Friday, January 23, 2015

5 Fandom Friday: Songs That Changed My Life

{LISTEN on Spotify}

Music has been a major part of my life from as far back as I can remember.  It makes me dance, inspires my writing and makes me feel all the emotions!  I LOVE how music makes me feel and the joy I get when I can share that with people.  Here are the five songs that made the biggest impression on my life.
1.  Harbour Lights - A Silent Film.  I've shared this story a million times with you all, and I still never get tired of telling it.  So for those who haven't heard it, here it goes.  The Music Maven made me her best of 2012 album and Harbour Lights was the very last song.  From the first note I knew it was special.  From there I got ASF's album Sand & Snow and listened to it everyday until my 30th birthday party, where I got to see them live for the first time. Since then I have never looked back.

The Lads are the so kind and sweet plus their music goes straight to my heart.  I have been so inspired by their music and have made some amazing friends {Lamplighters} who I would have never of met otherwise.  I am so thankful to A Silent Film and would do anything for them.
2.  Hands Down - Dashboard Confessional.  Speaking of all the emotions, enter Dashboard. The MTV Unplugged album got me through some "tough" times.  This past year I was finally able to meet Chris Carrabba in person for the first time and he exceeded all of my expectations.  After all these years, he still comes out to the line and talks to his fans.  He takes pictures, asks questions and is a completely authentic person, loving what he is doing.  I was so happy to finally see that for myself after ten years of being a fan.

Chris is also the one who made me to want to play the guitar in the first place. Though it took ten years, and being re-inspired by ASF, I finally did it and celebrated my one year anniversary this Thanksgiving. {MORE about that to come below!}
3.  Chocolate - The 1975.  It may seem that I think that every song is something special, but that couldn't be further from the truth.  The Music Maven and others suggest bands/artists to me all the time and not all of them stick.  Then came Chocolate.  Who wouldn't want to listen to a song named Chocolate?  While editing The Gamer Geek's post My Blog As A Mix Tape, I found myself intrigued by the title, and went straight to You Tube to have a listen. One listen and I was then down the rabbit hole.

That was the beginning of my The 1975 lust.  I completely admire how self aware and comfortable they are in their own skin.  I wish I could be that free.  I listened to them every single day since The Gamer Geek's post up until I saw them live this past November, to The Hunny's dismay.  You can read all about the amazing time I had at their show HERE.  I got a VERY unexpected story out of this show!
4.  Up & Go - The Starting Line.  I feel very nostalgic about TSL.  I went back and listened to them a bit while writing this and the memories came flooding back.  They were the first band I found all on my own back in my 20s and I was quite proud of that fact. I followed them around to multiple shows in Pennsylvania and had such a great time with my good friend Tommy!  I will credit them with my passion for concert photography {those above were all taken with my cheap/giant film camera} and my wanting "the tour life"!  Guess what?!  I still feel the same to this day!  Some things never change!

5. Destroy You - The Filthy Souls.  One day while listening to the weekly High Voltage Magazine Music Hour the lovely ladies {and SherlockeDCC 2014 party sponsors!} introduced this song.  From the first drum beats my heart stopped and I knew this song was something special. Straight away I went and found out as much as I could about the band {British boys!} and got their EP.
I was living in San Diego at the time and was dying to see them live.  They live and play only in LA, so it wasn't until I moved there this past July that I was able to attend my first show of theirs.  It was my very first LA show and I was alone, though that is not unusual.  I was nervous about parking and the neighborhood, but soon found nothing to fear.  The Troubadour is on a gorgeous street and is a lovely venue!

I rocked out the entire time and their performance was entirely worth the wait!  Jump to a few weeks later when I decided to FINALLY search for a guitar teacher.  I'd gone as far as I could on my own and was informed that The Filthy Souls' guitarist taught lessons.  I mentioned it to The Hunny whose first and only question was "Is he British?"  With that I was off to my first lesson in North Hollywood at night with a guy I had never met.  Safe? Totally!
Danny, my instructor, is THE BEST!  I am super hard on myself and he is always encouraging, patient and kind.  I love chatting with him and he always takes the time to play me something special.  It is like a private mini concert each week!  And guess what?!  I am also now working for High Voltage Magazine and JUST wrote my first article!  It is amazing to think back on what one song can do in your life.  What a complete full circle moment!  Thank you High Voltage and The Filthy Souls for helping me fall in love with LA.

BONUS
I couldn't end the list without mentioning my boy band obsession.  It started with New Kids on the Block, peaked with Nsync and Backstreet Boys and continues to this day with One Direction!

Bye Bye Bye - *Nsync.  I always hated the Backstreet Boys vs. *Nsync rivalry.  I loved both, but I couldn't help but be swayed a bit more to the *Nsync side when Bye Bye Bye was released {though seriously I Want It That Way is PERFECTION!}.  I remember watching the Making The Video on MTV with baited breath, teaching my brothers who each member was and finally seeing them in concert!  It was such a magical feeling during the not so magical teen years!

Whew!  Are you still with me?!  I love rambling about my music loves and this has to be my FAVORITE 5 Fandom Friday we have done!  I cannot WAIT to hear what your life changing songs are!  I LOVE music so much, have I said that before?!  Make sure you share your links below and tag me on Twitter for a RT!


PAST POSTS & COMING SOON:



January 30th:  Favorite Fandom Accessories I Own

February 6th: Favorite Funko Pop Figures
February 13th: Favorite Fictional Couples I Ship (Valentine's Day)
February 20th: Things I've Bought But Haven't Read/Watched/Played Yet
February 27th: Character's I Would Name My Kids After

March 6th: Favorite Snacks/Drinks To Consume While Blogging
March 13th: My Fictional BFF's
March 20th: My Comfort Films
March 27th: One Fandom Item Styled Five Different Ways

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32 comments:

B. said...

I love the photos you included! I'm really loving all the different music people have featured this week!

Liz Tailor said...

Obsessed with this one! I sing and write music. I live and breath it. So it's always nice to find others who feel that way about music too!

Katya Owu said...

Omg Dashboard Confessional! I used to love them in Secondary School! I don't know the other bands apart from 1975 so I'll check them out :D

Kay said...

I fell so hard for Hands Down!! There are so many songs/bands here that I haven't heard - I'm gonna have to check them out!

Megan Gotch said...

Thanks B. Concert photography is super special to me and I'm so happy I have had the opportunity to do it! xx

Megan Gotch said...

Everything you just said Liz!! Music is powerful! xx

Megan Gotch said...

LOVED your post Katya & DC will always have a special place in my heart. I just re-listened to that entire album..still all the feels! xx

Megan Gotch said...

YAY Kay always happy when I can introduce people to new bands that I love so much! Can't wait to hear what you think! xx

Katya Owu said...

Thanks! :) I'm loving all the spotify playlists people are sharing!

♡ Kristin ♡ said...

I was SO close to adding Dashboard Confessional to my list but I already cheated and put 12 albums! lol!

Gabriela Menchaca said...

I look forward to checking these out!! And yes, BSB's "I want it that way" is perfection!!! ;)

-whimsyandnoir

Elizabeth Mayberry said...

MMM! Glad you added a little N'Sync there at the end!

Megan Gotch said...

Gab, thank you for the BSB comment, seriously best boy band song ever! GREAT post over on your site! xx

Megan Gotch said...

Liz, I COULDN'T leave them out. They were on the list, but then I started my entire TFS story and had to make that on the actual list, since it was so big and important. Nsync was my very first live concert experience that I picked, so it had to be there! xx

Krispy said...

Haha, I KNEW this topic was going to be such a YOU topic. :) That's so great how music has shaped and changed your life, and wow about your guitar teacher! I had no idea, and how freaking cool is that?!

Love that you put BSB and NSYNC in there. I have STRONG FEELINGS about the rivalry, lol, but it's true, I did love both (I'm more BSB though) and had music from both. Bye Bye Bye is an excellent song that I still karaoke to. ;)

Megan Gotch said...

Thanks Alice! So glad you enjoyed it...I put everything I could into this post and I am so happy it is finally out there! xx

Liz Keysmash said...

These are GREAT PICKS. Dashboard Confessional has been very important to me as well. They were the first band I ever went to see alone. They played Summerfest - a huge music festival in my city - and I had plans to see them with a couple of friends. Everyone backed out on me, and it was one of those hormonal days when I was feeling irrationally upset that no one wanted to see this band that I loved with me. About half an hour before they were supposed to start I said screw it, walked to the festival, got myself a cheeseburger and a beer, and had a BLAST. I think that was the first time I really felt okay being alone, and loving things that not many other people I knew did.

Also, YES 1975 lust. I share that as well. And boyband love, of course. ;)

E-Rad's Cantina said...

Wow, girl! Congratulations on your first article with high voltage magazine! That's so awesome! Also, as usual, great list. I too love me some, "I want it that way." ;)

Joie_Fatale said...

I love that first song! And Hand's Down is magical!

Megan Gotch said...

So glad Joie! You are the best, hope we can concert again together soon!! xx

Megan Gotch said...

Thank you so much! I want it that way, the best boy band song ever created! xx

Megan Gotch said...

Liz, THANK YOU for sharing this story with me! I'm just now finally feeling ok going to shows alone. I love music so much and if no one else around wants to go and I do, screw it...life is too short am I right?! The 1975 lust all the way sister! xx

Gabriela Menchaca said...

I really did use to be such a BSB fangirl.. I think 'Millennium' was probably the first real album I bought just for myself when I was a kid. Guilty pleasure! ;)

Melissa (Eris) said...

I'm going to have to youtube this list! Starting with The 1975 since I just watched the Buzzcocks episode with Matty : )

Megan Gotch said...

oh Matty! #swoon

Megan Gotch said...

Me too!

Dahlia DeWinters said...

New music is my magic elixir and you've listed more than enough to keep me busy on youtube for a while! Thanks for sharing.

Desiree said...

Love, love, love this week's Fandom 5. Hearing everyone's songs and being exposed to some cool new stuff. Great picks, adding a few to my iPod. Hopefully I'll have my post done tomorrow, late to the party as always lol.

Megan Gotch said...

Desiree it has been a really great Friday! I had the best time reading everyone's posts! Glad you liked mine! cannot wait to read yours! xx

Megan Gotch said...

YAY so glad to hear Dahlia! Thank you! xx

Kate (ChikSolo) said...

Great post, I've been looking forward to reading this and finding some new music. It's touching that so many of these songs were introduced to you by your friends.

Megan Gotch said...

Thank you so much Kate! The friend thing does make it even more touching! So you happy you enjoyed reading, this was one of my most favorite things to write ever! xx

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