Sing Along Sunday: Falling In Love With February

It's that time again folks! In honor of St. Valentine's Day this Friday, I've compiled a list of old and new favorites describing all stages of love. I went a little overboard with this list and could (and probably will) continue to add more, but I'll try to keep it under 2 hours.

No matter your current relationship status, I hope you take the day to cherish and love yourself. If I've learned anything it would be the following: without loving and appreciating who you are, you cannot properly express love for others.

Like last post, be sure to click on the link or follow me on Spotify by going here. Please note that you'll need a Spotify account to access the list. I've included both the artists and song titles below; if you'd rather not sign up, you could always check out the songs on YouTube or iTunes instead.

1. "O.N.E." by Yeasayer: I instantly loved this song upon first listen. The lyrics went perfectly with a pre-break up. You know that feeling of struggle: when you refuse to accept that a relationship is no longer working but need to in order to be true to yourself and the other person in your life.

1. "1, 2, 3" by Camille: One of Camille's most beautiful, dreamy songs. I highly suggest listening to her other songs if you've never heard of her until today. This one ends with the French version of  "There are other fish in the sea."
2. "Keep You" by Wild Belle: The lyrics are pretty straight forward on this one. It's such a catchy song; get ready to hit the repeat button.
3. "I Still Care For You" by Ray LaMontagne: Ray was my go-to paper-writing mode artist in college. This song gives me goosebumps every time.
4. "The Girl" by City and Colour: Coincidentally, this song reminds me of one of my best friends and our road trip to Atlantic City, not a past love. She's one of those friends you may not see for a very long time, but the friendship always picks right back when you finally do get together in person.
5. "Me And Armini" by Emiliana Torrini: Why do people always think we're having a melt down when falling in love?
   
6. "You & Me - Flume Remix" by Disclosure featuring Eliza Doolittle: I prefer this remix over any of the others out there. There's just something about the build up and suspense. The music video is perfect.
   
7. "Inkhatably Omr" by Shireen Abdul Wahab: A beautiful love song in Arabic. I do enjoy Shireen's fast-paced pop songs, but this one takes the cake. For the English translation, go here.
8. "Don't Wait" by Mapei: I recently came across this song when listening to a 8tracks playlist. I dig the drums and simplicity of her lyrics.
9. "Why Don't Your Love Me" by Beyoncé: I know, I know. Why didn't I pick one of Beyoncé's more recent sexy time songs for Valentine's Day? Well, because this is a hidden gem that will get your booty shaking just as easily and she reminds you that there's nothing not to love about yourself.
   
10. "No More 'I Love You's'" by Annie Lennox: This has been my favorite song since I was about six. I'm not sure if it was the reference to monsters and crazy voices that hooked me or because the song grew popular as my parents separated and divorced, but no matter the subconscious reason, it will always remain my favorite.
11. "Aicha" by Khaled: This song makes me smile every time I hear it. (More than likely because Khaled's smile is so damn adorable).
12. "Hoppípolla" by Sigur Rós: In order to fully comprehend this Icelandic song, you must watch the music video. Bring out the tissues.
13. "Take Off Your Cool" by Outkast and Norah Jones: Another hidden gem that I've been obsessed with since Speakerboxxx/The Love Below came out when I was in high school. Two of my go-to artists on the same sexy track. Meow.
14. "Wait for Me" by Kings of Leon: Ever since these guys have blown up on the music scene, I've seen a shift in the attitudes (like most artists who get big) and stopped listening to them as often. This song from their latest album gets me though. I wish I could watch them perform it in a tiny, dirty venue, rather than the Verizon Center. It would be even more sexy in an intimate setting, don't you think?
15. "Tellement Je T'aime" by Faudel: Another classic that I came across thanks to my dear friend, Selim. How can you not love this song? 
16. "Heatbeats" by José González: As much as I enjoy the original by The Knife, José really made this song his own with this acoustic version. I was lucky enough to see and meet him back in college with my brother.
17. "Human Touch" by Bruce Springsteen: I love this song because of the memory associated with it. My dad would pick up my sister and I in his arms and we would dance, jump, spin, and shout along with Bruce. Plus, the lyrics are just amazing.
18. "Toi et moi" by Guillaume Grand: This song was on NRJ all the time when I first got to France. The lyrics are quite good, but for some reason it always makes me sad. Maybe it's his pout throughout the music video.
19. "Middle of the Bed" by Lucy Rose: I absolutely adore Lucy's voice. This song reminds me of those the break-ups that never seem to come to a complete end.
20. "Adieu" by Coeur de Pirate: You probably have heard her most popular song "Comme des enfants," but if you haven't noticed, I tend to go for the revenge/bad ass break up songs. 
21. "All I Want Is You" by Miguel featuring J.Cole: Like all of Miguel's songs, this one is sexy, even if it's supposed to be sad. 
22. "I Ran Away" by Coldplay: This is by far my favorite Coldplay song. It always reminds me of being way too shy around my first major crush.
23. "Ya Salam" by Nancy Ajram: This song is also the name of Nancy's third album, which proved to the music industry in the Middle East that she was indeed as talented as she is gorgeous. For an English translation, go here.
24. "No Ordinary Love" by Sade: My uncle introduced me to this artist when I was fairly young. I absolutely love listening to her voice when eating a late dinner alone. She's got such a soothing voice and her lyrics are just as lovely.
25. "Rumour Has It" by Adele: My little brother was quite obsessed with Adele two years ago. He would insist on listening to her CD every time we all hopped in the family van. This is the one song I can stand to listen to over and over again. 
26. "Sweater Weather" by The Neighbourhood: One word: swoon.
27. "Stand Back" by Stevie Nicks: Another favorite thanks to my uncle. Timespace was my first cassette and I believe it's still tucked away in my old (now sister's) car. Best twirling song in the world.

And that's a wrap! Give me some feedback in the comment section below and be sure to bookmark my blog or sign up as a follower. Enjoy your week and be sure to treat yourself to something spectacular this Friday. You owe yourself a little extra loving! 

Bisous,

La petite pamplemousse

Think About It Thursday: #sochifails

Earlier this morning, my co-workers and I were sharing links to various articles discussing the current situation in Sochi, Russia. Most of these articles focused on the visual proof via Twitter, Instagram, or the like, of the inadequate hotel conditions over there: snapshots of broken door knobs, yellow water, missing toilet stall dividers, and bricklayers still at work. Later in the day, my coworker sent me a Times article, which focused on the fact that 5,000 containers of Chobani yogurt are currently sitting in a freezer near Newark Liberty International Airport. Russia allegedly claims that the United States has not sent over the proper paperwork. Then, in the early afternoon a Huffington Post story claimed that Budweiser has allegedly dropped its traditional Club Bud party spot from the games as well. The whining continued throughout the day with another article highlighting the lack of swag in the press gift bags. I admit that when my co-worker asked me what press gift bags usually include, I hadn't the slightest clue. But, that isn't the point here. The point is that everything you get is free. Every item in that big, as pathetic as it seems to you, comes from somewhere, was made by someone.

Then I read this opinion piece by Margaret Coker.

Let's just take a second here to focus on the negativity so quickly spread via social media once the Tweet or Post buttons are clicked. Let's focus on how repulsed we are that there are signs stating no toilet fishing rather than the fact that the games have begun (even if the Opening Ceremony isn't until tomorrow.) Let's focus on the fact that we tend to highlight all of these awful things that are not in the slightest bit surprising elsewhere in the world. (The reporters complaining about the lack of privacy or toilet paper have yet to use a Turkish toilet, that's all I have to say). What bothers me the most is that, as Coker pointed out, these journalists expected the best. After traveling around Europe and North Africa, I have come to understand the whole "patience is a virtue" philosophy. Don't ever expect your train to be on time. Always bring Kleenex, even to a club, because chances are there's no toilet paper or paper towels left (nor was there ever.) Bring snacks and bottled water no matter how long your journey.

You should relish the moments which challenge and frustrate you; those are the ones that teach you the most about yourself. But hey, there's that thing called a learning curve, right?

In any case, I beg to wonder what half of these reporters would do if they had sparkling five star hotel rooms. Would they still find something to complain about, or would they tweet songs of praise to Russia? Furthermore, are these journalists the farthest they've ever been from America, thus explaining their ignorance of how the rest of the world works? Or, have they ventured far and wide, speaking with citizens of all races, religions, income levels, and sexual preferences and thus reserve the right to deem their treatment the worst out of any past experiences? Why are we so quick to judge? And, most importantly, why aren't they reporting on what they went there to do?

I ask you to think about it. The Olympics, social media, the press, the ignorance of Western countries, the ignorance of Eastern countries, the reasoning behind the hatred and disrespect of others that do not eat, drink, speak, pray, or shit like you.

What is the underlying cause for your judgement and what comfort line are you unwilling to break at any cost?

Wondrous Writer Wednesday: Aslam, Lahiri, and Hall

Happy Hump Day to all you readers out there. Today, I will explore a few excerpts from two novels and one collection of short stories in this edition of Wondrous Writer Wednesday.

The first, The Blind Man's Garden, explores a fiction version of events in the months following 9/11 in Pakistan (and at times, Afghanistan). Moving from one character's point of view to the next, Nadeem Aslam explores a different perspective and understanding of the 9/11 story, one which many of us Americans more than likely fail to even consider. Adam Mars-Jones, critic for The Guardian's The Observer, focuses on the incoherent passages and magical realism in his review of The Blind Man's Garden. Unfortunately, I have yet to read Aslam's 2008 novel, The Wasted Vigil, to properly compare his past and present work. That being said, I finished this novel in two days (jaw clenched, fingers turning the pages as quickly as possible). I thought very fondly of the story days later, with Jeo and Naheed still taking up space in my head. What stuck the most in my mind was the idea of coming and going, moving from one country or region to the next. The main character, Mikal, goes away with his best friend, Jeo, to help with the war, then tries so hard to return home once Jeo is killed. Yet, when he returns home everything seems to have changed but himself (apart from a few scars and missing fingers). He goes back out into the Al-Qaeda chaos a second time, causing the reader to hope he'll return safe to his lover. However, at the same time, something inside me hoped that he would never return, that he too would die. While I certainly didn't go back and forth between two war zone countries, I do know the feeling of wondering where I actually belong. That feeling seems to have caught my interest in sections of the other two works I'll explore in this post as well.

I've loved Jhumpa Lahiri's work since my first English literature course freshman year of my undergraduate studies. I decided to give Intro to South-Asian Literature a go and ended up working with the very same professor for my senior thesis. We read both The Namesake and Interpreter of Maladies in one semester. Both caught my attention and fueled my hunger for literature that describes and dissects the question I always have bouncing around in my head. Which culture do I truly belong to? Lahiri's second novel was different from what I was expecting, yet those underlying themes still jumped out at me as I read each chapter. Below are four of my favorite excerpts: two sections describing this sense (or lack) of belonging; two exploring the Internet and its ever-expanding reign over humanity's capabilities.

"It was a portrait of a city Subhash no longer felt a part of. A city on the brink of something; a city he was preparing to leave behind" (33).

"End to end, he was told, the wires of all the suspended cables would span just over eight thousand miles. It was the distance between America and India; the distance that now separated him from his family [...] He didn't belong, but perhaps it didn't matter. He wanted to tell her that he had been waiting all his life to find Rhode Island. That it was here, in this minute but majestic corner of the world, that he could breathe" (65).

"She turns on her laptop, raises her spectacles to her face. She reads the day's headlines. But they might be from any day. A click can take her form breaking news to articles archived years ago. At every moment the past is there, appended to the present. It's a version of Bela's definition, in childhood, of yesterday" (265).

"So much of it, she observes, is designed to eliminated mystery, to minimize surprise. There are maps to indicated where one is going, images of hotel rooms one might stay in. The delayed status of a plane one need not rush to board. Links to people, famous or anonymous- people one might reunite with, or fall in love with, or hire for a job. A revolutionary concept, already taken for granted. Citizens of Internet dwell free from hierarchy. There is room for everyone, given that there are no spatial constraints" (265-6).

Finally, I'd like to highlight Sarah Hall, a British novelist who, despite her numerous accolades and achievements, never crossed my mind until I browsed the section of weekly featured works, hand picked by the local librarians. Sarah's first collection of short stories blew my mind. The first story took some time to dive into, but quite frankly I believe that's a result of my failure to continue reading this genre past graduation. While each story was equally disturbing, entrancing, and direct, I appreciated how each character was somehow flawed, grasping for something else (known or still to be discovered) in life. Two stories really hit deep in the gut. The first excerpt comes from "Bees," found halfway through the collection. The main character focuses so hard on these insects, dying, dead, or about to have their life turn in that direction. While reading this story, I was reminded of my little French students who became so upset by these daily occurrences. Even I remember holding funerals for the dead creatures my sister and i came upon while playing. Why does death seem so unfair for smaller creatures?

In this story, Hall also focuses on leaving, going somewhere new, not knowing a thing, but knowing that what you left behind is not worth your energy any longer.

"It is fair to say that since arriving in the city you've been noticing details. You've been gathering them up, storing them away. You're a receptacle for information. This is a new disposition for you - this vacancy.  Always before you felt full, heavy with what had made you and who you were. You wonder if it's a prerequisite for living in the metropolis, the scraping out of past existence to make way for a new, enormously complicated one. You are a recent settler. You've come down from the far north. You've left behind the yellow moors and drenched fields. You've left the people who know you, who have reared you, inured you" (70).

"For a week or so you think about going back to the north. The regret passes. You sit outside in your shorts and a vest. The sun is strong, liquefying. You relax. The garden remains littered with bees. You never see them dying. You don't see them tumbling from the sky, or twitching on the ground, pedalling upside down on their backs, their frail wings vibrating into stillness. They are simply corpses. All you witness is evidence of their extinction" (78).

The other story that drew me in was "The Nightlong River." Hall focuses on friendship, death, and determination in this story.

"I thought I would miss her and I did miss her prettiness and her mirth. I did miss her gentle candour. But my dreams were not of Magda. The truth of death is a peculiar thing. For when they leave us the beloved are as if they never were. They vanish from this earth and vanish from the air. What remains are moors and mountains, the solid world upon which we find ourselves, and in which we reign. We are the wolves. We are the lions. After so many nights treading the banks with the dogs and my brothers, intent on some mettlesome purpose I did not truly understand, night after night I dreamed of the river. I dream it now: a river of stolen perfumes, winding its way through our inverse Eden" (166).

Beautiful, don't you think?

I was going to end this post like a local book club, briefing you on all of the books I currently have out from the library, and the two unread hard covers still sitting on my shelf from the National Book Festival that need to be read. Instead, I'll leave you with this recent Bustle article to peruse. It caused me to think back to my English literature courses, my French literature courses, even my bad habit of going to the same area of the library to browse "new" titles. I have to fully agree with the opinions explored in this article. If you can't leave America physically, at least try to in the fiction world. For all of my non-American friends, please leave me a note with your favorite non-American book. I'm ready to explore!

Good night and happy reading,

La petite pamplemousse

Sing Along Sunday: January Jams

Hola mes amigos,

How is your 2014 progressing thus far? Have you kept up with your New Year's resolutions? This year I've vowed to keep this blog updated on a much more regular basis.

2013 was quite a monotonous year for me; yet, at the same time, I needed just that after getting kicked out of France. I spent a lot of my time regrouping, reorganizing, and realizing who I am now versus who I used to be. Working at 2:30 am EST didn't help my situation much either; there's only so much you can go and explore when you've got to be in bed by 4 pm. Thankfully my hours have shifted and I have been able to strip off the vampire-monk lifestyle I grew accustomed to in 2013.

So, without further ado, I present you "Sing Along Sunday." At the beginning of each month I'll post a new playlist for you to explore. Some of this month's songs are old favorites, while others I just explored this past week; nonetheless, I hope you enjoy what I've got in store for you to start 2014 off on the right foot! To listen to my "January Jams" playlist, be sure to click on this link or follow me on Spotify by going here. Please note that you'll need a Spotify account to access the list. I've included both the artists and song titles below; if you'd rather not sign up, you could always YouTube the songs instead!

1. "Liquid Spirit" by Gregory Porter: How could you go wrong with a song title like that? Clap your hands, bang your trusty tambourine and start your day with this upbeat song. I love playing this when I'm getting ready for work in the morning. There's a great piano solo too, so don't fight the urge to play a little "air piano" on your computer keyboard. 
2. "Friend Crush" by Friends: This is quite the catchy tune. Don't be alarmed if you feel the need to put this one on repeat, especially if this applies to your current relationship status.
3. "She Knows" by J.Cole: I can't get enough of this song. There's this lovely little pause towards the end of the song, making you impatient for the beat to start back up.
4. "Shortyville" by Trombone Shorty: I saw Trombone Shorty live in Lyon two years ago. I cannot even come close to depicting the amount of energy he has on stage. Sometimes all you need is a little percussion and brass to get you moving and grooving.
5. "méRua" by Umamali: I came across this song while browsing artists on Spotify. I found quite a few Garifuna artists, but this song got me hooked to the style. Descendants of shipwrecked African slaves who intermarried with Caribbean people and Arawak Indians, the Garifuna people are now found in Honduras, Nicaragua, Belize, and Guatemala. Their language contains a mixture of words from Arawak, French, Spanish, Swahili, English, Bantu, and other languages. Be sure to get out your maracas; you're going to need them for this song.
6. "Warni Warni" by Omar Souleyman: This song made the list thanks to my sister, who found it on NPR's Top 100 Songs of 2013 list. Souleyman is actually a Syrian folk-pop singer. All I want to do when i hear this song is stomp and twirl around in circles. If you're looking to learn how to properly clap along, be sure to check out his music video.
7. "How Deep Is Your Love?" by The Rapture: I had absolutely no clue who these guys were until I listened to a random playlist a few weeks ago. Thirty seconds into the song, I starred it and dragged it to this playlist. The Rapture apparently started up in New York back in 1998 and grew popular in early 2003. So glad I found them ten years later!
8. "Propuesta Indencente" by Romeo Santos: Oh bachata, how I love you and your sexy beat. I could easily look up the English translation of this song, but I prefer to try to figure it out on my own each time I listen to it.
9. "Son Of A Gun" by Oh Land: If you need a new warm up song for exercising, this is it. Snap your fingers and sing along, you son of a gun!
10. "Sharara" by Débruit and Alsarah: Débruit is actually the name of the project created by Frenchman Xavier Thomas. (How could you not expect me to include a Frenchified remix in this list?) In this song he works with the Sudanese singer, Alsarah.
11. "Jamaica Avenue" by Bob Sinclair and Tony Rebel: If you're in need of a little bit of warmth on a cold day, give this a listen. I have to admit, I listened to this at least five times in a row on Friday morning. 
12. "Running" by Jessie Ware: I woke up with this in my head last week. I think that explains my obsession with this song well enough for you to give it a listen. 
13. "Differentology" by Bunji Garlin: I first heard this song in December and instantly knew it would become my new go-to song for 2014. Hailing from Trinidad, Bunji has already collaborated with the infamous Major Lazer. Like Omar, Bunji has a trippy video to go along with his song.
14. "Mast Kalandar" by Red Baraat: I feel like I'm at an Indian wedding in the middle of New Orleans every time I listen to this song. I love the mixture of sounds and the fact that this band includes 8 talented musicians. All I'm missing is an umbrella to twirl down the street.
15. "Warm Water: Snakehips Remix" by Banks: What a wonderful song to warm up to for dance! You could also pair this song with a fancy cocktail in a lounge. Shake those hips from side to side!
16. "Follow Your Heart" by Kacey Musgraves: If you know me well, you know i'm not a huge country fan; however, these lyrics are so perfect I can't help myself from including Kacey on the list. A great tune that points out the contradictions of our society and pushes the listener to do what they want with their life.
17. "Don't Wanna See Your Face" by John Butler Trio: With a coffee in hand on a windy winter day, this song will get you moving on to greener pastures. Lots of clapping involved if you're in need of getting some anger out as well.
18. "Tesada'a Bemeen" by Elissa: I first heard this song in Tunisia and have loved it ever since. Elissa's music makes me want to pack up my stuff, get on a train, and fall in love with the stranger sitting next to me. I'm more often than not daydreaming to this song. I'm also in love with any Middle Eastern song with a great violin score and boy do I want to learn this one!

There you have it folks! Give me some feedback in the comment section below and be sure to bookmark by page or sign up as a follower. I'll be highlighting a few of my latest cooking discoveries in next week's post. Until then, have a splendid week!!

Besos,

La petite pamplemousse