How should I put it

Yesterday's chicken was in fact very good. Both then and now. Sometimes I'd rather have cold leftovers from yesterday's doggy bag than to cope with outside world. Mary J Blige on heavy rotation!

Thought I'd share my "discovery" list

Let's start with Mark Ronson, in particular feat. Nikka Costa on the track that gives the name of the album: Here comes the fuzz. Yeah, I was actually looking for the more commercial Stop me. Also for the new album of Annie Lennox.

The movie revelations this past week, for me, Stranger than fiction and Motorcycle Diaries. Also the French Film Festival openning last night with Persepolys, a must see, mainly in black and white. Revolutionary. Really.

See no books on the list? Maybe because I have stopped reading until further notice.

I have been walking the leaf all day today

OK, driving it around, more likely, but yes. And many other things. Even if I think this rainy autumn is a sort of a scourge, I can still open my heart for the beautiful bits of life.

Kate Nash on repeat. Made of Bricks. Obviously, she is most definitely not!

The best DJ set ever so far in this country

To quote lovely bloguette007 as she was expressing herself post-Chemical Brothers, in the killing October rain and wind, while we were unsuccessfully looking for that elusive thing called taxi. Oh, and called so many times!

Dearest, how could you accuse me publicly I don't know who Andy Fletcher is?! And yes, I enjoyed him better than the brothers. Music-wise.

Muffin gurls and pump-up guys

I wanted to write about the morning carnage, apparently the word has to do with driving your car through the city! beautiful light, going against the trend, frustration, diamond earrings, feeling cool, flirting with waitresses, picking up gay boys in straight clubs, and the usual hangover. Instead I'll just say I have actually felt the music last night. I am not impressed with Kristal's flora, fauna and decorations, but Andy Fletcher was not bad. Not bad at all. Oh, and my boss scolded me for my use of Past Simple, Present Perfect and Past Perfect. Oh, well.

Facts of life like a nuke on the wall

Or like a flower on the wall. Slept like a stone, after laughing a bit hysterically I admit, but the guys are absolutely OK, which is very much in my book. Depression or lack of thereof could not prevent me from eating (like) a pig. Went to bed at four. My mouth ulcerations are almost gone. So, welcome back, dear milk in my morning coffee. Soundtrack for the day is Marilyn Manson's Eat Me, Drink Me. Can it get more appropriate than this?! Lassie's victory over Flipper, 20 votes (57%) to 15 (42%), in last week's poll, now makes complete sense. Stay tuned, will keep you posted.

"You've created a character who's deserted you"

My mouth is one thousand little ulcerations. Playing tag. Had to apologize for that. Scream at the available one. Call to make it right. Cannot make it right. Seat on the brink of depression. Contemplate yearly health evaluation. Road to the airport. Visit to the ER. Muse concert and Feeling Good from Origin of Symmetry. Set the night on fire. Literally, like electric, fire brigade and all. Read in reverse.

Labels

One of the writing techniques they taught us back in school was the continuous flow. Here goes. I assume it's going to look more like a labels list, than anything else. And it's only half continuous, as I am doing other stuff too. Films, many movies, My Own Private Idaho, half way through The Incredible watched for the second time, the latest Harry Potter in the theater, old movies, neighborhood movies, no books, A Long Way down taking a long way to be finished, vodka and black berry, you can make it strong, you can drink a lot, vodka takes longer to get out of your body, I am waking up tomorrow at six, I have not prepared anything for my meetings.

Back to regular editing, minutes after. The biggest modern day frustration arises when making the wrong choices and no back up plan actually works. Like when you have n suitors; you will plan something with the most desirable, but when something comes up you will go to the next down the line and so on. Frustration is when get to the end of that line and still no date. That is a plain example of life is a bitch, then you die.

My Sziget, missing in action

Some say it was a sore throat, but the official announcement was just "Chris Cornell is sick".

To tell you the truth, I was ignorant of the guy until Foolea has opened my eyes and made me open the Sziget brochure. From where I quote "...he was the singer-guitarist-leader of the Seattle-based Soundgarden...". Well, you have to give me that, most of the times this happens, how many of you can tell me names of the actual band members? It all gets left behind the good song, if there is one to start with. So, anyways, this is the guy melting the Barbie doll on the barbecue, I thought "Cool!"

You dig I was bound to buy the CD. Which I did. And which points me to his Billie Jean cover. Can you imagine Michael Jackson on repeat on my playlist? It happened with this one, maybe because it has a somewhat darker sound. Also, you might wanna check She'll Never Be Your Man, and No Such Thing. Now I have to ask the Rock Chick again what song in particular reminded her of the Soundgarden sound.

My Sziget, Razolight, breakthrough, recall and awareness

Razorlight had one of those breakthrough performances at the festival: I remember liking it, but, since I don't have them on my playlist, I cannot hum any of their tunes if you prompted me. Luckily, they resonate to my friends daily life, and hence to mine.

The guy also has a killer body, at least for my taste, and shows it on stage. Now that in communication terms is recall, in capital letters :) As a consumer, I recall something else, something I didn't like. In fact I was really bothered at the time. Photo reporters allowed in front of the stage were evacuated before the white shirt came off. That is OK. But photo reporters front row in the crowd were asked, and no so kindly, by guy in the Razorlight staff not to take pictures later on, during the performance. At some point with some insistence closely resembling anger and threat. That I didn't like. For the Razorlight PR and staff, read the rules about on festival taking picture, and let the guys know before getting on stage and deploying you to horrid tasks amid the unsuspecting fans. And that brings me to awareness. We are all aware we look sometimes look our best, and we don't necessarily look our best when we do our best. That is why many artist restrict and control the time reporters can take pictures during concerts. But that is during their own concerts, not necessarily festivals, where different rules apply . Are you aware of that? Anyway, I don't think the right to one's own image can justify violence of any kind. There are other options to consider, especially during artistic performances.

I hope that doesn't sound like a big fuss. Looking back, I am certainly more relaxed about the whole thing.

I think my next post will be poll-like: "Should hot stars wax their armpits?". Although I think hot guys and body hair sometimes go very well together.

My Sziget, the French story

OK, I bet you thought I forgot all about this Sziget thing I had promised.

Today's story is about the French connection. Yes, the French have been the most irritating island nation. With the notable exceptions, mostly visible on stage. I am talking about the theater stage and the dance stage. I have already mentioned the brilliant performances by Transe Express/Les rois faignants and Accrorap/Les corps etrangers. Today I am going to focus on Emilie Simon, and her Vegetal concert. Hardly any greenery on stage, but it was so refreshing nevertheless. I mean check her videos on youtube, in particular this one, brought to my attention by T sometime ago.

Emilie is this "little girl with a big personality". She kept the audience on the hill for her one hour and a half, plus two real encores, very rare for the festival, where everything has to fit the time table. Not only that the people weren't going anywhere in spite of the drizzle, but I could hear numerous love declarations and marriage proposals being shouted from the fan cohorts in between the songs. To which Emilie shyly replied only "I love you too", thus provoking emotional havoc.

She was joined on stage by Mr Magic Man and Mr Give Me Anything I'll Give You Rhythm (yes, even water!). Their real names are Markus Dravst and Simon Edwards , but much to my annoyance, I have no clue as to who is who. Help needed and appreciated.

Waiting for Gogol Bordello

Yeap, finally, I had to go to Budapest to see Gogol Bordello! To think I had tickets for their concert in Bucharest several months ago... and missed it. But that is another story. The Gogol Bordello was so worth seeing! The guy is crazy, running all over the place, sitting on the cameraman, playing his guitar left with only one string. He just wouldn't stop. Plus the chicks: dancing girls slash backing vocals slash playing strange instruments. One word: wow!

In the picture, a fan wearing a funny cap in the scorcher, eager to grab a place near the stage, half an hour well before the actual scheduled time for the show.

My Sziget, IAMX

They are my discovery at the festival. Well, Foolea has played their song to me once, but ever since forgot to send me the tracks. Back to IAMX, they really knew how to make the crowd jump to the sound of their President, Nightlife, The Negative Sex and the likes. Excellent concert, excellent sound, excellent atmosphere, I predict main stage by next edition. (Picture might well be Foolea's)

My Sziget, my music

On this occasion, I did Cesaria Evora, IAMX, Transe Express (theater performance), Accrorap (dance performance), Gogol Bordello, Fanfara Ciocarlia, Pink, Emilie Simon, The Hives, Babylon Circus, Razorlight, Sinead O'Connor, Faithless, Eagles of Death Metal, Juliette and the Licks, The Killers. Next: the respective shitty pictures taken with small digital cameras from usually a large distance.

If you want to be hot

You should try a stroll on Magheru at noon. You'd then be really hot.

And if, like me, on your way to work the other day, getting out of the subway and approaching the office, you heard the lyrics below, you'd most surely at least smile.

There are many things that I would be proud of
If I'd only invented them such as the wheel
The washing machine and the tumble dryer
On these inventions surely I could retire

I want to retire
No longer required
I want to get by without the man on my back
A tear in my eye
With a heart full of pride
I must go out on a high
And tell nobody why

There are many things that I know I could do
If I'd only have wanted to, such as create
The perfect soulmate everyone would admire
On this creation surely I could retire

I want to retire
No longer required
I want to get by without the man on my back
A tear in my eye
With a heart full of pride
I must go out on a high
And not to answer to why

I want to retire
Inform the suppliers
I'll leave the party in style
And not to be carried out
Without a cloud in the sky
I Got my fingers in pies
A Golden watch on my side
Will measure my free time

Now my place in History is surely assured
I will be remembered here forever more
Brand new product in place and a potential buyer
Up on this next transaction surely I could retire

I want to retire
No longer required
I want to get by without the man on my back
A tear in my eye
With a heart full of pride
I must go out on a high
And not to answer to why

I want to retire
Inform the suppliers
I'll leave the party in style
And not to be carried out
Without a cloud in the sky
I Got my fingers in pies
A Golden watch on my side
Will measure my free time

Kaiser Chiefs, Retirement lyrics courtesy of www.lyricpages.com

The buzz and music

Remember the things that you write in your head? They buzz for a while, then they die, nothing remains apart from their temporary Brownian movement. While you wipe the floors clean for the second time in one day, you organize them under phrases like "Deep Dish on Saturday was the longest commercial break I have ever attended with six or seven sponsors' ads on continuous loop from 7.00 pm to 1.00 am next day. DJs Pagal, Livio and Internullo warmed up the crowd so well, that when the real deal had started I was already tired and willing to go home. Which I did at around 2.30. You know you are old when you back hurts like hell. The sound was impeccable, but the beer was the most expensive I have drunk in a long while: 330 ml of Heineken at 3 euros. May I remind the organizers this was an open air event, not a night in the club. I had already paid a cover three or two times higher. So before I call it an insult to my consumer face, could somebody in the marketing department wake up please? Shouldn't I have had the same stuff for three times less just a week before, in similar market conditions...

Graded odds and no ends just yet

Mom is sending me mms. That is odd, taking into account I don't have a Vodafone mms compatible terminal. Accordingly, to view her picture of Corfu, I had to go online at www.vodafone.ro/mmsaccess. OK, Vodafone guys, this particular part of your webpage doesn't really work accurately. You get a mere seven out of ten, which is rather low for the leading communications operator.

I have been procrastinating on this Bestival post for quite a while. That is ten out of ten for procrastination, and a mediocre eight for the post. Read on.

I am not paying to see today's performances at Bestival, 'cause I am not in high school, not the high school of 15 years ago (Alice Cooper), nor the high school of nowadays (Marylin Manson). However I will be disappointed if I hear they deserve any less then nine out of ten. And I do have reliable sources, you know.

On my list: Yonderboi, Hooverphonic, Morcheeba, Faithless, Kasabian, Reamonn and Pink. Now, I have missed Yonderboi, so no grade there. Hooverphonic gets a ten. And so does the straight (looking?) guy that quasi hit on me, I have spilled a sip of his beer. More precisely he gets three tens: for the friendly conversation, for this name, Attila, the sword of God, and for the funny faces and dance powered by the moderately ethyl induction.

Which brings us to Morcheeba, or what's left of it. Guys, Morcheeba, now, in my books is the perfect example why one should always stick with his CDs and quality sound system. At home. The live performance was pretty lame, so lame I'll grade it the ultimately mediocre eight. The blonde little goose who thinks is one of the vocals, needed a volume up voice. Do they have a spray fro that? I kinda liked the brunette, certainly more lively. I can imagine the band having a conversation before getting on stage: "...and don't you say Budapest! Budapest is next door, in Hungary!" "Really? I always mix that". And then, on stage, ooops, I didn't just say that! For the perfect blunder, a ten out of ten.

I am no Faithless fan, but the show was truly electrifying. Ten plus out of ten. Also, I can testify some people can dance. I am not sure the fireworks were part of the show. Oddly, I am no fan of fireworks either, but these worked OK with the ensemble.

The second day I have missed on Kasabian, because of massage and dinner, so no complaints from me, OK? I only caught the ironic (?) "Enjoy Pink!" at the end of their performance. Reamonn totally stole the show, a ten of ten for many reasons, but most of all for the crowd empathy and winning us over and almost taking us home with them once they were done. And Pink will get a nine. The ups are underlined by bloguette007 here, but the big minus was not working the crowd as she could've.

A ten out of ten goes to the big handsome press guy in a white toptank that left in the middle of Pink's concert, making a statement with both his middle fingers high up in the air.

Another ten for Mazi's perfect hairdays, two days in a row. And for her being oblivious to gorgeous guys around us. That made me once say she looks as lost as a hedgehog freshly out of its hiding blinded by a flash light straight in its eyes. When I shout "Sexy guy!", she goes "Where?", invariably missing the target. Plus I have a wider base, and she has higher standards. She would never consider the like of such as stunningly drunk and cute guy in front of us when Reamonn was on stage. He, on the other hand, literally stopped and stood still when she was rocking on "Super Girl", where he expected to find some of his own gang. She later dismissed the episode as irrelevant and too drunk. Needless to say we all eventually made back to our own residences on our own and by our separate and lonely selves.

A minus four out of ten for the aggressive bodyguard (?! still not sure, as he did not present any credential apart from the hyper inflated biceps and all) who hassled me into showing my ticket to him, once I was inside and past three official security checks. Apart from that, the organizing gets a fair ten out of ten, for I did not have to wait on any cue. Grading of the matter is not 100% accurate, as I have not tried the toilets at all. I am simply not inspired by the wild eco-stuff, at this chapter.

My hips, lower back and feet really hated the concrete. Let's try some grass next year, what do you say? or at least something more friendly, shall we? So, six there. yeah, I am getting old, but so is Alice Cooper. On second though, everybody for that matter.

In other news, but keeping up with the grading.

Found T in Tabu. Ten for the surprise. Two for the ending sentence.

I have also managed to buy the missing Re:publik issues, and subsequently I have been watching Sex and Lucia. I wanted to do that for a long time now and it was worth all the wait.

Next stop: Little Children.

That is that for the moment, I have been slaving for too long at this post and it's not even that great. Take care and see you soon. By the way, the picture is a scorcher in Budapest, from Gerbeaud's terrace and ice cream safety.

The wrong band scribbles

Yes, we'll make it a Tori post. I have just read Robert's interview. Before I returned, actually immediately after the concert I had called Robert to let him know. It would've been the perfect concert had she played The Wrong Band. In fact I was not even sure this was the name of the song and I did not know the name of the album. It is Under the pink. I only knew it was one obscure tune out of 350, that stuck with me for whatever reason.

At the concert with the highest number of redheads per square meter, Tori surprised me by entering the stage blond and hair cut short. Or at least that's what I thought as I did not know the first thing about her new album.

From the very beginning I have noticed the boys and girls around me were moving catatonic like. Did this have anything to do with the lack of affection, is that part of the theme?

"Tori is living on stage. Maybe not only there, but for us that is essential. Tori is feeling, Tori cannot stay put. It's just me who's stayed put, absorbing sounds, filling up, waiting to take them home." That was obvious to me when she was on stage. I was writing as she was making love to her piano. Now go read that interview. The paragraph about Tori and roles on stage and in life, about being on stage and getting off the stage.

"Look! I'm standing naked before you. Don't you want more than my sex?" has made my hair stand on end. So I knew it was good concert, it's been certified, it's been validated.

My final memory is the Mr. Jones episode, with the dress, and the wife, and the improvising at the piano. Or not? What would you feel if you worked with somebody and she told you things singing, in front of an audience?

We'll call it a day, even it was not "tomorrow"

You're really an ugly girl

Stay tuned for tomorrow's brilliant update.