October Playlist - Part trois.

So I'd planned to have another part that preceded this one but I got caught up reading about Zola and Jess and Jarrett and Z. Not sorry.  

http://damorensemore.tumblr.com/post/131966351340/justin-bieber-sorry-dance-video

So here we go:

• Hold Up, Wait a Minute by Zhu - I can't quite figure this group/artist/whoever out but they have catchy as HELL songs. This funky groove is one of the catchiest. I love it.
• Paint It, Black by Ciara - I'm a sucker for The Rolling Stones and I'm a real sucker for female covers of Stones songs. The beginning of this sounds like Ciara's attempt at getting on the second 50 Shades of Grey soundtrack. The end of the song REALLY sounds like it...
• On My Mind by Ellie Goulding - When drunk guys at a bar sing this (even though they got the lyrics wrong) in your face for the better part of two hours after a football game, you know it's a hit. This response to Ed Sheeran's song about her is a banger and one of my favorite songs in recent memory. It's on all of my playlists recently.
• Drip Drop by the Empire Cast - I don't watch Empire but this song is so damn catchy. Empire, from what I can tell, is Glee for hip hop but with original songs. This Yazz guy is a good rapper. I'm super impressed. I love this song. I dare you to listen to it and not break it down. You can't.
• Daffodils by Mark Ronson - I heard this in a store in the mall, like Gap or Banana Republic or some shoe store, I can't remember but it sounds like it should be on the soundtrack of American Hustle or something cooler than American Hustle but with the same level of cool costumes. It makes me think of the 70s and London and right now and it's just such a TUNE. Also- no idea what they are saying... it's fine. It doesn't matter.
• 679 by William Singe - I debated including the original version of this song but y'all know it's straight fire and I don't need to tell you so I'll expose you to this version in case you need to learn the lyrics at a slower pace. 
• Perfect by One Direction - Y'all thought you were going to get three parts to a playlist with ZERO One Direction songs? You're clearly new around here. This song is a pretty chill and clearly a tongue-in-cheek dig at Taylor Swift. It's perfect. Roll your windows down while you still can and bop your head to this tune when you're driving. You're welcome.
• Me, Myself & I by G-Eazy - Young Gerald is bae. I'm stoked about his new album. This is great, chill rap song. I don't have a ton to say about it.
• American Money by BORNS - This is potentially my favorite song of the year. It's chill but creepy and it has some amazing lyrics. "Take me to the paradise in your eyes, green like American Money. You taste just right, sweet like Tennessee Honey..." So good. 
• Motley Crue by They. - I have no idea who this group/artist/whoever is/are but this song is interesting. I'm a fan. It's kind of a rap song, kind of not. But it has a great beat and it's mellow enough you can listen to it basically any time.
• Sorry by Justin Bieber - I'm so mad at how much I like this song. Like, I can't turn it off. It's  F I R E. Between Where Are You Now, What Do You Mean and Sorry, I can't think of a better trio of comeback singles. It's obvious the Biebz is serious about this image change because he has great music to release and he wants people to take it seriously. MAINSTREAM SONG OF THE YEAR CANDIDATE FOR SUREEEE. 
• Drag Me Down (Big Payno X AFTERHRS Remix) by One Direction - A fire One Direction remixed with a hip hip feel and adding a rapper? Yeah, you have my mothereffing attention. This is my jam. Y'all needed to be exposed to it. You are welcome. 
• All My Friends by Snakehips feat. Tinashe and Chance the Rapper - This kind of has the same feel as Here by Alessia Cara but kind of more confusing and depressing. But the chorus is what every drunk girl wants to yell at the top of her lungs at around 2 am every single night she's ever gone out with any of her friends...
• Zutter by G Dragon and T.O.P - I'm including this K-Pop/fire rap kind of thing until y'all buy into it so I have people to talk to about it. Without knowing what they're saying, it's a sick beat and good rapping. I don't know what they're rapping about but I understand rhythm and they have it like whoa. (Also, I found what they're rapping about and it makes it about 1,00% better. The video is so weird but they have some amazing clothes and it's kind of funny and apparently full of Korean celebs? so that's awesome. Apparently G Dragon is Korea's Drake X Harry Styles X Kanye West super star. I'm bought in.)

So there it is. Enjoy the final part of the October playlist. I'd suggest using it for you Halloweekend pregame. Just saying.

-C. xx. 

Steve Spurrier is the Kanye West of college football.

Steve Spurrier resigned last night. As a resident of South Carolina, this has been the ONLY topic of conversation. Absolutely inescapable. And while I don't mind talking college football all day everyday, the more I heard people talking about the HBC, the more I realized... Steve Spurrier and Kanye West are the same person. I made the mistake of saying this to an actual South Carolina fan and they completely lost it.

But hear me out... they share some VERY defining characteristics.

1. Divisive Personality

http://experiencetheroo.tumblr.com/post/77351917615

http://ftw.usatoday.com/2015/10/best-gifs-of-steve-spurrier

There are some things in life you can be on the fence about- Calvin Harris' hair. Koala bears vs. panda bears. Which minion is your favorite. And then there are other things... like if you are Team Kanye or Team Not Kanye/Team Spurrier or Team Not Spurrier. You either love these men, or you hate them. There is no in between. There is no gray matter. There is no sometimes. It's an all or nothing thing. You think their antics are hilarious or you think they are the worst things to happen since Taylor Swift tried to make #squad happen. (And if you are Team Not Kanye/Spurrier you are probably secretly admiring them from afar even if you would never admit it.)

2. General Antics

http://giphy.com/search/kanye-shrug

http://ftw.usatoday.com/2015/10/best-gifs-of-steve-spurrier

There is something to be said for how little these two actually seem to care about what you think. They do whatever the hell they want, when they want. Wear a leather shirt and try to warn us about Taylor Swift? Check. Steve Spurrier on literally any sideline ever? Check. These two always seemed a hair's breath away from throwing a temper tantrum of epic proportions. Remember Kanye at Bonnaroo or the Spurrier vs. Ron Morris soap opera? They always seem to want to cause a scene and embarrass everyone within spitting distance - though neither one of them have enough shame to be embarrassed. Be real.

3. They Say Dumb Things

http://butterflyhoney.tumblr.com/post/110521261707/follow-the-honeyspot-here-honeyapproved

Basically every time they breath, they say something that makes you go, "SAY WHAT?!" Kanye is more on the bizarro end of the scale while Steve kind of makes you shake your head and go...  r e a l l y ? ? ? Some of Spurrier's are pretty funny- the coloring books at Auburn, for example. Kanye's are not- Keeping Up With The Kardashians should win Emmys, for example. God hates black people vs. Free Shoes University. This list could go on until Kanye decides to release his new album a.k.a FOREVER. 

4. They are absolute geniuses

http://mrcheyl.tumblr.com/post/111189437875/kanye-west-adidas-originals-x-kanye-west-yeezy

http://ftw.usatoday.com/2015/10/best-gifs-of-steve-spurrier

You don't have to like Kanye. You don't have to like Steve. You don't even really have to respect them if you don't want to. But you cannot deny that they completely changed the game (one figuratively and one literally). Kanye arose from his producer's chair when "In Da Club" was the type of rap music that was dominating the industry and he gave us smart, edgy College Dropout. He took rap and elevated it to an art form that few had ever dreamed of. He paved the way for freaking Drake to be successful. Be honest, if you'd heard Drake in 2004 you would have laughed him back to his wheelchair (#JimmyGotShot). Steve Spurrier took college football and made high-scoring, high-powered offenses, not only a reality but the norm. Why score 10 when you can score 50? Why send one receiver when you can send five?! Like Mr. West, Steve took something that was good and made it freaking great. He paved the way for the exciting, uptempo offenses that we love to watch. 

I take back what I said before, you do have to respect them. Get over it. 

I'm a Kanye fan. I love his music. I tolerate his antics. I'm sad he's friends with Taylor Swift now. I don't like Spurrier. I can't imagine I ever will. But college football will be less without him throwing his visor/dragging his headset up and down the South Carolina sideline, his ridiculous press conferences and his general Kanye West-ness way of being. 

Love him? Hate him? Neither care. They're just out there doing whatever the hell they want to. *Kanye Shrug* *Spurrier rides into the sunset on a golf cart*

http://houseofdxwn.com/post/106956777954/idfwu1kw

http://ftw.usatoday.com/2015/10/best-gifs-of-steve-spurrier

If you want to yell at me about this, do it over on Twitter. Thanks. 

Enjoy!

-C. xx. 

October Playlist Part Two: Remixes and Other Weird Things

I'm back, back again... you know the rest. (Pretend he's saying, "Hey. What's up? Hello." in that .gif. He's not but pretend he is anyway.

via http://raaaaaaaandy.tumblr.com

Soooooooo here we go.

2. Remixes and other weird hip hop things

via http://bryanstarsgifs.tumblr.com

• Big Spender by Theophilus London feat. A$AP Rocky - Y'all know I'm pretty obsessed with Rocky but add a Cabaret sample and another really smart rapper? I'M SO HERE FOR IT. This is one of those songs that should NOT work but it does. Shout out to Caleb at Barstool Dixie for including this song in one of the Dixie Days episodes. 
• Settle Down (Young Ruffian Remix) by The 1975 - This song sounds like what I would assume a robot would feel like if it was high as a freaking kite. It has a really breezy quality but also a very metallic, tinkery sound... this literally makes NO sense but it is what it is. It's a fantastic remix of an already great song. Enjoy it. 
• The Hills (RL Grime Remix) by The Weeknd - So this remix took all of the really harsh qualities of the original version and just made it groooooooove. It's a dance tune now. And I'm for it. I am HERE FOR IT. 
• Slow by Lido X Halsey - So take one of the coolest female voices in this decade, add a Jaden Smith sample and one of the chillest DJs in this decade and you get a really cool alt-hip hop remix that I could listen to for hours on end. It somehow feels like a throwback and almost too current. It's unbelievable, honestly. And she is like, not about this dude. I love it. 
• Do It by A.K. Tribe feat. Tunji Ige - This sounds like a casual hip hop song that's fine until the chorus hits and you're like wait... what? I feel like this is hip hop for the internet generation and I'm genuinely excited for more music that doesn't make sense but works reallllllll good. 
• Panic Cord (HUCCI X G Fresh Remix) by Gabrielle Aplin - So this song originally sounds like an Ed Sheeran sad acoustic song. And then these British rappers came in and turned it all upside down. I'm not usually a fan of British rappers but maybe because it's kind of slow it works? I'm not sure but this song REALLY does it for me. I listen to it a lot. And I'm almost not ashamed to admit I found it via a Kylie Jenner snapchat story. Almost. 
• Remember Me by Leather Corduroys feat. Knox Fortune - This is another song I found from the Dixie boys. This is played in the most recent video when they're grocery shopping and while, I don't understand how it works, it works. It's cool groove. I don't know that I love the end but the beginning is good enough to make up for it. Listen to it. Dance around your apartment. Dance around a grocery store. Have fun. 
• Be Alright (Jarreau Vandal RmX) by Kendrick Lamar - This is just a funky, brand new song that kind of samples Alright by Kendrick. It's cool. Probably good to drive to. I like it. It's weird. The syncopation of the snare drum is particularly pleasant. But that might just be me...
• I See Fire (Kygo Remix) by Ed Sheeran - This is by far the coolest remix I think I've ever heard. It takes that song from the Lord of the Rings movie and turns it into a straight up, Oriental groove. Ed Sheeran's ginger angel voice does not hurt, either. 
• Hotline Bling (Remix) by Erykah Badu - This one, again, is just weird. But it's basically a funky, female cover of the best song of the year. So enjoy. 
• Jolene (Kygo Edit) by Dolly Parton - I know I've already got a Kygo remix on here but come on.... who am I to pass up a chill remix of one of Dolly's most iconic songs? Like it's Modern Magnolias in a song. It might become our official theme song. We're still talking about it over here at HQ. I'll keep you posted. 
• Pity Party (Myles Travitz Remix) by Melanie Martinez - I can't tell if this remix made this weird song weirder or more normal. (If you haven't given Melanie Martinez's album a listen, stop reading and go do that now. Come back here later.) It definitely makes it MORE. 
• Forbes by Borgore feat. G-Eazy - Y'all know I love some G-Eazy. No explanation needed. Listen to it. 
• Free Bread At The Outback - Probably my favorite rapper of the year. This dude takes comedy rap to the highest level I can imagine. It's just real good rap that happens to be pretty damn funny. I love this guy. Anyone want to go see him on Halloween in Atlanta with me? Tweet me. For real. 
• Afterhours by TroyBoi feat. Diplo & Nina Sky - This songs sounds like it's going to be chill and then a super funky beat comes out of nowhere and it's like YESSSSSSS. I'm on a real Diplo kick right now. (PS - I heard this on Apple's Beats Radio before I heard it on Barstool Dixie so don't tweet me that I found it through them. kthnxbai.)
• Revolution (Unlike Pluto Remix) by Diplo feat. Faustix & Imanos and Kai - Speaking of Diplo... so this song was straight fire before this remix but now it's like, indescribable. It's a little more chill but just as fabulous. I'm obsessed. I'll listen to it a lot in the next month. Guaranteed. 

And last but not least...

via http://anything-could-happen-93.tumblr.com

• Good Boy by GDragon X Taeyang (Big Bang) - Ok. This is a place in my life I never thought I'd get to. I'm officially beyond obsessed with a K (hip hop) Pop song. The beat is TOO good and because they're speaking Korean, for the most part, I can just decide what I want the song to be about. I mostly want it to be about shaking my ass and it's working out really well so far. Also, they do legit choreography in the video and I've pretty much learned all of it. Be more jealous. You can't. 

Again, I'm really lost as to what they're saying other than gangster and love affair and good boy but do I need to know what they're saying? NO. It's perfectly fire without English words. Now start dancing.

It's a Soundcloud playlist this time because let's be honest, these are not available for purchase or on Spotify. It's fine.

Is this the best playlist I've ever posted? Probably. And it's just PART TWO. There's a whole nother piece coming your way. Just not tonight. 

Enjoy!

-C. xx. 

October Playlist - Part One. Chill Brit Pop/Rock-ish.

Guess who's back y'alllllllllll. 

via Buzzfeed

(I know I've been gone for months with no explanation but trust me, I'll tell y'all at some point. But not now.) 

I'm back and I come bearing gifts of good music. You. Are. Welcome. 

via Buzzfeed

So this is kind of a long list so I'm going to break it down into sections.

1. Chill/Rock/Brit Pop

http://eliassyafiq.tumblr.com

• Cool Blue by The Japanese House - This girl is literally too cool for school. This song has the most 80s vibe I've ever heard from a song not recorded in the 80s. Chill. Brit. Pop-ish. Also, like her producers (The 1975), I have no idea what she's actually saying. Whatevz. 
• I Know There's Gonna Be (Good Times) by Jamie XX, Young Thug, Popcaan - This is more hip hop than Brit chill but it's too weird to include but it's good driving, pregaming, drinking by yourself music. SOLD. 
• The Beach by The Neighbourhood - So the title is misleading. It's WAY too chill and dark and moody to have literally anything to do with a beach. But it's good. It's reallllll good. As long as you aren't looking for anything happy or uplifting... Jesse's voice has definitely gotten stronger and it's a nice, mellow departure from some of their earlier music but not crazy different from what their fans expect of them. Nice balance. 
• Wildest Dreams by Ryan Adams - If you're reading this, I assume you know exactly how I feel about Taylor Swift... Her version of this song grates on my nerves in the most obnoxious way but Ryan takes this to a very windows down, radio up, Fleetwood place that I reallyyyyyy dig. Four for you Ryan Adams. And none for Taylor Swift.
• Monday by Matt Corby - This dude is a conundrum to me. But I enjoy listening to whatever it is you would actually call this kind of doo wop, a capella, falsetto, groove thing. I like it a lot.
• Snakeskin by Deerhunter - Ok. Take Arctic Monkeys (the AM years) and imagine they grew up in West Texas. This is the kind of music they would have made. It just makes you feel like you've just opened whatever pregame drink you prefer and are about to go dance with your girls but your boyfriend's friends like listening to it too. 
• Roman Holiday by Halsey - This is probably the album of the year for me. Halsey is the anti-Taylor Swift. She is the female singer who is singing about what I care about and relate to (to a certain extent). She is pissed off and won't take no for an answer and a straight up boss. I love her. This song is therapeutic and sounds like riding in a car with the boy you like. It makes me feel exactly what she intends for me to feel and I just want to get away. 
• White Noise by PVRIS - This is just a fun, very British pop song. I don't have a ton to say about it but I like it and you should too. It's got a Paramore feel but it's more melodic and dreamy. LISTEN TO IT. SO THERE. 
• Weathered by Jack Garratt - Remember when I tried to tell y'all about Lorde and you completely ignored me until seven months later when Royals hit the radio? This is about to be another one of those moments. This dude. I don't get him. I can't figure out what genre he is or what's his deal. It's like he took the majority of the sounds and qualities I love in a song and put them all together. It shouldn't work but it SO does. He has a great voice, an interesting story to tell and some really good music. Follow him. He's going to be make waves.
• Ocean Drive by Duke Dumont - I almost included this in the hip hop post but it's just SO BRITISH so I felt it had to go here. It's just a good, groovy British pop song. It's fantastic. It's fun. It's cool.  

AND LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST:

• Love Me by The 1975 - Y'all know very well that this post had to wait until it was midnight in England so I could include this song. It's like a Duran Duran song, an Aerosmith groove, a girl on Tumblr and a Nickelodeon theme song morphed into one weird but amazing pop song. I hate that I'm going to have to dedicate the next two years of my life to these idiots...

So this has been longer than I thought it would be. So there will be two more parts to this playlist. I'll post a link to the whole thing at the end of the series. For now, here are these songs on Spotify. 

Stay tuned for Part Two and Part Three!

Enjoy!

-C. xx.