2011 Round-Up!

In my previous blog, I wanted to convey my feelings about MCR. This year lead me to some amazing things this year with that band. May 11th. I was third in line for their first show in Atlanta since 2007 and my first MCR show since 2008 (total my fifth show.) I met some amazing people. A few days later on May 18th... I got to meet them and have an amazing experience at that show. They were the most amazing men I've ever met. Given this was the third time I'd met Frank, but this was my first time to meet the other guys and I met Gerard and Mikey first and they were amazing. Such a good time.

A few months later, I was invited to go with some friends (the lovely Frick & Frack) to see Mychem on the Honda Civic Tour on September 10th and September 11th (aka Mikey's Birthday Show (9/10) and the 10 Year Anniversary Show (9/11.)) It was the most amazing and bonding trip I've ever had. They played Skylines & Turnstiles on 9/11. Oh. My. God. A week later... Frack and I managed to meet the guys (Frack's first M&G.) The guys were so tired, but still very amazing. :)

Even though I've hit some bumps in the road... I wouldn't trade the amazing for anything. I can't wait for more adventures with my friends and I want to use this blog to talk about things more. I really wanna try this for real. xD

Anyways.

Yeah.

With words I thought I'd never speak... (Part 1)

As it gets closer and closer to the month of the MCR shows I'm going to... I feel compelled to just voice all my emotions and feelings out about My Chemical Romance. Normally, the things I write are the rantings of a disgruntled older fan, but I realized that I hadn't written a real review of Danger Days: The True Lives of The Fabulous Killjoys. Since I am filled with so much emotion about MCR and their music, I've decided that I would like to write a reflection about my adoration for MCR as well as a review of Danger Days. My feelings for MCR fluctuated a lot in the time that I've liked MCR, and I'd like to reflect on it. I'm a very nostalgic person, so I like to reflect from time to time (aka all the time.) So yeah. I suppose I could start now...

Look alive, sunshine... 109 in the sky, but the pigs won't quit, you're here with me, Dr. Death Defying. I'll be your surgeon, your proctor, your helicopter... Pumpin' out the slaughtermatic sounds to keep you live. A system failure for the masses, anti-matter for the master plan. Louder than God's revolver and twice as shiny. This one's for all you rock n' rollers, all you crash queens & motorbabies. LISTEN UP! The future is bulletproof. The aftermath is secondary. Its time to do it now, and do it loud. Killjoys. Make some noise!

Just from that opening bit, you can honestly tell that you're somewhere else. Somewhere that feels free. 'Na Na Na (Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na)' gives me a feeling of like riding fast, and having a good time. Its something a bit more open. I genuinely like this song, mostly because I've always been partial to MCR songs that are catchy and are a lot of fun. I think this is due to how much fun I've had at live shows with the fun songs (I'm Not Okay, Headfirst For Halos...). However, it leads into 'Bulletproof Heart,' which I have nothing against the song itself. The music in the song is really catchy, and the lyrics aren't bad. However, it doesn't sound like a My Chemical Romance song. It sounds like My Chemical Romance covering a Green Day song that they have never written or anything. But that's my opinion. I don't care for it myself. 'Sing' is an amazing track that has an amazing message in its lyrics, although some primetime musical shows on certain networks took the message literally from what I read other people said about it because I am damn sure not watching that shit. -cough.- Anyway. I really like 'Sing.'

Sell it till your last days. Buy yourself the motivation. Generation nothing. Nothing, but a dead scene. Product of a white dream. I am not the singer that you wanted, but a dancer. I refuse to answer. Talk about the past, sir. Wrote it for the one's who want to get away. KEEP RUNNING.

When MCR creates songs with such emotion attached to them, they always give me a sense of peace in a chaotic situation. I first experience this emotion when I heard the opening line of 'Skylines & Turnstiles' almost six years ago. "You're not in this alone..." The same emotion was felt when I first hear the chorus to 'Famous Last Words' back in 2006. "I am not afraid to keep on living, I am not afraid to walk this world alone..." This is one of the reasons I really love My Chemical Romance. They have the ability to make me feel better through their music, no other band or artist has been able to do this, and I appreciate MCR more for this reason.

'Sing' leads into 'Planetary (GO!)' I had been so excited to hear 'Planetary (GO!)' when I first read its name, and when I heard the song, it exceeded my expectations. Every since, MCR got James Dewees to play keyboards for them on the road, I've been dying for them to write a song that he could rock the hell out of live. And they did it with 'Planetary (GO!)' and the song also contains more good philosophies in its lyrics. I honestly cannot wait to hear this song live and jump forever during the chorus. I can't wait to dance, I honestly can't. You can't dance to very many MCR songs, but you can bust a move to Danger Days.

'The Only Hope for Me Is You.' -affectionate sigh.- I absolutely adore this song. I'm partial to electronic sounds, and this song has a lot of them. The lyrics are beautiful as always, and I read in an article that Gerard wrote this song for Bandit, his daughter. That made me tear up, because if my dad wrote me a song like this, I would be so proud, and I'm sure she will be when she grows up. :) "If there's a place that I can be, I'd be another memory. Can I be the only hope for you? Because you're the only hope for me. And if we can't find where we belong, we'll have to make it on our own. Face all the pain and take it on, because the only hope for me is you alone."

Bad news from the Zones, tumbleweeds. It looks like Jet Star and The Kobra Kid had a CLAP with an exterminator that went all Coasta Rica, and got themselves ghosted. DUSTED out on Route Guano. So its time to hit the red line, and up-thrust the volume out there. Keep your boots tight, keep your gun close, and die with your mask on if you've got to... Here's the traffic.

I enjoy and appreciate how the traffic sounds at the end of Dr. Death Defying's news break lead into 'Party Poison.' 'Party Poison' is one of my favourite tracks from the record, and I feel in love with it when it was called 'Death Before Disco.' The added Japanese talking in the song, really makes me happy, because I've always had a love for anything Japanese. The sound of the song is amazing, I absolutely love it. Its another song I really would like to hear live because I want to dance to it. You can really feel the influence they got from Iggy Pop in this song, as it really feels like a call back to Iggy Pop & The Stooges' 'Search & Destroy.' One example of this is the line, "Street walking cheetah with a captial G..." which parallels 'Search & Destroy's' "I'm a street walking cheetah with a heart full of napalm." I like when MCR does punk songs, it makes my heart happy inside.

I didn't much care for 'Save Yourself, I'll Hold Them Back' when I first heard it. I don't know why. I really enjoy it now. It has its place as another one of my favourites. I am very partial to the line, "I'm the only friend that makes you cry, you're a heart attack in black hair dye," which I like to change the ending to "You're a derp attack in red hair derp" about Gerard. I saw it on a LOLMCR picture. xD I also like the line, "Be a burning star if it takes all night."

Ugh. 'S/C/A/R/E/C/R/O/W' Ugh. I do like the song, kinda. Its good, but like... When they premiered the album on YouTube, and I was watching it, my computer fucked up on this song... and it took me forever to get through it. I was not happy and it made me not like the song. I also have a tendency to get bored during slow songs. So yeah. I do like the song though.. just.. meh. LOL. Yeah, see it took me half way through the song to type this and I am ready to skip it cause I am bored.

Oh, god. Ugh. 'Summertime.' Its the most beautiful MCR song to me. I really love the song's lyrics, its sound. And it made a lot of sense when Gerard said that he wrote it about Lindsey (err.. the summer when they toured together on Project Rev), which is the most romantic thing ever. I love Gerard and Lindsey together. However, it makes me feel really lonely... because I don't have anyone like that. But yeah, so... now 'DESTROYA!'

'DESTROYA's' title always intrigued me, and when I heard the song... I fell in love. This song is my favourite song on the entire album. Gerard's voice is different, and its in a good way. The music is amazing.. the guitars sound good against the obvious synth you can hear. I don't care for those noises Gerard makes, but whatever. My favourite parts are when the words "DESTROYA, DESTROYA, DESTROYA, DESTROYA" are repeated. The music and vocals mix crazily well there and it makes me flail in happiness. If they don't play this song when I see them live.. I'm gonna be very mad at them for like 5 seconds.

'The Kids From Yesterday.' I love this song. I really do. Its among my favourites. My favourite part about this song is how it sounds a lot like an 80's song. More amazing electronic sounds. The lyrics are amazing. I don't normally like the slower songs, but with Kids... I don't know what it is, but I really like it.

Alright, children. The lights are out and the party's over. Its time for me, Dr. D, to start running and say goodbye, for a little while. And I know you're gonna miss me, so I'll leave you with this: You know that big ball of radiation we call The Sun? Well, it'll burst you in to flames if you stay in one place for too long, now if the static don't ya first... So remember: Even if you're dusted, YOU maybe gone, but out here in the desert... YourSHADOW lives on without you. This is Dr. Death Defying, signing off.

Yeah. How about that? How about that? I saw people complaining about American flags on the merch, don't think that just because I'm a moderator I don't actually do stuff, cause I do. They're an American band, so boom... National Anthem. I mean, don't get me wrong, our county IS an asshole, so don't worry about it. I'm just saying, hey... we're just glad they mentioned us. They always say how much they love the UK and Japan. Anyways, this sign off leads us into a song that makes me happy on so many levels. When I first head MCR's cover of 'Desolation Row' for the Watchmen Soundtrack... I wanted MCR punk songs. MCR gave me the ultimate punk song.

'Vampire Money' is the most amazing MCR song ever. The end. ROFLMAO. Imagine if I actually said that and ended it. So yeah. Basically, the intro is win because 1) people apparently cannot understand Frank to clearly here him say, "Oh, I'm there, baby." Don't say it doesn't make sense, cause it does.. You're just not old enough to remember that saying, "I'm there" means "I'm ready." [/end rant.] 2) the way Gerard say "Mikey," and 3) the way Mikey says "READY!" in the edited version of Danger Days. The song is awesome because it is. So yeah. I'm done reviewing this for now. I remembered now why I don't really like to blog. Maybe I should do video blogs or something. Anyway. Yeah. I'll do a part 2 or something.

xx L.

New MCRmy video: Planetary (GO!) [CLOSED]

Helena (Shuffle thingie)

Brigid tagged me on facebook to do this, so I posted it here.

1. Put Your iTunes on Shuffle.
2. For each question, press the ‘next’ button to get your answer.
3. You must write down the name of the song no matter how silly it sounds!
4. Put any comments in brackets after the song name.
5. Tag some peeps. (I TAG YOU.)

What do your friends think of you?
First We Take Manhattan by Jennifer Warnes (Cover)

If someone says, “Is this okay?” You say?
It's Not A Fashion Statement, It's A Fucking Deathwish by My Chemical Romance
(xDDD)

How would you describe yourself?
Ride On Shooting Star by The Pillows

What do you like in a guy/girl?
Virtual Star Hasseigaku (Virtual Star Embryology) (Remix) by Kikoku Inoue


How do you feel today?
Famous Last Words by My Chemical Romance.
(O_o;)

What is your life’s purpose?
We Be Steady Mobbin' (Feat Gucci Mane) by Lil Wayne.
(xD!!!!)

What is your motto?
Desolation Row (Cover) by My Chemical Romance.

What do you think about very often?
Legend Of Zelda by System Of A Down.
(ROFL, are you calling me a nerd, random survey?)

What is 2 + 2?
Inner Universe by Yoko Kanno.
(It meant to say, "Four.")

What do you think of your best friend?
Natsu no Arubamu (Eyes On Me; Japanese Version) by Manami Kiyota.
(>_> Uhm.)

What do you think of the person you like?
I Never Told You What I Do For A Living by My Chemical Romance.

What is your life story?
The Funeral Of Hearts by HIM.

What do you want to be when you grow up?
Caramelldansen by Caramell.
(Yes, all I want is for my life to be me dancing to this song forever. DO THE CARAMELLDANSEN!)

What do you think of when you see the person you like?
Bulletproof by La Roux.

What will you dance to at your wedding?
Rinbu Revolution (Round Dance Revolution) by Masami Okui.
(Well.. it has dance in the title. ROFL)

What will they play at your funeral?
My Mind composed by Nobuo Uematsu.
(.... :( I could see that.)

What is your hobby/interest?
Man With The Machine Gun composed by Nobuo Uematsu.
(LAGUNA! LAGUNA! LAGUNA! LAGUNNNNNAAAAAAA!)

What is your biggest fear?
DEAD! by My Chemical Romance.
(YES.)

What is your biggest secret?
This Is The Best Day Ever by My Chemical Romance.

What do you think of your friends?
My Way Home Is Through You by My Chemical Romance.

What will you post this as?
Helena by My Chemical Romance.

//

So, my friend called me the other night and wanted me to go with her up to Knoxville to pick up her friend, who was coming home to get his truck before going back up to Fort Dix.

Let's just say.. I know a lot about her friend now. LOL.

Sometimes, I think my behavior is self-destructive.. but I usually say, "Fuck That."

This... Is my last chance.

So, finally.. it has come to my attention that I really need friends.

I mean.. I have friends, but I need friends for me. Like... My friends like me, they think I'm funny.. but they don't understand my hobbies.

My old roommate Lauren once said, "I like hanging out with you. You're interesting." Implying that my unique-personality perplexed her and she wanted to know more about the enigma that is Laurie.

My hobbies include; Video Games, My Chemical Romance, manga/anime, drawing, & foreign languages.

Most of my friends; Only really play games I don't really get into (I like Japanese RPGs, Survival Horror, & whatever the hell Katamari Damacy would fall under), know that MCR sings Helena which I sang at the Talent Show my senior year of high school, have no idea what manga means & think anime is for little kids, like my drawings because they can't draw, and only know spanish & german (neither of which are my focus languages... I'm more of Japanese/Russian person.)

That being said.. UTC is my final chance at finding some friends. I recently found out that there is a group that is trying to start an anime club at UTC.. so I will definitely try and find them.

"But Laurie.. you're so social online?" I am social online, because I can be myself without caring about being judged. However, in real life.. I hide in the shadows to be off of radar. I'm afraid of being ridiculed.

I used to have a couple of friends who liked what I did. But people change over time.. and in my case.. sometimes people change into the monsters of my nightmares.

The inner nerd in me is crying out.

Do you know badly I want to Cosplay and go to a convention?! YOU HAVE NO IDEA! I haven't been to a Con since 2004. 2004!!! AWA. I dressed as Sango from InuYasha. I had so much fun. I don't think I have ever been so happy (Well, besides MCR concerts, that is!). The fondest memory of that day was walking through the dealer room and having a girl dressed as a cat walk up to me and ask me to bear her children. LOL! Also, there's when my friend at the time, dressed as Haruko from Furi Kuri (FLCL/Fooly Cooly), stopped a guy dressed as Miroku and yelled, "DON'T YOU TOUCH HER BUM! I'M WATCHING YOU MIROKU!" And when I ran up to a girl dressed as Duo Maxwell and said, "I LOVE YOU DUO!"

It just sucks that I don't have anyone like that anymore.

That's why I have to do this. I have to find some friends.

Only problem is.. I need to find the rare breed. I remember now that, in most cases, people who like anime/manga... usually don't do what I do. (As far as my habits of smoking & drinking.)

I suppose I could hide my habits until I am comfortable with talking about them.

I just want someone to be nerdy with. I'm tired of people looking at me and saying.. "What is that?!" "Oh, that's cool.. I guess."

I want someone to say, "THAT IS SO COOL!" "AWESOME!" and sincerely mean it.

xx L.

I still like to take things from other people's blogs.

I stole this from Brigid.


1. Post 9 facts about your character - I'm doing this with my favourite D&D character I used to play with. ^_^ Laguna.
2. Tag 8 other characters.
3. Post their names with the creators avatars.
4. No tag backs :I


1) Laguna tries to be smooth with ladies, due to his devilish good looks, but completely fails due to his lack of common knowledge.

2) I based his actions and name from a character of the game Final Fantasy VIII. Only difference is that my Laguna is a Duelist (Originally a Swashbuckler & then epic leveled to eventually a Holy Being.)

3) He wanted to always be the captain of a ship. However, he was always belittled by the female Dark Paladin, forcing him to serve under her whenever they were on the sea.

4) He never liked fighting, but was very skilled with his Rapiers. (Later acquiring one of darkness and one of holiness, bringing them together to destroy himself, being reborn as a holy being able to wield both to destroy Cthulhu.)

5) He is a Pirate (Swashbuckler) and possesses a unique eye-patch, that helps him see into the ethereal plane.

6) He was the only one to survive the fight with Cthulhu, when he brought the two opposite rapiers together, the explosion killed his party members.

7) Like his Final Fantasy VIII counterpart, his leg cramps up when he is nervous. (Especially around attractive women.)

8) Most of his party hated him, especially the insane mage that insisted on sewing monster parts onto his own body.

9) If I rolled correctly, Laguna had the chance to end a fight in atleast two turns.

I don't wanna tag anyone. :P

Today's Lesson: Awesome Foreign Music (Part 2)

Last time we talked about Foreign Music.. I talked about some Anime Opening themes that I liked.

This time I will move to actual singles from Japanese Pop Stars that I like. ^_^

So let's start this off with a song I just rediscovered. The song is called "Look Back Again" by Hitomi Yaida. I liked how the song was up beat and really happy. Plus the chorus is really catchy, I would catch myself singing just the chorus sometimes.



This next woman is VERY popular in Japan. She's amazingly beautiful and her voice is amazing. I have so many songs that I like from her. Her name is Ayumi Hamasaki. If you like anime, you'll recognize her as the voice behind the ending theme to InuYasha "Dearest." One of my favourite songs that she sings is called "EVOLUTION." The video is so awesome. Just watch for yourself.



Next is a singer who has actually released a pop album in the US. I started listening to her back in 2003. Her name is BoA*. You may recognize her as the voice behind the ending theme for the anime InuYasha "Minna no kimochi" or "EVERY HEART." However, she doesn't just sing in Japanese. She also releases singles in Korean & Chinese. This is an example of one of those songs. I absolutely love this song. Its from a band called "Tong Vfang Xien Qi" which I think is "Dong Bang Shin Gi" or "Dong Bang Shin Ki." I don't know for sure, they're from South Korea. (In Japan, they were called Tohoshinki.) This song is called "Tri-Angle" by Dong Bang Shin Ki feat BoA & Trax. I would also like to mention that these boys are very attractive. ROFL.



Next is a man, that I absolutely love. I have such an obsession with him sometimes. He's very popular. If you know ANYTHING about Jpop/Jrock you know Gackt. He used to be in the Gothicesque metal band Malice Mizer. Hearts.



Next is another band I like also. This band is called "Larc En Ciel." I like them. LOL. This song is called "READY STEADY GO!" which is from the anime "Fullmetal Alchemist" (Yes, I watched the first few episodes and I didn't care for it. LOL)



That's all for now. Please enjoy! Hearts.

xx Laurie.