anthems of a 34 year old teenager (part 2)

I've started to notice alot of these songs came out during a pivitol time in my life. I was no longer a child, but far from an adult. I was still growing up, finding myself, making mistakes, and making vines. I may not have had the same experiences as alot of people, however, these songs had me romanticize an idea of what I thought I wanted. Going to the clubs and hooking up with gorgeous strangers, while in reality I was staying up until 6am talking to people I've met through Vine. I always did have a fascination with indie sleaze and hipster culture. In fact, I begged my friends to refer to me as a hipster, for I'm a can of soup, begging to be labeled. Thankfully, I grew out of that phase, but not out of the love for the music of that time.

Song: Crown on the Ground

Artist: Sleigh Bells

Year of Release: 2010 (I was 20)

“You never think, though you don't wanna know. There's another show playing in your window. But for the better you, it's never, never through. You're gonna have to, have to, have to."

I first heard this song in the trailer for the movie The Bling Ring. For those living under a rock, the film is about a group of teenagers who decide to rob the homes of multiple celebrities. Sounds like a wild premise for a movie, but it was based on actual events. The combination of the movie with Sleigh Bells "Crown on the Ground" is when I truly became fascinated with celebrity culture, and getting your fifteen minutes of fame. I mean, all publicity is good publicity, right? The song is loud, intense, chaotic, and every time I hear it, I'm brought back to that moment. Will I ever rob a celebrities home? Absolutely not. Will I have that image in my head during every listen of this tune? Duh.

Song: Round and Round

Artist: Ariel Pink

Year of Release: 2010

“Pick up the phone. And I want to go, and I want to go home now."

Youtube always suggest the strangest videos, and I'm grateful for that. The reason being that's how I discovered Ariel Pink's "Round and Round", from a video montage of clips from the Jamie Lee Curtis movie Perfect. I ended up loving the song and the way it made me feel. I felt sad, sentimental, but also hopeful about my future. I also had the urge to shake my hips like Jamie Lee Curtis and John Travolta. The internet is truly a strange place isn't it?

Song: Bang Bang Bang

Artist: Mark Ronson featuring MNDR

Year of Release: 2010

“No way-ay, no. The clock is ticking forward. No way-ay, no. It's just a cruel, cruel world."

I first heard this song on an episode of Girls, or was it through Vine? Remember Vine? The 2010s were an interesting decade, oh how I miss them so! Either way, Mark Ronson was one of the hottest music producers of the 2010s. Who am I kidding, he STILL is, the Barbie soundtrack dominated in the summer of '23! But back to the matter at hand, this song immediately wakes you up and makes you want to go out with your friends to the coolest house party in the city. In fact, it made me want to hop on a train to the nearest club. Unfortunately, my anxiety suggested I'd just dance to this jam in my bedroom. Better than nothing I guess...

Song: Dancing On My Own

Artist: Robyn

Year of Release: 2010

“I'm giving it my all, but I'm not the guy you're taking home. Ooh, I keep dancing on my own. I keep dancing on my own.”

When a song is both fun and tragic, it can be a euphoric experience when you hear it for the first time. That's what happened to me when I first heard Robyn's "Dancing On My Own". I wanted to cry, scream, but most importantly, dance, and so I did all three. It became an unofficial ritual for me, for I would blast this to get over a crush. It sure sucks knowing your not the one on their mind, but I survive. As long as there are songs like this, I can sleep easy knowing I'm not the only ones going through something like this. Just like the singer says "I'm just gonna dance all night". So I do, along with the crying and screaming.

Song: Sail

Artist: AWOLNATION

Year of Release: 2011 (I was 21)

“Maybe I'm a different breed. Maybe I'm not listening. So blame it on my ADD baby.”

Once again, thank you Vine for bringing the song to my radar. There was also an unofficial music video that went viral on YouTube. What was it about this song that made people go crazy? Was it the "blame it on my ADD" line? Or was it the way the singer belted the word "SAIL"? Who's to say, the song was a hit, and if you played it at a party, I guarantee everyone would scream "SAIL!" before the chorus starts. Isn't that what pop music is all about, not questioning the logic of it all. Just enjoy the random hit while it lasts.

Song: Warrior

Artist: Kimbra

Year of Release: 2011

“You're just pushing me down, pushing me down, pushing me down. They tell you 'trust your head, be like men' but never feel like you're good enough."

Back in 2011, I saw a commercial for Converse and this song was playing and I immediately looked it up. Sometimes companies have good music taste, who knew? The song reminds me of Scandal's "Warrior", both being about fighting for yourself, no matter how many times you get pushed down. You get back up and fight harder, and thankfully Kimbra sells it with her vocal talent. It also helps having Mark Foster of Foster the People providing background vocals. This was pure 2010s, pop indie royalty, a danceable beat, and converse.

Song: 212

Artist: Azealia Banks

Year of Release: 2011

“What you gon' do when I appear? W-When I premiere? Bitch, the end of your lives are near! The shit been mine, mine!”

Oh, Azealia Banks, you are a wild one who never holds back. When this song came out, something shifted. The start of a brand new era, but not just of music, of pop culture in general. Who else could pull off a Mickey Mouse sweater while rapping about...NSFW topics? Spoiler alert, NOT MANY! The song was everywhere, parties, clubs, movies, tv, and most importantly, my playlist. Every time it played I immediately started strutting as if I was a model for H&M. Which I may or may not do once I finish this portion of the blog...like you wouldn't?

Song: I Love It

Artist: Icona Pop featuring Charli xcx

Year of Release: 2012 (I was 22)

"You're on a different road, I'm in the Milky Way. You want me down on Earth, but I am up in space. You're so damn hard to please, we gotta kill this switch. You're from the '70s, but I'm a '90s bitch."

Once again Girls took over my psyche, but you really can't blame me this time. I mean, you've heard the song, right? Main character Hannah and her friend Elijah high on "life" are dancing in the middle of a club to it! I remember being so jealous that I wasn't part of that iconic pop culture moment. It's such a F*CK YOU kind of song when you think about it. God forbid a woman goes out, drinks, dances, and maybe throws your sh*t into a bag and pushes it down the stairs? You're probably shaking your head while reading this aren't you? Well, just like Icona Pop, "I DON'T CARE, I LOVE IT".

Song: Homewrecker

Artist: MARINA

Year of Release: 2012

“Deception and perfection are wonderful traits. One will breed love, the other, hate. You'll find me in the lonely hearts. Under, "I'm after a brand new start."

When I tell you this song HIT ME like a ton of bricks. I've been a fan of MARINA for over a decade and she never disappoints. When her sophomore album "Electra Heart" came out, I played it on repeat for months. Of course, track 4 being "Homewrecker", became an anthem for me. I had a frustrating experience a couple of years prior to the song's existence. Yes, a man was that experience. Not just a man, but a man I met while doing community theater, I know, I'm as horrified writing it down as you are reading it. However, I bounced back and used this song as my shield. I refuse to let past mistakes define me, for I grew and learned from them. Thank you MARINA, for reminding me of that with your wonderful music and lyrics.

Song: I Could've Been Your Girl

Artist: She & Him

Year of Release: 2013 (I was 23)

"It doesn't matter, I fought my heart. It's broke and shattered to a million and one. I'm done. I guess I haven't won."

Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward are She & Him and I sure do love them. I went an entire summer playing their music on repeat and "I Could've Been Your Girl" was my serotonin. I was trying to get over an online crush and this song came at the perfect time. I would play the music video everyday and was even tempted to recreate it as a Vine series to get over the rejection. Don't worry, I didn't do it, for I didn't have the skills to film and edit yet. The point is, the song is upbeat and a great way to get over a heartbreak. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to watch the video again, not for the reason you think, shut up!

Song: Out of My League

Artist: Fitz and the Tantrums

Year of Release: 2013

"You were out of my league. Got my heartbeat racing. If I die, don't wake me. 'Cause you are more than just a dream."

I owe Daryl Hall a huge thank you, for it was an episode of "Live from Daryl's House" that got me into Fitz and the Tantrums. Back in 2010, the group performed a bunch of songs with the legend and I had to check them out right away. A couple years later, they release "Out of My League" and I played it so much I came up with choreography. Do not even try to ask me to do it, seriously, don't......oh you're not going to ask me? Wow...ok. While the song has an incredible beat to dance to, the lyrics are about a man who cannot fathom that his girlfriend loves him because she is too good to be true. She is "more than just a dream" I mean, the man has to pinch himself from time to time! I think I can relate, well, I will relate once I'm in a relationship....what was I talking about?

part 1, part 3, full playlist