Ten Songs from 2013

Last year at this time I was busy compiling my favorite pictures from 2012 to create my end of the year/beginning of the new year blog. The first line of that blog was, "I'd really like to get better at using my camera in 2013." Well, I can tell you now that it didn't happen. At all. Not even close. What did happen was the loss of my camera. The event is many months in my rear view now, but I still don't like to talk about it because it makes me feel worthless and small. In summary, I went out of my way to be responsible only to be bitten in the ass by my own absentmindedness and now some stranger somewhere has my camera, my memories, and a piece of my spirit. Dramatic, I know, but that is how I feel. Replacing the camera or using an inferior one weren't acceptable alternatives to me, so I began an affair with my iPhone camera and Instagram. They've both been a lot of fun and they're always ready to party, but they also lack a certain depth that my soul requires. Don't get me wrong, I always have a good time with them, but I feel myself inching closer to being ready for a more intimate relationship with my images again. Habits die hard though, so we'll see...

Anyway, the point of that elaborate intro paragraph was to set up the fact that this year I will not be sharing my year in pictures, but rather my year in music. To list every song I loved this year would take way too long, so I have limited myself to 10 songs that "stuck." Some of these songs were released in 2012, but they didn't find their way into my life until 2013. Here we go...

1. Quesadilla by Walk the Moon - I found out about these guys from a friend who has satellite radio. She knew I liked the band "A Silent Film" and suggested I check out the Walk the Moon song Ana Sun. I did, I loved it, and then one of my favorite things in life happened: I checked out the rest of the songs on the album and fell in love. Few things in life thrill me more than discovering a great album. On you can play all the way through without hitting the skip button once. I got the chance to see Walk the Moon play live in early 2013 and I'm so thankful for the experience, even though a portion of the evening was tainted by alcohol infused political banter.

2. Last Hope by Paramore - I'm not a huge Paramore fan, but a while back Hayley Williams' voice grabbed my attention (on B.o.B's "Airplanes") enough to give the band a second look. I checked out the self titled album they released in April of 2013 and Last Hope (and another track Grow Up) jumped out as purchase worthy. I love the sincerity of her voice and the honesty of the lyrics. The bridge offers,"It's not that I don't feel the pain, it's just I'm not afraid of hurting anymore." While the chorus reminds, "Gotta let it happen." Sometimes I get wrapped up in the idea of making things happen, but this song reminds me that sometimes you just need to let things happen. Letting go doesn't make you passive, it makes you peaceful, right?

3. I Don't Deserve You by Paul van Dyk (feat. Plumb) - Okay, so apparently this guys is a world famous DJ who's been around since I was in college. I had no idea he existed until I was invited by a friend to see him live somewhere in North Scottsdale. I don't often venture out that far, and I've never seen a famous DJ live, and my birthday was around then, so I decided why not have a new experience? I'm glad I went because I've come to love quite a few PVD songs. I find electronic dance music to be quite versatile. Great for the gym, great for house cleaning, great for pretty much any time you want to be picked UP! I Don't Deserve You is the song I chose for this list because I love love love the beat and the lyrics paint a beautiful picture for me about pure love.  I believe that in general we are all worthy of more love than we think we are, but at the same time I also think it is easy for us to overlook the love we are surrounded by. This song speaks to unconditional, under-appreciated love everywhere and it makes me want to be a better mom to my kids.

4. Closer by Tegan and Sara - Though I did hear about these 'Canadian lesbian sisters' a while ago, I never really liked any of the songs I checked out. I gave them another chance when I found out they were the opening act for 'fun.' last September. I instantly liked and downloaded this upbeat pop track. Though I have long since passed my burn out point on this song, the excitement I felt when I first heard it cannot be denied or undone.

5. Stop Pretending by Vicci Martinez - I'm not a huge fan of The Voice, but that's only because I don't make time to watch it. A friend suggested I check out the song "Come Along." I did, I liked it, and I downloaded the rest of the album. It's a solid album. Nothing that would ever land on my "Top Albums of All Time" list, but a nice easy listen from top to bottom. I chose Stop Pretending for this list because I'm partial to the chorus. Its familiar and sounds strangely like something once created by a couple of dorks in the upstairs loft of their parents house . Almost saw Miss Vicci in concert this year too, but that's another story...

6. Crystallize by Lindsey Stirling - Simply put: violin + dub step = awesome. This song was recommended to me by a friend and I love the beautiful complexity created by the fusion of two opposing genres.

7. Strange Attractor by Animal Kingdom - I absolutely love this song for its simple but accurate portrayal of the volatility of attraction. In my own life, I toggle between feeling incredibly connected and attracted to people and feeling like an over thinking, over feeling, overreaching weirdo. This song reminds me, "It must be chemical," and from there it becomes a tiny bit easier for me to sit back and enjoy the trip.

8. Fire Without a Flame by NoNoNo -  This song makes me feel like I can take over the world. Not in a 'domineering rape and pillage' sort of way, but more like a 'building basketball courts for poor kids in every country' kind of way. It also reminds me there is greatness within each of us, regardless of the ability of our surroundings to nurture said greatness.

9. Pompeii by Bastille - You've probably heard this song on the radio, but if you haven't, you will soon, and pretty regularly after that. My ego demands that I tell you I've known about this band for quite some time and I've been rocking the album since I downloaded it several months ago long before this track hit the radio. I love the production on this song and the flow the arrangement creates. If the word "epic" wasn't already played out, I would use it to describe this song. I have tickets to see this band in April and I am looking forward to the show very much!

10. I Just Want You by Sara Bareilles - This is the song that made me fall entirely in love with Sara Bareilles this year. I always liked her (probably because she swears as much as I do), but when I heard this song for the first time she captured a small piece of my soul.  I find the lyrics incredibly pure and honest and I relate to them effortlessly. To my knowledge, the only album this song appears on is the recently released "Live at the Variety Playhouse." If you get a chance, download it. I promise you it's worth $1.29.

Alrighty, so that's it...ten songs that stuck from 2013. In order to avoid repeating last year's jinx I will make no comments about my audiological goals for 2014.

Happy New Year everyone...Peace and Love to all!

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