May

Melbourne, Victoria, AUSTRALIA


Joined April 12th 2008

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84

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Recent Posts

When songs "stay" with you

May 24th 2009 05:55
For the few people who read my posts, it would be rather obvious to them that there are heaps of old songs that I love. Rock songs, dance songs, love songs...yep, many many songs.

Funnily enough, a song simply entitled "Stay" has in fact, stayed with me throughout the years. Released in 1992, the song was the biggest hit for The Shakespears Sisters. A dark, ethereal yet twisted ballad, that builds and builds to a simple plea for a lover to stay.

Twisted?? Yes, most definitely twisted. For halfway through this song, the pace and mood of the song picks up. It introduces the vocals of Siobhan Fahey, adds an element of mystery and another dimension to the song. Is it a fight between two women for the heart of one man? Or is it about escape from a less than ideal relationship?

The idea that it is a love triangle is further fuelled by the music video that still creeps me out to this day. On the whole, it's a lovely video. But again, halfway through the song when Siobhan appears....creepy.

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Melodic Punk

April 3rd 2009 11:24
I hate being repetitive, but it is one of those things were repetition aids retention of knowledge. Besides, if there is a chance that you are reading this post, but have never read my posts before, it won’t feel repetitive at all.

I am a lover of pop music. I like to extend the word pop, and say popular music, as the word pop has certain connotations with it. Not altogether untrue, those connotations. However, I feel they do not convey the whole story in my case. Popular music, no matter what genre they come from, is always associated with a degree of commercialism. Something that your lover of, say, punk music will reject with as much disenchantment as possible.

I know nothing about the different genres of music, except to separate them into the very broad categories of pop, rock, dance and R&B. For example, I learnt the other day that there is a sub genre of rock known as psychedelic rock. What the hell is that?... I don’t care, because Coffin Love, from Sydney psychedelic rock act The Dolly Rocker Movement is kind of good.

If there is one aspect of music I can appreciate, it is melody. That is why I was so happy to learn that there was something called melodic punk. I cannot say that I am now into punk music, because Paramore are hardly a straight punk band. And even if I do say so myself, being a huge fan of one pop-punk band hardly makes you “into punk music”. But I digress…

I can’t get my head (or ear) around the seemingly obligatory screaming rage and angst in punk music. But I can appreciate melody, loud guitar riffs, fast drum beats and tempo changes. Just a few elements that generally make songs catchy.

Melodic punk is a tag that has been applied to Sydney punk band Lungs. I heard their song “Ghosts v Robots, Robots Win” on Triple J, and thought, “Hmmm, for a punk song, it’s surprisingly catchy and melodic.” A visit to their MySpace page (which you can read here) thankfully showcases more songs from their current EP that are just as good.

So after reading this spiel, you could be thinking, “This person knows absolutely nothing about punk music.” And you’d be right. I do know nothing about punk music, or psychedelic rock or garage rock or any other music genre that’s not “commercial”. I only know what I like.

And I liked that song. I am a song person after all, not a band person.

So either my tastes are evolving (highly likely and the sensible answer) or all these so-called underground bands are suddenly more commercial in their style (highly unlikely and the stupid answer).

Should it worry these bands that suddenly, their music is appealing to someone like me?

No, because before they can say anything, their true fans would’ve torn me to pieces for daring to say I like punk music (which I don’t…at least not yet…in general anyway…) and putting their EP next to my Delta Goodrem CD.

Besides, the minute the screaming becomes too much, the volume is coming right down.
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This is how EVERY performance should be.

This is how the crowd should be at EVERY performance.

Okay, so there are some exceptions. Katie Noonan would rock in a very different way, and her audience would show their appreciation in a very different way.

But you get the idea.

It’s the type of thing that makes you wish you were there.

I give the The Presets – My People.


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Comforting music - Someone So Much

March 20th 2009 11:09
There is too much music out there.

Some of it is so brilliantly inventive, it blows me away with its unique sound and leaves me struggling for words to try and describe it. Then there are songs that to the common music listener, such as myself with no music training, it sounds like any other song. Yet it still blows me away with its unique sound and leaves me struggling for words to try and describe it


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My eccentric muse

March 8th 2009 23:22
Eccentric is good.

Many people in history have been branded as eccentric, and you know what? Most of them were geniuses. To me, eccentricity is dominated by the feeling of surprise and the unexpected. It may have something to do with my low attention span, but unexpected elements in film, books and music keeps me riveted. Of course, the truly talented know what unexpected element to add, to contrast yet reinforce their art. Not alienate and ruin


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There is a particular phrase that is bandied about from time to time that irks the hell out of me:

“They all sound the same, don’t they


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Please listen to this - Rainbow

February 18th 2009 08:51
I am in a hurry here.

I like this song so much, I can't type fast enough (well, I can, but it also involves a lot of mistakes, which doesn't make for good reading, hence I'm using the backspace key a lot


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I am feeling annoyed with myself.

It’s a common feeling, one that usually stems from other peoples’ idiosyncratic behaviour. It’s not fair, really, when not only do I have to put up with my own pedantic tendencies, but to also factor in quirks from others? Too much


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The man who can't be moved...moving me.

January 24th 2009 09:16
A sigh.

Not necessarily a bad thing


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Kings of Leon: Revelry

January 12th 2009 08:56
I’m on a mission.

It wasn’t intentional, but ever since I heard “Revelry”, the third single from Kings of Leon’s “Only by the Night”, something has been bugging me


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Recent Comments

Comment by May
on Kings of Leon: Revelry

June 21st 2009 05:17
Hi Peter! Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment!

I had sort of thought that it did have a similarity to Imagine, but seeing as no one else agreed with me when i asked them, i thought i might've been wrong! So glad you came to the same conclusion!

Comment by May
on My eccentric muse

May 24th 2009 03:25
Hmmm Tracy, I am still rather fresh (so to speak) with my love of Muse, so I am yet to experience a time when i can't listen to them. Yes, there is lots of melodrama, but never too much!

Comment by May
on This is how EVERY performance should be.

May 24th 2009 03:22
Hi Tracy,

The Presets definitely rocked that performance...the rain made it extra extraordinary!

Comment by May
on Melodic Punk

April 5th 2009 04:20
Thank you katyzzz! Glad you enjoyed it!

Comment by May
on Break-Up Songs

March 31st 2009 12:29
There's something so addictive, yet ultimately unhealthy about a song where the lyrics let you wallow in the unhappiness and regrets associated with a breakup. Come on, the other ultimate karaoke song (apart from I will survive) is Careless whisper....

What about Piece of my heart by Janis Joplin?? That song sends chills down my spine.

Oh, and by the way, i don't like that Beyonce song.

Comment by May
on This is how EVERY performance should be.

March 29th 2009 08:32
Hey katy! Thanks for stopping by!

Yeah, my logo is an avatar that i use at various sites. Just one of those simple DIY from a website i can't remember.

Comment by May
on I will rip those Earbuds out of your head, iPod loser

March 25th 2009 09:46
On the one hand, i use an iPod. Quite a lot actually.

On the other hand, and as it should be most things, there is an etiquette that should be observed. Unofficial as it may be, but it's more just common sense and courtesy right?? So as an iPod user, i would still get annoyed at the things you are annoyed at. Because those things are just plain rude!

Comment by May
on Is It Cool to be a Dag?

March 23rd 2009 10:47
Would a dag by any other name smell as sweet?? Well, if their hygiene was any good, it wouldn't matter!
But i think that it is cool to be a dag, as it's just embracing who you are and being comfortable and confident with it....in the right medium.
And if that medium happens to be the information super highway, then who am i to fight it?

Comment by May
on My eccentric muse

March 10th 2009 10:48
Hey Lilla,

I'm a relatively new fan of theirs as well. I heard a few of their songs awhile ago, but only just really got into them in recent times. I am a huge fan of Supermassive Black Hole, and considering that Stephenie Meyer lists them as her muse, well who knows?? They may feature in the next few installments.

Comment by May
on Everything is Fine (Tout Est Parfait)

March 9th 2009 02:41
I am intrigued by all the good reviews this movie has had. It is not one i would generally watch, given my affinity for anything with a sunny disposition, but i might try and catch this one.

Just watching the trailer, and the man who screams: "Life sucks way more than you think". That line really stood out for me.