2010 in songs

As I get ready to say goodbye to 2010 I can't help but think of all the songs that served as soundtracks to my year. Some of them are new, some of them are old and rediscovered. They may not be chart toppers, but they sure made me hit replay a thousand times, and that counts, right? So here is my mixtape of 2010:

1. One Night Only: Say You Don't Want It - Ultimate favorite! Couldn't stop listening to this catchy tune delivered with rebellious lyrics topped with a british accent. The video featuring some cool New York rooftop scenes is just the cherry on the top.
2. The XX: Crystalised - Talk about minimalism! Or just listen to it ...
3. MuteMath: Typical - Discovered this one as someone's favorite workout song. Gets me pumped too!
4. Audioslave: Revelations - An old favorite that made a comeback to my playlist this year. You just can't top Chris Cornell's voice and lyrics!
5. Nada Surf: Enjoy The Silence - Depeche Mode fans would probably sacrifice me in a long and painful ritual for this one. I just have to take that chance and incude this one in the list. It takes a lot of creative energy to turn a DM song into something hopeful and less dark.
6. Chris Cornell: Scream - I fought against this song a good two months this year. I just didn't want to like it. Someone selling his soul never sounded better.
7. Pearl Jam: I Am Mine - So when I listen to Scream I have to balance it out with something true and pure. That's when I need Eddie Vedder to sing this song to me.
8. The Cure: Just Like Heaven - Very old school, but I started listening to this again after hearing it in the movie Adventureland, which entire soundtrack is pretty crazy.
9. Brandon Flowers: Crossfire - Flowers started a one man show this year. Although I like Killers way more than his solo record, with this song he swept me off my feet.
10. Bob Dylan: Don't Thin Twice, It's All Right - Well let's just say this isn't very fresh in 2010. But classics don't have to be, right?
11. Sia: I'm In Here - I discovered Sia this year, which I'm very grateful for. Can't wait to hear more! And with Alexandra Patsavas regularly featuring her songs in tv shows and movies, I'm sure I don't have to wait too long.
12. Husker Du: Don't Want To Know If You Are Lonely - This is retro too, also a soundtrack from Adventureland. Watching the movie I was amazed by how well this clicked with the scene.
13. The Pretty Reckless - I am not going to pick one song from the band, Pretty Reckless. Forget about the drama around Taylor Momsen, close your eyes if you need to ignore her goth look, but make sure to open your ears, because you don't want to miss the pure rock.
14. The Black Keys: Chop And Change - Again, Alexandra Patsavas proves she can sure pick 'em!
15. 30 Seconds To Mars: Kings And Queens - This is not just an other actor turned rock star. This is a band starting a war!
16. Paramore: Decode - Paramore had a big year and so did this song on my iPod. Written for the first Twilight movie, it has really fitting, dark and melodramatic lyrics.
17. Carolina Liar: I'm Not Over - This song made me dance a lot. Its catchiness helped it getting featured on several soundtracks, not just mine.
18. The Weepies: The World Spins Madly On - This is the sweetest love song I've been listening to in 2010.
19. The Beatles: I Me Mine - An oldie, but definitely a goldie ... my new favorite from the "Quiet Beatle".

Behind the scenes

Ever wonder what it looks like behind the scenes of a concert or a tour? How is a recording studio or just a band's everyday life? I personally think it is dangerous to get too close to or know too much about musicians. I always thought that the audience should be in front of the stage and the band on it. Like knowing how the members like their coffee would make the magic disappear. But a quick look behind the scenes can't hurt anyone, right? So what is the best way to glance into the backstage area without looking like a desperate gruppie? Here are the top ten examples how:


10. The Wallflowers: 6th Avenue Heartache

At 10 we have a heartbreaking ballad from the 90s. Extra brownie points for making the video black and white. It makes New York look more tragic.

9. Incubus: Wish You Were Here

This is proof that a shirtless Brandon Boyd is not only for the carefully directed and scripted videos. It is an everyday habit. No one seems to complain.

8. Arctic Monkeys: Teddy Picker

This song looks and sounds like it's coming from the backstage area. Alex's voice is anything but polished. And the management didn't spend much on set design and make up either. This is how you know you're getting the real stuff.

7. Supergrass: Moving

With this one I cheated a little bit. This is not an actual behind the scenes video, but I think it shows exactly how life on the road looks like. No how we imagine it, but how it really is. Mostly boring.

6. 30 Seconds To Mars: Closer To The Edge

Now this one is a well directed and edited video, that is precisely put together. This is why it looses its edge a little. And I wasn't even trying for a word joke. Kudos to the kid standing at the top of the crowd. He is in the video now so i guess it was worth risking a broken neck.

5. The Strokes: Someday

For some reason the image of Slash and Julian playing flipper amazes me. You can't put Slash in your video and not look cool. I bet the members of the band knew that.

4. Arctic Monkeys: Fake Tales Of San Fransisco

Arctic Monkeys, again. I know it is not fair. But this is my blog and I don't care. This video is from the early days and it has the charm of that era. The song has one of the coolest lines ever, talking about "proof that love is not only blind but deaf." The unique accent just adds a little extra to the song.

3. The View: Face For The Radio

How does one come up with the insult: you have a face for the radio? I mean it's smart and wity, but kind of hurtful too. Anyway, you can hear another interesting accent in the video. Good luck understanding what they are talking about at the beginning though. The amazing thing to me is how they can suddenly pronounce everything so clearly when hey are singing. Oh and check out the making of the album cover for Hats Off to the Buskers.

2. Foo Fighters: No Way Back

After soo many concerts and tours I'm surprised it took so long for the Foo Fighters to put together a touring collage. Maybe after so many awesome videos (Everlong, Learn To Fly, In My Life) making one out of touring images seemed like the easy way out. Anyway, the shot of Dave Grohl sharing a beer with the crowd, and then spitting it out was worth the wait.

1. Audioslave: Your Time Has Come

Amazing images of the crowd going crazy, lots of behind the scenes footage, Chris Cornell playing air guitar and a statue of John Lennon in Cuba. What else do you need for a number one behind the scenes video. And by the way how many times does one have to try riding a bicycle down the hill before getting majorly injured?

When the pess is trying too hard

Martin Scorsese's documentary No direction home showed a prefect example of what happens when the press talks too much and forgets to listen to what's important. The music. It takes a true smarta** to turn the situation around and make it that more entertaining. Watch Dylan puffing cigarettes while saying no to any kind of label or title:

Dylan and the press 1965

The first one

So this is my first blog entry. I suppose it should be grandiose and meaningful. Something big. Well, trying too hard to say something significant always leads to a boring cliche. So instead I'll post a song that I adore and that feels fitting:

The Beatles - In my life