8/3/20 - Song Of The Week Sunday!

Hi guys! I'm back with another Song Of The Week Sunday! The purpose of this segment is to give you guys a quick glimpse into my life and the things I listen to on repeat!

This week’s SOTW is Michael In The Bathroom from Be More Chill.

You can listen to it on Spotfiy here: https://open.spotify.com/track/1L3wn1FJHmnv9OpjVbkMzY

I chose this song as it was my absolute favourite song from the musical. I was fortunate enough to get the chance to watch Be More Chill on 3^rd March. Seeing this song live had me welling up with tears, and I have had it on loop since I left the stage door. I really loved the raw emotion in the lyrics, the song really does depict a panic attack in a catchy and yet easy to access method.

I hope you guys have had an amazing week and continue to do so!

And remember: 

Per Ardua Ad Astra 

- Imogen. L. Smiley

26/1/20 - Song Of The Week Sunday!

Hi guys! I'm back with another Song Of The Week Sunday! The purpose of this segment is to give you guys a quick glimpse into my life and the things I listen to on repeat!

This week’s SOTW is Grand Escape by RADWIMPS and Toko Miura from Weathering With You.

You can listen to it on Spotify here: https://open.spotify.com/track/6CRX3ENpLq42r0iBSjOqr1

This song has so much energy to it, there’s an almost carefree and youthful quality to the tune of the song that makes it so easy to listen to. What starts off as such a soft and melodic song ends up gaining pace throughout and became a really fun backing track for my writing. I found myself trying to hit my keyboard to the tune and it really helped me produce content quicker.

It is my absolute favourite song from the Weathering With You soundtrack and I cannot wait for the film to come out on DVD so I can watch the corresponding scene that goes with this song on repeat. It is so energetic. Until then, I reckon, it will be the backing track to my writing sessions, particularly when I’m writing upbeat and optimistic pieces.

I hope you guys have had an amazing week and continue to do so!

And remember:

Per Ardua Ad Astra!

- Imogen. L. Smiley

19/1/20 - Song Of The Week Sunday!

Hi guys! I'm back with another Song Of The Week Sunday! The purpose of this segment is to give you guys a quick glimpse into my life and the things I listen to on repeat!

The song of the week this week is Lana Del Ray's song Young And Beautiful, which was used as part of the soundtrack from The Great Gatsby film adaptation!

You can stream it on Spotify here!

https://open.spotify.com/track/6JF5OEqj3bIEdoBTkHVACm

I chose this song to keep up the theme from my previous post. I haven't been so excited for a new year to begin in such a long time, and while, the first month of it, is almost gone already, I have still managed to claw enough time out of my hectic schedule to binge-watch The Great Gatsby several times in the last few weeks. After my last watch, I had Lana's song stuck in my head for ages and decided that it deserved to be my next SOTW!

I hope you guys have had an amazing week and continue to do so!

And remember:

Per Ardua Ad Astra!

12/1/20 - Song Of The Week Sunday!

Hi guys! I'm back with another Song Of The Week Sunday! The purpose of this segment is to give you guys a quick glimpse into my life and the things I listen to on repeat!

The song of the week this week is Roaring 20's by Panic! At The Disco from the Pray For The Wicked album

You can stream it on Spotify here!

https://open.spotify.com/track/0wdV94AXGRphrbkDWLNzVC

I chose the above song as my Song Of The Week, mostly out of shame. Promptly after sharing the SOTW last week, a friend of mine pointed out that the more apt song-choice would have been Roaring 20's by Panic!, and thus, it has been on loop ever since. I'm excited to a decade of Gatsby-esque proportions!

I hope you guys have had an amazing week and continue to do so!

And remember:

Per Ardua Ad Astra!

5/1/20 - Song Of The Week Sunday

Hi guys! I'm back with my Song Of The Week Sunday of the new year! I'm really excited to keep sharing music with you all! The purpose of this segment is to give you guys a quick glimpse into my life and the things I listen to on repeat!

The song of the week this week is Living Louder by The Cab from their album Symphony Soldier

You can stream it on Spotify here!
 https://open.spotify.com/track/4EM3aMnzNWt60YTe3XCXPr

I decided that the best way to celebrate the start of the new year, and a brand new decade would be to continue keeping the positive attitude up. I want to rejoice at the return of the twenties with a positive moodlet and thus opted to keeping the music upbeat and lively. So! To keep the happiness going, I'm sharing another happy song.

I hope you guys have had an amazing week and continue to do so!

And remember:

Per Ardua Ad Astra!

29/12/19 - Song Of The Week Sunday!

Hi guys! I'm back with another Song Of The Week Sunday! The purpose of this segment is to give you guys a quick glimpse into my life and the things I listen to on repeat!

The song of the week this week is Something Good by Daughtry from the album Break The Spell 

You can stream it on Spotify here!

https://open.spotify.com/track/0dEI6hv2ovN18wcYC3Wygi

I chose this song as my final SOTW of 2019 as I felt that it epitomised the attitude I want to have toward the end of this year. This has been one of the hardest and most emotional yet rewarding years of my life, and I feel like the best way to send such a dramatic twelve months off to oblivion would be with a positive attitude. 2020 is right in front of us, and I think its going to be the start of something good!

I hope you guys have had an amazing week and continue to do so!

And remember:

Per Ardua Ad Astra!

22/12/19 - Song Of The Week Sunday!

Hi guys! I'm back with another Song Of The Week Sunday! The purpose of this segment is to give you guys a quick glimpse into my life and the things I listen to on repeat!

The song of the week this week is New Romantics by Taylor Swift from her album 1989

You can stream it on Spotify here!

https://open.spotify.com/track/0qAIiGFKLdV1xpNlEhjpq8

I chose the above song as my Song Of The Week, despite it being Christmas, because I felt like, after seeing my friends as often as I have so far in the festive season, as well as the times I have planned before me, that the best way to celebrate that would be with a song with a positive vibe. After all, the best people in life are free!

I hope you guys have had an amazing week and continue to do so!

And remember:

Per Ardua Ad Astra!

15/12/19 - Song Of The Week Sunday

Hi guys! I'm back with another Song Of The Week Sunday! The purpose of this segment is to give you guys a quick glimpse into my life and the things I listen to on repeat!

The song of the week this week is Don't Lose Ur Head from Six: The Musical 

You can stream it on Spotify here!

https://open.spotify.com/track/6sUQqRmOcRyAG5M3EWXzr3

I really enjoyed finally getting to see Six with Emma as a belated celebration of our celebration of graduating from The University of Derby. The song is about Ann Boleyn and her perspective of her relationship with Henry VIII. I chose it as my Song Of The Week as it was my absolute favourite song from the show. It was so much fun to see it live! I've had it on loop since the show! 

I hope you guys have had an amazing week and continue to do so!

And remember:

Per Ardua Ad Astra!

8/12/19 - Song Of The Week Sunday!

Hi guys! I'm back with another Song Of The Week Sunday! The purpose of this segment is to give you guys a quick glimpse into my life and the things I listen to on repeat!

The song of the week this week is Kiss The Stars by Pixie Lott from her 2011 album, Young, Foolish, Happy

You can stream it on Spotify here!

https://open.spotify.com/track/45HrrxfbHQMj2CJt9xlWJ2

This happens to be my Song Of The Week this week because it really improved my mood over the last few days. Listening to an old party song from a few years ago, or in this case, almost a decade ago is surprisingly elevating. I remember this particular song's initial release and how I felt that it was rather annoying, most likely due to how overplayed it was. But after not having heard it for a significant period of time, I was so happy to have it on loop! 

I hope you guys have had an amazing week and continue to do so!

And remember:

Per Ardua Ad Astra!

1/12/19 - Song Of The Week Sunday!

Hi guys! I'm back with another Song Of The Week Sunday! The purpose of this segment is to give you guys a quick glimpse into my life and the things I listen to on repeat!

The song of the week this week is All I Want For Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey from the Merry Christmas album!

You can stream it on Spotify here!

https://open.spotify.com/track/0bYg9bo50gSsH3LtXe2SQn

This happens to be my Song Of The Week as it is officially December, and thus it marks the first day where you are allowed to scream Christmas music from the top of your lungs! I decided to start the next 25 days with a cult classic. It's officially time to shriek the words until we're hoarse! I'm so excited! 

I hope you guys have had an amazing week and continue to do so! Enjoy the start of the festive season! 

And remember:

Per Ardua Ad Astra!

24/11/20 - Song Of The Week Sunday!

Hi guys! I'm back with another Song Of The Week Sunday! The purpose of this segment is to give you guys a quick glimpse into my life and the things I listen to on repeat!

The song of the week this week is Never Too Late by Three Days Grace, from their One-X album 

You can stream it on Spotify here!

https://open.spotify.com/track/5y7NRMui3GLbwj2zBaOqo1

The above song is our Song Of The Week this week as it was an anthem of a friend of mine's novel, which, many moons ago, shared its name with the song. Today, she turns 23 and I am excited to celebrate her special day with a memory like this!

Happy Birthday to Cross-Warrior!

I hope you guys have had an amazing week and continue to do so!

And remember:

Per Ardua Ad Astra!

17/11/19 - Song Of The Week Sunday!

Hi guys! I'm back with another Song Of The Week Sunday! The purpose of this segment is to give you guys a quick glimpse into my life and the things I listen to on repeat!

The song of the week this week is Sincerely Me, by the Broadway Cast of Dear Evan Hansen

You can stream it on Spotify here:

https://open.spotify.com/track/4nna9JONFIwr98bcX6tlta

This happens to be my Song Of The Week because during this week that just past, I managed to finally see Dear Evan Hansen with my friend, Emma. We had been huge fans of this show since the start of our second year of university, and spent the majority of our third year, blaring the soundtrack in the living room. The fact that we finally managed to see it on stage was worth celebrating.

I hope you guys have had an amazing week and continue to do so!

And remember:

Per Ardua Ad Astra!

10/11/19 - Song Of The Week Sunday!

Hi guys! I'm back with another Song Of The Week Sunday! The purpose of this segment is to give you guys a quick glimpse into my life and the things I listen to on repeat!

The song of the week this week is I'm So Sick by Flyleaf, a song from their self-titled album 

You can stream it on Spotify here!

https://open.spotify.com/track/3CzOoYfw7mj5jMHGsJp9TG

This happens to be my Song Of The Week as it was a pivotal one for establishing the mood for the start of my story for NaNoWriMo, now that the initial exposition about my protagonist has ceased, I now get to start exploring her head-space and how she feels about the situation she is in, before all of the drama begins! 

I hope you guys have had an amazing week and continue to do so!

And remember:

Per Ardua Ad Astra!

3/11/19 - Song Of The Week Sunday!

Hi guys! I'm back with another Song Of The Week Sunday! The purpose of this segment is to give you guys a quick glimpse into my life and the things I listen to on repeat!

The song of the week this week is The Writer by Ellie Goulding, which can be found on her album Lights

You can stream it on Spotify here!

https://open.spotify.com/track/782PQRatayI7f2L1DdRX6d

This is the SOTW due to it being the first Sunday of NaNoWriMo 2019! I felt that it was the most apt way to celebrate the dawn of a month dedicated to trying to produce novels. Writing is something that is really important to me so I was really excited to share a song that I listen to when I want to get in a writing mood! Happy NaNoWriMo, everyone! 

I hope you guys have had an amazing week and continue to do so!

And remember:

Per Ardua Ad Astra!

27/10/19 - Song Of The Week Sunday!

Hi guys! I'm back with another Song Of The Week Sunday! The purpose of this segment is to give you guys a quick glimpse into my life and the things I listen to on repeat!

The song of the week this week is Jonathan Young, Caleb Hyles and SixteenInMono's version of Great Days

You can stream it on Spotify here!

https://open.spotify.com/track/2Nc8WFS3917B2TGsVRQ7K1

This song was easily my SOTW this time around due to how apt it is. I was listening to it on loop whilst on my way to one of my favourite places to see people that I haven't seen in months. The song, is actually a cover of an ending theme used in the fourth season of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, a series that myself and my friends happen to be big fans of. It was stuck in my head while I was having a great time with them over the days of Comic Con that I have attended thus far. 

I hope you guys have had an amazing week and continue to do so!

And remember:

Per Ardua Ad Astra!

20/10/19 - Song Of The Week Sunday!

Hi guys! I'm back with my next Song Of The Week Sunday! The purpose of this segment is to give you guys a quick glimpse into my life and the things I listen to on repeat!

The song of the week this week is How Long Will I Love You by Ellie Goulding, a bonus track on her album Halcyon Days

You can stream it on Spotify here!

https://open.spotify.com/track/1wyo8plJbo1BO9s8TWqZpN

This song happens to Song Of The Week as it has deep resonance with the story I am writing at the moment, which is currently still a mystery to the majority of my readers. This is, primarily due to the fact that I am writing it under another psudonym. Regardless of the fact that the story isn't going to get much attention when I discuss it here, I know that there wasn't a better song to choose than this one for SOTW. Especially, because I had it on loop for over two hours this week. 

I hope you guys have had an amazing week and continue to do so!

And remember:

Per Ardua Ad Astra!

6/10/19 - Song Of The Week Sunday

Hi guys! I'm back with my first Song Of The Week Sunday since my hiatus! The purpose of this segment is to give you guys a quick glimpse into my life and the things I listen to on repeat!

The song of the week this week is Death By A Thousand Cuts by Taylor Swift from her new album, Lover!

You can stream it on Spotify here!

https://open.spotify.com/track/2dgFqt3w9xIQRjhPtwNk3D

I had it on loop without even realising that I did, it's just so catchy and emotive that I didn't get a chance to listen to anything else for hours on end. I just love it! I really hope that my friends and I will manage to score tickets to the Lover Tour whenever that will be because I am absolutely desperate to see Taylor Swift in concert!

I hope you guys have an amazing week!

And remember:

Per Ardua Ad Astra!

26/05/18 - Song Of The Week Sunday

Song Of The Week Sunday:

Today, 26/5/18, is the day of the next instalment of Song Of The Week Sunday - where I will be sharing a piece of music that I listened to more than any other during the space of the previous. In this instance, from week beginning 21/5/18 and ending today, 26/5/18, the song I listened to the most was the following:
Come To Me by Sebastian Ekstrand

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7Tdk-wbRjk

The above song was my Song of the Week for this week due to the emotional resonance in the lyrics and how they related to character dynamics in which I am writing at the moment within a collaborative character building exercise on discord with one of my friends from my degree course.

Within the wider context of the characters and their relationship, some of the lyrics contain much more weight. For example, the idea of one being "all [the other] ever needed" is very powerful when one considers that both characters were abused by their former spouses and therefore, the beginning of this potential relationship would demonstrate an immense contrast between what they were previously accustomed to and how much they appreciate and value legitimate and honest affection.

Due to writing a large volume of content for this relationship over the past week, this song was on loop for the majority of the time. It was, therefore, the Song Of The Week with no competition whatsoever.

Thank you for reading!
And remember:
Per Ardua Ad Astra!
- Imogen. L. Smiley

20/5/18 - Song Of The Week Sunday!

Song Of The Week Sunday:

Today, 20/5/18, is the day of the next instalment of Song Of The Week Sunday - where I will be sharing a piece of music that I listened to more than any other during the space of the previous. In this instance, from week beginning 14/5/18 and ending today, 20/5/18, the song I listened to the most was the following:
Cut To The Feeling by Carly Rae Jepson
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qlsu7RhOnsQ

I was introduced to this song after watching the Monique Heart versus The Vixen lipsync from RuPaul's Drag Race Season Ten and was surprised that I hadn't come across this song prior. I ended up playing it a lot after the outcome of that lipsync, but it declined in volume as I had to focus on listening to songs that would set the tone for my coursework pieces toward the end of the semester.

Now at home for the summer, I have the option to listen to any music I want. And so, I played this song a lot over the last week. I felt that this song was especially uplifting and summery. I found that it really set the mood for the upcoming season and warm weather that is on its way!

Thank you for reading!
And remember:
Per Ardua Ad Astra!
- Imogen. L. Smiley

13/5/17 - Song Of The Week Sunday!

Song Of The Week Sunday:

Today, 13/5/18, is the day of the next instalment of Song Of The Week Sunday - where I will be sharing a piece of music that I listened to more than any other during the space of the previous. In this instance, from week beginning 7/5/18 and ending today, 13/5/18, the song I listened to the most was the following:

First Burn by Arianna Afsar, Julia Harriman, Lexi Lawson, Rachelle Ann Go
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2ys-AimNbE

I have been actively discussing this new Hamildrop with my friends and fellow fans of Hamilton, Emma and Ammie since it came out. Hell, I was at the breakfast table when I played this song for the first time and Emma and I just gaped at the lyrics.

Discussing the pain and power behind the lyrics that didn't make it into the final cut of the musical was interesting as it demonstrated how clever Lin-Manuel Miranda was with his creations!

Not only was this piece powerful, but this song is very important to me, as a writer and a creator of content. First Burn is, in essence, an earlier draft of Burn from Hamilton: An American Musical by Lin-Manuel Miranda. This was an incredible insight into the writing process of the writer. It was amazing to get such a glaring view into what Burn could have sounded like.

Not only is this song super catchy and addictive to listen to, you get great insight into how the rest of the musical could have been by the lyrics and delivery by the five actresses, all who play the role of Eliza Schuyler Hamilton in one current version of Hamilton: An American Musical. This version of a song which, prior to the start of the month, was associated with Eliza being helpless and heartbroken as she was forced to acknowledge her husband's infidelity, has a completely different attitude.

In Burn, Eliza is low, crushed and reacting out of sadness. Her heart is broken. Her primary emotion is upset, although she is depicted to be angry when she repeats "you" three times in succession toward the end of the song. She is crushed to know her husband slept with another woman, but in Its Quiet Uptown, Eliza finds it in herself to forgive her husband for his misdeeds.

However, in First Burn, Eliza is resentful and angry. She is frustrated with what Alexander did. She "can't be trusted" around her husband. This line is a double meaning; in which Eliza cannot trust herself to not lash out, but she also doesn't trust herself to stay angry about what happened. This song is spiteful and vengeful, Eliza is furious that after everything that has happened between the pair, Alexander has betrayed her by sleeping with Maria Reynolds.

What does this mean for Lin-Manuel Miranda's drafts? One can imply that if Eliza was so angry and upset by the affair, which was exposed to "protect [Alexander's] legacy", it may have been harder for viewers to believe that after Philip Hamilton, their oldest son, had died due to George Eaker disparaging the Hamilton legacy and the subsequent duel, Eliza would be forgiving.

It demonstrates that sometimes, perfectly good explorations and expressions of work are not always going to make their ways into the final draft of a piece, no matter how amazing they are. Sometimes things need to change for the sake of the bigger picture:

Eliza erased herself from the narrative in Burn, she forgave Alexander in Its Quiet Uptown and then finally put herself back in the narrative in Who Lives Who Dies Who Tells Your Story.

Her character arc could have been skewed if she had been as aggressive as First Burn implied her reaction was, and so the decision was probably made to start adjusting the lyrics to create the version we all know and love!

Thank you for reading!
And remember:
Per Ardua Ad Astra!
- Imogen. L. Smiley