January 23, 2006
The Best One for Me
THE BEST ONE FOR ME
I love you, I think I love you
I love what you stand for
I think about you all day long
You help me get the bad days over faster
When I am traped making white rice for long
I pretend we are married and you coming
You take me away from the place and family (I do love you mom and dad, don't be mad when you read this)
We get on the magic, white horse and fly to you house
We wash each other and I love you
Please sing for me, please come get me and safe me
One day Brian Littrell, one day
I sing you songs all day in my head and I know you know
One day Brian, one day
You the best one for me
Several months ago, I put it to music. I hesitated to post it at the time because it seemed cruel -- the girl, after all, couldn't have been any older than, say, fourteen when she wrote it. But it does have its merits, too -- in fact, if the internet had existed when I was fourteen and this was the worst of gushy celebri-crush odes of my doing out there, I'd be in good shape. I drew hearts with arrows through them in lipstick in spiral-bound notebooks, though. At least this girl is trying, and some of it is very poetic. She's quite focused.
Poor Beth Chan. When we received this, I wanted to run down to Chinatown to pluck her from the rice-making factory in which she was barricaded from the outside in. I wanted to sit her down with some Tori and Ani, explain to her what it is that Brian Littrell does stand for, and how we -- she & I, womankind -- are vehemently against it.
But when I was a lass, I had a thing for Chad Allen. You know, from the show Our House that ran for about a year, tops, starring Dr. Marlena Evans, Shannen Doherty, and Wilford Brimley? And, well... is Brian Littrell really much worse?
So, here it is, but keep in mind that I'm well-aware that we all have our tween crushes, and Beth Chan's isn't any different than mine was or yours was or a current fourteen year-old's on an emo-boy with shaggy hair is. This isn't meant to be a total mockery; just a partial one.
I really hope you used a pseudonym for her...otherwise, you would just be plain cruel.
Posted by: Lara at January 23, 2006 6:46 PMI debated it, but since her name is the Chinese equivalent of John Smith, I didn't really see the point.
Posted by: Bess at January 23, 2006 7:23 PMI don't think simplifying her name to the equivalent of the "Chinese John Smith" justifies the inherent cruelty in revealing her identity.
Posted by: Lara at January 23, 2006 10:43 PMI didn't say it justified the cruelty -- nor did I say that the cruelty isn't there. I just said that there was no point.
Plus, you could be the cruel one, since how do you know she isn't proud of this poem, and would be excited that it's now on the internet? How do you know she would want her identity to be disguised?
Posted by: Bess at January 24, 2006 10:42 AMCan I make a recommendation?
How about changing:
"When I am traped making white rice for long"
to
"When I am traped making white rice for long time"
?
Other than that, I think it is very powerful and the musical rendition the same
Posted by: tony at January 24, 2006 11:38 AMI don’t think this is the least bit cruel. Maybe I’m not getting it but I think this is about as sweet and cute as it gets. What's cruel is that this damn song will be stuck in my head.
Do you think you could write a song from the poems I wrote as a young boy to Seattle Mariners great, Ichiro Suzuki? OK, so maybe I wrote them last summer, that doesn’t mean the feelings aren't genuine.
P.S. Who the hell is Brian Littrel? How can you have a crush on someone if they don't have a number on their shirt?
Posted by: leftbanker at January 25, 2006 1:40 PMI think it would be cruel and patronizing NOT to credit the ever-inspiring Beth Chan with her own work and influence on Bess. I've been hearing about this chick for YEARS. I am not a person who lacks empathy, and I think assuming that Beth would be ashamed of her work is kind of silly. She did submit it for publication, after all.
Posted by: Maruie at January 25, 2006 4:37 PMFor serious, this will stay in my iTunes in perpetuity and be one of those songs that comes on randomly that always brings a smile to my face. If possible, I think you actually gave the poem real merit in the musical rendition and hope you sent a copy to Beth Chan/John Smith. I know she would *heart* it, and maybe even send it to Brian.
Posted by: Mikethat at January 25, 2006 7:48 PMWhy was I not informed of this mp3 cache earlier? I'm almost speechless.
This is your first original composition, right? I'd have to say it's a success . . .
Posted by: Trent at January 27, 2006 7:02 AMAlas, Trent, it's not exactly original. The chords/composition are loosely stolen from a certain Ani song that I'm surprised you of all people didn't pick up on! It's sort of a remedial, drawn-out, hand-picked rendering of a song that is normally pretty loudly strummed, if that's enough of a hint.
Posted by: Bess at January 27, 2006 10:28 AMAnd Lefty, I'm totally with you on initially not knowing who Brian Littrell was. Luckily at the time I was living with a pop-trash aficionado who was able to inform us that Brian is one of the Backstreet Boys. Even looking at his picture, I wouldn't have had a clue. This was 2001 -- the Backstreet Boys were already "out" for christ's sake.
Posted by: Bess at January 27, 2006 10:31 AMDon't even sass me on not knowing every member of BSB by facial recognition. Our friendship might have to end over this one, Bess.
Posted by: Lara at January 27, 2006 11:27 AMI will not allow the ever-widening generation gap between us to harm the alliance, Lara!
Posted by: Bess at January 27, 2006 11:32 AMI can also recognize every member of NKOTB by face too, so I'm not entirely sure it's generational.
Posted by: Lara at January 27, 2006 1:09 PMSo why is it you're more than willing to post this stuff on your site but you wouldn't play a song at Dowdell's?
Posted by: Jayko at January 28, 2006 2:51 AMBecause there's a big difference between sitting alone in my apartment to record something and actually playing/singing in front of people, which I have not yet done. And gimme a friggin' break, Jayko... how the hell was I supposed to follow your little professional act? When you become famous, I'll open for you, but my ass will never *follow* one of your performances, thanks.
Posted by: Bess at January 28, 2006 3:32 PMHey, if this is Brian reading this, OMG!!! i Love Your Music!!! BSB ROCK! i was @ your last concert too!!! bye!
Posted by: Charlene at June 18, 2006 3:40 PMOMG BRIAN I LOVE YOU YOU'RE MY IDOL SHIT! I DREAM ABOUT YOU ALL TIME !!! YOU'RE SEXY YOU SING VERY WELL AND YOU HAVE VERY BEAUTIFUL EYES!
DON'T CHANGE YOU'RE PERFECT!:)