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I won’t let you fall apart.

Be still my 14 year old heart.

Definitely a must watch concert to cross off my personal list (Rush is still on there, damn it). 

My first exposure to the brilliance of Trent Reznor was with the Wish video on MTV (remember when MTV used to actually play music videos). It was 1992 and “Broken” was released. And since I was 14 at the time, I hand-stitched the reverse “n” on my denim shorts (I know… I know…). I think it also had the Pearl Jam stickman on there. Why do we throw things like this away?

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bfxD60rV9k]

So, the opportunity of finally being able to see Nine Inch Nails live presented itself. I was so excited about it and not one second let me know. Trent Reznor (beyond being completely hot!) and his band are powerfully intense and nailed every song spot on. I remember feeling how I had when Pearl Jam first came on stage – just ridiculously shy and completely in awe. Now, normally I cannot understand why people take photos of concerts – but in this instance, I just did not mind being a massive dweeb.

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To see “The Fragile” live is just … overwhelming. It’s such a tremendously beautiful and powerful song and deservedly gave me goosebumps. He did a really good mix of the popular songs (I really didn’t expect that many to like “Wish”!) and of course, “Closer” and “Hurt” got the most recognition. 

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OsHSwd4GDgI]

I think my rock roots (not that you can tell from my outfit in the above picture) has always led to appreciate his music but it’s my internal self loathing and chaos that makes me love his words. So, here are some of my favourite lines.

The Fragile – If I could fix myself, I’d..but it’s too late for me
We’re In This Together – You and me, even after everything, you’re the queen and I’m the king, nothing else means anything 
The Perfect Drug – Without you, everything just falls apart, without you, it’s not as much fun to pick up the pieces
Only – Sometimes I think I can see right through myself 
Cl0ser – You make me perfect, help me become somebody else 

 

Next up, Aimee Mann!

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You like potato and I like potahto.

Since the beginning of moving pictures (ok, the 1940’s), we have been sold (force-fed, even) on the notion of relationships built from the magnetism of opposites attracting. For example:

The Shop Around the Corner • Sabrina • Arthur • Can’t Buy Me Love • Say Anything • When Harry Met Sally • Pretty Woman • Curly Sue • He Said, She Said • Housesitter • Dirty Dancing • French Kiss • Top Gun • The American President • Tin Cup • The Bodyguard • You’ve Got Mail • Clueless • Runaway Bride • Save The Last Dance • Maid in Manhattan (yes, I’ve actually watched this!) • Love Actually • Knocked Up …

This list is obviously not conclusive but for some reason does house a lot of Meg Ryan. Can anyone say “movie formula“?

And now, recent movie releases like “Management” and “The Proposal” keep knocking the nails into the coffin. Is it as simple as profitable comedic opportunities? Is it capitalising on the voyeuristic nature of wanting to see a collision course? Is it like the curiousity of wanting to see the offspring of mixed parentage?

Differences do intrigue more than the similarities but yet, in the situation – all you do are seek out the likeness. You could be in a relationship with someone vastly different and once you’re in it, you get more excited by the similarities rather than the disparities. I think this proves nothing more than opposites attract but likeness endures. 

Let’s call the whole thing off.

Opposites Attract video by Paula Abdul

 

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Life is the space between.

I have a nagging feeling that life is the space between.

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I might have been under the mistaken belief that life is a series of choices – a multitude of stops and starts. What if life is what happens between decisions? The seemingly insignificant moments, dismissed time, the rebound? I’d like to think of it as a gap between your teeth, that isn’t typically beautiful but is rife with character, defines your presentation, is embarassing and beautifully flawed.

Decisions relax to normalcy and routine – the calm before the storm. The space between is the storm in the teacup. Uncomfortable and exciting all at the same time. I come across a fair few people who try to bridge the decisions – to avoid the manhole – and sometimes, it’s better to jump over it because there’s no telling if there are sharks or dolphins in the water. I think I just got bitten by a shark but maybe a dolphin will come save me. Or maybe I’ll just haul myself out eventually.

If you understood this post, you’re way smarter than I am.

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Wasn’t she a Betty?

I was doing some backing up on my computer (aren’t I conscientious? Or maybe just really bored…) and came across some old photos of my maternal grandmother, Clara Josephine a.k.a. Nano.

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She was supremely lovely, wasn’t she? Just full of old world charm, where the head tilt in a photograph didn’t look ludicrous and you could actually sign a photograph, “With best wishes” and give it to a beau. Now, all we do is tag photos on Facebook. How sad is that.

She looks really serene in these photos where in actuality, she was a firecracker of a lady, razor sharp and witty. Really bad at Math, though.

I did some futher digging and sourced a picture of her younger sister, Victorine Noelle. But her family called her Lynn. That’s right – she was Lynn Noelle. And the bizarre thing is that I was in no way named after her (I was hoped to be a boy, thus, Noel but oops, girl parts – let’s tack on an “l” and an “e”… Ok, it’s either that story or I was named after “Noelle Page” from the Sidney Sheldon book, “The Other Side of Midnight” – a woman who prostituted herself and later was left pregnant. You take your pick). She was quite tragically murdered when she was young, allegedly by a British soldier here at the time. How completely colonial.

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I guess if you’re not too sure about where you’re going, it can’t hurt to see where you’ve been.

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You don’t have to prove to me that you’re beautiful to strangers.

I spent my Sunday evening, mellowing out (in anticipation of Monday), listening to Carly Simon and realised how wonderful her album artwork is – primarily because of her stellar fashion style. I especially love the non-staged albums – it looks almost although she was snapped having a leisure moment.

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So, I dug mildly deeper and really got a taste of her fantastic taste of style (either that, or Rachel Zoe was working it back then). How wonderful to have the sort of personality that can carry off wispy clothes with frills and flaps. I’d look like a blooming tent. Although, I suspect I could pull off those strappy sandals.

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You probably think this post was about you.