Thank You Love

I’m currently immensely addicted to the Taiwanese soap opera 花樣少年少女 (also commonly known as the Taiwanese version of Hana Kimi). I actually watched the entire series last week (15 episodes, each over an hour long), and I’ve been listening to the soundtrack every chance I get. The show is so amazing, largely because I like the idea of the person you secretly love protecting you against all odds and secretly loving you back. It’s such a romantic concept, and I’m a hopeless romantic. Also, I love the main actors (they’re popular Taiwanese singers). Just watching this series makes me want to brush up on my Mandarin and visit Taiwan again!

If anyone’s interested, you can download the entire series subtitled in English from here. Awesome!

There’s a great song on the soundtrack that has beautiful lyrics. Actually, this describes multiple songs on the soundtrack, but in this case I’m referring to the song 謝謝愛 (Thank You Love) by Garden Sister (花園精靈). These are the lyrics (from Chinese Music Blog):

雨下好亂　半個夜晚　你不在身邊怎麼　晚安
yu xia hao luan; ban ge ye wan ni bu zai shen bian zen me wan an
The rain is falling heavily into the middle of the night; I cannot sleep as you’re not by my side

天好藍　要和你一起看
tian hao lan yao he ni yi qi kan
I want to watch the clear blue sky with you

起風時由你來温暖
qi feng shi you ni lai wen nuan
You are the one who gives me warmth when a wind blows over

心事簡單　一句說完
xin shi jian dan yi ju shuo wan
feelings from my heart are so simple that a simple sentence says all

要我們永遠不會　分開
yao wo men yong yuan bu hui fen kai
wanting us to never separate

有眼淚　也因為你燦爛
you yan lei; ye yin wei ni can lan
tears are present but they glisten for you

你微笑因為我盛開
ni wei xiao yin wei wo sheng kai
Your smile is because of me

要謝謝愛讓你　在我身邊守護我的未來
yao xie xie ai, rang ni zai wo shen bian shou hu wo de wei lai
I thank love for letting you stay by me and guard my future

有多少美麗奇跡　你手心里全都記载　好期待
you duo shao mei li qi ji ni shou xin li quan dou ji zai, hao qi dai
how many beautiful miracles, in the palm of your hand is where they are kept

要謝謝愛讓我　學會寬容學會體諒　關懷
yao xie xie ai, rang wo xue hui kuan rong, xue hui ti liang guan huai
I thank you for letting me learn generosity, respect and care

像陽光陪着大海　是平靜還是澎湃　都是愛
xiang yang guang pei zhe da hai shi ping jing hai shi peng pai dou shi ai
similar to how the sun will accompany the sea, whether it is calm or rough, it is still love

Finally, here’s a YouTube link to let you hear the song. Enjoy!

I’m Not That Shallow

A small rant: Why is it that just because I think all the guys in Star Trek are cute/hot means that’s the only reason why I liked the movie and why I want to see it again? I hate that assumption.

I’ve actually had to defend myself on this point before. Back during the boy band craze in the ’90s, I really liked (and still do like) the songs from Backstreet Boys, ‘N Sync, etc. Westlife is still one of my favorite groups. Yes, I admit to liking boy bands. But no matter how hard I try to convince otherwise, people always assume that I only like boy bands because I think the guys are cute. As if it’s unfathomable to actually like the music that boy bands produce.

Yes, I’m gay. Yes, I think the guys in movies are cute, but watching eye candy only goes so far. If a movie has a terrible story or bad acting, I wouldn’t be willing to spend my hard earned cash on watching it multiple times, even if it has a really hot guy in it. I can be shallow when I want to be, but I’m not that shallow.

Anyway, this rant has been brewing in my head for a couple days ever since I had a conversation with a friend about wanting to see Star Trek again. Honestly, I don’t have the intense urge to see a movie in theatres multiple times very often. The last time I had such an urge was back in 2003 for my favorite movie, The Return of the King. I watched it six times in theatres. That’s 21 hours of epic awesomeness.

I don’t think I’m willing to spend the money to see Star Trek quite so times in theatres (though I’m definitely buying it on Blu-ray when it comes out), but the fact that I’m even comparing it to The Return of the King at all shows how much I liked it. I hate when people think I’m so superficial that I would only like a movie because of the actors. I don’t deny that I think Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Anton Yelchin, and John Cho are all very good looking. But the triumph and tragedy in the story are what keep playing back in my head, not the faces of cute/hot actors.

Reverie Sound Revue

While I was living in Canada, I started listening to a Canadian band called Reverie Sound Revue (I may have met one of the band members). Their music was featured in a couple Canadian TV shows, including Radio Free Roscoe, a teen show that I was shamelessly watching in grad school. I have a copy of their EP from 2003 (though I got a hold of it in 2006), and it’s great!

You may have heard of them, you may not have. Either way, I like them, and they have a new long-awaited album coming out in June! Here is the music video to their single “An Anniversary Away.” Enjoy!

If you think this shameless plug for RSR sounds out of the blue, it’s because I got a Facebook message today about their new album. Yes, I’m part of their fan group on Facebook. Yay!

Downtime

I’ve been listening to a lot of Jo Dee Messina on my iPod lately. Most of her biggest songs have upbeat tempos and optimistic lyrics, so listening to her sometimes lifts my spirits a little.

I’m currently addicted to one song called “Downtime” that sounds a little like what I’m going through nowadays. I try to think of it whenever I get down about my work crush. Here are the lyrics:

I haven’t been myself these days according to friends
I tend to lose a part of me when my heart is on the mend
I’ll be alright it’s safe to say
‘Cause just like your love this is only a phase

Oh, I’ve been on this road a time or two, it’s nothing new
I’ll get on my feet and over you
I tell myself that everything will be just fine
I’m just going through a little downtime

Some might think I’ve gotten caught up in heartache’s aftermath
But your memory’s taken second to a good book and nice long bath
I must admit it threw me at first
But I’m convinced I’m over the worst

Oh, I’ve been down this road a time or two, it’s nothing new
I’ll get on my feet and over you
I tell myself that everything will be just fine
I’m just going through a little downtime

Time is meant to play the part
In taking care of broken hearts

Oh, I’ve been down this road a time or two, it’s nothing new
I’ll get on my feet and over you
I tell myself that everything will be just fine
I’m just going through a little downtime

I’m just going through a little downtime

New Found Glory

I went to my first rock concert last night. My friend (who I’ve known since junior high) had an extra ticket to see New Found Glory at the Avalon and invited me to go.

The music was not as deafeningly loud as I thought concerts were supposed to be, but there was definitely a lot of energy in the place. There were a lot of people in the mosh pit who started jumping around and pushed themselves into people with reckless abandon. I’m sure it’s all part of the concert experience, but I didn’t really like getting pushed around and getting other people’s beer on my shirt.

Besides the crazy people, the concert was great. I really like New Found Glory; they put on a great show. But at my next concert, I probably won’t stand in the mosh pit.

Something Worth Leaving Behind

I heard a really good song today from Lee Ann Womack. It’s not new to me, but I hadn’t heard it in years. It’s called “Something Worth Leaving Behind.”

With my recent struggles of finding a suitable career and feeling like I’m wasting time not making enough money, the lyrics in this song really made me think. Of al the things I want in life, what’s actually going to be worth leaving behind? What will give my life meaning?

I’m pretty sure whatever career path I end up on isn’t going to give my life meaning, or at least I can’t count on that. There must be something more that I can do to make my life more worthwhile.

Anyway. The link to the YouTube video is here. Here are the lyrics to “Something Worth Leaving Behind.”

Hey Mona Lisa, who was Leonardo?
Was he Andy Warhol?
You were Marilyn Monroe
Hey Mozart, what kind of name is Amadeus
It’s kinda like Elvis
You gotta die to be famous
I may not go down in history
I just want someone to remember me

I’ll probably never hold a brush
that paints a masterpeice
Probably never find a pen
that writes a symphony
But if I will love then I will find
That I have touched another life
And that’s something
Something worth leaving behind

Hey Midas you say you have the magic touch
That even all that shiny stuff
Someday is gonna turn to dust
Hey Jesus it must have been some Sunday morning
In a blaze of glory
We’re still tellin’ your story
I may not go down in history
I just want someone to remember me

I’ll probably never dream a dream
and watch it turn to gold
No, I’ll never lose my life
to save another soul
If I will love then I will find
That I have touched another life
And that’s something
Something worth leaving behind

Hey baby see the future that we’re building
Our love lives on in the lives of our children
And that’s something
Something worth leaving behind

Grand Ole Carrie

Carrie Underwood was the most recent inductee into the Grand Ole Opry! I don’t really know that much about the Opry (I read a little bit about it on Wikipedia), but I know that becoming a member is one of the top honors among country music.

Here’s a (fairly long) clip of her induction:

Hooray for Carrie!

Entrapment

I hate that I love this song.

This isn’t a music video (it doesn’t exist, I think), but it’s an easy way to get the song on here. The song is “See You Again” by Miley Cyrus (also known as Hannah Montana). I don’t really like her, but I liked the song before I knew she sang it. It’s entrapment!

So Small

Nothing gets me out of a crappy mood like upbeat music. I had the day off today, and I drove around to run some errands. While in the car, I listened to Carrie Underwood’s second album, Carnival Ride. I really became a fast fan! She’s amazing!

One of the songs that I’m really addicted to (besides Ever Ever After, which sadly isn’t on the album) is “So Small.” The music video for the song (go here) is really good too.

As a side note, the guy in the video is Christian Kane, who played Lindsey in Angel. Yay Angel!

I’m Gonna Miss Her

I was waiting for a package to arrive all day, but I had to go to work. I checked the tracking number online after I got home, and the delivery was attempted only ten minutes after I started working. If only it came just a little earlier! I’ll have to wait until tomorrow.

To fill the rest of this post, I’m going to link to another Brad Paisley song. His song “I’m Gonna Miss Her” was the first song I ever heard from him. The lyrics and video are hilarious! The best part is that his wife in the music video (Kimberly Williams) ended up becoming his wife in real life!