The Sky Paused
It feels like I haven't updated in ages! Well, five days, and that's kind of a long time to go without an update for me now. Still, perhaps it was for the best that I didn't update, because the entries would have consisted of me moaning about my period and how boring work was.
And wow, I could have sworn I had shit I actually wanted to post about, but now any post of substance is eluding me. Oh, wait, now I remember! SO, So You Think You Can Dance Australia has started, and omg, I am so in love with it. SYTYCD is my favorite reality competition show in any version, American or not, but Australia's version is actually better than America's in my opinion. All of the versions have amazing dancing, and America's in particular has had a few routines that I have loved beyond all measure, but Australian SYTYCD just seems so much more professional. It's entirely about the dancing, with none of that AI or American SYTYCD drama bullshit. Or at least, less of it. Thus far the audition shows haven't shown a single trainwreck dancer/audition. Now, since I doubt that Australia is the land of the extremely talented dancers, this is probably because the producers are smart people who realize that one watches a dance competition to see amazing or entertaining dancers, as opposed to the American Idol level of human trainwrecks. Another thing I appreciate is how the judges are much better about giving constructive criticism, and are just generally a lot more level-headed than the American judges. All in all, Australian SYTYCD is a really entertaining way to watch some gorgeous dancing, and fills the void until the American version starts up again in the summer.
In other news, I have seen that favorite poem meme going around, which got me all excited until I realized that I have too many favorite poems and cannot choose just one. But for meme purposes, I will post one of my favorites: "Address" by Sohrab Sepehri. To be different and specific though, this is my favorite Persian poem, reproduced here in both English translation and the original Persian. The translation is actually quite faithful, if not quite as evocative as the language of the original. And bonus, I also have a version of this poem set to music, in a really lovely song by Axiom of Choice, "Greener than God's Dream," if you want to hear the original Persian.
"Where is the friend's home?"
Asked the rider of the dawn.
The sky paused.
A passerby offered the branch of light
Which he held between his lips
To the darkness of the dunes.
Returning to a willow tree, he said:
"Before you reach that tree,
There is a garden lane
Greener than God's dream
And there, love is the color of blue
Like the wings of truth.
Go to the end of that garden lane
Which is before youth.
Then turn toward the flower of solitude.
Within two steps of that flower,
Rest by the eternal fountain of myths
And be seized by a transparent fear.
In the flowing space you will hear a rustling sound,
you will see a child,
Who has climbed a tall plane tree to pick up chicks from a nest of light,
ask him,
"Where is the friend's home?"
خانه دوست كجاست؟ در فلق بود كه پرسيد سوار
آسمان مكثي كرد
رهگذر شاخه نوري كه به لب داشت به تاريكي شن ها
بخشيد
و به انگشت نشان داد سپيداري و گفت:
نرسيده به درخت،
كوچه باغي است كه از خواب خدا سبز تر است
و درآن عشق به اندازه پرهاي صداقت آبي است.
مي روي تا نه آن كوچه كه او پشت بلوغ، سر بدر مي آورد،
پس به سمت گل تنهايي مي پيچي،
دو قدم مانده به گل،
پاي فواره جاويد اساطير زمين مي ماني
و ترا ترسي شفاف فرا مي گيرد.
در صميميت سيال فضا، خش خشي مي شنوي:
كودكي مي بيني
رفته از كاج بلندي بالا، جوجه بردارد از لانه نور
و از او مي پرسي
خانه دوست كجاست.
And one more meme, this one from the_mogget,
1. Reply to this post and I'll assign you a letter.
2. List (and upload, if you feel like it) 5 songs that start with that letter.
3. Post them to your journal with these instructions.
I got A:
1. About Today by The National
This is one of my favorite National songs. The lyrics are so simple, but Matt Berninger's delivery and the story in between the lines of the lyrics ares heartrending. It's all about how he sings, "How close am I to losing you?"
2. Angel Eyes by The Czars
A lovely, stripped down, yet non-ironic cover of an ABBA song. Plus: no pronouns changed, which is always something that pleases me with cover songs that move between genders. Really though, this is one of my favorite covers for John Grant's sweet baritone voice and harmonies.
3. Aly, Walk With Me by The Raveonettes
I really love how this song bursts into unrepentant, lo-fi, harsh noise a little under halfway through. It's scuzzy, fuzzy, and glorious, all while being languid and dark. Best to listen to when you're feeling dissolute.
4. All My Friends Have Been Replaced With Cities by Chris Bathgate
For one, I adore the title of the song. Also, it's slow and a little bit sad, but also sweetly wistful. For anyone who's left pieces of themselves in cities across the country, this is the perfect song.
5. Agnus Dei, the choral arrangement of Barber's Adagio for Strings
And in a complete 180, this! But seriously, this is one my absolute favorite pieces of choral music. Barber's Adagio for Strings is transcendently beautiful when translated to human voice. The climax of the song feels like your heart is being torn from your chest, in a good way.
Post of more (TV) substance later, after I've combated an incipient caffeine withdrawal headache.
And wow, I could have sworn I had shit I actually wanted to post about, but now any post of substance is eluding me. Oh, wait, now I remember! SO, So You Think You Can Dance Australia has started, and omg, I am so in love with it. SYTYCD is my favorite reality competition show in any version, American or not, but Australia's version is actually better than America's in my opinion. All of the versions have amazing dancing, and America's in particular has had a few routines that I have loved beyond all measure, but Australian SYTYCD just seems so much more professional. It's entirely about the dancing, with none of that AI or American SYTYCD drama bullshit. Or at least, less of it. Thus far the audition shows haven't shown a single trainwreck dancer/audition. Now, since I doubt that Australia is the land of the extremely talented dancers, this is probably because the producers are smart people who realize that one watches a dance competition to see amazing or entertaining dancers, as opposed to the American Idol level of human trainwrecks. Another thing I appreciate is how the judges are much better about giving constructive criticism, and are just generally a lot more level-headed than the American judges. All in all, Australian SYTYCD is a really entertaining way to watch some gorgeous dancing, and fills the void until the American version starts up again in the summer.
In other news, I have seen that favorite poem meme going around, which got me all excited until I realized that I have too many favorite poems and cannot choose just one. But for meme purposes, I will post one of my favorites: "Address" by Sohrab Sepehri. To be different and specific though, this is my favorite Persian poem, reproduced here in both English translation and the original Persian. The translation is actually quite faithful, if not quite as evocative as the language of the original. And bonus, I also have a version of this poem set to music, in a really lovely song by Axiom of Choice, "Greener than God's Dream," if you want to hear the original Persian.
"Where is the friend's home?"
Asked the rider of the dawn.
The sky paused.
A passerby offered the branch of light
Which he held between his lips
To the darkness of the dunes.
Returning to a willow tree, he said:
"Before you reach that tree,
There is a garden lane
Greener than God's dream
And there, love is the color of blue
Like the wings of truth.
Go to the end of that garden lane
Which is before youth.
Then turn toward the flower of solitude.
Within two steps of that flower,
Rest by the eternal fountain of myths
And be seized by a transparent fear.
In the flowing space you will hear a rustling sound,
you will see a child,
Who has climbed a tall plane tree to pick up chicks from a nest of light,
ask him,
"Where is the friend's home?"
خانه دوست كجاست؟ در فلق بود كه پرسيد سوار
آسمان مكثي كرد
رهگذر شاخه نوري كه به لب داشت به تاريكي شن ها
بخشيد
و به انگشت نشان داد سپيداري و گفت:
نرسيده به درخت،
كوچه باغي است كه از خواب خدا سبز تر است
و درآن عشق به اندازه پرهاي صداقت آبي است.
مي روي تا نه آن كوچه كه او پشت بلوغ، سر بدر مي آورد،
پس به سمت گل تنهايي مي پيچي،
دو قدم مانده به گل،
پاي فواره جاويد اساطير زمين مي ماني
و ترا ترسي شفاف فرا مي گيرد.
در صميميت سيال فضا، خش خشي مي شنوي:
كودكي مي بيني
رفته از كاج بلندي بالا، جوجه بردارد از لانه نور
و از او مي پرسي
خانه دوست كجاست.
And one more meme, this one from the_mogget,
1. Reply to this post and I'll assign you a letter.
2. List (and upload, if you feel like it) 5 songs that start with that letter.
3. Post them to your journal with these instructions.
I got A:
1. About Today by The National
This is one of my favorite National songs. The lyrics are so simple, but Matt Berninger's delivery and the story in between the lines of the lyrics ares heartrending. It's all about how he sings, "How close am I to losing you?"
2. Angel Eyes by The Czars
A lovely, stripped down, yet non-ironic cover of an ABBA song. Plus: no pronouns changed, which is always something that pleases me with cover songs that move between genders. Really though, this is one of my favorite covers for John Grant's sweet baritone voice and harmonies.
3. Aly, Walk With Me by The Raveonettes
I really love how this song bursts into unrepentant, lo-fi, harsh noise a little under halfway through. It's scuzzy, fuzzy, and glorious, all while being languid and dark. Best to listen to when you're feeling dissolute.
4. All My Friends Have Been Replaced With Cities by Chris Bathgate
For one, I adore the title of the song. Also, it's slow and a little bit sad, but also sweetly wistful. For anyone who's left pieces of themselves in cities across the country, this is the perfect song.
5. Agnus Dei, the choral arrangement of Barber's Adagio for Strings
And in a complete 180, this! But seriously, this is one my absolute favorite pieces of choral music. Barber's Adagio for Strings is transcendently beautiful when translated to human voice. The climax of the song feels like your heart is being torn from your chest, in a good way.
Post of more (TV) substance later, after I've combated an incipient caffeine withdrawal headache.