All American Playlist

Well, with the recent events, I thought it was a great excuse to put up another playlist post...this time with an All American theme. I think it's always good to remind everyone of how proud you are to be an American. What better way than through music? :-) As always, I've included videos to go with the songs.

Aaron Tippin - Where the Stars and Stripes and the Eagle Fly
Alabama - Born Country
Alan Jackson - Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)
Brooks & Dunn - Only In America
Bruce Springsteen - Born in the USA
Carrie Underwood - All-American Girl
Chuck Berry - Back in the U.S.A.
Elton John - Philadelphia Freedom
James Brown - Living in America
John Cougar Mellencamp - Pink Houses
John Cougar Mellencamp - R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A.
Kenny Chesney - Live Those Songs
Lee Greenwood - God Bless the U.S.A.
Lynyrd Skynard - Sweet Home Alabama
Martina McBride - God Bless America
Martina McBride - Independence Day
Neil Diamond - America
Neil Young - Keep On Rocking in the Free World
Ray Charles - America the Beautiful
Rodney Atkins - These Are My People
Sugarland - Everyday America
Toby Keith - American Soldier
Toby Keith - Courtesy of the Red White & Blue
Tom Petty - American Girl

Work Out Playlist

Now that the weather's getting nicer out and everyone's got summer on the brain, I thought I'd post a work out playlist that I compiled from my own music library. I'm sure there are even more songs out there that are great to work out to, so feel free to comment and share other great work out songs. :-) If you're like me, a great work out playlist makes it a little more tolerable to exercise and gets you motivated, too. For almost all of the songs, I included a link to a YouTube video with the song (some of which are the official videos).

Airiel Down - Quick
Airiel Down - Carousel
Beyonce - Get Me Bodied
Black Eyed Peas - Anxiety
Black Eyed Peas - Pump It
Britney Spears - Boom Boom
Cajmere - Perculator
Christina Aguilera - Woohoo
Christina Aguilera - Not Myself Tonight
Christina Aguilera - Fighter
Common - I Have A Dream
Cupid - 369
DJ Khaled - We Taking Over
DJ Khaled - She's Fine
DJ LAZ - Move Shake Drop - Remix
Eminem - Not Afraid
Eminem - Lose Yourself
Eve - Tambourine
Fall Out Boy - I Don't Care (Single Version)
Fefe Dobson - Watch Me Move
Fergie - Get Your Hands Up
Fergie - Wake Up
Flo Rida - Right Round
Fort Minor - Remember the Name
House of Pain - Jump Around
James Brown - Get Up Offa That Thing
Janet Jackson - Black Cat
Jay-Z - Run This Town
Jennifer Lopez - Get Right
Kanye West - Stronger
Kelly Clarkson - Whyyawannabringmedown
Kelly Clarkson - Walk Away
Kelly Clarkson - One Minute
Kristinia DeBarge - Goodbye
Linkin Park - Don't Stay
Maroon 5 - Little Of Your Time
Maroon 5 - Can't Stop
Mary J. Blige - Just Fine
Miley Cyrus - Fly On The Wall
Miranda Lambert - Getting Ready
Missy Elliott - Shake Your Pom Pom
Missy Elliott - Work It
Muse - Uprising
Nelly - Warrior
Nelly Furtado - Maneater
No Doubt - You Can Do It
The Offspring - Come Out and Play
Outkast - Bombs Over Bagdad
P!nk - Bad Influence
P!nk - So What
P!nk - Raise Your Glass
P!nk - U & UR Hand
Papa Roach - Last Resort
Paramore - Ignorance
Petey Pablo - Vibrate
Petey Pablo - Show Me The Money
Pharrell - Move
Pitbull - Shut It Down
The Pussycat Dolls - Whatcha Think About That
The Pussycat Dolls - I Don't Need A Man
The Pussycat Dolls - When I Grow Up
The Pussycat Dolls - Wait A Minute
Queen Latifah - Champion
Reba McEntire - Turn On The Radio
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Higher Ground
Rihanna - SOS
Rihanna - Breakin' Dishes
Rihanna - Shut Up and Drive
Rihanna - Disturbia
Rihanna - Pon De Replay
Rihanna & Jeezy - Hard
Rob Base - It Takes Two
Robert Randolph & The Family Band - Ain't Nothing Wrong With That
Salt 'N Pepa - None of Your Business
September - Cry For You
Simple Plan - Shut Up
Sly & The Family Stone - Dance to the Music
T-Pain - Church
T.I. - Bring Em Out
Timbaland - We Belong To The Music
The Ting Tings - That's Not My Name
V V Brown - Crying Blood
Vita Chambers - Get Out My Head
Wiz Khalifa - Black and Yellow
Young Leek - Jiggle It
50 Cent - Till I Collapse

Jason Link

Last week I went to Nashville for the first time, and I absolutely fell in love with the city. They definitely call it Music City for a reason. There is so much history all around and music is everywhere you go. In the bars downtown, they start playing music at 10am every day and it usually goes well past midnight. One of the many spots we stopped at was Legends, which was right on a corner on Broadway (on the main strip). We got there around 2pm on Thursday and saw a band setting up. Turns out they were going to play from 2pm till 6pm, so we decided to check them out. Although, I must say, we didn't expect to stay there the whole four hours. We soon found out that the singer performing was Jason Link. I had never heard of him before, but I fell in love with him and his music right away. He had a great connection with the crowd and even took a liking to my older aunt lol. He was joking around with her most of the day saying he was going to take her out on a date (and this definitely made her day since she couldn't stop talking about it the rest of our trip). We donated some money to his cause and even bought his CD, because a lot of these musicians at the bars play for tips and walk around with a tip jar. When he walked around with the tip jar, he took the time to talk to every single person in the bar and gave many hugs to show his appreciation. I'm pretty sure he performs mostly around Nashville, but you should definitely check him out. His CD is available to buy on iTunes, and you know me, I'm all about supporting the independent artists, so go check out his music and buy the CD if you like it! He definitely has what it takes to be a star in country music, so here's to hoping that he gets discovered one day soon. :-)

Jason Link's Myspace Page
Jason Link's Facebook Page
Jason Link performing "All My Friends Say"
Jason Link performing "Red House" with a young guest (great video showing his personality)

KT Tunstall

On Sunday, April 10th, 2011 I went to the Theatre of the Living Arts (TLA) on South Street in Philadelphia to see KT Tunstall for the first time. I first learned about KT Tunstall when I heard her single, "Black Horse and A Cherry Tree." I started singing this song at karaoke (with the smart suggestion of my good friend, Cisco) and it quickly became one of my favorites to sing (and a crowd pleaser as well). In the past few years, I have bought her CD's but I must admit I never really listened to her songs that frequently. It wasn't that I didn't like her music...I'm actually not sure why I never listened lol. Well, after seeing her live earlier this month, I became an even bigger fan. She performed the entire night by herself using looping pedals instead of having a band back her up. For those of you who are not familiar with looping, here's a definition: Loops are short sections of tracks (probably between one and four bars in length), which you believe might work being repeated. A loop is not "any sample, but...specifically a small section of sound that's repeated continuously. Besides her unique vocals, she also used instruments including a guitar, kazoo, piano, and drums. I had never been to a show where the artist used this technique the entire time, and I must say, it was really cool to experience first hand. Along with her musical talent, she also had a great personality. She was hilarious and conversed with the crowd a lot. I found her to have a great connection with the crowd and she was very appreciative of the support she was receiving from the audience. Many people would probably put her in the country genre since "Black Horse and A Cherry Tree" sounds a bit country and that's one of her most popular singles, but she actually has a rock feel to the rest of her music. I definitely recommend checking her out, especially if you can see her perform live. You won't be disappointed. (Definitely check out the video below of KT performing "Black Horse" at this show because she does a cool version of "Seven Nation Army" in the middle of the song.)

KT Tunstall's Official Website
KT Tunstall performing "Black Horse and A Cherry Tree" at TLA
KT Tunstall performing "Uummannaq Song"
KT Tunstall performing "Glamour Puss"
KT Tunstall performing "Through the Dark"

Adele's newest album, "21"

I've been a fan of Adele's since her first release, "19" so it was no surprise how great her second album, "21" is. She has such a powerful voice, and you can really feel her emotions in all the songs. Like her first album, she sings about losing a loved one and the vulnerability you feel when giving your heart to another. She wrote all of these songs last year about one particular relationship, which is similar to what she did with "19." (Both albums are named after the age she was when she wrote the albums.) I think a lot of people (probably more geared toward females) can relate to a lot of her music because a lot of people feel that hurt and vulnerability at some point in their lives. It's hard for me to pick out a few songs to highlight on this album because I honestly love every single song, but if I had to choose a few I'd say the first single off the album, "Rolling in the Deep" is a great choice. Adele also does a fantastic rendition of The Cure's "Lovesong." I've never had the opportunity to see her perform live, but I will definitely be keeping my eye out for her next tour in the area. If you haven't already, I really recommend that you go out and buy/download this entire album.

Adele's Official Website
Adele's Myspace Page
Adele "Rolling in the Deep" Official Music Video
Adele performing "Lovesong"
Adele "Rumour Has It" with lyrics

Anti-Valentine's Day Playlist

Ah, the day has finally arrived...Valentine's Day. For most of you who are in relationships, it's a day to remind your loved ones of how much you love them and adore them (blah, blah, blah). Although, for those of us singles out there, it's a reminder of the fact that we are indeed without that significant other (like we really need to be reminded). We all have our opinions on this day of reminders, but I wanted to have some fun with it (being on the single side of this "holiday") and create an Anti-Valentine's Day playlist to keep the singles' minds off the fact that we're alone. So enjoy this list of 82 songs (there's no particular order). I have included a link to a video on YouTube that displays the songs so you can listen (just click on the artist and title).

Ace of Base "I Saw The Sign"
Adele "Rolling in the Deep"
Alanis Morissette "You Oughta Know"
Alicia Keys "Karma"
All-American Rejects "Gives You Hell"
Ani DiFranco "Untouchable Face"
Blu Cantrell "Hit 'Em Up Style (Oops)"
Bon Jovi "You Give Love A Bad Name"
Britney Spears "Stronger"
Bruno Mars "Grenade"
Carly Simon "You're So Vain"
Carrie Underwood "Undo It"
Cee-Lo Green "F**k You"
Cher "Strong Enough"
Christina Aguilera "Fighter"
The Clarks "Better Off Without You"
Destiny's Child "Survivor"
Dixie Chicks "Goodbye Earl"
Eden's Crush "Get Over Yourself"
Elton John "I'm Still Standing"
Evanescence "Call Me When You're Sober"
Fiona Apple "Get Gone"
Fort Minor "Where'd You Go?"
Garbage "Special"
Gloria Gaynor "I Will Survive"
Guns N' Roses "Used to Love Her"
Hilary Duff "So Yesterday"
Hinder "Without You"
J. Geils Band "Love Stinks"
Janet Jackson "Son of a Gun"
Janiva Magness "I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down"
Jazmine Sullivan "Bust Your Windows"
Jo Dee Messina "My Give A Damn's Busted"
Jo Dee Messina "Bye Bye"
Joan Jett "I Hate Myself For Loving You"
JoJo "Leave (Get Out)"
Justin Timberlake "What Goes Around Comes Around"
Justin Timberlake "Cry Me A River"
Kanye West "Heartless"
Kate Voegele "99 Times"
Katharine McPhee "Over It"
Katy Perry "Ur So Gay"
Kellie Pickler "Best Days of Your Life"
Kelly Clarkson "Since U Been Gone"
Kelly Clarkson "Never Again"
Keyshia Cole "Shoulda Let You Go"
Kristinia DeBarge "Goodbye"
Leona Lewis "Take a Bow"
Linkin Park "In the End"
Mariah Carey "Shake it Off"
Maroon 5 "Through With You"
Miranda Lambert "Gunpowder & Lead"
Miranda Lambert "Kerosene"
Miranda Lambert "White Liar"
The Misfits "Die, Die My Darling"
'N Sync "Bye Bye Bye"
Natasha Bedingfield "Single"
New Kids On The Block "Officially Over"
P!nk "So What"
P!nk "There You Go"
P!nk "U & UR Hand"
Paramore "For A Pessimist, I'm Pretty Optimistic"
Patty Smyth "Goodbye To You"
Paula Abdul "Cold Hearted Snake"
The Pussycat Dolls "Whatcha Think About That"
PYT "Same Old, Same Old"
Reba McEntire "Consider Me Gone"
Reba McEntire "Turn On The Radio"
Rihanna "Breakin' Dishes"
Sade "Soldier of Love"
Simple Plan "Time to Say Goodbye"
Soft Cell "Tainted Love"
Taylor Swift "Picture to Burn"
Theory of a Deadman "Bad Girlfriend"
Three Days Grace "I Hate Everything About You"
The Ting Tings "Shut Up and Let Me Go"
Ugly Kid Joe "Everything About You"
V V Brown "Game Over"
V V Brown "Leave!"
Whitney Houston "Heartbreak Hotel"
Whitney Houston "Learned From The Best"
The Wreckers "Leave The Pieces"

The Clarks

I'm not sure why I haven't done a posting on The Clarks yet, since they ARE one of my all time favorite bands! Although, with the Steelers in the Super Bowl this weekend, this is the perfect time to have The Clarks my subject today. The Clarks are a rock 'n roll band from the Pittsburgh area and they've been around for more than twenty years. I've been a fan of their music since I was in high school, and I've seen them many times (too many to count). I've seen them more in Pittsburgh (usually at the Chevy/IC Light Amphitheater down at Station Square) and have seen them a couple times in Philly (World Cafe Live, North Star Bar, and TLA). When I see them in Pittsburgh, they get thousands of fans to come out to their shows, yet in Philadelphia, it's usually a smaller crowd. My Uncle Ed is actually good friends with the band members, so I've gotten the chance to meet them a few times. Every time they were in Philly, I've gotten the chance to hang out with them after the show because of it being a smaller venue. All I have to do is throw out my uncle's name, and I usually end up having a beer with them after the show. lol :-) Gotta love connections! They are the type of band that anyone can listen to...they play all American rock 'n roll style music. I guess they could be put in the same category as Bruce Springsteen, just not as popular. They have a lot of music out there, and have even made an appearance on the David Letterman Show. Anyone who has any association to the city of Pittsburgh, is a diehard Clarks fan, and gets super pumped up when they hear a Clarks song. I don't think there is one Clarks song that I'm not a fan of. You can go through each one of their CD's without skipping a song. They're that kind of band. Definitely check these guys out (especially if you can catch them in Pittsburgh, because those are the best shows to go to...so much fun!) :-)

The Clarks Official Website
The Clarks performing on the Letterman Show
The Clarks performing "Cigarette" (my favorite that they perform live)
The Clarks performing "Butterflies and Airplanes" (my absolute favorite)
The Clarks performing "On Saturday"
The Clarks Official Music Video "Better Off Without You"
The Clarks performing "Let it Go" (this song appeared in the movie, Summer Catch)