Meadowlark

Silence is an ever bitter sound to hear, even if you are alone or with people surrounding you. Either way, there's always something there to remind you of other lives and other hearts.

I've not listened to this song quite enough but from listening to it, I have come to have a strong love for the lyrics. Beautiful and remind me of better things yet to come.

With all that has happened, this song was the first one that popped up in my head for this; a friend of mine commit suicide fairly recently. I wasn't very close to him nor did I ever know him to be the kind of person to do what he did but I can tell you he was a kind hearted man and good company to be around. Everyone loved him. I was quite shattered to hear the news of what had happened. Rest in peace Randy. I dedicate this song to you and your family. You're in a better place now.

"Meadowlark, fly your way down

I hold a cornucopia and a golden crown

For you to wear upon your fleecy down

My meadowlark, sing to me

Hummingbird, just let me dive

Inside the broken ovals of your olive eyes

I do believe you gave it your best try

My hummingbird, sing to me

My hummingbird, sing to me

Don't believe a word that I haven't heard

Little children laughing at the boys and girls

The meadowlark singing to you each and every day

The arc light on the hillside and the market in the hay"

-Fleet Foxes

I Might Be Wrong

Radiohead is one of the few bands I love for their attitude. I love certain bands for different things, (all have one thing in common, the music itself.) but for Radiohead it's a plus with their attitude about not giving a f**k about anyone or anything. Honestly, I admire that. You don't see them whining about how they don't get to go back stage to see their favorite artist. (Miley Cyrus did this with Radiohead and claimed that she would "ruin them" just because they wouldn't let her come back stage to meet them. what a laugh!)

Fairly recently I just got back into Radiohead. I mostly dropped out because of my phase with Fleet Foxes was FINALLY dying out. I decided to listen to their album The Bends all the way through...and Jeebus. I have a love/hate relationship with that album.

Not only with that album but with a number of other songs on other albums have done this thing to me, where it brings back such nostalgia from the 1990's that it makes me sick to the stomach. I both love and hate this feeling. It kind of reminds me of high school. Or what my idea of high school used to be. and my God, it kills me. (Note, I was born in 1992, but for some reason I feel like I've heard some of these songs before, even in my strictly Christian home. Radiohead has been around since before I was born. The Bends came out in 1995.)

I love Radiohead. I cannot deny that. I'm still listening to a few more of their songs which I've come to love recently, like Bulletproof...I Wish I Was, The Bends, Street Spirit (Fade Out), and some others. I ordered a Radiohead T-Shirt which looks like this:

(This comes from their song Nude off their album In Rainbows. That's a good album as well) I'm pretty excited about getting to wear it. In the mean time, I'm hoping I know enough of their songs to even consider myself a real fan of theirs. I have this weird belief about how I should go about with the amount of songs I like by a band to really consider them a favorite or consider myself a fan. I just don't want to waste my time or money either. 

I'm expecting a Fleet Foxes T-Shirt as well...At the rate I'm going, I am a huge fan of them.

Somewhere Over The Rainbow

As everyone knows, this song is most commonly known for being in the movie The Wizard of Oz, most famously sung by Judy Garland. I have heard many versions, many renditions of the song and it is still so very beautiful. I'm surprised that I've managed not to get so easily tired of it. I love too many versions of the song. All in all, I hold this song close to my sentimental heart.

I have had more than one memory with this song. Of course when I first saw The Wizard of Oz, I was fully aware on how great of a classic song it was and what not. If I didn't have these memories with it though, I would probably consider this song a little too mainstream for my tastes. (Then again, I like mainstream songs too.)

I can't remember which memory came first. But I'm just going to tell the ones that have recently been flashing through my mind.

I remember in 2010 when I took my first trip out of the country. I went to Australia. At the time, I was dealing with a death in my family, and I was a bit depressed. I tried to keep the depression to myself though through out the trip. I was with a group of kids so I knew no one. During the first few days of the trip, we were in Sydney, Australia. We were taken to shopping malls and market places. Those were the most interesting parts of the trip I believe. I mean, sure we went to see the Opera House and a bunch of other things there in Australia but I probably favored the market places most because I saw more culture there.

In one of the shopping malls, I was just starting to make a few new friends. We had to go in groups so I was with a few people. We went from store to store, looking at all the clothes, the souvenirs, trinkets, and much more. Very beautiful and some cutsie things. Some very elegant. I can't describe to you everything I saw. But I remember walking through a clothes store...and hearing Israel Kamakawiwo'ole's (that was quite a name to spell) version in the store. I thought..it was completely sweet. It made me feel much better for the rest of that day. Made me feel like I was not alone for once. And that I and my family were going to be okay. Even though my family and I were thousands of miles apart. 

Another memory I believe was after I had gotten home from Australia. I was so glad to be home. with my parents and being able to see my friends. I was in such a good mood long after I got home. One thing that threw me off was that I was so used to the weather in Australia (our Summer time is their Winter time, so it was Winter when I was in Australia.) I would always have to take a jacket with me to wear. I was about to go out for a walk one day and I almost looked stupid taking my jacket with me in the hot sun. I remembered I was back in America and I laughed at myself for what I had done. I went back inside and threw my jacket somewhere and left for my walk.

On that walk...I was enjoying the fact that I was home. I was overjoyed. The sun was shining on me. The wind was in my hair. I was laughing at every car that flew past me. I was overcome with the most immense joy and love for the world that I was finally smiling. I was home. I felt invincible. Nothing could keep me from this happiness.

While I was walking up to where my father works (where I work now) The Innocence Mission's version came on my iPod. I felt beautiful. I felt so happy. A deep, deep joy filled my heart. I was in love with love. 

That day was May 16th. Two years ago today. 

I will always remember that as one of the happiest days of my life.

"If happy little bluebirds fly, beyond the rainbow, why, oh why can't I?"

Three Artists, One Song

Okay, apologies for not posting anything in a long while. I get busy or I get writer's block or I just don't feel like writing. Lately it has been watching Futurama online, working, sleeping, taking walks and possibly trolling people (I have no life). ANYWHO...

I recently came across a song...I was looking for pictures of Mark Foster from Foster The People. I came across a song I had not heard and got curious. It also happened to feature Kimbra who is also known for being in Gotye's "Somebody That I Used To Know." I might blog about that song another time.

In any case, I checked out the song...and thought it was pretty awesome.



From this, I learned what the deal was, it having three artists and such. It was for Converse. "Three Artists, One Song."


Now, without realizing it, I was checking out Gorillaz the other day and came across ANOTHER "Three Artists, One Song" song. Just as awesome as well.



And of course...I just had to check out the website. and I heard this one...



I've never listened to Kid Cudi or Best Coast so this was new to me. But it has Rostam Batmanglij from Vampire Weekend. I didn't know that until after the song though. So I thought that was pretty cool.

So, let's just say, I've been listening to these three songs as if they were water to me in a hot, hot, desert. Each one having something unique to offer. I have yet to listen to anymore songs from the whole "Three Artists, One Song" deal but I've fallen in love with what I've found now.

Forgive me this isn't much of a blog, but I had to share my findings. Evidently I think one of them has been out for a while now but it's new to me. Enjoy!

I'll See You In My Dreams

So it's been a little while since I've posted anything. I apologize for my lack of creativity. I've recently gotten a new job which I have worked hard at becoming dedicated to and I enjoy it so much, it's been a distraction from other things. A lot has been going on in my personal life. I won't get into that. But I will say there have been moments where music came waltzing into my life like a breath of fresh air. The moments I needed it most. One song in particular I've constantly enjoyed but never got around to looking up just came to me this morning. and this is what it is... Lately, another way I've been getting my mind off things, has been becoming strangely interested in Woody Allen films. One of which I've known about for quite awhile because of my favorite band Copeland, writing a song based off one of the characters in the movie. The movie is called Stardust Memories. There's a particular scene I think about often where the main character, Sandy Bates, (a film director and comedian, played by Woody Allen himself) has just finished a business meeting in his apartment and while he deals with the frustrations of the world, he puts on Django Reinhardt and wonders off into deep contemplation. "What are you thinking about when you look out there?" you hear a woman's voice say. and he goes on to talk about how he wonders if all the suffering is worth it or not. That particular scene reminds me of the Spring. It's become Spring here. and sometimes I wonder those things to. If life is all that it's supposed to be. Today I was sitting in my car on my way home and thinking about this argument I often have with myself and God. Is there any such thing as contentment? Will I ever be truly happy? We say things like, "If only I had this..." or "If only I had that..." we get those things and in the end, we are never happy with what we get. And I wonder if any of that thinking is worth it. I wonder if there is any point in trying to be happy. Sometimes I'm not. and sometimes I get to the point, I would jump for joy when it seems like there is nothing there to be joyful about. I think what doesn't exist is NOT contentment but satisfaction. This has not been the personal issues that I've been dealing with but just something I've always thought about and wondered about. I'm still thinking about it these days. But songs like these...and of course, many others, bring me much comfort and remind me, I'm not the only one who doubts. I'm not the only one who has a troubled mind. I'm going to watch some more Woody Allen. If anyone who has seen his films, feel free to recommend some to me. So far I've seen Midnight in Paris and of course, Stardust Memories. :)

Down, Set, Go!

Okay...so while it's been awhile since I've listened to heavy metal/screamo, the like and whatnot, I have suddenly come to have a craving for it. I haven't listened to heavy stuff since I was like 15. I used to be an avid fan of bands like Underoath, Showbread, Emery...probably some others I'm forgetting. Here's some Underoath.



While this is probably not very hipstery, I do enjoy it. I am not really by definition a hipster. But I do listen to a large quantity of musc that most people, especially in this area, have never heard of.

ANYWHO

This song...I somehow became obsessed with for a line in it that I simply adored for it's truth.
"Let's forget all pretense of what they thought we should be; what liars we can be."

I took a fond interest in Underoath, all by accident. My parents first heard them and thought them to be maniacs who couldn't sing and you couldn't understand the words. I never did either but somehow, I became attracted to the sound. It grew on me. First song by them I came to love was "It's Dangerous Business Walking Out Your Front Door." I could obviously see it was a Lord of the Rings quote. But very clever I thought. and it was partly because of Underoath...that I began to write poetry. Probably not the best poetry in the world but it was poetry. Like them, I thought I could come up with random titles for my poems and think it was "creative." I cannot recall the poem itself (I still have it somewhere in my files, I'm just too stubborn to look it up) called "There are dead people in the graveyard." For some stupid reason, I found this to be a unique title and called myself a writer. I have since then stepped up a notch (not as far as you would think of a writer) but I'm not as stupid as I once was. Still am, just not as much.

I grew to love more and more of their songs and eventually, bought several of their albums. Two of their albums I have come to love and love almost every once of the songs on those two albums. (They're Only Chasing Safety) and Define the Great Line.

Now where I've not listened to them since I was 15 (rarely do I listen to them anymore) It's been interesting to hear the news of what all has happened to them, such as when Aaron Gillespie left the band to continue with his own band The Almost. As much as The Almsot is a good band and all, I was disappointed to hear he left and never really listened to them after that. The Almost is okay now but too naive for me. If you don't get what I mean by that, well then, don't get me started. I've gone to church long enough to know how really stupid most Christians can get. I love Aaron Gillespie. I think he's hot and all. Great voice and drumming skills. But he's gotten too Christian for my tastes.

I still love their old songs and I love The Almost's Southern Weather album. Other than that, I've not listened to any of their new stuff. It is just nice to go back and listen to some old music I was once a hardcore fan of.

Here Comes Your Man

With the talk about tornados and everyone freaking out about their lives and such, I've been enjoying everything I've seen. I know I'm the oddball in the large quantity of people in my area but I have my reasons for why I enjoy this kind of weather. While everyone is scared...I've become quite excited. It's dangerous. and I like it. and it reminds me of a story of a song about earthquakes.



I first heard this song in 500 Days of Summer. Tom Hansen sings it at a karaoke bar in the movie. I adored his rendition and of course had to check out the original version for myself. I can't recall if i liked the Pixies version at first or not but I do love it now. the one I first heard was Meaghan Smith's rendition of it. Soft, sweet, cute. but noting like the Pixies.

I later on became kind of fascinated by the lyrics of the song and decided to check out a little bit of it's background. Of course, like any noob of the internet, I went to wikipedia to see what it had to say. It may or may not be a true story but from what it says, it reminds me of my current situation with this tornado.

Black Francis, frontman of The Pixies and writer of the song itself, says this in an interview about the song.
"I've been through a few earthquakes, actually, 'cause I grew up in California. I was only in one big one, in 1971. I was very young and I slept through it. I've been awake through lots of small ones at school and at home. It's very exciting actually—a very comical thing. It's like the earth is shaking, and what can you do? Nothing."

So there you have it. One piece of trivia I like so well from music. And while earthquakes and tornados differ in many ways they have one thing in common; they are dangerous. So..enjoy the tornado. :)