Lana del Ray

I've had a minor obsession for Lana del Ray since The Great Gatsby soundtrack was released. There's something about her voice and classic look that makes her seem like she is from an entirely different era. I'm loving her music video for National Anthem (it's a modern-day take on the Kennedys), but my favorite song of hers has to be Video Games. Sorry Gatsby lovers!

Girls love Beyonce

Random fact about me: I really like Drake's music. My interest was sparked in college, when my friends and I would listen to Drake and Kid Cudi on a regular basis (Kid Cudi also happens to be from my hometown!) But while I haven't stayed so much attached to Kid Cudi's music, I always seem to find myself listening to Drake. It's so funny to think he was the kid in the wheelchair from Degrassi, but clearly he's come a long way since then.

He just released his latest, "Girls love Beyonce," and maybe it's the Destiny's Child chorus cover, but I really love this song.

Have any of you heard it yet? Are you a Drake fan?

Covering ground

I love a good cover of an amazing song. I remember the first time I heard Roy Orbison's cover of Unchained Melody by The Righteous Brothers. It was one of my favorite artists of all time singing one of music's greatest love songs. Sometimes I think I like it even better than the original.

However, as much as I'd love to devote an entire post to Roy Orbison (I would give anything to have been alive during his time so I could see him perform live), this post is about covers of more modern music. Here are three covers I'm in love with at the moment, I hope you enjoy them as well!

1. Macklemore's Thrift Shop by Pentatonix 

This song is so catchy, you'd think it couldn't get any better. But it just did with these guys. What talent!

2. Jose Gonzalez's Heartbeats by Royal Teeth

If you like Jose Gonzalez's version, which can be heard here, this version is very different, but it's catchy. It was also featured in a flashback during an episode of HBO's Girls.

3. T.I.'s Whatever You Like by Anya Marina

I originally heard this during an episode of Gossip Girls, and have been in love with it ever since. It's pretty old (circa 2009), but it's so different from T.I.'s version, which is why I love it! However, this music video is just plain weird.

Winter weather playlist

Right before the holiday break of my last year of high school, my AP Literature class was assigned to read Bronte's Wuthering Heights. I can still remember my teacher--still one of the smartest women I know-- talking about her inability to read this book any other time of the year. Since then, I've found myself mentally organizing most of the books I read into categories based on the weather...? It sounds silly, but can you imagine reading about the dreary, sullen landscape of Thrushcross Grange on the beach?

It seems as if I've taken this concept and applied it to music as well. At least in terms of playlists. There are certain artists/songs I've categorized as perfect for listening to during the cold, winter months. I've always felt Bon Iver's music is perfect for a December day near the fireplace, cozied up with a magazine, blanket and a hot cup of cocoa.

Below is my winter playlist (not to be confused with a holiday playlist!). Yes, there's a lot of Bon Iver, but can you really blame me? His music is just that good.

xxo

Winter weather playlist

1. Wagon Wheel - Old Crow Medicine Show
2. Mr. Tambourine Man - Bob Dylan
3. Babel - Mumford and Sons
4. Blood Bank - Bon Iver
5. If Tonight is my Last - Laura Izibor
6. Almost Everything I Wish I'd Said the Last Time I Saw You - Wakey!Wakey!
7. The Girl - City and Colour
8. White Blank Page - Mumford and Sons
9. Darkness on the Edge of Town - Bruce Springsteen
10. Skinny Love - Bon Iver

One title, three favorite songs

I wanted to do a post this week about music, and because it's a little too early to post my "fall weather, cozy on up by the fireplace" playlist, I thought I'd share another part of my music library instead. When searching for a song the other day, I realized I have three songs in my iTunes with the same title: Home. Three different artists, one single title. It's likely you've already heard them, but I thought I'd share them anyway, hopefully you'll add them to your library if they don't already exist there.  :)

1. "Home" by Edward Sharp and the Magnetic Zeros. This song is the epitome of happiness. I would love to see this band live, which is why I chose to post this video over an in-studio version. This performance shows how much heart this group has.

2. "Home" by Phillip Phillips. His voice sounds just like Marcus Mumford's and his lyrics are [almost] just as good.

3. "Home" by Mumford and Sons. This song has actually been renamed very recently to Holland Road, for the release of Mumford's new album (which is next week!), but it will always be its original title to me. I listened to this song when I was away for my last semester of college more times than I could count, and now it's all I can think of when I hear it.