As Julie from "Julie and the Phantoms said: "This song is for everyone who's lost their way. Step into your greatness. Don't give up. Stand tall. "
Listen to "Stand Tall" here!
Hello, good day everyone! While January felt like it took forever to pass, February was over in what felt like a week. A very busy week for me personally, but
still.
Lina and I have, for the third time in a year, decided to go with a song from “Julie and the Phantoms” for February. This lovely little show means so much to us and we rewatch it every year
religiously. The first time was together on a cold day in February 2021, in a big bed with some delicious brownies we’d made together. This year we didn’t get to see each other, but because we
chose a song from the show to write about, it feels almost as if we’d watched it together again heh.
Song of the month is “Stand Tall”, which the band performs in the very last episode together. At this point they’re more than just a band to each other though, they’re family. Julie and the guys have played their songs for many people several times, but this is what they believe to be the last time forever (and because Netflix cancelled the show it also kinda was the last time…still mad!!). Long story short, without spoiling anything: they give us a heartwarming and at the same time heartbreaking performance of an incredible song that will get stuck in your head!
Don't blink
No, I don't want to miss it
One thing, and it's back to the beginning
'Cause everything is rushing in fast
Keep going on never look back
And it's one, two, three, four times
That I'll try for one more night
light a fire in my eyes
I'm going out of my mind
Whatever happens
Even if I'm the last standing
I'ma stand tall
I'ma stand tall
Whatever happens
Even when everything's down
I'ma stand tall
I'ma stand tall
I gotta keep on dreaming
'Cause I gotta catch that feeling
Whatever happens even if I'm the last standing
I'ma stand tall
Julie starts the song alone, just her and her keys. She’s been through a lot and to me it feels a little like this song is her pick-me-up, as well as her
message to the audience and everyone she has lost. She is present in that moment like she never was before. She is aware of all that has happened and will happen, but here and now all that she
has is just herself and her music.
And no matter what, she will always try again. And again. And so on. Because whatever may happen, whatever life throws at her, she will continue to stand tall. She will not let her pain take away
her dreams and her joy. Even if everyone around her gives in to it, she will not!
Honestly this song is such a great one to listen to when you’re down. It takes you by your shirt and shakes you until you get yourself back up, but, like, in a
friendly and nice and gentle way. It supports you while you muster up the courage and strength to pick yourself up again.
And on top of that it’s got some killer vocals by Madison Reyes, Charlie Gillespie, Jeremy Shada and Owen Joyner. They really make it sound like the performance of a lifetime! (even though three
of their characters technically don’t have a life anymore…)
Right now
I'm loving every minute
Hands down
Can't let myself forget it, no
'Cause everything is rushing in fast
Keep holding on, nevеr look back
As a musician myself, I know the feeling of losing yourself in the music you’re making. It’s the only time I don’t worry about what anyone else is thinking, cause I’m on stage doing what I love and usually with people that I love. I get lost in this feeling of freedom, where nothing is holding me down. And in the second verse of “Stand Tall” Julie puts this feeling into beautiful words. At this point the band is, one by one, joining her on stage. Please, please watch the scene from the show (better yet – watch the whole show!). The happiness and love in all of their faces when they are finally together on the stage moves me to tears every time.
Like I'm glowing in the dark
I keep on going when it's all falling apart
Yeah I know it with all my heart
Ooh, ooh
Never look back
They’re all united now and they are having the time of their lives on that stage. And they know they’ll keep going, whatever happens. They’ll be resilient and keep dreaming, they’ll be strong and never give up on themselves, they’ll stand tall.
Watching the clip of this performance, or even just listening to this song, has always felt encouraging and motivating. It makes me wanna dance and sing my heart out, it makes me feel like I can take on the world, it makes me feel hopeful about what’s to come.
And I hope it can make you feel any of those things too. Cause whatever happens, even if you’re
the last standing – stand tall!
Love, Ina
Hey there! :-) I cannot EXPRESS how excited I am to write since I had to skip January cause I was sick :/ Weeeell: New Year, new songs!! I’m so hyped!! I know it’s already February (almost March), but since I didn’t get to say it in January: I think 2024 is gonna be freaking AWESOME! <3
This month’s artist isn’t a completely new one to the blog xD We’re writing about another “Julie and the Phantoms” song! I think this has become a tradition by now :-). This time the song isss: “Stand Tall”.
I say we dive right into it -
Oh and on a side note before I start to ramble, I can already tell you this entry is gonna be good cause I’m sitting in one of my fave cafés with my coffee & cake and that sets the mood, let me tell you!
Don't blink
No, I don't want to miss it
One thing, and it's back to the beginning
'Cause everything is rushing in fast
Keep going on never look back
I’ve never managed to fully figure out some lyrics of this song. But that’s okay :-) I suppose they can also mean slightly different things at different times during one's life. But this passage I love. The song starts off so soft & it gets so much power after a bit (your sign you watch the show btw, u won’t be disappointed).
“Never look back.”
There’s this really beautiful saying and I have no clue what it goes like, but the message is this one:
You can compare your life to driving a car. The windshield is the biggest window in the car and gives you a good view of what’s in front of you. The side and rearview mirror are small.
You can’t drive and only look ahead through your windshield - you gotta keep in mind what’s behind you.
Just the same, you cannot drive safely when you keep looking in the rearview and side mirror only - you’d crash.
Your windshield is your future, the rearview and side mirror your past. You succeed the most in your future when you remember lessons and experiences from your past. But you can’t let them consume you. You’d lose sight of the road in front of you.
I know this is easier said than done. But it’s such a beautiful theory to keep in mind <3
Right now
I'm loving every minute
Hands down
Can't let myself forget it, no
'Cause everything is rushing in fast
Keep holding on, nevеr look back
Time is fleeting. Some weeks ago I had a long-needed conversation and those moments are still so special to me. But we were on our way to someplace, our teacher wanted us to be there at a certain time, so we had to keep walking. And even while we were still walking, there was this edgy feeling in my chest that I did not for the life of me want this moment to end. It felt like if I’d dared to blink, I’d find myself with the moment over.
Moments like these don’t come up so often. Most of the time, it’s after the memory is made and the moments are over, we realize that’s past now. But the ones when you realize even while they’re happening - those are the very special ones, believe me :-)
That was just a big, big reminder for me about how fleeting everything is. And I mean, that’s beautiful <3 We can’t have everything forever. Things are not meant to last, otherwise they wouldn’t be so special.
Whatever happens
Even if I'm the last standing
I'ma stand tall
I'ma stand tall
Whatever happens
Even when everything's down
I'ma stand tall
I'ma stand tall
I gotta keep on dreaming
'Cause I gotta catch that feeling
Nowww to the essence of the song! We are all brave and strong enough to stand tall, I strongly believe in that. Sometimes it bugs me when people keep saying “No but I can’t do this, I can’t, I can’t… blablabla.” Don’t get me wrong, I know nobody can always do everything. But it’s about willingness for me. At least believe in yourself, people! The outcome isn’t always as important as you think it is! Everybody fails. Everybody has their low points. But that’s all part of it.
Choosing to stand tall, that’s what you gotta do!
Sometimes it can be tiring - standing tall. Sometimes it can feel like you’re alone and nobody’s there to support you, to hold your back. Sometimes it can feel like nobody is even listening to you. But we gotta go BEYOND that. I say, we have to learn to be stronger than all of that. We don’t always need somebody. We got ourselves and our two feet, our mind, our willpower.
In the end, you can make everything possible. And even if your biggest dream fails and it looks like everything is crumbling and falling apart, you still gotta have the faith to believe it happened because there’s even greater things out there for you. We gotta catch that feeling after all! All the feels will bring some good lesson & memories!
The main point is: Attempting to stand tall, that’s the key to everything. Ofc you can’t be standing tall all the time. But it’s in the attempt. Sometimes that’s more than enough. As long as you believe that you can do it, everything will be fine <3 Don’t lose yourself thinking you’re alone.
Spoiler alert: If you wanna watch the show, don’t read this part :-)
In the last episode, before Julie is about to go on stage to perform at the Orpheum, the other three of the band are nowhere to be found. And she runs outside, feeling alone, and she talks to her mom who’s passed away. And while she’s out there crying, a woman selling flowers walks by with a paper bag full of dahlias and gives one to Julie. That was her mom’s favorite flower. And she walks back in and plays the show. Before she starts singing, she says: “This song is for anyone who’s lost their way. Step into your greatness. Don’t give up. Stand tall.”
People - I’m still sitting in the café and I’m close to tears rewatching this scene, it’s insane…
I’m totally aware that this is a show, obviously. But those things are not so uncommon, believe me! The world works in mysterious ways and the right things come to you when you need them. You never know - you could make somebody’s day by giving them a big fat smile or telling them to have an awesome day. Or by giving somebody flowers <3 :-)
Like I'm glowing in the dark
I keep on going when it's all falling apart
Yeah I know it with all my heart
Ooh, ooh
Never look back
You gotta keep going. Always, always, always. It’s so awesome that you’re on this planet and the chance that it happened that you’re you is really not a big one. So please make the most of your being here <3 Make it a life you love. Live it the way it means something to you. Remember your dreams. Keep standing tall and things will work out!
So many thoughts! My, my… :-)
What I love so much about this song is that all four band members get their solo parts and it’s so special <3 You gotta at least watch that scene. But it won’t make much sense if you don’t watch the rest, so I suggest you watch the whole show xD
By the way I am forever mad that Netflix is still refusing to shoot the second season - SO MAD!!!! I am manifesting HARD that they will change their mind!!
I guess this is all I wanted to say! Well, I didn’t really have a plan of what I wanted to write about, I just started typing. But the coffee & cake did the job! :-)
Also, I think I’ve never written an entry with that many passages highlighted haha…
Lastly, I just wanna tell you this: Since February is the month of love, I say we all pour a little more love into our own cup, take a step back and try to see how good we’ve been doing. I say we stand tall together <3
Feel free to reach out on our Instagram (linked below) too if you’ve got any thoughts! Would totally love to hear them :)
Thank you so, so much for reading!
Lots & lots of Love,
Lina
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