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About This Author
I am SoCalScribe. This is my InkSpot.
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Blogocentric Formulations
Logocentric (adj). Regarding words and language as a fundamental expression of an external reality (especially applied as a negative term to traditional Western thought by postmodernist critics).
Sometimes I just write whatever I feel like. Other times I respond to prompts, many taken from the following places:
 "The Soundtrackers Group" 
"Blogging Circle of Friends "
"Blog City ~ Every Blogger's Paradise"
"JAFBG"
"Take up Your Cross"
Thanks for stopping by! 
February 20, 2020 at 3:11pm February 20, 2020 at 3:11pm
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"The Soundtrack of Your Life" | DAY 10
"And We Danced" by The Hooters
First, can we take a moment to appreciate the full 80s-ness of this video? Feathered/permed hair, a drive-in, a car with a trunk that only opens with a key... this video is an amazing time capsule of things that existed thirty years ago.
I thought I was pretty well versed in the rock bands of the 80s, but I have to admit that I had never even heard of this band, much less any of their songs, before I stumbled across this track late last year on a streaming radio station. Not only was I surprised to discover a great song I hadn't heard before, but I was even more shocked to find that the band, formed in 1980, is still performing. I almost used a video of one of their live performances from 2016, but frontmen Eric Bazilian and Rob Hyman are looking a little old these days and the tepid call-and-response of the smallish, mostly elderly crowd was kind of sad... so I decided to show them in all their 80s glory.
This song was the first single off their second album, and their first major hit, although it peaked at #21 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, so maybe the fact that it was outside the Top 20 nearly 30 years has something to do with why I didn't discover it until now.  Still, I'm glad I found it because this is one of the songs that I've had in constant rotation on my "Current" playlist for several months, mostly because it's a fun, upbeat song that I really enjoy blasting on the way home when I get tired of podcasts and audiobooks.
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February 20, 2020 at 2:48pm February 20, 2020 at 2:48pm
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"The Soundtrack of Your Life" | DAY 9
"Undrunk" by FLETCHER
Is it blasphemous to follow up a Christian music entry with a song that makes blatant use of the f-word and references to masturbation in the chorus, as well as frequent references to drugs and alcohol?
Oh well, I'm doing it anyway.
FLETCHER is an artist that I found on one of those random "new music" iTunes playlists early in 2019, and this song immediately caught my attention. There's a certain elegiac quality to her voice and this song's beat and lyrics that just kind of flows together. This was her first breakthrough single and her first single to chart on the Billboard Hot 100, and I can definitely understand why. The language and the content make it difficult to really hit as one of those universally-applicable breakup songs, but I think it's specific enough that the tone and the emotion of the song will really resonate with a more specific audience.
To date, FLETCHER has only released a handful of singles and two EPs, and I'd definitely be interested in seeing what a full album from her sounds like. I think she has the talent to make something really special. Am I basing that off of one song? Yes. But do I believe it? Also yes.
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February 20, 2020 at 2:36pm February 20, 2020 at 2:36pm
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"The Soundtrack of Your Life" | DAY 8
"Sinking Deep" by Hillsong Young & Free
While we're on the topic of Christian music, this is the song that I'm currently listening to most often. I'm kind of in awe of the sheer number of amazing songs that Hillsong United (and their youth group offshoot, Hillsong Young & Free) have generated. They've created literally dozens of iconic songs which are performed in churches all over the world every week... and they just keep. coming. up. with. more. hit. songs. It's kind of crazy to me that, at this point, Hillsong concerts are on par with non-religious musical acts in terms of ticket sales and influence.
I know that Christian music is normally aimed toward a very specific audience, but I find Hillsong worship songs to almost transcend the "faith-based community only" arena that most worship and gospel songs fall into. They have catchy beats and good lyrics, and they feel like pieces that would - if not for their content - be otherwise categorized as traditional pop/rock songs. Hillsong isn't a bad way to go if you're looking to dip your toes into the Christian music scene but don't want to go full charismatic religious conversion. 
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February 20, 2020 at 2:27pm February 20, 2020 at 2:27pm
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"The Soundtrack of Your Life" | DAY 7
"Gotta Live" by Tedashii feat. Jordan Feliz
I'll be the first to admit that the genre of "Christian hip hop" is a bit unorthodox, but every once in a while a song comes along that just kind of works. This is one of those songs for me, where it's not too hit-you-over-the-head religious, but is nonetheless inspiring and actually kinda works as a hip hop song. This particular song is off his 2019 album Never Fold, and I'm definitely planning on checking out more songs off that album, as well as his 2014 album Below Paradise which was recorded as part of his spiritual struggle and experiences dealing with the death of his one-year-old son the previous year.
I've been thinking a lot about using art to process through life experiences lately. Both Tedashii's early album and in a couple different podcasts I listened to this week, there's been a theme of writing (or creating art) in order to process through some sort of life event. I'm not sure I've ever done that, and it intrigues me. Writing, which is the only art form I'm even somewhat good at, has always been an outlet for me in terms of stress relief, entertainment, etc. But I've always written commercial, entertaining things. I can probably count on one hand the number of times I've attempted to actually write something that helps me process something I'm struggling with in my personal life. Over the past week or so, I'm wondering if that's something I should actually try, and - if so - how to go about it.
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