Living In the Light of Death: Music for funerals, dying, the dead, the survivors...

Living In the Light of Death: Music for funerals, dying, the dead, the survivors...: You ask what music I would like to listen to when it comes to coping with death, funerals, etc.  Honestly, it depends on how I want to remember that person at the time.  For instance, being happy... a happy moment.  An example of this would be Brother Iz's rendition of Somewhere Over The Rainbow/What A wonderful world.  When I think of my mother, in how she used to smile and laugh, and her outlook on life, I think of that song.  When I want to remember her as my mother, someone who raised me, someone who cared for me... of course I have to go with any version of Lynard Skynard's Simple Man.  When I think of my sister Gabriel, I think of one song in particular.  Orgy's "Eva".  This song is about some girl who had died, and is now watching the lead singer.  In it, the phrase "Are you proud of me now?" strikes me hard.  Many of my musical tastes, aesthetic tastes, and movie tastes stem from h er.  In many ways, she was one of my heroes.  When it comes to my own death, two songs strike me hard:  Neuroticfish's Wake Me UP.  In it, the singer talks about how he wants no one to try and revive him when he's dead.  Another song is Combichrist's All Pain Is Gone.  In this song, the lead singer speaks about how he wants to be released from this world, all the pain, all the stress, all the failure.  "Come set me free, all pain is gone".

Oh my God, I am (not) a hipster

   You've seen them, I've seen them, we've all seen them.  You might know one, you might even *gasp* be one!  Most of us HATE them including myself.  What are they?  Hipsters!  Filthy HIPSTERS! They speak in an ironic monotone, they're constantly talking about bacon, wearing shirts with weird images that do not make sense, sip on coffee at local coffee shops, wear tight jeans, plaid shirts, preach about eating organic food and yet smoke like a gawddamn chimney.  AND THOSE GAWDDAMN TIGHT JEANS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

   Always speaking about how "Oh! I liked this, that, and the other thing before it became popular".  SHUT UP!!! NO ONE CARES!!! NO ONE!!! JUST SHU-... *looks around my own house* Hmmm, I see weird shirts, plaid shirts, organic food, a plethora of indie music, various things made of hemp, organic free trade coffee, empty PBR bottles (which by the way, I liked PBR way befo-).... AW...... SH**!

   Please don't tell me I am one of them.  Please?  I mean, come on, I wear bootcut jeans, I shoot guns, speak as if I have emotion, don't walk around like a pretentious douche who thinks he and his friends are the only ones who get a joke.  I am insulting, the most politically incorrect individual out there.  I frequent the gym in hopes of looking like Thor and not some pencil thin male with jeans so tight, they hinder his ability to procreate.

   And yet, I listen to indie music, I am constantly saying things like "Oh, I liked this, that, and the other way before it was cool!", I support and advocate organic food, open range meats, and wear scarves (BUT ONLY WHEN IT'S FREEZING).  

   So what makes a hipster a hipster?  According to the Urban Dictionary, "Hipsters are a subculture of men and women typically in their 20's and 30's that value independent thinking, counter-culture, progressive politics, an appreciation of art and indie-rock, creativity, intelligence, and witty banter. The greatest concentrations of hipsters can be found living in the Williamsburg, Wicker Park, and Mission District neighborhoods of major cosmopolitan centers..."  

   Urban Dictionary also goes on to explain a lot of what a hipster is in terms trust funds and what not, I don't know, I didn't read the whole entire article (I'm starting to get tired, the melatonin is kickin' in).  I can tell you I don't shop at Urban Outfitters.  I do see conformity everywhere and have accepted I conform to certain standards, whether unwillingly or willingly.  What is the old saying? "Ever notice how all nonconformists are all alike?"

   And yet, again, I embrace the arts.  I fight back against prejudice and racism.  I speak out for equality of all genders (though I am far from a feminist), and sexual orientations.  I scream for people to become more intelligent no matter what their station in life is.  I embrace change, yet I also embrace morality as well.  I try to see the philosophical side of all things, including being a Devil's advocate whenever I can, yet I do not see myself as a tool.  

   I can have conversations with you 24/7 on just about anything from music to the ramblings of politicians, from retro gaming to books.  I, however, will never make fun of you, nor deny friendship just because you disagree with me (something I've seen hipsters do quite frequently).  

   So what does this make me?  Hell, some might even find this blog pretentious, though I do not think so.  I am no hipster, yet I have hipster tendencies.  I admit I am a fool in this world, and I hope that those few.. (I'll be surprised if even ONE person reads my words) will help come along with me through this journey called life, and help me learn.  I hope we learn together and teach each other new things.  

   God bless, much love.  Remember to love, live, laugh, and learn.  *loads gun and turns on the Arctic Monkeys*