"And somebody spoke and I went into a dream.."

                 The majority of today’s music is predictable. Nine times out of ten, a song will have the following structure: an opening verse, chorus, second verse, chorus, bridge, and the chorus again. This is the frame most songs, whether generic pop songs, country, rock, alternative songs, etc. will follow. As a music lover, I find myself getting bored with songs that follow this format, because it has been done so many times before. My favorite songs are often ones which break this mold and go down an original path. Songs like “A Day in the Life” by The Beatles is a perfect example. This song is literally two separate songs, written independently by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, put together into one. What I love about the song is the originality of the lyrics and the song’s layout. It has two incredible crescendos which leave the listener’s anxiety level slightly higher than when the song started, thanks to the clashing of symbols and drums. Its unpredictability leaves me coming back to “A Day in the Life” time and time again.

If you are searching for someone who aided the generic structure of pop songs, all drum sticks are pointed at Mr. Ludwig van Beethoven. During his creative time, this structure was revolutionary and genius. One of his most famous works, Symphony No. 5, has a similar song structure that is present in current day music. His Symphony No. 5 contains four distinct movements, similar to the verse, chorus, verse, bridge, chorus pattern of today’s music. That particular song has been played in other songs, movies, television, etc. and has clearly made an impact. The effect of this song, and other songs by Beethoven, have influenced music forever. 

..Is This Real Life?

I recently stumbled across a newspaper article in the LA Times about false memory and reality. I soon found it very intriguing once I realized I was guilty of the examples used to describe how false memory can confuse one’s life. Countless times I have told a friend a piece of information, such as “pick me up for the game tonight” or “the party starts at 7,” but realized I only played that conversation out in my mind, not reality. The confused expressions on my friend’s face confirm the fact I never told them any information about the game or the party in the first place.  

An example the article used was about someone that spent the entire weekend watching the U.S. Open and suddenly, they thought they had the skills to pound a powerful serve across the tennis court against Roger Federer. Unfortunately, life does not work that way. No matter how hard and intensely I stare at ‘The Starry Night’ painting, I will not magically acquire ANY of Vincent Van Gogh’s painting ability. No matter how long I watch Michael Jordan play basketball on television, I will not suddenly be able to slam dunk fully spread eagle. No matter how much I think I know how hot the stove is, I will not truly know until my finger tips touch the stove, and the important synapses in my brain pulls my hand away. 

Maybe the lesson of this article is also mirroring a fact of life. Perhaps humans are nothing more than the living delusions they have manufactured themselves. Maybe people do not know why they believe the things they do, and are living up to false standards society placed upon them. Living is almost all observation. We can never truly learn a new lesson or new skill unless we first observe the lesson or skill in action. Whether we realize it or not, we are always observing, and as a result, forming our own conclusions and opinions about life. Collectively, we are able to form our likes, dislikes, opinions, values, and beliefs. With that said, we have to first know WHY we have these beliefs, instead of just believing them. You cannot suddenly slam dunk a basketball without first learning to jump, hold the ball, have your timing down pact, and have the coordination to perform such a feat. I find great pride in learning the basics and growing off of that solid foundation to master knew things. Children these days would rather play a football video game, instead of playing real football in the backyard. Maybe if they put the controller down, one day a kid would play them in a video game.  

This Lesson can even carry over into the social networking wasteland. The average teenage girl can spend hours upon hours on Facebook, twitter, their cell phone, myspace, etc. She can be talking to her “friends” and updating her status every hour. She truly believes she has real friends and a healthy, interesting life. In reality, she sits in her room all day virtually communicating. Ironically, this girl is lacking vital communication skills that are necessary to become a successful and positive member of society. False reality. We think we know, but we really have no idea.  

I hope for the day when people can turn off the computer and actually take a step out into a world where status updates cease to exist. I know.. that’s wishful thinking and probably will not happen anytime soon. In a more realistic sense, I want people to understand why they are the way they are, and take pride in the gifts they posses. I want people to learn life lessons while climbing the mountain of life, and not take the view for granted. I want people to be able to back their beliefs up with personal experience and have open minds about other’s beliefs. Above all, I do not want people living out a false reality. There is a very real reality out there for everybody. 

Pass the Popcorn?

One of my greatest enjoyments in life is getting cozy in a low lit room and watching a movie with people I care about. I had the pleasure of seeing an advanced screening of Step Up 3D a few weeks ago. I had to write a review of it, and I felt very proud of my review. I thought it would be perfect for my blog debut.    :)
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“Some people learn to dance, others are born to.” This one line from the third installment of the popular Step Up franchise, Step Up 3D, sets up the journey on which viewers embark. From Central Park and NYU, to the East Village and slums of New York City, the movie captures what life is truly like for those struggling to get by. A close group of talented dancers, led by Luke (Rick Malambri), boogie their way across hardships, romance, and brilliantly choreographed dance battles, which inevitably lead to a climatic showdown that kept the audience on their toes.

The movie follows the struggles of Luke as he is faced with the closing of the Vault, a building his parents created dedicated to dance, all while trying to keep his tight-knit dancing crew together. Fans of Step Up 2 will be thrilled that the ever popular Moose (Adam Sevani), has returned and this time plays a much more central character. Making an early impression on Luke, he is asked to join the dance crew, and quickly becomes Luke’s go to man.

Anyone who has ever seen these films knows that behind all the amazing dance stunts lies a deep message about finding yourself and being true to who you are. Enter Natalie (Sharni Vinson), a beautiful woman whose dance moves quickly attract the attention of Luke, and Camille (Alyson Stoner), Moose’s lifelong best friend. The chemistry between the characters feels very natural and unforced. It's easy to believe these characters genuinely have feelings for each other and you want them to end up in one another’s arms and dancing into the sunset. 

All of that is wonderful, but the real reason you’ll spend the money to see this film in digital 3D is because of the over-the-top dance moves which never fail to impress, and now place you on the dance floor. Jon Chu, who previously directed Step Up 2, knows exactly how to direct a dance scene. A perfect example is the amazingly filmed dance number between Moose and Camille, all of which took place in a single shot. This number took us back to the days of Gene Kelley in Singing In The Rain, with its utilization of trashcan lids and simple music coming from an ice cream truck.

Many films today love to play the 3D card almost as a way to entice people to spend a couple of extra dollars at the box office. I was pleasantly surprised at not only how good the 3D looked, but how well it was used during the dance battles, which made the audience suddenly feel as if they were in middle of their own dancing showdown. 

Step Up 3D contained jaw dropping dance moves, relatable characters, and left me wanting to dance while sporting my very own pair of light up kicks. This movie proved to be a fun, late summer flick for all to enjoy. GO SEE IT!