Vignettes from VJ

a fug moment: Lady Gaga and the fabulous Fannings

2011-11-15T11:30:00.000+11:00

in tribute to my beloved fug girls, 'a fug moment' is when my eyes react in a way similar to that of a lightbulb going off – moments of prettiness that just have to be shared

* Lady Gaga in India
i'm seriously lusting after this Naeem Khan dress – its slightly psychedelic, painterly watercolour pattern is just mesmerising and when Gaga gets it right, she really looks stunning. i also love that at this press conference, it's as if she's a princess, sitting atop her throne, with her perfectly coiffed bun, dyed orange and green in tribute to India, greeting the press – it reminds me of a scene in Roman Holiday where Audrey Hepburn's Princess Ann is presented to the press – just in a Gaga way. Jamie-James Medina has also taken some beautiful behind-the-scenes shots of Gaga's great Indian adventure for The Observer. as the fug girls would say, well-played Gaga.

image found via Just Jared

* Dakota and Elle Fanning on the December cover of W Magazine
i only just saw Somewhere a couple of weeks ago (verdict: i love Sofia Coppola but i'm starting to think she may not ever top Lost In Translation) and Elle Fanning is a revelation in it – she plays quiet, innocent i-need-to-look-after-my-dad girl on the precipice of teenager very well. and i've loved Dakota since her The Sixth Sense/I Am Sam/appearance in Rufus Wainwright's cover of 'Across the Universe' days. this is a seriously stunning cover of two incredibly talented sisters — they look positively angel-like and ethereal in floaty, sheer lace pieces shot through with ribbons of gold and silver thread.

all images – photography: Mario Sorrenti, styling: Lori Goldstein; image found via W Magazine

VJ x.

MTV VJ: i want...

2011-11-12T22:06:00.001+11:00

... to be Helena Christensen
not only is she absolutely freaking gorgeous and has now become an accomplished photographer, the woman does not age! same goes for Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, Eva Herzigova and Yasmin Le Bon. these fabulous, ravishing supermodels appear in Duran Duran's new music video, 'Girl Panic'. The 'Supers' actually all appear on the amazing UK Harper's Bazaar December cover, in conjunction with the mag's Women of the Year awards. the vid is more a mock-doco mini film, which i love the concept of. the result is gorgeous – you've got a black-and-white beginning montage, credits in an elegant font, the magnificent recently re-opened Savoy hotel as a location and also dozens of 'Panic Girls', beautiful models with legs that go forever. the song ain't bad but it's all about the cover-girls- for-the-umpteenth-time. for eye candy, look no further.

image found via UK Harper's Bazzar website

... Joseph Gordon-Levitt to be my boyfriend
so i kinda forgot that Mr. Gordon-Levitt sings (see this post from yonks ago), though i do recall that he dances (again see post), but this vid is something else altogether. i really love this song, originally sung by R. Kelly – i may in fact have the CD single lying around somewhere – and this cover just takes it to another level. i love his commitment to the song, and the fact that he comes out at the end still endearingly gorgeous and awesome – try watching this without smiling. extra brownie points for the She & Him shout-out.

...to be a Troubletone

it wasn't going to be long before i blogged once again about Glee. i am one of many people who love Adele so when i heard there was going to a mash-up of 'Rumour (yes RumoUr) Has It' and 'Someone Like You', i was excited but a tad apprehensive. needn't have worried coz Amber Riley (aka Mercedes) and Naya Rivera particularly (aka Santana) killed it. i quite like their dresses too – the fact that they're each a little different and perhaps were a small tribute to Adele's quite astonishing performance of Someone Like You at the Brits earlier in the year – also loving the side ponytails. as to my verdict of Glee season 3 so far – undecided but i think it's heading in the right direction. and more Blaine/Darren Criss makes me very happy.

VJ x.

musical marvel: Lana del Ray

2011-11-07T19:05:00.000+11:00

let this be the umpteenth blog entry devoted to Lana Del Ray - yes miss self-appointed "Gangster Nancy Sinarta" herself. for a singer who has only put out two songs, she's drummed up a whole lot of controversy – with her "re-invention" from Lizzy Grant to Lana (as in Lana Turner) and Del Ray (as in Ford's Del Ray car), upon the advice from a team of publicists and lawyers, she has concocted a definitive recipe for fame. i'm not one for picking apart how a person chooses to present themselves, so all you'll hear from me about her appearance is how gorgeous and sex-kitten-esque she is in these retro-inspired shots for Wonderland magazine. for me, in regards to Ms. Del Ray, it's all about 'Video Games', which is one of the best songs i've heard all year – its haunting stillness and sparse instrumentation, with Del Ray's amazing alto voice at the centre of it all makes for a gem of a song. the video showcases the magic of found footage – incredibly enough i found myself feeling sorry for a drunk Paz de la Huerta. so if after all the buzz and hype, if all i get from Lana Del Ray is 'Video Games', that's ok by me.

VJ x.

photography: AJ Numan, image found via

Sunday reads

2011-11-06T14:23:00.000+11:00

every Sunday, usually without fail, starts the same for me. i crawl out of bed and make a quick dash in my pjs down the driveway to get the sunday newspaper; i unfurl it, and allow it to flatten out, then completely forget reading it as i scour the interwebs for some reads. The Guardian is always the first port of call, and today it more than delivered:

"We were a gang that grew. We argued the whole time. A lot of people worked for free. And there was always a healthy degree of piss-taking about each other's creativity. But we were ahead of our time – this cocktail of arts and music and ideas became a template that other magazines copied."

1. Dazed & Confused: the gang are still as cool as ever: this piece is about the 20th anniversary of Dazed & Confused, an uber-cool men's magazine about style, culture, low, high and underground, and everything in between. founders, Jefferson Hack (aka baby daddy to Kate Moss's daughter and also founder of AnOther magazine) and Rankin (v. cool "I'll shoot you a magazine cover" photographer), come across as passionate, talented and incredibly driven people, willing to take multiple risks to get what they envisioned out there.

"Yeah. I'm now this 'thing' that's supposed to be something. And if you then don't fulfil that expectation, what the fuck are you?"

2. Robert Pattinson: Reality bites: one of the more substantial pieces i've read about R Patz; for instance, it doesn't spend five lines talking about his hair (though the hair still gets a mention). his genuine concern of what to do after the Twilight juggernaut is through reveals a thoughtful young man and call me fangirl, but R Patz seems like such a down-to-earth, humble guy.

"I miss Betty madly. I loved her. Whenever people talk about her, I get really nostalgic. There are parts of her still with me; I played her for four years and, of course, the lines get blurred."

3. This Much I Know: America Ferrera: confession: i really liked Ugly Betty... well the first season or 2, the rest are a blur to me, and a big part of that is due to America, who gave Betty her big heart and compassion, as well as ambition. and now she's playing Roxie Hart in Chicago in London – wow!

image found via

"There was Gene Kelly, there was Fred Astaire and I did dance with Baryshnikov and Nureyev for five minutes – or seven minutes actually – at the Met for a charity evening and that was absolutely wild! I believe it's the only time the two boys were on the stage together at the same time and I was with them. I remember having a grin from one ear to the other for seven minutes. It was a huge, fabulous event – absolutely grand and great fun."

4. AnOther thing I Wanted to Tell You: Leslie Caron on Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly: i'm a huge fan of musicals of the golden age and although An American In Paris isn't one of my absolute favourites, the dancing in it is second to none and Leslie Caron, with her big Bambi eyes and pixie-Tinkerbell physique, is amazing in it. i could watch her and Gene Kelly dance over and over again. and her beginning scene is the definition of grace and poise – her legs could do anything.

ps. just spotted Tilda Swinton on the cover of Sunday Life – ooo interesting.

VJ x.

on the road to regionals: my top 9 songs from Glee (rest of part 2)

2010-07-08T23:00:00.001+10:00

5. 'U Can't Touch This', originally by MC Hammer, sung by Artie, Tina, Mercedes, Kurt & Brittany from episode 17, 'Bad Reputation'

i'll admit this isn't a showstopping tune from my dear Glee. it's rap, it's MC Hammer and parachute pants are involved, however it's one of my favourites because of 2 things: 1) it showcases Artie's/Kevin McHale's voice, which is one of the stronger male voices in the show, and i love his attitude and swagger; and 2) not only is she one of the revelations for me this second half of the season with her one-liners ("dolphins are just gay sharks"; "i'm pretty sure my cat's been reading my diary"; "i've been here since first period. i had a cold and i took all my antibiotics at the same time, and now i can't remember how to leave") Brittany is a f.i.e.r.c.e dancer - i mean a-mazing. trivia fact: Heather Morris aka Brittany toured with Beyonce performing 'Single Ladies' and was originally on Glee as a choreographer to help the guys out with that dance number. the costumes are something to behold and who doesn't enjoy this song on some level?

fave moment: 0.27 when Brittany seriously busts some moves – the girl is freaking fierce.

6. 'Dream A Little Dream Of Me', originally by the Mamas and the Papas, sung by Artie, from episode 19 'Dream On'

i find artie and tina so cute and the timing of this song after the dream sequence Artie has of dancing and doing 'The Safety Dance' was a little heartbreaking for me. Tina's determination to get Artie to believe in his dreams and ultimately not being able to perform the song the way they wanted to was so bittersweet – even Quinn notices it. i also love that it works for Rachel and Jesse too – the little glance Jesse gives Rachel is enough to hint that meeting her mum isn't too far away. also, the tap dancing is very sweet, the song is just gorgeous and so heartfelt, and on a slightly lighter note, how awesome are Tina's electric purple streaks?!?

fave moment: right at the beginning of the song – the first verse just breaks my heart

7. 'Bad Romance', originally by Lady Gaga, sung by Tina, Mercedes, Kurt, Rachel, Quinn, Santana & Brittany from episode 20, 'Theatricality'

'Bad Romance' is my karaoke song of choice and so when i heard that Glee was doing a Lady Gaga episode, i knew it would just have to be there. glimpses of Kurt and Tina in respective silver/Lobster shoes and bubble dress getup had me excited. though i was a little disappointed with the performance of it (and i still can't quite put my finger on why), i love the production value – the costumes are great – Quinn, Santana and Rachel's second Gaga costumes are my favourites – and i love Kurt's centre-of-attention positioning. what also got me with this song was how amazing Santana's voice is – the girl can sing. and i wish i could look that good in a skintight lace jumpsuit with a ridiculous ribbon-eqsue contraption on my head and tassels hanging off my shoulders. Brittany's dancing is again awesome - and the moves are surprisingly easy and fun – not that i've tried them or anything.

fave moment: 1.29 when Santana breaks it down; also, 2.06 when the girls dance around Kurt

on the road to regionals: my top 9 songs from Glee (part 2-ish)

2010-06-26T10:25:00.000+10:00

4. 'Total Eclipse of the Heart, originally by Bonnie Tyler, sung by Rachel and Jesse (with a little help from Finn, Puck and New Directions) from episode 17 'Bad Reputation'

this song gets its own entry because i LOVE it sooooo much. after 'Home' i seriously thought the rest of the season was going to be a mess; that the Glee i had come to love had gone completely wacko – but 'Bad Reputation' restored my faith. it is one of the best (if not the best) episodes of Glee, in my humble opinion, because despite the crazy idea of a G-list and the even crazier idea that performing 'U Can't Touch This' in the school library will somehow make you cool, this episode did what Glee does best – make its own unique take on songs that then express more about the story and characters. and 'Total Eclipse of the Heart' totally did this. coming after the melodrama of 'Run Joey Run', you'd think this song following would be melodrama overload. it actually works to show some depth in the relationship between Rachel and Jesse, to show that there is something there, despite creepy look at Shelby back in episode 14. it also showcases how freaking talented Lea Michele and Jonathan Groff are – triple threats anyone? plus i somehow, subconsciously, know this whole song – i found myself singing along, knowing every lyric – eeek!

fave moment: at 0.57: the first time i saw Jonathan waltz in, lift Lea then spin her around and lift her up again, i literally gasped. from then onwards, everything is a-mazing – the exchange of looks between Rachel, Jesse and Finn; all the ballet and at 2.15, when Jonathan gives Lea a small nod as if to say "run forward, propel yourself by doing a cartwheel on my thigh and then i'll flip you up onto my back" – like you know, it was nothing.

and i just had to include this tid-bit from an interview i think talks about this particular ballet sequence between Jon and Lea. like i've said before – they are too freaking cute.

So, what has it been like to work with her [Lea] again?
Words can’t properly describe it. It’s been a blast. You get to sing and dance with your best friend. And not only do you get to work with your best friend, with sort of all the fun and good times and ease that that involves, but I also get to work with a peer who is an artist that I completely respect and admire. When you are an actor, or a musician or an athlete or whatever, you want to be challenged and work with people that push you and that inspire you, and Lea happens to be one of those artists for me that I have always really admired and really been inspired by and I’ve always been sort of made better by. And so it’s sort of two fold, because I love her so much as an actress and a singer and a performer, and then I also love her so much as a human being and as a person, so it’s been really incredible to get to work with her again. And we have that history together, so there’s an ease in our working relationship that comes with years of knowing each other and know each other’s work.

Absolutely. Do you find that you both push each other to be better as actors and performers?
Completely. Totally. We were practicing a dance number together a couple of months ago with some lifts in it, some big crazy lifts in it. And we were both saying “I don’t know if I would be comfortable doing this with anyone else.” When you’re really comfortable with someone, you can really go outside of your comfort zone because you trust the other person so much. So yeah, we definitely push each other. For sure.

too. freaking. cute – period
ps. i'm sorry about the Groff overload - i just think he's amazing

perfection itself

2010-06-23T22:56:00.001+10:00

seriously, Jonathan Groff is utter gorgeous perfection – LOVE

film fave: High Society

2010-06-20T13:18:00.002+10:00

if you're planning to spend your Sunday afternoon at home today and looking for something to watch, look no further than High Society, starring Bing Crosby, Grace Kelly and Frank Sinatra, one of my absolute favourite movies and one of the best musicals. it's fun and joyous, the songs are wonderful, Grace is at her elegant best (and i think this was her last movie role before becoming Her Royal Highness Princess Grace of Monaco – that's her own engagement sparkler on her hand there), Bing and Frank sound great together (and to think this song wasn't originally going to be in the film - blasphemy!) but the production values of the film are amazing – gorgeous costumes (i want every single one of Grace's costumes), beautiful sets and locations, and jazz legend Louis Armstrong makes an appearance – as it is oft said, they don't them like they used to. below are some musical numbers to whet your appetite – if i had to pick one, i think 'Well, Did You Evah' may be my favourite. watch it at 1.30pm (not long to go at all - 12 minutes in fact!) on GO! – you won't be disappointed

mon cheri Marion

2010-06-19T19:12:00.004+10:00

i finally got around to watching some movies last weekend i had intended on seeing a LOT earlier, including Nine, which is awful – it's overblown, has an awful character at the centre of it all (no offence to Daniel Day-Lewis, who makes an admirable, gallant effort but i couldn't like Guido Contini) and becomes some weird self-referential parody i.e. Rob Marshall is Guido Contini. however ...

... i've loved Marion Cotillard ever since her extraordinary portrayal of Edith Piaf in La Vie En Rose. it was such a powerful, dedicated and mesmerising performance – i felt as if she had inhabited Piaf and had become her. she was one of the only good things in both Nine and Public Enemies, and i just find her divine, supremely talented and unbelievably gorgeous, even her voice is such a delightful amalgamation of French-accented clipped English. she's on the July cover of US Vogue magazine – which might actually convince me to buy it – read an excerpt here and just marvel at the gorgeousness that is Marion below. p.s. i also love that Mario Testino speaks French; and if you're curious about Nine, you just need to see Marion's songs in it – by far the best parts of the film.

photographs by Mario Testino for Vogue magazine

on the road to regionals: my top 9 songs from Glee (part 1)

2010-06-12T12:38:00.006+10:00

i LOVE glee and having watched the a-mazing finale, there will be a huge vacant spot in my viewing habits, although True Blood makes its return – yay! seeing as my normal Glee viewing habits involve going online to watch my favourite songs over and over again, i figured now would be the perfect time to review the last 9 episodes of Glee's first season with my picks of the top 9 songs. i limit myself to 9 because of the perfect symmetry of 9 songs, 9 episodes but understand this – this is a serious challenge for me. i easily had 15 and have had to painfully cull and whittle in down to this select 9 before you. in order of appearance, i give you my top 9 songs:

1. 'Hello', originally by Lionel Richie, sung by Rachel and Jesse (Lea Michele and Jonathan Groff) from episode 14 'Hell-O'

one of the most pleasant surprises for me in this back 9 Glee episodes is Jonathan Groff as Jesse St. James. i love the way he introduces himself just before this beautiful rendition of 'Hello' – full of confidence, constructive criticism and total crushworthiness. he is set up as Rachel's equal in terms of ambition and 'life as a stage' outlook and though it took a while for me to warm to Jesse, i instantly warmed to Jonathan – he and Lea's harmonies on this song are just gorgeous.

fav moment: from 1.40 onwards for gorgeous, gorgeous harmonies, but particularly at 2.00 – god i swoon then

2. 'Like A Prayer', originally by Madonna, sung by New Directions from episode 15 'The Power of Madonna'

i struggled with this episode – potentially i could have listed 'Express Yourself' (love the running arms), 'Like A Virgin' and of course 'Vogue', which arguably is the highlight of the episode as Sue owns it. but 'Like A Prayer' is one of my favourite Madonna songs ever and i'm a sucker for a choir. i love the stillness of the beginning, the solos leading towards the big reveal of the backing choir and seeing everyone have fun and really enjoying themselves. it's so joyful i can't watch it without a smile on my face.

fave moment: 0.55 when Kurt's gorgeous soprano takes over and he glides over to Mercedes and sweetly gives her a kiss on the cheek

3. 'Fire', originally by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, sung by April Rhodes and Will Schuester (Kristen Chenowith and Matthew Morrison) from episode 16 'Home'

one of the weakest episodes in this season, 'Home' nonetheless gave us Kristen Chenowith in all her April Rhodes glory. i love Kristen Chenowith – her voice, her acting, her petite size – and this selection is the only one i include of a special guest appearance. as amazing as Idina Menzel and Neil Patrick Harris are in their respective songs, i can't go past this song with Will Schuester for several reasons: aforementioned love of Kristen Chenowith; the fact she and Matthew sound amazing together plus i've always kinda loved Xanadu, which 'Rinky Dinks' is an obvious homage to – the rollerskating, the lights, the singing. it's such a fun song and they look like they're having such fun that it left me wanting more.

fave moment: 0.45 onwards as they sing together but particularly when they start swaying their shoulders and Kristen's 'look of fire' - but who am i kidding i have to mention the rollerskating so really i LOVE the whole thing.

home love

2010-06-12T12:00:00.001+10:00

The Selby is my go-to website for inspiring homes – it's the stuff of dreams and fantasy. creative folk share their often eclectic, sophisticated and personalised homes with Todd Selby, who takes photographs that really highlight a home's unique style and character – i especially love his eye for gorgeous details and vignettes. because i'm a stickler for being fair and obeying copyright, you'll just have to trust my judgment and click on this link of Lyndsay Caleo and Fitzhugh Karol's home to discover by far my favourite Selby find. though i could do without the cowhide rug, i LOVE everything about it. the exposed ceiling beams, the gloss white floorboards, the amount of light, the bespoke built-in shelving, the ladder on castors, the little comfy nook above the kitchen, wooden ball sculptures with gradations of colour, the brownstone exterior, the fact it's in New York - even their precious puppy i love. isn't it a-mazing?

listen at your own risk

2010-06-08T21:37:00.000+10:00

this is a selfish blog entry so i can listen to 'Bohemian Rhapsody' and 'To Sir With Love' over and over again - i've refrained from listening to the rest so i haven't completely ruined it for myself :P

i'm a fool who'll rush in

2010-06-08T13:06:00.002+10:00

LOVE this cover of 'Fools Rush In' by the gorgeous She & Him. Zooey is sounding especially gorgeous and beguiling and is as cute as a button in the video – gosh my girl crush grows and grows. it's my anthem to get me through work today – enjoy!

New York, New York, it's a helleva town

2010-06-01T21:20:00.000+10:00

i've never been but would love to go to New York and this little mashup of clips from films set in NYC makes me realise that most of my knowledge of the Big Apple has been gleaned from films: from Manhattan, Annie Hall, You've Got Mail and Sleepless in Seattle to Rear Window, An Affair To Remember, Breakfast at Tiffany's and even Serendipity. it's well worth a look for those who have experienced NYC's delights and those who have long-held dreams of wanting to, followed by arguably my favourite NYC moment on film – i've yet to see one top it. it's one of my favourite moments on film ever really.

utterly gorgeous and beautiful

2010-05-31T22:06:00.003+10:00

you can say what you will about this pair. of she, you could say she's a little strange with her macrobiotic ways, full of GOOP and is an undeserving Oscar winner in light of Cate Blanchett's Elizabeth. of he, you could say he's a cheating bastard, has wasted his talent and is just that tad bit too pretty to be trusted. plus the fact they starred in a really strange movie together, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (alongside one Angelina Jolie) doesn't help, although they did also star in a far better one, The Talented Mr Ripley. but you can't really refute how utterly gorgeous and beautiful Gwyneth Paltrow and Jude Law are, especially here, pictured together at the 2010 Empire Awards in a photograph taken by Sarah Dunn.

a vampire weekend love affair

2010-05-28T22:57:00.004+10:00

i'm still bursting with Vampire Weekend love and have a couple of shiny new things to share. firstly, the band's contribution to the Eclipse soundtrack, 'Jonathon Low'. too be honest, i'm a little weirded out that they agreed to do this (maybe the vampire connection was just too strong to resist? or more likely, it's time to make some serious bucks) but i have no idea, if they feature the song in the film, how it would fit? anyway it's a little fun and jaunty, a tamer Vampire Weekend for mass consumption – wow how snobby did i just sound?

Vw by c87157

the other is this fun new music video for 'Holiday', which was sooo much fun to dance to at the concert. dressed in Marie Antoinette-inspired garb, plaster and some serious wigs, the boys are jetting around in an old convertible, playing some chess, fishing, hanging out at the beach, practicing their golf swings, undertaking some serious chap stick application and bashing surfers. for some reason, the vid reminds me of The Monkees – i'm getting a serious Monkees vibe. maybe because it's all stop-start with random close-ups of each guy and just sheer fun randomness. just take a look at The Monkees theme song – gosh this is a walk down memory lane.

oh Ezra, even in a crazy wig, white powdered makeup and a ridiculous outfit, i would love to go on a holiday with you.

v. cute vintage teaware

2010-05-19T10:31:00.002+10:00

lookee at these darlings. i'm quite partial to a good cuppa myself – i consume about 3 cups a day but i haven't quite made the effort to get a gorgeous teacup and saucer for fear i will break it. but sometimes teaware is just too gorgeous and precious to consume tea in. Katy Potts Tea for Two finds beautiful vintage English teapots, cups, saucers and cake stands from the 1920s to the 1950s. soon to be available online (fingers crossed you can order them and get them shipped to Oz), this dainty collection, with gorgeous names to boot (such as Miss Penelope, Miss Verity, Gracie, Lillie and Clara) conjures thoughts of outdoor tea parties in the spring with miniature cupcakes, gorgeous tea dresses and pinky fingers up. cup of tea anyone?

lucky i'm in love with my best friend

2010-05-16T13:37:00.002+10:00

i know i've already blogged about Lea and Jonathan but just have to share even more cuteness (especially Jonathan) - they're too freaking precious.

for a full version of 'Lucky', click here (teamed with even more photos of them)

:)

Vampire Weekend makes me smile (Ezra in particular)

2010-05-14T20:57:00.003+10:00

it must have been written in the stars - i wasn't supposed to see Vampire Weekend on Wednesday but somehow did. i had sold my ticket (a crazy move in retrospect) and was about to hop into the shower when I got the call to quote "you have 30 minutes to get here!" unquote. after a crazed drive and doing the impossible by finding a park within 5 minutes, less than 5 minutes away from the Enmore, i was greeted with the sweet voice of Ezra Koenig and the tinkling melodies of his cohorts. this entry isn't a full blown review of the gig though some fave songs that had me jumping and dancing and singing include 'I Stand Corrected', 'Cousins', 'A-Punk', 'Giving Up The Gun', 'Campus', 'Oxford Comma' and an a-mazing encore of 'Horchata', 'Mansard Roof' and 'Walcott', which had everyone singing about drinking horchatas and getting outta Cape Cod tonight.

this entry is more a reflection that sometimes things can surprise you. Vampire Weekend surprised me - every song sounded amazing, ten times more amazing than on CD- even their second album Contra, which i'm not a huge fan of, sounded great and has me re-evaluating its merits. the band are a well-oiled performing machine and Ezra is charming, dashing and utterly gorgeous, something i had failed to notice before seeing him, less than 10 metres away from me, in a checked shirt, tight black jeans, straddling a guitar from side to side, his voice never wavering. i was smiling the whole night, a smile i've come to refer as my 'gig smile', a slightly dumb looking closed smile reflecting the utter joy and thrill i feel. it's what i yearn for at a gig - i got the exact feeling and had the same stupid smile watching Regina Spektor. surprises can be such a wonderful thing.

here's a taste -it's not my vid so i'm not sure why it goes sideways but it's a taste nonetheless - enjoy, i sure did :)

bff crush: Lea Michele & Jonathan Groff

2010-05-11T20:49:00.004+10:00

can there possibly be something such as a BFF (best friends forever) crush? i didn't think there was until i saw these two:

found at fuck yeah jon and lea

seriously enough already. isn't it enough that you're both on Glee, being absolutely amazing and gorgeous, despite you, Lea, playing a talented, ambitious and slightly obnoxious star in the making, and you, Jonathan, for playing a guy from the opposing show choir, exchanging sneaky glances with your singing coach while kissing said-ambitious starlet but still somehow winning me over completely in the latest Glee episode, Bad Reputation, which in my humble opinion, is one of the best Glee episodes ever? despite the grainy after-dark photo quality, the cuteness factor is too much. you just have to read this interview between the two of them – too freaking precious. an example (though i grant, a tad weird):

So, Jonathan, you’re continuing to work in the theater and Lea, you’re starting to work on “Glee.” Are you still staying in touch during this time?

Michele: [laughs] I don’t think you understand – I don’t think you get it. I don’t go a day without talking to Jonathan. I don’t go a day without being in contact with him. Our families are very close, every New Year’s we spend together with our families, we have a tradition with them. We’ve been on trips together. I’ve driven reluctantly to the country, to Jonathan’s house.
Groff: [laughs] You even saw me in all of my plays.
Michele: I’ve seen Jonathan in every job he’s ever done. He’s been my date to things like the SAG awards and openings. I grew up never having had close friends because I was working all the time. All the girls, growing up, everyone had their best friends. And I never, ever had that. And Jonathan is really and truly my first and only best friend. And I couldn’t have picked a better person.

Literally, our friends call us mom and dad. Sometimes I’m on the phone with Jonathan and I’m like: “Dad, I miss you so much. I can’t wait that you’re going to come over tonight and sleep in bed with me, and I can hold you all night long.” The people that are next to me look at me all weird. This one time, Jonathan got out of a cab and dropped me off at home, and I was like, “ ‘Bye, dad, I love you.” And he [the driver] goes, “That’s your dad?”

seriously. enough. already. they would be the most perfect couple, if it weren't for the fact that Jonathan is gay, which is unfortunate for Lea and i. imagine getting to do what you love with one of the people you love the most – they both do and are a-mazing at it as seen below. spoiler alert for the second vid – don't say i didn't warn you :)

guess who i'm seeing tomorrow night?

2010-04-27T20:41:00.001+10:00

i'm soooooo sooooo excited! this woman is just exquisite

vj's singing... noah and the whale

2010-04-24T17:42:00.002+10:00

i've finally, finally got my hands on Laura Marling's album 'I Speak Because I Can' and i love it. in fact, i was going to spend today listening to it, lyric book in hand, understanding and reflecting upon her lyrics (i'm really, really nerdy this way) ... until i read in The Guardian that the album came in the aftermath of a break-up with lead singer of Noah and the Whale, Charlie Fink. i hadn't heard of noah and the whale and was immediately fascinated in that awful tabloid-relationship-gossipy way of wanting to find out more. more delving brought out that Charlie produced Laura's first album and that they regularly collaborated, with her appearing on the band's first album. '5 years time' was a huge song for noah and the whale in the UK and their Wes-Anderson love spilled over into that video, which is quirky and cute and features Laura in the video and through the song (here's a better quality version of said vid than the one below):

their break-up spawned the band's second album. The First Days of Spring, and i've fallen in love with 'Blue Skies', which is gorgeous and poignant, riddled with heartache but filled with hope, the way a break-up song should be. the following video serves as a trailer for a film, created by Charlie, that comes with the album. this concept for me harks back to my uni days of wanting to create films, merging pictures and music together – if i'd ever been a singer, i could well have put out an album with an accompanying film too. anyway, as an ode to heartache, 'Blue Skies' is just beautiful.

my heart is filled with Glee!

2010-04-18T16:15:00.002+10:00

i'm not a patient person when it comes to TV. in fact, on most weekends you'll find me watching the latest Grey's Anatomy, True Blood (ahh the wait is killing me!) or The Vampire Diaries episode (though kudos to Go!, Oz is on par with the US). but finally, FINALLY, my long wait for Glee is over – it's back and i won't ruin it for those waiting until Channel Ten bring it back but the first episode is great, a true return to form with great songs and further development of story tangents and characters. i'm in love with Glee all over again. and now i can't wait for the next episode, purely because of what is seen below; in three words: Sue does Madonna

visual vignette: my girl and boy crushes of the moment

2010-04-10T22:38:00.003+10:00

Carey Mulligan
love: her dimples; her short pixie haircut i wish i could pull off; her sweet sunshiny smile; her crisp British accent; her quiet manner; her sheer approachable gorgeousness (no wonder Shia went for her); her daring, individual style (she had mini scissor embellishments on her Oscars Prada dress); her prodigious talent that gave Jenny in An Education a mix of vulnerability, depth, naivety and desire.

found via Interview magazine, April 2010 issue

Aaron Johnson
love: his curly, unruly hair; his accent (particularly in Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging); his smile; his left-of-centre attitude in the choice of his roles; his left-of-centre gorgeousness; making Robbie in Angus... so dreamy and "a total sex god"; having the guts to play John Lennon in Nowhere Boy; giving Dave in Kick-Ass real heart and emotion under the green and yellow wetsuit.

via Instyle UK magazine, March 2010 issue

via Harper's Bazaar UK magazine, March 2010 issue

fate via blog?

2010-04-08T19:28:00.002+10:00

it's been a bad month moneywise. i am known for my thrifty ways, perhaps even renowned for them, but this month i have relented. i've splurged and got things on impulse, which is something i never do. impulse does somewhat drive this blog and somehow the last two entries have and will result in even more purchases ... is my blog responsible for my present dire financial state?
scroll down and you see those pretty books with the embossed hardcovers i love so much? i've just checked my email to discover a 3 for 2 Borders voucher. so next week, you'll see me umming and ahhing over whether i should get Madame Bovary because i've never read it or The Odyssey because my copy of it has a crappy cover and its prettiness may actually compel me to read the whole thing.
and just when i thought i couldn't possibly have more P & P in my life, I went ahead and got this:

... and i LOVE it – i'd forgotten how funny and delightful this series was. a review may come later but for now i'll keep things short and sweet – i'm going to escape to Hertfordshire again with Miss Amanda Price & co.

VJ x.

p.s. a review for Kick-Ass is in the works in my head at the moment so that will come soon too *fingers crossed*

visual vignette: Pride & Prejudice obsession

2010-04-05T16:39:00.003+10:00

on the back of a great article in this weekend's Spectrum, i went out and purchased 'Pride and Prejudice and Zombies' by Jane Austen with a little help from Seth Grahame-Smith. it's a pretty humorous read – i can't quite believe how easy it is to slot in references to beheadings of zombies, muskets and training in the deadly arts – the references have the uncanny knack of slotting seamlessly in and sticking out like sore thumbs in the tale of Elizabeth Bennett, her family and Mr Darcy. some may say it's bastardising a classic but enough with the snobbery i say, it's all a bit of fun really.

by purchasing this book though, it has revealed a slight obsession of mine:

so uhh yeah ... in my defence, some of these purchases were for educational purposes which is how i've come to own two paperback copies of P & P. both film versions are pretty different though yes the dialogue does remain the same. i haven't managed to get my hands on Lost in Austen, but i fear i do have plans to purchase that too. and to make matters even more dire, i own books and films inspired by P & P i.e. both Bridget Jones films and books. eeeek i have a slight problem don't i? but it's such a great story with a smart, witty heroine and a dashing, uppity gentleman! and it gave us Colin Firth in a wet shirt! (it gave us Colin Firth full stop *swoon*) i'm a romantic at heart and i am (evidently) willingly taken away with Miss Austen's musings. and so have a few others too or there wouldn't be this amount of P & P in our lives right? right?

VJ x.

visual vignette: pretty books & hanging beauties

2010-04-02T11:16:00.005+11:00

wow it's been a whole week since i've blogged – blame a malfunctioning PC and the sole computer in the household being commandeered by my two siblings, who admittedly were finishing off assignments. but i wanted to blog! after some word-heavy entries though, i thought i'd post up some images of pretty pieces instead (with some commentary, sorry i just can't help myself :P).

i've always lusted after these classic books by cover designer Coralie Bickford-Smith. the detailed designs range from gorgeous blooms featured on 'Wuthering Heights' and 'Sense and Sensibility' to bold graphic patterns such as 'Crime and Punishment'. it's a perfect marriage of design and object, where the design symbolises some aspect of the story, for instance, 'The Portrait of Dorian Grey' features peacock feathers and Dorian in the novel is a character defined by his beauty and his pride, much like a peacock strutting about with its plume of feathers on show. that's before we even get to one of my favourite things in the world – the embossed, impressed feel of fabric hard cover books as you run your hand across them - love. they're available at Borders but i can't pick one and want them all, and considering my bank balance at the moment, i'll just have to lust after them a little bit more.

images found at Coralie Bickford-Smith's website

following the book theme, my dream library/study would feature this Deborah Bowness 'Books' wallpaper – it is just divine and would look quirky cool with my real, slightly smaller collection of books.

images found at Deborah Harness's website

and just to finish off, i've always loved Have You Met Miss Jones - beautiful bone china pieces that are delicate, gorgeous and affordable. i have a love affair with old keys – just their ornate shapes and old-timey style get me. and how cute are the birdhouses. just hung up like this, a cluster of keys or birdhouses (or a mix of both) makes for a whimiscal display *sigh*.

VJ x.

images found at the Have You Met Miss Jones website

at the movies: a single man

2010-03-25T20:30:00.003+11:00

the following dialogue is Colin Firth's acceptance speech after winning the BAFTA award for best actor, (courtesy of Empire Online BAFTA blog:

"Hello. What Tom Ford doesn't know is that I have the email in my outbox telling him that I couldn't possibly do this. I was about to send it when a man came to repair my fridge. I don't know what's best for me, so I would like to thank the fridge guy, and Tom, someone who does know what's best for me. An encounter with Tom Ford leaves one feeling more worldly, better groomed, more fragrant and more nominated than one has ever been before. I've worked with a lot of great directors and he's up there with the best. I'd like to thank him for putting me in a room with Julianne Moore, and Nicholas Hoult, and Matthew Goode, and now BAFTA. All I know is, don't ever press send until you've had your fridge repaired."

gosh, he's dreamy. and lovely. and charming. and funny. and to think we missed out on perhaps an even more stellar speech at the Oscars – sorry i'm bitter on Colin's behalf because his performance in Tom Ford's directorial debut film, A Single Man, is beautiful – subtle, reflective and heartbreaking. it's on par with some of the best acting performances i've seen in recent memory: Ryan Gosling in Half Nelson, Adrian Brody in The Pianist, Carey Mulligan in An Education, James Franco in Milk and perhaps a comparable performance, Heath Ledger's Ennis in Brokeback Mountain. i left the cinema in awe of Mr. Firth's quiet yet powerful performance, thinking 'he's never been better'. and to think, if it weren't for a fridge repair man, we may not have seen it and would still hold onto his Mr Darcy in a wet, white shirt.

synopsis

George (Colin Firth), a gay professor, is still in the midst of indescribable grief over the loss of his partner of 16 years, Jim (Matthew Goode), in a car accident. In a time where homosexuality was most definitely frowned upon and living isn't worth anything without the love of his life, he decides to take his own life and the film takes us through his final day, where we encounter his long time friend, Charley (Julianne Moore), and a precocious, curious student, Kenny (Nicholas Hoult).

the verdict:

pros

- most definitely Colin Firth's performance – he suffuses George with such heart and dignity despite his resounding grief that has permeated every facet of his life. after receiving the news of Jim's death (from Jon Hamm, Mr. Don Draper no less), within seconds, the controlled, perfect facade cracks and tears stream forth. within 10 more seconds though, he's calm and collected. his eyes had it for me – just seeing the underlying heartache in them has he tries to carry on with his life made me try and comprehend his pain. utterly exquisite, beautiful and infinitely watchable.

- the other performances. Julianne Moore, for all 10 minutes she's in it, perfectly encapsulates her desperate (and desperately-in-love) alcoholic good time girl. her transformation into this haggard woman from the gorgeous woman she normally is is nothing short of amazing. Nicholas Hoult, who has grown up so much since his About a Boy awkwardness, infuses Kenny with a curiosity, naivety and the fearless freedom and confusion that comes with youth. Matthew Goode's Jim shows us the warmth, love and sweetness that George has lost and so desperately wants back – the flashback scenes of their relationship are heartwarming and show a couple in love despite their differences. even Jon Kortajarena's cameo as hustler Carlos is beautiful (though he himself is unbelievably beautiful) – sultry, sexy, seemingly confident yet with a hint of uncertainty.

- this film looks exquisite. visually each frame is a photograph within itself. of course, this is Tom Ford, we're talking about, fashion designer extraordinaire, so it's too be expected that 'A Single Man' would look beautiful and gorgeous. from George's glass house to Charley's chic black and white dress (i WANT it) to George's systematic display of how he gets dressed in the morning to the close-up of Charley caking on her makeup and shakily applying kohl eyeliner, the film looks perfect. i couldn't take my eyes of the screen.

- the unexpected humour in the film, particularly George's attempts to find a suitable way to end his life and his request for his tie to be in a windsor (underlined) knot.

cons
- and here is a complete contradiction but it lies at the crux of my only real problem with A Single Man – it looked too perfect. yes my eyes ate it up and the amount of detail was amazing (and trust me, i appreciate details) but i felt it detracted from the story itself. Ford shows so many close-up shots of perfect details (i may sound a little like a prude here but repeatedly showing naked bodies in water, and eyes as windows to one's soul), that i felt a little exhausted – i needed some perspective to breathe, to take it all in. Ford's inexperience shows a little with the unsubtle colour saturation that occurs when something positive happens to George, when an encounter sheds some light into his (literally) grey and dreary world – i think Firth does enough with George's knowing grin or lingering stare that this isn't necessary.

all in all...

the film is a tour de force for Colin Firth and i'm interested to see what Tom Ford does next – he could safely have a career as a cinematographer, set designer or costume designer but taking the risk as a director deserves kudos. the film looks perfect but isn't and i gather that that's the point – perfection is just a facade but Colin Firth's performance is perfection itself.

VJ x.

P.S. i did say it was beautiful right?

packages from mr. postman

2010-03-22T21:08:00.000+11:00

tired, hungry and exhausted (an hour of boxing will do that all of that to you), i squealed when i came home to be greeted by bubble-wrapped packages of joy – yay for online buying and subscriptions!

VJ x.

vj's singing... Laura Marling

2010-03-19T20:36:00.000+11:00

and i cannot forget Miss Laura Marling who has a voice that emotes so much with just an inflection or a barrage of quick words. 'devil's spoke' features a strange union of a country, folksy twang with tribal tones, driving the rhythm of the song. i also love the image of her standing alone on the rocky cliffs or sitting in solitude in the long grass – everything she does seems to be done with such conviction and an underlying confidence that i've always loved and admired the honesty of her lyrics. i dream of the day i see her live – i have no doubt she would be amazing.

and no sooner had i mentioned the dying art of album art, the 'I Speak Because I Can' album download will be delivered with the album artwork and bonus features such as music videos.

all images found via Laura Marling's website

pretty cool and nifty eh? though for this old timer, i'll have my special edition thanks.

VJ x.

vj's singing... joanna newsom and the lonely island

2010-03-16T20:10:00.005+11:00

and yet another artist is added to the growing list of albums i need to get my hands on. Joanna Newsom divides opinion: her songs and lyrics are so layered and complex, they often stretch to 12 minutes in length and are so ornate and intricate; her voice has been compared to Lisa Simpson and she plays the harp - the harp? in this day and age? i've loved her since 'Sprout & The Bean' which i found entrancing and beguiling. i can't say i love everything she does – the voice does grate at times, the songs and lyrics can be overwhelming and she is most definitely an acquired taste – but her second album 'Ys' converted me. the lead song 'Emily' is absolutely enchanting and so ambitious that it soars. and so arrives her new album, 'Have One On Me', a three-disc magnum opus that is over 3 hours in length and has received glowing reviews. 'easy' is the only song i've heard and i'm convinced – i find her so intriguing that i'm willing to take a gamble on devoting 3 hours to listening to her. and just look at that album cover – what a minx! this photo was taken in her living room and that's a collection of her own trinkets she's pictured with - fun fact courtesy of this new york times profile piece on her.

meanwhile, on the other side of the critical spectrum, Miss Newsom's other half, Andy Samberg, has just released the latest video for his band, The Lonely Island (who i have blogged about previously here). 'boombox' is funny – for me, it doesn't rate as highly as 'i'm on a boat' – but the real joy is Julian Casablancas, the rock 'n roll frontman of The Strokes ('Is This It' ranks as one of the best albums i've ever had the pleasure of listening to). he looks amazing (i kinda find him hot in this – usually he's more a hot mess for me) and smashing a vase has never seemed more appropriate or timely. with lyrics featuring boiled goose, fingerless gloves and a rainbow coalition of dancing, there are laughs to be had. just a warning though: around the 1.50 mark, it does become disgraceful. just remember folks: a boombox is not a toy.

and just to rescue Andy from looking like a total disgrace and proving that opposites do attract, here's some pics of the couple looking absolutely adorable:

both pics found at Andy Samberg blog

here's a thought though: what would a duet between Joanna and Andy sound like? hmm ...

VJ x.

vj's singing... She & Him

2010-03-15T09:14:00.002+11:00

one of the most stylish women i know (and she is seriously chic, she's a stylist after all) recently told me that my style reminded her of Zooey Deschanel. while i took that complement, not wholeheartedly believing it, i do love Zooey, her vintage style from another era and eye for a tailored look but her voice truly enchants me. her voice is all at once bubbly, warm and inviting but also instantly forlorn and melancholy. this video for She & Him's 'In The Sun' is just pure delight – i want that white shirt and navy skirt ensemble, i want to be dancing and prancing around like i was in a musical plus i'd want some guy to be playing guitar for me too. some girls just have it all, don't they?

this cute video is directed by Peyton Reed, who directed Bring It On (and i unashamedly loved it for years) and Yes Man (which starred Zooey), but also directed Down With Love, which i love. the film is all nostalgia, a tribute to the technicolour world the '60s were as depicted on film – if you haven't seen it yet, see it for the kitsch value – the sets and costumes are amazing (as you'll soon see in one of my favourite scenes below). Peyton + She & Him = a match made in nostalgia heaven.

Enjoy!
VJ x.

vj's singing... march is music mania! (part 1)

2010-03-13T19:15:00.000+11:00

with each week this month, i'm anticipating album upon album of glorious new music from some of my favourite musicians. no sooner had i got my hands on Charlotte Gainsbourg's 'IRM' album (which is fabulous by the way), i purchased Angus & Julia Stone's latest offering, 'Down The Way'. next week is all about the gorgeous sun-drenched folksy whimsy of She & Him's 'Volume 2' and the amazing wiser-than-her-years Laura Marling returns with her new album, 'I Speak Because I Can' (thus part 2 of this blog entry).

it seems the album as an art form is becoming less and less valued in a time where iTunes reigns supreme but i'm a stickler for details and tradition. i'm also a sucker for special or limited editions and considered album art. for instance, my version of 'IRM' comes with a DVD with a making-of doco filmed by Charlotte's son and behind the scenes of filming the video clip for 'heaven can wait', as well as, a booklet with handwritten lyrics and notes scrawled in a haphazard way and beautiful photographs of Miss Gainsbourg looking her elegant self.

The Stone duo have gone a step further with a whole CD of songs entitled 'Red Berries' and divine packaging echoing a photo album – the album is a nostalgia-imbued cushioned, patterned book featuring a collection of grainy black and white photos from the past with that beautiful sepia patina – this is packaging seriously after my own heart. gorgeous right? with gorgeous music to boot!

VJ x.

vj's singing... lady gaga (literally)

2010-03-07T19:20:00.003+11:00

so i was thinking i'd have a lazy old saturday night in last night but throw in some friends, dinner at chinatown, some drinks (including some questionable shot concoctions) and a karaoke session, and you get a fun girls' night out instead. i haven't been to karaoke in years – a few years ago, it was all the rage to pile into a small dank room; figure out how to use the inevitably Chinese karaoke menu; perform songs of varying degrees of quality at the top of your voice and laugh at one another in the pursuit of the limelight. my return to karaoke was a joyous occasion (though perhaps not for those who heard me) and i discovered a new karaoke favourite to add to my repetoire.

i've always been a bit iffy about Lady Gaga: she of the crazy get-ups, her penchant to wear no pants and her tendancy to make a show of everything bordering on the ridiculous. i've come to the conclusion that despite all this, i cannot say that her songs aren't catchy - i've found myself singing along to 'just dance' and 'poker face', and i have a weird combination of admiration and bemusement at her outfits and live performances. her music videos are a visual feast (and no i'm not just talking about Alexander Skarsgard in 'paparazzi') and in my new karaoke song of choice, 'bad romance', her bold aesthetic is on show for all to see - i'm not quite sure how she's walking in those Alexander McQueen (RIP) lobster claw shoes but she is kinda fascinating in her strange, warped and ambitious ways. try this song at your next karaoke or SingStar party - you won't regret it.

VJ x.

vj's singing... guy sebastian

2010-03-03T20:51:00.002+11:00

back in my younger days, i ate up the first series of Australian Idol. and it was all about the fro, i loved Guy Sebastian – everything he sang i loved. so much so i was willing to fork out 55 cents on a sms vote for him, something I hadn't (and still haven't) done before. i rushed out and got his first album while for my b'day, my friend got me tickets to the Australian Idol concert, which i shamelessly loved and danced to. years later, Guy is still around but i'm no longer a Guy-crazed fan. my ears did prick up though when i heard this song a few months ago and i love it even more now because of the video, shot on location in Buenos Aires, Argentina. watching it, i wanted to traipse through those rustic, cobblestone lanes and see the exposed brickwork and faded murals, just to wander aimlessly soaking up the atmosphere of such a place and watching couples rest their heads upon one another doing the Argentinean tango the way it's supposed to be done. could this video have inspired my next big travel adventure? Buenos Aires here i come?

VJ
x.

Guy Sebastian - 'All To Myself' [Official Video]

Guy Sebastian | MySpace Music Videos

part two: 27 things i learnt in SE Asia

2010-02-27T11:56:00.006+11:00

a tad image heavy but i had a tough time cutting it down to this – sorry! blogging is self-indulgence if nothing else :P

11. the Marble Mountains were awe-inspiring. Buddhas carved from the stone in the mountains themselves, incense-filled caves and 160-so steps to the summit of the water mountain. amazing view though.

12. that i'm glad the day i visited Halong Bay it was cold and misty – made for great photographs and added to the whole enchanting aura of the area. truly amazing.

13. the scenic way to trek around Hanoi is via cyclo - a tad slow but fun to get around the old French Quarters.

14. that green bananas can be ripe. and that at a specific restaurant chain serving pork chops and rice, are free as a dessert – score!

15. the place religion holds within Vietnamese culture. the streets are lined with incense pried into the crevasses of the footpath. there are soooooooooo many temples in Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand. my nostalgic favourite? this one that my mum as a child worshipped at.

16. Thailand loves its king – every store, home and building has a photo or poster of him at the very least, some had mini-shrines with flowers and placards stating 'long live the king'.

17. SE Asia is just plain dirty. i could go into great detail about hygiene but i won't – i'll just leave it at that.

18. that 30 Rock is hilarious. finally i get it! Tina Fey is genius!
"spooky scary, werewolf bar mitzvah"

19. of Charlotte Gainsbourg's new song 'Trick Pony' on Letterman. gosh, isn't she just divine?

20. Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason is perfect holiday reading fodder – lighthearted, silly and fun with witty moments thrown in for good measure.

21. of Korean kitschy goodness. Da Ja's Spring has become my favourite new show with its Bridget Jones-esque heroine and Star Golden Bell – a TV quiz show where celebrities compete in a quiz while also being interviewed by comedians – it was hilarious and had my sister, my brother and i quoting bits then breaking into fits of laughter. 'S.E.O.U.L' was the anthem of my trip. performed by the biggest K-pop groups in Korea, Super Junior and Girls' Generation (no seriously that's what they're called), this song is a part of South Korea's tourism campaign. everytime i turned on a TV in a hotel, i would be greeted by this video - i even started remembering all the lyrics despite not knowing a single word of Korean and not knowing what i was singing.

and here's an English-caption version - it's not the exact one i saw on Channel V but it's close and if you wanted to sing along, there's a handy kinda English-Korean pronunciation at the top - i assume Korean doesn't easily translate into English. i have a feeling if i'd grown up in South Korea, i would totally be into these bands.

part three is on its way...

VJ x.

this little miss embraces the scatter

2010-02-23T21:36:00.003+11:00

how ridiculously cute are these? for a hit of childhood nostalgia, get your hands on little miss and mr men mugs, available at peter's of kensington. growing up, i'm sure most of us flipped through a tale about a little miss or a mr men - i even got given one on my 18th birthday, little miss tiny, due to my nickname at the time 'fun-sized' (i'm still not sure how this came about - i was fun and also fun-sized?). for only $12, you can even purchase a few to symbolise how you feel during the course of the day whenever you feel like a cuppa. for instance, i sometimes am:

or this little lady:

but most of the time, i'm this one:

which one are you?

VJ x.

part one: 27 things i learnt in SE Asia

2010-02-21T18:09:00.004+11:00

so it's been a week since i stumbled onto hallowed Australian soil and i'm only starting to get my head around work and what i do there; conversing in English with people other than my sister and brother; and getting on a train (unbelievably, Vietnam has no rail system, though it has been proposed). i was away for approximately 27 days, visiting Vietnam, the homeland of my parents, Cambodia and Thailand and being my first trip overseas and first family trip overseas, it was a biggie. so in no particular order of when the lesson was learnt or the importance of the lesson, here are 27 things i learnt overseas. and for your sake (and mine), i think i'll split it into 3 parts.

1. i'm not as bad a traveller as i thought i would be. my family may disagree with this thought - i did have a few freakout moments - but for the most part, i can't believe i managed to get through travelling in jerky taxis, tour buses and spluttering boats without once chucking. admittedly i took travel sickness tablets with me in preparation but by the second half of the trip, i wasn't taking anything despite the jerkiest trip on a speed boat to Pattaya beach in Thailand.

2. Vietnam is crazy busy, filled with bikes, buses, taxis and bikes - a whole lot of bikes, of varying styles, age and roadworthiness. crossing the street was at first a difficult lesson but my hot tip is to find a gap in the traffic then keep walking. despite its craziness though, traffic is surprisingly smooth - though traffic jams do occur - we very nearly missed our flight to Da Nang due to roadworks and all got branded with 'last minute passenger' stickers from Vietnam Airlines.

3. that, for me, Vietnamese drinks and fruits were the highlights in my culinary experience. durian with avocado in drink form is by far the most amazing thing i've tasted. icy custard apple concoction, avocado with this milky purple fruit mix; jelly, water chestnut, tapioca pearls and mung beans in coconut milk (the one pictured here didn't have the water chestnut but it did have pomegranite-looking jelly bits); not to mention, a good old strong ice coffee with condensed milk - YUM! and the fruits are amazing - sweet, milky, caramel-tasting, seeds in green pods and mountains of durian.

4. that daily life in Vietnam is so very different to that of my own. the days start earlier and the work is harder. one of my mum's friends owns a little metalwork factory which looks prehistoric in comparison to the metal factory that i used to walk past on my way to school. families run their own businesses downstairs while home is upstairs. so when i would tell relatives that it takes me roughly an hour to get to work, they all looked at me as if i was an alien (though i'm sure they found other alien-like qualities in me).

5. bartering is soooo much easier when you have people who speak the language. my parents both speak fluent Vietnamese, much to my mum's surprise having been restricted to only speaking Vietnamese with dad in front of me and my siblings when they had something unsuitable for kiddie ears.

6. that i have a whole network of relatives in Vietnam. i have my uncle and aunt, their daughters (my cousins) and each have their own families. i cherish meeting them all and am grateful that they looked after us and invited us into their home, from making the best Vietnamese iced coffee to finding a power adapter to making us banquets of food for dinner.

7. dong as a currency is mighty confusing. the thousands thing really confused us, especially seeing as one Australian dollar is equivalent to 17,000 dong and some of the notes look exactly the same.

8. shopping, for me, wasn't the best. sure you can bag a bargain but do you really want a pair of shoes that will fall apart after a day even if they only cost $6? and i have it on good authority, Ben Tranh markets is by far the most expensive marketplace in HCMC - further bargains are to be found on the outskirts.

9. taxis are ridiculously cheap. and taxi drivers keep you on your toes - we had a guy drive us around in circles because he 'didn't know' where Ben Tranh markets were, which is insane, seeing as it's right in the heart of District 1.

10. my uncle is an amazing calligraphy artist. at the very top floor of his home is his little artistic haven, covered in dust and dirt, with rolls of parchment and newspaper everywhere. within each newspaper roll (and there are hundreds) is what i think (and i'm biased here) an amazing work of art. i couldn't stop taking photos when he unfurled each roll - it was as if i'd stumbled upon a treasure trove.

watch for parts 2 and 3 to follow in the next few weeks as i further digest my adventures.
VJ x.

so yeah it's been a little while... and i see red

2010-02-21T13:35:00.000+11:00

dear readers,
in my haste and ever-so slight disorganisation, i'd neglected to mention that i would be away, for a month, on my first overseas trip back to the homeland - Vietnam to be exact - hence the distinct lack of blog entries, which i plan on making up now that i'm home (oh home sweet home!). please accept the knowledge of lucky candy as a sweet token of apology.

i arrived back in oz on valentine's day (meh), which happened to also be Chinese new year this year. Chinese new year to me is best summed up by the colour red. there are the dragon and lion dances, mooncake (which seems to be increasing in price year upon year) but also money in red envelopes (yay moolah!), posters with gold chinese characters signifying luck and prosperity upon a ruby red background and lucky candy!

for the measly amount of $3 at any Asian grocer, you can get your hands on these delectable strawberry treats. though i'm sure they're available all year round, lucky candy, by principle, should only be consumed during Chinese new year (which means you've got roughly a week to go!). taste-wise, lucky candy is a hard candy - the thin-ish, hard outer layer, which is ribbed, reveals a chewy, strawberry centre - not the most intense strawberry flavour, more sugar than anything, but trust me, luck has never tasted so sweet.

yours truly,
VJ x.

trailer talk: "tool up honey bunny"

2010-01-12T09:49:00.000+11:00

this is what i presume will be the final trailer for 'kick-ass' before the release of the film in april. the buzz driving 'kick-ass' is through the roof and though this isn't my normal kind of movie i am intrigued (and it may or may not have something to do with the presence of a certain someone – i'm looking at you aaron johnson). my fave moments in this trailer include a couple of nicholas cage quotes: the aforementioned title of this post and "he should call himself 'ass kick' instead, hehe"; red mist's and kick-ass's greeting exchange followed by red mist's less-than-stable landing leaping off a garbage dumpster; and kick-ass's uber-uncool-to-the-point-that-it-is-kinda-cool boogie in red mist's car. plus i wish was hit girl: all spunk, electric purple hair and general 'i will kick your ass'-ness. clearly 'kick-ass' is a front-runner for cult movie of the year, if it doesn't explode into blockbuster status.

VJ x.

b'day love

2010-01-09T12:55:00.002+11:00

this week i celebrated my b'day and it was a glorious food-filled day – the girls at work treated me to a french vanilla and almond cake from darlinghurst's infinity bakery and a lunch consisting of a sirloin steak sandwich and an icy fruity concocted drink of strawberry, mint and pineapple at erskineville favourite, cafe sofia. with my family, dinner was all about peking duck pancakes at cabramatta's iron chef restaurant (with, unfortunately, no affiliation to awesome tv show namesake though the peking duck is pretty awesome). on top of this gluttony, i received a stash of pressie goodness from my loving family: a nica bag with gorgeous lining (it's all about the details when it comes to me); incredibly aromatic t2 french earl grey tea (which doesn't make this photo as it's stashed away in a drawer at work); a lonely planet encounter guide to paris; 50 city walks around london and the top gear vietnam special (which is hilarious and a must-see). my darling friend sal got me the most amazing and gorgeous apple & bee toiletries bag. i love the details of it – the canvas bag it came in, the vivid purple butterflies on a glittery silver botanical backdrop, the fact that it's made from organic cotton. gosh i'm such a lucky girl - i could have sat around all day pinching myself :)

a vampire-filled weekend

2010-01-07T09:11:00.001+11:00

how cool is this?!? i've proclaimed my love for vampire weekend previously and have waited patiently for their new album, and here it is, in all its digital glory. via the website, you can listen to the cool new tunes from the precociously talented foursome. or through handy embed, you can listen to the soundtrack for your summer, right here! sing along with me: "in december, drinking horchatas, i look psychotic in a balaclava ..."

VJ x.

my new year anthem

2009-12-31T19:14:00.002+11:00

i'm not one for new year resolutions. and i'm not too sure what the big fuss about the end of the year really is but i understand the sentiment: time to celebrate, a moment for reflection, the hope for the next year. but my hopes and wishes for next year are best represented, unsurprisingly with my love for music and musicals, through song.

happy new year!
VJ x.

visionairies: hayao miyazaki

2009-12-31T15:09:00.005+11:00

so among my boxing day sale purchases – i exercised some serious self-control by only buying a suitcase needed for overseas adventures in the new year, and a discounted dress – i got 'ponyo', the latest film from japanese animation auteur, hayao miyazaki. and look at its fan-dangled glittery cover.

inspired by 'the little mermaid', 'ponyo' is a delightful film, telling the tale of a goldfish, ponyo, who wishes to become a girl as she falls in love with sosuke, a precocious 5 year old who lives in a seaside town, with the cutest home atop a cliff top. as a miyazaki fan, 'ponyo' is cuteness itself, with its beautiful seaside town – i could happily live in sosuke's home, high above the sea – and inquisitive children – ponyo is delighted by what are seemingly the simplest things in life: light captured within a lamp, the sensation of a fluffy towel and the taste of ham. and just look at the pair of them, cuteness itself right?

image found via the little daily prophet 2 blog

distributed by disney, 'ponyo' is probably miyazaki's most accessible film and its english dub features the voices of liam neeson, tina fey and cate blanchett. even with such a vocal pedigree, i cannot bring myself to watch the dubbed version – my japanese is non-existent but i much prefer english captions to noah cyrus's and frankie jonas's high tones. when i saw 'ponyo' at the cinemas, it was heartening to see kids happily reading captions and enjoying the film's lighthearted feel. it is also miyazaki's most accessible film in terms of plot – 'my neighbour totoro' and 'kiki's delivery service' are also children's films but 'princess mononoke', 'spirited away' and 'howl's moving castle' all have darker overtones within them. and this perhaps what i love most about miyazaki's films.

'my neighbour totoro'

'kiki's delivery service'

both 'my neighbour totoro' and 'kiki's delivery service' images found via quiet bubble's blog
'princess mononoke'

image found via anime afterglow's blog

'howl's moving castle'

image found via witchgirl117's blog

'spirited away'

image found via gothamist

though the animation is exquisite, old-school and nostalgic, hand-drawn and straight from miyazaki's boundless imagination, the stories of the films themselves reveal deeper meaning. within 'ponyo' and 'princess mononoke' are concerns on how humans are harming the environment. 'my neighbour totoro' and 'kiki's delivery service' deals with children gaining maturity and discovering new things about themselves and others. 'spirited away', which was the first miyazaki film i watched, pushes all these boundaries and moves beyond this realm into another. miyazaki forms worlds where one can wholly escape and experience and i for one, happily delve right into them with no hesitations.

VJ x.

what a fine fellow

2009-12-30T12:17:00.002+11:00

photograph found via caroline dulko's blog

aren't these cushions and tea towels just nostalgia itself? caroline dulko creates gorgeously illustrated, screen-printed cushions and tea towels featuring matryoshka dolls, animals, double-decker buses, record players and city landscapes but by far my favourite is this kindly gentleman of the toy box – he looks a keeper. Be sure to check out Caroline's etsy store, which hopefully will be replenished with new stock in the new year.

VJ x.

seasons greetings one and all!

2009-12-24T23:33:00.002+11:00

i don't really do christmas (for details on this click here) but i do love the spirit of it. i don't love buying bread and milk in a crowded coles on christmas eve with its stress-filled air but there is an air of love, friendship and reflection that only comes with christmas. it may be due to my tendency to hoard but i've kept every christmas card i've ever gotten, even those token ones people gave me at school. the only tradition i plan on keeping for christmas day is to watch or catch a snippet of 'a charlie brown christmas' – it's nostalgic, sweet and always makes me feel hopeful.

funnily enough, a card i received this year from my dear friend sal echoes linus's thoughts as to what christmas is all about. her card is one of the loveliest i've ever received with its sincerity, honesty and reflection. so my thanks and love to sal and jase (and chookie i suspect :P). i'm sure you've seen it but this vid combines one of my loves, charlie brown, with one of yours – merry christmas :)

ps. and for those who don't understand why "yes, virginia, there is a santa claus" is often bandied about at this time of year, read below. i'm so glad virginia wrote in because it gave us such an elegant and reassuring reply to a child, and the world (found via newseum):

"DEAR EDITOR: I am 8 years old.
"Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus.
"Papa says, 'If you see it in THE SUN it's so.'
"Please tell me the truth; is there a Santa Claus?

"VIRGINIA O'HANLON.
"115 WEST NINETY-FIFTH STREET."

VIRGINIA, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except [what] they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men's or children's, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.

Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no VIRGINIAS. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.

You may tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, VIRGINIA, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.

No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.

trailer talk: carrie and the girls, a second time around

2009-12-23T20:14:00.007+11:00

i first watched 'sex and the city' during its 5th season. i loved everything about it – the clothes, NY city life, carrie's job, apartment and wardrobe; and the show's depiction of four sophisticated, ambitious and unique women and the core friendship that grounded them. we all have a little carrie, charlotte, miranda and samantha in each of us – for me, i'd say my 'sex and the city' character makeup would be 45% miranda, 25% carrie, 25% charlotte and 5% samantha :) i devoured season 6 then went to my local video store on cheap weekly night ($1 for a weekly rental – now that's value) to catch up on the previous seasons. i was happy with how the series ended – all the girls had their men and carrie found out big's name was john. so when the movie came around, i wasn't altogether pleased. i watched it and found it a tad cheesy rom-com but it did give us carrie's amazing vivienne westwood wedding dress.

image found via the fash pack

and now comes the inevitable sequel of which we get a teasing glance at in the trailer below (for a bigger, high-res version, check out the official website here). the girls all look incredible and immaculate but nothing much gets revealed other than the fact the four ladies go on what looks like some excursion to the sahara; samantha gets eyed by a suave adam-levine lookalike and 'empire state of mind' has officially been recognised as a new york anthem. it's not going to win any critic plaudits but it looks like fun and frivolous, perfect for a movie night with the girls.

VJ x.

what i'm reading: mags, mags and more mags plus doctor who?

2009-12-22T15:50:00.001+11:00

'what i'm reading' will be a look into the many things i come across on my reading adventures. you already would have had a taste of this in earlier blog entries but my insatiable appetite for magazines has led me to label this type of blog entry into a straight-to-the-point category.
admission: i'm a magazine addict. i grew up with them – i was the kid who bought a magazine (and still do, if i manage to remember) on the first day it got released. i'd be reading up on my favourite boy band, 5ive, in 'smash hits'; taking quizzes in 'girlfriend' and 'dolly' and even read the occasional 'australian women's weekly'. somehow, over the course of the past 4 days, i've managed to accumulate this collection of mags:

pictured from left:
- 'vanity fair' u.s. dec 09 issue (though i'd had this one a few weeks ago, i still haven't finished reading it – i'm not any closer now)
- 'shop til you drop' dec 09 (picked up at my local newsagency's bargain bin for $2 – gosh i love that bargain bin a tad too much)
- 'empire' u.k jan 2010 issue (which features iron man 2 on its cover and at the newsagency was placed right next to oz 'empire' which coincidently features the same image – weird eh?)
- 'frankie' issue 33, jan/feb 2010 (which features on the cover, as my manager quite rightly points out, a model who looks ready for winter, not summer)
- 'q' jan 2010 (its fold-out cover got me. 'artists of the century' may be going a little overboard (quality ranges from kings of leon, coldplay and u2 to pink, mika and snow patrol). it is an impressive cover, though the cynic in me says that the coverline should read 'artists that we got the chance to shoot before jan deadline')
- the respective 'best & worst of 2009' issues of 'ok!' and 'who' (i'm a sucker for year-end roundups and reflections in the form of best & worst dressed lists, most talked about stories of the year, weddings, fads, trends etc. i've managed to finish reading both and 'who' wins – it had me reading cover-to-cover for an hour and a half)
i will get through this pile of mags slowly but surely as i'm on holidays for the next two weeks. i might even try writing up short reviews on each but let's see how me actually reading them goes.

also, on the reading list, is this guardian/the observer article on david tennant, who i find incredibly attractive with his heady mix of charisma, humour and intelligence with a distinct left-of-centre quality. i have it on good authority i.e. my siblings, that he makes a brilliant doctor in 'doctor who', and his last 3 episodes as the doctor will air in the uk over christmas and new year's. what's more, combining two of my loves in one vid, is the following piece of gold:

enjoy!
VJ x.

musical marvel: lupe fiasco

2009-12-22T12:48:00.000+11:00

last summer, in one crazy week, i managed to go to two great gigs: lupe fiasco at the enmore on the tuesday and arctic monkeys on the thursday. needless to say, i was a little useless at work that week.
if you haven't discovered the brilliance that is lupe fiasco, shame on you! to further your education, mr fiasco himself will be in sydney at the enmore on sun feb 21st. he's my favourite rapper – i'm not really that into rap really but i love lupe's music. 'food & liquor' is one of the best debut albums i've ever listened to – the samples and beats are as lyrical and awesome as his lyrics and you just bounce like crazy to them, especially when performed live. i LOVED this show – it was one of the best gigs i've been to and it was such an unexpected surprise. lupe is such a showman – fierce, energetic and charismatic – and his band, 1500 or nothing, are brilliant as well, throwing in a few humorous side steps of their own. lupe attacks this show and he doesn't let up the whole time – i was geekily bopping, dancing and singing along out of my seat, probably looking like an absolute fool but i didn't care. the mark of a great show for me is seeing the songs i love off a CD brought to life and lupe definitely did this. i definitely recommend checking him out once he's out here (i would but i need to be saving up my pennies) – you won't regret it. and to give you a taste of what to expect, i've managed to find vids from the very concert i went to. plus it doesn't hurt that the man is seriously cut – if i were as close as the person filming this, i may not have been able to control myself.
i dare you not to bounce along to these:

arctic monkeys love to come ...

VJ x.

'empire state of mind' remixed... by stephen colbert

2009-12-19T22:38:00.004+11:00

sorry about the mass blogging – i've been without my computer for nearly a week and i feel like there's so much to share and though i only just stumbled on this 6 minutes ago, this just has to be seen.
i've previously mentioned how much i loved this jay-z and alicia keys song but this version (not withstanding miss keys' amazing performance), with due attention paid to the suburbs of new york, is one word: hilarious

The Colbert Report

Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c

Alicia Keys - Empire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Down

www.colbertnation.com

Colbert Report Full Episodes

Political Humor

Economy

lyrics for those who couldn't catch the lyricism of mr colbert's wack rap:
Yeah, yeah, yeah I love New York, King of all the Cities
Lived up by the Guggenheim, ’til I got some kiddies
Moved to Connecticut, ‘bye George Pataki
Volvo to the dry-cleaners, pickin’ up my khakis
Shoppin’ mall is close, my community is gated
My shorties are all private school educated
Home theater system, 60-inch plasma
Clean suburban air, much better for my asthma
Still hit the city, Times Square, keep it real
Hard Rock Cafe for the appetizer deal
M&M Store, Disney Store, I’m in heaven
I own this town from 41st to 47th
Take you to The Lion King, that show is fantastic
Leave half an hour early so I can beat the traffic
I can get home really fast, driver rocks an E-Z Pass
Land of cheaper gas and the upper middle class

i'm really diggin' his moves – the overenthusiastic arm-waving, spinning and swagger are all awesome. props to him for gamely singing along with alicia keys on the bridge and miss keys herself for being such a good sport (and keeping a straight face – i don't know how she did it).

VJ x.

trailer talk: alice and tony kick ass

2009-12-19T20:57:00.004+11:00

i've been catching up on my movie trailers today via trailer addict and here are my picks of the best of the latest:

alice in wonderland: the latest trailer is out and it looks brilliant. wonderland is an amazing place of rich colours, detail and darkness and the characters all look the part. johnny depp's performance looks and sounds promising and doesn't have the sickly weirdness of willy wonka while helena bonham carter relishes her role with her high forehead and arched eyebrows as her majesty sits on her throne with her aging feet supported by an unexpected piece of furniture. alice looks positively bemused while the cheshire cat still creeps me out. in 3D, i'm expecting this film to immerse me in its wondrous world.

iron man 2: again, this also looks amazing. i'm not one for the big blockbusters but i did catch 'iron man' and was utterly charmed off my feet by robert downey jr. who again in this trailer is all charm and charisma – i would watch this film just for him. however, i'm also intrigued by mickey rourke as whiplash, who looks and sounds like his villainous part (i can't wait to see him own this part, as i expect he shall), and the ever-reliable don cheadle, who we get the tinest glimpse of. as to scarjo, i'm not too sure where she fits in (i'm depending on my empire mag to decipher this one for me).

kick-ass: i hate nicholas cage. i can't stand him in a film, i find his acting emotionless, his contemplative looks completely empty and his only saving grace for me to get through any film with him in it is the rest of the cast. but 'kick-ass' may change my mind. my favourite movie mag, empire, is completely on the bandwagon with this film and i have to say i'm a little intrigued. this scene, though a tad inappropriate, is strangely heartwarming. in a film about normal human beings trying to be superheroes without any superhuman abilities, mr cage plays a father teaching his young daughter, played by chloe moretz, the potential pain people inflict on one another. according to empire, this movie is set to make chloe moretz a star and this clip does nothing to discredit that opinion for me – she's a cute, charming and tough little thing while i don't even mind nicholas cage uttering "baby doll", even if this is a really screwed-up way of a father trying to protect his daughter.

happy viewing!
VJ x.

catherine campbell gorgeousness

2009-12-19T15:12:00.004+11:00

'dressing for a full moon' by catherine campbell

one of my favourite blogs, the design files featured an interview last week with artist catherine campbell. you may have spied her work in magazines such as frankie and her work was featured on the the finders keepers markets' poster earlier this year. the interview served as a reminder as to how much i love catherine's work – her gorgeous art is filled with pattern, attention to detail and beautiful images of grace and elegance with a dash of whimsy, colour and melancholy. i love her little papercuts with bits of text from old novels and watercolour features, each with inimitable style and unique character and charm. take a look at her gorgeous pieces on her etsy store; be sure to visit her blog, my folk lover (which is in my bloglist to the right) and if you're in melbourne, pay a visit to her gallery, Extended Play Gallery at 547 High Street, Northcote.

'sometimes of the land' by catherine campbell

'closet romantic' by catherine campbell

'little papercuts' by catherine campbell

VJ x.

vj's singing... 50 cent... and angus & julia stone

2009-12-19T14:08:00.005+11:00

yes, you read the title of this post correctly, i have been humming along to the man behind these brilliant and concise lyrics:

"go shawty, it's your birthday

we gon' party like it's yo birthday

we gon' sip Bacardi like it's your birthday

and you know we don't give a f*** it's not your birthday!"

you know that nagging feeling you get when you hear a song on the radio, it hooks you and you don't know what it is? i'd been getting this every time i heard this song in the car because its chorus had me – a smooth, liquid-voiced chorus that unusually, for a rap song, soars. my ears pricked at the voice behind it – the amazing ne-yo, who looks super slick and handsome in this video. fiddy himself doesn't look too bad himself (plus his three make-believe sons are too cute and yes that is kelly rowland of destiny's child, beyonce side-kick fame) and his rapping isn't too bad either though the lyrics aren't brilliant and 'baby by me' borders on being too repetitive. the lyrics aren't as sharp as they used to be – i actually loved '21 questions' ('i love you like a fat kid likes cake') because its lyrics were straight to the point. but the song's beat is 'sick' plus neyo makes this song and that's more than enough for me.

my lovely work colleague, ness, put me onto the latest song from brother-sister duo, angus & julia stone 'and the boys', which is, of course, beautiful. ness and i saw the gorgeous pair at the enmore last year. on stage, julia managed to convince me it wasn't all about angus, whose devastatingly gorgeous voice melts my heart and appeared a shy, hairy but beautiful boy. julia more than held her own with her joyful barefooted dancing and prancing, and the delicate, floating and slightly breathless lilt of her voice. 'and the boys' showcases the beauty of her voice and gives me hope that their new album will be just as gorgeous as their first.

VJ x.

musical marvel: laura marling

2009-12-12T17:40:00.002+11:00

i've discovered that the musical powers that be hate me – as i'm away for a month overseas, i'll be missing out on the amazing florence + the machine (who i've previously ranted on about here) but also, as a part of the sydney festival, i'll be missing out on miss laura marling, as will others as her two sydney shows have already sold out. she has the most beautiful, welcoming and tender little voice and gorgeously written songs about life, love and death with a maturity beyond her 19 years.
i wholeheartedly love her album 'alas i cannot swim' which is unbelievably amazing – 'ghosts' is whimsical and cute while 'night terror' is yearning, haunting and mournful. it's not all doom and gloom with laura – her vocals on 'young love' with mystery jets makes the song for me.

her new album is due out next year and her latest song 'goodbye england (covered in snow)' is a good sign that the notorious second album syndrome hasn't hit her. she's amazing live (take a look-see below) – oh why couldn't you have visited oz a month later laura? why?!?

VJ x.

farewell flight of the conchords

2009-12-12T14:21:00.003+11:00

jermaine clement and bret mackenzie, the kiwi duo behind 'flight of the conchords', the hilarious comedy-musical show, have announced via this message on their website, that the show will not continue to a third season. though sad, i for one am kinda glad they called the show quits – the first season was hilarious but the second season was lacking something. of course, the best parts of the show are the songs – observational, witty lyrics with folksy harmonies and a distinct fusion of melancholy, self pity and social awkwardness – but rhys darby as murray is definitely an integral part of the show's success for me – everything from his meeting roll call to his misunderstanding and utter ignorance of music is hilarity itself. so in tribute, courtesy of youtube, here are my top 5 'flight of the conchords' songs and a dose of murray hewitt thrown in for good measure:

'most beautiful girl in the room'

'if you're into it'

'it's business time'

'bret, you got it going on'

'ladies of the world'

'leggie blonde'

'murray magic'

VJ x.

"yes, virginia, there is a santa claus"

2009-12-10T21:58:00.003+11:00

dear santa,
i've been an awfully good girl this year – to the best of my ability and capacity, i look after my friends and family and cherish their presence in my life; i work exceptionally hard at work; i've started a health regime of sorts (hey an hour of boxing a week is good right?); approximately 76% of the time do i considerately walk on the left hand side of the stairs at the station and smile at strangers and the ratio of swearing in my daily conversation has gone down too.

now i know i don't actually really celebrate christmas – i don't have the tree heavily laden with personalised baubles and glitzy tinsel, nor do i partake in giving and receiving presents – but i do believe in the spirit of christmas – of spending time with loved ones and having a meal with the family, and that's the true meaning of christmas right? plus one of my favourite things ever is in tribute to your merry self – check out the video below:

so i would be deserving of a gift of sorts? perhaps you'd like a suggestion ...
how about this little book of work by artist rob ryan? it's available from his etsy store (but you wouldn't need to pay the delivery fee with your sleigh and rudolph and co.) he makes all those amazingly intricate and painstakingly detailed paper-cut pieces with phrases that express melancholy observations on life with a wry, knowing smile?
it would be an amazing, gorgeous gift and i would truly cherish it.
and with it, maybe, just maybe, that percentage can climb up to 80%.

with love,
VJ x.

from japan, with love

2009-12-09T20:18:00.003+11:00

my dear friend em and i had dinner at mamak last night (my hot tip: go for the rotis and the teh halias – amazing!) where we had a good old catch-up about the trials and tribulations of our lives and she spoiled me with a gift that she compiled for me from her trip to japan earlier in the year. em has the uncanny knack of knowing exactly the cutesy things i would "squee" over – i simply love this perfectly-catered-to-me love-heart decorated bag full of treats, including:

- a folding dessert fan with orange slices that fold out to form the fan. the packaging declares "your day is filled with happoness and love, life was beautiful then. i remember the time, intelligent choice. practical choice. we believe your best choice." one of my favourite geeky things is seeing things 'lost in translation'. i have no idea what the intended meaning was but it's awesome.

- an unbelievably cute little midori watermelon notepad.

- a cluster of 'milky' lollies – gosh the little girl on the wrapper is too cute! their taste and consistency is in between a milko and a white rabbit lolly, and i love all these lollies.

- and the piece de la resistance: a green tea kit kat! which i'm going to save because it's too amazing to even comprehend eating right now. and i think you can buy these online, judging by this website – though my japanese is non-existence so it looks like a bunch of pretty characters to me.

so to my dear em, thank you so much for my little care package from japan, courtesy of your impeccable taste and gorgeous nature – it's a totally 'squee' pressie :)

VJ x.

some sunday reads from the guardian

2009-12-06T19:31:00.004+11:00

i have an insatiable hunger for knowledge which leaves me with a huge pile of magazines sitting on my bedroom floor and books stacked upon my desk, waiting to be read. on top of that, each weekend, i have the weekend newspaper, good weekend to consider and a visit to the guardian website. i never really stop reading – i read on the train (at the moment, i'm reading 'the joy luck club' by amy tan, which i somehow, unbelievably, managed to miss reading through high school); i get to work and i read (and write a little); then i'm back on the train, reading again. it's an unrelenting cycle but i do love it so.

so today, here are my sunday reads i stumbled upon from the guardian:
- this article introduced to me the amazing work of inge morath, the first female photographer to become a member of photography agency juggernaut, magnum photos. the release of a new book, first color, features colour photos picked from 10,000 others found after her death. from new york streetlife to the swirl of skirts in spain to the quiet solitude of a matador before entering the arena, her photos are unashamedly full of life, each telling their own narrative and epitomising the thing i love most about photography - its ability to capture a moment. on a side note, her daughter, rebecca miller – writer and now film director (and also wife of daniel day-lewis) was the subject of a fascinating profile piece in the good weekend around a month ago.

Dancer, Feria in Sevilla, Spain, 1987 by Inge Morath (found via copy+paste)

- this interview with lee daniels, director of the film 'precious', which is making some serious buzz with its subject matter – the story of precious, an obese, illiterate girl who is abused and sexually molested by her mother and is now pregnant, for the second time, to her father (for more on the film, here's the guardian's take) – and the oscar-nom worthy performances of gabourey sidibe and mo'nique who play precious and precious's mother respectively. lee daniels himself has a story to tell and he has such strong ties to this film that i can't help but feel that his personal investment in it makes it worthy of viewing. i just don't know if i can choose to face this movie - i just teared up watching the trailer. for more on 'precious' and lee daniels, i definitely recommend this piece from the new york times, which is more indepth than the guardian piece.

- this republished 1979 piece on roman polanski, written by martin amis, after he was released from prison and fled to paris. in light of his recent arrest, this piece is a slightly eerie read and it does detail his latest movie at the time, tess, based on thomas hardy's novel 'tess of the d'urbervilles', which was made in tribute to his murdered wife, sharon tate. this isn't the first time i've talked about my fascination of roman polanski's life story and it is interesting to see amis consider polanski as fortune's fool, who has odd, strange and unfortunate things happen to him. and while polanski then comments on how he doesn't see his life as any stranger than anybody else's, i would hazard to guess that 30 years later, his opinion might have changed. it is fascinating purely to see what impact time and reflection can have on a life and its story.

- a great profile piece on georgios kyriacos panayiotou aka george michael. so yes when wham was big, i could barely walk but his music is fun, catchy and expressive (at times) with hits such as 'wake me up before you go-go', 'faith', 'freedom', 'careless whisper', 'fast love', 'amazing' (god, so many! and yes a tad uncool that i know this many right?). he sounds like an interesting character who's seen it all and to still have people anticipating his next move after 20 years in the business means he's doing something right. in the spirit of the holidays though, i couldn't help but post this corker.

happy reading and viewing,
VJ x.

a sport & style steal

2009-12-06T16:09:00.002+11:00

ok i'll admit something here and now: i steal sport & style every month.
i unfurl work's daily newspaper roll, frantically flip to the centre and take out this impressive supplement. my excuse, other than it is always a good read and the newspaper gets chucked out daily, is that noone else in the office would really appreciate it, other than the one man in our office, who, bless him, is a wholehearted supporter of the world game – i happily give him over the issues featuring tim cahill and harry kewell.

image credit; sport & style/courtesy of politix website

sport & style comes out every month with the sydney morning herald on, i think, the third thursday of the month. i've followed it from its first issue with lewis hamilton on the cover and have always been impressed with its well-written profile pieces and beautiful design – the pages are clean, never cluttered with such an elegant, sophisticated and masculine style. nine issues in, this month's issue features usain bolt on the cover and is profile heavy with their inaugural sports personality awards. pieces on usain bolt, andrew flintoff and lance armstrong are all strong (i didn't read the marieke guehrer story – i blame it on stephanie rice syndrome, swimming just isn't cutting it for me anymore). i find each of these men amazing and interesting in their own ways - usain bolt's obvious talent and his relaxed attitude towards being the fastest man on earth (the second half of the 100m sprint at the beijing olympics still astounds me); andrew flintoff's larrikin ways and his obvious love and respect for cricket and what it has given him; lance armstrong's 'never give up' determination. but my favourite profile piece of the issue is about surfing world champion contender mick fanning who comes across as a down-to-earth, humble guy who loves to surf and is just a good bloke. for those who have an interest in sport, get your hands on sport & style – well worth a flip-through. and with the paper, its free and who doesn't like awesome free stuff?

VJ x.

the intrigue of 'nowhere boy'

2009-11-30T07:27:00.003+11:00

a part of my weekend routine is reading the weekend profile on the guardian. this week, they had a story about sam taylor-wood, artist, photographer and now feature film director of 'nowhere boy', a biopic about john lennon as he just establishes a little band called the beatles. the article is well worth a read – it tells of a creative, wholly unique woman, whose life eerily echoes john lennon's early, formative years; is a cancer survivor, twice over; and is a video artist who filmed david beckham sleeping and a still life time-lapse video of fruit decomposing.

my knowledge of sam taylor-wood is due to her 'crying man' series of photographs. over the course of three years, she managed to get access to 28 actors and then asked them to cry. i have my favourites – daniel craig is strong, stoic yet fragile, all at the same time; gabriel byrne who looks so defeated, slumped against a wall; and paul newman's eyes were just something else altogether but that tear held ever so is just aching. my favourite, which is stuck to my wall in postcard form, is this one of hayden christensen:

all photography: sam taylor-wood

it's such a beautiful combination of youth, pain and contemplation in one solitary moment. she's also produced these amazing self-portraits where she floats in mid air and balances delicately on a chair – taken just after her cancer diagnosis, they're reaffirmations of her sense of self and utterly gorgeous.

i can't wait to see 'nowhere boy. it looks beautifully shot by seamus mcgarvey (who also shot 'atonement' and 'high fidelity'); is written by matt greenhalgh (who wrote the amazing script for 'control', one of the best films i've ever seen) and has such a great cast - kristen scott thomas, anne-marie duff and newcomer (and sam taylor-wood's fiance) aaron johnson, who i admittedly fell in love with in (guilty pleasure alert) 'angus, thongs and perfect snogging' – oh so dreamy – and stars in kick-ass, which looks hilarious. check out the vids for yourself.

VJ x.

i want a nautical-themed pashmina afghan!

2009-11-28T17:13:00.001+11:00

i don't know if i could really label the lonely island a 'musical marvel' but i'm going to a housewarming tonight based on this very video - i personally think it's t-pain's presence which makes this amazing and a must-see.

and for old time's sake, i've chucked in some old favourites.

warning: expletives abound.

VJ x.

where there's smoke, there's salmon

2009-11-28T16:48:00.001+11:00

i'm not a fan of seafood – slimy, wet things that smell fishy and sea-like just aren't my cup of tea.
but after a delightful dinner at the smokehouse, i may have changed my mind.
last night, i attended lovely ness's b'day dinner. she had previously raved about this place – the amazing food (her fave is the creamy deliciousness and pastry perfection of the smoked salmon, cod and leek pie) and its quaint welcoming vibe in a small, intimate setting. i am one for details and this place doesn't miss a beat. ness's friend, adam, runs this fine establishment with his dad stephen, and has a stylist's artful eye. greeting you at the front of the restaurant is a rustic wooden ladder with red tinsel artfully draped around it which makes for a simple, cheerful Christmas decoration. adam also had our table set with the most beautiful fragrant white lilies in vintage glass milk bottles and i'm a huge fan of the wooden chairs with their padded wicker seats.
for starters, we had the tasting plates, which were amazing! my favourites were the arancini-like grilled balls of salmon; smoked ocean trout wrapped in nori on sticky rice with black sesame seeds and the gravlax.

photography/image credit: Margie Curry/courtesy of the smokehouse website

and my main course was to die for: smoked crispy skin New Zealand salmon belly with caramelised eschalots and creamed sweet potato mash. trust me, this was delishiciousness itself – the salmon was light, tender and melted on my tongue; the sweet potato mash won me over completely – i could quite happily eat a big bowl of potato mash and this sweet potato mash had me in ecstacy.

photography/image credit: Margie Curry/courtesy of the smokehouse website

to top it all off, bell, the dessert chef, made ness a 'V-themed' chocolate b'day cake. moist and rich, the cake was a decadent way to end the meal. good food calls for good company and i had a marvelous night with ness's sydney family of friends, which i feel privileged to be a part of – the night was full of copious glasses of wine, a variety of conversations and french martinis. adam is a wonderful, welcoming and accommodating host, who looked after everyone; his staff are attentive and hardworking; and the smokehouse well and truly lives up to its word-of-mouth buzz in my humble opinion – it did make this seafood-hater love salmon. plus it has the most amazing bathroom with it bright red door, glasshouse reed diffusers, candles and all.

VJ x.

musical marvel: vampire weekend

2009-11-26T22:46:00.001+11:00

so again i was late to the vampire weekend party – nearly two years late to be precise.
but better late than never because their music is so fun, preppy, deceivingly simple and effortlessly catchy – it instantly makes me happy and makes me think of summer – days lazing in the sun and parties to dance at. their self-titled album was a hit with critics and fans alike with nme naming it in their top 100 albums of the decade (it's numero 42).
their sophomore album, contra, is out jan 11th and the first single 'cousins' is pretty amazing. it continues that preppy-with-exuberance vibe with a continuous rhythm – there's even bells to tie it in with Christmas (loosely and perhaps unintentionally). and the music video is deceptively simple but clever and innovative – it perfectly complements the energy of the song and isn't showy.
also, sneak a listen to 'horchata' – gotta love that xylophone!

ps. and to ness, the girl who likes dancing to vampire weekend in her underwear and joins me for a cup of tea at work each day, happy b'day for tomorrow xx.

oh sweet (and slightly sour) maoam

2009-11-26T21:31:00.002+11:00

over the weekend, i discovered 3 things:
1. there are twins in my family - i met my cousin's very cute and very naughty twin daughters.
2. my head feels so much lighter with about 5kg of hair chopped off - much more reasonable in 43 degree heat.
3. aldi sells maoam.
now it's hard to decide which of the 3 is the most exciting but i can share with you the joy of maoam.
colleagues at work introduced me to maoam, a delightful sweet and ever so slightly sour chewy confectionery treat available in orange (my favourite confectionery flavour - you can't go wrong with orange!) strawberry, raspberry, apple and cherry – these are the official flavours according the maoam website. the joystixx pack i purchased at aldi revealed lemon and cola (which i couldn't find in my pack anymore so it's not pictured below – sharing is caring people. it was in a smashing silver wrapper).
i actually squealed with delight when i found these among the patented aldi cardboard boxes – my previous knowledge of maoam existence was in little rectangles. now i'd found long, thin joystixx – a skinnier version of a redskin or a milko.
so if you haven't be acquainted with maoam, i suggest you visit your local aldi ... stat!

VJ x.

rifle through to my paper heart

2009-11-25T19:56:00.007+11:00

all images: rifle design/rifle paper co.

i've been admiring rifle design's work for quite some time now. anna bond and her husband, nathan, run rifle design and anna's talents as an illustrator and designer sees her creating gorgeous, hand-drawn illustrations and designs upon a host of greeting cards, recipe cards, thank you cards and custom-made wedding invites. her illustrations are tinged in nostalgia, happiness and whimsical special moments with swooping, looping curly font styles and images of blooming flowers and cute animals, great and small.

if ever i get married, i have my heart set on getting my invites designed by rifle – aren't they just amazing? i love the attention to detail and they have such a timeless quality about them.
rifle paper co. has just opened their online shop so you can get your hands on these beauties - and they deliver to oz too!

VJ x.

charlotte gainsbourg + beck = huh?

2009-11-24T23:03:00.002+11:00

'heaven can wait' is the new song from charlotte gainsbourg featuring beck, who has also produced her new album which is out early next year.
the video, directed by keith schofield, was released last week and i freely admit i don't get it – there's a monster in the bathtub behind charlotte in the bathroom; a man in plastered in brown playing tennis with her; spongebob squarepants being tackled to the ground; a man being chased by a flying axe; a skateboard parked on hamburgers; a couple of knifepoint confrontations – and that's just to start – it's a smorgasboard of weirdness
to top it all off, the song is a bizarre fusion of slightly creepy and jaunty singalong – it's catchy but you find yourself humming along to "heaven can wait ... and hell's to far to go; somewhere between what you need and what you know"
i've always found charlotte gainsbourg completely enchanting and her voice has this too-perfect eerie tone while beck is just a genius – 'sea change' completely convinced me – and his melancholy delivery and uncanny ability to pick a good melody teamed with her otherworldliness results in a strange yet interesting song – it's not for everyone but let me know what you think

VJ x.

joseph gordon-levitt makes me smile

2009-11-24T21:13:00.001+11:00

i love 'singin' in the rain' - it's most probably my favourite film (which is totally credible as it's also david stratton's favourite film) so when i heard joseph gordon-levitt performed one of my favourite songs from it on his SNL hosting gig, i couldn't have been happier. i'm even more impressed that SNL had a set built just like the scene in 'singin' in the rain'.
apart from being a brilliant actor and seemingly lovely all-round good guy, mr gordon-levitt likes to break into a song and dance every now and again so i've put together some jgl musical moments sure to put a smile on your face.
enjoy!
VJ x.

100% fat-free cupcakes

2009-11-23T21:00:00.002+11:00

this most probably won't be the first time i blog about my little sister's talents but after unexpectedly finding this gem of a photo, i just had to share.
my sister had her first stall at the annual cofa spring fair this year.
amidst the chaos, confusion and overall success, i was an extremely proud sister and my one huge regret that day was not having a camera to take photos of all her creative wares.
somehow though she managed to photograph my favourites beforehand: 100% fat-free cupcakes
she only made 3 originally and spent most of the day making them to order for people.
they're nearly as good as the real thing ... nearly... seeing them right now, after my monday boxing hour of pain, has me really craving the real thing ... self-discipline – i'll just have to settle for these.

VJ x.

future film watch: alice in wonderland is amazement itself

2009-11-22T15:27:00.002+11:00

'alice in wonderland' is probably my favourite disney movie (though it is also responsible for one of my worst childhood memories – i managed to destroy our VCR by getting my 'alice' video tape stuck in it, on my 8th birthday).
it's fantastical and visionary, exhilarating and a tad scary and in the more-than-capable hands of tim burton (planet of the apes withstanding), alongside johnny depp and helena bonham-carter, it's bound to be absolute genius
this 3D adaptation is actually a continuation of the tale: 19-year old alice returns to wonderland, years after her first encounter to be greeted by old 'friends', the white rabbit, the mad hatter, the cheshire cat, twiddledee and tweedledum etc. to meet her destiny in ending the red queen's reign of terror.
new posters have just been released – can i get a 'wow'?

all images: Disney Pictures

VJ x.

at the movies: new moon

2009-11-21T18:21:00.005+11:00

conversation (repeated several times) earlier in the week:
friend/work colleague/sister/brother: "so you going to see 'new moon'?"
vj: "yeah but i'm not gonna go for at least a couple of weeks"
f/wc/s/b: "why?"
vj: "i made the big mistake of seeing a preview screening of 'twilight' – screaming girls clutching copies of the book to their chests, and every time edward popped up on screen, there would be a collective *sigh* – i'm not putting myself through that again"

image credit: vanity fair/bruce weber

i knew it was inevitable that i would see 'new moon' but not on the second day of its release. i was putting myself straight into twihard territory – i blame last minute plans and good friends.

so let's get it clear where i stand with the twilight saga: the books aren't classics; if anything they're b-grade tween-driven fantasy dribble but they're silly fun, pure escapism, guilty pleasures (that being said i've read the series twice over now). if the books aren't great then inevitably the films can't be great and this tempered my expectations – i wasn't expecting oscar-winning excellence.
that being said, i came out of the movie pleasantly surprised.

synopsis: bella loves edward; edward loves bella; edward breaks bella's heart (and his own); enter jacob, who becomes a werewolf; bella and jacob fall in love (kinda) and it all ends with a vampire showdown in italy

the verdict
pros:
- i can't believe i'm going to say this but taylor lautner. mr tanked-up-17-year-old-man-boy actually gives jacob some real heart and warmth – you can see why bella would want to spend time and fall in love with him. and you feel his pain when he realises he'll never win her completely. i'm a team edward girl but i get why there's team jacob now.

image credit: twilight source/summit entertainment

- kristen stewart and robert pattinson aren't too bad in this. there are criticisms to be had – i found bella's screaming nightmares a bit much and hologram/vision edward is a little wooden – but i believed the despair and heartache of their separation – my heart did flutter at their reunion.

image credit: reel movie news/summit entertainment

- 'new moon' is a lot more cohesive than 'twilight' – the transitions are a lot more smoother and the difference a bigger budget can make is clearly seen - no laughing at a vampire sparkling or wolves transformations (though they could have worked on jacob's wig – looked like matted roadkill on his head)

cons:
- i was worried that the film would lag in the middle, as it did in the book when i read it but the film does keep good pace most of the time – it could've lost 20 minutes though.
- these films don't lend themselves to dramatic moments – the script is a letdown, having the audience laughing at overblown love proclaimations – "you're my only reason to stay... alive. if that's what i am" smacks of "you are my life now bella". oh and two words: face punch – see the movie and you'll know what i'm talking about – i think it was a lame attempt at comic relief but it didn't fit.
- the film is a little lazy – the tracing of the 'edward is gone' aftermath involves panning the camera around bella with 'october', 'november' and 'december' appearing on screen after each pan – boring. and yes i get it, you have a bigger budget but that does not mean jacob climbing into bella's bedroom should be a complicated process involving him swinging from a tree to the house, climbing up the wall, swinging to the tree again then finally through the window. blurry vampire fights are also a little pathetic.
- the misuse of michael sheen and dakota fanning - they have small roles yes but they're both so talented and having one play a parody of a vampire king and a child-girl vampire squinting her eyes for a minute is a waste.
- the ending – sudden and i hate sudden endings. there's two more books left to go but a film, even a sequel, should be a whole and the ending leaves you feeling like you're missing something.

all in all, it's a mindless escape that's light on drama with a young romance at its core. there are some laughs (some unintentional) but it's entertaining enough for a twihard – though perhaps not the general public – my two friends couldn't believe how bad it was. oh well, each to their own.

VJ x.

musical marvel: florence + the machine

2009-11-21T11:30:00.006+11:00

one of the best albums i've heard this year is florence + the machine's 'lungs'
mercury prize nomination status always sparks my interest and though a little late to join the florence bandwagon, i'm well and truly on board - in fact, i may have a girl crush (i've actually stated that i wish i could have long, flowing red hair and dance around in no pants)

image credit: last.fm

her music is ambitious, awe-inspiring and dramatic with a dose of grandure, whimsy and crazy thrown in for good measure – she's like a female rufus wainwright (and there is nothing wrong with that)
she looks the part too – amazing costumes, visually vibrant music videos and that gorgeous flowing red hair

image credit: last.fm

her vocal range just astounds – you have to see it for yourself

'raise it up (rabbit heart)' – live at abbey road

'drumming song' – live at abbey road

amazing right?

VJ x.

brown paper packages tied up with string

2009-11-19T20:45:00.003+11:00

i've always loved the gorgeousness that is elk accessories
the jewellery sets my heart aflutter with such a whimsical way of looking at the world – birds, caravans, heaped pile of suitcases just so, simple wooden beads and intricately carved pendants
the latest range 'caravan' is so summery that i treated myself to a couple of necklaces – a short wood & carved bone necklace and a long bird & pebbles necklace in charcoal, which arrived this morning
i wasn't, however, expecting the attention to detail that greeted me once i teared open the brown package (on a side note, is there anything more satisfying than getting packages in the mail?)

the black box tied with hessian string opens to reveal delicate tissue paper-wrapped packages with elk accessories stickers. to top it all off, each necklace comes in its own woolly down sleeve.

it may be a tad decadent for some but what a lovely touch - no gift-wrapping needed!

VJ x.

vj's singing... norah jones

2009-11-19T13:08:00.004+11:00

ok so this is sooner than i'd anticipated but what the hey!
i spotted miss jones on letterman last week, flipping through the channels late at night, trying to force myself to sleep
i've always loved her voice - her distinctive and delicate husky tones always win me over, and one of my favourite scenes in 'two weeks notice' (you'll soon discover that i'm all about the guilty pleasures) is her 'performance' of 'the nearness of you' - its just gorgeous
her new album, 'the fall', was released over the weekend and there's a deluxe version with a covers CD - johnny cash and norah? wow
i'm also loving how cute and pixie-like she's looking nowadays - i don't think i can pull off such a cut - and the 'chasing pirates' vid has her sailing through NY on her apartment-block boat - what's not to love?

ps. i'm trying in vain not to sway at my desk - it would probably look unprofessional
that and the fact that i'm barefoot

pps. i'm also putting in her performance from 'later with jools holland' - it's better than the letterman showing plus both girls are wearing the prettiest dresses

VJ x.

vj's singing... jay z & alicia keys

2009-11-18T23:40:00.004+11:00

depending on how quickly i get used to this blogger thing, i'll be posting the latest song that gets stuck in my head - i have an awful habit of putting songs on repeat for hours on end, oblivious that i've listened to said song 2456 times

this song has been stuck in my head for around a week or so now and i love it
it's jay-z sinatra-esque ode to NY - having had 2 friends who recently wandered this fair city's streets, this song makes me realise what i'm missing out on
and miss keys is amazing

VJ x.

song dedication: happy b'day aci!

2009-11-18T23:19:00.004+11:00

it's my dearest friend aci 's b'day today so i couldn't go past mentioning her and how much it means to me that she's still around, putting up with crazy little me after nearly 10 years
so this one's for you! enjoy!

VJ x.

ps. i still haven't got aci a present - eeek bad bestie vj

five things i've learnt from dec's vanity fair

2009-11-18T22:42:00.008+11:00

as a way to introduce myself, i'm gonna let you in on one of the loves of my life - vanity fair
i've always loved this magazine for its gorgeous photos, long and lengthy prose pieces but perhaps most of all, its nostalgic view of the past - you can always count on VF to have yet another report on the kennedys; the hollywood of yesteryear – exposes on past films, personas and the like; and photo shoots devoted to recapturing the glamour and prestige of hollywood
admittedly some of the content goes straight over my head – american politics (well let's be honest here, any politics), financial matters - well let's say, they aren't my forte
i'm thoroughly impressed with the latest issue with yes, a certain vampire upon its cover (the third of four sets of outtakes has gone up by the way) so much so, i may be gifting myself a subscription

so without further ado, re: title of post
1. graydon carter's ed's letter on roman polanski perches itself delicately on the fence but provides a brief overview into the fascinating life story of roman polanski
what about an autobiography film, roman? 'life of roman'? 'roman empire'? 'roman wasn't built in a day?'
2. christmas brings out the crazy in money spending – as 'hot tracks' details, you can purchase a 90-CD set of every yo yo ma album for a mere US$790? bargain right?
3. sidney lumet comes across as a sweet, lovely man, who at 85, is still directing and embracing new technology – while i can barely press the snooze button every morning
4. 'addicted to cute' is a fascinating read about the proliferation of cute on society - who knew watching this could be bad for you?
5. the quote on the cover from f. scott fitzgerald (i.e that miniscule text on rob's pillow) sums it up perfectly: "Everybody's youth is a dream, a form of chemical madness"

Vanity Fair/Photography: Bruce Weber

i've barely read the first third of the issue but it's refreshing to know, it's not all about edward – but doesn't he look pretty?

VJ x.