Song Of The Week (April 27th, 2014)

This week’s Song of the Week comes from Milky Chance, a German duo. I heard of this band when a friend of mine sent me one of their tracks “Stolen Dance” that he had listen on a German radio station. A few weeks later Milky Chance released their first album “Sadnecessary” and their song just went viral after that.

Milky Chance – Stolen Dance

 

Lyrics:

“I want you by my side
So that I never feel alone again
They’ve always been so kind
But now they’ve brought you away from here
I hope they didn’t get your mind
Your heart is too strong anyway
We need to fetch back the time
They have stolen from us

And I want you
We can bring it on the floor
You’ve never danced like this before
But we don’t talk about it
Dancin’ on 
Doin’ the boogie all night long
Stoned in paradise
Shouldn’t talk about it 
And I want you
We can bring it on the floor
You’ve never danced like this before
But we don’t talk about it
Dancin’ on
Doin’ the boogie all night long
Stoned in paradise
Shouldn’t talk about it 
Shouldn’t talk about it 

Coldest winter for me
No sun is shining anymore
The only thing I feel is pain
Caused by absence of you
Suspence is controlling my mind
I cannot find the way out of here
I want you by my side
So that I never feel alone again

And I want you
We can bring it on the floor
You’ve never danced like this before
But we don’t talk about it
Dancin’ on
Doin’ the boogie all night long
Stoned in paradise
Shouldn’t talk about it 
And I want you
We can bring it on the floor
You’ve never danced like this before
But we don’t talk about it
Dancin’ on 
Doin’ the boogie all night long
Stoned in paradise
Shouldn’t talk about it 
Shouldn’t talk about it 

And I want you
We can bring it on the floor
You’ve never danced like this before
But we don’t talk about it
Dancin’ on
Doin’ the boogie all night long
Stoned in paradise
Shouldn’t talk about it 
And I want you
We can bring it on the floor
You’ve never danced like this before
But we don’t talk about it
Dancin’ on 
Doin’ the boogie all night long
Stoned in paradise
Shouldn’t talk about it 
Shouldn’t talk about it“

Song Of The Week (April 13th, 2014)

This week’s Song of the Week comes from Arctic Monkeys’s latest album AM launched on the last quarter of 2013. With a total of five albums which all peaked to number one in the UK Album Chart, an achievement that reminds me of Oasis – one of the greatest band of the 90s – with 7 from 7 number one albums, Arctic Monkeys is one of the bands that seems to get better and better with each album released.

The opening track of AM ,”Do I Wanna Know?“, is just brilliant and could arguably be considered one of their best singles so far. Alex’s vocals, the psychedelic mood and the obsessive drum beat make you wanna listen to this song again and again.

Arctic Monkeys – Do I Wanna Know?

 

Lyrics:

“Have you got colour in your cheeks?
Do you ever get that fear that you can’t shift 
The type that sticks around like summat in your teeth?
Are there some aces up your sleeve?
Have you no idea that you’re in deep?
I dreamt about you nearly every night this week
How many secrets can you keep?
‘Cause there’s this tune I found that makes me think of you somehow
And I play it on repeat
Until I fall asleep
Spilling drinks on my settee

(Do I wanna know)
If this feeling flows both ways?
(Sad to see you go)
Was sort of hoping that you’d stay
(Baby, we both know)
That the nights were mainly made for saying things that you can’t say tomorrow day

Crawlin’ back to you
Ever thought of calling when you’ve had a few?
‘Cause I always do
Maybe I’m too
Busy being yours to fall for somebody new
Now I’ve thought it through
Crawlin’ back to you

So have you got the guts?
Been wondering if your heart’s still open
And if so I wanna know what time it shuts
Simmer down and pucker up
I’m sorry to interrupt
It’s just I’m constantly on the cusp
Of trying to kiss you
I don’t know if you feel the same as I do
But we could be together if you wanted to

(Do I wanna know)
If this feeling flows both ways?
(Sad to see you go)
Was sort of hoping that you’d stay
(Baby, we both know)
That the nights were mainly made for saying things that you can’t say tomorrow day

Crawlin’ back to you
Ever thought of calling when you’ve had a few
‘Cause I always do
Maybe I’m too busy being yours to fall for somebody new
Now I’ve thought it through
Crawlin’ back to you

(Do I wanna know)
If this feeling flows both ways?
(Sad to see you go)
Was sort of hoping that you’d stay
(Baby, we both know)
That the nights were mainly made for saying things that you can’t say tomorrow day

(Do I wanna know?)
Too busy being yours to fall
(Sad to see you go)
Ever thought of calling, darling?
(Do I wanna know?)
Do you want me crawling back to you?“

Song Of The Week (March 9th, 2014)

Last week’s song is aimed against the military–industrial complex which build weapons, buy off politicians and then convince people to join the wars they start.

Bob Dylan – Masters Of War

Lyrics:

“Come you masters of war
You that build the big guns
You that build the death planes
You that build all the bombs

You that hide behind walls
You that hide behind desks
I just want you to know
I can see through your masks

You that never done nothin’
But build to destroy
You play with my world
Like it’s your little toy

You put a gun in my hand
And you hide from my eyes
And you turn and run farther
When the fast bullets fly

Well like a Judas of old
You lie and deceive
A world war can be won
You want me to believe

But I see through your eyes
And I see through your brain
Like I see through the water
That runs down my drain

You fasten all the triggers
For the others to fire
And then you sit back and watch
When the death count gets higher

And you hide in your mansion
All the young people’s blood
Flows out of their bodies
And is buried in the mud

You’ve thrown the worst fear
That can ever be hurled
Fear to bring children
Into the world

Oh for threatening my baby
Unborn and unnamed
You ain’t worth the blood
That runs in your veins

How much do I know?
Oh to talk out of turn
You might say that I’m young
You might say I’m unlearned

But there’s a one thing I know
Though I’m younger than you
That even Jesus would never
Forgive what you do

Well let me ask you one question
Is your money that good?
Oh will it buy you forgiveness
Do you think that it could?

I think you will find
When your death takes its toll
All the money you made
Will never buy back your soul

And I hope that you die
And your death will come soon
I’ll follow your casket
By the pale afternoon

And I’ll watch while you’re lowered
Down to your deathbed
And I’ll stand over your grave
Till I’m sure that you’re dead”

Song Of The Week (March 2nd, 2014)

The song selected for last week is “Big Jet Plane” by Angus and Julia Stone. The Australian brother and sister duo had released two studio albums so far, one of them wining multiple awards at the  2010 Australian Music Awards (ARIA). In the same year “Big Jet Plane” had won the award for “Single  of the Year”.

Angus & Julia Stone – Big Jet Plane

Lyrics:

“She said, “Hello, Mister, please to meet you”
I wanna hold her, I wanna kiss her
She smelled of daisies, she’s smelled of daisies
She drive me crazy, she drive me crazy

Gonna take her for a ride on a big jet plane
Gonna take her for a ride on a big jet plane
Hey hey, hey hey

Be my lover, my lady river
But can I take you, take you higher?

Gonna take her for a ride on a big jet plane
Gonna take her for a ride on a big jet plane
Gonna take her for a ride on a big jet plane
Gonna take her for a ride on a big jet plane

Hey hey, hey hey
Hey hey, hey hey

Gonna hold you, gonna kiss you in my arms
Gonna take you away from harm
Gonna hold you, gonna kiss you in my arms
Gonna take you away from harm

Gonna take her for a ride on a big jet plane
Gonna take her for a ride on a big jet plane
Gonna take her for a ride on a big jet plane
Gonna take her for a ride on a big jet plane

Hey hey, hey hey
Hey hey, hey hey
Hey hey”

Song Of The Week (February 23th, 2014)

This song is about the war journalists Gerda Taro and the dead of her parter Robert Capa. Taro is regarded as the first female photojournalist to have died while covering the front lines of a war.

Alt-J is an English band formed in 2007. Their debut abum “An Awesome Wave” had won the Mercury Prize in 2012. The Mercury Prize is an award that is annually to the best album from the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Alt-J – Taro

Lyrics:

“Indochina, Capa jumps Jeep, two feet creep up the road
To photo, to record meat lumps and war,
They advance as does his chance – very yellow white flash.
A violent wrench grips mass, rips light, tears limbs like rags,
Burst so high finally Capa lands,
Mine is a watery pit. Painless with immense distance
From medic from colleague, friend, enemy, foe, him five yards from his leg,
From you Taro.

Do not spray into eyes – I have sprayed you into my eyes.
3:10 pm, Capa pends death, quivers, last rattles, last chokes
All colours and cares glaze to grey, shrivelled and stricken to dots,
Left hand grasps what the body grasps not – le photographe est mort.
3.1415, alive no longer my amour, faded for home May of ‘54
Doors open like arms my love, Painless with a great closeness
To Capa, to Capa Capa dark after nothing, re-united with his leg and with you, Taro.
Do not spray into eyes – I have sprayed you into my eyes.
Hey Taro!”

You can listen the entire album here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COH5vS0XxVc

Song Of The Week (February 16th, 2014)

With a little delay here is last week’s song of the week:

First AID KIT – Emmylou

This is a song by a Swedish duo formed in 2007. In February 20, 2013, they were awarded four Swedish Grammis awards for 2012 Artist Of The Year, Songwriter Of The Year, Best Pop Of The Year and Album Of The Year.

Lyrics:

“Oh the bitter winds are coming in
And I’m already missing the summer
Stockholm’s cold but I’ve been told
I was born to endure this kind of weather
When it’s you I find like a ghost in my mind
I am defeated and I gladly wear the crown

I’ll be your Emmylou and I’ll be your June
If you’ll be my Gram and my Johnny too
No, I’m not asking much of you
Just sing little darling, sing with me

Now so much I know that things just don’t grow
If you don’t blessed them with your patience
And I’ve been there before I held up the door
For every stranger with a promise

But I’m holding back, that’s the strength that I lack
Every morning keeps returning at my window
And it brings me to you and I won’t just pass through
But I’m not asking for a storm

I’ll be your Emmylou and I’ll be your June
If you’ll be my Gram and my Johnny too
No, I’m not asking much of you
Just sing little darling, sing with me

And yes I might have lied to you
You wouldn’t benefit from knowing of the truth
I was frightened but I held fast
I need you now at long last

I’ll be your Emmylou and I’ll be your June
If you’ll be my Gram and my Johnny too
No, I’m not asking much of you
Just sing little darling, sing with me

I’ll be your Emmylou and I’ll be your June
If you’ll be my Gram and my Johnny too
No, I’m not asking much of you
Just sing little darling, sing with me
Just sing little darling, sing with me”

(source: Wikipedia)

Romanian Snooker

I dedicate this post to all involved in this wonderful game (players, referees, organizers and all the other people that made this possible).

I have been involved in the game of snooker for nearly 5 years and have seen the evolution of it. When I joined the picture there were only a few clubs around the country and I believe you could have counted them using the fingers of one of your hands. In my hometown there were no clubs at that moment but several months later one was founded and what was then a 10 players snooker club with one table became to be today a 50+ players club with 4 tables. The similar thing happened in other main cities and now, with more and more clubs setting up and with the national championship getting bigger, players are coming to play from all over the country. It is good to see that there are many that start playing from a young age because they are representing the future of this sport  – keep in mind that last year’s winner of the National League is only 18 years old.

I remember when the first century was realized, it was a huge news, even a 50 break was  considered to be a very good break. The good thing is that now, there are more and more players that are able to make those 50+ breaks and now and then you hear that other centuries had been made.

Even if snooker is a new game practiced in our country it surely evolved a lot in the last years and I really hope that some day we will have a player to represent us in the most prestigious international events. We already have referees representing us at the biggest competitions so why shouldn’t we have players too?

I will finish this post with a video that really impressed me this morning, a maximum break made in practice by two of our best players:

Congratulation guys!

Song Of The Week (February 9th, 2014)

This week’s song is from Gary Clark Jr. a Grammy-winning emerging artist from Texas. He was describes by many as the future of blue.

Gary Clark Jr.  – When My Train Pulls In

“Everyday nothing seems to change.
Everywhere I go I keep seeing the same old thing & I.
I can’t take it no more.
Oh, I would this town but I ain’t got no where else to go.
Wake up in the morning, oh, more bad news.
& I. Sometimes I feel like I was borne to lose & I.
It’s driving me out of my mind.
I’ll catch the next train & I. I’ll move on down the line.

Whoah I’ll be ready now. I’ll be ready when my train pulls in.
Whoah I’ll be ready now. I’ll be ready when my train pulls in.
I know my time ain’t long around here.
& I can’t live this life again.

Walking down the streets you might run across a smilng face.
But they’ll stab you in the back as soon as you turn & walk away
& I. Oh Lord it’s bringing me down.

If things don’t change around here, ain’t no use in me hanging ’round.

Whoah I’ll be ready now. I’ll be ready when my train pulls in.
Whoah I’ll be ready now. I’ll be ready when my train pulls in.
I know my time ain’t long around here.
& I can’t live this life again.”

Snooker: National Championship – 2nd Event

Yesterday took place the second tournament of the National Snooker Championship which is held in Bucharest. This is a different event from the one that I have been writing before (the local league which is held in Brasov, my hometown). It is also not the first, but the second league in importance from which the first top 4 players qualify in the first league each year.

The hardest thing to do this time was deciding whether to go or not and  I already had a backup plan to go hiking again this week. Just the thought that I will have to get up at 5AM after getting to sleep 3-4 hours made me think “oh no you are not gonna do that again” but, of course it happened and so I gave a few phone calls and we managed to form a group of three. I got picked up at 5:30 and the three of up went on what I would call a very pleasant 2,5 hour ride in which we joked all the way and were very positive.

We arrive half an hour earlier but just in time to have breakfast and regain some strength after the journey.

My companions started playing  right ahead, from 9AM but I was supposed  to start only at 2:00PM. I was horrified with the thought that I will have to wait another 5 hour time to start playing but eventually all worked just fine. I picked up my suit and gloves and started to referee a game – I got to practice a lot at this too because I want to become an international referee. You know, when you get in touch with this game it’s like, you have to do it, you have to play or do anything else related to the game of snooker. Even if you play so bad some time you still want to play more. It’s like a disease but a good one:)

A few  minutes after I finished to referee my first game I was told that some players couldn’t come to the tournament and that I will be playing soon. I started practicing and was really pleased with the way I was played and so, after my 15 minutes of practice were over, I sat down comfortably waiting for my opponent. She was last year’s winner of the Ladies National Tournament and I was impressed right from the start with the way the was playing when I saw her in practice.

The first frame went quite fast and I was soon 1-0 down. The second didn’t start better either – half a frame over and I was already 30 points down. Just when all sort of  thoughts started roaming my mind she missed a shot and I managed to start concentrating again and somehow steal the frame. From then it went from good to better and I managed to win the game with a final score of 3-1. It wasn’t at all an easy game and if the score went 2-0 instead of 1-1 I don’t think that I could have made a comeback.

I didn’t have time to sit more then five minutes because I had to referee another game. It was a quite long game or it just seemed so because I was so tired but it was nice also and it had a bit of drama in the end. It is great to be involved in the game even as a referee because you get to see a lot of shots and especially learn new stuff from good players.

At 4PM, after about 7 hours of snooker, I finally had one free hour in which had to wait for my opponent. He is one of the two roumanian’s Eurosport snooker  commentators. Not only he is a good commentator but a good player too. He was part of the top 16 players for years and this year was his first season in the second league.

So here I was, after nearly eight full hours, playing the finalist of the first tournament in January. It was a close game and I think that the 3-0 score does not do justice for what happened. In the first two frames we had equal about of points when only 5 balls were left on the table but I lost them both at a very close margin. Only the 3rd frame was not that close but I had my chances too. I was pretty pleased with my performance even though I lost with this score.

It was a nice tournament and even if it was a full day of snooker, approximately eleven hours, it is always great to participate in this league in which players come from the entire country.

All the best!

Bucegi – Moara Dracului Waterfall

I was pretty active in this weekend having gone out both days. Saturday I went out with my fiancee on a walk to a ski resort which is 13km away from our city (I will detail this trip in a future post) and Sunday, I went out again, this time for a more difficult hike to a waterfall in the Bucegi Mountains. It was not that the hike was long or dangerous but the fact that it snowed a lot last week and the path was covered in 20-30cm of snow.

We went by car from Brasov to the Simon village where we left the it before a road barrier and took the rest of the dirt road by foot.

After about half an hour we arrived at a junction where the two hiking signs that we were following by then split in two. One was following the same dirt road, which we kept on following, and the other went straight into the forest.

Not long after, we were enchanted with the first great views of the mountains.

The Bucegi Mountains – part of the Carpathian Mountains
Highest Peak – “Omu Peak” 2505m

We were getting closer and closed to the base of the mountain so I knew it wouldn’t take long until we will start climbing and so it was. After another 30-45 minutes we left the dirt road and went on a narrow and abrupt path which climbed the hill that laid before us. This was the hardest part of the trip but fortunately not a long one. From the top of the hill it took us about 10 minutes to arrive at our destination. I will let the photos say the rest:)

Panorama of the clearing

Although the snow does not look to be too big I assure you that one wrong step and you end up stuck in snow to your knees.

I don’t know what the speed of the wind was but what I am sure of is that when it was starting I needed to cover.

A waterfall of snow.

Moara Dracului Waterfall, frozen from top to bottom.

We returned on the same path we took on climbing to get here. It was a really nice trip and my only regret is that I can’t go out on such trips more often.