my new design for flavor of life

After seeing that I’ve been featured on vector tuts, I decided I’d try and get back on my feet on graphic design again. Having lots of time, boredom and anger also helps a lot when your trying to make art. To the left you’ll find the next design that I’ll be using for Flavor of Life (I got sick of this plain design quite quickly). It sort of looks like Avatar meets the Beijing Olympics with Japanese kana. The koi in the header is from this koi art I made that can be seen on my deviant art website (which I haven’t posted anything on for a year).

Speaking of designs, multiply recently revamped its main page. So far, I actually like the functionality that the new dashboard inbox brings to multiply but the design is hideous. I’ll start with the color of the top bar which really is just to strong and bold of a blue for my taste, something that is going to take that much space in a design should at least have a more subtle or more pastel color. The scroll-bars are also quite irritating specially if your a mac user like me who doesn’t like hiding his dock. I seriously think multiply should rethink the design part of this revamp a bit because right now it just looks like some unprofessional 2nd rate social network service.

I don’t really agree with the common notion that Jason didn’t really want to be there but I do believe that he just didn’t try enough. His reaction to the judges, “I was thinking Bob Marley” somehow made really uneasy about he was treating the competition. He was really a unique contestant but the problem I guess comes with how unfamiliar he was with the singing competition.

As for my rants and raves from last night’s performances, Syesha definitely pulled through. Let’s face it, the odds we’re practically against her with half the world voting for Archuleta and the other half choosing between Jason and Cook. I loved Syesha’s performance of Proud Mary, it was definetly entertaining a lot like her performance of “One Rock and Roll too Many”.

Cook seemed to be uneasy last night but he was still really good as usual and David Archuleta once again stole the show last night with both his performances.

I did see one amusing pattern in last night’s performance. It seems that the contestants we’re singing song’s previous eliminated contestants from this season had performed. Anybody remember Josiah Leming?

[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=ZZV4ULHrmJ8[/youtube]

And who could forget Danny Noriega

[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=7LxwJw8sT4E[/youtube]

Well, tonight was the night that I finally understood why. It was Neil Diamond night on American Idol and I have to say tonight was really amusing. These songs we’re really good classic pop songs that even though they were older than me, I still enjoyed specially when I was younger.

Most of the first performance weren’t really good. Most of them didn’t feel as if the contestants we’re trying to out do themselves, they weren’t giving their all. I was disappointed at Brooke‘s performance of “I’m a Believer” since its a well known song and a song you’d generally be happy to sing to. David Archuleta was good during his first performance though his voice broke during a note.

Fortunately, most of the contestants were able to redeem themselves during their second performance. David Cook has again amazed us with a good rock arrangement and Brooke’s second performance gave some of my faith back in her.

Overall though I think my favorite performances this week would have to be Brooke’s second performance “I Am I Said” and David Archuleta’s “America“. Don’t get me wrong though I still think Brooke should start stepping up a lot more now since she’s really been slipping these past few weeks.

I just have to say before American Idol airs again tomorrow that I can’t get over last week’s great performances. I still find myself singing to Anyway by Kristy Lee Cook and Angels by David Archuleta. May I just also say that I really think that it was a good idea for itunes and American Idol to offer full studio versions of the performed songs and I really recommend that people download the performances from last week.

I really like feel good songs, it really keeps me going through college stress specially with my frequent depression attacks.

Here’s something I’d like to try here on the internet. I’m going to list my top 5 most inspirational songs in no particular order and why I like them. After blogging I’ll ask 5 more people to blog their 4 most inspirational songs and why.

1. “Anyway” by Martina McBride
   To tell the truth, I only heard of this song when Kristy sang it last week. Even though I’m not a fan of Kristy, I really liked the performance and the song.I like how this song tells you to do things even if no one appreciates them. The songs message is extremely noble and is something I want to live by.
2. Imagine by John Lennon
   I’m a person who believes in the power of positive thinking (well now I do). Imagine is simply a song that everyone probably knows and remembers.I remember I first heard this when I was in the 7th grade and my AP (this is filipino social studies/ history class) played this song in class. Though the lyrics are somehow controversial, it really made me question a lot of things and analyze the way I look at things.
3. Angel by Sarah Mclachlan
   This is a song that I think anyone will love. It’s that kind of song that really makes you relax and want to keep going when you’re tired from all the quizzes, deadlines and projects that you have to do
4. With a Smile by the Eraserheads
   It’s one of the iconic songs of the 90′s Philippine rock revolution. There’s just something about how you can sing this song anywhere and you’d feel better afterward.
5. Bad Day by Alvin and the Chipmunks
   Yes, not the Daniel Powter version. I like the chipmunks version cause within the first 5 seconds of the song you’ll find yourself smiling because it’s simply adorable!

and I tag:

Timmy Salomon, Miggy Francisco, Janine Motos, Xianne Archangel and Nona Ortico