tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73948199363507709672023-11-17T06:39:54.561+13:00Musical Musings of MineMusing through a different song every week. Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15736117450156646036noreply@blogger.comBlogger145125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7394819936350770967.post-1462964499245906852016-12-31T18:10:00.001+13:002016-12-31T18:10:10.475+13:00I Believe In You<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 13.4px; text-align: center;">"I believe in starting over</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 13.4px; text-align: center;">I can see that your heart is true</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 13.4px; text-align: center;">I believe in good things coming back to you</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 13.4px; text-align: center;">You're the light that lifts me higher</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 13.4px; text-align: center;">So bright, you guide me through</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 13.4px; text-align: center;">I believe in you"</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 13.4px; text-align: center;">I Believe In You - Michael Buble</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 13.4px; text-align: center;">On the way to the Coromandel the other day, where I was headed for a quick end of year beach break, my friend asked me what my News Years resolution was. I answered the same way I've done for the past couple of years - that resolutions were a waste of time, having broken nearly every one I'd made in the past. Instead, I told him, I think about what I've learned throughout the year and take this message into the next twelve months. The end of 2014 was about not worrying, 2015 was letting go of what wasn't right. But what, I thought desperately, has 2016 give me?</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial";"><span style="font-size: 13.4px;">It's been a bit of a nothing year. Apart from one <a href="http://musicalmusingsofmine.blogspot.co.nz/2016/07/the-middle.html" target="_blank">meaningful blog post</a> about giving up the drink, my life has been rather quiet. It hasn't been bad; there's been no deaths, nothing going terribly wrong and no losses. I've meandered through, giving my time to my job, my fitness and my friends. This, coupled with a secret writing project, is the reason behind a lack of blog posts in 2016. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial";"><span style="font-size: 13.4px;">Outside of my life, 2016 has been rather dreary. The deaths of significant celebrities, a hell of a lot of political drama I'd rather stay out of, and a lack in significant music has made for a uninspiring year. My best music memories of 2016 were a) watching Stranger Things and going through a 1980's glam rock phase and b) finally fulfilling my lifelong goal of discovering country music and jamming to Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban and Luke Bryan. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial";"><span style="font-size: 13.4px;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial";"><span style="font-size: 13.4px;">But where did this leave me going into 2017? I was stuck until, about fifteen minutes from our beach destination, I played this new cracker of a song from Michael Buble, and thought, this is it. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial";"><span style="font-size: 13.4px;">It's been a year of believing things will get better. Of sticking to things because you believe in the cause. Of gunning through the lacklustre events and finding the positive. And most of all, believing in the good of the people, and the good of the world. That's what got me out of bed every day; the belief that today could bring something better. And when it didn't, tomorrow would be that day. And at midnight tonight, we get to say goodbye to a year that tried to dampen our spirits, and ring in 2017 with the belief that it will be so much better. </span></span></span><br />
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Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15736117450156646036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7394819936350770967.post-91118280273447360182016-07-05T19:46:00.000+12:002016-07-05T19:46:55.258+12:00The Middle<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;">"Hey, don't write yourself off yet</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;">It's only in your head you feel left out or looked down on.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;">Just try your best, try everything you can.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;">And don't you worry what they tell themselves when you're away.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;">It just takes some time,</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;">Little girl, you're in the middle of the ride.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;">Everything, everything will be just fine,</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;">Everything, everything will be alright, alright."</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;">The Middle - Jimmy Eat World </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;">Today marks an accomplishment I never thought possible until I got on this ride. Today is the day of being 100 days without a drop of alcohol. Yes, you read that right, I've been sober for 100 whole days. Me, the girl who would lead the group to the bar tab, would be the first to suggest cracking open a bottle of wine and would want to play all the drinking games. The wine, gin, beer, vodka, pimms, frangelico, tequila and cider have been on hold as I challenged myself to go sober for 100 days, and this is the blog post of what I've learned in the past three and a bit months. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;">It started because I knew I had to change something. Gradually, over the past year, the nights had begun to take their toll. The drinks weren't going down so easily and the hangovers were getting worse. I was drinking to combat stress, I was drinking because the alcohol was being offered, and I was drinking because I couldn't stop. I wasn't the worse at the party; in fact, most people hardly blinked an eye at my consumption levels. But I felt it needed to change, so I forced myself to take a break. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;">I was helped by some dumb luck. The first day of my sober journey was spent throwing up the drinks from the previous night and forcing down ice cubes, because nothing else would settle in my stomach. It was the moment when I thought I needed to go to hospital that I realised I was in trouble. Fortunately, it didn't come to that, but it did kick start my desire to take a break and for at least a month I couldn't sniff booze without feeling ill. Following that, a weeknight work event with an open bar tested my willpower, but I knew the next day would be hell if I tried to drink. Then a round of medication stopped me reaching for bottles for another fortnight, and suddenly 100 days was in sight and the determination to get there drove me away from drinks. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial;"><span style="font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px;">There's been many great things about this experiment. Physically, I feel fantastic. The tummy bloating is gone, replaced by slowly forming abs. The lack of hangovers mean I never miss a morning workout, and I stopped drunkenly shoving food into my mouth at the end of a big night. And, whilst being sober, I clearly saw what drunken antics look like - the falling over, the rush to bathrooms to vomit, the regrettable hookups, the all-round bad decisions - and I realised I never wanted to be like that again. </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;">But there's still pain. It hurts that I felt like I couldn't trust myself. That my brain can't say no, so the only option is abstinence. That, when I had some bad days last month, the knowledge that a drop of alcohol would spiral me into worse moods. Battling these thoughts were on par with the difficulty of stopping drinking. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;">I am lucky I have a personality that doesn't need to be fuelled by alcohol. I went to parties, BYO dinners, even town (and even managed to score a phone number) while sober. And I didn't feel like I was missing out. I have great friends who supported me on this journey -even marvelled at how well I was doing - and never forced me into having a drink. I was worried going into this that I would be left out of things or shunned for going sober, but it was never a big deal. Indeed, it was while soberly dancing to a band covering this Jimmy Eat World song that I realised I was doing a great thing. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial;"><span style="font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px;">Now I need to think about what I want to do next. The only plan is to drink a glass of bubbles next week on my birthday. I never want to feel as awful as I did the day I started this and I'm aware that one drink will probably make me tipsy after this abstinence. Maybe if the bubbles go down well I'll stick to a glass on special occasions, and perhaps the odd cheeky cider. But the desire, and more importantly, the need to drink is gone. </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial;"><span style="font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px;">So if I continue to abstain, don't be that person who tries to push me into drinking. I'm not going to be coerced to "just have one" because I had a problem just having one. I'm not going to drink because everyone else or it's important to you, because my health is more important to me. And I'd rather raise a glass of plain water to keeping my mind and body healthy. </span></span></span></span><br />
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Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15736117450156646036noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7394819936350770967.post-5843178760182460662016-06-03T21:15:00.000+12:002016-06-03T21:15:13.499+12:00Bad Day<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;">"You had a bad day</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;">You're taking one down</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;">You sing a sad song just to turn it around</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;">You say you don't know</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;">You tell me don't lie</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;">You work at a smile and you go for a ride</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;">You had a bad day</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;">The camera don't lie</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;">You're coming back down and you really don't mind</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;">You had a bad day"</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;">Bad Day - Daniel Powter</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;">Today was a bad day. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;">It was a bad day because the Friday before long weekends are never fun at my work. They're busy, manic, rushed, things get missed and blame gets shifted around. But it always gets done, we move on, so does that really count as a bad day?</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial;"><span style="font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px;">It was also a bad day because the weather here has decided to drop about ten degrees and it's suddenly freezing cold. Although, this happens every year, and as I get to pull out my favourite scarfs and jackets, I'm not sure that really constitutes a good day?</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial;"><span style="font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px;">Mostly, today was a bad day because I made the mistake of checking those damn Facebook memories, and I was reminded of where I was two years ago on a day that was such a good day, but now every year becomes a bad day. </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial;"><span style="font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px;">I wish I wasn't a person who got a kick out of anniversaries, but I confess I like them so much. I like knowing how long it's been since something happened, and marvel at how fast time has passed. I like birthdays, new years and graduations and I like looking back on those occasions each anniversary and thinking, "oh yeah, that great thing happened". </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial;"><span style="font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px;">Except today, on this bad day, this bad week, this whole bad experience. The time where, two years ago, everything went from being so right to so wrong. This time, two years ago, was the calm before the storm. And now, two years later, it's where I sit alone, tears running down my face, still trying to understand how life could deal us such a cruel blow. </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial;"><span style="font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px;">I miss her every day. But I miss her the most today, this day, last year, this year, and every year to come. </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial;"><span style="font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px;">It's a bad day. </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial;"><span style="font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px;"><br /></span></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial;"><span style="font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px;">But it's just one day, one really bad day and the ten days either side where I'm still pretty sad, and then the remaining 350 or so days in the year can be good days. I can remember the other anniversaries of this situation. The anniversary of when I went away to find myself. The anniversary of that second trip where everything suddenly made sense. The anniversary of when I realised it was time to come back. </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial;"><span style="font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px;">I get this day, today, to have a bad day. Then I make sure the rest of the days are good days, because I'm the one who still gets to have days. </span></span></span></span><br />
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Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15736117450156646036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7394819936350770967.post-50039493272538094662016-03-11T20:36:00.001+13:002016-03-11T20:36:54.056+13:00Welcome to the Masquerade<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;">"We've got the fire, who's got the matches </span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;">Take a look around at the sea of masks </span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;">and come one come all, welcome to the grand ball </span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;">Where the strong run for cover and the weak stand tall </span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;">I'm not one to scatter ashes </span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;">But there's some things that melt the plastic </span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;">Try and dig down deeper if you can </span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;">I'm not afraid </span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;">I'm not ashamed </span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;">I'm not to blame </span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;">Welcome to the masquerade" </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;">Welcome to the Masquerade - Thousand Foot Krutch </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;">Tonight, after emptying two bottles of beer, I wanted a slightly different drink. Usually I progress from beer to vodka with little hesitation, but tonight, alas, my alcohol shelf was void of vodka. In fact, it currently holds a bottle of tequila, a 3 litre goon sack of cheap red wine (left by a guest and something I will one day turn into sangria), and two of those pre-mixed shots you buy when you want to have a really good, and a really bad, night. So, tequila it was, I guess. A long time ago a friend told me about this great drink someone had mixed for her: tequila and lemonade. It was a different but nice, she'd said. And I thought tonight was the best night to try that. I started with ice and a shot of tequila and topped up the glass with soda water. I tried it and shuddered. A wedge of lemon would fix that. But still, no good. Then I added some cucumber to try make it refreshing. Still bitter. Try some L&P suggested the flatmate. This improved it slightly. What about salt, suggested this same, trying to helpful flatmate. It changed the flavour no doubt, but at the of the day, my drink still tasted like tequila. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial";"><span style="font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px;">It's the masquerade; the big, false idea of a masquerade working. </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;">Because sometimes there is nowhere to hide. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;">I saw Thousand Foot Krutch play at Kings Arms late last year. I bought tickets for me and my bestie after humming and humphing for months about whether to go; the opening act was The Latest Fallout and I am a fangirl of their work and their lead singer. Eventually, in need of a good time, I bought tickets and went along to one of the sweetest gigs Kings Arms have ever offered. It was pumping. It was a bunch of fans laying it all on the line for this sweet rock band. Since then I've been a fan, both of their style and of their song lyrics, and especially of Welcome to the Masquerade. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;">I like songs that remind you that sometimes everything is not okay. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;">That sometimes you're supposed to be scared, supposed to be ashamed, supposed to make a mistake and be the one to blame. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial"; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial";"><span style="font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px;">And sometimes you hide your feelings, shut your eyes and gulp down your disgusting tequila concoction, because it's the best you've got, and the best you can do. </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial";"><span style="font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px;"><br /></span></span></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial";"><span style="font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px;">Or at least until you can get to the bottle shop to get something better. </span></span></span></span><br />
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Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15736117450156646036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7394819936350770967.post-18591543378008618162015-12-30T09:53:00.003+13:002015-12-30T09:53:46.582+13:00It's Not Right For You<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;">"She said, "Is this the life you've been dreaming of</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;">Spending half the day away from the things you love?</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;">It's not too late to do something new."</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;">She said, "It's hard enough trying to live your life.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;">But not following your dreams made you dead inside.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;">If you don't love what you do."</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;">It's not right, it's not right for you</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;">If you even have to think about it</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;">It's not right, it's not right for you</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;">If you really have to think about it</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;">You got one life to love what you do"</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;">It's Not Right For You - The Script</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;">This year I am boycotting New Years Resolutions. I've always had a thing against them, and last year when I came up with three, I broke two of them on January 1st when I was notoriously hungover. But the third, to worry a lot less, stuck with me throughout this year. That resolution didn't come from a desire to change, but rather it was something I'd learned in 2014 (you can read the whole story <a href="http://musicalmusingsofmine.blogspot.co.nz/2014/12/dont-you-worry-child.html" target="_blank">here</a>). A year later I'm here musing about that one thing I've learned this year that I can take into 2016, and it wasn't hard to come up with. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;">This year has been a year of trial and error. I tried to move to Perth, and soon realised Australia was not the place for me. As a lovely Grandmother in my hostel in Adelaide later told me "at least you gave it a go". Soon after I came home, I tried to work a job in a new industry. But I never fully understood it, and realised for my professional and personal sanity, I had to move on. And as for my love life, well, sometimes the best things still aren't the right thing for you. In summary, 2015 was the year I learned to walk away from the things that weren't making me happy or healthy. It's this thought I will take into the New Year. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;">I have no solid plans for 2016. Apart from a plane to catch back from my New Year's trip, being due back at work shortly after and my desire to see every cricket game this summer, 2016 is wide open for me. It's exciting, and it's endearing. I hope it will be full of love and laughter, of creative writing and good music, and just a little challenge to keep me on my toes and learning wonderful things about myself. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;">Happy New Year, you wonderful people. I'll see you on the other side after a little New Year's escape to one of New Zealand's beautiful towns. </span></span><br />
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<br />Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15736117450156646036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7394819936350770967.post-13298386624694460422015-12-10T20:25:00.003+13:002015-12-10T20:25:57.769+13:00Breakfast at Tiffany's <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">"</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;">You'll say, we've got nothin' in common</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;">No common ground to start from</span><span style="font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;">And we're falling apart</span><span style="font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;">You'll say, the world has come between us</span><span style="font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;">Our lives have come between us</span><span style="font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;">Still I know you just don't care</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;">And I said what about Breakfast at Tiffany's?</span><span style="font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;">She said I think I remember the film</span><span style="font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;">And as I recall I think, we both kind o' liked it</span><span style="font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;">And I said well that's the one thing we've got"</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Breakfast at Tiffany's - Deep Blue Something </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is possible that in a little while I while look back and think, hmm after a few months off writing in your blog, you do a come back with Breakfast at Tiffany's? But you have to admit that this is a tune (unless you're a specific creative writer who was not having a bar of this song last time we played it at work). I've been jamming along to this at least once a day for the past few months and I wanted to bring it up so you can all have a listen and remember that twenty years ago this was a massive one hit wonder. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've been off the blogging record for a couple reasons - I went without internet for a month while moving, I've been working on other secret writing projects, and this year's music hasn't left me inspired at all, hence why we're going with a song from 1996. I mean yeah, there's been a few sweet songs pumping on the radio, but it's feeling a bit tired. There's been some notable comebacks: Gwen Stefani's new track is brilliant and I'm only starting to realise she's a genius. Adele and the Biebs have new tunes which are nice but not knocking off my socks, Imagine Dragons released a killer album which I heard most of at an amazing concert earlier this year, and I could happily not hear another T-Swift song for a while. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hopefully next year there will be some cracker songs released and I'll be able to churn out the blogs a bit more. Or else I'll dig through the one hit wonder charts and find some more gems like Breakfast at Tiffany's to muse about. My Sharona? How Bizzare? Poi E? (That is my favourite one hit wonder, for the record). </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the meantime, take some life advice from a song that actually got to number one on the UK charts one week in 1996. Remember and cherish the small things. When it all seems lost, hold onto the hope of that stupid thing you've got in common. Sometimes, these make you the happiest. And above all else, worship songs about a film with Audrey Hepburn. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4px; line-height: 19.1429px; text-align: center;"><br /></span></span>Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15736117450156646036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7394819936350770967.post-68624244428165322252015-09-16T20:23:00.001+12:002015-09-16T20:23:13.057+12:00Ami N Rele <div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">"I miss my dad</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I miss my mum</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I miss my brothers</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I miss my everything</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Ami N Rele" </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Ami N Rele - Kunle </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">When I first started this blog I set out
with a goal of discovering music and sharing their vibes with you. I must admit
though I’ve lacked greatly in exploring global music. I’ve loved talking about
New Zealand music because of my love of this country, but venturing further
afield into other cultures – and I mean cultures outside of the western world –
hasn’t taken my interest before now. And let’s be honest, the most cultural I
got on this blog was the time I bragged that Poi E was New Zealand’s greatest one
hit wonder. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I was recommended to check out a Nigerian
singer / songwriter who spent some time in Ghana before moving to his current
base in Toronto, Canada, and I was excited at the chance to hear what Kunle
sounded like. This would be the perfect chance to explore some more cultural
music. I read on his Sound Cloud account that he mixes a few different cultures
into his music; he sings in multiple languages and mixes instruments from
different lands into one song. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This guy
can make music – a great voice, a lot of talent and heaps of positivity. And as
I listened to his songs and three things became very apparent. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Firstly, I need to get to Africa, because
this music makes my travelling feet get itchy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Secondly, I need to learn some more
languages because I have little idea what Kunle is saying and there are some good feels in his music. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">And thirdly, that Kunle's philosophy that
music has no boundaries is one hundred percent correct. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">No matter where you are from music, whether
you keep it traditional, venture into the Western World of music, or mix up a
couple of different sounds, you shouldn’t put a boundary on music. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You could be like Kunle who makes music to
speak to multiple cultures, or more like me who is on a mission to hear music
from all areas of the world. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">If you’re keen on getting into something a
bit different, here’s a few links to Kunle’s work. I recommend him – although he’s
still starting out I think he’s going to be an interesting musician to follow. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://soundcloud.com/kunle-3" target="_blank">https://soundcloud.com/kunle-3 </a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.sonicbids.com/band/kunle-chris/">https://www.sonicbids.com/band/kunle-chris/</a> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15736117450156646036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7394819936350770967.post-27701326925755118542015-09-03T20:30:00.002+12:002015-09-03T20:30:45.933+12:00When Love Hurts<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21px;">"Help, I can't tell if we're ending</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 21px; padding: 0px;">
</div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Until we break down, say it now, we're through<br />All you do</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />When love hurts, baby<br />Yeah, that's how you know it's real<br />When love hurts, yeah that's how it<br />Yeah that's how you know<br />When love hurts, baby<br />Yeah, that's how you know it's real<br />When love hurts, yeah that's how it<br />Yeah that's how you know it's real"</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">When Love Hurts - JoJo</span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
This week's theme is comebacks. I <a href="http://musicalmusingsofmine.blogspot.co.nz/2015/08/not-afraid-to-die.html" target="_blank">blogged on Sunday</a> about the return of Michael Murphy to the music scene, and now I want to draw your attention to a second major music comeback in the last couple of weeks. This girl was on top before Ariana Grande, before Lorde, even before Taylor Swift.<br />
<br />
Everyone, JoJo is back.<br />
<br />
Oh yes, you remember JoJo. That fourteen year old who topped the charts in 2004 with the smash hit Leave (Get Out). This was the teenage angst song which girls sung their hearts out to, because how could that guy be so stupid to leave his number on his phone. JoJo followed up with a second smash hit Too Little Too Late in 2006, where she brought them feels about another silly boy breaking her heart. Add in her acting chops in Aquamarine and R.V. and we've got a girl who ruled the mid 2000's.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, JoJo then got locked in a legal battle over her recording contract and disappeared off the music scene for a while. I was gutted for her, because I would have loved to hear her music as she grew out of her teenage years and into a young adult. I imagine she would have captured growing up perfectly in her own angsty way. But never fear, because JoJo is free from her recording contract and back with some sweet tunes.<br />
<br />
She released a "tringle" which seems to be an EP of three singles. And if there is one person you can trust to make great music, it is JoJo. She uploaded her description of her three songs onto Spotify and what stood out to me was her comments about how being away from music nearly broke her. But she goes on to say how she knew it was something worth fighting for because she was incredibly passionate about it. I'd encourage you to jump onto Spotify and listen to her words and thoughts about recording this "tringle".<br />
<br />
But let's be honest, three songs aren't enough to satisfy me. These Wikipedia rumours better be true in saying this is a preview of a third studio album, because JoJo has got ten years of music to give us. And I can't wait.<br />
<br />
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<br />Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15736117450156646036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7394819936350770967.post-77434401775090913612015-08-30T14:00:00.001+12:002015-08-30T14:00:26.666+12:00Not Afraid To Die<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">“I’ll be the loaded gun<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The only one that I will ever need<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">And when my time is done<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The battle’s won<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Will you remember me?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">We’ll write it cross the sky<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Won’t look back and say goodbye<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">This is a battle cry<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I’m not afraid to die” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Not Afraid To Die – Written By Wolves<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Bear with me here because I am about to say
something I’ve said many times before. But this time I think I’m right - more
right than I’ve ever been before. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">People, the next big thing in
New Zealand rock music has been found. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">It started with my bestie Zee suggesting we
go to a gig at the Kings Arms last week. It was a free gig and as Zee was
trying Austere August and the Kings Arms is my favourite venue for gigs it was
perfect for us. I hadn’t placed much expectation on the gig as it was one of the
first for Written By Wolves. And the lead singer was Michael Murphy. Yes, that
Michael Murphy. Michael Murphy of the hit TV show NZ Idol. Michael Murphy who
performs covers at Christmas in the Park every year. And now, Michael Murphy trying
to bring himself back by forming and fronting Written By Wolves. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Well, forget your preconceptions about this
man because Written By Wolves aren’t trying to make it, they’re going to make
it. Never before have I seen a band that captivated me within seconds. I
couldn’t tell it was their first major gig because this was a slick performance,
from vocals to guitars to mixing to the all important on stage banter between
songs. Written By Wolves are backed by many years experience in the music
industry; Michael Murphy has been on the scene for more than ten years and the
other three got starts in bands such as Shotgun Alley, False Start and
Hurricane Kids. They know how to play, how to entertain, and how to write songs
that will propel their name. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Watch this space. Written By Wolves will be
the reinvention story of the year. These guys have taken everything they know
about music, they’ve grown up from their past music industry selves and they
are ready to deliver some killer tracks. I’ll see you at the next gig. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15736117450156646036noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7394819936350770967.post-21962037903907259122015-07-16T20:11:00.002+12:002015-07-16T20:11:24.807+12:00I Can Change<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: white;">"And if you're looking for change</span></div>
<div style="padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">I'll be what you're looking for</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">
<span style="background-color: white;">Even if it's not who I am</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">
<span style="background-color: white;">I can change<br />I can change for you</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">
<span style="background-color: white;">I can bend<br />I can break<br />I can shift<br />I can shake<br />Place the trail through the drive of rain<br />Girl I can change for you"</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">
<span style="background-color: white;">I Can Change - Brandon Flowers</span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">
<span style="background-color: white;">Let me first acknowledge the fact this song has an amazing sound. It's cool, it's edgy, it's the guy from The Killers telling us how hip he is. I first heard Brandon Flowers singing I Can Change live on The Graham Norton Show and I thought it was well on its way to being the hit of the European summer. But oh how these lyrics about changing for this girl really grind my gears. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif, Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Sometimes new relationships can cure our flaws. I've heard of laziness, drinking problems and smoking habits disappearing and being replaced with exercise and nourishing hobbies with the help of new partners. And if this is what Brandon Flowers meant by he can change, then sure, go for it. Let your new bae guide you to a healthier place. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif, Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif, Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Fundamentally changing who you are for someone else, however, is what I have a problem with. I watched someone I know go through five boyfriends and she went from an army chick to an emo to a bogan motorbike riding lass to a tea obsessed hipster to, currently, a vegan. Each boyfriend she adopted a new personality and I think she's never found out who she really is. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif, Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif, Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">I couldn't imagine changing who I am for a man. I have my passions, my hobbies and my favourites, and these make up who I am. And if I was to start morphing into someone else, would that man still love me? After all, he's the one who fell for the crazy, chocolate loving, cricket obsessed, musically minded, wannabe traveller, dinosaur hunting girl. Imagine if he wanted me to give up this blog - madness!</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif, Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif, Arial;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">So let this song - this fantastically sounding but lyrically frustrating song - be a tune to take with a grain of salt. Because you - you are quite great, and you shouldn't have to change that for anyone. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif, Arial;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></span>
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Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15736117450156646036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7394819936350770967.post-43062507757241085452015-06-22T20:17:00.001+12:002015-06-22T20:17:06.793+12:00Unpretty<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">"You can buy your hair if it won't
grow<br />
You can fix your nose if he says so<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">You can buy all the make up that M.A.C. can
make<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">But if you can't look inside you<br />
Find out who am I too<br />
Be in the position to make me feel so<br />
Damn unpretty<br />
I'll make you feel unpretty too"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Unpretty - TLC</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Last year, during the four months when I
more or less ran away from New Zealand, I spent some time with my aunt and
uncle in Queensland. It was a strange meeting of sorts - we had been distant for many years as a result of busy schedules and a
large body of water between us. We reconnected a few years ago and I thought I
would pop in during my travels around Australia. Well, a 'pop in' quickly
turned into slumming it on their air mattress for three weeks and doing nothing
useful while I killed time before flying onto my next destination. While I was there I did manage to learn a few things - how to cook some stuff, how to look after chickens, how people in Queensland go about their business and how many triple chocolate biscuits I can eat before I start to feel sick. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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On a more serious note, my aunt - who is the biggest free spirit I have ever met - took me through joyful learning experiences, because that's what she is good at doing. We talked about how to bring joy into your life and how to get rid of pesky things like worry and stress. There was one thing she said and it has stuck with me since: to help her bring more joy she treats her mind like another person. At first I thought that was quite a strange concept, but then I thought some more and realised what she was getting at.</div>
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It's about respecting your mind, and therefore, yourself. When you think bad thoughts about yourself and about your life, you are allowing negativity in. As TLC say, you could look in the mirror and think that you are damn unpretty. But here's the kicker: you would never look at your friend and say "damn you're unpretty". We spend so much time pouring compliments onto other people that we forget about ourselves or worse, we don't think we deserve the same kindness.<br />
<br />
So be a bit nicer to yourself. Treat yourself how you would treat other people. Don't call yourself unpretty. Kick your nasty habits that don't do you any good. It's like our good friends TLC say - you can change your outside all you want but you still need to look inside you and find your inner prettiness.<br />
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Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15736117450156646036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7394819936350770967.post-38998122601176540702015-06-07T19:35:00.002+12:002015-06-07T19:35:43.273+12:00Haven't Met You Yet <span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">"<span style="line-height: 19.142858505249px; text-align: center;">I might have to wait, I'll never give up</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 19.142858505249px; text-align: center;">I guess it's half timing and the other half's luck</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 19.142858505249px; text-align: center;" /><span style="line-height: 19.142858505249px; text-align: center;">Wherever you are, whenever it's right</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 19.142858505249px; text-align: center;" /><span style="line-height: 19.142858505249px; text-align: center;">You'll come out of nowhere and into my life</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 19.142858505249px; text-align: center;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 19.142858505249px; text-align: center;" /><span style="line-height: 19.142858505249px; text-align: center;">And I know that we can be so amazing</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 19.142858505249px; text-align: center;" /><span style="line-height: 19.142858505249px; text-align: center;">And baby your love is gonna change me</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 19.142858505249px; text-align: center;" /><span style="line-height: 19.142858505249px; text-align: center;">And now I can see every possibility</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 19.142858505249px; text-align: center;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 19.142858505249px; text-align: center;" /><span style="line-height: 19.142858505249px; text-align: center;">Somehow I know that it’ll all turn out</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 19.142858505249px; text-align: center;" /><span style="line-height: 19.142858505249px; text-align: center;">You'll make me work so we can work to work it out</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 19.142858505249px; text-align: center;" /><span style="line-height: 19.142858505249px; text-align: center;">And promise you kid I'll give so much more than I get</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 19.142858505249px; text-align: center;" /><span style="line-height: 19.142858505249px; text-align: center;">I just haven't met you yet"</span></span><br />
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 19.142858505249px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 19.142858505249px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Haven't Met You Yet - Michael Buble </span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">A few days ago I was in the car with my friend, on our way to the Coromandel for the weekend, when we started talking about the perfect partners for our each of our friends. We had fun coming up with different qualities a partner must have and what they could bring to our group of friends. And then my friend turned to me and said "and what about you?" </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Oh, how this got me thinking. We live in a world where meeting someone and dating is literally at your finger tips - or, more accurately, a right swipe away. I've given Tinder a go but never went on any dates because, well, I got over the app pretty quickly. The last use my Tinder account got was when my friends got ahold of it and went on a swipe right spree, resulting in a lot of matches and zero conversations on my behalf. I'm sorry, boys of Tauranga, that was my gay friend who was deciding for me. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">My mother says I'm picky, my mates from school say I get bored easily and my bestie said I deserve someone special. They're all correct on some levels. I have a short list of qualities I want in a man but they're nothing extreme - I'm not going to demand he speaks eight languages and cooks me Italian food every night. Of course I want to be entertained in lots of different ways but I'm also sure I could get accustomed to the routine, everyday life of relationships. And hell yeah, I deserve someone special. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Eventually, I turned back to my friend and said something like "I'm quite certain that one day I will meet the perfect man and that will be it. Until then I won't bother stressing out about it." </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">And this is true. Sure, I've met a lot of guys over the years and I haven't yet found one worth keeping around, but this doesn't get me down. I</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">don't sit at home waiting for Prince Charming to turn up on my doorstep.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> I get out and about; I go out with friends, I travel to new cities and I go on living my single life. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">And I will keep doing this until I have my Michael Buble moment and meet the perfect man. Maybe he'll be a complete stranger. Maybe he'll be someone I've known for a long time but suddenly see in a new light. Maybe I'll find him in my hometown or maybe we will meet in a foreign land. Maybe he'll be Corey Anderson. Whoever he is, he'll come, and I'll give it all I've got. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
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Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15736117450156646036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7394819936350770967.post-52996901383793358662015-05-17T13:19:00.000+12:002015-05-17T13:19:26.142+12:00Fight Song <span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.142858505249px; text-align: center;">"This is my fight song</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.142858505249px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.142858505249px; text-align: center;">Take back my life song</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.142858505249px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.142858505249px; text-align: center;">Prove I'm alright song</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.142858505249px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.142858505249px; text-align: center;">My power's turned on</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.142858505249px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.142858505249px; text-align: center;">Starting right now I'll be strong</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.142858505249px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.142858505249px; text-align: center;">I'll play my fight song</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.142858505249px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.142858505249px; text-align: center;">And I don't really care if nobody else believes</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.142858505249px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.142858505249px; text-align: center;">Cause I've still got a lot of fight left in me"</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.142858505249px; text-align: center;">Fight Song - Rachel Platten </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.142858505249px; text-align: center;">If this song isn't your current tune then you have got to get on board the Fight Song train. This is the latest song to throw a big middle finger up to those people who don't believe in you. Last year we got our groove on thanks to Shake It Off. This year it's all about Fight Song. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.142858505249px; text-align: center;">At first listen it seems cheesy and cliche, like something someone else has done before. And yeah, this song is all those things. Then you realise that your own life is cheesy, cliche, and someone has already done everything you are trying to do. But you don't really care, because finally, really truly finally, you realise you don't have to give a toss what other people think about you. Or at least, that's what happened to me. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial;"><span style="font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.142858505249px;">I have spent the last six years building towards this moment. Through overseas trips, going through university and making my way into the professional workplace, through gaining new friends and getting rid of poisonous relationships, through learning, growing, making mistakes and taking chances, I've come to the moment where I am thoroughly my own person. </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial;"><span style="font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.142858505249px;"><br /></span></span></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial;"><span style="font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.142858505249px;">And, as I really, truly, definitely started to believe that, I heard Fight Song. </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial;"><span style="font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.142858505249px;"><br /></span></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial;"><span style="font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.142858505249px;">It was the anchor I needed, the song that made me think and feel that what I was doing was right. Because, although I don't quite know what I'm fighting for just yet, I know that I can do that fighting. </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial;"><span style="font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.142858505249px;"><br /></span></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial;"><span style="font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.142858505249px;">And the clincher?</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial;"><span style="font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.142858505249px;">That one line: I don't really care if nobody else believes. </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial;"><span style="font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.142858505249px;">Because, at the end of the day, you really are the only person who can fight for yourself. </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">And don't forget to get on iTunes and buy The X Factor New Zealand's version of Fight Song - profits go to Ronald McDonald House</span></div>
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Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15736117450156646036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7394819936350770967.post-52540379126425789262015-05-07T21:24:00.002+12:002015-05-07T21:24:52.255+12:00Not Gonna Die <span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 19.142858505249px; text-align: center;">"</span></span><span style="font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.142858505249px; text-align: center;">The last thing I heard was you whispering goodbye</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.142858505249px; text-align: center;">And then I heard you flat line</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.142858505249px; text-align: center;" /></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.142858505249px; text-align: center;">No, not gonna die tonight</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.142858505249px; text-align: center;">We're gonna stand and fight forever</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.142858505249px; text-align: center;">(Don’t close your eyes)</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.142858505249px; text-align: center;">No, not gonna die tonight</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.142858505249px; text-align: center;">We're gonna fight for us together</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.3999996185303px; line-height: 19.142858505249px; text-align: center;">No, we’re not gonna die tonight</span><span style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 19.142858505249px; text-align: center;">"</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 19.142858505249px; text-align: center;">Not Gonna Die - Skillet </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 19.142858505249px; text-align: center;">There has been a thought bothering me for the past six or so weeks. I am a big fan of The X Factor NZ and this season I have thoroughly enjoyed watching and scrutinising the acts. And, just like me, most of my Twitter feed has been doing the same thing. Mostly I see positive comments about the contestants, and any negativity I can scroll past. But there was one on-going topic that bugged me, and that was the constant Christian bashing of Fare Thee Well. I loved the group, but I am more than willing to accept they are not everyone's cup of tea. However, I am not okay with comments that recommend Christian acts like them return to their little cults, because this world could learn a lot from Christian music. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 19.142858505249px;">My own beliefs in Christianity are something I refuse to discuss with anyone. I have, for the past five years or so, been perfectly content with the way I think and believe in Christianity. I can't explain it but I take what I need from Christianity. </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 19.142858505249px;"><br /></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 19.142858505249px;">And I love the music; I will listen to Christian music without hesitation. When I first found Skillet - in my opinion the best Christian rock band - I had no issues with their association with Christianity. And I have no doubt that Skillet and their songs kept my life on track. I first heard Skillet when I was a teenager, someone who was a lot more unsure of myself than I am now. They were a mix of the angry rock I needed to rage to and the positive words I needed to keep myself going. Their lyrics sing about not giving up, how relationships have saved their lives and how they will not let a world full of evil consume them. They take a stand - a stand to make the world a better place. </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 19.142858505249px;">It is this kind of positivity that flows through into all types of Christian associated artists. Switchfoot, Rapture Ruckus, Hillsong United are all known for telling us how we can make our lives the best they can be. And it isn't a case of shoving stories about Jesus down our throats, it's about using the beliefs and teaching of Christianity to help us be better people. </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 19.142858505249px;">I'm glad we had Fare Thee Well on this season of The X Factor New Zealand. Sure, they didn't win, but for a few weeks we had three of this country's most beautiful people on our television screens. They radiated positivity. And they reminded us that sometimes our music simply needs to be about seeing the good in the world. </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 19.142858505249px;"><br /></span></span></span></span>Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15736117450156646036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7394819936350770967.post-17670593066635811972015-04-27T18:49:00.001+12:002015-04-27T18:49:47.842+12:00Summertime Girls"Them summertime girls, they drive me crazy<br />I think I'm in love<br />They're looking so good, they're so amazing<br />Like da-da-daa-da-da<br />They got the sunkissed skin and golden curls<br />Smiling at the world<br />Them summertime girls, they drive me crazy<br />It's all about them summertime girls<br />Them summertime girls,<br />It's about them summertime girls"<br /><br /> Summertime Girls - Masketta Fall <br /><br /> It has been two and a half months since I arrived back from my Australian adventure. I have slotted back into life in New Zealand relatively well; I got a new job, have thoroughly enjoyed catching up with all my friends, and started plotting more trips to keep the boredom at bay. Sometimes I miss Australia, especially Perth, a place that captured my heart in mere minutes, and the friends I made along the way. But I stand by what I wrote about in <a href="http://musicalmusingsofmine.blogspot.co.nz/2015/02/back-home.html">Back Home</a> - that New Zealand is where I need to live. <br /><br /> It may have taken me a few weeks to get to writing this blog (there's been some other secret writing projects going on!), but did you really expect me to go all over Australia and not find a sweet band to follow? I came across Masketta Fall after Twitter hype about them opening for The Vamps, my favourite British pop rock band. I missed seeing The Vamps but I did get onto Spotify to see what the Masketta Fall fuss was about. And they are pretty cool. They are my favourite kind of fun music; cute guys on instruments, catchy and friendly songs, and, I don't doubt, a pretty funky group to see live. <br /><br /> And I really would like to see these guys play a live gig. I asked them to come over via Twitter last night and this was the response: <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy3sOIcT47HhfwvT4TL8oOR0bx-rAyLdwB6VzR-DIGs9f06KzRxw6k9ypJrePDgN56_yWiX6OaxdhgoW1Le-wF1sr_0vbU36z-6OgabL7eG0rz8fooLm78QUXOWRaA8VrWnOLM-PxeQ8A/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-04-27+at+6.00.19+pm.png"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy3sOIcT47HhfwvT4TL8oOR0bx-rAyLdwB6VzR-DIGs9f06KzRxw6k9ypJrePDgN56_yWiX6OaxdhgoW1Le-wF1sr_0vbU36z-6OgabL7eG0rz8fooLm78QUXOWRaA8VrWnOLM-PxeQ8A/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-04-27+at+6.00.19+pm.png" /></a></div>
<br /><br />So, in an attempt to get these guys to cross the ditch, I'm putting the word out there about how awesome Masketta Fall are. If you know any people who love pop rock boy bands then let them know about these guys, because I'm not keen on losing this challenge. And I know that you know someone - because most people pretend to hate this kind of music but secretly love it. Or, if you're like me and loud and proud about your boy band obsession - i.e. you have music from One Direction, Hot Chelle Rae and The Wanted - then get aboard the Masketta Fall fan base.
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Australia have given us some great pop music over the past few years - Sheppard, 5 Seconds of Summer, Justice Crew and my favourite lil rocker Reece Mastin, and I think we can add Masketta Fall to that mix. But I won't know for sure until I see them live, so show them some love and help me get them across the Tasman Sea. </div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4399995803833px; text-align: center;">Man in the Mirror - Michael Jackson </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4399995803833px; text-align: center;">I have spent a lot of the past month in observation mode, specifically focussing on how people treat each other. I watched people in everyday life, I watched people playing sports, and, most importantly, I watched people interact with others on the internet. We are quite considerate in person. Sport will always have it's fair share of poor sportsmanship but that's just the game for you. But online, wow, do people let loose. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4399995803833px; text-align: center;">The internet is a great place for expressing opinions; I do it every time I write a blog. But I like to think my blogs are a more structured opinion piece, where I write what I really think and feel, and tend to stay away from personal attacks against people. My Twitter feed, however, it is a different story. Clicking on any trending topic will bring a up a slew of rather disgusting attacks no matter what the story is, and most of the time it's against a particular person. And it is, quite frankly, horrible reading. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4399995803833px; text-align: center;">Of course, being so rude has for a long time been the topic of many songs by my favourite pop artists. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4399995803833px; text-align: center;">Taylor Swift said "Why you gotta be so mean" </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4399995803833px; text-align: center;">Magic! said "Why you gotta be so rude" </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4399995803833px; text-align: center;">And Lily Allen just went "Fuck you. Fuck you very very much" </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial;"><span style="font-size: 13.4399995803833px;">I don't particularly condone that last one, but it kind of gets the point across - online trolls aren't worth much time. </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial;"><span style="font-size: 13.4399995803833px;">But what does this have to with Man in the Mirror and Michael Jackson? Well, the King of Pop called it all those years ago. The change starts with you. </span></span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial;"><span style="font-size: 13.4399995803833px;">It's time we took ownership of what we say and do. The best way to get rid of the nasties is to keep the nasty out of your own comments. I'll tell it to your face: those comments aren't funny, they are hurtful, and if you wouldn't say it in real life then you shouldn't say it online. I have Twitter-challenged myself to tweet only positive comments to people, and I tell you, it does make me feel great, and I like to think the person receives it smiles when they read it. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial;"><span style="font-size: 13.4399995803833px;">I, of course, have much bigger plans to change the world that just telling people to clean up their internet act. I have certainly looked in the mirror and thought about all the ways I can make this world a better place. I'll start by spreading the good vibrations. And I'll finish this blog by saying two things: one, that you should listen to Man in the Mirror and get that inspiration to do some good, and two, that you are a bunch of beautiful people. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4399995803833px; text-align: center;"><br /></span>Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15736117450156646036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7394819936350770967.post-29347163461230162372015-03-23T20:52:00.000+13:002015-03-23T20:52:04.242+13:00I Wanna Dance With Somebody<span style="background-color: white;">"<span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4399995803833px; text-align: center;">Oh! I wanna dance with somebody</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4399995803833px; text-align: center;">I wanna feel the heat with somebody</span><br style="border: 0px none; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4399995803833px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4399995803833px; text-align: center;">Yeah! I wanna dance with somebody</span><br style="border: 0px none; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4399995803833px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4399995803833px; text-align: center;">With somebody who loves me"</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4399995803833px; text-align: center;">I Wanna Dance With Somebody - Whitney Houston </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial;"><span style="font-size: 13.4399995803833px;">Let's me start with this: I love this song. It's a classic ballad delivered from peak era Whitney Houston. It's been killed by thousands of people at karaoke bars - in both the good and bad way. It's that song that comes out near the end of the night at parties and weddings and everyone gets into it. I remember it coming on when I was at a club in Melbourne (incidentally, the same club which inspired <a href="http://musicalmusingsofmine.blogspot.co.nz/2015/03/wings-nights.html" target="_blank">The Nights</a> and <a href="http://musicalmusingsofmine.blogspot.co.nz/2015/02/all-small-things.html" target="_blank">All The Small Things</a>) and it made me </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial;"><span style="font-size: 13.4399995803833px;">think about how much I want to eventually find someone to dance with. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial;"><span style="font-size: 13.4399995803833px;">There's many types of dancing out there: ballet, salsa, rumba, contemporary, hip hop, country line dancing, dancing in the rain, that weird move you always do in the club, dancing around like maniac when your favourite song comes on and that secret bum wiggle dance every tries out at least once. Dancing is part of life - even if you have never done it professionally it's still something that can bring a lot of joy and bring people together. I am always keen to get a dance floor going, however minimal. I was once on a dance with floor with one friend and three American girls I had just met, and I had a ball. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial;"><span style="font-size: 13.4399995803833px;">But I Wanna Dance With Somebody is more about the dance of life. The song talks about finding that person who will dance with you through thick and thin. As a person who has never really had a serious relationship I see this song as an ideal, a goal, the end result. We all know life will throw great things and terrible things at you, and for many of us these things will be dealt with alongside a partner. I would like to think that we will all end up with someone holding our hand and dancing around the good and the bad, from your first dance at your wedding to the Saturday night dance at the retirement village. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial;"><span style="font-size: 13.4399995803833px;">One day I will find someone to dance with. I blog time and time again about the importance of being an individual and following your dreams, but I still believe you can do all that with someone dancing alongside you. In the mean time, I will dance with friends and family, with strangers and by myself, until I find my dance partner. </span></span><br />
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Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15736117450156646036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7394819936350770967.post-90775324655756841062015-03-08T18:32:00.001+13:002015-03-08T18:32:24.170+13:00Wings + The Nights <span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">"<span style="text-align: center;">Mama told me not to waste my life,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="text-align: center;">She said spread your wings my little butterfly</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="text-align: center;">Don't let what they say keep you up at night</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="text-align: center;">And they can't detain you</span></span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: center;">'</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: center;">Cause wings are made to fly"</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">"<span style="text-align: center;">He said, "One day you'll leave this world behind</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-align: center;">So live a life you will remember."</span><br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;" /><span style="text-align: center;">My father told me when I was just a child</span><br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;" /><span style="text-align: center;">These are the nights that never die</span><br style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;" /><span style="text-align: center;">My father told me"</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: center;">Wings - Little Mix + The Nights - Avicii </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Not long before I left for Australia my mother came up to me and asked if I had heard Wings before. I said yes, of course, it's played all the time on the pop stations. She said something like good, that's what I want you to do. I got all sorts of other advice from my parents before I left - be safe, have fun, remember why you are going, do it for both of us. It was the typical parent stuff. It was comforting; before I left I had always wanted my parents permission to go off on this big adventure. Although I'm in my early twenties and could have gone off without their permission it was nice to know I had support back home. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">As I traveled I met a lot of young people like myself and one thing we often talked about was what our parents thought about us being on the road. I met a girl from London whose mother was reluctant to let her get an Australian Visa, and another girl from Sweden said her parents had begged her to come home for Christmas. There was an English girl who missed her parents so much she decided to go home after two months. I even met a mother who loved traveling so much she was taking her son along the Australian East Coast. Then there was the American grandmother I met who hinted it was she who needed her children's permission to go on her overseas experience. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm lucky my parents let me go without too many reservations. It's a pretty big deal to let your child board a plane with just a few places of </span>accommodation booked in a foreign country. Indeed, my mother she hardly sounded surprised when I called her from the Sunshine Coast and said "I'm off to Vietnam in two weeks!"<span style="font-family: inherit;"> And since I've been home my older brother has headed off on his overseas trip and my mother has let him to do his thing. Between myself and my older brothers we've always come back a bit wiser from all our overseas trips - my mother always said I came back different from my first solo overseas trip to Sydney when I was eleven. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I picked out two songs this week to dedicate to my mother and father. The song by Avicii is a banger I am </span>absolutely digging right now. I first heard it when I was in Australia and then it came on when I was in a club in Melbourne with my friends I met in America. I think that night, when we were all friends met while traveling, we remembered the nights we had together in Australia and America.<br />
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So this post is a double header of two pop songs my parents would probably never listen to, but you get the point. Thanks, ma and pa.<br />
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Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15736117450156646036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7394819936350770967.post-67250054989295458662015-02-24T15:48:00.001+13:002015-02-24T15:48:38.113+13:00Really Don't Care <div style="border: 0px none; margin: 0px 10px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
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"But even if the stars and moon collide</div>
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I never want you back into my life</div>
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You can take your words and all your lies</div>
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Oh oh oh I really don't care</div>
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Even if the stars and moon collide</div>
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I never want you back into my life</div>
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You can take your words and all your lies</div>
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Oh oh oh I really don't care</div>
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Oh oh oh I really don't care"</div>
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Really Don't Care - Demi Lovato feat. Cher Lloyd </div>
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I have never shied away from writing blogs to people. Sometimes I write them because I simply cannot put the words into real life what I want to say to them. Sometimes they have gone - they've left my life or passed away - and I feel this blog is the only time I have to tell them something. I've written to friends, family, co workers, to people I've briefly met and to people I will never meet. But now for the first time, I'm writing to someone who will not listen to me. So, for nearly all of you, this blog will be an entertaining story about a troublesome person in my life. One that, as you will soon find out about, I really don't care about anymore. </div>
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Let's begin where it all broke down - the reunion. When you see someone for the first time in a while it's never going to be easy sailing. Whether it's your best friend or a mere acquaintance, there is a distance created by being apart. There's moments of awkwardness, hesitation about which subjects to bring up - do you stick to the good ones or do you venture into the bad times you had to go through together? And really, after all this time, how much can you say you really know about each other?<br />
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It got off to a decent start, I guess. There was banter and laughs with the others and it seemed like maybe everything was going to be okay. I suppose we are both lucky we can joke about some of the things that happened; I am a fan of being able to laugh at the past. But as the night went on things started to go downhill, aided by our best friend and worst enemy: alcohol.<br />
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I knew at some point there would be an intense conversation. Imagine my relief - after months of thoughts and feelings and confusion, written only in this blog, I would be able to talk to you. But, oh, how it went so badly. It's a pet hate of mine, to ask me a question and then not bother to listen to my reply. Or even better, to tell me to explain then walk away without a comment, leaving me to my own emotional mess. But I pride myself on knowing myself better than you ever will, so I came prepared with the tissues, because I knew I couldn't get through a whole weekend without there being a few tears.</div>
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One of my favourite parts was the spun story about backing off because you couldn't bear the feelings. I should have picked you to run from emotions. Or perhaps I should have picked you to tell stories to try make me feel better. I guess I'll never learn which one was the truth. You asked me so many times whether I was mad at you and I said no every time, because I wasn't until we had this little chat. After that I was filthy mad with you, something I think you always wanted to try feel better about yourself. </div>
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Though perhaps a little thank you is in order for this night - you walking away meant I walked straight into the arms of another man. It's funny how distant one becomes when they're no longer the centre of attention.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial;"><span style="font-size: 13.4399995803833px;">There's a line which stands out to me in Really Don't Care: </span></span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial;"><span style="font-size: 13.4399995803833px;">I can't believe I ever stayed up writing songs about you. That's what it was: Demi Lovato writes songs, I write blogs. Either way, you pour your emotions into words and a few months later it just seems like silly thoughts which never resonated with the intended target. Maybe that's what will happen again here - but at least I tried. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial;"><span style="font-size: 13.4399995803833px;">I don't like you and I don't care about you, but in a funny, twisted way I will always have a touch of love for you. That's what happens when you come on my emotional roller coaster ride, and I never forget those who climb aboard.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4399995803833px; text-align: center;">That's nearly my whole story. There is just one thing left - the happy ending. Well it's simple: I am perfectly content with creating my own happiness and my own stories and memories with people I really care about. </span><br />
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Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15736117450156646036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7394819936350770967.post-14091841097017678122015-02-13T13:20:00.002+13:002015-02-13T13:20:56.827+13:00All The Small Things <span style="background-color: white;">"<span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4399995803833px; text-align: center;">All the small things</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4399995803833px; text-align: center;">True care, truth brings</span><br style="border: 0px none; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4399995803833px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4399995803833px; text-align: center;">I'll take one lift</span><br style="border: 0px none; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4399995803833px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4399995803833px; text-align: center;">Your ride best trip</span><br style="border: 0px none; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4399995803833px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;" /><br style="border: 0px none; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4399995803833px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4399995803833px; text-align: center;">Always I know</span><br style="border: 0px none; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4399995803833px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4399995803833px; text-align: center;">You'll be at my show</span><br style="border: 0px none; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4399995803833px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4399995803833px; text-align: center;">Watching, waiting, commiserating</span><br style="border: 0px none; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4399995803833px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;" /><br style="border: 0px none; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4399995803833px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4399995803833px; text-align: center;">Say it ain't so,</span><br style="border: 0px none; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4399995803833px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4399995803833px; text-align: center;">I will not go,</span><br style="border: 0px none; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4399995803833px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4399995803833px; text-align: center;">Turn the lights off,</span><br style="border: 0px none; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4399995803833px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4399995803833px; text-align: center;">Carry me home"</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4399995803833px; text-align: center;">All The Small Things - Blink-182</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial;"><span style="font-size: 13.4399995803833px;">When you start travelling you meet all sorts of people: the partiers, those interested in the local cultures, even those who are sulking about being overseas (an odd bunch of people these ones). Sometimes when travelling you only get a few days or even a few hours to get to know someone and then one of you moves on. From these limited interactions it becomes quite common to have a generalised opinion of them, even though you hardly know much more about them then where they are from and what they do. I recently had the opportunity to catch up with some people I met while doing my first travels through America and my original impressions of them changed, and there's one in particular which brought me to writing this blog.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial;"><span style="font-size: 13.4399995803833px;">It started when I found out they read nearly every post I write, and I had no idea apart from their comments on one travel related blog. </span></span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4399995803833px; text-align: center;">It's one of the biggest compliments a person can give me, saying they read and like my blog. There are people I know read this blog every time a post goes up and I value their feedback. But there are others who read this and I have no idea who they might be - but that's the internet for you. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial;"><span style="font-size: 13.4399995803833px;">It shouldn't seem too out of the ordinary that he reads this given how many random blogs and articles we click on every day, right? Well, this person also happens to be the loosest person I have ever met. I have never seen anyone party as much or drink as much as they do, to the point where I was nearly fearful of them. I honestly have no idea how they made their way on their travels given the nights we had out. It was all in good fun and towards the end of the trip I wished I had gotten to know them a bit better. </span></span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4399995803833px; text-align: center;">When I reunited with the group recently the guy was, without a doubt, still one of the loosest people I had ever met. It's like that's their thing, their one big impression they want everyone to remember them by. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13.4399995803833px; text-align: center;">But as this reunion went on I began to see the smaller things. The compliments about my writing came out again and the support offered about a few of my sadder posts. We talked more and actually listened to one another (a topic which I intend to cover more in my next blog). We laughed and danced to terribly awesome 1990s music with the rest of our group. And when some idiot made me drunk cry at about 1am we drunk sung Shake It Off together. I always knew they weren't a bad person but I never knew they were such a good person. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial;"><span style="font-size: 13.4399995803833px;">There were other revelations about my travel mates on this reunion - like the girls who turned out to be lovely and fun and not at all stuck up like I first thought. And then, unfortunately, the people who turn out to not be as good as you once thought. I guess it works both ways. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial;"><span style="font-size: 13.4399995803833px;">I love all the people I meet while I travel, as they are part of a huge adventure. I enjoy their stories and goals and visions for where they are going next. I wish I could keep in touch with everyone I meet and get to know them a lot better, but realistically that's not possible. I take what I can get from people as I go, and sometimes I'm lucky enough to meet them again, and maybe some of them will really turn into my life long friends. </span></span></span><br />
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Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15736117450156646036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7394819936350770967.post-32067309723500906112015-02-09T20:51:00.000+13:002015-02-09T20:51:20.022+13:00Back Home<span style="background-color: white;">"</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">See, we won't forget where we came from</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">The city won't change us</span><br style="border: 0px none; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">We beat to the same drum</span><br style="border: 0px none; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">No, we won't forget where we came from</span><br style="border: 0px none; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">The city can't change us</span><br style="border: 0px none; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">We beat to the same drum, the same drum</span><br style="border: 0px none; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;" /><br style="border: 0px none; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">(Hey!)</span><br style="border: 0px none; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">La-dah-dah-dah-dah-dah-dah-dah</span><br style="border: 0px none; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">La-dah-dah-dah-dah-dah-dah-doe</span><br style="border: 0px none; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">(Hey!)</span><br style="border: 0px none; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">And no matter where we go</span><br style="border: 0px none; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">We always find our way back home"</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Back Home - Andy Grammer </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">I'm home. Four months on the road and I'm home. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Melbourne - Perth - Brisbane - Sunshine Coast - Byron Bay - Sunshine Coast - Vietnam - Perth - Adelaide - Melbourne - home. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">I left with one thing in mind: to find out what I really wanted to do. It was an open planned adventure. I didn't know if I wanted to travel and explore new places or if I wanted to live across the ditch. I had planned out the first five weeks and let the rest fall into place. This ended up meaning my time in Byron Bay was extended with a night's notice, a trip to Vietnam was booked three weeks in advance and while I tried to settle in Perth for a bit I woke up one day and thought "I'm ready to go home". </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">People asked me why I was heading back. The best answer I could give was "it's not working". I didn't have any luck finding a job and as I wandered around Perth I lost the desire to live both there and anywhere else in Australia. Perth is one of the most beautiful cities I have ever been to and I enjoyed my time but living there was another story. I wasn't ready to live away from home. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Along the way I met people with great stories. They came from all over - South Africa, England, France, Sweden and America. They were on youth visas searching for work, or just visiting because they too were not ready to live away from home. I met one girl who had her visa but decided to cut it short because she couldn't bear to be away from home for Christmas. I met a Grandmother from Pennsylvania who was doing conservation work in Adelaide - this was her time in her life to leave her kids behind and travel. It was these stories which helped me develop my own and realise that I just had to do what was right for me. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">To be honest, I didn't think I figured out what I wanted to do. I'm back home, unemployed and living with my parents and not sure what my next move will be. But I did figure out what I want to be. I want to be happy. I want to find the good in the bad. I want to be able to trust the vibes of a place or trust what my gut tells me to do without doubting the consequences. I had the amazing time doing what I wanted and needed to do. It wasn't always easy - there were tears and fears and confusion but I always kept going until I knew it was time to come home. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Now I'm back I'll settle for a little bit here then consider my next move. But no matter what sights I saw, and I saw some amazing sights while I was gone, nothing compares to home. A lot of people asked about New Zealand and I always replied with "it's the best place in the world". </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Before I left I blogged about not <a href="http://musicalmusingsofmine.blogspot.co.nz/2014/10/dont-forget-your-roots-my-friend-dont.html" target="_blank">forgetting your roots</a> and I held true to that promise.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"> I'll come and go from this place, but I will always call New Zealand home. </span></div>
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Here's a few travel snaps of the best times with the best people<br />
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Cycling the suburbs of Perth</div>
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On a junk boat in Halong Bay, Vietnam (a beautiful place)</div>
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Melbourne reunion with my American contiki mates</div>
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This is just a sweet brag of the time I met Andy Grammer (this didn't happen overseas)</div>
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Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15736117450156646036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7394819936350770967.post-90562314692169377802015-02-04T22:17:00.001+13:002015-02-04T22:17:20.973+13:00Walk"I'm learning to walk again<br />
I believe I've waited long enough<br />
Where do I begin?<br />
I'm learning to talk again<br />
Can't you see I've waited long enough<br />
Where do I begin?"<br />
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Walk - Foo Fighters<br />
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I posed a question to my Facebook friends near the end of last year partly to research for this blog and partly because I was curious: if you had to have one musician visit you on your deathbed who would you choose? The only restrictions I put on the question was if you wanted to pick a dead person you also had to pick someone living. The rest was interpreted by the person answering - why they were on their deathbed, what you would talk about with the musician and for how long, etc.<br />
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The results were, of course, vary in and interesting. There were obvious deceased choices - Michael Jackson, Nat King Cole, Johnny Cash, Bon Scott and Jimi Hendrix. Others, still living, were Ben Harper, Michael Buble, Annie Lennox, Sol3 Mio, Keith Richards, Robert Plant, Britney Spears (during her prime era) and a lovely gesture from my uncle who would like his son, a musician, to be beside him. I'm glad to say I have friends who make good choices on their deathbed - there was no mention of a Justin Bieber or Drake being called to the bedside.<br />
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Personally I would want to talk to Dave Grohl, lead singer of Foo Fighters. I did filter through a few choices before deciding on Grohl - I considered Taylor Swift, Hunter Hayes (though he was vitoed as a recent obsesssion), Jimmy Christmas from Luger Boa and John Cooper from Skillet. While these musicians, and many more, would be incredible to have visit during your last moments, Grohl is my number one pick because of his stories. I imagine lying in bed and listening to tales of rock and roll lifestyles, overcoming the despair of Nirvana and moving forward into Foo Fighters. Dave Grohl would also tell it to you straight and I imagine the last thing you want when you're dying is a whole lot of bullshit.<br />
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Of course, I hope I am years and years from being on my deathbed - hopefully so much so that I out live Dave Grohl. It is for this reason I picked out Walk for this blog. It's a tad ironic to think you could learn to walk again in your last moments. However, Walk is a great song to learn from as you take on life. There is a section in the song when Grohl literally screams "I never wanna die ... I'm dancing on my grave... I never wanna leave". Time and time again we will have to restart, to pick ourselves up and walk back into the insanity that is life, and not succumb before your time. It's a theme which Grohl has used in many of his songs and if he's coming to my deathbed then I want to be able to tell him all the times I learned to walk again.<br />
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If you missed it on Facebook do mention below who you'd have on your deathbed - it is an interesting idea to consider.<br />
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<br />Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15736117450156646036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7394819936350770967.post-62669508160929360312014-12-31T17:38:00.000+13:002014-12-31T17:38:07.499+13:00Don't You Worry Child"Upon a hill across the blue lake<br />
That's where I had my first heartbreak<br />
I still remember how it all changed<br />
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My father said<br />
Don't you worry don't you worry child<br />
See heavens got a plan for you<br />
Don't you worry don't you worry now"<br />
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Don't You Worry Child - Swedish House Mafia<br />
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It is the last day of 2014 and my Facebook feed is full of people reflecting back on the year and setting goals for 2015. This has been one of the biggest years of my life - I've been through so much self change - but I wonder what I can bring for myself next year? I've narrowed it down to three resolutions 1) to make my bed every day, 2) to stop eating snacks in bed and 3) to worry a whole lot less. The first two are most likely to be rather big fails as I hate making my bed and I love snacking. It is the third point here which interests me and will be the challenge for the next year. <br />
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There is plenty of reading avaliable on why worry is wasteful, unproductive and even reduces the doing part of your brain. But research and statistics are not why I want to quit worrying. Instead, I will tell you a story.<br />
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You're probably familiar with the story of my friend dying on Contiki - it has featured in many blogs this year as it affected me immensely. I want to bring it up one more time. Earlier the night she died there was a bit of a tiff within the group - a drunken joke got taken the wrong way and cracks started to appear in our Contiki family. I remember there was a bit of worry for either side of those involved. Two hours later it was never talked of again because something a whole lot worse happened.<br />
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It was a lesson in not worrying about the small things. It was useless to worry about a small tiff, just as it is useless to worry about being a little bit late or whether something will work out or how someone will receive you, because worrying is completely inaffective. I believe there is a plan for you set out by a higher force - for me it is not necessarily heaven but rather the universe's spirits helping to work out my life. When something looks like it's going wrong one of four scenarios is going to happen: it won't matter, it will matter, it's going to be a whole lot worse than it looks or a whole lot better. But worrying isnt going to help any of these situations. And if there's one thing I've learned this year it is that I can get through any curveball thrown at me. As an old English proverb says "worrying is like a rocking chair - it gives you something to do but it doesn't get you anywhere."<br />
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2014, you were a hell of a year. I've met the best people, kept the most important friends close to me, reconnected with my extended family and made friends in foreign places. I've seen sights and experienced local culture and learned to not be afraid of change. But there's also been heartbreak this year when I lost three people important to me. To conclude 2014 I want to pay tribute to them:<br />
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My dearest Grandfather who lost his battle with cancer in February but whom in have such cherished memories with working on the family farm.<br />
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Former executive producer of weekend sport Matho - you never forget those who give you a chance to start your career.<br />
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And the beautiful Clarissa who I met on the most important adventure of my life, you are now the brightest angel.<br />
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Musical Musings will be back in 2015. I'll have more songs, more stories, more wisdom and more ways to make life one happy journey. Until then, worry a whole lot less and enjoy what you have now.<br />
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<br />Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15736117450156646036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7394819936350770967.post-11458592178066876232014-12-28T22:53:00.001+13:002014-12-28T22:53:44.021+13:00Rude"Can I have your daughter for the rest of my life<br />
Say yes say yes 'cause I need to know<br />
You say I'll never get your blessing 'til the day I die<br />
Tough luck my friend but the answer's no<br />
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Why you gotta be so rude<br />
Don't you know I'm human too<br />
Why you gotta be so rude<br />
I'm gonna marry her anyway"<br />
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Rude - Magic!<br />
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Since it's radio debut late last year Rude has coped a bit of a hating. It seems not many people want to side with Magic! Rather, people feel it's a bit rude to turn up on daddy's doorstep and demand his daughter. What if the daughter doesn't even want to be married? The video clip tells otherise - daughter goes behind daddy's back and marries mister Magic! lead singer anyway. I've always been on the fence about what side I'm on, sometimes I feel sorry for the guy being told no and sometimes I think daddy is doing best for his daughter. But despite what side I take there is one important lesson here: family comes first.<br />
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In my three years of blogging I have only once before touched upon the subject of my family and that was following my Poppa's death in February. I guess it's because my family is just always there and we all just go along our business as we please. We have little drama and mutual respect for what each other does - probably because we are all very different people. We're also completely crazy in the best way possible. But God help you if you insult any of them, because I will hunt you down and hurt you.<br />
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My family is on my mind right now because I've just spent my first Christmas away from them. I made the decision in November not to return home to New Zealand for the holiday season - I couldn't justify spending the money to return home for one day and my mum agreed it was sensible not to return (my aunt was amazed I still spent Christmas with the folks well into my early 20's). I still had a great Christmas day, I was adopted by a friend's family for lunch and going to the beach like a true Australian. However it was still weird to be away from home and I was sad opening my gifts from home while being so far away. It's okay though, my family is only a phone call away and I suspect they are secretly jealous of my big adventure.<br />
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One day I want to extend my family into a husband and children of my own. Hopefully I will bring home a man my father likes and he won't be rejected when asking for my hand in marriage. Then, I will teach my children that family is number one. You may not talk every week or quite know what your brother does for a job or not listen when mum says buying a scooter is not the most sensible idea but you will be grateful when dad picks you up in the early hours of the morning or when your brother takes you to the cricket or when mum says go have your adventure. Because no matter who else comes into your life, family comes first.<br />
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<br />Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15736117450156646036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7394819936350770967.post-81496661958389372752014-12-20T02:35:00.000+13:002014-12-21T14:45:01.479+13:00Geronimo"Can you feel it<br />
Now it's coming back we can steal it<br />
If we bridge this gap<br />
I can see you<br />
Through the curtains of the waterfall<br />
When I lost it<br />
Yeah you held my hand<br />
But I tossed it<br />
Didn't understand you were waiting<br />
As I doved into the waterfall<br />
So say geronimo<br />
Say Geronimo"<br />
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Geronimo - Sheppard<br />
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There are officially 10 days left of 2014. There's things which have happened this year which excite me so much - three overseas trips, a whole lot of spiritual discovery and yet another year of musing through songs to discover meanings, sort out my head and tell you the stories of my life. I have an idea for a Christmas blog and a New Years blog to bring you within the next few weeks so I thought today was the best day to wrap up this year's music.<br />
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As soon as I mention this blog is 2014 music in review you've probably picked up why Geronimo is headlining this blog. Yes, Geronimo is my pick for song of the year. It took a bit of thought to get to this as there have been some bangers this year (all mentioned below). For me though Geronimo takes the top spot for being an awesome debut hit which is edgy and a bit indie thrown in with pop. It's a song you could just rock out to or you could think about the deeper lyrical contents of diving into something alone versus taking someone with you. I am so excited for everything Sheppard is going to do in 2015 and I sure hope there is a wicked follow up song to Geronimo.<br />
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However, 2014 also spawned some more brilliant hits, so let's run through some honourable mentions in the top 40 category. Both Iggy Azalea's Fancy and Calvin Harris' Summer were wicked songs to play in the club or at the beach or while road tripping, and it's no wonder both songs are in the top 25 biggest selling songs of 2014. Obvious mention to Taylor Swift for Shake It Off - a pretty average song but a killer to head bang along to in the car (I did it twice the other night while the guy driving just sat there unamused). I could keep listing of songs but I'll finish the top 40 section with a bullet list of my final five favourites.<br />
- We Are Done by The Madden Brothers<br />
- Life of the Party by Shawn Mendes<br />
- Que Sera by Justice Crew<br />
- Don't Say Goodnight by Hot Chelle Rae<br />
- every single released by The Vamps this year<br />
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This year wasn't just about the top 40 pop though. Despite being released in 2013 Let It Go from Frozen was a killer song for 2014. It was sung by children everywhere all the time and drove parents crazy but it is such a good song. I much prefer the Idina Menzel movie version over the Demi Lovato version. Two other movie theme songs which must be mentioned are Happy by Pharell because that song was everywhere this year and a song about being happy is what the world needed, and Yellow Flicker Beat by Lorde which is currently blowing up in your face because it is so good.<br />
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One last topic to cover for 2014 - the oh so epic gigs I got to go to. Overseas acts which I had such fun times at were both Jason DeRulo and American Authors. Another highlight was seeing Clap Clap Riot play their most recent album live back in March - they still are one of the best bands I've ever seen live. On the topic of New Zealand music Homegrown 2014 was a brilliant afternoon once again with local talent proving they've got star power - Benny Tipene in particular was brilliant. And I will never forget how this whole year started, with Fat Freddy's Drop ringing in the new year at Waihi Beach.<br />
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2015 is set to be another epic year for music - The Vamps, Foo Fighters and The Script are all on tour, and the breakout artists of this year are surely going to follow up with some great hits. But for now I have one last piece of advice - grab someone's hand, dive into a waterfull and say Geronimo!<br />
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<br />Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15736117450156646036noreply@blogger.com0