Not Quite As Brilliant, Just As Blue

The Decade in Review, pt. 2

BEST VOICES

1. Beyoncé
Highlights: Dangerously in Love 2, Emotion, Cater 2 U, If I Were a Boy, At Last, Listen, Broken-Hearted Girl, Ave Maria, Resentment, Me, Myself and I, Irreplaceable

2. Carrie Underwood
Highlights: Temporary Home, Last Name, Cowboy Casanova, All-American Girl, Wasted, Jesus, Take The Wheel, I Just Can’t Live a Lie, Just a Dream

3. John Mayer
Highlights: Why Georgia, City Love, Comfortable, Daughters, Wheel, Stop This Train, Slow Dancing in a Burning Room, I’m Gonna Find Another You, Waiting on the World to Change, Gravity, Edge of Desire, Say

4. Rihanna
Highlights: Question Existing, Take a Bow, We Ride, P.S. (I’m Still Not Over You), Wait Your Turn, Umbrella, Hard, Stupid In Love, Fire Bomb, Rude Boy

5. Patrick Stump (Fall Out Boy)
Highlights: Golden, Lullabye, Pavlove, Disloyal Order of Water Buffaloes, America’s Suitehearts, Headfirst Slide, What a Catch, Donnie, 7 Minutes in Heaven, Thriller, I’m Like a Lawyer, I’ve Got All This Ringing In My Ears

The Decade in Review, pt. 1

TOP SONGS
in chronological order by release date and alphabetized by artist within each year:

Oops!… I Did It Again, Britney Spears 2000
Stan, Eminem feat. Dido 2000
Roller Coaster, blink-182 2001
Bootylicious, Destiny’s Child 2001
I’m Real, J. Lo feat. Ja Rule 2001
Heart Of The City, Jay-Z 2001
Izzo, (H.O.V.A.), Jay-Z 2001
City Love, John Mayer 2001
Complicated, Avril Lavigne 2002
You Will, Bright Eyes 2002
Jenny From The Block, Jennifer Lopez 2002
California, Phantom Planet 2002
In Da Club, 50 Cent 2003
Many Men, 50 Cent 2003
A Lack Of Color, Death Cab For Cutie 2003
Grand Theft Autumn/Where Is Your Boy, Fall Out Boy 2003
Allure, Jay-Z 2003
Daughters, John Mayer 2003
Rock Your Body, Justin Timberlake 2003
Ballgame, Kevin Devine 2003
I Can, Nas 2003
Such Great Heights, Postal Service 2003
I’ll Be Your Friend, Bright Eyes 2004
Toxic, Britney Spears 2004
99 Problems, Jay-Z 2004
All Falls Down, Kanye West 2004
Spaceship, Kanye West 2004
Mr. Brightside, The Killers 2004
First Day of My Life, Bright Eyes 2005
Take It Easy (Love Nothing), Bright Eyes 2005
Sagaba, Blue Scholars 2005
Sugar, We’re Goin’ Down, Fall Out Boy 2005
Cupid’s Chokehold, Gym Class Heroes 2005
Hide and Seek, Imogen Heap 2005
Gold Digger, Kanye West 2005
Hey Mama, Kanye West 2005
Hey There Delilah, Plain White T’s 2005
Bring It (Snakes On A Plane), Cobra Starship 2006
I Will Follow You Into The Dark, Death Cab For Cutie 2006
Shoot Down The Stars, Gym Class Heroes 2006
The Heart of Life, John Mayer 2006
Burning City Smoking, Kevin Devine 2006
Apologize, OneRepublic 2006
I Write Sins Not Tragedies, Panic! At The Disco 2006
Should’ve Said No, Taylor Swift 2006
Teardrops On My Guitar, Taylor Swift 2006
Don’t Matter, Akon 2007
Four Winds, Bright Eyes 2007
Piece of Me, Britney Spears 2007
Golden, Fall Out Boy 2007
Say, John Mayer 2007
Can’t Tell Me Nothing, Kanye West 2007
Homecoming, Kanye West 2007
Fallin’ Out, Keyshia Cole 2007
Superstar, Lupe Fiasco 2007
Shut Up And Drive, Rihanna 2007
Umbrella, Rihanna 2007
Single Ladies, Beyoncé 2008
Baby Baby, The Cataracs 2008
American Boy, Estelle feat. Kanye West 2008
Burnin’ Up, Jonas Brothers 2008
Amazing, Kanye West 2008
I Kissed A Girl, Katy Perry 2008
Lollipop, Lil’ Wayne 2008
You Belong With Me, Taylor Swift 2008
Live Your Life, T.I. feat. Rihanna 2008
Rich Girls, The Virgins 2008
Halo, Beyoncé 2009
Blame It, Jamie Foxx feat. T-Pain 2009
Whatcha Say, Jason Derulo 2009
Make Her Say, Kid Cudi feat. Kanye West & Common 2009
Party In The USA, Miley Cyrus 2009
New Perspective, Panic! At The Disco 2009

So tell me girl, mmm, whatcha say?

I’m never gonna know you, but I want to.

I’ve seen the farmer’s tan you’ve developed and those tight little pants you wear in the water, but I’ve never felt the skin on your hands nor the spandex on your thighs. I’ve seen your new haircut and how you’re growing out your beard, but I’ve never felt it scratch against my skin. I’ve never run my fingers through your brown, centimeter-long hair. I know the color of your eyes, but I’ve never seen those brown, gold and black tones just inches from my own, blue, yellow and green.

I’ve heard you laughing with your friends and I know the way your eyes wrinkle at the sides when you smile, but I’ve never been the one to tell you a joke; to put that smile on your face. I know where you want to go to college; I know you’re leaving soon, to halfway across the country - San Antonio will never seem so far away - but you never told me why. I’ve never been your confidant; not even a friend to share your aspirations with.

I know what you need when you’re sick; I’ve heard you complain about forgetting your chapstick or tissues, but it’s never been to me. I know the music you like; I’ve heard you play it proudly and excitedly. I’ve been there, listening, but you’ve never been playing it for me. I’ve seen you with other girls; maybe friends, or maybe more. But I’ll never know, because you’ll never tell me. And no one will ever see you with me, because you don’t know me.

I’m never gonna know you, but I’d like to.

tomorrow’s just too late

you drag your tiger’s paw across your chapped and cracking lips
and open up a crimson slur you spread each time you kiss
the broken boy you bargain with to turn back to the man
that you fell in love with once but never saw again
is he in there? do you think he drowned to death?
well, it’s his decision to show his face again

you grind your tired teeth and curse the day that you were born
to a sunken line of irish wives a million miles long
devoted to the suffering they’re certain they deserve
a husband’s a cross to bear, worry lines and a silver string of hair
come too early, come to steal your sainted youth
well, it’s your decision to stay or else to move

and i’m not a man of faith, no gospel oak for me
but you wear a crucifix to broadcast your beliefs
and the god i’ve read about can’t go where he’s not asked to go
so you’ve got a choice to make
shut him out, save yourself, or sit and wait
but you’re waiting on a man who will not move
so you must move for him, and do what he can’t do

cause it’s worth it, it’s the one life you can change
and i’m sorry, sister, but it has to end this way
and it’s scary, sister, but tomorrow’s just too late
so stand up, sister, there’s an albatross to shake

carnival

i quit the carnival, it moved next door
i thought i’d had enough but i want more
so now i’m sneaking out at night
i paint my face and shine my shoes
go where i’m not supposed to

cause i tamed a lion once, i stole his roar
i stripped his pride away but he found more
so now he’s back to take what’s his
and shove my future in my face
scare me back in my place
so soon, so soon, you’ve got it beat ‘til it eats you

i left my flaming sword beside your bed
i woke to find it pressed against my neck
you wept, suggestion never works
so now i’m trying something else
i shut my eyes, hold on… oh well
and i felt a feather fold, a tree trunk split
inside my lion laugh played violin
he said you should give up your voice
before we both end up destroyed
i quit, alright, he purred, good boy

cause you’ll believe anything when you’re caught
and you’ll fall for anyone
and i said, that’s not exactly true
only you, i do what you do

you wake in the hospital in your thrift store suit
you hear your lover’s voice from the waiting room
you shut your eyes and pray for peace
think i’m not here, this isn’t me
this isn’t something i would do
i know the complicated truth
i make a mask of lions roar
a big top tent, a firey sword
but they’re not real and never were
and soon she won’t be real either
this is the life you went and earned
because you never fucking learn
and you could waste all of your years
fixing the mess you make in here
so as her nervous breath draws closer
dress heels click off their approach
you clutch your chest and whisper,
oh no, what will i do? what will i do?
my love, my love, what will i do?

- K “Kat Dennings” D

follow the lights home

i was seven years old when i watched the wall fall down
i can’t remember, but i like the way it sounds
and i never realized that kids like me grow up in war
so i thought my life was hard until you told me yours

and if the sky should fall and break you up against the ground
you won’t ever let life go
i won’t ever let you go
follow the lights home

my father sings to me, tucks me in at night
your father died for you so you could stay alive
and i’m so scared to say that we’re the same in every way
except one: i was born in peace, and you under the gun

and if the sky should fall and break you up against the ground
you won’t ever let life go
i won’t ever let you go
follow the lights home

a child of seven years should never have to see
their world come crashing down to wither at their feet
me and my self-centered little world can’t comprehend the truth
that i can’t live through what you have and i could’ve been you

and if the sky should fall and break me up against the ground
would i ever let life go?
i won’t ever let you go
follow the lights home

and if the sky should fall and break you up against the ground
you won’t ever let life go
i won’t ever let you go
follow the lights home

i recall

i’m beginning to remember who i once was;
hello again, old self, old friend,
i know we don’t always see eye to eye,
but i’ve missed you.
a certain trait i can recall in particular,
one which soothed pain and released anxiety;
unfortunately, its baggage began to outweigh its benefits
and the ease at which it used to come is now long gone
and when it does arrive it brings with it
a wave of new problems to replace the ones which it relieves.
such is life,
little more than a brief game god has us play;
some must win and some also must lose,
but in victory, defeat or stalemate,
sooner or later we all reach its end
and reset into blissful equilibrium.

what people are saying about me

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