Concert Addictions

Why do concerts give people such a buzz? How can people become addicted to it? Why do people waste so much money to buy tickets in the nose bleed section? An even better question: Why do people spend their cash to get front row seats? They're just going to get abused by the other concert goers who are just as excited, or more so, than they are. The answer to all of those questions is simple. There is no other feeling like it in the world. There are no words to describe the feeling you get when you finally see your favorite band stepping out on the stage in front of you. There is such a difference between seeing them on screen and in real life. The entire experience is unreal.
When you receive the tickets you get the first shot of excitement. This shows that it's real. You're really going to see them live. You've been waiting for this opportunity forever. You know though that there is still a chance something could go wrong. You pray that it doesn't, but there is the possibility of the show getting cancelled. However, this little sliver of doubt doesn't dim your light. Those tickets give you energy from the day you get them until the day you're standing at the venue.
Taking the journey to the show, this is the start of your venture. There is no turning back once you leave your drive way. Nothing can stop you from getting to the concert on time, or preferably an hour early. If you have a good friend and fellow fan in your passenger seat and a crew in the back, you're have the makings for an unforgettable time.
You get to the venue. There are already people standing in line. It's alright thought because you know there will be plenty of people that are going to be behind you. Plus you have your tickets to secure your place (unless its general admission, then you fight for the front). Waiting is the least fun, but everything past this point starts to feel fake. When you have company, the hour or longer wait isn't too harsh. Plus you're surrounded by people who have the same music interest as you. Being among your people from all different areas is an experience of its own. If you make the most out of your time in the line, you can walk away with a few more friends than you started with. The doors open, the line starts moving, and reality starts to fade away.
Your pulse quickens, a smile starts to broaden on your face, your cheeks start to sting from the pain, and tears may begin to well up in your eyes. You're not going to cry though because that would ruin your make up. Your hand is shaking as the workers scan your ticket allowing you inside. You're now in the same building as your idols. The stage is set up and merchandise tables catch your eye. Dropping some extra money on clothes that you can't get anywhere else is worth it. With your hands full of new merchandise and a heart full of joy, you go to your seats. It's going to be another hour wait or so before the opening act takes the stage. That's okay though because you're there. It's really going to happen. Your heart rate starts to settle again, but you can't yet contain your excitement and happiness.
Finally the lights dim. Music starts. The show is about to begin. Your heart rate picks up again, more so than before. It's actually happening. You pull out your phone or your camera, ready to capture every second of it. The opening act is amazing. You may have just discovered a new musical interest if you weren't into them before. If you were, then the best night of your life has just gotten started and your camera roll is quickly filling up. You only have a few minutes to regroup yourself before the one you came to see takes the stage.
The lights dim again. There is dramatic music playing. Perhaps there is a slide show of the band playing behind the stage getting everybody in the crowd pumped up for the performance of a life time. The first note strikes. Pyrotechnics go off. Lights brighten up the darkened, crowded room. Another note strikes. Another blast of light and then there they are. Right in front of your eyes are the people that you never thought you get the chance to see in person. Everything past this point is unreal. You lose yourself in every song. While you had planned on capturing every moment on camera, you end up spending a majority of the time enjoying the concert. There's no point in spending it behind a phone screen. After all, this is the night you've been waiting for for so long. If you're lucky one of the band members might smile at you or wave. There's a chance you could get a shoutout or a little dance. If so, that memory will stay with you forever, but it won't seem real. None of this will seem real. You're just living in the moment and loving every second.
 Maybe this band ends up being everything you imagined and more. If this is true, then your love for them has deepened. You had a connection with them before, but now that you've seen them standing a few feet from you, you know that that has deepened as well. You love them and you always will. Before you never thought that this would happen. You never thought that you would see the perfection that is standing in front of you, but yet there they are. Just like you've seen them a thousand times only this time they are more perfect. Every detail about them is the same only enhanced and you can't get enough of it. The lights go out, the music stops, and the band leaves the stage. What do you do now?
You go back to your house or your hotel room. You toss your collection of merchandise to the side. You'll sift through it later. You pull out your phone and go through all of the pictures and videos. This is when it sets in. You just saw the people you've admired for years. Maybe they were the people that saved your life or inspired you. These people mean so much to you and you finally saw them. Your adrenaline has worn down, but the happiness that you feel, that high, will be with you for a long as you live. You can't forget the feeling of living what you thought was the impossible.
That's why so many people love going to concerts. It's an escape, not just for the night, but whenever they need it. Those pictures will bring back every memory of the concert. Videos will help you relive every song and movement. You'll always remember the words they said. Those unreal memories you made that night will be unforgettable. They'll always bring you the joy you felt when you first saw them. You can go to the same band as many times as you want and the same feeling will overwhelm you. There's just something about living through the impossible that people can't get enough of.

PILLOWTALK

Let me just say that this song killed me! This is not what I expected from former One Direction member, Zayn Malik. His voice was stellar in the band. This song shows such a different vocal range than what we're used to hearing. It shows a musical side of Zayn that we never saw before. He definitely showed who he really is and separated himself from the image of One Direction. Honestly, I can't wait to see a bunch of people blaring this song like they do all the other songs by The Weeknd and similar artists pretending that it's not from a member of a boy band they made fun of. Everybody's going to be jumping on the Zayn bandwagon.
Not only is the song absolutely amazing, but so is the video. There is a lot of graphic design that went in to it. The only way to really describe it is trippy. There's multiple Zayn's and Gigi's. Flowers melt away and people cry red and black tears. There's also a naked girl that opens her legs to reveal a blooming flower. This was the most disturbing part of the video. I could have done without that. Zayn and Gigi got pretty damn close in the video too. After watching this, nobody is going to believe that they are just close friends. How could you be just friends with Zayn Malik after making out with him multiple times? I think that's impossible.
Zayn also released his first interview since leaving the band. It made me a little upset, but at the same time I fell even more in love with him. He opened up about things that he wasn't able to before. He talked about how he always thought about leaving the band after the first year because they weren't going in the musical direction he wanted to go. The entire time the other four knew that it wasn't his cup of tea. They all tried to help him get more R&B vibes in their music. They tried their best to make him happy. When he left, they were alright with it because they knew he wasn't happy where he was at. They didn't want him to leave, but they cared enough about him that they let him go do his own thing without arguing with him to stay.
Not only has Zayn's debut as a solo artist been a hit with fans, it's been welcomed by many others. The single has been at the top of the charts all over the world since being released at midnight. The video was dropped at the same time and has gathered more than 1 million views. I think it's safe to say that he's caught the attention of a lot more people than just One Direction fans. The boys have even shown their support for their close friend and former band mate. Louis tweeted to Zayn saying he killed it and he was proud of him. Niall was spotted listening to the single while walking around the city. Even members of 5SOS, The Vamps, Emblem3, and The Tide have praised Zayn for his work. Overall, this song was a huge success and I can't wait for his full album!

Catharsis Playlist

(We're about to get personal)
I cannot be the only one that has those moments where I need to cry. I don't want to cry, but I NEED to cry. I discovered that at these said times, certain songs helps the process along. Not only does this playlist allow me to ball my freaking eyes out, there are also songs that help me kind of reflect on the better times in life and make me feel a little bit better. It my "Catharsis Playlist". I think everybody needs to have one! I suggest you pick songs that you have a connection to, whether it be a good or bad memory or even a person. It helps if you're familiar with the artist as well because it makes it more personal. Most importantly, make sure that you relate to it lyrical wise. That's the whole point to this playlist! It lets you relate to something for a little while and just let go and cry!
1) Untitled- Simple Plan
2) Hotel Ceiling- Rixton
3) Live Forever ft. Faydee- DJ James Yammouni (of The Janoskians)
4) Amnesia- 5 Seconds of Summer
5) 3000 Miles- Emblem3
6) Ghost- Hollywood Ending
7) You Will Not Be Forgotten- Keaton Stromberg (of Emblem3)
8) The Memory- Mayday Parade
9) Letting Go- Mayday Parade
10) Wasted- MKTO
11) Once in a Lifetime- One Direction
12) Infinity- One Direction
13) Broken Home- 5 Seconds of Summer
14) The Only Reason- 5 Seconds of Summer
15) Hello- Emblem3 cover

This has actually helped me out a lot. It's dumb, it's cheesy, it's a waste of time to put together a depressing playlist. It really does help though! Take it from a professional in the area of mental breakdowns! :) 

Open Letter to One Direction

Dear One Direction,
5 years, 3 months, and 17 days ago the five of you were put in to a group. At the time you didn't have any clue how that moment would change your lives. You didn't know that that moment would change the lives of thousands of people, including my own. You walked in completely clueless, with no idea what you were doing. You walked out with more knowledge and life experience than most people will ever get. The 5 of you were more than happy to share it all with hundreds of people you've never met. You guys were and still are an inspiration, friends to many, family to others, and a constant comfort for thousands. One Direction kept going after losing the X-Factor. You became the biggest band on the planet. You kept going after losing family, friends, and eventually your freedom. You literally gave up everything to give your fans everything they ever needed or wanted.
I'm the fan that never saw you in person. I didn't spend hours trying to gain your attention. I listened to your music instead and realized that I already had your attention. I didn't pay attention to the amount of awards you won. I paid attention to all the good you did in the world. By finding meaning and inspiration in the band and in your individuality, I was able to find a little light during a dark time in my life. Ever since then One Direction has been a constant in my life. I was always able to escape with a song or a video. I gained the false impression that you would always be together, always be there. Now I'm saying thank you, good-bye, and letting go.
Thank you for being an escape. I know you still will be. This isn't really good-bye either. You promised to never really leave us. Your music will always be there no matter what. That will be there whether you're together or apart. The meaning in the music and behind the band will still exist. I will still have an escape. It will just be nothing new. Thank you for 5 years of new music, videos, concerts, interviews, and other random means of escape for me and many others. Thank you for giving me a huge family of people that feel similar to the way I do, that understand and relate. Thank you for giving up your lives to make me feel better about my own. Thank you for giving me hope. Most importantly, thank you for helping me find happiness again. Thank you for helping me become me. Thank you for being there when no one else was. This isn't good-bye. It's more like see you later. But I am letting go and moving on. Thank you!
You loved the time you were together. Now enjoy the time you have apart. Take the break that you all so well deserve. Just make sure that you don't forget about us because there is no way that we will ever be able to forget about you.
Love,
The Directioners

Personal Party Playlist

So, the past couple days I've been dying of nervousness. I went from Monday until tonight dealing with terrible anxiety. What was I so worked up about? I asked someone out. I got over everything that has happened to me the past couple of months and asked somebody I really liked out. I walked right in to his office and put all my cards out on the table. After recovering from his shock he asked if I wanted to go on a date. That was my whole reason for telling him I liked him in the first place, so I said yes. I panicked up until literally the very last minute. I pulled myself together at 4:44. We were meeting in our lobby at 4:45. In my opinion the date went well. When I got back to my room I felt like the weight of the world was lifted off my shoulders and I was SO happy and full of energy. I had nothing to do get that energy out, so I decided to do what most "normal" people would do. I threw my own personal dance party.

So, whenever you're feeling overwhelmingly happy and have no way to get out all of your pent up energy, or you want to gain some energy and happiness, start blaring these tracks and let loose. (Keep in mind, these aren't songs that you hear on the radio and my own personal playlist) 

1) I Feel Like Dancing- All Time Low 

2) Dangerous- Before You Exit

3) Not Your Birthday- Allstar Weekend

4)Talking About- Conor Maynard 

5) Best Song Every- One Direction

6) Teenage Kings- Emblem3

7) Tonight Tonight- Hot Chelle Rae

8) Groove- Jack and Jack

9) Party in the Penthouse- Jake Miller

10) Make Out- Rixton 

11) Wannabe- SpiceGirls 

12) Lightning in a Bottle- The SummerSet 

13) Check Yes Juliet- We The Kings 

14) I Can't Remember- 5 Seconds of Summer 

15) Can't Help- Parachute 

16) Go All Night- RadioDriveBy

17) Somebody That I Used to Know- Mayday Parade ft. Vic Fuentes 

18) Sarah Says- Hollywood Heartache 

19) Is It Just Me- Hinder 

20) Hallelujah!- Panic! At The Disco

The End of the World.... Tour Starring 5SOS

I am drowning in tears of emotion because my four young boys from Sydney Australia finished their first ever headlining world tour. I think I'm taking this harder than the end of their tours with One Direction. And that was the end of an era! It was two years of 5SOS and 1D. Now 5 Seconds of Summer are off on their own, headlining their own shows around the world. They went from filming in a bedroom with pink speakers, to playing gigs with 12 people, and ended up with a headlining world tour, playing to hundreds-sometimes thousands-of people every night.
If you don't know who 5SOS is, you're going to have to use this awesome thing called Google. I could go on forever over these boys. The basics I can handle. Despite their name, their are only 4 members. Luke Hemmings (guitar), Ashton Irwin (percussion), Calum Hood (bass), Michael Clifford (guitar). All four contribute vocals, but Luke is the front man. Ashton is the oldest at 21. The rest are 19. The band started out with just Luke, Calum, and Michael. Ashton joined shortly before their first gig. The band has released multiple EPs and two full length CDs. They have won plenty of awards in the short amount of time they've been in the spotlight. Most recently, they won MTVs Song of the Summer for the second year in a row. The first was because of their first single "She Looks So Perfect". This year the fuss was all about "She's Kinda Hot". The band has also started their own record company called "Hi or Hey Records". Also, they are punk-rock. Punk-pop is acceptable, but they are NOT a boy band.

As many people already know, they got a huge helping hand from One Direction when they were asked to open for them on their Take Me Home tour. They asked them to come back for parts of their Where We Are tour. So, yes, a good portion of their fan base are Directioners, but 5SOS still has a die-hard fandom that I'm proud to be a part of. The fans are what makes the band. The boys realize that. It's one of the reasons I love them so much. They know they owe everything to their fans and they give back everything they have. They are such down to earth amazing musicians. I honestly can't imagine my life without them in it. They have had a huge influence on me and the person that I am today. I have a lot to thank them for. They always tell their fans that they have a lot to thank us for, but really it's the least we could do.
I was lucky enough to attend one of their concerts for this tour, Rock Out With Your Socks Out. (Amazing name btw!) It was literally the best night of my life. The only time I have ever cried from joy was when my purchase went through for my tickets. The second time I cried because of happiness was when I saw the four of them walk out on to the stage in front of me. They put on the best show I have ever seen. They were bouncing all around, interacting with each other and the crowd, and they never missed a beat. They performed songs that haven't been released yet, their most popular ones, and for the ones that have been there since the beginning they played a few of their originals. They managed to make everyone feel welcome and comfortable. The best part was that they didn't hold back and hide who they really are. They were on stage doing what they love and being their weird, funny, adorable selves. They have a special talent that not many people posses.
The best part is that they're using their talent to spread a message, to show support for people who are struggling. They are using their name and talent to raise their voices and shed some light on issues and people that get over-looked. Towards the end of the tour, they announced that they are releasing their second full length album "Sounds Good Feels Good". Along with that, they started a new age. The age of the New Broken Scene. It's something that their fans can get behind, support, and allows them to be themselves according to the band. How many people create something just so their fans feel like they belong to something important? Actually, to show them that they are a part of something important. So, not only was it the end of their first world tour (cue tears), it was the start of something new, exciting, and meaningful. I wish that these boys could've stayed my little secret, but I am overwhelmed with joy that they are making a name for themselves and doing something to make a difference. They deserve the world. They've come so far and learned so much, but we still don't know if it's hi or hey.

Fandom Mania!

This month has been super crazy for anyone in a fandom. There was drama, tours, music releases, and celebrations. I've never been so overwhelmed with so much musical news. It seemed like no fandom was safe. Some of the trends on social media weren't even music related, but instead connected to Vine stars and the drama in their world. I love Vine and music, so this month has been completely mental. I'll start off with the drama and not so good news. I figure it will be nice to end this on a high note! 

First, I'm going to mention something/someone not music related. Carter Reynolds. If you haven't heard of him then you won't be reading this because you don't have access to the internet. Carter has been in the middle of an Oral Sex video leak followed by death threats which led Carter to have suicidal thoughts. It's impossible for anyone to state their opinion on this topic without offending someone. I am going to say that I feel for Carter. He doesn't deserve what he's been through and still dealing with. Everybody makes mistakes. He has apologized for his repeatedly and has been trying to make things better. This "sexual assault" on his girlfriend at the time was hardly a sexual assault. That's coming from someone who was been through over three of them. You can dislike Carter for what he did and said to Maggie (his ex-girlfriend), but sending him death threats and telling him to kill himself was and still is completely unnecessary. Maggie said that she was sent to the hospital under suicide watch, but yet she was posting videos of her dancing on Snapchat and staying active on other social media platforms. As I have stayed a couple days in an institute before, I can personally tell you that she was just winding people up. You are not allowed to have cells phones while there. If you are in the hospital, you would not be "whipping" around your room to entertain your Snapchat followers. This caused Carter to get more backlash and push him to the point of trying to commit suicide. People said he was faking and continued sending hate. If you did that, you are just as much of a low life as you think Carter is.

Kenny and Wes' first single together

Keaton performing with NGO live

The drama in the music industry isn't quite as serious as that. Taylor Swift and Nikki Minaj started a Twitter war over the VMAs music video of the year award. Honestly I couldn't care less because I'm not fond of either artist and I don't think either of them deserve to be nominated for the award. More important news for me would be the fact that the me members of Emblem3 have decided to work on separate projects. Wesley Stromberg has started a project called The Balcony with Kenny Holland. Keaton Stromberg has started his own band, "Never Getting Older", and they've already had their first live show together. (It was amazing by the way) The two say that Emblem3 is still together, but fans are starting to think that they are approaching the end. Just yesterday, a majority of the Emblems found out that Wesley and Kenny were moving to Washington together, Wes' hometown. Keaton remains in Cali along with Tyler Case as far as I know. Neither of them have spoken about the change. I'm waiting anxiously waiting on the edge of my seat for one of them to mention the future of Emblem3.

He'd be a good dad though!

Let's talk about Daddy Directioner now. And no, I'm not talking about Liam Payne.  Mr. Louis Tomlinson is rumored to be expecting a child. I don't want to touch on this subject too much either. Not because it's a touchy subject, but because it's as I said, a rumor. Neither the supposed mother Briana Jungwirth or Louis Tomlinson have spoken about the baby. Louis' band mates haven't said anything publicly either, however "sources" say that his bandmates are happy for them. An interviewer also asked the members of 5 Seconds of Summer what they thought of the baby news. All four them didn't have much to say because they didn't know much of it and Louis hadn't told them anything, but either way they are happy for Louis.

BYE and The Vamps having a night out

On to the happy news! I'll continue on about the biggest band on the planet. One Direction celebrated their 5 year anniversary together yesterday. 5 years of that band. Amazing. I'm going to start crying thinking about it. They have been through so much together and are obviously still going through a lot. It was heartbreaking to be celebrating the huge accomplishment without Zayn Malik, but the Directioner's still made the day a huge success.
Want some more music news? Before You Exit has joined The Vamps and The Tide for a tour. So many bromances are starting to form! On top of that, they signed on to their first real record label and released a single titled "Model". The band claims that it is the song they are proudest of and couldn't have imagined a better reaction from their fans. I personally believe that "Model" is a great song with an awesome message in it. At the moment it's one of my favorite songs. Two more of my favorite artists have released new music. Conor Maynard's single "Royalty" has been out for a while, but not available for download on American iTunes. Finally, it was released in America and I couldn't be happier. It's quite a tune. Check it out!
Last but not least, "She's Kinda Hot". I didn't think that I could fall more in love with 5 Seconds of Summer, but I was completely wrong. This song is literally my anthem. It's says everything that I've ever thought about society and my own life. They are one of the few bands that aren't afraid to go against the mainstream crap and the pattern everybody else set. This song is lyrically genius. A lot of people are overlooking the actual meaning behind the song. I find that sad because that's what makes the song so amazing. It's not the band going full on punk/pop rock or Ashton's kick ass vocal solo the whole fandom has been waiting for. It's the message in the lyrics.
So yeah! July has been epically hectic! I'll be ending it on a high note though with my 5 Seconds of Summer concert! Hopefully nothing too upsetting happens before then, but with fandoms like these, you never know what will happen next!

Chocolate, Girls, and Sex

Not to be confused with the year.... I should be kicked off the internet for that. Anyways, if you haven't heard of The 1975 you have definitely been living under a rock. Not only did their fans take over Twitter when they seemed to disappear off of social media and return with pink everything, but they also took the radio waves by storm with their songs "Chocolate", "Girls", and "Sex". Simple titles, great songs. The band left their social media and changed everything to pink to get people wondering what they were up to. Well, it worked. It could be a single, an album, or a tour. Whatever it is I guarantee you it will be epic.
The 1975 isn't exactly mainstream pop. They are an English Indie Rock band, but according to their members they try not to stick to just one genre of music. Their sound is so unique that you can't stop listening to them. Not only are their vocals so different than anything I've heard, but their sound is as well. The instruments that they used aren't used much in today's music, at least not in what you hear on the radio.
The members have great personalities, are relatable, and just adorable! Nobody can resist the sound of their lead singers voice! (Who could resist a British accent?) Members include lead singer Matthew (Matt/Matty) Healy, bass and keyboard player Ross MacDonald, guitar and keyboard player Adam Hann, and drummer George Daniel. They formed the band in 2002. They started by doing covers of punk songs in a local pub. From there they moved to writing and performing their own songs, which got them to where they are now. According the Healy they have been writing together since they were about 15 years old. They gained major respect from me for that. They started writing on their own at a pretty young age. You have to have a pretty good understanding of music and some talent in order to pull that off.
Since they started they have several successful EPs and their debut album. As I mentioned before the world fell in love with their singles "Chocolate" and "Girls", both from their self-titled debut album. They also got attention from their amazing cover of One Direction's "What Makes You Beautiful". It's one of the best covers I have ever heard. They were even nominated for a Woodie Award for it. Not to mention they have toured with Muse, The Neighborhood, and have even supported The Rolling Stones. Of course they have gone on their own headlining tours as well. In April of 2014 they played at Coachella.

"What Makes You Beautiful" in the Live Lounge BBC Radio 1

I can't wait to see what The 1975 is up to. They are bound to come up with something genius that will end up being overplayed on the radio, but will still be amazing. Kind of like something Ed Sheeran does. They are an amazing band. I can't believe more people don't know who they are. They know the songs, but they don't know the band. I'll never understand how people do that. When I hear something I like, I do some digging on the band. The 1975 was a great discovery for me and I hope they will be for others. I know they will be. They are irresistible!

Soundtrack for the Brokenhearted

This isn't the best playlist of "break up" songs, but they're the songs that I have on repeat. A lot of them bring me to tears, but I always feel better afterwards. I know it's supposed to get better. I'm honestly starting to wonder if the pain really ever does go away...

1) Save Your Heart- Mayday Parade
2) No Good in Goodbye- The Script
3) Waiting for Superman- Daughtry
4) Fool's Gold- One Direction
5) Nothing- The Script
6) Half a Heart- One Direction
7) She Was the One- The Vamps
8) Everything I didn't Say- 5 Seconds of Summer
9) Heartbreak Holiday- MKTO
10) Drunk- Ed Sheeran
11) I Hate This Part- The Pussycat Dolls
12) Life After You- Daughtry
13) Drowning- Conor Maynard
14) Can't Let Go- Faydee
15) Distance- Jack and Jack
16) Bruised and Scarred- Mayday Parade
17) The Memory- Mayday Parade
18) Safe to Say- Playjerise
19) Stitches- Shawn Mendes
20) Hotel Ceiling- Rixton
21) Once in a Lifetime- One Direction
22) Party Girl- Dan and Shay

The Next Big Duo

Josh Devine... Drummer for One Direction 

Ollie Green...Upcoming musician 

What happens when you put the two of them together? You get one of the best duos ever! I'm am so in love with these too! They are both extremely talented on their own, but when you put them together, the results are astounding! So far the two of them have released 2 singles: Fight For You and Here to Stay. Both songs have been a huge success on the music charts. They have gotten loads of shares on the Internet thanks to the One Direction fans and music lovers everywhere. These two artists deserve to be played on the radio so that the rest of the world know what they're capable of. The two of them are continuing to work on music together. I can't really blame them either. They have been such a hit in the music world. I honestly think if they get the right amount of publicity that these two could go the distance.
Josh Devine is the loved drummer in One Direction. He's been there since the beginning. What most people didn't realize was that Josh was more than a pretty face and a drummer. He has an amazing voice! I hate to say this, but he could be the new fifth member in One Direction! Not only that, but he is also a talented song writer. He can play the guitar along with the drums. He's just a well-rounded musician who deserves to be where he's at in life. He has the most vocals in his latest release with Ollie, "Here to Stay". It's a song with a bit of a rock edge and sick vocal provided by the one and only Josh Devine.
Ollie Green is an upcoming British musician. He is a singer/songwriter that not all to many people have heard of until he linked up with Josh. I couldn't be happier that these two came together! Ollie has a strong talent when it comes to producing and writing music. It's a hard thing to master. This kid has done it if you ask me. There aren't many people that can come up with the things that Ollie does. The stuff he's putting out isn't the same shit that you hear on the radio. He's following his own path working on his own music. That's the best thing he can do. If he wasn't doing that, we wouldn't be blessed with the two amazing songs he worked on with Josh. "Fight for You" was their debut song together and it left people in shock. Not only did the world discover that Josh was more than a drummer, but they were introduced to the talented Ollie Green. The song is a nice ballad that you can sit back and relax to. It also has more of a rock-ish edge to it.
These two songs are absolutely amazing! I love, love, love them! I literally can't wait to hear the other things that they have been working on. I believe that the two of them have enough talent and a large enough following to put together a successful album. I'm praying that that day will come. Whenever Josh gets a day off, he usually spends it with Ollie working on some new music. The two of them are working extremely hard to put together music that is different and people will love. They have a bright future as a duo!

One Direction Going in Two Directions

The music world was shaken by the news that Zayn Malik was leaving One Direction. The word spread faster than the plague. Everybody knew minutes after they made the announcement that the world's biggest boy band was losing one of it's cherished members. I know that I'm a few weeks behind on posting this, but in all honesty, it was too difficult for me to write last week. It's still hard for me to write about it. I'm a huge Directioner. (Judge me if you want) Zayn leaving the band hit me harder than anything I'd ever experienced before. (Again judge me) I cried for over three days. The second I thought that I was over it, something would remind me of him and I would just lose all control again. This happened to a lot of people, so it's reassuring knowing that I didn't go through this alone. I had thousands of Directioners, family, by my side throughout this entire thing. On top of that, there was the amazing support of Harry, Niall, Louis, and Liam, as well as other celebrities and fandoms that showed their love and support.
Zayn told the whole world, including his four best friends that he has shared the stage with, his life with, that he was leaving because he couldn't handle the fame and the publicity. He was being called names. Rumors were always coming up about him cheating on his fiancee, which put a strain on their relationship. He also said that it was starting to affect his family and that is something that he never wanted to happen. He felt like the attention should never be on his family because they didn't do anything to deserve fans and paparazzi on their front lawn when he wasn't even there. People were also sending in hate to him and his family through the internet and the mail. There was no escape from his hectic life. He didn't like that. He wanted to be a normal 22 year old boy. He told the band this. They all did their best to get him to stay, but nothing proved to be enough. Zayn's decision stood. He was leaving the band. During their last concert as a whole group, Harry and Louis openly wept. Nobody understood why until the next day when they released the news of Zayn leaving. It all made sense. They said "One last group hug" and "We want to tell you all one last time that we all love you". Not to mention there were more tears on the stage that night that ever seen before. It seemed like they could barely keep themselves together.
This post isn't just about Zayn though. It's about One Direction and how they're holding together since his departure. Everything has changed for them. They had to figure out who gets Zayn's parts. There is no longer somebody that can hit those amazing high notes without even trying. They don't have any "mystery" in the band anymore. The chemistry on stage and in their music won't be the same. Their sound is going to be different. Yes, only one member left, but Zayn was an important piece to the band. Every single one of them plays an important role in the group. During the X-Factor, Louis almost didn't make it to the judge's house and they were so thrown off that they thought they had no chance of getting through. That's what it's going to be like all the time now for them. It's not only that though, but the memories they share won't be the same. Their laughter, jokes, and time spent together won't be the same as it was. It's going to take a while to get used to. After all, they'd spent almost every minute with Zayn over the past five years. They literally lost a family member, a brother. One Direction isn't One Direction anymore.
They're working extremely hard on new things for us, for their fans. They know it's going to be way different. They're trying ten times harder. This isn't easy for them. They had to cut Zayn's vocals out of their album on tracks they had already completed. They cut out any parts of the video diary they are working on that had Zayn in them. Can you imagine having to do that, cut your friend out of everything? It's like they're washing away his memory. We'll never get to see what memories they shared with him on there OTRA tour. They will be the only ones to ever know what happened before he left. They are the only ones that know what really made Zayn leave. We all know it wasn't because he wanted to be normal. If it was, then Zayn wouldn't have gotten with NaughtyBoy and started working on a single. This started a riff between NaughtyBoy and Louis. Nobody knows where Zayn stands between the two. This could mean the end of one of the best friendships ever. Zouis could be dead for all we know. This thought kills me.
Zayn is on his own. The band is working harder than they ever have before. The fandom is slowly healing from what some say is a betrayal from their idol. We've been doing good so far though. We've been strong. The band has been strong. As long as they keep working hard, I know that everything is going to be okay. It will be different, but it will be alright. Plus, Zayn is supposedly happy. So, I'm going to be happy too. Best of luck to the rest of One Direction and Zayn. I can't wait to hear new music from both artists.

My Valentine's Day Playlist

These are my choices for Valentine's Day songs! Fair warning, I'm more of a fan of bands and music that isn't so popular, so some of these songs you've probably never heard of. I'm sure most of them are more romantic than anything that plays on the radio now anyways! If my boyfriend made me a CD or two with these songs on them, I would never let him go! Happy Valentine's Day!!! :) 

1) Last First Kiss- One Direction
2) Home to Mama (cover)- Emblem3
3) Little Things- One Direction
4) Soldier- Before You Exit
5) Shout About it- The Vamps
6) XO- Emblem3
7) You're Perfect- Jacob Whitesides
8) Heart Skips a Beat- Olly Murs
9) You & I- One Direction
10) They Don't Know About Us- One Direction
11) Somebody to You- The Vamps
12) Move My Way- The Vamps
13) Check Yes, Juliet- We The Kings
14) What Makes You Beautiful (Cover)- The 1975
15) Beside You- 5 Seconds of Summer
16) Wherever You Are- 5 Seconds of Summer
17) Long Way Home- 5 Seconds of Summer
18) Hung Up- Hot Chelle Rae
19) Words- Jacob Whitesides
20) 18- One Direction
21) Night Changes- One Direction
22) Fight For You- Josh Devine and Ollie Green
23) Monochrome- Kenny Holland
24) Forever Together- Emblem3
25) Obsessed- Emblem3
26) Illusion- One Direction
27) No Control- One Direction
28) Ride-  SoMo
29) Golden- The Vamps
30) Risk It All- The Vamps