2011

Okay, so I told you after giving my CLAIR-EYS that I was going to give you the ultimate, favorite songs of 2011 playlist, and I haven’t forgotten about that! I hope you have had a wonderful year, and I wish you all the best in the next year. Never stop believing in yourself, never stop putting positive energy into the world, and never stop listening to music. It’s a universal way for everyone in the world to be on the same page.

Here are the “hottest-songs-of-2011” playlist. I hope you burn this cd, label it, and put it away for later. In a few years, you can put the CD back in, and the memories you’ve had will be linked to these songs. You’ll be amazed at how much music stores your memories.

Enjoy!

1. Like It Like That –Hot Chelle Rae

2. Tattoos On This Town –Jason Aldean

3. Barefoot Blue Jean Night –Jake Owen

4. You –Chris Young

5. Baggage Claim –Miranda Lambert

6. Princess of China –Coldplay & Rihanna

7. Party on Fifth Ave. –Mac Miller

8. Up In Flames –Coldplay

9. Hurts To Think –Miranda Lambert

10. Smile Back –Mac Miller

Peace, Love, and Simplicity my friends

Claire

P.S. Happy New Year!

Traditions

Okay, so I know I talked a few blog posts ago how much it frustrated me that Starbucks has their holiday cups on November 1^st. But I want to share with you a tradition my family has every year. I would love to hear about your traditions too. On Thanksgiving, my dad and brother go hunting (you know you’re from East Texas when.. right?!) and my mom and I start cooking, but that’s not it. We always, always, always put Christmas music on when we do, and I am always in charge of the playlist.

It is a great time to start getting in the spirit of Christmas. This year, when I was interning at Warner Music Group, I saw that Michael Bublé was releasing a Christmas album. Not only do I already love his voice, but to hear him singing Christmas tunes was music to my ears…pun intended. Needless to say, I went to the store the other day to purchase the CD. I’ll be playing it in a few days, you should too. It’s magical.

So without further ado, here is my “Michael-Bublé’s-Voice-IS-Butter” Playlist: (I give you permission to go get a Starbuck’s holiday cup now and listen to it. They will probably sell the CD there too!)

1. It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas     

2. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town 

3. All I Want For Christmas Is You 

4. Holly Jolly Christmas        

5. Santa Baby                        

6. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

7. Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)   

8. Silent Night                                   

9. Blue Christmas

10. Cold December Night    

11. I'll Be Home For Christmas

12. Ave Maria           

Also:

Listen to Justin Bieber (feat. The Band Perry)’s “Home This Christmas” here…whether you admit it or not, you’ll love it. 

Love Never Fails

Well, hi. How are you? I hope you’re doing well…More specifically, I hope you are receiving love in some way. Love is a funny thing…It’s one of those things that can make or break a person. If you are in love, or at least feeling loved, you can consider yourself happy (and maybe even lucky), but if you’re not…You’re probably heartbroken. And being heartbroken is the worst feeling in the world. Anyway, make sure that if you’re not feeling loved, that you show love to others. Because if you do, you’ll be loved back…I promise.

Anyway, during my class today, each person offered their favorite love song. Our instructor never specified what the song had to be about (heartbreak, falling in love, making love, giving love etc.), but I thought it was a pretty good idea. I hope that you take a listen to a few of the songs…Maybe they will inspire you—or even make you feel loved. I learned through the most significant Book in my life that Love NEVER fails. So, help yourself to a few of these songs…“Class-Love Mixed-Tape Playlist” (Mixed-Tape is a term that isn’t mainstream enough for me..sorry)

1. “Something” by The Beatles

2. “The Start of Something” by Voxtrot

3. “Thinking bout you” by Frank Ocean

4. “Inches and Falling” by The Format

5. “Soco Amaretto Lime” by Brand New

6. “Promise” by Romeo Santos featuring Usher

7. “Paint” by Travis Garland featuring Jojo

8. “Sunday Morning” by Maroon 5

9. “Take me Away” John Legend

10. “the only way to my heart” by foxy shazam

11. “Can’t Hardly Wait” by The Replacements

12. “Flesh” by Simon Curtis

13. “Blinded by the Lights” by The Streets

14. “Deeper” by Wild Beasts

15. “Unchained Melody” by LeAnn Rimes

16. “Lucky” by jason mraz and Colbie Caillat

17. “Nicest Thing” by Kate Nash

18. “One woman” by randy rogers band

19. “Last Request” by Paolo Nutini

20. “What you need” by the weeknd featuring moshadee

21. “Take it All” by Adele

22. “The Magical Position” by Patrick Wolf

Love, Love, Love

C

Gimme’ a Grammy..No Gimme' a CLAIR-EY

WELL, It has been an AMAZING year of music…At least I think it has. Some of my favorite artists have released amazing work, and I have been extremely impressed with the growth of a select few. Adele, Taylor Swift, Needtobreathe, Miranda Lambert, Jason Aldean, Colbie Caillat, and Demi Lovato have shared their talent once again blowing me away as both a fan and a critic. Taylor Swift has given yet fourteen more reasons to support the fact that she is a lyrical genius—most specifically Last Kiss—and Demi Lovato has shown that she can break away from the Disney image and transition smoothly from the teeny-bopper sound into the R&B, Pop genre. Colbie released a light, airy, summery album that was perfect for my time in LA, and most recently, Needtobreathe and Miranda Lambert released albums where I was able to find a number of songs I thoroughly enjoy. Adele’s album was…absolutely amazing and incredible.

(My disappointments included Lady Antebellum and Lil Wayne, but nothing that can’t be solved by a release of something more like their previous works in the future.)

I have had some of my favorite songs and artists this year, and I want to share my own personal Grammys  “CLAIR-EYS” that I have awarded this year. After much deliberation and thought, I have concluded the top three awards to share with you all. (My ultimate 2011 playlist will come as my last post…so be ready for that!)

And The CLAIR-EY goes to…

1. Jason Aldean –Favorite Album

2. Hunter Hayes  & David Nail –Favorite New Artists

3. Adele –Artist of the Year

497 Purchased Songs

Good Morning, I hope you’re still doing lovely (If any one is in fact out there, reading this) Is anyone out there (out there, out there, out there…that was an echo) I have almost reached 500 PURCHASED SONGS ON iTUNES! Okay, I realize that sounds crazy. “Why in the world would you spend over 500 dollars (song prices rose to 1.29…don’t worry I can do simple math.) on music you could get for free?!” Well, I just take a lot of pride in supporting my artists…and being legal ;)…but more that support them, their music, and their career.

Anyway, I can’t believe I have gone this whole time without asking you what kind of music YOU like. Maybe it’s because I don’t know if anyone is actually out there reading this, or if I have been talking to myself this entire time. Either way, someone is gonna have some awesome playlists! (Hint: It’s me)

What’s your favorite genre of music? Well! If not one will answer, I will! Mine is anything, everything, new, old, mainstream, ‘lamestream’, under or over ground. For me, music is music is music is music. If I like it, I want to listen to it. But if you made me decide, it would be country. So I have prepared a perfect playlist of country songs (mostly new..and mainstream), but they are great songs! I encourage you to give it a shot…If you keep listening to a song, it might even grow on you. Well, please allow me to present you with my “Good-‘Ol-Country-Playlist-Y’all!” Enjoy J

1. Baggage Claim –Miranda Lambert

2. Ours –Taylor Swift

3. You –Chris Young

4. One Woman –Randy Rogers Band

5. Tattoos On This Town –Jason Aldean

6. Jump Then Fall –Taylor Swift

7. Wanted –Hunter Hayes

8. Let It Rain –David Nail

9. She’s Everything –Brad Paisley

10. Twisted –Carrie Underwood

Peace, Love & Simplicity

Traffic.

Hi Hi Hi.

What’s new? There are a lot of wonderful things in this world. (If you haven’t gotten a chance to go outside and see the beautiful things out there, take 10 minutes out of your day. Go enjoy the freedom we have. Then once you do that, I want you to think about the things in your life that make you over look the beauty in the world. Is it work? School? Stress in general?

I like to consider myself to be a very happy person, but the time I begin to lose my patience (and by lose my patience, I mean almost hate everything in the moment) is when I sit in traffic. I spend my summer in Los Angeles and you can imagine that my 50 minute commute to work (which was 7 miles away) was definitely NOT a breeze. However, I started to realize that it wasn't all that bad under certain circumstances. I started to enjoy that time in the car and I am almost positive it was because I had an incredible playlist to sit back and relax with. So, here is my "Please-Make-This-Traffic-Relaxing" playlist. 

1. Red Light –David Nail

2. Up In Flames -Coldplay

3. Lucky –Britney Spears

4. Midnight Bottle –Colbie Caillat

5. Belief –Gavin Degraw

6. Stay (Wasting Time) –Dave Matthews Band

7. My Love Is Like A Star –Demi Lovato

8. Empire State of Mind (Glee version of course)

9. Stitched Up (feat. John Mayer) –Herbie Hancock

10. Marry Me -Train

Next time you get stuck, relax. It will make your day a lot less stressful.

Peace, Love, and Simplicity.

C

Holiday Cups

Well hello there. How are you? If you’re wondering about me, I am doing well. I am amazed at how quickly the semester is going by. In other news, last week, Starbucks began using their holiday cups. How do you feel about that? I agree, most everyone’s favorite time of year is Christmas. Let’s be serious….every one loves presents. (and food). But I kind of have a problem with that.

How can we start celebrating Christmas yet? What ever happened to being thankful? Now, I am in no way condemning you for loving Christmas…or Starbucks. I just wanted to know when we started overlooking Thanksgiving? Just for that, I have created the “Songs-I-Am-Thankful-For” playlist. Make yours too. Take it to Thanksgiving dinner and play it while you cook the turkey. THEN we’ll talk Christmas music. Sound good?

1. Pretty Baby -Vanessa Carlton

2. Last Kiss –Taylor Swift

3. Dancin’ Away With My Heart –Lady Antebellum

4. Something’s Missing –John Mayer

5. Twisted -Carrie Underwood

6. Fearless –Taylor Swift

7. Princess of China -Coldplay and Rhianna

8. Shine On -Needtobreathe

9. Wanted -Hunter Hayes

10. Gravity -John Mayer

Sweet. Enjoy!

Peace, Love, and Simplicity,

C

Never Never Never Give Up

Hey there!
Last Wednesday, I had an opportunity to see a fraction of what it takes to put on the second largest tour--behind U2-- in the world right now. At about 3:30 I went inside the Frank Erwin Center and attended Taylor Swift's sound check. Shortly after, I went backstage and got to speak with the tour manager, Taylor, and her sound engineer. My afternoon concluded with a tour from her assistant of her backstage and sweet tickets to the show! From having her own merchandise company, management company to the army of people on tour with her, I was able to see what someone only a few years older than me was able to accomplish.

(For those who don't know, the T-Party room is a chilled out room backstage at every show where she hangs out, eats, etc. during the day and where super fans get to go backstage after the concert.) Here is a pic I took:

Anyway, you get the gist. Needless to say, it was an unbelievable opportunity, and there was one thing I saw in her T-Party room backstage. It was a small, simple little plaque on an easel that read "NEVER NEVER NEVER GIVE UP." Now, since then I have found that this is a famous quote by Winston Churchill, but in that moment, I had a realization that I can do anything I let myself. It doesn't matter who tells me differently, I must never, ever give up. Anyway, sorry about that little moment there. I also wanted to share the words that play before she comes on stage. It is a recording of her voice, and it gave me chills.

"Real life is a funny thing...I think most of us fear reaching the end of our life and looking back regretting the moments we didn't speak up. When we didn't say I love you. When we should've said I'm sorry. So.. there is a time for silence and there's a time for waiting your turn....But if you know how you feel and you so clearly know what you need to say you'll know it. I don't think you should wait...I think you should speak now." 

Now, enough of that. I know for those of you who are not mainstream, she makes you cringe. But I hope that you will at least give this playlist a chance. It is my "It's-a-Tay-kind-of-day" playlist. She really is a lyrical genius. Give her a chance:


1. Last Kiss* (lyrics are amazing)
2. Our Song (had to)
3. Back To December
4. Dear John
5. Better Than Revenge 
6. Jump Then Fall
7. The Other Side Of The Door
8. Ours


Enjoy!


Peace, Love & Swift

Fall is the most wonderful time of the year

All I want to do is ride a hayride, carve a pumpkin and eat candy corn. Is that too much to ask!? That was what was so great about being a kid--living the life and not even realizing we were. Anyway, I love fall time. What's your favorite time of the year?


I know, for a mainstream kid like me it should be Christmas right? Well, I love Christmas. But I think I love fall so much because 1. It is the first escape out of the Texas heat. 2. It is crisp outside 3. The leaves look unbelievable. So, I guess my question for you is, What does "fall" music sound like to you? I guess I think of it as a roast-a-s'more-grab-a-blanket-acousticy playlist, but that's just me and these are merely just my suggestions. So, if you think you'd like some suggestions for your "roast-a-s'more-grab-a-blanket-acousticy" playlist, then I'm your gal.


1. Comfortable -John Mayer
2. Lullaby -OneRepublic
3. She Is Love -Parachute* (LOVE THIS SONG)
4. Yellow -Coldplay
5. You Give Me Something -James Morrison
6. The World As I See It -Jason Mraz
7. Where Are You Going -Dave Matthews Band 
8. Breakin' At The Cracks -Colbie Caillat
9. For You I Will (Confidence) -Teddy Geiger 
10. Dancin' Away With My Heart -Lady Antebellum


Check out the video for She Is Love by Parachute here: (it was probably fall time when he recorded this)

Anyway, go roast a marshmallow for me.


Peace, Love & Simplicity,
C