#12: A White Blank Page

I truly love Mumford & Sons' debut studio album Sigh No More and my favourite song in the album is definitely "A White Blank Page". This song, albeit simply, conveys so much meaning. Every note speaks volumes and overflows with a range of emotions, from anger, love, jealousy and fear.

My interpretation of this song is that humans are, to a certain extent, ruled by emotions. They move us, influence our decisions. The ability for us to feel emotion is a gift and at times, a curse. Through a few simple lines, this song shows love as an emotion, the most beautiful emotion of all, that blinds all logic, a driving emotion that by itself, leads us to feel other emotions; desperation, fear, anger. Some of us love half-heartedly and then there are those who love others with everything they have, even if the feelings aren't reciprocated.

This song makes me think about how it can be possible to be so consumed by what may seem so good, to the point that makes us ask, "where was my fault in loving you with my whole heart" and later be enveloped in negativity when they find out that the feeling isn't mutual. All sense and logic is lost and what was at first something so pure, becomes so mixed up and you see the person as human as you never wanted to see them. You are then left to wonder how everything could go so wrong, how love could send you over the edge.

Mumford & Sons' "A White Blank Page" shows that by allowing raw emotion to shine through, we can infinitely come up with something that touches us to the core. Simple lyrics, amazing music which has been translated from an ocean of emotions has never moved me as much as this song has. "A White Blank Page" is just one of the amazing songs in the album whereby each lyric, each moment, tugs at our heartstrings. It isn't easy to listen to Mumford & Sons' melancholy tracks without experiencing musical frissons.

Can you lie next to her

and give her your heart, your heart?

As well as your body

And can you lie next to her

and confess your love, your love?

As well as your folly

And can you kneel before the King

and say I'm clean, I'm clean?

But tell me know where was my fault,

in loving you with my whole heart?

Oh, tell me now, where was my fault, in loving you with my whole heart?

A white blank page 

and a swelling rage, rage

You did not think when you sent me to the brink, to the brink

You desired my attention but denied my affection,my affection

So tell me now where was my fault,

in loving you with my whole heart?

Oh, tell me now where was my fault in loving you with my whole heart?

Lead me to the truth and I will follow you with my whole life

Oh, lead me to the truth and I will follow you with my whole life

References:

MumfordAndSonsVEVO. (2011, Sept 1). Mumford & Sons - A White Blank Page. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjP2BQA5HRI

A Disney Kid Through and Through

So earlier this week, a friend of mine decided to do a Disney animated movie marathon and a live tweeting session of the movies she was watching. In all technicality, I think I found my Disney soul mate. The excitement was shining through her tweets, one tweet for every three or four minutes, narrating her thoughts and feelings about a particular Disney movie. As childish as it may seem to some for me write a blog post on Disney, I'm going to do it anyways.

I grew up watching almost every single Disney animated film, from Snow White to The Aristocats, from The Black Cauldron to The Sword in the Stone. I followed the evolution of the Disney films as they joined forces with Pixar to come up with amazing and memorable movies like Monsters Inc., Finding Nemo and Up. Heck, I could probably name you every single Disney film if you wanted me too! 

What strikes me most about the Disney films that were released during was is known as the Disney Renaissance era (roughly between the late 1980s, ending in year 2000) was the music and the lyrics incorporated within the films itself. The characters' personality and charm were portrayed in such a beautiful way through music. 

Who could forget how Arielle wanted to part of our human world, with her ever loyal mentor, the little red crab Sebastian, trying to convince her that life is so much better under the sea.We saw the love and passion that Pocahantas had for the land she grew up on through the hauntingly beautiful 'Colours of the Wind', telling us that if we were to walk in the footsteps of a stranger, we'll learn things we never knew. 

Or the amazing music and lyrics by the great Elton John for the Lion King? Even today, the opening notes of 'The Circle of Life' can still give me musical frissons. We even learned what a wonderful phrase Hakuna Matata is. Tarzan boasts of meaningful and heart touching music by Phil Collins such as 'You Be In My Heart' and 'Stranger Like Me'.

Which Disney movie buff didn't imagine themselves soaring through the starry night sky with 'A Whole New World' playing in the background after watching Aladdin? Who wasn't inspired to 'Go the Distance' just like Hercules, to try their strengths in the wide world without fear, embracing their fate down that unknown road and to know that a hero's strength is measured by his heart? 

Who could forget the love story of Beauty and the Beast, who could forget the moment Belle started to fall in love with Beast as they danced to 'A Tale As Old As Time' or how hard a time Mulan had as she had to learn to be a man?

Disney's collaboration with Pixar brought us such entertaining movies that just commits to our memory without us consciously knowing it. I remember the time I went to the cinema to watch Toy Story 3. Most of the patrons were adults laughing throughout the movie and shedding not so subtle tears when Andy handed over Woody to that little girl. Movies like that, movies like Up and Wall-E sticks with us just as every single Disney movie has its uniquely memorable moments that we'll carry with us through our lifetime. 

How many of us looked forward to or were curious to know how the latest Disney animated movies would turn out and visited the cinema to watch 'The Princess and the Frog' and 'Tangled' and were still blown away  by the storyline and imaginative powers of Disney. Yupp, Disney; still doing it right.

To all Disney kids, go dig out those movies and be transported back to your childhood, discover a whole new world with Aladdin, go the distance with Hercules, have a Hakuna Matata of a time with Timon and Pumbaa, fly with a little bit of pixie dust with Peter Pan, get your groove on with Emperor Kuzco and wish upon a star with Pinocchio.To all those who think I'm a fanatic, you might be right. As for me, I'll be having a Disney-themed karaoke session with whoever wants to join me. And to those who think that you're way too old for cartoons, you're never to old for Disney.

"Someday you'll be old enough to read fairy tales again" - C.S. Lewis