Favourite Bands

There are certain bands that i first heard fourteen years ago that i still listen to today. Those bands have shaped my outlook on life in a big way and their music is really special to me. Once i like a band, i fully commit to being a lifelong fan because their music is satisfying enough to listen to forever. I'm still open to listen to other bands, obviously, but i won't necessarily make a point of learning the lyrics or names of each member. I'll do some lists of my favourite solo artists and my favourite old school bands sometime, but for now here's a list of my favourite bands:

Red Hot Chili Peppers - I first heard them back in 1999 when Californication was released. I remember the Californication music video constantly played on MTV. Since then I've never stopped listening to this band and i was privileged enough to see them live in concert last year. Here's a favourite older song live - She's Only 18 - and a favourite recent song live - Annie Wants a Baby - that i recommend you watch.

Nirvana - I first heard their music back in 2000 when i was eleven. My friend's dad loudly played their music around their house and i remember him singing Where Did You Sleep Last Night to me. This was truly a beautiful discovery in music for me. When you're that young, you listen to all kinds of crap - Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera - but that music doesn't stay with you the way real authentic music does. Kurt Cobain will always be a true artist and genius in music, it's sad that we lost him so early. Check these live performances out on youtube - Drain You and Blew and a little acoustic melody with the Meat Puppets.

Relient K - I discovered this punk rock band while working at a Christian bookstore back in 2003 when i was fifteen and I instantly fell in love with them. I didn't know that Christian bands like these existed! And of course with my strict upbringing it was a relief to not have to hide it from my mother (i don't do that anymore though). Their vocalist, Matthew Thiessen, is one of the best songwriters in the world and has an amazing voice that i could listen to all day long. Their music isn't really 'gospel' per se, they're just a regular (awesome) band with some Christian beliefs. Some cool songs to check out: Pressing On (old classic), Let It All Out (a slow jam with amazing lyrics), Deathbed (most amazing song), I Need You (a song i really love) and a brand new one PTL. (Here's a cover of Girls Just Wanna Have Fun for fun!)

Hillsong United - They're a band but technically they're not. They are from a church in Sydney called Hillsong and is more of a Praise & Worship team, but i see them as a band. They've produced some of the best music you'll ever hear and have such good songwriters and musicians and singers, it's just unbelievably beautiful music. I grew up listening to them and will always continue to listen to them. Go listen to King of All Days, Yours Forever Live, Oceans (acoustic version) and What the World Will Never Take.

Showbread - I first heard them in 2006 and since then my life was changed forever. Their music is so unique and different to anything else in the rock genre that they had to come up with a brand new subgenre called Raw Rock. And that term perfectly sums up what their music sounds like (it's basically 'screamo'). I absolutely love this band, what their music means and what they stand for, plus their frontman and songwriter Josh Dies (Joshua S. Porter) is a genius. He's also a writer and writes very thought-provoking, out of this world stories. Oh and they are also classified as a Christian band. Let that sink in for a second and prepare to have your face blown off. Some songs to listen to: Journey (Nervosa Album), Dead By Dawn, Oh! Emetophobia!, Lost Connection With the Head, The Pig and You Will Not Die in a Prison (slow jam). 

Underoath - Unfortunately this band broke up last year, but they're still one of my favourites. I first heard them eight years ago in 2006. It's funny how you think you'd never listen to a certain type of music and then one day you just suddenly do and you like it. Underoath is a metalcore band and pretty much the only one that i really listen to. I can't really say exactly why i like their music, because i just do and i think they are brilliant musicians, good people and write good music. And by the grace of God i got to see them live here in South Africa in 2008. Songs to check out: A Boy Brushed Red Living in Black and White, Writing On the Walls, Desperate Times, Desperate Measures and Paper Lung.

Muse - Back in either 2007 or 2008 someone recommended that i listen to this band called Muse. Again, you think you won't like a certain type of music or a certain band, but when you hear them, you just can't help it. Talk about brilliant musicians! These guys are off-the-charts good and I'm so thankful that i heard their music and can listen to it now. I really love their unique style and Matthew Bellamy's songwriting skills; not to mention his amazing voice. Go watch: Stockholm Syndrome, Undisclosed Desires, Supremacy Live, Madness and then a slow jam, Blackout Live.

Kings of Leon - Even though they've been around since 1999, i only discovered them around 2009. They have such a different sound - especially their old stuff - and Caleb has the perfect voice in my opinion. They have some of the best songs ever written as well. It's southern rock at its best and i was lucky enough to see them live back in 2011. Some cool songs are: Holy Roller Novocaine, My Party, Molly's Chambers, Closer Live and Beautiful War.

Paramore - This is a band with a very interesting history. They started off as a small (Christian) band in 2004 and did really well. Then in 2010 two of their members (guitar and drums) left because, according to them, the lead vocalist treated the band as her solo project. So after they left, the band's popularity exploded, which means that they had decided to go more mainstream to reach more listeners. I don't think there's anything wrong with that especially when the music is still as good, if not better, as ever. I only discovered them around 2009 and love this band to death. I like the songwriting and i like her voice a lot. I would also love to see them live! Some songs i like are: Crush, crush, crush Live, Ignorance Live and Still Into You.

No Doubt - They are a recent favourite band of mine. Growing up i obviously heard their music, i mean Don't Speak was a massive hit across the world back in 1996, but i didn't really know their stuff. Then about two or three years ago, i bought a special dual pack with both Tragic Kingdom (1995) and Rock Steady (2001) albums in. When i heard all the songs (that weren't massive hits) i was just hooked. The fact that they were broken up for ten years and then reunited speaks volumes of this band. They are a timeless treasure and i hope i get to see them live! Songs: Detective, In My Head Live, Tragic Kingdom, Hey You, Looking Hot and Push and Shove

The White Stripes / The Raconteurs / The Dead Weather - For me all three these bands are the same thing because of Jack White and his musical genius. I totally have a crush on him and I'm into anything that he's involved in. Everything he touches turns to gold in my opinion. So much rock 'n roll in one person and the amount of music he's put out there is just phenomenal. Songs: Seven Nation Army & Icky Thump (White Stripes), Level & Blue Veins (Raconteurs), Treat Me Like Your Mother & Blue Blood Blues Live (Dead Weather)

                                                                  The White Stripes

The Raconteurs

The Dead Weather

In my opinion these are some of the best bands to ever exist because of the following combined reasons: brilliant song writing, stunning vocals and unique musicians. I like bands that sound different to any other band out there; music that is original. I don't really care whether they are the best musicians in the world or not, all i want is something that i can really connect with. When i hear one of their songs, i want to feel the melody either prodding at my heart or ripping it out. When music can bring tears to your eyes, a smile to your face or goose bumps to your hair, then you know it's real and magical at the same time. 

The Year That Was 2013

This is what my year looked like:

On the 1st of January, 2013, they broke into our house. They stole a few of my dad's things, but otherwise we were unharmed (except maybe emotionally because up until this day i'm still paranoid). We did, however, get electric fencing and cameras set up all around the house, plus we have some new weaponary to keep us safe. A pretty good way to start the year huh?

The weekend of the 25th of January we went on a cruise! This was a pretty awesome experience, except that the water of the pool came from the Atlantic Ocean (freezing!). It was still fun though, because well, i was ON A BOAT! I recommend that everyone go on a cruise at least once in their lifetime :)

Tuesday 5th of February was a night to remember - Red Hot Chili Peppers LIVE in Cape Town!! This moment in my life was a BIG one. I've been listening to RHCP since i was twelve and then to see them live was really amazing. I'll always be grateful for the opportunity, especially since they're already old and might retire soon. To hear songs live that you've been singing for years is truly magical.

Friday the 29th of March one of my longtime friends, Tanya, got married. This was a really special day, not only for her, but also for me to see one of my own friends get married (it's usually random people). Especially because we've been friends since we were ten, which is fifteen years of friendship! Very special indeed x

27th of April we had a family day out in Franschhoek where the French Huguenot Monument is. Our family are descendants of one of the French De Villiers brothers who settled here, this was a cool (although the weather was hot) day...

On the 6th of May i got my Diploma for a Comprehensive Writing Course i did through College SA. The first of many certificates i hope!

The 4th of June for about two weeks i had a virus called Shingles. At first it might look like Ringworm or some type of fungus, but it's not, it's actually quite dangerous because it attacks your nerve endings. The cause of the virus is usually a traumatic experience or stress, etc, and in my case it was probably just stress from a lot of different things, but it's really hard to say exactly. The stress (or trauma) triggers the dormant Chicken Pox virus in your spine. It travels along the nerve and attacks your nerve endings which form little blisters on your face or body. I had about ten blisters in the one spot above my right eye. My eye was swollen for about a week and i was on anti-viral meds (they are really expensive). The spot above my eye where the nerve endings got fried, is just dead tissue now; i can't feel anything. Luckily it didn't spread across my face - i could've lost my eye!

July 4th was my 25th Birthday!! I really love my birth date because it's such a well-known day - Independence day in the USA - and it's also found in a few songs (Firework by Katy Perry and then Lake of Fire which is a Meat Puppets song that Nirvana covered). I just think it rules! My family and i watched Man of Steel that night as well, which was awesome!

*31st October i left my job at Woolworths. I have no photo to show for this.*

22nd of November we went to a Madame Zingara show.

Earlier in December we got an above ground pool :) #selfie

25th December...Christmas!!

2013 was a monumental year in my life for many reasons, but particularly because it's the year that i matured emotionally the most. They say as you get older, you change and realise certain things in life aren't as important as you always thought they were - 'they' are so right about that.
One big event that happened was that i left my very stable job i've had for four years so i can go work overseas next year. It took a tremendous amount of courage for me to do because i tend to find comfort in security - i like to know that i'm safe and everything will be okay. So i decided to work overseas to challenge myself as a person because i know it's way out of my comfort zone. I'm hoping that when i get back i'll be a better person; a changed person - not for others, but for myself. It's going to be a good character building experience and i'm really excited!!
Another aspect of my life that changed a lot, is friendships. I've learnt that if you put too much stock in people, they will disappoint you - which is a very good lesson to learn in life. I used to cherish my friendships with all my heart and i tend to get very attached to people. I make close friends and stay loyal to them until the end. The only problem with that is if the other person doesn't feel the same way, not everyone can be loyal. So whenever something new comes along, they drop you like a hot potato. And there's absolutely nothing wrong with that because it's a part of life, but you learn that the hard way. I came out a better person in the end because one, i have more time to do things that i love doing and two, i care less, so i stress less. Some people might think it's sad, but i'd rather have no friends than have friends who hurt me. Also, i still have friends, i just don't see them as often as i used to which suits me perfectly. It will make leaving for another country a lot easier anyway.
I think all in all it's been a good year for me. I've changed a lot and got rid of everything that was negative in my life. I look forward to what 2014 has to bring! (the end of the world maybe?) Whatever it may be, bring it on!