Entire cds?

I have to laugh because I just loaded $20 worth of itunes credit onto my computer and I only have $5 left now. After buying a few singles I came across the Swedish House Mafia's 'Until One' album. I'm actually shocked I don't own it yet seeing that it came out the end of Oct, but then again you do have to remember that Nov- Jan I have a strict 'Only Christmas Music' policy. But what made me laugh is that my boyfriend was just mentioning the other day that I'm probably the only person that still buys complete cds! Is this true?! Do you guys still buy whole cds or just singles off of itunes?

I can't imagine not having whole cds. He does make a great point that more people are apt to buy just the single rather than spring for the entire cd ... which would force musicians to try to make their cds as complete and perfect as they can. I mean no ones going to buy that entire cd for those 5 songs that shouldn't have even made it there in the first place. He's right- Itunes and other internet music media companies have forced artists to challenge themselves and try to make the best album that they can. *Don't tell them, but I'll probably still buy them regardless;)*

As for the SHM I'll update once I get a good feel for the album, but I mean... I feel like there's no way it can be that bad ;)

If you're thinking to myself, Swedish House Mafia... sounds familiar. What's one of their songs.

You may have heard one of these:

One:



Miami to Ibiza:


I have a feeling you may see more blog posts from me about music coming now since I'm trying to stay busy and keep my mind off my boyfriend who's a million miles away right now :( waaahhhhh

Peace, Love and Electro House,
Juls

Dreams.

Dreams.

Everybody has dreams. Dreams for the future, dreams for the present, and dreams of things that they wish would have occurred in the past.

I've always been a dreamer. Coming up with new schemes or ideas in my head that I wished would play out into real life. Dreams of being famous and singing in front of crowds, dreams of having a family and living an amazing life, dreams of me living in crazy exotic places experiencing life as you would not if you were to stay in Pittsburgh.

Dreaming of being the next American Idol

I've always known I wanted to leave Pittsburgh. Maybe not for forever, but at least for a little while. To experience other cities, cultures, different ways of living... I've always said, there are so many places to live in the world I don't want to spend all my time in just one.

Within the last year I made it a priority to live out this dream of moving. Once my apartment lease was up I moved back in with my parents to plan my next move... "to where" was the only question.

While making plans to live out my dream of moving, my life started making it's own plans. Now I sit faced with the amazing opportunity to move to a city of my dreams only to be set back with doubts and fears.

I never thought one person could impact your life (and in such a short amount of time) as a certain someone in my life has. As I get ready to make my move I trust in my heart that the decisions I'm making are the ones that I need to get off my chest before going further down life's road.

*At least I'm crossing my fingers that they are...* LT3

On a not so serious note...
If you listen to only one suggestion for music that I ever make please let this one be it.
Download the Radio 538 Powermix podcast, specifically episode 196. For the beginning of the year they did a 3 hour mix of music. It's awesome.... even my sister said it was awesome (which is saying much because she doesn't usually like my music)

Peace, Love and Dreams-
Julie

Delilahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh *puke*

If there's one radio host I HATE listening to it's Deliliah. I'm a pretty positive person, but her 'happy all the time' mood makes me want to puke. I swear that she says these happy stories and once it cuts to a song or a commercial she starts flipping and cussing out the people who called in and told them.


The only time I will ever listen to Delilah is for Christmas music.


ONLY TIME.


Sorry. I just felt like I needed to post how much I hate her.


Thanks all XOXO
Merry Christmas <3

Trading in the Beemer and Moving to NYC

Ever since I was little I always pictured myself living in a big city or somewhere else outside of Pittsburgh. Of course I fantasized about NYC and pretty much every place I would visit. My family and friends always tease me because when I come back from a trip I’m on a ‘I wanna move to XYZ’ kick until I visit somewhere else.

Coming out of school I never really wanted to stay in Pittsburgh, but since I got a consulting job based in Pittsburgh I figured it would be the best of both worlds. Travel during the week and be home with my fam and friends on the weekend.  Well of course that didn’t happen. I got ‘lucky’ and pretty much am in the 1% of people at my company that doesn’t travel. I’ve contemplated moving many times over the course of the last 2 ½ years, but never had made a move. I’ve always felt that in my life I’d need to do something drastic. Make a huge change. Get out of my comfort zone. Try something completely new. When I went to Italia I got some of this. It was for a short period of time (and I’d love to move back for greater than the 5/6 months I was there), but I always knew I’d need something more as well. There are sooooooooo many places to live in this world- I don’t want to stay in 1 place my whole life.

One of my really great friends from middle/high school moved to NYC after school and has been living there for awhile. This past summer I went up to visit and of course started my ‘I wanna move here asap’ rant. Welllllllll jump forward 6 months and his roommate moved out and needed someone to sublet his room! I really felt like I couldn’t pass this up. It’s definitely gonna be a hugeeeeee change- I’m selling my car (which I’m pretty much obsessed with), pretty much leaving everything I own here and moving up to the big city!

It’s crazy to me because I feel like I’m starting to live out a dream of mine I’ve had for soooooooo long. I know that there are some people here that will take it personally that I’m leaving- especially new relationships that I’ve started over the last few months. My Mom keeps telling me I need to get this out of my system beforeI have a family. I’ll always wonder what would have been if I don’t go. I feel like over the last year I’ve been working so hard to create a better ‘me’.  This is something, without a doubt, that I need to do in my life before I’d even be able to THINK about settling down.  I’m so excited to live a new life in a new city… I wish I could take certain people with me.

Me and the new roomies :)

Christmas Music :)

So my favorite music, of all time, is Christmas. I LOVEEEEE IT. Back in high school I had vocal nodes and wasn't allowed to sing and talk a lot for 6 weeks. OF COURSE this 6 weeks was over the Christmas season and honestly, that was probably the most depressing part of my life to date. I always joke and say that my mission on this earth is to put out a Christmas album that people will listen to and say 'Wow, how did we live without this before?!' I mean- think along the lines of Mariah's Christmas album. That big. Hey, here's to wishing right ? ;)


Anyways,
I always find it interesting to find out which Christmas song is people's favorites and why?  It is extremely, extremely hard to pick my favorite song. Almost seems down right like an impossible task for me... but after much deliberation I have come up with my fav.


My favorite Christmas song is Oh Holy Night. I loveeeee this song. I love the melody, the lyrics and I especially love to sing it! I just think it's such a beautiful song. My Second favorite is It's the Most Wonderful Time of Time of the Year.


Now I absolutely love myself some Silent Night, We Wish You A Merry Christmas and all the rest of the songs, but if I really had to pick those would be my favorites.


My favorite Christmas album is definitely the Kenny G Christmas album. It just reminds me of being little and decorating the house. That's the music we always bust out at Christmas time!


The best thing about Christmas music is singing the music! In high school I always loved going around to the different nursing homes and performing. I wish I had oppotunities now to sing around the community. One of my favorite traditions is singing Christmas Eve mass. When I was younger there was a group of us that sang in the Church choir. Every Christmas we all come back together and sing. It's always so much fun and I absolutely love it! :)

Leave me a comment and let me know what your fav song is!!!

Here's one of my fav Christmas pix! In college we loved having themed parties and had an awesome Christmas party :)

Love don't let me gooooooooooooooooo

So I have an anthem song. I can't remember if I've ever talked about it before, but it's the one song I listen to that get's me pumped up no matter what. I remember listening to it on the way to job interviews and on my first day of work, before going out and on days where I was just kinda depressed... The World Is Mine (FMIF Remix) Seriously- that song gets me going haha

But since I went over to Europe in 2007 and first heard Love Don't Let Me Go- David Guetta vs. The Egg I fell in love with David Guetta. Loved him. Love his songs, beats, the artists he collaborates with- everything!

Last year I remember hearing him an interview and he was saying how he didn't understand why House/Dance music was so popular in Europe and not in the US and was determined to have it cross the ocean. With the release of Sexy Bitch with Akon I believe he's on a great path to do so. I won't lie, it really does bother me that he has to collaborate with celebrities that are famous over here to get big in the US - but I'll take it. I'm proud that he's on a mission to get his music out there.

He released a follow up to his One Love album entitled One More Love a few weeks back. It's One Love PLUS additional hits he's had come out of the last year PLUS oldies but goodies like the original cut of The World Is Mine and Love Don't Let Me Go.

Check it out- I'm really glad he's becoming main stream in the US :)

Peace, Love and David Guetta
- Juls

What makes a great song?

My sister and I were having a convo about what makes a great song. An artist who is highly regarded can put out a song, sing it perfectly, but if it doesn't have a good melody or beat and have good lyrics it could end up being a real flop.


We believe that theses 3 things- singer, melody/beat, lyrics- make up a perfect song.


Take for example Ke$ha's new cd- Cannibal. It's no surprise to say that Ke$ha really isn't one of those singers you regard as an amazing singer, so she really would need to rely on good melody/beats and lyrics to help her sell songs. She has a song on her album called 'Grow a Pear'. At first glance you're like ummm seriously? 


Now without hearing the song and reading these lyrics - what do you think of the song:
Yeah I think you’re hot
I think you’re alright
But you’re acting like the chick all the time
You are cool and now you’re not just like that
When you grow a pear
You can call me back


The only redeeming grace this song could possible have is if it has a good beat. Well, judge for yourself- Listen to Ke$ha's 'Grow a Pear'


I hate it... so anyways. There really are only 2 songs I like on the whole album
Ke$ha - Blow

Ke$ha- We R Who We R

Honestly... those are the only two songs that are worth listening to. 


Recommendation: Don't buy the cd. There are a few good beats on it, but the lyrics are so weird and horrible that it's not worth the money.


Now take a look at TSwift's amazing album- 
Good Singer? - check!
Awesome melodies? - check!
Good Lyrics? - check check!


It's no surprise that I'm a huge Tswift supporter, but I honestly think that this is by far her best album. I am so impressed by her song writing and performing skills that it's hard for me not to be a fan. It really upsets me when people don't agree because take a look at the music industry right now. Pretty much it's just selling sex and talent is coming in second. Taylor really is the definition of talent. I was watching a documentary on her the other day and Brad Paisley was asked if he believed she should have won the Country Music Association's Entertainer of the Year Award last year. He said that although some may have their opinions about the award (*cough cough* Wynonna) if she hadn't had won the award then the association really wouldn't have been representing the true voice of the fans.


From the day I bought the cd I couldn't put it down. I honestly woke up singing the songs and fell asleep singing the songs. It truly was on repeat 24/7 until Christmas music took over my playlist. If you don't own Speak Now stop reading this, go to itunes and buy it. I promise you won't be disappointed. 


I honestly can't even tell you my favorite song on the album. Originally she wanted to call the album Enchanted (which is an amazing song btw- Enchanted), but her record label thought she really needed a strong title for this album. I love the Speak Now title. It's so fitting and I absolutely love how every song is about a situation or relationship she's gone through in her life. If I were to release an album it would be just like that.
If you were only to listen to 2 other songs on the album (other than the songs you hear on the radio) I'd suggest you listen to:
Taylor Swift - Sparks Fly

Taylor Swift- Love Live



But honestly- listen to the whole cd.


Ok, anyways, I should probably get a job on Taylor's PR team hahaha


Let me know what you think of the album!!


Long live the walls we crashed through
<3 Juls

Well we meet again..

Let's see. It's been 2 months... I know you feel abandoned. How could I just leave my audience like that?

Yeah... I'm sure you really didn't miss me haha, but I'M BACCCCKKKKK.

What's happened in my life? Well, I took the GMAT. Failed miserably- going to be taking it again at the end of December. Ya I definitely haven't picked up the book since I failed it (gotta get back on that). I started having horrible back spasms (I blame failing on the muscle relaxers and vicodin I was on because of them). That's been fun... Work has been ridiculously busy. I dyed my hair red again (although it looks pretty brown right now. prob gonna be re-dying within the next 2 weeks) I have a cute boyfriend now. :)  Annnd a whole slew of artists have released albums!

Seriously- within the last month I've spent so much money on buying new music my credit card pretty much hates me (but itunes loves me!!).

Taylor, Kanye, Nicki, Josh Groban, Girltalk, Rihanna, Ke$ha - to name a few.

In way of Christmas albums you have Jessica Simpson, Mariah's new cd and the Glee Christmas album.

My next few posts will definitely be about the new albums that have come out this month, but I'll leave you with one awesome song right now. On the Glee Christmas album I'm IN LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVEEEEEEEE with their version of this song- God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

Happy Holidays!!!!!!!!
<3 Juls

OMG

So one of my friends just sent me this link. He knows the guys in this video messing with some people on Craigslist. You have to watch it... hahaha

Be warned... It's not the most appropriate video.

Craigs List Eperiments

Lovin' Armin Van Buuren right now

Watch this video! It's awesome Armin Van Buuren talks about his new album

I love how he goes through explaining how they created Mirage. I think it's so cool how dj's go through and put layer after layer of sounds and come up with awesome end products. How just one little loop can create a track that an entire album will be based off of.

The title track is really great- Listen to Mirage

This is him talking about one my favorite track on the album: Making of Not Giving Up On Love

Listen to the end product: Not Giving Up On Love

The entire album is awesome. My two other favs are This Light Between Us and Drowning

Seriously- check it out. You won't be disappointed. PROMISE!!