First Instinct Articles - Eminem, Daft Punk and Doctor Who

This post is just a way of rounding up all of the articles I've written for First Instinct Magazine in December, and, I suppose, in 2013. At the very start of December, I did write one article about Ed Sheeran, which I've shared on this blog already. Since I've already mentioned that, I won't focus on it in this post. In case you want to read that, it can be found here: http://firstinstinctmagazine.com/2013/12/01/ed-sheeran-blazes-back-onto-the-scene-with-his-new-song-i-see-fire/

Apart from that, I wrote a review of Eminem's song and video, 'Rap God'. I'm fascinated by the appeal that exists in his music because of the intention to offend behind it, and this is something I mentioned. From the perspective of an English student, his lyrics are rich with things that could be discussed. Despite all of the controversy surrounding the song and him as an artist, I think his work is effective, powerful and not to be disregarded. The review can be found in the following link:

http://firstinstinctmagazine.com/2013/12/08/rapper-eminem-raises-to-the-heavens-of-music-with-rap-god/

I also wrote a review of the song and video by Daft Punk, 'Instant Crush'. I think Daft Punk is brilliant regardless, and I've written about their work previously in this blog. I think 'Instant Crush' is no exception. A lot of passion and ingenuity has gone into the video, the song and the entire album, 'Random Access Memories'. I think Casablancas suits the song perfectly and, even if the concept is a little creepy, it works seamlessly. A link to that review is below:

http://firstinstinctmagazine.com/2013/12/15/daft-punks-creation-instant-crush/

Very recently, I wrote a review of the Christmas Doctor Who episode, 'The Time of the Doctor'. I can't call myself a Whovian, honestly, because I lost interest for a while and have missed about a series and a half of 'Doctor Who'. However, I recently regained interest, re-watched some old episodes that I still had and watched the 50th anniversary episode. On Christmas Day, like many, I sat down and watched the Christmas special, and I was enthralled by it, even if I've missed a good chunk of 'Doctor Who'. I've written this review, praising how masterfully it gave Matt Smith the goodbye he deserved. I'm eagerly awaiting the new series, even if I can't really call myself a Whovian yet. My review can be found on the following link:

http://firstinstinctmagazine.com/2013/12/31/christmas-doctor-who-episode-the-time-of-the-doctor-will-be-immortalised-in-time-and-space/

A link to the homepage of the magazine, for anybody that's interested in it, is posted below:

http://firstinstinctmagazine.com/

I've enjoyed writing for the magazine so far. I only started this blog late this year; it is very young and I hope to keep contributing to it and growing it in 2014. I hope everybody who reads this had a merry Christmas and has a Happy New Year.

Creative Writing - Christmas Bells

This is a poem, 'Christmas Bells', that I wrote very recently. I wrote it in free verse to try and capture a feeling of liberation. I was inspired by the festivities. I write about Christmas bells being a symbol which varies, depending on an individual's perception of Christmas, but keeps the same idea of noise and happiness. I put emphasis on the Christian understanding of, not just the symbol of the bells, but of Christmas entirely. If anybody is reading this in the Christmas season, I wish you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

Christmas Bells

What a time of festivity!

A time for the world to unite and yell to the heavens,

The palette of silver-blue-red-green-gold swirling around

The minds of the children and the adults alike.

A time when the dampened spirit reawakens and smiles,

Feeling fresh in the chilly winter’s air

Nipping playfully at the bare skin of passers-by.

When the tired souls can gather and rejoice

At the beauty of the Christmas lights, the glowing bundles of warmth and gentle care that twinkle, soothing the hearts of the many below.

Such refreshment,

Such happiness,

Such company.

The sound of smiling sleighbells fills the air,

Reflecting the past, its woe and care

And echoing those of the future.

A reassuring noise that serves testament to our ability to continue annually

And meet at the end for a time together,

To receive,

To give.

Meanwhile, elsewhere, much the same is happening

But in remembrance of a Lord who came,

Lowered Himself into the manger of a baby born into poverty,

Born into a world of corruption and destitution, despairing, hopeless.

Humanity, so selfish, not concerned for the path of God but concerned for their own sinful, wicked ways,

Days doomed in the desolation of their own repugnant filth.

Yet there came a saviour, born into a world, signalled by a glorious star.

A King, not just that but the King of Kings, incarnated and came in the form of a weakling babe;

Yet the most powerful weakling babe that has ever existed.

Such humbling,

Such grace,

Such mercy.

That He would do that for a wretch like me.

The sound of worshipping angels’ bells fills the air,

A resounding music filling the minds of those who declare

That Christ, Emmanuel, came to be among us,

To save us,

To love us.

Let the resounding of the Christmas bells not just be a clamour for the futile electronic lights that attract the attention of the masses

But for the eternal light that will never go out, that will never perish.

Let us listen to the Christmas bells together and not just be happy, but be joyful.

My First 'First Instinct' Article - Ed Sheeran and The Hobbit

I've started writing for a magazine called 'First Instinct', where you can find a variety of articles written by numerous people on topics such as lifestyle and entertainment. For my first article for this magazine, I decided to write a review about the recent song by Ed Sheeran, 'I See Fire', which was written for the closing credits of 'The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug'. Whilst I think there seems to be an inconsistency between the song and the genre of the film, I think the song effectively captures what it should and this inconsistency can be overlooked as a result. As an English student, I feel that there is so much that could be said about the language and the techniques in the song. Despite this, discussing that was not the ultimate purpose of the article, so I did not refer to it very much. The article in its entirety can be found on the following link:

http://firstinstinctmagazine.com/2013/12/01/ed-sheeran-blazes-back-onto-the-scene-with-his-new-song-i-see-fire/

Here is the homepage of the magazine:

http://firstinstinctmagazine.com/