My Ecological Footprint

Note 8: Love Lost by The Temper Trap

The Temper Trap is an Australian indie rock band that formed in 2005. The lead singer, Dougy Mandagi was born in Indonesia, and some of his rich influences from singing in church choirs and listening to his dad play guitar are integrated into the band's sound. As a collective, the band's vocals, guitar, bass, drums, and other instrumental creations produce this unique transcending sound found nowhere else but in The Temper Trap. Love Lost is one of those transcending pieces.

Beginning with a classy keyboard progression, the song is accompanied by the uniform sound of clapping hands. The singer sings “our love was lost, but now we've found it”. Dougy’s voice that so much resembles the Gibb brother's vocals (BeeGees), add to the song's spiritual and emotionally uplifting quality. With just that first line, those four words illustrate an obvious circumstance in which someone (presumably him) and someone else had once lost their love. He sings with so much passion and raw emotion with the proceeding lines of “our love was lost and hope was gone.” Although those lines are very simple, the way Dougy sings those words illustrates this running image of the situation. Further ahead into the song, the words “and if you flash your heart, I won't deny it” suggests the willingness of the lover to take up this salvaged love once again. He then declares that he “won't deny it”, this sacred love, and this other person's heart. And after that, he says “I promise, I promise.” If the words were sung by any other artist, the ingenuity and power of the lines would be lost.

Encroaching upon the situation, it seems that the love and the pleading person are trying to cross into the once-known barriers of this relationship. He sings “your walls are up too cold to touch it, your walls are up too high to climb”, meaning that this other person is not comfortable opening up his/her heart to this person yet. Either too much damage has been done in the past, or the idea of re-opening this love is frightening and risky. But Dougy then pleads with the comforting lines of “I know it's hard but I can still hear it beating.” He tells this person that he understands the difficulty of all of this, but he also knows that this person's heart is still “beating” with all the love in the world, and that he/she has that recognizable thump (heart beats) rhythm that he knows all too well. He then promises again to not “mistreat it”, or take advantage of this person's heart.

In the end, he acknowledges that their love “was lost in the rubble” of all the things this person has “been dreaming of”, meaning that their first run was disappointing and perhaps even disastrous. Nevertheless, he begs this person to “keep [him] in mind” when he/she is ready, because he is “here to take [him/her] every time.” Those ending lines followed by the usual refrain illustrate the devotion and gratitude of this lover.  

Note 7: Fake Empire by The National

The national is an indie rock band that was formed in Ohio in 1999. Their lyrics are usually described as having a dark, melancholic, and ambiguous quality, and their songs' meanings are usually debated often by zealous fans. The many supported claims about the meaning of the songs add to the adoration of the band for their empowering and mind-provoking music. One of these hotly debated songs is Fake empire, one of their most popular pieces.

Right away, a piano plays the melody of the song that invites listeners to the following powerful lyrics. The first lines of the song stir up images of the first stage of romantic relationships otherwise known as the “honeymoon period”. The two people in the relationship have not reached the period of struggle and improvement, or the period of struggle and deterioration. All they have experienced with one another is the staying “out super late” at nights, the “picking [of] apples”, and “making pies”. The two parties are sang to be “half-awake in a fake empire” (the refrain), meaning that the couple chooses to ignore the upcoming tide that many romantic duos will or have endured. The mixture of the piano and the lead singer's classic baritone voice creates this sadness, yet uplifting purity of the song.

They'll “tiptoe through [their] shiny city/with [their] diamond slippers on.” They will even “do [their] gay ballet on ice [with] bluebirds on [their] shoulders.” These rhythmic and poetic lines suggest that they will not leave this dwelling of happiness that they know and love. Nothing else needs to be troubled with, and all they have endured together is enough for them. Why trouble with the kinks and defects of the relationship when everything else is going well? The last lines of the poems illustrate this image of a night's end to a date or night out. One of the partners will “turn the light out [and] say goodnight.” There will be “no thinking for a little while” and no “[trying] to figure out everything at once.” All of this represents the couple's attempt to take control and hold onto this natural “high” of their young love. 

Before the the last refrain, one dagger line “It's hard to keep track of you falling through the sky” may acknowledge the existing cracks in the relationship. The singer seems to almost beg to not discuss or think about all of this just yet. They continue to try to stay in this state of happiness even though they know that there is this very possible or even very likely end coming to them. Perhaps when they are “half-awake”, they both know that they can't stay in this state forever. The ending of the song concludes with a collection of sounds including the piano, drums, guitar, and the appropriate trumpet to wrap up the song. Building up from this emotional tension, the song closes with a much uplifting tone that may push forth the idea that it is okay to just enjoy the ride while it lasts. Love is a privilege to have with someone, and whether you both fall or rise, be glad that this lifetime experience was given to you. The beauty of the song lies in the celebration of both the happiness and the sadness of the relationship between these two people.  

Reading Log: The Perks of Being a Wallflower

16% into The Perks of Being a WallFlower 
Charlie is the main character and narrator of this book. His unique letters to someone unknown is hilarious and devastating. His diction and writing style fits perfectly for his stages in high school. We get to see him grow, experience, and break down in his writing. He doesn't give much information as to where he lives and to whom he is writing to, but he does share with us his world, and that has been enough and more. His letters are humorous, saddening, and sometimes frightening recounts of high school experiences from observing the arenas of sex and drugs to first dates and mixed tapes. I've found this novel that all of us can relate to in some way. I look forward to Charlie's roller coaster journey.

Book Review: Pride and Prejudice

The plot deals with the five Bennet sisters, whose fanatic mother obsesses over marrying off the girls as quickly and as advantageously as possible. Her only concern is to have her daughters financially secure by marriages to wealthy and "ideal" men. A happy marriage filled with unconditional love is foreign matter to Mrs. Bennet.

Most of the action of the novel centers on the two eldest Bennet girls: dutiful Jane and practical, quick-witted Elizabeth. These sisters are occupied chiefly in damage control against the various disastrous almost-engagements set up by their mother, by chance, or by mere follies. Jane and Elizabeth pine after their various objects of affection: the dashing yet befuddled Charles Bingley for Jane, and the grave, calculating Mr. Darcy for Elizabeth.

It's Elizabeth and Darcy that really drive the plot through a combination of their compatibility and their total inability to get together due to stubbornness, pride, and prejudice. Once the two characters break down their barriers, try to understand one another, and receive all the facts about one another, they (especially Elizabeth) realize and acknowledge the undeniable love and respect they have for one another.

Book Review: The Fault In Our Stars

Throughout the whole book, I laughed, tensed up, and cried without restrain. I fell in love with the characters of the story, especially the philosophical pair, Hazel and Augustus. Their humor and love kept me clinging onto my kindle for more, and I never lost touch with the story. Although the plot revolves around cancer patients, there is much more significance to the novel then just a regular "cancer book."

At the age of 12, Hazel was diagnosed with Stage IV thyroid cancer. Until the age of 14 when she received a medical miracle that shrunk her tumors in her lungs, she was prepared to die, and even later she still feels that sense of nearing to death.

As a 16 year old now, she is attending college early, and has lost the opportunity to partake in high school experiences ever since she was diagnosed. She has a small circle of friends and she still lives under the care of her parents (which can sometimes be tiresome for her). Even though she can live for a long time (shorter than for healthy individuals), she must live with this oxygen tank tethered to her.

Every wednesday, Hazel attends a support group meeting held at this church. During one of the meetings, a new person appears. The stranger is Augustus Waters. He is gorgeous, in remission, and shockingly to her, very interested in Hazel. Being with this whimsical and equally intelligent guy will carry her on an unexpected destination and a long-overdue journey. The time she spends with Augustus will not bring her extreme happiness, but will also push her to re-examine all aspects of life and death. Their close relationship will teach her and the readers the defining significance of human life.

Reading Log

102 pages into 1984
This story evolves around the life of Winston Smith who lives in a totalitarian government. The restrictive,  controlling, and purposeless lifestyles of everyone around him including himself is depressive. Every aspect of life, public and private is controlled and regulated. Every situation is dangerous, and you have to be careful to not speak or think a certain way that speaks revolution or rebellion even if you don't mean to. I have yet to discover the ultimate purpose behind the projects and laws enacted by "The Party." Winston seems to be the only one who notices or acknowledges the oppressiveness and cruelty of the government. But worst than that, he feels like he is the only one with this belief. He knows the lies, the alteration of the past, and the hypnotizing/control of the people done by The Party. Yet, what can he do? He's under their control, and he has to be careful to not get caught (there are telescreens everywhere).