Monday, August 31, 2009

Muzac

Muzac is actually "music", but since we live in an age where the letter 'z" means all things cool and adds a certain level of modernity to anything; I decided to add in Z. Muzac is actually music. Music, is something that everyone says they love, even though they might not be particularly good at playing and instrument or yet, have terrible musical taste. Indeed, taste is a matter of opinion, but if you like the taste of poop, please forgive me for failing to visibly hide my cringing (politely of course, we must respect everyone's opinions!).

Ugh. Down with cantopop.(RESPECT THEIR OPINIONS!)


Music is something that most people claim they cannot live without, often screaming with a near fanatic passion that they would drop to the ground and surrender their souls to whatever. Complete nonsense, unless its me saying it. My dad sells records. No record sales, no money, Jo starves and flies to heaven in a blazing chariot of FIRE.


But still, I truly cannot get through certain days without music. I love music. And I would die without music. (hee hee hee) My love for certain kinds of music is fostered by different people. Mostly friends, due to the fact that they more often than not, have a certain understanding of what appeals to me and what doesn't. It helps that my friends generally have an excellent taste in music.

Back in the day when I was a teenager... I used to listen to Rap/ hip hop quite a fair bit. KJ-52 was mah man. Yo shizzy to da fizzy izzy y'all.




Mmm... loved him. There was this song that provided me nonstop entertainment when I was doing homework. It was about how nerds would have their vengeance on the cruel world dominated by the diabolical forces of coolness.


Next it was Fort Minor. The first time I heard this over the radio it so quickly appealed to me! Even more surprising; there was a lack of reference to SEX! Finally! Someone wasn't rapping about something I knew completely nothing about! Lollipops? What on earth are lollipops. I hardly understand why li'l Wayne has so many women in his music video when the only thing he's talking about are lollipops.





Petrifying. Yo mista deejay spin yo black top yo. Boom ch ch Boom kakakaka. ch ch ch...


I know ya'll know what I'm spittin'.
Cause I know what ya'll are thinkin'
Where'd you go was da song you be listenin'
Singing along like you's somethin'.


However, all these were encompassed by the awesomeness of`





Rock, Rap, Nu_metal. Chester Bennington's screaming vocals. Mike Shinoda's rapping. Mr. Hahn's scratching. Wow. When this came out, I realised that my solemn vow made when I was 6 that I would never ever listen to mainstream music and only listen to classical sonatas was going to be broken.


An orchestra of distortion, scratching, vocals and thundering percussion. Song after song, track after track. Just when you thought they couldn't top "Numb", they smashed you in the ear drum with "Session".


I could not get enough of them.They're songs started out like something of an appetizer, with a beat, then they would add layer after layer after layer of concentrated listening pleasure. Not to mention their awards. If there's a separate link on wikipedia for a band's awards, you know its gotta be more than "runner-up for best movie track award"


Also, I borrowed this CD from a friend long enough to have her say... ," so you borrow things and don't return them unless they ask for it lah issit?!"


Ooff.


15 year old self, 18 year old self says its she probably forgot she said that. Learnt a good lesson there, you borrow, better return. Which reminds me, eveyone with their books in my house... SORRY.

Of course, though I still love linkin park and the Rap Hip hop era of my life was a good one. I had begun to make friends with certain muscially atuned individuals, namely 1000010001000 10000010010010 and 100101001100100. (hee hee. Com Sci yo? )


I was introduced to Switchfoot.





Thankyou. This noted a change for me. I found rap and hip hop, incessant and startingly annoying. Its beats simply began to deride nerves. The words flew by so fast I couldn't catch what anyone was saying and worse of all, all rappers ever talked about was their jeans, ice-creams and machines. Wonderful.


Then God made Switchfoot. Alternate Rock became my new muse. My main qualifying factor for a favorite band would be a Cd released having an euphoric listening experience from beginning to end. The Beautfiful Let Down was one of these. From the first intense songs to the calmer songs, everything was so charged with meaning and depth. Once you got past the stage of being cast in rapture and started to think about the lyrics, you can't help but to marvel at some of the things sung in the Lyrics. Thank you Switchfoot.

My Next.






Everything I loved. Meaningful lyrics. Calm euphoric melodies. Soaring choruses. Enthralling solos. Energetic Live shows. Not to mention Chris Martin is actually British. HOw are YOU all DOing? Its MAHvelous that were ALL Here! I See JOseph IN the CROwd, WE Even HAve FANS in maLAYsia! . Accent the capitals while speaking to emulate the British accent.


From the people who brought you anthemic intros in "Clocks" to the now overplayed because its so magical, "Viva La Vida," to my personal favourtie "Lost." One can't help but to wonder in an instant how certain people had their inspiration. Did they see chords and music whenever they walked down a street. Did God whisper in their ears while they slept? Did the sound of their morning tinkle remind them of bells in conjuction with guitars and violins? Nonstop wonder this band. I listen to them while studying.


heh. I need to get back to economics. Its been fun. I'll probably go edit this.

Friday, August 7, 2009

Hi I'm Jo.

I'm Jo. I'm not J.Wong or JoWong. I'm Jo. The cut short convenient name of Joseph. I love my name, I think my outdone themselves in naming me Joseph. It took some time to accept my name and what it represents; still trying to accept it completely. Its difficult, but its my mandate, and my birthright. 
When I was a kid, I was called Yu Wing. I didn't like it very much as it often meant being slobbered by relatives and being asked redundant chinese new year questions. Which i somehow enjoy. 
Then, it was the Jowong/J.Wong phase of my life when I was about 13 to 16. Whenever I looked back on those times I think simply how ridiculous I was. I actually tried to be a rapper! Mc JoWong. That would be my street name, allowing me all fame, friends and respect I so desperately needed at that time in my life. I took it to incredible heights! Trying to rap to the point I annoyed my desperate friends to the point of tears and violence. Being hip and hop meant I actually had to look the part, however the problem was that Mom see, or understand my need to be a ragamuffin with hot air sized jeans slung half way past my buttocks. She did not see, much less understand the need to dish out 200 Rm on a pair of boardshorts. Thinking back, I think she was right not to see. Thankfully, that part of my life came to a close when I challenged MC Cupert (daryl) to a rap match. And was destroyed by him. The judge, MC Fishball (Jeremy Foo) simply declared,"Jo, your lines are so cheesy." Well, that was the end that. Some people may accuse me or simply declare that I was giving up on my dreams, and yet, there are just some people in this world who have many dreams. Many unrealistic ones that would, on more thought, amount to so little other than a rush of glory. I am one of those people. As I matured and got out of my JoWong stage, I learned to cut down unrealistic and childish ambitions that simply sound cool. 

I began to embrace who I was. 

I am Jo. I do not like rap music. It would sound nice if only I had some slight understanding on what the hommies were talking about. However, due to my unparalleled intelligence, the meanings of these words simply escape me. I far prefer alternate rock and rock/pop. I also discovered I enjoy writing. The speed of my posts on this blog don't contradict me. Often when I right, especially to post something on my blog, I have this need have a good post up. That takes time, patience, grammar checks and goodness knows what else. Having said all that, I would gladly spend hours working on a post if I had the time. Its fun to see words fall to place, to paint pictures with words and to use the bewitching nooks and crannies english offers. 

Over time, 17- now, I am still discovering who and what I am. I have discovered so much. I have discovered I am quite simple. Yet, immensely complicated, to the point where I simply have to slow down to think for a while to collect myself to understand what I feel. I have realized I can be quite sappy as well. I bore myself sometimes, yet, I am excited by the prospect of realizing that from this boredom, outlets of entertainment springs up! I am Joseph. Jo for short. I am still discovering who I am. And I hope I'll never stop discovering. 

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