band-aids and poetry

                                                                                                 08.March 2014

Have you ever watched "Music and Lyrics"? It's actually one of my favorite romcoms. mostly  because of the 80s music video at the start.




Anyways, in this movie they discuss how music and lyrics make up a song together and which is the most important. Of course the answer is none. They are equally necsessery to build a good hit song.

But I personally value lyrics the most.
Of course the music has to be there when I want to dance or just, you know, bang my head.
And the music is important for the presentation of the lyrics and can both empesize or ruin the message of the song. And sometimes I fall in love with a song purely because of the beautiful music.

But I have discovered that if the performance of the text is good enough, you don't need the music for it to be captivating. And I surprise myself by listening to this poem on repeat as if it were a song.
I didn't even know that I cared for poetry, but then I remember that lyrics are just that.

The bling method

                                                                                                                               14. december 2013

Some years ago a classmate spotted my lunchbox. The one shaped like Hello Kitty's head.
this one:

 There I was, 20-something years old with a Hello Kitty-lunchbox, a pen featuring Little My and stockings with colorful ornaments.
My classmate proclaimed loudly that there were two methods for dealing with reality and it's grayness and blahness. The first one included ignoring it and otherwise trying to escape. The second one he called the Bling Method. This method works by surrounding yourself with lovely objects to cheer you up and make things seem lighter. And I was apparently nailing this method.

I think he ment it to be a humorous comment as well as a compliment on my lunchbox (he is that type), but it really stuck to me. And I think he was right. I think there are more than two ways of dealing with life, but I definitly think the Bling Method is one of them. And I seriously think I'm nailing it.

When I choose bling to work my magic, however, it can't just be any lovely object. It has to bear some meaning. Like the ring my mother gave me when I was younger. She said it was a magic ring and if I wore it I wouldn't be so scared when I tryed to ride the bike. And it worked! (I was really slow at learning to ride it, 'cause I was so scared of falling) I still keep that ring. And to really work, it has to be things like that.

Some people read bibleverses, I carry stuff with me.
(I don't really use that ring anymore, it does no longer fit my finger, but it's a good example for explaining what kind of stuff I use as talismans, if you wanna call it that.)

Also. When I'm stressed I make rituals for myself. So that when I feel like I'm loosing control I can pretend I'm in control by making tea in my tea-dedicated cup, and sit at my tea-dedicated sitting place and drink tea the way tea is supposed to be drunk.

Lately I've been kind of tense. And things have been feeling out of my control. And sometimes when old rituals wont do the trick you have to make new ones. And even though I have a cup dedicated for feel-better-and-in-control-tea, I didn't have one for This-too-shall-pass-coffee.
But
I did.
On my shelf there was a cup I got as a present many years ago. I used to keep spare change in it because I was afraid it would break if I put it in our overloaded cupboard. It has "number 1" written on it and is bought at a well renowned ceramic studio in Finland. My friend gave it to me and said I could choose what I wanted to be number 1 of.

Gifts are the perfect talismans because they carry with them the care of the giver. My friend found this cup and thought of me. And I know that when I hold the cup.

And I hope my friends know this and know how much they matter.

I want you to know that when I feel down I wear that cool Legend of Zelda braclet I got for christmas that year.
I want you to know that when I'm nervous I wear my sweet Night Fury you got costum made for me.
I want you to know that I still keep that colorful beaded braclet you made for my birthday when we were 13 years old.
I want you to know that the toy tiger we bought together with your toy unicorn still sits on my bed every night.
I want you to know that when I'm feeling defeated I escape into a book, using the dragonfly bookmark you stitched for me.
I want you to know that it warms my heart every time I light tealights in the green tealight holders you bought for me as a thank you when you were young and scared.


For I am the number 1 bling magician.




 and speaking of such.
Here's a song by Placebo.

Setting fire to our insides for fun

Sometimes (or actually most times) I write elaborate blogposts and then at last minute it feels wrong to post them.
I wrote three during this winter/spring without daring posting them, but for some reason it feels ok now, when some time has passed.
I don't know what I'm scared of, but that's just how it is.
But I am trying to clean up this mess that is me, and I will post those blogs.

I am going away on holiday for four weeks. (madness. four whole weeks. I'll be dead tired when I return.)
So I thought I would schedule said posts to appear on the sundays when I'm away.
When I return I promise to write (and publish!) a post about southern Germany and my adventures there. (we'll be taking a quick quick stop in France too, I'm really quite extatic about that part.)

I'm also working on a post about my absolute favourite cities around the world, inspired by my trip to Turku this spring, but it's not finished yet.


Oh, and here are some wonderful music. Daughter really makes the most beautiful music I know of right now. I love the lyrics. And I love how the sound builds up with the guitars and the drums. It's so simple and yet so massive. (and yes, it's the one from the Widerø-commercial).

I move slow and steady, but I feel like a waterfall

So I was gonna write a blog about how I'm getting one year older and that time runs too fast and that it's scary to look for jobs. (which I think I do every July)

and now I have.

They are complicated feelings that I'm unable to elaborate without sounding whiny. So instead I embed a song I love atm.

Little Talks by Of Monsters And Men are being used everywhere and Mountain sounds are on the radio so their songs were constantly stuck in my head to the degree that I had to listen to them. And now I'm in love with their album, My Head Is An Animal.

And this song, Slow and Steady, feels so right these days.

Theatre is Evil

For over a year ago I mentioned Amanda Palmer's kickstarter in a blogpost. And later I posted how I was waiting for her new album. But I never blogged about the album itself after it came out.

I think the reason why is I don't know where to start and I feel like I have to say something about Amenda Palmer the person too. This is a person that I really admire. There's so much to say about her (biggest girl-crush ever). But I need to tell you that her album rocks so I'll make this post about that.

Theatre is Evil is different from her earlier work, but it's still her. And the whole thing feels so real.
I have already shown you my absolute favorite track (Want It back), but I'll show you some others. This to me is the kind of album where one song jumps up and hooks you completely and the moment you're starting to feel done with that song another song jumps up and do the same. Even now, it's been over a year since I heard the first released song from the album, I'm still stuck on it and have now been swept away by the b-sides.

Here's a really sad and beautiful song. Which I love. And even though Want it Back is my personal favorite, I think this one is her best and most beautiful work.
The Bed Song - by Amanda Palmer and the Grand Theft Orchestra




This is the B-side song I'm currently obsessing over.
From St.Kilda to Fitzroy - by Amanda Palmer and the Grand Theft Orchestra




And I love Melody Dean and Massachusetts Avenue and Olly Olly Oxen Free and and and...
You can get it all here. For whatever price you want (even for free).

And I'll embed a video illustrating how cool Amanda Palmer is. And a link to her blog which really is worth reading.

We can be us

Moulin Rouge is one of my absolute favorite movies.
For multiple reasons.

I've met people who think it's a bad movie because it's "just pop songs". I guess they think it fails as a musical because of that.

I think that's one of the great things about it.
Having been raised on music, and being a apart of the social group that I am (The "I'm SO not a hipster"-group) where 60% of our interactions and entertainment revolves around cultural references; I find this a brilliant movie.
How satisfying to sit and get reference after reference!
And how fascinating to discover the ones you didn't know!
I love that.



Also; I do hold a fascination for cover songs (as long as it's done in a respectful manner, art is supposed to be interpreted and shared). Maybe that's why I enjoy the movie. Besides being a cute love story (/tragedy) in a sparkling wrap-up it works as a tribute to so many good artists.
That's what I think.


I recently watched The Perks of Being a Wallflower.
Partly because I wanted to see Emma Watson as someone else than Hermione (She did good).
Mostly because I've seen the book in the stores and heard people recommend it. I picked it up time after time, but never brought it home. Being caught in the atmosphere of High School through a whole book didn't tempt me, but I can bear it for an hour and 43 minutes (and I don't regret it).




Anyways, my point isn't really the movie itself or ms. Watson. What struck me was how Heroes by David Bowie became such a meaningful song for the characters in the movie and gave me an equally meaningful feeling. It took me back to my discovery of David Bowie when I was young and my daddy would play his concert-DVD and praise Gail Ann Dorsey's beautiful voice (which deserves praise; it really is out of this world. And that version of Under Pressure really is the best one). And it reminded me of how I fell in love with Ewan McGregor during the Elephant Love Medley in Moulin Rouge the first time I watched it.

It's a good feeling, remembering feel-good moments and being reminded of good music.

The fourth Sunday in Advent

For longing, joy, hope and peace.

Himlen i min famn by Carola

The third Sunday in Advent

For longing, hope and joy.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (赤鼻のトナカイ) by Hello! Project

The second Sunday in Advent

For hope and joy.

Walk This Sleigh by Robbie Williams

The first Sunday in Advent

For joy.

Getting Ready For Christmas Day by Paul Simon

I'll be two steps on the water

Some cover songs almost insult their original and some good ones remind me how much I love the original.
I just stumbled over this one and I love it. Hounds of Love is one of my absolute favorite songs by Kate Bush and, even though nobody can surpass Kate Bush when it comes to voice and beautiful sounds, The Futureheads has managed to put this lovely song into my favorite (at least one of my favorite) music genres.

I haven't listened to Hounds of Love for a long time and now I want to listen to both the original and the cover over and over again.








the original:

I spent my life, becoming invisible

Finding Twilight (by Stephenie Meyer) on my reading list for this year's literature class, I suddenly regret having watched the movie and read the comic. I know everything that happens in this story, but I still insist on reading it 'cause I know there are differences, and in case we're gonna discuss language and phrasing in class. I need to know how Meyer wrote the thing not how Catherine Hardwicke directed it or Young Kim drew it.

But reading it takes forever. I'm bored and constantly (and somewhat happily) letting myself get distracted. After trying to read the printed version, I have settled for the audio book. Being able to do crafts while listening stops my mind from trailing off too often...

It came as a surprise too. This American book is not what you expect to must read when you're taking "Modern Scandinavian Literature"... But this includes popular Scandinavian books, and Twilight is a popular book in Scandinavia, just as in the rest of the first world, so...

Oh well, I'll manage. It's a good opportunity to finish my cross stich table runner.

Speaking of worldwide bestsellers...
Here's another song from the Hunger Games Soundtrack, I kept having this on repeat all last week:

and while am at it. music and blogging and stufffff.

SEPTEMBER JUST CAN't COME FAST ENOUGH.
Amanda Palmer's new album is awesome and I want so much to just hold it in my hands. Who can resist beautiful madness like this?:

Gothamist House Presents: Amanda Palmer & The Grand Theft Orchestra, "Lost" from Gothamist on Vimeo.

*continues to impationally wait for the album-release*.

The Games of Death

Which is what you get if you take the title of the Norwegian version of The Hunger Games and translate it back to English.

I haven't read the books, I haven't watched the movie. Maybe I'll watch the movie someday just to know what everyone is screaming about, but I don't think I'll ever read the books. I'm sure they are great, but I sincerely think I'm not in the target group.

HOWEVER.

Some Norwegian paper (was it Aftenposten?) spoke kindly of the movie's soundtrack. And as I was raised to have/born with an open and curious mind towards music; I had to check it out (I mean; the soundtrack to Sucker Punch is absolutely fantastic, so why not?).

It's great. the soundtrack is great.

So to all you other people out there thinking like me ("I'll never get this Hunger Games-hysteria, but I'm glad people are having fun"), or to all you people convinced that this phenomenon doesn't interest you the slightest, I urge you to give the soundtrack album a chance.

i.e this song. One Engine by The Decemberists.

The Hunger Games: Songs From District 12 And Beyond at Spotify

In the Norwegian version of Itsy-Bitsy Spider the spider is climbing up "my hat", not some random water spout...

Muwahahaha.

I've been sulking around trying to find something good to blog about (life's pretty dull these days, nothing interesting to report) and now I have found something I want to rant about. So yes! I'm letting it out on the poor soul who for some reason is reading this.

I like to know what I'm getting into before I might, in example, spend money or at least time on something. So, I love how reviewing stuff is sort of an internet trend. Whatever you're considering; someone out there is reviewing it for you. Great.

BUT
(And this does of course not include everyone, I know of people and got close friends who are excellent reviewers. But they aren't that well represented at amazon, goodread etc.)

When I'm reading a bookreview, I DO NOT want to know what's happening in the book. I do not want to know how it ends. I'll actually read the book itself for that.

I want to know whether or not it's worth my time. Is the writer a good storyteller? Is the text well formulated? Are the characters well developed? Did you like the end (not what happened, just did it surprise you? was it fitting? or was it too abrupt or poorly done?)? How would you compare this book to other works by the same author? Is the voilence/sex/tragedy/jokes/relationships elegantly described? Would you recommend this book to what sort of reader? And do YOU consider it a good book?

Now. Is that so hard?
________________________________________

btw. Amanda Palmer has recorded a new album (yay, hurray, woohoo!!) and I can't wait for it to come! September is usually one of my least favorite months, but now it can't come fast enough.
Since we're talking about one of my biggest idols (perhaps the biggest), I'm sharing the link to her kickstarter here: http://kck.st/GrandTheftKS in hope that some more people out there will support her and her new band. So there.
________________________________________

I should do this more often, right? Just blog what's on top of my mind without judging it. I'm gonna share more of my dragons though, but I thought I should spread it in between other posts. Like spice. or something, rather than going on and on about dragon after dragon.

Yes. ... Merry May, everyone.

You're not alone in anything. You're not alone in trying to be.

Did you know that when you cry, stress-hormones comes out of your body with the tears. Which is why you feel so much better afterward, you're physically carrying less stress. So, maybe I should find some sad movies and get rid off these exam-nerves? Let's see... I cry at Sucker Punch (yeah, that's how touchy I am) and I cry at Titanic...

Bright Eyes are my allies this time.
That's kinda what music is to me; allies.

When the world wont leave me alone I laugh and bite at it with Amanda Palmer, when things are too noisy I breath with Imogen Heap, when I'm about to do something I don't really dare do I kick ass with My Chemical Romance's Killjoys, when I'm disappointed in myself I am brilliant with The Cure, when I am creative I am creative with Kate Bush...

And during this particular exam-filled period, I'm driving all the way to Cassadaga with Bright Eyes.



["You're not alone in anything. You're not alone in trying to be" - Ladder Song by Bright Eyes]

oh. I haven't blogged anything in a while, have I?

Well then, to pay up for the gap let me hit you with a long one:

Regarding my everyday life.
My baby brother just turned 15. I refuse to believe it.

I've been procrastinating stuff for so long. So I'm not really allowed to complain about the work amount; I've caused it myself.

And I have kinda been writing blog entries continually during the past month. But whenever I was finished writing a post I would proof read it and find it contained nothing but whining. And who would want to read a blog of meaningless whining? I wouldn't. So I kept it to myself and posted nothing.




Regarding my health.
My ears are my Achilles-heal. During the first four years of my life I suffered from constant (more or less) Otitis media (What a funny word! I just looked it up. For other laymen as myself we can call it an infection of the ear). Of course that time is over, but still, whenever I catch some sort of infection of the respiratory system (which is pretty common) no matter how small; my ears will be infected as well. It's never "Oh I got an infection in my throat, maybe my ear will be infected too?" it's always "Oh, an infection of the throat, here comes the ear infection!".

So. My throat's been hurting for about a week and I thought I was brewing something. Like "Oh no I'm about to catch a cold". But then came the ear infection so I guess I've been having a viral infection for several days without realizing that's what it was. It's over now though. I'm just waiting for my hearing ability to return to my left ear. My ears have done this so many times now, it shouldn't take long.

I'm really sorry If I infected anyone, I really thought what I had was nothing so I kept hanging around people.


Regarding our house (soon to be a very very very fine house).
We now have a kitchen. a kitchen lacking a table, chairs, a coffee maker and power sockets, but a kitchen still. There's no longer a huge hole where our old kitchen used to be, there's now a new kitchen. Finally we can use the oven, our sink and our tableware (in contrast to plastic and paper plates). Yay!


Regarding Music.
Florence + the Machine just released a new album and it's great. I still love the old one more seeing as the new one has no song as beautiful as "My Boy Builds Coffins" or "Cosmic Love", but it is truly great.

Nowadays I heart:







In other silly news.
I've been watching The Mentalist lately. I generally don't care for crime or police procedural at all, but the main character (Patrick Jane) fascinates me so I'm watching it. And so the other night I was dreaming and suddenly Van Pelt (another character in the show) said "ah, this isn't the crime scene like we thought, this is just a cover-up". And I thought "omg, that means...!" And I sat up in bed and turned on my light to examine what must be the real crime scene; my bedroom! Then it occurred to me what I was doing.
That was fun XD

Jejune Stars by Bright Eyes

♥
So I go umbrella under my arm into the green of the radar
How did I get so lost? I’m amazed
It’s just so bizarre all the things I’m afraid of
Why do I hide from the rain?
♥




Seriously. Their newest album "The People's Key". It's just plain brilliant. The whole thing. I love it.

So I herd you liek moosic

I figured I'd try out Spotify's radio-function.
So I check off Alternative, Hard Rock, New wave, Punk and Rock wich are my choices among the presented genres.
And I get.....

*drumroll*

Stop by Spice Girls.

Nothing wrong with that, really, I still like Spice Girls. But Alternative/Hard Rock/New Wave/Punk/Rock?

Oh well.
Maybe it's not that weird. I just didn't expect it.

The Lazy Song by Bruno Mars