Glimmer of Hope /// Music Monday #74

Agh, I completely forgot about this post until I got home from work. Whoops.

Our song today is . . .

"Hope (Xavier's Theme)" from X-Men: Days of Future Past

Composed by John Ottman

I wasn't sure what to pick today, so I decided to let a random generator pick a letter for me. Whichever it chose, I'd pick a song from one of the soundtracks I own that starts with that letter. Days of Future Past is the only X soundtrack I have.

"Hope" has always been one of my favorite tracks from the album. And I think we could use some hope these days, so . . . maybe it's relevant music? The song itself is quiet and gentle, slowly building up to its crescendo before dropping back down. There's something very stirring about the music in its soft nature. It's like it's caressing your soul, wiping away your tears, telling you to chin up and keep hoping.

I'm not sure about the context of the song in the movie, as I haven't seen it yet, but I can take it into the context of today. We're living in a time of uncertainties, a time of global fear, a time of separation. Loved ones must stay at arm's length. Friends can't hang out after work. People are forced to isolate themselves from everyone else. Normalcy doesn't seem to be a thing anymore. Life moves on, yet it feels like it's at a standstill.

But then there's hope. There are negative aspects to it (which I won't delve into here). I want to focus on the positive at the moment. We have hope that we'll live in a time that has more certainties, less fear, and less separation. Loved ones can hug and cry in each other's arms. Friends can hang out after work, talking and laughing and enjoying themselves. People won't be forced to isolate themselves from all the others around them. Normalcy can be a thing again. And life still moves on, yet we take the time to stop and hope.

I don't know if you need to hear this today, but I want you to do something. Listen to this song again. Within the music, feel God's presence surrounding you. It's like He's caressing your soul, wiping away your tears, telling you to chin up and keep hoping.

It's gonna be okay.

Well, that's my inspirational piece for the day. What'd you think of the music? When you think of hope, what comes to mind? What gives you hope with everything that's going on right now?

Monthly HapPENings: March

So, uh, this was technically supposed to be up last week Friday. It was only on Saturday that I realized, "Oh, I should've had a post yesterday, shouldn't I have?" That's why you're getting this a week late!

Life last month . . . well, it's been strange, thanks to the virus and everything. For me, as a guy living in Canada, the whole pandemic has affected for just a few weeks or so. But it feels like forever. I want it all to be done for good . . . As someone who's socially-oriented, and who is being forced to not hang out with friends and not socialize, I've been taking it hard. I won't go into all the details, but let's just say that March was definitely not one of my better months.

Bookish HapPENings

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Whaaat? I actually finished a book? Crazy! I'm kinda surprised it took me so long to read, as I usually breeze through John Flanagan's books. As usual, this one was a very good and enjoyable read, like all of his other novels. It had almost seemed like the plot was going to take an unexpected turn at one point, and it ended up doing so--just not in the way I predicted. Definitely looking forward to reading the sixth book in the Brotherband Chronicles!

HapPENings on the Screen

Finally got around to watching Once again, and it actually ended up being a pretty decent episode! I hope the show keeps going in this direction for a while (I know it really crashes when S7 rolls around), because it's interesting me more now than it has for some time. We'll see how S4 ends off . . .

I know I keep saying this, but Avatar constantly impresses me. I honestly don't know why; maybe it was because I didn't have much--or any--expectations going into it. I'm so close to the end of S2, and the plot has been building up to something big for so long now. I think the ending's either gonna get intense or ratchet up the stakes majorly for the final season. Or maybe both.

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I finished Firefly last month (a great show all in all, though it had a couple of flaws and it definitely didn't have any full resolution to it), so I started my venture into S1 of Arrow. I'm quite loving it so far! I've always been a fan of the vigilante heroes (thanks to Batman being one of my favorite heroes), and this show delivers that so well. Oliver is a really likable guy, and it pains me that he still has to act like his old, playboy self just to keep up appearances and not reveal that he has indeed begun working on the city's corruption. I anticipate where the season is headed and what other twists are in store for me.

Agh, how can I express my love for this show and all of it's quirky characters (pun intended)? Well, let me attempt it: S2 has made me cry or almost cry--can't remember which. It has introduced a character that I'd love to punch in the face a few times. Even though the stakes aren't all that high, it has had some moments that have definitely made me tense up. And the last fight that I saw in the hero tournament was between two very loved characters, which made me not know who I should cheer for. But it ended up much differently than I expected, which I quite appreciated. (And I just sense that something really bad is right around the corner . . .)

I finished S2, and man, what a season that was! For only being twelve episodes, it packed so. Many. Punches. There were unexpected plot twists that took me by surprise, characters that left me conflicted, and so much more. Questions were answered, but more were added. Which meant that the ending gave a bit of satisfaction, but has me hungry for S3. I suspect I'm in for more surprises, reveals that'll leave me breathless, and emotional moments in which I'll bawl like a baby. It's a phenomenal show, and no one can convince me otherwise. (Also, I started watching S1 with all three of my sisters--because Tracey hadn't seen it yet--and even though it was my fifth time seeing the first episode, it had me both crying and noticing things that I hadn't before. That's the sign of an incredible show, I tell ya!)

Gaming HapPENings

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I bought New Horizons on its release day, and there have been no regrets! I absolutely love this new addition to the Animal Crossing franchise--but I knew I would. It's the little details that really wow me, for some reason, Like the fact that the trees and grass rustle in the wind, or that the water ripples and looks so dang good. I haven't advanced very far in the game, as my island is still pretty deserted, but I don't mind taking my time and going at my own pace. That's the whole point of the series, right? Also, can I just say that Blathers's voice is the cutest one in the game? BECAUSE IT IS. YOU CAN EVEN KINDA HEAR THE REAL WORDS SOMETIMES. That is all.

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I've begun working more frequently on my backlog of 3DS games that I want to finish. One title on that list is Dream Team, the very first game I bought for the system. (I actually got it before I even owned my 2DS XL, as I wanted to "force myself" to get one so I could play the game.) I had started playing it when I got my 2DS, but then I dropped it for a year or two. I restarted it a while back and am now doing stuff that I hadn't before. It's such a fun game! I've always enjoyed the Mario & Luigi series, but this one might just tussle with Bowser's Inside Story for the title of favorite game in the franchise. The additions they've made to the battle system are perfect, the music is always an epic bop, the new animation style is gorgeous, and the humor is always on-point for me. A solid experience so far, and I imagine it'll stay that way.

Writerly HapPENings

Didn't do any writing last month, but I wasn't in the right headspace for it--haven't been in a while. Lately, though, I've been feeling some urges to get back into it. Maybe I'll actually have something to say in this section when May rolls around.

So that was my March. How was yours? How're you coping with everything that's been going on? Have you found a way to keep yourself busy?

Epic and Terrifying /// Music Monday #73

I hope you're ready for today's song choice, because it gets intense!

The music of the day is none other than . . .

"Attack on Titan" from Attack on Titan: Season 1

Composed by Hiroyuki Sawano

About half a year ago, I began to get into anime. I bought Attack on Titan on basically a whim. I knew nothing about the show, but I'd heard from multiple people that it was really good. "Really good" is not an accurate enough description. "Phenomenal" works so much better.

There are many things to be praised about the show. There are fantastic character arcs, and every character--even the side ones--are brimming with life and detail. The animation is superb and crisp, getting better with each season and showing everyone's personality so well. There are extremely intense moments as Titans rampage and devour innocents while heroes swing in to slice their way to victory. There are also very emotional moments, and you fear for the good guys, wondering who's next on the "be eaten or crushed" list.

One facet that I particularly love about the show, one that I think no one can deny, is the music. The soundtrack adds to much to the amazing writing and animation. The first time that I really sat up and took note of the score was when the Titans engage in their first slaughterfest. The choir sings with power and conveys the absolute terror one should feel when witnessing these gigantic eating machines as they gorge on humanity. I don't know how the choir members are able to fuse people's dread and horror when confronted by the monsters with their own voices, but they pulled it off so fricking well!

The music also doesn't stick to one genre. Yeah, there's soaring orchestral parts, but there's a lot more that Hiroyuki throws in. He adds gritty electronic beats, an unconventional mix with the orchestra. Then he'll go with some rock, with wailing electric guitars and "typical" drumsets that add a different kind of percussion to the mix. Heck, even the female vocals in this particular track are significant. The singer, Mika Kobayashi, is actually singing in German. I kid you not, she is singing real words in German. The lyrics are as follows:

Die Erde dröhnt und wird rot

Die Leute erinnern sich an diese Tragödie

Ist das der Zerstörer oder der Schöpfer?

Mit der Glut des Hasses schwenken wir die Schwerter

Ist das unser Schicksal oder unser Wille?

Wir werden kämpfen, bis dieser heiße Wind unsere Flügel nimmt

Was finden wir jenseits dieses Horizontes?

When translated to English, it says:

The earth roars and turns red

The people remember that tragedy

Is this the destroyer or the creator?

With the blaze of hate we swing the swords

Is that our fate or our will?

We will fight until this hot wind takes our wings

What will we find beyond this horizon?

There are a number of other German songs as well. The show actually takes place in Europe, as the remainders of the human race have all huddled down there. Thus, there's definitely some European influence shown, especially German, with some of the names of characters and whatnot.

All in all, it's an incredible anime. Not a single part of it is lackluster in my mind. I highly recommend you watch it. Hopefully your mind will be blown as much as mine has been. It might help if you go into it as blindly as possible. Whatever you decide to do, be very wary of spoilers. Do not look at comments or video descriptions on YouTube. Do not venture to the wiki. Do not even Google a character's name. The show has a lot to offer, and nothing deserves to be spoiled.

Have you seen Attack on Titan or considered watching it? Had you heard any music from it before? What'd you think of this particular track?