A few updates for the good of the service, as it were:

• I applied early decision to Columbia, yay. My essay was, quite frankly, a bit shitty since I practically dashed it off at the last minute, but we shall see. I think I have as good a chance as any.

• This Christmas is going to be without equal — "The End of Time, Part I," David Tennant's Hamlet, the new Sherlock Holmes movie, and, of course, simply the fact that it's Christmas. I've yet to compile a definitive wishlist, but there are a few items, e.g. this TARDIS USB hub, that I don't doubt will make the final cut.

• I can't stop listening to Mozart l'Opéra Rock. No, really — I mean that in the most literal sense. It's gloriously kitschy, but with surprisingly few musical clichés (I'm looking at you, Messrs. Kunze and Levay); it knows what it is and it executes fabulously. Also — and I don't usually go for the brooding emo boy — Florent Mothe is gorgeous.

• Also a bit addicted to Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance" at the moment. I admit I used to be rather resentful of her antics, but now I've accepted her peculiarity for what it is (and the song is damned catchy to boot). There's an interesting remix of "Bad Romance" that I just downloaded, called "Chew Fu H1N1 Club Mix." What a, er, curious title.

Well, off to write my Rutgers essay!

Philip Glass, why are you so brilliant? His scores for Koyaanisqatsi and Carl Laemmle's Dracula are just incredibly... I feel "epic" has a connotation that undercuts the genius of his work. Glorious? The arpeggiated "Philip Glass chord progression," even if it is hackneyed to some extent, resonates with me every time I hear it. This brings me to another point: minimalism, specifically Glass' style. While he claims he's more of a classicist now than a minimalist, I disagree quite strongly. Just the fact that I'm even able to use the term "Philip Glass chord progression" indicates a certain level of repetition within his musical structures (see "Pruit Igoe & Prophecies" and the beginning of "The End of Dracula," below). I suppose that triumph of academia/technique over musical creativity is forgivable considering his tutelage under Nadia Boulanger, but I admit hearing the same arpeggiated chords time and time again in his works, no matter how scintillating, is a bit tiresome. Still! He is one of my absolute favorite composers.

(Also, can you see how excited I am to take music classes in college?)



"Pruit Igoe & Prophecies"



"The End of Dracula"

So, Inglourious Basterds. I had decidedly low expectations, but Tarantino surprised me once again and I will admit that I thoroughly enjoyed it. If I were to write some ~profound cinematic criticism, I'd have a much lower opinion of the film, but really... I haven't been this entertained in a theatre in quite a while. And you guys, seriously, if Christoph Waltz doesn't win 394059305 Oscars for his role, HEADS WILL ROLL. He was fucking brilliant. Mélanie Laurent was rather good, certainly not as amazing as I'd been led to believe, but I really enjoyed the performances of Diane Kruger (who was exquisite, by the way) and Michael Fassbender. So yes, I sincerely recommend this.

EDIT: Okay, I was thinking a lot about this, and I would like to qualify my review of Basterds. I appreciated it on a very superficial level, but I think Tarantino is a sick guy, seriously. His films don't quite descend into nihilism, but they lack a very important underlying morality, which is essential since he is such a proponent of mindless, gratuitous violence. While I think it's acceptable to take certain liberties with WWII/the Holocaust in fictionalizing, it's callous for Tarantino to treat it so lightly and play out some kind of savage revenge fantasy against the Nazis.

Also, I would just like to say - David Bowie's "Life on Mars" is probably one of the greatest songs ever written. I've heard about twenty covers of it, but they're all staggeringly inferior; even Bowie's own concert renditions don't come close. I suppose his voice couldn't handle the original key so he lowered it in later performances, but that first yearning B♭4 of the (quite glorious) chorus is so integral to the song's sound... I won't even start on the epic orchestral swell at the end!

I can't believe school is almost over! It's actually quite surreal; I feel like it was September only a minute ago.

In accordance with my obsessive personality, I tend to have periods wherein I religiously listen to only four or five songs for a week.
• "Monster Hospital (MSTRKRFT Remix)" - Metric
• "Leggy Blonde" - Flight of the Conchords
• "Divine" - Sébastien Tellier
• "Barcelona" - Plastiscines
• "1901" - Phoenix

Whilst browsing youtube last night in an attempt to procrastinate, I found Piotr Walczuk's celebrity impressions. Not every single one is impeccable, but I could easily mistake most of them (especially Ian McKellan and for the real thing! Crazy.

• APs are over, thank god! French was fair (prediction: 4), U.S. History was easy except for the last free response (prediction: 5), and English Lang & Comp was cake (prediction: 5).

• If you haven't seen Star Trek, kindly do so immediately. BRILLIANT! Also, Simon Pegg = my future husband.

• I am obsessed with Dvořák's Piano Quintet in A!

• Thank you, Office, for giving me an adorable finale! Some episodes this season have been rather atrocious, but I'm glad it ended on a high note.

• If Southland gets relegated to Friday nights this fall, I am going to be most irate! Its ratings haven't been stellar lately, and ugh! it deserves so much better.

• THIS IS THE MOST AMAZING CLIP IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD. I love you, Murray! ♥

AP tests this week - kill me!

So I'm obsessed with these two songs:

'Divine' - Sébastien Tellier

'Hazy' - Rosi Golan feat. William Fitzsimmons

Philip Glass' score for Koyaanisqatsi is so utterly brilliant (also epic!).

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Silly me, I thought the SATs were only four hours. Incompetent proctors do tend to prolong the test by about an hour and a half!

I still need to read seven more books to achieve an even fifty for 2008. Hopefully:

• Brideshead Revisited, by Evelyn Waugh (halfway through)
• À rebours, by Joris-Karl Huysmans
• 1919, by John Dos Passos
• The Big Money, by John Dos Passos
• Thérèse Raquin, by Émile Zola
• The Father Hunt, by Rex Stout
• Lee's Lieutenants, by Douglas S. Freeman (this one's a doozy at 913 pages)

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Ugh, Alessandro Moreschi's rendition of "Ave Maria" is so severely creepy for some reason. I can't put my finger on it, but some ineffable quality about the recording really, really freaks me out.

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I've been listening to a good deal of classical music lately. Cecilia Bartoli's The Salieri Album is brilliant! The range jumps in "Son Qual Lacera Tartana," from La Secchia Rapita, are simply astounding. Dvořák's Piano Quintet in A has quickly become one of my favorite works of all time, especially the first movement, which is beautiful. The third movement of his tone poem, The Noonday Witch, is quite rousing. What else... Ah, yes, I also recommend Vaughan Williams' "Nocturne for Voice and Orchestra" and Shostakovich's Symphony no. 5.

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I wish it were acceptable in American English to use the British comma rule; that is, to place the comma outside quotation marks when not directly relevant to what is inside.
Example (thanks, wiki!):
American: My mother gave me the nickname "Johnny Boy," which really made me angry.
British: My mother gave me the nickname "Johnny Boy", which really made me angry.
What an inane rule, indeed.

I just came upon a really cool site, muzicons.com, that allows for easy music sharing. Yay!


"Stormy Weather" - Zooey Deschanel & Samantha Shelton


"Red Gun" - The Forms


"If I Didn't Care" - Amy Adams & Lee Pace

Stolen from michechan.
Post ten bands/artists you like, the first song you heard of theirs, the song that made you fall in love with them, and your current favourite.

( Sadly, this took me the better part of two hours. )

Damn, Aaron Lazar just never disappoints. Seriously. He, Marvin Hamlisch, Rachel York, and Christiane Noll all starred in From Broadway to Brunswick, a sort of anniversary gala benefit that I saw tonight.

They didn't give program notes, but these are the songs as best I remember them:
"All That Jazz" - Rachel York & Christiane Noll
"Oh, What a Night (December 1963)" - Aaron Lazar (with Rachel York, and Christiane Noll)
"Bring Him Home" - Aaron Lazar
"The Circle of Life" - Aaron Lazar, Rachel York, and Christiane Noll
"Defying Gravity" - Rachel York
"The Phantom of the Opera" - Aaron Lazar and Christiane Noll
"Music of the Night" - Aaron Lazar
"One" - Entire cast (incl. NJ Youth Chorus and NJ Tap Dance Ensemble)

All three performers were fantastic, but Aaron was especially terrific. "Bring Him Home" and "Music of the Night" were both amazing renditions, probably among the best I've ever heard. The only real qualm I have with Aaron's performance was that his dynamics were a bit understated, but I suppose one doesn't have to really emphasize dynamics in a concert as opposed to an actual acting performance. Rachel York's rendition of "Defying Gravity" was great; I didn't know she could belt that high! Christiane Noll sang Christine's part in the Phantom medley really well, but she was the only one who didn't get a proper introduction (I guess Aaron and Rachel have more "star power). Marvin Hamlisch is pretty much the funniest guy ever. His banter with a boy in the NJYC with so cute! (OMG, I almost died when I realized that he was eating in the same restaurant as me prior to the show.) So, all in all, a really lovely evening. I was going to wait for Aaron at the stage door, but it was beginning to rain. :(

The NJPAC's 2008-2009 season is fantastic! For my own purposes, list of events to which I must purchase tickets:

1. 1776 - July 2008


2. Brian Stokes Mitchell - October 2008


3. Chris Botti - October 2008


4. Aïda - January 2009


5. Fiddler on the Roof - March 2009


6. London Symphony Orchestra - March 2009


7. An Evening with Patti LuPone & Mandy Patinkin - March 2009


8. Jesus Christ Superstar - April 2009


9. New York Philharmonic - June 2009

I'm quite excited re: JCS, even if I can't stand Ted Neeley. "Farewell Tour", indeed!

The band trip to Chicago is next week! We're leaving at 5:00 A.M., ugh, but it should be as awesome as Boston was last year. I really need to download some Doctor Who episodes or something to watch on my iPod because fifteen hours on a bus is long. REALLY long.

Oh, speaking of movies! I was watching some LM revival video (from last May, maybe?) with Drew!Javert and... Alex's Valjean is the most amusing thing ever. I really don't know how I could have ever liked his portrayal. My favorite bit is during the BHH reprise, during which Alex makes a huge deal out of the dead Amis. It even looks like he's crying at one part! I can't lie to you - I laughed for a good 30 seconds. Oh, man. I guess he was hoping for a late Tony nomination or something... Good times, eh?

I am so in love with They Might be Giants right now. Seriously, look at some of their tracks!

"James K. Polk"

In 1844, the Democrats were split
The three nominees for the presidential candidate
Were Martin Van Buren, a former president and an abolitionist
James Buchanan, a moderate
Lewis Cass, a general and expansionist
From Nashville came a dark horse riding up
He was James K. Polk, Napoleon of the Stump

Austere, severe, he held few people dear
His oratory filled his foes with fear
The factions soon agreed
He's just the man we need
To bring about victory
Fulfill our manifest destiny
And annex the land the Mexicans command
And when the vote was cast the winner was
Mister James K. Polk, Napoleon of the Stump

In four short years he met his every goal
He seized the whole southwest from Mexico
Made sure the tarriffs fell
And made the English sell the Oregon territory
He built an independent treasury
Having done all this he sought no second term
But precious few have mourned the passing of
Mister James K. Polk, our eleventh president
Young Hickory, Napoleon of the Stump


"Tippecanoe and Tyler Too"

Oh, who has heard the great commotion, motion motion
All the country through?
It is the ball a-rolling on
For Tippecanoe and Tyler too
And with him we'll beat Little Van, Van
Van is a used up man
And with him we'll beat Little Van

Sure, let 'em talk about hard cider (cider cider)
And log cabins too
'T'will only help to speed the ball
For Tippecanoe and Tyler too
And with him we'll beat Little Van, Van
Van is a used up man
And with him we'll beat Little Van

Like the rush of mighty waters (waters waters)
Onward it will go
And of course we'll bring you through
For Tippecanoe and Tyler too
And with him we'll beat Little Van, Van
Van is a used up man
and with him we'll beat Little Van


The historical nerd within me is weeping with joy.

I cannot stop listening to the De-Lovely soundtrack! Sure, there're some weak performances (coughashleyjuddcough), but the new arrangements are simply gorgeous. My favorite tracks... hm, probably "So in Love", "Night and Day", "De-Lovely", and "Let's Misbehave". But they're all fantastic! Not a wonderful film, by any means, but how can one go wrong with Cole Porter? My last.fm says it all.

Oh! Is it peculiar that the brief appearance of Peter Polycarpou in the film excited me more than anything else? ;)

I nearly forgot! So I saw the U.S. tour My Fair Lady last night, and it was fantastic! Christopher Cazenove and Lisa O'Hare obviously channel their film counterparts quite a bit, but I wasn't bothered by it in the least. I really wish Cazenove were a more talented singer, however, as his vocals are rather weak. Nevertheless, he really shines in his dramatic scenes, characterizing Higgins as Bernard Shaw intended. He's a perfect ass at times, but is touchingly remorseful in the final scene.

Lisa O'Hare is, quite possibly, my favorite ever Eliza. Her singing is absolutely lovely, and she's simultaneously loyal and recalcitrant in regard to Higgins (which... doesn't really make sense, but whatever). "I Could Have Danced All Night" was just freaking amazing. Seriously, it was gorgeous. And I think she's only 24, too!

The ensemble was wonderful, as well, especially Tim Jerome as Alfred (whom I saw a few years ago as M. Firmin). I wouldn't go so far as to say he stole the show, but his two numbers were very enjoyable. Justin Bohon (Joly ♥!) was an adorable Freddy, sort of like Marius¹⁰⁰⁰. Making Freddy drunk in parts of the second act is a weird choice for the director, but I suppose it makes him seem less pathetic. I mean, after all, it's a bit lame to hang around your beloved's house 24/7.

And now, my two cents on the final scene! I know it shall seem wretchedly unacademic of me to say this, but I vastly prefer the musical's ending to Bernard Shaw's (who will henceforth be referred to as GBS). Yes, I know GBS wished to ruin the public's expectation of a conventional romantic ending, but I find it both more satisfying and logical that she would ultimately return to Higgins. In my edition of the play, there's an entire preface that deals with GBS's utter loathing for the musical's ending.
...
I was going to endeavor to write a hopefully intelligent analysis of both endings, but then I watched De-Lovely and now I'm quite tired. So that shall come tomorrow, perhaps.

Oh, and here're parting gifts. Please listen!
"I Could Have Danced All Night" - Lisa O'Hare
"Parisian Pierrot" - Rebecca Caine & Gerald Martin Moore

EDIT: Ugh, I just noticed that I switched tenses in the middle of the damned thing. :(

This song is exceedingly infectious! I'm in love with Yuri Shevchuk's voice. He sounds so much like Vysotsky, yet I much prefer his music to Vysotsky's. Well, in any case. Does anyone know what the song is called? (I'm thinking "Popsa", but I could be wrong.)

I saw Jumper today - when the hell did Jamie Bell get so hot? Seriously. This film really served to reinforce my belief that Hayden Christensen is merely a pretty face, however. He's such a boring actor! The only joy I get from watching him onscreen is derived from his looks.

I never really comprehended how amazing the Amélie soundtrack was until I gave it a listen this afternoon. Yann Tiersen is freakishly brilliant, I say! I feel a bit silly because I've seen the film twice, but I don't typically take notice of a score unless I hear it isolated.
"Comptine d'Un Autre Été"

I have three AP qualifiers next week, which shall surely suck, especially the AP Chemistry one... Ugh. I don't truly know why I'm taking the test, anyway; who wants to spend two hours every day learning chemistry? Not me, certainly.

House had better be at least decent tonight, seriously. I've been anxious to see this show since it went off the air in, what was it?, early December.

I cannot stop listening to Bach's Short Prelude & Fugue in C! It's very infectious.

I completed my entire Macbeth essay (thesis: blood is the objectification of the characters' guilt) in one hour! W00t!