Miley, the latest version of the Virus

I’ve come to this pop culture party very late, but I want to weigh in on the debate about what is wrong with Miley Cyrus’ Wrecking Ball mini fillum. It sucks. And not because she’s writhing around licking a hammer, although that is wrong because she’s not at a hardware store. No, it’s because it’s all been done. To death. At the risk of sounding like an old ‘back in my day, when dinosaurs roamed the earth and Madonna got her boobs out for the 24th time’ fart, it’s tired. I’m from the if you’ve seen one pair of boobs you’ve seen ’em all school of feminism so I couldn’t give a rat’s arse about Miley’s naked body, but Miley’s clip is creepy.

Old, balding tosser dribbles over young girl and tells her the storyline for her clip is provocative, original and daring. My flesh crawled when I googled the man’s name. He is 48 and a know pervert according to Doctor Wikipedia. Women 40 + are used to this kind of boring; male directors who don’t think they have to push their female star to actually act or perform or take us on an emotional journey because she is pretty, this style of ‘directing’ has been around as long as film (watch Rose Byrne in Two Hands or Angelina Jolie in most of her movies if you don’t believe me). No Miley, as cute as you are, flashing flesh is not enough, I want a storyline too. Copying Sinead O’Connor’s Nothing Compares To You video and faking the tears shames you as an actor, and the fact that a director’s cut exists says it all. I think you’ve been manipulated by a wanker who thinks he’s an artist. And that is very sad.


One Hit Wonders Part Two

I forgot so much fabulous music in my original post I could’t live with myself if I didn’t highlight other neglected 70s classics like Pussyfoot’s 1976 hit The Way That You Do It, Noosha Fox’s S-S-S-Single Bed and Lene Lovich’s Lucky Number. Or what about Patrick Hernandez’ Born To Be Alive or Player’s Baby Come Back from the golden age of smooth disco? My current favourite is Divine’s 80s hit You Think You’re A Man? My list of wonder hits is so very, very long if I read it out loud the accompanying soundtrack would be the Bee Gees’ song Tragedy (except they were no one hit wonders). What are your favourite 70s and 80s tragic tunes? Or 50s, 60s, 90s or current one hit wonders?


Thank you for the music

Bloody cancer has taken another creative being. Rest in Peace Philip Chevron, your music will live on. Whether on the main stage at Glastonbury, or crammed onstage in a tiny pub in Sydney, The Pogues were a brilliant live band in their heyday.

Meanwhile in Australia, notorious Melbourne underworld figure, ‘hitman’ and teller of tall tales Chopper Read has also succumbed to the big C. Thanks for the laughs Chop Chop, we will miss your storytelling but maybe not your murdering ways.


Smells like a one off disco hit

I have tragic taste in music, if a song smells like a bad 70s or 80s hit I will be up on the dance floor from the opening bars. And I don’t mind a ballad that I can murder all alone in the car late at night singing along to a gut-wrenching radio station playing hits for the lovelorn either. In honour of One Hit Wonder Day I present you with my favourites (in no particular order):

The Knack – My Sharona
I’m Too Sexy – Right Said Fred
Eye Of The Tiger – Survivor
Don’t Worry Be Happy – Bobby McFerrin
99 Luftballons – Nena (the German version)
You Get What You Give – The New Radicals
Only For Sheep – The Bureau
Black Betty – Ram Jam
Feelings – Morris Albert
All By Myself – Eric Carmen
Farewell Aunty Jack – Graeme Bond
Ice Ice Baby – Vanilla Ice – thank you for bringing ‘Running Man’ to the masses
Video Killed The Radio Star – The Buggles
Play That Funky Music – Wild Cherry
Benny Hill – Ernie (The Fastest Milkman In The West)
It’s Raining Men – The Weather Girls
Because I Got High – Afroman
Teenage Dirtbag – Wheatus
Rose Garden – Lynn Anderson
Young Hearts Run Free – Candi Staton
Baby Got Back – Sir Mix A Lot
They Wont Let My Girlfriend Talk To Me – Jimmy and The Boys
Lay Your Love On Me – Racey


Tears dry on their own

Amy Winehouse would have been 30 today.


He hasn’t really left the building

The King died today in 1977. I loved his look, his white jumpsuits, his hair, his sneer, his pelvis, his fetish for deep-fried peanut butter sandwiches and his music. He may well have been my ideal man. His golden voice lives on forever in the drama of his high camp songs. I love you Elvis.


Fear and Loathing

“Music has always been a matter of energy to me, a question of fuel. Sentimental people call it inspiration, but what they really mean is fuel. I have always needed fuel. I am a serious consumer. On some nights I still believe that a car with the gas needle on empty can run about fifty more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio.” Hunter S Thompson


I wanted to change the world


They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old

In 1934, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the Turkish commander at Gallipoli, wrote a moving tribute to Anzacs who died at Gallipoli.

”Those heroes that shed their blood and lost their lives … You are now lying in the soil of a friendly country. Therefore rest in peace. There is no difference between the Johnnies and the Mehmets to us where they lie side by side now here in this country of ours … you, the mothers, who sent their sons from faraway countries wipe away your tears; your sons are now lying in our bosom and are in peace. After having lost their lives on this land. They have become our sons as well.”

 

 


I Touch Myself

This woman was an incredible live performer who lived it large. She rocked a school uniform like no one before or since. I remember seeing her at the height of her powers onstage in 1985.

In honour of this passionate woman, check your boobs ladies, or get someone to do it for you.

RIP Chrissie Amphlett, thanks for being a part of my youth.