Les Miserables, the musical.

When I first watched Les Miserables I was around 5 years old. My mother owned the 10th anniversary tape, which I still watch today. She had it on the tv, sitting on the floor watching it. I came skipping in to spend some time with her and she introduced me to the magnificent composure and plot of Les Mis. At that age I didn't quite understand what was going on but I fell in love with the music just the same. I didn't need to know what all the words meant to enjoy it. All I knew was that I was watching something amazing. These people belting out, showing such emotion I didn't really know how to describe was overwhelming. Colum wilonsin, lea Solonga, and Michael ball - just to name a few- hit notes that are almost godly. Their voices are like gifts from angels! There is no moment when you can't feel the emotion or story in their song. It gives you butterflies. Leaves you in tears and shivering in delight. The story in itself is breathtakingly heartbreaking and exciting, the actors/actress only bring it more to life.

As I grew older my understanding of the musical grew too. I'd spend my days humming the songs, asking my mother to sit down and watch it with me. Everything about it was so enticing I couldn't seem to get enough of it. I feel the same way now. I have seen the musical two times and am hoping to see it a third time very soon. I have watched the dream cast of the 10th anniversary more times than I can even begin to count. I don't go a day without listening to the songs, or the whole album even. Les Miserables is a part of me, my history, my inspiration, and start in loving musicals. 

It reminds me of my mother, the way she took in music as if feeling it herself. She passed away about nine years ago when I was eight and every time I listen to Les Miserables I remember her, in all her greatness. I am now seventeen, going on eighteen, and cant even begin to describe the feelings I have for this musical. Its my all time favorite and always will be. Les Mis isn't just about a man who stole a loaf of bread, its a number of back stories, of morals and dismay. Its about religion- having faith, losing it, and finding it. Its about the law and its boundaries, redemption, forgiveness, love, and even hate. Anyone can relate to any of the characters and that's what makes it so unbelievable. I was a very happy camper to see it back on tour, to be able to see it while I have the full understanding of its entirety. Les Miserables is a timeless classic that helps me get through all my tough times. I can put on the music and suddenly all my worries fade. There is just something so.. divine about the music, it's melody, that I can't seem to feel bad when listening to it. Not only does it remind me of my mother, it reminds me that everyone is human. Has flaws, has troubles. And that it doesn't matter how bad you mess up, there is always a light if you choose to take it. 

I even have the novel by Victor Hugo which was published in 1862. I've read it and wrote many essays about the novel, as well as the musical, which came out on Broadway on March 12, 1987; for school over the years. To be able to know of this musical, to have taken it in so young and still be able to feel chills when listening to it, is ultimately the best feeling ever. It will never get old and I hope it never dies. Twenty five years strong and counting. 

Some favorite quotes.

1. "When life gives you a hundred reasons to cry, show life you have a hundred reasons to smile."

Because if you really try, you'll find there is no need to cry. There is always something better than what you're seeing up front. Always a brighter side, something to keep you holding on. You just have to try and find that, no matter how hard it is.

2. "With all there is, why settle for just a piece of sky?"

Kind of explains itself, yeah? Why settle for something. Reach for what you want, because there is so much out there.

3. "The time had come to try my wings, even though at any moment I could fall."

It's always right to try something. After all, if you don't try because you're afraid, you'll never learn or move on. Its okay to make mistakes, because trying gets you somewhere. 

4. "You were born an original, don't die a copy."

Be yourself. Not somebody else. Do what you want, not what others want. 

5. "We all live such fragile lives."

It doesn't matter how strong we are.. How rich or famous. We are all the same, deep down. We're human.  We can be hurt emotionally and physically. We are fragile, in all our own ways, to what can break us down. That's why we should live to the fullest, and not believe we are better than anyone else. Because that's a load of crap. 

6. "Forget regret, or life is yours to miss."

If you dwell on regretting something you didn't do.. You can't move on and enjoy yourself.

7. "No one says it's easy. And no one says you have to be perfect, but as long as you try; you're always gonna find it was worth it."

Even if that something doesn't turn out the way you wanted, you learned something. Experienced something, and that, you'll find, is always worth it. 

8. "All the art of living lies in a fine mingling of letting go and holding on."

You can't fully live your life if you are too busy holding on to something that brings you down. Sometimes you have to let go.

9. "Laughter is the best medicine."

My mother said this. And it's so true. You feel great when you laugh, Why do you think you cant laugh without smiling? If you're feeling down.. laughter is the best way to feeling better.

10. "Intelligence without ambition is a bird without wings."

If you have something grand, and don't use it, let it waste away.. You're letting yourself down, not to mention others. You're missing out on bettering yourself.

11. "An eye for an eye only ends with the whole world blind."

There are better ways to resolve things than violence and revenge.. because in the end, someone always gets hurt. Even people that weren't meant to. 

12. "Music is what feelings sound like."

Music is like a therapist. It can help you through anything.

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And that's just a little taste of some of the quotes I am really fond of. Of course there are loads more. :D

Uproar Festival, MA!

The Uproar Festival was great! :D
Bands that were playing: Black tide. Art of Dying. Hell or Highwater. SevenDust. Escape the fate. Bullet for my Valentine. Seether. Three Days Grace. Aveneged Sevenfold. 


I went to the concert with my brother and his girlfriend, and we were a little..Okay, a lot, late. We missed Black Tide, Art of Dying, and Hell or Highwater. We were listening to a band coming into the place, but I am not sure which one of those bands it was. We hung around in the shade listening to them too, as well as watching girls run around in their bras, which was utterly ridiculous; until SevenDust came on. And then we headed over to the side stage. They were pretty good! The mosh was body surfing and everything. I even saw some panties, I believe, being thrown on the stage. Definitely a good watch. After them, everyone rushed to the main stage where Escape the Fate set it off.

Are seats were actually really good, but you cant tell in the photos. Oh poo.

They were alright for me, talked a lot between songs. My brother, however, really enjoyed them. After all, I don't listen to them usually, so it was kind of new for me; their songs. Then they introduced Bullet for my Valentine, where they were kind of muffled, and I could only make out some words. Didn't really do it for me, but still a great performance, and I'm totally grateful to be able to see them, as well as Escape the Fate and all the other bands. Kind of a once in a lifetime thing. Bands like these don't always shoot over to Boston. Like when I saw Green Day. The last time they played here was in the 90's. :O

After Bullet for my Valentine, Seether came out.

For a lot of the show, there wasn't any people in front of us. Not until later it filled up a little more.

And I'm gonna have to say, they were great. You can't see in the picture, but they had little TVs set up, which was pretty creative. They were scratchy and showing odd images. Pretty steller. They didn't talk a lot, and just played the music. I liked that a lot because they were just getting down to business. Not to mention, they are great live! And everyone was singing "Broken" when they played the song. Great performance on their part. My brother usually isn't a fan of Seether, but hearing them live changed that. He also enjoyed them a lot, which says a lot about their performance.

I'm gonna have to admit, I went there for Avenged Sevenfold, but Three Days Grace was the best performance, in my opinion; and was after Seether. Though A7X's stage set up was beast. It was truly amazing with that big skull shooting off fire and such. Imagine how much work the people put in putting that together?

I felt like the music was too overpowering, where you couldn't hear M Shadows too good. He was kind of muffled in most songs they played. But they sounded just like they did on their album, regardless, when you could hear him clearly. They did a good performance and it seemed everyone was having a good time when they came on. I really enjoyed "A little Piece of Heaven" It's such a twisted song, but it's so catchy; and they went all out with it. xD But I was very excited to see M Shadows and Synyster Gates. They're soo good looking, and of course have amazing personalities to match; just being in the same room as them is exciting. :)

"After life"

Three Days Grace however, you could hear every word clear, the music was loud enough, and of course their songs are all great, and fun to sing along to. They were told not to sing "Riot", but of course they disobeyed and had the whole audience screaming fuck you. xD And then they played it and everyone went wild, which I really enjoyed.

They talked a little but, just enough to get everything rolling between songs; and rocked out most of the time. Everything sounded just like their albums, maybe even a little better; for me at least. I stood up for them, obviously. I didn't realize how much I loved them until I saw them live. How is that for a good experience?

"Home" My camera stopped the video because I got a text. 

Only sad thing about this was that they all had to be in Washington DC the next day, seeing as our concert was moved because of the hurricane warning.. Poor things, having to drive through all the night and most of the day to get to their next venue on time and rush on. Hopefully it was a good turn out for them over there!

I really enjoyed my time there and would totally do another festival again. :)

Step up and love yourself. :)

Exorcism, by Heather Keith Freeman.

I absolutely love what the artist wrote here:

“You know that incredibly loathsome phrase, ‘Inside every fat person is a thin person struggling to get out?’

Well, it’s kind of true. Except the thin person is not the perfectly healthy, sexy ideal person our culture would like you to believe. No, the thin person inside us is artificially starved, surgically reproportioned, plastic sculpted to make us perfectly pretty, empty-headed dolls.

The thin person inside us is Barbie.

GET IT OUT OF ME.

This is the representation of the voice in our ear whispering that we are worthless, ugly freaks if we don’t spend every spare moment exercising and every meal eating salad.

This is the urge to read the fashion magazines that leave us feeling shamed and fat and poor.

This is every cringe when we look in the mirror in the morning and see nothing but flaws.

This is the Disney princess and the Playboy centerfold and the meanest, prettiest cheerleader in the school.

This is the plastic mantra that we can’t unhear, repeating incessantly that we are only valued by our appearance, and by whether men want to fuck us.

And it’s inside me, permeating my being, poisoning my mind in ways I don’t even realize because it’s always been there.

GET IT OUT OF ME.”

It couldn’t be more true. I know because I go through this. Though I keep a front, I am not happy with my body for the most part. Sometimes I envy the skinnier/fit girl. In fact, more than ever now. Not because I think we should all be these little skinny gremlins, but because I just don’t feel good in my skin. In no way am I obese, I just have some extra pounds that don’t need to be there. But we have to love ourselves for who we are, instead of trying to be something we’re not. In my case, I’m not changing myself, I’m still me; just a little bit more healthier. I’m changing because I feel that I’ll be more comfortable in my skin. Changing ourselves to please others is wrong, on all levels.. Of course there is room for change, in anything really, but we should do it for ourselves instead of others; to fit their expectations or wants. To fit in a society where everything is messed up in it’s own twisted way.

We live in a society that isn’t fair, is judgmental, controlling, and down right crude. Our society accepts outrageous concepts, drives on drama related TV shows, and the ideal dream of becoming this fake barbie doll that rids us of our modesty and dignity. Be happy with who you are, what you’ve come to be, or are striving to be. Because you’re wonderful just the way you are. Appearance isn’t everything, in fact it should come last on a scale of who you are. In the dream world I want, society excepts everyone for who they are and isn’t brain washing people into thinking their nothing special. Because everyone is special in their own way, in their own time; where they can shine. But only if they believe in themselves and have that rightful confidence.

Not to end on an even more corny note, but Green Day has spelled it out for us. Let’s be the Minority.