The Gems Behind the Single

Sometimes, the unfortunate thing about releasing singles is that that’s how far some music listeners will go in terms of liking a band’s music. They’ll hear the song and think yah, I like this but once the song is over… so is that immediate obsession. And its understandable that this happens because let’s be honest, it takes a lot of work to become a true fan of a band. You first have to like that initial song enough that it not only stays in your head but that it also compels you to download/buy it rather than wait around for a station to play it again. Then, once you’re buying the song you feel the need to investigate other songs on other albums with the hopes that you find other musical gems. And once that happens you start to get curious about the actual band—who they are, where they’re from, how they met, what their inspiration was behind each album etc. etc.

So keeping all this in mind, it can be a hassle to really go beyond that radio single that’s caught your attention, especially when a station has overplayed it to the point that they’ve ruined it completely. This particular situation has happened quite a few times with City and Colour songs.

It all started with his first single, “Save Your Scissors.” I believe it was Dallas’s intimate, sweet voice that drew me in and kept my attention on the first listen. He hit every note perfectly and delivered every lyric with so much passion that it almost instantly broke my heart. But, it was that same day when various radio stations played the single close to five times every hour that made me over it before I even had a chance to miss it. Sadly, it got even worse with his second major single, “”Sleeping Sickness.” Because it featured Gord Downie, the adored front man from the Tragically Hip, stations like the Edge ate it up and played the single as if it was their theme song.

Though, with his latest album, Little Hell, I had the chance to get to it before the airways and officially begin my love affair with the album and with Dallas Green himself.

So, what was the song that transformed me from an occasional listener into a full-fledged fan? The eighth song on the album-- Weightless.

As much as I adore his signature soothing acoustic style, this particular song shook up the album and made it fierce thanks to its different but solid rock and roll/bluesy type sound. He introduces this new sound to us slowly as he debuts himself playing the electric guitar, yet after a strum or two we are comforted to hear that gentle voice of his croon, “Come close….lay next to me..” There are then moments of silence until boom! at 0:21, the heavy drums kick in and the rock and roll vibe is in full force. Dallas’s voice, though known to be soft and sweet meshes perfectly with this harsher tune. He belts the lyrics out a bit harder, a bit louder, yet we’re still able to get a sense of his beautiful vulnerability.

Within the first verse, we are able to see how Dallas has this unique ability of writing simple, straightforward lyrics yet allowing his voice to fill them with so much emotion and intensity that they come off as pure poetry:

“It’s your eyes that I don’t believe,

And my heart I know, you will deceive.

Do you know the consequence,

That comes with such confidence?”

It’s lyrics like these that hit home the most. These are not abstract, obscure lyrics that dance around the topic of love. They are real and relatable, which gives us listeners the opportunity to see how he has fucked up feelings, doubts and concerns just like the rest of us.

And at 1:11, the first chorus, every instrument intensifies; we hear Dallas’s voice raise a notch, creating a sense of anger and frustration, which has us holding on to his every word as we try to indentify with his pain. After the short interlude at 3:03, we are smacked with the most passionate part of the song, where he takes every note a touch higher and belts out:

“Breathing all the strength from my life, then you turn and you run away from me.”

 And just like that, all instruments come to a halt, leaving us with the sense of relief that he probably feels after unleashing such heavy words and emotions.

So, why has this song changed my life? Very rarely do I find artists that feel how I feel when it comes to certain topics. With most, I look at them and their music and think, your song is great but I don’t for a second think you really get what I’M feeling. Yet, with Dallas Green, he exposes so much vulnerability and passion that it not only feels like he gets what I’m feeling but almost like he’s feeling everything for me. He’s genuine and so are his lyrics. He expresses the little hells and heavens we all go through so accurately that I treat his music as my own therapy.

So, bottom line:

1. His angelic voice will not only cradle you through the song but will cradle you through the album and console you like a best friend whenever necessary.

2. Listen to the song… it’ll change your life.

I'll Cover You

I don’t think I ever really realized how much one instrument could change an entire mood of a song.

Until recently, I never even paid attention to what instruments were being played in songs. I just allowed the sounds to cloud my head, and if I later found myself humming it, then I knew I liked it. I also rarely (if ever) considered things like what a song would song like live or acoustic. Now, maybe that’s because I don’t play an instrument, so it would be difficult to see how the addition or subtraction of one would enhance or develop a song more. Who knows!

But, I’ve just never listened to a song and considered how with a different instrument, the song could morph itself into a completely different genre than it originally falls under.

Though, it was when I heard Ellie Goulding’s cover of Rihanna’s “Only Girl in the World” that I truly understood the importance of sound in songs, and how changing one instrument could give that song a brand new meaning.

When listening to the original of “Only Girl in the World, “ it’s not easy keeping your attention focused on the lyrics and on finding that main message. The song is packed with various beats and synthesizers that it completely overshadows Rihanna’s raw talent and the story she’s trying to tell.  I personally just look at this song as a good ‘pump me up’ tune to play, as I get ready to go out. I dance around and belt the lyrics but I never really stop to think about what it is that I am actually singing; I like to think it’s the overpowering, body pounding beats that prevent me from doing so.

I don’t necessarily think this is a bad thing though. I may be responding to the song the way Rihanna intended for her audience to… to see this song as something fun to dance around to.

But, once I had the pleasure of hearing Ellie Goulding’s rendition on BBC’s Live Lounge, I was able to see that this song actually had a point to make; it had a message. If it weren’t for both versions having the same title and lyrics, you’d think it was a completely different song, and it’s all because of the way Ms. Goulding altered the sound by introducing new instruments.

This English singer/songwriter took this song, stripped it naked of its processed production of sounds, and gave it a complete make over musically.

Using a combination of string quartet, a piano, and an acoustic guitar, she managed to transform the original, mind numbing, dance poppy number into something sophisticated, beautiful and something filled with meaning and emotion.

At the beginning of the song, we hear a few simple chords on the guitar, and within seconds it’s accompanied by the clean-key sounds of the piano. It’s at this same moment that we are also introduced to Ellie’s soft, trilling voice as she recites the first few lyrics clearly but with a whole lotta passion. And so, with not even 30 seconds into the song, her sound as well as those of the instruments have already created a more classic, more intellectual feel to the song.

It’s at 0:48 in that we really get a chance to hear how an instrument can completely transform a song. It’s the addition of the graceful strings along with the beautiful harmonies that give this song some true emotion. This version gives us listeners the opportunity to hear and comprehend the lyrics like, “Want you to make me feel like I’m the only girl in the world, like I’m the only one that you’ll ever love, like I’m the only one who knows your heart...” and see that this is actually a legitimate song about love.

And, it’s at 2:38, the true orgasm of the song, that we can really look at it and see that it is now a song of substance and a song that has the potential to affect us emotionally. We hear the harmony kick in at full force while the strings are powerfully being picked and all you can think to yourself is “wow… this is simply gorgeous.”

It is no longer a song that goes in one and ear and out the other but now a song that has the ability to comfort you, console you and give you some major goosebumps, and its all due to the stunning orchestral sounds and yodeling voice of Ellie Goulding.

So, how has this song changed my life?

The truth is, I never really understood the point of cover songs. Why try and revise something that’s great in its original form? It wasn’t until Ellie’s version of “Only Girl in the World” that I realized covers are necessary. A song can sound amazing in its original form, but there are artists like Ellie who look at an already publicly approved piece of music and see that there’s still so much that can be done with it; there’s so much potential one has with the lyrics of a song. She has taught me that cover songs are not performed because some artists are too lazy to think up and write their own music but rather they’re done so that audiences can see an artist’s creativity by presenting the lyrics in a different light.

Bottom Line:

1. Ellie Goulding, I think you're fabulous

2. This post was not supposed to bash Rihanna... because I back her too.

Oh and 3, listen to this song… it’ll change your life.

I Got What He Needs

Joshua Radin. This singer/songwriter stud caught my attention in 2006 with the romantic duet “Paperweight,” but stole my music loving heart during his performance last night in Toronto. Maybe it’s because he so kindly dedicated a song to me, or maybe it’s because he treated us audience members as friends rather than just paying customers who are making him money.
A musician’s stage personality, especially during song breaks is crucial to the success of their show as a whole. Some musicians get on stage, play a song or two, and then use those few seconds while they change instruments to say something like “Hey Toronto, nice to be here” or “Hi Toronto, Canada’s cold”… just something dull and irrelevant. And, the audience of course will respond with a cheer because it’s still pretty fucking cool that they’re watching one of their favourite artists perform live.

But then we have these musical artists that engage with the audience the way the Mr. oh-so-fabulous Joshua Radin did. His show wasn’t filled with stupid jokes and one-liners during song breaks; instead, he used that time to share his personal stories and feelings about the song he was about to perform next. He was charming and sincere, and because of that it produced such an intimate feel to the show. He welcomed us audience members and gave us a chance to see who the man was behind the love lyrics and acoustic guitar, which I believe is so necessary for an artist to reveal at a live performance. The stories and the emotions he associated to each song made the crowd see that he is one of the few artists these days that makes music for the right reasons. We got to see how every song he sang was as important as the next because each one of them were his words, his feelings, and his soul that he is bearing to the world.

So, what song changed my life from last night’ show? Well, I’m biased with this song choice seeing as how this is the one he heard me belt out as a request and then dedicated it to me… but regardless, it’s none other than “You Got What I Need.”

His new album “The Rock and the Tide” may have taken a more upbeat rock n’ roll route, but he still manages to return to his roots with this soothing sweet number. He starts us off with a simple romantic melody on the guitar that puts us in this instant state of comfort. Shortly after this intro, at 0:17, we hear his rock-a-bye, delicate voice whisper out:
“Baby you…you got what I need.
Baby you… you got my sunshine…”

Those words alone could make any girl’s heart melt and lustfully beat out of control at the same time. He recites these lyrics over again at 0:32, this time with the addition of the drum and the choir’s “oooh’s” in the background. It’s at this point that our bodies get hit with this feeling of love that he is emitting through his lyrics and melody.
His raspy voice then continues to croon out sweet lyrics until 2:36 (the last chorus), where we then get a hint of the power of his vocals. He doesn’t show off with it. He chooses the words he wishes to sing passionately, only romanticizing the song more.
He then wraps up this short heartfelt song by softly reciting the lyric “you got my sunshine.”

This particular song performance and Josh’s show as a whole will be one of most memorable music experiences. Not only did I leave the concert feeling more connected to this song, but I also left feeling like I knew Josh a bit better than I did walking into that concert hall.

So, bottom line?

1. Josh, if you’re reading this… let’s get married.
2. For all the hopeless romantics out there, this song’s got your name all over it.
3. A special shout out to Anya Marina. This fabulous lady rocked the opening act spot and I’ve been a fan of hers since Miss Halfway. So it was a treat to hear her new stuff, which is simply fantastic.
Oh and 4, listen to this song… it’ll change your life.

Some live action for ya:

For the Early Morning Risers

I’m the type of girl that needs to play music to wake myself up in the morning. It can’t just be any song though. Choosing my early morning wake up song is a serious decision.

If I choose something too mellow, it’ll make me want to crawl back into bed or it’ll put me in a somber, zombie like state for the rest of the day. If I choose something too loud, it will just irritate my ears and leave me with a daylong headache. There are very few songs that have the ability to put me in a “feel good, I’m ready for the day” kind of mood.
If it wasn’t for my dear friend Tali bringing home new fantastic music from Australia, I would have never found what I consider to be one of the top 5 songs to play before 7:30 a.m., and that is “Teenage Crimes” by Adrian Lux

This Swedish artist who started his career as a dancehall reggae DJ has gained a reputation for successfully meshing “minimal and grandiose sounds” in his music. His perfect balance of sounds has won over the hearts of music listeners around the world; it has even attracted the non house/techno music listeners (like myself) to not only bear this particular song but to love it to the point that it now holds a spot on the everyday playlist.

It’s the first few seconds of the song that make us reconsider whether this song should actually be labeled under the “dance/techno” genre. What initially throws the listener off is the introductory strumming on the guitar. That mixed with the incessant clapping produces this light and positive sound; it almost resembles what you would hear on an Edward Sharpe track (you know, where all you want to do is bounce your head back and forth to the catchy beat.)
At 0:15, this sound falls to the background as the pretty, female voice emerges and sings, “we don’t sleep when the sun goes down” in such a natural and effortless tone.
So already, just 15 seconds in, the song has you hooked because you have this simple, pleasant tune filling your ears from the moment you open your eyes… which I believe is much better than having your mother belt out your name numerous times from the top of the stairs.

Then, at 0:30 we begin to hear the techno beats creep in and intertwine with the guitar, almost making it seem they were there pulsating in our ears the entire time. As the lyric “we don’t sleep till the sun goes down, we don’t waste no precious time…” stays on repeat, the beats begin to rise causing every limb in our bodies to wake up. And finally, at 0:46 we are hit with a high voltage of sound screaming from the mixing boards.
It’s at this point that you realize why this is a perfect song to wake up to in the morning. The techno beats are bubbling in full force but they’re not overpowering the calmness of the female voice. The sweetness of her voice keeps you relaxed while these beats react to your body, providing it with the energy it needs to actually get out from under the covers.

And it’s from 1:20- 1:38 that we are awake and on such a high that we want to dance it out. Every beat is now unleashing on us, swirling in and out of the speakers, pumping up our energy while somehow mixing perfectly with the soft whimsical voice that’s singing “doooon’t goooo awaaaaaay.” At 2:31, the sweet female voice fades out as does the intense beat cycle and all we hear are those pleasant guitar chords drifting into silence.

So, how has this song changed my life? For starters, it pulls me out of my usual “mega grumpy, don’t want to speak a word to anyone” morning mood. And secondly, I have now acquired a taste for dance/techno music. But, it’s only because of the way Adrian Lux lays out the beats. They don’t hit you the second the song does, nor do they bombard your head making it impossible to hear yourself think. Instead, he slowly introduces them and only adds more once we are comfortable with the basics. He combines foreign sounds with ones that we could very easily hear on the radio, which makes any kind of music listener interested in this song.

Bottom Line:
1.    A big thank you goes to Adrian Lux for giving me another music genre to love.
2. This song can also be used as a good pre drink pump up.
And 3. Listen to this song…it’ll change your life… or at least your mornings. 

I Can Teach You How to Dougie

Happy New Year Friends!
Due to technical difficulties you need to click on this link to see the video: 
Teach Me How To Dougie- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwPIC2HchpQ


I, along with many others like to go on vacation for the “obvious” reasons:

1.    To get a seriously needed tan (so that I’m no longer mistaken for Casper)
2.    To relax and clock in some “me” time
And 3. To treat myself to some delicious food a.k.a P.F Changs

But, I’ve also found that vacationing is a great way to discover new music as I spend that time mixing with different cultures, and becoming acquainted with their musical tastes.

It was my most recent trip (a cruise to the Eastern Caribbean) that gave me the opportunity to explore new musical genres. More importantly though, it allowed me to see that a song doesn’t necessarily require breath-taking vocals or genius musical beats for it to be considered a ‘great’ song. Rather, it can rely on other factors, like the dance moves and rhythm that people bring to it for it to be great.

We all remember the early 90’s hit song, the “Macarena”, right? Well, I’d find it hard to believe if someone said they liked the song because of its vocals and meaningful lyrics. No. This song had a presence on the music charts and became a staple on every party playlist because everyone loved the line dance associated to it.
And, I think it’s this addition of catchy dance moves to certain songs that has provoked me to fall in love with “Teach Me How To Dougie” by California Swag District.

As most of my friends know, when it comes to music, Rap/R&B is not really my genre of choice. That’s more Maggie’s thing (Maggie= my dear friend who dies for this genre and one day hopes to marry a Black man.) It wasn’t until my two friends and I walked in to White White Heat, the boat’s disco, and heard this song that I gained a newfound appreciation for this type of music.

See, the majority of White White Heat goers were of the African American race. And when this song came on, they flooded the dance floor and immediately started dancing the official “Teach Me How to Dougie” routine. Me, being unfamiliar with this song, stood on the sidelines only to be mesmerized by the way they performed these moves in unison. When the words “teach me how to dougie, t-teach me how to dougie” were heard, every guy and girl would begin to move with such swagger… a step to the left, a step to the right, two steps back to the left, while combing back a side of their hair.

Now I don’t want to put this type of line dance (or this song for that matter) on the same level as the “Macarena’s” because it’s not. It’s way cooler. I was truly envious of every person on that dance floor as they all followed the steps yet managed to add their own individual flavor to it.

To paint a better picture: you know the scene from Dirty Dancing, when Baby carries a watermelon to the staff club and stands still, jaw dropped in awe of everyone dirty dancing? Yeah…that’s forsure what I looked like. Next thing I know, my friends and I are dragged on to the dance floor and are now attempting to copy these steps in the effortlessly cool way everyone else is performing them.

It only took that one listen for me to every night after, jump up and rush to the dance floor with the rest of the crowd when this song came on.

So, after a drawn out story, how has this song changed my life? I think it allowed me to see Rap/R&B in a different light. When this song came on in that disco, it didn’t matter where anyone was from or what color someone was. Everyone just congregated on the dance floor and danced it out. I think that was my problem with this genre. I rarely listened to it because I just never thought I could find a way to relate to it musically or lyrically; this particular song isn’t musically unique and I don’t think everyone can connect to the lyrics “Can u teach me how to dougie? You know why? Cause all da bitches love me.” I mean I don’t have a clue as to what the word “dougie” means. But, it’s this dance routine associated to this song that has allowed all types of people to connect with it or at least just enjoy it. 

So bottom line?
1.    As Lisa would say, “I left this cruise with rhythm.”
2.    Watch this video below. “Wobble with Me” another great song with catchy dance moves. I wish I was at that party.
And 3, these new dance moves will change your life.

X Rated

Sometimes I feel like musical artists/bands (specifically those that make it onto mainstream radio) sit with a checklist when creating songs for their albums. It’s like:

One song on love? Check.
One song on heartbreak or betrayal? Check.
One song on a family issue? Check

Not to say that these artists haven’t personally dealt with these issues, I’m sure some have. It just seems like a large chunk of them create songs that touch on these universal life themes so they can attract a wider fan base. It’s as if they write them to ensure that any music fanatic can listen to their album and feel a personal connection to at least one of their songs…. which is nice, I guess.

And looking at these songs that they write…they all pretty much have a PG rating attached to them, only really skimming the surface of feelings and significant topics… which again, is fine.

But, it’s the bands/musical artists that do the exact opposite of this and rather create music about scandalous topics and private moments that keeps the world of music alive and as a result, have a lasting impact on us. The band that does this best is The XX.

Reining from London, England this young punk rock looking group has been praised by blogs around the world for their laid-back sound and seductive lyrics on the “hush-hush” topic of sex.
Now, I know they are not the first musical group to approach this particular subject. I mean, we hear and see rappers’ raunchy sexual fantasies everyday on BET. But, The xx is one of the few groups to approach this subject with honesty, designating every song on the album to the various issues, pleasures and concerns around personal relationships and sex. The song on the album that conveys this best is “Crystalised.”

Five seconds in, we are introduced to the minimalist type sound that continues throughout the entire song. In other words, this song is simple. It’s basic. The beat never changes and the chords stay the same. Together, they produce an unreal, stable harmony. So, sorry ladies and gentlemen… no orgasm in this one.
*My dad will be thrilled about this as I think he gets uncomfortable when reading the orgasm section of each blog. Actually, I know he does considering he asked me last week, “Sar, why do you always have to use the word orgasm in your blog.”

Anyways, back to the song…

It is the slow and clear strumming on Romy Madley Croft’s guitar along with the spooky whistle wandering in the background that creates this sort of ‘intimate’ setting. And then, at 0:20, Oliver Slim’s bass joins in, and it is here that we feel our bodies begin to heat up as we get used to this seductive beat that’s filling our ears.

Oliver’s voice slides perfectly into the beat; he drones out the first verse of the song in a smokey, laid back style, giving off the impression that he doesn’t care to impress us vocally. Romy then introduces herself as she cuts Oliver off at 0:50 making it seem like she’s unaware of his presence. Softly, she mutters the verse:
                           “Do I have to keep up the pace
                             to keep you satisfied..”
At this point, it’s clear they are addressing a real issue within relationships, where one sexual partner is less experienced than the other.

Oliver then cuts back in and continues to express his feelings on the matter until their stories unite as they both proclaim:
                          “You’re the one that I’ve kept closest”

And then BOOM, at 1:23 we hear the addition of the drumbeat. The sound is now beginning to pick up and we start to feel the sexual tension that is conveyed through Oliver and Romy’s “ahh ahh ahh’s.”

This belief that Oliver and Romy both sing this song as if unaware that the other is there is only emphasized as they croon their individual verses in unison at 2:41:

    Oliver: “Things have gotten closer to the sun
                 And I've done things in small doses
                 So don't think that I'm pushing you away
                 When you're the one that I've kept closest”

    Romy: “Glaciers have melted to the sea
                I wish the tide would take me over
                I've been down on my knees
               And you just keep on getting closer.”

And then together they close the song with a repetition of the most sexually charged lyric:
                        “go slow, go slow, go slow."

So, how has this song changed my life? 
Well I should start by saying that some music lovers (you know who you are) have a love/hate relationship with The xx because not enough goes on in their songs. There are no electronically produced beats, and their vocal ranges (both together and separately) do not change.
This for me is the exact reason why I love them and this song in particular. There’s no wow factor, no orgasm that makes your heart melt. No. It’s the simplicity of it all that makes this song beautifully amazing.

These days, we are so high on the fast paced, computer-enhanced music that we forgot how to enjoy a basic sound. The xx should be applauded for ignoring this recent custom of putting computerized sounds and voices into songs, and instead rely on the concept that they record only what they can do live. (see video below)
So, not only has this song made me appreciate the fact that they push the boundaries and write about true human emotions and feelings. But, it also has reminded us that slow, minimal beats are refreshing to the ear every now and then.

Bottom Line:
1.    My friend Emily would fit perfectly in this band as she not only has the shaved head hairstyle but has the “black only” wardrobe too.
2.    Boys--- put this song on your ‘playlist’…you all know which one I’m talking about.
Oh and 3, listen to the song. It’ll change your life.

What Disney World Would Sound Like

I bet if I asked a hundred music listeners if they listen or would listen to music in other languages, the majority would say “no.” I bet if I followed that question up with a why, the majority would say, “What’s the point! If we can’t understand the message of the song or even a lyric for that matter, then what’s the freaking point?”

I am fairly certain that this would be a typical response seeing as how I, a music lover had this exact opinion about non-English music. It wasn’t until I stumbled upon the single “Go Do’ by Iceland artist, Jonsi, that my whole “non-English music isn’t for me” attitude was thrown out the window.  Best known for mixing Icelandic and English languages together, I was barely able to interpret a lyric in this song. What I did understand though was the music.

This song forces you to open your eyes to the sounds of the instruments and how they can influence you and speak to you just as much as words can.

It’s no more than 0:01 second in to the song that our ears are taken captive by the rippling echoes of Jonsi’s voice along with the foreign whistles of the flute. It is these initial fairytale like sounds that make our minds escape into what seems like an alternate fantastical world.

Then, at the 0:17 mark, we are unexpectedly jolted with the kick drum beat, meshing in perfectly with the flute to create a sparkling background melody. And together, they prepare us for the official introduction of Jonsi’s electronic yet oh so graceful vocals.

Even though I can only make out an English word here and there (due to his falsetto), it is actually the music that allows me to gain an understanding of the song. We hear it in the first chorus at 0:44, when the drumbeat comes to a halt and Jonsi belts out one solid lyric that (for the first time) isn’t hidden behind the various instruments strumming in unison.  The drum then kicks back putting reinforcement on the words he’s repeating. And, it’s with the incessant birdcall sounds along with the hum of the strings, horns, flutes and piano that produces and projects this feeling of optimism. This feeling is then reiterated when we hear the only recognizable (and what seems to be the most important) English lyric of the song:

            “We should always know that we can do anything.”

It is when we reach the 1:27 mark that every instrument is playing wildly behind his falsetto and we are fully distracted by the fact that we haven’t been able to interpret a word since the first chorus. Rather, we have disappeared in the experience that the music is giving us, making it seem bigger and more significant than any of the lyrics. 

This is only enhanced at 1:53; whenever I hear this part of the song, I find my eyes shutting on their own, which triggers my mind to lose itself in this psychedelic, wonderlandish melody. It’s specifically at 1:53, 2:10, and 2:20, when we hear the quick patter on the drums’ cymbals that our bodies feel as though an electric charge is rushing through them.

You stay lost in this majestical state, and from 2:55-3:27 it feels as if these animated music notes combined with his voice have sedated you completely…almost to the point that you think the Mad Hatter (Alice in Wonderland reference) is going to appear right in front of you. But it’s during this musical interlude that we truly internalize the music and allow these uplifting sounds to affect our mood. We react positively to this song by the way our bodies are fully relaxed, swaying back and forth to this Disneyland type beat.

We are then brought back to the final chorus where Jonsi croons for the last time:

            “We should always know that we can do anything.”

As the final note gets softer and lighter…we slowly fade out of our enchanted, blissful state.

So, how has this song changed my life?

Ok, well it turns out that when I searched for the lyrics of this particular song… most were actually in English. You must now be wondering why I even continued to write this blog post. I wondered the same thing until I realized that even though lyrics were in English, I couldn’t make sense of the words…don’t think that you can because you won’t be able to. So, Icelandic or English…it wouldn’t have mattered what language it was in because it was the actual music and the sound of his voice that presented the message. This song teaches you to appreciate the fact that not every song is about the words but about the experience and the feeling you take away from the song as a whole.

Bottom Line:

1. For all those haters of foreign music (or of music that sounds foreign but isn’t)… well then you’re missing out.
2. Take a listen to Carla Bruni’s “Quelqu’un Ma Dit.” Very worth it.
3. You may be wondering where it is in this song that you will find the 'orgasm'...to me, the whole song is a big freaking orgasm. So enjoy that.

Oh and 4, listen to this song…it’ll change your life.