Once

I struggles a bit to find a way to start writing about my latest movie experience. It is 6:21am. I've not slept. I stayed up. I don't normally sleep much, but this time it's different. I've been kept up researching and reading and listening to music. Might sound like a normal thing to do, but not when you know that my research and listening have all revolved around this movie...ONCE.

Glen Hansard
Marketa Irglova
The Frames

These three names were unknown to me prior to today. Actually, until a couple of hours ago. Not now though. And never again will they be.

If you're looking for a movie experience with loads of special effects, brilliant direction and cinematography, and high budgets, then this is not for you. This is an independant, low budget production. That said, it is ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT!

The pleasure I experienced in this filmed is not one that I am familiar with. If I was to pinpoint a single element of the film and say that was it, I would have no trouble whatsoever. It is very clear to me. Once is, by far, our generation's BEST musical. It is a modern day musical in which the music blends in seamlessly with the acting and the script. Unlike most musicals where the music can sometimes almost be an intrusion, ONCE does it brilliantly.

This is a film I strongly recommend to all of you who love independant cinema, independant music, and if you're looking for some inspiration and a story about going after what you want and seeking motivation for chasing your dreams, this isn't a bad one for that!

Definitely on my radar now also are the musicians behind the brilliant songs of the film. Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova. I can't give them enough credit for the beautiful job done on this film. But having now listened to a bit of their music, I know that it was not a one-hit wonder type effort. These are really talented musicians and, in a world dominated commercially by the Britneys, Christinas and Justins, it is a shame that talents like these remain in the smalltime.

My next objective? Hopefully get in touch with them for some performances in the Middle East! Anyone interested in seeing them here? Has anyone seen this film or heard of them prior to this post?

Egyptian Rock Group - Massar Egbari

The band members created that sarcastic name for the band since they felt that the society is trying to imply its power over people starting from their childhood till the day they die. This social power wants to stereotype everything including the way we think and feel, leaving no space for creation and innovation.

Massar Egbari presents music and songs talking about our social problems. Love is not our main concern although it represents a part of our songs.

Through the members' different musical backgrounds, the band is presenting a kind of Alternative Egyptian Music, mixing rock, jazz and blues with some Oriental music.

In Arabic, Massar Egbary means obligatory path. A statement depicting the current status of things in a country that has blindfolded the public and is pushing them, in a single file, towards the edge of reason.

If you like chillout type Jazz music, you'll enjoy the music in the background of their tracks even if you don't understand what they're saying. If you do get the words and rhymes, it's very well put together pieces that show a lot of innovation and talent.

Here's their MySpace page with 5 of their tracks.

http://www.myspace.com/massaregbari

Enjoy it

The One Hit Wonder - That Left Its Mark

One hit wonders come and go. Many of them are remembered over the years for how big they once were and some are made immortal due to the magnitude of their success. Examples of these are Vanilla Ice's epic tune ICE ICE BABY, What is Love by Haddaway in the early 90's, Snow - Informer, Luniz - I got 5 on it, and many many more. But not all one hit wonders leave their mark on their individual.

For me however, there is one song that has been around for 13 years (going on 14 now) that has left an eternal mark on me. For some reason, every time I hear that song it does something to me. Not that I end up in tears when I listen to it every time (although that may have happened when the words were most pertinent and very close to home at some point 7 years ago), but it's more that I've never felt so much that a song was written for me, as much as I do every now and then with this song. It is talking about a particular situation, but it kind of embodies the way I tend to deal with things in life in general. I think I bore more of my soul on this post than may have been expected, but who's reading?

This is for those of you who want to know what I'm talking about!