This night is sparkling

Bad mood is over!
(for now anyway)
I found this tres cute story on Perez Hilton this morning and being the shameless Swifty Fan that I am, it cheered me up no end:

Adam Young from Owl City posted a song this morning composed especially for Taylor Swift. One of the songs off her latest album, Enchanted, has been thought to be a song written about Adam and their brief romance. Adam took his cue from that song and sent out a response via the band’s website. He wrote to Taylor:

Dearest Taylor,

I’ll be the first to admit I’m a rather shy boy and since music is the most eloquent form of communication I can muster, I decided to record something for you — as sort of a “reply” to the breathtaking song on your current record. This is what I wanted so badly to tell you in person but could never quite put into words.

Everything about you is lovely. You’re an immensely charming girl with a beautiful heart and more grace and elegance than I know how to describe. You are a true princess from a dreamy fairy tale, and above all, I just want you to know..I was enchanted to meet you too.

Love, Adam

If you’re not swooning right now, your heart is black…but maybe this will get to you:

Following his message, he posted a stream of his own special version of Enchanted, beautifully dedicated to Taylor!

Obviously the dirty cynic in me wonders if it’s a publicity stunt on his part or if he’s just trying to link himself with the lovely Taylor to boost his profile, but I think I’m going to believe it’s all genuine.
And adorable.
And incredibly romantic.

Anyone who scoffs and says it’s cheesy is full of crap…you wouldn’t be saying it if someone declared their adoration of you to the entire world AND through song…

 

Music in the soul can be heard by the universe.

I finally dedicated some time to copying my photos and music files onto my external hard-drive.
The laptop has been acting up a little these past few months and I know that if I don’t back-up the important files, it’ll crash and I’ll lose them all.
Nightmare.

As I was going through my music files, I came across loads of tracks that I hadn’t listened to in years.
The iTunes Generation go through music like Rosie O’Donnell with a bucket of Cheesy Puffs.
Scratch that.
Me with a bucket of Cheesy Puffs.

It was strange coming across tracks that, at one time, I’d listened to constantly and now I could barely remember the chorus.
It was also strange to have old memories dredged up.

If High Fidelity, Empire Records and Almost Famous has taught us anything, it’s that music is the fast-track to a person’s heart.
What better way to say what she wants to hear without actually saying it yourself than by throwing a few love songs her way and let her convince herself you’re madly, truly, deeply in love with her and this is your way of saying it!

There was an old boyfriend of mine who was an absolute master of this tactic and me, being the wee eejit I was at the time, fell for it.
I listened to the songs he gave me over and over and over.
They were precious: secret little messages from him to me.

When the inevitable messy break-up happened, those music files were hidden away.
During the first few difficult months, my resolve would crack and I’d bring them back out and try to figure out why he would get me to listen to them if he didn’t mean every lyric in them (wee eejit, remember?).

It was a pity because he’d introduced me to some great artists who were then tainted with bitter memories.

A few years later and I can listen to them again without bursts of emotion.
The memories are still there, sure, but it’s more of a curious reminiscence for time gone by, rather than hate, loathing, betrayal.
It does make me sad that I’ll probably never be able to listen to them with the same love I once did: the same love a lot of them deserve.

Thankfully for my music collection, he was the only boyfriend who insisted on overloading me with music.
The Boy and I regularly clash over music taste, which fills me with quiet relief: not that I’m afraid we’ll break up and I’ll lose more songs, but rather that I know he’s honest in his wooing ways and not attempting to manipulate my feelings with empty words.

Side note: Does anyone else think the world would be a better place if men wooed women….and people gave sass?

One song, however, that will not be listenable-to again is the song I had my awkward – and ultimately pride-wounding – first kiss to.
It almost pains me to reveal this….
It was to Eiffel 65′s Blue.
I was 17.
It was in a nightclub that was playing terrible nineties music for some reason.
I still cringe whenever I hear it.
*shudders*

I Love You, Taylor Swift

I don’t usually gush about pop musicians, but I’m making an exception today because I really seriously genuinely felt happy after listening to this album on the tram this morning

I’m not best known for my sophisticated taste in music.
Sure I have some respectable artists on my iPod - The Smiths, Joshua Radin, Florence and the Machine - but all in all, I love nothing better than some cheese.
Happily, The Boy  satisfied my cravings this Christmas and presented me with the new Taylor Swift album.

Lads, it’s amazing!
Like, I really enjoyed Fearless (Love Story and You Belong With Me were great!), but Speak Now is in another league.
She’s just outdone herself lyrically and some of the melodies are just plain beautiful.

I wouldn’t be a major Pop follower, but I just feel like Taylor could be my soul mate sometimes.
I know people criticise her for airing her dirty laundry in public and not being able to let go when someone screws her over, but I can relate.
Sure, it’s not ideal to tell the world your private affairs, but I know when something happens to me that makes me feel any sort of strong emotion, I have to write about it.
I need to get it out of my head and heart and onto paper (or screen), even if I know there might be repercussions, because otherwise it’s like an itch that could drive me mad.
I can completely sympathise with her need to voice her anger or guilt and her best songs are the ones that are really personal.
Dear John is a fantastic F-U to John Mayer, while Back to December (an I’m Sorry Song to Taylor Lautner) is just heartbreaking: I could listen to it on repeat for days on end.

Also worth checking out is Better Than Revenge….Camilla Belle won’t be stealing any of Taylor’s boyfriends in a hurry in the future.

Sure, the songs are simple and fun and pop-y, but they do speak to you and it’s so much more fun knowing who they’re about.
It’s like reading someone’s diary and feeling that it could be yours!
*swoon*

I know a girl from a lonely street…

I have fallen in love.
It is a love that pure.
It is uncomplicated.
It is a sweet and beautiful thing.
Precious.
Seriously, I have not been this swept off my feet since the Miss Dior Cherie advertising campaign. I think it’s to do with the fact that the view from her bedroom window reminds me of the view for the hotel we usually stay in when we visit Paris.
Also I love the clothes…and the song…and the colours…yeah ok, the whole thing is perfect…

I don’t think I’ll even bother to smell the perfume -I have to have it, just so I can hold a little piece of this ad with me at all time!
And while my head normally explodes when people do their own spins on Blondie’s music, this is actually a really sweet cover!

On a different note, I would like all of your to extend your love towards Rachael over at Dancing Panda who is really just a super amazing person! She’s just done the most wonderful of favours for me, completely out of the goodness of her own heart.
She may change my life.
I think you should all give her cookies.
And hugs.

And just enjoy the show

Up to now, I’ve let this recession business slide.
I don’t moan about money, except when I’m looking at Chanel or Burberry, but that’s nothing to do with the recession.
I don’t whine that I’m stuck in a career rut because there’s a serious lack of jobs.
I don’t complain that The Boy and I will have to save for a million years before we get enough for a deposit for our first home.

But today it got to me.
I was trying to do my bit to support local theatre and was buying two tickets for Spring Awakening.
I went onto The Helix website (the theatre it’s running in, for you non-Ireland people) and tried to buy them there, only to find they don’t accept Laser cards for online purchases.
WTF, like!?

So I after work, like the wonderfully loving soul I am, I tracked down a Ticketmaster booth to buy them in person.
Me: Hey, can I get two tickets for Spring Awakening in The Helix on Friday please? Two adult tickets.
Guy: *stares at the computer* Uhm, Friday yeah?
Me: Yup.
Guy: What is it you’re looking to book tickets for?
Me: Spring Awakening.
Guy: Uhm…..
Me: …In The Helix.
Guy: Right…

Eventually, he worked it out and muttered the price at me.
Rather than ask him another question, I just handed him my €50 note -sure, I already knew the tickets were €20 each.
Walking off and hopping on an escalator to the next floor, I suddenly looked down at the change in my hand, which amounted to about 80c.
That fecker SERIOUSLY short changed me!
I fished out the receipt to find out how much I needed to demand back off him.
Oh wait, there wasn’t mistake.
Total ticket charge: €45.30
Service charge: €4.00
Total: €49.30
WTF!!!??????
€10 in charges, when I’m already forking out €20 per ticket!??
It came to a total of €42 on the theatre’s own website (that doesn’t accept Laser cards!), so where the FRICK did the other €8 come from!?

And this is my problem.
In this recession I have been so patient with, money is tight, treats are less frequent and more often than not, paying rent trumps eating out and going to concerts or shows.
So when I manage to find the money to treat myself and help out an amateur theatre group, how is it fair to have the price bumped up and be ripped off!?
False advertising and abusing people wins you few friends.

Feckin’ RAGING, I am!

I lie back just driftin’ and play out these scenes …

Long-time readers of the blog might remember me raving about Spring Awakening, which I got to see back in January ’09 (*gasp* that makes me feel old…that was AGES ago!!) when I visited London with my old friend Lovely Disco.

A rock musical adaptation of a controversial 1891 German play of the same name, it is unfortunately one of the less famous musicals although it received a boost this year when Lea Michele and Jonathan Groff appeared on our screens in Glee, as they were both in the original line-up when it opened in America in 2006.

However, in my opinion, it’s easily as good as the likes of Rent.
Basically, it’s amazing!

So you can imagine how thrilled I am to announce that Spring Awakening will be running in The Helix, Dublin during September thanks to the National Youth Musical Theatre and director John Donnelly. I’m also proud to say it has a number of my old college friends working on and starring in the show!

I know these people and what they’re capable of: this is going to be top quality.

You have to see it!

I don’t think I can really explain just how AMAZING the musical itself is.
The story is fantastic -it’s touching, funny, heartbreaking and gasp-worthy.
The music is just mind-blowing and I never get sick of listening to it (check THIS out, if you will).
Even the set is worth a shout-out!!!!

And if you still feel you need persuading, in the words of cast member Shane Willoughby…
“What makes Spring Awakening such an important piece is how even after more than a
century, its themes, its sensitivites and its controversies remain the same. Such is the beauty
of the piece, it transcends time and while years pass and trends come and go, Spring
Awakening and its messages remain constant. It will always be relevant.”

Now go buy your tickets….

Sure, you’re weedy and kind of shy, but some girlie out there must be needy for a weedy, shy guy.

Sorry about the big gap between posts!
Last week was manic in work and I couldn’t stand to look at a computer once I left the office on Friday!
Also apologies for minimal comment-backing, because the being wrecked in work meant I was knackered by the time I got home and general posting drained me.
As well as that, lots of you Blogger Users haven’t adjusted comment settings so lots of us Open ID peeps can’t comment and knowing that after going to all the effort of typing a comment, putting in my name and blog URL, proving I’m not a robot by typing out ridiculously squiggly letter combinations and then knowing I’ll probably be told my comment won’t be posted because of some settings issue is REALLY off-putting when I’m struggling to stay awake!

But I’m back to normal this week and hopefully your Blogger problem will sort itself out!

This is going to be a random post….

Random Topic No.1:
I was finally persuaded to watch Flight of the Conchords, which I resisted for a huge period of time because I just didn’t like the clips I was shown.
And yeah, it’s actually amazing!
Most of the songs and clips aren’t funny on their own on Youtube, but when you watch them in the episode, they’ll HIGHlarious!
So you guys should watch it if you haven’t.
White Rabbit, you’ve watched it more than enough….

Random Topic No.2:
So while my regular taste in music is quite respectable with my iPod containing the likes of Blondie, Springsteen, The Smiths and various singer-songwriters, I do to indulge in some bubblegum pop…or bubblegum country pop…also known as Taylor Swift!
Ah bless her, she’s a pet!
And her new song Mine is kinda great…

Random Topic No.3:
I am currently organising a blog competition with a really lovely and talented designer…the prize is a wee bit unsual, but I love the idea!
And so will anyone with a flare for vintage or geek chic!

And Random Topic No.4:
I really want this Topshop Tee…

A freckle on the nose of Life’s complexion…

Only on Sunday, while perusing the aisles of HMV with my Bessie Pamela, I was adamantly expressing my dislike of Barbra Streisand.
Yes I know theatre folk and their musical-loving, gay-icon-worshipping counterparts will gasp at that admission and quickly search around for something blunt and large to throw, but I just don’t like her.

And I don’t get the fascination with her.

Sure the dame can sing, but so can a hell of a lot of other people, who are far more appealing and much easier on the eye.

Pamela was shocked -she loves her as much as I love Judy Garland- and so ensued a tirade of
“You’re a sap”
“Eh you’re a sap”
“No, it is you who is le sap”
“Indeed, sir, you are mistaken, for it is you who is said sap”
And so on…..

But here I see Jennifer Aniston has channelled Babs for Harper’s September Issue and I tip my hat to her, cos there are some great shots!
It’s really good.
And different!
And I like it!
Probably because it’s not the actual Streisand….

All these autumn leaves are yours tonight

Behold a small part of my Autumn Wishlist!
Bring on the lotto win!

PS: Those of you who haven’t heard it yet, check out Paolo Nutini’s Autumn….it’s nice…and sad…but nice…

Elles passent en un instant comme fanent les roses

So I’m back!
Yay!
Unless you liked my wonderful guest bloggers more than me and are now terribly disappointed that I’ll be taking back over.
I wouldn’t blame you.
Those girls are awesome!

So Paris.
Paris was great.
And I fully intend to tell you guys allllllll about it.
But right now I have a far more pressing matter to discuss.
It’s pretty serious.
And life-changing.
And all-consuming.
And deep.

My hair.

Guys, I just got back from the hairdressers and my poor hair is ruined.
I thought I’d found a great hairdresser about a year ago and the first two times I went she cut my hair perfectly and instructed her mini-person to colour my hair naturally and nice.

And then the last time I went, her mini-person tore the head off me and gave me orange tiger stripes down my head.
And this time, she dyed my hair a dye-black even though I’ve specified A MILLION TIMES that black dye is always obviously a black dye and is too harsh for my colouring.
(I do have black hair, but it’s a natural soft black that dyes just can’t seem to get right).
And then she cut my hair too short.
And cut my fringe.
And looked annoyed when I tried to fix my fringe the way it’s supposed to be.
Which is a Thick Retro Bangs kinda look.
And I then realised she’d cut HALF my fringe and it’s now too short and thinned out.

It’s a disaster.

I am very, very upset.

The Boy received a tearful phonecall while in the airport a couple of hours ago.
(He’s off to the South of France for ten days with his family)
(I declined my invite. I hate the heat. Bleeeeeurgh.)
(Plus I also couldn’t get the time off work, so I couldn’t have gone if I wanted to.)
(I feel abandoned.)

So rant over, can you Dubliners/Dublin-goers recommend any decent hairdressers who can respect a retro-esque haircut and will listen to me?