Yep, that’s it guys, day 24 will be appearing tomorrow, I’m s’posed to compile a list of songs and I really haven’t had time to think about it yet.
Because rehearsal isn’t on this week I’ve been giving myself jobs to do instead of being there, I’ve done most of them but ‘Day 24’ just isn’t gonna happen. I’m about to finish writing an article for Moonletters.com and perhaps jot down some ideas for the novel I’m working on – I’m pleased with the progress thus far and cannot wait to be able to sit down properly again and just focus on it.
Ahh, my flatmate has stopped singing in the shower, haha I think she was singing cos she was pleased to be warm, it’s been so cold today – about -11 which is bloomin freezin, and as she works outside, well it must have been a hundred times worse for her. The heating is on full blast as I write and I have to say it’s all very cozy in here; hope you’re keeping warm too.
In 1986 I was watching ‘Short Circuit’ you know the film with that robot that comes alive? I loved that feel-good film but also the voice of the female singer on the tune that plays as the credits roll, I found her voice both comforting & uplifting; That singer was Marcy Levy who years later known as Marcella Detroit, became half of the Anglo-American band Shakespears Sister.
It wasn’t until about 1992 when SS released ‘Hormonally Yours’ that myself & the world really got to hear & appreciate their music.
‘Hormonally Yours’ is one of my all time favourite albums, as a 16-year-old I would play it again & again & again; I thought Shakespears Sister were the best, I loved their music & the way they dressed. I would write the band name on desks at school & college & proudly wear a jacket with the name I’d scribbled on the back. Whenever they released a single I would rush to buy it & learn the words off by heart.
I suffered from Depression in my teens & early 20’s & I found SS’s music a way to lift my spirits – one of the reasons why they are special to me.
When Shakespears Sister split I was gutted but I didn’t have to wait too long before Marcella Detroit released ‘I Believe’ & her fabulous album ‘Jewel’.
Not only did I love this album but as a sufferer of Depression at the time, the track ‘Art Of Melancholy’ helped me to realise I was not alone & I found great comfort in this & adored the Bolero-like music of that track.
It wasn’t until years later that the track ‘Jewel’ really became significant to me. I was in the process of ‘Coming out’ & the words described exactly how I felt.
In 1996 came the album ‘Feeler’, quite different from the previous, but just as good. ‘Without medication’ seems to reflect my past struggles with trying to overcome Depression: ‘Beam me up to the basement cos it’s all a bit above my station, I’m just trying to do this without medication.’ *
‘Somebody’s Mother’ is simply an amazing tune, written by Marcella when she’d heard some soldiers had raped & abused a woman until she died. You just gotta hear this song (particularly from 3mins onwards) :
It’s also a song that plays a part in my 3rd novel (Hoping it will one day be published), looks like one of her songs might fit nicely in number 4.
‘Waiting for’ reflects how I was very recently feeling, when i simply felt I was waiting for the next chapter of my life to begin, even tho I didn’t know what it was.
‘Dancing madly sideways’ came in 2006 with more of an electronic dancey feel that gets you moving. We all have a song that uplifts us ‘Built for speed’ does this for me.
‘My car has just sprouted wings I’m off to find some new horizon, on to much brighter things, there’s something that I got my eyes on. I am built for, I am built for speed’* YAAAY!!!! Oh, the track ‘Dancing Madly Sideways’ has the same effect.
After the release of this album, I read somewhere that Marcella wanted to go back to her Blues roots & boy did she!! I’ve never been a real Blues fan, but as Marcy has been my favourite singer forever! I thought I’d give ‘The upside of being down’ (Released using the name Marcy Levy) a try & my goodness I was not disappointed. I love it, so rhythmic, funky & alive, a new genre of music was opened up to me.
In 2008 in appreciation of Shakespears Sister I started a group on Facebook called ‘I’m a Shakespears Sister Fan’ in the hope people would join & unite!!! There are now over 400 members who post pictures, videos & their memories of the awesome duo (Some even post notes to SS themselves).
Siobhan Fahey has brought SS back, but for me it’s not SS without one or the other.
At the beginning of 2009 I created a group called ‘We Want Marcella Detroit To Come To The UK’ – long title I know, but it says it all. I invited Marcy to join & made her an administrator & this was followed by a message on Facebook from her & I realised what a lovely down to earth lady she is, despite the fact her music is awesome & she should be up there with the likes of Cher, Madonna & obviously an admirer of hers….Meatloaf.
How do I know this? I watched ‘Popstar To Operastar’ this showed a wider audience how amazing Marcella Detroit’s voice is, & also how funny Mr Loaf himself can be.
Here’s a video I posted on an earlier blog of Marcella singing; I was convinced this performance would lead to her winning the aforementioned show but that was not to be:
Since then Marcy has been working on a new album & released her 1st single from it entitled ‘All Is Forgiven’. Such a beautiful song that brought tears to my eyes even before I had breakfast.
Buy it now!! (25% of the sales from the single go to ‘Walk The Walk’, a breast cancer charity) – See iTunes link below
Yes I love this lady’s music & she knows (& was kind enough to join my fan club on Facebook of her own accord) & humbly thanked me for my support. I’m pleased ‘Popstar To Operastar’ has opened doors; this truly under-rated singer deserves recognition & success. Maybe you’re thinking ‘You would say that, you’ve been a fan for 18 (How many?) years’, but Marcella Detroit has style, her incredible voice is uniquely beautiful, her songs tell a story (With a splice of humour appearing now & then) & the music helps paint the picture.
If you like what you have seen & heard, here are a few links to various websites that sell her stuff:
I love hugs me, hugs are great, I can never get enough of them. Whether it be part of a greeting or a farewell, a ‘Congratulations’ or ‘I’m sorry’, they are great!
I asked my Daddy for a hug yesterday – he was busy working, but stood up & gave me a hug ‘What for?’ he asked ‘Just wanted one’ I replied. As simple as that, just because.
Even in Second Life where avatars hug each other, it means something. I got a fair few hugs before my house move cos I didn’t know if I’d be back very often & they meant a lot, I guess I just need to feel close to people. A hug by instant message or text always feels good, but they’re never as nice as the real thing.
‘A hug is a form of physical intimacy, not necessarily sexual, that usually involves closing or holding the arms around another person or group of persons. The hug is one of the most common human signs of love and affection, along with kissing. Unlike some other forms of physical intimacy, it is practiced publicly and privately without stigma in many countries, religions and cultures, within families, and also across age and gender lines.’ Taken from Wikipedia – See the entire article here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hug
There was & maybe still is the ‘Free Hugs Campaign’ where a group of people believed people’s lives are so busy they forget about the importance of hugs & the impact they have, so they began this campaign that spread globally – Here’s a link to a video found on YouTube:
I hope this finds you well 🙂 I didn’t blog yesterday cos I had so much to do & later on when I had the chance I was pretty tired & I forgot *Slaps own wrist* How Rude of me!
So a few people have said I look French – my Mother said it’s probably due to both sides of the family being of French descent. Our ancestors were Huguenots French protestants who were persecuted because of their beliefs…’The Huguenots were members of the ProtestantReformed Church ofFrance (or French Calvinists) from the sixteenth to the eighteenth centuries. Since the eighteenth century, Huguenots have been commonly designated “French Protestants”, the title being suggested by their German co-religionists or “Calvinists”. By the end of the 17th century, roughly 200,000 Huguenots had been driven from France during a series of religious persecutions’
I would love to find out what part of France my family came from & why they chose to settle in London & work in the cloth trade, but it would be almost impossible to find out much more because of lack of records kept.
I am entitled to Working Tax Credit because of the number of hours I work each week & how much I earn. Some people argue that we shouldn’t sponge off the government, but I disagree – I have been paying taxes every month for 15 years, I have never claimed job seekers allowance (I am fortunate) & I hardly use the NHS, therefore I don’t think I owe anything & until the Tax Credit is stopped or I earn enough not to need it then I will accept it.
I was in Newcastle not too long ago & I saw the Hollywood movie star Kim Cattrell, she was alone & just minding her own business in the quiet city streets. I gave her a small smile & carried on my way; she seemed vulnerable as if she didn’t want to be noticed (I later learnt that Ms Cattrell hates crowds & was up north filming a documentary). It struck me how human she is despite all the glamour that surrounds her & she appreciates being left alone at times – not always if you’re that big a star I guess.
Well, I guess I’d better get on & do a bit of exercise before I start work – have a great weekend…oooh I’m using my Plurk account again as jellie Arrowmint my Second Life avatar…. http://www.plurk.com/jellieArrowmint check it out if you wish 🙂
I moved house today for the 17th time. The move went smoothly & it’s good to be here, there was a surprise visit from my older Brother – I got in from a job interview (Went well) & there he was!
I’m pretty tired, it feels like I’ve done a lot today – I guess I have! I did try to go to sleep earlier but my mind has been busy thinking of all the things I want to do tomorrow, & I wanted to get this here blog done too 🙂
I shall be back in Second Life soon, & thankfully I am a little ahead with my Moonletters write ups – I hope to get in touch with a real-life band who recently did a world tour in Second Life & interview them – should be good 🙂
My Father told me about the training he is doing for the Knaresborough bed race – he’s really taking it seriously even more now he knows it will be televised (Aled Jones is on his team). I’ll post more details & maybe some pics at a later date!
I just wanna send hugs to all my mates from Second Life, Real Life & Both! Like Graz says a friend is a friend.
If I’m not making much sense (Do I ever?) It’s cos I’m sleeeeeeeeeeepy & should probably head to bed.
I bid you a good night! I am off to bed..to the land of nod..to catch some z’s…to get some shut eye…off to bedfordshire..to check the inside of my eyelids…zzz…zzz…zzz…
I love tattoos me! I recently did a write-up on Moonletters.com about a place in Second Life that sells tattoos for you avatar: http://slfix.com/?p=7821 in the write-up I mention my real life love of tattoos & it just so happens that I fancy showing you them.
Each of my tattoos has a meaning & they are all very special to me (The quality of the pictures do not do the pieces justice):
Yin & Yang: (The left of my belly button) – I have always loved the design & the meanings behind it ‘Yin and yang are complementary opposites within a greater whole. Everything has both yin and yang aspects, ‘which constantly interact, never existing in absolute stasis’ (Wikipedia).
This was my very 1st tattoo & has fared pretty well for 1 that is 8 years old. I got this one done in The Whitby Tattoo Studio, Whitby, Yorkshire.
Horus’ Eye: (Back of right shoulder) – An ancient Egyptian symbol, people would wear a necklace depicting Horus’ Eye in the belief that this would ‘Put right what once went wrong’
This tattoo was done in ‘Eric’s Tattoo Studio’, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne.
Gemini: I am a Gemini!! Although I’m not an avid believer in horoscopes, I do seem to have 2 sides to me – hmm maybe I should have got an angel/devil tattoo 🙂
The typical description of a Gemini fits me almost perfectly & I guess I just like being one! I’m thinking of getting some color added to this piece.
This was done in The Whitby Tattoo Studio, Whitby, Yorkshire.
Peace Sign: (Above my right hip) – I don’t believe that war is the answer & I wish everyone could just get along despite differences in skin colour/beliefs/race/sexuality/ability etc
I got this tattoo done in ‘Hype Tattoo Studio’, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne.
Dragon: (Above my right knee) – This represents my little bit of Welsh blood, but also the fact I was born in the year of the Dragon.
I took this picture not long after the tattoo was done – hence the little bit of redness!!
This was done at ‘Hype Tattoo Studio’ Newcastle-Upon-Tyne.
Footprints (On my lower back) – These refer to the poem ‘Footprints in the sand.’ My life hasn’t always been easy, but through some of the most darkest & challenging times of my life so far, I have always felt that I have been ‘Carried’.
I got this one done at ‘Wild Style Tattoos’ Knaresborough, Yorkshire.
I guess you could say I’m addicted to getting pictures put on my skin, but for me it’s an expression of who I am & what is important to me. I intend to get more & am deciding what my next one will be – I’m not gonna tell ya! I’ll blog about it when it’s done. 🙂
Do you have any? if so – tell me, I always love to hear about peoples tattoos & the stories behind them.
If you know me well then you know how much I love to write, how I love to sew words together & hopefully come up with something readable.
It’s a form of expression, a way to let my vivid imagination run wild & it seeps into the dreams I have both day & night. It is everything to me, yet without me my story has no life; the characters become real & I get so emotionally involved I’ve found myself crying as if it were me living that life.
From the notes I used to slip under my Moms bedroom door cos I had no confidence to communicate my feelings, to the weekly reviews on Moonletters.com & maybe one day (Please God) a published novel or 2.
This is what I do, this is how I am, my words are my way of life & I treasure them so.
‘Writing is my suffering. It’s my soul’s medicine. I write about what I wanna write about. I write when I hurt. I write when I fear. Writing is my form of personal freedom. I write to save myself. I write to survive as an individual.’ Gao Xingjian.
I have a lot of good friends, I am fortunate; there are so many nice people out there & I have found that wherever I have been in the world, people are mostly just the same, wanting to go about their daily lives with little hassle & complication.
Because of Second Life, I have friends from Australia, the USA, Portugal, & many other places as well as from the UK, & thanks to modern technology, we can talk in voice/on camera or both.
It is sad when you lose friends in real-life & Sl, maybe because of a disagreement, one has moved away or you just simply lose touch. A bit of advice I read somewhere once has come in useful & it goes something like this:
‘Don’t be too sad they’re not a part of your life anymore, give thanks that they were a part of your life, even just for a short while’.
We all have friends we want to take along life’s journey, people who make a difference to us & I think it’s important to tell them how you feel.
Rachel Ellie's Blog 