Oh Well, Okay-Eliott Smith
I just realized that, in every blog post I have written so far, I have posted a disclaimer. "Now, that's not always true..." or "I realize that not all...". Why do I even do this? Shouldn't I feel free to voice my opinions on my own blog? Well, I guess I don't.
It's hard to be confident in your own opinions. I have "retracted" things I've said on many occasions because I was afraid of offending someone. I was at a fair a few months ago with a friend, talking about how we didn't like Justin Bieber, when a large group of preteen girls affronted us about it. I immediately backpedaled, mumbling that I didn't really think Justin Bieber was all that bad, that I actually liked some of his songs (all of it, of course, was complete nonsense. I doubt I will ever like any of Justin Bieber's music). I was really angry at myself later for not saying, "Yeah, that's right. I DON'T like Justin Bieber. It's my opinion."
So from now on, no more disclaimers. I'll try to speak my opinions and not waffle back and forth like I usually do.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Levi Johnston's Blues
Levi Johnston's Blues-Ben Folds and Nick Hornby (unedited)
If you really think about it, it would be incredibly irritating to have a famous parent (or parents). Sure, it would be fun-you'd enjoy perks that wouldn't be available to most people. But you would most likely pay for that with your privacy. There would be a huge magnifying glass over your head that other kids would never have to deal with.
Take, for example, Bristol Palin. I can't say I'm a fan of her mother, but I certainly think people should have respected her privacy a bit more. Thousands of teenage girls get pregnant every year, and apart from the few who opt to be on reality TV shows, they can live a private life. Bristol Palin was seventeen, and the media ripped her apart the way they would tear apart a scandalous politician. She made a mistake, and life was probably hard enough without hearing about said mistake in every tabloid on the shelves. If I were in that position I would be mortified. And then it turned out her husband/boyfriend/whatever he is wasn't exactly what one would call a gentleman. I think Levi Johnston really screwed Bristol Palin over by exploiting their relationship for his own benefit. All in all, it's probably led to a lot more pain than it was worth.
I know that not all celebrities' children have negative experiences because of their parents' fame. But it certainly wouldn't make life any easier: they might be celebrity kids, but they're still kids.
If you really think about it, it would be incredibly irritating to have a famous parent (or parents). Sure, it would be fun-you'd enjoy perks that wouldn't be available to most people. But you would most likely pay for that with your privacy. There would be a huge magnifying glass over your head that other kids would never have to deal with.
Take, for example, Bristol Palin. I can't say I'm a fan of her mother, but I certainly think people should have respected her privacy a bit more. Thousands of teenage girls get pregnant every year, and apart from the few who opt to be on reality TV shows, they can live a private life. Bristol Palin was seventeen, and the media ripped her apart the way they would tear apart a scandalous politician. She made a mistake, and life was probably hard enough without hearing about said mistake in every tabloid on the shelves. If I were in that position I would be mortified. And then it turned out her husband/boyfriend/whatever he is wasn't exactly what one would call a gentleman. I think Levi Johnston really screwed Bristol Palin over by exploiting their relationship for his own benefit. All in all, it's probably led to a lot more pain than it was worth.
I know that not all celebrities' children have negative experiences because of their parents' fame. But it certainly wouldn't make life any easier: they might be celebrity kids, but they're still kids.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Let It Be
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9SgDoypXcl
Sometimes I wonder: will there ever be a band or a singer bigger than the Beatles, at least in our lifetime? People might say that some have come close-the Rolling Stones, Lady GaGa, etc., but they just haven't stuck around in the gigantic way the Beatles have. And from what I can tell, most people in the 60s and 70s liked the Beatles. People still love them. My grandparents like them. My aunts and uncles like them. My cousins, whether they are twelve or seven or twenty-eight, like them. Maybe this is just a Zaremba family thing, but I kind of doubt it.
I think when someone pioneers a genre of anything-books, movies, music-it becomes very, very hard to erase their influence from future artists of that genre. It's hard to then admit that someone could be better or more popular than these pioneers, so we keep them elevated, away from competition-forever the best until some talented new artist forces everyone to grudgingly pass on the torch.
Now, I'm not saying that I want that to happen to the Beatles. I know it will though, eventually.
In many years, people will forget about the Beatles. They won't see what was so great about them, how new their sound was. Music that was influenced by them will be forgotten as well. Then there might be a band that is bigger than the Beatles. I hope it's not in my lifetime. That would just be kind of saddening, regardless of how great the new band would be. It's hard to let something go when it's part of your past, your present, and your identity.
Sometimes I wonder: will there ever be a band or a singer bigger than the Beatles, at least in our lifetime? People might say that some have come close-the Rolling Stones, Lady GaGa, etc., but they just haven't stuck around in the gigantic way the Beatles have. And from what I can tell, most people in the 60s and 70s liked the Beatles. People still love them. My grandparents like them. My aunts and uncles like them. My cousins, whether they are twelve or seven or twenty-eight, like them. Maybe this is just a Zaremba family thing, but I kind of doubt it.
I think when someone pioneers a genre of anything-books, movies, music-it becomes very, very hard to erase their influence from future artists of that genre. It's hard to then admit that someone could be better or more popular than these pioneers, so we keep them elevated, away from competition-forever the best until some talented new artist forces everyone to grudgingly pass on the torch.
Now, I'm not saying that I want that to happen to the Beatles. I know it will though, eventually.
In many years, people will forget about the Beatles. They won't see what was so great about them, how new their sound was. Music that was influenced by them will be forgotten as well. Then there might be a band that is bigger than the Beatles. I hope it's not in my lifetime. That would just be kind of saddening, regardless of how great the new band would be. It's hard to let something go when it's part of your past, your present, and your identity.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Human of the Year
When I was in preschool, we were going to have a really huge concert and a party afterwards to celebrate the end of the school year. Needless to say, I was pretty excited. The big day came and I was ready to sing.
My parents never showed up. I haven't forgotten how upset I was. I cried my eyes out and probably called my parents terrible. I'm sure they felt awful.
That was the only time anything like that happened, though. The only time in my life my parents have forgotten about something like that, and I still remember it more than I remember all the time they were there for me. I guess It's pretty easy to take good memories for granted. It's easy to take parents for granted, too: to complain when your mom isn't around to make dinner or help you with homework because she's working late, when in reality she's just trying to make enough money so that you'll have food to eat. Parents sacrifice a lot more than kids sometimes realize. I know I don't always think about it.
I guess that's why I don't really want to have kids. I'd be worried that what I'd gain would be less than what I would give up. Almost any parent will tell you differently, but I don't know if I buy that. I mean, I know my parents are halfway insane with three kids--my grandma had seven kids and she's definitely snapped*. It's not like I don't like kids or anything-in fact, I think they're wonderful-but I couldn't be around a baby for more than twenty-four hours if I had to care for it.
Sorry. That was kind of a rant.
*Just kidding. My grandma's not psycho or anything, but she's close. I'll save that for another post.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Scenic World
[Note: in order to inspire myself to think outside the box, I'm going to make the title of each post a random song from my iPod. I'll post a link to it if possible; this is my way of incorporating my need for some sort of structure as well as my love of music. It might lead to some weird posts, but oh well.]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MH6Ed4V3tpo
I think sometimes we don't give ourselves enough credit as human beings. We're quick to mistrust and doubt ourselves and others. Call it idealistic, but I agree with Anne Frank when she said, "I believe, in spite of it all, that people are really good at heart."
Despite my veneer of cynicism, I believe that all humans are born with an innate sense of right and wrong. Concepts of honor, loyalty, and respect have been beaten into us since birth. It’s in out genes, really; these ideas have been around for thousands of years, outlasting civilizations, technology, even entire races. These ideas are evident in every religion on this earth. It stands to reason that they are humans’ way of articulating concepts that are abstract, but certainly felt or sensed in the heart. Languages and cultures change, but these do not.
I guess what I'm trying to say is to have a little faith in your fellow humans. They're really not all that different from you. Chances are, if you left your wallet somewhere it will be returned to you, if you come up short at the cash register someone will help you. Also have faith in yourself-ordinary people can accomplish and endure so much if they only have the right attitude.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MH6Ed4V3tpo
I think sometimes we don't give ourselves enough credit as human beings. We're quick to mistrust and doubt ourselves and others. Call it idealistic, but I agree with Anne Frank when she said, "I believe, in spite of it all, that people are really good at heart."
Despite my veneer of cynicism, I believe that all humans are born with an innate sense of right and wrong. Concepts of honor, loyalty, and respect have been beaten into us since birth. It’s in out genes, really; these ideas have been around for thousands of years, outlasting civilizations, technology, even entire races. These ideas are evident in every religion on this earth. It stands to reason that they are humans’ way of articulating concepts that are abstract, but certainly felt or sensed in the heart. Languages and cultures change, but these do not.
I guess what I'm trying to say is to have a little faith in your fellow humans. They're really not all that different from you. Chances are, if you left your wallet somewhere it will be returned to you, if you come up short at the cash register someone will help you. Also have faith in yourself-ordinary people can accomplish and endure so much if they only have the right attitude.
Monday, September 6, 2010
Caring is Creepy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hhxthxhwk0
In our world, you're supposed to care. You're supposed to care about the environment, human rights, and your community. If you don't recycle or give to charity, you're a Bad Person, capital letters and underlined.
But on the flipside, you can't care too much. It's weird if you go out and collect trash, or go to political rallies, or join PETA. I'm not saying that PETA goes about protesting in the most effective, "sane" way, buy hey, at least its members care about something. It's better than going about life as a vapid blank slate, drifting in and out of what's popular. I think people don't want to care because it means having that much more to lose.
I mean, it's even weird if you like your favorite band too much. Do one too many school projects about it, and you're "that weird obsessed kid" for the rest of your high school career. That's why it takes so much courage to show what you care about, to stand up and say, "I really love _____ and I'm proud!" What if people think it's stupid? They might judge you. They might laugh. But if you care about that one thing enough, it won't matter.
In our world, you're supposed to care. You're supposed to care about the environment, human rights, and your community. If you don't recycle or give to charity, you're a Bad Person, capital letters and underlined.
But on the flipside, you can't care too much. It's weird if you go out and collect trash, or go to political rallies, or join PETA. I'm not saying that PETA goes about protesting in the most effective, "sane" way, buy hey, at least its members care about something. It's better than going about life as a vapid blank slate, drifting in and out of what's popular. I think people don't want to care because it means having that much more to lose.
I mean, it's even weird if you like your favorite band too much. Do one too many school projects about it, and you're "that weird obsessed kid" for the rest of your high school career. That's why it takes so much courage to show what you care about, to stand up and say, "I really love _____ and I'm proud!" What if people think it's stupid? They might judge you. They might laugh. But if you care about that one thing enough, it won't matter.
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