The Middle

The power of music, the epiphany of lyrics, there is something that mentally and soul-fully just washes over me when a song captures what I am feeling, thinking, or going through. It can be magical, eerie, or overwhelmingly empowering. I have probably posted dozens of songs on this blog that really mean something to me...and it is here one more!

This song is almost a decade old, but it's lyrics are just as prevalent and timeless.

Jimmy Eat World's "The Middle"

Hey,
Don't write yourself off yet.
It's only in your head you feel left out,
Or looked down on.
Just try your best,
Try everything you can.
And don't you worry what they tell themselves
When you're away.

[Chorus]
It just takes some time,
little girl, you're in the middle of the ride.
Everything, everything will be just fine,
Everything, everything will be alright. (alright)

Hey,
You know they're all the same.
You know you're doing better on your own, (on your own)
So don't buy in.
Live right now.
Yeah, just be yourself.
It doesn't matter if it's good enough (good enough)
For someone else.

[Chorus x2]

Hey, don't write yourself off yet.
It's only in your head you feel left out, (feel left out)
Or looked down on.
Just do your best, (just do your best)
Do everything you can. (do everything you can)
And don't you worry what their bitter hearts (bitter hearts)
Are gonna say.

Music and Art

In a design class at Parsons we were told to pick out a song.  After really listening to the song we were instructed to draw 9 fashion croquis (the French word for sketch -- it is used to refer to any elongated fashion figure).  Eventually we created an entire collection based off that one song. I choose Cascada's "Every Time We Touch", and I had an absolute ball working on that collection. I would stay up until the wee hours of the morning listening to Cascada as I put the finishing touches on my sketches. 

I often think about that project and the relationship between music and art, and how one sparks something in the other. I love having music on as I work. I am a total I-tunes junkie and I find I am in constant need of new music. 

In fact if I get to the bottom of the stairs and realize I left my phone at home, I take it as a blessing and keep going, but if I forget my IPOD I'll climb back up the four flights of stairs so that I can have my music. 

I really like my latest selection of downloads. They include:

1) Kings of Leon "Only By The Night"

2) Lily Allen "It's Not Me, It's You"

3) Slum Dog Millionaire soundtrack -- LOVE M.I.A. Paper Planes and Dreams on Fire

4)Erin McCarley "Love, Save the Empty"

5)MGMT "Oracular Spectacular" -- playing "Kids" over and over again!

--  I probably shouldn't admit these downloads, but I do like them...

6) Lady Gaga

7)Kelly Clarkson

8) The Fray

9)Taylor Swift

10) Pussy Cat Dolls 

-- and then some older ones, but love them none the less

11) The Killers "Human"

12) Pink's entire "Funhouse" album

13) Katy Perry "Hot and Cold"

14) Lights "Last Thing On Your Mind"