Alright, so I've been slacking, but here I am! So, it's a bit late, but school ALWAYS comes 1st! I'm Dyamond Phillips, a junior from Brooklyn... I realize if I say too much it becomes so EASY to pinpoint me if it already hasn't :). Sorry if you were expecting more from my intro... But this is better than nothing!
Updates:... Angela Davis speaks today... Middle School Mug Nite and Dormal Formal are tonight... And I'm dreading homework that I have due Monday and Tuesday, along with the obscene amount of midterms I have slowly but surely approaching.
Something that calms me down I will share with you guys. Enjoy the weekend!
Cascada's (of "Everytime We Touch" and "What Hurts the Most" fame) third album was released about a month ago, and I've been kind of reluctant to get it, but I FINALLY did today, and it's a GREAT dance album.
This is definitely not an album for easy listening, but rather for when you're pre-gaming, or just feel like rawking out. This is one of my faves from the album, entitled "What About Me":
In a Dutch gay mag! He actually sounds more pansexual than bisexual... But here's a snippet of the interview:
On his sexuality and labels:
As far as discussing sexuality and gender: listen to my songs. It's everywhere. Sexuality has kind of themed this record, if you have to think about it that way. That's part of growing up. I mean, I've never ever labeled myself. But having said that; Ive never limited my life, I've never limited who I sleep with…So, I don't know. Call me whatever you want. Call me bisexual, if you need a term for me…Apply that to me, if that's what you want. That's as close as I'll get to any label.
Sooo all summer long one of my local radio stations was playing THIS DEMO, which they said was Rihanna featuring Lady Gaga. It's an amazingly orgasmic dance song that has lyrics which supposedly refer to Chris Brown. It was really my summer anthem.
Honestly, I cannot believe the number of people who haven't heard it yet (hence this post). HOWEVER, did some digging and it turns out that was all speculation - the song is actually sung by a new Dutch recording artist known as Eva Simons. And if this music video (and the song itself) is any indication, she's going to be H-U-G-E.
Girl Talk, whose now-infamous concert in the Villard Room in 2008 prompted new event protocols to be instituted the following year, has been profiled in the latest issue of GQ.
Click to read - but beware - the piece is 10 pages long!
The music of the week for spire is none other than Mika's sophomore album, The Boy Who Knew Too Much.
If you liked Mika's debut, Life in Cartoon Motion, you'll probably LOVE this album. It's a very introspective look at the singer's childhood. The Mika we know and love, euphoric lyrics and soaring choruses, is here and well, but takes a backseat to more emotional, dripping, gouge-your-heart-out slow pieces. I don't want to call them ballads, but quite frankly that's the closest thing to compare them to.
This should give you a feel for the tone of the album - it's one of my favorite songs from the album, titled "I See You":
P.S. Imogen Heap is featured on one of the songs! LOVESIT!
Yea, that's a sample of the Sex and the City theme. The song's titled "Labels or Love" and it's being used for the upcoming film's opening credits. Didn't like it at first, but after several listens, I'm hooked. It's infectious.
Few people know her name, but this sexy gal from San Diego just released a killer album. Tristan Prettyman is a former model turned singer-songwriter (and also Jason Mraz's former girlfriend), but don't let that turn you off: she's got a lot of talent and it shines through every inch of this sophomore album. The sound is sort of folksy and upbeat, and the lyrics are just really simple, direct, and honest. Her voice is soft and lovely and very pure. Also, those of you who know Yusuf Islam (the former Cat Stevens), he's featured on one of the tracks. Badass. You should check her out!!
My favorite tracks on Hello...X are Hello, Echo, Handshake, and In Bloom. The title track especially is ridiculously awesome.
I hope you all are enjoying the wonderful weather! I think it is actually hotter here than it is at my home in California, and that's saying a LOT because I basically live on a beach.... and the weather is basically like this 99% of the time.
With all this weather and the thoughts of summer nearing, as I was basking in the sun with close friends, I started thinking about my past. Life has not been easy for me, and in many ways I am thankful for that because if things were handed to me on a silver platter I would be very bored (and probably getting into trouble like Miss Hilton just to make my life...I don't know, fun?).
I started thinking about the 90s and how great music was born into that decade and the music from the 80s, 70s, 60s, 50s, etc still played on my radio. On beautiful days like this in the summer of '99, I rocked gently back and forth in my hammock, which was incredibly old and brought from Mexico when my dad crossed the border, that was hung up on one end by part of my house and on the other by my huge Mexican Lime tree. Rocking, rocking, rocking as I fell the warm sun and the cool breeze kiss my face, I listened to music, music on my radio.
I have yet to find a radio station that plays music as great as this one. It played a wide variety of music from oldies to the now. I LOVED IT. One "song" that I particularly enjoyed was Baz Luhrmann's "Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)" because every single time I heard it, I would cry (and still do). Call me emotional, but every song has a meaning and when it sparks some emotion, I am not afraid to hide it. Music is a gateway to the soul. This song always reminds me of some of the things that are truly important in my life, things that I admit I tend to ignore and forget about from time to time. This offers beautiful tips and leads me to intense realities. "Get to know your parents, you never know when they'll be gone for good."
Oh my god, we as young adults, teenagers, kids, babies sometimes to not understand this harsh truth that our parents and friends are only with us for a limited time. And we our not taking enough advantage of the time we have on this Earth, with these people we LOVE. We spend too much time being angry and taking it out on people, our loved ones, who sometimes don't even deserve it. I rarely yell at my parents anymore because I can't bare to think of the possibility that the last time I talk to them would be in anger. I do not say "I love you" enough to my parents. Many of us have this flaw. Now I ask of you, my readers, my friends, my loved ones, go take this advise that is offered in this song. And if you only do one of those things, let it be that you call your parents, guardians, family, and friends....and tell them you love them.
And I didn't go and wasn't actually hoping to go. For me, however, it was just another night, enjoying a movie with friends, though my long nights lead to weary mornings. I do remember hearing the bass in my room here in Strong (hearing, not feeling, thank goodness). I heard it was a popular concert and most people I've talked to enjoyed themselves. One person helped me to realize the brand new smudges on the ACDC walls was courtesy of the sweaty people holing onto the walls (ick). But as long as those who went had fun, I guess that's the most important part. If you went or if you didn't, what were your takes on the night? I'd really like to hear more from everyone!
Well I bet this is the millionth MIA story you've heard/read thus far, but I will make mine short and sweet.
My friend and I got there an hour in advance and were behind Meryl Streep's daughter and posse, and then Luis showed up and he's hilarious. Finally we get in and DJ Million Dolla Mano is ok for about 10 minutes, then I am bored for two hours.
Then, Dear Sweet Jesus, She shows up. I get so excited I nearly die. Here's the video somewhere, that's me screaming "OH MY GOD YOU'RE BEAUTIFUL". I was at the very very front, but then was violently and alarmingly pushed around like a rag doll (one girl got her foot killed by the barricade things and had to get three stitches). Then I went to the side and am SUPER jealous of people who got on stage.
Dude, who was the girl with MIA at the beginning, with the Jamaican accent? It wasn't Rye Rye but this woman was soooo cool.
It was the most intense experience of my life. The next day I felt like I had an MIA hangover. I love her.
It was my first 'real' concert, and we got there early so we were second or third from the front for most of the time. Unfortunately, it was also my first time in a mosh pit with music louder than I'd ever been exposed to, and I was really freaked out. I also had the dubious pleasure of interacting with my roommate while she was drunk, which I don't usually do. This was fun until later when I referred back to something important we'd talked about and she didn't remember it at all.
The first part with the dj was fun, though. Some not-so-violent pushing, my accidental groping of a male friend's ass on several occasions, and the ability to pretend to pass out and not fall over because I was so tightly packed in. The dj was really good. I'd have liked to have him in a Villard room dance or at least everyone more spread out in the dining hall so that I could dance for real (I love dancing and free-styling, but not that awkward shifty stuff you do when you're so crowded in).
MIA's and Rye Rye's dancing was super sexy. I want to imitate it some time. But probably not in public because Vassar people don't really dance like that. It was oh so sexy, though.
I'm off to the dc for some fascinating, varied, healthy food. Just kidding. But I really do like the dc. Just so you know.
"We hope those that attended were treated to a great show by MIA and MGMT hopes to make up the show to the Vassar College students soon."
SPRiNKLES's Take: If MGMT does a show by themselves at Vassar, that would be fantastic! To be completely honest, I was looking forward to MGMT more than M.I.A. (that's not to say M.I.A. wasn't SPECTACULAR). I feel as if them putting on a show of their own for free (or like $3 to $5) outside in the quad would be AMAZING. Anyone else agree??
Here's a playlist of vids both Blog9 and Mads took last night! Mads was especially lucky and got right up on stage next to M.I.A. - freakin awesome! haha! As both we and Mads upload more vids, they'll be added to this playlist, so be sure to check back!
Pics should be up sometime in the near future, probably tomorrow or Monday, but Tuesday at the very latest!
Most of Blog9 was in attendance at the concert tonight! We'll have a huge amount of pics and a few vids to share with you soon, but in the meantime, feast your eyes on this!
They've been dating for over a year now, but already they've decided to make it official: Fall Out Boy bass guitarist Pete Wentz and starlet Ashlee Simpson are engaged.
Says Ashlee of the union: "We know there has been a lot of speculation recently about Pete and I and we wanted our fans to be the first to know, because you guys are the best. Yes, we are thrilled to share that we are happily engaged. Thank you for all of your support and well wishes - it means the world to us. We consider this to be a very private matter, and we wanted to be the first to tell you and to hear it straight from us."
SPRiNKLES's Take: I'm not quite sure how I feel about this. Fall Out Boy is arguably one of my fave bands, second only to Panic at the Disco (which, by the way, took a hit on my list because of their very different second album). I mean, if Pete and Ashlee are really in love, it would be a great marriage. However, I don't want to see any Ashlee cameos on my FOB albums. That said, maybe it's not meant to last, remember, Pete was the one who said just last November: "I would never come out and say I'm gay, because I'm not gay. There's part of me that kind of wishes I was gay, and I think that comes from anybody constantly wishing they were in the minority and constantly wants to be fighting everybody off."
Why didn't people think about this before?!?! I'm highly addicted!
I'm almost finished pre-registering and I'm having good feelings. As I flipped through the Schedule of Classes, I notice that some classes are capped at 2 or 3 people. If that's the case, why? I know you can easily obtain that professor's signature, but could you imagine having a two person class and one person doesn't come? There should be an email list or facebook group: "I am not coming today. Please don't go." And the teacher should be invited also so they don't have to worry about teaching a class full of air. Interesting thought, huh?
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Few people know her name, but this sexy gal from San Diego just released a killer album. Tristan Prettyman is a former model turned singer-songwriter (and also Jason Mraz's former girlfriend), but don't let that turn you off: she's got a lot of talent and it shines through every inch of this sophomore album. The sound is sort of folksy and upbeat, and the lyrics are just really simple, direct, and honest. Her voice is soft and lovely and very pure. Also, those of you who know Yusuf Islam (the former Cat Stevens), he's featured on one of the tracks. Badass. You should check her out!!
They've been dating for over a year now, but already they've decided to make it official: Fall Out Boy bass guitarist Pete Wentz and starlet Ashlee Simpson are engaged.