Regina Spektor and the Flow of Her Music

SOURCE:
http://spazzybee123.wordpress.com

I've always been a pop listener. I tune into whatever’s shown on music TV channels and whoever’s featured on the radio. That was why I discovered the voice of Regina Spektor pretty late. But from the moment I heard her, she successfully made an impact on me. I always feel like singing whenever I hear her songs, and though I can’t really digest the meaning of the lyrics, I still want to utter them over and over again.

The style of Regina Spektor is simply amazing. She sure has a wide vocal range that she knows how to wisely and creatively use, and the unorthodox vocal techniques she applies in her verses are remarkable as well. Her songs are a hodgepodge of folk, punk, rock, hip-hop, jazz, and even classical music. As mentioned, her lyrics are eclectic where she often conveys abstract narratives. Marvelously, there are some of her songs that can squeeze in short stories and vignettes that may all appear as trivial at first, but actually very interesting. Even her ballads filled with mere lip murmurs and beatbox buzzes are outstanding, too.

When I started reading about Regina Spektor as an artist and as a person, I became even more amazed. I discovered how she created a great number of her songs spontaneously. With just a piano or a guitar in hand matched with her unique voice, she can create songs and make them last. In fact, there are a lot of instances where she composed music and lyrics without writing the words and the notes down. She just let music flow to her, through her, and from her.

I love almost all of her songs, but here’s a list of my top favorites.

·     

The Call

Samson

Folding Chair

Wallet

One More Time with Feeling

Blue Lips

Laughing With

Hero

Us

On the Radio

SOURCE:
http://planetlyrics.co

    

How the Case of Alyssa Bustamante Would Have Been Prevented

The life sentence for teen murderer Alyssa Bustamante, 18, has been recently released by the Cole County Circuit Court in Jefferson City, Missouri. Bustamante, who was dubbed as the “thrill killer” was finally sentenced after pleading guilty for the second-degree murder of the 9-year old victim, Elizabeth Olten, in October 2009. The penalized teenager was just 15 years old then, and the brutal deed she committed was far from expected.

Police reports revealed that the death of the victim was caused by strangulation, repeated stabs in the chest, and by a slice in her throat. Her body was buried in a shallow grave in the woods near their neighborhood, covered with a blanket of leaves. Who would have thought that a female teenager can devise and commit that heinous crime? There was not even a clear motive for the teen to do so apart from the “thrilling feeling” she said she was looking for.

Besides Bustamante’s admittance of the murder, her journal entry at the day of Olten’s death also served as a concrete evidence against her. In the diary account, she described how “ahmazing” it felt to kill somebody and that although she felt kind of nervous and shaky, she still find the whole experience “pretty enjoyable.” With all these elements present, one can say that the teen murderer is truly a troubled girl.

People cannot help putting all the blame to Bustamante. However, that can actually be slightly unfair for her. To a certain extent, the teen can also emerge as a victim in this situation. Prior to the killing, Bustamante was a normal loud teenager who goes to school and interact, but she has some down moments that are most probably caused by her broken family and dismal parents. She would have been helped, too, if only she was taken to a therapeutic school where a sturdy support system can be provided for her.

Therapeutic schools would have immediately addressed Bustamante’s psychological concerns especially when she tried to commit suicide several times. Her frustrations about her life, parents, and family would have been dealt with properly as well. Above all, her youthful energy would have been channeled into positive and productive activities instead of violent and brutal ones.

Another remarkable finding in the Bustamante case is her use of the anti-depressant Prozac which, according to medical experts, probably made her prone to violence. If only she was submitted to a reputable troubled youth boarding school by her guardians, this medication aspect would have also been handled properly. The depression she felt for years would have been erased by constant interaction with friendly people, and she would have never been curious of the feeling of taking someone’s life. 

SOURCE: Google Image Search

On Losing Grans and Gaining Another One

"Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, 

love leaves a memory no one can steal."

-From a tombstone in Ireland

On Sunday, February 19, will be Lola Maring's 5th death anniversary. And as we make plans on visiting her tomb, I realized that I'm too unfortunate for no longer having any grandmother. It's been 5 years since Lola Maring died and Lola Linda passed away late last year, too.

These lolas may be strict, but they are definitely the coolest, too. I miss how Lola Maring would ask me about boys--too sad he wasn't able to meet Jay. And I also long to exchange jokes with Lola Linda again.  The fondest memories of my childhood would have never been complete without these two superwomen. Certainly, whoever or whatever I may be in the future, I'll be taking a piece of my two lolas and live a life just like what they had--simple yet fulfilling.

I came across this quote:  "Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal." And I remembered my dearest grannies again. Nothing can heal the pain of losing them simply because nothing can replace them. Nothing but love.

Last month, someone from my boyfriend's family made a Facebook account for their beloved gran, Lola Sofia. 

And I was fortunate enough to be listed as her granddaughter. Yes, it was a simple gesture, and probably, Lola Sofi is not even aware of that. But I was genuinely touched. 

Every time we would see each other in their family gatherings and she would hold my hand, I feel LOVED. Just how my two lolas held my hand before. And just how they made me feel loved.