10 Years Ago Today

Today while browsing Reddit, I came across a little something I needed to be reminded of.

10 years ago today, George Harrison died.

I remember that day too. I remember waking up at the foot of my parents bed (my room was in the making, for we had just moved) and the television was on. It was all over the news. My parents being the big Beatles fans they are, had to television set to watch what all they had to say about the late George Harrison.

At the time, he wasn't my favorite Beatle. At the time, I didn't even know all their names. I know them now...I love them always, and George has slowly become my favorite out of the Fab Four.

I guess the reason why I love George the most is because he was quiet, and said what he needed to say at the right time. The Quiet Beatle. He was dedicated to his religion, his wife and family, and his music. Perhaps he wasn't the best musician on his own but he was part of what made The Beatles, The Beatles. Without him, there wouldn't have been The Beatles. And the same goes for John. and Paul. and Ringo. They all filled in their time with The Beatles and made music history. I don't think we would have a lot of the bands and artists that we have today if it were not for the influence of The Beatles. I am forever indebted to The Beatles, and the four individuals that made it. Here's to George.

Patterns by Stacy Clark

While everyone has been at home and out and about preparing for what was Thanksgiving and now for Christmas, individuals around the world have been anticipating other things. For Indie artist, Stacy Clark, it was her third official album Patterns. Patterns came out November 22, from record label One Small Instrument Records.

From what I have heard of Clark in the past, I have loved what I have heard. The very first song I heard by her was "Empty Bottles" (featuring Aaron Marsh) on her second album, Apples & Oranges. With her new album, I was left completely awestruck. In every song, her voice is angelic in many different ways. My particular favorites were "Lose My Mind" and "Decimals and Music Notes." One thing that I found surprising was how short the album is. Still very good, all in all. One thing I cannot help when listening to this album, is how much it reminds me of State's Line 'Em Up EP. I cannot figure out why they remind me of each other but they do. I've read elsewhere where she is related most to musicians like Björk, Death Cab For Cutie, and Regina Spektor. She has an ingenius and harmonious sound.

In any case, if you are looking for some new music, I most definitely recommend this album. And of course, check out her past albums and EPs. Each and every song carries with it a new surprise with Clark's evolving voice. I believe this is what many people need to listen to, to truly appreciate many kinds of music. I think Stacy Clark has done a good job at showing off her musical skills. Keep up the good work and continue writing new and creative music. Everyone, go give her a listen!

Check her out here:

www.facebook.com/stacyclarkmusic

www.twitter.com/stacyclark

www.youtube.com/stacyclarkmusic

www.myspace.com/stacyclark

There Goes The Fear Again

Here's another one of those hopeful songs. Whether what I'm feeling now is a false hope or genuine or not, I will never be too sure of until sometime in the future. I want this to be a good hope. The best kind of hope there can be.

I first heard this song from the movie 500 Days of Summer. The scene where Summer and Tom are running and fooling around through Ikea is where I first heard this beautiful song. I had heard of Doves before however. From a different soundtrack. but from a book. that's for another time though.

I thought this song was always very bright and cheerful. As if, it is actually okay to go out and have fun and be random. It reassures me I can be a child anytime I like. Not immature...childlike. Having fun. I don't think adults even try to have fun anymore. Or in any case, they don't see how doing something they've never done before can be fun. Doing something they think would be embarrassing. Adults sicken me sometimes, with their high morals and strict rules.

In any case, one thing i've always wanted to do...but I know would probably be illegal and probably be dangerous...is at night, on the high way, stick half my body out the window while blasting this song. Reaching my hands to the blasting, cold winds and feeling my hair flap in the wind...it seems to me it would be the best feeling in the world. I'm going to one day. The only reason why I haven't is because I want people to know my plan before I do it.

This had been a secret for years. The first person I told was my dad. and it was only the other night.

Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring

I remember vaguely receiving two burnt CDs from my uncle in Texas. One was of a variety of music composed of different artists called Waldo. the other...Apollo 100. Both at the time...struck me inside. There is a deep, deep chasm in me...that I hide most of the time. and I'm beginning to think that the deepest of my hopes and the deepest of my joys lie there.

I certainly do believe there is a large difference between "Happiness" and "Joy." One only last for a few minutes. The other...lasts a forever.

Happiness is the moment you hear a good joke and laugh. When you're told good news. Everything seems fine right then and there. But then things crash down. I fear that most. I think everyone does.

Joy...can't be described sometimes. Joy is different though. Very, very different. It hits you. But only from time to time. From what I have read of Surprised By Joy by C. S. Lewis, he talks about how suddenly he feels a "rush" or "surge" of something good. He doesn't know what but he laters figures out...it's Joy. Sometimes nothing good or bad will be happening, and Joy can hit you. I don't think Joy leaves us. It's somewhere in us, all the time.

When I listen to this song, I get somewhat a surge of this "joy." Sometimes I feel romantic or think romantic thoughts to this song but really...I think it's joy that I feel. I'm thinking about that moment that I've been waiting for when I will have, not just great happiness, but joy eternally. It's odd really. To describe to you what this "joy" is. But, like love, I think you know it when you feel it. It's there though. I know it is.

Books & My Poor Reading Habits.

Okay...I need some opinions.

did anyone read my blog about books and reading and such? (Day 3 I believe. Go read it) Does anyone remember that quote I shared by C. S. Lewis about reading an old book before I start a new one? I've been thinking about it...and I'm not sure if he was talking about a book I had read before or just an older book that was written a lot earlier than books like Twilight (bleh DX) and things like that.

I have a long list of books to read. and I really, really, really want to get out of my bad habit of picking up a book, starting the first page, setting down the book, and not read it again until a very long time. but I still want to go by Lewis' rule. I'm just not sure where to start.

Here's some books, I have NOT read, yet I want to read:

Surprised By Joy (C. S. Lewis) (1955)

The Hobbit (J. R. R. Tolkien) (1937)

Here are some books I've considered to read again, but don't have any interest in reading right now:

Till We Have Faces (C. S. Lewis) (1956)

A Greif Observed (C. S. Lewis) (1961)

The Princess and The Goblin (George MacDonald) (1872)

The Princess and Curdie (George MacDonald (1883)

The Great Divorce (C. S. Lewis) (1945)

The Orphaned Anything's (Stephen Christian) (2008) (Couldn't read this one if I wanted because I let someone borrow it and they have not returned it.) :( I want my book back.

Books I've started and I need to finish. (The ones I really want to read and haven't yet are in this list as well.)

Surprised By Joy (C. S. Lewis) (1955)

The Hobbit (J. R. R. Tolkien) (1937)

Catching Fire (Suzanne Collins) (2009)

Guardians of Ga'Hoole: The Capture (Kathryn Lasky) (2003)

At The Back of The North Wind (George MacDonald) (1871)

Phantastes (George MacDonald) (1858) (this one I am almost done with. But I think I'd need to restart it to refresh my memory.)

The Light Princess & Other Fantasy Stories (George MacDonald) (1864) (probably some other years because it has a series of other stories in it. At least the book I have does)

In any case, please let me know your opinions, whether it be through a Facebook message or comment or here in the blog comments. Please, do let me know. It would help out A LOT.

All Right

It's a cold, rainy day. I just got finished snacking on some toast and drinking tea. I took a shower once I woke up and am not somewhat cold but the tea has been warming me. Which makes this even more pleasant.

Once I got online, I had IMs from both my friend Brittany and my dad. My dad shared with me a movie clip I had not seen in a long time. From the movie called, Bright Star. It's about a poet whose name was John Keats. He shares a romance with a girl. I forget how the story goes but...I'm planning to find it again and watch it. It was a sad film. But I like sad films. Even with what seems like bad endings.

That thought takes me back to the first moment I realized that films could even have bad endings. I was young, I thought that all films had happy endings. I remember one day, sitting with my mother while she watched a film about a queen and the queen's romance with a bodyguard of hers. I forget the name of the movie, but I remember how it ended. The bodyguard had died to save her life. I looked at my mother in disbelief and asked, "He died?" "Yup," my mother responded, "Sometimes there aren't any happy endings." I thought long and hard about it afterwards. It struck me odd that things like that even happened. I know now...they do. But then I was very young. I'm still thinking to this very day.

As for Bright Star...I came across another fan made youtube video of some clips from it. and I song I actually know. and find quite fitting to this wet day.

In one of my previous blogs, I have mentioned a band called Sigur Rós. They are an Icelandic band who made up their own language for their music. It all sounds like "gibberish" (as Aaron Marsh states in an interview) but the music is far beyond belief. It's like magic. I have always found this song to be quite comforting.

I watched once a documentary of the band on youtube. It talked about the band, the music, the language, the fans, the people...and the land. Oh, so many clips were shown of Iceland. and I saw how cold it looked. and I saw the contentment on the people's faces. They were home. It was cold, it was wet, but it's their home and they are happy with it. Nothing more. That is what makes a country beautiful to me. and one day, I want to go to Iceland.

Sigur Rós is not the first band I've come across from Iceland. Múm and Björk are two others. I have yet to find many more if there are any. But I find Icelandic music to be very creative, even if some of the songs are long going. They hold beauty in their hands when they pick up an instrument.

Head of the Hawk

Up and down, up and down. My dad reminds me that life is like a roller coaster. But to enjoy it while it all lasts.

I remember watching this video and thinking, "HIPSTERS," and then realizing, "wait..."

But honestly, I'm kind of jealous of these teens, young adults, whatever age group they lie in (I sure hope they're not senior citizens.) They're having fun. They're being ridiculous. They're doing something that is mostly looked down upon by adults. They're saying YES to life. (<-- I think I got this from Yes Man. Love that movie.)

I fell in love with the song (ironically, yes) only a few weeks ago. I heard it from this video. It made me think of hopeful things. Like things were getting better and better and better.

Although sometimes I hesitate to listen to hopeful songs. Especially when I think things are starting to get shitty. I think that's bull crap on my part. Because I deserve to listen to happy songs when I get them in my head, even if they do give me a false feeling. I still struggle listening to other songs as well because I feel that way still. and sometimes....it's true.

In any case, more hipster bands coming your way. :D