Archive for May 2015

Living life to the fullest; commonly being said, but do we really understand what that means? Phoenix, perhaps just an imaginative magical creature in a fiction, but it inspires me so much in some ways. When its time has come, a phoenix will burn itself, in order to be reborn again from its ashes. It depicts one thing about human life; people aren’t born strong and beautiful, instead, the strong and beautiful ones are rising from the downfall. They have to know how it feels to be defeated, to lose, to be broken, to be in hurt and pain, to stumble. Therefore they will know how it feels to raise and stand up again, to light up and shine again. So, living life to the fullest, I will take it as making the best out of the present. Yup, the now that we live in.

“When the light started out they don’t know what they heard. Strike the match, play it loud, giving love to the world. We’ll be raising our hands, shining up to the sky, ‘cause we got the fire.” –Ellie Goulding, Burn

Time flies, Readers, and now we already reach the last day of May, which means it’s the last song for Free Spirit. For this special occasion, I review a pop song titled “Burn”, performed by English female singer-songwriter, Ellie Goulding. The song was released on July 5th 2013 and served as the lead single from “Halcyon Days”, the reissue version of Goulding’s second studio album, “Halcyon”. “Burn” was written by Goulding herself along with Ryan Tedder, Greg Kurstin, Noel Zancanella, and Brent Kutzle.

Everyone is born different. Everybody is born special. There are no two same exact people, even a couple of identical twin have their differences. When we are born to be outstanding, then why are we trying so hard to blend in? The lyrics of “Burn” speak about encouraging people to live life to the fullest. “We don’t have to worry ‘bout nothing, ‘cause we got the fire, and we’re burning one hell of a something. They gonna see us from outer space, light it up, like we’re the stars of the human race.” The past has already passed. The future has yet to come. All we have is the present. So make the best out of it. Light it up and let your spirit be free. “We don’t wanna leave, no, we just wanna be right now. And what we see is everybody’s on the floor acting crazy, getting loco ‘til the lights out. Music’s on, I’m waking up, we fight the fire, then we burn it up. And it’s over now, we got the love, there’s no sleeping now.”

The art of living lies in how we grasp the now, how we make every moment matters, how we make every second worth it. People say, don’t let it slip through your fingers when you know the right time to grasp it. The world is already filled with people who spread hatred. So rather than pouring salt into the cut, why don’t we put a bandage onto it? Let’s be a part of those few who spread the love. Everyone has their own power to stand up. It’s just a matter of whether they realize what kind of power they have. “When the light started out they don’t know what they heard. Strike the match, play it loud, giving love to the world. We’ll be raising our hands, shining up to the sky, ‘cause we got the fire.” Even a little spark of sincerity could be felt and spreaded out if we’re firm about it. “We can light it up, so they can’t put it out.” Just have a will and believe, and there’s no stopping us. “And we gonna let it burn.”

The accompanying music video for “Burn” was directed by Mike Sharpe and premiered on July 7th 2013. The song and video was nominated for British Single of the Year and British Video of the Year consecutively at the 2014 Brit Awards. It was a commercial success and many music critics praised it as one of Goulding’s most mainstream and more radio-friendly singles to date. Besides, they also praised her glowing and ear-pleasing vocal throughout the song. Miss Goulding is indeed burning it up with “Burn”.

“We don’t wanna leave, no, we just wanna be right now. And what we see is everybody’s on the floor acting crazy, getting loco ‘til the lights out. Music’s on, I’m waking up, we fight the fire, then we burn it up. And it’s over now, we got the love, there’s no sleeping now.” –Ellie Goulding, Burn

“We, we don’t have to worry ‘bout nothing

‘Cause we got the fire, and we’re burning one hell of a something

They, they gonna see us from outer space, outer space

Light it up, like we’re the stars of the human race, human race

When the light started out they don’t know what they heard

Strike the match, play it loud, giving love to the world

We’ll be raising our hands, shining up to the sky

‘Cause we got the fire, fire, fire, yeah we got the fire, fire, fire

And we gonna let it burn, burn, burn, burn, we gonna let it burn, burn, burn, burn

Gonna let it burn, burn, burn, burn, we gonna let it burn, burn, burn, burn

We don’t wanna leave, no, we just wanna be right now, right, r-r-right now

And what we see is everybody’s on the floor acting crazy, getting loco ‘til the lights out

Music’s on, I’m waking up, we fight the fire, then we burn it up

And it’s over now, we got the love, there’s no sleeping now, no sleeping now, no sleeping

We can light it up, up, up, so they can’t put it out, out, out”

Wrote by Mashita Fandia

Recently I had an interesting talk with my best friend, Destiathree Supardi, well, actually every talk I have with her is interesting, but this one we talked about love life; particularly about how hard we come out honestly toward the ones we deeply love. We both have the same problem (perhaps that’s what makes us best friend; similarities); confess the way we really feel, especially when that feeling is serious and real. The funny thing is, we found ourselves motivating each other to be brave to come out with the truth toward the ones we love. At a point like this I truly understand that’s what friends are for; to reflect and to remind us, how we used to be and how we should be. From the talk I realize, that I have to be brave, more than before, to speak up. We only live once and we never know what the future brings. So while we still have the time, we should make the chance to be brave, more than before, to let it come out freely and honestly.

“You can be amazing. You can turn a phrase into a weapon or a drug. You can be the outcast or be the backlash of somebody’s lack of love, or you can start speaking up.” –Sara Bareilles, Brave

“Brave” is our today’s song for Free Spirit. The pop song was performed by American singer-songwriter, Sara Bareilles. It was released on April 23rd 2013 as the lead single taken from her fourth studio album, “The Blessed Unrest”. The song was written by Bareilles herself along with Jack Antonoff from the band, Fun.

Speak it up! That sentence probably is the best to resume what the lyrics of “Brave” talk about. We can’t never deny the power of words. Well, people may say that words are just words. But hey, words might be just words, but it has a power that even the most powerful person in the world cannot resist. Words can lift you up high or bring you down low. Words can give extreme happiness or sadness. But, as long as they’re being spoken up. “You can be amazing. You can turn a phrase into a weapon or a drug. You can be the outcast or be the backlash of somebody’s lack of love, or you can start speaking up. Nothing’s gonna hurt you the way that words do when they settle ‘neath your skin. Kept on the inside and no sunlight, sometimes a shadow wins. But I wonder what would happen if you say what you wanna say and let the words fall out.”

“Everybody’s been there, everybody’s been stared down by the enemy, fallen for the fear and done some disappearing, bow down to the mighty. Don’t run, just stop holding your tongue. Maybe there’s a way out of the cage where you live. Maybe one of these days you can let the light in. Show me how big your brave is.” The art of coming out with the truth is never easy, it needs bravery; this I understand so well. I’ve been there, done that. But at some point in life, silence won’t bring any good. Especially when it comes to love. “And since your history of silence won’t do you any good, did you think it would? Let your words be anything but empty. Why don’t you tell them the truth?” I believe that feelings need to be spoken, therefore it would feel real. “Say what you wanna say and let the words fall out. Honestly, I wanna see you be brave.”

The accompanying music video for “Brave” was directed by actress Rashida Jones and premiered on May 14th 2013. The song received positive reviews from music critics. Besides, it also gained popularity as it appeared on some commercial advertisements and remade by many other artists, with the exciting beat and encouraging lyrics.

“Maybe there’s a way out of the cage where you live. Maybe one of these days you can let the light in. Show me how big your brave is.” –Sara Bareilles, Brave

“You can be amazing, you can turn a phrase into a weapon or a drug

You can be the outcast or be the backlash of somebody’s lack of love

Or you can start speaking up

Nothing’s gonna hurt you the way that words do when they settle ‘neath your skin

Kept on the inside and no sunlight, sometimes a shadow wins

But I wonder what would happen if you

Say what you wanna say and let the words fall out

Honestly I wanna see you be brave

With what you want to say and let the words fall out

Honestly I wanna see you be brave

I just wanna see you, I just wanna see you, I just wanna see you, I wanna see you be brave

Everybody’s been there, everybody’s been stared down by the enemy

Fallen for the fear and done some disappearing, bow down to the mighty

Don’t run, just stop holding your tongue

Maybe there’s a way out of the cage where you live

Maybe one of these days you can let the light in

Show me how big your brave is

And since your history of silence won’t do you any good, did you think it would?

Let your words be anything but empty, why don’t you tell them the truth?”

Wrote by Mashita Fandia

What makes us alive? If you were a fire, what kind of fire would you be? Is it the warm and calm one like coals of fire? Is it the steady and useful one like candle light? Or is it the flaming and roaring one like bonfire? Or is it the grand and blasting one like fireworks? If it was me, I would go with the latter one, well, at least in my age now. Anyway it is, I would like to fire it up. My life, too short to spend it in the darkness. At some point in our lives, everyone will eventually fall and get crooked. It doesn’t matter. That makes us alive. Get up, be stronger, be a survivor, be a fighter, follow your intuition. Stop being complicated, then breakaway. Rise like a skyscraper and roar. Be brave and burn it all. Let it fire. Let it free and spiritful. Dream big, act bigger.

“And we’re about to set the roof on fire. You better get yours cause I’m getting mine.” –2NE1, Fire

Today’s song for Free Spirit is a song titled “Fire”, which performed by the prominent Korean girl group, 2NE1. This electropop dance track was the debut song of CL, Park Bom, Sandara, and Minzy. It was released on May 6th 2009 and served as the lead single taken from their self-titled first mini album, “2NE1”. “Fire” was written and composed by Teddy Park and Kush.

Life is a celebration. And the lyrics of “Fire” speak about how life must be celebrated; free-spiritedly. “It’s been a long time coming, but we’re here now. And we’re about to set the roof on fire. You better get yours cause I’m getting mine.” It’s been said so very many many many times, but I will say it again and again; we only live once. And who knows whether it would be the short or long one. So while we’re on it, why don’t we fire it up? Have a big dream, make a bigger effort, make the biggest prayer. Put the worries behind, as they will always be there anyway. Do it your way, as it’s your own life anyway. Be free, as life is too short to let yourself be burdened anyway. “Come into another world, turn away from those tiresome worries. La la la la to my candid song, ha ha ha ha so that no one can ever sneer at you. Now let’s dance, wanna get down. Have a rather big dream, ‘cause I can do whatever I want with the world, for the great freedom tonight.”

“Get up. Even when I fall many times, even when the trusted world betrays me again, I don’t cry like a fool. No, I don’t act like a hypocrite like others. I’ll bring you all the way to the end, follow me. My heart dance until I run out of breath. Somehow I don’t hate it, I’m having fun. Don’t be afraid, let it go. To a better tomorrow, let’s go.” Everyone will eventually fall and get crooked. Get up, be stronger, be a survivor, be a fighter, follow your intuition. Stop being complicated, then breakaway. Rise like a skyscraper and roar. Be brave and burn it all. Let it fire. “My eyes are filled with shining stars, even the light is burning in my heart. It won’t be forever, there’s nothing to lose.” We won’t live forever. But the little time we have is more than enough when we can make a full of it. “I wanna go crazy, I wanna make a step faster. To those high buildings, to the blue sky, I wanna shout loudly. I always wanna be free like today.”

The accompanying music video for “Fire” was released in two versions; Space version and Street version. Both were directed by Seo Hyun Seung and premiered on May 6th 2009, which later were uploaded on YG Entertainment’s official YouTube account on August 17th 2009. Like the title, “Fire” became a burning hot debut for 2NE1; the greatest for the year.

“I wanna go crazy, I wanna make a step faster. To those high buildings, to the blue sky, I wanna shout loudly. I always wanna be free like today.” –2NE1, Fire

“I go by the name of CL of 2NE1, it’s been a long time coming, but we’re here now

And we’re about to set the roof on fire baby, you better get yours cause I’m getting mine

Eh eh eh eh eh eh eh eh 2NE1, eh eh eh eh eh eh eh eh, you gotta ring the alarm

Eh eh eh eh eh eh eh eh we’re 2NE1, eh eh eh eh eh eh eh eh, hey hey hey hey hey

Come in, come in, come in, dareun saesangeuro jikyeobkiman han komineun ijae deungeul jigo

(Come in, come in, come into another world, turn away from those tiresome worries)

La la la la gashik eobneun naui kkotnoraero ha ha ha ha dashineol bichi mothaedoruk

(La la la la to my candid song, ha ha ha ha so that no one can ever sneer at you)

Now let’s chumeul chumeul chumeul chouyo, wanna get down

(Now let’s dance dance dance, wanna get down)

Boda kkeun kkumeul kkumeul kkumeul gwo saesangeun naemam

(Have a rather big dream dream dream)

Daero da hal su ittgiyae kkeum jayureul euihae, tonight, tonight, oh

(‘Cause I can do whatever I want with the world, for the great freedom tonight, tonight, oh)

Nae nunbicheun bitnaneun byeol deulro na shimjangsogeun tae u neun jeo beulbitdo

(My eyes are filled with shining stars, even the light is burning in my heart)

Yeongweonhajin anhkyeatji deo irheul keon eobsji oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh yeah

(It won’t be forever, there’s nothing to lose oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh yeah)

Na mi mi mi mi mi mi michigo shippeo deo pali tik tik tik tik tik tik tik tikgo shippeo

(I wanna go go go go go go go crazy, I wanna make a step step step step step step step faster)

Jeo nopeun bildingeuro jeo pureun haneuleoro keukae so ri ri ri ri ri ri richigu shippeo

(To those high buildings, to the blue sky, I wanna shout shout shout shout shout shout shout loudly)

You got the fire naui gaseumeun kkung kkung kkung you gotta drop it like it’s hot jigeum meomchuryeo hajima ooh

(You got the fire, my heart goes bump bump bump, you gotta drop it like it’s hot, don’t try to stop now, ooh)

The fire nae meoriseukeun kkung kung kkung I gotta drop it like it’s hot meomchuryeo hajima hey

(The fire, my mind goes bump bump bump, I gotta drop it like it’s hot, don’t stop, hey)

Get up get up get up get up myeotbeol neomeojyeodo mideotdeon saesangi nal teudashi baeshinhaedo

(Get up get up get up get up, even when I fall many times, even when the trusted world betrays me again)

Na na na nan jeoldae eulji anha babo cheoreom eo meo meo meo naesungtalji mal a nam deul cheoreom

(I I I I don’t cry like a fool, oh no no no I don’t act like a hypocrite like others)

Naega jeo kkeulkkaji daeryeokalkae follow follow me sumi cha oreulmankeum dalryeojineun naui gaseumi

(I’ll bring you all the way to the end, follow follow me, my heart dance until I run out of breath)

Eonji na shiljimaneun anha jaemitchyeo keomnaji mal a let it go

(Somehow I don’t hate it, I’m having fun, don’t be afraid, let it go)

Boda deo naeun nae ilro le le le le le let’s go

(To a better tomorrow, le le le le le let’s go)

Sorijilleo

(Scream)

Meoriga chalrang chalrang chalrang chalrang daedoreuk eongdeongil salrang salrang salrang salrang heundeulo

(So that your hair flutters flutters flutters flutters in the air, shake your booty gently gently gently gently)

Na mi mi mi mi mi mi michigo shippeo deo pali tik tik tik tik tik tik tik tikgo shippeo

(I wanna go go go go go go go crazy, I wanna make a step step step step step step step faster)

Jeo nopeun bildingeuro jeo pureun haneuleoro Keukae so ri ri ri ri ri ri richigu shippeo

(To those high buildings, to the blue sky, I wanna shout shout shout shout shout shout shout loudly)

Eonjena oneulcheoreom nan jayoreubgo shippeo

(I always wanna be free like today)”

Wrote by Mashita Fandia

People, at some point in their life, restrain to something. We hold back because we’re afraid in hurting somebody else. We lay low because we’re afraid in disappointing somebody else. But in the end, what do we try to prove? Whom we try to prove to? In the end, does that make us happy? Are we happy? Are we satisfied? There are some boundaries in doing an act of kindness. If it tortures us, if it strangles us, then why do we keep on doing that? There are some limits in being in love. If it suffocates us, if it bounds us, then why do we keep on staying in love? Something never feels so wrong. So when it feels wrong then there’s no good in it. Free your soul, pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and keep moving on.

“You held me down, but I got up, already brushing off the dust. You hear my voice, you hear that sound, like thunder gonna shake the ground.” –Katy Perry, Roar

A song for today’s Free Spirit is titled “Roar” from American singer Katy Perry. The power pop song was released on August 10th 2013 and served as the lead single of her fourth album, “Prism”. It was written by Perry herself along with Bonnie McKee, Dr. Luke, Max Martin, and Cirkut. The song was a commercial success, becoming Perry’s eighth non-consecutive number one song on the US Billboard Hot 100, and also peaked at number one in various charts worldwide.

Everyone has some feelings they keep inside, things that left unsaid. Have you ever felt sick of keeping all those feelings inside and not speaking up for yourself? The lyrics of “Roar” are centering around standing up for oneself and self-empowerment. “I used to bite my tongue and hold my breath, scared to rock the boat and make a mess. So I sat quietly, agree politely. I guess that I forgot I had a choice, I let you push me past the breaking point. I stood for nothing, so I fell for everything.” No matter how hard they keep the feelings inside and the things unsaid, everyone will eventually reach their limit. That’s when they realize that it’s time to break the habit. It’s time to rediscover themselves. It’s time to be free. “Now I’m floating like a butterfly, stinging like a bee I earned my stripes. I went from zero, to my own hero.”

“You held me down, but I got up, already brushing off the dust. You hear my voice, you hear that sound, like thunder gonna shake the ground. You held me down, but I got up, get ready ‘cause I’ve had enough. I see it all, I see it now.” Everyone will eventually reach a point in their life where they feel that something is going wrong. That’s when they realize that it’s time to get a grip and find back the right track. Indeed, we live to stand up for ourselves. It’s not about being selfish, but it’s about making the right priority. Because sometimes, life is blurring our priority, that life makes us, shapes us, when actually we’re the ones who make and shape our own life. “I got the eye of the tiger, a fighte. Dancing through the fire, ‘cause I am a champion and you’re gonna hear me roar, louder. Louder than a lion, ‘cause I am a champion and you’re gonna hear me roar.”

The music video for “Roar” was released on September 5th 2013, directed by Grady Hall and Mark Kudsi, and also starred actor and model Brian Nagel. The video featured Perry trying to adapt to the jungle where she survived a plane crash, and taming a tiger. The song was nominated for Song of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards. “Roar” has the theme of empowerment, as she described the track as a song speaking about standing up for oneself.

“Now I’m floating like a butterfly, stinging like a bee I earned my stripes. I went from zero, to my own hero.” –Katy Perry, Roar

“I used to bite my tongue and hold my breath, scared to rock the boat and make a mess

So I sat quietly, agree politely

I guess that I forgot I had a choice, I let you push me past the breaking point

I stood for nothing, so I fell for everything

You held me down, but I got up, already brushing off the dust

You hear my voice, you hear that sound, like thunder gonna shake the ground

You held me down, but I got up, get ready ‘cause I’ve had enough

I see it all, I see it now

I got the eye of the tiger, a fighter, dancing through the fire

‘Cause I am a champion and you’re gonna hear me roar, louder

Louder than a lion, ‘cause I am a champion and you’re gonna hear me roar

Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh, you’re gonna hear me roar

Now I’m floating like a butterfly, stinging like a bee I earned my stripes

I went from zero, to my own hero”

Wrote by Mashita Fandia

Skyscraper (noun) is a very tall building in a city. That’s according to Merriam-Webster. Tall and strong, piercing through the sky. A heart should be like a skyscraper. Because when a skyscraper falls down in pieces, people can rebuild it again. There will be grief, it will be hard, but we can build it all over again, even stronger than before. The art of rebuilding is never easy, but we will eventually get there, even taller than before. Therefore, a heart should be like a skyscraper. Because when it breaks apart in pieces, people can rebuild it again. There will be endeavor, it will be painful, but we can build it all over again, even stronger than before. The art of rebuilding is never simple, but we will eventually get there, even taller than before. When the heart breaks down and being shattered, we must free our spirit to rebuild it again, taller and stronger than ever.

“You can take everything I have, you can break everything I am, like I’m made of glass, like I’m made of paper. Go on and try to tear me down, I will be rising from the ground, like a skyscraper.” –Demi Lovato, Skyscraper

Today’s song for Free Spirit is one inspirational self-empowerment song titled “Skyscraper”, performed by Demi Lovato. The pop song was released on July 12th 2011 and served as the lead single released from Lovato’s third studio album, “Unbroken”. The song was written by Toby Gad, Lindy Robbins and Kerli Kõiv.

Life stumbles us. It always does. But when people are stumbled, it doesn’t mean that they can’t get up again. Sometimes, the downfall is the trigger for them to rebuild again, stronger and taller than ever, like a skyscraper. The lyrics of “Skyscraper” speak of staying strong and believing in ourselves, that we could stand tall and strong like a skyscraper amidst all of the destruction that life brings upon us. “Skies are crying, I am watching, catching tear drops in my hands. Only silence as it’s ending, like we never had a chance. Do you have to make me feel like there’s nothing left of me?” As human being, there’s a point in life where we’re at our worst; very sad and disappointed at the fate of love and relationship, having an awful feeling that no one deserves to understand the pain. However, we never have the chance to be happy if we focus on our struggles and let them ruin us. “As the smoke clears, I awaken, and untangle you from me. Would it make you feel better to watch me while I bleed? All my windows still are broken, but I’m standing on my feet.”

As human being, we all have our own struggles and things to overcome. There’s some point in life where we can hit the lowest low and face the darkest dark. However, we can always get back up and get in the light. The obstacle is there to make us think. The downfall is there to make us learn. The pain is there to make us feel. The scar is there to make us remember. Life is here to make us live, and living is about getting up from falling, all over and over again. “You can take everything I have, you can break everything I am, like I’m made of glass, like I’m made of paper. Go on and try to tear me down, I will be rising from the ground, like a skyscraper.” Life breaks us. It always does. But when people are broken, it doesn’t mean that they can’t gather it up all together again. Sometimes, the break-up is the chance for them to stand up again, taller and stronger than ever, like a skyscraper. “Go run, run, run, I’m gonna stay right here, watch you disappear. Go run, run, run, it’s a long way down, but I am closer to the clouds up here.”

The music video of “Skyscraper” was directed by Mark Pellington. Both the song and the video represent Lovato’s personal struggles and difficult journey she had been on in the past years during the release of the song. The song was critically acclaimed by music critics and also gained a commercial success in all over the world.

“Go run, run, run, I’m gonna stay right here, watch you disappear. Go run, run, run, it’s a long way down, but I am closer to the clouds up here.” –Demi Lovato, Skyscraper

“Skies are crying, I am watching, catching tear drops in my hands

Only silence as it’s ending, like we never had a chance

Do you have to make me feel like there’s nothing left of me?

You can take everything I have, you can break everything I am

Like I’m made of glass, like I’m made of paper

Go on and try to tear me down, I will be rising from the ground

Like a skyscraper, like a skyscraper

As the smoke clears, I awaken, and untangle you from me

Would it make you feel better to watch me while I bleed?

All my windows still are broken, but I’m standing on my feet

Go run, run, run, I’m gonna stay right here, watch you disappear, yeah, oh

Go run, run, run, yeah, it’s a long way down, but I am closer to the clouds up here”

Wrote by Mashita Fandia

At some point in life, people find themselves getting stuck up in a certain condition that they don’t feel like belonging to it. That it isn’t what they wanted to do with their lives. That they’re fed-up. That they need a breakthrough; a life-changing moment for the significant turning-point. Everyone has that point where they feel to be free and break away, to be able to experience something new and different, to get out from the (no longer) comfort zone, to see the outside world from the world they used to live in. Perhaps it’s not better, but it’s certainly different. Perhaps there’s so much risk, but there’s surely so much worth the effort and fight. We only live once, so make the full of it. Cliche, it is, but words become a spell when we put a belief in it.

“I’ll spread my wings and I’ll learn how to fly. I’ll do what it takes ‘til I touch the sky. And I’ll make a wish, take a chance, make a change, and breakaway.” –Kelly Clarkson, Breakaway (OST. The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement)

A song titled “Breakaway” is our today’s song for Free Spirit. This pop rock song was performed by Kelly Clarkson, the winner of the first season of American Idol. “Breakaway” was first released as the first single from “The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement” movie soundtrack on July 19th 2004. It It later became the title song of Clarkson’s second studio album of the same name which was released on November 30th 2004. The song was written by Avril Lavigne, Bridget Benenate, and Matthew Gerrard.

Everyone has a dream. And everyone has that point in their life when everything seems so out of place. And that if they keep staying the same way, it won’t take them anywhere closer to reach their dream. The lyrics of “Breakaway” tell about someone in their spirit to go out there realizing their dream. “Grew up in a small town, and when the rain would fall down, I’d just stare out my window. Dreaming of what could be and if I’d end up happy, I would pray. Trying hard to reach out, but when I tried to speak out, felt like no one could hear me. Wanted to belong here, but something felt so wrong here, so I prayed I could break away.” Everyone has a dream. And sometimes the place where they are now couldn’t provide what they need to make it comes true. There’s so much to see in this world. And indeed, people need to travel in order to see what’s beyond and more to life. “Wanna feel the warm breeze, sleep under a palm tree, feel the rush of the ocean. Get on board a fast train, travel on a jet plane, far away and breakaway.”

“I’ll spread my wings and I’ll learn how to fly. I’ll do what it takes ‘til I touch the sky. And I’ll make a wish, take a chance, make a change, and breakaway. Out of the darkness and into the sun, but I won’t forget all the ones that I love. I’ll take a risk, take a chance, make a change, and breakaway.” Leaving is easy, but the art of letting go is never. Especially from a place we used to live; a home. Especially from people we used to be with; beloved ones. The attachment might hold us back, but don’t let it bring us down. Don’t let it fades away in our memories and make it precious. To remember is to make us a better person each day. Every chance only comes once in a lifetime. As we only live once too, take it and make it worth the risk. “I’ll spread my wings, and I’ll learn how to fly, though it’s not easy to tell you goodbye. I gotta take a risk, take a chance, make a change, and breakaway. Out of the darkness and into the sun, but I won’t forget the place I come from. I gotta take a risk, take a chance, make a change, and breakaway.”

“Breakaway” gained both commercial and critical success. Music critics complimented the song’s universal message and its simple autobiographical lyrics where people could relate to. It was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on February 5th 2005. Directed by Dave Meyers, the accompanying music video for “Breakaway” was premiered on MTV on August 9th 2004, with some scenes from the movie. The video’s storyline depicted and illustrated the lyrics so well.

“Out of the darkness and into the sun, but I won’t forget the place I come from. I gotta take a risk, take a chance, make a change, and breakaway.” –Kelly Clarkson, Breakaway (OST. The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement)

“Grew up in a small town, and when the rain would fall down, I’d just stare out my window

Dreaming of what could be and if I’d end up happy, I would pray, I would pray

Trying hard to reach out, but when I tried to speak out, felt like no one could hear me

Wanted to belong here, but something felt so wrong here, so I prayed I could break away

I’ll spread my wings and I’ll learn how to fly, I’ll do what it takes ‘til I touch the sky

And I’ll make a wish, take a chance, make a change, and breakaway

Out of the darkness and into the sun, but I won’t forget all the ones that I love

I’ll take a risk, take a chance, make a change, and breakaway

Wanna feel the warm breeze, sleep under a palm tree, feel the rush of the ocean

Get on board a fast train, travel on a jet plane, far away and breakaway

Buildings with a hundred floors, swinging ‘round revolving doors

Maybe I don’t know where they’ll take me

But gotta keep moving on, moving on, fly away, breakaway

I’ll spread my wings, and I’ll learn how to fly, though it’s not easy to tell you goodbye

I gotta take a risk, take a chance, make a change, and breakaway

Out of the darkness and into the sun, but I won’t forget the place I come from

I gotta take a risk, take a chance, make a change, and breakaway, breakaway, breakaway”

Wrote by Mashita Fandia

Complicated (adjective) means involving in a lot of different parts, in a way that is difficult to understand. That’s according to Cambridge Dictionaries. In other words, complicated is something hard to understand, explain, or deal with. That one’s according to Merriam-Webster. There’s no life without complication. And since people are addicted to drama, they tend to anticipate or perhaps even enjoy the complication that comes along with it. Well, life is indeed beautiful in its own simply complicated form. However, not all complication is as exciting as it might seem. Complicated is something consisting of parts intricately combined, that is difficult to analyze, understand, or explain. And when that something is someone’s personality, that could be a mess. Being sophisticated is a thing, it’s great and attractive. But being complicated is another thing. It’s terrible. No one complicated is able to live energetically free. Why? Because they’re busy being somebody else rather than themselves.

“Chill out, what you yelling for? Lay back, it’s all been done before. And if you could only let it be, you will see.” –Avril Lavigne, Complicated

Today’s song for Free Spirit is coming from the free-spirited Canadian lady rocker, Avril Lavigne, titled “Complicated”. The pop rock song was Lavigne’s debut single, taken from her very first studio album, “Let Go”. “Complicated” was written by Lavigne herself along with the three-piece production team, The Matrix, that consisted of Scott Spock, Lauren Christy, and Graham Edwards. The single was released on May 14th 2002.

People can feign or pretend in front of others. But what’s the good in that? The lyrics of “Complicated” tell that living in falsity is not cool. We’re not fooling anyone but ourselves. “Chill out, what you yelling for? Lay back, it’s all been done before. And if you could only let it be, you will see. I like you the way you are, when we’re driving in your car. And you’re talking to me one on one, but you’ve become somebody else around everyone else. You’re watching your back like you can’t relax. You’re trying to be cool, you look like a fool to me.” People can put on a face and become two-faced. But what’s the good it brings? Living in complication is bothering. We’re not getting anywhere but anxiety. “You come over unannounced, dressed up like you’re something else. Where you are ain’t where it’s at, you see, you’re making me laugh out when you strike your pose. Take off all your preppy clothes, you know you’re not fooling anyone when you’ve become somebody else around everyone else. You’re watching your back like you can’t relax. You’re trying to be cool, you look like a fool to me.”

It may sounds cliche but people need to be themselves in order for them to get comfort. We’re not living to please everyone, so why bother ourselves to become somebody they want us to be instead of someone we truly are? We’re not living to fulfill everybody’s expectation, so why make it hard for ourselves to do things they want us to do instead of things we want to do? We only live once, so do ourselves a favor; be ourselves, be true, be free, and be comfortable with it. They who feel well-matched with you will stay, while they who don’t will leave. Cherish them who stay. Let go of them who leave. Indeed life is full of people come and go. No big deal. As long as we feel comfortable with ourselves and not complicate things, then we’re cool. Everything’s just gonna be okay. And that’s all that matters. “Tell me why do you have to go and make things so complicated? I see the way you’re acting like you’re somebody else, gets me frustrated. Life’s like this, you, you fall and you crawl and you break and you take what you get and you turn it into honesty. You promised me I’m never gonna find you fake it, no, no, no.”

Based on its chart performance, “Complicated” is Lavigne’s second most successful single and was one of the most successful releases of 2002. The song was nominated for two Grammy Awards for Song of the Year and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. The music video of the song was directed by The Malloys, which successfully introduced Lavigne’s lively, cheerful, easy-going, and free-spirited character.

“Why do you have to go and make things so complicated? I see the way you’re acting like you’re somebody else, gets me frustrated. Life’s like this, you, you fall and you crawl and you break and you take what you get and you turn it into honesty. You promised me I’m never gonna find you fake it, no, no, no.” –Avril Lavigne, Complicated