Summer summer summer-time!

Okay so admittedly it has been AGES since I last posted (or attempted to post more like). Been insanely busy with university work and exams and just general life things. Thankfully it's all over and I managed to finish up my second year with a few bruises and scratches, a couple of nervous breakdowns, and an incredible internship in London, so all in all life is pretty damn good right now.

Also leaving for home in a few days which I'm super excited for, despite the fact that yet another BA strike has left me stranded here for a little longer than I originally planned for. But honestly, when exams/uni is over and the weather is as hot as it is right now I can't be that annoyed.

So I usually put together a playlist of my SOTM (songs of the moment :) ) right before I have to travel, and this year is no exception. So without further ado I give you some picks from my official Summer 2010 mix:

• 11th Dimension - Julian Casablancas - Great vocals from Strokes frontman as per usual, but with a funky 60s/retro-inspired vibe. Very driving-around-with-the-top-down.  
• California Gurrls - Katy Perry Ft. Snoop Dogg - Bound to be overplayed on beaches/clubs everywhere this summer, but a good song nonetheless.
• Miami - Foals - I have this on repeat at the moment, mellow but great melody, good bus/car/train/plane song.
• NYC Moves to the Sound of LA - Funeral Party - Very energetic, raw vocals and super catchy. Good packing/rocking out in your room song.
• Animal - Miike Snow - Funky electro pop gone alternative style music. Fun happy mellowish, also a good travel song.
• Summertime - DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince - The post's namesake. The Fresh Prince needs no justification.
• Not Following You - Ellie Goulding - Very folkish song, pretty sweet melody and adorable lyrics that remind me of summer crushes. She sort of sounds like acoustic Feist here, if Leslie Feist were British.
• Closer - Corinne Bailey Rae - Love love love this. Soulful as ever, kind of sassy (yes I just used that word) and coy lyrics and just a great listen. My favourite track off of her new album by far.
• Tenderoni - Kele - Bloc Party frontman Kele Okereke's first single off his upcoming album. Very up-tempo and high energy, good raving-at-club-somewhere-in-spain song. He's definitely established his own unique style which is great since it doesn't just sound like Bloc Party 2.0.
• 9 to 5 - Dolly Parton - I put this on there in the spirit of what I'll be doing this summer, but such a fun song either way. Makes me want to break out in song like I'm on an episode of Glee. But I won't :).
• Fixed - Stars - Courtesy of BIRP! May 2010. A little more upbeat and intense than their older stuff but still really good.
• Fields of Gold (Acoustic Version) - Sting - A little random (and old obviously) but kind of reminds me of lying down in a field/on a beach and staring up at the stars. Beautiful song.

And a few more notable summer-ish/just plain good songs:

• A Pencil Full of Lead - Paolo Nutini
• Holiday - Vampire Weekend
• Crystallised - The xx
• Guns + Horses - Ellie Goulding
• Watercolour - Pendulum
• Little Lion Man - Mumford and Sons

I would post the entire tracklist but I'd never stop talking so I'll leave it at that for now :)

In other news, the WWDC was held today during which Steve Jobs had an "I told you so" moment gloating over how epicly succesful the iPad has become, and more importantly, unveiled the heavenly piece of technology that is the iPhone 4 (as well as iOS4). But more on that in another post.

Happy summer people!

So Little Time, Not Enough Sleep.

It's been a while. Busy doesn't even begin to describe what I've been lately, I've actually found that I'm  now constantly surprised at how few hours there are in a day. It's times like these where one of Hermione's time-turners would be extremely useful. /geek. So basically, my wonderful lecturers/tutors at university have decided to set up about 4 huge consecutive deadlines within the span of 3 weeks which has proven to be just a little bit hectic. It's also rendered my social life non-existent, seeing as I've basically been living in the library/computing building for the past week. That, combined with the stress of having to keep up with job applications and interviews AND trying to come up with an idea for my final year project (read: dissertation) is...flabbergasting. That's what it is. That is the perfect word. <3
On a brighter note, the weather has been surprisingly sunny for a few days now, which always puts me in a better mood, and Easter is almost right around the corner which is awesome because I get to go home where the REAL sunshine is. I miss wearing shorts outside. And open toe shoes.

Speaking of Bahrain, I recently came accross a series of new TV adverts for Batelco's "Nothing Left to Say Syndrome" campaign. Now, my biggest problem with Batelco (well, maybe not my biggest problem considering their shoddy customer service is probably higher on that list) is that they have no semblance of consistency when it comes to their branding and advertising, which is simply because they switch ad agencies every other week. This week it's FP7, and I have to say I think they might just be heading in the right direction.
Yeah, some of the ads are cheesy/stupid. But they're a world away this atrocity.
Anyways, check them out on youtube, these are my favourites:






Now for some truly genius advertising:

“If one pixel can tell you a story, imagine what millions can.”