Epic and Heartwrenching: Metal Music Recommendations
Two days ago I got H.I.M.’s album from last month, Screamworks: Love in Theory and Practice. A little mainstream but still beautiful. I’ve now returned to metal music, as these days I’ve been focused too much on playing classical and listening to DBSK (both on other ends of the spectrum). And since many people are wondering about (aka questioning) my taste in music, I’ve decided to list my favorite bands and their songs, with live or studio videos for each.
I may not be entirely objective…most of these bands are Finnish, and I am very biased when it comes to my favorite musicians: Tuomas, Emppu, Eicca, Perttu, Ville, Alexi, and Henkka. (Only Eicca is married at the moment, so hehehe.) Tuomas has thanked me publicly and Emppu knows of my existence.
Oh, as for the heaviest metal…I cannot guarantee clean language (I forgot some of the lyrics) but Children of Bodom and Wintersun are the only melodic death metal bands I can listen to without covering my ears.
SYMPHONIC:
Nightwish
Ever Dream (live with Tarja)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W39WaGTPnvg
Just before the band fired Tarja. It made Tuomas cry, so I obviously cried too.
Phantom of the Opera (live Tarja and Marco duet)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lj7WrKfw6n0
The audience burst into tears. Amazing operatics.
The Siren (live with Tarja)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlYBsdvFORU
Sahara (with Anette)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aImI9UfdiU
May he now rest in Elysian Fields…
7 Days to the Wolves (with Anette)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVYEVYnuuME
Tarja
Damned and Divine
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6Y5WQUWPzM
The Seer (with lyrics)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGKc_fSoZ5w
Epica
Cry for the Moon (live)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2wvH3m3hHs
Never Enough (music video)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfLtA8SkmVw
Amberian Dawn
River of Tuoni
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LVIca35Evk
LOL it’s female-fronted and the audience is entirely male…
CELLO:
Apocalyptica
Romance
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14sRksQGgts
Perttu’s true hair color is actually blond…and isn’t Eicca’s accent mmmm?
One (Metallica cover)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JjQGt7WjK0
Fade to Black (Metallica cover)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x97f-_y93a0
Bittersweet (Apo + Ville of H.I.M. + Lauri of The Rasmus)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJIVdoyrgpI
LOVE:
H.I.M.
Love the Hardest Way
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGySQFaH008
Love’s the devil counting teardrops in the rain…
Killing Loneliness With You (live)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xB8G0zeRSWU
Poison Girl (live)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRDOth5A7uQ
Love his jacket.
PROGRESSIVE:
Cohobation (unsigned)
Eden
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmgdklEQrrU
This song, among others, was written and composed by the lead guitarist/second singer John N-T when he was younger than I am now. I talked to him a few times before and would go to Sweden just to see the band.
MELODIC DEATH:
Children of Bodom
Angels Don’t Kill (Live HD)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qc5wyajR0z4
Hate Crew Deathroll
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSlTJ9YHdr0
Triple Corpse Hammerblow (with lyrics)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPB0TOlayy0
Summer (Vivaldi cover, Alexi and Roope)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2iLIhLv8LuY
Winter Sun
Starchild
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lc4WFzl-6Xs
And a Finnish cover artist:
Wintersun – Winter Madness Solo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozA234H0vFU
Wintersun – Death and the Healing Solo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04MLyyjW5TI
Vivaldi/Bach Stuff
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmNMW352Zj4
I’ve been a fan of that Finnish guitarist for well over a year. His fingers are amazing, eh?
A French cover artist and composer:
Various metal/rock covers
http://www.youtube.com/user/BahamutZero62
Original compositions
http://www.myspace.com/JeromeBailly
Symphonic with a lot of piano. I ran into him two years ago and have been a fan ever since.
Blog Reborn
Ah, since my hostess at erebiel.net will no longer renew her domain, I’ve moved my blog to my own domain. I’ve now named my blog ‘Sunshine Aficionada,’ which is my motto. And the new theme may not seem to reflect my blog title, but in truth it mirrors my unfathomable side, immersed in the unknown and the impossible. The glow of the moon, the dark waters, the haunting of a ghost ship…very mysterious and sci-fi, eh? Just perfect for my novel in the works.
After all, in the midst of busy busy life – school, interviews, violin, web design, writing – I trade a little bit of sleep for some of the finer enjoyments of life…DBSK, wuxia, and space opera addictions to name a few.
My Angel's 24th Birthday ♥
Since Korea/Japan is much earlier as far as time zones are concerned, it can’t hurt to post this a few hours early, right? It’s almost January 26th, so I don’t care if I’ve made three blog posts in one day. Jaejoong has taught me to defy normality.
So this is my favorite out of all the poems I’ve written…and it’s with Jaejoong in mind. Actually, I was thinking about Junsu’s voice during one of the lines. *smacks self for being fickle* Okay, just consider it my tribute to all of DBSK, but primarily Jaejoong – and since it’s his birthday, this is for Jaejoong only.
Loving You
We are a world apart.
You glow in the spotlight, capturing hearts with every tender smile.
Always you are surrounded by the red ocean of your admirers.
I weave through fifty thousand fans to reach the stage and touch your fingertips.
Only your trembling hands betray your burden of unparalleled fame.
My heart plays fireworks every precious moment I am in your presence.
♥
Unfathomable, your eyes are my sunrise.
Your voice is gentle magic, melting hearts of steel bit by bit.
Your charisma is the glittering sun breaking through stormy clouds.
Your back view resembles falling white snow, lonelier than the moonlight.
You are more than the air I breathe.
You are mine, a song I will never finish singing.
…….♥………♥
…..♥……………♥
…♥………………..♥
..♥………………….♥
.♥……………………♥… ……♥….♥
♥…………………….♥… ♥…………..♥
.♥…………………….♥.. ……………..♥
..♥…………………….♥. ……………♥
…♥….Jaejoong……………….. …♥
…..♥…………………… ……….♥
……..♥………………… ……♥
………..♥……………… ….♥
……………♥………….. .♥
………………♥……….♥
…………………♥…..♥
………………….♥..♥
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……………………..♥
I’m such a fangirl, I know. But double J is infinitely special to me.
Lovers
Dear me, two blog posts in a day! Actually, this is a result of having eighth period LE and outlines saved in Google Docs. This week is going to be *terribly* busy, but at least I can revel in once again having perfect grades. Perhaps having 5 A’s and 2 A+’s in 5 AP’s, 1 advanced class, and gym will make up for my dismal first marking period grades, in which my fizziks grade made me thoroughly ashamed of myself.
In another effort to console myself, I shall post all the guys I’ve ever liked…in three categories but otherwise no particular order. Y’all know how fickle and drooly I am. I would happily marry any of the eternal lovers, and possibly the sweethearts, although the extended flings are…one-sided flings after all. Methinks I have unparalleled taste in men. In time I may add to this list, but it is after the accumulation of ALL my favorites over my seventeen years.
The Eternal Lover (a galaxy past obsession)
Kim Jaejoong and Kim Junsu (DBSK)
Cho Kyuhyun and Yesung (Kim Jongwoon) (Super Junior)
Tuomas Holopainen and Emppu Vuorinen (Nightwish)
Fitzwilliam Darcy (Pride and Prejudice)
Jean-Claude and Asher (Anita Blake Vampire Hunter Series)
The Sweetheart (over the moon past obsession)
Jung Yunho, Park Yoochun, and Shim Changmin (DBSK)
Kim Jonghyun, Onew (Lee Jinki), and Key (Kim Kibum) (SHINee)
Shinobu Sensui, Itsuki, Karasu, Hiei, Sakyo, and Yomi (Yu Yu Hakusho)
Sheftu (Mara, Daughter of the Nile)
Gilbert Blythe (Anne of Green Gables)
Kell Moreland/Hakan Thorikell (Between Light and Shadows, unpublished)
Demmi (Scepter of Light, unpublished)
Marik Barok (Shadow Union, unpublished)
Spike (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
Kyo Sohma (Fruits Basket)
The Extended Fling (healthy obsession)
Orion (my Finnish friend )
Rafael Nadal
Roger Federer
Perttu Kivilaakso and Eicca Toppinen (Apocalyptica)
Legolas Greenleaf (The Lord of the Rings)
Severus Snape (Harry Potter)
Ouyang Ke and Yang Kang (Legend of Condor Heroes)
Lestat de Lioncourt (The Vampire Chronicles)
V (V for Vendetta)
Nicholas Teo
Mike He
Kim Bum
Wu Zun
Chen Kun
An Interesting Weekend
My life was quite eventful this past three-day weekend. Friday was spent on DBSK and Nightwish drool, and four episodes of Autumn’s Concerto (the preview got me frustrated waiting for the next episode to come out Sunday). And I prepped a bit for my interview.
Bright and early Saturday morning was my Harvard interview at a cafe. It was short but fantastic, with a very friendly Ph.D. candidate in child clinical psychology. But I ruined it at the very end by spilling my beautiful very berry smoothie all under the downstairs couch. And the stupid cashier tried to steal sixteen bucks, as if I wouldn’t notice only receiving a nickel for change after giving him a twenty for a smoothie!
That night I actually realized that the Sorry Sorry Answer song had been released over a month ago, even though I thought it wasn’t out yet because several weeks ago I had favorited a “making of the MV” vid. Mmmmm Kyuhyun like a prince on his throne! Black and white filming style! Siwon getting dressed and Donghae rapping! So much luxury…watches, candles, vintage records, champagne, library, black car…*drool*
Sunday wasn’t too fun with calc homework, long rehearsal, and physics…but then I found a high quality version of the latest Autumn’s Concerto episode uploaded so soon, and got an epic wuxia-modern crossover story update from my awesome twin. In my part of the story, I was saved from poison during my encounter with Ouyang Ke – while Prince Junsu and Advisor Jaejoong had search parties out for me, the kidnapped palace maid – by none other than Kyuhyun, who was singing and playing the flute as I rested! And I got accepted to adopt the fanlisting for Jung Yunho (U-Know), the leader of my favorite group DBSK! Whoooooooo!!
New Year's Resolutions
Happy (belated) New Year. Whoo zen in 2010.
A very rudimentary resolutions list:
Academic
1. Stop being slightly OCD about perfect handwriting.
2. Don’t get below a B+ in physics or calc.
3. Hopefully get over two more college acceptances (highest likelihood of four acceptances out of seven).
4. Unleash some more brainpower in class (bad tendency to doze or obsess over handwriting).
Fandom
1. Actually finish one of the four novels I’ve started that are still at page 30 or so. Hopefully first priority will be my new sci-fi novel, which should ultimately reach at least 100,000 words.
2. Watch more ancient China movies/dramas. Definitely Painted Skin and finish Return of Condor Heroes. Also listen to more Chinese music, especially Jane Zhang.
3. Fall in love with someone who’s not in DBSK or SJ-M.
I hope to fulfill most, if not all of them. By the end of the year, anyway. Wish me luck.