So I'm listening to Bright Eyes- this is becoming quite a regular thing really. I just think that Conor Oberst is actually amazing. Tbh Amazing is an understatement because his lyrics actually are incredible, poetic and just wow. I wish I could actually write how great they are and how wonderful he is but I can't. Words just don't come close to his talent really. I can associate my mood with his lyrics. For example "Smile at me and I will stay" is how I feel, "Say the word and of course I'll Stay" "Just please don't leave me guessing" just these three lines describe my mood today. Just wanted to say that lol.
Anyway Summer is here, it is it is. It's the 21st-so officially now SUMMER :D Whoooop :) Two whole months of lazy days sprawled out with a book and my IPod await me. Two months of wonderful shopping and coffee. Two months of dreaming and forgetting. Bliss. Hopefully all this will take place in the heat of a beautiful summer that has been promised. Ooooo I'm so happy :)
I have one more exam left and then that is it. They think it's all over.. IT IS NOW. I realise I'm making very little sense but I have reasons. My mind is a whir of the coming weeks, plans with friends and plans with myself await me :) No school, no stress and just freedom awaits. Pity about camping but it can't be helped really. Bring on the beach and BBQ's is what I say. Hola to the world in general and be happy with what you've been given (which hopefully is lots of toasty sun).
I'm actually very happy today, I am trying to forget the past and relish in the future. The future holds many things and lets not focus on the negatives like exam results, but more on the positives like bike rides by the river, Sunday lunches at lost pubs and catch ups with friends you don't actually need to catch up with. Joy of Joys summer brings so many random thought patterns I feel I have to voice them all.
Maybe there is something in the air or maybe it is just because I have time, that I feel like jumping up and down and screaming Yessss! It would be a stupidly unwise thing to do though as my 87 yr old Grandfather is here and any sudden movements could spur a heart attack-which would definitely bring down the mood quite a bit. I will just scream it in my head.
Summer is here and although currently you can't see it, the sun will soon be out to play, as will I with my sunnies and lotion and shortest shorts. Bring it on please.
Au Revoir
Sunday 21 June 2009
Friday 19 June 2009
Wind and other Musings
It's windy today :( I hate the wind and I will say this. What is the point in it? What exactly does it hope to achieve when it blows skirts up etc. Nothing good obviously. Where is this promised sun? You know how this summer is meant to be hot, well not so much yet. OK granted maybe it has been quite nice recently, but only ever for like 3 days max and then it rains again. How lovely. The weather is really bringing my mood down and tbh that's not good. A bad mood is like a headache, you can try doing and taking anything to stop it but there will still be a dull thudding ache even after. Hopefully as today wears on my bad mood will disappear, it better, I'm seeing Russell Howard Live tonight. Actually cannot wait. Yum. It will fantastic. Also get to stare wistfully at fit people in Nando's, again yum. Although actually am I allowed to do that now? Have I got a boyfriend? Is that what I'm gonna have to call him? Can't I just call him a bit of harmless fun that's basically kind of an experiment? I know sounds harsh but I still don't know how the hell I feel about him and tbh I like someone else a lot more. I don't think I have any worries in him reading this but if Batebox, you are, I'm sorry. I'm pretty sure you could do a lot better than me anyway tbh.
Hmm what else? Ahh yes, where is Sophie? She was meant to be here by now I'm sure. Or maybe not, I don't think we really agreed on a time actually, but I have to go to the bank at some point to open an account so she better hurry her ass up :) Actually I think my mood is improving already really. I think blogging helps, even though I know no one will read this, it does help just to write it all down. Actually that's a slight lie-Stacey may well read this. If you do read this Stanford, I'm ok lol. I'm just venting :)
Ooo actually my moods definitely improved now that I've put Bright Eyes on, see this is the benefit of your Dad leaving. You can play music that he thinks is crap and not get told to turn it down constantly :) See when you play the glad game (thanks Pollyanna) you can normally find good things in everything. I should really play more often. Lets see. My hair looks untamed and spiky but I'm glad cause it gives me the edgy look I'm feeling :) I'm still wearing what I slept in (vest top and leggings) but I'm glad cause even though I look and feel like a slob, its comfy and also quite cute :p. Even though according to Liam M Bob Dylan is crapola live, I'm glad I'll be able to make my own assumptions when I see him. And if my faveydavey singer does turn out to be crap, then I'll be glad of seeing him anyway cause his music is immense. See this glad game is quite easy once you get going lol. But I'll stop now otherwise I could be here forever and I'm pretty sure if I missed Russell Howard as a result I would have nothing to be glad about :p
Anyhoo I've run out of things to say now. Haha ran out of steam at last :) Ah well happens to the best of us LOL. Yeah I'm gonna shut up now :)
Au Revoir (seriously I better be spelling that right, kind of retarded if I'm not)
Hmm what else? Ahh yes, where is Sophie? She was meant to be here by now I'm sure. Or maybe not, I don't think we really agreed on a time actually, but I have to go to the bank at some point to open an account so she better hurry her ass up :) Actually I think my mood is improving already really. I think blogging helps, even though I know no one will read this, it does help just to write it all down. Actually that's a slight lie-Stacey may well read this. If you do read this Stanford, I'm ok lol. I'm just venting :)
Ooo actually my moods definitely improved now that I've put Bright Eyes on, see this is the benefit of your Dad leaving. You can play music that he thinks is crap and not get told to turn it down constantly :) See when you play the glad game (thanks Pollyanna) you can normally find good things in everything. I should really play more often. Lets see. My hair looks untamed and spiky but I'm glad cause it gives me the edgy look I'm feeling :) I'm still wearing what I slept in (vest top and leggings) but I'm glad cause even though I look and feel like a slob, its comfy and also quite cute :p. Even though according to Liam M Bob Dylan is crapola live, I'm glad I'll be able to make my own assumptions when I see him. And if my faveydavey singer does turn out to be crap, then I'll be glad of seeing him anyway cause his music is immense. See this glad game is quite easy once you get going lol. But I'll stop now otherwise I could be here forever and I'm pretty sure if I missed Russell Howard as a result I would have nothing to be glad about :p
Anyhoo I've run out of things to say now. Haha ran out of steam at last :) Ah well happens to the best of us LOL. Yeah I'm gonna shut up now :)
Au Revoir (seriously I better be spelling that right, kind of retarded if I'm not)
Wednesday 17 June 2009
Tuesday 16 June 2009
I haven't though of a title for this blog yet, i wonder if i will have thought of one by the end of this lol. I better have, i hate leaving blank spaces.
Right I know that I have moaned for Britain about all the revision and exams I've had but now that it's nearly over I don't actually know what I'm gonna do with myself. Seriously wtf lol. I'm bored and it's only my first day of freedom. Ok that's technically not true, I have two more exams left-both science-both extra GCSE's but I have now reached the stage of; who really gives a fuck-Not me. I know this is entirely the wrong attitude to take, but I will tell you why its OK. It is ok because currently as I write this Bob Dylan is singing "Don't think twice it's alright" and it is alright lol. Ahh sad how i link everything to music.
Nehoo yes well today has been quite boring. Mainly just been reading-can't go wrong with a good book can you? No-but there is only so much reading I can manage before my brain stops taking information in. I hate it when that happens, you don't need that sort of upset lol. It happens every night when I'm so wiped that it's all I can do to stay awake and read. You would think my brain would be happy at this extra stimulus but oh no, instead it decides it would be fun if I just forget everything I read, so for the next couple of nights I'm re-reading the same chapter still unaware that actually I've read it five times already and that's why I don't seem to be getting anywhere with the book. I haven't had much time to read for the past few weeks, any open slot has been crammed with revision/facebook (I know I know not good) so it has been nice to just collapse on the tattered sofa with my duvet and coffee and just READ. Yes I'm a nerd. No I don't care.
I feel rather rotten today, truth be told, which it is. I've just about realised that It's never gonna happen and that really it's about time I just get over it. The thing is how do I get over it. I can't bring myself to stop going to that place every Saturday, I'm really bad at ignoring people/ being a complete bitch so my plan of just holding my head up crashed and burned so badly the carnage can probably be seen in India. I have no idea how I'm gonna handle this. It sucks pretty badly tbh. It sucks cause all the people that like me, I'm not hugely bothered with although granted some are nice, but the one person I like, doesn't like me and never will. Crap times all round or what? Still I must brave the wilderness of idiocy and learn to become uber confident so that I can just get over this fad and move to the next. Starbucks anyone?
Oooo how fun was Saturday though. Lol you don't know, I'll explain. There was this cool ethnic market going on in town. Lush food tbh lmao. Nice clothes and cool atmosphere-Blissful-better than Topshop haha. If I had any money with me I would have so returned with about a thousand colourful garments I would never wear but sooo look at :D
Back to the previous topic quickly-Bob Dylan is now not helping me at all. Like a Rolling Stone is not the song to be played at this point in my life lol. Even though he is saying "You'll have to get used to it" I really don't want to lol. But I must.
On that note before I go off into some other rant about how band boys with curly hair pretty much suck, I shall toodle pip off like a rolling stone :)
Au Revoir
Right I know that I have moaned for Britain about all the revision and exams I've had but now that it's nearly over I don't actually know what I'm gonna do with myself. Seriously wtf lol. I'm bored and it's only my first day of freedom. Ok that's technically not true, I have two more exams left-both science-both extra GCSE's but I have now reached the stage of; who really gives a fuck-Not me. I know this is entirely the wrong attitude to take, but I will tell you why its OK. It is ok because currently as I write this Bob Dylan is singing "Don't think twice it's alright" and it is alright lol. Ahh sad how i link everything to music.
Nehoo yes well today has been quite boring. Mainly just been reading-can't go wrong with a good book can you? No-but there is only so much reading I can manage before my brain stops taking information in. I hate it when that happens, you don't need that sort of upset lol. It happens every night when I'm so wiped that it's all I can do to stay awake and read. You would think my brain would be happy at this extra stimulus but oh no, instead it decides it would be fun if I just forget everything I read, so for the next couple of nights I'm re-reading the same chapter still unaware that actually I've read it five times already and that's why I don't seem to be getting anywhere with the book. I haven't had much time to read for the past few weeks, any open slot has been crammed with revision/facebook (I know I know not good) so it has been nice to just collapse on the tattered sofa with my duvet and coffee and just READ. Yes I'm a nerd. No I don't care.
I feel rather rotten today, truth be told, which it is. I've just about realised that It's never gonna happen and that really it's about time I just get over it. The thing is how do I get over it. I can't bring myself to stop going to that place every Saturday, I'm really bad at ignoring people/ being a complete bitch so my plan of just holding my head up crashed and burned so badly the carnage can probably be seen in India. I have no idea how I'm gonna handle this. It sucks pretty badly tbh. It sucks cause all the people that like me, I'm not hugely bothered with although granted some are nice, but the one person I like, doesn't like me and never will. Crap times all round or what? Still I must brave the wilderness of idiocy and learn to become uber confident so that I can just get over this fad and move to the next. Starbucks anyone?
Oooo how fun was Saturday though. Lol you don't know, I'll explain. There was this cool ethnic market going on in town. Lush food tbh lmao. Nice clothes and cool atmosphere-Blissful-better than Topshop haha. If I had any money with me I would have so returned with about a thousand colourful garments I would never wear but sooo look at :D
Back to the previous topic quickly-Bob Dylan is now not helping me at all. Like a Rolling Stone is not the song to be played at this point in my life lol. Even though he is saying "You'll have to get used to it" I really don't want to lol. But I must.
On that note before I go off into some other rant about how band boys with curly hair pretty much suck, I shall toodle pip off like a rolling stone :)
Au Revoir
Thursday 11 June 2009
At the moment I am going through a phase of being obsessed with World Party-I often go through these phases when music is involved.
While I was listening to them I felt I should tell others to listen to them too as they are, if we are being honest which I'm trying to be, pretty damn good :) I'm listening to their song Basically and it's great, it has everything; good vocals, catchy beat and lovely instruments that you can actually hear- you'll see why I said this later. Something that really annoys me (I know unfairly so) is Robbie Williams and his cover of THEIR song She's the one. It only annoys me 'cause everyone thinks it's his stupid song. They don't know it's a cover. Grrrr soo annoying considering that World Party's original is, err let me think, oh yeah WAAAAAY better :)
Sorry just before I end this paragraph I want to say-Listen to "Give it All Away" if you ever feel the uncontrollable urge to yell "THAT'S WHAT IM TALKING ABOUT!" :D which just then weirdly I did lol.
Anyway yes, to go back a bit to when I said the thing about hearing instruments. I feel it's now time for me to explain why I hate heavy metal. I have ranted about this to just about anyone who will listen (yeah so not many lol) and these people have all got a good reason, I think.
I start off by saying "Heavy metal sucks", if they agree with this statement-good, they've just saved themselves along time of absolute boredom listening to my rant. If they disagree well sorry, they have now just given up their next half hour while I try and make them agree with me :) At the end I don't think even I care that they've probably only said they agree with me to escape me. If I could escape me I would lol.
Heavy metal along with rap is the root of all evil in music-difference being rap I can actually tolerate and god rap I can actually sometimes like :O. Metal-err narrr :) It's twisted really. They just yell. Yeah state the obvious why don't you. Yes thanks I will. What, can I just ask, is the point in yelling? Don't worry I'll answer that one; There isn't a point, that is the point. Whereas normal (year metal is abnormal I'm afraid :p) music has the power to make you feel all sorts of emotions, metal has the power to make you angry (or look like a retard as you head bang on the bus-never a good look-please don't kid yourself otherwise). Seriously even when the "singer" (ahem, wild beast *cough*) is singing (growling) about love he seems really pissed off and that is only when he's telling the audience he really loves love-imagine what it would be like if he hated love. I'm pretty sure the audience would leave with no ears lol. I realise this isn't a very convincing argument as to why I dislike metal. I'm aware I sound a bit manic lol but I'm not bothered. Metal is crap. It really is just noise, you can't respectfully call yelling into a mike-music. You can call it yelling. Also what is the need for some of these bands to dress up, you just know that all metal bands were the rejects in school, and no, not even the good kind of rejects, the kind of rejects that even the rejects didn't want to know. Haha I sound like a bitch lol, it's just i really do hate it and I guess I don't really have any legitimate reasons as to why. It just makes my skin crawl. This is the point where you would get up and leave if I were talking to you lol, i think at this point we would both feel relief that I had stopped :) So I will stop.
On to my day. History exam, goodness I love history lol. although I think I may have just failed that one- I felt really sick, but here's hoping huh? :)
I just realised when I said on to my day that actually nothing fun had happened so really there is no point in staying on this any longer lol.
TTFN
Au Revoir :)
Tuesday 9 June 2009
Rain Rain Go Away etc.
I have decided to actually bother writing a proper blog entry lol- it's either this or Physics and tbh I know what I'd rather do and I'm doing it :) Yes in the long run this could have a potentially disastrous outcome but right now at this moment in time-I'm really not bothered. I have The Beatles on, I haven't listened to them in aaages-since last summer really when I went camping with Liam W, ahh good sheep falling over times. I do love the Lake District- it really is untouched beauty. Just the mountain walks and riverside treks not to mention the countless waterfalls seen makes life seem so simple. My favourite memory there was lazing on the banks of the stream opposite the pub (yes you have to have alcohol somewhere involved in fave memories lol) reading some book that obviously didn't have much of an effect on me lol.
We were lucky to be there on the few days of actual summer weather England managed to enjoy last year-and it was lovely. I love camping. I love setting up the tent, decorating it lol (cause I'm sad like that) exploring the campsite, getting soaked in the pouring rain and falling in lakes :D Everything about it really.
Can't wait for this summer-no it hasn't already started because it's not the 21st of June yet is it? No. Then it's not summer :) But when it does start I will be out exploring rain or shine, Newcastle or Lakes-cause that's what I do lol. Plus exams will have finished and that calls for adventure-especially when you want to take your mind off other things like say...RESULTS. I actually don't think I will be able to forget about them- I'm a natural worrier and forgetting really doesn't look like an option for me :) Sadly.
Yeah Got Bob Dylan on at the mo- cause he's the best really. I love the fact that unlike most musicians who age and carry on singing, his voice gets older along with him. He doesn't disguise anything yet he disguises so much-poetic LOL No but I do love him- He's a legend, I WILL see him in concert.
Ooooo speaking of live things I'm seeing Russell Howard live on the 18th and I literally cannot wait- It's whats keeping me safe tbh-that and sleep haha oh and facebook and loads of coffee and music-ok so maybe it's not the only thing that's keeping me sain but its well up there with all the other distractions from revision lol. Dear me if I do fail everything I can't really blame anyone but me lol-it will be my own fault. Haha- god i better not fail-all I do now is revise and worry. Bad times lol. Such a nerd.
Sorry have to say also Neil Young- I have to see him in concert also-that would be lovely. Naaawww I do love Neily lol- despite his gremlin facial features, his voice is actually amazing :)
God this is just gonna go onto people I love now lol. George Harrison who WAS the best Beatle- he really was. a slightly morbid subject yes lol-but I want My Sweet Lord played at my funeral just because of the beauty of it. Currently hearing While My Guitar Gently Weeps-another great song that proves he is the best :D The Two best Beatle died first bad times :/ *Sniff*
Anyway this is where I leave you for new pastors like facebook and definitely not revision LOL oh no :)
Au Revoir :D
We were lucky to be there on the few days of actual summer weather England managed to enjoy last year-and it was lovely. I love camping. I love setting up the tent, decorating it lol (cause I'm sad like that) exploring the campsite, getting soaked in the pouring rain and falling in lakes :D Everything about it really.
Can't wait for this summer-no it hasn't already started because it's not the 21st of June yet is it? No. Then it's not summer :) But when it does start I will be out exploring rain or shine, Newcastle or Lakes-cause that's what I do lol. Plus exams will have finished and that calls for adventure-especially when you want to take your mind off other things like say...RESULTS. I actually don't think I will be able to forget about them- I'm a natural worrier and forgetting really doesn't look like an option for me :) Sadly.
Yeah Got Bob Dylan on at the mo- cause he's the best really. I love the fact that unlike most musicians who age and carry on singing, his voice gets older along with him. He doesn't disguise anything yet he disguises so much-poetic LOL No but I do love him- He's a legend, I WILL see him in concert.
Ooooo speaking of live things I'm seeing Russell Howard live on the 18th and I literally cannot wait- It's whats keeping me safe tbh-that and sleep haha oh and facebook and loads of coffee and music-ok so maybe it's not the only thing that's keeping me sain but its well up there with all the other distractions from revision lol. Dear me if I do fail everything I can't really blame anyone but me lol-it will be my own fault. Haha- god i better not fail-all I do now is revise and worry. Bad times lol. Such a nerd.
Sorry have to say also Neil Young- I have to see him in concert also-that would be lovely. Naaawww I do love Neily lol- despite his gremlin facial features, his voice is actually amazing :)
God this is just gonna go onto people I love now lol. George Harrison who WAS the best Beatle- he really was. a slightly morbid subject yes lol-but I want My Sweet Lord played at my funeral just because of the beauty of it. Currently hearing While My Guitar Gently Weeps-another great song that proves he is the best :D The Two best Beatle died first bad times :/ *Sniff*
Anyway this is where I leave you for new pastors like facebook and definitely not revision LOL oh no :)
Au Revoir :D
Monday 8 June 2009
Sorry
Sorry I haven't been on here for a few days or posted anything new. I've become addicted to FaceBook Lol :) No i shouldn't laugh really, the time when I should be revising quietly at home has been taken over by FB and that is not good news :)
Anyway the last few days hmm what to tell. Well Coffee shop guy deffo does not like me lmao, although i think that was decided a while ago haha never mind I did say there were plenty more fish in the sea and I'm currently sampling a few of those dishes :) Some are disgusting lol and some not so much but we'll see.
Ooh Saturday was an embarrassment and a half though-gd times. At least its off my chest now though no matter how stupid it made me look for 5minutes :D Never mind, it's good to get things in the open 'cause then you get answers-which is always the best thing really.
So Im currently listening to Freebird reaaaallll loudly-which is the only volume you can listen to that song on really-you need the max loudness to enjoy the minto solo :) and the genius of Lyrnrd Skynrd :D
God I love this song haha
Sorry trying to think of stuff to write- I have 7 exams left-bad times - all done on the 22nd though and then I will actually be a freebird :D which will be greatness :D although we are having trouble finding a campsite for our-exams over holiday-so that may not happen lol ahh well can't be helped
God I just cringed again anyway yeah can't really think of much right now-maybe later huh? :D
TTFN
Au Revoir-urghhhh French 2mozza bad times :/
.
Anyway the last few days hmm what to tell. Well Coffee shop guy deffo does not like me lmao, although i think that was decided a while ago haha never mind I did say there were plenty more fish in the sea and I'm currently sampling a few of those dishes :) Some are disgusting lol and some not so much but we'll see.
Ooh Saturday was an embarrassment and a half though-gd times. At least its off my chest now though no matter how stupid it made me look for 5minutes :D Never mind, it's good to get things in the open 'cause then you get answers-which is always the best thing really.
So Im currently listening to Freebird reaaaallll loudly-which is the only volume you can listen to that song on really-you need the max loudness to enjoy the minto solo :) and the genius of Lyrnrd Skynrd :D
God I love this song haha
Sorry trying to think of stuff to write- I have 7 exams left-bad times - all done on the 22nd though and then I will actually be a freebird :D which will be greatness :D although we are having trouble finding a campsite for our-exams over holiday-so that may not happen lol ahh well can't be helped
God I just cringed again anyway yeah can't really think of much right now-maybe later huh? :D
TTFN
Au Revoir-urghhhh French 2mozza bad times :/
.
Tuesday 2 June 2009
Oxjam
Currently I am sitting in the school library being constantly reminded about the fact that I should be revising Geography- you know that lovely paper one I was talking about yesterday-fun times I'm sure. However I'm not going to take Sophie seriously as she is doing a Sudoku-i.e also not revising. Damn it now she is-maybe I should just steal her book-that will stop her. :)
She has notes-stupid.
Anyway I have decided that this first lesson will be dedicated to blogging about-you guessed it-music-again. More specifically this blog will hopefully not turn into a rant. No no, today it will be about a "Do it Yourself" type Festival called Oxjam. What is Oxjam I hear you asking (yes I do often hear voices in my head and no I will not be seeing a doctor), Oxjam is a spawn of Oxfam. A play on words if you will.
Described on its website; http://www.oxfam.org.uk/get_involved/fundraise/oxjam/index.php, as being a "Music festival with a difference", and with hundreds of events taking place throughout October, it is quite literally a music festival that is organised by ordinary people and currently is taking living rooms, small pubs and clubs by storm right across the UK.
This is the type of festival I look up to, the kind that has a clear aim and comes with a chance to get potentially good bands heard of (I say potentially scathingly if you recall a previous blog), either way it's an opportunity to have a laugh with your mates and enjoy live music which hopefully will be reasonable.
Now I have finished with promoting a worthy cause I will get onto other matters.
Festivals in general.
Glastonbury in particular, how much is it again? Oh yes £175. Wait a minute-what??? How is that possible. I though we were currently in the claws of an economic depression-we were weren't we? Or am i just imagining news stories about job loses and bankruptcy. Seriously this may be a petty complaint considering the sheer amount of talent headlining and playing at this years festival but I can't help but feel a little bitter. The first festival was £1and you got free milk. They were better times weren't they. T.Rex played, T.rex one of my favourite bands-played. People got the chance to see them for £1, and they got milk. Wow.
The next year the price was-wait there wasn't a price, it was free. For no money you got to see David Bowie. How is this fair? How is it that 37 years later tickets cost £155 and the headline act was JZ? Okay granted there were alot more famous acts than say 38years earlier but still, surely the spirit of glastonbury should remain the same. One of Free spirit. And by Free I do mean Free. It's a shame that money has once again reared it's ugly head in the music industry making this once great Festival (and yes in some respects it still is great) into a coperate nightmare. if I wanted to go to Glastonbury, and i do, like I really really do, it would take me ages to save. That's what i don't get. How can students afford to go to these things. How do they managae to scrape together the cash? Arn't they all constantly complaining about their lack of money flow? If you are a student and you are reading this, please please tell me how you manage it because this year the festival costs £175 and I would really like to know how you all have that much spare.
For once i don't actually want to knock what I'm writing about. I want to like Glastonbury, christ i want to go to Glastonbury but I can't, in sain mind, give that much money to be emersed in mud, surrounded by drunks and pay to see acts that are so up themselves they think they can get away with a couple of songs before telling the audience to "F off". I know that in a few years time though, I to will join the the hundreds, thousands even of students paying ludicrous amounts (for them) to be part of this experience because well, it's...Glastonbury.
Thats why I'm so pleased with Oxjam, prices of tickets can be up to you, you won't get supposed rockstars demanding feshly squeezed orange juice and if you are lucky you'll still get good acts. Granted not famous but good none the less. Oxjam may well bring back the original feel of Glastonbury and that would be nice. Artists in the past have included Kaiserchiefs and Chemical brothers, not my cup of tea really, but as the site itself says;
"It's the creativity of ordinary people that makes it so exciting to be part of Oxjam"
I hope i havn't bored anyone too much with this blog, everyone has their own opinions on things and I would like it to be known i do like Glastonbury and definately want to have the experience of going. Hopefully by the time I get round to it ticket prices may have dropped a bit though. fingers cross.
Now if you'll excuse me, i must actually revise now. Second lesson has begun and so learing time must being :)
Au Revoir.
She has notes-stupid.
Anyway I have decided that this first lesson will be dedicated to blogging about-you guessed it-music-again. More specifically this blog will hopefully not turn into a rant. No no, today it will be about a "Do it Yourself" type Festival called Oxjam. What is Oxjam I hear you asking (yes I do often hear voices in my head and no I will not be seeing a doctor), Oxjam is a spawn of Oxfam. A play on words if you will.
Described on its website; http://www.oxfam.org.uk/get_involved/fundraise/oxjam/index.php, as being a "Music festival with a difference", and with hundreds of events taking place throughout October, it is quite literally a music festival that is organised by ordinary people and currently is taking living rooms, small pubs and clubs by storm right across the UK.
This is the type of festival I look up to, the kind that has a clear aim and comes with a chance to get potentially good bands heard of (I say potentially scathingly if you recall a previous blog), either way it's an opportunity to have a laugh with your mates and enjoy live music which hopefully will be reasonable.
Now I have finished with promoting a worthy cause I will get onto other matters.
Festivals in general.
Glastonbury in particular, how much is it again? Oh yes £175. Wait a minute-what??? How is that possible. I though we were currently in the claws of an economic depression-we were weren't we? Or am i just imagining news stories about job loses and bankruptcy. Seriously this may be a petty complaint considering the sheer amount of talent headlining and playing at this years festival but I can't help but feel a little bitter. The first festival was £1and you got free milk. They were better times weren't they. T.Rex played, T.rex one of my favourite bands-played. People got the chance to see them for £1, and they got milk. Wow.
The next year the price was-wait there wasn't a price, it was free. For no money you got to see David Bowie. How is this fair? How is it that 37 years later tickets cost £155 and the headline act was JZ? Okay granted there were alot more famous acts than say 38years earlier but still, surely the spirit of glastonbury should remain the same. One of Free spirit. And by Free I do mean Free. It's a shame that money has once again reared it's ugly head in the music industry making this once great Festival (and yes in some respects it still is great) into a coperate nightmare. if I wanted to go to Glastonbury, and i do, like I really really do, it would take me ages to save. That's what i don't get. How can students afford to go to these things. How do they managae to scrape together the cash? Arn't they all constantly complaining about their lack of money flow? If you are a student and you are reading this, please please tell me how you manage it because this year the festival costs £175 and I would really like to know how you all have that much spare.
For once i don't actually want to knock what I'm writing about. I want to like Glastonbury, christ i want to go to Glastonbury but I can't, in sain mind, give that much money to be emersed in mud, surrounded by drunks and pay to see acts that are so up themselves they think they can get away with a couple of songs before telling the audience to "F off". I know that in a few years time though, I to will join the the hundreds, thousands even of students paying ludicrous amounts (for them) to be part of this experience because well, it's...Glastonbury.
Thats why I'm so pleased with Oxjam, prices of tickets can be up to you, you won't get supposed rockstars demanding feshly squeezed orange juice and if you are lucky you'll still get good acts. Granted not famous but good none the less. Oxjam may well bring back the original feel of Glastonbury and that would be nice. Artists in the past have included Kaiserchiefs and Chemical brothers, not my cup of tea really, but as the site itself says;
"It's the creativity of ordinary people that makes it so exciting to be part of Oxjam"
I hope i havn't bored anyone too much with this blog, everyone has their own opinions on things and I would like it to be known i do like Glastonbury and definately want to have the experience of going. Hopefully by the time I get round to it ticket prices may have dropped a bit though. fingers cross.
Now if you'll excuse me, i must actually revise now. Second lesson has begun and so learing time must being :)
Au Revoir.
Monday 1 June 2009
Castles Made Of Sand
It amuses me that I can get on this at school :) These types of things are normally blocked because the teachers all have some fear that instead of actually doing work on computers we might actually be on MySpace etc, blogging and basically having fun-they are right to have this fear evidently :)
I should be revising right now-after all that is what study-leave is about, but really right now i can't be bothered. I've just had a maths exam in which I'm pretty sure I failed spectacularly in (big whoop!!) and tomorrow I have Geography paper 1 (all about merry little England-another frenzied cheer) So forgive me if I am too tired to make much sense.
Anyway this will be the second blog on music me thinks:
Castles Made of Sand:
This song has one clear message-simply; nothing lasts forever. A rather depressing image maybe but a depressing song-never. With its intricate solo and questionable chorus (is there one?) it has all the ingredients that a perfect song needs. It is by far my favourite Hendrix song which is weird because it's definitely not one of the most famous. For instance when I first tried to look for it on YouTube, for a while all I could find was one real version of it (the others being fat twits doing things with their voices that frankly in a civilised society just shouldn't be done...ever).
On another occasion, while out for a meal with my friends, I was talking to one of them-Lets call him Bill, anyway Bill and I were talking about Hendrix and a few other music greats. A bit of background information- Bill is in a band, Bill claims to love Jimi- all okay so far. Until this song is brought up, all of a sudden I'm getting it from all angles, another of my friends "Barry" claims never to have heard the song. Bill takes a different route, looking at me sympathetically and asking "Do you mean Spanish Castle Magic"? NO!! I did not mean Spanish Castle Magic. I would understand if the two songs were on different albums but they aren't. They are six songs apart. Granted Castles made of Sand is on the other disc but seriously?
At this point I realised (okay I had realised this before but it had never sunk in) that many "Band Types" list "Hendrix"in their influences, and claim that they love him because it sounds cool. In reality they know nothing about his music or songs, rarely knowing more than a couple of songs (always the most famous-Voodoo Child being right up there-great song-have a bit of variety though). I bet If I had a conversation about Hendrix with Bill again today, and questioned his favourite tunes the answers would be typical. "Voodoo Child, Purple Haze,Spanish Castle Magic etc" All great songs yes undoubtedly, but all a little too obvious. I wonder if I asked him about Castles made of Sand again, I'd get the same response. Or maybe my obvious annoyance encouraged him to do his own research into a legend like Jimi. encouraged him to maybe expand on his knowledge-listen to more songs (an idea-if he's your favourite-maybe listen to all his songs out there) and develop an actual opinion that is your own and not that of Rolling Stone's greatest songs ever list.
Talking about people who are in bands and claim Hendrix as influence and such, recently I was talking to another mate who also has a band, Bob. We were discussing various legends in music and Hendrix was thrown in. I nearly hyperventilated on the spot when he asked (genuinely asked-no joke) "Who's Jimi Hendrix anyway?" What?? You are in a band and you don't know who Hendrix is? More Worryingly still when later I browsed their band site-under influences who should I see but Hendrix. To be fair there are other members in his band but you would think he would have had some input into that list and when names came up that he didn't recognise maybe would have had the intelligence to maybe take a gander at them. After all they were his bands influences for Christ sake.
While writing this I did realise that some people who read it may well be in bands and may well actually say they like people like Hendrix and mean it. You may be reading thinking "But I know other songs other than the norm" well done. Although in my opinion Castles made of Sand should be quite a normal song to like, after doing some research (yes just around my area) very few people know it. Was I just lucky when i happened across this beautiful piece? No, because it's on an album, it's not an obscure song that has just come to light, it's not a bootleg or basement tape (like many of Dylan's less known songs) its on an album. If you have the album you should have heard it. If he is your "favourite singer" then really you should have the album. Do you see where I get confused? Do you understand my complaint? Why lie to make yourself look cool when you could easily be exposed as being a bit of a fool? It just doesn't make sense. It's not a requirement to list famous people as influences when you start a band so if you don't actually know them or like them then DON'T list them. It's simple really.
Ha my friend has just looked over and laughed "I can't believe you're still ranting"- to her I say- shut up. I'm on a roll lol. No I better stop now- I may well have offended a lot of people and to others i will definitely have made myself look a bit stupid. A Rant on one song-sad you may think. I don't know. I love music so much and really believe people should try to expand their horizons when it comes to bands. When I say I like someone, I say it not because i like just one song by them but because I have devoured album after album before coming to that conclusion.
It may just be my way, but I think it's a good way :)
Anyway still in school-boring times- maybe i should get a little revision done-as the whole point in staying was because I knew if i went home- I wouldn't. Much good that did me lol :)
Au Revoir
I should be revising right now-after all that is what study-leave is about, but really right now i can't be bothered. I've just had a maths exam in which I'm pretty sure I failed spectacularly in (big whoop!!) and tomorrow I have Geography paper 1 (all about merry little England-another frenzied cheer) So forgive me if I am too tired to make much sense.
Anyway this will be the second blog on music me thinks:
Castles Made of Sand:
This song has one clear message-simply; nothing lasts forever. A rather depressing image maybe but a depressing song-never. With its intricate solo and questionable chorus (is there one?) it has all the ingredients that a perfect song needs. It is by far my favourite Hendrix song which is weird because it's definitely not one of the most famous. For instance when I first tried to look for it on YouTube, for a while all I could find was one real version of it (the others being fat twits doing things with their voices that frankly in a civilised society just shouldn't be done...ever).
On another occasion, while out for a meal with my friends, I was talking to one of them-Lets call him Bill, anyway Bill and I were talking about Hendrix and a few other music greats. A bit of background information- Bill is in a band, Bill claims to love Jimi- all okay so far. Until this song is brought up, all of a sudden I'm getting it from all angles, another of my friends "Barry" claims never to have heard the song. Bill takes a different route, looking at me sympathetically and asking "Do you mean Spanish Castle Magic"? NO!! I did not mean Spanish Castle Magic. I would understand if the two songs were on different albums but they aren't. They are six songs apart. Granted Castles made of Sand is on the other disc but seriously?
At this point I realised (okay I had realised this before but it had never sunk in) that many "Band Types" list "Hendrix"in their influences, and claim that they love him because it sounds cool. In reality they know nothing about his music or songs, rarely knowing more than a couple of songs (always the most famous-Voodoo Child being right up there-great song-have a bit of variety though). I bet If I had a conversation about Hendrix with Bill again today, and questioned his favourite tunes the answers would be typical. "Voodoo Child, Purple Haze,Spanish Castle Magic etc" All great songs yes undoubtedly, but all a little too obvious. I wonder if I asked him about Castles made of Sand again, I'd get the same response. Or maybe my obvious annoyance encouraged him to do his own research into a legend like Jimi. encouraged him to maybe expand on his knowledge-listen to more songs (an idea-if he's your favourite-maybe listen to all his songs out there) and develop an actual opinion that is your own and not that of Rolling Stone's greatest songs ever list.
Talking about people who are in bands and claim Hendrix as influence and such, recently I was talking to another mate who also has a band, Bob. We were discussing various legends in music and Hendrix was thrown in. I nearly hyperventilated on the spot when he asked (genuinely asked-no joke) "Who's Jimi Hendrix anyway?" What?? You are in a band and you don't know who Hendrix is? More Worryingly still when later I browsed their band site-under influences who should I see but Hendrix. To be fair there are other members in his band but you would think he would have had some input into that list and when names came up that he didn't recognise maybe would have had the intelligence to maybe take a gander at them. After all they were his bands influences for Christ sake.
While writing this I did realise that some people who read it may well be in bands and may well actually say they like people like Hendrix and mean it. You may be reading thinking "But I know other songs other than the norm" well done. Although in my opinion Castles made of Sand should be quite a normal song to like, after doing some research (yes just around my area) very few people know it. Was I just lucky when i happened across this beautiful piece? No, because it's on an album, it's not an obscure song that has just come to light, it's not a bootleg or basement tape (like many of Dylan's less known songs) its on an album. If you have the album you should have heard it. If he is your "favourite singer" then really you should have the album. Do you see where I get confused? Do you understand my complaint? Why lie to make yourself look cool when you could easily be exposed as being a bit of a fool? It just doesn't make sense. It's not a requirement to list famous people as influences when you start a band so if you don't actually know them or like them then DON'T list them. It's simple really.
Ha my friend has just looked over and laughed "I can't believe you're still ranting"- to her I say- shut up. I'm on a roll lol. No I better stop now- I may well have offended a lot of people and to others i will definitely have made myself look a bit stupid. A Rant on one song-sad you may think. I don't know. I love music so much and really believe people should try to expand their horizons when it comes to bands. When I say I like someone, I say it not because i like just one song by them but because I have devoured album after album before coming to that conclusion.
It may just be my way, but I think it's a good way :)
Anyway still in school-boring times- maybe i should get a little revision done-as the whole point in staying was because I knew if i went home- I wouldn't. Much good that did me lol :)
Au Revoir
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