post one-hundred and twenty-two theme

[amethysting.livejournal.com]

Post a song that was originally performed by a man/woman and then covered by someone of the opposite sex.

one-hundred twenty-one

[amethysting.livejournal.com]

Ride
Lana Del Rey
Paradise EP
2012

Sigh.

I just.

I am ACTUALLY posting my (not-so-secret) shame.

I just can't stop.

I CAN'T STOP LISTENING TO LANA DEL REY.

You know, when Born to Die came out a few years ago I gave it a cursory listen before ultimately dismissing it.  I liked "Off to the Races", but none of the other songs really...stuck or struck.

That was until I heard "Young and Beautiful".  I skipped over it when I first listened to The Great Gatsby soundtrack...kind of rolling my eyes, maybe letting out a little snort.  I mean, Lana Del Rey?!  I had developed an inherent dislike for her (which extended to her music) based on the things I had heard about her.  Now, several articles later, I'm still not sure that I've formulated a solid opinion RE: Lana Del Rey, the self-fashioned STAR, BUT it is almost as if that doesn't matter right now.

"Young and Beautiful" shifted for me when I heard it in the context of Baz Luhrmann's film.  It was then that my Lana Del Rey-related interest piqued.  I giddily downloaded everything I had previously disregarded.

I think this may be the first time I have posted a song for its bridge and chorus.  The rest of "Ride" is sometimes a bit dull, but that bridge, that repeated chorus...both never fail to send an electric jolt right through me.  I have to admit, I kind of, um, (really) like LDR's voice.  Her music, the topics she addresses, are both irritating and pleasing...and there's something about that strange dual reaction to it that keeps me coming back for more.

one-hundred twenty-one.

[cabaretlights.livejournal.com]

Dreams of a Blue Pegasus Filly
AcousticBrony
N/A
2012

♥: This is not news to anyone -- especially not you, or anyone who has seen the proliferation of merchandise finding its way into my classroom closet -- but at the moment, I am head over heels in love with My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic. I'M A BRONY.

I won't go on a diatribe about how I found the show, or how giddy I am about the ponies, how quickly I fell for it, or even how painfully cute it is. It speaks for itself, if you have that cute gene activated somewhere in you: barring a few weird episodes, it is the sweetest, most adorable, most wonderful cartoon in the world. It is cuddly, brightly-coloured ponies singing songs and teaching valuable lessons with fantastic characters and storylines.

So it sort of makes sense why I would love it.
But why the hell did a bunch of college-aged jocks start an immense fandom around it -- which includes YouTube channels based on covering songs in the show or writing their own inspired by the ponies (of which AcousticBrony is one)?! Who knows, really -- but one of the theories I read somewhere suggests that there is something shifting in society -- that some of us, anyway, are moving away from the detachment and irony of the past decade or so. We want something, collectively, that makes us feel -- everything, genuinely, and strongly.

AcousticBrony is a couple of college guys who have attained a tiny bit of YouTube brony fame, writing instrumental and vocal songs inspired by various characters on the show. They tend towards a rock or emo vein, and some of their stuff is mediocre at best -- but their song about Scootaloo legitimately made me cry. And, like, that's the thing: the ponies often make me tear up (like when they sing a motherfucking epic tune about bringing in spring), and it's sort of amazing to feel so inspired by and attached to these little fictional ponies -- to actually kinda love them all. And to share all of that with you. The ponies, and watching every episode with you, and our involuntary 'pony voices,' will define my 2013 spring.


I love this little instrumental because I find it perfectly captures how the ponies make me feel: peaceful, soft, happy -- but, somehow, inspired. Strong.