yellow diamonds in the light | and we're standing side by side.

ok. no denying. rihanna kills this. this video could not be more perfect. and i don't care if you like rihanna, this style of music, drugs, dance hall, djs, or any of the above. this song, video, and heart wreck must resonate with you. 
at first, seemingly romantic, and beautiful... and until you listen a few times, you can't understand the love that she wants to relinquish... that's over. the video was shot in ireland - amazing - and i do think that is what helps me connect with it. torn. starkly beautiful. harsh, and open to suck us in.
the whole production was directed by Melina Matsoukas - arguably one of my favourite directors of all time. she directed my favourite lady gaga video - beautiful, dirty, rich - as well as 'shake your money maker' with luda ft. pharrell (omg i love pharrell), and more more more. she's good y'all.
she has, along with rihanna, commented on the obvious resemblance to rihanna's relationship that was so highly publicized. parents aren't happy, tv stations aren't either - but really.... let's face it: the dangers of toxic dependancies (both relationship and chemical) should be highly publicized, and then talked about. 
Matsoukas told MTV News. "I think because, in the end, it's not really at all about domestic violence. It's really just about it being toxic, and they're on this drug trip and that definitely plays a part, but I think it's also about being triumphant over those weaknesses, and she leaves him. It's not trying to glorify that type of relationship. The bad parts of it, that's what you don't want. In the end, her leaving, it represents her getting that out of her life. The drugs and the addiction and the toxic -- that's what brings her downfall and brings a lot of harm."
Rhianna's also made comment about the song... that i think also either subconsciously, or intelligently subtly, indicates her feelings on not simply the music, but the tone of the lyrics as well. "It makes you feel so good, like you're lost in electricity or love or whatever it is, you're lost in it," she said about the track. (mtv.com)
i'm not a critic, i'm not a music expert - i'm not even close to anything resembling an art director, and shouldn't be commenting on videos, and how they connect with music. but i will say this - for anyone who has ever had a tumultuous relationship, who understands how easy it is to say, 'just leave', and anyone who realizes that love complicates things just as much as it creates beauty in the every day.... this video is for us.
(plus - she pukes streamers. c'mon people. that's GENIUS)
"it's like you're screaming, and no one can hear. you almost feel ashamed that someone could be that important, that without them you feel like nothing. no one will ever understand how much it hurts. you feel hopeless, like nothing can save you. and when it's over and it's gone, you almost wish that you could have all that bad stuff back, so that you could have the good."
"Yellow diamonds in the light | And we're standing side by side | As your shadow crosses mine | What it takes to come alive | It's the way I’m feeling I just can't deny | But I've gotta let it go | We found love in a hopeless place | We found love in a hopeless place | We found love in a hopeless place | We found love in a hopeless place | Shine a light through an open door | Love and life I will divide | Turn away cause I need you more | Feel the heartbeat in my mind | It's the way I'm feeling I just can't deny | But I’ve gotta let it goWe found love in a hopeless place | We found love in a hopeless place | We found love in a hopeless place | We found love in a hopeless place | Yellow diamonds in the light | And we're standing side by side | As your shadow crosses mine... | We found love in a hopeless place | We found love in a hopeless place | We found love in a hopeless place | We found love in a hopeless placeWe found love in a hopeless place | We found love in a hopeless place | We found love in a hopeless place | We found love in a hopeless place"

edit: found this video.... not sure how... but this version is STUNNING.

my (uber productive) weekend in summary

this weekend was one for gettin' shit done. and i did. big time. felt. so. good.
 flowers from a friend, who knows i've been having a 'particularly frustrating' month at work; sausage and beer with charm - best. friday. ever; and my sparkle cozy from starbucks... for beer coolness maintenence!; fooseball with denver and friends on saturday; the beauty of a coffee shop in the sun. love.
Friday: After a particularly frustrating day at work, I met up with denver after work, to stop at aboveground art supplies, and pick up some... supplies. we chatted, and i got ready at home to meet charm, and then drove denver home. stopped at urban outfitters, where they were having a sale, and got a SMASHING blazer-ish, for $20. yessss amaze. then met charm, for some sausage and beer. Yes. You heard me right. Sausage. We went to wurst on king street, and enjoyed the giant sausage fest. Had some beer, chatted lots, and laughed a ton, while enjoying the company of the incredibly handsome bartender. As well as old school beats. So much so, that we vowed to make it a regular Friday thing. Food was AWESOME. I then drove charm home, and got home in time to get into bed at midnight. MIDNIGHT. What a glorious weekend bedtime.
Saturday: woke up at noon (yes – you heard/read me. 12 hours of sleep), and packed up in time to meet denver and his friends at the Gladstone while they finished up brunch. Then went to see daniel’s new place, and THEN denver’s cousin eric’s new place. We walked back, and I then spent the afternoon working on various new and exciting projects (more details to come - hint hint, re:claim work in progress, live and in living colour). NOT AWESOME: I was at the bell jar, which I CLEARLY wanted to love as a result of it’s reference to my favourite sylvia plath, and their free internet? Not so free after about 40 minutes. Fan-effin-tastic. So I packed up in a huff, and left. And went to starbucks. I then planned on meeting friends out for drinks and dinner, but I wasn’t feeling 100%, so instead I sat at home, had a nap(ish), and watched Philadelphia, and part of where the wild things are (those both being part of my ‘weekend movie stack’). Then, my landlords invited me up for hockey, cheese, wine, and hangover part 2. Love love love.
Sunday: slept in – again (yessssss!), and then cleaned a bit, and packed up for a day of work. Spent 6 hours in starbucks, working my buns off, and then went home, to bead, organize, clean, talk to my sisters (and play phone tag with my cousin – more than we already have), make Christmas gifts (ahhhhhh!!!!) and catch another mouse with my landlord. Watched zoolander, the rest of where the wild things are, and about a boy. Made lunches for the week, and cleaned the shit out of my apt. organized like a crazy person, and got my inspiration boards up. Felt. So. Good. but then, as usual, got to bed WAY too late. Alas. All in a weekend’s work for me.
Hope everyone had a FANTASTIC weekend. last of the fall (ish) weather!

we remember

image from weheartit.com/
today is a day. a day within the year to explicitly remember what those incredible members of our country and organizations did for us. to remind us that we should remember all year long.
to those, we thank you.
In Flanders fields the poppies blow | Between the crosses, row on row | That mark our place; and in the sky | The larks, still bravely singing, fly | Scarce heard amid the guns below | We are the Dead. Short days ago | We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow | Loved and were loved, and now we lie | In Flanders fields | Take up our quarrel with the foe | To you from failing hands we throw | The torch; be yours to hold it high. | If ye break faith with us who die | We shall not sleep, though poppies grow | In Flanders fields
please always remember. please never forget.