So in 2009 I was 17 years old. That August my youth group went to an amusement park as our last group trip before school started.
We went on all kinds of rides and had fun.
As we were walking along the lot, my friend Anny spotted a booth playing music. We danced around, just being silly…
When this man and woman in suits ask us if we would like to enter a contest.
Now you all know me and contests/free stuff.
I was like sure! What’s it for?
A chance to be in a Jonas Brothers’ music video!
No
No, no no no no no no no no no no. I hated the Jonas Brothers. Well not them specifically. I just didn’t care for their music or the fact that they were everywhere and on EVERYTHING. There was no getting away from them.
I was like no thank you.
My friend however, really, really liked the group and wanted to enter. But she didn’t want to do it alone. So I said fine, ok.
After all, what are the chances you’ll win? Like never.
So all we have to do is get our picture taken in front of a background and leave our name + phone number. Easy, peasy.
What’s kind of interesting was that we were actually the only ones asked out of the entire group. I guess they just liked our dancing or something.
Four months pass. It’s December and I am concentrating on schoolwork, Winter formal, Christmas, etc. When I come home I get a phone call:
And to my surprise it was the people running the contest. They had chosen ME out of their hundreds of applicants. I was stunned.
ME??????!!!
They gave me the information on where I needed to go, when, etc. But I answered, no.
I know what you all are thinking. WHAT? WHY WOULD YOU TURN THAT DOWN???!!! (That’s what all my friends said.) Well, I just felt that as I didn’t care for the guys and it didn’t really matter to me, I’d rather it go to someone else.
Besides, you know what’s cooler than being in a Jonas Brothers’ music video? Having turned it down.
Yep, not everyone can say that. But I sure can.
To start the 30 Day Challenge from the beginning, go to Musical Madness
My soulmate must love “Counting Stars” by One Republic as every time for the last two months I would come into contact with a radio this song would play.
At the coffee shop, as soon as I enter this song is on. I change stations on the radio, this song would come on. When I enter a store, here is this song. I couldn’t get away from it.
Good thing I like the song or else I would have been going crazy!
Counting Stars by One Republic
Counting Stars was written by Ryan Tedder. He was inspired a folk song he heard on the internet.
” [One] day I woke up early and I started combing through the internet, searching for stuff that would inspire me for Beyoncé. I ended up coming across this weird song that had this indigenous folk sound to it that just struck me like lightning. I didn’t like the verses or lyrics, but I loved the feel and movement of it. That ended up inspiring Counting Stars.”
I don’t know what song it was that inspired him, but good thing as this final product is amazing.
So the song is about someone who has lost who they are. They have been pursuing money, but realize that they need to focus on what’s more important, the people and their dreams. It’s a huge change and lesson to have learned, but they will make it on and through.
I love this song as the music is just fantastic. It starts off slow, like a ballad, and then picks up in the middle, more rockish and upbeat. Ending of course on a slower note, making the song come full circle.
Lately I’ve been, I’ve been losing sleep
Dreaming about the things that we could be
But, baby I’ve been, I’ve been praying hard
Said no more counting dollars, we’ll be counting stars
Yeah, we’ll be counting stars
I see this life like a swinging vine,
Swing my heart across the line
In my face is flashing signs,
Seek it out and ye shall find.
Old but I’m not that old
Young but I’m not that bold
And I don’t think the world is sold
I’m just doing what we’re told
And I I I I feel something so right by doing the wrong thing
And I I I I feel something so wrong by doing the right thing
I could lie, couldn’t I, couldn’t I?
Every thing that kills me makes me feel alive.
Lately I’ve been, I’ve been losing sleep
Dreaming about the things that we could be
But, baby I’ve been, I’ve been praying hard
Said no more counting dollars, we’ll be counting stars
Lately I’ve been, I’ve been losing sleep
Dreaming about the things that we could be
But, baby I’ve been, I’ve been praying hard
Said no more counting dollars, we’ll be-we’ll be counting stars
Ye-e-yeah
I feel her love and
And I feel it burn down this river every time
Hope is our four-letter word, make that money watch it burn
Old but, I’m not that old
Young, but I’m not that bold
And I don’t think the world is sold
I’m just doing what we’re told
And I I I I feel something so wrong by doing the right thing
I could lie, couldn’t I, couldn’t I?
Everything that drowns me makes me wanna fly
Lately I’ve been, I’ve been losing sleep
Dreaming about the things that we could be
But, baby I’ve been, I’ve been praying hard
Said no more counting dollars, we’ll be counting stars
Lately I’ve been, I’ve been losing sleep
Dreaming about the things that we could be
But, baby I’ve been, I’ve been praying hard
Said no more counting dollars, we’ll be-we’ll be counting stars
Oh, take that money watch it burn,
Sing in the river the lessons I learned
Take that money watch it burn,
Sing in the river the lessons I learned
Take that money watch it burn,
Sing in the river the lessons I learned
Take that money watch it burn,
Sing in the river the lessons I learned
Everything that kills me makes me feel alive
Lately I’ve been, I’ve been losing sleep
Dreaming about the things that we could be
But, baby I’ve been, I’ve been praying hard
Said no more counting dollars, we’ll be counting stars
Lately I’ve been, I’ve been losing sleep
Dreaming about the things that we could be
But, baby I’ve been, I’ve been praying hard
Said no more counting dollars, we’ll be-we’ll be counting stars
Take that money watch it burn,
Sing in the river the lessons I learned
Take that money watch it burn,
Sing in the river the lessons I learned
Take that money watch it burn,
Sing in the river the lessons I learned
Take that money watch it burn,
Sing in the river the lessons I learned
The music video is a little off to me. It is an old revival type meeting, but whatever the band wants.
