PLAYLIST: Moving On and Moving Up

On May 6, 2015, I made the biggest decision of my life. I sat my boss down (figuratively; in reality, I asked her to come take a smoke break with me) and told her that I had decided to quit my job. These are not words that you speak; these are words that you hurl. As much intention as you've had, all those months of imagining the day that your lips, your tongue, and your teeth all manage to muster up the courage and the calmness -- in perfectly equal parts -- to consort with impeccable timing, and fluidly say "Thank you for everything. I  would like to work on my life now," you are never really ready to say them. Until you finally do.

Scraping yourself out of bed, trudging to tend to something that you no longer understand, existing through the day, and coming back home with a full bank account, but with a lifeless soul and an empty heart -- at some point, it will get exhausting. Sure, you stick it out to prove your strength, but you could be strong enough to break.

But then breaking isn't necessarily a bad thing. It could mean a welcome, yet bittersweet detachment from many things: from your less study pieces; from the weakest links; from the ball of your chain; from the darkest time of night to daybreak; from Walter White The Cancer Victim, to Walter White The Crime Lord.

Now with the freedom and privilege to comfortably saunter through the world, there has been an earthshaking tectonic shift within myself. It felt like five hundred years, those two months that I spent rearranged and rearranging, being thrown in all directions while keeping my feet nailed to the ground.

But it has become very clear to me that as far as an ordinary life is concerned, I am either not made for it, or I am simply disinterested. It has been a little over a month since my last working day, and it has felt like rebirth. Both my body, and the cogs in my brain have been more well-oiled and busier than they have been in a while. I'm seeing so many new things, and seeing the world with a completely new set of eyes.

























Eight years ago, I went skydiving. It was an impulsive decision, as I am clearly inclined to make. Much like the dive that I made to drop everything to pursue living my life. The only difference between then and now is that it was at a dingy flight school in some far-flung Podunk town in the outskirts of San Francisco, with the landing field in front of me, and I was strapped on to a parachute guaranteed that I would land on my feet (I landed on my knees, kissing the ground) and an Australian instructor who jumped on my behalf. All I could see was a whirl of blues and greens, and all I could hear was the wind whizzing past my head, nothing else.

This time, I've jumped all by myself, all on my own accord, with no parachute to break the fall, nor landing field in sight. But I needed to get my heart racing. To stare the open sky in the face, dare myself to spring off my feet, and free-fall! I'll be screaming the whole way, but I'll be moving so fast, I'll barely hear it.

I confess though, that I feel as if I might be crazy to be doing something so out-of-the-blue and unconventional. To conjure up some tall order of a dream and be crazy enough to create it with my own hands. But then again, everybody I admire is a little crazy. If quitting your job to do something completely wild and unexpected is any testimony, I very well may be. And at this point, I am more than ready to own up to my maniac of a mind -- to tend to my topak and do as I dream -- because I am no longer settling for anything less than that wild, sickening, stomach-churning, heart-in-my-throat feeling that I got from jumping out of a plane at 13,000 feet to fly.

I'm formulating so many plans and figuring out how to make them all work. I wake up a solid 4 hours earlier than I did when I was working, and with gusto! My skin is turning brown. I'm handing out every spontaneous "Yes!" I could give, in every possible direction. I've had so many beautiful conversations with beautiful people whom I have neither seen nor spoken to in far too long. There may be a new romance in the works, we'll see! I am meeting new people, placing myself in their shoes and finding how excellence can be born in the middle of nowhere. I am putting a new language in my head, and then perfecting the ones that I already know. I am filling my head with words of the authors of yore, and streetside poets, who have spoken more truth than anyone at a witness stand. Business ideas are flying off the handle, and wow, how feasible they all are!

My compass has begun to point me towards the direction of what matters. There is so much out there that I've been holding out on, and I am ecstatic to see, hear, touch, taste, smell, and speak to and love, all the colors, sounds, surfaces, flavors, odors, and people that I never have before.

And as the world outside starts to become clearer, the answers to questions of who I am are becoming more lucid as well. I seem to have turned into some sort of hard-ass. All those years of doing events for ABS-CBN was both humbling and empowering, but it was always someone else's shot to call. I was someone else's hand. But now that I am allowed the time and the space for the rest of my body to grow. I can afford to have my heart beat freely and act upon it. Sure, there are things that I am willing to apologize for, but catering to my wants and needs, and not complying to expectations are no longer on that list. I am quicker to recognize four things: What I love; what I excel in; what is good for me; and bullshit. And now that I have the cojones to establish these, and stick by my guns, I can proceed accordingly. Time to show 'em who's boss.

I've said too much. On to the music. These are just a few of the tracks that I've been listening to, to sort of soften the blow of everything that is going on. Enjoy!


1. Alabama Shakes, "Sound and Color"
From what will easily be my personal pick for the the best album of 2015, the carrier single of Alabama Shakes' Sound and Color is a heartbreakingly beautiful existential piece on rediscovering life -- all that is beautiful and strange about it -- in an otherwise dark world. The video complements it so well.

2. Mayer Hawthorne, "In A Phantom Mood"

Detachment anthem! I had this on loop as I was picking things out of my shelves and throwing half of everything I own into boxes. Also, great for sunny, early morning drives on Roxas Boulevard. Try not to get into that infectious bass line! 

3. Alanis Morissette, "You Learn"
Being reckless with yourself never sounded so good.

4. Belle and Sebastian (featuring Norah Jones), "Little Lou, Ugly Jack, Prophet John"
Inspired by the work of Lou Reed, Jack Kerouac, and John Lennon. Difficult to listen to if feelings are raw, but do it anyway because they are raw.

5. Erykah Badu, "Bag Lady" 
Pack light; leave your baggage. That mess will weigh you down, and crowd your space.

All you must hold on to is you.

6. Fleetwood Mac, "Gypsy"

Lightning strikes maybe once, maybe twice
And it lights up the night

7. George Michael, "Freedom '90"
Sure, this one is about George Michael coming out of the closet and breaking free from what everything that he was known for -- being a hotshot sex symbol to teenage girls in the 80s -- but the same sentiment applies to quitting your job, figuring yourself out and being proud of it, no?

But today the way I play the game has got to change, oh yeah
Now I'm gonna get myself happy

8. Rodriguez, "To Whom It May Concern"

9. Hole, "Malibu"

Why are you so burned when you're barely on fire? 

10. Alice Russell (feat. TM Duke), "Hurry on Now"
Killer lady, killer pipes.

11. Jimi Hendrix, "Somewhere Over The Rainbow"

12. Esperanza Spalding, "Precious"

But I'm not going to 

Waste my precious, divine energy,

Trying to explain, and being ashamed

Of what you think is wrong with me

13. FKJ (feat. Jordan Rakei), "Learning To Fly"

14. FKJ (feat. Madelyn Grant), "Waiting"

It is rare that I would allow an artist to make repeat appearances in my public playlists, but clearly, I love this guy. It was crucial to have this particular track on this playlist, because, well, a girl gets impatient, too. And when she's done, you can bet your bottom dollar that she. Is. Done.

PLAYLIST: Summer Soundtrack -- In Flight

Given the expanse of my music collection, I am inclined to sift through it all (often out of necessity, so as not to drown) to weed out tracks that I either particularly like, which would play well with others. Hence, a looooong list of playlists, with themes that go as specific as "The Ancient Japanese Art of Karaoke," or "Black Girls (and Girls that Sound Black)", and my most requested list to date: "Lagkit" -- a collection of the stickiest, sexiest, most syrupy stuff I have.

I figured I'd start doing a thematic playlist series. And since the summer is upon us, it only makes sense to make the first few playlists about the summer.

Everyone seems to be either flying in or out of town this weekend (myself, included), and I had been listening to some of these tracks already anyway, so I'll start with a flight-themed list. Here we go.

1. "Window Seat," Erykah Badu

   So, in my mind I'm touslin'
   Back and forth 'tween here and hustlin'
   I don't wanna time travel no more
   I wanna be here, I'm thinking
   
   So can I get a window seat?
   Don't want nobody next to me
   I just want a ticket outta town
   A look around and a safe touch down

   
   
   Consider this video an urban political interpretation of your walk to the beach. Yes or no?
   
   

2.  "Fly," June Marieezy (FKJ remix)

   For obvious reasons. Albeit, this is one of those cases wherein I personally prefer the remix to the original.
   Much respect to Ms. Marieezy for property testifying to the magnificence of the Philippines, by way of her shout out, and her talent. But it took France's FKJ (French Kiwi Juice, a self-taught multi-instrumentalist whose style includes live improvisations) to really make the track effervescent, giving you "float" instead of just "fly." Plus, their chemistry both on-stage (at last month's Malasimbo Music Festival), and on record is off the charts.
   

   Wrap my head around:
   The whole world is a blast
   If you open up to magic

    Exactly.
   
   



3. "A320," Foo Fighters

   Although there's a slightly morbid undertone to this fear-of-flying anthem, doesn't the journey get a little uncomfortable sometimes anyway? Metaphorically, sometimes you are hesitant to take flight, for fear of crashing. Flying is just a risk that you have to take. The point is, you're already up there. You've already done what it takes. You're already on your way. You're already soaring.
   
   I found a fan-made video of the song, with clips from LOST to accompany it. Because, why the hell not? We have room for a little dark humor around here, hahaha!
   
   
   
   

4. "Drops of Jupiter," Train

   To anyone who flies away to find themselves, and to the ones that they leave behind. This is for you.
   
   
   
   
   

5. "505," Arctic Monkeys

   Not necessarily a "flight" song, but I'd always imagined this song to describe James Bond flying out to meet a dangerous lover of some clandestine love affair, in a secret paradise, with a surprise (*wink, wink*). On that note: Why haven't they been commissioned to do a Bond theme?

   The middle of adventure, such a perfect place to start

   
   

6. "Take Me Somewhere Nice," Mogwai

   Just. Listen.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

7. "Paris (Aeroplane Remix)," Friendly Fires (feat. Au Revoir Simone)

   No real reason. Just feels nice.
   
   
   
   

8. "Cry, Die, Fly," Drew ofthe Drew

   Recommended by a friend from Berklee College of Music, because they went to there together. This said friend linked this to me once when I first started learning the bass, because Drew ofthe Drew (that is right: forget the space) is one bad bassist. Also, their vocalist, Joanna Teters, has got some pipes on her, doesn't she? Bass: check. Vocals: check. Two birds, one act. Sold.
   
   I have listened to this on flights. I have to warn you: it's not easy to pretend that you don't want to sing along or play air-bass (or banjo, if you prefer) with all those people watching.
   
   
   
   

9.  "I Gotta Be More (Take Me Higher)," Al Green

   Again, not much of a reason here, except that I remember listening to Al Green on a relatively long flight once, and this is one that stuck.
   
   
   
   

10. "Curbside Prophet," Jason Mraz

    Just waiting for my rocket to come. Ties in with investing in experience (such as travel) more than your checking account, "because it all amounts to nothing in the end."
    
    

    
    

11. "Heaven," Bitter:Sweet

    Bitter:Sweet is an LA-based electronic/trip-hop band, whom I appreciate immensely because of Shanna Halligan's wispy vocals, and Kiran Shahani's penchant for Latin beats. This one's got a sticky samba groove, which all-in-all reminds of cocktail martinis and 1960s flight attendants.
    
    
    
    

12. "XO," Beyonce

    It is an interesting thing to that there was a bit of controversy around this track, when they used that little sample in the beginning of the song. It just happens to be the last spoken words that were recorded just before the Space Shuttle Challenger blew up into pieces.
    
    To me, it means flying in the dark, towards the light of a beloved place, or a lover's face. 

     

BONUS TRACK:

"I Want You," Erykah Badu

Perhaps this belongs in the to-be MOMOL Playlist that I will, of course, be putting together (or shorten, because there is a loooooong list) but I am putting this on here because this song reminds me of my first kiss. It was the height of summer, and happened right before I hopped on a flight to Bohol. Incidentally, I had just downloaded Erykah Badu's Worldwide Underground album, and this was the first song that came on. I had it on loop the whole flight, the whole weekend, and the whole month after. I still love it today, and is one of my go-tos for when I start to feel the butterflies.

What do you listen to when you're flying?

Monday Moods and Mishal Moore

I'm not going to lie: today has been a difficult day. And it doesn't look like it's going to get better anytime soon. I've been up since exactly 5:20 AM, and by noon, all of my conversations so far had felt like 12 AM ones instead of 12 NN, over several rounds of beer. And tears.

If seems that some very significant changes that I've had to undergo -- which, as fate would have it, all seem to have decided to funnel into one bloody week -- have been met halfheartedly, with distress and a tinge of resentment. A new year; new responsibilities; other, less specific things -- changes which I thought might set a fire inside my belly, but so far, unfortunately, have not. Instead, there are anti-climactic pseudo beginnings, and cliff-hanging pseudo endings. They've only stirred a metaphysical unease so unsettling that, there, I'm back to hardly eating and barely sleeping.

It's disappointing when things don't meet your expectations; whether they exceed them or fall short of them. Ultimately, it's a matter of perspective, I know, but the initial reaction always feels like your knees giving out from under you. I would know, and I have the scratches on my knees to prove it. 

Besides my friends, I've learned to come to music as a source of strength; I know why the caged bird sings. And I'd like to introduce you to this gem of a jam that I've had under my belt for quite a while. 

Initially, I thought that this track was an Erykah Badu/Mark Ronson/Jay-Z effort (listen, and you'll see what I mean), which, I excitedly thought, made it possibly the best-kept secret of all fucking time. (Or, at least since 2009.) Instead, I got Mishal Moore (of Los Angeles, USA) and Kenny "Dope" Gonzalez, who prove to be just as formidable.

Together, they serve "Oh Lord," a Charleston-inducing, 1920's swing-sampled track; psalm-worth lyrics; and effortless melody. Don't be turned-off by the religious theme; you'll want to be brought to church by the first 5 seconds.

 

Run run as fast as you can

Have to find your way to that promised land

Oh sing, sing those tambourines

Life to your soul when the choir sings

Hope you are blessed with faith, happiness, 

and every little dream your heart desires

Take it from me, all these things ain't for free, but

best to do what's right for you and love

love, love, love

Lord give me strength

to face everyday

Oh Lord give me strength

to face everyday

Wake, wake, don't mess around

You'll lose yourself before you even get found

Listen, listen thunder will roll

The very best of you may lose control

Don't stop trying, the hurt will subside, 

In time the boulevard will appear

Don't ask no questions, just thank God for you blessings

Hold on to the key of truth

and love, love, love, love

Lord give me strength

to face everyday

Oh Lord give me strength

to face everyday

You have all the power to decide what's best for you

Don't rely on no one else to show you what to do

I just say

Lord give me strength

to face everyday

Oh Lord give me strength

to face everyday

Oh Lord, please watch me on my journey,

I feel like life's a trial, with the worst attorney;

Oh Lord, please tell me not to worry,

That I still have nothing and just turned 30;

Oh Lord, sometimes I feel so selfish,

Worrying about me when other people are helpless;

Oh Lord, I don't mean to complain,

I just feel better when I speak your name;

Lord, I'm at peace with car breeze and palm trees,

Who knew I'd be a bigger person by praying on my knees?

Lord, please,

God forgive me for my sins in times of need

CASTANO x PORTILLO (#1)

Uncomfortable feat. Abi Portillo by carloscastano

Carlos Castano, "Uncomfortable" (feat. Abi Portillo)

It was soooo hard to keep this under wraps for so long and I've been itching itching itching to tell people about this but I didn't want to spoil the surprise. After all, I am only guesting on his album. But it's a huuuuuge relief to finally be able to! I'm so excited about it!

Carlos asked me to be on his album after he and Abi Rode played at the same gig a few moons ago. One stormy afternoon a couple of moons after that, the song was done and recorded in the span of 4 or 5 hours.

Man, if I could just sing for a bloody living...

Anyway, his new album PERMANENCE is now available to download FOR FREE! He's got the fabulous Julianne on it too. So are y'all gonna listen to and download this biznatch or what? :P

Lines are built and rails will carry you past those who would surely bury you

Penguin Prison, "Golden Train"

I went a little nuts this morning trying to look for this song I heard on the radio on my way to work. I couldn't help but notice of the fact that this song sounded like Sam Sparro and BabyDaddy had a... well... a baby, but don't you hate it when you catch the tail-end of the song and there's not much lyrics to take leverage on? Yep. Nevertheless, this is one of the very rare occasions when I'm kinda glad that my god-forsaken CD player doesn't work. Hurrah!  It took me a while and just a teeny tiny shave off of my better judgement, but after some persistence -- Eureka! I found it.

Now dance with me why don'tcha. :D

Now dance with me, why dontcha?

Ah, You Short-Circuit All My Nerves!

I love rainy days! I'm an absolute sucker for delicious and dream cushion tunes, and Smokey Robinson isn't exactly helping. As if this song didn't already make me want to disappear under comforters, his androgynous voice is perfect for whisper-singing between pillows and sheets.

There's a hot-chocolatier Groove Boutique remix to this that I can't find. It's on the Motown Remixed Vol. 1 compilation album with another Smokey Robinson song, "The Tears of a Clown" and the sexiest version of Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On" I've ever heard (yes, it gets sexier!)

Smokey Robinson, "Quiet Storm"

Soft and warm
A quiet storm
Quiet as when flowers talk at break of dawn,
Break of dawn
A power source
Of tender force
Generatin', radiatin',
Turn me on, turn me on

You short-circuit all my nerves
Promising electric things
You touch me and suddenly there's rainbow rings

Quiet storm, blowin'
Through my life
Oh, quiet storm, blowin'
Through my life
Blow, baby

Windy sigh,
Weaken my
Butterfly caught up in a hurricane,
Hurricane
Lucky me,
I'm better free
Suddenly I'm caught up in your somber rain

Shower me with your sweet love
I will bathe in every drop
Through all the seasons let it pour and never stop

Quiet storm, blowin'
Through my life
Through my life
You're just like a quiet storm, blowin'
Through my life
Through my life
Through my life
Through my life
Through my life
Blowin'
Blowin'
Blowin'
Blowin'

Hail soft storms of love on me
Let them play on my desire
Kiss me softly
Let your lightning light my fire

Quiet storm, blowin'
Through my life
Through my life
You're just like a quiet storm, (blowin')
Blowin', blowin'
(Through my life)
Through my life
Through my life
(Quiet storm, blowin'
Through my life)
Quiet storm, (blowin')
Oh yeah

Shower me with your sweet love
I will bathe in every drop
Through all the seasons let it pour and never stop

Quiet storm, blowin'
Through my life
Through my life
You're just like a quiet storm, (blowin')
Warm and tender
(Through my life)
Oh, through my life
Quiet storm

Kanta Ang Panlaban album launch

It was two Fridays ago that my friends, the Hansom boys, launched their much-awaited album, Kanta ang Panlaban. It was a long-time coming, and I love these guys as both musicians and friends. So when they randomly asked us on Facebook to come wearing fatigue to solidify their Hansom army, I was only more than happy to oblige. 

As it turns out, I was the only one. Haha! Their other fans came wearing Hansom shirts, but being the lone army soldier, I was awarded the opportunity to sing "Mamatay Ka Na" with them, like old times. Except this was their album launch and I know how much this means to them. I'm only too honored to have been invited. :)

Come to their next album launch in a few months to get a CD! But while you wait, you can download the first part of their album here.

The First Fans

While it took me a while to reel from last Thursday's gig, which I have to say was probably one of the top 3 gigs we've ever played, I woke up to this today:

Being the perennially fledgling band that we are, we really just play for fun. Our song-writing process is slow, but we're working on it, and we absolutely enjoy paying homage to the great music that we love. I've taken as a fact that probably 95% of our fanbase is composed of family, friends, and family and friends who have never heard us play but are required by the laws of friendship to enjoy us. Rarely is there a sincere, genuine appreciator of who we are and what we do.

I'm glad to see we might be doing something right. :D

Hurry! Listen Before He Has His People Take It Down

Prince, "Colonized Mind"

Wanna talk about it
Colonized Mind

Upload, the evolution principle
You see a rock on the shore and say
“It’s always been there”

Download, no responsibility
Do what you want, nobody cares

Upload, the master race idea
Genetically disposed to rule the world

Download, future full of isolated
Full of isolated, boys and girls

Upload, the 2 party system
The lesser of 2 dangers,
Illusion of choice

Download, their form of fascism
Nothing really ever changes
You never had a voice

Listen to me one time :

If you look, you’re sure gonna find
Throughout mankind’s history
A Colonized Mind

The one in power makes law
Under which the colonized fall
Without God, it’s just the blind leading the blind

Upload, a joint venture record deal
It’s just another way another man can still sleep
While he’s sticking you with the bill

Download, a temporary acquisition
of fleeting fame and fortune
Nothing to leave in your will
Hey hey hey hey

Upload, a child with no father
Download, no respect for authority
Upload, a child with no mother
Download, a hard time showing love

If you look, you’re sure gonna find
Throughout mankind’s history
A Colonized Mind
The one in power makes law
Under which the colonized fall
Without God : it’s just the blind leading the blind

Ella Fitzgerald and this pitter ’n patter ’n beatin’ ’n spatterin’ drivin’ me mad

The weather's been crazier than usual in bipolar Manila. At the heaviest point of this afternoon's deluge, I could barely see the Pinoy Big Brother house and the castle in front of my office. 

Today is the exception because I'm new at my job and am impressionable and willing to impress, but on any other day like this, I'd much rather stick to my (literally) old-school practices and stay home, curl up under the my thick, leopard-skin comforter with a movie on. Alas, my comforter is at the dry-cleaners and I am at the office. The alternate is to put on The Ventures' "Sleepwalk" but I've worm that record out.

My sister Ella Fitzgerald is going to preach it for us with a live, more-gorgeous-than-the-studio version of the 1933 song "Stormy Weather," all the way from 1975. Just Ella and Joe Pass' guitar

Ella Fitzgerald feat. Joe Pass, "Stormy Weather"

Here's another flood favorite from the same performance:

Ella Fitzgerald feat. Joe Pass, "Cry Me A River"

Forever Alone

In a few days I will be entering the week which will round off my first month working at ABS-CBN. So far it's been a ride, and is probably one of the biggest accomplishments I've attained for myself, all by myself (i.e. sin nepotism).

So far I haven't run out of things to do, and I don't think that's going to happen anytime soon. As a matter of fact, I'm assuming that this is as light of a load as it comes. And so far, I love what I do -- watching screeners of TV shows from all around the world, evaluating them, and putting my recommendations on the table. With all this content, needless to say, I'm getting an education in world cultures without even leaving my desk -- the desk that will pay for the traveling that all this culture education will supplement.

The goal is to hit Europe next year. Numero uno is to be deemed worthy to go on a buying trip with the bosses to Cannes in April and then stay behind maybe a week or two. Dos is to hit it on my own in August with my amigas. Cue belt-tightening sound effects.

The one tiny downside is that I feel like my social life is very slowly but equally surely slipping away. My friends are all either moving away or getting chained somewhere. Now I can't even chat with them online anymore as my lifelines to the outside world (and pretty much everything else) have been blocked at work. And coming from a small team of very busy people, there aren't too many people to talk to here besides the be-subtitled Koreans and the Latin Americans.

You feel me? I know my boy Al Green does.

Al Green, "I'm So Tired of Being Alone"

"Death of Me"

A film by Tasya van Ree
Featuring Amber Heard

Mmmm, noir.

A Fine Frenzy, "Lost Things"

I Can't Be Near You; The Light Just Radiates

Hole, "Malibu"

Hansom - Kanta ang Panlaban Pt. 1 release

After much patient waiting and about 3 years of fandom, my buddies from Pinoy punk band HANSOM is finally - FINALLY! - releasing their debut album, "Kanta Ang Panlaban" and they're giving it to you ABSOLUTELY FREE! 

Tonight they give you just a taste: crowd favorite "Action Man"; my personal favorite "Landi"; new tracks "Ayos Lang," and "Count To Ten."

I'm also all warm and fuzzy inside to find me and Abi Rode on their thank yous. <3

If you, like me, like what you hear, let's all take our butts to Cafe SaGuijo on May 27, 2011 and buy ourselves a CD of the album in its completion. Excitement all around!!!

In the meantime,
Download Pt. 1 of Hansom's KANTA ANG PANLABAN

Yeah I'm So Jaded, But Baby I'm Afraid of You

I'm currently on a family trip to Tagaytay with my family, leaving early this morning after just arriving from a three-day trip to Cebu with three of my best friends very late last night. And before that, I was on a day trip to a festival in Laguna. 

I'll get to those stories in a few days and I'm excited to sift through the pictures, just give me maybe 2 or 3 to sort myself out. I haven't had much sleep, but a ton of action and alcohol. And yeah, I absolutely think that Las Vegas can't monopolize the "What happens in X, stays in X" adage; Vacation secrets should be kept secret, anywhere they are because man, those photos can be incriminating.

Anyway, here: Have a good song and a fabulous week! I know I did. :D

Aerosmith, "Jaded"

Oh, you fool, you've got me started.

In true spirit of transitions, I intend to make this continental shift as seamless as possible by cross-posting my last one on Tumblr.

On April 3rd, I reaped two whole dozen years in my basket.

For the most part, I didn't make a big deal out of it - unlike I usually do every year - because drastic changes were in the air anyway. Like the freak, hyper-extended "winter" that invaded my usually sweaty April, I had been in a rut for too long. There is an ecstatic electricity in the air! I can feel it on my skin! Coincidentally, I truly only felt the Indian summer on my birthday, and with the season is coming good things.

There are floods of internal change and for the first time in a long time, I am allowing physical change to reflect it. Change in space, profession, wardrobe, and appearance - I took 6 inches off Delilah - are all symptoms of a drastic shift in internal climate and tides. Not to make light out of a serious calamity, but these days, I am an earthquake.

So here, have a welcome video to dust your weary sneakers on!

 

The Lightning Seeds, "Change"

The world is full of fools

who never get it right
You don't know what to do

so you do anything you like.

(Put your foot down and drive) Oh, your a silly thing

(Put your foot down and drive) You're such a pretty thing

(Put your foot down and drive) 

You're never gonna be like all those fools,

We're going out tonight.

There's nothing to lose,

you're gonna give it all a try.

Don't ever change.

Don't ever change.

No, never change,

never change.

You better say you're prayers,

or whisper to the wise,

And thank your lucky stars

for coming out tonight.

(Put your foot down and drive) Oh, you're a silly thing,

(Put your foot down and drive) Don't you ever change,

Don't ever change (ever change)

No never change, never change.

When people's eyes, all open wide,

they're still too blind to see.

A change in style, for a while,

is only make-believe.

(Put your foot down and drive) Oh, you're a silly thing

(Put your foot down and drive) You're such a pretty thing

(Put your foot down and drive)

You're never satisfied,

so look for something new

There's nothing to find,

and nothing you can do.

Don't ever change, don't ever change

No never change, never change.

Oh, you fool, you've got me started