My Björk costume!

I wore this to our end of University party!
It was sown by Sarah Katt who copied a dress that Björk wore on her Volta tour...

Sigur Rós recount preview...

The other evening, I saw Sigur Rós live at Festival Hall. I have been working on a recount, but I haven't had the time to perfect it. Here is a portion which I am happy with:

"Sigur Rós entered the stage as the ethereal piano tabs of their first song for the evening, ‘Svefn-g-englar’, echoed through the theatre. Variously sized spheres glowed above the stage like diagrams of the solar system that created an extra terrestrial atmosphere which was evident in the faces of all in the audience who sat in their seats completely transfixed by the indelible mood of the tune. My heart began to race as Jónsi, the band’s vocalist, approached the microphone and began to sing in his highly unique voice which can best be described as sounding like a hybrid of the prim falsetto which a Catholic choir boy possesses and the haunting, primordial beckoning of a whale’s serenade. The band’s opening performance was rewarded with a pious reception from the thousands in attendance, all of which seemed to be completely in-tune with the intimacy and sensitivity which Sigur Rós were offering."

The rest will follow soon...

Here is a photo which I took during the concert:

Sigur Rós tomorrow!

I'm seeing B's fellow countrymen live tomorrow at Festival Hall!

Exciting!

My Björk Collection... part two.

CDs:






'Debut' era


'Post' era


'Homogenic' era


'Selmasongs' + 'Vespertine' era


'Greatest Hits' era


'Miscellaneous'


'Volta' era


Japanese imports

Einstein Factor video link

My episode of The Einstein Factor!

KISSES!

I met Meryl Streep!

It was bitterly freezing in the narrow ally which permeated into the large foyer of the Melbourne Central complex where the ‘Mamma Mia!’ premiere would take place. Ominously looming about the unusually long red carpet, were officious and earnest looking security guards wearing serious black suits who lurked the area as they touched their earpieces and spoke in hushed tones whilst giving the crowd suspicious looks in that particular cinematic cliché which we’ve gotten so used to seeing in any film which involves the Secret Service. Meanwhile, everyone else in-the- know worked efficiently at straightening posters, laying down media placards and even vacuuming the institutional red carpet without complete oblivion the fact the two time Academy Award winning Hollywood legend Meryl Streep would be walking past in a matter of hours. In contrast, the agog crowd gleefully clicked preliminary photos, discussed their favourite ‘Meryl movies’ and let out audible ‘ooh’s and ‘ahh’s as the mandatory parade of lesser-status celebrities turned up as effective red carpet-warmers, but it was obvious that everyone was only waiting for the A-list stars to arrive.

Whilst waiting for Meryl to arrive, I began to regress into my history as a Streep devotee and I realised that this evening was a dream materialised for that 13 year old I was who saw ‘Kramer Vs. Kramer’ on TV for the first time, and since that age henceforth she has been my absolute favourite actress and I have studied and enjoyed her filmography with great tenderness. I remember visiting my Video Ezy store at the age of 14 and renting out only Meryl movies; ‘Evil Angels’, ‘Manhattan’, ‘Silkwood’, ‘Out Of Africa’ and of course the tour-de-force ‘Sophie’s Choice’. Throughout the years as I matured and as my appreciation for arts heightened and my analytical skills became more acute I discovered what an incredible technical and actor that Meryl is; notice her wholly convincing adaptability for any accent, see infinite emotional range and versatility- she can play anything, and ultimately observe how totally authentic Meryl is on screen- she is not acting because she truly believes every word that she says whilst inhabiting her characters.

I enthusiastically clutched my poster of ‘The Hours’ and a black permanent maker in hope that Meryl might grant me an autograph, and I gave my mother a crash-course in how to use the digital camera so that she could take a photo of the Oscar winner and I. At this stage the more substantial celebrities began to embark upon the red carpet; Dominic Cooper, a cast member of ‘Mamma Mia!’ chatted to the long row of journalists before greeting those waiting to meet him. To be honest I had no idea who he was, so I didn’t pay any interest in greeting him. Next came along Colin Firth who was herald by the sycophantic screams of dozens of middle-aged women. After spending an eternity flirting with the media Mr. Firth approached those who were eagerly waiting to meet him. However, he didn’t display any of the alluring charisma which he coaxed out of himself for the press; I was the third non-media person to greet him but he paid less than minimal interest in me and begrudgingly scribbled his name on a piece of paper before he looked my mother up-and-down without uttering a word to either of us. I kept Firth’s autograph for my part-time co-worker Joan who fell in love with his characterisation of Mr. Darcy.

The moment we all had been waiting for discreetly crept in front of us; Meryl Streep turned the corner and began to chat to the press. The moment I saw her I felt as though I was in a dream. I was struck into a strange mood of déjà-vu: it was like seeing her on the big screen except and at the same time it was like seeing an old friend that you haven’t seen for years- a bizarre sense of recognition.

Streep was hurried through the media before she approached those wanting to meet her. She chatted to two flamboyantly ecstatic men before the icon approached me smiling. To my surprise and contrary to my concerns, I didn’t trip over my own tongue: “Hi Meryl, can you please sign my poster?” her smile widened and said “Of course”. She studied my poster briefly and then signed her name with careful precision before handing me back my souvenirs. “Thank you so much.” I said with delight, “My pleasure” she replied with her warm, familiar voice. She then paused and observed my Björk T-shirt before greeting my mother as she extended her hand to sign my copy of ‘The Devil Wears Prada’, but Meryl put texta to paper before realising that she had left the lid on. She sighed with embarrassment as my mother said “Sorry Meryl, I left the lid on.” “That’s OK.” Meryl giggled.

I was so impressed with what a lovely lady that Meryl was, and it seemed obvious how humble and gentle this woman is despite her status as the greatest living actress. Meryl had an aura about her, but it was not the same as other celebrities who shine because of the dress that they are wearing or because of their oozing ego- Meryl’s radiance exists because of the strong woman she presents and from what a beautiful person she is.

After this, Streep’s minders urged her to ignore the rest of the well-wishers and move inside because she was running late to greet The Fabulous Adam Richards and commence her interview on Nova FM. Hundreds of people missed out on meeting Meryl, but I hardly felt any sympathy for them at the time because I was too aloof with my incredible encounter with such a significant figure in cinema history.

Meeting Meryl Streep is one of the highlights of my life, and reinforces in me the idea that dreams truly do come true. Furthermore, Streep proved to me that power and fame are redundant if a person is in awe of their own importance, and that the true measure of a great artist is someone who is willing to thank those who appreciate their work.

I think I’ll go watch a Meryl Streep film now.

(Meryl and I)

I'm back!

I'm back after a few months of not being able to access my account! Hopefully it's all sorted now!

Heaps has happened since my last post... bare with me as I catch you up.

They arrived...

Yay!

If you want to order these posters, visit bluedogposters.com.au

The Einstein Factor filming...

The filming for my episode of The Einstein Factor took place last night! It was a great experience and I had so much fun...

It airs :


JUNE 15TH

24 hours...

Tomorrow evening, I get filmed for The Einstein Factor...

EXCITING!

New posters...

I've ordered two new posters:



and...



YAY!

A picture of me at Big Day Out...

If you look to the right, in front of the plasma, you can see the microphone stand which I was in front of. I have pointed out my very distinctive angle... the back of my head. HA HA HA!

I'm so trilled that B and I are in the same photo!


LOVE YA B!

xoxo

SOME pictures I took of Björk at Big Day Out...

My room...

As you might have guessed, my room is Björk-smeared!

The Einstein Factor

On the 27th of March, I'll be recorded for the TV program 'The Einstein Factor! My special subject naturally will be "the life and music of Björk". I am the first to be competing with this subject.

http://www.abc.net.au/einsteinfactor/

I'll be quizzed on her life from her childhood, first record, her 80's punk bands, the Sugarcubes era, and all the way through her studio albums and film roles.

VERY EXCITING!

Patience is a virtue...

I've been waiting for my Björk 'Singles Collection' for over three months!!!!

A record shop promised me that they would be delivered "shortly", but they obviously measure time in Jupiter years!
Last week they sent me an e-mail saying that it arrived, which filled me with great excitement. However my mirth was cruelly quashed when they told me that they received the wrong packaging from their distributor!

The waiting game stars again...

AAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGH!

BIG DAY OUT

January 28^th, 2008

I had very high expectations for this concert, and I can now say with absolute confidence and with complete absence of exaggeration: this was by far the best hour and a half of my life!

My friends and I waited almost eight hours to see Björk. We braved the crowd surfing and fist fighting hellions who call themselves Hill Top Hoods fans, the inferno of 46,000 people's collective body heat, a dozen hose spayings and of course the concern that our idol may not have performed because of her recent throat problems. However, all these negativities rapidly faded when our patience was rewarded with second row-centre spots, right in front of B's microphone stand.

Björk was herald by her all female brass section, all dressed in multi-coloured full-length smocks. Then the crowd erupted when Björk danced onto the stage wearing a golden gown and fluro crochet wrist bands while 'Earth Intruders' thumped joyously and a volcanic spew of red clouds was produced from either end of the stage. This is when I burst into tears for the first time. I couldn't believe my idol was only two meters in front of me. Her voice was amazing from the get go, she sounds incredible on her albums, but she is truly heavenly live! After the breathtaking, she addressed her adoring audience with her chirpy, adorable voice, "Good afternoon!"

The second song was 'Hunter', who's stunning arrangement resembled an exotic interpretation of a 1950's Sci-Fi flick. Björk danced excitedly from one side of the stage to the other, exhibiting her signature hand gestures and skipping feet.

Next was the spellbinding 'Pagan Poetry', which Björk performed with raw intensity and emotional stamina. Following this was a rare and delightful surprise, 'Unravel'. This was a mesmeric and powerful song which moved the tens-of-thousands of spectators into reverent awe of Björk's emotional-suspension.

'All Is Full Of Love' was delivered with great beauty and authenticity. It's bold and muscular arrangement along with Björk's glorious and jaw-dropping vocals definitely made this one of the highlights of the concert for me.

'Pleasure Is All Mine' was delivered in a radically different manner then it originally appeared on Medúlla. Instead of an A Capella arrangement, Björk incorporated Jónas Sen, her pianist, to breathe new life into this ghostly song. Following this was the nostalgic Debut favourite ’The Anchor Song', which Björk invited her brass section to share the front of the stage. She sang this lovely tune in both English and her native tongue Icelandic.

'Army Of Me' set the crowd into overdrive. The audience gleefully chanted along to this fan-favourite like a national anthem! Next came '5 Years', which encouraged the audience to clap along as Björk asserted "I dare you to take me on!"

It was after this song that a monumental event happened: actual eye contact was made between the Icelandic chanteuse and I. In desperation to grab Björk’s attention, I vigorously waved my swan-dress-doting home made doll in the air and screamed with all the strength in my body “BBBBBJJÖÖÖÖÖÖRRRRRRRKKKKKKKKKKKKKK!!!!!! I LOOOOOOOOOOOVVVVVEEEEEEEEE YOOOOOOOOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” She then glanced down in my direction, first looking at my arm and the miniature version of herself which I was shaking, then she looked me in the eyes. I nearly fainted. It seemed so unreal, yet there she was. Dreams come true. Dreams really do come true!

A robust version of 'Bachelorette' was another highlight of the setlist. The brass section seemed to amplify the drama and melancholy of the Homogenic hit. After this sensational rendition, Björk surprised me when she addressed the crowd with "I'm sorry, my voice is a bit rubbish tonight. But I'll try my best." She then proved herself wrong by performing with a pitch-perfect 'I Miss You'. "I can't sing but I can jump" she joked with incorrect self-deprecation. Björk's voice was awe-striking, there was absolutely nothing "rubbish" about it- au contraire, Björk!

An eerie rendition of 'Cover Me' followed. Björk was beguiling when she wondered the stage innocently; she seemed like a young child. This is when her emotional and performative versatility was on full display. Björk is capable of Operatic grandeur, raw animalistic passion, coy shyness, comical chops and sleek crooner-esque elegance: all of which can manifest from one to the next with nary a warning. I am confident that I have never come across another artist with this talent.

'Wanderlust' followed. I felt as though this song was performed just for me. Tears of joy swept my face as Björk belted "Did I imagine it would be like this/ was this something like this I wished for?"

"Do you feel like like dancing?" Björk asked the crowd as though she had a big surprise in store: it was 'Hyper-ballad', my favourite song. The laser spectacular blazed behind Björk while she sang with fervour and scathing emotion until the final part of the song when the familiar tune sharply turned into a wild techno beat. The crowd bounced and Björk skipped merrily across the stage, taunting the audience to rock with her. Gorgeous!

The decade old concert favourite 'Pluto' exploded with pure musical ecstasy and the audience responded with behavioural abandon. Björk performed vigorously, attacking the song like a banshee summoning spirits. The spectators were with Björk all the way, we danced with mad freedom as she threw her raven hair and punched savagely into the air.

Then the final song. "This song is dedicated to the indigenous people of Australia", it was of course the Volta hit 'Declare Independence'. "Raise your flag! HIGHER! HIGHER!" Björk commanded in this absolutely astounding finale. What seems like tonnes of white confetti was blasted from either end of the stage from huge canons, the lasers and lights when into over-drive and the audience lost control as Björk again commanded "DECLARE INDEPENDENCE!!!!! DON'T LET THEM DO THAT TO YOU!!!!!" The heavens opened up and paradise shone on earth. This was pure brilliance, such a powerful experience.

"That's all we have for tonight, thank you!"

After the show, I was walking on air. I noticed that the streamers Björk threw were lying on the ground behind the barrier. I yelled out to one of the security guards "Can I please have those streamers?"- I have something she actually touched.

RAISE YOUR FLAG!