There are so many occasions when Shirley Clamp SHOULD have been Sweden’s entry for the Eurovision Song Contest. Of all the times she’s entered, this is probably my favourite.
Min kärlek (Aha)
Ska brinna (Aha)
Så klar som en stjärna i natten
Min kärlek (Aha)
Ska finna (Aha)
Sin väg i det djupaste vatten
Min kärlek till dig
(Min kärlek, min kärlek)
My love (Aha)
Shall burn (aha)
As clear as a star in the night
My love (Aha)
Shall find (aha)
Its way in the deepest water
My love for you
(My love, my love)
I’ve seen her perform a few times, including at Stockholm Pride, and in the close-up of her feet, at (the sadly now closed) Paradise nightclub. And apparently, she has an Australian connection, with her British-born father, having resided here for a number of years.
Robin Stjernberg, Martin Rolinski, Shirley Clamp and others at the opening of The ABBA Museum in Stockholm
As I sit down on New Years Eve to think about what’s happened in my life this year, there’s so much to reflect upon: overseas trips, new adventures at work, and the death of a close family member.
I ended last year feeling 2009 had been a year of treading water: I hadn’t really done all that much exciting in either my personal or professional life.
I began 2010 with a renewed sense of anticipation: in March I was returning to Sweden in significantly different circumstances to the last time in 2008. and I was to be on a panel at the Radio Days Conference in Copenhagen.
After my trip there in the summer two years ago, I was keen to go back and experience Sweden at a different time of the year. “Could I cope with the long, dark cold winter months?”, I asked myself. Probably not is the answer, but I gave the end of winter/the start of spring a try by visiting Sweden during March. When I arrived it was snowing and the waterways around Stockholm were frozen over. I went out on a ice-breaker and walked on ice for the first time in my life, nearly escaping plunging to my death by walking too close to the edge of a wharf. It would have been a dramatic way to go, though, wouldn’t it?
Stockholm winter ice tour
As well as experiencing the delights of a Swedish spring, I also went to Melodifestivalen, the Swedish finals for Eurovision, attended quite a few pop concerts, met some interesting people, and generally had a fine holiday.
I was also lucky enough to be invited to be a panelist at the Radio Days Europe Conference held in March in Copenhagen, and got to meet some people working in similar jobs in different parts of the world.
Captured on video at Radio Days Europe
My second overseas trip this year was to China. My friend Kate has been living there on and off for a few years, and I’ve been thinking of going for a while. As she had an exhibition opening in November, I asked when she had a window of opportunity and grabbed it. I loved Beijing. Seriously the best food I’ve ever eaten consistently on any holiday ever. And there was a lot to see and do, includng all of the obvious tourist spots. It was great to hang out with Kate and with some of the artists she was looking after while there. A return trip to China? Yes possibly.
My last trip was very much a backpacker’s adventure, whereas this was a more grown up holiday experience. Deep in the back of my mind throughout was the question about whether or not I’d like to live in Sweden for a while, or whether this was a short-term obsession that would pass with time. I’ve concluded the answer is yes, I’d like to live there, and have 2012 as the ball-park year I’d like to do it, though that may go back a little depending on what happens with work.
My second overseas trip this year was to China. My friend Kate has been living there on and off for a few years, and I’ve been thinking of going for a while. As she had an exhibition opening in November, I asked when she had a window of opportunity and grabbed it. I loved Beijing.
Thats me and thats the Great Wall of China
Seriously the best food I’ve ever eaten consistently on any holiday ever. And there was a lot to see and do, including all of the obvious tourist spots. It was great to hang out with Kate and with some of the artists she was looking after while there. A return trip to China? Yes possibly.
James O’Brien, Phil James and Guy Maestri on the Great Wall of China
On the professional front, I enjoyed the challenges of a new “acting” position throughout most of the year looking after nationally networked content on ABC Radio. And then towards the end of the year, “acting” in the role of Network Development Manager which looks after a range of special event programming and other associated “development” work. Many aspects of the job are pretty sexy, and I loved acting in the role, and then securing it in the days before Christmas.
On the personal front, I went on a couple of dates this year, though nothing long-term came from either. I’ve yet to come to grips with how I feel about the idea of a relationship. Sometimes I feel like it would be nice to have someone there in a different way to close friends. Other times I feel like it may be all too much, and that deep down I know that I’m probably still too selfish to share my life with someone else and vice versa. I’m also reminded of advice several years ago which was “don’t leave it to late”.
Sadness struck our family this year with the death of Gloria, who plays a special role in my life. After several years suffering with both Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s she died in June this year. In many ways her passing was a relief as she had been in a lot of pain for quite some time. Her death has affected her immediate family of Sharon and John deeply, as they had also lost son, John, three years ago. On the positive side, I’m hoping it’s lead to a renewed closeness between all of us.
Gloria Pepper, James O’Brien
I spent the last ten days of the year at home with my family in Lismore. Usually I just come home for a few days and then head back to Sydney, but I think I got the mix right this year. I was allowed to work from the office in Lismore which meant I could spend daytime at work, but night-time and weekend with my family which made for a very happy combination for all of us.
This time last year I felt as though I’d spent the year “treading water”. A year later, I feel like I’m happier, healthier (I’ve also lost weight this year), and generally feeling quite good about myself and my life.
Looking ahead to 2011, there’s a lot to anticipate. I have a new job, and hopefully the capacity to do some interesting work. Our art group, Hawkesbury One, winds up with an exhibition at the Newcastle Regional Gallery. And although I have no firm travel plans for the year, I’m sure something will eventuate. But overall, looking ahead to 2011, I’m feeling pretty good about life.
I went and had an eye test today and guess what? I need reading glasses.
This doesn’t really come as too much of a surprise to me.
Reassuringly though, I don’t need “full time” glasses and maintain quite good long vision, even if my left eye is slightly better than the right.
About the only thing which I found difficult was the glaucoma test, where they project a “puff of air” into your eye at close range.
It was the first eye test I’ve had in at least 15 to 20 years, with the last one being for superannuation purposes back in the early 1990s. That test revealed the colour blindness which I live with.
The bloke who did the test – as OPSM Broadway – was very good, very thorough and very friendly. He said on two separate occasions, “I’m not far behind you”, meaning he thought he was on the verge of needing reading glasses also. And did I mention he was cute?
After work, I met up with some friends to see David Campbell perform at the State Theatre. The last time the same four of us had seen him live was in 2005 at Bar Me in Kings Cross.
After work, I met up with some friends to see David Campbell perform at the State Theatre.
The last time the same four of us had seen him live was in 2005 at Bar Me in Kings Cross.
The show then was quite different to tonights. Back then it was very small, very intimate, and very informal. Very “cabaret”.
Tonight’s show at the State Theatre was much more in the style of “Shout” and all of those other big productions he has been involved in.
I have a personal preference for the smaller more intimate shows. And I think he’s a better performer in Cabaret than in rock, but it was still a really great night of entertainment.
He sang lots of instantly recognisable songs from the 60s and 70s, mostly upbeat.
The bit that gave me the biggest tingle, though, was when he sang Mr Bojangles. As with the last time I saw him play, his version gave me goosebumps, literally.
“It would be genuinely ironic if we stopped to take a photograph of the sign and a coconut dropped on our heads”, I said to one of my fellow travellers.
Though I’ve been to Darwin many times I’ve never been to Bathurst or Melville Islands before, which are located about two and a half hours by ferry from Darwin. But this week I decided it was time, and so I booked a day tour.
Tiwi Islands coconut warningCrocodiles, stingers, and extreme currents, which explained why there was “no swimming”.
“My mother was taken by a crocodile” one of the grannies who was demonstrating pandanus weaving told us.
I would have liked to have shown you a photograph of the three wonderful women, but was told they preferred not to have their photographs taken. Any of the photographs you’ll see on this blog entry were taken and shared with the permission of the people they feature, notably Freddie, our tour guide. “Take as many as you want, he’s very photogenic” we were told, with a laugh.
We were also asked to be respectful of the cultural objects. For example, we were asked not to take photographs of the totem poles in the cemetery. And in one of the galleries, there was a sign saying not to take photographs of the arts and crafts, without permission.
“It’s okay, so long as it’s a broad general shot”, I was told when I asked for permission to take a photograph of some of the carvings.
Though I have a memory of experiencing this in the past, I had genuinely forgotten until today that in many traditional communities, people will often avoid eye contact with you. We were told today this is especially the case between brothers and sisters. After puberty, brothers and sisters are separated.
Though I can’t be 100% sure, it sounds like many of the cultural laws derive from concerns about interbreeding.
There’s a story in the museum which tells of what went wrong when a brother was attracted to his sister.We also learned about the four “skin groups” (which you inherit from your mother), and why you can’t partner with people from particular groups.
The tour guide, Freddie also explained how people from the Tiwi Islands are very different in many ways from people who live on the mainland, on Larrakia Country. For example, they don’t use woomeras or boomerangs.
Freddie, our tour guide was EXCELLENT. As he painted ochres on his face (an owl), he explained he learned the design from his father and grandfather, who also painted the same design. His sons will also inherit this design, he added.
“We used to do this by staring into the reflections in the water, but now we use mirrors. It’s much better”, he joked.
The story Freddie told, of the arrival of Christianity on the Tiwi Islands was a fascinating one. Freddie explained that religion is still very important on the island, but that it was a blend of Christianity and Tiwi Island traditions. You can see it in this image from the old mission church.Traditional art on street poles.
To be honest, I was a little sceptical about doing one of those “big tours” through AAT. In my heart, I wanted to do something a little more “grass roots”. But I got to the point where I realised I didn’t really know what I was doing/researching, and so going with an organised “group tour” was probably the easiest/best thing for me to do. It was really good, thanks to the local guides like Freddie.
It’s a phenomenon I’ve observed with increasing amusement, particularly among my peers who, like me, are nudging the big 6-0. Suddenly, it seems everyone has always possessed an impeccably cool, cutting-edge taste in music, films, and books. This newfound (or perhaps, newly admitted) sophistication has been especially noticeable with the recent flurry of “Hottest 100” posts making the rounds from Triple J.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I wholeheartedly believe that tastes mature and develop over time. What we listen to, watch, and read in our youth often evolves as we gain new experiences, broaden our horizons, and are exposed to different influences. It’s natural for our preferences to shift from the bubblegum pop of our teenage years to more complex or nuanced genres as we age. Growth is good, and it’s wonderful to see people exploring new artistic avenues.
But there’s a particular flavour of this evolution that tickles me: the retrospective cool. It’s the almost instantaneous rewrite of personal history, where past dalliances with the decidedly un-hip are conveniently erased. Suddenly, the same people who swore allegiance to the likes of ABBA and the Bay City Rollers (for the girls) or Sherbet and AC/DC (for the boys) are now posting their “lifelong” love for obscure indie bands or avant-garde cinema.
Take my own relationship with ABBA, for instance. Growing up in Australia, they were undeniably cool in the mid-70s. You couldn’t escape “Mamma Mia” or “Dancing Queen.” Then, as the 80s dawned, they became the very definition of uncool, “daggy” even. Owning an ABBA record was social suicide. Fast forward to 1994, and suddenly, thanks to Muriel’s Wedding, they were cool again, a symbol of kitsch Australian pride. And then, well, the cycle seemed to repeat itself.
My “home made” ABBA t-shirt from about the late 1970s!
My point is, “cool” is a constantly shifting target, and our memories often adjust to fit the prevailing winds.
It’s as if, with the passage of time and the benefit of hindsight, we can all collectively decide to be the person who always appreciated the underground and the unconventional. The beauty of this retrospective rebrand is that it’s almost impossible to disprove. Who’s going to pull out our old cassette tapes or dusty diaries to fact-check our claims of early artistic discernment?
This phenomenon extends beyond individual memory, too. Have you noticed how many “hits and memories” radio stations in Australia currently play songs that were, frankly, never actually popular here at all? It’s as if certain international tracks, deemed “classics” elsewhere, have been retroactively implanted into our national consciousness. They fit the nostalgic vibe, so they get airplay, even if they barely scraped the bottom of the charts (or never charted!) back in the day. It’s a collective act of retrospective curation, reshaping our musical past to align with a more palatable, universally “cool” narrative.
Perhaps it’s a form of aspiration, a desire to align our past selves with the person we’ve become, or perhaps the person we wish we’d been. Or maybe, just maybe, it’s simply a bit of harmless fun, a collective wink and a nod to the fact that while our tastes may indeed have evolved, the journey there was probably a little less “cool” than we now care to admit.
Though initially we had booked in for the ten o’clock show, we were both a little concerned about having done so on a “school night”. When you find yourself in your mid to late 40s, the idea going out so late leads to both excitement (hey, we’re not so old), and yet fear (how will we get out of bed in time for work?). I’d previously warned my close colleagues I mightn’t be able to make it to the office at the usual time of around 8.00am. Thankfully, we were able to get into the eight o’clock show, have a bite to eat afterwards, and still get on with our normal lives.
I’d mentioned to a shop-keeper in Surry Hills earlier in the afternoon I was going to see Paul Capsis that night. “He’s such a lovely guy”, he told me, adding that Paul had often brought in clothing for adjustments, saying “If it’s too hard, don’t worry about it”. I’d also seen Paul around the shopping centre in Surry Hills, and have come to know his manager over the last few years.
He’s a wonderful performer, with an amazing voice and stage presence. The last time I saw him perform was in 2010 at the launch of his CD. As then, he delivered an amazing performance, and well worth seeing, as he performed some great standards that ranged from jazz to rock. These shows are well worth seeing.
Paul Capsis
Afterwards we grabbed a bite to eat at nearby Porteño. Though I remember it fondly as Dimitri’s – the Greek plate breaking restaurant – it’s become one of the hip places of Surry Hills. Oddly enough, I don’t think I’ve ever eaten there before, and what a disappointment it is that I haven’t. Honestly, great food – beef with a beetroot salad – which I’d also recommend.
Dinner at Porteño
Overall – a great night was had, and not too bad for a couple of forty-somethings on a school night :)
