The 30-Day Music Meme: Day Eleven

Day Eleven - A song from your favourite band

I should start off by saying that I don't have a #1 favourite band. I love a lot of bands but I've always been shite at choosing favourite bands, favourite albums, favourite songs.... just favourites in general. It's just too definitive and maybe I'm just too wishy-washy and non-committal. But for all intents and purposes of this meme, I have a song chosen for Day Eleven.



As previously mentioned, I love, adore and worship Jenny Lewis. Like most Jenny Lewis fans, I first came to know of her existence through Rilo Kiley. (Truth be told, I didn't take note of her cinematic presence pre-RK - most notably in Pleasantville, which was a film I really enjoyed in my high school years.)

"Portions for Foxes," to me, is perfection in the form of song. It packs so much emotion into 4 minutes and 45 seconds; it's a mix of blistering sexuality and desperation - the angst of an unhealthy relationship and pitfalls of love, with a catchy hook to boot.

I know I said it's difficult for me to choose favourites, but "Portions for Foxes" is definitely one of my favourite songs from one of my favourite bands. And I don't think that will ever change.

Step into my office, baby (or, another edition of red, black & white)

The remaining days of wearing skirts and dresses are dwindling down as the temperature drops. What a bummer. The transition into colder weather isn't completely lost, as I have an extensive collection of tights that I can wear until it just gets too cold.

I prefer to keep my style more on the quirky/kitschy side than the conventional. While I do work in an office, I don't necessarily dress very corporate-style. I have quite a penchant for secretary blouses and when paired with a pencil skirt, that look can be downright Wall St. (or Bay St., if being geographically accurate to my city). I aimed to offset this with vibrant red tights. Simple but statement-making (I like to think so, at least!).





Black & white striped secretary blouse - thrifted
Black high-waisted tulip pencil skirt - Forever 21
Red tights
Black flats (not pictured)

The 30-Day Music Meme: Day Ten

Day Ten - A song that makes you fall asleep

Day Ten's topic of discussion makes me think that I'm supposed to choose a song that bores me so much that it actually causes me to lose consciousness. Which isn't exactly a complimentary categorization for said song.

There's a lot of music to which that I've fallen asleep. I spend a lot of my time commuting by train, where I tend to fall asleep - especially during my commute home. Two things you can count on me doing whilst on the train: listening to music and falling asleep.

Some artists and albums are perfect for this. It's not that they're boring or uninteresting - but more that they have a dreamy quality that takes me to another place. </cheesy>

Mazzy Star is definitely a band that embodies that dreamy quality. Hope Sandoval could seriously sing the world into a beautiful, otherworldly trance if given the opportunity. I love all three Mazzy Star albums and both of Hope Sandoval's solo efforts. I'd also classify their music as perfect night time listening.

"Fade Into You" is probably their most famous song, but 'commercial appeal' aside, I love this song and love falling asleep to it.

Red, black & white; polka dots & bows.

It's no secret that I'm a sucker for polka dots and bows. And I wear so much red, black and white that I've been told on numerous occasions by various people that I dress like a "lost member of the White Stripes" (which is fine by me!).

On Saturday, when I was getting ready for a day in Toronto with my boyfriend (plans included the annual Vegetarian Food Fair at Harbourfront Centre, record shopping, squirrel watching and dinner), I put on this polka dot top and jeans. Then, I decided to snazz up the monotony with a red bow pin. I looked outside and it was sunny. I thought, Why don't I dress up this outfit and ditch the jeans? And so I did. (I did eventually have to add a cardigan as the sun departed, and a jacket by nightfall.)

 

Black & white polka dot button-up - Forever 21
Red bow pin - Primark
Red bow belt - H&M (clearly I love this belt!)
Black asymmetrical tiered skirt - Luella for Target
Black tights - Old Navy
Black flat oxfords - Aldo
Rainbow cocktail ring - Harbourfront Centre gift shop
Squirrel necklace - anirtak on Etsy

Two more photos after the jump...

The 30-Day Music Meme: Day Nine

Day Nine - A song that you can dance to.

So there's this common known "fact" that hipsters apparently don't dance at shows. Everyone stays perfectly still even at the catchiest, toe-tappingest tunes. I must admit that while I have witnessed this firsthand, it's not entirely true.

I'm going to come right out and say that I like to dance at shows. I mean, I'm no dancer - though I did take ballet and jazz dance classes as a child, but I am, admittedly, disappointingly uncoordinated as an adult. Thinking back, I was probably just as uncoordinated as a child, but I just really wanted to wear a tutu and neon spandex. (Priorities!) Plus clumsy children are endearing. If a song moves me, I won't fight it. I draw the line at flailing and/or interpretive dance, of course. But of course.

But I digress.

Anybody who knows anything about me knows that I am a diehard Jenny Lewis fan. I proudly worship at the alter of Jenny Lewis, and also Zooey Deschanel (nope, I'm no monotheist of female hipster darlings - why choose?).

I saw Jenny Lewis with the Watson Twins twice while they were touring Rabbit Fur Coat (in 2006) and the second time I saw them perform, I recalled they introduced several new songs - including a foot-stomping number that I crossed fingers and toes would appear on the next album.

At the time, the song was simply called "Fernando" and Jenny Lewis and band actually went on to perform it on live late night television on Late Night with Conan O'Brien (alas, no Youtube video as NBC is staunchly hardnosed at keeping their clips off unofficial sites).



The song eventually appeared on Acid Tongue, Jenny's followup to Rabbit Fur Coat, to my delight. The title had been changed slightly to "See Fernando" and the track was sans Watson Twins, but it was still raucous as ever.

Along with the awesome, 60's spy movie-inspired music video, how you can resist that toe-tapping beat and Jenny portraying a sexy, sultry femme fatale? Instant classic!

The 30-Day Music Meme: Day Eight

Day Eight - A song that you know all the words to.

As someone who fancies herself as a writer and a music enthusiast, lyrics are pretty important to me. I'm sure I know the lyrics to lots of songs that I like or love... I love when lyrics are included with the liner notes of an album. One of my favourite things to do is follow along with the lyric booklet when I've just bought a new album. And yes, I do still purchase music in tangible form!

Going off Day Seven's song, I'm going to continue reminiscing about my Weezer obsession in university. I thought Rivers Cuomo's lyrics, especially those on Pinkerton were absolutely brilliant. Tangentially, I was convinced I was going to marry him (hee hee, how ridiculous).

For the record, I like to pretend Weezer doesn't exist beyond the Green Album. Blech. Let us not speak of those releases that followed that album...

Back to Pinkerton. Since this album didn't include lyrics with the liner notes, I remember scouring the internet for accurate lyrics. I think I found them on weezer.com and pored over them endlessly, following along when listening to the songs, etching them to my memory. Then I continued to scour for the deeper meanings of each song, reading on messageboards the speculations of what real-life events inspired Rivers to write each song.

I guess I was pretty obsessed and a little weird at the time. And maybe I should have spent more time studying for my economics midterms instead of researching Weezer lyrics.

In any case, I don't know what it is about this song, but I love it. There was a length of time where Weezer (or Rivers, rather) refused to perform any songs off Pinkerton since its initial poor reception remained a sore spot for the man who penned the songs.

However, when I saw Weezer play Molson Amphitheatre in 2002, it was reported that songs from Pinkerton had begun to emerge this tour. Thinking I would never hear the beloved songs from this album, I think I screamed like a pre-teen at a boyband concert when the first few notes of "El Scorcho" played.



Also, on that note, this (rumoured Blue/Pinkerton tour) totally, absolutely, positively needs to happen. WHO'S WITH ME??

Sweater weather in September?

I feel like it's been a little while since I last updated and for that, I apologize! I had a bit of a momentum going, but alas, I must say that I lost a bit of steam that I'm still trying to grasp back.

The past three days have taken a slightly chilly, fall-like turn, prompting me to contemplate some weather-transitioning attire.

It bums me out knowing that soon I won't be able to wear cute dresses and skirts (even with tights and boots, as I'm quite a wuss when it comes to cold weather!) with the dropping temperatures. But I've been working on a acquiring apparel that will keep me warm in the colder months, but still feel cute and feminine.

I think the following sweater falls into that category! My colder weather outfits tend to fall on the side of simplicity, but I don't think that it detracts from the look itself. Also a plus, I bought this sweater in July for $5 in Urban Outfitters big clear-out sales!





Grey/white striped ruffle sweater - Rendez-Vous by Paul & Joe Sister for Urban Outfitters
"Mod" heart pin - thrifted
Straight leg jeans - American Eagle