Miley Cyrus Bangerz Concert: Flying Hotdogs, Fuzzy Animals, and Much More

There is no hint of irony when I say that I like Miley Cyrus.  She's gutsy and smart, has really cute hair, and has an amazing voice that is completely underestimated.  So when I went to see her this past Tuesday night in San Jose I was freaking out like a total fangirl.

Her show was upbeat and fun and passed by so fast.  She performs all her best songs, including even some forgotten ones (I didn't forget though I say creepily) like "Can't Be Tamed."  She does two covers, "Hey Ya!" (check out the video above) and "Jolene."  Her costumes, designed by Cavalli, were adorable-her body is crazy.  From start, Icona Pop opened for her, to finish, a grand finale of "Party in the USA," Miley gives her all and doesn't disappoint.  I apologize for the fuzziness of the photos, hopefully you can still see some of the awesomesauce that was Bangerz.

That famous tongue

Miley on Miley

This was for the song "FU" with some sort of Snuffleupagus creature

I want that fur coat, like now.

She was in a really pretty full body, black sparkly jumpsuit

She's riding a hotdog.  Not much more to say.

She's closer to us and I screamed like a fool

I mean, a hotdog.  That would be much cooler than the electric scooter I ride to class.

#selfieatmyownconcertnobigdeal

There's that beloved cat and the finale!

Quotes

I am an aficionado of quotes.  Whether it be funny ones, like when Modern Family's Cam says of Lily's biting problem: "It's like Twilight back here!" or on The Good Wife when Alicia Florrick says to her husband's female political opponent "People wonder whether men and women can be friends.  The question is, can women?"

I like quotes from books, movies, and television shows but I also like quotes or lines from songs too.  Recently I've been listening to Grace Potter's "Stars" and loving the lyrics.  I dare you to listen to this song and not feel nostalgic.  Every time I listen to it I can see certain images.  My favorite lines are:

"I lit a fire with the love you left behind
And it burned wild and crept up the mountain side...

I can't look at the stars
They make me wonder where you are...

And if I know you at all, I know you've gone too far"

Actually, I don't think Taylor Swift gets enough credit for her ability with words.  Off of her latest album, from her song "All Too Well," there's a particular phrase that I have fallen in love with.

"You call me up again just to break me like a promise.
So casually cruel in the name of being honest
I'm a crumpled up piece of paper lying here..."

A favorite poem of mine that is beautifully haunting is The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock by T.S. Eliot.

"And would it have been worth it, after all,
Would it have been worth while,
After the sunsets and the dooryards and the sprinkled streets,
After the novels, after the teacups, after the skirts that trail along the floor—
And this, and so much more?—

We have lingered in the chambers of the sea

By sea-girls wreathed with seaweed red and brown

Till human voices wake us, and we drown."

My chest hurts and feels hollow after I read this poem no matter how many times.  As Dumbledore says to Harry, "Words are, in my not so humble opinion, our most inexhaustible source of magic, capable of both inflicting injury and remedying it."

Grumpy Cat Playlist

I felt bleh today, like I just wanted to crawl under the covers and stay there forever.  I went to physical therapy, first day of aquatic therapy, and phew I got tired out.  When you are far from 100% it's funny how much energy is exerted.  After I came home I literally did get under the covers and listened to my iPod.  My mom and dad thought I was sleeping but I couldn't fall asleep.  I just stared at the pattern on my comforter and tried to figure out why I felt even more depressed (never a PC term but still overused unfortunately) than usual.

How I felt- and probably looked- today (courtesy of Grumpy Cat)

When I was trying to sync new songs to my iPod yesterday blasted iTunes said that my iPod was full.  How does that even happen anymore with the amount of space on these contraptions?  It happened to me nonetheless and now I have to go through and delete songs save get a new iPod.

So back to when I was listening to my iPod under the covers.  It made me think that I never really had a playlist for when you're just plain feeling crappy and like "Curse the world!" but don't have enough energy or heart to shake your fist.  I do have a playlist for when you're feeling angry at someone-it's a really long playlist.

This is what I listened to today:

1. "Wonderwall" by Oasis- For when we actually believed that a significant someone could save us.

2.  "In the End" by Linkin Park- There is nothing better than Chester's voice.  Have you ever felt like that?  Like you put your all into something and then it just didn't even matter anyway?

3.  "What I've Done" by Linkin Park- When I got going with the whole Linkin Park thing I couldn't stop and entered into their seemingly more religious phase.  Don't get me wrong but I still like the original Linkin Park so much better.

4.  "Jumper" by Third Eye Blind- Hey, I was down in the dumps.  "Wish you would step back from that ledge my friend...I would understaaaayeeeaaaaaand..."

5.  "White Horse" by Taylor Swift- I don't care what anyone says T. Swift was at her best in the beginning and this song of lost innocence is replayable.

6.  "Marilyn Monroe" by Nicki Minaj- An actual thoughtful Nicki Minaj song.  I'm not sure why Marilyn Monroe felt the way she did when she was so beautiful and talented and beloved but I sure felt that way today and I am far from those three things.

7.  "Who Knew" by Pink- Can somebody please explain to me why Pink isn't bigger than she is already?  Man, she has a good voice.  A lesser known song maybe, but the lyrics are so nostalgic.

8.  "Fuck and Run" by Liz Phair- Please don't judge.  I discovered this song late and Liz Phair sounds so different on it.  There is a sadness to it and a desperate yearning.  Who doesn't want "all that stupid old shit?"

9.  "Just a Dream" by Nelly- I don't usually like Nelly songs but this one is just plain good, auto-tune and all.

10. "Superman" by Five for Fighting- It sounds a little arrogant to sing this song aloud but I still do when no one's listening.  "I'm not that naive, men weren't meant to ride with clouds between their knees.  I'm only a man..."

11. "Face Down" by Red Jumpsuit Apparatus- Could also be put in angry playlist.  I actually didn't know the lyrics told such a heart-wrenching story at first as I just liked the beat. 

12.  "Eyes on Fire" by Blue Foundation- An extremely emo song, although I have no idea what it is about.  I just remember hearing it in Twilight and liking it.

13.  "How to Save a Life" by The Fray- This has to be on any downer list.

14.  "Love the Way You Lie Part 2" by Rihanna (feat Eminem)- I like Part 2 slightly better, only slightly, than the original version because there are hauntingly, eerily good verses added and Rihanna sings them beautifully.  Powerful and the epitome of destruction.

15.  "Gecer" by Kutsi- This song sounds amazing even if you don't know what it means.  It is Turkish for, "This Will Pass," a break-up song lamenting the end of a relationship.

16.  "Benimle Oynama" by Burak Kut- Continuing on with the break-up theme, this is a Turkish song as well and means "Don't Play Games with Me."  It is an example of what I meant about Turkish songs that are like "I hate you" but you can fist-pump and dance to them.  Basically they sound upbeat but about love loss.

17.  "Breathe Me" by Sia- May not be eloquent but sad sad sad and lovely/heartbreaking/gorgeous.

18.  "Video" by India.Arie- Finally, I tried to end on somewhat of an upper.  This song has such poignant lyrics and makes me think for a second that I could raise my arms in the air and no one would care that I hadn't shaved. 

Oh my, it's Time for the Oscars!

I absolutely love and adore movies (on an equal level with writing).  Old and new, quirky and haunting, all poignant in their own way.  They, like books, give us a glimpse into places we may never see and people we will never know.  They can open our eyes, make us laugh and cry, and give us an escape, if only for a little while.

I am so excited that the Oscars are tomorrow!  I am dedicating my entire day to watching the pre-pre-show, the pre-show, and all the red carpet goodness.  Bring on the pizza and the popcorn.  My family takes it seriously-winner of most accurate predictions gets lunch.  I've got this in the bag.
 

In a year of great films and not-so-great music (see further down), this awards season has been exciting.  Exciting is not usually the adjective first thought of to describe these awards shows because of past years of fairly predictable wins.  This year is up for grabs, though.  The only sure bets are Anne Hathaway for Best Supporting Actress and Daniel Day-Lewis for Best Actor.  I’m thinking that Jennifer Lawrence will and should take it for Best Actress.  Best Supporting Actor methinks will go to Tommy Lee Jones but the Academy may pull one of those “Here’s an award for all of your work that we should have rewarded earlier” and give it to Robert De Niro (or Bob as Lawrence calls him).  Christoph Waltz could be a surprise here as he won the BAFTA and Golden Globe but probably not.  Best Picture will most likely go to Argo but the division of awards is weird this year because Ben Affleck was snubbed for Best Director.

The awards shows have been fun so far, save the slowness of the BAFTAs (even the dry, witty host can’t save that).  The SAGs moved quickly and the Golden Globes were hilarious due to Amy Poehler and Tina Fey’s brilliance.  It truly was a night full of girl power and star power.  

Tina Fey and Amy Poehler hosting the Golden Globes and just being hilarious

The dresses this season have been pretty but also pretty safe.  There have not been any major blunders but some standouts have been all of Anne Hathaway’s choices (love her short hair), Marion Cotillard is always stunning (except for wearing the yellow version  of Jennifer Lawrence's SAG dress at the BAFTAs-why they made it a split level dress so that it looks like it is falling apart I'll never know), and Kerry Washington never misses.  Jennifer Lawrence looked beautiful at the Golden Globes but could even step outside of her box a little more.  Remember how gorgeous she looked at the Oscars a few years ago when she was nominated for Winter’s Bone?  She had her signature blond locks and a form-fitting red Calvin Klein dress.  **This just in, I just saw a picture of Jennifer Lawrence at the Film Independent Spirit Awards (damn you IFC for not showing on my TV) in a gorgeous short black Lanvin dress.  She looks young and fresh and I love love love it!  Jessica Chastain also chooses safe looks usually; I have to say I did not like the dress and hair she had for the Golden Globes this year. 

Anne Hathaway at the SAGs

Jennifer Lawrence at the 2011 Oscars

Jennifer Lawrence at the Golden Globes

Marion Cotillard at the Golden Globes

Music, on the other hand, has been disappointing this year.  Did anyone see the Grammys?  They were as lackluster as a potato chip.  I’ve never been so bored during the show.  My sister said we have officially entered Dante’s Inferno as Taylor Swift opened the show.  Clowns and Taylor Swift.  I like Taylor Swift but I didn’t think she needed all that stuff around her.  It was just distracting.  All the artists kept making it seem like Justin Timberlake was the best thing we'd ever seen (don't lie to us people, seriously not cool) and I don’t even like his new song, “Suit & Tie.”  If he doesn’t want to do music anymore then listening seems like a waste.

Taylor Swift opening the Grammys

  

I haven’t heard a song that I genuinely want to listen to over and over since Gotye’s haunting “Somebody That I Used to Know.”  Is it bad that I want that to be my theme song?  A few years ago my theme song was Papa Roach’s “Scars,” so it can’t be any worse than that.

I like Mumford & Sons but I liked their earlier music like “The Cave” and don’t get me wrong, Fun.’s “Some Nights” is catchy but should they have been nominated in almost every category?  I don’t think so.  One hit song or two does not a great album make.  I must be missing something because everyone loves Miguel and Frank Ocean and I just don’t get it.

Back to the movies, though.  Here are some of the movie reviews that I've written.  The films have all been nominated for Best Picture.  This year I actually have gotten to see all of the Best Pic nominees before the show.  The rest of the nominated movies' reviews to come along with a recap of the Oscars!