Kurt Cobain surpasses Elvis Presley as top-earning dead celebrity

It's surprising to hear that Nirvana lead vocalist, lyricist and spiritual apex (and one of my personal idols) Kurt Cobain has surpassed Elvis "The King" Presley as the top-earning dead celebrity, earning USD $50 billion from October 2005 to October 2006, according to Forbes.com. (Read the news from Reuters here).

"Famous is the last thing I wanted to be."

Well, probably a major reason to this was because Courtney Love (Kurt's Widow) sold a 25% stake (whatever that means) to a NY music publishing company. But when there's a supply, then there must be a demand in order for Kurt's and Nirvana's music to earn that much profit.

So, yes, there must be a growing demand for Kurt's music. I, for one, am an avid fan of his musicality and lyricism, and his interesting yet tragic life story. Kurt's life wasn't as glamorous as that of Elvis (but it was probably more beautiful). He wasn't the confident performer on stage. What he had was a message, and he did his best to bring it out through music and words. Unlike Elvis, he wasn't just performing for the sake of entertaining, he was performing for the sake of getting a message across to those who listened.

"I would like to get rid of the homophobes, sexists, and racists in our audience. I know they're out there and it really bothers me."

While Elvis Presley brought about a revolution in the rock and roll music arena, Kurt Cobain transcended being just a musician and became both a political and individualist figure. He and his band, Nirvana, were pioneers (and non-conformists) in the genre of Alternative Rock / Grunge music, probably paving the way to the punk/emo bands that are so popular now. Their music was a fresh alternative from the disco pop of the late 80s, and the manufactured pop that is popular even until today. He was the (reluctant) voice of Generation X, and became one of the most revolutionary songwriters for rock music, even if he didn't intend to do so.

"Jocks have completely taken over music...And just to get back at them, I’m going to start playing basketball."

Sadly however, beautiful things have a tragic but still beautiful end. Kurt committed suicide, and left a note, but there has arisen many theories as to why Kurt chose to end his life. He might have undergone extreme depression, and must have been deluded by the influence of drugs. Many people tell different stories, and you can either believe them or leave them be. In mystery then, there is beauty.

"I'm a much happier guy than a lot of people think I am."

In the end, I guess Kurt's genius, which has influenced even me, whom he reached and touched after his death, still continues to be an inspiration to many. He generally comes across as a misunderstood guy, and some people still claim that the man has no talent, and are probably discomforted by the fact that he overtook Elvis. In response to that, well they're probably too ignorant to understand his life story and his lyrics and music. To me, however, Kurt Cobain will always be a genius, even if he dropped out of high school. Well, so did Einstein.

"I'd rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I am not."

*Image Credits c/o Google Images
All quotes by Kurt Cobain, from wikiquote.com

Personality Test

I think personality tests are a hit or miss kinda thing... I think this one is kinda accurate. I took it twice. Anyway, I don't really think personality tests are a good measure of someone. It takes experience to really know someone. Well, whatever...



My Personality

Neuroticism	3
Extraversion	57
Openness To Experience	98
Agreeableness	81
Conscientiousness	92

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Dark Angel

I guess I have some sort of escapist attitude nowadays. I tend to just wander off inside my head, detaching myself temporarily from reality, and just enjoy an imaginary moment when my responsibilities - the things I have to do - are all null and void. Well, that's just one imaginary moment. The moment the wind bites me I get a stingy, uncomfortable feeling. I'm back in reality again, and I can't help but to carry on...
So, construing from this thought, I made up another hypothetical situation, involving a fantasy I've written in quite a lot of poems already. But this time, you should read to the end, coz that's where the true feelings lie.

Dark Angel
by J. Charles Lacson

Watching my steps upon the gravel pathway,
There's nothing to look forward to on this day.
The gloom of clouds conquer my blue firmaments,
As I walk alone against the harsh elements.

After much nagging from my feet, I sit still,
On an empty wooden bench on a small hill.
I'm contented to see much of the park from here,
But I can't stop my eyes from dropping a tear.

I grasp my grey trench coat ever so tighter,
As the fog refuses to become lighter.
The park is empty save for the trees that stand,
The leaves are gone but they still appear grand.

I close my eyes as I breathe in the cold air,
Alone, it seems like no one could even care.
But footsteps fall and someone sits beside me,
My eyes open, disbelieving what I see.

Feathers as black as soot on raven-like wings,
Attached to the back of a man in black clothing,
An elegant face as pale as the fullest of moons,
And eyes upon me like perpetual monsoons.

His pallid hand, beautiful and strong, reached out,
The gesture was so strong it seemed like a shout,
But in a dark, subtle voice he enticed me,
"Come with me now and you shall never be lonely."

I drew my hand from the safety of my pocket,
And willingly grasped his offer with no regret,
The destiny that was given became clear,
A dark angel was sent to help me disappear.

image credit: Death Angel by croaky

A Career in Medicine

This is the essay that I submitted for my AMCAS (American Medical College Admissions Service) Application. Basically, it talks about why I've chosen medicine as my career, how would I be able to contribute to the profession, and how I would cope with the different challenges that I might encounter. I feel that the tone is very ambitious, and optimistic, and the overall feel of the writing is that of power, which is I think appropriate in order to impress the medical schools that I'm applying for.

Since the dawn of civilization, a lot of things have never ceased to amaze us humans. We have thirsted for more knowledge about the world where we live, but more essentially, our first questions would have been directed inwards instead of outwards. One of the wonders that still astound us until today is our physical bodies. There have been so many discoveries of the functions of our human bodies, which are wonders of nature. However, there remains to be some mysteries that we still cannot figure out, like the mechanisms of some diseases, and the quest for cures.

A career in medicine enables me to participate in this perpetual quest for the welfare of human health. It allows me to practice a profession that has been alive ever since man has known pain. Pursuing this career would give me the privilege to procure the medical knowledge that has accumulated throughout our human history, and use it or improvise from it in order to serve the society today.

Aside from the sheer privilege of practicing an age-old profession, a career in medicine would help me to contribute to society by offering services that would help people to improve their quality of life. It is a job that enables me to interact with and guide my patients, providing them assurance and support. Not only can I contribute by practicing my profession, but also by conducting research, and teaching in the academe. Medicine is a very flexible career, and I am willing to taste each aspect of it, since I believe that variety is the spice of life.

Being relentless with my passion might be challenging, but it is a challenge with much reward. Evidently, medicine is a lucrative business, because people always tend to get sick. However, money is just a piece of the pie. The greater rewards of being a doctor is a respectable status of intellect and skill. A doctor is forever a learner - the opportunity to acquire new knowledge does not stop after medical school, or even after postgraduate studies. I am attracted to gain these "rewards", so I expect that the challenge that awaits me will be worth it.

Becoming a medical doctor is my childhood dream, and it still continues to drive my passions as I compel myself to do all that is required to do in order to become what I have dreamed of becoming. As a little boy, I was amazed by doctors and what they do. I was keen to observe my grandfather, who was a family doctor, and I was also very observant of doctors when I would go to the hospital for a check-up. I would be very interested in all their actions, and I would sometimes ask some questions. Therefore, I am led to assert that the medical practice sparks my interest, and in order to feed my interest, I have committed myself to a career in medicine.

Though I have exposed myself to many experiences both related and unrelated to medicine, I still cannot imagine myself working in any other profession. Aside from academic concerns, I have also encountered myself to various extra-curricular activities, most notably as the Chairman of my University's Commission on Elections, and as a delegate to the 6th and 7th LaSallian Youth Congresses which were held in Australia and Hong Kong, respectively. These congresses fostered advocacy on the teachings of St. John Baptist de La Salle, the patron of teachers. I also maintain a good set of hobbies, such as playing the piano and writing poetry, which help me to develop my own sense of artistry. Ultimately, I envision a future as a doctor who is not at all robotic, but instead is a diverse human being with a dynamic array of experiences that could help him connect to society. Medicine might be my priority, but it's not the only thing I could do.

Lastly, as Premed Physics student, I am well aware that medicine is progressing very rapidly alongside with technology. As new innovations are made, so are new techniques and approaches to medicine. In the future, my generation, Generation Y, the so-called "masters of technology," will take its turn in ruling society. Together with this, I envision technology to be highly integrated into most, if not all, professions, most especially in medicine. It will not only be used in treatment of diseases, but also in patient-doctor relations. I am excited and willing to take the challenge of integrating technology into medicine. Having studied medical physics, I wish to participate actively in this exhilarating revolution in my chosen profession.

As conclusion, medicine is a highly dynamic career that continues to evolve - sometimes slowly, sometimes as whimsical as a hummingbird changing its path during flight. What I could probably promise to achieve the most is to evolve along with medicine, and to continue serving the society by saving lives and improving the quality of living. I might come across as ambitious, but without ambition, man knows no success.

The First Songs I Ever Wrote

This was probably one of the first songs that I've ever written. It's dated August 10, 2002, which is more than four years ago.
During that time my absolute favourite artist was Vanessa Carlton. I was a junior in high school, which was the time when I started carrying this small notebook around and I wrote songs and poetry in it.

Off the Beaten Track

Words and Music by J. Charles Lacson

Leaves are falling -- it's autumn's subject.
And a smiles comes inverted.
Whilst I'm off the beaten track,
Why do I smirk when I'm confused?

It's summer outside,
Yet I feel so cold beside the hearth.
The spirit is unsatisfied,
So what will fill the heart?

I'm off the beaten track,
It won't stop till a heart attack.
And I'm just scared,
I'm so afraid;
I've no friends,
And it's not my trend.

I'm in a hurricane,
Swirling around.
It's so mundane.
To not know what to do

I know I won't pass away,
But 'coz' of me I die.
I'm off the beaten track,
And I just don't know how to get back.

I'm off the beaten track,
I'm not sure if I will go back.
And I'm uncertain,
But I don't care,
About anything anyhow.

I'm off the beaten track,
What should I do to get me back?
I'm a pessimist,
I can't persist.
But I hope to be
Right back to where
The right track's beneath me.

As you can see, my writing style is very different. Here it comes off as very immature and straightforward and unconcealing. Even my process of writing back then was very different. I would actually write a song with a tune in my mind. Back then I had finished a summer course with the organ, but I never really wrote any songs with piano accompaniment till a year later - in 2003. When it comes to the topic of the song, typical angst, but somehow less subtle and more blunt than what I have now. During that time, I was in a conflict with my peer group. I only had a few people who I could really count on.

This next song is the first one I ever wrote with piano accompaniment. It follows the same process I do today: I write the lyrics first, then get a tune on the piano, and then I combine it. The song is more positive than the first, but the writing style is still quite rudimentary. It is more subtle, but not cryptive or uber-symbolic. This song is dated April 25, 2003, and I think I was in the middle of piano classes when I wrote this.

Looks Like This Guy Could Fly
By J. Charles Lacson

I was walking a regular path,
Singing to a familiar tune.
It was a warm day in June,
And there was someone interesting to look at.

He was like any other guy,
But he had wings to fly.
And he just darted out to anywhere,
And I sat wondering there.

It looks like this guy could fly,
His only limit is the sky.
Maybe someday I'll follow his wing,
But now this song I'll sing.

It looks like this guy could fly,
Maybe I can give it a try.
I'll just think about the success I'll bring,
And just maybe I'll grow wings.

But then the guy landed right next to me,
And put his hand right in front of me.
I was shocked to see him right there,
His perfection under my glare.

I took his hand, and we started flying,
Up in the sky, till I grew my own wings.
And I was surprised to have done so well,
I was nervous if I was doing swell.

It looks like this guy could fly,
His only limit is the sky,
And now I've taken wing,
With this song I sing.

It looks like this guy could fly,
I did give it a try,
I thought about the success I'd bring,
And then surely, I grew wings.

It looks like I could fly,
My only limit's the sky.
Maybe someday you can take wing,
But now this song you should sing.

So... that's a little history of my songwriting for you. More discussion next time! Hehehe.

*image credits: Down the Beaten Path by mintyfresh114
glompable angel bishie XD by aelithe
c/o DeviantArt