Understanding Irony- Finding Our Time

Hey y'all,

Well, I finally found something to post about! There's this really cool band that's trying to find their time in today's music-Understanding Irony. The band consists of three teens: Jessica Arnold (16), Rachel Schmidt (14), and Kathleen DeVries (14). I got to talk with them and ask them a few questions! Here's what they said:

How did the band start?

Well, we kinda were like "ooh lets start a band since we like singing and we all are really good friends, so yeah, a band sounds good!" (and we were being obsessed with the Jonas Brothers, so we pretended to be them, except as girls... haha!) - Jessica

We've wanted to make a band since we were in junior high pretty much, but we didn't actually get "into it" till about 2 years ago when some of us wanted to be f4c, that didn't work out...then this year we got talking about it again and Jess, Kathleen and I kinda started talking about it and we began writing songs!! -Rachel



It offically started this summer, when Jessica was doodling in her notebook, and drew a picture of us three on a stage as the "Jonas Sisters", because the three of us each like a different one and all. So then it became this idea that we should have our own band! We all had tried writing songs before and having a way to perform them would be a dream come true. So then we had to come up with a different name for the band, because "Jonas Sisters" was too unoriginal. So we took words that we liked and came up with "Understanding Irony". -Kathleen

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So who does what for the band?

Jess and Kathleen do main vocals, I sing background! We're all learning (or going to) the guitar...jess also does piano, i do piano, and kathleen plays bass. -Rachel

Kathleen plays guitar and sings (shares lead vocals), Jessica sings (shares lead vocals) and can possibly play guitar/piano, and Rachel sings backup vocals and plays keyboard/piano. -Jessica



Yeah, they pretty much covered it, Jess and I share vocals, and we try some harmony every once in a while. Rachel does back up vocals and keyboard, and I play guitar and sometimes bass. Jessica is the cute one-she sits on stage and smiles. -Kathleen

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How long have you guys been working on this project?

The whole idea of becoming a band has been happening for years, but "Understanding Irony" has been in the shop for only a few months. -Kathleen

It kind of started in about July 2007, we had all been writing songs before and it just came together. -Jessica

We just recently started writing lyrics, now we just have to get a tune to our songs and record them!! (that'll be a lotta fun!) -Rachel

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When does the first CD come out?

Haha, i don't think we have thought that far yet, but it would be really cool if we could get one out before i go to college... :) -Jessica



Wow, as far as that goes, I'd like to have one out in a year or two, but the hard part is going to be recording it. But if you know us, we'll find a way. -Kathleen



When we get enough songs to fill a CD, then we have to record them!! So in about a year or 2!! Be watching out for that! -Rachel

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What is your inspiration for writing, both lyrics and music?



I write about the regular teenage life, sometimes its problems, other times its something exciting! When I write about God, its something that was inspiring from a lesson or a Bible verse. Sometimes my song ideas come from when someone just says something that sounds like a good song title and i go from there...now for the tune...sometimes I get insiration from other songs, or it just comes! (lol i sound like some celebrity! ha!) -Rachel

I personally just really love music, and I get inspired by things that are happening to me, or people around me, or situations that are in everday life. -Jessica



To me, music is not just a pastime or hobby, music is a passion and a lifestyle. Music revolves around my life, if there's not a song playing, I'll make the song play. When it comes to writing, it's usually an inspiration from something I heard or saw. Once I was in the car on the way home from vacation and all of the sudden some words came to me, I pulled out my notebook and wrote them down. That's mostly how it works, God just gives me words, and I'll sit down and edit them with Him, and somthing good comes from that. -Kathleen

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Any plans for the future?

It would be really cool if we were able to tour for a bit. If it was possible for us to become "famous" i guess, before i go off to college, i would definitely do it! it sounds like a lot of fun!

-Jessica

As Jessica said, touring would be fun. Going everywhere and seeing new people, maybe even touring with our favorite boy band? :) I'd like a taste of it, but I don't know if touring is God's plan for the rest of my LIFE! -Kathleen

Besides on what to wear tomorrow!? lol Well I really want our band to actually be a band!! (but of course only if it's Gods will!) I also want to go to college when I graduate! Ive wanted to go to Calvary Bible College, but I'm not sure yet. I've always wanted to be an interior designer! But maybe I'll be a missionary! -Rachel

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Where do you plan on touring?

MISSISSIPPI!!! That's number one on our list right now, I think. But going all over the US would be fun, New Jeresy would be fun, lots of places by the sea...Europe would be fun too.

-Kathleen

Of course all over the USA!! (making a stop at Mississippi!) I think it would be fun to tour in europe too! and I've always wanted to go to Scotland! (they have AWESOME ACCENTS!!) lol

-Rachel

haha! kathleen was like '' we should tour in mississippi '' but i don't really know where we would tour, wherever people want to hear us... i guess :) -Jessica

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Finally, Tell us a bit about yourselves?

I'm in band at school and play the clarinet! I like the color purple, I love monkeys, my favorite kinda dog is a dachshund, my fav. fast food restaurant is Subway, I totally LOVE skatershoes, and i wish i could fly!! lol anyways, I listen to all kinds of music, I like Toby Mac, Barlow Girl, Zoegirl, Relient K, Hawk Nelson, and even some of the older ones, Jaci Velasquez, DC Talk, Rachael Lampa...I also like Kelly Clarkson, Jonas Brothers (especially kevin!) and a ton of country!! Rascal Flatts, Shania Twain, Brooks and Dunn, Kenny Chesney and a ton more! I have a ton of favorite movies too! I love all the Pirates of the Carribean movies, Hairspray, High School Musical, Raise Your Voice, Lord of the Rings, plus various other chick flicks! My favorite books are Eragon, Eldest, the Left Behind Series and the Alex Rider seires! My favorite shows are Gilmore Girls, What I like About You, Reba and Dancing With the Stars! -Rachel



Yeah, i'm a pretty crazy person, i like a lot of stuff, music is my life, i just love listening to everything... i also enjoy church, i love being there and i learning with my friends there, i love the jonas brothers, *teehee*, um, band, band is also my life... yeah, i'm a music geek! :D yeah i'm a pretty interesting person. -Jessica

Let's see, God is always first. He's the One who gave us the idea to have this band, the one who gave us words to our songs, and hopefully will carry us into a life of music. Music is a priority in my life, I listen to most Christian rock, but there is some secular stuff I listen to. I plan on getting the tips of my hair dyed red, and so do the other band members, only they want theirs purple and blue. Friends are another important thing in my life. I see the other band members twice a week on a typical schedule. We've gone everywhere together. We have some other friend that we're really close to, and they are SO supportive with this whole thing. I really want to thank them for that! (Elisa gets to drive the bus!!) But other than that, I love writing (not just songs, fiction!), and reading is a big thing for me too. But that's the most of it.

So we were happy to have "Understanding Irony" join us for the interview and hope to hear from them again soon!

P.S -Check out our Myspace! http://myspace.com/understandingirony !!!!

Asking for Ideas

Hey y'all,

I've been kinda busy as you know, and haven't gotten around to posting.
But I'm having a problem- I DON"T HAVE ANY IDEAS FOR POSTING!!!!!!
So, I'm writing to ask you people:

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO HEAR ABOUT??

Leave a comment, talk to me over AIM, leave an email...give me some ideas!

Thanks!

Ratatouille The Movie, not the food

So everybody,

Those of you who saw Rachel's post on this movie might be bored with MY post, but I figured I could post my own ideas on the movie.

So Ratatouille is the story of a rat named Remy, and he has been given the gift of an enhanced sense of smell. He lives with his rat colony in Europe and can't stand the fact that the only thing to eat is garbage. So he's been sneaking into a human's home to find new concoctions of cooking, and in process, stumbles along a TV show with Paris' famous cook. He constantly is thinking of being as great a cook as Gusteau (I don't know if I spelled that right, but it isn't eay to spell.). But when the colony of rats is discovered by a crazy 80 year old woman with a rifle, and Remy is separated from his family and friends, up is the only way to go-up to Paris.

This movie is so cute, it is not made for the older crowd of teens and young adults, but everyone can laugh at it. The jokes are clean and funny, and the story is very creative. For those of you who saw Increibles, it's the same director, Brad Bird. As far as I can remember, there's no language other than your typical British interjections (I think there was one reference to hell), and nothing really questionable, unless the "not knowing what you're eating" is something you'd go against! :)

Also, the short film at the beginning is really funny.

My Rating: **** (Out of five)

Hannah Montana 2 \ Meet Miley Cyrus

Hey Everybody!

So I just bought the New Hannah Montana CD and the special edition of the first one!!! It rocks! I love her music, it's not completely Christian, but her dad (Billy Ray Cyrus) is thought to be a Christian. There was also a quote from her in Brio Magizine:

"That's kind of why I'm, like, here in Hollywood-to be a light, a testimony to say God can take someone from Nashville and make me this, but it's His will that mad it happen."

Whether this is just a Kiss-Up for a Christian Magizine or genuine devition to a Savior, I"ll let you be the judge. But Miley Cyrus' songs are positive and uplifting. Some of my favorites include, "If We were a Movie", "Just Like You", "Who Said", "Nobody's Perfect" and "Life's What You Make It".

So I'm not saying that you should spend as much money as I did on both her new one and the Special Edition, but Hannah Montana is a really great artist in today's music!

So now for the pictures!

So I hoped you enjoyed this Issue of my blog!

P.S. I was wondering, I'm kinda running out of idea's a far as what to post next, What would you like to hear about? Got a request? Leave a comment after the beep!

*beep*

Superchic[k] - Hero Music Video

All I have to say is "wow". This is a powerful video. It's not a professional music video, some guy mande it with kids at his church or something, the beginning is a little on the novie side, but the ending-wow.

You ahve to watch this, but only if you really pay attention to what the song is saying. I know that the first time I heard this song, I almost started crying. Superchic[k] is amazing.

So here's the link:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=xbmoyjhGay4

And for those of you who'd like them, the lyrics:

No one sits with him, he doesn’t fit in
But we feel like we do when we make fun of him
'Cause you want to belong do you go along
'Cause his pain is the price paid for you to belong
It’s not like you hate him or want him to die
But maybe he goes home and thinks suicide
Or he comes back to school with a gun at his side
And a kindness from you might have saved his life
Heroes are made when you make a choice

You could be a hero
Heroes do what’s right
You could be a hero
You might save a life
You could be a hero
You could join the fight
For what’s right for what’s right for what’s right

No one talks to her, she feels so alone
She’s in too much pain to survive on her own
The hurt she can’t handle overflows to a knife
She writes on her arm, wants to give up her life
Each day she goes on is a day that she’s brave,
Fighting the lie that giving up is the way,
Each moment of courage her own life she saves
When she throws the pills out a hero is made
Heroes are made when you make a choice

You could be a hero
Heroes do what’s right
You could be a hero
You might save a life
You could be a hero
You could join the fight
For what’s right for what’s right for what’s right

No one talks to him about how he lives
He thinks that the choices he makes are just his
Doesn’t know he’s a leader with the way he behaves
And others will follow the choices he’s made
He lives on the edge; he’s old enough to decide
His brother who wants to be him is just nine
He can do what he wants because it’s his right
The choices he makes change a nine year-old’s life
Heroes are made when you make a choice

You could be a hero
Heroes do what’s right
You could be a hero
You might save a life
You could be a hero
You could join the fight
For what’s right for what’s right for what’s right

Little Mikey D was always the one in class
Who every day got brutally harassed
This went on for years
Till he decided that never again would he shed another tear
So he walked through the door
And grabbed a 44
Out of his father’s dresser drawer
And said “I can’t take life no more”
And like that, life can be lost

But this ain’t even about that
All of us just sat back
And watched it happen
Thinkin’ it’s not our responsibility
To solve a problem that isn’t even about me
This is our problem
This is just one of the daily scenarios
Which we choose to close our eyes
Instead of doing the right thing
If we make a choice
And be the voice
For those who won’t speak up for themselves
How many lives will be saved
Changed, rearranged
Now it’s our time to pick a side
So don’t keep walking by
Not wanting to intervene
Cause you just want to exist
And never been seen
So let’s wake up
Change the world
Our time is now

You could be a hero
Heroes do what’s right (our time is now)
You could be a hero
You might save a life (our time is now)
You could be a hero
You could join the fight (our time is now)

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I hope you are changed by this song. I love you guys!

Jonas Brothers

Due to Aaron's interesting point that the Jonas Brothers look like girls, I considered putting a post up of pictures of the Jonas Brothers (JB for short) to prove to some that the Jonas Brothers are, in fact, gentlemen.

So here they are people- the Jonas Brothers!

So here it is...

Ok, so I pretty much explained what this is for on my other blog, but I'm gald you actually decided to check it out. I know that some of you don't have a whole lot of time to check out ALL three of my blogs, not that I write on all of them. I do write a lot on the other one, but I'm hoping this one will be a bit shorter, more pictures and less words.

So I'm hoping you will read this, but PLEASE let me know you have been reading it by posting a comment or two. Let me know if you liked the post, or if you'd like to hear more about it, or if you think it totally stunk!

Thanks for taking the time to read this!