That is my spiel. In other news, I have become obsessed with Queen in the last few months – more than I have ever been in the past – and wish to share this piece of sound with you.

Happy break, lovers.

From time to time I delete songs from my iTunes, whether they are doubles, unknown or never played. Almost reaching a 15,000-song made me realize having 55+ GB of space used up can’t be too healthy for my Mac’s hard drive. In today’s rampage, I found a few songs that brought a nostalgic feeling.

Fall is my favorite season, yet, I often feel nostalgic or even melancholy when the leaves begin to change colors and the wind pursues the branches. It’s tough to think about last fall; it’s even more tough to think about the fall when I started 6th grade. Each fall reminds me of Michael Jackson, Memphis, love and beginning. It’s strange, but I enjoy the heartache fall brings.

Anyway, my song-destroying frenzy lead me to a library of lost songs. I said goodbye to almost 4,000 songs. Anything marked “Track 1″ – or any other number – had to go. Doubles were finally deleted, as well as songs that I had never heard of or knew I wouldn’t miss.

(I wrote this today.)

Because of the few I’ve added this semester, I’m up to 10,941 songs. 46.9 GB are needed to house these files. That would mean I need at least a 64 GB iPod with only a little room to spare. And a good portion of the newly added are huge sound files of interviews I did for a reporting class. My life became a tad less revolved around music this semester. This is not good!

I’m a sucker for finding new music through Youtube.com. The “suggestions” sidebar on the right side is a useful little feature not only for discovering similar music artists, but for tracking down comedic videos you forgot the name of. I wish there were a simple feature such as this when it came to making friends or networking.

Facebook also features advertisements on the right sidebar based on one’s likes, interests and pages. It just so happens that John Legend and The Roots have a new album entitled “Wake Up!” (For those of you who are unaware, The Roots is the house band on Jimmy Fallon’s late night show.) The album was released this past Tuesday – the standard day for music releases. As a John Legend buff, I’m disappointed in myself for not knowing about the release or even the collaboration. I did, however, preview the tracks on iTunes and was very pleased with the output. Most of the lyric content focuses on provoking people to “wake up!” and notice that the world cannot progress as a whole if we don’t take hands. And, in classic John Legend style, the artists produced a neo-soul style with elements of funk and rock as well.

The Youtube.com search started after I previewed a few tracks on iTunes. A full song listening session was essential to get the full effect and ultimately decide if this album is worth buying. (Who am I kidding, I always buy Legend’s albums!) After a few video views of “Wake Up!” tracks, I noticed a Travie McCoy song in the “suggestions” sidebar. I didn’t need much persuasion, as I love McCoy’s solo music and the art he produced with Gym Class Heroes. Click! “One at a Time” is just the song I needed to improve my mood. Let it brighten your day:

Did you like that? Maybe rap is not for you, but you cannot deny the wisdom of the provoking lyrics. I’m very pleased with the angle most musicians have been taking with their lyric content lately. Sexual content is still prevalent, but many are concerned with worldly issues that effect us all. Critics may think it’s merely a commercial marketing ploy, but honestly, I do not care! No one should care about that when the content is finally positive across (most of) the music board!

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Hiphop.popcrunch.com

My apologies go out to the blog world I’ve neglected in the past month and a half! Now, back to business…

I’ve spent the last four weeks in State College. There have been very low points and very high points, but I finally made it through a steady week (last week); and let me tell you, that feels fabulous.

I joined Pillar, a THON organization, and I love it! (For those of you who don’t know what THON is, it’s a 46-hour Dance-A-Thon that benefits the Four Diamond Fund to help beat pediatric cancer. It was started at Penn State in 1973. Money raised goes directly to those families with children who have cancer so that they don’t have to worry about financial issues during their fight against cancer.) The group members are relaxed and truly believe in what they do.

On a sad note, I read last week that Rich Cronin, former LFO lead singer, died of leukemia last Wednesday night. :( Rest in peace, Rich.

I’ve  joined a student-run magazine, FLY; It focuses on empowering women. And can’t forget the Eco-Action club I plan to join! Go green!

Today, I attended an information meeting on joining the Business Division of The Daily Collegian newspaper. After the interview next week, I hope to start training for the Creative Division or the Customer Service Division. Wish me luck!

Besides going to the B.o.b and Travie McCoy concert two weeks ago, I have yet to get involved with music on or off campus…but I did meet a new friend – Matt Weaver – who is a Music Education major! There is still hope.

If you know anything about either of these rappers, your mouth will drop.

“The Scientist” by Coldplay

Come up to meet you, tell you I’m sorry
You don’t know how lovely you are
I had to find you, tell you I need you
Tell you I set you apart

Oh ooh, ooh ooh ooh ooh
Ah ooh, ooh ooh ooh ooh
Oh ooh, ooh ooh ooh ooh
Oh ooh, ooh ooh ooh ooh

I feel like Sylvia Plath sometimes. Cliche, but true.

“If you’re tossin’ and you’re turnin’ and you just can’t fall asleep, I’ll sing a song beside you.”

“And if you ever forget how much you really mean to me, everyday I will remind you.”

I hope all my friends know this. I do not tell them how much I love them all as often as I should. So here it is!

I’ve been in a choir every year since fourth grade. Music was always around, and I was always involved. It felt like home to me.

Penn State York burned a bit of my fire when I found out it didn’t offer any musical classes. Transferring and leaving all the musical surroundings of Memphis was one of the most difficult things I ever had to do. I sometimes regret it and feel that I left much of my musical muses in there… I felt free in Memphis. I was my master. I would dance in my room like no one had ever seen. I could blast music and release a million endorphins all at once. It was a secret heaven in that apartment, but something snapped in me that semester and I could not muster the strength to keep fooling myself into staying.

I chose my own sanity over music. Was that right? I think it was, this time anyway.

Society still considers musicians involved in high school bands and choirs “nerdy”. Band Nerd. Choir Freak. I still can’t understand this. Why is an athlete more accepted by others than a musician? Athletes possess physical strength and agility associated with the body, as well as extreme discipline. Musicians possess high lung capacity (depending on the instrument), statistically high academic standing, and a talent they can literally perform up until the day they die. Neither  hobby is better than the other; Both should be incorporated in the lives of young people as early as possible. Although, it’s never too late to get involved.

Photo Credit: Apples Love Music

Dedicated to his voice.

The only thing I knew about Bruno Mars was that he is featured in B.o.b.’s song “Nothing On You”. I liked his voice from the start, but today I discovered much more.

I guess the fact that I do not watch MTv or VH1 contributes to my lack of “popular” musical knowledge, therefore, I had no idea Mars was also featured in Travie McCoy’s “Billionaire” song. Oh, Mars also plays guitar. Hasani and I watched the video, and I kept commenting on how surprised and excited I was because Mars was playing an acoustic guitar while serenading. He is very much like Ben Harper with a tenor voice and a separate twist of style. I’m not psychic, but he has definite potential to rise to the top.

“Billionaire”

Bruno Mars