of transatlanticism and the need to run

There is something that unites many people of this era. It is an elusive concept and many deny its existence, but it's something that I spend much time pondering about.

XXX

iTunes is truly a blessing in disguise. After giving up on trying to listen to Singapore radio online, I have been a fan of a taipei radio station, and another one in rome. But sometimes radio is not right for the heart: when you are down, you don't want to listen to commericals of washing powder (purely hypothetical); when you are happy you don't want to indulge in all the teenage angst of barely adolescent boy bands with their supposed punk-angst (yes, i invented this term) and what-nots.

There was a moment in time when I was obsessed with this person on the iTunes network, because everytime he/she came online (obviously the name sam isn't quite affirmatively sam as in male sam and not samantha sam), I would play his/her songs on shuffle. That was how I got to listen to Damien Rice in the first place. Somehow or another, I never quite realized that this was how I got to listen to Death Cab For Cutie too (the name rang a bell after different people mentioned it to me). They don't write songs. They write poems that touch you in the deepest realms of emotion.

If Death tasted so sweet, I would gladly embrace it. (where have you been, sam?)

XXX

Why is it that distance is never quite measured with a ruler? If I had a ruler that stretched to infinity and back, I still wouldn't be able to measure the distance.

XXX

And then, it so happens that tragedy is beautiful. Tragedy is so beautiful that it's the fragile flower that blooms in winter and crumbles into nothingness right in front of your eyes. Or the ones that loved but couldn't be together (actually they didn't want to live together and watch each other turn old and skin wrinkle and teeth drop and cancer develop and coffin buried). Or it could just be my sentiments for tragedy.

It's so beautiful that I barely can breathe when I think about it.

Transatlanticism by Death Cab For Cutie

the atlantic was born today and i'll tell you how:

the clouds above opened up and let it out.

I was standing on the surface of a perforated sphere

when the water filled every hole.

and thousands upon thousands made an ocean,

making islands where no island should go.

oh no.

those people were overjoyed; they took to their boats.

I thought it less like a lake and more like a moat.

the rhythm of my footsteps crossing flood lands to your door have been silenced forever more.

the distance is quite simply much too far for me to row

it seems farther than ever before

oh no.

I need you so much closer

I need you so much closer

so come on, come on