Fursa Sa'ida فرصة سعيدة

Literally "Happy chance," but it means "Nice to meet you" in Arabic. The appropriate response is "Wa ana as'ad,"--literally "and I am happier," but basically, "the pleasure is mine."

If you're looking for substance, there's a handy link called "Analysis" right down below, which I invite you to check out. The rest is shorter thoughts, humor, caps lock, and the occasional personal post. Ask me anything you like.

FYI, I co-blog a lot of pop culture, fangirly things with my dear CT over at 22drunkb. If you enjoy hilarity and flailing, head that way. ________

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Tagged music meme:

Well, hell, it’s been like a million years since I did one of these, SO. 

Music meme #9: A song that breaks your heart.

I don’t understand. Are other people just really dramatic? Do they feel these things unequivocally? AM I A TERMINATOR? (I love how every single entry in this meme has started with me going THIS QUESTION IS BULLSHIT. And yet I continue.)

Anyway, I went with Why Don’t You Call Me by James Blake, because it is the self-loathingest song I could think of. (If you’re prone to that, maybe don’t listen to it.) The lyrics are pretty much just why don’t you call me what we both know I am? over and over again, but…he has a real way of repeating words in new ways until they get into your skin.

I bet you think you hate autotune. Give it a shot anyway. This, my friends, is autotune in the service of art.

[part 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8]
Aug 22

Music meme #8: A song that reminds you of your favorite book.

Okay, this is not my favorite book, but it is my favorite book/music pairing. I read A Canticle for Leibowitz, a brilliant post-apocalyptic sci-fi novel, just after David Bowie’s second-to-last album, Heathen, came out. I listened to the CD on repeat while reading the book, and they went so well together I can’t imagine them apart. 

A Canticle for Leibowitz is set after nuclear war has destroyed most of the world. Surviving descendants, some whole, some mutated and radiation-ravaged, essentially roam a barren wilderness dotted with relics of the past (midcentury Americans are to them as Romans are to us). The only continuing link is the Catholic Church, or a version of it. It takes place in two times at once, and I won’t go into it more than that. Now might be a good time to mention that not only is the album called Heathen, but the track that for me is most inextricably linked to this novel is called Sunday. 

…a professed monk of the Albertian Order of Leibowitz, chained by chains of his own forging to the foot of the Cross and the rule of the Order. Thrice the ritual inquired of him: “If God calleth thee to be His Booklegger, wilt thou suffer death before betraying thy brethren? And thrice Francis responded, “Aye.”

So here you have it: Sunday, by David Bowie.

[part 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]
Aug 13

Music meme #7: A song that reminds your best friend of you.

Well, shit, the tough questions just keep on coming. I’ma tell you right now, I am totally punting this one. Answering this would require me to a) have a best friend (I go in more for a bunch of close friends, there’s no single bestie), b) ask them this question, c) endure the inevitable laughter, d) not hate whatever song they chose.

I was going to try to think of something that made me think of my friends, or friendship, or something, but it’s impossible. I’ve had too many different groups and kinds of friends in too many different places and times, there’s nothing that would apply to all of them and I don’t want to choose among them.

So here, have a random song I like: Don’t Go, Phantom by Jookabox. I guess it’s a spooky!rock kind of day.

[part 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]
Aug 12

Music meme #6: A song you would consider your anthem.

Jesus, that’s not a tall order at all. Meme, do you understand? I have over 12,000 songs in my collection, and that’s not even counting whatever I’ve got on Spotify that I can’t find a download for (I’m guessing it’s in the hundreds). I am also terrible at picking favorites. You can’t—I don’t—my brain doesn’t work this way.

Ugh, so there was a long process of selection and disqualification for diverse reasons that we needn’t get into. Let me just note, out of respect for the songs, that passed-over candidates included Don’t Dig - Jam Factory remix by O. Children, Shout Me Out by TV On The Radio (one of my all-time favorites), and If I Were A Weapon by Suzanne Vega (one of the all-time badassest).

Ultimately, I ended up with Burial by Miike Snow, because I like it a lot, it fits my current mood, and I interpret it as being at least partly about the need to be kind to oneself, which is something I struggle with. It’s not very anthemic, but I don’t really roll that way.

SCREW YOU, MEME, I DO WHAT I WANT

[part 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Aug 06

Music meme #5: A song that reminds you of high school.

For once, this came to me almost immediately. I spent an ungodly amount of time prepping for and taking standardized tests in high school, and they were always on Saturday mornings. Saturday Morning by The Eels was my pump-up song before heading out to some unfamiliar high school to fill in bubbles for hours.

[part 1, 2, 3, 4]
Jul 30

Music meme #4: A song that makes you think of tragic love.

This was tricky just because I have soooo muuuuch to choose from. I am a devotee of what is referred to in High Fidelity as “sad bastard music.” But I like my sad bastard music with a beat, it’s fine.

Anyway, after much deliberation, I went with Where Do I Stand by As Tall As Lions. I mean, the first lines are “Dear, I fear that we’ve gone wrong/You’ve always hung me from the gallows,” so. Also, it’s gorgeous.

[part 1, 2, 3]
Jul 28

I forgot yesterday, but whatever. Music meme post number threeeee:

3. A song that makes you think of happy love.

This song has no connection to anyone or anything. It just sounds like being in love to me.

[part 1, 2]
Jul 27

It has come to my attention that I started doing the music meme backwards, because they have inexplicably put “Day 30” at the top and “Day 1” at the bottom. Unless they want you to do it as a countdown? Also inexplicable.

I am choosing to ignore this. So, 29 it is, then, except I’m going to call it 2, and we will never discuss this again because it will get too confusing and who really cares.

Okay then!

2. A song that makes you sad

I had to think about this for a bit, because that’s not really how I consume music. I curate music to fit the mood I’m in, but it doesn’t tend to make me feel things on its own. Then again, I suspect the person who wrote this meme really wasn’t thinking that hard about it, soooooo anyway.

I went with “Twice” by Little Dragon because there’s something incredibly lonely and resigned about it. It’s not ragey, it’s not weepy, it’s not trying to do anything…it’s just a kind of murky acceptance. In wonder, steady going under. That’s the saddest of all, to me.

[part 1]
Jul 25

I sit at work and do NOTHING

Anyway, starting this music meme:

1. A song that makes you happy

Easy peasy. “Mediational Field” by Susumu Hirasawa. This song was very, very important to my sanity during my first real bout of depression, and it is just so SHINY and EPIC. Driving fast to this song is a visceral pleasure.

It’s also from Paprika, one of the stranger movies I’ve had the pleasure of seeing.
Jul 24
Jul 24

This is what happens when I have four days off in a row

Fursa Sa'ida فرصة سعيدة

Posted on Wednesday August 22nd 2012 at 11:51pm. Its tags are listed below.

Well, hell, it’s been like a million years since I did one of these, SO. 

Music meme #9: A song that breaks your heart.

I don’t understand. Are other people just really dramatic? Do they feel these things unequivocally? AM I A TERMINATOR? (I love how every single entry in this meme has started with me going THIS QUESTION IS BULLSHIT. And yet I continue.)

Anyway, I went with Why Don’t You Call Me by James Blake, because it is the self-loathingest song I could think of. (If you’re prone to that, maybe don’t listen to it.) The lyrics are pretty much just why don’t you call me what we both know I am? over and over again, but…he has a real way of repeating words in new ways until they get into your skin.

I bet you think you hate autotune. Give it a shot anyway. This, my friends, is autotune in the service of art.

[part 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8]

Fursa Sa'ida فرصة سعيدة

Posted on Monday August 13th 2012 at 05:38pm. Its tags are listed below.

Music meme #8: A song that reminds you of your favorite book.

Okay, this is not my favorite book, but it is my favorite book/music pairing. I read A Canticle for Leibowitz, a brilliant post-apocalyptic sci-fi novel, just after David Bowie’s second-to-last album, Heathen, came out. I listened to the CD on repeat while reading the book, and they went so well together I can’t imagine them apart. 

A Canticle for Leibowitz is set after nuclear war has destroyed most of the world. Surviving descendants, some whole, some mutated and radiation-ravaged, essentially roam a barren wilderness dotted with relics of the past (midcentury Americans are to them as Romans are to us). The only continuing link is the Catholic Church, or a version of it. It takes place in two times at once, and I won’t go into it more than that. Now might be a good time to mention that not only is the album called Heathen, but the track that for me is most inextricably linked to this novel is called Sunday. 

…a professed monk of the Albertian Order of Leibowitz, chained by chains of his own forging to the foot of the Cross and the rule of the Order. Thrice the ritual inquired of him: “If God calleth thee to be His Booklegger, wilt thou suffer death before betraying thy brethren? And thrice Francis responded, “Aye.”

So here you have it: Sunday, by David Bowie.

[part 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]

Fursa Sa'ida فرصة سعيدة

Posted on Sunday August 12th 2012 at 05:31pm. Its tags are listed below.

Music meme #7: A song that reminds your best friend of you.

Well, shit, the tough questions just keep on coming. I’ma tell you right now, I am totally punting this one. Answering this would require me to a) have a best friend (I go in more for a bunch of close friends, there’s no single bestie), b) ask them this question, c) endure the inevitable laughter, d) not hate whatever song they chose.

I was going to try to think of something that made me think of my friends, or friendship, or something, but it’s impossible. I’ve had too many different groups and kinds of friends in too many different places and times, there’s nothing that would apply to all of them and I don’t want to choose among them.

So here, have a random song I like: Don’t Go, Phantom by Jookabox. I guess it’s a spooky!rock kind of day.

[part 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]

Fursa Sa'ida فرصة سعيدة

Posted on Monday August 6th 2012 at 02:36pm. Its tags are listed below.

Music meme #6: A song you would consider your anthem.

Jesus, that’s not a tall order at all. Meme, do you understand? I have over 12,000 songs in my collection, and that’s not even counting whatever I’ve got on Spotify that I can’t find a download for (I’m guessing it’s in the hundreds). I am also terrible at picking favorites. You can’t—I don’t—my brain doesn’t work this way.

Ugh, so there was a long process of selection and disqualification for diverse reasons that we needn’t get into. Let me just note, out of respect for the songs, that passed-over candidates included Don’t Dig - Jam Factory remix by O. Children, Shout Me Out by TV On The Radio (one of my all-time favorites), and If I Were A Weapon by Suzanne Vega (one of the all-time badassest).

Ultimately, I ended up with Burial by Miike Snow, because I like it a lot, it fits my current mood, and I interpret it as being at least partly about the need to be kind to oneself, which is something I struggle with. It’s not very anthemic, but I don’t really roll that way.

SCREW YOU, MEME, I DO WHAT I WANT

[part 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Fursa Sa'ida فرصة سعيدة

Posted on Monday July 30th 2012 at 12:27pm. Its tags are listed below.

Music meme #5: A song that reminds you of high school.

For once, this came to me almost immediately. I spent an ungodly amount of time prepping for and taking standardized tests in high school, and they were always on Saturday mornings. Saturday Morning by The Eels was my pump-up song before heading out to some unfamiliar high school to fill in bubbles for hours.

[part 1, 2, 3, 4]

Fursa Sa'ida فرصة سعيدة

Posted on Saturday July 28th 2012 at 07:06pm. Its tags are listed below.

Music meme #4: A song that makes you think of tragic love.

This was tricky just because I have soooo muuuuch to choose from. I am a devotee of what is referred to in High Fidelity as “sad bastard music.” But I like my sad bastard music with a beat, it’s fine.

Anyway, after much deliberation, I went with Where Do I Stand by As Tall As Lions. I mean, the first lines are “Dear, I fear that we’ve gone wrong/You’ve always hung me from the gallows,” so. Also, it’s gorgeous.

[part 1, 2, 3]

Fursa Sa'ida فرصة سعيدة

Posted on Friday July 27th 2012 at 08:31pm. Its tags are listed below.

I forgot yesterday, but whatever. Music meme post number threeeee:

3. A song that makes you think of happy love.

This song has no connection to anyone or anything. It just sounds like being in love to me.

[part 1, 2]

Fursa Sa'ida فرصة سعيدة

Posted on Wednesday July 25th 2012 at 02:50pm. Its tags are listed below.

It has come to my attention that I started doing the music meme backwards, because they have inexplicably put “Day 30” at the top and “Day 1” at the bottom. Unless they want you to do it as a countdown? Also inexplicable.

I am choosing to ignore this. So, 29 it is, then, except I’m going to call it 2, and we will never discuss this again because it will get too confusing and who really cares.

Okay then!

2. A song that makes you sad

I had to think about this for a bit, because that’s not really how I consume music. I curate music to fit the mood I’m in, but it doesn’t tend to make me feel things on its own. Then again, I suspect the person who wrote this meme really wasn’t thinking that hard about it, soooooo anyway.

I went with “Twice” by Little Dragon because there’s something incredibly lonely and resigned about it. It’s not ragey, it’s not weepy, it’s not trying to do anything…it’s just a kind of murky acceptance. In wonder, steady going under. That’s the saddest of all, to me.

[part 1]

This is what happens when I have four days off in a row

Posted on Tuesday July 24th 2012 at 01:14pm. Its tags are listed below.

This is what happens when I have four days off in a row

I sit at work and do NOTHING

Anyway, starting this music meme:

1. A song that makes you happy

Easy peasy. “Mediational Field” by Susumu Hirasawa. This song was very, very important to my sanity during my first real bout of depression, and it is just so SHINY and EPIC. Driving fast to this song is a visceral pleasure.

It’s also from Paprika, one of the stranger movies I’ve had the pleasure of seeing.

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