and focused during the long, stretching hours in the middle of the day. The song itself is rumored to be an actual apology to front man Dan Reynold’s family, for taking so much time to create his music. Its an emotional and hard-hitting song, that really makes you want to get up and face your fears, whether that be an exam in your next class, or apologizing for a wrong. I just feel I can face anything with this song blasting in my headphones. This was a song found in “Today’s Hits,” when it had first been released.

6- Man Like That by Gin Wigmore – Man Like That (Single)

Now, this song, I absolutely adore. I found it somehow, someway in the “Dance Cardio Radio.” It is an absolute power song and she has such control and rasp, harkening back to singers like Amy Winehouse. In the song she catches her man cheating, and asks for her wedding ring back, and basically warns the other women, that he is a serial cheater:

But the pretty lil’ thing lying there beside you
Better take off my wedding ring
Hey, girl, do you really wanna do this
You don’t know what you’re stepping in
He’s got more where that came from
You’re not so special in the end

And then she goes on to say she’s going to mess up his place and kick his door down!?! I know there are many songs that discuss revenge on cheaters, but none really do it as Gin can, with a mix of grace and utter rage. This song helps me get over myself and thank god I don’t have to worry about that sort of betrayal, but its also nice to know she has the other woman’s back as well, warning her of the cheater. Its the perfect song to end the afternoon on a high.

7- Death Of A Bachelor by Panic! At the Disco – Death of Bachelor

Panic! At the Disco had always been on various of my radios, however, it wasn’t until I got to high school I really got into them, probably because in those dark ages, they seemed to make the most sense to me. All their music is absolutely amazing, and they cover various genres. Death of A Bachelor is more down-low, and pays respects to Urie’s love of Sinatra and sounds like it can fit into that big band era, albeit a few synth beats that round out the background. It is a good way to start winding down towards the evening, a smooth, yet upbeat song. The song has gorgeous vocals and melody to boot, it really is no wonder why I feel this is my favorite song from Panic! And as Urie says, the song is a good way to say “goodbye” to the old you, as it is the “death” of a person. So, at the end of the day, you shed the you of that day, to “die” and be “reborn anew” the next morning, if you want to get technical. But the message of changing yourself and looking back objectively can help many people.

8- Trndsttr (Feat. M. Maggie) (Lucian Remix) by Black Coast– Trndsttr (Lucian Remix) (Single)

This song goes back into the electro-pop genre, so it makes sense I listened to this and “Gold Dust” in the same station. The song has many repetitive sounds and beats, but somehow it still works, and its still catchy. It is a bit heavy on the synth and sound effects, but it creates a nice ethereal feel to the overall song. It moves relatively slower than some other of the songs on the list, albeit still has a good, groovy beat. However, it helps slowly calm me down after a long day, and reminds me I am a trendsetter and you can be one too.

9- Love Potion No.9 by The Searchers – Meet The Searchers

This is another oldies song, that I usually listen to while doing the normal nighttime routine. I would be brushing my teeth and just be dancing along to this song. Its such a nice chill song. The song itself discusses how a man wanted to get a love potion from a witch, who ended up scamming the poor man, who incidentally kissed everyone he saw. It’s a very cutesy song, and doesn’t have much meaning. The Searchers covered the song from the Clovers, but I prefer them, as I feel their voices just meld together more, and the arrangement was smoother. This is the song that I can pretend I’m the tricky witch, the poor fool, or the women it was all for, and it really is a lot of fun to boost my mood, just acting out this whole situation.

10- City of Stars by Gavin James– City of Stars (Single)

Finally, we come to the end of the day. This song is actually from a great movie musical, La La Land, except, it is another cover. Its a beautifully done arrangement, and James’s voice is the perfect melodic, angelic sound to fall into a rich, deep slumber. It is a stripped down version and makes it feel more intimate and personal. I feel perfectly at peace and safe listening to this song, especially coming from the city, and being stuck in a dorm where the city lights are far away. This song helps me remember and feel more comfortable anywhere I go. It is the perfect end to a stressful day.

These songs help me get by on a day to day basis. And the beautiful thing is, I don’t have to listen to them everyday! I can pick and choose based on how I feel a certain day. That’s the best part about music, it is always there and you can choose what you listen to. Through this playlist, you can see how I mainly get my energy and my drive from. Which is to say, music. Even as I type this, I have something playing in my ear. Although it may not completely register, I still have something to direct unwanted thoughts and smother them, which is what I feel music and other media outlets do. They allow you to shut off parts of your brain and thought process you don’t need to help relax, focus, etc. I find these songs do the best job. I need to listen to at least one of these a day. I hope you find a song too, everyone should have at least one song that can lift them up from the darkest corners of their own mind, as aftercall, we are often our own worst enemies.

Check out all the music here:

Rutgers Club DM: A Sea of Sweaty Bodies

In the beginning of the month, I attended a “welcome days” event for all new students, called Club DM. It was sponsored by Major Events and Programs, and hosted by the Dance Marathon group. Tickets were $10, which is smart, considering there is a huge number of freshmen who love to party and get that quintessential college experience. I, of course, being a good Nepali daughter, wanted to party, but without alcohol, which many other people can relate too, either by religion, race, or plain old strict parents. So, Club DM was the perfect compromise for people like us, and of course the traditional party-goers either pre-gamed, or went out afterwards, seeking to continue the party. My friend and I paid the $10 at the door for a night of nonstop dance. However, was it worth it? I’m still not entirely sure, and for another question, why is the “club” or “college experience” such a big deal with young people of every generation?

The only difference between a real club and Club DM, honestly, is the absence of alcohol and drugs being sold on the premise, at least that’s what I believe, because as I said, I am a good Nepali child and have never been to any sort of party before. I personally, I have never seen the point of going to any sort of college event. However, I decided to go to Club DM, because at some point, you just succumb to the “herd mentality”. The herd mentality, as defined by the article, is “a natural desire to be part of the ‘in crowd’ could damage our ability to make the right decisions.” Even someone like me, who was raised as a good Asian child, and likes to think of herself as someone who stands apart from the crowd, I still fall victim to this mentality.

And so do so many other people like me. Club DM was a perfect way to appease our curiosity of college life, without being overtly wild. It also was well put together, with an overtly energetic MC and alright DJs, although I wouldn’t say I am the best judge of DJs. The MC had high energy throughout the night, and really tried to be interactive with us. Of course that made the night more fun, but sometimes we just wanted to relax, and he would keep telling to get down, and then up, and then up and down and again and again or jump and keep jumping. After hours on hours of standing up and dancing, we were all tired and drenched in sweat. The videos below showcase some of the MC’s crazy energy.

The actual music was pretty entertaining. Of course there was standard Electro-Pop music being played, which isn’t bad for the masses who just want to party, however although I love a good “Freaks” and “Lone Digger” but I also have various areas of interest other than simple electronic pop. It lacked in a lot of music I find more entertaining, but to be fair it was meant to replicate any normal club, of course minus substances. It was a great time if you enjoy dancing to synthetic beats and noise. The DJ mixed Hispanic music into the playlist and well, that caused many to hoot and holler. BUT what I honestly enjoyed the most was just the feeling of the pounding bass line and overwhelming thudding of the stereos. I love to be “transported” by a media, either a good novel, good music, and a good movie or show. And the whole environment, of pounding drum beats, jumping feet, overloads your system, allowing you to just BE. The videos below allow you to experience it somewhat.

The one thing I absolutely hated however, was the fact there was so many people. And we all know how teenagers are. Let’s just be frank, they are horny and think they are all that. Unfortunate, I know. But it’s the way of life for my age group. We like to “escape” and have fun. At least in our own words. In the words of Seth Schwartz:

“Risky behaviors are a form of identity exploration for some emerging adults who are looking to experiment with possible life paths and relationships, but these behaviors are often a mode of escape for young people who are unable to compete in an increasingly difficult and complex world.“

Today’s younger generations, the millennials and the Gen Z (you can learn more about them here) have an inherent need to escape our dismal reality. And that’s what a good party does. So, yes, there were people grinding on one another, enough to start a fire. I got smacked in the face with multiple ponytails and hair dripping in sweat. One of my other friends even got someone’s sweat into their eyes. EW! There were people trying to get onto the stage, and pushing towards to the front so the camera man can get their sweat dripped faces on the “Big Screen.” People were mosh-pitting, or at least trying to. Girls and boys alike were on top of each others shoulders, dancing, swinging around sweat-soaked shirts (see below video). There was so much body parts on body parts, and overall, it was a huge stew of disgusting teenage hormones, sweat, and hair. Lots and lots of hair…in my face…because I’m directly at hair height, or underarm height…BODY ODOR GALORE. Ahhh, fun times. People just letting loose and letting go of themselves into the music.

My first and most likely only live concert was not all bad. The music was fun, and it was a great escape from high school, parents, and old Asian rules, but a good balance, as it didn’t offer any substances. The MC however, made my legs numb by the end of night, with all the jumping and whatnot. The music wasn’t terrible, but for my experience, it was a lot of fun and I liked most of the music the DJ played. It was a huge sea of human bodies mixing and moving, losing themselves in the music. Especially when towards the end, we went back to “classics” like good old, “Party In the USA.” Which of course, made people go crazy. Club DM was a lot of fun, but I was dead tired the next day, and I had lost my voice almost completely. It was a great college experience, and way to “shed” our old high school selves and just live in the moment.

Pray for Panic! A Deep Dive into Urie’s Mind

“Panic! At the Disco,” has been a very thought provoking band since their inception in 2004. Since then, they have gathered a cult following of young females who obsess over the band’s frontrunner, Brendon Urie. In the beginning, there was also Ryan Ross (guitar), Spencer Smith (drums), and Brent Wilson (bassist). Slowly, for various reasons, they began to quit the band one by one. In 2015, Urie became the only official member. However, Brendon has been able to keep the band’s name alive and fresh, with new songs, and the hidden storyline of certain songs, especially as he pours his whole self into the music, and almost each track in his 2018 album. Urie gives us a peek into the mind of a musician dealing with serious issues.

Panic! At the Disco was hailed as one of the emo pop greats of the 2000s. Throughout the times, their music has ranged from various genres, such as electronica, rock, dance, punk, and indie/emo pop. With Urie being the last surviving member, the band and its sound rests on his shoulders. And boy, does he deliver! The newest album, “Pray for the Wicked,” keeps with the Panic! creedo of a mix of different musical styles, in a way that somehow always works and still delivers a message.

Image result for panic at the disco pray for the wicked

The first song in the album, Pray for the Wicked, starts off with a bang, almost literally. The track is called, “(Fuck a) Silver Lining” and has a catchy, fast-paced, upbeat tune, and relatively simple lyrics. However, it fits into this album’s deeper meaning of Urie’s issues with the superstardom lifestyle. The album begins with this notion that nothing is ever enough, and that people should reach past the silver lining, and could be interpreted as Urie’s never ending thirst for satisfaction. The lyrics “It’s just cherries, cherries. Everything is cherries on top” refers to how in stardom, anything and everything you do adds to your fame, whether it be bad or good.

The second song in the album is “Say Amen (Saturday Night)” is wildly considered to be the prequel to a trilogy of a hidden storyline throughout Panic!’s inception. “Say Amen” is said to explain the mythology of the story. An extremely catchy song, with a music video to match, it is easily the favorite out of the whole album, also inserting the title of the album in the lyrics, “I pray for the wicked on the weekend“. The lyrics tell Brendon’s story of being bored with the people he hangs around with, and he has been waiting for someone to come and take him away, but no one came, and that everyone around him has changed. That relates to how as he grew, people changed their personalities and he wishes he could just disappear with true friends, until he finally says he “can’t change into a person I don’t wanna be.” The, “mama say another amen,” harkens back to his childhood hero, and his time as a Mormon. The story plot itself envisions a young successful man waiting for his date and then under attack by armed men, to fend them all off, only to succumb to betrayal by his date, and in the last scene we see her take a certain key- also discussed as a news report in the video-and then you hear the sound of a heartbeat, that lead many fans to believe it then goes into “This is Gospel,” where the heartbeats are heard in the beginning of the story. Fans believe “The Emperor’s New Clothes” is the last in the trilogy, at least for now. And we fans can’t wait for the next installment. To check out the story line so far, watch the playlist below:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLn2UCOlAVUq1mrL3kt_o8t8eTwWh5eZZ9

Following “Say Amen,” “Hey Look Ma, I made it” also features Urie mentioning his mother in his music. Either done consciously as a thank you note to his mother, or a stylistic choice, most of the music on this album has references to his mother. This song’s music video was trippy, with the use of a puppet to depict Brendon’s rise and fall in the industry. This is a very emotional track, as we literally hear and see his tumultuous journey. He discusses how he was used by his label to create sellable songs, fake and true friends, and he again references his history as a Mormon, with “/In the garden of evil/I’m gonna be the greatest/In a golden cathedral/I’ll be praying for the faithless/And if you lose, boo hoo.” The video itself shows the puppet slowly diving into drugs, partying, sex, and alcohol, visibly looking more beaten up and unwell, and the angry side of him while he was drunk and high, where he fights the paparazzi, who make it into a story. In the end, he gathers himself and rises once more, but in the end he still was tossed aside in a pile of puppets, supposedly by the label or society. This track was a real look into his life, mental health, and the music industry, and still managed to have a happy upbeat and catchy tune.

This next song turns the tune right around, being more hopeful and looking ahead. It’s titled “High Hopes” and follows how he keeps shooting for the stars, and how even in his darkest days, he kept looking forward. This track, more than the others, is a love letter to his mother, as she is mentioned helping to raise him up, and tell him to keep going and hold his head high and “Burn your biographies/Rewrite your history.” It is a fitting follow-up to the heavy, “Hey Look Ma, I made it.” It also helps that Urie’s vocals really shine through and is a great song to hype you up before a big exam or presentation or almost any huge event.

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“Roaring 20s” starts to turn back into Urie’s dark days, as it literally discusses his twenties, and the drugs he took during those times. This song especially calls out the industry, with lyrics such as, “Broadway is black like a sinkhole//Strange situations, I get anxious/Maybe I’ll smile a bit, maybe the opposite/But pray that they don’t call me thankless//Oscars and Emmy’s and Grammy’s/Everyone here is a trophy.” He denounces Broadway and Award Shows, and how he has to act around fans, even though he feels uncomfortable, but still wants them to like him. The song itself is reminiscent of “Death of A Bachelor,” in the sense of Brendon’s unique talent of creating era-stylized music and really captures the spirit of the 1920s.

See the source image

Moving on, the next song, “Dancing’s Not a Crime,” is a bit of a departure from the album, as it is a very dancy tune. However, some theorize it was meant for his wife, Sarah Orzechowski. That is due to the suggestive lyrics of ,”Dancing, dancing, dancing’s not a crime/Unless you do it without me,” essentially saying that if this person dances without him, they are committing a crime. Following this song is “One of the Drunks” which delves back into the world of alcohol and is more serious and on a lower note, both musically and emotionally, and mentions religion as he references the Holy Spirit. From there, “The Overpass,” “King of the Clouds,” and “Old Fashioned,” all discuss the escape he craves, induced by either sex, drugs, or drinking, in that order. They also all showcase different aspects of his vocal range, with a vast range going from high to low, then somewhat of a fast paced lyrical rap, and then a more modern, synth based beat.

Finally, the last song is a love letter to LA, a ballad for his dear town. It discusses how he felt when he was in LA and how there are “stars are on the ground” literally talking about the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He also mentions the power of LA and how you can feel the riches around you, and how everyone there is also a dreamer like himself. This song was a good end to this rollercoaster of an album, with him spilling his soul out into a single album. As a fan of Panic!, I absolutely love this album and feel honored he chose to share his story. I hope he keeps creating great music in the name of Panic! At the Disco.

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Storytelling: Has a Dying Musical Style Paved the Way for Musical Activism?

I just love storytelling. I write music to tell stories. So when I’m done writing a song, I take it and go, ‘Okay. How can I interpret these lyrics differently?’ I love taking lyrics that were so close to me at a certain point in my life and then revamping them. I always want to take things to the next level. – Hayley Kiyoko (American singer, songwriter, actress, dancer, and director)

Trends always come back around…

In all of today’s media forms, an old popular trend seems to always make a comeback. Vintage-style fashion became a big thing with celebrities, like the Kardashians with tiny sunglasses and Selena Gomez with 80s era ruffles and sequins. Stealing looks from the 1990s and other bygone eras has become a standard 2018 fashion choice. And honestly, I personally love the vintage 50s look, and I can appreciate a stellar pair of bell-bottom jeans. Meanwhile, video game producers turn back to pixelated games, and art typically varies between past and present styles. For music, the old way of actually telling a real story, either by the lyrics or the visuals, returns full force, often addressing multiple contemporary issues.

In the past, the majority of music focused on the world around the artist, or actually conveyed a storyline. Take Chuck Berry for example. One of the most influential rock and roll performers in history. His music transcended racial bigotry of the 1950s to reach the top charts for being purely relatable entertainment in the form of lyrical mastery and catchy tunes. “Johnny B. Goode” has often been stated to be about Berry’s early enthusiasm in the spotlight and the feedback he received from the world.

However music like this and artists like Berry, The Andrews Sisters (a majorly successful war-time female group #GRLPWR), and The Temptations (a powerhouse Motown 60s group), have become part of days long past. And although people like me still listen to these legendary talents, people have since moved on. Since the late 1980s to around 2010, music consisted of repetitive lyrics, lack of a rocking beat, and no story whatsoever, or worse, a story of sexual escapades or thoughts, with zero substance.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFo8-JqzSCM

However the genre of hip-hop and rap has always had artists who would discuss current issues in their music and be very vocal in political issues. For one, Kendrick Lamar tackles many issues in his music. Kendrick Lamar had previously visited to our school in 2015. He recently released his song, “Sit Down, Be Humble” in 2017. The lyrics relate heavily to today’s world and Lamar has been hailed as a modern day poet for his excellent lyricism and ability to tell a very contemporary story in his music.

LYRICS: …I’m so fuckin’ sick and tired of the Photoshop
Show me somethin’ natural like afro on Richard Pryor
Show me somethin’ natural like ass with some stretchmarks
Still will take you down right on your mama’s couch in Polo socks, ay…

Those lyrics address a huge issue in media and the beauty standard for both men and women. So many people feel insecure due to societal pressure to conform to Western beauty standards of being thin, white, perfect skin free of blemishes, tall, and yet curvy for women and muscular for men. And I can say with almost all certainty, nobody in this massive world feels they encompass that beauty standard. People like Kendrick and Hayley Kiyoko, who advocate for the ones who society ignores, the “unattractive,” the LGBTQIA+ community, POCs, and everyone else in between embody the spirit of a musical storyteller, as they tell the story of today.

Another artist, Donald Glover, aka Childish Gambino , tackles political issues, such as gun control and Black Lives Matter, with his release of “This is America.” Gun Control and Black Lives Matter movements have become more active in recent years, due to numerous amounts of mass shootings, and civil discourse between unarmed African American peoples and armed officials. Both Childish Gambino and Kendrick Lamar have a huge outreach and give back as much as they can around the world, and use their platform for good.

Even across the seas, music storytellers relate the state of the world around them, like BTS and Bollywood. They tell of both the good and bad in the world, and though the time of tribal storytelling with music has long past, humans still attempt to keep using music to tell the story of humanity. So, has storytelling activism come back? I truly believe it has, and hopefully it’s here to stay.