I found this on the net, and it expressed everything that *I* couldn't express in words.
I want to see some real Christians debunk these, instead of quibbling over irrelevant issues:
1: You vigorously deny the existence of thousands of gods claimed by other religions, but feel outraged when someone denies the existence of YOUR god.
2: You feel insulted and "dehumanized" when scientists say that people evolved from lesser life forms, but you have no problem with the Biblical claim that we were created from dirt.
3: You laugh at polytheists, but you have no problem with believing in a Trinity god.
4: Your face turns purple when you hear of the atrocities attributed to Allah, but you don't even flinch when hearing about how God/Jehova slaughtered all of the babies of Egypt in 'Exodus' and ordered the elimination of ENTIRE ETHNIC GROUPS in 'Joshua' - including women, children, and animals.
5: You laugh at Hindu beliefs that defy humans, and Greek claims about gods sleeping with women, but you have no problem in believing that the Holy Spirit impregnated Mary, who then gave birth to a man-god who got killed, came back to life and then ascended into the sky.
6: You are willing to spend your life looking for little loopholes in the scientifically established age of Earth (4.55 billion years), but you find nothing wrong with believing dates recorded by pre-historic tribesmen sitting in their tents and guessing that the Earth is a couple of generations old.
7: You believe that the entire population of this planet, with the exception of those who share your beliefs - though excluding those in all rival sects - will spend eternity in an infinite hell of suffering. Yet you consider your religion the most tolerant and loving.
8: While modern science, history, geology, biology, and physics have failed to convince you otherwise, some person rolling around on the floor 'speaking in tongues' may be all the evidence you need.
9: You define 0.01% as a "high success rate" when it comes to answered prayers. You consider that to be the evidence that prayer works, and you think that the remaining 99.99 % failure was simply the will of God.
10: You actually know a lot less than many Atheists and Agnostics do about the Bible, Christianity, and church history, but still call yourself a "Christian".
Selasa, 13 April 2010
Rabu, 10 Maret 2010
True Love = Unhappy Ending (Indonesian Version)
100 hari yang berharga
Peter dan Tina sedang duduk bersama di taman kampus tanpa
melakukan
apapun, hanya memandang langit sementara sahabat-sahabat mereka
sedang
asik bercanda ria dengan kekasih mereka masing-masing.
Tina: "Duh bosen banget. Aku harap aku juga punya pacar yang bisa
berbagi
waktu denganku."
Peter: "kayaknya cuma tinggal kita berdua deh yang jomblo. cuma
kita
berdua saja yang tidak punya pasangan sekarang."
(keduanya mengeluh dan berdiam beberapa saat)
Tina: "Kayaknya aku ada ide bagus deh. kita adakan permainan yuk?"
Peter: "Eh? permainan apaan?"
Tina: "Eng... gampang sih permainannya. Kamu jadi pacarku dan aku
jadi
pacarmu tapi hanya untuk 100 hari saja. gimana menurutmu?"
Peter: "baiklah... lagian aku juga gada rencana apa-apa untuk
beberapa
bulan ke depan."
Tina: "Kok kayaknya kamu gak terlalu niat ya... semangat dong!
hari
ini
akan jadi hari pertama kita kencan. Mau jalan-jalan kemana nih?"
Peter: "Gimana kalo kita nonton saja? Kalo gak salah film The Troy
lagi
maen deh. katanya film itu bagus"
Tina: "OK dech.... Yuk kita pergi sekarang. tar pulang nonton
kita
ke
karaoke ya...
ajak aja adik kamu sama pacarnya biar seru."
Peter : "Boleh juga..."
(mereka pun pergi nonton, berkaraoke dan Peter mengantarkan Tina
pulang
&g t; malam harinya)
Hari ke 2:
Peter dan Tina menghabiskan waktu untuk ngobrol dan bercanda di
kafe,
suasana kafe yang remang-remang dan alunan musik yang syahdu
membawa
hati
mereka pada situasi yang romantis. Sebelum pulang Peter membeli
sebuah
kalung perak berliontin bintang untuk Tina.
Hari ke 3:
Mereka pergi ke pusat perbelanjaan untuk mencari kado untuk
seorang
sahabat Peter.
Setelah lelah berkeliling pusat perbelanjaan, mereka memutuskan
membeli
sebuah miniatur mobil mini. Setelah itu mereka beristirahat duduk
di
foodcourt, makan satu potong kue dan satu gelas jus berdua dan
mulai
berpegangan tangan untuk pertama kalinya.
Hari ke 7:Bermain bowling dengan teman-teman Peter.
Tangan tina terasa sakit karena tidak pernah bermain bowling
sebelumnya.
Peter memijit-mijit tangan Tina dengan lembut.
Hari ke 25:
Peter mengajak Tina makan malam di Ancol Bay.
Bulan sudah menampakan diri, langit yang cerah menghamparkan
ribuan
bintang dalam pelukannya.
Mereka duduk menunggu makanan, sambil menikmati suara desir angin
berpadu
dengan suara gelombang bergulung di pantai. Sekali lagi Tina
memandang
langit, dan melihat bintang jatuh.
Dia mengucapkan suatu permintaan dalam hatinya.
Hari ke 41:
Peter berulang tahun. Tina membuatkan kue ulang tahun untuk Peter.
Bukan kue buatannya yang pertama, tapi kasih s ayang yang mulai
timbul
dalam hatinya membuat kue buatannya itu menjadi yang terbaik.
Peter
terharu menerima kue itu, dan dia mengucapkan suatu harapan saat
meniup
lilin ulang tahunnya.
Hari ke 67:
Menghabiskan waktu di Dufan. Naik halilintar, makan es krim
bersama,dan
mengunjungi stand permainan. Peter menghadiahkan sebuah boneka
teddy
bear
untuk Tina, dan Tina membelikan sebuah pulpen untuk Peter.
Hari ke 72:
Pergi Ke PRJ. Melihat meriahnya pameran lampion dari negeri China.
Tina penasaran untuk mengunjungi salah satu tenda peramal.
Sang peramal hanya mengatakan "Hargai waktumu bersamanya mulai
sekarang"
kemudian peramal itu meneteskan air mata.
Hari ke 84:
Peter mengusulkan agar mereka refreshing ke pantai.
Pantai Anyer sangat sepi karena bukan waktunya liburan bagi orang
lain.
Mereka melepaskan sandal dan berjalan sepanjang pantai sambil
berpegangan
tangan,
merasakan lembutnya pasir dan dinginnya air laut menghempas kaki
mereka.
Matahari terbenam, dan mereka berpelukan seakan tidak ingin
berpisah
lagi.
Hari ke 99:
Peter memutuskan agar mereka menjalani hari ini dengan santai dan
sederhana.
Mereka berkeliling kota dan akhirnya duduk di sebuah taman kota.
15:20 pm
Tina: "Aku haus. Istirahat dulu yuk sebentar. "
Peter: "Tunggu disini, aku beli minuman dulu. Aku mau teh botol
saja.
Kamu
mau minum apa?"
Tina: "Aku saja yang beli. kamu kan capek sudah menyetir keliling
kota
hari ini. Sebentar ya"
Peter mengangguk. kakinya memang pegal sekali karena dimana-mana
Jakarta
selalu macet.
15:30 pm
Peter sudah menunggu selama 10 menit and Tina belum kembali juga.
Tiba-tiba seseorang yang tak dikenal berlari menghampirinya dengan
wajah
panik. Peter : "Ada apa pak?"
Orang asing: "Ada seorang perempuan ditabrak mobil. Kayaknya
perempuan itu
adalah temanmu"
Peter segera berlari bersama dengan orang asing itu.
Disana, di atas aspal yang panas terjemur terik matahari
siang,tergeletak
tubuh Tina bersimbah da rah, masih memegang botol minumannya.
Peter segera melarikan mobilnya membawa Tina ke rumah sakit
terdekat.
Peter duduk diluar ruang gawat darurat selama 8 jam 10 menit.
Seorang dokter keluar dengan wajah penuh penyesalan.
23:53 pm
Dokter: "Maaf, tapi kami sudah mencoba melakukan yang terbaik.
Dia masih bernafas sekarang tapi Yang kuasa akan segera menjemput.
Kami menemukan surat ini dalam kantung bajunya."
Dokter memberikan surat yang terkena percikan darah kepada Peter
dan
dia
segera masuk ke dalam kamar rawat untuk melihat Tina. Wajahnya
pucat
tetapi terlihat damai.
Peter duduk disamping pembaringan tina dan menggenggam tangan Tina
dengan
erat.
Untuk pertama kali dalam hidupnya Peter merasakan torehan luka
yang
sangat
dalam di hatinya.
Butiran air mata mengalir dari kedua belah matanya.
Kemudian dia mulai membaca surat yang telah ditulis Tina untuknya.
Dear Peter...
ke 100 hari kita sudah hampir berakhir.
Aku menikmati hari-hari yang kulalui bersamamu.
Walaupun kadang-kadang kamu jutek dan tidak bisa ditebak,
tapi semua hal ini telah membawa kebahagiaan dalam hidupku.
Aku sudah menyadari bahwa kau adalah pria yang berharga dalam
hidupku.
Aku menyesal tidak pernah berusaha untuk mengenalmu lebih dalam lagi
sebelumnya.
Sekarang aku tidak meminta apa-apa, hanya berharap kita bisa
memperpanjang
hari-hari kebersamaan kita. Sama seperti yang kuucapkan pada bintang
jatuh
malam itu di pantai,
Aku in gin kau menjadi cinta sejati dalam hidupku. Aku ingin menjadi
kekasihmu selamanya dan berharap kau juga bisa berada disisiku
seumur
hidupku. Peter, aku sangat sayang padamu.
23:58
Peter: "Tina, apakah kau tahu harapan apa yang kuucapkan dalam hati
saat
meniup lilin ulang tahunku?
Aku pun berdoa agar Tuhan mengijinkan kita bersama-sama selamanya.
Tina, kau tidak bisa meninggalkanku! hari yang kita lalui baru
berjumlah
99 hari!
Kamu harus bangun dan kita akan melewati puluhan ribu hari
bersama-sama!
Aku juga sayang padamu, Tina. Jangan tinggalkan aku, jangan biarkan
aku
kesepian!
Tina, Aku sayang kamu...!"
Jam dinding berdentang 12 kali.... jantung Tina berhenti berdetak.
Hari itu adalah hari ke 100...
PS:
Katakan perasaanmu pada orang yang kau sayangi sebelum terlambat.
Kau tidak akan pernah tahu apa yang akan terjadi besok.
Kau tidak akan pernah tahu siapa yang akan meninggalkanmu dan tidak
akan
pernah kembali lagi.
True love doesn't have a happy ending, because true love never
ends....
Peter dan Tina sedang duduk bersama di taman kampus tanpa
melakukan
apapun, hanya memandang langit sementara sahabat-sahabat mereka
sedang
asik bercanda ria dengan kekasih mereka masing-masing.
Tina: "Duh bosen banget. Aku harap aku juga punya pacar yang bisa
berbagi
waktu denganku."
Peter: "kayaknya cuma tinggal kita berdua deh yang jomblo. cuma
kita
berdua saja yang tidak punya pasangan sekarang."
(keduanya mengeluh dan berdiam beberapa saat)
Tina: "Kayaknya aku ada ide bagus deh. kita adakan permainan yuk?"
Peter: "Eh? permainan apaan?"
Tina: "Eng... gampang sih permainannya. Kamu jadi pacarku dan aku
jadi
pacarmu tapi hanya untuk 100 hari saja. gimana menurutmu?"
Peter: "baiklah... lagian aku juga gada rencana apa-apa untuk
beberapa
bulan ke depan."
Tina: "Kok kayaknya kamu gak terlalu niat ya... semangat dong!
hari
ini
akan jadi hari pertama kita kencan. Mau jalan-jalan kemana nih?"
Peter: "Gimana kalo kita nonton saja? Kalo gak salah film The Troy
lagi
maen deh. katanya film itu bagus"
Tina: "OK dech.... Yuk kita pergi sekarang. tar pulang nonton
kita
ke
karaoke ya...
ajak aja adik kamu sama pacarnya biar seru."
Peter : "Boleh juga..."
(mereka pun pergi nonton, berkaraoke dan Peter mengantarkan Tina
pulang
&g t; malam harinya)
Hari ke 2:
Peter dan Tina menghabiskan waktu untuk ngobrol dan bercanda di
kafe,
suasana kafe yang remang-remang dan alunan musik yang syahdu
membawa
hati
mereka pada situasi yang romantis. Sebelum pulang Peter membeli
sebuah
kalung perak berliontin bintang untuk Tina.
Hari ke 3:
Mereka pergi ke pusat perbelanjaan untuk mencari kado untuk
seorang
sahabat Peter.
Setelah lelah berkeliling pusat perbelanjaan, mereka memutuskan
membeli
sebuah miniatur mobil mini. Setelah itu mereka beristirahat duduk
di
foodcourt, makan satu potong kue dan satu gelas jus berdua dan
mulai
berpegangan tangan untuk pertama kalinya.
Hari ke 7:Bermain bowling dengan teman-teman Peter.
Tangan tina terasa sakit karena tidak pernah bermain bowling
sebelumnya.
Peter memijit-mijit tangan Tina dengan lembut.
Hari ke 25:
Peter mengajak Tina makan malam di Ancol Bay.
Bulan sudah menampakan diri, langit yang cerah menghamparkan
ribuan
bintang dalam pelukannya.
Mereka duduk menunggu makanan, sambil menikmati suara desir angin
berpadu
dengan suara gelombang bergulung di pantai. Sekali lagi Tina
memandang
langit, dan melihat bintang jatuh.
Dia mengucapkan suatu permintaan dalam hatinya.
Hari ke 41:
Peter berulang tahun. Tina membuatkan kue ulang tahun untuk Peter.
Bukan kue buatannya yang pertama, tapi kasih s ayang yang mulai
timbul
dalam hatinya membuat kue buatannya itu menjadi yang terbaik.
Peter
terharu menerima kue itu, dan dia mengucapkan suatu harapan saat
meniup
lilin ulang tahunnya.
Hari ke 67:
Menghabiskan waktu di Dufan. Naik halilintar, makan es krim
bersama,dan
mengunjungi stand permainan. Peter menghadiahkan sebuah boneka
teddy
bear
untuk Tina, dan Tina membelikan sebuah pulpen untuk Peter.
Hari ke 72:
Pergi Ke PRJ. Melihat meriahnya pameran lampion dari negeri China.
Tina penasaran untuk mengunjungi salah satu tenda peramal.
Sang peramal hanya mengatakan "Hargai waktumu bersamanya mulai
sekarang"
kemudian peramal itu meneteskan air mata.
Hari ke 84:
Peter mengusulkan agar mereka refreshing ke pantai.
Pantai Anyer sangat sepi karena bukan waktunya liburan bagi orang
lain.
Mereka melepaskan sandal dan berjalan sepanjang pantai sambil
berpegangan
tangan,
merasakan lembutnya pasir dan dinginnya air laut menghempas kaki
mereka.
Matahari terbenam, dan mereka berpelukan seakan tidak ingin
berpisah
lagi.
Hari ke 99:
Peter memutuskan agar mereka menjalani hari ini dengan santai dan
sederhana.
Mereka berkeliling kota dan akhirnya duduk di sebuah taman kota.
15:20 pm
Tina: "Aku haus. Istirahat dulu yuk sebentar. "
Peter: "Tunggu disini, aku beli minuman dulu. Aku mau teh botol
saja.
Kamu
mau minum apa?"
Tina: "Aku saja yang beli. kamu kan capek sudah menyetir keliling
kota
hari ini. Sebentar ya"
Peter mengangguk. kakinya memang pegal sekali karena dimana-mana
Jakarta
selalu macet.
15:30 pm
Peter sudah menunggu selama 10 menit and Tina belum kembali juga.
Tiba-tiba seseorang yang tak dikenal berlari menghampirinya dengan
wajah
panik. Peter : "Ada apa pak?"
Orang asing: "Ada seorang perempuan ditabrak mobil. Kayaknya
perempuan itu
adalah temanmu"
Peter segera berlari bersama dengan orang asing itu.
Disana, di atas aspal yang panas terjemur terik matahari
siang,tergeletak
tubuh Tina bersimbah da rah, masih memegang botol minumannya.
Peter segera melarikan mobilnya membawa Tina ke rumah sakit
terdekat.
Peter duduk diluar ruang gawat darurat selama 8 jam 10 menit.
Seorang dokter keluar dengan wajah penuh penyesalan.
23:53 pm
Dokter: "Maaf, tapi kami sudah mencoba melakukan yang terbaik.
Dia masih bernafas sekarang tapi Yang kuasa akan segera menjemput.
Kami menemukan surat ini dalam kantung bajunya."
Dokter memberikan surat yang terkena percikan darah kepada Peter
dan
dia
segera masuk ke dalam kamar rawat untuk melihat Tina. Wajahnya
pucat
tetapi terlihat damai.
Peter duduk disamping pembaringan tina dan menggenggam tangan Tina
dengan
erat.
Untuk pertama kali dalam hidupnya Peter merasakan torehan luka
yang
sangat
dalam di hatinya.
Butiran air mata mengalir dari kedua belah matanya.
Kemudian dia mulai membaca surat yang telah ditulis Tina untuknya.
Dear Peter...
ke 100 hari kita sudah hampir berakhir.
Aku menikmati hari-hari yang kulalui bersamamu.
Walaupun kadang-kadang kamu jutek dan tidak bisa ditebak,
tapi semua hal ini telah membawa kebahagiaan dalam hidupku.
Aku sudah menyadari bahwa kau adalah pria yang berharga dalam
hidupku.
Aku menyesal tidak pernah berusaha untuk mengenalmu lebih dalam lagi
sebelumnya.
Sekarang aku tidak meminta apa-apa, hanya berharap kita bisa
memperpanjang
hari-hari kebersamaan kita. Sama seperti yang kuucapkan pada bintang
jatuh
malam itu di pantai,
Aku in gin kau menjadi cinta sejati dalam hidupku. Aku ingin menjadi
kekasihmu selamanya dan berharap kau juga bisa berada disisiku
seumur
hidupku. Peter, aku sangat sayang padamu.
23:58
Peter: "Tina, apakah kau tahu harapan apa yang kuucapkan dalam hati
saat
meniup lilin ulang tahunku?
Aku pun berdoa agar Tuhan mengijinkan kita bersama-sama selamanya.
Tina, kau tidak bisa meninggalkanku! hari yang kita lalui baru
berjumlah
99 hari!
Kamu harus bangun dan kita akan melewati puluhan ribu hari
bersama-sama!
Aku juga sayang padamu, Tina. Jangan tinggalkan aku, jangan biarkan
aku
kesepian!
Tina, Aku sayang kamu...!"
Jam dinding berdentang 12 kali.... jantung Tina berhenti berdetak.
Hari itu adalah hari ke 100...
PS:
Katakan perasaanmu pada orang yang kau sayangi sebelum terlambat.
Kau tidak akan pernah tahu apa yang akan terjadi besok.
Kau tidak akan pernah tahu siapa yang akan meninggalkanmu dan tidak
akan
pernah kembali lagi.
True love doesn't have a happy ending, because true love never
ends....
Office VS Prison + What The Hell is Independence?
A Dream to Remember
It was a dream … a dream …
There I was, sitting on my car seat and driving. The road was still that it made me feel so alone. I had just work overtime but I didn’t feel tired. Then, a sudden thought came into my mind. Why don’t You yourself have fun tonight? A disco session, maybe. Well, in about fifteen minutes I was already in the parking lot of my favorite club. I looked at my watch. It was 11.30 pm. The perfect timing.
Inside the club, I noticed that it was full even though it was not a weekend. The club was already filled with so many people and that really excited me. The laser, the disco ball, the cheers, the sweat. Everything was there. I saw people dance, clap their hands, shout, and sing along while some popular tunes were played. Of course, we all just wanted to forget everything that had happened.
An hour passed. And while I was dancing, a glimpse in the VIP area caught my eyes. There were some “lucky” guys and girls drifted away in some kind of hot conversation. One pair of them ended up in kissing each other passionately. Well, congratulations! I felt happy for them. Too bad, I was alone at that time.
I danced again, half-heartedly hoping that I could be like them. Suddenly, after some beat-driven tunes, a girl walked in front of me. From the way she walked, I could say that she had drunk too much alcohol. Of course this girl’s appearance stole people attention, including me. And then, up to my surprise, in the blink of an eye, she came to me, and hugged me. Wow! What a pleasure. But then I thought, how come this girl just came and hugged me?
“I think You drink too much, Girl? Where are your friends, or Your boyfriend?” I asked her.
Then she replied, “Yes, I drank too much. But I don’t care, this makes me feel free. And umm, speaking of any boyfriend, … I’ve got no boyfriend. I am alone.”
What a coincidence! But I didn’t know whether she was kidding me or not. I thought she said such thing just because she was under the influence. Maybe she had just had a row with her boyfriend and sort.
Suddenly, she fainted. OMFG! I felt worried, so I brought her to the nearest sofa from the bar. Her body was the slim/slender type, so it wasn’t a big problem to carry her to the sofa. After that, I ordered a glass of orange juice, for myself. Yes, I love nightclubs but I really hate alcohol. I don’t even smoke.
A few minutes passed and she got conscious. I offered her a sip of juice from my glass. She took a sip. And there was silence… I thought she was about to throw up, because she put her hand on her mouth, but thank God, she resisted it.
Somehow, she looked more and more conscious. That’s better. So I introduced myself to her my name and told her that she had just gain consciousness after she fainted for about 10 minutes.
“Thanks for that! Oh, and my name is Ms. Conscience.”
Ms. Conscience. What an unusual name? It’s quite weird. But, at heart, I told myself that the girl was still drunk for telling me that name, but she appeared so conscious to me. So I asked her about her name, about how she got that unusual name but she told me that it was a secret and kept insisting that only her and her parents knew. Maybe it’s not her real name. After all, she’s drunk.
“So, Ms. Conscience, I think You consume too much alcohol. And why are You alone?” I asked.
“Because I love freedom. I feel so free when I am alone and drunk,” she replied slyly.
Then she added, “I see that You’re alone, too. People consider it is lame to be alone. But I enjoy my solitude. Solitude means freedom. Umm… what’s Your favorite drink anyway? And why are You drinking orange juice? You are of age.”
“Well, I don’t drink alcohol. I hate the taste. And You know what, it’s not healthy. It’ll damage Your liver eventually. And I think there is no such thing as freedom. As far as I am concerned, being alone doesn’t mean freedom. You’re free from any commitment, but You’ll face another problem. Loneliness.”
I tried to change the uncomfortable topic and thought about another question. Too bad, before I opened my mouth, she cut me and then asked the strangest question I’d ever heard in my entire life.
“So, which one is better for freedom, prison or office?”
What a silly, crappy, and simple question from a drunk girl, I thought.
So I answered, “Well, of course office is better than prison. We have more freedom and even independence in the office.”
“Sorry man, I think you’re wrong, indeed, very very wrong,” she replied
“What?” was all I can say.
“Yes. You’re wrong. Here, let me give you some reasons. First, in prison we get 8 X 10 m2 room, but in the office we can only have 6 X 8 m2 or less. So this limits Your opportunity. You are less capable of doing anything you want in a narrow room.
And of course, in prison, we can have three free meals a day. In the office, maybe you can only get just once or even none. That means you have no freedom to eat three times for free because you have to pay for the rest.
Besides, in prison, we will be given leisure time if we behave well. But in the office it doesn’t work that way, we will be given more and more and more jobs.”
I was amazed by the things she had just said, but I didn’t want to give up easily by her words. Especially because she was drunk and I am totally conscious.
“But there are many many things we can’t do in prison freely. Like making a phone call, and how about those bad things usually happening in the prison such as fights, rape, or even murder,” I commented.
She nodded, and replied, “You’re right. Definitely right. But let me give You some other reasons.
Sometimes prison is better than office. Example, in the prison, the guard will open, close, and lock the door for us. But in the office, we have to open, close, and lock the door by ourselves. They’re only small things, but that means our freedom to enjoy a small bit of time, even if it’s short, was taken.
Moreover, we can watch TV everyday in prison without any threat of being punished or even fired. In the office, we have no right to watch TV, we have to work and work and work. And the worst thing about that is, as I had just said, we might get fired. We have less freedom in the office.
Last but not least, in prison, we don’t have to worry about money. The government or the state will pay everything for us. In the office, or maybe in our daily life, we have to pay all of expenses by ourselves, and even our salaries will be cut for the tax which eventually used to pay those people who are in the prison. And I know you know it sucks, really sucks! Well, that’s all I can say about the differences between prison and office,” the drunk girl said.
I was astonished. She was right, totally right. After that time I started to feel that I had been imprisoned in my own office most of the time since I worked there. And I realized that it was a fact and I couldn’t argue even for a bit because all the things she said eventually opened my eyes, my mind, my conscience. Well, I thought it was why she got her name, for she had the capability of opening someone else’s eyes, mind, and maybe conscience, soon.
“I haven’t finished yet, you know.” she said to my surprise.
“I have another question… So, do you feel that you are free and independent?”
Based on what I had just experienced, I wonder... What kind of another bloody tricky question is that?
“Yes, I do,” I answered her.
“Why do you think so?” she asked again.
“Well, I live in an independent and free country, and I am able to do anything I want as long as it’s not illegal, that means I am independent,” I imagined what things she would said to counter my argument.
“Well, I guess you are too naive, and that’s why you’re wrong again,” she spoke in a flat tone.
“Why?” I argued.
Then she said, “Hmm, I thought that your opinion about independence is just a dream. It’s only a dream!”
“Why did you say so?” I asked.
“Because you are still alive, so you’ll never know what independence is like,” she said in a flat tone, again.
This conversation started to make me feel dizzy as if I was the one who’s drunk. It was like an everlasting conversation. I looked at my watch and it showed me that it was 2 a.m. in the morning.
Then I asked her again, “Hey, How could I become independent if I am dead?”
This time, she looked more and more conscious than before.
“Well, human beings never know the things that will happen to them in the future, either good or bad. Human life is full of mystery, and that’s why they will always worry about their future, not to mention their death. That means they are not independent, because they live in fear.” she said.
Quickly, she added, “You know, there are only two things in life You have to worry about. First, whether you are problem-free or whether you are not. If you are problem-free, then there is nothing to worry about. But it’s impossible, we as human beings always, and I mean always, find problems in our lifetime.
If you are not problem-free, then there are two things to worry about, whether you are going to have Your problems solved soon or whether you are going to die because of depression since You cannot solve those problems. If you can have them solved, then there is nothing to worry about.
If you die, there are two things to worry about, whether You know You are going to go to heaven or hell. If you know You are going to heaven when You die, then you have nothing to worry about. Here’s where the story ends and you’ll feel independent more than ever.
On the contrary, if you go to hell, you'll be so busy praying to God, doing good things, participating in the charity events, forgiving people’s faults, and even making friends with your enemy. Because of what? Because you’ll never know where you are going to go when You die, heaven or hell. And that is why you’ll feel so worried and dependant to anyone and anything and that’s the reason why this life is so mysterious.
You think you are independent, but you aren’t. You know, when there’s nothing you have to chase for, to fight for, to struggle for, or to fear of, then it is the time that you are independent.”
I applauded her, and she smiled.
“Wow, thanks for “brainwashing” my mind, You are an amazing girl”, I said. Then I gave a quick kiss on her forehead. I didn’t know why I did that. She blushed afterward. I think she wasn’t drunk anymore.
Then she said, ”Well, I think maybe my parents named me ‘Conscience’ so I can open people’s mind and heart. But You know, I don’t want to live in prison even if it gives some sort of “freedom”. And I don’t know where I am going to go when I die. Nobody knows their fate.”
Then we laugh together.
“You know, I learn something from You too. Alcohol is bad and getting drunk is not a good thing. I should stop drinking alcohol,” She said.
“That’s great!” I replied.
Oooh, time moved so fast. It was 3 a.m. and both of us felt so starved. So, we ate in a 24-hour fast food restaurant beside the nightclub. There, we talked about other things. This time, it was more casual than our previous topics in the club. We even shared some riddles and jokes. I realized that she looked prettier when she was conscious.
After that, I drove her to her house and kissed her forehead once again in front of her front door. When I was about to leave, she asked me to stay.
What the …
I couldn’t refuse such a request, especially from such pretty girl, so I entered the house and sat with her in the sofa. She embraced me, murmured something incomprehensible, then she fell asleep. Damn! She’s cute. I think I fall in love. I stroked her hair for minutes. I believed that she wouldn’t complain. Loneliness sucks, after all. And forget about freedom. Such precious moment should not be distracted by heavy thoughts like freedom, independent, and sort. Then, a yawn. I felt sleepy. but before I fell into a dream, I wondered where I would wake.
……… Heaven ……… Hell ... Who knows?
It was a dream … a dream …
There I was, sitting on my car seat and driving. The road was still that it made me feel so alone. I had just work overtime but I didn’t feel tired. Then, a sudden thought came into my mind. Why don’t You yourself have fun tonight? A disco session, maybe. Well, in about fifteen minutes I was already in the parking lot of my favorite club. I looked at my watch. It was 11.30 pm. The perfect timing.
Inside the club, I noticed that it was full even though it was not a weekend. The club was already filled with so many people and that really excited me. The laser, the disco ball, the cheers, the sweat. Everything was there. I saw people dance, clap their hands, shout, and sing along while some popular tunes were played. Of course, we all just wanted to forget everything that had happened.
An hour passed. And while I was dancing, a glimpse in the VIP area caught my eyes. There were some “lucky” guys and girls drifted away in some kind of hot conversation. One pair of them ended up in kissing each other passionately. Well, congratulations! I felt happy for them. Too bad, I was alone at that time.
I danced again, half-heartedly hoping that I could be like them. Suddenly, after some beat-driven tunes, a girl walked in front of me. From the way she walked, I could say that she had drunk too much alcohol. Of course this girl’s appearance stole people attention, including me. And then, up to my surprise, in the blink of an eye, she came to me, and hugged me. Wow! What a pleasure. But then I thought, how come this girl just came and hugged me?
“I think You drink too much, Girl? Where are your friends, or Your boyfriend?” I asked her.
Then she replied, “Yes, I drank too much. But I don’t care, this makes me feel free. And umm, speaking of any boyfriend, … I’ve got no boyfriend. I am alone.”
What a coincidence! But I didn’t know whether she was kidding me or not. I thought she said such thing just because she was under the influence. Maybe she had just had a row with her boyfriend and sort.
Suddenly, she fainted. OMFG! I felt worried, so I brought her to the nearest sofa from the bar. Her body was the slim/slender type, so it wasn’t a big problem to carry her to the sofa. After that, I ordered a glass of orange juice, for myself. Yes, I love nightclubs but I really hate alcohol. I don’t even smoke.
A few minutes passed and she got conscious. I offered her a sip of juice from my glass. She took a sip. And there was silence… I thought she was about to throw up, because she put her hand on her mouth, but thank God, she resisted it.
Somehow, she looked more and more conscious. That’s better. So I introduced myself to her my name and told her that she had just gain consciousness after she fainted for about 10 minutes.
“Thanks for that! Oh, and my name is Ms. Conscience.”
Ms. Conscience. What an unusual name? It’s quite weird. But, at heart, I told myself that the girl was still drunk for telling me that name, but she appeared so conscious to me. So I asked her about her name, about how she got that unusual name but she told me that it was a secret and kept insisting that only her and her parents knew. Maybe it’s not her real name. After all, she’s drunk.
“So, Ms. Conscience, I think You consume too much alcohol. And why are You alone?” I asked.
“Because I love freedom. I feel so free when I am alone and drunk,” she replied slyly.
Then she added, “I see that You’re alone, too. People consider it is lame to be alone. But I enjoy my solitude. Solitude means freedom. Umm… what’s Your favorite drink anyway? And why are You drinking orange juice? You are of age.”
“Well, I don’t drink alcohol. I hate the taste. And You know what, it’s not healthy. It’ll damage Your liver eventually. And I think there is no such thing as freedom. As far as I am concerned, being alone doesn’t mean freedom. You’re free from any commitment, but You’ll face another problem. Loneliness.”
I tried to change the uncomfortable topic and thought about another question. Too bad, before I opened my mouth, she cut me and then asked the strangest question I’d ever heard in my entire life.
“So, which one is better for freedom, prison or office?”
What a silly, crappy, and simple question from a drunk girl, I thought.
So I answered, “Well, of course office is better than prison. We have more freedom and even independence in the office.”
“Sorry man, I think you’re wrong, indeed, very very wrong,” she replied
“What?” was all I can say.
“Yes. You’re wrong. Here, let me give you some reasons. First, in prison we get 8 X 10 m2 room, but in the office we can only have 6 X 8 m2 or less. So this limits Your opportunity. You are less capable of doing anything you want in a narrow room.
And of course, in prison, we can have three free meals a day. In the office, maybe you can only get just once or even none. That means you have no freedom to eat three times for free because you have to pay for the rest.
Besides, in prison, we will be given leisure time if we behave well. But in the office it doesn’t work that way, we will be given more and more and more jobs.”
I was amazed by the things she had just said, but I didn’t want to give up easily by her words. Especially because she was drunk and I am totally conscious.
“But there are many many things we can’t do in prison freely. Like making a phone call, and how about those bad things usually happening in the prison such as fights, rape, or even murder,” I commented.
She nodded, and replied, “You’re right. Definitely right. But let me give You some other reasons.
Sometimes prison is better than office. Example, in the prison, the guard will open, close, and lock the door for us. But in the office, we have to open, close, and lock the door by ourselves. They’re only small things, but that means our freedom to enjoy a small bit of time, even if it’s short, was taken.
Moreover, we can watch TV everyday in prison without any threat of being punished or even fired. In the office, we have no right to watch TV, we have to work and work and work. And the worst thing about that is, as I had just said, we might get fired. We have less freedom in the office.
Last but not least, in prison, we don’t have to worry about money. The government or the state will pay everything for us. In the office, or maybe in our daily life, we have to pay all of expenses by ourselves, and even our salaries will be cut for the tax which eventually used to pay those people who are in the prison. And I know you know it sucks, really sucks! Well, that’s all I can say about the differences between prison and office,” the drunk girl said.
I was astonished. She was right, totally right. After that time I started to feel that I had been imprisoned in my own office most of the time since I worked there. And I realized that it was a fact and I couldn’t argue even for a bit because all the things she said eventually opened my eyes, my mind, my conscience. Well, I thought it was why she got her name, for she had the capability of opening someone else’s eyes, mind, and maybe conscience, soon.
“I haven’t finished yet, you know.” she said to my surprise.
“I have another question… So, do you feel that you are free and independent?”
Based on what I had just experienced, I wonder... What kind of another bloody tricky question is that?
“Yes, I do,” I answered her.
“Why do you think so?” she asked again.
“Well, I live in an independent and free country, and I am able to do anything I want as long as it’s not illegal, that means I am independent,” I imagined what things she would said to counter my argument.
“Well, I guess you are too naive, and that’s why you’re wrong again,” she spoke in a flat tone.
“Why?” I argued.
Then she said, “Hmm, I thought that your opinion about independence is just a dream. It’s only a dream!”
“Why did you say so?” I asked.
“Because you are still alive, so you’ll never know what independence is like,” she said in a flat tone, again.
This conversation started to make me feel dizzy as if I was the one who’s drunk. It was like an everlasting conversation. I looked at my watch and it showed me that it was 2 a.m. in the morning.
Then I asked her again, “Hey, How could I become independent if I am dead?”
This time, she looked more and more conscious than before.
“Well, human beings never know the things that will happen to them in the future, either good or bad. Human life is full of mystery, and that’s why they will always worry about their future, not to mention their death. That means they are not independent, because they live in fear.” she said.
Quickly, she added, “You know, there are only two things in life You have to worry about. First, whether you are problem-free or whether you are not. If you are problem-free, then there is nothing to worry about. But it’s impossible, we as human beings always, and I mean always, find problems in our lifetime.
If you are not problem-free, then there are two things to worry about, whether you are going to have Your problems solved soon or whether you are going to die because of depression since You cannot solve those problems. If you can have them solved, then there is nothing to worry about.
If you die, there are two things to worry about, whether You know You are going to go to heaven or hell. If you know You are going to heaven when You die, then you have nothing to worry about. Here’s where the story ends and you’ll feel independent more than ever.
On the contrary, if you go to hell, you'll be so busy praying to God, doing good things, participating in the charity events, forgiving people’s faults, and even making friends with your enemy. Because of what? Because you’ll never know where you are going to go when You die, heaven or hell. And that is why you’ll feel so worried and dependant to anyone and anything and that’s the reason why this life is so mysterious.
You think you are independent, but you aren’t. You know, when there’s nothing you have to chase for, to fight for, to struggle for, or to fear of, then it is the time that you are independent.”
I applauded her, and she smiled.
“Wow, thanks for “brainwashing” my mind, You are an amazing girl”, I said. Then I gave a quick kiss on her forehead. I didn’t know why I did that. She blushed afterward. I think she wasn’t drunk anymore.
Then she said, ”Well, I think maybe my parents named me ‘Conscience’ so I can open people’s mind and heart. But You know, I don’t want to live in prison even if it gives some sort of “freedom”. And I don’t know where I am going to go when I die. Nobody knows their fate.”
Then we laugh together.
“You know, I learn something from You too. Alcohol is bad and getting drunk is not a good thing. I should stop drinking alcohol,” She said.
“That’s great!” I replied.
Oooh, time moved so fast. It was 3 a.m. and both of us felt so starved. So, we ate in a 24-hour fast food restaurant beside the nightclub. There, we talked about other things. This time, it was more casual than our previous topics in the club. We even shared some riddles and jokes. I realized that she looked prettier when she was conscious.
After that, I drove her to her house and kissed her forehead once again in front of her front door. When I was about to leave, she asked me to stay.
What the …
I couldn’t refuse such a request, especially from such pretty girl, so I entered the house and sat with her in the sofa. She embraced me, murmured something incomprehensible, then she fell asleep. Damn! She’s cute. I think I fall in love. I stroked her hair for minutes. I believed that she wouldn’t complain. Loneliness sucks, after all. And forget about freedom. Such precious moment should not be distracted by heavy thoughts like freedom, independent, and sort. Then, a yawn. I felt sleepy. but before I fell into a dream, I wondered where I would wake.
……… Heaven ……… Hell ... Who knows?
A very good e-books collection upload link.
Somebody posted this on hotfile. I am just reposting the link. Here it is:
http://hotfile.com/dl/29618441/192ad6c/Atheism_vs._Religion_Books.rar.html
http://hotfile.com/dl/29618441/192ad6c/Atheism_vs._Religion_Books.rar.html
Miley Cyrus - When I Look At You Lyrics
Lirik Lagu Miley Cyrus - When I Look At You.
Miley Cyrus - When I Look At You
Everybody needs inspiration,
Everybody needs a song
A beautiful melody
When the nights so long
Cause there is no guarantee
That this life is easy…
Yea when my world is falling apart
When there’s no light to break up the dark
That’s when I, I…
I look at you
When the waves
Are flooding the shore and I can’t
Find my way home anymore
That’s when I, I…
I look at you
When I look At You I see forgiveness
I see the truth
You love me for who I am
Like the stars Hold the moon
Right there where they belong
And I know I’m not alone.
Yea when my world is falling apart
When there’s no light to break up the dark
That’s when I, I…
I look at you
When the waves
Are flooding the shore and I can’t
Find my way home anymore
That’s when I, I…
I look at you
You appear just like a dream to me
Just like Kaleidoscope colors that
Cover Me, All I need every
Breath that I breathe don’t you know
You’re beautiful…
Yea Yea Yea
When the waves
Are flooding the shore and I can’t
Find my way home anymore
That’s when I, I…
I look at you
I look at you
Yea Yea Oh OH OH
And you appear Just like a dream
To me.
Miley Cyrus - When I Look At You
Everybody needs inspiration,
Everybody needs a song
A beautiful melody
When the nights so long
Cause there is no guarantee
That this life is easy…
Yea when my world is falling apart
When there’s no light to break up the dark
That’s when I, I…
I look at you
When the waves
Are flooding the shore and I can’t
Find my way home anymore
That’s when I, I…
I look at you
When I look At You I see forgiveness
I see the truth
You love me for who I am
Like the stars Hold the moon
Right there where they belong
And I know I’m not alone.
Yea when my world is falling apart
When there’s no light to break up the dark
That’s when I, I…
I look at you
When the waves
Are flooding the shore and I can’t
Find my way home anymore
That’s when I, I…
I look at you
You appear just like a dream to me
Just like Kaleidoscope colors that
Cover Me, All I need every
Breath that I breathe don’t you know
You’re beautiful…
Yea Yea Yea
When the waves
Are flooding the shore and I can’t
Find my way home anymore
That’s when I, I…
I look at you
I look at you
Yea Yea Oh OH OH
And you appear Just like a dream
To me.
Sabtu, 27 Februari 2010
Suffokate - Not The Fallen Lyrics
We are not the fallen, but intelligent we see through the lies.
The false papers try to tell us how to live our lives; I will not fall for it.
Now I see you're all hypocrites. It's just a lie you live by, overlooking all the cracks; and still you try to save us.
Can't you see? We don't believe this bullshit that you sell, so take it back.
You'll be sorry if you persist. I live to end life, no book will change that.
No higher power controls me.
No fear of consequences, he will not come down and smite me because he's fake. Why can't you see that you're all wrong, we are all our own gods.
Just take it back, 'cause I don't want it. Just take it back 'cause I don't want it.
It's a fucking joke.
Life's shit then you die, so get used to feeling pain 'cause that's all you're gonna feel. You wanted to save me, but you can't even save yourself.
Religion is sickness; I'm the cure. Nothing is sacred.
You are the sickness - we are the cure.
The false papers try to tell us how to live our lives; I will not fall for it.
Now I see you're all hypocrites. It's just a lie you live by, overlooking all the cracks; and still you try to save us.
Can't you see? We don't believe this bullshit that you sell, so take it back.
You'll be sorry if you persist. I live to end life, no book will change that.
No higher power controls me.
No fear of consequences, he will not come down and smite me because he's fake. Why can't you see that you're all wrong, we are all our own gods.
Just take it back, 'cause I don't want it. Just take it back 'cause I don't want it.
It's a fucking joke.
Life's shit then you die, so get used to feeling pain 'cause that's all you're gonna feel. You wanted to save me, but you can't even save yourself.
Religion is sickness; I'm the cure. Nothing is sacred.
You are the sickness - we are the cure.
Rabu, 24 Februari 2010
Some Harsh Vocal Tips (Combined from some Sites)
Death shriek
The death shriek is a singing technique which is a hybrid of the death grunt and black metal vocals, resulting in a high-pitched scream or screech.
Arguably, the death shriek can be seen as being the predecessor of black metal vocals, due to thrash metal bands such as Possessed or Destruction, both which had a significant influence over early death metal bands such as Death and Obituary that utilising similar vocal techniques.
Death's debut musical album Scream Bloody Gore, from 1987, featured what was essentially death shrieking, rather than guttural growls. A similar vocal style was also displayed on Obituary's debut Slowly We Rot. It was not until Morbid Angel released Altars of Madness in 1989 that death growls were definitely established via vocalist David Vincent, and numerous bands followed in the revolutionary band's footsteps, including Cannibal Corpse, Malevolent Creation and Incantation.
Death shrieking, however, continued to grow in the shadow of the more commonly used death growl. It was developed elsewhere in genres other than death metal, most notably grindcore, in which bands would often combine growls with shrieks to create a more distinctive sound. The band Carcass is a prime example of this approach which is still common in modern grindcore bands.
The early 1900s saw a development of a new offshoot genre of death metal, mainly out of Gothenburg, Sweden, which became known as melodic death metal. Bands such as In Flames and Dark Tranquillity featured the less guttural death metal shriek to compliment their more harmonious and less intense guitar work.
In addition to this, the modern North American metalcore genre has also developed its own take on the death shriek. Bands like Killswitch Engage and ShadowsFall feature an unusual hybrid of hardcore vocals and death shrieks, some add more of a hardcore tinge to the vocals, while to others the death shriek influence is more apparent. In both cases, the pure death shriek found in the early death metal bands has been diluted to properly suit the less heavy and intense music.
Some notable death metal bands that use death shrieks: Deicide, Death, Angel Corpse, Panzerchrist, Obituary, Sceptic, Psycroptic.
How to Do Black Metal Vocals
If you want to sing black metal, you probably already know all about vocalists like Shagrath and bands like Exciter, Exodus and Primal Fear. Black metal singers differ in style and vocal range. Some scream or growl while others sing with a clear operatic voice. Read the following tips about how to develop your own black metal vocals.
Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Instructions
Step 1
Learn singing basics. You need to know the mechanics of how the voice operates and how the throat, diaphragm and breathe relate to each other when you sing. Even when growling death or black metal, the more you learn about vocal functions, the better you'll be able to produce the sounds you want.
Step 2
Select the vocal style that is appropriate for your voice and personality. You can sing in a high-pitched shout or a raspy lower register growl. Practice singing with your own lyrics or with songs by Mayhem or Dimmu Borgir.
Step 3
Practice singing along with your favorite black metal songs. Once you have mastered that, turn the volume down and concentrate on your own vocal technique. You might sound better with a back of the throat gurgling sound or a deep-down sci-fi monster growl, experiment and gauge what feels more comfortable with your voice.
Step 4
Perfect a guttural black metal sound. Leave the throat open and let air out by pushing it with the diaphragm. Project this sound with your mouth slightly closed or in a round O shape. Control your vocals by positioning air towards the roof or your mouth.
Step 5
Protect your voice. Drink water and juice and put the beer away before show time. Save that for later. Drinking alcohol can cloud up your vocals and prevent you from hitting high notes.
Black Metal Vox Tips
Remember, trying harsh vocals at a young age can cause permanent damage. However, if you want to try, read these following tips:
1. Listen to any album using harsh vocal techniques. I assume you already do. Do not try to imitate a vocalist in particular, get your own style.
2. Learn how to sing properly. The most important technique for performing death/black metal vocals is to be able to control your breathing, establishing a balance between the force used by your diaphragm and your vocal cords. Using only the vocal cords will put undue pressure on them and is sure to damage them (minor damage will heal in time). Proper technique is established by using the diaphragm to push air out of your lungs.
3. Try going sssssss quietly and then increase in volume. The feeling in your stomach is your diaphragm, the push. This is what you want to feel when performing death metal vocals.
4. Pick a lyric you want to perform. Always try to pick songs from bands who do not use the death grunts as it will be easier to rehearse your grunts. Try singing it normally, then slowly add more "fire" to it, until you can feel your diaphragm really pushing and you're getting that deep sound you're looking for. If you don't succeed in the deep guttural vocals try the raspier approach to these vocals. Anyone can achieve this. So long as your vocal range is Alto or lower. If you are a Soprano, don't even try. This will help you achieve the vocals. Once you have control you can make them sound raspy
Steps
Listen to an album that showcases harsh vocal techniques. Good references include Cannibal Corpse, Behemoth, Death, Deicide, Celtic Frost, Carcass, Hate Eternal, Morbid Angel, Suffocation, Vader and Besatt.
Learn how to sing properly. Start with something that has vibrato, like Classic Rock or Progressive, i.e. Nevermore. The most important technique for performing death metal vocals is to be able to control your breathing, establishing a balance between the force used by your diaphragm and vocal cords. Using only the vocal cords will put undue pressure on them and is sure to damage them (minor damage will heal in time). Proper technique is established by using the diaphragm to push air out of your lungs.
Warm up your voice before recording or performing death metal. "Warming up" can mean anything from singing mid-tone melodies to delivering your vocal patterns in a clean chest tone. Even humming for five minutes would be more beneficial to you than not warming up your voice at all.
When performing live, drink lukewarm water or tea an hour before performing, as well as in between songs. Avoid cold water, as it shocks the voice, and causes the vocal cords to "tense up." Following these simple guidelines will help protect and strengthen your vocal cords. If you don't sing properly, you may not be singing for much longer.
Fill up your lungs with air, then push out some of the air, tightening your throat and moving your tonsils as you do this. Do this all in one motion, but don't push too hard. Aim the sound higher in your throat to make a "dying old man"-like sound. It should sound something like a black metal raspy voice. From there lower the pitch in your throat the same way you would with your normal voice. At first, it won’t sound like much-- it takes some time to get used to.
Pick a lyric you want to perform. Try to choose songs from bands like Slayer, Metallica, Alice Cooper, AC/DC or other bands who do not use the death grunts, as it will be easier to rehearse your grunts (Six Feet Under has redone classic rock songs and given them a Death Metal makeover). Try singing it normally, then slowly add more "fire" to it, until you can feel your diaphragm really pushing and you're getting that deep sound you're looking for. If you don't succeed in the deep guttural vocals try the raspier approach to these vocals like Mark Hunter of Chimaira. Anyone can achieve this, men as well as women (listen to the current vocalist for Arch Enemy), as long as their vocal range is Alto or lower. Arch Enemy's Vocalist Angela Gossow is an alto, and will say it herself--if you are a Soprano, don't even try Death Growls.
Practice barking like a dog. Take a deep breath and go from your diaphragm. Force the sound out from the bottom of your belly, really imitating the barking sound. Then extend the barking sound and try it with several words. Breathing like a dog, as stupid as it sounds, can help you open your throat and get a guttural sound to your grunts. Don't do it loudly at the beginning--increase your volume as you get better at it.
After you've mastered basic death grunts, move on to bigger things. Make your grunts louder, faster, lower, deeper, or all of the above. It will help add some variety to your vocals.
After you've mastered death metal vocals, try to mix things up by learning another vocal style--even the best death metal vocalists don't use only death grunts in their songs. For example, George Fisher of Cannibal Corpse is known for having high-pitched screams in a few of his songs and Trevor Strand of The Black Dahlia Murder has been known for using a mix of death grunts, high-pitched shrieking and screaming. Also Jerry Sturino from Path changes his pitch during his songs.
After you're done performing death metal vocals, be sure to drink a healthful beverage such as the universal choice, water. Milk is a definite bad choice as it produces phlegm, which will coat your throat, stunting your progress. (Note that if your throat is sore, you're most likely doing something wrong.) Don't drink juice-- it contains citric acid, which will eat away at your throat. An occasional lemon squeezed into a glass of lukewarm water is fine, however. Water can be consumed before, during and after practicing and performing.
Sigh. It also helps if you pull your lips back in a wide open smile, tighten your throat like you are about to gurgle water, and push air from your chest. Also, looking a little up helps, since it stretches your vocal chords and makes the sound coming out a little higher.
How to Perform Death Metal Vocals
Death metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal, which evolved from the harsher side of thrash metal demonstrated by Slayer. The accustomed vocal style of death metal involves deep, guttural growls; however, the style has evolved to include violent shrieks and variations of the growl.
Notice: This article is not a health guide, and you're advised to consult your doctor before performing death growls for long periods. Special thanks to FireProphet and Felipe "Phil" Diez III of Encryptor for giving this writer some of the advice found in this article.
Things You'll Need:
* Thick vocal cords
* Patience and endurance
* A passion for death metal
* Guidance from your doctor (only if you feel it is necessary)
Step 1
Experiment. Death metal vocals don't come from the throat but the diaphragm. Fill your lungs with air, and push out the air tightening your throat to create the guttural sound. It should feel like a constricting egg in the very back of your throat. To start, try talking normally and moving your voice to a lower, and lower register. (Use the lyrics of your favorite song, or something you've penned yourself. Something aggressive works well; however, don't use words that make you too angry: contrary to popular belief, technique is far more important than anger in death metal vocals, and an overpowering sense of anger actually hampers the performance.) Once you've established your basic growl, experiment with lower growls and different tones. If your growls initially aren't very loud, don't fret: this often comes with time. However, do not try to growl from your throat; this will wreck your vocal cords, and not to mention, sound terrible.
Step 2
Find the style of vocal that suits your voice and preference best. From the commanding grunts of Scar Symmetry; to the guttural screams of Children Of Bodom, Arch Enemy, and Living Sacrifice; to the inflated hollers of Napalm Death and Mortification, and the deeply guttural gurgles of Cannibal Corpse and Impending Doom, there is a style for any thick set of vocal cords. Don't try to growl lower than what is comfortable and consistent; this will actually lead to a less low (and very restrained) sound.
Step 3
Melodically pitching a guttural growl is impossible; however, it is important to understand that death metal vocals are more than mindless growling, and actually employ a range of "tones". (Begin by singing along to your favorite death metal songs, this is the best way to learn proper technique in performance.) Always plan the tone and accent of each lyric and syllable before recording; otherwise you'll slip up while recording. Choose the tone for each word first and foremost by what sounds pleasing to the ears, and secondly by the emotion the lyric implies.
Step 4
By now, you have established your default style of growls. Is it the constant grunt of Mortification? Is it an enraged low scream Children Of Bodom would be proud of? You might not have "mastered" it just yet (this takes time!), but you have a basic idea of what you'll be doing the most in your death metal compositions. Now diversify with growl variations of your choice:
Step 5
Violent Shrieks/Screams:
Want to contrast your low growls with a guttural shriek? If you've mastered death growls, picking up this style should be fairly easy. Start with a standard growl, and take it higher and higher in your register. Flap your tongue around the roof of your throat while screaming to create the twisted, deranged sound most commonly heard in death metal shrieks. If you're aiming for more of a black metal, "dying old man" shriek than something along the lines of The Black Dahlia Murder or Bring Me the Horizon, use a bit more throat for a wild, uncontrolled sound. (Note that the syllable-tone rule also applies to shrieks.) For the raspy screams of Carcass and Zao, coat your throat with phlegm. (If this looks disgusting on paper to you, just think of how Louis Armstrong had no problem employing the powers of phlegm in his singing.) The rasp technique involves more screaming from a phlegm-coated throat than use of the diaphragm; however, be sure not to rely wholly on your throat, unless you want to wreck your vocal cords, and/or sound like the guy from The Devil Wears Prada.
Step 6
Inhales:
Though commonly criticized by the metal community, the inhaled growl is incredibly sinister and haunting, and has gained much popularity among vocalists in recent years. It is most commonly heard in (but not limited to) slam death metal and deathcore, and may have evolved from goregrind. Simultaneously lower, yet more screeching than most growls, it may be the most inhuman sounding death vocal style ever developed (it sounds more like a pig). As the name suggests, this technique involves inhaling the air and allowing the throat to rattle (death growls in reverse), as well as enunciating everything with an "ee" consonant. If your first attempts at inhaled growls sound terrible, don't fret: this style takes time. You might notice that most inhale vocalists intersperse inhales with standard death growls (Brook Reeves of Impending Doom, for example). This is partly because the sound is tiring in long bouts, but mostly because it's extremely difficult to inhale a growl before first belting out a few standard gutturals. Start with a standard exhaled growl and gradually begin to inhale the growl, creating more and more of a screeching/gurgling sound. With time and practice, you'll be able to switch from standard growls to inhales at will. If using the inhale-vocal technique is difficult for you, try practicing it while reclining your back, or experiment with other positions.
Pig Squeals:
Pig squealing is not a vocal style of its own, but an extension of inhales. It involves manipulating the inhaled vocal's screech into the sound of a pig being slaughtered. This is done by moving the inhaled growl what feels like the center of your register and inhaling a shriek, relying completely on the "ee" consonant. A consistent pig squeal is difficult to master. This sound should be secondary in your vocal arsenal, as it is not only very difficult, but very tiring to the ears in long bouts
Tips & Warnings
When first starting out, take plenty of breaks, and don't perform growls for long periods until you're able to growl without scratching the throat. (If you hear a gurgle in the back of your throat while growling, chances are you've reached this point.) Drink warm tea or water before, after, and between sessions; this soothes the throat, whereas cold water shocks it.
It's worth forking out the dough for an expensive microphone, and/or recording software. Higher recording quality accentuates the tone you're bringing forth with your voice, whereas lower quality might amplify the weak points of your voice.
Despite the references to established death metal vocalists found in this article, you probably won't (and preferably shouldn't) sound just like your favorite vocalist. Even in death metal vocalizing, copying someone else's singing voice is nigh impossible, and the few who succeed fade into obscurity. Be bold, find your own voice. Add your own touch to the tapestry of death metal; the genre's growth has always relied on those unafraid to stand apart from the crowd.
The death shriek is a singing technique which is a hybrid of the death grunt and black metal vocals, resulting in a high-pitched scream or screech.
Arguably, the death shriek can be seen as being the predecessor of black metal vocals, due to thrash metal bands such as Possessed or Destruction, both which had a significant influence over early death metal bands such as Death and Obituary that utilising similar vocal techniques.
Death's debut musical album Scream Bloody Gore, from 1987, featured what was essentially death shrieking, rather than guttural growls. A similar vocal style was also displayed on Obituary's debut Slowly We Rot. It was not until Morbid Angel released Altars of Madness in 1989 that death growls were definitely established via vocalist David Vincent, and numerous bands followed in the revolutionary band's footsteps, including Cannibal Corpse, Malevolent Creation and Incantation.
Death shrieking, however, continued to grow in the shadow of the more commonly used death growl. It was developed elsewhere in genres other than death metal, most notably grindcore, in which bands would often combine growls with shrieks to create a more distinctive sound. The band Carcass is a prime example of this approach which is still common in modern grindcore bands.
The early 1900s saw a development of a new offshoot genre of death metal, mainly out of Gothenburg, Sweden, which became known as melodic death metal. Bands such as In Flames and Dark Tranquillity featured the less guttural death metal shriek to compliment their more harmonious and less intense guitar work.
In addition to this, the modern North American metalcore genre has also developed its own take on the death shriek. Bands like Killswitch Engage and ShadowsFall feature an unusual hybrid of hardcore vocals and death shrieks, some add more of a hardcore tinge to the vocals, while to others the death shriek influence is more apparent. In both cases, the pure death shriek found in the early death metal bands has been diluted to properly suit the less heavy and intense music.
Some notable death metal bands that use death shrieks: Deicide, Death, Angel Corpse, Panzerchrist, Obituary, Sceptic, Psycroptic.
How to Do Black Metal Vocals
If you want to sing black metal, you probably already know all about vocalists like Shagrath and bands like Exciter, Exodus and Primal Fear. Black metal singers differ in style and vocal range. Some scream or growl while others sing with a clear operatic voice. Read the following tips about how to develop your own black metal vocals.
Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Instructions
Step 1
Learn singing basics. You need to know the mechanics of how the voice operates and how the throat, diaphragm and breathe relate to each other when you sing. Even when growling death or black metal, the more you learn about vocal functions, the better you'll be able to produce the sounds you want.
Step 2
Select the vocal style that is appropriate for your voice and personality. You can sing in a high-pitched shout or a raspy lower register growl. Practice singing with your own lyrics or with songs by Mayhem or Dimmu Borgir.
Step 3
Practice singing along with your favorite black metal songs. Once you have mastered that, turn the volume down and concentrate on your own vocal technique. You might sound better with a back of the throat gurgling sound or a deep-down sci-fi monster growl, experiment and gauge what feels more comfortable with your voice.
Step 4
Perfect a guttural black metal sound. Leave the throat open and let air out by pushing it with the diaphragm. Project this sound with your mouth slightly closed or in a round O shape. Control your vocals by positioning air towards the roof or your mouth.
Step 5
Protect your voice. Drink water and juice and put the beer away before show time. Save that for later. Drinking alcohol can cloud up your vocals and prevent you from hitting high notes.
Black Metal Vox Tips
Remember, trying harsh vocals at a young age can cause permanent damage. However, if you want to try, read these following tips:
1. Listen to any album using harsh vocal techniques. I assume you already do. Do not try to imitate a vocalist in particular, get your own style.
2. Learn how to sing properly. The most important technique for performing death/black metal vocals is to be able to control your breathing, establishing a balance between the force used by your diaphragm and your vocal cords. Using only the vocal cords will put undue pressure on them and is sure to damage them (minor damage will heal in time). Proper technique is established by using the diaphragm to push air out of your lungs.
3. Try going sssssss quietly and then increase in volume. The feeling in your stomach is your diaphragm, the push. This is what you want to feel when performing death metal vocals.
4. Pick a lyric you want to perform. Always try to pick songs from bands who do not use the death grunts as it will be easier to rehearse your grunts. Try singing it normally, then slowly add more "fire" to it, until you can feel your diaphragm really pushing and you're getting that deep sound you're looking for. If you don't succeed in the deep guttural vocals try the raspier approach to these vocals. Anyone can achieve this. So long as your vocal range is Alto or lower. If you are a Soprano, don't even try. This will help you achieve the vocals. Once you have control you can make them sound raspy
Steps
Listen to an album that showcases harsh vocal techniques. Good references include Cannibal Corpse, Behemoth, Death, Deicide, Celtic Frost, Carcass, Hate Eternal, Morbid Angel, Suffocation, Vader and Besatt.
Learn how to sing properly. Start with something that has vibrato, like Classic Rock or Progressive, i.e. Nevermore. The most important technique for performing death metal vocals is to be able to control your breathing, establishing a balance between the force used by your diaphragm and vocal cords. Using only the vocal cords will put undue pressure on them and is sure to damage them (minor damage will heal in time). Proper technique is established by using the diaphragm to push air out of your lungs.
Warm up your voice before recording or performing death metal. "Warming up" can mean anything from singing mid-tone melodies to delivering your vocal patterns in a clean chest tone. Even humming for five minutes would be more beneficial to you than not warming up your voice at all.
When performing live, drink lukewarm water or tea an hour before performing, as well as in between songs. Avoid cold water, as it shocks the voice, and causes the vocal cords to "tense up." Following these simple guidelines will help protect and strengthen your vocal cords. If you don't sing properly, you may not be singing for much longer.
Fill up your lungs with air, then push out some of the air, tightening your throat and moving your tonsils as you do this. Do this all in one motion, but don't push too hard. Aim the sound higher in your throat to make a "dying old man"-like sound. It should sound something like a black metal raspy voice. From there lower the pitch in your throat the same way you would with your normal voice. At first, it won’t sound like much-- it takes some time to get used to.
Pick a lyric you want to perform. Try to choose songs from bands like Slayer, Metallica, Alice Cooper, AC/DC or other bands who do not use the death grunts, as it will be easier to rehearse your grunts (Six Feet Under has redone classic rock songs and given them a Death Metal makeover). Try singing it normally, then slowly add more "fire" to it, until you can feel your diaphragm really pushing and you're getting that deep sound you're looking for. If you don't succeed in the deep guttural vocals try the raspier approach to these vocals like Mark Hunter of Chimaira. Anyone can achieve this, men as well as women (listen to the current vocalist for Arch Enemy), as long as their vocal range is Alto or lower. Arch Enemy's Vocalist Angela Gossow is an alto, and will say it herself--if you are a Soprano, don't even try Death Growls.
Practice barking like a dog. Take a deep breath and go from your diaphragm. Force the sound out from the bottom of your belly, really imitating the barking sound. Then extend the barking sound and try it with several words. Breathing like a dog, as stupid as it sounds, can help you open your throat and get a guttural sound to your grunts. Don't do it loudly at the beginning--increase your volume as you get better at it.
After you've mastered basic death grunts, move on to bigger things. Make your grunts louder, faster, lower, deeper, or all of the above. It will help add some variety to your vocals.
After you've mastered death metal vocals, try to mix things up by learning another vocal style--even the best death metal vocalists don't use only death grunts in their songs. For example, George Fisher of Cannibal Corpse is known for having high-pitched screams in a few of his songs and Trevor Strand of The Black Dahlia Murder has been known for using a mix of death grunts, high-pitched shrieking and screaming. Also Jerry Sturino from Path changes his pitch during his songs.
After you're done performing death metal vocals, be sure to drink a healthful beverage such as the universal choice, water. Milk is a definite bad choice as it produces phlegm, which will coat your throat, stunting your progress. (Note that if your throat is sore, you're most likely doing something wrong.) Don't drink juice-- it contains citric acid, which will eat away at your throat. An occasional lemon squeezed into a glass of lukewarm water is fine, however. Water can be consumed before, during and after practicing and performing.
Sigh. It also helps if you pull your lips back in a wide open smile, tighten your throat like you are about to gurgle water, and push air from your chest. Also, looking a little up helps, since it stretches your vocal chords and makes the sound coming out a little higher.
How to Perform Death Metal Vocals
Death metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal, which evolved from the harsher side of thrash metal demonstrated by Slayer. The accustomed vocal style of death metal involves deep, guttural growls; however, the style has evolved to include violent shrieks and variations of the growl.
Notice: This article is not a health guide, and you're advised to consult your doctor before performing death growls for long periods. Special thanks to FireProphet and Felipe "Phil" Diez III of Encryptor for giving this writer some of the advice found in this article.
Things You'll Need:
* Thick vocal cords
* Patience and endurance
* A passion for death metal
* Guidance from your doctor (only if you feel it is necessary)
Step 1
Experiment. Death metal vocals don't come from the throat but the diaphragm. Fill your lungs with air, and push out the air tightening your throat to create the guttural sound. It should feel like a constricting egg in the very back of your throat. To start, try talking normally and moving your voice to a lower, and lower register. (Use the lyrics of your favorite song, or something you've penned yourself. Something aggressive works well; however, don't use words that make you too angry: contrary to popular belief, technique is far more important than anger in death metal vocals, and an overpowering sense of anger actually hampers the performance.) Once you've established your basic growl, experiment with lower growls and different tones. If your growls initially aren't very loud, don't fret: this often comes with time. However, do not try to growl from your throat; this will wreck your vocal cords, and not to mention, sound terrible.
Step 2
Find the style of vocal that suits your voice and preference best. From the commanding grunts of Scar Symmetry; to the guttural screams of Children Of Bodom, Arch Enemy, and Living Sacrifice; to the inflated hollers of Napalm Death and Mortification, and the deeply guttural gurgles of Cannibal Corpse and Impending Doom, there is a style for any thick set of vocal cords. Don't try to growl lower than what is comfortable and consistent; this will actually lead to a less low (and very restrained) sound.
Step 3
Melodically pitching a guttural growl is impossible; however, it is important to understand that death metal vocals are more than mindless growling, and actually employ a range of "tones". (Begin by singing along to your favorite death metal songs, this is the best way to learn proper technique in performance.) Always plan the tone and accent of each lyric and syllable before recording; otherwise you'll slip up while recording. Choose the tone for each word first and foremost by what sounds pleasing to the ears, and secondly by the emotion the lyric implies.
Step 4
By now, you have established your default style of growls. Is it the constant grunt of Mortification? Is it an enraged low scream Children Of Bodom would be proud of? You might not have "mastered" it just yet (this takes time!), but you have a basic idea of what you'll be doing the most in your death metal compositions. Now diversify with growl variations of your choice:
Step 5
Violent Shrieks/Screams:
Want to contrast your low growls with a guttural shriek? If you've mastered death growls, picking up this style should be fairly easy. Start with a standard growl, and take it higher and higher in your register. Flap your tongue around the roof of your throat while screaming to create the twisted, deranged sound most commonly heard in death metal shrieks. If you're aiming for more of a black metal, "dying old man" shriek than something along the lines of The Black Dahlia Murder or Bring Me the Horizon, use a bit more throat for a wild, uncontrolled sound. (Note that the syllable-tone rule also applies to shrieks.) For the raspy screams of Carcass and Zao, coat your throat with phlegm. (If this looks disgusting on paper to you, just think of how Louis Armstrong had no problem employing the powers of phlegm in his singing.) The rasp technique involves more screaming from a phlegm-coated throat than use of the diaphragm; however, be sure not to rely wholly on your throat, unless you want to wreck your vocal cords, and/or sound like the guy from The Devil Wears Prada.
Step 6
Inhales:
Though commonly criticized by the metal community, the inhaled growl is incredibly sinister and haunting, and has gained much popularity among vocalists in recent years. It is most commonly heard in (but not limited to) slam death metal and deathcore, and may have evolved from goregrind. Simultaneously lower, yet more screeching than most growls, it may be the most inhuman sounding death vocal style ever developed (it sounds more like a pig). As the name suggests, this technique involves inhaling the air and allowing the throat to rattle (death growls in reverse), as well as enunciating everything with an "ee" consonant. If your first attempts at inhaled growls sound terrible, don't fret: this style takes time. You might notice that most inhale vocalists intersperse inhales with standard death growls (Brook Reeves of Impending Doom, for example). This is partly because the sound is tiring in long bouts, but mostly because it's extremely difficult to inhale a growl before first belting out a few standard gutturals. Start with a standard exhaled growl and gradually begin to inhale the growl, creating more and more of a screeching/gurgling sound. With time and practice, you'll be able to switch from standard growls to inhales at will. If using the inhale-vocal technique is difficult for you, try practicing it while reclining your back, or experiment with other positions.
Pig Squeals:
Pig squealing is not a vocal style of its own, but an extension of inhales. It involves manipulating the inhaled vocal's screech into the sound of a pig being slaughtered. This is done by moving the inhaled growl what feels like the center of your register and inhaling a shriek, relying completely on the "ee" consonant. A consistent pig squeal is difficult to master. This sound should be secondary in your vocal arsenal, as it is not only very difficult, but very tiring to the ears in long bouts
Tips & Warnings
When first starting out, take plenty of breaks, and don't perform growls for long periods until you're able to growl without scratching the throat. (If you hear a gurgle in the back of your throat while growling, chances are you've reached this point.) Drink warm tea or water before, after, and between sessions; this soothes the throat, whereas cold water shocks it.
It's worth forking out the dough for an expensive microphone, and/or recording software. Higher recording quality accentuates the tone you're bringing forth with your voice, whereas lower quality might amplify the weak points of your voice.
Despite the references to established death metal vocalists found in this article, you probably won't (and preferably shouldn't) sound just like your favorite vocalist. Even in death metal vocalizing, copying someone else's singing voice is nigh impossible, and the few who succeed fade into obscurity. Be bold, find your own voice. Add your own touch to the tapestry of death metal; the genre's growth has always relied on those unafraid to stand apart from the crowd.
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