1. Jason Mraz

“And with the silence brings a moral story more importantly evolving is the glory of a boy…and it’s okay if you had to go away, oh just remember the telephone, well they work at ‘em both ways.  But if I never ever hear them ring, if nothing else I’ll think the bells inside have finally found you someone else and that’s okay cause I’ll remember everything you sang.”

Those were the lyrics that taught me that losing someone or something throughout the course of life is totally okay.

2. Eric Hutchinson

“Some people don’t care enough, some people get scared enough to get talked into something that they think they should believe.  I’ll go by what you do, cause talk is cheap.”

Is he right, or is he right?  I would absolutely recommend his latest record (Moving Up Living Down) if you want to listen to some happy tunes about changing your life perspective into something greater.

3. Dan Layus (Augustana)

“And I’ll carry you all the way when you say you’re fine but you’re still young and out of line when all I need’s to turn around to make it last, to make it count.  I ain’t gonna make the same mistakes that put my mama in her grave, I don’t want to be alone.  Hold me down, sweet and low, little girl.  Hold me down, sweet and low and I’ll carry you home.”

Dan wrote this for his daughter and it gets me every time.  Partly because I have a massive crush on him and partly because this song is one of the the sweetest that I’ve ever heard.

4. Tristan Prettyman

“I found a little glass jar on the shelf.  It reminded me to take a good, hard look at myself, reminded me of some better days when I knew you in the version that I wished you would stay in.”

Read this, this, and this, and you will understand the pain I feel when listening to TP’s latest record.  I love me some Jason Mraz, but TP’s my girl too.

5. Taylor Swift

“You call me up again just to break me like a promise, so casually cruel in the name of being honest.  I’m a crumpled up piece of paper lying here cause I remember it all too well.”

I sincerely think T. Swift is one of the best songwriters out there.  I mean, record labels were buying songs she wrote as a teenager.  She’s always so lyrically clever and sometimes I hear her songs for the first time and at the end, my mind is BLOWN.  Dear John, Red, Long Live are some examples.

6. Michael Grubbs (Wakey!Wakey!)

“I will try to get you up cause it’s beautiful outside and we’ll fall but we’ll try.  We’ll do our best and I’ll love you all the while because you saved my life once.”

I just really appreciate his positivity and appreciation for sunshine.

7. Rob Thomas

“We would stand in the wind, we were free like water flowing down under the warmth of the sun.  Now it’s cold and we’re scared and we’ve both been shaken, hey look at us, man this doesn’t need to be the end.”

I used to listen to this song in high school when I thought my heart was breaking, and somehow it always fixed me because it reminded me that I’ll never run out of love.

8. Sara Bareilles

“Compare where you are to where you want to be, and you’ll get nowhere.”

That is real talk right there.

9. Nate Ruess (Fun., The Format)

“The need to fit in is harder when living life from a screen.  Old classmates please drop all your pens, don’t write a word cause I won’t reply and I’m not bitter, no, it’s just I’ve passed that point in my life.”

It’s crazy that after so many years of making amazing music, the whole world is only just discovering Nate, but this lyric is timeless.

10. Ingrid Michaelson.

“I don’t believe in anything but myself but then you opened up a door, now I start to believe in something else.”

Sometimes all it takes is one person.

_____________________________________________________

Three people who JUST missed the list (or maybe I just thought of them after I hit 10) were:

Ryan Adams (Whiskeytown)

“She’s got diamonds in her eyes  that she likes to hide.  Seek and you’ll find the hide and seeking kind.”

Justin Vernon (Bon Iver)

“Bike down, down to the downtown, down to the lockdown.  Boards, nails lie around.  I crouch like a crow contrast in the snow for the agony I’d rather know cause blinded, I am blindsided.”

Patrick Stump (Fall Out Boy)

“And I want it so bad I’d shoot the sunshine into my veins, I can’t remember the good old days.”

Since her premier release of Serenity Lost in October 2010 with Extasy Books,
Amy has become the Prime Time Editor for BellaOnline, and regular contributing author to the Amazon Subscription Blog, ‘Red Lipstick Journals’. Amy is also an active eBook Author supporter lending her voice to encouraging new and indie eBook authors in striding toward their visions. Her own goal is to be a self sustaining author by 2014.

Amy currently resides in Arlington, Texas with her husband, and three children.

You can visit her online at www.amyromine.com.

Q: Welcome to Beyond the Books, Amy.  Can we start out by telling us whether you are published for the first time or are you multi-published?

I am a multi-published author with Extasy Books.

Q: When you were published for the first time, which route did you go – mainstream, small press, vanity published or self-published and why or how did you choose this route?

I guess you could say small press, Extasy gave me my shot and I took it. Ten books later we have a great relationship.

Q: How long did it take you to get published once you signed the contract?

Honestly, it happened really fast. I signed with Extasy August 2010 and my premier release hit the web October of the same year.

Q: How did it make you feel to become published for the first time and how did you celebrate?

I was thrilled, so excited to see my name on the cover of a book. It was surreal, my best friend and I screamed and jumped up and down. I don’t think we knew what else to do. LOL!

Q: What was the first thing you did as for as promotion when you were published for the first time?

I went out and pounded the digital pavement begging for reviews, banner exchanges and guest blog spots. It was the most difficult thing I have ever done in my entire life. I knew the only one who could sell my book was me, and I was damned determined!

Q: Since you’ve been published, how have you grown as a writer and now a published author?

I have learned so much from the other authors, publishers, and readers I have encountered since the beginning of my journey. Every journey, every novel is about evolution and growth. I have grown not only as a writer but as a person.

Q: What has surprised or amazed you about the publishing industry as a whole? 

The biggest surprise has been how engaging, helpful and supportive the whole community is. We are all in the same position, fighting for our dreams. Sometimes that brings out the worst in people but not the people I have met, they are all wonderful.

Q: What is the most rewarding thing about being a published author?  

Being able to say I am a published author…just kidding. But seriously, the most rewarding thing is the ability to help other authors through the struggles of being a writer. The journey is difficult and I like to pay it forward.

Q: Any final words for writers who dream of being published one day?

I found this a few years ago and I live by it, stick to these rules and you will be just fine.

• Be gutsy enough to stand up to those who stand in your way.
• Be big enough to admit your mistakes.
• Be vulnerable and say, “I don’t know”
• Be humble enough to surround yourself with people smarter and more capable than you.
• Be open and flexible enough to adjust to ever-changing circumstances.
• Ignore those calling for a quick fix or a cut corner.
• Go with your gut, the instinct that feels right and knows best.
• Do what’s right, because it is the right thing to do.

After 3 multi platinum smash albums with his band Matchbox Twenty, Rob Thomas went into the studio on his own for this 2005 release. Although the pressure for success must have been immense given his track record, Thomas didn’t disappoint. It is a record packed with his trademark hooks and catchy chorus is that seem to be impossible to get out of your head once they find their way in. This is a man who has made his mark as a pop rock songwriting master and on Something To Be that’s exactly what he delivers. His stamp is so heavily pressed into the Matchbox sound that if you did not know any better you would be unaware that this was a solo effort and not one of the band’s. “This Is How A Heart Breaks” is almost a synopsis of how to write a pop rock song. Pounding beats, annoyingly catchy lyrics, lead guitar licks,screeching vocals. It kicks off the album with the message that, yes, this shits gonna be good. Great Song. There is no let down when track 2 comes. “Lonely No More” is an insta-hit with a Latin beat and maybe the best song on the record. Rob slows it down for the 3rd tune “Ever The Same”, a MB20 style ballad in that it’s a love song with a quicker tempo than a standard ballad. The 6th track is the album’s title track “Something To Be”. This is probably the hardest track on the disc and the closest to being an actual rock cut. Rob manages an “I don’t give a shit” attitude in the vocal while maintaining the song’s pop sensibilities. I believe much of this song is Rob addressing some inner doubts on whether he can pull off a solo record that can achieve the same level of success that he had with MB20. He pulls it off and “Something To Be”, although not a single, is one the records strongest tracks. The second half of the album wanes a little bit but is bolstered by the cleverly worded “Problem Girl” which has that Rob Thomas “gets in your head and can’t get out quality” to it. But it closes out with a bang. First with a fun collaboration with John Mayer on a song that should have been a much bigger hit “Streetcorner Symphony”.With 2 of the best pop songwriters working on the same tune could it be anything less than great? The biggest and most pleasant surprise on this offering is the beautiful piano ballad that closes out the disc. “Now Comes The Night” is a huge departure for Rob Thomas and I’m sure a song that must have been risky for him to include. He pulls this song off in gold medal fashion and shows his chops as a piano troubadour. It is a wonderful way to bring this set of songs to a conclusion.

other Matchbox Twenty on this blog:

#121 Matchbox Twenty – Mad Season (2000)

Disclaimers, etc., see chapter one.

Ever the Same

By Eugena

Chapter Two: I Can Only Give You Love

“It’s time for me to go, mum,” she said, her voice distant. “I must save everyone from the Daleks.”

“How can you when the Doctor here can’t” Jackie asked.

“I am the Bad Wolf. I have been and always will be the Bad Wolf. I am the Defender of Time.”

Across the room, The Doctor slowly opened his eyes. No, no!

“Do not be afraid, mum. You have Pete now. It’s time for me to go home.”

“You are home, sweetheart.”

“No, my home is with My Doctor. The Doctor, the other one.”

“But he died,” Mickey said. He gestured to the Tenth Doctor. “He became him.”

“No. My Doctor waits for me.”

Rose kissed her mother, Mickey, and Pete.

“Goodbye. I love you all. Promise to remember me, but move on with your lives.”

Disclaimer: Dr Who and related characters are owned by BBC.

Ever the Same

By Eugena

Rating: T

Doctor Who, “Doomsday” AU

Inspired by “Ever the Same” by Rob Thomas

You may need me there

To carry all your weight

But you’re no burden I assure

You tide me over

With a warmth I’ll not forget

But I can only give you love

From “Ever the Same” by Rob Thomas

Chapter One: A Warmth I’ll Not Forget

The time war ended long ago – a war primarily fought between the Time Lords and the Daleks – leaving only The Doctor to survive. This is what history recorded, yet even this history slowly turned to myth. The myth was true, no legend, but tell that to the Daleks that now stood before Rose Tyler, The Doctor, Jackie Tyler, Pete Tyler, and Mickey Smith. Four people and one Gallifreyan against and entire army. Somehow, the Cybermen had returned, and with them were people from an alternative universe, mainly Pete and Mickey. This had been enough to revive the Daleks.

The Ninth Doctor within Ten reeled. Again, the Daleks would threaten to take Rose from him.

No one moved, too afraid of what might happen to Rose. Except Rose.

“Do you really think you will defeat us?” she asked.

“SI-LENCE, HU-MAN!”

“Have you heard of the Oncoming Storm?” Rose asked.

The Dalek that demanded her silence refocused its pupil within its eyestalk.

“I was there the day the false god – the one you call your emperor died.”

“THE EM-PER-OR ON-LY LEFT US. HE IS IM-MOR-TAL. HE DID NOT DIE.”

“I split his atoms, and I will split yours,” Rose vowed.

The Doctor reached out to touch Rose’s arm. His fingertips touched briefly, before she turned away. It was enough to see into her mind.

He saw the Ninth Doctor standing before him. Rose stood beside Nine and took his hand. She turned to Ten.

I will not let him die in vain. I will stop the ones who hurt you, My Doctor.

The Doctor tried to reach Rose again, but this time a mere wave of her hand – as she had when she destroyed the Daleks on Game Station – she flung him across the room.

Mickey backed away from her. Pete did not move. Jackie gasped.

“Rose, sweetheart, what’s happening?” Jackie asked.

Rose’s eyes began to glow gold, and time began to slow. The Daleks stood nearly still, but a temporal bubble around Rose allowed her to speak to the others.

That being said, Rob Thomas (another great songwriter) did a version of his song “Ever the Same” with Daryl Hall and it’s outstanding. Give it a listen/look:

You   may know him as the front man of the very sensational Matchbox Twenty (if you haven’t heard of them I suggest you come out from under your rock and buy an album they’re AMAZING!!!) but Robert Kelly Thomas also known as Rob Thomas is a very exceptional singer-songwriter in his own right. I LOVE him.

 He was born in 1972 in West Germany to American parents serving in the U.S. Military. In 20

05, this three time grammy nominated singer, after 10 years with Matchbox Twenty, decided to try his hand at a solo career with the release of his debut album Something to be... the album’s lead single Lonely no more, debuted at number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and the album’s third single Ever the same was a top 5 Adult Contemporary Hit, going Gold.

In 2007, Thomas released Little Wonders for the Disney feature film Meet the Robinson’s it also reached number 5 on the Mediabase Hot Adult Contemporary Charts.

In 2009, following the release of his second studio album Cradlesong, the album’s lead single Her Diamonds, (on which Thomas’ wife sang back up) hit number one on the Australian Airplay Charts. The single also hit number 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Top 40, peaked at number 3 on the Australian ARIA  charts, while hitting 27 and 35 in Canada and New Zealand respectively.

As well as HUGE success as a solo artist, Rob owes much of his career to Matchbox Twenty, just as the band owes much to him. He has written some of their biggest hits including… 3 am, How far we’ve come, Disease and Real World. In 2004 he was awarded a the very first Starlight Award by the Songwriters Hall of fame.

My opinion:

I love Rob!!! In today’s music industry we are seeing more and more of media promoted stars and less and less musicians with real, raw talent. His songs actually mean something, they speak to people. Her Diamond’s was actually written about his wife’s struggle with illness. I love his songs, I have for a long time now and I hope to be able to enjoy both him and Matchbox 20 for a long time to come.

                I always wonder when it will be my time. When will that guy come in, and sweep me off my feet and when will my career begin? I will never know, but I hope it is soon.

                In a past blog, back in January of 2009, I wrote about a dream where there was a frog that had landed on my leg. Since that dream, I have come across many frogs, whether they were by the door to my apartment, my mom’s place, a park, or even a store; when something was majorly changing. In January of 2009, I met a few people that I know longer call friends, the moment I cut them out of my life, I found myself Happier, I found myself somewhat Less Stressed, and I found a frog on the top of my tire wheel, even though it was a toy, left by one of the apartment kids. When I moved in with my mom, there was a frog at her back door one night, and just recently this past week, there was a frog by the front door.  I have looked up frogs, and the meaning behind them. Many sites have explained that it is a Japanese, Good Luck charm when you see a frog, and when having a frog that faces the door, it is to bring happiness into your home.

                What ever has happened in life, I find myself struggling with a few things as I get older. I also find myself going back to when I was just a teen, and how I had felt, and how some of those feelings are still there. I continue to ask myself, “What the hell am I doing?” Why does something so little make me so upset, and why do I feel like people are not hearing a word that I am saying? These are just some constant questions that I have. Moving on is one of the hardest things that I have done, and have to do.

                Growing up, there was not much change but as I got older into my 20’s, I still have those constant wonders of:

Do people like me?

How do people know who I am?

Why do I walk in the mall, and where I get recognized for some strange reason from all sorts of people, I find them staring?

Why do totally strangers come up to me?

What am I famous for?

Why do people have to judge me just because of the way I look, and how I act? 

Why do I feel I am the dumbest person in all of the people I know, and in a crowd?

Why do I feel that people dislike me?

Why do I feel that I was not well liked in school?

I am sure many of you out there have had maybe similar questions. I see people around, and I see how their lives are, but I often wonder are their lives truly that happy. That I do not know everything is always different behind closed doors. I am growing up trying to find who I am as a person, and trying to remind myself that when I ask these questions about life changes, that I am right where I need to be.

Life is changing, and so far for the past couples days I have had this strange feeling come over me when I leave my current place, that I just recently moved into with a friend. Now every so often, I get feelings where something good is going to happen, and this is one of those feelings – kind of. I really do not know how to explain it, ever since I have seen that frog by my mom’s front door. I feel something is going to happen, I just do not know what, and it is driving me a little nuts. Since these feelings have started, this blog has appeared in my head, and it was telling me to write it, to just go for it.

So, here I am.  Where do I begin? Where do I start? Currently there is a detour in this ever changing life that I lead. Do I go right? Left? Because what I see straight ahead is just a never ending battle of questions that leads me back to my past. It is time to move on, so I think I will go right, because that is how I get out of my desk chair, If I go left, I walk into a wall – which is never a good thing. Basically I am going to start days off with just one foot in front of the other, and take one step at a time.

Yet, the saying is true, “Change is Inevitable.”

“Never is one thing in life, ever the same.” Alesha Hackett 9/4/10  – I should copyright that, Google is not pulling it up. :)

Everclose by Matt Wertz (247): I fall asleep to music on repeat.

Good-bye My Lover by James Blunt (229): I know hurt.

Ever the Same by Rob Thomas (173): Chill happy

Girl Next Door by Saving Jane (164): Sometimes I feel like this.

Home by Michael Buble (162): I love home and the feeling of being home even when it’s not a place.

When You Say Nothing at All by Ronan Keating (160): Songs from movies make me happy.

I Always Liked that Best by Cyndi Thompson (153): I like that feeling…

For All Time by Soluna (146): So…what? I like love songs

Crush by Mandy Moore (145): I love being sparkled

Kiss the Rain by Billie Myers (141): I know what it’s like being far away

That’s Where it is by Carrie Underwood (141): Once again…I like that feeling

You’re Like Coming Home by Emerson Drive (130): Home is where my heart is

Take You Back by Jeremy Camp (126): I love Jesus

My Jesus by Todd Agnew (123): I want real, authentic life

Have a Little Faith by Mandy Moore (112): All about faith, hope and love

You Said by Shane and Shane (112): I say a little prayer for you

The Lover after Me by Savage Garden (102): Sometimes it hurts

Misconception by Matt Woods (97): I listen to catchy songs on repeat

On a Night Like This by Dave Barnes (95): I believe in love stories

Lovin’ You Lovin’ Me by Chris Cagle (93): Real love, real life

Every Little Thing by Hawk Nelson (91): I want to be that girl

You’re Beautiful by James Blunt (90): Tragic, but powerful

Summer Girl by Jessica Andrews (87): I wear flip flops

Everything There is To Know About You by Mark Wills (84): I love asking questions

*Disclaimer: Just to clarify the playcount totals are from my computer only and not the combined totals from both my computer and iPod.  So, in all reality I’ve probably listened to Turn it Up over 500 times. hehe

la i mean Ramko

wow at rocks,

Between sky and earth those CSE2B Memberz…

Hey guys i managed to put atleast our team pick.

favorite quote :”Cse 2B la  mais Selmen , ..Book..ou…..aaaa”, i Expect the Team and all friendz be

kool to leave at least a word

We were drawn from the weeds
We were brave like soldiers
Falling down under the pale moonlight
You were holding me
Like someone broken
And I couldn’t tell you, but I’m telling you now

Just let me hold you while you’re falling apart
Just let me hold you and we’ll both fall down

Fall on me
Tell me everything you want me to be
Forever with you, forever in me
Ever the same

We would stand in the wind
We were free like water
Flowing down
Under the warmth of the sun
Now it’s cold and we’re scared
And we’ve both been shaken
Look at us man,
this doesn’t need to be the end

Just let me hold you while you’re falling apart
Just let me hold you and we’ll both fall down

Fall on me tell me everything you want me to be
Forever with you
Forever in me
Ever the same

Call on me
I’ll be there for you and you’ll be there for me
Forever it’s you
Forever in me
Ever the same

You may need me there
To carry all your weight
But you’re no burden I assure
You tide me over
With a warmth I’ll not forget
But I can only
give you love

Fall on me
Tell me everything you want me to be
Forever with you,
forever in me
Ever the same

Call on me
I’ll be there for you
And you’ll be there for me
Forever it’s you
Forever in me
Ever the same
Forever with you
Forever in me
Ever the same

Ever the same

Site – Rob Thomas