it was two past midnight, and it was at this precise hour that five people -- four men and a woman assembled themselves underground. although everyone knew each other by name, there was hardly any greetings; the rule of this gathering was that nobody talks until his or her mind was prepared. everybody simply took his or her seat; one sat beside a mulholland drive poster, the other next to a coffee table which contained a sherlock holmes manuscript, the other two -- a couple -- sat side by side on the divan and last attendee situated himself in the sofa corner filled with scattered bloomberg magazine subscriptions. there was nothing audible but the clicking of pens and for ten whole minutes their minds drifted and wandered and these five members gazed at anything -- the dark blanket sky outside the window, the dust on the panes, the cheese in the kitchen.
the third member produced a roll of paper from his bag, shared it with the group, and everyone fell in silent concentration. for a moment, their eyes averted each other's; each one was focused in reading its signature and studying its contents. they were particularly drawn to its contained promises, highlighted in brown. it was the girl who stood up, reached for her handbag and burned the paper. the other four watched the process, and inside they felt revolutionary and joined in. they held the paper close to their hands, tightened their grip, and altogether they watched in awe as the little flames swallowed the paper and everything it represents.
the mood started to warm up, as does the weather inside the room, despite the howling winds outside. the room lit up and the couple started to hum a damien rice/lisa hannigan duet, the other three engaged themselves in a serious banter and exchanged thoughts about politics, finance, and neo-classical literature while the roaches danced above their heads.
the members breathed into the polluted air and savored their creative enlightenment.
above them, the streets quiet and empty, the children dreaming, the farmers getting ready, the world all in all cynical, unaware of the five members’ little achievement. the non-members of this gathering meet our five heroes everyday, and they call their gathering with a more popular, less imposing name – smoking.
note: this is my first (renewed) attempt in writing a short story after eight years, the last one that i composed was written in 3rd year high school when the class was assigned to compose a sequel on our favorite short story.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Friday, February 8, 2008
9 of the little things that i cannot do (but most people can)
[writing while the smiths pleads please please let me get what i want ]
confidence one notch down, i admit the following:
1. i cannot identify constellations.
even if you point at the stars in the sky, how will i know if we're looking at the same star?
2. i cannot read maps.
i have no sense of direction. and i get distracted with those legends like yellow is supposed to be the railroad, red the business center, blue the main road, etc.
also, if we're on the car and you turned left, then right, then another right; i don't know how to go back.
3. i don't drink milk and coffee.
people i know well say that i am the epitome of all irony. i came from the coffee province but i don't drink coffee. i love cheese but the smell of milk alone makes me vomit.
4. i cannot sleep right away.
i have great difficulty sleeping. there was a time when even sleeping pills don't help.
5. i don't understand linear perspective.
my god, don't even come close to me with a drawing board and a t-square! i cannot draw a box (yes, just a box) in its ortographic and isometric projection.
6. i cannot draw at all.
i don't think stick figures qualify.
7. i don't eat the following: sushi, the chiken skin in fried chicken, chicken nuggets in mcdonalds, pasta with cream sauce, oysters and anything that sounds exotic.
8. i don't like computer games.
i don't want to be one of those zombies in the internet cafe.
9. i cannot make myself love windows pc.
i confess, the apple topics are probably the only discussions in the world where i become close-minded. i just cannot tolerate windows' complete lack of taste.
"our friends up north (microsoft) spend over five billion dollars on research and development and all they seem to do is copy google and apple."
"unfortunately, people are not rebelling against microsoft. they don’t know any better."
- steve jobs, chief executive officer, apple inc.
confidence one notch down, i admit the following:
1. i cannot identify constellations.
even if you point at the stars in the sky, how will i know if we're looking at the same star?
2. i cannot read maps.
i have no sense of direction. and i get distracted with those legends like yellow is supposed to be the railroad, red the business center, blue the main road, etc.
also, if we're on the car and you turned left, then right, then another right; i don't know how to go back.
3. i don't drink milk and coffee.
people i know well say that i am the epitome of all irony. i came from the coffee province but i don't drink coffee. i love cheese but the smell of milk alone makes me vomit.
4. i cannot sleep right away.
i have great difficulty sleeping. there was a time when even sleeping pills don't help.
5. i don't understand linear perspective.
my god, don't even come close to me with a drawing board and a t-square! i cannot draw a box (yes, just a box) in its ortographic and isometric projection.
6. i cannot draw at all.
i don't think stick figures qualify.
7. i don't eat the following: sushi, the chiken skin in fried chicken, chicken nuggets in mcdonalds, pasta with cream sauce, oysters and anything that sounds exotic.
8. i don't like computer games.
i don't want to be one of those zombies in the internet cafe.
9. i cannot make myself love windows pc.
i confess, the apple topics are probably the only discussions in the world where i become close-minded. i just cannot tolerate windows' complete lack of taste.
"our friends up north (microsoft) spend over five billion dollars on research and development and all they seem to do is copy google and apple."
"unfortunately, people are not rebelling against microsoft. they don’t know any better."
- steve jobs, chief executive officer, apple inc.
9 of the most annoying grammar lapses
“the usage of correct grammar and good style is the hallmark of an educated (in grammar and writing) mind and disciplined (in grammar and writing) thought. as such it should recognized and encouraged. its absence should serve as a warning to readers and listeners of a concomitant lack of rigor in development of any underlying premise.” -- anonymous
let us start with two of, by far, the most irritating errors:
1. the use of your and you're
"your" is a possessive pronoun. "you're" is a contraction of "you are". it is very simple to understand; it doesn't take a genius to remember it and put it into practice.
so don't say, your my friend.
or, you're smile....
example: your writing is compromised if you're always using your instead of you're and vice versa.
2."did" is always followed by the present tense of the verb.
incorrect: after all, he did talked to the judge.
correct: after all, he did talk to the judge.
3. the subjunctive mood is the only occasion that it's correct to pair up a singular noun (or pronoun) with the verb "were".
otherwise, observe the golden rule singular noun, singular verb. plural noun (except collective), plural verb.
a verb is in the subjunctive mood when it expresses a condition which is doubtful or not factual. it is most often found in a clause beginning with the word if. it is also found in clauses following a verb that expresses a doubt, a wish, regret, request, demand, or proposal.
examples of subjunctive mood: if i were younger, i would have accepted the dare.
if my father were a lot more tolerant, my sister would not have run away.
4. still on verbs category, perfect tense subcategory: you always use the past participle form of the verb with auxiliary verbs like "has" and "have" such as: has gone, have told, have showered, has conducted
5. unless you're rapping, do not use double negatives, like "i did not see nobody."
correct: i saw nobody or i did not see anybody.
6. saying "stuffs" is wrong! it's just stuff. i wish for hellfire to come whenever people say stuffs, and furnitures, and equipments.
7. loose vs. lose . the former is an ajdective, the latter is a verb. it drives me crazy when people interchange them! the two words do not sound alike and their meanings are not the same! same is true with pleased vs please.
7a. affect vs. effect. affect is the one that does something. effect is the result of doing something.
7b. advice vs. advise. the first word is a noun, the second word is a verb.
examples: we will lose the shipment if those knots are loose.
what a loose woman! no wonder she has lost (past participle of lose) all her friends.
my wife is very pleased with your painting, can you make another portrait please?
i am very pleased with the group's perfomance, can i schedule them for another show on friday, please?
smoking has bad effects in your respiratory tract.
smoking gravely affects your health.
please advise me if i should follow my boyfriend's advice.
8. review the use of apostrophes. (incidentally, this is related to annoying error #1) here's a good quote (and a good time to practice your level of comprehension too)
"it's it is when it's it's and it's its when it's not."
- unknown
9. ignorance is not an excuse. do not say what's important is the meaning, not the sentence construction. grammar helps convey meaning. if you can't do it right, then don't write at all. (at least not in the english medium)
let us start with two of, by far, the most irritating errors:
1. the use of your and you're
"your" is a possessive pronoun. "you're" is a contraction of "you are". it is very simple to understand; it doesn't take a genius to remember it and put it into practice.
so don't say, your my friend.
or, you're smile....
example: your writing is compromised if you're always using your instead of you're and vice versa.
2."did" is always followed by the present tense of the verb.
incorrect: after all, he did talked to the judge.
correct: after all, he did talk to the judge.
3. the subjunctive mood is the only occasion that it's correct to pair up a singular noun (or pronoun) with the verb "were".
otherwise, observe the golden rule singular noun, singular verb. plural noun (except collective), plural verb.
a verb is in the subjunctive mood when it expresses a condition which is doubtful or not factual. it is most often found in a clause beginning with the word if. it is also found in clauses following a verb that expresses a doubt, a wish, regret, request, demand, or proposal.
examples of subjunctive mood: if i were younger, i would have accepted the dare.
if my father were a lot more tolerant, my sister would not have run away.
4. still on verbs category, perfect tense subcategory: you always use the past participle form of the verb with auxiliary verbs like "has" and "have" such as: has gone, have told, have showered, has conducted
5. unless you're rapping, do not use double negatives, like "i did not see nobody."
correct: i saw nobody or i did not see anybody.
6. saying "stuffs" is wrong! it's just stuff. i wish for hellfire to come whenever people say stuffs, and furnitures, and equipments.
7. loose vs. lose . the former is an ajdective, the latter is a verb. it drives me crazy when people interchange them! the two words do not sound alike and their meanings are not the same! same is true with pleased vs please.
7a. affect vs. effect. affect is the one that does something. effect is the result of doing something.
7b. advice vs. advise. the first word is a noun, the second word is a verb.
examples: we will lose the shipment if those knots are loose.
what a loose woman! no wonder she has lost (past participle of lose) all her friends.
my wife is very pleased with your painting, can you make another portrait please?
i am very pleased with the group's perfomance, can i schedule them for another show on friday, please?
smoking has bad effects in your respiratory tract.
smoking gravely affects your health.
please advise me if i should follow my boyfriend's advice.
8. review the use of apostrophes. (incidentally, this is related to annoying error #1) here's a good quote (and a good time to practice your level of comprehension too)
"it's it is when it's it's and it's its when it's not."
- unknown
9. ignorance is not an excuse. do not say what's important is the meaning, not the sentence construction. grammar helps convey meaning. if you can't do it right, then don't write at all. (at least not in the english medium)
Thursday, January 24, 2008
9 reasons why, despite my distaste for sensationalism, i still have to write about heath ledger
[writing while the eagles preaches wisely with busy being fabulous ]
1. he's close to my heart for the simple reason that his real name is heathcliff andrew. if you read my maiden article in this blog, then you are aware that my favorite classic love story is the wuthering heights.
2. he has a very nice smile which draws attention to his eyes. no wonder he was cast as a casanova.
3. i was enamored by his surprise act of singing atop the bleachers in a football field in 10 things i hate about you. he's my young 14-ish love (i was in 2nd year high school when i watched the movie); i even downloaded his own rendition of i can't take my eyes off of you.
4. i've fond remembrances of him portraying the gallant sir william thatcher/ ulrich von lichtenstein in a knight's tale. until today, i still remember that interesting introduction, "the protector of virginity."
5. before the tragedy, he was dating gemma ward, one of my favorite supermodels.
6. he's australian; i think australia is a land of exceptional talents, the [living] proof being heath ledger and nicole kidman (but with the exception of russel crowe).
7. i still think his role in brokeback mountain is award-winning. to play ennis del mar is challenging, yet ledger was able to put the discomfort (if any) beneath him.
8. i feel like i've won the grandslam in the christopher nolan-christian bale - heath ledger trio in the dark knight. and never, never did i question his ability of playing the joker; first, because i completely trust nolan's judgment and second, because i completely trust ledger's acting.
9. his death serves as a grave warning to me that "one more sleeping pill" is never too safe.
i hope it's true that the dead are in a happier place now, because it will be so unfair to take you away and strip you off from enjoying the life you've worked so hard to achieve. you don't deserve to die... not this early, not this sudden.
and i don't deserve to be left this emotional.
thank you for making my movie life interesting. you were worth every frame.
1. he's close to my heart for the simple reason that his real name is heathcliff andrew. if you read my maiden article in this blog, then you are aware that my favorite classic love story is the wuthering heights.
2. he has a very nice smile which draws attention to his eyes. no wonder he was cast as a casanova.
3. i was enamored by his surprise act of singing atop the bleachers in a football field in 10 things i hate about you. he's my young 14-ish love (i was in 2nd year high school when i watched the movie); i even downloaded his own rendition of i can't take my eyes off of you.
4. i've fond remembrances of him portraying the gallant sir william thatcher/ ulrich von lichtenstein in a knight's tale. until today, i still remember that interesting introduction, "the protector of virginity."
5. before the tragedy, he was dating gemma ward, one of my favorite supermodels.
6. he's australian; i think australia is a land of exceptional talents, the [living] proof being heath ledger and nicole kidman (but with the exception of russel crowe).
7. i still think his role in brokeback mountain is award-winning. to play ennis del mar is challenging, yet ledger was able to put the discomfort (if any) beneath him.
8. i feel like i've won the grandslam in the christopher nolan-christian bale - heath ledger trio in the dark knight. and never, never did i question his ability of playing the joker; first, because i completely trust nolan's judgment and second, because i completely trust ledger's acting.
9. his death serves as a grave warning to me that "one more sleeping pill" is never too safe.
i hope it's true that the dead are in a happier place now, because it will be so unfair to take you away and strip you off from enjoying the life you've worked so hard to achieve. you don't deserve to die... not this early, not this sudden.
and i don't deserve to be left this emotional.
thank you for making my movie life interesting. you were worth every frame.
Monday, January 21, 2008
sweeney todd splendid (and sick)
gothic comes back to the big screen in tim burton's latest beautiful macabre (and very well-deserved) golden globes best picture winner sweeney todd: the demon barber of fleet street. burton tags along his usual cast: his sweetheart helena bonham carter and my sweetheart, johnny depp.
so i'm not in the mood to create a synopsis; and i also think it's a lot better if you see this film with no clue whatsoever on what it's about -- you're gonna be in for a shocking treat. but these are my thoughts:
*** it helps that burton did the job semi-musical (but that's a little expected since this movie is adapted from a musical); he unveils the darkest plots and tells them in an almost friendly way. the film certainly has a wealth of humor, but dark, wicked humor mind you.don't be deceived; don't you dare bring your kids here.
*** i gasp in horror as depp realizes how his revenge consumed him in a morbid discovery that he killed his own wife with his own blade no less and sends her crashing to the ground, head first. in the context of tragedy, however, it is the most beautiful i've ever seen. depp's slit throat, blood gushing out of him, blood streaming down to his wife's face, blood pouring down from his mortal rival, blood in the sewer, bloody hands, bloody clothes, bloody corpses everywhere -- beautiful.
*** i smirk at the clever madness of helena bonham carter's character. what a calculating woman. and i thought she insists to "keep that lady out!" during the grand opening of her "meat" pies because she's a beggar, it didn't cross my mind she's actually depp's lost love!
sweeney todd has all of burton's familiar and trademark elements -- especially the gore, and the black (in form and in wit) -- and if you pay attention you will not miss the homage to his previous films: the showdown between johnny depp and sacha baron cohen takes you back to edward scissorhands, helena bonham carter's daydreaming is reminiscent of charlie and the chocolate factory (with respect to costumes) and the overall tone and color reminds you of corpse bride, only we now have the characters in their breathing form. personally, i think this movie placed burton at his most accomplished; sweeney todd is one hell of a twisted delight.
just make sure you come to see this when all your tasks are done; i watched this and i could not think of anything else; i didn't want to do anything else. sweeney todd is asphyxiating as it is entertaining. i want to remember all the lines and choke on every one of them and strangely, i don't want to forget the tragedy -- again, what a beautiful, rare execution. and yes, gentlemen, go get that haircut and shave if you need to... you would not want to meet a barber in the next few weeks.
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
the cost of dying
[writing while the red hot chili peppers transports me back to high school with scar tissue ]
if i smoke an average of 6-7 sticks per day, (which means i am not making allowances for gloomy and depressing days) then i consume 2400 cigarettes in one year. that's equivalent to 120 packs, (as one pack contains 20 sticks) equivalent to 12 reams.
i smoke vogue cigarettes, which cost 79 pesos per pack. one hundred twenty packs of cigarettes cost nine thousand four hundred eighty pesos (php 9,480). this is my annual budget in cigarettes alone.
one pack of vogue cigarettes carries a php 13.44 import tax, which translates to paying one thousand six hundred twelve pesos and eighty cents (php 1,612.80) of annual import tax when multiplied by 120 packs.
according to the world book encyclopedia, one cigarette contains an average of two milligrams (2mg) of nicotine. then, my cigarette intake of 2400 sticks yearly means i poison my lungs with 4800 milligrams, or 0.0048 kilograms. expressed in kilograms, it hardly sounds harmful; it would actually take 104 years before i fill my lungs with just one kilogram of nicotine.
now that was a lot of math!!! i think i need a smoke. =)
p.s. happy new year, everyone.
if i smoke an average of 6-7 sticks per day, (which means i am not making allowances for gloomy and depressing days) then i consume 2400 cigarettes in one year. that's equivalent to 120 packs, (as one pack contains 20 sticks) equivalent to 12 reams.
i smoke vogue cigarettes, which cost 79 pesos per pack. one hundred twenty packs of cigarettes cost nine thousand four hundred eighty pesos (php 9,480). this is my annual budget in cigarettes alone.
one pack of vogue cigarettes carries a php 13.44 import tax, which translates to paying one thousand six hundred twelve pesos and eighty cents (php 1,612.80) of annual import tax when multiplied by 120 packs.
according to the world book encyclopedia, one cigarette contains an average of two milligrams (2mg) of nicotine. then, my cigarette intake of 2400 sticks yearly means i poison my lungs with 4800 milligrams, or 0.0048 kilograms. expressed in kilograms, it hardly sounds harmful; it would actually take 104 years before i fill my lungs with just one kilogram of nicotine.
now that was a lot of math!!! i think i need a smoke. =)
p.s. happy new year, everyone.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
i know these wishes would never happen
[posting an old poem that i wrote 22 august 2005 while third eye blind mourns with wake for young souls]
that my favorite music will not be wrongfully revived
and skeletons will be identified, not by their names,
but by their dead hearts.
that crumbs of bread will satisfy the homeless orphans,
and the jews will not be persecuted, bombed,
or even looked down.
that the eiffel tower will be there forever,
and single attractive ladies will not be such a home wrecker.
that you'll forgive me for being your hurricane
even if it's not true
i have loved you in vain.
or maybe pictures will compensate
for the loss
of a loved one.
and i would learn how not to cry
every waking day
since you've long been
gone.
p.s. today, instead of attempting to find "something long and curly" for our kris kringle, i bought marquis de sade's 120 days of sodom and i am loving every page of it.
that my favorite music will not be wrongfully revived
and skeletons will be identified, not by their names,
but by their dead hearts.
that crumbs of bread will satisfy the homeless orphans,
and the jews will not be persecuted, bombed,
or even looked down.
that the eiffel tower will be there forever,
and single attractive ladies will not be such a home wrecker.
that you'll forgive me for being your hurricane
even if it's not true
i have loved you in vain.
or maybe pictures will compensate
for the loss
of a loved one.
and i would learn how not to cry
every waking day
since you've long been
gone.
p.s. today, instead of attempting to find "something long and curly" for our kris kringle, i bought marquis de sade's 120 days of sodom and i am loving every page of it.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
the golden compass points to nowhere
[writing while the babyshambles promises that the world is our playground]
it was after watching the invasion that mikael and i decided to create a site solely devoted to film reviews. but while we're still tossing the ball on who will write the maiden article, then this one will stay here for now.
the golden compass stars daniel craig, the dreamer(s) eva green and birthday girl nicole kidman. (simply stunning) and frankly, that's everything there is to it. there is no story, there is no suspense, there is no twist (really, nicole is the mom?!?!?! yawn.) the visual imagery, compared to its new line cinema predecessor, the lord of the rings: the return of the king is stale and the screenplay is a whirlwind of ideas. here is a kid who pries inside rooms (one, an opportune moment to save her uncle... no wait, it's her father! from being poisoned and two, in her host's bureau... no wait, it's her mother! to find letters indicating that she's a spy of the magesterium (don't even bother to understand what it is) and then finds herself building an army and embarking on a mission to save her friend, guided by her golden cheat compass. children, are you thrilled??
this movie's fatal error is that it describes a new world with a new concept that it overwhelms our mind with too many new words and introduces too many new characters way too fast that it becomes impossible to find anything evil or engaging or embraceable about them. it rushes us, for instance, into understanding that witches in this world fly, although i honestly don't know how they even enter into the picture, or how they impact this world, except so mikael could lust over eva green. it sacrifices story over spectacle, and sadly, it failed miserably on both.
the movie says the kid's journey is a test of courage, i say this movie is a test of temper. seriously, where is the challenge in being a savior when you have a gadget that tells you everything? you know where your enemies are, you know how to solicit help from bears by toying with their emotions and you know the rescue center for the lost-and-found boys. and i am blown away by how fast this girl learns how to use the golden compass! it was apparently faster than daniel craig's total screen time, which is probably at 20 seconds.
and if that's not enough to classify this movie as "an unforgivable creation" the golden compass wins the blunder of the year in its atheism controversy, all because nicole kidman commands lyra (lyra, by the way, is the protagonist) to put her bag away (supposedly to signify blind obedience) and eva green mentions something about free will. oh please.... i'll take you to mikael and you will want to burn him in the stake for his blasphemy. this is the atheist in the flesh and to the core. (doesn't mean i'm proud of you, mikael, but i need to illustrate a point)
the only good part: the unlimited soda and popcorn. god bless the lazy boy seats.
to conclude, the golden compass is a messy tale that insults even the average intelligence. "this compass tells you what others try to hide, it tells you the truth," we were told, but it didn't reveal that it is going to be dragging and boring, and fuck it, with rats.
it was after watching the invasion that mikael and i decided to create a site solely devoted to film reviews. but while we're still tossing the ball on who will write the maiden article, then this one will stay here for now.
the golden compass stars daniel craig, the dreamer(s) eva green and birthday girl nicole kidman. (simply stunning) and frankly, that's everything there is to it. there is no story, there is no suspense, there is no twist (really, nicole is the mom?!?!?! yawn.) the visual imagery, compared to its new line cinema predecessor, the lord of the rings: the return of the king is stale and the screenplay is a whirlwind of ideas. here is a kid who pries inside rooms (one, an opportune moment to save her uncle... no wait, it's her father! from being poisoned and two, in her host's bureau... no wait, it's her mother! to find letters indicating that she's a spy of the magesterium (don't even bother to understand what it is) and then finds herself building an army and embarking on a mission to save her friend, guided by her golden cheat compass. children, are you thrilled??
this movie's fatal error is that it describes a new world with a new concept that it overwhelms our mind with too many new words and introduces too many new characters way too fast that it becomes impossible to find anything evil or engaging or embraceable about them. it rushes us, for instance, into understanding that witches in this world fly, although i honestly don't know how they even enter into the picture, or how they impact this world, except so mikael could lust over eva green. it sacrifices story over spectacle, and sadly, it failed miserably on both.
the movie says the kid's journey is a test of courage, i say this movie is a test of temper. seriously, where is the challenge in being a savior when you have a gadget that tells you everything? you know where your enemies are, you know how to solicit help from bears by toying with their emotions and you know the rescue center for the lost-and-found boys. and i am blown away by how fast this girl learns how to use the golden compass! it was apparently faster than daniel craig's total screen time, which is probably at 20 seconds.
and if that's not enough to classify this movie as "an unforgivable creation" the golden compass wins the blunder of the year in its atheism controversy, all because nicole kidman commands lyra (lyra, by the way, is the protagonist) to put her bag away (supposedly to signify blind obedience) and eva green mentions something about free will. oh please.... i'll take you to mikael and you will want to burn him in the stake for his blasphemy. this is the atheist in the flesh and to the core. (doesn't mean i'm proud of you, mikael, but i need to illustrate a point)
the only good part: the unlimited soda and popcorn. god bless the lazy boy seats.
to conclude, the golden compass is a messy tale that insults even the average intelligence. "this compass tells you what others try to hide, it tells you the truth," we were told, but it didn't reveal that it is going to be dragging and boring, and fuck it, with rats.
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
9 sad songs that say so much
[writing while nelly furtado's all good things come to an end, jackson browne's call it a loan and fiona apple's across the universe complete the overall mood]
foreword: while i recognize the works of established songwriters whose music are lauded all over the world, i have to emphasize that this is a personal list. and given that music is an evolving art form, there is just no way for me to pick nine songs from the millions of albums that are released, the billions of recording artists and musicians that are signed up, and the infinite number of musical compositions that play on the radio and amplify our moods and affect our lives. (notwithstanding the ones i haven’t even heard; i ask the indulgence of my readers for any obviously, universally-and -beyond-well crafted music that i may have missed)
thus, i created four different categories, (each of which contain nine songs) now posted for your scrutiny and criticism.
now let the debates begin.
a. “the sopranos” --- (un)arguably the best of the best, grammy winners, classic favorites.
1. tears in heaven (eric clapton)
2. everybody hurts (rem)
3. wish you were here (pink floyd)
4. heaven knows i’m miserable now (the smiths)
5. with or without you (u2)
6. as tears go by (the rolling stones)
7. american pie [the day the music died] (don mclean)
8. the lonesome death of hattie carroll (bob dylan)
9. layla (eric clapton)
b. the popular -- ever-present in blogs and discussions. lyrically satisfactory. however, most of the songs in this section are characterized by fast tempo that seems to distract my tears. or there are lots of drums and less guitar and/or less piano. or the voice just doesn’t convince me enough of the heartbreak.
1. hurt (nine inch nails)
2. isolation, atmosphere (joy division)
3. gloomy sunday (billie holiday) this one however, gears towards, suicidal.
4. last kiss (pearl jam)
5. come as you are, where did you sleep last night(nirvana)
6. konstantine (something corporate)
7. disintegration (the cure)
8. somebody that i used to know (elliott smith)
9. the drugs don’t work (the verve)
c. "next in line" --the honorable mention; what i call “the next set of 9,” the runners-up
1. it’s cool, we can still be friends (bright eyes)
2. i need a heart to come home to (shelby lynn)
3. je n’peux pas te plaire (jonatha brooke) loosely translated as you cannot like me
4. the freshman (the verve pipe)
5. sexed up (robbie williams)
6. desperado (the eagles)
7. fake plastic trees (radiohead)
8. the scientist (coldplay)
9. it’s not going to stop (aimee mann)
d. personal picks - the ones that get me on a contemplative mood and prompt me to google, “meaning of [insert song title here.]” they’re rich in tone, refined and very distinguished in melody and the lyrics breathe poetry.
1. 9 crimes (damien rice) -- never, since eric clapton’s layla, have i heard a piano cry.
killer lines: it’s a small crime, and i got no excuse.... is that alright? give my gun away when it’s loaded... is that alright? if you don’t shoot it, how am i supposed to hold it?
2. you won’t find me there (10,000 maniacs) -- the story of an imminent break-up and the mature way of dealing with it.
killer lines: i’d like to know what makes you stay, while your eyes still search for escape. you think that i don’t feel the cold but i wait while confessions unfold... look into your heart and you won’t find me there.
3. empty chairs (don mclean) -- the song that offers a sneak preview to my father’s sad, dead heart; dedicated to my mom.
killer lines: ... a sympathy bouquet left with the love that’s dead.. and i wonder if you know that i never understood.. that although you said you’d go, until you did, i never thought you would.
4. emily (jewel) -- the soundtrack of my life while i nursed myself from my first heartbreak.
killer lines: woke up to find i lost my mind...i take my cigarettes, i give ‘em a smoke, oh god my heart feels froze... i wanna call names... i wanna throw things around.. but no bar can buy forgiveness.. another round...
5. alone again, naturally (gilbert o’ sullivan) -- the synonym of absolute tragedy in the music dictionary, this is about a guy who's going to kill himself by jumping off from a tower after being left in the altar and his parents dying.
killer lines: climbing to the top to throw myself off, in an effort to make it clear to whoever what it’s like when you’re shattered....where people are saying, “my god, that’s tough she stood him up...” leaving me to doubt all about god and his mercy for if he really does exist why did he desert me?
6. at seventeen (janis ian) -- i didn’t even experience the rejection that is described in this song, but i still feel depressed. a bittersweet commentary about alienation and antiestablishment, janis ian got me at her first line.
killer lines: i learned the truth at seventeen, that love was meant for beauty queens... and those of us with ravaged faces lacking in the social graces, desperately remained at home, inventing lovers on the phone... remember those who win the game, lose the love they sought to gain.
7. brick (ben folds five) -- a narrative about a guy accompanying his girlfriend to get an abortion, this song “hits a note.”
killer lines: now that i have found someone, i’m feeling more alone than i ever have before....she’s a brick and i’m drowning slowly off the coast and i’m headed nowhere... driving home to her apartment, for a moment we’re alone.. she’s alone, i’m alone... now i know it..
8. on my own (eponine) -- the song that made les miserables more accessible to people, since it probably became a hit faster than the novel ever did. victor hugo would be proud.
killer lines: i love him but everyday i’m lonely.. all my life, i’ve only been pretending... without me, his world will go on turning....
9. the river (bruce springsteen) -- i always need my cigarettes when i listen to this song. carefully researched down to the most minute details such as the changes in the verb tense, this song is my national anthem that i have to play every morning. i keep my earphones pressed to my ear to relish the grief of springsteen’s quixotic attempts to overcome hardships and revive his failing marriage. a sad tale about youthful aspirations, loss, and the death of all hope, the word haunting doesn’t even come close.
killer lines: the entire lyrics.
foreword: while i recognize the works of established songwriters whose music are lauded all over the world, i have to emphasize that this is a personal list. and given that music is an evolving art form, there is just no way for me to pick nine songs from the millions of albums that are released, the billions of recording artists and musicians that are signed up, and the infinite number of musical compositions that play on the radio and amplify our moods and affect our lives. (notwithstanding the ones i haven’t even heard; i ask the indulgence of my readers for any obviously, universally-and -beyond-well crafted music that i may have missed)
thus, i created four different categories, (each of which contain nine songs) now posted for your scrutiny and criticism.
now let the debates begin.
a. “the sopranos” --- (un)arguably the best of the best, grammy winners, classic favorites.
1. tears in heaven (eric clapton)
2. everybody hurts (rem)
3. wish you were here (pink floyd)
4. heaven knows i’m miserable now (the smiths)
5. with or without you (u2)
6. as tears go by (the rolling stones)
7. american pie [the day the music died] (don mclean)
8. the lonesome death of hattie carroll (bob dylan)
9. layla (eric clapton)
b. the popular -- ever-present in blogs and discussions. lyrically satisfactory. however, most of the songs in this section are characterized by fast tempo that seems to distract my tears. or there are lots of drums and less guitar and/or less piano. or the voice just doesn’t convince me enough of the heartbreak.
1. hurt (nine inch nails)
2. isolation, atmosphere (joy division)
3. gloomy sunday (billie holiday) this one however, gears towards, suicidal.
4. last kiss (pearl jam)
5. come as you are, where did you sleep last night(nirvana)
6. konstantine (something corporate)
7. disintegration (the cure)
8. somebody that i used to know (elliott smith)
9. the drugs don’t work (the verve)
c. "next in line" --the honorable mention; what i call “the next set of 9,” the runners-up
1. it’s cool, we can still be friends (bright eyes)
2. i need a heart to come home to (shelby lynn)
3. je n’peux pas te plaire (jonatha brooke) loosely translated as you cannot like me
4. the freshman (the verve pipe)
5. sexed up (robbie williams)
6. desperado (the eagles)
7. fake plastic trees (radiohead)
8. the scientist (coldplay)
9. it’s not going to stop (aimee mann)
d. personal picks - the ones that get me on a contemplative mood and prompt me to google, “meaning of [insert song title here.]” they’re rich in tone, refined and very distinguished in melody and the lyrics breathe poetry.
1. 9 crimes (damien rice) -- never, since eric clapton’s layla, have i heard a piano cry.
killer lines: it’s a small crime, and i got no excuse.... is that alright? give my gun away when it’s loaded... is that alright? if you don’t shoot it, how am i supposed to hold it?
2. you won’t find me there (10,000 maniacs) -- the story of an imminent break-up and the mature way of dealing with it.
killer lines: i’d like to know what makes you stay, while your eyes still search for escape. you think that i don’t feel the cold but i wait while confessions unfold... look into your heart and you won’t find me there.
3. empty chairs (don mclean) -- the song that offers a sneak preview to my father’s sad, dead heart; dedicated to my mom.
killer lines: ... a sympathy bouquet left with the love that’s dead.. and i wonder if you know that i never understood.. that although you said you’d go, until you did, i never thought you would.
4. emily (jewel) -- the soundtrack of my life while i nursed myself from my first heartbreak.
killer lines: woke up to find i lost my mind...i take my cigarettes, i give ‘em a smoke, oh god my heart feels froze... i wanna call names... i wanna throw things around.. but no bar can buy forgiveness.. another round...
5. alone again, naturally (gilbert o’ sullivan) -- the synonym of absolute tragedy in the music dictionary, this is about a guy who's going to kill himself by jumping off from a tower after being left in the altar and his parents dying.
killer lines: climbing to the top to throw myself off, in an effort to make it clear to whoever what it’s like when you’re shattered....where people are saying, “my god, that’s tough she stood him up...” leaving me to doubt all about god and his mercy for if he really does exist why did he desert me?
6. at seventeen (janis ian) -- i didn’t even experience the rejection that is described in this song, but i still feel depressed. a bittersweet commentary about alienation and antiestablishment, janis ian got me at her first line.
killer lines: i learned the truth at seventeen, that love was meant for beauty queens... and those of us with ravaged faces lacking in the social graces, desperately remained at home, inventing lovers on the phone... remember those who win the game, lose the love they sought to gain.
7. brick (ben folds five) -- a narrative about a guy accompanying his girlfriend to get an abortion, this song “hits a note.”
killer lines: now that i have found someone, i’m feeling more alone than i ever have before....she’s a brick and i’m drowning slowly off the coast and i’m headed nowhere... driving home to her apartment, for a moment we’re alone.. she’s alone, i’m alone... now i know it..
8. on my own (eponine) -- the song that made les miserables more accessible to people, since it probably became a hit faster than the novel ever did. victor hugo would be proud.
killer lines: i love him but everyday i’m lonely.. all my life, i’ve only been pretending... without me, his world will go on turning....
9. the river (bruce springsteen) -- i always need my cigarettes when i listen to this song. carefully researched down to the most minute details such as the changes in the verb tense, this song is my national anthem that i have to play every morning. i keep my earphones pressed to my ear to relish the grief of springsteen’s quixotic attempts to overcome hardships and revive his failing marriage. a sad tale about youthful aspirations, loss, and the death of all hope, the word haunting doesn’t even come close.
killer lines: the entire lyrics.
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