Rammstein

Rammstein: From A to Z

A - Albums

There is no other band that sounds remotely like Rammstein. The East German sextet's unique blend of metal, industrial, techno and classical musical elements has made it one of Europe's most successful rock bands ever since the 1995 release of its debut album HERZELEID (which went platinum in several Euro territories). Its successor SEHNSUCHT (released abroad in 1997, and as the band's U.S. debut in January 1998) was not only the logical continuation of the musical concept, but also even more successful than album No. 1. with platinum in Germany AND in the USA and a string of awards in other European countries, Rammstein secured their place in the history of rock music - a development on which their third album MUTTER will build. (Release date: April 3, 2001).

B - Band

Rammstein is: Flake Lorenz (keyboards), Oliver Riedel (Bass), Christoph Schneider (drums), Paul Landers (guitar), Richard Z. Kruspe-Bernstein (guitar), and Till Lindemann (vocals). There have been no line-up changes since the band was established in 1993.

C - Charts/Critics

Every single and album has made its way up the European charts. SEHNSUCHT went straight to Number 1 on the Media Control Charts immediately on release and stayed there for five weeks!

SEHNSUCHT also captured the highest praise from some of the most respected rock critics in the U.S., including Chuck Eddy in ROLLING STONE ("a melodramatic sense of melody as muscular as it is mannered") and SPIN ("...almost unbearable Black Forest sadness lurking beneath their operatic-romantic industrial-metal hybrid... (RAMMSTEIN have) figured out how to buffer their rage with beauty"), Charles M. Young in PLAYBOY ("Rammstein makes Metallica look like pussies. With its insane unison riffing, relentless rhythm-section drive and spare but bizarre sampling, Rammstein is also a lot more musical and imaginative than Metallica."), not to mention winning features and and reviews from DETAILS, the LOS ANGELES TIMES, the WALL STREET JOURNAL, and an MTV NEWS interview with Kurt Loder - in German!

D - David Lynch

Director of Blue Velvet, Eraserhead, Twin Peaks and Wild At Heart. He licensed two Rammstein songs for the soundtrack of his film Lost Highway before the band had ever released a record in America!

E - Entertainment

Rammstein are true entertainers. The band's amazing show has become a worldwide must-see, prompting Kiss to have them along as special guests on a South American tour. Even their sternest critics must grudgingly admit that a Rammstein show is first and foremost great entertainment. Robert Christgau, for example, had originally labeled SEHNSUCHT a "dud" but was later converted by the undeniable Rammstein live experience.

F - Family Values Tour

Rammstein played the penultimate slot on the tour's very first year, crossing the North American continent in autumn '98 and attracting more attention than ever - especially from the authorities of Worcester, Mass., who intervened when Till, Flake and their plastic strap-on phallus did their "Bück Dich" number. Though a regular part of every Rammstein show, it was perhaps too much of a good thing for the local authorities. "Lascivious conduct" justified their immediate removal from the stage and several hours in holding cells before their release upon payment of a 100 dollar fine and six months' probation.

G - Grammy

1999 saw Rammstein nominated, as the first German band ever, in the "Best Metal Performance" category (for "Du Hast").

H - Humor

Rammstein have a lot more than some people credit them with. Rammstein's toying with the dark side of desire is admittedly overdone at times to the point of becoming black comedy. That can lead to misunderstandings.

I - Imitators

There have been many, especially abroad. Rammstein's success with HERZELEID and SEHNSUCHT lured record company talent scouts out from behind their desks. In a hope of grabbing a slice of the action, they went in search of Rammstein clones. With more or less modest success. Who wants a copy when you can have the real thing?

J - Jacob Hellner

Never change a winning team. MUTTER was produced with Jacob Hellner (Clawfinger etc.), who had already twiddled the knobs for HERZELEID and SEHNSUCHT. The band themselves can best explain why: "Jacob is the ideal producer for Rammstein, because he doesn't intervene in the songwriting. When the songs are ready, we work on them with him to make them even stronger. Another thing: He knows how to give the musicians self-confidence, so they can give of their best during the recording process. And then he is very disciplined and has a regular rhythm. That suits us as a band very well. He concentrates on his work so much that after a day in the studio he is swaying as if he has drunk too much!"

K - Krauts

Rammstein are not ashamed to be Krauts.

L - Live Shows

USA, Japan, Australia, Europe, South America - there is scarcely anywhere upon earth where Rammstein have not yet set off their rockets. They are one of the few bands in recent years to have defined themselves very largely through their live shows, which in turn are characterized by their vast battery of pyrotechnics, which comes close to a full scale operatic production. Rammstein's concerts are marked by grand gestures which linger on in the mind's eye.

M - Mutter

The new album. Rammstein have continued to develop while avoiding the mistake of sacrificing their own identity. MUTTER sees them doing what they do best: A bombastic mixture of razor-sharp riffs, monolithic song structures, spine-chilling Gothic horror and the lugubrious vocals that never harbored such ambition as on MUTTER. To this they have added some new elements - like jungle-style beats - and these become an integral part of the sound and leave it instantly recognizable. MUTTER is still Rammstein pure an undiluted. Just a little bit more perfect. And more aroused. And more exciting. And a whole lot better. MUTTER has surely brought the band breathtakingly near to its goal of melding the harmonies of pop with the hard riffs of metal.

N - Nation

Rammstein sing in German. In contrast to most of their colleagues, they never sought to do otherwise. "Why should we?" ask Rammstein. "We wanted to do our own thing, and that has to do with where we come from. And we are from the German nation."

O - Official Fan Club

Rammstein and its fans enjoy a very special relationship. Rammstein enjoy introducing fan club members to still unreleased songs at selected gigs. Without letting in the general public. Or people from their record company, either...

P - Politics

Nothing Rammstein want to have anything to do with.

Q - Quentin Tarantino

Director of Pulp Fiction, From Dusk 'Til Dawn, etc. Rammstein drew on his Reservoir Dogs for the imagery in their video to "Du Hast", Rammstein's most successful song to date worldwide.

R - Remixes

As remixers, Rammstein are on many artists wish lists. Faith No More, Korn and Rob Zombie are only a few of the acts they have worked with to date.

S - Success

Rammstein have had an ample share of success. They won a 1998 Echo (basically the German Grammy) for best video ("Engel") and that year's Viva Comet for best live band (Viva is the national German music video channel). 1999 brought them the Echo for most successful national artist abroad (SEHNSUCHT). After all, Rammstein are the only German band since Kraftwerk to make such an international name for themselves, making it into the U.S. Billboard Top 100, touring extensively here - not to mention nominations for both the Grammy and MTV Europe Music Awards.

T - Technincs, Pyro-

These are much in evidence at Rammstein's concerts. Till Lindemann in his blazing asbestos coat is emblematic of every Rammstein show. Till earned qualification as a pyrotechnician specifically to execute Rammstein's megalomaniacal pyrotechnic effects. Rammstein fans owe the whole gigantic display to an old complaint of the singer: "The songs of HERZELEID were too static. I always felt such a prat in the instrumental passages. I held onto the microphone stand while other front men were dancing or flinging things through the air. But that didn't suit our music. And it really didn't suit me. So one day I had these two Roman candles in my hand. And that's how the whole thing exploded into life."

U - Understandings, Mis-

Frequent in the case of Rammstein. The band's signature mixture of provocative lyrics, Gothic horror and primitive regressive fantasies may have something to do with that. The debate was fueled recently by the use of excerpts from Leni Riefenstahl films in their video of the cover of Depeche Mode's "Stripped" (from the Music For The Masses DM tribute), though the band later explained that they were only interested in the artistic value of the images and not their political content.

V - Video/DVD

LIVE AUS BERLIN. Recorded on August 22 and 23, 1998. Rammstein played a one-time-only escalated version of its classic stage show at Berlin's Wuhlheide venue.

W - Web

www.rammstein.com

Within Temptation-Evanescence

Module#5

Saw the 1st and the 2nd
This parts of the movie influences on our Reptilian brains.It keeps you all the time intended...
1.The symbol:of this movie is the SAW's face(mask) with red cheeks,white face,black hair...He looks funny,but the film isn't funny at all...
2.Humor:I don't know why I always laugh while watching this movie...I think it's because of adrenaline,when there happen unexpected parts in the film...
3.Bad influence:This movie has bad sides.I think Many people,who have sick imagination,will follow to this film and will become psychopaths(nothing personal).And don't allow your children to watch this kind of films till they become brave enough to do it!
4.The Plan:This movie's plan is this:The saw makes different tramps for his victims and waits when finally someone from them will survive.His aim is to make people think about their lives and not to waist the time on stupid things like drinking,drugs,stealing...
5.My opinion:well,I like this movie.It keeps me exited all the time.My favorite person from this film is 'Amanda'.She is very brave and smart.She is the 1st who survives in the game.But she becomes saw's helper.In the Saw the 3rd she dies...

AFI

AFI

Hardcore punk-goth revivalists AFI (A Fire Inside) originally formed in 1991 when their members -- vocalist Davey Havok, guitarist Markus Stopholese, bassist Vick, and drummer Adam Carson -- were attending high school in Ukiah, CA. Vick was replaced by Geoff Kresge after several months, and the band played a few local gigs and released a split 7" titled Dork with fellow Ukiah natives Loose Change (a band that incidentally included future AFI member Jade Pujed). An EP titled Behind the Times was released as well. The bandmembers then split up to attend different colleges, with Kresge temporarily moving to New Jersey to join Blanks 77, and all assumed East Bay's AFI was defunct. However, the band reconvened during a holiday break from school to play a one-off reunion show, and audience response was so positive that the band members decided to quit school and concentrate on music full-time.

A couple of singles preceded a record deal with the Nitro label, which issued the band's second album, Very Proud of Ya, in 1996. Two LPs followed in 1997 -- a re-release of their 1995 debut, Answer That and Stay Fashionable, and Shut your mouth and open your eyes -- and personnel shifts ensued; Kresge was the first to leave, being replaced by Hunter Burgan, and departed in favor of ex-Stopholese Redemption82 guitarist Jade Pujed, who then shared songwriting duties with Havok. The new lineup recorded an EP titled A fire inside in 1998, and issued a noticeably more mature full-length in 1999, Black Sails in the Sunset. 1999 also saw the release of the All Hallow's EP before The Art of Drowning followed a year later. Though already owning a fiercely loyal core base of fans, the latter album saw the band's music being received by an even larger audience, due in part to the moderate success of the single "Days of the Phoenix."

In the new millennium, AFI hooked up with Jerry Finn and Garbage's Butch Big some recording. The end result was the ambitious Sing the Sorrow, released in March 2003, their major-label debut for DreamWorks that showcased the band's significant growth from their early hardcore days. The record also marked AFI's crossover into the mainstream as their fan base considerably grew, national news publications praised them, and several singles found airplay on MTV. Working again with producer Jerry Finn (blink-182, Green day), the band's next record was their most labor-intensive to date, resulting from two years of detailed songwriting. December underground, album number seven, surfaced on June 6, 2006, on Interscope. The album was an instant success, debuting at number one on the Billboard charts. AFI kept the momentum going on the road nationwide that summer, followed by a string of overseas dates in October. While on tour, Havoc and Pujed dedicated their spare time to a side project that would become Black Audio, which they debuted in early 2007. AFI went on to release I Heard a Voice: Live from Long Beach Arena later that same year.

Love Like Winter

Within Temptation

Within Temptation have come a long way in the last ten years. From their humble beginnings, the Dutch band have now sold over 2 million CDs and DVDs world-wide, making them not only Holland’s biggest selling musical export but also one of the fastest growing new rock acts internationally.

Formed in 1996 around the nucleus of guitarist Robert Westerholt and vocalist Sharon den Adel, Within Temptation released their debut album Enter through Dutch indie label DSFA the following April. The album saw the band playing gigs across the continent, firmly cementing their phenomenal live reputation – most notably two appearances at the legendary Dynamo festival (in both 1997 and then on the main stage in 1998).

Unbelievably for a band who were attracting such critical and commercial acclaim, they were actually all still in college. And so in 1999, Within Temptation went on hiatus to allow the band to finish their studies.

Returning to the fray twelve months later, 2000 was to prove a pivotal year for the band. Building on their strong live following by playing all the major European festivals, the band released their second album Mother Earth in December. The new album again garnered critical acclaim - hugely influential Dutch music magazine Aloha tipped Within Temptation “for a major breakthrough” – and Mother Earth stayed in the Dutch charts for over three months.

Starting the year with a major club tour of their homeland, Within Temptation released two singles from Mother Earth, Our Farewell and Ice Queen. It was Ice Queen that finally led to Within Temptation’s first mainstream commercial success. The single peaked at #2 in the Dutch charts with the album re-entering the charts at #3, eventually reaching Platinum status.

The band’s popularity in Holland continued to grow and in 2002 it spread like wildfire across the continent. Mother Earth clocked-up Platinum and Gold status in Germany and Belgium respectively, while the Mother Earth Tour DVD received Gold status in their homeland and won the band an ‘Edison Award’.

Returning to the studio in 2004, Within Temptation were set to record their third and most successful record to date, The Silent Force, with producer Daniel Gibson. Fuelled by the massive international radio hit Stand My Ground, the album went to #1 in the Netherlands and Finland, #5 in Germany, Top 10 in Belgium, Portugal and Spain, Top 20 in Austria and Switzerland and Top 30 in Greece, France, Turkey, Sweden and Norway. A myriad of Gold and Platinum certifications followed.

The single Angels was released in June 2005 to coincide with their now annual festival run - which included appearances at Pinkpop, Werchter, Rock Am Ring, Sweden Rock, Ruisrock, Aerodrome and Gurtenfest – and European tours with Iron Maiden and Rammstein. In August, Within Temptation received a World Music Award for Best Selling Dutch Artist In The World. A release of The Silent Force in Japan, Australia, and the UK was next.

More plaudits followed in 2006 with Within Temptation receiving the Dutch Export Award (“Best International Selling Artist”) for the third consecutive time in a row, the Dutch BV Pop Award and a Golden God Award from the UK’s Metal Hammer magazine for Best Video. The band played on the biggest festivals in Europe and played in Japan for the first time.

The band started a corporation with game developer Spellborn. The Chronicles of Spellborn is a so called ‘Massive Multiplayer Online Role-Playing’ game’, with millions of players worldwide. The band wrote three songs for the game, and made the video ‘The Howling’ together, which was released exclusively through the internet. At the end of 2006 the band signed with Roadrunner Records in the US, making a simultaneous worldwide release possible.

And now the new album ‘The Heart of Everything’ is there. In describing The Heart Of Everything Robert Westerholt comments, “Although you can still clearly hear that this is a Within Temptation record, many things have changed and evolved. Sharon shows how versatile she is as a singer more than on any record we've done. On some songs, she sings with a lot of power; on other songs she is more melodic… a siren enchanting her subjects. Sometimes she is emotional and sensitive. The guitars also play a larger part, and we have added an extra dimension to our new songs too by enhancing them with historic samples, as we did on Our Solemn Hour. Compared to The Silent Force, our new album is more dynamic and energetic. It has a more natural sound.“

In February 2007 the single ‘What Have You Done’, featuring guest vocals from ‘Life Of Agony’ front man Keith Caputo, was released. The release of the single came alongside the news that the band had won the Dutch Export Award (“Best International Selling Artist”) for the fourth time in a row.

Their new album was again produced by Daniel Gibson and mixed by Stefan Glaumann (Rammstein) and entered the Dutch album charts at #1. The album reached a #2 position in Belgium and Finland, a top-5 position in Japan, Sweden, Portugal and Germany, a top-10 position in Switzerland, a top-15 position in Austria and Czech Republic and in the top-30 in Spain, Norway and France. By this, the album reached a #5 position in the European album charts. In March and April the band did a large European tour of 38 shows, which was completely sold out. They supported Lacuna Coil on their US tour in May, which was very successful.

In June the second single ‘Frozen’ was released. Through the video which came with the single, the band focused on drawing the attention to abuse within a family. This is why the band decided to support Child Helpline International by donating all the income they receive from Sony/BMG to this organization. Child Helpline International (CHI) is a global network of child helplines and works in 150 countries around the world.

Early July, ‘What Have You Done’ was released in the United States, making it the band’s first official release in the USA. ‘The Heart of Everything’ came out on July 24th and has been a big success so far. During the summer, the band did all the major European festivals, such as Download, Bilbao BBK Live, Novarock, Pinkpop and Rockperry.

In September a US headlining tour followed where their shows in cities such as New York, Chicago, San Francisco and Boston sold out. This tour was followed by shows in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and France (October). 2007 ended with a big sold out show in the Beursgebouw in The Netherlands and four shows in the UK.

In 2008 a lot of new countries were visited in Central East Europe and Russia. In April the band did their first South-American tour.

On February 7th the band gave a special (sold out) concert with the Metropole Orchestra in Ahoy Rotterdam. Together with the PA dam choir, guest singers (Keith Caputo, George Oosthoek and Anneke van Giersbergen), a 400 square meters video screen, great lighting effects and pyrotechnics the Black Symphony concert was a great success. Kerrang rated the concert with the highest score and noted: "this really is the greatest show on earth!"

The Black Symphony concert was filmed by 14 HD-Cameras and released on DVD, Blu-ray and CD by the end of 2008 in 40 countries simultaneously. Black Symphony reached a top-10 position in 11 countries, from which 8 top-3 positions.

In November and December the band will do their first theatre tour in The Netherlands and Belgium, where the band will perform their songs in a more acoustic setting.

Nightwish

About me (To C.A.R.s_2)

First of all I'd like to tell you my own story.It was a dark night of 29th of May in 1993.And soon with the 1st lights of the sun I was born!I don't remember my childhood well.I only know that it was great.Now I want to tell you about me!!!


I'm a girl who likes to be alone,to hear sad songs mostly about love and death,to sit in the darkness,to break from school,drawing,writing Gothic poems and songs and so on...

MUSIC:I like rock mostly Gothic and Alternative.The groups I like are:H.I.M,Evanescence,Within temptation,Linkin park,Nightwish,Merilyn Manson(he is so CUTE),Pain,30 seconds to mars,Dolphin,Rasmus,Papa roach,Slipknot,Rammstein,Panic!at the disco,Panik,Nirvana and so on....


TV:I like watching TV for Hours.But only one channel-A-One(alternative channel).I like it very much.The genre that i like is Horror and triller.


School:I hate the F**king school!At the lessons I'm sitting and thinking"What about is talking this short skirted a**hole?"


My style:I wear Black colored clothes-for example, Black corset,black long skirts,black trousers,black dresses associated with dark red.I am a goth.I like this style very much.And I like blood(don't be scared i won't drink yours).By the way I don't like the way that people look at me.They say in great surprise:'Oh my God,Look at her black lips,black hair,black eyes,black clothes.Why are you so scary?Are you dead or are you going to your own funeral?'''I think they don't understand us-Goths...

Evanescence

The goth-inspired Arkansas rock band Evanescence meets Tori Amos sound backed by chugging guitars, easily made it to the top of the charts in 2003 with its Wind-Up Entertainment debut album, Fallen. Singer/pianist Amy Lee and guitarist/songwriter Ben Moody formed the band at the end of the '90s after meeting in their early teens during a "youth camp," Moody said in a statement. "I heard Amy playing Meat Loaf's 'I'd Do Anything for Love' at the piano. So I went over to meet her, and she started singing for me. I was pretty much blown away, so I suckered her into joining a band with me."

Girl at the Underpass

Not long ago, but before interstate highways ran around towns and cities, a young man left Greensboro late one night to drive to his old home in Lexington. At that time, just east of Jamestown, the old road dipped through a tunnel under the train tracks. The young man knew the road well, but it was a thick foggy night in early summer and he drove cautiously, especially when he neared the Jamestown underpass. Many wrecks had taken place at that spot. He slowed down on the curve leading to the tunnel and was halfway through it when his eyes almost popped out of his head. Standing on the roadside just beyond the underpass was an indistinct white figure with arm raised in a gesture of distress. The young man quickly slammed on his brakes and came to a stop beside the figure.

It was a girl, young, beautiful, resplendent in a long white evening dress. Her troubled eyes were glaring straight toward him. Obviously she was in need. He jumped from the car and ran around to where she stood motionless. "Can I help you?"

"yes." Her voice was low, stranger. I want to go home. I live in High Point."

He opened the door, and she got in. As they drove off, he said, "I'm glad I came by. I didn't expect to find anyone like you on the road so late at night."

"I was at a dance." She spoke in a monotone. "My date and I had a quarrel. It was very bad. I made him drop me back there."

He tried to continue the conversation, but she would say nothing more until they were into High Point. "Turn at the next left," she said. "I live three doors on the right." He parked before a darkened house, got out of the car and went around to open the door for her. There was no one there! He looked into the back seat. No one! He thought she might have rushed up the sidewalk and out of sight.

Confused and undecided about what to do next, he thought it only reasonable to find out if she had entered the house. He went up the steps and knocked on the door. No one came. He knocked again. There was no sound anywhere. After a third knock, through the side panes a dim light appeared from the pitch-black hallway. Finally the door was opened by a white-haired woman in a night robe.

"I brought a girl to this house," he explained, "but now I can't find her. Have you seen her? I picked her up out on the highway."

"Where?"

"At the Jamestown underpass. She told me she had been to a dance and was on her way home."

"Yes, I know," said the woman wearily. "that was my daughter. She was killed in a wreck at that tunnel five years ago tonight. And every year since, on this very night, she signals a young man like you to pick her up. She is still trying to get home."

The young man turned from the doorway, speechless. The dim light in the house went out. He drove on to Lexington, but never has he forgotten, nor will he ever forget, the beautiful hitchhiker and how she vanished into the night.

Cinema Bizarre

Sweet Sacrifice...

Moonspell

Luna...

Bleed no reflection
Upon the waters that you fear
Make things happen

Accept no resignation
For some life has been cruel
You have set the mood

Thinking about you... Luna

Lay the serpent's egg
In this world of make believe
And make things real

My seed of a lunacy
Was a sign made to resist
A mood set from birth

Thinking about you... Luna

Show me your moon burns
Take me as the moon burns
The freezing moon
Making things real for me
The killing Moon
Making things happen for me

Luna - all above
Wound of light in the enemy skies
Make things happen for me

On the eve of self destruction
On the eve of all can be...Thinking about you

Homeless Children

Homeless Children's Center is the only safe haven for homeless children in Armenia. It is run by a fully-trained professional staff. Every child welcomed into the Center, ranging from age three to 18 and hailing from across Armenia and Karabagh, is made to feel wanted and special. Since its opening in February 2000, more than 900 troubled children have been cared for at the Center.

Its comprehensive methodology, combining diagnostic and therapeutic approaches, to this serious problem is unique in the entire former Soviet Union. All the children receive psychological and medical attention, day care and schooling. As creative outlets, they draw, make crafts, and play with toys.

DON'T YOU THINK THAT WE MUST HELP THEM???

Something about Halloween...

History of Halloween, like any other festival's history is inspired through traditions that have transpired through ages from one generation to another. We follow them mostly as did our dads and grandpas. And as this process goes on, much of their originality get distorted with newer additions and alterations. It happens so gradually, spanning over so many ages, that we hardly come to know about these distortions. At one point of time it leaves us puzzled, with its multicolored faces. Digging into its history helps sieve out the facts from the fantasies which caught us unaware. Yet, doubts still lurk deep in our soul, especially when the reality differs from what has taken a deep seated root into our beliefs. The history of Halloween Day, as culled from the net, is being depicted here in this light. This is to help out those who are interested in washing off the superficial hues to reach the core and know things as they truly are. 'Trick or treat' may be an innocent fun to relish on the Halloween Day. But just think about a bunch of frightening fantasies and the scary stories featuring ghosts, witches, monsters, evils, elves and animal sacrifices associated with it. They are no more innocent. Are these stories a myth or there is a blend of some reality? Come and plunge into the halloween history to unfurl yourself the age-old veil of mysticism draped around it. History of Halloween, like any other festival's history is inspired through traditions that have transpired through ages from one generation to another. We follow them mostly as did our dads and grandpas. And as this process goes on, much of their originality get distorted with newer additions and alterations. It happens so gradually, spanning over so many ages, that we hardly come to know about these distortions. At one point of time it leaves us puzzled, with its multicolored faces. Digging into its history helps sieve out the facts from the fantasies which caught us unaware. Yet, doubts still lurk deep in our soul, especially when the reality differs from what has taken a deep seated root into our beliefs. The history of Halloween Day, as culled from the net, is being depicted here in this light. This is to help out those who are interested in washing off the superficial hues to reach the core and know things as they truly are. 'Trick or treat' may be an innocent fun to relish on the Halloween Day. But just think about a bunch of frightening fantasies and the scary stories featuring ghosts, witches, monsters, evils, elves and animal sacrifices associated with it. They are no more innocent. Are these stories a myth or there is a blend of some reality? Come and plunge into the halloween history to unfurl yourself the age-old veil of mysticism draped around it. History of Halloween, like any other festival's history is inspired through traditions that have transpired through ages from one generation to another. We follow them mostly as did our dads and grandpas. And as this process goes on, much of their originality get distorted with newer additions and alterations. It happens so gradually, spanning over so many ages, that we hardly come to know about these distortions. At one point of time it leaves us puzzled, with its multicolored faces. Digging into its history helps sieve out the facts from the fantasies which caught us unaware. Yet, doubts still lurk deep in our soul, especially when the reality differs from what has taken a deep seated root into our beliefs. The history of Halloween Day, as culled from the net, is being depicted here in this light. This is to help out those who are interested in washing off the superficial hues to reach the core and know things as they truly are. 'Trick or treat' may be an innocent fun to relish on the Halloween Day. But just think about a bunch of frightening fantasies and the scary stories featuring ghosts, witches, monsters, evils, elves and animal sacrifices associated with it. They are no more innocent. Are these stories a myth or there is a blend of some reality? Come and plunge into the Halloween history to unfurl yourself the age-old veil of mysticism draped around it. Behind the name... Halloween, or the Hallow E'en as they call it in Ireland , means All Hallows Eve, or the night before the 'All Hallows', also called 'All Hallowmas', or 'All Saints', or 'All Souls' Day, observed on November 1. In old English the word 'Hallow' meant 'sanctify'. Roman Catholics, Episcopalians and Lutherians used to observe All Hallows Day to honor all Saints in heaven, known or unknown. They used to consider it with all solemnity as one of the most significant observances of the Church year. And Catholics, all and sundry, was obliged to attend Mass. The Romans observed the holiday of Feralia, intended to give rest and peace to the departed. Participants made sacrifices in honor of the dead, offered up prayers for them, and made oblations to them. The festival was celebrated on February 21, the end of the Roman year. In the 7th century, Pope Boniface IV introduced All Saints' Day to replace the pagan festival of the dead. It was observed on May 13. Later, Gregory III changed the date to November 1. The Greek Orthodox Church observes it on the first Sunday after Pentecost. Despite this connection with the Roman Church, the American version of Halloween Day celebration owes its origin to the ancient (pre-Christian) Druidic fire festival called "Samhain", celebrated by the Celts in Scotland, Wales and Ireland. Samhain is pronounced "sow-in", with "sow" rhyming with cow. In Ireland the festival was known as Samhein, or La Samon, the Feast of the Sun. In Scotland, the celebration was known as Hallowe'en. In Welsh it's Nos Galen-gaeof (that is, the Night of the Winter Calends. According to the Irish English dictionary published by the Irish Texts Society: "Samhain, All Hallowtide, the feast of the dead in Pagan and Christian times, signalizing the close of harvest and the initiation of the winter season, lasting till May, during which troops (esp. the Fiann) were quartered. Faeries were imagined as particularly active at this season. From it the half year is reckoned. also called Feile Moingfinne (Snow Goddess).(1) The Scottish Gaelis Dictionary defines it as "Hallowtide. The Feast of All Soula. Sam + Fuin = end of summer."(2) Contrary to the information published by many organizations, there is no archaeological or literary evidence to indicate that Samhain was a deity. The Celtic Gods of the dead were Gwynn ap Nudd for the British, and Arawn for the Welsh. The Irish did not have a "lord of death" as such. Thus most of the customs connected with the Day are remnants of the ancient religious beliefs and rituals, first of the Druids and then transcended amongst the Roman Christians who conquered them.

Me...

Me...the time when I went to drawing studio(now I can't go there because I haven't enough time)...

Me...The time when I won the 1st prize in beauty challenge...At that time I was a Glamor girl...But now I'm not interested in fashion...

Me...Now...I love rock...It's the mirror of my spirit...

H.I.M-The sacrament...

I hear you breathe so far from me
I feel your touch so close and real
And I know
My church is not of silver and gold,
Its glory lies beyond judgment of souls
The commandments are of consolation and warmth

You know our sacred dream won't fail
The sanctuary tender and so frail
The sacrament of love
The sacrament of warmth is true
The sacrament is you

I hear you weep so far from here
I taste your tears like you're next to me
And I know
My weak prayers are not enough to heal
The ancient wounds so deep and so dear
The revelation is of hatred and fear

You know our sacred dream won't fail
The sanctuary tender and so frail
The sacrament of love
The sacrament of warmth is true
The sacrament is you...

My immortal...

Gothic Subculture

Goth is a subculture, style, and way of thinking. That sounds awfully pretentious, but that's another facet of goth. The common thread in goth culture is an appreciation for the dichotomy of life, the contrast between (for example) light and dark, with an awareness that the two can't exist without each other, and that the traditional value judgments assigned to those opposites are not necessarily true.

Goths tend to have a dark and perverse sense of humor, a love of history, literature, and music, and far too many bottles of black nail polish. But trying to slot goths into orderly little sections is pretty much impossible. The spectrum of interests, styles, and activities is far too broad. Sometimes the clothes can be a clue, but not always. Just look for that appreciation of darkness--that's the most reliable indicator.
the Banshees and the Damned were originally considered punk. Music is not the only art form in goth, though. Artistic endeavor of all kinds is welcomed and encouraged.

The goth subculture is itself quite balkanized. Though there is a close link between the "classic" goth music scene and the industrial music scene, there are people on both sides who shun the other. Some goths who like the "classic" look of velvet and lace look down upon goths who prefer fishnet and leather. Some goths who like pop-culture entertainments and things that are lighthearted are ostracized by others who believe that nothing is worthwhile unless it is obscure and dark. Like any culture, it has divisions and cliques.

Much of goth culture is superficial, artificial, and pretentious, and this isn't helped by the fact that many people who consider themselves "true goths" look down upon those they consider "poseurs." Some of the young people who now consider themselves "goth" will grow out of it and move on to other things. Others won't. Some will move on, but feel vaguely displaced in "normal" culture, and will re-discover themselves through some avenue that leads back to goth culture and thought.

But there is also a lot of goth culture that is rich, thoughtful, and very satisfying. Goths read things like Dante, Byron, and Tolstoy--not because we "have" to, because we want to. We watch German Expressionist silent films and relate the details as eagerly as other people talk about the latest Hollywood effects extravaganza. Goths are likely to have spirited discussions about the evolution of religion and its place in modern society. And we tend to identify, if not empathize, with the underdogs and downtrodden--don't be surprised to find a fair number of goths helping out at the local youth shelter or AIDS fundraiser.

Being goth is, in the end, a form of tribalism, a way for people of like interests and mindset to find each other and have a place to belong. Like most tribes, goths will often try to keep out those who are not "of" the tribe (hence the pretentiousness and disdain for "poseurs"). But it can also be a wonderfully welcoming and comfortable place for those who do fit in, and full of patience and enthusiasm for people who are genuinely interested in finding out what we're about. Goths will try to keep out those who don't belong, and those who are interested in exploiting us because we look different and have interests outside the mainstream; but we will also try to protect our own. For someone who doesn't feel that they really "fit in" with mainstream culture, discovering gothdom can be a wonderful feeling.

The Rasmus

Rasmus!!!I love them very,very,very much...They are Nice guys!Enjoy the Video-In the Shadows...What do you think of it???

My favorite songs...

The Rasmus-In the shadows.

No sleep,
No sleep until I'm done with finding the answer
Won't stop,
Won't stop before I find the cure for this cancer

Sometimes, I feel like going down, I'm so disconnected
Somehow, I know that I am haunted to be wanted

I've been watching, I've been waiting
In the shadows for my time
I've been searching, I've been living
For tomorrows all my life

They say, that I must learn to kill before I can feel safe
But I, I'd rather kill myself than turn into their slave

Sometimes, I feel that I should go and play with the thunder
Somehow, I just don't wanna stay and wait for a wonder

I've been watching, I've been waiting
In the shadows for my time
I've been searching, I've been living
For tomorrows all my life

Lately, I've been walking, walking in circles
Watching, waiting for something
Feel me, touch me, heal me
Come take me higher

I've been watching, I've been waiting
In the shadows for my time
I've been searching, I've been living
For tomorrows all my life

I've been watching,
I've been waiting,
I've been searching,
I've been living,
for tomorrows....

In the shadows....

In the shadows.....

I've been waiting.....

H.I.M-In joy and sorrow.

Oh girl we are the same
We are young and lost and so afraid
Thereґs no cure for the pain
No shelter from the rain
All our prayers seem to fail

In joy and sorrow my home's in your arms
In world so hollow
It is breaking my heart
In joy and sorrow my home's in your arms
In world so hollow
It is breaking my heart

Oh girl we are the same
We are strong and blessed and so brave
With souls to be saved
And faith regained
All our tears wiped away

In joy and sorrow my home's in your arms
In world so hollow
It is breaking my heart
In joy and sorrow my home's in your arms
In world so hollow
It is breaking my heart

In joy and sorrow my home's in your arms
In world so hollow
It is breaking my heart
In joy and sorrow my home's in your arms
In world so hollow
It is breaking my heart

And my home's in your arms
And it is breaking my heart
My home's in your arms
And it is breaking my heart

H.I.M-Join me in death.

Baby join me in death
Baby join me in death
Baby join me in death

We are so young
our lives have just begun
but already we're considering
escape from this world

and we've waited for so long
for this moment to come
we're si anxious to be together
together in death

Won't you die tonight for love
Baby join me in death
Won't you die
Baby join me in death
Won't you die tonight for love
Baby join me in death

This world is a cruel place
and we're here only to lose
so before life tears us apart
let death bless me with you

Won't you die tonight for love
Baby join me in death
Won't you die
Baby join me in death
Won't you die tonight for love
Baby join me in death
Join me in death

This life it ain't worth living
This life it ain't worth living
This life it ain't worth living
Join me
Join me
join me
this life ain't worth living
(join me)
this life ain't worth living
(join me)
this life ain't worth living

Won't you die tonight for love
Baby join me in death
Won't you die
Baby join me in death
Won't you die tonight for love
Baby join me in death

Baby join me in death...

H.I.M-The funeral of hearts


Love’s the Funeral Of Hearts
and an ode for cruelty,
Where angels cry blood
on flowers of evil in bloom,
The Funeral Of Hearts
and a plea for mercy,
when Love is a gun
separating me from you.

She was the sun shining upon
the tomb of your hopes and dreams so frail,
He was the moon painting you
with its glow so vulnerable and pale.

Love’s the Funeral Of Hearts
and an ode for cruelty,
When angels cry blood
on flowers of evil in bloom,
The Funeral Of Hearts
and a plea for mercy,
when Love is a gun
separating me from you.

She was the wind carrying in
all the troubles and fears
you’ve for years tried to forget,
He was the fire
restless and wild and you were
like a moth to that flame.

The heretic seal beyond divine
Pray to God who's deaf and blind
The last rights for souls on fire
Three little words and a question why

Love’s the Funeral Of Hearts
and an ode for cruelty,
When angels cry blood
on flowers of evil in bloom,
The Funeral Of Hearts
and a plea for mercy,
where Love is a gun
separating me from you.

The Funeral Of Hearts
and an ode for cruelty,
When angels cry blood
on flowers of evil in bloom

Evanescence-Hello

Playground school bell rings again
Rainclouds come to play again
Has no one told you she's not breathing
Hello
I'm your mind giving you someone to talk to
Hello

If I smile and don't believe
Soon I know I'll wake from this dream
Don't try to fix me, I'm not broken
Hello
I'm the lie living for you so you can hide
Don't cry

Suddenly I know I'm not sleeping
Hello...
I'm still here, all that's left of yesterday