#onelovemanchester

“An explosion that appeared to be a suicide bombing killed at least 22 people on Monday night and wounded 59 others at an Ariana Grande concert filled with adoring adolescent fans, in what the police were treating as a terrorist attack” –New York Times.

You can’t get on Facebook or Instagram without seeing the devastating events that occurred at the Ariana Grande concert in Manchester. People are morning and spreading love and support throughout the world.

What a terrible time we live in. Concerts are a high energy, pleasurable experience that people wait for months to enter the arena and be amused. To take that away and put so many people, especially young people, in danger is unfathomable to me. Music is such a passion to me and to so many of those around me and having to worry about our safety is a terribly sad thing to be associated with such a positive object.

I am sure Manchester was shaken up after all these events but the singer showed her love and support in the best way she could. She held a benefit concert yesterday with more than 50,000 people in attendance to feel of the healing she was beginning and raise money for those who were injured in the bombing.

"I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for being here today," the singer said between songs. "I want to thank you so much for coming together and being so loving and strong and unified. I love you guys so much and I think that the kind of love and unity you're displaying is the kind of medicine that the world really needs right now" – CNN

Grande also made special trips to the hospital to visit her fans who were injured after the bombing and posted them on Instagram. The American pop-star is receiving praise for her attitude of love and kindness to unite the world after so many terrible attacks in the past year.

We cannot control everything that happens in the world. We have no way of controlling people and their actions but we can chose to expose ourselves to music that helps us spread much needed love and uplifts us to do better.

-BP

Here Comes The Sun

Why did Adele cross the road?



To say “Hello” from the other side.

Luckily, this week has been better than that joke. The sun is shining and it has started to feel like summer. In my own personal experience everyone is much happier when the weather gets nice and you can be outside. Especially after suffering through the winter months in Rexburg, Idaho (no joke, it’s colder than the North Pole here). With the adventures outside comes music that reflects the mood. Usually happy, party songs that can be blasted from a Bluetooth speaker floating down the river or as you hike to the top of a mountain.  
          
As kids in college music plays an important role in life. It is a way to express yourself when words fail you. You can control your emotions with what you listen to or the other way around. Let the music make you feel something new, different, exciting. Music is also a social activity. If you go to a party with no music the chances of people feeling awkward are high. People don’t talk as much as they use to, they bond over music. Remember that when you plan your next get together. The type of music you play controls the mood and also can help people relate better!
            
One album that took the world by storm this week was Harry Styles new solo album. This is his first after the One Direction break up and it has been anticipated for quite some time. The young artist released 10 songs on his first, self titled, album. Apple Music even got a behind the scenes short film to release to eager fans.    
        
Next week is going to be thrilling with new music from Lorde, Katy Perry, and OneRepublic. And maybe even some better jokes.

Here are some favorites from this week:

Welcome Home by Radical Face

Want You Back by HAIM

Slow Hands by Niall Horn

Don’t Kill My Vibe by Sigrid

Piano Man by Billy Joel (this is a classic!)

I love Billy Joel. haha
-BP

What Is Your Jam?

There are hundreds of new songs coming out every week. Hundreds of artists seeking to reach new fans, to have their long awaited song be heard on the radio and to connect and share with their fans the emotion that went into that song.

As a person who is particularly passionate about music, this seems a bit overwhelming. Hundreds of songs to scan through on a weekly basis while trying to be a full time student and work a part time job. But music is my passion. It is what keeps me going and upbeat for most of the day. I would say 80% of the day I have music playing. Whether it is walking to class with my ear buds in, dancing around my apartment with my roommates, or singing at the top of my lungs in the car. I love music. And not just any music, good music, with a sick beat, lyrics you can relate to, and most importantly the emotion the music brings.

I go from listening to Billy Joel to indie rock in the span of 10 minutes. The only type of music I don’t have an immediate draw towards is country, but I still enjoy some pop country every now and again.  

 I openly admit that I don’t go through hundreds of songs a week and determine if they are my style or not, but I do look for good music every single day. It could be a song that came out the day before or it could be a song from the 80’s. I enjoy finding new music to relate to. For me, the coolest part of music is the emotions you can feel. So many emotions are brought about as we listen to music and associate it with different events and memories in our lives.

It is such an adventure to find new music and share it with others. When I share I hope they will be able to find a new song and relate to in a similar way I was able to. Who couldn’t be happy listening to a new beat.

Here are some of my current favorite songs:

1. This Is Gospel (Piano Version) by Panic! At The Disco
   
   
   
2. No Vacancy by OneRepublic
   
   
   
3. Ever Since New York by Harry Styles
   
   
   
4. Stay by Zedd & Alessia Cara
   
   
   
   
   
5. Thunder by Imagine Dragons
   

Hope you enjoy!

-BP