theindiequeen gave me this ridiculously difficult prompt: What are your top 10 favorite albums of all time?
hahahaha! I couldn't possibly say, I can't rank my loves. But I can TRY tell you which albums had the most impact on my life.

Contact by the Benjamin Gate got me through the loneliest time of my life, gave me something good to hold on to when I most needed it. I felt seen, held, strengthened by it. Even though it has a lot of Jesus-must-be-your-favorite stuff in it I still love it, still feel like singing along, still feel that it has life and meaning for me. I associate it with wild impassioned dancing at every concert, driving 13 hours, flying, writing letters, sending presents; The Benjamin Gate was something I could believe in and look up to at a time in my life when everyone around me was so full of shit, lying all the time. "this is not what I need to be!" and I still deeply love the sound, so fucking much. "Need" still makes me yearn and cry. I've never had a relationship with an artist like I had with The Benjamin Gate. I can still worship with this music.

Everybody Else Is Doing It So Why Can't We by the Cranberries is an album I listened to seeking meaning, asking for answers from Godde. I used it as an oracle; a way to bring me messages. I must have gone to sleep listening to it almost every night for two years. I love all of the Cranberries works but this was my first love. I associate it with waiting, hoping, and hearing what I needed to hear.

World Is Bound By Secret Knots by Noe Venable was my first Noe Venable album and it changed me deeply. It came into my life when I was feeling spiritually lost and it gave me a place to be, a way to feel connected to all things. It nourished me and introduced me to one of my deities (through the song Black Madonna). It is to me as a temple might be to someone else. Summer Storm Journals is a close second, I've felt roots and my own godde self through it. I recently got one of Noe Venable's oldest albums and there was some problematic ableist stuff in it (using other people's experiences as metaphors) and that has me terribly nervous but there wasn't any in the more recent ones and that was 16 years ago (holy shit). I have such unbearably high hopes for the new album, oh dear Godde please let it be what I want from it.

200km/hr in The Wrong Lane/Dangerous And Moving by t.A.T.u. -- yes both, because in my mind they are the same album since I got all the songs together and listened to them like one album. These albums made me feel like I had queer community and helped me to feel validated in myself. And I do love the sound also.

Flutterby by Butterfly Boucher -- this was my first album by this artist. I love the others nearly as much, but this one gives me such beautiful images in my mind, and has more of a magical, mythical focus. I associate it with deviantart because I was really into dA when I first started listening to this.

White Chalk by PJ Harvey -- picking ONE ALBUM from this artist is ridic. But while other of zir albums have songs with intense meaning to me, this is the only one that I sank into with relief. I got this album in May 2009 and through the transformations of that year (breaking up with my partner of 8 years) this album was a guide for me, tapping into my darkness and strength in a way I needed in order to learn to be independent. "All of my being is now in pining / What formerly had cheered me / Now seems / Insignificant"

Tales of a Grasswidow/Grey Oceans by Cocorosie -- Tales of a Grasswidow was my first of their albums, though I had heard a few songs here and there. The unity of scathing dark social commentary on patriarchy and the taking back of spirituality from "sky-god religions" as they call them felt really good for me, and the images they word-painted nourished me. As soon as I felt I had grasped Tales well enough I got Grey Oceans, which resonated even more strongly with me. The surreal appreciation of the mythic and alien in their lyrics was so unique and wonderful for me. I hadn't felt this kind of resonance with an artist since I first discovered Noe Venable. Then I saw them in concert and I cried and my heart beat their rhythms and my veins pulsed with their words, I'd never in my life felt so one with music AND with their performance, which I read as being wild resistance to gender norms and patriarchy in general. Then I got Adventures of Ghosthorse and Stillborn and they broke my heart with the song 'Japan' (not in a good way): it's racist (I think: it gives me that ick feeling but I'm not sure what's wrong with it) and transphobic and misogynist (implies that drag queens want to rape people, implies rape can be desired). I hadn't realized the lyrics when they played it at the concert, but I recognized the tune when I heard it on the album and that means they are still playing it and don't see a problem with it. Although they may have changed the lyrics since and kept the song. I messaged them on twitter because that is the only contact info they had public, but I have no idea if they even saw it. My initial response to that song is to want to cut them out but I've decided that every fucking thing is problematic in some way so I'm going to divorce them from their music and just love the good songs as beings of their own life force.

Hydrogen Burning by Dream Art Science is their only album still, sad :-( but it's really important to me because it speaks of cosmic connection, growth, trees, and Kemetic concepts and deities. I like the sound, it's smooth and meditative. I love the lyrics. "from one atom to another / we are hydrogen"

Mezzanine/Heligoland by Massive Attack are equally important to me. It's harder to articulate why these two (the first and the most recent ones I've listened to). Mezzanine just fits my soul in its sound (and is an album I've had lots of sex to). Heligoland I think is actually important to me because it feels like that's the album where Massive Attack started writing about justice. When I saw them in concert, it was INTENSE, I cried and danced and gasped and panted. They used their platform to educate. I felt all of their songs so much more deeply after feeling the intention live.

Smoke & Fire by Neulander is important to me because there are so many songs on it that I relate to so deeply; about spring, about fighting oppression, about throwing off ties to family. The whole album feels like a walk in a Georgia summer night, alone and strong.

Also quite meaningful but not as much as the above (which are NOT in order by the way):

On a Clear Night by Missy Higgins
The American by Angie Aparo
Hold On Love by Azure Ray
Sugar by Tonic
Spiritchaser by Dead Can Dance
Fur and Gold by Bat For Lashes
Tension and the Spark by Darren Hayes
Deepika by Deepika/Deeyah
Hybrid by Elsiane
Siren by Heather Nova
Still Night, Still Light by Au Revoir Simone
We Are Born by Sia

and there are others that I really love listening to but don't have the same kind of time-tested meaningfulness to me.

Want new music? comment (they're screened so only I can see them) with your snailmail address and I'll send you a mix CD compiled of randomly chosen songs from my lesser-known favorites (if I know you I'll probably weight it by what I know of you) . I'll do up to 8 of these (already got one on this list). (decreased the number because it's taking me at least an hour each, heh)

<3 <3 love and hugs <3

ETA: if I know you, I let my music player choose the artist and then I chose a song, skipping artists that didn't have a song that suited you :D

ETA #2: I have now finished 4 and have 4 more claimed but if you want one comment anyway and we'll see if I still have the creative flow to do more :D

Today marks Kyle's and my first anniversary <3 I made a mix about our connection -- flowing from Kyle to me and from me to Kyle and twining.

(don't refresh the page before you finish listening, because it will randomize them after the first listen *grr*)

Bel <3s Kyle: 2011 Anniversary (a zip file of all the songs)

( individual downloads (to be added later) & lyrics )

Today marks Kyle's and my first anniversary <3 I made a mix about our connection -- flowing from Kyle to me and from me to Kyle and twining.

(don't refresh the page before you finish listening, because it will randomize them after the first listen *grr*)

Bel <3s Kyle: 2011 Anniversary (a zip file of all the songs)

( individual downloads (to be added later) & lyrics )

( music sharing! )

In this post: Auf der Maur, Massivivid, Sam Sparro, and Yael Naïm (to listen to samples, click on the little black play button before song titles). Each of these only has one album out so far (except for Massivivid, which put out a second album with different people and a completely different sound -- I don't know why they didn't change the name). I'm changing up the format of these posts a little and putting my thoughts with the music instead of all together at the beginning, so read on!



Belenen's favorites -- April/May 2009 (click pic to download a zip of all songs)

(  - - - - - - - - poll & commentary & individual downloads & lyrics - - - - - - - -  )

( music sharing! )

In this post: Auf der Maur, Massivivid, Sam Sparro, and Yael Naïm (to listen to samples, click on the little black play button before song titles). Each of these only has one album out so far (except for Massivivid, which put out a second album with different people and a completely different sound -- I don't know why they didn't change the name). I'm changing up the format of these posts a little and putting my thoughts with the music instead of all together at the beginning, so read on!



Belenen's favorites -- April/May 2009 (click pic to download a zip of all songs)

(  - - - - - - - - poll & commentary & individual downloads & lyrics - - - - - - - -  )

( music sharing! )

In this post: Auf der Maur, Massivivid, Sam Sparro, and Yael Naïm (to listen to samples, click on the little black play button before song titles). Each of these only has one album out so far (except for Massivivid, which put out a second album with different people and a completely different sound -- I don't know why they didn't change the name). I'm changing up the format of these posts a little and putting my thoughts with the music instead of all together at the beginning, so read on!



Belenen's favorites -- April/May 2009 (click pic to download a zip of all songs)

(  - - - - - - - - poll & commentary & individual downloads & lyrics - - - - - - - -  )

( music sharing! )

In this post: The Cranberries. They're my longest-lived musical love; eleven years now I have loved their music (though I never got the chance to see them in concert). I generally prefer more complex lyrics, but the richness of the music and the way Dolores uses zir voice as an instrument (in wordless sound as well as lyrics) more than balances the simpler lyrics. I chose samples from five albums but this is just an overview, as there are very few of their songs that I don't sing along with and feel through-and-through. I'll add individual comments on each album.



Belenen's favorites -- March 2009 (click pic to download a zip of all songs)

(  - - - - - - - - individual downloads & lyrics - - - - - - - -  )

( music sharing! )

In this post: The Cranberries. They're my longest-lived musical love; eleven years now I have loved their music (though I never got the chance to see them in concert). I generally prefer more complex lyrics, but the richness of the music and the way Dolores uses zir voice as an instrument (in wordless sound as well as lyrics) more than balances the simpler lyrics. I chose samples from five albums but this is just an overview, as there are very few of their songs that I don't sing along with and feel through-and-through. I'll add individual comments on each album.



Belenen's favorites -- March 2009 (click pic to download a zip of all songs)

(  - - - - - - - - individual downloads & lyrics - - - - - - - -  )

( music sharing! )

In this post: The Cranberries. They're my longest-lived musical love; eleven years now I have loved their music (though I never got the chance to see them in concert). I generally prefer more complex lyrics, but the richness of the music and the way Dolores uses zir voice as an instrument (in wordless sound as well as lyrics) more than balances the simpler lyrics. I chose samples from five albums but this is just an overview, as there are very few of their songs that I don't sing along with and feel through-and-through. I'll add individual comments on each album.



Belenen's favorites -- March 2009 (click pic to download a zip of all songs)

(  - - - - - - - - individual downloads & lyrics - - - - - - - -  )

[Poll #1358710]

[Poll #1358710]

[Poll #1358710]

( music sharing! )

In this post: Noe Venable. Ze was introduced to me by alwaysontherun.net. Noe's music is extremely important to me... words really pale in trying to communicate what it means, how it reaches me. The lyrics are so evocative and meaningful and the sound! the sound speaks to me all on its own. I'll write more about each individual album below.

And Noe zirself is a huge inspiration for me, not only in the new thoughts revealed in zir lyrics but also in how ze follows zir own path. Ze makes music for its own sake, not for becoming famous or appreciated, but just because it is zir art. Ze didn't wait to be discovered or be able to rent a studio before recording -- ze just did it in zir own living room, and outdoors, and in other unconventional places. And ze went back to school and studied comparative religion so that ze could teach high school kids to question. Ze's definitely one of my lodestars, someone who I look to for inspiration.

"Art has the power to unlock potential in us that we never knew we had. And it's phenomenal what unexpected blessings can enter our lives when we are moving with the current of our own creative instincts."

( other quotes )

Belenen's favorites -- February 2009 (click pic to download a zip of all songs)

(  - - - - - - - - individual downloads & lyrics & dedications - - - - - - - -  )

( music sharing! )

In this post: Noe Venable. Ze was introduced to me by alwaysontherun.net. Noe's music is extremely important to me... words really pale in trying to communicate what it means, how it reaches me. The lyrics are so evocative and meaningful and the sound! the sound speaks to me all on its own. I'll write more about each individual album below.

And Noe zirself is a huge inspiration for me, not only in the new thoughts revealed in zir lyrics but also in how ze follows zir own path. Ze makes music for its own sake, not for becoming famous or appreciated, but just because it is zir art. Ze didn't wait to be discovered or be able to rent a studio before recording -- ze just did it in zir own living room, and outdoors, and in other unconventional places. And ze went back to school and studied comparative religion so that ze could teach high school kids to question. Ze's definitely one of my lodestars, someone who I look to for inspiration.

"Art has the power to unlock potential in us that we never knew we had. And it's phenomenal what unexpected blessings can enter our lives when we are moving with the current of our own creative instincts."

( other quotes )

Belenen's favorites -- February 2009 (click pic to download a zip of all songs)

(  - - - - - - - - individual downloads & lyrics & dedications - - - - - - - -  )

( music sharing! )

In this post: Noe Venable. Ze was introduced to me by alwaysontherun.net. Noe's music is extremely important to me... words really pale in trying to communicate what it means, how it reaches me. The lyrics are so evocative and meaningful and the sound! the sound speaks to me all on its own. I'll write more about each individual album below.

And Noe zirself is a huge inspiration for me, not only in the new thoughts revealed in zir lyrics but also in how ze follows zir own path. Ze makes music for its own sake, not for becoming famous or appreciated, but just because it is zir art. Ze didn't wait to be discovered or be able to rent a studio before recording -- ze just did it in zir own living room, and outdoors, and in other unconventional places. And ze went back to school and studied comparative religion so that ze could teach high school kids to question. Ze's definitely one of my lodestars, someone who I look to for inspiration.

"Art has the power to unlock potential in us that we never knew we had. And it's phenomenal what unexpected blessings can enter our lives when we are moving with the current of our own creative instincts."

( other quotes )

Belenen's favorites -- February 2009 (click pic to download a zip of all songs)

(  - - - - - - - - individual downloads & lyrics & dedications - - - - - - - -  )

( music sharing! )

In this post: Beauty's Confusion, Daughter Darling, Neulander, and Orenda Fink. All of these artists put out only one album before breaking up to form new projects (except possibly Neulander? but I can't find news of anything new). I believe all of these were introduced to me by alwaysontherun.net -- an awesome site by someone who has similar tastes and a lot more time spent researching ;-) Beauty's Confusion's "Breathe In" has lovely rhythms and a really unique sound -- a mixture of rock and trip-hop. It's a little dark, so I don't listen to it to it that often, but when I do I really enjoy it. Daughter Darling's "Sweet Shadows" has a really sexy, thick drama, and it's also dark but with a little winding thread of silver hope. It has a fierceness to it that I love intensely -- and Natalie Walker's voice is exactly in my range, which means I can sing along. The sound is very evocative, and each song is amazingly thematic. The song Mermaid is practically holographic. Neulander's "Smoke & Fire" has a funky, crazy edge half the time, and the other half of the time is coastingly thoughtful. The lyrics enchant me with their mix of insane poetry and commentary on life and society. Orenda Fink's "Invisible Ones" is INCREDIBLE. Orenda is from the south, and I can feel that in zir music -- not only in zir obvious lyrics such as "Dirty South" (I LOVE IT), but in the songs that are more open to interpretation, like "Animal" -- they reflect the same spirit of the land here that I feel. I would like to meet Orenda. ♥



Belenen's favorites -- January 2009 mix (click pic to download a zip of all songs)

(  - - - - - - - - streaming playlist & poll & individual downloads & lyrics - - - - - - - -  )

ETA: I forgot to include the poll so could you please comment to let me know if you're downloading or listening to the playlist?

( music sharing! )

In this post: Beauty's Confusion, Daughter Darling, Neulander, and Orenda Fink. All of these artists put out only one album before breaking up to form new projects (except possibly Neulander? but I can't find news of anything new). I believe all of these were introduced to me by alwaysontherun.net -- an awesome site by someone who has similar tastes and a lot more time spent researching ;-) Beauty's Confusion's "Breathe In" has lovely rhythms and a really unique sound -- a mixture of rock and trip-hop. It's a little dark, so I don't listen to it to it that often, but when I do I really enjoy it. Daughter Darling's "Sweet Shadows" has a really sexy, thick drama, and it's also dark but with a little winding thread of silver hope. It has a fierceness to it that I love intensely -- and Natalie Walker's voice is exactly in my range, which means I can sing along. The sound is very evocative, and each song is amazingly thematic. The song Mermaid is practically holographic. Neulander's "Smoke & Fire" has a funky, crazy edge half the time, and the other half of the time is coastingly thoughtful. The lyrics enchant me with their mix of insane poetry and commentary on life and society. Orenda Fink's "Invisible Ones" is INCREDIBLE. Orenda is from the south, and I can feel that in zir music -- not only in zir obvious lyrics such as "Dirty South" (I LOVE IT), but in the songs that are more open to interpretation, like "Animal" -- they reflect the same spirit of the land here that I feel. I would like to meet Orenda. ♥



Belenen's favorites -- January 2009 mix (click pic to download a zip of all songs)

(  - - - - - - - - streaming playlist & poll & individual downloads & lyrics - - - - - - - -  )

ETA: I forgot to include the poll so could you please comment to let me know if you're downloading or listening to the playlist?

( music sharing! )

In this post: Beauty's Confusion, Daughter Darling, Neulander, and Orenda Fink. All of these artists put out only one album before breaking up to form new projects (except possibly Neulander? but I can't find news of anything new). I believe all of these were introduced to me by alwaysontherun.net -- an awesome site by someone who has similar tastes and a lot more time spent researching ;-) Beauty's Confusion's "Breathe In" has lovely rhythms and a really unique sound -- a mixture of rock and trip-hop. It's a little dark, so I don't listen to it to it that often, but when I do I really enjoy it. Daughter Darling's "Sweet Shadows" has a really sexy, thick drama, and it's also dark but with a little winding thread of silver hope. It has a fierceness to it that I love intensely -- and Natalie Walker's voice is exactly in my range, which means I can sing along. The sound is very evocative, and each song is amazingly thematic. The song Mermaid is practically holographic. Neulander's "Smoke & Fire" has a funky, crazy edge half the time, and the other half of the time is coastingly thoughtful. The lyrics enchant me with their mix of insane poetry and commentary on life and society. Orenda Fink's "Invisible Ones" is INCREDIBLE. Orenda is from the south, and I can feel that in zir music -- not only in zir obvious lyrics such as "Dirty South" (I LOVE IT), but in the songs that are more open to interpretation, like "Animal" -- they reflect the same spirit of the land here that I feel. I would like to meet Orenda. ♥



Belenen's favorites -- January 2009 mix (click pic to download a zip of all songs)

(  - - - - - - - - streaming playlist & poll & individual downloads & lyrics - - - - - - - -  )

ETA: I forgot to include the poll so could you please comment to let me know if you're downloading or listening to the playlist?

( music sharing! )

In this post: Ké, Kate Havnevik, Achillea, Enigma, and Mythos. All of these artists are new to me, and I only have one album by each of them so I may end up posting more by them as I collect their work. ;-) Ké's "I Am" I found at the local used book/media store, and asked the owner to play it so I could sample it. I was so intrigued by the androgyny of zir voice and the meaning of the lyrics that after 1.5 songs I knew I had to get it. When I did listen to the whole album I was amazed by the uniqueness of the musical style -- it's really impossible to classify, so imaginative! Kate Havnevik's bizarrely titled Melankton I found in a different used CD store and fell in LOVE! Every single track on that CD is a 4 or 5 star song. The lyrics speak my thoughts on so many different things... and I always love vocalists who use their voice as an instrument when not singing lyrics. The music is full of unusual textures yet quite polished. Achillea was a disappointment. Last.fm put "Vivir" on my station and I LOVED it so I checked Amadas Estrellas out on amazon and bought it. Unfortunately the 30 second samples didn't reveal just how repetitive it is... it just seems so empty and hollow. Well done, I'm sure, but not at all satisfying to me. Still, that one song still amazes me so I'm sharing it. Enigma was also introduced to me by last.fm, via the song "Return To Innocence," which I loved so much I kept an eye out for it at the used CD store and found "A Posteriori." Most of the songs on this album are instrumental and so thrilling. They spin worlds and stories in my mind -- sometimes erotically wild dancing, sometimes flying over the most intricate forest, sometimes an ever-deeper spin into an ocean. That CD is also all 4 and 5 star songs. Mythos (also introduced to me by last.fm, via "Triste") is a mixture of very classical-sounding music and fantasy elements -- for some reason it reminds me of Spain. I really like the spirit of "The Reality Of A Dreamer" -- to quote from the back of the CD case, "We believe that there is a place that lives within us all. It is a place of vision and clarity, where the rhythm of life moves in harmony with a higher consciousness. The purpose of our music is to take you there."



Belenen's favorites -- October 2008 mix (click pic to download a zip of all songs)

(  - - - - - - - - streaming mix! & poll & individual downloads & lyrics - - - - - - - -  )

( music sharing! )

In this post: Ké, Kate Havnevik, Achillea, Enigma, and Mythos. All of these artists are new to me, and I only have one album by each of them so I may end up posting more by them as I collect their work. ;-) Ké's "I Am" I found at the local used book/media store, and asked the owner to play it so I could sample it. I was so intrigued by the androgyny of zir voice and the meaning of the lyrics that after 1.5 songs I knew I had to get it. When I did listen to the whole album I was amazed by the uniqueness of the musical style -- it's really impossible to classify, so imaginative! Kate Havnevik's bizarrely titled Melankton I found in a different used CD store and fell in LOVE! Every single track on that CD is a 4 or 5 star song. The lyrics speak my thoughts on so many different things... and I always love vocalists who use their voice as an instrument when not singing lyrics. The music is full of unusual textures yet quite polished. Achillea was a disappointment. Last.fm put "Vivir" on my station and I LOVED it so I checked Amadas Estrellas out on amazon and bought it. Unfortunately the 30 second samples didn't reveal just how repetitive it is... it just seems so empty and hollow. Well done, I'm sure, but not at all satisfying to me. Still, that one song still amazes me so I'm sharing it. Enigma was also introduced to me by last.fm, via the song "Return To Innocence," which I loved so much I kept an eye out for it at the used CD store and found "A Posteriori." Most of the songs on this album are instrumental and so thrilling. They spin worlds and stories in my mind -- sometimes erotically wild dancing, sometimes flying over the most intricate forest, sometimes an ever-deeper spin into an ocean. That CD is also all 4 and 5 star songs. Mythos (also introduced to me by last.fm, via "Triste") is a mixture of very classical-sounding music and fantasy elements -- for some reason it reminds me of Spain. I really like the spirit of "The Reality Of A Dreamer" -- to quote from the back of the CD case, "We believe that there is a place that lives within us all. It is a place of vision and clarity, where the rhythm of life moves in harmony with a higher consciousness. The purpose of our music is to take you there."



Belenen's favorites -- October 2008 mix (click pic to download a zip of all songs)

(  - - - - - - - - streaming mix! & poll & individual downloads & lyrics - - - - - - - -  )

( music sharing! )

In this post: Ké, Kate Havnevik, Achillea, Enigma, and Mythos. All of these artists are new to me, and I only have one album by each of them so I may end up posting more by them as I collect their work. ;-) Ké's "I Am" I found at the local used book/media store, and asked the owner to play it so I could sample it. I was so intrigued by the androgyny of zir voice and the meaning of the lyrics that after 1.5 songs I knew I had to get it. When I did listen to the whole album I was amazed by the uniqueness of the musical style -- it's really impossible to classify, so imaginative! Kate Havnevik's bizarrely titled Melankton I found in a different used CD store and fell in LOVE! Every single track on that CD is a 4 or 5 star song. The lyrics speak my thoughts on so many different things... and I always love vocalists who use their voice as an instrument when not singing lyrics. The music is full of unusual textures yet quite polished. Achillea was a disappointment. Last.fm put "Vivir" on my station and I LOVED it so I checked Amadas Estrellas out on amazon and bought it. Unfortunately the 30 second samples didn't reveal just how repetitive it is... it just seems so empty and hollow. Well done, I'm sure, but not at all satisfying to me. Still, that one song still amazes me so I'm sharing it. Enigma was also introduced to me by last.fm, via the song "Return To Innocence," which I loved so much I kept an eye out for it at the used CD store and found "A Posteriori." Most of the songs on this album are instrumental and so thrilling. They spin worlds and stories in my mind -- sometimes erotically wild dancing, sometimes flying over the most intricate forest, sometimes an ever-deeper spin into an ocean. That CD is also all 4 and 5 star songs. Mythos (also introduced to me by last.fm, via "Triste") is a mixture of very classical-sounding music and fantasy elements -- for some reason it reminds me of Spain. I really like the spirit of "The Reality Of A Dreamer" -- to quote from the back of the CD case, "We believe that there is a place that lives within us all. It is a place of vision and clarity, where the rhythm of life moves in harmony with a higher consciousness. The purpose of our music is to take you there."



Belenen's favorites -- October 2008 mix (click pic to download a zip of all songs)

(  - - - - - - - - streaming mix! & poll & individual downloads & lyrics - - - - - - - -  )

( music sharing! )

Today is my 6-month anniversary with Aurilion! *beams* I can't believe it has been half a year already! It seems like such a dream. I'm so honored and so very in love ♥ Aurilion inspires speaking-in-music -- ze is such poetry simple words are not enough. Each of these songs is dedicated to zir... a blazing weave of melody and murmurs.



For Aurilion - 6 Month Anniversary Mix (click pic to download a zip of all songs)

Or, click here to listen to the whole set streaming
(don't refresh the page, because it will randomize them if you do *grr*)

[Poll #1265166]

(click a title to hear an individual song and download if you wish)

Deep And Strong -- Dream Art Science**
Here we are together
So in love with each other
Everything is precious and new
And we can do
anything we want to do

Let your love grow deep and strong
Like the roots of the oak tree
Let it be everything it can be
Let it spread far and wide and all around
Let it reach deep inside, into the ground

No lightning or thunder
Can tear us asunder
This life on Earth can be so fine
We keep growing all the time
We’ll hold firm, weather any storm
Believing in each other
Will keep our love from harm

As above, so below.
We’ll go as far as we have to go
Like roots seeking water.
Like the lonely heart searching for its lover,
We’ll take strength from down under

Let it grow.
Let it grow.
Let it grow.

When we were first separated by circumstance, I came across this song and it reminded me so startlingly of Aurilion that I had to send it to zir, even though we weren't in contact and I didn't know how ze would take it. It was healing to zir spirit at that tempestuous time, and still, it speaks so much to both of us... it tells our story.

-

So Precious -- Jamie Blake**
You're exciting me
You're inviting me
You're so precious
You're enticing me
You're inciting me
You're so precious

Let me tell you all about myself
I can see you're afraid
It´s not unusual to feel this way
In this world young and brave

Don't you know
You should express yourself
Show me how you are made
If you ever need, relay your fears
It might be you who you save
-

Black & Gold -- Sam Sparro**
i'm looking for a reason why
you even set my world into motion

'cause if you're not really here
then the stars don't even matter
now i'm filled to the top with fear
but it's all just a bunch of matter
'cause if you're not really here
then i don't want to be either
i wanna be next to you
black and gold
black and gold
black and gold

i looked up into the night sky
and see a thousand eyes staring back
and all around these golden beacons
i see nothing but black

i feel a way of something beyond them
i don't see what i can feel
if vision is the only validation
then most of my life isn't real

one of the things I value so deeply about Aurilion is zir faith, and how ze inspires me to live more trustingly, more intuitively. I'm amazed over and over again...
-

Amber -- 311**
amber is the color of your energy
shades of gold displayed naturally


You ought to know what brings me here
You glide through my head blind to fear
And I know why

You live too far away
Your voice rings like a bell anyway
Don't give up your independence
Nothing good comes easily
Sometimes you gotta fight

Launched a thousand ships in my heart
So easy, still it's fine from afar

I see Aurilion's spirit as amber-gold-honey (you'll see those colors repeated in these songs)... and yes, ze lives far too far away, but zir voice reaches out to me and connects us.
-

Falling -- Olive**
Slower than the sun goes down
Softer than the autumn rain
Surer than the earth is round
Gentle as the morning breeze
Warm enough to sleep and dream
There is no doubt in my mind
I’m falling, (in love), I’m falling, (in love)

Leaves that are falling around me
Make sense to me, a reality
Leaves that are falling surround me
Make all this seem, a reality

Clearer than the morning light
Darker than the deepest night
There is no doubt in my mind
I’m falling, (in love), I’m falling, (in love)
-

Sea of Possibility -- Noe Venable**
the window open you came in
to light the temple in my head

with you I want to taste this freedom
with you remember life's divinity
but without you this love I take with me
into the sea of possibility

I woke up inside a dream
where dirty things were coming clean
and I chose life and you chose me
I thought last night that I could finally see

waves as far as I can see
a thousand horses rise in me
I'm tapping out the rhythm of your poetry
a thousand horses rising up
the ocean comes to fill my cup
today is the beginning of the death of me
-

Just Been Born -- Heather Nova**
My heart opened, like an oyster shell
I drank salt water, from your lips
And just below the equator
I swallowed the pearl

And I feel, and I feel, and I feel like I've just been born

And the sea rolled in
And rose around us
Your face above me
Darkening the stars
And as the waves are breaking out along the reef
I dived for your heart

Honey honey, yeah I want you
Honey honey, yeah I want you
Honey honey, yeah I want you
Honey honey, yeah I want you

Aurilion taught me (and continues to teach me) so much about living with an open heart.
-

Warm Whispers -- Missy Higgins**
Your warm whispers
Out of the dark they carry my heart
Your warm whispers
Into the dawn they carry me through

And I'm weeping warm honey and milk
That you stay surrounding me, surrounding me

Your warm whispers
Letting me drown in a pool of you
Your warm whispers
Keeping the noise from breaking through
-

I Love You Always Forever -- Donna Lewis**
Feels like I'm standing in a timeless dream
Of light mists of pale amber rose
Feels like I'm lost in a deep cloud of heavenly scent
Touching, discovering you

Those days of warm rains come rushing back to me
Miles of windless summer night air
Secret moments shared in the heat of the afternoon
Out of the stillness, soft spoken words

I love you, always forever
Near and far, closer together
Everywhere, I will be with you
Everything, I will do for you

You've got the most unbelievable
blue eyes I've ever seen
You've got me almost melting away
As we lay there, under a blue sky
with pure white stars
Exotic sweetness, a magical time

Say you'll love, love me forever
Never stop, not for whatever
Near and far and always and
everywhere and everything

Aurilion's eyes are hypnotically beautiful... so unique in shape and color (shifting green-grey-blue), so glowing with zir essence... Looking into them is like stepping into another world. All eyes are beautiful and fascinating but Aurilion is so open that the connection of eye contact is much stronger than usual. I could gaze into them forever...
-

Love & Affection**
Nobody could ever love you
’cos you were never within easy reach
But when I set my eyes on you I knew that you were the one for me
And I was never shy, too shy, with you baby
I just took my time to get close to you
Reached inside to open your heart face to face
I just can’t wait for you to

Kiss me baby drown me with your affection
Touch me wrap me up in your arms
’cos you really move me

I’ve never felt such emotion
Never needed to to cherish someone
But now I’ve found you
I think you feel it too
Let me show you heaven on earth
And I will always be your guide to perfection
Doubt no more
You gotta let love take a hold
And let me take your hand, and let me lead you into my garden of love

There's so much of me that was unreachable by anyone but zir, and so much of zir that only I could reach. We've blossomed together in such a beautiful way...
-

Insatiable -- Darren Hayes**
when moonlight crawls along the street
chasing away the summer heat
the world revolves i let it go
we build our church above the streets
we practice love between these sheets
the candy sweetness scent of you
it bathes my skin
i'm stained in you

and all i have to do is hold you
there's a racing within my heart
and i am barely touching you

turn the lights down low
take it off let me show
my love for you insatiable
turn me on never stop
wanna taste every drop
my love for you insatiable

the moonlight plays upon your skin
a kiss that lingers, takes me in
there are no words there's only truth
breathe in breath out there is no sound
we move together up and down
we levitate our bodies soar
our feet dont even touch the floor

and nobody knows you like i do
cause the world they don't understand
but i grow stronger in your hands

we never sleep we're always holding hands
kissing for hours, talking, making plans
can't close my eyes when i'm with you
insatiable, the way i'm loving you

when I look in your eyes, insatiable
-

Stolen -- Dashboard Confessional**
We watch the season pull up its own stakes
And catch the last weekend of the last week
Before the gold and the glimmer have been replaced,
Another sun soaked season fades away

You have stolen my heart
You have stolen my heart

I watch you spin around
You are the best one, of the best ones
We all look like we feel
-

Dreaming My Dreams -- The Cranberries**
All the things you said to me today
changed my perspective in every way
these things come to mean
so much to me

If you want me, I’ll be here
I’ll be dreaming my dreams with you
And there’s no other place that I’d lay down my face
I’ll be dreaming my dreams with you
-

Lovely -- Michelle Tumes**
You're the sweet dreams that soothe me
When I can't fall asleep
You're the field in the middle of the city
When I'm rushing by at the speed of light
You're the strong resolution when I find no peace
You're the church bells ringing in the evening

Ooh You're lovely, lovely
You're the center of my universe
A thousand times I look around me and I find
Ooh You're lovely, lovely
You're the center of my universe
A million words could not explain
You're lovely

You're the soft words that touch me
When I just can't speak
You're the breeze on the ocean in the morning
Reminding me to greet the day
You're the flowers I remember seeing in Italy
Colors through a golden haze
Bright and radiant, soft and fragrant
In the noon day sun, it makes me sing
-

Morning Star -- Flunk**
You are my morning Star
it´s just the way you are
when the orange sky
kiss the night goodbye

It´s not the way you move
It´s not the way you walk
It´s just the way you are
Oh you're my morning star
-

Honeythief -- Halou**
Sometimes I doubt the path I chose
Sometimes my dreams feel all on hold
There's no doubt that this will make me strong
Because it's the hardest thing I've ever done

Despite this cruel world
And all my best efforts
You surprise me with just how perfect you are

And when I'm lost
You search for me
And when I doubt
You're my belief

I'm suppose to be
The stronger one
You always seem
To prove that theory wrong

Still, I hold my breath each time you go
Out in the world that's beyond my control
If you are dreaming
I never want to wake you up
-

Sacrifice -- t.A.T.u.**
Can you tell me, softly
How you'll always haunt me
Can you help me, hold me
Come to me now, slowly
You caress me, smoothly
Calm my fears and soothe me
Move your hands across me
Take my worries from me

Can you feel me, solely
Deeper still and wholly
With your understanding
And your arms around me
Can you help me, hold me
Whisper to me, softly
-

Beautiful -- The Echoing Green**
She mends the daybreak
She takes the heartache so far
When she's laughing
I can't help gravitate to her side

She moves like water touching silver
And she remembers
Grey days – skies of cloud and thunder
It's beautiful to her

Do you ever wanna look at the sun
Do you ever wanna see it in someone
Or feel it somewhere?
Just a glimpse of an unfettered moment
Reflecting off her hair

I'm crying and she is laughing
Her joy is slowly tapping into me
So heavenly

The stars all around her
My heart beating louder
There's something about her
That makes me smile

The way Aurilion moves is grace incarnate -- the swaying of branches in the wind, the pouring of water over a fall...
-

I Want You -- Rachael Yamagata**
You sat down next to me, like poetry to wine
Out window looked upon a yellow neon sign
I took your hand while you decided what to do
The only kiss, I ever miss, I shared with you

I want you
No one else will do
No one is the only one
To fill the empty space I hold for you

I want you
No one else for me
'Cause no one else is strong enough, strong enough
To slow me down in time to set me free
I want you
No one else is fine
No one is the only one
To fill me up until I make you mine

There's this impression some people have that being polyamorous means that your lovers are replaceable or interchangeable or something, which COULDN'T be farther from the truth for me. Aurilion fills a place in my heart that no one else could ever ever EVER fill.
-

Taste You -- Auf der Maur**
Oh my love, oh my love
I can't hear you my love
Tell me where have you gone?

Far away, far away
I can't feel you today
I need healing my love

Appetite running fast
Following my gut
Turning up every rock

You're disappearing my love,
I need louder than this
Please fill me up

Come to me
Plug it in, so I can digest you
I will taste you
My appetite in that hole
Tempt you with it now
I will taste you

Please shake me and tug,
I need shaking my love
Can't you be the one?

I can't fake it my love,
I need filling come on,
I need it louder than bombs

Feel that movement my love?
Pulling up from above
Are you listening love?

My emptiness in a way,
Is tempting,
Guiding you from my gut
I will taste you

I've got a big mouth
Oh my love
-

Eyes Like Yours -- Shakira**
And now it seems, that I
Without your eyes could never be

My one desire, all I aspire
Is in your eyes forever to live
Traveled all over the seven oceans
There is nothing that I wouldn't give
Came from Bahrein, got to Beirut
Looking for someone comparing to you
Tearing down windows and doors
And I could not find eyes like yours

again, oh the eyes, they slay me
-

Love Of My Life -- Santana Feat. Dave Matthews**
Where you are, that's where I wanna be
Through your eyes are all the things I wanna see
In the night you are my dream, you're everything to me

You're the love of my life and the breath in my prayers
Take my hand and lead me there
What I need is you here

I can't forget the taste of your mouth
From your lips all the heavens pour out
I can't forget when we are one
With you I am free

Everyday, every night, you are the love of my life

oh, *aches* I miss zir... I love zir with my whole being, always and all the time, and ze IS the love of my life. So precious to me.
-

( music sharing! )

Today is my 6-month anniversary with Aurilion! *beams* I can't believe it has been half a year already! It seems like such a dream. I'm so honored and so very in love ♥ Aurilion inspires speaking-in-music -- ze is such poetry simple words are not enough. Each of these songs is dedicated to zir... a blazing weave of melody and murmurs.



For Aurilion - 6 Month Anniversary Mix (click pic to download a zip of all songs)

Or, click here to listen to the whole set streaming
(don't refresh the page, because it will randomize them if you do *grr*)

[Poll #1265166]

(click a title to hear an individual song and download if you wish)

Deep And Strong -- Dream Art Science**
Here we are together
So in love with each other
Everything is precious and new
And we can do
anything we want to do

Let your love grow deep and strong
Like the roots of the oak tree
Let it be everything it can be
Let it spread far and wide and all around
Let it reach deep inside, into the ground

No lightning or thunder
Can tear us asunder
This life on Earth can be so fine
We keep growing all the time
We’ll hold firm, weather any storm
Believing in each other
Will keep our love from harm

As above, so below.
We’ll go as far as we have to go
Like roots seeking water.
Like the lonely heart searching for its lover,
We’ll take strength from down under

Let it grow.
Let it grow.
Let it grow.

When we were first separated by circumstance, I came across this song and it reminded me so startlingly of Aurilion that I had to send it to zir, even though we weren't in contact and I didn't know how ze would take it. It was healing to zir spirit at that tempestuous time, and still, it speaks so much to both of us... it tells our story.

-

So Precious -- Jamie Blake**
You're exciting me
You're inviting me
You're so precious
You're enticing me
You're inciting me
You're so precious

Let me tell you all about myself
I can see you're afraid
It´s not unusual to feel this way
In this world young and brave

Don't you know
You should express yourself
Show me how you are made
If you ever need, relay your fears
It might be you who you save
-

Black & Gold -- Sam Sparro**
i'm looking for a reason why
you even set my world into motion

'cause if you're not really here
then the stars don't even matter
now i'm filled to the top with fear
but it's all just a bunch of matter
'cause if you're not really here
then i don't want to be either
i wanna be next to you
black and gold
black and gold
black and gold

i looked up into the night sky
and see a thousand eyes staring back
and all around these golden beacons
i see nothing but black

i feel a way of something beyond them
i don't see what i can feel
if vision is the only validation
then most of my life isn't real

one of the things I value so deeply about Aurilion is zir faith, and how ze inspires me to live more trustingly, more intuitively. I'm amazed over and over again...
-

Amber -- 311**
amber is the color of your energy
shades of gold displayed naturally


You ought to know what brings me here
You glide through my head blind to fear
And I know why

You live too far away
Your voice rings like a bell anyway
Don't give up your independence
Nothing good comes easily
Sometimes you gotta fight

Launched a thousand ships in my heart
So easy, still it's fine from afar

I see Aurilion's spirit as amber-gold-honey (you'll see those colors repeated in these songs)... and yes, ze lives far too far away, but zir voice reaches out to me and connects us.
-

Falling -- Olive**
Slower than the sun goes down
Softer than the autumn rain
Surer than the earth is round
Gentle as the morning breeze
Warm enough to sleep and dream
There is no doubt in my mind
I’m falling, (in love), I’m falling, (in love)

Leaves that are falling around me
Make sense to me, a reality
Leaves that are falling surround me
Make all this seem, a reality

Clearer than the morning light
Darker than the deepest night
There is no doubt in my mind
I’m falling, (in love), I’m falling, (in love)
-

Sea of Possibility -- Noe Venable**
the window open you came in
to light the temple in my head

with you I want to taste this freedom
with you remember life's divinity
but without you this love I take with me
into the sea of possibility

I woke up inside a dream
where dirty things were coming clean
and I chose life and you chose me
I thought last night that I could finally see

waves as far as I can see
a thousand horses rise in me
I'm tapping out the rhythm of your poetry
a thousand horses rising up
the ocean comes to fill my cup
today is the beginning of the death of me
-

Just Been Born -- Heather Nova**
My heart opened, like an oyster shell
I drank salt water, from your lips
And just below the equator
I swallowed the pearl

And I feel, and I feel, and I feel like I've just been born

And the sea rolled in
And rose around us
Your face above me
Darkening the stars
And as the waves are breaking out along the reef
I dived for your heart

Honey honey, yeah I want you
Honey honey, yeah I want you
Honey honey, yeah I want you
Honey honey, yeah I want you

Aurilion taught me (and continues to teach me) so much about living with an open heart.
-

Warm Whispers -- Missy Higgins**
Your warm whispers
Out of the dark they carry my heart
Your warm whispers
Into the dawn they carry me through

And I'm weeping warm honey and milk
That you stay surrounding me, surrounding me

Your warm whispers
Letting me drown in a pool of you
Your warm whispers
Keeping the noise from breaking through
-

I Love You Always Forever -- Donna Lewis**
Feels like I'm standing in a timeless dream
Of light mists of pale amber rose
Feels like I'm lost in a deep cloud of heavenly scent
Touching, discovering you

Those days of warm rains come rushing back to me
Miles of windless summer night air
Secret moments shared in the heat of the afternoon
Out of the stillness, soft spoken words

I love you, always forever
Near and far, closer together
Everywhere, I will be with you
Everything, I will do for you

You've got the most unbelievable
blue eyes I've ever seen
You've got me almost melting away
As we lay there, under a blue sky
with pure white stars
Exotic sweetness, a magical time

Say you'll love, love me forever
Never stop, not for whatever
Near and far and always and
everywhere and everything

Aurilion's eyes are hypnotically beautiful... so unique in shape and color (shifting green-grey-blue), so glowing with zir essence... Looking into them is like stepping into another world. All eyes are beautiful and fascinating but Aurilion is so open that the connection of eye contact is much stronger than usual. I could gaze into them forever...
-

Love & Affection**
Nobody could ever love you
’cos you were never within easy reach
But when I set my eyes on you I knew that you were the one for me
And I was never shy, too shy, with you baby
I just took my time to get close to you
Reached inside to open your heart face to face
I just can’t wait for you to

Kiss me baby drown me with your affection
Touch me wrap me up in your arms
’cos you really move me

I’ve never felt such emotion
Never needed to to cherish someone
But now I’ve found you
I think you feel it too
Let me show you heaven on earth
And I will always be your guide to perfection
Doubt no more
You gotta let love take a hold
And let me take your hand, and let me lead you into my garden of love

There's so much of me that was unreachable by anyone but zir, and so much of zir that only I could reach. We've blossomed together in such a beautiful way...
-

Insatiable -- Darren Hayes**
when moonlight crawls along the street
chasing away the summer heat
the world revolves i let it go
we build our church above the streets
we practice love between these sheets
the candy sweetness scent of you
it bathes my skin
i'm stained in you

and all i have to do is hold you
there's a racing within my heart
and i am barely touching you

turn the lights down low
take it off let me show
my love for you insatiable
turn me on never stop
wanna taste every drop
my love for you insatiable

the moonlight plays upon your skin
a kiss that lingers, takes me in
there are no words there's only truth
breathe in breath out there is no sound
we move together up and down
we levitate our bodies soar
our feet dont even touch the floor

and nobody knows you like i do
cause the world they don't understand
but i grow stronger in your hands

we never sleep we're always holding hands
kissing for hours, talking, making plans
can't close my eyes when i'm with you
insatiable, the way i'm loving you

when I look in your eyes, insatiable
-

Stolen -- Dashboard Confessional**
We watch the season pull up its own stakes
And catch the last weekend of the last week
Before the gold and the glimmer have been replaced,
Another sun soaked season fades away

You have stolen my heart
You have stolen my heart

I watch you spin around
You are the best one, of the best ones
We all look like we feel
-

Dreaming My Dreams -- The Cranberries**
All the things you said to me today
changed my perspective in every way
these things come to mean
so much to me

If you want me, I’ll be here
I’ll be dreaming my dreams with you
And there’s no other place that I’d lay down my face
I’ll be dreaming my dreams with you
-

Lovely -- Michelle Tumes**
You're the sweet dreams that soothe me
When I can't fall asleep
You're the field in the middle of the city
When I'm rushing by at the speed of light
You're the strong resolution when I find no peace
You're the church bells ringing in the evening

Ooh You're lovely, lovely
You're the center of my universe
A thousand times I look around me and I find
Ooh You're lovely, lovely
You're the center of my universe
A million words could not explain
You're lovely

You're the soft words that touch me
When I just can't speak
You're the breeze on the ocean in the morning
Reminding me to greet the day
You're the flowers I remember seeing in Italy
Colors through a golden haze
Bright and radiant, soft and fragrant
In the noon day sun, it makes me sing
-

Morning Star -- Flunk**
You are my morning Star
it´s just the way you are
when the orange sky
kiss the night goodbye

It´s not the way you move
It´s not the way you walk
It´s just the way you are
Oh you're my morning star
-

Honeythief -- Halou**
Sometimes I doubt the path I chose
Sometimes my dreams feel all on hold
There's no doubt that this will make me strong
Because it's the hardest thing I've ever done

Despite this cruel world
And all my best efforts
You surprise me with just how perfect you are

And when I'm lost
You search for me
And when I doubt
You're my belief

I'm suppose to be
The stronger one
You always seem
To prove that theory wrong

Still, I hold my breath each time you go
Out in the world that's beyond my control
If you are dreaming
I never want to wake you up
-

Sacrifice -- t.A.T.u.**
Can you tell me, softly
How you'll always haunt me
Can you help me, hold me
Come to me now, slowly
You caress me, smoothly
Calm my fears and soothe me
Move your hands across me
Take my worries from me

Can you feel me, solely
Deeper still and wholly
With your understanding
And your arms around me
Can you help me, hold me
Whisper to me, softly
-

Beautiful -- The Echoing Green**
She mends the daybreak
She takes the heartache so far
When she's laughing
I can't help gravitate to her side

She moves like water touching silver
And she remembers
Grey days – skies of cloud and thunder
It's beautiful to her

Do you ever wanna look at the sun
Do you ever wanna see it in someone
Or feel it somewhere?
Just a glimpse of an unfettered moment
Reflecting off her hair

I'm crying and she is laughing
Her joy is slowly tapping into me
So heavenly

The stars all around her
My heart beating louder
There's something about her
That makes me smile

The way Aurilion moves is grace incarnate -- the swaying of branches in the wind, the pouring of water over a fall...
-

I Want You -- Rachael Yamagata**
You sat down next to me, like poetry to wine
Out window looked upon a yellow neon sign
I took your hand while you decided what to do
The only kiss, I ever miss, I shared with you

I want you
No one else will do
No one is the only one
To fill the empty space I hold for you

I want you
No one else for me
'Cause no one else is strong enough, strong enough
To slow me down in time to set me free
I want you
No one else is fine
No one is the only one
To fill me up until I make you mine

There's this impression some people have that being polyamorous means that your lovers are replaceable or interchangeable or something, which COULDN'T be farther from the truth for me. Aurilion fills a place in my heart that no one else could ever ever EVER fill.
-

Taste You -- Auf der Maur**
Oh my love, oh my love
I can't hear you my love
Tell me where have you gone?

Far away, far away
I can't feel you today
I need healing my love

Appetite running fast
Following my gut
Turning up every rock

You're disappearing my love,
I need louder than this
Please fill me up

Come to me
Plug it in, so I can digest you
I will taste you
My appetite in that hole
Tempt you with it now
I will taste you

Please shake me and tug,
I need shaking my love
Can't you be the one?

I can't fake it my love,
I need filling come on,
I need it louder than bombs

Feel that movement my love?
Pulling up from above
Are you listening love?

My emptiness in a way,
Is tempting,
Guiding you from my gut
I will taste you

I've got a big mouth
Oh my love
-

Eyes Like Yours -- Shakira**
And now it seems, that I
Without your eyes could never be

My one desire, all I aspire
Is in your eyes forever to live
Traveled all over the seven oceans
There is nothing that I wouldn't give
Came from Bahrein, got to Beirut
Looking for someone comparing to you
Tearing down windows and doors
And I could not find eyes like yours

again, oh the eyes, they slay me
-

Love Of My Life -- Santana Feat. Dave Matthews**
Where you are, that's where I wanna be
Through your eyes are all the things I wanna see
In the night you are my dream, you're everything to me

You're the love of my life and the breath in my prayers
Take my hand and lead me there
What I need is you here

I can't forget the taste of your mouth
From your lips all the heavens pour out
I can't forget when we are one
With you I am free

Everyday, every night, you are the love of my life

oh, *aches* I miss zir... I love zir with my whole being, always and all the time, and ze IS the love of my life. So precious to me.
-

( music sharing! )

Today is my 6-month anniversary with Aurilion! *beams* I can't believe it has been half a year already! It seems like such a dream. I'm so honored and so very in love ♥ Aurilion inspires speaking-in-music -- ze is such poetry simple words are not enough. Each of these songs is dedicated to zir... a blazing weave of melody and murmurs.



For Aurilion - 6 Month Anniversary Mix (click pic to download a zip of all songs)

Or, click here to listen to the whole set streaming
(don't refresh the page, because it will randomize them if you do *grr*)

[Poll #1265166]

(click a title to hear an individual song and download if you wish)

Deep And Strong -- Dream Art Science**
Here we are together
So in love with each other
Everything is precious and new
And we can do
anything we want to do

Let your love grow deep and strong
Like the roots of the oak tree
Let it be everything it can be
Let it spread far and wide and all around
Let it reach deep inside, into the ground

No lightning or thunder
Can tear us asunder
This life on Earth can be so fine
We keep growing all the time
We’ll hold firm, weather any storm
Believing in each other
Will keep our love from harm

As above, so below.
We’ll go as far as we have to go
Like roots seeking water.
Like the lonely heart searching for its lover,
We’ll take strength from down under

Let it grow.
Let it grow.
Let it grow.

When we were first separated by circumstance, I came across this song and it reminded me so startlingly of Aurilion that I had to send it to zir, even though we weren't in contact and I didn't know how ze would take it. It was healing to zir spirit at that tempestuous time, and still, it speaks so much to both of us... it tells our story.

-

So Precious -- Jamie Blake**
You're exciting me
You're inviting me
You're so precious
You're enticing me
You're inciting me
You're so precious

Let me tell you all about myself
I can see you're afraid
It´s not unusual to feel this way
In this world young and brave

Don't you know
You should express yourself
Show me how you are made
If you ever need, relay your fears
It might be you who you save
-

Black & Gold -- Sam Sparro**
i'm looking for a reason why
you even set my world into motion

'cause if you're not really here
then the stars don't even matter
now i'm filled to the top with fear
but it's all just a bunch of matter
'cause if you're not really here
then i don't want to be either
i wanna be next to you
black and gold
black and gold
black and gold

i looked up into the night sky
and see a thousand eyes staring back
and all around these golden beacons
i see nothing but black

i feel a way of something beyond them
i don't see what i can feel
if vision is the only validation
then most of my life isn't real

one of the things I value so deeply about Aurilion is zir faith, and how ze inspires me to live more trustingly, more intuitively. I'm amazed over and over again...
-

Amber -- 311**
amber is the color of your energy
shades of gold displayed naturally


You ought to know what brings me here
You glide through my head blind to fear
And I know why

You live too far away
Your voice rings like a bell anyway
Don't give up your independence
Nothing good comes easily
Sometimes you gotta fight

Launched a thousand ships in my heart
So easy, still it's fine from afar

I see Aurilion's spirit as amber-gold-honey (you'll see those colors repeated in these songs)... and yes, ze lives far too far away, but zir voice reaches out to me and connects us.
-

Falling -- Olive**
Slower than the sun goes down
Softer than the autumn rain
Surer than the earth is round
Gentle as the morning breeze
Warm enough to sleep and dream
There is no doubt in my mind
I’m falling, (in love), I’m falling, (in love)

Leaves that are falling around me
Make sense to me, a reality
Leaves that are falling surround me
Make all this seem, a reality

Clearer than the morning light
Darker than the deepest night
There is no doubt in my mind
I’m falling, (in love), I’m falling, (in love)
-

Sea of Possibility -- Noe Venable**
the window open you came in
to light the temple in my head

with you I want to taste this freedom
with you remember life's divinity
but without you this love I take with me
into the sea of possibility

I woke up inside a dream
where dirty things were coming clean
and I chose life and you chose me
I thought last night that I could finally see

waves as far as I can see
a thousand horses rise in me
I'm tapping out the rhythm of your poetry
a thousand horses rising up
the ocean comes to fill my cup
today is the beginning of the death of me
-

Just Been Born -- Heather Nova**
My heart opened, like an oyster shell
I drank salt water, from your lips
And just below the equator
I swallowed the pearl

And I feel, and I feel, and I feel like I've just been born

And the sea rolled in
And rose around us
Your face above me
Darkening the stars
And as the waves are breaking out along the reef
I dived for your heart

Honey honey, yeah I want you
Honey honey, yeah I want you
Honey honey, yeah I want you
Honey honey, yeah I want you

Aurilion taught me (and continues to teach me) so much about living with an open heart.
-

Warm Whispers -- Missy Higgins**
Your warm whispers
Out of the dark they carry my heart
Your warm whispers
Into the dawn they carry me through

And I'm weeping warm honey and milk
That you stay surrounding me, surrounding me

Your warm whispers
Letting me drown in a pool of you
Your warm whispers
Keeping the noise from breaking through
-

I Love You Always Forever -- Donna Lewis**
Feels like I'm standing in a timeless dream
Of light mists of pale amber rose
Feels like I'm lost in a deep cloud of heavenly scent
Touching, discovering you

Those days of warm rains come rushing back to me
Miles of windless summer night air
Secret moments shared in the heat of the afternoon
Out of the stillness, soft spoken words

I love you, always forever
Near and far, closer together
Everywhere, I will be with you
Everything, I will do for you

You've got the most unbelievable
blue eyes I've ever seen
You've got me almost melting away
As we lay there, under a blue sky
with pure white stars
Exotic sweetness, a magical time

Say you'll love, love me forever
Never stop, not for whatever
Near and far and always and
everywhere and everything

Aurilion's eyes are hypnotically beautiful... so unique in shape and color (shifting green-grey-blue), so glowing with zir essence... Looking into them is like stepping into another world. All eyes are beautiful and fascinating but Aurilion is so open that the connection of eye contact is much stronger than usual. I could gaze into them forever...
-

Love & Affection**
Nobody could ever love you
’cos you were never within easy reach
But when I set my eyes on you I knew that you were the one for me
And I was never shy, too shy, with you baby
I just took my time to get close to you
Reached inside to open your heart face to face
I just can’t wait for you to

Kiss me baby drown me with your affection
Touch me wrap me up in your arms
’cos you really move me

I’ve never felt such emotion
Never needed to to cherish someone
But now I’ve found you
I think you feel it too
Let me show you heaven on earth
And I will always be your guide to perfection
Doubt no more
You gotta let love take a hold
And let me take your hand, and let me lead you into my garden of love

There's so much of me that was unreachable by anyone but zir, and so much of zir that only I could reach. We've blossomed together in such a beautiful way...
-

Insatiable -- Darren Hayes**
when moonlight crawls along the street
chasing away the summer heat
the world revolves i let it go
we build our church above the streets
we practice love between these sheets
the candy sweetness scent of you
it bathes my skin
i'm stained in you

and all i have to do is hold you
there's a racing within my heart
and i am barely touching you

turn the lights down low
take it off let me show
my love for you insatiable
turn me on never stop
wanna taste every drop
my love for you insatiable

the moonlight plays upon your skin
a kiss that lingers, takes me in
there are no words there's only truth
breathe in breath out there is no sound
we move together up and down
we levitate our bodies soar
our feet dont even touch the floor

and nobody knows you like i do
cause the world they don't understand
but i grow stronger in your hands

we never sleep we're always holding hands
kissing for hours, talking, making plans
can't close my eyes when i'm with you
insatiable, the way i'm loving you

when I look in your eyes, insatiable
-

Stolen -- Dashboard Confessional**
We watch the season pull up its own stakes
And catch the last weekend of the last week
Before the gold and the glimmer have been replaced,
Another sun soaked season fades away

You have stolen my heart
You have stolen my heart

I watch you spin around
You are the best one, of the best ones
We all look like we feel
-

Dreaming My Dreams -- The Cranberries**
All the things you said to me today
changed my perspective in every way
these things come to mean
so much to me

If you want me, I’ll be here
I’ll be dreaming my dreams with you
And there’s no other place that I’d lay down my face
I’ll be dreaming my dreams with you
-

Lovely -- Michelle Tumes**
You're the sweet dreams that soothe me
When I can't fall asleep
You're the field in the middle of the city
When I'm rushing by at the speed of light
You're the strong resolution when I find no peace
You're the church bells ringing in the evening

Ooh You're lovely, lovely
You're the center of my universe
A thousand times I look around me and I find
Ooh You're lovely, lovely
You're the center of my universe
A million words could not explain
You're lovely

You're the soft words that touch me
When I just can't speak
You're the breeze on the ocean in the morning
Reminding me to greet the day
You're the flowers I remember seeing in Italy
Colors through a golden haze
Bright and radiant, soft and fragrant
In the noon day sun, it makes me sing
-

Morning Star -- Flunk**
You are my morning Star
it´s just the way you are
when the orange sky
kiss the night goodbye

It´s not the way you move
It´s not the way you walk
It´s just the way you are
Oh you're my morning star
-

Honeythief -- Halou**
Sometimes I doubt the path I chose
Sometimes my dreams feel all on hold
There's no doubt that this will make me strong
Because it's the hardest thing I've ever done

Despite this cruel world
And all my best efforts
You surprise me with just how perfect you are

And when I'm lost
You search for me
And when I doubt
You're my belief

I'm suppose to be
The stronger one
You always seem
To prove that theory wrong

Still, I hold my breath each time you go
Out in the world that's beyond my control
If you are dreaming
I never want to wake you up
-

Sacrifice -- t.A.T.u.**
Can you tell me, softly
How you'll always haunt me
Can you help me, hold me
Come to me now, slowly
You caress me, smoothly
Calm my fears and soothe me
Move your hands across me
Take my worries from me

Can you feel me, solely
Deeper still and wholly
With your understanding
And your arms around me
Can you help me, hold me
Whisper to me, softly
-

Beautiful -- The Echoing Green**
She mends the daybreak
She takes the heartache so far
When she's laughing
I can't help gravitate to her side

She moves like water touching silver
And she remembers
Grey days – skies of cloud and thunder
It's beautiful to her

Do you ever wanna look at the sun
Do you ever wanna see it in someone
Or feel it somewhere?
Just a glimpse of an unfettered moment
Reflecting off her hair

I'm crying and she is laughing
Her joy is slowly tapping into me
So heavenly

The stars all around her
My heart beating louder
There's something about her
That makes me smile

The way Aurilion moves is grace incarnate -- the swaying of branches in the wind, the pouring of water over a fall...
-

I Want You -- Rachael Yamagata**
You sat down next to me, like poetry to wine
Out window looked upon a yellow neon sign
I took your hand while you decided what to do
The only kiss, I ever miss, I shared with you

I want you
No one else will do
No one is the only one
To fill the empty space I hold for you

I want you
No one else for me
'Cause no one else is strong enough, strong enough
To slow me down in time to set me free
I want you
No one else is fine
No one is the only one
To fill me up until I make you mine

There's this impression some people have that being polyamorous means that your lovers are replaceable or interchangeable or something, which COULDN'T be farther from the truth for me. Aurilion fills a place in my heart that no one else could ever ever EVER fill.
-

Taste You -- Auf der Maur**
Oh my love, oh my love
I can't hear you my love
Tell me where have you gone?

Far away, far away
I can't feel you today
I need healing my love

Appetite running fast
Following my gut
Turning up every rock

You're disappearing my love,
I need louder than this
Please fill me up

Come to me
Plug it in, so I can digest you
I will taste you
My appetite in that hole
Tempt you with it now
I will taste you

Please shake me and tug,
I need shaking my love
Can't you be the one?

I can't fake it my love,
I need filling come on,
I need it louder than bombs

Feel that movement my love?
Pulling up from above
Are you listening love?

My emptiness in a way,
Is tempting,
Guiding you from my gut
I will taste you

I've got a big mouth
Oh my love
-

Eyes Like Yours -- Shakira**
And now it seems, that I
Without your eyes could never be

My one desire, all I aspire
Is in your eyes forever to live
Traveled all over the seven oceans
There is nothing that I wouldn't give
Came from Bahrein, got to Beirut
Looking for someone comparing to you
Tearing down windows and doors
And I could not find eyes like yours

again, oh the eyes, they slay me
-

Love Of My Life -- Santana Feat. Dave Matthews**
Where you are, that's where I wanna be
Through your eyes are all the things I wanna see
In the night you are my dream, you're everything to me

You're the love of my life and the breath in my prayers
Take my hand and lead me there
What I need is you here

I can't forget the taste of your mouth
From your lips all the heavens pour out
I can't forget when we are one
With you I am free

Everyday, every night, you are the love of my life

oh, *aches* I miss zir... I love zir with my whole being, always and all the time, and ze IS the love of my life. So precious to me.
-

( music sharing! )

Usually I share based on what I've been listening to lately, but this time I am sharing songs that have strong spiritual meaning to me. In this post: Dream Art Science, E.S. Posthumus, and Dead Can Dance. Dream Art Science found me on myspace and invited me to check out their music, and when I did I was utterly swept away. They create spiritual music, based on ancient Egyptian religion and some very unique concepts of their own (that I do not really understand). Their sound really touches me, but even more than that their lyrics stir me. I wish I could explain how MUCH their lyrics speak my own heart, speak my spirituality in many ways. E.S. Posthumus was introduced to me by Cynosis, who sent me one of their songs in a mix which she composed just for me. I loved the whole thing, but the song "Nara" just set me on fire! I shared it with Hannah and Lily, who experienced it in a similar way -- this incredible spiritual experience, like when you hear a new piece of wisdom that resonates deeply in you. I had to buy the album, and the whole thing affected me in nearly the same way! Listening to it is... amazing for me. I've never been so touched by music without lyrics (at least, without English lyrics -- some have lyrics in other languages, which sounds like an integral part of the music to my ear). Dead Can Dance caught my eye at a used CD store -- I took Spiritchaser home and listened to it non-stop for ages, in the car and in the house. It's also mainly lyricless, with singing in glossolalia (what some call speaking-in-tongues). I find that especially beautiful, very expressive, and it feels even more 'true' to my ear than lyrics. The few songs that do have lyrics really inspire me.



Belenen's favorites -- April 2008 mix


(  - - - - samples of all songs and lyrics for some - - - -  )

[Poll #1175846]
(ignore the poll if you didn't download)

( music sharing! )

Usually I share based on what I've been listening to lately, but this time I am sharing songs that have strong spiritual meaning to me. In this post: Dream Art Science, E.S. Posthumus, and Dead Can Dance. Dream Art Science found me on myspace and invited me to check out their music, and when I did I was utterly swept away. They create spiritual music, based on ancient Egyptian religion and some very unique concepts of their own (that I do not really understand). Their sound really touches me, but even more than that their lyrics stir me. I wish I could explain how MUCH their lyrics speak my own heart, speak my spirituality in many ways. E.S. Posthumus was introduced to me by Cynosis, who sent me one of their songs in a mix which she composed just for me. I loved the whole thing, but the song "Nara" just set me on fire! I shared it with Hannah and Lily, who experienced it in a similar way -- this incredible spiritual experience, like when you hear a new piece of wisdom that resonates deeply in you. I had to buy the album, and the whole thing affected me in nearly the same way! Listening to it is... amazing for me. I've never been so touched by music without lyrics (at least, without English lyrics -- some have lyrics in other languages, which sounds like an integral part of the music to my ear). Dead Can Dance caught my eye at a used CD store -- I took Spiritchaser home and listened to it non-stop for ages, in the car and in the house. It's also mainly lyricless, with singing in glossolalia (what some call speaking-in-tongues). I find that especially beautiful, very expressive, and it feels even more 'true' to my ear than lyrics. The few songs that do have lyrics really inspire me.



Belenen's favorites -- April 2008 mix


(  - - - - samples of all songs and lyrics for some - - - -  )

[Poll #1175846]
(ignore the poll if you didn't download)

( music sharing! )

Usually I share based on what I've been listening to lately, but this time I am sharing songs that have strong spiritual meaning to me. In this post: Dream Art Science, E.S. Posthumus, and Dead Can Dance. Dream Art Science found me on myspace and invited me to check out their music, and when I did I was utterly swept away. They create spiritual music, based on ancient Egyptian religion and some very unique concepts of their own (that I do not really understand). Their sound really touches me, but even more than that their lyrics stir me. I wish I could explain how MUCH their lyrics speak my own heart, speak my spirituality in many ways. E.S. Posthumus was introduced to me by Cynosis, who sent me one of their songs in a mix which she composed just for me. I loved the whole thing, but the song "Nara" just set me on fire! I shared it with Hannah and Lily, who experienced it in a similar way -- this incredible spiritual experience, like when you hear a new piece of wisdom that resonates deeply in you. I had to buy the album, and the whole thing affected me in nearly the same way! Listening to it is... amazing for me. I've never been so touched by music without lyrics (at least, without English lyrics -- some have lyrics in other languages, which sounds like an integral part of the music to my ear). Dead Can Dance caught my eye at a used CD store -- I took Spiritchaser home and listened to it non-stop for ages, in the car and in the house. It's also mainly lyricless, with singing in glossolalia (what some call speaking-in-tongues). I find that especially beautiful, very expressive, and it feels even more 'true' to my ear than lyrics. The few songs that do have lyrics really inspire me.



Belenen's favorites -- April 2008 mix


(  - - - - samples of all songs and lyrics for some - - - -  )

[Poll #1175846]
(ignore the poll if you didn't download)

( music sharing! )

In this post: Fauxliage, Sia, PJ Harvey, & Little Dragon. Fauxliage I discovered while watching the show Moonlight -- I heard a snippet of a song near the end paused it to google the lyrics frantically, already deliriously in love with their sound. The show has a very deep meaning for me, and since they used at least three of Fauxliage's songs in various episodes, the music became entwined with the show for me. But I would love it for itself -- it has such yearning in it. I bought Sia's "Some People Have Real Problems" because of the cover art -- markers scribbled on her face ;-) -- and because I had caught bits of her music here and there and loved it. I had no idea I would fall so in love! Her childlike faith and AMAZING metaphor just enchant me. and she's so delightfully odd! And P.J. Harvey, well. So FEIRCE! so much wildness -- there is nothing tame or chained about her. And I love her intensely metaphorical and iconoclastic lyrics. She pulls out the truth like a rug from under society's feet and holds it up -- not with shouts of victory, but with simple offering. "This is the way it is" -- no defensiveness, no apologies. Lastly, Little Dragon was introduced to me by dragonwine, and I actually liked them only a little on the first listen -- but after another round through the CD, I decided I love them! I can't wait for them to release a second album.




Belenen's favorites -- March 2008 mix

( samples of all songs and lyrics for some, plus a poll to click if you download )

( music sharing! )

In this post: Fauxliage, Sia, PJ Harvey, & Little Dragon. Fauxliage I discovered while watching the show Moonlight -- I heard a snippet of a song near the end paused it to google the lyrics frantically, already deliriously in love with their sound. The show has a very deep meaning for me, and since they used at least three of Fauxliage's songs in various episodes, the music became entwined with the show for me. But I would love it for itself -- it has such yearning in it. I bought Sia's "Some People Have Real Problems" because of the cover art -- markers scribbled on her face ;-) -- and because I had caught bits of her music here and there and loved it. I had no idea I would fall so in love! Her childlike faith and AMAZING metaphor just enchant me. and she's so delightfully odd! And P.J. Harvey, well. So FEIRCE! so much wildness -- there is nothing tame or chained about her. And I love her intensely metaphorical and iconoclastic lyrics. She pulls out the truth like a rug from under society's feet and holds it up -- not with shouts of victory, but with simple offering. "This is the way it is" -- no defensiveness, no apologies. Lastly, Little Dragon was introduced to me by dragonwine, and I actually liked them only a little on the first listen -- but after another round through the CD, I decided I love them! I can't wait for them to release a second album.




Belenen's favorites -- March 2008 mix

( samples of all songs and lyrics for some, plus a poll to click if you download )

( music sharing! )

In this post: Fauxliage, Sia, PJ Harvey, & Little Dragon. Fauxliage I discovered while watching the show Moonlight -- I heard a snippet of a song near the end paused it to google the lyrics frantically, already deliriously in love with their sound. The show has a very deep meaning for me, and since they used at least three of Fauxliage's songs in various episodes, the music became entwined with the show for me. But I would love it for itself -- it has such yearning in it. I bought Sia's "Some People Have Real Problems" because of the cover art -- markers scribbled on her face ;-) -- and because I had caught bits of her music here and there and loved it. I had no idea I would fall so in love! Her childlike faith and AMAZING metaphor just enchant me. and she's so delightfully odd! And P.J. Harvey, well. So FEIRCE! so much wildness -- there is nothing tame or chained about her. And I love her intensely metaphorical and iconoclastic lyrics. She pulls out the truth like a rug from under society's feet and holds it up -- not with shouts of victory, but with simple offering. "This is the way it is" -- no defensiveness, no apologies. Lastly, Little Dragon was introduced to me by dragonwine, and I actually liked them only a little on the first listen -- but after another round through the CD, I decided I love them! I can't wait for them to release a second album.




Belenen's favorites -- March 2008 mix

( samples of all songs and lyrics for some, plus a poll to click if you download )

22 of my five-star favorite songs on the 22nd of each month ;-) A five-star song is one that has strong melodic pull as well as significant lyrical meaning to me -- all of these are very important to me. In sharing them I'm sharing some of my soul... I'm trusting you to listen and sense it. ♥

I share randomly based on what I've been listening to lately. In this post: Shiny Toy Guns, Silversun Pickups, Stroke 9, and Lily Allen. I like to share a mix from an artist's albums, but these four happen to have one thing in common: I've only heard one album from each, so no multi-year samples.

I discovered Shiny Toy Guns thanks to the L Word (Le Disko in Shane's drugged-up driving scene) and loved their sound immediately, but I truly fell for them when I heard "Stripped." That song absolutely arrests me every time I hear it -- it is so the song of my heart. Shiny Toy Guns gives me the closest feeling I've found to the passion and life that The Benjamin Gate gave me back in the day. There is something spiritually powerful about them. Both Shiny Toy Guns and Silversun Pickups are 3 guys and a girl, with vocals shared between a guy and a girl. I love the balance and variety of that! I also love that all vocalists in the two groups also play instruments. Silversun Pickups have a similar intensity and a lyrical complexity that just floors me. They make me want to do critical analysis on them -- dissect the metaphors and really plunge into it (but that's no fun unless you have someone to argue with or grade you!). As for Stroke 9, I've had their Nasty Little Thoughts since I was in high school and only recently started listening to it again. Again with the lyrical complexity! *sigh* And they give off this 'macho' vibe, yet their lyrics show so much vulnerability. And I love the vocalist's style. Last but not least, Lily Allen absolutely cracks me up with her sweetly poppy sound and biting lyrics -- and impresses me with her revolutionary ideas. (like the shocking concept that women have curves and that's a good thing! or the equally horrific idea that a person should wear what expresses them rather than what 'fashion' dictates, and that formal education isn't necessary for a thinking person to learn.) I adore her as a person -- deliberately open and honest with the world, self-made, following her dreams and living for the moment. But I love her music because it makes me laugh and dance around ;-)




Belenen's favorites -- February 2008 mix

^^^click pic to download zip of all songs^^^
(I didn't upload individually; the other links are only samples)

( samples of all songs and lyrics for some )

if you DL, please let me know because I'm very curious to see who listens! Next time I'll try to remember to include a tickybox poll for that purpose.

22 of my five-star favorite songs on the 22nd of each month ;-) A five-star song is one that has strong melodic pull as well as significant lyrical meaning to me -- all of these are very important to me. In sharing them I'm sharing some of my soul... I'm trusting you to listen and sense it. ♥

I share randomly based on what I've been listening to lately. In this post: Shiny Toy Guns, Silversun Pickups, Stroke 9, and Lily Allen. I like to share a mix from an artist's albums, but these four happen to have one thing in common: I've only heard one album from each, so no multi-year samples.

I discovered Shiny Toy Guns thanks to the L Word (Le Disko in Shane's drugged-up driving scene) and loved their sound immediately, but I truly fell for them when I heard "Stripped." That song absolutely arrests me every time I hear it -- it is so the song of my heart. Shiny Toy Guns gives me the closest feeling I've found to the passion and life that The Benjamin Gate gave me back in the day. There is something spiritually powerful about them. Both Shiny Toy Guns and Silversun Pickups are 3 guys and a girl, with vocals shared between a guy and a girl. I love the balance and variety of that! I also love that all vocalists in the two groups also play instruments. Silversun Pickups have a similar intensity and a lyrical complexity that just floors me. They make me want to do critical analysis on them -- dissect the metaphors and really plunge into it (but that's no fun unless you have someone to argue with or grade you!). As for Stroke 9, I've had their Nasty Little Thoughts since I was in high school and only recently started listening to it again. Again with the lyrical complexity! *sigh* And they give off this 'macho' vibe, yet their lyrics show so much vulnerability. And I love the vocalist's style. Last but not least, Lily Allen absolutely cracks me up with her sweetly poppy sound and biting lyrics -- and impresses me with her revolutionary ideas. (like the shocking concept that women have curves and that's a good thing! or the equally horrific idea that a person should wear what expresses them rather than what 'fashion' dictates, and that formal education isn't necessary for a thinking person to learn.) I adore her as a person -- deliberately open and honest with the world, self-made, following her dreams and living for the moment. But I love her music because it makes me laugh and dance around ;-)




Belenen's favorites -- February 2008 mix

^^^click pic to download zip of all songs^^^
(I didn't upload individually; the other links are only samples)

( samples of all songs and lyrics for some )

if you DL, please let me know because I'm very curious to see who listens! Next time I'll try to remember to include a tickybox poll for that purpose.

22 of my five-star favorite songs on the 22nd of each month ;-) A five-star song is one that has strong melodic pull as well as significant lyrical meaning to me -- all of these are very important to me. In sharing them I'm sharing some of my soul... I'm trusting you to listen and sense it. ♥

I share randomly based on what I've been listening to lately. In this post: Shiny Toy Guns, Silversun Pickups, Stroke 9, and Lily Allen. I like to share a mix from an artist's albums, but these four happen to have one thing in common: I've only heard one album from each, so no multi-year samples.

I discovered Shiny Toy Guns thanks to the L Word (Le Disko in Shane's drugged-up driving scene) and loved their sound immediately, but I truly fell for them when I heard "Stripped." That song absolutely arrests me every time I hear it -- it is so the song of my heart. Shiny Toy Guns gives me the closest feeling I've found to the passion and life that The Benjamin Gate gave me back in the day. There is something spiritually powerful about them. Both Shiny Toy Guns and Silversun Pickups are 3 guys and a girl, with vocals shared between a guy and a girl. I love the balance and variety of that! I also love that all vocalists in the two groups also play instruments. Silversun Pickups have a similar intensity and a lyrical complexity that just floors me. They make me want to do critical analysis on them -- dissect the metaphors and really plunge into it (but that's no fun unless you have someone to argue with or grade you!). As for Stroke 9, I've had their Nasty Little Thoughts since I was in high school and only recently started listening to it again. Again with the lyrical complexity! *sigh* And they give off this 'macho' vibe, yet their lyrics show so much vulnerability. And I love the vocalist's style. Last but not least, Lily Allen absolutely cracks me up with her sweetly poppy sound and biting lyrics -- and impresses me with her revolutionary ideas. (like the shocking concept that women have curves and that's a good thing! or the equally horrific idea that a person should wear what expresses them rather than what 'fashion' dictates, and that formal education isn't necessary for a thinking person to learn.) I adore her as a person -- deliberately open and honest with the world, self-made, following her dreams and living for the moment. But I love her music because it makes me laugh and dance around ;-)




Belenen's favorites -- February 2008 mix

^^^click pic to download zip of all songs^^^
(I didn't upload individually; the other links are only samples)

( samples of all songs and lyrics for some )

if you DL, please let me know because I'm very curious to see who listens! Next time I'll try to remember to include a tickybox poll for that purpose.

I've decided to share 22 of my five-star favorite songs on the 22nd of each month ;-) A five-star song is one that has strong melodic pull as well as significant lyrical meaning to me -- all of these are very important to me. In sharing them I'm sharing some of my soul... I wish I could express fully what each of them mean to me. Since I can't, I'm trusting you to listen and sense it. ♥

I'm going to share randomly based on what I've been listening to lately. In this post: Apoptygma Berzerk, Azure Ray, & Angie Aparo (they only happen to have A-names, heh). Apoptygma Berzerk is a new love -- Ben liked them so I bought him several of their CDs for Christmas, and I fell in love myself. For the first time in at least 3 years we share a musical love! it's wonderful ♥ Our new song (replacing "Nothing Else Matters") is "In This Together" -- the lyrics fit us so well. Azure Ray is a fairly new love as well -- I had loved the few songs I'd heard but only recently found them at the used CD store. They have a really stripped-down sound, which is unusual for me to like -- I think perhaps the complexity of their lyrics balances the simplicity of their music. They're from Georgia, as is Angie Aparo! Who is an old love of mine, from way back in my high school days. I actually love him MORE now than I did before, perhaps because I have grown into a deeper understanding of his lyrics.




Belenen's favorites -- January 2008 mix ((megaupload mirror))


( samples of all songs and lyrics for some )

p.s. I spent hours and hours on this post, so if you download and/or enjoyed reading it, please comment (so that I'll know if it is worth doing again). ♥

I've decided to share 22 of my five-star favorite songs on the 22nd of each month ;-) A five-star song is one that has strong melodic pull as well as significant lyrical meaning to me -- all of these are very important to me. In sharing them I'm sharing some of my soul... I wish I could express fully what each of them mean to me. Since I can't, I'm trusting you to listen and sense it. ♥

I'm going to share randomly based on what I've been listening to lately. In this post: Apoptygma Berzerk, Azure Ray, & Angie Aparo (they only happen to have A-names, heh). Apoptygma Berzerk is a new love -- Ben liked them so I bought him several of their CDs for Christmas, and I fell in love myself. For the first time in at least 3 years we share a musical love! it's wonderful ♥ Our new song (replacing "Nothing Else Matters") is "In This Together" -- the lyrics fit us so well. Azure Ray is a fairly new love as well -- I had loved the few songs I'd heard but only recently found them at the used CD store. They have a really stripped-down sound, which is unusual for me to like -- I think perhaps the complexity of their lyrics balances the simplicity of their music. They're from Georgia, as is Angie Aparo! Who is an old love of mine, from way back in my high school days. I actually love him MORE now than I did before, perhaps because I have grown into a deeper understanding of his lyrics.




Belenen's favorites -- January 2008 mix ((megaupload mirror))


( samples of all songs and lyrics for some )

p.s. I spent hours and hours on this post, so if you download and/or enjoyed reading it, please comment (so that I'll know if it is worth doing again). ♥

I've decided to share 22 of my five-star favorite songs on the 22nd of each month ;-) A five-star song is one that has strong melodic pull as well as significant lyrical meaning to me -- all of these are very important to me. In sharing them I'm sharing some of my soul... I wish I could express fully what each of them mean to me. Since I can't, I'm trusting you to listen and sense it. ♥

I'm going to share randomly based on what I've been listening to lately. In this post: Apoptygma Berzerk, Azure Ray, & Angie Aparo (they only happen to have A-names, heh). Apoptygma Berzerk is a new love -- Ben liked them so I bought him several of their CDs for Christmas, and I fell in love myself. For the first time in at least 3 years we share a musical love! it's wonderful ♥ Our new song (replacing "Nothing Else Matters") is "In This Together" -- the lyrics fit us so well. Azure Ray is a fairly new love as well -- I had loved the few songs I'd heard but only recently found them at the used CD store. They have a really stripped-down sound, which is unusual for me to like -- I think perhaps the complexity of their lyrics balances the simplicity of their music. They're from Georgia, as is Angie Aparo! Who is an old love of mine, from way back in my high school days. I actually love him MORE now than I did before, perhaps because I have grown into a deeper understanding of his lyrics.




Belenen's favorites -- January 2008 mix ((megaupload mirror))


( samples of all songs and lyrics for some )

p.s. I spent hours and hours on this post, so if you download and/or enjoyed reading it, please comment (so that I'll know if it is worth doing again). ♥