Green Eyes

Touch Me

A huge thing that happened to me this weekend is that I discovered The Doors. Yes, yes, I knooooooow, it's about time.  However, I'm not that sheltered, I've always been familiar with them, but never really listened mindfully until now. Touch Me is a song that I've probably heard a hundred times, but the use of the brass and string instruments blew my miiiiind when I gave it a close listen this weekend. It will be on repeat on my iPod until further notice.

LOVE

A new compilation of Beatles songs was recently released, called, Love. It's basically an incredibly well executed remix that was done by the Beatles, and the legendary original producer, George Martin, who states "What people will be hearing on the album is a new experience, a way of re-living the whole Beatles musical lifespan in a very condensed period." If you have ever enjoyed even one Beatles song, seriously, download or buy this album asap!

Carnegie Hall

So Tuesday night was the U.S. premiere of Ecce Cor Meum at Carnegie Hall in New York. I've never been there before, so of course my eyes were looking upwards almost the entire night. I think I really was able to grasp a sense of (WARNING: interior design boredom ahead) the intentions of architectural moulding.  There's SO much of it in the main hall, and the way the lighting carefully plays on it definately gives a strong effect with light and shadows. I see why moulding can be a waste-- completely uneffective in enhancing a space with intricate decorative elements, if the lighting isn't right.

Anyways, the music was beautiful, I loved it.  The piece is extremely personal; it's basically Paul McCartney's, the composer of the piece, emotions during his wife's death. The lyrics were partially in Latin, which I'm a huge fan of (if you couldn't tell by the enormous latin phrase tattooed across my back).

Paul actually sat about 10ft above Sean and I. We happened to catch him during intermission, where was also ran into everyone from Elvis Costello, to Alec Baldwin, to Glenn Close. People like Paul Newman were wandering the halls just like the rest of us. After Paul's thanks yous on stage, and the beautiful eruption of confetti paper hearts everywhere, we got stuck in the mobbed hall and lobby for awhile. It wasn't so bad; when you're stuck next to, and chatting with Jerry Seinfeld. When he walked away he shook my hand and said it was nice to meet me. Not a funny statement, but awfully kind. I sat there while he chatted it up with Elvis Costello, Lorne Michaels, Steve Buscemi, and Conan O'Brien. The best part was when I was sandwiched between Woody Harrelson and Steve Guttenberg. We talked about the show and were all smiles when I was responsive to their flirtiness (c'mon, it's every girl's DREAM to flirt with Steve Guttenberg!! hahaha)

Interesting night to say the least. Carnegie was beautiful, the music was great, and the company wasn't so bad either!

Meeting a Beatle

Over this past weekend, I came across some information and an opportunity to meet Paul McCartney. Of course I took it up. Even though it required the absurdity of doing a little urban camping on the streets of midtown Manhattan, I figured it was worth it to meet the man who I believe to be among the most successful and impacting musicians of the past century. Not only is he one of the last two living Beatle members, but the man has earned his way to the top in his own right as well. He's currently 64, and chances of meeting him or seeing him live are diminshing by the day.

Sean and I ended up camping on the sidewalks for 20 hours in Times Square; in the rain; overnight. We got there early thinking we'd be among the first 30 or 40 people in line, but came to find we were around the 114th and 115th people. It was all worth it in the morning when we got our wristbands and our specially designated autograph-able CDs and DVD. The line was grueling at this point, fifty year old women were applying make up like crazy, knowing that almost 45 years of waiting to meet their "crush" was finally minutes away. Some people were crying; before the man even set foot in the room. Reporters began interviewing people all over the room... I even got about 5 minutes with Reuter's, where I explained why a 20 something like myself would admire a senior citizen like Paul. The woman also asked me about his recent divorce case and Heather Mills' insane claims against Paul... I responded naturally and rationally, exemplifying the fact that she has no credibility and is a one-legged bitch, whereas Paul has been in the public eye for most of his life, and has never shown signs of any kind of aggression. Sorry Heather, nobody is on your side.

After all that, he fiiinally came down the escalader of the bottom floor at Virgin Records Megastore casually and cool as anything, despite the hundreds of reporters, photographers, and fans questioning and screaming. I suppose one gets used to that after enduring Beatlemania and the 40 year aftermath, huh?

So the line gets moving, and as I'm about 3 people away, I'm among Paul's personal security gaurds and friends, where I engaged in some mild flirting, which I'm assuming their recognition and excitement in that is what granted me a slightly extended time frame to talk to the man. I was excited as hell, but not a bit nervous; which I thought I would be. I walked up, leaned over onto his table and slickly exchanged "hellos" before we got into a very heartfelt conversation about his late wife Linda. When I spoke to him, he was extreeeemly responsive, impressively kind, and very very genuine. It's one of those things you can tell in a person's eyes, and he had that; I dunno if it's Paul's nature, or perhaps the intensity of the subject we were speaking of, but the words we exchanged were very inspirational and personal. I felt very privileged to have spent enough time to actually speak with him about everything I wanted to--which included the unavoidable, "Oh, and my mom says hi!" in order to honor Jan Bell's four decade infatuation. He got all excited and told me to tell her hello! I thanked him in a couple ways, shook his hand, exchanged the most wonderful smiles ever, and parted ways.

Did I mention we held hands as we talked? That's right, the man who sang the earth shattering "I Wanna Hold Your Hand"--held my hand. Haha suckkkkaaaas!!

My meeting with Paul was a success. In fact, it was even more than I hoped. More personal, more genuine, and more in depth than I ever thought I'd get the opportunity. When it comes down to it, all I ever wanted to do was remind him that the world hasn't forgotten about the lovely Linda, and to thank the guy for sharing his talents and generosity with the world; and I did just that.

We Party with [semi] Rockstars

The explaination begins with a promise when I was merely seventeen years old... A promise made to me by one of my best friends, and at the time, Good Charlotte's biggest fan, Heather. I remember one of the first days we had moved into our first apartment, she had a poster on her wall and told me how this band was going to be famous one day, and that she would take me to see them play, and to meet them even, since in their early days, she could often be found hanging out with the band members (she even brags of ongoing inside jokes, lots of photos, videos, and extreme flirting). Well, ironically enough, the band did become pretty famous, seeing as they've made the cover of Rolling Stone magazine a couple times, won some MTV Music Awards, been guest musicians on SNL, they've dated celebrities, and all that good stuff.

However, as the band got famous, Heather's and my interest in the band faded, as it often does with our favorite little bands that go mainstream and get overplayed. But when Heather heard the band was coming to the Webster theater in Hartford, she got a couple tickets, and offered to fulfill her promise to me, five years later.

The show was actually really fun, we were in the bar area, and made a couple friends who very kindly bought us lots of drinks! The opening bands, Young Love, and The Pink Spiders were really good. Good Charlotte put on a great show too, they played a lot of their old songs from their 2000 album (which was our favorite back in the day!).

After the show, we grabbed a bite to eat, and decided to drive by the theater to see if we could catch the boys that Heather used to brag about years ago. Surely enough, we saw them outside, so we got out of the car to say hi. One of the roadies, who we later found out was named Joel, began smiling at us through the bus windows, came outside and clearly began to flirt with Heather and I. After talking for awhile, his friend randomly walked up to me with an armful of beers and offered me one--until he admitted he thought I was someone else, and didn't actually know me. So, logically, with obtaining the ice cold beer as my goal, I introduced myself in hopes that he would then "know" me and offer me a delicious beer. And what do you know... he told us to follow him and we'd all have a beer.

With the evil stares of the pre-teen girls loitering around the buses and clutching their disposable cameras, Heather and I proceeded onto the bus, following our new friends. Going up the steps, I took a look up, and realized Good Charlotte and The Pink Spiders were all chillin in the lounge area. Joel, the lead singer of GC, got all excited, declaring, "Hey! Where'd you girls come from, take a seat!" So we happily did. We enjoyed a couple beers and some fun conversation among the boys that Heather and any other female punk music fan used to gawk over back in high school. We shared some laughs in the luxurious bus, and finally decided to call it a night around 1am. We got back in the car feeling the evening was successful, and that Heather had kept and exceeded her promise she made when we first started college. Not only did I get drunk at the expense of attractive strangers, but we got invited to hang out on the tourbus with the bands. We're such little con artists; but those of you who know us, know that it's nothing new!

Ecce Cor Meum

As most of you know, I am somewhat passionate about the legend of the Beatles. Especially since 50% of the former members are deceased, I always feel left out that the reign of their glory was long over well before my existence here on earth. But luckily, and absurdly enough, I feel like I'm going to witness something great next month.

Paul McCartney's new album is an oratorio in four movements, is scored for choir and orchestra. The  text combines both English and to a lesser degree, Latin. Ecce Cor Meum, which translates to "Behold My Heart" is an eight year creation of Paul's, which he has said to be inspired by the untimely death of his first wife, Linda. The work will have only two live performances, the world premiere being held at London's Royal Albert Hall, and the American premiere being held at New York's Carnegie Hall on November 14th. The reviews are extremely positive, and include words like "stunning" and "triumphant!" Whether Paul is present or not, I feel extremely lucky to have the opportunity to witness a one time performance of something created by a musical genious. I can't waaaaait!

Ringo

I can check one thing off on my life's To-Do List today.  Last night 5 friends and I caught Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band concert at Mohegan Sun!!  So, maybe Ringo was the least prominent member of the Beatles, BUT, he is a Beatle, performing Beatles songs, right before my very eyes and ears!!  Considering there are only two living Beatles left, I feel good that I got to see an authentic performance of "Honey Don't", and "What Goes On". The All-Starrs were great too; I really liked Rod Argent's performance of Time of the Season. My favorite part of the show was undoubtably when Ringo concluded the evening with the legendary second track off what I personally have always considered to be one of the greatest and most influential rock albums of all time, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, "With a Little Help from My Friends"!!!