Got some for your stank ass father.

So it’s 8.32 pm right now. Day one of being eighteen (edit: holy fuck, just checked. It's actually day two). A lot of people look forward to this day, but honestly, I think it’s wasted on me. I hate birthdays… but that’s another thing entirely. Since I’ve deactivated facebook and have, therefore, detached myself from the world as I know it, I guess this blog will have to suffice (though I don’t really mind being detached, actually). I felt it was necessary to document this point in time. Right here, right now. Maybe I’ll look back and feel disgust at how horribly naïve, and just plain lame I once was. Maybe I’ll look back and think “fuck yeah, I was awesome then, and I’m awesome now.” I’m hoping things turn out to be the latter.

Since I’ve been reading bits of “High Fidelity” lately, I thought up a list. Here it is.


Monica’s top three musical influences of 2010

- Max Bemis/Say Anything
Even though I truly disgust fangirls more than anything else in the world (Yes you, in the skinny jeans from JayJays, converse and bandshirt combo. I’m looking right at you and hoping someone stomps your face in with the same pair of docs you’ve had your eye on, but could only really afford the cheap version at Target), I can’t help but let out a girly squeal and be swept away into fangirl hysteria whenever I see/hear of new material concerning this band. I’d even go as far to say that I wouldn’t mind marrying the bi-polar Jewish front man, faults and all. I wouldn’t mind. I’m angry, he’s angry. We have tones in common.

All fangirlish tendencies aside, I truly do love this band for reasons beyond idolizing their front man. It’s not just because their music “gets me”, even though it’s the biggest cliché ever and makes you a lame-o admitting it. But who can’t say at one point in time that they liked the music they liked because their music ‘got them’?

I don’t really find any members particularly attractive. I like the music for the music.
I love that it’s loud, angry, guitar driven. I love that they use bar chords. I love that they’ve got that trademark punk/pop/indie sound from the U.S, yet still manage to have their own unique sound (which I can’t really explain, but can pin it down to one source – the amazing man that is Max Bemis). They’re not pushing any barriers. They just sound so fucking good, and they make you feel good listening to them.

I’d give my right arm just to meet them, and I’d probably sell my soul to make music like theirs.

- Amy Winehouse
I’ve gotten into countless arguments justifying just why I love her. So it’s not all about the music this time. I just like her. I like that she’s a junkie. I like that that’s the first thing people point out when I say I love her music. I like that I can reply to them, “Well, why don’t YOU try getting five Grammies that coked up?”

I’ve always enjoyed people watching. When I’m not hating on the scum of the West, I find people interesting. I guess you would say I’m particularly drawn to Amy Winehouse BECAUSE she’s a junkie. I’ve read so many articles about her, listened to her records on repeat, and read her bio and was amazed. Beyond all that publicity, there’s a person,just like anyone else. She has parents. She has siblings. Grandparents, and so on.

I never got why people judged her for her habits first, then her music. Her music is amazing and honest to the point where it’s almost painful. That’s how they described the music process – painful. Amy Winehouse’s father said the ordeal of music composition to Amy was like ‘ripping off a limb’. The interviewer later corrected him by suggesting it was more like giving birth. Personally, I find the former to be true. Music is like ripping off a limb (for some, but not necessarily most). The best songs weren’t written by robots – they were written by people, real people burdened with a heart and emotions and the ability to articulate their anguish and joy and whatever else they feel through song.

Music is the outlet of emotion to which thousands of the disenfranchised, the hurt, the hungry, the poor, the happy, the old and they young pour their beings, the liquidized epitome of themselves into the melodies of countless tunes. Like ripping off a band aid, it’s a necessary part of the process of healing.

I’ve always admired Winehouse for having the courage to strip herself bare and share herself and all her flaws with the whole world.

- My guitar teacher, Chris
So technically, his influence has spilled over from the year before, but I still count him as a pretty significant influence. This is the guy who told me I could basically do anything if I set my mind to it. Obviously, I’d been told that time and time again – through my mother, other teachers, power ballads and Disney movies, but I’d never really thought “yeah! I could do that! I could TOTALLY do that!” and the feeling of bad-assery would stay for longer than a day or so. But every week, on a Friday, I’d come back from my tutelage wanting to absolutely demolish the song I was learning.

One of the first songs I’d learnt was some Kings of Leon song. I’d been mostly self-taught, used a pick to play bass, and learnt off of tabs and sometimes youtube videos. I’d done okay for myself up until then. I haven’t really realised how much I’ve learnt with Chris as a teacher up until now. I don’t use a pick to play bass anymore, I can (feebly) slap and pop, I know my way down the fretboard, I can (somewhat) sight read chord charts.

I never really took bass seriously until I began taking lessons, and realised there was more to learn than Fall Out Boy’s “Dance, Dance”. The man’s immense talent makes you want to weep – that’s how good he is.