Alas, after three years of asking Valley dwellers about their musical tastes, What Are You Listening To? is coming to an end. Today, Up on the Sun has been gracious enough to feature my own tastes as the farewell blog, and after week after week of putting this blog together, I couldn't be more thrilled. Let me have it -- tell me what you think of some of my favorite music here in the comments.
Nicki Escudero
Check out my blogs and stories here.
When you put your key in the ignition and turn on the radio, what station would play right now? 104.7 KISS FM. I love commercial pop music. What can I say?
What's the first album you bought? Probably Spice Girls, Spice. Posh was my favorite.
What's the first concert you saw? Paula Abdul. I was in first grade, and I remember Color Me Badd singing, "I Wanna Sex You Up." Even as a 6-year-old Catholic schooler, I knew what sex was and I remember feeling really awkward sitting next to my dad as they sang it. I liked the dancing cat in Paula's show, though.
What's your favorite concert you've ever been to? Probably Lady Gaga in Las Vegas at the Palms in 2009, right after The Fame Monster was released. It was a really intimate show compared to the arenas I'm used to seeing her in now, and though the show did have its setbacks, it's so memorable because it was in Vegas. Read my review of it here.
What's the last song played on your music player? "Get Up (Rattle)" by Bingo Players and Far East Movement. It definitely makes me bounce around and dance.
Preferred format: CD, vinyl, cassette, 8-Track or digital? Digital. It's just so convenient, and I like eliminating clutter and objects from my home as much as possible.
What's your favorite album? The Format, Dog Problems. Every single song is pretty darn amazing -- especially the title track and "Oceans."
Who is your favorite singer or band? Lady Gaga. There are definitely some songs of hers I'm not a fan of, but I'm always interested in what she's going to do next.
What band do you wish was still together? The Format. Fun. just cannot compare whatsoever to them.
Does your computer track how many times you've played something -- if so, what's at the top of the list? "Princess of China" by Coldplay and Rihanna. That song is so freaking beautiful.
What was your favorite new or new-to-you album from the past year? Definitely not Justin Timberlake's 20/20. That one just plain offended me with its lacklusterness. I really loved Walk the Moon's self-titled album -- the songs "Anna Sun," "Jenny" and "I Can Lift a Car" are some of my favorites.
What one song would you play if you had a worldwide radio audience? I don't mean to offend anyone with the lyrics, but "Shake Tramp" is so great! Marianas Trench is this little-known band from Canada and one of my favorites. It's almost guaranteed to make put a smile on your face because it's so ridiculous.
Who is your favorite local artist? Ugh, this is difficult, because I don't want to come across as biased -- but you just can't beat a local Black Carl show. Not only is their music really great, their fans are avid supporters, so seeing them live is always a treat.
What is your favorite local venue to see music? I'll go with Crescent Ballroom. The food is so tasty, the drinks are yummy (try the sangria), and the sound always seems to be top-notch.
What is your favorite music video? I really love Walk the Moon's "Anna Sun," but I'll go with Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance." The costumes, choreography and special effects used make it a really beautiful video, and that song is one of my favorites of hers. You can't help but put your paws up.
