Again

For the past 2 weeks, Flyleaf has been playing non-stop on my iPod. I will admit that this past year, I opened up to a bit more of the pop and hip-hop music that's been blasting through the iTunes Top Charts. But have no fear, my dear friends, I am a ROCK chick all the way! ;)

I've watched the music video for Flyleaf's AGAIN at least once a day for the past few weeks as well. Here it is for your viewing pleasure:



I gotta admit—when it comes to girl crushes for me, it's a tie between Flyleaf's Lacey Mosley and Kat Von D. Just sayin'. Those are two AMAZING and gorgeous chicks!

Lacey just has such awesome style, a STELLAR voice—i mean, really, how does such a powerful sound come from someone SO LITTLE—and the chick can ROCK!

Mesh all of that together with powerful lyrics and a super-artsy music video and that's what I call a winner! I'll just say this: When this song comes on my iPeezy, I shred on the air guitar! There is also a lot of dancing and head-banging going on. I LOVE IT!


BONUS CONTENT: My 2nd favorite song lately by Flyleaf> SET APART THIS DREAM

(PS: this is NOT the music video for Set Apart This Dream)

Joy To The World

Okay so if you haven't been following me on twitter (ps: all my 'tweets' are on the right-hand side bar . . . over there ------->) then you know that every day since December 1st I've been sharing one random Christmas fact about myself. Well, since I needed to 1. get back into the blogging habit and 2. embed a video for this fact, I decided to carry it on over into Blogville. :D

So here it is: Amo's Christmas Fact #20: I made up a Christmas Rap once.

Okay, so really it's just a funny beat. But what happened was, I was carrying around this ring sizer thing one day and started shaking it and I thought, "Man, this sounds like sleigh bells!" So I figured I would capitalize on that and use it to aide me in making a 'phat rap beat' and adding in my own HO HO HO/record scratch ;)

It's 100% real and 150% ridiculous—just the way I like it! :D

PS: 3 more days till I leave for Austin! crayyyyyzaaaayyyy! :D

Worlds Collide

It's Music Monday on Twitter! Basically, that means that people share some of their favorite music via Twitter. But I figure hey, I may as well just share it on here, because I'm long overdue for a big music sharing post!

Here are some new tunes for you to try out:

ANYWHERE BUT HERE by Mayday Parade


FIRE AWAY by The Swellers


14 TIMES by Marcus Foster


NO AIR (cover) by The Cast of Glee


ALL THE RIGHT MOVES by One Republic

Crashing

Because your music education is all I care about.

. . . well that and a lot of other things.

Here's the music video release for the song SWIM by Jack's Mannequin.
My art didn't make it into the video, but the video is still AMAZING! So creativo!

Jack's Mannequin "Swim"


In other news, my laptop is sick and I'm taking it in to the Genius Bar to get looked at tonight, so I may not be as frequent with the blog updates if they take her away to get operated on. :(

Northwest Highway

Day 4 Report from the "4th on the 5 Adventures"

This is the blog post that explains why I chose the title, "4th on the 5." My friends came up for the 4th of July weekend, and we spent the majority of our time on I-5. Whether it was driving to and from the airport, or getting lost in western Washington, we spent some truly quality time on the 5. ;)

We woke up Sunday morning in Forks, Washington ready for a fun time at La Push Beach! We weren't expecting it to be quite as chilly as it was. It was really cold. :( But we went anyway. But first we decided to do a little bit of driving around Forks. We went to the visitor center and took some photos near Bella's truck and then came upon some friendly looking guys. We were hungry and didn't know where to go, so we thought we'd ask:

Hahahahahahhaaha!

Then we went down to the beach and me and Patsy drove to First Beach, while Joy walked the length of the beaches from Third to First on a path. Patsy was cold so she waited in the car and I decided to get out and enjoy the beauty of the overcast beach. Yes folks, it doesn't matter if it's sunny or not—i LOVE the beach. Being near the water is so freeing to me. I don't know why, it just is. Give me water over mountains any day! I got to climb on the rocks and sit along the water and I just got to take in the beauty of the scenery. I also got to relax and sing some songs that I made up while I was sitting there and just allow the words in my heart to come out of my mouth. I had such an amazing time! When Joy finally got to First Beach, we decided to re-walk the path she had taken and then go fly kites down near Third Beach. What she failed to mention was the hiking that took place to get there. The path led to a trail, and for those who REALLY know me, you know that i DESPISE hiking, climbing, etc. I'm not so fascinated with spikey leaves and bugs and rough terrain. Just. Not. A. Fan. At. All. But I did it and we got there and I got to fly my kite. :D I also got to take a swim in the frigid water! I kept debating whether or not to do it, but then I was like, "How often do I get to come to the beach?" So I did. And thought it took my breath away (literally) at first, it got better and I really enjoyed it.

As a recap of our adventures, here is a video blog:

PS: Stay on the 5 !

Feels Like Today

So apparently it's Rascal Flatts week on iTunes! Now generally, I'm not a fan of country music. I went through a short phase in high school where I was really into country music...around the time that Deanna Carter came out with "We Danced Anyway" and "Strawberry Wine." But I will admit that I do actually like quite a few songs by Rascal Flatts. They have a great sound and almost all of their songs that I like tell a story, which I love...because I'm always thinking of new stories and it's just cool to have something to glean from. So, in honor of Rascal Flatts week, here are some of my favorite songs from them:

EVERY DAY


THE DAY BEFORE YOU

(my best friend's husband sang this to her on their wedding day!

STAND

(I'm dubbing this the Master's Commission song)

WHAT HURTS THE MOST

(this isn't the OFFICIAL VIDEO...this is the only one i could embed)

SKIN (SARABETH)

You Can't Stop The Beat

Who's got an amazing new music video out?

oh. that's right.  Coldplay!

Check it!

And in other music news... some new songs for you to try!

Too Far Gone by Sam Bradley


Meiko's "Boys With Girlfriends"

*perfect use of a creepy bear in a music video for a catchy song :D

Josh Auer's "Dear You"


and for this last one, I couldn't embed. But you should follow the link below to hear a Live version of Thea Gilmore's AVALANCHE... which has become one of my most listened to songs lately! :D

FOLLOW THIS LINK TO THEA GILMORE'S "AVALANCHE"

Dirty Little Secret

If you've ever been a part of the MCA Media team, you would know that one of my biggest appreciations for art for the past couple of years has been PostSecret. [click link to learn more]

What is PostSecret you ask? Well, here is some info from Wikipedia:

PostSecret is an ongoing community mail art project, created by Frank Warren, in which people mail their secrets anonymously on one side of a homemade postcard. Select secrets are then posted on the PostSecret website, or used for PostSecret's books or museum exhibits.

The simple concept of the project was that completely anonymous people decorate a postcard and portray a secret that they had never previously revealed. No restrictions are made on the content of the secret; only that it must be completely truthful and must never have been spoken before. Entries range from admissions of sexual misconduct and criminal activity to confessions of secret desires, embarrassing habits, hopes and dreams.

There are currently 4 POST SECRET books available at Barnes and Noble/Borders. They are:
PostSecret: Extraordinary Confessions from Ordinary Lives
My Secret: A PostSecret Book
The Secret Lives of Men and Women: A PostSecret Book
A Lifetime of Secrets: A PostSecret Book

Sometimes, instead of sending in their secrets, many people take their postcards to a bookstore and discreetly hide them between the pages of a Post Secret book. This spin-off activity means that the eventual purchaser of the book gets an unexpected secret to keep.

Frank Warren is currently working on a new Post Secret book called Connfessions on Life, Death & God

It's so great to read some of the postcards and know that you're not alone. And I think it's even more beautiful because it is real average people, who take time to decorate and illustrate their deepest secrets and be transparent with the world around them. Here are some of my favorites:




They're so popular, that even The All American Rejects used the concept for their music video, DIRTY LITTLE SECRET. And to be quite honest, I've used the concept in a promotional video before as well. They are both posted below:





If you have never done it before, I recommend sending one in. You never know who you'll inspire. I haven't yet, but I hope to soon.

First Day On A Brand New Planet

Today was my first day at the new jobby job!! It's such a great job! I really like it...already... :D I get to learn InDesign, which I've been wanting to learn for a long time now. Here are some pictures of where I work. I'll take more tomorrow! :D

On the walk home, looking back at the office building...which is really a church that they bought out and use as an office/counseling venue.


On the way home, the view from the office:


So the place I work for is a small local publication company that focuses on counseling. They also have some offices on site where clients will come for counseling sessions. And I absolutely love the job...but I gotta admit, I feel the pressure in working in an environment where there are counselors around. Because I know that they can tell things based on mannerisms and facial expressions and all sorts of other things, so every time I would meet someone new, I'd be thinking, "oh no. can they tell i'm nervous that i'm going to forget their name??" Now I know it's silly...but that's seriously the things that go on in my head. hahahahaha. But the people are all very nice and way cool. I love just observing and listening to them! :D

The girl they hired before me only lasted a week, because she felt she wanted to pursue more active graphic design...but I'm content to do layout and editing stuff..it's so relaxing! :D But I can't help but think when I pass these people, "Do they think I'm gonna bail too? Cause I'm not."

But my boss really likes my work and she's so fun to be around! I can't wait to see what new things I get to learn!

PS: another song for you to check out...I was listening to this today on the bus ride home...on repeat...love love love James Morrisson's voice..and I couldn't help but laugh cause the song is called PLEASE DON'T STOP THE RAIN...but when you live in Seattle, it's just a funny concept.

Song Of The Soul

Okay folks, time for some new music for you to try! So lately, I've been on this soulful kick...and everytime I hear each of these songs, I melt. :D

GAVIN'S SONG by Marc Broussard
This song was written in honor of his son, Gavin and the strain of touring on the road while having a son at home.


THE PIECES DON'T FIT ANYMORE by James Morrison
James claimed that the song is an ode to that point in a relationship where no matter what you try, it just doesn't seem to work out anymore. He says that there was a period in his life with his girlfriend where they were in that situation.


LET ME SIGN by Robert Pattinson
Originally written by Bobby Long and Marcus Foster was made famous by it's appearance in the hit movie Twilight. I love it cause you can feel the passion of the song.


NEVER SAY NEVER by The Fray
There are many theories about the meaning of the song, but The Fray has not given a direct comment about the meaning. Most theories center on a relationship where the guy doesn't want to let go so easy.


and finally, CAME ON LION by Sarah Harmer
I know she's not one of the guys, but this girl can sing... and this song is so soulful to me!


In other news... I've been working on 2 screenplays lately. One came originally into my head a couple weeks ago. And the other came into mind a couple of days ago. And though I don't plan right now on releasing either of the two professionally (or even unprofessionally for that matter), it's great to get some new experience with a new creative outlet. One is called THE ACADEMY and the other is called LANE & ALLEY. These are two songs I've been listening to for the more dramatic parts of each, and might I also add...that the 2 screenplays are COMPLETELY different from one another. And these songs are kinda stuck on the brain lately. So I figure I'd share (my elementary teachers would be so proud of me)!

DROWNING by Missy Higgins
(for THE ACADEMY)


RECOGNITION by Susie Suh
(for LANE & ALLEY)

A Whole New World

To liven up the mood around these here parts, I wanted to share with you 5 of my favorite Disney songs! I really really want to visit Disneyland or Disneyworld! I love theme parks! Here they are, in no particular order:

CAMP ROCK: "I Gotta Find You/This is Real"


HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 3: "The Boys Are Back"


CARS: "Life Is A Highway"


BEAUTY AND THE BEAST: "Beauty And The Beast"



THE LION KING: "I Just Can't Wait To Be King"


Hope some of these take you back! :D

Take This

So, tomorrow I leave to head back up to Seattle! I have had so much fun hanging out and reconnecting with old friends! To those I haven't gotten to see, I'll be back at the end of June/beginning of July! I think today's blog will be laid back. So I'm just gonna share some new (well, not new, but newly added to my iTunes) music for you to check out! Enjoy!

A new personal favorite: YOU FOUND ME by The Fray


ONCE WHEN I WAS LITTLE by James Morrison


TROUBLE by Ray LaMontagne

Bella's Lullaby

I'm so excited to be an aunt again!!! Anabelle Yvette Bautista was born Tuesday, January 13th around 10 p.m. weighing 8 pounds, 4 ounces! When Vanessa was born, I chose a song that I would sing to her as a type of lullaby. It would be a song I would sing to her when she was sleeping, and when she was crying, and that when she got older I would sing to her as well. Vanessa's song was "I'M YOUR ANGEL" by R.Kelly and Celine Dione. Yesterday at Olive Garden, I was holding Anabelle and I picked out her song and I kept her sleeping soundly. My sister was amazed that Anabelle was sleeping in my arms. The song I chose for her was "FOR YOU I WILL" by Monica. I've included the songs below so you can hear them. :D I love my angel girlies! :D they're the best!

And no, you're not hallucinating...they are REALLY cheesy songs...but they're sweet :D

Anabelle's Lullaby


Vanessa's Lullaby

R.Kelly ft Céline Dion - I'm your angel
by deejoe

LET'S GET IT STARTED

Wow!  It's really here!  2009!  Like many people, it will probably still take me about a month to get used to dating everything with an 09 instead of an o8, but it should prove to be really fun catching the mistakes!  :D

If you're like me, you hate making New Years Resolutions, because it seems like no matter what Resolutions people make, everyone around just condones it as being okay to NOT fulfill them.  And that makes me feel like people only make them to break them, and if a resolution in and of itself is a pledge and promise (which it is), that's so silly to me.  

One thing I do want to do this year, just personally is to bring more life and laughter to people's lives.  So I'm starting small and simple.  I'm posting a video below that me and the MCA staff of 2007-08 made for our campus days event.  It's fun and it's silly and I hope it makes you laugh!  

The song is by The Black Eyed Peas and is called "LET'S GET IT STARTED"

So I hope you enjoy the video and find it a great way to get the year started off with a good laugh!  ENJOY!

New Song To Check Out...

Okay, so I was cruising around on MySpace tonight, and I clicked on the link for their 20 Best Videos of 2008, and this one group really caught my attention and I just fell in love with this song! It's by a group called Kings of Leon. And you might already know them...I know Aaron does! :D But I'm posting a YouTube video with the song and lyrics below. Check 'em out, I think they're pretty amazing!

My Fave Five

Today I was thinking about all the music videos and promotional videos I've made and I was reminded of how much I love making music videos. Hopefully I'll get to share some of those on the blog at a later date. But then I was thinking, man, it would be cool to be a music video director. LIke, where all you direct is music videos...duh. Then my mind got to thinking about my favorite creative music videos. So I thought I would share. You might not think they are creative or cool in any way shape or form, but from my own personal viewpoint and mindset, I think they are so creative!

Here's my Fave Five Creative Music Videos! *in no particular order


1. Melissa Ethridge | COME TO MY WINDOW |

Juliette Lewis is featured in this one and I love how she really gets into the role of this crazy person to help tell the story. I mean, the song lyrics itself are crazy... but to give it this psychiatric vibe is just so different to me. And Juliette is know for portraying "out there" characters so well. I bet filming this was interesting.





2. Switchfoot | AWAKENING |

Here's a little story behind the making of it:

The making of the video
We had a lot of fun making this video. We actually made this video on our own dime, with our talented good friend Brandon Dickerson, who made two of our earlier videos. We also had the incredible opportunity of working with three extremely talented and funny actors: Tony Hale (Stranger than Fiction, Arrested Development), Adam Campbell (Epic Movie), and Jayma Mays (Heroes). The most challenging and time-consuming portion of the video was the creating of the "animated" television. To create this effect, we printed out each individual frame (24 frames per second -- that's a lot of frames!), and then hand-ripped each person from each frame, placing each frame sequentially after the other to re-create the action (think claymation with photos!). This technique has actually never been done before, and took a total of 8 days, with 10 to 20 people working around the clock

I think it's amazing how much creative energy they put into it and it TOTALLY shows! (a great big shout out to K.Rowe for introducing this one to me)





3. Counting Crows | ROUND HERE |

This one was made back in the 90s and at the time, this style was so unique. I love the little touches of things here and there, like the raccoon and the lady's sign that says "No One Move And Nobody Gets Hurt." And I think just the way the concept of it just rushes through as you're piecing together the parts of the video is cool. And the cloud moving piece was pretty new and creative for back then as well.




4. Switchfoot | WE ARE ONE TONIGHT |

Okay, this band just makes GREAT music videos. I love the concept of this one and how everything matches up so perfectly. I love that it's fluid and really carries out the message in a simple, fun way while still having that basic home video feel to it.




5. Flyleaf | ALL AROUND ME |

I love this group! I love chicks who just rock out and belt it out...and what adds to this is the paint that continually flows down the walls. I constantly think to myself, "man, i just want to rent out a studio...and just throw paint all over the place...over and over and over again and have fun with it." They really do a good job with this one!




Hope you enjoyed those! When I watch music videos like that, I just get these little creative sparks here and there and it continues to fuel that creativity within.

PS: I know I said I was going to put up a music video of myself doing ali lohan's all the way around...but here's the thing...I filmed all the pieces...and (seriously) accidentally deleted it with a secure empty trash move of a bunch of stuff i was cleaning off my laptop to clear room for importing some footage for a video i was making for my job. :( I'm so sorry. I will find a way to make it up to you guys! Maybe I'll make a whole new one... we'll see. sorry guys. really.

AND THE WINNER IS....

A Tie!!! hahahahahahahaha!!!

A giant THANK YOU to everyone who voted! And yes, the results are in and it's a tie between

Ali Lohan's "ALL THE WAY AROUND"



and Rascal Flatts' "LIFE IS A HIGHWAY"



So since it was a tie, I'm going to do BOTH! This upcoming week, I will feature the video for ALL THE WAY AROUND and the next week, I will feature LIFE IS A HIGHWAY! It's going to be so much fun!! So keep checking back and be on the lookout for more fun here on my blog!

In the meantime, I will leave you with an awesome music video I watched this week that has given me some really creative ideas for filming. maybe not for these funny ones, cause i want them to be funny, more than professional...but this video is very creative, and the song is really good. It's by one of my favorite artists, Missy Higgins.




Enjoy everyone!! And thanks so much for voting!!! You guys are AMAZING!! I will have a BRAND NEW post up tomorrow!