sweetnesss (4385)

Journal of sweetnesss (4385)

Thursday May 12, 05

If you want to stay in touch...

08:27 AM

http://www.livejournal.com/users/sweetnessss

Monday June 21, 04

long long ago

12:50 PM

A while ago I had the chance to interview Johnny Marr after his show here for the synthiepop magazine. Just found this transcript on my computer and thought I could share it now. 

A bit embarrassing in parts but oh well... I was nervous!!!

 

So, how did you enjoy the show?

Good, it was good. yeah.

I enjoyed it, it was good, after without like a week off without shows because we were playing all the time in America Australia and Japan it seemed like we had a long time and really it was only 6 days or 7 days so when we started to play we really wanted to play.

 

Good!

Yes, I enjoyed it.

 

You once said that the audience in Europe could be a little bit colder, did you have this impression tonight?

Yeah.. it can be a little bit colder...but no, I didn't. I looked out in the audience.. (phone ringing break) I look out and our audience is... err... are people who genuinely who come out to the show because they like the music that I've made in the past and they are... I assume that they are intelligent people and I try to treat them as intelligent people which is why it took me a few songs until I start moving around because unless I really feel it, it would be something like patronizing and a bit showmanship to start kind of doing all these moves...so its only when I really feel it...because I don't want the audience to think that I', being a showman, I want them to think that I'm being like them.

Yes.. and its the first time that you're like the centre of attention, with your own band.. is it different for you to be on stage now?

I've done it a lot now, so I'm used to it. But when I first did it it felt good. it felt ok. I didn't think about it until I was working up the steps up the stage for the first time. I put it out of my mind, and then just as I was walking on stage I thought: "Shit, I hope this works, its better be good. And it felt right, it felt good, so yeah.."

 

So, this is a question that *I* really want to ask you... I don't play any instrument, and its such a miracle for me how it works to write a song. If you just play around and get a melody or if you have some influences that you've heard somewhere  and mix it together, or if it just comes to you at night. or...?

 

Its all of those things.

You have to have like your radio receivers on all the time if you want to write good song. and sometimes life is easier when you don't have those radio receivers on if you're not trying to be inspired, but then you don't have any success and connection with people and all the things that come with being a songwriter, you know? If you wanna be a songwriter you have to do some work sometimes when you would rather go and sit in the park or talk to your friends on the phone or watch some rubbish on television. because like anything you can't just turn on inspiration. so you have to let yourself open for ideas. because I work with some people who are really prolific and very very natural songwriters and that cuts in. you just cant turn it on. its like, its very much like doing a painting, you know. Some things you can do a painting when you think "Oh ok, I've seen this idea in a photograph or in an old painting or in a.. I don't know, say...building or something. And other times you just get a vision of something which comes right from the sky which is GREAT and other times you're just sketching, musical sketching, playing, and you go; "Oh this sounds really good" so its all those things but you have to work on it. for me its the best thing in the world

 

I just wanted to ask you if you have been creative any other artistic field, you mentioned painting. do you paint?

 

yeah, a little bit. If I get involved in something, if something takes my attention, I really get into it, you know? if I had to paint... I don't paint like say John Squire. Johnny paints and since I knew him and he was 15 he used to paint. I think he painted before he played guitar you know? and I think that's. I don't have the time...if I'm gonna do something creative....... I never wanted to paint or act or do anything else because.. maybe I should've done that. I'm always trying to play the right songs but so I suppose is no, I don't. The answer really is no I guess I'm too busy trying to make music and deal with business.

 

Would you say you have any current influences?

No. Or what do you mean, like new bands?

yeah...

no, but I like experimental electronic music the best, so like boards of Canada.  you know boards of Canada? They're on warp records with aphex twin. and we really like AT, so it doesn't come out of music (?) PJ Harvey (points to poster on the wall), though the electronics doesn't come out of this music, PJ Harvey I like a lot. and you know, I like, mellowdrone who was on before I really like, and this band called electric six  who do this song called remote control me and err..........

 

do you know any German bands?

no but I'd like to.

 

I think right now we have this kind of WAVE of German bands

well I'll tell you what I really LOVE funny enough I don't stop mentioning this band, pluramon, do you know pluramon from cologne?

*laughing* I have never heard of them.

 

Lemonjelly are kind of like ...

 

what German bands are there?

 

errm. we have 2raumwohnung, Klee... Klee?

do you know the popkomm, music convention? Klee did the opening song. Its always in august...lots of shows and also for records companies and bands to get together.

 

I've heard of that.

 

We have this kind of new wave movement with bands like mia or die raketen...

 

no I don't know those bands but I'd like to hear it! I like to hear new music.

 

I'll burn you a compilation.

 

yes that would be good if you give it to me cause I'd like to hear it cause I think new music is always... there's always gonna be good new music.

there is a band from Canada called Godspeed you black emperor, long songs, that are very long and slow and dramatic and I like what they do. and there is an artist called Donnacha Costello don't know where he/its I don't know anything about them but I just got a track, so that's kind of ambient, nor chill-out cause I hate chill-out and stuff. I like for music to put me in an interesting place and I like for rockmusic - at the moment - to give me some excitement, energy.. energy and excitement. yes, I think its good, so I'm looking to it.

I think he next album we make will be exciting, fast music I think.

 

looking forward to this! do you have any plans when you will start recording it?

I wanna start recording in September so that I can put it out as early as I can next year you know... I'm very very proud of this album, really proud of it but its been interesting making this record because it probably has made a connection to people who like what I do. I've been looking in their faces, play guitar, high volume, cause I was so obsessed with being the studio (I love being in he studio) I kind of knew that there were people who like what I do but its a different thing when you're actually seeing them and they talk to you and its really err.. give me a very incooked feedback, encouragement and I assumed that people who like me, who like what I do, are like me. and I was right. they are like me.

 

its a nice thing to say about your fans

 

oh yes totally.

cause I try to make music for people who are...when you try to make music for people who you think are like you, it makes things a lot easier, and I've always been like that, I think most musicians are. I think most creative people are naturally people who are like that.

 

so do you think of your audience when you write a song?

 

what is it. I think of myself. but subconsciously you think about your friends, your mates. I think most people are like that, your creative people. you just have to make sure that your mates are pretty cool, otherwise you're in trouble. and my mates are people who like to sit around and smoke a few joints and hang out with their bus or girlfriends. there's a lot of women in my house so I don't know why that is. they're not there for me! Its cause my wife is very interesting. and the like to sit around you know. the reason I notice these things is sometimes journalists, old fashioned journalists, say "what do you think of smiths-fans?" and they have this idea (I'm a smiths fan) they have this idea that people who like the smiths are kind of all dressed from head to toe in black, ready to jump of the bridge. (totally me! no I don't think so..) and don't enjoy life and when I was making music with the smiths I was still the same, I was making music for people who I felt are like me. who have a certain kind of sensitivity but also war looking for beauty. and just sit around and just be cool. and like ´my kind of music, you know what I mean?

 

definitely.

 

this idea -... people who like me and Morrissey...this idea that those people hate radiohead and hate synthesizers and cant handle with the world outside... (are not open-minded..) that's bullshit idea. maybe they've read too many interviews I don't know...

 

oohhh

I think I can say that.. I know many smiths fans, online friends from around the world, and I think they're very jealous that I can sit here with you now and speak to you and so I just want to say thank you for such great music. Really... you had such an impact on our lives. and they're also very interested in your current music.

 

well, its a privilege to be a musician. its nothing I could complain about.

not everybody gets the chance to do it. and I think I am aware that there are people out there who take what I've done very seriously and the music meant a lot to them. and I don't wanna abuse that.  sometimes when I answer a question on the website or when very rarely someone comes up to you and asks me a difficult question, that feels a bit personal, that. those times I try and make a joke and take the heat out of it. and they get a little bit annoyed.  causer they want me to be more intense and serious about it but some of those issues are very very personal and painful and I don't think its healthy - its not that its only private - I don't think its healthy to analyze your own personal feelings in public. it seems like a bit...not very gracious to talk about rockstar neurosis. I mean have plenty of it and I'm not an insensitive person, but I think it would be a little bit patronizing to talk about whatever conflicts I might may have and when there is so many people who don't wanna hear me complain, one person might wanna hear me talk about something negative but its ... for 5000. so I've tried and always assume that the audience are... just really intelligent and sensitive and cool.

 

when did you realize that making music was what you wanted to do for the rest of your life?

did it just happen? or did you have to make a decision?

 

(promoter enters to say time is over but he said "no its ok.. she is nice!" awww)

 

when I was very small my parents and relatives used to play and sing music and when they were doing that it was more interesting what the world was like before they started singing. Do you know what I mean? My uncles used to get up, normally drunk, and started singing at 2 o clock in the morning after a party. They'd been up dancing to... whatever.. rock'n roll. And before that party I was kind of...believe it or not... overly sensitive and then when the parties would happen and the parties would finish particularly with these really really sad songs, I was like.. I was more alive than the way I've been all day. And that was my first memory so its always been that way.

 

what age have you been then?

about 7 or 8 and then I did make a decision around about 14, 15. You know, I had to make it cause me and my father used to fight all the time and I made the decision that I was gonna - even if I was broke - I would be a musician. He challenged me and said that I would always be broke and I had to look at myself  and say "well, what if I am?" I mean he is a cool guy, I don't mind, he was right in a way you know.

All parents are like this...

yeah I mean he thought I was wild and he was right, I was. So I've made the decision to fight for it. and "what if I'm wrong?" If I'm wrong well then. .then you've tried at least.

Final question...

do you plan to produce again, or are you producing at the moment?

At the moment no... Haven are at my house recording songs...

Is Marion still around?

No Marion.. unfortunately, they were great but Jamie was too fond of drugs. He became more into drugs than he was into music which is a shame you know. But producing is really hard work. cause I put really everything I can into it, and I like it, but if I put that amount of effort into something, it may as well be my own music cause a lot of people have been waiting for me to do my own thing, you know? so that's what I do.

 

Do you still have your clothing line? Elk?

no I had to stop it because when I got busy, I couldn't run it.

Its a shame

Its been nice meeting you...

 

Tuesday June 01, 04

That was the playlist of this fantastic Morrissey Party in K

07:59 AM

Use for mixtape-inspiration!

www.popfiction.de

playlist mike + willie 19.05 mozzer-party
soweit wie noch nie.juegenpaape
endless art. a-house
miserable lie. smiths
shame.hidden cameras
purpoise.pale saints
america is not the world.moz
hands around my throat.death in vegas
m.cure
heaven knows i´m miserable now. smiths
birthday.sugarcubes
tomorrow. moz
beatengeneration. the the
jacqueline.franz ferdinand
glamourus glue.moz
irish blood, english heart. moz
rescue. echo & the bunnymen
love & death. the stills
it doesn´t matter. puressence
end of the world. cure
a rush and a push. smiths
wintercomes summer. jack
tomorrow. james
sick sober and sorry. gene
obstacle. interpol
she´slost control. joy division
hairdresser on fire. moz
i wanna be adored. stone roses
emma´s house. field mice
bizarre love triangle. even as we speak
sweet and tender hooligan. smiths
attack. raveonettes
alma matters.moz
darts of pleasure. ff
this charming man. smiths
connection. elastica
living on video. trans x
deceptacion. le tigre
still ill. smiths
violet man. marion
sister i´m a poet. moz
metal mickey. suede
bang. blur
daydreamer. menswear
ziggy stardust. bowie
ask. smiths
so alive. ryan adams
nicht immer aber jetzt(auf russisch).klee
sparkle.mls
gang of one. bradford
lips like sugar. echo
there´s a light.poor leno.erlend oye
let your body decide. ark
mute witness.moz
cemetry gates. smiths
somewhere only we know. keane
you can hide your love. comet gain
still in love song. comet gain
guiding light. veils
long tme coming. delays
spitting game. snow patrol
she´s a lady. pulp
how soon is now. smiths
we don´t need nobody else. whipping boy
fan and the below. chameleons
fighting fit.gene
the happening. pixies
speedway. moz
beyond safeways. bawl
ceremony. new order
no where fast. smiths
reptile. church
killing moon. echo
3o´clock in the morning. jack
where have you been. shed 7
time for heroes. libertines
happy when it rains. jesus
europop. divine comedy
maps. yeahyeahyeahs
such grea heights. postal services
this is not a song. f&w
we´re still the weaker sex. i love you but you´ve chosen darkness
stripped. dm
treat me better. northernlite
nowhere girl. b-move
grey day. zoot woman
and then she kissed her. boa
i coldly stare out. pink turns blue
suedehead. moz
you should all be murdered. another sunny day
lovesong. cure
chewing gum weekend. charlatans
submarine. adorable
2.45 polak
the great pubrockrevival. denim
there´s a light. smiths
polar bear. ride
getting away with it. electronic
everyday is like sunday. m

Thursday May 27, 04

ticklish

03:36 PM

Again it's past midnight and I wanted to be in bed 2 hours ago....

Stillhad to finish the new school logo that a talented 3rd grade girl developped, all I did was the last finish and convert it into computer data.

Tomorrow we're going to have the Bundejugendspiele - our annual sports contest! I've always hated this as a kid as I never got a medal or anything. It's truly a miracle that I found quite a few sports that I like nowadays...

Had the first pedicure of my life today and God was that good! I was so afraid as I sually jump onto the ceiling as anyone dares to touch my feet, but she did a good job. Never had such soft skin there before!

I still have the lack of sleep from last weekend in my bones... Ahead lies the really fantastic great Walldorf Rockabilly weekender!!! I'm not THAT much looking forward yet as I'm too tired, but I hope the joy will come once we're there....

http://www.sweetness-online.de/walldorf.htm

Bedtime!

Wednesday May 26, 04

stolen from Mr.Delanay

02:28 PM

Firsts

  • First best friend: Gigi whose wedding I'll attend in 2 weeks
  • First car: suzuki swift, old car of my brother
  • First real date: the day I was wearing my contact lenses instead of glasses, 1986
  • First real kiss: 27th june 87
  • First break-up: august 87
  • First screen name: sweetness
  • First self purchased album: a-ha, hunting high and low
  • First funeral: grandma
  • First pets: Micky, greatest cat in the world
  • First piercing/tattoo: ears
  • First credit card: 1999
  • First enemy: do brothers count?
  • First musician you remember hearing in your house: does my dad under the shower count? If not, Harry Belafonte

Lasts

  • Last cigarette: never ever had one breath
  • Last car ride: back home after work
  • Last good cry: yesterday.
  • Last library book checked out: a box of books for my class about sexuality
  • Last movie seen: this afternoon, some comedy with matthew perry and bruce willis.
  • Last beverage drank: cabernet-sauvignon
  • Last food consumed: potatoes and cream cheese
  • Last crush: a skipping heart at the sight of sleeping Tommi
  • Last phone call: Tommi, this afternoon after school
  • Last time showered: Friday. I prefer my bathtub
  • Last shoes worn: my running shoes
  • Last cd played: Anthony Reynolds, Neu York
  • Last item bought: strawberries
  • Last annoyance: the tv is almost broken and switches itself off in the most exciting moments
  • Last disappointment: angry at myself
  • Last time wanting to die: life is for living
  • Last time scolded: what?
  • Last shirt worn: light blue
  • Last website visited: Moz-Solo!
  • Last word you said: Nacht
  • Last song you sang: "Begin de dag met een dansje" (hehe, Dutch children song)
  • What is in your cd player?: my new cd
  • What color socks are you wearing?: barefoot
  • What color of underwear are you wearing?: Black
  • What's under your bed?: dust?
  • What time did you wake up today?: 5.55 am

Future

  • What is your career going to be?: Just got my "revision" so that I can be a teacher for lifetime
  • Where are you going to live?: same street, same house. We're very connected to this place.
  • How many kids do you want?: no sé
  • What kind of car(s): mustang maybe?

Current

  • Current mood: sad
  • Current music: nothing
  • Current taste: dry mouth after the wine
  • Current hair: pony tail
  • Current clothes: running clothes
  • Current annoyance(s): I need to clean
  • Current desktop picture: none
  • Current favorite artist: the people around me
  • Current book(s): "Männer machen Frauen dick" (no comment)
  • Current color of toenails: red
  • Current time-wasting wish: sleep
  • Current hate: World politics indeed

 

Tuesday May 25, 04

mute

02:47 PM

parents day from 7.30 am til 7.30 pm today. To be fair, I had a 3 hours break inbetween. I'm just glad I can type now and don't need to speak anything anymore.

Saturday the whole package with morrissey-dvd-album, cd1, cd2, vinyl & 45rpm arrived and the postman just left it on the doorstep! *gasp* Well, the good thing about living in a village is that there is simply nobody here who'd dare to steal it. I haven't had enough time to listen to intensely, but it sounds very light and summerish to me. I like "I'm not sorry" and "come back to camden" very very much for now :)

Weekend was more fun than expected, but I shall update it another time... It's midnight and another long day lies ahead. Thank God it'll be along weekend!

x

Friday May 21, 04

Happy Birthday...

04:47 PM

As promised, here is another update.

Thursday was a bank holiday and one day in the week off - what difference does it make My mood was explosively fine on Wednesday when I got ready to go out dancing at the official Morrissey release party. Birgit and Sylvia went there with me and I knew we'd meet Tere, Micha, Toddie... I'm sure the party can't be compared to the nights at the Star & Garter (well, I've never been there... just stories, photos have formed my opinion) but I'd say our parties are more tame if you can say so? Not so much about drinking, less people and probably even different music. I have to say the popfiction team did a great job! Every guest could choose a flower and one of the "you are the quarry-badges" and I even won a t-shirt. Sadly not the album - mine hasn't arrived yet! *emailing my record-dealer*

So, I felt very good that night. You certainly all know that there are good days and bad days - this night was my night! I was just soooo in the mood to dance, and so I did, I almost couldn't leave the dancefloor for a drink. The bands (beside loads of smiths and Morrissey) I remember are gene, stone roses, ride, lush, franz ferdinand, bradford, keane, suede, ryan adams, chameleons, the stills... Gosh so so much more. A very nice moment for me was when this girl came up to me to tell me this: "I am telling everyone in here that you are the most beautiful girl here. If I was a boy I'd totally try to chat you up." I didn't know what to reply and just said "thank you" and that it's good to hear this from a girl because then you know she really means it. I guess it was just my overly happy aura. Anyway!!!

The next day the weather was still lovely and yes, the long-awaited bank holiday. Tommi and I spent the day at Schloss Dyck were some medieval games took place. We lazied around in the sun, had some dark beer, listened to the sounds of the dark ages and just enjoyed the atmosphere. It's a really pretty castle and it's also the closest from where we live. The doors to the castle itself were open too - usually you can just access the park - and so we explored the inner parts too, imagined were to put the sofa, which room to decorate as a bar etc. Dreams *sigh*. The upstairs contained a modern art exhibition. I liked Rostovsky. I would never be able to explain in English what he did! Let's just say it has to do with reflections on a mirror. Very nice.

Today I've uploaded the first photos I took at Jasmin's and Jürgen's wedding. Those are the "official ones", those that you give your parents in law etc. (Well, maybe not all of them). Both were happy with the photos and so I'm happy too. I usually hate to photograph wedding because it's such a big responsibility if you're the only photographer. Too many things can go wrong and I've experienced them all!

I need to sleep soon now. Tomorrow we're leaving early for a 50ies jukebox-car-show event. I know I know, it can't be compared to what many of you will experience tomorrow! I wish you the greatest night! (And throw Alain a kiss ;))

xxx

p.s.: Just listened to the Jools Holland crowd singing Happy Birthday to Morrissey! (The fantastic Maf shared his TV with me) Happy Birthday indeed!

p.p.s.: didn't you ever wonder...
If  Morrissey writes his lyrics - does he have a line like "Reach for my hand" or "And I love you, I love you, I love you, And I love you, I love you, I love you" or "let me kiss you" or ... I could go on! - all those lines that he knows will work perfectly on stage, singing it to his fans, getting it back from his fans. Pure devotion. He is probably writing the rest of the lyrics around these lines, isn't he? Oh don't take me too serious! Goodnight!

 

decision decisions!

07:12 AM

Will miss snow patrol and the kings of convenience next friday.
have to decide between ballboy, eskobar and adam green.

*********

Will write more later about an amazing danced-my-legs-off-to-my-knees Morrissey Party and more
xxx

Tuesday May 18, 04

brainstorming

03:36 PM

The radioshow with Franz Ferdinand is over now, and of course I listened to
it on the radio, thinking to myself it wasn't that good anyway but of course it
was. I really would have liked to go there, but at least I'll be fresh for
tomorrow's Morrissey release Party in Cologne. I don't expect many people or a
huge event, it'll just be nice to listen to the new songs and dance to some old
ones.

It's actually already past midnight and I wish I had started earlier to write
that entry. My head was so full of sparkling ideas earlier! Well, I took notes
but it won't be the same without the level of Euphoria I was on earlier. I just like
the feeling when ideas seem to fly into my head. Well actually they re not -
I've just been thinking about motives for the next photo group. Our working
title is "Social portrait" which can include just anything. Anything
to do with how we live in this world. 

I've already spent so much effort on giving an insight to the Rockabilly
scene on my photos that I'd like to continue there, but maybe with a different
focus. Before, I was just taking photos of people, sceneries in a more
documentatory way. But for this project I'd like to dive a bit deeper into a
concept. My first thought was to show the role that alcohol plays in that
special scene. I don't think any other drugs are used, abused or whatever there,
it's mainly beer and whiskey. But it's hard to imagine a Rockabilly festival
without alcohol. Even impossible. I know a few music lovers who don't drink
(anymore) at all and still attend some shows, but the main part is drinking
loads. It's just so difficult to show this without standing there with a finger
pointing at someone, you know what I mean? I'm certainly not the person to be
moral. 

Another idea that came to me was to photograph a member of the scene in their
everyday life at work. Maybe a fully tattooed greaser who works in daddy's
office. In appropriate clothes, but the Rockabilly-thing still has to be visible
in very small parts. OR I portray a Teddyboy or so in full gear and then just
take a photo of the work environment and let the viewer do the transfer and try
to imagine about how he or she'd fit in there??

Another completely different idea for this project would be to photograph the
inside of a shopping cart... "Huh?" you might ask. Well, have you
never looked at what other people buy and guessed by yourself if that person was
single, on a diet, family guy or organizing a party? That#s what I'd like to try
with those photos. Maybe even get the tip of the shoes on the same photo - as
shoes also tell a lot about someone. 

Another idea that our fabulous group initiator Taki had was to photograph
"Internet cafés". Surely something that we won't see in our streets
in ten years from now the way those exist today. It's something very now.
I find it just exciting to think about these people, who are sharing the same
space at the internet café, but probably all diving into their own little cyber
worlds.

Oh and this is not all... it's really a good feeling that certain little
wheels in my head have started to turn again. Please feel free to comment or
share and discuss your ideas and thoughts with me. I believe that it can only
make things clearer for me!

 

 

Monday May 17, 04

suicidal babybird

01:30 PM

And with this good-morning-mood, on my way to work, I ran over a little babybird that I saw too late - and that just didn't move. Why on earth couldn't it fly or hop away? I hope it didn't die - I couldn't stop.. I just saw a feather in my back mirror and started to cry.

It almost feels like a warning signal that tells me: Attention! Don't be TOO happy, something bad can happen!



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