My Year In Music (Blogmas Day #15)

   Welcome to Blogmas day 15!
   Today I'll be talking about music, again. But, this time I've consulted Spotify to find out what music I've listened to the most this hear, how much I've been listening to it time wise and so on. I've seen so many people talking about this so I thought I might share my results with you guys, especially since I've not actually taken a look yet so we'll, kind of, find out together.
   Counting just the music I'm listening to on Spotify I've spent 39.000 hours (27 days) listening to music. I've listened to 811 different artists and 2.146 different songs, which is crazy! I wasn't even aware of the fact that I know that many artists to be completely honest.
   Now, let's see, who were my top five most listened artists, along with how many times I've streamed their music:

1. Years & Years - 581 streams
2. Panic! at the Disco - 473 streams
3. Hozier - 374 streams
4. MS MR -372 streams
5. Hurts - 359 streams

   That does look pretty legit if I think back to everything I've listened to in 2015. It's interesting how big the gaps are between places 1 to 3 yet how tiny between 3, 4 and 5. To be honest, I would have though I listened to Panic! the most this year, but I guess I was loving Years & Years quite a lot. Then again, their album is brilliant so no wonder.

   Next, let's have a look at my top five most streamed songs. I'm actually really curious about this one because I cannot even begin to guess which one might be on top.

1. Pray to God by Calvin Harris feat HAIM - 69 streams
2. King by Years & Years - 62 streams
3. Collar Full by Panic! at the Disco - 57 streams
4. Real (Original Mix) by Years & Years - 52 streams
5. Desire by Years & Years - 51 streams

   I guess it comes as no surprise that Years & Years clearly dominates this list, though I'm actually really surprised by Pray to God being my most listened to song of the year. Who would have thought. But, I'm not surprised at all that Collar Full found its way into the top five since I've been really loving that one over the past two months or so.

   And lastly we have my top five most listened to albums. I'm going to take a very wild guess and say Years & Years will be high on this one. Let's see if I'm right:

1. Hozier (Delux) by Hozier - 374 streams
2. Secondhand Rapture by MS MR - 371 streams
3. If You Leave by Daughter - 277 streams
4. Chaos and Calm by James Bay - 274 streams
5. Smoke + Mirror (Delux) by Imagine Dragons - 239 streams

   I'm actually surprised because Years & Years have not even made it onto this list, despite being my most listened to artist of 2015. Then again, I'm not surprised that Hozier won this one, closely followed by MS MR, because I really love his album a lot. And again, it's interesting how close place 1 and 2 are and also place 3 and 4.

   And that's it, that's my 2015 in music. I hope you enjoyed this little list, gotten to know my taste in music a little bit better. Share your most listened to artists, songs and albums down in the comments (no account required) or tweet them at me, @Alice_Reeds

What NaNoWriMo Has Taught Me So Far (Blogmas Day #6)

   Welcome to Blogmas day six!
   Today I want to share some of the things with you that I've so far learned in the three years that I've been participating in NaNoWriMo (and Camp NaNo). For those of you who don't know, NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) is an annual event happening throughout November where writers attempt to write 50.000 words in 30 days, the equivalent of a book toward the shorter end. It sounds hard and challenging, well, it truly is both but it is also very much doable.
   As I mentioned before I've been doing NaNoWriMo for three years now and each time I've learned many new things, ways to help you make it and alike. I've read many posts from other people with their NaNo stories so I thought I might try, write down a couple of things that helped me, and maybe it'll be able to help some of you guys in the future.

   This year, I admit, I had quite the hard time getting into the flow of things, which resulted in my word count being quite behind. I was more then sure I wouldn't be able to catch up all those words, but miraculously I did. Don't believe me? Here's a picture of my statistics for this years NaNo:

   It took me many nights filled with way too little sleep but lots of writing to catch up, surely between 2.000 and 4.000 words a day. Here are some things that helped me:

   #1 - Music
   This one is kind of obvious, I know, but the right kind of music can help immensely to get into the writing mood and mindset. About to write an action type scene? Choose up beat music. A sad scene? Sad or classical music is your friend. A romantic one? Don't be afraid to pull out that rock type music perfect for cuddling. I find myself setting up different playlists for each story I write, every character or particular scene.

   #2 - Outline
   Before this years NaNo I've rarely outlines, or if I did I only went about two chapters ahead. This time I decided to actually sit down and plan ahead, write down a couple of lines for each chapter. Now, each time I was about to start writing again I didn't have to think about what to write first but could just look into my outline and unleash all the words. It helped me a lot to know exactly where my story is heading, what details I can include when and where exactly all my characters are. If you've never tried outlining before, give it a shot, it might help you like it helped me.

   #3 - Like the story you are writing
   This one seems like a no-brainer I know, but it's true. If you like the story you are writing, like your characters and the things happening in it you'll be a lot more motivated to sit down and write. That long break you can see in the picture above, that was because I was trying to write something I wasn't quite feeling. I wasn't happy with it, didn't feel like writing at all, but then on day 9 (I think) I switched to a different story, a fully outlined one, and suddenly the words kept on coming. Fair enough, there was another break but was because my hand was hurting and I couldn't write. No fun.

   #4 - Switch it up
   What I mean by that is switch up your writing routine. If you usually write in the morning but the words are not coming, try writing in the evening. If you usually write at your desk, try to find yourself another place. Maybe another, another point of view, can help you find new inspiration. I usually write at my desk but this time I tried to write in the night before going to sleep. It worked amazingly. If neither of those things help, how about going for a walk before writing, watch a movie or read a book with a similar theme as your story, inspiration is waiting everywhere.

   #5 - Writing sprints
   This one is golden. Every year I heard everybody talking about them but I never participated, never thought it would be something I would enjoy since the idea of writing against time seemed way too stressful. This year in my desperate attempt of catching up I tried it, mostly using the sprints hosted on twitter by @NaNoWordSprints or together with fellow authors. Turns out it was immensely helpful. My daily word count shot up in the air and thanks to those sprints I actually managed to catch up and win, on the last day but I made it, my third year in a row. Don't be afraid to try new things, you can't imagine how many words you can get onto the page in 30 minutes, or even as much as 10 or 15.

   Ultimately the most important thing you'll need to make it, write those 50.000 words in 30 days, is the ambition to not give up, even if you find yourself thousands of words behind. If you are determined enough to win you'll find a way to do it. 
   I know work, school, and life can sometimes make finding the time hard, making you think you won't be able to do it, make you not even try, but I think that's just an excuse. Even if you won't make it, won't write 50.000 words, you can at least try, every word is more then none, right? I won my first two NaNo's while I was still in school, drowning between studying and preparing presentations, figuring out how to survive exams, but I still found those two hours every evening to sit down and write down the minimum of 1.667 words a day.

   Anyway, I hope any of these tips will be able to help you, on a daily basis or next year during NaNoWriMo. If you have any tips you think could help others, take a moment and leave them in the comments below or tweet them at me, @Alice_Reeds.
   I hope you enjoyed this post, a slightly different one then my usual ones, and have a great day or evening!

Review: For the Record by Charlotte Huang

For the Record by Charlotte Huang
Expected publication: November 10th 2015 by Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Number of Pages: X
Series: No

   Chelsea thought she knew what being a rock star was like . . . until she became one. After losing a TV talent show, she slid back into small-town anonymity. But one phone call changed everything.
   Now she’s the lead singer of the band Melbourne, performing in sold-out clubs every night and living on a bus with three gorgeous and talented guys. The bummer is that the band barely tolerates her. And when teen hearthrob Lucas Rivers take an interest in her, Chelsea is suddenly famous, bringing Melbourne to the next level—not that they’re happy about that. Her feelings for Beckett, Melbourne’s bassist, are making life even more complicated.
   Chelsea only has the summer tour to make the band—and their fans—love her. If she doesn’t, she’ll be back in Michigan for senior year, dying a slow death. The paparazzi, the haters, the grueling schedule . . . Chelsea believed she could handle it. But what if she can’t?

* I recieved an eARC of For the Record from Random House in exchance for a honest review *

   I have so much love for this book and I am beyond happy I got the chance to read it five months prior to its publication. This book just truly has it all: a rock band composed on fun and different characters, a cute Hollywood movie star, the love for music and an outstandingly fun main character, Chelsea, who spreads her wings as lead singer of Melbourne.
   Charlotte Huang did an amazing job at capturing the different emotions that go through Chelsea as she experiences her first concerts and everything that belongs to being the new kid in town, or rather the new girl in the band. And I love the fact that she didn't just do that in the first twenty pages and then forgot about it, but rather that it took her the entirety of the book to develop confidence in what she does and finding her place in this entirely new world she finds herself in.

   Chelsea is a great main character and story narrator. Her thoughts and descriptions of her emotions are very clear and seem real, like they would belong to someone who went through all that she went through. She is fun and she has a personality. She isn't just a bleak character who just seems to exist and do whatever the author wants her to do, but rather like a layered character with flaws and traits which make her the person she is. All her decisions fit her personality and way of thinking.
   The other guys in the band, Pam, Malcom and Beckett are a lot of fun and they are all unique and different. Pam is more of a grumpy cat, Malcom like one who likes groupies and Beckett the guy you'd like to hang out with and talk about music for hours. I enjoyed them as characters a lot and it was really hard to say goodbye to them once the book was over.

   Another thing that makes this book great and stands out is the degree of insight we get to see into the life of a rock band, of the life on tour and how it feels to be the one on stage and not in the crowd. It perfectly captured the dynamics of the band and how crazy life can get when you are in the spotlight, when you are the one with thousands of fans who watch every step you take and gossip knows your secrets before you know them.

   All in all I think this book was amazing, fun and felt incredibly real, which is always a big plus. For the Record is exciting, fun and filled with endearing characters which will make saying goodbye to the book surprisingly hard.
   I think this book is definitely something for those who always dreamed of being a rock star themselves or wondered how life on tour must feel like. I recommend it to, basically, everybody because it's great and something like a fan girls dream come true.

I give For the Record by Charlotte Huang 5 out of 5 rock stars.

5 Songs I've been loving lately

   Hey guys!
   Today I want to talk about five songs I've been obsessing over lately. These are completely random songs but, I don't know if it's because of the shitty weather outside or the season itself, most of them have a sad/melancholic tone to them. 
   But, let's just get to the songs now so you'll see what I mean.


#1 - The Courage or The Fall by Civil Twilight
Album: /
Year: 2014

    I really like Civil Twilight. Their music is great so it came as no big surprise to me that I fell in love with this song. I love the tragic feel that this song has to it, and let's face it, it's a great song to write to if you are amidst a dramatic scene.

 

#2 - Break the Rules by Charli XCX
Album: Sucker
Year: 2014

    I discovered Charli XCX through The Fault in Our Stars and its amazing soundtrack. But, I admit, I didn't really dive further into her music until I heard Break the Rules on the radio and fell in love with the energy that this song has. The song immediately makes me want to jump around, break stuff and just have a good time. It's a great song to listen to when you have a not that awesome day. It'll make you feel much better really fast.

 
 
#3 - England Skies by Shake Shake Go
Album: /
Year: 2014

    The melody of England Skies is really beautiful, alongside the lyrics and the voice of the singer. It's a peaceful, evening type of song which always makes me think of happy things somehow. I stumbled upon this one while listening to a playlist on spotify, one that of course wasn't created by me, and I ended up playing it on a repeat for a while because I immediately liked this song.
 

#4 - Kommando Untergang by Anna Depenbusch
Album: Die Mathematik der Anna Depenbusch
Year: 2011

    This one is quite the surprise I'd say. I'm not a big fan or music in German, simply because I dislike the way songs sung in German sound like and the fact that I immediately understand what the lyrics mean. I know, sounds weird considering that I also understand English songs immediately but, it's just hard to explain what exactly bothers me. But, with this song it's different. I enjoy listening to it a lot and I love the lyrics and the story they tell. I love the pain filled passages and the singers voice.

 
#5 - B a noBody by SOAK
Album: /
Year: 2014

Another very nice, soft and slightly melancholic song. It reminds me of a peaceful sundown on the beach or near a lake with a soft breeze and small, soft waves. I think this would be a nice song to listen to during a summer evening.

 

   And that is it. Those are the five songs I am currently listening to almost on repeat whenever I get the chance to listen to music. If you want to, tell me which songs you are currently loving down in the comments or tweet me about it (@Alice_Reeds).

    Cheerio!

100k Clicks!

   Hey guys!
   Just a couple of minutes ago I noticed that we just passed 100k views of this blog! I am so happy; I cannot even really put it into words. When I first started this blog one and a half years ago I would have never thought that I would reach this number any time soon. I would have never expected that it would happen so fast. Back then I expected to maybe hit a thousand views in a year or longer because I never thought people would bother reading my thoughts on movies and books.
   But, it turns out a few people actually do care and check out what I have to say.
   I don't want to make this too long so let me just say THANK YOU for sticking around and reading my posts. Maybe you just discovered my blog, maybe you've been reading my thoughts since post one. However it may be, thank you for coming over!
   Cheers and let's see what the next 100k will bring!

   Hey Leute,
   Vor wenigen Minuten hab ich gesehen, dass wir gerade 100k Klicks auf diesem Blog erreicht haben! Ich bin super glücklich, so sehr das ich es kaum in Worte fassen kann. Als ich den Blog vor anderthalb Jahren erstellt habe, hätte ich nie gedacht, dass ich diese Zahl so schnell erreichen würde. Damals dachte ich, dass ich vielleicht ein tausend Klicks innerhalb eines Jahres oder mehr erreichen würde, da ich nicht glaube, dass irgendjemanden meine Gedanken über Bücher und Filme interessieren würden.
   Aber, es stellt sich heraus dass viele es doch interessiert und sie immer mal wieder vorbeischauen.
   Ich will diesen Post nicht zu lange machen, daher lasst mich nur dies sagen: DANKE SEHR dafür das ihr meine Posts lest. Vielleicht hast du diesen Blog gerade erst entdeckt, vielleicht hast du ihn schon seit dem ersten Post verfolgt. Wie auch immer es sein mag, danke fürs vorbeischauen!
   Cheers und lasst uns sehen was die nächsten 100k bringen werden!

Review: Ghost Stories by Coldplay (Album, 2014)

Title: Ghost Stories
Artist: Coldplay
Released: May 16th 2014
Genre: Alternative Rock [1]

Track list:
1 - Always in my Head
2 - Magic
3 - Ink
4 - True Love
5 - Midnight
6 - Another's Arms
7 - Ocean
8 - A Sky Full Of Stars
9 - O (Includes hidden song "Fly On")




   I know, I normally don't do reviews for music but I got a request to do it, so here I am.
   Coldplay started out in 1996 but needed until 2011 or even 2012 to convince me that their music is actually phenomenal. I was anticipating this album quite a lot because I love both singles they've released: Magic and A Sky Full Of Stars. Luckily, those are not the only two songs on this album that will show you that Coldplay is an amazing band and this album more than worth listening.
   Because I don't pay attention to any of the celebrity gossip stuff or care about their personal life, I will not talk about the reasons why or why not Coldplay decided to create this album the way they did and made it sound this way. I know that the Rolling Stone did this but I didn't find it in any way helpful.
   What I can tell you, is what feeling this album creates for me. When I listen to it and close my eyes a very distinct picture forms inside my head: The moon high on the sky, shining silver and bright, its light reflecting on the calm water of the ocean and me sitting on the beach near the water. Something like a feeling of nostalgia, longing or simply the feeling that something is missing starts to flood me. Normally Coldplay albums always rather created a feeling of "Fix You", that all will be well yet Ghost Stories is more hunting and sad, though most of Coldplay's songs might be generally defined as "sad", one way or the other.
   And I definitely want to mention how much I love the cover. It's not just one of the boring ones where you just have a picture of the band or whatever, no, this one reflects both the title and the music. It's like a piece of art that I would totally put up on my wall. My copy came in like a thick paper sleeve, which just had the cover shown above without any writing on it, and inside is the normal plastic packaging, booklet and CD which we all know. I really like it when albums have this tiny extra stuff that makes it stand out.
   The one thing that makes me a little sad is that Ghost Stories only have 9 tracks. I would have wanted maybe like one or two more, but all in all it is still perfect. Maybe 9 is fully enough, especially when those nine tracks are as amazing as these ones.

   All in all I really like this album. The music is hunting, beautiful and nostalgic, just the way I like Coldplay, and works perfectly with the weather we currently have here (rain, cold, cloudy).

   I give Ghost Stories by Coldplay 5/5 Stars.

Ed Sheeran (Live) - Music Vlog - #1

   Hey guys!
   Today I went to a mini Ed Sheeran concert (+/- 30minutes), which awesomely enough was for free, and I also managed to get a signed copy of his new album "X" (Deluxe Edition). I'm so happy. And of course, I used this opportunity to film a little vlog about it, for you guys, including a little bit of live footage so you guys can have a glimpse at the awesomeness that is Ed Sheeran live on stage with his guitar. 
   Again, just like before with my Movie Vlog, I want to say sorry for the shakiness of the video. I seriously should finally learn to remember that walking and vlogging don't go well together.
   Anyway, here's the video! I hope you guys like it!