My Internal Jukebox

Ever get a song stuck in your head? I think it happens to us all sometimes. Earworms, I've heard this phenomenon called. 

I always seem to be humming or muttering songs under my breath, usually something I've heard on the radio, or tv. Working in accounts receivable, this can become hilariously inappropriate when that song is "Bitch Better Have My Money".

But I also have an "internal jukebox". This seems to be where my brain chooses independently of any outside stimulus (that I can discover) to start playing from its own stored reportoire. Songs I have not heard in years, or sometimes don't even know where I heard them. 

For example, last night when I went to bed I realised that I'd had a Bryan Adams song running through my thoughts all day. That song was "Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman" and I swear I have not heard or even thought about it for over a decade. RANDOM. 

So in addition to the incessantly catchy ad jingles and latest chart-topping hooks that I am bombarded with daily by media, I seem to have my own little radio station inside my head that sometimes chooses what tracks to spin in my thoughts. 

I'm curious to know - does your brain do this? I wonder how it chooses what to play next...

Knowing the Words

I've known my husband for 7 years now but yesterday on a long car trip I discovered something new about him: he knows all the words to just about every Elvis song. 

This is apparently the result of childhood osmosis, being brought up in the household of a fan of Mr Presley. I thought it was funny until I realised I probably know every word to Air Supply's Greatest Hits. 

It's funny what our brains decide to remember when it comes to song lyrics. For example, I know I can still rap every word to DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince's "Boom Shake The Room". And probably have a good crack at Salt 'N' Peppa's "Shoop". Neither of these songs are my favourites but somewhere along the way my brain decided to burn the words into my memory. Probably in an area I could have used to remember login passwords and PINs but there you go. 

The other thing I've found is if you've ever performed anything, such as a musical, you tend to remember the lyrics forever. And this is why is why I sing bits of "The Mikado" in the shower. 

What do you know all the words to?

Sunday Summary

This week I've been...

Loving - the warmer weather! It's spring, this makes my heart so happy.

Listening - to new singles from a range of artists: Daft Punk, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry. I like it all.



Reading - a Young Adult novel The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson. I really liked this, and am happy to discover it's a series. It's set in modern London with a Jack the Ripper copycat on the loose. Next up is Shadows of the Nile by Kate Furnivall. It's a 30s-set mystery where the heroine searches for her lost brother in Egypt. And you probably know I'm a sucker for anything from that period.

Watching - Ripper Street. This show, like the book I've been reading, also has a Jack the Ripper theme, leading me to have a bit of an obsession with it lately. I love this show because a) Victorian London b) Matthew McFadyn's dialogue c) it's got Bron from Game of Thrones.

  [source]

Anticipating - the return of Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries this Friday.  So happy this show got a second season. And Kerry Greenwood has a new Miss Phryne novel out later this year, joy!

Diverted by - the election. I'll be very interested in the polls on election night. I have been much more interested in our policital process this time around, and have actually taken notice of policies and personalities. This is in sharp contrast to previous elections where I have mostly tried to ignore all the hoopla. I wonder if this is a symptom of getting older?

Worrying - about putting up our big shed next weekend. I keep thinking something disastrous will happen.

Doing - housework, all day. consistency is the key to keeping up with it, as any person will tell you, and I've let it slip lately.

How was your week? Read any good books lately? Or recommend me something to watch? Ever built a shed?

Music love - Macklemore

 [image source]

I am digging on Macklemore at the moment. Totally loving both his tunes and the guy himself.

Why?

Well, first he made op shopping cool with "Thrift Shop". Not only was it goddamn catchy, but it contained such lyrical gems as "I wear your Grandad's clothes, I look incredible." The man does seem to love a good jacket too.

He's incredibly energetic onstage, leaping around like a goon and generally throwing his body about with great abandon. His raps are not only quick (something that I just adore), but you can actually understand him. Big tick.

Next, he brought the gay equality debate into the public consciousness with the gorgeous anthem "Same Love".

And now with his latest "Can't hold us" he's got me turning up this volume every time I hear it on the radio. And the music video features a party on sailing ship. If you know me, you know I'm obsessed with all things nautical. Another tick in the box for me.

And he credits his producer, Ryan Lewis, as a co-artist on every single. Props.

What are you listening to right now?

I Heart the 80s

This post first appeared on We Heart Life on 22/02/13

On my 8th birthday, a friend gave me a My Little Pony as a present. Her name was Yum Yum, and I thought she was the greatest thing in the world.

 Image source

My Little Pony, along with many many other cartoons, made up a large part of my childhood. I look back fondly at many happy hours spent watching shows like Muppet Babies, Count Duckula, DangerMouse, Voltron and Rainbow Bright.

And you know how everything old is new again? The 80s are making a comeback. My Little Pony has successfully rebooted in the last few years, Strawberry Shortcake seems to be cool amongst the children again. And have you caught the remakes of Hawaii 5-0, Knight Rider and Teen Wolf?

And it’s not just tv shows but that 80s fabulousness is sneaking into movies, music and fashion too.
Recently we’ve been treated to everything from The Smurfs  to The A-Team and 21 Jump St on the silver screen. I think screenwriters still have a rich vein of movie goodness to tap into when their well of creativity runs dry! Can you imagine a live-action movie version of The Jetsons?

I’m also loving some of the 80s style music coming out recently! Check out bands like Haim and the new single from The Presets. I honestly thought that last one was Duran Duran when I heard it on the radio.

And I haven’t even mentioned The Carrie Diaries yet. It is a veritable smorgasboard of 80s fashion, music and fun! Check it out if you have cable tv.

 Image source

I do think there are some things that are best left behind in that decade though: rah-rah skirts, neon sunglasses, crimping…

What do you miss, or definitely DO NOT miss about the 80s?

On U2

Firstly, I would like to thank my long-suffering boyfriend C, for going with me to the concert. He doesn't even like concerts and also is not too hot on U2. But he did it anyway! Love him lots.

We started the evening with dinner – a shared pizza at Roma St Transit Centre. I don't know why, but in a decision that I would later regret (given the humidity and distance), we decided to walk to Suncorp Stadium. Should have taken the train. Then I could have arrived fresh and bright-eyed instead of sweaty and grumpy!

Anyhoo, we went in our gate and walked about ten steps and there was our aisle! We decended the stairs to find ourselves in row 11. And amazingly, nobody came to sit in front of us! I figured out that this was because no tickets had been sold for the first 10 rows. I'm assuming that was to keep a buffer between us crazed fans and all that expensive equipment? Not to mention that we were sitting directly in front of the 'star path'. C explained that to me – it's the term security uses to describe the route the VIPs take at a venue. Below is a pic that gives you an idea just how close we were to the action.

The downside? We were basically behind the stage. Now, as I only paid $40 each for our tickets, I didn't really care where we sat, and I was prepared for 'partial view' seats anyway. Turns out it was pretty great anyway, for the following reasons:

1. As previously mentioned, nobody sitting in front of us to obscure our view

2. Ditto, right in front of the Star Path, so we watched Jay Z and U2 walk onto the stage, and leave

3. We could see the whole concert on the 360 degree video screen

4. We didn't have to stand for 4hrs, unlike the poor plebs in the main arena. I understand they paid a lot more than us too. Well, for them it was probably worth it as the 'inner circle' part was pretty much in the thick of the action, but I'd prefer a seat any day. That said, U2 is one of the only bands I have stood for, and that was on their previous Vertigo tour.

The action kicked off with Jay Z at 6.45pm. Turns out he didn't make use of the huge stage or move from the front part, so we didn't really see him, except for his hat. I wonder why he couldn't run around on all the circular stages and bridges like U2 did? So he did about 8 songs, only three of which I knew. 'Empire State of Mind' went off, I love that song.

Then there was a break whilst roadies struck Jay Z's equipment and set up U2's. This took about 45mins I think. And then the big moment!

I have never been so close to the band before, and being able to see them so close as they strolled up to the stage was awesome. I really, really wanted to yell out 'I love you, Bono!' but Im pretty sure that C could have died of embarrassment so I just screamed a bit.

The concert itself was just amazing. I think Brisbane should feel bloody PRIVILEGED that such an amazing band brought its goddamn freakishly cool rock show to town. The set alone was astounding, but U2 live is just another experience altogether. You know you're in good hands with them. There are no stuff-ups, no embarrassing musical errors. There's some political stuff but you do expect that because, c'mon, it's Bono.

They kicked off with a short ditty of a song I didn't know, then went straight into 'Beautiful Day'. It was at this point that I may have lost my shit because I just love that song. It is my 2^nd favourite. It started to rain halfway through 'Magnificent', but stopped by the end of the next song. It was like not even the rain would dare ruin the evening.

Their last tour contained a full set of political songs, with Bono even donning a headband with various religious symbols on it, signifying unity etc etc. I found though they still did a set of political numbers ('Sunday, Bloody Sunday', 'One', 'Walk On') it wasn't as pointed or sustained this time around. They did broadcast images of Aung San Suu Kyi during 'Walk On' though, and Bono reminded us there are still 2200 political prisoners in Burma.

The part I enjoyed the most was when the 360 degree screens segmented downwards, forming this amazing cone. The light show in this part was just amazing, and when the band was thrashing out 'Vertigo' and 'City of Blinding Lights' it was pretty overwhelming.

The only disappointment for me was that they didn't play 'Sweetest Thing', (not for me, for C, as it is his fave U2 song) and that they included quite a bit of stuff off the latest album, which I did not like. In fact the only song I can listen to off 'No Line on the Horizon' is 'Magnificent'.

We escaped directly after 'With or Without You', as I considered the evening to be complete at this point (them having played 'Streets' just prior). I believe they concluded with one of the new album songs but not sure which, all I know is that they were still playing it by the time we had walked all the way up to Milton station!

To conclude: I love U2, I love that they came to Brisbane and I hope they continue to grace us with their presence. And I hope with all my heart their next album returns to the greatness that they are capable of.