Six minutes I got an epiphanic revelation. During the past week, the eight days I've been trying to reach the teacher who failed me, I've been using the same e-mail address (of mine, that is). I have used that same (the e-mail provided to me by the university) address to many other e-mails as well, but none of them have replied either. So the epiphany... I came to realise that what if the programme doesn't really send the mails even though they are in the sent-mail files. I just tested the theory and realised that that is exactly what is does... or doesn't do, more like. So, I take back everything I've said about the Teacher S during the past eight days; none of it was justified, but a result of a technological malfunction.
The change of plans is about 'Hadal'. The delivery of Bonnier had problems, resulting in 'Hadal' (as well as Sturm and drang or something similar) being late. So now I just have to go get it tomorrow. In the morning, before the exam. I'll probably be the first one there at nine, only to get that album. Ah, well.
- - -
The Meme of the Day: www.alypaa.com. I continue promoting these quizzes about trivial things. But at least it may prove to be useful at some point.
No, I am not listening to Europe (ugghhhh...) but Velcra's first born 'Consequences of Disobedience'. As all the enlightened know by now, tomorrow Velcra's third will officially see the daylight. I'm sure there are some poor bastards who have decided in their almighty stupidity to download the promos of 'Hadal' to the Internet, but fortunately (for once) I don't know where to look, nor how to download them and quite frankly I don't care to know. I'm the kind of person who likes the feeling of unwrapping a concrete CD out of the plastic; to see it for my own eyes instead of a punch of pixels on the screen, to feel the paper of the booklet, to read the lyrics from that booklet, to look at the pictures inside... The whole digital music idea without the real thing I find actually quite lame. It's the same thing with those idiots who want to publish some bloody e-books. Fine, as long as there are also the real books available, books whose covers and pages to touch, whose pages to turn and hear the paper rattling, whose scent to smell; the one you can read even if the power goes out.
"When when's today, the machines say, what is a man to do..." (Sonata Arctica: The Worlds Forgotten, The Words Forbidden)
But to go back to the countdown... As I am writing this, there are approximately thirteen hours eleven minutes and 48 seconds to the moment I walk outside Anttila, sit down to the market square to change some other album into Velcra's 'Hadal'. This is to happen at noon tomorrow before my parents burst in. Maybe even sooner in case the beloved teacher doesn't show up for her office hours at ten a.m. (inhuman time for a nocturnal being like me). But anyway, I just listened to the samples of most of the songs in ‘Hadal’ at http://www.velcra.com/music_hadal.htm, and I am thrilled! The ones to catch my full attention were ‘New Recruit’, ‘Dead End Lane’ and the name song ‘Hadal’. The weirdest (in a positive sense) is so far ‘We Must Start Again’. I CAN’T WAIT!!!
- - -
I'm nearly finished with Nathanael West's 'The Day of the Locust'. There are two things I need to check; the locusts (and try to come up with an explanation why they were chosen for the title; maybe it's a reference to the bible? In that case I have to... mmm... *get* to watch an X-Files episode in which Mulder quotes the bible about locusts). The other includes the symptoms of schizophrenia: I am convinced Homer is schizophrenic. I also have to check the correct spelling of the word; if I get to express my Homer theory I want to get the words right. Nothing undermines a theory better than continuous misspelling of an essential word(s).
I got the call to the entrance exam today. I have to say the questions, albeilt far from unexpected, are interesting. In the first section (the title “henkilötiedot” breathtaking in its unoriginality) there is a question, however, that would require correcting because it lacks one option.
What is missing? Yeah. This questionnaire is for the interview carried out by a psychologist; I guess I'll have to come up with some not-so-offending tone to point out this... well, discrimination. After all, "avioliitto" and "rekisteröity parisuhde" are not to be compared with the current lack of rights and responsibilities in registered relationships.
- - -
Today, as I was at the Red Cross donating blood, I had this (praying mantis) epiphany; all of a sudden I just realised how much I actually enjoy living in a community with both of the official languages co-existing so visibly. It never ceases to amaze me how lucky Finland’s Swedes are for being raised bilingual. Really, if I ever have that child I would want to raise her/him here. Vaasa is my home.
- - -
My parents are coming here tomorrow. I have to clean up my apartment and take out (read: hide) everything that may cause controversy (in other words, movies ‘Secretary’ and ‘Tipping the Velvet’ and my entire Restricted section in my bookcase. It is rather ridiculous I even have to do such a thing, really. I mean, with those posters it should be pretty obvious what my sexual orientation is. And no, I haven’t told them. Not because I would be afraid of their reaction (which probably is n e g a t i v e) but because I want to break this clan tradition of not talking about anything. I’ll tell them once they are able to directly ask me.
Your Detailed Results:
Physical Touch: 10
Quality Time: 8
Words of Affirmation: 7
Acts of Service: 4
Receiving Gifts: 1
I suppose that’s true; the point when I find touching comfortable *is* high, but once I’m beyond that point it is very important to me, as this quiz affirmed. But hey, I’m quite a cheap girlfriend since I don’t see gifts as signs of affection.
I just want to make a public apology. When I said about twenty-four hours ago that the new Sonata Arctica album was a disappointment... well, I'd like to take that back. I would be lying if I said I understand all the songs even partially but I'm growing to like the music part, albeit some of the lyrics remain confusing (as 'My dream's but a drop of fuel for a nightmare' which I'm listening to as I write this).
My apologies. I am but an ignorant metallist prone to jump into conclusions far too quickly. So quickly I was ever able to fail to realise the masterpieces 'For the sake of revenge', 'Caleb' and 'It won't fade'.
Now I'm beginning to get inside 'Unia'. It just took longer than with any other SA album before to conquer even one song. That song is 'For the sake of revenge'; I nearly know the lyrics by heart. 'Caleb' is getting its place among the favourites although I'm still not quite sure what it tells about. I'll just give it time.
Requiem in pace power metal Sonata Arctica.
Hail progressive metal Sonata Arctica!
- - -
I think I'll watch Silent Hill again tonight. The picture below is actually made of the sequense that caused me the main anxiety after I first saw the movie. There's something so creepy about the armless guy. You know, until the Making of -documentary I never noticed that the Red Pyramid doesn't have any actual loincloth (aha! finally I got to use that word!).
Post scriptum: damn it! Even that mere picture makes shivers of horror run down my spine. Hrrr...
- - -
The Meme of the Day: www.jigzone.com. As I've said before, the inventor of jigsaw puzzles should get that posthumous Nobel prize for peace.
“While you are sleeping I steal your earring
Light you one candle, this anger I handle
They said I won’t find but now I’m beside you
I’m not all that stable, you should know by now”
Sonata Arctica: The End of This Chapter
- - -
Can't sleep. I'm feeling anxious. I still haven't warmed to 'Unia'. Actually, I just switched back to 'Silence'. This is how I like Sonata Arctica served: power metal, shredding, real power shouts, "kovaa, korkialta ja jumalattoman nopiaa" combined with tragic stories of unfulfilled or lost love!
Still haven't heard 'Eva'. I'm slightly wary when it comes to the song. What is having a new singer has changed Nightwish's style like the style has changed with Sonata Arctica? Thanks to these two, I am growing sceptic with 'Hadal', too. Far too many changes to a routine-loving person like me, especially to think of in the middle of the night in an already-anxious state of mind.
- - -
Since I have trouble sleeping again, I ended up doing a punch of quizzes provided by MTV3's Helmi (http://www.mtv3.fi/helmi2005/kuudesaisti/artikkeli.shtml/392057). A warning to those who are planning on killing time there: the site is heavily heterocentric.
Which jewel are you? -> “Smaragdi”
What is your single type? -> “Vaeltaja” =)
Which goddess are you? -> Artemis
What kind of a pig are you? (meant for men but ah, well!) -> “Maatiaissika”
“You scored as a Batman, the Dark Knight
As the Dark Knight of Gotham, Batman is a vigilante who deals out his own brand of justice to the criminals and corrupt of the city. He follows his own code and is often misunderstood. He has few friends or allies, but finds comfort in his cause.”
Batman, the Dark Knight - 75%
Neo, the "One" - 71%
Lara Croft - 67%
Maximus - 63%
Captain Jack Sparrow - 63%
In the end, I was far too tired to get myself up at 07.00. Instead I'll wait till Monday; I'm sure that 'Eva' makes it quickly to the most wanted list on NRJ. I'll just listen to it then.
But more importantly I got the new Sonata Arctica album 'Unia' today. I am currently listening to it for the second time. I tend to be prone to be rather negative on any new stuff so it's likely that whatever I say here today about the music has probably changed by next week. But here's an amateur review on the album after the first four hours.
Overall I found the album not meeting my expectations. I am disappointed mainly due to the lack of what I see as *real* Sonata Arctica, songs that are played and sung "kovaa, korkealta ja jumalattoman nopeesti". Okay, it's heavy but Kakko, as far as I remember, doesn't get to shred with his voice that high, unfortunately. The same goes to Jani's guitar. 'Under your tree' is the obligatory Big Ballad; in this song the keyboards have quite a big role, as seems to be the case in some other songs as well. They do create a dreamscape-like atmosphere. 'Caleb' (I actually know someone bearing that name) reminds me of 'The boy who wanted to be a real puppet': they both tell an epic story. 'The Vice' is my personal favourite alongside with ‘Good enough is good enough’. I'm not quite sure what the trick is, but it probably has something to do with the neat combination of a catchy melody and heavy guitars and a nice, mysterious ending. But all the points for including the cello in 'My dream's but a drop of full for a nightmare' as well as the classical elements in ‘Good enough is good enough’! And the background part in Finnish in 'To create a warlike feel' also get deux points. Just make one song in Finnish and don't drown it in the English lyrics sung on top of it!
But as for the notorious ex-musical aspects. I don't know who is responsible, in the end, for what is printed in the booklet inside the covers, but whoever the hell it is... shame on you! It's bears T W O incomplete lyrics, those of 'To create a warlike feel' and 'Fly with the black swan'. Nun liebe kinder gebt fein acht! For once the covers are well-made and then someone lets incomplete lyrics get printed. There are also a considerable amount of apostrophes missing, not to mention misplaced lyrics.
All in all, this collection of dreams does flow forward nicely, but I feel like there's something missing. But as said, I'm viewing this from the point of view of a mundane listener with no knowledge of the actual playing or singing or mixing or the rest jargon things. I still like more the four previous albums but it'll probably change as soon as I truly get inside these songs. I'll try again then if I feel like ranting and raving how stupid I was not realising how ingenious some song was. The somewhat …eh… cowly ending of the album remains a mystery.
Step 1: Put your MP3 player or whatever on random.
Step 2: Post the first line from the first 15 songs that play, no matter how embarrassing the song.
Step 3: Post and let everyone you know guess what song and artist the lines come from.
Step 4: Strike out the songs when someone guesses correctly.
Step 5: Looking them up on Google or any other search engine is CHEATING!
Step 6: World domination!
Just in case someone actually tries to figure out my results, let it be noted it is *not* Sonata Arctica, any of the albums. Here we go. Note bene; there were only nine songs on the album to begin with, hence it’s shorter than it should be.
1. I want you to know that I’m happy for you/ and I wish nothing but the best for you both
2. Ladies up in here tonight/ No fighting, no fighting
3. Äitis yrittää, veljeskin on onnistunut/ hankkii elantoa, seurustelee vakavasti
4. How can you possibly have fun with a jellyfish?
5. She sits in her corner singing herself to sleep/ Wrapped in all of the promises that no-one seems to keep
6. I am the Candyman - Coming from Bountyland/ I am the Candyman - Coming from Bountyland
7. Do you breath the name of your savior in your hour of need/ And taste the blame if the flavor should remind you of greed
8. I know there’s something in the wake of your smile/ I get a notion from the look in your eyes
9. Wake up/ Grab a brush and put a little (makeup)/ Hide the scars to fade away the (shakeup)
Go on and give it a try. I want to know if anyone can find that one which is fairly tricky.
So, the lives goes on. Wanderer leaving was, as I was to find, much a bigger blow than I expected. I’ve been staying indoors the whole day, I just haven’t wanted to see or talk to anyone. And to be brutally honest... I was supposed to have an exam today (I had of course already signed for it) but I woke up after noon amidst quite a collection of used handkerchiefs, with one glued to my right cheek. Couldn't exactly go there late, so now I have to do it in September. Damn it.
Most importantly, Nyyti (www.nyyti.fi) replied my message today; it was much faster than I could hope for. Thank you, J, for your time and compassion, they meant really much to me. It is was such a relief to find you last night.
- - -
As you all probably already know, Nightwish has announced the identity of their new vocalist. My first impression of the woman (is she really 35?) is that she's very innocent-looking, childlike even. Anyway, I looked up the fact box (the one thing needful) from http://www.nightwish.com/fi/band/members/facts?id=16. We’ll see if the Nightwish web people have prepared for another tsunami of visitors as in the notorious Sunday in October 2005 and the site crushes again. But, Anette Olzon (picture below although something tells me you'll be seeing her picture a lot in near future...). Her looks still keep me sceptic but there were a few things to win me to her side; ils sont les suivants (spectacular, Martin!): she names one of her favourite is ‘Veronika decides to die’ by Pauolo Coelho and likes his novels in general. Douze points, Anette, douze points! I didn’t know she had a child, though. Well, we’ll probably know more tomorrow once all the Wikigeeks have done some digging and made a whole new site dedicated to Anette.
By the way, a 38-second sample of the new single ‘Eva’ can be heard at http://www.nightwish.com/fi/files/audio. I don’t remember them selecting a ballad as the first single before; or at least to me ‘Eva’ sounds like a ballad. Damn the person who decided to publish it in the form of a web single; I have no clue none whatsoever how to upload them. Not that it matters, I just checked www.netanttila.com/download and I don’t have the equipment to download it. I just have to wake up at 07.00 and try to tune my radio to YleX (which so far hasn’t co-operated too well with my radio); maybe I’ll end up holding the antenna up in a feeble attempt to record the song in an old-fashioned way to a C-casette. To you who are responsible for this, three words: Hab SoslI’ Quch!
- - -
The Meme of the Day:
A while ago I encountered this meme on a blog, at http://kabackma.vuodatus.net/blog/archive?m=08&y=2006 by Katri. The idea was to have a letter (with this exception they’re given by the blogger from whom this meme comes) and write ten things (in words or phrases) important to you starting with that letter and explain why they are significant to you. Since no one is to give me a letter I’ll just strike one key on this QWERTY keyboard and see what I get: T. Okay, let us begin. A warning: this may become multilingual.
Tabermann, Tommy – Okay, my awkward transition to express my love for women. I think the following summarises it nicely enough:
“Sinua minä en vaihda mihinkään,
en kehenkään!
Sata vuotta on liian
lyhyt aika saada kylliksi
sinua,
tuhat liikaa vaadittu
Ikuisesti on se ainoa oikea mitta
kun puhutaan
hikipisaroiden nuolemisesta
rakastetun ruumiin
joka kolkasta”
Tallulah – Of course, a song by Sonata Arctica. Despite the …unique… use of the English language in both spelling and pronunciation the songs are still amazing, and they can give me extra energy on a really good day or comfort me on a really bad day. I can’t wait to get my hands on ‘Unia’ tomorrow! Currently listening to ‘Sing in Silence’.
Tawel – Welsh for ’quiet’. I cannot understand the people who can’t stand being alone. To quote Tony Kakko, “It truly makes the most beautiful music/ Everything it has to give/ It’s everywhere hiding the listener/ Without it I could not live/ …Silence”.
The X-Files – Did you really think I wouldn’t be able to come up with some kind of a feeble way to include Mulder and Scully? ‘The X-files’ is just a classic, and I love the damn thing! Remember Mulder’s memorable first line in the series: “Nobody down here but the FBI’s most unwanted.”
Thunder – The meteorologists say that on Saturday afternoon I get to sit on the kitchen table with the curtains wide open and watch Mother Nature’s fireworks as the lightnings strike down and show the arrogant mankind who really holds the power on this planet.
Tolerance – This is what this world needs. An ability to accept people with different views and ways of life even if they were –and as they tend to be– different from your own. Alas, the only way to get peace on Earth is to do as the Jinniyah did in ‘Je Souhaite’ (7x21): wipe out all humans off this planet.
Tolkien, J.R.R. – To me, the embodiment of literature, especially fantasy literature. But books in general are all important to me, with their help I can learn more about the surrounding world and myself.
To the edge – A song by Lacuna coil, the band very dear to me. And Christina Scabbia is a mortal goddess, I am sure of that. A beautiful woman with an enticing voice and even speaks the language I consider as the most beautiful language in the world. “Amore sol la mi fa remirare, la solmi fa sollecita”, as I’ve written before.
Tuli – The essential part of survival and, according to http://www.mtv3.fi/helmi2005/horoskoopit.shtml/392069, fire is also my element due to my zodiac sign, although I have no idea what that is supposed to tell me. What is fire like? Destructive yet creative, beyond control. Yeah, sounds a little like me.
Turva – This is something I seek, perhaps due to my not-so-stable childhood. And safety requires, to me, to have things under control, which is why I’m such a pain in the ass sometimes.
"You take my hand and pull me next to you
I have a feeling you don't have the words
I found one for you, kiss your cheek, say bye, and walk away
Don't look back 'cause I am crying
.
.
.
Tallulah, it's easier to live alone than fear the time it's over"
