Stuck In My Skull 355: 90s Week, Part 1 -- "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)"

90's Week, Part 1 || Song: "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)" || Artist: Backstreet Boys || http://youtu.be/O6XE1XRiLeY ||

[youtube http://youtu.be/O6XE1XRiLeY]

Comments: Well, Amanda proposed we do 90's week, so here we are. For the life of me, I don't know where I'm going to find a week's worth of 90's. The 90's essentially predated my interest in music, and the only bad I really cared about, well, here they are. And it turns out, yes, I still know the words. Campy? Nostalgic? Of course. But awesome. Enjoy the memories! And make sure you check back tomorrow -- we might be teasing some announcements in the new year!

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Stuck In My Skull 354 -- "Sleepless"

Song: "Sleepless" || Artist: Deadmau5 || http://youtu.be/l2L599fMDPI ||

[youtube http://youtu.be/l2L599fMDPI]

Comments: Good morning, everyone. This song comes from Deadmau5's latest album, called " > album title goes here < ". It's a really new and different sound for Deadmau5, and I thought it was really interesting, so I just had to post it here. Rather than search for words, I'll just say it's slower and quieter than most songs by Deadmau5, and you should definitely give it a listen. Enjoy!

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Stuck In My Skull 353 -- "Last of the Wilds"

Song: "Last of the Wilds" || Artist: Nightwish || http://youtu.be/vouAtmE13vs ||

[youtube http://youtu.be/vouAtmE13vs]

Comments: So, I recently (Christmas) came into quite a bit of music. In addition, I recently turned on a radio and realized "Wow, I'm really behind on pop music!" So, between both of those factors, I will be sending you some new tunes soon. But for today, I beg your pardon, but I have to pass this song along. Nightwish is generally considered to be masters of symphonic metal, but they're also really good at putting together an instrumental track -- all of the symphonic and none of the metal. "Last of the Wilds" is the symphonic track from Nightwish's album Dark Passion Play. Enjoy!

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Stuck In My Skull 352 -- "Thrift Shop"

Song: "Thrift Shop" || Artist: Macklemore and Ryan Lewis feat. Wanz || http://youtu.be/QK8mJJJvaes ||

[youtube http://youtu.be/QK8mJJJvaes]

Comments: Hello, everyone! Hope you all had a good Christmas (if that's your thing) or other holiday/normal day. Somebody suggested that I listen to this song forever ago, and now that I have, I realize I should have made time to do so sooner. And I feel really bad, because I don't remember who told me! Whoever you are, please please please message me and I'll credit you! Anyway, song. Song is hilarious. And true. If you think Goodwill is lower-class, icky, or generally not worth it, you are so wrong. I personally have gotten a suit and a tuxedo from thrift shops, and they were dirt cheap. I also found an old computer there the other day. Sure, it's missing some stuff, but it was $6... and the RAM is selling for $16 on ebay. And on that note, enjoy the song!

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Merry Christmas!

Hey everyone, and happy holidays! The column Stuck In My Skull is taking the day off to celebrate the day with family. Enjoy your holiday!

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Stuck In My Skull 351 -- "Scream and Shout"

Song: "Scream and Shout" || Artist: will.i.am feat. Britney Spears || http://youtu.be/kYtGl1dX5qI ||

[youtube http://youtu.be/kYtGl1dX5qI]

Comments: Happy Monday, folks! Let me preface this commentary by saying watch this video. Some of my comments might sound a tad negative, but watch the video. That being said, this song confused me. I feel as though will.i.am is still exploring his style as a solo artist, and this video feels like he was trying to go more hiphop than electro or pop. The iconography in the video seems to reinforce this. But I can't really look at this song and say "Oh, will.i.am just wanted to go hiphop," because he didn't. There are so many styles in here, that I really can't figure out what he was trying to do. But the glory of will.i.am is that he still managed to make the song sound good. And say what you will about his music, but he knows how to make a visually striking music video. As for Britney... why does she sound British? And is it just me, or is she channeling Dev?

Enjoy the song!

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Stuck In My Skull 350 -- "Until the End"

Song: "Until the End" || Artist: Breaking Benjamin || http://youtu.be/_sK2pp2Vkto ||

[youtube http://youtu.be/_sK2pp2Vkto]

Comments: Today's entry is going to be pretty short, sorry. In a nutshell, I ran into this song, realized I hadn't posted it, and had to post it. It's so angst-y, it's wonderful! Enjoy, and enjoy the holiday weekend!

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Stuck In My Skull 349 -- "Love Lockdown"

Song: "Love Lockdown" || Artist: Kanye West || http://youtu.be/HZwMX6T5Jhk ||

[youtube http://youtu.be/HZwMX6T5Jhk]

Comments: Alright, I'm going to do my level best to not rephrase and rehash what every music critic and has already said about this song -- especially since they said it years ago then this song came out, and I'm behind the curve. Some things, though, can't be avoided. Putting on my Pitchfork hat, I have to say that the tribal drums aesthetic is excellent, as is the minimalist beat. Apparently this album (808s and Heartbreak -- thanks Amanda for giving it to me!) is the first album in which Kanye really uses Auto-Tune. That surprised me to discover, since he could write the book on the proper and tasteful application of that oft-lampooned technology. He uses it to do some tasteful shifts of tone in the song, but more interestingly, he uses Auto-Tune to add distortion to his voice in a really excellent way for a really nice effect that's in that just-right spot between obvious and subtle. The song is lyrically a bit cliched, but he puts a nice spin on things by actually attempting to deal with his relationship failures. More importantly, his attempt to not drag everyone else down and "...keep a secret code / So everybody else don't have to know" is really interesting. It gives it the realism that this biographical track deserves, and it really speaks to me.

As to the video, I think the tribal aspect might be a tad overdone, but it's not bad. I would legitimately prefer to see more Kanye and fewer warriors in the video, but that's personal preference for emotion over bravado. The part that actually grabbed me (once I got over the dancing) was the spaceship (is that a spaceship?) at around 2:00. Anyway. Song is excellent. Video is excellent. If you haven't seen/heard it lately, give it a go. Enjoy!

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Stuck In My Skull 348 -- "Jesus of Suburbia"

Song: "Jesus of Suburbia" || Artist: Green Day || http://youtu.be/FNKPYhXmzoE ||

[youtube http://youtu.be/FNKPYhXmzoE]

Comments: If I'm correct on this, I believe the album lists this song as "Jesus of Suburbia: Jesus of Suburbia/City of the Damned/I Don't Care", which is more than a little bit too long. Also, I have to admit that I haven't seen the video to this song, and I really really haven't seen the 'long' version of this song, which apparently is 11 minutes long. But this song came up last night, and I just couldn't resist putting it on the blog. It sounds so crass, but years later, I'm still convinced it's deeper than surface, and still haven't bothered sitting down and thinking about it. I need to. I really do.

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Stuck In My Skull 347 -- "The Real Slim Shady"

http://youtu.be/eJO5HU_7_1w

Song: "The Real Slim Shady" || Artist: Eminem || http://youtu.be/eJO5HU_7_1w ||
Comments: Sorry about the lateness of today's post. I promise, after the holidays things will be more regular. I don't know why I had this song stuck in my head, but I definitely did. It's weird, it's freaky, and it's definitely some vintage Eminem.
On a completely unrelated note, Wordpress looks different now, and the New Post screen has changed. Let me know if this looks any different!

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Stuck In My Skull 346 -- "42"

Song: "42" || Artist: Coldplay || http://youtu.be/Z0xfWCDLoCU ||

[youtube http://youtu.be/Z0xfWCDLoCU]

Comments: Yet another late post! I think I'll try and write out a few extra entries over this weekend, so I have a backup plan for when things get crazy. We'll see.

Anyway. This song comes off Coldplay's Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends album. It's a lesser-known track from the album, and nowhere near as popular as "Viva la Vida" or "Violet Hill" or even "Strawberry Swing." I like it, though. The beginning starts off at a nice, slow pace, then picks up into a merry tune. It's catchy, and a nice, relaxing listen. Enjoy, and have a good weekend!

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Stuck In My Skull 345 -- "Give Me Novacaine"

Song: "Give Me Novacaine" || Artist: Green Day || http://youtu.be/ZKAwIwjHwZI ||

[youtube http://youtu.be/ZKAwIwjHwZI]

Comments: Late post, but better than no post. I really do have to apologize for the inconsistent pattern of posts lately. Life has been a little (that's an understatement) crazy lately for all of us. I promise things will get better soon.

Anyway, the song. I haven't listened to this in months, but when I woke up this morning, it was stuck in my head. I And hey, it's not electronic music, the streak is broken! I first ran into Green Day back in middle school, years ago when bashing US President George W Bush was still popular. The album American Idiot was one of the first bands I'd ever gotten into that was at all political, and while it didn't directly or immediately inform my political views, it definitely opened my eyes a bit. I mean, it might be crude, but "Holiday" makes a point. If I recall correctly, it was years later -- after this album fell from popularity -- that I really started to shift my politics, long enough that I feel comfortable saying American Idiot helped, but was not the cause. Oddly enough, the two memories I have of this song/album are completely normal (for me, anyway). I remember playing videogames to this track and "Are We the Waiting", and bringing a portable CD player in the car when I was out with my parents so I could listen to the album. Oh well, enough biographical rambling. Enjoy the song!

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Stuck In My Skull 344 -- "Skrillex Orchestral Suite by Varien"

Song: "Skrillex Orchestral Suite by Varien" || Artist: Skrillex || http://youtu.be/ryR9A8-Nl0Q ||

[youtube http://youtu.be/ryR9A8-Nl0Q]

Comments: Ack, I meant to write this last night, but I fell asleep. Sorry! Anyway, after a long stretch of electronic tracks, I figured it would be good to post something without so much as a trace of synthesizer. Don't let the Skrillex piece fool you -- this is a really excellent orchestral version of a medley of his songs. Enjoy!

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Stuck In My Skull 343 -- "Animus Vox"

Song: "Animus Vox" || Artist: The Glitch Mob || http://youtu.be/17PM-UMVud8 ||

[youtube http://youtu.be/17PM-UMVud8]

Comments: Things I feel bad about as a blogger right now:

• Overusing electronica as a genre


• Overusing The Glitch Mob as a band


• Not posting yesterday


• Not posting anything new and unique today

Don't get me wrong. I love Glitch Mob. Those gentlemen know how to make a beat. And I love electronic music. But I've put too much up lately, and too much Glitch Mob. So it is with this in mind that I beg you to go and listen to the song anyway, because it is fantastic. Enjoy!

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Stuck In My Skull 342 -- "Eye Bear" [HIPSTER WEEK PART 5]

HIPSTER WEEK, PART 5 || Song: "Eye Bear" || Artist: Gingerbread Patriots || http://youtu.be/QcReWa6N9TM ||

[youtube http://youtu.be/QcReWa6N9TM]

Comments: Wow, sorry about that, folks. Suffice it to say I had a very crazy day. Bad blogger is bad, and didn't just write the post in advance. Oops...

Right. Song. This song is... a song. I'm finding it really difficult to describe Gingerbread Patriots' sound in this track. For some reason, the vocals remind me ever so slightly of Owl City. The song is both electronic and acoustic  and I don't begin to know how. I'm seriously at a complete loss for good words to describe this song, so I guess I'll just have to settle for "Go listen and judge for yourself!" While you're at it, give us some feedback -- what did you think of Hipster Week? Enjoy the weekend!

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Stuck In My Skull 341 — “Below the Surface” [HIPSTER WEEK PART 4]

HIPSTER WEEK, PART 4 || Song: "Below the Surface" || Artist: Ben Preston || http://youtu.be/FB9cvps5bPQ ||

[youtube http://youtu.be/FB9cvps5bPQ]

Comments: Happy Thursday everyone! I have a bad habit -- my desktop on my computer is so cluttered with virtual sticky notes that sometimes I can't actually see my own background. Usually, I have at least one sticky full of music. I generally forget to look at them, but for some reason, I remembered to tonight. And, oh, am I glad I did. Continuing the theme of 'Most of Hipster Week is Electronic,' Ben Preston. As I recall, I originally ran into this song on Pandora, and liked it so much that I wrote down the track name and artist. Going back and listening to it again, I'm having trouble staying in my seat, because my ears are commanding my body to dance! Enjoy!

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AMANDA-- "SWERVE CITY" by DEFTONES

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Stuck In My Skull 340 — “We Lost the Signal” [HIPSTER WEEK PART 3]

HIPSTER WEEK, PART 3 || Song: "We Lost the Signal" || Artist: Fidgital || http://youtu.be/HrU0A7W48FA ||

[youtube http://youtu.be/HrU0A7W48FA]

Comments: Note to self, get a normal sleep pattern and keep it. Anyway, welcome back to Hipster Week! Though at this point, it might be worth calling these last few days the "Canadian Electronica Special Series," as Fidgital is another Canadian act. Given only a phrase to describe Fidgital based on what I've heard, I'd call them ambient electro-jazz. Woot for making up genre titles. Fidgital's website uses some slightly different language.

Fidgital is electronic pop that draws inspiration from jazz, big band, techno, and an ever-widening range of genres. We (Producer/remixer Keith Gillardand vocalist Ryan Slemko) work with a cast of talented electronic and jazz musicians from Vancouver, Canada and all over the world to create progressive, unique, and ultimately catchy pop music.

Anyway, "We Lost the Signal" is a nice and mellow jazzy track, and I love it. It's about as calm as I am... Which is very, as it's 2:08 AM at time of writing. Good night to me, good morning to you, and good music to all.

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Stuck In My Skull 339 -- "So Beautiful" [HIPSTER WEEK PART 2]

HIPSTER WEEK, PART 2 || Song: "So Beautiful" || Artist: Adriane Lake || http://soundcloud.com/adrianelake/so-beautiful-2 ||

http://soundcloud.com/adrianelake/so-beautiful-2

 

Comments: Well, we have retroactively declared this week to be Hipster Week! It's been FAR too long since we've done a Theme Week, and we just couldn't help ourselves. The rules of Hipster Week are pretty simple: The video must have less than 1,000,000 hits on youtube. And with this entry, I'm impressed. It has zero hits on youtube. Actually, the song I originally wanted to hit isn't on Soundcloud either! So, I settled for this equally-excellent track by the same artist. Adriane Lake is a Canadian producer of electronic music, and that's about all her bio really says. She's hipster enough not to have a wikipedia entry. Regardless of that, her CD Morning Glow recently made its way into my hands, and I love it. This song is featured on Soundcloud, and did I mention it's downloadable? You're welcome. If that doesn't sell you yet, here's a chunk of description from her website to either make or break the deal for you.

With Morning Glow, she brings a tenderness, sweetness and emotive quality to her squishy ambient and thumping arrangements. The addition of her own vocal layers and lyrics to a number of the tracks adds a quirky nerdy femininity when melded with organic textures and stiffer electronic instruments. Using uncommon time signatures, deep bass, treated acoustic instruments and even found sound Morning Glow is an unusually accessible confection of otherworldly songs, decorative textures and unorthodox beats.

Enjoy the song!

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Stuck In My Skull 338 -- "Over the Pain's Madness" [HIPSTER WEEK PART 1]

Song: "Over the Pain's Madness" || Artist: Immortal Pain || http://youtu.be/aqgoFsIbRPg ||

[youtube http://youtu.be/aqgoFsIbRPg]

Comments: Good Monday morning, all! Today's song comes by way of Emily, who has my sincere thanks for sending it my way. According to her, Immortal Pain is "death metal from Saudia Arabia." While that might be true in some of their songs, this song is a nice, fairly mellow instrumental number, and I'm really impressed. I'll definitely be checking out more of their stuff. Enjoy!

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Stuck In My Skull 337 -- "Song of the Caged Bird"

Song: "Song of the Caged Bird" || Artist: Lindsey Stirling || http://youtu.be/inb8MMZ-QmA ||

[youtube http://youtu.be/inb8MMZ-QmA]

Comments: Short entry today, guys. The always-wonderful Lindsey Stirling brings us another excellent new song. Check it out, and enjoy the weekend!

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Stuck In My Skull 336 -- "So Cold"

Song: "So Cold" || Artist: Breaking Benjamin || http://youtu.be/rTiGlNDnOtE ||

[youtube http://youtu.be/rTiGlNDnOtE]

Comments: Let me think. I first heard this song... I can't even remember when I heard it. I was just getting into Breaking Benjamin when I ran into this song. As I recall, I had a playlist.com playlist full of about 6-8 songs that I listened to over and over. This song is excellent-- vintage Breaking Benjamin, and exemplifies their sound wonderfully. Take a listen!

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Stuck In My Skull 335 -- "Homecoming"

Song: "Homecoming" || Artist: Kanye West || http://youtu.be/LQ488QrqGE4 ||

[youtube http://youtu.be/LQ488QrqGE4]

Comments: Of all the unexpected combinations of artists, Kanye West and Chris Martin of Coldplay fame. Wow. Didn't see that one coming. Err, came. This song actually came out quite awhile ago, and I'm just behind the times. Regardless of relevance, this song is actually pretty good. It's a sound I'm not used to hearing in rap, and it's hook-- sung by Chris Martin-- is fabulous. Check this song out!

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Stuck In My Skull 334-- "Snow (Hey Oh)"

Song: "Snow (Hey Oh)" || Artist: Red Hot Chili Peppers || http://youtu.be/fmXLzY8kbYA ||

[youtube http://youtu.be/fmXLzY8kbYA]

Comments: Good morning, folks. Sorry about this post going up late-- my turkey-stuffed stomach and tryptophan-addled brain didn't remember to write this last night. Honestly, I'm surprised I haven't already used this song. I first heard it ages ago, running in the credits to an obscure, live-action movie based on a manga that I watched on youtube years ago in ten minute chunks. Yep, it was old enough that youtube still had the ten minute video limit. I heard it once, and I was hooked, and my love of RHCP began. This song is catchy as all get out, has an incredible guitar, and is that sort of awesome that only the Red Hot Chili Peppers can produce. Enjoy!

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Stuck In My Skull 333-- "Crazy"

Song: "Crazy" || Artist: Gnarls Barkley || http://youtu.be/bd2B6SjMh_w ||

[youtube http://youtu.be/bd2B6SjMh_w]

Comments: I was really surprised to realize that I hadn't used this song yet on the blog. That being said, I am more than happy to use it now. This song is just so distinct, that I could pick it out of a metaphorical crowd in an instant. Let's face it-- nobody really sounds quite like Gnarls Barkley. The only artist I know of that even comes close is Cee Lo Green, but wait! Gnarls Barkley is Cee Lo Green working with Danger Mouse. Anyway. I heard this song ages ago, and it stuck with me. Give it a listen, and to our American audience-- Happy Thanksgiving!

(For what it's worth, an entertaining, StarWars-themed video for this song can be found here.)

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Stuck In My Skull 332-- "Beautiful Lies"

Song: "Beautiful Lies" || Artist: Mt Eden || http://youtu.be/uZnpikoHNWw ||

[youtube http://youtu.be/uZnpikoHNWw]

Comments: The internet is weird. I mean, who honestly sat down and said "Let's take a picture of a cute cat, put a funny caption on it, and butcher the spelling on the caption?" And beyond that, who would have thought they'd be hilarious  and turn into a hallmark of internet culture? Besides just locats, we have the internet to thank for the rise and spread of numerous bands and artists, such as Mt Eden. I'm not a huge dusbtep junkie, but I really like this track. I would almost have to call it 'chillstep'-- that wonderful portmanteau of a genre. However, I'm fairly sure there is an actual definition for chillstep, so I'll just settle for calling it 'really chill dubstep.' I love this track. And I love that it's a free download. The link in the youtube description leads to a 'file not found' on rapidshare, but as the annotation on the youtube video itself points out, the song is available as a free and legal download on their soundcloud, found here. Enjoy the track and enjoy the day!

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Stuck In My Skull 331-- "Gangnam Style 2 Legit 2 Quit Mashup"

Song: "Gangnam Style 2 Legit 2 Quit Mashup" || Artists: PSY and MC Hammer || http://youtu.be/l0mUOHXEKmY ||

[youtube http://youtu.be/l0mUOHXEKmY]

Comments: I'm really beginning to think that I should have watched the American Music Awards this weekend. Thanks to Miriah for tossing this at me. One of the things I really love about PSY is his incredible stage presence. This dude monopolizes the stage whenever he steps on to it, and to this point, I thought that anyone doing a duet with him was an utter waste of time because they'd be marginalized into irrelevancy. I would be wrong. It turns out MC Hammer can keep up. I know nothing about MC Hammer besides that he is responsible for the ubiquitous "Stop! ... Hammer time!" line, but I have a feeling I should be looking him up now. Anyway, this is excellent. Take a look!

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Stuck In My Skull 330-- "With a Few Good Friends"

Song: "With a Few Good Friends" || Artist: Carly Simon || http://youtu.be/HrtK1zZ9oiA ||

[youtube http://youtu.be/HrtK1zZ9oiA]

Comments: Nevermind how, but I ended up watching Piglet's Big Movie last night with a friend of mine. The movie is ridiculously cute, and your classic Winnie the Pooh feel good movie. This song is the theme of the movie, and pretty excellent. I'm not terribly familiar with Carly Simon, but she has a really distinct vocal style that I want to listen to more of. Give it a listen!

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Stuck In My Skull 329 -- "Warrior Concerto"

Song: "Warrior Concerto" || Artist: The Glitch Mob || http://youtu.be/-lszdEZ0-74 ||

[youtube http://youtu.be/-lszdEZ0-74]

Comments: Happy Friday! I'll be straight and to the point. This song is some seriously fantastic techno with a heavy dose of strings. It's excellent, and it (and everything this band does) reminds me why I got into electronic music in the first place. Check it out. Also, go to the youtube for this one-- there's a free (and even legal!) download link. Enjoy the weekend!

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Stuck In My Skull 328-- "Die Young (Acoustic)"

Song: "Die Young (Acoustic)" || Artist: Ke$ha || http://youtu.be/oa4jGB-8si4 ||

[youtube http://youtu.be/oa4jGB-8si4]

Comments: Well, I didn't see this coming. While I've always had a certain amount of respect for Ke$ha, that level of respect just skyrocketed. This acoustic version of "Die Young" is pretty! I honestly haven't heard Ke$ha without the synthesizers and the drums and the autotune, and I have to admit, she sounds really pretty. I have to admit -- I saw this song on Buzzfeed.

 

And that brings me to a completely unrelated point. People almost never send me music any more! Just because my life has a soundtrack doesn't mean I don't need more songs. When I first started this blog, everyone was sending me songs. What happened? Guys, if you've got a song, let me hear it! Please? I love you and your music too much not to want to hear from you.

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Stuck In My Skull 327-- Loca People [NSFW]

Song: "Loca People" || Artist: Sak Noel || http://youtu.be/vZLd81IHGQw ||

[youtube http://youtu.be/vZLd81IHGQw]

Comments: Well, I've been sitting on this song for awhile now, and I no longer have an excuse not to use it. This song is quite frankly so bad it's good. Well, let me rephrase. The beat is fantastic, but the lyrics are abysmal. Between those, and some of the camera work, I had to label this sucker NSFW. Which is sad. Because the song is just plain funny. Enjoy!

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Stuck In My Skull 326 -- "Danza Kuduro"

Song: "Danza Kuduro" || Artist: Don Omar feat. Lucenzo || http://youtu.be/7zp1TbLFPp8 ||

[youtube http://youtu.be/7zp1TbLFPp8]

Comments: Happy Monday, y'all. Yep, I just said (well, wrote) "y'all." My weekend has been a little loopy. For example, I just had the pleasure/misfortune to send an email with the gist of "I fixed all of our problem but now we need to re-image the hard drive." Anyway, song. This song is catchy as heck, even if you can't understand a word. Do yourself a favor. Stand up, turn it up, dance like an idiot. It'll make you feel good, even if nobody else has any idea what you're doing. "Danza Kuduro" is one of those really great Spanish songs that anyone who parties has heard, but nobody has actually heard of. Enjoy!

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Stuck In My Skull 325-- "No Church in the Wild" [NSFW]

Song: "No Church in the Wild" || Artist: Kanye West and Jay-Z || http://youtu.be/FJt7gNi3Nr4 ||

[youtube http://youtu.be/FJt7gNi3Nr4]

Comments: I have been listening to this song on repeat for the last several hours, and I love it. The longer I listen to Kanye, the more I realize that while I don't really think much of his lifestyle or attitude, he really is a gifted artist. This song is just amazing, and the video hits you right in your sense of rebellion. Take a look, folks, but perhaps not at work.

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Stuck In My Skull 324 -- "Eyes on Fire"

Song: "Eyes on Fire" || Artist: Blue Foundation || http://youtu.be/afx-XRsTDUU ||

[youtube http://youtu.be/afx-XRsTDUU]

Comments: Congratulations to Mr. Obama on winning a 2nd term in office! As important and historical as this is, you're all sick of it, so let's not talk about it here. Music! I love music, don't you? I particularly love this song. I originally heard a dubstep remix of this song (Zed's Dead remix, to be specific), and decided to go find the original. The song is quite excellent-- the vocals are captivating and harmonious. The video that accompanies this song is also quite excellent. It's black and white camera work gives the entire affair a very artistic feel, and I can't get enough. Enjoy!

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Stuck In My Skull 323 -- "Some Nights"

Song: "Some Nights" || Artist: Fun. || http://youtu.be/qQkBeOisNM0 ||

[youtube http://youtu.be/qQkBeOisNM0]

Comments: I wasn't originally going to use this s0ng, but my roommate was playing it, and then it got stuck in my head, and now here I am writing the entry. Thanks, Brian. Anyway, this song is typical of Fun.-- lyrically driven with several layers of meaning, powered by interesting percussion. Also typical of Fun., the video is ambiguous, and I'll avoid commenting on it in case you haven't seen it. Unlike many people (at least who comment on youtube), I really don't mind the autotune at the end. In all fairness, I listen to pop and techno, so draw your own assumptions. Anyway, enjoy the song! (PS-- the song starts at about 1:00 in the video.)

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Stuck In My Skull 322-- "I'll Be Gone"

Song: "I'll Be Gone" || Artist: Linkin Park || http://youtu.be/eG-ja6wpOa0 ||

[youtube http://youtu.be/eG-ja6wpOa0]

Comments: I really don't have much to say -- it's a good song, but I'm too tired to say much. Enjoy.

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Stuck In My Skull 321-- "Moon Trance"

Song: "Moon Trance" || Artist: Lindsey Stirling || http://youtu.be/0dfZ9BXaNyE ||

[youtube http://youtu.be/0dfZ9BXaNyE]

Comments: Because who doesn't love dancing zombies? Lindsey Stirling released this very Halloween-themed song last week, and I decided to use it today. Musically, it's interesting to see Lindsey utilizing electronic and techno elements without going all the way to dubstep. And let's face it. Dancing zombies. What more could you want? Happy Halloween!

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Stuck In My Skull 320 -- "Sacrimony (Angel of Afterlife)"

Song: "Sacrimony (Angel of Afterlife)" || Artist: Kamelot || http://youtu.be/ORAc_hx33-Q ||

[youtube: http://youtu.be/ORAc_hx33-Q]

Live version: http://youtu.be/a74TZSlnTW4

Comments: Well ladies in gentlemen, I'm writing this a bit after midnight on 10/30/12. It's unlikely that my area will lose power from the Superstorm Sandy, but just in case, no harm in having this done the night before. If you're in an area that will be or has been affected by the storm, stay safe. Anyway-- song. I originally saw this song when I went and saw Kamelot touring with Nightwish this fall, and it was fantastic live. For that reason, I found a live version with good sound quality, and included it above. Kamelot is excellent with their new vocalist. While music videos were never Kamelot's forte, metal is, and this song is fantastic. If the storm hasn't blown you away, the song will.

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Stuck In My Skull 319 -- "Tetris"

Song: "Tetris" || Artist: Electrixx || http://youtu.be/_pXUl8KMJmc ||

[youtube http://youtu.be/_pXUl8KMJmc]

Comments: Happy Monday, folks! To those of you in the path of Hurricane/Tropical Storm/Insert_Weather_Event_Here Sandy, hunker down and carry on-- be safe above all else. To those of you who aren't, send your thoughts/prayers/good karma/positive feelings to those who are. To anyone reading this, have some music. "Tetris" is a superb remix of the theme of the game Tetris, as mixed by a group I've never heard of called Electrixx. It has excellent dance and dubstep elements in the song, and blends them beautifully. Songs like this remind me why I got into electronic music in the first place. Enjoy!

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Stuck In My Skull 318-- "Puppet"

Song: "Puppet" || Artist: Thousand Foot Krutch || http://youtu.be/uTCZHkrb2IM ||

[youtube http://youtu.be/uTCZHkrb2IM]

Comments: What is with me having songs stuck in my head all day lately? This song would not exit my skull for all of yesterday, and so I bring it to you now. Thousand Foot Krutch is one of those bands sitting on the fringe of religious music with that excellent nu metal, pseudo rap sort of grunge beat that I thrive on. I get it in my Linkin Park, I get the thrashier, non-rap bit in my Breaking Benjamin, sometimes I even get it from some System of a Down. For some reason, I never remember to include Thousand Foot Krutch on my list, something I really should. It's epic. Enjoy!

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Stuck In My Skull 317-- Tivoli Vs. Walking On A Dream (Acapella)

Song: "Tivoli Vs. Walking On A Dream (Acapella)" || Artist: Steve Angello Vs. Empire Of The Sun || http://youtu.be/Jj0J1cGcRMc ||

 
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jj0J1cGcRMc&w=560&h=315]

Comments: Gotta love techno and these crazy-long song titles. Oh well. This song has been bouncing off the walls of my skull and ricocheting around my brainpan all day. It's fantastic. I can't get enough of it. If it weren't for the fact that people are usually around, I would turn up the volume to max and blast this on repeat all day long. This is one of those songs that is good enough that I'm going to have to go look up the original songs that comprise it -- "Tivoli" and "Walking on a Dream." Enjoy!

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Stuck In My Skull 316-- "Long Distance Love"

Song: "Long Distance Love" || Artist: DJ Smash feat Vera Brezhneva || http://youtu.be/2iWWnbiC8ok ||

[youtube http://youtu.be/2iWWnbiC8ok]

Comments: Thanks to my friend Kira for tossing this song out on Facebook and translating the title and stuff! Frankly, I can't understand a word that's being said. Usually that's a pretty big turn-off for me, but this song is still fantastic. The beat is amazing, it's in the 'just right' zone between overproduced and too minimalistic, and it doesn't have any pretensions. This song reminds me why I got in to electronic music in the first place. Enjoy!

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No Stuck In My Skull Today!

Sorry guys, but there is no SIMS post today. I'm taking the day off to celebrate the first year anniversary of me and my wonderful girlfriend. Tune in tomorrow for regular content!

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Stuck In My Skull 315-- "The Poet and the Pendulum"

Song: "The Poet and the Pendulum" || Artist: Nightwish || http://youtu.be/r3ntHpYocc0 ||

[youtube http://youtu.be/r3ntHpYocc0]

Comments: Normally I wouldn't do two Nightwish songs so close together, but I found out last night that vocalist Anette Olzon has left the band as of October 1. @#$%. That is really, really depressing news. I really enjoyed Nightwish's two albums with Anette, and was looking forward to several more. To my knowledge, no vocalist is currently listed to replace her, and Floor Jansen will be finishing the tour in her slot. As a tribute to the now-departed vocalist, I post the longest Nightwish song I know of, and the first Nightwish song with Anette that I remember playing over and over on repeat. Enjoy!

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Stuck In My Skull 314-- "The Scientist"

Song: "The Scientist" || Artist: Coldplay || http://youtu.be/EqWLpTKBFcU ||

[youtube http://youtu.be/EqWLpTKBFcU]

Comments: I sincerely hope that this post is coherent and readable-- it's being written at 3:00 AM. The unquiet mind that lies within the confines of my skull won't shut up, and so I'm still awake at this obscene hour. Right, the song. I sincerely love Coldplay, and have ever since the 7th grade, when a teacher of mine inadvertently sparked a slow-burning fuse that would ignite, years later, into my enjoyment of this British musical sensation. This song is slow, mellow, and comforting, and I had rather hoped it would settle me brain a bit. I'll know once I log off and attempt to sleep again. Oh well. Either way, enjoy the song!

Random note: I really hate the label "Alternative Rock." It doesn't tell you a thing. According to Wikipedia, "The name "alternative rock" essentially serves as an umbrella term for underground music that has emerged in the wake of punk rock since the mid-1980s." How silly. Someone suggest a better name? Say what you will about metal and electronic music, but at least the titles of their subgenres are descriptive.

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Stuck In My Skull 313-- "Fortune Days"

Song: "Fortune Days" || Artist: The Glitch Mob || http://youtu.be/xC-qHr7J4uU ||

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xC-qHr7J4uU]

Comments: Awhile back, I used another song by this group-- "We Can Make The World Stop." I have to say, the more I listen to The Glitch Mob, the more I am falling in love with them.  TGM has all of the bass I want without sounding distorted (a curiously uncommon trait), and has some ridiculously catchy hooks and beats. In short, TGM is exactly what I want out of my electronic music.

As for today's video, there is no official video for this song, so rather than album art, I saw that someone had posted a video of themselves playing (possibly highscoring on) Audiosurf to this song, and decided it was better than a single image. Enjoy!

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Stuck In My Skull 312-- "7 Days to the Wolves"

Song: "7 Days to the Wolves" || Artist: Nightwish || http://youtu.be/Uod4zDdhofY ||

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uod4zDdhofY]

Comments: Yet another Nightwish song that did well enough to be released as a single, and wasn't, to our infinite sadness. Well, not really infinite, but very great. This song is a shining exemplar of just how flexible of a band Nightwish is, rolling several dramatically different-sounding sections into one song. I love this song. Actually, I love Nightwish, period, but this song is particularly excellent.

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Stuck In My Skull 311-- "Bad Romance"

Song: "Bad Romance" || Artist: Lady Gaga || http://youtu.be/qrO4YZeyl0I ||

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrO4YZeyl0I]

Comments: I have precisely zero idea why this is stuck in my head. It's a rainy day today, so I was planning a mellow, mood-appropriate song, but nope, Lady Gaga. This song is a classic from the modern era of pop (I'm going to say that like I know what I'm talking about, because modern music doesn't require a PhD), and it's excellent. The video is one of the weirdest videos I know of, but that's just Lady Gaga for you. Anyway, most of you have probably heard the song, but watch this anyway. Come and listen again, remember how good this song is, and how insane the video is. Enjoy!

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Stuck In My Skull 310-- "Rolling in the Deep"

Song: "Rolling in the Deep" || Artist: Adele || http://youtu.be/rYEDA3JcQqw ||

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYEDA3JcQqw]

Comments: I was rather surprised to realize that I had not used this song on the blog. "Rolling in the Deep" was the song that launched Adele into prominence, and I think it's excellent. There was a time in which this song was so overplayed on the radio that I couldn't stand it, and I'm pleased to say that that time has passed. This song is a classic. Adele's distinctive, powerful vocals drive this folk-flavored track to stardom, and keep it stuck in my head quite nicely. Enjoy the song, and enjoy the weekend!

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Stuck In My Skull 309-- "Conquest"

Song: "Conquest" || Artist: The White Stripes || http://youtu.be/0L7FuA8Rry8 ||

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0L7FuA8Rry8]

 

Comments: Hello, everybody! I've been doing far too much electronic music lately, so I decided to switch it up with some White Stripes! I love The White Stripes-- even if I can never remember if the 'the' is capitalized or not-- and I was so sad when I got into them and discovered they had already broken up. Jack White's vocals paired with the distinctive minimalist instrumentation he and Meg White use creates such a unique, wonderful sound. You will be a conquest of this song, just as I was.

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Stuck In My Skull 308-- "Die Young"

Song: "Die Young" || Artist: Ke$ha || http://youtu.be/BmV2zPXMzdI ||

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmV2zPXMzdI]

 

Comments: "Let's make the most of the night like we're gonna die young." In all fairness, with the amount that Ke$ha drinks, she very well might be dying young, which is saddening. As much as Ke$ha can epitomize all that's wrong with pop music, she's still incredibly catchy. To be honest, I'm surprised that, as of time of writing, this song only has a tad short of three million hits. Anyway, this song is vintage Ke$ha-- go listen and smile. Enjoy your day like you're gonna die young.

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Stuck In My Skull 307-- "Professional Griefers" and Update!

Song: "Professional Griefers" || Artist: Deadmau5 feat. Gerard Way || http://youtu.be/Hr2Bc5qMhE4 ||

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hr2Bc5qMhE4]

Comments: Hello, all! Quick update: Amanda will, from now on, be doing her column on Tuesdays and Thursdays, not Mondays and Fridays-- this will give you two columns on any given day! We hope this works better for everyone.

Right, the song. This was stuck in my head all Monday afternoon, and beat out the new Ke$ha track for this blog entry. Sorry, Ke$ha, you can be tomorrow. This song is aggressively house, and I love it. The beats are hard and fast and unbelievably catchy, and though I don't like MCR very much, Gerard Way does a great job delivering the vocals. For what it's worth, I think the lyrics are hilarious. Enjoy the song!

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Stuck In My Skull 306-- "Moar Ghosts N Stuff" and Site Update!

Song: "Moar Ghosts N Stuff" || Artist: Deadmau5 || http://youtu.be/rQxAJLBAIH4 ||

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQxAJLBAIH4]


http://youtu.be/bXWk-aInsow (Version with no flashing lights)

http://youtu.be/9uRmh7I9xXk (Album version)

Comments: Hello, everybody, and welcome to the shiny new Stuck In My Skull! This week is going to be jam-packed full of awesome, all hosted on this site for your viewing and listening pleasure! You might notice that instead of "Entry 306," today's post is labelled "Stuck In My Skull 306." That's to keep our columns neatly labelled and separated. Yes, I said columns. Both Miriah's and Amanda's columns are publishing today, bringing you three times the variety!  I'll leave it to them to explain how and when they're going to run.

Today's song is a deadmau5 (pronounced "Dead Mouse," if you're unfamiliar with him) classic. Heads up, though-- the video posted has some flashing lights in it. Deadmau5 being his usual, abrasive self, he felt the need to complicate things and post a version of the song called "Moar Ghosts N Whatever" (first video) that is identical to the version called "Moar Ghosts N Stuff" (the link below the video), and to top it off, neither on of those has the same intro that Deadmau5 used on his album version of the song. Personally, I like this way a little better, so I decided to feature it instead. If you're curious to see the alternate intro, check the second link for an album version. I'm fairly sure he only used that version to make the album flow, but whatever. Enjoy the song, and welcome to the new Stuck In My Skull!

Note: Since we're still working out a few bugs, the site might change a bit from time to time. Just bear with us, and if something looks whacky, please, let us know!

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Entry 305-- "Rudie Fails"

Song: "Rudie Fails" || Artist: White Rabbits || http://youtu.be/2sIc5TsdkDQ ||
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sIc5TsdkDQ]

 

Comments: I certainly got a surprise while writing this. For the longest time, I thought this song was called "RudieFalls"... Oh well. Either way, the song is excellent. White Rabbits are one of those bands I always think 'I should listen to more of them,' and for some reason never do. That really is shameful, as they're excellent. Their lyrics turn out to be deeper than most, and their sound is crisp and distinct and memorable. I love it. Happy Friday, and enjoy the weekend!

 

REMEMBER: As of Monday, we will be moving to stuckinmyskull.wordpress.com! Update your bookmarks!

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Entry 304-- "Rest in Peace"

Song: "Rest in Peace" || Written by: Joss Whedon || Peformed by: James Marsters || http://youtu.be/c9p4drDZXIg ||

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9p4drDZXIg]

Comments: Hello all! Amanda here! I'm excited to share with you a song from the Buffy the Vampire Slayer musical episode, "Once More, with Feeling," written by none other than Joss Whedon. The whole soundtrack is fantastic, and impressive considering it was his first attempt at song writing, according to Wikipedia. The song is a small taste of Whedon's musical genius and Marsters, the actor portraying British vamp Spike in the series, gives a great performance, delivering both soft and hard vocals. If you're a Whedon fan but haven't checked out the show yet or just like what you hear, you should consider watching the entire episode. It's decidedly one of my favorites. Enjoy!

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Entry 303-- "Musta Had a Good Time"

Song: "Musta Had a Good Time" || Artist: Parmalee || http://youtu.be/0e3eoIkZEyA ||
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0e3eoIkZEyA]

Comments:  Hey all!  It's Miriah with some new country!  I'm happy to present this song today.  Parmalee is a new band out in country music (since about 2010), but here is their first single.  I heard it on the radio yesterday and I had several pulsating thoughts about this song.  One, this doesn't have a stereotypical country sound and the guitar sounds good.  Second, I would compare this to the country version of Katy Perry's "Last Friday Night" and thirdly, this needs to be shared.  Even if you don't love country music listening to this song might be worth a bit of your time, even if it is just for a couple laughs for the lyrics.  I can't wait to hear more from this band, especially if they keep this sound.  Enjoy!

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Entry 302-- "Can't Buy Me Love"

Song: "Can't Buy Me Love" || Artist: The Beatles || http://youtu.be/SMwZsFKIXa8 ||
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMwZsFKIXa8]

 

Comments: Yep, I completely forgot to update the blog today. Whoops. Anyway, reminder: We are moving to stuckinmyskull.wordpress.com on October 8th! Update your bookmarks! On to the song. I have no idea why this song is stuck in my head, as I haven't heard it in ages. Regardless, it's a lovely song. The Beatles might be "just a band" according to Dan le Sac vs Scroobius Pip (see song, "Thou Shalt Always Kill"), but that doesn't make them any less excellent. Enjoy!

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Entry 301-- "Elements" and Announcement!

Song: "Elements" || Artist: Lindsey Stirling || http://youtu.be/sf6LD2B_kDQ ||

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sf6LD2B_kDQ]

Comments: Sorry about the lateness of this post, folks! But today, Stuck In My Skull has a major announcement! As of Monday, October 8th, Stuck In My Skull will be moving to Wordpress! Our website will be the same, the only thing that is changing is blogger is becoming wordpress, so you can find us at stuckinmyskull.wordpress.com. In addition, Miriah and Amanda will be starting their own columns that week, to bring you even more variety! All this week, Wordpress will be running in synch with Blogger. What this means for you is that you can read the post of the day on either Blogger or Wordpress. Wordpress is running in 'beta,' though, so there may be a few bugs. If you see anything weird on the Wordpress site, please please please let us know! Facebook us, email us, leave a comment on either site, and we'll get it taken care of. Also, we are pleased to announce we reached and exceeded 6000 hits over the weekend!

Anyway, the song. This is the second time that Lindsey Stirling has produced a violin/dubstep track, and like the original offering, Ms. Stirling did a fantastic job on this song. She emphasizes the dubstep part of the track a titch more than in "Crystallize," but I'm okay with that, as I think it sounds fantastic. As is usual for her, she put together a stunning video to accompany the song. All in all, I think Lindsey Stirling is an amazing artist, and I look forward to hearing more of her work.

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Entry 300-- "Must Be the Feeling"

Song: "Must Be the Feeling" || Artist: Nero || http://youtu.be/ld50mfW-BCM ||
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ld50mfW-BCM]

 

Comments: Hey all! Amanda here! A couple months ago I posted Nero's  "Promises" from Welcome to Reality, the same album this song comes from. It samples the 80's track "Time to Move" by Carmen and though perhaps too repetitive at times is as catchy as all get out.  If electronic music really isn't your thing, I at least hope you can appreciate the music video. The vibe I get from it is reminiscent of Blade Runner and Back to the Future with a touch of Tron thrown in a la Daft Punk. Happy listening and have a fantastic weekend!

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Entry 299-- "Lies Greed Misery"

Song: "Lies Greed Misery" || Artist: Linkin Park || http://youtu.be/9Dq9q6afIP8 ||
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Dq9q6afIP8]

 

Comments: It is probably fair at this point to say that I am in love with the new Linkin Park album. This song, for which I do not believe there is an official video, is not actually a single, but has charted regardless, according to wikipedia. Actually, the fact that it charted but isn't a single would explain why it has a lyric video but not an official music video, but I digress. The point is, the song is excellent, and you should give it a listen. Happy Thursday!

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Entry 298-- "Dirt Road Anthem"

Song: "Dirt Road Anthem" || Artist: Jason Aldean Ft. Ludacris || http://youtu.be/DhBte0LzahQ ||

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DhBte0LzahQ]
Comments: Hey everyone, it's Miriah. Happy Wednesday. Now, the song for today is not new or recent, however it has been stuck in my head numerous times and I've been meaning to share it and keep forgetting. Then today I found out that Ludacris has done a remix of it with Mr. Aldean?! It's not terribly often that genres mix and do duets such as this. Of course, they do exist and it isn't a surprise when I see one, but the point is that I do excited when it happens because it isn't an every day occurrence (and especially not with country). I am happy to report that the changed bridge that Ludacris provides for the song is good. For those of you who are used to Mr. Aldean's bridge here are the lyrics to Ludacris' remix. Enjoy!

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Entry 297-- "Lean On Me"

Song: "Lean on Me" || Artist: Bill Withers || http://youtu.be/QPoTGyWT0Cg ||
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPoTGyWT0Cg&w=420&h=315]
Comments: Good morning, folks! Today's song goes out to a friend of ours who is looking a little shaky. You know who you are. This song is a classic, and it's one of those songs everyone knows without really knowing who the artist is. I had to look it up and listen before I discovered it was Bill Withers, who I cheerfully admit I've never heard of. But that's beyond that point. Enjoy the song!

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Entry 296-- "We Can Make the World Stop"

Song: "We Can Make the World Stop" || Artist: The Glitch Mob || http://youtu.be/ls-LYas5j8U ||
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ls-LYas5j8U]
Comments: I wasn't originally looking for this song, but when I couldn't remember the name of The Glitch Mob's song that I was looking for, I clicked the video and promptly fell in love with the tune. The Glitch Mob is an interesting sound, representing a sub-genre of electronica (appropriately, "glitch") that hasn't worked its way into the mainstream of electronic music yet, let alone mainstream pop. Oddly enough, it reminds me most heavily of the soundtrack and sound effects in the web game "Give Up Robot" produced by Adult Swim Games (heads up-- trippy lights and sound, bordering on epileptic, and a huge black hole of time and productivity). Either way, the group (what I've heard of them) and the song are both excellent. Enjoy!
Edit: Sorry this didn't go up on schedule-- either I derped or Blogger derped, and I'm not sure which.

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Entry 295-- "Rock That S#!+"

Song: "Rock That S#!+" || Artist: Kublakai || http://youtu.be/qByK-FSg29k ||

 Comments: Hello everybody! Amanda here! Sorry for the lateness of the entry but things are a tad hectic around here. A friend of mine played this song for me last night and I couldn't get over how unbelievably awesome it is. The rap is half  clever, amusing diss and half party anthem. Apart from how sick the song is and that's he a talented Seattle-based MC, I don't know much about Kublakai. I will definitely be keeping up with his career from now on though. Enjoy!

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Entry 294-- "Happy Up Here"

Song: "Happy Up Here" || Artist: Röyksopp || http://youtu.be/51Bpx63wkbA ||
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51Bpx63wkbA]
Comments: Sorry about the late entry, folks! For today, I was thinking a nice, happy song is in order, because I'm in a really good mood today. Röyksopp make really happy songs, in my opinion, and usually has really weird videos to go with them. I'd never actually seen the video for this song until I watched it to start writing this entry. It's a little odd, but on the other hand, it's nothing compared to "Beautiful Day Without You." That song has a really, really, really weird video. Trippy, even. Anyway, enjoy the song, and smile!

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Entry 293-- "Wanted"

Song: "Wanted" || Artist: Hunter Hayes || http://youtu.be/ruyaKdPfTN4 ||

Comments:  Hey all, it's Miriah and I hope you're having a wonderful Wednesday.  I'm slowing it down a bit in comparison to the last couple posts.  I can't say that this song is terribly new, it's already hit radio and such, however I felt the need to share it.  To elaborate on what someone said in the comments below the video, gentlemen, pay attention.  The lyrics to this song is the kind of thing that your girl wants to hear.  But besides that, even though this is a simple song, plain Jane video, doesn't have any fantastic beat, and in all honesty it probably won't be legendary, but I think it's sweet and it's just something nice to listen to and I felt the need to share. I am a big fan of the black and white screen shot with small bursts of colour like the red in this video.  As easy going as the song might be...Enjoy!

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Entry 292-- "Look At Me Now"

Song: "Look At Me Now" || Artist: Chris Brown feat. Busta Rhymes, Lil Wayne || http://youtu.be/8gyLR4NfMiI ||
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gyLR4NfMiI&w=560&h=315]
Comments: Good Tuesday morning ladies, gentlemen, and gender-neutral persons! This song is one of those songs that I've flip-flopped on a few times before deciding I liked it. I originally heard this song on the radio forever ago, and thought "what the [censored] is this?" Because, let's face it-- most people have never heard anything like this before. In the long run, I finally decided to give Chris Brown (no I still don't like him for beating up Rihanna, but I try and separate artist and person) the benefit of the doubt and assume he was trying for minimalism, rather than just ended up producing this after sitting down with Garage Band and a six-pack, as I had originally thought. What this song is, is a well-put together song with an interesting beat, minimal instrumentation, and clever vocals. It dodges the over-produced PILE OF NOISE that is many other songs of the genre and manages to be fairly interesting. As for the video, the choreography is pretty impressive, as is the scenery. Being a nerd, I got a serious kick out of seeing them performing on an NES controller. Enjoy!

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Entry 291-- "Don't You Worry Child"

Song: "Don't You Worry Child" || Artist: Swedish House Mafia feat. John Martin || http://youtu.be/1y6smkh6c-0 ||
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1y6smkh6c-0&w=560&h=315]
Comments: Happy Monday, folks! Or at least, it's a happy Monday for me, because while I wasn't looking, Swedish House Mafia released a song! That's right, after announcing their last tour and officially declaring that the group was now in hiatus, SHM released one last song, and I have to admit-- it's pretty excellent. Yes, I'm biased, but I'm not that biased. I'm not blindly biased. I like some songs better than others. I think "Greyhound" was meh. I think this song is excellent. Give it a listen!

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Entry 290-- "Amerika"

Song: "Amerika" || Artist: Rammstein || http://youtu.be/8y4vIzEkd6s ||

Comments: Hey all! It's Amanda! This Friday I thought I’d share some foreign language music. For some time now, I've known about Rammstein but for whatever reason they didn’t really pop up on my radar until this summer. They are a German industrial metal band uuber controversial for their use of wordplay in their songs and militaristic imagery in their videos and live performances. "Amerika”, sung partly in English and partly in German, is a blatant critique on Americanization. Even if you don't speak their native tongue, it's hard to miss all the allusions to American culture and politics in the lyrics and video (Mickey Mouse, Santa Claus...etc). The song also rocks pretty hard and has a memorable refrain, and a killer keyboard solo toward the end of it. These guys have taken serious flack for their music choices, especially in their home country, but I say keep doing what you're doing. Enjoy and have a great weekend!

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Entry 289-- "Time (H320 Dubstep Remix)"

Song: "Time (H320 Dubstep Remix)" || Artist: Chase and Status || http://youtu.be/p1xgJS37MKE ||
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1xgJS37MKE]
Comments: I was sitting around with Miriah trawling through youtube and stumbled upon this song. I'm familiar with H320 from Entry 231, but I never really listened to anything else he/she/they have done. In retrospect, that was a mistake. This song is both chill and dubstep, possibly the subgenre known as "chillstep"-- but I admit I'm not quite fluent enough in dubstep to make that call definitively. The song is excellently put together and mixed, and I've decided I'm quite fond of it. Enjoy!

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Entry 288-- "50 Ways to Say Goodbye"

Song: "50 Ways to Say Goodbye" || Artist: Train || http://youtu.be/GSBFehvLJDc ||

Comments:  Hey all, it's Miriah.  Happy Wednesday!  I'm bringing you all the latest from Train.  I have to say I was very amused the first time I heard this song on the radio and I am even more amused by the music video.  The song starts out with a Mariachi kind of feeling and is then portrayed as such in the video.  While the humour in this video is somewhat crude (i.e. her head as a soccer ball), I have to say that it is still entertaining because of the absurdity of the imagery the band gives us.  Now, why this takes place in the grocery store is beyond me, but the human like portrayal of death, or the reaper, as a shopper is again one of the more crude amusing anecdotes.  One final comment is that the fast tempo of the chorus and some slight lack of diction makes it difficult to understand if one isn't paying attention closely so I recommend having the lyrics at hand.  Enjoy!

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Entry 287-- "Gangnam Style"

Song: "Gangnam Style" || Artist: PSY || http://youtu.be/9bZkp7q19f0 ||
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bZkp7q19f0]
Comments: Every now and then, I have a moment where I look at what I'm about to write on, and think "I can't believe I'm going to write an entry on this and actually expect to have people take me seriously as a blogger." This is most definitely one of those times. I am aware that PSY probably wants to be taken seriously outside of South Korea as an artist, but he's got an uphill battle. Most Western audiences aren't familiar with K-Pop, and starting with a song like this isn't exactly conducive to taking the genre seriously. The first time I watched this video, I just sat there with my mouth hanging open, too surprised to even laugh. Once I got over the culture shock, though, I have to admit-- the song is well produced, insanely catchy, and so utterly ridiculous you have to smile and shout "oppa gangnam style!" (If you actually want to learn a bit about what all of it means, I recommend the Wikipedia article on the song as a great place to start.)

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Entry 286-- "Anything Could Happen"

Song: "Anything Could Happen" || Artist: Ellie Goulding || http://youtu.be/5hzgS9s-tE8 ||
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hzgS9s-tE8&w=560&h=315]
Comments: Ellie Goulding sits on a short (well, maybe not so short) list of artists who I am an unreserved uber-fan of. She is talented not only vocally, but in a large list of instruments, and in performance in general. In this song, she once again rocks me. I might be imagining things, but for some reason, I hear the influence of MGMT-esque electronic rock in these beats, and I think they're excellent. Enjoy the song!

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Entry 285-- Binder Week, Part 4: "Say You'll Be There"

Binder Week, Part 4 || Song: "Say You'll Be There" || Artist: The Spice Girls || http://youtu.be/9ro0FW9Qt-4 ||

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ro0FW9Qt-4]

Comments: Hey all! It's Amanda. When I heard what the theme was for this week I immediately knew what I wanted to do for my entry: the one and only Spice Girls. It's scary to think how much influence they had on me as a kid and pop culture in general. Don't get me wrong, I love them. Their music was/is everything one could ever want from pop music.Looking back, although I never really got on board with the whole girl power phenomenon, I  appreciate their message of female empowerment. As for the song itself, "Say You'll Be There" is probably my favorite Spice Girls' song. It's ridiculously catchy and surprisingly funky. The music video is also quite entertaining and seems to captures their personality as a group really well. Enjoy!

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Entry 284-- Binder Week, Part 3: "Iron Man"

Binder Week, Part 3 || Song: "Iron Man" || Artist: Black Sabbath || http://youtu.be/9LjbMVXj0F8 ||
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9LjbMVXj0F8]
Comments: Sorry about the lateness of the post. Because we had that major announcement and milestone to celebrate yesterday (if you didn't see it, check it out!), "Binder Week" is getting cut down to four entries. For the third of the four, I felt like some Black Sabbath was in order. Black Sabbath was in the glory days of the classics of 'heavy metal,' and got me really into metal a few years back. I distinctly remember that when the movie Iron Man came out, I was interested in the movie as much to hear the song as to see the movie itself. I love this song. It's so campy, and sits with that song about the Flash by Queen and the song Kryptonite in the ranks of 'Great Songs about Superheroes.'

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Entry 283-- "We Will Rock You" with Major Milestone and Announcement!

Song: "We Will Rock You" || Artist: Queen || http://youtu.be/-tJYN-eG1zk ||
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tJYN-eG1zk&w=420&h=315]
Comments: Wow. Dude. Seriously. This thing is working? For real? Apparently it is. I've pinched myself, slapped myself, restarted my computer, and had someone else come look at it too, and it's not changing. (Actually, not really. I just did a double-take.) The hit counter... reads over 5000.
I'm going to try and keep my head attached and functioning properly, so I don't look like the person in this comic, drooling into a stupor, or this person, exploding into rainbows. I am ridiculously thrilled by this. To top it off, I have even more good news-- keep an eye on the blog, because soon Miriah and Amanda will be writing more, and launching their own columns!
I really don't know what commentary I can give on this song. It's a classic, and it fits this blog so well. If you come, we will try our level best to rock you. Enjoy the song!

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Entry 282-- Binder Week, Part 2: "Don't Let Me Get Me"

Binder Week, Part 2 || Song: "Don't Let Me Get Me" || Artist: P!nk || http://youtu.be/asaCQOZpqUQ ||

Comments: Hey everyone, it's Miriah bringing some older P!nk for those who may only know her recent stuff. I love her older music as well as her new music.  This was one of her songs to which I knew all the lyrics (though in all fairness I knew a lot of lyrics of hers).  Anyway, this was in the early 2000s and it concerns the basic self-esteem issues that many teens face.  Enjoy!

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Entry 281-- Binder Week, Part 1: "Forgotten"

Binder Week, Part 1 || Song: "Forgotten" || Artist: Linkin Park || http://youtu.be/2mvMPjr8K90 ||
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mvMPjr8K90]
Comments: Happy Monday, folks! To make your week suck a little less, Stuck In My Skull is pleased to kick off "Binder Week!" Each of us are going to take a look at our old music and pull out some forgotten favorites. To start the week off, I give you "Forgotten" by Linkin Park. I was in love with this song in middle school. Looking back on it, I'm surprised how well done it is, in a genre (rap-metal) that basically got abandoned. The bridge is a little iffy, but overall the song is excellent, and now that I've looked back on it, I enjoy it still. Hopefully you do too!

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Entry 280-- "Resurrection"

Song: "Resurrection" || Artist: PPK || http://youtu.be/ipE9QFiWhzQ ||
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipE9QFiWhzQ&w=420&h=315]
Comments: Happy Friday! I'll skip right to the meat of this entry. When I was first getting into techno, Pandora showed me this song, and I fell in love with it. I've never seen another song by this group, but I have seen a slew of remixes, which is unusual in the techno world-- one-hit wonders aren't that common... Oh well. If any of you happen to see another song by this group in your travels, let me know! Enjoy!

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Entry 279-- "Do You Believe In Magic"

Song: "Do You Believe In Magic" || Artist: The Lovin' Spoonful || http://youtu.be/mDYNuD4CwlI ||
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDYNuD4CwlI]
Comments: Good morning, folks! This song was stuck in my head last night, so here it is now. To any gamers out there, this song got used by Valve in their video "Meet the Pyro." To the rest of us, it's just a really old, really good, really campy song. And yes, I do believe in magic.

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Entry 278-- "House on a Hill"

Song: "House on a Hill" || Artist: Kamelot || http://youtu.be/0iqsA0evxoQ ||
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0iqsA0evxoQ]
Comments: Happy Wednesday, folks! "House on a Hill" is one of the prettier songs off Kamelot's album Poetry for the Poisoned, featuring Simone Simons of Epica. It's a very melodic duet, with an exellent blend of vocals and instruments, spread nicely across all the instruments Kamelot uses. Roy Khan and Simone Simons are an excellent duo, and I hope Khan's replacement, Tommy Karevik, does as well. Enjoy the song!

Edit: Thanks to Miriah for catching that this song didn't post today, sorry about that!

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Entry 277-- "She's So Mean"

Song: "She's So Mean" || Artist: Matchbox 20 || http://youtu.be/-8WLa6umgdw ||

Comments: Happy Tuesday, all! It's Miriah bringing you neither country or foreign language or any kind.  Instead, I am putting out there the first single from Matchbox 20's new album "North" that I heard once before it got stuck in my head.  It reminds me of some older songs (it reminds me of the  "Uptown Girl" by Billy Joel variety type of songs).  The video was released roughly a month ago, and has recently been getting a decent amount of radio play. As good as this song is (as well as the visual effects at the end of the video), I'm really disappointed by the large amount of instrumental destruction that takes place.  Anyway, enjoy their new release!

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Entry 276-- "Kiss with a Fist"

Song: Kiss with a Fist || Artist: Florence and the Machine || http://youtu.be/1SmxVCM39j4 ||

Comments: Hey all! Amanda here! Hope you're all having a good Monday thus far. Even so, we would never neglect our duties here at Stuck In My Skull. Many of you are probably familiar with  this particular song or the artist, who has since become a music sensation. The song was Florence and the Machine's first hit single and the track that put Florence Welch on the map. After its release, the lovely and talented singer-songwriter was accused of encouraging domestic violence with her lyrics, which she has denied wholeheartedly. I like it frankly because it's boisterous and  has  attitude. Hopefully this will help you tackle whatever obstacles you face throughout the course of your day. Thanks for reading and enjoy!

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Entry 275-- "Promises"

Song: "Promises" || Artist: Nero || http://youtu.be/llDikI2hTtk ||

Comments: Hello everyone! Amanda here! Today's pick was not at all what I had in mind for this entry. I intended to do something bluesy but after hearing "Promises" in a HP laptop commercial for the billionth time it finally stuck. Funny enough, I remember watching the music video when it came out over a year ago. From what I can tell, Nero is a dynamic electronic band. Admittedly, dubstep is not my favorite genre. I appreciate the fact that their music sounds more like Daft Punk than Skrillex and I think the female vocals have a lot to do with how catchy and danceable their songs are. Also, Nero seems to be trying hard to make videos that have some substance and tell a story, which I like. They also have an interesting visual style and compliment the music quite well. Enjoy and have a good weekend!

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Entry 274-- "No Te Pido Flores"

Song: "No Te Pido Flores" || Artist: Fanny Lu || http://youtu.be/4fjaBAp359Q ||

Comments: Hey everyone! It's Miriah bringing some Spanish to your Thursday morning.  I have to admit that I haven't listened to a lot of this particular artist, however, I will say that the few songs of hers that I own have all had the opportunity to seize control of my brain and play over and over.  I think everyone has a song where only a line or two plays in their head even if they remember the tune and this is one of mine.  Anyway, the song's title translates to "I Don't Ask for Flowers" and it is very catchy.  The creator of the video definitely wanted to make the distinction between her misery and the cheery part of the 'I will be stronger than this breakup' portion. This song a kind of stereotypical love song, but I have to say that I really enjoy the lyrics to it.  Below is a translation of the chorus.  Enjoy!
Chorus Translation: I don't ask you for flowers/ or that you give me candy/ I only want a caress/ and that you tell me you love me/ I don't ask that you confess/ or that you promise or pray/  I only want you to tell me that there isn't any other woman you admire more./

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Entry 273-- "I Am Glad, 'Cause I'm Finally Returning Back Home"

Song: "I Am Glad, 'Cause I'm Finally Returning Back Home" (or "Trololo") || Artist: Eduard Khil || http://youtu.be/1orMXD_Ijbs || 
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1orMXD_Ijbs]
Comments: This song, as performed by the late Mr. Khil, has reached meme status, and went viral some time ago. To be quite honest, I had thought I'd already used it on the blog, or I would have posted this sooner. "I Am Glad, 'Cause I'm Finally Returning Back Home" transcends the ridiculous and boomerangs back to the realm of the serious, because it is just that funny. In a way, it's actually inspiring. Mr. Khil is so totally into this song that he doesn't care how he looks, and for that, I praise him. Enjoy!

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Entry 272-- "Madness"

Song: "Madness" || Artist: Muse || http://youtu.be/Mq9zhpBweDk ||
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mq9zhpBweDk]
Comments: Thanks to Amanda for sending me this. Ladies and Gentlemen, Stuck In My Skull presents the first single of Muse's new album, The Second Law: "Madness," and boy, is it a song. Muse continues their growth towards electronic music without being overbearing, and is still fronted by Matt Belamy's trademark falsetto. I love this song. Stayed tuned here, folks, and we'll let you know if a video comes out, or the next single is released. Enjoy the song!

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Entry 271-- "Around the World"

Song: "Around the World" || Artist: ATC || http://youtu.be/pXnpsBBBMo4 ||
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXnpsBBBMo4]
Comments: Happy Monday, folks! After deciding against two songs in two different genres, I finally settled on some nice, relaxing Eurodance. ATC sits with Eiffel 65, Alice Deejay, Cascada, and a handful of artists in being the pillars of the Eurodance genre. I can't remember when I first heard this song, but it was several years ago when I first started exploring electronic music. As I recall, I had started a Pandora station with the seed as "Sandstorm" by Darude, and eventually this cropped up. It's a good song, and I've enjoyed it for years, and I hope you will too.

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Entry 270-- "A Little Priest"

Song: "A Little Priest" ||  Composed by: Stephen Sondheim || Performed by: Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter || http://youtu.be/MGzpzJ4fzGY ||

Comments: Hey everyone! Amanda here! What better way to wrap up the week than with a sinister musical number. This tune is off the soundtrack for Tim Burton’s 2007 film adaption of the Broadway show Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. It’s the story of Sweeney Todd, a wicked barber dead set on getting revenge on his enemies with the help of Mrs. Lovett, his partner in business and crime. Burton breathes new life into the popular stage musical, imprinting his signature style on the movie. As the leads of an all non-musical cast, Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter deliver strong, haunting performances. Although not classically trained singers, they use their talents as actors to get to the heart of their characters and reveal their every motive and desire. They also manage to infuse new passion and drama into the original music and lyrics of Stephen Sondheim, the acclaimed composer known for West Side Story and other stage works. This duet is easily the sharpest, most cheerful song you'll ever hear about murdering people and baking them into pies. Like the entire film, it’s got a sense of humor that makes it quite charming. If you are a fan of the musical genre, I suggest checking out the movie. It doesn't disappoint. Have a great weekend!

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Entry 269-- "Walking with a Ghost"

Song: "Walking with a Ghost" || Artist: The White Stripes || http://youtu.be/jeYyoU8kKPQ ||
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeYyoU8kKPQ?rel=0]
Comments: Oh, this song takes me back. As I recall, I originally found this song a few years ago when I really started exploring The White Stripes. To put things in perspective, playlist.com was actually popular and useful then. After some poking around, I learned that this song was, in fact, a cover of the original song by Tegan and Sara, another very good two-person group. You should take a listen, and if you like it, go find the original and see what you think. Enjoy!

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Entry 268-- "Shot In The Dark"

Song: "Shot in the Dark" || Artist: Within Temptation || http://youtu.be/mLz61g0JLxQ ||

Comments: Hey everyone!  It's Miriah here.  I'm bringing something different to the table than I usually do.  I guess I can still call it foreign because this band is from the Netherlands. Anyway!  I came across this song on iHeartRadio today and thought the song was great.  This band is new to me and I'm going to start listening to more of their things.  Once I've nailed the lyrics to this song I can guarantee I'll be singing it.  While watching the video, I recommend paying attention at around 3:40 because there is an awesome guitar interlude.  Anyhow, please take a listen and enjoy!

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Entry 267-- "Sahara"

Song: "Sahara" || Artist: Nightwish || http://youtu.be/auHuwRAYDPE ||
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auHuwRAYDPE?rel=0]
Comments: Happy Tuesday, everyone. If you haven't heard it, "Sahara" is one of the lesser-known songs off Nightwish's album Dark Passion Play, and I can't understand why for the life of me. It's an excellent song, and has a habit of getting stuck in my head for hours on end. Don't let that discourage you from listening, though. Enjoy the song!

On an unrelated note, I'm still toying around with embedding the code for the video directly in the post, as opposed to inserting a video by way of clicking through a bunch of videos. If it doesn't work, apologies! Click the link at the top and it will still take you to the youtube video.

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Entry 266-- "Good Time"

Song: "Good Time" || Artist: Owl City and Carly Rae Jepsen || http://youtu.be/H7HmzwI67ec ||
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7HmzwI67ec?rel=0]
Comments: Happy Monday, folks! As it happens, I'm actually travelling today, so I wrote this previously and scheduled it for today. So I say hello to the future! Anyway, I saw this song sitting on the youtube top 100 for music, and being a long-time fan of Owl City, I couldn't resist listening. I'm glad that I did-- the song is excellent. It manages to sound like both Owl City and CRJ without either being overbearing or ending up sounding like a song from the Disney Channel. For some reason, though, I never realized that Adam Young (Owl City) looked like such a hipster. Maybe it's just the video. Beyond that, this song convinced me that Carly Rae Jepsen is worth following, and I'll probably end up buying her album when it releases. Enjoy the song!
As a side note, I'm playing around with embedding the video directly in the post instead of adding it via a series of menus. If it doesn't work out, I apologize. The link in the top of the post will take you to the youtube video as normal.

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Entry 265-- "Whatta Man"

Song: "Whatta Man" || Artist: Salt 'N' Pepa || http://youtu.be/8-WFNbMohTQ [NSFW] ||

 Comments: Hello all! Amanda here! Before there was Lil Kim, Missy Elliot, and Nicki Minaj, there was Salt 'N' Pepa. These ladies were one of the first all-female groups to break into the hip-hop industry and the first female rappers to win a Grammy, accomplishments that I think make them worthy of our time. This song combines their epic rapping skills with the smooth vocals of R&B duo En Vogue, another successful nineties group. I personally love how strong, confident, and not to mention, talented all of the women involved are. As for the song, it’s an unabashed tribute to good men everywhere, a gleeful celebration of  having found those qualities one most seeks in a romantic partner in another person. While I don't agree that "most men are hoes,"I will say that I appreciate the song's honestly and overall sentiment. For its somewhat racy visual and lyrical content, I’m marking this video as NSFW. Anyway, I figured there are enough sappy love songs devoted to my gender so why not show the guys some love today. Enjoy and happy Friday!

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Entry 264-- "Parabola"

Song: "Parabola" || Artist: Tool || http://youtu.be/fxiFoYMsIJw || http://youtu.be/_z2O289Jemo* ||

Comments: I was playing this song on Guitar Hero World Tour this afternoon, and let me just say, playing Tool's set really, really hurts your wrist. Totally worth it, though-- I love the songs. After having various bits of Tool stuck in my head for much of the afternoon (interspersed with Ozzy, of all things,) I decided to throw it up as the blog for today. The second link includes the intro instrumental song "Parabol" and has a video that is weird enough to get an honorary NSFW. If your boss doesn't know what it is, they might just have a cow over some of the craziness in there. The song "Parabola" starts (or more appropriately, the important parts of "Parabol" end) at about 4:06, if you want to skip ahead. Enjoy!

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Entry 263-- "How Deep Is Your Love"

Song: "How Deep Is Your Love" || Artist: Akcent || http://youtu.be/2zfwY3CaE7Q ||

Comments: Hey all! It's Miriah here bringing in some new Romanian music that I stumbled across today.  This particular group is excellent.  Which sounds like a generic statement, but to put it more specifically these are someone that I would go out and buy their album.  I have found some other new artists as well that have some similar sounds.  Akcent, which Chris compares it to Edward Maya (Stereo Love), is Eurodance and from the songs I listened to there hasn't been one yet that I didn't like.  This particular video isn't terribly exciting as the scenery is consist through approximately ninety percent of the video, however the song itself is definitely worth a listen. I hope that you enjoy this song and it encourages you to listen to others. Enjoy!

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Entry 262-- "Phantom of the Opera" and Site Update!

Song: "Phantom of the Opera" || Artist: Lindsey Stirling || http://youtu.be/TCL94-MsxYc ||

Comments: I originally ran into Lindsey Stirling when I was slumming around for material for Tour of Techno Week, if I recall-- her "dubstep violin" came up on my radar, and very nearly made it into the slot for dubstep. Lindsey Stirling is a freakishly talented violinist and a talented dancer. She has an energy that radiates through the screen to the audience, and infects them with her vibrant spirit. Having heard many a cover of Phantom of the Opera, I can say that not only is this one of-- if not the-- best, but it's a fantastic medley. This song is very much worth a listen, and the video is a captivating watch. Check it out! (click to read more)


SITE UPDATE: As you probably noticed, the site looks quite different. What do you think of it? Please please please please please, comment to this post with your thoughts on the site, send us an email, or let us know on Facebook. If you love it, tell us! If you hate it, really really tell us, because if you don't we'll never know it and it'll stay this way. Bear with us-- the site is still undergoing changes, and we're playing around with some options to see what looks and feels best.

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Entry 261-- "Radioactive"

Song: "Radioactive"
Artist: Imagine Dragons

http://youtu.be/eu-xFvLaE68

Comments: Amanda here! Sorry for the lateness of  today's post but hopefully this song will make up for it. I'm excited to introduce a new band to the blog: Imagine Dragons, one of the most refreshing musical acts I've encountered in a long time. A couple weeks ago, word of a new study suggesting that today’s pop music is louder, blander, and more unimaginative than ever floated around the web. While I don’t contest that there is a lot of sub-par music out there it seems unfair to generalize about an entire genre, especially one as diverse and ever-changing as pop is nowadays. Imagine Dragons reminds me that modern music isn’t in the state of decline some think it is. There is always great music to be found as long as people are willing to look for it. For me, listening to music is an emotional, subjective experience. My musical tastes aren’t so much rooted in objectivity and it’s hard to quantify why I like this song or what makes it good. No doubt part of its appeal is its infectious chorus and killer hip-hop beats. But it'd be more accurate to say “I feel it in my bones.” Enjoy! 

Edit: Chris here-- it's worth noting this song is getting quite a bit of exposure being featured in an ad for a new TV show ("Chicago Fire") being promoted in NBC's Olympics coverage. Also, we're experimenting with different formatting and templates for the blog. If things look weird, bear with us-- it'll come back to normal (or at least settle on one option) soon enough.

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Entry 260-- "Miami 2 Ibiza"

Song: "Miami 2 Ibiza"
Artist: Swedish House Mafia feat. Tinie Tempah

http://youtu.be/LCH1AsUydSc
Comments: I heard via Amanda today that SHM is going on hiatus, and I couldn't resist using one of their songs for this entry. Unfortunately, Swedish House Mafia is not exactly a prolific producer of pristine pieces, so my selection was a tad limited. Thankfully, this song had not yet made it to the site, so I can use their last big (unused) single to send them off in style. I love SHM-- they make great music, and from what videos I've seen of them, they seem to have a blast doing it. Heads up on this song, though-- the video borders on NSFW. Enjoy the song, have a great Friday, and enjoy the weekend!

Update: Miriah has asked me to announce that the official video for "Blown Away" by Carrie Underwood is out! Links on the post: http://stuckinmyskull.blogspot.com/2012/07/entry-253-blown-away.html
UPDATE 7:00 PM: Stuck in my Skull has big news in the works, folks! Make sure to check back on Monday!

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Entry 259-- "Too Close"

Song: "Too Close"
Artist: Alex Clare

http://youtu.be/zP50Ewh31E4
Comments: Some of you might recognize this song, but have trouble placing it-- this song is currently getting used in the ads for Internet Explorer 9 (not endorsed by this blog in any fashion), and getting a ton of attention for it. It is, in fact, where I encountered the song. I'd heard the ad a few times, but yesterday I went and looked up the song, and it's been raging in my head ever since. And I mean raging. Resonating, deeply, all the way in my soul where only a few songs ever reach. It's heartfelt, but has all the deep, thrumming bass of electronic, with a hint of dubstep. It is beautiful. Please, listen. Hope you like it!

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Entry 258-- "Follow"

Song: "Follow"
Artist: Breaking Benjamin

http://youtu.be/CeDeImahXyc
Comments: Happy Wednesday, folks! Today we've got some Breaking Benjamin on tap. This song, off the album 'We Are Not Alone,' was stuck in my head all of yesterday evening, so I couldn't resist putting it up for today. It's a good song, and fairly catchy. The section in the bridge with just Benjamin Burnley and the drums is fantastic, and ridiculously resonant in my head. I don't know 'We Are Not Alone' so much as I know 'Phobia,' but I think I'll have to listen to it after this. Enjoy!

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Entry 257-- "Spiderwebs"

Song: "Spiderwebs"
Artist: No Doubt

 

 http://youtu.be/6ZktNItwexo

Comments: Hello! Amanda here! Yesterday I was mindlessly meandering around Youtube when I stumbled across a video for the new single "Settle Down" from the American rock band No Doubt. This was incredibly exciting for me as, between a four year hiatus and various solo projects, the group have not put out a record since 2001. However, this is not the track I've posted here. Fellow fans should appreciate that they sound as killer as ever, have held onto their creative vision, and as always are having one heck of a good time. What’s impressive, to me at least, is that over the years, No Doubt has managed to retain a signature style even while fusing and experimenting with different genres. Their energy, ingenuity, and versatility have allowed them continued success for nearly two decades and made them a personal favorite of mine.  Enter “Spiderwebs,” off their 1995 Tragic Kingdom album, a pop rock song with a ska twist. If you’re not familiar with No Doubt, this is a good introduction to the band, a small taste of what they're all about and capable of. Enjoy the song and thanks for reading!

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Entry 256-- "Angel Eyes"

Song: "Angel Eyes"
Artist: "Love and Theft"

http://youtu.be/aOvyymFaFs4

Comments: Hey all, it's Miriah!  Happy Monday.  I am bringing you a song that just started hitting the radio, because the last couple of days I haven't been able to get the song out of my head. This band is relatively new (their first album was released back in '09 and their latest released this year).  While they are categorized as country, I would like to say that they don't have that thick 'twang' and all three of their hits don't have any of the "beers and tears" kind of messages that usually show up in country songs. I listened to this new duo's other two hit songs and they sound good.  I really hope that they get some momentum, because this is one duo that I wanna see make it.  Enjoy!

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Entry 255-- "This Is Love"

Song: "This Is Love"
Artist: will.i.am feat Eva Simons

http://youtu.be/9I9Ar6upx34
Comments: Sorry today's entry is so late, folks-- I completely forgot to write this last night. Anyway, the song. I ran into this song a few weeks ago, and I've kept putting off using it. When I first heard it, I was slightly indecisive about whether or not I really liked the song, but I have to say, that answer is now a firm and unyielding yes. Watching will.i.am progress his career alongside the Black Eyed Peas has been interesting-- he really has a lot of talent. Anyway, happy Friday, enjoy the weekend, and enjoy the song!

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Entry 254-- "Manah Manah"

Song: "Manah Manah"
Artist: The Muppets

http://youtu.be/8N_tupPBtWQ
Comments: No, this is not a joke. This song is stuck in my head, and dedicated to a coworker of mine, whose easy jokes and startlingly clear insights into our jobs makes life so much more tolerable. Anyway, fresh from The Muppet Labs Stuck In My Skull, I present to you, "Manah Manah," as performed by the illustrious... wait, do they even have names?! ...The Muppets!

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Entry 253-- "Blown Away"

Song: "Blown Away"
Artist: Carrie Underwood

http://youtu.be/QOyMbkXzKFc
Comments: Hey everyone! It's Miriah bringing back some country for the week.  I heard this song recently on the radio and I have to say it is excellent. Ms. Underwood has produced yet another song that I have a feeling is going to rise pretty high on the charts. It's got the same musical feel as "Good Girl" her last hit, but the message of this particular song is much more intense.  It reminds me of some older country songs with a similar plot line (see "The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia", Reba McEntire).  Anyhow, this is another great song, and I thoroughly approve of the excess amounts of guitarists in the performance.  (Small side note: I like to be able to post a live performance and feel confident that the song still sounds good.)  Enjoy!

Update:  Hey all!  Here's the official video for this song. It was published yesterday, and I have to say that the video is pretty good.  Enjoy!

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Entry 252-- "Mad World"

Song: "Mad World"
Artist: Tears for Fears

http://youtu.be/SFsHSHE-iJQ

Comments: Hello all! Amanda here! When I woke up this morning, I honestly had no idea what I wanted to write about but my love for eighties music pointed me in the right direction. "Mad World" may sound familiar to you. A cover by Gary Jules and Michael Andrews appeared in the cult film Donnie Darko, gaining the song a second wave of popularity. Though released decades apart, both are great in their own way and make an interesting observation about the world we live in. I chose the original because I think it’s significantly less well-known among younger generations. I myself had never heard it before today and couldn’t believe how different it sounds. My own reaction to hearing the synthesizers and strong percussion surprised me. Having heard the Jules version first, which always makes me sad, I didn't expect it to sound so upbeat. The video is odd but good. I don’t know how to describe it except to say it's very eighties. I recommend checking out both versions. Enjoy!

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Entry 251-- "We Run the Night"

Song: "We Run the Night"
Artist: Havana Brown (feat. Pitbull)

http://youtu.be/NenYxo0ko10 (Original, 2011)

http://youtu.be/AP4dnGkZne4 (2012, feat. Pitbull)

Comments: In writing this entry, I couldn't decide which version of this song to use, so I used both. That being said, I have a serious bone to pick with the 'Top 40' (pop) stations in my area. This is not "We Run the Night -- the new Pitbull song." First, it is Havana Brown featuring Pitbull, not the other way around. Second, this was a perfectly good (I'd argue better) song before RedOne had the bright idea to make a new version of it featuring Pitbull. He, and to a lesser extent RedOne, have both begun to annoy me. Having lately seen this image floating around Facebook, I've begun to realize how little Pitbull puts into his songs. Also, he personally annoys me in this song by announcing himself and RedOne, but not Havana Brown, a little-known artist who could greatly benefit from the fame. As to RedOne, I'm beginning to feel as though his songs are a tad over-produced. Anyway, the original by Havana Brown is excellent in its own right. You should definitely give it a listen. And next time your radio tries to tell you that "We Run the Night" is the new Pitbull song, you can smile and think you know more than the DJ. Happy Monday!

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Entry 250: 250 Entries Milestone!-- "She's Country" and "

Song 1: "She's Country"
Artist: Jason Aldean

http://youtu.be/2AZLUohDCGo
Comments: Two songs?! Yep! In case nobody noticed, this week involved the three of us here at Stuck in my Skull switching genres for the week. Honestly, these two entries have to be two of the hardest I've ever written. I am notorious for my dislike of country, and over all, this has been good for me. I've discovered that there exists country music that I don't think sucks-- Emerson Drive was a good start, and here's another one. Honestly, this song is pretty good. Moreover, it reminds me of Miriah. Just sayin'. What did you think of our genre-switched week? Did you notice?

Song 2: "Party in my Head"
Artist: September

http://youtu.be/5Ir99dnctoA
Comments: I've known about this song for about 24 hours at time of writing, and the timing of this discovery is excellent. It describes me wonderfully, I love the song, and I think it fits nicely for our 250th entry. By the way, 250 entries! To call me excited about this is a truly massive understatement. I am shocked at how far we've come, and at the risk of sounding like Taylor Swift, I'm so grateful to all you wonderful fans! Keep reading, enjoy the songs, and have a great weekend! Keep the party going, even if it's only in your head!

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