If someone died with no trace or remains, will that person only have existed in the memories of those who knew him/her?

  posted by JW @ 11:10 PM

 
damn, these new blogger ways are gettin too high-tech for me..

so anyway.
LP do seem like the poster boiz don't they? It's just because they're all so damn good looking. Mike Shinoda, Phoenix, and Brad especially. They look like pin-up poster boys, and not guys who will dress to stand outside of the norm. Can't really blame them though. They don't have that hard rockin' metal attitude the way Korn and Slip Knot do; those guys are just purely hardcore metal. LP's not metal. Not purely anyway. Their style is far too hybridized with other techniques to be classified as metal, and although the basis of their sound is metal, it doesn't classify them as metal.

Who cares about classification anyway? We're talking about musical sincerity and quality. Would you consider Nelly hip hop? I wouldn't. He's just.. Nelly. The insane party pimp Nelly. Bling.

Once again, I digress.

Talkin to people I found that there are more Simple Plan fans than LP fans, just dealing with the people I asked.
Yea, that's the case with me too. However, whenever I started dissing Simple Plan, the girlies just whine, "but Pierre is sooooo cute!!" *shudder*
Okay, so he's good looking. That doesn't mean he produces valuable music. If anything, Simple Plan is more of a pin-up poster band than LP is. But yea, I'd have to say that LP's image is a little dull. If that's the case though, that probably means that they really are focused on music, and making music only. Their main focus isn't really to entertain, I don't think... it's more just making music that they can be satisfied with. And can you really say that about those damn boy bands out there?? Hell naw.

'nuf said for now. Where's E?

  posted by MsKarenAu @ 2:31 AM

 
I question myself on why I'm defending Simple Plan cause I'm not a big fan of their music but oh well. Ok, so their music's all about getting dumped. Being in love and being dumped is not an uncommon thing that always seems to be a big part of people's lives. And if you're under the age of 30 and above the age of like 12 or something, chances are that the ups and downs of life that inspire the artistic side of you to write songs will be about getting together and getting dumped. But yeah, that's my argument in defense of Simple Plan. Of course knowing me, I could probably come up with a perfectly legit argument on the other side and give reasons why Simple Plan's music sucks but Kay's already done that part so I'm not going to repeat what she said cause I'd probably say the exact same thing she said if I were to argue on the opinion that Simple Plan isn't quality music. I have STILL yet to argue anything about LP cause as I have said before I don't know diddly squat about them.

  posted by JW @ 10:45 PM

 
I will post my link again.
http://aznkay.blogspot.com/2002_12_29_aznkay_archive.html
Go to the post on Thursday January 2, 2003.
Jon and I pretty much think the same way with the music industry. We're like twins in that sense, hahahah..

Going with the lyrics though, I mean.. Simple Plan's music isn't something I enjoy, because it's so plastic. They remind me of the way Christina Aguilera was when she came out: shallow, singing what her managers wanted her to sing so to boost her into stardome. I'm hoping Simple Plan will break off the way she did..

But I digress.
I know what you mean by their love songs and writing lyrics that show their love for someone, but with EVERY SONG?? Every single one of their songs has to do with getting dumped. All but their first single, "I'm Just A Kid". That one was the least shallow tune they have. All the rest are about getting dumped. Their music too, is like a cheap copy of Blink 182, except Blink 182 actually writes about a variety of different issues. I thereby denounce Simple Plan as quality music.

Returning to my initial point of Linkin Park, I would have to say that they need to expand their horizons with their lyrical content. They have no excuse, seeing as they write their own words. Of course, I would also argue that metal music is out there to unleash pain, but then again these guys are not the least bit hurting. They're happy guys. Hell, they're probably happier than I am. But then again, I write a lot of poetry pertaining to pain, blowing up the littlest problems in the name of art, so I guess that's what they're doing. They really could focus on more broad social issues though, be a little more creative rather than looking only to express personal pains.

Linkin Park is not this generation's boyband. No one has yet to disprove me. Elaine? You agreed with Carne. I wanna see what you have to say.

  posted by MsKarenAu @ 12:49 AM

 
Well, I know next to nothing about LP and I don't follow their career, but just about music in general. "Good music" this arguably mythical term is similar to how beauty's in the eye of the beholder. Everyone's got their different opinions about what makes good music. Just like we're all born with differnt brains and eardrums so even without lyrics, a tune that sounds good to someone might not sound good to me. Case in point, let's say Simple Plan (cause they seem to be a controversy magnet). I'd Do Anything, the song they sung at the MMVAs. Ok, ignoring the lyrics for a second, just the tune itself. To some people, the tune sounds horrible. To me, I don't think it's half bad. Is that because my music tastes suck or because the other people's music tastes suck? No, it's because my brain and eyedrums just so happen to find the specific vibration waves sent off by that combination of music notes tolerable and/or pleasing.

Lyrics too can be argued to a certain degree. Taking the same song by the same artist mentioned above. The first line of the chorus? "I'd do anything, just to hold you in my arms" When Simple Plan wrote this line, maybe it really WAS the thought that was running through their/his mind(s). Maybe when he was writing it, he thought about a girl whom he really liked and he had just lost and that line just occured to him. Now I'm not supporting that the line is the most original thing ever to come across in music history. Au contraire, I myself think that the line sounds cheezy to a degree... sorta like it's been repeated too many times in the past of music. But who knows?

It really comes down to whether the artist belives in or enjoys what he/she does. Of course if a band's become wildly popular because of the music they wrote in their first album, then when they write their second album, it's sorta becomes hard not to want to retain that name you've made for yourself by writing your music directed to the target audience that made you so popular in the first place. I also don't completely agree with it, but I do recognize that it's like an impulse. Doing what you believe in is also why I'm not totally against somewhat sappy love songs that are sung by some music artists out there. Yeah, maybe the sappy love songs have been done over and over again by various artists and various ways, but if that's what the artist truly believes in when he/she is writing the music, then what can you really hold against it?

Even down to the vary basis of music, the actual writing of songs, there's a question about good or bad artists. Yes, I have immense respect for artists who write their own music and I'm not exactly happy with artists who don't write their own music. But at the same time, look at it this way. The artists who write their own music make it personal, about what they're feeling and letting it out as music. But some artists who don't write their own music sing simply because of the fact that they LOVE TO SING. Having a good voice isn't something that everyone's born with, and if you're born with an amazing voice, but not with the ability to be musicaly apt to write music, then maybe singing music that other's wrote for you isn't a terribly bad thing. In the same way I love to play badminton, but I don't make my own raquet and I don't string my own string... I leave it up to someone who can probably do it a whole lot better than me so I can enjoy what's really important to me, and that's the gameplay. Sure I can buy my own stringing machine and string my racquet myself, but I'd probably do a half assed job at doing it. Same thing about songwriting. If you can only do a have assed job at songwriting, but you love to sing and have an amazing voice, then maybe you need to get started with someone else who writes your music first.

  posted by JW @ 12:14 AM

 
A significant number of Linkin Park fans and critics alike have conjured up an opinion about LP being the new generation's boyband of metal music. This conclusion was drawn from the notably similar themes of pain and insecurity imbedded within their lyrics -- which is most undeniably true -- and most argue that they have done this with their words because they are directign the message of anger towards the tortured souls of the pain-ridden youth.

Those holding this opinion feel tha LP's focus in the music industry is much like the boybands of the pop era: in the 90's, preteens loved the soulful lyrics about love and heartbreak. Now, those same innocent preteens have grown into angry teenagers, searching for those who share their deepest, darkest suffereings as they experience, for the first time, the chaos of the world.

This may be the case; however, this is not enough foundation to formulate the parallel between LP and boybands. Music is not all about the lyrics. I once wrote and incredibly long description about what good music should and should not be, and so I refuse to reiterate myself in thie particular piece, for it will completely sidetrack the point. (if you really wanted to, go here to read that previous spiel on Thursday January 2, 2003.)

Now, with no further adue, I say this: Linkin Park is not the boyband of metal music. They contain a far greater motivation to work for quality; they have a far greater independnce in musical creativity; and they represent far more passion to excel, pushing their sound to new and unusal heights.

Someone disprove me. Shoot at me now!

  posted by MsKarenAu @ 1:04 AM

 
Why do people find it so life-threatening when they can't figure out what university to attend for their undergraduate years?

The first reaction to that question is usually, "it defines your career path and you need to choose your occupation so that you can specialize."

Well let me just tell you this: you're 17 for God's sake. How the hell are you supposed to know what you wanna do with the next 80 years of your life? The fact is you won't figure it out in all its certainty until you actually do it. You can only make a blue print of your career. Usually, as we grow and change and transform into different people, that blueprint changes. Guarunteed.

This is how I see my university career.
I have been accepted in the general arts program at the University of Toronto. As of now, I think I would like to be an elementary school teacher, or perhaps I'll be a psychologist. I have absolutely no clue right now which one I would prefer. Now since it is easier to go from specializing to generalizing rather than generalizing to specializing, I have decided to take courses that will direct my career towards being a teacher. If I change my mind, then I'll switch majors. It's really no big deal!!!!!!!!

As for chosing U of T, I personally did not want to go to U of T. I actually wished for the University of Western Ontario. However, when it came time for me to choose my home for the next year, I realized that I really am not ready to leave Toronto yet. I am not emotionally ready to move to London. It's too big of a change for me, especially being so far from home. So I chose U of T. Maybe I'll transfer to Western within my undergraduate years, perhaps I'll apply again for my post-undergrad years.

Who knows. I'm feeling very flexible at the moment, and I refuse to let myself panic over something like this. I still don't know where I'm heading or whether or not I'm living on campus because... long story. Ask me later.

Point is, if you can't decide what you want to do, go to university, choose a course or subject that you enjoy, and take off from there. If you figure out finally that you want to be an engineer, then switch majors, no matter how huge the change. You've got plenty of time. PLENTY of time.

Remember. You're 17 now. 80 more years of life left. Plenty of time.

  posted by MsKarenAu @ 12:29 PM

 
Yup.. Jonny Wong, you put it far more intelligibly than I did.

That's human nature for you. No one wants to be wrong, no one wants to look stupid, unless done on purpose to ignite laughter.

Ar she blows. Enuf with female/male stupidity. Let's talk about our souls or something.

  posted by MsKarenAu @ 12:56 AM

 
EXACTLY. Brilliant Kay, I could not said it better myself. Most guys don't tend to act on hunches unless they know that they are almost guarenteed to be right. Like I said, obvious/strong hints DO work. Most guys including me, can pick up on them if they're obvious/strong enough. But the majority of us, don't like the guessing game, and if girls want to play them, it's usually fine with most guys, but don't expect the outcome that you're hoping to get. Like Temp says, we're not simple minded (at least I don't think we are), it's just that girls tend to twist things into so many different threads, each of them having their own independant meaning that sometimes, we just give up. We are somewhat more cautious and don't like to run as much risk that we might be horribly wrong and make idiots of ourselves.

  posted by JW @ 10:38 PM

 
aigh.. here me a goes again..

With the "simple-minded-ness", I'm pretty sure the majority of males out there won't waste their time analysing a simple glance from a girl who happened to be walking by. Lemme tell you know, if the girl is giddy enough, she'll analyze it. I've seen it happen.

Now I'm pretty sure there are guys out there who do that, but I digress.

I also forgot to mention this little detail.

Guys probably catch obvious hints, such as the prom thing again:

girl: Are you going to prom?
guy: Yea, I'm going.
girl: Me too. I don't have a date, eh? Do you have a date?

In this situation, the guy will most likely end up thinking "did you.. wait a sec.. did she.. huh? o_O*"

And since he's not sure, chances are he won't act on the hunch, in case he was wrong.

So girls, STOP HINTING AND JUST PLAIN OUT TELL HIM. He's not stupid, but no one wants to LOOK stupid by playing the guessing game.

And Temp, yes it is true that girls and guys think differently, which is why I'm pissed off at my gendre in general for thinking guys would understand. Point taken, point made.

Wait a sec. You watch EVERYONE from across the caf?

  posted by MsKarenAu @ 11:00 PM

 
Enuf with Americans. I'm sick of talking about them.

Now, Jonathan had a post in his blogger that explains what I encounter all the time, and here it is in question form:

WHY DO GIRLS INSIST ON hinting TO GUYS WHEN GUYS VERY OBVIOUSLY DON'T KNOW WHAT THE HELL THE GIRLS ARE TRYING TO SAY?? Then they go off on a rampage against the guys, screaming, "YOU SHOULD KNOW WHAT I MEAN!!" Oh dear God.. isn't it blasphemeus to claim psychic powers?

Now, I myself am a girl, and having participated in many many girl talks, I have to say that the majority of ladies think that hinting actually works. I remember one conversation I had with some friends about inviting some guy to prom. Girl #1 says, "I want him to ask me to prom but I don't want to ask him myself" (which is absolutely absurd in the first place, but anyhow.) Girl #2 then goes and says, "Hint at it, he'll sense that you want him to ask and he'll ask."

OKAY THERE. This is where I stepped in and declared, very sternly, "Don't hint! NEVER HINT. They WON'T GET IT." and the girls actually had the nerve to ask me, "why not?" >_<*

I said, "BECAUSE. THEY WON'T. They don't analyze things the way we do." Correct? Perhaps. But to think that the guy will know what you're saying by INDIRECTLY telling him? Um.. sorry, but I think a lesson on communication needs to take place here. Where on earth did you ever read that in communication pamphlets? "Hinting is the perfect solution." Holy shit.. and girls say guys are dense.

Then there's the other situation, where the girl is all giggly and nervous around her crush because she's scared that she's being too obvious with her interest in him. Let me offer some advice: if you haven't approached the guy to talk to him, if you haven't smiled in his direction, if you haven't even asked him for the time, if he doesn't even know you EXIST, chances are he has no clue of your infatuation. And that's the truth. People don't notice these things. We're all complacent human beings and we don't watch for every person who may be staring at us from across the cafeteria.

Boy. I just made my gendre population sound like idiots. Maybe we are. But God damn it every single time you over analyze these things. Understand that guys are typically very simple minded, and if you have something to tell him, you better give it to him in black and white, or he JUST WON'T GET IT. Okay? Okay.

  posted by MsKarenAu @ 4:27 PM