The Girls That Rocked My World

Been a teenager in the early 2000's was a great time for one awesome reason, the internet. It opened doors to millions of amazing things around the world that before we had to rely on people telling us about or by flicking through a book. In a few clicks we could stumble across something we never saw before. The internet came to prominence when I was in high school and I will be forever grateful for it. This is the time of our lives when we are first finding ourselves and we have to make major life decisions, all whilst having to raise our hand to use a restroom and finding the hidden meanings in the works of William Shakespeare.

It was a tough time, many of us struggling with puberty and rules we didn't understand. One way we could all escape was with our personal tastes. Up until the internet we were heavily reliant on what was popular at that moment in our own countries, it was hard to find something new because we didn't have access to it. The internet was very helpful with this as we could find things from any corner of the world that we never knew we liked. In a time where many of my friends were turning emo or wearing sports clothes without actually playing sports, I was a bit lost. I didn't fit in to a group. I pretended to enjoy the music of my friends because if I didn't I would have been awkwardly silent for a large part of my teenage years.

Then I stumbled upon new music on the internet and never looked back. I found singers that seemed like they were singing for me, music that made me feel more than just enjoyment and songs that could have been ripped from my head if I had the ability to write music, let alone sing. It is hard to categorise what my taste is as it constantly contradicts itself. If I had to say then my iPod was filled with girls-who-played-guitar-or-piano-with-emotion (there has to be a catchier label for these artists). Below I will talk about 5 of the girls that rocked my world in the early 2000's. I still have all 5 of them on my iPhone with no shame or embarrassment.

Vanessa Carlton

 Thanks to 'White Chicks' she will never be forgotten, but as much as I loved 'A Thousand Miles' it was her less pop-y music and her more emotion filled music I enjoyed the most. A particular favourite would be 'White House'. Her impeccable writing skills always got me and her voice was so special. She was last heard of in 2011, and she has a new album coming out this year and I couldn't be more excited.

Stacie Orrico

Where did she go?! I was absolutely in love with her and her edgy 1950's meets chola look. Her voice was unique and her songs where instant head fillers. 'Stuck' was such a massive song with me and my sister, we were enthralled by it and then her next single 'More To Life' became an anthem for me. In fact I think of this song a lot. It speaks to me as it asks questions I constantly ask myself. The world needs a bit more Stacie Orrico. Below is a remix of 'More To Life' - couldn't get a link for original (still amazing).

Michelle Branch

She was my music queen for a few years back in the day. She was the definition of my taste, I had her songs on replay and I had every word and ad-lib down. There was not one song I didn't like and it kills me I haven't seen her play live. She has been quiet for some time now, we did get a snippet of new music with the release of 'Loud Music' but absolutely nada since then. Also a nice little nod to Michelle Branch - the lyrics to 'Goodbye To You' are the only lyrics I would consider getting tattooed on me.

Hilary Duff

If there was something that people would remember me for in High School other than my amazing mop of hair or impeccable set of boy boobs then it was Miss Duff. I did not shut up about her. From Lizzie McGuire to The Lizzie McGuire Movie to her singing career, I was there every step of the way utterly and completely obsessed with her. I do believe I had a hand in her music success here in the UK. Her music was this easy upbeat style that you could have a boogie to or just sit and relax to. I saw her live - not that I am showing off, don't hate.

Avril Lavigne

She was probably the most commercially successful singer on my iPod at the time. Yes I had love for the Britney's and the Christina's but it was Avril that moved me the most. I always liked her fun songs but for me what she does best is the heart tugging ballads. Hands up who cried when the old man says 'I miss you' to his wife's grave in the 'When You're Gone' video. Thats right. We all did. As well as been a torturous scene, it was the song that elevated it. She has a way with words that everyone can relate to. Song's such as 'My Happy Ending', 'I'm With You' and 'Nobodys Home' just really struck a chord with me and will forever go down as some of my favourite songs. She may have gone more pop punk with her music but I will be forever thankful for the songs she has created.

An Apple a day ...

Hello, my name is Craig and I am addicted to Apple Products. I love my iPhone, my iPad and my MacBook; they are the closest things to children that I have. And yes as I typed that I realised how sad I sound, I could of hit that backspace button - but no, I will own my sad little life as I am trying this new thing called honesty. I love gadgets, I just don't have the funds to support my habit. I am constantly on one or the other of my Apple products, you will at least see one of them in my hand at all times.

What spurred this blog post was that I just finished watching 'Her' starring Joaquin Phoenix, Amy Adams, Scarlett Johansson, Rooney Mara and Chris Pratt. It was a great film, the general outline is that Joaquin's character falls in love with the operating system (Samantha) of his home computer and phone. The film obviously has a lot more depth than that one sentence delved in to. You should definitely check it out. Anyway, it got me thinking. This film is supposed to be science fiction but of all the sci-fi films I have seen this one definitely stands out as one that could easily happen. We already have Siri, so what is to stop Apple in giving her/him a personality to match each and every individual customer?

I started to think just how much technology is in our lives these days. This lead me to question myself in particular and how I have changed my habits over the years. First of all my Dad buys the paper everyday and every morning I would sit and read it, now I wake up and check Facebook - I have no idea what is happening in the world unless someone posts about it. I check Twitter and Perez Hilton for celeb gossip instead of reading glossy magazines. I go on style.com instead of buying Vogue (okay I still buy it occasionally so I can get some tear sheets). I now download music instead of buying CD's. I now use Netflix or BBC iPlayer instead of watching TV. I order food from the internet instead of cooking or calling a take-away. I buy my clothes off ASOS instead of going into a shop. I buy 90% of my books from Amazon instead of a book store. I even tried online dating instead of meeting people the 'normal' way (it didn't work out, single till I die it seems)  Its all about the ease of it, I literally don't have to move as the world comes to me.

It is so crazy how much the world has changed in recent years when it comes to communicating. So long are the days where you have to wait to hear through the grape vine that someone is pregnant - because BAM I get the due date, the sex, the weight and the potential names within seconds it seems of someone becoming pregnant. I know don't have to wonder what someone is doing these days because within a few clicks my 'Catfish' skills tell me everything. One thing that does annoy me about technology is concerts. They don't mix. At least 25% of the audience will watch the entire concert through a phone screen, put your phone down and live it! Obviously the people who film their favourite songs don't bother me, but if I find myself behind them at a concert I am watching their screens (often judging their lack of photography skills). Some things should be experienced with eyes not a camera. 'Oh wow, did you see that?', 'No, my camera doesn't shoot that wide' - this must be a problem for the amateur concert videographer.

So to wrap up, I love technology and every advancement excites me and the little nerd who lives inside of me. Secretly I do hope to be alive for the flying chairs and obesity in 'Wall-E', but right now I will settle for my MacBook and an office chair.

Do it for the Vine!

Vine is a blessing for someone like me. I have the attention span of a gnat. Vine is a great app where people create 6 second videos. My favourite type is definitely comedy, I have subscribed to pretty much most of the funniest Viners that are out there. This is a bit of a pain because all the people I have subscribed to are always on the 'Most Popular' page so it is definitely getting tougher to find new stuff - 1st world problems eh?

If you have not downloaded this app then you are surely missing out. First of all it is free so what the hell you might aswell. Secondly its an amazing time killer. And also these people are becoming quite famous, so you will know them before other people - and who doesn't like being ahead of the curve?

Also as the ever helpful person that I am, I have compiled a list of people you should consider following.

1. DRose - comedy, mixed with real life and her daughter
2. Brandon Calvillo - comedy, pokes fun at everyday stupidity.
3. Brittany Furlan - comedy, Queen of Vine. Not afraid to look stupid.
4. Simone Shepard - comedy, makes fun of ratchetness.
5. Alx James - comedy, social commentary of stupid things that anger him.
6. Sunny Mabrey - comedy, does a lot of hilarious skits.
7. Robby Ayala - comedy, big looking tough guy who is actually hilarious and sweet.
8 That's So Raven - comedy, 6 second clips of one of the best TV shows of all time.

Here is a quick compilation of some videos I found on YouTube. They are worth checking out. Some of these videos are amazing - and just remember they only have 6 seconds to impress you and most of them have little to no technology to use except from their phone.