Better Late Than Never--Regina Spektor
The truth is, I simply couldn't listen to her back then. I don't know if you know this, but when I started this blog back in February, I was quite depressed. I know, starting a blog seems like an odd thing to do for someone who's sad and broken, but I needed something to occupy my mind that was meaningful and creative. Music seemed to be the only thing I could hold on to at the time, so that's what I did. I held on to music with all the strength that I had.
So even when Begin to Hope came out in June, I still wasn't ready to hear it. I was still in a bad place. Thankfully, I've come up since then, closer to the light, and now I think I can accept what this album has to offer, which is a bit of hope.
Not bagfuls of hope, not incessant "oh the world is a wonderful place" blatherings of hope, but warm, tiny pieces, like the songs "Fidelity," "On the Radio," "Better" and "Hotel Song." Just enough hope to fit in the palm of your hand, so you can hold it tight and it won't get away. For today, for this moment, anyway.
Regina Spektor--"Hotel Song" mp3 (alternate link) off Begin to Hope (buy)
Regina Spektor--"Better" mp3 (alternate link) off Begin to Hope
Thanks, music is art, for featuring "Fidelity" the other day. What a good day that was.
photo credit: regina spektor website
I can most certainly relate, music is really quite relative, and a lot of
it has to do with your current mood/emotion/surroundings etc.
Wonderful post!
boy, ain't that the truth (about music being relative).
I still have to say, Regina Spektor is to me as Sufjan is to some.
well you can't just let that hang out there--explain, explain! : )
I think music definitely enhances the mood you are in. I found that when I
am angry and I listen to angry music, I get angrier. When I am happy and I
listen to happy music, I get happier. I have tried listening to different
mood music to change my mood. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.
It depends on how strong the emotion already is inside of me (the stronger
it is, the less likely it will change with music)
I started hearing Regina Stuff a few months before her CD came out, but by
the time CD came out I wasn't musically in that frame of mind. I just
started listening to the CD recently as well, and I kind of like the place
it puts you in when you listen.
That's actually the same reason I started a blog... It doesn't help though,
does it?
amy--you're most welcome. i didn't even know they played fidelity on
veronica mars. that's so cool. and yeah, the intensity of whatever mood i'm
in definitely makes a difference when it comes to trying to change it with
music.
shane--that's why you started, too? i suppose it doesn't alleviate the
sadness, but it does provide an outlet or a focus, which helps a bit, in
that when i'm busy doing this, i'm not dwelling in the pit, so to speak.
you are very welcome mjrc! regina spektor is wonderful. on a different
level, in a type of colour revolt world, have you heard of the band *brand
new*? :)
mia--i haven't heard their music, altho i read about them on good weather
for airstrikes. he loves them to death. and yeah, i think this r.s. album
might be on my favorites list for the year.
I was thinking of Richard's and Rachel's Sufjan-free island. For a while, I
was digging "On the Radio," but soon the staccatoness of it started to get
on my nerves and eventually I deleted it and felt much relieved. It may
just be that, like Sufjan or perhaps Kate Bush, that RS has such a singular
style that you are going to come down way pro or way con depending on your
particular ear. And it's funny, because 98% of the time, I love your
selections!
fraser--fair enough. it's interesting, at first i didn't care for that
staccato bit either, but it's really grown on me, in fact the entire way
she uses her voice has. she really has a wide variety of tone and color and
dynamic range, which she plays almost as well as she plays the piano.
I'm going to put your selections on my iPod and give her another chance.
fb--make sure you get "fidelity", too. it's a keeper.
Hey, MJRC! Speaking of "better late than never," I saw Regina Spektor last
night in Baltimore, primarily on your recommendation. Loved the show.
Based on what I know of her recordings, I'd say she's even better live -
the hallmark of a good musician. She was very interactive, seemed
genuinely enjoy being up on stage. She's clearly extremely talented.
i heard about your evening out--next time she's in town, i am definitely
there! are you going to review her show? i heard someone took tons of
pictures and even some video . . .
Hmmm... That is an idea. I will see what I can do. A note on pictures -
it was amusing to see all the people (kids) holding up cell phones to snap
pictures - kind of like lighters back in the day!
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