La Musica no Para

Now music is one of my absolute favorite things in the world. A song can make a bad mood good and a good mood better but most importantly a song can take you to a place you haven't been in years. The first note of a song can snap you back to a memory that is so vivid it feels like you are there so naturally during my study abroad there were some songs that stood out from the rest. These songs always have and always will remind me of Spain and my study abroad.

I was thinking of putting them in order but decided the randomness will add to it so it will be a jumble of all kinds of songs some Spanish, some not, some that I just happened to download while I was over in Espana, but one way or another these songs bring me right back to Spain.

Forewarning for all the adults reading this, many of these songs have all kinds of profanity in them and me being a young man, I am oblivious to it so if you decide to listen to these songs just know there will be some possibly offensive material in there.

Another note, I image that the adults reading this will not enjoy the great majority of these songs so this entry may be more for myself, my friends from study abroad, and the kids my age. That being said give it a look and enjoy! 

Juan Magan - Ayer La Vi

This one was one of the songs you couldn't escape in the clubs. Obviously a Spanish song and I think it's great, very catchy and helps me keep up with my Spanish.

Give Me Everything - Pitbull ft. Ne-Yo

Now this song, I can't even begin to describe how much this song meant during my trip. This was played EVERY night at just about every bar/club that we went to and I never get tired of it. Because it got played so much it is tied to sooo many good memories from my time in Spain. Literally as soon as the first note plays I take a little trip in my mind back to Spain and all the great memories that took place during this song. This and Party Rock Anthem were two of our anthems throughout the trip. This song also reminded me a lot of the time I spent with the girl Eva who I was together with for the last month I was over there. So overall this song is one good memory after another and it is one I go to on bad days to bring me out of it and on good days to get me hyped.

Alexandra Stan - Mr. Saxobeat

It is funny as I run down the list of songs I put on here and I just smile and shake my head as I read certain titles. Alexandra Stan is hugely popular over in Europe and this song became famous all over the world during 2011. It is catchy and was another one you could not avoid hearing at the clubs. Very catchy and this was another one that Eva showed me so it also reminds me of the time we spent together. She showed me a great deal of the songs I downloaded over there so obviously many of them remind me of her and the things we did together.

Don Omar ft. Lucenzo - Danza Kuduro

Yet another club jam that is so catchy and has a nice mix of Spanish and English. Always reminds me of my good friend Alex Pecora, this was one of our jams over in Spain and many times since we have been home we have sent each other this song to remind us about the great times we had over there.

The Good Husbands - Things I Haven't Done

Now this song is very special to me and still one of my favorite songs. The message of the song is that you have to live everyday to the fullest and work to have new experiences every day. Life is too short to stress about the little things and there is so much to see and do out there that you shouldn't ever waste a second being down. As many of you know from reading my blogs I love positive messages. I try to stick to music that is upbeat, uplifting, with a good message. Now granted there are times I am in a mood for different types of music but overall the great majority of the time I try to stick to songs like this. So enjoy this one cause it is a special one for me. It was one of those songs that reminded me to continue pushing myself to make my semester abroad the best time of my life.

Shakira - Waka Waka (Spanish Version)

Shakira is obviously huge to begin with in Spanish speaking countries but this song in particular was even bigger because it was the World Cup theme song. Another one that was played at every club and takes me right back to Spain. I included the Spanish version cause I like listening to it and translating it. 

Chris Brown - She Aint You

So many great memories are tied to this one as well. It is very upbeat and I would often listen to it walking to class or walking around Granada. Always reminds me of walking through Puerta Real or Plaza Nueva while I was looking all around me and just smiling, realizing time and time again how blessed I was to be in Spain having these experiences. 

Ellie Goulding - The Writer (Alan Brave Remix)

I just happened to download this one while I was over there from one of my favorite music downloading sites, Checkthistrack.com

Which I will make a quick plug for right now, anyone looking for the newest music please take a look at Checkthistrack.com. Two of my friends from Penn State made this site last year and in a little over a year the site has taken off and is getting thousands of hits a month in countries all over the world. 

Now that that's taken care of, this song is a real interesting remix and I love it. 

Hathbanger - Little Mix

Very interesting mix of a wide variety of styles and artists. It has 3 distinct sections and I think the first one is the best.

Kap Slap - OMG We R The Dirty Bit

Kap Slap is a new mash up artist and I think they are one of the best mash up artists I have ever heard. This song is great but they have one I got while in Spain that I like even more, it's further down in the post. 

OnCue - Eat Your Words

A more reminiscent song, a little deeper message, but still hip hop so adults I don't think this one is for you. Catchy and a good one.

Joel Venom - Tapes in My Head. 

Another deeper song with a good message to not worry about other people judging you or trying to put you down and to just stay the course and work hard for what you want in life. 

Duck Sauce - Barbara Streisand

Okay everyone, while I have told you specifically to avoid certain songs please just listen to the first minute of this song. It was one of my first nights out in Granada and we were still blown away by the club scene there. Walking around the party, dancing, having some drinks, and just having an all around good time when this song came on. I literally laughed out loud when I heard it but it  became hugely popular over there and in the US. Just give it a listen and you will understand why it made me laugh. I also admit it's a really bad song but it's tied to so many good memories that I love it, enjoy. 

Quincy Kwalae - Just Relax

Very chill song that remixes some hip hop with some Dave Matthews Band. Great relaxing song and makes me just want to be on the beach hanging with friends. 

LMFAO - Party Rock Anthem

Now this song, still one of my favorite songs almost a year later. It is awesome, and became one of the biggest songs of 2011. It also sparked the popularity of a new dance style calling "shuffling" and is all around awesome. Like Give Me Everything and some others this is tied to about a million good memories over in Granada and in the US. I love this one and can guarantee it will still be a favorite in years to come.

Lil Wayne - Fly By Night (R3K Remix)

This is one of those songs not many people will know but I think it is great. It is a very different mash up and I like when artists are original in the way they go about making their remixes.

Yolanda Be Cool - Papa Americano

Another huge club song that you couldn't get away from. Takes me right back to Camborio, Granada 10, Mae West, and all the little bars that we hit up regularly.

Lucenzo - Baila Morena

A spanish song that I love, really catchy and was very popular while we were over there.

Alberto Gambino - Purpurina

This song uses the same music as the song Beautiful Girls by Sean Kingston but throws Spanish in the mix so I am a big fan of this one as well. 

Saka Noel - Loca People

One of the most ridiculous songs I picked up in my time over there and another admittedly bad song but yet another that we heard so much that I enjoy it. This one has lots of cursing just as forewarning for anyone who might be offended by that. 

Elena - Disco Romancing

Absolutely huge song in the clubs and I love it. Another song that reminds me of my times with Eva and all the fun we had when we went out together. Also reminds me of all the fun I had with my study abroad friends. 

DJ Mendez - Lady

Pretty much a ditto from what I wrote above for this song. Another great one that will always take me straight back there. 

Sasha Lopez - All My People

Love this song and the video features quite a few sexy women so it's a win win. Different kind of music in it but I really enjoy it. 

Hi-Rez - No Place Like Home

This song was really interesting because I downloaded it towards the end of my trip when I was really starting to want to come home. It talks about coming home and how much you can't wait to be home so I thought it was funny how applicable it was at that time. 

Major Lazer ft. Collie Budz & Linda Ortiz - Never Good Enough (The Killabits Remix)

I used this song on my gym playlist while over there, gets me real pumped up and helps me amp up my workouts. 

Ellie Goulding - Your Song (Blackmill Dubstep Remix) 

I was and am a huge fan of this one. The music and the way it is mixed is extremely catchy and Ellie Goulding is a good singer so I think that really enhances mixes when they usually genuinely talented artists in them. 

Absolute Pursuit - By Your Side

Kinda just a funny song that struck me right one day. 

Mother Earth Remixes - And Then You Get Away (Greg Laswell vs. Tupac)

Very catchy kinda song that you would listen to on a sad day. Makes you think about lots of things and I enjoy songs that do that. 

THON 2011 Line Dance

I had to include this because this was huge for me over there when I spent the great  majority of my weekend watching THON live on the podcast in my room. We raised $9.56 million dollars for the Four Diamonds Fund helping children with pediatric cancer. Really amazing and I was glad I still felt like I was a part of it through the podcast. Great job again everyone!

Cayso - So You're Cayso. Ok. So.

Now this one I am very excited to have on here. That good lookin fella in the picture there is my good buddy Carson. He is a student down at UNC and is working on becoming a rapper. This was the first song of his he ever showed me and I downloaded it almost immediately. It's a real good one, good rhymes, clever, and funny. Carson has been doin real well and is getting all kinds of shows down in NC. I feel like everyday I go on Facebook he has got up pictures from a new concert so good luck dude and keep on pluggin. It'll be great once he blows up and becomes famous cause I'll get to say I knew him before he made his millions.

Josh Tail ft. Mike Stud - Are You Ready

Another song that pumped me up and I used at the gym.

Lupe Fiasco ft. MDMA - I Don't Wanna Care Right Now

I found several of these songs at times in my life where they really applied to my situation or something that I was going through and this falls in that category. Decent song not one of my absolute favorites but I still enjoy it.

Lupe Fiasco - Stereo Sun

Huge song in 2011 and just great all around.

Snoop Dogg ft. Wiz Khalifa & Bruno Mars - Young, Wild, and Free

As you can see from the title this song is all about living life to the fullest and enjoying every second of being a young college kid. Obviously they are gearing this to us young college kids and you know what, what they are doing works because we all love this one.

Akon - Chasing You 

Catchy club song that I picked up over there.

Cam Meekins - Thank You

Nice song from a new and upcoming artist. Solid rhymes and I really enjoy the beat. 

Childish Gambino - Freaks and Geeks

Turns out that one of my favorite comedians also raps and this is him, I found that out about 8 months after downloading this song. 

Monstar ft. TB1 - Who's That Chick (Monstar Remix)

Very cool remix of a song that was real popular in the clubs. Now this one also might be worth watching because it has one of the coolest videos I have seen in a while. So if you wanna see some cool camera work and all that give it a watch. 

90's Finest - September I'll Be Gone

Another song that found me at a time where it was really applicable to certain things going on. 

Eddy B and Tim Gunter - Time Will Only Tell

Catchy song that uses the beat from Bittersweet Symphony and throw some hip hop into it, which as you should be able to tell I am a huge fan of. 

Tayyib Ali - California Love 

Fast forward to about 40 seconds on this one to get to the actual song, this one I love. 

Macklemore and Ryan Lewis - Irish Celebration

This is another one I got from Checkthistrack.com and interestingly enough I got it before I even knew I was going to Ireland. If you listen to the first 20 seconds they have traditional Irish music playing that sounds EXACTLY like what I heard when I was in Taafes in Galway the night before Saint Patricks Day. I remember telling my friend Elyse that we would crank this song when we reunited in Ireland for the first time in over a year so this song will always remind me of my trip out to the mother land where I got to spend Saint Patrick's Day with friends and then got to go see the Cliffs of Moher and the Aran Islands.

Wiz Khalifa - No Sleep

Another song from Wiz about not sleeping and living it up, another good one from 2011. 

Chris Brown ft. Busta Rhymes & Lil Wayne - Look at me Now

Hugely popular song from 2011 that has some pretty sick dance moves in the video. 

G-Eazy - Good for Great (Remix)

Awesome remix of a Matt and Kim song that is love to listen to to relax and think. This song has a great message and I agree with a lot of the things this kid talks about. One line he says, "I won't let college stand in the way of education" and he talks about how you learn more experiencing things than sitting in a classroom. Especially during my study abroad I found this to be very true and although I think it is important to get good grades and take college seriously, it is important to realize the grades you get and your GPA don't define you as a person and you should make sure that you are doing things that make you happy and spending time with you friends as much as possible, college is a unique time in our lives and it would be a waste if you spent every waking moment studying. 

Eric Hutchinson - The BCS SUX

Very cool little song that I think a lot of you will appreciate. This is one many adults will like especially those that like college football. Eric Hutchinson is a great musician and my good friend Bianca showed me this song on the bus on the way back from our trip in Portugal. It is all about how the BCS makes no sense and messes with college football so E. Hutch does a good job on this one. Give this one a listen.

Cris Cab - Good Girls

A song all about how hard it is to find a good girl, Cris Cab has some good points but we all know there are plenty of special ones out there just gotta have the patience to wait to find them. 

Jacob Es - Free Fall

Another great mash up using some Coldplay music with rap and hip hop mixed in. 

Greg Falatek - Friends

Song from a current Penn State all about how important your friends are in life. God knows he is dead on there. 

Dylan Owens - The Book Report

More serious, deeper song but I am a huge fan. 

AER - Story To Tell (Biggie Remix)

Very relaxing song. It makes me want to just be on a beach in a hammock relaxing. Adults might enjoy this one. 

Swedish House Mafia - One (Your Name)

Hugely popular at the clubs and constantly on everywhere we went. Kind of true too because there would be a lot of times I would find myself saying "I want to know her name". 

Kap Slap - Better Than A Stereo Dream

One of my favorite mash ups ever. Great work out song and awesome mix. 

Alexandra Stan - Get Back

Another really popular song over there from Alexandra Stan. 

Daddy Yankee - Ella Me Levanto 

Typical reggaeton song, very catchy and I need to learn a couple of Spanish style dances so I can bust them out to songs like this.

Daddy Yankee - Estrellita de Madrugada

Now this video is definitely worth watching for anyone who appreciates exercise because the whole video is about these jump ropers that are absolutely incredible. Spanish song with a great video. 

Daddy Yankee - El Ritmo No Perdona

Now this song made Spanish girls go nuts, there is a style of dance associated with it and when this song came on the Spanish girls would just go off. I remember the first time I heard it was at Mae West with Eva and when it came on she just went nuts, it was very sexy not gonna lie. So yet another song with great memories associated with it. To be honest it amazed me how fast they were able to move their hips to keep up with this one but I wasn't complaining. 

Farruco ft. Daddy Yankee - Para Romper La Discoteca

Another reggaeton song with a great beat.

Don Omar ft. Natti Natassha - Dutty Love

Heard it at all the clubs and another very Spanish song. This one has got kind of an island feel to it which I love, steel drums and the piano come together great. 

Daddy Yankee - Ven Conmigo

One of my favorites of the Spanish songs I got while over there. Another one that reminds me a lot of the time in the clubs with my friends and Eva.

Alexandra Stan - Lollipop (Param Pam Pam)

Now just to clarify, I don't pick what images show up in the previews cause I can just see my mom shaking her head at this one. This one was HUGELY popular and had some very funny memories associated, one of which was the time Eva sang it to me before I had heard it so I had NO idea what she was talking about until I finally heard the song. Very catchy. 

David Guetta - Gettin Over You

Big club song that reminds me of Spain.

Louis Armstrong - La Vie En Rose

Now this song probably seems a little out of place in the other stuff that I have put up but that is for a very good reason. This song is tied to one of my strongest and favorite memories in Spain that took place on my last day there. I would tell you know but you will have to read my next blog entry to find out about why this song is so special to me. I think this will bring back some great memories for the adults reading this as well so enjoy the throwback song. 

Alejandro Stanz ft. Alicia Keys - Looking for Paradise

Now this song was the first song I downloaded in Spain and is hugely special to me. This was the first song my host mother, Mavi, showed me, the first song I downloaded, and it is just an awesome song all around. Adults I think will enjoy this one a lot. It is well done and has a great message. So many times when I got back to my homestay Mavi would have this playing while she was cooking or cleaning and it will always remind me of her and everything she did for me. I have been trying for months to contact her and unfortunately have been unable to get in touch with her thus far.  I know several other people who are having similar problems but I am going to keep working to try to get back in touch with her, as I have said so many times in this blog my study abroad made me realize how important it is to work to keep the good people you meet in your life. Mavi is an incredible woman with an incredible story and she had so much wisdom to share. I pray that I reestablish contact with her so that whenever I get back to Granada I can meet up with her and tell her all about the new things going on in my life and here all about what is happening in hers. 

As I said up top, music is one of my favorite things in the world and it is amazing what it can do for you. I have a whole playlist of the songs I downloaded while in Spain and a separate playlist with all my Spanish songs when I am in the mood for that. I will definitely learn how to do salsa, bachata, and all those other styles of Spanish dance at some point in my life so when I get back to Granada I will be able to bust those moves out with all the Spanish people. That would be just another thing to shock them, a white Irish kid who not only speaks Spanish but can salsa? It might be too much for them to handle.

So I hope you guys enjoyed this one I wanted to have an entry just about the music and how much it meant to me. I love that 20 years from now if one of these songs come back I will still get taken right back to Spain. 

Next entry will be all about my last day in Spain which was really incredible in and of itself. I couldn't have asked for a better last day but I'll save those details for the next entry. I hope you all are doing well and I wish you all the best! And since it is now January 1st, 2012...

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Take this first day as your first chance to start making 2012 the new best year of your life. 2011 treated me very well and was the best year of my life I have had so far so I am looking forward to working to make 2012 the best one. Enjoy your vacations and I will have the next entry up soon!