An Open Letter To The Noughties (written 12.30.09)

Dear 2000's,

I came into this decade as a 12 year old, somewhat naive, a 7th grader at Marine Park Junior High School, thinking that I would never escape the constant torture of being bullied. Now, I am leaving as a 22 year old senior at Brooklyn College, experienced more life than I would have ever thought that I would back in the 7th grade, and hoping that things can only get better from here. A lot can happen in ten years, and boy did things ever happen for me.

Some of the good things that you have given me: I met amazing people that I am proud to consider my friends; I have come across amazing teachers and professors that have taught me things outside of the classroom; I went to my first concert; had my first kiss; first boyfriend; got to do wonderful shows/musicals in high school and college; exploring my passions; discovering music that changed my life; always learning something new in and out of school.

Amongst all of this wonderful stuff, you have dealt me a lot of challenges that I have had to deal with head on. First with my grandfather's death in 2007. Thank god I had a show to do that week, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to get through it. Then, my thyroid fucked up on me, or, should I say, it's been fucked up my whole life, but I didn't see any symptoms of it until I was 20. Having autoimmune problems suck. Big time.

I also have been used by men that shouldn't be in my life. But on the flip side, I have met men that have shown me that not all guys are scum. Thank you for showing me that, and you know who you are.

Then my father's death last year. I still haven't gotten over it completely, and it's because I'm in the place where he worked and where I found out that he died. It is time for me to really start healing my wounds, and the only way I can do this is to leave Brooklyn College as soon as I get my Bachelor's degree in hand. It will be the only way for me to really move on. Therapy helps immensely, but I need a change of scenery to make it easier for me to deal with. A week or so ago, I found out that my other grandfather has cancer of the esophagus. He will find out if it was caught in time in a couple of weeks. I pray that it's Stage I, not Stage IV, and I pray that he will survive this, not succumb to it. Not only did you take away people from my family, you took people away from my friend's families, too. And it hurt me to see them go through the pain that I know of all too well.

In short: Thank you for sending me the most amazing friends anyone could ever ask for, and fuck you for taking away the people that I love before their time. Goodbye, 2000's. I hope that the 2010's will give me, and all of my friends and family, peace, clarity, love, happiness and light. It can only get better from here. I know it.




Respectfully yours,

Allyson




© Allyson Yates, 2009/2010

Nail Design - Blue and Orange Abstract with New York Mets Cap Insignia

 

© Allyson Yates, 2010

Live Event Review: Depeche Mode's Sounds Rock NYC (written for Issue 01 of the Brooklyn College Kingsman 08.31.09)

Depeche Mode's Sounds Rock NYC
by: Allyson Yates (staff writer)

Depeche Mode’s Tour of the Universe made a stop at Madison Square Garden on August 3rd and rocked the sold-out house to its core. The excitement could be felt hours before the band took the stage. As the main lobby played their greatest hits through the speakers, fans were singing and donning their newly bought t-shirts while waiting for the doors to open. When walking through the gate to get to the seats, I knew that this wasn’t going to be just another concert. It was going to be an experience I’ll never forget.

As the crowd waited in anticipation, the disco ball like LCD screen flashed the letters “DM” around and around, getting the crowed psyched for the band. When the arena went dark at 8:57pm, fans got on their feet awaiting the Mode men to take the stage, as the introduction of the opening song, “In Chains,” played on.

The members of Depeche Mode always had an interesting dynamic between them when they appeared on stage. You first have guitarist/keyboardist/primary songwriter Martin Gore. Quietly bold, wearing a silver suit reminiscent of Gary Glitter in the 70’s, and going through about eight different guitar changes throughout the show (different colors; different shapes, etc.) Then there is keyboardist Andrew “Fletch” Fletcher, standing calmly behind his keyboard, conservatively dressed in a leather jacket, t-shirt and jeans. This same casual look was also the case for live drummer Christian Eigner and keyboardist Peter Gordeno. And then there’s lead singer/secondary songwriter Dave Gahan. Looking very classy in a black suit jacket, vest and slacks; showing off his Mick Jagger/David Bowie like moves; the ultimate front man. He is one of, if not the, best front men in the business. Despite his cancer scare and surgery back in May, he showed the crowd that he still had it at 47 years of age. Since this is where Gahan has lived for the last few years, during the show he proclaimed that “it was good to be home.”

As the night went on, they dipped into their back catalog of hits (“Policy of Truth,” “Fly on the Windscreen,” “Enjoy The Silence,” “A Question of Time,” “I Feel You”), as well as songs from their latest album Sounds of the Universe (“Wrong,” “Little Soul,” “Come Back,” “Hole To Feed,” “In Chains”). No matter where you sat in the place, you could feel the energy all around. Gahan’s voice was as amazing as ever, as were Gore’s harmonies. During “Never Let Me Down Again,” the entire crowd followed Gahan’s lead as he waved his arms in the air. The entire crowd looked like a field of grain swaying in the wind. When you are at a Depeche Mode show, that is the moment that you wait for the entire night; just to be a part of that wave. To just see it on one of their tour DVD’s doesn’t do the moment justice. It is just magical to see it in person and be a part of it. For the encores, they went back to the 80’s with “Stripped,” “Personal Jesus,” “Master and Servant” and “Strangelove” (the latter songs haven’t been played since their World Violation tour in 1990).

They finally ended the evening with one of their slower songs: “Waiting For The Night” from 1990’s Violator. To end a show with such a song wouldn’t usually be the norm for Depeche, but after experimenting with ending shows on their Touring The Angel tour in 2005 with “Goodnight Lovers” (from 2001’s Exciter), they can make it work. You could have heard a pin drop as Gahan and Gore took center stage for this duet, with the exception of the handful of fans singing along. When the song was over and everyone on stage took their bows, no one wanted them to leave. But with Gahan’s usual goodbye, “We’ll see you next time,” the fans know that they will come back on their next tour and put on another phenomenal show for the New York fans.


© Allyson Yates, 2009

Midnight Dance (2009)

the music is pulsating
the people are dancing
the bass line is vibrating
in my solar plexus
making me move my hips
to the beat.

my arms are around him
his around me
dancing to the beat
his skin is so cool to the touch
our lips meet for passionate kisses
never wanting the night to end...


© Allyson Yates, 2009

Love Poem #137 (2009)

i’ve written about love in the past
but now I know how it feels at last
how it feels to have the love of another
not just the love of a brother
or a sister
or of a mother.
it’s finally my time for love
for affection
for those long embraces
that you just don’t want to end
ever.
i want to stay in his arms forever
endure whatever
may come our way
i’ll hold on tight and won’t let go
and together we will grow
they say you reap what you sow
everything has finally paid off
now I’m in the arms of another
and I know exactly how he feels
he loves me
i love him
that’s all that matters now…


© Allyson Yates, 2009

Song Of The Week (Week of 08.17.09): Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Heads Will Roll

This is the first song that I really liked from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs ("Maps" was okay to me). Love the New Wave-esque sound in the song. My boyfriend did a good job getting me to like this song. Now I must get a Depeche Mode song stuck in his head for good measure (mwhahahaha!)

Forever (2009)

embrace me
cherish this moment
celebrate the future
remember the past
promise to be there
forever...



© Allyson Yates, 2009

Stream of Consciousness #1 - August 7, 2009

Whoever came up with the phrases "Good things come to those who wait" and "Love happens when you least expect it" should be hailed as geniuses. Because of bad experiences with men in the past, I was becoming cynical about love. I was holding onto that tiny thread of hope for so long that I thought that that thread was going to break, and there would be no hope left for me, especially after my father died last year. I was so scared and felt so alone and I was hoping for my prince charming to save me from all the misery and pain I was feeling. I had been waiting for twenty-two years for my prince charming, and I think he's finally arrived. He treats me like a princess. He makes me feel so attractive and beautiful. No man has ever made me feel like this in the past. I look into his eyes and we just click. There's no one else around. It's just me and him; that's it. When we kiss I just melt into him. Is this what love is supposed to be, or am I just dreaming? If this is what love is supposed to be, I want it to last forever. If it's all just a dream, well...I never want to wake up.


© Allyson Yates, 2009

A Tribute To The King Of Pop (2009)

© Allyson Yates, 2009

Song Of The Week (Week of 06.14.09): Perfect - Depeche Mode

This will be the next single from Sounds Of The Universe in the US and I think the right choice was made. This is one of those tracks that stick out like a sore thumb (in the best way possible) and just make you go "wow." After 30 years, there is still something about Dave Gahan's voice and Martin Gore's words that just create some amazing music. One of my fave tracks on the record for sure (I knew this was going to be a single somewhere down the line) and highly recommended.


Download link: http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=dc542df0018160eb61d4646c62b381cbe04e75f6e8ebb871