Fiction

Uhhh, so much for updating this daily! I have been a super busy panda. 
Seeing as I'm so far behind on daily challenge posts, I'm not going to bother catching up all in one hit. I'll just keep going as if I never missed a day!

Day 04 - A song that makes you sad

I feel that So Far Away by Avenged Sevenfold would be fitting for this particular challenge, especially seeing as today is the one year anniversary of the passing of Jimmy 'The Rev' Sullivan. 
This is definitely a song that I cannot listen to without being deeply saddened. It's a truly beautiful piece of music, with the strongest undertones of raw pain. My words certainly won't do it justice. . . just go listen to it.
May you rest in peace, Jimmy. I hope we meet again someday, perhaps in the next life.

The Heaviest Matter of the Universe

Hyvää iltaa. 
Today was quite productive, and finally sunny enough to give my horse a much needed bath. Now that the day's activities have settled, and night has landed, it's time to tackle day 3 of this song challenge.

Day 03 - A song that makes you happy

This often changes, but this week, Flying Whales by the French 'progressive death metal' band, Gojira, seems to be doing the trick.
This 7+ minute track is from the 2005 album, From Mars to Sirius.
This song begins with a 2 and a half minute intro of the chill flavour, before it kicks in with a catchy groove, lyrics not beginning until 3:05.
The lyrics speak of an almost desperate plight to find the whales within a flood of chaotic waters. The first verse is intriguing: 
Waters of chaos
Have invaded all space
The flood on earth again
I have to find the whales
That once did guide us
To dry lands of life
I won't despair
I'll break this dark all around


The fairly unique subject matter combined with the song's progressive nature seems to be what prompts me to play it on repeat. An enjoyable listen, no doubt. 


Huomenna tavataan!

Guns for Show, Knives for a Pro

Good afternoon. The rain appears to have settled in for yet another day, so I do believe it's time to tackle day 2 of this blogging challenge.

Day 02 - Your least favorite song

Well, okay. . . compared to this, yesterday's challenge was a breeze. I'm not sure I actually have a least favourite song. If I don't like something, I simply don't listen to it. I'm not the kind of person who goes out of my way to find something I don't like. The answer to this question pretty much depends on context.
My least favourite song could be something that may have been written purely to sound good on the radio - not because the artist particularly likes whatever they've written (or had written for them, as the case may be).
My least favourite song could be a song that I actually enjoy, that is being covered by a sub-par band, and becomes painful to listen to, or even borderline offensive towards the original artist.
My least favourite song could be something that's been written with no imagination at all, full of cliche riffs and drum fills.
My least favourite song could even be a fabulously written song that drives me to think too deeply about things I don't wish to think about in any given situation, thus temporarily becoming something I don't want to be listening to.


etc. etc.


Huomenna tavataan!

Now the sound of music comes in silver pills. . .

It's time to start blogging again. 
In an attempt to keep my interest, I'm going to follow a series of blogging challenges. 
Along with this, I'm thinking of trying out the 365 day photo challenge in the new year, but I will probably end up posting this on my Facebook.


The first challenge I'm going to attempt is a 30 day song challenge. 
Here is the list of questions that I will answer over the next 30 days:

Day 01 - Your favorite song

Day 02 - Your least favorite song

Day 03 - A song that makes you happy

Day 04 - A song that makes you sad

Day 05 - A song that reminds you of someone

Day 06 - A song that reminds of you of somewhere

Day 07 - A song that reminds you of a certain event

Day 08 - A song that you know all the words to

Day 09 - A song that you can dance to

Day 10 - A song that makes you fall asleep

Day 11 - A song from your favorite band

Day 12 - A song from a band you hate

Day 13 - A song that is a guilty pleasure

Day 14 - A song that no one would expect you to love

Day 15 - A song that describes you

Day 16 - A song that you used to love but now hate

Day 17 - A song that you hear often on the radio

Day 18 - A song that you wish you heard on the radio

Day 19 - A song from your favorite album

Day 20 - A song that you listen to when you’re angry

Day 21 - A song that you listen to when you’re happy

Day 22 - A song that you listen to when you’re sad

Day 23 - A song that you want to play at your wedding

Day 24 - A song that you want to play at your funeral

Day 25 - A song that makes you laugh

Day 26 - A song that you can play on an instrument

Day 27 - A song that you wish you could play

Day 28 - A song that makes you feel guilty

Day 29 - A song from your childhood

Day 30 - Your favorite song at this time last year

So, here goes.

Day 01 - Your favorite song 

This is actually a REALLY difficult question for me to answer, as it usually depends on my mood, and even then there are more than several songs I could pick.
However, I am going to select Seventy Times 7 by Brand New. 
This song appears on the band's debut full-length album, Your Favorite Weapon, released in 2001.
I'm selecting this song for various reasons - when I don't know what on Earth to listen to, this song never fails to entertain; the dramatic changes in mood throughout the song; the fond memories of how ecstatic I was when, after having seen BN three times, I finally got to see it performed live; and just because the lyrics are so angsty while the tempo is so upbeat. 


My favourite lyrics from this particular song are as follows:


So, is that what you call a getaway?
Tell me what you got away with.
'Cause I've seen more spine in a jellyfish,
I've seen more guts in eleven-year-old kids. 
Have another drink and drive yourself home,
I hope there's ice on all the roads.
And you can think of me when you forget your seatbelt,
and again when your head goes through the windshield. 


It speaks for itself.


x

Make a list of your favourites, write it down, make it legible

Today I was asked what my favourite moments were from the NIN shows I've attended. Cross posting here so I don't lose it.


Soundwave Festival, Brisbane 21/02/2009:
- The build of excitement in the lead up to NIN coming onstage, all while watching AIC play on the stage next to us.
- Watching Robin and Trent rock the keyboard/mod synth back and forth during the 999,999/Corona Radiata mash up, and then the powerful launch into 1,000,000.
- Escaping the deathly crush of the pit by crowd surfing over the 3 people in front of me, then making my way to the middle to rock the fuck out; later finding out that I was lucky to get out when I did, before it got worse and no one could get out.
- Reptile, The Big Come Down, Wish.
- Leaving sweaty, exhausted (after an all day summer festival) and highly satisfied. Standing up for the whole hour and a half train trip home, because the train was packed, but not caring because I was still walking on air.

Wave Goodbye, Singapore 10/08/2009:
- The group conversation with Jerome before meeting the band, nerves spiralling out of control. Making new friends with fellow M&Gers, some of which, I am still in regular contact with.
- Meeting the band, of course. My loss of basic motor skills by the time I reached Robin. Shaky autographs due to shaky paper.
- Learning the tru-fax behind what happened when JMJ shaved his head.
- The rush of blood to my head when they started the show by kicking out Somewhat Damaged - the one song I particularly wanted to see - running into the pit and leaving Mum in the dust.
- Completely losing myself to every beat and note. Soaking up every last second of what was remaining of Nine Inch Nails.
- Watching Robin's facial expressions as he sang his parts at the end of Reptile - unbelievable.
- Somewhat Damaged, The Day The World Went Away, Heresy, I'm Afraid of Americans.
- Emerging from the pit at the end, completely drenched, then proceeding to tip half a bottle of water on my head.
- Laughing at Mum as she fangirled over touching Ilan's hand (jokingly) on the walk back to the MRT. 

Ad Victoriam

Finally, after months of looking, we have sealed the deal on a new house. And while I am 150% over moving, I am looking forward to this being the beginning of a clean start to a new year.
I must also admit that I'm excited to move away from our current neighbours, and to be out of a renting situation which leaves one with limited freedom of design in the home.
In other words: I want to hang up my damned framed stuff!
I believe it's a 30 day settlement, so we should be moving in within days before the start of the new uni year. I'm also rather keen to get back to studying. While I really did need that year off just to clear my head, I'm starting to become increasingly restless. It's time to get my life back on track.
I swear to fuck, if this course isn't right for me, then I give up. Schooling life has been full of trials for me. But I've done well to even get into university, seeing as I never actually graduated high school. . . thanks to the hospital basically becoming my second home when I was 16. ^__^ Oi.

So hum, here's to a new house, a new degree, and hopefully some new friends.

26 Things: The end

Couple:

[Taken at Lennox Head]

Slope:

Plate:

Going Places:

[Taken at Brisbane Airport]

Scrambled:

In the distance: