As Fi Bows to Peer Pressure

Proud to say that Liam Finn’s ‘Gather to the Chapel’ features on Season 5 Episode 15 of Grey’s Anatomy for the ‘in chapel’ scene.

Liam Finn is, of course, Neil Finn’s (of Split Enz and Crowded House fame) son and one of the complete legends who call NZ home. He was the frontman for Betchadupa (those were the days) and released his solo album in 2007. My lovely parents bought me the album, knowing how much I love random NZ music and it’s been one of my favs ever since. Major props to Liam for getting the song onto such a hit show’s soundtrack in what is going to be a killer episode - I’ll say no more about that.

I’ve just finished White Teeth by Zadie Smith and while I really enjoyed it, and indeed couldn’t put it down in parts, I am left with the overwhelming sense that I’m missing something. I think this is my fault for reading it in too many chunks and getting a tad confused about where I was up to at times. Bookmarks are a brilliant invention.

Based in London, providing insight into the families of second-generation immigrants, it’s a colourful book full of life and crazy description. It changes direction quite suddenly but as usual the threads all tie up in the end.

However, I enjoyed it enough to try again so in a month or so I’m going to re-read it and see if I can work out what bits I’m missing. It’s like hearing only three parts of a four-part harmony, there’s something not quite there, and in this case it’s not the author, it’s definitely me.

I do, however, really love some of the characters. All the younger generation are so intricately tied together. And Hortense, a Jamaican Jehovah’s Witness constantly convinced of a new date for the second coming, is a wonderful side step from everyone else.

I, like most of my friends, go through strange musical stages where I feel the need to listen to one artist or album over and over. Songs become my theme tunes for certain periods in my life and when I hear them again, I’m instantly transported back to that time, those events, and the feelings associated. It can be a blessing, but is sometimes a curse. Learning to retune my brain occasionally for the songs with bad memories has been a difficult lesson.

For my sins, my current addictions are Christina Aguilera (…you can stop laughing now) and Tim Hughes.

But seriously . . .

It’s with my love of music and international development that I’m promoting a new album. CompassionArt is, as they say, “a charity which join the dots between art and poverty” and they’ve just produced an *AMAZING* album with 12 Christian songwriters creating a fantastic collection of songs. Best of all, the twelve writers nominated a charity to which 1/24th of CompassionArt royalties will go to. The remaining 50 per cent of the funds raised will be distributed among projects that CompassionArt wants to give extra support – such as the Watoto community in Uganda. There, orphaned children are given food, shelter, education and a loving, caring home as they rebuild their lives. CompassionArt will provide funding for a series of music and arts centres that support the world-famous Watoto Children’s Choir, as well as offering essential training for those wanting to pursue a future in the arts.

By buying this album, you’re helping to change lives. It’s not about 1/2 the profits going to recreate a rainforest (although that’s very noble), it’s 100% of all the money made. Every single $. It’s not often you can say that.

It’s out in WH Smith and via Play.com in the UK, and information on where to get for loads of other places worldwide is on the website. It’s not out in NZ yet as far as I can tell but I’m sure it will be soon - keep your eyes out guys, it’s a gorgeous album and so worthy of support.

You know what - I think these guys explain it much better than I do.

It was Prom 57 tonight (not 57 for me, that would be a tad excessive, but the 57th Prom this season/year) and it boasted an impressive orchestra - the New York Philharmonic - playing an even more impressive selection to a packed audience.

Gershwin’s Piano Concerto in F Major was on the agenda, as was Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring, but first up was the world premiere of a BBC/New York Philharmonic commissioned work by Steven Stucky called Rhapsodies. While I enjoyed it, and it was ten times better than the overly modern pieces that have premiered this year at the Proms I’ve been at, I’m not sure I felt much from it.

Gershwin, however, was perfect and I thoroughly enjoyed the whole thing, got completely and totally wrapped up in it. I had forgotten how much I loved the quirkiness of his music.

Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring was a grand contrast to the first two and the sound was so deep around Royal Albert Hall. It was the first time I’d heard it played live (as with the Gershwin) but with this it sounded so much more alive and different to how it does as a recording. It was, wait for it, a beautiful cacophony of melodic delirium and dissonance and I loved it.

And that is all for tonight . . .

I’m feeling more like myself tonight, helped by a day working at home and an evening spent at the pub with Jess catching up on life, love and all things. Work’s website needed attending to, one of my many “fascinating” tasks, and that was followed by 50 lengths of the pool (my current average), a dip in the spa pool and a few minutes in the steam room. Steam rooms are very hot.

We tried the Marlborough Arms, just off Tottenham Court Rd, tonight and I’m pleased to say it was a great success. A large pub with a newly refurbished interior, it had a large variety of drinks and we had no problem finding a table despite it being fairly full. Staff were lovely and the prices weren’t bad either so all in all a great other local.

Tomorrow I am off to see the New York Philharmonic play Gershwin’s Piano Concerto in F Major and Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring at the Royal Albert Hall as part of the Proms season. I *LOVE* the Proms and firmly believe that this is one of the best British/London institutions. M(attias), my Swedish flatmate, and I will pay 5 pounds (that’s two to three cups of coffee here) for this pleasure and that’s a bargain if ever I heard one. Beautiful music in an amazing venue, what more could I ask for?

In other news, I am a tad worried about the ever-more-concerning issues in the Caucasus and in particular Russia’s involvement. We live in “interesting” times. And lastly I’m outting myself as an Obama supporter, I was never really a Clinton fan at all, and it’s fascinating to watch the changing face of US politics through this campaign. But bed calls for now . . .

While everyone celebrates Easter in different ways, here’s how I’m doing it this year. I’m doing nothing - or very little anyway. I’m going to church and spending time to think about the importance of this weekend for Christians but when it comes down to actual exciting things - I have done nothing. It’s great!

You see . . .

Life is London is action-packed, fast-paced and generally insane every minute. I am rarely home, I dash from one thing to the next and I spend my working days bored out of my mind because I’ve discovered I’m way more ambitious than I ever thought I was. While keeping occupied and busy is always good, sometimes it’s equally good to stop for a while and do less all-over-the-place stuff so I am reading and watching tv and movies and generally trying to relax. Catching up on sleep is also the plan.

I read voraciously and am currently working on (yes I really have started all of these books in the last week):

Fatal Voyage - Kathy Reichs (think a book of the tv show Bones)

The Bottom Billion - Paul Collier (Why the poorest countries are failing and what can be done about it - I enjoy reading Paul Collier’s work having got into it quite a bit during Masters so this is quite interesting)

Pillow Talk - Freya North (my guilty pleasure is chick-lit)

Two Caravans - Marina Lewycka (by the woman who bought you A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian)

Freakonomics - Steven Levitt & Stephen Dubner (A rogue economist explores the hidden side of everything - think econ 101 but really easy to read)

Down Under - Bill Bryson (originally an American who moved to the UK for years and years and then back to America and who can write so well explores australia and then writes a book about it - carnage)

I have recently finished reading:

A Thousand Splendid Suns - Khaled Hosseini (author of The Kite Runner - Thousand Splendid Suns is my current fav book, incredibly well-written and a story that draws you into lives that are so very sad)

The Welsh Girl - Peter Ho Davies (World War II and Wales has POW camps, tells three connected stories from different viewpoints in a good way but doesn’t end that well at all)

The Chinese-English Dictionary for Lovers - Xiaolu Guo (brilliant little book that tells the story of a new Chinese student in London and her relationship with an older English guy)

Now I look at this list - which is basically the books I’ve been reading in the last two to three weeks, I am a little worried that I may have too much time. It’s just that I love books and I love reading in my lunchbreak, before sleeping, when I’m travelling and any moment when there’s not something else happening. Anyway . . .

The point of all of that was that I was wondering whether readers, if I still have any, would be interested in getting short little reviews of the books I read. I’m happy to blog reviews on a reasonably regular basis if there’s any interest - if you’re keen then post me a comment and I’ll start with A Thousand Splendid Suns. To be honest I may start reviewing anyway but it would be nicer if someone actually wanted me to.

So that’s how I’m spending my Easter. I’m missing my family but I’m enjoying relxing and resting and taking time for myself to read and watch tv and watch the snow fall past my window.

This is my kind of detention and rehabilitation. Meet 1,500 plus CPDRC inmates of the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center, Cebu, Philippines at practice.

 

 

[Edited on 7/04/07 at 9:12pm - Second video fixed]

While not at all Good Friday-ish, these music mashups have to be spread because this guy is a complete genius. I’m going to post the two I like the most but you can download more of the songs at his homepage: http://norwegianrecycling.multiply.com/ or visit his myspaceprofile: http://www.myspace.com/norwegianrecycling

Amazingly good at 4am :o)

How Six Songs Collide

The mashup contains samples from:
1. Jason Mraz - I’m Yours
2. Howie Day - Collide
3. Five For Fighting - Superman
4. Angela Ammons - Always Getting Over You
5. Boyzone - All That I Need
6. 3 Doors Down - Here Without You

 

8 Become 1

The mashup contains samples from:
1. Black Eyed Peas - Where Is The Love
2. Savage Garden - Crash And Burn
3. Maroon 5 - She Will Be Loved
4. James Blunt - You’re Beautiful
5. Atomic Kitten - It’s Ok!
6. U2 - With Or Without You
7. Billie The Vision & The Dancers - Summercat
8. Remy Zero - Fair

Meet my new favourite band and current favourite song (well actually there’s three favourite songs but I’ll start with this one), thanks are due to Neerav for introducing me to this brilliantly fantastic band. Tomorrow I shall enlighten you all on what I have been doing :o) Missing everyone lots!

 

This sounds awesome so I’m passing the details onto you all, since I have no chance of making it please go for me!

On November 11, join an all-star cast of Wellington musicians as they
turn music into medicine to aid the people of Indonesia’s Mentawai
Islands. Last year’s concert, the Sunday Session, was a massive success,
assisting the New Zealand Red Cross and SurfAid International in their
response to the Indian Ocean Tsunami. This year, the organisers of the
SuperSession have an impressive line-up dedicated to saving lives in the
Mentawai Islands by supporting the work of SurfAid International. Join
Warren Maxwell - ex Trinity Roots - as he unleashes the sound of The
Little Bushmen, and Twin Set, Open Souls, OdESSA, the Ukulele orchestra,
and The Phoenix Foundation. Accompanying these will be the awesome
audiovisuals of the SuperVisors. The concert will take place on November
11, Wellington Town Hall. Tickets available from 11th October through
Ticketek and Real Groovy, Wellington.

So let’s go over that again:

What: SurfAid International are raising money to help save lives in the Mentawai Islands of Indonesia

Who: The Phoenix Fundation, the Ukelele orchestra (are you paying attention Katie?), OdESSA, Open Souls, Twin Set, and a man who was formerly part of Trinity Roots will be playing . . . and of course you will be going.

When: Saturday 11 November

Where: Wellington Town Hall

Why: It’s for a good cause, and they’re good Wellington bands . . . why not?

How: Get tickets from Ticketek and Real Groovy, Wellington, now.