Thursday 8 November 2012

Music, Art, Love: Reflections after listening to new wave

Music, Art, Love: 
Reflections after listening to new wave



A day ago, this writer was listening to his favorite New Wave music in his player. Quite enjoyable and relaxing though all despite the problems this person had encounter on-especially personal ones that, admittingly speaking, at first trying to forget and escape from it.

However, as this writer listened to the feel good old school music of his time such as Punk, Rock, and New Wave, thinking that as most people nowadays are fast discarding such good listening music in favor of mere easy to produce ones being played in the radio, or those made by trying hard musicians who value their faces than their musical talent and its quality, how come there are still people who wholeheartedly put their hearts into the scene disregarding the flow despite describing by many as "left out" of the current trend?


Quite strange though to think that he, despite hearing people around thinking of those kinds of sound as "trash" in favor of canned ones played too much in the radio by singers whose face value been too emphasised,  felt that within those kind of sound described as "trash" lies a bizzare essence, the passion compared to the usual music that others be described as canned and nonsense with popularity and face value as its emphasis rather than its artistry, hence "artless". In fact, some songs played under new wave or any other music during this writer's age are even affected as some, if not most artists took chances of "using" rather than "reviving" what made the music itself its essence diluted.

That really affects the music scene in general and not of a specific genre such as those this writer had much interest in. God forbid but how come these happen for the sake of popularity? New Wave, like Punk, Rock, Grunge, as long as the creativity is nice and the artistry, is good yet how come be replaced with nonsensical one such as what people deemed as "artless?" Passion both word and sound replaced by face value as its emphasis, followed by nonsensical topics and its exaggeration of it, making everything a one big holy crap that is clothed with satin and silver.

Sorry for the fans for they don't admit it, but it is all but true. In making this kind of reflection all after listening to New Wave (as well as others find interest), as well as seeing everything around him, even listening to their favorite sound this writer would say that most rather "join the flow" for the sake of being "a part of the scene" yet in fact the former is another word for "being eaten" as what Lu Xun said. They've been eaten by the "flow" that is cool and glamorous in their senses so to speak, yet in the end those expressions are rather like a mere covering instead.

In fact, this writer didn't made this kind of reflection that focuses on a specific music scene such as New Wave, but rather the days this writer listens to every kind of music to lighten up a barren heart and be inspire the way he inspires to sculpt, make story or write poetry to express the realities around him. Otherwise, he listens for he wants to convey love to someone whom made him inspire "to the core" such as the one whom met in the coffeeshop months ago.


Speaking of the one whom this writer met in the coffeeshop and be inspired by her beauty, kindness, and perhaps love, she remains the same as ever and despite yearning for her love, rather this writer ought to control the feeling, the yearning and instead look upon her as his inspiration and perhaps a good companion that somehow brings nice colour to "his world" other than black and red.
To others, this writer may had been "weak" to show the stereotypical love to a beautiful girl such as his inspiration; but then despite the so-called "weakness" least that the one whom made him inspire showed concern and companionship, of care in a way geishas serve tea in a delicate manner and thus he ought to "pay the debt" as a gentleman. Isn't it because of the books he read, the pictures he sought, or the music that pleases his ears and waters the barren heart? After all, Fra Lippo Lippi's "Light and Shade" somehow reminds of her same as the song "Angel", that this writer wishes to see her "one more time."

Anyways, admittingly speaking, this writeup is supposedly made because of the girl whom made the writer passionate and inspired in his work, as well as the sound that all reminds of that person he met and cherished as a friend. The songs played by Fra Lippo Lippi, A-Ha, Tears for Fears and Spandau Ballet carries the words that somehow this writer tries to convey to her.

Yet being conveyed through the hand, through his artwork that carries the passion such as her's.

Sunday 4 November 2012

Of turning graves into lover's (or bystander's) lanes (in november's first two days)

Of turning graves into lover's (or bystander's) lanes (in november's first two days)


It's all but common these days to see these things happen especially what is deviant from the very essence of the occasion every first two days of November (or even earlier).

As people enter the newly-cleaned graves all with the desire to cherish their deceased relatives, of offering flowers and lighting candles at the top, it showed how much they care for the dead the way when they're still living, along with prayers that somehow appease their souls, invoking guidance, and perhaps reflect all in a moment of silence in a place supposed to be sacred and quiet.

However, despite all these, it end all negated due to the nature what most people see nowadays: nearly turning the graveyard into "lover's lanes" and pseudo-"partyhouses" that the old be described as hindrance, thus negating the solemnity of the occasion commemorating those in an eternal rest other people tried to do so such as flowers, candles, and prayers; worse, oftentimes used as a den of thieves and people sniffing solvent with traces often scattered at the floor.

Further negating especially in late afternoons till evenings, with every grave, tomb, or rather say the whole cemetery itself fast becoming a den of bystanders enjoying not so much loud party music and smuggled booze, all despite the security measures and policies prohibiting, quite awkward to see the culture of decadence as seen by the people, especially the church that described as provoking thinking that how the present generation tend to negate the solemnity of the occasion in commemorating that is not all about the dead but of the divine whose lives given up for the glory of God; why let these things happen such as decadency even if it is discreet? Nothing's wrong to see lovers offering candles and flowers in every grave out of respect as well as invoking love and commitment, but quite too far to turn the graveyard into a mere "lover's lane" with the reason of visiting for the sake of "silence" or nothing at all like those who opted to go, take a seat in one of the graves and make "party" just to say "having fun" in the middle of the occasion.

And making others be described as distasteful after seeing it in actual or in social media although others also tend to say that certain people intended to visit the grave for the sake of silence, privacy, and perhaps "free" especially in invoking love in the presence of the dead yet became negated.

After all, obviously as expected, the simplicity and solemnity of the past is replaced by grandiose decadency due to the wholesale influx of mainstream "modern" culture and its widespread effect. This writer happens not to be a traditionalist, but isn't it too much to see these things happen all despite restrictions and prohibitions imposed as well as the police visibility in other cemeteries not just the ones featured on TV during solemn occasions such as the first two days of November?

Anyways, its their choice to do so, the way they joined the flow for sake.