“What is written without effort is in general read without pleasure.” – Samuel Johnson
Posts tagged Storytellers
Storytellers – Kevin Rudolf “I Made It”
Apr 22nd
Song is ridiculously catchy in its own right, but it’s a great song and I don’t know too many songs that get me sooo hyped up. But for the most part, it’s a pretty straightforward song about how to overcome obstacles to accomplish a dream.
For me, the song is my reminder that I’ve made it pretty far from where I consider the officially beginning of my dreams — sophomore year of high school.
See I don’t live for glamour. I don’t care for fame. I’m in this for the love of the game. Funny how things can change, they didn’t believe then and now they’re calling my name. Now looked who cashed in…
I always got a lot of crap in high school about not living up to potential and all that pointless rhetoric they fed you in high school. That is my fault, however, to say that success is defined by who did well in those four years of life, never really hit me. And I was about proving the perception wrong. (For those who care, my GPA was 3.1 weighted and 2.7 raw, good enough for 211 out of 400+ in the class of 2004. My SAT score was less than 900, but my ACT score was relatively good at 29.) Then I also channeled a little bit of jealously to see all of my friend graduating in their white gowns as “honor graduates.” I put the chip on my shoulder and immediately went to work at becoming what I wanted to become — a sports writer.
I planned a course of action that allowed me to graduate in 3 1/2 years with a major and a minor. I rose to the position of sports editor by my third year for the student paper. But the satisfaction wasn’t only in getting those accomplishments done. The satisfaction is that I didn’t need anyone to keep pushing me forward. I wanted it bad enough and I wanted to take it away. The challenge went up and I found a way around it. Think of it as a fighter who gets stronger as the fight goes on. I noticed people around me struggling to keep themselves motivated, struggling to raise their desire levels. Struggling to find reason to come to school other than the lure of getting paid bank because a job paid well. Out of my group of high school friends, I can only think of one person that wanted it just as much, if not more, as I did and he’s in medical school and he’s going to make it.
My life isn’t about status or money unlike people. I’m in this business because I love it. The greatest feeling was walking across that stage and taking the bow that I wanted to take again. I made the Dean’s List three times during my time at UNLV and I was .5 percent away from securing straight A’s. I finished with a 3.47 GPA.
So what was different? Well, having people doubt me initially was one.
Then less than three months after I graduated, I found a job and started working in Utah — close to home in the field I wanted.
I still look up at the sky from time to time and I think to myself, I made it.
It can get better, but I made it.
Paul Delos Storytellers #3 — “Over” – Drake
Mar 22nd
What am I doing? What am I doing? Oh yeah. That’s right I’m doing me.
Funny thing about Drake’s music is that I have a way to relate to it despite the fact that he’s talking about his dream life of being a multimillionaire musical superstar. I guess it comes from working in an industry that is very subjective like the music industry.
But this song “Over” is just a nice track by Drake (one of those love ‘em or hate ‘em artist), is a song about him focusing on the life around him and doing what he likes to do — entertain.
He doesn’t care what people say or what they do. He’s living a great life, and so am I. I’m living a life, but at the same time, like Drake in the song, you can’t be too complacent. You want to keep pushing the limits and keep going up. Just because he’s already on top of the musical world (in his eyes), he’s going to keep going until it’s over.
The same can go for me and writing. I know I’m good (a moment of conceit? I have them from time to time), but I know I have to get better and keep improving to build the legend of me. Hey, what can I say? Drake is one of those artist I like listening to and I will always listen to.
I’m sure, I’ll listen write about “Forever” by Drake, Kanye, Wayne and Em, but for now, I’ll enjoy this Drake track. The line:
It’s far from over.
Can’t be any true for me. I still got a long time to build.
Paul Delos Storytellers Song No. 2
Feb 26th
So I would be lying if I didn’t say I wear emotions on my sleeves. Just the way I am. It’s one of the reason I’m the way I am. Under most circumstances, I am not afraid to let you know how I feel. Key word most, but that’s another story to be told.
But whenever I feel down, I’m pretty sure this song is played on repeat for a couple of times within the day. The Cudder himself provides a song with he tells a story of a person dealing with emotions, problems in his life that at times can get overwhelming.
Nothing beats the opening line of the song:
I’ve got 99 problems, and they all bitches.
Sounds like something I’d say.
What makes the song key in the storytellers soundtrack of Paul Delos is the hook of the song. It basically captures the down days in my life.
“I’ve got some issues that nobody can see. And all of these emotions are pouring out of me. I’d bring them to the light for you, it’s only right. This is the soundtrack to my life.”
I think we all have our issues, and we deal with them in different ways. Kid Cudi raps/sings a song about how he will put all of his problems to the forefront through song. I bring out my issues through writing. We all have it, and the song is just a reminder on how we all find ways to deal with the issues around us.
I’ve learned how to deal with most of my issues. At least, I like to believe so, and that I can live my life productively to the point where I don’t let things distract me from the things that matter: making money, hanging out with friends and, more importantly, writing for the three loyal fans of this blog. I figured the song would be a good addition to the Paul Delos Storytellers collection.
Alright, I promise the next song will concern a happy topic. So look for it, soon.
Paul Delos Storytellers Song No. 1
Feb 22nd
Song No. 1: Skywalker -- Orange & Gray
Storytellers is a great thing I’ve always loved watching on VH1, hearing stories about songs and why they were written. Well, I don’t write songs. Can’t write songs. I figured if I’m going to go write Storytellers, I’m going to write about songs, stories and other things I like, and say what they mean to me.
So, the first song in the Storytellers is a song that I discovered in 2008, thanks to my friend Nathan Viloria, who introduced me to this awesome band Skywalker from Oxnard, Calif. Too bad the band isn’t still together, but that’s another thing, this song “Orange and Gray,” is actually my ringtone on my phone — the non-acoustic version.
The song is about the city of Los Angeles, but I think it can apply to any major city. When I hear this song, I think of the sky at the sunset and I see those colors in the sky. I hear this song and I think of everything about Las Vegas. Lines in the song can relate to situations in my life. It’s one of those things, where I don’t like talking about them other than I grew up from those situations and moved on from them.
My favorite line from the song? “Some many words to say, to describe the colors orange and gray.” Orange and gray also happen to be two of my favorite colors.
I guess what I’m trying to say is I miss Vegas.
That’s what I got for now. Not what I expected, but I hope it provides something better than what I’ve been posting.