Inspiration from me to you

Hello everyone, while I’m in this limbo period trying to figure out what I’m going to create for my final thesis project, I thought I’d give you guys some links I found this week. First up is the band The Weeknd. I saw their Thursday EP on a blog weeks ago but didn’t listen to it until last night. I’m in this group! Or is it just a him? I’m not totally sure. Either way you should check them (him) out. You can download their first two EPs on their website FOR FREE and LEGALLY! Just go here to download. I really like the song Rolling Stone from the Thursday cd, listen here.

Another place for great LEGAL & FREE music is Urban Outfitters music site, UO Music. Each week you can download free mixes through iTunes. Go to their LSTN page to download the free mixes, each has about 15 free songs. They also have another page, Music Mondays where you can get 5 free songs every Monday. So if you’re ready to embrace your inner hipster, check that out.

On the design inspiration front I found two blogs I was excited about this week. The first is aqua-velvet.com. As I do with every new blog I find (and like) I go back as far as I can through their posts. I’ve found so many great posts on this blog, lots of vintage modern design inspiration and some pretty cool photo collections. I’ve been posting a ton of theses to my tumblr recently to share with others. So if you don’t have tumblr, check out the blog.

Another source is that is thesis oriented is the blog aestheticsofjoy.com – !! A blog about joy in design. Sound familiar? I’m seriously an idiot for not finding this blog earlier as it would have been so helpful in the thesis writing process. There are some really great projects on here, joy-related or not. The site is a project by Ingrid Fetell, an industrial designer for Ideo and Pratt graduate. She also lives in NYC so I’m hoping to meet or talk with her about both of projects. Here’s a little more info on Fetell,

“My work explores the emotional relationships between people and things, particularly the basic objects we interact with every day. Many of these interactions are unthinking—the way we sink into a chair or grasp a cup—and my goal is simply to expose the emotionality inherent in the material action. On a deeper level, I’m interested in the dialogue between objects and our long-term emotional well-being. Much has been said about the unhealthy culture of consumption in modern life, and I believe part of the solution lies in designing products that are emotionally satisfying in a more durable way. The designs on this site are physical explorations of questions related to this premise — questions about empathy + emotion, movement + materials, social issues + sustainability.

My current focus is Aesthetics of Joy, a blog and book-in-progress that draws on insights from neuroscience and psychology to suggest ways that design can enhance our emotional health and well-being. The project looks at the unconscious effects of architecture, products, fashion, and art on our psyche, and suggests ways that better design might lead the way to happier, healthier, more sustainable lives.”

One of my favorite posts is this one about “The Joy of Illegal Rainbows” by “Rainbow Warrior” (lol) working in Albuquerque, New Mexico. According to Fetell, “The warrior is a street artist working in Albuquerque, using spilled paint to pour rainbows off the tops of buildings. The charm of the story is in how the community has rallied to the warrior’s defense. This Facebook page has drawn 1,492 fans “in support of the Rainbow Warrior, whomever s/he may be.” And the soul of the story is in the warrior’s own words. This is the warrior on his/her inspiration for painting the rainbows:

About three or four years ago … I was feeling really depressed and I had this notion that if I went out and painted a rainbow, maybe someone would see it and feel what I was feeling or feel anything as intensely as I was. The first one I did, I just literally dumped the paint over the side of a pretty ugly, abandoned, alleyway building.

JOYFUL INDEED!

 

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Joyful songs

I’m hoping this quote can be changed to, “when this thesis is over.” This song (the Kanye West version) came on my ipod as I sat down to work tonight, didn’t realize the word joy was in there. I’d love to figure out all the songs on my itunes mentioning joy. Any ideas of other songs about the topic of joy, besides Joy To The World?

One of my favorites is Lauryn Hill’s “To Zion,” arguably one of my favorite songs from one of my all-time favorite cds! I love how this cd feels contemporary today all these years later. How I wish you’d make more music Lauryn Hill. I also like Mariah Carey’s “Joy Ride,” a good “baby making” song for sure.

Now the joy of my world is in Zion.

And our love goes round and round
Way up high, a joy ride
We can touch the stars above
We found love
And our love was heaven sent
From the day we first met
We’ve got something they can’t touch
We found love

Though MC’s song is more about love than joy …

Anyways, a fun exploration/distraction while I begin writing this thesis paper. I’ve decided I’m in a long-term relationship with my thesis. It’s getting serious and we’re moving in together, getting a puppy, etc. Let’s see how many months we can make it together. I’m already seeing signs of emotional abuse, so we’ll see. (help!)

 

 

 

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More 2010 in Music

Here’s the songs I loved, but might be afraid to admit. While not the most critically acclaimed, here are another 10 of my favorite guilty pleasures from 2010. This list features Ke$ha, Katy Perry, Ciara, Miley, Jenny from the Block, T-Swift, Mariah and Countess LuAnn. This would make the perfect gym mix. Get into it!

1. Ke$ha | We R Who We R: Only she can make the hipsters fall in love. The Queen of trashy-pop-music, gotta love her.

2. Ciara | Get It Girl: I like the letter S with the line down the middle — WHY was this not on the new cd??

3. Katy Perry | California Girl: Don’t care for the video, but hate to love this song. Katy wins again!

4. Ke$ha | Your Love Is My Drug: Maybe I need some rehab, or just some sleep. She’s a poet! 😉 I love the illustration part of the video.

5. Contess LuAnn: Money Can’t Buy You Class: Okay, maybe this should be number one, this song is AMAZING(ly) BAD (great)! I love it.

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Top songs of 2010

A list of my most-played / favorite songs of the past year: 2010 Edition

1.Rihanna | Rude Boy: Currently my most-played song itunes, with 132 plays. Absolutely love the video and the remix ft. Rick Ross is great too.

2. Kylie Minogue | Get Outta My Way: Way better than anything Lady Gaga did in 2010. Don’t understand why this song didn’t blow up, especially with the awesome video.

3. Chris Brown | Deuces (feat. Tyga & Kevin McCall): Huge comeback single for C-Breezy, played this nonstop all summer. Great breakup song.

4. Ciara | Ride (ft. Ludacris): Hottest video from Cici in a long time, no one can touch her dancing skills. 1st single from a great CD produced by the-Dream.

5. Alicia Keys | Un-thinkable (I’m Ready): Pretty much sums up my dating life in 2010. If you ask me I’m ready ..

6. Sade | Moon and Sky: Favorite song from her 1st cd in 10 years. This and “Soldier of Love” are great songs from a great CD!

7. Kelis | 4th of July (Fireworks): Could not get enough of this song all summer.

8. Drake | Fancy: Oh you fancy huh? Nails done, hair done, everything did. Awesome.

9. Kanye West | Power (Remix) [Featuring Jay-Z & Swizz Beatz]: 1st single from one of my favorite cds this year, and one of the few I actually bought. Worth the money. Prefer this remix to the original — take that Taylor Swift!!

10. Katy Perry | Teenage Dream: Guilty Pleasure, love the video, so nostalgic and fun. Bitch can’t sing, but that hardly seems to matter these days.

 

— 2011 should be a great year in music with new ADELE(!), Britney Spears, Lady Gaga, Beyonce and possibly Amy Winehouse on the horizon. Can’t wait. Now if only Lauryn Hill or the Dixie Chicks would come out with new cds, I’d really get excited.

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20/20 Vision

Twenty years ago today, Mariah Carey wrote the first chapter in what has become one of the most exceptional Billboard chart discographies.

Carey’s debut single, “Vision of Love,” entered the Billboard Hot 100, Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Adult Contemporary in the issue dated June 2, 1990. The song would become her first of 18 Hot 100 No. 1s, the most among solo artists in the chart’s 52-year history. Among all acts, only the Beatles, with 20, have more No. 1s.

In addition to her historic No. 1 total on the Hot 100, Carey has tallied 15 toppers on Dance/Club Play Songs, 11 on Radio Songs and 10 on R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.

Carey’s career U.S. album sales stand at 52.6 million, according to Nielsen SoundScan, which began tracking sales data a year after her arrival. In that span, only Garth Brooks (68.4 million) and the Beatles (60.9 million) rank higher. Carey has sent six albums to the Billboard 200 summit, including her best-selling set, 1995’s “Daydream” (7.6 million).

“Daydream” yielded the 16-week Hot 100 No. 1 “One Sweet Day,” with Boyz II Men, marking the longest reign by any title in the chart’s history. The ballad subsequently earned the honor of Billboard’s top song of the ’90s. Carey’s 2005 14-week Hot 100 No. 1 “We Belong Together” likewise became the chart’s top title of the 2000s.

Here is a look at some of Mariah Carey’s most notable achievements, by the numbers, from her first 20 years of gracing Billboard surveys.

64.5 million
Carey’s career U.S. album sales, since SoundScan began tracking sales in 1991, the highest sum among female artists. Celine Dion ranks second among women with sales of 51 million, followed by Shania Twain (33.9 million), Britney Spears (31.5 million) and Reba McEntire (29.3 million).

17.2 million
Carey’s career U.S. physical singles sales, according to SoundScan. Her best-selling single is “One Sweet Day,” with sales to date of 2,334,000.

13.8 million
Carey’s career U.S. digital song sales, according to SoundScan. Her most-downloaded track is “All I Want for Christmas is You,” with sales to date of 1,582,000.

136
Total No. 1s that Carey has scored on the following charts: Hot 100 (18), Dance/Club Play Songs (15), Radio Songs (11), Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Sales, R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, Hot Singles Sales (10 each), Hot Dance Singles Sales (7), Adult Contemporary, Billboard 200, Pop Songs (6 each), Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop, R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, Hot Video Clips (5 each), R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay (4), Hot Dance Airplay, Digital Songs, Top Video Music Sales (3 each), Adult R&B (2), Adult Pop Songs, Dance/Electronic Albums, Digital Albums, Holiday Albums, Holiday Songs, Internet Albums, Top Pop Catalog (1 each).

79
Record total weeks that Carey has spent perched in the Hot 100’s penthouse. The Beatles boast the second-most weeks on top (59), followed by Boyz II Men (50), Usher (46) and Michael Jackson (37).

42
Number of Hot 100 appearances Carey has logged, from “Vision of Love” in 1990 through “Up Out My Face,” featuring Nicki Minaj, in March. Among women, Carey stands in sixth place for most chart visits, trailing Aretha Franklin (73), Dionne Warwick (56), Madonna (55), Connie Francis (53) and Brenda Lee (48). From her arrival on June 2, 1990, through the chart week of June 5, 2010, the only acts with more Hot 100 entries are Jay-Z (60), Lil Wayne (56), the “Glee” cast (53), R. Kelly (49) and Ludacris (44).

27
Carey’s total Hot 100 top 10s, tied with Janet Jackson and Elton John for fifth-most all-time. Only Madonna (37), the Beatles (34), Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder (28 each) have appeared in the top tier more often. Since June 2, 1990, Carey’s top 10 sum leads all acts. Janet Jackson and Madonna are second in that span with 19 top 10s each.

26
Carey’s total top five Hot 100 hits; all of her top 10 tracks except for “Obsessed” (No. 7, 2009) have reached the top five, most among all artists dating to her first chart appearance. Janet Jackson is next with 16 top fives in the last 20 years.

18
The number of Hot 100 leaders Carey has earned. Since her first No. 1 in 1990, that’s twice as many as the runner-up in that span, Usher. Janet Jackson has seven No. 1s in that stretch, followed by Rihanna (six) and Beyonce, Boyz II Men, Diddy, Ludacris and Madonna (five each).

16
Weeks atop the Hot 100 for Carey and Boyz II Men’s 1995-96 No. 1 “One Sweet Day,” most in the chart’s history. Carey and Boyz II Men each also own the chart’s second-longest reign, with “We Belong Together” and “I’ll Make Love to You,” respectively, among the six songs to lead for 14 weeks each.

Link

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10 Songs of 2009, pt. II

Here are the songs that almost made my top 10, or the 5 I forgot about until now …

1.Keri Hilson | Know You Down: It’s Ms. Keri Baby. Huge song of 2009, something about all her songs I love.

2.Lady Gaga | Summerboy: I guess I could have picked any of the Gaga songs from the past year, but I really liked this one on the cd, and it wasn’t played the F. out like ALL her singles so far.

3.Mariah Carey | Obsessed: “And I was like, why are you so obsessed with me?”  MC in drag, and lines like, “You’re a mom and pop, I’m a corporation.” Gotta love it.

4.Whitney Houston | Million Dollar Bil: Instantly loved this when it came out, the remixes are pretty awesome too.

5. Keri Hilson | Energy: Actually, this was the FIRST single from her cd, but this is what got me hooked on Ms. Keri.

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My Top 10, of 2009!

Here’s a list of my most played / favorite songs of the past year:

1. Alphabet | The Spell: My most played song of the year. Best getting ready to go out song.

2. Mariah Carey | Candy Bling: One of my favorite slow jams off the new cd, this song keeps growing on me. The Remix ft. T-Pain is hot too.

3. La Roux: Bulletproof: “Next time baby, I’ll be, bulletproof.”

4. MGMT: Electric Feel: Great dance song. Cool video too.

5. Toni Braxton | Yesterday ft. Trey Songz: First single from one of my favorite artists. Very empowering, wish it would have come out last spring …

6. Jay-Z | Empire State of Mind: Song came out right when I moved to NYC. I think this will always have a special place with me. I still remember blasting it in my new Brooklyn apartment!

7. Lily Allen | Not Fair: Fun song, and dirty if you really listen to it. Love the video too, matches the song so well.

8. Adele | Melt My Heart to Stone: Live version of this powerful song. I played this song on repeat earlier last year, I love her voice, such emotion, and the entire CD is amazing.

9. Whitney Houston | Call You Tonight: Great cut from her newest cd, something a bit sad about this song, but I really love it.

10. Lauryn Hill | Ex-Factor: I know this song is old, but so classic to me. I really discovered it in the last year. I wish she still made music …

So there is my 2009 Hit List. Hope you like, and maybe some of these songs can be yours in the New Year. Happy 2010!

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