2009 July – Alexandra Sheppard

Jul 12, 2009

Why I’m a teensy bit obsessed with Dreamgirls

As I type this, I’m watching Dreamgirls for the fifth time since I arrived in Derby on Wednesday. This is partly because there’s little else to do here, but mostly because it’s a brilliant film that only gets more fabulous with each viewing.

If you don’t know what Dreamgirls is about, then acquaint yourself with the trailer:

Awesome, right?

Here’s why I can fully justify watching it on a daily basis:

1. I’m mildly obsessed with any film involving Motown.

2. Any film set in the 60s and 70s worth it’s salt will have lots of fab outfits and hair-dos – Dreamgirls is no exception. They are all gorgeous, but these two make my knees tremble:

3. Jennifer Hudson’s rendition of ‘And I’m Telling You I’m Not Going’ is probably my favourite performance in any musical. You’d have to be inhuman not to be moved by it and that Oscar was very well deserved. Take THAT Simon Cowell.

4. Everything about Beyonce in this film is fantastic and I now have a massive ladycrush on her. She looks breathtakingly beautiful (if a little boney) and really tones down her inner Sasha Fierce to play “sugar-sweet and shy” Deena Jones.

5. It’s pretty rare to see an all-black cast in a US movie that then goes on to do really well commercially. Dreamgirls has a very strong cast which, sadly, I haven’t seen much of since.

Filed Under: Brain Dumps · Tagged: Dreamgirls, lists, Motown, musicals

Jul 11, 2009

5 things I’m looking forward to doing when I’m back in London

By Alexandra Sheppard · 3 Comments

Originally, this post was going to be something along the lines of ’5 Reasons Why There Is No Life Outside London & OMG Derby Is *So* Dull’, but I decided against it.

I didn’t want to offend my Derby-dwelling friends and the truth is that, well, Derby really isn’t that bad. I did live here for nine years and actually managed to enjoy most of that time.

But I am missing London dreadfully and I’ve been planning my escape since Weednesday evening. I’m aware that this makes me sound like a horrible sister/daughter/grandchild/cousin/friend but London has karaoke bars, the British Museum and more than 4 buses an hour into the city centre. London wins.

Anyway, I’ve got lots to look forward to when I get back. If I write these events down in a list, link it up and add a few pretty pictures it’ll make the time pass quicker, yes?

1. The Qype/Lucky Voice event

I’ll be joining 19 other Qypers on Tuesday night at Lucky Voice for a night of realllly bad singing. With strangers. *Gulps*.

I’ve been to Lucky Voice before and had a fantastic night, but I have a slight reticence (read: crippling shyness and zero social skills) when it comes to being around lots of people who I’ve never met before. To help me get over that, I resolved to go out at least twice per week (extra points if there are strangers).

But I’m getting nervous about it already. I can’t bow out because Sian is hand-delivering my pretty new earrings and I’m quite looking forward to getting them. I guess I’ll have to just, you know, talk to people that I haven’t met before. That will be interesting.

2. Reading in Foyles’ Jazz Cafe

I’m fully aware that reading can take place anywhere, but it’s extra-special in the Jazz Cafe. Especially when it’s rainy and overcast outside and I’ve managed to nab the big armchair and a slice of apple cake.

3. Having a nose around Camden Passage, Angel

Camden Passage

Camden Passage is a cobbled backstreet in Angel, Islington containing a few restaurants, very cute antique shops and Paul A. Young’s chocolate shop (the rose and garam masala white chocolate is more delicious than anything containing flowers and curry powder should be).

It’s very charming in an old-fashioned way, and probably the closest you can get to Diagon Alley in real life.

4. Staying out until silly o’clock in Brick Lane

When I moved back to London last year, it was a long time before I went to any of the clubs purely because I had no idea where to go – too much choice!

So why fellow London newbie Laura and I decided to go to 93 Feet East and Cafe 1001 on Brick Lane (a hassle to get to for both of us) is beyond me. But I’m very glad that we did – it’s reasonably priced, friendly and has an ‘anything goes’ dress code (if, for some crazy reason, you don’t enjoy getting dressed-up before a night out).

Oh, and beigels! It’s compulsory to have a salt beef beigel or two when you visit Brick Lane (one with mustard to eat outside Beigal Bake, one without mustard to eat on the night bus home).

5. Sisters!

I’m a very lucky person. Not only do I have a sister in Derby that I have loads of giggles with, I also have three equally bonkers fun sisters in London. It’s very difficult to be bored that way (or run low on pretty dresses).

Plus Zi (sister #2) has a new kitten which she lets me play with. I don’t think I’ve ever wanted to snuggle something more – it’s like a living hot water bottle. And you haven’t lounged about until you’ve lounged with a sleepy kitten curled into your arms.

Flickr image from Dimitry B’s photostream

Filed Under: Fun & Games · Tagged: boredom, Brick Lane, Camden Passage, can I go home now?, Derby, karaoke, kitten, list, London, Lucky Voice, Qype, sisters

Jul 3, 2009

Will there be a Motown 75?

By Alexandra Sheppard · Leave a Comment

Considering I’m a huge Motown fan, it’s astonishing I have only just this minute seen that performance of Billie Jean. You know, this one here:

The first thing that struck me was that, in another 25 years time, none of these amazing artists will be alive. And I’m aware how “no shit, Sherlock” that is but it still makes me really sad. The generations below me will have only distant memories of The Temptations, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and more.

But that’s not exactly the case, is it? I wasn’t alive at the peak of Motown. My parent’s weren’t born when Motown had it’s first hit. But I can’t remember a time when that music hasn’t been in my life.

Example: The Motown 50 album played nonstop on Christmas Day in my house and everyone, from Grandparents to my younger cousins were loving it – I don’t think that would’ve happened with any other genre.

I guess if there’s one thing that Michael Jackson’s death has shown, it’s that the memories of legendary talent doesn’t die when the person does. And that makes things better. But a small part of me will always be a bit miffed that I won’t ever see the original line-up of The Temptations perform ‘My Girl’:

Loving the dance routine – you don’t see moves like that anymore.

Filed Under: Brain Dumps · Tagged: Billie Jean, death, Michael Jackson, Motown, music, soul

Jul 3, 2009

Something Of A Domestic

By Alexandra Sheppard · 1 Comment

The fantastically-named Something Of A Domestic shopping event took place lastnight in the gorgeous Something… near Russell Square.

Because I like lists (and I’m too hungover to paragraph), here are my highlights of the evening in no particular order:

1. People turned up! Seeing Something… packed at 6.30 with people that know about and like Domestic Sluttery felt awesome.

2. This rather quaint book that I bought called ‘Men, Women & Wedlock’, a collection of tips for the forward-thinking Edwardian couple first published in 1910. I was sold by #47: “Don’t make love to a girl in a hammock; you may both fall out”. Excellent advice.

3. I survived in my quite frankly ridiculous heels and not very heatwave-friendly dress. The fact that I stood barefoot on the pavement for 20 minutes (sweet relief!) does not negate this achievement.

4. Meeting Twitter people (including the Domestic Sluts) in the flesh and discovering that they are just as lovely, fun and interesting as I had imagined them to be. I may be harbouring a number of lady crushes.

5. I’m secretly a little bit proud that me, Sarah and Selina drained the bar of mojitos and I could still walk home in said ridiculous heels. Here’s the evidence:

6. Even though I was incredibly nervous before the event (my hands were trembling so much I couldn’t apply my Girls Aloud false lashes), I left feeling very pleased and smiley. Which is the point, isn’t it?

Unfortunately I only took one pic (it was too hot for me to concentrate on using a digital camera) so if you have any then please let me know!

Filed Under: Fun & Games · Tagged: cocktails, Domestic Sluttery, shopping, Something...

Jul 1, 2009

How karaoke solves everything. Literally, everything.

By Alexandra Sheppard · 4 Comments

Friday was a bit of an odd day for me. Not only was it the last day of my internship at studentbeans.com, but Michael Jackson died rather suddenly. And it really, really upset me. Much more than I thought it would actually.

Normally I don’t cry over the deaths of people I’ve never met, but Michael Jackson’s was different. Even though my generation missed his Bad/Thriller peak (I was born in the late 80s), we all knew his music, could attempt the moonwalk and recognised Thriller as one of the greatest music videos ever made.

Weeping whilst brushing your teeth isn’t the best way to start the day, and for all of the above reasons I was pretty mopey (my blog, my neologisms) on Friday afternoon and in desperate need of giggles – the after-party for the moonwalk flash-mob at Lucky Voice sounded perfect.

I went along with Sian (I nearly never went at all because of stupid shyness – but that’s another blog post) and politely declined the offer of karaoke.

One hour and two mojitos later, I was grabbing the microphone to warble ‘My Girl’ whilst wearing a sparkly pink cowboy hat. Stu’s rendition of ‘Don’t Stop ‘Till You Get Enough’ made me laugh so much I nearly vommed and we surprised ourselves by knowing the words to classic choon ‘Buffalo Stance’ (“Gigolo, huh, SUCKER”).

A couple of days ago I was close to tears when ‘Man In The Mirror’ came on the radio, but halfway through it I remembered singing that track on Friday and I started giggling instead.

Thankfully Unfortunately there’s no evidence of Friday night (other than the pink sparkles from the cowboy hat that glued themselves to my skin) as we were having too much fun to take pics. You’ll just have to take Sian’s, Stu’s and my word that it was a brilliant night that I hope to repeat soon.

Filed Under: Fun & Games · Tagged: karaoke, Lucky Voice, Michael Jackson, studentbeans

Jul 1, 2009

My Someone Once Told me snap & why I heart Zadie Smith

By Alexandra Sheppard · 2 Comments

A few months ago I had my photo taken by the lovely Mario for his photo project Someone Once Told Me. My quote was this:

“Sometimes it’s good to have a few obstacles in your way, so as not to take things completely for granted. Don’t you think?”

As my video commentary explains (cringe) I think it can be applied to anything from writing fiction to starting a company (and something vague about relationships, if I recall). The quote comes from none other than my all-time favourite writer and one of the people I admire most, Zadie Smith.

Though none of her books are in my Top 3, Zadie Smith is my favourite writer because she get’s better and better with every piece of writing she produces. Whether it’s a short story or lecture analysing Barack Obama’s use of language, every word is considered and every sentence crafted. I can’t think of any other contemporary writer who can produce metaphor, dialogue and characters with her flair – whatever you think about White Teeth.

I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting Zadie (it’s on my to-do list) but I stumbled across her email address on some writer’s website one evening last April. I immediately scribbled out several fangirlish, rambly and superlative-filled paragraphs on why I thought that The Autograph Man was all sorts of awesome (or words to that effect), pressed send and put all thoughts of a response out of my head.

But the next morning there was a lovely email from Zadie saying, amongst other things, that my email had made her day. Awesome. She was incredibly modest and seemed to actually enjoy answering my questions.

I cannot wait until her next work of fiction comes out but until then, I’ll settle quite happily for her forthcoming collection of essays. This is one writer I’ll certainly be keeping an eye on and I’m really looking forward to whatever she comes out with next.

Filed Under: Brain Dumps, Writery Things · Tagged: photo, someone once told me, Zadie Smith

Why I’m a teensy bit obsessed with Dreamgirls

Will there be a Motown 75?

Something Of A Domestic

How karaoke solves everything. Literally, everything.

My Someone Once Told me snap & why I heart Zadie Smith

Hello, I’m Alex

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