The Not So Famous Songs

Sometimes, I just can't agree with the Billboard charts. Some of the songs that are at the top seem so generic. So, I decided to post my top five songs, that aren't so famous. I consider "famous" to mean they've cracked the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100. These songs are a mix of genres, ranging from pop to rap, to a more indie style. But I think all of them deserve their placement. (Placement is in order).

#5. Chasing the Sun by The Wanted

I usually abhor the songs that boy-bands make, because to be honest, most boy-bands only specialize in pop. But, I feel like this song is not just pop, but dance as well. Remember that awkward prom, you went to as teenagers, where you needed a song to get the bravery to dance? This is that song. Of course, it helps that this song is featured in Ice Age 4: Continental Drift, and "Glad You Came" is still stuck in the minds of many. Either way, though it may not be a tear-evoking, deep, meaningful crescendo of music, I'll give it props for getting me to sing along.

#4. Settle Down by No Doubt

No Doubt just has a style that no other band will ever be able to pull off. The whole song is just laid back and smooth, similar to reggae, but different at the same time. And it still has that catchy tune stuck in the middle of it. Like a true band, there aren't only vocals, but you can hear all the instruments. The beat just makes you want to bop along, even if you do look like a lunatic when you do. And of course, the vocals just sound too cool, courtesy of Gwen Stefani. Definitely a top pick. 

#3. One More Night by Maroon 5

A lot of fans don't like the new direction in music that Maroon 5 is going in, but I understand: ten years of the same thing can get tiring. "One More Night" just reminds me of the kind of light reggae and spot on vocals that you just have to sing along too. What first caught my attention was the unique "ooh"-ing that Adam Levine pulls off in the beginning (and through out the song). Though it may sound weird at first, it grows on you--and not in a bad way. It's different from most pop songs because of this. 

#2. Both of Us By B.o.B. featuring Taylor Swift

This song did make a decent hit on the Billboard Hot 100--but I have never heard it, not once on the radio. Unfortunately, no one I know has either. But this song is probably one of those rare gems you find in pop music--where you can find a deeper meaning to a song. And it actually is obvious. B.o.B. uses his usual rap magic here. This time, you can hear the personal lyrics. It delves a bit into society too, which is always a plus to me. Taylor Swift's portion just makes for the icing on the cake. But in total, this is the song you listen to when you need that hope.

#1. The A Team by Ed Sheeran

This song is just absolutely beautiful. I don't understand how Ed Sheeran was able to write something that just makes utter sense, while managing to sound poetic. And the guitar alone is a song in itself. But on the Billboard Hot 100, the song has been hanging out in the "top" nineties. Either way, this song is one of the few that proves to us that music other than pop music is still alive, running, and going strong. It takes real talent to get a song like this, one that you can listen to over and over again without getting tired.

Well there you have it! My Top Five! (Click on links to see videos in new tab; the links are the names of the songs). A bit diverse, considering I had some slow songs, some pop songs, some rap songs, and some dance songs, mixed with pop/reggae. But I tried not to be biased, and picked songs that I thought didn't have so much recognition (because that just takes the fun out of it all). Regardless, those songs were some of the coolest.

Hate it, love it, or care less!

~Banana Win

A Collection of Pet Peeves and Real Time Happenings

There are just certain things about people that can make me want to wring their necks.
Well, not literally.

You see, you know those small things that just get on your nerves? Pet peeves? I have a few.

Okay, maybe not a few.

But I'll just name a few.

#1. Say it, Don't Spray it!

I absolutely hate it when people blab on and on (oftentimes about something I could care less about) and to top it off, what do they do? They spray their spittle all over my face. That isn't enjoyable. You know what makes it worse? When they don't even realize they're like a sprinkler over there with their mouth.

#2. I'd rather not smell you.

I think everyone has encountered someone, at least once in their life, who needs deodorant--and doesn't use it. I have met some of these people. One of them went as far as to say that she doesn't need deodorant, because her "sweat smells nice." In what demented world does sweat have a sweet aroma? No, to me, sweat is sweat, and it is stinky. And say that someone did have odorless sweat? I would love to meet that person. It's a rule teenagers learn from the time they hit puberty: if you want to keep everyone happy, put the deo on.

#3. Drinking from other people's cups.

Okay, now this one might sound a little prissy. It's not like I haven't drank from other people's cups or bottles before. But those were desperate times. And desperate times call for desperate measures. But sometimes there are those people who just slobber all over the top of a bottle, so much that you can see their spit. And then all I can imagine is "oh my good lord, I am just ingesting more and more saliva." Ew. It goes the same with cups. I am a clean freak, and I repeatedly drown cups in water till they smell clean. Let's just pin it on a minor, minor case of OCD.

#4. Having the toilet seat up/down.

So this pet peeve goes two ways. When a guy just leaves the seat up, I get irritated. Is it so much to ask to put the seat back into its proper position? Same with those seat slammers. When you're in a rush, and you need to go, it can get annoying to do all that shifting. Lesson learned.

 #5. People who chew with their mouth open.

This one I am pretty lenient on. I mean, certain things just don't fit right in your mouth. But when it gets to a point where it's beyond disgusting, I put my fork down. (Never use that pun. It's terrible). We're all glad that you're enjoying your food, but we don't need to see tht process.

#6. The Fake Friends

Don't know who I'm talking about? I'm talking about those people who are always "nice" to you. "Nice" in quotations because they act nice, and then say things that have double-bladed meanings. Example: "Aw, you got an A minus on the math test? That's too bad." And that's after that "A minus" was your best grade in the class. Cue the death glares. Or maybe "That dress is really pretty, but did it shrink in the dryer? That's why you have to air-dry those kinds." Now that's a double whammy. Insulting someone's weight and laundry skills! But I think you get my point. I've come across my share of fake friends. Unfortunately, if you're mean to them, you get the same treatment, so I'd best say to keep calm and go with it.

Interlude

The rain just had to interrupt my lovely reminiscing. I would say it were raining cats and dogs, but that would be a lie. All I see are leaves falling everywhere, wind whipping everything, and random attacks at my window, courtesy of the wonderful rain. Not. My window is a blurred mess right now. Anyway, enough rambling about the annoying sprays of water (maybe that could be another pet peeve of mine? random water attacks?) Let's go!

Alright, I have one last pet peeve for all you random readers who can probably care less about what some even more random person has to say.

#7. When someone thinks it's just fine to take your things.

Okay, you may be a little confused here. But I've had family and friends who think that because they are just so close to me (and that doesn't necessarily mean personally--I don't think the term blood is thicker than water applies to me), they can randomly come in and use something of mine. Usually it is something electronic, say a tablet or something. And no, I'm not some uptight rich, snooty patootie person. It was a gift. Moving on. I just hate it when people waltz into my room, take said item, and proceed to use it. Or ask oh so innocently if they can use something of mine. It would just cause some stupid argument if I said no. I guess what my point is, is that I don't like when people touch/ use things of mine, and think it's perfectly fine. Because it's not.

Well there you have it, a few of pet peeves that makes this girl tic. Okay, that was probably my worst pun yet. Oh well. If you didn't notice, I posted a short "article" of sorts about paradoxes, so if you're interested, scroll below. I wouldn't mind a comment or two about what you think of my blog, but it doesn't matter to me either way.

Have fun, drink lots of water, and eat junk!

~Banana Win

Schrödinger's Cat?

I'm going to be posting twice today! And here comes the infinite silence in place of cheers and whooping.
...
But yes! This first post is going to be something a little special. This past week, I created a newsletter, creatively (not) titled "OPINION." It's about what it says. Opinions on various things. But I did throw some fun things in there, such as this next piece that I will share with you.

SCHRÖDINGER'S CAT? Paradoxes have been pondered over for centuries.  From physics to logic, there are some things we just can’t wrap our head around.

Schrödinger’s Cat is just one example of the many paradoxes that plague today’s world.

The situation describes a cat in a steel box. The cat is put inside either with some poisonous gas. In one minute, the poison will either be leaked, or nothing will happen. There is a fifty percent chance of either situation happening. However, we don’t know which outcome will occur.

In the end though, once we open the box, only then will we learn of the cat’s fate.

Here is where the paradox lies. While the cat is in the box, there are two outcomes. Once the box is opened there is only one. So, while the cat is in the box, it will either see the poison being leaked, or it will see nothing. Regardless, however, until the box is opened, we cannot be sure.

Quantum physics wise, it is said that the cat is a sort of equilibrium, in which it is neither dead nor alive. Only when the box is opened does one disposition have to be chosen. Confusing, right?

Of course, there have been many theories about this cat. Some say, there could be a parallel universe, one in which the cat is dead, one in which the cat is alive. Others stick with the previous theory: a state is chosen when the box is opened.

In the end, though, this is one of the biggest paradoxes that still elude us.

THE GRANDFATHER PARADOX

The Grandfather Paradox is a bit easier to understand (as it is not physics); but still is a brain twister nonetheless.

In this paradox, we have to use our imagination a little bit.

A young man travels back in time (of course, we have to imagine that this were possible). When he reaches “the past,” he murders his grandfather. How is it then, he is born in the future to go back and murder his grandfather?

This paradox is all about time. If the young man did manage to kill his grandfather, then how is it his father, and eventually he himself was born? If he were never born, that would mean he would have never travelled back in time, which would mean he would never murder his grandfather. This circles back around to the logic that if his grandfather never died, he still has the young man’s father, who still has the young man who started this mess.

THE TWIN PARADOX

Albert Einstein was the one who thought of this paradox. His idea started out with two identical twins. One of the twins travelled into space (in a spaceship travelling near the speed of light). The other stayed on Earth. The twin that went into space continued travelling at the same speed for a while, and then decided to turn back home. However, when he arrived back, he discovered that his twin had aged significantly more than him.

Here is where the mind twister comes in. Because the twin in space is travelling so fast, time is dilated. Meaning, that for him, time goes slower than for his other twin. Therefore, when he comes home, more time has passed than he has recorded.

So much for being identical.

~*~

So that was my little bit. I hope I interested you (though I seriously doubt that, considering I was talking about quantum mechanics at one point), and even if I didn't, I just proved that I am more of a geek/nerd than anyone first thought.

~ Banana Win

                           

The Tale of the Terrorized Celebrity

There are times when I feel really, really sorry for celebrities.
Why?
They have to deal with so much...drama.

Not only are there tabloids, magazines, television, paparazzi--basically all kinds of media--that broadcast their lives...but even just on the internet, there are so many rumors.

Before I went about writing this, I looked around some social networking sites. (After reading all sorts of terrible things, I am so glad I play no part of the websites).

Did you know that some celebrities have to deal with their own fans hating on them? Does that sound farfetched to you? I didn't believe it at first.

Before I delve into that concept, let's take a moment to think about what celebrities are. They usually are talented people who are involved in popular things. Singers and actors/actresses are just a few of the different kinds of stars. Of course, they probably deal with the most crazy fans and haters as well. But if we really just look at what celebrities are--they're humans. They used to be normal people. They used to be treated like normal people. And lastly, if you honestly think about it, they are strangers. You probably don't know them. I certainly don't know them. And most people don't know them.

So here's where the sad part comes in.

I stumbled across a twitter profile of a singer. And happened to find some twitter drama. I'll put the situation into basic terms. The celebrity (yes he was famous) talks about meeting up with some friends. Said friends happen to be girls. What happens next? Fans reply. Most of the tweets were a range of things along the lines of 'That's not really smart of you' and similar things. Those were related to such things like rumors.  And then, there were some really horrid things, blatantly insulting the friends of the singer.

And that's where the drama begins. I'm sure if anyone insults your friends, you would step up to defend them, correct? Well, it seems that when celebrities do that...a lot of things happen.

First of all, the person to whom the celebrity replies to gets a lot of trouble.

See, when one famous person comments on something...all the famous person's followers do what they always do--they follow. So the one person who said something insulting suddenly gets a lot of hate.

Now. The person who commented shouldn't have said what they had said. The singer had all rights to defend what he had said. All the haters that attacked the commenter? They had absolutely no reason to do so.

I think this is a concept we all learned in kindergarten. If someone hits you, don't hit back. But in the case of big-names, a famous person doesn't even have to hit back. All of the supporters will do that for them. And I think that's really wrong.

You want to know why? Hating someone, and blatantly telling them so, is bullying. I think it's fair to say that it is never right to bully someone, even if they said something mean. No one deserves that. It's no celebrities fault, I doubt that many really realize the impact of small things. It's those people who inflate a small thing to a huge size, and terrorize other strangers. They are the ones who are in the wrong.

But do you see what these celebrities have to deal with?

I think people think fame is all good, but they never realize the downside to it. I never thought fans would actually get mad at a celebrity (someone they don't know personally) if they were rumored to be dating. And unfortunately, it is the male celebrities who get the brunt of that mess. Because let's face it, fan girls will be fan girls. And sometimes, fan girls just really take it too far.

I guess I will never understand the whole concept of "heart"-ing someone or "loving" someone just because they're famous. I just can't comprehend the idea. I also find it kind of shocking how people can obsess over famous people. It must be one of those elusive and unspoken things that no one can quite put their finger on. But it gives me reason to be slightly scared of fan girls (and I have friends who are fan girls).

So there you have it. The tale of the terrorized celebrity.

~Banana Win

Get the Gavel, MY Jury's out.

[NOTE: I mean no offense to anyone in this post, and I apologize if you are offended.]

So today's post is about something that has always bothered me. Particularly, it bothered me when I first met this group of boys, two years ago.

You could have written "JUDGE" all over their foreheads. Nearly all of them judged me by superficial things, like my outward appearance. They, of course, never had a proper conversation with me, they simply decided that, because I looked "weird" on the outside, that I was "unfit to be in their presence." What does that mean? That means they basically teased and argued with me all year long.

And that, my friends, is when I first realized that I hated judgmental people. You know, the types of people that look at a person first off and decide what they think of them.

It's really sad actually. I stumbled across a quote the other day. It really showed just how hurtful judging someone could be.

It reads:

"See that girl right there?
The one you just called fat?
She's been starving herself, and she's lost over 30 pounds.
The one you just called stupid?
She has a learning disability, she studies 6 hours per night.
The one you just called ugly?
She spends over 3 hours putting makeup on.
The one you just called baby?
You would be crying too if your mother was dead.
The one you just tripped?
I think she's abused enough at home.
There's a lot more to a person than you think."

- Unknown

I don't know if people realize this, but by judging someone, they can be a bully. And if they're judging someone discreetly, they are just being mean. 

Now let's go back to that group of boys. And let's just see how they judged me.

They've laughed when they saw the bad grades I've gotten in math. Apparently, they don't understand that I didn't understand what we were learning. That I had studied my butt off to get that low grade. But of course, they didn't know that. They just judged. 

I laugh like crazy, because I'm just so happy. They think I'm weird, and not smart enough to be included in their conversations. (Since obviously, I have serious issues for laughing because I found something funny.)

Once, when I called my father stupid and a loser, one of them told me that's where I must have gotten my traits from. He didn't realize that my parents were divorced, and that my father had said things that he should never have said. But of course, he just went on judging. 

I brushed off every single one of their comments, because I knew they were below me for saying those mean things.

And that's why, I find it absolutely despicable when people talk without thinking, and judge people almost immediately. Without even knowing them. I once judged someone, once in my life. Of course, it was a complete stranger, but I felt so bad.

Because I know what it's like to be judged.

When I'm laughing like a maniac with my group of friends, after we just cracked bad joke after bad joke--and I'm called crazy. Or weird. Or even "dense." Dense in the head of course. Did that make me feel good? No. Of course not.

If I don't like something, that's fine. But if I don't like something--and it's because of a reason in which I judged someone--that's not fine. 

I don't like One Direction or Justin Beiber. What does that mean? That means I don't like their music. I don't know how they are in real life. I can't judge their personalities--and I won't. 

So it really annoys me when friends start judging people around them as well. Because, they're my friends after all. I don't know how many times I've cast a disappointed look at a few of my friends, because they've judged someone without meaning it.

Once, I was asked why I was hanging out with this one girl. She was considered really weird, by the person who asked me at least. With all the rumors around her that she cut herself.

I snapped to the girl's defense. You know why? That girl was bullied. Called names, put down. She was on medication, as well.

I recently stumbled upon a certain band's flips (videos). Of course, my inner comedian called out to me. Since I was laughing my butt off. So I sent it to a friend of mine. Who proceeded to describe them as: 

"They look kind of drunk."

and

"They sound like a bunch of idiots."

Now, I know my friend didn't mean anything by it. Or, at least I hope not. (Her words were the inspiration for this post, after all.) But I couldn't help but think of all the times I've been judged because I've acted crazily. And sure, I have never met the band, but it wasn't just the fact that she was insulting them that got me aggravated (I do like them, but it was her opinion). It was the fact that she so easily judged someone (she could dislike them all she wanted). But she blatantly judged them. By one video.

Just like times and times ago, a certain group of boys judged me by first look.

So the next time you see someone, don't jump to conclusions. Don't judge.

Because trust me, when you're judged, it hurts.




 










~Banana Win


P.S. Want to take a few seconds to scroll down and rate my blog? It'd be awesome if you did!

OMG, LOL, IKR!

Ah, a beautiful day, time to check the old email: NOT.
I'll explain.

I don't want to see:

LOL!
or,

OMG, IKR!
or even,

LMAO, LOLOLOL, WTH, LOLOLOL!

You know what I want to say to that? What the f---

Wait, let me put it in understandable terms: WTF IS WRONG WIT U?
Ah, my English teacher would be proud. 

I'll admit, I've used the "ikr" in emails before. Even the "tmi." But I know when its a problem when half the email responses I get look like: :) ikr.

Way to be creative and meaningful, all with the use of five characters. True genius, right there. 
No. Just, no.
And then there comes texting. Where spelling is even worse, and the emoticons are overly used. Do I look like I want my cellphone to be cluttered up with: 

Because that is the highlight of my life. (Note the sarcasm). In fact, we might as well add the infamous smileys to our keyboards:

Fits in just perfectly, doesn't it?

Don't get me wrong, I use shortcuts and emoticons all the time. But I still make time for those meaningful emails, those rant-filled ramblings. Because honestly, those are way more interesting to write and reply to. 

I mean, how am I supposed to reply to: ikr.

And how I am I supposed to reply to this? :D

I think I've made my point.

So the next time you click reply to an email, or answer a text, try to remember to not sound like a total idiot. A little is okay. ;)

~Banana Win

The Ramblings of a Random Girl

Alright, so instead of my usual shin-dig of criticizing something, or ranting about something, I decided to do something a bit different today. The other day, I was getting annoyed with my writing (while writing in my journal), so I hopped on my laptop and started ranting. Writing in a kind of digital journal mode. Here's an excerpt from my ranting. Enjoy :D

You see, when you’re faced with the prospect of writing down a day’s worth of what you’ve done, a bunch of complete crap manages to include itself. But, I have more depth than just a simple, “I ate breakfast, dinner, but oh, I skipped lunch,” kind of deal. I have these thoughts, which just force themselves out of my head. Occasionally, they are forced onto paper, and I do manage to not sound like an insipid ten year old. But usually, they like to stay to the back recesses of my mind, where no one has ever gone. And what’s the point of that?

So here I am, trying to not sound like your average dimwit. I don’t think it’s working. I don’t exactly know what it is, but when it comes to writing, I am a perfectionist. If I ever read through any of my older works, or even my past journals, I have the urge to edit—whether it be taking out that multi-colored pen and attacking the paper, or hastily backspacing on my laptop. Fun. (Note the sarcasm). Interesting, isn’t it? I like to write—no, love to write—and I find the urge to edit…but when it comes to the editing, I hate to do it. It’s almost as if my fingers force me to edit, and I have no choice, no matter how lazy I am, or how exhausted I feel.

I actually think that may be a good thing. After all, being the perfectionist can often give you great rewards in the end, right? Well, maybe not. But it certainly makes me feel proud when I’ve finished a work of writing, and edited it to perfection. It also makes me feel better that I can’t be ashamed of what I’ve written.

I think every writer has that moment of weakness. Whether it be the second before they are ready to click the mouse to the words “upload” on a writing website, or if they are far ahead and it is the day before their book hits the public. Either way, that moment of weakness has always been a fault of mine. The one novel that I have, the one ‘baby’ of mine, as I so affectionately call it, it has been through a lot. In the past three and a half years, since it first birthed itself in my brain—now that I look back at that sentence that sounds quite disturbing—but anyways. When I first thought of the idea, of course I penned it down. I wrote more than just a bloody twenty pages, I’m sure. And then, on a sudden urge to edit it—I scrapped it and started over.

Even as I type these words I find the urge to go back and add a sentence or two, just to make myself clearer. I’m going to have to restrain myself.

But continuing with this novel of mine, that wasn’t the last time I scrapped it completely. No, I’m afraid the novel had four beginnings—yes, I scrapped it three times. Currently I’m on my third—or is it fourth?—rewrite of the novel, and I’m hoping to make it to the end this time. You see, every single time that I’ve scrapped it, it has been because it was beyond the point where editing could save it. And so, for that reason, I never made it to the end. And boy, this end I’ve been waiting for, for a long time. You see, it is one of those endings, which just encourage a writer to keep writing and writing, because it just sounds so good. And mine? It has the twist of irony that makes me want to laugh and cry at the same time—because although it is one of the greatest endings that someone as menial as I could think of, it creates this one problem (or blessing, if you think of it that way): it requires a sequel be written.

Now keep in mind, I have no issues with that actual fact, I love this story. But with the amount of time it has taken to get this far with this one book, I can’t help but wonder if the second book will follow in its footsteps. Of course, many circumstances have changed[...]* But writing always grows, and I’m sure I haven’t reached my complete potential…or I hope so at least. But that’s just being positive. And then, there’s always the pressure that is put on an author—or really, the pressure an author puts on him/herself. To make sure the sequel isn’t categorized into the “Oh, the first one was good, but the sequel just brought it down.” Many great authors have been subject to that.

 Take Cornelia Funke, and the Inkheart Trilogy. All her fans stayed with her through all three books, simply to know the fate of the beloved (or not so beloved) characters. But I think we all knew that the moment the second book arrived, it just wasn’t as good as the first. And the third book? No, just no. And there is the perfect example. She is an amazing writer, of course, but since such an amazing writer managed to fall into the sequel curse, how could a not as good writer avoid it? Point said, and done.

However, for now I will just return to my goal of finishing my novel, and hope that it wasn’t the most stupid thing I’ve ever written. 

*Sentence removed.

Yeah, I did remove a sentence...but that's just random. So that's my excerpt. I'm pretty positive no one reading this enjoyed it. But who cares? 

And also, I have nothing against Cornelia Funke! She is a great writer! I was just a tad disappointed by the follow ups to "Inkheart."