Tosca

When Prince Charming suggested to go see the opera Tosca being played outdoors, at Oscarsborg Fortress, I was a bit surprised. Not that him wanting to go to the opera surprised me - I just hadn't considered seeing an opera an option. I don't know why, I don't hate opera or anything like it. On the other hand, I didn't love it either. I had never been to see an opera before and didn't have much of a relationship with it at all. But I thought it was a splendid idea, and off we went.

Oscarsborg Fortress - photo found here.

The experience was very rewarding, and I thoroughly enjoyed the play. Can't say much about the singing apart from it being very impressive since I don't know anything about opera. I don't think I'll start listening to opera in the car or anything, but I'd like to see more operas in the future. Since I haven't seen any, the ending is a surprise too... But first we'll introduce ourselves to the world of ballet, I think. I hope there's still tickets available for The Nutcracker in December.

Sirens And Us

Went to Øya Klubb-natt yesterday at Parkteatret and saw three bands I hadn't seen before. I was the most impressed with Sirens And Us who I've been told have only played together for four months! It was so tight and professional and VERY VERY good. I'm definetly going to keep an eye out for these guys!

Happy Happy Music!

Yes!

Update:

I see now how it might seem strange to call this song "a happy song" after having watched the video. I actually hadn't seen the video before. A few years ago I used to attend "Dance Aerobic" sessions and this was the all time favourie of one of the instructors. That's why it is a happy song to me, and always will be. When I hear it I start smiling and I feel like dancing.

Until today when I heard it played on the radio I didn't even know it was Yes!. So although it seems like a strange coincidence that Nina mentioned Yes! as one of the things she likes the other day, it actually is!

Here you can see the another version by Max Graham vs Yes! I believe this must be the version played by my former aerobics instructor.

Foo Fighters!

For my birthdayy Prince Charming gave me tickets to see the Foo Fighters concert on June 12th in Oslo. What a great present! The tickets were sold out one hour after they were released so he planned it for months.

The concert was great! The Foo Fighters played for two hours and we got to hear all their hits. I had a real good time, grooving for the whole of the show.

Leadbelly

I'm now back home but have however brought with me a mean Nepalese stomach bug. I'm therefore leaving you with this great version of In The Pines. I'll try to post a version the lovely S did for us in Nepal if Blogger will allow such a long clip.

I'll see you all soon again!

It's now mere hours until departure. I have a few select things to fix before I go but will be on my way very soon. Hopefully I'll be able to put up a post while in Kathmandu before we leave for the mountains. Until next time I leave you with this classic of a song. I'll be back before you know it! Take care, everybody!

Pickpockets suck!

A few weekends ago a pickpocket stole my MP3 player on my way home from work. It was suddenly gone and I've looked every likely and unlikely place. It has evaporated. So I have reported it stolen to the Police. Today I received both the confirmation letter on the report and the letter saying the case is closed due to lack of evidence. I'm sending the confirmation on the report to my insurance company as my home and / or travel insurance will cover theft on the way to work / school. Can't remember which but I have both in the same insurance company so I'll find out.



What else arrived in the mail today was my new MP3 players. I actually went ahead and ordered two. The one pictured below is the exact same as the stolen one. A Creative V Plus 8 GB. I'm very happy with it and didn't want anything else. It's small and it's easy. 8 GB is enough for me since it was only half full when it was stolen. The web shop I ordered it from also had Creative Zen Stones 1 GB on sale for only NOK 199,- ($ 40 with the crummy exchange rate on USD these days). It's so small and lightweight i thought I'd bring it to Nepal. It's pictured above. And since it's cheap it doesn't matter if I loose it, break it or it gets stolen while I'm away.

Heard this in a while?

Tina rocks!

Great jacket, great concert

The Nouvelle Vague concert yesterday was great! I had so much fun and enjoyed every minute of it. My friend S hadn't heard them before and also thought it was really good. The jacket I'm wearing in the picture above was sown by my Mum back in the 80's. We found it while searching for treasure at my parents a month ago. I felt SO cool in it! Thanks Mum!

Nouvelle Vague

Tomorrow Nouvelle Vague is playing at Rockefeller here in Oslo. Prince Charming and I are going out for dinner first so it'll be a great evening! I'm really looking forward to it. You can hear some of their music here.

Ingrid Olava

This up and coming Norwegian talent is one of my favourites these days.

(Nina, I'm sure you'll love this!)

Queens Of The Stone Age in Oslo

Yesterday Prince Charming and I saw Queens Of The Stone Age in Oslo Spektrum. It was fun but I got the feeling it was just another job for them. They did what they were supposed to do, and that was it. The whole concert had a feeling of being very professional. The songs were the ones I expected (hadn't heard all of them before, though - I'm not a blood fan). The extra number was of course their biggest radio hit. It was all just what we expected. And nothing else. So I think the concert was a four out of six. A good concert, but nothing mindblowing. You can see OsloPuls' critique here (in Norwegian).

Missy Higgins

Missy Higgins isn't very known here in Norway yet, but a good friend in Australia once sent me her first album "The sound of White". I'm sure we'll hear from her soon!

White Christmas

http://www.clown-ministry.com/index_1.php/site/articles/white_christmas_1954_starring_bing_crosby_danny_kaye/

Check out the new videos on the right hand side of the blog. It might snow here at my parent's on Christmas Eve. I hope so! There is no Christmas without White Christmas!

Rock Legend Roky Erickson

FOTO: ARASH A. NEJAD

http://oslopuls.no/musikk/article1931842.ece

Roky Erickson visited Oslo again Thursday December 20th. No wonder, considering the reception he got at the Øya Festival this summer. It was my first Roky experience and I had to see him again when I heard Rockefeller had him booked now. I wasn't disappointed. He did 3 extras and the crowd still cried for more! You could see he was very touched and happy by the audience's cheers. He seems almost shy. The backing band looked like they were having the time of their life. I fantasized they've been locked up as studio musicians their whole careers, and now they're finally on the stage! Rock Stars at last! And they did rock, especially the guitarist, both him and the bass player wearing suits. The drummer looked like a computer geek. And it was perfect! If you ever get the chance to go see him, take it!

Motörhead

www.markmusic.s5.com/images/lemmy.jpg

Motörhead is coming to town and Prince Charming is taking me to see them. I can't really claim to be a hard core fan but I'm sure it'll be a lot of fun anyway! Lemmy is so infamous and is one of the things worth seeing before they're gone.
Rock and Roll!

Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong

"Summertime"

You have to hear it!

Nina Simone

"I put a spell on you"
Nina sings the Screamin' Jay Hawkins hit, her way, in London, 1968.