-.☾ 𝙼𝚞𝚜𝚒𝚌 & 𝚃𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜 ☾.- 🄽🅂🄵🅆

[Silver]

I've debated starting one of these journals for over a year now. I've always talked myself out of doing such a thing, rather than just posting lyrics as status updates, even then I try to space them out not wanting to take over the newsfeed. I often come across songs that are new to me or come back around to older songs that are known; which speak to me on an inner level. So I guess I am making myself a space where I can share music that speaks to me more frequently. Music is more than just a collection of coordinated sounds, It has the power to evoke hidden emotions; the power to express things that are sometimes hard to put into words.

I pose the following five questions to you:

How Does Music Influence Our Daily Lives?
What Makes a Song Timeless and Memorable?
Can Music Help Reduce Stress and Anxiety?
Why Does Music Have Such a Powerful Impact on Our Emotions?
Is Music Truly a Universal Language?

If you want to answer the questions that I asked or want to share your thoughts about any song I've posted, feel free to send a private message my way.

I may post other thoughts and NSFW pictures/gifs occasionally, but I want to primarily share music. (we'll see how long that lasts...)

​

 

[Silver]

I had to write out the lyrics for this song myself so I apologize if I got the lyrics wrong; I came across it earlier, trying to catch up on some past Discover Weekly Playlists from Spotify over the last year that I hadn't listened to yet.

The lyrics and beat just really spoke to me, causing me to wonder what kind of story might have this song as a background for a scene.

(Yeah)
Another day, Arise
Another day, Another sunrise
And I know it's flowing through my mind's eye
It's all I want for my eyes
It's all I want for my eyes
It's all I want for my eyes
It's all I want for my eyes

Sun it rains, golden rays around me
(yeah)

Feel you breathing
cause you hold me baby, hold me baby
cause it's alright, yeah
when the sunrise, yeah
And you're gonna see what I see,
you're gonna feel what I feel, yeah

cause it's alright, yeah
cause it's alright, yeah
and You're gonna see what I see
and you're gonna see what I see​

 

[Silver]

Is Music Truly a Universal Language?​

The above question I asked may have seemed profound to some. Music is indeed a Universal Language, a person might be able to feel the beat, and/or connect with the emotion heard within a singer's voice even if it's in another language. Emotion is one of the most basic things that every human experiences, so it's not surprising that many connect to music, through an emotional story being told or by a song sometimes evoking emotions hidden deep down within ourselves. It might be why sharing music can be deeply personal for some; you are showing a tiny sliver of yourself, possibly opening yourself up to judgment due to the possibility of differing taste levels.

---

The song below was discovered on one of my 'Discover Weekly' playlists Spoifty creates for each specific user every Monday. The song holds a different meaning to me now than it did a year ago. I connect with this song more, perhaps it's due to the subject manner or because it perfectly expresses how I feel regarding a few different situations. This song can be interrupted in various ways, making it subjective to the listener.

Далече е
И не се върне
Не се върне
И аз гледам към небе, към небето
Да те видя

А ти видиш ли, а ти...

Далече е
И не се върне

English Translation:

It's far away
And don't come back
Don't come back
And I look to the sky, to the sky
To see you

And you see, and you...

It's far away
And don't come back
​

 

[Silver]

In life, we all wear masks knowingly or not...
The mask of being polite and nice... being overly formal... and it is misunderstood by others time and time again...
The mask of trying to be friendly and crossing an unknown boundary while trying to connect and fit in... in the hopes of one day being accepted...
The mask of pretending that loneliness is a familiar friend, when in reality it's something that shouldn't be accepted so easily...
A mask falling off and revealing the belief that Loneliness is the human condition...
A mask falling off and revealing the belief that Love isn't real...
A mask falling off and revealing the belief that you aren't simply broken but shattered into a million pieces and that no amount of tape and glue will help you put yourself back together again...
The final mask falling away, revealing the deep belief that you will never be understood and that no one wants to at the end of the day...

---

I'm only posting the lyrics for the music video version below, as the album version is much longer.
I enjoy the music video version more... You connect with it more... at least I do...




One of these lives, I'ma make things right
With the wrongs I've done, that's when I unite
With the Father, Son, 'til then, I fight
Rain on me, put the blame on me
Got guilt, got hurt, got shame on me
Got six magazines that's aimed at me
Done every magazine, what's fame to me?
(And I'm tripping and falling)
It's a game to me, where the bedroom at?
Sleep, I ain't nevеr had affairs with that
What's fair when the hearts and thе words don't reach?
What's fair when the money don't take things back?
It's rare when somebody take your dreams back
(And I'm tripping and falling)
I care too much, wanna share too much, in my head too much
I shut down too, I ain't there too much
I'm a complex soul, they layered me up
Then broke me down, and morality's dust, I lack in trust
(And I'm tripping and falling)
This time around, I trust myself
Please everybody else but myself
All else fails, I was myself
Outdone fear, outdone myself
This year, you better one yourself
(And I'm tripping and falling)
Masks on the babies, mask on an opp
Wear masks in the neighborhood stores you shop
But a mask won't hide who you are inside
Look around, the reality's carved in lies
Wipe my ego, dodge my pride
(And I'm tripping and falling)
Look myself in the mirror
Amityville, ain't seen nothin' scarier
I fought like a pitbull terrier
Blood I shed could fill up aquariums
Tell all my angels, "Carry 'em"
(And I'm tripping and falling)
Every emotion been deprived
Even my strong points couldn't survive
If I didn't learn to love myself, forgive myself a hundred times, dawg

I love when you count me out
I love when you count me out
I love when you count me
I love when you count me out
I love when you count me out
I love when you count me
And I'm tripping and falling
And I'm tripping and falling
And I'm tripping and falling
And I'm...

​

 

[Silver]

"Letting go helps us to live in a more peaceful state of mind and helps restore our balance. It allows others to be responsible for themselves and for us to take our hands off situations that do not belong to us."
​

---

Join me and raise your middle finger to the negativity and letting go of things you can't control otherwise, you might miss out on what's happening right in front of you... New Experiences, New Dreams, New Goals, Learning to Accept Yourself For Who You Are, Fuck Everyone Else if they can't see how amazing you are and how brightly you shine even during the darkest of hours!
​

We often forget to enjoy those little moments that appear in life due to sometimes not letting go of something that's already slipped from our fingers, a long held-onto dream that only brings pain due to the realization that it'll never come true, or allowing the past to drag us down be it someone or something that you will grow and thrive without that negative energy impacting our everyday lives...



Here's a song that I came across earlier today that I feel might capture the spirit better than my jumbled words ever could... even though it might just apply to drama and worthless pieces of shit men at the end of the day...

*shrugs and goes to a place where I can roam, all in my head where I can zone*​

---

When the world starts getting crazy, I leave the drama all alone,
Go to a place where I can roam, all in my head where I can zone

There′s a party shaking, all up in my mind
Everybody's moving, everybody′s fine
As I listen to the music, I hear my favorite song,
I think I'm bout to lose it, I think my mind is gone

Oh when the world starts getting crazy, I leave the drama all alone,
Go to a place where I can roam, all in my head where I can zone
Oh when the world starts getting crazy, I leave the drama all alone,
Go to a place where I can roam, all in my head where I can zone
I can zone (I can zone I can zone)

I might want to pause for a beat and slow down and get myself together
Take a little time to breathe so I don't lose myself forever,
I just wanna live, I just wanna live, I just wanna live my life
Without anyone trying to end my peace, just respect my life,

Oh when the world starts getting crazy, I leave the drama all alone,
Go to a place where I can roam, all in my head where I can zone
Oh when the world starts getting crazy, I leave the drama all alone,
Go to a place where I can roam, all in my head where I can zone

I can zone
I can zone
all in my head where
all in my head where
I can zone

Oh when the world starts getting crazy, I leave the drama all alone,
Go to a place where I can roam, all in my head where I can zone
Oh when the world starts getting crazy, I leave the drama all alone,
Go to a place where I can roam, all in my head where I can zone
I can zone (I can zone I can zone)

I beg your pardon, what you sayin′
I′m sorry, I wasn't really listening to the lies coming out your face
I really wish that you′d hurry up go ahead and get up out my space
You takin' all of my energy, everything that I have for me,
It′s time we go our separate ways
So baby leave me alone

Won't you leave me alone
Won′t you leave me alone
Leave me alone
Can you leave me alone
Leave me alone

Baby leave me alone
Can you leave me alone
Won't you leave me alone
Leave me alone
Baby leave me alone
Go ahead and get gone

So baby leave me alone
Can you leave me alone
Won't you leave me alone
Leave me alone
Baby leave me alone
Go ahead and get gone​

 

[Silver]

Grammy Thoughts

Beyoncé *sighs*

I'm going to be rather blunt; Beyoncé did not deserve to win the award for Best Country Album or Album of the Year. It's a major insult to the other musicians who received nominations in those categories, in my opinion. I freely acknowledge that I enjoy Beyonce, but I'm not a member of the "Beehive." However, I thought "Cowboy Carter" was a mediocre album; I enjoyed three of the songs on it. Overall, the album wasn't terrible, but it wasn't the greatest thing ever.

This was the academy's attempt to compensate for the fact that Beyoncé had not yet won the award for album of the year, and it's fucking horrible. Her album Lemonade gave her a chance to win in 2017, but Adele's album 25 was superior. I truly like both of those albums, and it was a very tight race. Renaissance received a nomination in 2023 and was once more up against Adele's album, 30. I still don't really understand why Harry Styles won with Harry's House that year, even though I thought it would be another contest between them.

Lainey Wilson or Kacey Musgraves, in my opinion, deserved to have won Best Country Album. Both of these women had fantastic songs on their albums that were memorable and stuck with you. Musgraves may sound more like folk/soft rock than true country, but the album was still fantastic.

I've already received a lot of criticism for my opinion, which is that as an African American woman, I should be pleased with Beyoncé's win. No, I shouldn't have when the wrong person won; it's not about skin color, it's about the music, and this is beyond unacceptable. Beyoncé didn't have the best album in either category!!!!!!

---

Kendrick Lamar

Look, I know some people are mad. I am not one of them, I admit that I am a Kendrick Stan. Sorry, Not Sorry! I'm currently trying to find tickets (that won't cost me what's left of my soul) as a graduation gift for my daughter since he'll be in town for the Grand Nation Tour in June, weeks after her high school graduation.

Kendrick Lamar earned Song of the Year and Record of the Year easily; Not Like Us, was everywhere for months, and there was no escape from the song. By bringing it back into the public eye with the litigation and refusing to accept the defeat, Drake did himself no favors. I'm sorry, but none of the other songs nominated could dethrone him. If you haven't heard his music yet, you will get the opportunity to do so next Sunday since he's headlining the Super Bowl Halftime Show. And yes, I am tempted to dedicate a whole Journal post to Kendrick next Sunday.

---

I might make another journal post with actual music and lyrics later today, after I listen to my Discovery Weekly Playlist on Spotify. Maybe I'll find another hidden gem...
But for now, I am still fucking pissed off about Beyoncé...

​

 

[Silver]

Valentine's Day... ​

If you love Valentine's Day, don't read this as it's a rant...

I believe that Valentine's Day is a commercial holiday created by corporations to generate additional revenue during the lull between Christmas and Easter. Does expressing one's true feelings to someone require a particular day if one is truly in love?

Why is there a need for a specific day, where it is required to express love and appreciation to your 'partner'? Shouldn't these things already be ingrained into our daily routines? Valentine's Day trivializes the importance of a consistent and healthy relationship. When you take a step back and think about the holiday it suggests that a single grand gesture can compensate for a year of disappointment, neglect, and being an overall shitty partner and person.

Being single on Valentine's Day can feel like you are being called out for repeated failures of why you are not currently in a relationship, often when it wasn't our fault when they didn't work out in the first place. The constant barrage of couples and celebrations can be isolating and disheartening. While some people can embrace being single with pride, the societal pressure to be in a relationship can be particularly depressing let alone dreadful.

Would I love to receive flowers and chocolate? Of course, who wouldn't? But I would rather be in a relationship with someone who makes me feel seen and appreciated the other 364 days of the year. Rather than the string of deadbeats, fuckboys, and overall cowards, I've had the unfortunate pleasure of finding myself in relationships with over the years.

I see the glass as half-empty, even if I strive to embrace positivity and change as I continue to grow and evolve. Oddly I feel a bit better after writing out this rant...

---

Valentine in December
You say you love me, but you don't remember
My name, you cause me pain
All girls are the same in the end

Attachment to me is a crime
Breaking me still I keep acting surprised
I keep acting surprised
Ich mag dich mehr, wenn du bist weniger
Drowning in words that you couldn't hold on to
You keep pushing me in the cold water
In the cold water, to see if this is pure or not

Valentine in December
You say you love me, but you don't remember
My name, you cause me pain
All girls are the same in the end

I don't feel hungry, I wanna go to sleep
Tired of everbody acting sketchy
Kissing Cupido goodbye
His arrow caused me red eyes
That make me wish I was blind
At some point you owned my mind
At some point wanted to hide

In December
You say you love me, but you don't remember
My name, you cause me pain
All girls are the same in the end​

 

[Silver]

Roy Ayers ♡

'Everybody Love The Sunshine' is one of Roy Ayers' best songs, and even if you've never heard of him, you've probably heard it sampled in other songs over the years. 188 distinct songs in all over the years. His sample has been used in the songs of Dr. Dre, Mary J. Blige, 2Pac, Naughty by Nature, TLC, Logic, Black Eyed Peas, and numerous other artists.

He passed away yesterday at the age of 84. This coming right after the unexpected passing of Angie Stone a few days prior has me going through older songs and fearing the day when older musicians I love will only be a memory of the music they've created for the world.

---

Since I've already posted a snippet of lyrics and the video for Everybody Loves The Sunshine as a status update, I'll post his appearance on Tiny Desk from 6 years ago, when he was 77. The songs he plays are 'Searching', 'Black Family' and 'Everybody Loves The Sunshine'.

---

---

Say butterfly
Up in the sky
I got a story to say
And I'll tell you why
I'm searchin'!

You see, my friend
I need someone
Who feels and needs
The same as I
I'm searchin'!

What's right is right
What's wrong is wrong
I'm gonna sing my song
All day long
I'm searchin'!

[Chorus]
Searchin'
Searchin'
Searchin'
Searchin'
Searchin'
Searchin'
Searchin'
Searchin'
Searchin'
Searchin'
Searchin'
Searchin'
Searchin'
Searchin'
Searchin'

Now what went down
I don't believe
And I just know
I can't conceive
I'm searchin'
When love is gone
And one believes
That love will come
Like brand new leaves
I'm searchin'
And then the day
When I will say
That my soul lives
A truthful way
I'm searchin'

Say butterfly
Up in the sky
I got a story to say
And I'll tell you why
I'm searchin'

You see my friend
And I need someone
Who feels and needs
The same as I
I'm searchin'
When it's right,it's right
When it's wrong,it's wrong
I'm gonna sing my song
All day long
I'm searchin'

Say butterfly
Up in the sky
I got a story to say
And I'll tell you why
I'm searchin'

Searchin' for my right mind
Searchin' for my right mind
Searchin' for a new love
Searchin' for my true time
Searchin' for completion
Searchin' for completion
Searchin' for the true time
Searchin' for a new love
Searchin' for the right mind
Searchin' for the right love
Searchin' for the right love
Searchin' for my right mind

---

My life, my life, my life, my life
In the sunshine
Everybody loves the sunshine
Sunshine
Everybody loves the sunshine
Sunshine
Folks get down in the sunshine (Oooh)
Sunshine (Yeeea-ah)
Folks get brown in the sunshine

Just bees, and things, and flowers
Just bees, and things, and flowers
Just bees, and things, and flowers
Just bees, and things, and flowers

My life, my life, my life, my life
In the sunshine
Everybody loves the sunshine
Sunshine
Everybody loves the sunshine
Sunshine
Folks get down in the sunshine
Sunshine
Folks get brown in the sunshine

Feel what I feel, when I feel what I feel, when I'm feelin'
In the sunshine
Feel what I feel, when I feel what I feel, when I'm feelin'
In the sunshine (Oh yeah yeah yes yes yes)
Do what I do, when I do what I do, when I'm doin'
In the sunshine
Do what I do, when I do what I do, when I'm doin'
In the sunshine (Ooooh ha ah!)

Sunshine (Oooh ow)
Everybody loves the sunshine (Oh yeah yeah yeah now)​

 

[Silver]

311
♡

Happy 311 Day!

If I were asked to make a top ten or twenty list of artists I love, 311 would always be on the list. My three favorite albums are 'Soundsystem', 'From Chaos' and 'Evolver'.

The final song on the album From Chaos; "I'll Be Here Awhile" can easily make me cry, the same is true about "Sometimes Jacks Rule The Realm" from the album Evolver, which also contains the hidden track 'Coda', which is purely instrumental and hits me every time. I wish I was able to write something much more profound given how this band shaped me when I was younger, they were one of the artists that made me really pay attention to lyrics, looking them up and printing them out so I could make sure that I knew all the words.


So in honor of 311 Day here's their performance from TinyDesk last year, alongside a few of my favorite songs from the band. Give 'Coda' a listen at least if you are willing to give instrumentals a chance... It's about only a 1:13 long...

---

---

---

You got to
You got to

You got to come original, you got to come original
All entertainers come original
You got to come original, you got to come original
All entertainer, hear why

To come original, it ain't nothin' strange
You got to represent, you got come full range and
Full range of emotion, full range of styles
When you come to town you'll have them comin' for miles and

Come original, you got to come original
All entertainers come original
You got to come original, you got to come original
All entertainer, hear why

Black Eyed Peas, they comin' full range and
NOFX, they comin' full range and
Roni Size, he's comin' full range
The one Mr. Vegas, you know it ain't easy, ha!

A warning to the crews out there who think they're hot
If you're not original, rockers, you will get shot
Down by the kids neglectin' your art, the stuff you did
Eventually it get so bad it puts you to bed
'Cause when the lightning flashes sweet electricity
All the world then stands revealed with the clarity
Of raw voltage, briefly we see, and the hope is
You'll be able to tell just what dope is

Come original, you got to come original
All entertainers come original
You got to come original, you got to come original
All entertainer, hear why

Funk slap bass mixed with the dancehall and
Hip-hop beats and punk guitar and
Deadly on the mic, the one SA
Name is 311 and you know it ain't easy, ha!

Come on, come on!

This is not a test, there's no time to mope
How you gonna cope with radioactive isotope
And boss DJ, illness upon you quickly
Infecting you fast on the airwaves
This message brought to you by the so large system
Activate and attune yourself with meditation
And green plants, they've got mad life, they're sentient
They're beautiful as you and they like to dance

(One, two, three, four)
Everything we do we gotta come original
Put your hand up in the air and prepare for battle
Sit upon the rhythm like a tire upon the rim
We do it nonstop and then we do it again
Some of them whine and some of them bitch, they cannot do it, never switch
Comin' up from the heart and delivered with a wild pitch
Sit up on top of the rhythm like a wild stallion
This is the rulin' system

Come original, you got to come original
All entertainers come original
You got to come original, you got to come original
All entertainers come original
You got to come original, you got to come original
All entertainers come original
You got to come original, you got to come original
All entertainer
Come original

---

Uncalm, uncalm, uncalm
Listen to the drummer just listen to the strings
Listen to the DJ just rappin' and things
Once I get a message from you I get all edgy
My mind's racing but my you know not ready uh

For you, baby all our dreams trickle through
We are back in your teenage bedroom
Salvador Dali honeymoon for you

It's like you and me on Plymouth Rock
Embarking on a journey that I never thought
Would happen to me so effortlessly
Sparks flying, your laughter is a symphony
Spring, what a little moonlight can do
Soon the summer sun is on you
All the while we don't hear the news or feel blue


On the scales of desire your absence weighs
More than someone else's presence
I wanna kiss reason goodbye today
I wanna show its purple essence
On your lips baby it'll fade away
Return your natural iridescence
On the scales of desire your absence weighs
More than someone else's presence

You make me feel uncalm and I think I like it
Make me think of a song that I could not write yet
Melodies create themselves I'm just a conduit
You make my heart accelerate and I'm on to it
For you, baby there's so much that I will do
To be near the sweetness on you
Funny everything seems so new when with you


On the scales of desire your absence weighs
More than someone else's presence
I wanna kiss reason goodbye today
I wanna show its purple essence
On your lips baby it'll fade away
Return your natural iridescence
On the scales of desire your absence weighs
More than someone else's presence
Uncalm, uncalm
​