Most of the time, I prefer the original version of a song to any remixes that follow it; however, sometimes there are exceptions. This is one of those songs:
It's the Melou Remix of "Just One Day" by the Mighty Oaks. The Mighty Oaks are a German band, although its members are American, British and Italian, respectively. I came across the Melou Remix by accident on Soundcloud; funnily enough, I was linked to it after coming cross another song that I'd heard on SoundCloud by chance.
The original version of "Just One Day" can be found here. The original is still an awesome track - I just happen to prefer the remix.
Showing posts with label Italy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Italy. Show all posts
Tuesday, 29 November 2016
Saturday, 10 October 2015
Americans and their passports
The world enjoys mocking the United States regarding how supposedly a low percentage of Americans hold passports (ranging from 10-30% by some estimates). It feeds the stereotype that Americans are uncultured and ignorant of the world beyond their borders while believing that the United States is the center of the planet. It's argued that the American government and media declaring that the United States is the "greatest country in the world" discourages Americans from going abroad. That might be one explanation but how about a good-faith, less hateful reason?
Look at the geography and climates of the United States. It's one of the few countries that has a massive array of landscapes and terrains. Do you want forests? The Pacific Northwest is the place for you. Deserts? The Southwest. Beaches? California and Florida. Mountains and snow? Alaska is the answer. Surfing? The Golden State again and Hawaii. Flat and farmlands? The Great Plains states. Places with an "old" feel to them? New England, parts of the mid-Atlantic and Virginia would be safe bets. With all this tucked into one giant country, is it any wonder why many Americans don't see the need to travel abroad? Why bother with the hassle of international airports when you have everything you need and want within your vicinity?
It could be argued that exploring a foreign country opens you up to a new culture. That is true but honestly, how many other international travelers go to another country "for the culture"? Many people have to travel because it's a part of their job, much as it was for my father; his time in other countries was for work-sponsored tasks, not for pleasure. In addition to him, people such as diplomats, military personnel and aircraft crews are all required to travel by the nature of their jobs. They're not going there specifically to absorb local cultures, although it can sometimes still be possible for them to simultaneously work and experience another country. Immigrants usually choose to move to another country for economic reasons; learning the new culture is a part of immigration rather than the cause of it; take my family - our international moves stemmed from economic motives.
And, of course, let's not forget the thousands of British people who visit Spain, Italy and Greece every year. Are they going there because they harbor deep desires to learn about the Reconquista, Leonardo da Vinci and the Cradle of Western Civilization? No, they go there for the beaches, the hot weather and (sometimes) for intentional intoxication. Who does more harm: somebody who visits Spain, gets drunk and ends up committing a crime or a family who travels from Ohio to Florida on a family vacation?
Not visiting other countries does not mean that you know nothing about them: Thanks to the Internet and easy communication, I know about French politics despite having never set foot in France. I haven't been to Iran yet I have conducted some studying of its cities and while I've never been anywhere near New Zealand, I have learnt that its terrain is similar to that of Oregon. Granted, it would be an amazing opportunity to visit these places and I would benefit from that but, at the same time, I lose nothing by not traveling. I would never criticize Americans who don't engage in international travel and I would be a hypocrite if I ever were to: during my family's fourteen-and-a-third years living there, I never left the country during that time (except when we moved away) and I have yet to travel from the United Kingdom since we came here in 2010. Only Dad travelled - because it was required of him for his work.
It's not shameful to not travel provided that you don't hate other peoples simply because they're different. The problem isn't people who don't travel - it's people who don't take the time to learn, understand and appreciate others, and such close-minded individuals can be of any nationality.
Look at the geography and climates of the United States. It's one of the few countries that has a massive array of landscapes and terrains. Do you want forests? The Pacific Northwest is the place for you. Deserts? The Southwest. Beaches? California and Florida. Mountains and snow? Alaska is the answer. Surfing? The Golden State again and Hawaii. Flat and farmlands? The Great Plains states. Places with an "old" feel to them? New England, parts of the mid-Atlantic and Virginia would be safe bets. With all this tucked into one giant country, is it any wonder why many Americans don't see the need to travel abroad? Why bother with the hassle of international airports when you have everything you need and want within your vicinity?
It could be argued that exploring a foreign country opens you up to a new culture. That is true but honestly, how many other international travelers go to another country "for the culture"? Many people have to travel because it's a part of their job, much as it was for my father; his time in other countries was for work-sponsored tasks, not for pleasure. In addition to him, people such as diplomats, military personnel and aircraft crews are all required to travel by the nature of their jobs. They're not going there specifically to absorb local cultures, although it can sometimes still be possible for them to simultaneously work and experience another country. Immigrants usually choose to move to another country for economic reasons; learning the new culture is a part of immigration rather than the cause of it; take my family - our international moves stemmed from economic motives.
And, of course, let's not forget the thousands of British people who visit Spain, Italy and Greece every year. Are they going there because they harbor deep desires to learn about the Reconquista, Leonardo da Vinci and the Cradle of Western Civilization? No, they go there for the beaches, the hot weather and (sometimes) for intentional intoxication. Who does more harm: somebody who visits Spain, gets drunk and ends up committing a crime or a family who travels from Ohio to Florida on a family vacation?
Not visiting other countries does not mean that you know nothing about them: Thanks to the Internet and easy communication, I know about French politics despite having never set foot in France. I haven't been to Iran yet I have conducted some studying of its cities and while I've never been anywhere near New Zealand, I have learnt that its terrain is similar to that of Oregon. Granted, it would be an amazing opportunity to visit these places and I would benefit from that but, at the same time, I lose nothing by not traveling. I would never criticize Americans who don't engage in international travel and I would be a hypocrite if I ever were to: during my family's fourteen-and-a-third years living there, I never left the country during that time (except when we moved away) and I have yet to travel from the United Kingdom since we came here in 2010. Only Dad travelled - because it was required of him for his work.
It's not shameful to not travel provided that you don't hate other peoples simply because they're different. The problem isn't people who don't travel - it's people who don't take the time to learn, understand and appreciate others, and such close-minded individuals can be of any nationality.
Tuesday, 2 September 2014
"Self Control" - Laura Branigan
In the mid-2000s, I was introduced to this song from the 1980s, which was in my parents' record collection:
It's "Self Control" by Laura Branigan, which comes from her third studio album, also called Self Control. The song was a major hit in Australia, Canada, across Europe and in the United States in 1984. "Self Control" was co-written by Raf, an Italian singer; he co-wrote it with Giancarlo Bigazzi and Steve Piccolo. Raf's and Branigan's versions of "Self Control" were hits simultaneously.
"Self Control" and "Gloria" are Branigan's best-known songs. In 1993, Branigan released Over My Heart, her final studio album. Sadly, Branigan died over a decade ago on August 26th, 2004, at the age of 47. The cause of her death was a cerebral aneurysm.
Interestingly, an instrumental version of "Self Control" was used in a modded version of an ancient (by computer standards) DOS game. I heard Branigan's original before I heard the game instrumental.
It's "Self Control" by Laura Branigan, which comes from her third studio album, also called Self Control. The song was a major hit in Australia, Canada, across Europe and in the United States in 1984. "Self Control" was co-written by Raf, an Italian singer; he co-wrote it with Giancarlo Bigazzi and Steve Piccolo. Raf's and Branigan's versions of "Self Control" were hits simultaneously.
"Self Control" and "Gloria" are Branigan's best-known songs. In 1993, Branigan released Over My Heart, her final studio album. Sadly, Branigan died over a decade ago on August 26th, 2004, at the age of 47. The cause of her death was a cerebral aneurysm.
Interestingly, an instrumental version of "Self Control" was used in a modded version of an ancient (by computer standards) DOS game. I heard Branigan's original before I heard the game instrumental.
Wednesday, 30 July 2014
Relative celebration
I, along with my grandparents, spent the evening celebrating the birthday of one of my relatives; said relative reached a particular age milestone, so there was quite a bit of talk about "getting older". We all went to a fancy Italian restaurant for dinner and then went back to my Nottingham aunt and uncle's house for cake. We all had a wonderful time.
Sunday, 6 April 2014
The tennis match and the boat race
Today was a quieter day than yesterday. I spent the morning with my grandmother watching a tennis match. The tennis match in question was a Davis Cup quarter-final match between Andy Murray of the United Kingdom and Fabio Fognini of Italy. Fognini defeated Murray in straight sets, which wasn't surprising; Murray had been ill earlier this week and was exhausted due to a doubles match from yesterday, and Fognini is as an excellent player on a clay court, on which this game was played. While Murray was beaten handily, it was still a pleasant match to watch.
In the evening, my grandmother and I watched the 2014 boat race between the university cities of Cambridge and Oxford. The two cities hold an annual boat race between their respective universities. Oxford were victorious in 2014's race, defeating Cambridge in a landslide (or a waterslide?).
I don't follow sports but if I'm at my grandparents' house, it's a quiet day and my grandmother is watching sports, I'll watch them with her, especially if it's tennis.
In the evening, my grandmother and I watched the 2014 boat race between the university cities of Cambridge and Oxford. The two cities hold an annual boat race between their respective universities. Oxford were victorious in 2014's race, defeating Cambridge in a landslide (or a waterslide?).
I don't follow sports but if I'm at my grandparents' house, it's a quiet day and my grandmother is watching sports, I'll watch them with her, especially if it's tennis.
Monday, 30 December 2013
"Dreamer" - Livin' Joy
For my last music post of 2013, I'd like to present "Dreamer" by Livin' Joy, with vocals from Janice Robinson:
"Dreamer" was released in 1993 and comes from the album Don't Stop Movin'. Livin' Joy were an Italian band and were present in the 1990s, but broke up in 1999; their other major hit was called "Don't Stop Movin'". I came across "Dreamer" from listening to Heart radio.
"Dreamer" was released in 1993 and comes from the album Don't Stop Movin'. Livin' Joy were an Italian band and were present in the 1990s, but broke up in 1999; their other major hit was called "Don't Stop Movin'". I came across "Dreamer" from listening to Heart radio.
Wednesday, 2 October 2013
The helicopter baby
Remember a post of mine from several months ago where I wrote about a train baby? Well, here's a similar story...the Royal Navy rescue helicopter baby:
I love reading about the birth of a baby; it makes a pleasant change from the endless supply of bad news.
As a side note, I briefly misread the article as "Isle of Sicily" rather than "Isles of Scilly". Sicily is an island and a major region of Italy, whereas the Isles of Scilly are an archipelago off the coast of Cornwall (Cornwall is a county in South West England). Before I read the title again, I wondered why there was a Royal Navy rescue helicopter in Italy delivering babies!
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