L is for Lyrics


My favorite kind of music is the heartfelt, well-written kind. You already know I love words, so it's only natural for me to love words in music as well. I have mentioned how I used to want to be a songwriter. Today, I figured I'd share a few of the people that inspired that dream.

Kristyn Osborn
is the songwriting member of the country-pop trio, SHeDAISY. Her lyrics are gorgeous, clever and mesmerizing. I've learned many new words just by listening to her songs. In fact, lead singer Kassidy said that their album Knock on the Sky should have come with a dictionary. A few favorite lines:
Keep Me: The travesty's the irony and the irony is you. I've traded in my sanctity for a cheaper shade of blue
I Wish I Were the Rain: Love's a series of broken sentences
Miscalculations, reconciliations
Seductive highs, destructive lows
Words that fly too fast
Feet that move too slow
Wish I could dance outside this windowpane
Oh, I wish I were the rain
In Terms of Love:
I don't think about black in terms of gray
Or revelations in the light of day
I don't think about cold in terms of ice
Or second chances happenin' twice

I could go on and on with her lyrics but I'll stop there and move on. How gorgeous are they, though?

Next up is Diane Warren. You may have heard tons of her songs and not even realize it. She's written from everyone from Aerosmith (I Don't Wanna Miss a Thing) to LeAnn Rimes (How Do I Live, Can't Fight the Moonlight) to Christina Aguilera (I Turn to You). She's just incredible.

Jewel is a unique writer. The way she words things never ceases to impress me. A few favorites:
Break Me: I will let you undress me, but I warn you, I have thorns like any rose.
Love Me, Just Leave Me Alone: I tried to forget you
but you tied bells to your name
They jingled every time i thought of you
without shame
I tried to be unlovable
Why couldn't you do the same?

Jason Mraz...ahh, I love Mr. A-Z. He's so darn clever and amusing yet raw and real and beautiful. Sometimes I just close my eyes and savor his lyrics:
Beautiful Mess: Well it kind of hurts when the kind of words you write
Kind of turn themselves into knives
And don't mind my nerve you could call it fiction
But I like being submerged in your contradictions, dear
Life Is Wonderful: And it takes no time to fall in love
But it takes you years to know what love is
1000 Things: Well I've seen a thousand things in one place
But I stopped my counting when I saw your face
That'll Do (Caution, there's swearing in this one): In the arms of a city that holds no trace for,
the face or,space for you and me.
So go make your life,not a living
And: We should all keep pretending, that our dreams are patent-pending

So there you have it. Just a few of my favorites. So, how about you? Do you have a favorite songwriter? How about a favorite song? What did you think of my favorites?

Monday Mixtape - So...Very...Random

Ahh, Monday. How did you get here so fast? Am I the only one who can't believe it's already February? Where does the time go?

Did everyone watch the Superbowl yesterday? I have to admit, it was on but I definitely wasn't watching it. Guess what I was doing instead? No, not writing (bad Meika). I was playing with my brand spanking new iPhone!

*cue girlish squeals and hand clapping*

I've lusted after the iPhone for soooo long. And then Dana got one a few months ago, which only made me want it more. Well, yesterday I finally got one. And I'm super excited and slightly obsessed. Now, if only I could figure out how to blog from the thing, we'd be all set...

Anyway, today's Mixtape is full of randomness. It's just the kind of mood I'm in.

Do any of you watch Glee? I have no problem admitting that I'm a big ole Gleek. In fact, I couldn't wait for the Superbowl to get over last night so I could watch it. Anyway, Gwyneth Paltrow just did a guest appearance on the show a couple months ago, and she sang this:

How great is she?

I feel like I should apologize in advance for this next video. My mythology professor had us watch this in class last week (I'm like 90% sure it has nothing to do with Mythology, but...eh, I was amused). Prepare yourselves for some creepy, scaly manfish:

(I'm so ashamed...)

Hmm...what can I do to make up for that lost minute and a half of your lives? How about some Jason Mraz? I love the simplicity of this song. It's just...ahh.

Favorite line: "And it takes no time to fall in love/But it takes you years to know what love is."

I really, truly, sincerely hope you forgive me for sharing Old Gregg...it's been stuck in my head for days!

Anyway, have a great Monday. I'm off to play with my new toy...and maybe finish chapter 18...

Monday Mixtape - NaNo Edition, Week 3

Ahh, Monday. It's nice to see you again...not.

I'm flailing in the somewhat shallow waters of my wordcount at the moment, as you can no doubt see on the handy dandy widget to the right. I've made the mistake repeatedly of trying to write at night. I am no longer a night person. I used to be, but then my work shifts changed and now I'm up and functioning no later than 7am. So by the time 11pm rolls around, I'm ready to crash. I was up the other night till 2am trying to write. Kept falling asleep as I was typing. Started typing things that made no sense. Oh, it wasn't nearly as bad as last year, when I typed something about my main character drinking "two sips of vodka" -- while she was pregnant. But I'm sure it does no good for my writing to type half-asleep.

So, I'm up early this morning to try and catch up on my words. Wish me luck!

Real quick, here's Monday's Mixtape:

Tierney's love for hair bands + a disastrous and dysfunctional love life = Def Leppard's Love Bites:


This song is so heartbreaking and captures a low point in Tierney's story perfectly:


And last up, the incredible Rachel Williams with a song I'm sure everyone can relate to (plus, she bears an uncanny resemblance to what I picture Tierney to look like):


Okay, I've gotta get busy writing. Happy Monday, everyone!

Monday Mixtape

Music is my drug of choice. I'm sure I've said that before. A good song fills me up just as well, if not better, than a gourmet, five-course meal. There's always a song in my head and I feel lost when I can't listen to music. Above anything, I adore a strong, beautiful, unique lyric. I've been listening to music all morning and thought I'd share a few songs with you guys. These are my favorites at the moment. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do! And maybe they'll make your Monday a little less dreadful!

This one has been one of my favorite songs for years. I love the lyrics. Kristyn Osborn is a wizard with words. My vocabulary has been expanded from the years of listening to her songs.


Again, I'm addicted to Sara Bareilles's new cd. This song makes my heart ache.


Ahh, Jason Mraz. My heart belongs to this man. Not only is he a master of words, his voice is so amazing. And this song just tugs at my heartstrings and makes me smile.


I've got just under thirty minutes before work. Maybe I'll listen to these songs one more time and squeeze a little writing in. Happy Monday, everyone!