"Beautiful" Songs

If ever there was truly a mixed bag of songs, this is it. The theme here is obvious – all the songs have the word "Beautiful" somewhere in their titles. Enjoy!  ~  JH

1)  The Henningsens  ~  "American Beautiful"

2)  MercyMe  ~  "Beautiful"

3)  G. Love ft. Tristan Prettyman  ~  "Beautiful"

4)  Sixx:A.M.  ~  "Life Is Beautiful"

5)  The Green Children  ~  "Life Was Beautiful (Part I)"

6)  Gungor  ~  "Beautiful Things"

7)  Jon McLaughlin  ~  "Beautiful Disaster"

8)  Eminem  ~  "Beautiful"

9)  Girls Aloud  ~  "Beautiful 'Cause You Love Me"

10)  Jonny Diaz  ~  "A More Beautiful You"

11)  Ace Of Base  ~  "Beautiful Life"

12)  311  ~  "Beautiful Disaster"

13)  Joe Cocker  ~  "You Are So Beautiful"

14)  P.O.D.  ~  "Beautiful"

15)  Labrinth ft. Emeli Sandé  ~  "Beneath Your Beautiful"

16)  Damian Marley ft. Bobby Brown  ~  "Beautiful"

17)  James Blunt  ~  "You're Beautiful"

18)  Marilyn Manson  ~  "The Beautiful People"  (Yikes, this dude's scary!)

19)  Christina Aguilera  ~  "Beautiful"

20)  Needtobreathe  ~  "Something Beautiful"

A Literal Interpretation Of Vanilla Ice's "Ice Ice Baby"

I told you there'd be more of these to come, assuming the first one was well-received. As of this writing, my Jay-Z interpretation song has gotten 35 hits, which is more than good enough for me. I hope you'll also enjoy this word-for-word, line-by-line interpretation of an iconically laughable "rap" song. For side-by-side comparison, you can read the original lyrics here.  ~  JH

"Ice Ice Baby"

as performed by Vanilla Ice

Hello, Very Important Person, let us begin!

Frozen water, frozen water, infant!

Frozen water, frozen water, infant!

All right! Halt, work together, and pay attention!

I have returned and I brought something which I invented.

Something has a firm grip on me.

I move steadily like a sea spear every day and every night.

Will it ever cease? I am not sure.

Extinguish the lights and marvel as I glow in the dark.

I am extremely adept at speaking into a microphone

In the same way that a vandal is skilled
At destroying people's property.

I am electrifying when I am on stage.

I cover gullible people in wax as though they were candles.

Dance! Advance rapidly toward the loud, resonant speaker.

I am destroying your brain in the same way that mycetism does.

Whenever I play a delightful melody, I am lethal.

If I am not giving you my best, it is a serious crime.

You may love it or you may choose to leave it alone.

Either way, you had better make way for me.

You had better be on target, because I am not playing games.

If there was a conflict, hello, I will resolve it.

Listen to the chorus while my disc jockey spins the record.

Frozen water, frozen water, infant!

White rapper!

Frozen water, frozen water, infant!

White rapper!

Frozen water, frozen water, infant!

White rapper!

Now everyone at the party seems to be enjoying themselves.

The bass line has started, and the Vegas are inflating.

Do not beat around the bush, be genuine.

Much like one would fry bacon, I sauté other rappers.

I burn them because they are not quick enough to escape my pan.

Whenever I hear the crash of a cymbal, I become insane.

I also enjoy hearing up-tempo hi-hat cymbals.

I am doing well, so I will become a hermit.

I am driving my car, which has a 5.0L engine in it.

The top of the car's convertible roof is down

So that the wind can ruffle my frosted hair.

Attractive women are standing nearby

Waiting to say "hello" to me.

But I declined to stop, I simply kept driving.

Instead, I headed to my next destination.

I turned left, and now I am approaching the next block.

However, there was nothing going on at that block.

Hello! So I kept going until I arrived at A1A Beachfront Avenue.

Very attractive women there were wearing very skimpy clothing.

People who love headphone amplifiers
Are driving Italian luxury sports cars.

They are envious of me because I am extremely successful.

Shay is holding a 12-gauge shotgun
And I am holding a 9mm pistol.

We are prepared to deal with the gullible people
Standing by the wall.

These gullible people are acting irrationally
Because they are high on cocaine.

Gunshots rang out loudly, making my ears ring like a bell.

I grabbed my 9mm pistol, but the only sounds I heard were shells

Rapidly dropping onto the concrete.

I entered my car and promptly stomped on the accelerator.

Unfortunately, the avenue was jammed
With bumper-to-bumper traffic.

I am attempting to escape before I get carjacked.

Law enforcement officers have arrived.

You know what I am referring to.

They disregarded me completely
And approached the drug addicts.

If there was a conflict, hello, I will resolve it.

Listen to the chorus while my disc jockey spins the record.

Frozen water, frozen water, infant!

White rapper!

Frozen water, frozen water, infant!

White rapper!

Frozen water, frozen water, infant!

White rapper!

Pay attention, because I am able to write lyrics that rhyme.

In case you were unaware, Miami supports rap music like mine.

My town created the bass sound that we all know and love.

The bass is deep enough to shake the ground and kick holes in it.

My style of rapping is similar to a chemical spill.

Plausible narratives that you can see and understand

Conducted and formed by myself. This is quite a concept!

We create pleasant-sounding music
That makes you want to dance.

Shay fiddles with the equalizer buttons
Slicing like a ninjutsu specialist.

He cuts quickly in the same way that a razor blade does.

Other disc jockeys express their surprise and envy.

If my rap song were an illegal drug, I would sell it by the gram.

When it is time to relax, I will try to keep my composure.

I am mesmerized by the microphone as I boot my beverage.

If there was a conflict, hello, I will resolve it.

Listen to the chorus while my disc jockey spins the record.

Frozen water, frozen water, infant!

White rapper!

Frozen water, frozen water, infant!

White rapper!

Frozen water, frozen water, infant!

White rapper!

Hello, fellow, we are going to leave now.

Say hello to your mother for me!

"Open" & "Close" Songs

Another "Opposites" music post, you ask? Yes and no. Yes, given the fact that some of the songs with "Close" in the title refer to the word "Close" (hard "s"), meaning the opposite of "Open."  While other songs with "Close" in the title refer to the word "Close" (soft "s"), meaning the opposite of "Far." Does that make sense? Anyway, enjoy!  ~  JH

1)  Taylor Swift  ~  "Eyes Open"

2)  Calvin Harris  ~  "Feel So Close"

3)  Creed  ~  "With Arms Wide Open"

4)  Lita Ford ft. Ozzy Osbourne  ~  "Close My Eyes Forever"

5)  Journey  ~  "Open Arms"

6)  Alex Clare  ~  "Too Close"

7)  Dixie Chicks  ~  "Wide Open Spaces"

8)  Fireflight  ~  "Stay Close"

9)  Gotye  ~  "Eyes Wide Open"

10)  Keith Whitley  ~  "Don't Close Your Eyes"

11)  Rhye  ~  "Open"

12)  Carpenters  ~  "Close To You"

13)  Living Colour  ~  "Open Letter To A Landlord"

14)  Common ft. Mary J. Blige  ~  "Come Close"

15)  Guano Apes  ~  "Open Your Eyes"  (Great name for a band – ha, ha!)

16)  Michael Bublé  ~  "Close Your Eyes"

17)  Alter Bridge  ~  "Open Your Eyes"

18)  Dierks Bentley  ~  "I Wanna Make You Close Your Eyes"

19)  Europe  ~  "Open Your Heart"

20)  Adam Lambert  ~  "Never Close Our Eyes"

Inspirational Quotes By Nelson Mandela

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela
(1918 - 2013)

"Education is the most powerful weapon

which you can use to change the world."

"Courage [is] not the absence of fear, 

but the triumph over it. The brave 

man is not he who does not feel 

afraid, but he who conquers that fear."

"A good head and a good heart

 are always a formidable combination."

"It is better to lead from behind and 

to put others in front, especially when you 

celebrate victory when nice things occur. 

You take the front line when there is danger. 

Then people will appreciate your leadership."

"If you talk to a man in a language he 

understands, that goes to his head. If you talk 

to him in his language, that goes to his heart."

"If you want to make peace with your enemy, 

you have to work with your enemy. 

Then he becomes your partner."

"To be free is not merely to cast off 

one's chains, but to live in a way that respects 

and enhances the freedoms of others."

"There is no passion to be found playing 

small – in settling for a life that is less 

than the one you are capable of living."

"It always seems impossible until it's done."

"After climbing a great hill, one only finds 

that there are many more hills to climb."

"There can be no keener revelation of a society's 

soul than the way in which it treats its children."

"We must use time wisely and forever realize 

that the time is always ripe to do right."

"I detest racialism, because I regard it 

as a barbaric thing, whether it comes 

from a black man or a white man."

"A good leader can engage in a debate frankly 

and thoroughly, knowing that at the end he

and the other side must be closer, and thus 

emerge stronger. You don't have that idea when 

you are arrogant, superficial, and uninformed."

"Money won't create success, 

the freedom to make it will."

"There is nothing like returning to a place 

that remains unchanged to find the ways 

in which you yourself have altered."

"Does anybody really think that they didn't get 

what they had because they didn't have the talent

or the strength or the endurance or the commitment?"

"Any man or institution that tries 

to rob me of my dignity will lose."

"To deny people their human rights 

is to challenge their very humanity."

"Courageous people do not fear 

forgiving, for the sake of peace."

"When the water starts boiling, 

it is foolish to turn off the heat."

"Our human compassion binds us the one 

to the other – not in pity or patronizingly, but 

as human beings who have learnt how to turn 

our common suffering into hope for the future."

"It is wise to persuade people to do things 

and make them think it as their own idea."

"There is no such thing as part freedom."

A Literal Interpretation Of Jay-Z's "Run This Town"

So, here's an idea I just had recently. I decided to take the lyrics to a popular hip-hop song and translate them line-by-line into a more understandable narrative. I have cut all the slang and the curse words, and – while I was at it – all the contractions as well. The result is...well, rather ridiculous. But I also think it's kind of funny. If you're familiar with the song at all, you might be able to pick up on the humor a little bit better. If you're not familiar with it (good for you!), you may want to open this link to the original lyrics and view them side by side for full effect. I am planning to do more of these in the near future, so I really hope you enjoy it. If so, please tell me. If you think it's a dumb idea not worth pursuing further, please tell me that too. I value your opinion. Whomever you are.  ~  JH

"RUN THIS TOWN"

as performed by Jay-Z featuring Rihanna & Kanye West

[Intro:  Rihanna]

It is coming – I can feel it in the air.

All around me people are screaming.

The thrill of it all is quite addictive.

This love affair is rather dangerous.

I cannot fear it when it happens.

If you have a problem, please inform me now.

I am single-minded in my pursuit to know

Who is going to act as interim mayor this evening

Who is going to act as interim mayor this evening

We are going to act as interim mayors...

[Verse 1:  Jay-Z]

We are

Yes, I said it

We are

This is Mythological Bird Country.

Pledge your allegiance.

Don your black t-shirts.

Everything is black.

Our cards and cars are black.

Everything is black.

Our female companions are blackbirds

Passengers with antiquated firearms.

I will elaborate further

If you gentlemen are sufficiently genuine.

This is the Spanish word for "family."

I will explain it to you later.

But for now, let me return to the subject of money.

I have lost some money recently

And I am attempting to gain it back.

I shook Doug's hand, I misplaced Mr. Wilson

For the cost of five orders of pancakes.

Yes, I am referring to the number five

Followed by a comma

Six zeros

Decimal point zero.

Here it is...

Now I am back to running circles

Around African-Americans.

We are now even.

Please wait a moment...

[Chorus:  Rihanna]

Life is an unfair game.

I disregard the rules

And I could not care less.

Therefore I keep doing whatever I want to

Never stooping in a downpour.

I am one mile away from victory.

I am nearly at the finish line.

I must not quit while I am ahead.

I am single-minded in my pursuit to know

Who is going to act as interim mayor this evening.

Hello-hello-hello-hello-hello-hello

Hello-hello-hello-hello-hello

Hello-hello-hello-hello-hello-hello

Who is going to act as interim mayor this evening.

Hello-hello-hello-hello...

[Verse 2:  Jay-Z]

We are

Yes, I said it

We are

You may call me Caesar.

I'm an evil Russian monarch.

Please follow the leader.

So, Mr. Barrier, we are

Adept at using microphones.

It is the return of the god.

A peace god, apparently.

Ah! Ah!

No one is more popular than I am.

I am in cahoots with the Freemasons.

Ah!

Belgian fashion designer

We are yelling on this recording.

Disregard the opposition.

They are envious of me.

We have an upholstered bench

Where attractive women are sitting.

At the table are many gentleman callers.

None of them are spending any money.

They should simply fold their cards

Since they do not possess any spades.

All of my associates are wealthy.

Therefore my upholstered bench

Appears to be occupied entirely by millionaires.

[Chorus:  Rihanna]

Life is an unfair game.

I disregard the rules

And I could not care less.

Therefore I keep doing whatever I want to

Never stooping in a downpour.

I am one mile away from victory.

I am nearly at the finish line.

I must not quit while I am ahead.

I am single-minded in my pursuit to know

Who is going to act as interim mayor this evening.

Hello-hello-hello-hello-hello-hello

Hello-hello-hello-hello-hello

Hello-hello-hello-hello-hello-hello

Who is going to act as interim mayor this evening.

Hello-hello-hello-hello

[Verse 3:  Kanye West]

It is amazing how you can go from being a regular guy

To having many people willing to cater to your every need.

I am not a homosexual.

I purchased nice automobiles for every member of my family.

None of these cars, however, were manufactured by Volvo.

The next time I attend church

I ask that you please not photograph me.

Everywhere I go I am escorted by police.

Everyone I know possesses a passport.

This is the life that everybody desires.

This life moves rapidly.

We are destined to crash into something.

Why do you think I record rap music –

So that I can afford to drive a Toyota Rav 4?

But I know that if I continue to pretend

As though I am something that I am not

My female companions will only desire one thing.

I could spend my entire life searching for good will

But that would only benefit me when I am already quite happy.

That lady has extremely large buttocks.

When she wears skimpy swimwear, it simply disappears.

However, she is not as equally well-endowed elsewhere.

I excel at rapping because I drink high-quality white wine.

My African-American associate was just released from prison.

When you make a big deal out of something unnecessarily

We really do care.

All I am attempting to do is influence your mood.

Name-brand shoes

Newborn child

You need to step outside your comfort zone a bit more.

Have you ever owned shoes that were missing their shoestrings?

Could you please repeat that, Kanye?

Dear, these are high-heeled shoes.

Is that a spring month?

What?

Dear, this is an automobile.

You are under the influence of hallucinogenic drugs

Whenever you are not drinking alcohol.

Fill up your cup again.

Do you feel as though you are jogging?

Now you know how it feels to be us.

[Outro:  Rihanna]

Hello-hello-hello-hello-hello-hello

Hello-hello-hello-hello-hello

Hello-hello-hello-hello-hello-hello

Hello-hello-hello-hello-hello-hello

Hello-hello-hello-hello-hello

Hello-hello-hello-hello-hello-hello

We are going to be interim mayors this evening...

[Outro:  Jay-Z]

How are you doing?

Awesome A Cappella Songs

Awhile back, I posted a collection of amazing cover songs I found while surfing around on YouTube. Well, this post is similar to that (and actually includes some of the same artists as the original post),  with the major difference being that all 10 of these songs are performed entirely a cappella – that is, without any accompanying musical instruments. Since most of these songs are also covers, I've included the names of the original artists (in parentheses). Enjoy!  ~  JH

1)  Pentatonix  ~  "Thrift Shop"   (Macklemore & Ryan Lewis)

2)  Acquire A Capella  ~  "Sail"   (AWOLNATION)

3)  Mike Tompkins  ~  "Fireflies"   (Owl City)

4)  Miley Cyrus ft. Jimmy Fallon & The Roots  ~  "We Can't Stop"   (Miley's own song)

5)  Backtrack  ~  "Clarity"   (Zedd ft. Foxes)

6)  Shane Stever  ~  "Your Love Is My Drug"   (Ke$ha)

7)  Michael Flayhart  ~  "Blurred Lines"   (Robin Thicke ft. Pharrell & T.I.) (BTW, this is a highly sanitized version of the song – nothing overtly lyrically or visually offensive here)

8)  Straight No Chaser  ~  "Wonderwall"   (Oasis)

9)  Kurt Schneider & Sam Tsui  ~  "King Of Anything"   (Sara Bareilles)

10)  Justin Bieber ft. Boyz II Men  ~  "Fa La La"   (Bieber's own song, apparently)