"Little by Little" Oasis

I saw this track on Oz TV on the ABC RAGE program and was caught up in what is pretty much Oasis at their annoying best!! The 'publicity tart' Gallagher brothers put together some brilliant pop tunes from time to time and this is an interesting exploration... from their 2002 album 'Heathen Chemistry.' I think it's great that the songs of theirs I find most poignant are sung by Noel and not Liam. I note this clip includes the signpost for 'Heathen Street.' I like the image that "Y'know I didn't mean what I just said, But my god woke up on the wrong side of his bed."
Is the song a general reflection on mortality? Is it about the breakdown of Noel's then relationship and divorce? Is it written to his daughter in the light of that?

"Little by Little"
We the people fight for our existence
We don't claim to be perfect but we're free
We dream our dreams alone with no resistance
Fading like the stars we wish to be

Y'know I didn't mean
What I just said
But my god woke up on the wrong side of his bed
And it just don't matter now

Cause little by little
We gave you everything you ever dreamed of
Little by little
The wills of your life have slowly fallen off
Little by little
You have to give it all in all your life
And all the time I just ask myself why
You're really here

Dream perfection has to be imperfect
I know that that sounds foolish but it's true
The day has come and now you have to accept
The life inside your head we give to you

No I didn't mean
What I just said
But my god woke up on the wrong side of his bed
And it just don't matter now

Cause little by little
We gave you everything you ever dreamed of
Little by little
The wheels of your life have slowly fallen off
Little by little
You have to give it all in all your life
And all the time I just ask myself why
You're really here

(Hey!)
Little by little
We gave you everything you ever dreamed of
Little by little
The wills of your life have slowly fallen off
Little by little
You have to give it all in all your life
And all the time I just ask myself why
You're really here

Why am I really here?
Why am I really here?

"Where I Stood" Missy Higgins

There's no doubt about 'Youtube'!!
I was watching 'Grey's Anatomy' series 4 ep 9 here at home in Oz on Sunday night [as is our custom] and heard the familiar strains of Missy Higgins over the crashed and upturned paramedic ambulance disaster in the episode...
I was reflecting on how good Missy is at creating moody and deep mood with her tunes and those catchy one liners that expaqnd into a song about a particular relationship but give you glimpses of comment that could be about anyone and any relationship or self examination. It's lines like "I don't know what I've done, or if I like what I've begun" which echoed in just the right moments in this touching storyline of one paramedics observation saving the life of his partner just before taking his own last gasp!!
Determined to post a clip of the song here I should not have been surprised to find the clip from the show uploaded... enjoy!!

"Where I Stood" Missy Higgins
I dont know what I've done
Or if I like what I've begun
But something told me to run
And honey you know me it's all or none
There were sounds in my head
Little voices whispering
That I should go and this should end
Oh and I found my self listening
Cause I dont know who I am, who I am without you
All I know is that I should
And I dont know if I could stand another hand upon you
All I know is that I should
Cause she will love you more then I could
She who dares to stand where I stood
See I thought love was black and white
That it was wrong or it was right
But you ain't leaving without a fight
And I think I am just as torn inside
Cause I dont know who I am, who I am without you
All I know is that I should
And I dont know if I could stand another hand upon you
All I know is that I should
Cause she will love you more then I could
She who dares to stand where I stood
And I wont be far from where you are if ever you should call
You meant more to me then any one I've ever loved at all
But you taught me how to trust myself
And so I say to you, this is what I have to do.
Cause I dont know who I am, who I am without you
All I know is that I should
And I dont know if I could stand another hand upon you
All I know is that I should
Cause she will love you more than I could
She who dares to stand where I stood
She who dares to stand where I stood.

"From Little Things Big Things Grow"

GetUp and other collaborators have sampled Kevin Rudd's 'sorry' and Paul Keatings famous Redfern speech alongside some clever Aussie muso's and with the help of the lead singer from 'The Herd'... have released a fundraising new version of this brilliant Kev Carmody song!!
Download the clip and audio at GetUp.

"The apology to the Stolen Generations on 13 February 2008 marked a place in Australian history that The GetUp Mob - featuring Kev Carmody, Paul Kelly, Urthboy and Missy Higgins, have commemorated with the release on April 21 of the new GetUp StandUp version of 'From Little Things Big Things Grow'."

Dub_fx made a great impression in Pitt St Mall

Beat boxing and hip hop derivative rythms are not usually my favourite form of music but on the last 2 Thursdays I've found myself in Pitt St Mall [looking for Juan Mann to ask him for a pair of his shoes... another story] and Dub_fx has been there beat boxing, mixing his own samples and entertaining the crowd!! There's something quite powerful in his voice and the haunting tunes. Thye are often reworked familiar songs and the intricate backings and his own beatbox style are quite unique and the sound system does well. I video'd 5 mins with my phone and will access that when I can get my computer to play the MP4!!
It's an impressive sound and you can check him out here on MySpace. I bought one of his $10 CDs and will use the music at a youth event some time soon!! Check him out on youtube and this clip in Manchester...

Andrew Johnston Wows Them on BGT

Reminiscent of Paul Potts here's young Andrew who tells his story of being bullied at school for his singing and then produces an amazing audition!!

Wollondilly White Waratahs Womens Rugby Points

I've previously written about this girls rugby team who were featured in the 'Daily Telegraph' last year. They are a bunch of new players trying hard but getting thrashed by over 100 points on occasion. At the end of the season they scored a goal and last Saturday scored their first try!!
Of course their notoriety annoys some other competitors as they'd rather see successful women's teams being reported [nothing personal of course, just a reflection on what the media finds interesting].
I'm not sure players in the same comp have an entirely independent view on things but either way I still say this team is what rugby is all about... having a go!!

"Black Fingernails, Red Wine" Eskimo Joe

"Black Fingernails, Red Wine"
Black fingernails, red wine
I wanna make you, all mine
A lot of people, underground
You wanna get there
You gotta go straight down

There's a culture, everywhere
Smoke clouds, hang in the air
It's so loud, can't hear you talk
You and I, should take a walk downtown

Straight down
Downtown
Straight down

The argument over god continues
In this house
All of us stand and point our fingers
At the ground
All of us stand and point our fingers
Straight down

Red-letter day, black heart
Its gonna tear you, all apart
It's so loud; can't hear you call
You and I, are gonna fall straight down
Straight down
Downtown
Straight down

The argument over god continues
In this house
All of us stand and point our fingers
At the ground
Argument over all continues
In this house
All of stand and point our fingers
Straight down x3

Black fingernails, red wine
I wanna make you, all mine
A lot of people, underground
You wanna get there, you gotta go straight down

The argument over god continues
In this house
All of us stand and point our fingers
At the ground
The argument over all continues
In this house
All of us stand and point our fingers
Straight down x3

I was listening to my 'Shuffle' the other day and was reminded I had added this song. I think it's an interesting track from a band with a hard working A&R manager. I say that because 'Eskimo Joe' emerged from Perth with a standout single as many new bands do and it became known as "the Cardigan song" or it's real title "Sweater." It was about being outed, ostracised and ridiculed for wearing his grandad's hand me down brown woollen jumper... At this stage the lead singer was pretty solid in that Alex Lloyd kind of way... and these days they have heavily styled haircuts and wardrobe, he's dropped significant weight and they've very much left their break out album behind. I recall seeing them as support for 'Silverchair' and 'The Offspring.'
BUT that's all an aside to this intriguing song!!

I don't know what the song is about but I was caught foot tapping to the hook about "the argument over God continues in this house" Is it about nightclubs and the different crowds and arguments? Is it about blame and futility? It's a questioning, brooding sound and a catchy tune...

"Teenage Song"

Saw this clip on the Today Show last week and it seems to be cropping up on a few blogs!! Great clip for talking about all sorts of communication issues with teenagers: family issues; asking them what they'd like to see/do in any club or program; generational differences etc!!

U23D at IMAX

"----------------------!!!!!"
Spoiler Alert
I went this afternoon to the IMAX in Sydney though most local cinemas are offering their version of this amazing cinematic achievement!! It's been a while since I went to a 3D film but this was certainly something else... of course I'm biased about U2 but while this was not "even better than the real thing" it was amazing!
Although I enjoyed the second of the two Vertigo Tour concerts I went to I still missed something of the experience because of the immense challenges of a Stadium show and I now feel like I experienced something I missed that Friday night in the rain at Homebush.
The visual 3D effect brings the screen right off the wall and the four band members remind me of those brass tribute statues of sports people where they are usually 2/3s bigger than real life.
There are many highlights including:

• Bono & Adam look straight at the camera & you feel they are about to speak to you
  
• Bono reaches out and you feel like you could touch his hand
• The crescendo of the second half of songs including a brilliant rendition of "With or Without You" and "Where the Streets Have No Name"
• The overhead and close shots of Larry drumming are amazing
• During "The Fly" when the ZOO TV wordings come off screen and fly out to you in your seat
• The Buenos Aires crowd... I'm sure I nearly got my eye poked out, got sprayed when a water bottle is thrown
• Not to mention the idiots who left as the credits rolled... missing the unplugged gem "Yahweh" just into said credits
• Besides my favourite song "Pride [In the Name of Love]" was also BRILLIANT!!
  

I hope they do a Shrek with this and sell the DVD complete with cardboard 3D glasses. I have the data projector booked!! But for now I will be back a few times just to marvel at what the film makers have achieved... the first live action 3D film in history spread across about 7 or 8 South American concerts and some sound check run through close ups so the cameras weren't an issue for paying punters at every show and every time.
Bono's moments of excess and indulgence are largely not included so this is a sharp version of the essential messages from the concert, less preaching more an experience of music with hints thrown in.

1. "Vertigo"
2. "Beautiful Day"
3. "New Year's Day"
4. "Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own"
5. "Love and Peace or Else"
6. "Sunday Bloody Sunday"
7. "Bullet the Blue Sky"
8. "Miss Sarajevo" / Reading of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
9. "Pride (In the Name of Love)"
10. "Where the Streets Have No Name"
11. "One"

First encore

12. "The Fly"
13. "With or Without You"

End credits

"Yahweh"

Worship Unplugged #49 "Ocean" John Butler Trio live

My next audio-visual I'm happy to share when it's done will be to this brilliant piece of music from John Butler which I first encountered on his 'One Small Step' fundraiser CD. Great guitar playing evoking the sights and sounds of the powerful Western Australian Ocean...

40 Years since the death of Dr Martin Luther King Jnr

The legend, story and footprint of MLK is one of my favourite inspirational stories!! We couldn't afford to bring Bernice King to Oz in 2003 but would have been very keen if we'd been able to find the budget!!

MLK's speeches and landmark quotable quotes are all over the net and those well known lines from Washington have been repeated, parodied and honoured ever since...

"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal,"' King told the crowd at the capital's Lincoln Memorial.

"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character."

Five years later, at just 39, he was shot dead by escaped inmate James Earl Ray, while he was standing on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel on April 4, 1968.



Even more eerie is the 'mountain top' speech by a servant of God who knew his 'truth' was upsetting the balance of power in the same way Jesus talk of the rule and reign or values of God caused the Easter events we remember!! This parallel is celebrated by that band nobody wants me to keep talking about [check out the age of the audience in U23D when you get the chance]!!

"Pride [In the Name of Love]" U2
One man come in the name of love
One man come and go
One man come here to justify
One man to overthrow
In the name of love!
One man in the name of love
In the name of love!What more?
In the name of love!

One man caught on a barbed wire fence
One man he resists
One man washed on an empty beach
One man betrayed with a kiss
In the name of love!
What more in the name of love?
In the name of love!
What more? In the name of love!...
nobody like you...there's nobody like you...Mmm...mmm...mmm...
Early morning, April 4
Shot rings out in the Memphis sky
Free at last, they took your life
They could not take your pride
In the name of love!
What more in the name of love?
In the name of love!
What more in the name of love?
In the name of love!
What more in the name of love...

Row M Seat 30 "Vantage Point"

"What is truth?" is not just a famous historical question but seems to be a fundamental human search and basic premise for authentic life. While "Vantage Point" doesn't rise to the heights of greatness [good scripts and plausible endings make great films] it is nonetheless in some ways an exploration of this basic search.
The film maker uses the tool of rewinding and re showing the pivotal events of the story through up to eight different sets of eyes!! These include: the recently reinstated security guard who took a bullet for the President; a recently separated tourist looking for something new in life; a local cop; the real US President watching his body double [in all the previews]; and other players who form part of an expanding and changing jigsaw puzzle.
The world is hopeful of a new agreement to end terrorism and the local freedom fighters hatch a plan of intrigue to cause trouble for the President!!
Is all what it appears? Who is in on the plot? What is truth in the eyes of the media outlet broadcasting the street square gathering?
Dennis Quade specialises in these 'not quite great' films but the rewind and replay technique and the apparent truth of the story made this an enjoyable 1 hour 40mins in my post Easter rest time!!

The other thing I've noted is the number of films coming in at 90-100 mins in recent times... a welcome return to a sensible length of time for any story besides a few notable epics!! Is it because that's how busy we've become or because studios have realised it's a good idea!!

I will be writing a more full discussion guide on this film soon...
Others I'm waiting to see:
"Hey Hey It's Esther Blueburger"
"The Black Balloon"
"St Trinians"
and
"U23D" at Sydney's IMAX and selected other theatres near you!!

Easter Camp WA 2008 Pictures

I have added at least MY pictures from Easter Camp in a flickr flash badge to the right!! Click there to explore the various images!!

Wayne Carey on ENOUGH ROPE 31 March

The intrigue started when I got an audience call email from the show for yesterday March 25 [though I knew I'd be in Perth!!] Then last week the newspapers got wind of the shows return [its a one off until May/June though] and described Andrew's guest as "a most controversial Australian" that 2 months ago he didn't think he'd be talking to...
Friends and family suspected David Hicks [now that would be a coup] and it fitted with the Sydney visits to Five Dock and connection to Dick Smith!!

But no... its serial ego and violent buffoon Wayne Carey!! Still it will be interesting viewing as will be Denton's follow up on people suffering mental illness!!
Stay tuned...

Easter Camp WA

Hey, things have been a bit quiet here as I've been flat out preparing for Easter Camp at Logue Brook 90-100 mins south of Perth in Western Australia!! I am sitting here in Perth tonight with Camp done and dusted and it's been a great time!! Maybe even some of the mob are checking out the 'Pumphouse'... in coming days I'll add a run down on my input, media and group activities plus a flickr collection of the pictures I have [about 2% of those taken on the weekend!!
In the lead up to Camp I felt done with the 'HOPE' theme I'd worked on as the needed and appropriate theme for the Hunter 2005 and a sensible development for Far North Queensland in 2007. I also pitched "Everything Must Change" or "Everything Changes" as a build on my central themes but allowing me to take a different direction [and use some of the excellent thoughts in Brian McLaren's book. I must write to Brian and thank him for writing out what I've been shaping for four years now and putting it all between 2 covers!!
The central ideas revolve around:
1. ASKING 'what is your picture of Jesus?' as a logical check in and starting point [and the most important question Jesus asked] we explore THE CROSS as a symbol of HOPE as Jesus showing solidarity with us in life in all it's aspects.
2. Trying to get a handle on EASTER SATURDAY without a Sunday and recognising that Jesus is with us in the tough times, pain and struggles in life.
3. ASKING 'what did Jesus talk most about?' we explored THE WORLD LIVED ACCORDING TO THE VALUES OF GOD and our call to join God's mission in the world and grow our faith, communities and personal gifts in giving ourselves in servanthood as Jesus' mandated by his own example
4. We turned our attention to HOME and gave people a chance to share their experience, learning and hope and TO WRITE A LETTER TO GOD to try to offer something concrete to remember in response!!

More in coming days....

My reflections tonight come after a night of long sleep [and snoring] and a day in the city of Perth.... my thanks go to Rick, Helen, Bindi, Em and Gilly for their welcome and hospitality!!
My thanks also to the leaders and campers who were warm, affirming, open and had a great time over the weekend! I enjoyed them sharing their stories and taking time to let me know how they were going with our theme... and they excelled themselves with a 'Meaningful Soles' exercise and worship space in telling their stories through the display of a significant pair of shoes. See their pictures and some explanation of what we did soon at www.meaningfulsoles.blogspot.com!!

OK...
More soon...

"Falling Slowly" Oscar Winner 2008

This song has been exercising my mind this week and appealing to me as a song about HOPE that will be helpful in exploring this theme at Easter Camp in WA fast approaching!! I would normally have the youtube video here but the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has long arms and might not be happy!!
You can view and download it here!!

"Falling Slowly" Glen Hansard [The FRAMES] and Marketa Irglova
I don't know you
But I want you
All the more for that
Words fall through me
And always fool me
And I can't react
And games that never amount
To more than they're meant
Will play themselves out

Take this sinking boat and point it home
We've still got time
Raise your hopeful voice you have a choice
You've made it now

Falling slowly, eyes that know me
And I can't go back
Moods that take me and erase me
And I'm painted black
You have suffered enough
And warred with yourself
It's time that you won

Take this sinking boat and point it home
We've still got time
Raise your hopeful voice you had a choice
You've made it now

Take this sinking boat and point it home
We've still got time
Raise your hopeful voice you had a choice
You've made it now
Falling slowly sing your melody
I'll sing along

Here it is from the film "Once"


At the Oscars Marketa Irglova talked about HOPE being the thing that unites us all!! It's not a bad start to a prayer!!

Street Swags a simple but brilliant idea!!

Talking with Steph today and she shared about a story from the Australian newspaper that might get a guernsey at Easter camp in WA this year!! Read about the young adult. motivated by the plight of homeless folk and rough sleepers, who has designed swags !!
Jean Madden's mother was seamstress for the first fifty and some thousands later it sounds like a brilliant and burgeoning idea!! Read about it here.

U2 3D Opens 10th April IMAX Sydney

It's coming soon!! Check out the IMAX site here for details and the movie website for full details on this cinematic extravaganza!!

Andrew Symonds Acts Out What He'd Like to Do to Harbarjan Singh

Although Andrew Symonds will probably get in trouble for this the streaker at last nights cricket final copped an absolute beauty!! Butch James the South African Rugby Union Fly Half would have been proud of this hit!! Todays news will be full of this footage and maybe even old archive footage of Terry Alderman dislocating his shoulder at the WACA all those years ago! Alderman was out of cricket for months and took a while to get back to his best... just goes to show the gym work the cricketers do these days!! Maybe Symonds has had more than one training session with the Brisbane Broncos Rugby League side. Mind you the streaker had other reasons for notoriety apparently!!

Midnight Oil holiday project

I just got one of my holiday projects back from the framers!! I took a whole swag of tickets from concerts and shows, framed them up and they now adorn my study walls!! BUT this is the BIG one!! My signed 'Blue Sky Mine' shirt signed at the UCA Justice Expo a few years back, a drumstick I caught at Cabramatta's The Tivoli, some special tickets and the album cover for 'Head Injuries' and 'Diesel and Dust'!! Tickets include 1987 [not my earliest but the one I kept] the last show at Manly before they split, Selinas at Coogee the night you could take your feet off the floor and not fall we were so tightly packed in plus Wave Aid!!

"Say" [What You Need To Say] John Mayer

This is a catchy and relevant song from the currently screening film "The Bucket List" starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman!! More on the film in coming times!!


"Say" John Mayer
Take out of your wasted honor
Every little past frustration
Take all of your so called problems
Better put them in quotations
Say what you need to say (8x)

Walkin' like a one man army
Fightin' with the shadows in your head
Living out the same old moment
Knowing you’d be better off instead
If you could only
Say what you need to say (8x)

Have no fear for giving in
Have no fear for giving over
You better know that in the end its better to say too much
Than to never to say what you need to say again

Even if your hands are shaking
And your faith is broken
Even as the eyes are closing
Do it with a heart wide open
Why?
Say what you need to say (25x)

Great Public Stunt from 'Improv Everywhere'

Nic sent me this video to check out the public space art invasions of 'Improv Everywhere' whose slogan is "we cause scenes." This would be a brilliant thing to do in public space sometime. In this case it was New York's famous Grand Central Station!

New Approach for Chiko Roll Promotion

The Humble Chiko Roll looks like it's taking a new and they hope less controversial approach to it's advertising!! I guess we'll wait and see who they punters vote for out of a selection of 'possibles' for the Chiko Girl!!

Invented by Bendigo Boilermaker Francis McEnroe [as competition for the Spring Roll] it first appeared at Wagga Wagga Show in 1951.

My earliest memories of the Chiko Roll [a handful of battered and fried cabbage, beef, onion and carrot in a bag] was buying one and only one for lunch at Newcastle Baths Kiosk having caught the train 30mins to Newcastle with our rubber surf mats to ride the mini waves at Newcastle's Nobbys Beach [you know, later famous for the Pasha Bulker]!!

Covered in salt a Chiko could fill you up for hours after a morning in the surf!!

Well after a recent controversy over the biker chick adverts and billboards it appears the humble Chiko Roll and it seems you can audition this week and hope to be selected for being a "fun, outgoing Aussie girl."

Mobile Phones 21st Birthday!!

The Daily Telegraph had an article on Saturday celebrating the 21st birthday of the humble 'mobile'!! I recall the 10kg car phone and the Motorola "Brick" plus my own Nokia at 300 grams where they are now about 75 grams and even less!!

Row M Seat 30 Film Discussion "JUNO"

Archibald and Bald Archy in the news

The publicity vehicle for the NSW Art Gallery [The Archibald Portrait Competition] closes on Friday at 4pm and hundreds of entries will have been received!! You can pretty much guarantee some rubbish picture will get up to create the most news! Thank goodness for the Packing Room and Public selections. The above picture of Kerry O'Brien has an intersting presence in the reflection over Kerry's shoulder!!

Satirical cousin 'The Bald Archy' now at Wagga Wagga Gallery is a Caricature Prize and the Royal Aussie Portrait is a cracker!!

Waratahs Scrum: It's a Thing of Beauty!!

There's few greater sights in rugby than the sheer beauty, power and skill of a genuine scrum!! Smacked at national level in recent seasons [since Bill Young retired and took his illegal tactics with him... legend!!] the state squads have been doing lots of work on their set pieces. If they could get and stay this low and in line then they will humble some Super 14 opponents!!
Bring it on!!

Just run it!

M rated News: Let that be a Lesson

Johnny Knoxville had a bit of a mishap filming for the Evel Kneivel picture and you can read about here in the SMH newspaper and here on his blog. Seems a backflip on a motorbike shouldn't be attempted until you actually know how to ride one!!

Waratahs Season Kick Off Saturday

Another hopeful season of Super 14 Rugby kicks off this weekend and the Waratahs are poised for an improved showing while mercifully they are not making any big predictions!!
Following a review we see the pleasing return of 'curtain raisers' or local and rep footy played from 5.30pm... this is great for an out of towner who needs to arrive by then to get a park!! [Public transport works if you are within 45mins of the Stadium but not for getting home to Newcastle this side of midnight!!
One bugbear is that although less than last year we still have Lote Tiqiri making promises in the media after last years total dud season. Lets hope he scores more tries, makes more tackles and less cartwheels than the ill conceived new mascot known as 'Tah Man'

Just run it!!!

Apolgy to the 'Stolen Generations' Video