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Lately, I have had a growing obsession for Sufjan Stevens. I have heard his name floating around like a bubble I chose to ignore. Late last year was when I really started to getting into his hymn covers (which are luscious, sweet, and abstract).

I have written about him before, but I think Sufjan doesn't need me or anyone else for that matter to spend numerous paragraphs in pretty language in order for people to be interested in his music. He just needs to be heard.

In the likes of Iron & Wine and Elliot Smith, let me share with you the songs that have tugged at my acoustic heart.

"Chicago"


"John Wayne Gacy Jr." Yes, this song is about the serial killer.


"For The Widows In Paradise, For The Fatherless In Yspilanti" One of my favorites of his.


"Vito's Ordination Song"


"The Dress Looks Nice On You"


"Holy, Holy, Holy"


Title: "All Things Grow" in Hebrew
In My Head: "Inside A Boy" by My Brightest Diamond

C'est Cette Période De L'année

Imogen just blew my mind.

She will cause yours to combust in a second.



Title: "It's That Time of Year" in French
In My Head: "Thank U" by Alanis Morissette

Si Perdu Mes Cheveux et Ma Jeunesse

My towel fresh out of the dryer to wipe your drip-dropping hair.
That hug right before you leave a friend that you know you won't see for a while.
The look that there might be something more.
When a friend says, "I'll pray for you".
Finding the perfect skipping stone, and missing.
Those few breaths in which you and the mirror are not arguing.
Remembering the times tears were shed, realizing that you had forgotten until now.
An A paper that you think you don't deserve.
Acknowledging that perfection is a myth, but one you feed into consistently.
Being lost in a wood that should be familiar, but is a stranger all the same.
Someone who is quick to forgive.
Your lovable pet who either is blind to your faults or ignores them.
The beauty that comes with the imperfect, broken, nonsensical, and lost.



That's how I feel when I listen to this song.

I keep listening so that it can become moisturizer. I need this song to nourish my frail and dehydrated soul. Its words need to penetrate past my skin, to fight to get to my bloodstream. Maybe then will I actually believe that these words are true.

Title: "If I Lost My Hair and My Youth" in French
In My Head: "Utopia" by Alanis Morissette

.พวกนี้ของฉันเพชรดัง

These are the gems.
These are suns of my recent days.
These are butterflies that dance near my ear, so beautiful, graceful, and fun.
They shine.
They are deep musical bays, with soft water, a clean, crisp scent, and a vague taste of salt.


The first is my current inner weather report.
The second is the soundtrack to dream that is sleeping on the horizon.

"I'll be the one who'll break my heart. I'll be the one to hold the gun."



"In his eyes are a thousand stars on a dark sky...We crash like lightening into love."

Title: "These are my diamond rings" in Thai
In My Head: "Kiss The Girl" from The Little Mermaid

συχαρίκια

Hello, my few lovely readers!! How's your week? Let me know in comments!

I have a few pieces of news to share, but first, my apologies for lack of posting in the past weeks! I will most definitely try to do better. Let us the lick the chocolate smothered bowl of good news.

1) I decided to give up male artists for Lent because I obsess over them. I am consistently distracted by being attracted. It's been really hard, but it's also an opportunity to discover new female artists. I can only consume about 9% of my entire music library. This fast is really helping me become closer to the Protector (as Fleet Foxes might say). I found the gems of First Aid Kit and Kate Nash (I did a post on Ms. Nash a while ago, but I think it's time to refresh your memory). Future post stars, ofcourse.

2) I am a soon-to-be contributing blogger for Princeton Record Exchange!! It's one the largest independent record exchanges in the country, and it's just ten minutes from my house! So, not only can you read my work here, but also *hopefully* semi-frequently on their blog.


3) I just bought Feist's The Reminder. That might not seem significant, but
when you hear it, you'll realize that she is awesome. Her cover of Nina Simone's "Sea Lion" is a cornucopia of harmonies and succulent vocals. Taste this sour apple lollipop with a bite of sweetness.

Here is the live version:


This is the other track that has me under her hypnosis: "So Sorry"


Title: "Good News" in Greek
In My Head: "Hide And Seek" by Imogen Heap

Mine Ord

Words of My Blog
Listens of the Day:
"Happy is a Yuppie Word" by Switchfoot
"Stars" by David Crowder Band
"Wake Up" by Leeland
"Other Side of the World" by KT Tunstall
"1907" by Phoenix

P.S. If you want to do this really cool word collage as well, the site is Wordle.

In My Head: The fragment of a song that I just wrote. It's called Bamboo and currently lasts about 10 seconds or so. I'll post it on here very soon, as well as the Brett Dennen show post. ;)
Title:"My Words" in Norwegian

Глубоко Синий и Зеленый

"...Deep blue and green, color of her eyes lookin' at me, early in the morning..."

So, I woke up this morning with "Easier" by Joe Purdy in my head because I went on a walk and listened to it on repeat last night. The song is about a relationship that is starting to get hazy, which has nothing to do with my situation at all. But, I began thinking that that song is a subliminal reminder to not put the hope of your existence into someone else.

I am learning. I am in training. I want to be that cloud that gets frustrated and tired with being a nomad and decides to take a rest as a fog. I want to stop searching for that place of contentment in myself. I want to feel satisfied with myself. I want to feel full, to feel complete.

Joe Purdy's "Easier" has one line that goes "Are we gonna get to paint this town deep blue and green, color of your eyes lookin' at me early in the morning". For 45 minutes while messing with Facebook and YouTube, that line orbited all my thoughts.

I then decided to take another look at myself and see myself through new lenses: web-cam lenses. I took so many pictures of myself organically to peel away my fear and self-consciousness.

Here was my inspiration:


Title: "Deep blue and green" in Russian
In My Head: See above ;)