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Review: The Game
★★★★☆ - 4 stars
"Don't give up on the way, if you get pushed down."
The second track of model and pop singer Meredith O'Connor's 2015 album I Am, highlights her stance as an anti-bullying activist. A letter to her past self, encouraging the younger version of her, as she tells the story of the schoolgirl difficulties she faced because of bullies.
Starting with gentle, acoustic guitar chords, the track is slower than others on the album, almost representative of how over time bullying increasingly impacts upon you. In tone, it's sorrowful throughout the verses as she questions herself and how she felt whilst being bullied. Yet, during the chorus, Meredith's vocals (reminiscent of early Dove Cameron but with an alternative twist) grow stronger and the mood begins to radiate positivity as she sings about dealing with hurtful situations and getting through each day.
It's an encouraging song with a beautiful message for anyone who has experienced or is currently experiencing bullying. It reminds us of the importance of not giving up despite the negative impacts it has on a person's self-esteem.
#meredith o'connor#music#music lovers#music review#music blog#pop music#teen musician#the game#I am#songs#track review#music recs#musicblr#music journalism#anti bullying#bullying#bullies#songs about bullying#review request
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Meredith O'Connor embraces her unique qualities in her album, "I Am"
Anti-bullying/mental health icon Meredith O'Connor is a role model to her fans around the world. Millions of people adore her music, and several of her followers have claimed that it helped them survive hardships like bullying and social isolation. Henceforth, the release of her album, "I Am" is primarily about overcoming obstacles and embracing one's individual qualities. It was released on Friday 23 October 2015.
Bullying is a topic that Meredith is incredibly passionate about since it is so personal to her. Meredith has travelled the nation as an anti-bullying crusader, speaking at schools about her own experiences being tormented in addition to her musical performances.
Meredith acknowledges that she has battled with bullying since she was young age 6, but she gives no further details, other than to claim that she has experienced abuse and taunting for being "weird," for being different, and for not conforming to stereotypes. She claims that one of the things that has set her apart from her friends is the fact that she always gravitated toward the theatre and performing arts extracurriculars in high school, never sports. She also noted that she is special,
“I wish I could tell kids that if you wait 2, maybe 3 more years, none of this will matter, and it will be the things that make you different that end up making you cool." Meredith O' Connor
She wanted to let everyone know that it is okay to be different. We often compare our lives to others and sometimes we try to copy them. We often ask ourselves if there is something wrong with being yourself but as we will see throughout the album, Meredith was brave enough to share her uniqueness with the world.
The Track List highlights her unique qualities.
One of my favorite songs is I Am. The song is catchy and upbeat mixed with a fast-paced piano instrument playing throughout the song. Moreover, the song is about Meredith realizing that she does not have to compromise who she is for anyone. She has learned to embrace who she is. Her light vocals throughout the song reflect that. For instance, in the lyrics, she says:
"So tired of being on my best behaviour / Tryna be what they all love.."
She changes her tone towards the bridge of the lyrics. Her vocals sort of become deep and powerful. Furthermore, she is starting to see that she doesn't need to change who she is hence why she says in the bridge of the lyrics:
"All of my life this is the key to what I’m missing /Throw out the doubt, forget all the second-guessing / All of my flaws I see them as a blessing / I’ll be who I am not what they are expecting"
Throughout the track, Meredith proves that she is indeed who she is hence the repetition of the phrase, "I am, I am, I am, what I am". Personally, I Am serves as a good intro for the album because it sets the tone for the album which is embracing unique qualities.
Meredith 0'Connor donated all her proceeds from the album to The Carol Galvin Foundation a women's cancer organisation. The song, "Guardian Angel" is written explicitly for the foundation as stated by Richard Galvin on LinkedIn. He is the founder of the organisation. Furthermore, the foundation is in honour of his mother, whom he lost to cancer when he was 11. As a result, the song, "Guardian Angel" is another significant track in the album. Musical instruments such as a piano and violin playing in the background set the tone to be deep. Meredith presents her calm and simple vocals as she sings in the chorus:
"Whenever I think of you and I smile and I don’t know why / Whenever I feel joy in my heart, I know you’re nearby / And I know you’re here to stay / Your love won’t ever fade away / You give me wings to fly / You’re my guardian angel in the sky / You’re my guardian angel tonight"
As she sings, it gives everyone a chance to remember their loved ones.
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Another track that caught my attention is "Just the Thing". Meredith O'Connor opens up a lot more about her character. For instance, in the lyrics, she said:
"I'm awkward / A little OCD / I'm too tall / And always say just the wrong thing / I talk too fast, forget to breathe..."
Meredith decides to open up more about her mental health, OCD. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental and behavioural disorder in which a person experiences intrusive thoughts (an obsession) and the need to repeatedly engage in certain behaviours (compulsions) to alleviate the distress that the obsession causes, to the point where it impairs daily functioning. Meredith is an advocate for mental health so this song makes it even more significant to listen to. Not to mention, the song is sweet and short to listen to.
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Face That’s Perfect is also a nice track to listen to. The lyrics are also easy to understand as well.
Stronger was a meaningful track to listen to. There was a musical chemistry between Meredith O’Connor and Garret Clayton. However, I don’t see myself playing it daily but just hear and there.
Songs such as Distraction, 14 Miles and Unforgettable Night seem to be worthy tracks to listen to. As a first-time listener, I will need time to appreciate the tracks.
The Game was all right. However, I felt like something was missing. Plus, I kind of got lost in understanding the meaning of the track especially since it was my first time listening to the track.
In a nutshell, I Am is a significant album to listen to. It highlights the unique qualities Meredith O'Connor has. As an anti-bullying/mental health icon, I believe she managed to highlight the messages she wanted to send to her listeners. Songs such as I Am were worthy to listen to. Other songs such as The Game were all right to listen to. Therefore, I would rate the album around 6.5 / 10.
#Spotify#musicjournalism#musicjournalist#africanmusicjournalist#musicreviews#i_am_music_criticism#musicblog#musicbloggers#musicreviewer#musicjournalists#meredith o'connor#meredith o'connor i am
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Meredith O'Connor - I Am (REQUEST)
One of the more interesting parts of an open request blog is requests for things I would never have found or listened to on my own time. This is one of those! It's a little difficult to find reliably sourced objective information on the artist, but from what I can gather, O'Connor is a youth idol for all the stuff you're used to youth activists doing.
There's not too much substance for me to cover in a full track-by-track, as each individual song is more or less the same tone and sound. Not inherently a bad thing, mind you! I'm in full support of the importance pop music has for a lot of people. The album draws a lot of similarities in sound and presentation to musical theatre, and has a strong sense of its personal identity.
While I'm not 100% sure of the relatability factor of an anti-bullying activist who's career is built around her sudden celebrity at the start of highschool, there's a place for her in the eyes of young people who need an idol they can see something in. I'd have more to talk about if there was more reliable information on her out there, but as it stands now the album is a 3/10 for me on sound and presentation, but I could be talked into a 6/10 for the merits of activism.
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Playlist Request!
Meredith O'Connor Inspired Mix, requested by @kayligraphy
I'm not... entirely confident here lol, but I sincerely hope I was able to capture what you love about Meredith O'Connor and that you're able to find new things to listen to!
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album review; meredith o'connor's i am (2015)
♡ fav song: unforgettable night
♡ least fave song: stronger
♡ overall: 6.9/10
♡ requested by @kayligraphy - thank you for requesting!
♡ the lyricism throughout the album was absolutely spectacular, and I love the more positive "feel" found throughout. There is no pessimism, only optimism for the future, which is such a sweet message to showcase throughout your album. My only complain is the lack of vocal training from O'Connor. If a vocal lesson was taken before the production of the album, it definitely would've been scored higher. Fortunately, however, it doesn't take away from the message of "I Am," something that is intrinsically O'Connor, as well as found within all of us.
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Meredith O'Connor 『I Am』 - Album Review
This is a review by request! Feel free to request anything for me to review. Generally I only review K-pop but I’m making an exception for this, Meredith Connor’s first album “I Am”. Truth be told, I know very little about her besides that her music is focused around anti-bullying and self-confidence motifs. I’m excited to learn more! Keep in mind that my rating system is 1 to 10, with a 5 indicating complete neutrality.
I Am - 7
A wide blend of trumpet, bass, drums, and piano open the album and the song abruptly but strongly nonetheless. I really love the tone on the bass, I strive to achieve that. Her voice is quite strong as well, matching the instrumentals well. The chord progression is certainly quite basic though, which makes it hard for the song to pop out to me. I do really like the way the drums build in each 4-bar section of the chorus though!
The Game - 6
A much softer opening, just guitar and soft synth pads. I love the delay on her vocals here, it’s very satisfying. The lyrics don’t fit the rhythm very well and don’t quite rhyme, and I think the vocal melodies drag it down a bit. I wish the instrumentals were a bit louder, I think that would balance the mix a little better. I have a lot of respect for the purity of her vocals though, definitely. I’m loving the minimalistic late 90s early 2000s vibe of the synths, they remind me of first generation K-pop!
Just The Thing - 3.5
I like the pizzicatos at the beginning. The other elements don’t really blend in with it very well though. I think that as the song builds it becomes less coherent which is unfortunate because I like some part of it individually. It has the same basic chord progression again as well, and when it tries to switch it up it doesn’t quite work for me. I think there’s probably a lot to like in this song, but it doesn’t really fit with me.
Distraction - 5
This is the first song on the album with a very dark start. The beginning has me very excited for something that goes hard. I like the subtle use of the 3-3-2 latin beat. The vocals aren’t quite as great here though. The chorus is pretty disappointing after the intro set it up for so much power. I’m still loving the rich dark vibe though.
Unforgettable Night - 3
This is a much softer song, a classic soft ballad at least for now. Her vocals aren’t great here, and neither are the unnamed featured singer’s. It builds in energy but the background doesn’t take it there. Once again I think some better mixing and processing would really help this song out.
14 Miles - 4
Another heavy opening that lacks the power in bass to really carry it through. This could be great, I just wish that the mix was better and that the EQing was a bit more full spectrum. Many of these songs feel very heavy on the 1-4kHz frequency range (white noise, wind noise) and lacking in low bass (20-70Hz) and high silvery treble (5-10kHz). With that and a hard rock beat this song would go so hard! I find it odd that this is the least streamed song on the album.
Stronger (feat. Garrett Clayton) - 3
This one has another soft quality to it, a true ballad feel. It has many of the same issues as the other songs, but the EQing does feel a bit better. Meredith also sounds much better here. The vocals are somewhat overpowering in a way that flattens the beat. It builds into a power ballad, even changing the key. Not my style but it’s alright.
Guardian Angel - 5.5
I really like the piano melody at the beginning! The vocal melodies are also much better. The piano has a much sturdier bass and is better mixed into the vocals, the instrumentals compliment the vocals in a way that improves the songs coherency as a whole. This song is definitely not the type of song I would listen to but many of the previous issues I’ve pointed out are a lot less noticeable here!
Face That’s Perfect - 7
This is a refreshingly strong finish! The mixing is once again much better and the equalizing feels better. The drums and vocals could be processed a little better though. Everything clicks into place pretty well. I love the vocal melody in the chorus, it makes me smile! I love the use of the flat 7th and the 6th and the harmonies. The rest of the song is meh for me, but those harmonies are great.
Final Thoughts
It’s really a shame that Meredith O’Connor isn’t much more popular. That may seem like an odd thing to hear me say after delivering this somewhat scorching review (sorry!!), but that’s just the thing! I think that she has a great voice and has a good grasp of musicality. If she was given a higher budget I would really like her music. Almost every issue I had would be easily fixed with better production, writing, mixing, and mastering. Either getting a better company or alternatively joining a rock band would actually be really good for her, musically! I give this album an overall score of 5 taking everything into account, with my favorite song being Face That’s Perfect, one that I think would sound GREAT with a live band! Thank you for recommending this album to me, I hope I wasn’t too harsh! Meredith O’Connor deserves a lot of attention for sure. One day I have a feeling I’m gonna hear about her getting a better gig and being a huge deal. Thanks for reading!
- Maya
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Meredith O'Connor: I Am. An Album Review.
Upon a request, I was asked to listen to Meredith O'Connor's debut album from 2015, "I Am."
Meredith O'Connor first rose to fame upon releasing her debut EP in 2013. Her lead single, "Celebrity," would receive positive reviews from listeners online. The following year, O'Connor dropped another single, "Just the thing," which features on this album. Finally, by October 20th, 2015, O'Connor dropped her first album. Upon listening, I found that "I Am" is a short breeze of an album which I appreciate. The pacing is decent, with the track time capping at 35 minutes. The title track, "I am," sets the tone for the rest of the album.
The first track is a fiercely positive song where O'Connor may harbor doubts as a person, but the Choruses try to dissuade that uncertainty by being herself. She is what she is. It's a striking message that can carry as much weight as it does, thanks to her impressive vocals. Part of my attraction to the track attributed to her sounding similar to Michelle Branch's "All You Wanted," another song I adore.
The following track, "The Game," is a more intriguing song lyrically. A couple of well-put lines stick out from this track and the album as a whole. For example, the opening lines, "Why did they choose you? Why can't you be strong?" elicits some interesting questions that allow some ample contemplation from the listener. The energy and tone are taken and lowered for this track which works and remind me of yet another singer, though instead of Michelle Branch, it's Cascada, oddly enough. If the song harbored some of the upbeat dance instrumentals Cascada has in many of her songs, I might like it more, but the track is still fine as is.
The third track arrives, "Just the Thing," and the single remains one of the better tracks from the album. I find it one of the most endearing songs from the album easily. O'Connor details all her faults and how she does not fit in with usual crowds, but she does with one other. It's incredibly sweet-sounding, and it's easy to see why this was a single. It's the type of song that would fit well in a high school romance kind of film. And as far as sounding like another artist…it's giving Taylor Swift. O'Connor tends to remind me of other popular artists.
Those vibes persist for the remainder of the album. "Distraction" serves a decent purpose, as O'Connor wants to be the object of another's eye. Luckily, her voice is not exactly 1 to 1 of Taylor's as she does a high-quality job pouring her feelings out. Her vocals being the strongest aspect of the album, make a sad juxtaposition as the two male features on the project perform their songs. Jordan Jansen and Garrett Clayton, the former appearing on "Unforgettable Night" and the latter appearing on "Stronger," are fine vocalists but pale in comparison to O'Connor.
By the end of the album's run and the thirty-five minutes are up, it's clear that Meredith O'Connor is a talented individual. She makes it clear throughout the album multiple times that her voice is the most vital point. Lyrically, a few tracks and lines stand out, but her pen game could hopefully improve from here. Instrumentals definitely need improvement to accompany her voice but they are not terrible in the slightest. Overall, it's a solid album and a decent debut from the artist. What direction she went from her humble beginning around a decade ago will have to be seen by me whenever I decide to pursue and listen to her following projects to see how she's grown as an artist. There are at least a few songs on "I Am" worth visiting.
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I am- Meredith O’Connor 10/10
I am- 8/10
The Game- 7/10
Just The Thing- 10/10
Distraction- 10/10
Unforgettable Night- 11/10
14 Miles- 9/10
Stronger (feat. Garret Clayton)- 100/10
Guardian Angel- 6/10
Face That’s Perfect- 8/10
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Album Review of the Week: Meredith O'Connor - I Am (2015)
☆☆☆☆
This week's review is brought to you by request! Special thanks to @kayligraphy for reaching out and suggesting this album!
I had never heard of this artist and upon researching there are definitely some noteworthy things to share.
She's gained a lot of notoriety with her advocacy work against bullying and for mental health. She also toured with Aaron Carter for a while! Her voice and the tone of her music would definitely work in a Disney musical, I could see people trotting along the beach or a lively city street to some of these tunes.
The album opens with the title track, I Am, a bouncy self-empowering tune to set the tone of the project. It is definitely a good song to shout in the car with the windows down to pick yourself up!
The Game is next and it is a sharp turn into a moody vibe, I enjoy how theatrical it is! The lyrics speak to her anti-bullying stance and encourage you to stand up for yourself and others.
Just the Thing is a standout track for me, I can see myself really relating to this when I was a teenager, it brings me back to how I felt back then having a hard time finding close friends. The instrumentals are light and bouncy, making for a fun track!
Distraction is another standout, I really love how dramatic yet pop radio it is. The chorus is driving and takes you on a melodic journey.
Unforgettable Night is an almost-country mid-tempo ballad duet. This one is not my taste as much as the others have been, it is cute though!
14 Miles brings us back to the moody-pop that I've been having fun with! I believe I would have liked this song a lot when I was a teenager as well, it has those angsty lyrics and moody instrumentals that teens crave!
Stronger and Guardian Angel slow things down a bit with heartfelt ballads. Stronger picks up into a bouncy call-to-action inspirational track to get you moving!
Guardian Angel is a moving ballad with a beautiful piano riff and a really great vocal performance. The lyrics are very honest and relatable. I don't usually go for ballads, but this definitely grabs at my heartstrings and makes me feel the lyrics.
This 9-track album closes out with Face That's Perfect. It brings the mood up with a strong finish. Another fun track that feels like finally hanging out with your crush, which is a great feeling!
All in all, this is a really great independent effort! She has been getting accolades as recently as this year for her advocacy work and even though this is her only album and it was released 8 years ago, she is definitely still out there touring and using her platform for good!
Thanks again for introducing this album and singer to me, and thanks for reading this week's review!
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Meredith O'Connor: Just The Thing
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My first review request from @kayligraphy!
A nice upbeat pop song about how weirdos have to stick together, especially against the cliqueish furries. Sounds like something you put on in the morning to wake up, knowing that the day isn't exactly going to give you any advantages.
Song Score: 8/10
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Bad movie I have In Harm's Way 1965
#In Harm's Way#John Wayne#Kirk Douglas#Patricia Neal#Tom Tryon#Paula Prentiss#Brandon De Wilde#Jill Haworth#Dana Andrews#Stanley Holloway#Burgess Meredith#Franchot Tone#Patrick O'Neal#Carroll O'Connor#Slim Pickens#James Mitchum#George Kennedy#Bruce Cabot#Barbara Bouchet#Tod Andrews#Larry Hagman#Stewart Moss#Richard LePore#Chet Stratton#Soo Yong#Dort Clark#Phil Mattingly#Henry Fonda#Yankee Chang#Fritz Ford
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By Meredith W. Park
#poem#flannery o'connor#Comic#Meredith W. Park#christian faith#poetry#a prayer journal#prayer#journal#feelings
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Title: Thank You for Hearing Me (25k, one-shot)
Pairing: Meredith Grey/Derek Shepherd
Other Characters: Zola Shepherd, Bailey Shepherd, Ellis Shepherd, Jackson Avery
Summary: The death of one of Meredith’s role models makes her consider what her generation is passing on. (Set in an AU Season 19 where Derek is alive.)
AO3 | FFN
#meredith grey#derek shepherd#anatomy belonging to a grey#grey's anatomy#fanfic#sinead o'connor#Jackson avery#Zola shepherd#Zola grey shepherd#ellis shepherd#Bailey shepherd#summer 2023#mention of Michael Jackson#90s music#fanfic friday#a little late but I’ll post twice this week
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Sebastian's Mix Tapes - Light That Fire
Today, I received a request from the lovely @kayligraphy for a playlist inspired by Meredith O'Conner's You Are Not Alone.
She is a new artist to me, but some the themes that came to mind when I listened to her music were ones I think we could use a bit more of these days.
Self acceptance and personal grace
Self empowerment and inner strength in the face of adversity
Finding our communities and our places in them
Embracing those around us through all the highs and lows of life
To whoever needs to hear it,
Find your spark, light that fire, and we will never let it die.
Track list below the cut
Biggest Mistake - bexx
Just the Thing - Meredith O'Connor
Cool with Being Crazy - Willow City
I Am - Meredith O'Connor
Celebrate the Reckless - MAGIC GIANT
Right Now - Nyman, Edgar Sandoval Jr
I Found You - Cash Cash, Andy Grammer
It Only Gets Better - Wild
Light a Match - HANNIE
How Far We Can Go - Upstate
Stronger Than You Know - The East Pointers
Stronger (Robert Eibach Remix) - Meredith O'Connor, Garrett Clayton, Robert Eibach
Found/Tonight - Ben Platt, Lin-Manuel Miranda
You Are Note Alone (International) - Meredith O'Connor (and many others)
Run Tonight - Kat Meoz
Celestial - Ed Sheeran
We Could Be Stars - Adnreas Kübler
Flyin' (Don't Give Up) - Flyers
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Okay folks, listen up. My friend and I (mostly I) started casting people for If We Were Villains. Long story short I got obsessed and couldn't stop till I found the perfect cast. And now that I have found them (a british cast for an American production because why not?), I am here to scream it into this corner of the world.
Lo and behold:
Oliver - Josh O'Connor
James - Nicholas Galitzine
Richard - Kedar Williams-Stirling
Alexander - Miguel Herrán
Wren - India Ria Amarteifo
Filippa - Emma Mackey
Meredith - Danielle Galligan
Yes, now I would like us all to collectively manifest this casting to fruition..
P. S. Why was it so damn hard to find a Hispanic-British actor under 30s, who could pull of the nonchalant druggie who is everyone's and no one's best friend?
P. P. S. Robert Sheehan from Misfits days would have been my ideal choice for Alexander though.
#if we were villains#if we were villains casting#tumblr casting#tumblr cast#danielle galligan#josh oconnor#nicholas galitzine#kedar williams stirling#emma mackey#india amarteifio#miguel herran#m l rio#please make this happen#i would combust if they make a show for the book
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