BMM 3 - Empty Chairs At Empty Tables

There's a grief that can't be spoken
There's a pain goes on and on
Empty chairs at empty tables
Now my friends are dead and gone 

Here they talked of revolution
Here it was they lit the flame
Here they sang about tomorrow,
And tomorrow never came 

From the table in the corner,
They could see a world reborn
And they rose with voices ringing
And I can hear them now!
The very words that they had sung
Became their last communion
On this lonely barricade
At dawn 

Oh my friends, my friends, forgive me
That I live and you are gone
There's a grief that can't be spoken
There's a pain goes on and on 

Phantom faces at the window
Phantom shadows on the floor
Empty chairs at empty tables
Where my friends will meet no more

Oh my friends, my friends,
Don't ask me what your sacrifice was for
Empty chairs at empty tables
Where my friends will sing no more 

From Wikipedia: "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables" is Marius's solo after the battle. Sitting alone at the café, knowing he's the only one to survive, other than Jean Valjean, he regrets and reminisces the loss of his friends.

The song uses similar tunes from "Prologue: Valjean Arrested" and "Valjean Forgiven." In the 1991 Parisian Revival Version, the song is titled "Seul devant ces tables vides," which means "Alone in Front of These Empty Tables."

My own thoughts: Either this song or "I Dreamed a Dream" is the first to spring to mind whenever someone mentions the musical. Many people cite it as their most favorite song of all, and I think it's safe to say it's my favorite, too. I especially love the version sung by Michael Ball, and Cormac Thompson sang a most incredible version when he was just 13 years old.

This song would fit perfectly in several of my own stories. Not only would it fit Reid and Terence, since they both deal with war and deep personal loss, but it would also fit Beowulf to a tee, especially after he first becomes a werewolf. 

BMM 2 - I Dreamed a Dream

There was a time when men were kind
When their voices were soft
And their words inviting
There was a time when love was blind
And the world was a song
And the song was exciting
There was a time
Then it all went wrong

 I dreamed a dream in time gone by
When hope was high and life worth living
I dreamed that love would never die
I dreamed that God would be forgiving 

Then I was young and unafraid
And dreams were made and used and wasted
There was no ransom to be paid
No song unsung, no wine untasted 

But the tigers come at night
With their voices soft as thunder
As they tear your hope apart
As they turn your dream to shame 

He slept a summer by my side
He filled my days with endless wonder
He took my childhood in his stride
But he was gone when autumn came

And still I dream he'll come to me
That we will live the years together
But there are dreams that cannot be
And there are storms we cannot weather

I had a dream my life would be
So different from this hell I'm living
So different now from what it seemed
Now life has killed the dream
I dreamed 

From Wikipedia: "I Dreamed a Dream" is a solo that is sung by the character Fantine during the first act. The music is by Claude-Michel Schönberg with orchestrations by John Cameron. The English lyrics are by Herbert Kretzmer, based on the original French libretto by Alain Boubli and Jean-Marc Natel from the original French production.

The song is a lament, sung by the anguished Fantine, who has just been fired from her job at the factory and thrown onto the streets. She thinks back to happier days and wonders at all that has gone wrong in her life.

My own thoughts: This song was my first official introduction to Les Misérables, and the version by Susan Boyle was the first one I heard.

Opinions on Anne Hathaway's performance in the 2012 movie vary, but I like it, and so did my dad. Dad called Anne Hathaway's crying the most realistic crying he'd ever heard, and he admired how she was able to sing and cry at the same time. That took real talent, he said, and I couldn't agree more.

To this day, my heart truly aches for Fantine. She's a poor, innocent girl who was woefully taken advantage of, and the man who impregnated her gets off scot-free. Chances are he has no idea what happened to her after he'd had his fun with her, and he most likely couldn't care less. She, on the other hand, thought he loved her for real, and in my opinion, that's the absolute worst thing you can do to a person.

Now she's the one who must suffer the consequences, with everybody treating her like scum just because she dared to have a child out of wedlock, and the people who are supposed to help her take care of her daughter are taking advantage of her in all the wrong ways as well. At least Jean Valjean understands and cares, so he becomes a worthy paternal substitute, the kind of man Fantine deserved all along.

Man, Victor Hugo sprinkles no sugar whatsoever in his story. Rumor had it that he personally rescued a prostitute who was being mistreated and on the brink of getting arrested for pure self-defense, and it only worked because he was already a renowned public figure himself. In any case, he had a lot to say about the conditions of the poor and the horrific social injustices they dealt with, and there's excellent reason why the overall title is Les Misérables, which literally translates to "The Miserable Ones."

As depressing as the story is, it's a rather enlightening depression, just like Black Beauty and The Great Gatsby, among many others. I've yet to read the novel but I think the musical did a great job. Like I mentioned earlier, it was one of the few three-hour movies in which I didn't get too restless, and I still like to play a song here and there. 

BMM 1 - Do You Hear the People Sing

 

Do you hear the people sing,
Singing the song of angry men?
It is the music of the people
Who will not be slaves again!
When the beating of your heart
Echoes the beating of the drums,
There is a life about to start
When tomorrow comes!

 

Will you join in our crusade?
Who will be strong and stand with me?
Beyond the barricade
Is there a world you long to see?
Then join in the fight
That will give you the right to be free!

 

Do you hear the people sing,
Singing the song of angry men?
It is the music of the people
Who will not be slaves again!
When the beating of your heart
Echoes the beating of the drums,
There is a life about to start
When tomorrow comes!

 

Will you give all you can give
So that our banner may advance?
Some will fall and some will live
Will you stand up and take your chance?
The blood of the martyrs
Will water the meadows of France!

 

Do you hear the people sing,
Singing the song of angry men?
It is the music of the people
Who will not be slaves again!
When the beating of your heart
Echoes the beating of the drums,
There is a life about to start
When tomorrow comes! 

 

From Wikipedia: "Do You Hear the People Sing?" (French: À la volonté du peuple, literally To the will of the people, in the original French version) is one of the principal and most recognizable songs from the 1980 musical Les Misérables. It is sung twice in the opening and closing section of the stage musical.

 

The song, composed by Claude-Michel Schönberg (music), Alain Boublil and Jean-Marc Natel (original French lyrics), and Herbert Kretzmer (English lyrics) is first sung in Act I by Enjolras and the other students at the ABC Cafe as they prepare themselves to launch a rebellion in the streets of Paris during the funeral procession of General Jean Maximilien Lamarque. The song is sung again in the finale as the concluding song of the musical. This second version, which immediately follows a number by Jean Valjean and others, is sung by the entire cast with revised lyrics, and becomes progressively louder and thunderous with each stanza.

 

The song is a revolutionary call for people to overcome adversity. The "barricades" referred to in the song are erected by the rebel students in the streets of Paris in the musical's second act. They are to draw the National Guard into combat and ignite a civilian uprising to overthrow the government, but their rebellion eventually fails. But in the finale this song transitions into a hymn when all anticipate a world full of peace, freedom, and liberation for all mankind.

 

My own thoughts: I never had a lot of patience for long movies, let alone musicals. Anything that lasts more than two hours makes me fidgety. 

 

That said, Les Misérables was a huge exception. When the 2012 movie came out, it held my interest from beginning to end, and it was this song in particular that convinced me to give Les Mis a try. I fell in love with the version sung by Michael Maguire, but the 2012 film version was done quite well, too. 

 

SNAP Around the World

Every year, my family participates in the SNAP program and I try to attend at least one of the two performances. This year, I was able to nab some pretty sweet shots with my new phone!

Birthday, Anniversary, and Eclipse

Happy birthday to my dad, happy work anniversary to me (I started my job this very day five years ago), and of course, happy Solar Eclipse!

Happy Easter and Happy Birthday!

Happy Easter, everybody! Hope you all had a nice one!

And happy birthday to Grandpa Dahl, who would have been 96 today.

Who is the old and handsome dog?
Grandpa’s the old and handsome dog
Who’s very handsome, but not a frog?
Grandpa’s very handsome but not a frog
Handsome dog
Not a frog
Must be Grandpa
Must be Grandpa
Must be Grandpa, Grandpa Dahl!

Who gives out gifts of Andes Mints?
Grandpa gives gifts of Andes Mints
Who’s always handy with helpful hints?
Grandpa’s so handy with helpful hints
Andes Mints
Helpful hints
Handsome dog
Not a frog
Must be Grandpa
Must be Grandpa
Must be Grandpa, Grandpa Dahl!

Who’s always very warm and huggy?
Grandpa’s so very warm and huggy
Who’s always saying, “Stay in the buggy”?
Grandpa always says, “Stay in the buggy!”
Very huggy
Stay in the buggy
Andes Mints
Helpful hints
Handsome dog
Not a frog
Must be Grandpa
Must be Grandpa
Must be Grandpa, Grandpa Dahl!

Who’s got the cozy fireplace?
It’s Grandpa’s cozy fireplace
Who’s got that big smile on his face?
Grandpa wears a big smile on his face
Fireplace
Smile on face
Very huggy
Stay in the buggy
Andes Mints
Helpful hints
Handsome dog
Not a frog
Must be Grandpa
Must be Grandpa
Must be Grandpa, Grandpa Dahl!

Who’s ready to fish in the stream?
Grandpa just loves his fishing stream
Who feeds us cookies with cool ice cream?
Grandpa’s got lots of cool ice cream
Fishing stream
Cool ice cream
Fireplace
Smile on face
Very huggy
Stay in the buggy
Andes Mints
Helpful hints
Handsome dog
Not a frog
Must be Grandpa
Must be Grandpa
Must be Grandpa, Grandpa Dahl!

(END OF SONG)

2024 New Phone

Or, more accurately, a more updated version of my previous phone. My uncle got one for me and one for my mom, which is super-duper nice of him.

Then I had a lot of fun picking out a new case. The hard part was deciding what color and design I wanted. 

2024 Leap Year

Today's the day that comes around almost every four years. According to Wikipedia: "Every year that is exactly divisible by four is a leap year, except for years that are exactly divisible by 100, but these centurial years are leap years if they are exactly divisible by 400. For example, the years 1700, 1800, and 1900 are not leap years, but the years 1600 and 2000 are."

I had a Creative Writing teacher in high school who was born on Leap Day. I wonder whether the people born on Leap Day celebrate their birthday on February 28 or March 1.

In any case, hope this day will be a good day for all of you. These are the same frogs I drew for FanX; I put them on button pins and fridge magnets, and they sold moderately well.