tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67279015491916282092024-03-13T18:16:04.980+00:00Shouting at the StarsAlex Griffithshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02715283274077610375noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727901549191628209.post-38416122407676433882020-07-20T19:11:00.001+01:002020-07-20T19:11:41.769+01:00NaNoWriMo Camp Update 1<p data-pm-slice="1 1 []">So a touch late with this blog, I wanted to do weekly updates but I found after a week of writing i didn’t have much to say except “getting there but it’s hard going” which in retrospect is an ideal outcome from writing. Every time I’ve written something and it was easy going I’ve realised after the fact that it was not my best work. Less thought had gone into it, maybe? Less struggle, so less success, maybe? Although saying that I could always have it a little easier going. Who wouldn’t?</p><p>So NaNoWriMo July Camp update. I’m continuing work on my collection of short stories and also on the expanded draft of what I called A Cold Cautionary Tale.</p><p>The original feedback I received about it was very positive. The only thing people asked about or for was more of it. Each feedback giver in their own way expressed a desire for it to be longer, to have more detail, more time with the primary character, etc. So took the idea and see where I could expand it out since I had to cut much of the first draft to fit the word count for both my class submission (the original reason for writing it) and the Reedsy submission that I also used it for that week. Both was 3000 words and my final draft of the short story came in at 2997 and that had been a painful day of cutting. </p><p>Rereading it a few months after last looking at it was interesting. I saw quite a few parts where I need improvement. While it was shortlisted as a Reedsy submission (which made my month), I can see why it didn’t win. I then took the basic story idea from fresh and broke it back down into a 5 act structure. I thought it would be easy, after all it had come from one, it would go back into one. Well turns out it was much harder to write the story I now know into it. After much fiddling and restructuring, I tried something a little new to me. I broke it down into three stages, I hesitate to call them acts or books to avoid confusion as im already using those terms elsewhere, each of those stages I then wrote as a 5 act structure story. Each one is a self contained step within the greater plot line but is very worthy of its own large spotlight. I can see why writers such as Joe Abercrombie and Brandon Sanderson do things this way. Allows a flexibility and ease of plotting that I had been lacking. Or maybe a more nuanced structure to work within brings out better in me, who knows. </p><p>Anyway I got it written out and had space and ideas for each section. A series of minor problems for my protagonist. This is where I get to shout out the wonderful interface of Scrivener, being able to have the plan always open as a separate smaller thin window to the side of my screen while I get to work on the main body of my text is amazing. Allows me to keep track of where I am and where I need to go missing nothing. </p><p>Now I’ve detailed what that project is I can give a proper update. I’m drawing towards the end of the first Stage. What is called “The Book of the Dead”. This week I should be able to get started on the second stage, what I’m calling “The Book of the Lost”. The ultimate stage is called “The Book of the Lonely”. </p><p>I have the first draft of my other long form writing a novella but i think it has legs, mostly complete. Titled “The Doom That Came to Egypt”. I’m not super happy with the first draft, needs serious reworking but it’s a pleasant start and gets a lot of basic plot exploration down. Least it’s figured out, recorded. Editing of that is a much later task. </p><p>The last few days I’ve been working on what would be another Reedsy submission but I was too lazy to get it done in time for the submission but I like the idea enough that I think I can expand it out a bit too. A headsman’s first day at work where he experiences second thoughts before going out. Will see where it goes, but it’s more of a fun distraction than anything serious I think.</p>Alex Griffithshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02715283274077610375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727901549191628209.post-82202485552315522462016-10-18T20:57:00.001+01:002016-10-18T20:57:15.576+01:00Self Pity Party - Week 7<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Welcome to the time to let it out and let go. It's alright you're amongst friends. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Starting off strong with <i>"Don't Wanna Know</i>"</span></span><i style="line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </i><span style="line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">by <i>Maroon 5 feat Kendrick Lamar</i></span><i style="line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </i><span style="line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I keep hearing this song and its so damn catchy. It was only recently i actually listened to the lyrics and realised its perfect for the blog. I've never been the biggest fan of Maroon 5 but like most of everyone else I do love Kendrick Lamar.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-2188cea5-f7d5-1661-9776-9ecf9d29ebc6"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Continuing my trend of including artists people don't expect to see here<i> with "The One That Got Away"</i> by Katy Perry<i>. </i>This song is actually based on a real ex boyfriend of hers. The late (obviously) </span></span></span><span style="background-color: #f9f9f9;">actor Jonathan Lewis who was found dead in his driveway in September 2012</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">And this week finishe</span><span style="line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">s with</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> <i>Jack </i><span style="background-color: white; white-space: normal;"><i>Peñate</i> and</span><i> "</i><i>Torn On The Platform"</i>. Ending on a bit of an upbeat and entertaining note. I'm in too much of a good mood to not having something a bit full of energy to end with I think. Interesting fact about </span></span></span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Jack </span><span style="background-color: white;">Peñate, his grandfather was</span> Mervyn Peake, author of the Gormenghast novels. Incidentally totally worth a read. </span></div>
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So ends another Self Pity Party. Time to put the walls up and the games faces back on. Just don't forget to let them down from time to time. </span></span></div>
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Alex Griffithshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02715283274077610375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727901549191628209.post-8098303202782638272016-10-11T19:42:00.001+01:002016-10-11T19:42:23.053+01:00Self Pity Party - Week 6 Hip-Hop Special<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;">So after a short break I return with a hip hop special edition of the Self Pity Party on its new slot of Tuesdays. I didn't like it on Sunday night, not a great night for the theme I think. Don't want to feel that down before Monday morning, for that way madness lies. So onwards. Let's start big. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">That was <i>The Weeknd</i></span></span><i style="line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </i><span style="line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">with</span><i style="line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> "Wicked Games". </i><span style="line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now anyone that knows me and my music tastes know I absolutely love The Weeknd, so the fact it's taken this long for me to put him in one of these is amazing. This was the debut single for the Canadian superstar and what a single. If you haven't heard his whole album by now i recommend it. You need it in your life! </span><i style="line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-2188cea5-f7d5-1661-9776-9ecf9d29ebc6"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>"You & Me"</i> by <i>Marc E. Bassy feat. G-Eazy. </i>This song has so much going for it, good vocalist, hook that is catchy as hell, an awesome dub drop and a rapper you've never heard of. What more could you want in a song? The chorus line is such a wonderful description of a familiar awkward situation.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is <i>Fort Minor</i></span><i style="line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </i><span style="line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">and </span><i><span style="line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Where'd You Go</span></i></span><i style="line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </i><span style="line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I've hopefully made it link a minute into the song, i'm sorry if it didn't work. </span><i style="line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </i><span style="line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Many will recognise the lead of this band as co-lead vocals of Linkin Park, Mike Shinoda. With the way life seems to turn out so many people have to work away from their families for whatever reason. Things can get so busy we can forget to tend to the people we work so hard to provide for. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That was <i>Phonte </i>with '<i>The Good Fight'</i>. I've got a soft spot in my heart for rap that describes everyday life that isn't shooting people or getting high. The schemes in this song are so smooth, they tell a great story people can totally get behind. Not to mention his flow is great. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">So there ends this hip hop special on a cold Tuesday evening. I hope you've enjoyed these tracks, and will come back next Tuesday for the next installment of the self pity party. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Just here saying relax and take a breath, don't worry, you can handle it.</span></span></div>
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Alex Griffithshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02715283274077610375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727901549191628209.post-22874980064389814142016-08-21T23:32:00.001+01:002016-08-21T23:33:42.342+01:00Self Pity Party - Week 5<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Welcome to another week of sad songs and melancholy music, just squeezed it in on time. This week I've chosen 6 tracks. It just felt right when I was going through my tracklist of potential songs. It's a bit of a breakup related night tonight with songs detailing after a breakup when you still feel for them, the realisation of loss and of taking someone for granted once they've left, the absence of conversation and friendship after a breakup, the thoughts of "what if?" when you are alone, finally accepting that you have to let them go and move on and then ending with hopefulness for the future. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">That was <i>Weeping Willows</i></span></span><i style="line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </i><span style="line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">with</span><i style="line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> "The Burden". </i><span style="line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Weeping Willows are a Swedish indie band who, as of 2006, were the 99th most successful band in Sweden. Most of their songs are about heartbreak and unhappiness in love. My kinda band.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Passenger</i> with <i>"Let Her Go (acoustic)"</i>. I find it amusing that this song for British artist Passenger became a hit in the Netherlands, getting to No. 2, before it became one in the UK (and a heap of other places). I chose this acoustic version over the radio release for two reasons, firstly most people who know the song will have only heard the normal one and I want people to hear new things and secondly done acoustically I find it's just utterly devastating. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-2188cea5-f7d5-1661-9776-9ecf9d29ebc6"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>"We Don't Talk Anymore feat. Selena Gomez"</i> by <i>Charlie Puth. </i>Until researching for this blog I didn't realise it was Selena Gomez on this track with him. Apparently her vocals were recorded in a closet and in only 15 minutes. For a song with a sad subject matter it's really catchy. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;"><i style="font-style: italic; line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Keith Urban </i><span style="line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">and </span><i><span style="line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">"</span>Now I Wanna Cry</i></span><i style="line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">". </i><span style="line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I think this is the first appearance of a country song on this blog. With the amount of songs of loss and heartbreak in that genre that's pretty surprising. Also surprising to me is that it isn't your usual american country since it's written and performed by a New Zealander. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline;"><i>"Start Again" </i>by<i> Conrad Sewell</i>.</span></span> Originally the song was co-written by Sewell as a potential track for Kylie Minogue but it was rejected. Thankfully as I don't think this song would have been anywhere near as good as it is if it had been done by her. Sewell said in an interview that he performed the song just in one take, the emotion just took hold and carried him away. It really shows. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">And this week finishes with</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> "<i>Tomorrow Is Going To Be Better" </i>by<i> Joshua Radin</i>. This is the first time an artist has a second track on this blog, not surprising it's Joshua Radin since I love him and his music. I added this one in mainly because I couldn't bring myself to end on such a downer but also because a very important part of heartbreak and loss is understanding that tomorrow is going to better. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Life goes on and pain fades. We just have to make sure we manage to get ourselves there.</span></span></div>
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Alex Griffithshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02715283274077610375noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727901549191628209.post-74155097412689931692016-08-14T22:27:00.000+01:002016-08-15T11:00:14.962+01:00Self Pity Party - Week 4<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Wait, what's that? It's actually on time for the first time ever? Long may it continue. Got a great set of tracks this week. No theme this time, but i'm considering the next one carefully. Have an idea for a weekly theme? Go ahead and leave a comment, it's easy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">That was <i>Gavin DeGraw</i></span><span style="line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i> </i>with<i> "Not Over You". </i>Co-written and performed with OneRepublic's singer/songwriter Ryan Tedder, the song manages to achieve that upbeat song about a depressing subject that I love so much. The song itself you can find yourself humming while the lyrics are something that many can, sadly, relate to.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>James Bay</i> with <i>"Let It Go"</i>. I find this is one of those tracks I totally get into the sound of everything together and just mishear most of the lyrics, if I even hear them at all. However I still get the song and its meaning, which I think is a mark of a great track. It'll be recognisable to many due to its use in many recent TV shows including Supergirl and The Vampire Diaries. </span></span></span><br />
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<i style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i style="line-height: 20.24px;">Molly Sanden and </i>"</i><span class="watch-title" dir="ltr" id="eow-title" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" title="Molly Sanden - Why am I crying"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Why am I crying</i></span></span><i style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">". </i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Swede</span><i style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Molly Sanden represented her country for the Junior Eurovision Song Contest. Later this song was used in 2012 in a swedish song contest called Melodifestivalen. The festival is used to find that years entry into the Eurovision Song contest. It came 3rd. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">And ending with</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> <i>Fuck it </i>by<i> Eamon</i>. I've always loved this song. I wasn't alone in that sentiment with it getting to number one in over 10 countries. Eamon went on to write more tracks all focusing on breakups and bad feelings. Gotta feel bad for this guy, he seems be the other side of a Taylor Swift song. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And nobody wants to be the other side of a Taylor Swift song.</span></span></div>
Alex Griffithshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02715283274077610375noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727901549191628209.post-34482966131285780392016-08-08T23:42:00.002+01:002016-08-09T11:23:59.056+01:00Self Pity Party - Week 3 Covers Special<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Aaaaah I was so close to getting it up yesterday, honest.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This week I've got a, "Under the Covers" special lined up. Under the covers was Annie's name for the little cover songs section on the show. This week it's a bit of a James Vincent McMorrow sandwich and at 6 tracks long no less. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">That was </span></span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>James Vincent McMorrow</i> with his cover of <i>"Wicked Game"</i> originally by performed by Chris Isaak. This song gained prominence as the trailer music for season 6 of Game of Thrones. McMorrow says that he accepted the request to use the song and then promptly forgot about it until he saw the trailer with everyone else. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Sarah Connor </i>covering Gregor Meyle's "<i>Keiner Ist Wie Du". </i>The song is expresses the want to get over the pain and suffering after the loss of someone. Well written and well performed by Sarah Connor who is a multi award winning artist with 8 studio albums. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">That was<i> "</i></span><span class="watch-title" dir="ltr" id="eow-title" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" title="Haley Reinhart- Can't Help Falling in Love With You (Cover) ~Official Audio~"><i>Can't Help Falling in Love With You"</i> covered by </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Haley Reinhart</i>, previously of American Idol fame. This song was used in a commerc</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">ial for </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;">Wrigley’s Extra gum, within a week of its release it had gained </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;">over seven million YouTube views and 19,000 digital download purchases. I can totally see why.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>"Higher Love" </i>by<i> James Vincent McMorrow.</i> The original song was by Steve Winwood and features the vocals of Shaka Khan and got to number 1 in the charts for just one week. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And that brings this week's party to a close. Not a massive tear jerker this week, but hopefully still some good tracks for everyone to enjoy. </span></div>
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Alex Griffithshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02715283274077610375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727901549191628209.post-78387069392011317322016-08-01T10:21:00.003+01:002016-08-22T11:08:39.446+01:00Self Pity Party - Week 2<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Ok, ok so it's a little late again. It'll be time for a celebration when I actually get it up on time consistently. Got a good selection this week, some serious tear jerkers. So let's get on with it, less talk more.....uuhhh Rokk?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">That was </span><span style="line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Nicki Minaj feat Skylar Grey </i>with<i> "Bed of Lies".</i> I think this might be the only song of Nicki Minaj's that I actually like, and i really like it. It's a nice easy start to the playlist today. Fun fact about this song, it was debuted in Glasgow for the MTV EMAs.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">That was <i>Joshua Radin</i> with <i>"Star Mile"</i>. I've loved this song since I first heard it, I loved it so much I have the lyrics stuck to the wall of my bedroom at my mum's house. I think I was first introduced to him with the song Winter used on *that* episode of scrubs with Brendan Fraser. Yeah if you know scrubs you know exactly which one i mean. "Where do you think we are?". Now <b>that </b>is a sad scene done well. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Wow that song just ruins me, that was </span><i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Labrinth </i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">with</span><i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> "Jealous"</i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">. I first heard this played by Annie Mac and she said its one of the few songs to make her cry I the car and i totally see why. Written about his father, when recording the video he was asked to sit and try to summon up the feelings and thoughts he had while writing it, which he said was a very hard thing to have to do. Probably why he looks so very emotional during the video. Well done that director, I think.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>I Don't Wanna See You With Her </i>by <i>Maria Mena. </i>I only came across this song a couple days ago. We've all had that awkward situation where we come across an ex with their new partner and they are happy. And we are not. You just wish the ground with open up, it doesn't. Or that they wouldn't see you, they do. This song just sums all that feeling up for me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span id="docs-internal-guid-2188cea5-f7d5-1661-9776-9ecf9d29ebc6"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Blue October </i>with<i> Hate Me</i>. I came across this band on the American Pie soundtrack and had to order their album due to the strength of the song Calling You. This was a long time ago when you only did online shopping if you really, desperately wanted something and were willing to risk it not arriving any time soon. I needed that album and it didn't disappoint. This song is an answer to Calling You, the lyrics dealing with his drug addiction and depression that damaged the relationship with the girl he was so in love with in Calling You. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So that's that for this week. I hope you liked the choices and they helped people get a bit of a release. I'll see you all next week, hopefully i'll actually get the post up in time...</span></span>Alex Griffithshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02715283274077610375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727901549191628209.post-20033590802456064262016-07-26T17:47:00.001+01:002016-08-22T11:08:42.877+01:00Self Pity Party - Week 1<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 1.38;">So here it is. The </span><span style="line-height: 22.08px;">inaugural</span><span style="line-height: 1.38;"> <b>Self Pity Party</b> (</span><span style="line-height: 22.08px;">albeit</span><span style="line-height: 1.38;"> a bit late). </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 1.38;">Just a reminder this i</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.2px;">s a time for everyone to stop feeling strong, stop putting on that brave face and to just have a little break down time. To let it all in and let go.</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.2px;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22.08px;">I think I've picked out 5 great tracks for today. My aim is to gently bring you down to the depths of self pity and then bring you back out and leave you on a higher note. Please read and listen as you go along, I've written it to be consumed that way. Might make less impact if you read it all and then listen. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22.08px;">We start with an artist that I love, this guy got me through many a tough time with his upbeat and imaginative albums with sharp, killer lyrics. This song however I managed to miss until quite recently and then it totally side swiped me on the bus and left me fighting back the tears. So without further ado.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">That was </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Watsky </i>with<i> "Dedicated to Christina Lee".</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I'm sure that's a situation lots of us can relate to from when we were in high school. Rejecting someone because they weren't cool enough or being rejected because we weren't cool enough. Kids can be mean, kids can be cruel but more often than not kids just don't understand what they are doing or saying yet. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Next up is a song I think I first heard played by Annie Mac and it was just stunning. The duet is really good, the lyrics are really heart-string tugging and the melody is great. It all goes together to make a hard hitting song for anyone who has been in a relationship that's reaching the end of it's life. Be that romantic or platonic, I think this still applies and hurts just as much. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">That was <i>A Great Big World and Christina Aguilera</i> with <i>"Say Something"</i>. In an interview with Rolling Stone magazine, 'A Great Big World' said that they expected her to use her usual large vocal style maybe somewhere at the end of the record. However when she came to record it that's not how she felt at all. Shes quoted as saying '</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 30px;">I want to let the song breathe and be open' and let's be fair, it's exactly what the song needed.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now we've reached the depths of this weeks playlist, that was <i>Damien Rice </i>with<i> "Greatest Bastard"</i>. There was a time where I couldn't hear this song without turning into a blubbering wreak, I feel it describes a past relationship I had so well it could have been written about us, and I'm still unhappy with myself about it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Wasn’t Expecting That </i>by <i>J</i></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>amie Lawson</i> is a song I describe as a stealth depressing song. It lures you in with lyrics of happiness and a life going well and then sucker punches you at the end. Combining that with his great voice and simple guitar you get a great song that always causes me to pause in thought when it's done.</span></span></div>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-2188cea5-f7d5-1661-9776-9ecf9d29ebc6"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Mr Hudson </i>with <i>Everything Happens to Me</i>. That was our last track and hopefully one that you can laugh a little at. It's a special talent to take sadness and misfortune and to wrap it up in humour and entertaining lyrics. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thanks for reading and joining me for the first week of this new feature and I hope to see you next Sunday. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">Remember however bad it gets it <i>can</i> always get worse but it <b>will</b> get better eventually. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>Alex Griffithshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02715283274077610375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727901549191628209.post-67323111702964453252016-07-14T11:32:00.001+01:002016-07-14T11:38:37.936+01:00New blog announcement<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">A long time ago I fell in love with a radio show called The Musical Hot Water Bottle on Sunday nights with the amazing DJ Annie Mac. I was a faithful listener for many years, looking forward to that show on Sundays between 22:00-00 :00 (later it ran 22:00-01:00). It got me through many a terrible week and also was a lifeline after a very terrible break up.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Annie Mac has since moved on to doing the weekly new music show which is great in it's own right but it isn't a touch on the MHWB.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In the MHWB she had a feature I adored called The Self Pity Party. Four to five songs that were a little depressing or would pull your heartstrings. Songs about love, loss, pain and other things of that ilk. She billed it as a time during the week for everyone to stop feeling strong, stop putting on that brave face and to just have a little break down and let it all in and let go. Maybe have a little cry, maybe a little scream. A bit of cathartic letting go.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">While her chillout show might live on with another host in the same time slot, the features that made that show didn't live on. I hope she wouldn't mind me appropriating the segment title, I think she might even approve of something she started living on with the same spirit she intended. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I think I miss this feature more than I miss any other from the show, when it went off the air I really had to find time to do the same thing for myself. I started making mini self pity party playlists just for myself so i could vent and let go, if only for a moment. I still make them, not weekly any more (or sometimes daily in times of real troubles) so I thought why not make a blog out of them for other people to potentially enjoy. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So to draw this ramble to a close, starting on the 17th I will be doing a 4-5 song post every Sunday called The Self Pity Party. Some will have themes, certain genres etc but all with the same theme. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This weekend will just be a quintessential mix, 5 songs that really encompass the mix itself. Hopefully from there I will start to populate the blog with other things but that's getting ahead of myself. </span>Alex Griffithshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02715283274077610375noreply@blogger.com0