Listen to a new music album I wouldn't normally listen to at least 5 times

Hey guys, how's Life been treating you? I've been pretty tired recently, but it's almost holidays, so I'm excited about that. I'll get to see my awesome family again, and spend time with our puppies, and be able to access the internet whenever I want, and... well, you get the idea.

In any case, I'm still buzzed about how the feel of my room changed because I just shuffled my bed and desk around. Best. Decision. Ever. And I just checked out my blog through the actual website link, and realised that I was repeating the post name in each blog... so now I feel a bit foolish. Oh well, life's all about making mistakes and learning from them.

So today, I'm discussing an album that I listened to all the way through at least 5 times, and that album is Ed Sheeran's Divide.

Now, I know Ed's music is in the same genre as what I usually listen to, and I can't deny that he's an amazing artist, but I just couldn't get into his music, no matter how hard I tried. I enjoyed some of his earlier work, like Photograph and Thinking Out Loud, but I've never really wanted to listen to an entire album of his.

So I decided that I'll give the poor guy's music a chance. I mean, it's the least I can do for him.

Wow. Just, wow.

His new album is completely different from his earlier stuff. I loved the direction he took it in, and the fact that so much of the album is upbeat. Perhaps I should give a brief description of how each song made me feel the first time I listened to it... and because I can, I bought the deluxe album - 16 brand new songs from Ed Sheeran

1. Eraser - the opening guitar chords made me swoon. As a guitar player myself, I can only aspire to one day be as good on the guitar as Ed is. The song borders between lyrical and rap, which was an interesting combination, and the lyrics? The lyrics were narrative in nature, telling the story of how he rose to fame and the things he's learned about it consequentially. Now one of my go-to feel-better pick-me-up songs.

2. Castle on the Hill - my favourite song of his that was released as a single. It reminded me of home, and of all the people who helped mould me into the person I am today, and who continue to guide me throughout my life's journey. The first time I went home for the weekend during the module, I played this song in the car on my way to campus (I had a class first thing in the morning) in order to help build my excitement at going home. I listen to this song every time I think about home.

3. Dive - not one that I'm particularly fond of. I'll admit: in the beginning, I had to forcibly restrain myself from skipping this song. However, I can appreciate the story it tells: of deciding whether to trust someone enough with your love and your heart that you're willing to dive into that unknown pool called 'Love'.

4. Shape of You - the second single of Ed's that was on the radio. In the beginning, it wasn't one of my favourites, but the more I listened to it, the more it grew on me. I can't really explain it, as it leaves me with different feelings each time I listen to it. But basically, I get the impression it's about love, and that there's something different about this relationship.

5. Perfect - yooo, guys, this song... ok, confession time: every time I listen to this song, I waltz around my apartment imagining I'm in someone's arms. Reminiscent of young love, this song leaves me with serious feels. It makes me yearn for the most innocent of loves: cuddling, soft kisses, the simplicity of just sleeping together in the most innocent way and feeling their body heat next to you, slow dancing around the kitchen... easily one of the best songs praising a lover's perfectness I've ever heard.

6. Galway Girl - guys, guys, guys, there's a violin in this song and it gives the song this whole Irish feel to it!! I love the whole Irish history, so hearing this little quirk in the song made me inexplicably happy. Another love song, but about an Irish girl falling in love with an Englishman and how they interact at the bar where they met. That's it. The hook is especially catchy: "She played her fiddle in an Irish band but she fell in love with an Englishman..."

7. Happier - if this song doesn't make you melancholy, you may need to check the state of your heart. If you've ever experienced a breakup before, then you'll definitely be able to relate to this song. The song is similar to a Point-of-View story, where you're placed into the shoes of the singer, and thus creates a deeper, more emotional connection to the song.

8. New Man - ever had that ex, that, even though you broke up jonks ago, still calls you and sends you messages, but not to ask about how's it going or that they want you back but rather to tell you all about their new significant other? Yeah, this song describes that situation perfectly. I snigger every time I listen to it, because I imagine the singer getting annoyed with this constant barrage of information about their ex's new significant other, and thus wrote this song as a polite way to tell the ex to go away because they (the singer) don't care and don't want to know about the new significant other. I'm barely restraining my giggles while typing this out.

9. Hearts Don't Break Around Here - Another love song, this one discusses how the female lover is more trustworthy compared to previous lovers, and makes comparisons between her and objects like a river and a piece of flint. It also speaks about how the singer knows that they'll know they're in love, and how his female lover is suited for him. Like the title of the song, hearts won't be breaking.

10. What Do I Know? - This song breaks away from the traditional love song, and instead discusses how the ideas and acts of love can change the world for the better, as is seen by the artist. However, no one listens because the singer has no degree and didn't go to university. With a catchy guitar rhythm, this song starts your head bobbing, and the lyrics are powerful.

11. How Would You Feel (Paean) - Basically, this song questions how lovers would feel if one of them said the big three words to the other. It discusses knowing that the two lovers are "it" for each other, through observing how they act around each other in ordinary situations. The song itself is mellow, with an interesting guitar melody, a soothing violin melody, a simple backing drum rhythm, with a piano supplementing the song. The song is emotional, and any set of lovers can relate to it.

12. Supermarket Flowers - if this song doesn't leave you in tears, then definitely go and have your heart examined. This song is so simple in melody and rhythm, that the heartbreak behind it can be felt. One of the worst feelings anyone can live through is expressed through this song. The story is told so simply: the singer goes through the basic motions of generally cleaning up around the house. If you're not listening closely, you'll miss the kicker at the end that'll make you go: "Right in the feels...", and want to curl up next to one of the people closest to you. I won't tell you who, as that will ruin the song.

13. Barcelona - this song draws inspiration (in my opinion) from traditional Spanish music and is one of those songs that make you want to get up and dance your heart out. I also freaked out a little bit on hearing this song for the first time.

14. Bibia Be Ye Ye - I have no idea how to describe this song, the only thing I know is that it's also another "get up and dance" song. For some reason, this song makes me think about festivals and dancing in the streets for a celebration of some kind.

15. Nancy Mulligan - another song with an Irish feel to it, this song tells the story of a Romeo-and-Juliet-esque story, except this one has a happy ending. Somehow, it manages to fit an entire relationship into 3 minutes. This song left me with that nice warm and fuzzy feeling, and the desire to seek out a similar relationship.

16. Save Myself - this song also has a melancholic tone to it, speaking of how he used to give more of himself to helping others and saving them, but now, after years of doing that and receiving nothing in return, he first needs to save himself before he can save others.

Above are screenshots of the tracklist for Divide, which I ended up downloading to my cell-phone after the first time I listened to it.

Apparently, the descriptions of how each song made me feel when I first listened to them ended up becoming short reviews along with my feelings on them. Oh well, what can you do? :D

Ed's voice is mellow, and the instrumental sides of all the songs blend together perfectly to create amazing harmonies and melodies. I would definitely recommend this album to anyone looking for love songs that deviate from the norm currently on the radio. Each song is unique, and yet holds hints of what differentiates Ed Sheeran's music from the others.

Bonus fact: I ended up watching Bridget Jones' Baby after I had listened to this album multiple times and had developed a fondness for Ed's work. So guess what happened when I saw good ol' Ed in the movie...

I flipped out. In front of my mom and sister. Who both laughed at me.

Ah, good times...

P.S. I listened to this album about a month after it came out, but unfortunately have only gotten around to posting it now. The reason for this will be discussed in a different post.

Changing my Appearance

Hey guys, long time no blog!

So apparently, it doesn't really matter how much I plan and prepare and plan and prepare, I just never get around to updating my blog.

And it sucks. And I dislike myself for this, because of my perfectionistic tendencies.

In any case, I've recently come back from a week long holiday, during which I made a decision: I was ready to cut my hair.

Now, I've had my hair cut before, once upon a time, into a Chinese bob, and I loved it. Especially because my hair is naturally thick, and because of the thickness of my hair, I had to constantly wear it in a braid, otherwise my hair would knot something terrible.

If I let it down for a single day, the next time I brushed my hair it would leave me in tears from the pain of untangling the knots.

The Chinese bob was amazing in that respect. Unfortunately, the school I attended had rather strict rules pertaining to how we were expected to style our hair, especially the girls. At the time, if we had short hair, our hair was not allowed to touch the collars of our shirts. The minute it did, we were informed that we had to tie it up.

Please explain to me how you can tie up the short hairs that sit in the nape of your neck into a neat and respectable hairstyle? Basically, you can't.

And that's why I decided to grow out my hair again, although this time I had decided to keep it shoulder-length. For a while, it worked, and I maintained that hairstyle for the rest of my young schooling career.

So now, I'm out of school (have been for a few months) and have made the decision to cut my hair. In some ways, this decision is also representative of finally letting go of the past, and all the things in it, and moving forward at the start of a new chapter.

So, here's the before and after pictures:

Left to Right: Before with Long Hair, and After with Short Hair

I've since received a few compliments regarding my hair, and they've all been positive, so I'm really happy about that.

It was a rather intense feeling when the scissors made the first cut, especially because the hairdresser decided to start right next to my ear.

In any case, I love the new hairstyle. It's much more comfortable and easy to maintain.

And with that being said, I'll be signing off until the next time.

Cheers!

P.S. At the time of this post going live, it has been about three weeks since coming back from holiday.