Hello World!

Greetings, everyone out there. Queso here. I am highly honored to be the newest addition to Zoodle, and will endeavor to post regularly (although most likely posts will be far and few between =}). Currently, I am feeling low on creative juices, so this post is going to be, well, boring. Thanks for inviting me on board!

In Defense of Nightwish...

Oh, the love! Oh, the hate! Oh, the confusion surrounding the symphonic power metal band, Nightwish! Due to the many arising controversies concerning this band, I have decided, in defense of Nightwish, to unearth the many qualities this group possesses in the following statements.

To this day, Nightwish remains my all-time favorite band. First and foremost, I believe Nightwish is immersed in numerous nuances of sound and lyric. Secondly, they are unmistakably unique and authentic, and definitely not dull or boring. Thirdly, their songs are written and composed by a brilliant keyboardist and poet, Tuomas Holopainen. Lastly, I will convey my feelings towards each of the female vocalists, both Tarja Turunen and Anette Olzon.

Some of you might be wondering; what is Nightwish? Nightwish is a female-fronted orchestral-rock band from Finland. They started in 1997 and are currently working on an album-in-progress. Since 1997, they have released 9 albums and numerous singles. From 1997-2005, Tarja Turunen was their lead vocalist. With an operatic style, she defined the essence of the band. In 2005 and the years afterward, Anette Olzon took over the role of lead vocalist. She had a different style, being influenced from Simone Simons from Epica and Sharon den Adel from Within Temptation. The band continues to create award-winning music and shaping the symphonic power metal genre.

One of the defining features of Nightwish are the orchestral accompaniments to metal. A symphony put to metal is one of the coolest ideas ever thought of in music! Syncing electric guitars, vocals and violins (most evident in songs such as Bless the Child) sounds rich and authentic. Some may argue that metal detracts from the orchestra or visa-versa, however I plead quite the opposite. The composer, Tuomas Holopainen can manipulate the metal to enhance the symphonic properties of the music. The dramatic, beautiful symphony can be aided by the course, backbone of metal. With the assistance of female vocals, Holopainen is able to create an extremely epic-like air to the music he creates.

Influenced by extremely gifted composers such as Hans Zimmer, poets such as Walt Whitman, and authors such as J. R. R. Tolkien, Holopainen embeds many metaphors and allegories in his songs. While most of his early Nightwish song lyrics consisted of mythological and fantasy elements, such as metaphysics and nature, but eventually he shifted to a more personal style. Tarja Turunen is quoted as saying (during their 2002 album, Century Child) that the lyrics no longer deal, "with the dreamland we were used to, but with the brutal reality of life."

Whether the transition from female singers Tarja Turunen to Anette Olzon was good or bad move on Nightwish's part, is constantly debated over. Some adored Nightwish for their front-singer and were extremely disappointed when she was fired (the result of a disision by Holopainen enlightened in an open letter he sent to her). Others say they prefer Olzon and that they are glad the lead singer changed. Personally, I prefer the original singer, Turunen, but openly embrace the style of the new singer, Olzon, as well. The most important part is, the Nightwish songs with Turunen continue to live on to be enjoyed...

All-in-all, Nightwish is a fantastic band that creates authentic, thrilling, and unique sound unparalleled by many others.

Weird is the new cool

Is it just me, or do you find it really, odd, annoying, trying, or all of the above when people say, "Green is the new Black" or, "Stupid is the new cool" or something to that effect? It really bothers me. Because what they are trying to do, is either, change the meaning of a word, thus altering the "Hip" language and creating possibilities for kids to say things they don't mean anymore, or they make certain actions ok. It falls under the same line as using words for uses that make no sense! Try 40 or so years ago when they'd say, "That's solid man!" Solid? What's the point of that?

And this is the king of all kings. Now in Merriam Webster's Dictionary, the definition of "Literally" is

1 : in a literal sense or manner : actually literally> literally insane>
2 : in effect : virtually literally turn the world upside down to combat cruelty or injustice — Norman Cousins>

usage Since some people take sense 2 to be the opposite of sense 1, it has been frequently criticized as a misuse. Instead, the use is pure hyperbole intended to gain emphasis, but it often appears in contexts where no additional emphasis is necessary.

We have twisted the meaning of Literally so badly, that now it can mean its exact opposite! Is that disturbing or what?

Anyway, continue with your lives, and just remember, "If at first you don't fricassee, fry fry a hen."

The whole and perfectness of eggs

Is it just me, or is there something satisfying in holding an egg? You would be in the Kitchen, and your mom might be making cake mix, or brownies, and so she gets out the eggs. You become giddy, as your mom lets you crack an egg into the mix. But even before the cracking, when you are holding the egg in your palm, there's a feeling of perfectness. Just the perfect white, round, cold and slightly rough texture of the egg that makes it very awesome to hold. I would always hold it with my hand cupped around it for the most amazing experience possible. And then there is the moment of truth: Cracking the egg to the bowl. Well, it's time to say bye to your friend, the perfect egg, and you crack the egg on the bowl with a satisfying smack, and you pour out it's contents, and look on it all, with a bit of pride, knowing that you did a job well done. You appreciated the egg's roundness, appreciated it's texture when smacking it, and soon, you'll enjoy it's flavor. Overall, a joyous experience...

An Epic epic: Beowulf

Beowulf is an epic written in the earthy times, sometime between the 8th and 11th century. It's one of the finest and most precious pieces of Poetry in Old English, and I, will be studying it sometime later this year in my studies.

And as a side note: I have heard the Movie Beowulf completely twists the story around, so I would not recommend it.

The poem is about the Geaton King Hygelac's Nephew, Beowulf, and how he and 14 companions sail to aid the Danish King Hrothgar. The Danish King's Hall, Heorot, has been ravaged by a savage beast called Grendel for 12 years. Grendel, the monster in human form, has been rendering the Hall uninhabitable, and so this is Beowulf's quest: To rid the Hall of the beast. When Beowulf and his men have arrived, they eat and drink in the hall with the Danes, until the night comes when all but Beowulf and his fellows withdraw from the hall. Slowly, as the night wore on, all of Beowulf's men fell asleep, and when they had, Grendel came and struck out at them all. In the surprise, one of Beowulf's dear friends was killed to his distraught. Beowulf was the only one awake, and though unarmed, managed to wrestle the beast, and with his might strength, mortally wound the beast and have it flee. They then followed the trail of blood to find Grendel.

The Danes now had nothing to fear, and so they all resided in the Hall that night. Safe as they thought they were, the hall was raided by Grendel's mother (She must have been a tough cookie!) and she took one of the Danish Nobles and ran away. But the fearless Beowulf boldly raced after her under the waves into a secret vault. They fought there, and Beowulf bravely defeated Grendels mother. It was there that the body of Grendel lay, and so, when Beowulf emerged from the waves, it was with the severed head of Grendel that he cheered the victory won!

After being richly rewarded by Hrothgar, Beowulf returned to his native land. Hygelac heard his story and showered him with land and money. During the reign of Hygelac and Hygelac's son, Heardred, he was the most well off man in the kingdom. And when Heardred was killed, in a battle with the Sweedes, Beowulf becomes the King of all Gotland.

Beowulf reigned for 50 years in unending prosperity, until a merciless Dragon comes to the land and starts causing destruction. The Dragon residing in a Burial mound, full of treasure, burned even the royal hall to the ground. The Aged King Beowulf resolves to fight this Dragon unaided but for 12 of his warriors. They travel to the mound, and when they reach the entrance, Beowulf places himself by the opening, and shouts a cry of defiance to the Dragon. The Dragon hearing this, rushes with fire gushing out of his jaws, to Beowulf and overpowers him. The sight is such a horrid, awful and pitiable sight, all of the warriors but one run away in fear. The one remaining, Wiglaf, though yet untried in battle, did not run, nor did he flee when even Beowulf told him too, attacked, and helped overturn the tide of battle, and together they did slay the beast, though not without a mortal blow to Beowulf. In Beowulf's last moments alive, Wiglaf shows him the treasures in the cave they have found. Beowulf names Wiglaf successor to the thrown, and then lays his head down...one...last...time....

When Wiglaf and the others return to Gotland to project the news, the people mourn for the loss of their hero, their King Beowulf, and they have a cremation for the king, in which his body is consumed along with the treasure that was found. Wiglaf becomes King, and honors Beowulf, by having 12 Warriors parade around his ashes.

That is the touching, memorable, and wonderfully poetically structured Epic that I will be studying. And though it be 3182 lines, let this keep you not from reading it. And now live the rest of your life, and hopefully, somewhere in your heart, you will have a new respect, for the Heroic, the Brave, the King Beowulf.