Till I Hear You Sing..

Author's Note: I've lost you long ago and I lost the sweet sound of your voice. My life feels empty and worthless if you are not there. This is one of my favorite songs from one of my favorite music men, Ramin Karimloo. He has played the "Phantom" in numerous accounts of "The Phantom of The Opera" musical around the world with Sierra Boggess, who is seen in the video. Even though this is not a "Phantom of the Opera" song, I still adore it. This is a point of view piece from the character that Ramin plays.(The music video is below) Thank you!

Your voice haunts my lonely soul as I sit upon the cold ground. The music we made together filled my spirit with warmth and joy. God sent you too me long ago and now I am alone. You made my life have meaning, when my whole life, I've thought differently. Life now has been merely a silent memory of the memories we used to know. This is a life that I now crave for.

The music you sing makes the angels weep. Now I only have thoughts of what I imagine it sounds like. You are the only thing that haunts me, but keeps me alive at the same time. Can you imagine my loneliness? Ten long years of mere silence. You chose him a long time ago, but I will never give up on the love we once shared.

I am done with the silence, the loneliness. We will be together and listen to the soothing sound of our duet once again. Life doesn't feel real unless I have the joy of being in your arms. I will not stop, Till I hear you sing, once more.

Video from: http://www.youtube.com/user/phantomloveneverdies?feature=watch

Emmy Rossum

Author's Note: I've always had a special connection with the character Christine from The Phantom Of The Opera. Call me crazy! I just have always felt like I related to her and even the first Christine that I saw, Emmy Rossum. Emmy was just a little older than me when she achieved the role of Christine in the 2004 movie version and it inspires me to dream about performing like her. Her story inspires me and her voice is amazing. Here is a snip it of a biography of her life, trying to focus on her time when she was Christine. This is for my research goal. Thank you:) 

Learning that you have talent, can always be an exciting thing. When you are discovering this so young, you know that something good can become of it. Emmy Rossum, even at so young an age, displayed that talent and that spark within which helped her achieve greatness.

Born on September 12, 1986, in New York City to a single woman named Cheryl Rossum, her mother always knew that Emmy was gifted. (Keep in mind that The Phantom of The Opera also came out in 1986.) When she was only 7, she could sing in all of the twelve musical keys which landed her a spot in NYC Metropolitan Opera Children’s Chorus. Rossum achieve greatly in this opera and sang in many different languages with various well known opera singers. At the age of twelve, Emmy grew too old for the children’s chorus and decided to take up acting. Aside from acting she was in attendance at Spence School, a private, Manhattan schooling district. Emmy later received her high school diploma at the age of 15 through a Stanford program that is for the gifted youth so she could focus on her performing career. Wow. So far, this young girl has had such an dream life! Just look at her! She is so gifted and beautiful that what the future has in store for her could just be amazing.Through her life, Emmy had been acting and singing not just for fun, but professionally, too. Before she was even 15, she received numerous awards and claimed many on-screen roles, but when she was 16, her life took a complete turn for the awesome.

Andrew Lloyd Webber; a famous musician, composer, and musical man wanted to make a movie based off of his world famous musical, “The Phantom Of The Opera", which is the longest running musical in history. Having opened in 1986 in London,  the beautifully acclaimed musical still is performed around the world and still on Broadway till this day. Lloyd Webber wanted to make a movie version, so he could show detail and let his audience at home see his work. He had many leading ladies in mind for the main role of Christine. Emmy was one of the last people the directors and Lloyd Webber had in thought for the role of Christine. Emmy even missed her screen test for the role, but Andrew saw something in her.  Her audition was actually private, in Lloyd Webber’s home in New York. Emmy walked through his door and all he said was, “Shall we?” She sang for him and she thought it was a one in a million chance for her being awarded with  this role. As a 16 year old, they usually don’t give such a big role, but when she landed the role, she didn't disappoint.

Emmy who was only a sixteen year old along side her Phantom who was at thirty seven year old man with the Hollywood name of Gerard Butler. There is supposed to be an age difference between the Phantom and Christine, but this one just takes the cake! Emmy exclaims in an interview that it was not awkward between them because they became very good friends and they just played their roles. It definitely seemed natural and no uncomfort between them in a movie. Rossum just played her part and she came out on top.

This young girl won and was nominated for many awards that went along with her outstanding performance as Christine. Emmy was nominated for a Golden Globe in 2005 for Best Performing Actress in a Musical or Comedy and she even won the Best Young Actress award for the Broadcast Film Critics Association. Emmy knew that this event would change her life forever, but "The Phantom of The Opera" could very well not be the biggest role Emmy has landed. She has been in other movies such as “The Day After Tomorrow”, “Mystic River”, and now “Beautiful Creatures”. Her latest album release,“Sentimental Journey”, was released in 2013 and she currently stars in the hit HBO show, "Shameless".  I do not think there is any slowing down for our young Christine anytime soon.

Emmy knew that she was talented and is sharing her talent with the world. Growing up in New York City, the possibilities were endless. She took them and made the best of these opertunities. Emmy is a role model to all who want to dream and achieve not just in the performing arts, but within life.

Epilogue:

The role of Christine has always touched me in a sense that it is a role that I want to be and that I would love to perform. Emmy was the first Christine that I had ever seen perform when I was only 4 and she made the biggest impact on me. She took this role to a whole new level and demonstrated it in way that I could understand or even relate to. Also people tell me I look like her which is always a plus.:) I have always adored the name “Emmy” as well. (Even asked my parents, everything I had had to be named Emmy!) Emmy Rossum made an impact and a connection with me that will stay with me for a lifetime.

(Sources)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christine_Daa%C3%A9  
http://www.emmyrossum.com/about  
http://www.girl.com.au/phantom-of-the-opera-emmy-rossum-pf.htm
http://www.blackfilm.com/20041217/features/emmyrossum.shtml
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emmy_Rossum
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Phantom_of_the_Opera_(1986_musical)
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002536/

America's Tongue, Why Has It Changed? My Thoughts On Old-Word English In This Modern World.

Author's Note: Most of the ancestors of Americans come from European countries, right? If you look at America's people timeline, you will see that a lot of Brits came over (Mayflower, Revolutionary War, ect.) and they also took their language with them. In modern time, we refer to it as "Old-World English" which is commonly known as proper English or British. Now, when did we break off from this language and develop our own and why? This is my thoughts on this change in speech. ( I did do research, but after further examination I realized it was not really a research piece, but perceive it as you will.:)


Taking a look at literature and the way things used to be. The way people used to speak, write, communicate all used to be so proper. Why isn't our society still like that? You can blame it on entertainment and rule breakers who want to be so individual, but why don’t we still use that same, poise, that same courtesy? I’d like to live in a world where people had a little bit more respect for each other, like back in the 1800s. Now I am not saying I want to live in the 1800s, (I probably would not survive!), but I would like people to speak with that same type of poise and respect.

Talking with respect and smart word choice could ultimately make us smarter, right? Really thinking about what we are speaking and what we write could make us use broader vocabulary and or also use proper English. They say, “Reading Shakespeare will make you smarter!” Well, then how come Shakespeare isn't helping me write or speak? Sure reading it would help widen my vocabulary and in a sense Shakespeare helps test my brain, but if I am not going to use it within my speaking, why read it? Same goes for any English literature that we read or study. I know it can help us understand what the literature and speech used to be like, but why did it have to change? If I can’t use it in my speech, why read it?

I know we can never get back to that type of proper English ever again. It is merely impossible! Unless you live in the England or The United Kingdom if you will, you will probably never hear Old-World English in our modern society ever again. Our Americans before us broke off from the proper British English to American English around the mid 18th-century. Our speech has changed and developed over the years into this type of English “slang”. We might not all talk in “slang”, but compared to Old-Word English, this is “slang”. This started around the Revolutionary War.  Again, this all comes with our centuries evolving and developing into this modern age America. It is said with the new-age Americans and even Brits there are still language changes and speech differences. I still would like to enjoy everything our modern age offers, but I wish we would still have that proper English that was used so long ago.

Also, you have to put into perspective all of the different accents that American’s have developed over the years. It all depends on where you live, really. If you grow up down south, you develop more of a southern accent. In the north half of the U.S, you have more of a normal American accent. It all depends on where you live and how the people talk there. Now I am not saying everyone in the north talks like the north and the south people talk in southern, but most percentage of them do. Now through the centuries we haven’t just spun-off of British- English, now we have spun-off of American-English! Just look at “Honey-Boo-Boo”! I truly hope when people think of America or even Southerners they do not think of this “Honey-Boo-Boo Child”. (In my opinion that world is completely repulsive, but that is a whole different topic.)  This is just a demonstration of how us Americans have just developed and spun off from our own language. If you live in the South and go to the North, people will talk a lot differently. Same as if you went from the West coast, to the East coast. We all still speak English, it is just a little different in their own ways.

I genuinely wish we all still spoke with the same respect and poise that was used but American’s and Brit’s so long ago, but that shall never be in existence in our modern day and age again. Even though we will never talk in that proper Old-World, English, tongue again, I believe that the American language will still grow in change within the modern literature that we demonstrate today.


http://dialectblog.com/2011/06/13/americans-talking-britis/

http://flavorwire.com/171612/fyi-reading-shakespeare-makes-you-smarter

"The Phantom of the Opera Is There...Inside My Mind."

Author's Note: When I was very young, my mother had bought me the movie, "The Phantom of The Opera". When I was younger, I didn't understand half of what was even going on, but the music in this movie just captivated my heart and my spirit. As I kept watching it through my life, I understood the story line and the emotion that is just poured out into this movie. The Phantom of the Opera has been in my family since the first musical was performed in 1986, when my mother saw it in London and New York with her mother. This piece is based off of the 2004 movie adaption and not the musical adaption. (I know there are many differences.) I wrote this piece to meet my symbolism goal. Please enjoy!

I have been watching a ridiculous amount of the movie, “The Phantom of the Opera”, lately. It’s just a very pure and intimate movie that it captivates your whole mind set. So much happens in this movie and it exclaims a whole story behind the strange affair which is the phantom of the opera of the Paris Opera house in 1870.  I will set the stage to show the symbolism within this story, but you have to see it to believe it.

Christine Daae is an orphaned ballet student in the Paris Opera house at the age of 17, living in the dormitories of the opera house. When her father was dying she was only seven years old and her father said to her, “When I am in heaven child, I will send the Angel of Music to you.” Every night she has been visited by the angel who teaches her to sing. She is anointed with the opportunity to sing lead in the opera and the angel is pleased. This mythical man ,while only wearing half of a mask on his face, appears in the shadows and claims to be her angel of music. He takes her into his lair and shows her a whole new world of music and darkness. This man is the Phantom of The Opera.

Christine’s childhood friend, Raoul, hears her sing and immediately falls in love with her just like they had when they were young. Christine feels the same way. The phantom takes it as a threat and knows he loves Christine more than Raoul. The phantom tortures the opera house and sends them an opera to perform in his name. To protect Christine from the phantom, Raoul forces her to perform the opera so they can capture the phantom once and for all. She performs his play, “Don Juan”, and the phantom secretly takes the place of Don Juan in the performance. During the last note of their duet, Christine rips off the phantom’s mask to show everyone who he truly is. He kidnaps her while Raoul comes to find her. The phantom threatens to kill Raoul if Christine doesn’t marry the phantom. As a result, Christine kisses the phantom to save Raoul's life and they are both set free. The phantom knows he wants Christine to be happy so she lets her be with Raoul. The phantom never stops loving Christine.

The symbolism in this story is tremendous and the phantom shows most of it. When Christine first performs, the phantom sends her a red rose with a black ribbon as a sign that he is very pleased with her. As she sings her duet exclaiming her love for Raoul, she drops the rose as a sign that she loves Raoul more than the phantom. The phantom decides that he will never stop until Christine feels the same way about him as he does her.

When the phantom first appears to Christine in the flesh, he is wearing a white mask on only one side of his face. This also exclaims why he is banished to the labyrinth within the depths of the opera house, he has a birth defect on only one side of his face. This forces him to live in the shadows so nobody can see who he really is underneath the mask. With the mask on, he is a swift phantom who can do whatever he wants to the opera house, but with the mask off, he is helpless, defenceless, not worth of Christine’s love.

After she is brought to the phantom’s lair for the first time, she faints at the sight of a wedding dress that the Phantom had made for her. A small music box, with the figure of a monkey, wakes her up with the sweet instrumental of the song “Masquerade”. The music box that the Phantom has made, exclaims that he does have a gentle side to his dark and scary appearance.

During the time when Christine and Raoul were falling in love, he proposes to her. Christine knows that the phantom will not approve of this and will hurt her if she accepts. She does not wear the ring around her finger, but around her neck to show that she is not officially Raoul’s. “It’s an engagement, not a crime. Christine what are you afraid of?”, Raoul says as he still does not know about the phantom. As the phantom makes an entrance to their masquerade ball, he rips the ring off of Christine’s neck. “Your chains are still mine. You belong to ME!”, the phantom yells out of disappointment. The phantom isn’t losing Christine that easily.

Immediately after Christine rips off the mask of the phantom, the phantom grabs her and cuts the ropes to the grand chandelier that hangs above the opera house. As it smashed it starts the entire opera house on fire. The phantom smashed the chandelier in a sense that if things didn’t go his way, “Things beyond their wildest imagination will occur.”

This movie has an amazing storyline and even more amazing music, I believe that is why I watch it so much. The love triangle, if you will, shows so much emotion and raw passion that it makes this musical even better. The phantom knows that his love for Christine is infinite and will never end.

Watch Where You Put Your Heart, Esther

Author's Note: I based this off of a t.v show episode of Gossip Girl. (Season five, "G.G") Blair get's married but has no idea who the man she is marrying really turns out to be. I also tied in one of my other favorite shows, "Revenge" with the whole Hampton, NY theme. I took both of the shows and made a creative story based off of them and tried to make it as original as possible! I know it is very long but I felt like the information is key to figuring out the situation in the story. The italics paragraphs are to symbolize her thoughts within this story. This is my creative piece. Thank you and enjoy!:)

“I do,” Asher whispers as he grabs my hand. I smile as I look up at him and his deep brown eyes. Okay I promised myself I wouldn’t cry but when that tear came slightly out of my right eye, I couldn't help it. “And do you, Esther Bennett take Asher Lipton to be your husband?” the priest says as he notices my tears. “I do!” I say as I lock my hands into his. “By the state of New York, I now pronounce you husband and wife.” As he ends his last words, Asher grabs me and kisses me. I swear I just ripped this out of the page of a fairy-tale, but by the end, it turned into my worst nightmare.

Now, you could see that Asher Lipton came from a family of money, Hampton money. I come from city money. Growing up at a private school downtown, the scandal, gossip, and the money can sometimes be a lot. Asher understood me.

I look up at the twinkling lights and my friends and family. We walk down the stairs as husband and wife for the first time. His father looks at him with a grin that I’ve never seen. Less approving, maybe even a little scandalous. Oh whatever, I am not going to let anything ruin this day. 

Asher and I met at a party in the Hampton during my 23rd year. His father and mother were hosting and I somehow got an invitation. Yes, sure I was like NYC royalty, but not so much, Hampton royalty. And the Liptons definitely were. Our families kind of split the state in half, they got the top half and we got the bottom.  When we met, call it what you will, fate or destiny, but I felt in the back of my mind it was more of an ambush. Like this boy was looking for me. He somehow knew exactly what to say and more about me than I thought a total stranger would. He blamed it on my social status. I don’t know what to blame it on. Since then, his father kept a close eye on me. I was only in the Hamptons for that summer then I had to return to the city, but I felt like Harrison Lipton and his son knew more about me then I did.

Asher and I spent the next year together, living in the city and the beach, sharing each others lives and secrets.It was basically everything anyone could ever want. He listened to me and I listened to him. All of our secrets and family drama was always shared with each other. Asher knew what to say to everything and how to make me me feel good about myself. The two elite families in New York have a son and daughter who are madly in love. Who knew?

The night that Asher purposed is such a blur to me now. My eyes were filled with so many tears that it was so hard to process it all. We were in Paris to check on my father’s ever growing business and right after dinner we took a stroll to a garden outside of the eiffel tower. Then it happened! It was so magical and so captivating. Again, ripped right out a fairytale, but this was my fairy-tale and I was going to spend the rest of my life with the one I love or the man I thought I loved.

After his father turned his head back around I looked at Asher. He just looked back and smiled at me. The best man, Asher’s best friend Chandler, said his speech. It was very nice and heartfelt, but the whole speech, he was looking at me while talking about Asher. To the point where I was uncomfortable to look into his sea, blue eyes. After that, my maid of honor said her speech as well. Her name is Tiffany and she had been my best friend in the city for as long as I could remember, it was kind of like a Blair and Serena friendship from Gossip Girl. She was my best friend that knew everything about me. What Tiffany did probably hurt me the most. Not Asher, not Chandler, but Tiffany. 

The music starts playing to our favorite slow song. Asher grabs my hand and pulls me into his warm embrace. Our feet start moving and he whispers. “This is like your fairytale, right?” “Even better,” I whisper as my smile becomes even bigger. “Then good, I’ve done my job. Now it’s your turn Esther,” he says as his voice becomes less warming and more cold. “Wha-what do you mean?” I say as my eyebrows start to become more tense. “This is all a show Esther and you're right in the middle of it. I don’t actually love you, are you kidding? My family has been living in your family’s shadow for too long. There can only be one royal family of New York and you have been proven too weak to hold that position. Thought you would been more clever Esther, thought you would figure it out,” Asher hardens that paragraph right into my brain and my face is in awe. “H-how bu-but why?” I stutter as he puts his finger over my lips. “We are married Esther. You are no Kim Kardashian and you cannot break off this marriage. Do you know how much that would ruin your reputation? Esther, look at me,” he says as he brushes his finger at my chin. My eyes start to fill. “I will destroy you. Your family too. Look, Chandler and Tiffany seem to be happy,” he says as he points to them. They both smile and wave. The rest of the guests just look with happiness at both of us. I look into Tiffany’s eyes. They are piercing into my skin. She wants me gone more than Asher does.

I glance over at my parents. My mom is crying and smiling. I burry my head into his suit as my smile turns to a sob. Tried to pretend like the tears were coming from the right eye and not from the left. “Smile. Smile for the cameras. Everyone is watching. We are married and you cannot do anything about it,” he says as he gives me a fake smile. Our life is ruined and I don’t know what I can do. I ruined my father’s company, all of my family’s hard work because now it is going to be destroyed. I let Asher in, I let his family in. It’s like his father hired a PI to investigate us, but didn’t spend any money. Just let his son do it and made everyone around me feel the same way he did. 

How did I not know that when I play with fire, I was going to get burned. I’ve gone up against enemies and those private school girls who tried to go up against me on the social ladder. I always came out on top, but I don’t think this is something I can buy my way out of. I put everything we have on the line and I don’t know if we can get it back. 

After the dance I swiftly grab Tiffany’s arm and pull her aside. “Are you mad? Why would you even do this to me? After all that we’ve been through! After all that I have done for you!” I scream at her with a tongue full of hatred, trying to make it as calm as possible. “Queen Esther Bennett, didn’t get her way. Oh boo ho. Look, you always been on top and it is time for you to be taken down from your rein. After your family is taken down, it will be mine and Asher’s families on top. I will get the spotlight that I have always deserved, as the new Queen of New York. Your time is up Esther, there is a new royal in New York,” she spits at me with the same hatred. Tiffany walks away and I am just in awe. I have been her friend through EVERYTHING. How could she betray me like this? Just for the power, the fame that I have. She just wanted to take it all away as much as the Liptons.

I loved him, I thought he could be my happy ending. All he ever cared about what his money, his name. Asher extends his hand out from a distance as I turn around with a face of disgust. His father is staring me down. I take a deep breath and walk into his arms. I must play his game until I find a plan to not lose everything I have.

http://www.eonline.com/photos/6140/gossip-girl-omg-moments/216934 (picture)

"Pack a Suitcase, Wander To The Next Town....."

Author's Note: Have you ever wanted to know the feeling of running away? Not like away from your parents as a kid because they didn't let you eat the last cookie, but away from your fears and your life full of misery. Ellie Goulding is one of my favorite singers and she explains so much in this song about living your own life and following your dreams. She inspired me to base this piece off of her song, "I'll Hold My Breath".This is my point of view paper. I know it is a little bit shorter then my normal pieces but please do enjoy.:) 

“Fight fires in your best clothes,
Touch skin with your eyes closed
Chase thunder with the volume down
Pack a suitcase, wander to the next town
Force quit on your losing streak
Solve a riddle in a magazine, be tongue in cheek
Tell me that we're still too young,
That we're still too young and I'll hold my tongue
                                                                                               
Until you see me in your dreams
We'll stay awake beneath the trees
We'll watch the buildings turn to dust
A sky of diamonds just for us
You are the risk I'll always take
The only branch I'll never break
Those fears we'll blow them all away, we'll blow them all away”- Ellie Goulding “I’ll Hold My Breath”

Take a risk with me. As you live your life, remember that you’re not young forever.Take chances and explore with me. Grab my hand and we’ll live like there is no tomorrow. Why not? We’re young, creative, bold, and so lively. That world is out there for us to be in. Learn from my courage and you will have some yourself. Put the same trust in me as I put in you. Just lean forward and let go. This world is open for us and we should take advantage of the beauteous it beholds.

I have watched you live in fear, in angst your whole life. Neither of us can bear to see you in so much pain, worry. Don’t be afraid, my friend. Come with me and I will show you all of the wonders that are right in front of your eyes. Let your dreams be your realities of tomorrow. You do have dreams, don’t you? Dreams where it’s just you and me,  while watching all of our fears  wash away behind us. Dreams that your life will be better than it is today. You just wait and see.

Life doesn’t have to be so scary! I know you have so much to be scared about, but it is all unnecessary fear. This world is fun and exciting, crazy while being serious. There is so much you haven’t seen that I can show you. Pack a suitcase, catch that flight, find the last train to Paris and take it. As long as I’m with you, everything will be alright.

This mighty world is open for us to explore, let’s take advantage of it. Our souls are earning for this freedom because, we’re not going to be young forever. Live life while you can and do not be afraid, I am with you. As you take my hand, these risks will be taken together and we will be unstoppable. Let the wind take your fears and let your hand fall into mine.

(image:http://blog.egocloset.com/2012/06/)
(song lyrics: http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/elliegoulding/illholdmybreath.html)

Where Are We Supposed to Be?

Author's Note: This is just some free write work. I looked over it again and it seems to kind of tie in with my thoughts on my "Happiness" piece , but this is a reoccurring thought that sometimes overpowers my train of thought. So I decided to make another piece on it because I can't get this thought out of my mind. Anyways, please enjoy my rambles, thank you.:)


What do we stand for? Where is our right place in this world? We all wake up in the morning to see what the day brings for us but, are we in the right place to find out? Think about it. Are we all where we are supposed to be? I don’t believe I am. I believe that there is a world out there, waiting for me to explore. I want to move away from this midwestern state and live somewhere fun, somewhere exciting. “All I know, is when I move away. My heart will stay, in this midwestern state.”-NeverShoutNever. Don’t get me wrong, I love Wisconsin and the people in it. I’ve had an amazing childhood so far in this beautiful state but, I feel like there is more out there than just living in one place your whole life, you know?

After college I want to go explore New York, City. Why not?! What an exciting place to live. I’ve been in love with it since I was a child and everything about it just seems so heartwarming to me.  Even the job opportunities are spectacular. It seems like you can do anything in New York City. It seems like the place full of opportunities. When I was younger, I’d sneak off behind my parents back and watch episodes of gossip girl. It will always and forever be my favorite show. Not just because of the scandal but because of the city, their fashion, their backdrop. They filmed pretty much everywhere in New York city and pretty much every store. The city is extraordinary and the stores are beyond brilliant. That’s where I want to be. That is where my dreams draw me towards. I feel like I could do so much there. I could be a fashion magazine editor, on broadway, or working for starbucks, I don’t know! I have so many dreams and I feel like they could all be achieved there. Is New York the place I belong in this world? I think so, but anything can change. All I know is that wherever my dreams lead me, I will follow and I hope you do the same. :)