Would that this hoodie were a time hoodie!

SUGARLAND JUST SANG "SIGH NO MORE" WITH LITTLE BIG TOWN. IT WAS EPIC. The entire concert was awesome, I could not stop smiling. Ronnie Dunn from Brooks and Dunn also showed up and sang "The Very Last Country Song" with them, and man do he and Jennifer Nettles sound so beautiful together. Jon Bon Jovi showed up to sing his part of "Who Says You Can't Go Home," but uh... I gotta admit, he was kind of bad. Like, he just didn't seem into it at all, and he and Jennifer were kind of out of sync, but oh well. At least he showed up? And Sugarland debuted a bunch of songs from the new album, so that was fun to watch. But the show itself was pretty much a condensed version of the one that I saw in person. LOVED IT. Thank you, YouTube. You should broadcast Sugarland concerts more often.

THEY ARE SO FREAKING ADORABLE. CANNOT WAIT. Although my internet has been having issues lately, today especially, so I just know that it will choose to go out during the live stream concert and frustrate me beyond belief. Luckily I've already seen their Incredible Machine concert IN PERSON, but still, I want to see what they do with the online concert. Also, I've already listened to their new album like 20 times at the very least. I LOVE THE INTERNET FOR GIVING ME THINGS BEFORE THEY'VE EVEN BEEN RELEASED. But I do plan on buying the CD tomorrow. I am old fashioned in that I still like to buy the physical albums of my favorite artists.

Also, I just wanted to give a little shout-out to my new friends that I made from a recent friending meme. awoken, laceandbraids, and escapefate. Hello, my fellow K-drama fans! I look forward to getting to know you all.

This weekend I finished watching My Sister-in-Law is 19 and I really enjoyed it. It was more plotty than I was expecting, but still pretty delightful. It reminded me a tad of Brilliant Legacy, only not as well done. It had that same theme running through it about how money has the power to corrupt you, and the children suffer for their parents' sins, and crazy, manipulative daughters are the products of their crazy, manipulative mothers. What really got me about this one though is that the heroine's main rival stole her father. That's just... oh man, that was evil. But not really, because you understood why the girl did what she did, but at the same time, SHE STOLE ANOTHER PERSON'S FATHER. That's way worse than stealing a potential boyfriend. Anyway, this drama was both hilarious and pretty good at getting to your emotions. It started off very dramatically, which had me going, "Wait a minute, I thought this was a rom-com?" but, once it got past the heart-wrenching train station scene, it was your typical rom-com, but I think what I enjoyed most was seeing the conspiracy all fall apart and the "sinners" getting their comeuppance and eventually achieving redemption in their own ways. But, like most K-dramas, the ending to the romance was quite anti-climactic. What is up with that? I have trouble thinking of K-dramas that actually gave us a fully satisfying ending. It's like they're so utterly wonderful until they get to that last episode where they have to wrap everything up. I especially hate flash forwards where they tidy everything up in one minute and don't even give us a kiss. Psh. Anyway, I felt that the following scene was particularly well done:

It's only about 10 minutes into the first episode, and already we've seen the little girl's father get into a car accident and go into a coma (and just before he blacks out we see a sequence of him playing with his daughter and another little girl and it's so sweet and sad and beautiful), and then the little girl's grandfather shows up and gives her mother money and tells her to stay away from his son because he no longer wants anything to do with her (even though she's married to him and has a kid with him) and the mother starts crying and saying that's not possible. And then we see this older lady who is friends with the mother getting threatened by loansharks and they threaten to kill her children, so she sneaks into the mother's room to steal the 500,000,000 won, and the mother wakes up and begs her not to take it because she wants to return it to the grandfather, and in the process of trying to get the money back, the mother has a heart attack and dies, and the older lady realizes it was her fault, and the whole time this other lady was watching it all unfold. Cut to the funeral and the little girl is all alone and crying and the two older ladies are talking about splitting the money and abandoning the little girl somewhere, older lady says she can't do it but then the other lady threatens to tell everyone that she killed the mother, so, then we get this scene:



Never have I cried so hard at a scene where we barely even know the characters yet. How the show managed to give me that much emotional attachment to the little girl within ten minutes of the first episode is pretty amazing. And man can you feel the older lady's torment as she watches the train leave. Just, so well done. So, even though the show itself wasn't that exceptional, it did have its shining moments.

I AM NOW IN POSSESSION OF THE NEW SUGARLAND ALBUM! Which doesn't get released until next Tuesday. IT IS SO, SO WONDERFUL. GO BUY THE INCREDIBLE MACHINE ON TUESDAY. OR, PURCHASE IT FROM ITUNES, BECAUSE IT IS SO, SO, SO, SO GLORIOUS. I am hoping that the one they release on Tuesday is a deluxe edition and will have more songs, because my only real complaint is that I WANT MOOOOOOOORE. They actually sang more than half of the songs on this album at the concert that I went to, so I had heard quite a bit of it already. I adore how it sounds so very different from their previous albums (and actually, their last album sounded very different from their previous ones as well), so, I am enjoying how they keep sort of reinventing their sound while still keeping their same wonderful Sugarland flair. THEY ARE AMAZING, I LOVE THEM SO FREAKING MUCH.

In other news, I really enjoyed Glee last night. Particularly the Kurt/Rachel duet. And the fact that they actually managed to bring some depth to the Brittany character. I found Rachel and Finn to be conceited beyond belief, especially since everyone else's duets totally kicked their asses, but, what else is new? Actually, I felt that they sang that Born Again song way better than they did "Don't go Breaking My Heart" (and, really, during the whole Don't Go Breaking My Heart sequence all I could think was, "Ugh, they really can't even compare to the awesomeness of Marshall and Lily." So, apparently, I've gotten it into my head that Marshall and Lily from HIMYM are the ONLY characters allowed to sing that song now).

Raising Hope was so utterly hilarious. They pulled off the whole family portrait storyline so much better than Modern Family did, particularly getting the genuinely happy family moment. I'M SORRY, YOU KNOW I LOVE MODERN FAMILY, but yeah, this show did it in a much more natural/believable/non-gagable way. I particularly loved the flashback of them in the ski suits in 90 degree weather and Burt getting his boot stuck between the pedals. And Jimmy eating his hair. And Maw Maw singing the song after Virginia kicked the radio in. Basically, I loved everything about the episode. I'm pretty sure this is my favorite new show of the year.

Running Wilde was also completely hilarious. Particularly the overly long montage of Steve not knowing how to wash a car. Also, MULTIPLE MAN KISSES. And Fa'ad's New York accent! It was a cute ep.

Also, last night I finished watching this K-drama called I am Sam, and most people say it's total crack and not very good and they only watched it for T.O.P. but you know what? I FREAKING LOVED THIS DRAMA. Which probably shouldn't be surprising since it was a teacher/student romance that was also about a hapless teacher being inspiring to students that everyone else had given up on. It totally had a bit of a Dead Poets' Society vibe to it. Also, the show itself was so ridiculously hilarious, and the romance was super adorable and surprisingly deep by the end of the series, and despite the fact that the girl's father was a mobster, there really wasn't that much high drama in this (the last episode was a bit ridiculous in the drama department, but not as ridiculous as most dramas with a similar relationship). I think the only thing I was disappointed with was the ending, because, well, it was a little jarring, but hey, at least it was happy!

GREATEST VIDEO EVER. Ahahahahaha, OMG, I love them.

Anyway, I went to a Sugarland concert last night, and they've started their Incredible Machine tour, and OMG, IT WAS SO, SO WONDERFUL! They've gotten much more... er... choreographed since the last time I saw them. I mean, they've always jumped around the stage, but this time it seemed more organized, more synchronized dancing and whatnot, and they are so damn adorable that you can't not smile when they do that. They just seem to have so much fun when they're up there together. THEY ARE THE CUTEST! But, besides the dancing, their stage set was so incredibly awesome. It's got a bit of a steampunk thing happening, and the opening was amazing (they're both behind this curtain thing that looks like a metal building and it's got open sections and you can see them doing their robot moves and then their silhouettes are huge on the curtain and just... it was awesome. I can't even explain its awesomeness).



It looked something like that. If I wasn't so shaky and if my camera wasn't almost 10 years old, it would have been a damn good pic! *sigh*

But yeah, Sugarland was freaking amazing and had me on my feet the entire time. They know how to get the audience excited. One thing I love about Sugarland concerts though is their random musical interludes, where, in the middle of one of their own songs, they'll throw in a medley of other people's songs and then go back to their song, and it's both hilarious and awesome:



She's totally channeling Michael Scott there.



(this is one of their new songs, which was probably my favorite out of all their new ones, but once they started singing "Sweet Caroline" I loved it even more).

And for their final encore they did Stayin' Alive (check out my view. IT SUCKS TO BE SHORT).

( More pics that emphasize my shortness. Also, Little Big Town kicked ass. )

So, that was a lot of fun.

SUGARLAND HAS A NEW SINGLE!!!!!



Greatest graphics EVER for a lyrics video, right? Usually lyrics videos are beyond lame, but this person actually made it super adorable and catchy, JUST LIKE THE SONG. Screw those YouTube commenters, whatever, SUGARLAND RULES, BITCHES. What I find interesting though is that people are usually down on Sugarland's new songs when they first come out, and then for some reason people seem to come around to them later. Even I'm that way sometimes, though as of late Sugarland could probably sing any damn song in the world and I'd love it to death (except for The Love Shack, UGH. Even they didn't manage to salvage that song for me). But anyway, yes, this song is more fluffy pop than Sugarland is known for, but Sugarland is all about bringing different genres together and putting some twang to it, so it's not like they were traditional to begin with, though, you know, they were more traditional than they were with the last album and the upcoming one, but whatever, I FREAKING LOVE THEM. And you know what? I LOVE TAYLOR SWIFT TOO, SO SUCK IT, PURISTS. Not that I've ever agreed with the purists. Ever. Especially since they were always down on Garth Brooks back in the day (irony upon ironies, the modern day purists are the ones who want to harken back to the days of Garth. I love my Garth, he'll always be #1 in my heart, but he was a big proponent of the idea that music is constantly growing and changing and building on its roots. He too was a genre mixer, which is probably why I have such a strong fondness for Sugarland).

Also, I am lame and keep picturing a married Jeff/Annie whenever I listen to that song. *sigh*

Anywhozle, I quite enjoyed Covert Affairs last night. I keep thinking that I'm going to drop the show, because as fun as it is, there's still nothing that's really making me attached to the story or consumed with the characters, but somehow it manages to draw me in every week. And this week's was especially good, probably because Annie had wicked hot chemistry with that Mossad guy. Plus, they brought out a darker side to Auggie that kind of made you think about where his loyalties lie (though I still believe that he is completely on Annie's side, just, you know, there could be a sinister side to this dude that we don't know about... though, I doubt it, but you never know).

In my continuing perusal of Wizards of Waverly Place, I came upon the ep entitled "Max's Secret Girlfriend" and do you know what happened? ALEX AND JUSTIN PRETENDED TO BE HIS PARENTS. Oh, Disney tween show with your highly suggestive incest, you are the light of my life. Side note: someone on F!S the other day complained about this show having its own Brother/Sister incest page, and I kind of agree. Sure, the show pushes it sometimes, but it's not canon, therefore it's incestyay and not straight up incest. Still though, that page amuses me with its truthiness. Also, Harper/Zeke is like the cutest thing ever. Usually I don't approve of just sticking the two weird kids together, as Disney shows are wont to do, but for some reason it works great for these two (maybe because the show sort of built it up? It was only a couple of eps, but that's still better than just randomly throwing them together out of the blue).

The 30 Day Shipping Meme
Day 11 - What is your dream pairing?

Tina Fey/Robert Downey Jr.



Because you know they'd be made of epic snarktastic gold. Plus, you know, they're kind of hot together.

Day 12 - Who had the best wedding?

Oh, that would be Betty/Armando. Never has a TV wedding felt more real:



I love that they went with real as opposed to overly comedic or dramatic, because when you watch this show, you really feel like you are on their journey with them, and their journey was so long and difficult but full of so many happy memories, and when it gets to the wedding you are just smiling like a loon and you feel like you're really there with them, like you're a part of their family, and it's just utterly beautiful (and yes, I cry every time, because again, they feel like real people that you've known forever and you're just so happy to finally see them together, all their dreams coming true). And I love the fact that Armando got these people to come and sing that duet at their wedding, because it's the song that Betty and Armando sang together on their first date, and Armando remembering this signifies that that moment had been important to him. He remembered this little detail even though at the time he had thought that he didn't care about her, but clearly he did, at least a little bit.

( Next time on firthgal's journal... )

You know, I typically mock boybands (because I'm a buzzkill like that), and yet I just spent like two hours on YouTube watching Il Divo videos (and Il Divo is basically a boyband for middle-aged housewives). But they make it look so classy!



See? And they sing Amazing Grace accompanied by bagpipes! And they sing All by Myself in Spanish! And they sing ABBA songs in some language that I'm not sure of! And look, Hallelujah in Spanish! I find the Spanish dude strangely alluring, by the way.

---

Meme! From caffyolay

Comment on this entry and I will give you a letter. Name 5 songs you love starting with that letter.

( She gave me L )

---

The 30 Day Shipping Meme
Day 09 - The most believable relationship?



Marshall and Lily Erikson, aka the cutest couple to ever grace television. They manage to be romantic in this very understated, real way that is simply beautiful to watch. They're responsible for getting me so wrapped up in seasons 1 and 2 of HIMYM (and oh man did I love their wedding episode, particularly the bit where Lily barfs into a trashcan and Marshall looks at her so fondly as he says "That's my wife." ♥).

( Next time on firthgal's journal... )

Only Sugarland can take my favorite Brooks & Dunn song and turn it into something that is uniquely their own and make me love it even more:



OMG, I LOVE THEM. THEY ARE SO, SO BEAUTIFUL. And OMG Jennifer is so adorable with her Ronnie Dunn tattoo (which I'm guessing is temporary, because it's kind of a giant tattoo of the dude's face). Oh, and just for reference, here's the original version of the song. Who would even fathom turning that into a piano-heavy ballad? Only Sugarland. ♥ Side note: Now that Brooks & Dunn have officially retired, I am totally bummed that I didn't go see them in concert last year when they came to my town. :(

The 30 Day TV Meme
Day 19 - Best t.v show cast

Didn't even have to think about this one:



THEY ARE CLEARLY THE GREATEST. In the past I would have said the cast of The Office, because they seem like such a fun group of people, but the cast of Community actually gets to work as a legitimate ensemble, and they're wonderful.

( the days )

The 30 Day Film Meme
Day 03 - A film that brings you unadulterated happiness



This one is a toss-up between Hook and My Fair Lady, which is an odd combination, but they are the two movies that bring me the most glee when I watch them.

( the days )

Okay, you know the Team USA soundtrack for The Olympics? Don't worry, I didn't know about it either. But anyway, I just listened to the Sugarland song, and my immediate reaction was, "Dear god, why are they trying to sound like Taylor Swift?" I was slightly horrified (I love Taylor and all, but she is not exactly what I call quality country music, you know? Whereas Sugarland never fails in the quality department). Anyway, I was all :o but then I went and watched the vid and was all :D because apparently their adorableness makes everything sound EPIC. Do you SEE why I am utterly in love with this lady? I am shocked that there are three country acts on that album, not so shocked that they have all been terribly pop-ized (not that Rascal Flatts or Gloriana had to work too hard at that. Good lord, every single person in Gloriana looks like a supermodel! It's freaky! Especially when faux-hawks are involved).

Young ASH looks like he's related to Colin Morgan, does he not?



I know I've said that before, but after watching Enemy at the Door, I am even more convinced of this. And if Colin Morgan will turn out to be as sexy as ASH when he gets older, well, then perhaps I should keep my eye on him.

I have recently gotten pulled back into Buffy/Giles fanfic (pfft, what else is new), and it just so happens that a Buffy/Giles secret showed up yesterday. HOW FORTUITOUS WAS THAT? I especially loved that most of the comments were positive. Only one or two "Ewwww gross!" comments. I particularly loved the comment about the person who showed BtVS to her brother (or cousin or whoever it was) and he declared after five minutes that Buffy and Giles were standing way too close to be platonic and what the heck was she making him watch? Bwahahahaha. See, even people who only glance at the show see their inappropriate UST! Oh, I love Buffy/Giles. Way too much.

I watched Christoph Waltz on Charlie Rose last night. I had a goofy grin on my face THE ENTIRE TIME. I do not understand why this man makes me grin so hard, he just does. I don't even realize I'm doing it until my cheeks start to hurt. *sigh* But anyway, there was one bit where he said "kind of highfalutin" and it was the cutest thing I have ever heard in my life (he should so do a cowboy movie next!). Also, his love for Quentin is kind of a beautiful thing. Also, I loved loved LOVED his breakdown of the scene between him and Shosanna. It must be noted TO BUNNY that the first thing he said (with a slightly naughty smile) was that you have a man and a woman, so there's an energy there. You have a man who is slightly older and a woman who is slightly younger, so that gives the energy an interesting spin. And then he went into the power dynamics and whatnot, but, my point here is that both Christoph and Charlie were pointing out the tension and how it was the greatest scene in the entire movie (well, that was just Charlie saying that last bit). THE SCENE WAS HOT, OKAY BUNNY? EVEN CHARLIE ROSE THINKS SO. AND HE'S ON PBS.

( I am still totally on a Phil Vassar high, by the way. )

Okay, the more I listen to the Sugarland song, the more I am being convinced of its Sugarlandyness! I am officially in love with it.

Okay, had to post this. HAD TO. One of the most exciting performances I have ever seen in my entire life. I seriously need to see these guys in concert:



Did you see how fast he was playing that guitar? Good lord, even if I could play more than the few notes on my guitar that I can, I could never play them that fast to save my life.

Also, I am posting this one AGAIN because I cannot stop watching it:



Oooooooh, how that performance gets me. Especially the end where the audience starts cheering extra loud and the instruments are at full force and she's really belting it out. God, she puts so much emotion into her performances that I always feel her pain right down to my bones (or happiness, because she does have happy songs, it's just that the majority of the songs on their latest album were written in the midst of her divorcing her husband, therefore they are angsty and sorrow-filled). Like Stay, wherein she breaks down crying during pretty much every performance (although that one's from the POV of the "other woman" so it makes you wonder why the heck she's so emotional when she sings it, but oooooooh do I feel the emotions in that song as if I had lived through them myself).

Also, while I'm here, HOWARD/RAJ. THEY ARE IN LOVE.

GREATEST EPISODE EVER. Oh my god, cried my eyes out. Sue and Kurt win. At everything. They are just ridiculously amazing characters (and I cannot get over how much I love the dynamic that Kurt has with his father, good god, they make me feel all warm and fuzzy. And their eyes are so spectacularly similar and beautiful that it blows my mind). And Artie! He still makes me swoon more than any of the other guys on this show. Also, I adore Will when he is busy being a teacher and is not wrapped up in ridiculous love quadrangle tripe. Oh, this episode did wonderful things for my heart. And I was kind of wishing that they'd just make Defying Gravity a duet (seriously, there is nothing explicitly femaley about it, and the song applied to them both, so... make it a duet, damn it!). Also, I highly enjoyed the Will/Rachel going on in this episode (I don't think I will ever not squee over the fact that Rachel will always be his favorite, and she will always make him feel like crap whenever he chooses someone over her out of fairness. Oh, them. I love them).

Also, CMA performances are now up, therefore I give you the utter amazingness that is SUGARLAND:



If that performance does not captivate you, then you clearly have no soul. I often apply that song to Buffy/Giles, by the way. I know that I seem to apply every song ever to them, but seriously, it is so season 6 them.