#SongLyricSunday | Blinding Lights – The Weeknd

It’s #SLS time again – hosted by Jim over at A Unique Title For Me. Make sure to click on the theme link below to hit his page and see all the other song picks for today!

This week’s theme is: Touch | Feel

This song covers both theme options, and just happens to be one of my new favorite songs by The Weeknd because of its nostalgic ’80s sound. I’m sharing an audio video, rather than the “official” one because like too many music videos today, the director opted to turn it into a miniature film – and the song is completely drown out by sound affects. 😐

Fun Facts via Wikipedia:

“Blinding Lights” was released in November 2019 as the first single off The Weeknd’s 4th studio album, After Hours which didn’t release until just 9 days ago on March 20th, 2020.
The song peaked at #1 in 18 different countries, including the UK – making it The Weeknd’s first #1 hit in the UK.
The lyrics supposedly reference The Weeknd’s on/off relationship with Supermodel, Bella Hadid, sister of Gigi Hadid, the Supermodel who’s been in an on/off relationship with UK singer, Zayn Malik since 2015 – apparently the Hadid sisters like rocky relationships with famous singers(?) – not judging, just an observation.

I been tryna call
I been on my own for long enough
Maybe you can show me how to love, maybe
I’m going through withdrawals
You don’t even have to do too much
You can turn me on with just a touch, baby

I look around and Sin City’s cold and empty (oh)
No one’s around to judge me (oh)
I can’t see clearly when you’re gone

I said, ooh, I’m blinded by the lights
No, I can’t sleep until I feel your touch
I said, ooh, I’m drowning in the night
Oh, when I’m like this, you’re the one I trust
Hey, hey, hey

I’m running out of time
‘Cause I can see the sun light up the sky
So I hit the road in overdrive, baby

Oh, the city’s cold and empty (oh)
No one’s around to judge me (oh)
I can’t see clearly when you’re gone

I said, ooh, I’m blinded by the lights
No, I can’t sleep until I feel your touch
I said, ooh, I’m drowning in the night
Oh, when I’m like this, you’re the one I trust

I’m just walking by to let you know (by to let you know)
I can never say it on the phone (say it on the phone)
Will never let you go this time (ooh)

I said, ooh, I’m blinded by the lights
No, I can’t sleep until I feel your touch
Hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey

I said, ooh, I’m blinded by the lights
No, I can’t sleep until I feel your touch

♫♪♫ ❤ ♪♫♪

Songwriters: Abel Tesfaye / Ahmad Balshe / Jason Quenneville / Martin Karl Sandberg / Oscar Thomas Holter • Blinding Lights lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc, Universal Music Publishing Group

I do not own any rights to this song, video, or lyrics. All rights remain with the artists and their respective agents/labels. No copyright infringement intended.

#SongLyricSunday | Roots – In This Moment

Posted by A.C. Melody

#SLS is hosted by Jim over at A Unique Title For Me. If you’re new to #SLS, you can join in the fun or check out all of the other song choices for today by clicking on the theme link below.

This week’s theme is: Promise|Vow|Oath

My choice today is for Promise. In This Moment is my all-time favorite female metalcore band, except only the lead singer is a woman, but that still counts, right? I love everything about Maria Brink, she’s amazingly talented, capable of singing every range from soft to screamo – and she sounds just as incredible live as she does recorded.

Fans are aware of Maria’s unfortunate past from what she’s revealed in several of her songs and vague confirmations in interviews. Her father sexually abused, then abandoned her at a young age, leaving her with a drug-addicted mother, and then she was pregnant with her son by age 15, living and working alone to raise him. She eventually helped her mother fight and overcome her drug addiction–that experience and what she watched her mom suffer through is the purpose behind the band’s hit single “Blood.”

“Roots” is from In This Moment’s 6th studio album, Ritual. While she’s known for keeping personal meanings of lyrics to herself, stating that she loves the way people can connect with them with their own meanings and interpretations, “Roots” is definitely something about her background, and according to Livewire, Maria broke down partway through the live track.

Regardless of the meaning, the message is clearly about self-empowerment: taking all of the things that should break you and using them to make yourself stronger. A recurring theme for In This Moment. Enjoy!

I thank you for all the lives you’ve led
I thank you for every word you said
I thank you for walking away

I thank you

I thank you for the promises you broke
For always watching, watching while I choke
I thank you for teaching me

Yes, I thank you for the hurting

I bite down a little harder
My blades a little sharper
My roots, my roots
Run deep into the hollow

Strike back a little harder
I scream a little louder
My roots, my roots
Run deep into the hollow

I’m stronger than I ever knew
I’m strong because of you

I hit back a little louder
Fuck you a little harder
My roots, my roots
Run deep into the hollow

I thank you for the hole you dug in me
Filled it with cement, sunk me in your sea
I thank you for being so obscene

I thank you

I thank you for never facing me
Swimming in the mud, never coming clean
I thank you for nothing in between

Yes, I thank you for leaving

I bite down a little harder
My blades a little sharper
My roots, my roots
Run deep into the hollow

Strike back a little harder
I scream a little louder
My roots, my roots
Run deep into the hollow

I’m stronger than I ever knew
I’m strong because of you

I hit back a little harder
Fuck you a little louder
My roots, my roots
Run deep into the hollow

You wanna know why I like the pain, you say?
There’s a sick part of me thankful for the hate, I
I stay positive and I, I push forward, ya see?
I, I gotta do the right thing for my family!
So I smile and I say to the world this is fine, as these fucking parasites eat up my spine,
So I asked you once, and I’ll ask you again
Where do your roots start
And where do your roots end?

I bite down a little harder
My blades a little sharper
My roots, my roots
Run deep into the hollow

Strike back a little harder
I scream a little louder
My roots, my roots
Run deep into the hollow

I’m stronger than I ever knew
I’m strong because of you

I hit back a little louder
Fuck you a little harder
My roots, my roots
Run deep into the hollow

My roots, my roots
Run deep into the hollow
My roots, my roots
Run deep into the hollow

I’m stronger than I ever knew
I’m strong because of you

I hit back a little louder
Fuck you a little harder
My roots, my roots
Run deep into the hollow
My roots, my roots
Run deep into the hollow

My roots, my roots
Run deep into the hollow

My roots, my roots

♫♪♫ ❤ ♪♫♪

Songwriters: Maria Brink / Chris Howorth / Kevin Churko • Roots lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., BMG Rights Management

I do not own any rights to this song, lyrics, or video. All rights remain with the artists and their respective agents/labels. No copyright infringement intended.

#SongLyricSunday | I Get It – Chevelle

Posted by A.C. Melody

***Chevelle performing at the White River Amphitheater 9/22/19***

A couple weeks ago I shared pictures from Breaking Benjamin, but they weren’t the only band we got to see that night. They were actually the headliner of a 5 band concert that also included Threes Days Grace, Dorothy, Diamente, and Chevelle! 😀 #SLS is hosted by Jim over at A Unique Title For Me. Make sure to click on the theme link below to check out all of the other song choices for today!

This week’s theme is: Give|Get|Take|Receive|Send

My song covers the Get prompt, and is conveniently part of the title. This is an older song by Chevelle, but one of my favorites and I was happy for the chance to hear it live in concert, among all the others. Like a lot of their songs, “I Get It” is highly relatable. I think everyone’s had one of these jerks in their lives before, male or female – and some us, more than one! If you’re dealing with someone like this right now, hopefully this makes you feel a little better, or maybe gives you some ideas. 😈

***Lead vocalist,*** ***Pete Loeffler***

So you say you’re ignored
As it is
Well, give us your sad, sad trip

You’re right, I get it
It all makes sense, you’re the perfect person
So right, so wrong
Let’s all live in your imaginary life

Assumed it’s whether
We’re right, I’m wrong
We’re doomed, and there’s plenty for all

How dare you catch me counting
How dare you call at all
How dare you call it suffering
How dare you call at all

You’re right, I get it
It all makes sense, you’re the perfect person
So right, so wrong
Let’s all live in your imaginary life

Press on these tannins
They’re doubled in time
The touch of life, once failed to mention so far

Of course the la is fountains
Of face to face remorse
A fast and restless blackmail
Like pent-up fetish force

You’re right, I get it
It all makes sense, you’re the perfect person
So right, so wrong
Let’s all live in your imaginary life

Do you want enough?
Do you want it all?
Should you need it at all?
Takes a minute to see
Do you want enough?
Do you want it all?
Should you need it at all?
Do you want it or not?

You’re right, I get it
It all makes sense, you’re the perfect person
So right, so wrong
Let’s all live in your imaginary life

Life, life, life

♪♫♪ ❤ ♫♪♫

Songwriters: Peter Loeffler / Samuel Loeffler • I Get It lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc

I do not own any rights to this song, video, or lyrics. All rights remain with the artists and their respective agents/labels. No copyright infringement intended.

I DO own all photos of Chevelle in this post. They are not free to use without permission.

#SongLyricSunday | Girls Like – Tinie Tempah ft. Zara Larsson

Posted by A.C. Melody

I’m totally switching it up this week to keep everyone on their toes. 😀 #SLS is a weekly music challenge hosted by Jim at A Unique Title For Me. Make sure to click on the theme link below to check out all of the songs for today!

This week’s theme is: North|South|East|West

My song choice is for South and West, bringing you yet another catchy hit from my favorite British rapper, Tinie Tempah that features new-to-me Swedish singer, Zara Larsson. The video for this song just gets me, lol. I don’t know which part I love the most, the girl using the toilet or the dude with a burlap bag over his head, but it’s definitely random enough to make up for the booty dancing (I might be a little jealous of that skill) lol. I’ve included both the official video and because I was curious what Zara Larsson looked like, a live performance video, which is just as good! I’m going to have to check out more of her songs.

Fun Facts via Wikipedia:

“Girls Like” was released in 2016 as the second single off of Tinie Tempah‘s album, Youth, and peaked at #5 on the UK Singles Chart.
Zara Larsson doesn’t appear in the video, but she has performed the song live with T.T. on several occasions, including at the 2016 Summertime Ball in London (Video below).
Despite never reaching #1 on any charts, “Girls Like” is certified 3x Platinum in Sweden, 2x Platinum in the UK, Platinum in Norway, Denmark, & Australia, and Gold in Italy, New Zealand, Germany & Belgium.
The video was filmed in a suburb of Cape Town, South Africa named Woodstock.

All the girls like
Said I was the man
All I ever needed was a plan
Tell J.K that we still rolling
Yeah, tell Russell I’m a brand
Yeah, bust that skank
Ain’t nobody messing with the gang
Might take a fly out for the weekend
And go can cause I can
Go low, go low, everybody get low
Had a couple hits and a couple solos
Now I got a couple rents and a couple more boats
Jump parkside, everybody loco
I was jumping off the mandem with a polo
Now I’m with a mandem at the polo
I could make a honey give away her last rolo
Then I say sure, yo, you know how it goes
All the girls like

I know what boys like
I know what they want
They want that good thing
They wanna get some
(All the girls like)
I know what boys like
I know what they want
So go ahead and prove me right
That’s what girls like

Yeah, rollie on the wrist, that’s me, me
Man of the year I’m fleek
Had a couple man wanna be me
Them man can’t be T.T
Tell ’em only winners are allowed
No diggiy-dee, no diggiy-doubt
I was getting blowed but few girls were putting out
Told them I was gonna blow back when I was in the south
Go low, go low, everybody go low
Since she want me she don’t want the coco
So I made her send it back less she want my loco
And I got American, got a Volvo
Used to have a black my piece of Roco
Now everyone I go people want a photo
I could make a honey give away her last rolo
Then I say sure, yo, you know how I roll
All the girls like

Don’t need me a guy who’s a friend
Better pick me up in a Benz
I like cruising around the West End
No Netflix and chill that’s dead
(All the girls like)
Every day you ride your friends
(All the girls like)
I don’t need your money for my rent
(All the girls like)
I’m not an eight or a nine I’m a ten
(All the girls like)
What’s the code to your wi-fi again?

I know what boys like
I know what they want
They want that good thing
They wanna get some
(All the girls like)
I know what boys like
I know what they want
(All the girls like)
So go ahead and prove me right
That’s what girls like

All the girls like
Said I was the man
All I ever needed was a plan
Tell J.K that we still rolling
Yeah, tell Russell I’m a brand
Yeah, bust that skank
Ain’t nobody messing with the gang
Might take a fly out for the weekend
And go can cause I can
Go low, go low, everybody go low
Had a couple hits and a couple solos
Now I got a couple rents and a couple more boats
Jump parkside, everybody loco
I was jumping off the mandem with a polo
Now I’m with a mandem at the polo
I could make a honey give away her last rolo
Then I say sure, yo, you know how it goes
All the girls like

I know what boys like
I know what they want
(All the girls like)
I know what boys like
I know what they want
(All the girls like)
I know you, I know you want the good thing
(All the girls like)
I know what boys like
I know what they want

♫♪♫ ❤ ♪♫♪

Songwriters: Lewis Jankel / Patrick Okogwu / Janee Millicent Lucy Bennett / Nana Bediako Rogues / Zara Maria Larsson / Aleisha Louis • Girls Like lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Universal Music Publishing Group, Spirit Music Group

I do not own any rights to this song, video, or lyrics. All rights remain with the artists and their respective agents/labels. No copyright infringement intended.

Dear Indie | I Didn’t Know I Could Do That! (Free resource post)

Posted by A.C. Melody

Hi Indies!

Did you know you could make your own vectors AND remove the backgrounds from any image for FREE –without using Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, or Gimp?

I didn’t! Not until I was determined to combine one of my drawings with a photo. Normally, I would purposely set out to find two images with the same color background, so I can use the “arrangement” feature to lay one on top of the other…

Since that obviously wasn’t going to work having different color backgrounds, I tried using the transparent filter to make one bleed through the other, but it was way too faint…

Frustrated that I wasn’t getting the effect I was looking for, I thought about my last couple of resource posts and how I’d run across that site with a free SVG editor and got the idea that maybe if I could turn my drawing into a vector, instead, then I might be able to give it a transparent background.

I found this free site: PNG or JPG to SVG Converter. It took some messing around with the palettes to get the colors just right, but the nice thing is that you don’t have to download anything until you’re happy. You do, however, have to re-generate your SVG image if you don’t like the end result because it will only let you change each palette color one time, as you can see here:

In this screen shot, I’ve already changed the first two colors on my vector, if I get done and decide the second one isn’t dark/light enough, I have to click “Generate” under the original image on the left and start all over again.

Once I was really happy with the colors and downloaded my new vector, I went back to the site: Public Domain Vectors and used their free editor to turn my SVG file into a PNG. Unfortunately, this did not automatically make the background transparent the way I thought it would.

So, I went back to Google and found this awesome and super handy site that I foresee myself using A LOT in the future, called: Online PNG Tools. If you’re just wanting to remove the background of a picture, of course you would just start here and skip the whole SVG vector creation part. Scroll to the bottom of the site’s page to see all of their available tools. I haven’t checked them out yet, but I didn’t notice any SVG tools, so I will still have to hop around a few different sites to complete one image from my artwork, but it’s better than not being able to do it at all – or worse, having to pay someone else to do it for me!

And so, with my newly created clip art, I was finally able to create the graphic I was hoping for. Truthfully, it was just for a blog post, but hey, at least now I know how to do this for marketing purposes! 😀

❤ Until next time, Indies!

Legal: The artwork depicted in this post is copyrighted by me and may not be used for any reason. Thank you!

My Review | The Red Ledger 1 by: Meredith Wild

Posted by A.C. Melody

Blurb

He’s death for hire…

Some people measure life in hours. Days. Weeks. I measure mine in kills. A covert military mission gone wrong robbed me of my memory and any link to my past. This is my existence now. I execute and survive. Nothing more, nothing less. I was ready to write Isabel Foster’s name in my ledger of unfortunate souls until she uttered the one word that could stop the bullet meant for her. My name.

She knows my face. She knows me. She’s the key to the memories I’m not sure I want back. Now nothing is simple. I still have a job to do, and my soul isn’t worth saving. I’m not the man she thinks I am. I can’t love her. And sparing her life puts us both in the crosshairs.

FREE on Amazon

❤ My Review ❤

Title: The Red Ledger 1 | Author: Meredith Wild | Genre: Romantic Suspense | Rating: 5 Stars

I read this all in one sitting, I could not put it down! The story opens right up in Rio during Carnival, an exciting way to start, and it just escalated from there when I found myself already on the edge of my seat, biting my nails and wondering if the woman I’d just started getting a feel for was about to get a bullet in her brain. I don’t want to give too much away, only expanding a little on the blurb.

This book was intense and an emotional roller-coaster as both Isabel and Tristan struggle to find some kind of middle ground when she can remember him as the love of her life, and he can’t remember a thing–yet everything about her feels familiar. It was exceptionally wrenching at some points because Tristan’s had a number worked on him, leaving him with the ability to become cold and inhumanly detached in a heartbeat.

The supporting cast in this first installment was also a nice touch, leaving the reader guessing at the sincerity of some friendships. As you’re dragged deeper into the chaos triggered by Tristan’s decision to save Isabel, you’ll become less and less trusting of those who seek to help them and find yourself waiting for traps to spring.

The only negative I can point out is the clichéd trope of: man rescues woman, tells her repeatedly how much danger they’re in, yet woman still tries to take off without him, anyway, to go right back to the very place he’d just saved her from. Ugh. Sorry, but it’s just overdone. I’m still giving this 5 stars, though, because it was really good!

This is an honest review of a book I purchased, I have not been provided any kind of compensation for it from the author.

#SongLyricSunday | Away – Breaking Benjamin

Posted by A.C. Melody

***Breaking Benjamin performing at the White River Amphitheater 9/22/19.***

I mean…you knew this was coming, right? I can’t mention Breaking Benjamin in a post and then NOT pick one of their songs the following week. 😀 Gaw, I’m still gushing and just look at that full sleeve tattoo! *melts into chair* And for how close he looks here, it was even closer in real life. I could have just squeezed between 2 people and touched him, but, you know…security. 😐

#SLS is hosted by Jim over at A Unique Title For Me. Click on the theme link below to join along, or to hear all of the other song choices for today!

This week’s theme is: Listen|Hear|Talk|Speak

My song pick is for Hear. Another classic BB song from the original band, released in 2004 on their album, We Are Not Alone. I have a sad confession: I spent many years believing he was saying “I’m coming to take you away” NOT “They’re coming to take you away,” which for a super Ben Burnley fan like me was soooooooo much hotter and fantasy-inducing. But, this is still a sexy-ass song and of course, packed with powerful, passionate vocals, and screamy grrr…’cause, duh.

Fun Facts From Their Concert Witnessed By Me – no Wikipedia needed:

Between sets, Ben noticed some kids in the audience and jumped off stage – you should’ve seen his security scramble to go after him, LOL! Ben escorted the kids and their parent(s) up on stage to join his VIP groups already there. One little girl was holding a sign and he led her up to the very front of the stage and asked her name, then asked if it was her birthday, to which she said “Yes” and he asked, “How old are you?” and she said “Eight.” And then, he preceded to have all of us in the audience sing “Happy Birthday” to her. I’ve never seen a kid smile so big – it was awesome, and will undoubtedly be a lifelong memory for that little girl! 😀
At one point Ben started talking about embracing your geek side, as stagehands rolled some weird looking thing out on stage in the dark area where we couldn’t see (and I was only about 2 rows back from the stage). After going on about our inner-geeks, Ben ended his speech with: “Because, you know I’ve already embraced my DARKSIDE!” (Yeah, he growled it just like you imagined) – at which time a handful of red Lightsabers lit up (exactly like they sound in the movies) attached to a drum set, that he then started drumming away on and it was the most geektastic, rockgasmic thing I’ve ever seen or experienced in my entire life. Then, he gave the Lightsabers to his VIP kids, as you can see below in a really blurry pic. LOL
Not a Fun Fact: I caught 95% of the concert on video, including the Lightsaber experience, but have yet to find a way to upload any of the videos onto my laptop – nothing I’ve tried so far is working! 😐

***L-R: Keith Wallen & Ben Burnley both on guitar with lucky Lightsaber VIP kids in background (Pic is blurry due to red light saturation, sorry).***

Cold am I, I’m beside myself
Because there’s no one else
Have I grown so blind?
Only God could save you
If you knew your way to the light
So fly away and leave it behind
Just stay awake
There’s nowhere to hide

I see you
‘Cause you won’t get out of my way
I hear you
‘Cause you won’t quit screaming my name
I feel you
‘Cause you won’t stop touching my skin
I need you
They’re coming to take you away

Frail and dry, I could lose it all
But I cannot recall, it’s all wrong
Don’t cry, clear away this hate
And we could start to make it alright
So fly away and leave it behind
Return someday
With red in your eyes

I see you
‘Cause you won’t get out of my way
I hear you
‘Cause you won’t quit screaming my name
I feel you
‘Cause you won’t stop touching my skin
I need you
They’re coming to take you away (away)

I do not own any rights to this song, lyrics or the video. All rights remain with the artists and their respective agents/labels. No copyright infringement intended.

I DO own all of the pictures of Breaking Benjamin in this post, so please ask before using any of them! Thank you.