Lupe Fiasco- Sunshine
It's been a whole four months since I left home and entered the 'Big Bad World', and four months since I lived like the sheltered highschool kid I used to be. And so, today, on the eve of my first semester, I figure it's a good time to evaluate Life as a young, independant Med student. And in my typical fashion, I'm going to do it with lyrics, mostly Lupe, because he's mostly what I listened to this Semester.
What I've learnt:
You've gotta be calm, you gotta be cool, you gotta stay together.
Because, when you're trying to memorise what feels like an ENDLESS stream of facts and tiny details AND keep your life on track AND take care of yourself AND not become a total recluse, it pays to breathe.
Junk food tastes so good, because it's bad for you.
It's so true. And it's so tempting. And with nobody to hide bad, yummy things away from me anymore (and no little brother to eat everything in sight), that one took willpower.
Everybody Hurts Sometimes.
Remembering that is important in not losing perspective. Things could always be better, but they could definitely be worse. And it reminds me of something Amanda always says 'We're all battling our own demons. Who's to say yours are bigger than mine?'
But then. I also think, the number of Angels far outweighs the number of Demons. Including the Angels in training.
You're my sure fire, superstar, sure shy, firecracker, extravaganza, fantastic, super-size with extra cheeeeese. yes indeed.
I'd do it all again
Looking back on everything that went right and wrong... I don't think there's anything I would change. Because the small stupidities amount to something, eventually. Sometimes it takes longer than expected.
Hood's where the Heart is. Nerd's where the word's from. Don't represent Either, because I merged them.
Running around label-less is fun. And I feel like my life is pretty nicely mixed too. I also love the anonymity of the big city (with the knowledge that I can go home, walk down the street and see at least 3 people I know and love).
And that's it for now, I have hours of missed sleep to catch up on, and my eyes refuse to give into me tonight. There shall me more :) Next post from Berryland, where the air is crisp, the water tastes nice, but the drummers are not the same.
Holiday your hearts out. 'I'm ready for the weekend'
Kavi
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Sunday, June 20, 2010
A real live wire.
Well. I have no staying power.
(though, after spending the whole damn day inside a library that was filled to the brim with fellow dedicated students, I feel I deserve this much)
It was sunny, blue-skied and beautiful today.
And while studying, I listened to a few things:
1. The sound of typing
2. The frequent sighs of frustrated nerds
3. A few lectures on Embryo (I'm still stuck there)
4. Corinne Bailey Rae (Her new album still blows my mind and I've had it for a while now)
5. 'I need you now' by Lady Antebellum (about 20 times)
6. The guy opposite me shuffling his feet and furiously whispering his notes out loud in an attempt to memorise them
But anyway this cacophony of sound reminded me of an interesting musician I studied in high-school. John Cage. A pioneer in experimental music, he has very different ideas about what constitutes music, and appreciating the musical quality of everyday sounds. He applies Zen Buddhism to music too, especially a piece called 4'33.
The pianist sat down and close the piano lid. He then opened it. Then repeated that twice. And that was it- a piece made up of silence! There have also been performances of the piece with full orchestra- here! It's actually pretty odd to watch all the performers, looking ready to play, and then relaxing/coughing in between movements.
So I know this all sounds crazy, like that guy who painted a canvas white and sold it for some crazy amount (clearly I'm factually sound). But the beauty of his music is in the concept. During that 4 and a half minutes, the audience created sounds. Some coughed, sniffled, shuffled their feet, maybe even leaned over and chuckled in the ear of the person they sat next to. Inadvertent sounds that we make without thinking. And like any other piece of music, everyone heard it differently, yet all were linked, in the sense that they all experienced a performance.
As part of his experimenting, John Cage also threw nuts and bolts into pianos, to change how the keys were struck as the piano was played. He used the sound of water and movement and even breath to create music.
(though, after spending the whole damn day inside a library that was filled to the brim with fellow dedicated students, I feel I deserve this much)
It was sunny, blue-skied and beautiful today.
And while studying, I listened to a few things:
1. The sound of typing
2. The frequent sighs of frustrated nerds
3. A few lectures on Embryo (I'm still stuck there)
4. Corinne Bailey Rae (Her new album still blows my mind and I've had it for a while now)
5. 'I need you now' by Lady Antebellum (about 20 times)
6. The guy opposite me shuffling his feet and furiously whispering his notes out loud in an attempt to memorise them
But anyway this cacophony of sound reminded me of an interesting musician I studied in high-school. John Cage. A pioneer in experimental music, he has very different ideas about what constitutes music, and appreciating the musical quality of everyday sounds. He applies Zen Buddhism to music too, especially a piece called 4'33.
The pianist sat down and close the piano lid. He then opened it. Then repeated that twice. And that was it- a piece made up of silence! There have also been performances of the piece with full orchestra- here! It's actually pretty odd to watch all the performers, looking ready to play, and then relaxing/coughing in between movements.
So I know this all sounds crazy, like that guy who painted a canvas white and sold it for some crazy amount (clearly I'm factually sound). But the beauty of his music is in the concept. During that 4 and a half minutes, the audience created sounds. Some coughed, sniffled, shuffled their feet, maybe even leaned over and chuckled in the ear of the person they sat next to. Inadvertent sounds that we make without thinking. And like any other piece of music, everyone heard it differently, yet all were linked, in the sense that they all experienced a performance.
As part of his experimenting, John Cage also threw nuts and bolts into pianos, to change how the keys were struck as the piano was played. He used the sound of water and movement and even breath to create music.
If you think this guy is a complete nutter, I suppose I don't blame you. But if anything, it shows how, by changing the way we think and perceive the world around us, something as commonplace as the sound of a sneeze, can become music to your ears.
I guess Perception is a pretty significant idea in my life. And everyone's heard the whole 'glass half full' thing, but I do believe that to a certain extent, life and the difficulties that come with it, are only as bad as you perceive them to be.
So to everyone, good luck with exams! And, from Corinne Bailey Rae's album, listen to 'Are you Here,' about her late husband Jason Rae. I love the first verse:
He's a real live wire,
He's the best of his kind,
Wait till you see those Eyes
He dresses like this different scene,
He'll kiss you, make you feel sixteen
What's it even mean?
Love, Kavi
P.S. (I learnt how to link vids! Yay! Thanks James :D )
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Tick-worthy
There's a song by Lupe Fiasco 'And he gets the Girl', which includes this line:
'And I was thinking, that I might walk to her, try and talk to her, discuss different things that were taught to her, and see what makes her tick.' Because I love Lupe, (and my brain is about to explode) I made a list.
Guitar riffs,
dappled sunshine,
bright blue skies,
lingering goodbyes
Shy smiles,
street lights in the evening,
the colour of trees,
the size of the sea
Knowing the important people in your life
are going to stick around
at least until tomorrow, and maybe
the day after that too
The feeling of arriving home.
The familiarity of old photographs
Ice cream.
Listening to the same song, again
and again
and again (x3)
Disney movies
Smart lyrics
(spectacles)
Fiasco :)
Old books that are yellowed
New books that smell like
rebirth.
(http://readtheprintedword.org/)
Feeling inspired
Clarity
Happy memories
Writing
Getting lost
Dark Chocolate
Being Daring
Travelling
Belonging everywhere and nowhere
The world being my Oyster (but not oysters themselves so much)
Dark Green
Love.
'
'And I was thinking, that I might walk to her, try and talk to her, discuss different things that were taught to her, and see what makes her tick.' Because I love Lupe, (and my brain is about to explode) I made a list.
Guitar riffs,
dappled sunshine,
bright blue skies,
lingering goodbyes
Shy smiles,
street lights in the evening,
the colour of trees,
the size of the sea
Knowing the important people in your life
are going to stick around
at least until tomorrow, and maybe
the day after that too
The feeling of arriving home.
The familiarity of old photographs
Ice cream.
Listening to the same song, again
and again
and again (x3)
Disney movies
Smart lyrics
(spectacles)
Fiasco :)
Old books that are yellowed
New books that smell like
rebirth.
(http://readtheprintedword.org/)
Feeling inspired
Clarity
Happy memories
Writing
Getting lost
Dark Chocolate
Being Daring
Travelling
Belonging everywhere and nowhere
The world being my Oyster (but not oysters themselves so much)
Dark Green
Love.
'
Blogging > Studying
I have an exam in a matter of days, and my two options tonight seemed to be:
1. Study Embryology
2. Start a blog
So, hello to you cyberspace. Not the most internet savvy person, I discovered blogs only very recently, when some friends decided to reveal their own writing talents. I loved the language, the witty to-the-point humour, and their ability to talk about their lives and interests in a few, fascinating paragraphs!
And here I am, braving a new world. Being a bit of a dreamer, my posts might ramble on a bit, but in no time I will learn the refined art of blogging, and have you in stitches in a few short lines. That is, assuming 'You' exist :)
Just in case you do, I should introduce myself. I'm a first year Med student (something that takes up a lot of my time) who loves Literature, Music, Film, Food and Adventure (things I don't have adequate time for!) A new addition to Australia's largest city- Sydney, I wanted a little outlet to write about new experiences, and share with you music, films, poetry, rambles on life, and anything else that comes to mind.
Before I go, and get back to memorising the process of Gastrulation, I thought I'd leave you with a new song I was introduced to today.
Bella by Angus and Julia Stone. It's beautiful, simple, and the lyrics are gorgeous. The kind of song that can transport you to a different place. www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIQo2m69BT8
1. Study Embryology
2. Start a blog
So, hello to you cyberspace. Not the most internet savvy person, I discovered blogs only very recently, when some friends decided to reveal their own writing talents. I loved the language, the witty to-the-point humour, and their ability to talk about their lives and interests in a few, fascinating paragraphs!
And here I am, braving a new world. Being a bit of a dreamer, my posts might ramble on a bit, but in no time I will learn the refined art of blogging, and have you in stitches in a few short lines. That is, assuming 'You' exist :)
Just in case you do, I should introduce myself. I'm a first year Med student (something that takes up a lot of my time) who loves Literature, Music, Film, Food and Adventure (things I don't have adequate time for!) A new addition to Australia's largest city- Sydney, I wanted a little outlet to write about new experiences, and share with you music, films, poetry, rambles on life, and anything else that comes to mind.
Before I go, and get back to memorising the process of Gastrulation, I thought I'd leave you with a new song I was introduced to today.
Bella by Angus and Julia Stone. It's beautiful, simple, and the lyrics are gorgeous. The kind of song that can transport you to a different place. www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIQo2m69BT8
Hope that works! Being the novice that I am, I can't seem to copy and paste the url into this, so I typed it out. Have a wonderful week! Probably won't post again until after the exam (though I know I will be tempted to).
Love, Kavi
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