The theme of Tennyson’s poem “The Lady of Shallot” is brought up throughout the music video. Often seen as anti-feminist, I’m one of those that argue the feminist side of the poem.
I took the GRE on the 15th. On my way back from ETSU in Johnson City, I stopped in at PetSmart in Kingsport…Falkor, a male fire betta fish, is my newest companion.
Naturally, when I saw the little guy, I feel in love with him! The two small boxes beside him (above the fish tanks) were empty; he stuck out charmingly.
I settled on a name after debating a few hours…Oriel was the first choice, Falkor the second one.
Why did I decide on Falkor?
The fish is completely blue except for when he fans out his tail it shows the color red (the guy at PetSmart said that's why this type of betta is called a fire one, it looks like a flame). In addition, Falkor’s back fin reminded me of a dragon’s wing.
So, you ask, where does the name Falkor come from?
It’s the name of a luckdragon from Michael Ende's novel "The Neverending Story" that had red eyes and breathed blue fire and was Bastian’s companion.
Once music wasn’t an important part of my life; I was quiet, so I preferred my life and surrounding environment to be quiet. That has changed, significantly.
Music is a source of emotional outlet: It helps you work long hours; it keeps you company when you get lonely and can’t stand the silence; it helps you blow off steam; and so forth and so on.
I never was brave enough to write a music review for The Highland Cavalier while working there. Why? I’m too sensitive when it comes to my preference to music. I have a broad taste from metal to classic, but I can like one song from an artist…or even a line from a song and that’s it.
If I get in your car without fumbling with radio this means we will get along fine, at least in the sense of music taste.
Marissa has had to put up with having her radio reprogrammed…the Mustang survived…so did Marissa. Of course, there’s the usual “I only have three more tracks and I’m through with this book.” Yes, there’s usually a comment on not receiving an eyeroll that’s it’s a romance on CD. *Eyeroll*
Cameron on the other hand puts up a pretty damn good fight. Usually, we agree, if in his car, on the XM channel Octane…no NPR or Howard Stern (unless I get lost in thought). I have to have music when I’m driving or riding in the car. Of course, not too loud because grandpa insists that we like to talk in the car and have to hear one another…that makes sense, but still…I like the volume up when the windows are down and the car is in drive.
I recently wanted to ask someone why a specific song had been chosen to listen to while in the vehicle together...I actually had the desire to reach over and turn the music off but refrained. The thought will be on my mind for awhile but I don’t think I’ll ever ask. I’ll convince myself it was a song, and that’s all it shall be.
What groups do I listen to?
The Killers, Cage the White Elephant, Everclear, All American Rejects, Seether, The Rolling Stones. Then there’s Ozzy, (I didn’t say biting the head off a bat wasn’t weird) Aerosmith, Springsteen, Korn, Placebo, Bowling For Soup, Lit, Buckcherry, Finger Eleven, Gary Allan, Carrie Underwood. The music/artists are more than varied and the list more lengthy than I’ve bothered to share.
I love Beethoven’s “Fur Elise.” Every time I hear it the music sends chills up my spine.
But what about some of the artists that stick with me? That serve as forms of explicit reminders?
Funny how music does that, isn’t it? It rubs the emotions your feeling and enhances them 10 fold. Or, it does the exact opposite – it comforts you in the oddest way, settles your mind.
Here begins only a short list of lyrics/songs that have currently popped into my head…believe me there are many more.
I think about any song from Pink is one that a feminist can enjoy. There’s several of her lyrics I’m fond of, but the meaning in “Just like a pill” seems to make a lot of sense to me: “And I swear you're just like a pill/ Instead of makin' me better, /you keep makin' me ill.”
Damien Rice was an artist I was recommended to listen to a few years back. I rarely listen to him any more, but my favorite lyrics from him are from his song “Rootless Tree”…I almost think you need to listen to the song. If you wish here’s the link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rndltmm3oE.
“What I want from us is learn to let go But we fade the forests, fracture the tide We go blind when we needed to see And it leans on me, like a rootless...
[Here comes my favorite part.]
So fuck you, fuck you, fuck you And all you didn't do I said bleed it, bleed it, bleed it There's nothing in you And do you hate me, hate me, hate me, hate me so much That you can't let me out, let me out, let me out Of hell when you're around Let me out, let me out, let me out Hell when you're around Let me out, let me out, let me out.”
Painfully beautiful in the most poetic way, isn’t it?
Matchbox 20 has a similar favorite lyric: “She said - while you were sleeping I was listening to the radio And wondering what you’re dreaming when It came to mind that I didn’t care.” I always wondered how you could watch someone sleep…be that close to them…and discover you don't care. It’s one of my favorite lyrics, but the words always sadden me. Why do people give up so easily? Why do they quit caring? If I had been her watching him sleep I don’t think I couldn’t have not cared about what he was dreaming…ha, silly, most wouldn’t even think I’d say that…but whenever I hear those lyrics I wonder how she could give up so easily.
Bowie’s “Life on Mars” is simply a song I don’t want to hear. But it plays a part in my past.
Everclear’s “Santa Monica” is a moving on song, a brilliant one at that, I believe.“With my big black boots and an old suitcase I do believe I'll find myself a new place I don't want to be the bad guy I don't want do your sleepwalk dance anymore. ” The video’s old but it’s worth listening to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryYVzcLoe6A
Then there’s Meredith Brooks’ song “Bitch.” I identify with her words. Read her lyrics. Listen to the song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M60cl7bKCMw “I'm a bitch, I'm a lover. I'm a child, I'm a mother. I'm a sinner, I'm a saint. I do not feel ashamed. I'm your health, I'm your dream. I'm nothing in between. You know you wouldn't want it any other way. So take me as I am. This may mean you'll have to be a stronger man. Rest assured that when I start to make you nervous and I'm going to extremes tomorrow I will change and today won't mean a thing...I'm a bitch, I'm a tease. I'm a goddess on my knees. When you hurt, when you suffer I'm your angel undercover. I've been numbed, I'm revived can't say I'm not alive. You know I wouldn't want it any other way.”
Brooks describes what I want dearly, acceptance of what I'm willing to give without changing myself.
Of course, there's lyrics that simply make me laugh because they tickle my fancy. For instance, Theory of a Dead Man's "Little Smirk," "If heaven is a place where the angels go,/then I know I'm going straight to hell!"
This is only a taste of my music preferences.
My music helps me deal; I've learned it is something that defines me. What about yours?
