A to Z of the 80s - P is for Party

But Not Like Prince

by Jo Michelmore

The 80s are responsible for a lot of things that are probably best forgotten, some of which I've already written about in this alphabet of mine. But there's one thing from the 80s that I blame all of my disappointments on. If only I hadn't heard one song, things would have turned out so differently. I'd have happily gone along my merry way, never thinking I was missing out on something, wondering why everyone else was having such a good time while I was like a lost puppy, waiting around for things to happen. I'm sure if it hadn't been for that one goddamn 80s song about the 90s then...

...S Club 7 would have been S Club 8. I'd obviously be the '8th'. Duh.

Instead of just seeing the Vengaboys the second time around, I'd be driving the Vengabus...

And I might have liked this (but probably not)...

Alas, here I am, still waiting for the greatest night of my life, a party filled with fireworks and funny coloured cocktails and dancing and midgets wandering around with bowls of cocaine on their heads like it's 1999. Or something. Maybe? I was there in 99. Even it wasn't that great. If I hadn't heard that song about 1999 in the 80s then I would have enjoyed all the parties I went to, not thinking there was a better one out there somewhere. In fact, I'd probably have done more of this...

and less of this...

The 80s have a lot to answer for. Damn you Prince. 

The A to Z of Pop - V is for The Very Best....And Very Worst

The A to Z of Pop

by Jo Michelmore

It really seems a bit ridiculous to have the A to Z of Pop stand for anything other than the two artists I have chosen this week, which also happen to represent, in my opinion, the absolute very best of pop music....and the very worst. But I write a lot of things on this blog and I feel like I've given up so much information about myself to the glorious internet that if someone was to be watching me or investigating my life via internets, they'd already know too much. 

So, in my true not-so-mysterious but-a-little-bit-enigma style, I present to you, dear reader, two artists, both averagely famous in the world of pop (perhaps one a little more than the other) and one who I consider to be the very, very best that pop music can offer. Pure bubblegum, hands in the air, fun in your pants pop music. The other? One who I consider to be the very worst, boring, bland, bad bad bad, possibly the worst pop 'musicians' to be offered to our society since popular pop music became popular pop music. Welcome to V in the A to Z of Pop...

The Veronicas

Vengaboys

Very good or very bad, which is which then? Anyone who has read more than two or three things I've written on this blog would know, but I'm not going to make it that easy for you. Some things are better left unsaid. 

It's All Coming Back To Me Now - Goosebumps and Tears

PJ Harvey, live at the Regent Theatre, 2012.

Goosebumps and Tears

2012: The Year of Live Music

by Jo Michelmore

I’m going to admit something here. My name is Jo and I have an addiction, which no, is not the sex addiction Matt likes to think I have in his alternate universe. My addiction is a little more involved than that and it started a long, long time ago. My addiction has plagued and rewarded me almost my whole life. I can’t imagine existing without it and in fact, I don’t want to. I love it.


There’s nothing like the feeling of an incredible note, a guitar riff being played the right way, a bass line pounding through your chest, a drumbeat so catchy it’s impossible not to dance. For me, there’s almost no feeling better than seeing a musician play in front of you, telling stories about their songs, yelling at you, throwing something at you, demanding you dance, demanding you listen, performing with their peers. It’s all about the lights and the clothes and the volume and it’s about swaying uncontrollably, dancing in the dark and singing as loudly as you can. It’s about laughing and bouncing and moving and crying and it’s all about the goose bumps. It’s about sharing these things with thousands of people, hundreds of people, a couple of people, sharing these moments with your closest friends and knowing that years from now you’ll remember those moments with a smile. I’ve been so lucky to have so many of those this year. Amongst a bunch, I saw Crystal Castles, Kira Puru and the Bruise, Texas Tea, Lanie Lane, Gin Wigmore, Aqua….the list goes on. If I mentioned them all we’d be here forever (almost) so instead, let’s just look at a few.

 

One of the most glittery nights of the year, The Vengaboys provided hilarious memories of much drunken behaviour, dancing and something I’d never seen before – their back catalogue is so small they sang one song twice. If it hadn’t been for them, the most hilarious gig of the year might have been given to Marilyn Manson, who spent most of his Soundwave set declaring his love of narcotics and desperately looking for an audience member to share them with. No thanks Marilyn. Lots of laughing and bouncing at those.


Gig Review - Vengaboys (11/01/2012)
Text Review - Soundwave 2012 


The image of Kaiser Chiefs Ricky Wilson throwing his microphone over the lighting rig at the Hi-Fi and demanding everyone listen while singing to a swaying mic was so very rock it made me genuinely happy. Seeing that talented little guy Prince and singing Purple Rain over and over, laughing with Katie while watching a shower of confetti and glitter was the best but it was Holly Throsby who reminded me of the need to pay close attention to those artists who may not make it to the very top of the charts, but whose songs and sounds are just as important. There was some dancing and some swaying at all of those gigs.

We Like To Party Like It's 1999!

The Vengaboys (11/01/2012)

Live at The Hi-Fi, Brisbane.

Supported by: The Herbs

Review by Jo Michelmore


Wednesday night. It's the middle of the week. Nothing special, right? Not my Wednesday. Mine involved sequins and feathers and dancing and sequins and big hair and bouncing and sequins and pop. My Wednesday night involved The Vengaboys.

The audience was a strange bunch, involving almost every facet of society; the young, fashionable, old, unfashionable, boys in girls clothes, girls in boys clothes, the emo, the filthy hippy, the boring and the interesting, the attractive and not so attractive. Everyone except maybe your hipster, but they weren't needed anyway. This was a prime example of pop music transcending almost all parts of society.


The smile on my face started as soon as I entered the venue. What was that sound? Could it be? Was that really the Backstreet Boys causing that much noise and excitement? It was. Every song a pure pop classic, the DJ warming up the crowd had them all in the palm of her hand. All the best pop, from the Fresh Prince to Beyonce, Janet Jackson to Outkast, the punters squealed with delight at the start of every song and they danced and danced and danced and yes, they danced.

The squealing and dancing was interrupted for a little while by the support band 'The Herbs' (a Spice Girls cover band) who confused us all with strange versions of previously catchy Spice Girls songs. It was ok though, it gave most a chance to update their Facebook status and the audience were so enthused a tiny little boredom didn't seem to matter. It had been 14 years waiting for the Vengabus so no one was going to miss the fun.


The four people that are The Vengaboys exploded onto the stage in a manner only old Eurodance pop acts can. One pink and silver cowboy, one green and purple feathered ensemble, one sequined sailor and one red space girl. They danced their way through forty minutes of the cheesiest, trashiest, greatest Europop this side of the 80's. I thought I only knew two songs, but three or four were familiar and the rest were so bouncy it didn't matter anyway. It was like watching a real life version of lip synching cartoon characters auditioning for So You Think You Can Dance. Of course, the best songs and biggest reactions were for 'Boom Boom Boom Boom' and 'We Like To Party' but even the slightly lesser known 'Sex On The Beach' and 'Rocket To Uranus' (yes, they're a party act) managed to keep the crowd singing along (proof pop music is a) easy to get and b) hard to hate). The back catalogue is so shallow almost everything sounded the same, but no one cared, including me. This bus is not likely to pass by again anytime soon so I would have been happy to dance to the same two songs over and over for 40 minutes.

Only The Vengaboys could bring a little part of all the greatest parts of trash pop to an audience so successfully, especially midweek. Wednesday night has a lot to live up to, I don't think it will ever be the same again.


Thank you Vengabus for visiting! You and your boys certainly do like to party.

Song of the Day - Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom

Vengaboys - Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom

Album: The Party Album (1998)

Let me tell you a story... Once upon a time there was a very patient little boy. He was so patient, that he even grew up to be a patient (and extremely handsome) young man*. Whatever could it be that he would wait years and years for? It was something extremely magical; a means of transportation that would take you to the party of your life. I'm talking about the Vengabus people! Duh. Tonight, that patient little boy has all his dreams come true (until he goes and sees Aqua later in the year) as the Vengabus finally stops in Brisbane. That's right, tonight, the Vengaboys play the Hi-Fi! Do you like to party?! I like, I like to party? We like, we like to party!!!

Just to be very clear... I'm seriously excited about this. It'll be over the top, ridiculous and a world of fun. What better way to spend your Wednesday night?


*I never said I was writing about me... it's a story, I can tell it how I want!

Song of the Day - We Like To Party



Village People Spice Girls Vengaboys?



Vengaboys - We Like To Party

Album: The Party Album (1998)


Who likes to party? WE like to party! And who do we want to party with? The Vengaboys! When? January, 2012 during their Australian tour! Are you really going to miss this chance to finally get on the vengabus? I didn't think so. Where can you get your 'Boom Boom Boom Boom' on? Let's take a look.

January 11, 2012 - The Hi-Fi, Brisbane

January 12, 2012 - The Corner Hotel, Victoria

January 13, 2012 - Selina's - Coogee Bay Hotel, NSW

January 15, 2012 - Coolangatta Hotel, QLD

Tickets are on sale September 5! The tour will be preceded with the release of their new album, Rocket to Uranus. Not. Even. Kidding.