"Time to Schedule Classes!" This is a friendly email I have been used to receiving from my advisor for four years now. Four years already. It's hard to believe that when she puts in the reminder email "unless you're a senior-in that case you're done!" that those words finally apply to me.
Yesterday I picked up my cap and gown. If nothing else reminds you that you are almost done with college, it's physically holding that ceremonial unflattering smock. Holding my white tassel made it SUPER real for the first time this year: I am done. Done with tests, painful group projects, homework, lectures. DONE. But it also reminds me that I'm done with summer vacations, clubs, the faculty, classmates, and using the "I'm a college student" get out of jail free card for multiple life situations. DONE.
It's bitter sweet. I am very much ready to move on. To begin being an "adult" (although at this point you kinda should have been doing that already) and seeing what the future beholds.
Facing reality is tough. We don't like to accept the truth. Life makes it hard to move on from people, places, things. Sometimes it downright feels impossible that you will ever change how you feel in the present.
But as humans we change. We adapt. It's in our nature. Fate has a plan for all of us, friends. Trust in it. Trust in those who trust in you.
And remember that facing reality can bring the next big thing.
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Rock Around the Clock
Ladies, put on your poodle skirt, slide-on your bobby socks and lace-up your saddle shoes. Gentlemen, perfect that pompadour and throw on your varsity jacket. It's time for a trip to the 1950s.
Now that you have heard the sounds that defined the 1950s, what better way is there to continue our trip back to the decade that gave us the King of Rock 'n' Roll and taught everyone to "SHOUT" than to hear from two individuals who lived it. Born in 1934 and 1937 respectively, Adam and Patricia Roginski experienced their youth and formative years in the 1950s. By experiening such a pivotal era in music during such an important age, I decided to sit down with the Roginski's on February 12 in their home to gather how they experienced the changing of recorded music from the 1950s until the present.
Brianna: Okay, how about we start in the 1950s? Is that the decade you remember best?
Patricia: "That is definitely the earliest era I would remember. I do vaguely remember the 1940s and the "big band" music from my mother listening to it. But I was only eight or nine at that point."
Brianna: Great, let's start in the 1950s then. Who was your favorite artist of the 1950s?
Patricia: "Frankie Laine and Elvis were some of my favorites. But I loved Johnny Mathis. I even went to see him downtown at the Copa Club. We were working downtown as nurses and me and all my girlfriends went to see him sing."
(Johnny Mathis: "Chances Are)
Adam: "My brother liked to listen to country music on the radio, so I would listen to a lot of that with him. I remember hearing Hank Snow and Ernest Tubb, they were great country singers."
(Hank Snow: "I Don't Hurt Anymore")
Brianna: Do you still listen to Johnny Mathis or any of your other favorites?
Patricia: "I don't like to listen to old music."
Brianna: Oh, really? Why is that?
Patricia: "I don't know. I guess it makes me sad. It reminds me of younger times."
Adam: "I will listen to older country music on the XM Satellite radio like Ray Price. It's Willie Nelson's country music station. I still enjoy hearing country music."
Brianna: I noticed you have XM satellite radio. That's a big difference from the musical devices of the past. What type of musical devices did you use in the past?
Adam: "Mostly record players. We had 78 rpm records."
Brianna: What do you prefer? The 78 rpm records or XM radio?
Adam: I liked the sound of the old records and how the sound used to fill the houses, but I love the XM. I can listen to older country songs all day long."
Patricia: "We didn't have a record player until I was older. We used to listen to the radio for our favorite songs. I used to listen to KDKA in high school."
Adam: "We definitely listened to the radio too. We all used to drive in our cars with the radio as loud as you could turn it up."
Brianna: "That's definitely something that hasn't changed."
Patricia: "We used to watch a lot of variety shows to see our favorite singers, too. Shows like American Band Stand, the Ed Sullivan Show, and The Hit Parade were a big deal to watch on television. Especially for me. We didn't get a television until the late 1940s."
Adam: "Mostly record players. We had 78 rpm records."
Brianna: What do you prefer? The 78 rpm records or XM radio?
Adam: I liked the sound of the old records and how the sound used to fill the houses, but I love the XM. I can listen to older country songs all day long."
Patricia: "We didn't have a record player until I was older. We used to listen to the radio for our favorite songs. I used to listen to KDKA in high school."
Adam: "We definitely listened to the radio too. We all used to drive in our cars with the radio as loud as you could turn it up."
Brianna: "That's definitely something that hasn't changed."
Patricia: "We used to watch a lot of variety shows to see our favorite singers, too. Shows like American Band Stand, the Ed Sullivan Show, and The Hit Parade were a big deal to watch on television. Especially for me. We didn't get a television until the late 1940s."
Brianna: When you were watching these variety shows, did you have a favorite genre that you always tuned in for?
Patricia: "I always liked romantic music, the slower songs. That's why the '50s was a great decade. All the songs had meaning to them. Every verse. New music doesn't have that.
Brianna: Speaking of new music, how would you describe music after the 1950s?
Patricia: "Terrible (laughs). Like I said, I always liked slow and romantic songs. The '60s and '70s were too fast. But now that I'm older and I listen to songs from the '60s and '70s like Elton John, I like them much more. But I always still relate to the songs I grew up with the most."
Patricia: "I always liked romantic music, the slower songs. That's why the '50s was a great decade. All the songs had meaning to them. Every verse. New music doesn't have that.
Brianna: Speaking of new music, how would you describe music after the 1950s?
Patricia: "Terrible (laughs). Like I said, I always liked slow and romantic songs. The '60s and '70s were too fast. But now that I'm older and I listen to songs from the '60s and '70s like Elton John, I like them much more. But I always still relate to the songs I grew up with the most."
Brianna: With that strong tie to the '50s, what do you think is one significant moment in music history?
Patricia: "I think Elvis was definitely the biggest star of the decade."
Adam: "The Platters were also really big and popular, especially when Sam Cook was still with them."
Patricia: "One of the biggest moments I remember is when the movie "Rock Around the Clock" was released in the mid '50s. Before that, all music was the slow and romantic kind. After that, Rock 'n' Roll really took off and music became faster and more upbeat. I think it changed music."
Patricia: "I think Elvis was definitely the biggest star of the decade."
Adam: "The Platters were also really big and popular, especially when Sam Cook was still with them."
(The Platters: "Only You (And You Alone)")
Patricia: "One of the biggest moments I remember is when the movie "Rock Around the Clock" was released in the mid '50s. Before that, all music was the slow and romantic kind. After that, Rock 'n' Roll really took off and music became faster and more upbeat. I think it changed music."
(The trailer of "Rock Around the Clock")
Brianna: With so much change in music from movies and artists like "Rock Around the Clock" what is the biggest difference from the music of the 1950s and today's hit music?
Patricia: "I only watched the beginning of the Grammy's the other day and I saw Taylor Swift open the show. She has a good voice but all her songs sound the same. I can't tell the difference from one to the other. They all talk about her boyfriends."
Brianna: (Laughing) That's pretty much all her songs in a nutshell.
Adam: "What about that British girl that's a new singer. What's her name?"
Brianna: Oh, you mean Adele.
Adam: "Yeah, she has a great voice."
Patricia: "Now Adele is different. She has a great voice and her lyrics make sense and have meaning. They remind me of the romantic songs I liked from the '50s. Music has gotten much better recently with artists like her. The music in the '90s and early 2000's lost me. It had no meaning."
Brianna: That's pretty much all I have for today as far as questions. Thank you for you're great answers.
By having both Patricia and Adam point out how artists like Adele are channeling older styles and genres of music, I decided to complete outside research to find out just how similar today's music is to the music of the past. In a July 2011 article entitled "The Songs of Now Sound a Lot Like Then," author Simon Reynolds describes how many modern artists like Adele have had great success mimicking sounds of the past. Just as Patricia and Adam pointed out Adele's similarity to older music, Reynolds explains that Adele's hit song of 2011, "Rolling in the Deep," is a perfect homage to an older time. Reynolds specifically explains that "everything about “Rolling” — its melody and lyrics, Adele’s delivery and timbre, the role played by the backing vocalists — gestures back to a lost golden age of soul singers like Etta James and Dusty Springfield" (Reynolds, 2011). The author continues to list examples of modern musical artists who have emulated genres of the past, such as singer Cee-Lo's 1970s influenced "Forget You" and Lady Gaga's hit "Born this Way" similarity to Madonna's hit of the '90s "Express Yourself."
While many of the "Gen Yers" may believe that we have moved far from the past, the music of today has shown that the two generation gap between Twentysomethings and individuals like Adam and Patricia Roginski is not as distant as they may think. Change is always present in society, and music is no exception to this constant of humanity. Just as Patricia explained how "Rock Around the Clock" changed music in the 1950s, other artists in almost every other generation have helped to change history through song. In a 2010 article entitled, "Music That Changed History and Still Resonates," author John Pareles explains that artists like Bob Dylan and John Mellencamp have helped to bring social change through song lyrics. Dylan's "The Times They Are A-Changing," which possesses lines such as “Come senators, congressman, please heed the call,” is the perfect example of just how much influence a song can have on a culture to promote change (Pareles, 2010). Just as we learn from the wisdom of our elders, music continues to learn from the lessons of music greats of the past. Despite differences in technology and cultural values, one thing remains the same from the 1950s until the present: good music is never forgotten.
Patricia: "I only watched the beginning of the Grammy's the other day and I saw Taylor Swift open the show. She has a good voice but all her songs sound the same. I can't tell the difference from one to the other. They all talk about her boyfriends."
Brianna: (Laughing) That's pretty much all her songs in a nutshell.
Adam: "What about that British girl that's a new singer. What's her name?"
Brianna: Oh, you mean Adele.
Adam: "Yeah, she has a great voice."
Patricia: "Now Adele is different. She has a great voice and her lyrics make sense and have meaning. They remind me of the romantic songs I liked from the '50s. Music has gotten much better recently with artists like her. The music in the '90s and early 2000's lost me. It had no meaning."
(Adele "One and Only")
Brianna: That's pretty much all I have for today as far as questions. Thank you for you're great answers.
By having both Patricia and Adam point out how artists like Adele are channeling older styles and genres of music, I decided to complete outside research to find out just how similar today's music is to the music of the past. In a July 2011 article entitled "The Songs of Now Sound a Lot Like Then," author Simon Reynolds describes how many modern artists like Adele have had great success mimicking sounds of the past. Just as Patricia and Adam pointed out Adele's similarity to older music, Reynolds explains that Adele's hit song of 2011, "Rolling in the Deep," is a perfect homage to an older time. Reynolds specifically explains that "everything about “Rolling” — its melody and lyrics, Adele’s delivery and timbre, the role played by the backing vocalists — gestures back to a lost golden age of soul singers like Etta James and Dusty Springfield" (Reynolds, 2011). The author continues to list examples of modern musical artists who have emulated genres of the past, such as singer Cee-Lo's 1970s influenced "Forget You" and Lady Gaga's hit "Born this Way" similarity to Madonna's hit of the '90s "Express Yourself."
While many of the "Gen Yers" may believe that we have moved far from the past, the music of today has shown that the two generation gap between Twentysomethings and individuals like Adam and Patricia Roginski is not as distant as they may think. Change is always present in society, and music is no exception to this constant of humanity. Just as Patricia explained how "Rock Around the Clock" changed music in the 1950s, other artists in almost every other generation have helped to change history through song. In a 2010 article entitled, "Music That Changed History and Still Resonates," author John Pareles explains that artists like Bob Dylan and John Mellencamp have helped to bring social change through song lyrics. Dylan's "The Times They Are A-Changing," which possesses lines such as “Come senators, congressman, please heed the call,” is the perfect example of just how much influence a song can have on a culture to promote change (Pareles, 2010). Just as we learn from the wisdom of our elders, music continues to learn from the lessons of music greats of the past. Despite differences in technology and cultural values, one thing remains the same from the 1950s until the present: good music is never forgotten.
Pareles, J. (2010, February 10). Music that changed history and still resonates. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/10/arts/music/10concert.html?_r=0
Reynold,
S. (2011, July 15). The songs of now sound a lot like then. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/17/arts/music/new-pop-music-sounds-like-its-predecessors.html?pagewanted=all
Sunday, January 27, 2013
We accept the love we think we deserve
The title of this post comes from one of my favorite books and movies (that I also starred in), The Perks of Being a Wallflower. I knew I loved it, but I never really thought about what it really means.
It means we settle.
We know things need to change, or something is not right but we are such creatures of habit-so afraid to embrace anything different- we stray away from the word 'new.'
We all do it. I'm guilty of it more than I want to be. We run scared from what's new even if it means we are running from something we love or someone we love. Opening-up can be down-right terrifying.
Why do we do this?
Why do we punish ourselves? Everyone always says 'life is too short' but do we actually practice what we preach?
As I creep closer to graduation-change is eminent in the future. It's one of those down-right terrifying situations too. College has brought me every thing that makes me truly happy and now its ending. I've started to realize that-to quote my favorite band-it's time to begin. Stop messing around and embrace change. Embrace fate. But never accept anything unless you DO deserve it.
Thursday, December 27, 2012
I should be ashamed of myself
June. Really? That's the last time I posted to this blog. I should be ashamed of myself.
In that last post, I wrote I wouldn't be publishing any masterpieces in order to enjoy my summer. If you bought that excuse for laziness, I guess I can consider it a job well done.
To be completely honest, I have been a busy girl. I guess I'll let my excuses for not writing help fill you in on what has been happening in my life the past few months. From holding an internship (I now have a new one, which I'll touch on later), to starting my LAST year of college, becoming a proud aunt to a beautiful baby girl, taking on the role of a president of a campus organization, and writing my senior honor's thesis (on crisis management in college sports in case any of you were wondering), my free time has been pretty sparse.
I know, I know.
We all think we are busier than everyone else in the world, but this has personally been my busiest school semester.
Now that I am on winter break (whooo!), I felt it appropriate to resurrect my blogging hobby. After a crazy fall semester, winter break seems like the best present this girl could ask for. I have been able to catch-up on movies I have been wanting to watch (Moneyball, The Descendants just to name a few), read books that have been on my "must read" list since the summer ("Gone Girl,"...I highly recommend this one), and basically sleeping and laying around. A much needed mental break before homework, thesis writing, and Bayer (my new internship), take over my life.
So it's taken me from June to write another blog, but I guess the spirit of the new year being just around the corner inspired me to bring back my hobby (as cheesy as it sounds). Unlike most New Year's resolutions, I promise to keep writing in this blog to keep some sanity when the insanity starts back for the Spring 2013 semester.
In that last post, I wrote I wouldn't be publishing any masterpieces in order to enjoy my summer. If you bought that excuse for laziness, I guess I can consider it a job well done.
To be completely honest, I have been a busy girl. I guess I'll let my excuses for not writing help fill you in on what has been happening in my life the past few months. From holding an internship (I now have a new one, which I'll touch on later), to starting my LAST year of college, becoming a proud aunt to a beautiful baby girl, taking on the role of a president of a campus organization, and writing my senior honor's thesis (on crisis management in college sports in case any of you were wondering), my free time has been pretty sparse.
I know, I know.
We all think we are busier than everyone else in the world, but this has personally been my busiest school semester.
Now that I am on winter break (whooo!), I felt it appropriate to resurrect my blogging hobby. After a crazy fall semester, winter break seems like the best present this girl could ask for. I have been able to catch-up on movies I have been wanting to watch (Moneyball, The Descendants just to name a few), read books that have been on my "must read" list since the summer ("Gone Girl,"...I highly recommend this one), and basically sleeping and laying around. A much needed mental break before homework, thesis writing, and Bayer (my new internship), take over my life.
So it's taken me from June to write another blog, but I guess the spirit of the new year being just around the corner inspired me to bring back my hobby (as cheesy as it sounds). Unlike most New Year's resolutions, I promise to keep writing in this blog to keep some sanity when the insanity starts back for the Spring 2013 semester.
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
An Empire State of Mind
I haven't written a blog in quite some time, which I personally think is a good thing. I have been incredibly busy these past couple weeks, but now that I have some spare time, I figured I should chat on what has been happening in my life.
First, I have to mention the highlight of my summer, my trip to New York City. I have already been to the big apple with family, but getting to share the NYC experience with my two best friends is something I will never forget. From taking a harbor cruise at sunset past the statue of liberty, to looking out at the skyline from the top of Rockefeller center, to dinner in little Italy and seeing the amazing lion king on broadway, and finally strolling the Brooklyn Bridge and Central Park, New York was everything I could have hoped for. It's rare I get sappy (since I can occasionally be a robot) but seeing all of the sights of NYC would not have meant anything at all without my two best friends by my side, so this blog is a little shout-out to Chip and Alliecat for being the two best friends a girl could ask for.
This is my last summer of freedom before entering adulthood. I'm trying to
make the most of every minute of it. Although I'm still working like a boss(Rick Ross voice), I'm taking full advantage of warm summer nights and good times with friends and family.
So there is just a glimpse of what I have been up to lately. I suggest you do the same as me and slack off and enjoy the beauty of sweet summertime.
First, I have to mention the highlight of my summer, my trip to New York City. I have already been to the big apple with family, but getting to share the NYC experience with my two best friends is something I will never forget. From taking a harbor cruise at sunset past the statue of liberty, to looking out at the skyline from the top of Rockefeller center, to dinner in little Italy and seeing the amazing lion king on broadway, and finally strolling the Brooklyn Bridge and Central Park, New York was everything I could have hoped for. It's rare I get sappy (since I can occasionally be a robot) but seeing all of the sights of NYC would not have meant anything at all without my two best friends by my side, so this blog is a little shout-out to Chip and Alliecat for being the two best friends a girl could ask for.
This is my last summer of freedom before entering adulthood. I'm trying to
make the most of every minute of it. Although I'm still working like a boss(Rick Ross voice), I'm taking full advantage of warm summer nights and good times with friends and family.
So there is just a glimpse of what I have been up to lately. I suggest you do the same as me and slack off and enjoy the beauty of sweet summertime.
Monday, June 4, 2012
And in that moment, I swear we were infinite
On Sunday night, the premier of one of the highlights of last summer was shown on the MTV movie awards, the perks of being a wallflower trailer.
For any of you who haven't seen it, WATCH IT. If your from Pittsburgh and don't get a slight case of the chills from the last shot of the trailer, you should probably check your pulse.
Perks is an homage to our city. The author and now director of the film, Stephan Chbosky, is from our great city and stages his critically acclaimed and uplifting coming of age story all around our home.
I was fortunate enough last summer (as many of you probably heard me say a thousand times) to be an extra in the film adaptation of perks. Even though I was only an extra for one day (about 13 hours straight to be exact) it was one of the best experiences of my life. I was one of the many extras attending the football scene in the film where Charlie, played by Logan Lerman meets Sam, played by Emma Watson. First from the standpoint of being a Harry Potter fan my entire life, sitting directly in front of Emma Watson was an experience in itself, even though I was too star struck to speak to her. The other young cast members of perks, including Ezra Miller as Patrick and Vampire Diaries's Nina Dobrev, as Candace were also on set that day and are just a fraction of the awesome cast for the film.
Decked out in early 90s attire and celebrating the same touchdown for about ten hours never got old because I was surrounded by friends who have all caught the film industry bug. The atmosphere was electric. I think all of the extras felt as lucky as I did to even just be a part of perks.
So mark your calendars for September 14, 2012 to experience The Perks of Being a Wallflower. And look for a girl in a beautiful all denim outfit with a red flannel shirt.
Even if I don't make it into the final cut of the film, I loved every second of perks. I loved making my acting debut, and being a small part of a book and now film that has meant so much to so many people. I guess I should say, for those 13 hours, I understood slightly what feeling infinite means.
For any of you who haven't seen it, WATCH IT. If your from Pittsburgh and don't get a slight case of the chills from the last shot of the trailer, you should probably check your pulse.
Perks is an homage to our city. The author and now director of the film, Stephan Chbosky, is from our great city and stages his critically acclaimed and uplifting coming of age story all around our home.
I was fortunate enough last summer (as many of you probably heard me say a thousand times) to be an extra in the film adaptation of perks. Even though I was only an extra for one day (about 13 hours straight to be exact) it was one of the best experiences of my life. I was one of the many extras attending the football scene in the film where Charlie, played by Logan Lerman meets Sam, played by Emma Watson. First from the standpoint of being a Harry Potter fan my entire life, sitting directly in front of Emma Watson was an experience in itself, even though I was too star struck to speak to her. The other young cast members of perks, including Ezra Miller as Patrick and Vampire Diaries's Nina Dobrev, as Candace were also on set that day and are just a fraction of the awesome cast for the film.
Decked out in early 90s attire and celebrating the same touchdown for about ten hours never got old because I was surrounded by friends who have all caught the film industry bug. The atmosphere was electric. I think all of the extras felt as lucky as I did to even just be a part of perks.
So mark your calendars for September 14, 2012 to experience The Perks of Being a Wallflower. And look for a girl in a beautiful all denim outfit with a red flannel shirt.
Even if I don't make it into the final cut of the film, I loved every second of perks. I loved making my acting debut, and being a small part of a book and now film that has meant so much to so many people. I guess I should say, for those 13 hours, I understood slightly what feeling infinite means.
Monday, May 21, 2012
From Columbus, with love.
As I write this post, I am sitting in my hotel room in Columbus resting before exploring the town with my fellow intern. This trip marks many firsts.
My first business trip, my first time in the capital of our neighbor state, my first time going to business lunches and dinners.
I have only been at Ryerson for almost a month, but I have already checked off many 'big girl' business firsts. This internship has turned into much more than a summer job, it's giving me experience for the future.
For any of you who haven't heard me talk about it, Ryerson is a metal company. Yes, I'm selling metal while working at the beautiful Ambridge industrial park. And no, I'm not wearing a hard hat and a welder's helmet, although I like to tell everyone that I am and Flashdance was a loose interpretation of my life.
To get back on subject, this is my first time traveling without friends and family by my side. And since I love cliches and cheesy sayings, I'm going to say absence makes the heart grow fonder, there's no place like home, home is whenever I'm with you, etc..
Being without having the option to visit my family and friends is a strange thing to get over.
Yesterday, another girl at the office said something that I usually say to one of my friends, and a little homesick pain hit my heart. Only after one day being away.
What can I say but, I belong in Pittsburgh with my family and friends.
So this post is from Columbus with love, and a quick return to Pittsburgh.
My first business trip, my first time in the capital of our neighbor state, my first time going to business lunches and dinners.
I have only been at Ryerson for almost a month, but I have already checked off many 'big girl' business firsts. This internship has turned into much more than a summer job, it's giving me experience for the future.
For any of you who haven't heard me talk about it, Ryerson is a metal company. Yes, I'm selling metal while working at the beautiful Ambridge industrial park. And no, I'm not wearing a hard hat and a welder's helmet, although I like to tell everyone that I am and Flashdance was a loose interpretation of my life.
To get back on subject, this is my first time traveling without friends and family by my side. And since I love cliches and cheesy sayings, I'm going to say absence makes the heart grow fonder, there's no place like home, home is whenever I'm with you, etc..
Being without having the option to visit my family and friends is a strange thing to get over.
Yesterday, another girl at the office said something that I usually say to one of my friends, and a little homesick pain hit my heart. Only after one day being away.
What can I say but, I belong in Pittsburgh with my family and friends.
So this post is from Columbus with love, and a quick return to Pittsburgh.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)