Egocentric Eccentric's Blog

Zemfira

2007-02-03T02:55:00.000-08:00

After having done some thinking about the direction of my blog, U know, where I wanna go with it, I decided to make it a contemporary russian music review blog ;D

I love music. Russian bands are widely unknown anywhere in the world... so I decided to do them some justice and let the world get a taste of Russian muzyka.

I think I'll stick to this idea.

And in the very first contemporary russian music review post I wish to introduce to you one of the brightest stars of Russian rock-scene... (drum roll) - Zemfira!!!

If you are interested in her biography, you can read it here.

On my behalf, I wish to say that Zemfira's first two albums, self-titled "Zemfira" ("Земфира") and "Good Bye" ("До свидания"), are her best works. Ever after she slipped into this really dark state of mind (much influenced by alcohol probably) and lost her spark... to me at least.

OK. I must admit I have to learn how to write musical reviews ;P I've just figured out I can't really describe her music. For now just download and enjoy the two songs I've provided. And later on I'll add more spice to my post. ;P

Two of her songs I love the most:

Zemfira - Arividerchi (Аривидерчи) mp3

Zemfira - London mp3

Zemfira - SPID (AIDS)

Zemfira - Iskala (Searched)

I wasn't planning to link to this next video, but her smile is just too cute in it :D :D :D

Zemfira - Pechal'(KNHO) (Sadness)

www.Zemfira.ru

Music from the depths of my dark past ;P

2007-02-02T10:09:00.000-08:00

Wow, a third post in just one day ;D

I have only two compositions recorded live. Both are of bad quality because I have no access to any professional gears or equipment ;( BUT!! The atmosphere they have because of the background noise makes them more special to me nonetheless.

One other thing that makes them special is that they are basically one-take jams of me to myself. Even if my life depended on it I would not be able to duplicate any part... except for the chords in "In memory of DiDaDo". Nothing else has been pre-meditated, pre-planned or pre-produced ;D not even pre-played ;D

These are very moody pieces and really do reflect how I felt in the time period when I recorded them.

DiDaDo is a girl I used to know, used to be friends with.. she is still alive, don't worry :P we are just not friends anymore.

"My lover's gone" is called after and inspired by a picture by Horrormove (Horrormove.DeviantArt.com) "My lover's gone" ;D ;D

"My lover's gone" © Horrormove

In memory of DiDaDo
My lover's gone

Enjoy! ;D

just a rant

2007-02-02T08:32:00.000-08:00

Hahahahaha, I've just noticed that the date of my first entry is actually Feb 1.. it was Feb 2 already in the place I live, about 11 am in the morning ;D

Anywaaaays, there is something I have been kinda displeased with about Nelly Furtado. She is an awesome singer, she has so much talent, and I think her first album was a masterpiece! Truly a benchmark, which she herself, unfortunately, has not been able to sustain. I know I know that she was one of the Hip-Hop pioneers in Canada and such, but, come on, nowadays there is just toooooo much Hip-Hop!!! Everyone does it. Why? I don't know. Probably because reading a poem rhythmically is just not as hard as actually singing. And how many pop albums are out there which are as good, authentic and special as 'Whoa! Nelly'?

Very few. Off the top of my head I can only think of Camille's 'Le Fil'.

Camille - 'Le Fil'

And it was her who in her second album claimed not to be (or not want to be) a one-trick pony. "Girl, U'd better shape up, girl, U'd better shape up...". I think it's a sad sad irony.

Will she ever produce anything as good as 'Whoa! Nelly'? I don't know. I hope so, but I am sceptic. After all, as it seems to me, her third effort was the most widely accepted and successful... too bad success nowadays is not a merit of quality.

I feel cheated.

http://www.nellyfurtado.com/
http://www.camille-lefil.com/

Of importance of a smile

2007-02-01T23:27:00.000-08:00

Hello.

This is my very first blog entry. I've tried keeping a journal before, but it has never really grown into a habit.

Anyways, for my very first entry I would like to tell you about the importance of a smile. Of course such observation is based on my personal experience.

Last summer I worked as a salesman in a not-so-big home appliances store. I would wake up at 7:30 am, brush my teeth, have my breakfast and at around 8 am I'd leave home. The trip to work would take me approximately 45 minutes by metro + getting to the metro on foot = 1 hour +/- 5-10 minutes. From 9 am to 10 am we (salespeople) had to wipe dust off the appliances we were responsible for, print out pricelists to see if there were any changes made overnight, check for any stock-outs, print new price tags, etc. At 10 am the shop would open and consumers would start flowing in, looking, asking, comparing, calling their significant-others for consultation, doubting, thinking, considering, and so on and so forth. And of course we would start explaining, persuading, convincing, proving, praising and talking and talking and talking... all the way until 9 pm. And one other thing: we weren't allowed to sit down, always on our feet, except for the 40 minutes we were given for lunch. After 5 or 6 pm I'd usually start getting tired.
I also have to explain one peculiarity of people in Russia, especially in Moscow. They like arguing. They like getting into ugly quarrels, screaming, yelling and so on. Faces - if not gloomy, - no sparks of happiness (of course I mean in general).
So, when I, tired after all the noise produced by the appliances (TV's, stereos, computers, etc.), would see a smile meant for me and an actually meant 'thank you' - as opposed to those said mechanically - from a customer, I would of course feel pleased and actually motivated :D
Only when working in that shop have I fully realised how pleasant it is to receive a smile... and a 'thank you', of course.

So, speaking on behalf of all salespeople, please, next time, when you shop, smile and say a hearty 'thank you' to those who serve you, because even though they receive money for their services, the warmth of human heart is something that means a lot to everyone.

Thank you :)