Can I be cynical for a second?

Artist Unknown.

Revolverheld/Halt Dich An Mir Fest/Cling to Me

Gah! Just listen to this song! And their voices! And their harmony! And the music video is so simple and lovely! And there are so many more languages in the world to learn!

Let's give a round of applause to Google translate for this one; German translates really really well. That and the fact that song lyrics are always going to sound better translated than prose.

An alternate translate goes, "cling to me" instead of "hold on to me." I think I like "cling to me" even better:

Halt Dich An Mir Fest

You tell me not so long considered
I have long said nothing more.
Our photos you've taken
because you lack something.
You call me and say I do not remember
do not remember what moves you.
Recent years have stirred up
and confused you even more.

Hold on to me, if your life breaks up.
Hold on to me, if you do not know everything on.
I can understand you.
Hold on to me tightly, as this is all that remains.

I'll leave the light on until you can sleep
but you embankments up to and fro.
Sleep the night away from me,
are you alone with me?

Hold on to me, if your life breaks up.
Hold on to me, if you do not know everything on.
I can understand you.
Hold on to me tightly, as this is all that remains.

Do you see the way out of this darkness?
Want to get out, I'm ready.
This can not all have been in already.
I believe in us and our time.

Hold on to me, if your life breaks up.
Hold on to me, if you do not know everything on.
Hold on to me, if your life breaks up.
Hold on to me, if you do not know everything on.
I can understand you.
Hold on to me tightly, as this is all that remains.
Hold on to me, if your life breaks up.
Hold on to me, if you do not know everything on.
I let not go up.
Hold on to me tightly, as this is all that remains.
Hold on to me tightly, as this is all that remains.
Hold on to me tightly, as this is all that remains.
You tell me not so long considered
I have long said nothing more.
Our photos you've taken
because you lack something.
You call me and say I do not remember
do not remember what moves you.
Recent years have stirred up
and confused you even more.

Hold on to me, if your life breaks up.
Hold on to me, if you do not know everything on.
I can understand you.
Hold on to me tightly, as this is all that remains.

I'll leave the light on until you can sleep
but you embankments up to and fro.
Sleep the night away from me,
are you alone with me?

Hold on to me, if your life breaks up.
Hold on to me, if you do not know everything on.
I can understand you.
Hold on to me tightly, as this is all that remains.

Do you see the way out of this darkness?
Want to get out, I'm ready.
This can not all have been in already.
I believe in us and our time.

Hold on to me, if your life breaks up.
Hold on to me, if you do not know everything on.
Hold on to me, if your life breaks up.
Hold on to me, if you do not know everything on.
I can understand you.
Hold on to me tightly, as this is all that remains.
Hold on to me, if your life breaks up.
Hold on to me, if you do not know everything on.
I let not go up.
Hold on to me tightly, as this is all that remains.
Hold on to me tightly, as this is all that remains.
Hold on to me tightly, as this is all that remains.

Original German lyrics:

Du hast mich lang nicht mehr so angesehen
hast mir lang nichts mehr erzählt.
Unsere Fotos hast du abgenommen
weil dir irgendetwas fehlt.
Du rufst mich und sagst ich weiß nicht mehr,
weißt nicht mehr was dich berührt.
Die letzten Jahre haben dich aufgewühlt
und dich nur noch mehr verwirrt.

Halt dich an mir fest, wenn dein Leben dich zerreißt.
Halt dich an mir fest, wenn du nicht mehr weiter weißt.
Ich kann dich verstehn.
Halt dich an mir fest, weil das alles ist was bleibt.

Ich lass das Licht an bis du schlafen kannst
doch du wällst dich hin und her.
Schläfst die Nächte von mir abgewandt,
bist du einsam neben mir?

Halt dich an mir fest, wenn dein Leben dich zerreißt.
Halt dich an mir fest, wenn du nicht mehr weiter weißt.
Ich kann dich verstehn.
Halt dich an mir fest, weil das alles ist was bleibt.

Siehst du den Weg aus dieser Dunkelheit?
Willst du raus, ich bin bereit.
Das kann nicht alles schon gewesen sein.
Ich glaub an uns und unsere Zeit.

Halt dich an mir fest, wenn dein Leben dich zerreißt.
Halt dich an mir fest, wenn du nicht mehr weiter weißt.
Halt dich an mir fest, wenn dein Leben dich zerreißt.
Halt dich an mir fest, wenn du nicht mehr weiter weißt.
Ich kann dich verstehn.
Halt dich an mir fest, weil das alles ist was bleibt.
Halt dich an mir fest, wenn dein Leben dich zerreißt.
Halt dich an mir fest, wenn du nicht mehr weiter weißt.
Ich lass dich nicht gehn.
Halt dich an mir fest, weil das alles ist was bleibt.
Halt dich an mir fest, weil das alles ist was bleibt.
Halt dich an mir fest, weil das alles ist was bleibt.
Du hast mich lang nicht mehr so angesehen
hast mir lang nichts mehr erzählt.
Unsere Fotos hast du abgenommen
weil dir irgendetwas fehlt.
Du rufst mich und sagst ich weiß nicht mehr,
weißt nicht mehr was dich berührt.
Die letzten Jahre haben dich aufgewühlt
und dich nur noch mehr verwirrt.

Halt dich an mir fest, wenn dein Leben dich zerreißt.
Halt dich an mir fest, wenn du nicht mehr weiter weißt.
Ich kann dich verstehn.
Halt dich an mir fest, weil das alles ist was bleibt.

Ich lass das Licht an bis du schlafen kannst
doch du wällst dich hin und her.
Schläfst die Nächte von mir abgewandt,
bist du einsam neben mir?

Halt dich an mir fest, wenn dein Leben dich zerreißt.
Halt dich an mir fest, wenn du nicht mehr weiter weißt.
Ich kann dich verstehn.
Halt dich an mir fest, weil das alles ist was bleibt.

Siehst du den Weg aus dieser Dunkelheit?
Willst du raus, ich bin bereit.
Das kann nicht alles schon gewesen sein.
Ich glaub an uns und unsere Zeit.

Halt dich an mir fest, wenn dein Leben dich zerreißt.
Halt dich an mir fest, wenn du nicht mehr weiter weißt.
Halt dich an mir fest, wenn dein Leben dich zerreißt.
Halt dich an mir fest, wenn du nicht mehr weiter weißt.
Ich kann dich verstehn.
Halt dich an mir fest, weil das alles ist was bleibt.
Halt dich an mir fest, wenn dein Leben dich zerreißt.
Halt dich an mir fest, wenn du nicht mehr weiter weißt.
Ich lass dich nicht gehn.
Halt dich an mir fest, weil das alles ist was bleibt.
Halt dich an mir fest, weil das alles ist was bleibt.
Halt dich an mir fest, weil das alles ist was bleibt.

Isn't that breathtaking?

Stay Dangerous,

Gray

Pretty

Here it is. The poem "Pretty," performed by its creator, Katie Makkai.

I've heard the message all my life and always have claimed to agree with it, yet why does it pierce so potently still?

[Please note: the poet briefly uses obscenity to illustrate her point... which is so pressing that you should watch it anyway]

¿Dime quién camina/Cuando se puede volar?

Gitana

Nunca usé un antifaz
Voy de paso
Por este mundo fugaz

No pretendo parar
¿Dime quién camina
Cuando se puede volar?

Mi destino es andar
Mis recuerdos
Son una estela en el mar

Lo que tengo, lo doy
Digo lo que pienso
Tómame como soy

Y va liviano
Mi corazón gitano
Que solo entiende de latir
A contramano
No intentes amarrarme
Ni dominarme
Yo soy quien elige
Como equivocarme

Aprovechame
que si llegué ayer
Me puedo ir mañana
Que soy gitana
Que soy gitana

Sigo siendo aprendiz
En cada beso
Y con cada cicatriz

Algo pude entender
De tanto que tropiezo
Ya sé como caer

Y va liviano
Mi corazón gitano
Que solo entiende de latir
A contramano
No intentes amarrarme
Ni dominarme
Yo soy quien elige
Como equivocarme

Aprovechame
Que si llegué ayer
Me puedo ir mañana
Que soy gitana

Vamos y vemos..
Que la vida es un goce
Es normal que le temas
A lo que no conoces

Tómame y vamos
Que la vida es un goce
Es normal que le temas
A lo que no conoces
Quiero verte volar
Quiero verte volar

Y va liviano
Mi corazón gitano
Que solo entiende de latir
A contramano
No intentes amarrarme
Ni dominarme
Yo soy quien elige
Como equivocarme

Si vine ayer
Aprovecha Hoy
Que me voy mañana,
Pues soy gitana

Nearly one of the most delightful things about learning Spanish thus far is being able to comprehend the general meaning of the lyrics of this song.

The English version, Gypsy [yes, by the iconic Shakira. You've got to listen to her voice in this one] while charming, doesn't hold up to the Spanish one. However translated the song had to alter the lyrics until they are unrecognizable in order to get the words to fit the tune. Spanish words are much longer.

Just copy and paste the lyrics above into Google translator [it will probably make no sense in some parts, but most likely the general idea will be evident] and you'll see that they have completely different themes [I wouldn't recommend the music video, by the way... but I've posted a not-exactly-epic lyric video below that serves the same purpose]. The English version gets a few unique points for this line:

"Only run with scissors if you want to get hurt."

However, I am most entranced by this line [which is, in fact, the entire point of this post]:

¿Dime quién camina
Cuando se puede volar?


Tell me, who would walk when one can fly?

I love that.

Tell me, who walks when one can fly?



Stay dangerous,

Gray

"The Epitome of a Hipster"

Another genius facebook moment [man, anyone want to show me how to do screencaps?]:

[insert Problematic's real name here]: I felt like the epitome of a hipster today - wandering around town in black skinny jeans, beat up converse, messed-up hair, iPod in one hand, and Peace Tea in the other.

My comment: Hipsters aren't supposed to have epitomes.

Here in the Pacific Northwest, we know that's not true... don't we, Washingtonians?

Problematic and I have copious opportunities to brush up against proclaimed "hipsters:" Musicians' conferences [look at all the beanies!], art classes, and Seattle in general. Here, we occasionally lay clain to a homeschooled hipster.

Which leads me to direct you to this piquant article from Cracked.com[original link from my friend John Elliot. Please watch for some obscenity].

Keep in mind that I am almost laughing at myself here-- yes, I frequently make use of my beanies; yes, I have feather extensions; yes, I am a tree-hugger while being a anti-progressive government homeschooled Christian [no easy feat]; yes, I was a veggie for a year and still currently eat a very hipster diet; yes, I'm into playing my music.... and hoarding songs from eclectic bands. Problematic herself pretty much sums up hipster-awesomeness in its positive sense.

[my favorite quote]

"While most well adjusted members of society view music as an enjoyable addendum to life, perhaps a distraction or even a hobby, hipsters know that music is serious business. Having been picked on since a very young age by those who found their talents lay in athletics, theythey decided the ideal place to exercise influence was in the fields of listening to stuff and putting on clothes. Most people who aren't hipsters recognize these areas as naturally subjective, and generally not worth giving much of a **** about, which allows hipsters to win the argument for the simple reason that they're the only ones who care enough to notice that it's going on."

[That's just genius. That's humor, my friends]

As parting note, and perhaps deviating from the hilarious nature of the article, I feel as though it's important to point out that though feathers-in-hair may become as common as Ugg boots, if we continue to focus on "finding ourselves" through moving away from convential society, we'll still be letting that society define us.