The Music Monday 2020 Awards - Results Announcement

And thus, the curtain closes on what was undoubtedly the wildest Awards show yet. We all sit on the edge of our seats, wondering which song will come out on top.

Normally, this is where we mention the four songs that ended up duking each other for the victory, but if you recall the update from two weeks ago, there was an unprecedented twist of fate. Two songs were left in the dust--"Sand 'N Sails Heatgusts" and "In Hushed Whispers"--while two other songs crossed the finish line with an equal number of votes--"Cherish" and "Attack on Titan." Thus, a round 3.5 was called to break that tie.

The weeks flew by, and 10 people voted. Once again, both songs were neck and neck with each other. I was prepared to once again do something that had never been done before; in this case, that would've been to have a joint victory for the two. But then, the balance was lost. One song received a single extra vote, and thus, a winner was determined. I'll get to that in a minute, though I first want to give the other song a moment of fame too.

When I originally talked about this song, I said that "cherish" was a word not oft used these days. But to me, it was one of the most fitting for 2020. I came to realize just how much I love and need my family and friends. I think the line "I'm gonna cherish you" has kind of become my silent motto now--though perhaps I should voice it more. I do indeed cherish those important people in my family and want do it even more.

And let's be honest: a peppy, upbeat love song with a heartfelt message is going to be liked a lot of people, as evidenced by how many votes it received along the way. I definitely understand why the competition was so close for the last four weeks. It's such an impressive feat, I couldn't not give it some recognition. The song and its achievements in the Awards deserve that much.

But don't just take it from me! Let's hear what some other people had to say about this one . . .

"It's such a peppy, summery song. Cotton candy sweet, yet with a heartfelt warmth to the lyrics of the chorus. It makes me happy every time I hear it. Plus, I love the blend of CBX's voices." -Tracey Dyck

"I love their energy and incredible talent!" -Mom

". . . EXO has had my heart for a long time and the song never ever fails to make me smile and feel good. The whole vibe of the song is very feel-good and I love it!" -lostfairyart (AKA Kaitlyn Dyck)

". . . it's a comfort song for me. I love the meaningful lyrics. The word cherish isn't used often enough. It means a lot to me." -chloegraceartist (AKA Chloe Dyck)

". . . I liked the sound better." -megandrawsportraits (AKA Megan Hiew)

Looks like everyone had some similar thoughts about that song! To me, that says the message came across right. Good show!

Hope. Dreams. Failure. Regret. Death. Sacrifice. Love. Friendship. Terror. Betrayal. Power. Trust.

Those words are just a few subject matters that Attack on Titan, and honestly, that doesn't do it justice. The show epitomizes, in my mind, what a perfect story should be. It gives you well-developed characters that you love (or love to hate, in some cases), an intriguing and engaging storyline with shocking twists that foreshadowed extremely well, intense battle sequences as Titans converge on what remains of humanity, and raw emotions through the various means, including some heartbreaking deaths. And then when it's all said and done, you're left with some food for thought and messages that stick with you long after the story is over.

How does one convey this through the means of music? You might not think it's possible, but trust me, Hiroyuki Sawano's epic and stirring score for the anime more than does the job. He combines things you wouldn't necessarily expect go together: soaring choirs, German vocals, Zimmer-like orchestration, gritty electronic elements, intense electric guitar riffs, and Asian instrumentation to create a sweeping set of songs and leitmotifs. From the horror of the oncoming Titan scourge, to the wrenching dirges for the deceased, to the breathers and moments of quiet, he sets the mood for any scene perfectly.

This particular song is one of the first you hear in the show, as the enemy destroys the peace the people had for a hundred years and devours the fleeing humans. It really sets the mood of the show and makes you take the storyworld and the threat therein very seriously. And the vocals! I know I talked about this when I posted the song for the first time, but I just have to bring it up again. The main female vocalist, a lady by the name of Mika Kobayashi, is singing these lyrics:

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 from German to English, we find that she's saying this:

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?

This perfectly describes the overall tone and message of the show. When the show was being made, there are at least three individuals who worked very closely together: the writer of the manga, the director, and the composer. Attack on Titan's story is complex and detailed enough that if one thing was messed up, the whole plot could fall to pieces. That's why the key players were on the same page at all times, and I think it's also a huge reason why the show has been so successful. All of the music, both lyrical and instrumental, have added so much to the story and its impact on me.

And of course, we had people in the comments section letting us know why they voted for this song! Let's see what they had to say . . .

". . . the instrumentals in ["Attack on Titan"] are legendarily chilling." -angelarwattsauthor (AKA Angela R. Watts)

"It's just SUCH a good OST." -Nicole Dust

"Though I've yet to watch the show, the piece alone portrays such a BIGNESS to it. I love the drama of it and the wide array of emotions the song pulls you through. It has a sort of end-of-the-world vibe, but a sense of hope, as well--that the heroes will stand against all odds and never give up. It's a really good song and makes me want to watch the show that much more!" -Christine Smith

"Oh man... I guess I'm actually gonna have to think of a valid reason why I chose this song other that the simple fact that AoT is just that epic.

"Well, the song really captures the dark, intense, and sometimes scary theme of AoT. I love the complexity of the track but at the same time I also like the way the vocals that repeat themselves get stuck in your head (definitely isn't a bad thing in this case).

"I hoped at least some of you enjoyed reading my fake, I mean, totally honest and in-depth review of the 'Attack on Titan' song!

"I definitely did NOT choose this song just because AoT is awesome and you should totally watch it. Watch it tho. Please. Just watch it." -Preston Hiew

And there you have it! That finally concludes the 2020 Awards. Congratulations to the both the winner and the honorary winner for getting so far! And thank you to everyone who participated! Without you and your efforts, this wouldn't have been nearly as interesting as it was. What are your thoughts on the winners and the whole show? Any constructive feedback, or have we found our footing pretty good? My thanks go out to EXO-CBX and Hiroyuki Sawano for giving us music that helped get us through 2020!

A Song for Spring /// Music Monday #98

I swear, every time I'm scheduled to do a Music Monday post, I'm like, "Oh, it's that time already!" Don't really know why.

Today's track just so happens to be . . .

"12PM" from Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Composed by Nintendo

Seeing as Saturday was the first day of spring--unless you live in the Southern Hemisphere, in which case it's now autumn--I decided that I should choose an appropriate song for the occasion. And let's be real, what fits that bill better than an Animal Crossing tune?

What's kind of funny about this particular choice is that I tend to just play New Horizons on Saturdays, and I'm often on at 12pm. So not only is this one of the few tracks I actually hear in-game, but it also works perfectly as a spring song. But it's so good! I love the folksy feel of it. The guitar and the percussion (I can't tell if it's someone using some kind of hand drum or if they're just tapping the body of the guitar with their hand for the beat) work really well together to create that quaint feeling that's a staple of the Animal Crossing series. I couldn't tell you what the other instruments (or is it just one?) is, but it adds a nice melody to the track.

What I love about this game is how you can just take it at your own pace. I know there are people who blazed through a lot of it because that's all they played when it came out, or because they used time traveling to speed stuff up. Meanwhile, I'm here and have only set up my campsite for visitors in one of my last play sessions. I've really appreciated just enjoying every moment and not moving things along too quickly. If you have a Switch, this game is a must-buy. While it's not my favorite AC title, it's still super fun and relaxing, and looks so pretty too.

And now that spring is here and it's starting to warm up, it's giving me more incentive to spend some time outside, especially with going on walks. That's always been one of my favorite physical activities for a few reasons. 1: walking consistently is apparently a good way to stay fit and healthy. 2: it gives me some time to listen to music and just think about stuff and spend one-on-one time with God. 3: it's also fun to go on walks with my sisters or friends and just chat about all sorts of stuff. So yeah, I'm looking forward to doing more of that!

So that's that! What'd you think of the song? Do you play New Horizons, and if you don't, what're you going to do to change that? (I kid . . . maybe.) What're some of your favorite outdoor activities?

The Music Monday 2020 Awards - An Unexpected Twist

I know what you're thinking. You're thinking, "Hey, wouldn't this post normally be titled 'The Music Monday 2020 Awards - Results Announcement?' This show is supposed to be over by now." Normally, you'd be correct, but it seems we've experienced an unprecedented event--ironically fitting for 2020, wouldn't you say?

Let's first go over what we know for certain. Four songs made it to the final round, and they are as follows:

"Cherish" by EXO-CBX

"Attack on Titan" from Attack on Titan

"Sand 'N Sails Heatgusts" from A Hat in Time

"In Hushed Whispers" from Dragon Age: Inquisition

We had 11 people who voted in the last round, 6 on here and 5 on Instagram. 1 person voted for "Sand 'N Sails Heatgusts," and 2 people chose to give their votes to "In Hushed Whispers." While both songs are undoubtedly good, we see now that these votes had no bearing on the end result.

Here's where things took a twist. What we can't figure out is how "Cherish" and "Attack on Titan" received 4 votes each. Never before in the long and grand history of the Awards, spanning from this point in time all the way to its humble beginnings in 2018, with the '17 Awards. The obvious question here is simply this: how do we proceed?

In previous rounds, we've just used a random decision maker to see which song comes up 2 out of 3 times. But this is the conclusion, the grand finale, the endgame! After some deliberation, it was elected that using such methods this time would cheapen the experience and make the sweet victory a little more sour. That is why we must now do something we never thought we'd have to do. It's time for a tiebreaker, a round 3.5, if you will. It's time for . . .

The ULTIMATE Final Round

"Cherish" by EXO-CBX

versus "Attack on Titan" from Attack on Titan

The gripping climax to the 2020 Awards begins now! You have until Sunday, March 28th to vote, and no later. If you vote for a song that you already voted for in round 3, you are not required to restate your reasoning behind it. However, if you voted for neither one of these before, please give your new thoughts as to why you picked it. And please, try not to make this another tie, or we really will have to use a random decision maker.

We will see this legendary battle through to the very end!

One of My Favorite Game OSTs /// Music Monday #97

All right, seems like it's time for another regular Music Monday post!

Our song for today just so happens to be . . .

"The Ronin of Forbidden Valley" from LEGO Universe

Composed by Brian Tyler

I don't know if you ever experienced the awesomeness that was LU, but man, that game was something else. Probably one of the best MMOGs--nay, one of the best video games--I've ever played. It was pretty short-lived due to a lack of enough financial gain, but it was very well-loved while it was around. Actually, there are fans who are recreating the game, and LEGO has basically told them it's okay. The company may have even "unofficially" helped out in some way? I don't recall all the details, but I'm very excited for its release!

This particular track has always been one of my favorites from the OST, and I'm sure you can see why. The instrumentation, the epicness, the intensity, and the use of the main theme about a minute in is nothing short of perfection. I think Brian put a lot of love into this soundtrack, and it really shows. (It might be his best work???) I don't exactly remember hearing the music in game, though I do recall fighting off the ronin on Cavalry Hill and that it was a fairly challenging the fight, so I'm sure the song did a lot to add to that atmosphere.

I think this song is also special to me because I used in my playlist for one of my LEGO Message Boards stories, An Old Face, a New Game. In this particular scene, one of the characters--a somewhat clumsy ninja--has to protect two of the others from an enchanted statue that's attacking them. It winds up being a chase to the top of a watchtower, where the guy tricks the statue into running off the edge. This particular fight, as well as the whole segment of the story with these character (the plot is very episodic), were some of my favorite things to write. I think that whole story holds a special place in my heart, and the music brings back some very fond memories of it too.

Before I close this post, just wanted to mention that, because it was LU's tenth anniversary the other day, the game's OST was officially released to celebrate. I'm not sure where you can all stream or buy it at the moment, but I know for sure you can listen to the whole thing on YouTube and buy it on Bandcamp. If nothing else, I highly recommend that you at least listen to the whole thing.

So that's that! What're your thoughts on the song? Did you play LEGO Universe back in the day? Do you have any fond memories of story scenes you've written?

Monthly HapPENings: February

Oh . . . it seems to be March already. Guess it's time for one of these.

I'm honestly blanking out on life stuff right now, but maybe that's because I didn't really do anything? Like, aside from my regularly scheduled stuff--working full-time, watching my shows on Monday evenings, watching shows with Chloe and Kaitlyn on Tuesday evenings, watching anime and gaming with Preston on Thursday evenings, gaming with Preston and/or Megan on Friday evenings, gaming with Chloe and Kaitlyn on Saturdays, and doing my usual Sunday stuff with my family--I didn't do much of anything. I suppose that's just life these days.

Bookish HapPENings

Wonder of wonders, I managed to finish a book last month. Although these novels are pretty short, so I'm not sure how much it actually counts for. I definitely enjoyed this one. It's hard to talk much about the plot, because a lot of it hinges on that of the first book, which has some interesting twists. I look forward to seeing how the last two books wrap up the story.

HapPENings on the Screen

I'd already seen this movie a couple of times, but it was just as good the third time around. I really dig this type of secret agent/spy/espionage/action-adventure/whatever-you-wanna-call-it film. It's got a good mix of thrilling fight scenes, chases, and general escapades. The characters are all interesting, and the villain was a unique one--which I think is largely due to his voice, believe it or not. It's kind of this high-pitched rasp, which gives him a very different vibe. And the music is killer too. Basically everything about the movie was great!

So Preston recommend an anime called Joker Game to me, which is about a special group of Japanese spies in World War II. That alone makes for a very interesting story, but what adds to that is the fact that each episode has its own contained plot with a separate spy. Things seem to be starting to connect together, though, so I'm anticipating where that will lead and how everything will go down. (I also love two of my more recent episodes and their spies because of how kindly they treated children. So wholesome!)

While we're on the subject of recommend anime, Preston also suggested this one to me. 91 Days is about a fellow named Angelo, who joins a family of gangsters during the Prohibition Era in order to exact his revenge for the murder of his own family. I'm super into it so far, but I'm worried about how it's all going to end. Part of me wonders if it's going to wind up being a tragedy . . . and the opening, I tell ya. It's so emotional and hits me in the feels every single time. So good!

I'm rewatching Tower of God with my sisters for our Sunday anime stuff, and I'm a bit conflicted about it. I still love it, don't get me wrong--but I'm also a little more critical of certain things this time. Like, if it would've had some shading as part of the art style, and if they rushed some things less, I think it would definitely solidify the show even more. As it stands, I still quite enjoy it, but it's not the highest title on my list of favorite anime.

I finished S2 of Arrow, and it was just as fantastic as the first season was! The final fight was pretty cool in how it was shot, as it seamlessly transitioned from the present battle to one that occurred between the two characters in the past. But it definitely didn't end off perfectly, and I'm highly anticipating where and how S3 will pick up the plot. Until then, I'll be watching S6 of The Flash!

Gaming HapPENings

So I'd played a bit of Wargroove beforehand, doing the occasional match against Preston. But now I've started the solo campaign, and I think I've fallen in love with the game. It's a strategy, turn-based combat where you move in grids to defeat the enemy. It's a bit like the fighting in Fire Emblem games, actually. The music is a total bop, which makes the title 100% accurate. Definitely a solid indie game if you're looking for more of those!

Ah, Terraria, how I've missed you. Preston and I ended up playing it again the other day for the first time in almost a year, and man, that was a nostalgia trip. We used to, back in the day, just play this together. At first we used only the text chat for talking, which is an impressive feat considering how often you need your hands free for other things. But eventually we started to voice chat, and our friendship grew as we gamed together. I think that's one reason why this game holds a special place in my heart. And now that I've dipped my toes back into it after so long, I really want to fully dive in one of these days and play it on a more regular basis.

Writerly HapPENings

Does writing blog posts count? I have been doing a lot more lately thanks to the Music Monday Awards, so that's gotta mean something. Other than that . . . nothing really. I need to get back into one of my stories sometime soon . . .

Anyway, that was February! How was it for you? Anything interesting or noteworthy happen? What have you been watching or playing lately?

The Music Monday 2020 Awards - Round 3

Would you look at that? The last matchup of the 2020 Awards has arrived at last, and boy, will it be a doozy!

But before we can begin the last phase of voting, we must first take a look at the results from the previous round. We had 11 people participating this time around, so let's see what they cast their votes for!

January, February, and March: "You Say Run" was said only 2 times. 3 people heard the "Echoes" of what was said. In the end, though, 6 people decided to "Cherish" the moment.

April, May, and June: There were 0 "Trials" in this particular matchup. 4 people were still loving that "Main Theme," but 7 others elected to watch the epic "Attack on Titan."

July, August, and September: 3 people felt the "Magic" in the air, but it was short-lived. 3 more people vacationed in the "Starshine Beach Galaxy," but it cost a lot due to a lack of popularity. However, 5 people enjoyed the thrills of being by blown away by the "Sand 'N Sails Heatgusts" while bopping their heads like crazy.

October, November, and December: There were a mere 3 people who relaxed while listening to "Utsukushiki Zankoku na Sekai." In yet another twist of fate, 4 people said "Goodbye" while 4 more heard it "In Hushed Whispers." So out comes the random decision maker with the best two out of three, and we get . . . "In Hushed Whispers" as the winner.

It's time for you to make the most difficult decision yet! Gather your courage, for it is now time for . . .

The Final Round

"Cherish" by EXO-CBX

versus "Attack on Titan" from Attack on Titan

versus "Sand 'N Sails Heatgusts" from A Hat in Time

versus "In Hushed Whispers" from Dragon Age: Inquisition

I leave this up to you, one last time. You have two weeks to deliberate over your final answer, which means that you have until Sunday, March 14th. As has always been with this part of the Awards, I ask that when you vote for your favorite song, you also give your reason as to why you chose it. If that song becomes the ultimate champion, your comments will be featured on the victory post.

The end waits for no one.