Untouched

'There's a whole commotion going on inside us.' 

'That's bad?'

'It's bad if we want to know what's going on outside ourselves.' 

'Don't we have eyes & ears for that?' 

'They're okay most of the time. But sometimes they get in the way. The earth is speaking to us, but we can't hear because of all the racket our senses are making. Sometimes we need to erase them, erase our senses. Then - maybe - the earth will touch us. The universe will speak. The stars will whisper.'

Stargirl

Jerry Spinelli

A Valentino Summer

Ever since I got the issue of Teen Vogue in the mail, I haven't been able to stop ranting about the beautifully-cut Valentino dress worn by Elle Fanning in the February cover shoot. It appears that the spring/summer fashion trends favour old-fashioned lace cuts and bright classic reds (The tart shade, after all, is an apt choice for award season's numerous red carpet events. One only needs to look at Charlize Theron's choices for the Globes this year).

Elle models in a red Miu Miu dress with a full lace bodice, a scarlet Christopher Kane piece with white lace sleeves, Marc Jacobs & even some elegant Louis Vuitton. Accessories wise, the simple gold headband and thick Oscar de la Renta cuff goes wonderfully with the Valentino.

As for the charming starlet, one can no longer call her the 'second' or 'littlest' fanning. As said before, the lovely Elle Fanning is going places. Besides being a talented thespian, who shows not only breadth, but depth of acting, Elle can be said to have reached far into the world of fashion. Being personally invited  by Karl Lagerfeld to the Paris 2011 Haute Couture show is not something many teenagers can dream, let alone, boast about. Besides being on the top of fashion show invite lists from around the world, Elle Fanning is also the model, spokesperson & muse for established couture line Rodarte. And all of this, at the age of thirteen-going-on-fourteen.

You can read the full teen vogue article here, or watch Elle pirouette gracefully in Rodarte's short fashion film, The Curve of Forgotten Things.

Love Me Do

'Love is giving of your best self even on a bad day. Love means sticking together. Love is not taking things personally even if someone else is in a bad mood. Love is going to get ice-cream. Love is staying even when they drive you crazy. Love isn't a result of circumstances, love is a choice. Love is speaking kindly under pressure. Love is family. Love is kissing. Love isn't finding a soulmate, it's being a soulmate.'

It may be a little late, but this is love, from the Girl With The Glasses Show.

Phoebe in Wonderland

'At a certain point in your life, probably when too much of it has gone by... You will open your eyes and see yourself for who you are. Especially for everything that made you so different from all the awful normals. And you will say to yourself... But I am this person. And in that statement, that correction, there will be a kind of love.'

Lately, I've been watching a lot of Elle Fanning movies. It sounds strange, because you wouldn't expect such a young actress to have had a tremendously prolific career and an extensive filmography. The thirteen year old Elle, however, is certainly going places. She was absolutely brilliant in Sofia Coppola's Somewhere, shone in J.J. Abram's Super 8, and was a regular Jerry Spinelli-esque Stargirl in We Bought the Zoo. It was her first lead role in Phoebe in Wonderland, however, that remains the most special of all.

I love this movie. I love it because it tells all of us (and to a point, reassures me) that it's alright to be different. It's okay to feel disconnected and distant and a little bizarre. It's perfectly fine to delve into another world of looking glasses and talking rabbits and tea parties, and completely lose yourself in the magic. It's comforting, to know you're not alone :)

The leaves have changed a time or two

The musical chemistry of Joy Williams & John Paul White is heart-breakingly beautiful; so lovely that you feel wrapped in a secret, a surreptitious and clandestine harmonic blend. This is the kind of music that changes the world, two voices and a guitar between them, it's that simple.

Who doesn't love lucy?

Watching I Love Lucy clips makes staying at home, with nothing but an impaled foot for company, a little more bearable.


Speaking of excellent telly shows, new 2011-2012 line up of American sitcoms include Parks & Recreation, Modern Family & the Office; All out this week! I never tire, of the mockumentaries.

Another day, another fall

 

A couple of days ago, I was trying to turn on the air-conditioner in church before music class, when I fell backwards and managed to impale the sole of my foot on an upturned three-pin plug. A lot of blood and a quick visit to a GP for one stitch later (yes, ONE. As if my life isn't cursed enough that a hundred dollars must be forked out for ONE stitch. How lame is that?) and I'm at home, missing a couple of days of school and wrapping my leg in a plastic bag before showering.

Too much time at home and not enough human contact is driving me insane. On the other hand, I've gotten extremely adept at hopping around the house on one foot. Which must also, drive my downstairs neighbours insane.

I'm so grateful for friends who helped me on that night, and subsequent ones who visited/dropped a text/promised to help me when I get back to school! And of course, family, for putting up with one whiny kid who wheels around in her desk chair and plays a lot of noisy ukulele. 

Borrowed time, thick as thieves

In this very moment, I am happy because I...

Woke up at noon and rejoiced in the fact that there was no school today

Had toasted blueberry bagels with cream cheese & grapes for breakfast

made fresh coffee for my dad and wished him a very happy 52nd birthday and hugged him

Played the songs of A Fine Frenzy and Simon&Garfunkel on guitar and remembered why I love music.

Had enough time to revisit a comfort novel, Sunshine by Robin McKinley for the 100th time, and was happy because there was someone in the world writing about vampires in a non-gross, twilight way.

Redecorated my room with record covers and Europe trip relics and other miscellaneous weird stuff.

Am Alive.

On warmer nights

Every few months, due to an unhealthy diet of Macdonalds take out and fat-laden prata suppers (also the lack of exercise, but who's keeping score?), I catch the flu. When you're rolling around in bed in a feverish fit at 4am in the morning, the only thing to do is calm down and READ. Thanks to ms. Hepburn and also Sylvia Plath's mildly disturbing Bell Jar, which helped me through a pretty hectic night.

On a slightly unrelated note; The fact that university tutorial teachers don't give tuppence if you show up for class or not, gives little satisfaction when you skive off school. Oh delinquency of Junior College days, how I miss you! Oh and I'm proud to say that I only took 3 hours to write a 200-word commentary on music and culture for a particularly annoying critical writing course. Whoohoo, procrastination and underachievement.

And now, for some more 30 rock!

Out with the New, in with the Old

'To me, the three most important parts of my life are art, love and nature.'

Alison Sudol

Ready to fly, you and I

Wow. Totally underestimated Sara's vocals and was pleasantly surprised with her concert at the Esplanade! I was actually reluctant to go (because we procrastinated and ended up with nosebleed seats, and also because it has been a very long time since I considered myself a Bareilles fan) but thought, 'eh, a gig's still a gig.' I'm so very glad I went because it turned out to be a pretty brilliant show.

Amazing vocals, interactive and hilarious, with one of the tightest backing bands I've seen. Not to mention, a pretty good opening act! It's not easy to find a performer who makes every member of a nearly 2000-strong audience feel that they're in a small and intimate show. She's not Feist, Laura Marling or Alison Sudol; but she comes pretty close to the top of my list. A convert for sure!!!

We melt like butter on the tables

Through the curious keyhole
I see with open eyes
a precarious situation
I love too much to sacrifice

This is not new circumstance
I've fallen down this rabbit hole
time and time again
Meet me down there
two curious souls

Rewriting tales of folklore
we belong to imprints
on the flyleaf of your novel
We are myths
too great to be conquered

A tour of your magical mind
I can only believe
this will not end too soon

The most terrible impulse to do something

' What is needed in order to really become a star is an extra element which God gives you or doesn't give you.

You're born with it.You cannot learn it.

God kissed Audrey Hepburn on the cheek and there she was. '

Billy Wilder

And now we're alone and now we're alive

The genius that is Alison Sudol. This is beauty, and poetry.


So come on come out, wherever you are :)

Old Rickety House

How can anyone not like Leslie Feist? She is magic, in the form of a voice and a guitar.

Maybe I'll break your heart

'When do I get to be upset? When do I get to be anything other than me?'

I've seen the season 5 SKINS trailer and the only redeeming factor is that it was set to Arcade Fire's 'Ready to Start'. How I miss mysterious effy, JJ and his ukulele, and Naomi Campbell already.

We'll see next January :D

Lonely hearts bear lonely beats

Another take-away show special by the lovely Priscilla Ahn.

The time of wine red

In spite of Gold Motel's summer-y pop tunes, I can't help but miss the quartet. WHY HUSH SOUND, WHY.

I sold flowers; I didn't sell myself.

'I know your head aches, I know you're tired, I know your nerves are as raw as meat in a butcher's window. But think what you're trying to accomplish. Think what you're dealing with. The majesty and grandeur of the English language, it's the greatest possession we have. The noblest thoughts that ever flowed through the hearts of men are contained in its extraordinary, imaginative, and musical mixtures of sounds. And that's what you've set yourself out to conquer Eliza. And conquer it you will.'

Professor Henry Higgins
in My Fair Lady
Played by Rex Harrison

I watched this three-hour musical again after doing an extract from Pygmalion (Bernard Shaw, 1939) during Literature enrichment a couple of days back. It must prove to be somehow useful for ELL... I hope. No matter, we all need our breaks, don't we? After all, it was Eliza Doolittle who first declared that she 'could have danced all night'!

(then again, she also said 'Come on, Dover, move yer bloomin' arse!' This could be a nudge from the Great Audrey herself for me to start mugging. Intensely.)


Ippudo yesterday with obscene gang was delish :) And also the record-spam, where Clare and I chanced upon a Fleet Foxes EP for only a tenner! It was rather exhilarating. So ends my 3am rant.

Goodnight everyone, continue to study hard!

maybe i’ll paint them in myself

The greatest thing about this is that it's beautifully imperfect... the rushed drumming, the voice-breaks and the missing notes. I love kick-ass female drummers. This puts her right up there with the likes of Meg White, Rachel Blumberg and Elaine Bradley (the White Stripes, The Decemberists and Neon Trees, respectively)

More so, I love kickass-couples who write eclectic lyrics and dance-punk tunes :)

Fast taking-over Ben Gibbard and Zooey Deschanel pairing.