This song has been permenantly on my mind for the past 48 hours.
This goes under the category of "Awesome Cheesy Pop Songs" in my head--a place where Patrick Wolf is no newcomer. I totally loved his darker stuff, everything from Tristan to the Magic Position, and now there's this catchy, adorable pop-y wonderful song. Just...delighftful. But also evil--a quintescential summer song released in the dead of winter? Why? Now I just want summer about a thousand times more. Thanks, Mr. Wolf.
Though at least the snow is melting here and it's almost pleasent being outside, that's something. I always considered February the worse month, but March is far from nice, too. My random urge for summer to hurry up has manifested itself in my listening to nothing but pure pop music for the past week. Tinie Tempah, La Roux, Rihanna, Jessie J, Hurts, Eliza Doolittle, and the like. I can say I think all of these are talented to some degree(Rihanna maybe not? hard to say. she has good producers.) but I hope actual warmth arrives so I can listen to stuff with some credibility. I think the same applies for the rest of my family--moody trip-hop Groove Armada songs have been replaced with the Divine Comedy's Best Of. Not that the Divine Comedy aren't cool or anything--Neil Hannon is adorable in a very odd way, no?
I only have 164 days to wait and the anticipation is killing me. I'm so happy I got super-early bird pre-sale tickets in August, since V sold in record time this year. 80 minutes! Although this doesn't even seem to be the truth somehow, from the tales I've heard. Some people were on straight away and couldn't get tickets! It sucks for people who actually wanted to go and couldn't get tickets...and makes all the V-Hating especially tiesome and frustrating. It is not a lineup for chavs. (British to American translation; chav = trashy teenage delinquaint). Last night I was under the impression I was gonna be able to watch Biffy Clyro on some crappy late night TV show, before I realized the channel doesn't show for my TV. I didn't wanna go to bed till I physically couldn't saty awake, so I stayed up for another hour watching Eminem videos on Fuse. He's good! Indie Elitsts are so silly, it's so extroardinarily close-minded to say a whole genre of music(rap) doesn't belong at a music festival! What is a music festival if not a celebration of live music? Wow oh wow, some people.
But I understand you're probably not going to V, so this is of no interest to you...
For all I've complained of Arctic Monkeys' new song, they're playing here in May and obviously, I'm going, as it will be amazing. Last time I saw them--December '09--was a brutal concert. Fun, but brutal. therefore I'm staying out of the main crowd this time. This will unquestionably not be the case in August. In August, I'm fighting to the front, getting squahsed in the crowd, and just generally revelling in the chaos. Can't do that with my parents, obviously, so May'll just be a ...warmup, until the real bedlam begins. Plus, like, a crowd ten times the size of May's? Um, yeah, August'll be great.
Yesterday was the big day for Elbow fans, like myself--new album! Aaaaah! With three English tests this week it seems unmlikely I'll be able to actually get out of the house to buy it and I don't wanna ruin the experience with YouTube. But, my god, is it tempting. Every single review has been positive, averaging about an 7/10 or 8/10 or so, and everyone's talking about this one song, called Lippy Kids, which is basically about everyone not recognising adolescence as the highly important time it is("Don't they know these days are golden?"). Guy Garvey usually finds the perfect balance between reality and romance, so I'm hoping for an interesting song. And an interesting album in general! This day did NOT come fast enough. Friday can't come faster too. US TOUR NOW PLEASE.
New Wombats album released on my birthday? And I listened to Tokyo at every possibly oppurtunity today. Can honestly say I'm very excited. I loved their 1st album, it was so adorable and perfect and I could listen to it all day, ugh, you too, April you come faster now.
On another note, I was impressed/shocked by the American CD stores getting Beady Eye in right off the bat. I'm sick of Beady Eye, yeah, I'm not a fan and I don't understand the hype--BUT I was amazed that they had them here, is all.
Well, as for school, we finally pushed through our 1st art project after 5 weeks and I really don't wanna go to class because the next one is hell. I have eight days to do a health project. Science is alright, though I DO NOT want to do our next project or indeed read about plate tectonics. Or listen to the know-it-alls behind me--who really do diserve nicknanames at this point, for all they aggravate me. BUT, I do enjoy how the girl next to me has gone on a mission to label the guy who sits next to her a peodphile, and tomorrow is bringing in a pedobear(sigh.) printout tomorrow.
World Civ is cool because it's all ancient history in China and Asia in general, and I reaaaaally don't wanna go into the European Middle Ages because a lot of people are closeminded enough to think that I'm word perfect on the subject. it takes the slightest bit of brain power, that many seem to lack, to realize that that's just silly. Ugh! What is wrong with everyone at school? Even the smart people come off as two-dimensional and silly, y'know? And there's just so much crap---superfical friendships, discrimination, slut shaming, ignorance, arrogance, and bullshit to say the least. This is not news, I know, but it's been getting to me a lot lately. Some people live under rocks, really, it's unbelievable. I keep hearing the M word--that is, one used to describe a Little Person--EVERY SINGLE FUCKING DAY and I'm like, really, guys? What year are we living in? Are we really so fundamentally vapid that we neglect all notions of progression? And fake friendships just to look good? And act horrible to others because they dress the slightest bit differently? And act the same as others, because that's all you've ever known? And act better than everyone else to feel better? And laugh at people who are quiet for many reasons, but one of them being they(I) don't want to talk to the overwhelming majority of people they are forced to comunicate with everyday, because they're so vacuous and boring and cruel? High school, high school, high school....
Um, yeah, that's that rant gone. Happy pancake day, Brits, I've probably gained weight after all that sugar and pancake and lemons, though it's my favorite meal of the year, so I can't complain. Can't really gush about it either, sadly--too much studying to be done.
Bye.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Friday, March 4, 2011
Um, Arctic Monkeys.
They released a song earlier today and was amazed by how much I didn't like it. I mean, it was alright, but just not to the caliber of their old stuff. I was never part of the crowd that said they were going downhill with Humbug, because personally I think it's a good album with a more unique sound than their first two records, though perhaps lacking in the good lyrics department. In the first ten seconds of the song, all I was channeling was mid-oo's "I wish I was Jack White" blues rock silliness that is pleasing but decidedly overdone at this point in time. Then it got more poppy, yet somehow slower(this band seem to do that a lot), but...there was no big chorus. there were no witty anecdotes about day-to-day life in northern England. not even some insane, frantic drum beat. No, all I see is flowery dresses and palm trees and dissapointment. what gives?
I'm sure it'll grow on me. They do that a lot. But I do think it's their weakest single to date. Also, no, I do not want Whatever People Say I Am Part II, not at all. I subscribe to the beleif that bands need to change and every record needs a different sound. I'd rather they did this than did something samey. It's just my personal beleif that this is less creative than their other work. no big deal.
Still uber excited for August though. Rihanna got added to the V lineup. Needless to say, If I see Eminem I'm guaranteed a live Love the Way You Lie duet, a privalage few have had. I'm up for that. I honerstly don't understand the blatant anti-Vness this year. They sold out in 80 minutes! So what if it's pop? It's about having fun. When did the festival scene become about faking acts of lunicy and conitnuing festival-going cliches, ie drugs, indie music, and mud. it's so silly, people, geez. As for my V-going, I might be up for someone on the 2nd or 3rd stage Sunday night, depending. I've never been to the 3rd stage, oddly--it's a tent, but the entrance is a bottleneck so getting in and out is hell. Dunno about everyone else, but I'm excited. my dad took a look at the lineup yesterday(he was in Switzerland on a business thing for most of the week) and he said it was 'not amazing' which was upsetting...
People so saw last year's V through rose-tinted glasses. V always have pop. And it will always have bad bands and bad live peformances(for example, KoL were shockingly bad live. Everything except Sex On Fire was completely underwhelming). That's what's cool about it, though, cause it appeals to loads of different people. As for me, I'll take my Wombats, Kaiser Chiefs, Arctic Monkeys, Manics, and Hurts and leave all these miserable people be.
I just listened to Katy B's "Katy On A Mission" last night. I used to hear this on Radio 1 loads over the summer, and I was never completely sold. I'm not a Dubstep fan. But going back to it now, I just suddenly become aware of this gritty, clubby vibe and I realized how good it is. Also, I fell in love with Primal Scream on the very first listen to Some Velvet Morning. All I was aware of was this great wannabe-late-90s trip-hop psychadelic rock thing with a touch of sixties flower power thrown in for good measure. So, so fantastic. Primal Scream I think are gonna be 2nd to stage headliners, and my God, they'd better clash with Eminem rather than AM. I'm high on Primal Scream songs. Cannot wait until my birthday, I'm so asking for Screamadelica.
Enough of V.
My iPod might be broken though it might just be the headphones, but it's acting weird. It's lived a good, long life.
It'd be nice if I could keep my eyes open lately. I was bored last night so I tried to watch Return of the Jedi but I could not pay attention. I was up till midnight the day before last doing a science paper that was twice as long as it needs to be, too much shock and ridicule from some friends. However, we got progress reports a couple days ago and she ranked the whole class based on grades and mine was at number one so like hell am I backing down now. (I admit the ranking business is cruel, but please let me bask in this brief period of narcissism). I got a 99% on a quiz. I wonder why I'm so fixated on grades this year? It wasn't really much of the case last year. Odd.
Shame science was awful for the other parts of the week. we're doing projects outside at the moment, testing water for O2 and Co2 and temperature and such. We have to walk outside, in freezing weather, over an icy hill, to a field where the snow isn't properly compacted so I feel in to my knees, through the forest. We're in three groups and each examining one section. Of course, being three groups, which we are allowed to choose, there is only one way 14-year-olds divide themselves up--girls, guys, and the grumbly leftovers. I'm the third category! I'm with these two know-it-all girls, one guy everyone hates, a bossy leader, and a bunch of guys whose names I cannot be bothered to learn. Plus, the three groups are as follows; wetland, stream, pond. Here's the thing with the first two--THEY HAVE RUNNING WATER. Us pond-goers were outside in negative godknowswhat at 9:30 digging a hole through ice that was at least eight inches thick. It took forty minutes, much swearing, and an array of bleeding hands. With help from our teacher, we got through with five or ten minutes to rush through our testing, run for fifteen minutes back to class, and wait for another two hours to be about to feel our thighs, let alone our noses and ears and such. sigh sigh sigh. The upshot is, our place is gonna be gorgeous in the spring.
Plus, I have another project on glaciers, with three other people. Our whole group is infested with arrogance and over-inflated senses of our self worth, so it'll be a mess. A horrible, competitive, passive aggressive mess.
Today I got asked if I was a sophomore in art, then later asked if I was junior. Haven't a clue why this should be, but there we go. I don't physically look older so I guess I'm just standoffish or something.
Getting especially tired of my world civ class, to be honest. We spent four days researching for a class timeline project. my group had no idea what we were doing and ours came out a total mess. Plus, I doubt there's a single person on the planet who has an actual interest in the Byzantine Empire. I certainly don't.
English is literally beyond boring right now--short stories and essays and vocab, blah, I almost want to cry. It's no fun having it last block. Other classes are at least onto reading books, whereas we're still reading these crappy short stories and looking for dualities. I wanna get going on a book, that's something I might actually enjoy.
I'm giving Philosophy Club at school a go. It's basically sitting in a room with six other students(almost all of them being nerdy Asian junior girls) and talking. And there's a Spanish teacher and I believe a math teacher. It's fun, actually, I intend to go again.
Let's do countdowns--V in 168 days, Pancake Day in three days, NEW ELBOW ALBUM OH MY GOD ADSLFjsdfl in two, new Kills album in a month, birthday in 51 days, new AM album in four-ish months, the Killers getting back together in two months, the Script + Tim Minchin in three months, new Kasabian album at the end of the year, new Florence album at the end of the year, etc.
Music at the moment that hasn't been mentioned--The Mariner's Children, Tinie Tempah, Hurts, Editors, Imelda May, Neil Hannon's beautiful cover of Yann Tiersen's "Les Jours Tristes". Love music. Neil's voice works so well with the flutes.
I have to have lunch and do science homework(sniffle), good day.
I'm sure it'll grow on me. They do that a lot. But I do think it's their weakest single to date. Also, no, I do not want Whatever People Say I Am Part II, not at all. I subscribe to the beleif that bands need to change and every record needs a different sound. I'd rather they did this than did something samey. It's just my personal beleif that this is less creative than their other work. no big deal.
Still uber excited for August though. Rihanna got added to the V lineup. Needless to say, If I see Eminem I'm guaranteed a live Love the Way You Lie duet, a privalage few have had. I'm up for that. I honerstly don't understand the blatant anti-Vness this year. They sold out in 80 minutes! So what if it's pop? It's about having fun. When did the festival scene become about faking acts of lunicy and conitnuing festival-going cliches, ie drugs, indie music, and mud. it's so silly, people, geez. As for my V-going, I might be up for someone on the 2nd or 3rd stage Sunday night, depending. I've never been to the 3rd stage, oddly--it's a tent, but the entrance is a bottleneck so getting in and out is hell. Dunno about everyone else, but I'm excited. my dad took a look at the lineup yesterday(he was in Switzerland on a business thing for most of the week) and he said it was 'not amazing' which was upsetting...
People so saw last year's V through rose-tinted glasses. V always have pop. And it will always have bad bands and bad live peformances(for example, KoL were shockingly bad live. Everything except Sex On Fire was completely underwhelming). That's what's cool about it, though, cause it appeals to loads of different people. As for me, I'll take my Wombats, Kaiser Chiefs, Arctic Monkeys, Manics, and Hurts and leave all these miserable people be.
I just listened to Katy B's "Katy On A Mission" last night. I used to hear this on Radio 1 loads over the summer, and I was never completely sold. I'm not a Dubstep fan. But going back to it now, I just suddenly become aware of this gritty, clubby vibe and I realized how good it is. Also, I fell in love with Primal Scream on the very first listen to Some Velvet Morning. All I was aware of was this great wannabe-late-90s trip-hop psychadelic rock thing with a touch of sixties flower power thrown in for good measure. So, so fantastic. Primal Scream I think are gonna be 2nd to stage headliners, and my God, they'd better clash with Eminem rather than AM. I'm high on Primal Scream songs. Cannot wait until my birthday, I'm so asking for Screamadelica.
Enough of V.
My iPod might be broken though it might just be the headphones, but it's acting weird. It's lived a good, long life.
It'd be nice if I could keep my eyes open lately. I was bored last night so I tried to watch Return of the Jedi but I could not pay attention. I was up till midnight the day before last doing a science paper that was twice as long as it needs to be, too much shock and ridicule from some friends. However, we got progress reports a couple days ago and she ranked the whole class based on grades and mine was at number one so like hell am I backing down now. (I admit the ranking business is cruel, but please let me bask in this brief period of narcissism). I got a 99% on a quiz. I wonder why I'm so fixated on grades this year? It wasn't really much of the case last year. Odd.
Shame science was awful for the other parts of the week. we're doing projects outside at the moment, testing water for O2 and Co2 and temperature and such. We have to walk outside, in freezing weather, over an icy hill, to a field where the snow isn't properly compacted so I feel in to my knees, through the forest. We're in three groups and each examining one section. Of course, being three groups, which we are allowed to choose, there is only one way 14-year-olds divide themselves up--girls, guys, and the grumbly leftovers. I'm the third category! I'm with these two know-it-all girls, one guy everyone hates, a bossy leader, and a bunch of guys whose names I cannot be bothered to learn. Plus, the three groups are as follows; wetland, stream, pond. Here's the thing with the first two--THEY HAVE RUNNING WATER. Us pond-goers were outside in negative godknowswhat at 9:30 digging a hole through ice that was at least eight inches thick. It took forty minutes, much swearing, and an array of bleeding hands. With help from our teacher, we got through with five or ten minutes to rush through our testing, run for fifteen minutes back to class, and wait for another two hours to be about to feel our thighs, let alone our noses and ears and such. sigh sigh sigh. The upshot is, our place is gonna be gorgeous in the spring.
Plus, I have another project on glaciers, with three other people. Our whole group is infested with arrogance and over-inflated senses of our self worth, so it'll be a mess. A horrible, competitive, passive aggressive mess.
Today I got asked if I was a sophomore in art, then later asked if I was junior. Haven't a clue why this should be, but there we go. I don't physically look older so I guess I'm just standoffish or something.
Getting especially tired of my world civ class, to be honest. We spent four days researching for a class timeline project. my group had no idea what we were doing and ours came out a total mess. Plus, I doubt there's a single person on the planet who has an actual interest in the Byzantine Empire. I certainly don't.
English is literally beyond boring right now--short stories and essays and vocab, blah, I almost want to cry. It's no fun having it last block. Other classes are at least onto reading books, whereas we're still reading these crappy short stories and looking for dualities. I wanna get going on a book, that's something I might actually enjoy.
I'm giving Philosophy Club at school a go. It's basically sitting in a room with six other students(almost all of them being nerdy Asian junior girls) and talking. And there's a Spanish teacher and I believe a math teacher. It's fun, actually, I intend to go again.
Let's do countdowns--V in 168 days, Pancake Day in three days, NEW ELBOW ALBUM OH MY GOD ADSLFjsdfl in two, new Kills album in a month, birthday in 51 days, new AM album in four-ish months, the Killers getting back together in two months, the Script + Tim Minchin in three months, new Kasabian album at the end of the year, new Florence album at the end of the year, etc.
Music at the moment that hasn't been mentioned--The Mariner's Children, Tinie Tempah, Hurts, Editors, Imelda May, Neil Hannon's beautiful cover of Yann Tiersen's "Les Jours Tristes". Love music. Neil's voice works so well with the flutes.
I have to have lunch and do science homework(sniffle), good day.
Monday, February 28, 2011
V Festival 2011
As things currently stand
Eminem
'Special Guest'(what? everyone's saying Rihanna but no confirmation. ooh, REM please)
Arctic Monkeys
Plan B
The Script
Dizzee Rascal
Pendulum
Kaiser Chiefs
Duran Duran(ha.)
Manic Street Preachers
Primal Scream
Razorlight
Chase and Status
Tinie Tempah
Courteeners
Scouting for Girls
Ellie Goulding
Bruno Mars
Jessie J
the Wombats
Mark Ronson
N-Dubz
Big Audio Dynamite
Glasvegas
Hurts
Katie B
KT Tunstell
Squeeze
the Saturdays
Example
Wiz Khalifa
Olly Murs
Cast
Kele
Ocean Colour Scene
You Me At Six
Eliza Doolittle
Fun Lovin' Criminals
Imelda May
Bellowhead
Claire Maguire
After six months of waiting, rumors, eFestivals updates, and festival forums, today marked the day that the beginning of the V lineup was announced.
I don't care what you say. I like it. But first a few things have to be said.
V posted their lineup a few hours ago, along with an accompanying video, and ever since then the Internet, in particular the most pompous of music blogs, have been awash with ridicule. Most of it boiling down to little more than 'it's shit. READING AND LEEDS FUCK YES'.
Okay, we need a talk, so-called V-ers. This is a big festival. These are big acts, whether you like them or not. Getting these tickets is no walk in the park. In fact, plenty of people miss out on these every year. V has always been a mainstream festival, y'know? It's light-weight, fun, free from the abundant music snobbery that litters the other festivals. it's august, it's summer, you're with friends, the vast majority of people are drunk out of their minds. It's about rain and wellies and having beer in your hair and looking disgusting for two days on end. It is not, nor should it be, about walking around announcing how you'd rather be watching Cancer Bats at Reading a week later. No! Jesus.
I mean, I will concede, R&L have been almost unfathomably lucky with their last few lineups. and this one looks to be going in the same direction. I would kill to go to Reading(Elbow? Muse? Pulp? My god, yes), but it's just not viable for me right now, and to say V is awful in comparison isn't fair. And, oh my God, have you seen Glasto's rumors? Genuinely, not very appealing to me. Glasto's just strength in numbers--most festivals with 45 stages can probably pull something half-decent together, you know?
All of the big festivals are good in their own right, though some of the others are just a tad overwhelming. you know, if you wanna take magic mushrooms while watching Crystal Castles before going off to get a back massage at whatever mad tent these places are throwing together, then that's fine. Sounds almost appealing. But please, just because you're doing that, doesn't make V's totally adequate lineup sucky. it isn't! It's fun, it's well put together, it's entertaining. Go ahead and be snippy about these bands now--it's February, all we wanna do is listen to PJ Harvey and drink hot chocolate and be overly critical about Claire Maguire, yeah, I'm there, I know that. But you know when the shorts and the bleach blonde hair and the Summer Choons come out, you don't care whatever the hell you're listening to. God knows I listened to so much crap last summer. It's just all about being entertained and not caring. that's the whole point of summer...the whole point of music festivals. if you don't like it, then okay, sell your ticket. It's not that hard. Leave us be!
So now that that failure of an almost rant is done, let's discuss my opinions on these yes? In an incredibly, incredibly long winded fashion, because you know that's just me.
So, Eminem. I'm not a huge fan but I know a few things and I agree he's hugely talented. I think this is genuinely an interesting choice for V. T in the Park had him last year and he seemed to go down alright, if not more than that. I must buy a record. My only slight issue is the almost anti-climax that this will be. He doesn't have the flashy lights and the guitars and the screaming you expect from a headliner. Nevertheless, Love the Way You Lie I'm sure will be awesome in the dark. Depending on who the 2nd stage headliner is, I might jump in between. who knows.
Arctic Monkeys will be, to put it lightly, phenomenal. I love the Arctic Monkeys, genuinely think they're amazing, and they are quite something live. I've seen them once before--in an small-average club, in December of 09. absolute. bedlam. I got fully knocked to the ground at least three times(as you can imagine, my memory of that night is rather vague...). However, this, compared to a field of tens of thousands of super fans, will be nothing. It'll be honest to God, on Prodigy level(best. night. of. my life.). I'm hugely excited for Saturday night, one for my personal history books. as long as my hair is soaked with beer, my brain is buzzing with fake northern accents, and I spend more time on my hands and knees than standing up, I will be a very happy girl.
I like Plan B but my slight concern is him not being able to fill a 2nd-to-headlining spot, or my paying attention for an hour straight. but no matter, I've made it through a fucking Stereophonics 2nd-to-headlining set, so this is no problem.
If I see the Script again, I'll have seen them four times. that's sad. I don't know why I even wanna see them again? Still, the Man Who Can't be Moved is quite nice live, that's something.
I'm not saying Pendulum are technically great or anything, but their live shows are absolutely immense. Again, Prodigy-level goodness. Like, I wouldn't go out of my way to see them but if I was there, then hell yes I would. That'd be amazing.
OKAY OKAY OKAY. Two years ago, I remember blogging about V '09's lineup and I definitely, definitely finished with 'still hoping for Kaiser Chiefs'. Now, 24 months on and after, yes, growing out of KC a bit, my wish has finally come true. Dear 11 year old self; I'm seeing kaiser Chiefs and there's nothing that can stop me. IN. YOUR. FACE. All I can think about, sitting here, is an evening time slot, in amongst the packed crowd, shouting the lyrics to Ruby until I loose my voice. It's my pre-pubescent dream. And I will be living it. I will be living it. There is not a single being on this planet that can stop me--I will even sacrifice Alex Turner's awesomeness live for this. This. Is. Incredible.
Lawl, Duran Duran. It's really sad that I actually want to see this with absolutely no shred of irony attached. But I will. Hungry like the Wolf late afternoon...yes, please.
I've seen Razorlight once already. I don't hate them. America is a nice one live, can really sing a long. yeah, I'd do that.
Shame I missed the Courteeners last year, they'd be another good one. Pfft, I'm so gonna get my indie fix this year. what on earth are people talking about?
I pride myself on knowing Ellie Goulding ever since she first appeared in the NME. And yet I've never seen her. Hmm, that'd be alright.
I'd see Jessie J just for Do it Like A Dude. I love Do it Like A Dude.
THE WOMBATS. OH MY GOD, LOVE IT. The Wombats are freakin' amazing and don't let anyone convince you otherwise. my friend's seen them twice and was absolutely blown away. I remember being addicted to Let's Dance to Joy Division. oddly, I still adore that song with all my being. Despite all the floppy hair and cutesy guitars, this band have the unusual ability of throwing together a moshpit every show. not even kidding. sounds fun.
Mark Ronson, hmmm? I dunno about talent, but fun, maybe. vintage suits and pretentiousness, too.
Okay, you hear this, cynics? Glas. Vegas. 'Not enough bands', 'not enough indie', what the hell do you call this? Seriously, they're Scottish, wear sunglasses in daylight, and play guitars, what more do you want? sounds like a whale of a time. Oh yeah a lot of people just wanna hear Mumford for ten hours straight. no. thank. you.
Hurts are cool, yeah, they're cool, I'm there.
Kele would be nice too. and ocean colour scene! Elize Doolittle would be nice again, on a bigger stage perhaps, and when it's not pouring rain.
Needless to say my mom's gonna be all over the oldies(they're good oldies this year, though!) and my dad's gonna be down at the indie stage. They've added a comedy stage this year. I'm hoping...Tim Minchin? Bill Bailey? Simon Amstell? Bo Burnahm, on an off chance? sounds like a blast.
Dear internet; V is awesome. I don't understand you at all sometimes.
At long last, that is all.
Eminem
'Special Guest'(what? everyone's saying Rihanna but no confirmation. ooh, REM please)
Arctic Monkeys
Plan B
The Script
Dizzee Rascal
Pendulum
Kaiser Chiefs
Duran Duran(ha.)
Manic Street Preachers
Primal Scream
Razorlight
Chase and Status
Tinie Tempah
Courteeners
Scouting for Girls
Ellie Goulding
Bruno Mars
Jessie J
the Wombats
Mark Ronson
N-Dubz
Big Audio Dynamite
Glasvegas
Hurts
Katie B
KT Tunstell
Squeeze
the Saturdays
Example
Wiz Khalifa
Olly Murs
Cast
Kele
Ocean Colour Scene
You Me At Six
Eliza Doolittle
Fun Lovin' Criminals
Imelda May
Bellowhead
Claire Maguire
After six months of waiting, rumors, eFestivals updates, and festival forums, today marked the day that the beginning of the V lineup was announced.
I don't care what you say. I like it. But first a few things have to be said.
V posted their lineup a few hours ago, along with an accompanying video, and ever since then the Internet, in particular the most pompous of music blogs, have been awash with ridicule. Most of it boiling down to little more than 'it's shit. READING AND LEEDS FUCK YES'.
Okay, we need a talk, so-called V-ers. This is a big festival. These are big acts, whether you like them or not. Getting these tickets is no walk in the park. In fact, plenty of people miss out on these every year. V has always been a mainstream festival, y'know? It's light-weight, fun, free from the abundant music snobbery that litters the other festivals. it's august, it's summer, you're with friends, the vast majority of people are drunk out of their minds. It's about rain and wellies and having beer in your hair and looking disgusting for two days on end. It is not, nor should it be, about walking around announcing how you'd rather be watching Cancer Bats at Reading a week later. No! Jesus.
I mean, I will concede, R&L have been almost unfathomably lucky with their last few lineups. and this one looks to be going in the same direction. I would kill to go to Reading(Elbow? Muse? Pulp? My god, yes), but it's just not viable for me right now, and to say V is awful in comparison isn't fair. And, oh my God, have you seen Glasto's rumors? Genuinely, not very appealing to me. Glasto's just strength in numbers--most festivals with 45 stages can probably pull something half-decent together, you know?
All of the big festivals are good in their own right, though some of the others are just a tad overwhelming. you know, if you wanna take magic mushrooms while watching Crystal Castles before going off to get a back massage at whatever mad tent these places are throwing together, then that's fine. Sounds almost appealing. But please, just because you're doing that, doesn't make V's totally adequate lineup sucky. it isn't! It's fun, it's well put together, it's entertaining. Go ahead and be snippy about these bands now--it's February, all we wanna do is listen to PJ Harvey and drink hot chocolate and be overly critical about Claire Maguire, yeah, I'm there, I know that. But you know when the shorts and the bleach blonde hair and the Summer Choons come out, you don't care whatever the hell you're listening to. God knows I listened to so much crap last summer. It's just all about being entertained and not caring. that's the whole point of summer...the whole point of music festivals. if you don't like it, then okay, sell your ticket. It's not that hard. Leave us be!
So now that that failure of an almost rant is done, let's discuss my opinions on these yes? In an incredibly, incredibly long winded fashion, because you know that's just me.
So, Eminem. I'm not a huge fan but I know a few things and I agree he's hugely talented. I think this is genuinely an interesting choice for V. T in the Park had him last year and he seemed to go down alright, if not more than that. I must buy a record. My only slight issue is the almost anti-climax that this will be. He doesn't have the flashy lights and the guitars and the screaming you expect from a headliner. Nevertheless, Love the Way You Lie I'm sure will be awesome in the dark. Depending on who the 2nd stage headliner is, I might jump in between. who knows.
Arctic Monkeys will be, to put it lightly, phenomenal. I love the Arctic Monkeys, genuinely think they're amazing, and they are quite something live. I've seen them once before--in an small-average club, in December of 09. absolute. bedlam. I got fully knocked to the ground at least three times(as you can imagine, my memory of that night is rather vague...). However, this, compared to a field of tens of thousands of super fans, will be nothing. It'll be honest to God, on Prodigy level(best. night. of. my life.). I'm hugely excited for Saturday night, one for my personal history books. as long as my hair is soaked with beer, my brain is buzzing with fake northern accents, and I spend more time on my hands and knees than standing up, I will be a very happy girl.
I like Plan B but my slight concern is him not being able to fill a 2nd-to-headlining spot, or my paying attention for an hour straight. but no matter, I've made it through a fucking Stereophonics 2nd-to-headlining set, so this is no problem.
If I see the Script again, I'll have seen them four times. that's sad. I don't know why I even wanna see them again? Still, the Man Who Can't be Moved is quite nice live, that's something.
I'm not saying Pendulum are technically great or anything, but their live shows are absolutely immense. Again, Prodigy-level goodness. Like, I wouldn't go out of my way to see them but if I was there, then hell yes I would. That'd be amazing.
OKAY OKAY OKAY. Two years ago, I remember blogging about V '09's lineup and I definitely, definitely finished with 'still hoping for Kaiser Chiefs'. Now, 24 months on and after, yes, growing out of KC a bit, my wish has finally come true. Dear 11 year old self; I'm seeing kaiser Chiefs and there's nothing that can stop me. IN. YOUR. FACE. All I can think about, sitting here, is an evening time slot, in amongst the packed crowd, shouting the lyrics to Ruby until I loose my voice. It's my pre-pubescent dream. And I will be living it. I will be living it. There is not a single being on this planet that can stop me--I will even sacrifice Alex Turner's awesomeness live for this. This. Is. Incredible.
Lawl, Duran Duran. It's really sad that I actually want to see this with absolutely no shred of irony attached. But I will. Hungry like the Wolf late afternoon...yes, please.
I've seen Razorlight once already. I don't hate them. America is a nice one live, can really sing a long. yeah, I'd do that.
Shame I missed the Courteeners last year, they'd be another good one. Pfft, I'm so gonna get my indie fix this year. what on earth are people talking about?
I pride myself on knowing Ellie Goulding ever since she first appeared in the NME. And yet I've never seen her. Hmm, that'd be alright.
I'd see Jessie J just for Do it Like A Dude. I love Do it Like A Dude.
THE WOMBATS. OH MY GOD, LOVE IT. The Wombats are freakin' amazing and don't let anyone convince you otherwise. my friend's seen them twice and was absolutely blown away. I remember being addicted to Let's Dance to Joy Division. oddly, I still adore that song with all my being. Despite all the floppy hair and cutesy guitars, this band have the unusual ability of throwing together a moshpit every show. not even kidding. sounds fun.
Mark Ronson, hmmm? I dunno about talent, but fun, maybe. vintage suits and pretentiousness, too.
Okay, you hear this, cynics? Glas. Vegas. 'Not enough bands', 'not enough indie', what the hell do you call this? Seriously, they're Scottish, wear sunglasses in daylight, and play guitars, what more do you want? sounds like a whale of a time. Oh yeah a lot of people just wanna hear Mumford for ten hours straight. no. thank. you.
Hurts are cool, yeah, they're cool, I'm there.
Kele would be nice too. and ocean colour scene! Elize Doolittle would be nice again, on a bigger stage perhaps, and when it's not pouring rain.
Needless to say my mom's gonna be all over the oldies(they're good oldies this year, though!) and my dad's gonna be down at the indie stage. They've added a comedy stage this year. I'm hoping...Tim Minchin? Bill Bailey? Simon Amstell? Bo Burnahm, on an off chance? sounds like a blast.
Dear internet; V is awesome. I don't understand you at all sometimes.
At long last, that is all.
Friday, February 25, 2011
I've seen and done things I want to forget
It's been a good few days, to basically summarize the unnecessary following paragraphs.
My mom got a special copy of Time magazine, or something, that's called "100 Ideas That Changed The World" and I completely, completely adore it. Even bothered taking what you might call notes(for future reference) on some of the stuff it was so interesting. On a Friday night and all! I was gonna be all like "I'm such a NERD" but that's what all the cool kids are doing nowadays and I don't know if I'm even remotely nerdy, bar a desire to read loads and loads of history books. and science books. and philosophy books. Here's to books!
I've only got to like the 15th century in the book--it's chronological--which equals out to number 40. It's embarrassing how little I knew about some of these things. I often come out wanting to know everything about them! Things that were previously known to me but have become reinforced in my mind due to this mag; #1 Modern society would be so screwed without the ancient Greeks. Socrates? Plato? Aristotle? Atomists? The Skeptics? Democracy? Kudos to them. #2 Socrates and his most famous quotes("the unexamined life is not worth living) makes me wanna delve further into philosophy, as it did for many people, which is awesome #3 'Free will' is a highly fascinating concept #4 Huamnism is fucking brilliant and #5Martin Luther is 'the shit'.
Enough of that.
I had the completely random urge to watch Fantasia on DVD a few days ago. I only have it on video so I went out and got it on DVD and spent an evening watching it. The slightly unusual thing with me is I was never like an enormous Disney fanatic. I've seen most of the popular ones, yes, but I wasn't that kid who could watch one specific movie every single day until the disk disintegrates. that wasn't my thing. For a long time my favorite movie was the 60s version of Oliver Twist. It remained my favorite movie until Roman Polanski redid it like five years ago. Then my favorite movie was Sweeney Todd. (was I supposed to be born like 120 years ago?). Anyway, in my 14th year, I have grown to LOVE a Disney movie! I was blown away with Fantasiw when I rewatched it--the color, the music, the imagery, the uniqueness of the film at the time, it was astonishing. It's kinda fun how there are some bits that I remembered very vividly and others slipped my mind entirely, as well as comparing this with my sister's memory of the movie. My favorite was always the mythological world, with the centaurs and the unicorns and cherubs, and when they're all making wine. I have no idea why I liked that so much. Something about the colors, I think. My sister says she likes the mushroom dance thing. I'm also like half way through Fantasia 2000. Rhapsody in Blue and its accompanying imagery is a masterpiece, I could listen to it all day.
I have another two days to push through, and then I find out some of V's lineup. I just want the Libertines, probably the most unlikely band of the rumors list, unfortunately. That would make my life, honestly.
And oh yeah, I actually somewhat kept up with the NME Awards this year! Surprisingly, I agreed with a lot of the people who won. Good on Muse and Biffy, also PJ Harvey, MCR, Arcade Fire(I bet they're all like "what, Album of The Year Award? Okay, go add it to the heap"), Foals, and all the other people I'm less interested in. NME has been doing "Sexiest Man of the Year" for like nine years and Matt Bellamy has won four of them. Despite Matt's utter shock and announcement of his being "too short too be sexy" when he first won this, a lot of people are obviously really quite obsessed. Don't get me wrong, I love Matt Bellamy, I argued my family who said he was "weird-looking" when I got Haarp for christmas in 7th grade, but FOUR YEARS? Why? I don't understand. It's not like there's a shortage of attractive men in music right now. What about...Simon Neil? Yannis Phillipkais? Alex Turner?(see his tumblr, he's beautiful, to be frank) They're 'sexy', right? And don't look like hedgehogs. What is wrong with the world? *end silly teenage rant*
*moves onto next paragraph of teenage silliness*
Tumblr is good for, if nothing else, presenting me with animated gifs of British comedians. I always knew this to be the case. I've had the urge to watch Never Mind The Buzzcocks again, after being reminded by this website that it's extremely quotable and Simon Amstell is adorable. Quite funny, too. I miss the old Buzzcocks. Oh Simon, you are so perfect for panel shows, please return(though I'm actually excited for a 2nd series of his weird sitcom thing. am I alone in thinking that?). I'm probably gonna have to run through all the episodes now. Someone leaked that banned one with Russel Brand in it that I HAVE to watch. I like Russel sometimes. SOMETIMES. And I always like Simon. I like all Buzzcocks, even the new ones. but oh it cannot make up for the old days. Jumping on chairs, Preston walking out, dressing up as a rabbit, Amy Winehouse talking about how she'd rather get cat AIDs than work with Katie Melua. I miss it too much.
School Monday. Fuck. where did the week go? I haven't spoken here since Monday. what have I done? well, nothing much. I bought a new edition of Q and fell in love with Kid A, and decided it has become the record of my adolescence, not that that makes sense. then I got really excited for the new Elbow out, out a week on Tuesday. tour dates, please? I spent a day in town, it's been beautiful here lately, and I wanted the snow to melt. We're dogsitting and the dog is awesome. Go away, February.
well once I go through the inevitable trauma that is the beginnings of MORE SCHOOl, I will get back to you. given that I have the time. which I probably won't.
'night.
My mom got a special copy of Time magazine, or something, that's called "100 Ideas That Changed The World" and I completely, completely adore it. Even bothered taking what you might call notes(for future reference) on some of the stuff it was so interesting. On a Friday night and all! I was gonna be all like "I'm such a NERD" but that's what all the cool kids are doing nowadays and I don't know if I'm even remotely nerdy, bar a desire to read loads and loads of history books. and science books. and philosophy books. Here's to books!
I've only got to like the 15th century in the book--it's chronological--which equals out to number 40. It's embarrassing how little I knew about some of these things. I often come out wanting to know everything about them! Things that were previously known to me but have become reinforced in my mind due to this mag; #1 Modern society would be so screwed without the ancient Greeks. Socrates? Plato? Aristotle? Atomists? The Skeptics? Democracy? Kudos to them. #2 Socrates and his most famous quotes("the unexamined life is not worth living) makes me wanna delve further into philosophy, as it did for many people, which is awesome #3 'Free will' is a highly fascinating concept #4 Huamnism is fucking brilliant and #5Martin Luther is 'the shit'.
Enough of that.
I had the completely random urge to watch Fantasia on DVD a few days ago. I only have it on video so I went out and got it on DVD and spent an evening watching it. The slightly unusual thing with me is I was never like an enormous Disney fanatic. I've seen most of the popular ones, yes, but I wasn't that kid who could watch one specific movie every single day until the disk disintegrates. that wasn't my thing. For a long time my favorite movie was the 60s version of Oliver Twist. It remained my favorite movie until Roman Polanski redid it like five years ago. Then my favorite movie was Sweeney Todd. (was I supposed to be born like 120 years ago?). Anyway, in my 14th year, I have grown to LOVE a Disney movie! I was blown away with Fantasiw when I rewatched it--the color, the music, the imagery, the uniqueness of the film at the time, it was astonishing. It's kinda fun how there are some bits that I remembered very vividly and others slipped my mind entirely, as well as comparing this with my sister's memory of the movie. My favorite was always the mythological world, with the centaurs and the unicorns and cherubs, and when they're all making wine. I have no idea why I liked that so much. Something about the colors, I think. My sister says she likes the mushroom dance thing. I'm also like half way through Fantasia 2000. Rhapsody in Blue and its accompanying imagery is a masterpiece, I could listen to it all day.
I have another two days to push through, and then I find out some of V's lineup. I just want the Libertines, probably the most unlikely band of the rumors list, unfortunately. That would make my life, honestly.
And oh yeah, I actually somewhat kept up with the NME Awards this year! Surprisingly, I agreed with a lot of the people who won. Good on Muse and Biffy, also PJ Harvey, MCR, Arcade Fire(I bet they're all like "what, Album of The Year Award? Okay, go add it to the heap"), Foals, and all the other people I'm less interested in. NME has been doing "Sexiest Man of the Year" for like nine years and Matt Bellamy has won four of them. Despite Matt's utter shock and announcement of his being "too short too be sexy" when he first won this, a lot of people are obviously really quite obsessed. Don't get me wrong, I love Matt Bellamy, I argued my family who said he was "weird-looking" when I got Haarp for christmas in 7th grade, but FOUR YEARS? Why? I don't understand. It's not like there's a shortage of attractive men in music right now. What about...Simon Neil? Yannis Phillipkais? Alex Turner?(see his tumblr, he's beautiful, to be frank) They're 'sexy', right? And don't look like hedgehogs. What is wrong with the world? *end silly teenage rant*
*moves onto next paragraph of teenage silliness*
Tumblr is good for, if nothing else, presenting me with animated gifs of British comedians. I always knew this to be the case. I've had the urge to watch Never Mind The Buzzcocks again, after being reminded by this website that it's extremely quotable and Simon Amstell is adorable. Quite funny, too. I miss the old Buzzcocks. Oh Simon, you are so perfect for panel shows, please return(though I'm actually excited for a 2nd series of his weird sitcom thing. am I alone in thinking that?). I'm probably gonna have to run through all the episodes now. Someone leaked that banned one with Russel Brand in it that I HAVE to watch. I like Russel sometimes. SOMETIMES. And I always like Simon. I like all Buzzcocks, even the new ones. but oh it cannot make up for the old days. Jumping on chairs, Preston walking out, dressing up as a rabbit, Amy Winehouse talking about how she'd rather get cat AIDs than work with Katie Melua. I miss it too much.
School Monday. Fuck. where did the week go? I haven't spoken here since Monday. what have I done? well, nothing much. I bought a new edition of Q and fell in love with Kid A, and decided it has become the record of my adolescence, not that that makes sense. then I got really excited for the new Elbow out, out a week on Tuesday. tour dates, please? I spent a day in town, it's been beautiful here lately, and I wanted the snow to melt. We're dogsitting and the dog is awesome. Go away, February.
well once I go through the inevitable trauma that is the beginnings of MORE SCHOOl, I will get back to you. given that I have the time. which I probably won't.
'night.
Monday, February 21, 2011
In which I blog to feel almost productive
Where have the last three days gone?
It's amazing how time flies when you know you have nothing you should be doing. This weekend has been a routine of waking up, listening to music, reading, writing, and falling asleep again. and no panic too. I'm not sure I've ever been this lazy in my life. hey, when did I become such a teenager? oh yeah I always was a bit. anyway.
I have labelled this my sort of theme song even though the lyrics have nothing to do with me and I'm nowhere near as interesting this song. it's frenzied, frantic, chaotic, fiercely energetic. it's wonderful! so much is going on! aaaah! and this is nothing, I hear the whole album this is from is absolute bedlam, but in a good way of course. I first listened to this guy because Tom Milsom was wearing a Max Tundra t-shirt and the t-shirt and Tom's hair were similar in color. interest sparked, somehow. Oh wow, that is beyond silly.
A few weeks ago my parents put a limit on how many songs I can buy on iTunes. This one week I bought like 20 songs, I will concede, but that was a one-off. some weeks I buy almost nothing, it varies a lot. but I don't buy that many on a regular basis! I was having a lucky few days that week when I was looking for music. point being, now I'm only allowed to buy 6 songs a week and I think I'm going crazy. You know this rule is an issue when you stay up on Sunday evening till 00:01 to buy five songs. grrrr. Oh how I love music.
Perhaps I will catch up on my CDs because of this? I still have a few left from Christmas. I'm itching to get into Kid A, the timing seems appropriate. I've yet to watch any reviews for the new Radiohead EP thing, I assume it's good though? I've mentioned being in a Radiohead mood a few times now, I think.
Oh Land is worth listening to, particularly Son of a Gun. The Goldfrapp of 2010/2011? Yes please! It's rather minimalist(if you excuse my blatant ignorance of minimalism and let me use the word to distract from my limited vocabulary) and the production is coolish.(when did I start this thing of pretending to know anything about production, anyway?). This is honestly some lovely synthpop in my opinion. like la Roux level wonderfulness.
Sad music news; I missed out on Florence tickets. They sold out ridiculously fast. But I've already seen Florence once so it's not that bad...and I'm also not very happy since I was under the impression someone was gonna WRITE A SECOND ALBUM at some point. This album came out in early July 2009...how can you stay hyped over three summers? For all I love Florence, she strikes me as a bit one album wonderish. Her most remarkable talent is the ability to keep people interested in the same few songs for inordinate amounts of time. how does she do it?
I watched the original True Grit on DVD and I really like it. the new one's better, though.
That and woah, NME Awards in a few days. I don't keep up with award things, be it music or otherwise, for some reason, but I just heard about this. I'm excited, I think? I miss the tour de pretentiousness that is the NME, sigh sigh sigh, please come soon, summer. I miss you England, though honestly I'm living off pot noodle this week which is good enough. At least the NME put up hundreds of videos of their stuff. Hey, Dave Grohl got that outstanding Godlike Genius Award. why is it the people who win that are always people I don't really like?
I find out the lineup to the music festival I'm going to in a week. That is, I find out the lineup in a week not go to it obviously. I have to wait another six months to go to the damn thing.
It seems the good bands will be more spread out over the major UK festivals this year. Last year was Glasto's 50th so they got all the good oldies, and Reading and Leeds were amazingly lucky with their to-die-for lineup so V got some of the leftovers, frankly. not to say it wasn't good! Prodigy was the best spectacle of my life to date, no question. But this year I think is turning out to be a more even balance.
I think one day I want to go to all three festivals? In one year? I mean, I'll have to become a sort of billionare first, obviously, but it would be fantastic. certainly I will go to all three in my lifetime. it's problematic being overseas because Glastonbury's so early and R&L's so late. the general consensus is that they're bettter than V but seeing as I'm local to V and it was my first festival, that'll probably always be my favorite. Glastonbury will probably become completely outdated in my lifetime. R&L will continue to thrive, although it is filled primarily with lunatics and metalheads.
I think I'm going to read Plato's Republic because all the cool people are into neo-platonism, or at least a few hundrd years ago they were. Borders' only al-Farabi book is selling for $115. What? I don't understand.
Did I mention we're dogsitting for my sister's friend? I don't really do the animal thing, unless it happens to be a guinea pig(not joking). She's cute, yes, and she's well behaved! But it's a bit of a burden. I'm such a horrible person...
anyway, plans for this week; read a lot, write something that isn't about myself(scary thought, huh?), learn something on piano outside of what my teacher assignes, sort out my bombsite of a room, listen to CDs, start health project, ignore science project, work my way through DVD boxset of the Fast Show, sleep. sad.
happiness!
and uh, 'night!
It's amazing how time flies when you know you have nothing you should be doing. This weekend has been a routine of waking up, listening to music, reading, writing, and falling asleep again. and no panic too. I'm not sure I've ever been this lazy in my life. hey, when did I become such a teenager? oh yeah I always was a bit. anyway.
I have labelled this my sort of theme song even though the lyrics have nothing to do with me and I'm nowhere near as interesting this song. it's frenzied, frantic, chaotic, fiercely energetic. it's wonderful! so much is going on! aaaah! and this is nothing, I hear the whole album this is from is absolute bedlam, but in a good way of course. I first listened to this guy because Tom Milsom was wearing a Max Tundra t-shirt and the t-shirt and Tom's hair were similar in color. interest sparked, somehow. Oh wow, that is beyond silly.
A few weeks ago my parents put a limit on how many songs I can buy on iTunes. This one week I bought like 20 songs, I will concede, but that was a one-off. some weeks I buy almost nothing, it varies a lot. but I don't buy that many on a regular basis! I was having a lucky few days that week when I was looking for music. point being, now I'm only allowed to buy 6 songs a week and I think I'm going crazy. You know this rule is an issue when you stay up on Sunday evening till 00:01 to buy five songs. grrrr. Oh how I love music.
Perhaps I will catch up on my CDs because of this? I still have a few left from Christmas. I'm itching to get into Kid A, the timing seems appropriate. I've yet to watch any reviews for the new Radiohead EP thing, I assume it's good though? I've mentioned being in a Radiohead mood a few times now, I think.
Oh Land is worth listening to, particularly Son of a Gun. The Goldfrapp of 2010/2011? Yes please! It's rather minimalist(if you excuse my blatant ignorance of minimalism and let me use the word to distract from my limited vocabulary) and the production is coolish.(when did I start this thing of pretending to know anything about production, anyway?). This is honestly some lovely synthpop in my opinion. like la Roux level wonderfulness.
Sad music news; I missed out on Florence tickets. They sold out ridiculously fast. But I've already seen Florence once so it's not that bad...and I'm also not very happy since I was under the impression someone was gonna WRITE A SECOND ALBUM at some point. This album came out in early July 2009...how can you stay hyped over three summers? For all I love Florence, she strikes me as a bit one album wonderish. Her most remarkable talent is the ability to keep people interested in the same few songs for inordinate amounts of time. how does she do it?
I watched the original True Grit on DVD and I really like it. the new one's better, though.
That and woah, NME Awards in a few days. I don't keep up with award things, be it music or otherwise, for some reason, but I just heard about this. I'm excited, I think? I miss the tour de pretentiousness that is the NME, sigh sigh sigh, please come soon, summer. I miss you England, though honestly I'm living off pot noodle this week which is good enough. At least the NME put up hundreds of videos of their stuff. Hey, Dave Grohl got that outstanding Godlike Genius Award. why is it the people who win that are always people I don't really like?
I find out the lineup to the music festival I'm going to in a week. That is, I find out the lineup in a week not go to it obviously. I have to wait another six months to go to the damn thing.
It seems the good bands will be more spread out over the major UK festivals this year. Last year was Glasto's 50th so they got all the good oldies, and Reading and Leeds were amazingly lucky with their to-die-for lineup so V got some of the leftovers, frankly. not to say it wasn't good! Prodigy was the best spectacle of my life to date, no question. But this year I think is turning out to be a more even balance.
I think one day I want to go to all three festivals? In one year? I mean, I'll have to become a sort of billionare first, obviously, but it would be fantastic. certainly I will go to all three in my lifetime. it's problematic being overseas because Glastonbury's so early and R&L's so late. the general consensus is that they're bettter than V but seeing as I'm local to V and it was my first festival, that'll probably always be my favorite. Glastonbury will probably become completely outdated in my lifetime. R&L will continue to thrive, although it is filled primarily with lunatics and metalheads.
I think I'm going to read Plato's Republic because all the cool people are into neo-platonism, or at least a few hundrd years ago they were. Borders' only al-Farabi book is selling for $115. What? I don't understand.
Did I mention we're dogsitting for my sister's friend? I don't really do the animal thing, unless it happens to be a guinea pig(not joking). She's cute, yes, and she's well behaved! But it's a bit of a burden. I'm such a horrible person...
anyway, plans for this week; read a lot, write something that isn't about myself(scary thought, huh?), learn something on piano outside of what my teacher assignes, sort out my bombsite of a room, listen to CDs, start health project, ignore science project, work my way through DVD boxset of the Fast Show, sleep. sad.
happiness!
and uh, 'night!
Friday, February 18, 2011
about a year ago, I typed 'Babyshambles' into youtube's searchbar
...Sad as it is, I haven't been quite the same since.
I can't help, somehow, to look back at what is ordinarily my most dreaded time of the year(February) with an unusual fondness, when it comes to last year's. the darkness, the snow, looking after my neighbor's cats while they were on vacation. and of course, Arena documentaries, red new romance jackets, 'blood art', flights of lyrical fancy, and stories of drug-induced escapades through the decaying streets of England.(not sure what I'm talking about). point is, that was last year's February vacation. and today starts this year's February vacation. at last. and I'm getting really unnecessarily nostalgic for no reason whatsoever.
from one musician of questionable sanity to another, my current week-long obsession is TOM MILSOM. See the last post. Over the course of the last few stress-filled days, my head decided it be necessary that I watch every single hexachordal video...over...and over...and over again. my conclusion? the guy needs to make more videos. loads more. through two years of watching Alex&Charlie and the occasional Tom video, I don't know why it took me so long to realize how absolutely brilliant he is. I do that a lot. But Tom, just WOW. I wish i was him, or knew him, or something. honestly, he's so cool and I love everything about him(creepy? yessum.). everything from 'woah, he can play like twenty different instruments' to 'he uses words in clever ways' to 'jesus christ, I love his blue hair'. also, he introduced me to Tom Bacon, Max Tundra, and 20th century classical. he will be the sound of the next nine days. it's an obsession.
Since that somehow didn't accurately express my enthusiasm for this, let me reiterate by saying TOM MILSOM MARRY ME MARRY ME MARRY ME LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE FUCKING LOVE. there.
another thing, is his 8-Bit version of All My Little Words by the Magnetic Fields great or what? A.) This is the only 8-Bit music that I can tolerate so far in my life. up until I saw this video, I wouldn't have known to call it 8-Bit. where does that title come from? the 8 and the Bit, what's that all about? unless it's explained to me by a skinny, neurotic English boy with crooked teeth and it's played on a ukulele, I have no intention of finding out. B.) It's lame to admit this, but I'd never really given the Magnetic Fields much of a go before...shameful, right? I like All My Little Words(but I could never make you stay//not for all the tea in China//not if I could sing like a bird//not for all North Carolina//not for all my little words). hey, if you like this level of tweeness in your lyrics, like I do, then I'd highly recommend them.
And also I got into PJ Harvey far, far too late, meaning about a fortnight ago when the video for The Words That Maketh Murder came out. SO, SO GOOD. Sea of Bees are my latest cutetronica* guilty pleasure, and Emika is fun to listen to. why do I like so much electronic stuff lately? what ever happened to guitars? why is Do It Like A Dude so ridiculously better than Price Tag in every way possible?
After my all-things-Doherty phase, I went through a bit of a dry spell last year regarding listening to music. I just never worked up the motivation to go looking, y'know? it was strange. It was only really revitalized with spring. I don't know why my interest in music is remaining normal, if not more exaggerated than normal, so far this winter. It's amazing and I hope it stays that way.
this week, I worked on a history project that i did far too much work on. I mentioned this before, but I did a project comparing someone from the Muslim empire and from the European renaissance. very, very interesting when it comes down to it. al-Farabi was a wonderful find--at least my teacher seemed impressed, what with the more than 100 books and speaking 70 languages(woah.) and all that. I can't find Nicholas of Cusa's On Learned Ignorance anywhere but I want to read it so badly. I've been barely reading at all lately, it's annoying and sad and horrible. Anyway, I went so vastly over the top with this silly project, that I started doing homework at 3:30 yesterday and ended about eleven hours later. that includes food etc., but STILL. I better be getting an A or I will NOT be pleased. I have not had a life since sunday...
when I saw True Grit which was absolutely astonishingly wonderful. it's interesting how this movie, with scenes such as a man's fingers being cut off with a knife and left in pieces on a wooden table, get the movie a PG-13 rating...while one not-even-that-bad girl-on-girl sex scene--Black Swan, obviously--and it's R. what? people are weird. I envy the leading actress in True Grit, whoever that is, I don't know, I don't know anything about actors. or movies. it was great, though. My mom got me the original True Grit on DVD a few days ago, as well as the soundtrack from the most recent Sherlock Holmes movie(with Robert Downey jr, I guess is the only other way I can specify) which I absolutely adored from the first time I saw it. it's different. reminiscent of that Oliver Twist movie that got bad reviews, I think? but better. it's kasabian stripped of electronics, boosted in gypsy weirdness. I could listen to it all the time.
do I ever talk about anything that doesn't have a melody?
I failed an English essay, probably, because the class is disappointing and so infested with textbook grammar. same with a science test, since studying never fitted into my schedule and I can never keep my eyes open at that time anyway. I take longer than I need to in art. In health, one realizes there is still stigma about suicide and depression--our current topic--and it's horrible. I want more magazines and I need to wear my black 'army' boots more. I would sell my soul to get a place in Camrbride(I don't know why I said most of that).
anyway, a week off, time to sleep. night for now.
*I totally made that up....I'm a word play master, right?
I can't help, somehow, to look back at what is ordinarily my most dreaded time of the year(February) with an unusual fondness, when it comes to last year's. the darkness, the snow, looking after my neighbor's cats while they were on vacation. and of course, Arena documentaries, red new romance jackets, 'blood art', flights of lyrical fancy, and stories of drug-induced escapades through the decaying streets of England.(not sure what I'm talking about). point is, that was last year's February vacation. and today starts this year's February vacation. at last. and I'm getting really unnecessarily nostalgic for no reason whatsoever.
from one musician of questionable sanity to another, my current week-long obsession is TOM MILSOM. See the last post. Over the course of the last few stress-filled days, my head decided it be necessary that I watch every single hexachordal video...over...and over...and over again. my conclusion? the guy needs to make more videos. loads more. through two years of watching Alex&Charlie and the occasional Tom video, I don't know why it took me so long to realize how absolutely brilliant he is. I do that a lot. But Tom, just WOW. I wish i was him, or knew him, or something. honestly, he's so cool and I love everything about him(creepy? yessum.). everything from 'woah, he can play like twenty different instruments' to 'he uses words in clever ways' to 'jesus christ, I love his blue hair'. also, he introduced me to Tom Bacon, Max Tundra, and 20th century classical. he will be the sound of the next nine days. it's an obsession.
Since that somehow didn't accurately express my enthusiasm for this, let me reiterate by saying TOM MILSOM MARRY ME MARRY ME MARRY ME LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE FUCKING LOVE. there.
another thing, is his 8-Bit version of All My Little Words by the Magnetic Fields great or what? A.) This is the only 8-Bit music that I can tolerate so far in my life. up until I saw this video, I wouldn't have known to call it 8-Bit. where does that title come from? the 8 and the Bit, what's that all about? unless it's explained to me by a skinny, neurotic English boy with crooked teeth and it's played on a ukulele, I have no intention of finding out. B.) It's lame to admit this, but I'd never really given the Magnetic Fields much of a go before...shameful, right? I like All My Little Words(but I could never make you stay//not for all the tea in China//not if I could sing like a bird//not for all North Carolina//not for all my little words). hey, if you like this level of tweeness in your lyrics, like I do, then I'd highly recommend them.
And also I got into PJ Harvey far, far too late, meaning about a fortnight ago when the video for The Words That Maketh Murder came out. SO, SO GOOD. Sea of Bees are my latest cutetronica* guilty pleasure, and Emika is fun to listen to. why do I like so much electronic stuff lately? what ever happened to guitars? why is Do It Like A Dude so ridiculously better than Price Tag in every way possible?
After my all-things-Doherty phase, I went through a bit of a dry spell last year regarding listening to music. I just never worked up the motivation to go looking, y'know? it was strange. It was only really revitalized with spring. I don't know why my interest in music is remaining normal, if not more exaggerated than normal, so far this winter. It's amazing and I hope it stays that way.
this week, I worked on a history project that i did far too much work on. I mentioned this before, but I did a project comparing someone from the Muslim empire and from the European renaissance. very, very interesting when it comes down to it. al-Farabi was a wonderful find--at least my teacher seemed impressed, what with the more than 100 books and speaking 70 languages(woah.) and all that. I can't find Nicholas of Cusa's On Learned Ignorance anywhere but I want to read it so badly. I've been barely reading at all lately, it's annoying and sad and horrible. Anyway, I went so vastly over the top with this silly project, that I started doing homework at 3:30 yesterday and ended about eleven hours later. that includes food etc., but STILL. I better be getting an A or I will NOT be pleased. I have not had a life since sunday...
when I saw True Grit which was absolutely astonishingly wonderful. it's interesting how this movie, with scenes such as a man's fingers being cut off with a knife and left in pieces on a wooden table, get the movie a PG-13 rating...while one not-even-that-bad girl-on-girl sex scene--Black Swan, obviously--and it's R. what? people are weird. I envy the leading actress in True Grit, whoever that is, I don't know, I don't know anything about actors. or movies. it was great, though. My mom got me the original True Grit on DVD a few days ago, as well as the soundtrack from the most recent Sherlock Holmes movie(with Robert Downey jr, I guess is the only other way I can specify) which I absolutely adored from the first time I saw it. it's different. reminiscent of that Oliver Twist movie that got bad reviews, I think? but better. it's kasabian stripped of electronics, boosted in gypsy weirdness. I could listen to it all the time.
do I ever talk about anything that doesn't have a melody?
I failed an English essay, probably, because the class is disappointing and so infested with textbook grammar. same with a science test, since studying never fitted into my schedule and I can never keep my eyes open at that time anyway. I take longer than I need to in art. In health, one realizes there is still stigma about suicide and depression--our current topic--and it's horrible. I want more magazines and I need to wear my black 'army' boots more. I would sell my soul to get a place in Camrbride(I don't know why I said most of that).
anyway, a week off, time to sleep. night for now.
*I totally made that up....I'm a word play master, right?
Monday, February 14, 2011
Thick Color, Concrete, Night, and Paint
Happy Valentines Day. I'm single, though that is obvious. I'm neither sad nor happy. I have to much to do and nothing relevant to say.
I have this, though.
You'd be hard pressed to find something I love more than this. I expect to memorize it, write it on all my binders, as people like me do. I love Tom Milsom.
Two of my favorite things; cities and nighttime. I'm rather obsessed. I can't decide where I want to live more, New York or London. Or Paris, if I ever learn the language. I know I know, that's so cliched.
I'd just be happy to live in a city, frankly.
Anyway, enjoy. :D
I have this, though.
You'd be hard pressed to find something I love more than this. I expect to memorize it, write it on all my binders, as people like me do. I love Tom Milsom.
Two of my favorite things; cities and nighttime. I'm rather obsessed. I can't decide where I want to live more, New York or London. Or Paris, if I ever learn the language. I know I know, that's so cliched.
I'd just be happy to live in a city, frankly.
Anyway, enjoy. :D
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