You read that correctly, Iʼm hosting another game here on Movies Meet Their Match. This one differs from all of the others that Iʼve had because there is a prize. What exactly are you winning? Weʼll get to that in due time, but first I should explain the competition with a little history.
My younger sister Fiona and I love to make up games and challenges for each other, and in November we came up with a really fun one. We challenged ourselves to try to draw a celebrity and see if the other person could guess who it was. Naturally, we had to make it harder than that and therefore set a time limit. We had such a blast, that we now want to share the merriment with you all. This is game is to make you guess who we drew!
Sound fun? I hope it is! Letʼs see how this will work:
Notes and Rules:
- These all are drawings of actors or singers. I will tell you if it is a singer and/or actor and with the actors I will say if he or she is know for older films or if he or she is more contemporary. To clarify, when I say “older films” I mean the 30s-70s. "Contemporary" means anywhere from the 80s-the present. Note, sometimes one of these people might be known from both times, but Iʼll put the time that he or she was the most popular.
- I am just sticking to calling these people either actors or singers, but please note that they might to other things as well. I just donʼt want to give away too much.
- Remember that we drew these very quickly, the standard being about 6 minutes. Some differed, so I will tell you the exact time for each. That being said, some of these are really hilarious because of how bad they are. I especially had a bad habit of not finishing and neglecting to give people eyes, jaws, pupils, and the like. Sorry about that, as it makes it extra difficult.
- If the picture isnʼt the greatest, then we mean no disrespect to the person it is based on, we were just having fun!
- Sorry that some of the photos aren't the best quality. Fiona edited them, but some were a little stubborn.
- Please guess whatever comes into your mind! Donʼt be afraid that you might guess the wrong person, so even if you donʼt know, give it a try! When showing the pictures to members of our family, some of them guessed people who looked more like them, so I will highlight those when I reveal the answers. You might get featured as well if we decide that your guess is awesome!
- Comment below with your guesses and include the corresponding numbers. Donʼt worry, I have the comments on moderation so no one will steal your guesses.
- I will reveal the answers on December 19th, 10:00 PM EST, so get your guesses in before then.
Other than that there arenʼt really many rules, as it is nearly impossible to cheat in anyway. We hope that you enjoy yourselves!
Now, about the part that you are all waiting for with bated breath, what is the prize?
The winner gets to pick another famous actor or actress for my sister and I to draw in 6 minutes! I will feature our drawings here on my blog in January.
I think that covers it! Good luck guessing the following:
1.
(1) Art by Fiona.
Modern Actor. Time to draw: approx. 20 minutes.
(The story behind this one is that Fiona drew part of it in 6 minutes, but then she liked it so much that she finished it later)
This next one is weird, because out of random choice we both unknowingly drew the same person!
2.
(2) Art by MC.
(I know, itʼs so terrible. Note to self, donʼt attempt to draw teeth when Iʼm short on time.)
(2) Art by Fiona.
Modern Actress. Time to draw: 7 minutes.
3.
(3) Art by Fiona.
Modern Actress. Time to draw: 7 minutes.
4.
(4) Art by MC.
Older Actor/Singer (hence the musical note). Time to draw: 7 minutes.
5.
(5) Art by Fiona.
Modern Actor. Time to draw: 8 minutes.
6.
(6) Art by MC.
Modern Actress. Time to draw: 8 minutes.
7.
(7) Art by Fiona.
Older Actress. Time to draw: 6 minutes.
8.
(8) Art by MC.
Modern Actor. Time to draw: 6 minutes.
(Yeah, we all know that it's pretty bad.)
9.
(9) Art by Fiona.
Modern Actor/Singer. Time to draw: 6 minutes.
10.
(10) Art by MC.
Older and Modern Actress (sheʼs so well-known in both that if I donʼt tell you one Iʼm not giving you enough information.) Time to draw: 6 minutes.
11.
(11) Art by Fiona.
Modern female Singer. Time to draw: 6 minutes.
12.
(12) Art by MC.
Modern Actor. Time to draw: 6 minutes.
13.
(13) Art by Fiona.
Older Actor. Time to draw: 6 minutes.
14.
(14) Art by MC.
Modern Actress. Time to draw: 7 minutes.
15.
(15) Art by Fiona.
Older Actor. Time to draw: 6 minutes.
16.
(16) Art by MC.
Older Actress. Time to draw: 6 minutes.
17.
(17) Art by Fiona.
Modern Actress. Time to draw: 6 minutes.
18.
(18) Art by MC.
Modern Actor. Time to draw: 6 minutes.
(Trust me, #17 and #18 look nothing like the people who they are supposed to, so guess anyone!)
19.
(19) Art by Fiona.
Modern Actor. Time to draw: 6 minutes.
20.
(20) Art by MC.
Modern Actress. Time to draw: 6 minutes.
(This is by far my worst one.)
21.
(21) Art by Fiona.
Modern Singer and sometimes Actress. Time to draw: 6 minutes.
22.
(2) Art by MC.
Older Actor. Time to draw: 6 minutes.
How my sister and I feel right now:
Now it's up to you guys! Guess away! I'll see you on the 19th.
ʻTis that time of the year. The time when Christmas movies abound and we all must talk about them! Iʼm starting now as well, with a movie that begins on Christmas. I didnʼt quite realize that and watched it in July which is just wrong (my sister argues that Christmas in July is perfectly acceptable). This is a cute and enjoyable film and I hope that reading this review makes you feel the same way!
My guarantee: On ALL of my reviews there are NO spoilers unless I give you warning. This is spoiler free!
Beyond Tomorrow (1940):
(Also known as And So Goodbye or Beyond Christmas)
ʻ“We donʼt rest and take time to spend with out old friends.”
“Not many of our old friends are left.”
“Well maybe we need some new ones.”ʼ
(Paraphrase)
Three elderly gentlemen are lonely on Christmas Eve and want some company to cheer themselves up. They decide to seek companions by throwing their wallets out the window and inviting whoever returns them to have dinner and fun with them. It brings in a young man and a young lady, and the gentlemen are overjoyed by having them. They continue to get to know them for weeks to come as Jean and James start to fall for each other. But then James begins to be recognized for his singing and what will he do to advance his career? How much ambition is too much?
Genre: Drama, Romance, Fantasy.
Length: approx. 84 minutes.
Script: 10, no bad words.
“Ah, youʼre always looking at the bleak side of things.”
Crew: Directed by: A. Edward Sutherland. Written by: Adele Comandini & Mildred Cram.
Starring:
Charles Winninger as Michael O'Brien.
Harry Carey as George Melton.
C. Aubrey Smith as Allan Chadwick.
Jean Parker as Jean Lawrence.
Richard Carlson as James Houston.
Maria Ouspenskaya as Madam Tanya.
Helen Vinson as Arlene Terry.
Alex Melesh as Josef.
Rod La Rocque as Phil Hubert.
J. Anthony Hughes as Officer Johnson.
Robert Homans as Sergeant.
Virginia Mc Mullen as Secretary.
James Bush as Jace Taylor.
William Bakewell as David Chadwick.
Costumes: 8, nothing indecent just fully regular.
Cinematography: 8, I canʼt say why because of spoilers, but there is an element in here that I think they did really well! Especially considering the technology of the era. Cinematography by: Lester White.
Music: 7, there was fine singing, and the score was good to convey the feelings moment to moment, but rather forgettable.
Music by: Frank Tours.
“The world needs music just as much as buildings and bridges.”
Quotability: 6, nope, havenʼt quoted this since then, but looking back on my notes there were some good lines.
Content: 9, there is death and killing, and talk about it. It has some ideas about afterlife and ghosts as well. In addition to that there is some drinking, and mentions of divorce. It being a Code film it is handled very well.
Originality: 10, I donʼt know what it is, but something about it is so original. I canʼt recall seeing it before!
Good For: People looking for Christmas, anyone.
Age Range: This is perfectly acceptable for all ages! Iʼm sure that young and old alike will enjoy it.
Overall Score: 8.5!
Worth watching?: Yes! My sister had wanted to see this for ages after knowing the premise and Iʼm very glad that we finally took the time to do so. It was so sweet! I know some people find the story to be a little bland, but I thought that it had a right mix of simpleness and good messages. It made me teary a few times. Sure, there were some parts that were a little awkward and cringy (“Thatʼs how you feel about all romance, MC!” my sister yells from the end of the house. Eh, maybe sheʼs right), but overall it was so worth it. I especially appreciated the element of Saint Anthony that they used.
Will I watch again?: Yeah, I think I will. It might be a biyearly if not annual film to add to my list of Christmas movies.
For the blogathon:
This is my entry in Pure Entertainment Preservation Societyʼs 2nd Happy Holidays Blogathon! I was too busy when they hosted this last year to join, so after I thought of my topic I was sure to sign up!
This fits the requirements as it opens on Christmas Eve. Look at those lovely lights!
I really liked the differences between our three gents, Michael, George, and Allen. They had distinct personalities that really helped move the story forward. My favorite is probably Allen, even though I feel like he has the smallest part of all of them.
Jean and James were jolly! We were all laughing at how Jamesʼ thick southern accent went away immediately when he sang, but I really liked their interactions together.
Even though this movie is in black and white, Iʼm putting this color one here because itʼs cute.
And we canʼt forget about Madam Tanya! Her story was melancholy, but brought in some nice elements. All in all, Iʼm extremely pleased with this film!
Thanks to the Brannan girls for hosting this event! Check out all of the other fun entries HERE.
Thanks for reading! What are some of your favorite Christmas movies? Any guesses to mine? Happy holidays!
Iʼm reviewing a movie today that I recommend for all people to watch. Why? Donʼt worry, Iʼll give you the reasons soon enough.
Plus, you'll be hearing thoughts from someone who has never been on this blog before, even though I mention her a lot...
The downside of this movie is that you can only watch it on Disney+. I know what youʼre all thinking, “MC, you finally got it!?” No, my sister got it and Iʼve been enjoying watching it with her. Iʼm not being paid to say this, but I think it is worth it to get it to watch this film. The reasons why? Read on.
My guarantee: On ALL of my reviews there are NO spoilers unless I give you warning. This is spoiler free!
Clouds (2020):
Based on: The true story of Zach Sobiech, and the book Fly a Little Higher, How God Answered a Momʼs Small Prayer in a Big Way - by Laura Sobiech.
A boy in high school who is fighting with cancer learns that he only has so long to live and decides to make the most of it. The movie follows him and his family through it as they deal with the struggles, and all the while Zach fights the sadness that hits him as he just wants to make others laugh. He starts writing songs with his best friend and begins to hang out with the girl he has a crush on. How can he encourage others to live their lives when his is slipping away from him?
Genre: Biography, Drama.
Length: approx. 121 minutes.
Script: 8, this is rated PG-13 for “brief strong language”, but I actually didnʼt notice it. Yikes, now Iʼm afraid that Iʼm becoming too used to it.
Crew: Directed by: Justin Baldoni. Written by: Kara Holden, Casey La Scala, Patrick Kopka, Kara Holden, & Laura Sobiech.
Starring:
Fin Argus as Zach Sobiech.
Sabrina Carpenter as Sammy Brown.
Neve Campbell as Laura Sobiech.
Madison Iseman as Amy Adamle.
Tom Everett Scott as Rob Sobiech.
Lil Rel Howery as Mr. Weaver.
Summer H. Howell as Grace.
Vivien Endicott-Douglas as Alli.
Dylan Everett as Sam.
Tyrone Benskin as Doctor.
Benjamin Roy as Eli.
Aida Yirga as Tessa.
Morgana Mogent as Janie.
Mitchell Kluesner as Mitch.
Jason Mraz as himself.
There are many cameos of actually people that the characters are based on.
Costumes: 8, just standard, but there is a scene when someone isnʼt wearing a shirt.
Cinematography: 9, you know how there are those movies that as you watch it you think, “Wow, this is spectacular!”? Then there are the ones that you watch and think, “That is painfully bad”? Then you have ones that you donʼt remember because it was nothing special? This is none of the above, but rather one of those that gets you in the mood and gently puts you in every single scene without you even noticing. Pretty cool.
Cinematography by: Ben Kutchins.
Music: 10, all of these songs are so incredible and inspiring. The title of the movie is after the song “Clouds”, and it is so fitting and beautifully tied in. Now, for contentʼs sake I will mention that there is a suggestive song, but itʼs supposed to be funny and the performance is so ridiculous and cringe worthy that you canʼt help laughing and doesnʼt do any harm. Listening to it again you think, “Wow, thatʼs really bad.”, but then you just continue with the movie.
Music by: Songs written by Zach Sobiech and Sammy Brown.
Quotability: N/A, as I watched it recently, but one line about painting masterpieces has really stuck with me. I didnʼt take my signature notes while watching it, so I canʼt tell you any exact lines.
Oscars won: N/A.
Content: 7. This movie involves a disease and the treatment of it, and while there are some details including throwing up and looking at scars, it focuses more on the mental side and doesnʼt show anything that would make anyone too queasy. There are one or two suggestive comments, and some kissing where it looks like itʼs going to get bad for a minute, but I promise that nothing happens. Also, the above song that I mentioned.
It also had a part where they are talking about Christian religion, and there are a few joking comments, but later there are some beautiful parts as well and I almost wish that they had expanded on that.
Originality: 10, I always give this score to true stories because it is real life. Especially in this movie everything was so creative and you constantly felt like you were seeing something new.
Good For: Anyone who has gone through cancer or has known someone who has, anyone who loves music, everyone.
Age Range: I mentioned that it was rated PG-13 for language, and I would agree with that but for some kissing. It depends on the person, and this is an important movie to watch, but it might just be too much for little kids.
Overall Score: 9!
Worth watching?: Oh my word, yes. This film was so powerful and inspiring. I am sure that I will never forget about it and the messages that it carries. I would expand more, but really, all of this review is me talking about how worthy it is of watching so Iʼll keep it short here.
Will I watch again?: Yes, and I actually plan to very soon! My little sister and I want to watch it with our older sister now and plenty of times after that.
Bonus thoughts:
I never know where to start telling people about how good movies are. This movie made me want to just know so much more about all of these real people. Like, apparently Sammy Brown was an Irish dancer! I now want to read Laura Sobiechʼs book that she wrote that this is based on.
In my mind I automatically start comparing this film to the movie Midnight Sun (2018) because their storylines are very similar. Personally, I think this one is better. First of all, it is a true story. Now, Iʼm not downing fictional stories at all, in fact I usually prefer to write them. Like in the book The Penderwicks on Gardam Street, one of the girls Jane Penderwick, has to write an essay about a famous woman, and she writes about one of the characters in her book. Thatʼs me. I always prefer to make something up and just write whatever comes into my mind to doing research about someone actually alive.
And just because cancer is a more well known disease than xeroderma pigmentosum doesnʼt make the other one less important or the people less worthy of care. But reading about the disease, Iʼve come to the conclusion that they “ramped it up” for the movie to make it more dramatic. Having the sun hit your skin for five seconds is not going to harm you that much, but five minutes could cause you to burn. Now, Iʼm not an expert, but you get my point.
Another thing is that in Midnight Sun (2018) you can tell that the filmmakers really wanted to make you cry. Which was very annoying that I fell for it. In here, Zach says that he doesnʼt want to be a “sob story”, and it actually just shows you the struggles of being terminal without trying to make you cry. It is painful, but in a natural and not forced way. These filmmakers didnʼt say, “Cry! You have to! If you donʼt youʼre a heartless human being!”
Instead they showed you good and bad and let you process your emotions how you wished.
Enough about comparisons! Thatʼs not what weʼre doing here! I want to just talk about how amazing Clouds is.
There is one element that I want to scream about for ages: The subtly.
I mentioned in the music section about how fantastic the songs, and how it features the songs that Zach Sobiech and Sammy Brown wrote, which are heartbreakingly gorgeous. In addition to that, the background music and score are phenomenal. One of the reasons is that it is so subtle. I can be a little dense sometimes and donʼt get subtle things, as I need the facts to be yelled at me. In here, though, they had a magical balance. They use to music to tell you what is happening.
In one spot in particular, you can hear the opening of a song being played while characters are talking, and I lost it. I was bawling so much that my sister had to pause the movie until I got it under control. She said, “This is a happy part! Why are you crying?”
Because the music had just told me so much.
Later, in a sad part, my sister was shocked when she was crying but I wasnʼt. I didnʼt need to, because I had already been told what was going to happen in that happy part. It is a joyous part in the movie, but they beautifully wove in the sadness along the edges and made it even more special.
My sister didnʼt know what the song was because she hadnʼt heard it before, but if you have heard it then I bet youʼll react like I did.
Another thing was the relationships between all of the characters contained that same subtly. People would squeeze each others hands and throw jokes around and other little actions so we didnʼt need to be told how they felt about each other, because we could SEE it. In one place that Iʼm thinking of the characters did talk about their feelings, but that was important because even though we could already see it, one of the characters couldnʼt. It was a really sweet moment.
One relationship did depend on it a little too much, I thought, but thatʼs just me.
Ah, and the little girl! Anytime in any movie their is a scene with a little kid, it utterly breaks me. This little girl was so adorable and sweet and amazing. This was before the moment that really destroyed me, so it helped contribute to it.
After all my talk, what does this movie mean to me? It showed me that life is beautiful even through the ugly parts. It seems like a simple sentiment, but it really affected me, and I hope that anyone who watches this is impacted as deeply as I was.
I watched this with my younger sister, FionaCateCreates so she is going to tell you her thoughts, too! She will be typing in italics. Take it away!
Hello! I am Fiona, MC's younger sister. These are my thoughts on the movie "Clouds":
This movie is a really inspiring and motivational movie. I would also recommend it to anyone. This movie reminds you of how truly special, what a gift, life is. Every moment matters, every day, every minute. Make the most of it. The only thing you need to hear to be convinced to watch it is a quote from Zach Sobiech "You don't have to find out you're dying to start living.".
When we hear true stories of people doing amazing things, they inspire us. They kick us back into full gear, wake us up from our state of putting only minimal effort into the things we do. For me, through this pandemic I have changed because I have always been a very motivated and productive person. I have always had big dreams and goals. But I lost my motivation back in March. I felt like all my dreams would never come true. But unlike Zach Sobiech, I decided to give up on everything and I didn't care about my hopes and dreams anymore. I became a different person, but the truth is we can't always be motivated. We get burned out. But I watched this movie back in October, and I feel like it lit a new fire in me. He was diagnosed as terminal, with only minimal time left to live, but he pushed through all the way, to make the most of it.
"You don't need to find out you're dying to start living" hit me. Even though I can't do much right now, this is a world of technology and we're growing everyday, I can do quite a lot. Even though things are going to be different, doesn't mean we should just give up on everything. We can make the most of what it is, do our best to make the most of everyday. So, I encourage you to watch this movie if you feel dead inside, lacking motivation, or hope. Especially now, during the holidays we can use this, but also anytime and every time of our lives.
Thanks, Fiona!
And thank you for reading! I want all of you to go watch this so we can talk! If you've seen this, please tell me all of your thoughts and which song is your favorite. Are there stories that feel like are just trying to make you cry and others where it comes naturally? Enjoy!
I’m not going to ask how we are in December already because I know that none of you have an answer. Instead, I’m going to ask, how is it possible that this is the 400th post on Movies Meet Their Match?
It is all thanks to you guys for reading! I love getting your comments and being able to encourage you guys to watch movies and read books that I enjoy.
For My 100th Post I said my top 100 favorite movies, for My 200th Post I listed all of the movies that I had seen in the theater, and in My 300th Post I talked about my favorite movie scores. To celebrate today I’m doing something totally different and out of my comfort zone. Usually I ONLY talk about books or movies on this blog, but I’m going to break that rule today by talking about music.
Why am I doing such a thing? To me, while 2020 has been hard, it hasn't been useless. The best thing that happened to me this year is that I discovered my new favorite music artist.
Twenty One Pilots.
I'm going to be telling you what listening to Twenty One Pilots music has meant to me.
Disclaimer: There is a lot of talk when it comes to Twenty One Pilots about whether or not you are a "real fan". I don’t fall for any of that. I myself have been accused of not being a real fan because I didn’t know details about some tiny thing. Does that matter? Nope. People have shade thrown on them for not hearing every single song and not understanding all of their meanings. Whether you like one of their songs or twenty one, it doesn't make you less of a human. I haven’t listened to all of their songs yet, but it doesn’t matter to me if other people have or not! Because it's one of my favorite things I want to share it with other people, but if they aren’t as enthusiastic as me, that’s fine. Both of my sisters are neutral when it comes to Twenty One Pilots, but they are open to me playing a new song of theirs that I’ve discovered, even if they won’t like it.
Also, the awesome thing with all songs is that they are open for interpretation. What I get out of them might not be what you get out of them. I know this for certain as when I showed the song “House of Gold” to my mom, she got a slightly different meaning than me, but we both have our ways of enjoying it.
So, don’t be pressured into being a “fan” of anything! All of us are unique and have different likes and dislikes. If there is something that you truly enjoy, then you can share it with others, but if they don’t like it, don’t make them feel bad or that they are “wrong”.
That’s out of the way, so let’s get into my history with Twenty One Pilots!
Back in April of 2019 I heard my first Twenty One Pilots song. I didn’t pay it too much attention, but I would listen to it from time to time (I’m being vague, but I’ll talk about it more in a minute).
In March 2020 I started listening to a lot of music. I don’t know why, but I had never listened to much music. It was a “in the car” thing or a once a week thing, but in early March I started listening to music daily. And I found a Twenty One Pilots song. I listened to it because I remembered that it was the same group that wrote the first one, and I loved it. From there I listened to more and more before I came really attached.
For those of you who don’t know, you might be wondering, “What is Twenty One Pilots?” (Sometimes abbreviated as TOP).
They are a duo from Ohio who blend several genres, including (but not limited to): Pop, rock, hip-hop, and reggae.
All of their songs are clean (if there is anything that might bother someone, I marked it in this list, but that’s just me being SUPER picky). The songs deal with a lot of dark things, but I think that they handle it really well. My younger sister likes their music, but just has to be in the right mood. Me, I’m always in that mood. Their beats are so awesome for all ages, but the lyrics depend on each person’s comfort zone.
My personal thoughts about their music:
Their music is so fantastic, creative, and unique. I’ve never heard anything like it. I really like Lane Boy (from Blurryface) and feel that it represents their music the best. Because of that I’m going to put most of the lyrics here to analyze, so you might want to listen to it here first.:
“They say, "Stay in your lane, boy, lane, boy"
But we go where we want to
They think this thing is a highway, highway
But will they be alive tomorrow?
They think this thing is a highway
If it was our way, we'd have a tempo change every other time change
'Cause our mind's changed on what we think is good
I wasn't raised in the hood
But I know a thing or two about pain an' darkness
If it wasn't for this music I don't know how I would have fought this”
The song speaks so well for itself that there isn’t too much for me to say. But, those lyrics that I put in bold talk about how music is so therapeutic. I’ve discovered that especially this year as I’ve felt that music has helped me more than I can explain.
“Regardless, all these songs I'm hearin' are so heartless
Don't trust a perfect person an' don't trust a song that's flawless, honest
There's a few songs on this record that feel common
I'm in constant confrontation with what I want an' what is poppin'
In the industry, it seems to me that singles on the radio are currency
My creativity's only free when I'm playin' shows”
The rest of it addresses the pressure on song writers (or writers and artists of any kind!) to make things which the public will like, not what they genuinely feel like creating.
(This is also the perfect driving song. I sing it all the time when I’m driving, but usually in my head because there are other people in the car).
In addition to that, Ode to Sleep (from Vessel) expresses the fight that all of their songs are in battle with. Skimming quickly, their music can seem really depressing, but it is chock full of hope. It is all about fighting depression and showing people that they aren’t alone.
Content: It has the word “whore” in it.
When I first listened to this song I was like, “Wow, that is the weirdest that I’ve ever heard.” It mashes so many different parts of music and at first hearing, it can seem crazy. But, with some focus when listening to the lyrics I’ve decided that it’s really awesome. Let’s start at the beginning.
“I wake up fine and dandy, but then by the time I find it handy
To rip my heart apart and start planning my crash landing”
How many times do I wake up ready to go, but then just deteriorate as the day goes on? And what happens when it’s night? It can get worse.:
“I'll stay awake 'cause the dark's not taking prisoners tonight
Why am I not scared in the morning?
I don't hear those voices calling
I must have kicked them out, I must have kicked them out
I swear I heard demons yelling
Those crazy words they were spelling
They told me I was gone, they told me I was gone
But I tell 'em, "Why won't you let me go?
Do I threaten all your plans? I'm insignificant"
Please tell 'em, you have no plans for me I
will set my soul on fire, what have I become?
I'll tell 'em”
It can be hard to tell your personal nightmares and fears to go away, but you can do it. Kick them out! We can’t promise that they won’t return, but the effort is worth so much.
All in all, I’m about as terrible at analyzing songs as I am at analyzing everything else. They just speak so much for themselves, you know?
My favorites:
You’re not rid of me yet. I would love to talk about every TOP song that I’ve ever heard, but we would be here all day. Instead, I’m going to talk quickly (mark that down, everyone, and see if this does happen fast) about my top ten and list some favorite lyrics from each. Which was a punishment to myself by forcing me to pick only ten. I would love to talk about each individual album and why I love it, but I don’t think anyone is interested in that.
I’m sorry that some of this is scattered. This post is taking me ages to write because I’m listening to Twenty One Pilots while I write it and I keep stopping to sing along. I’m going to try to focus...
All lyrics found on Genius Lyrics to make sure that I was accurate. If you just want to listen to a playlist with all of the songs that I talk about in this post, here is one on Spotify.
10. Heathens (single) & Level of Concern (single)
And just when you thought that I was going to randomly start talking about music and leave books and movies to the wind, you were wrong. Haha! I found a way to connect this back in to my purely books and movies blog! This song, “Heathens” was in the movie Suicide Squad (2016). I have no interest in watching that movie, but I really like this song.
Why? This was the first Twenty One Pilots song that I ever heard. Yep, remember that story that we talked about? This was my introduction! (Thanks to Faith! *hugs*)
For ages I would play it just because it terrified my sisters. Being the middle child I have to maintain my mischievous status, you know. But, from time to time I would sing this song to myself and I connected with it.
“All my friends are heathens, take it slow
Wait for them to ask you who you know
Please don't make any sudden moves
You don't know the half of the abuse”
Sometimes I feel that I am a “heathen”, that there is something wrong with me because I’m not like normal people, and when people judge me they don’t know that I’m going through.
(And actually, when reading about this song I learned that a lot of people have this reaction.)
And I have “Level of Concern” tied at 10th place because it is their newest release and since I’m talking about how I’ve come to know them in 2020, it is required. My older sister hates this song, so my younger sister and I torture her with it as often as we can. A day or two after its release we sung it constantly to drive her crazy. It is a younger sister’s duty to annoy her older siblings.
This expresses this year so much. In addition to that has SUCH A BOP.
“'Cause I told you my level of concern
But you walked by like you never heard
And you could bring down my level of concern
Just need you to tell me we're alright, tell me we're okay”
‘Nuff said.
9. Fall Away (from Twenty One Pilots)
“I don’t wanna fall fall away.”
THIS ONE SOUNDS SO COOL. I love it. In addition to that it has some heartbreak and difficulties in it that are relatable to so many.
“I'm dying and I'm trying
But believe me, I'm fine, but I'm lying
I'm so very far from fine”
This one talks about how it's okay to not be fine. Sometimes we all feel like everything is going around, but we need to courage to not fall away.
This is a little different from some of their other songs, but it also reminds me of Goner (from Blurryface).
8. The Run and Go (from Vessel)
When I heard it for the first time, I loved it so much that I showed it to my sister. Guess what she said?
“Kind of boring.”
Oh well, we can’t all love everything. I think it’s simple, but awesome. It talks about connecting to people even when we’re not perfect. We don’t want to bother other people with our problems when they have their own. At the same time, we don’t want to be alone.
“Don't wanna call you in the nighttime
Don't wanna give you all my pieces
Don't wanna hand you all my trouble
Don't wanna give you all my demons
You'll have to watch me struggle
From several rooms away
But tonight, I'll need you to stay”
And the bridge? I just have to close my eyes and listen to it every time I hear it to take it all in.:
“Cold nights under siege from accusations
Cerebral thunder and one-way conversations”
It doesn’t look nearly as awesome, just spelled out, so you’ll have to listen to it. Please and thank you.
7. Oh Ms. Believer (from Twenty One Pilots)
There is something that is hauntingly gorgeous about this one. I love it, and not just because it talks about snow, which is my favorite thing. The melody is beautiful in a mysterious way.
“I will tell you, I love you
But the muffs on your ears will cater your fears
My nose and feet are running as we start
To travel through snow, together we go
Together we go”
6. House of Gold (from Vessel)
This song is just so much fun! If you’ve never listened to any Twenty One Pilots I recommend starting here! The rhythm is upbeat and catchy, and never grows old. It talks about the beautiful relationship between a son and his mother.
“She asked me, "Son, when I grow old
Will you buy me a house of gold?
And when your father turns to stone
Will you take care of me?"
I will make you queen of everything you see
I'll put you on the map, I'll cure you of disease”
These next five are securely in place as my favorites and it’s unlikely that they are going to change as opposed to the five previous ones which could be changed at any time.
5. The Judge (from Blurryface)
Content: This does have the word h---, but in talking about the location and not just swearing for no reason.
Guys, I want to play the ukulele solely so I can play this song and belt it out at top volume. The opening makes me think so much.:
“When the leader of the bad guys sang
Something soft and soaked in pain
I heard the echo from his secret hideaway
He must've forgot to close his door
As he cranked out those dismal chords
And his four walls declared him insane”
It really gives you some perspective, doesn’t it? This part hits home for me:
“But I'm not good with directions and I hide behind my mouth
I'm a pro at imperfections and I'm best friends with my doubt
And now that my mind's out and now I hear it clear and loud
I'm thinking "Wow, I probably should've stayed inside my house."”
4. Not Today (from Blurryface)
I’ve come to love this one only in the last few months, but apparently I’ve obsessed over listening to it because according to Spotify it is my most listened to song of the year.
“Listen, I know
This one's a contradiction because of how happy it sounds
But the lyrics are so down
It's okay though
Because it represents, wait, better yet it is
Who I feel I am right now”
The message of this song that I see is that we all have voices in our heads that hide in the shadows until everything is dark. Then we don’t realize that they are shadows--fakes. We can’t believe them and we have to kick them out. They won’t get to us, not today.
“Heard you say, "Not today"
Tore the curtains down, windows open, now make a sound
Heard your voice, "there's no choice"
Tore the curtains down, windows open, now make a noise”
It wasn’t until I started writing this out that I realized that this one and “Ode to Sleep” go really well together.
3. Migraine (from Vessel)
“Am I the only one I know?
Waging my wars behind my face and above my throat
Shadows will scream that I’m alone
But I know we’ve made it this far, kid.”
This song is deep. And hard. It mentions suicide a lot. Which freaks people out a lot when I say that this is my favorite because:
“You know, I’ve always been collected calm, and chill”
(Wrong song! Seriously though, I love “Smithereens” (from Trench) so much)
Because I’m such a happy person. I admit, that is one of my goals in life, to be happy and an optimist no matter the circumstances. Sometimes it is hard, and instead of caving into despair I listen to this song, channeling all of my negativity into it then keep going.
Can we also look at the wordplay in this song? It is fantastic on that level as well, and has the most complicated lyrics that I’ve ever heard in a song.
“I am not as fine as I seem, pardon.
Me for yelling, I'm telling you green gardens
Are not what's growing in my psyche, it's a different me
A difficult beast, feasting on burnt down trees”
Before all of you guys panic about my wellbeing I’m going to stop your fears. I’m absolutely fine, and I love life, and am so grateful for all of my life and family and opportunities that I receive. What I love about this song is that it fights depression and loneliness. My favorite part is the bridge; every time I listen to it I am filled with a burst of hope.:
“And I will say that we should take a day to break away
From all the pain our brain has made, the game is not played alone
And I will say that we should take a moment and hold it
And keep it frozen and know that life has a hopeful undertone”
Doesn’t that just set a spark into your soul? To keep fighting and live?
2. Ride (from Blurryface)
I’m so thankful for this song because it is the first one that I listened to in March 2020 and showed me that there were so many amazing Twenty One Pilots songs.
This TOP’s most famous song, and usually I fight against The Hype (boom, another reference), but there’s a reason this one is so good.
First of all, it just sounds AMAZING. I love it so much.
Second, I hardcore relate to it.
“I’m falling so I’m taking my time on my ride.”
So often I just try to be a cheery person and ignore anything that is pilling up. So, I’m usually drowning in work and behind on a million things, so I’m falling, but I’m causal about it and very much taking my time on the ride.
“I’ve been thinking too much, help me.”
Also, apparently I’m not the only one who thinks too much? Even though parts of it are repeating lyrics, they strike home.
And my top favorite is...
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Any guesses?
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Can I get a drum roll?
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1. Stressed Out (from Blurryface)
Where to start with what this song means to me? This is my vibe. If you ever wanted to know me, just listen to this song. That knowledge is scary, that anyone who listens to this fully sees me as who I am.
“Wish we could turn back time to the good old days
When our momma sang us to sleep, but now we're stressed out”
Especially this year I’ve been going through a lot of changes and a lot of stress. I tend to ignore it because then it’s not there, right? Well, anytime I felt that like I couldn’t handle it any more I would listen to this song.
And it made me feel so much better.
“We used to play pretend, give each other different names
We would build a rocket ship an' then we'd fly it far away
Used to dream of outer space, but now they're laughin' at our face
Sayin', "Wake up, you need to make money!," yeah”
As with all of these songs, this music just makes me feel like I’m not alone. If someone could put it all so perfectly into words, then I’m not the only one feeling this.
Albums ranked (‘cause why not?):
1. Blurryface (2015)
2. Vessel (2012)
3. Twenty One Pilots (2009)
4. Trench (2018)
(Those last two are only like that because I haven’t heard all of the songs.)
Thank you so much for reading and helping me make it to 400 posts! I would love to talk about Twenty One Pilots with any of you. Have you heard any of their songs? Which are your favorites? Do you like this kind of post or are you looking forward to when I get back to my usual stuff?
