This live version shows that audience was just as entertained as I was while listening to this. "Rule Number one don't fuck with the bees" I like that rules were not just man made rules, but rules that you learn yourself. I enjoyed very much the sorry about the women and her nipples running away from her ex-husband. "Just wear my pajamas and walk in my dreams instead" I love it because so many people face things they don't want to but if you walked in someone dreams you might find out who they really are. This too must have been an older poem because Shane Koyczan looks different and still doesn't have a beard. I like that if someone is telling you not to have hopes or dreams to not listen and that they "are full of shit". We should stand together and we should cherish every moment because we are just like that women in the hospital we are just visiting.
Words are powerful when written down, but even more so when they are spoken. Shane Koyczan, a native Canadian, is a spoken word poet. I will share with you his poems and what I take from them. Spoken word has been around for many centuries and usually focuses on the words themselves and the way they sound, the gestures that a person uses with the words, and facial expressions. It brings feelings back to words in a society where technology has muted them.
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
Monday, October 14, 2013
"Write Me a Bedroom Where Cures Make Love to Our Cancers"
This is the first time I have heard a mashup between Shane Koyczan and a musical artist. I enjoyed it very much. The visual of Shane Koyczan's mother trying to cut her legs off and the blood leaking onto white floors, floors of innocent. Dan Mangan introduction was soothing, enjoyed his voice and after Shane Koyczan had finished and began singing again how he sang about the person passing away. I feel that Shane Koyczan is in pain as his voice struggles over certain words and I feel that Dan Mangan is helping him through this. I like that the singing parts relate to the readings, I originally thought it would be a little scattered, but it's not at all they both fit perfectly with one another. I began crying at the end of it because everyone wants the person who is passing away to stay. I feel that the song wouldn't work without the poem and the poem wouldn't work without the song. Trying to move on from this piece after this is going to rough, I feel like I am mourning with both of them, as if I knew Shane Koycan's mother and I need to mourn her too.
Friday, October 11, 2013
"Skywaitress..."
When selecting this poem I looked at the first screen and thought, "This one ought to be good", because some of the things that Shane Koyczan says in his poems are absolutely funny while others can be moving. When he opened with wanting to have an octopus as a wingman I about died from laughter and then to continue with the story about wanting to gain revenge on a women from something said when he was a baby. I love that he wanted to bring 'grody' back and brought up different way to say it. I love the magic trick thought and the animation thought bubble that went with the audience. I love his analogies and his thoughts and that the animation was the primarily him in the center and just adding things and taking things away. Four minutes of Shane Koyczan thoughts I must admit was the best four minutes I have spent on Youtube.
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
"There Has Never Been a Bank That Will Give Out a Loan Based On The Collateral of Hope"
I decided to anther one from the CD I own with his poems on them, at first I was confused because on the CD none of Shane Koyczan's poems have music to them, which I like because I get a feel for the words rather than the music. However, the person who made this video decided to put a piano opening and through the poem. This is personally one of my favorite poems by him and to have someone put a piano to it really bothers me. This poem is about someone who has Alzheimer's and he doesn't remember that his wife has passed away and confused his daughter for her wife. The daughter plays along, which is why is she wearing her mother's wedding ring. The poem is heart wrenching to think that someone has to go through this, but to think that love could be so strong to pt yourself through this just to ensure that they are happy and at piece.
Monday, October 7, 2013
"In Your Absence I Find Value"
The opening of this is so relatable for me, "shoulders to lean on are hard to come by. I know because there were times I would have broken my own neck just so that I'd have one of my own to cry own." I feel that everyone has been in a place in there life where they feel alone and they want someone to talk to and yet no one is around so you just cry alone. I am confused whether or not this is a recent break up poem or if he trying to find a way to tell someone that he still loves and cares for them. In away maybe it's both, they broke up and they are trying to find away to still be in each others life. I love visual of his eyeballs and how he is stopping himself from crying from everyday. I like the excerpt that sounded as if he stopped and just talked to her "or do that thing that drives you crazy and by that, I mean you literally for crazy when I call you 'cranky pants'". A part of me hopes that everything works out and I don't even know if this is based on a true story, but looking back on a past poem "Strawberries" it is.
Friday, October 4, 2013
"Listen."
I wasn't sure, at first, if this was even Shane Koyczan until I heard him speak. He has changed drastically through the years and let's face it without the iconic beard it's hard to recognize him. I liked that with every time he said "hit" he snapped it added an affected. I noticed the drastic differences with this poem and more recent ones, this one is harder to understand when he speeds up, many time I had to rewind and listen again. I like that no matter what Beethoven did it was viewed as "not good enough" but he was cheered by Kings and Queens. I must admit that this poem was one of my least favorites of Shane Koyczan's poems so far. I still think it's well written just not well executed.
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
"Pain is Part of The Human Condition and That Alone Makes You A Legion"
This is yet another poem with lyrics on the screen. I like that the intro withheld the music until after the cold truth of "there will be days", I liked it because at first I thought "gee thanks" but then the music started I thought "well I can get through them". I like that each sentence was short and sweet, each one leaving an impression that last. I like that with each short sentence it's explained how you can "be" each of those things. The word choice for each one is empowering in some way. What I love most about this poem is that it reminds you that you aren't alone in the world that there are in fact other people that are going through bad days too and it's okay to go and talk to them. Each one of the "Be" things offer a wise fortune cookie advice after them and I am awe struck by each one. I like that if you are having a good day he reminds you "be considerate" because other people may not be having a good day. In this poem i find myself taken away by the words, at times I forget that there is music in the background. The ending how the poem faded out and the music just stopped left me in silence, I must admit I replayed this video many times just so that I could relax and I will again if I am having a bad day because it put me in an amazing mood.
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