I’ve Visited The Belém, The Famous And Historical District Of Lisbon Plenty Of Times But Never Entered

What do you think? The FB page idea itself and the pic? Should I create a community page orrrr something else..Any ideas?

Where only I remain

I’m afraid I haven’t got anything special to tell you, just some very ordinary things of my life.

But let’s start with some new stuff:  I’ve started to study French here! It’s rather expensive since it’s almost like having  private lessons. There’s me and this another lady from Toronto. My teacher is an young québecoise, super nice girl. The primary focus is on the ability of having a conversation and understanding but there’s some grammar stuff as well. Two hours a week, every Wednesday night until the beginning of January.

(Canadian squirrel - Tim Horton's is somewhat a canadian version of Starbucks)

At work, all good. So far there’s been all kinds of events, from big corporate events of Microsoft and Red Cross for example to private concerts, weddings as well as art exhibition openings. The work is somewhat physically demanding since the decoration or furnishings have to be differently placed for every event. Small details count. At the events there’s isn’t much anything else to do than just make sure that everything goes as planned, smoothly and nicely. Adaptation to the changes is important. Often I’m helping out the catering staff with the dishes or serving food/drinks or whatever I can do.

I feel so empty at the moment cause this entire fall, I’ve been waiting for several releases to come out. First it was the new album “Terra” of this brilliant Finnish singer Jenni Vartiainen, followed by “Bridget Jones: Mad about the boy” book, new Céline Dion album and last but not definitely the least the compilation album of my favourite (in case no one has noticed) artist Laura Pausini. What now?!?

(Terra album by Jenni Vartiainen: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjfVme5npco)

Cannot be without saying a few words about Bridget Jones thou.. I finished  the third BJ a.k.a “the bible of a single gal” book by Helen Fielding. Brilliantly written. I recommend it to all “Jonesy” fans out there. I was very skeptic about it first cause I knew that it won’t be the same now with Mark “I like you just as you are” Darcy being dead. But the old Bridget is still very much there. Her old struggles with being a single and how to get a boyfriend (and keep him) as well as her new problems like coping with the everyday life of being a widowed single mom and how to use twitter made me laugh as much as they made me cry too.     

At the flat we’ve been having this teeny tiny plumbing problem during these few days. Started on Saturday, apparently some pipes started leaking and yeah, having water all over,  that was sort of a problem. But my landlord had the plumber to come and fix it on the very next day. Even though it was Sunday.

The quick action of my landlord made me think how I really got lucky with this room and flat. From what I’ve heard and seen, I so appreaciate that I have a washing machines that work, front doors that you can get locked and that I have a proper wall all the way to the ceiling. Lucky me. Even though all that stuff that has gone wrong in the past, may have not been so funny then but they sure are now!

Also, haven’t got pictures yet to prove this one to you but the whole city of Mtl is covered with Christmas decorations. And they’re seriously big, colourful and all sorts of things, especially in centre-ville. My neighbour has had Christmas lights ever since October I think.. Even the wall of our back yard is decorated.  And exactly year ago in November I felt so bad for having a Christmas tree (or actually two) and my flat decorated for the season. Cause it was “too early”.  Yeah right.   

About the famous Canadian winter, I’ve been so warned about. So far I’ve seen snow in Mtl only once. It was on last Saturday. And it’s all gone by now. But it’s getting colder so I’m hopeful that we’ll get some proper snow soon. I’m into it just for the looks, the trees are naked and it’s so dark without it. The temperatures ain't that bad but the wind (and this city is always windy) makes it feel so much colder. Hrrr.. Looking forward to those days of -20C. But I hope that the Canadian winter is nothing that the Finnish version hasn’t trained me for over the years.

(This is I hope it will look like) :)

Music is..

Not pictures this time :) But as a passionate music lover I’ve felt the urge for a quite a while actually to share a list of albums that have gone under my skin, given me chills or just simply lived with me during an important time of my life. These aren’t album reviews so please don’t read them as such. I can only talk about what’s been like to listen to them. These are albums where the pleasure to listen is complete from the first seconds ‘till the very end. No fear of the unnecessary songs. I have a tendency to prefer female singers over men and not many male artists have managed to impress me with their work. 

Some of them have been more successful commercially than others but that’s not the reason why I’m talking about them. Most of them are from recent years which you could also conclude that these are the times when I’ve grown the most emotionally. This is pure POP music! There might be hints of rock in them, sometimes theatrical even dramatical, electronic sounds but mainly this is pop music. So if you don’t enjoy it, this might not be your thing. Some of these albums are made by artists I adore and follow religiously, others not but I gotta give credit for an album well made. The ten albums appear in an alphabetical order. 

ARIA (2002) by Gianna Nannini

This is THE album that I discovered the queen of Italian rock music given to me by cousin. At first listen I was doubtful but was won over by her talent and extraordinariness. Respect that the woman has been doing proudly, loudly and openly her thing for almost 40 years in music business. Years go by, even decades but she always sounds good. So does this album.

Aria was her 17th album to date, filled with electronical twists and sounds which make it stand out from the rest of her production. Don’t let the calmness of the title track ‘Aria’ fool you, there’s a lot aggression, pain (Meravigliosamente crudele) and speed (Volo, Immortale) on this album. Even haunting tunes (Crimine d’amore) can be heard but also lighter, catchier beats and rhythms (Mio, Battiti e respiri) when ‘Sveglia’ is wonderfully awakening.

Key track

D’EUX (1995) by Céline Dion

This one is a timeless classic. Forget the artistic and musical image that the name Céline Dion holds. In my opinion Dion has always been better in French. Just simply because there’s more thought in her production in her native than in her English albums. The songs are written especially for her and her voice is used in a much more diverse way. D’eux is the finest example of this. Almost the entire album is made by Jean-Jacques Goldman who before writing music to the French-Canadian star got to know her through interviews, earlier production and meetings so that he’d know what kind of music to write for Dion.

Everyone should listen to this. It’s by far the most diverse album of these ten I’m listing but also among Dion’s production. Discover her singing jazz (Le ballet), catchy guitar pop (Destin), rock (J’irai oú tu iras) but also more fragile, personal, delicate performances (Vole). D’eux refers to male persons and it means ‘from them’. It can be understood to indicate the male songwriters with or without Dion. In 2007 a female version was made in the form of D’elles (from them) which refers to the album’s female songwriters with or without Dion. A beautiful experience also!

Key track

FLAMINGO (2010) by Brandon Flowers

Never been a fan of The Killers, the famous rock band that Brandon Flowers is known for originally. That might be the reason why I love him as a solo artist cause his musical style by himself is far deeper than the rock band production. For me, this is pop music at its best. The music is often light (Only the young, Swallow it) so you can easily get lost in its sounds without paying attention to the fact that many of them carry somewhat heavy theme. There’s something 80’s kind of style also involved (Crossfire). It’s ridiculously real somehow (Jilted lovers & broken hearts). There are moments when I find Flowers as a playful and careless as a little boy but then as serious as an only grown man can be. He has also an exceptional song writing skills in lyrics. He reaches the essence of loss, love and life with small words and gestures in his singing. Personally, I find ‘Playing with fire’ as one of the greatest songs ever written. The intro, for over one minute long prepares you for the words that will sweep off your feet.

Key track

INEDITO (2011) by Laura Pausini

I assume everybody knows how big LP fan I am and it was seriously hard work to choose only one album that has made an impact. Because for me they’ve all made an impact, some more than others and in different ways. Instrumentally I think this is one of the most diverse album from her..I could listen just the instrumental versions of these songs and still be blown away. The use of flute and harmonica are like fresh winds among the orchestras and pop/rock tunes.

Inedito was the first LP album which it took me some time to understand. Back in 2011 I was in crossroads, lost and confused. To reach the things Pausini is singing about on this album I had to travel far and come back (Non ho mai smesso). It took me years to reach the soaring happiness of being alive like in ‘Benvenuto’ or ‘Le cose che non mi aspetto’ and be as grown as the woman in ‘Mi tengo’ who’s lost but also loved or truly see where the line goes (Bastava). I needed to feel the pain, hit the rock bottom and climb back up for these songs (Troppo tempo, Ognuno ha la sua mattita, Come vivi senza me). ‘Celeste’ dedicated to all the women trying to have a baby without success, is probably her most profound songs ever and the hope touches also those who don’t want any children. This is the album that comes after the storm, after you’ve struggled and realized that you’ve survived.

Key track

LE SECRET (2013) by Lara Fabian

I have some Lara Fabian albums in English and in French. I’m not a super fan but the voice does stop me. This album is a masterpiece. Piece of an art, from the beginning ‘till the last second. I find it brave to make such an album considering how the music industry works in these days. The gay community embraced the album since her performance of ‘Deux ils, deux elles’ in favour of equal rights of getting married. 

These songs are stories and Fabian has been writing all of them. I cannot name any of my favourites cause I refuse to ruin the pleasure of this album by cutting into pieces. It’s at its best when taken the time to be listened entirely from the start ‘till the end eyes closed. All the 17 tracks coming to one combination of music that’s pure perfection nevertheless it’s dramatic, theatrical, simple, fragile or almost silent. Just as an instrumental version this album would take your breath away and Fabian’s divine singing, voice and the French language are jewels in the crown.

Key track

LOVE SAVE THE EMPTY (2009) by Erin Mccarley

She’s one of the smaller artists I like since she hasn’t been truly discovered by the world even thou there’s something very Sara Bareilles or/and Sheryl Crow-kind of in her sound. Great discovery suggested by a great friend around 2010-2011. I remember listening to this album, which is her debut btw, while I was doing an Erasmus exchange in Spain. The playful, light melodies (Love save the empty, Sticky-sweet, Blue suitcase) accompanied my new exciting experience abroad, everything that was going on outside but the serious lyrics were telling what was happening in my head what was waiting for me at home (Gotta figure this out, Hello/goodbye, It’s not that easy). She is definitely worth following for.. Great things might happen.

Key track

MANA (2012) by Anna Eriksson

For many years my musical taste included only foreign music or music never sung in Finnish. Don’t know if it’s been the experiences abroad or have I grown to appreciate the artists/ songwriters in Finland and especially those who do it in Finnish. In these days, I gotta admit that songs sung in my native go deeper than in any other language. Anyroad…

Anna Eriksson is one of the most succesful female artists in the country since the 1990’s but it wasn’t until her 9th album called Mana caught my attention. She’s been mostly known as an ‘old peoples’ favourite if I may say so. Entirely produced and written by Eriksson herself, Mana is an impressive and big leap from the stuff she used to make before. It runs in deep (Kulje ohi, Orjantappuran ruusut) and dark waters (Jos mulla olisi sydän, Paha mies). It’s about staying alive (Sanokoot ne mitä vaan, Maailma palelee) and came out in the time when this was just what I needed. Musically it’s quite dramatic at times, accompanied by brilliantly her developed singing. A true break up-album if someone is in a need of one. Several videoclips of almost all the songs were published which I highly recommend also!

Key track

THE SEA (2011) by Melanie C

This might be the album that I’m most eager to talk about but I’m also the saddest for the too little success it has received. Again forget the name and image this artist has. Despite of the ups and downs Melanie C has experienced during her solo artist-career, by 2011 she had proved to be a gifted vocalist and songwriter. The Sea was her fifth solo effort nevertheless and perhaps the most ambitious one also. Big names worked with her on this album but also some long time collaborations.

Again released in 2011 when I was living an emotionally rich or poor, depends how you look at it, life. This was the music that was with me before and after my big turning point in life and managed to fill my emotional needs in both times. If it had been possible to worn out a music file in these days, I could have just done that with this record. These songs have travelled a long way with me. There are rockier, dancier tunes (Rock me, Think about it, Stupid game) but then more sensitive melodies (One by one) and then dramatic ballads that got even electronical (Enemy, Drown) and latin sounds (Weak). ‘All about you’ and ‘Get out of here’ represent the heavier side of the album. Another break up album… A great one and it’s such a shame that the wider audience didn’t find it.

Key track

UN ALUMNO MÀS (2014) by Melendi

Melendi is a rock artist from Spain whom I discovered roughly a year ago. And also his latest album Un alumno más.. love at first listen. He reminds me of Juanes but more rockier and jagged I guess, if you can say that. Don’t like his previous material thou he’s got some more special and rockier stuff if someone finds this too commercial.

There’s a lot of passion and drama on this album. In the music he’s chosen and the way he sings them. An artist that has a strong voice also in songwriting, I find a lot personality and humour in his texts but also an emotional and serious side. There are powerful ballads (La promesa, La saraluna), acoustic tunes (El amor es un arte, Posdata), playful melodies and beats (El gordo y el narco) 80′s kind of sounds (Septiembre, Cenizas en la eternidad) and more upbeat tracks (Tú de Elvis yo de Marilyn). Different instruments of guitars and relaxed, latin based rhythms are constantly present and of course that charm that only a Spanish man can have.

Key track

VAPAA JA YKSIN (2009) by Chisu

The last one! Chisu is a brilliantly talented Finnish artist who produces and writes her music mostly by herself. She’s just released her fourth album which was also an amazing piece of work and it was a really tight struggle to choose between these two. This is her second album and perhaps the most successful one also. She is unique in songwriting and she handles Finnish language in the way I’ve never seen anyone doing. She can be broken to pieces, as fragile as a fine glass or hitting back fiercely or have a wisdom of an old lady who’s seen it all. So are her songs and everybody has an opinion about her. You either love or hate her. There’s no between.

Vapaa ja yksin handles heartbreak, leaving and coming back... the uncertainty whether the choices you’ve made are right ones. The songs may start quietly, calmly, being very acoustic, stripped of everything unnecessary and then rise into this big storm with dramatic, electronic sounds (Lähtö, Etsijät). Or they may be ridiculously goofy and playful (Baden baden, Kerrasta poikki, Saaliit), deadly serious (Sama nainen), fragile acoustic performances (Yksinäisen keijun tarina) or theatrical drama (Miehistä viis, Muusa). As an artist and as a singer super-diverse, she is! I cannot praise enough of her singing and interpretation. It cannot get any deeper than that. Even the language barrier won’t stop the listener noticing the great talent, she is.

Key track

Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoy listening, in case some of these artists or albums caught your interest :)

I just love to wonder around in Helsinki... gonna miss this. 

Just can't stop praising this event! #igloofest #mtlmoments

The perspective that wasn't mine yesterday

Somewhat continues from the post below..

But anyways news for those who haven't heard that I changed a job. Still in a video game industry but found  a better deal in a different company where I started  as a Linguistic tester a month ago. As much as I loved working at Babel, they couldn’t offer me anything else but functionality testing on call contract with evening shifts. Now with Enzyme Testing Labs I’ll actually get to do the linguistic stuff and have better pay, better working hours (no more evening shifts!) and the location is slightly closer to home too. 

This is actually the first time when my employer is making a contract of any fixed hours with me. I’ve always been on call and luckily the shifts, often more than I could actually do, have always come in. So I do feel like I’m being tied down a bit. Can’t do any big or (at least long term) travelling plans or anything cause the summer is high season for video game industry and naturally employees aren’t encouraged to take much time off then. And not that I would have money for travels anyway...But so far I’ve been more than happy to explore and discover the city of Mtl and that’s why haven’t traveled much in Québec/Canada so if this is the furthest I can go I’ll be fine with it. 

However, I did some travelling in April. 

Made a Easter voyage to the Québec’s capital, also named Québec which is over 200km from Montréal to north. It’s been one of my “must go” destinations for years and it was truly a fascinating and charming journey to see all those places where the history of not only Québec’s but also of Canada and North America took place. This is where it all began. The place where they established hospitals, schools, newspapers, museums and churches among others earlier than anywhere else in North America. The city was a battle ground for wars and battles that later came to define Canada and Québec.

Moi, en Québec finalement!

Today the city is known mostly for the most photographed hotel in the world Château Frontenac and for Vieux Québec, the old part of the city which is partly 400 years old and obviously a Unesco World Heritage Site. If my trip to Ottawa last fall was an eye opening experience in Canadian culture and history, this trip was exactly the same in la culture et l’histoire québécoise. I could seriously go on forever about history of this city... #historyfreak #quebecoise

I ain't wearing my winterboots in April anymore damnit!

But what we actually did in Québec: stroll around in the still empty streets of vieux Québec (no masses of tourists yet), did some shopping, ate well and visited the musée de la civilisation where the First Nations were represented respectively too. The more northern location was easily noticed in the chilly weather and the amounts of snow they had in the parks and the streets. The three days were seriously a good exercise too cause the city’s been built on hills and it seemed like there was nothing else but a staircase after another. Oh boy did my feet hurt on Monday after the trip! But it was vraiment québecois and there is no place where you could feel the political atmosphere (anglos against the francos) clearer than in Québec in my opinion. This is not a criticism just an observation. 

Moi sur les Plaines d'Abraham.

Weatherlike...Summer has finally kicked in! Had a few days of tropical +30 temperatures but otherwise it's been comfortably warm even thou spring was clearly late. In the beginning of May it was still quite grey and bald in naturelike but now everything has catched up. J'aime ça!

However, there is a one big down side in my life and year in Mtl. Room mates.. who I've had 15 in total by now and this doesn't include the new changes coming up at the flat within a few weeks. As much I love this appartment, the room and the location, it truly sucks that we don't have any saying about who's gonna move in. My landlord is great but he doesn't really care how we get along with each other as long as everybody pays their rents and don't seriously destroy anything...

Nothing major issues I guess but just stuff that truly bugs me. Having soirées late in the night during the week and not participating of the expences that we share together. Nobody cleans. It's also hard to have any kind of system with room mates that keep on changing this frequently. But oh well.. less than two months and these problems will be far away cause I'll be living with my mom again! And how much fun is that gonna be - NOT! 

Allrighty then, I think that was it for now.. thanks again for reading! :)

Évora, located in the hot Alentejo is full of history and culture! Don’t hesitate to visit! 

Different genres in ESC2018

Who said that Eurovision is just a pop song contest? 

HUNGARY - AWS - Vislát Nyár (heavy metal) - Semifinal II

Hungary’s heavy metal entry is not the one I’d vote for but I’m glad they’re in this year bringing diversity to the competition. Hoping it will do well so it would encourage similar acts coming to ESC in the future. This is how the event will grow. 

THE NETHERLANDS - WAYLON - Outlaw in ‘em (country) - Semifinal II

The Netherlands’ country entry is not bad at all. The song works and he’s got a nice charisma. It’s not my top favorites but not my lowest of the low either. 

ESTONIA - ELINA NECHAYEVA - La forza (opera) - Semifinal I

The first time I heard/ saw this I was only blown away with the dress and visual performance. I was impressed by her singing of course but was unable to like it without seeing the performance as well. Now I’m warming up to the studio version and just listening to it also. This is one of my top favorites this year and what I wouldn’t do for Estonia winning the whole damn thing! But I’m super worried about the news of financial difficulties and bringing the dress to Lisbon. Keeping my fingers and toes crossed so that we’d get to see this in Lisbon as it was in Estonia! 

SLOVENIA - LEA SIRK - Hvala, ne (rap) - Semifinal II

I don’t usually like rap/hip hop but the energy of Slovenian entry just gets me every time! Fine, this is still quite “poppy” but it does stand out! I feel like it’s underrated and I hope more people would find it. She’s performed well at the pre-parties so expectations are high for her Lisbon performance. I’m really, really hoping that this would make it to Grand Final!

Another entries which I don’t find as traditional pop songs are: 

BELGIUM - SENNEK - A matter of time (art pop)

ISRAEL - NETTA - Toy (so much personality in this one) 

Also POLAND - GROMEE FEAT LUKAS MEIJER - Light me up doesn’t stand for me as a traditional upbeat pop song. It has some nice dance, elektronic sounds in it. 

+ several jazzy, soul-spirited entries from LATVIA, AUSTRIA, BULGARIA (see my previous post  about ESC. 

Amsterdam in April. It was very grey so made it even more so.