Went on a pretty nice tour of some of the east end of London today, checking out graffitis and galleries along the way. Very interesting, I recommend it!
More info on the Comment Art website.
I might go again, this time with a camera, so I have some pics to show.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Found this video of Mercedes Sosa singing on Mexican television in the 90s.
Lots of things to notice in this video:
- the awful pink and gold ensemble the presenter is wearing
- how Mercedes thinks her mike is not working at the end of song 2, and keeps asking for it to be turned on. She is banging the mike making big gestures - hilarious.
- two awesome songs. The second is my current favourite: Maria Maria by the Brazilian Milton Nascimento. ae -ae-a-ae-ae-ae-e-e-eeee
- La Negra dancing about, moving across the set - a huge difference from her concerts today where she remains sat on a chair. ela she is older now, so it's ok.
Lots of things to notice in this video:
- the awful pink and gold ensemble the presenter is wearing
- how Mercedes thinks her mike is not working at the end of song 2, and keeps asking for it to be turned on. She is banging the mike making big gestures - hilarious.
- two awesome songs. The second is my current favourite: Maria Maria by the Brazilian Milton Nascimento. ae -ae-a-ae-ae-ae-e-e-eeee
- La Negra dancing about, moving across the set - a huge difference from her concerts today where she remains sat on a chair. ela she is older now, so it's ok.
Saturday, August 09, 2008
Olympics
Quite an amazing opening ceremony no? I watched it this morning (up until the entrance of the teams, cause it just gets too boring at that point)
The question now is how will London top that in 2012? We're all a bit worried. Good luck to whoever has to organise it!
The question now is how will London top that in 2012? We're all a bit worried. Good luck to whoever has to organise it!
Wednesday, August 06, 2008
Mercedes Sosa!
Shame on me earlier for saying I hadn't seen anything worth blogging about recently.
Of course I saw someone great in concert, and that person was the legendary Mercedes Sosa!
Despite her old age and past health problems, even though she had a folder with the lyrics in front of her and spent the whole show sat on a chair (except right at the end, for a tremendous Luna Llena and Maria Maria) she gave a great concert.
She is a true legend of Latin American music and it was such an awesome experience to be at one of her concerts, surrounded with Argentinian, Brazilians, Cubans etc, all totally in awe of her. She is their sister, mother, best friend, she and her music mean so much to them, it was magical to feel it.
Al Jardin de la Republica, Alfonsina y el mar, Zamba para no morir, Piedra y Camino (great version with a young harmonica player) and of course Gracias a la vida - she sang them all!
Also, I never thought I would see her live, what with her age etc but it has happened. A dream came true that night!
To La Negra, with much much love.
Of course I saw someone great in concert, and that person was the legendary Mercedes Sosa!
Despite her old age and past health problems, even though she had a folder with the lyrics in front of her and spent the whole show sat on a chair (except right at the end, for a tremendous Luna Llena and Maria Maria) she gave a great concert.
She is a true legend of Latin American music and it was such an awesome experience to be at one of her concerts, surrounded with Argentinian, Brazilians, Cubans etc, all totally in awe of her. She is their sister, mother, best friend, she and her music mean so much to them, it was magical to feel it.
Al Jardin de la Republica, Alfonsina y el mar, Zamba para no morir, Piedra y Camino (great version with a young harmonica player) and of course Gracias a la vida - she sang them all!
Also, I never thought I would see her live, what with her age etc but it has happened. A dream came true that night!
To La Negra, with much much love.
Chus Lampreave!
I love the Spanish actress Chus Lampreave, who appears in many of Pedro Almodovar's movies.
The only movie I've seen with her, by another director, is El Verdugo by Berlanga, and she is in there 2 minutes.
Pedro Almodovar gives her a well-deserved hommage on his blog. When I went to the Almodovar Q&A at the BFI for the release of volver, I wanted to ask him about Chus, but I wasn't picked. His recent post asnwers my question!
"Chus Lampreave is something more than a regular in my films. She’s an adorable person who still has a child’s innocence and capacity for surprise, even though her life hasn’t exactly been a bed of roses. She is the closest thing to the idea of an angel. A person who is naturally good. When someone like her crosses your path the best thing is to hold on to her and not let her get away for a long time. I always have a meeting pending with her, to talk, to feel her marvellous optimism and her enthusiasm at the mere fact of seeing each other and telling each other things (...)
When I offered her the role of Mother Street Rat in “Dark Habits”, her only objection was that she thought it too long, too important, and she should only do little, unimportant roles. Exactly the opposite of what any actress would tell you. Chus belongs to an atypical, wonderful race of actors who gesticulate very little. Or who don’t gesticulate at all, but their faces only reflect truth. I’m talking about geniuses like Buster Keaton, Totò, Bill Murray, Pepe Isbert, Robert Mitchum… Fortunately I managed to persuade her to play the role of the secret writer-nun in “Dark Habits”. Since then she is one of the most important emotional references in my life."
One of her best bits is obviously in The Flower of my secret. Almodovar talks about how they rehearsed it on his blog. Read it!
The only movie I've seen with her, by another director, is El Verdugo by Berlanga, and she is in there 2 minutes.
Pedro Almodovar gives her a well-deserved hommage on his blog. When I went to the Almodovar Q&A at the BFI for the release of volver, I wanted to ask him about Chus, but I wasn't picked. His recent post asnwers my question!
"Chus Lampreave is something more than a regular in my films. She’s an adorable person who still has a child’s innocence and capacity for surprise, even though her life hasn’t exactly been a bed of roses. She is the closest thing to the idea of an angel. A person who is naturally good. When someone like her crosses your path the best thing is to hold on to her and not let her get away for a long time. I always have a meeting pending with her, to talk, to feel her marvellous optimism and her enthusiasm at the mere fact of seeing each other and telling each other things (...)
When I offered her the role of Mother Street Rat in “Dark Habits”, her only objection was that she thought it too long, too important, and she should only do little, unimportant roles. Exactly the opposite of what any actress would tell you. Chus belongs to an atypical, wonderful race of actors who gesticulate very little. Or who don’t gesticulate at all, but their faces only reflect truth. I’m talking about geniuses like Buster Keaton, Totò, Bill Murray, Pepe Isbert, Robert Mitchum… Fortunately I managed to persuade her to play the role of the secret writer-nun in “Dark Habits”. Since then she is one of the most important emotional references in my life."
One of her best bits is obviously in The Flower of my secret. Almodovar talks about how they rehearsed it on his blog. Read it!
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Earthquake in China
Dujiangyan, ChinaTwo parents mourn the death of their child in a school collapse
Photo: Stringer Shanghai / Reuters
From this NY Times slideshow
Thursday, April 24, 2008
NY Times
I like the NY Times website because they always have those weird stories on the front page. Not, like, weird, just unusual. About the little people rather than big events.
This morning, the top one was about how the smoking bans affects bingo places, who now make less money than before: "After the smoke cleared, where did all the bingo players go?"
A very interesting on American politics in The Economist.
"The war between “ordinary people” and “condescending elites” is one of the great themes of American politics. “Ordinary people” are real Americans: they worship God, revere America and love their families. “Condescending elites” are crypto-Europeans—the sort of people who eat arugula, do sissified jobs in offices and universities, and scheme to ban guns and legalise gay marriage (...)
But this pandering to “ordinary Americans” is annoying in all sorts of ways. Isn't America supposed to be a meritocracy? (...) Almost 90% of Americans say that they admire people who have got rich through hard work. Yet whenever elections come around politicians treat the people at the bottom of the heap as the embodiment of American values. And aren't Americans supposed to believe in self-reliance? America's farms are some of the country's biggest subsidy hogs. Many small towns (...) are kept alive only by federal pork. As for family values, America's small towns and rural havens suffer from higher rates of marital breakdown and illegitimate births than the degenerate big cities.
But pander the politicians feel they must. This week Mrs Clinton downed a shot of Crown Royal whisky in Bronko's Restaurant and Lounge in Crown Point, Indiana. She also entertained America with stories about how her father taught her to shoot. But does anybody believe that Mrs Clinton spends her days shooting and her evenings throwing back the whisky? Mrs Clinton is a graduate of Wellesley College and Yale Law School. The Clintons' joint income since 2000 was $109m. Mrs Clinton joined the million-mom march against gun violence.
The same is true, perhaps even truer, on the conservative side of the aisle. John McCain—son and grandson of four-star admirals, husband of a woman who is worth $100m and owner of several houses—follows in a long tradition. George Bush senior mocked Michael Dukakis for his Harvard Yard liberalism. But “Poppy” went to Yale (where his father was on the board of directors) and was once nonplussed by a supermarket scanner. Bob Dole, who liked to boast that his father wore overalls for 42 years, made millions and married a fellow all-star politician. And as for George Bush junior...
The hypocrisy extends to the commentariat who have been busting their cheeks blowing their populist trumpets. Rush Limbaugh and Bill O'Reilly make millions out of championing “the folks” against “the elites”. Bill Kristol and John Podhoretz are the Ivy-educated sons of famous parents who are based, respectively, in Washington, DC, and New York City. "
This morning, the top one was about how the smoking bans affects bingo places, who now make less money than before: "After the smoke cleared, where did all the bingo players go?"
A very interesting on American politics in The Economist.
"The war between “ordinary people” and “condescending elites” is one of the great themes of American politics. “Ordinary people” are real Americans: they worship God, revere America and love their families. “Condescending elites” are crypto-Europeans—the sort of people who eat arugula, do sissified jobs in offices and universities, and scheme to ban guns and legalise gay marriage (...)
But this pandering to “ordinary Americans” is annoying in all sorts of ways. Isn't America supposed to be a meritocracy? (...) Almost 90% of Americans say that they admire people who have got rich through hard work. Yet whenever elections come around politicians treat the people at the bottom of the heap as the embodiment of American values. And aren't Americans supposed to believe in self-reliance? America's farms are some of the country's biggest subsidy hogs. Many small towns (...) are kept alive only by federal pork. As for family values, America's small towns and rural havens suffer from higher rates of marital breakdown and illegitimate births than the degenerate big cities.
But pander the politicians feel they must. This week Mrs Clinton downed a shot of Crown Royal whisky in Bronko's Restaurant and Lounge in Crown Point, Indiana. She also entertained America with stories about how her father taught her to shoot. But does anybody believe that Mrs Clinton spends her days shooting and her evenings throwing back the whisky? Mrs Clinton is a graduate of Wellesley College and Yale Law School. The Clintons' joint income since 2000 was $109m. Mrs Clinton joined the million-mom march against gun violence.
The same is true, perhaps even truer, on the conservative side of the aisle. John McCain—son and grandson of four-star admirals, husband of a woman who is worth $100m and owner of several houses—follows in a long tradition. George Bush senior mocked Michael Dukakis for his Harvard Yard liberalism. But “Poppy” went to Yale (where his father was on the board of directors) and was once nonplussed by a supermarket scanner. Bob Dole, who liked to boast that his father wore overalls for 42 years, made millions and married a fellow all-star politician. And as for George Bush junior...
The hypocrisy extends to the commentariat who have been busting their cheeks blowing their populist trumpets. Rush Limbaugh and Bill O'Reilly make millions out of championing “the folks” against “the elites”. Bill Kristol and John Podhoretz are the Ivy-educated sons of famous parents who are based, respectively, in Washington, DC, and New York City. "
Friday, April 18, 2008
Woohoo
Oh I was young and I didn't know I would turn out gay, but there were obvious signs, like loving this song... Dana Dawson! Romantic World!
Note the top quality of the vid! Someone, in 1991, taped this performance on his video camera, filming his tv screen. 17 years later, it's on youtube. you gotta love it!
Note the top quality of the vid! Someone, in 1991, taped this performance on his video camera, filming his tv screen. 17 years later, it's on youtube. you gotta love it!
Thursday, April 10, 2008
An article in the Guardian about the lack of black ballerinas. It rightly points out that black male ballet dancer do better than black girls.
The Proms programme has been announced! 9 weeks of classical music every night. I couldn't handle that, but some people do go to all the performances! From a first glance at the listing, there are 8 I am keen on.
The Proms programme has been announced! 9 weeks of classical music every night. I couldn't handle that, but some people do go to all the performances! From a first glance at the listing, there are 8 I am keen on.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
New Pedro Almodovar website/blog
Pedro Almodovar has decided to start a kind of blog to talk about whatever is his mind, particularly his next movie, Broken Embraces. He should start shooting soon, but doesn't want to reveal too much.
"I promise to tell only the truth, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to tell you everything about me and about the film and its preparation. On the contrary, I intend to say as little as possible about the story and the characters, I’ll wander around on the fringes, in purely tangential elements. You’ll think I’ve got a real cheek, and I’m sure you’re right. (Anything to celebrate the lack of intermediaries). I’ve been nurturing a dream for some time. I’d like that at least once spectators would go to see one of my films without knowing what it’s about. I know that it’s an almost impossible dream, but I’m going to try to get as near to it as possible. Still, I am going to show lots of images of the different processes, images that will be transferred directly from my camera to this page."
It's in Spanish AND English AND French, so no reason not to read it.
 |  | |
Friday, March 14, 2008
Heaps (Farruco @ Sadler's Wells review, Mujeres @ Sadler's Wells review)
OK, need to catch up...
I didn't enjoy Los Farruco very much. Very raw and talented performers, but I don't think it's a style that works well in a big theatre. I also found it quite repetitive: "Oh! another really fast footwork!" and I didn't like the way they always ended their routine right at the front of the stage, arms up, facing the audience, waiting for applause. Don't milk it man.
Mujeres, however, was sublimissime. Very contemporary, but still traditional, with bata de cola, abanicos, castanets, it all mixed beautifully. The 3 dancers (Merche Esmeralda, Belen Maya and Rocio Molina) were just great: sharp and gracious, beautiful hands, beautfiul facial expressions. They really knew what they were doing. Big winner that night, the singer Diana Navarro, who appeared as guest-artist during the show. She sang with an amazing voice, at the same time flamenca, arabic, fadista and more. She blew us away.
The Guardian tells us about the 10 best places to eat tapas in Granada. I want to go back!
30 Rock is back on Thursday the 10th of April on NBC. The season 1 DVDs are out next week.
Big things happening in 2 weeks - scary, necessary and exciting. Will keep you posted.
Super cute story in the NYTimes of Public School 59, in the Bronx, where they love Irish dancing. We need more of that (I mean people, and young kids in particular, dancing, not necessarily Irish dancing, though it's nice!)
I didn't enjoy Los Farruco very much. Very raw and talented performers, but I don't think it's a style that works well in a big theatre. I also found it quite repetitive: "Oh! another really fast footwork!" and I didn't like the way they always ended their routine right at the front of the stage, arms up, facing the audience, waiting for applause. Don't milk it man.
Mujeres, however, was sublimissime. Very contemporary, but still traditional, with bata de cola, abanicos, castanets, it all mixed beautifully. The 3 dancers (Merche Esmeralda, Belen Maya and Rocio Molina) were just great: sharp and gracious, beautiful hands, beautfiul facial expressions. They really knew what they were doing. Big winner that night, the singer Diana Navarro, who appeared as guest-artist during the show. She sang with an amazing voice, at the same time flamenca, arabic, fadista and more. She blew us away.
The Guardian tells us about the 10 best places to eat tapas in Granada. I want to go back!
30 Rock is back on Thursday the 10th of April on NBC. The season 1 DVDs are out next week.
Big things happening in 2 weeks - scary, necessary and exciting. Will keep you posted.
Super cute story in the NYTimes of Public School 59, in the Bronx, where they love Irish dancing. We need more of that (I mean people, and young kids in particular, dancing, not necessarily Irish dancing, though it's nice!)
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
Eric Underwood
Eric Underwood in Electric CounterpointPhoto John Ross
I have talked before about Aesha Ash, a great dancer I have discovered in the Morphoses Company last year, and mentioned that she was one of the few black dancers around.
Head to the Royal Ballet this week to see another great black dancer, Eric Underwood, perform in a new piece called Electric Counterpoint. Eric Underwood started his career in New York's Dance Theatre of Harlem, before moving to the American Ballet Theatre. He is now a First Artist at the Royal Ballet, and a joy to watch. He also appeared in McGregor's Chroma. Can't wait to see more of him.
Eric Underwood in Chromaphoto: Johan Persson
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Juan Munoz et al.
Nicolas and me, looking at a Juan Munoz piece (obviously I can't remember the name of it. It's a self 'portrait' though, this much I remember)Went to the Juan Munoz exhibition at the Tate Modern and found it brilliant. I liked his balconies, the way viewers have to get quite involved to see everything there is to see in his sculptures, which were quite poetic, despite the highly disturbing factor sometimes! The other good thing is that there weren't too many kids around. There were hips in the members' bar though, which is pretty annoying, though I guess people with young children should have the right to a bit of culture too.
However, there was a little girl yesterday in the audience at the Royal Opera House, watching 3 short works, 1 a modern piece by McGregor, the other the Rite of Spring (sacrifice the maiden!) and another about a soldier who murders his girlfriend. Not exactly the Nutcracker is it?
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Mayra Andrade on Later with Jools Holland
Friday, February 08, 2008
World Press Photo 07
World Press Photo prize winner, 2007
by Tim Hethrington
First published in Vanity Fair
by Tim Hethrington
First published in Vanity Fair
More photographs and winners here.
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
What European toys say about European views
A very interesting article in The Economist on Europe's biggest toy brands, Lego (Denmark) and Playmobil (Germany). I tried to explain to an English friend what Playmobils were and failed.
A few extracts:
"Study these little people, and you learn much about European views of globalisation, violence, creativity, America, race, gender equality and what makes a good job. For example, says Playmobil's chief executive, Andrea Schauer, “the dream of every German mother” used to be to have an engineer for a son. Parents liked to see boys assembling elaborate structures in their bedrooms; Lego is the top toy brand in Germany. In contrast, the French shun construction toys, preferring the world of the imagination. Playmobil is their leading toy brand.
Europeans are squeamish about warfare and armies. American shelves groan under tanks and muscle-bound action heroes; European parents are less keen. Playmobil tanks and warplanes “could certainly make big money,” says Mrs Schauer, since children write in demanding such things. But Playmobil will not make them. Europe's history, especially Germany's, rules it out.
Yet go farther back in history and violence triggers little concern. There are Playmobil knights and barbarians, pirates and Roman legionaries, all wielding lethal weapons. Europeans can even live with American military toys, if they are old enough: there are Playmobil cowboys from the Wild West, and soldiers from both sides in the American civil war.
The difference is philosophical, says Mrs Schauer. There are no more knights and pirates, so their combat is a “resolved story”. Modern war is “really horror”. "Saturday, January 26, 2008
Let's hear it... Muffin top!
I got quite a lot of random traffic from my Muffin Top post: people are looking for the lyrics, and for the song! As you know youtube deleted the origianl video clip grrrrr so I uploaded my own. It only has the audio of the original, which I am hoping will be enough not to get the video scrapped!
We'll see. Meanwhile, enjoy the tune. I am posting the lyrics again.
Everyone knows the most delicious part of the muffin is the top...
My muffin top is all that
Whole grain, low fat
I know you want a piece of that
But I just wanna dance
You're checkin' out my sweet hips
My sugar coated berry lips
I know you wanna get with this
But I'm just here to dance
So back up off of me
You're we-eee-eee-eirding me out
I'm an independent lady
So do not try to play me
I run a tidy bakery
The boys all want my cake for free.
I am also adding this great bit, where the character of Jenna has put on weight and lands a contract with Enorme, the fragance for plus size women! hahaha The bit just before between Tina Fey and Tracy's wife is hilarious too "You lookin' for a sassy black friend??" hahaha
We'll see. Meanwhile, enjoy the tune. I am posting the lyrics again.
Everyone knows the most delicious part of the muffin is the top...
My muffin top is all that
Whole grain, low fat
I know you want a piece of that
But I just wanna dance
You're checkin' out my sweet hips
My sugar coated berry lips
I know you wanna get with this
But I'm just here to dance
So back up off of me
You're we-eee-eee-eirding me out
I'm an independent lady
So do not try to play me
I run a tidy bakery
The boys all want my cake for free.
I am also adding this great bit, where the character of Jenna has put on weight and lands a contract with Enorme, the fragance for plus size women! hahaha The bit just before between Tina Fey and Tracy's wife is hilarious too "You lookin' for a sassy black friend??" hahaha
Friday, January 25, 2008
From...
After almost not happening, the From Russia: French and Russian master painting 1870-1925 from Moscow and St Peterburg exhibition got secured and is opening tomorrow. It's gonna be pretty busy I think, as tickets to see the show on Saturday or Sunday are booked up until the 22nd of March. Will have to take a day off and go then!The Economist is being positive this week and argues that the world is more prosperous and peaceful than ever before, and than we want to believe. Examples of nice things:
- "In 2007 Unicef, the United Nations child-welfare body, said that for the first time in modern history fewer than 10m children were dying each year before the age of five. That is still an awful lot but it represents a fall of a quarter since 1990"
- "The long march to literacy is nearing an end: three-quarters of people aged 15-25 were literate in 1975; now the rate is nearly nine-tenths."
- "Last year the global economy entered its fifth year of over 4% annual growth—the longest period of such strong expansion since the early 1970s. Moreover, growth was spread around fairly evenly."
- "In 1990 those on $1 a day accounted for more than a quarter of the population of developing countries. By 2015, on current rates, the proportion of very poor people should have shrunk to 10%. Moreover, these monetary measures probably understate the real gains from things such as lower child mortality, safer water, literacy and other social achievements."
I tend to agree.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)