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surveys-at-your-service · 4 years ago

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Survey #292

“dear god, let’s make this fucking clear: dear god, there’s nothing that i fear”

What internet browser do you use? Chrome. What brand water do you drink? (Smart Water, Dasani, etc) Mom just grabs the Great Value jugs. Do you have a job? No. Are you full-time or part-time? N/A Are you watching TV right now? No. Or are you listening to music? Yeah, "Mr. Crowley" by Ozzy. Such a great song. Would you go to jail for 3 years for $1,000,000? No. I would NOT survive in jail. When's your birthday? February 5th. I cannot fucking believe I'm almost 25. Thoughts on kids? Too impressionable for me. Even with my niece and nephew, I feel like every single word I say just like... stamps into their brains, and what if I say something that negatively affects them? I feel like it's my responsibility as an aunt to be a fountain of wisdom when I'm definitely not. I just get nervous around kids. Worst punishment you've ever received by your parents? I wouldn't call it a "punishment," but when I skinned the everliving fuck out of my knees and Mom was patching me up while I was just sobbing away, my dad literally roared "SHUT UP!" from my parents' bedroom, and it's stuck with me forever. Honestly, I think it may be a root in my extreme fear of men yelling. Worst punishment from Mom, probably this time where she smacked the shit outta my arm as a kid and left a clear handprint for a while. Are you the type who is completely against abortion? Why? No, I am firmly pro-choice, despite being pro-life most of my life. I don't feel like writing a moral essay, but basically, I absolutely cannot agree with forcing a woman to carry a human they don't want for whatever reason for nine fucking months, endure one of the most traumatically painful things known to man, and then properly and adequately care for that child. That is such a huge fucking responsibility that should be forced upon *nobody*. "But adoption!" Yeah, go tell that to the thousands of children waiting on you. This is leaning on exactly what I said I wouldn't do, so moving along. Have you ever read a book that actually changed your outlook on life? "I’ve read some books that were phenomenal, but I wouldn’t necessarily go so far as to say that they 'changed my outlook on life'." <<<< This was Johnny Got His Gun for me. Does your favorite flower hold any meaning to you? No. What would you do if your favorite animal became endangered? I would fucking freak. Have you ever owned an expensive eyeshadow palette? No, but I honestly do want at least one, primarily with a deep black and then some nice grays and neutral colors. Do you own a tripod for your camera? Yes. Are your nails always painted? Quite the opposite. What's one thing you've had a toxic reaction to? A breakup. Which holiday is your favorite to decorate for? I honestly don't really decorate because I just don't have the motivation, but Halloween is the best. Were you popular in school? Nope. Are there any foods that often give you heartburn or indigestion? BANANAS, dark sodas (like Coke or Dr. Pepper), peanut butter can... It's hard for me to tell much now because I have chronic heartburn and am medicated for it. Works great, so I don't experience this much. Is there something you intend to buy in the near future? Yes. Once my tattoo is done (I'm setting the appointment the next time we leave the house, AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH), what I have left is going towards Venus' new terrarium. She really needs a 40 gallon. Is anyone in your family artistically talented? What about musically? I was the art kid, and family still insist I should be an artist. What cute behaviors or characteristics does/do your pet(s) have? Omg, Roman has so many. He nuzzles me all the time, will collapse into my hand to pet him, he insists on being the little spoon at bedtime (no, really), he literally tries to groom me with his teeth, licks my face... He is just a doll. My little buddy for sure. Now onto Venus. She loves to chill next to me in bed or find a cozy place under the covers, and omgggg does she love to slither around the bed doing the periscope thing. So curious. What's the screensaver on your computer? I don't have one. What’s the sexiest thing about a guy? I am WEAK for nice shoulderblades/muscular shoulders ok. What’s the sexiest thing about a girl? I am an ass bitch and I will not hesitate to admit it ayyyyyeeeee. Who were you with at midnight on January 1, 2021? Nobody. Who was the last person to send you a message on social media? My sister Misty. She's planning to surprise Mom (her stepmom, anyway) by showing up in a few weeks with her fiance and all her kids she's never met but desperately wants to. My mom is the only "real mom" she's ever had, and she just feels so bad that she has a by now teenage daughter (among three other younger ones) that has never met her "grandmother." It's just an expensive and long trip, but Misty's finally called it enough and is just driving down here with everyone. Mom is going to fucking sob. ^ What qualities does this person have, that you appreciate? Nice timing for this, since her fiercely anti-mask bullshit is all I can focus on about her lately... but there are good things about her. She truly is a very loving, passionate woman that, just like me, feels deeply and expresses it. What was the last thing that caused you to scowl, or frown? Does grimacing count from a sudden bodily pain? Have you smiled at any point during the last hour? Yeah. I'm watching the VOD of Arin Hanson playing Kingdom Hearts 2 for charity, and he went on a total fucking laughing fit. His laugh is so precious, so I just couldn't stop grinning. What was the last thing you consulted Google for? Ensuring "grimace" was the right word for my former expression, even though I was pretty positive it was correct... I don't know if anyone's noticed, but my English skills are degrading, particularly in spelling. It's concerning me. I was an English whiz my whole life up to now. My only guess is it's related to how godawful my memory is also declining. So, did anyone send you a "Happy New Year" message when midnight hit? No. When was the last time you were on a carousel? Probably not since I was a teenager being goofy with Jason or somebody. What is the closest you have ever been to an elephant? I have a picture on my dA of a beautiful elephant walking RIGHT by its fence at the zoo. It was pretty amazing, considering just how incredibly immense their enclosure is. Have you ever played Halo? No, it's not my kinda game. Have you ever read a National Geographic magazine? Oh, I'm positive I've read sections while in waiting rooms of various places. When was the last time you had a pillow fight? I have no idea. Realistically it was probably w/ Jason since that sounds like some cute playfighting thing we'd do, but I don't remember a particular instance. Name somebody who you think deserves more respect: "Retail works. The horror stories my mom has on the daily is absolutely ridiculous. People can be so incredibly rude." <<<< I absolutely agree with this; what friends and strangers alike rant about is just depressing. Nobody, especially those working through a goddamn pandemic that's killing thousands, deserves the disrespect that comes their way. Have some goddamn decency and know half the issues you bring up to retail workers isn't even their damn fault. Ohhhh, I could rant about this. In your own words, define what the word sexy means. So you mean like, what I think is considered sexy, not just the general definition? If that's the case, uhhh. Self-confidence (but absolutely not arrogance) is very attractive to me as a bitch who lacks it entirely, as well as good manners, being outgoing, and just... charm. I don't quite know how to describe that "charm" other than I'm really drawn to people who are unique and happy with it and just seem to have an aura about them that feels good to be in. What is the most popular tourist attraction where you live? I'm going to look at this question as if you're asking about my state and not general location because 1.) there ain't shit here and 2.) I'd prefer to keep relatively where I live quiet on the Internet. Looked it up and apparently NC's biggest tourist bait is the Biltmore Estate. Never been there myself, but it'd be pretty dope. Without looking - do you know what brand your underwear is? I'm in my own home and pjs, who the fuck wears underwear with that criteria lmao. Are you any good at volleyball? NOOOOOOOOO. I went to a volleyball camp thing once when I was younger and that shit hurts the hell outta your hands. I didn't stay long. Have you ever had a water balloon fight? Why of course. Do you think some babies are ugly? Quite honestly, probably most, especially newborns. Don’t you miss Chuck E. Cheese? I do; going there was one of the most exciting possible things to me as a kiddo. Do you think Fall Out Boy is gonna be a classic band, like Queen or AC/DC? Possibly. I mean they sure are pretty successful and well-known. Do you love stuff-crusted pizza? Eh, it's not my preference, but I'll eat it. Do you apply lotion after you bathe? No, but I really should, given how dry my skin is. What’s your favorite color? Pastel pink. Who did you have your most amazing kiss with? I'd like to not think about this. Has a YouTube video of yours ever gotten over 10,000 views? Lol definitely not. I think at least one on my older channel hit 1k somehow???? It was a birthday gift I made for someone. Would you ever get a tattoo on your collar bone? lol I already have one there. At some point I'm getting it covered, though. Do you like Robert Frost poems? I do! Do you go to church every Sunday? I never do. Have you ever been in a relationship on-and-off for more than a year? No, I don't play that game. You want me or you don't, so I'm not wasting my time on your uncertainty or just our lack of stability for whatever reason. If you had to get famous for one of the following, which would you choose: music, acting, writing, modeling? Absolutely writing. What do you think of girls with huge boobs that don’t wear bras in public? ?????????????????? i don't?????????????? care???????????????? they're not my tits??????????????? What is the last thing you tried on in a store? I don't know. I avoid trying shit on like the plague. And then it ends up being too big/small. I wonder why. Is sleeping naked more comfortable than in clothes? I've only ever fallen asleep naked once, and accidentally at that, so I really don't remember how I felt about it? Consciously though, I would feel very, very vulnerable so don't have plans to when I have my own place. Have you ever had a dream in which you were making out, or more, with someone? HAHAHA Y'AAAAAALLLLLLL THIS WAS DEADASS THE ONLY LUCID DREAM I'VE EVER HAD LMAOOOOO Do you feel as though you have a good memory, or are you forgetful at times? Do you feel that your short-term memory or long-term memory is better? My short-term memory is absolutely atrocious, like to the point it seriously affects my ability to get shit done. You can give me something that needs to be done and I will forget in a heartbeat. Now, my long-term memory is astonishing. I can remember many things from my childhood in incredible detail. Have you ever had a concussion or some other sort of brain injury before? Did you need to have surgery for it? I've had a concussion or two. I can't remember which. I didn't need surgery. Do you have any sort of mental illnesses or disorders? What do they involve? Yeah: chronic depression, crippling social anxiety, generalized anxiety, avoidant personality disorder (AvPD), obsessive compulsive disorder, PTSD, bipolar II, and I think that's it. My head's a mess and a half. What’s the longest that your hair has ever been? How about the shortest? When is the last time that you got it cut? About to the small of my back; how it is now, which is pretty much shaved on the left and fades to near my chin on the right. I actually got it cut last month; we've gone to a family friend for years whose shop is just an extra building by her house and very rarely has more than two clients in it. We had masks on, of course. At what age did you start getting gray hairs, if you happen to have any? I don't have any. Somehow, given my stress level at all times, haha. What are some ways that you style your hair? Do you use any sorts of products in it? It's too short to style. I don't use any products in it but obviously shampoo. Who was the last person to truly get on your nerves? What do you think caused you to feel that way? Probably my mom. I think she was in a rotten mood for one reason or another and just being snappy and generally rude. Do you recycle? Is this through choice or do you live somewhere where it’s compulsory? We do; it's by choice, and it'd be immensely ignorant not to where we live considering it literally gets picked up with the other garbage. Do you prefer plain, carbonated, or flavored water? Do you think you drink enough water throughout the day? I've never tried carbonated water, and flavored water rarely works for me due to artificial sweeteners giving me beastly headaches. So I'll just take really cold, filtered water. Have you ever needed to call the police, ambulance, or fire department? I had to call the ambulance for my mom right before her cancer was discovered because she was literally immobile and in ungodly pain. When was the last time you visited the library? What was the purpose of your visit? At my old college, as the newspaper photographer, I took some artsy pics up there. I will probably forever worry that leaving school resulted in the biggest career opportunity slipping through my fingers through that newspaper. Do you see a lot of wild animals where you live? Are any of them dangerous? I guess about the normal amount you'd see in the country. Some dangerous animals live here, sure, that's probably everywhere, but you very rarely see any. Aside from when you were born, have you ever had to stay the night in the hospital? For suicidal thoughts and one attempt, yes. Have you ever experienced a panic attack? Ahhhh, do I know those well. Thankfully, it's been a long time since I had an all-out panic attack. Would you ever want to go into the medical profession? Was your answer different pre-COVID? Nope. Well, besides being a vet, which I haven't wanted to be since I was a kid. Where you live, are people paying attention to whatever restrictions are in place to help control COVID? Many? No. Because it's apparently a fuckin hoax or not as bad as the government wants us to think. Fucking cretins. Do you get a real or artificial Christmas tree? Artificial. Real ones aren't worth the money nor mess. What’s your favourite type/flavor of popcorn? Caramel corn. Do you drink oat milk? No, but I'm interested in at least trying it. The dairy industry is absolutely repulsive if you look into it, and I'd love to do what I can to take as little part in it as possible... even though I am a dairy fiend. I seriously wish I could go vegan, I am just WAY too picky for it. Do you love thrifting? Oh fuck yes. I've been very few times in my life, but I'mm all about it. Do you consider using only lowercase letters your aesthetic? I do find it visually appealing; I like the flow of similar letter height. I never do it for "serious" things, but on places where it's "for the aesthetic," it's likely that's how I'll write something. Do you say “mood?” Way too much lmao. Do you own fairy lights? No, though I would like them if it wouldn't look stupid in my room. Do you own glass straws because the metal ones kind of gross you out because you can’t tell if they are clean or not? ... I didn't know glass straws were a thing. I have a handful of metal ones though, but I always forget I have one in my purse when I go out... Have you made a TikTok? No. Do you own airpods? No. Are you afraid of Mercury in retrograde? I don't believe in a planet's position or whatever having any effect on people. Do you make life choices based on astrology? Definitely not, considering I don't believe in it to begin with. How many pairs of converse shoes do you own? Maybe like, five? Number of jeans in your closet: Zero. What accent do you have? Not really any, but sometimes I sound kinda southern with specific words. Do you have a big butt? Yo I got a Hank Hill ass, so no. Do you count how long you and your gf/bf have been together? In my past relationships, yes, I assigned our anniversary to memory. I don't really... know why, like it doesn't really matter how long you've been together, I just do. Have you graduated? From HS, yes. I dropped out of college three times lmao. Rihanna or Lady GaGa? Ohhh, not sure. Maybe GaGa, but both ladies have songs I love. "Disturbia" doess beat all of her songs, tho. The fuckin BEAT. Do you use fake eyelashes? Never tried 'em. Which was the last book that really captivated you? The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood. What makeup brands do you use? I'm not loyal to any, really. I would be if I could afford expensive shit, but yeah, that ain't my life.

#survey #surveys #questions #questionnaire #lyrics: ''battle cry'' by blood on the dance floor

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ive-just-begun-to-care · 7 years ago

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Popularity

Warning: Lengthy essay ahead!

Long-debated questions: Did The Monkees' push for musical stardom hurt their careers? Did it hurt their popularity?

I'm gonna say "no." And now I'm gonna explain why, based on my own observations. (BTW, there's quite a bit of rambling here, because the fans and audiences I'm referring to here are not hard-core fans. Most people I know like The Monkees, but they're not in love with them, like we are. Maybe I've just always lived in a Monkees-deprived part of the world, I don't know. So my observations might be a little skewed. If any of you have had different responses from the fans, please let me know!)

First of all, let's look at the typical man-on-the-street's responses upon hearing the names of each Monkee, without knowing they are Monkees:

Michael Nesmith. "Who?"

Peter Tork. "Who?" or maybe "Did he invent those big paper napkin dispensers in restaurants?"

Micky Dolenz. "The name's kinda familiar..."

Davy Jones. "Oh, yeah, everybody knows him!"

Even people who grew up with them are like this. They may remember the songs, but not so much the guys, or even most of the episodes. Maybe "Fairy Tale" and the Frankenstein's android, but that's it. In fact, I have a friend that has the whole series in her collection, and when she sees Richard Kiel in another show, she's like, "Oh, it's that 'Doo-rah, doo-rah' guy!" And then she asks, "What show was that from, again?" *rolls eyes*

Funny, isn't it? Back in the sixties, so many people- including Davy and, originally Micky- thought the show was more important than the music, but people today remember the music better than the show. So I don't think the Monkees dabblers- the ones who hear a "greatest hits" collection, watch a dozen episodes, and think they've seen it all- or the TV fans- the ones who agree with Davy and Kirshner, that the boys should have just minded their business and concentrated on the show- were ever gonna remember them as anything but four zany guys who could sorta sing and play. It's only the really big fans, the ones that get into the back story and take the time to learn about them, who seem to see them for the talented young men they were. I suppose that's true of any show, and equally true of any group- but the Monkees were both actors and musicians, and there's two different factions in the fandom because of it.

My observation is that the TV fans don't really seem to think of them, at least not all of them, as anything special. My Monkees-watching friend favorably compares Micky to Jerry Lewis, and she sorta appreciates Davy's talent ("he's kinda funny, for an English guy"), but doesn't think Mike is funny at all, and thinks Peter "became" funny as time went on! She also doesn't really like Mike's or Peter's voices. She does, at least, think Peter is very talented musically. In her eyes, Micky is the funniest, Davy was the sweetest in real life- and, BTW, she's seen Daydream Believers, and she believes every word of it- Peter is the best musician, and Mike was nothing but a you-know-what-kind-of-hole. And I seem to get similar reactions from other fans. And from the ones who have only ever heard the songs, I get all those "Who?" responses I mentioned above.

And I've had TV fans ask me, "Well, what have they done since that was so great?" Everybody remembers Davy on The Brady Bunch. Some younger people remember the Boy Meets World episodes. I mention that Micky was turned down for the role of Fonzie, and then later became a director in England, and they're like, "Oh, well, that's what happens when you get typecast." I say that I heard Peter went broke and became an algebra teacher, and they're like, "Well, he wasn't that great of a singer, anyway." And I mention all the things Mike's done, and I get, "Oh, so he couldn't stick with anything, huh? Nobody liked his music? So all that garbage he pulled in the sixties didn't get him anywhere, did it?" And at that point, I give up. You can't make people listen. And then if they know anything of their personal lives- well, never mind. I'm not here to discuss the hypocrites in the fandom.

Now, can we just take an honest look at the way the television world works? Mike and Peter were never going to big-name TV stars, and if the world didn't like their music, then "The Monkees" was going to be the only thing they were known for. Excellent actors that they were, they were primarily musicians. If "The Monkees" had lasted ten seasons, and all four boys had stuck it out that long, the world in general still would not have remembered them as anything but their TV personas. They had no ambitions of becoming leading men or sitcom stars; they just wanted respect for their music, especially Michael. TV, especially a crazy sitcom, was never going to give them that.

As proof of this, let's look at what "The Monkees" did for Micky. He was typecast so bad, he could hardly get any other acting jobs after that. And nothing serious. To quote Daffy Duck, "You're typecasting me to death! Comedy, always comedy! 'Hoo-hoo! Hoo-hoo! Yak-yak!'" Come on, anybody that can do crazy comedy that well can do serious drama, too. Like, one of my favorite Robin Williams movies is Bicentennial Man. But for some reason, nobody ever gave Micky that chance. He couldn't even get into comedies! He had to go to England and start directing, and we lost a wonderfully talented actor. Thanks a lot, Hollywood.

You wanna know what I think is the real reason everyone remembers Davy? Cuz he was so darned cute. No, really! Talk to anybody that's not a huge fan like us. They can't tell you a single one of Davy's lines, not even "little metal bottle caps" or "you must be joking" (well, maybe they remember that one). They know "Daydream Believer" and the stars-in-the-eyes. That's about it. And they usually complain because every other episode is about Davy falling in love. But they still remember him for it. It was his sex appeal that sold him to the public, because that's the way the producers worked it out. So even if he did become the most well-known, it was still a raw deal, because it was for the wrong reason. Look at the Brady Bunch episode. He got to sing, and Marcia was in love with him because he was cute. His looks and his musical talent- but no recognition of his acting talent or respect for him as a member of The Monkees. (I mean, if they respected the Monkees, might not they have brought Micky in on another episode, considering how popular the Davy episode was?)

So, in answer to my original question- no, the music did not hurt their careers or their popularity. Their acting careers did fizzle out, not because of their mistakes, but because they were Monkees. It was gonna happen. That's just the fate of a sitcom star, especially a one-of-a-kind sitcom like theirs. Reminds me of what Don Adams said- "I was gonna be completely typed as 'Get Smart,'" and he was. Bob Denver was Gilligan, Fran Drescher is The Nanny, Vicki Lawrence is Mama- they get into these larger-than-life characters and they have so much trouble getting back out. And the exact same thing happened to the Monkees.

The main problem with the music is, I think, the fact that The Monkees WERE born out of a TV show. People don't take them seriously. "Oh, they were a group on a show. They were just supposed to tour to promote the show. The music was cool, but it didn't mean anything on its own." At least, that's the reaction I usually run across. Because of that, they were never gonna get respect for their music, unless they did push to be seen as a legitimate band. If the general public knows them for anything, it's usually their music that comes to mind. I asked somebody if they remembered the TV show "The Monkees," and he broke into "I'm a Believer." It's the music that sticks in people's heads. So you know what? I think the push for musical fame may actually have helped them.

We'll never know for sure. This is just how I see it. And, like I said, my views are skewed because I run across so many people who hate The Monkees (or at least, Mike and Peter), or who think of them as only a TV show, or who know nothing about them, or who just plain don't understand them and don't really want to, either. It's only online that I've been able to find people who can actually remember more than just a handful of episodes, and who actually still listen to their albums. I thank all of you for supporting my love of the best group of musicians and mayhem-makers in the world, and I would once again like to invite you to share your opinions and your experiences within the fandom.

#monkees #mike nesmith #micky dolenz #davy jones #peter tork #my opinion

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wordsaboutmusic101 · 7 years ago

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The Evolution of Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift is an American Country/Pop Singer from Pennsylvania, and was only 16 years old when she released her first album, Taylor Swift. She is now 27 years old with the release of her sixth studio album Reputation. She has been in the music industry for a long time, and it wasn’t an easy journey for her, but with each new album she releases comes new stories and experiences that have shaped her into the person she is today.

Her first album, “Taylor Swift”, contains songs such as Our Song, Picture to burn, and Should’ve said No. This album was primarily a country album through and through. She has a live band playing in the background of her songs, and when performing live. Her music was an expression of her life so far, as it is for most singer songwriters. She fell heartbroken, she felt love, she felt regret, and she felt lonely. Teenage years are tough, and when you go through these feelings all at the same time for the first time, it’s even worse. It’s hard to make music that has metaphors or a deeper meaning than the actual truth, especially during freshman year of high school, which is when she wrote most of this album. So, when she says to her heartbreaker in Picture to Burn, “you red necked heartbreak who’s really bad at lying” I felt relieved that she wasn’t trying to be something that she wasn’t. She was just being a teenager. Personally, as a kid who grew up surrounded by alternative rock music made by 30+ year old males who have experienced just about everything life has to throw at a person, Taylor Swift and her teenage angst and country rhythms were extremely refreshing to me and others my age.

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She began to grow in popularity by her second studio album Fearless. Some of the featured songs on this album are Love Story, and You Belong with Me (but my personal favorite are Fifteen, The Best Day, and Forever & Always). Her music and lyrics have not grown much from the last album. These two albums are only one year apart, have very similar subject matter, lyrics and vibe to them, and yet they are still extremely refreshing. It’s a kind of bubblegum teenage love story that makes you forget about the problems or struggles in your life concerning school, family, or friend drama. She had her debut tour with this album (fun fact, it was my first concert) and finally shared her songs with fans in a way that she couldn’t before. Her stage presence was perfect for a girl her age (around 18). She wasn’t the best, but she had fun dancing to her songs, which made crowd have fun too. At this point in her career, Taylor and her music were fun. She hadn’t had too much heart break yet or experience in the world of music. But that would change, and that change would be seen in her next studio album.

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There was a 2 year break between her new album Speak Now and Fearless. During these two years she had a relationship with Joe Jonas, which ended in October 2008, and Taylor Lautner, who she met on set of the movie Valentine's day in 2009. With the release of this album came songs like Better Than Revenge, that was obviously a diss at Joe Jonas and his new girlfriend. This is one of the first tracks that she had made about another celebrity through her music. She was so hurt and confused by this break up that she went into the studio and let loose. She was young, she was angry, and she wanted revenge. At that age there’s no better way of getting revenge than by dissing your ex and getting paid to do it. There are obviously more mature ways to handle that kind of a situation, but I did think it was better that she didn't make that song the focus of her album, but instead focused on other songs such as Fearless. However, her album discussed her relationship with Taylor Lautner as well with a song called “Back to December”. This song was about the regret she had about leaving someone who was so good to her. It’s a sad song that shows both her experience and growth. This album basically has two sides. It has songs like Better than Revenge, You’re Not Sorry, and more, that are about feeling hurt and lied to from the one you love. But there are also songs like Fairytale, Mine, and Back to December that are meant to embody a pure love that she has once felt. Taylor Swift has grown from simple lyrics with the same exact beat, to something a little more intricate. It’s just as country pop and refreshing, but her lyrics are beginning to get deeper as she gains more experience and grows a little bit older. Just like the fans who are supporting her.

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It took her another 2 years to make Red, and this may just be her most infamous album. It contains songs such as “I Knew You Were Trouble” and “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together”. At this point Taylor is 22 and had 3 public relationships between this album and her last, the most notable being a relationship with Harry Styles. The album was about heartbreak and anger and revenge. But, unfortunately, it seemed more like she was yelling at someone, rather than trying to find comfort in her music. It was as if she took 12 steps backwards. When she went on music awards she would say digs at the people she had been with in the past while performing, and most of the digs were at her ex Harry Styles. When I watched Taylor perform before, I was watching her perform for herself and her fans. But now, I was watching a public feud that I wanted no part in. However, at the time, fans understood that Taylor felt hurt, and the only thing she could think of was the break up. She didn’t have to make it so public, but as a public figure of that magnitude, it is hard for her to keep anything private. It’s understandable, but a little disappointing.

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Taylor Swift released her fifth studio album 1989 in 2014. It smashed the charts breaking records in a number of different categories. She came out with FOUR music videos and hit singles: Bad Blood, Shake it off, Blank Space, and Wildest Dreams. (Personally, I believed every single song on this album was a hit) She grew us an artist, a performer and as a person. In fact, her experiences in New York have shaped her into who she is now. New York brought a new energy to her. She made dozens of new friends who made her feel powerful, happy, and confident. She describes how New York City feels to her in the track Welcome to New York. Bad Blood was about friends that she had in the industry who left her or betrayed her, and she’s seen in the music video with other girls, new friends, who are behind her ready to help her fight the battles that lie ahead. Blank Space has a great concept. She makes fun of herself, her past, and the media in this song and music video. Now that she has grown into a new era of herself, she can poke some fun at herself. That’s a part of growing up. This album had an overwhelming sense of maturity, satire, and fun again (finally)! Also, her love for New York and finding herself transformed country pop into a more mature dance and modern sound. As a fan since 2007, I was so proud that Taylor Swift found herself and her happiness, and grew from the experiences instead of traveling down the same path.

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Now it’s 2017 and Taylor Swift has come out with her latest studio album Reputation. I have not yet listened to it but I’m extremely excited to listen to the new stories, experiences and growth within it.

The links to her newest music videos are here and here. Enjoy!

#taylor swift #blank space #fearless #1989 #reputation #red #you belong with me #i knew you were trouble #artist profile #growth #experience

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dragons-in-bowties-blog · 6 years ago

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A celebration of Mac Miller and his boundless creativity

On September 7th, rapper and musician Mac Miller died in Los Angeles, California after an apparent drug overdose. Here, one contributor details the joy of watching Miller's art evolve.

During a 2016 Vogue interview, Mac Miller sentimentally reflected on how Prince's death and its aftermath affected him. “It was hard for me to sit there and see someone who was obviously very private be turned inside out after his death.” Mac, born Malcolm McCormick, was sensitive and thoughtful in that way. The people who knew and loved him remember him as a gentle soul who remained a beacon of light in their lives, even during times when he couldn't be that for himself. Throughout his almost ten year career, Mac never stopped evolving and his creativity never signaled any bounds.

Only a few days after the official release of his fifth studio album, Mac delivered a memorable performance on NPR's Tiny Desk concert series. His seventeen-minute rendering of Swimming is emotional and intimate. In between songs, the band rearranges itself and the spotlight is solely on Mac. He appears nervous, fidgety, easing his apparent discomfort with playful banter, sinking into a familiar boyishness. He avoids eye contact with the crowd and nervously giggles, the way a guilty boy who is charming himself into forgiveness does. The music comes back on, and he immediately relaxes-his obvious sweet spot. His delivery is sentimental and mature.

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In a moment of introspection, Mac once said, “I've always wanted to sing. I don't think I have a great voice, but I just think that I get the emotion. It's very authentic. Whatever emotion I'm feeling, I can sing it and you can feel it.” And he was right.

Mac Miller performed the way only someone who has intimately known grief and torment could-his affliction palpable to anyone who watched and listened.

The steady pathos of his voice is checkered with occasional sweet grins, as if attempting to reassure the audience that he's okay even as he sings of loneliness and oppressive thoughts.

Rostrum Records

Rewind to 2010, when a fresh out of high school Mac dropped the mixtape that, at a lighting speed, would elevate him to permanent celebrity status. K.I.D.S. featured a wide-eyed, eager Mac who was primarily concerned with dreams of fame and the grandeur that he then associated with it. His most popular tracks “Kool Aid & Frozen Pizza” and “Nikes on My Feet” were odes to a college freshman mentality-rudimentary if naive attempts at a style that was then out of his reach. Much to his irritation, he was quickly labeled a “frat rapper.” And if K.I.D.S. had established Mac, then, as the voice of a reckless, hedonistic white middle-class youth, Blue Slide Park solidified that sound.

Though his debut album broke records as the first indie album to go number one in over fifteen years, music critics weren't impressed. Despite the artist's youth and gentle demeanor, media outlets didn't shy away from tearing his project apart. But in truth, Blue Slide Park maybe could have only ever been that: a feel good album that spoke to Mac's reality at the time. He was always good at that-delivering himself through his art exactly as he was.

Reflecting on the harsh response to his first piece of work, Mac expressed his feelings about the whole situation in a 2013 interview with Complex. “It wasn't just that the reviews were horrible. A lot of the reviews were more on me as a person. To be honest, that was even worse. You're 19, you're so excited to put out your first album, you put it out-and no one has any respect for you or for what you did.”

As if this particular time in a young person's life isn't already corrupted by uncertainty and dread, Mac's experiences were multiplied by the pernicious nature of celebrity. He often talked about this period of his life as a particularly dark one. Demons he battled with led him down a path of substance abuse and neglect. In that same Complex interview, he said of that chapter in his life, “I was not happy, and I was on lean very heavy. I was so fucked up all the time. It was bad. My friends couldn't even look at me the same. I was lost.”

View this post on Instagram

New York Mag. Link in Bio. Words by @craig_sj and Photos by @christaanfelber

A post shared by Mac (@macmiller) on Sep 6, 2018 at 12:22pm PDT

Fast forward to 2016. Mac had moved to Los Angeles and his home had become an artists' nook, á la the Shakespeare and Company bookstore for The Lost Generation writers or Joan Didion's L.A. residence in the 1960s. By this time, he had put out projects like Macadelic and Watching Movies With the Sound Off that had, if nothing else, earned him the respect of some of his generation's most venerated rappers and musicians-including Kendrick Lamar, Jay-Z, Thundercat, and Anderson .Paak.

On the eve of his fourth studio album, The Divine Feminine, he did an interview with Vogue in which he appeared to be in a much clearer headspace, gushing about his mental clarity and sobriety. He said “There is a health aspect, of course, but it's more about being present and having real emotions. Knowing what's going on, and embracing it and flourishing in it, rather than trying to put it away in some dark corner.”

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The Divine Feminine was a maturation of his experimentation with soft jazz sounds and mellifluous croons-a stylet we were first introduced to on his 2012 EP You that he dropped under the pseudonym Larry Lovestein. At the time, The Divine Feminine was the most cohesive and methodical album he had put out. It was an exploration of Mac's musings on love and its place in the universe.

The project reestablished him as someone who was too committed to growth in his artistry to ever get too comfortable in any particular style.

While his outward expression of the divinity of feminine energy was soulful and tender, his newest project, Swimming-released just over a month ago on August 3rd-echoes the darker themes in his earlier work with distinctly more sharpened technique and sophistication.

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Mac's visual for “Self Care,” his last music video released on July 12th, depicts him lying in his own coffin, oddly unflappable about the fact that he was buried alive. It manages to be claustrophobic and assuring at the same time. He calmly pulls out a cigarette from his shoe and carves “Memento Mori” into the wooden crate as he raps of existential predicaments and confusion.

The song, like the entire album, feels older-like it comes from a person who is finally able to accept the permanance of chaos, and feels ready to create new meaning within it.

It is devastating that we will never see how that new perspective would've manifested, but we can continue to celebrate and be comforted by the art that Mac Miller gifted us. To put a spin on Mac's words from the day Prince died, “We listening to [Mac] all day.”

The post A celebration of Mac Miller and his boundless creativity appeared first on HelloGiggles.

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fuckyeahslightlyamusing-blog · 6 years ago

Text

A celebration of Mac Miller and his boundless creativity

On September 7th, rapper and musician Mac Miller died in Los Angeles, California after an apparent drug overdose. Here, one contributor details the joy of watching Miller's art evolve.

youtube

Mac Miller performed the way only someone who has intimately known grief and torment could-his affliction palpable to anyone who watched and listened.

The steady pathos of his voice is checkered with occasional sweet grins, as if attempting to reassure the audience that he's okay even as he sings of loneliness and oppressive thoughts.

Rostrum Records

View this post on Instagram

New York Mag. Link in Bio. Words by @craig_sj and Photos by @christaanfelber

A post shared by Mac (@macmiller) on Sep 6, 2018 at 12:22pm PDT

youtube

The project reestablished him as someone who was too committed to growth in his artistry to ever get too comfortable in any particular style.

youtube

The song, like the entire album, feels older-like it comes from a person who is finally able to accept the permanance of chaos, and feels ready to create new meaning within it.

The post A celebration of Mac Miller and his boundless creativity appeared first on HelloGiggles.

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typhoonprecious-blog · 6 years ago

Text

A celebration of Mac Miller and his boundless creativity

On September 7th, rapper and musician Mac Miller died in Los Angeles, California after an apparent drug overdose. Here, one contributor details the joy of watching Miller's art evolve.

youtube

Mac Miller performed the way only someone who has intimately known grief and torment could-his affliction palpable to anyone who watched and listened.

The steady pathos of his voice is checkered with occasional sweet grins, as if attempting to reassure the audience that he's okay even as he sings of loneliness and oppressive thoughts.

Rostrum Records

View this post on Instagram

New York Mag. Link in Bio. Words by @craig_sj and Photos by @christaanfelber

A post shared by Mac (@macmiller) on Sep 6, 2018 at 12:22pm PDT

youtube

The project reestablished him as someone who was too committed to growth in his artistry to ever get too comfortable in any particular style.

youtube

The song, like the entire album, feels older-like it comes from a person who is finally able to accept the permanance of chaos, and feels ready to create new meaning within it.

The post A celebration of Mac Miller and his boundless creativity appeared first on HelloGiggles.

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tothe-tooth-blog · 6 years ago

Text

A celebration of Mac Miller and his boundless creativity

On September 7th, rapper and musician Mac Miller died in Los Angeles, California after an apparent drug overdose. Here, one contributor details the joy of watching Miller's art evolve.

youtube

Mac Miller performed the way only someone who has intimately known grief and torment could-his affliction palpable to anyone who watched and listened.

The steady pathos of his voice is checkered with occasional sweet grins, as if attempting to reassure the audience that he's okay even as he sings of loneliness and oppressive thoughts.

Rostrum Records

View this post on Instagram

New York Mag. Link in Bio. Words by @craig_sj and Photos by @christaanfelber

A post shared by Mac (@macmiller) on Sep 6, 2018 at 12:22pm PDT

youtube

The project reestablished him as someone who was too committed to growth in his artistry to ever get too comfortable in any particular style.

youtube

The song, like the entire album, feels older-like it comes from a person who is finally able to accept the permanance of chaos, and feels ready to create new meaning within it.

The post A celebration of Mac Miller and his boundless creativity appeared first on HelloGiggles.

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ungracefulswan-blog · 6 years ago

Text

A celebration of Mac Miller and his boundless creativity

On September 7th, rapper and musician Mac Miller died in Los Angeles, California after an apparent drug overdose. Here, one contributor details the joy of watching Miller's art evolve.

youtube

Mac Miller performed the way only someone who has intimately known grief and torment could-his affliction palpable to anyone who watched and listened.

The steady pathos of his voice is checkered with occasional sweet grins, as if attempting to reassure the audience that he's okay even as he sings of loneliness and oppressive thoughts.

Rostrum Records

View this post on Instagram

New York Mag. Link in Bio. Words by @craig_sj and Photos by @christaanfelber

A post shared by Mac (@macmiller) on Sep 6, 2018 at 12:22pm PDT

youtube

The project reestablished him as someone who was too committed to growth in his artistry to ever get too comfortable in any particular style.

youtube

The song, like the entire album, feels older-like it comes from a person who is finally able to accept the permanance of chaos, and feels ready to create new meaning within it.

The post A celebration of Mac Miller and his boundless creativity appeared first on HelloGiggles.

0 notes

theinternetismylyfe-blog · 6 years ago

Text

A celebration of Mac Miller and his boundless creativity

On September 7th, rapper and musician Mac Miller died in Los Angeles, California after an apparent drug overdose. Here, one contributor details the joy of watching Miller's art evolve.

youtube

Mac Miller performed the way only someone who has intimately known grief and torment could-his affliction palpable to anyone who watched and listened.

The steady pathos of his voice is checkered with occasional sweet grins, as if attempting to reassure the audience that he's okay even as he sings of loneliness and oppressive thoughts.

Rostrum Records

View this post on Instagram

New York Mag. Link in Bio. Words by @craig_sj and Photos by @christaanfelber

A post shared by Mac (@macmiller) on Sep 6, 2018 at 12:22pm PDT

youtube

The project reestablished him as someone who was too committed to growth in his artistry to ever get too comfortable in any particular style.

youtube

The song, like the entire album, feels older-like it comes from a person who is finally able to accept the permanance of chaos, and feels ready to create new meaning within it.

The post A celebration of Mac Miller and his boundless creativity appeared first on HelloGiggles.

0 notes

gayyogurt-blog · 6 years ago

Text

A celebration of Mac Miller and his boundless creativity

On September 7th, rapper and musician Mac Miller died in Los Angeles, California after an apparent drug overdose. Here, one contributor details the joy of watching Miller's art evolve.

youtube

Mac Miller performed the way only someone who has intimately known grief and torment could-his affliction palpable to anyone who watched and listened.

The steady pathos of his voice is checkered with occasional sweet grins, as if attempting to reassure the audience that he's okay even as he sings of loneliness and oppressive thoughts.

Rostrum Records

View this post on Instagram

New York Mag. Link in Bio. Words by @craig_sj and Photos by @christaanfelber

A post shared by Mac (@macmiller) on Sep 6, 2018 at 12:22pm PDT

youtube

The project reestablished him as someone who was too committed to growth in his artistry to ever get too comfortable in any particular style.

youtube

The song, like the entire album, feels older-like it comes from a person who is finally able to accept the permanance of chaos, and feels ready to create new meaning within it.

The post A celebration of Mac Miller and his boundless creativity appeared first on HelloGiggles.

0 notes

allaboutquinceaneras · 7 years ago

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RITES OF PASSAGE: QUINCEANERA A LITTLE GIRL NO MORE HISPANIC CEREMONY FOR 15-YEAR-OLDS MARKS ANOTHERSTEP IN THE JOURNEY TO MATURITY

''I offer you, Lord, my youth. Guide my steps, my actions, my thoughts.''

Veronica Viramontes' voice quavers just a little as she recites her Prayer of Dedication. The petite Fresno girl is nervous at the altar. Everyone in the church is watching, listening. This is the biggest moment of her life -- her quinceanera, or 15th birthday, ceremony. She continues:

''Grant me the grace to understand your new commandment to love one another, and may your grace not be wasted in me. . . .''

Our Lady of Guadalupe, a favored Hispanic image of the Virgin Mary, looks down on Veronica from a painting high above the altar.

''Oh Mary, my mother, present my offering and my life to the Lord. Be my model of a valiant woman, my strength and my guide.''

Veronica, an eighth-grader at Wawona Middle School, is among thousands of girls in the West and Southwest who each year celebrate a quinceanera, a centuries-old Mexican and Latin American tradition that marks their passage into adulthood.

Although her voice is timid and childlike, Veronica looks so grown up. Her sequin-and-lace white gown clings to her 5-foot, 105-pound frame. The gown has a layered, billowing skirt and a cape attached at the shoulders. White gloves add another touch of elegance. Veronica's long, dark brown hair is swept up on the top of her head, encircled with a lacy band.

As Veronica reads the prayer, she holds onto a tall, cream-colored pillar candle with her left hand. Her mother and uncle are at her side, each with a symbolic, supportive hand on her.

''You have the power to change hearts. Take my heart, then, and make me a worthy daughter of yours.''

The Rev. Phil Van Linden, pastor of the Catholic Community of Mt. Carmel & St. Alphonsus, is celebrating this Saturday afternoon Mass. He stands next to the family, smiling as he watches Veronica.

''Amen,'' Veronica finishes, then looks up shyly.

At the priest's urging, church-goers stand and applaud.

Relief floods Veronica's face, and she flashes a big smile. She has finished her part of the ceremony, so she relaxes and enjoys the rest of it.

After the recessional down Mt. Carmel's 80-foot-long red carpet and a photo session, Veronica maneuvers her hoop skirt into one of two stretch limousines parked outside. She and the two dozen friends who participated in the ceremony are off to Courthouse Park for more photos. Then they'll cruise around town.

The youngsters are elbow-to-elbow in the 14-passenger limos, yet they're waving to cars and passers-by. The radios blast with the music of Prince and other popular entertainers.

Despite the driver's admonishment to stay completely inside the car, a now-animated Veronica pops her head and arms through the sunroof as they approach Courthouse Park. She broadly smiles and waves to a sheriff's patrol car.

As the sun sets, the entourage makes its way to a dinner reception and party, to continue the celebration with a DJ and a band that played tejano, banda and cumbia music.

Veronica, who started her quinceanera day quietly at 7 in the morning at Merlina's Beauty Salon on the Fulton Mall, will dance the night away until 1 a.m.

Hispanic custom

Some people say a quinceanera looks like a wedding -- without a groom.

With her elaborate white gown and bouquet, Veronica easily could be mistaken for a bride. Her nine damas, or attendants, wearing white and hunter green formal gowns, and their escorts, or chambalanes, wearing black tuxedos with tails and hunter green cummerbunds, also fit into the wedding scenario.

But a quinceanera is not a wedding; it's a rite of passage primarily practiced by Hispanic Catholics. It is part religious rededication, part social coming out.

In Spanish, quinceanera means ''15th birthday.''

Unlike Holy Communion or confirmation, the Catholic Church doesn't consider a quinceanera an essential element in the life of a Catholic. But the church respects the traditions of Hispanic parishioners and so celebrates the quinceanera, says Van Linden.

No one knows for sure how it got started, but the quinceanera custom seems to come from the ancient Toltec and Mayan fertility rites in which fathers presented their marriageable daughters to the tribe.

Today, the celebration, like the Jewish bat mitzvah for girls and bar mitzvah for boys, signifies maturity.

In order to have a quinceanera, a girl must have celebrated her first communion, go to confession the day before the ceremony, and do volunteer work at the church.

Boys may celebrate a quinceanero, but it's rare because the ceremony generally is considered a girl's coming out, Van Linden says. He's done three in 15 years of parish work.

Veronica isn't a parishioner at Mt. Carmel, a 51-year-old, red-tile-roofed church in southwest Fresno.

At the first of two prayer and preparation sessions two weeks before her quinceanera, Veronica admitted it has been awhile since her last confession. She stammered and stumbled when church coordinator Carol Jiminez first asked her to read a Bible passage and the Prayer of Dedication.

Van Linden says he views a quinceanera as a time for the church to make an impression on a girl and her family and as a chance to perhaps draw them into regular worship and activities.

Van Linden says the emphasis of a quinceanera should be on the religious aspects and he discourages the extravagance that is all-too-often associated with the ceremony.

He's among the many priests who are troubled that many families, including those of modest means, spend thousands of dollars on their celebrations.

''It breaks my heart to know how much money is being spent on these things,'' says Van Linden, a priest who speaks Spanish and English and has celebrated hundreds of quinceaneras in churches in Arizona, Guatemala, Los Angeles and -- for the last three years -- Fresno.

Van Linden encourages simplicity in quinceanera celebrations. ''Simplicity and family unity are the best values that we can teach our young people, and one way is by not incurring unnecessary costs for this church celebration,'' says the parish quinceanera policy.

And in an effort to keep the focus on the service and not the individual, some parishes, including Van Linden's, conduct only group quinceaneras.

In Van Linden's parish, a quinceanera Mass is scheduled once a month, except during Lent. Veronica was the only person who signed up for the December quinceanera, which isn't typical.

The group ceremony, he said, ''discourages the big show-time. And it levels the playing field. If a girl comes from a poor family or wealthier family, it doesn't make a difference,'' he says.

''There's a sense of community that's built on the quinceanera. It's not "my family doing this for me.'''

The Rev. Arturo Gomez, pastor of St. Anthony Mary Claret Church in southeast Fresno, says he celebrates individual quinceaneras because, ''It's a time for parents to give thanks to God and for a sense of pride for the young lady,'' he said.

Intense planning

Veronica's mother began planning for her daughter's quinceanera last spring.

Corina Viramontes, 31, says she wanted the quinceanera to be unforgettable. ''I left home at 13, so I didn't have a quinceanera.''

Viramontes took charge.

She registered Veronica with the church, found a reception hall and followed the custom of contacting family and friends to sponsor various parts of the celebration and to help defray expenses.

Veronica's father, Fausto Viramontes, does demolition work that often forces him to travel throughout the state. He was unable to attend Veronica's quinceanera, so her uncle, Jose Perez of Sanger, filled in.

The Viramontes' other children are Carlos, 13, Jacqueline, 11 -- who already is looking forward to her quinceanera -- and Jonathon, 3.

Veronica asked 14 girls and 14 boys to be part of her ''court.'' With Veronica and her escort, Raul Hernandez, that would have made 15 -- quince -- couples, one for each year of her life.

Some youngsters accepted but later backed out because of the expense of buying dresses and accessories and renting tuxedos. In the end, nine boys and nine girls, ranging in age from 12 to 17, precede Veronica down Mt. Carmel's center aisle.

Veronica invited 250 people to her quinceanera, but most passed on the church ceremony and just attended the evening reception at Las Palmas Masonic Lodge.

Van Linden says the sparse church turnout is a common and frustrating reality. Typically, only the parents of participating youngsters attend, he says. ''They want to see how they spent their money on those dresses.''

Words of wisdom

Chastity is an element of a quinceanera.

While helping her prepare for her quinceanera, Jiminez reminded Veronica that she presents herself to God during the ceremony. ''The white dress and white flowers represent you're a virgin and pure,'' Jiminez said.

Viramontes and her sister, Yvonne Sanchez, 28, don't hesitate to talk about chastity with Veronica.

''I'm proud of Vero,'' Viramontes says. ''I'm proud of her because I didn't make it this far -- I only made it to 13.

''She's saved herself to 15. I'm giving her thanks that she's lasted.''

Sanchez, who had her first baby at age 15, says she's proud Veronica is unlike other teen-age girls who ''go off and get pregnant.''

When Jiminez, during a prep session that involves the extended family, asked Sanchez for advice for her niece, Sanchez said, ''Just don't think that partying, having babies, being in love is the best. I think education should come first.''

Jiminez agreed. ''You want to concentrate on your studies. Life is very hard. You can't just say "I've had quinceanera and I can just party now.'''

Jiminez also urged Veronica to keep the spiritual aspect of her quinceanera in the forefront. She suggested that she attend Mass, pray, say the rosary each day and read the Bible.

The Bible passage Veronica and other girls read at quinceanera ceremonies is from the New Testament book of Colossians. It's from chapter 3, verses 12-17 and is subtitled ''Practice virtue.''

A family affair

Even though her family's budget is modest, Viramontes says Veronica's quincenera cost her more than $3,000. Viramontes says she had saved some money to pay for the celebration and will pay off other expenses as she can.

Her costs would have been considerably higher if she hadn't asked friends and family members to help with expenses.

More than 20 Padrinos y padrinas, godfathers and godmothers, paid for items presented to Veronica and blessed by the priest in the church ceremony, including a Bible, rosary, tiara, gold bracelet, necklace, watch and pair of gold and diamond earrings with a likeness of the Virgin Mary on the oval drop.

Other sponsors rented the reception hall; paid the photographer, DJ and band; and bought the beer, champagne and sparkling cider.

A sponsor also provided a spectacular three-tier cake with a lighted fountain under its base. The cake was topped with a girl doll in a gazebo. Little stairways down each side of the cake lead to additional layers. On the steps were miniature boy and girl dolls.

Veronica's grandmother, aunt and great-aunt prepared a buffet meal of carnitas (shredded pork), potato salad, beans, rice and corn tortillas for the 200 people who attended the reception.

A high point of the reception is a speech by Veronica's mother. She carefully has written it down and starts by thanking all those who helped with the quinceanera.

Then Viramontes is overcome with emotion and hands her notes to her cousin, Albert Gonzales. He reads:

''You've given my life and your brothers' and sister's lives so much. I've been blessed from above. ...I don't know if I could ever add to the wonderful daughter you are.''

Veronica speaks next, expressing thanks to her mother and other family members. As usual, she's a girl of few words.

''I appreciate all that you did,'' she says.

And with that, the princess for a day returns to the dance floor.

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stipulatedconflict · 8 years ago

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Individual interview with Ryan Sabatis(Red Red Red/Mellified man)

It has been more than a decade since I discovered this band RED RED RED which is one of my favorite bands that gave me a deep influence to my own music. It was the Myspace era(sounds so old fashion haha) and I was seeking new bands and sound through it back in 2006 or 2007. Then I came across this band somehow. Its sound was very unique to my ear. Fast and aggressive as hardcore punk, and its rhythm bounded bit weirdly but still had the groove of rocknroll but which was not the boogie woogie way. It was sharp, edgy, solid and tight. I was digging teengenerate, new bomb turks or devil dogs etc that kind of 90s-00s garage punk/ass shaken’ rocknroll punk a lot at that moment(I still love though). But Red Red Red sounded completely different compared to any of these bands. The groove of Rock’n’Roll, RED RED RED had a different vibe. It’s kinda different perspective and interpretation of Rock’n’Roll. This time I was thinking why I don't interview the guys who gave me some influence. Then I could get in touch with Ryan Sabatis who is the heart of RED RED RED.

Check their sounds here:

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gI-b8F0aodQ

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSXMxXQfpjI

Interview starts from below:

-How have you gotten into music in the first point?Please tell me the story how you started being interested in listening to music(it doesnt mean punk/garage/rocknroll)

I was pretty into listening to music when I was very young. I was taken to a lot of these car show events with my family. It was nothing but 1950’s music, rock and roll, doo-wop, etc. Growing up there was a lot of that and classic rock stuff, more 60’s-70’s staple stuff. I was young in the 80’s so the hard rock/metal style was also happening during that period.

I started playing guitar when I was 14. I took lessons for several years from an instructor in my hometown and learned a lot about playing music and theory. The music I was listening to and learning to play once I started playing an instrument was a lot of more mainstream rock and metal types of music. Music study wasn’t just that though, I was taught and played some classical and jazz also. I liked it but those things clicked for me more so later on and I became more interested in listening and playing other genres.

-Then how have you reached punk/garage music?Please tell me the story that you started listening to punk/garage/rocknroll music.

It started with friends in school. I had friends that listened to metal bands and the punk influences that went along with them. Like the typical ones you would know Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, Suicidal Tendencies. Those bands would throw out punk bands as influences, like the Misfits, Black Flag, Minor Threat, etc.

In the 90’s there was a lot of popular music that was sort of derivative/influenced by punk stuff. Call it grunge, metal, alternative rock, whatever. I liked the more popular stuff but once I started moving backwards to the older bands I liked those a lot better.

There are 2 albums I bought early on that stand out and flipped a switch in my mind. One was the Stooges Raw Power. Another one was Damaged by Black Flag. Raw Power is a super strange record to hear for the first time. It just SOUNDED different in all ways. Super weird and deranged, recorded/mixed weird. Both of those albums are bizarre sounding and very powerful.

My friend Jason and I had a mutual interest in music. He used to read these music encyclopedia books and would always tell me about cool bands to listen to. Primarily hardcore/punk then started getting into 60’s “garage” and more rock and roll style punk bands. He definitely had a good ear for things. Jason and I started playing in bands together also for years where he was the drummer. Later on Jason was who I started RedRedRed with, he was the bassist. 

-Please tell me your favorite bands 

That is something that evolves and changes for me. I can list some of the favorites that are probably more relevant as influences to my music:

The Stooges, MC5, Hendrix, The Sonics, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Link Wray, Captain Beefheart

Hardcore punk stuff like Black Flag, Bad Brains, Minor Threat, Void, Scream, Articles of Faith (tons of other ones)

jazz stuff, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Sun-Ra, Ornette Coleman (tons of other ones)

A lot of various ones also through the years also, the Scientists, Brainiac, weirder stuff Silver Apples, Half Japanese, Trumans Water. I was a big fan of the label Crypt which put out bands like The Pagans, Gaunt, New bomb turks, Billy Childish, Teengenerate, Devil Dogs, Oblivians/Compulsive Gamblers, Country Teasers, Lyres, etc,

-Please tell me the band/musicians that especially gave you the influence/inspiration for your play style.and why.

The ones I listed above are big influences. Some of the playing style elements that crop up would be various things – like from hardcore punk with playing fast, aggressive, and tight. Or from other influences with playing free/loose, noisey. All things pulled from some of the bands mentioned above. As far as why, I lean towards what I like to hear and play, as well as what the music may call for. 

-You can play drum and guitar.Is there any difference of joy when you play?

I enjoy playing both instruments. I have gotten into learning more regarding drums in the past few years so I play those regularly. The main difference is when I pick up the guitar I will likely write a song or immediately start flowing some sort of idea. A good idea on guitar can affect me in a different way for sure.

-Which instrument does represent yourself well as an artist?

My writing is primarily connected to the guitar and I have been playing that the longest so I would say that.

-Could you tell me the bands you have played in before?

I played in my first band with my friend Jason drumming for years. The sound was punk/hardcore, kind of rock and roll more so towards the end. We sounded like when you hold play and fast forward on a tape recorder at the same time, probably too fast. We did not release any recordings but practiced a ton, and played shows. 

I also played drums in a band with some friends (Kent, Tracy, Kevin) for 2 years when I was in college in Kalamazoo, MI. This was in the mid-late 90’s. That was a hugely important learning experience. The playing we did was primarily improvisational in playing and writing. Getting on a wavelength with people and letting the ideas flow. The guys I played with were a few years older than me and introduced me to a lot of different music. 2 of the guys more avant garde stuff, and the other guy introduced me to a lot of more obscure punk/noise bands. When you end up meeting a record guru person that was it for me – 3 of them at once.

Later I re-located to east Michigan, around Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti which is near Detroit. I answered an ad and joined the band the Piranhas as the drummer. That is another story, but that was another hugely important period and band to me. We played together for 5 years, made records, and toured. After the Piranhas I was in another band drumming called Druid Perfume. At the same time I started RedRedRed.

For lesser periods of time I’ve played drums in the bands Mhz, His Name Is Alive, Human Eye, and other short lived ones.

-When you started playing in a band(the first),why did you want to start a band?what was the reason?

Something to do, to be creative and have an outlet. I really had a passion for it from the start and have always retained an interest in listening and playing. I am grateful that I was able to have some good friends to be involved with music with.

-How was the local scene when you started playing and be involved? 

Depending on the period that is night and day. Where I grew up and playing in my early bands was pretty different than when I moved near Detroit area. With our early band we were from a small town so we would have to travel a little to see shows or play. I remember there were a lot of bands around and shows to go to which was cool. Even in our hometown some of the younger kids started bands and are still active with it. I have pretty good memories about that period of time.

Around the year 2000 I moved to Detroit and started playing in the Piranhas. That was a weird experience because I was not as familiar with the Detroit scene prior and the music scene there exploded during that time, it was right at the peak of all that.  

-How did RED RED RED start?

 I was drumming in the Piranhas and that was going well. But I was primarily a guitarist and I wrote. I never really stopped that and was looking to do something again.

I met the drummer Jon through his cousin who was a co-worker of mine. I had actually seen Jon’s old band - Easy Action - before I knew him. My old band-mate Jason had moved to the area and he joined as a bass player. So we started the band then with that lineup.

-How did you decide the name RED RED RED?is there any specific meaning?

I was listening to a song where it sounded like the singer was saying that but he was saying something else. So it came from auditory hallucinating. There is no specific meaning I just thought it was a good name to use and no band existed before with that band name.

-Was there any specific idea of sound for RED RED RED before it started?

When I first started playing with Jon we were a 2 piece and it was very different sounding. I made up this custom tuning for my guitar and created these chord fingerings that worked and so that I could fret and get these really dissonant intervals/tones. We did that for a while then scrapped that idea and said we are going to play rock and roll. Then we brought Jason in on bass and started the group.

The sound was mainly an aggressive rock style but it had to have a different angle, be original, no re-hashing things. I wanted the songs to be solid and throw wrenches in the structures. Some of writing that stuff came to me out of body, free-flowing, it’s hard to explain how I wrote some of those things thinking back on it.

-Could you describe the sound of RED RED RED by your own words? 

Michigan rock and roll…..

-How was the music scene in Michigan when RED RED RED was active about a decade ago?

I think what the younger people were doing had started to transition into some different things when RED RED RED started. There were still great bands doing garage rock and roll but some more different sounds coming out also. Some of the bands I remember that we played with or were around at the time in Detroit were Human Eye, The Frustrations, Terrible Twos, Easy Action, many others. It was still pretty thriving and a good scene to be able to play in. Detroit has a lot of great people that know and appreciate music, there is a big music history in that city.

-Were there any bands you RED RED RED had sympathises with for the sound or attitude?

Loosely… punk stuff as I mentioned, Black flag, mc5, stooges. Our drummer, Jon, played prior to that in Easy Action with the singer from Laughing Hyenas. Jon’s drumming has a lot of influence from those bands and his playing style brings that as well. I think we were original and varying enough though and had our own sound.

-Why did RED RED RED stop playing?

We might have stopped for the time, but to me the band is just on hiatus. Aside from that, years ago the 2 guys that started it with me (Jason, John) were not able to do it anymore because of being too busy, normal life/family stuff.

When you wrote me you mentioned the first LP – Mind Destroyer. REDREDRED was re-formed after that with a 2nd version of the band that played live and released the second LP called “New Action” also on Big Neck Records.

I am really proud of the second LP. We were doing pretty well and played some really good shows, some of the best I have ever played. The guys in the v2 of the band were: Johnny on lead guitar, Matt on drums, and his brother Mark on bass. We stopped playing mainly because we lived far away from each other and the logistics were not working at the time.

-How about current bands?What band are you in now?

Redredred is on “hiatus”. I play in a band in Ypsilanti, MI where I live called Mellified Man.

-Could you tell us about your current active band mellified man?How does it start and how is its sound?

Mellified Man is a group that started a few years ago with two friends who are on the same wavelength as me. I primarily drum in the group but we switch instruments also. The music starts primarily from improvisation and it is more experimental leaning. We have an album recorded that we are planning to release. There are some demo versions here https://mellifiedman.bandcamp.com.

-How is the punk/garage/rocknroll scene in Michigan now? Is there any difference when RED RED RED was active back in 2006?

I think the older more known bands kind of went away and it’s more newer bands or people coming into it. Some of the older ones are still going and new blood, new ideas is a good thing with the younger bands.

-Are there any good bands in Michigan which we should keep our eye on?

Mellified Man, Minus 9, Diamond Hens, The Hemingers, Easy Action, Timmy’s Organism, Wolf Eyes, His Name Is Alive

-Have you played outside of US? 

No but I would like to.

-Please tell me the most impressive live show of your entire musical life as musician.and why it became your most impressive show?

I don’t have a #1 but some that I can look back on that were good were the Piranhas west coast tour shows because we were a honed in group for a long time at that point and dialed in.

Also the 2nd to last show RedRedRed played I think we were on fire, I dug that a lot.

-What’s the craziest experience by playing in a band?

Also I am not sure what is the craziest but I can think of some ridiculous ones:

Trying to cue a song change while the singer blows up a bomb on himself.

Singer cutting his butt and face up

Stay in the hospital leave, go straight to show and play

Band member punched out bar owner, band chased out thinking we’re going to get killed

Someone pooping in a cup and putting it in someone’s cup holder in an unlocked car then saying “I always wanted to do that”.

Etc. etc.

Most of this stuff was pretty shitty but I can look back and laugh at some of it at least.

-What’s the weirdest experience by playing in a band?

For anymore weird experiences I would primarily credit to my friend Jimbo Easter. I played in bands for years with him and he is pretty weird sometimes but I love him!

There was one weird visual that stands out also from playing in a band. I played drums for my friend Warn’s band “His Name Is Alive” years ago. We were opening for the band – Psychic TV in NYC at a big venue. Prior to us playing there was a female performance artist that was on the bill. I just remember that I was one minute not really paying attention, then I looked at the stage and it was completely ridiculous. The woman was on this huge stage completely naked with a little tophat and face taped above her pubic hair, which was curled into a bit mustache. She was gesturing herself around with her finger like a little hairy person was singing between her legs with this ridiculous music blasting. I looked over and Warn and the singer of Psychic TV were sitting together on the side of the stage while this was going on and they looked like super happy like nothing out of the ordinary was occurring. Maybe you had to be there but it was exceptionally weird.

-What is the biggest joy for playing music?

Being able to be creative/expressive, writing songs & playing with friends, recording. It's the most rewarding playing live for people, when someone connects to it and gets something from the music as well.

-What kind of music you are listening to except punk/garage/rocknroll music?

Some stuff I mentioned before. I have been working on drumming a lot the past few years, so more drum oriented stuff, jazz, samba, polyrhythmic, prog stuff.

-Do you have any specific way to compose songs and lyrics?

It depends, for lyrics I need to have some inspiration, some feeling to get out, something to say in it. Sometimes it may be abstract. For composing I channel it from somewhere out of myself. I just start playing. I’m not sure how to convey that technique… I record a lot of ideas and edit things together. For playing with people improvisations are one of the best approaches to create.

-For the lyrics,do you have any specific theme you want to express?

Nothing specific and I write about different things. Things I can relate to and feel. Some of it is personal expression to myself and left for people to interpret their own way.

-What is your daily job?

The job I currently do to take care of things is computer programming. I do music because I love it and I play/practice all the time.

-Is there any hobby/interests except Music/band? 

My primary interest is spending time with my family, my kids.

-What does band/playing music mean for you?

It has been a big part of me for a long time, it’s my outlet to be expressive and creative. If someone else connects with it or gets something out of it also that is the highest compliment.

#Interview(EN)

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