In case you needed another reason to want to move to Japan, I have found another. I have decided to ditch college and move into the Goose House.
Forget auditioning to become a musical theatre major. Forget studying at Northwestern. Forget my dream dorm room. Forget my college Pinterest board. Forget performing on Broadway. Forget living a relaxed life in the United States. Just forget it all. I've already started saving up to move far away from the States and over to Asia.
Okay, so maybe five dollars won't get me a plane ticket. But I'm in the process of applying for a job at my local library, so I'll just use the money I was going to put in a bank account for college and put it in my travel fund instead! And I'll need to go to school to study Japanese. Man, I did not think this through.
Okay, scratch that. I won't ditch the ACT. I'll still take vocal lessons, gymnastic lessons, and audition for plays (I'm auditioning to play Natalie in Next to Normal in a few months, I'm auditioning for a Nutcracker-esque musical soon, and I'm already in Les Miserables!). I'll still keep my grades up (although, I think I'm developing a minor case of senioritis-- and I'm not even a senior yet!). Looks like Japan is gonna have to wait.
But still. I think I have found my best friends. They don't know it, but we're best friends.
When I was little, I used to want to join a sorority and live in a house with sorority sisters. However, I already have biological sisters, and if I can't stand having two, how am I supposed to survive with that times ten? But I think I want to live in the Goose House.
Goose House is a band of (at least) eight people. I don't know if they all live together or they just like to record in that house, but it doesn't matter. Because I'm going to move to Japan and live with them. I mean, they've helped me with my Chinese summer homework (上海 and 花，meaning "Shanghai" [the city] in Chinese, and the next character, "Hana," being the same character in Chinese and meaning "flower"). They've helped me find hair and fashion inspiration. They've helped me discover new music. They've helped me bring out my guitar (one that's been collecting dust for far too long). So it's obvious we should be friends.
Enough talking, here's some of their music!
If you don't admire any of the girls' style or the guys' guitar and mandolin skills, something's wrong. But there are two things you can learn from this at the very least: 1) Not all Japanese people look the same, unlike many think and 2) Japanese girls can pull off any hair length. Or outfit. Like, for real. Those outfits look gorgeous, but the moment I try to wear one of them, it'll look so hideous I won't leave the house in it.
This song translates to "Shanghai Honey," performed by ORANGE RANGE. I wish I knew this song when I was preparing for my entrance Chinese test! Shanghai was one of our vocabulary words. I don't really understand what's going on at the beginning of the video, but surprisingly, I actually understand some of what they're saying! Maybe getting a minor in Chinese or Japanese language is actually for me.
This is "Hana," also originally performed by ORANGE RANGE! Yes, I've blogged about that band, too (look up "Asterisk"). This song definitely does the original justice-- I like it just as much, or even more! I think this might actually be my favorite Goose House cover so far. SAY YEAH!
Yes, these Japanese kids (who are probably in their twenties but whatever) speak English. I honestly like this better than the original. I usually like Taylor Swift covers better than the originals. I think it's because of the use of both genders in this cover. Honestly, the only hope I have in ever meeting these people is because I know they can speak English.
And, of course, the very first song I ever heard by Goose House-- their cover of Linked Horizon's "Guren no Yumiya!" This is the song that got me really listening to their music, so thank you Shingeki no Kyojin!
Here is a list of songs I would love to hear them cover:
"Hanabi" by Ikimono-Gakari
"Life is Like a Boat" by Rie Fu
"My Pace" by SunSet Swish
"Daisy" by Stereo Dive Foundation
Some musicians just make me fangirl. They inspire me to become a better musician, to keep chasing my dreams, to one day become successful (take note of this: "successful" doesn't have to mean "famous!").
Great musicians need great friends. Great friends make great collabs. I'm actually thinking about forming a folk band this year with some of my school friends!
So, here are some artists that NEED to meet up and make some songs together.
1. The Secret Sisters and Eden's Edge
Would you believe how big these two "unknown" bands have gotten? The Secret Sisters are on The Hunger Games album. Eden's Edge is pretty much mainstream. I found out about Eden's Edge through Deas Vail (the lead singer, Hannah Blaylock, is the sister of Deas Vail's lead singer, Wesley Blaylock) but it should have been the other way around! Still, there is some serious talent running in the Blaylock genes. Imagine these two country/folk bands together. Just imagine.
2. The Good Mad and Eden's Edge
Listen to "Follow Your Heart" and then listen to "Too Good to be True" again. I think THIS would be a SERIOUSLY EPIC collab. Maybe just because these are my absolute favorite country bands.
3. The Musical Dorks and Megan and Liz
I don't know why I want them to collaborate. But I do.
4. Measure and Death Cab for Cutie
I am seriously obsessed with "Begin Again" and these two bands' piano rock indie styles (even though neither are very indie anymore!) would just be beautiful together. So come on... why not?
5. Athlete and Coldplay
These bands are both British, creative, amazing, and have got me fangirling every time I hear another one of their amazing songs. Coldplay's new album makes me dance. Their older stuff reaches into my soul, same with Athlete.
6. Kari Jobe and Katie Costello
These two girls sound like angels.
7. Yael Naim and Chad Sugg
I love this world-y feel both songs have. You know, the kind of music that brings you home no matter where you are.
8. Taylor Swift, Hannah Blaylock (Eden's Edge), Wesley Blaylock (Deas Vail)
These three artists. Together. Oh, yes.
I love Taylor Swift and The Civil Wars' "Safe and Sound" from The Hunger Games: From District 12 and Beyond soundtrack. The entire soundtrakc is amazing... there's "Safe and Sound," "One Engine" by The Decemberists, and "Abraham's Daughter" by Arcade Fire, and more.
Many people have covered this song, so here are all of the covers I've seen, and I don't necessarily like ALL of them, but I like most.
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I love Christina, but... STOP TALKING FOR SO LONG AT THE BEGINNING OF YOUR VIDEOS! On this video she cut back on the talking, thanks. It would have been a great collaboration, though, just a suggestion.
Megan Nicole and Tiffany Alvord... two girls I almost NEVER have blogged about. Their cover was the first one I heard. I like it, I just don't like THEM very much, and I don't know why. Tiffany because she collabs with EVERYBODY on YouTube and it scares me. Megan because she doesn't look very confident when she sings and rarely smiles.
This is one of my absolute favorite covers of this song. For once, someone did the "ooh ooh ooh ooh" parts perfectly! Luke Conard's collab was AMAZING on that, too. I just found out about the girl, Ellie, today. She sent me a message on YouTube telling me to look at her "A Thousand Years" cover. I'm VERY picky about that song, and she nailed it. I am SUPER picky about this song especially, but she and Landon aced it. I love how Landon took his voice down a full key but Ellie sang in the original key. i know a lot of singers who WOULDN'T like that, but I do. I love Ellie, but her stage presence is almost as bad as mine, if that's possible. Ellie, this will sound awkward, but you're beautiful (your voice=amazing!) so SMILE, girl!
Megan and Liz. Gosh, you know I LOOOOOOOVVVVEEEEE these twins, but let me be honest, here--- like I said, I am VERY picky about covers, this song especially. And if the bridge or ending aren't (both "ooh"ing) the way they originally were (I don't care if you improvise, but PLEASE keep that part the same), I probably won't like the cover. So Here it is. I kinda hated their cover. And also, the chord at 2:57 to 3:00... I don't think ANY of the covers did that right. You'd have to check the original for that. But in the original, it has this... it's hard to describe a chord.... I don't know... this feeling that shows that the song is leading up to the bridge. And all the covers just did that chorus like normal. And I REALLY liked that part in the original.
Luke Conard... I love him. Faith introduced me to Joey from WinterSpringPro, and WSP did a Hunger Games parody that I blogged awhile ago. Then that introduced me to Luke. Then Luke posted this video. They did the bridge right. I think they met all my expectations... and better!
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It all comes down to this...
Which was your favorite?
For once, I can tell you what mine are.
FIRST PLACE: Luke Conard!!!!! And no.... it's not just because you're SUPER cute. I also hear you're like, thirty, though. I pray that's not true. But I also looked you up on one of those Yellow Pages sites or something and guess what? I heard you have an average income... which I find hard to believe BUT! That means! I have a chance of meeting you. I just gotta move to Iowa.
SECOND PLACE: Landon Austin (with Ellie!). You guys like, almost MATCHED th eoriginal an dI really apreciate it.
THIRD PLACE: Megan Nicole and Tiffany Alvord. They sound great!
...THIS BLOG BEGAN! And thus, this blog began many other blogs. A gymnastics one, a 4-H one, a school one, a reporting-turned-art one that got deleted in STEM Foundations class, a pro-life one which is the newest one with the smallest amount of publicity. And I am also the newest member of the JAM Adventures blog.
This blog, and more importantly its readers, has done so much for me. The blog because without it, I wouldn't have discovered my love for writing fiction and newly I have discovered my love for poetry and songwriting. If you see my second post and then this one (I will not link to the first because it is really pitiful), there is a pretty big difference that I hope you can see. With the second post, you can pretty much infer that I was in the fifth grade and I was. Didn't know much about blogging, I just knew I wanted to do it. And that helped me improve in grammar, in which I am suffering a B in Language! Yuck! But then again, I did skip the eighth grade and move up to freshman Language in seventh grade and this year I had to go back to eighth. And how do the readers help? Whenever I'm feeling down, just in the perfect time I receive a comment from one of you, and it makes me feel suddenly much happier. I do want more followers, but I kinda like the title I have for myslef, the indie blogger.
So, here are my top 3's!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Fave band
1. Deas Vail (indie rock/alternative/Christian)
2. Coldplay (alternative/pop)
3. Local Natives (indie rock/folk)
Fave solo artist
1. Taylor Swift (country/pop)
2. Katie Costello (indie pop)
3. Yael Naim (indie folk/pop)
Fave cover artist
1. Megan and Liz
2. Boyce Avenue
3. Cimorelli
Fave music genre
1. Folk
2. Alternative rock
3. Country
(I also like worship and Christian music, but that can fit in all of those categories, really.)
Fave indie rock song
1. "Monday" by The Sea and Cake
2. "Wide Eyes" by the Local Natives
3. "Life in These Little Boats" by Deas Vail
Fave indie folk song
1. "Airplanes" by the Local Natives
2. "Go to the River" by Yael Naim
3. "Come Home" by Yael Naim
Fave indie pop song
1. "Anywhere Place" by Katie Costello
2. "Oh, Imagine That" by Max and Simon
3. "Ships in the Night" by Mat Kearney
Fave alternative song
1. "The Middle" by Jimmy Eat World
2. "Over My Head" by The Fray
3. "Dare to Believe" by Boyce Avenue
Fave country song
1. "Safe and Sound" by Taylor Swift and The Civil Wars (no, they're not racists)
2. "Size Matters" by Joe Nichols
3. "Best Days of Your Life" by Kellie Pickler
Fave mainstream pop song
1. "Liar Liar" by Christina Grimmie
2. "Far Away" by Tyga and Chris Richardson
3. "Old School Love" by Megan and Liz
Fave orchestra song
1. "Mombasa" by Hans Zimmer
2. "Time" by Hans Zimmer
3. "Doctor Who Opening Credits" by BBC National Orchestra of Wales and Ben Foster
Fave metal song
1. "Bring Me to Life" by Evanescence
2. "Again" by Flyleaf
3. "My Heart is Broken" by Evanescence
Fave instrument
1. Acoustic guitar
2. Electric cello
3. Piano
Role model
1. Laura Blaylock (from Deas Vail)
2. Kendall Jenner (she's a Kardashian, sorry...)
3. Ann Marie Calhoun (a rock violinist who has done a performance at the Inception premiere with Hans Zimmer, Johnny Marr, and Lili Hadyn)
Hair inspiration
1. Amy Lee (from Evanescence)
2. Lili Hadyn (her hair is super curly)
3. Miley Cyrus (crappy singer, but her song "When I Look at You" is beautiful)
Fashion inspiration
1. Taylor Swift
2. Laura Blaylock
3. Liz Mace (from Megan and Liz)
Fave tele show
1. Doctor Who
2. Switched at Birth
3. The Lying Game, I guess
Fave movie
1. The Help
2. The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (Disney/Walden)
3. Inception
Fave book
1. "Beatle Meets Destiny" by Gabrielle Williams
2. "The Harvest of Grace" (reviewed but I don't feel like posting a link) by Cindy Woodsmall
3. "Pretty Little Liars" by Sara Shepard
My main talents
1. Writing short stories and novels.
2. Music, which would be Vocals/Guitar/String Bass/Piano. I've been singing for two years, playing guitar for nine months, string bass for one year (very small amount of practice though), piano for four years however I am just now working on chords.
3. Collaging. If that's how you spell it. I put magazine papers on EVERYTHING--- I have a composition notebook that has a whole bunch of stuff on the out and inside covers, plus my wall if full of posters, all perfectly aligned with each other, I try to make them perfectly straight, and not one poster is one hundred percent next to the other. Can't wait for freshman art class this year!
My fun facts
1. I am supposedly in the seventh grade
2. I am thirteen years old and 5'9" and the second or third tallest girl in my class
3. I was a cheerleader for three years and the best tumbler on my squad. I'm also a former gymnast. I miss gymnastics soooo much. So now I do human videos and I still get to spot and base stunts.
My aspirations
1. Be a famous journalist and novelist
2. A member of an indie rock or folk band, preferably as the guitarist or lead vocalist
3. Be a pastor's wife!!! I know for sure that's on my list... prayed about it at Ohio Youth Convention 2011!
If you know me, you know...
1. I love Jesus with all my heart and will give up ANYTHING for Him. "I wanna live, but I would die for You." -Fireflight
2. I have gone through a few things in the past, but I have learned to give it all a 'whatever' and move on
3. I write because I want everyone to have the chance to be as happy in life as I am!
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Y.B.M.L.a.Y!
Ah, the goodness music does for mankind. So, I made a seasonal series of what I am listening to right now. So, here is what I'm listening to right now! (In no particular order.)
"Old School Love" by Megan and Liz. "Does anybody miss that" old school love? I think so! The music video is really weird and the dancing is really awkward... But I love 1:15 through to 1:41. I've always wanted to hold a guy hostage... as bad as that may have sounded, it was completely innocent, trust me. And the guy on the left is named TJ. I have seen another video he's in (and he talks!) and it will be on Eighth Graders Anonymous very soon. Twinning??? Yes. Megan and Liz are fraternal twin sisters. They look sreepily similar here, especially at that part I just pointed out when they're doing all the same motions... so creepy... so awesome!
"Airplanes" by the Local Natives. I love the piano, the bass, the percussion, the really weird lyrics, everything. And the violin, to Pluto and back. I love how it says "I keep those chopsticks you had from when you taught abroad, taught abroad in Japan." I love the song in general. I first heard the song at school. I love my school. I love the Skull Candy headphones I first heard this song with. I love the iPod it was on (Because it has "Move Along" by the All-American Rejects and a song by Peter Bjorn and John on it). I love YouTube. I love the person that posted the unofficial video on YouTube (@BennisHahn). "I love it all... so much I call, want you back, back, back... You back..."
"Safe and Sound" by Taylor Swift and The Civil Wars. The song was made for The Hunger Games, and I am more than excited! I never quite finished that series... LoL, didn't have the time to. But the song is just b-e-a-utiful... Even Faith likes, and that is a big deal coming from the Anti-TaylorSwift.
"Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots" parts 1 and 2, by The Flaming Lips. Hate the band name, love the song. Part 1 is very inspiring, about a girl named Yoshimi who battled cancer and... well, she died. Part 2 is the battle... intense. And Yoshimi has a screaming part in it!
"Young Folks" by Peter, Bjorn and John. Self-explanatory why I love it.
"We Found Love" cover by Boyce Avenue. Love them. I hated the song before they covered it. Like, seriously. Cold hate. But Boyce Avenue changed all that. And, in honor of the brothers, my guitar is named Daniel Fabian Alejandro.
"Take My Hand" by The Cab. Totally reminds me of middle school drama. So, my advice? "Don't worry, just breathe... Say they wanna change, I hope that you remain the same to show that this is not a game, let's end this tragedy today. Now take my hand and we will run away down to this place that I know... We won't, be apart of, we won't, be apart of this..."
"Go to the River" by Yael Naim. Who doesn't love her???
"Time" by Hans Zimmer:) for obvious reasons.
"Again" by Flyleaf. Everybody hates Flyleaf and everybody loves them. I don't know how I feel. But I know for sure I love this song.
"Your Love Never Fails" by Jesus Culture. When I first heard this song, I was in church with the adults an dwas like... "It's not that good a song..." Then I heard the original and was like, "Oh! The adult worship team didn't do this song justice at all..." and I have permission to say that about them because my dad is the worship team's main bassist!
"Bring Me to Life" by Evanescence. I just love Amy Lee's voice so much...
"The Redeemer" by Sanctus Real. I can't get away from this beautiful band...
"Battle At Aslan's How" by Harry Gregson-Williams, who composed lots of my gymnastics music way back in the day. He's 2012's Beethoven, Hans Zimmer is our Mozart.
"Liar Liar" by Christina Grimmie. Christina... "Tell me why these roads keep leading... leading you right back..."
"When You're Gone" by Avril Lavigne. An old classic I've always loved... and now I can play it on guitar!
"Hey Mama" by Mat Kearney. Catchiest song I've ever heard. This is a pop-ish song, but I am making an exception--- Mat, you're amazing!
"Sing You Home" by Xenia. I saw the video in a Justin Bieber playlist and was like, "Xenia? Hey, that's a city in my state!" Then I realized the girl's name is Xenia. Yeah, she was a contestant on The Voice last year. I only watched some of it because Adam Levine was on it.
"Ships in the Night" by Mat Kearney. Okay, this is definitely pop, no exceptions. But i don't care... this is what pop music was MEANT to be.
And, of course, every. Deas. Vail. song. there. is.
I hope your Christmas ROCKed. So, here's a couple rock songs (and a few pop) to vote for!
"The Story of Us" by Taylor Swift... catchy song, eh? Now, please don't hate on me when I say I love country music. I LOVE COUNTRY MUSIC! It's amazing! I love Tay Tay (T Swift)'s voice especially. It's kinda little-kiddy, like mine. So, to those that have heard her new song "Safe & Sound" for "The Hunger Games"??? You know that song keeps replaying on my iPod, which has to get fixed. But I love that song. I think The Civil Wars and Taylor Swift should like, band together or something, because they sound really good together in that song. REALLY GOOD.
"Take My Hand" by The Cab. I bought this song on iTunes and was greatly disappointed. It sounds nothing like this. The tempo is slightly different which is fine, but the guitar is distorted and TOO LOUD. However, the vocals are nice. Like in the iTunes version of this, after it says "Down to this place that I know..." it repeats "Place that I know!" and I love that part. However, in the verses they have some robotic BGVs that kinda ruin it for me. But I love the synth in the iTunes version. Overall, I like this version better, so that's why you're seeing pictures of Megan and Liz.
"Skyscraper" by Demi Lovato. Honestly? The covers of this are better than the original, in my opinion. I bought Cimorelli's version (I like their live version better... the studio version overuses auto-tune) and I love Boyce Avenue's version... did I tell you I'm seeing them live in March if I get my way (which I probably won't)? But the song has just such a powerful message and that's all that matters to me.
"Oh, Imagine That"! by Max and Simon. This duo has really had a good year. First, they had a song featured in Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis' new movie's soundtrack. Then, this song was featured on JCPenney's back-to-school commercial. So you thought you've heard this song before? Now you know how! And, it's living happiness in a song... who wouldn't like it? "Imagine that, imagine back. Imagine this, imagine that. Imagine that. OH! Imagine that!"
"Bleed" by Hot Chelle Rae. I love 1:21 through to 1:34. This band has skyrocketed also, and this song is waaaaaaay better than the famed "Tonight, Tonight". I remember when I was practically the only one of all my friends that had heard "Tonight, Tonight" and then all of a sudden, EVERYBODY knows that song! And I heard them play it live... um... no comment. But this song is amazing. I'll never be sick of it.
"Far Away" by Tyga and Chris Richardson. It's one of those songs you know you have to buy from the second you hear "Walk a thousand miles... just to see her, see her, but she's FAR FAR AWAAAAAY!!!" It's just such a sad song!!! You know "The Scientist" by Coldplay? Well yeah, I hate that song, but the music videos have the same thing. In "The Scientist" the girl dies in a car crash. In "Far Away" the girl dies in a car crash as well but I think her death was much, much worse... she was hit by a semi truck and that was right after she got in a HUGE fight with the guy. Sucks for him, eh???
"Fixed at Zero" by VersaEmerge. Sierra's voice haunts me when she says "There's a vulture on my shoulder..." And now I think my favorite animal is a vulture, all because of this song. Creepy stuff, I know. Like, I was watching this stupid movie and these guys were riding motorcycles in the hot Nevada desert. Their bikes all happened to break down because they were too stupid to stop for gas and didn't realize the sign by the gas station said "No gas for 200 miles". So they're like, crying as they're walking with their bikes and this vulture appears out of nowhere (me and Faith were singing this song) and they're just like, "You get the heck outta here!" That was a really stupid movie... I need to find out the name of it... in fact, I think it was actually a series, LoL!
"Summer days are held in a photograph. It's never the same. We can't go back."
FINALLY! Now, I can officially say that summer has forgotten me. Bye-bye swimming pools, staying up 'til 3 a.m., waking up at 2 p.m., humidity, hair that can't be tamed, and my favorite: Phoenix weather. I can't let Phoenix forget me--- I loved that place! I love how I did my hair when I was there--- I blow-dried the roots but let the rest stay soaking wet, and after two minutes outside, there it was, dry hair.
Well, hello school, the misery business, the illness that even though it's killing me now, it will lead me to success. I haven't blogged much lately, and I think I'm dead! But I didn't even get to see Jesus. However, my bus route goes by a whole bunch of houses that have angel statues in front of them (not good), and every time we drive by I tell myself, "DON'T BLINK." In case you've never seen "Doctor Who", angel statues are called Weeping Angels and if you blink, they are so fast that they can kill you in that small amount of time your eyes are closed. Creepy monsters they are. If I could be any monster from "Doctor Who", I'd be The Siren without a doubt. She's this beautiful angel who sings and stuff, and if you touch her you disappear. Then, in her little hospital or whatever where she holds people that have cut themselves or are injured in any way, if you touch a patient (as Amy learned when she touched her husband Rory's hand) she will turn into this red fireball. She's scary, but she rocks. If I could be any companion of the doctor (Matt Smith), I'd be Amy Pond because she's so awesome. Or I'd be River. I hate that character, but at the same time you have to love her because she's Amy and Rory's daughter, plus she's one bad chick! But overall, who wouldn't wanna be Matt Smith??? Ah, I'm a geek. A Whovian. I'm Hope and I'm a BBC American.
So yeah... waaay off topic. Well, things have been great. I'm joining my Youth group's worship team REALLY SOON, and here are a few songs that have been so true lately:
Is there a special someone? Ha ha, maybe. No one I wanna date though. At least not now.
Well, it's autumn. Hello, caramel apples, popcorn balls, hayrides, colorful leaves, food (Thanksgiving, baby!), furry boots and feather extensions, hot cocoa, bonfires, autumn breeze, corn mazes, and two announcements.
DEAS VAIL'S ALBUM IS COMING OUT OCTOBER 11TH!!!!!!
I'M TURNING THIRTEEN--- FINALLY!
Finally, I'll be able to call myself a teenager. I won't be easily defined as the youngest in my class anymore! I bet I'll still feel the same, but at least I won't get awkward stares when I say my age.
Like, one time in art class, my teacher asked if I was thirteen yet because we were gonna make art blogs (perfect for me, eh?) but didn't because some are under thirteen, and I was like, "No, I'm still twelve."
"You're twelve?" Shari asked.
"You're twelve?" Someone else asked. Maybe Makayla, I don't remember.
"You're twelve?" Another person, I believe it was Ian, asked.
"Guys, is there an echo in here or something?" I wondered out loud. One thing that is so true about the class of 2016 is this: We're eighth graders, we don't know anything. I might blog about that on "Eighth Graders Anonymous".
But yeah. So excited for autumn. This season is just so emotional--- expect some poems from me.
Rock on,
Hope!!!!!
P.S. Visit my buddy Mister Crow's (alias) blogs today, "Let's Meet On Cloud 9" and "Mid-Morning Sunset". They are in the blog list.
GREAT GREAT news! I'm learning my first two songs on guitar: "Rolling in the Deep" by Adele (it's so easy, but impressive... it's gonna sound so sweet when it's done!) and "Better Than Revenge" by Taylor Swift. I've been working on the Adele song the longest.
Who would've thought my first song would be "Rolling in the Deep"? I expected it to be a Relient K or Deas Vail song, because I'm a way bigger fan of them, but my dad was teaching me how to fret and tune (with still only five strings) when I held a note that was the exact same one that begins "Rolling in the Deep"! I freaked out and decided to learn the whole song! But I am soooo not gonna look at the chords--- I wanna figure this one out myself. I'll be playing my own originals soon enough (I'm turning my poetry into songs). This is bloody awesome!
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"All you are is mean." Huh? "All you are is mean."
Ever wondered... who is Taylor Swift calling mean (sorry, if I've talked about her a lot lately)? A boyfriend again? Bullies? Technically, none of the above.
It was a critic. Bob Lefsetz, to be exact. He once was a big fan, but then switched sides ("You, and your switching sides..." Sound familiar?) and wrote a harsh review of Swift's 2010 Grammy performance, saying her career was over. At first, I was like, "What an immature reaction to a bad review". But then I realized, there was this one girl who used to be my friend (but we didn't get into a fight, we just don't talk anymore), and I was talking to her about how I plan to publish three books before college.
Her reaction? "Well, do you really think you're gonna get a book published?"
You can only imagine how mad I was. I can see her years from now at Harvard, talking at the Science Olympics, with that same big loud opinion but nobody's listening, pounds gained and yapping about the same old bitter things. Fat and grumbling on about how I can't write. But all she is is mean.
All she is is mean. And snobby. And pathetic. And will have a tough time making friends and mean. And mean. And mean. And mean.
But someday, I'll be living in New York City, and all she's ever gonna be is mean. YEAH! Someday, I'll be big enough so she can't insult me, and all she's ever gonna be is mean. Why she gotta be so mean? I'll be editor of "Seventeen", and all she's ever gonna be is mean. Why she gotta be so mean? I'll be big enough so she can't insult me, and all she's ever gonna be is mean.
When you hear me say "playlist", you probably automatically think of the iPod on this blog (doesn't it look so cool?). I've been using it for two years now.
Well, here's what I've been listening to this summer (including some not-so-Christian songs).
"Chap Stick, Chapped Lips, And Things Like Chemistry" by Relient K. I've loved that song since I was eight years old.
"Closer" by Shawn McDonald. This song is the catchy-est Christian song I've ever heard, and it kinda reminds me of something Bruno Mars would do.
"Again" by Flyleaf. It's my favorite Flyleaf song, and one of my most-listened-to songs this summer! It's just awesome! I listen to it when I'm mad and it makes me happy AGAIN. I also love the meaning behind it. Watch... there just might be a lyric post of it coming from me soon!
"Better Than Revenge" by Taylor Swift. This is probably her best song, although I really like the lyrics to "Long Live". This is my favorite Taylor Swift song ever... WHOA OH!
"Desperate" by Fireflight. I love the guitar, and Dawn's voice is just incredible. It's impossible to sing that high for me! How does she do it? My favorite Fireflight member is Wendy, because she has awesome hair and plays bass (just like my dad does and I'm learning)!
"Fixed At Zero" by VersaEmerge. I used the video to this in "Operation: Stage Presence" last month, because not only do they have good presence, but Sierra's voice is awesome (and too high for my range)! I also love the guitar at 2:46 and 2:51. I don't know why, but it always gets me right there. Why isn't this song on my iPod? Don't ask me!
"For Those Who Wait" by Fireflight. I listened to that song a lot at the beginning of summer, so that explains why I'm kinda sick of it.
"Emergency" by Paramore. This song is sorta sad, but "It's really not your fault, when no one cares to talk about it..." I posted this in "Operation: Fun Fun Fun FUN!" Because my stage presence "Is an emergency".
"Best Love Song" by CIMORELLI. I like it better than the original, and Even though it's not the best love song, it was good enough for me to post it, and it sure is the "Crunkest"!
"Must Have Done Something Right" by Relient K. I once had this song on repeat for like, an hour! Okay, maybe not that long. But I'm "racking my brain for a new improved way" to listen to this song, because a stereo isn't good enough! If I knew Matt (both Thiessen and Hoopes), we'd be best friends. Matt Thiessen, "We should get jerseys cuz we make a good team. But yours would look better than mine, cuz you're outta my league". Stay tuned for a lyric post.
"Summer Forgets Me" by Deas Vail. I love the entire band, so I can't decide on a favorite! But if I have to have one, it'd be either Wes because he's the lead singer, Laura because she's awesome, or the bassist (forgot his name) because his stage presence is so awesome, it's almost funny! Stay tuned for a lyric post of "Summer Forgets Me".
Okay, I can't help myself... I have to tell you what the new Deas Vail song is. It's called "Gone". I love all the "oh"-ing in it. I'm kinda mad at Deas Vail right now because although it made it onto the Split EP with Farewell Flight, it won't be on the album I pre-ordered. But I'll get over it. All that matters is the meaning behind this song. Stay tuned for a lyric post of it.
"Baby" by Relient K. It's the best cover I've ever heard... I instantly fell in love with it.
"Here you are, down on your knees AGAIN. Trying to find air to breathe AGAIN. And only surrender will help you now. I love you, please see and believe AGAIN."
-Flyleaf, "Again", my song pick of today. Stay tuned for a lyric post.
I don't think anyone likes to be bullied, just stating the obvious. That's why I had my HEROES week earlier this year. I thought long and hard about saving this post for the next HEROES week, but no. I decided this shouldn't have to wait.
Do YOU think heroes are only in movies? What about villains?
I don't exactly agree with the bridge of ^^^"Mean"^^^, mainly I don't like the whole "I can see you years from now in a bar..." I mean, gosh... don't bring the person down that brought you down! Also I just don't like bars (obviously). I also don't like "All you are is mean. And a liar, and pathetic, and alone in life..." NO ONE is alone in life, no matter how mean they are, Miss Swift.
I posted this post because there is a movie premiering on ABC Family on Sunday called "Cyberbu//y". So why do people do it? Why are there cyberbullies?
My guess is that people can't see you on Facebook, Twitter, MySpace (if anyone still uses that), BlogSpot, Tumblr, or WordPress. When no one can hear your words or see you saying them, you feel less bad about it because you don't see the reactions. It's not just that. I'm not a mean person, let alone a bully, and I feel comfortable saying anything and everything on my blog. I'm not afraid to say that I basically cried at the end of "Inception" and "Letters To God". I'm not afraid to even tell you some of my secrets. But if I were speaking to you in real life, you wouldn't know much about me at all. I tell my fellow bloggies things that I haven't even told my closest friends. Honestly, I think my followers know more about me than my besties.
So, since people are more comfortable on the computer when they don't have to face their opponent face-to-face, they feel free to say it and don't always think about the end result.
They don't always think that the person could be crying right now.
They don't always think that the person might be cutting their wrists right now.
They don't always think that the person has developed an eating disorder.
They don't always think that the person is having suicidal thoughts.
They don't always think that the person might not be alive tomorrow.
They think that the person will get over it eventually.
They think it doesn't really matter.
They think that their words won't be taken seriously.
They DON'T think about how fate could be just around the corner.
They know that their words wouldn't have been said out loud (most likely).
"You keep telling yourself what you know. But what do you believe?"
-Mal, "Inception".
I believe that bullying probably won't be stopped, but you'll never know. Even though it is impossible to completely erase something out of this world of billions of people, you have to have faith.You have to believe that anything is possible.
"It's not faith if you're using your eyes... I've gone for too long living like I'm not alive, so I'm gonna start over tonight, beginning with you and I..."
Today, we are not misspelling. We are using baby language.
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OWWHHH.... wook at dat pwiece of cwake! Isn't it bweautiful? Last Wednesday was Kay-wa's sweet sixteenth bwirthday! But on Saturday, it was her Super Sweet Sixteen.
As you see, I'm wearing a knee-length bwack dress.
I missed Wednesday's Walk yesterday because my mom made us shut down the computer until we did our chores or something of the sort. Tomorrow is my first "RandomNess Friday" and you can link up! (Don't forget to read Prism's blog.) We're still gonna do our Narnia stuff, but for now, I gotta read The Magician's Nephew.
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Honestly, I was going to blog about how much I'm dreading volleyball yesterday, but I'm glad I didn't! We won our game today! I'm loving it! My serve is usually great, (thanks to my coach from last year, Alan) but today it was kinda... well... all over the place. But otherwise, I did good. Our whole team did good. These girls have basically all played junior high school volleyball, so we're a really good team. WHOOO HOO!
The video looks a little small, but I hope you can see it. To tell you the truth, I think it's really weird how like, there's this girl rocking out on her violin, but I can't hear violin, like, anywhere in the song.
This song, anyway, relates to me a lot. It reminds me so much of gymnastics. At the beginning when Taylor says "Somebody else gets what you wanted again", it reminds me of the meets/competitions, really only one meet but gazillion practices, a girl named Megan* and her friend Tori* were good at every event. (although I was really good on the beam and floor, they still did great) Megan was a bigtime vaulter. She was so fast, and she was tall like me. (so I had no excuse for being a slow vaulter.) She was the perfect example of a great gymnast, someone worthy of making the level 5 team. Or was she really worthy of making the team?
Physically, yes. Mentally, no. She was rude. To me, she wasn't. Towards her mom, she was. Very annoying. She always talked back (to the coach, I'm not sure, but I think so) and I couldn't understand why i tried so hard and she still was better than me.
Then there's Tori. The typical middle school cheerleader. Her attitude was the average cheerleader behavior. I'm a cheerleader, I'm not snobby. But I also don't cheer anymore. Kayla is a cheerleader, but she's friendly. Tori isn't.
Tori didn't talk back, (and this is before she was a cheerleader.) and she was kinda nice. To me, at least. But she was a huge perfectionist. If the springboard was slightly out of place, she perfected it. What kind of nerd does that--- WHAT THE HECK???!!!!
She bruised easily. That's her skin, she can't control that. But Tori.... oh Tori. Drama Queen all the way. Once, she bruised on the vault when she fell at practice, (we all got hurt that day, especially me. I had to vault on a cut foot, and she's the one complaining?) and she was crying for so long, we were on the beam and she's still crying. Baby, baby, baby--- annoying.
Tori was great on the floor. At practice, when we knew our dance routines well enough, my coach would turn off the music ("I'll Find My Own Way" by Harry Gregson-Williams from the X-Men Wolverine sountrack) after every single mistake made. Tori and I had good technique, so we both had the longest timing. Her routine was almost flawless, but she messed up on our easiest skill, a handstand forward-roll. At the very end of the routine. A skill I had perfectly, and the way I did it was even compared to the way my coach did it. But Tori could dance better. Tori already had her back walkover. Tori almost had her back handspring. Tori had great balance.
Megan was strong. Megan had her front handspring on the floor and back handspring on the wedge. She was great at tucks. Her tumbling skills were unbelievable. her balance was crazy good.
So here's what happened: We had a competition last March and it was my first time as a level 4, a very respected level at our YMCA. Our first event was floor. "I'm gonna win this." Or so I thought.
During this time, I was very achy from whatever happened to my hip, and could not do the splits. Bad, because that was the beginning of my routine. I couldn't make the back walkover, ya all know that. My legs split in the middle of my back handspring/flic flac/flip flop/lions' leap. I ended the routine perfectly, but it didn't matter at that point, because as usual, Tori did it perfectly.
On beam, I failed worse than that. I fell, one too many times. Megan admitted (her words!) "I was afraid Hope was gonna win. I was surprised she didn't." Well, she won. Because she's really good. She won vault, also, and I got bronze. Not too shabby there. But that didn't matter. 26.2 points. Second-to-last in the all-around, and only beat the last place girl by .1 points. Embarrassing for both of us.
But Marnie* said "Everyone wil be last, sometimes it's you." She was after me in the all-around, and when she said that, I stopped feeling sorry for myself. I felt bad for her, and knew that we needed to practice and then it would work.
Victory isn't easy. "Rome wasn't built overnight..." is one of those inspiring sayings. So I keep practicing, and maybe I'll make it to victory. And maybe I have level 5 in store for me someday.
Those things will change, I'll see it soon. Don't be discouraged, because it will only bring you further down. Do everything with no regrets and you're sure to shine!
