Love: Its Most Beautiful Portrayal in Film

This may not agree with your idea of love.

Bright Star

I Am Love



Blue Valentine



In The Mood for Love




A Very Long Engagement





Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

There's more in mind that Youtube cannot provide videos of. I could say a few words about these scenes, but I think I'll just let them speak for themselves.

Most Influential Music Videos Pt. I

Visual depictions of songs have been a big part of the music industry.  It's been known that many artists or their record labels will spend as much money as possible to produce a memorable video.  Especially these days when the more Youtube hits a song has is a criteria of popularity and potential sales.  Unfortunately, there are only a handful these days that will be on my "influential" category, considering the only method they rely on now is to be as mind-numbing, non-thought-provoking, and gimmicky as can be.  For me, music videos tie in to a memory; to a particular day and place that I once was at; the very feeling that occurred as each started playing.  This will be the first post to the potentially never-ending love story between me and the music videos that changed my life.


Soundgarden - Black Hole Sun (1994)

There was this local television station back in the Philippines that would show "popular" music videos for an hour before prime time shows begin to air, more so a filler show.  No one really watched music videos at that time, in my opinion.  My older cousins, who were in their 20s, were the coolest people to me.  One of my cousins, L, would play the guitar most of the day and spend the rest being the coolest person ever.  It is a given that she would watch music videos and leave them on after I take my afternoon nap (since I was only 6 years old at this time)/before my mom got home from work.  Grunge was obviously the music at the time.  Every now and then, though, they would still show hair rock videos which is also a great guilty pleasure of mine.  Seriously, I could be one of those frizzy-haired, mom-jean-cutoff-shorts-wearing, little ladies at the front row of every Def Leppard show had I lived in that era. Anyyyyhow, when I first saw Soundgarden's Black Hole Sun, I could not peel my eyes off the TV.  It wasn't only the slippery guitar intro that kept me on my seat, it was how fucking fantastic the faces of each character was.  Not was I slightly creeped out by the stretched out mouths or the sexually suggestive positions the old people in the living room were doing.  The video was so attractive and vivid, that now every time I hear it on a rock station on the radio (and that is every time), I see the abnormally elastic and enthusiastic faces of the "perfect" people.

Daft Punk - Around the World (1997)

Ah.  MTV became really popular around this time in the 90s in Asia, since it was just born around that time.  The boom of pop music has triggered this.  Asia, being the trial market for European pop music, of course got a sample of one (there is plenty) of France's best export.  How can a 10-year old girl not fall in-love immediately with Daft Punk?  I don't think I can count how many times I followed the dance moves of this video, or how many times this was shown in the first month of its release.  But trust me when I say that it never, ever got old.  I associate it until now to the prime of MTV and music hit lists at 6pm on school nights.  Ah.

Janet Jackson - Got Til It's Gone (1997)

When I first heard this song, it took me to a time that was so familiar, but I knew I couldn't have existed yet.  After all, I was only in 4th grade at the time.  It made me think of big family reunions, but with the turntable playing records of jazz and dancehall music; uncles and aunts playing mah jong and drinking at 3 o'clock in the afternoon. Basically a genuine sense of community and everyday occurrence that is easily taken for granted (which oddly enough is the main theme of the song).  To my absolute surprise, the video manifested all of these.  The beauty of this video was just astounding.  It was so picturesque, yet very real.  Not to mention, Janet Jackson's versatility could not be displayed any more than this video had. 

Skunk Anansie - Secretly (1999)

Skin from Skunk Anansie has always been one of the strongest, unforgettable women I have ever seen.  Not only was she memorable for her beauty, but also for the voice that she lent to their songs.  The sadness that this song produced is well captured by its video.  Three friends (2 boys + 1 girl) on an adventure to discover their identities in hedonistic, careless ways but still caught in the frenzy of love and jealousy.  However, friendship still prevailed.  This is real friendship here, as you will see. I remember it was summer in the Philippines when I first saw this video, and as somewhat a loner, I wanted to have best friends that I can randomly plunge in pools and end up in barfights with.  The sensitivity and carefree ways of youth was so romantic.

Placebo - Taste In Men (2000)

This video confused the hell out of me.  I was so stuck in the whole "but he went to both rooms?!" scenes.  Who was Brian Molko really with?  For me, it was not the question of why he was with the one or the other, but just who.  Haha.  The pace and repetition of many scenes, be it being acted by Molko or be it in the company of the woman or the man, is what makes the video as intriguing as the song is.  There is excitement and urgency with each unlocking of doors and secretive smiles.  The concealing outfit of the woman when she is with Molko; big floppy hat to cover her face but bare skin under the tailored blazer.  This video just exuded sexual power and frustration all at once.  Probably too much to take in as an 11 year-old girl.  Yet, this was an entrance to my notion that sex was/is a fragile commodity.

Coldplay - Trouble (2000)

There was a time when Coldplay was tolerable.  I was in 5th grade when they infiltrated my life.  My mom's boyfriend at the time, who hailed from Switzerland, had bought me and my sister a cassette tape (yes, I know) of Parachutes all the way from Basel, as well as a Walkman for me (^_^).  According to him, this was great music.  We gave it a listen, and couldn't agree more.  It still is one of my favorite albums.  Two videos actually came out for this song.  Like I said about Daft Punk, Asia tend to hear about European artists earlier than America, so it took a year for the States to learn about this band.  With this in mind and to appeal to America's taste, a new video had to be made.  However, for my list, I will show you the European video.  When I first saw it, I think I actually got very teary-eyed and felt like my heart was being pulled straight out of my shirt.  The desperation of Chris Martin setting himself free and the uncertainty of the shadows in the background, topped with the piano and lyrics was apparently too much for me.  I was a rather lonely kid at home, and opted to be in the company of honest, soul-draining songs than being outside with shallow, dishonest kids. I suppose I saw myself trying to set free from all of the uncertainties at the time.  Oh, pre-teen years.

I think this post will conclude here for now.  Too much nostalgia for one night.  Ha!



To music and memories,
Rae

Story Behind The Name

From Google

On my first Tumblr (which possesses the same name as this blog) post, I explained the origin of the name choice.  Arrondissement roughly translates to the word "district" in the French language.  It is mostly applied in larger cities in France; most popular of all being Paris.  When you see a map of Paris, the city is commonly outlined this way.  This could be very helpful in determining where you want to stay, depending on which sights you want to see.  The touristy spots are towards the center of the city, sitting on the verge of the Seine. Personally, I prefer the area surrounding Notre Dame all the way to the old bohemian area where my dad hung out as a young man when he set out on a 3-month pilgrimage, trekking every (what is now modern; seems like an unfitting word though) place mentioned in the Bible.  I digress.  That deserves a different post.

Enjoying couscous and lamb Moroccan-style in my dad's old neighborhood.  Of course, photo taken after food consumed.

Returning to the original purpose of this entry, you may think why the 14th Arrondissement?  You may also ask if I have been there at all, hence the inspiration?  I did stay there for two nights before heading up north to Mont Blanc.  There wasn't anything special about this particular part of the city.  Perhaps me feeling that it didn't exclusively belonged to Paris struck me the most.  It was such a familiar place.  Walking there reminded me of walking in downtown Cebu city circa 1990.  There's an element to it that can be found in every city that I have been to.  Until now, I still can't pinpoint what it is.  However, the real inspiration is from the following  video.  It is of the short film 14th Arrondissement.  No introduction could really do justice of how beautiful and meaningful this film is to me.  It encompasses all the feelings I have of growing up, of trying to compromise the life that was ideal to me and what reality has presented to me instead (or I made reality present to me?). Yet, Carol has taught me one thing: acceptance.

To boredom,
Rae

Review

I used to keep notebooks under my bed. At the end of every year, I would review all of them.  Even boxes of old letters and drafts that popped in my head (but were too ambitious to even begin transcribing) were let out to get some fresh air; hoping that they would meet disclosure of some sort.  Somehow, it was easier back then.  Inspiration came from every minute of not speaking, of observing, and of wishing that in every green light, there was someone reckless and ready to end your life.  Even though the world has given me more reasons to be happy, I don't think I know myself quite as I used to.  It is as if my identity has been put on pause for another one to play.  It's alright, I suppose.  I just want to be that Rae again.