Fancynation

OK, so I have to write about whoever I am passionate about... Oww. I don't watch many films so cinematography is out. An artist? No idea. Cartoon character? As far as I know, I tended to prefer TV quizzes to cartoons in my childhood. It is music that is left. So let's browse the music folder...

It is hard to choose one band or one singer who I am strongly impressed by. I like listening to a few bands; moreover, I think my music taste is still evolving. This is why I've decided to set "memories" as the criterion for such choice. I mean I will present the artists whose works evoke significant memories in me. In fact, these are often memories about someone, rather than something.

 The first band I listened to for a long, long time is Blink 182. It's an American pop-punk band, whose music my uncle once called "college rock". He foretold me that I will grow out of them. And to some extent he was right. I don't remember much about how I got to know about them. It was probably my classmate who "infected me" with Blink 182. Their music is not the mastery of composition, three simple chords, lyrics not extrapoetic. But it's light, joyful, funny and energetic. It's just catchy and it improves mood.

The band suspended their activity in 2005 and its members started their own projects: Plus 44 and Angels & Airwaves. Fortunately, their reunited this year and recorded a new album. I think we can now safely call them "college boys approaching their 40s". Below there are their old song ("What's my age again") and one from the latest album ("Up all night").

 

I said the bands will remind me of something or, more probably, someone. Blink 182 doesn't count among them ;) But Placebo and Muse do. Placebo I discovered either my accident or thanks to my sister. I'm also not sure. Irrespective of this, it certainly plays a part in my life. Brian Molko, the frontman of Placebo, has a voice which absorbs you, which is unique, as is all their music, after all. The songs by Placebo are emotional, profound, and sincere. They have inimitable climate. And the words "Just 19, a sucker's dream" accompany me sometimes even at present, although I am no longer 19.

 

Af far as Muse is concerned, I know them thanks to my friend. And I won't elaborate on their music. The reason for which I appreciate them is more or less the same as with Placebo. They just suit my emo spirit ;) The only difference is that some songs by them I virtually associate with one person. 

 

It's got sentimental, hasn't it?

Aufgeben sich zu straüben*

To begin, I have always been really prejudiced against blogging. And to be honest, I quite can't justify it. It is not that I dislike writing but rather that I definitely prefer speaking.or IM-ing. This may be one of the reasons for my starting posting so late.

Referring to the quotation used by Mrs AgataL, I do think it is an exaggeration. Obviously, knowing a foreign language broadens our minds, our horizons. It also gives us an opportunity to achieve more, to reach higher. Even for the English. Their language is the national language, it's true. However, it doesn't mean that everyone knows it. For example, as Paulina wrote in her first or second post on her blog, The Spaniards rarely know English although Spain is a really desired holiday destination for many Europeans. I don't know to what extent it's true, but even I have an experience which seems to confirm it. I was in Spain on holidays at the age of... 17? 18? It doesn't matter. The point is we were preparing for an all-day trip and each of us was given a packed lunch: 2 breadrolls, a drink, some fruit... But my lunch lacked breadrolls. I had to go the chef and to explain the matter to him. I was told he speaks English. But this "English" sounded more or less like this:
"Oh, sorry. Me want good. Me always tell: more fruit, more fruit..." and so on. So from this point of view it may be quite embarrassing. On the other hand, though, the matter was settled, despite ungrammaticality.

Many condemn the English for being "snobbish, self-centred, egoistic and ignorant". But in this case, I would probably agree to some extent with Mrs AgataL. I don't know whether our schools would completely stop offering foreign languages if Polish were today's lingua franca. But I have an impression that the Poles would be so lazy that they would not give a damn about learning English, German, Spanish, or whatever.When it comes to self-centredness and ignorance, I believe that the French are worse in this matter, just by the way.

Nevertheless, I perceive the words written by the author of the article as cheap, trashy flamboyance. I don't believe that you are narrow-minded when you speak only one language. You can as well be excellent in something else. I don't believe that your (the only) language is your cage. Ok, it hinders the life a bit. My grandma once told me about a Frenchman she met on a trip to Paris. He danced nicely but they were not able to talk. But it is not the end of the world. And this "You are condemned" and "It's harder to play"... I'm just lost of words. It would have never came to my mind but these words.

Thank you.

* To give up defending myself up to the hilt. The title is a bit accidental.