A Thousand Splendid Suns

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

Although a critic once said, "Just in case you're wondering whether Khaled Hosseini's A Thousand Splendid Suns is as good as The Kite Runner, here's the answer: No. It's better. ", I believe that every book has its own special moments that no other book has. Nevertheless, reading A Thousand Splendid Suns made my heart deeply attached to the tale. The book tells a heartbreaking story of two women who stood up for each other through the war and against their sly and abusive husband. Even though Mariam and Laila were born in different circumstances, they were women who eventually connected unexpectedly. Mariam was already in her mid twenties and married when Laila was born. Life was never peaceful for long as factors such as the war took a turn in everyone’s lives. You will see that a simple decision one makes never fails to affect another as you read on. This book reveals how tough it is for one, especially a woman, in Afghanistan to encounter discrimination, poverty, abuse, an oppressive religion and a corrupted government. Reading at one point that the police simply left justice undone and made the situation worse for the Mariam and Laila, my heart burned with outrage. Grief overcame me as I thought of this situation which still happens in real-life in brutal and unforgiving parts of the world. Yet, as the book continues, Mariam and Laila were able to find real joy, peace, love and freedom amidst the trials and tribulations they faced. They were courageous and resilient women who gave their all to the extent of sacrificing their lives ensuring the survival of their loved ones and whose actions ought to put some men to shame.

And I'm back...what an impact...

Okay, so I know I'm a terrible Blogger in this Blog. I've not been Blogging for 4 to 5 months plus. Thank God it's not a year plus...In any case, there have been many songs come and gone, some of which their videos are really way bad and plain, making us feel CHEAP. And I mean it. Some of them are real good though.

Righto. So I listen to radio and I also listen to my brother's CDs. HA HA. Caught me red-handed though. Well, we are siblings, aren't we? Some songs I've heard, I liked the tune, I like the beats, I like the background music, but the lyrics don't quite fit my heart, my soul, my mind. They may appeal to the world but that doesn't in me. These songs have little or no meaning, it's a pity that they sound good but the lyrics don't fit in. They aren't worth mentioning. They don't have much value, they won't be remembered 100 years from now. So ya know, they are called secular music.

But of course, don't think that I'm a sour prune. I like secular music, I listen to them. Then, there's the 2nd type, they have good so-and-so and their lyrics are so-so. And vice versa. The lyrics are understandable, that one can feel what the singer meant but you can't think deeply about it. Perhaps the song is an encouraging song, or a love song, a story song, then, do we think more about them? Have we ever thought about how we can apply the meanings the songs we listen to in our lives? If you can, the song you're listening right now is the real deal!

What I really mean is, what impact does the song leave on you? Does it give you a tingling sensation? A moment to think on something you've barely thought about? If it's not doing you any good, you decide if you want to continue listening to the song. You can control your actions, follow your heart, not your mind. We can't control our mind and thoughts but you can control your life. Every little thing we do, it ripples out to the others, like dominoes, like the clouds blown by the wind. Actions have reactions. Songs we listen to, have impacts on our minds. Not just songs, but films, people, even the weather!

And again, songs! Geez, I'm really lazy huh! There were so many songs I listened to during my revision time, or rather, my cramming of revision, do Americans say that? I wasn't able to Blog. What? I mean, who ever reads and find my posts really interesting and leave comments? Yeah, only a few anonymous readers who may not turn back their heads, do you? Ha ha! I'm just a kid. Excuses and more. Well, for sure, I'm really thankful to GOD that I didn't BOMB my exams. That's what Americans say. Right.

Here's it: My Imeem favourites (although I don't know how some of the songs I don't like got there and pardon me, there are some songs I used to like but after seeing the lyrics really and after seeing their music videos, they aren't good). One unique song would be the Flobots: No Handlebars or something like that? Yeah. Just watch the video and you can cry in your heart. Take a look at the world, take a look at ourselves, we aren't ...the best we really are and beyond.
Link: http://www.imeem.com/people/NPu6KOf/favorites/

Then here comes the Gospel songs. Some like hymns, some like contemporary worship songs and rock worship songs too. People do argue. ARE YOU WORSHIPPING GOD OR WORSHIPPING THE WORSHIP SONGS? DO WE SWITCH THE FOLLOWING SONG TO ANOTHER SONG WE LIKE IN OUR IPODS AND MP3s? WHY? ARE THE "OLD"(those who prefer hymns) PREJUDICED AGAINST THE "NEW" AND VICE VERSA? DO WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE SONGS DEEP DOWN, DO WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE LYRICS? DO WE GET INTO THE LYRICS AND MEAN THEM WITH ALL OUR SOULS AND HEARTS? DO YOU? ARE WE SHOWING OFF OUR VOCALS TO OTHERS? DO WE HAVE TO COMMENT ON HOW THE WORSHIP LEADER SINGS AD WORSHIP? THINK YOURSELF AND NOT OTHERS. I'M SORRY TO SAY THAT I WAS EVER LIKE THAT. BUT WE MUST KNOW THAT LISTENING TO WORSHIP SONGS ARE OKAY, IT STAYS IN YOUR MIND, IT SLOWS YOUR ANGER, IT REMINDS YOU OF WHAT GOD HAD SAID THROUGH THE PASTOR, THOUGH SOMEONE. PERHAPS SWITCHING SONGS IS WHEN YOU ARE TIRED OF LISTENING TO THEM. GO ON! SWITCH! FOLLOW YOUR HEART. YOU CAN FEEL REALLY GOOD AND HAPPY ON THAT DAY, AND THE 1ST SONG YOU HEAR IS NOT LIKE A "JUMPING AND DANCING" SONG, SWITCH IT! GET INTO THE MOOD! YOU WANT TO WORSHIP HIM THE BEST YOU CAN, YOU ARE IN THE MOOD FOR JUMPING FOR JOY! VICE VERSA. YOU WANT TO REFLECT, YOU REFLECT. LISTENING TO A SONG LETS YOU REFLECT, LET GOD DO THE REST OF THE TALKING TO YOU! A SONG CAN WAKE ONE UP FROM ALL THE MISERY ONE HAS. I'VE BEEN THROUGH THAT MANY TIMES WHEN I'M DOWN. ALL WORSHIP SONGS ARE LIKE PRESENTS WAITING TO BE USED. THEY ARE WRAPPED UP WITH DIFFERENT LYRICS AND MEANINGS, THEY HAVE USES, OTHER THAN WORSHIPPING GOD. SONGS AS I HAVE SAID, IMPACT YOU. THEY ARE TO BE USED DIFFERENTLY BUT WE ALL KNOW THAT AS PRESENTS, THEY ARE PRESENTS TO GOD FROM US TO WORSHIP HIM. WE ALSO LISTEN TO THEM, FOR PLEASURE? I DON'T KNOW. I SAY, THIS DEPENDS ON THE INDIVIDUAL, SO LONG AS YOU FEEL RIGHT WITH GOD, THAT'S ALL THAT REALLY MATTERS. WE PRAISE HIM IN ALL WORSHIP SONGS. SO LONG AS WE MEAN THEM, WE ARE ALL FINE. IS THAT RIGHT? I'VE BEEN THINKING, BUT EVEN SO, THOUGHTS CAN CHANGE. I HAVE FAITH IN GOD TO HELP AND ENLIGHTEN ME IN MY THINKING. Still growing up, not horizontally though, I pray. Ha ha! And yes, even the new contemporary songs have deep meanings, it's really up to you to decide what you want to see in the song. There's this song, God in This City. I really want to see God in the atmosphere especially in times during the economic crisis. We will not fall. And yes, we will not spiritually.

Ha! Impact and impact! There's this old film, Pay It Forward. You've heard? It's really something, way different from films which have little meaning. I will watch This type of film rather than to watch Harry Potter films and so on. It's a beautiful film. Bittersweet. But I dare say that if Trevor had loved his enemy, I know it's hard, but if he had done them a favor full of grace, mercy and compassion, things can change. Perhaps, even if he couldn't, get help from an adult, from someone who could help. If there wasn't anyone, you say? Shout! Say "Fight me if you want!"? Hmmm, don't know about that. But you must ask them something which can hit them in the heart. You know what I mean? There is always a reason somehow. Like why the bully did it. Do you really think it's for pure fun? Do you know what could have impacted him? Problems? What problems? In every person, there's a conscience, there's a heart, a soul, a mind. I feel sad for the bully the most. People can honour and love the dead Trevor. It's so much easier loving him, no? Well, I know that God will most probably deal with him in a very pleasant way, He will reward him good and bad too. So he's done and gone. But what about the bully? Have you ever thought that there can be another life story forming not to be left out? In fact, we have unique life stories, different from one another. What we do in our own life stories affect other people's life stories. People change. The bully can change too. Who are we to judge and criticize him? Aren't we all the same? Instead, guide him with love, mercy, grace and compassion. We ought to give endless chances to one another just as God has to us. Sorry if I sound idealistic and weird and religious. But in the name of Jesus, we need to also learn to love our enemies. It can be hard but when you really do it for real, you just get something out of the ordinary, the feeling is overpowering no matter how slow the progress is.

Right, the main point of the film is that you are to make an impact on at least 3 people, and tell the 3 to do the same to another 3 and so on. This is a movement, started by a mere boy. From a Social Studies project, he wanted to make a difference in the world of today. He wanted to do unexpected favors for just at least 3 people, not wanting them to return the favor to him but to PAY IT FORWARD to others with the same mind. One can Pay It Forward to loved ones, but more importantly, to strangers and even enemies who really need an impact in their lives. Some may not be able to follow it, as easy as it seems for they may be shy. But surely, as time passes and the atmosphere changes, the hot potato, even when turned cold, can be reheated and passed on. This movement no doubt changes lives, lives which you have not even met, and yet you have had an indirect impact on others. One flap of a butterfly's wings in South America can cause a typhoon in China. The end of the film is bittersweet. The boy who started the movement was unfortunately killed. Nonetheless, the world and his wife came to hear about his influential and impactive movement, paying tributes to him at the end of the film. This Pay It Forward movement continued and has not stopped since. This boy has made a step towards humanity, ebbing away the self-centered attitude of mankind. Bravo!

August Rush!

One thing, my brother's a genius in finding films which are generally "quiet" meaning to say, these films are not shown in Singapore and thus not that "famous" to our eyes when first met. In other words, when I first saw the cover of that film, my heart went out for it. I just knew it had to be a good or an inspirational one.

And so, here comes another into my life: August Rush! An orphan believing that his parents are still out there, that they will hear the music that he hears. He has the big faith in him that his parents still want him, just that they are entangled by traps which keeps them away from reconciling. And he goes on an adventure out of his bounds...all I can finish up with this is that the boy is one big prodigy in music. The tactics which were showcased in the film were extraordinary, music was played in a way which I never imagined. Sound was like this boy's ingredients for fusing and cooking music. Whenever he heard any sound distinctively while learning onto something new or reflecting on his past, he gathered them in his mind and started pulling out the music in every soul of everything. Music is something only to be felt by hearing it out. Since the world opened up to the living; by the very first footsteps heard touching the ground, music has started, the rhythm of music has begun. So says my music teacher when I asked her how music started.

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2We72mSivhc

Hosanna by Hillsong United

I've actually heard this song many times last year and the tune's still stuck in my head. I finally found out what the title is through my school's chapel. This song really touches me, it makes me think more deeply in GOD. Everything in the song just makes sense, very much indeed. It's not a matter of who or how good it's sung, but rather that how the heart sings it. I mean my heart just cries out for the holy spirit to come into me and I want the whole Earth to really shake. I want to see my generation being saved. I want to see everyone saved in GOD, especially in the last days of this World! Yeah and every time this song is remembered, I get the chills.

All the other worship songs have the same effect too! Whether they are composed long time ago or very into the new, they are meant for worshipping GOD. These songs are not to be judged, whether being a "cool and hip" song or "some kind of oldie" song. We sing because we want to worship GOD and not choose the songs that we like, like just because it's a cool song or whatever. All songs of praises and worship rocks! Don't you Christians out there agree? Youths are generally affected in this situation. Nowadays, new songs are created, with instruments like the electric guitar and the drums. Maybe one can say younger people are more attracted to these songs, as they are more familiar (just as one of my friends told me) with them, rather than past songs; the "oldies".

Hosanna by Hillsong United

I see the king of glory
Coming on the clouds with fire
The whole earth shakes
The whole earth shakes

Yeah

I see his love and mercy
Washing over all our sin
The people sing
The people sing

[Chorus]
Hosanna
Hosanna
Hosanna in the highest x2

I see a generation
Rising up to take their place
With selfless faith
With selfless faith

I see a near revival
Stirring as we pray and seek
We're on our knees
We're on our knees

[Chorus]

Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like you have loved me

Break my heart from what breaks yours
Everything I am for your kingdoms cause
As I go from nothing to Eternity

[Chorus] x2

Hosanna in the highest

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7SMUf6QcyQ

Built to last by Melee

I must say I've been so lazy...not updating both of my Blogs. Filled with homework, projects and other commitments, I didn't want to distract myself, there's facebook too! So anyway, I heard this rather good song on the radio the last few months, yeah I know I'm pretty late into it. And of course the title is Built to last by Melee. I asked some of my friends, those who listen very much into music every week. They didn't know...I was pretty sad that nobody knew. I kept listening out for that song and managed to get hold of it recently. You know it's especially hard with the blurry DJ's voice and sometimes they don't bother announcing the songs' title when they are played. The starting and the background is what I like the most...

Built to last by Melee

I've looked for love in stranger places
but never found someone like you
someone whose smile
makes me feel I've been holding back
and now there's nothing I can do

cause this is real, and this is good
it warms the inside just like it should
but most of all
most of all, it's built to last
it's built to last

all of our friends
saw from the start
so why didn't we believe it too?
now look, where we are
you're in my heart now
and there's no escaping it for you

cause this is real, and this is good
it warms the inside just like it should
but most of all
most of all, it's built to last

walking on the hills at night
with those fireworks and candlelight
you and I were made to get love right

cause this is real, and this is good
it warms the inside just like it should
but most of all
most of all, it's built to last

cause you are the sun in my universe
consider the best when we felt the worst
and most of all, most of all
most of all, most of all, most of all.
most of all
it's built to last

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mv1206kvh-E

Forbidden Love by S.E.N

For all my years since I started appreciating music, I always wanted to listen to this particular song and yet nobody could tell me and my brother didn't want to tell me after all these years. He finally did today when we went to a music store, I suppose I've been a better sister! I was so scared that he wouldn't even tell me on his deathbed in the future or something like that(no offence). When I was about 4-7 years old, my brother kept playing that song on the piano while I danced to the music. He played it so beautifully that I twirled round and round till I got dizzy. Well, I got the song now, so I want to look out for the music scores. This people, S.E.N, are really good! I don't know who and how they look like but whatever it is, all the other songs are also beautifully composed and played well. I think they are Japanese, their music sounds Japanese like. There is another one, Like a Wind and it's wonderful! I'm not able to find Forbidden Love
on Youtube and all they showed was Forbidden Love by Madonna. Ugh! Her songs are weird but some people love her.

Forbidden Love by S.E.N.S
Link: http://love-you-so.imeem.com/music/eteOxbXF/sens_forbidden_love_piano_solo/

Like A Wind by S.E.N.S
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hbZSgvn4JY

All I Want Is You by Planetshakers

*Full of joyful tears* I finally found the one Christian worship song that caught my ears when I was starting my Secondary school! Every morning, my school plays worship songs, mostly ones that influence youths and that's one of the reasons why my school is so "Cool"! Just kiddin'! I tried searching for this song and nearly gave up, or rather I was so busy here and there and there were times I forgot...This song is so beautiful and I cry so many times just listening to it...God has done so many things in my life and I can't thank him enough! No matter what happened and will happen to me in future, all I want and need is GOD alone, that's all.

All I Want Is You by Planetshakers
I've waited all my life to be here face to face
I never knew that I could feel this kind of grace
The way You show me that Your love has
Washed me clean
Could never be erased, it lives inside of me

Take me to that secret place
Where I can only see Your face
And nothing else will ever feel this way
You take away my guilty stains
The things I've done that I can't change
It's only by the power of Your name

I stand here in this place
See the glory on Your face
Taken by the wonder of Your name

I'm desperate for Your touch
Never needed it so much
'Cause all I want is You

When all the things around me
Have fallen to the ground
I'm always thankful
For the love in You I've found
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-EI4giQUAg

Just a note...

Just yesterday I realised that the videos and imeem music bars I inserted in this Blog are now all replaced by a square and a dot each. I tried to copy and paste the HTML again but to no avail so from now onwards, other than posting these videos and music bars, I'll also give the URL. It's much safer this way, I don't know much about downloading and it's downsides. Plus, I'll be returning to school so maybe I'll only post once a month. Well, I got to study real hard! Same to students who spent their time on the 'net.

The translation of Caresse sur l'ocean

Caresse sur l'ocean

Caress on the ocean
Carry the so light bird
Coming back from snowy lands
Ephemeral air of the winter
In the distance your echo moves away
Castles in Spain
Turn to the wind spin unfold your wings
In the grey daybreak of the raising
Find a way towards the rainbow
The spring will confide

Caress on the ocean
Put down the so light bird
On the stone of a submerged island
Ephemeral air of the winter
Finally your breath moves away
Far in mountains
Turn to the wind spin unfold your wings
In the grey daybreak of the raising
Find a way towards the rainbow
The spring will confide
Peace on the ocean.

Les Petits Chanteurs de St Marc - Caresse sur l'ocean

This is a video of the Choir I mentioned in the former post. They are singing Caresse sur l'ocean, one of the songs used in Les Choristes and Jean-Baptiste Maunier was also the soloist in this performance just as he was in the film. It's a celestial and touching song people say.

Les Petits Chanteurs de St Marc - Caresse sur l'ocean
Caresse sur l'océan
Porte l'oiseau si léger
Revenant des terres enneigées
Air éphémère de l'hiver
Au loin ton écho s'éloigne
Châteaux en Espagne
Vire au vent tournoie déploie tes ailes
Dans l'aube grise du levant
Trouve un chemin vers l'arc-en-ciel
Se découvrira le printemps

Caresse sur l'océan
Pose l'oiseau si léger
Sur la pierre d'une île immergée
Air éphémère de l'hiver
Enfin ton souffle s'éloigne
Loin dans les montagnes
Vire au vent tournoie déploie tes ailes
Dans l'aube grise du levant
Trouve un chemin vers l'arc-en-ciel
Se découvrira le printemps
Calme sur l'océan.

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEs1wtsw_IA