I'm in a music state of mind. From time to time, I'll get a bee in my bonnet about finding new music. The only way I know how is to go to NPR's All Songs Considered and pitchfork.com and listen to snippets of music, see if I like anything, and then type them into itunes to see the genius recommendations (if you like this, you should like this).
I've assembled a bunch of songs today. They're not upbeat. In fact, they're kind of down in the dumps but with a little bit of optimism. Not sure if that reflects any sort of mood that I'm in. I certainly feel fine and happy and positive. But sometimes the music I listen to is more telling.
Right now:
(1) Antony and the Johnsons, Fistful of Love: The lyrics of this song are intense. It's about domestic violence. The singer likes to think that the "fistfuls of love" that he gets from time to time don't compare to the actual love that he gets most of the time from the person he loves. This song is dramatic, sad, optimistic, all at the same time. I love it.
(2) Antony and the Johnsons, For Today I am a Boy: Well, unsurprisingly, one Antony & the Johnsons song led me to another song. This song is beautiful, with weird lyrics (gender-ambiguous lyrics). But there is, to my ear, at least, something church-like about this song. The piano accompaniment is intense, and sometimes the voice is intense, amplified with repetitive, insistent, pressing chords. I'm not sure I love this song, but I like the intensity of this song.
(3) Beirut, Scenic World: This song has some nice instrumental accompaniment, which makes the song seem loud and chaotic, which I kind of like. But the singer has a morose tone to his singing, which is an odd, but sastisfying, juxtaposition. I love the lines, "When I feel alive/ I try to imagine a careless life/ A scenic world where the sunsets are all/ Breathtaking." I don't know what to make of these lines. Are these lines imagining a life less ordinary? Is life itself less ordinary (you dream of breathtaking sunsets that you don't actually view because you are fast asleep, waiting (not impatiently, but helplessly) for your alarm clock to go off to rouse you off to the day job that runs into night, when it's dark?). I don't want that to be the case. The chaos of the background stands in contrast to some of the lyrics.
(4) Norah Jones, Tell Yer Mama: I can't find a quick, legitimate link for this song, so good luck. I like this song because I heard Norah Jones sing it way back in the day at a sudden and imprompto performance. The Shakster, Sierra Leone Belle and I had no idea we were in for a Norah Jones late-night treat. This song isn't typical Norah Jones, which is, at least a lot of the time, just background music. Like when you're cooking and you want someone else in the apartment with you. This song has a beat. It has rhythm. Most importantly, there is something seductive about this song. You can imagine caressing a loved one's cheek and her, "Tell your folks thank you, for making you."
On that note, good night!
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Weddings
I went to a wedding in Baltimore this past weekend. A close college friend's sister was getting married - I have known her since she was 14. How time flies - she's no 25.
I like weddings. I know, I'm probably in the minority here, for most people find weddings to be tedious, boring, ostentatious. And sometimes weddings can be those things. But at their emotional best, weddings are superb. I love watching people I love celebrate the good things in their lives.
I won't lie. I felt really soft and mushy and gooey inside when the couple exchanged their wedding vows, which they had written themselves. And when the proud father danced with his daughter (trying to stifle the tears, while she cried openly). And when the proud mother danced with her son (openly crying, while he stoically tried to remain poised). I love these things: I love inter-generational love. I love when two people fall in love. I love when people are happy. These are the things life is made up of, in my view.
I'm back in New York. I cleaned my apartment. I cooked today (tasty food, but I don't think I' cooked the chicken well enough, I've already had a run to the bathroom, oh I've changed the mood of this post and have abruptly disgusted you, correct)? Oh, I'll do that to you from time to time. Mixing the high with the low, so to speak, very postmodern of me.
I met an old friend today for a quiet drink. Actually, friend and I had had a falling out back the day, seven months ago, about something that seems trivial now, but then, understandably - and reasonably, actually - meant a lot more. But now I understand what friend was going through at the time. Sometimes you need context to make sense of the past.
I've never been one of those let go of the past people. The past is the friendship, as I'm sure you've all read on a thousand other blogs (and books, and witnessed on TV sitcoms, and seen in movies, and heard in songs galore). But whatever. I don't care how often truths circulate elsewhere. Sometimes, I like to reiterate them on this here blog .
I like weddings. I know, I'm probably in the minority here, for most people find weddings to be tedious, boring, ostentatious. And sometimes weddings can be those things. But at their emotional best, weddings are superb. I love watching people I love celebrate the good things in their lives.
I won't lie. I felt really soft and mushy and gooey inside when the couple exchanged their wedding vows, which they had written themselves. And when the proud father danced with his daughter (trying to stifle the tears, while she cried openly). And when the proud mother danced with her son (openly crying, while he stoically tried to remain poised). I love these things: I love inter-generational love. I love when two people fall in love. I love when people are happy. These are the things life is made up of, in my view.
I'm back in New York. I cleaned my apartment. I cooked today (tasty food, but I don't think I' cooked the chicken well enough, I've already had a run to the bathroom, oh I've changed the mood of this post and have abruptly disgusted you, correct)? Oh, I'll do that to you from time to time. Mixing the high with the low, so to speak, very postmodern of me.
I met an old friend today for a quiet drink. Actually, friend and I had had a falling out back the day, seven months ago, about something that seems trivial now, but then, understandably - and reasonably, actually - meant a lot more. But now I understand what friend was going through at the time. Sometimes you need context to make sense of the past.
I've never been one of those let go of the past people. The past is the friendship, as I'm sure you've all read on a thousand other blogs (and books, and witnessed on TV sitcoms, and seen in movies, and heard in songs galore). But whatever. I don't care how often truths circulate elsewhere. Sometimes, I like to reiterate them on this here blog .
Movies
I'm trying to watch some of the Oscar movies for no particular reason except that I feel as though 2009 passed me by cinematically, so I'm making up for some lost time. Last weekend, I watched "A Single Man" with my siblings.
I liked the movie. Actually, it reminded me of one of my favourite movies, The Hours, which I really enjoyed. As you know, I'm not good with avoiding spoilers, so if you want to watch the movie and you're worried I'm going to give something away, well, your worry is warranted. Anyway, as I was saying, I liked the movie not so much for the ploot or the content but for the mood that it created. And perhaps that is the point of "time-sensitive" movies like The Hours, which takes place over the course of hours, or A Single Man, which takes place over the course of a day. And, of course, The Hours was based on Virginia Woolf's Mrs Dalloway, which likewise took place over the course of a day. In each of these movies, special things happen on that day (various things in The Hours, some of which I recall not now, oh old age, A Single Man is about a gay man reminiscing over the death of his partner, and his anticipation of what he thinks the rest of his life will be like, and Mrs Dalloway is centered around Mrs Dalloway planning for a party that she is having).
I think Colin Firth and Julianne Moore did excellent jobs. I've heard criticisms in reviews that this movie is too "picture perfect," the criticisms being leveled at the director Tom Ford, who I believe was the creative director/ photographer or something for Gucci. And it's true - the scenes of the movie are set beautifully, with the characters perfectly dressed for whatever role they're playing at the time (Colin Firth is a handsome, middle-aged professor who always dresses professorially, Julianne Moore is a lonely socialite who dresses up for dinner, hair and everything, young male prostitutes wear James Dean types of clothes, and smoke cigarettes, and lean against cars, and have the sunlight shine in their faces, etc and etc). But that's OK because I think part of the purpose of the book is to notice the details around you, and to enjoy those details.
I also like the line where Colin Firth says that life never goes exactly as planned. Which I know is not a big revelation, and actually is quite along the lines of many cliches (such as, Life is what happened to you while you were busy making other plans) but there's that element of truth to it that I enjoyed.
I very much enjoyed the soundtrack to A Single Man - a lot of instrumental music that helps create a mood. Actually, much -- to my ears, at least -- like the soundtrack to The Hours by Philip Glass. Definitely worth a listen.
I liked the movie. Actually, it reminded me of one of my favourite movies, The Hours, which I really enjoyed. As you know, I'm not good with avoiding spoilers, so if you want to watch the movie and you're worried I'm going to give something away, well, your worry is warranted. Anyway, as I was saying, I liked the movie not so much for the ploot or the content but for the mood that it created. And perhaps that is the point of "time-sensitive" movies like The Hours, which takes place over the course of hours, or A Single Man, which takes place over the course of a day. And, of course, The Hours was based on Virginia Woolf's Mrs Dalloway, which likewise took place over the course of a day. In each of these movies, special things happen on that day (various things in The Hours, some of which I recall not now, oh old age, A Single Man is about a gay man reminiscing over the death of his partner, and his anticipation of what he thinks the rest of his life will be like, and Mrs Dalloway is centered around Mrs Dalloway planning for a party that she is having).
I think Colin Firth and Julianne Moore did excellent jobs. I've heard criticisms in reviews that this movie is too "picture perfect," the criticisms being leveled at the director Tom Ford, who I believe was the creative director/ photographer or something for Gucci. And it's true - the scenes of the movie are set beautifully, with the characters perfectly dressed for whatever role they're playing at the time (Colin Firth is a handsome, middle-aged professor who always dresses professorially, Julianne Moore is a lonely socialite who dresses up for dinner, hair and everything, young male prostitutes wear James Dean types of clothes, and smoke cigarettes, and lean against cars, and have the sunlight shine in their faces, etc and etc). But that's OK because I think part of the purpose of the book is to notice the details around you, and to enjoy those details.
I also like the line where Colin Firth says that life never goes exactly as planned. Which I know is not a big revelation, and actually is quite along the lines of many cliches (such as, Life is what happened to you while you were busy making other plans) but there's that element of truth to it that I enjoyed.
I very much enjoyed the soundtrack to A Single Man - a lot of instrumental music that helps create a mood. Actually, much -- to my ears, at least -- like the soundtrack to The Hours by Philip Glass. Definitely worth a listen.
Friday, February 12, 2010
OK OK OK
I haven't blogged in ages. You're fed up with this blog. You're fed up with me.
I'm pretty fed up, too.
I don't know what's been going on, but for the past couple of days I've been in a funk. Perhaps it is because the long and fun vacation in India and Sri Lanka is over. Perhaps it's because there is snow everywhere and it's really cold, and I'm getting tired of the cold, and I am SAD (Seasonal [W]hatever Disorder). Maybe I'm trying to find an apartment to buy and it's really difficult to accept that my $ -- hard-earned as I feel it is -- really doesn't stretch that far for buying very much in New York!
In any event, I've stayed away from venting online because who really needs to read raves and rants. That's so tween. I don't do that!
But now I'm back. Because it's time for some rebounding. I read The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin, which is about putting into place little changes that are practical but could have a meaningful impact on your happiness quotient. The book is decent -- I like the idea of being a treasure house of memories for your family and friends (remembering birthdays, taking photographs, writing emails, planning holidays). I never was good about such things in the past -- and I can already find myself forgetting things that I would rather remember. Some of the ideas are simpler: make up your bed every morning (I agree, I love coming home in the evening and seeing a clean and organized - sure sign that I am getting older). In any event, good book, read it.
I also watched Seasons 1 and 2 of Mad Men. Everyone loves this show. I'm not sure if I love it. I find it slow-moving and I actually watched it in a marathon-style way (is there any other way to watch things?), episode after episode. The men treat the women horribly. I find myself cringing sometimes watching the show. But there is one character who seems to be fighting the good fight and fending for herself - Peggy Olson. I want to be like her when I grow old.
I'm pretty fed up, too.
I don't know what's been going on, but for the past couple of days I've been in a funk. Perhaps it is because the long and fun vacation in India and Sri Lanka is over. Perhaps it's because there is snow everywhere and it's really cold, and I'm getting tired of the cold, and I am SAD (Seasonal [W]hatever Disorder). Maybe I'm trying to find an apartment to buy and it's really difficult to accept that my $ -- hard-earned as I feel it is -- really doesn't stretch that far for buying very much in New York!
In any event, I've stayed away from venting online because who really needs to read raves and rants. That's so tween. I don't do that!
But now I'm back. Because it's time for some rebounding. I read The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin, which is about putting into place little changes that are practical but could have a meaningful impact on your happiness quotient. The book is decent -- I like the idea of being a treasure house of memories for your family and friends (remembering birthdays, taking photographs, writing emails, planning holidays). I never was good about such things in the past -- and I can already find myself forgetting things that I would rather remember. Some of the ideas are simpler: make up your bed every morning (I agree, I love coming home in the evening and seeing a clean and organized - sure sign that I am getting older). In any event, good book, read it.
I also watched Seasons 1 and 2 of Mad Men. Everyone loves this show. I'm not sure if I love it. I find it slow-moving and I actually watched it in a marathon-style way (is there any other way to watch things?), episode after episode. The men treat the women horribly. I find myself cringing sometimes watching the show. But there is one character who seems to be fighting the good fight and fending for herself - Peggy Olson. I want to be like her when I grow old.
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