I told you guys to do research on Straight Edge so you can have some understanding of it, but I found some cool videos I want to share. I didn't want to explain due to lack of space. The first video is probably the only accurate news report Fox News has ever made. Hence, it's to the point. It features two of my favorite people in the world; Pat Flynn from Have Heart and Chris Wrenn, who's the owner of Bridge Nine Records. It also features In My Eyes, which are a pretty cool band. Second video is a trailer from an Edge documentary that was recently released. That shows a more personal side of Straight Edge. Have fun with all that. :)
P.S. I tried to upload the actual video instead of a link, but it was taking way too damn long. Sorry guys. :/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9QCOQ6KTik
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_c9v9G5-xs
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Thursday, November 25, 2010
take pride in decisions you've made!
Name of this entry is from the song "Decisions Made" by Champion. Annndd, it ties in because Champion is a Straight Edge band. I promised I would elaborate on what Straight Edge is and why I chose to become Edge. Before I start, I'd like to mention I finally listened to Champion's first album, Promises Kept, in completion today. Just want to say that a record hasn't given me chills in a very, very, long time.
Before you keep reading, make sure you do your homework and look up Straight Edge on the interwebs. Google is your friend, kids.
As I mentioned last entry, I became Edge this July. I'd known about it ever since I was a young kid getting into music, but had never actually considered it. Partially because I was still curious about alcohol, and also because I wasn't aware of the passion that Straight Edgers have. Now, you're all in for a treat, because I've never told anyone about the following events. This summer, a couple of weeks before I became Edge, I tried not only alcohol, but also cigarettes. That's very hard for me to say, and I'm telling you all because you're my friends. Remember how I said that Have Heart were the ones that taught me what Edge really is? Well, listening to both their albums, I realized that I didn't need those things to rise above my depression. Instead, it was dragging me down. I realized that to overcome all those bad feelings, I needed to stop depending on those things. Things that give you only a moment's satisfaction. I needed to focus. I don't remember the exact day I made that commitment, but I do remember it was one night that I was feeling totally lost. What helped me through was Straight Edge, and the millions of people involved in it.
Since I quit alcohol and cigarettes, I've felt so much better. It feels so great to know that my body isn't polluted. I also feel accomplished knowing that I overcame a really difficult time in my life without depending on any harmful substances/activities. I overcame it with my own strength, and of course, the help of the Lord. Straight Edge has also in a way helped me become more spiritual. I made that choice for myself, and also for my loved ones. I never have to worry about driving drunk, or drug overdoses, or lung cancer, or being taken advantage of, etc. Plus, too many of my heroes have passed away because of that crap.
Straight Edge is something that I personally am extremely thankful for, and I'm thankful to the people that taught me it. I hope you all had a happy Thanksgiving and that you had something like this to be thankful for. See ya next time.
Before you keep reading, make sure you do your homework and look up Straight Edge on the interwebs. Google is your friend, kids.
As I mentioned last entry, I became Edge this July. I'd known about it ever since I was a young kid getting into music, but had never actually considered it. Partially because I was still curious about alcohol, and also because I wasn't aware of the passion that Straight Edgers have. Now, you're all in for a treat, because I've never told anyone about the following events. This summer, a couple of weeks before I became Edge, I tried not only alcohol, but also cigarettes. That's very hard for me to say, and I'm telling you all because you're my friends. Remember how I said that Have Heart were the ones that taught me what Edge really is? Well, listening to both their albums, I realized that I didn't need those things to rise above my depression. Instead, it was dragging me down. I realized that to overcome all those bad feelings, I needed to stop depending on those things. Things that give you only a moment's satisfaction. I needed to focus. I don't remember the exact day I made that commitment, but I do remember it was one night that I was feeling totally lost. What helped me through was Straight Edge, and the millions of people involved in it.
Since I quit alcohol and cigarettes, I've felt so much better. It feels so great to know that my body isn't polluted. I also feel accomplished knowing that I overcame a really difficult time in my life without depending on any harmful substances/activities. I overcame it with my own strength, and of course, the help of the Lord. Straight Edge has also in a way helped me become more spiritual. I made that choice for myself, and also for my loved ones. I never have to worry about driving drunk, or drug overdoses, or lung cancer, or being taken advantage of, etc. Plus, too many of my heroes have passed away because of that crap.
Straight Edge is something that I personally am extremely thankful for, and I'm thankful to the people that taught me it. I hope you all had a happy Thanksgiving and that you had something like this to be thankful for. See ya next time.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
because life is hard enough as it is
Yes yes yes, I know I wrote about Ceremony yesterday. Guess what? Today I'm writing about Have Heart. I'm sure you all remember that the title of this blog comes from one of their songs. I'm a HUGE fan of them. Their name explains it all. Everything they did was real. Like, their last show was unbelievable. Rumor is that after the last song, Pat Flynn(singer/songwriter) sat down on stage and passed around the microphone. People shared how Have Heart impacted their lives, and it went on for about 30 minutes. That's just like, damn. You don't see that in the mainstream. The shows were batshit insane. People had difficulty filming the shows because kids were always jumping around like damn kangaroos.
But I'm not here to talk of the bands history. I'm here to talk about the effect they had on me. I should start with saying that they introduced me to Straight Edge(look it up on urban dictionary). Alright, you looked it up? I knew about Straight Edge for a looong time, and I had though about it. But I was unaware of the dedication and soul that a lot of those people had. Have Heart showed me that. Thus I became Edge this summer. I'll write more about it some other day. Anyway, Pat Flynn wrote a lot of spiritual lyrics. I don't mean religious, I mean like looking into your soul. He wrote about human strength and overcoming life's struggles. I don't think I could have overcome this summer's troubles without those lyrics. He also is partly responsible for me wanting to write better. His writing style is so damn classy. I guess what I'm getting at is that Have Heart showed me that hardcore could be beautiful. All music has the potential to be beautiful, as long as it is heartfelt. That's just one of the life lessons this band taught me. This shows that music can have impact, and can even help shape who you are, especially when you're a young kid and you don't know what to fucking do.
So, now it's lyric time. But I want y'all to know that I'm not a total hardcore kid or anything. I know I've been talking about it a lot lately. Truth is I've gotten into all sorts of stuff. I've just been taking a hardcore binge this week. See ya next time.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aaYMDKIqdX4
""goddamn", he said, "i promised myself i'd never feel this fucking way
again, this world has got me praying on my knees for one peaceful thought
in my mind, my stride, my life, my time is consumed with a thousand thoughts
flying free like a flock of birds with no direction or intention of finding home
its so hard to think, its so hard to change
when this world doesn't see you any other way
in this world, they choose to see me, they choose to see me
like a setting sun
so its up to me, i have to see me, i have to see me
like the rising one
in my days somebody told me that the rain would always come,
always come to wash away the pain
but nothing changes and this world still wants me down
wants me down on my knees praying in that rain
"born this way, die this way"
id rather die on my feet, than live on my knees
id rather die on my feet...so you can watch me,
watch me rise with the things we carry:
the loss, the scars, the weight of heavy hearts
so i say to the slaves of depression : carry on...
and sing the sweet redeeming song....
about living this life free and long
watch me, watch me, watch - me - rise", for miles and miles"
Monday, November 22, 2010
Ceremony!!
This is technically my first real post. I have no creative juices today. Totally braindead, maaaannn. Like totally. So I'm gonna write about Ceremony. They're a hardcore band from California's Bay Area. Y'all know I like a lot of hardcore, but I really like this band because of their creative sound. Most hardcore bands sound angry all the time, and that gets boring. Ceremony is angry, but has this sound that I in my head describe as suburban. The emptiness and boredom of grand suburbia. It's something I can really connect with, as it's one of my frustrations as well. Actually, when I first heard this band, I thought they were from down here. But then I remembered that all the suburbs are the same. Well anyway, I'm posting a few songs/lyrics. The dude, Ross Farrar, is one of my favorite lyricists. Dig it.
"Don't Touch Me"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tx3rCa8D_Zo
"Wretched feeling and feeling split
Gone into and around the back
I dont have any feelings, only some of servitude
Cringing, crying, awake
Dont look at me or anything
Volatile, simple minded, only sinking and deprived
You know you're a mistake
All of you feeling nothing but to take
Breaking fingers, needing splints
All of you, I dont like you, I dont need
Dont touch me you're sickening"
"The Doldrums(Friendly City)"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FtET027EFY
"Can you help me out of phantom bay?
This place is a vacancy stuck in figure 8
Where nothing ever happens
No ones ever late
So why? Tell me why? The dullness is filling me
I have to get away
Get this complacency out of me
Im my own figurehead in my own state
Why? Tell me why? The dullness is filling me
Hold my breath watch my mind sift away
As useless as compass in a hedge maze
Without a decision
Without a base
Why? Tell me why? The dullness is filling me
Living in the doldrums
Walking in the doldrums
Floating through the doldrums
Wandering the doldrums all day"
blogs are for chumps
So yes, this is my blog. I made this for all y'all, for my friends. Here I'll be sharing my own writings and some other people's works. Remember my old dA journals? Like that, but better. I hope you all enjoy.
--From Nazareth
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