Music

I don't get the fascination with music that most people seem to have. They constantly walk around with music in their ears, they talk about it, they write about it, they analyze it and they know all about artists and which year a certain song was released. I just don't get it.

How uninteresting I'm thinking. The only music I like is the live one. The one where you can see the artists, sing-along, clap your hands and have fun. Big concerts are so not me. Gimme a smoky pub or yes, I know what you're thinking of, my fav-place, that's where I have fun.

And in my youth I loved dancing. Dancing to music, but more interested in my partner than in the actual music. Music can be buzzing in the background, but can never be the center of my world.

Just thought I'd share.

Holland's got talent

There is some talent in Holland.

Euphoria

So Sweden won the Eurovision song contest for the 5th time. I was the only one in the group here at home who didn't vote Sweden as first. Too bad, there went my 10 francs. I wanted the Russian babushkas to win.

Ah well, can't win them all. But my price is I "got stuck with" all the yummy leftovers :). Who's laughing now?

And I got surprised over the voting system, only the 8, 10 and 12 points are read out, the others already given, and there is no "La Suede, douze point" anymore, and friend said "but Annika, it's been like that for many years now". Hm. Ok then.

Mental note to self: pay more attention to Eurovision song contests in future. Odds on that?

Fun in Zürich

My place was hopping yesterday. Not my home, mind you, but my fav outgoing place.

Had so much fun I went back today for the afternoon concert, not only to enjoy the band but also laughing at the middle-aged women (no, I was not one of them!) doing a quite violent twist.

And since it's the last day this particular band plays, I am going back tonight!

Azerbaijan

Ok, so blogger fucked up and several of my posts have disappeared, but there are worse things in life so I'm choosing to forget about it.

What is funny is that I spent the evening with a bunch of mostly Swiss, watching the Eurovision song contest and Switzerland ended up last! Hahahahaha. I was told the last time they won was when Celine Dion was singing, and she's not even Swiss! French-Canadian if I'm not mistaken.

This Azerbaijan place, is that even a country? Gosh, I miss the time when Russia was USSR and Yugoslavia was just that. Much easier to keep track of.

And we were laughing a lot about the votes. Nordic countries vote for the Nordic, Russian countries vote for the Russians, Eastern European (a lot of them these days!) vote for the, wait for it, Eastern Europeans and so on. It's basically a political thing these days, and why not? After three of these songs/performances they all sound the same anyway.

But it was fun, especially when one of the guys decided to do his version of what I think was "Greese", at least the moves reminded me of it.

Oh my god

I am in training for the Eurovision song contest on Saturday. Not that I normally would take an interest in this, but am invited to a party with gays. This is gonna be fun I'm sure. We're gonna put some money in a pot, and give points to all the contestants. Tacky but fun I hope.

So now I'm listening to that type of music.

Die Annika rockin'

Went out tonight. After all had a few drinks at the science party, and why waste a good buzz? In the break I asked the band to perhaps play some rock'n'roll, rather than the, well, other music. They asked my name, and then called me from the stage saying "jetzt spielen wir für die Annika". Hmmm. Die Annika?

Anyway, a guy asked me to dance, I politely declined, but then an old guy who is a regular came to ask and I couldn't say no. So had to dance. A friend asked me if I was drunk.

I wish I was, but the guy was a good lead so at least I didn't make a fool of myself. And since it was a Sunday eve, it weren't too many people out. Good timing.

Was it Bach?

Was trying to get them to play Tchajkovskij or Vivaldi, but they were "classicly schooled". Ok, but so was Tjeck and Vivaldi, not?

Nevertheless, I enjoyed the private concert.

Especially since I found out that the multi-talented one cannot spell!

Concert

I really like intelligent people, but I am very wary about multi-talented ditto. Makes me feel inferior. Have a neighbour who has a PhD in what might be biology. At least she's very good with plants, and she tells me about these experiments in a lab where a 50% success rate is considered good, which immediately makes me think how good can she be? And makes me feel better.

But then it turns out she's musical too. Hmmm. And she's got a purple box for her cello. Yes, she's accepted. Plus she can play.

Einen Stern

Went to my local bar for a short visit tonight, mainly because I was accused of being old earlier this week when I chose to stay home and paint! Coming home on the tram a fat lady started to sing. It was an English woman, who clearly had been to the same place as I. She started to engage half the tram in singing "Einen Stern" with her. Apart from the fact that she probably will regret this tomorrow, it was fun! People started to laugh, and some even started to sing with her. What can I say? My place rock.

Nostalgia

So after watching the Eurovisions I went browsing on youtube and found some gems: Who can forget this? Just love the way the woman tells her husband to shut up. And this from the movie "as it is in heaven"? Or this from the Commonwealth? And not to forget this. And from the old times. Beautiful. Not everything is better in Switzerland...

Triple Scandinavia

The other day I had dinner with a gay friend. And quite expectedly I got a review of this years contributions to the Eurovision song contest. I managed to move him on to previous years winners. What can I say? Scandiavia rules! Norway Denmark and ok, it was some time ago but they still rock Sweden (and it's not Anna you idiot presenter, it's Agneta!)

A frozen rabbit moment

Took a friend with me to see the Triple Bypass-band in Zug tonight. Think they have this name because they need reading glasses to see the text. But then again, how old are Stones exactly? And they really rock.

But when I introduced friend to a guy in the band the moment froze (remember this?). She: "I know you". Him: "you used to be my student".

And in this moment I had many thoughts, like 'gosh, I hope she wasn't a complete asshole who pissed her teacher off', and 'perhaps I should've brought another friend?' or 'what if he isn't a good teacher?'.

But all is well that ends well, and it turned out fine. They actually did like each other. Pheewww!

Mooh-girl

Was meeting up with mooh-girl tonight, and although she claims she doesn't want to use her unique talent she was persuaded to give a performance.

Personally I dunno why anybody would not utilize a given talent like singing. I would be over the moon if I could sing like that. But there you go. There are us mediocre people who can only dream, and then there are the talented ones discarding what is given to them.

But I was happy to be there when she caved in!

Take me to your heaven

This is how happy my friend was when I was bringing him a (let's be honest) rather mediocre schlager-song from the North.

Simply the best!

Live music is the best. And although my friend claimed she was pissed off by not being invited to the karaoke eve last weekend, I know she was pleased. All the "performers" last Saturday were crap, and she's a pro. And I promise, one time she'll be invited for a performance. Because she's SIMPLY THE BEST!

Gospel

Spent Friday evening in a for me very unusual place with 300 people who believe in this lord and hallelujah business, listening to an American gospel group. I must admit that the music itself is catchy and humming-along-friendly, even though I could have lived without that blessing song when (Swiss!) people stood up, waving their hands and seemed to be in trance. Cunningly I dragged a friend along who didn't realize it was gonna last more than 2 hours, and so had somebody to exchange sarcastic comments with. Like when I was sneezing and she said "bless you". Which I countered with "next time you're in bed with your boyfriend you're not gonna shout his name, you're gonna scream jesus!" It seemed funny at the time. Anyway, the evening was a one-off and the music was great, so no regrets.

Gospel vs smash hit

In a weak moment I agreed to go to a gospel concert tomorrow with my religious neighbours. Don't take me wrong, I do look forward to it. I am always open for new things. But when Bro told me he's seeing a show in London tomorrow I wonder who drew the short straw?

I know a guy

...who knows a guy and so forth. Today I was given advice on karaoke machines. Never mind the inches on the screen, I have to focus on what's important. A Korean karaoke machine with as many microphones as you want, with chips that have 300 songs downloaded. This may be something for me.

Scotland strikes again

Not surprisingly Susan Boyle is in the finals.