Thursday, October 25, 2007

Acoustic Cafe

This is my roommate Celeste and a good friend of mine, Trevor, performing at Acoustic Cafe here on campus. They're talking about maybe doing a Beetles song for Acoustic Cafe 2. They both have great voices, and they're lucky enough to sound exceptionally good together as well. I don't know if all of you know this song, but it was really popular in I think the early 90's. Well, actually, it's still really popular, but that's about when it came out.

Oh, I should warn you, it can be a little hard to watch. It was just filmed on Mike's little camera and his arms were getting tired of holding it up. So the pixels are pretty defined and it's a little shakey. (This is mostly for Dad's benefit. I know how he hates shakey home videos unless he filmed them himself.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLYy3j0vES8

"Linger" by The Cranberries

If you, if you could return
Don't let it burn, don't let it fade
I'm sure I'm not being rude
But it's just your attitude
It's tearing me apart
It's ruining everything
And I swore, I swore I would be true
And honey so did you
So why were you holding her hand
Is that the way we stand
Were you lying all the time
Was it just a game to you

Chorus
But I'm in so deep
You know I'm such a fool for you
You got me wrapped around your finger
Do you have to let it linger?
Do you have to, do you have to
Do you have to let it linger?

Oh, I thought the world of you
I thought nothing could go wrong
But I was wrong
I was wrong
If you, if you could get by
Trying not to lie
Things wouldn't be so confused
And I wouldn't feel so used
But you always really knew
I just wanna be with you

Chorus Twice

You know I'm such a fool for you
You got me wrapped around your finger
Do you have to let it linger?
Do you have to, do you have to
Do you have to let it linger?

Thursday, October 11, 2007

"Waterfall"

Wow, it's been a while. School has really been taking it out of me! I haven't written in either of my journals for about a month probably. Don't worry. I'm back... at least for now!

So, I told Mum this story and she suggested I put it on here. So, yeah...

A couple of weeks ago I was sitting in the library studying my brain dry. Finally I decided that I was tired of alternating my stare between my books and the computer screen. I was hungry - it was about 7 and I had been there since right after Devotional, which got out a little before 3 - and my eyes were drying out. I closed my book, grabbed my wallet out of my backpack and left my studying supplies behind me as I took long, striding steps out of the library. Books, I love you, but there comes a time when I simply must do something.

I went to the Manwaring Center and stood at the counter of JoLynn's to get a bagel. I took it upstairs and ate it in the lounging areas of the MC. I stared at the pianos, wanting to play, but knowing that once I did, studying was pretty much done for the night. Eventually I decided that I had studied enough, and it was time to play. I walked over to the closest piano, passing a friend of mine from Russian. We said hi and had our pleasantries, and I left him to his studying. I sat down at the piano, stretched my fingers, and started to play "Jessica's Theme" from The Man from Snowy River. It was a good warm up, and after a couple of other songs I started the light tinkling beginning of "Waterfall" by John Schmidt. The song is very intense, and is a favorite among Latter-Day Saints. I usually save it for last 'cause it hurts my forearms.

As I came to the climax, a man walked up stairs and came to stand over by the piano, a little off to the side. I saw him, but he wasn't so close that he was distracting - that's just annoying. I hit the impressive G Major and lay my hands to rest. The man walked over and greeted me.

"Very good!"
"Thank you," I replied a little embarrassed.
"You know, that was my daughter's theme song. We could all tell when she was trying to release a little frustration because the house would shake with her playing. She's in college now. I was just walking out when I heard this song playing and had to come up and meet the pianist. I'm Elder Hammond of the Seventy." He offered his hand.
"Oh! I'm Mallory," I said, taking it. "Thank you very much. It's always nice to know someone appreciates my playing." He thanked me again, and turned to leave. Another man, a student, had followed him up the stairs and was respectfully waiting his turn to thank me as well, but got slightly distracted for a few minutes by the surprise of the Seventy. He ran up to him and offered his name and hand. He then turned to me and thanked me.

It's a cute little story. So there you have it.