George Michael's forthcoming autobiography is set to be explosive.  So explosive, in fact, that George may decide that the time isn't quite right for him to lift the lid on his life, and the lives of people that have crossed his path during his career.   While we're waiting, I thought the time is perfect to take look at the stories of some of those that, for however short a time, were an important part of George's life and career.   Welcome to, "Different Stories".   In Part 1, we take a look at "the girl from the Father Figure video".

Can you believe it's more than twenty years since George Michael released his song Father Figure as a single?  Two decades! Bloody hell!  Some images take longer than that to fade, though. Who of us could ever forget the girl that George was stalking in the video for that song - a young model named Tania Coleridge.   It was the height of the hysteria surrounding the Faith album.  Save for the Pope, and a few sportsmen, George Michael had possibly the most famous face on the planet.   The videos for his songs were glamourous and sexy, with George center stage.   The Father Figure video was one of the best and it turns out that the shoot was as eventful as the video is memorable.   MId-way through filming, the director ordered Tania to slap George in the face, "with feeling".  She obliged, hitting George so hard she almost broke his jaw.  This slap had a profound effect on George.  How could a girl be so strong to hurt him so much?  Did that make George  a girl? Not being able withstand the force of a young girl slapping him in the face caused George to question his sexuality.  He became scared of girls, in case they hit him, and... well... the rest, as they say, is history.  Of course, we all know George's story from there on in - it's well-documented; but whatever happened to"The Father Figure Girl"? It's time to catch up with her...

First, though, a little history.  Tania was born into the English aristocracy, the daughter of the fifth Baron of Ottery St Mary.  As she emerged from adolescence, the young Tania knew she wanted to be a model and actress, so she headed over the water, to make a life in Los Angeles, California. So it was that Tania had turned into a 21-year old aspiring model and actress when she met George Michael and was cast in his video.  She loved George's nickname, "Nobby" and often told friends that she would marry a man called "Nobby" one day.  She stayed in the US for a while after slapping George, but returned to her home country of England several years later.   By the time she hit (slapped?) 30, friends were telling Tania that she had to begin to accept that she might never meet her "Nobby", but, just as she was about to give up, fate, as it is want to do, took a hand.   She met a man named "Willie", and Tania cried out, "That's close enough!".  So, Tania married her Willie, and embarked on a new adventure that would take her across the world to Venezuela.  Tania and Willie fell in love with a beautiful village on the Venezuelan coast, and they settled there, planting tens of thousands of cacao trees.

In 2002, though, England called.  So Tania grabbed her Willie, and returned to Blighty to look after her family's ancestral home. However, a few short years later, the costs of upkeep on the home became too much, and Tania had to put the house up for sale.

How is Tania doing today?   Well, as you can see from the photo below she's doing just fine. Here she is in her kitchen, in front of her aga...

Tania is still happily married, and along with her husband and three young children, lives just an hour's drive from George's former Wham! partner, Andrew Ridgeley.   Tania still does a bit of modelling.

Tania's and Willie's biggest passion in life is chocolate.  Willie eats more of it than Tania does.

So there you have it.  Now you're up to date with the Father Figure girl.   Hope you enjoyed catching up with her, after twenty years.   In 2008, Tania sprung to fame once again, in the acclaimed Channel 4 fly-on-the-wall documentary series, Willie's Wonky Chocolate Factory.

In March 2008, when the show aired,  George Michael, David Austin and Kenny Goss were sitting on a couch, watching TV, and couldn't believe what their eyes were about to see...

David: "Oh. My. God.  It can't be!!!"

George: "Fuck! It bloody is!!!!!"

Kenny: "Who is it?  Who are we talking about?"

George: "Sshhhhhhh Kenny, we're trying to watch a programme."

David: "I can't believe it's her!"

George: "Wow! Me neither!  This is wicked!"

Kenny: "George, I thought you didn't like girls!"

George: "Kenny, you're not in this.  You weren't there. If you were there, you'd know."

David: "Good one, George!"

George: "I know!"

Kenny: "But... but..."

David: "For fuck's sake..."

George: "I wonder if she's slapped her husband?"

David: "You're still bitter about that, aren't you?"

George: "Well, it bloody hurt! And she pulled my pants down, didn't she, Dave?"

David: "Errrrrrrrrr... No."

George: "Yeah. You remember.  Like that teacher at our primary school. The old perv used to pull our pants down while we were waiting to go to the toilet."

David: "Errrrrrrrrr... No. You know, I really wish you wouldn't keep saying things like that."

Kenny: "Who pulled George's pants down?"

David: "No-one."

George: "OK Fine.  But she did slap me.  You have to admit that."

David: "Yes, she did slap you."

Kenny: "That woman hit you, George?"

George: "Yeah. It really hurt."

Kenny: "Is that why you hit me, George?  And why you pull my pants down?"

David: "I thought it was Kevin Spacey that did that.  Errrr... Look, I think I need to get some air - I'm going for a walk."

George: "Cool.  Can you bring a couple of pizzas with you when you come back?  Cheers, matey!"

And there we must leave George, Kenny and David.   To see how the story ends, I'm afraid you'll just have to wait for George's autobiography to hit (slap) the stores...

Pussycat - if you ever come to Amsterdam

nrreclame

what should someone do when they forget to jerk off in the morning and have to work with the fever?

Dear S&S&M-

If you work for a porn company, then great- you have nothing to worry about. 

For those of us who don't, it may be tough getting things done in a public restroom.  If anyone walks in on you and hears you- just show them a cup you are filling and tell them you are doing it for a kindly lesbian couple, that they picked you specifically to use to have a child.  If your co-worker asks why you- tell them to shut it and telling anyone would be messing up a great achievement in human evolution- making a baby to be raised by two women to grow up to be nice and sensitive and sensible enough to ask why someone is making strange groaning noises in a public toilet stall.

Do not be ashamed of your actions- you will be among our greatest international treasures- Paul Reubens and George Michael.

Ma torniamo a George: il pubblico era d'annata, il palco favoloso, il suo partner Kenny in mezzo alla platea (come mi ha spiegato la mia vicina di posto). George è sempre George ma è invecchiato, felice e innamorato. Buon per lui ma mica tanto per la scaletta: i lenti hanno superato di gran lunga le canzoni più movimentate e li ha dedicati tutti o a amici e parenti morti o languidamente al buon Kenny. Si sono salvate comunque Jesus to a child, Fastlove, Father Figure, Faith, Too funky, Everything she wants, Spinning the wheel, Amazing e Careless Whisper...ma mi aspettavo un pò più di verve!

George ha ballato su e giù per il palco, ha dato mani, ha chiaccherato e ora ho capito da chi ha preso le sue mossette pelviche Ricky Martin.

Una nota del redattore: sarà la nostra immaginazione, ma quando George ha cantato Faith, abbiamo riconosciuto alcune strofe scritte nel lontano 2004 da Fulvio...mah!

Federica

Birth

1946. Mik Kaminski (Electric Light Orchestra) born in Harrogate, Yorkshire.

On Tour

1965. Viv Prince, drummer with The Pretty Things, is escorted from a plane at Auckland, New Zealand, moments before it left for the United States with other members of the group on board. Prince had been involved in several "boisterous scenes" in the airport terminal and boarded the plane banging a tambourine. Even after all the passengers were seated, the flight didn't close. Airport officials went on board. After an argument with Prince in the gangway, they managed to escort him off the plane and back to the terminal. From there a police officer took him to a waiting car, driven by a member of a local pop group.

In Court

1997. John Denver appears in court in Colorado for a hearing to decide what charge he will face at a re-trial following the hung jury at his drunk driving trial last July. He will either face the same charge of drunk driving or a lesser one of driving with ability impaired. The judge makes no decision but will take some time to consider what to do.

In Hospital

1973. (Sunday) This weekend John Simos drummer with Peter Frampton's Camel is hospitalised suffering from infectious hepatitis.

On Television

1990. The South Bank Show (ITV, U.K.) 320. George Michael. This 8 minute clip from the show includes George performing "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" in the studio but not the alleged smoking of a joint!  

Death

2004. Michael Connor, keyboards player with Pure Prairie League dies from cancer, aged 55 in Siesta Key near Sarasota, FL, U.S.A.

Go to Rockmine's main site here.

© Copyright 1995 - 2008 Rockmine Archives. Use of this content is prohibited unless licensed by Rockmine Archives.

Ci6 Top3 Part2
That was cool, Bryan Adams seemed quite excited about Theo's piano playing. That was really fun to watch his reaction.

Ci6 Top3 Part3

Ci6 Top3 Part4

Ci6 Top3 Part5
I loved Theo's duet, I had actually been hoping all along that he and Drew would do a Wham! song, so I thought it was funny that he came up with this duet idea.
It would have been a kick to see the two of them wearing 80's flourescent t-shirts, singing a Wham! tune (I just can't get over how much Theo reminds me of George Michael).
I was also curious as to where he was going when he started to walk all around the stage, I think that maybe he should have had more interaction with his singing partner then instead.

Ci6 Top3 Part6

George Michael Originally uploaded by Ryan O.

Lørdag aften stod i koncertens tegn!

George Michael gav et brag af en koncert, han sluttet bestemt på toppen. Ingen anden sanger kan komme ud over scenekanten som ham. Publikum var mere en veloplagt, og det var Georg Michael bestemt også. Billedligt var det som om, at taget blev sunget af parken. 

Du skulle have været der, intet mindre end fantastisk.

I won't let you down
I will not give you up
Gotta have some faith in the sound
It's the one good thing that I've got
I won't let you down
So please don't give me up
Because I would really, really love to stick around

Heaven knows I was just a young boy
Didn't know what I wanted to be
I was every little hungry schoolgirl's pride and joy
And I guess it was enough for me
To win the race? A prettier face!
Brand new clothes and a big fat place
On your rock and roll TV
But today the way I play the game is not the same
No way
Think I'm gonna get me some happy

I think there's something you should know
I think it's time I told you so
There's something deep inside of me
There's someone else I've got to be
Take back your picture in a frame
Take back your singing in the rain
I just hope you understand
Sometimes the clothes do not make the man

All we have to do now
Is take these lies and make them true somehow
All we have to see
Is that I don't belong to you
And you don't belong to me
Freedom
You've gotta give for what you take
Freedom
You've gotta give for what you take

Heaven knows we sure had some fun boy
What a kick just a buddy and me
We had every big shot good-time band on the run boy
We were living in a fantasy
We won the race
Got out of the place
I went back home got a brand new face
For the boys on MTV
But today the way I play the game has got to change
Oh yeah
Now I'm gonna get myself happy

I think there's something you should know
I think it's time I stopped the show
There's something deep inside of me
There's someone I forgot to be
Take back your picture in a frame
Don't think that I'll be back again
I just hope you understand
Sometimes the clothes do not make the man

All we have to do now
Is take these lies and make them true somehow
All we have to see
Is that I don't belong to you
And you don't belong to me
Freedom
You've gotta give for what you take
Freedom
You've gotta give for what you take

Well it looks like the road to heaven
But it feels like the road to hell
When I knew which side my bread was buttered
I took the knife as well
Posing for another picture
Everybody's got to sell
But when you shake your ass
They notice fast
And some mistakes were built to last

That's what you get

I say that's what you get

That's what you get for changing your mind

And after all this time
I just hope you understand
Sometimes the clothes
Do not make the man

I'll hold on to my freedom
May not be what you want from me
Just the way it's got to be
Lose the face now
I've got to live

OK, Wednesday night was a pretty good episode of ProjRun. I enjoyed the drama. And it had so little licious-ness. These are my thoughts...

Why is everyone going on and on about Daniel being eliminated? Did anyone like him? He seemed like an Eeyore kinda guy, no? (Thanks for noticing me.) Plus, you know he wanted to get outta there and go hang with his boyfriend Wesley of the shorty shorts.

I love how they think that they are designing for a super mega star. Um... This isn't season 4, this is season 5. The "people who care about this" level is dropping. No major stars for you. You know who I would like to see on, though? Stars who remind me of the designers, and pair them up. Like Stella and Cher. Or Korto and J-Hud. Or Terri and Donna Summer.

I wanted them to actually have to rip the cars apart for material. Poo on the fact that they just used the cars as oversized bins.

Keith keeps talking about how he's gonna tone it down and show the judges that he has mad skillz. I think: DANGER! Once they focus too much on one designer, they either win or go home. Don't go home, my lovely Keith! Stop giving sound bites!

I love how Kenley cries when told that her model dropped out. Like they're not interchangeable, Ken. Then, she speculates that her model did it because she got a better job offer. Um, hope her mom didn't die or something, Tacty.

Stella's boyfriend is named RATBONES. That is simultaneously perfect for her and scary. And why did he pick rat bones? Why not chicken bones, or giraffe bones?

Keith is bitchy all during the show. More danger red flags! No! I need something to keep me watching this season!

Keith's model sits down in her dress even after Keith tells her not to. And although he is mad to the camera, he is really sweet to her. Awww.

And now that I have seen Keith's outfit, I'm thinking that it is goodbye, my love. Boring and cliched. Oh... and you didn't actually show the judges that you can sew better. A skirt should not tear open if a model sits.

Hello, Laura Bennett! I love you! And I love that you always appear in red! You know that one day she was standing in front of a mirror and she had a dozen drop waisted dresses and she tried them all on until she got to the red one, and she was all "Red. Red shall be my signature color."

Does anyone else think that Leanne's dress looks just like a dress from George Michael's "Too Funky" video?

This is from the video, and is not Leanne's dress. See?

I love Korto's coat. It's gorgeous and I didn't think it would turn out so flattering. She should win.

Ug. Leanne won, and the judges though it was so innovative. I hope they see this blog.

Bye Keith! I was starting to get annoyed with your 'tude, but then you cried and now I just want to hug you.

PS - I told Hub that I would gladly give Keith a hug, and he said that I could have him, he was too "moley". That's tacit approval.

Part 1 of 7.

By: Graham T. Towers

When Jared realized he was a vampire, not only did he crave blood, but he also wanted to listen to George Michael and watch “General Hospital”. He was sitting in a bar, next to Brian, the vampire who had turned him. 

“Yeah, you might have turned gay, too. It happens” Brain said. 

“I don’t think I’m gay, I think I just have bad taste. I even like Elton John’s later work now, and love paisley patterns on everything.”

“Well, how do you feel about Prince?”

“I love him, but I did before you bit me, too.”

“Justin Timberlake?”

“Ditto.”

“Sounds like you were halfway there already.” Brian sipped his appletini smugly.

“Thanks," Jared Said. "Well, are you gay?”

“Not me. I’m straighter than John F. Kennedy’s penis.”

“Why did you bite me then?”

“I was bored and thirsty.”

“Shit, so we can’t even have sex with each other?”

“Not unless you put a roofie in your blood before I drank it.”

“Thanks, you’ve been very helpful.”

Jared paid for his drink and walked home. He had just settled back on his bed when there came a fucking KNOCK AT THE DOOR!. . . 

This is when you, the reader, takes over. Email dres@themiddlestchild.com with your continuation of the story. The only constraint = make it around 500 words, and make sure it blows minds. We will look at all of the submissions and choose one with which to continue with.  A new segment will be posted every thursday night. 

Ready, set, write!

Muse have completed the first few tracks from their forthcoming album. Drummer Dominic Howard announced that some songs had already been written ahead of their slot at this year’s V Festival and the band are now taking a short break before returning to their studio in Italy to continue work on the new recording.

The album, which is the rock group’s fifth and has yet to be titled, follows the success of their Mercury nominated 2006 album Black Holes & Revelations

It is unclear when the release date for the new album might be, but Howard commented: “We’ve already done a few tracks and it sounds great, so we’re just working towards the future.”

********************

George Michael To Release 'FeelingGood' Cover - Muse Fans Sigh

George Michael to follow in Muse’s footsteps

Singer suggests he's not retiring and reveals Christmas single plan

George Michael is set to follow in the footsteps of Muse by releasing a cover of 'Feeling Good' – the song that originally featured in the 1965 musical 'The Roar Of The Greasepaint – The Smell Of The Crowd' – and was later sung by Nina Simone.

The singer's version of the song will be released as a free download on Christmas Day (December 25). Muse released their own cover of the song in 2001, and it is still a staple of their live set.

Michael revealed his plan to release 'Feeling Good' during a concert at the London Earl's Court venue last night (August 24), reports BBC News.

He also revealed further single plans, hinting that he was not retiring despite billing the show, in conjunction with another tonight (August 25) at the venue, as his final gigs.

During the show Michael said he would release a new Christmas single this winter in addition to the aforementioned download, suggesting that while he may be stepping away from live shows he doesn't plan to leave music completely behind.

OK. So that's that.  Now - a new contest, with a truly amazing prize!  How would you like the chance to meet George Michael in person?!  Yes - you read it right!!! How would you like the chance to meet George, at his luxury home in London, England?  Rem's Blog is offering an all-expenses paid trip to meet George in London.  All you have to do is complete the following sentence in twenty five words or less:

I would like to meet George Michael because...

Put your answers in the comments (you can enter more than once, if you so choose). Please note that terms and conditions apply.

Terms and Conditions

This competition is open to anyone, but the prize relates only to expenses incurred in the United Kingdom, Europe and the United States. All travel, accommodation and subsistence expenses will be paid in advance, at the sole discretion of Remarkable's Buzzin' Blog, and no discussion will be entered into relating to any non-approved spending incurred after the award of the prize fund.   According to prevailing conditions, there may be a cap on expenses which means that the competition winner's expenses may, in certain circumstances, not be met in full. The competition winner will be directed to George Michael's house, where they must wait for George to emerge.   Rem's Blog cannot guarantee George Michael will be at home on the dates that the winner is able to travel, or that he will be in the mood to come and talk to the winner.    The competition winner will be chosen by staff at Remarkble's Buzzin' Blog, and no discussion will be entered into surrounding the the decision.  Should a dispute arise, Remarkable's Buzzin' Blog will have sole power to decide the outcome. This competition is being run in association only with Georgous Michaels 25 Alive Enterprises Ltd, and not in affiliation with any other person or company.  In the event that the winner is not,  despite their best efforts, able to meet George Michael, Remarkable's Buzzin' Blog may, at its sole discretion substitute a meeting with the Danish band Alphabeat.   In the event that George Michael indicates to Remarkable's Buzzin' Blog that he doesn't like any of the competition entries, or in any event, Remarkable's Buzzin' Blog reserves the right not to choose a winner, and/or not to award a prize.

I am no doctor of the head (yet) but I do know how to get people out of a funk. 80’s music. 80’s hair rock, power pop, and ridiculous ballads. Today, if you’re in a shitty mood because you’re back at work, or you’re pretty sure you’re in love with your best friends girlfriend, or you just watched Sixteen Candles and want to be 16 again, make yourself these CDs, and the world will seem just fine.

(Alternatively, ask me, and I’ll do it for you. I’m good like that)

Title: Closed Box’s Guide to Happy Times

CD 1: Pretty in Pink

01.  Highway To Hell – AC/DC

02.  Here I Go Again – Whitesnake

03.  Any Way You Want It – Journey

04.  Talk Dirty To Me – Poison

05.  Shout At The Devil – Motley Crue

06.  Pour Some Sugar On Me – Def Leppard

07.  Why Can’t This Be Love – Van Halen

08.  Don’t Stop Believing – Journey

09.  The Best Of Times - Styx

10.  God Gave Rock ‘n’ Roll To You – Kiss

11.  Every Rose Has Its Thorn - Poison

CD 2: Some Kind of Wonderful

01.  Jesse’s Girl – Rick Springfield

02.  Somebody’s Baby – Jackson Browne

03.  Little Bitch – The Specials

04.  Pump It Up – Elvis Costello

05.  Dancing In The Dark – Bruce Springsteen

06.  We Got The Beat – Go-Go’s

07.  It’s Different For Girls – Joe Jackson

08.  Edge Of Seventeen – Stevie Nicks

09.  Boys Don’t Cry – The Cure

10.  Ashes To Ashes – David Bowie

11.  Is She Really Going Out With Him? – Joe Jackson

If they don’t put you in a good mood, nothing will!

How were your collective weekends? Fun? Exciting? Downright depressing? All Of The Above? I think I managed to break a thumb, that’s my big news.

I somehow managed to swing a 5 day weekend – taking Thursday and Friday as ‘holiday/vacation time’ and with Monday being a bank holiday here, but I want to start today’s blog with a relaying of what came to be a rather heated conversation on Sunday night, and has sufficiently pissed me off enough that I still feel a need to rant a little about it this Tuesday morning.

And it is about this: the correlation between money and happiness.

I will begin by making my opinion very clear: Money has NOTHING to do with happiness. It might make life easier on a very superficial level, but make you more happy? Hells no.

It all sprung from a conversation I was having with my friend, who I will call Jane (for anonymity purposes) on Sunday night. Jane is yet another episode in my continuing quest for reconnection with old friends, and we were having dinner at ‘Balams’- http://www.balans.co.uk/soho.html,  a 24-hour restaurant (well, virtually) in London’s Old Compton Street.

As has become to the usual pattern of play, I explained to Jane that I had undergone a massive period of change, the why, and what the ‘new’ David was all about.

The conversation, as it inevitably does, swayed towards people’s own history – it never fails to amaze me just how much people want to ‘talk’ – and then, as it does, the inevitable clashing of what makes a person happy, and my (again) inevitable repeating of what seems to have become my mantra ‘ whatever makes you happy’.

Now, Jane is a pretty together person, and a pretty happy one. She has what most would consider a pretty nice life, so there would be no reason for her not to be.

However, she made a comment during our evening, which made me wonder actually how happy she really is, and having recently read ‘Affluenza’, I was all too happy to delve as deep as physically and mentally possible.

Jane contended that she was happy because she always left the house looking ‘her best’, and was always best representing herself. She did this, so she said, so that she was constantly ‘high’ or thereabouts. I enquired that if she considered this ‘high’, and did it all the time, was it not that her ‘high’ was actually her ‘norm’.

I enquired, simply, that if we accept her constantly feeling a need to best represent herself as her ‘norm’, at what point did she actually experience a ‘high’ – that point where, on a Saturday night (for instance) someone will look in a mirror and say to themselves ‘I look good’ – a form of self love.

Jane’s reply was that this only happened when she went shopping and bought something fabulous – but with an interesting difference, Jane made clear that this ‘high’ only occurred when she bought something ridiculous, like a Gucci shirt, Armani trousers, or a Prada bag.

Jane comes from a relatively affluent background, but by no means is she a ‘Daddy’s Credit Card’ girl, and she explained to me how the high worked. She would save for a month, maybe two, and THEN allow herself the pleasure of the shop. Immediately, I wondered about the need to ‘belong’ – how the Gucci/Prada/etc shopping experience wasn’t necessarily about the quality of garment, but rather the need to feel the high of belonging to an exclusive club, or designs on a lifestyle, or indeed, as she had mentioned the need to always look her best, the projection to the outside world.

I asked Jane why it was that rather than go and buy something once a month, she didn’t do what the vast majority of people across the country do, which is economise, or feel the fun of shopping on a more regular basis, and do so in Top Shop or one of its many equivalents – for the pair of £200 Armani trousers she told me she had recently bought, and recalled as her last ‘high’, she could buy any number of trousers, admittedly, they might be a slightly worse cut – but why did she feel the need to deprive herself?

She looked at me in disgust. In fairness, she is a self-confessed snob. She explained to me that if she had the money, why shouldn’t she do what she likes? I countered that it was fairly obvious that (a) she didn’t have the money since it took her a month or two to get to the point where she could buy something, and (b) that it was a case of relative values – that a £30 pair of trousers in Top Shop were only a £170 worse off than the Armani ones by the label on the price tag. Sure, maybe the Top Shop ones cost £1 to make, and the Armani £10, but the relative increase was dependant only on the label, and that’s what you were paying for. Jane simply answered that if she shopped in Top Shop or Primark, she would be desperately unhappy, and probably wouldn’t leave the house.

By pulling Primark out of thin air, I immediately thought she was making an interesting point without realising it. Primark is generally considered a budget store, but is ridiculously popular due to it place as the ‘disposable fashion house’ on the high street – that you can buy things in there for next to no money, that look ok, but you know you’ll throw it out after a couple of times wearing it. Jane basically believed that it was either designer labels, or she was scraping the barrel, and I wondered if it was the seemingly mental black hole she invented in-between that signalled just how insecure or otherwise she was in the way she looked.

In the car on the way home, I argued the case of a person having relative value, while Jane continued to argue her point that to her, it was the luxury that equalled satisfaction, while I argued that satisfaction, and happiness, came from within.

Jane posed a question – if I were to become an overnight millionaire, would I want the luxury Mercedes driving in front of me over the Polo I was driving? My answer was simple: No. I said that I understood that the Mercedes was probably a better car, with more features, was more luxurious, and was, in the eyes of others, probably a nicer car, but that I was comfortable in my Polo, and didn’t see the need.

Jane really couldn’t understand it. And became quite animated. She then posed another question.

She had been desperate to see George Michael in concert, and asked me if, in a hypothetical situation where my favourite band was playing, and it was a once in a lifetime opportunity to see them, that I would pay over the odds to see them. I answered, again, that I wouldn’t – a noted a time when this had actually happened.

Last year, Pearl Jam (my favourite band) came to play in London at the Astoria, a significantly smaller and more intimate venue than their usual arena shows. Tickets sold out within minutes, and eBay prices went from £500 to £800 to £1400 in 24 hours. I explained to Jane that, as I believe in relative value, that never, in a million years would I even have thought for one moment of paying £500 for a ticket, let alone what they went for in the end.

Jane couldn’t understand – why, she asked, if I had the money, would I not want to see them?

This argument went on for quite some time, as this mammoth diatribe can probably attest to, and the fundamental difference in values are probably apparent. But I wonder, and perhaps you can help – is relative value relative to what you have? Or should you follow Jane’s mantra of desiring the best, and using money as power? I know (very firmly) my ideals.

That will most certainly do for today. Again, if you are reading, my thanks to you.

Keep well, and fill your hearts with love and 80’s Hair Rock, all of you

Closed Box

Sono brani che ricordando quando Michael, giovane cantante, autore e musicista, in coppia con l’amico chitarrista Andrew Ridgeley sfondò nel dorato mondo della musica pop. Dall’82 all’86 con due soli album (Fantastic e Make it big) una compilation (The Final, a cui poi si è aggiunta If you were there nel ‘96) e ben 13 singoli, l’artista  divenne famosissimo. La posizione di Michael nel duo era più che predominante, essendo autore e cantante in tutti i brani, in cui suonava anche diversi strumenti. Così, il cantante nell’86 decise di iniziare una nuova vita artistica da solista. Fu un momento decisivo che permise al cantante di dimostrare di non essere solo un prodotto costruito ad arte dall’industria discografica (un bel ragazzo, con una splendida voce e dei pezzi giusti per i teen agers) ma un’artista vero.  Il tour dei 25 anni di carriera dimostra che il cantante quella scommessa l’ha vinta alla grande, sopravvivendo agli anni ’80 e costruendosi una nuova carriera che l’ha portato alla grande giorni nostri.  

L’uscita di Michael dagli Wham! gli ha dato la possibilità di addentrarsi ancora di più nella musica nera, che apprezzava fin da ragazzino. La maggior parte dello spettacolo di ieri ci ha consegnato le canzoni di questo periodo, che va dall’86 ai giorni nostri, in cui l’artista ha inciso cinque cd, due raccolte, 37 singoli ed ha duettato con star come Paul Mc Cartney, Aretha Franlklin, Stevie Wonder, Elton John e i Queen. Non poteva mancare, ieri, “Faith” la title track del’album, che costituì la sua dichiarazione d’indipendenza dagli Wham! ma anche l’intrigante “Father figure”. L’artista però ha tirato fuori anche la sua verve polemicamente pacifista con “Soot the dog”, il cui video a cartoni animati prendeva in giro le smani guerrafondaie del presidente degli Stati Uniti George Bush e dell’ex premier britannico Tony Blair. Poi, Michael ha commosso il pubblico con la straziante “Jesus to a child”, dedicata al suo ex compagno Anselmo Feleppa, morto nel ’93, affetto da aids. Uno concerto emozionante e spettacolare.

(Michele Bugliari)

Quattro erano gli schermi laterali ed uno immenso centrale, che sarà stato alto circa 30 metri. La band, poi era posizionata su tre piano posti sui lati destro e sinistro del palco. Michael elegantissimo con il suo completo nero ed occhiali da sole sfumati ha fatto letteralmente ballare il pubblico dalle 21.50 alle 24.20, prendendosi una pausa di 20 minuti tra un set e l’altro, in cui è stato proiettato il video di “John and Elvis are dead”. Il concerto è iniziato con i video che si sono illuminati con delle splendide stelle colorate sul video. A quel punto è arrivato il cantante che ha cantato la dolce ballad “Song to a siren”. Solo un attimo per rilassarsi, perché dopo Michael ha attaccato con la ritmata “Fast Love”, facendo capire che l’intenzione era quella di fare danzare il pubblico per tutta la serata. <<Grazie da qualsiasi parte siate venuti - poi ha detto il cantante - per avermi sostenuto in questi 25 anni>>. 

Poi, l’artista ha continuato a mantenere calda la macchina del ritmo con “Too funky” e “Father Figure”. 

A quel punto ha detto: <<Probabilmente molti di voi non erano neanche nati quando nell’84 ho inciso il brano che ora eseguiremo>> ed ha cominciato a cantare “Everything she wants”, il primo estratto del concerto dal vecchio repertorio degli Wham!. A proposito nei giorni scorsi c’erano state delle voci, secondo cui il secondo Wham! Andrew Ridgeley avrebbe partecipato come ospite a sorpresa alla data patavina ma alla fine non si è visto. Poi, Michael ha cantato per la gioia dei fans le scatenate “Star People” e la pacifista “Shoot the Dog”, che è stata accompagnata dal video a cartoons contro la guerra dell’Iraq con le caricature di Bush e Blair. La canzone è finita in bellezza con l’arrivo sul palco di un pupazzo enorme alto circa 30 metri raffigurante il presidente degli Stati Uniti. Il secondo set è stato aperto da Michael vestito da poliziotto, che ha cantato “Outside”, irriverente brano che prende in giro un agente che non avendo apprezzato le sue advance in una toilette, lo ha arrestato. Poi, il cantante ha diviso il pubblico in tre settori, per cantare “The edge of heaven”, altra chicca degli Wham!. Gran finale con la sua più bella ballad: “Careless whisper”.

(Michele Bugliari)

George Michael (clicar em baixo)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DaDGXXF5Ve0

Um tour por Beverly Hills e Hollywood revela o lado obscuro da região predileta das celebridades.

O "Dearly Departed Tours" leva turistas a locais onde ocorreram crimes e escândalos envolvendo famosos, além de cenários de filmes.

O passeio inclui os imóveis dos assassinatos cometidos pelo grupo de Charles Manson, a casa onde os irmãos Menendez mataram os pais em 1989 e os pontos onde morreram Frank Sinatra e River Phoenix, entre outros.

O tour ainda passa pelo banheiro público onde o cantor George Michael foi preso por conduta indecente.

As saídas ocorrem de quarta a domingo e custam US$ 35 (R$ 57,32).

A matéria foi encontrada aqui.

O site do Dearly Departed Tours fica aqui.

This is another one from 43Things.com.  There's a group of people on that site (me included) who post random questions daily for other people to answer.  They're usually about likes and dislikes, trivia, etc.  The question I posted today was, "What is your favorite guilty pleasure movie, book, and song?"

Mine are:
Movie: Dante’s Peak (so awesomely bad! When the grumpy gramma jumps out of the quickly disintegrating metal canoe to pull the family to shore? Best. Cheesy Movie Martyr Moment. Ever!)

Book: Tie between The DaVinci Code by Dan Brown and The Givenchy Code by Julie Kenner (a chick-lit version with the tag line -- yes, it's a book with a tag line --  “Cryptology is the new black!” Favorite part is when the brainy and gorgeous grad student and the sexy, rugged man assigned to protect her take a moment from running for their lives to have sex in a shower at the Plaza. For real.)

Song: "Father Figure" by George Michael. There’s nothing like singing that one at the top of your lungs as you cruise down the highway. That part about “put your tiny hand in mine” always creeps me out.

George Michael - Faith

Before this river
Becomes an ocean
Before you throw my heart back on the floor
Oh baby I reconsider
My foolish notion
Well I need someone to hold me
But Ill wait for something more
Yes I've gotta have faith

É simplesmente impossível ouvir essa música e não lembrar do Eneas dançando na Trash 80s. Bons tempos.