Sooooo, I'm just going to start of by saying that Pentatonix show was absolutely phenomenal!!!
Mitch and Scott took this from the stage...
Their concert was, hands down, my favorite that I've ever been to! From the second that they took the stage, I was entertained and as happy as a bird with a french fry. [Which is pretty darn happy!]
Excited faces ^_^
And, as if things couldn't get any better than getting to see Pentatonix, imagine my surprise when they did get better!
How? Well...
My sister called into one of the local radio stations and ended up winning a pair of 4th row tickets! Which she then turned around and gave to me because she's awesome like that! ^_^ [And she's really not that into Pentatonix...which I don't fully understand, but it worked out really well for me!]
I mean, I still would have been thrilled to see them from the seats that I'd bought...but, 4th row?!? How awesome is that!!! At times, we were less than 50 feet away from them!
As I'd thought, they performed their original songs from the new album for the majority of the show...but they did bring back a few of their cover songs...and, of course, I aptly freaked out and went on and on about how awesome they were and how many times I'd seen that video on YouTube...
I took a few pictures and videos during the show, but I refused to spend the whole time watching the concert through my phone's camera...sooooo, I didn't end up with nearly as many pictures as you would have thought. Here are a few of them, though!
Bottom line: If Pentatonix is coming anywhere that's remotely driving distance near you...go see them!! It's a great show and you definitely wouldn't regret it! ^_^
Well...my epic plans for the weekend have been thwarted. /cry
Weather Map...
I Hayt U....
See these maps?? See all the mess all over them?!?
That's winter storm Jonas.
I hate winter storm Jonas. [When did they start naming winter storms?? Has that always been a thing and I've just been some blissfully unaware Southerner??]
Winter storm Jonas is responsible for the ruin of my fantastically epic weekend plans. /pout
Just in case there's anyone wasn't able to put together the clues from the previous post...this weekend, I'd planned on going to Nashville with my awesome boyfriend to see the Legend of Zelda: Symphony of the Goddesses perform. [My readers are brilliant, so I'm sure you guys figured it out ^_^] Sounds incredible, doesn't it?!?
I Feel Ya, Gir....
All was on track for this weekend...hotel room was booked, pre- and post-performance plans were made...and then I got the dreaded phone call alerting me to the newly altered, postponed concert date.
Sooooo, looks like my epic weekend will have to wait for a few more months. [I bought the tickets way back in October, so I'm not a big fan of having to wait longer...but /shrug what can I do....] Any suggestions on ways to pass the time?
Soooo, I was sitting at my desk, trying to come up with a topic to post about that wasn't related to Meyers-Briggs [I realize that the topic probably doesn't interest everyone as much as it does me...], but...I can't come up with anything. /pout
Instead, I've decided to post some of the awesome things that I've recently found on YouTube...
- I've been watching a lot of Markiplier's videos...my brother introduced me to him a few months ago [thanks, bro!].
Markiplier!!
Markiplier is fairly well-known for his Five Nights at Freddie's videos...it was bingeing on his FNF videos that brought me to really like his stuff.
His channel covers a decent range of game types and original funnies...I'll admit to spending more than one afternoon watching his videos just to see his reactions to jumpscares! [His reactions truly are the best!]
I really like his style of narration [though, it can get a little grating, at times]...listening to him reminds me of times when my brother and I used to game together...the random gibberish, the ridiculous taunting, and then the freak-outs which always dissolve into nonsensical swearing...yep...good times.
JackSepticEye!
I've also been watching several gaming videos by JackSepticEye...
I found his YouTube page when I was watching a list of 'horror games' that BuzzFeed put together for Halloween. [I linked to the BuzzFeed article...but I can't remember which games are Jack's]
I'll admit that I don't really know that much about Jack...I'm not even sure that Jack's his actual name /nervouschuckle
Buuuuut, I do know that he's got an absolutely adorable Irish accent and he talks about video games. Which is a double-win, in my opinion.
The Piano Guys!!
Another of my favorites is ThePianoGuys. Seriously. I love these guys!
I really, really like how they take pop songs and arrange them for the piano and the cello...for example, they do 'Cello Wars' which is a Star Wars parody. So. Good. My kiddo asks to hear it at least once a week!
They're rendition of 'O Come, O Come, Emmanuel' gives me chills and makes me tear up every time I hear it. Every. Time.
/sigh
Alright...this post has taken me way too long to write. [I started it back in mid-October!] I've got plenty of stuff to post about but just haven't really felt any motivation to actually write them out...I'm a bad blogger...but I promise I'll try to do better!!
Remember a few months back when I posted a good bit about K-Pop bands? [I can't decide exactly how 'K-Pop' should be written out...]
Big Bang always makes me happier!
Since then, Big Bang has remained my favorite....aaaaand, they released some new songs in the last week or so!
I'm not exactly the best at keeping up with music trends [or any trends, actually], but I somehow managed to learn about these new songs pretty much the day they were released...I think I read about it on my Instagram, of all places.
I ended up downloading all 5 of the released track that were available on iTunes...here are the music videos for the two new songs!
First is 'Loser'...
And then 'Bae Bae'....[ugh...spelling cringe]
At first, I thought I'd like 'Loser' better. Mostly because I can't get over the stupid 'word' bae. I hate it.
But after listening to both a good number of times, I actually ended up liking the second track more. [Can I not type it out, please?]
Now, I've only watched the video for each song once, so I'm not sure if the tracks I bought are exactly the same as what's in the videos...but the ones I bought seem, well, incomplete.
There are several seconds in each song that there is accompaniment but no vocals...and I'm pretty sure it happens more than once in at least one of the songs...it gives the otherwise great songs a very unfinished sound...
But...it is new music from my favorite Korean pop band...which my daydream boyfriend happens to be a member of...sooooo, I love it!
I've seen where Big Bang is going on tour again this year...so far, I've only found performances in Hong Kong and Singapore...I hope they decide to do a tour here in the states soon!
/swoon
Just gonna leave this picture here because...reasons.../swoon
Re-discovered some of the KPop music that I'd started to fall in love with a few months ago...so, now I'm going to share some with you guys! [Disclaimer: I know that most of these songs are at least a couple years old...I'm a Kpop noob! I'll get around to listening to/posting about newer music soon!] Fantastic Baby - Big Bang
Okay, I know that the music video has some elements that are quite out there...but the song is undeniably catchy.
These five gentleman make up Big Bang, which is unofficially my favorite male KPop group! I read that they've been making music together since about 2006...which means that there's a lot of music for me to listen to!
Aaaaand, Big Bang has introduced me to my first ever celebrity crush on a Korean Man [hey, a girl can have daydreams, right?]...guys, I've got it bad for T.O.P.!
Which one is T.O.P? He's the guy that's wearing glasses in the black & white picture above...and he's the one in the music video that's made blue one of my new favorite hair colors...
See?! Definitely a handsome fellow...and from what I've read, he's good to his fans and is always very modest...
Thanks to my INFJ-esque habits of scrambling to find out everything I can about newly discovered likings, I learned a good bit about him in a very short amount of time... [T.O.P. - Read About Him!]
Early in his music career, he was told that he was too heavy for the label/producers that he wanted to work with...but he didn't let that deter him. Instead, he worked his butt off, lost the weight, and was was making music for that very label/producer within a year!
Knowing that, I couldn't help but tear up when I found this...I know that a lot of things on the internet are fabricated, but I really want this to be true! What a sweet thing to say to a person that clearly struggling with some self-esteem issues! Add in the fact that the kind words are coming from a celebrity, and it's that much more touching...or at least it is to me.../sigh I'm getting soft in my old age...
Next is 'Rum Pum Pum Pum' by f(x)
Admittedly, I didn't read up very much about this girl group [I was too busy reading up on the Big Bang guys!], but I really, really liked this song.
I liked that this girl group seems to be fairly diverse...they're definitely not the Spice Girls, but they do get mental brownie points for the girls appearing to have distinctly different styles. The vast majority of KPop girl groups that I've seen are made up of girls that look like cloned copies of each other...but I digress...that's more to do with Korean beauty standards as a whole and less to do with any individual pop music group.
Unrealistic beauty standards aside, I bet you can guess which girl's look was my favorite...
Yep! Un-naturally bright red hair and green eyes!
KPop stars are the masters of colored contacts for brown eyes...I've already started checking into what brands and colors they're wearing...I'll probably post some pictures of myself with awesomely colored eyes soon!
So, I think it may have been a bit early to start reading The Hobbit to my kiddo...
Doesn't seem like he's got the attention span for full-length stories quite yet. Just a handful of pages into the book and he was already asking about the big dragon fight...I forget that children's books are tailored to a child's attention span [or lack thereof]...oh well, I'll just wait a bit longer before I try to start the book again...
Switching topics:
I'm still obsessing over Pentatonix! Love their stuff!
Here's their official video for their cover of Ariana Grande's 'Problem.' These guys are pretty much musical wizards...they must be! I can't think of any other explanation for how they are able to take a 'hit pop song' that is barely tolerable on the ears and then turn it into something amazing! [They actually do it quite often...give their videos on YouTube a look over...you'll see what I'm talking about....]
They're all fantastic singers, but I must admit that I've picked a favorite...care to guess? [If you've known me long enough, you'd know that I have a weakness for all things bass!]
Yep. Their absolutely astounding bass singer Avi is definitely my favorite! Especially in this video...0:23 and 2:13 are just ridiculous...haha, yeah...I'll just leave it there. Can't have my blog headed to those NSFW waters...
...yeah, I'm not even going to pretend that I've got anything else to post about. I just wanted to post the video. And write about Avi. Yep. That's it.
It's been a few days since my last post...can you believe that in just a few days time, I've managed to fall in love?!?
Okay, okay...no need to worry about whether or not I've rejoined the sketchy world of online dating, I assure you, that's not the case.
You see, I haven't fallen in love with a person...I've fallen for five of them! [Confused yet? Hehehe...]
Who knew so much talent could fit on one couch!
I'm talking about Pentatonix!
They're the season 3 winners of the TV show 'Sing Off,' and they're amazing!
A few mornings ago, I was looking through some videos on YouTube, trying to find some decent Christmas music to listen to with the kiddo...my search brought me to the Pentatonix performance of Carol of the Bells...and my mind was blown!
I've got a long-standing love and respect for a cappella artists...have you ever tried to sing without accompaniment? It's super difficult! The media loves to tear recording artists to shreds every time a sans-accompaniment track gets leaked...lots of singers sound far less impressive when you remove all of the background instruments and such...sooooo, singers that perform a cappella are, in my opinion, are boss! [Is 'boss' still a thing? Did I just show my age? /sigh...]
Here's the video that I'm talking about.
I love their use of minor keys!
Maybe its another facet of my adoration for things melancholy...I'm a huge fan of musical pieces in minor keys. [/chuckle I've been called 'weird' for this pretty much my whole life...] To me, there's a sort of nontraditional beauty to the music...brooding, mysterious, non-conforming, misunderstood...I get it. I live and breathe it.
So...yep! Their rendition of Carol of the Bells is different than what most people are likely expecting, and I think that makes it only that much more appealing!
Just because I love it that much, I'm posting their video for the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy.
The style of the video is an obvious homage to Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody, and their arrangement of the piece is a masterfully done meld of the well-loved Tchaikovsky classic and Pentatonix's a cappella flair. Check it out...hopefully you'll love them just as much as I do!
I know that I'm posting quite a bit today...slow day at work...
I was doing some meandering around the internet, looking for ideas for my new Tumblr page...I rediscovered these guys, and I love them!!
They're "The Piano Guys," and they've got a ton of videos up on YouTube, and a good many albums on iTunes and their website. [The Piano Guys]
I love that their music combines the piano and the cello, two of my all-time favorite instruments. I've always said that I'm going to learn how to play the cello one of these days...I've already found a place that rents cellos!!
Maybe I should make plans to go rent one sometime soon...
Here's "My Story" by Yell.O.W. [I'm not entirely clear on how the group spells their name...I've seen it both as I'd just written as "Yellow"]
Some of the vocals get a little shakey, but it's a live performance so that sort of thing can be expected...I love the bits when all the girls are singing, I think they sound great!
Maybe I should actually learn to speak Korean one of these days...then I'd know what they're singing about without having to ask my mom or cousin!
I've recently decided to make more of an effort to embrace my Korean heritage. [For those of you who were mentally playing the "guess the ethnicity" game, that's the answer! Half Korean, half Alabama-grade white...]
Now, I don't want to be misunderstood...I've never 'not liked' my Korean heritage. Going to middle school and high school in a backwoods, country town with an Asian population of 2.5 [that's counting my mother and siblings...], it's rather easy to lose sight of how awesome Korean culture is.
Of my siblings, I remember the most about the years that we lived in Korea, simply because I'm the oldest. My brother doesn't remember much at all, but he was 1-3 years old...at one point, he was actually fluent in both Korean and English! But of course, he doesn't remember any of it now, nor does he remember being able to speak Korean at all.../shrug oh well ^_^
So, taking baby steps into the whole ordeal...I've started to look into the musical phenomenon that is "K-Pop" music. [K-Pop music literally means "Korean pop music."]
This cat...I love him!!
It's huge. K-Pop can be to blame for bringing the annoying, albeit catchy, "Gangnam Style" to the radio waves.
No, worries...there are many, many other singers that you might like if PSY wasn't quite your fancy. It's a music movement that's been going on for years, so I'm playing catch up...but a few internet searches and BuzzFeed reads and I can already remember the names of at least half-a-dozen artists/bands...
Here's what I think I'm going to do...
I think I'm going to make it a goal of sorts to utilize this blog to become more familiar with the music that's being pumped out of...I don't know...what should I call Korea? My 'Motherland'? Bwahahahaha! That's awesome...it's literally my Mother's land...
Anyway...[I'm tired, you'll have to look over my goofy randomness...]
Here's the first song that I'm going to post as definitely listen-worthy: Unbreakable - Kim Hyun Joong. I love the incorporation of some traditional Korean elements in his music video! And, it is now a life goal to learn how to paint a dragon like the one in this video...
Whatcha guys think? Anyone have any K-Pop recommendations?
So, I've been struggling to resist the urge to turn this blog into an online (and public) diary. I apologize in advance for this entry, but I think that at least a tiny bit of venting is a necessary evil. Otherwise, I'll just sit an stew in this mental mess for...probably the rest of time.
To enhance your reading experience, I offer this video to play in the background; a soundtrack, if you will:
This is "Sadness and Sorrow" from the Nartuo soundtrack. Every time there is a ridiculously heart-wrenching back story, someone pouring their heart out, or a sad/melancholy moment in general, this song is playing in the background. I know I've been watching too much anime when my internal monologues share the same soundtrack as the show I'm watching! Also, I think the girl in the video is a pretty awesome violinist! She's got a whole mess of videos on her YouTube channel, I highly recommend checking her out.
(I learned that the pictures that I post in my entries get big enough to actually read if you click on them, so pardon the ridiculously small text here...promise it's readable! Click on it!)
It's no secret that I've got the tendency to be a overwhelmingly sensitive person, especially when it comes to the select few people that I actually let "in" to my life. So if you realize that you're one of these people, please tread lightly...despite my tough-girl demeanor, I'm actually quite warm and fuzzy on the inside. (But that's not to be spread around, okay? I've got a reputation to maintain...)
I know I post a lot of MBTI stuff, especially INFJ things, but I really feel like this particular statements sums up a particular struggle of mine quite nicely.
Generally speaking, treat people nicely. People are not disposable objects.
This harkens back to the title of my blog. I think a big portion of my disappointments with people/things are because I expect too much. I need to continue to work on remembering that the majority of people I encounter are not and will not be "like me." The things that I find distressing/important/silly are not going to be the same for other people. I need to remind myself of this whenever I feel as if someone is being intentionally mean or thoughtless...maybe the problem isn't actually what I think the problem is...maybe, it's my thoughts about the 'problem.' (See? Incorporating the bit of advice from the wonderful Captain Jack Sparrow that was mentioned in a previous entry!)
*I pity the fool who thinks his real name is "Mr. T"
This one is unfortunately rather specific, and I sincerely apologize for feeling the need to post it here. I'm hoping that by getting it out here, I won't harbor negative feelings (which has been my less-than-ideal way of coping with painful situations. Bury it down deep enough and the nasty feelings will eventually go away, right?). If you read this, you probably know who I'm referring to. But if you don't, let's just call this person 'Mr. T.'*
This is very, very true! I don't have as much of a handle on this concept as I liked to think that I do...working on it though, and I get better at it everyday.
Screenshot of my results from the Buzzfeed quiz "How Dateable Are You Actually?"...
found it to be rather amusing and thought I'd share it here rather than on my Facebook page. (I leave the Facebook postings for superhero/gaming awesomeness...I'll post all the stuff about warm, squishy feelings here instead!)
Posting this just because science humor is the best!
And finally, this puppy. Isn't he just the cutest thing ever?!?
Hope you all have the most fantastic of Fridays, thank you for enduring my feeling-bearing blog post. I promise to keep these to a minimum!
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