Villagers at the Sheperds Bush Empire

I had an amazing evening yesterday, seeing Villagers. Michelle Stodart (from the Magic Numbers) was supporting and I really liked her music. I used to listen to The Magic Numbers a few years ago, but I'd never heard her by herself before, and she was really really good. She's got an album coming out quite soon, so keep an eye open for it!
   Anyway, on to the Villagers! They were fantastic. We were right at the front, so had a great view, and it meant that the music was really loud. They made a lot of their quieter songs a lot more raucous - or as I liked to say, they electric guitarified them. Conor O'Brian, for a small man, has an immensely powerful and haunting voice, and his beautiful lyrics definitely deserve the Ivor Novello award that he recently won.

30 Day Song Challenge - Day 7: A Song That Reminds You of a Certain Event

Rain City - Turin Brakes 

I was listening to this song when we were travelling in Japan on a little local train from Tokyo to Kamakura. I always have flashbacks to that day when I listen to Rain City. I remember that my friend was asleep, sitting on the floor of the carriage; my finger had swollen to twice the size due to an allergic reaction to a mosquito bite, and it was very very hot! Such a good day though... such a good week in fact!

The photos below were taken on that very day :)

Whenever I'm in foreign countries (even English speaking ones) I always find it fascinating to look at their adverts.

Kamakura is home to the 2nd largest Buddha in Japan.. he's pretty big!

30 Day Song Challenge - Day 6: A Song That Reminds You Of Somewhere

Life For Rent - Dido

When we were little, countless summers were spent driving through the lavender fields in the South of France listening to Dido. Listening to her songs bring back such good memories (even though I find them quite irritating now.)

I can still remember these photos being taken below. Not sure where the first one is taken, but I remember that after running through the fountains there was a little shop where we were allowed to spend our holiday money. The second was taken at our friends' house in the South of France - the countryside surrounding it was so amazing :) Sorry about the wonkyness of the photos.. I still haven't quite mastered the art of scanning in yet!

30 Day Song Challenge - Day 5: A Song That Reminds You Of Someone

Number One Enemy - Daisy Dares You

I'm not really a huge fan of this song, but I found it quite hard to think of one, and for some reason this was the only one that came into my head. In Japan last Summer, my friend Sydney sang this song on repeat so whenever I hear it I think of her :) 

30 Day Song Challenge - Day 4: A Song That Makes You Sad

The Funeral - Band of Horses

Sorry for the delay, the internet wasn't working yesterday, so I'll do two posts of the challenge on tonight. Anyhoo, on with the song. I love this song so much but listening to it really does make me quite sad, especially when you really think about the lyrics. I first heard it at the end of the final Flashforward episode which was quite sad, so I guess perhaps that's another reason why I find this song so depressing. The melody's so beautiful though, and I love the contrast between the first two verses - the simple electric guitar and then the full blown rage-out (could I possibly have just made up a new word?!).

Have a listen and see what you think... I think it's a quite an acquired taste, but I hope you like it :) 

Also don't you find the video quite depressing all in black and white? 

30 Day Song Challenge - Day 3: A Song That Makes You Happy

Hello - Martin Solveig feat. Dragonette

It's extremely hard to listen to this song and not feel happy as it makes me feel all summery! Plus Novak Djokovic's cameo is an added bonus.. gotta love a bit of him :) 

30 Day Song Challenge - Day 2: Your Least Favourite Song

I don't really think I have a 'least' favourite song that I can't stand listening to. I guess there are certain types of music which I don't really like (like screamo and R&B) but no one song stands out to me as my least favourite, so I think I might cheat on the challenge and leave out a song for today.
Do you have a least favourite song/genre of music that you don't really like listening to?
Flora x

30 Day Song Challenge - Day 1: Your Favourite Song

I felt like doing something a bit different for my blog, and so I'm going to take part in the 30 day song challenge which shall hopefully be a bit of a journey through what different music means to me (however cheesy that sounds!). So, my favourite song... well obviously it had to be something by Stornoway (as I'm sure my regular readers will realise). My favourite song on the album always changes from week to week, but at the moment it's definitely Watching Birds... it always gets me wide awake in the morning, and it's such a generally happy song. I love it :)

Read my interview with Stornoway here

Just a Quick Post

This week's been so hectic, I've been getting back late every night and so haven't had any time to catch up on some of my favourite blogs! I'm going on my DofE bronze expedition tomorrow, and so won't be able to have a proper read of your blogs until Sunday, but I just wanted to let you know that I'm still alive! aha :) Until then listen to this version of Creep (originally by Radiohead). It might not necessarily be your cup of tea, but I'm in love with it, it's so haunting.