Don't let it pass - Junip

Don't let it pass - Junip

I know yesterday I (almost) promised you would get something special today and this week, but I had a pressing urgency to share this song, which has just made my day, so I will keep my special idea for next week, when I'll be home and more able to write down great posts for you (hopefully).
I'm sorry, but the beauty of this song astounded me tonite... I can't stop listening to it, I got it on my mind two songs before it would play on my current playlist and when it finally started, I felt the need to dance at it with somebody, to the point that I took the Olaf (Frozen's snowman) plush that is travelling with me this last time and started dancing with him. This right after I bought two small packs of frozen vegetables "perfect for one person"! I guess that's it, I am embracing my life alone. It has hardly ever felt so good. As in the Walter Mitty movie, which is the one that got me close to Junip's music and which is featuring this song in one of the last scenes, a beautiful one where it's all about enjoying the moment...

"Nothing is compromised, nothing is lost. 

When everything's realised, nothing is crossed.

But don't let it pass..."

#sundayrevival Between two lungs - Florence + the Machine

Between two lungs -
Florence + the Machine

Ok, just now I found a great inspiration for today's post and also for something special I will do next week (or maybe the week after, I still have to think about it... stay tuned tomorrow and probably you'll find something special)! One of my (Thai) friends on Fb just posted a live version of this song, when Flo sang at the Oxygen festival in 2010 and it's just amazing. It made me remember the first F+tM concert I've been to: I was at the end of my study abroad semester in Montréal and given that I finished my exams early, I decided to embark on a fantastic journey through the US. First I went to Boston by bus to visit a classmate who was studying there, then I flew to Chicago and finally I got to Milwaukee by train, as this was the closest place to Montréal that Florence and the band were playing while I was there. It's been amazing, an amazing journey on my own, a journey that showed me once again and ultimately that I could travel around on the other side of the world and stand on my own two feet. And also enjoy it awesomely while I did that. I will never forget that night, and even if concerts are best experienced with friends, I vividly remember how this song was the only one they played that gave me shivers, and the only one of the setlist (together with 'Never let me go') that they didn't play in Milan a few months later when I went to see the concert with a big bunch of friends. Something that will happen again in a veeery short time, and I can't wait!
I'm sharing with you a demo / early version of this song, which is the first one I listened to and which I like a lot more than the one that ended up on the album. I hope you guys enjoyed this memory of mine, I wish you all a great new week, it will be special for me because it's gonna be my last week of work here in Veneto, and then I'll be officially unemployed (for now)! Don't forget to stay tuned! Cheers!

Art deco - Lana del Rey

Art deco - Lana del Rey

I must confess that I've been somewhat disappointed by 'Honeymoon'... it has always taken me quite a while to appreciate Lana's music, but some time has passed now, and her newest album still sounds like the b-side / bonus track / CD2 of  that masterpiece that 'Ultraviolence' is. The songs are generally ok, nothing is particularly bad, but nothing is particularly good either ('The blackest day' and maybe a couple more excluded)! What gets me even more frustrated is that I'm not even disliking the music, it just is leaving me pretty much indifferent, which is probably the worst. Anyway, something good (a little, but it's better than nothing) is coming out of it for me, maybe my problem is just that I'm so art deco!!

Power - Leona Lewis

Power - Leona Lewis

Sorry for the discontinuous posting in these days, but my body is having the best of me and this weird kind of slight fever plus headache plus cough plus goodness-knows-why is making it hard for me to stay away from the bed as soon as I get home from work. After today it's gonna be just one more week and then my experience in Veneto will come to an end, and for how sorry I am saying goodbye to everybody, I really can't to be back home and rest. For a while. And then who knows? Maybe after 3 days at home I will already embark in a new adventure! Because notwithstanding it all, I know I've got the power!

Bleeding out - Imagine Dragons

Bleeding out - Imagine Dragons

Back I am to my dear blog in this hard and difficult time for me! But let's get to the good things first: Imagine Dragons were awesome in Milan two nights ago! Really nice gig, I enjoyed it with my friends! 'I'm so sorry' was the absolute highlight, but I kinda expected it, as I already used to scream it at the top of my voice while listening to it in the car... doing it while Dan Reynolds was singing it live has been even better I must confess! It's just a pity that they did a medley of some songs I would have loved to hear in full (this being one of them), but still... better than nothing! My friends enjoyed the gig too, so all good! And I also had a full couple of days in Milan, a full, packed schedule from Sunday night to last night, concert included. And it's been super nice, as I've had a good chance to spend some time with friends that I hadn't seen much in the last months, but I think that I asked myself a little bit too much: I probably hadn't recovered from my flu completely and I think that now it's getting worse again, also because of the frreezing cold that I took while walking through the streets of my University city. I've also been having an annoying headache in the last couple of days, which is quite unusual for me... Today I got back to Veneto (for the last time, oh yeah!), but I fear that I'll be sick again... I already had been missing from work for a whole week adding up sick leave and days off, it kinda looks like I'm trying to avoid coming here now that I have to go and I really don't like giving that impression, as I think it's quite unprofessional... unfortunately when sickness comes, there's not much I can do to fight it... 10 more days anyway, and then hopefully I'll be able to rest for a while and stop bleeding out!

Roots - Imagine Dragons

Roots - Imagine Dragons

Here we are!!! The big day has come, once again! Maybe I don't get as excited about concerts as I used to get, but still... it's been a while! And first times are always exciting, especially when you go listen to bands that you utterly loved in the last couple of years!
I'm also excited because we're re-creating the concert team of my first concert in Milan, that is Cranberries in early 2010 with my friends C. and E! Seems like a kind of circle is closing... I used the be the excited boy who just started university and was leaving his "big city" life alone and independently for the first time, but who hadn't bloomed yet and now I am practically a man (it sounds weird, yeah) who graduated, has been abroad alone multiple times, has already had his first job, his first resignation... practically a full grown-up! And that fact is, I still get so excited every time I come back to Milan... maybe because it's like I'm going back to my roots every time! Happy concert to us and to all of you who are watching or have watched Imagine Dragons live lately!!

#sundayrevival Uummannaq song - KT Tunstall

Uummannaq song - KT Tunstall

For today's sundayrevival I went back to see what I was listening 5 years ago, i.e. what songs were on my November 2010 playlist. I see some PJ Harvey, Tori Amos, Bjork, OneRepublic, Skunk Anansie... I already had a pretty nice taste in music! But what I decided to pick is KT Tunstall: her 2010 album 'Tiger suit' is my favourite of hers, probably one of the most underestimated (not that she got massive radio playing since her first couple of albums, at least in Italy). It's a pity, because it's full of gems, and this is one of them. The weird name in song title is the name of a small town (I believe) in Greenland that KT visited during an inspirational trip. Amazing music anyway.

Eraser - Nine inch nails

Eraser - Nine inch nails

As I told you last night, it's a tie! Tie between 'The bends' and 'The downward spiral'. I guess that non-straight, non-square shapes even out each other! Anyway this is probably going to be the last NIN post for a while, until I get to their (and Radiohead's) third album(s). NIN are still leading the race, thanks to their early victory, but the fight is close! This is the answer to 'The bends' (song), so you let me know which album is better in your opinion! And enjoy your Saturday night!

The bends - Radiohead

The bends - Radiohead

I am going on, slowly but I'm going on with my acculturation process of NIN and Radiohead! After getting through their sophomores, I'd say that this time it's a tie. NIN won the debut match, while it proved harder and harder for me to approach their subsequent music, which I finally have been able to somehow appreciate, while Radiohead have improved a bit from 'Pablo honey'... all in all it's a tie. I'm quite curious to listen to their respective third albums, even if I pretty much lost the push I had at the beginning, with other music that is sparking much more interest in me... anyway I won't go as far as saying there's nothing good for me there, rather... this is a quite good one!

Metal & dust - London Grammar

Metal & dust - London Grammar

I was looking for the post I made of this song to share it on Facebook and... I just found out I haven't posted it yet! Oh goodness, how ashamed can one be...?! Anyway, I'm just out of watching my first weekly live of this year's X Factor Italy and I must say that, even if the singers are good, I've not been particularly impressed by nor felt any strong connection with any of them. The band who played last did a cover of this song and, well... of course matching Hannah's voice is quite impossible, but they didn't do a bad job. Notwithstanding that they've been sent home, while many others have done worse imho. All of this just to say that I've been having this song in my head all night and, well... the fact that I hadn't posted it yet is just yet another proof that there are forces we can't see nor understand that govern our lives! Have a good night you all, and don't forget to listen to London Grammar!

Always - Junip

Always - Junip

Hello my followers, here I am somehow back on my feet! Have been sick in the last couple of days, been off work and came back home, as I took a few days off starting tomorrow...! I hate this time of year and I hate feeling bad and sick as I did yesterday, today I'm a bit better thanks goodness, even if I still got a bad cough, maybe a little temperature and all the ending symptoms of the flu (hopefully). I gotta be back on my feet by Monday, as I have an important even to attend, but I will let you know more about that soon! For now let's enjoy some great music, once again by one of my best discoveries of the awesome year in music this 2015 has been!!
PS: Genius video, don't miss out (and please explain me your interpretation of it)!

Elijah - Lunik

Elijah - Lunik

This is probably gonna be the last Lunik post for a while, as I exhausted my get-to-know listening of their 2012 album 'What is next'. The atmosphere of some of the songs on it is quite 'wintery', in contrast with the 'spring-like' tone of most of my favourite of theirs, the collection 'Lonely letters'. I dare say that this sad and calm mood is quite matching with my own... I am back with cold and coming flu, as usual in winter, and I am not happy at all about it... I just wanna feel good, it sucks that me and the poor people like me are feeling like shit for about half year every time... please senf us to the tropics! Please!!

Cripple and the starfish - Antony & the Johnsons

Cripple and the starfish -
Antony & the Johnsons

I've been keeping Antony's discography on my computer for quite a long time after approaching his 2010 album 'Swanlights' a few years ago... lately I got to think back about their song 'Thank you for your love', during my last trip to Thailand, and so I put their debut album in my queue and got to listen to it. I think I'm gonna greatly enjoy it because, apart from sounding quite awesome, it matches perfectly the winter mood that is surrounding me now, pre-xmas but already dark, gloomy and cold. This song, I'm already in love with it and couldn't wait to share it with you all any longer!!

#sundayrevival Come home - Lene Marlin

Come home - Lene Marlin

Lazy and eventless Sunday for me here: boring F1 race, usual lunch at grandma's with family, really... nothing particularly meaningful to note for today on my part. Nothing particularly bad, nothing particularly good. Seems like my life is on hold, waiting for me to come back home and reset everything. I'm already bored even before getting back here, so I guess I'm gonna need to find something to do in the meanwhile! This nonsense... I kind of find it in the lyrics of this song. Nonsense that hold a meaning somehow. A willingness to listen to this album just struck me, and I believe it did because I needed to post this song. Winter is coming, and so are sad and depressing times. Please, let xmas be here soon!

"Just give me directions I go anywhere

I need to find something I can not find here

Give me a chance I prove that you are wrong

I manage to find I can be strong

And maybe I wanna come home"

God knows I tried - Lana del Rey

God knows I tried - Lana del Rey

The awful news coming from Paris last night were not the reason I didn't post, actually I got the news from my grandfather while dining out with family and friends celebrating a birthday, after the usual long drive back home. The good news for me is that I am officially (going to be) unemployed (in a few weeks), and I really am happy about it, I need a break, I need to reassess everything, take a step back and have a fresh start for the new year. Goodness knows I tried to make this whole thing work, but I couldn't, and when you realise that, you know you just need to cut the rope. Back to Paris, I don't want to fall into clichés, even if I think I will whichever thing I say... I'll do my best. Among the many posts and pictures and stuff, the best thing I've read today is an article by a girl of Somali origin who was, to sum it up, claiming that the best thing we can do is to do our best and live normally, don't hate each other, don't answer to violence with violence and intolerance, to destroy the figurative and actual barriers among ourselves and to fight the violence with unity and peace. I agree, and I think that as EUROPE, we need to get closer and closer together, if we want to effectively be able to defend ourselves against this hatred and also to play a role in the geo-politics of the next (say) 50 years. My last, provocative comment refers to a picture I've seen on Facebook and immediately shared; quoting it, "don't pray for Paris, fight against hateful religious ideology." That's why I chose this song, as it mentions god (in a non-standard way) and as it relies on the meaning of doing our best, which is what we all need to do now!

Lost? - Coldplay

"Just because I'm losing doesn't mean I'm lost...

Doesn't mean I didn't get what I deserved 

No better and no worse..."

Lost? - Coldplay

So, I wanted to make a double post tonite, but I don't have the strength to write something decent and post it and share, so I'm just gonna take this note and complete the post tomorrow. Just know that I tried, and I started this with the best intentions! But I love this song and I had a moment with it today, so I prefer to devote a little bit more time to it and share it well tomorrow. And in the meantime I've already kind of written the post, so to hell with that, I'm just gonna post it now.

I've been listening to a playlist I compiled thinking about an "aperitivo on a terrace facing the sea" kind of context, with relaxing and chilling songs, which most often end up being songs I feel the most and that communicate very strongly to me. So I got this one playing in my car while driving back from work tonite and being at a point of my life when I decided to turn the page, the lyrics I quoted up here kind of really spoke to me! And I've always been in love with this song, with how you can pick one version for charging-up moments and the other one for calm and reflexive moments (Lost! vs Lost?), and they both work awesomely.

Well now, after a bad, disturbed and not so long sleep two nights ago and a very much enjoyed but short 5-sleep last night, I reaaally need to see a bed. Be well, y'all!

Every night - Imagine Dragons

Every night - Imagine Dragons

My days at work, after a couple days of excitement following my decision, have come back to what they used to be before: pure bordeom. The difference is that right now I stopped caring about it at all, I know I'm gonna go and that's it. I'm still happy when somebody asks me something or gives me something to do, or if anyway I can be helpful to the team, but for the rest of the time (which I think accounts for 6-7 hours per working day on average, so you can get an idea) I just mind my own business. I didn't get to the point of watching TV series in the office, but I think you got the idea. I'm still surprised about how people seem to deem my work and my contribution valuable and want to keep me here as long as they can, while I just want to go and mind at my own business at home (ok, without getting paid for it, but still...). When you're 25 years old and you just started working, you can't find yourself in such a situation I think. Adding to it all the hardships and the fact that even when I do get something to do, the job is not exciting nor appealing to me. Well, my mind is made up... I am going to buy (second-hand) tickets for ID's concert in Milan!

"My mind is made up, nothing could change that

I'm coming home to you every night, every night, every night"

London thunder - Foals

London thunder - Foals

It's really unbelievable how I haven't posted this song yet...! I've been in love with it for weeks now, it's probably the song that I've felt the most since the excitement for Florence's new album came out a few months ago. I will underline again how Foals have done, once again, a very good job in my opinion with their new album. I think that (maybe) their 2013 'Holy fire' is a small step up, but I wouldn't dare say that I am disappointed by the new album, rather...! The two opening singles are both great and I consumed them both, and out of the other songs on the album, which I rank between like and love, this is by far the best. Amazing atmosphere, it sounds just great and makes you fly to another dimension. Makes me fly, at least. Sometimes I can't stop listening to it, so approach it but be careful: it's addictive!

Dog days are over - Florence + the Machine

Dog days are over - Florence + the Machine

Sometimes you have to take firm decisions. I think that if you guys have been reading some of my posts lately,, you might have had the feeling I have not been extremely happy about how my life has been going on. Well, today I think that the decisive turn has been taken. In the last few weeks I gave signs of distress, then finally today I spoke with both my bosses and, after they made me yet another (interesting) proposal, I have been firm in my decision to walk away. As a person always living projected in the future, it has been hard for me to take such a decision, as the job and the opportunities were good. Yet, as you can imagine, I didn't wake up with the wrong foot today and take this decision, I have been feeling unsatisfied for... months. And lately the situation has become unbearable for me: lack of motivation, a job I didn't particularly like, opportunities that were always in front of me but never came to meet me for real, added to the toughness of having no home for the last 10 months, travelling back and forth from here to there and back... I couldn't make it anymore. I couldn't take it anymore. And I am happy I took this decision, as it means I am learning to care more about the present. It might turn out to be a crappy decision in the long term, but I will never know; it's what I needed to do in order to feel better now and so I did. And the fact that I haven't been feeling happier than this afternoon for a long time tells me that I did do what was good for me. The dog days are over, the dog days are done. I can hear the horses come and I'm running!

"Leave all your love and your longing behind.

You can't carry it with you if you want to survive"

Closer - Nine inch nails

Closer - Nine inch nails

It took me a while to get in sync with NIN's sophomore album, but in the end I've been able to get something good out of it! This is a good example of what I'm talking about. I'm sure the rockers among you out there will not be disappointed, and maybe some of the non-rockers!
Today I ordered a bunch of albums on Amazon, so I'm waiting for my CD library to grow very soon! And I got some great bargains too, can't wait to share with you some of the good things I bought!

#sundayrevival E-bow the letter - R.E.M. (feat. Patti Smith)

E-bow the letter - R.E.M.
(feat. Patti Smith)

I promised a special post today to celebrate the 700th entry on the blog, and here it is! A sundayrevival that is not a real sundayrevival (as I got to listen to this song for the first time a little over 2 years ago), but it feels like one, as soon after I approached R.E.M.'s 'E-bow the letter' album, I've been feeling like I've known this song forever. As if it was an inheritance from my childhood, even if I don't remember ever listening to it before. I wanted to post it a couple of days ago, as I went on to listen to some of my personal 2013 best after a pure XX moment, but then I decided to post 'Intro' and kept this other gem for today! I don't need to introduce R.E.M. nor Patti Smith to any of you, I just note that I remember reading something about how Michael Stipe was excited about this song, as it's the first collaboration his band made with Patti, who he mentioned as the reason he started making music. I guess that's enough introduction, just get to the music asap!

Rope & summit - Junip

Rope & summit - Junip

Shame on me for not posting any Junip song for such a long time! I recently started listening to another one of their albums (well, more precisely the second part of their debut album, actually the first part as previously I listened to the bonus tracks contained in the second CD)! All of this, just to say sorry for keeping them far from the blog for so long! I am loving the CD1 of 'Fields' already after a few listens too, so I'm very happy I approached their music! This is another song out of my (not so) current playlist (anymore), probably one of the last I'm gonna share, as I already have a new playlist ready! Expect more great music to come: I have to celebrate the 7.000 +1s reached (a while ago) by the blog on Google+, plus tomorrow I'm going to celebrate the 700th post of the blog with a special entry! Stay tuned!

Intro - The XX

Intro - The XX

After listening to a weird Xmas playlist in my car, the iPod went on with the subsequent playlist (XX) and after a glorious Intro with pumped-up volume in the car, I played it again on my computer and then again in the car while driving to the supermarket. I can't deny how great this song feels, especially when it gets played over and over on repeat. This all brought me to listen to what is a music masterpiece (yes, I'm not talking about 'VCR', I'm talking about what comes next!), my favourite XX song and (now) the first song I started listening after 2012 that reached 100 plays on iTunes. Happy 100th play, 'Crystalised'. And in a short while, you'll be joined by the glory that comes before you (and yeah, again, I'm not talking about 'VCR')!

Alive - Sia

Alive - Sia

I've been waiting for a while to post this song, as I wanted to post it with the official video. The official video came out today and I'm not a big fan of it. Ok, I know 'Chandelier' was hard to top, but I have been pretty disappointed with this new one. Then I found out there was a lyrics video I missed out, which I like way better than the one released today (and I'm not the only one on the big Y). Anyway I like this son and have big expectations for the whole new album, which is supposed to be released next January. The second song released recently out of it is quite good too, so let's keep it up for Sia!
Turning points.

Night swimmers - Foals

Night swimmers - Foals

For the second week in a row I went swimming on Wednesday, when the pool opens at 21.00 for free swimming, I'm still not sure I figured out the whole dinner thing well enough, today I ate a "late merenda" just before 7 when I got back from work and then ate dinner (+ okashi) afterwards, like until a few minutes ago. I guess I'm gonna have to stay up for a while still to get everything go down. Today was also our first day in the new office, which is way less worse than I expected! Tomorrow I'm gonna head to the HQ to talk about my situation, so I hope I'm gonna know something more about it soon. In the meantime I'll keep enjoying my night-swimmer life!

Thunder - Leona Lewis

Thunder - Leona Lewis

I'm coming back with a thunder. Oh yeah, I am. But not now. Now I'm living that (usual) time of year when I only feel sick and bad and would just like to get away, go somewhere warm, go to the beach and just lay there waiting for spring to come again, so that I can come back here (or wherever). Or just leave me on that beach, I don't mind at all. Just take me away from that hideous autumn, as I'm spending more money on useless medicines than I am earning. Tonite I said goodbye... well, adios to the working location that has hosted me since March, as the office is being moved to the next town. I am slowly starting to detach from here... can't wait for the process to be over. So that I can indeed come back with a thunder. Health permitting.

I don't feel like dancin' - Scissor Sisters

I don't feel like dancin' - Scissor Sisters

Facebook just reminded me that 3 years ago me and my friend G. went to see Scissor Sisters play live in Milan and even got the chance to get a picture with the amazing diva Jake Shears!! Best memories of my times in Milan, I just had to play this song and dance like crazy to it in my room, even if I'm too old for this stuff and my breath can't keep up with my weirdo moves!! Doesn't matter, I'm enjoying my time and that's what is important! Cherishing memories is also something very precious for me at this time of my life, so I will indulge into Scissters music a little longer... hope you're having a good night: if you aren't, listen to this and it will become so; if you are, listen to this and it'll become a great night!

#sundayrevival Thin line between love and hate - Annie Lennox

Thin line between love and hate -
Annie Lennox

My dear friend B., who I mentioned multiple times on the blog, is about to sing a song at an event with one of her singer friends and she wanted to sing something by Annie, so she asked me if I could suggest some song she could sing. In the end, I think she decided to cover something by the Beatles, but I ended up stuck with Annie for a few days anyway! And so, I am taking this chance to post yet another song out her (most beloved by me) cover album 'Medusa', which reminds me of my Easter 2012 in Toronto every time I listen to it. Can't wait to be back in that magic city (maybe not in winter!), for the time being I'll just cherish my memories and wish you a great end of the week!

Howl - Florence + the Machine

Howl - Florence + the Machine

Hey there, welcome back bad ol' habit of posting my post of the day after midnight! It's not like I'm getting back to my former lifestyle (in terms of sleeping time), not anytime soon at least. Even though I would like... well, love to! I feels so much better staying up until late at night and waking up late, I am so much more productive during the day, and feel better overall. Creature of the night. It's peculiar how, being such a creature of the night, I've never felt particularly attached to Halloween.... well, during my university years it was always exams time, this year I've spent it at home alone watching Arrow and The Flash (not a bad night at all)! We'll see if next year I'll be in a place and with people that will inspire me more in this sense. For now, I'll just be good joining Florence in wishing you all a great 'Howloween'!! Beware the howling creatures of the night!