Music is an important part of life. It’s always there, whether it’s background music or a song which perfectly goes with that one thing you did that time, like running across a field while walking your dogs, or standing in just the right spot in the sun. Music is there, it always is, and I would be lying to you if I said it didn’t have a role to play in my life. (Want to listen to my updated playlist while reading? You can find it here!)
Over the past year, my taste in music hasn’t really changed. I’m still into punk, and have been taking the time to delve a little deeper into the genre I had only really started to explore previously (if you want to know what I’m talking about, you can check out my last playlist blog on here: Snooping on my playlist). Having C has also helped to expand my interest when it comes to listening to new songs – and with it new bands – that I now really enjoy and spend a lot of my time listening to.
Starting on a slightly negative point, at least for some people, I can safely say that I’m still not a huge fan of country music (although I do like ‘Dear Life’ by High Valley which C introduced me to). Back in July last year, C gave me his Spotify name which I had a look at. Then, I proceeded to make the mistake of listening to his heavy, three hour playlist of country music in a somewhat desperate attempt to try and impress him. If that isn’t funny enough for you, afterwards I decided I was too embarrassed about it to tell him. (And so, the conclusion of this is, don’t listen to three hours of country music if you are trying to impress a guy and you don’t like country music).
Moving on… I can now proudly let you all know that I have been to two concert/gig things. Thankfully, none of them have been for country artists. After I was lucky enough o see the Interrupters a couple years back with my uncle and my dad, I was also lucky enough to see Waterparks (one of my favourite bands) back in February. I went all the way to London, which shows you how much I like them. That weekend I was so out of my comfort zone, but I was completely worth it. In fact, I wrote a blog all about my weekend away in London, and about meeting Waterparks. You can find it here!
Looking back in it, I think we were very fortunate that we went to see them in February as pretty much a month later the country went into lockdown. After hyping myself up for the concert, I think I would be very disappointed if I hadn’t go to see them – especially because I love them so much, and they rarely tour over here in the UK. You can’t have a social distance gig after all. In fact, the band itself was very lucky to get back into the USA before borders were locked.
However, music isn’t just about the concerts. After all, you don’t have to go to a concert just to listen to music. No, I listen to a lot of music on Spotify and YouTube (both of which are apps the world would struggle without).
I listen to music a lot. Whether I’m reading, writing, or doing something else like cooking or even showering. I always like to be listening to something, I find it hard to focus without a little bit of background music. Music has helped me through the good and the bad (unrelated – I originally typo spelt bad into bands, and that would have been the ultimate pun of the blog – but alas, I decided against it. My comedy is wasted).
At the moment, there are four bands which I really like. In fact a majority of the songs I listen to were created by the following bands I’m going to give you some information on:
Paramore – formed in 2004, they are an American rock band from Tennessee. The band consist of three members: Hayley Williams, the lead vocalist, guitarist Taylor York and Zac Farro as drummer. They received a ‘Best New Artist’ nomination at the 2008 Grammy awards after the success of their second album (also my favourite) ‘Riot!’ which became certified Platinum in America after its success.
Waterparks – An American (can you see the theme here) pop rock band formed in Texas back in 2011. Their band consists of the lead singer, Awsten Knight – who is also the rhythm guitarist – along with lead guitarist Geoff Wigington and drummer Otto Wood. The band has released three albums (the second ‘Entertainment’ is probably my favourite). Also, Awsten has a YouTube channel which I think is worth mentioning. Their songs aren’t for the ‘faint of heart’ but are still really good. This is also the case for…
Hollywood Undead – These are an American (there really is a theme here) rap rock band from California and was formed back in 2005. (I feel the need to state I really haven’t delved too deeply into this band, C actually introduced me to them a few months back and I’ve only really just started listening to them. I’m kind of finding the research for this band a little funny). There are five band members: Charlie Scene, Danny, Funny Man, J-Dog, and Johnny 3 Tears – I think it’s safe to say these are aliases. They released their fourth album ‘Day Of the Dead’ back in March 2015 (which is the album that I’ve listened to). Probably don’t listen to this band if you are perhaps easily offended by graphic language.
All Time Low – An American rock band (okay, my bad. Maybe I should look into more English bands) from Maryland which was formed back in 2003 (the earliest out of all these bands – but not by much). They consist of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Alex Gaskarth, lead guitarist Jack Barakat, bassist and backing vocalist Zack Merrick, and Rian Dawson the drummer. The began as a high school band and are now so successful that they tour consistently pretty much all year (although I’m pretty sure they’re not touring at this current moment). They also released their single ‘Dirty Laundry’ on the BBC Radio 1 breakfast show back in 2017 – which is crazy because I used to listen to that radio show almost every morning.
Yes, it’s probably a pretty strange mix but what can I say other than I like their music? It’s helped me a lot and I highly recommend them to you if you share the same interest in music as myself (which we can now see is early 2000’s music). Some notable songs to mention by these bands include:
Paramore:
- Misery Business (sorry C)
- Still into you
- That’s what you get
- Hard Times
- Ain’t it fun
- Brick by Boring Brick
Waterparks:
- 21 Questions
- Not warriors
- Stupid for you
- We Need to talk
- Peach (Lobotomy)
- Sleep Alone
- Royal
- High Definition
- Watch what happens next
- Never Bloom again
Hollywood Undead:
- Dead Bite (I feel the need to let you know this is C’s morning alarm)
- Outside
- Undead
- Everywhere I Go (lol)
All Time Low:
- Monsters (my current favourite song)
- Some Kind of Disaster
- Sleeping In
- Something’s gotta Give
- Backseat Serenade
- Dear Maria, count me in
- Weightless
- Lost in Stereo
- Somewhere in Neverland
- Clumsy
However, I’m not going to confine my music taste solely to punk, and these four bands. Have you even heard that one song – a perfect song – that you love so much that you listen to it on repeat, even though you’ve never heard of the artist before? Yeah, I get songs like that (a lot), and I can’t forget to mention them:
- 18 – Anarbor
- Sweet but psycho – Ava Max
- Wild Heart – The Vamps
- Pompeii – Bastille
- I think I’m okay – Machine Gun Kelly
- LA girl – The Janoskians
- Avalanche – Bring Me The Horizon
- Plain sailing weather – Frank Turner
- Stay – Mayday parade
- Somebody That I used to know – Mayday parade
- Immortals – Fall Out Boy
- Little Lion Man – Tonight Alive
So, at last, and updated playlist. Sorry it took so long (my bad, Donna). Just like last time I wrote a blog on my playlist, I have complied a list of the songs I have mentioned – and some more (you’re welcome) – into a lovely Spotify playlist for you all to check out if you would like. You can find the link by clicking here!
Happy listening 😀
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