Currently on my playlist, and definitely one of the best songs by the band, here’s Paid In Full by Sonata Arctica from Unia. Yes, I am taken over by the lyrics.

I was nowhere near ready when all it ended,
So I hope we could find a new day, cannot live without you

You gave me the chance, time and again in vain.
Now my feelings for you, every tear, every smile, paid in full,
Wrecked the chain, but no longer can I take the pain.

It’s hard for me to love myself right now,
I waited, hated, blamed it all on you.

Needed to be strong, yet I was always too weak.
So again only blamed myself for this state we are in.
I will take what you have for me, now it’s not too late,
Did you change? I did too. Love can grow from the last grain.

It’s hard for me to love myself right now.
I waited, hated, blamed it all on you.

I need you less and less every day,
Fix this moral decay, yet I’ve grown to love you even more.

My fault that you then turned another cheek.
You mouth the words, you’re not ready to speak.
You’re scared of me, although I never had a clue,
That I’d become so much stronger than you.

I will take what you have for me now if it’s not too late.
If you like I will leave, I will not miss the last train again.

It’s hard for me to love myself right now,
I waited, hated, blamed it all on you.
It’s hard for me to love your face right now,
I’m waiting, hating, needing, being me.

I need you less and less,
And every day leads us farther away from that moment…

It’s hard for me to hate myself right now,
Finally I’m understanding me.
One day we may have whole new me’s and you’s,
But first I need to learn to love me too.

This is also my instrumental phase. Have been listening to instrumental covers of my favorite songs, and original compositions. They’re breath taking. It just proves that sometimes words are never needed. I’m just going to put up the few I heard this morning, all by Immediate Music from their album Trailerhead, will put up other links later ’cause there are so many !! But before that, I MUST put up one of my all time favorite performances. It’s the G3 concert – with John Petrucci *swoons*, Steve Vai *applauds* and, of course, Joe Satriani *^m^* – in Tokyo and the song’s called Smoke on the Water *smiles and wishes she was there*

G3 – Live at Tokyo – Smoke on the Water *I’m wondering if I did post this earlier…not sure*

Serenata Immortale

Trial of the Archangel

Lacrimosa Dominae

Fides en Lucius Dei

Tagged: Fides en Lucius Dei, G3 concert, Immediate Music, Joe Satriani, John Petrucci, Lacrimosa Dominae, Serenata, Serenata Immortale, Smoke on the Water, Steve Vai, Trial of the Archangel ]]> http://srutsaragorn.wordpress.com/2009/11/22/immediate-music/feed/ 0 sruts http://srutsaragorn.wordpress.com/2009/11/21/metal-a-cappella/ http://srutsaragorn.wordpress.com/2009/11/21/metal-a-cappella/#comments Sat, 21 Nov 2009 17:20:59 +0000 Sruts http://srutsaragorn.wordpress.com/?p=634 ]]>

The holiday spirit is setting in!! Lights are up on trees, Christmas inflatables and other pretty green and red adornments are making their appearance all around, the temperature fluctuates between 5 Celsius and 10 Celsius with the promise of a snowy Thanksgiving. It’s the Christmas spirit, baby!! With Grandpa and Grandma set to be here, well in Atlanta, in less than twenty four hours, I feel a sense of satisfaction. Almost done with an entire semester of my master’s degree!! Three more to go!! I still have assignments, quizzes, presentations and finals to sit for – till the 14^th of December – but I’m in the mood to refresh my carols, go to winter concerts – a cappella preferably – pull on my wonderfully warm and soft red and black coat with golden buttons on it and make snow devils *yes, none of the usual angels for me…I’m going to replicate my Lucifer – or Damien as I would also like to call him – in snow…they get to be snow twins.*

Been working for a month now, and it’s pretty cool. Not as technical as I was used to, and definitely not so stiff with the deadlines – but that was an actual company, this is the electronic resources of a law school’s library – and it’s good for me. I get to work, things that I don’t know about but always wanted to try out, I get to be around books, I have a perfect schedule, and I get paid. It fits me perfectly. I’m no longer the lazy ass I was almost becoming, I’m on my feet from 7 to 11 everyday except weekends, and I get all my tasks done. Two more weeks of that, and then I’m off on my month long holiday!! Yay!!

So, another idea of a story came to me. It’s more of a rewriting of a previous idea which I typed out and deleted when I realized that it was nothing but a reflection of a book I read sometime back…but now it has been renewed and I’ve come up with a pretty good plot for it. Let’s see how that figures.

I survived a scare of deleting data. I think I may have chronicled it, not sure – the time when I lost some of my best work because my backup DVD got corrupted, and I’d formatted my hard drive. Well this time, it was 4 years worth of emails – many rather important ones. My Gmail account. Gosh! I did something I knew was not supposed to affect the mails in my folders, but when I looked in my Inbox, it was all gone! The usage still gave me the exact figure (percentage) but the number of messages was done to a hundred! I was stupefied! I cursed, silently, to eternity! I really thought I’d lost everything because none of the mails showed up even in my Trash! *Of course I haven’t mentioned what I actually did, because that would involve revealing some details which are better off in my head than in my public blog .* Let it just be known that it would’ve been an absolute disaster for me had I not realized that by clicking on the labels I had created for the messages I was able to view them, assuring me that I hadn’t deleted it from the server! I retrieved all of them and vowed to never again delete any message except those that were caught by the spam filter. I will not delete. Not at all. It’s not worth going through the fright again. I can’t stand it.

Oh! As far as my old/original/first novel goes, I got the perfect idea of how to make Ariel seem more like a simple human – make her hydrophobic. Neat, huh? It’s a twist I need to put in the plot, just to make it more humane, that she’s not perfect. Yeah. The ideas are flowing.

Now I shall move on to a different post, this one dedicated to the latest novel I have managed to finish reading.

Heard this awesome cover of Iron Maiden’s Fear of the Dark and it’s an a cappella group. They’ve done a spectacular job of it. Definitely cannot be put on par with the original – but then who can do it as Iron Maiden does it? – but I’m truly impressed. Really. Metal and a cappella. Very very good job.

Van Canto with Fear of the Dark, an Iron Maiden’s a cappella cover

I hadn’t realized how much I missed working till I sat in front of the computer two morning ago and looked at code. I loved the feeling it gave me!! I felt somehow complete. Wholesome. That I was doing something productive after a two month hiatus. Kind of the same feeling I had when I started attending classes and doing homework after a year. I’m enjoying the five hours of work every morning. At least that way I don’t oversleep, since I’ve to have breakfast, catch the shuttle to the downtown campus to be at work at 9 am sharp. I also get my daily dose of exercise when I walk some seven blocks to the train station to come back to school, have lunch, study, do homework, have dinner, attend lectures… by the time my day is done, I’m bone tired so I’m out by eleven on most nights and I end up getting a good eight hours of sleep <reduced from my earlier requirement of 9 hours>. And it’s just been three days.

I read Elizabeth Gaskell’s North & South, after realizing that Richard Armitage played a role in the BBC adaptation. I loved the book. The characters *sigh John Thornton*, the storyline, the love story… And I just rented the DVD as well, so I’m quite a happy camper watching Mr. Armitage put life into Thornton so beautifully I almost cried – I still have the last two episodes to watch. He reminds me so much of Colin Firth’s portrayal of Mr. Darcy – read my previous post for that rant – that I need to talk about it with someone who understands my obsession of English gentlemen from the previous centuries. He’s so absolutely deliciously hot! *insides melt* M and I – I need you guys to watch/read North & South !! PLEASE !!

I’ve begun making a list of the things I would like from home since my grandparents will be here for Thanksgiving !! *favorite corduroy trousers included* I’m planning to go on a music buying rampage as soon as I get my first salary at the end of this week or the next… Bought two pairs of awesome black gloves for winter… boots still pending…

*drools…Richard Armitage…he should play a vampire in the 18th century… I would actually swoon and fall off my chair if he did…actually*

Here’re a couple of songs currently on my playlist which have been in-sync with my mood of the past few days.

Ayreon’s Day Eighteen: Realization – the music is simply captivating

Ayreon’s Day Eleven: Love – the chorus and the personification…

Dream Evil’s The Chosen Ones from the album Dragonslayer – it’s catchy… stays within my metal boundaries well enough for me to enjoy the vocals, lyrics and the arrangement

Here’s my musical update for the current phase I’m going through. This time around it’s Apocalyptica. Them guys with the cellos fusing the orchestral and classical elements to create the bombastic metal sound which makes them unique and damning-ly addictive.

Starting things off, the sound with which they first rose to fame, an instrumental version of Metallica’s Nothing Else Matters. The only thing missing is James Hetfield’s voice, but it still is awesome.

One of their more recent songs – I Don’t Care featuring the aggressively brilliant vocals of Adam Gontier of Three Days Grace.

The musical elements of this piece just blow my mind. It’s perfect.

S.O.S. (Anything But Love) feat. Cristina Scabbia of Lacuna Coil

The new one by Kamelot – and my first post from Chicago !!! Woohooo !! A landmark has been reached here people !!

I will go into the details in a while, after I move in to my on-campus room maybe… – which is tomorrow… hopefully I don’t get overwhelmed by classes Monday onwards… Anyway, enough of the skittles. Here’s Love You To Death by Kamelot from the album Ghost Opera!

30 effing games, spectacularly played 5 sets, all in the course of crowning one of the greats of the games of tennis. I was sure Federer would win it in the end, but Andy Roddick played so well that at times I was actually wishing he would win. He deserved to win but that final forehand of his just sealed Federer’s magnificence on the court. It was a proud moment, and my heart went out to Roddick. He’s worked so well this year, and that final was a perfect chance for him, but he missed it by a whisker. Brilliant players, both. Federer just had lady luck on his side. 16-14. Marvellous set, that last one. An hour and a half of play for that. And it might’ve gone on had it not been for Roddick’s mishit.

Woah! Anyway, Christiano ‘smirking/diving’ Ronaldo has left the Premier League – Real’s gain becomes ManUtd’s loss, but it’s better not to have a player who wants to play for another club – but for 80 million pounds… ok, I’m just glad he’s not around the Premier League anymore. He’s my cousin’s problem now – she hates him and he’s in Real Madrid now – and she loves Kaka. *she also like Lleyton Hewitt and Andy Roddick – but fully supported Roddick through the Wimbledon*

Have this ‘Things To Take To College’ list – my own – and there are these odd items that keep appearing on it, important stuff but odd. I can take three suitcases worth of things – excluding the two bags I can carry as hand baggage – and it’s rather distressing to know that I will have to leave behind a lot of things I’ve never so far been without. It’s hard. Clothes are okay, but I’ve a good collection of coats and shoes and I would hate to leave behind any of those. Well, come to think of it, clothes…yeah there are those particular pairs of jeans and shirts that I love…oh my. With the weight of my check-in baggage being 23×3 (=69) kilograms there isn’t much I can do. But that’s enough, I guess. I will be travelling to Atlanta on any and every 3+ day weekend I get…I’ll be fine I suppose.

One of my friends treated me to stories of blood and gore and somehow that stuck with me and I found myself obsessing over Don’t Say A Word by Sonata Arctica. Awesome song, amazing vocals, brilliant solos, and creepy lyrics – that, by my interpretation of the song, don’t know about you. Here be the lyrics as far as I could make out with a little help from a lyric birdie as well. If your taste in music be the same or close to mine *basically a lot of noise…metal – any sub genre of*, then you’ll like this one, really. Play it nice and loud.

 I am your poison candy gram, the love that’s meant to fade away

Vade retro, alter ego Move aside I’m choking on this life

I think I tolerate your hate as long as you’re afraid

All I wanted was to be with you and suffer everyday

Under the moon I hold a wake for a promise torn

Mortally wounded, feelings sheltered me

Once again my shadow will enter your life

Time to walk with me the last mile

I read a book about a man, a love, a woman, how they died

How I was waved aside, listen how the headless doves cry

I truly see a madman in the mirror when I’m weak

I spent a year in love before I realized it’s me

Open your blue eyes tell me that you love me, whore

Make me believe it, oh I know you’re lying

Broke the vow I thought you made, my angel, why?

Could I let you wait out the night?

Mother always said, “My son, do the noble thing.

You have to finish what you started, no matter what,

Now sit, watch and learn.

It is not how long you live, but what your morals say.

Cannot keep your part of the deal, so don’t say a word,

Don’t say a word.”

It won’t be long now love, like mist I slowly fill the room

I place a black candle on your chest, the path of night is manifest

I never wanted us to end up in this catatonic phase

It wasn’t me who ran away, you made me stray

Open your blue eyes tell me that you love me, whore

Make me believe it, oh I know you lied

Broke the vow I thought you made, my angel, why?

Settling the score we pass the twilight

Mother always said, “My son, do the noble thing.

You have to finish what you started, no matter what,

Now sit, watch and learn.

It is not how long you live, but what your morals say.

Cannot keep your part of the deal, so don’t say a word,

Don’t say a word.”

Strawberry blonde your stranglehold on my heart is bound to end

I suppose life, sometimes, it doesn’t go the way it was meant

Though you never where a believer, I assure you I won’t die before you

You read the book now, the part ‘ashes to ashes, dust to dust’

Short is the flight of this little starling, love sounds familiar, but the emotion escapes me

I will carpe the diem while it’s still here, and see how the fear of death becomes her.

We had it all so sweet, made for me, you, indeed

Big secret, small the lie, don’t cry for me oh argentite

No word you say tonight can make this be alright

I’ll help you follow through, remember this – pacta sunt servanda

The wounds are too deep

I need to keep the scars to prove there was a time

When I loved something more than life

Unlike the last time here I now have the means and a will sincere

Your knight is no where near

Unfortunately for you this makes me your God

Closing your blue eyes don’t ever say you love me, whore

You never meant a word, I know you lied

When there is life, there is despair, indulge me now

And stay alive this night, I promise you the end before the first light arrives

Mother always said, “My son, do the noble thing.

You have to finish what you started, no matter what,

Now sit, watch and learn.

It is not how long you live, but what your morals say.

Cannot keep your part of the deal, so don’t say a word,

Don’t say-”

Mother always said, “My son, do the noble thing.

You have to finish what you started, no matter what,

Now sit, watch and learn.

It is not how long you live, but what your morals say.

Cannot keep your part of the deal, so don’t say a word,

Don’t say a word!”

Counting down days to the time when my Dad will finally be transferred back home has just begun. J Oh yeah!! My Poppy’s coming back!! <I address my father as Dad, Father, Poppy, Vater and you may laugh all you want. It’s my Dad. I will address him the way I want. He calls me Dot – short for daughter or Princess> After three years in the place that is known for its history, it is with relief that he will return. It was way too inaccessible for my liking – the only mode of transport I never used to get there being ships – considering the distance of travel is roughly 1000 miles. Yes. Tousand. Drei nulls. I still went there four times in the past two years. And I’m planning to pay one last visit when my Dad comes back, if everything else goes on ok, that is. He might be back as early as the last week of this month!!

Dimmu Borgir and Judas Priest for this week.

Got into an argument – with a person whose knowledge of metal music is stunted at the song Nothing Else Matters - as to whose voice I adore most <not being judgmental here, but this person goes blank when I say Led Zeppelin – so I’m not really going to relish an argument involving singers – any genre>. I drew up a list after that and came up with Michael Kiske, Jorn Lande and Roy Khan as inspirations for my singing. The greatest/best metal singers are different and many, but these three men and their voices have me in a daze. I can close my eyes and listen to them any time of the day and never tire. Be it a slow paced song or an extremely fast one, it’s the power in their voices that I admire the most. Beautiful.

Angels & Demons is releasing next week. It’s probably the only book of Dan Brown’s that I can pick out to say “I liked it”. The others are good, Deception Point, Digital Fortress and The Da Vinci Code, but after the first two books they became a little too predictable – not the plot, which remains a nice twisting path, but the characters. I would’ve loved to catch the movie at home, at one of my favorite cinemas…but I’ve to be back at work next Thursday and there’s just one cinema here which plays English movies, and it’s an hour’s drive from where I live. Sad. Guess I’ll have to wait for the DVD or hope that it’s still playing when I go home next time.

It’s windy here, and rains a little bit, so the heat of the summer has reduced somewhat. <I still prefer home>

Know that gnawing feeling within you waiting to burst out at the slightest touch just because what you wanted to happen didn’t happen the way it was supposed to even after precautionary measures were taken and it happened in this elongated manner which simply tests every bound of patience and stretches your every sense like an elastic band waiting to snap? I’m there now.

It’s just blah! I can make sense of it, but the pent up frustration at this whole awful scenario that keeps juxtaposing itself with all that is maddening has got the little amount of patient sanity I’ve managed to muster in the twenty two years of my existence, and all I want to do right now is rip and tear away at something.

I’m not making sense. I know. I’m calm and collected in appearance right now. Inside, I am seething. LOTR helps a lot…cools my nerves, but I’m at Flotsam & Jetsam now…the part with the slower pace…I’ve got to try doing something more.

Jumpin’ fireflies.

I’m thinking. I’m not writing.

Dimmu Borgir and Avantasia are on my current playlist – two songs from the latter’s latest album are brilliant – The Scarecrow and The Toy Master – that the songs have two of my favorite singers is an added bonus – Jorn Lande and Alice Cooper.