From One CL Girl to Another: Top Feel-Good Songs of ALL TIME!

If you love music and a good giveaway, keep on reading!  I’ve compiled a list of the top feel-good, pump-up jams of ALL TIME (straight from my iTunes!) and I’m going to be giving away a CD with all of these songs to one lucky CL reader!  All you have to do is comment with your name, your favorite feel-good song of all time (it doesn’t have to be from this list!), and an email address where I can contact you if you win.  Good Luck!

SONG – Rush
ARTIST – Aly & AJ
ALBUM – Into the Rush
Don’t let nobody tell you “your life is over,” be every color that you are.

SONG – Who Says
ARTIST – Selena Gomez & the Scene
ALBUM – When the Sun Goes Down
I’m no beauty queen, I’m just beautiful me.

SONG – Raise your Glass
ARTIST – P!NK
ALBUM – Greatest Hits…. So  Far!
Raise your glass if you are wrong in all the right ways.

SONG – What the Hell
ARTIST – Avril Lavigne
ALBUM – Goodbye Lullabye
I’d rather rage than sit around and wait all day. Don’t get me wrong, I just need some time to play.

SONG – Hotel Yorba
ARTIST – The White Stripes
ALBUM – White Blood Cells
It might sound silly for me to think childish thoughts like these, but I’m so tired of acting tough and I’m gonna do what I please.

SONG – Weightless
ARTIST – All Time Low
ALBUM – Nothing Personal
Maybe it’s not my weekend, but it’s gonna be my year.

SONG – Don’t Stop Believing
ARTIST – Journey
ALBUM – Escape
Don’t stop believing, hold onto that feeling.

SONG – Unwritten
ARTIST – Natasha Bedingfield
ALBUM – Unwritten
Today is where your book begins, the rest is still unwritten.

SONG – Ob-la-di, Ob-la-da
ARTIST – The Beatles
ALBUM – The Beatles (The White Album)
Ob-la-di, ob-la-da, life goes on.

SONG – Saturday
ARTIST – The Rocket Summer
ALBUM – Calendar Days
I’m gonna make it this Saturday.

SONG – Tonight tonight
ARTIST – Hot Chelle Rae
ALBUM – Tonight Tonight – EP
I don’t know if I’ll make it, but watch how good I’ll fake it.

SONG – Life is a Highway
ARTIST – Rascal Flatts
ALBUM – Cars Soundtrack
There ain’t no load that I can’t hold.

Don’t forget to comment with your name, your favorite feel-good song, and an email address where I can contact you if you win!  Again, ONE LUCKY CL READER will win a CD with these songs on it!

Alli is a Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics junior at Michigan State University.  When she isn’t spending time with friends and family or on the sidelines of an MSU football game, she can always be found playing with her dogs

Top 15 Songs for Your Summer Playlist

“School’s out and the nights roll in, man just like a long lost friend, you ain’t seen in a while and can’t help but smile.” Kenny Chesney sure knows what he’s talking about in regards to this purely relaxing and sunny season. Sweet summertime is almost here and to help you get through your final exams, we’ve compiled our top 15 beachy songs for your summer playlist. Enjoy these laid back tunes and good luck on your finals!

College Lifestyles’ Summer Playlist

1. “Summer Nights” by Rascal Flatts
2. “Summertime” by Kenny Chesney
3. “Roots, Rock, Reggae” by Bob Marley
4. “Wrong Way” by Sublime
5. “West Coast Friendship” by Owl City
6. “Amber” by 311
7. “Billionaire” by Travis McCoy
8. “Six-Pack Summer” by Phil Vassar
9. “Collie Man” by Slightly Stoopid
10. “Sacrifice” by The Expendables
11. “Sugar Magnolia” by Grateful Dead
12. “So Much to Say” by Dave Mathews Band
13. “All I want to Do” by Sheryl Crow
14. “Redneck Yacht Club” by Craig Morgan
15. “Something Like That” by Tim McGraw

What are your favorite summer songs?

Shannon May is an intern with College Lifestyles (TM).  She is a Marketing Major at the University of Florida and a member of Alpha Kappa Psi. Feel free to contact Shannon at intern@collegelifestyles.org and follow her on Twitter to learn more about her career hunt and healthy lifestyle blog.

Play Something Country- Part 2

In my first post in this series (Play Something Country!), I told you that country music isn’t just about lost dogs or cheating husbands- there are some fabulous artists out there.  As a country music fan, I want to make sure that the College Lifestyles co-eds know all of the best acts in country music today, and the songs that make them so good.  Here are some of my personal favorites!

Toby Keith

I have already admitted that I am completely biased in relation to Toby Keith, but in my opinion you can’t talk about country music without mentioning the Big Dog Daddy.  Toby is one of the biggest selling artists in country music, and he ranked as the fourth best selling artist (in any genre) for the decade- even beating out Bruce Springsteen!  Toby has produced almost 20 albums and his songs are regularly rated fan favorites in the country music scene.  What I admire about Toby is that he writes his songs about what he believes in, and he isn’t looking to compromise his beliefs for anyone.  You might have heard the upbeat singles from his albums, but I happen to think that his slower songs are fantastic, too (Your Smile, Gypsy Drifitin’).

Listen to This:  American Ride, I Wanna Talk About Me, Knock Yourself Out.

Kellie Pickler

Kellie Pickler is another American Idol alum who rose to fame and found her spot in country music.  Her music is inspired and heart-felt, and if you happened to see her tear-filled performance at the 2007 CMA Awards you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about.  Kellie counts Taylor Swift as a best friend, and their friendship resulted in the hit song Best Days of Your Life.  Kellie has received many nominations for and won awards in the short time that she has been on the scene, and I am sure that many more will follow.

Listen to This:  Red High Heels, I Wonder, One Last Time.

Tim McGraw

You might have heard of Tim McGraw through Taylor Swift’s hit single, Tim McGraw, and that’s okay- there’s a reason she wrote the song!  If you’re wondering just what song by Mr. McGraw Taylor refers to, word is it is Can’t Tell Me Nothing from his 2004 album Live Like You Were Dying.  Tim McGraw has earned his status as one of the hottest men in country music after producing hit songs for years.  His music is deeply personal, and his father’s untimely death (Tug McGraw was a pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Mets) is featured prominently in the music video for Tim’s song Live Like You Were Dying.  In addition, his wife Faith Hill has added her vocal talent to various songs of Tim’s, which are worth checking out.

Listen to This:  Red Ragtop, If You’re Reading This, Don’t Take the Girl.

Keith Urban

Don’t let the Tennessee-inspired tunes of this country singer fool you- he’s really Australian!  Keith Urban has amassed a huge following in the nearly twenty years that he has been in the country music scene.  He has won awards for his lively and seriously catchy music.   Plus, he isn’t too hard on the eyes…

Listen to This:  Somebody Like You, You Look Good In My Shirt, Sweet Thing.

Rascal Flatts

Each of this band’s six albums have been certified platinum and beyond, and there is good reason for it.  Rascal Flatts is the country music group that defies the statistics by being a favorite among the 18-25 age demographic, which isn’t usually reached by country music acts.  I am a huge fan- some of their songs make me bawl my eyes out, but I love them for that.  Check out the music video to What Hurts the Most, if you haven’t already!

Listen to This:  Fast Cars and Freedom, Here Comes Goodbye, Take Me There.

Do you have a favorite country artist or group or a favorite country song?  Leave a comment to let us know!

Deirdre Cunnane is an intern with College Lifestyles (TM) and is a second year law student in University College Cork, Ireland.  She has loved country music ever since she heard Goodbye Earl by the Dixie Chicks, and she hasn’t looked back since.  She wishes that more country music artists would come to Ireland- thanks, Toby!