Blog #9

For this blog I'm straying from the path a little bit. I'm going to be talking about a play I saw and do a review on it.

The play was called "Proud" by Micheal Healey. The play was fantastic, It surprised me because I didn't know a play about Canadian politics could be so funny. The actors were absolutely hysterical.
 The way these actors played their parts was very on point. Actor Ross McMillan played the part of Canada's Prime Minister, Stephen Harper.

He was amazing in the sense that he had Harper's schtick down to an art, his body language, tone of voice, and the way he acted is what really made this play stick out from the other plays have seen before. There was a lot of profanity in it is one thing I would have switched out of there. I hope that if an American sees this play I wouldn't want them to think people representing Canada use offensive language like that...... often.

I was very hesitant about going to this play. I don't like plays, I never have. Although, this play taught me about the way politics work in Canada which is something I never knew about nor did I care about politics. As a result I would highly recommend this play for a good laugh as well as an understanding of just what the heck goes on inside the House of Commons.

After the actors did a talkback session to answer questions about the play. This made the play much better in the sense that if you didn't understand anything about the play it could be clarified or just questions about the play itself. Someone asked Ross  "How do you get into character?" and he explained that he would watch sever videos, interviews and look at pictures of Prime Minister Stephen Harper and eventually Ross said "Sometimes, I never get out of character. I go home in curl up in my bed and my wife says 'Honey, you're doing it again.' It's something I need to work on."

Bottom line, it was a fantastic show and I would definitely recommend it to everyone....age 18 and over.  

Blog # 8

Different types of Metal music, which one is my favourite, and why.  

These are only a few of the types of the Metal music that I listen to.

- Heavy Metal
- Thrash Metal
- Black Metal
- Death Metal
- Speed Metal
- Metalcore
- Doom Metal
- Groove Metal
- Gothic Metal
- Glam Metal
- Prog Metal
- Nu Metal
- Folk Metal
- Power Metal
- Neoclassical Metal

People need to realize that Metal is genre but there are many, many sub genres. Metal is a very broad type of music, but to the general public it's a bunch of nutcases playing instruments they don't know how to use and obviously by my list above you can see that Metal really is a wide genre. 

The best sub genre is (in my opinion)  Metalcore which essentially is my favourite 2 types of music mixed together, Metal and Hardcore go together like peanut butter and jelly. I like Metalcore because of it's melodic sound and positive message. Metalcore bands such as I the Breather, August Burns Red, Escape the Fate, Northlane, For Today, the list goes on and on. Metalcore brings together the sound of Metal and the belonging of Hardcore. Most Metalcore bands come out side and talk to the fans after their concerts to show how much they care about their fans. This I know from personal experience. 

Anyways, 

Thanks for reading!  

Blog # 7

Well, ghosts and ghouls. Since today is Halloween it only seems appropriate that I talk about the connection between gothic/ Halloween themed music (Metal) and my favourite holiday of the entire year, yes, more than Christmas. 

Metal more than Hardcore holds a pretty similar connection to the "Halloween scene" per say. For example, the whole skulls and black clothing shtick holds a special place in every MetalHead's heart, as corny as that sounds. I think Halloween is a holiday for people to get in touch with their inner dark side, which is exactly what Metal music does for it's listeners. 

A great example would be the band Slipknot, although they are pretty well known in the Metal scene. Their whole personality is surrounded around the fact that they wear masks when they perform. So, basically the same thing, except, I'm pretty sure Slipknot doesn't go door to door asking for candy, they play aggressive music instead. 

Halloween was always my favourite holiday growing up as a kid, the candy, the costumes, being outside at night and last but certainly not least the scary movies on TV leading up to Halloween. Most of the time I watch the cheesey children's cartoon movies that I used to watch as kid, for nostalgia reasons, obviously. The movies Halloweentown and the Halloween tree made me realize "Yeah, Halloween isn't 

scary, it's cool!" From a very young age. 

I really think that was my first signs of being interested in the Metal scene, through Halloween. 

Even though I'm 21 going on 22, Halloween is still my favourite holiday. 

See you next week and thanks for reading! 

And Happy Halloween!! 

Blog #6

Today I'm going to be talking about the differences between Hardcore and Heavy Metal.

Hardcore is more on the side of a family. Most Hardcore kids are committed to the music and what it stands for. 9 times of of 10 there's a message behind the music that kids can relate to.

Now, both Hardcore and Metal are both very aggressive types of music. Some convey a message, some are just sound but they both sound very similar, so you're probably thinking "How the heck do you tell the difference?"

Hardcore is much more fast paced and crushing, Where as Metal is louder and more brutal.

An example of Metal lyrics would be when your mother comes into your room and asks you what you're listening to and she says "Is it that kill your mother, kill your father, have the dog for dinner music?"

Whereas Hardcore is along the lines of "Screw the border, Screw the Government, Anarchy!"

Now, take all this information with a grain of salt, not all Metal and Hardcore bands are THAT insane. Some musicians like to take things to a high extreme while others like to chill out on the sidelines a little more.

I hope now you have a much clearer understanding on the differences between Heavy Metal and Hardcore.

Until next week, folks. Thanks for reading!

Blog # 5

What's up fellow Metal heads?

Today I'm going to talk about what Metal and Hardcore music means to me personally. I started listening to Metal when I was 14 years old.

I was introduced to the rocker Meatloaf, I listened to Meatloaf for 5-6 months before I craved something heavier. In the summer of 2007 I started to listen to Slayer, a band that has caused a lot of controversy in the music industry and with the United States Government.

On September 11, 2001, Slayer released an album titled "God Hates Us All" which sparked a lot of controversy with United States Government, Slayer's lawyers responded to the controversy stating "It had absolutely nothing to do with the terrorist attacks. It was a pure coincidence." Due to this controversy I stopped listening to Slayer.

In the beginning of 2008, I started listening to a band called Slipknot. I found hope with Slipknot, growing up I was bullied a lot and I found out I had a learning disability. Slipknot gave me a sense that it's not your fault for being bullied, some people are just jerks.

Then in fall of 2008 I started listening to a band called "August Burns Red" who had a song I could really relate to about being bullied for my learning disability. The song is called "Speech Impediment"

The lyrics are

Your due date is up.
Don't make comments on irrelevant subjects.
There is a man who seeks his own happiness,
and his smile is warmer than five of yours.
You keep singing to a tasteless song.
He whistles to a song of hope.
A night of foolish chatter is easily replaced by a couple bold statements.
Few words are gold, and living is offensive in itself.
Your shallow ideals are about as useless as the gnats in my eyes.
Wake up.
Put your heart where your mouth is.

In closing I think people need to realize that you can find hope and a home in a place you never expected, cause when I listen to Metal, I feel right at home. 

Thanks for reading! 

Blog # 4


Today I'm going to be talking about the music that is very popular among the general population and the message it has, compared to the message Hardcore has.

Most songs lyrically promote sex, drugs and partying. Surprisingly, most Hardcore music does NOT promote that kind of behaviour. Although, some bands do promote the use of Marijuana a good chunk of Hardcore bands in the music industry are Straight Edge.

For those of you at home who don't know what Straight Edge is, it is a group of people who refuse to give in to drugs and alcohol and some Straight Edge musicians also don't believe in sex until marriage. One of my favourite bands of all time called "International Superheroes of Hardcore" has a song called "Captain Straight Edge" with lyrics stating

      "I am Captain Straight Edge and I am here to stay.

                           All you evil drug dealers are gonna see the day where you go down.
                                    If you smoke you choke, you drink you stink.
                                        I'll shoot a laser beam at ya cause!
                                            I am Captain Straight Edge!"

The lyrics are pretty cheesy but it appeals to the Hardcore and Straight Edge community quite a bit. I've been listening to Hardcore since I was 17 and now I have followed down the same path most of these musicians are trying to instil into our society. Live a drug free life! 

 Now, that I've discussed the message the Hardcore scene is trying to instil, let's take a look at the music that is popular among the general public. Jason Derulo has lyrics in his song "Talk Dirty to Me" that state 

                                  

  "Been around the world, don't speak the language

But your booty don't need explaining
All I really need to understand is
When you talk dirty to me
Talk dirty to me
Talk dirty to me
Talk dirty to me"

Despite these lyrics having blatant sexual innuendos this song is extremely popular among kids and teens, Why? Because sex sells! 40-50 years ago this music wouldn't even be placed on shelves. 

Bottom line, there's a big difference between what the music sounds like and what the music means lyrically. So next time you hear something that sounds good on the radio, listen a little bit closer, cause the music you think sounds great may not have the greatest message. 

Thanks for reading!  

Blog # 3

Today I'm going to be talking about the stereotypes people have about Metal and Hardcore music.

        Most people think Metal and Hardcore is simply a bunch of nut cases with instruments who don't know how to play them with a front man screaming into a microphone, while some of that might be true not all this music is coming from an angry background. It's just performed in a aggressive way.

        Believe it or not people in our society have a habit of judging people based on their taste in music, I've experienced this first hand. I've lost friends and I've had people give me weird looks as well as treat me differently because of the types of music that I like, which is ridiculous. People have told me "Oh you listen to Metal and Hardcore? Why don't you have any tattoos? Why is your hair short? Why don't you do drugs?" these are all actual questions I have been asked throughout high school and college.

        If you get to know people who listen to this type of music you will see that most of these people are very down to earth, kind and warm people who play in these aggressive bands. Most of the time Metal and Hardcore bands are making a statement of "don't ever judge a book by its cover." If people approached every single day with this mentality the world would be a much better place.

Thanks for reading!

Blog # 2

             Hi there, welcome to my blog, my name is Foti Ginakes and today I'm going to be talking about the message in Hardcore music and the message it promotes.

            One of my favourite bands, more specifically, Stick To Your Guns (STYG), is a promoter of animal rights. I think this is a great message that STYG instills into our society. We are often being regarded as the type of society that doesn't give a shit about cruelty, neglect and violence towards animals. Personally, I am a firm believer in the equality of animal and human rights.

          With rad lyrics from Stick To Your Guns such "I'll fight both human and non human rights, I know that things are much brighter on the other side" How could you not support a positive message while still listening to great music!

Anyways, thanks for reading!  

Welcome

      Hi there, I'm Foti Ginakes. I'm currently a Creative Communications student at Red River College in Winnipeg, Canada. Welcome, and thank you for reading my blog. For the next 14 weeks I will be blogging at least once a week or more about a certain topic.
   
     More specifically, music, what type of music? Heavy Metal (Metal) and Hardcore of course! These types of music are two types of music that are very dear to me, in the sense that I have been listening to them for most of my life.

    Over the next 14 weeks I will be updating this blog on what Metal and Hardcore music means to me. For example, the differences between Hardcore and Metal, the messages Metal and Hardcore send to their listeners and the general public, how much positivity there is in the lyrics, what the lyrics stand for, and how different Metal and Hardcore is from the music we as society listen to everyday.

    Thanks for reading and I hope to see you again for updated information.