Glee

Every Monday I become ecstatically excited by the prospect of a brand new episode of 'Glee'; the happiness watching E4 at 9pm on Mondays causes me is ridiculous to an unfathomable extent, and just shy of addiction. Whilst I love the show because I think it's funny, entertaining and fuels my love of musicals there's something about it, other than all of those things and more, that makes it one of my favourite programmes of all time.

Almost everyone has 'Glee' mania. It's success is insane, and the bigger it becomes the happier I become- NOT for the reasons you think, though. typically, I should be running around demanding everyone watch it-granted with close friends i do do this, but for the most part i understand that musicals etc aren't every one's cup of tea. The reason why I love that Glee is so huge, and why, for that matter, i have some respect for the 'High School Musical' franchise is because of what it's doing FOR musicals.

I've been brought up on musicals- both my parents are massive fans of both musicals and the big names that came with them. I mean, we named our cat Frank after Sinatra!! Our house was full of the sounds of Sinatra, Doris Day, Elvis, Judy Garland, Bing Crosby; the TV would play Calamity Jane, On The Town, Singing in the Rain, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Kiss Me Kate, High Society. We weren't pushed into at all- mostly me and Kage would sit and watch whilst Fozz played with his newly acquired Bionicle- but we enjoyed them. As I got older i realised films like that weren't around any longer, and it made me sad to think that a generation had missed an era as golden as this.

Now, in no way shape or form am i declaring High School Musical franchise to be anywhere NEAR the calibre of excellence those aforementioned classics and others displayed. Aside from the third one (which actually had a film budget, not a made-for-tv-movie budget) which is actually quite a good film, as has some well written songs in it, the franchise is tacky, overrated, and weighs far too heavily on the sight of Efron's shining gurn. But it involved SINGING. It was a MUSICAL. For the first time in lord knows how long a musical was big- IN THE CINEMA. And since then there have been other musical films, like 'Band Camp', 'Hairspray', 'Mamma Mia'. they introduce the magic of musicals!!

I COMPLETELY understand why some people hate musicals. Whilst my sister loved them, even she had an issue with people randomly bursting into song. And I for one will never sit and watch Mamma Mia of my own volition, even if 'Gimme Gimme Gimme' by ABBA is one of my favourite songs of all time. But it just makes a change from the nonsense films they were spewing out to children. Since Hannah Montana even kids tv shows have changed- one of Eli's favourite shows is one called 'Imagination Movers'- i BLOODY love them!! they're an actual band that tours too!! But it teaches kids values whilst introducing them to different music and ways of learning.

Music is just AMAZING, and everyone knows this, whether you hate efron or not. it taps into not only your mind but your soul, and as after school special this sounds, sometimes it's not until you hear a piece of expressive, beautiful music that you truly realise how you feel or think about someone or something that's happened to you. Music is pure expression- I see it as a more socially acceptable way of swearing! recently i said to a friend 'I love it when people sing how they feel', and they laughed at me. But it's true. A line in an episode of Glee just gone demonstrates this perfectly; Kurt, a young, gay man who feels he's not accepted by his typically masculine father, stands alone on stage, and thinking he's alone proceeds to belt out his own heart-wrenching version of a classic song, singing 'everything's coming up Kurt'. His Dad speaks to him as he finishes singing, asking him what was wrong and Kurt tells him that everything's fine. Kurt's father, who has no interest in singing, simply looks at him and basically tells him he can lie and tell him he's fine- but that no one can sing how he's just sung and be fine. Music catches us at our most imaginatice, thoughtful and expressive. Music is neccessaary.

And here's the real truth- I don't obsess over 'Glee' because i love that it promotes musicals. I don't like it because it uses songs i recognise, know and adore. I don't even call it my favourite show because i have such a ridiculous crush on Finn. I love Glee because it reminds me of when i used to sing. It reminds me of the freedom i used to get, walking out in front of all those people and belting my heart out, how it didn't matter that i looked kind of like a loser/geek because people weren't looking at me, they were listening to me. And every time an episode finishes i feel a regret that in the transition from home to Canterbury I've somehow lost my main form of expression. I'm thinking maybe this is the reason i've been feeling a little lacklustre this year. And i've made a solemn promise to myself that next year it's going to be different.

I need to go now. A mixture of exhaustion and hunger means i feel like im about to pass out.

xXx

Phil Colkbins

SO i have an exam in the 'morrow. I'd say i'm nervous, but i don't think it's quite registered that i actually have an exam in...*tries to work it out by counting fingers* 14 and a half hours. I'm a little nervous, but the fact i'm on Laura's computer writing this instead of doing some last minute cramming must say something.

In my defence i've been awake since 08:30 and i've actually done a ton of revisioney today, AS WELL as squeezing in an episode and a half of Doctor Who series 4 AND finishing the leftover chinese i had from yesterday. What can i say? I'm simply the epitome of efficiency.

Oh dear. I did have to go and fall back in love with blogging the second i didn't have a laptop and far too much work to do, didn't i? So is my world- an amalgamation of bad timing, bad choices but randomly good outcomes :D

I will revise some more in a bit, i just can't stand the idea of having to go back to Margery Kempe whilst i could be sitting here listening to Glee versions of my favourite Madonna classics, whilst bopping and singing along in the little red, broken, office chair. Having said which i know quite a few people who would choose a three hour long exam on medieval and tudor literature over an episode of Glee, because they are fools of tooks. FOOLS.

the only problem with saying "YAY!FIRST EXAM IS OVER!!!" is that after this, for the next 2 weeks of my life, i am going to be accosted by Early Modern Literature until I can't see straight, and THEN i can chillax. After the 25th of June I WILL BE A FREE WOMAN!!! Nicely Done.

I've been watching a lot of Old School Doctor Who, and comparing Eccleston/Tennant/Smith, and thinking about how ridiculously fickle I am. When Eccleston started I was all "oh my god he's amazing. this show is amazing. this can't get any better.", then i found out about Tennant taking over and I was all "URGH he's going to be rubbish, they're taking away MY Doctor, i'm going to hate it" then he actually started and I said "OH MY GOD THIS MAN IS A GOD!!This is the greatest Doctor Who has ever been, it'll never be better" and joined the rest of the country in declaring Tennant to be the greatest Doctor Who EVER. This lasted for 3 series and 4 specials and then I sobbed as the Time Lord regenerated once more into a man i declared to have "Frankenstein's face, only it's made out of silly putty", be far too young, and that no one EVER EVER EVER could be a better Doctor than Tennant-

OOH. apparently i just missed Gordon Brown resigning live on the news because i'm up here writing about Doctor Who and singing to Glee. Hmm. That says a lot really. Anyhoo-

and then when i saw the first episode of Series 5 i was on the phone to Pandy within 5 seconds of the credits and music ending, declaring that "MATT SMITH IS INCREDIBLE!!! BY THE END OF THIS SERIES HE WILL PROBABLY BE MY FAVOURITE DOCTOR!! HIS DEBUT WAS BETTER THAN DAVIDE TENNANT'S!!"

GASP. i now look back at series 2, 3 and 4 AND the specials and realise that actually Tennant is the reason why Doctor Who is so popular today- he made the character accessible, so that Matt Smith could take on what he'd done and create something from it. I mean, I'm not saying Matt Smith isn't perfect- he really, truly is. but Tennant laid out the foundations of The Doctor's character so perfectly and smoothly i can see why Smith has been able to make the character even more amazing.

If you're currently walking up Bishop's Way btw, look in the windows of every house on either side of the road and, if you're lucky enough, you will see a young red haired woman dramatically belting out 'Like A Prayer' with wild hand gestures and lots of hair tossing. If you're lucky. Lord knows what Laura must think of me sometimes- one minute i'm completely silent, sullenly revising to Classic FM, and the next i'm singing 80's classic hits in an operatic style. It's the ONLY way to sing classic 80s hits!! Like Sussudio, by Phil Collins. OR as the keyboard on this computer just typed 'Phil Colkbins'. i don't know why it did that. must be my fatty fingers. anyway. It's a great song to sing in fake operatic style- but Christian Bale has absolutely mullered that song for me. Thanks, American Psycho. ANYWAY. Living with me is always going to be a curve ball though- no one ever really knows what to expect! Even me. OOH if you're the beady eyed Bishop's Way walker- I've just up the anti to 'Like A Virgin'

I better go revise again for a little bit. 13 and a half hours now. Yes, it's taken me an hour to write this blog- I've been distracted by youtube, twitter and various other Internet gubbings. See this is why it's a good thing my laptop is broken.

xXx

Doctor Who music, Lots of leggings and random tongue piercery

I'm currently writing this Bloggletron whilst listening to the AMAZING music of Chameleon Circuit- 'Who's that, Amy?', I hear you ask, 'they must be good, because you only like good music', ahh well, my taste is somewhat spectacular- "Hang on, wait...you have Cheryl Cole on your phone?'- er, no, that's err that's a mistake- 'Amy, what the hell is?! Charles and Eddie??!! Who the fuck listens to Charles and Eddie anymore-' CHARLES AND EDDIE AR GODS, OK?? GODS!!!

Where was I, before I had that imaginary conversation/ argument with myself whilst i pretended to be someone who was friends with me? It was obviously something cool. if that last sentence is anything to go by.

OH YEAH- It was cool, actually!! Chameleon Circuit- they're a band that write songs about Doctor Who! Don't judge it. I can practically hear your scoffs all the way down hear in Ye Old Canters Town. They're seriously good. If you go on the link HERE , which is Alex Day (Nerimon)'s website, you can't can listen to their album for free, and then buy it on itunes if you likey, which i will be when i finally have a laptop again.

OH YEAH!! Bob's broken. Like actually Kaput. I'm using Laura's computer atm, which is lovely of her to let me :) but yeah, the adaptor/battery charger/ thing that makes Bob work is broken, so he's run out battery and is now just left on my bedroom floor, dusty as the day is long and unused. Not unloved though; I will mourn Bob when I finally buy his replacement. but for now he's just a massive pain in my arse.

SO today I went town with Connie to do a wee bit o' shoppage and annoy Natwest by taking out a ton of money the second it went into my account. YOU LOVE IT NATWEST, YOU KNOW YOU DOOOOO. QUIT YOUR WHINING AND MAN UP. One day I'll be your most prolific banker, once all my writing gubbings goes stratospheric and I've married some well-to-do type. I'll even mention you in my Academy Award speech when i win for best adapted screenplay, to make up for me constantly living in a state of Overdraft, how's that?

We went mostly because i was hunting for lovely summer dresses, and Connie wanted some more leggings. I ended up with one wonderful dress, a gazillion bras (well...2), 2 pairs of leggings and some washing up powder. Connie ended up with 3 skirts, 2 pairs of leggings AND A TONGUE PEIRCING!!! She'd been thinking about getting it done, and in a spur-of-the-ARGH-i-should-do-it-before-i-chicken-out-and-decide-not-to-have-it-done moment she did it!! the lady was lovely- we went to 'The Belly Bar' in Canters town centre- if you're thinking of getting anything done GO THERE- it's pretty, the people are lovely, it's not too expansive and it was so immaculately clean i was stunned!! I proper geeked it up a treat while the lady, who was covered from head to toe in tattoos and piercings and looked seriously beautiful, prepped Connie; i was asking her all kinds of questions about her tattoos, how many piercings she'd done for people (she said at fashion shows they attend she can do up to 300 piercings a DAY at 3 days at a time!!!), what 'needle stick meant (it's when a tattooist accidentally gets pricked with the needles they're currently using/ have been using on someone else which is a massive problem in case the person you're tattooing has any sort of blood- diseases), how they deal with a 'needle stick' situation- ALL SORTS. I think she found me funny, that i was so interested in the whole thing! Anyhoo, Connie got her tongue pierced- I couldn't look for the actual piercing but watched her put the bar in and all the other stuff. needles are just a little too much for me! Con said it hurt, but not as much as she was expecting. After that we pratted about town some more, before making our way back homeo.

After Connie's spur of the moment decision i feel the need to be more decisive and spur of the moment-y. Of course, after declaring i wanted to be more spontaneous i fell at the first hurdle, when Connie suggested i get the tattoo I've been pondering over getting whilst we were in the parlour, simply saying "errr i dunno, i wanna think about it more". But then I spontaneously bought two wonderful bras in Ann Summers afterwards, which resulted in me spending too much money but being very happy with myself :D

That's all for now, folks. TAKE CARE OF YOURSELVES, OR ELSE.

xxx

This song is my new obsession

xXx