Cabin Fever 101

How many of you understand that I'm an introvert with clumsy trait and not so-outgoing person? Ouch, that's bold. Now you know!

So yeah, because of those features, I don't go out much.

I have so many hobbies and they include nobody. I mean, I draw, listen to music, watch movies, read, sleep, write.. well, none of them include human in it. I know, if I'm not an introvert then perhaps I'm an anti social lol. Maybe that's my true form of me. At times I have a lot of friends, but I don't really get them to get me. I have social medias and uninstall them one by one before I become something I don't want. *is this too extra?*

I grow up kind of friend-less. My parents were busy, my brothers had other business to do (aside of making fun of me, kind of got on my nerve too much), my neighbors were much older than me (they were also making fun of me). I had cousins but their houses were far and my parents forbid me to play with them too often. It kind of build my personality today, like not a needy person because once I decide to be needy, I'd be very clingy and spoiled. Duh!

My new background to use when I'm too  lazy to make one hhe.

That's why I rarely feel that cabin fever feeling. You know the feeling for not leaving your room too long and not talking to anyone - completely alienated and somehow makes you insane. But I don't. I have so many things in my room to facilitate my needs of sanity. Here they are.

The Fantastic Pentatonix: On My Way Home Tour in Jakarta; Special Report!

Guess what? GUESS WHAT?!!!

Hee hee. Pardon my overwhelming opening sentences but I really really super excited because yeah, I watched them performed back on June 3 in Balai Kartini, Jakarta. OMG I was super duper excited because let me tell you something, I've been their huge fan since I first saw their Video Clip covering Radioactive by Imagine Dragons, featuring the violinist Lindsey Stirling on Youtube (circa 2012)! I've been falling in love with them ever since. I've saved all of their MV on Youtube and listened to them like everyday. They have this fun element on their arrangement. I mean, I love a capella (but not the main stream a capella, this one has beat box in it!) and I love Disney. I think Pentatonix has both my favorite elements in it. No wonder I love them SO MUCH OMG.

Pentatonix squad. Left to right: Avi, Scott, Mitch, Kirstin, Kevin. Artwork by me.

So yeah, I first saw the announcement on their Facebook around April and I was excited so I posted it everywhere on my social media accounts. I want to watch it so much but has no idea who'll join me. I didn't want to come alone (as if!). Besides, it'll be my first time ever attending event like this. I mean, I know some people who might like their music by the "like" they gave every time I posted their music stream on my social media page. But perhaps they don't like it too much to watch Pentatonix live on stage. But I do. So I asked around and at first nobody wanted to join T_T. Until I remembered one of my college friend (a close one) who has hobby to watch concert (she is a K-pop-ers - I don't know how I call them - and has watched several K-pop concert) and after some of negotiation, she finally accepted my invitation. Yay!

Bad Blood

Small fact about me, I love Taylor Swift. I put a lot of her songs in my playlist and often sing along with it for her songs have not much too high or too low note. I have some favorite songs from her albums and currently I'm in love with everything in 1989 Album. Especially Bad Blood.

My attempt of drawing Taylor Swift. Pen and oil pastel on a plain paper.

bad blood

noun

1. ill feeling.

   "there has always been bad blood between these families"

Here I'm not gonna tell you about her, tho. Yet I'm not going to write another random opinion about the song but this post is a lot related with the powerful meaning of the lyrics. Well, I found the song is interesting since it has a girl to girl relationship. We girls hate each other, they said. We stare at each other to validate something, judging each other and at some point when we don't like what we see, we'll be like, "Ew! I'm still better" (sort of that). That's not entirely true. We girls compete with each other - that's true. That's why we wear make up and wear brands, right?

The Point

Uncle Frank: You got any friends, Andy?
  Andrew: No.
Uncle Frank: Oh, why's that?
  Andrew: I don't know, I just never really saw the use.

Uncle Frank: Well, who are you going to play with otherwise? Lennon and McCartney, they were school buddies, am I right?

  Andrew: Charlie Parker didn't know anybody 'til Jo Jones threw a cymbal at his head.
Uncle Frank: So that's your idea of success, huh?
  Andrew: I think being the greatest musician of the 20th century is anybody's idea of success.
Jim: Dying broke and drunk and full of heroin at the age of 34 is not exactly my idea of success.

  Andrew: I'd rather die drunk, broke at 34 and have people at a dinner table talk about me than live to be rich and sober at 90 and nobody remembered who I was.

Uncle Frank: Ah, but your friends will remember you, that's the point.
  Andrew: None of us were friends with Charlie Parker. *That's* the point.
Uncle Frank: Travis and Dustin? They have plenty of friends and plenty of purpose.
  Andrew: I'm sure they'll make great school board presidents someday.
Dustin: Oh, that's what this is all about? You think you're better than us?
  Andrew: You catch on quick. Are you in Model UN?
Travis: I got a reply for you, Andrew. You think Carleton football's a joke? Come play with us.
  Andrew: Four words you will never hear from the NFL.
Aunt Emma: Who wants dessert?*

Source.

*Quotes from Whiplash (2014). Ah, don't swallow everything. See the point?

Elastic Art Block

This is a super quick post, so there will be error here and there. But I need to write this down.

I am stuck. I found it is hard to keep our enthusiasm into art when the art itself has no longer been an interest, but changed into assignment. Yeah, I got this task to make a great publication that will be expensively huge-printed - means, I can't fail this! This made me think, what will happen if only I make my hobbies as my job? It probably won't work for me. Except this blog, this blog always work for me.

So then what I'd do next is just, derping around my friend, G, who has a more neat and commercial vision of publication art. He even made me some graphics which was believed to help my publication to be better looking. The result is I even more confused. He often discussed his work with me, you know, to find another ideas or even just affirmation words. It turns out that it didn't result the same with me. Perhaps I am lack of working together ability. Combining ideas didn't work for me. I got ideas, but I am bad at executions, while he got ideas and then talked about them, but he could make a great execution based on the discussion.

Multitasking story, the routine working on the right and my project on the left (the project is also an assignment from my boss).

AAAARGGH I AM STUCK!! *The deadline itself is originally yesterday evening but I couldn't make it right so the project was delayed by - I don't know - one or two more days. Here I just posted my frustration here, sorry. I wish this art block were not elastic so I don't have to make it stretch to find the flaw and could easily break it with some cool insights. I need new perspective.

Well another story is, the Elastic Heart official video has been uploaded to Youtube since yesterday morning. The video was so scary and sad, yet the lyrics were so deep and relatable. Here's my drawing of Maddie Ziegler, the dancer in the video (you've seen her in the Chandelier, too). I am her fan officially now.

My representation of Maddie Ziegler as seen on Chandelier video clip. Sketch on plain paper using drawing pen 0,7 mm; background texture taken from here.

And I might have thought that we were one
Wanted to fight this war without weapons

I know I am a big procrastinator. Here I just drawn something unrelated with my assignment, only because I am easily distracted for something I like so much. Until then.

Twilight (no no, not that Vampire's drama)

Did you know that I'm a HUGE fan of Do As Infinity? It's a Japanese band with a vary genre ranged from pop to rocks, whose formed in 1999, and once disbanded in 2005 before they have re-grouped again in 2009. If you ever saw an anime titled "Inuyasha", then you must know the soundtrack entitled "Fukai Mori". The song belongs to Do As Infinity (DAI).

Good news is, they have released their newest single entitled "Tasogare" or "Twilight" in English translation, in November 16, 2011. I LOVE this single and couldn't help myself to not to play it over and over again. Even though I don't really understand the language (It's in Japanese and I once learned it in high school but still it doesn't very clear), I always love how it sounds, like the arrangement's, composition and so on (like I understand lol). So melodious and couldn't go away from my mind.

Here's the PV, released in October 26 in Japan:

And here's the lyrics (obtained from Jpopasia - permalink):

TASOGARE

by Do As Infinity

Tasogare wa yume mo namida mo akaneiro ni somete

Ikutsu mo no kizu to itami wo kagayaki de iyasu yo

Naze nanno tameni umareta no ka

Toikakeru bokura wo

Azawarau you ni hokorashige ni hikari hanatsu

Kagerishi nokoribi no yamiyo ni kieru toki made

Dare ga tame terasu tame

Wagami wo moyashite ikitai to sakebu sora

Tasogare ni wakareshi tomo no omoide ga nijinde

Furusato no todokanu keshiki afurete wa ochite ku

Mada hate mo miezu boku no yukue

Tsuzuite yuku nodarou

Tada mune no oku de setsuna setsuna myakuutsu dake

Hakanaku oto mo naku yozora ni noma reyou to mo

Dare ga tame mamoru tame

Shuiro ni somarishi tenohira wo kazasu sora

Naze saigo no hi wo osoreru no ka

Imanaraba wakaru yo

Mada warau kimi to nagori oshimu mirai ga aru

Kagerishi nokoribi no yamiyo ni kieru toki made

Dare ga tame terasu tame

Wagami wo moyashite ikite

Hakanaku oto mo naku yozora ni noma reyou to mo

Dare ga tame mamoru tame

Shuiro ni somarishi tenohira wo kazasu sora

I haven't finished the translation yet but I guess it's about some kind of musing (like DAI always do in their lyrics). Tell me if you also like it. It'd be so great having the same musical taste. :)

Another Alice's in Progress

Lately I've been thinking to finish my never-ending-yet Alice's picture. Yeah, I made it using my pen like months ago and scanned it so I can finish it with my Photoshop. But I stuck for a while, you know, artistic block thing. I hope I could finish this picture before my job training (yes, I'm not an unemployed anymore!lol) is began.

an unfinished Alice's picture.

No wonder I've got no time to make something artsy because I spend my time mostly by playing some PC  games and of course, blog-walking.

Anyway, I found about this indie-pop band, not really a new band, but it's the first time I heard their songs and totally in love. Here's The Perishers, from Sweden. Sway and Pills are my favorite. I repeat it over and over again and still in love.

Paramore 's MONSTER

I still shocked how they are separated because of internal problems. But still, I do love them. Since Hayley is still there, and she doesn't stop to rock my world - with Paramore, of course.

Here's their new single, featured in Transformers 3.

Video: Paramore's new single: MONSTER.

The song is slightly different with their old songs (with Farro's Bros in it) but Hayley is also their songs creator. So I think there's no problem. And I LOVE this single. xD

Here's the lyrics:

You were my conscience
So solid now you're like water
And we started drowning
Not like we'd sink any farther
But I let my heart go
It's somewhere down at the bottom
But I'll get a new one
And come back from the hope that you've stolen

I'll stop the whole world, I'll stop the whole world
From turning into a monster, and eating us alive
Don't you ever wonder how we survive?
Well, now that you're gone the world is ours

I'm only human
I've got a skeleton in me
But I'm not the villain
Despite what you're always preaching
Call me a traitor
I'm just collecting your victims
And they're getting stronger
I hear them calling, and calling

I'll stop the whole world, I'll stop the whole world
From turning into a monster, and eating us alive
Don't you ever wonder how we survive?
Well, now that you're gone the world is ours

Well, you thought of straight big solutions
But I like the tension
And not always knowing the answers
But you're gonna lose it
You're gonna lose it

I'll stop the whole world, I'll stop the whole world
From turning into a monster, and eating us alive
Don't you ever wonder how we survive?
Well, now that you're gone the world

I'll stop the whole world, I'll stop the whole world
From turning into a monster, and eating us alive
Don't you ever wonder how we survive?
Well, now that you're gone the world is ours

[ From: http://www.metrolyrics.com/monster-lyrics-paramore.html ]

My Music Life

This is really trivia, since I've got nothing interesting to share this time. (so sorry 'bout that).

I listen to a bunch of genres, including rock, pop, punk, and Indonesian music.

What I love most are their songs:

1

Solo Boy and Girl

 -1- I love soloists' songs

I love Avril Lavigne since her debut (that's when I was a junior high student). Her strong characters and sense of punk-ness is awesome. So far, I really like her 'What The Hell' single.

Saykoji is one of male hiphop singers in Indonesia. His songs are fun to hear and his lyrics are funny to listen.

BoA? She's a great artist and dancer coming from Korea and rises in Japan. I love her dance performances, and her singing style as well.

Shandy Sondoro is the only one jazz singer i love (he's from Indonesia). Well, I love Sara Bareilles, too. But Shandy is really something.

Lily Allen is fun to listen because her sense of humor in her lyrics. I love every piece of songs of her.

And finally we got Afgan! I bet he'll be a rising world singer someday. I mean, his voice are SKILL (totally). He never fail to amaze me and he never does any lip sync. His voice is pure 99% SKILL without lip-sync-ing. That's TRUE!

2

Band and Boy Band

-2- Band and Boy Band

I Also love band - and boy band, just like the other normal girls out there. :P

What I love most is Linkin Park. I love them purely because of their songs. They seldom make a love story or whatsoever cliche songs in their singles. They are really mature and creative. Despite the pros and contras because of their latest album (A Thousand Suns), this is just  a proof that they never decease to explore anything new.

Second is Backstreet Boys, yeah they are a boy band. But so what? Since I need a little adjustment in my mood, so their songs are entertained me as well.

And the last is Hoobastank. I wonder where are them now? They hardly seen on TVs.

3

GIRL in a BAND

 -3- Girl in a BAND

I don' know why but I really LOVE punk songs sang by a GIRL in a BAND (not a GIRL BAND). I thought they are really powerful to be a vocalist in a mixed band. Because the hardest part of being a girl in a band is, hardness to gain boy fans. But they're not just that. They are ROCKS. And both girl and boy love 'em.

Hey Monday is rocks, I love their 'Candles' and 'Wondergirl'. And they also come to Indonesia in April although I didn't see them - unfortunately.

Paramore is EVERYTHING in my music life. Yes, I didn't lie because their songs are ROCKS!! I always love punk but their song is really fun to listen. They announce in their web that they will be in a gig on August 2011 in Indonesia. Can't wait! But I probably won't see their gigs since that month will be Ramadhan - yes, I'm a Moslem.

Vierra comes from Indonesia. Their songs are classic. And I love the piano played by their primary composer, Kevin Aprilio. His mom is a singer and his dad is a composer. Well that's epic.

The last is Do As Infinity, a pop band from Japan. They once break apart but now they all together again. Making singles and catchy gigs. I hope they would like to come to Indonesia, soon.

About Linkin Park

I really mad of them:

Hail to their new album: A Thousand Suns. Despite the change (slightly change, if I must say) in their style, over all, it's just good for me. The Messenger is one of my favourite song in this album. The lyrics just punch my mind. Gee.. here it is:

where life leaves us blind
love keeps us kind

 Sweet don't you think?