AUSTRALIA APPRECIATION: Part 3

*Note: After the disasterous Blogger debacle on Friday, you're getting two A.A posts this week. You lucky things!

In honour of my impending trip to the wonderful land of Oz, I’ve decided to celebrate.

I have to just mention here that there is an ongoing mud-slinging match between South Africa and Australia. It mostly revolves around sport, and some other random silliness, but it gets quite ridiculous and out of hand sometimes. And I’m rather ashamed to say that, in the heat of a tense rugby match, I may have lowered myself to yelling nastiness at Australian teams and referees on occasion. Despite this, and watching too much Border Security, I am looking on the bright side. Which is turning out to be pretty damn bright! Aside from the obvious – my best friend’s wedding and all the awesomeness that surrounds it – I’ve discovered some pretty cool things about Oz.

Now, if you’re expecting a post filled with cutesy baby koalas and kangaroos, I’m going to tell you now that you’re going to be disappointed. While I am looking forward to seeing that kind of thing, the kind of thing that Australia Appreciation Month consists of is equally as squee-worthy, but in a completely different way. As in: you will be squeeing, but if you’re doing it at your desk, you might get fired. *ahem*

So, without further ado, I give you Part 3:

CHRIS HEMSWORTH

I don't have much on this FINE specimen, I'm afraid... I know he's in Thor, which Dinee and I are set to see on the public holiday tomorrow, once we've voted. Other than that, I'm not too clued up on him. It's true, I could have done a bit of Googling. I could have read the Wikipedia page about him. I could have searched for interviews with him. I could have done a lot of things instead of spending far too long on Google Images finding these:

And you thought he was like Derek Zoolander, with just one look!

Oh my.... Tomorrow is going to be FUN!

Until next time,

Cockatoos and Platypi!

X

Update: Well, having now seen Thor, all I can say is... IT'S MY BIRTHDAY SOON, Y'HEAR? My Lord, that was just.... *squee* ... I have to go and wipe my chin again now.

AUSTRALIA APPRECIATION: Part 2

In honour of my impending trip to the wonderful land of Oz, I’ve decided to celebrate.

I have to just mention here that there is an ongoing mud-slinging match between South Africa and Australia. It mostly revolves around sport, and some other random silliness, but it gets quite ridiculous and out of hand sometimes. And I’m rather ashamed to say that, in the heat of a tense rugby match, I may have lowered myself to yelling nastiness at Australian teams and referees on occasion. Despite this, and watching too much Border Security, I am looking on the bright side. Which is turning out to be pretty damn bright! Aside from the obvious – my best friend’s wedding and all the awesomeness that surrounds it – I’ve discovered some pretty cool things about Oz.

Now, if you’re expecting a post filled with cutesy baby koalas and kangaroos and platypuses (platypi?) (why do I always feel like a dirty sailor when I say 'platypuss'?), I’m going to tell you now that you’re going to be disappointed. While I am looking forward to seeing that kind of thing, the kind of thing that Australia Appreciation Month consists of is equally as squee-worthy, but in a completely different way. As in: you will be squeeing, but if you’re doing it at your desk, you might get fired. *ahem*

So, without further ado, I give you:

MICHAEL HUTCHENCE



We could live
For a thousand years
But if I hurt you
I'd make wine from your tears

I told you
That we could fly
'Cause we all have wings
But some of us don't know why

 Born: 22 January 1960 - Sydney, Australia
Died: 22 November 1997 - Sydney, Australia

Known for: INXS, Giving his kid a weird name, Dying under peculiar circumstances
 * He was the founder and lead singer of INXS.
* He was sexy as sin (just ask the string of beauties he dated, not to mention the ones he's sure to have bedded, including Kylie Minogue, Helena Christenson, Belinda Carlisle and, probably most famously, Paula Yates.)

I need perfection
Some twisted selection
That tangles me
To keep me alive

In all that exists
None have your beauty
I see your face
I will survive

You might know of the original sin
And you might know how to play with fire
But did you know of the murder committed
In the name of love - yeah
You thought what a pity

* His death has been the subject of speculation for almost fifteen years now... some say it was suicide (which was the official ruling), and some say it was accidental during auto-erotic asphyxiation. Either way, it was a shock and a tragedy.


We look at all that shines
Baby's down on the world and she knows it
If your spirit's fine
Why don't we make it rain like we used to
We run We hide We want The good life
Aw sure
You're right
This ain't, the good life


* Nick Cave played "Into My Arms" at his funeral, famously requesting that the cameras be switched off for the duration of his performance as a show of respect.

Got some revelation put into your hands
Save you from your misery
Like rain across the land
Don't you see
The colour of deception
Turning your world around again

* Loads of songs have been dedicated to him since his death, including: U2's "Stuck In A Moment You Can't Get Out Of", which Bono said was 'a good old row between friends', which he felt guilty for never having with Hutchence in real life; and Duran Duran's "Michael, You've Got A Lot to Answer For", which was released a month before Hutchence's death. The lyrics were eerily apt.

"Trust you to get caught up in somebody's war
You'll come out of it intact, I'm sure
Just remember what friends were put here for
Michael, you've got a lot to answer for
And I know that you're gonna call
If you need me"

She's so scared
So very frightened
Anything could happen
Right here tonight
Beautiful girl (stay with me)
Beautiful girl (stay with me)
She wants to go home

* "Corrupting Kylie is my favourite pastime" (1990)

Say I'm crying
I'm looking at what's on T.V
Pain and suffering
And the struggle to be free

* "Hutchence was the archetypal rock showman. He exuded an overtly sexual, macho cool with his flowing locks, and lithe and exuberant stage movements." -- Ian McFarlane

Here comes the woman
With the look in her eye
Raised on leather
With flesh on her mind
Words as weapons sharper than knives
Makes you wonder how the other half die
Other half die

* "He sings in a kittenish whisper, gently drawing back with the incredible lust of a tiger hunting in the night... Hutchence knows the prey will eventually come to him."  (Wikipedia)

I was shook up
Intoxicated
Drank the juices
Of the possibilities

I'm so alive

* I became 12 years old in five minutes, wanting to have sex with him. That's all I wanted! Oh my God. Everybody did! You just wanted him. He was the epitome of rock star. --Terri Nunn (of Berlin) on the why Hutchence was the inspiration behind her collaboration with Billy Corgan (of the Smashing Pumpkins), called Sacred and Profane

Give me tears
Give me love
Let me rest
Lord above
Send the bored
Your restless
The feedback scarred
Devotionless
You're all a part of me now
And if I fall
You're all a part of me now

And that wraps up Australia Appreciation Month, Part 2.

Until next time,

Love and platypi!

X

Note: All quotes from Wikipedia, images via Google Images

AUSTRALIA APPRECIATION MONTH: Part 1

In honour of my impending trip to the wonderful land of Oz, I’ve decided to celebrate.

I have to just mention here that there is an ongoing mud-slinging match between South Africa and Australia. It mostly revolves around sport, and some other random silliness, but it gets quite ridiculous and out of hand sometimes. And I’m rather ashamed to say that, in the heat of a tense rugby match, I may have lowered myself to yelling nastiness at Australian teams and referees on occasion. Despite this, and watching too much Border Security, I am looking on the bright side. Which is turning out to be pretty damn bright! Aside from the obvious – my best friend’s wedding and all the awesomeness that surrounds it – I’ve discovered some pretty cool things about Oz.

Now, if you’re expecting a post filled with cutesy baby koalas and kangaroos and platypuses (platypi?) (why do I always feel like a dirty sailor when I say 'platypuss'?), I’m going to tell you now that you’re going to be disappointed. While I am looking forward to seeing that kind of thing, the kind of thing that Australia Appreciation Month consists of is equally as squee-worthy, but in a completely different way. As in: you will be squeeing, but if you’re doing it at your desk, you might get fired. *ahem*

So, without further ado, I give you:

NICK CAVE

* Disclaimer: I have what some might call an unhealthy obsession with Nick Cave. Justsayin'... (Dare I remind you that my alias and blog name orginiate from a Nick Cave song?)


Born on 22 Sept 1957,  Warracknabeal, Australia but left Australia at 19, shortly after his father’s death. Since he left, he hasn’t lived in Australia again, and yet he’s maintained a distinctly Australian-angled persona and identity. His humour is dry, self-depreciating and sarcastic (an Australian special blend), his style is unique and mixes the sharp with the edgy and the totally weird in perfect synchronicity. The best part? He’s batshit insane!


Known for: 
The Boys Next Door, The Birthday Party, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Grinderman


Where you might recognise him from: 
Murder Ballads, an album released in 1996. His most mainstream hit came from this album; it was a duet done with Kylie Minogue (the total antithesis of Cave) called Where the Wild Roses Grow.

Whoooahh! Bite! Whoooah! Bite!
Release the bats! Release the bats!
Don't tell me that it doesn't hurt
A hundred fluttering in your skirt
Don't tell me that it doesn't hurt



O God, what have I done, he said
As her blood pooled in the sheets
But in his heart he felt a bliss
With which nothing could compete
O Mamma O Mamma

  

O ah hear her walkin',
Walkin' barefoot 'cross the floor-boards,
All thru this lonesome night,And ah hear her crying too.
Hot-tears come splashin' down,Leaking thru the cracks,
Down upon my face, ah catch'em in my mouth!



I keep hanging around your kitchenette
And I'm gonna get a pot to cook you in
I stick my fingers in your biscuit jar
And crush all your Gingerbread Men

I don't believe in an interventionist God
But I know, darling, that you do
But if I did I would kneel down and ask Him
Not to intervene when it came to you
Not to touch a hair on your head
To leave you as you are
And if He felt He had to direct you
Then direct you into my arms

A custard-coloured super-dream
Of Ali McGraw and Steve McQueen
I give to you

Somewhere she lies, this lovely creature
Beneath the slow drifting sands
With her hair full of ribbons
And green gloves on her hands

I hope you've enjoyed Part 1 of Australia Appreciation Month!
Until next time!

Love and platypi,

X

*Note: All picture captions are links to music videos

MUSIC MONDAY: Keith Richards & Ron Wood - You Got The Silver

This is one of my favourite songs of all time.
When we were still planning to have a more 'traditional' wedding, with me walking down the aisle, the plan was for a very good friend to play this as I walked into the chapel and down the aisle.
It's a truly beautiful and timeless piece of music.
Enjoy!


(From the 'Shine a Light' DVD (2007), which Maja Boo and I watched again on Friday night.)

Cool, huh? :)

It's the Luck of the Irish...

... to have such talented, and often gorgeous, people representing them out in the world!

I give you a short list (click on the names for links):

Dolores O'Riordan
 : Singer - The Cranberries
 : Hair colour experimenter

Bob Geldof
 : Activist, Actor (Pink Floyd's 'The Wall'), Singer - The BoomTown Rats, LiveAid
 : Lover of unusual children's names

Roisin Murphy
 : Singer-songwriter - Solo, Moloko
 : Lover of crazy hats and crazy fashion

Jonathan Rhys Meyers
 : Actor
 : Happens to have an incredible singing voice, and sings a lot of his own stuff in his movies
 : Considered going into the priesthood before 'making it' in the movies (I guess he would have been a perfect tool for converting masses of hormonal girls to Catholisism, though...)

Bless me father...



For I'm about to sin!


Liam Neeson
 : Actor
 : Maja Boo's future husband... hands off!

All of U2
 : Infinitely amazing band.
 : Human rights activists

Daniel Day-Lewis
 : I'm not sure I can even say anything about this guy without turning into a hyperventilating, hormonal teenager all over again. Just... *looks out the window dreamily* *suddenly starts blushing* Yup. That's all.




Oh...




my...

Colin Farrell
 : Actor
 : Surprised everyone in 'A Crazy Heart' with his singing
 : Donated his salary from 'The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus' to friend and co-star Heath Ledger's daughter
 : Notoriously badly-behaved

Granted, Ireland has also given the world war, hunger strikes, weird associations with potatoes and ... Shane MacGowan (look it up, I'm not going there!). Still... I prefer to focus on the positive.
Excuse me while I go and drool more at some terribly sexy people, while listening to astounding music.

x