Get out, get out, get out of my head

There are certain songs you listen to every once in a while and think, "Yeah. This is gonna be a hit." It is these particular songs that not only stay on the iTunes Top 100 list for 1000 consecutive weeks in a row, but also stay in my head for annoyingly extended periods of time. I feel like there's a science to the way songs are crafted; I mean, there's gotta be some way the music marketing people test these songs to make sure they really get implanted in our brains. I don't know.

Anyway, here's a list of songs that, at one time or another, I could not get out of my head for the life of me. (Disclaimer: This does not mean I dislike any of these songs. In fact, I think I adore almost all of them. It's just a love/hate kind of thing, you know?)

1. "Call Me Maybe" by Carly Rae Jepson

Y'all, this song. I think the first time I heard it was when this video was brought to my attention back in February. And I don't think I've stopped singing it ever since. Plus, the music video (below). And the video of the Harvard baseball team dancing to it. And the thousands of parodies of it. I can't escape.

2. "My Life Would Suck Without You" by Kelly Clarkson

I shouldn't be allowed to sing this song, because the vocal range is too high and it gives me a headache after a while. But even so. I. Cannot. Stop. Plus Kelly Clarkson is my angel with no wings and any song she sings is a favorite of mine. So.

3. "Party in the USA" by Miley Cyrus

I don't even like Miley Cyrus. But I like this song. At one point after it came out, I would host private dance parties to it with me, myself, and I. It was quite the occasion. Side note: has anyone actually figured out how it's possible to "move my hips like yeah"? lmk

4. Hey Juliet by LMNT (pronounced "element"... I know)

Don't laugh okay? In my early fangirling days (circa 2002) I remember how whenever I was in the car, I demanded the radio station be on Radio Disney. Like I was adamant about this. And the Disney DJs were kind of obsessed with playing this song. So naturally I grabbed the bull by the horns and joined right in. My entire family was hell bent on getting me to listen to anything else, but y'all, it just would not happen. Fun facts: Another LMNT song "Open Your Eyes To Love", was featured in the Lizzie McGuire Movie. And one of the band members was Matthew Morrison. That's right, from Glee. You don't have to shake your head at me, I'm doing it for myself.

5. Someone Like You

From about September to December, this song was ingrained in my mind. Like, the lyrics were essentially tattooed to the insides of my eyelids. There was no escaping this song, be it on the radio, SNL, even school, where they'd play it in the courtyard as I walked across campus. I listened to it while studying, while procrastinating, while falling asleep, etc. And you know the worst part? It never even got old. I still adore it with all of me. My favorite version is the one below. The minor change in the chorus makes it even more hauntingly beautiful than it was before.

6. any One Direction song

That one just speaks for itself.

For Leila

You are currently hiking up in some mountain, probably sleeping under the stars and making marshmallows around a campfire (idk, I don't go camping). So I decided that since you'll be starved of access to the real world for a whole week, I might as well compile a list of important online things that you missed (with contributions from Abbi and Raven). Consider it an archive of love.

1. This song. It is magical, it is beautiful, it is love.

2. THE GREAT GATSBY TRAILER CAME OUT TUESDAY. Also, this is how Abbi and I felt after we saw it: http://bit.ly/KSbBrs

3. THIS ANON MESSAGE THAT MADE ME CRY

4. The asshole strikes again.

5. Raven started watching Downton Abbey AND Friday Night Lights. This made me happy, and I'm sure it will make you happy as well. Among her livetweets of the first few episodes, w thought you would enjoy these.

6. 1D came to America and there was a rumor that Harry punched someone. It was false, but hilarious nonetheless.

7. MATT SMITH IS GOING TO CARRY THE OLYMPIC TORCH ON FRIDAY IN CARDIFF. LOOK.

8. I was really proud of this response. Signs I need to get off the computer.

9.You'll cry laughing.

10. AND FINALLY...

We Few, We Happy Few

Here's something you should know about me: I really like being happy. "Of course you do, Neda, everyone does!" you might say. But I mean it. I don't think there's any greater feeling in the world than pure, unadulterated joy. And sometimes, I do whatever I can to feel that way. Including loving too much. To quote Leslie Knope, "If I seem too passionate, it's because I care. If I come on strong, it's because I feel strongly." So, last week, I took a bit of a turn for the worse. I don't necessarily know why, but I felt very alone and incredibly uncomfortable in my own skin. Luckily, with a little help from a friend, I was able to pull myself out of this funk. But it just was no fun at all. Then this week happened.

I was riding the public bus home today (yes, I need a car) and as I was getting ready to get off, the bus driver looked at me in the rear view mirror and said, "You know, you look really happy. You must have had a good day." I hadn't really thought about it, but I did have a good day. In fact, I had a really good week.

So without further ado, here is Neda's list of things that made her happy this week. 

1. This video. Apparently there are still some of you crazies who haven't seen it yet, so friggin watch it already. I've showed it to about 10 people and the absolute best part is watching/hearing their reactions. (Sidenote: You should also really watch this reaction video made by the lovely Raven, because of reasons.)

2. Abbi's hilariously entertaining live-tweet of Fifty Shades of Grey and Marci's gloriously unparalleled live-tweet of Titanic 3D. They were both epic and I'm really sorry for you if you missed out.

3. This video. I shared it in my last post about feminism as well, but it made me immensely happy, so I'm adding it here too. #yolo

4. The many new friends I have made this week (including Kate, Marci, Asmaa, and SJ). You guys are fantastic and I can't believe we didn't know each other before. It's been a downright joy getting to know you guys and I know that we are all becoming fast friends.

5. This interview, in which my hero/idol/goddess/queen/role model/everything Amy Poehler talks about Parks and Rec, as well as Tumblr. I won't lie to you, I squealed.

6. Of Monsters and Men. Y'all, if you haven't heard of this band yet, I strongly suggest giving them a listen. I am not a huge music fan, and I'm most definitely not into a whole lot of alternative stuff. But. This band is different. I have listened to every song on the album and contrary to my usual taste, I don't dislike a single song on it. Every single one is wonderful. I can't really explain why I love them... just listen and you'll get it. 

**"Little Talks" seems to be their most popular song so that's the one I posted, but I also highly recommend "King and Lionheart", "Lakehouse", "Mountain Sound", and "Six Weeks".

7. Last but not least, my great friends. This has mostly been such a great week for me mostly because I've been just talking to you guys and bonding with you. You all mean a lot to me, I hope you know that. And the root of my happiness undoubtedly comes from you guys. So Annie, Abbi, Leila, Raven, Laney, Hannah, Kat, Sarah, Kate (both of you), Sasha, and all my other incredible friends: You guys are the best. I love you.

My happiness is based on my surroundings. And my surroundings this week were downright delightful. I know I won't always feel like this, and there will probably be times that I end up feeling like I did last week. But I know that as long as I have good friends, my family, and my TV shows, I'm really gonna be okay. 

What made you happy this week? :)

The Devil is in the Details

This semester has been a bit trying for me, but one really great thing that has come out of it is the Women's Studies class I'm taking. Y'all, I highly recommend taking some sort of gender or race studies class in your educational career. I feel like for once I'm actually learning things that can be applied in the real world. It has even led me to consider a minor in Wom. St., which is big for me. So yes, this is an important class.

I've considered myself to be liberal for a long time. But I think before taking this class, I kind of just blindly followed the liberal stance on most political and social topics because I didn't quite understand what I was fighting for. This class has not only taught me multitudes about women and equality; it has taught me how to think for myself, and to make informed decisions about politically volatile issues. 

We've been talking a lot about body image in my class. How the media sets these impossibly high standards that potentially no one can achieve in terms of physical beauty. I'll be honest, I always hear people say, "Women don't really look like that," but until really studying this subject and seeing firsthand how make up and photoshop are used so excessively, I realize now that it's true. Nobody looks like that. Nobody has tan, flawless, hairless skin; slender, long legs; long, straight, manageable hair; piercing blue/green eyes; and a flat stomach. Sure, some people may have a couple of these attributes. But all of them? Nobody. 

We've all got things about ourselves that we don't like. That we hate, in fact. Even my professor, who is a devoted advocate of feminism (clearly, given her teaching position), admitted to having several body insecurities. And often, these insecurities manifest so much that they make us ashamed of ourselves. We become sad that we don't look the way we want, and then we do whatever it takes to go after that look. I know that I personally have insecurities involving my face that sometimes make me avoid eye contact with people because I'm scared that's all they're looking at.

If we took all the hours we spent worrying about our faces and our bodies and what we look like, and instead spent that time focusing on our futures and goals, I like to think that the world would be a much better place.

Not only has this class made me see the truth more clearly, but it has given me a reason to speak up. Last week I was at a dinner party with my family, all of whom are quite religious. One person at the table made a mildly sexist comment. Now usually, this would have stung and made me cringe a little, but I would have let it pass. But this time, I was empowered. I was going to speak up, damn it. So I did. 

And honestly it turned out to be an epic fail. I spluttered along with a few facts I had learned in class and said how making such a comment was pretty degrading. The entire table fell silent and everything got really weird and uncomfortable. Eventually someone changed the subject. But you know what? I wasn't ashamed. I didn't exactly make the greatest argument, but I stood my ground and I spoke up when someone said something I didn't believe in. And to me, that's a pretty great start.

We watched this in my class yesterday and it just blows me away every time I replay it. 

If there's one thing to take away from this post, it's this: Love yourself first, and others will follow.