Sunday Spotlight: Girlpower!

I've been thinking on a post to do all day and this idea came to mind. 

GIRL POWER.

When I think about girl power, there are loads of ladies that come to mind. Instead of listing all of them, I decided on two to focus on. (Well, technically five, but one is a group so, you know.)

Little Mix.
Little Mix is a British girl band that was formed on the XFactor UK in 2011. They are the first group to ever win the Xfactor. Little Mix consists of four members, (from left to right) Leigh Anne Pinnock, Jade Thirlwall, Perrie Edwards, and Jesy Nelson. I have never been a big girl band fan before, but oh. my. lanta. These four girls' voices are so heavenly. I first fell in love with their voices, not knowing much about them other than their single at the time "Wings." I began reading about them and how they got formed and about each of their backgrounds and all of that fun stuff. 

They are so empowering. Their overall message and everything they talk and sing about is just positive & just makes me feel like I could knock down brick walls with my bare hands. They make me feel okay to be different and independent and just be whoever you wanna be. I love the way they dress and the way they are. I know that is such an awful explanation, but they really are just, they feel like my bestfriends. They seem like the kind of girls that you could just be instant friends with. And they aren't like "you need a boy to be happy!" Their newest album, Salute is full of songs about how you're better off without a boy who broke your heart and how girls need to stand together because girls are much stronger that way. It's just, I could write an entire book on them and how much they empower me. 

I love all of the girls, but I have a particular admiration for Perrie. Her personality, mannerisms, style, and some of her life story just is so similar to me. I feel like I relate to her the most and she makes me feel like, it doesn't matter where you come from, you can accomplish your dreams. I know people always say that but she was the first one where I was like, "oh my goodness, this girl ain't kidding around. She wanted something and went out and chased it and she's living her dream now." Much of my makeup/clothes are inspired after her. I had never felt confident going out without makeup on before. I saw a picture of Perrie with nothing but lipstick on and she looked so fabulous I was like, "I can do that." So badda bing badda boom I went out with no makeup on and felt amazing. I even picked me up some lipstick. (Still a little scared to try that out, but I'm getting there!) 

You know the whole, "pics or it didn't happen" thing? Well, here's what I'm going to call "vids or it didn't happen." Here are some videos to show you how lovable and funny and talented these four lovely British ladies are. 

Here are just some Little Mix moments that show their personalities & talents.

And here is just a tiny portion of their best vocals. So jealous!

I'm just very proud of these four girls. They've already cracked America and have beaten a Spice Girls record! I've been a fan since 2012 and they've been amazing me everyday ever since. I'm really hoping they come to Nashville soon. I need to see my babies! I literally feel like a proud mom to them. I highly recommend that you look them up and fall in love with them like I have!

Lorde.

This lovely lady is someone who I honestly never thought I'd be a huge fan of. I remember sitting in Algebra class at the end of last year and my teacher was talking about this song that he absolutely loved that was by a 16 year old girl. He played the song and I had heard it before on Pandora or something. I just kind of shrugged it off, not thinking much of it. But little did I know that song would be stuck in my head for the next few months, and it still is.

Lorde (her real name is Ella Yelich-O'Connor) is a New Zealand songstress who was discovered when a record company saw a video of her performing at a school talent show. And as cheesy and cliche as it is, the rest is history. 

I began listening to her songs, and they are so incredibly deep to be written by a girl that's a little less than a year younger than me. (We were both born in '96, but she was born towards the end of the year and I was born at the beginning, so technically the same-ish age.) Her lyrics have been stuck in my head on so many occasions and I can't tell you how many times I've just been sitting and thinking about them and what they mean. Things like, "I'll let you in on something big, I am not a white teeth teen." The whole "White Teeth Teens" song is a metaphor and it's such an interesting take on popular kids I just adore it. It's my favorite song off her album! 

She empowers me for many reasons, but the number one reason is that head of hair. Finally! A girl who's famous and has the same hair as me. Now I know there's someone out there who completely understands what it's like to have ramen noodles growing out of your head. I love how she wears hers so effortlessly and big and it looks so amazing on her. I also love the way she dresses, it's so funky and daring and I wish I could be that funky and daring hahah! Her music is also my favorite to listen to when I draw. Something about her voice and lyrics riles up emotions in me and makes me want to create art. Her emotion when she performs is spell-binding. Some people think that she looks so awkward, but if you really look at her, you can tell how into the music she is and how she's feeling it through every fiber of her being. It's just, ugh. I love me some Lorde. And I've been told multiple times that her and I favor and telling me that is literally like telling me that Weird Al wants to meet me and become bestfriends. (And if you know how much I like Weird Al, you'll understand that excitement.) And her childhood idol was Hilary Duff (just like mine) and her mother's name is Sonja (just like mine, except my mom spells hers with an "y" instead of "j") which is just totally bizarre to me. 

I'm quite sad though. She's coming to Nashville in September but I won't be able to see her. (Dumb college.)

Singing "Tennis Court" and "Team" at the 2014 MMVAs wearing an outfit that reminds me of Boy George for some reason (I love me some Boy George). 

Here's a video of her talking about life & other things. It's actually pretty interesting & funny, I've watched this like 200 times haha.

These girls just make me feel so empowered and lovely. I honestly suggest that you listen to their music. Little Mix is more of a pop/r&b type sound while Lorde is pop/rock/indie. So I'm sure you'll like both or at least one of them. 

Who are your girl power heroes?

-Rachel xx

Michael.

"Some people try to find love outside themselves... While love is in my heart, love is everywhere." -Michael Jackson

Warning: This post will be quite lengthy! :) 

Five years ago today, my sister, mother & I were about to leave for another night at a Vacation Bible School. (Funny enough, I didn't plan this, but by the time this is posted, it will be almost the exact time we were about to leave that day.) I remember walking around my kitchen & my boyfriend at the time called (or texted, honestly don't remember haha!) & told me Michael Jackson had passed. I was like, "What? No he didn't." Then my mom turned on the TV & there it was. I really didn't understand at the time all that was happening, I was just 13, but I do remember feeling a weird ping in my chest. 

I had never been a huge fan of Michael. I did love his music & have amazing memories of listening to his songs during holidays, especially Christmas, but I had always heard such awful things about him on the news. It seemed like there was never a positive story about the guy. Instead of processing what he was accused of doing or looking it up for myself, (I was pretty young during all of that nonsense, this was way before my computer days) I just believed whatever the news people were shouting. Not going to lie to you, I had a nightmare about him. I basically grew up thinking he was some weird, creepy guy who sang awesome songs. 

But on that day in June five years ago, something changed. I felt like I had to look up stuff about him & learn about his life. I had to know about him. That's one thing about myself that can be a blessing & a curse; if something/someone intrigues me, I have to look them up & I basically study them. Don't ask why, I've always been like that, haha! Everyone was so sad over this man. Even that night at VBS some of my church family acted as if a flame of joy in their lives had been stomped out. Things were weirdly quiet for a while. My favorite radio station was playing all Michael. Things just seemed so, colorless. Which was kind of weird because I had grown up not really caring much for the King of Pop. But once he was gone, I felt like something was missing in me. 

Through my many months of reading about Michael, watching videos, and listening to his music, I finally understood why there was such a widespread sadness when he took his last breath. I had finally learned to form my own opinions about him & not let the stupid media influence my thoughts the way they had when I was younger. This man was no longer a scary monster to me, it began to feel like we had been friends forever. I know that sounds absolutely crazy. I began to feel that I had lost a friend. I instantly regretted all of those years where I was scared of him. All of the news stories about things he supposedly did or whatever, just seemed, for lack of a better word, complete crap to me. I couldn't see this man who had done so much good for the world & be such a light be slapped with all of these preposterous labels. Even to this day I get upset when I hear people say cruel things about him. And I know that I've already said it, but I am so upset with myself that I believed everything the news told me all those years. I can't believe I waited to learn about him until the day he passed away. I know that's probably ridiculous to say but it's true.

No artist has ever made me happier or made me cry harder. You know how certain songs or musicians make you feel instantly happy & you begin feeling all tingly inside? (I know, cliche saying) That's how Michael makes me feel. I could literally listen to that sweet voice all day long and never get tired. His music oozes so much positivity, love, & hope it's so inspiring. I've spent countless hours watching old videos of him at home playing with his kids or just having a good time, they are so sweet & make me laugh & cry. When I look at him, I see such a beautiful soul, someone with a giant heart, someone who never got the chance to be a kid, someone who would do anything to make someone happy, someone who loved with every fiber of his being, someone who used his God-given talents to his full ability, someone who could dance like no one else, but most of all, someone who was misunderstood. That's what breaks my heart the most. I wish people would've given him more of a chance in his life, I wish I would have. 

Here's to you, Michael. Thank you for spreading your light to this world. Thank you for your big heart and creativity that inspires me every single day. You were the first artist whose music brought me to tears. (That MJ Cirque du Soleil was rough, man. I've never shed that many tears or felt like I was about to become an emotional wreck at a concert in my life.) I feel like this is all jumbled & doesn't make much sense, but just, thank you. I know you're 100% happy now. Don't ask me how, but sometimes you just feel things, & I know there is such a giant smile on your face right now. 

Some of my all time favorite songs by Michael:
Slave to the Rhythm | Xscape | Do You Know Where Your Children Are? | Hold My Hand | (I Like) The Way That You Love Me | Best of Joy | Earth Song | She's Out of My Life | Black or White | Planet Earth (Poem) | This Is It | Butterflies | You Are My Life | Blood On The Dancefloor | Heal the World | Remember the Time | Gone Too Soon | Will You Be There | The Girl is Mine ft. Paul McCartney | Human Nature | Ben | You Are Not Alone | Leave Me Alone | You Can't Win (from The Wiz) | Whatzupwitu Eddie Murphy ft. Michael  (go watch this if you don't listen to any other one of these! will definitely make you smile!) 
There are so many more & so many other things I could say, but I'll leave this here. :)

-Rachel xx

Changing Location & College.

Wowza. Has it really been just February since I posted? I felt like it's been years. 

Anyway, many things have been happening recently. One of them being signing up for my college classes! Though many of you know, I'll say it again for anyone who may not: I plan to major in Art. I signed up for my classes a couple weeks ago. And thankfully, I was able to take 3 different art classes freshman year. (And of course, English & Math, oh joy.) I will be in a 2-D Design class, a 3-D Design class, and a Drawing I class. I am very excited! I also received a work study scholarship, meaning that I get to work on campus & get paid in scholarship money. Which is incredible & I only have to work for an hour a week. How lovely is that?! I am beyond thrilled to begin my college life! 

Now, onto some other things...

I have been thinking on this for a while. I know this blog has been used for mainly art-related posts, but I've considered making it into a lifestyle/fashion/art blog. Even though art will always be my first love, I also loooooooove fashion & blogging about life events. So, I'm 99% sure I'm going to merge all of my interests together into one little blog! 

Blogspot is absolutely lovely & extremely easy to post things from, and Tumblr is great, too, but I feel like it'd be a lot easier to just use my website as my blog. I'm sure in this technology-filled world there is a way to make a normal website into a blog layout. I really just want one place where I can blog, post art, & have contact information. I feel like the easiest way to do that is through my website so there is one convenient place for everything instead of hopping from place to place. And by doing so means I would actually use my website more & actually post things instead of it sitting on the world wide web collecting virtual dust. So hopefully I can figure out how to do so (or ask my tech-savvy family members) so that blogging and website-ing is easier for me & anyone who may stumble across. 

I am really trying to update more & be more active on all my accounts. Everything has been hectic lately, but thankfully things are calming down. So yay! Hopefully things will work out soon & when they do or anything changes I'll let you know. :)

So what are your links now?!
Instagram: rachelprinceart
Twitter: @rachelprinceart
Website: rachelmarieprince.com

-Rachel xx