There is currently a contest running for fans of Noah and the Whale to design artwork for their song "Old Joy", which as I'm not a graphic designed at all I hadn't been involved with or given much attention to. But someone I follow on Tumblr was talking about it, so I followed a link to a website where you can view and vote for the covers people have designed and scrolled through some of them.
I was left feeling vaguely confused, because all of the submissions I saw were beautiful, and although really good representations of the songs I felt sort of disappointed and betrayed.
The cover designs were so pretty. There were pictures of hands holding hearts, several doves, clouds and skies. The thing that a lot of them had in common was a reflection of peace.
If you're unfamiliar, the main, repeated one line of the song is:
"I'll sing day by day,
Old joy comes back to me."
And all of the artists that had designed really nice covers seem to have taken the idea of the returning of "old joy" to be a good thing. They’re probably not, but I realised I never have.
To me, past the hope and contentment in “Old Joy” there’s always been a melancholy side to it. I think it’s a personal thing, the mind going through a cycle. Everything will be okay, there’ll be a balance, being alive is contentment. And then something amazing happens. Maybe it’s falling in love, or going to a really beautiful place, and it’s like seeing the stars. Everything is more than just right, it’s perfect and magic and full.
The effects of this being taken away, being left by a lover or having to go home, or just the ending of a certain event or period of time are horrible. Once you’ve been that happy it’s so hard to go back, to get up and eat and work all day and watch TV and sleep, again and again and again. It’s indescribably difficult to have to be surrounded by people who just don’t understand what you’ve seen.
There’s a line in the song: “Tall buildings and a wife won’t be enough for me.”
I really hope that means what I think it does. That it’s not enough. That there’s more to the world.
And then, over time, it gets better. The blinding cloth falls slowly back over your shutting eyes. “Normality” restores. It’s horrible but true, that you once again have to become content with all that there is. And to me, that’s what “Old Joy” is about. “Old joy” is the small things, the things we have to find pleasure in because it’s all there really is.
Thursday 26 January 2012
Monday 2 January 2012
New Years Resolutions, and then why I don't like them
Last year, I wrote this post where I listed New Year's resolutions for 2011.
1. KICK THE ASS OUTTA SOME GCSES.
I’m going to be optimistic and cross this off, because I haven’t really had any bad grades in the exams I’ve gotten so far. I’m also getting a more realistic grasp of how well I can do.
2.WRITE STUFF, ALL THE TIME
This I failed – I barely got into any writing projects outside of NaNoWriMo in November, excluding short things.
3. BE MUSICAL
I’m a lot better at guitar than I was this time last year! Also I did learn to play “Creep” on the ukulele, which was in there, though the piano thing didn’t really happen. We also started opening for a local band in the second half of this year, which makes me happy as we play shows every few weeks now.
(I’m excluding 4 and 5 from this, mostly because 1) They were quite vague and 2) I think reviewing my own appearance and personality would either make me seem vain or too self-critical).
6.GO TO A LOT OF GIGS
This I did do, and I’m crossing it off though I didn’t see anyone from that list. 2011 was the year I discovered the entire community of music springing from predominantly Noah and the Whale, Laura Marling and Mumford and Sons (the first of who I both saw twice, and Laura I met which was one of my favourite things that happened). I also went to a Kina Grannis concert, which I’ve been waiting to do for years, and I saw Death Cab For Cutie, Wakey!Wakey! and even Owl City. And I’m going to continue with this next year, because it makes me broke but is my favourite thing in the world to do.
7. "GET THE GUY"
Haha, not in the sense I thought I meant. But some things happened and circumstances changed, so
8.GET FIT
I wouldn’t say so entirely, but I go running a lot more often than I used to – I got into a stage of about two weeks where I went for a run at 5:30 before school, but those things never last very long. I think I achieved “get to a sensible exercise routine and accept that I’m never going to be that athletic”.
(the other funny thing about it is that if you go back and read the original post, I talked about how Costa caramel lattes are fattening. I’m sat with one of those right now.)
9.READ, WATCH MOVIES, DISCOVER MUSIC I SHOULD KNOW ABOUT
I think I did this – I read a lot more, and also discovered and rediscovered singers and bands who are now some of my favourites.
10.LIVE LIFE ON THE EDGE
I think in the last twelve months, I’ve been in more dangerous situations than ever before – by that I don’t mean life-threatening or anything, I mean adventures; I went on a three day, weird kind of pilgrimage to the other side of the country scared and alone. There was also a situation at 3am in a chicken restaurant when I felt like I was going to be murdered, a story probably not worth explaining for the amount of funny it was. In summary, things happened to me which seemed normal at the time but probably would have shocked me if I’d been told about them this time last year. So whether or not that’s a good thing, it’s off the list.
2012 NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS
If there’s anything I’ve learnt from filling out last year’s list, it’s that vague resolutions are stupid and hard to comprehend later on.
1. Learn to play piano.
The way I can play piano is pretty much cheating, and I want to be able to read sheet music as quickly as my hands move, instead of having to slowly comprehend things.
2. Quit German.
I can have this crossed off the list by Thursday if I’m brave, which I’m not – basically I took an extra GCSE class, which I barely attend, have an awful teacher and am really behind in. I’ve been meaning to stop since about September, but I’m too much of a coward to tell my teacher because of how easy it’ll be. Just like ripping off a plaster.
I’m starting to think I don’t completely agree with New Year’s resolutions – we get too caught up in calling a new year a “new start”. We talk about all of the things we’ll stop, like eating chocolate and worrying about work and watching too much TV instead of exercising, as if the year gone was full of mistakes and regrets. And maybe parts of it were for me, but at the same time we should think about the good in us, the things we achieved and carry that on into the next year, which is really just a changed date. I want to carry on with music, carry on going to shows and saving up money so that I can travel. I want to stay close with my friends after we leave school.
I don’t want to get into complaining about high school too much, because it’s kind of tedious, but it’s strange and also quite comforting to think that in just over five months everything’s going to be over, everything holding us down.
It's funny, writing this post and reading back on what I wrote last year made me realise I used to be much more willing to share a lot about my personal life on here. I’ve probably been sitting in Costa too long now for the amount that I’ve bought, so I’m going to go. I’ll see you tomorrow!
- Lizzie x
I’m going to be optimistic and cross this off, because I haven’t really had any bad grades in the exams I’ve gotten so far. I’m also getting a more realistic grasp of how well I can do.
2.WRITE STUFF, ALL THE TIME
This I failed – I barely got into any writing projects outside of NaNoWriMo in November, excluding short things.
3.
I’m a lot better at guitar than I was this time last year! Also I did learn to play “Creep” on the ukulele, which was in there, though the piano thing didn’t really happen. We also started opening for a local band in the second half of this year, which makes me happy as we play shows every few weeks now.
(I’m excluding 4 and 5 from this, mostly because 1) They were quite vague and 2) I think reviewing my own appearance and personality would either make me seem vain or too self-critical).
6.
This I did do, and I’m crossing it off though I didn’t see anyone from that list. 2011 was the year I discovered the entire community of music springing from predominantly Noah and the Whale, Laura Marling and Mumford and Sons (the first of who I both saw twice, and Laura I met which was one of my favourite things that happened). I also went to a Kina Grannis concert, which I’ve been waiting to do for years, and I saw Death Cab For Cutie, Wakey!Wakey! and even Owl City. And I’m going to continue with this next year, because it makes me broke but is my favourite thing in the world to do.
7. "GET THE GUY"
Haha, not in the sense I thought I meant. But some things happened and circumstances changed, so
8.
I wouldn’t say so entirely, but I go running a lot more often than I used to – I got into a stage of about two weeks where I went for a run at 5:30 before school, but those things never last very long. I think I achieved “get to a sensible exercise routine and accept that I’m never going to be that athletic”.
(the other funny thing about it is that if you go back and read the original post, I talked about how Costa caramel lattes are fattening. I’m sat with one of those right now.)
9.
I think I did this – I read a lot more, and also discovered and rediscovered singers and bands who are now some of my favourites.
10.
I think in the last twelve months, I’ve been in more dangerous situations than ever before – by that I don’t mean life-threatening or anything, I mean adventures; I went on a three day, weird kind of pilgrimage to the other side of the country scared and alone. There was also a situation at 3am in a chicken restaurant when I felt like I was going to be murdered, a story probably not worth explaining for the amount of funny it was. In summary, things happened to me which seemed normal at the time but probably would have shocked me if I’d been told about them this time last year. So whether or not that’s a good thing, it’s off the list.
2012 NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS
If there’s anything I’ve learnt from filling out last year’s list, it’s that vague resolutions are stupid and hard to comprehend later on.
1. Learn to play piano.
The way I can play piano is pretty much cheating, and I want to be able to read sheet music as quickly as my hands move, instead of having to slowly comprehend things.
2. Quit German.
I can have this crossed off the list by Thursday if I’m brave, which I’m not – basically I took an extra GCSE class, which I barely attend, have an awful teacher and am really behind in. I’ve been meaning to stop since about September, but I’m too much of a coward to tell my teacher because of how easy it’ll be. Just like ripping off a plaster.
I’m starting to think I don’t completely agree with New Year’s resolutions – we get too caught up in calling a new year a “new start”. We talk about all of the things we’ll stop, like eating chocolate and worrying about work and watching too much TV instead of exercising, as if the year gone was full of mistakes and regrets. And maybe parts of it were for me, but at the same time we should think about the good in us, the things we achieved and carry that on into the next year, which is really just a changed date. I want to carry on with music, carry on going to shows and saving up money so that I can travel. I want to stay close with my friends after we leave school.
I don’t want to get into complaining about high school too much, because it’s kind of tedious, but it’s strange and also quite comforting to think that in just over five months everything’s going to be over, everything holding us down.
It's funny, writing this post and reading back on what I wrote last year made me realise I used to be much more willing to share a lot about my personal life on here. I’ve probably been sitting in Costa too long now for the amount that I’ve bought, so I’m going to go. I’ll see you tomorrow!
- Lizzie x
Sunday 1 January 2012
Happy New Year!
Hello! Happy 2012!
I've been in various different places in France during the last week, and on our last night stayed at my parents' friend's house in a little town near Bolonge. We spent New Year's Eve attempting to light Thai lanterns on a stormy beach at midnight, and drinking champagne.
So here's a thing that's happening. I am going to try and write a blog every day in January.
You might remember that I attempted this last Febuary, and failed, but I'm giving myself the excuse that back then I had a few other things going on, and I've always thought January is a bit of a nothing month, at least for me. And it's not like I have anything important to do... no GCSE chemistry exams I'm completley unprepared for or stuff like that...
The other reason I *might* not fail is that I have A Plan this time. So I feel good about that, that each day I can check my notes when I have nothing to write about, except today just says "introduction and explain" and there's not a whole lot of context to that, it just seemed like it would be easy when I was rapidly scribbling down plans for this.
Anyway. I think that was sufficient enough to be a first post.
I'll see you tomorrow, but I should warn you that tomorrow's going to be the blog where I get soppy about New Year's resolutions. So if you want to miss out on that, the day after that. And that.
This is going to be horrible.
I hope you all had a good Christmas and New Year's! Much love,
Lizzie x
PS
I edited left over camera footage that didn't fit anywhere else because it seemed a good time to clear some space. Contains: Immi at the Royal Albert Hall, London many times, a train ride, some of my other favourite musicians, my grandma's wedding and Poppy's friends and family in a park with ducks.
I've been in various different places in France during the last week, and on our last night stayed at my parents' friend's house in a little town near Bolonge. We spent New Year's Eve attempting to light Thai lanterns on a stormy beach at midnight, and drinking champagne.
So here's a thing that's happening. I am going to try and write a blog every day in January.
You might remember that I attempted this last Febuary, and failed, but I'm giving myself the excuse that back then I had a few other things going on, and I've always thought January is a bit of a nothing month, at least for me. And it's not like I have anything important to do... no GCSE chemistry exams I'm completley unprepared for or stuff like that...
The other reason I *might* not fail is that I have A Plan this time. So I feel good about that, that each day I can check my notes when I have nothing to write about, except today just says "introduction and explain" and there's not a whole lot of context to that, it just seemed like it would be easy when I was rapidly scribbling down plans for this.
Anyway. I think that was sufficient enough to be a first post.
I'll see you tomorrow, but I should warn you that tomorrow's going to be the blog where I get soppy about New Year's resolutions. So if you want to miss out on that, the day after that. And that.
This is going to be horrible.
I hope you all had a good Christmas and New Year's! Much love,
Lizzie x
PS
I edited left over camera footage that didn't fit anywhere else because it seemed a good time to clear some space. Contains: Immi at the Royal Albert Hall, London many times, a train ride, some of my other favourite musicians, my grandma's wedding and Poppy's friends and family in a park with ducks.
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