You always want what you haven't got - update

Yes, on Thursday, I was a little bit sad to learn that he had a girlfriend. She's sweet, but, I never liked his girlfriends.

I always want what I haven't got, but I can live with that.

I would love to hear one of my friends saying "come with me I take you out for dinner"
I realized, yesterday, that my last date was... a very long time ago. I think I miss that.

Somebody To Love - by Queen 

Somebody To Love - covered by Brittany Murphy

You always want what you haven't got...

Last Monday, Facebook email saying "I'm coming to your gig on Thursday !"

I didn't want to believe in that message ! Anyway.

Nice week at work, and on Thursday morning, I went to the Gare du Nord. As usual, and don't know why, I missed my train. 

I noticed that everytime I have to pick an artist at the train station/airport, I miss my train. This is why I was soo late when I picked Josh and the guys at CdG... Ok, reason number two, they wanted some fresh air and moved two or three times and I lost myself in the airport !

Back to Thursday, I missed my train but wasn't late to the Gare du Nord.

I picked Erika, Joe, Will and Giacomo without a problem.

We went to the hotel, and took some rest, phone call

"Hi Flore this is Edouard, tell me everything about tonight because I'm coming, my manager wants to meet you !"

I was sooo exited ! 

During the afternoon, we took a little walk with the band, and then, we went to the venue for soundcheck.

The first band of the evening was awfull, but, I didn't care because just before that, I saw my sweet Edouard. You know that it was almost 4 years I didn't see him ???!!! It was so good to see him and talk to him.

I talked with him and Victor, his manager, and now, I need him to send me some songs for the second part of the discuss, the one I will have tomorrow on Skype with my dear boys. 

On Friday, we played tourist in Paris, it was pretty good.

Three of them already cam to Paris, Will was the only one who never come. So, we took him to THE places. Unfortunately, I miss one picture, or video. 

Will told us that he never see the Eiffel Tower, so we went. We were leaving all their stuffs at Paris Gare du Nord before having our bigggg walk. 

There is no direct line between the two places, and so, we took one RER and two subways, everything was underground, except the line 6, the two last stops. 

When we took the line 6, the aerial one, and accordionist came in too, playing the same songs, again and again. So cliché. The funny thing, and so, the picture I miss, is that during the musical moment, the sub took the aerial way, nobody was actually looking through the window, and so, I said to Will "turn around and look". And Will turned into some kind of kid in a toy store, watching the Eiffel Tower and hearing the french accordion music ! 

It was so sweet !! 

I left them after the Champs Elysées, the Jardins des Tuileries, the Louvre, and Notre Dame. It was around 19:00, and I was really tired, so were them. I took the RER A to go back to Versailles, they took the RER B to go back to the Gare du Nord.

Those two days were really nice, and the gig was awesome. Can't wait for the next one !

 Soundcheck time 

 Concert time !

 I love her face on that one... wondering "is it gonna be ok ?"

 And yes, everything was OK !

 Back to the hotel around 2:30 am, some fell asleep very quickly !!

 Tourist time, but first, breakfast !

 I love that picture...
Not perfect but, here is the story.
I was listening to Burn Out, Josh's first EP, and was looking at the cover, wondering what it was, until I realize that it was the Eiffel Tower from the bottom !

 And then... macaron time.... Hard to choose !!

 Or not !

 Pont des Arts

Next gig ?

Josh Beech & The Johns, April 27th, there for a week ! It's gonna be hard !!!

Another week is over !

And, what a week !!

It began on Monday morning with a phone call from the man with who I had a car accident on Saturday morning (nothing serious, and now, I really calmed down, especially since the moment I put down all my feelings on a piece of paper !)

He called me because I forgot to write the license plate of my car on the accident report. So, that part of Monday morning was a little bit hard emotionally. Plus the evening before (so Sunday night) I had an wigging with my parents about the accident. And, I guess that on Monday morning, I was still a little bit in a state of shock...

But, few hours and talks later, I was better, because of the good mood at work, and because of nice talks with W. on Skype about the fact that now I'm in the team. Hearing him say that my name will be on the website comforts me a lot !

Sweet talks with Jack the afternoon about Josh's next parisian gigs (late April)...

Later, I listened to his radio show, and had a great time (Live Zone on Recharged Radio - if you want to know everything, and I know you want !!)

And then, a crazy dream !!

On Tuesday morning, after my crazy dream, I was in a very good mood !! Joking with my british co-workers on Facebook on my way to work ! 

My only problem was ... that the dream finished on "We should date"... And... I have no idea of how was the date, because of my alarm clock !! (by the way, that night, I dreamt in english... strange !)

So, Tuesday began perfectly, and was a very good day. Things, at the Orchestra, are ... slow... calm... The quiet before the BIG rush of late march : Zizic Maestro on March 16th, Concert on March 27th and then, 3 concerts in-a-row on April : ARCHIVE featuring ORCHESTRE LAMOUREUX !! (they say 2 on the website, but it's 3 !!)

Isn't awesome ??? My 25th birthday at the Grand Rex listening to Archive and my Orchestre !!! (last time I went to the Grand Rex was for the gig Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, one of my best concert, with, Crosby, Stills and Nash at l'Olympia last summer !!)

And, on Tuesday, it was, also, the results of iMMa's contest. 

We were suggesting to the people who are attending to the gig to send an email describing the best concert they may imagine for her. The chance made that my cousin Ben participated to the contest, and won. I didn't pick him, I just translate his ideas, and iMMa and the boys choose ! Anyway, can you imagine how I was last night ???!!!

Going to bed, I was hoping only one thing : will I discover the second part of the dream, how's our date ? (I like the guy, I really do, but, not sure I'm seeing him as a date, at least, not yet !! - and so, this is why I laughed so much on Tuesday !!)

I woke up sad this morning : no idea of what my dream was ! So, I guess it wasn't the date !

And today was a great day. Hard, but great ! Hard because we're updating our giant database before sending the booklet of the new season of the Orchestra. To be sure of not falling asleep or dying behind my computer,  Jack decided to chat on Skype about Josh next gig. I think that he's scared about it. Why ? He's the manager, Josh is the artist, I'm the french girl who's handling it !! :-)

He was scared about when, how, where, ... but so happy when I told him "Yes, Josh will play at le Yono on April 27th! Yes, you're sharing the stage with another band !"

I like him ! It's so nice to work with him. I mean, I know that if I'm sending him an email with a question he will answer quickly, and he's the one who always want to know everything and thinking about a lot of details. It's wonderful ! If only it was like that with ALL the artists !!

Now, I am on my way to have a drink with Clémence and Romain (it was Clémence's birthday last week), and after that, tomorrow : iMMa !!

Good Girls and Bad Boys - by iMMa

In the sub, before the train, I saw two women talking. One of them, or maybe both, was deaf. It was so interesting to see them signing. This language is beautiful ! And when I see deaf people signing, I realize how strong they can be. That must be terrible to be deaf. Why are they dead : were they born deaf or did they turn ? If they did, that mean that once they were hearing everything, and the next day, nothing.
Once, I saw a group a deaf teenagers, they were talking together, it was so impressive, so fast, I think that they were arguing because some of them were angry, but it was ... wow. It was breathtaking !!

My Gran-Ma, Dad's Mum, always had problem with hearing. Now she's 87, and she told us that it will be almost 10 years that she's wearing hearing aid and that she never regretted it because it changed her life ! That she was so happy to be able to follow long discuss, going back to the Opera, enjoying people. My other Gran-Ma, Mum's Mum, is almost deaf since... maybe 10 years and always refused hearing aid. She finally said "ok I try" last December, and guess what, now she's saying that she hears the pone !! Victory !

---

Yes, earlier, I was having a drink with Clémence and Romain for Clémence's birthday. I offered the book of recipes by La Durée, she really love the gift ! (I know that, like a lot of people, she's a fan of La Durée, and learn that she wanted to try to cook some macarons !)

Chasing Heroes - by iMMa

So yes, my week was pretty amazing. But a bad news came this morning.

This morning, Mum sent us all an email saying that our great uncle Louis died last night, at midnight, heart-attack. He was my Grand-Ma brother-in-law (my Grand-Ma, Mum's Mum only has sister, and she's the oldest). My Grand Parents were at home today because my Grand-Ma had an appointment in Versailles for the hearing aid, and Mum said tonight that my Grand Pa was in shock. I understand that. 

He was with his wife and two great-children in their house in Ardèche (South), little village. He will be buried there because they have a family vault. 

We always need a bad news in the year, may the next one be ... .... not too soon !

And now, time to check the train for Paris-Gare du Nord tomorrow morning !

I'm Just A Nobody (Trying to be a somebody) - iMMa

PS : I will tell you about the dream, but, I think that I won't tell you who the guy was ! ;-)

Musical moment ...

Before putting the DVD on last night, I check what kind of programs TV was offering me...

And ...MTV... I stopped there because I was recognizing make-up...

Yesterday evening, MTV was broadcasting one of Kiss concert, the one at Rock Am Ring in 2010.

Because I don't know a lot about Kiss, and because one of my rocker is a huge fan, I choose to watch some songs, and thought that, at, around 50, those guys are still rocking on stage ! That was amazing !!

And now...

Check this video :

Those pictures :

And read this interview :

1) What makes you decide to play music, and especially guitar/bass/drum/... ?

KISS! When I was younger, I wanted to be Gene Simmons! That's why I play bass. My parents took me to see KISS when they performed in Glasgow in 1992 and it just blew my mind! I've been a big fan ever since. As I got older, other bands made me want to play in bands as well such as Rachel Stamp, Frank Zappa, Chic, Parliament Funkadelic... All of those bands have had an influence on how I play, my approach to music and of course, my approach to performing live... we just need fur coats and a spaceship and I'll be very happy!

2) How did you meet your band mates and what makes you decide to play with them ?

I met Gary a long time ago as both of our old bands were doing a gig together. My band was on first and for some reason, I was dressed as Gene Simmons (in full make up!). Gary was freaked out by this and said "I hope I'm never in a band with that guy". Ironically, I said the same thing to my band mates about him as he didn't know anything about KISS! A few years later, Gary asked me if I wanted to do a few shows with him in Glasgow as his bassist couldn't make it and since then it's turned into a year and half of playing together and having many good nights out... but with less KISS make up. 

(...)

Now... Maybe you understand why I was laughing so much last night watching Kiss !!

 

PS : my DVD was Despicable Me, looooved it !!!

Clementine

This is something that you don't know about me !

At lunch, today, we had fun with Mum. Always the same when I chose clementines as dessert !

I always pick one clementine. Not two or more, but one. I know, a clementine is a very small fruit, and so, you can eat two, three, four... Whatever.
Not me.
Because I need one hour to prepare it. Put off all the little white strings hidden between the peel and the flesh !
Mum always laugh at me when I do that. But, ... I can't help myself ! I need to clear the entire fruit before eating it !

Some musical news ?
iMMa's gig is in ONE week ! Can't wait !!!!!

soon, you will be able to meet me here !

And... Josh almost have a Parisian tour in Paris in April !! Very happy !!

Bad Romance ?

I saw them and hug them last night.
I miss my scottish guys ! Again !
And, I don't know why, listening to this cover brought me back to them !

Bad Romance - covered by 30 Seconds to Mars

And a little good news. I wrote and sent the last papers for the creation of my own company. I recorded it to the Official Record, and so I wait for their confirmation... I think that next week, a new society will exist : Track1 Music France.

Why Track1 Music France ? Because I work on it with W. and he already have his society, Track1 Music. Because I'm supposed to work in France, I just added France to the original name ! 

I think that next week, the line 12 of my bucket list will turn to red !!!

Enjoy your week-end...

That was a good night.

Last night, my friend Pauline invited me to join her team for a musical blindtest. She told me that they were losing everytime and that maybe I could help.

Perfect beginning : I wanted to leave home around 18:00, I left at 18:30, missed a train, and arrived in Paris around 19:15 or maybe more. I had to meet her and Julie at 19:30 at Place Clichy, so I needed to add 10 minutes of sub.

I took the sub, fulllllllll. First stop, I check : Miromesnil. WTF ? I took the sub in the wrong direction. I go out, change the platform, the good one is here, but impossible to take it, there are too many people. Phone call from Pauline "Where are you ?" "Yes, I know, I'm late, but it's not my fault, the sub took the wrong direction, it's not me, it's him !!"

Anyway. I arrived at Place Clichy around 19:45... She told me, "we wait for you in the middle of the place near the McDo".... WHERE ARE THEY ???

We took a pizza, and then the first jokes, the first gossips... 4 teenage girls ! That was really nice.

We left the restaurant for the pub. And began the contest. We are proud of ourselves, we didn't cheat a lot. And we were on semi-finals. The team next to our cheated all the time (thank you iPhones and your musical applications !) and was qualified for the final.

Pauline and Julie won the semi-final for our team, I won a free shot for a Nina Simone song (nobody found it, c'mon !! Nina Simone's voice is soooo recognizable !!!) And then finale.

The price : bottle of Champagne. My team won. 

We had a lot of fun. Shared a lot of stupid jokes and gossips and had great tattoos ! (ok, I lost mine after my morning shower !! the joy of a stupid tattoo made with a pen !!)

Yes, my ink says "Never Say Never".

Because we have... some kind of... problem... with Justin Bieber. We don't hate him, it's just that, everytime we connect to Deezer (french website to listen to the music) you hear 3 songs and then a commercial for him... Always the same commercials !! A little bit... boring !!

It was a very good night with some new friends !

Love is all around !

And not just on Valentine's Day ! You know I don't like it !

Anyway, thanks to Sushmita Jha from Flying High ..in the Sky, I discover this little button (from Trying to Get Over the Rainbow)

Blogger is new friends, and new love, support, help !


So, for all of you, my blogger-friends !

Musical break !

First, I'm wondering how ... how can I import my posts from my other blog to this one... I think it's possible and easy, but I'm not sure ...

Second. I discovered this music during our first anniversary concert, and I'm in love with it since ! I finally found the disc last week-end, and I don't know how many times I've listened to it !

The first concert was directed by Olivier Tardy, and Jean-François Zygel was at the piano. The pianist choose the program and kept it secret until the day of the concert (well, at the office, we knew the program, because we have to send the music sheets to the musicians.) I knew what the program was, and so, I chose to go.

Jean-François Zygel is famous for his piano-improvisation. 

He began the concert with one of his compositions, La Ville. Piece of music that he composed at New York, because he was impressed by the city. After that, I don't remember the exact order, but he played some Beethoven concerti, some Mozart extracts, Brahms (the famous movement from the 3rd Symphony), The Nutcracker (The Dance of the Fairy-Plum), Ravel's Contes de Ma Mère L'Oye, E. Grieg's Peer Gynt (I looooooooove it)... and, one piece that I didn't know : Sergeï Prokofiev's Lieutenant Kijé !

And you know what, I know that, like me, you can sing it, because the theme of Lieutenant Kijé is a famous Russian theme, and ... it's the melody of Sting's Russians. 

The Orchestra and Jean-François Zygel played three extracts : The Birth of Kijé, Romance and Troika. 

Listen ! (and read the story of Kijé, it's funny !!)

Romance of Kijé - composed by S. Prokofiev

Troïka - composed by S. Prokofiev

UPDATE - I found how to import/export... so, all my ancient post from my other blog (Sans la Musique Serait une Erreur) are here... I will make a post with the titles and songs soon, and will, close the blog...

Never trust the horoscope...

This morning , my horoscope told me that my day will be perfect and I will succeed at work !

I don't like that kind of joke, because this afternoon meeting was about me : what kind of employee am I since my first day ? Will I keep my job at the end of my first six months, so late April ?

This job is hard for me, because I've never been in production before. And I realize that my thing is really the communication, not the production. I want to create documents, spending hours on the net to find all the articles about one person, and do the best press review I can. I need this artistic thing ! 

Anyway, the meeting was not the best part of the day, and the week. Next time, I won't read it before that kind of meeting !

The year of the Rabbit

I think that I told you, around Christmas/New Year's Eve, that I would have a good news to share.

Since Wednesday, China, and Asia, entered in a new year, the rabbit.
My big brother lives in Hong Kong since 5 years, so, every year, we follow the events.

Before going back to HK, my brother took a long time talking to my parents, about his life and job, and told them that he may come back to Paris few days in March. But, not alone.

Because I may have a HK-sister-in-law, I wish you a happy new year today !

2011 was the year of the Tiger, so it was my year (because 1986 is Tiger !). And, I think that yes, it was my year because from Feb 2010 to Feb 2011, I got a job, created my own company, organized successful concerts, and, got my driving licence ! A great year for me !

Have you met... Maggie ?

Since I know them, and that I post about them, I talk about Maggie. But, I don't remember if I told you why Maggie... Let me check... (20 minutes later : found it !!!)

Yesterday you met Zakk, so today you meet Maggie. You already know Neil, and ... maybe one day you will meet Gary... (he may turn famous one day, so I protect him... joking ! )

The press release is almost over. Just need to read it one more time just in case, and then, Ilo and I will think about venues and promoters. I hope it will help us !

Maggie's Hollywood Story !


1) What makes you decide to play music, and especially guitar/bass/drum/... ?

KISS! When I was younger, I wanted to be Gene Simmons! That's why I play bass. My parents took me to see KISS when they performed in Glasgow in 1992 and it just blew my mind! I've been a big fan ever since. As I got older, other bands made me want to play in bands as well such as Rachel Stamp, Frank Zappa, Chic, Parliament Funkadelic... All of those bands have had an influence on how I play, my approach to music and of course, my approach to performing live... we just need fur coats and a spaceship and I'll be very happy!

2) How did you meet your band mates and what makes you decide to play with them ?

I met Gary a long time ago as both of our old bands were doing a gig together. My band was on first and for some reason, I was dressed as Gene Simmons (in full make up!). Gary was freaked out by this and said "I hope I'm never in a band with that guy". Ironically, I said the same thing to my band mates about him as he didn't know anything about KISS! A few years later, Gary asked me if I wanted to do a few shows with him in Glasgow as his bassist couldn't make it and since then it's turned into a year and half of playing together and having many good nights out... but with less KISS make up.

The first time I met Zakk, all he said was "Well... He has a stupid haircut... He'll fit in". He hadn't even heard me play a note but already his mind was made up! A Joker's Rage were left without a bass player 2 weeks before a show in York, so since I knew Gary, he asked me to step in and learn the songs so the show could go ahead. After spending a week learning their set, I was on stage with them and no one mentioned anything about the old bass player, just that the new guy was really good. After the show, Zakk took me aside and said the band now sounded better than it ever had. Since then, we've worked together putting together the stage shows, ideas for artwork/posters etc and running our record label, Black Tongue Records.

With regards to Neil, I met him at a gig we were doing with Gary somewhere in Glasgow. Straight away we hit it off and he's been a great friend ever since. We normally meet up and play together just because we enjoy it so much! He really enjoys playing in weird time signatures so it's always a challenge for me to push myself further as a bassist and you need that in a rhythm section! Also, he's completely insane and probably keeps the bones of the Elephant Man in his cupboard.   

3) What can you say about them ? (as person, musician, alien, ...)

Gary is easily one of the hardest working people I know. Neil turns into Jim Carrey when you give him lots of sugar (becoming one of the funniest people I know). Zakk is Ron Jeremy's love child.

4) What will be, for you, the perfect AJR's gig ? (let's be crazy, you have no money limit !)

The perfect AJR gig would be to have Rachel Stamp as a support act playing their first album from start to finish (with all of the B-Sides). Then AJR perform on a recreation of the KISS Love Gun Tour stage set from 1977 and blow everything up while dressed as Al Jolson.

5) Why should you book AJR in France ? Sell yourself !

...Did I mention we travel with a monkey? You want to meet the monkey, don't you? He's called Charles. You'll only meet him if you book us.

Little note from the translator : Zakk talked about owl and octopuss, and meerkat, and G-raff (no, that's Maggie), and and and. Maggie's talking about a monkey. Neil about an elephant. Now, I really wonder if they only drink beer and smoke only cigarettes... (well, no, Zakk admitted it yesterday, he also drink Vodka, and all drink Whiskey -of course, they're scottish !)
And, the all thing about Kiss is true, they are some pictures on Facebook. Maggie convinced Gary to dress and make up like Kiss ! I love them !

Have you met... Zakk

I spent a lot of hours today on A Joker's Rage PR, and, it's not finish, not yet.

Remember my part "A Joker's Rage by A Joker's Rage" ? I talked to you about the crazy answers I got. This afternoon I worked on Zakk's page (because, the order, for my PR is Zakk, Neil, Steven and Gary... so this is it !)

Because I had a lot of fun, and thought it will be sad to put his answers as a text, I translate the interview, and give you a copy !

The page, the real one is in French. His english answers are below !

1) What makes you decide to play music, and especially guitar/bass/drum/... 

I sing, perform and write music simply because it comes naturally to me and if I don't release my creativity, I start to lose control of my emotions and bowel movements.
This causes excruciating constipation and anal bleeding. Growing up being mesmerised by Michael Jackson played a huge part in my chosen career.

2) How did you meet your band mates and what makes you decide to play with
them ?

I met Cody & Spoons while playing a headline show high up in a Monkey nest amongst the tallest trees of the Amazon with my previous band 'Kid Ego' The Alpha male of the tribe hired a Scottish band called Rocketfox to be our support band. I was very impressed with the musicianship of Cody & Spoons so much so that I insisted the Alpha tribe leader allow me to send a telegram to my manager and inform him he should sign Rocketfox to our label. After developing a musical bond we feasted on grubs and bananas, which in a potassium overload moment of madness, led to me producing their album. 2 years later back on earth we re-united for a jam session and it just took off from there. We sent a meerkat to mars with a clear mission of finding us a sadistic ginger bass player. The meerkat returned with a giant test tube. The tube contained Steven 'G-raff' Adamson.

3) What can you say about them ? (as person, musician, alien, ...)

Cody is a fierce warrior owl. He is literally the best-unknown guitar player in the world.
There isn't anything he can't do on a guitar. When I describe an idea, he can usually play what I am describing before I have finished describing the description I'm trying to describe.
Like an unpredictable animal in captivity, he is only to be fed and approached by myself, G-raff or Spoons. His razor sharp teeth will take no nonsense from outsiders. In general he will blow any 6-string player out of the water.

Spoons is a strategic warrior of the Octopus variety. Not to be confused with the often-questionable rhythm patterns of the Squid. He hits the skins harder than anyone I have had the pleasure of performing with. His passion and natural energy flows onto the drums with thunderous consequences. He is the master of arrangements. WARNING - do not feed this animal any sweets or sugary substances.

G-raff is the head look out warrior. He will see you coming before you have even thought about attempting the journey. His bass fingers are renowned as being a substitute for machines that cut people out of car wrecks. His bass style is driven from a funk background but his solid playing and natural ability to understand music allows him the freedom of switching styles anytime he chooses. Once in captivity in Austria he perfected using only his picking fingers he fashioned an escape tunnel out of a certain basement. he drinks Vodka with me. we drink Vodka. I like Vodka.

4) What will be, for you, the perfect AJR's gig ? (let's be crazy, you have no money limit !)

I would like to perform in a big bowl of Kellogg’s frosties.

5) Why should we book AJR in France ? Sell yourself !

You should book AJR in France simply because we will make your life better.
You will smile, you will laugh, you will cry with joy, you will orgasm, you will be inspired, and after it all you will sleep like a baby.

I'm Zakk, I like Vodka