I'm a hater

I drink the haterade. Daily. Sometimes I don't care... well let's face it. I don't care most of the time but sometimes I do feel bad about dealing out so much hate. Let's make something clear, when I say hate I mean that completely in the colloquial sense of the word. Do I actually hate/detest/abhor what I say I hate? No. .... Wellllll maybe. Somethings. But it's actually very rare when I truly hate something.

Today I feel as though I need to make it public. Like in the internetsphere public. I hate Taylor Swift. I can give her a bit of respect because of how she is the perfect marketing tool and she follows the lead of her team well. She helps to write songs that perfectly appeal to her target demographic.

But here's where the hate comes in. She is the epitome of everything I hate. I don't know why I have dubbed her this way. (Actually I think I do but that will come later). She claims this "awkwardness" when in reality, she's a tall, run of the mill, girl next door pretty white girl who tries to bop her head to hip hop. She gets to wear these amazing dresses and clothes that, because she has basically the perfect body type for almost any clothing, perfectly accent her. She gets her hair and makeup perfectly done everyday by professionals. She goes to the gym wearing makeup (which I hate on any person at the gym). Really Taylor Swift? You say you're awkward? Then why do you call every single person your friend? A truly awkward person isn't actually that social. I should know. I spend every day of my life living on about 60% awkwardness at all times (and then it spikes when I'm around people I admire, authoritative figures, and really good looking people).

Then there's her "talent." Have you actually ever heard her sing live? It's horrible. I'm tired of people giving her too much credit. ADMIT THAT SHE USES AUTOTUNE just like pretty much all pop artists out there nowadays. People say, "Oh but her lyrics are so raw, so real." Are they? Or are they recycled pretty much over and over again. How trite can one person be?

"She's so good to her fans"... She gave one of her fans that had crippling student debt $1989 (and some other stupid merch).. really Taylor Swift? You couldn't dig deeper into that multi-platinum selling album pocket of yours to maybe pay off that fan's debt completely? And $1989 just b/c your album is called that... seriously? Like you need to promote that swill to that fan? Why not give her $198900? Still has that stupid number in it.

So to my surprise, many of my female friends actually really enjoy her music. Doesn't make me love my friends any less but it was just surprising. I guess that's the power of a good hook.

Let me get to why I have dubbed Taylor Swift to be the symbol of everything that I hate. I am not an attractive person. I have this odd, weird streak of not completely trusting obviously beautiful people. But it makes it worse when that person says, "Oh no, I'm just normal." Oh no you don't. Don't pull that crap. There's a reason why people fight to dress you and be your stylist. Taylor Swift stands tall, thin and very well made up. Everything I am not. She is extremely successful at something I wish I was successful.

So yes. The reasons why I hate on her so much are .... deeper than the first few paragraphs. But I stand by my ruling. I hate Taylor Swift. And unless she does something absolutely selfless and amazing, I will never change my mind about her.

beautiful.

I have to remember that I don't walk alone. No matter how hard it gets.

Quickie

I just wanted to quickly post my love for Sia's Chandelier.

While I am not an alcoholic, this song (and most of her songs) speaks volumes of someone, like myself, who goes through these types of lows, tries to get away from them, and cries for help.

"But I'm holding on for dear life, won't look down, won't open my eyes
Keep my glass full until morning light, 'cause I'm just holding on for tonight
Help me, I'm holding on for dear life, won't look down, won't open my eyes
Keep my glass full until morning light, 'cause I'm just holding on for tonight
On for tonight"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KY0L36AQfXY

Ode to Charlie Brown (the dog)

Today I'm at home sick because my stomach has been uber weird. I feel better today but to play it safe (also because I really really did not want to go to work today.. that's another blog post in and of itself) I stayed home again today.

Basically all morning, I've been kind of sad and been thinking a lot about my friend who passed away 4 years ago. I have amazing friends though and God really is so good because out of no where my friend who I thought was done being friends with me last year texted me saying, "Reminder of the day: You are an amazing friend." At a time when I feel like I have no friends because I'm such a bad one, to get that text just really made my day. Well one of my best friends KO dropped by the other day and it totally made me cry because I felt so unbelievably loved by her. She lives NO WHERE NEAR me.... and she happened to be in the area and decided to surprise me! I love surprises... especially from people that I love.

So anyway, I've been feeling super down and very unlovable because I basically told this guy that I really liked him and his response was basically that he was still in love with his ex-fiancee.... if that isn't a big fat no then I don't know what is.

BUT ANYWHO. Onto my (house mate's) awesome dog!

Charlie Brown aka Charles Barkely aka Chuck

Yesterday, my house mate told me that sometimes, when he's home and I'm not, the dog, Charlie Brown (he's a chocolate lab) will lay down by my door.... Call me ridiculous but I got a little teary. I always thought that he didn't really care about me because he's got a great owner and the owner's S.O. also has been getting lots of love. But he actually does miss me when I'm not at home! Can dogs get any better than that? I don't think so. And then just now, I decided it was time to play some music on the keyboard and maybe try to sing a little (only sad songs of course) and he came over and put his head on my lap... ON MY LAP. As if he knew that I'm not feeling great.

It's official. I love Charlie Brown aka Charles Barkley the dog. He is my favorite dog ever. EVER. He may be a little dumb and a lot stinky, but man, is he lovable.

Another pet peeve

So, two bands that I love (and I do not toss that word around willy nilly), Mumford & Sons and Muse,  recently released new albums and I've been hearing one of my pet peeve phrases about music: "It sounds exactly the same as everything else they've done."

Okay. My issue with that statement is THAT'S WHY THEY ARE DOING SO WELL. Their music, what they do (and they do it fantastically well... because really, could you do any better? No? Then shut it), is what has made them successful. I've been hearing that more about Babel, the Mumford & Sons album, and it drives me crazy. It also kind of reminds me of that SNL skit with Will Ferrell and Christopher Walken about more cow bell. Except people are saying they've had enough of their (Mumford & Sons) shtick of the banjo... THAT'S THE KIND OF MUSIC THEY PLAY.  They are a FOLK rock band. Folk!!!!! Do you know what instruments are involved in folk music? ALMOST ANYTHING. It's FOLK. Almost anything goes... But American folk traditionally involves vocals, acoustic guitar, fiddle, banjo, mandolin, and harmonica. But guess what? Mumford & Sons are from England so as an American, I have no idea what makes English folk music but I'm going to guess pretty much the same as American folk music because the US was first founded by people FROM ENGLAND.

Can you tell it irks me? It's just that I feel like when people bash on artists in that way, my immediate thought is that if they came out with something completely different then their previous albums they would complain about that too! That they "sold out" ... which is another music phrase that drives me insane. But when another band that I love releases a new album and I start hearing that I'll blog about that then. (It'll probably be Green Day but we'll see). But what would lovers of Mumford & Sons do if they all of a sudden got rid of their banjo and completely changed the way their vocals sounded? They'd be confused and upset! They'd be a completely different band, different sound and probably not folk rock... So to the people who are complaining about the new Mumford  & Sons I say to you, "If you think you're so great, go make an album that destroys records of how many albums are sold in one week. I dare you to try."

And here's a funny gif that my friend sent me that sums up every Mumford & Sons song. Which I think is hilarious and pretty accurate... ahhaa

And then Muse! Now they're a bit different because some of their albums have in fact been very different when compared to each other... what holds true is Matt Bellamy's voice and their always epic sound. They're so influenced by classical music that you can hear the musicality and how intricate their songs are. Even when they're minimalist like their single Madness, it's still complex when you listen to the build and the decrescendo (sorry going music nerd on y'all). I always appreciate Muse's boldness in the sounds they make. One of my finest moments in life is when I didn't completely lose it when I met them. I almost did but I held it together. I didn't squeak like I did when I met my "husband" Xavi Alonso. That was uncool. But again, that's another blog post.

Anyway sorry for the rant but it had to be done.

Electric picnic!! (mostly photos)

A year ago today my flatmate in Ireland and I went to quite possibly one of the best music festivals I have ever been to in County Laois (I will buy lunch to whoever can pronounce that correctly the first time) called Electric Picnic. Aaaaaand commence photos.

The campsite next to us... We think those were "VIP"

Sad blow up chapel

I made her do that... But what a great photo!

One entry gate 

One of the GREAT tents!

Another tent

My sentiments exactly

I did NOT tell her to do this

Willy Mason

Wish I could remember who this was... I think it's Shouting at Planes  

Love this one

MS. SINEAD O'CONNOR!!

Foster the People!

Pains of Being Pure at Heart

SANTIGOLD!!!!! Such a wicked awesome set. Seriously.. complete with costume changes and everything!

Also cannot remember who this is

EDWARD SHARPE AND THE MAGNETIC FREAKING ZEROOOSSS!! Again such an awesome set and I am so sad that I cannot make their Bay Area show

I did not use but M did... ahah

My first ferris wheel ride!

M and I .. flatmates fo life!

Orchestral Manoeuvers in the Dark... one of my fave 80s bands! Love the awkward way he dances

Ahhh sunset

LYKKE LI! She was awesome... Her vocals were turned waaay too low though

I stopped being too excited and bouncing around long enough to take this

Best photo I got because I was bouncing around too much!

Public Enemy... of COURSE I had to see them

Another shot that is the "best" because I couldn't stop dancing to take photos because it's the Chemical Brothers!!

The Family Stone hehe

As it says, The Go! Team. 

Yayyyy

FREAKING BEIRUT! So so so so so good

Sunset dos

Oh yes .... I saw The Drums. And they rocked.

Ahhhh Pulp. 

It just ended this past weekend.... And I have to say I was so so sad that I was not there. Definitely one of the best music festivals I have ever been to!