Lana Del Rey "Lust For Life" review

I am finally posting after over a year in what you might call bloggers" hiatus" or perhaps a very extreme case of writers block lol! I can't tell you how good it feels to be writing again, now that I actually have something to talk about. Tonight I want to discuss one of my favorite singers, Lana Del Rey's newest album, "Lust For Life." First off, I must confess that at first glance, or rather "first listen", I didn't fancy her 5th studio masterpiece. It wasn't atall what I was expecting and I kinda felt disappointed by how much she had changed her sound and style. I knew ultimately she was just trying to experiment a bit more, so her fan base wouldn't become bored of the same melancholia material. But I wasn't too crazy about the sudden shift to rapping, or the collaborating with the Weekend.( Honestly now I think the rapping is a pretty rad twist and The Weekend is such a cool, dynamic duo with Lana:) )

Since July though, I've grown and matured a lot more and begun to relate much more to Lana's lyrics. After listening to the entire album in full about fifteen different times, I eventually grew to like it. this wasn't a forced thing, like I felt I had to still support her even if it wasn't genuine. I just realized I really enjoyed hearing a new sound and a bit more positive,upbeat lyrics, in stark contract to the dark undertones of Ultraviolence and Born To Die. It makes me so happy and encourages me that Lana came out of a very sad, lonely, and depressed state of mind, and has now found real peace and joy after so long.

 Inspite of her terrible experiences with drug, alcohol, abuse, and disappointing love life, she has managed to come out of the fire stronger, sweeter, and bolder than ever before. One of the songs that really strikes me is "change" . I am so transformed into a totally different world, of new beginnings, second chances, and a newly found golden hope. "Change is a powerful thing, people are powerful beings. I can feel change coming in me. Maybe by the time summer's done I'll be able to be honest, capable, of holding you in my arms without letting you fall when I don't feel beautiful or stable maybe it's enough to just be where we are." These lyrics are so powerful and inspiring!

Especially during this season of my life, I find such truth and gold in them. I am on a journey back to myself, God, and the world, to reconnection, love, and freedom. I too am striving to again be honest and capable and vulnerable with those I love, without fear of rejection or abandonment. It is not easy for me to do, but I am learning to let go of my fear and give in to the healing power of love and acceptance and forgiveness. i am learning to be gentle with myself, patient, and take it as slow and easy as I need to. I am learning to relax, surrender, give in, and accept outcomes that are no longer in my control, but in the control of the Universe. I pray and I hope that God has a much better plan than I can possibly imagine, and I anticipate the day I will understand why my life is how it is right now.

A couple other favorites of mine are "Thirteen Beaches" and "White Mustang"
These two songs particularly struck a chord with me, reminding me of a man I once loved and truth be told still do:) Lana discusses her struggle to get over a past lover, and her unwillingness to move on from something she thought would last forever. But eventually she comes to the realization that she could not change her boyfriend, that it was up to him to save himself and to seek help for his evil ways. She persisted in loving him unconditionally, regardless of his struggles/ shortcomings. But she eventually had to come to the point of self-esteem and leaving a relationship that was too one-sided, where she was no longer receiving any love/recognition. I identify with these two so much right now,in my extreme confusion, loneliness, and indecision. I want to move on and accept that some people are not meant to grace the walls of my heart/life forever, but part of me still longs to see them again, to regain the bond of love we had, if only for such a short, bittersweet time. How do I let go of someone I thought was my whole future? How do I let go of someone who give me a reason to live again, who challenged, encouraged, inspired, and drove me to reach higher and to love bravely and persistently? I do not have the answers yet, but I am searching, seeking, and in the meantime, enjoying these beautiful ballads. 

Finally, I adore "Lust For Life" and "Love", maybe more so than any on the album. I believe this is primarily because I am unused to Lana belting out such carefree, fun melodies and I invite this rebirth/change. I love turning the volume up to max and driving in the country, singing at the top of my lungs to these empowering lyrics. When I am feeling stressed out, anxious, or worried I usually make a point of popping the lust for life cd in my car's player:) I mean I just find it so amazing and wonderfully inspiring that Lana has come out of the dark tunnel of alcoholism and depression to be reborn as a healthier, happier, and self-assured woman. She is confident in the person she has become and believes in herself, and her abilities to change and recover from painful life experiences and bad decisions, to reach out to those around her and share her newly found hope.



 " I get ready, I get all dressed up

To go nowhere in particular
It doesn't matter if I'm not enough
For the future or the things to come
'Cause I'm young and in love
I'm young and in love

Don't worry, baby
Don't worry, baby

also, isn't her little wink and dancing towards the end the cutest thing you ever saw?:)

I just love seeing her so happy and relaxed. 

Can we talk about the album artwork too? I mean, how cool is it? 

I love the daisy chains in her heart and the cool vintage rev's and green truck in the background. It just really contributes to the overall mood of the album and it's themes.At first, I vividly recall being shocked that Lana was smiling I repeat" SMILING" right on the front cover. If you know her and her usual style of music, you'd understand why that is such a change. She has discussed before in interviews how when she looks serious or sad, she is often just thinking and contemplating. Although obviously a good portion of the time during her early teen years and during her flight to fame, it was a legitimate depression. To see how far she has come since those lonely, dark nights is such an encouragement to me, having recently been struggling with mental illness, depression, and passively suicidal thoughts and actions. she is living proof that one can change if they really want to and have the bravery to seek help, as Lana did through therapy/rehab. 

Well, that was my personal take on this work of art. Please Let me know in the comments below what your first impressions were of Lana's latest album:) I'd love to hear from you and welcome a variety of opinions/ideas about her music. 

Pondering on Ingrid Michaelson

As an aspiring singer/songwriter, I'm always looking for new music to listen to and better ways to express my thoughts through lyrics. I'm always amazed by the freedom and open-ness of songwriting and how many different approaches you can take. I tend to write my feelings very simplistically but with a lot of poetic flair. But lately I feel as if I'm running out of words as an outlet for describing this season in my life. There are so many things I can't seem to fully say, so many things happening in my heart and mind. And then I discovered the amazing and brilliant Ingrid Michaelson. I adore her cover of "Can't Help Falling in Love", but that was the only thing I'd ever heard from her.


Then I saw  Christina Perri had posted on Twitter about how good her newest album was. I've been in desperate need of some new music, so I thought I would give it a go. Since then, lets say I've been a little obsessive compulsive over it:) ok, no, that's an understatement. I haven't really wanted to listen to anything else. The ingeniousness of this album can't be uttered enough. Even just the concept, "It Doesn't Have to Make Sense" is beautiful. Michaelson shares so many heart-breaking, yet thought-provoking songs in this album, relating to the painful experience of losing her mother/going through a divorce.


She tells how shocking and hard it was to go through these things, and how she wondered why such things were happening to her. Finally she gradually begins to realize that life doesn't always have to make sense. All of us go through confusing and devastating times in our life, when we question providence and why these things take place. But I love how this album has opened by eyes to this profound and deep truth.


Many times in the past couple years, I've questioned how God could allow me to go through such a lonely, uncertain, heart-breaking time. I still have no idea what my future will hold and I can't pretend I have a lot of faith for good things to be coming. But in listening to the album, I am reminded I don't have to have everything figured out. I don't have to always be in control and trying to prevent more bad events from taking place. I just need to learn to have peace and let life happen, as it was meant to play out. I may not always understand, I may not always have hope that things will one day be better.

But there is a meaningful and wonderful reason for why my life is the way it is, and someday it will make sense. Until then, I'm going to try to make the best of things. I'm going to strive without ceasing to love people and not give up my dreams, which are more than worth fighting for. I know that every tear I cry and every day my heart is sad and lonely will make me stronger. I look up to so many beautiful, inspirational women who have been through horrible stuff I can't envision happening.


But, to see them now, it amazes me how sweet and compassionate and loving they still are. They have used these scars and turned them into beauty. They have encouraged and blessed people like me that everything will be okay in the end. And if everything isn't ok, than it's not the end yet:)

If you haven't already, go buy Ingrid's new album. It is the real deal! "Be Ok" is also another favorite of mine. I love how sweet and fun the song is, but how it showcases my current reflections so perfect. Ingrid is such a smart and talented songwriter and woman. She inspires me, because she is so unapologetic about simply being herself. She loves who she is and isn't trying to fit a mold or expected definition of what is cool and beautiful. In "Miss America" she spins a delightful thread of lyrics, about how her mother instilled self-confidence in her from a young age. The chorus runs, "I'll never be Miss America. It's not the way I was born to be. it's like my mama she told me girl, there's so many ways to be beautiful".

I identify with this much, as I've also never been one to be conventional and never fit in very much at all. But I've learned to be happy and content with how I was made and be proud that I am not like all the other girls. It's so incredibly refreshing to see girls like Michaelson who aren't afraid of being different and celebrate their uniqueness.

Jewel Remedy & Reflections

I've always loved Jewel from the moment I first listened to "Spirit," now almost 3 years ago. Her soul is such a fascinating canvas of beauty, completely raw and honest. Her lyrics make me consider and contemplate things I never thought of before. She notices and observes things in humanity and society and her songs express pain, love, strong desire and heartbreak so elegantly.
My favorites from the" Pieces Of You" and "Spirit" album are, "You Were Meant For Me' "Near You Always" "Pieces Of You," "Jupiter" "Hands", "Do You", "Life Uncommon", and "Down So Long." Every one of these songs is so unique and out-of-the ordinary, displaying a deep,intimate portrayal of life. Jewel's eloquent, poetic way of telling her story, struggles, and feelings for her lover is admirable to say the least. I will always look up to her as a person and song-writer and hope to be as noble and brave as she is someday.


Jewel remained fearless and tenacious, pouring herself into learning the craft of singing/songwriting and playing the gutiar.  Amidst a complicated relationship with her parents, hardship, and homelessness, she conquered and succeeded after three long years. Then there is the heart-wrenching tale of her broken marriage, a relationship that ended after 16 years with Ty Murray. It's inspirational to me, how she found peace even after so many horrible things happened to her. It motivates me to keep trying my best and not let let my scars define me.I love how Jewel comes back to her roots, with her newest album. I am transported once again into the transparent, colorful world that is hers, where she bears her heart and soul. The older I get, the more I begin to finally understand her lyrics, the more I relate and cling to them. Lately, I identify especially with her bitter-sweet love songs like" Absence of Fear" and " Near You Always". I love how she expresses my feelings in such a powerful, romantic way. It's nice to know I'm not alone in my longing and that she too has felt the terrifying, yet beautiful feeling of being in love.
Favorite Songs from "Picking Up The Pieces", " The Shape of You," "Everything Breaks", "Mercy" and "Love Used To Be"

Why Music Means So Much To Me

It has amazed me time and time again, how when I'm going through any season in my life, I can always find the perfect song to express myself to. This is brought about by a number of different ways, either by listening to a song for the first time( and then oh my god, this song is my life!:); or by listening to a song and at first and not really understanding it. but then as time goes on, you begin to relate to it and it starts holding so much more meaning than before. Ever since I was 12, I've found such solace and comfort in music. When I'm happy and feeling positive( or in love, as is the case lately:) ), I listen to music. When I'm feeling sad or lonely, I listen to music. When I need a friend or something to lean on, I listen to music. When I'm feeling dark and depressed and want someone to tell me I'm not alone in my pain; I can always find some song by one of my girls to use as an outlet.

I literally can not survive without music. There's always those times in every person's life where there's no one there for them to cry to and confide in. It's always in those moments that music is most precious and valuable to me. I'd feel like I might explode, if I didn't belt my heart out to the tune of my favorite lyrics and the ones closest to my heart. It's such a beautiful, powerful thing to me, which is why I've always wanted to be a singer. To be able to open up my heart to people through my words and stories and through emotional, passionate music is my dream.

I want to, like Christina Perri and Lana Del Rey, encourage/inspire and love people through my songs. I want them to know that they're not alone in their heartbreak, and that their scars will turn to beauty. I want to impact someone so much, that their outlook on life begins to change and they find hope in their darkest hour. This is what my music has done for me, because what you listen to is so incredibly important. It influences every single aspect of your life and beliefs on things. One line in a song even can make all the different in decisions you make and whether you choose to believe or give up. So, thank you to JJ Heller, Ellie Goulding, Christina Perri, Lana Del Rey, and every singer that has ever brought my joy and hope and inspired me in so many ways. I'm more grateful than I can possibly describe in words. The gift of your music will go on blessing people forever.

"Halcyon Days" and "Ultraviolence" Album Spotlights

Hello loves and welcome back! Today's post is a review of my two favorite albums, that I've been listening too incessantly, "Halcyon Days" and "Ultraviolence". I've been listening to Lana Del Rey for about a year and only recently found out Ultraviolence. Thanks to an awesome coworker who also loves her music, I listened to "Shades of Cool". Now my soul has pretty much been touched by the entire experience that is this work of art. So many hauntingly beautiful lyrics that are relatable in a number of different ways. My favorites are "Old Money" Shades of Cool" (Of course:) ), and "West Coast".


The music is so unique and thought-provoking, providing the perfect background to Lana's deep, intimate track-list. I must say that "Ultraviolence" is the epitome of an original album, and one of my favorite ones that she has released. I identify so well with her all-consuming love for her man and her desperate attempts to make him happy/heal his pain. This is so skillfully expressed in Shades of Cool and Old Money. I admire her unfailing loyalty in the face of heartbreak and how she stands by her boyfriend, no matter what happens or where he goes.

"Halcyon Days" by Ellie Goulding

This is the second masterpiece that I've been listening too for months, during a really dark, lonely season in my life. I relate to each one of the moving songs that Ellie wrote for this authentic and enlightening experience. You are taken into a fascinating, but at the same time dark and strange time period in her life, a whole journey of love, pain, heartbreak, and new self-discovery. I've used the songs in "Halcyon Days" to help me through so much, as an outlet of expression and a way to let go of my anger and bitterness about my own chaotic circumstances. I cried with her through hours of despair and confusion and found relief; when we both realized our pain had turned to beauty. I found peace and enlightenment, upon understanding that I couldn't lean on someone else for my happiness. There was a new and lovely kind of joy, to finally seek true freedom without needing a certain person to fulfill you.
I'll forever be grateful to Ellie for encouraging me throughout this past year. Her words are the anthem to every day and breath I take. And I know in the end, as she tells me in "Halcyon", that "it's gonna be better, it's gonna be better." There is hope, even amidst all of my loneliness and a thousand nights of aching and longing for love.

1d Love

Listening to: One Direction
I discovered this awesome band, by a pure stroke of what I like to call luck. And no, this is is not the reason that I like them. But, apparently, Taylor Swift dated Harry and therefore, that is how I found out about them. I think they're pretty awesome! For a person who listens to deep, melancholy music 80% of the time, it's good for me to enjoy 20% of light-hearted, fun songs to expand my taste in music. They have some beautiful, serious love- songs too, not just pop songs that are fun to dance too. My adorable little brother has also taken quite a liking to them.  I love all of their personalities- funny, charming, smart & serious etc. The members are as follows, in the picture below, left to right, Harry Styles, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson,  Niall Horan and Zayn Malik. Four of them are from Britain and Niall is from Ireland( I love their accents too- always loved English & Irish accents:) Although I love all of them, I have a soft spot for the curly-haired one and the cute Irish lad:)They also have some very nice, good voices. My favorite songs by them are " Little Things" and " You &I". Little Things really resonated with me, as I have struggled with an eating disorder in the past. the song is about a girl with a bunch of insecurities about her body, voice, etc and really touched my heart. I'm so proud to say I've been their fan for almost 2 years now and have gone to a concert- once-in-a-lifetime AMAZING EXPERIENCE BY THE WAY!! I had loads of fun, dancing, crying, and singing my heart along with tons of crazy, emotional teenage girls like myself:)
I hope you guys like it as much as I did! 

Pictures From MY Concert! And no, I did not get as close- these were taken by a professional, if you couldn't already tell:)

 Louis' baby Freddy- SO ADORABLE!

 God, he's so cute

 my boy- he is the best! 

 he's so sweet and cute!

 help, that smile is melting my heart! love you Liam!

 i don't think I'm breathing right now- his smile is life!

More Ellie Goulding Awesomeness

 I'm officially in love. Her music just gets better and better, the more I hear of and download:) These songs are so relatable, beautiful and thought-provoking.