Tuesday, April 12, 2011

The Meaning Behind Foo Fighter Lyrics

On April 12th the Foo Fighters debuted a new Album called "Wasting Light".  I heard the album on their website, and it is phenomenal! 

I listen to their music first and foremost because of the harmonies, and the rock beat, but then I started paying attention to lyrics.  Dave Grohl, lead singer of the Foo Fighters and former drummer for the band Nirvana has dealt with losing a friend in Kurt Cobain.  Dave's experience with death, in my opinion, has motivated the lyrics.  Many Foo Fighter lyrics are written by Grohl and hint about the trials and joys of life.  One song in particular - "The Pretender" has haunting lyrics that deal with the fatality of life.

But here's the surprise - the lyrics seem to be in sync with some of the messages I try to portray on this blog.  That tomorrow isn't promised, to not wait to be the person you truly are.

Here's a sample of the lyrics from "The Pretender"

In time or so I'm told
I'm just another soul for sale, oh well
The page is out of print, we are not permanent
We're temporary, temporary
Same old story


What if I say I'm not like the others?
What if I say I'm not just another one of your plays?
You're the pretender
What if I say that I'll never surrender?
 

I'm the voice inside your head you refuse to hear
I'm the face that you have to face, mirrorin' your stare
I'm what's left, I'm what's right, I'm the enemy
I'm the hand that'll take you down, bring you to your knees
So who are you? Yeah, who are you?
Yeah, who are you? Yeah, who are you?


My interpretation of the Pretender message - We try to be what society tells us to be, and we pretend to be someone we're not.  But deep down you know you're not happy being someone you're not, and you and you alone are the enemy if things don't change.  So who are you and what do you want to do about it?  Better hurry, you might not have much time left.



Want to listen to the new album?  Check it out here

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Awesome Week - Day 5: Going Home


When you've been away, there's nothing like going back home.  When you were away at camp as a kid, or when you were a freshman at college getting ready to come back home for the holidays - It felt good to finally sleep in your own bed, be around the ones you love, and be welcomed back with the comfort food mom makes.

We all long to go home.

When we are away from the place we love there is just something missing - we aren't quite comfortable, or we feel like we don't belong.  The comfort of home is our solace, our refuge.

Sometimes we may even feel out of place when we're at home.  I have a theory for why this is. 
I think we might feel this way because maybe we are away from someone who loves us.  Being away from that love, you feel kinda empty.

Maybe we long to go home to be with the one who loves us the most.  The one who is crazy about you, and would do anything for you.   

That's gonna be quite a day - when we jump into the arms of the one who loves us the most!
That day will be -
AWESOME!

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Awesome week - Day 4: Sunday Breakfast


Sundays bring a whole new level of awesomeness to the Warden household.  Sunday service starts the day out right, then after church we indulge each and every one of the taste buds.

My favorite Sunday breakfast is loaded hash browns with sauteed onions, green peppers, mushrooms, and diced ham mixed all together and smoothered with melted cheddar cheese.  Then I top off the mound of golden goodness with a couple of eggs over easy.  On the side are two pieces of whole wheat toast, one with Jif peanut butter, one with strawberry jam and of course no breakfast would be complete without a hunk of Jordan's famous Pekarna sausage.  

Thank you Sunday breakfast for being -
AWESOME!

Awesome Week - Day 3: Laughing until you Cry

In first grade me and the rest of the St. John's boys around the table were sent to the principal's office for laughing too hard at lunch time.  When the principal asked us what was so funny, we told her the truth.  Poop.  We were laughing about poop.  She tried not to smile, but she did.

In high school I knew I found a good friend when were making fun about a favorite coach's nuances that we laughed so hard we cried.  16 years later he and a couple of our close friends still meet regularly and play the board game, "Loaded Questions" a game in which has never failed to induce tears of laughter to all those involved.  I highly recommend playing with those who don't have a "censor" button in their brains, and it's helpful to wear name brand adult diapers.

Laughing so hard that you cry creates a chain reaction of belly laughs, a contagious pee your pants phenomenon that reduces even the most stoic to laugh uncontrollably because it's too damn funny!  It unites us, brings us closer together, and creates a bond not easily broken.  It's a therapy that every doctor should prescribe.

So laugh loud and proud - it's best in a crowd, and be sure to wear protective underwear!





AWESOME!

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Awesome Week - Day 2: April

In Minnesota the weather starts to turn bitterly cold in November but we look forward to celebrating Thanksgiving, then we gather around the table once again for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.  A few days after Christmas we enjoy New Year's Eve festivities.  Many of us are very hopeful that it snows this time of year - we've even written songs like, "Let it Snow".

The Monday following the holidays we have 90 days of long nights, snow, and cold until Spring arrives - we trudge through the dog days of winter with only a few minor holidays to get excited about.  Sure St. Patrick's day and Valentines day are fun, but they are not celebrated like the December holidays. 

Then the gift of April arrives - a gift that nobody except us in Minnesota and the upper Mid-west truly appreciate.  Who else gets excited about April's 50 degree temperatures, warm sunshine, thunderstorms, and robins?!  Nobody from California that's for sure!  Without the long winter April is meaningless.

Nobody knows better than us that every winter has its spring - it's a reason why April is:
AWESOME!

Monday, April 4, 2011

Awesome week - Day 1: Cool Aunts


Raise your hand if you have a cool aunt!  You know the one I'm talking about... the aunt that gives you the huge smile and hug at family gatherings, the aunt that you're excited to introduce your finance to, the aunt that always remembers your birthday and even sent you funny birthday cards while at college?

I've been lucky to have a whole mess of awesome aunts - and yes I'm even talking about aunt Dorothy!  Cool aunts make Thanksgiving, Christmas, and all the holidays a whole lot better.  They tell you stories about mom, dad, and grandpa that you never knew about.  They surprise you with cool gifts.  Being from a big family with a mess of cousins, the cool aunts always make you feel like you belong.

Thanks for leaving my cheeks alone cool aunts, but most of all thanks for being -
AWESOME!