Oh Africa!- Sensational

Inspiration can come in many forms, sizes and shapes... It can be in what we watch... or hear... or read... What caught my eye, this lazy morning was a simple video (Pepsi advertisement actually) that totally bowled me over. Its concept is simple- call it playful, call it unity or simply call it "Oh Africa!"; the way the makers have done. The music is magnificent to hear and the lyrics are nothing but sensational. 


I later realized that the song's actually from a new album by Akon and Keri Hilson... and the inspiration is... Football! 


When you see the original video, you'll be enthralled by the colours used, just about everywhere. The animated graffiti in the background is another thing you'll find hard to miss. Oh and in the end- when they hit the footballs on the wall and splash...! come out colourful faces... I totally loved that scene. Very creative, I say. :)


The video goes like this...


It starts off by showing a vibrat-colourful room with a map of africa, which then shows 4 people appearing playing drums with dust shooting up from them. They also appear wearing body paint with the same pattern as the wall. Akon then starts singing as more scenes of the drum players is shown. Keri starts singing as the screen is shown being decorated with moving paint in front of her. Akon shows up again with a young african choir, singing with a sunset background. Then scene skips to the body paint room were different people are shown with their face painted, a different country for each as they sing along. Akon is also shown dancing with Keri in the room with the moving paint between scenes. More Keri shows as she sings as the choir scene comes up variously. A scene also shows Keri with the choir. The Footballers Thierry Henry, Didier Drogba, Kaká, Fernando Torres, Lionel Messi, Frank Lampard, Michael Ballack and Andrei Arshavin  (I had to check internet for this... :P) then are shown kicking water ballon like footballs hitting the wall as images appear of them, with similar body paint found on the single cover. Images of other scenes are also shown eg. The african choir and Keri lying on a Zebra pattern like cover. The end shows a wall with the footballers cheering.


And here's the Lyrics:


Oh Africa...

I know that we have to take it to the goal 'cause everyone's depending on we
See we ain't got nowhere to go but up, it's our destiny

We're choosing the way, we'll do what it takes to get to the top of the highest mountain
We'll do anything, we got to prove ourselves 'cause we know

Oh Africa...

See we'll never be able to forget this day 'cause it's the greatest day of our life
See no matter what happens at least we can say "we came, we saw, we tried"

We're choosing nowhere, we'll do what it takes to get to the top of the highest mountain
We'll do anything, we got to prove ourselves 'cause we know

Oh Africa...

This is our time to shine, our time to fly, our time to be inside the sky
Our time to soar, our time to saw, the last one in football

Oh Africa... 




Feel free to check out the videos yourself... It really is inspiring. :)


The Pepsi advertisement @
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXH6U_2xiic


The original track by Akon & Keri Hilson
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLwrQE3grGY

Astuti calling Astuti

I’m a Pisces, and by that astrological fact, you get two for the price of one. (Two fishes floating opposite each other remember?) Actually, it’s just a nicer way of expressing social schizophrenia. I’ve come to terms with the reality that there are two of me in most circumstances and situations. Looking into the mirror, the dual thoughts and conflicting emotions that come flying my way through my reflection gives full justification to the oh-so-many wrinkles around my eye. This split personality of mine, is daunting on some days, and completely liberating on others. Most days I’m fairly well put together; facing the world with a smile- my personalities working in sync and in relative harmony, but off-late I’ve been feeling the need to touch base, and try to get on the same personality planet with myself. So today, I’ve decided to have a talk, a heart to heart, from the same heart, from one Astuti, (currently living in denial), to the other, who is not so deluded. Here goes… 


1. Seriously woman, Get a life! No one's interested in you whining all the time. And you do whine all the time!
2. Nothing's working for you... So what? Deal with it! Talking about it all the time and to everyone... is only making you a boring person to hang out with.
3. So you're not a mommy yet...! Telling others what you think they should be doing (as mommies) is only going to alienate them- it's far easier to be a judge than a participant remember? Wait for your turn, get 24x7 experience and then talk your words of wisdom.
4. Get a job. Jeez! please go back to being independent. No, your husband's not going to support the crazy whims and ideas of expenditure that comes into your mind all the time.
5. Make new friends- your current set of friends are busy with their lives; get used to it.
6. So you wanna travel? what's so legend... wait for it ...dary about it...? So does the world!
7. Join that yoga/ dance class you want to. What's stopping you, you idiot?
8. Come on girl, just get down to finishing the stupid list of books and movies you've never had the time for while working, why are you so bloody lazy all the time?
9. Yes you have fallen into a rut... So get outta their. No one can come and do that for ya! Just freaking move before more shit falls on you.
10. And yes Astuti, when normal life resumes, you are going to feel like an idiot for having wasted this break; so do something- anything really!


Take care,
Love,
Astuti

Free Spirited

Think about it: What if we are free from worldly concerns and mundane cares... What if a feeling of overwhelming security comes over us suddenly, compelling us to cast off our worries and adopt an attitude of free-spiritedness... What if we may be free to do anything, just about anything in the world...? Life would sure be blissful eh? So how do we go about making ourselves free-spirited???

Since we are now thinking about our life experiences in a broadminded way, adventure may be in the forefront of our thoughts. We may be inspired to take an unplanned journey where we allow life to take us where it will. Or we may simply feel driven to drop in unexpectedly to see a friend or loved one. But if we begin to deliberate the details of our spontaneous decision, the excitement of the moment may be lost. We can retain our lighthearted impulsiveness only by giving in to our sudden fancies, and do what our intuition prompts us to do.


Spontaneity can serve us well in life because it teaches us to rely on the insights we receive from our intuitive minds. When we are faced with split-second decisions, intuition can guide us toward those options that are not only thrilling but also life-affirming and conducive to personal growth. 


Many people find the process of making choices arduous because they pour over their options with such ferocity that they become incapable of settling their minds on a single course of action. When we act spontaneously, we assert our faith in our ability to know what is best for ourselves. As conscious stewards of our own destinies, we intuitively choose what is right. The free-spirited spontaneity we feel can help us make the best use of our intuitive mind.


But it is important to believe... believe in where you are and where you are going... believe that life wouldn't cease to exist; but would sure become boring if we stop to think about everything and everyone... So while its nice to plan and be logical for our mind; it is important to be just a little free spirited for the heart and the soul! :)