So, I have spent a lot of time with my friends recently discussing life around us and what's going on in the world. Some of what is happening is upsetting and other things are really... random. Not funny per se but oddly amusing. I'd like to start with the sad things...
So, in the past few weeks there have been many random shootings throughout the U.S. I don't know anyone who has been directly influenced by these but I do have friends who have been indirectly effected. The shooting in the mall in Omaha reminded a lot of people of things like what happened at Columbine High and in Taber. Most directly, the shootings in the Colorado YWAM base and the church in the same city affected many of my friends who live on a YWAM base or are serving with YWAM throughout the world. To think that innocent people died for no purpose is sad... As is the case in situations such as these. I heard this song on the radio last week sometime, and while I had heard it before, I didn't think much of it until last week. The lyrics hit me pretty hard...
"Nobody Died" by The Wilkinsons
Back when I went to school
Kids smoked and swore and broke some rules
But I mean, didn't everybody, almost everybody
Fake I.D. bought a quart of beer
Had the devil's rock n' roll ringin' in our ears
And people said, "these kids have got a problem here"
I'm not saying that they weren't right
I've cried and tried to understand
What I'm seeing on the news tonight
I'll admit we were young and foolish
Totally irresponsible
But nobody died
We all made it home
Well, we'd fuss and fight and make mistakes
But life went on
There were broken hearts and dreams
And wounded pride
But nobody died
Kids got bullied, picked on and teased
But somehow we found our place in the scheme of things
And time heals everything, almost everything
When I look back on the things I've done
Some good, some bad, and I'm really sorry if I hurt anyone
Yeah, I'm really sorry if I hurt anyone
How we'd get from there to here
From Shakespeare and Math and Science
To shots ringin' in our ears
And what's it gonna take to get us back
Get us back to where
Nobody died
We all made it home
Well, we'd fuss and fight and make mistakes
But life went on
There were broken hearts and dreams
And wounded pride
But nobody died
Nobody died
Nobody died
It reminds me of a few things... When I was in H.S. there was a "Machete incident" across the street from the school which ended up on school property. Therefore, the school was involved. Throughout my years there, that was the most "major" thing that happened. A year or so after I left, someone got shot in one of the stairwells. It makes me wonder what changed in the years between... A video I love and a song which has meaning, much like the previous is this one...
"If Everyone Cared" by Nickelback
From underneath the trees, we watch the sky
Confusing stars for satellites
I never dreamed that you'd be mine
But here we are, we're here tonight
Singing Amen, I, I'm alive
Singing Amen, I, I'm alive
If everyone cared and nobody cried
If everyone loved and nobody lied
If everyone shared and swallowed their pride
Then we'd see the day when nobody died
And I'm singing
Amen I, Amen I, I'm alive
Amen I, Amen I, Amen I, I'm alive
And in the air the fireflies
Our only light in paradise
We'll show the world they were wrong
And teach them all to sing along
Singing Amen, I, I'm alive
Singing Amen, I, I'm alive
(I'm alive)
If everyone cared and nobody cried
If everyone loved and nobody lied
If everyone shared and swallowed their pride
Then we'd see the day when nobody died
If everyone cared and nobody cried
If everyone loved and nobody lied
If everyone shared and swallowed their pride
Then we'd see the day when nobody died
And as we lie beneath the stars
We realize how small we are
If they could love like you and me
Imagine what the world could be
If everyone cared and nobody cried
If everyone loved and nobody lied
If everyone shared and swallowed their pride
Then we'd see the day when nobody died
When nobody died...
We'd see the day, we'd see the day
When nobody died
We'd see the day, we'd see the day
When nobody died
We'd see the day when nobody died
This next one will seem really random by comparison to the others. But it is one of my favourite Christmas songs and it makes me think a lot about world events and people who have needs that we, as a Western society don't always acknowledge. It's not about any minority in the sense that most people would expect, more about someone given a chance to think about one of the true meanings of Christmas and why people give gifts and the meaning of sharing with others...
"The Christmas Shoes" by Newsong
It was almost Christmas time, there I stood in another line
Tryin' to buy that last gift or two, not really in the Christmas mood
Standing right in front of me was a little boy waiting anxiously
Pacing 'round like little boys do
And in his hands he held a pair of shoes
His clothes were worn and old, he was dirty from head to toe
And when it came his time to pay
I couldn't believe what I heard him say
Sir, I want to buy these shoes for my Mama, please
It's Christmas Eve and these shoes are just her size
Could you hurry, sir, Daddy says there's not much time
You see she's been sick for quite a while
And I know these shoes would make her smile
And I want her to look beautiful if Mama meets Jesus tonight
He counted pennies for what seemed like years
Then the cashier said, "Son, there's not enough here"
He searched his pockets frantically
Then he turned and he looked at me
He said Mama made Christmas good at our house Though most years she just did without
Tell me Sir, what am I going to do,
Somehow I've got to buy her these Christmas shoes
So I laid the money down, I just had to help him out
I'll never forget the look on his face when he said
Mama's gonna look so great
Sir, I want to buy these shoes for my Mama, please
It's Christmas Eve and these shoes are just her size
Could you hurry, sir, Daddy says there's not much time
You see she's been sick for quite a while
And I know these shoes would make her smile
And I want her to look beautiful if Mama meets Jesus tonight
I knew I'd caught a glimpse of heaven's love
As he thanked me and ran out
I knew that God had sent that little boy
To remind me just what Christmas is all about.
I will admit, I'm a gift-giver... I don't receive well. I think it is mainly because I have some issues with self-confidence and self-esteem and I don't necessarily think that I am "worth" getting a present for. I buy gifts for friends; for birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas and just randomly throughout the year. When I receive something from someone, I am thankful, I'm not saying I'm not but whether it's for an occasion or not, I tend to think "why me?" and while that seems kind of stupid right now, it's something have felt for years. I love the above song for that reason.
I have some friends who are going through interesting situations in relationships and the next song is one that I love for the upbeat sound with an excellent message. It's a well-written way of telling someone that things are frustrating you and you are moving on...
"Potential Break-Up Song" by Aly & AJ
La la la la la la
La la la la la la
La la la la la la
It took too long
It took too long
It took too long for you to call back
And normally I would just forget that
Except for the fact it was my Birthday
My stupid Birthday
I played along
I played along
I played along
Rolled right off my back
But obviously my armour was cracked
What kind of a boyfriend would forget that?
Who would forget that?
The type of guy who doesn't see,
What he has until she leaves
Don't let me go!
Cause without me you know you're lost,
Wise up now or pay the cost
Soon you will know, oh!
You're not living
'Til you're living, livin' with me
You're not winning
'Til you're winning, winnin' me
You're not getting
'Til you're getting, gettin' to me
You're not living
'Til you're living, livin' for me
This is the Potential Breakup Song
Our Album needs just one
Oh baby please
Please tell me
We got along
We got along
We got along until you did that
Now all I want is just my stuff back
Do you get that?
Let me repeat that
I want my stuff back
You can send it in a box
I don't care
Just drop it off
I won't be home!
Cause without me you know you're lost
Minus you I'm better off
Soon you will know, oh!
You're not living
'Til you're living, livin' with me
You're not winning
'Til you're winning, winnin nin nin nin nin
You're not getting
'Til you're getting, gettin' to me
You're not living
'Til you're living, livin' for me
You can try
You can try
You know I know it'd be a lie
Without me you're gonna cry
So you better think clearly, clearly
Before you nearly, nearly mess up the situation
That you're gonna miss dearly, dearly
Come on!
You're not living
'Til you're living, livin' with me
You're not winning
'Til you're winning, winnin nin nin nin nin
You're not getting
'Til you're getting, gettin' to me
You're not living
'Til you're living, livin' for me
This is the potential breakup song
Our album needs just one
Oh baby please
Please, tell me
This is the potential make up song
Please just admit you're wrong
Which will it be
Which will it be
La la la la la la
La la la la la la
La la la la la la la la la
Ok, so last... I have been a music major for the past few years and I have gone through and watched my friends go through a lot of ups and downs. Random: One movie I found I identified with was "Raise Your Voice" and yes, the movie is kind of lame. But that is EXACTLY how I felt when I first came to the U of L. As though I wasn't good enough to be there and that I didn't fit in anywhere. But over time, I realized that things could only get better. A song that I love because it gives people a chance to think about what they would do with their future is this one... (It makes me want to sing along but mainly for reasons of the stereotypical aspect of what people "think" the life of a rock star is like... I will admit, I'm not as focused on the material aspects as some people may be, it's more the situations and "glamour" that is anticipated...)
"Rockstar" by Nickelback
I'm through with standin' in line
To clubs I'll never get in
It's like the bottom of the ninth
And I'm never gonna win
This life hasn't turned out
Quite the way I want it to be
(Tell me what you want)
I want a brand new house
On an episode of Cribs
And a bathroom I can play baseball in
And a king size tub big enough
For ten plus me
(Yeah, so tell what you need)
I'll need a.. a credit card that's got no limit
And a big black jet with a bedroom in it
Gonna join the mile high club
At thirty-seven thousand feet
--(Been there done that)--
I want a new tour bus full of old guitars
My own star on Hollywood Boulevard
Somewhere between Cher and
James Dean is fine for me
(So how you gonna do it?)
I'm gonna trade this life for fortune and fame
I'd even cut my hair and change my name
'Cause we all just wanna be big rockstars
And live in hilltop houses driving fifteen cars
The girls come easy and the drugs come cheap
We'll all stay skinny 'cause we just won't eat
And we'll hang out in the coolest bars
In the VIP with the movie stars
Every good gold digger's
Gonna wind up there
Every Playboy bunny
With her bleach blonde hair
And well...
Hey, hey, I wanna be a rockstar
Hey, hey, I wanna be a rockstar
I wanna be great like Elvis without the tassels
Hire eight body guards that love to beat up assholes
Sign a couple autographs
So I can eat my meals for free
(I'll have the quesadilla, ha ha)
I think I'm gonna dress my ass
With the latest fashion
Get a front door key to the Playboy mansion
Gonna date a centerfold that loves to
Blow my money for me
(So how you gonna do it?)
I'm gonna trade this life
For fortune and fame
I'd even cut my hair
And change my name
'Cause we all just wanna be big rockstars and
Live in hilltop houses driving fifteen cars
The girls come easy and the drugs come cheap
We'll all stay skinny 'cause we just won't eat
And we'll hang out in the coolest bars
In the VIP with the movie stars
Every good gold digger's
Gonna wind up there
Every Playboy bunny
With her bleach blonde hair
And we'll hide out in the private rooms
With the latest dictionary of
Today's who's who
They'll get you anything
with that evil smile
Everybody's got a
Drug dealer on speed dial, well
Hey, hey, I wanna be a rockstar
I'm gonna sing those songs
That offend the censors
Gonna pop my pills
From a Pez dispenser
Get washed-up singers writing all my songs
Lip synch 'em every night so I don't get 'em wrong
Well we all just wanna be big rockstars
And live in hilltop houses driving fifteen cars
The girls come easy and the drugs come cheap
We'll all stay skinny 'cause we just won't eat
And we'll hang out in the coolest bars
In the VIP with the movie stars
Every good gold digger's
Gonna wind up there
Every Playboy bunny
With her bleach blond hair
And we'll hide out in the private rooms
With the latest dictionary and
Today's who's who
They'll get you anything
with that evil smile
Everybody's got a
Drug dealer on speed dial, well
Hey, hey, I wanna be a rockstar
Hey, hey, I wanna be a rockstar
(I will admit, some of the videos aren't the best quality but they give you an idea of what the actual video is like...)
