For me, maybe not for you. But apparently I missed something HUGE while I was in Mexico (darn vacations, always getting in the way).
Paul McDonald and Nikki Reed are engaged... When I first heard this, I wanted to laugh. They've been dating for, count them, THREE months. Who gets engaged after three months? Crazy people (sorry P McD, that's just the way it is), that's who. Oh, they also have matching tattoos on their fingers. That's so stupid. Take a gander at this couple that will likely last only another three months (also, who holds hands like that? Come on Paul, be a man).
This tattoo will be removed soon enough.
So there you have it, folks, the engagement of my Future Fiance to his temporary Fiancee. Paul is just confused at this time of his life, so I get it, he needs to fill that empty void in his heart (for now). Oh, I should add something hilarious that Nikki Reed said (no, not her repetition of "He's the one...he's the one." The one what?).
"He was signing to me the entire time I was getting ready today. Most people would be like, 'It's enough. Put down the guitar!' I'm like, 'Listen, if you want to sit on the couch and drink a beer and play guitar all day every day, I encourage it.'"
So now she's encouraging laziness. Come on, Nikki! If you're going to be his wife, you need to encourage him to make music, not to just play his guitar on the couch. He needs to get a Grand Magnolias album out there (for his fans).
Look, I'm sure you guys are concerned about my emotional and mental well-being upon hearing this news. I just want to assure you, I am fine, so please stop with all the sympathy cards and bouquets of flowers (although they're much appreciated). I'm trying to move on to other guys, until Paul sees his mistake and moves onto me (it's only a matter of time).
Here is my new list:
1) Prince Harry (good news, he's not getting married anytime soon. I think I'm going to take a trip to England and change his mind about that...)
2) Marcus Mumford (my love for Mumford & Sons has moved to something more, Marcus has captured part of my heart)
Come play the banjo with me.
3) Move to Mexico to Court Adolfo (sounds sketchy, I know, but it's all kosher. Ask my father)
4) Paul McDonald (he'll move back up once this engagement joke blows over)
As I've tried to make fully obvious, I am a huge, giant, mega fan of Mumford & Sons and The Grand Magnolias. These bands are amazing (but, no offense to my Future Fiance, Paul McDonald, Mumford & Sons have a slight edge right now), and their music moves me.
Mumford & Sons eloquently combine beautiful and emotional lyrics with a banjo and array of instruments, and Marcus Mumford's stunning voice. The Grand Magnolias have Paul McDonald who writes his own lyrics and music, and you can just feel the emotion in his voice.
Seeing how much I love these bands, it was only fitting to find new bands like them. I did some searching into deep, personal records (otherwise known as Wikipedia) and found other bands that my favorites have done past work or collaboration with.
Here they are.
Coming from Mumford & Sons... Noah & The Whale
Wikipedia shared with me that Mumford & Sons have done some work with this fellow, quirky, British band, and I just had to check them out. Warning: Their lyrics aren't nearly as emotional as Mum's, and their music may not move as much as Mum's moves me. But their music is fun and folksy, and you just may dig it.
Here is one of their songs, called "5 Years Time."
So there is no official music video (sorry, guys), but I think this song is so fun and it makes me happy. Noah & The Whale is one to watch! They just may become popular in time (probably due to links with Mumford & Sons), and you can say "I knew them when...Rachel introduced them to me." You're welcome, in advance.
Other Noah & The Whale songs to check out:
"Rocks and Daggers," "Life is Life"
Coming from The Grand Magnolias... The Dirty Guv'nahs
Their name is cool enough as it is. But seriously, this band is pretty rad. If you love Paul McDonald and The Grand Magnolias, you will definitely appreciate these guys. Their voice is unique (and somewhat reminds me of Kings of Leon) and their lyrics are meaningful, just like their buddy band (The Grand Mags). I will definitely be buying some of their music on iTunes (when I have money).
Here is one of their songs, "We'll Be the Light."
Pretty good, eh? I'm definitely digging this band right now. Also, there is a video on The Grand Magnolias' video stream (or whatever the YouTube lingo is) of these two bands playing together. Would you like to see it? Alrighty then!
Well...they're on stage together, or something (that wasn't as exciting as I thought it would be). So check them out!
Other The Dirty Guv'nahs songs to look up:
"Blue Rose Stroll," "Oh Jericho"
Let me count thy ways (seriously, I am going to do that right now).
Before I count these ways, let me start by saying that Mumford & Sons are my favorite band of the moment, and their music is so stunning. The lyrics, the banjo (yeah, I love the banjo), the voice...all of that together makes me melt.
So get yourself ready, because this post is a love fest.
Am I allowed to crush on Marcus Mumford, too?
1) The Literary Connections
Let me start off by informing you of my love of literature. I love literature. When other kids complain about reading Hamlet, or The Odyssey, I excitedly go and buy the book and pore over the pages and enjoy the literature. I just adore books, especially the classic ones. I am glad to say that Mumford & Sons love literature and philosophy as much as I do (I can only assume it's on the same level as me, but go with it). Tons of their songs relate to literature. Let me give you some examples!
Sigh No More - This one relates to Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing (which was my favorite Shakespeare play), and even borrows some lines from the play. "Serve God, love me and mend," as well as "One foot in sea and one on shore" are lines that are both in the Mum song and Shakespeare's play
Roll Away Your Stone - This was influenced by Shakespeare's Macbeth. I haven't read this yet, so I can't vouch for that (but I trust this is true).
The Cave - Supposedly, this one has several references to The Odyssey, but I see more references to Plato's Allegory of the Cave. I'm in a philosophy class and we read the latter work, and I wrote an essay about how "The Cave" related to Plato's work (it was quite an excellent essay). If you read Plato's The Cave, you'll probably agree with me. Although I do see how it relates to The Odyssey, as well.
Dust Bowl Dance - As I've read on many online forums (that discuss the meanings of songs), this one relates to Steinbeck's Grapes of Wrath. Part of the novel is about this guy who loses his farmland, and needs to cling to some sense of hope. The Mumford song is also about that.
To me, the literary connections are so wonderful and add a new depth to the already emotional songs by Mumford & Sons. They are great!
2) The Lyrics
As I've mentioned in other posts concerning Mumford & Sons, the lyrics to their songs are outstanding. Marcus Mumford (the singer) writes the lyrics, and he performs them with his Sons. You can feel the emotion behind each line and know just how real it is. Amazing. I've already done my favorite lyrics from "Little Lion Man" and "The Cave," so now I'll add some more in (I only have 6 of their songs at the moment, but I'll try to throw in some from the songs I don't have).
White Blank Page - "You desired my attention, but denied my affections, my affections." (When you hear Marcus sing this line, your heart breaks right along with him. He has an anger and sadness in his voice, it's amazing.)
Winter Winds - "But if your strife strikes at your sleep, remember spring swaps snow for leaves. You'll be happy and wholesome again, when the city clears and the sun ascends." (Okay, so that's pretty much a whole stanza, but I love it. This song is one of my favorites at the moment, and every part of the song is amazing, but this gets me every time.)
After the Storm - "There will come a time you'll see, with no more tears. And love will not break your heart, but dismiss your fears." (I love the rest of the chorus too, but these two lines are stunning. And when you hear them sung, your heart will melt. This is my favorite song ever right now. I have truly never heard a more beautiful song. If you have, I challenge you to a song-off. Because this song is beautiful.)
Dust Bowl Dance - "Seal my heart and break my pride, I've got nowhere to stand and now nowhere to hide." (When you hear him sing this, again, it's more impactful. This song is really intense, I love it.)
Roll Away Your Stone - "You have neither reason nor rhyme with which to take this soul that is so rightfully mine." (Boom. Emotion hits you. This song is all about a guy trying to fill the hole in his soul with other things, but he discovers he cannot. It's a great song.)
3) The Banjo
Never before in my life have I thought the banjo was a "cool" instrument. I've seen Steve Martin play it before (on SNL, and other such shows), and it sounds so hick-y. I could see Martha Sue playing it with her cousin/husband Tommy Jones (who uses an old bottle as an instrument) as they stand outside of their trailer. But now, thanks to this wonderful, possibly life-altering band, I have changed my opinion of the banjo completely. Mumford & His Sons make this crazy instrument sound cool and hip, and just all around great. To be quite honest, they have inspired me to take up banjo lessons. And as soon as I return from Mexico, I am going to rent one and learn how to play. (I'm serious about this, by the way, I think the banjo is so damn cool.) Maybe, if I learn to play well enough, they'll invite me to play with them.
4) The Voice
Marcus Mumford has the voice of the angel (if there ever was one). I don't know how, but he packs so much emotion into the lyrics that he sings, that sometimes I want to give him a hug. By writing his own lyrics, it is obviously easier for him to get in touch with the emotions that are within and his voice makes that loud and clear. To sum this up in a way everyone should understand: If there were a Church of the Mumford, I would be a member (if only to hear Marcus sing), and maybe even fall victim to the Doctrine of the Mumford & His Sons.
Here's our darling Marcus Oliver Johnston Mumford (I love his name, it's quintessentially British).
5) The British-ness
I'm not even sure how much explaining this needs. I have an obsession with all things British, and Mumford & Sons happen to fall under that category. Sometimes you can hear the British accent come out when Marcus is singing (and it's super stunning). Also, they're from England. I should just stop there.
If you're not already in love with Mumford & Sons, I can only hope that this post helped change your mind. Stay tuned for more awesome music tomorrow!
I am obsessed with movies. If I could, I would live at the movie theater, but it's too expensive (I wouldn't want to spend $5 on a bottle of water everyday). So instead of moving in, here are some new movies coming out soon that you need to see.
Horrible Bosses
This movie looks so funny, I am practically counting down the days until it comes out. It stars Jason Sudeikis, Charlie Day, and Jason Bateman as three guys who have terrible bosses (played by Colin Farrell, Jennifer Aniston, and Kevin Spacey, respectively). These poor guys have had enough with their horrible bosses (hence the title) and decide to do something about it. They hire a hit man, Jamie Foxx, to help them murder their bosses. To me, this seems like a rational decision. Check it out.
You may recognize Charlie Day from "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" (another funny show you should check out), and you know where everyone else is from. Jason Bateman was hilarious in "Arrested Development," and this movie looks like it will meet my Bateman Standards.
Check this out in theatres on July 8th.
Captain America: The First Avenger
If you're like me, then you love superhero movies. If you're not like me, then you hate them (I'm sorry if you hate them). Whether or not we have this difference, you must check out this trailer. This movie looks beyond epic (and patriotic), and I can't even adequately explain my excitement for this movie. It stars Chris Evans as Captain American himself (you may recognize him from "The Fantastic Four"), and Stanley Tucci as Abraham Erskine, a.k.a. the guy who transforms the puny Steve Rogers into the smokin' hot and superheroic Captain America. Check it out!
Join me on July 22nd (or July 21st at midnight) to see the premiere.
Crazy, Stupid, Love.
This movie stars Steve Carell, Julianne Moore, Ryan Gosling (hot!), and Emma Stone. Need I say more? Pretty much, Moore and Carell's marriage is falling apart, so Carell turns to Gosling (a lady's man) to get his wife back. In the process, Gosling falls in love with Stone. Also, Kevin Bacon and Marisa Tomei star in this film (can you ask for a better cast? I think not). Hilarity and romance ensues! Take a gander. This looks so charming and hilarious! I love Emma Stone at the end, "Seriously! It's like you're photoshopped!" (I love Emma Stone, she was great in "Easy A.")
This film hits theatres July 29th.
Our Idiot Brother
This movie stars my favorite Zooey Deschanel (I'm sure you've caught onto that by now), as well as Paul Rudd, Elizabeth Banks, Emily Mortimer, and Rashida Jones (from "Parks and Recreation," great show). Pretty much, this movie is about Rudd, who is an idiot (to put it lightly). He is arrested for marijuana possession, and upon his release, his family debates what to do with him. Despite his good intentions, he always seems to screw up. Another heartwarming comedy. Check it!
Looks great. I'll be there to see it, and you should too! Coming to a theatre near you on August 26th.
Last but not least, Beginners
If you love Ewan McGregor and quirky, feel-good movies, I have a feeling this is the movie for you. Quick plot summary (from IMDB):
Oliver (McGregor), a graphic designer, meets the irreverent and unpredictable Anna just months after his father Hal has passed away. This new love floods Oliver with memories of Hal, who came out of the closet at age 75 shortly after his wife of 44 years died, and began living a wonderful gay life. But when Hal is diagnosed with terminal cancer, Oliver and Hal become closer than they’d ever been able to be. Now Oliver endeavors to love Anna with all the bravery, humor, and hope that his father taught him.
Sounds great, doesn't it? I've loved Ewan McGregor since "Moulin Rouge," and I will gladly watch any film of his. This quirky movie looks touching but funny (which in my mind is the perfect mix). Here's a trailer.
It looks delightful (I also love the conversation between McGregor and the dog. Classic).
This hits theatres June 3rd!
As always, there are new TV shows to look forward to this fall. I'm sure you're just as excited for these shows to premiere as I am, so I'll discuss them here!
Starting with my favorite actress ever (see previous post of my "Girl Crush"), Zooey Deschanel is joining big sister Emily on Fox with a show called "The New Girl." In this show, Zooey's character, Jessica, was recently dumped by her boyfriend. In order to start over and get back on her feet, she moves in with three guys, played by Jake Johnson, Max Greenfield and Damon Wayans, Jr. (who is in a new show called "Happy Endings" which just ended its first season, it was very funny). Jessica is geeky and kind of socially awkward, but her new roommates are determined to help her out. Check out the preview!
Looks hilarious, no? I'll watch this (if only because I adore Zooey Deschanel... don't judge me).
Next, we have a show starring another hilarious actress, called "2 Broke Girls." This upcoming CBS comedy stars Kat Dennings (love her) as Max and Beth Behrs as Caroline. I'm not completely sure what the premise of the show is (this is my first time watching the trailer), but since I love Kat Dennings I'll give it a shot.
This show is crazy because they are complete opposites! Just nuts... But this idea is old news. There is a kid's show on Disney Channel (I babysit a lot, and used to be a kid) called "The Suite Life of Zack and Cody" and they kind of borrowed the characters from that show. One girl is an heiress to hotels (like Paris Hilton, but unlike this new show she doesn't lose her money), and the other is a hard working, young girl who holds a few jobs. So...this isn't very creative. I also hate laugh tracks (I'll choose when I want to laugh). But hey, I'll still test these waters.
The next TV show we have is an NBC comedy called "Up All Night." It stars some hilarious actors - Will Arnett, Maya Rudolph, and Christina Applegate. I don't necessarily know all of the details, but pretty much this couple (Arnett and Applegate) just had a baby. The mom works, and the dad stays at home. Hence, chaos ensues. I'm not sure where Rudolph comes in, but if she's in it, this show must be funny.
Now I have officially watched the preview...and it looks downright hilarious. I love all of these leads, and I will be there the second it premieres (or watching it a day later on my DVR, whatever). The only weird part to me is that the baby is named Amy, and the two adult women are Reagan and Ava. That doesn't make sense to me...
The last TV show I will cover is "Suburgatory," which will be new on ABC this fall. It will join the Wednesday night line up of "The Middle," "Modern Family," and "Happy Endings" (all of which are quality comedies). This show stars a bunch of people I don't recognize (except for Cheryl Hines, who is hilarious), and is about a girl and her dad who move from the city to the suburbs. Crazy! This suburban town reminds me slightly of my neighborhood (except for a little more to the extreme). Check it out.
This could either be absolutely hilarious, or a complete flop. We'll have to wait and see.
As you can see, I love comedic television shows. Try and check these out when they premiere this fall!
Naturally, I have a "girl crush" on some celebrities. This is common, right? I can't be the only one (I assume...). Let's get to it.
Adele
How could anyone not love this stellar singer? Adele is a British songstress whose first album "19" made waves in the US when it came out 3 years ago. She first caught my eye with the haunting song "Chasing Pavements," and landed a spot performing on SNL (as this sentence suggests, I influenced her appearance on SNL).
Now, she has a new album out, "21." I am slowly but surely adding to my Adele collection, but right now I have the marvelous songs "Rolling in the Deep" and "Rumour Has It" (you should seriously check them out). Adele has one of the most beautiful and unique voices I've ever heard, and every song has a certain mood to it. Her songs are almost haunting, and will stay with you for awhile. I read her article in "Rolling Stone," and learned other things about her. Fun Facts About Adele (and things concerning her):
-She smokes around 7 cigarettes a day (this isn't fun, I just find it crazy that she has a stunning voice despite this)
-The songs on this album are mostly influenced by a boyfriend she had
-Said boyfriend is (supposedly) trying to sue her, because he wants half the royalties since he was "inspiration" for the album, despite the fact that he didn't do shit
-"roll deep" means to have someone's back (in British slang), hence where "Rolling in the Deep" came from
Fun! Here are my favorite lyrics from the two songs I have. Rolling in the Deep: "The scars of your love remind me of us, they keep me thinking that we almost had it all. The scars of your love, they leave me breathless." (Packs a punch of emotion, huh? I love when singers write their own music, it adds more truth to the songs.) Rumour Has It: "You made a fool out of me, and, boy, I'm bringing you down. You made my heart melt yet I'm cold to the core." (Boom. Intense. Side note: my dad didn't know she was singing "rumour has it" in the chorus, and thought she was saying "Uma." So, he took that and ran with it, and now sings the chorus as "Uma has it. Oprah wants it.")
Zooey Deschanel
First of all, I'm really impressed with myself for spelling her last name right (although I have no clue how to pronounce it correctly).
Second, this girl is awesome. I have a bigger girl crush on her than I do Adele. Zooey is so quirky and cute, as well as talented, and I will pretty much watch/listen to anything in which she is involved. That's dedication. My absolute favorite movie of her's is "(500) Days of Summer." (That movie is saved on my DVR and has been watched countless times.) I am the kind of person that hates predictable and/or happy endings, so I just adore this Indie, romantic dramedy. Zooey is also starring in a new movie and TV show (both of which I will discuss in later posts).
Onto her music! Did you know? Zooey Deschanel is in a quirky, indie band called She & Him. Whether or not you know this, I'm sure you're glad I shared this precious information with you. She & Him have released two albums, and while I currently don't have any of her songs on my iPod, I often watch their videos on the YouTube. Their sound is kind of hard to describe, but they're definitely alternative. Thier music sounds sunny and peppy, but the lyrics aren't always that way. Just listen, you may or may not love it. My favorite is "In The Sun" (the video is below).
Here is my favorite lyric from In The Sun: "We all get the slip sometimes every day, I'll just keep it to myself in the sun." (I'm not completely sure what this song is about, but I'm pretty sure it's about leaving a boyfriend. This line is pretty much saying that she's going to hide her feelings of regret and whatnot, although it should be rather obvious. Love it.)
Today I am celebrating another wonderful band, The Beatles. I'm honoring them with posting about names from their songs. Exciting, no?
Before I get started, would you like to know a fun fact concerning the Beatles and my life? Good! So, growing up in New Jersey my dad knew this family, the Shevell's. Years later (actually before marrying Linda, according to my father), Nancy Shevell starting dating Paul. Then they broke up and yadda yadda, Linda and Heather, etc. Then, in 2007, Nancy and Paul started dating again. And now they're getting married soon! I was all excited and told my dad, "Now we kind of have a connection to The Beatles." Then my dad burst my bubble and said, "Yeah. But we won't be invited to the wedding." So that's my Beatles story.
Girl Lucy Origin: English, female variant of Lucius Meaning: "light" Use and History: This song is, of course, from The Beatles' song, "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds." It was also used in the movie "Across the Universe" as the name of the female lead (a movie based on songs from The Beatles, it was really good, check it out). That's all I got. Why You Should Use It: This name is classic and chic, and fits right in with the new trend of "old names that are making a comeback." Not only does Lucy work perfectly on a little girl, it will fit them throughout all stages of life (which is a definite plus). Why You Might Not Want to Use It: As I'm sure everyone knows, The Beatles song is about the drug LSD, and people might make that leap at some point in a Lucy's life. This is a small worry, though, and shouldn't be too important in a decision about using it. Also, Lucy recently jumped about 40 spots in America's most popular names, and landed back in the Top 100 names (at number 74) for the first time in many years.
Boy Jude
Origin: Latin, diminutive of Judah Meaning: "praise" Use and History: This name is well known for being used in the popular Beatles song, "Hey Jude." Fun fact: This song was written by Paul McCartney for John Lennon's son, Julian, to comfort him when Lennon and his wife were going through a divorce. It was originally going to be called "Hey Jules" (which is a nickname for Julian), but it was changed to Jude.
As with Lucy, Jude was used as the name of the male lead in the movie "Across the Universe." Why You Should Use It: This soft but strong boy's name makes a great choice for parents who love The Beatles or love names with a lot of history (sorry I didn't expand on that, I wanted to stick to history concerning The Beatles). Why You Might Not Want to Use It: Jude is currently at the highest position on the name charts it has ever been (#170), and it will most likely rise even more. Also, it sounds very similar to Jew, and that may be a concern for some people.
If you haven't seen "Across the Universe" (which I am now assigning to you as homework), here is a picture of Lucy and Jude from the movie.
More names from Beatles songs
Anna
Carol
Clarabella
Eleanor
Johnny
Julia
Lizzy
Lucille
Maggie Mae (not to be confused with Maggie May, by Rod Stewart and sung on American Idol by Paul McDonald)
Martha
Maxwell (this must be where they got Max's name from in "Across the Universe")
Michelle
Penny (I know it's not really used as a name in the song "Penny Lane," but why not?)
Pepper (Sgt. Pepper)
Prudence
Rita
Robert
Rocky
Sadie
Sally
Teddy
PS: I'm going on vacation today, so the posts for the next week-ish won't really be anything newsworthy, just some random stuff I wanted to write about. Enjoy!
