moments

"A man's life is nothing but an extended trek through various detours to recapture those one or two moments when his heart first opened."
--Albert Camus

twenty-seven

A good age at which to die. A once-in-a-lifetime chance to be über famous, to achieve immortality, to leave an enduring legacy, to remain untouchable forever, and make millions at the same time. Only thing is: you have to die.

Or so it seems, for some of the most famous names in contemporary music. People who changed the course of music history or influenced it just enough to leave an indelible mark; pioneers whose absence left a void filled with imitators and wannabes and in-betweeners that hardly satisfy.

Kurt Cobain (founder of Nirvana and grunge music), Jimi Hendrix (who taught us how to play the guitar the way it's supposed to be played), Brian Jones (founder of The Rolling Stones), Janis Joplin (trailblazer for solo female artistes), Jim Morrison (nonconformist who bent the rules to create alternative music) -- all rebels with a cause, all creatively brilliant musicians who shaped the stuff we listen to today, and all of whom died at the age of 27.

Maybe it's just coincidence, or maybe to die at the height of their careers was the best thing to happen to them. And 27 seems to be that magic number. Any later and, perhaps, they would have lost relevance (the way grunge has today), or mellowed, or compromised their music to remain popular to the capricious masses.

And maybe it's just coincidence, but all of them with the exception of Jones (who, nevertheless, was a notorious drug abuser) died of a drug overdose. Cobain did one better by committing suicide after he overdosed himself. What a recipe for success! They're not alive to enjoy it, though (which is the only flaw in this almost fool-proof design, I guess).

So, let's see: I am not famous and by no means a musician, but maybe if I worked at it a little harder... take a few singing lessons, practise more on my guitar, etc., I could die at 27 and bestow the fruits of my labor to whoever I want, leaving them a comfortable life and me a peaceful rest. I'm already high on drugs half the time -- caffeine and nicotine, the opiates of the masses in this 21st century turbulence. I've got enough ego to fill up a phone book, rebellious to a fault, maybe not so much a creative genius but I try. I've got six years to prepare (so it's going to be a rush job), and then it's smooth sailing all the way.

Then again, maybe not.

PLAYLIST

Cigarettes In Hell -- Oasis

Oceania -- Björk

All Falls Down -- Kanye West

Wishful Thinking -- Wilco

Family Tree -- Loretta Lynn

*

follow the yellow freak toad

creeping laziness + attention deficit disorder + chronic depression + blatant indifference + lofty ambitions = constant disappointment

No, I can never be the hero I've always aspired to be. It takes commitment and determination and courage and all the other exemplary qualities that parents want their children to have. Sadly, those are the very things I lack. No motivation, so nothing progresses. Maybe in another life, where there are not too many screws loose to bring the whole framework come crashing down in the most bittersweet way. I'm inclined to say I'll just live my life the way I want to, but that's where the fault lies.

Oh how I wish things were different but with one look I can tell.

The first thing my sister got in London was diarrhoea. She also got me a cool black t-shirt with "London" scribbled on the front. Very chic, very avant-garde, very post-modernist. She must be homesick by now (or maybe her newfound freedom is exactly what she's been waiting for all these years), but the term's started for her so she should be be pretty occupied. She's gonna be a doctor, which is so cool. I hope she makes the cut; there's so much pressure on her to succeed I can't imagine what I'd do in her shoes. But it was her decision to go, so I don't think it would pose a problem for her. If anything, she was built for this.

Manchester United 4 - Arsenal 2
Sweet, sweet victory. Now, to claim the top spot from Chelsea (although it seems Jose Mourinho's boys are destined to win the title this season). Although the Champions League cup would be a nice consolation. Chelsea could, of course, win everything. Now that's a scary thought.

PLAYLIST

Meet Me In The Bathroom -- The Strokes

Snowblind -- System Of A Down

Thinking Of A Dream I Had -- The Walkmen

No Leaf Clover -- Metallica

Slow Hands -- Interpol