The bass demigod is back.
A Best Friend.
November 7, 2009 at 11:34 am (friends)
Tags: evanston, friendships, joan, memories, northwestern, photos, purple line
Last night was incredible. The amount of fun I had was retarded and it’s left me feeling light and motivated today. However, the reason why I’m here writing now isn’t to discuss what I did last night or anything. Naw, this here is a revelation unfolding. You see, last night Erik, Joe, and I went to Evanston, IL on a random chance and after dinner when we went to the most ballin-ass coffeeshop I’ve ever entered, my dear friend Joan (and super stud Ben) joined up with us.
Now, Joan and I kinda lost each other for a while there. I got caught up in my life, she got caught up in hers, and the only real means of communication we had was AIM- and it’s hard to get me going on AIM. But then last night I discovered that the Purple line starts at the Library stop right by my house… goes to Belmont then shoooots all the way up to Howard without any stops in between. What does this mean? It takes MAYBE 30 minutes to reach Northwestern’s campus and see Joan. And after last night’s reunion and how much fun I had with Joan from start to finish has already made me decide I’m dedicating more of my time to that girl.
One of the things that made me want to be more a part of her life was the obvious adoration she has for me. When we got to her room I opened up a photo album she had and I was in probably half of the pictures. And of the two photos she displays in a little case, one is of a big group, the other is her and I. Ben was in 1 picture… I was in like, 6 or 7. Seeing this really touched me and reminded me of how much Joan really does love me. And after Joe and Erik told me how cute they thought she was, I got to say, “Yeah, I realllly am not attracted to her, she’s too much of a sister to me.” You hear that? Too much of a sister to me…
I really have nothing more to say. Just wanted to mention that I’ve missed one of my best friends dearly and I’m glad we’re working on getting back on track with each other. :)
Raditude. You need it.
November 3, 2009 at 1:15 am (music)
Tags: lil wayne, raditude, rivers cuomo, tripping down the freeway, weezer
I just got Weezer’s new album Raditude and have listened to it two times in its entirety already. It’s so fucking good that I’m taking it upon myself to write a review and try to get as many people as possible to pick it up. After the Red Album… and I guess Make Believe and Maladroit, I can understand why people have lost their faith in Weezer. I’m personally a big fan throughout their discography, but it’s time people set aside anything they’ve known about Weezer and start fresh with Raditude. Instead of all this indie music flooding my iTunes library (and just about everyone else’s), it’s so great to finally have some ROCK music in the house. Even Erik and Joe, non-weezer fans, are digging this album hardcore.
The CD opens up with the single, “If You’re Wondering If I Want You To,” which really sets the mood for the rest of the awesomeness. Here we have pretty formulaic rock blended with cathy lyrics, not so formulaic instrumentation, and damn good vocals. And that’s Raditude’s greatest strength. It lays on the rock with the perfect amount of pop hooks, great musicianship, and Rivers’ phenomenal voice leading it all.
The lyrics are a real joy to listen to. Rivers’ way of talking so plainly is often times so endearing and terribly relatable. You’d never think that the line, “I thought tonight would suck like any other night,” could sound so poetic. There’s one song in particular that resonates scarily well with me which I’ll share the lyrics to at the end here. It’s a tune called Tripping Down the Freeway. And then the infamous new song with Lil Wayne, “Can’t Stop Partying” is oddly infectious and will have you singing immediately. Actually, the whole friggin ALBUM is that way. Even through the first listen we all caught on to the lyrics quickly and were singing along by the second chorus of almost every song.
One song in particular, “Love is the Answer” is almost surreal to listen to. It takes Indian music to a level you didn’t know it could reach. If Slumdog Millionaire and the vibe it produces didn’t inspire this song, I’m not sure what did. It’s not going to be for every one and I can already tell that fans + reviewers are going to shit all over it saying “What the hell is this?” But it’s easily one of my favorites by far. Then you’ve got “Let It All Hang Out” that easily could have reached number 1 during the 80s which seriously makes you want to “let it all hang out.” The genuine rock vibe exploding out of Raditude has made me hop around the apartment like a bunny until my legs have gone sore and I definitely rocked out with my Guitar Hero guitar while clothed in nothing but a towel to “The Girl Got Hot.”
In short, you HAVE to get this album. Weezer fan or not, it’s a breath of fresh air from anything else being released by a major label and in fact, I’ll go so far as to say even anything from an independent label. I know I haven’t bought an album like this in a long time and it feels freaking good. Even right now I’m so tired and need sleep and need to do homework, but all I wanna do instead is sit here listening to Weezer.
Now, as promised… here are the lyrics that touch me deep every time I listen to it.
no way, we ain’t gonna break up
we made a promise and our will won’t fade out
not just in ‘09 and ‘10
we’ll be together from now until the very end
you’ve got the Shirley Applebee look
i’m totally caught up on your hook
you know that we are gonna be ok
we’ll stick together as we’re tripping down the freeway
Also, click the following link to see the most delightful music video I’ve come across in ages. 
Weezer : Now Playing : (If You’re Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To.
A Blog About Love.
November 2, 2009 at 6:23 pm (love)
Tags: boyfriends, family, friends, girlfriends, happiness, love, lovers, romance
“It’s a long story, and complicated to boot, but.. just, thanks for the encouragement with the **** thing. We’re really finally coming into our own as a couple (and trust me, it has NOT been an easy road… we’ve been togetherish for fourth months, only four DAYS of which we’ve been able to spend together), and it’s… the most. I know the last part of that sentence is missing a noun, but that’s intentional. It is the most. It doesn’t require a noun. I think you must have some idea of what I mean. You’ve been in love before. You ARE in love. You know. It’s the most. No other words needed. The most. The end. I know we must be doing something right because every time he says “I love you,” or calls, or even just enters my thoughts, my heart goes WHOOSH. I never really thought I was the “falling in love” type, but… this is divine. This is love, I know it. So thanks for recognizing that potential and nudging me towards it, even though it’s difficult to be apart and feel this much. It’s worth it. He’s worth it.”
This is an e-mail I received from a friend of mine about a certain person special to her heart. And I broadcast it for the shear reason that it’s beautiful. Hearing about happy couples, stories about love flourishing- it brings me joy.
哀話世界の周りです。
Love actually is all around.
A common mindset that people adopted when they entered college is that everything needs to be grounded in reality. If there is a time when people look at their dreams and go, “Yup… that’s all they are,” it’s when they get into college. And there’s not even some great event that happens. There’s just a stigma to living life on one’s own and it throws his/her perspective on its side and leaves a person feeling different. One typical sentiment so many people I know have come to share is that they forget about the power of love. Love has stopped making the world turn for so many people because they think that good grades which will lead to a good job in 4+ years is what’s going to sustain them (among other various reasons). But from the background I have, I know that love is something everyone needs, and if you have it? You don’t abandon it, you embrace it harder than you ever have when times get tough. So when anyone dear to me has come to me seeking help with their life, I’ve stayed true to the fact that they need to stay true to the most special person in it. Whether it’s been a family member, a lover, or a friend, it’s all about holding the person you love the most as humanly close to your heart as possible. Since entering college I’ve see tons of breakups lead only to confusion and emptiness. And shortly after the departure, a reconciliation almost always happens, because the two people realize that the love they share isn’t meant to be pushed away, it’s meant to be embraced.
Love is a fucking hard road to tread. It’s so hard because the urgency of two hearts longing to be one is some of the most excruciating pain a person can go through- finding the confidence and the strength to continue on sometimes feels impossible. But what I always like to say is… just remember that you’re feeling that pain. If you feel that pain for a person you adore- imagine how heavy that heart will feel without that person? And on the upside, that grief is beautiful. Your soul is so connected with another’s that it hurts. That’s how hard you are loving.
It’s okay to “need” someone. By lending your life to the hands of another, you are not being weak or pathetic. You’re just being human. We all need someone to lean on and it’s stupid to think we might not. In the e-mail above, you’re reading the account of a girl who never thought “falling in love” was for her… you’re reading the account of probably the toughest, most independent girl I know… yet here she is experiencing her first true love in college and is willingly holding onto it with every single odd stacked against her. And it’s all because she’s just being honest with herself and knows that when her love is in any way a part of her life, it’s the happiest she can possibly be. And while maybe the time’s when he’s away it means it’s the saddest times of her life, she understands that true love is not something that just happens nor is true love something to just shrug off. True love is something to fight for and something that cannot be replaced. What’s more is that love comes with cute texts some mornings that say, “I dreamt of you last night.” Love comes with phone calls that let you discuss anime tv shows like FLCL because no one else seems to enjoy it. Love comes with the warmth of someone always being there to hold your hand and kiss your cold nose. Love comes with tickle fights and a spilled hot tea that was made just for you. Love comes with a permanent movie-watching partner and a food critic always eager to try new things. Love comes with an attractive Indiana Jones prepared to always go on adventures.
Love comes with a partner for life that can make your circle become full.
Regardless of who you are, love makes everyone’s world turn. I am 100% confident in that. That’s how powerful it is. If you’re feeling empty, if you’re feeling sad, if you’re feeling confused, afflicted, distressed, stressed, messed, or ANYTHING. Let the love in. Call a friend to say hi, text your girlfriend that you miss her, Skype with parents just to see their faces. I know I’m jumping around here talking about all different sorts of love- from platonic to paternal to romantic- but it’s all love… and it’s all going to make you feel wonderful. In my opinion it’s the romantic love that really fills you up the most… but love is love. It feels fucking awesome no matter where you get it or how intense it is.
The Beatles didn’t totally nail it… You need more than just love in your life. You need a lot more. But you wanna know something? You still need love.
Embraceable You (thoughts to jazz piano).
November 1, 2009 at 10:10 pm (love)
Tags: dreams, harriet, love
I miss slow dancing in the basement.
And driving through the night listening to Nightmare of You after a nice dinner.
And lying to everyone about where I was when the only place I could be found was in the arms of another.
And falling asleep to a sweet “Goodnight” and waking up to lovely morning sentiments.
And sneaking in kisses when no one was looking.
And stealing little kisses when everyone was looking.
And holding hands just to make it through the halls.
And leaving notes just to prove I care.
And watching movies only to not watch at all.
And laughing when maybe there was nothing there to laugh at.
And staring stupidly because the words won’t come.
And gazing deeply because I didn’t need to say anything at all.
And cuddling in backseats because driving home would just take too long.
And skipping school because in reality, we were just that cool.
And singing along to songs that said everything we felt.
And making whispered confessions because we just wanted the other to know.
And walking in to parties only to steal the show.
And hosting parties because we are the show.
And daydreaming about our wedding.
And smiling endlessly about all the adventures we’d have.
あなたとふたりでいきてゆきたい。
