Showing posts with label pop. Show all posts
YES!: A Jason Mraz Album Review
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| Photo from jasonmraz.com |
I’ve been a listener of Jason Mraz since 2002, when “Sleep All Day” started playing on the radio. Ever since then, I’ve watched him progress from this young, spontaneous, rockstar kind of guy to this now harmonic, spiritual, and easy-going person. Recently, he just released an all-acoustic album, containing 14 tracks of “love” songs. This album is collaborated with Raining Jane, a band he’s made music with for a long time now (“A Beautiful Mess” and a few of Jason’s hit singles were written with the Janes). This album is called: YES!
This summer, I’ve been in long road trips and I tell you, this is a great album to listen to on the road! I know summer is almost over (cries), but it’s still fitting to play the album during a sunny day. The order of the tracks is made so that listening to the whole album is like listening to a love story. The songs itself are all hits! Each song is written to connect to the listener; to put to words how the listener is feeling. I could easily say that half of the songs in the album are my favourite songs of the album! By the way, the word “love” is mentioned in all the songs in this album (and most of his older songs).
According to Jason, he titled the new record “YES!” because “(he) just (wants) it to be simple.” The title is so because the “writing process is all yesses, and that’s the word that made Jason and Jane happen.” One of Jason’s missions is to spread positivity and harmony in his work. What better way to articulate positivity than the word YES? According to Jason, the album is all-acoustic to bring back the coffee shop/busker days, where it all started. And of course, Raining Jane had an impact on the sound of the songs as well.
On October 23, Jason and the Janes will be playing the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. Come watch, and feel loved and inspired!
Say YES! to giving the album a listen!
All the yesses (and then some),
- Jose
10 Vancouver-Based Instagram Accounts You Should Follow
It cannot be denied that social media has been changing the world in many ways. It has changed our way of communicating, way of learning, and view of the world. According to a recent research, the fastest growing social media platform in the world is Instagram. Because I always see people on transit, at school, and in malls scrolling through their Instagram feed, I have no trouble believing this.
Since social media is an effective source of information and it is popular especially among youth, I have decided to make a list of Instagram accounts that I think would be helpful to new youth immigrants in Vancouver. So if you are on Instagram and want to learn more about Vancouver, here are ten Vancouver-based Instagram accounts that are worth following:
1) Vancouver Aquarium (@vanaqua)
Vancouver Aquarium is the largest and most popular aquarium in Vancouver. Whoever handles their Instagram account is a genius because each post makes you love and care for aquatic animals -- regardless of whether you are an animal lover or not.
2) Vancouver Is Awesome (@viawesome)
Each day, this account features a photo taken by Vancouver residents and tourists. Browse through its posts and you'll immediately see the photos that make Vancouver awesome, which were taken by different people at different places during different times of the day!
3) Vancouver 4 Life (@Vancouver4Life)
Vancouver 4 Life posts photos of Vancouver events, stores, food, public places, and nature that are sure to make you fall in love with the city. The account perfectly captures the lifestyle of Vancouverites.
4) Chris Bruntlett (@cbruntlett)
Chris's account shows Vancouver's beauty from different angles, under various weather conditions, and at different times of the day.
5) 604now (@604now)
Follow this account if you want to catch the latest updates on Vancouver news, events, and entertainment scene!
6) Vancouver Coffee (@vancoffee)
Love coffee? @vancoffee features different specialties of various local Vancouver coffee shops. Follow this account and discover your next favourite drink!
7) Vancouver Park Board (@vanparkboard)
If you want to do some recreational activities, or are looking for great hangout spots with your friends, follow @vanparkboard.
8) Vancouver Foodster (@vanfoodster)
@vanfoodster is handled by Richard Wolak, the founder of vancouverfoodster.com. If you are looking to find your next favourite food and/or Vancouver restaurant, this account is for you!
9) StreetCheek (@streetcheek)
Curious about the latest fashion trends and most popular fashion choices of Vancouverites? Don't fret, @streetcheek has you covered.
10) Dreamin' On Transit (@dreaminontransit)
If you are going to follow only one of the ten Instagram accounts that I have listed here, follow @dreaminontransit. This account takes photos of all the people taking a nap on Vancouver transit. You better make sure you look presentable when you sleep on transit!
Sean
My Christmas Jam
Hello fellow Homo sapiens! I, a self-proclaimed person who has a good taste in music, want to share my Christmas playlist!
These are
the songs that I play when it’s December or at the Christmas dinner (That’s
right, I’m the DJ in the house). It is a
mixture of different genres: from up-beat to classic and of course to blues
#foreveralone
Did I just
use a hash tag? Anyways, let’s get to the playlist. In no particular order of
favoritism, here it goes:
10. Rockin’
around the Christmas Tree by Brenda Lee
No one can
resist this classic song. And thanks to the commercial of JOE, this song is
stuck in my head. It is catchy and we know what catchy songs do to us...
ROCKIN’ around the Christmas tree...the bathroom, the kitchen and even on the
sidewalk.
9. The
Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire) by Nat King Cole
Aaah ... Nat
King Cole. His Christmas songs are the ones that make you want to sit on a sofa
with all lights dimmed, have a coffee and be nostalgic about life. Play this
song if you have your grandparents in the house...they’ll love it.
8. Have Yourself a Merry little Christmas by Frank Sinatra
Like fellow
Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra is one of the best crooners of not just Christmas
but of all time. Can you imagine how sad this song really sounds? Just read the
title. Anyways, there are covers of this song which I really like such as
Christina Aguilera’s and Judy Garland’s
7. All I
Want for Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey
I’m pretty
sure that this is one of the songs that never get old during Christmas. It will
be impossible not to hear this song in December, whether in the mall or in your
own house. I memorized the lyrics not
because I intended to but, because it’s ridiculously overplayed (Admit it. It goes
the same for you). Nevertheless, this up-beat song surely brings out the merry
in Christmas.
6. Silent
Night by Boyz II Men
The definition of acapella. The classic
Silent night is covered by many artists but one thing that remains is its
solemn essence. I like this song a lot because it just shuts up all the noise
in the world (Pun not intended) you know, when you play it, it lurks in the air
and turn everything into a melody to soothe your ear.
5. Baby It’s
Cold Outside by Joseph Gordon Levitt and Lady Gaga
WHAT? This
exists? Yes! I just found out today as well. I was looking for Zoey and Will’s
version but this showed up. After I played it, sorry folks, but this is now my
favourite version. It is adorable how they switching the role making the boy
who wants to go because of fear his parents might scold him!
4. Little
Drummer Boy by Harry Simeone Chorale
Let’s admit
it, we don’t really know the other lyrics to this song aside from the RA-PU-PUM-PUM
bit. No? Okay it’s just me then. This one is probably one of my favourite
Christmas songs sung by a chorale. And thanks to Peter Griffin for staining the
memory of this song (If you don’t know what I’m saying google Family Guy’s
version of this song)
3. Santa
Claus Is Coming To Town by Bruce Springsteen
OH you
better watch out you better not cry! You better not pout I’m telling you why,
Santa Claus is coming to town. 1) You sang this while reading it and 2) This is
mostly the part where you know the lyrics. I LOVE this song. It has the u-beat rhythm that makes you sing
along no matter where you are or even if you’re sad. (‘Cause Santa is coming
;))
2. Ave Maria
I did not
put any artist because there are a lot of varieties of Ave Maria (Personally, I
like Pavarotti’s) This song is played in a lot of occasions Christmas, funerals
or even weddings. Nevertheless, Hail the Holy Mother Mary.
1. O Holy
Night by Christina Aguilera
I know I
said this list is in no order of favoritism but, this one has to occupy the
first place. Fall on your knees indeed, this song gives goose bumps. Regardless of who the singer is, I love this
song or should I say poem. This truly captures the soul of Christmas. Everyone
is united and adores the Holy Night.
So that’s
it! I tried to make it even with blues, classic and up-beat! Hope you enjoyed
the list!
Happy
Holidays everybody!
-Anonymeh
“Geronimo”
- The Doctor
Are We Becoming Robots?
The first
thing I do when I wake up in the morning is check my phone for missed messages
and/or calls. Admit it, you do it too. However, that’s not the only thing I do.
When the world is at your fingertips, it gets harder to get up in the morning.
I’ll be honest, I check my social
media sites (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc) before I get up in the morning
(or even the afternoon). It is as if these sites are the source of news,
celebrity gossip, and our friends’ lunch. When I ride the transit, I put these
earphones that shoot out music in them in order to shut out the noise. Is there
anyone out there with the same experience? I’m sure I’m not alone. What is
happening?!
When the food comes when I eat out
with my friends, they all whip out their smartphones and go on their cameras to
take a picture of their hopefully scrumptious food. During the meal, we all
become silent not only because we’re eating, but also because we’re on our
cellular devices tweeting how good or how sucky our food is. Sometimes we go on
our phones to see how many people have “liked” or commented on our photos.
Slowly, we are being devoured by what we call the internet. Gradually, we
forget that we have friends around to enjoy times with. We turn into
metaphorical robots. WAKE UP!
Somewhere in this blog post is a
short YouTube clip
that you must watch. After seeing it, my eyes opened and I said, “what is
happening?” I then realized that I have been a victim of this, and want to stop
it.
So ride with me. Whenever you
catch yourself, remember to live in the moment. The moment is not going to be
there forever! You must cherish it. Being new to Canada, one must be exploring
the great outdoors, not the interwebs. Actually be with your friends and have a
good time. Maybe leave your electronic device at home on purpose. That way, we
all become present and alive in every moment.
The best thing you could do after
reading this post is to ask yourself, “am I being a robot?” If not, then you’re
living it right. If you said yes, then maybe you should consider the few
suggestions given above. Make the acts to seize the day.
Living in
the moment,
Jose
