MIX Blog

Today, Ryan Adams released his version of “1989” where he covers Taylor Swift’s now-famous album in its entirety. I was a little skeptical at first, but it’s absolutely awesome and you should listen to it immediately here.

This got me thinking about some of my other favorite covers, some of which may actually be better than their originals. In no particular order, they are:

Ed Sheeran covering 5 Seconds of Summer’s “She Looks So Perfect”

Mr. Sheeran takes this sugary pop hit and slows it down a bit in the way that only he can. Check it out here.

Kelly Clarkson covering Christina Aguilera’s “Beautiful”

Talk about two women with incredibly powerful voices. Kelly Clarkson definitely does this song justice with her version of it. Watch it here. 

Aretha Franklin covering Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep”

It’s hard to imagine anyone singing this song better than Adele, but Aretha Franklin kills it in this cover version of the song. Definitely give it a listen.

Lastly, this doesn’t technically count, but I’d also like to include Nick Jonas performing a stripped down version of his own song “Jealous” with a gospel choir. I listen to it at least 30 times a day, and that’s not an exaggeration.

— Lauren the web girl

If you’ve seen Jimmy Fallon and Justin Timberlake cover years of classic rap songs in just 6 minutes, you’re probably feeling some serious friendship envy right now. And if you haven’t, stop what you’re doing and watch the video right now, because it’s amazing. Their goofy, fun friendship is the best. It’s almost enough to make you forget that they’re huge celebrities. So what other stars are giving us serious BFF envy right now?

Jennifer Lawrence and Amy Schumer

First they were spotted riding around on a jetski together, then they were dancing on top of Billy Joel’s piano, and now there are rumors that they’re writing a screenplay together. You know that these two keep each other laughing.

Courtney Cox and Jennifer Aniston

They’ve been there for each other through breakups and weddings and everything in between. Courtney and Jen are the real deal kind of friends, Hollywood or not.

Ben Affleck and Matt Damon

They started out as two guys from Boston, and now they’re accepting Oscars and dominating the Hollywood scene. But you know they’d probably rather just be hanging out at Fenway together.

Have you seen Taylor Swift’s newest music video yet? She debuted it during Sunday night’s MTV VMAs, and it’s another epic creation. If you loved “Bad Blood” you’ll definitely be impressed. It features Taylor as a movie star in an exotic locale doing scenes with beautiful human Scott Eastwood (yes, son of Clint.) She wants their love to be real, but comes to understand that they’re both just playing their parts, hence the whole “Wildest Dreams” thing.

The video made me realize something though: Taylor Swift is truly living her best life. She’s written a song that everyone loves and has decided to film a music video for that song. She already has a gorgeous real-life boyfriend in Calvin Harris, but instead of casting him as her leading man, why not get some on-screen smooches in with equally gorgeous actor Scott Eastwood? Oh, and let’s fly to a stunning location, ride some horses, and play in front of some lions too. Sounds good. If that’s not the American dream, I don’t know what is.

If you haven’t seen the video, you’ll definitely want to check it out here. It’s amazing!

This past weekend I was sidelined with a serious case of strep throat (sidenote: I thought once you got past the age of 10 you were free from the terribleness of strep throat, but I guess not) which meant I had PLENTY of time to spend watching Netflix. Once I’d caught up on my normal shows and still wasn’t feeling any better, I started digging around a little bit for something else to keep me entertained while I downed freezie pops, complained, and napped. Turns out there are a few gems on there that you may not be aware of. Whether you’re home sick like I am or are just looking for something to watch when you’re relaxing at night, here are a few Netflix shows and movies worth checking out:

Backstreet Boys: Show ‘Em What You’re Made Of

If you grew up on the Backstreet Boys and ‘N Sync, this is a must-watch. It was released in theaters, but is now available for your viewing pleasure on Netflix. It’s a documentary depicting the Backstreet Boys (Men?) getting ready to release a new album and go back on tour in time for their 20th anniversary as a band. Sounds cheesy, but it’s actually really interesting, and gives you good insight into the back stories (no pun intended) of each of the guys. Plus, there’s an epic Nick-Brian fight that you won’t want to miss.

Dogs on the Inside

This is another documentary, and it’s definitely one worth watching, particularly if you’re an animal lover. It tells the story of how both abandoned dogs and prison inmates get a second chance at love and hope by working together inside the walls of a prison. It’s a touching documentary that shows how the animals and the inmates learn from each other, and are able to start trusting once again, despite negative past experiences. Poignant at times, but definitely uplifting, I’d recommend it.

House Hunters International

If you’d love to travel but lack an endless budget, this show is perfect for binge watching. Go along for the ride as couples pick out new pads in Australia, France, England, and all kinds of other countries. You can check out what it would be like to live in other parts of the world, without having to deal with the headache of relocating there yourself.

Freaks and Geeks

This show was only around for one season, but it was a total cult hit. After starting it during my time on the couch, I totally get why. It’s so relatable and funny. If you’ve been through high school and lived to tell the tale, you’ll love it. It’s an easy watch, so hit “play” now.

Do you have a “must watch” Netflix show? Share your suggestion with us on Facebook!

–Lauren the web girl

Let’s face it: being an adult is stressful sometimes. Okay, most of the time. You’re balancing family obligations, bills, work stuff, and other responsibilities. Sometimes you just want to crawl back into bed and say “nope!” for the day. Looking to feel a little more zen each day? We don’t blame you. This article from Buzzfeed features practical tips from mental health experts on how to pack a little more happiness into each day.

Check it out here and share it with friends or family members who might benefit!