Music – Page 2 – Notes of All Types

Caleb + Kelsey – Anne’s Earworms Episode 20

Caleb is one of the members of the group Anthem Lights. Kelsey is his wife. Together, they sing many beautiful duets. I’m a big fan.

My favorite Caleb + Kelsey song is their cover of “No Air” by Jordin Sparks and Chris Brown. Their harmony is amazing, and they have a beautiful amount of passion and connection when they sing.

Another great song of theirs is “Should’ve Been Us,” originally by Tori Kelli. I’m not a huge fan of the original, but their version is beautiful. I love singing this song with my music buddies now because I heard their version.

Do you listen to Caleb + Kelsey? If so, what’s your favorites of their covers? I’d love to hear them in the comments section!

Bonus Song: For more Caleb + Kelsey, check out their version of Maps by Maroon 5, another favorite.

My Summer Break Playlist – Anne’s Earworms Episode 19

I had a lot of fun this semester, but I love being on break. Just like during any break, I need an epic playlist. Here’s what I’ve got so far:

Good Morning, from Singing in the Rain

This song goes along well with my “being positive” theme I have going on right now. It’s fun and upbeat.

Billy Gilman, My Way

I love this cover of Frank Sinatra’s classic song, even more than the original. Billy Gilman sings with so much passion and energy.

Journey, Separate Ways

This is a good song for jamming.

Chelsea Moon with the Franz Brothers, What Wondrous Love is This

What Wondrous Love Is This is one of my favorite hymns, and this version is hauntingly beautiful.

Ella Fitzgerald, I Can’t Be Bothered Now

What playlist is complete without Ella? This song is light and carefree, and also good for dancing.

What’s on your summer break playlist? I’d love to hear some new additions for my list in the comments section!

Schindler’s List – Anne’s Earworms Episode 17

The movie Schindler’s List is about Oskar Schindler, a Nazi. The movie has a fascinating story that makes it worth watching, but I knew the soundtrack even before I saw the film.

The Schindler’s List soundtrack is a masterful exploration of sorrow and hope. The first time I heard it, I cried because of the beauty contained in the main theme. The whole soundtrack is worth listening through, but if you only have a few minutes, I recommend the theme.

Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas – Anne’s Earworm’s Episode 10

One of my good friends introduced me to Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas, and I was an instant fan. I listened to their album Fire and Grace first. I started listening to In the Moment a couple of weeks ago, and I love it just as much.

The thing that I like most about their music is the intricacy. The cello and the fiddle are each complementary, but still somewhat independent. Their song “Between” is a good example. This song is minor and edgy. Each instrument plays the melody some of the time, and a unique accompanying part another time. The two parts form a beautiful union of rich tones. (Warning: the cello line will get stuck in your head.)

Another great example of their lovely combination is the song “Josefin’s Waltz.” This is my favorite song by Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas. The two instruments work together beautifully, and it feels like walking on air (or waltzing on air, rather).

Their music is both interesting and pleasant to hear. It has more cohesiveness than an “experiment in sound” song like some modern jazz, but isn’t cliche. After I listen to a song like their version of St. Kilda wedding, I feel as if it’s fogged around me for the rest of the day. It fills my mind with interesting musical ideas, and I love it.

Radio Sweethearts – Anne’s Earworms Episode 9

I recently started listening to Kate Rusby, and this is my favorite song of hers that I’ve heard so far. I like this song for several reasons:

First, it tells a beautiful story. I like a good romance story. In song? Even better.

Second, the music is addicting. The guitar makes you feel like you’re soaring. It also varies from verse to verse, which makes it interesting. The other instruments add to the swinging feel of the music. I love the chords, and her accent is beautiful. All of this combined makes for one of my favorite songs I’ve found this year.

I hope you enjoy listening to it as much as I do!

My Favorite Breakup Songs – Anne’s Earworms Episode 8

Last week, I wrote about my favorite love songs. The perfect follow up, of course, is breakup songs. Here are some of my favorites.

Fast Car, by Tracy Chapman.

Tracy Chapman’s voice is ridiculously cool. The lyrics of this song tell a good story, and I love listening to it.

Shadow, by Sam Tsui

One of my friends sent me this song last year, and we ended up using it in a mashup for our band. I love the metaphor.

How am I Supposed to Live Without You, by Christian Cuevas

This version of the song is from The Voice. Christian’s voice has so much passion in it, it makes me want to cry every time I hear this song.

Without You, by Ali Caldwell

This is another great cover from The Voice. Ali Caldwell’s voice is stunning.

Should’ve Been Us, by Caleb + Kelsey

This song was originally performed by Tori Kelly, but I listen to a duet version by Caleb + Kelsey (Caleb is one of the members of Anthem Lights).

Dangerously, by Charlie Puth

I like this song because the piano sounds amazing.

What are your favorite breakup songs? I’d love to hear about them in the comments sections.

Bonus Song: Here’s my favorite cover of “Fast Car.” I found this last week, and it is amazing.

My Top Six Anthem Lights Songs – Anne’s Earworms Episode 6

I started listening to the group Anthem Lights a few years ago, and they quickly became one of my favorite bands. I didn’t want to write about just one album, so I decided to pick my favorite songs that they’ve covered. So here are my top six Anthem Lights songs:

6. Pompeii

Their version of Pompeii has an amazing blend of a full harmony sound and a big band sound.

5. Best of 2014 Mashup

I love this mashup because they take diverse songs and use them to tell a story. Also, they make the songs clean, which is nice because I avoid listening to trashy music.

4. Fix You

I love this song because the orchestra sounds amazing. I like to listen to it when I’m sad or lonely.

3. Drops of Jupiter

I love to jam to this song. It’s upbeat, and their harmony in the final chorus is phenomenal.

2. Good, Good Father

Good, Good Father is another song where their harmony makes the song. It makes the song full and textured.

1. Taylor Swift Mashup

This song was my first Anthem Lights songs, and one of the first mashups I’d heard. This was a transforming moment for me. Since I heard this song, I started listening to other mashups, and writing some of my own. This is still one of my favorite mashups of all time.

If you’re interested in listening to Anthem Lights on Amazon, click here.

Encore by Barbra Streisand- Anne’s Earworms Episode 5

Encore: Movie Actors Sing Broadway is one of the first albums that I counted down the days until it was released. I’ve been a Barbra Streisand fan since I saw Hello, Dolly! a few years ago. When I saw that she was still producing music (at age 74), I was ecstatic. I talked about the album to every friend I had. I talked about the songs that they released before the album. I talked about the videos in which they talked about the songs.

The biggest appeal of Barbra’s music is her voice. Even though she’s been singing for years (She started recording music at age 13), her voice is stunning. She sounds consistent from the bottom of her range to the top of it, instead of being throaty and breathy depending on how high she’s singing. Encore is an album of duets and one trio.

My favorite song from this album is “Loving You,” a duet with Patrick Wilson. Patrick is a former broadway singer, so he also has a soaring, classical voice. Their voices blend beautifully, and the song soars.

Another great song is “At the Ballet.” This is the trio from the album, with Daisy Ridley and Anne Hathaway. This was the first song I heard from the album, and it hooked me for the rest of the album. I loved Anne Hathaway’s singing in Les Misérables, and I was excited to learn about Daisy Ridley. The song tells several exciting stories, and the harmony is amazing.

The only song I wouldn’t recommend from the album is The Best Thing That Ever Has Happened to Me, because of some foul language.

Encore was a huge inspiration for me as I started singing more, and it’s one of my favorite albums.

If you’re interested in hearing Encore on Amazon, click here.

My Spring Semester Playlist- Anne’s Earworms Episode 4

Since I just started the Spring Semester at Boyce, I thought it would be fun to make a playlist of some songs that I’m enjoying right now, so I can compare my playlist now with my playlist at the end of the semester. So without further ado, here is my Spring Semester Playlist for 2017.

Manic Monday, by Relient K.

This song was originally a Bangles song, but I love the Relient K version. Even though Mondays are awesome, I like listening to this song because it’s fun and catchy.

Before You I Kneel (A Worker’s Prayer), by Keith and Kristen Getty.

This song helps me to have the right attitude about my work, and in some characteristics that I’m trying to build.

Arrival of the Birds, by the Cinematic Orchestra.

Since I’m playing in two orchestras this semester, of course I have to listen to some movie soundtracks. This has been one of my favorites for a while.

Scarlatti: Sonata in B minor – Allegro – L. 449 K. 27, played by Elizabeth Arenas

This is my current piano piece, so I’m listening to it a lot. I love how it’s minor, but still has a lot energy.

9 to 5, by Ali Caldwell.

This is a great cover, and is awesome for riding in the car.

Heart and Soul by Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble, Feat. Lisa Fischer and Gregory Porter.

I’ve been listening to Yo-Yo Ma’s Unaccompanied Cello for a while, but I’m new to his collaborations. This has been my favorite so far.

The Perfect Wisdom of Our God, by Keith and Kristen Getty.

I haven’t listened to this song since last year, but I would love to listen to it more this semester. It helps me to remember how wondrous God is, and promotes thankfulness.

Songbird, by Fleetwood Mac.

My voice teacher recommended this song to me while ago, but I forgot to look it up until this week. It’s a lovely rainy day song.

Our Love is Here to Stay, by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong.

Ella and Louis never get old.

Mary’s Song (Oh My My My), by Taylor Swift.

I like this song because it’s cute, and it has a happy ending.

Except for Monday, by Lorrie Morgan.

I’ve been listening to this song as long as I can remember. I enjoy it because it’s clever and fun.

So there you go, my Spring Semester Playlist. What songs are you enjoying right now?

I put the full playlist on YouTube here.

Long Drive, by Jordan Taylor- Anne’s Earworms Episode 3

When I was listening to Long Drive this week, trying to decide whether to make it into an Earworm, I realized how young it is. For a long time, I’ve always tried to be older. I started taking college classes at 14, and I expected myself to act like a normal college student. When I hang around adults, I try to be an adult. Long Drive gave me a fresh reminder that being young can be good. I don’t need to try to be older.

Not only does Long Drive help me be young, it helps me be positive. When I listen to the song “This Moment,” I simply feel happy to be alive. This is a feeling that I sometimes forget about. I tend to be a melancholy person, but sometimes I confuse melancholy with depressed. Long Drive is calm and thoughtful, and some of the songs are sad, but it’s not a “let-me-cry-a-river-before-this-next-song” kind of album. It helps me to remember that being thoughtful is not always the same as being sad.

This album helps me embrace who I am. I believe that God designed each person with a different personality, and that we should use how we are built to glorify Him. We should be fighting sin, not personality. I should be fighting grouchiness and unfriendliness, not introversion. I should be fighting depression and being self-centered, not melancholy. Long Drive helps me to remember that.