Last month, I came across a movie poster that was seem going to be another romantic comedy teen drama movie, judging from the poster. But, I always tell myself to never judge a book from its cover (or in this case, never judge a movie from its poster), so I Googled it. Turned out it's a musical film that is written and directed by Stuart Murdoch (the lead of Belle and Sebastian) and played by the adorable Emily Browning and Olly Alexander (of course there's Hannah Murray too). With all those aspects, I decided to watch it and quite excited about it.
The movie revolves around Eve (Emily Browning), an aspiring musician who struggle with eating disorder that lands her in a hospital. The free spirited Eve is not a fan of being locked up. Just like a normal teenager of her age, one night she escaped the hospital and went to a club in Glasgow. There, she met James (Olly Alexander) who is one of the performers that night but the music is not appreciated by the audiences that he decided to call it quit early. From there, the two of them maintain a friendship where James seems to be wanting more but he was to shy or self-conscious to say it.
Later in the journey, the pair befriended with Cassie (Hannah Murray), an idle rich girl who have been taking musical lesson from James. The three of them then decided to make a pop band. During the making of their demo album, they spent most times together exploring the cities and getting to know each other and have fun while still struggling with their own issues. Eve is still struggling with her eating disorder despite she's doing what she really loves and her passion in live, which is music, but she also knows that she need to be healthier to pursue good education in music. James is still struggling to figure Eve out, knowing what she really wants and think about. But, most of all, he really struggles to find out whether Eve fancies him or not. Cassie, being the simple minded she is, is struggling to just understand what Eve and James are talking about (and I'm saying it in adorable way, not the mean one). The movie's focus is about music and it is not the only thing that makes it count to be called a musical film. Just like another musical film, we will occasionally find some musical numbers where the actors sing and dance. To people who is not really keen with this kind of movie might find it a bit cheesy, but to me who ADORE musical so very much, this movie is like heaven. To describe it easier, this movie is like the compilation of several music videos with dialogs and plot. The movie is light and fun but also dark in the same time. There are times when the movie shows the audience what kind of struggle Eve has and the root of her pain. It makes us, as audience, attach to the character.
The cinematography of the movie is really dreamy, kind of dreamy you would find on almost every pop indie music video. It makes you feel nostalgic and being nostalgic is good. It makes you happy, or at least makes you remember that there are still good things in this world.
Being a musical movie and a movie came from a musician, music is definitely important for this movie. I started to listen to the original God Help The Girl album (which is a side project from Stuart Murdoch) around three or four years ago and I love it. The movie was made based on the album and Stuart started to write plot based on the songs on the album. Some movie soundtracks probably was chosen to fit the scene, but it works the other way around, where the scenes were written to fit the songs. For example, the original album has a song called I'll Have To Dance With Cassie and the scene showed Cassie dances alone at the dance floor.
The
soundtrack album consisted of all songs from the original album
re-recorded and remixed and are sung by the casts. It also features
three new track, also are sung by the casts: Pretty Wind Blows, I Dumped You First and I'm Not Rich. Including the dialogues and scores from the movie, there are 28 tracks in the album. I personally love the soundtrack album because Emily, Olly and Hannah provide different colors to the already existing songs.
Few weeks ago, I watched an interesting show on National Geographic Channel about human behavior. Specifically, about the addiction over cell phones. The show showed us how people are so attached to their phones they cannot put their hands off their phones even for like five minutes. Even when they were having dinner with friends or families, each one of them was busy with their own phones. They, well, we, are more connected to people who are miles away from us, or even strangers who know little about us than to people who actually were staying in the same room with us and know us very well. It is unavoidable for us, being part of modern world, to develop that kind of behavior. But I really think we should be able not to let the behavior control us. We should limit which one is important. I am able to say this because I was part of the behavior and is still trying hard to control it. I also took this Smartphone Abuse Test online and I was more convinced that I was addicted to my phone. I had to do something about it. Addiction is never a good thing, right? Since that, I have been made several changes to make it right. I am not a mobile-phone free, and I don't think I will be, but I spend much less time with my phone then I used to. I cut down my phone applications. The more apps you have on your phones, the more time you spend with it. This is the ultimate reason why we can't live without our phones. I used to have four instant messaging apps, four social network apps, two photo/video editor apps and several game apps. I could sit all day to chat, check/post updates, edit photos/videos and play games. I wouldn't even realized how much time had passed, and that is the main point of having bunch of apps on your phone. Cutting down your phone applications means you force yourself to spend less time with cyber world and more time with your real world. Now, I only have one messaging apps and that's all. I cut down my social network accounts. I used to have seven active social media accounts (this blogspot account included) because, why not? A new social media portal is invented in daily basis (this is an exaggeration but you get the point) and I have always curious about it, therefore I need to sign up first to know how it works and whether or not I am interested, most cases. As the time passed by, the excitement wore down and I became less and less interested to those kind of things. Now, I have deleted four out of seven accounts I own because I no longer need them or got bored. Yes, I still have three social media accounts but you can say that I'm temporarily leaving the social media madness. Since I have uninstalled all social media apps from my phone, I need to turn on my computer if want to log in to one of it. The fact is, even when my computer is on, I rarely log in to any of it (well, except now). I haven't tweeted in two months, no tumblr-ing in the past four months and my last blog was four/five months ago.
Of course, social media is not the only thing that keeping me attached to my phone. There is also instant messaging. These days, I have been trying to stay low on my messaging habit. I turn off notifications on my Line's group and sometimes check it only when I'm alone. In that way, when people really need to reach me immediately, they will contact me on my personal chat room or even call. These are my personal achievements and I am proud of it. Technologies are made to make our life easier. It brings people who are separated by space closer. It is also the faster way of communication. But everything has its own side effect. Too much of everything is not good for you. Be smart. Real life awaits you.
Beautifully written of pain and anger. That's all I can say about Epik High's latest album Shoebox. After two year hiatus since their previous album, 99, Epik High is finally back with their brilliant lyrics and addictive beats with several featuring artists in addition to the already awesome tracks.
As a long time fans, you may be relieved that this album s finally back to the old sound of Epik High you fell in love with (some, if not most, their fans were quite anxious when 99 was released saying that they were making YG's music not Epik High's). As for new listeners, you will definitely fall in love with their beautiful and witty lyrics (you can't help it when both rapper in the group are poets) and really cannot ignore the wicked addictive beats created by DJ Tukutz. At the end of the day, you'd probably ended up purchasing their old albums on online portals :)
Most of lyrics are written by Tablo with additional rap written by Mithra Jin. Seeing from his previous works (both music and book), I always knew that he is really dark person, as in he rarely write about happy things. Knowing that this is the third project (second for Epik High) after the Tanjinyo incident, I kind of expected some anger and/or pain. To my surprise, all tracks are either sad or angry. Not as depressing as Fever's End, but still :) The first track to open the album is Encore. With beautiful sound of violin to open the track but it then rises up with the sound of from turntable, the song tells you story about struggling through the pain and finally got the strength to rise back up and come back again. This track to show the world that with what ever hardship the group has been trough, they are back stronger than ever. Lyrics 'Fuck and thank you' in the song got me smiling. It was as if they are saying 'I hate you for hurting me but I am thanking you for making me stronger.' I also love how they put the sampling of The Miracles's I Didn't Realize The Show Was Over to state the fact that Epik High are still here, they're not done yet.
Born Hater and Amor Fati have similar anger with stronger approach. Living by the tittle, Born Hater is about haters in general. No further explanation needed LOL. With the line up Beenzino, Verbal Jint, Winner's Mino, iKON's Bobby and B.I make this track full of rappers with, apparently, experiences of dealing with haters. When I first watched the MV, the opening beat had already caught my attention. The awesome beats continued until the end of the song and it is something you cannot get off you ears and mind for quite sometime. My one of favorite lines are Tablo's 'Tanjinyo, go ahead and crawl up too. I'm trying to love you.' And yes, ladies and gentlemen, that young boy called Bobby really can rap thus he won the rap survival show. Not to mention the already-developed rap flow of Kim Han Bin aka B.I.
When Born Hater makes you want to stomp you feet to the ground and scream (or curse, maybe? I know I do), Amor Fati gives you different vibe of anger (I don't know if anger is the right term. It's the combination of feeling helpless and disappointed). Featuring Nell's Kim Jong Wan, the track gives you melancholy feeling making you ask yourself questions about life itself. It is an emotional song with deep lyrics.
In Burj Khalifa, they are basically bragging about how their music is so addictive it can make you high 'My High is Epic.' With the addictive tunes and additional strong lyrics from Yankie and Dynamic Duo's Gaeko make this track an anthem that you cannot move on from easily. It is one of my favorite tracks it bring up your mood. Really good to listen early in the morning when you barely able to open your eyes :)
Happen Ending and Spoiler are the tittle tracks for the album and, somehow, both songs share similar theme. The sadness of ending a relationship. The tempo are not that slow to get you depressed but once you listen to the lyrics and the way they rap/sing, you will get the vibe. Lyrics 'You gamble with love, but that same love is someone’s life savings. Then you get someone else to buy your lies, having that next person pay your debts' and 'Do we come together to love or do we come together in order to break apart?' in Happen Ending really got me.
Fight Ourselves is another featuring track with Younha, and yes it really meets my expectation of sorrowful, painful and heart-clenching song. The track is so painful it makes you want to curl on your bed doing nothing or drinking in a cafe while watching rain through the window and just cry. This is not the first time Epik High collaborate with the singer (or the other way around) and their combination is always able to break the sentimental side of me. It is another sad sing about love and relationship. About the never ending fight between a couple that they got so tired of it 'This is me and you. Stop.'. I dare to say Life is Good is the only song with positive vibe in this album. 'Even if you pray for my misfortune, and want me to bite the dust,
I’m gonna be fine.
My life is good.' The chirp voice of Jay Park featured in the song added happy feeling to it. Even though some of the lyrics are about how people want to see you fail and destroy you but the happy tunes make you don't give a damn and just keep smiling. It give you strength to face the mean world. Over all, the album is excellent. I really have nothing to say. Call me subjective but I really do love every single song in the album. Tablo once mentioned that this album is for those who feel hurt and wronged. I really can feel their intention, moreover knowing the incidents happened to them in the past, makes me understand the darkness, emotion and struggle in this album. Epik High is back. Epically.
Album image is taken from google Lyrics translation by Tablo
Eight years, we've been listening to good music from you. We've been watching mind-blowing performances. We've been witnessing amazing teamwork between the five of you. We've been inspired to push ourselves beyond our limit to chase our dreams just watching you guys do it. We've been able to become stronger no matter what hardships we've been through, because you've been done so. Eight years and still counting. We will still expect more good music, amazing performances and awesome teamwork from you because we know you will always be growing and moving forward to the better direction. No matter how many solo works each member had done and will be done, we know you guys are always the strongest when you are together. It's been eight years and it will be to the infinity and beyond. Thank you and we love you.
The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team
Photos are taken from yg-life and BIGBANG official facebook
I've been waiting for his solo album since 2008. He's been talking about making solo album since 2008. His company been talking about releasing his solo album since 2008. And now, six years later, he finally released his solo album. A Japanese solo album, but still. To be fair, last year he did release a solo album consisting his cover over already-popular Japanese songs. But this time, he actually released a solo album with new composed songs.
Among the other five members of BIGBANG,
Daesung's music is probably the kind of music I listen to the least. Not
necessarily hate, I just don't really listen to kind of music Daesung
does for his solo album (I can say this because I know what kind of
music he loves and he makes music based of what he loves and listen).
Nevertheless, his amazing husky powerful voice makes me listen to every
single solo he does aside from my music preferences and loving every
single of it. After releasing his first Japanese solo cover album, he's
greeting his fans again with another Japanese solo album, which is
FINALLY consist of new written songs. The album consists of nine
original songs, including the Japanese version of his previous singles Look at Me, Gwisoon and Try Smiling, and one cover song I Love You.
As I expected from Daesung, his album is consisting of slow tempo songs. And the other thing that I realized was, this is a sad album. Six out of nine, his songs are about being brokenhearted. Makes me wondering just how many heartbreaks he's been through or whether he just got out from a relationship LOL. Rainy Rainy and Awake Asleep are slow tempo songs about bad break up and the pain of being left by the people that we love. About the feeling when we encounter the memories about that person. Learning about the lyrics and listening to the music got me into sentimental feeling. Still with the similar theme, Feelings Deepened, Shut Up, Two people? Alone! and Dress gives you a medium tempo heartbreaking songs with the touch of Rock music. The composition of melody guitar, drum and piano build the rock ballad feeling for the songs which compliment Daesung's husky voice. Shut Up is another contribution from the leader, G-Dragon, for his fellow member.
Even When The World Ends is a song about expressing huge love towards another person that he can do anything for that person, give everything he has as long as they are together. The lyrics 'Everything is for you. Just stay with me, this is my happiness' and the chorus 'Even if everybody leaves and even if I lose everything. As long as you’re here I don’t need anything. I can die for you. Even when the world ends as long as you’re here, it’s all good' really got me deep. My friend speculated that this song is actually talking about his fans and how his fans are very precious to him. But the song has deep lyrics.
The other three songs in the album are the Japanese version of his previous Korean solo; Look at Me, Gwisoon and Try Smiling and also another cover of an already famous Japanese song, I Love You, which kind of disappointing because, obviously, we need more of new songs of his instead of putting the Japanese version songs or the cover song (which, may I add, they already released an album just to promote the one song). But, oh well. This album is also another proud moment for Daesung's fans (and of course for Daesung himself) because he actually wrote lyrics for some songs. He wrote six songs out of seven new songs. He even entitled as one of the producers for this album. It's impressive. Okay, I need a moment to collect my proud tears again, excuse me :') I know he wrote one or two songs years ago and I expected him to write one or two songs for his solo album but I never thought that 85% songs for his album are written by him. Moreover as the producer. It just shows us how well prepared he is with the solo project. Six years. Damn you, YG! D'slove is an album to show more sides of him, to explore his musicality ability and as gratitude towards his fans for showing amazing support toward him. D'slove is a prove that Daesung is an amazing singer and also amazing musician. D'slove is Daesung's love for his passion and fans.
'FINALLY' was the the first word I said shouted when I
heard the news about the release date of Taeyang's second solo full-length album.
After waiting for four good years, and worrying over him because he is
showing some kind depression over his not-yet-released album (joking), fans are finally able to breathe and be relieved. It is seriously a long time to prepare an album yet it got
paid off. It's really worth the wait. Fans or not, I am confident to say
that a lot of people will cherish the album simply because of good music and
awesome voice.This
album has been on my playlist since day one the album was released and I
play it over and over and over and over without showing the sign of
boredom. I don't think I listened to another album other than this just
until recently.
Taeyang is known for his sweet voice and R&B music genre, and this album also gives you the similar genre. You can feel the modern R&B feeling on its intro 'RISE' where he bragged with lyrics 'Everytime that people say it's the end, i will show I'm forever'. You can tell that intro plays an important part in the whole album, it's like the mood setter, to welcome you to the album. 'Eyes, Nose, Lips' and 'This Ain't It' are two adult-R&B-semi-ballad songs in this album which will give you sorrow, lonely feeling yet very beautiful whenever you hear them. The songs are dominated by simple piano tunes allowing you to focus on his beautiful voice and the emotions it holds.
'1AM', 'Stay With Me', 'Let Go' and 'Love You To Death' give you more beat, more sounds, just like Taeyang's signature contemporary R&B. 'Stay With Me' is another GDYB (G-Dragon and Young Bae) combo, which I anticipated a lot after both of them hinted another featuring track months before the release's date, and it doesn't fail me. Okay, it might be my emotional feeling towards their friendship, but I love the lyrics 'for worse or for better stay with me forever' on the song, as if they are saying it to each other (okay.. delusional. But maybe not lol). 'Body' is an electronic Daft Punk-ish track. Listening to the lyrics, I think it was supposed to be a some kind of sexy song for it talks about female's figure without objectifying them. 'Ringga Lingga' is, I have to be honest, was the least favorite track in this album. I wasn't really fond about it, but it starting to grow in me. Like I said, I've been listening to the album over and over and over and over. It is a hip-hop-dubstep-contemporary-R&B kind of song. Whenever I listen to it, I feel like a gangster and without realizing, I start to walk like one hahahahahaha.... Over all, the album is an almost ten. I don't really listen to
sad-slow songs because I'm easily swayed by the emotions but not
listening to this album would be a crime. I just need to deal with the
overwhelming feeling I got afterwards. Four years sure are a very long time to prepare an album, to think about the concept, the flow and the mood. It's emotional. It's beautiful. It's TAEYANG.
