Oh ye dear med school…
You’re quite the sneaky toddler
Drawing me in with enticement
Of good things to come
Yet whenever I dote on you
I feel ripped, drawn
To the edges of my sanity.
His voice can melt through bars of pure gold, exposing the rich, creamy milk chocolate center within.
Why Taylor Swift is woefully cast as ‘Eponine’ on the big screen version of Les Miserables.
Taylor Swift’s songs might have been a hit with the masses and yes, I sang to some of her hits from time to time, but the thin quality of her voice (and her debatable acting chops) wouldn’t do Eponine’s character justice.
She will definitely struggle singing songs sung by Eponine like the famous ‘On My Own,” considering the thick, strong and powerful vocal range it requires.
While Taylor Swift won a lot of Grammys, being a decent singer doesn’t exactly mean you can sing every note that’s out there. Hopefully they find a worthy actress with a great singing voice for the role. But until then, Lea Salonga remains to be the best Eponine of all Les Miserables history.
Indie Rock Crushes of 2011
One of the most fun bits of listing the best music of the year is also ranking one of the indie rock crushes of 2011, as what Stereogum does every year. Stereogum holds The Gummy Awards every year and for this category, the top ten men who got in the most covetable award of THE indie rock crush of 2011 is the dreamy Sufjan Stevens. Here I break down the top 10 artists/band members with some personal critique and a few favorite songs from them as well.
Male crushes:
10 Alex Turner (Arctic Monkeys) - Arctic Monkeys is probably one of the lingering well performing rock bands of the decade for me and some of the credit goes to the charming Mr. Turner.
Favorite songs:
- “The View from the Afternoon”
- “Only Ones Who Know”
- “I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor”
09 Bradford Cox (Deerhunter, Atlas Sound) - Not much of a fan. I only heard a couple of songs from them, and I do think they’re interesting.
Favorite songs:
As Deerhoof:
- The Simian Mobile Disco Rework of “Octet.”
As Atlas Sound
- “Headphones”
- “Terra Incognita”
- “Walkabout”
08 Anthony Gonzalez (M83) -Of m83, I’m definitely a fan. And there’s more than oft haunting albeit romantic sound of their music that draws the flocks of fans. Sometimes, good looks also help. I wouldn’t mind knocking down a few bedposts with him. (Sounds so cliched but still.)
Favorite songs:
- “Steve McQueen”
- “Midnight City”
- “Graveyard Girl”
- “Kim and Jessie”
- “Skin of the Night”
07 Matt Berninger (The National) -The National’s Matt Berninger deserves to be in every year’s list (whether its for best album or best looking frontman). They’re actually one of the first indie rock bands I’ve come across ever since I started blogging. Boxer was something so fresh and new to me and I’ve completely fallen in love with it. They’re the few bands I’ve known to have the perfectly melancholic sound and great lyrics executed with pure delicacy. And I also have a thing for marginally older, bearded smart men with deep voices. He should’ve been higher up on the list though.
Favorite songs:
- “About Today”
- “Mr. November”
- “Fake Empire”
- “Start a War”
- “Apartment Story”
- “Racing Like a Pro”
- “So far Around The Bend”
06 Ryan Gosling (Dead Man’s Bones) -Ryan Gosling’s band formed with Zach Shields called Dead Man’s Bones got in Stereogum’s list largely due to the fact that Ryan Gosling is all kinds of sizzling. I’m not exactly their biggest fan but I do recognize talent when I hear one. And those photoshopped abs of his, man. Even guys can’t help but be mesmerized.
Favorite song: Well, not exactly favorite, but “My Body’s A Zombie for You” is kind of good.
05 Donald Glover (Childish Gambino)- Donald Glover is my spirit animal. Really. I am almost always in fits of laughter in almost every Community episode due to Danny Pudi’s “Abed” and his character in the show, “Troy.” And to find out he’s the man behind my playlist of October, “Camp” by Childish Gambino, is just the cherry on top of my indie rock music crush cake.
Favorite songs:
- “Heartbeat”
- “Bonfire”
- “Backpackers”
04 Christopher Owens (Girls) - Oooh. Girls. Christopher Owens efeminate looks might not be for everyone, but it certainly is for me.
Favorite songs:
- “Lust for Life.”
- “Vomit”
- “Lawrence”
03 James Blake - James Blake is the go-to artist for me when I look for some really good electronic and dubstep music with some soul. And I really loved his acoustic tracks. Plus he’s got this whole sweet silent guy appeal that I like. :)
Favorite songs:
- “Enough Thunder”
- “I Only Know (What I Know Now)”
- “Limit To Your Love”
- personal favorite, “A Case of You (Joni Mitchell cover)”
02 Justin Vernon (Bon Iver) - Justin Vernon is, like many of my favorite artists, one of the best songwriters. How he manages to make passionate music without having the listener’s interest wane is just beyond my knowledge. I can listen for hours on end of my favorite album, “For Emma, Forever Ago,” and still play it the day after. Seriously. And his 2011 self titled album is just as perfect as the last one. And again, his beardedness might be the main reason why I got drawn to him the first time but I think it’s just what his music feels like why I can’t keep my ears off.
Favorite songs: Everything, actually. But if I had to pick, it’ll be:
- “re:Stacks”
- “Holocene (Live Session Version)”
- “Skinny Love”
- “Beth/Rest (Solo Piano Version)”
- “I Can’t Make You Love Me”
- “Perth”
- “The Wolves (Act I and II)”
01 Sufjan Stevens - Sufjan Stevens. Where do I begin? His music is pure beauty (as he is). I’ve never seen him perform live but listening to hsi songs feels so enchanting that I think I might faint or have an orgasm while listening to him live. Don’t you think it’s perfect that he performs with those entrancing colorful wings of his?
Favorite music:
- “You Are the Blood”
- “The Dress Looks Nice on You”
- “Come On! Feel The Illinoise!”
- “Casimir Pulaski Day”
- “Chicago”
- “Concerning The UFO Sighting Near Highland, Illinois,”
- “John Wayne Gacy, Jr”
Who’s your indie rock crush of 2011?
I know its inconsiderate to ask ‘Why?’, but sometimes asking the question can’t be helped. I truly feel like it isn’t fair. We never get a chance. Iligan City never gets a chance to get back up on its feet.
Our city always get negative publicity from the media which is why we hardly get as much tourists coming by as we should (Iligan has really good places and sites, if you must know). First, by the rebel ‘attacks’ (no doubt exaggerated by the media), the greater Manila area and a big chunk of Luzon think our city have rifle-wearing rebels lurking everywhere. But no. I love my city despite it’s inadequacies. It’s simple, no hassle and truth be told—SAFE (contrary to popular belief).
Now by Mother’s Nature’s whipping hand in the guise of a typhoon named Sendong, a large part of our city (as well as our neighbor Cagayan de Oro) crumbles to a pile of mud, trees, debris and lost lives and livelihood… I hope this devastating disaster would be the last to hit my beloved town. God knows how people here live simply. To have their joy ripped from the very marrow of their lives in a flash is NEVER a thing to be shrugged off and said in a “Life goes on” manner (yes, I’m talking about you Kris). In the following years, as we try to rebuild from the rubble, heal the wounds of the immense loss and have the smile in our faces return, we hope you’d help us by spreading good word of our city and what is true (not necessarily what the media says it to be). Words have great power and when used to a certain effect, can alter not only the image of a city but the lives of everyone in it.
That being said, I hope all of us who’ve lost something/someone/everything will get past this. Time heals all wounds. We can’t do anything about what has happened, but we sure can do something about our future.
If I’m going to be filthy rich, I’m spending my dough on:
- Shoes and clothes
- Books (well I’m making my own library)
- travel to absolutely anywhere in the world
- a high end entertainment system
- trampoline (I’ve always wanted one, but they don’t sell any here.)
- the cutest pet dog (preferably of Corgi breed)
- a rest house for our family
- do some philanthropy (I always like to pay it forward)
- some light sabers and paintball guns
- a clone of Ryan Gosling/Clark Gable/Johnny Depp/Hugh Jackman/Matt Damon
- surfing lessons
- more time off work
- a nice hybrid car
This weather makes it impossible for me to accomplish anything in my to-do list. I just want to unleash the procrastinator in me and grab the nearest mug of hot tea, gulp it down fast and then sleep like the dead.
I know I have a lot of options but a.) I don’t want to resort to caffeine to get my energy up, b.) I won’t go for protein bars or anything sweet (gives me headaches) and c) my unmade bed still looks extremely inviting.
Maybe a slap in the face would do the trick.
Sharon Van Etten, 'Serpents'
I love this woman. I did a review of her song with She Keeps Bees called ‘Cuddle Alone’ in my old music blog and by some cosmic event or favor from God, an email from a certain Sharon popped up in my email a week after. She and I got to talking about some pop culture things (since I practically panicked at the sight of her name and wouldn’t want for her to assume I’m dull and cannot come up with some interesting topic for conversation).
Then she proceeded on telling me I should go watch some of her shows. I went like IS THIS REAL OR AM I DREAMING? I would’ve gone to every show she has PRONTO if only I didn’t live continents apart from her (which unfortunately I forgot to mention to her until the later part of the conversation). I don’t know what that short conversation mediated by internet and Google mail meant for her but for me, it was surreal ang magical.
Apologies, (Little) Victories, Goals, among many other things I have to say!
Apologies:
I haven’t posted as often as I should (my queue is doing that task for me). And I have about 15 or 16 asks BEGGING TO BE ANSWERED. I apologize for the delay. The questions are really good and also VERY DIFFICULT TO ANSWER, which is why I’m taking time to answer them and I’m contented with my answer. I’m not that much of a perfectionist but I want my answer to be well thought, you know? Thanks to the wonderful people giving me the asks!
(Little) Victories:
Now, I am officially, wait for it, A STUDENT! Yes, I have graduated, and no, I’m not doing this just for fun. I’m taking up my lacking subjects until I get to my serious mode for another half a decade of burying myself in books. I actually thought I’d never get enrolled because I skipped on the first few days of enrolling for irregular students. The slots were extremely limited and I barely got in due to my tardiness! Not a good way to start the semester. As much as a close call that was, I’m happy I got through it all without (my hope) faltering.
Goals (year end until the end of the semester)
- Be more organized
- No grade below 2.00 (B-)
- Lose a few lbs (and keep it off)
- Cuss less often
- Make more eye contact with (cough) interesting people. Because the eye contact I can maintain with prospect men last ONLY 2.0943537845765 seconds. The numbers have to increase.
- Less internet (2hrs a week?) Like that’s even possible. I will report on developments on my internet withdrawal!
- Bake more. And make money out of it.
- Finish this tower of novels during the holiday season.
I have more bullets for the goals that needed to be accomplished but I have to keep it real (meaning make a list of things I can actually do). The losing weight part is just wishful thinking, but hey, we all have dreams. It’s worth a shot right?
Me, with my brother and cousins in Ate Diane’s wedding with Dr. Sam. Photobooths are fun :)
Of mornings, early bird-dom and the unbreakable bond of family.
Had a 40 min jog w/ dad, breakfast, washing dishes and cleaning the house! Now I know why it feels great to be an early bird!
One of the benefits of my early jog is I get to wake up early. My natural waking time, 10 am or so, prevents me from doing any of this because come 9am, the sun is scorching hot (yes even in November). And I get to breath the fresh air on the hill where we jog in. Usually I jog with Mom, Dad, and Don, my brother. But this time, since the 2nd semester is starting, Mom is busy handling her students in the college and Don is also enrolling. I too will be enrolling but not until the 7th of November. So it’s just me and Dad today.
Today was good day for a jog. We started a few minutes before six and the climate was cool. We went up to the hill and back jogging uphill and briskly walking downhill so that Dad can keep up. Haha. I’m not much of a sporty person but I pride myself of my endurance in activities like jogging. Dad and I have our differences. And by that I mean a lot. Mom and Dad are pretty conservative and I have a wild streak so you can expect how often we clash. But whenever Dad and I get talking, I’m always moved. Dad’s a pretty humble person and he came from a hard and difficult life. Well both Mom and Dad did. So sometimes I tame myself down. They may make my life dull and boring at times, but they were the ones who raised me and my brother the best way they can. And Dad always has this way of getting to me, despite my irrefutable stubbornness. At this era, I don’t know how many can say they have great families and wonderful parents, so as much as I can, I tell them and show them how grateful I am for being brought up to be the person that I am now. I suggest you do to, to whomever you consider family!
Last hurrah for October - Day at the beach and then at the Pryce cemeteries.
