Good morning, Readers!
The Guy, by deviantart.com user SHadoW-Net. I love what they've done with the character. Click on the image to see more by the artist.
I'm not actually writing today's blog post. I'm likely in bed, recovering from what was likely an awesome weekend, but a little too full of people for my introversion to handle well. Usual caveat: I love these things, but it does take a lot of energy for me to be so surrounded by so many people I don't know, so I need some recovery time.
Anyway, likely I'm in bed recovering from this. Later on in the day, I might be firing up my Xbox for some serious orc slaying. Maybe. We'll see. So today you get a pre-written blog post. Because I actually remembered to do that this time.
So, most of you know that my tastes in music are all over the place. I adore classical music, have an enduring love for Enya, really love neo-classical pieces (such as the incredible music from Two Steps From Hell), like the occasional pop song, and will rock out to Russian and Indian folk metal.
We all know Disturbed, right? They reached new highs with their recent, stunning cover of The Sound of Silence. It made me cry.
Anyway, likely I'm in bed recovering from this. Later on in the day, I might be firing up my Xbox for some serious orc slaying. Maybe. We'll see. So today you get a pre-written blog post. Because I actually remembered to do that this time.
So, most of you know that my tastes in music are all over the place. I adore classical music, have an enduring love for Enya, really love neo-classical pieces (such as the incredible music from Two Steps From Hell), like the occasional pop song, and will rock out to Russian and Indian folk metal.
We all know Disturbed, right? They reached new highs with their recent, stunning cover of The Sound of Silence. It made me cry.
Prior to that, their most recognisable song was probably Down with the Sickness.
The video is of the radio version, I think. It doesn't have the spoken word intermission.
Funny story, when I was younger, I despised metal, considering it nothing more musical than screaming into a microphone. What a snob. In fact, I remember hearing this song and hating it; a very visceral hatred of this song, due largely to that intermission. Now, I absolute love the song. The intermission still makes me uncomfortable, but the song is fucking fantastic.
Their most recent album, Immortalized, is hands down the album in my library I listen to the most. I know every song by heart. Don't ask me to sing it, though. Your ears will bleed. I'm a terrible singer.
Part of what I love about Disturbed is not just the music. It's what the music is about. Certainly there are the usual everything-sucks-and-I'm-fucking-furious kind of songs, which, frankly, I need more often than not. But so many of their songs are about much, much more.
It's about finding your strength, gathering your courage, speaking out, standing up, fighting back. It's about not losing hope in spite of the tide of bullshit you face. I'm finding more and more that I need that, particularly in today's climate, when people are trying to strip me and my sisters of personhood, to reduce women everywhere to nothing but incubators, our bodies mindless currency for masculine consumption and exchange - and that's just the stuff that personally affects me. I cannot imagine how terrifying it must be for people of colour, and transfolk right now. My heart goes out to them all. I only know a fraction of what they're going through, and frankly, given how poorly I'm functioning right now, I am in awe of their grace and strength.
Anyway, back to the music. The point is, Disturbed produces music that helps me cope with the world. It inspires my continued existence, even if it's only in spite sometimes. Honestly, Immortalized carried me through some of the roughest seas I've yet sailed.
So, in case you're in need of similar survival inspiration, here are a few of my favourite songs by Disturbed that I listen to when the world becomes too much to bear (I'm restricting myself to only two songs from Immortalized, or I'll end up posting the entire fucking album):
Funny story, when I was younger, I despised metal, considering it nothing more musical than screaming into a microphone. What a snob. In fact, I remember hearing this song and hating it; a very visceral hatred of this song, due largely to that intermission. Now, I absolute love the song. The intermission still makes me uncomfortable, but the song is fucking fantastic.
Their most recent album, Immortalized, is hands down the album in my library I listen to the most. I know every song by heart. Don't ask me to sing it, though. Your ears will bleed. I'm a terrible singer.
Part of what I love about Disturbed is not just the music. It's what the music is about. Certainly there are the usual everything-sucks-and-I'm-fucking-furious kind of songs, which, frankly, I need more often than not. But so many of their songs are about much, much more.
It's about finding your strength, gathering your courage, speaking out, standing up, fighting back. It's about not losing hope in spite of the tide of bullshit you face. I'm finding more and more that I need that, particularly in today's climate, when people are trying to strip me and my sisters of personhood, to reduce women everywhere to nothing but incubators, our bodies mindless currency for masculine consumption and exchange - and that's just the stuff that personally affects me. I cannot imagine how terrifying it must be for people of colour, and transfolk right now. My heart goes out to them all. I only know a fraction of what they're going through, and frankly, given how poorly I'm functioning right now, I am in awe of their grace and strength.
Anyway, back to the music. The point is, Disturbed produces music that helps me cope with the world. It inspires my continued existence, even if it's only in spite sometimes. Honestly, Immortalized carried me through some of the roughest seas I've yet sailed.
So, in case you're in need of similar survival inspiration, here are a few of my favourite songs by Disturbed that I listen to when the world becomes too much to bear (I'm restricting myself to only two songs from Immortalized, or I'll end up posting the entire fucking album):
These next two are from their soon-to-be-released album, I think. Don't quote me on that. I might be wrong.
And lastly, this song isn't survival inspiration, but it is just so damned good - my current favourite from Disturbed - that I had to share it:
(Note: I am aware that plenty of genre snobs dislike Disturbed because it's usually listed as metal and they disagree, and to those people I say, who gives a fuck what genre it is? It fantastic music)
Right, I have to stop or I'll just end up posting the entire discography.
I would like to thank Disturbed for being there, for finding a way through to me when nothing else would. Music is incredibly powerful. I think many musicians forget that. I feel like Disturbed has not.
What's your favourite music/song(s)? Post them in the comments below. Expand my musical horizons yet more!
Ciao!
Right, I have to stop or I'll just end up posting the entire discography.
I would like to thank Disturbed for being there, for finding a way through to me when nothing else would. Music is incredibly powerful. I think many musicians forget that. I feel like Disturbed has not.
What's your favourite music/song(s)? Post them in the comments below. Expand my musical horizons yet more!
Ciao!
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