An open post to all my friends online, on all my social networks, from Twitter to Tumblr to Facebook to Google+:
I know I have many followers/circlers who have beliefs different from my own, and I think that's awesome. I see posts from some of you that are the polar opposite of my own choices & beliefs and I do my best to not reply to those in a combative manner; usually I just let them go uncommented on, because I value and respect the diversity of humanity.
You post what you want to and I will do the same.
Humans are now 7 billion people from all over the world, from different cultures, different religions, different political systems. Of course we will have differing viewpoints!
I will go ahead and love you all as you are, beautiful in variety, intricate in diversity, noble in the abilities of tolerance, respect, and compassion for one another.
You are awesome just as you are. I will not demonize you for what you are or for your religious beliefs; I hope the same is true of you towards me.
What a boring existence it would be if we were all alike, conforming to a short set of beliefs or ideals, all with similar backgrounds and experiences. Far better to embrace the massive complexity that is the human experience.
My mom was impressive. When I was 11, very late at night (ok 1am) after waiting up for her to get home from her second-shift job, I asked her to fill me in on this birds-and-bees business. (No internet to look up such things like nowadays, in the 70s information was much harder to come by, especially if you were younger.) So, as tired as she was, she just sighed and pulled a pad of paper over and started to sketch out, from memory, a human uterus, and used that to explain the whole deal. So that's the sort of mother I had: talented enough to be able to sketch a womb properly, from memory; willing to spend time to teach her daughter in the middle of the night after work; intelligent enough to remember the details of human reproduction, with no warning. (You might think 11 is a bit young but I was precocious and an avid reader, well into books intended for adults already, such as 'The Good Earth' and 'Forever Amber' to name a couple.) Love you mom, I miss you and your laughter often.
Today someone told me I was 'the mistress of all things awesome'. You see, I belong to a fan group for Peter and Evynne Hollens, who are a married couple who are full-time professional musicians, vocalists mostly, who are intentionally independent of recording labels. They successfully produce and sell their own music, marketing it with YouTube videos. They are exceptionally talented. I wouldn't blame you a bit if you, dear reader, chose to Google their names as soon as you finish reading this very blog entry. Now, this fan group is a full of exceptional and kind people from all over the world whom I feel very close to; the group is a wonderful online 'place' where I always feel welcome and happy, a 'place' full of warm memories and good friends. This group is special to me, I have always, from the day I arrived, felt like I belong there...almost like I was the missing puzzle piece, it just all...came together. I am 48 years old, and this is the first time in my life I have felt like I have truly 'found my tribe', that these people, this 'place' online...is the place where I belong. Feeling that safe and happy, I post things there often. Probably too frequently, actually, but I haven't heard any complaints yet. :) And today was no different. I posted a post that tied a few loose ideas together.
"Annnnd then this happened yesterday: Look at the random awesome comment on this G+ post of 'Geek and Sundry' which has to do with Felicia Day, who was the creator of "The Guild" web-series among many other awesome geek, gamer, and acting accomplishments..... Felicia Day was one of the awesome reasons Peter [Hollens] got such a boost from his Skyrim collab with Lindsey [Stirling], too. Oh, Felicia was in 'Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog' too, THAT is a great, great piece of art, that web-movie."
And one of the group members, Brenna J. Sullivan, liked my post so much she let me know:
"Dr Horrible, Felicia Day, Geek & Sundry, Peter Hollens, Lindsey Stirling and Skyrim all in one post... Robin you're the mistress of all things awesome!! Well done!!"
How cool is that?! 'Mistress of all things awesome'. That could be so many things: an epic book title, a sweet blog title...if I become a superhero, do you think its too long to be my superhero name? I wonder what my husband will think of it...?
This afternoon, my dentist had his thumb in my mouth, holding a temporary crown in place as the adhesive set...as he watched the Star Wars Medley playing on my tablet on his counter. I was in the dentist chair for an hour and a half and the entire time, had playing the excellent music videos of Peter Hollens and his wife Evynne Hollens. It always makes me feel so good to talk about the Hollens'!! I don't know why, but its just the best feeling...gleeful...helping people to find their music, their art, their vlogs...and the Hollens' themselves: adorable young married couple Peter Hollens and Evynne Hollens. They are professional musicians who make their living off of their stellar musical abilities. I have myself found so much comfort and joy from their music and from getting to know who they are. Of course I want to help others to gain the benefits of knowing about them and their spectacular art, as well.
Now, my dental visits in the past were a little frustrating; I would talk about the Hollens music, but with piped-in office music, I never used my tablet those other times to actually display their music. And you cannot really verbally talk to the dentist about...much...because your mouth is full of drills, tools and fingers.
But THIS time, today, I went with a plan: I told them my music helps keep me calm, so they turned down the office speaker so I could have the tablet playing Peter and Evynne Hollens videos, on the counter.
Since I don't own headphones yet, I couldn't hear the music during drilling but each time the drill stopped there were Peter's and Evynne's voices, comforting me.
I was surprised to find I wasn't actually fibbing: I was actually calmer during the procedures (including the Novocaine needles, WAY less painful) and the dentist himself noticed a significant differencein a couple ways: something about me usually requires several tries at making dental impressions before they got a good one, three or four times. But today with Hollens' voices comforting me, two different dental impressions, each perfect the first try. The dentist also said my tongue seemed to stay out of the way better today than ever before. [Ok, doc, whatever.]
He not only said he hopes I always bring my music back every time to my dental visits, he and the hygienist both intend to get to know the Hollens music much better on YouTube.
I didn't have to say anything to get them 'hooked' on Hollens' music, you know: their music speaks for itself. I just answer a few questions as they come up.
Peter Hollens and Evynne Hollens each have their own YouTube channels where they create high quality music videos, and each song cover is available for sale directly from them at Loudr.fm .
Evynne Hollens has both music videos as well as vlogs about their daily normal lives on her channel and she has an awesome three-octave vocal range. I love how low she goes in her cover of 'Let It Go' a song from Disney's 'FROZEN' movie.
Peter Hollens has over 65 music videos on his YouTube channel, including several duets with Evynne as well as collaborations with other YouTube musicians. Peter specializes in doing intricate a cappella: he typically records himself performing the parts of a song 60, 80 or over 120 times then overlaps them together, creating works of depth and complexity. Peter earned a music degree in college and has just under four octaves in his vocal range.
This is her description of what goes on at her place regularly, and this was as a comment on an article about another haunted house that would involve, among other things "ghastly visage lurking behind you in the bathroom mirror". (thus her reference):
=========== "Trying to decide how I feel about this. We don't have any visual surprises, but we definitely have the footsteps, occasional odd noises ... and a regular parade of completely distinctive aromas at odd times and for no reason."
"Fresh baked bread, chocolate chip cookies, butterscotch pudding, pipe tobacco smoke, fresh cut grass (in the dead of winter), flowers, perfume, and very rarely -- gasoline and the under-the-hood smell of a car engine."
"These usually come around after midnight -- like someone dropping by to say "hello." They all feel friendly and interesting, A "ghastly visage lurking behind you in the bathroom mirror" though ... um, I'm not so sure."
"Oh, and I forgot. Every once in a very great while one of us will get "spritzed" on the arm ... as if with a flower mister ... and there is actually a fine spray of water there when you wipe it off. I'm not sure what that's all about. "
December 12, 2013 Peter Hollens Turns Up The Heat With YouTube Cover of 'I See Fire'
Peter Hollens' latest creation is a masterpiece video cover of the intense Ed Sheeran song 'I SEE FIRE' from "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug" in intricate a cappella with body percussion.
Exhibiting dedication to his art, Peter Hollens typically records himself performing the parts of a song 60, 80 or over 120 times then overlaps them together, creating musical works of depth and complexity. Peter's version of 'I See Fire' was created with 98 vocal tracks as well as additional tracks of body percussion.
Incredibly haunting, soul-stirring themes of impending tragedy are depicted in both the heartbreaking lyrics and their skilled delivery by Peter Hollens; the expert lighting and cinematography serve to emphasize a fiercely desperate situation.
Providing all of the sounds himself alone, this begins with a single voice then slowly increases in its complexity, dozens of layers of a cappella vocals and body percussion increasing to such a subtle yet intense climax that the sudden ending...causes you to suspect you've been away on an epic adventure and surprised that you made it safely home.
Peter's videos, including this one, usually display several inset scenes of him creating the various sounds that accompany the lyrics in place of instruments; it is fascinating to see how it all comes together to create the elaborate result. He says, "I try to show people how I make the sounds because otherwise they don't believe it."
Peter Hollens is a professional vocalist in Eugene, Oregon. He has an impressive vocal range, more than four octaves; he often produces music in the style of intricate solo a cappella with beatboxing; one of his standard catchphrases on his videos is "all the sounds you hear are made with the human voice and mouth".
Peter chooses not to sign a contract with a record label, and he believes it is no longer necessary for artists/musicians to become successful by 'being discovered' or by participating in reality TV shows. "I purposely have no desire to ever do that," he said.
His music is available for purchase at iTunes or at Loudr for as little as a dollar. Artists receive a larger percentage of sales when purchased via Loudr than any other purchasing interface. Loudr offers MP3, FLAC, and Apple Lossless formats.
While the video is playing, click the cog at bottom to increase the audio & video quality to HD; High Definition may cause lag if viewed on a portable device.
Lyrics to "I See Fire"
Oh, misty eye of the mountain below Keep careful watch of my brothers' souls And should the sky be filled with fire and smoke Keep watching over Durin's sons
If this is to end in fire Then we should all burn together Watch the flames climb higher into the night
Calling out father, oh, stand by and we will Watch the flames burn auburn on The mountain side
And if we should die tonight We should all die together Raise a glass of wine for the last time Calling out father oh, Prepare as we will Watch the flames burn auburn on The mountainside
Desolation comes upon the sky
Now I see fire Inside the mountain I see fire Burning the trees And I see fire Hollowing souls I see fire Blood in the breeze And I hope that you remember me
Oh, should my people fall then Surely I'll do the same Confined in mountain halls We got too close to the flame Calling out father Hold fast and we will Watch the flames burn auburn on The mountainside
Desolation comes upon the sky
Now I see fire Inside the mountain I see fire Burning the trees And I see fire Hollowing souls I see fire Blood in the breeze And I hope that you remember me
And if the night is burning I will cover my eyes For if the dark returns then My brothers will die And as the sky's falling down It crashed into this lonely town And with that shadow upon the ground I hear my people screaming out
And I see fire Inside the mountains I see fire Burning the trees I see fire Hollowing souls I see fire Blood in the breeze
I see fire Oh, you know I saw a city burn and I... And I see fire Feel the heat upon my skin (fire) And I see fire Woohoohoooooooo (fire) And I see fire Burn auburn on the mountainside
