gemmaxloves

YAY!!!

Awesome weekend, got to meet him, got to interview him, it was just incredible.

 

Bless his cottons though he wasn't well at all, but he kept going and was just lovely. Definitely definitely possibly my favourite interview so far.

I mean you think oh what will they be like, I mean yeah big star - csi New York and all that, but he was so nice. Loved talking to him.

And can I also add that him and his friend/co-star on Ghostfacers are both insane. They are hilarious, and again both friendly and lovely as were his other 2 co-stars.

 

Best weekend ever!!!

 

Basically Friday was the opening ceremony when the 4 actors were like hello *waves*, my mind pretty much was going 'you should be 5 inches tall and in a small glass fronted box', strange. Then was the meet and greet - glass of wine, sitting at a table and the actors coming around to each table one at a time to chat - Dustin, Brittany, Travis and the AJ, very surreal but great fun.

GHOST WALK WOOOOO. And surprise the actors joined us on it, so there was some random chattering to them, again very very nice lovely people.

 

Saturday was pretty much the group panel followed by my being rushed to the room in the hour break to chat to AJ (I think he's amazing by the way) then it was photos and more talks and then again going back to chat some more, more photos and hellos and randomness then PARTY! I went as the girl from Blair Witch, and AJ, Travis and Dustin came to check out the party (liked it, minor chat/comment) and I dont know where it came from but I walked across the room to go ask AJ something, I don't do that, but he's lovely so it was all good.

Sunday more talks and autodraphs, clsing ceremony and that was that.

 

We went in a haunted house - the tv show Most Haunted has been there and their psychic got strangled by a ghostie, haha and we went into the house and did the walk around, there was screaming, it was funny.

 

Oh and yeah our hotel - also probably haunted, nice to know isn't it.

I'm going to wait patiently for next time.

 

Gemma is as bright as a button and as sharp as a blade. If there's ever anything you need to know, Gemma is the person to ask. Chances are she will know the answer already. If not she will go and ask someone else and she will keep asking until she gets an answer. Gemma simply cannot stand the idea of a question that has no answer, so if she cannot get a satisfactory explanation she will invent one.

A good one. She is after all as bright as a button. There are though, some questions in life which are best left unanswered. The rest of us know to leave them alone. Gemma cannot resist the urge to explore them. She is drawn to such questions, like, well, like a button to a button hole! Gemma answers these questions cleverly because, after all as sharp as a blade, but then you know what they say about people who are too sharp...

Gemma can be very cutting sometimes. She doesn't mean to be. She just can't help it. Gemma can't stop herself from daring to say what other people hardly dare to think. This is why Gemma often gets herself into trouble but it is also why Gemma is such an interesting person to know. Life with Gemma is never dull.

There's always an adventure, a challenge or a deal to be done. Gemma loves to do deals. The word 'no' is not in her vocabulary. When she hears it Gemma is immediately tempted to reply "Is that 'no' as in 'maybe', 'no' as in 'I need to be persuaded,' or 'no as in 'not quite yet?' Luckily Gemma gets clean away with this kind of attitude. Gemma, at least when it comes to the unanswerable question, is living proof of the old adage "Who dares...wins".

 

 

Usually I'm not too fussed about astrological predictions and whatnot, but knowing me and knowing what people have said about me, I think that this is probably accurate. I think this is the most accurate one for me. It's very strange.

I'm kind of creeped out by it, but it's rather true haha.

So all the recent goings on have left me rather complacent and rather wishing it was still 2003 (although not really ).

 

Seriously, I don't even well can't even form a logical expanation in my own head for the way this year has currently turned out.

I mean granted last year was NKOTB (but thats okay we count that as this year - its the year of big things after all)

 

Okay so I've managed to cross a lot of things off my list of things to do/achieve:

 

Seeing NKOTB - done

Seeing Enrique Iglesias - done AND 2nd row from the front I thank you

Having a real conversation and mini hang with Mark Read - done (no really you have no idea how overly infatuated with him I was back in the day, heck I went to Norway to see a1 on one of their last shows)

Managed to get myself a contact that could set me up in the future with a face to face along with Carmine Giovinnazo - done; I know shocked me too, but it's there should I have chance to request it, all I would need is a yes from them

Met Bret Hart - done, and it was fun, I went alone, loved it

Read the Twilight series - done 4 books in 4 days I feel proud of me

Whale watching - done, granted we saw no whales but it was good fun

Longleat - done, always fancied it since seeing it on tv (animal park = glorious) got to say pets corner, bit of a let down

Stonehenge - done the henge, that right there is my kind of thing seriously if I ever encounter the time team gang excavating, just try and stop me from offering assistance

Surviving NOFX front and centre - done - I was all alone too, guy behind the guy behind me, nutted the guy behind me who nutted me, it hurt, he said sorry, suffocation in sweaty pits sadly was unavoidable, but everyone was very friendly =]

Take That! -DONE Only took me about 18 years but HUZZAH SEEN EM!!!!

 

you get my drift

 

OH and uhm yeah Backstreet Boys - in November 7 rows from the front oh yes

 

But yeah, my boys are performing in Norge in december and I know I can't go - I'm hoping the celebration comes over here or I'll need words and swift organisation skills to get one set up here I mean don't leave us out, give us something geez!

I knew something was brewing I knew it! And look I was right, and if I'm not mistaken this is going to be the beginning of something, even a one off - we never did it properly so we're doing it now, it was fun we love you all this is goodbye tour - would make my year. Seriously hands down - all four of them back on the stage doing what they do, obviously with me chatting before hand I'm seriously not past begging hahaha.

 

But looks like mah boys are on their way back - I dug out all the singles, its amazing how quickly the words to the b-sides came flooding back *gleefully claps hands* oh how I miss them so, there's still something brewing with them, I can tell...

 

And it makes me nervous excited and I like it

First I want to just say that while I have an opinion, I know other people may disagree, there for I am not going to even consider any kind of argument about this, well because I can't actually be bothered to argue with anyone over this. I understand that some people were big Jackson fans, I understand many were not.

This is merely me having a little rant of an opinion about something that has been going on for too long and one that I have wanted to express for a while, but seeing as how I may come across as an uncaring cold person who just wants to talk crap about MJ (which by the way I'm not, I just disagree with a lot of things and especially this) I waited like a nice person until after the memorial. Okay granted its like a few minutes after but hey at least its after.

 

We know that Jackson had some amazing songs way back when, with the Jackson 5 and his early solo work, but there was always something that niggled me at the back of my head.

Now for the most part, I am a lot older than many of you who are on this site and who may read this, so I have been privvy to many of his early records before you lot were even born - Thriller was one of my first ever LP's (that would be Long Play, aka Vinyl waaaaaay before cd's, not that I'm condescending anyone, just I know some people might not know what LP's are and saves them asking) Anyway, there were a lot of songs that I like 'Way You Make Me Feel', 'Thriller', 'Billie Jean'. Heck Mookwalker was a grand old cheesefest that I could very much enjoy before I watched Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles (because when the Turtles movie came out in Europe it was offensive to say 'Ninja' so we knew it as Hero turtles - tangent but fact).

I suppose it started in the late 80's, something happened and suddenly Michael Jackson became in a strange sense offensive and a little condescending.

Now here's where my mini essay of an explanation comes in. Because it's more of a thrown out opinion it might be at times repetative or sometimes seem like I'm talking rubbish but it's an opinion and one that I know I need to express, regardless of getting sort of yelled at by friend but I'm willing to deal with it.

I can't and don't think I can apologise for my opinion on the whole Michael Jackson memorial service. While I understand that it was done because he had so many fans, and while I only half watched, I do think it was a little bit ostentatious. The speakers who shared their thoughts on him at most points made him seem almost God-like and that for me was very wrong.

I think one of the biggest mistakes they could have had was bringing out the children's choir for the 'Heal The World' tribute. Not because of it being the memorial but because of the connotations and because of what happened not too long ago. It was a bad decision. However, as much as he was idolised and loved by many I feel that the memorial was a step to far. For many it was indeed the passing of a legend but for many they were jumping on the band wagon. While I'm all for and understanding about being sad that someone you admire passing, to use and to go on about his death the way that people have and the way the media has makes it all a joke, I just feel a sense of disappointment at the family for allowing it to go ahead.

Turning a memorial into a concert of sorts, to me is a step too far. While it's fine to celebrate the life of a person, does it really need to turn into something that big? Why couldn't fans celebrate in private? Why put it on a scale so big – heck even raffling the tickets to attend was always going to be a stupid idea. The fact that he has been heralded as a martyr, as someone who in a way commanded the notion of change, is very wrong. He had a sort of Jesus-like complex about him, he institutionalised this better than thou persona, when in reality he wasn't. He was a man who had many issues, a man who -whether you chose to believe it or not spent his life trying to hide who he really was, from denying his obvious surgery to running from the colour of his own skin, he had issues that needed addressing, and while I'm sure that there was at least one member of his family who tried to get him to address these issues, it seemed as though they remained hidden, ignored and unspoken.

His glorification and ideological complex that had him portraying a 'saviour' flicked a switch somewhere for many. That is the one thing that annoyed me about him, the fact that instead of allowing his words to put across his message, he wanted to be the 'saviour' of many. The way he seemed to exploit people and children in his performances at times was something that always made me turn off.

And because of that stirred up emotion in everyone – I defend Jarvis Cocker for his actions during that memorable Brit award performance. And he was also right when he stated on Question Time:

“If there's a tragedy about the whole thing, I would say that's that if he'd have kept making great records - like he did in the mid-'80s - up to now that would have been great. But for some reason, for the last 20 years he didn't do that, and for me that's the tragic part of it," he explained. Cocker shook his bottom as the singer performed Earth Song at the 1996 Brits. He told BBC1's Question Time on Thursday night: "He was pretending to be Jesus. Pretending to have the power of healing is not right. Rock stars have big enough egos."

His words about the music and about his pretence hits the nail on the head. Where as there is no doubt that Jackson will remain a big name within musical history, I think people should remember that the man had many personal issues and made some very questionable and silly choices. And to think that it was okay for him to do some of them, is wrong. He needed help. He needed to address the problems he had, but he didn't. That is what ultimately led to his passing.

I don't believe everything I read, I don't believe anything unless it comes from a reliable source or from a person in question. However having seen many programmes with interviews and even a documentary which followed him around for a while it was evident something wasn't right. It's just sad it had to end the way it did. He used to make great music in the 80's.

I have a whole 2 weeks of random trips planned.

Starting on the 13th yippie!

Crossing a one of the things to do before I die list that I know everyone has. I'm going whale watching. It's going to be so much fun! 5 hours round trip on a boat from Oban -  according to the site encounters with Minke whales are highly likely, and other cetaceans; particularly porpoises and also dolphins may be encountered.So various birds, sealife and such. We're hoping we may spot an Orca. How exciting? 

 

I'm optimistic but I know we'll see something.

We're going to Stonehenge as well, because having lived here since I was 7 I've never been there before.

We're going to Longleat Safari park, and a place called Forbidden Corner (so much fun) Jorvick Viking Centre, maybe Gulivers World because you know stomping around like a giant moster is great fun hahaha

Uhm no idea what else is planned but it's going to be great fun, I know it. Hopefully we'll manage to head on out somewhere Mark is playing if he plays a show through the week, go down say hello have a bit of a catch up again because that was fun in Sunderland hehe.

We'll see what else we can do, maybe go to Beamish again because regardless of what's said that is always fun =]

 

I'm off to plan more huzzah

Because this is the only place I seem to be able to figure how to work the journal section hahaha

 

Anywho

 

While it is a sad thing, I feel compelled to say that I am going to be sick of hearing about MJ for the next I dunno billion years perhaps. As it stands I'm fed up already.

Call me cynical/cold hearted whatever I don't care. Something about the guy annoyed the hell out of me.

Has music lost an icon, sure.

Has the world lost one of the best musicians? Debateable. While everything PRE Earth Song/Don't Care About Us was rather great, those two songs and everything that came after was just, in basic terms shit.

Short and not really a sweet thing.

 

But hey I'm allowed an opinion right?

It's sad, yes a lot of people are going to be very sad, but really its no more sad than any one else.

 

Lack of sleep and an over done abundance of photos/video links/news and talk about it is making me irritable and I am going to have to deal with the weekend papers at work which are no doubt going to yammer on about it some more. So excuse me for seeming unsympathetic.

 

Edit:

In addition, what Ikkyg said in her comment - is true MJ is going to overshadow Farrah in the media, and that is irksome - mostly because neither were as great as the other. He is going to be projected to everyone as being more important than everyone else, which is just not the case. I think when one person's death is hailed or given the impression due to media as being more important than others something is wrong in the world.

Especially when you just know this is going to overshadow the IMPORTANT things that are happening in the world like oh I don't know, the political rallying in Tehran and you know not as powerful or as shocking news.

Again call me cynical, but I really do not think that him dying is overly important at all - again yes its sad etc but come on, people die all the time. There are more serious issues to address than devastated music fans who paid a fortune for a ticket that will now be refunded / end mini rant that could really go on for a while if I dont

So Thursday was Cobra Starship in London, in a kind of 3 days before-ish decision I went along.

I say along, but when I say it I mean I spent 7 hours on a coach - up at 4.30 to get ready and then 7.10am the coach left, thankfully we got into Victoria Station in London about 30 minutes early yippie.

Anyway, I had to get the tube, now the tube does not bother me, except when its the Circle and District line oh lord how I hate that line, and my hate was only redefined when stupid people stood right at the part where you come onto the platform at the bottom of the stairs - hello fools move please - then I find that I'm on the wrong side of the platform so have to battle back through them.

Please note that it was the hottest day ever and I wanted to crawl into a hole and die, I was melting. Anywho got on the right platform in time to get the train (yippie), then got off at Temple and waited for Lizzi & Gemma, didn't take them too long. So we queued for like 10 minutes then went on a walk to find Subway (for food not travel)

First thing when we get onto the main street and walk a little way we see an actor who used to be in Emmerdale (Emmerdale fans it was Dale Meeks who played Simon Meredith) then we're walking and walking go to the cash point, then walk.

Suddenly some random woman grabs Lizzi's shoulder to stop her while she ccommented on her hair - only thing was it wasn't just some random woman oh no, it was only bloomin' well Joanna Lumley (her of Absolutely Fabulous fame and general mega star) - it wasn't til she turned to look at me and Gemma that I realised who it was. So that was interesting.

 

No finding of the Subway so sarnies from Boots a large Dark Berry Mocha frappuchino for me and the we headed back to queue. We found Buzzby. Buzzby was a fly, although he had a broken wing so technically he was a walk - Buzzby the walk, bless him.

 

Sat faffing about with pictures and whatnot, general larking and chatting. Eventually we went in.

Now I was not prepared for a walk UP 7 flights of stairs. Yes SEVEN! now when they said 7 I thought they meant one flight then 2nd. But no each flight was 2 flights big so technically it was 14 flights of stairs *dies* the lifts were being used by other people so we were like okay ohkay oh dear *dies* well I was haha.

Ended up 2nd row, twas gloriously hot. Oh my god seriously air conditioning clearly that place has not heard of it. So by the time the first support band had finished I really thought I was going to die.

Mimi Soya = eh they were okay, were kind of like Paramore but from Brighton meh

Cash Cash = Did not impress me much at all. Like at all at all. In fact I think its safe to say I really wasnt enjoying it, they were okay until they did that ridiculous cover of that dance song and I felt like I should have glowsticks laced through my fingers in order to do 'Big Fish Little Fish Cardboard Box' style shape throwing. Also WTF 'There's a party in my bedroom' o_O seriously they said that in order for people to sing along and all I could think was dear god this has been written by a 5 year old right? RIGHT? After a bit of discussion, it was decided that it did not in fact sound like something from the Care Bears.

It in fact sounded like something from Barney & Friends.

I mean really? Really?Sorry but its hard to take someone who dresses like they're in a metal band seriously when they sing songs from Barney and Friends =/

 

Sing It Loud: Eh, he's right when he said he looked like Taylor Swift from the back, but as for them yeah didn't really get it. AND if I don't want to put my hands in the air I won't thank you very much. The bass player so wants to be Axl Rose shame he hasn't quite made it. Critical much? Yes. But eh.

 

Cobra Starship = My first time seeing them ever and they were rather good. I rather enjoyed myself, twas a right old knees up xD and funny.

We waited after, saw them got pictures and what not, got annoyed by this silly tarty group of girls who were all being as Lizzi put it stereotypical, who were intent of shoving me out of the way so since they kept draping themselves around Gabe's neck every 0.005 seconds for photos we didn't get to say hi to him and his kind of merry self. People like that (the girls) annoy the hell out of me, its like hello there's 12 people waiting patiently stop draping yourself over them so we can get stuff signed and photos kthnx. Eh, next time I will have no patience and I will have words I will.  Not helping the fact that I woke up at 4.30am that morning after about 1 hour sleep in all because I couldnt fall asleep Wednesday night *sigh* awesome.

 

Then since the tube had closed we had to get the night bus.

First we had to find the right bus - bus drivers in London are useless, we asked they didn't know.

So when one did sort of know, we had to walk from the Strand to Oxford Circus, for those who have not been to London or who have not ever walked that, it's kind of a long way, you're looking at about 25 minutes, depending on how fast you walk. Was a nice night though. Managed to find the bus stop, thought we'd missed one, turns out we were just on time YAY.

Hopped on the bus and waited to get off - the random guy who sat in the seat next to me kept falling asleep and I was all like NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoo *nudge move around* don't fall asleep on me weirdo thanks.

So we're not far off our stop, some bloke gets on and starts yammering on to the driver about the other bus detouring cos the road was blocked off blah blah, I'm all yawn typical.

Get to the road find that it is in fact blocked off by police because there is in fact some crazy guy running around with a gun (got to love London) so we detour for 20 minutes, turn the corner and are amused because the gun-weiling lunatic has only gone and started waving it around, just up the road from the Police station - considerate for the police, inconsiderate for us.

So by the time we get to the car and get home its like 4.30am so I've been up for 24hrs straight, get changed lie in bed and am just like I am so not tired anymore. 30 minutes later I must have gone to kip because my alarm went off a few hours later.

Then it was on the train to Peterborough, trying and hoping to not miss my connection - my phone is like 4 minutes ahead of the train stations clocks, so turns out I had almost 5 minutes wait between trains yay. So on connecting train back home, get into Newcastle and are coming through Gateshead and I'm like oh yay I'm home sigh.

 

So yeah, twas a rather good day =]

Aside from the heat, and those girls and the gun-weilding lunatic making us detour.

*nods*

Good times

Gemma is!!!!!!!!!!!!!
oh yeah we just got standing tickets. It has only taken me almost 18years and i finally scored a ticket wahooo as you can tell i am greatly pleased. I will be making my tshirt next weekend roll on the 5th =D

But.

Oh my gosh everyone should go out and buy 'Peace At Last' the new and debut solo single from Mark Read.

Not because I'm telling you to, but because it is an incredibly catchy song, and its rather rather very different from anything that a1 ever did. And the weird thing is, it actually doesn't seem weird at all!

Like a1 were pretty much fun pop songs, and this, well think Take That's latest stuff and you can picture what I'm talking about.

AND the video is going to be great when it finally get released, which should be soon.

AND I expect him to tour again in the run up to the album release, which from what I've heard is going to be incredible, and which I need to ask about, anywho, regardless of if you liked a1 or not, I think if you sort of think that the Take That stuff is okay then you can part with the 79p on iTunes to get this song.

 

So iTunes -

 

Search: Mark Read

Song: Peace At Last

Price 79p

Buy it - it will make you bop, and songs that make you bop are rather rather awesome =D

 

Mark Read - Peace At Last = tune

I've been rather interweb-absent for a few weeks, mostly due to my own issues caused by procrastinating over university work which led me to a rather insanely manic week of having to put together not only an 8 minute documentary, but also a radio documentary which, as it was for my dissertation project (which is the massively important final year project of your final year of study) had to be about 30 minutes long and amazingly brilliant.

Sadly it is not amazingly brilliant, although I will admit that the first 30 seconds or so sound AMAZING (if I do say so myself) the rest, eh I did what I could in the oh 2 days that I left myself, which then crumbled to a day because I got distracted by other things, but hey I work better under pressure! Well mostly anyway. So yeah, that has been the univentful weeks of my life these past 2 weeks.

 

There was some fun, I made it to NOFX, front and centre, well a little to the left of Mike - which when it started I wanted to shoot myself for chosing that place, because I ha the support band singer literally singing in my ear, and I mean literally (thank the lord for inconspicuous ear plugs) but no he wouldn't leave until I looked up and smiled all 'yay thankyou that was fun please leave now' then after they had finished, the insane Scottish guys behind me (I was alone) and the girl I made friends with in the line decided they wanted a group hug. So the singer guy stood on the step thing in front of me and went in for a hug with them, I attempted to move out the way but was foiled and ended up almost suffocating in this singer guys sweaty armpit - DID NOT WANT!!! for what seemed like minutes. But I was also inluded, for some random reason at the start, in the crazy Scottish trio's group hug, which was kind of awkward because I didn't know who they were. Anywho the show went on, I got nutted in the head twice - hard, uhm squished a lot, more than I ever have been, ever and then woke up in the morning and just thought 'oh god I'm properly broken'. It was a good night, a very good night indeed.

 

Then last weekend, I went and interviewed Danny from the Audition, that was fun, interview is online at vivalascene

 

Uhm and thats pretty much everything, other than my sudden interest and addiction to the TV show Supernatural which I started watching the latest series, got rather involved to the point where I was talking to the TV and almost yelling I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WTF IS GOING ON! Luckily, my friend has all the seasons so far on DVD so I've been watching them, only to find that I have unknowinly, somehow watched all of season 1 and the half of season 2 that I've finished, which is strange as I have no idea why I've seen them, only thing I can think of is that it's been on the TV while I've been doing something and I've not actually paid attnetion to it that much other than to just turn round and look at the screen every so often. So yeah, yay me.

 

Also, I'm kind of properly excited, Mark Read (formerly of a1) is releasing his debut solo single on May 11 (yup I just did a plug so snap it up, its awesome) and his album is following soon after and this pleases me so much. It's been too long, and well basically I think he's great, I love him. He's awesome, so nice, down to earth, friendly I can't wait til he re-tours, I'm going. He knows I'm going to go, my mind tells me I'm going to go. It's going to be great when it happens. Also I've realised Yousendit uploads rather slowly - I have to resend him the photies as the link expired and he asked nicely hahaha, I like to think that when the day comes for an a1 reunion to happen that I'm going to get a yes for an interview and stuff, we had fun chatting in Sunderland so I'm hopeful. That would please me and would rule so hard, and make my life. Not as much as talking with Keanu Reeves would but it would be just as incredible. But you know my thoughts on Keanu and also my thoughts on what happened when I met up with Mark that time a month ago - its been too long.

So yeah, I'm ranting and stuff now, so I'm going to stop and do something semi-productive.

Yes I did use a song title as the title of this journal, but its necessary.

Not many of you unless

A - You're from the UK and liked pop music at the start of the 2000's

or

B- Were a fan of the TV show 'The Young & The Restless' back in 2002

Will probably know who I'm talking about, so let me explain.

Back in 1999, a boy band by the name of a1 were introduced to the world. The band consisted of Ben Adams, Mark Read, Christian Ingebrigsten and Paul Marazzi. They were great. They had 2 number 1 UK singles - a cover of 'Take On Me' and one self-written called 'Same Old Brand New You'.

3 albums 'Here We Come', 'The A-List' and 'Make It Good'. They also released a US album which had a selection of songs from the 3 UK albums primarily from 'Make It Good' (and yes I have that album too).

They won various awards, they won a Brit award.

Paul left, they continued then they dis-banded - sad times.

Putting it in basic terms they were my favourite band in the whole entire universe from the age of 15 through to about 20. And they are still on heavy rotation on my iPod.

The first time I met them, they were releasing the single 'No More' and it was a record signing at the now defunct store Woolworths - pre Brit award win. I remember as we went to the Metrocentre (the shopping mall) at like 8am, they opened early at 9am and we legged it through the centre and I had to jump over a girl who had fallen over a bin and was sprawled on the floor - I spent the rest of the day from 9am until they started letting people into the store at 5pm sitting against a breeze-block wall in the corridor of a fire escape. It was a good day.

Then we managed to meet them at their last Smash Hits tour in 2002 - they were in the car, and stopped directly opposite us as we stood on the other side of the fence. It was mental, there was a video camera involved and various other sillyness that should never be discussed ever.

The last time we met them was at a festival called Hallingmarken, and this was in the small mountain village of Nesbyen in Norway (yes we went to Norway for 3 days just for them, and also to meet a girl from the Netherlands and my lovely Ida who I miss too much glad i deg if you're reading), so we left Newcastle at 7pm one night, our flight from Heathrow was at 7am the next morning (or something like that) 1 bag search and 2 body searches later we're on the plane, we landed in Oslo at 10am, we waited around for Carine from the Netherlands getting in at around 9pm and meeting Ida at the station after that - we arrived at Nesbyen and our hotel at 3.30am, where there were musicians singing and strumming outside our window (we later discovered these musicians were the band who played with a1 and Christian) Getting up at 6am (and yes I did only sleep for 3 hours total since leaving home) we went to the gates at about 7.30am where we met Ida again and her friends. We queued, legged it round the back of the thing when the car carrying a1 went past, queued some more, got up front, had the security explain what they had said to everyone again but this time in English. The lovely sunny and hot day suddenly turned into thunderstorms.

a1 hit the stage - we squealed, we sang, we danced - Christian sang his verse from Everytime to me (still one of the best things EVER!) then we ran round the back. Soon enough being British and Dutch and basically being foreign, we managed to get ourselves in the tent where a1 were hanging out.

Basic awkwardness ensued, my earring almost attached itself to Christian's jumper, I almost knocked his sister over. Mark stated the obvious, but we ended up in a group circle discussing whether Ben had in fact danced with Pikachu on stage at something (which he denyed but we had evidence to say otherwise). Then the next day Chris was doing his solo thing.

Weeks after that they announced they were in a way no more a band.

Which brings me to 6 years later.

I knew Mark had been playing shows around the London area, and always said that I will go to one, so when he announced that he would be playing in Sunderland, a mere 30 minute drive away I was elated.

On the off chance that he would agree, I contacted about possibly a short, brief interview before the gig. Not expecting anything at all, because it was Mark Read, and to be honest I didn't mind one bit if I heard nothing back.

Then suddenly, there in my inbox is a reply. Not only was it a response to me asking about the venues policy on my camera, but it was a reply to my earlier question, and he had said yes. Trust me, I could not believe it, so after telling the friends who are still massive a1 fans (that would be Vicky and Ashley), the panic began to set in. It got to the stage on sunday afternoon, before the gig on tuesday where it hit me in a wave, the fear, the nausea and the panic ht me all at once, to the point where had I let it sit and eat away at me I would have hyperventilated.

Tuesday came and I waited, heading to the venue at a little after 5pm, no one was there. So I went home and went and got Vicky, first of all I dropped a message to Mark just to see if he was around.

Vicky and I walked toward the venue. I saw someone just ahead of us walking, I laughed and said "I think that's Mark", evidently my skills are still there because it was. He turned to the side as we approached him as he waited at the venue door, and smiled, I smiled back as we came to a stop.

My first words to him? That came in the form of this sentance "Is it not open yet?", his response was "No", then he continued "hey Gemma you alright". Which mentally threw me for six, because in all those years of a1 and the times we met them they never knew our names and then here he was saying hello to me. He went on to say he had just gotten my message and had replied and was hoping I hadn't been waiting around all that time.

We went inside with him, Vicky was rather quiet. I'm chatting away to him like I'd known him for ages (which if you had known me during the a1 years would seem very strange as I wasn't big on words other than please, thank you, could we get a photo or could you sign this). Never the less I managed to hold a conversation. We chatted about his set list and how cheese is a good thing at times, he noted that it had been a while since he'd seen us (6 years), we said Norway was the last time. After asking if we liked his new guitar (which was really pretty and which he subsequently left in te hotel like a silly head) I said I have one like that excpet its a bit smaller - he found this amusing and asked if it was a violin (its a 3/4 size just so you know and like I said to him I have it but I can't play it). We watched soundcheck, then we went to the reception area place to chat some more. Bless him he was ill. He is a funny funny guy, there was decrumbage and funnies (random lines such as "How many eggs would you like" ensued). And we talked about his record, the mini tour, what he's been up to since a1, the a1 days.

There was me leaning against a wall centimetres away from him who was perched on the window sill - me standing there having a proper conversation and laughs with Mark Read, my all time favourite member of my favourite band in the world. And not messing it up, eyebrow wiggles and all (you probably don't understand this unless you were a fan - so I'm hoping at least one person knows what I'm talking about when I say about the eye brows - Sarah; miss Hyperballad13 do not let me down, tell me you know what I mean). We finished, he went to the hotel, I took Vicky home - due on stage at 1am so she couldn't stay.

So there I was going to a nightclub by myself. I went in grabbed some water and stood beside a little table area thing, and as he walked past he stopped and chatted for a bit before heading to chat with the DJ, strepsils were given and appreciated. Then off he went to mingle. Another bottle of water and I'm standing on my phone trying to access Twitter - both successful and not - when I looked to my right to find Mark standing there and saying "You alright?" (bless him), we chatted briefly, I wandered around to nearer the small stage ready for when he went on. Then when he did I'm there with my camera. Right up front, snapping away.

He introduces Take On Me, I stood there and pointed my fingers and asked while acting out "Dancing?" he just loked at me and laughed and went on to reply "I was just about to say without the dancing" - this stems back to the earlier chat.

After he finished I go and put the stuff away, he again is there and asks if I got some pictures, I tell him they came out quiet well and show him a few, and as he is talking to me and I show him these pics, I can sense people looking at me, awkward but I'm not that bothered. A bit more chatting, then I have to leave, a hug and a peck on the cheek later and I'm walking out into the early morming rain.

It wouldn't have been complete without the rain.

***[[photos found here or for the full set visit here]]***

So since then, every so often it will hit me, like I talked with Mark Read, the longest conversation I've ever had with him in my life. I've wanted to have that chance ever since the beginning of a1, and now I have. If it was back then and it had happened I don't think my younger self could cope being in a nightclub having to get in his face to talk to him and to hear what he was saying - you know what a club is like, everyone is leaning into each other to say things or to listen. Its still a surreal thought that it did actually happen. The weird thing is, I didn't see it like he was a star, or someone famous, it seems strange but it did seem as if he was a friend, like a friend you don't see very often, but who when you do see it doesn't seem awkward or like they've been away - you know what I mean? It was like it was normal to go and meet him and just chat. I'm still trying to work that one out.

I guess this whole thing just goes to show that no matter how long it takes, that dreams can and do come true. It's given me even more faith in myself and the dreams that I have and the things that I want to achieve. I think all it takes is a little hope, a bit of luck and genuine determination.

Overall, aside from the fact that I achieved a dream I've had for years, the whole thing just further proved to me that Mark is an extremely genuine guy. He has no airs or graces, he doesn't swan around acting like an idiot, he doesn't think he's amazing. he's still that normal guy from Surrey with a passion for music and for performing. And no matter his success I can honestly say I don't think he will ever change. It's been a long time waiting for him to release something, and soon his album is out and I hope that he does well. He deserves it.

 

So Chris was in Newcastle yesterday that was fun, doesn't seem like a year since he was last in town but it was.

Got a new book of his, I say new I finally got 'Notes' and to go with the xmas tree in the last book on the first page, I have a stick drawing of Stinkbutt - awesome. Thanks.

 

So Tuesday I'm exctied for then, also that week I should really go get the camera and go film the river and stuff, blehhhhhh. Also start editing my radio documentary and what not but yeah I'm a procrastinator what can I say.

 

April 14th I'm heading to line up with the dads and the wee kids outside Waterstones to get in to meet Bret Hart - I'm actually properly excited, hopefully I'll not have anything else to do because he's a legend and one of the guys from back in the day when it was actually good - I'm talking the days of Paul Bearer and The Undertaker (when the Undetaker was cool),  Diesel, Razor Ramone (no noI'm talking back when it was WWF - the good times back in the day). Anywho.

 

 

That is all for now

Well clearly not ALL of them but a good portion of them.

Best thing to ever happen for real!!! Can't say anything fully don't want to jinx it or anything haha

 

But EEEEEEEEP I've not been this excited since, well since New Kids On The Block toured in January and I saw where my seats were hahaha.

 

Okay so its not about New Kids On The Block, if it was trust me you'd probably hear the excited squeals from where you are, this is more home-soil excitement.

Eluding to nothing clearly, however after Tuesday you will all KNOW about it, trust me on this.

A smattering of people know, I got a few meh's an OMG really? *SHOCK* and let it be known the response from other other will probably go the same way.

Either way I can honestly say that this IS in fact something that I have wanted for the longest time, and it will be most chilled and relaxed and this time I'm not overly flailing and being ridiculous, because seriously that would not be great now.

Can't wait exciting times ahead - must plan.

 

Oh and yes, tomorrow - Newcastle - Grainger Street, downstairs in Starbucks - Christopher Gutierrez aka HEYChris will be nattering, anyone going I will see you there

 

And now I do my happy dance *proceeds to happy dance*

So it's looking busy at the moment, which means due to (lack of) funds my wee stint to Glasgow to see people and ya know to go see Chris (although since I've now been told I'm not needed to work nights I can go to the Newcastle one hoorah!!) cos it's been a while since I've seen him ya know, since last time was cancelled due to FOB. Anywho


University - oh my god how much does it fail?

So granted I've missed a few lectures, but I had other things to do - interviews and dissertation work, ya know the important stuff as well like concerts and things (lulz) but yeah, I said due to dental issues, because lets face it a tooth snapping in half from top to bottom is not big nor is it clever is an issue right, I missed more than I should.
So I get the email saying that if I THINK I can catch up with no problem it will be fine to continue.

Uhm this module is about Popular Music and Theories, I like to think I'm somewhat skilled/have a somewhat great knowledge of music and how the industry works - I did actually do Music & Media Management for a year, and what with VLS I'm kind of in the loop about things ya know?
So I'm like yeah catching upp shouldn't be an issue or a problem, because lets face it talking about artists/bands such as Elvis, Annie Lennox, Madonna and the Spice Girls and others isn't really that hard to catch up on now is it?

So yeah looking at the essays today because YAY I can now login to the university website - its a pain in the bum really because they don't do printed handouts - OH NOEZ WE CANNOT KILL MOAR TREEZZZZ - so everything is done digitally, and we all know how hard digital can fail, so yes.

The three questions that stood out to me were:

- Can Rock N Roll be described as 'Black Music'?
- Discuss what factors led to the emergence of Rock N Roll in the 1950s
- Focusing on a band or artist of your choice, explore the ways they are promoted and targeted to teenage audiences

All very good questions, I think I may do the 3rd one, mostly because I get to waffle on about how pretty the band/artist in question looks and waffle about them, and choose one of my favourite bands/artists to write about NO I WILL NOT BE DOING FALL OUT BOY! OR ANY SODDING FBR BAND FOR THAT MATTER please, I have standards you know xD I'm thinking possibly Mcfly, possibly Take That, probably New Kids On The Block (although since I don't want them to be aimed at teenagers or anyone more than 2 years younger than me I think that I will need to choose someone else) we shall see.


My TV Documentary one that I had all the issues with - remember that one? Yeah I have to submit an edited tape, now bearing in mind my roll was SOUND it has to have a variety of SOUNDS and IMAGES and at least one interview - so basically I'm making my own 8 minute feature. But it has to be "Slice of Life of The River"
Yes an epic 8 minute marvel about a river and its life.

So here's my plea - if ANYONE I don't care who, would like to help me out I would die and love you forever, basically if you could record yourself talking about water/river or describing water/river as an mp3 (although don't worry about that I can convert it if I have to) doesn't have to be too long, maybe 2-3 minutes tops
Alternatively reading a glorious poem/verse about water/river would work too.
And you can email it to me:

gemmaxloves@gmail.com

BEFORE APRIL 10th 2009 (include your full name please - subject heading: River)

I would die of giddiness and joy. And you'd get your name on the credits of course.


So yeah, then I have my dissertation to get done also hoorah!!!

Again if you'd like to give a helping hand to this then following the same manner - recording yourself talking, emailing it to me etc. That would be wonderful

Basically if you could record a short bit about why you enjoy going to live shows/what you like the most about live shows/ anything else about live shows (without naming bands of course) that would again rule very hard

Email again:

gemmaxloves@gmail.com

BEFORE APRIL 10th 2009 (Name/age/location please - subject heading: Bands)

So yeah please feel free to drop those emails before April 10th that'd be amazingggg

Other than that I think I need to find my glasses and then get some work done haha

Thank yous

For serious

This is not a drill nor is it an insane silly lie from me.

For the past number of weeks there has been little snippets of an image of a person on a screen with bad transmission (like when your tv reception goes so overly nasty its a tiny bit of picture with griany lines for the most part) and they've been of the Red Dwarf cast (characters). I assumed it was for the Red Dwarf weekend....

BUT

They've been happening more frequently, and only yesterday was there a bit more information in the form of one of these "transmissions" complete with a screen saying 'Brand New Red Dwarf, coming soon"

The mind boggles, it physically smashed against the sides of my skull as it twitched in anticipation and wonderment - is this a new series meaning a new viewing of one of the series of the show OR did they mean a completely NEW BRAND BRAND NEW series.

So today I finally manage to get on the site to investigate and HALLO!!!

ITS BRAND SPANKING NEW!!

*does a wee jigg oof joy*

Oh yes! Brand Spanking New Red Dwarf - exclusive to Dave (if I didn't already LOVE that tv channel due to the copious amounts of QI, Mock The Week, Live At The Apollo and Top Gear then I think it would bound to my new favourite channel)

Looks set to be starting around Easter Time - you know what Gemma will be watching.

I just hope it doesn't clash with CSI or the other shows I watch eeeep

I caught up with The Boxer Rebellion's Nathan Nicholson and Piers Hewitt (vocalist and drummer respectively) when their tour rolled into Newcastle.


===

The band have been around for quite a long time, and Vivalascene are quick to explain that we are pretending no one knows who they are.

"Don't worry about that" Piers tells us "Because everyone still asks us the same questions"

Although it seems that they are a little frustrated at that fact, they happily answer our first question.

"Todd and I first started playing like as an acoustic kind of thing in 2000, so quite a while ago" Nathan tells us as he explains how the band got together.....

===

Read the full article @ vivalascene.com

So i had my interview with the boxer rebellion yay very nice chaps this is me saying to everyone (and you in new york and la) to go see them if they are near you. Ok granted i say that about all the nice people but for serious get going, am awaiting the show to start tis why i am writing this boredom is go. Show better start soon i fear teh beer maybe calling haha

Is going to be one heck of an interesting evening

Trufax.

Short and sweet today.

Favourite NCIS character und why?
Favourite CSI (any of the 3 shows) character und why?
New Kids On The Block Y/Y? (points deducted for anyone who responds with 'had a bunch of hits, chinese food makes me sick - although I may be tempted to give back half if you know where that is from)

Finish this sentence:
"If I had a hammer...."

When I say: Music
You say: ???

I'm ignoring the almost inch thick pile of paper on my desk right now, because yeah too much stuff to sift through.

Anyway its been pretty busy times.

I went to my first ever Fall Out Boy show (sadly missed meeting Sarah aka hyperballad13 = sad times) it was... good. Yeah it was good.

I need to sort out my uni work because that is becoming a nightmare too much stuff stop it!!! hahah meh.

I've had issues with CSI - the episode where Lindsay tells Danny she's preggo was on STILL DOES NOT WANT! I'm hoping the writers/producers realise its becoming a crappy story line and will kill it dead.
Oh and the one where Morpheus comes into the Vegas one was on, now how many Matrix related corniness was in that 5 minute scene? Quite a bit.

I wont get distracted about that other than to say that I saw a clip of Wence and Ashlee in csiNY thats airing on the 18th in the USA and oh my god how bad are they? I'm going to find it online on the 19th and watch just so I can mock - casting directors what were you thinking? Were you high?


Anywho.

I got an email from uni about a competition, basically this radio station are looking for 2 presenters and 2 editors to cover the Glastonbury festival (only thing is you have to be doing a course specific to the ones they state in the email - radio and whatnot) and since my editing skills are rather shitteous, I would be looking at the presenter place.
Basically I have to submit a 3 minute demo piece by March 29th incluiding music presentation links (wtf are those anyway), a short interview - which I have a number of, an introduction to a past Glasto performer and a scripted piece about why I would be a good presenter. I wasn't going to, but curiously I went to see who was on the line-up, it hasn't been announced yet. However The Boss AKA BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN is headlining and OMG that swung it for me, so I have to do that and put it together and hope they say yes Gemma, because I LOVE BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN!!! It would make my life to see him and gah just awesomeness, so yeah I'm entering to be a radio presenter for Glasto hahaha should be interesting if they (which they probably won't) pick me to take one. Ho-hum.

So on saturday I am heading to interview The Boxer Rebellion, the week after I am heading to do the same with Stone Gods, watch the shows and such, then I go watch James Morrisson.

Got to make plans to get to Scotland to go see Chris, since I couldn't make one of his speakings last time and I had to tell them I couldn't help this time due to work blahhhh, should be fun, should be fun. No clue which I'm going to, although depends what the prices are/days/where he's going to be at.

My New Kids On The Block merch came the other day - the box looked like it was housing a Christmas tree.
I got me;

A "Boston" Poster (swoon)
A 'Hangin Tough' shirt
A one of their 'Beat Breast Cancer' tank tops
A smashingly grand blue tote bag, &
A 6" picture button (I'm getting one at a time to get them all) my chosen first? DONNIE weee tis a properly fit picture hahaha

I'm counting down until I go and see Enrique Iglesias, great times! When I find my wee camera that I believe my sister has halfinched and that she had better NOT have wiped the videos off because I won't get em back (Vicky on the Wii and a brief FOB clip) so yeah, if not no worries because I have my other one but meh.
I have re-discovered my love for Experiencia Religiosa *swooon* and I still remember the words!!! (muchas gracias Boyzone for that one) you need to find the song, listen and love it.

Okay so now its time to find me some Boxer Rebellion and Stone Gods tunes and some by The Saturdays haha

I may just create a Springsteen/New Kids playlist and get funky perhaps, well not funky but maybe groove a little, okay sing along and throw my hands in the air during 'Hangin Tough' - no seriously.

Anywho again should make a start on things.


Favourite music artist from the 80's/90's?
Favrourite song from 80's/90's?
Favourite Bruce Springsteen song (if you don't know Springsteen songs shame on you but feel free to choose another band)?
Favourite New Kids On The Block song?
Favourite member of New Kids On The Block?
Favourite film that Donnie has been in?
Favourite new song?

WTF is Scampi? (I know but I wanna know if you know)

Now tonight was the first ever episode of Law & Order: UK.
Clearly ITV have bought the format from Dick Wolf, and what I want to know is why.

Now on paper, this seems like an interesting idea, but in reality how would they do it? There isn't as much scope for murder in the UK as there is in the USA, not that I'm saying the USA is full of people being killed, all I'm meaning is that there are only so many ways that people can die over here before it gets repetitive (and since the UK is 10 times SMALLER than Texas, clearly the USA trumps us in the obscure murder options).

Anyway, the scenes are rushed, the part where the screen goes black and updates on the location and what not is far too frequent, it would seem that they are trying far too hard to replicate the American series.

The show has a feel of 'Morse' mixed with 'Wire In The Blood' and 'A Touch of Frost', which feels wrong, especially when the location scene cut happens.

Bradley Walsh is not a  bad actor, in fact he's very good, but I can't get passed him being in comedy roles. He just seems to be lacking something. The gritty feel to the New York based shows works, but as much as they try the director will never (even though they are attempting to) be able to replicate that same feel in London.
Its like they're trying far too hard to copy the American show, (even using a Woman as the boss overseeing the 2 male detectives) that they've forgotten that London and the UK in general has a different feel to it and the whole show is losing it's own identity because of this try-hard effort to be American.

American crime drama's will never work in the UK unless the whole concept is reworked, sadly this has not been made to fit the UK setting, instead they are trying to force an American identity upon the show.

While I'm open to a new concept I really find that I will always reject the USA drama turned UK drama. I would hate for them to create a CSI: UK, I mean Zuicker always said that if he was to ever do one more it would be in the UK, and to be honest I'm glad he decided not to.
For one, the whole thing over here is extremely different to the American forensics, the way to process may be the same but the regulations in place are very different, and it wouldn't translate well at all.

I'm all for the US drama's branching out - heck send your lead characters to the UK (like they did with Bones) but don't make a UK version of a well established show! It's just going to kill the whole thing dead.

I've come to the conclusion that this is a glorified version of The Bill. It's trying far to hard, and it's failing massively. Even using similar lighting styles and camera angles. Which is frustrating me to no end. I'm irked at the whole thing. If i could managed to explain myself better than I would, but there is so much wrong with this that after 30 minutes I have to turn it over and watch Numb3rs.

Conclusion?

Stop now, reverse and try again.