Mood Music of the Week: Diana Vickers - Cinderella

Recently the movie Cinderella did very well at the box office. Why would anyone want to see a movie that's been done so many times already? I guess the answer is in the magic of Cinderella, the magic of dreams coming true. It is this idea that has been getting me through life recently. And this song I want to share with you captures this magic very well. (It's a shame that they didn't use it in the movie.)

Is Your Life Just Too Bad? Or Is It How You Look At It?

Do you sometimes feel that your life just doesn't measure up? That perhaps you need a life much grander than what you currently have? That missed opportunities mean you just won't ever catch up with other people?

Don't worry, many people feel like this too sometimes. But often, it's just because people have the wrong perspective. The well described phenomenon of some people putting the best view of their lives on facebook for others to see, and other people feeling like a failure in life as a result of reading glamorous facebook updates from their friends, is a good example. But it doesn't just happen with facebook. In life, some people just have a talent in emphasizing the best parts of their life and feeling great as a result, whilst others tend to focus more on what they are missing out on.

If you are not born wired that way, learning to emphasize the best parts of your life may take some time. A good way to start is by taking out a piece of paper and brainstorming what good things you already have in your life. Another exercise you may try is to write down the dreams that you have always had, and think about in what ways you are already moving closer to those dreams, compared with a decade ago. Exercises like these can help you think about your life journey in a more fulfilling way.



Download the full song here.

Angelle's Three Questions: Kim Kardashian

I wouldn't call myself a fan of Kim Kardashian, but I do have three important questions to ask her if I do get to meet her one day.

Question one: If you were instead just an average American young woman with an average income, and yet somebody offered you a chance to star in a reality TV show like the one you are currently doing (but obviously with a much more average lifestyle), would you still do it?

Question two: A lot of people look up to you and your family. This means you have a lot of cultural power, power to make people change their minds. Some people use their cultural power to advance causes like charity, or minority rights. I for one would surely like to have your global cultural power - I can just imagine the things I would be able to do with it. Is there anything that you wish to do for this world, using your cultural power?

Question three: Your previous 'marriage', the one that was shorter than a TV show season, offended many people who were passionate about the ideals of marriage. I am a strong believer in recognising what you did wrong in life, and making amends where possible. Do you regret what you did in any way? And if you do regret it, what would you do to make up for it?

Inspiration from Paris Hilton? Maybe for Kim Kardashian, but Definitely Not For Me.

In a recent interview, Paris Hilton was asked if the Kardashians would not exist today without her. She appeared to take some credit for the success of the Kardashian empire.

"It's nice to inspire people," Paris said. "We've known each other since we were little girls and we've always been friends. So yeah, I'm really proud of (Kim Kardashian) and what she's done."

It may be nice to inspire people, Paris, but inspiring people to be famous for nothing significant and hence not contributing much to the world isn't something to be proud of, I think. I for one would not want to be 'inspired' by the likes of Paris Hilton (or Kim Kardashian). There are much more 'meaningful' people to be inspired by, right?

Mood Music of the Week: The Veronicas - If You Love Someone

If you are passionate about something, don't leave it until too late. Although the song is supposed to be about 'someone', seeing the video I believe that it can also be about 'something', i.e. a cause you are passionate about. And if you are passionate about something, you should tell the world right now.

Mood Music of the Week: Beauty

When it feels like everything in the world has fallen into place in an exactly right way, and everything looks so beautiful at once. This was how I felt this week.


Download the full song here.

I was just Asking for Equality with Miley and Rihanna, Actually

About a year ago I wrote a short article titled 'Freedom is a Two Way Street', which was controversial with some readers. Specifically, it dealt with the idea that whilst I believe people should have freedom under the law to choose whatever way they want to live as long as it does not hurt others, other people (like myself) should be similarly entitled to promote a different lifestyle, and people should not be offended because of this. Maybe the tone of what I wrote sounded harsh. But I still think it's a very valid point to make. Let me explain further here.

People are entitled to their own beliefs, and are entitled to share them with the world as long as it doesn't hurt anybody else. People like me will generally share with the world what we believe to be great lifestyle choices, because we want to enable more people to live happier lives. It should be seen as a noble intention, I think you would agree. It is my strong belief that it's very unwise to use drugs 'recreationally', whether it's marijuana or something else. Therefore, it's my strong passion to share this idea with others. What I was frustrated about (and still am somewhat frustrated about) is how some celebrities go out and promote the opposite of this (e.g. Miley Cyrus, Rihanna) and people think it's cool, but how my ideas seem so much more controversial, when freedom of speech should dictate that we have equal rights to speak out on any given topic. It's not like I'm judgemental or something like that, right?

Freedom of speech should mean that we don't shout down others for whatever ideas they promote, whether you like the idea in question or not. Peer pressure to make certain ideas taboo is a very dangerous idea. Society should never go there, really.

Mood Music of the Week: Owl City - Shine Your Way

When you suddenly feel a wave of positivity all over you, and you see a potential exit to something that has been a long fight all this time. This was how I felt this week. And I dedicate this song, to remember this mood.

Fifty Shades of Grey - Or Is It Fifty Shades of Scary?

Fifty Shades of Grey is one recent cultural phenomenon I really don't understand. Although I have never read the book, I had heard of it, and knowing what it is about, I have always had no intention of reading it. I mean, it isn't something that would make me happy or excited in any way, right? Anyway, I really never understood why anyone would want to read something like that.

Fast forward to 2015, when the movie came out. Some of my friends wanted to go and see it, because it was such a 'phenomenon', so I went along. And the theatre was packed, too. But after three hours, I still don't know why anyone would love this movie or book. I mean, it may as well be called fifty shades of scary. All the way through the movie, I kept thinking, please don't ever let me meet a man like that.

So what is it that has caused so many people to fall in love with such a scary book and movie? I don't know. Maybe you can tell me.

It Looks Like Meghan Trainor has Redeemed Herself in My Books

Remember my critique of Meghan Trainor's All About That Base about half a year ago? I know it was harsh, but I stand by what I have said. And I still don't know why something like that became a hit.

But anyway, it looks like Meghan has redeemed herself this time around. Her new hit Lips Are Movin' looks much more like what a 'normal' hit song should be. It actually sounds pretty good. Maybe she will have a great career after all.