By Rahsian Parris

Originally published September 23rd 2008

It is 2008 and the airwaves are bursting at the seams with dance/pop; synthesizer led anthems that would more befit an under 21s in Ibiza than Virgin Radio drive time. The live sound of the pop/rock of yesteryear is rapidly being replaced by high tempo loops and throbbing bass lines reminiscent of the late 90s ‘Euro Pop’ trend; even Britney Spears has abandoned her patented pop production and jumped into the carbon copy tech-pop machine and you wonder how the acoustic sounds of James Morrison and the Kooks even get air play. Then in the midst of repetitive, synthetic loop purgatory and RnB too insipid to digest, there is Katy Perry.

Production wise, the debut album of singer/songwriter Perry, One of The Boys, leaves little to be desired, a lot to be left behind. Seconds into its namesake first track it is clear that, despite what her first few singles and odd dress sense may have led you to believe, Perry is not nearly as ballsy or as edgy as she seems set to prove, a theme that stays throughout the album. By the second track, 2008’s anthem I Kissed a Girl, the vocal production alone is so sickly sweet it will leave you reaching for a bucket. Although the lyrics may be comedic tongue-in-cheek and the overall melody of the track is undeniably catchy, the overproduced, distorted guitars and tumbling bass line, together with far too clean-cut vocals are presented in a plodding fashion when really they feel like they should be stomping.

I Kissed a Girl ends and I am seriously considering switching off altogether, because surely, if this is like most albums, then that was the highlight and what is to follow will be an extra thirty minutes of substandard album fillers. Then something beautiful happens. Waking Up in Vegas snakes into a bright guitar riff alongside Perry’s slightly more relevant vocals, bursting into a completely gratifying assortment of road trip ready, college chick-rock and echoing melodic hooks from early Avril Lavigne, I start to think that maybe this is not ‘most albums’.

Thinking of You fails to disappoint. The sultry power-pop ballad starts off with an Alanis Morisette on a bad day type choppy vocal and acoustic guitar accompaniment, which compliments Perry’s quirky stylistics beautifully. The production begins to sit perfectly as, not hindered by over conscious lyrics or a mediocre vocal, Thinking of You simply exists as pure pop indulgence rather than an over exuberant monologue undermined by the irrelevance of the melody keeping it afloat.

Mannequin and Ur So Gay re-introduce Perry’s flippant lyrics, however, where the title track and I Kissed a Girl seem to lack sincerity and believability, these tracks seem to take themselves far less seriously and with killer hooks and laugh-out-loud innuendos (‘you’re so gay and you don’t even like boys’) are the ironic, male bashing pop/rock songs usually associated with the likes of P!nk. Ur So Gay seemingly brings out the ‘artist’ in Perry as she ditches the typical punk rhythms and popular chord structures in place for an almost mockingly dark, piano led, nursery rhyme-esque anthem. A lounge-like brass section ignites a punchy staccato piano over the lyric ‘you’re so gay’ on the chorus, which by the end almost snowballs into a chant. Desp

One Of The Boys album cover - photo courtesy of katyperry.com

ite its questionable lyrical content, Ur So Gay is as infectious as head lice in a school playground. This makes way for the equally as catchy second single Hot N Cold and cheeky chick-rocker If You Can Afford Me. The rest of the album echoes previous tracks, too little to bore, but enough to be palpable in their own right.

One of The Boys could have easily have been yet another longwinded barrage of diary entries disgu

ised as a foray into modern music, however, this selection of exquisite pop flies the flag for classic popular code and with lashings of modern trends fits in nicely with current music without succumbing to the trends itself. Much like Kelly Clarkson’s 2004 triumph, Breakaway, One of The Boys is seemingly chained together with tracks that have s

taying power. This will ultimately see it perched firmly in the charts when today’s dance/pop hits get banished to summer sale hell. So as the synth’ hits come and go, Perry’s contagious writing style and distinctive vocal (though sometimes lacking in technical prowess) will continue to be the breath of fresh air in a stifled industry, which leads me to wonder, could Katy Perry be the unlikely pop saviour we’ve all been hoping for?

למאזינים שלום!

בתכנית של שלישי האחרון לראשונה הכנסנו שיר שקיבלנו ממאזין! השיר גידי, במקור של שרון ליפשיץ מ-84, אותו קיבלנו בביצוע קאנטרי מקפיץ של תמר קפסוטו, אשר נשלח לנו על ידי המאזין תומר יעקובי. תודה תומר.

אם גם אתם רוצים להגיע לתהילת עולם, שילחו לנו גם אתם קאברים מעניינים ותוכלו לזכות לתודה מכל הלב מאופיר ושחר בשידור שמגיע למיליון בתי אב בחצי הכדור המערבי.

תמר קפסוטו. Cowgirl גידי

עוד הייו בתכנית:

מטאליקה מחדשים את Turn The Page של בוב סיגר בשיר על חייו של כוכב רוק שבקליפ שלהם הפך לסיפור חייה של חשפנית ואמא:

מרגש.. ללא ספק.

עוד הספקנו להחריש לכם את האוזניים עם ביצוע מזעזע של זמרת השקר הגרמניה טניה יונאק ל-La Isla Bonita  של מדונה המלכה אסתר בזירה הבנלאומית. להלן דוגמא:

לאחר מכן, ביצוע נדיר של Blackfield של סטיבן ווילסון ואביב גפן ל-Thank U המצויין של אלאניס מוריסט מתוך סיבוב ההופעות שלהם בארה”ב ב-2007.

ה-Guano Apes, שוב גרמניה, הפעם להקת אלטרנטיב לא מבריקה במיוחד חירבו את קלאסיקת האייטיז Big In japan של  Alphaville כמיטב המסורת של התכנית.

בפינת בקשיש”ק גילינו לכם, למקרה שלא ידעתם, שש-Crying in the rain הוא למעשה לא של A-ha במקור, אלא של The Everlly Brother. ד”א בדרך זו אנו נפרדים מ-A-ha שהתפרקו מתישהו בשבוע שעבר.

Korn שילבו את שלושת החלקים של Another Brick in the wall של פינק פלויד ביחד עם Goodbye Cruel World גם הוא מאלבום החומה, לשבע דקות של שיכרון חושים.

Extreme הזכורים לטובה אך ורק מהשיר More then words מנסים להזכיר שהם בכל זאת להקת רוק ולא הבי ג’יז ומחדשים את Stutter של KISS.

שוב פעם למורת רוחה של שחר נכנסה לתכנית שריל קרואו והפעם עם חידוש ל-D’yer Ma’ker  (קוראים את זה כמו ג’מייקה במבטא בריטי כבד) של לד זפלין.

ואחרונים חביבים היו אלה Dave Matthews Band בביצוע בהופעה חיה של Time of the season של הזומביס.

עד ליום שלישי.. נשתמע

I wanted to post earlier today, but I haven’t had a minute to breathe all week. It’s been an insanely busy time at work these last few days – training the new girl, taking on new responsibilities, picking up the slack. And I’ve had Monster deadlines and two hours of sleep a night. So, yes, I look a hot mess.

The DS is starting to pick up. I started MSN chatting with one guy but he’s a bit young and a bit inexperienced for my tastes, so we will see if he can combat my preconceived notions. I mean, he’s 22, but I have been known to fall for forty-year-olds so 22 feels very young. And he’s only been out for a year, so my six years of gayness stand in pretty stark contrast to that. Okay, 25 years of gayness. But six years of open gayness.

Let’s get to celebrities, shall we? I’m ready for Jon Gosselin to die. And Kate, too. Send the kids to a nunnery in Iceland and hang the parents in town square. Cool? Can’t we just pretend that it is old school Salem and Kate’s a witch? She has that ugly side mullet thing and that can’t be human. As for Jon, I can’t believe People.com actually published a story saying he admits he forgot to check his “moral compass.” What moral compass? Last time I checked, pimping out your kids for a reality show while cavorting around with bimbos and stealing money from your family goes a bit beyond a lack of morality. You are an ass in an Ed Hardy catsuit.

Who do I like this week, then?

1)      How about Rihanna, for finally being brave enough to talk about her physical abuse at the hands of Assface Whathisname? Granted it’s all to promote her new album, but her Diane Sawyer interview was still very eloquent and important.

2)      Have you seen Alanis lately? Girlfriend is looking good. Take a peak below.

I’ve loved Alanis since Jagged Little Pill and I have every album she has ever made with the exception of those two dance ones from, like, 1947. And it’s never mattered to me whether she was fat or thin, greasy or washed. Whatever. But, wow, she looks amazing. Take that Ryan Reynolds. Except he’s still hotter. But he’s hotter than everyone alive, so that’s not saying much.

3)      Josh Hopkins. So yummy.

Talk soon. If you’re lucky.

BM

The first two weeks of marathon training, I was nauseous most of the day. Food didn’t really appeal to me. (I know-what a shock!)  I just felt sick. Every night I had to force myself to eat more than a few bites. Frankly I wondered if that was going to be my life for the next year. But now I’m back to normal! Maybe even have made up for a lack of appetite. My new thing is that I’m sore in places I’ve never been sore before. My Achilles tendon hurts sporadically as does the bottom of my right foot.   I’m not sure why but I’ve been stretching and putting icepacks on both places.

Sunday is my long run day. I’ve been steadily increasing my mileage by no more than a half-mile each week on that day. If I feel horrible, then I just run half a mile but if I’m feeling good then I go the full mile.  The past few days my Achilles tendon had really been hurting. On Sunday I woke up and laid in bed for a good thirty minutes psyching myself up for the run. Hitting the 13 mile mark is really important to me because its half a marathon. It represents a milestone I never thought I ‘d get to.

I got all dressed up to go to the gym to run my 13 and was in a really, really good mood. I had enough water and had even eaten a little something to get me through the run. Both of my feet felt fine-no pain. I planned to run a negative split with the first 6.5 miles at around 5.8 miles an hour. For the last 6.5 miles I wanted to kick it up and run 6-6.2 miles an hour. Totally achievable.

I was 11 minutes into my run, completely on schedule, and then the lights in the gym flickered and then the treadmill stopped. For a moment I thought my side of the gym had blown a fuse. It’s an old gym and the electrical system could use some work. But then I realized the entire gym was dark. No power. At first I was pretty ticked off. I hopped off the treadmill and lifted some free weights for about five minutes. I thought about all my options weighing all the pros and cons. I didn’t want to get up early during the week to run so I had to do my long run on Sunday.  I realized my best bet was to run outside. So I quickly jogged home and put on some warmer clothes.

I ran across the Hawthorne Bridge and down the Waterfront area. It was really cold but pretty dry. When I left the house, I worried that I had put on too many layers of clothing. But as the wind picked up off the Willamette River, I realized I could have put on even more and been very comfy.

I ended up running a lot more hilly inclines than I had anticipated. Hills aren’t my strong point and seem to absorb every bit of energy I have. At the very top I usually find myself shuffling stooped over like an old woman. I don’t want to tell anyone how long it took me to navigate the 9.5 miles I ran. Between the hills and traffic, it took forever. But the marathon has hills so I definitely need to start running a lot more of them.

Yesterday was also the New York Marathon. Celebrities like Alanis Morisette and Edward Norton both ran a good race and finished under 4.5 hours. The big news was that an American won-which is the first time since 1982. Meb Keflezig, the winner of the 2009 New York Marathon, ran the 26.2 miles in 2:09:15. All I have to say to that is Sweet Mary that’s fast.

Sempre al quinto posto, a pari merito con Bryan Adams troviamo altre due canzoni. Sul gradino più basso di questo pareggio, solo per ordine alfabetico, troviamo Vasco Rossi con Sally, poco più su invece abbiamo Alanis Morisette con  Hands Clean (tutti quanti con un solo voto).

Kelly performing a cover of
Alanis Morisette’s - ”That I Would Be Good’,
mixed with
Kings of Leon’s – ‘Use Somebody’.

Why in the world have I never heard that Alanis song before? 

More vids to come…
Sorry for the crap visual quality. 
The sound is amazing though. 
My camera was being a big beeyatch last night.

KELLY CLARKSON @ CASINO RAMA – OCTOBER 15th 2009.

If you have known me since the first American Idol, you would understand how long I have been waiting to see Kelly Clarkson in concert. I know American Idol is losing it’s appeal, but I am still a huge fan of any singing shows. Kelly is the only American Idol I actually really like and still listen to. I’m not going to lie…I even possess her movie with Justin Guarini “From Justin to Kelly“. It’s definitely cheesy, but I loved it! Anyway, when I found out she was coming to Orillia, I had my hand waiting to click submit on ticketmaster as soon as the tickets were released. I paid about $100, and some people think I’m insane…but I have been waiting for this for YEARS! Let’s just say I wasn’t disappointed, nor do I regret spending that money.

The show ran for about an hour and half. Though she didn’t sing nearly as many of the songs I was anticipating (She does have 4 albums afterall), it was probably one of my most enjoyed concerts to date (and I’ve been to plenty of concerts). She is the cutest person ever! The way she acted on American Idol is exactly how she acted on stage, just speaking to everyone. The picture below is my favourite part of any concert; when they slow it down and they just sing with a guitar. It was amaaaazing! She also did 4 covers (videos for those will be up shortly). I can’t explain how good this show was. Even if you aren’t a fan, no one can deny that she can definitely sing.

I’m sad, I want to see her live again. My only regret is not going to her show @ Massey Hall. Can you imagine? It’s such a small and intimate venue. Don’t get me wrong, I was close last night – row 12, pretty much in the center. I got my money worth, that’s for sure. Ugh, last night’s mission to get there was definitely not the smoothest, but I would do it over, and over, and over again.

Hmmmm…I think I’ll end this by recommending some of her songs. Actually now that I’m thinking about it, I already started listing almost everything off all of her albums, in my head. So I’ll just end this asking everyone to give her a listen. She even writes her own songs – something I always admire about any singer.  On second thought…here’s one of my faves (she didn’t sing it last night though). I don’t know what it is about this song that I love so much. It’s off of her first album and was originally up-beat with a much faster tempo. She slowed it down for her second album after she performed it as a piano acoustic, when she was a guest on American Idol one year.

Ok. This is way too long. Check back soon for the vids from her show last night!

In de categorie ‘Hello Amsterdam’, de uitroep die Amerikanen op een podium doen ook al staan ze in Tilburg, Biddinghuizen, Groningen of Nijmegen, is het slippertje van Depeche Mode.

Voorman Dave Gahan riep ‘Thank you very much, Chile’ op het podium in Peru. Wordt niet echt gewaardeerd in een land dat vroeger in oorlog was met Chili.

Peru kreeg eerder een zelfde belediging om de oren toen Alanis Morisette in Peru ‘Thank You, Brazil’ schreeuwde.

I have it posted on my Facebook page that I’m the biggest Julie Andrews fan ever. I am also, I would contest, the biggest fan in existence of Alanis Morissette.

Sure, her first album’s attempt at profundity led her to fumbling hands in pockets and other half-contrived lyrics, but you can still see that she’s thinking - and I for one loved the fact that she sparked vehement discussions about the definition and types of irony throughout English classes everywhere. (And no, let’s not get into it now, folks.)

And then she went to India, and despite the risk of incurring an unforgivable overload of cheesiness and cliche from that trip and its following album, that CD is amazing. She skates past the hyperbole she couldn’t avoid in her first album with songs that rhythmically and lyrically soar outside of themselves. And then her third album is just brilliance.

On this third album is “You Owe Me Nothing in Return,” which serves, in my opinion, as the definition of unconditional love:

I’ll give you countless amounts of outright acceptance if you want it
I will give you encouragement to choose the path that you want if you need it
You can speak of anger and doubts your fears and freak outs and I’ll hold it
You can share your so-called shame filled accounts of times in your life and I won’t judge it
(and there are no strings attached to it)

You owe me nothing for giving the love that I give
You owe me nothing for caring the way that I have
I give you thanks for receiving it’s my privilege
And you owe me nothing in return

You can ask for space for yourself and only yourself and I’ll grant it
You can ask for freedom as well or time to travel and you’ll have it
You can ask to live by yourself or love someone else and I’ll support it
You can ask for anything you want anything at all and I’ll understand it
(and there are no strings attached to it)

I bet you’re wondering when the next payback shoe will eventually drop
I bet you’re wondering when my conditional police will force you to cough up
I bet wonder how far you have now danced you way back into debt
This is the only kind of love as I understand it that there really is

You can express your deepest of truths even if it means I’ll lose you and I’ll hear it
You can fall into the abyss on your way to your bliss I’ll empathize with
You can say that you have to skip town to chase your passion I’ll hear it
You can even hit rock bottom have a mid-life crisis and I’ll hold it
(and there are no strings attached)

You owe me nothing for giving the love that I give
You owe me nothing for caring the way that I have
I give you thanks for receiving it’s my privilege
And you owe me nothing in return

I’ve meditated on these lyrics quite a lot during the last several months – testing myself, testing the assertions here.

“You owe me nothing in return” can almost feel impossible to say to someone you love, whether it be a parent, a lover, or a child. I mean, don’t we all believe in reciprocity? Wouldn’t it be foolish not to expect and deserve at least an equal amount of energy and love in a relationship?Is Alanis proposing that she’s a weak doormat who will let the object of her adoration do whatever he wants, while she hangs around like a loyal dog?

No, she is not. What these lyrics speak about is true egoless love – which I actually believe/agree is the only kind of love there is. Love that isn’t true isn’t love. The notion of truth is part and parcel of the definition of love. Other feelings we have for people are about need, desire, infatuation – not that these aren’t powerful or valid emotions to experience and express, but they are about feeding the frenzied and fearful self.

There is possibly nothing harder than loving someone who chooses to leave you, who chooses to do things you find reprehensible, who cannot offer you the same open heart of acceptance and affirmation that you cannot help giving to that person. It is hard to forgive people their limitations. It is hard to stay open when someone slams a door in your face.

I am not suggesting that true love is playing a doormat. Healthy relationships do require reciprocation of trust, kindness, respect, listening.

But learning to love in the way Alanis describes is not about trying to make another person conform or perform, not about sustaining a relationship – it’s about letting another person follow their heart. If doing so leads that person into your sphere, great. If not – well, then you wouldn’t want them there anyway. Either way, if you truly love someone, the love doesn’t stop because they are here or gone or yours or not. That would imply it is conditional. And conditional love – love dependent on a condition – is not truly love.

True love is like getting disemboweled. It’s painful. It turns you inside out. It requires that you empty yourself of wanting and needing things to go your way before you can care and have compassion for another person.

I am working on my heart – kind of like needlework across a raggedy napkin. Stitching it together again with the threads expressed in this song. A heart that can be open enough to say those words and mean them all the way through can’t truly be broken. Love is never lost when it is true.

And that may be Disney-level cheese – but trust me, sometimes cliches speak truths – and that’s an irony you can stick in your pocket to keep.

I had no choice but to hear you
You stated your case time and again
I thought about it

You treat me like I’m a princess
I’m not used to liking that
You ask how my day was

You’ve already won me over in spite of me
And don’t be alarmed if I fall head over feet
Don’t be surprised if I love you for all that you are
I couldn’t help it
It’s all your fault

Your love is thick and it swallowed me whole
You’re so much braver than I gave you credit for
That’s not lip service

You’ve already won me over in spite of me
And don’t be alarmed if I fall head over feet
Don’t be surprised if I love you for all that you are
I couldn’t help it
It’s all your fault

You are the bearer of unconditional things
You held your breath and the door for me
Thanks for your patience

You’re the best listener that I’ve ever met
You’re my best friend
Best friend with benefits
What took me so long

I’ve never felt this healthy before
I’ve never wanted something rational
I am aware now
I am aware now

You’ve already won me over in spite of me
And don’t be alarmed if I fall head over feet
Don’t be surprised if I love you for all that you are
I couldn’t help it
It’s all your fault

You know.. I was thinking about it,

and I know so many amazing people. I can’t begin to thank the people that are there for me.. and the people that care about me. You guys have made all the difference in the world in my life.

Thank You to the people who sang to me in my mother’s womb, and have been there to watch me become the person I was born to be.

Thank You to my family, that without your unconditional love I wouldn’t be who I am today. You made growing up such a incredible experience. Thank you for Thanksgivings, Birthdays and Christmases that are unforgettable. Thank you for never doubting me. Thank you for being my fortress. Thank you for being behind me, and encouraging me to follow my dreams no matter how big. I am who I am because you taught me to believe that the impossible is possible if you never lose sight of who you are.

Thank You to my mother, whose wisdom, gentleness and example taught me how to love even the people who hurt me most. Thank you for being the butterfly and teaching me that it takes a stronger person to show your emotions. Thank you for being my safeground. Thank you for trusting and believing in me even when I let you down. Thank you for being compassionate and loving. Thank you for being such an incredible woman. If I am half the mother, wife, and friend that you are when my time comes, I will consider myself extremely blessed.

Thank You to my father whose example has set the bar for my future husband, and been the best most loving, caring example of Christ I think I will ever see. I’m proud to have you as my Mufasa.

Thank You to my brother, who knows me better than anyone on the planet ever could. You’ve been my best friend since birth. I’m sorry that I let you down sometimes, and I’m sorry when I am harsh with you. I mean everything I say to be out of love, and because I care. I love you so much. I owe so much of who I am to you. I have no idea where I would be without you.  You’re my hero.

Thank You to Susie, whose constant questioning, kind words, and advice have coached me this year.. You’ve really helped me. You’re such an amazing person. Thank you for not taking Jayce away from me. Thank you for being my friend, and making a conscious effort to make sure I’m okay.

Thank You to my great grandmother for being so amazing to me and staying up until six in the morning  just telling me stories about the old days. I’ll never forget the nights we’ve spent just talking and watching tv. Your body may be 87 years old, but that night we stayed up last november I swear you were no older than 40. You mean so much to me. I look in the mirror sometimes, and I admire my shoulders. Thanking God that I inherited those. “I may have a new granddaughter, but she will never replace you. You will always be my favorite. I won’t ever have a chance to know her like I know you.. But don’t tell anyone of course. It’s our little secret.. ” You tell me that every time I see you:) I love you Mammal. So much more than anyone could guess. I’ve been so blessed with knowing you.

Thank You to Dylan. You know me so well. Deep dark secrets and all. I’m glad we’ve gotten close. I love our late night deep rambling phone calls. I’m proud to claim you as the guy best friend. In so many ways I think you may have helped me as much as I’ve helped you.

Thank You to Callie. You are the first real girl I’ve ever successfully been friends with. In so many ways I look at our friendship and I am baffled at how two people can be so different, and yet so similar. I think we bring out the best in eachother. Sure we push each other’s buttons, and we fight.. but somehow after the fight blows over we go right back to being inseparable. You’re one of the single funniest, most entertaining people I think I know. Thank you for being my friend, and thank you for always letting me wear your clothes..makeup..jewelry..sunglasses, and driving me all over creation.  Thank you for going to concerts that you hate the music at just because I want to.. and thank you, mostly for just being you.

Thank You to my Journey/Adventure Guild family. You guys make my week better every single time.You make work and church worth waking up at ungodly hours. I love you guys. SO SO much. You guys are real people.. and you love me for just being me. It’s something you can’t beat. Knowing people that don’t have to, actually take the time, and care about you is really an amazing thing.

Thank You to You. The people that take time to read my blogs. You guys mean so much to me. You’re great. Thank you for keeping up with me. Thank you for caring. Thank you for taking the time to read my rambling. Thank you for everything. Thank You for always believing in me, and loving me. No matter how I stumble I seem to always have someone there to cheer me on and help me back up to my feet. Thank you for being there.. Thank you for being you.. and thank you so much for the unconditional love you give me.  You’ve really changed my life.

And thank you to everyone I come in contact with that make me smile. Thank you for being amazing people.

..And Lastly.. but not even least..

Thank You to God for blessing my life with such incredible, kind, sweet, generous people.

Thank you for making my life so beautiful. Thank you for all of the things you give me without me asking. Thank you for my past. Thank you for my childhood. Thank you for New York, and thank you for being faithful to your promises.. Thank you for saving me. Thank you for dying to save me. Thank You for Africa. Thank You for everything.

Alanis Nadine Morissette was born June 1, 1974  a Canadian singer-songwriter, record producer and occasional actress. She has won 12 Juno Awards and seven Grammy Awards. Morissette began her career in Canada, and as a teenager recorded two dance-pop albums, Alanis and Now Is the Time, under MCA Records. Her debut album was the rock-influenced Jagged Little Pill, which remains the best-selling debut album by a female artist in the U.S., and the highest selling debut album worldwide, selling 30 million units worldwide. Her following album, Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie, was released in 1998 and was a success as well. Morissette took up producing duties for her subsequent albums, which include Under Rug Swept, So-Called Chaos and Flavors of Entanglement. Morissette has sold more than 40 million albums worldwide. In February 2005, Morissette became a naturalized citizen of the United States while maintaining her Canadian citizenship.

Alanis Morissette was born in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, the daughter of Georgia Mary Ann Feuerstein, a Hungarian-born teacher, and Alan Richard Morissette, a French-Canadian high school principal. Alanis has a twin brother, Wade, and an older brother, Chad. At six, she began playing the piano. In 1984, Morissette wrote her first song, “Fate Stay with Me”, which she sent to a local folk singer, Lindsay Morgan, who recruited Morissette as her protégé. Morissette released “Fate Stay with Me” as a single via a label she founded with Morgan. A limited number of copies were pressed, and it received little airplay. In elementary school she was identified as gifted and attended St. Elizabeth’s PGL (program for gifted learners). During her high school years, she attended Immaculata High School and Glebe Collegiate Institute in Ottawa while continuing to pursue a career in the arts. In 1986, she was a cast regular on the CTV/Nickelodeon show, You Can’t Do That on Television. In 1987, Morissette competed in the inaugural year of the Rising Star Talent Competition, an amateur contest held in Toronto at the Canadian National Exhibition. At a New York City audition, Morissette landed a spot on Star Search, a U.S. talent competition on which she used the stage name of Alanis Nadine, her first and middle names. Morissette flew to Los Angeles to appear on the show, but lost after one round. In 1988, Morissette signed a publishing deal with MCA Publishing, which helped to fund her record deal with one of its independent subsidiary labels.

An old man turned ninety-eight

He won the lottery and died the next day
It’s a black fly in your Chardonnay
It’s a death row pardon two minutes too late
Isn’t it ironic … don’t you think
Chorus

It’s like rain on your wedding day
It’s a free ride when you’ve already paid
It’s the good advice that you just didn’t take
Who would’ve thought … it figures

Mr. Play It Safe was afraid to fly
He packed his suitcase and kissed his kids good-bye
He waited his whole damn life to take that flight
And as the plane crashed down he thought
‘Well isn’t this nice…’
And isn’t it ironic … don’t you think
Repeat Chorus

Well life has a funny way of sneaking up on you
When you think everything’s okay and everything’s going right
And life has a funny way of helping you out when
You think everything’s gone wrong and everything blows up
In your face

It’s a traffic jam when you’re already late
It’s a no-smoking sign on your cigarette break
It’s like ten thousand spoons when all you need is a knife
It’s meeting the man of my dreams
And then meeting his beautiful wife
And isn’t it ironic… don’t you think
A little too ironic… and yeah I really do think…
Repeat Chorus

Life has a funny way of sneaking up on you
Life has a funny, funny way of helping you out
Helping you out

Britney Spears has been getting into the habit of singing an Alanis Morisette song on tour.. wait for it.. LIVE. And (this is the fun bit) she actually sounds rather good. Sound wise, this is the best YouTube rip we could find, even though the actual camera angle is from behind. Gutted.

The bitch is back.

And I don’t know which is more surprising – that she did a damn good cover of Alanis (and actually sang!) or that she stole my favorite outfit.

Aw, Brit, I’m so pleased.

Britney Spears is notoriously known for her lip-synching. [pause] Don’t act like you didn’t know… In her defense, I’m sure it DOES require more work to sing and dance at the same time and it’s not like she hasn’t said before in interviews, “I’m a performer/entertainer.” She never said she was a singer! Then the world introduced us to Miley Cyrus and I thought if this fifteen year old girl can do then Britney sure as hell can too – she just chooses not to.

Tonight at her concert, Britney surprised fans when she decided to do a cover of Alanis Morisette’s “You Oughta Know.” Fans weren’t really expecting her to sing at all, just very good lip-synching and flawless dancing.

Yet, the video proves it. That really IS her belting it out. annnnnd I never said she was actually good, but it’s a step right?! And that’s always the hardest.

Ok, it now has some seasonal decoration of autumn, but the rest is still ok for the picture.

Duhh, waking up at 4 AM wasn’t the best thing about today. Yeah, woke up at that time because at 4:30 we were on the road to Cluj. So “nice”. Me wasn’t in the mood for it and couldn’t even drink my coffee in the morning . Whatever, arrived there around 9 and something. Have no clue cause i was more than in zombie mode already i think. Straight to the place where the woman with who i was talking on Monday said she has some flats to give to students. Taken a look at one of them. It was cosy and pretty nice. I liked it. A small room, an even smaller kitchen and bathroom and that’s all. But hei what else would two students need . We don’t wanna party at home, so it’s just perfect to learn and to have a place where to sleep and eat. After finally one stress less on everyone’s shoulders could the fun begin as we’ve ended up with this way sooner than we were hoping to. IULIUS MALL!!!!!!!!!! As for my wish I saw on some adverts that they have KFC so i couldn’t miss something like this. Ok, we’ve found it after 20 minutes being in the town ( ). In…. MAAAAN, that thing is huge!!!! I never imagine it can be something like this. Ok, i’ve seen malls before like Unirea in Brasov, but this is far bigger. After about half an hour we’ve found KFC too <3 <3 Ordered some chicken meat balls with french fries and chilli sauce. YUMMY it was, i still have 3 of those meat balls for dinner cause i couldn’t eat all of them (i had 6 in one packet). There is also some other tons of shops like Kenvelo, Nokia, Meli Melo just to mention some of those bigger ones (and those i can remember only LOL), and attached to the building of Iulius Mall there is Auchan also, so everything at one place, without to run around the city to buy everything you would need for kitchen, bathroom and everyday life for yourself.

All in all, i like very much that place and i’m really looking forward for moving there in just 3 weeks time, and see how things will work out. I’m also looking forward for the teaching at the uni to start as finally i’m about to study one thing i truly like: FINNISH.
I’m right now kind of with still zombie mode on until i guess tomorrow morning until i will be able to make a normal person out of myself after a long sleep. Until i will be able to write something more about impressions of today (yeah another late impression thing) enjoy the following song: Alanis Morisette – You Live, You Learn

For those of you who follow my blog, you’ll know that I am actively involved with the LGBTIQ community in Sri Lanka. But this post has nothing to do with that. It has more to do with my subconscious observations of human choices and needs that started (the observations, I mean) way before I became an advocate/activist and continues to date. It’s not quite an analysis of why people do what they do but merely a stating of facts. It’s about what people do with their sexuality/sexual orientation. There maybe no right or wrong, just as being of any sexual orientation isn’t wrong. They are merely moments that have been stuck in my head like a diary that I think I need to put down…

Sexuality | by Laura Ashdown

Some people live the perfect external existence of heterosexuals. They marry, have children and live out all that is expected of them whilst they turn to multiple same sex lovers in darkened spaces and places in their lives.

Some very ‘straight’ individuals opt to ‘turn’ gay or bisexual for various reasons. They deem it palatable when they weigh it against the benefits. Some for money, some because it’s a convenient escape from bad memories with people of the opposite sex, some simply because they think people of the same sex relate to them better.

Some are proud to be different. It’s not that they chose to swim against the wave, but find themselves against a current and still opt fight it, with pride and conviction. They stand up to a world with a multitude of different voices and say “I’m gay”, “I’m lesbian” etc. And they are willing to fight the good fight until they are accepted for who they are… pretty much more normal than most of the apparent straight laced fellows on the planet.

Some see no difference at all. Sexuality shouldn’t be a differentiating factor just like other givens like race, nationality, hair colour etc. For them there is only one cry, one statement that holds true to the entire human race; the fact that we are ‘one’.

Some stay with their straight lovers for as long as they can, finding their experiences enjoyable but void of moments that take their breath away and a certain oomph that they know that they’ll only find when they’re ready to break free and venture into new territory.

Some go through a great deal of their lives thinking they’re straight only to wake up one day and realize that there is more to life than the mundane they’ve been experiencing and walk readily into a life that holds so much more.

Some have no choice. They love in secret because they have it ingrained in their souls that it they cannot hurt the ones they love. Because, in the process of discovering their sexualities, they are also reminded of the others in their lives, like family and friends whose hearts would be broken if they were to love as they need to, out in the open, just like everyone else. They are stuck between their lovers and everyone else they love.

Some who are born to the privilege of ‘normalcy’ don’t understand the hue and cry from those that are different to them. They don’t understand the very essence of the fact that there could be anything different to the way they think and feel in the first place.

Some have the conviction that every non heterosexual person should ‘come out of the closet’. There is no point hiding who you are. Irrespective of the big, bad world out there, within a community of people who are similar to you, there should be no need to hide who you are and opt for so called ‘better’ company instead.

Some go through life knowing that they aren’t heterosexual right from puberty. They experiment with the same sex but grow up opting not to talk about it. They believe that sex, in any form is personal and should be kept behind closed doors where it belongs. They have no need to ‘come out of the closet’ so-to-speak and don’t understand why some others try to force them to. They believe that the openness of ones sexuality should be a matter of choice. They way they are, suits them just fine after all.

Some opt to go through life pretending and denying themselves of the possibility of more than they have. They go through the motions of life, not knowing how much more is waiting out there for them.

Some rare few are born into families who have no issue with their sexualities or any other choices their children make. They have the opportunity to live their lives free of the prejudice that is an inevitability for most others.

Some dress different, which has no relation their sexuality but get tagged as a certain ‘type’ or sexuality. They don’t know how to let the world know that the outward expression has nothing to with their sexuality or gender*. (see below)

Some have the strong need to identify themselves and be known as one sexuality or the other. They believe that identification markers are an important part of one’s individuality and expression. They are proud to be gay, just as they are proud to be Sri Lankan.

Some people have fluctuating sexualities. They go through life being different sexualities at different points in their lives. They make statements like ‘I’m straight again’, much to the chagrin of their contemporaries although they don’t seem to find any choice in the matter.

Some don’t feel any need to tag themselves based on their sexual behaviour or the people they chose to love. They are in essence, people who don’t believe in the need for tags. They seem to be able love irrespective of a person’s gender* or sexuality.

Some have no clue what to tag themselves as, even if they wanted to. They know they are attracted to both sexes, have been involved with both as well, but can’t seem to pay any heed to a person’s sex or genitalia when it comes to matters of the heart. They wear their hearts on their sleeves, but find ‘bi-sexual’ too limiting a word to use when it comes to love.

Some are merely disgruntled with their relationships and turn towards a new direction hoping to find some peace and love and comfort there, without stopping to question if they belong there or not. Some do. Some don’t. Sometimes both situations work out, sometimes neither do.

Some identify their sexualities based on their sexual behaviour patterns and not by their feelings at all. They’ve not been exposed to the fact that one’s sexuality is not merely determined by having sex and has to do with a complete emotional, physical and spiritual attachment to one gender* or the other.

*Gender is an entirely different issue altogether which only my friend Skywalker can describe with such apt eloquence that I’ll never be able to find on my own, as he’s done here.

There are many more observations that you have probably made. Mine were in relation to people’s sexualities within the bounds of my observations and I thought I’d share them with you. And within those very limitations, I want to still bring back my initial point; nothing is wrong or right.

To round it all off, I’m reminded of a that I think is most apt. I’ve been listening to it while typing this post out but can’t seem to upload ot or find a proper video since youtube is bloody blocked at work. It’s an original by Seal, covered by Alanis Morisette by the name of “Crazy”. Try and give it a listen if you have the time. I’m sure you’ve all heard it.

We’re never going to survive unless we get a little crazy

In a world full of people only some want to fly. Isn’t that crazy?

Like anyone would be
I am flattered by your fascination with me
Like any hot-blooded woman
I have simply wanted an object to crave
But you, you’re not allowed
You’re uninvited
An unfortunate slight

Must be strangely exciting
To watch the stoic squirm
Must be somewhat heartening
To watch shepherd need shepherd
But you you’re not allowed
You’re uninvited
An unfortunate slight

Like any uncharted territory
I must seem greatly intriguing
You speak of my love like
You have experienced love like mine before
But this is not allowed
You’re uninvited
An unfortunate slight

I don’t think you unworthy
I need a moment to deliberate

Ironic or just bad timing? more tomorrow, it’s bad timing

I am reading or rather dipping in and out of a book called the Alluring  problem by D I Enright,  which I have just foud out retails on Amazon marketplace for 1p.

So far I have learnt, that in 1985 crocodile meat was to be sold for human consumption in Australia because the reptile was no longer an endangered species.

The more I start to think I understand irony, is often when I get more confused.

Irony should be a disconnect of the outward message to what it is actually saying, so the irony of the croc is that we should celebrate the fact that they are no longer endangered by killing them for the barbie.

Makes sense, but then Alanis Morisette came along.

Apparently her sense of irony is not ironic, is that ironic? maybe she’s called a double bluff, but here is why her lyric don’t live up to the label she’s slapped on the single. (ps this is not from Enright unless he is way ahead of his time)

An old man turned ninety-eight
He won the lottery and died the next day
It’s a black fly in your Chardonnay
It’s a death row pardon two minutes too late
Isn’t it ironic … don’t you think

It’s like rain on your wedding day
It’s a free ride when you’ve already paid
It’s the good advice that you just didn’t take
Who would’ve thought … it figures

Mr. Play It Safe was afraid to fly
He packed his suitcase and kissed his kids good-bye
He waited his whole damn life to take that flight
And as the plane crashed down he thought
‘Well isn’t this nice…’
And isn’t it ironic … don’t you think

Well life has a funny way of sneaking up on you
When you think everything’s okay and everything’s going right
And life has a funny way of helping you out when
You think everything’s gone wrong and everything blows up
In your face

It’s a traffic jam when you’re already late
It’s a no-smoking sign on your cigarette break
It’s like ten thousand spoons when all you need is a knife
It’s meeting the man of my dreams
And then meeting his beautiful wife
And isn’t it ironic… don’t you think
A little too ironic… and yeah I really do think…

Life has a funny way of sneaking up on you
Life has a funny, funny way of helping you out
Helping you out

just shitty coincidence

completely mising the point of irony, which could be a double bluff

maybe ironic don’t you think?

she scores

tak dapat bercereka harini. banyak hal. banyak bende-bende comot yang memerlukan perhatian yang lebih.

ini ialah inspirasi.

ini juge.

this is hilarious!

sekian.

karaoke in tabiet  vineri seara e un adevarat festin. daca iesi din local si asculti betia de oamenii cantand, iti cam dai seama ca e un prilej bun de a te face de ras, fara ca cineva sa rada de tine..e fantastic! noi, cantaretii de sub dus, ne luam prea in serios pret de o seara si gandim in termeni abstracti, simtim profund, falsam cu patos. release the beast my dear, the great rockstar underneath your skin!

chihlimbar pe grade,  lentoare, detasare,   ascunzisuri si cotloane. an instant sea message. obsesii. briza. toate  ma epuizeaza..incarca-te, trage aer in piept, ia microfonul si uita de verile indigo. azi cant pentru toate povestile cu fler pentru care la un moment dat mi-am bagat mainile in buzunar in semn de timiditate.  fumez pentru artistul ce n-a dat dovada de suficient masochism si n-a atins apogeul simturilor pentru a transforma in ceva palpabil  zecile de ciorne  ravasite, ce puteau sa devina the greatest things ever written,  cu riscul de a se fi epuizat pe sine. visez pentru ca inca mai pot sa fac asta, fara ca cineva sa puna la indoiala faptul ca, dincolo de o fire exagerata,   sta una responsabila si integra, asa ca un sticker cu suprafata dubla de aplicare…

plec in curand si nutreste un iz de bitersweetness…timp de doua luni o sa fiu departe. si tot ce-mi vine acum in minte sunt versurile astea simple, dar atat de meaningful de la alanis morissette, pe care le cantam si ieri, pe care si azi le-am cautat pe youtube, pe care o sa le iau cu mine si o sa mi le recit de una singura de fiecare data cand incepe sa mi se stearga optimismul.

” I care but I’m restless I’m here but I’m really gone I’m wrong and I’m sorry baby… ’cause I’ve got one hand in my pocket…”