Well, we’re really in it, aren’t we? The wackiest, saddest, scariest, most isolating summer ever. I hope you’re staying safe, being smart, and doing what you can to keep this pandemic from getting worse than it already is. Which is PRETTY. DAMN. BAD. If you’re from the USA, I hope you’re registered to vote, and that you are going to be a defender of democracy and NOT vote for Stupid Hitler. Or any Republican enabler. Ok, let’s take a deep breath and shake it out.
I wanted to share the cutest thing to help me through this bonkers few months (besides HAMILTON ON DISNEY + DUH), and that is a squirrel named Toast. Not sure if it’s a boy or girl (you’d think it would be easy to determine but they don’t exactly let you lift that tail), but for some reason, this brave thing decided to be my friend. Peanuts have majorly contributed, believe me. We have tons of birds and squirrels in our back yard, but Toast has taken charge of being special. It remains chill, loves to look me right in the eyes, and has no problem posing for the camera. I even attempted to make him TikTok famous:
One of my few constants in the garbage fire that was 2016 was the music. There were some good damn tunes. This post is going to feature random jams that had a good combo of feels, beats, or an interesting video. But mostly feels. The feels ruled 2016! If you want the complete list of songs I loved last year, check this playlist:
On to the videos…..
Purple Lamborghini by Skrillex & Rick Ross
What the hell is this ridiculous crap and why do I like it? Well, as the Beach Boys said, God only knows. I think the beat is a bit infectious, and I stay awake at night imagining a car “lurking”. It makes me laugh. I think of…
I don’t know. Also, the video for this song is pretty funny. Jared Leto doing his hipster Joker thing with Skrillex & Rick being video stars in front of him. ROZAY!
It’s Quiet Uptown by Kelly Clarkson
I love that Kelly is basically all of us, trying to sing along to a song in the car that brings so many feels that we lose our shit and have to adjust our makeup/composure at the next stoplight. Quit staring at me, guy in the pickup truck – I’m singing along to a song about a couple who lost their teenage son! And I’m singing along with the singer who was pregnant with her kid while she was singing this song! DON’T YOU GET IT?
4 Degrees by Anohni
Why doesn’t this song have an actual video? It could be so devastating I might leap from the first edifice I find, so… never mind. The song itself is enough. Between the global warming themed lyrics to the agonizingly melancholic voice of Anohni, we’re all doomed.
The Greatest by Sia
Oh jeez. I started with a goofy assed rap song and spiraled into the depths of emotion, didn’t I? Well, SORRY NOT SORRY. I’ve been on the Sia tip since last year, and the lady knows how to meld her incredibly powerful voice with the most incredibly expressive tween dancer, Maddie Ziegler. The choreography makes for some beautiful art. An empowering tribute to the victims of the Orlando nightclub shooting, this song/video punches you in the heart and makes you want to celebrate being a human in all its weirdness.
One more and you can go blow your nose or eat some ice cream or hug your cat.
Million Reasons by Lady Gaga
I had some options in terms of which version of this song I’d post, but this one was it, considering Gaga doesn’t require extreme meat dress fashion craziness to prove her fucking point. I loved the theatricality of her previous endeavors, but the Joanne album (along with the Tony Bennett collaboration and some fantastic performances the year prior) has proved she has WAY MORE going on. She’s an incredibly gifted singer and can craft a pop song. The Lady has learned that channeling her passion into plain ol’ good songs is just as kickass as being extravagant and… ARTPOP-ish? Do your thang, Mother Monster. I will bow down either way.
Okay, I have messed with you enough. Go get a massage and listen to the Spice Girls or something.
Welcome to 2017, folks. This year is going to be insane. Who knows what will happen. How many celebrities will die? Will our new asshat President start a thermonuclear war with a fucking Tweet? One can only wait and see. I’ll do my best to write more and keep this place free of cobwebs.
In the meantime, I’ll share what I did yesterday during the blizzard my area experienced. I got a T.Rex costume for my birthday last year (like most 42 year old ladies, right?) and have only used it twice. Once was for the sketch comedy writing class I took, and, well, here’s the second time, for your viewing pleasure.
Hello, legions of readers who have been dying for a post from me! *sarcasm* First of all, I apologize for neglecting this here World of mine. I’ve had no inspiration whatsoever. Everything I’ve considered writing about ended up just a “eh, no one cares about that mess” dismissal, and I went about my business of curling up in various blankets with various cats on my lap (currently Ollivander is on me, making it very difficult to accomplish anything).
Music has been berry berry good to me these past 12 months, so I wanted the comeback entry here to be related to all the songs that made me happy, emotional, dance, and impressed. LET THE COUNTDOWN BEGIN!
10. Turn Down For What – DJ Snake & Lil Jon
I didn’t want to like this one. Lil Jon tends to annoy me most of the time, with his yelling and songs that grate my ears. But this Snake DJ feller eased my pain. I just want to stand up and boogie like a goober every time I hear this.
9. Handy – Weird Al Yankovic
Al’s Mandatory Fun album is stellar; there isn’t a non-brilliant song in the bunch. Handy, however is PERFECT parody-wise.
8. Fancy – Iggy Azalea & Charli XCX
So let’s celebrate the tune Al parodied, shall we? I mean, this jam is so catchy, I don’t think I EVER turned it off when it came on. Between Iggy’s rap style and Charli’s super hook, it’s totally the song of the summer. Or fall. Or winter.
7. Flawless (Remix) – Beyonce & Nicki Minaj
Are you kidding me? Queen Bey is on a whole different level with this pop/hip hop/r&b thing now. No longer the squeaky clean diva. She gangsta now. When Nicki saunters on the stage in this video, which is where I first heard this version of the song, I knew shit was going to get real. And there was no disappointment.
6. Slippery Slopes – Jenny Lewis
There are so many great songs on Jenny’s latest album, The Voyager. But this one sticks with me the most. Its laid back telling of a tricky, drug fueled, possible threesome, along with the lovely nod-your-head beat. Good stuff.
5. Lonely Girl – Weezer
A wonderfully solid Weezer album made me excited about them again, and dammit if this tune isn’t pretty much one of their most perfectly Weezer-ish creations. I hope they tour near me this summer.
4. Birth In Reverse – St. Vincent
I wish I had discovered Annie sooner – she’s just oddball, immensely talented, and I really wanted her hair this year. I tried to achieve that look in November, but it didn’t work out. ANYWAY. This song is amazing. Love the off-kilter beat, the guitar riffs, and did I mention I love her hair in the video?
3. Nobody Asked Me (If I Was Okay) – Sky Ferreira
I could have picked at least three of the songs on Sky’s album, Night Time, My Time. But I wanted to have 10 different artists’ work on this list. I love the feel of her album; it’s like a movie soundtrack from the 80s. I relate to the lyrics of this song the most, so that’s why it’s on the list.
2. Every Breaking Wave – U2
I’m welling up with tears just listening to it right now. This is another in the “I could have picked a million songs off this album” category. I mean, U2 is my favorite band in the world, and they put out their best album since Achtung Baby in 2014. Forget the whole IT’S ON EVERYONE’S IPHONE thing. That really took away from how excellent Songs Of Innocence is. From start to finish. Every Breaking Wave was in my top five from the first listen, but when I saw this performance from the MTV EMA Awards, my heart exploded and it quickly became my most favorite on the album. I mean, Bono hasn’t done a raw, searing, heartbreaking execution like that since I DON’T KNOW WHEN. It reminded me of that Unforgettable Fire making of video, when he’s in the recording booth singing Pride (In The Name Of Love).
1. Chandelier – Sia
Basically, Maddie Ziegler’s dance routine in the video for this song is the representation of 2014 for me. The song is a representation of 2014 too. Thanks Sia Furler. 1000 Forms Of Fear was the best thing my ears received this year.
Yeah, I have no chance of winning, but I have to try, right? Going to New Zealand and touring all the Middle Earth locations would be A DREAM COME TRUE. And let’s not even talk about how bonkers it would be to see BOFA with PJ.
Meri's World 