30 Days/30 Songs. Day 24: A Song You Want to Play at Your Funeral

Cloud Smiles - Nobuo Uematsu

Yesterday, I told you people shit on video game music.
The people I spoke of probably have never heard of the musical GENIUS that is Nobuo Uematsu.

Let me school you. (AND I BEHOOVE YOU TO CLICK THESE LINKS AND LISTEN.)

As far as video games, Square-Enix's Final Fantasy series has constantly set the standard through amazing, breathtaking art, stories, characters, and music. My God, I can't talk to you for DAYS about the soundtracks to some of the entries in the Final Fantasy series.

And here's the kicker. Most of these beauties were composed by ONE guy. Mr. Nobuo Uematsu.


There is NOT a soul on Earth that wasn't moved to tears back in '97 on Final Fantasy VII when the character Aerith Gainsborough was brutally murdered by the remorseless Sephiroth. They weren't moved solely on the act itself, they were moved because of the leitmotif, 'エアリスのテーマ (Earisu no Tēma)' or simply, 'Aerith's Theme', that accompanied her passing. Oh, that opening piano. Jeez. Anyone who tells you they saw that murder and heard that song, then saw her burial and wasn't a little fucked up about that is a FUCKING LIAR.

Hell, I'll even throw in that 'Zanarkand' number from Final Fantasy X. Fucking beautiful music.

In 2003, when Uematsu was tasked to revisit the Final Fantasy VII franchise for the film, Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children, he did so with a fury. Besides pretty much re-arranging and enhancing many of the classics he blessed us with on the original soundtrack of the game Final Fantasy VII, he added some new tracks. One of them was the powerful 'Cloud Smiles' which starts out with a feigned melancholy spirit and picks up as the... no. I won't tell you about it. Go listen.

If I had the power to control the celebration of my life, it would go as follows:
No casket.
A solo table with an old fashioned glass of ice, a bottle of Jack Daniel's, a bottle Coke. Next to that, a shot of Jameson.
A picture of me having fun.

No drawn out theatrics, no crying and pouring out of hearts about regrets. Just silence, and that damn song. Then everyone go home.

30 Days/30 Songs. Day 23: A Song that You Want to Play at Your Wedding

Dearly Beloved - Yoko Shimomura

People shit on video game music.
People use words when they don't really need them. Music is the GREATEST example of this travesty. (Especially rap music)

Ok. I'm digressing...
Back in 2002, a video game was released. It was called Kingdom Hearts. The game was a product of the Square-Enix monster. (More on that later... as in, tomorrow) When it came to the soundtrack, Square turned to Japanese composer, Yoko Shimomura., who already had a couple impressive game soundtracks under HER belt, including the legendary Street Fighter II
When you begin the game, at the opening menu, a touching piano piece plays which in a way foreshadows the loving, yet sad tale that is about to unfold. This was how I first heard 'Dearly Beloved' which is arguably the best song on the whole damn game, even though it was light-hearted and a little (and I mean just a little) empty. As pleasant as the song was, it wasn't until 2005 that she tweaked it for Kingdom Hearts 2 and I immediately fell in love with the piece.

In the second version of the song, it has grown up. She added an orchestra, and the richness, the quality of the song just... enhances. It suddenly feels as though the meaning behind the work truly shines as the sounds of waves slide across sandy shores, dancing along the cello, and that piano. Truly amazing... and in my opinion one of the prettiest love songs I've ever heard. Apparently I'm not alone in that line of thought, think I'm lying? Go YouTube the song right now.

I've sat in on discussions before where people talk about the 'perfect song' to play at a wedding. It's always an argument about the mood isn't appropriate for Song X or Song B doesn't say the right thing. I've always thought to myself that's because sometimes the best thing in a situation is just understanding. Don't try to talk it out or be poetic. Let the music speak for itself. That's why this is my song for my particular occasion. No words are needed. None should be said. Everything you need to know lies within the title, and the music itself.

Give it a listen. Lie to me and say you disagree. (...and don't steal my idea.)

Fuck 'Going Hard'... 'Go Happy'

Somebody must have pissed off Hector Salamanca in the WORST WAY. Yes. That's a dead guy.

Yes. The killers cut his dick off and stuffed it into his mouth.

Yes. You just realized you are nowhere NEAR as hard as you thought you were. Hip-Hop got some of ya'll thinking ya'll really doing something. Especially with the fabricated tales of Rick Ross, Ray J, just about every member of Young Money, some of the Dipset and etc. etc.

This picture is just a reminder that REAL motherfuckers are out there doing REAL gangsta shit. This is not to get you to 'go harder.'

You wanna go hard? Finish school... Or don't finish school. Get a decent job. Go hard in your bank account. Go hard raising your family. Be happy for once. Quit using the hood as an excuse to be ignorant. Great things can come from small beginnings. Trust me, because I'm telling you dumb fucks out there still holding down a block that probably won't 'hold you down. You can be as hard as Monster Kody, or as hard as the guys singing these songs pretend to be, (Yeah, Google HIM, youngins) but there will always be somebody ready to erase you and replace you. Don't learn the hard way and end up on some asshole's little blog trying to stop you from being a statistic. Do your math, kids.

Nobody can ever take your happiness. Ya'll be easy. 

30 Days/30 Songs. Day 22: A Song You Listen to When You're Sad.

Today - The Smashing Pumpkins

Upon first listen to this song, I thought this was very confusing.

That opening line:
Today is the greatest day I've ever known. Followed later in the song by the identical sounding line-
Today is the greatest day I've never known.


The lyrics continue on a cryptic memoir of a man who is it at the end of his rope. Which really confused my young mind back in the good ole days of 1993. It wasn't until a couple years later that I truly discovered the genius and background of this song.

The writer of the song, Billy Corgan, (on the right in the picture) frontman of the group, was depressed and suicidal after an 18 month long tour. For whatever reason- he felt like things couldn't get any worse. I'm not going to pretend like I know what pulled him out of his rut, but this song is the product of that experience. Read the lyrics. Those 'pink ribbon scars that never forget' can safely be assumed to be actual scars from cutting.

The genius of the song lies in how life like it is. It's hopeless and beautiful simultaneously. Such a wonderful contradiction. You have this gorgeous, almost bubbly guitar melody which sort of represents how things can appear fine with people on the surface, everything's ok and right. Then you have these depressing lyrics that show that if you dig deeper beyond the surface you can find a whole world of darkness and hurt.

Despite it's dark nature, I find the song comforting because of the self-discovery going on within the song's words. It's more than just overcoming suicide. It's a world view of everything having a nice appearance, but honestly having a sad, futile depth. It reminds me that I should give up trying to be what everyone else wants me to be. Usually when I'm sad, it's because I'm fucking exhausted living as a constant outsider. Whether it's regionally, or because my morals just can't withstand the onslaught of society's trends. (That goes from love, to living) The song shows me that sometimes you reach a point in life and it's like you feel that's as far as it can go and then it doesn't work anymore, so you shed your skin. You become something that you're probably not in order to succeed at what you want. Finally, at some point you realize that whatever it is, will also hurt you, so now you have to go through the process of getting rid of that person.

Just one huge pickle.
But when you do figure it out- it may just be the greatest day you'll ever know.

30 Days/30 Songs. Day 21: A Song That You Listen to When You’re Happy

Everybody Wants to Rule the World
- Tears For Fears.

Oddly enough, this is not a happy song. In 1985, British group, Tears For Fears released this song, which speaks of the darker nature that most of us harbor.

Y'know...
That part of us that wants to make it to the top, or some how control the environment that we live in. That awful desire that shows no prejudice, from the poorest with few belongings to the rich and all the power that their money gives them. It seems that we all want power and want to get ahead. From running to get ahead of the next guy in a food line, to a country making "strategic" decisions in order to take advantage of a lesser neighbor country. If given the chance, we would all want to rule the world. This song is is all about that darker part of humanity, the wanting of power- the warfare and misery it causes. The part that is always trying to getting ahead of your fellow man.

But damned if musically it doesn't sound like a campy, magical, synthpop audible odyssey. This catchy tune has always been my goofy, happy song. (Wait, is it because I'm happy when I think of obtaining power?) From the trip home back from war, to getting promoted, to receiving my first financial bonus. How can you not listen to this in any other mood than happiness?

How can you not listen to this song, and not sing along with that pleading, "Say that you'll never, never, never, never need it"??

Ya'll trippin'
Tears For Fears killed this one. Despite it's dark message- this is a happy ass song. The song to go to when I'm in a 'smiling' sort of mood. It always has been, and I think it always will be.

30 Songs/30 Days. Day 20: A Song that you Listen to When You’re Angry

Space Oddity - David Bowie

First, let me explain why.
I rarely get angry. Disappointed, yes. Sad. Yes. Frustrated, yes. But angry? No. Even in the midst of a fist fight I'm fundamentally apathetic. I hate being angry because it usually tips over to the more misanthropic side, a feeling I've been trying to shake for years.

This song, written during the height of the space race, is more about Bowie's looming alienation than space travel- at least I like to think so. (Although, I admit at later listens I thought it was was about being high on drugs.) This is a romanticized conception of casting out from the normal crowd and becoming something new and different.

In the song, astronaut Major Tom, the main character, departs from Earth on a space mission which turns out to be successful. However for unknown reasons he breaks contact with Ground Control and casually slips the bonds of the world to journey beyond the stars. His last transmission to Ground Control is "Tell my wife, I love her very much" and the response is that "she knows"

Whatever that feeling is that would push a man to leave everything behind and go off onto his own journey alone is the exact feeling I have EVERY time I get angry. I've never been one to argue much with folk- and I have thrown it all away and disappeared from 'my life'

Actually I've done it several times. If it weren't for Cristen's interference in 2004. I'd probably still be doing it.