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Man is condemned to be free; because once thrown into the world, he is responsible for everything he does. Everything has been figured out, except how to live. One always dies too soon or too late. And yet, life is there, finished. The line is drawn, and it must all be added up. You are nothing other than your life. There is only one day left, always starting over. It is given to us at dawn and taken away from us at dusk. We do not know what we want and yet we are responsible for what we are, that is the fact. When you live alone you no longer know what it is to tell a story: the plausible disappears at the same time as the friends. You let events flow by too.Suddenly you see people appear who speak and then go away; you plunge into stories of which you can't make head or tail. You'd make a terrible witness. It is true that people who live in society have learned how to see themselves in mirrors as they appear to their friends. Luckily, I only have a few...

Dr Shaw is a lecturer in Further Education at Edge Hill University, Ormskirk. She also offers philosophy courses at the School of Continuing Education, Lifelong learning, at the University of Liverpool. In 2015, she has completed her Doctorate in philosophy with a focus on existentialism, the equilibrium doctrine and narrative. She has worked as a teacher of English and Comparative literature and Philosophy at The American University in Cairo, Egypt where she also obtained her BA (Hons). Dr Shaw has an MA in Philosophy and Literature from the University of East Anglia where she also taught on a number of humanities subjects. Whilst working in North Wales in Further education, she gained a PGCE aimed at teaching in FE and HE sectors. Dr Shaw moved to Liverpool in 2010 where she now resides.

Interests: Existentialism, Narrative, Comparative Literature, Feminist Thought, Public Speaking, Arab Existentialism, Philosophy of Education, Art, Music, Film and Theatre, Greek Mythology, Existential counsellor and psychotherapist.

https://liverpool.academia.edu/ShereenHamedShaw


Tuesday, 14 February 2012

Lana Del Rey- Born To Die

  ♥  Happy Valentines' Day ♥
      

Lana Del Rey is an American singer-songwriter dubbed as 'the one to watch in 2012'.

By far is one of the most iconic singers today. I never thought I would be captivated by songs like that or absorbed in any video clip as much as I am when I watch her videos. Truly mesmerising. I came across one of her songs "Born to die" on UK television and thought to myself my goodness I love her voice and what an excellent video. Having a philosophical background myself and an interest in lyrics, I googled a few of her songs with lyrics to see more and hear even more. The debut album "Born to Die" (Interescope Records)" is flawless. It has been out in all retail and digital stores across the world from the last days of January. Her album comes in standard and deluxe editions, the latter containing all 15 recordings, that features the hit singles: "Video Games" and "Born to Die". Re-worked versions of previously leaked tracks like "National Anthem" or "Diet Mountain Dew", and brand new tracks like "Carmen"or the flawless and "Dark Paradise"which is in my view another great song.

So lets face it-- Who would have given much thought to the idea of being BORN to DIE?!! It's a fact but far away from our every day thought...

The fact that her voice is truly amazing doesn't mean that she isn't exerting a lot of effort in choosing her video clips scenarios or the messages conveyed or the style of dress & make up. Every detail in the clip seems well planned and thought through, not like those silly clips today with flashing images, boobs and silliness (I guess "I am sexy and I know it" video clip comes to mind here LOL) What a contrast that I am so thrilled about.

'I'm more of a studio singer and I'm fine with that!"said Lana

(Click on the songs to go to the site where you can find the lyrics and video clips)
 
  
* Quote from: Rocker Amy Rebecca Klein who wrote a very good analysis of Lana Del Rey and her songs in her blog.

"Lana Del Ray is sitting at home waiting for you to come home so she can fix you dinner and a drink. Lana Del Ray is waiting for you to come home so she can watch you play video games on the couch and ignore her all day until it’s time for bed. Lana Del Ray is waiting for you to come home so you can go to bed and act out all of your wildest fantasies which is exactly what she wants to do—what you want to do, that is. Lana Del Ray is waiting for you because she is your mirror.

It's you, it's you, it's all for you
Everything I do, I tell you all the time
Heaven is a place on earth with you ♥
Tell me all the things you want to do
I heard that you like the bad girls
Honey, is that true?
It's better than I ever even knew
They say that the world was built for two ♥
Only worth living if somebody is loving you
Baby, now you do
                                                      ---------------------------------------
So it doesn’t matter if Lana Del Ray is entirely sarcastic when she belts out, “It’s YOU, it’s YOU, it’s all for YOU.” It doesn’t matter that there is an edge to her voice that sounds something like rage and despair. Lana Del Ray has conquered America with plastic surgery, video games, a regression to nostalgia, and an appeal to the sex drive of every male music critic on the planet. It doesn’t matter if she has anything real to sell because Lana Del Ray has made us think about the relationship between selling fantasy and selling lies."

Oh well, no matter how controversial Lana Del Rey is, she is still a great voice and that is all that matters...to me at least.

Posted by SS at 04:46

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