the life and times of jason phoon

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Ever wondered why some of the artists today are just terrible live ? They sound perfectly good on record, yet horrible on stage.

Think of the vocals on these songs:

• Maroon 5 – She will be loved
• Avril Lavigne – Complicated
• Sean Kingston – Beautiful Girl
• T-Pain – Bartender
• Cher – Believe

You know that digitally strained, warbly and metallic vocal effect ? That’s not a vocal effect, that’s a fucking machine correcting pitch problems for these singers !

It’s called auto-tune and it’s ruining the music industry.

Why is it ruining the music industry ? Why, because of auto-tune, crap like Paris Hilton and Ashlee Simpson actually think they can release albums ! (In actual fact, one lip-syncs and the other just pukes on stage).

Some of these musicians can actually perform live (such as Maroon 5). So it’s weird when the studio executives decide to use this robotizer effect. Some will argue that it enhances the song, but I don’t know. Personally, I prefer if the singers don’t sound digitized.

Urgh, I don’t know why this annoys me so much.

Click here for more examples (with audio clips):

• http://www.hometracked.com/2008/02/05/auto-tune-abuse-in-pop-music-10-examples/

Do you feel any of this ?

• feeling “not good enough” because one can’t find a job that is at one’s academic/intellectual level
• frustration with relationships, the working world, and finding a suitable job or career
• nostalgia for university, college, high school or elementary school life
• insecurity regarding the near future
• tendency to hold stronger opinions
• loss of closeness to high school and college friends
• a sense that everyone is, somehow, doing better than you

If you feel any of those, then you might just have a quarter life crisis.

These feelings usually occur right after graduation from university, when one enters the ‘real world’. The pressures of working life contrasts greatly with the relatively sheltered existence of academia. The fact that nobody wants to admit these feelings makes it even worse!

Personally, I’ve been through this quarter life crisis before. It’s a dark place, where the negativity just reinforces itself and inertia just creeps up on you. Due to my indecision and non-commitment, I’ve even lost someone I loved very much. Not to mention all that wasted time bumming around when I should have been doing something productive instead.

Like my friend Kenny said, there’s a big difference between your desires and your commitment. For example, one may desire to be rich, but what is that person doing to get to that goal ?

I’m in a much better place now. I’ve somewhat fulfilled some of the dreams I’ve set for myself. Today I felt a little proud, working in the day and studying at night. Sure I was tired as hell, but I felt like every step was worth it, because it was taking me in the direction of where I want to be.

Most of all, I think this blog entry is a reminder to myself:

“If I didn’t push myself off the proverbial nest, I wouldn’t have learnt how to fly”

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Links:

• Wikipedia entry on quarter life crisis
• Adrian got me thinking about it on his blog entry. Guess he was going through the same thing. Hang in the buddy, we’re all in this together.

Have you ever felt like your music taste is better than others? Ever disliked a band or artiste because they’re too commercialized? Scoffed at a person just because he likes Justin Timberlake or My Chemical Romance? Well, take your head out of your elitist ass.

Or maybe you only listen to music from the charts? If a lot of people like it, it must be good right ? Forget marketing and chart placement (yes, music labels pay to get their artists in chart rotation), the charts are where the great music are! I got news for you, there’s a whole world of music out there beyond your little shell.

I used to be in both categories.

In my tween years, I would follow the Billboard charts and eventually got into The Backstreet Boys, Spice Girls and Savage Garden. They were ruling the charts back in those days, so I guess that was the best music back then. Looking back, that is quite an embarrassing music taste.

Later on, I adopted an elitist music taste. I prided myself in ‘discovering’ new music that wasn’t popular and disliked anything too poppy. If a band became too successful, I would label them ‘sell outs’ and stop listening to them. If people introduced new music to me, I would scoff at their music taste because I considered mine superior.

You realize that both approaches are bullshit? One is that I’m just a follower and the other is that I’m just pretending to be unique.

Now apply this to real life and you can actually study people.

On one hand, you have people who only ‘follow’ and do the popular things. They are indecisive and never take risks. Oh you know, the ones that often ask “who else is going?” when attending an event.

On the other hand, you have people who criticize group behavior. They consider themselves special, have unique hobbies and often say “People just don’t understand”. Then they wonder why they don’t have much friends.

Perhaps the best way is somewhere in the middle. Where you have a clear sense of direction, but you’re also comfortable to go with the flow. A path which you forge on your own, while in harmony with the environment around you.

As for me? I’m still looking for that middle ground in life.

Yes you read that title right. Restaurants are over-booked, cinemas are filled with dumbass ‘romantic’ comedies and couples are walking everywhere showing off their significant others.

Okay, maybe it’s because I’m always single this time of year.

You see, usually me and my friends would hang out for Singles Awareness Day. Like 2 years ago, I watched Brokeback Mountain with Farah. How romantic. I don’t even remember what I did last year.

My favorite valentines was when me and my girlfriend sat at home, ordered pizza and watched her favorite movie. Call me cheap, but it took me ages to find that movie! See, that’s why I hate valentines day too, it totally reminds you of the good old days.

Why do people choose a single day to show their love for one another ? What about the rest of the fucking 364 days of the year. Why do people have to dress up and buy expensive stuff. Why am I such a grouch ?

Well, this year I particularly hate valentines day.

Because I cannot spend it with you.