And tell me some things last. (Stu's Year in Music Survey)

i know my blog has been pretty silent this past year. i wanna really get back into blogging, but this past year has been a tough one. but perhaps next year will be different. next year will be better. i wanna start doing things i enjoy, again. but anyway, it's time for the annual Stu's year in music survey! although it was a hard year, musically, it was pretty great. here we go;

2014 music survey;

What song sums up 2013 for you?
Taylor Swift - Clean

What albums did you listen to over and over?
Taylor Swift: 1989
Noah Gundersen: Ledges
Noah Gundersen: Twenty-something
Lorde: Pure Heroine
Troye Sivan: TRXYE
Hopeajärvi: Hopeajärvi
K.Flay: Life as a Dog
Ingrid Michaelson: Lights Out
Josh Ritter: Live at the Iveagh Gardens
Watsky: All You Can Do
OneRepublic: Native
Tom Odell: Long Way Down
The Fault in Our Stars soundtrack
Wish I Was Here soundtrack
Iggy Azalea: The New Classic
Lissie: Cryin' to You

^Taylor Swift

What was the best gig you went to?
i finally saw Bob Dylan! it was such a surreal experience. it was at this big jazz music festival, i was standing on the front row and Dylan was only a few meters away from me. it was a childhood and a grownup dream come true! i also saw Suede and Brett held my hand. also Lissie at a small club during the biggest heath wave was pretty epic.

What songs did you have on repeat?
Taylor Swift - Shake it Off
Taylor Swift - Clean
Taylor Swift - Out of the Woods
Troye Sivan - Happy Little Pill
Navigators - Wall of Stone
A Great Big World - Say Something
General Ghost - I Need My People
Watsky - Woah Woah Woah
Watsky - Sarajevo
Lorde - Buzzcut Season
Sufjan Stevens - A Little Lost
Jameston Newton Howard & Jennifer Lawrence - The Hanging Tree
Noah Gundersen - Guardian Angel
Noah Gundersen - Ledges
Foster the People - Fire Escape
Tom Odell - Heal


What was your best musical discovery this year?
probably Hopeajärvi! they are small finnish punk band and they are ridiculous and so good!

What 5 musicians/bands did you listen to the most?
last.fm says; Josh Ritter, Taylor Swift, Noah Gundersen, Troye Sivan & Amy MacDonald

What was the best CD you bought?
Taylor Swift's 1989!

Did you buy any music DVDs this year?
no.

What are the best lyrics you heard this year?
"Where do we come from? Where do we go?
You could fill up the sea with the things I don't know" - Watsky; Sarajevo

"I want to learn how to love
Not just the feeling
bear all the consequences

And I want to learn how to love,
And give it all back,
And be forgiven for all I've done." - Noah Gundersen; Ledges

Did you stop liking any musicians/bands?
can't really think of any.

Did you learn an instrument this year? If so, did you play any gigs?
no.

What band did you hate this year?
i don't hate them, i just don't care about One Direction at all. i don't understand what's their appeal. i think the music is generic and boring and i really don't find the boys attractive at all (i mean sure i can see that they are a bunch of beautiful boys/men but they do nothing for me...)

Did you have a musical guilty pleasure this year?
i still don't believe in 'guilty pleasures', i don't feel guilt over the things i like, but i have to say Iggy Azalea. i'm all for women being successful, especially in a male dominated genre, but her fake black accent is a bit questionable. yet i still like her music and she is one of those women who has worked really hard to be where she is now. and i definitely respect that.

^Iggy Azalea

What was the worst song of the year?
that Selfie song, i don't even know the name or whose song it is. it's just bad.

What was the coolest music video you saw this year?
Taylor Swift's Blank Space! it is hilarious.

Did you watch Idol/the arias/grammys/mtv awards?
nope.

What was the worst musical comeback of the past year?
can't think of any.

What was the best musical comeback of the year?
Suede! well, i know they kind of had their comeback last year with the new album, but i was them live this year so i feel like it really happened in 2014. it totally counts, right?!

Who were your favourite female vocalists?
Taylor Swift

Who were your favourite male vocalists?
Josh Ritter & Noah Gundersen

^Tom Odell

What radio station did you listen to most?
none, really.

What was the biggest band you saw this year?
Bob Dylan

If you have one, how often did you listen your iPod/mp3 player this year?
all the time from my phone.

What was your favourite soundtrack to a film this year?
The Fault in Our Stars

What was your favourite music themed film you saw this year?
If I Stay, i mean, music was a big part of the film.

What was the best local band you heard/saw this year?
Hopeajärvi

Did you meet any famous musicians?
not this year.

Did you put up any music posters around your room/house?
Taylor Swift's deluxe version of 1989 came with 13 polaroids, i scattered them around my apartment.

Totalled, how much do you think you spent on music this year (cds, merch, tickets, etc)?
about 300€ in tickets and 40€ for cd's, so around 340€.

What type of music did you find yourself listening to most this year?
pop and folk&country, as always,

Best song to be happy to you listened to this year?
all of 1989!

Best song to be sad to you listened to this year?
Noah Gundersen's Guardian Angel


Band/singer with the best style this year?
Taylor Swift! also Lissie.

What shows are you looking forward to in the new year?
i might go see Taylor Swift during the summer in London. maybe, perhaps. depending on things. like money.

^Lorde

Did you buy any band merchandise this year?
no.

Did you miss out on going to any really good concerts this year?
i wanted to go see Watsky on his European tour, but then someone stole my bike and i needed to buy a new one and that was pretty much all of the money i'd saved to travel to see watsky.

What was the last gig you went to?
Vesa-Matti Loiri's Christmas concert. it was lovely.

How many songs are on your computer/itunes?
i don't know cause i mostly just use Spotify.

What are you listening to now?
Josh Ritter - The Curse Live at Iveagh Gardens

the world is growing smaller. (Stu's Year in Music Survey)

once again it's time for the annual Stu's Year in Music survey! this was a good year, really, the best.

2013 music survey;

^Josh Ritter

What song sums up 2013 for you?
Josh Ritter - Change of Time

What albums did you listen to over and over?
Watsky: Cardboard Castles
Josh Ritter: The Beast in Its Tracks
Tegan and Sara: Hertthrob
Patty Griffin: American Kid
Bastille: Bad Blood
Lissie: Back To Forever
Childish Gambino: Because The Internet
John Williams: The Book Thief Soundtrack
Les Misérables Soundtrack
Maria Mena: Weapon in Mind
Maia Hirasawa: What I Saw

What was the best gig you went to?
I saw quite a few great bands this year but the highlights were definitely Watsky at Utrecht Neterlands and Josh Ritter at Dublin, Ireland. These two are currently my absolute favorite artists, especially Josh Ritter is my musical soul mate. i adore him. i also saw Blur at Provinssirock, here in finland, but for some reason, although i had dreamed about it since late 90's, it wasn't the most memorable gig this year. it was nostalgic, sure, and amazing to be able to make a dream that i dreamed as a kid to come true. but it was much more moving and amazing to make some current musical dreams to come true. also i got to do some traveling when seeing Watsky and Josh, it was magical all together.

What songs did you have on repeat?
Watsky - Sloppy Seconds
Watsky - Wounded Healer
Josh Ritter - Joy To You Baby
Night Beds - Even If We Try
Childish Gambino - 3005
Jhene Aiko feat. Childish Gambino - Bed Peace
Lord Huron - Ends of The Earth
Lissie - Shameless
Noah Gundersen - Jesus, Jesus

^Watsky

What was your best musical discovery this year?
Watsky! Definitely. I can't really believe that i've been listening to him less than a year. it was such a strong connection form the very start. i mean i did flew to Netherlands just to see him play. an other great musical find is Noah Gundersen, he is beautiful.

What 5 musicians/bands did you listen to the most?
last.fm says; Josh Ritter, Watsky, Patty Griffin, Bastille and Tegan and Sara.

What was the best CD you bought?
Watsky's Cardboard Castles and Josh Ritter's The Beast in Its Tracks. Both are autographed!

Did you buy any music DVDs this year?
no i didn't.

What are the best lyrics you heard this year?
"I don't care where you've been, how many miles, I still love you." - Watsky
"How many times did you give all your love and find out it was so far from far from enough?" - Josh Ritter

^Childish Gambino

Did you stop liking any musicians/bands?
i don't think so.

Did you learn an instrument this year? If so, did you play any gigs?
still no. maybe next year?

What band did you hate this year?
Robin Thicke is quite awful. not just cause that one song is so questionable, but his music kind of sucks.

Did you have a musical guilty pleasure this year?
i don't believe in 'guilty pleasures' but i guess i could say that i sort of fell in love with Kesha.

^Noah Gunderse

What was the worst song of the year?
that Robin Thicke one. though i have to admit, i had never heard it before it everybody started talking about how offensive it is. and then i listened to it and the song is just musically awful as well.

What was the coolest music video you saw this year?
Josh Ritter made a cool video for his song Evil Eye, it was like a trailer to a fictional 60's horror movie! also i really liked Lilly Allen's Hard Out Here video, that was mocking Robin Thicke's video.

Did you watch Idol/the arias/grammys/mtv awards?
well i've seen the infamous Miley Cyrus performance. and i don't really get why people were upset. once again it was more upsetting that she performed with Robin Thicke than what she did on the stage. it was a joke, not that i found it funny, but it was just silly, stupid and idiotis on purpose!

What was the worst musical comeback of the past year?
in all honesty, David Bowie's album was a disappointment for me. of course it wasn't the worst musical comeback, it's David Bowie! but because of the anticipation it was disappointing for me.

What was the best musical comeback of the year?
there were none that i really cared about, Justin Timberlake pulled off his comeback pretty well though.

^Lissie

Who were your favourite female vocalists?
Taylor Swift, Cat Power, Patty Griffin

Who were your favourite male vocalists?
Josh Ritter, Watsky, Childish Gambino

What radio station did you listen to most?
didn't listen to much of radio.

What was the biggest band you saw this year?
Josh Ritter, Watsky and Blur.

If you have one, how often did you listen your iPod/mp3 player this year?
i listen to mushc from my phone, and i do it pretty much daily.

What was your favourite soundtrack to a film this year?
The World's End had an amazing soundtrack!

^Blur

What was your favourite music themed film you saw this year?
Les Miserablés was quite amazing.

What was the best local band you heard/saw this year?
Herra Ylppö ja Ihmiset was pretty great.

Did you meet any famous musicians?
i met Watsky. he was the sweetest!

Did you put up any music posters around your room/house?
no. but i just ordered this really cool Childish Gambino poster by this artist Mei Lee, i'm waiting for it to arrive.

Totalled, how much do you think you spent on music this year (cds, merch, tickets, etc)?
i think i spent avout 150€ in tickets, 100€ for cd's and 40€ for merch, so about 290€.

What type of music did you find yourself listening to most this year?
folk, country, pop, some rap & hip hop

Best song to be happy to you listened to this year?
Josh Ritter's Joy To You Baby

Best song to be sad to you listened to this year?
Watsky's Wounded Healer

^Michael Bublé

Band/singer with the best style this year?
i like Watsky's casual style.

What shows are you looking forward to in the new year?
i'm going to see Michael Bublé on February next year!

Did you buy any band merchandise this year?
a Josh Ritter shirt and a Childish Gambino poster.

Did you pirate any music this year?
....maybe.

Did you miss out on going to any really good concerts this year?
Lissie, i was supposed to go but i didn't have the time or the money.

What was the last gig you went to?
some random band at a student party.

How many songs are on your computer/itunes?
i don't know cause i mostly just use Spotify.

What are you listening to now?
Bad Books - Baby Shoes

if i die before my time bury me upside down. (Day 8 a little late)

it is time for the annual Stu's year in music post! also my apologies for not posting anything yesterday, i was busy christmas shopping, expect another christmas crafting related post later today.

Fun. ^

2012 music survey;

What song sums up 2011 for you?

Fun. - Some Nights

What albums did you listen to over and over?

• Fun.: Some Nights
• Taylor Swift: Red
• Josh RItter: Golden Age of Radio
• Josh Ritter: The Animal Years
• Spring Awakening Soundtrack
• The Book of Mormon Soundtrack
• Markus Krunegård: Mänsklig Värme
• Walk The Moon: Walk The Moon
• Olavi Uusivirta: Elvin Istuu Oikealla
• First Aid Kit: The Lion's Roar
• Imagine Dragons: Continued Silence EP

Markus Krunegård ^

What was the best gig you went to?

this was probably the best gig year of my life! it started with Cat Power, whom i've loved for years and was so happy to finally see her. then i was Michael Bublé with my best friend and we have both been hoping and wishing for him to do a gig here for years. during the summer i saw Pulp! also one of those bands i've been waiting to see for years, well over a decade for this one, and it was amazing. they played at a music festival where i also saw Flogging Molly wich was amazing and Olavi Uusivirta was really good too. both of them i've seen before so it' wasn't that amazing but still pretty cool. i also stumbled upon cheap tickets for Lady Gaga's concert so we went to see her with a group of friends. that was alright, but not mindblowing. (funny thing, the first time i did this survey i said i hated her....) then later this year i saw Fun. and their opening act Walk The Moon, probably one of the best gigs ever. really, the best gig year ever!

What songs did you have on repeat?

• Taylor Swift - We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together
• Fun. - Carry On
• First Aid Kit - Emmylou
• Olavi Uusivirta - Nuoruus
• Josh Ritter - Harrisburg
• Patrick Wolf - Born To Die (Lana Del Rey cover)
• Spring Awakening Cast - Don't Do Sadness/Blue Wind
• The Book of Mormon Cast: Hello!
• Cider Sky - Where To Now
• Darren Criss - Teenage Dream (acoustic Glee version)
• Walk The Moon - Iscariot
• Imagine Dragons - It's Time
• Relient K - (If You Want It)
• Of Monsters and Men - King and Lionheart
• Piste Piste - Elän Sut Uudestaan
• Meghan Tonjes - The Fault is in Our Stars (Lastufka Remix)

Meghan Tonjes ^

What was your best musical discovery this year?

Josh Ritter is probably my best musical find in years! other great finds this year were Walk The Moon, Imagine Dragons, Shovels & Rope, Daughter, Passenger.

What 5 musicians/bands did you listen to the most?
last.fm says; Taylor Swift, Josh Ritter, Fun., Glee Cast and First Aid Kit.

What was the best CD you bought?
Fun.'s Some Nights, Taylor Swift's Red, Josh Ritter's Golden Age of Radio and Markus Krunegård's Mänsklig Värme.

 
Did you buy any music DVDs this year?

no i didn't.

Daughter ^

What are the best lyrics you heard this year?

i'm completely in love with Josh Ritter's lyrics, all of them, but i have to say that the opening line of Kathleen is the one i fell in love with first;

all the other girls here are stars, you are the Northern Lights.
they try to shine in through your curtains, you're too close and too bright.
they try and they try but everything that they do,
is the ghost of a trace of a pale imitation of you.

also Fun. has some great lyrics too, like this line from Carry On;

Cause we are
We are shining stars
We are invincible
We are who we are
On our darkest day
When we're miles away
So we'll come
We will find our way home

Did you stop liking any musicians/bands?
not that i can remember.

Did you learn an instrument this year? If so, did you play any gigs?

no, tho i did get this urge to buy Ukulele and learn to play that. i haven't tho, maybe next year.

Josh Ritter ^

What band did you hate this year?

Pitbull, everything he dies sounds exactly the same to me.

Did you have a musical guilty pleasure this year?
well, the same old Justin Bieber i had last year. i tried to get into One Direction but i just don't care for them that much...

What was the worst song of the year?

there probably was one like super annoying song but i can't remember any. Gangnam Style is one of them but to be honest i think i've only heard it once or twice.

What was the coolest music video you saw this year?

Fun. - Carry On, it made me want to go and have night out with the guys from the band, it's such a fun and cool video.

Did you watch Idol/the arias/grammys/mtv awards?

no i didn't.

Blur ^

What was the worst musical comeback of the past year?

i'm not sure, didn't even see the Spice Girls performing at the Olympics so i can't say if that was good or bad.

What was the best musical comeback of the year?

Blur! well, they already sort of did a comeback in 2009, but now they released a new song and they had gigs and there will be more gigs next year! also Pulp had a comeback like year before but cause i only saw them this year i'm counting it!

Who were your favourite female vocalists?
Taylor Swift, Cat Power, Lea Michele (Spring Awakening & Glee), Johanna & Klara Söderberg (First Aid Kit).

Who were your favourite male vocalists?
Josh Ritter, Darren Criss, Nate Ruess (Fun.), Andrew Rannells (The Book of Mormon), Markus Krunegård, Bob Dylan (always).

What radio station did you listen to most?
i listened to Spotify's country station, but that's not really radio. i wanted to find a good radio station to listen to but i never did.

What was the biggest band you saw this year?
Michael Bublé and Pulp were probably the biggest ones.

Pulp ^

If you have one, how often did you listen your iPod/mp3 player this year?
i listen to music from my phone and i do that almost every night i go to bed and also when traveling with a bus or a train or anything i don't have to drive myself.

What was your favourite soundtrack to a film this year?
The Hunger Games soundtrack.

What was your favourite music themed film you saw this year?

well, i watched Katy Perry: Part of Me few weeks ago and even tho i'm not Katy Perry fan it was quite moving and fun.

What was the best local band you heard/saw this year?
well i consider anything from Finland local and that has to be Olavi Uusivirta.

Did you meet any famous musicians?
well Walk The Moon guys came to hang out with the audience before and after their gig but the place was crowded with teenage fangirls so i didn't talked to them, so no, i didn't. Cat Power gave me her setlist tho and smiled, does that count?

Did you put up any music posters around your room/house?

no.

Totalled, how much do you think you spent on music this year (cds, merch, tickets, etc)?
i spent around 300€ on tickets, 50€ on merch, 100€ on cds so about 450€.

What type of music did you find yourself listening to most this year?
folk, country, pop.

Best song to be happy to you listened to this year?
Fun.'s Some Nights.

Best song to be sad to you listened to this year?
Patrick Wolf's cover of Lana Del Rey's Born To Die.

Patrick Wolf ^

Band/singer with the best style this year?
Nate Ruess from Fun. at the gig he was wearing jeans and an oversized blue sweater, so comfy and adorable.

What shows are you looking forward to in the new year?
well i'm hoping to go see Patrick Wolf's acoustic gig, also i'm waiting for Blur to announce more gigs, so maybe i finally get to see them.

Did you buy any band merchandise this year?
i bought Fun. and Flogging Molly shirts, i don't remember if i bought anything else.

Did you pirate any music this year?
....maybe.

Did you miss out on going to any really good concerts this year?
Markus Krunegård, i just didn't have the time.

What was the last gig you went to?
Fun. & Walk The Moon.

Taylor Swift ^

How many songs are on your computer/itunes?
i don't know cause i mostly just use Spotify.

What are you listening to now?
First Aid Kit - Dance To Another Tune

singing this song we love to sing.

it's time for the annual Stu's Year in Music!

Childish Gambino^

2011 music survey;

What song sums up 2011 for you?
The Ark - The Apocalypse is Over

What albums did you listen to over and over?

• Arkeology: The Complete Singles Collection by The Ark
• Camp by Childish Gambino
• EP by Childish Gambino
• Sigh No More by Mumford & Sons
• 21 by Adele
• Codes and Keys by Death Cab For Cutie
• Ceremonials by Florence + The Machine
• Glee: The Music presents The Warblers by Glee Cast
• My Worlds - The Collection by Justin Bieber
• Teenage Dream by Katy Perry
• Christmas by Michael Bublé
• Doctor Who: Series 5 soundtrack by Murray Gold & BBC National Orchestra of Wales
• Danger Days: The True Lives of Fabulous Killjoys by My Chemical Romance
• Lupercalia by Patrick Wolf
• The Bedroom Demos by Stars

Patrick Wolf^

What was the best gig you went to?

my all time favorite band The Ark had a farewell tour this year and i saw them five times, just so i could really say Goodbye. all those gigs were amazing, but the second one was the best, it was the most emotional, for me. even more than The Very Last one.

What songs did you have on repeat?

• The Apocalypse is Over by The Ark
• Breaking Up With God by The Ark
• Kids (Keep Up) by Childish Gambino
• House by Patrick Wolf
• Someone Like You by Adele
• Never Say Never by Justin Bieber
• Fireworks by Katy Perry
• The Sad Man With a Box from Doctor Who Soundtrack
• Kohtalon Oma by Chisu
• Nuori ja Kaunis by Anna Järvinen & Olavi Uusivirta
• Paradise by Coldplay
• The Cave by Mumford & Sons
• Freaks & Geeks by Childish Gambino
• Bills, Bills, Bills by Glee Cast

Adele^

What was your best musical discovery this year?
Mumford & Sons, Stars and i gave in to my new guilty pleasure, Justin Bieber.

What 5 musicians/bands did you listen to the most?
last.fm says; Glee Cast, Childish Gambino, The Ark, Taylor Swift and Bob Dylan

What was the best CD you bought?
Camp by Childish Gambino

Mumford & Sons^

 
Did you buy any music DVDs this year?

no i didn't.

What are the best lyrics you heard this year?

in our coats of splendid colours we went from town to town, leaving young hearts filled with promise and the venues turned upside down. 

from The Apocalypse is Over by The Ark. this song is about The Band and their fans, it's a goodbye to us and they're perfect. there's also this one part that they only sang live, it's not on the track on the album, and ti goes like this;

we went to look for glory, where the chimes of freedom ring. in the world of sweet illusion, we were undisputed kings. and i know you should never say never, but i guess that's what i do now, and i know that what we have will last forever. Forever, forever, forever!

and i really love that part too.

Did you stop liking any musicians/bands?
i guess my Lady Gaga phase is over.

The very last The Ark gig^

Did you learn an instrument this year? If so, did you play any gigs?

no.

What band did you hate this year?

this Finnish artist called Petri Nygård, he's the worst thing ever happened to music.

Did you have a musical guilty pleasure this year?

Justin Bieber, for sure. (and now i'm looking at the next question, last year i wrote that JB's Baby was the worst song... oh well.)

What was the worst song of the year?

Selvä Päivä by Petri Nygård, i don't think i've ever hated a song this much!

Justin Bieber^

What was the coolest music video you saw this year?

House by Patrick Wolf, it's simply beautiful!

Did you watch Idol/the arias/grammys/mtv awards?

no i didn't.

What was the worst musical comeback of the past year?

what comebacks were there?!

What was the best musical comeback of the year?

again, don't know.

 Hayley Williams^

Who were your favourite female vocalists?
Taylor Swift, Adele, Hayley Williams (Paramore), Cat Power.


Who were your favourite male vocalists?
Childish Gambino, Ola Salo (The Ark), Darren Criss, Bob Dylan.


What radio station did you listen to most?
i don't really listen to radio, but Voice i guess. and Radio Nova. not good stations but none of them really are.


What was the biggest band you saw this year?
Hurts and My Chemical Romance.


If you have one, how often did you listen your iPod/mp3 player this year?
i don't have one, but i listen to music from my phone. quite often, when ever i'm on a buss or a train.


What was your favourite soundtrack to a film this year?
The Tree soundtrack.

Darren Criss^

What was your favourite music themed film you saw this year?

No Direction Home, i watched it on Bob Dylan's birthday, i've seen it before tho.

What was the best local band you heard/saw this year?
i don't think i saw any local bands this year.

Did you meet any famous musicians?
we had a small after party with The Ark this summer. also we went to a bar with Hurts and their crew, tho i barely talked to the boys from Hurts, cause i'm awkward, but i thanked Theo for an amazing gig. he was like the nices person ever.

Did you put up any music posters around your room/house?

no.

Totalled, how much do you think you spent on music this year (cds, merch, tickets, etc)?
i spend around 320€ on tickets, 10€ on merch, around 50€ on cd's, and if we also cound trips for gigs (Tampere&Vaasa and Stockholm) that's around 600€ i think.

What type of music did you find yourself listening to most this year?
country, folk, indie, rap, classics, mainstream pop...

Hurts^

Best song to be happy to you listened to this year?
The City by Patrick Wolf; no no no no, not about the debts you made, the car we never had, the house we never owned, darling don't look so sad. it's about that day we kissed up by Niagara Falls, it's about the keys, the keys, the keys to my heart you hold.

Best song to be sad to you listened to this year?
Someone Like You by Adele; sometimes it lasts in love but sometimes it hurts instead.

Band/singer with the best style this year?
Adele, she is my rolemodel and so so beautiful.

What shows are you looking forward to in the new year?
Michael Bublé, finally! it's a dream come true.

Did you buy any band merchandise this year?
Mumford & Sons t-shirt

Did you pirate any music this year?
yeah....

She & Him^

Did you miss out on going to any really good concerts this year?
Patrick Wolf, simply just couldn't afford it.

What was the last gig you went to?
The Ark at Gröna Lund, Stockholm.

How many songs are on your computer/itunes?
i'm not sure, 4000?

What are you listening to now?
The Christmas Waltz by She & Him

everybody party till the gasman comes, sparkle like Bowie in the morning sun.

stu's year in music vol 2.

Taylor Swift^

2010 music survey;

What song sums up 2010 for you?
Olavi Uusivirta - Minä Olen Hullu

What albums did you listen to over and over?

• Speak Now by Taylor Swift
• Loud by Rihanna
• Preeria by Olavi Uusivirta
• Astronautti by Pariisin Kevät
• Contra by Vampire Weekend
• Down The Way by Angus & Julia Stone
• Inception soundtrack
• Wicked soundtrack
• Ocean Eyes by Owl City
• All The People Live at Hyde Park by Blur
• Lungs by Florence and the Machine
• Happiness by Hurts  

 

Rihanna^

What was the best gig you went to?

i'd have to say both times when i saw Olavi Uusivirta at Tavastia, first in spring then later in the early December. he has this amazing energy! also Florence and the Machine at Ruisrock was pretty amazing.

What songs did you have on repeat?

• Mine by Taylor Swift
• Fool's Day by Blur
• Man Down by Rihanna
• Nukketalo Palaa by Olavi Uusivirta
• Kids by MGMT
• Love The Way You Lie by Eminem feat. Rihanna
• Horchata by Vampire Weekend
• Empire State of Mind Part II by Alicia Keyes
• Time by Hans Zimmer
• Always Love by Nada Surf
• Na Na Na [Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na] by My Chemical Romance
• Superstar by The Ark´
• Wake Up by Arcade Fire

My Chemical Romance^

 

What was your best musical discovery this year?
Owl City, his romantic electric pop is just enchanting. and Hurts, they're like Joy Division meets Take That! oh and Florence and the Machine.

What 5 musicians/bands did you listen to the most?
last.fm says; Taylor Swift, Owl City, Glee Cast, Blur and Cat Power.

What was the best CD you bought?
Glee soundtracks Volume 1 and 2.

 Owl City

 
Did you buy any music DVDs this year?

i bought No Distance Left To Run from London, it's a Documentary about Blur. it's awesome!

What are the best lyrics you heard this year? 

i said remember this feeling, i passed the pictures around of all the years that we stood there on the side-lines wishing for right now. we are the Kings and the Queens, you traded your baseball cap for a crown when they gave us our trophies and we help them up for our town. and the cynics were outraged, screaming this is absurd! cause for a moment a band of thieves in ripped up jeans got to rule the world . from Taylor Swifts song Long Live, a song she wrote for her band and fans.

Did you stop liking any musicians/bands?
i'm really not that into The Sounds anymore.

 No Distance Left To Run^

Did you learn an instrument this year? If so, did you play any gigs?
no..

What band did you hate this year?
it's funny how last year i wrote Lady Gaga, and this year i actually learned to like her! but this year i hated Ke$ha.. and i really hope i won't find myself liking her this time next year!

Did you have a musical guilty pleasure this year?
Miley Cyrus and her new album Can't Be Tamed.

What was the worst song of the year?

Justin Bieber's Baby! it's been stuck in my head for like, a year!

Miley Cyrus^

What was the coolest music video you saw this year?

Love The Way You Lie by Eminem feat. Rihanna. it's like, one of the best videos ever!

Did you watch Idol/the arias/grammys/mtv awards?

no i didn't. but i did watch Taylor Swift perform Innocent at VMA. she was stunning.

What was the worst musical comeback of the past year?

i have no idea.

What was the best musical comeback of the year?

i have no idea either..

 Love The Way You Lie^

Who were your favourite female vocalists?
Cat Power, Taylor Swift, Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Florence Welch.

Who were your favourite male vocalists?
Bob Dylan, Owl City, Olavi Uusivirta.

What radio station did you listen to most?
Radio Helsinki while i was doing my internship. other than that i barely listen to any radio.

What was the biggest band you saw this year?
Florence and the Machine.

If you have one, how often did you listen your iPod/mp3 player this year?
well i have Nokia XpressMusic phone, and i listen to it all the time.

What was your favourite soundtrack to a film this year?
Inception soundtrack.

 Florence Welch^

What was your favourite music themed film you saw this year?

No Distance Left To Run, documentary about Blur. it was just amazing. it made me laugh and it made me cry.

What was the best local band you heard/saw this year?
well, everything from Finland seems local to me, so Olavi Uusivirta.

Did you meet any famous musicians?
i couldn't go to The Arks gig at Ankkarock but i did manage to go to their official afterparty and saw them there.

Did you put up any music posters around your room/house?

some magazine cuts of Taylor Swift and Rihanna.

Totalled, how much do you think you spent on music this year (cds, merch, tickets, etc)?
few hundred euros i think. this month i spent 130€ on tickets but those gigs aren't until next year.

What type of music did you find yourself listening to most this year?
in the beginning of 2010 i listened a lot of indie/hipster music and now i find myself listening to very mainstream pop...

Olavi Uusivirta^

Best song to be happy to you listened to this year?
Wake Up by Arcade Fire; if the children don't grow up, our bodies get bigger but our hearts get torn up. we're just a million little gods causin rain storms turnin every good thing to rust. i guess we'll just have to adjust.i know it's not exactly a happy song, but it makes me happy.


Best song to be sad to you listened to this year?
For Blue Skies by Strays Don't Sleep; could i have saved you? would that've betrayed you? iwanna burn this film, you alone with those pills. what you couldn't do i will, i forgive you.

Band/singer with the best style this year?
Taylor Swift, her style is so cute. and Rihanna, she is fierce!

What shows are you looking forward to in the new year?
The Ark and their farewell tour. oh the tears! and My Chemical Romance.

Did you buy any band merchandise this year?
i bought The Ark t-shirt that isn't really good quality. i regret not buying Flogging Molly t-shirt.

Did you pirate any music this year?
yeah....

Arcade Fire^

Did you miss out on going to any really good concerts this year?
Lady Gaga, on my birthday! i'm pretty sure it would have been epic. and Arcade Fire.

What was the last gig you went to?
Olavi Uusivirta at Tavastia.

How many songs are on your computer/itunes?
my computer broke, so none!

What are you listening to now?
To Be Alone With You by Sufjan Stevens

we're all trekkies now.

stu's year in Music.

Michael Bublé^

2009 music survey;

What song sums up 2009 for you?
Markus Krunegård - Hela Livet Var Ett Disco

What albums did you listen to over and over?

• Crazy Love by Michael Bublé
• Lev Som En Gris Dö Som En Hund by Markus Krunegård
• Prinsen Av Peking by Markus Krunegård
• Crossing The Rubicon by The Sounds
• Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist soundtrack
• 500 Days Of Summer soundtrack
• Dylan (deluxe Edition) by Bob Dylan
• Star Trek soundtrack

Kelly Clarkson^

What was the best gig you went to?

sadly, there weren't too many good gigs this year. but Tehosekoitin at Ruisrock was awesome, The Sounds at Kaapelitehdas this December, was amazing too. still the best gig of this year was The Guild at Bar Loose. the energy, the feeling, the love i feel for this underrated swedish folk rock group, you can't measure it. plus you know, the vocalist, Sylvester Schlegel, better known as the drummer from The Ark, he is brilliant!

What songs did you have on repeat?

• My Life Would Suck Without You by Kelly Clarkson
• Hela Livet Var Ett Disco by Markus Krunegård
• Hurricane by Bob Dylan
• Haven't Met You Yet by Michael Bublé
• I Do Not Hook Up by Kelly Clarkson
• You Belong With Me by Taylor Swift
• Take A Bow by Rihanna
• Beatbox by The Sounds
• Laughing With by Regina Spektor
• Star Wars Theme
• Let's Start A Band by Amy Mcdonald
• I Must Belong Somewhere by Bright Eyes
• Eye Of The Tiger by Survivor

Taylor Swift^

 

What was your best musical discovery this year?
Taylor Swift, why yes i'm serious. This country/pop singer is amazing! she's sweet, her voice is amazing and she makes her own music! i'm weak for country music, and young female artists who are not on tabloids all the time(or never!) cause of something stupid they did while they were drunk/high etc. also Regina Spektor, her new album Far is the best she has ever done. and The Smiths too! these aren't really new discoveries, just something i learned to like this year.

What 5 musicians/bands did you listen to the most?
last.fm says; Cat Power, Taylor Swift, Michael Bublé , Laakso, Bob Dylan.

What was the best CD you bought?
i bought Bob Dylan's Dylan Deluxe Edition Box Set. it was used and cheap, but still, best cd i bought this year.

Regina Spektor^

 
Did you buy any music DVDs this year?

no, but for Christmas i got Queen + Paul Rogers Live in Ukraine. i'm not really that into the whole Queen thing after Mr. Mercury, but i think it was sweet mom even knew to buy this for me, plus i'm curious about it too. is it really as bad as i think.

What are the best lyrics you heard this year?
Laughing With by Regina Spektor. they're touching, beautiful and makes you think. "no one laughs at God when the doctor calls after some routine tests. no one’s laughing at God when it’s gotten real late and their kid’s not back from the party yet."

Did you stop liking any musicians/bands?
not too sure if it happened this year, but i'm really not that into Placebo anymore, nor My Chemical Romance. they still have some great songs, i just really don't listen to them anymore. also Mew's new album was a huge disappointment.

Lady Gaga^

Did you learn an instrument this year? If so, did you play any gigs?
no, when it comes to music, i'm only talented as an audience.

What band did you hate this year?
Lady Gaga, absolutely! to me, she is not unique at all! she is a very well thought business idea, a product. with quirky costumes and weird performances, but very mainstream music. Poker Face is the worst song i've heard in years!

Did you have a musical guilty pleasure this year?
well, someone could say Taylor Swift, but it's actually more than that.

What was the worst song of the year?

Lady Gaga's Poker Face.

Kanye West & Taylor Swift at VMA

What was the coolest music video you saw this year?

does tv-show stuff count?! well i have to say, guys of Glee performing It's My Life/Confessions pt. II smash-up was amazing!

Did you watch Idol/the arias/grammys/mtv awards?
well no, but cause of the whole Kanye West/Taylor Swift incident i watched ridiculous amounts of VMA videoclips! i really felt for Taylor, she is so sweet and Beyoncé was amazing too for asking Taylor back to the stage, and she got to thank her fans. after all this was a first time for a country artist to win at VMA.

What was the worst musical comeback of the past year?

what comebacks even happened this year? idk.

What was the best musical comeback of the year?
does Rihanna count? i've never really been a fan of her music, until recently i fell in love with Take a Bow. and now i really like the new album too. why it was a best comeback, is cause how strong she came back after what Chris Brown did to her.

 Markus Krunegård^

Who were your favourite female vocalists?
Cat Power, Taylor Swift, Kelly Clarkson, Regina Spektor, Emmylou Harris, Maja Ivarsson(The Sounds),
 
Who were your favourite male vocalists?
Markus Krunegård, Michael Bublé, Ola Salo(The Ark), Bob Dylan, Conor Oberst(Bright Eyes)

What radio station did you listen to most?
Radio Nova, i really don't listen to radio, but this is the one i usually listen when i'm driving, which happens like every other month.

What was the biggest band you saw this year?
Antony & The Johnsons, almost forgot that one! amazing gig.

If you have one, how often did you listen your iPod/mp3 player this year?
well i have mp3 player in my phone. got it last August, and after that i've been listening to it almost every day. mostly while on my way somewhere.

What was your favourite soundtrack to a film this year?
Star Trek and Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist

Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist^

What was your favourite music themed film you saw this year?

well, Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist. i saw it this summer and now it's absolutely one of my favorite movies of all time.

What was the best local band you heard/saw this year?
well, i consider every band from Finland, local, so i'd say Tehosekoitin. specially cause it was an exlusive summer tour only, the band split up in 2004.

Did you meet any famous musicians?
Sylvester Schlegel!

Did you put up any music posters around your room/house?

framed some magazine pages of Cat Power and Bob Dylan.

Totalled, how much do you think you spent on music this year (cds, merch, tickets, etc)?
very little comparing to some other years. i'd say around 200€.

What type of music did you find yourself listening to most this year?
folk & country, as always. then some rock, pop and especially female vocalists.

 

Cat Power^

Best song to be happy to you listened to this year?
Dance Anthem Of The 80's by Regina Spektor. it just makes me wanna dance. and i like the lyrics too; "and i  am one of your people but the cars don't stop. and i am one of your people but the cars don't stop. and it's been a long time since before i've been touched, now i'm getting touched all the time. and it's only a matter of whom and it's only a matter of when."

Best song to be sad to you listened to this year?
The Scientist cover by Danny Lohner and Johnette Napolitano, made for Wicker Park soundtrack.

Band/singer with the best style this year?
Cat Power, always and forever. i love how she can be all trashy, lady, rock star & a country girl at the same. she mostly seems to wear casual shirts, plaid shirts, jeans and some really cool shoes. i love her hair. i just adore her style. plus she has done some modeling for Chanel too, i'm not the only one who adores her style!

What shows are you looking forward to in the new year?
well, there's gonna be a new The Ark album, and a massive tour, so it's gonna be all The Ark next year, probably not much of nothing else. but if someone very special comes here(other than those delicious swedish guys) i'm not gonna say no, nor think money, just go see all the great bands/artist that end up coming here.

Did you buy any band merchandise this year?
i bought The Sounds t-shirt.

Did you pirate any music this year?
never! okay a bit, but thanks to Spotify, i hardly ever do that anymore.

The Ark^

Did you miss out on going to any really good concerts this year?
well if i was rich, i so would have flown to London to see Blur at Hyde Park.

What was the last gig you went to?
The Sounds at Kaapelitehdas.

How many songs are on your computer/itunes?
maybe 2000, not that much anymore, thanks to spotify.

What are you listening to now?
Calleth You, Cometh I by The Ark