The Devil on Your Back

You know how I love Florence Welch (and her machine), so it’s no wonder how hooked I am to Shake It Out, the first single from her new album, Ceremonials. By hooked I mean, playing the song on loop at the office, at home, and while running. It’s one of those songs you need to play with the volume turned all the way up. You either listen to it on blaring speakers (or headphones) or you don’t listen to it at all!

I first heard it on Jam 88.3 late last year. I didn’t even have to bother taking note of the lyrics because this song was unmistakably Florence + The Machine’s! Oh it was love at first tune. Seriously, how could you not be drawn to those pure vocals set against sublime instrumentation?

So yes, I’ve been catching the song on the radio for a few months now but it was only a few days ago that I really listened to it. See, I’ve been sleeping for less than three hours a day (thanks to ze thesis!) so it’s truly been a challenge to drag my sleepy self to the office by 8am. But not last Wednesday, when this song played on Jam 88.3, on my way to work. Talk about the perfect perk-me-up to an otherwise dreary, heavy-eyed morning. If Florence’s powerful “shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, shake it out oh whoa” can’t shake out your morning sleepiness, I don’t know what will. Which gives me a wonderful idea: the chorus is the perfect alarm clock tone!

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Thanks to Last.Fm I get to find out my most listened tracks over the past 12 months! Of course this is not 100% accurate but it is a reliable, quantitative way of determining the top tracks that kept me company all year. I’m a bit surprised by some of the songs in the list, and some of the songs not in the list. But at least my song of 2011, Taking Chances by Abra Moore, managed to squeak in at #15.

Thanks to Last.Fm I get to find out my most listened tracks over the past 12 months! Of course this is not 100% accurate but it is a reliable, quantitative way of determining the top tracks that kept me company all year. I’m a bit surprised by some of the songs in the list, and some of the songs not in the list. But at least my song of 2011, Taking Chances by Abra Moore, managed to squeak in at #15.

30 Day Song Challenge

Okay, I’m doing the 30 Day Song Challenge, having been inspired by The Girl Next Shore. I’m not sure I have a specific song in mind for some of the items, but I guess that’s what makes it a challenge!

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Day 01 - Your favorite song
Day 02 - Your least favorite song
Day 03 - A song that makes you happy
Day 04 - A song that makes you sad
Day 05 - A song that reminds you of someone
Day 06 - A song that reminds you of a certain event
Day 07 - A song that reminds you of somewhere
Day 08 - A song that you know all the words to
Day 09 - A song that you can dance to
Day 10 - A song that makes you fall asleep and feel relaxed
Day 11 - A song from your favorite band
Day 12 - A song from a band you hate
Day 13 - A song that is a guilty pleasure
Day 14 - A song that no one would expect you to love
Day 15 - A song that describes you
Day 16 - A song that you used to love but now hate
Day 17 - A song that you hear often on the radio
Day 18 - A song that you wish you heard on the radio
Day 19 - A song from your favorite album
Day 20 - A song that you listen to when you’re angry
Day 21 - A song that you listen to when you’re happy
Day 22 - A song that you listen to when you’re sad
Day 23 - A song that you want to play at your wedding
Day 24 - A song that you want to play at your funeral
Day 25 - A song that makes you laugh
Day 26 - A song that you can play on an instrument
Day 27 - A song that you wish you could play
Day 28 - A song that makes you feel inspired and creative
Day 29 - A song from your childhood
Day 30 - A song that makes you want to help the world, help the environment, end poverty, help society etc.