Archive for April, 2008

So Stella challenge me to write down my own 10 songs You must listen to before you die. Not an easy task, I’d say, because honestly, I don’t know a lot about music :p. I’m those kind of “easy-listening” fan, I listen to basically almost any “likeable” songs.

But hey, a challenge is a challenge, and I’m up to it :p. Since I don’t have the preference which song goes first, I decided to make the list unnumbered. And I hope it’s actually consist of 10 songs :p

So, here goes.

My Way

Music : Claude Francois and Jacques Revaux
Lyric : Paul Anka
Popularized by : Frank Sinatra (1969)

To me, this is a legend. And I don’t feel like explaining to you what the song is about, since the title speaks for itself. This song has been covered by many artist, including Elvis Presley and Sid Vicious. I mean, come on, Sid Vicious, people

La Vie En Rose

Music : Louis Gugliemi
Lyric : Edith Piaf
Popularized by : Edith Piaf (1946)

This song is the signature song of French legend, Edith Piaf, that biographical feature film about Edith Piaf, starring Marion Cotillard, is titled with this song. I don’t quite know what this song is about though, but I like the melody.

Helter Skelter
Music : Paul McCartney
Popularized by : The Beatles (1968)

Featured in the self-titled album The Beatles (a.k.a The White Album) which I considered the most extraordinary experimental work from The Beatles, and often considered the most “interesting” recording The Beatles ever made, this song to me is one of the highest achievement in the history of rock and roll. Paul McCartney has used this song as a response to critics who accused him of only writing ballads (oh well, it’s Paul we’re talking about ).

Stairway To Heaven
Music/Lyric : Jimmy Page / Robert Plant
Popularized by : Led Zeppelin (1971)

The most interesting part of the song, of course, is the flow. It starts with quiet, ballad-like, acoustic guitar introduction, going faster and faster until the hard-rock final section. I would say, this should be the anthem of rock and roll.

Didn’t We Almost Have It All
Music / Lyric : Michael Masser and Will Jennings
Popularized by : Whitney Houston (1987)

Whitney Houston, arguably one of the world’s diva, has recorded many outstanding songs throughout her career, but I specially picked this one for this list . Funny thing is, I didn’t remember ever heard it until, I think, last year (geez, see how not so “musical” I am? :p), and long before I’ve listened to other of her hits. But something about this song really caught me up. My favourite part? It’s the ride with you was worth the fall, my friend, Loving you makes life worth living part (call me cheesy, I don’t care ).

Bohemian Rhapsody
Music / Lyric : Freddie Mercury
Popularized by : Queen (1975)

Unusual style, but nevertheless, one of the iconic song of all time, I’d say. And you cannot not like it, come on !!!

Here, There, And Everywhere
Music / Lyric : Paul McCartney
Popularized by : The Beatles (1966)

I don’t feel guilty putting two Beatles song in this list, basically because, first, I like Beatles, second, Beatles is the best band the whole world has ever seen, and third, because they deserved it. They have many hits, of course, and since it’s my list, it’s my pick.

This is my favourite Beatles ballad, for it’s bittersweet. Period. And by the way, I don’t like Celine Dion’s cover on this song. I really don’t.

Smells Like Teen Spirit

Music / Lyric : Kurt Cobain, Krist Novoselic, Dave Grohl
Popularized by : Nirvana (1991)

If there is one band that starts the grunge revolution, it’s of course, Nirvana. And this one, is the signature song of grunge.

Beautiful Day
Music / Lyric : U2
Popularized by : U2 (2000)

This is the anthem for the optimistic. You listen to this song in the morning, and I bet you, you’ll be full of energy. You cannot not love it. You can’t. Well, unless you’re just pessimistic, I guess.

Over The Rainbow
Music : Harold Arlen, E.Y. Harburg
Popularized by : Judy Garland

The signature song of The Wizard Of Oz, it is just wonderful. And by the way Stella, it’s Over The Rainbow, not Somewhere Over The Rainbow :p.

So, there goes my list. Notice the dominance of rock and roll in the list? Well don’t blame me, rock and roll is the best. And I know, I don’t put too many comments on it, because really, just listen to those songs, and you’ll understand why :p.

Thanks to Wikipedia for all the details. I basically get all the data from them.

Beberapa hari ini, sebuah lagu yang dulu sering dilantunkan waktu demo terngiang terus di kepala saya. Lagu yang sangat bersemangat, dan dulu bisa bikin bulu kuduk merinding (ntah kenapa sekarang sudah tidak). Mungkin karena lagi baca ulang tetralogi Pulau Buru-nya Pram, romantisme jaman kuliahan jadi mengusik lagi.

Lagu-nya kira-kira begini (kalau ada salah lirik, harap dimaklumi)…

Buruh tani, mahasiswa, kaum miskin kota
bersatu padu rebut demokrasi
gegap gempita dalam satu suara
demi tugas suci dan mulia

Hari-hari esok adalah milik kita
Terbebasnya masyarakat pekerja
Terciptanya tatanan masyarakat
Demokrasi sepenuhnya

marilah kawan, mari kita berjuang
di tangan kita, tergenggam arah bangsa
marilah kawan, mari kita lantunkan
sebuah lagu, tentang pembebasan

masih tergetar kah ???

Beberapa waktu lalu sempat tersirat kabar kalau Garin Nugroho sedang merencanakan membuat film Bumi Manusia, adaptasi buku pertama dari tetralogi mashur Pramoedya Ananta Toer. Sayangnya, sampai sekarang belum ada kabar lagi soal itu.

Ngobrol-ngobrol soal film Bumi Manusia, kalau jadi difilmkan, saya sedang menimbang-nimbang siapa gerangan aktor Indonesia yang layak memerankan Minke, si tokoh utama kita? Dalam pandangan saya, dia mestilah seorang ganteng berwajah pribumi Jawa (whatever that means ), dengan penampakan yang cerdas (again, whatever that means). Seorang teman bilang, dulu yang ada di bayangannya adalah Tio Pakusadewo. Yeah well, Tio sudah terlalu tua untuk menjadi siswa H.B.S bukan?

Sayangnya, saya tak banyak menonton film Indonesia.

Terakhir saya tonton Perempuan Punya Cerita, sebelumnya Gie, dan itu membawa sesuatu terlintas dalam pikiran, jangan-jangan yang jadi Minke adalah Nicolas Saputra. But please, jangan Nicolas lagi. Dia cuma, tidak cocok, itu saja. Setidaknya dalam bayangan saya. Aktor-aktor muda lain, saya tidak tahu namanya. Saya cuma tahu Irwansyah atau Ringgo Agus Rahman. Well, mungkin Winky Wiryawan punya kapabilitas akting cukup bagus (dalam pandangan saya), tapi lagi-lagi, dia tidak cocok, itu saja.

Lalu siapa? Barangkali di antara anda-anda ada yang punya kandidat?

hmm… mungkin saya perlu mulai menonton film Indonesia untuk sekedar screening aktor

While waiting for a friend to play pool in Setiabudi, Wenny sent me some zodiak predictions from an old-time e-mail (well, at least that’s what she said). I don’t normally read zodiak. In fact, I hate them. But, these following quotes about a Libra made me smile and laugh, I can’t resist posting it here.

As a matter of fact, this is sort of looking at myself at a mirror, and as such, is one of those narcissistic post. So if you want to know me well, or maybe most of Libra guys in general (I don’t know, and who cares?), read on. But if you don’t, or you hate narcissism, well better skip this one post.

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