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In 2014 I saw Rome, icebergs, forty US states, and the home of Anne of Green Gables. I published my first novel. But most importantly, 2014 is the year I felt closest to my true gender.<\/p>\n
As a child, I used to watch my mother get dressed up, stars in my eyes. She was the most glamorous, most beautiful. All I wanted was to be her. But surviving this world meant burying this desire so deep I thought I had killed it. This is what boys are taught: there is nothing worse than being a girl. It has taken over a decade to resuscitate that desire and to finally be the brown girl I always wanted to be.<\/p>\n
Sometimes thinking about the time and life I have lost saddens me. But mostly I am grateful to have found my way back to myself and am excited for what is ahead. Also grateful to my femme friends who have helped me get here (+ for pro makeup tips).<\/p>\n
VS TOP 10 MOVIES<\/b><\/p>\n
Nymphomaniac<\/a> – UMA. FUCKING. THURMAN.<\/p>\n The LEGO Movie<\/a> – Unlike anything I have seen before. Eye candy X 100…with a message!<\/p>\n Finding Vivian Maier<\/a> \u00a0– My favourite doc of 2014. It would have been easy to create a romantic portrait as we tend to do post-death, but instead an honest depiction was what rendered this movie so compelling.<\/p>\n The F Word<\/a> – Sincerity + chemistry + heartbreak + Harry Potter + Toronto = Winning romantic comedy formula.<\/p>\n Maleficent<\/a> – Not only satisfying movie but also important. (PS Whoever thought up the idea of Lana to cover Once Upon A Dream<\/i><\/a> should get a promotion. My most listened to song of 2014.)<\/p>\n Snowpiercer<\/a> – It would be a disservice to say the best part of this movie was Tilda, who was at her usual 10\/10. That\u2019s<\/i> how good it is.<\/p>\n Whiplash<\/a> – As someone who dabbles in many mediums, I was left wondering what it might be like to be great at one thing. To bleed for one thing.<\/p>\n Guardians of the Galaxy<\/a> – Summer blockbuster perfection. Imaginative cast (GROOT!), nostalgic score, great twists.<\/p>\n Nightcrawler<\/a> – So much better than Enemy<\/i>. More creepy Jake pls.<\/p>\n Top Five<\/a> – To quote Karen: \u201cBae goals: carries hot sauce in her purse.\u201d<\/p>\n Honourable mentions:<\/b>Locke<\/a>, Frank<\/a> & Birdman<\/a><\/p>\n VS TOP ALBUM<\/b><\/p>\n Just when we were convinced albums were dead and singles ruled, Beyonc\u00e9 proved us wrong with her ~visual album~<\/a>. Very wrong. I have never been so possessed by an album for such an extended period of time, listening to nothing else for months<\/i>. Standouts: Yonc\u00e9<\/a>, Blow<\/a>.<\/p>\n Honourable mentions<\/b> (because after Bey, everything is only an honourable mention):<\/p>\n Journals<\/i> (Justin Bieber)<\/a> – NO JOKE. Sometimes when he is singing, I pretend he is singing to just me and maybe I blush. Standouts: One Life<\/a>, Memphis<\/a>.<\/p>\n I Never Learn<\/i> (Lykke Li)<\/a> – Sadness is a blessing. So is this record. Standout: Gunshot<\/a>.<\/p>\n In Conflict <\/i>(Owen Pallett)<\/a> – The arrangements. The lyrics. Stunning. Standouts: Riverbend<\/a>, I Am Not Afraid<\/a>.<\/p>\n Me. I Am Mariah…<\/i>The Elusive Chanteuse<\/a> (Mariah Carey) – Best Mariah record since Butterfly<\/i>. Also THAT TITLE. Standouts: Cry<\/a>, Dedicated<\/a>.<\/p>\n Channeling India<\/i> (Shamik)<\/a> – I love my brother but this record is brilliant in its own right. Standouts: Kuyile Kuyile<\/a>, The Getaway<\/a>.<\/p>\n Guardians of the Galaxy<\/i> Soundtrack<\/a> – Sometimes you love a soundtrack because you love a movie, the music allowing you to relive your viewing pleasure. I did<\/i> love this movie but this isn\u2019t specifically why I love this soundtrack. A fuzzy and often lovely collection of songs that sound like they always belonged together. Standouts: Fooled Around and Fell in Love<\/a>, I\u2019m Not In Love<\/a>.<\/p>\n My Everything<\/i> (Ariana Grande) <\/a>– That opening intro alone<\/a>.<\/p>\n Too Brigh<\/i>t (Perfume Genius)<\/a> – \u201cNo family is safe when I sashay.\u201d Chills. Also love hearing so much Polly Jean Harvey in this. Standouts: Queen<\/a>, Grid<\/a>, Fool<\/a>.<\/p>\n Tough Love<\/i> (Jessie Ware)<\/a> – Electronic R&B meets Norah Jones. All my faves on one record. Standouts: Tough Love<\/a>, Say You Love Me<\/a>.<\/p>\n 1989<\/i> (Taylor Swift)<\/a> – Karen has been trying to make a fan for years. I finally gave in. And it feels so good. Standouts: Out Of The Woods, Bad Blood, Style.<\/p>\n The London Sessions<\/i> (Mary J. Blige)<\/a> – There is no voice like Mary\u2019s. After all these years, every note still sounds like real living, real pain and real love. Standouts: Right Now<\/a>, Whole Damn Year<\/a>.<\/p>\n Part of my hesitation in compiling a year-end list, besides wondering who would care, was realizing that the way I listen to music is very much related to 6 second Vine videos where a song is more of a punchline. The lack of attention span is depressing but creative youth being in charge of their media is not. Vivek reminded me that Beyonce dropped her album in December of 2013 and that thing consumed us until the spring of this year. There was nothing else for those months and she restored my faith in full lengths and reversed climate change too, I think. Here\u2019s everything after Beyonce.<\/p>\n Songs from Vine that were good songs too:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Rae Sremmurd – No Flex Zone<\/a><\/p>\n ILOVEMAKONNEN (FEAT. DRAKE) – TUESDAY<\/a><\/p>\n Bobby Shmurda – Hot N****<\/a><\/p>\n My most played songs according to Itunes:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Nicki Minaj – Yass Bitch, No Flex Zone remix, Boss Ass Bitch remix, Looking Ass N****, Pills N Potions, Anaconda Beyonce – Flawless remix feat. Nicki Minaj Romeo Santos – Odio feat. Drake<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n
\nI just loved everything Nicki did apparently.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nONIKA. One of her best verses here too.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nDreezy Drake singing BACHATA en espa\u00f1ol. I only wish there were an official video for it because these two gorgeous guys. And if you haven\u2019t heard Romeo; dude sold out Yankee stadium so…<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n