You know how it is. You feel tired. Tired and groggy. Memories of food, presents and more food dance in your head.
Oh God, it was so much fun! I love spending time with my family, we always have such a laugh when we're together. I did the same as most of you on Christmas day, woke up, ate, opened presents and then I needed a little lie down again after all the food I ate! Yup, that's right.
I spend a lot of time relaxing on the couch and watching all the Christmas movies and of course eating again. Unbelievable. Now I'm so tired (phew I’m even tired writing that!).
100 years ago the star was born. Edith Piaf, also known as "The Little Sparrow".
She was (well, she's still) one of the most iconic performers of France. Her music is timeless. She sang simple songs with enchanting melodies that spoke to everyone.
The Bibliothèque Nationale de France organized an exhibition dedicated to Edith Piaf to celebrate her birth centenary. During this special exhibition people could see hundreds of letters, concert posters, films, photos and recordings connected with her. Even her little black dress which is the emblem of Edith Piaf, the dress she often wore on stage. Joël Huthwohl, the head curator said: "This exhibition is also an opportunity to understand who Edith Piaf really was.The magic of Piaf is her repertoire that touches everyone."
Her music became an indelible part of the soundtrack for a post-war generation. Her songs reflected the difficulties in her own life. She should be remembered for not only her iconic singing voice but for using the obstacles she faced in her life to create her own fame. And I'm sure that everyone knows at least one her song. Her songs are now classic ones such as "La vie en rose", "Milord", "Je ne regrette rien", "L'hymne à l’amour", "Padam, padam", "Sous le ciel de Paris".
One of the most legendary voices of the past 100 years - Frank Sinatra.
He was one of the most acclaimed crooner of music history and yesterday it was 100th anniversary of his birth.
Frank had the best of both worlds and he is, in my opinion, fully deserving of the title of the best singer of all time.
Without question he was the greatest singer of all time! His voice was flawless. Just as Elvis was known as ‘The King’ and James Brown as the ‘Godfather of Soul’, Sinatra was known as ‘The Voice’ and "The Main Event"
It's a shame that the youth of today truly don't know what good music is or good movies for that matter. You could take a couple of turds and put them in front of a blue screen and it becomes a blockbuster. Music has become unimaginative and remakes. No originality anymore. It's all degrading and lip synched.
And Frank was more than just a singer, he was an entertainer of the highest class. He was the one who brought the entire idea of popular music.
Perfect phrasing, diction, rhythm, in addition to both a superb romantic sound and sophistication. What more can I say? He defines great singing, and all great singers are compared to him.
I really don't like, even if I don't care at all ( I really don't), when people act friendly and then talk shit about me behind my back. People who aren't honest (even if they say that they are) with you up front. Or people who pretend to be your friends and then talk shit about you. I mean, why? What is your problem? Why are you doing this? Is it really that hard to say it to someone's face? Is it my life that interesting for you? Believe me, it's better to tell something in someone's face than to hear that from the other person. (especially from the completely stranger).
And also, there is no worse feeling in the wolrd than finding out you have been lied to. Actually, the worst feeling is being lied to by someone you trust.
Second thing.
If you have to struggle with some problems, why can't you be upset? Because people say that? You can't put a smile on your face and make yourself that you're happy, even if you really want that. Sometimes things just happen and you can't do anything to avoid some of them (especially bad ones). It's something normal that you will not be smiling when you have to struggle with some problems. But yeah, some of us doesn't understand that at all.That's madness. Sometimes even your friends ( which it's pretty horryfying) don't understand that you are upset. YOU HAVE TO BE HAPPY. No matter what. If they are super happy, you have to be happy with them, no matter what. But, let me tell you one thing. I don't have to. And if your friends don't understand or don't want to understand that and they are starting to , well, it's something wrong.
Some of you can think "Oh God, what is it about? What's her problem? It seems that she has nothing interesting to write, she just complains about some things." Well, for me, these little things are pretty important. Everybody has different priorities in their life.
Frida Kahlo is probably the most famous female artist in the world, right? There are thousand ways to admire her. For some people, she's a symbol of Mexican feminism, others love her frankness of expressing herself.
For me, Frida is an excelent example of facing the pain and the difficulties in life. She became a painter after a near fatal accident. The more I learned about her life, the more incredible Frida became in my eyes. Frida Kahlo was a courageous and brave woman. Though she had been through numerous pains and suffering, she has continued to do what she loved to do, which was paint. She was always exploring herself and who she was in the world. Her identity as a woman and as Mexican is undeniable in her work. She expounded her dignity and, without any doubt, had a talent to express strong feelings in a fascinating way.
Her paintings are mostly self-portraits, and it is a testament to her genius that she was able to say something in so many different ways with that one subject. She said, "I paint myself because I am so often alone. Because I am the subject I know best".
I find the work of Frida very intense and very, very personal.
By painting herself, Frida painted her life, her emotions. Her portraits speak about love, despair, loneliness, pain. Frida's life was an open book for those who admired her artistry. Her work also expressed a love of nature and animals and ambivalence toward capitalism. She had a difficult life but produced some of the finest paintings ever created by Latin American painter.
"Amy" - it's a film that makes you angry and sad about losing Amy Winehouse so early. When she died in 2011, she left behind just two albums: "Frank" and my favourite, "Back to Black" which, without a doubt, is one of the most amazing albums of the 21th century. Every single song on this record is written with emotion and sung with brilliance.
Whether you love her music, "Amy" is a biographical documentary about one and only, Amy Winehouse, which maybe it's not a knockout but it's still worth seeing.
Asif Kapadia, the director, reconstructs the life of a woman whose reputation became the sum total of her most public sins.
Kapadia reconstructs every step of her journey toward becoming a celebrity that she even admitted she wasn't ready to be. ( she said: "I don't think I'll be famous. I don't think I could handle it, I think I'd go mad.")
Kapadia assembles a portrait of Amy Winehouse that's not just surprising in its coherence, but how it illustrates her consistency of character.
Amy Winehouse was a true musicial artist. Throughout her work, she literally poured her heart into her music. The songs are the key - and "Amy" make you realise they always were. Winehouse's music was intensely autobiographical. Kapadia runs the lyrics on the screen, quietly drawing attention to the many contact points between her life and art.
Whether she was goofing around with friends, singing, spending time with her family, she was always herself, always feeling the truth of the moment she was.
"Amy" depicts her as an artist intent on putting her whole self into the song she wrote and as someone who was always frank and honest.
Despite what many people think, she did not glorify drugs and abuse. She worked really hard. She was constantly searching to better heself.
The world is shocked because of the terrorist attack in Paris. I was planning to post something on the blog today, but the appalling, tragic events in Paris last night have completely taken the wind out of my sails. I'm shocked. What the hell is going on? It has got that out of control.
No one is hoping for this kind of tragic and horrific event in their land. And no one is expecting to lost their beloved one through an incident like this. It forces people to believe that an average person can't enjoy and be safe for a drink, a meal, or a sport, so the average person isn't really safe anywhere.
What happened in Paris is unbelievable. Although this is a tragic happening, make no mistake this is not the first attack and it definitely will not be the last...
So, I did absolutely nothing this weekend. I pretty much stared all weekend and watched some silly movies. It isn't something I enjoy. Seriously, I like to be constantly busy. But the truth is that I did NOTHING. Literally, I could not get motivated at all .And now, I'm just sitting and wondering what I should do first - something productive ( like prepare myself for tomorrow's "short test", or still absolutely nothing)
Oh God, why am I so bloody lazy?
P.S. I just saw a Christmas commercial. Also, I was out shopping yesterday and what did I see? Christmas decorations on the shelves. Oh hellz no. We still have like 47 more days!
Trick or treat? Halloween is upon us!
As we know, Halloween is celebrated by many cultures in many different ways, but the best known is the American way - a fun celebration where costumes are worn and children go trick-or-treating. In Poland is a quite new tradition, however it arouse many controversies,however, more and more Poles (especially young ones) celebrate Halloween.
But, int this post, I would like to share with you some information about "Day of the Dead" in México, more known as "Día de Muertos".
It is an interesting holiday celebrated in México during the days of November 1 and 2. We should know that they truly believe that the gates of heaven are opened at midnight on October 31, and the spirits of all deceased children (angelitos) are allowed to reunite with their families for 24 hours. In the evening of November 2nd, the spirits of the adults come down to enjoy the festivities. Mexicans visit cemeteries, decorate the graves and spend time there, in the presence of their deceased friends and family members. They also make elaborately decorated altars (called ofrendas) in their homes to welcome the spirits with offerings of special foods and things that they enjoyed when they were alive.
Mexican cempasúchitl (marigold) is the traditional flower which symbolize death
Catrina - one of the most popular figures of the Día de Muertos ( the Day of the Death)
It might look outrageously, but the Mexicans react to death with happiness and joy. They look at death with the same fear as any other culture, but in a different way - they reflect their fear by mocking and living alongside death. "La muerte es flaca y no puede conmigo" which means "Death is weak and she can't carry me."
And what about you? Would you prefer to celebrate these days as in México?
P.S.: Here you have a worthwile article about that day in which people talk about their own traditions.
I think it's hard to say that I have favourite one because I just love so many. It's really difficult to choose only one. But today I decided to write about one of my favourite musicians.
I discovered her music about 4 years ago (what a shame!) and since then, I love listening to her smooth rich voice almost everyday. I never get tired of listening to her because I never know what she’s going to do next.
Ella Fitzgerald - the Queen of Jazz, the First Lady of Song.
I think that she was an extraordinary vocalist and the finest female jazz singer of all time. Ella was the frst African-American woman who won a Grammy award (in total, she had own over 13 Grammys). She's inspired singers across genres and generation with her vocals.
Unfortunately, Ella had a rough life: she was abandoned by her father and abused by her stepfather. Her mother died young and then she was placed in an orphanage from which she ran away and lived on the street. She overcame many obstacles to achieve what she has achieved - especially discrimination and racism from people trying to keep her from reaching her goals. And when you listen to her music, you hear someone who sings about something that truly believes and means.
Without a shadow of a doubt, Ella was strong, smart, undeniably talented woman and she never let the vices that took through her career. The Queen of Jazz was considered as a daring, determined and hardworking person. And that's the other reason why I love Ella Fitzgerald.
She's no longer alive, but I truly believe that she's still alive in people's hearts.
So, my first post here. It's so exciting, isn't it?
But, to be completely honest, I have no idea what this blog is gonna be about. At least, I should already know that. For now, I know that this blog will not have, hmmm let's say "theme". I will be post about anything - my thoughts, my interests, let's say my everyday reality.
And now, ladies and gentlemen, some facts about me: I love music - and as I'm a music lover, I listen to everything ( literally! ), but also I do have my favourite, like jazz, because "it's all about jazz". :)
I like traveling too, foreign languages ( that's why I study Spanish ). I would describe myself as a talkative, curious and a little bit sarcastic person. So that's enough about me.
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