Thirty something reader, writer, and music lover who believes all people should have the freedom to espresso themselves however they choose. This community is born out of an equal love of reading, writing, and the power of faith and coffee.
The Newsboys are to Christian music what the Rolling Stones are to rock and roll. They have got everyone’s attention and have the accolades to prove it. The band hails from Queensland, Australia. It features Michael Tait (former lead vocalist of hit Christian band DC Talk), guitarist Jody Davis, bassist Jeff Frankenstein, and drummer Duncan Phillips. The group was founded by former members Peter Furler and George Perdikis. They have released 17 albums, six of which have been certified gold. Their most popularly acknowledged singles have been “Shine” released in 1995 and “God’s Not Dead” released in 2011, and used in the film of the same name. They have music that will be featured in the sequel God’s Not Dead 2. Love Riot is Newsboys eighteenth album and was released on March 4, 2016, debuting at #14 on the Billboard Hot 200.
Song by Song Review
“Crazy”: Musically, this song starts out the album with a bang of an invisible war drum. Lyrically, this song hints at themes of being known as a Christ fanatic.
“Hero”: This song features Newsboys guitar heavy style rock while boldly stating lyrically that Jesus is a believer’s one true hero.
“Love Riot”: Musically, this song is a piano ballad with heavy lyrical content features themes of walking love and starting a love riot.
“Guilty”: Featured in the film God’s Not Dead 2, musically it starts similar to their previous hit song, “God’s Not Dead” but lyrically it talks about standing firm in one’s belief in Christ no matter what trials or prejudice one faces.
“You Hold It All:” Musically featuring a drum beat against a piano track that accompany lead vocals that sing lyrics about God’s all-encompassing power.
“No Longer Slaves:” Musically, it’s a piano ballad of praise to Jesus’s great sacrifice on the cross.
“Family of God:” Musically, it sounds like a catchy pop Christian hit with lyrical themes of the grace of God being available to whosoever believes in Christ.
“Committed:” The track is one of my favorites off the album because it’s a bold statement of being fully committed in one’s faith in Christ for life.
“Earthquake:” This song sounds similar to “Crazy” musically but it contains more EDM-influences while boasting themes lyrically of needing an earthquake to shake one’s faith up when doubt sets in.
“What I Want Them To Say”: A beautiful conclusion musically and lyrically to yet another masterpiece from the Newsboys that hints on themes of leaving a legacy of faith. This track is another one of my favorites.
Love Riot’s musicality may be great, but it’s Tait’s flawless performance of the well written songs that causes it to stand heads and shoulders above its competition.
I’ve always thought that because I read so many books about relationships that maybe that’s why I can’t seem to find a boyfriend.I’ve read Undateable, all books written by Chad Eastham, and even When God Writes Your Love Story. If it’s a book about dating as a Christian, chances are I’ve read it.
I’m 24 years old (I’ll be 25 in August and I’ve never had a boyfriend). I’ll spare you the details since I can already tell you are giving the computer screen that look.
This look
One thing you should never do is assume you know why I’ve never had a boyfriend. I’ve never had a boyfriend because I was in love once and the guy completely did not treat me like the diamond I am, a daughter of the one true King. He treated me like a leftover chocolate chip at the bottom of an empty cookie jar. Yet, I’m not here to tell you that story.
That’s what I wrote a memoir for.
You can see now why I asked my mom to give me The Chase by Kyle and Kelsey Kupecky for Christmas.
The Chase is written by Kyle Kupecky (former member of Christian pop band, Anthem Lights) and Kelsey Kupecky whose maiden name is Kingsbury aka daughter of Christian fiction legend, Karen Kingsbury.
Being that I am a huge Karen Kingsbury fan, I knew that Kelsey got married and was interested in reading her and Kyle’s story. What I wasn’t prepared for was how great this book really is.
This book is written by two regular young people who are of the Christian faith and who trusted God to handle their love life, and boy did he write them one romantic story. Without spoilers, the book features alternate perspectives on their story and their history as young people in the Christian faith, touching on subjects like putting God first, quieting the noise of the world and the opinions of others, traits you’d like in a future mate, and letting the guy lead. Written in nine easy to read chapters, it’s the perfect book for any young girl twelve and up.
Overall, The Chase can be likened to the perfect catch in terms of a future mate, and reading it will ease the heart of any young woman still waiting for God’s best to enter stage right.
P.S. Aren’t they the most beautiful family you’ve ever seen? Pictured with Kyle and Kelsey is four month old Hudson Kupecky.
Lastly, Congrats to the winner of my #BeautifulUncertainty giveaway:
Being a girl can be hard but it doesn’t have to be. That time of the month can be stressful but you don’t have to let it get you down or frustrate you. How? You ask. By following these simple ten tips for a happy, comfortable, and all-around Sweet period.
1. Get plenty of rest
Before your period, you seem to start to witness that things get fuzzy and the world almost seems as if it’s literally caving in on you. Never fear. That’s just Mother Nature trying to take you out of the game. Take back your #periodpower by going to bed at a reasonable set time or an hour earlier than normal. Turn off the tv and your phone an hour before bed because electronics emit a blue light that ends up keeping you alert and awake instead of signaling to your body to start pumping out some good old fashioned melatonin, a hormone your body uses to induce sleep and put you further into REM sleep. A good night’s sleep is #1 when it comes to coping with exhaustion and crankiness.
2. Exercise
Even though most studies have shown that exercise alleviates cramps during your period, you will want to start exercising before because studies have also shown that exercise done before your period arrives actually loosens the muscles that usually cramp up during your period and you end up having very little to no cramps at all. So go for a walk, ride your bike, hit the gym, go on a hike at the local park. You’ll feel better and keep your heart healthy too. Plus, exercise releases endorphins which is the body’s natural pain reliever. #ItsAllAboutU
3. Take your herbs
When you round the corner near to when your period is about to arrive, I’m sure every girl can agree that it can seem like an angrier than usual, emotional time. Fight the hormonal rage by taking Dong Quai, an herbal supplement similar to St. John’s Wort. Typically, you can find them in most drugstores and supermarkets. Take one 530 mg capsule once daily to relieve you of all your mean thoughts and find some peace and serenity again. I have been taking Dong Quai for about three years now and I can tell you it not only works but it’s such a natural remedy. #SweetSpotandU
4. Don’t be surprised. Get a period tracking app
There’s nothing worse than being out and about, most likely, wearing white shorts or pants, and all of a sudden, you head to the restroom and BAM! you got your period. Knowing when you are going to get your period before it comes allow you to prepare for it by stocking up on products ( like Sweet Spot Labs and U by Kotex), allows you to wear or not wear the white shorts, and get more rest and be more sensitive and caring with yourself. I use the Eve app for tracking my cycle but there are a ton of them out there. One thing I love about using an app to track my period is that it will give you a detail description of how you may be feeling because you are whatever number day in your cycle and sometimes it suggests making plans with your friends or enjoying some dark chocolate.
5. Even though you want a taco inside of a Publix sub dipped in chocolate, don’t overindulge
Before your period, your brain dips in it’s serotonin levels so you naturally crave foods that create an instant happiness feeling. Instead go for whole grains and complex carbs. Some ideas: Choose baked sweet potato fries over the regular kind, or spread some Nutella on a slice of whole-grain bread. My personal favorite healthy but indulgent pre-period indulgence is a Nonni’s Triple Chocolate Biscotti with a cup of coffee but I could make that even healthier by swapping the biscotti for a pack of Nature Valley Breakfast Biscuits and coffee.
6. Enjoy caffeine but don’t over-sweeten it
Whenever I’m on my period, it feels like I just need caffeine placed in an intravenous and inserted into my arm but beware, not all caffeinated beverages are created equal. For best results, avoid sugary energy drinks like Monster and Redbull and stick to lightly sweetened green tea (two glasses a day benefit your skin and fight hormonal based acne) or lightly sweetened coffee (coffee has anti-inflammatory properties which will make your flow lighten up). Also make sure to not drink only caffeine as too much does cause cramps. Instead, stay hydrated and keep sipping iced water or sparkling water with flavor. A great period hack is Bethanny Frankel’s SkinnyGirl Grapefruit or Tangerine Mango Sparkling Water. It contains green tea extract for an extra boost and it tastes great! Plus, it’s affordable running at less than a dollar per bottle.
7. Be Good To You
With our busy schedules, sometimes it can seem like we are paying for Netflix every month and never even get to watch it. So go ahead. Take a day or two to be good to you. Get a frappuccino. Go for ice cream. Go get a mani-pedi. Buy that album, dress, or outfit you’ve had your eye on. Visit a bookstore or library. Whatever makes you feel completely serene, go and do it and enjoy every minute of it. Then, come home and binge watch all of Season 1 of Fuller House. You’ve been going, going, going. Feel guilt-free about a little rest and relaxation.
8. Feel the love
Since you are a bit more sensitive than usual, it’s totally okay to spend some QT with the ones you love most: your pets. Or your friends. Your boyfriend, or your family. Whoever loves and supports you most of the time, makes you feel good about the person you are, and helps you become better, spend some quality time with those people and go ahead, and feel the love.
9. Dress cute and snap some selfies
Taking pictures is actually a source of comfort to the youth of this generation and they may be onto something without realizing it. Dress up. Try that new eyeshadow or lipstick you bought and have your own little photoshoot. Is it a silly idea? Of course. Will it help you feel better? Yes. Save those cute pictures for the days during your period when you feel like you are the ugliest, fattest, most bloated girl on the planet and look at the pictures. Seeing yourself all dolled-up will stop the negative voices that lie to you and make you realize that you are beautiful, have value, and matter in this life. No matter whether or not your selfies got ten or one hundred likes.
10. Stock up on products that make you get in formation and slay like Beyonce
There are a lot of products out there to help girls with their period. One thing I wish somebody would work on is a pill or drink you can take that gets rid of nauseousness from your period. I suffer pretty badly every month and sometimes feel like have morning sickness without the pregnancy. So if anybody could get a head start on that, you would be my hero. Not all period products are created equal because not all periods are equal. Every girl deals with different variations of the same symptoms. Two products I love when I have my period are SweetSpot Labs Grapefruit scented feminine wash and U by Kotex Regular Ultra Thin pads. The Grapefruit scented wash makes you smell delicious from head to toe, refreshes you, and balances your PH. The Ultra Thin pads come in colorful wrapping but they are packed with the secure protection you need but don’t way you down like other pads because the ultra thin design comes complete with dri core technology to leave you fresh and comfortable for up to six hours at a time.
Right now at Target you can get a Sweet Deal on both these brands products and claim back your #periodpower! Periods can be a bummer but @ubykotex and @SweetSpotLabs are changing the game! http://ctt.ec/8LzMb+ #Sponsored #PeriodPower Click To Tweet This
As mentioned in a previous post on this site, I’ve been a loyal reader and follower of Mandy Hale since 2010, the same year I believe The Single Woman movement truly began. One thing I loved about Mandy’s first book, Dash of Sass is that it was a compilation of her blogs and tweets as The Single Woman.
Her second book, Never Been To Vegas, was a memoir of sorts where Mandy told her entire life story and as readers we discover her entire back story, as well as her launch of The Single Woman brand, Twitter, and blog site, and following her on-again off again relationship with Mr. E, who Mandy loved. I happened to be a member of Thomas Nelson’s book launch effort for this book as part of The Single Woman Crew and blogged a review of Never Been To Vegas on my personal blog. All in all, as someone who was still in college finishing up my marketing degree at the time, dreaming of becoming a publicist for an up and coming musician or author, I will always be grateful for the opportunity to be a part of #SWCrew and also happened to make a few friends that way that I still talk to now and then.
#BeautifulUncertainty is Mandy’s third book released through Thomas Nelson and is a combination effort of both of her first two books. As a loyal reader of her blog, I found the book to be a bit familiar as the book is a compilation of multiple blog posts that first appeared on The Single Woman site. Yet, there also was a heartfelt honesty in Mandy’s writing throughout (which is what we all love most about her) that gripped me from the first page all the way through to the acknowledgements.
Maybe it was the sense of familiarity that hugged me from the first page to the last but it was almost as if I was sitting at a table in a coffee shop with Mandy herself, talking about life, and having her share her faith with me. There were times the book made me smile, there were times the book made me cry, but the best part of reading this book, is it brings you right to the feet of Jesus, where you find him kneeling down with his hand on your shoulder, ready to comfort you and guide you through the beautiful uncertainties of life.
I would now ask that you share this post with everyone you know not to help me or Mandy out but because you have the chance to win a copy of Beautiful Uncertainty by doing so:
When I listen to music, I’m sometimes looking for a beat that makes me dance. Yet, most of the time, music for me is about the lyrics (unless of course, I’m listening to classical music, then the instruments tell the story). Every song has a story and I’m a huge fan of how Ellie Goulding crafts a story.
Ellie Goulding is an English singer-songwriter who was raised by her father, an undertaker, and her mother who worked at a grocery store until her parents separated at age five. Her stepfather was a truck driver and Goulding has said he was “horrible.” Although she was one of four children, her music career started early. She started playing clarinet at age nine and at age fourteen, she taught herself how to play guitar. At 15, she began songwriting and won a songwriting competition while attending Hereford Sixth Form College.
While attending University of Kent, she was exposed to electronic music and won a university talent competition and won. After winning, Jamie Lillywhite became her manager and she began working with her chief producer Starsmith, who primarily produced her album Lights.
Although Lights wasn’t released until March 2010, Ellie had early releases before that and was a rising star and started to accrue a fanbase long before her first album was released. She released “Under The Sheets” and “Guns and Horses” through an independent label despite being signed to Polydor Records. She also wrote various songs for multiple artists before her own success began to take off including Tinie Tempah. Ellie Goulding is a keen runner and a vegan. She’s also close friends with Lorde, Taylor Swift, and Katy Perry.
Her debut album Lights experimented with subgenres synthypop, indiepop, indietronica, and folktronica. It debuted at number one in the UK but at number 21 in the U.S before being certified double platinum. Her follow-up album Halycon Days stepped away from her signature electronic sound with more tribal and anthemic in sound with more piano and vocals. It debuted at number 1 in the UK and number 9 in the U.S. before being certified triple platinum.
Song by Song Review
“Introduction”: This track starts out the album with just a chorus of voices almost like a siren song that you want to listen to.
“Aftertaste:” The song begins with the backtrack heard in the introduction. It touches about two lovers who come in and out of each other’s lives and who leave each other with the memory of their time together only found in the aftertaste.
“Something in the Way you Move”: With the musicality and pop music impact of a Michael Jackson song, it was the third single off the album. It’s a dance track for sure.
“Keep On Dancin'”: This is my favorite off the album and I refer to it as the EDM version of Just Keep Swimming from the hit Disney movie Finding Nemo. It’s about not letting anything take you down and just keep moving no matter who approves or not.
“On My Mind”: The album’s lead single, it’s one of the reasons I love the way Goulding crafts a story. It’s about moving on from someone who you thought you knew, may have loved, but after the relationship has ended, you find that person is still on your mind. It returns to Goulding’s roots of synthopop.
“Around U”: Creating a new pop path in her music career, it features co-writing from Frank Gibson, and is positive in its musicality and lyrical content.
“Codes”: Co-written with pop song slayer Max Martin, it sounds like a Goulding song but has pop musicality. Lyrically it follows the frustration of when a lover talks in code and you can’t figure out what they mean and whether they are being true to you.
“Holding On For Life”: This track has folk musicality and has an infectious pop musicality as well.
“Love Me Like You Do”: Famed song off the Fifty Shades of Grey soundtrack, it features co-writing from Max Martin and blew up the pop charts.
“Don’t Need Nobody”: Goulding returns to her synthopop signature sound in this track about an independent chick that finds a guy she can’t live without.
“Don’t Panic”: This track has the musicality of a Paula Abdul song with it’s eighties pop musicality and lyrical content.
“We Can’t Move To This”: Again reminds me of a mix of Bjork and Lauryn Hill, both of which Goulding has cited as musical influences. It’s another favorite off the album strictly because of it’s dancy musicality.
“Army”: A song Goulding penned for her best friend Hannah, it’s a song about friendship that strengthens you in dark times and good times. It was the second single off the album.
“Lost and Found”: This song has the tribal musicality to remind me of Peter Pan and the Lost Boys. It was released as a promotional single off the album.
“Devotion”: This track reminds me of a mix of sounds from Lights and Halycon Days
“Scream It Out”: I love this track because it starts out with just Goulding and the piano but becomes more synthopop as the track goes along. It ends the album on a high note musically.
Since it’s November 6, 2015 release, Delirium debuted at #3 in the U.S. and has sold over 117,000 copies in the U.S. alone. One thing is certain, Goulding’s talent isn’t a case of delirium but more a natural phenomenon, similar to that of a shooting star in it’s rarity.
As a writer myself, I’m always looking for books to read on craft. In some ways, I find it cheaper and less time consuming than going for my MFA in writing. And my writing has improved according to my beta readers of various projects since I’ve started reading books on tips for the craft.
The first book I read on craft that helped me feel like I was actually learning what it means to call myself a writer was Stephen King’s On Writing. Changed my life. I quoted it for months after reading it, just ask my mom.
I came upon this book by DM offer from Danielle when she followed me on Twitter. Usually I roll my eyes when I get a DM from all the authors on Twitter but this one was the first one where instead of being asked to follow their Facebook page or Instagram account, I was being offered a free book that may or may not help me with my writing. Now that’s quite a loaded DM if you ask me. 🙂
Overall, this review will be short because I have nothing but good things to say about the book.
The book is eight chapters long and is split between the author’s actual journal entries and explanations of how the entry shows a tip toward making your craft better. One thing I loved is that after months of being told by beta readers to show, don’t tell, Hanna finally got me to understand it in a way that stuck. I’m not saying I’m an expert on it yet but I suddenly get the difference. The author’s journal entries read so much like fiction I was blown away. Her writing talent mirrors that of another favorite of mine, Cassandra Clare. I hope that after reading this book I can write as succinctly and flowing as Danielle does. Conclusively, if you want to become a writer or become a better writer, or struggling to sell books and wondering why, please consider getting this book at any bookseller. You won’t be sorry you did.
Before Sia was singing of swinging from chandeliers or being made of titanium with David Guetta, she was Sia Furler, born December 18, 1975 in Adelaide, South Australia. She began her career as a young child imitating her musical influences, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, and Sting. After being part of a jazz band named Crisp from 1994-1997, she moved to London in 1997 and performed background and lead vocals for various artists including Jamiroquai before signing with Sony Music’s label imprint Dancing Pool. Prior to this, Sia released her debut album OnlySee independentlybut it only sold 1200 copies. With Sony Music, Sia released her second album, Healing is Difficult. Displeased with how the album was promoted, Sia fired her manager, and left Sony Music, signing with UMG subsidiary, Go! Beat.
In 2004, Furler released her third album, Colour the Small One. Once again, the album was poorly marketed. She relocated to New York in 2005. She left Zero 7, her Australia Band that began her music career, and in 2008, released her fourth studio album, Some People have Real Problems. It not only charted high in Australia but charted at number 26 in the U.S. which makes it Sia’s first album to chart in the U.S.
Being that her fame was slowly rising like steam in the U.S. she was approached by pop singer Christina Auguliera to help write her sixth studio album. Bionic contains three songs co-written by Furler. In 2011, she wrote the song “Titanium” for Alicia Keys but it was later sent to David Guetta and he kept her demo vocals on the track and it became a worldwide success. Sia was upset about this because she had just retired as a pop artist and was trying to become a songwriter only. Before this, Sia had released her fifth studio album, We are Born. From the David Guetta fiasco, she co-wrote songs for Beyonce, FloRida, and Rihanna from 2011 to 2013.
In October 2013, “Elastic Heart” was used in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. In July 2014, Sia released her sixth studio album, 1000 Forms of Fear. She released it in order to finish out her record contract but with the worldwide success of the album, she decided to work on a follow-up album and continue writing her own music.
In 2008 until 2011, Sia suffered from suicidal depresssion going so far as writing a suicide note. Following her depression, she was diagnosed with Graves’ disease- an autoimmune disease that causes symptoms of an overactive thyroid. Because it was so hush-hush, a lot of people aware of Sia are unaware that she was married to Erik Anders Lang on August 2, 2014.
On January 29, 2016, Sia released her seventh studio album This is Acting. It’s a compilation of songs that were rejected by other pop artists such as Adele and Rihanna. Musically, the album has a electropop sound with soul influences. The album is called This is Acting because most of the songs were written for other artists and Furler said when she wrote it and later recorded it, she felt like she was play acting with it because it wasn’t necessarily something she would say.
Song by Song Review
“Bird Set Free”: With this song, which was originally written for the Pitch Perfect 2 soundtrack, it was then pitched to Rihanna then recorded by Adele before being cut from the final 25 album. Sia’s vocals soar on this song about not giving up even in the face of death.
“Alive”: With this song, originally written for Adele but rejected at the last minute, it’s a song that motivates as no matter the obstacles, the speaker isn’t going to let it defeat or destroy her. I think Sia sounds better singing it herself than Adele may have sounded.
“One Million Bullets”:The only song on the album that wasn’t written for anyone else, it definitely has Sia’s trademark sound that was primarily showcased on 1000 Forms of Fear.
“Move Your Body”: Despite Sia’s ballad signature, this song doesn’t disappoint with it’s dancy sound and EDM-stylistic elements.
“Unstoppable”: This song almost sounds like Demi Lovato’s “Confident,” and some people believe it was intentionally written for Lovato. It’s one of my favorites off the album because of it’s pop anthem theme.
“Cheap Thrills”: It was also written for Rihanna, and definitely has the sound of a Rihanna song despite being rejected. I like the message and musical stylings of the track: having fun with just a dance floor and some good music, no money needed. It’s another one of my favorites off the album.
This song was co-written with Kanye West for Rihanna but Sia liked it so much she decided to keep it for herself. I like it because it follows the theme of not giving up your life for anything or anyone like “Bird Set Free” and “Alive.”
This song is about needing someone so much you burn with desire for them. This track is another one of my favorites because of its electropop sound and lyrical content.
This song reminds me of the Christian poem Footprints about someone that carries you threw some of the darkest times of your life. In the original poem, this is Jesus but with this song, it could apply to anyone.
This track contains elements of Sisqo’s hit song, “Thong Song,” and Sia even references it throughout the song. I like the overall musicality of this track.
With this track, Sia returns to her ballad style singing in this track about not giving up on a romance that appears to be weathering storm after storm.
With the final track on the album, Sia creates a dark vibe that has a haunted sound. I would have to say this track is a masterpiece in itself about the death of a love between two people, and reminisces “Cellophane” from 1000 Forms of Fear.
This is Acting peaked in the U.S. at number four on the Billboard Hot 200 in it’s debut week. Despite being written for other people, the songs not only sound like Sia signatures but further prove her talent is far from an act.
I’ll be honest. The Grammys actually rank low on my own personal totem pole when it comes to music award shows just because they are equivalent to the academy awards where they are boring as hell and very very dry. Now I know a lot of people just side-eyed the screen but let me explain why:
The Grammys are one of the highest accolades a musical artist could hope for but that doesn’t mean the show is exactly entertaining.
Last night in Los Angeles, the show was opened by Taylor Swift singing her newest single off her album 1989, “Out of The Woods.”
This performance was followed by Sam Hunt and Carrie Underwood doing a mash-up medley of their hits. Some fans say Sam butchered “Heartbeat” but I thought they both did a great job.
Some lows of the Grammys were definitely Adele having technical difficulties during her return performance on the Grammys stage.
Another low was speculation that Taylor Swift robbed Kendrick Lamar of an Album of the Year win. I feel that last night proved that the country as a whole is sick of Taylor Swift because I saw memes making fun of her haircut and the above picture of Tori Kelly went viral because that was the face she was giving Taylor during her acceptance speech. I was happy for Taylor because she got to acknowledge Kanye West’s claims that because he interrupted her acceptance speech at the VMA’s back in 2009, he made her famous or relevant. Let’s get real here, Kanye. Taylor’s talent alone speaks for itself. You haven’t released anything of value since Stronger. Please stop the Twitter rants in an effort to publicize your album because I’m sure plenty of people will buy it simply because you are Kanye West.
Some highs at the Grammys
Demi Lovato slaying during the Lionel Richie tribute.
Kendrick Lamar put on a crazy poetic performance highlighting racism while performing his single, “Alright”
Lastly, my girl Tori Kelly did a mash-up performance with James Bay. And they both sounded way too good not to make us all hope for a future collaboration
Congratulations to all the winners! This means you are officially the best in your genre.
As much as I’m excited for a lot of my favorites in pop finally getting acknowledged by the Grammy Foundation, I really hope they will get a little more lively next year.
The movie is armed with an all-star cast including Rebel Wilson, Dakota Johnson, Leslie Mann, and Alison Brie. The movie follows these four women as Alice’s character comes out of a long-term relationship and goes off to find out who she is. With her new job at a law firm, she meets Robin who is an expert at being single, and she goes about teaching her the stereotypical way to go about being single (partying every night, having sex with any guy that shows interest, waking up hungover the next morning) but when Alice meets up with her ex and asks him to take her back. She’s surprised to find he’s moved on with someone else.
Without giving more away than necessary, I will end with saying that this isn’t your typical raunchy romantic comedy. What you go to the movies thinking you will see isn’t what you leave having seen. It actually holds an amazing message in favor of the single life, and that’s totally refreshing for a movie that was released on Valentine’s Day weekend.
My Smart Cookie Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
How To Be Single debuted in third grossing 18.7 million in its opening weekend at the box office.
Hailing from Rumson, New Jersey and at only 24 years old, Charlie Puth first caught our attention as the lead vocalist who croons the chorus of Wiz Kahlifa’s award winning song “See You Again” for Fast and Furious 7.
At the young age of two, Puth suffered a near fatal dog bite incident that damaged his right eyebrow. At age 12, he began his music career unofficially by participating in a jazz ensemble in Red Bank, NJ. Despite attending regular high school, from 7th to 12th grade, he attended Manhattan School of Music pre-college, majoring in jazz piano and minoring in classical music. From here, he went to college on a full scholarship at Berklee College of Music where he majored in music production and engineering. He graduated in 2013.
His music career sprung into action when Puth began a Youtube channel called Charlies Vlogs, where he released his first single, “These Are My Sexy Shades” in 2010. Charlie Puth was originally signed to Ellen Degenerees label, eleveneleven but left in 2013. In 2015, he signed with Atlantic Records. Prior to the release of his debut album, Nine Track Mind, he was a feature act on the 2015 Jingle Ball Tour.
Song by Song Review
“One Call Away”: A song he wrote with his best friends in L.A. it showcases Puth’s songwriting style as well his signature musical style of pure vocals across a piano track.
“Marvin Gaye”: The debut single off his album released with Atlantic Records, the track is all about the heat of passion between two people who just met, and features Puth’s friend and fellow pop artist, Meghan Trainor.
“Dangerously”: One of my favorites off the album, I relate to the message of the song and love the musicality of the track because it’s got a soul pop vibe. Puth himself tweeted that the part of the song where he sings, “knew we would crash at the speed that we were going” part took about 100 times to get right. You can’t even tell, Charlie. Either way, your voice sounds as smooth as spoonful of brownie cheesecake ice cream from Ben & Jerry’s.
“Losing My Mind”: I feel like this track should be my text notification since I am probably losing my mind 21 out of 24 hours a day. Puth explains the song as a track on an emotional day when he felt like he was the worst songwriter in the world and that he was losing his mind. Sounds like he fixed his writer’s block with this song.
“We Don’t Talk Anymore”: A great song that I can dedicate to my ex since things there ended entirely terribly. This is my favorite track on the album because I love the back and forth between Selena Gomez and him on this track as well as the overall musicality of the track.
“My Gospel”: Love the musicality of this track as well as the overall message of the song. Now if only I could get a guy who looks like Charlie Puth to sing this to me because he dedicates it to me. This song was co-written by Josh Kear, most known for writing the hit Carrie Underwood song “Before He Cheats.”
“Up All Night”: Puth’s vocals and jazz piano backtrack make this sound a lot like the sequel to “One Call Away.” He wrote this while doing head stands according to Puth’s Twitter page. This track is incredibly relatable for anyone who’s ever had a crush. Bravo, Charlie.
“Left Right Left”: Another piano ballad that talks about that moment when time has past and you finally start picking yourself up and moving on with your life after a breakup that you thought would destroy you for good. Ironically, Puth recorded this song on a hover board and he fell really hard during the recording session.
“Then There’s You”: Max Martin added his own personal touch to this track but this has the makings of being as popular as Bieber’s “One Less Lonely Girl” if it becomes a single. If not, I enjoy the pop musicality of the track and only hope I can get married one day to this song.
“Suffer”: This track reminds me of a Temptations song, and makes me feel as though I’ve transported back to the fifties with it’s malt milkshake diner vibe but Puth wrote this about a girl that was messing with his mind.
“As You Are”: Ok so I stand corrected. This is my absolute favorite track on the album. This track was co-written by Shy Carter Mayne. Also, Charlie if you ever want to have a shotgun wedding to someone you don’t really know, I’m only one call away 😉
“Some Type of Love”: The song that helped him get a record deal with Atlantic Records, this was written and recorded in his parent’s house. The perfect song to listen to on Valentine’s Day.
So far, Nine Track Mind has debuted at #6 on the Billboard Hot 200. Puth may be one call away but he’s definitely a someone you should watch out for. His music will have you losing your mind because it’s just that good.
The Smart Cookie Philes 